If reform under god makes america strong:The Trinity asks where is the equality where governing stewards demonstrated no shame? AMEN!

In a consumer society it's easy to acculturate experiences, believing the more we have the better!

Yet experiences don't necessarily bring Wisdom, nor do they automatically transform us.

We need to Listen and Reflect  on our experiences in the presence of the Holy Spirit to learn from them.   

Jounaling is a way of paying attention to our lives - a way of knitting the vast ball of our experiences into something with shape that attests to the state of our soul.

Frederick Buechner reminds us in 'Listening to Your Life' that "There is no chance thing in which God Cannot Speak." 

On the pages of a Journal, in the privacy of a moment, We Can Take Tentative Steps into Truth and Scour our Feelings, Hurts, Ideas, and Struggles Before God. 

Over Time Repetitious Themes, Sins, Compulsions, Hopes, and Concerns Emerge. 

We begin to Recognize Besetting Sins, Limitations and Desires. 

During times of Transition, Travel, Lose, Joy, Illness and Decision Making, Journaling can provide a way of processing the Hopes, Fears, Longings, Angers and Prayers of our Heart. 

It can be the place We Sound Off Before God 

so we don't sound off in an unappropriated way to others. 

The ongoing nature of the journal catalogs the journey of the Soul into God. 

It reveals how we Hammer Out our Identity as a Christ-Follower 

through the Ups and Downs of Daily Routines as Well as In Times of Crisis. 

There is no right way to journal. You don't need to journal every day of every week. 

Find the rhythm of journaling that suits your phase and stage of life. 

If writing isn't your thing, make a journal of Photos or Drawings or Articles. 

Assign Key Words or Thoughts or Themes to the Entries. If you don't write well, remember that you don't need to write beautifully or use complete sentences.

Journaling is a way for you to be with God in your Thoughts, 

Not an Exercise in Language Arts. 

TELL THE TRUTH TO GOD

AND YOURSELF AS BEST YOU CAN. 

Review what you write on a Regular Basis. 

As you do, you will begin to Recognize Recurring Life Themes, 

Desires, Frustrations and Patterns of Interaction. 

These Insights become Matters for Dialogue

With God. 

Share: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook- Practice That Transform Us.