“Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” Joshua 4:6-7, 23-24 NASB
Journaling is a way to reflect on God’s Faithfulness.
All of my journals are priceless keepsakes and much more like memorial stones that last forever.
I get to look back to where I was and see how God has transformed my life over the course of time.
He is good all the time.
His Word renews my mind every day, strengthens my heart in moments of distress and has transformed my life over the past decade alone!
“Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5 NASB There are miracles taking place in our ordinary lives every day.
We just need to stop, breathe, reflect and journal. The Lord will do the rest!
An opportunity to reflect on our lives in the midst of busyness,
An opportunity to reflect on God’s Truth,
An opportunity to align our lives to His precepts,
An opportunity to discover unconfessed sin(s),
An opportunity to discover negative emotion(s) including anger, bitterness, jealousy or envy, hurts, and disappointment,
An opportunity to count today’s blessings,
An opportunity to guard our hearts from negative emotion(s) including unforgiveness and hatred,
An opportunity to submit our petitions to the Lord,
An opportunity to pray for others,
An opportunity to write down your key points from the Pastor’s sermon,
An opportunity to reflect back and apply what was learned at a conference or bible study,
An opportunity to write Scriptures and explore different Bible versions to grow deeper in our walk with the Lord,
An opportunity to write God’s Word to memorize and hide His Truth in our hearts eternally,
An opportunity to establish and maintain an on-going dialogue with our Creator,
An opportunity to listen attentively when taking notes in the additional lined pages of the journal,
An opportunity to appreciate how faithful God is in our everyday lives,
An opportunity to gain insights and fresh perspective on a given challenge,
An opportunity to reflect on learned lessons,
An opportunity to seek for God’s wisdom and direction,
An opportunity to witness God’s answers to prayers
An opportunity to take notes from your favorite commentaries.
Note, there is no right or wrong way to journal, I would encourage for you to do it. You will grow closer to God and His Word will guard your heart. Everyday stressful or challenging circumstances can lead to worries, anxieties or distress. If we take the time to cast our cares onto the Lord, He will give us rest and peace as soon as we rely on Him for comfort.
Do you find yourself too busy for God’s Word? You are not the only one. Life gets ‘crazy busy’ and we are juggling too many expectations, demands and/or unfortunate circumstances.
It happened to me in the past; I was inconsistent in reading and journaling His Word.
I have learned to be intentional over the course of my life. I now have a favorite time and place where I read God’s Word. I truly delight in reflecting and inscribing His Word at Sunrise every day.
At times, when life happens and gets too hectic, I schedule it!
Tips:
Step One: Review your calendar the night before and schedule time to read and journal God’s Word,
Step Two: If you do not have time the next day, then prioritize your daily activities and carve time for God’s Word. Make it a priority.
Step Three: Rise Up and Journal,
Join the FB accountability group today, search for “The Bible Reading Journal Series”, answer all three questions and enjoy the journey.
Let me introduce you to the Spanish Editor for the Bible Reading Journal Series, Dr. Angelica Langham, who retired successfully from the field of Medicine seven years ago.
Dr. Langham is both a conference speaker and a teacher of God’s Truth who now disciples women in Florida, Tennessee, Colombia, and Peru. She is fulfilling the Great Commission passionately one day at a time. Jesus encourages all of us to “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
Discipleship is a priority for the church.
When I asked Dr. Langham how did she begin discipleship relationships, her response was the following: “The Lord has laid on my heart to serve Him. Pursuing my calling, I began to evangelize women in a non-profit Christian organization and participated in different evangelistic events in my local church. Even though many people repented, believed and received Jesus as Savior and Lord, I realized that something was missing in ministering to them. New believers and Christians in the church need an ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They need to grow and become mature in their Faith. However, many of them have become stagnant or even have abandoned their faith….”
Dr. Langham was discipled for two years before she started to disciple women locally and internationally. She is so grateful to witness how God is changing the lives of many of her students and even her own life. In these relationships, women have an opportunity to build spiritual disciplines, such as reading and meditating on the Bible passages, praying fervently with thanksgiving, worshiping the Lord and confessing their sins on a regular basis.
Jesus’ obedience to the Great Commission has impacted our lives today. Dr. Langham has discovered that the missing link in ministering to women is to establish a discipleship relationship in which both truth and life are shared in real life circumstances.
She further shared, “We cannot evangelize without making disciples. We cannot gain people without feeding them. We cannot leave believers alone, but we must help and encourage them in their faith. Therefore, following Jesus’ example of making disciples should be the primary goal in the body of Christ. Disciple-making is an intentional process to build up believers, to mend them, and to equip them to be fruitful and multiply, obeying the Great Commission. In these changing and difficult times, I believe that every Christian needs to be discipled to grow and be mature, to receive healing of past wounds, to build spiritual disciplines, to be accountable to other believers, to multiply and make discipleship relationships.”
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the Heaven…He has made everything beautiful in its time…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 5 NIV
There will always be a season for a “fresh start” whether it is a new career, a church community, a job, a friendship or even a ministry. I delight in the freshness of ‘new beginnings’. When we embark on a new path, it is normal for us to expect favorable outcomes right away. In a world of instant gratification, I like for circumstances to unfold quickly in my favor or be resolved immediately.
When I was in High School, I wanted to finish the academic coursework in three years… When I was a young adult, I wanted to marry and move out of the house… When I was in college, I wanted to graduate in less than four years! I tend to rush. I sure do. As I got older, I soon realized there are no shortcuts or healthy quick fixes in life.
Time is of the essence! Be still and know He is in control of our lives. (Psalm 46:10) Let us sit back, relax and be present in the moment.
We may need additional time to select a new career path. It takes a while to get settled in a new community. There is usually a learning curve to master and be proficient at new tasks. In relationships, we need time to learn one another and build trust. If we are serving in ministry, we may need to wait for direction, wisdom, and understanding.
God’s timetable is different than ours! His ways are higher than ours. His timing and plans are perfect. Let us be open-minded and flexible in the midst of our wait. It may take longer than expected!
If we want to be fruitful in life, let us break down our goals, and zero into specific action steps. Just know, God is orchestrating all of our circumstances and He does not miss a beat! Over the course of time, suitable conditions will flourish. God makes everything beautiful in His time. He is in charge of the Harvest.
The more I wait and persevere, the more I trust His plan. In my last wait, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the following;
Let us honor our new beginnings and trust His timing. Do not rush or grow weary. “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” Acts 27:25 NIV
Let us take a leap of Faith and take the next step without anxiety or distress. Do not be afraid. “But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage!…” Matthew 14:27 NIV
In Christ, we have His wisdom to face challenges along the way. Do not doubt yourself. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Do not be distracted by external circumstances“…And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV
Lord, help us be in your presence so we may experience serenity in the midst of our wait.“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NIV
And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the
waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling
up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke
Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And
He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be
still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And
He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no
faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one
another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Now when
evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,and
after getting into a boat, they started to cross the
sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come
to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong
wind was blowing.Then, when they had rowed about three or
four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and
they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Mark 4: 37-41 (NASB)
In the midst of a storm
or should I say a tsunami, do not forget to look up to Jesus first.
God challenged and refined
me for almost four years although he did not give me more than I could handle
at the time.
Have you ever been choked or paralyzed by a life
storm? Have you ever experienced unbelief? I sure did yet cried out boldly and
loudly, ‘help me with my unbelief, Lord’ periodically. Some of you may be going
thru some challenges today… If you are going thru a storm, how would you
label your storm?
I labeled mine, “The Pit of Darkness.” The Lord was ahead of me working out every detail of my dire circumstances.
“Lord, You light my
lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28 HCSB) Let us never forget He
is our Light in our journey.
A few months after my dad had passed away, I was
promoted to a regional leadership platform. Today, I oversee the quality of
clinical services for close to 1,300 children and adolescents. During this time
of grief and sorrow, I was asked to make daily Clinical decisions on behalf of
these needy children. While I successfully provided adequate coverage, I was
also intertwined with family affairs and daily decision-making processes on
behalf of my dad’s Estate.
My “pit of darkness” was steep and
intense. I will explain next.
I was out of breath at times and my health was compromised on several occasions. My life circumstances definitely got grotesque before the circumstances got any better. I know our Lord will train us for today’s battlefield. His Truth reminds me, “He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” (Psalm 18:32 HCSB) The Lord will fight on our behalf, we just need to be still, be quiet, listen and follow His lead (Exodus 14:14).
“Every time my eyes were not on Jesus, I was horrified even paralyzed when facing these stressors,” I thank the Lord for having a supportive husband who challenged me to take the next step in the midst of confusion, chaos, loss, and persecution from those who resisted change. Most importantly, I have a great God who clothed me with inner strength and filled my heart with hope (Psalm 18:39). He makes my way perfect (Psalm 18:32).
“The Lord is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15).
I was overwhelmed and frazzled at the beginning of my leadership role, I experienced a panic attack on one of my business trips. At the end of the first year, I literally experienced heart-attack symptoms such as discomfort in my arm, pain in my chest and shortness of breath. In my second year, I experienced severe vertigo signs. In one occasion, the medical doctor ruled out a brain tumor with an MRI!
I thank God for ‘good health’ today!
The season of grief and sorrow, a fast-paced demanding work environment and family distress contributed to the pit of darkness. Slowly but surely, I began to read His Word daily and started to journal as I dealt with these life stressors.
I knew I had to handle
these life stressors God’s way! It is the only way, my friend.
Once I was convicted, I prayed for His strength, mercies, and inner peace. I begged the Lord to show me ‘how’ and to give me the strength to persevere thru it all.
Three years later, I changed the cultural climate at work, implemented new systems and mobilized community resources for the least restrictive placements, and held strategic, monthly conference calls with the former Commissioner.
At this time, my eyes
are on Jesus and no longer on my circumstances. In Christ, there is victory
without a doubt!
Out of the pit of
darkness, the Bible Reading Journal Series was birthed.
There will be seven
volumes addressing the core spiritual disciplines that involve life
application, confession, repentance, forgiveness, thanksgiving, and prayer. In
the midst of the storm, let us not forget to look up to Jesus, not our circumstances
my friend.
In my darkest moments, I
felt hatred, unforgiveness, resentment, loneliness, isolation, and depression.
These negative emotions took root in my heart temporarily. When I was convicted
of the darkness in my life, I knew I had to look up to Jesus immediately for His
help, guidance, inner peace and most importantly a new heart!
He was forgiving,
compassionate and faithful.
As soon as I would
inscribe His Word, apply the lesson learned that morning, and submit my prayer
requests, I was able to focus on the next task, experience less distress and
endure the hardships at work.
His grace and faithfulness carried me one day at
a time.
And, when I submit all of my prayer requests at sunrise, my heart and mind are in peace and I am much better prepared for today’s battlefield and the unexpected events.
Today, I not only inscribe those Scriptures that speak to me when I’m reading the Bible, but I read these verses in different translations, apply them to my life, and step out in obedience.
As I go thru any of my journals, I have an opportunity to confess to God any sin(s) whether it is unbelief, anger or unforgiveness. I also ask the Lord to help me forgive those who have hurt me throughout the day.
Counting my blessings fills my heart with gratitude.
When I surrender and write out my prayers and praying for others, our Lord comforts me every morning.
I am boldly praising Jesus today! “Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;
He has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea.” (Exodus 15: 21)
In Christ, there is victory so look up in the midst of a life storm. Do not fix your eyes on the circumstances, my friend.
Join the FB Bible Reading Journal Community today!
Bible Reading Journal: Growing Closer to God One Day at a Time.
Bible Reading Journal Series 2019
Volume 1 & 2 & 3 (Available Now on Amazon)
The Bible Reading Journal: Growing Closer to God One Day at a Time.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Lord,
I am lifting up all of my burdens and hardships to You at this moment.
Help me find rest for my soul so I may be ready for tomorrow’s battlefield.
At times, I am quite overwhelmed with simple tasks, intricate relationships at work or at home with my loved ones.
It is an ongoing struggle, Lord!
In You alone, I find my rest. I want to be mindful of regular breaks throughout the day so I may rest in Your Word always.
The most important event of my day is to focus on You, Lord. I want to focus on You day and night.
Yes, Lord, I will always need your wisdom and inner strength even when I am feeling brave or confident about troubling circumstances.
Help me not to be weary or burdened.
One of my biggest challenges is to forgive those who have hurt me in the past… You want me to forgive immediately (Colossians 3:13 NIV) just the way You have forgiven me. Not once or twice, but seventy times seven! Lord, this is a true challenge when I am still hurting. Help me forgive everyone and help me be discerning as I move forward in relationships.
Help me be hopeful always, and restore all distant relationships.
Our Lord is the Prince of Peace and does not want for my heart to be troubled (John 14:27 NIV). He is always with me wherever I go (Psalm 118:6 NIV).
Praising Jesus for His Faithfulness, peace, forgiveness and compassion.
Lord, give me wisdom and discernment to do good so I may not only forgive but bless others at all times.
Strengthen my heart. Renew my mind. Refresh my soul.
I need to fight “the good fight” and do all the work you have prepared me to do.
I want to be well-rested so I may be courageous and Brave in all I do in Christ.
In Jesus’ name I boldly praise and pray,
Your beloved daughter,
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you would like to journal as you rest on God’s Word, check out the selected Scriptures in the “Bible Reading Journal: Rest and Be Refreshed.”
My dad wanted for me to become a famous concert pianist at a young age. He even dreamed about traveling together for competitions and performances over the course of my adolescence.
My Dreams were different. I wanted to help people in their distress so I became a mental health provider and achieved my ‘American Dream’ over the course of three decades.
Now, my friend, there is nothing wrong about having dreams or specific goals in today’s world. It is healthy to be intentional about our daily, monthly, quarterly and yearly goals. Our Lord even recommends for all of us to be purposeful in life and maintain a clear vision; otherwise, we would perish in the long run.
”So go ahead and be intentional every day in pursuit of your American Dream.”I am thankful for accomplishing my ‘American dream’ and so much more. I know God had the best plan for me and He even took me further than I ever imagined or expected.
Be cautious though not to be blindfolded along the way… I know I was!
For so long, I was so proud of my career pursuits and hardly ever acknowledged God in my plans early on in my career.
When our goals become idols, “I must attain this right now” attitude, we may neglect God’s will. I was disobedient and even rebellious when I was on the ‘fast track’. I worked 70-80 hours a week, did not rest a day, smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, rushed throughout the day so I would get to the next action step, never had time for family or friends, completed three graduate schools’ programs in a timely manner, and finally attained professional licensure in two different States and a worldwide Board certification at a high price and cost!
Whew!
I am quite exhausted right about now just thinking about the energy I spent all of those years striving for peak performance. Do not be impressed, my friend. I am not here to boast or impress anyone.
I’m here to share briefly with you about the damaging effects of idolatry.
I have been an overachiever since my early college years. I can now relax and enjoy my professional career! I thank God for His wisdom and discernment in the past decade otherwise I would have probably self-destructed. I never had an opportunity to be still and allow God to speak to my heart much less time to renew or be transformed by His Word.
If I would have known He was already there fighting on my behalf, I would have listened to all of His whispers, obeyed His commands and waited on His promises to be fulfilled in His perfect timing. His Truth reminds me today, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
I’ve got quite a few regrets today such as: broken, strained and distant relationships with family members, significant upper-respiratory health issues, and the fact I never had time to consider having children.
I was in bondage for way too long! Yes, I was indeed.
Trapped. Blind. Lost. Dead in my transgressions.
The ‘American Dream’ blindfolded me. I was self-centered and selfish when achieving all types of goals.
Until one day…
I heard the Gospel preached at a local Church, It finally came all together. I admitted I was a sinner who was dead in my transgressions and caught up with today’s cultural pursuits and success track.
God was relentless in His pursuit and He never let me go… I finally surrendered it all and started to renew my mind with His Word, my life was transformed thereafter.
The Cross has the final Word, sweet friend, not the ‘American Dream’.
I am now free from the ‘American Dream’ bondage.
I still work hard in everything I do, but my purpose is not to please man anymore. My main purpose is to maintain an eternal perspective, fear our Lord and glorify Him at the end of the day in everything I do.
In Christ, I’m alive and free.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 NIV
How about you my friend? Do you fear man or are you pleasing the Lord today?
My dad wanted for me to become a famous concert pianist at a young age. He even dreamed about traveling together for competitions and performances over the course of my adolescence.
My Dreams were different. I wanted to help people in their distress so I became a mental health provider and achieved my ‘American Dream’ over the course of three decades.
Now, my friend, there is nothing wrong about having dreams or specific goals in today’s world. It is healthy to be intentional about our daily, monthly, quarterly and yearly goals. Our Lord even recommends for all of us to be purposeful in life and maintain a clear vision; otherwise, we would perish in the long run.
”So go ahead and be intentional every day in pursuit of your American Dream.”I am thankful for accomplishing my ‘American dream’ and so much more. I know God had the best plan for me and He even took me further than I ever imagined or expected.
Be cautious though not to be blindfolded along the way… I know I was!
For so long, I was so proud of my career pursuits and hardly ever acknowledged God in my plans early on in my career.
When our goals become idols, “I must attain this right now” attitude, we may neglect God’s will. I was disobedient and even rebellious when I was on the ‘fast track’. I worked 70-80 hours a week, did not rest a day, smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, rushed throughout the day so I would get to the next action step, never had time for family or friends, completed three graduate schools’ programs in a timely manner, and finally attained professional licensure in two different States and a worldwide Board certification at a high price and cost!
Whew!
I am quite exhausted right about now just thinking about the energy I spent all of those years striving for peak performance. Do not be impressed, my friend. I am not here to boast or impress anyone.
I’m here to share briefly with you about the damaging effects of idolatry.
I have been an overachiever since my early college years. I can now relax and enjoy my professional career! I thank God for His wisdom and discernment in the past decade otherwise I would have probably self-destructed. I never had an opportunity to be still and allow God to speak to my heart much less time to renew or be transformed by His Word.
If I would have known He was already there fighting on my behalf, I would have listened to all of His whispers, obey His commands and waited on His promises to be fulfilled in His perfect timing. His Truth reminds me today, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
I’ve got quite a few regrets today such as: broken, strained and distant relationships with family members, significant upper-respiratory health issues, and the fact I never had time to consider having children.
I was in bondage for way too long! Yes, I was indeed.
Trapped. Blind. Lost. Dead in my transgressions.
The ‘American Dream’ blindfolded me. I was self-centered and selfish when achieving all types of goals.
Until one day…
I heard the Gospel preached at a local Church, It finally came all together. I admitted I was a sinner who was dead in my transgressions and caught up with today’s cultural pursuits and success track.
God was relentless in His pursuit and He never let me go… I finally surrendered it all and started to renew my mind with His Word, my life was transformed thereafter.
The Cross has the final Word, sweet friend, not the ‘American Dream’.
I am now free from the ‘American Dream’ bondage.
I still work hard in everything I do, but my purpose is not to please man anymore. My main purpose is to maintain an eternal perspective, fear our Lord and glorify Him at the end of the day in everything I do.
In Christ, I’m alive and free.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 NIV
How about you my friend? Do you fear man or are you pleasing the Lord today?
Photo courtesy: Tomoko Uji at UnSplash
Photo courtesy: Danielle MacInnes @ UnSplash
Photo Courtesy: Andressa Voltolini
Journaling a Bible verse or two! 