Why I Journal (or One of The Greatest Practices in My Life)

I highly recommend journaling. One of the greatest things I do in my life. (see comments below)

 I journaled for years. I use an app called Diaro.

 I have one file that i use to write down the biggest realizations in my life. It might be a key insight. Or something that I really want to incorporate in my life. When I am struggling with something, I go back through that file because chances are.. there is a "ta da" moment recorded in that file that I have forgotten to utilize. Instead of reinventing the wheel (which can take hours or days) I find the answer (because I have been keeping this file for years) to what I am facing in that file.

 I am convinced that we forget most of the realizations (revelations) that we get if we don't write them down. It is sort of like James 1:23-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 





 One of the nice features of using a computer to journal is that you can do easy searches. Yesterday.. I was facing something... it was dealing with spiritual warfare. Usually.. I would just pray... think.... pray.. think.... and spends hours and possibly days.. just wrestling with something.. and eventually revelation would come and I would get the victory. Well.. the thought came to me.. why not just search my journal notes on spiritual warfare. Voila!!! There was an answer within seconds.. So... instead of wrestling for hours.. I simply stepped up into the lesson that I had learned several years ago... and I got the victory. I chewed on that revelation from years ago and got some deeper learning from that lesson.. But... it saved me time, energy and possibly some heartache. Amazing!


 My kids all journal. They prefer writing theirs down. Me. I like digital format... I can lock it with a password. Maybe one of these days.. my kids can have it... and search it. They can each have their own copy...


 One thing that has come out of this journaling as well is a timeline for my life. I have started writing dates and brief title of things that have happened. Sometimes I will even reference if there is a journal note for that event.


 It is very cathartic for me. If I'm going through something... I can just pick up my chromebook, or my phone.. I can type... or I can dictate to it. Just the act of recording my thoughts usually clears my mind and emotions and answers typically come during that process as well.


 Here is this article in facebook form. Please feel free to share your experiences with journaling. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10222802309707192&id=1259222846

Same Old, Same Old (Gratefulness)

I am sitting here in my chair looking out my living room window on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning clear blue sky... and one of the first thoughts that came to me.. is "this is the same old same old.. it is rather boring" but then.. the very next thought that came to mind is this... "no... I am grateful for this thought.. I live in southern Ohio.. it is peaceful... in so many other places of the world it is not peaceful... there is turmoil. there is destruction... people are not happy... but I have this!! probably the majority of other people would love to have this. they would trade what they have for what I have in my life right now.. there is not a reason why I should not be happy with this.

The River Is Always There

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Emptiness??? This ain't Heaven

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10219730875523257&id=1259222846
10am

lk; good morning hs

hs: good morning son.. how are you?

lk; so good hs.. thakn you

hs: and why are you so good. 

lk: well.. i slept decent last night.. i had ample time to get my mindset straight today.  i had a nice chat with noah's buddies that stayed here last night for the natanael's wedding..  i had a nice chat with shannon britt.. it has been nice.. it is raining.. which means i do not need to go out and mow..  and I am siting here doing my most favorite thing in the whole world.. spending time with my God..

hs; that is awesome.. 

hs: but do you still sense that emptiness?

lk: yes.. I was not going to say anything about it..  but yes I do..   do you want to talk about it now?

hs: yes.. lol.. why do you think i brought it up?

lk; lol.. that's true..

lk: so hs.. tell me about this emptiness in my soul..

hs: well son.. tell me what percentage of it that you are feeling righ tnow?

lk: wel... i would say that it is about 20%

hs: okay.. tell me more abou tit

lk; well.. i typically think that it is strange that i would have ANY emptiness.. because my goal is to be complete and be happy and fulfilled.. to have any kind of voice just seems like it is foreign and should not be there.. 

in fact.. i have worked hard at answering some ofthe most difficult questions in life.. about fulfillment.. satisfaction.. etc.. 

hs: well with all of that.. work..  let me tell you this..... there wil lalways be times and palce where you fill this emptiness.. and dissatisfaction..   and not totally fulfilled..   because.. this is a fallen world.   you are not totally redeemed..  your body is not redeemed... your soul is a work in progress.. but your spirit is totally redeemed..   and all things will not be perfect until you go to be in heaven..

...... doe that make sense?

lk: perfect sense..  but now.. i just need to remember this.   so.. give me a few seocnds.. i am going to make notes in other places to remind myself.

lk: wow.. hs.. this is such a great topic.. and such good revelation for me.   help me to remember it..

hs: i will son.. thanks for always being willing to listen..

lk: oh father.. i love our times of revelation.

Think about the time you were most passionate for Christ.. now... Let that be the first step back in that direction ❤️

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The Narrow Way.... Is It Really That Narrow?

Just a thought that I want to develop.... I hope I get back to it eventually.... 

But it seems that the life I have in Christ is not narrow at all.   There is a lot of liberty. 

The thought of man.... taking dominion.. that is a lot of territory. 

I had a discussion the other day while hiking with a buddy... about how much is God really concerned with our day to day activities.  I mean.... not to make God out to be a noncaring Being.. but  I look at my adult kids... I mean... I love them..  I want the best for them.  But I do not make their second by second... minute by minute decisions for them.   I love to hear their stories.  I am ready and willing to listen to them anytime they want to talk.. I will be glad to give them advice if they want it.. But.. part of the joy of raising kids.. is to see them grow up and live their own lives.. and make their own decisions..   

Does that make sense?

But...  i diverted... The main thing I mean to express in this post is this.. . 
Yes... when I first came to Christ.. perhaps i did have to give up some things.  and yes.. as I walk with Christ there are many things that I will not do because I follow Christ.  But it seems that the things that I get to enjoy and have... far out weigh the things that I have had to give up in order to follow Him. The peace, joy and contentment alone is worth anything that I have had to give up.    Knowing that God has it all figured out.  Knowing that He has a wonderful plan for my life takes the worry out of this life.   Wow.. what a trade off!

Why We Should Journal

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