Journaling is Joyful and Brings Enjoyment

Journaling is Joyful and Brings Enjoyment

2014-08-14 12:26:47

An enjoyable life is what I seek.

Infused with joy, not happiness. 

HAPPINESS VS. JOY

Happiness is short-term and is fleeting. It changes with the wind. Happiness depends on people and circumstances. Happiness is shallow. You cannot always be happy. You can sure try, but it just isn't possible. 

Joy is long-term, God given, and isn't dependent on anyone or anything. Joy runs deeper and can be found anytime, anywhere, and with anyone. Joy is found only in God, His Word, and in His blessings. Joy can be found in any storm. Joy is independent of people and circumstances, but is dependent on the Lord and His blessings. Joy is always possible. And, joy lasts and is lasting. 

Whenever someone tells me they are happy or seek happiness, I cringe. They want a shallow, short-term, dependent emotion. I feel sad for them and wish they wanted and sought more. They seek the lesser, for happiness is so much lesser. 

Hence, I seek an enjoyable life. 

JOY AND JOURNALING

Let's face it. People and circumstances are part of this life. So, how can we see past them? How can we seek more than happiness? Is it possible and achievable?

The truth is unless you know God and believe in Him and follow the Bible, you will not know joy. Happiness is of the flesh. Joy is of the Spirit. Happiness is human. Joy is spiritual. 

If you know God, and are in His Word each day and pray to Him, you can then know joy.

I also believe joy and gratitude to hand-in-hand. You cannot know joy unless you count your blessings.

If you count your blessings, meaning you look for your blessings in each moment throughout your day, you can know joy. As a matter of fact, I do not think we can ever know the fullness of joy, and live an enjoyable life, unless you count the blessings of each moment.

How can you count the blessings of each moment? Particularly because we have to work, do household chores, run errands, and exercise, how can we find the time to count the blessings of each moment throughout the day? This can only be accomplished through journaling. 

Joy is found through knowing God. Knowing God allows us to see all of His blessings, if we stop and take note. We must do so of all the moments of each of our days.

JOY AND JOURNALING 

Why should we journal? Journaling brings enjoyment. Moreover, joy comes through journaling. 

We stop and take note of at least the three most memorable parts of our day, each and every day. Moments that stood out, whether for the good or bad, are moments we should take note of and journal about so we can find the blessings of each moment. 

Joy is found through being open to be blessed and through looking for the blessings. We become cognizant of our blessings only when we search for and look for them in our lives and in each moment. Journaling helps us do this. 

Count your blessings each day in your journal.

#Journaling #Diary #Blessings #Gratitude #Thanksgiving #Journal #Journalkeeping #JournalingStuff #BlessingsOfTurningForty 

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC August 2014. Norfolk Botanical Garden.)

Prayer Journal and 40 (08.15.2014a)

Prayer Journal and 40 (08.15.2014a)

2014-08-15 12:39:56, Fri.

BEAUTY AND SIMPLICITY

It didn't go as we planned. But, it sure went how God did--and what a blessing. 

B and I slept in today and took our time getting started. We had breakfast at one of our favorite diners, then headed home. When we got home, we discovered the lawn people were here and had our driveway blocked. With how our house is situated, it meant we had time to kill because we couldn't pull in the driveway and it would be a pain for all involved to make them move. So, we went for a drive. We explored our city a little more. 

I love looking at houses as we drive by. It's when I wish walls could talk and cannot help but wish I knew their story. We found the older wealthy side of town, which the houses make me drool. But, they make me appreciate what I've got. The truth is even if I had 'll the money in the world, I wouldn't want one of those homes or a fancy car. I would want a simpler house out West and the vehicles we have now. 

This is a wonderful realization, once again, that I'm joyful. I don't need a fancy home or vehicle to make me feel fulfilled. Money cannot buy joy and the lack of it cannot steal joy. I'm content with the life I've got. Sure, I wish for more and different at times, but would that increase my joy? No. Being content where I am and with what and who I have increases my joy. 

We also drove down to the water's edge and went to a place where we've seen aquatic turtles before, along with all sorts of birds. We only saw two turtles, but did see three different types of seagulls and a white egret. Glories of God. Wonder. Beauty. (Things money and prestige cannot buy.)

It's in the beauty and glory of God's creation I find joy and the most contentment. It's in nature we can see the world through Pre-Fall eyes. We see the creative and loving side of God, the playful and deep side l, through nature and God's critters. 

This is what I want for my next forty plus years. More beauty, critter spotting, wonder, and sights of His creation. More of His glory. 

Life doesn't get any better or sweeter. 

To think, we would have missed all of that if the lawn guy wasn't here. 

Sure, at first, we sighed. Of course the lawn guy was blocking our way. How inconvenient. But, as quickly as those thoughts arose, B and I pushed them back. It gave us time to go and see what God wanted to share with us. It gave us time to explore and see new sights. It gave us time to hang out together and with the Lord.

We could have been upset and ranted and raved. But, we didn't. We know, and knew, God had something else in mind. We drove. We explored. We went to the water and enjoyed the bigger sky, the critters, and time to do nothing and just be. Glory. 

Critters and seeing the beauty of God's creation has always been high on my list. These are the moments when I have been, and am, the most me. Busyness and the world don't barge in and get in the way in these moments. Life at its purest and simplest is found in these times.

This is why I want a back porch in the house in which we retire and buy. I want to watch the birds, watch sunrises and sunsets, observe lightning storms. Drink coffee, have a meal, journal, read. These are some of my most memorable moments of the last forty years and I want to continue this with the next forty plus years.

Life simply doesn't get any better. 

Time with God and my best friend, observing the glory and wonder of God is the ideal life. Just being. No expectations. Simplicity. 

More isn't better. Less is. (Except when talking about the glory of God.)

Things don't make us joyful. God does. Moments doing nothing but hanging out with God are the best. This is enjoying life. This is living life to its fullest. 

Sure. I wish I had a kiddo. More than words can express. But, God has said no or not yet. (B and I both are infertile. Not just one. Both.)

I cannot help but think these moments might be sweeter with a kiddo. But, the truth is if I cannot enjoy my time fully with God alone, no one and nothing else could compare. 

I forever want more of Him, less of me.

THE BLESSING

The truth is it's been an honor to live the last forty years with the Lord. What a blessing. This is abundant living. It's being with Him, no matter when, where, with whom, or how. This is THE blessing of blessings. 

How fortunate it is we can be with God in the here and now, no matter the past. 

Living forty years with Him has been a supreme blessing. 

SUN AND CLOUDS

My last forty years have been full of sun and clouds. The good times and the not so good times. 

I've experienced more challenges than I can possibly count. I haven't had it easy. It has hardly been fair. God has trusted me with much.

I've messed up. I've made mistakes and stupid choices. I'm my own worst enemy at times. 

However, life means sunshine and clouds. Nothing remains stagnate. Things change. Except for God. He alone never changes. He is consistent. He alone is a rock and is steady. He is my strength.

Thank God.

Sun and clouds exist to point us to the Light, to the one and true God. 

BLESSINGS, GRATITUDE, AND THANKSGIVING

About a year ago, I found a way of life I wanted to start living. I started to live in this way, and have at times since, but I haven't been consistent. I want to live the following verses. 

 My life verses for the next forty years are:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

16 Rejoice always!
17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

I want to live these verses, and look for and enjoy His glory for the next four plus decades. This is life at its best. 

 #PRAYERJOURNALING #JOURNAL #JOURNALING #MEMOIR #THEBLESSINGOFTURNINGFORTY #40 #BIBLE 

The Blessing of Turning Forty: A Do-Over

The Blessing of Turning Forty: A Do-Over

2014-08-14 19:00:23

A couple of weeks ago, I started writing:

THE BLESSING OF TURNING FORTY:

THE DECADES JOURNALING PROJECT AND MEMOIR

This is my do-over. I'm going to write this with my Christian faith as my focus. 

In the book version, I will include all of my previous writings on the subject of turning forty, but it will be additional material. 

Stay tuned.

Blessings Journal and Counting My Blessings

Blessings Journal and Counting My Blessings (2014-08-05 08:25:51, Tuesday--Aug. 5)

I am thankful and grateful for:

1 Life. God has allowed me to live for almost four decades. Why? He has a purpose for me. What is His purpose for me? It's to bring Him glory through only the way I can. He has equipped me and made me the way I am because it is how He wants to be glorified through me. Glory means to see God, His character and nature, and His works (what He is doing). It's proof He exists. 

2 The next four+ decades to bring Him more glory and live His purpose.

3 Today. He has a purpose for me to fulfill His purpose and bring Him glory today. It is a gift. I get to spend today the best way possible, it's through hanging out with Him and showing Christ through me, how I act and behave and respond, what I say, what I think, my emotions, and in and through my journaling.

4 Yesterday, I am thankful for starting a new blog on journaling.

5 Yesterday, I am grateful for starting a new journaling and blog post series for the next thirteen months or so of: "The Blessing of Turning Forty: The Decades Journaling Project and Memoir."

6 Yesterday, August 04, I am blessed because I realized how as much as I try to ignore it,forget about, or try something new or different, God keeps bringing me back to counting my blessings. Thank You, Lord. 

7 How I learned a long time ago how blessings are not just for the good things in life. A blessing is found in every moment of every day, whether it is a good, tough, or indifferent moment. 

8 My good health.

9 My critters: Zack Beagle, Sinan Maine Coon Orange fluffy cat, Shelly and Harry RES aquatic turtles (Red Earred Slider). 

10 Clean turtle tanks and cat boxes.

11 Vacation coming up.

12 My family while growing up.

13 How the sun rises and sets each day, and so does the moon.

14 For my life experience. 

15 How I can help use my life experience to help others as they live their own. 

16 My faith and salvation. I have no idea how anyone lives a single day, never mind hour, without faith.

17 My journal and journaling. Now, 18 Yesterday, and 19 in the future.

20 Snuggling Beagles.

21 The sound of the water filter in Harry's turtle tank, in our family room, as I sit on our couch. The sound is so relaxing.

22 Journaling as I sit on our extra comfy couch.

23 My Amazon Kindle Fire + the internet so I can journal as I sit on our comfy couch.

24 Cats who curl up on chair and look like a fox. 

25 Doctors and medicine.

26 A new day.

27 Penzu for my online journal and journaling.

28 My hubby, B.

29 My marriage.

30 That B is my best friend.

31 How B understands, or at least tries to, how important journaling is to me and he does what he can to give me the time and tools I need to journal. 

32 Coffee.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014.)