Merry Christmas Eve!
(Image credit: Microsoft Online Images 2014.)-------------MARY TREASURED AND PONDERED THESE THINGS IN HER HEART: A JOURNALING HOW-TO FOR CHRIST FOLLOWERS AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT
Written December 24, 2014, Wednesday, 954 a.m.--On Christmas Eve
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Please read this post, even if you are not a Christian. There are some points I make regarding journaling here. It's a journaling how-to blog post. I hope you can read this as a piece of enduring literature and take to heart the point I want to make about journaling.
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She pondered, considered, kept, preserved these things in her heart.
Stop. Re-read that--the previous paragraph.
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A JOURNALING PROMPT:
Now, write your thoughts on that sentence about how she pondered, considered, kept, and preserved things in her heart.
What should you do the same with? What should you treasure and preserve in your heart?
How can journaling help with this endeavor?
Journal that which you want to treasure and preserve in your heart and journal right now.
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She pondered, considered, kept, preserved,and treasured these things in her heart.
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This is the verse of the day found here at BibleGateway.com:
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Luke 2:16-20 Expanded Bible (EXB)
16 So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a ·feeding trough [T manger]. 17 When they had seen him, they ·told [spread the word about; let people know] what the angels had said about this child. 18 Everyone [L who heard] ·was amazed [wondered; marveled] at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary ·treasured [kept; preserved] these things and ·continued to think about them [L pondered/considered them in her heart]. 20 Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, ·praising[glorifying] God and ·thanking [praising] him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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The previous verses were the context of the point I want to emphasize.
She pondered, considered, kept, preserved,and treasured these things in her heart.
Now, let me give the verse in another version of the Bible:
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Luke 2:19 Living Bible (TLB)
19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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She pondered, considered, kept, preserved,and treasured these things in her heart.
And, finally, one more version of the Bible:
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Luke 2:19 Expanded Bible (EXB)
19 But Mary ·treasured [kept; preserved] these things and ·continued to think about them [L pondered/considered them in her heart].
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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She pondered, considered, kept, preserved,and treasured these things in her heart.
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
What are your thoughts?
What do you treasure?
What do you want to preserve?
What do you want to treasure and preserve in your journal? Journal it. Then, answer why you want to regarding everything you journal and list.
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JOURNALING BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 24, 2014------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS BLOG POST
1 THE BLANK PAGE
2 LIST JOURNALING
3 JOURNALING PROMPTS
4 A COLLECTION OF EVERYTHING: YOUR JOURNAL
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1 THE BLANK PAGE
Written December 19, 2014, Friday, 1243 p.m.
You sit down to journal.
You face a blank page.
It stares back at you.
Who is more intimidated--you or the blank page?
I have hinted before that I am a journaling nut. But, there. I just said it and admitted how I might be a little crazy and definitely weird. So, this should not surprise you.
I love the blank page. It actually inspires me. I am not threatened by it at all.
Do I say this to brag? Goodness, no. I say it to share with you my perspective and I hope it will help you if the blank page is intimidating.
I have a question for you. How many opportunities do we have in this life? And, of those opportunities, how many can we control?
Now, I have another question for you. What can we control in this life? (Answer: The only things we can control is our response to whatever happens and our emotions. That's it.)
The blank page is an opportunity we have every time we face it. It is an opportunity we can control and grab by the horns. After all, every single word we put on the page is done intentionally.
There is nothing in this life we can control more than the blank page. And, this type of control hurts no one, including ourselves, unless we fail to seize the moment and the opportunity of the blank page.
Everything about the blank page, we can choose.
The blank page is where we can experiment in ways we normally don't.
The blank page is the safest thing we have on this earth.
The blank page is where I can be fully me--and you can too.
There is nothing bad, evil, dark, deceptive, sinister, negative, or tempting about a blank page. If any of that comes out, it's because we put it there by choice.
The blank page is freeing.
Look at the blank page as an empty canvas you get to be creative with and paint. It's your opportunity to be marked and leave a mark--in a healthy, good, inspirational way.
The blank page is whatever we choose it to be and we control it.
Now, how can you ever find a blank page intimidating?
You can't go wrong--unless you fail to try and don't seize the opportunity of filling the blank page.
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2 LIST JOURNALING
Sometimes, it is quite freeing to just do lists. Hence, there is a type of journaling called List Journaling.
What is list journaling? It's precisely the way it sounds and what you think. It's making lists as a form of journaling.
It's recommended to do List Journaling in sets of 10, 25, 50, 100, or whatever number works for you. Personally, I would say do a minimum of 25. It makes you search deeper, think harder, and you will be more likely to come up results you did not expect.
Ideally, you would do 50 or more per list.
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HOW DO YOU DO LIST JOURNALING
1 Make a list of one word to one paragraph answers. Preferably it's one word to one sentence, though, at first. Write it as fast as you can. Do not stop. Keep writing. Repeat answers if they come to mind, just make sure to add one more to the final total for that list. Sometimes when we write something out again, it stirs our minds and memory and we come up with more from there. So, please, repeat answers if they come to your mind. It's how your mind is processing things at that time. Go with it rather than work against it.
2 Go back through list and say why you listed those things--and list a memory about each thing (ideally, at least three memories per).
3 Pick at least three answers you want to write more about.
4 Do a SOC on each of those three. Do it for at least ten minutes.
Prior to here is the bare minimum. If you want to get even more out of List Journaling, do the following as well:
5 Pick at least one item from each of the three (or more) SOCs and do a SOC for each--ten minutes each.
6 Do a SOC from one item of each of those from #5.
7 Keep repeating 6.
8 Do each list from the present point-of-view, past, and future and repeat 1-6 for each time period.
Ideally, you will do all 8 steps for each list.
Try to do at least one List Journaling per week.
Now, what lists can you do for List Journaling? Let's see...
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LIST IDEAS/PROMPTS
You can make a list of anything you can think of.
Some of the ideas listed after this may sound the same, but are not. They differ. So, look at each.
Lists of favorites, memories, blessings/things you are thankful for, prayers, answered prayer, favorite scripture, books read, songs, photographs, websites or blogs, people, things, possessions, A to Z Lists of anything you can think of, to do lists, things accomplished, childhood memories, memories of every decade you've lived, news stories, places you've been, places you want to go, things you want to do, clothes you own/outfits you wear, history, favorite stories, favorite family stories, quotes, currently list of anything you currently are doing or have, items in your house list, items you have owned in the past, rainy or snowy day lists, past vacations, family heirlooms, future vacations planned, memories with the people closest to you--now and in the past, things you love about..., what inspires you, what makes you happy, a sunshine list, a storm list, life challenges list, things to try list, goals/plans/dreams, questions you have, mistakes you've made, accomplishments, what and whom you cherish list, how you relax or what you find relaxing, treasures list, shopping lists of things you dream about buying one day, animals, mistakes you've made and lessons learned from them and the blessings from them, the best decisions you've ever made list, what you wanted to do at one time but glad you didn't do list, firsts, all the people in your life--past and present, what is in your closet, what is in your junk drawer, what energizes you, where you have lived, where you went to school, where you have worked, co-workers, friends from school (at the time, in the past, and now), past relationships and lessons learned, dates with your significant other, things your parents owned, things your grandparents owned, what is in your purse or wallet or briefcase, wisdom given to you or learned, favorite things about someone, how someone or something has blessed you, your strengths, your talents, your weaknesses--and how you overcome each and have turned it into a blessing, life milestones, wisdom you wish you would have been told, projects you have done, projects you are in the process of doing, projects you want to do, what to do before you die lists, crazy things you want to do but never would lists, your fears, what inspires/motivates you, what do you do each and every day for most days of the week, months (start with January and list everything you can think of about January--anything that comes to mind), funny stories of things that have happened to you, seasons (thoughts and memories of each season), holidays (thoughts and memories of each holiday), people you admire, things of beauty, things you carry, what do you regret, hobbies, if you had tons of money then..., if you didn't have to work what would you do, if you had more time in the day what would you do with it, if, what if, why, what you like, imaginary places you wish you could visit (from books and movies and myth), what you have lost, what you have found, what you typically get at the grocery store, recipes (those you want to try and also favorite recipes and family recipes), favorite foods, favorite drinks, favorite exercises and memories thereof, pets you've had, memories of each pet you've had, what do you enjoy, opportunities you've had and also have, news events in your life, current events, pet peeves, things you wish you could do, the best things in your life today, books you want to read, books you have read and want to read again, movies you want to see, movies you have seen and want to see again, favorite tv shows, tv shows you've watched, who you are, who you've been, what you've done, where you've been, where you're going, people in your life you see regularly, life rules, house rules, art, favorite photos, etc.
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3 JOURNALING PROMPTS
Have you done your journaling template?
Have you done your journaling summary?
Have you done your journaling review?
(I need to do all of the above.)
Do those three things for 2014. It will take some time. If you do it right, it can take days to weeks--if you do it thoroughly. But, only if you've been journaling. If you have not, spend days to weeks reflecting and journaling about 2014.
Also, do a journaling list for 2014. Or, make several lists for 2014.
Also, count as many blessings for 2014 as you can. Truthfully, if you didn't do anything else, this would be the best thing you could journal. So, make this your bare minimum regarding End of Year and 2014 Journaling. (Frankly, this is the most important journaling you can do. This is the only type of journaling I'm doing right now. )
Make a list of Christmas memories.
Make a list of your favorite Christmas traditions--and of traditions you would want to start.
Make a list of your favorite Christmas decorations.
Make a list of your favorite Christmas recipes/foods.
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4 A COLLECTION OF EVERYTHING: YOUR JOURNAL
Your journal is meant to be a collection of everything in your life.
Get everything in your journal.
Take pictures with words. Seriously. Take at least three pictures each day, even if it's just in the camera of your mind. Capture a scene, a moment, and flesh it out in your journal.
If you think it, feel it, do it, journal about it.
Journal about what you observe in your day.
What is important to you today?
what are the highs and lows, the sunshine moments and the storms?
What memories did you make?
How many blessings were you given? What were they?
How many blessings did you witness?
Your journal is meant to be you. It's meant to be your legacy--whether you leave it to someone or not. When you are dying, imagine being able to go back through these journaling entries and see that you made every moment count and counted every blessing and did not overlook or miss any blessings.
So, get it all in your journal. Your life is too precious and sacred not to do so.
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EXPLANATIONS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND BLESSING
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EXPLANATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS
Written December 23, 2014, Tuesday, 1112 a.m.
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EXPLANATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ANY PERSONAL JOURNALING ENTRIES
Please do not skip any section or blog post that says, "PERSONAL JOURNALING ENTRY."
Let me repeat: Do NOT skip any blog post or section that is a personal journaling.
Now, I will explain why I say this.
Every personal journaling entry shared is shared for a multiple of reasons:
1 It's a teaching tool. There is something in there you, reader and fellow journeyman on this journaling quest, can learn from and apply to your life personally and to your journaling life. The lessons for you to learn are things I say in the journaling entry, but also in what you hear and learn from the entry.
2 It's a journaling prompt and inspiration.
3 It's a way for us to get to know one another.
4 It helps make journaling more personal for you as well.
5 The best way to learn how to do something, and develop a skill personally, is through reading about how to do it, reading the stories of those who have done it, and reading the actual writings of those who have done it.
So, please do not skip any of the personal journaling entries. That's why I'm including them.
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FINDING BLESSING THROUGH THE STORMS: THE BLESSINGS WITHIN THE MOMENTS (A PERSONAL JOURNALING ENTRY)
Written December 23, 2014, Tuesday, 1121 a.m.
The last year and a half has been one big storm system with several storms sprouting off here and there.
Going through this time has been painful. Terribly so. However, what has come from it has been nothing short of miraculous.
For instance, my faith, which was already strong, has grown and has quadrupled at least. This is huge to me. A strengthened faith in spite of the storms is is a major blessing. Let's face it. Life is full of storms and can at times be a large storm system. But, there are certain things that can help us to stand strong and unmovable through these storms. Faith is one of those things. Faith looks beyond the storm and sees the sunshine on the other side.
Counting my blessings is an act of standing on my faith.
Counting my blessings is the single best way to get through any storm.
Counting my blessings helps me to see the multifaceted nature of every moment. It helps me to go deeper and not live shallowly. Living shallowly is not seeing the blessing int he storm.
Blessings do not depend on anything or anyone. Blessings are gifts of favor given to us by God, in order for Him to show Himself and His glory. It's how God shows us beauty and love--in spite of the temporal, finite, and ugly nature of this world.
Counting my blessings is a way of life--and that includes in the time of storm. Counting my blessings through the storm usually results in seeing far more blessings than I ever see in a time of sunshine.
Thank God for storm systems and times of storm, for the lessons learned, and the blessings seen, are extraordinary.
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A BOOK WEAVES ITSELF INTO MY HEART AND MIND: A PERSONAL JOURNALING ENTRY
Written December 23, 2014, Tuesday, 225 p.m.
Every now and then a book, TV show, or movie will weave itself into my mind and heart. "CHRISTY" by Catherine Marshall, the book and the TV show with Kellie Martin, have stolen my heart and mind thoroughly. It's gripped my heart and mind over the last week.
It's set in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee in 1912. Christy Huddleston is a 19-year old teacher from Ashville, North Carolina and she moved to the tiny town of Cutter Gap to teach the children. It's her story as an outsider from a large city, and a well-to-do family, and making a new life as a teacher in Cutter Gap. It's a whole new experience for her: the people and way of life. She ends up having feelings for the pastor and doctor and has to choose between them as to which she will marry.
It's the historical fiction part, combined with the era, combined with the pioneer spirit which captured me. I keep thinking about it, listening to it via mp3, and watching the TV shows and latter movies.
CHRISTY reminds me how much the pioneer spirit means to me. It's my roots, being a Coloradan native, getting ready to move to Wyoming, that has made CHRISTY come alive even more to me. And, CHRISTY brings out my history loving and pioneer spirit out.
History matters to me. It's important.
Stories matter. They are sacred.
Because of this, I am now on a reading spree of reading historical fiction books about life in Wyoming from 1855 to the 1920s or so.
I'm not sure what this is going to mean to me and my life.
I'm not even sure why I'm journaling about it. But, it matters to me--the things I've mentioned.
I'm curious to see where this takes me. There is a reason I am obsessed with Wyoming historical fiction. Maybe it's because I'm moving there. Maybe it's something more. Time will tell.
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
What movies, books, TV shows have wormed their way into your heart? Why? How? What does/has this meant to you?
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Luke 2:16-20 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. ---------------
