Monthly Archives: January 2017

The Amazing Benefits of Journal Writing

31 Tuesday Jan 2017

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Having been a journal writer for over 20 years, regularly writing three  pages a day, I have learnt a thing or two about the great benefits that can come from this practice. It is a great habit to integrate into your schedule.

My own practice has been to write early in the morning with a hot cup of coffee in hand. I write about whatever comes into my head. Everything from shopping lists to lists of things to do, life issues, hopes and dreams, and of course prayers. Whatever I am thinking or feeling flows out onto the page.

These are the benefits I have noticed that come from journaling.

  1. Journaling helps me to clarify my thoughts.
  2. Journaling helps me to get clear on what I want and need.
  3. Journaling is a great way to work through problems on paper. Often great solutions seem to ‘appear’ as I write.
  4. Journaling is great for my mental and emotional health. When I am feeling bad I can pick up my pen and start writing about how I am feeling. I am always in a more uplifted mood after doing this. Journaling helps me to articulate what is really at the core of the issues I am facing and gives me confidence about how to address them successfully.
  5. In going back over my journals from time to time, I notice that themes appear, ideas emerge that will not go away, and purpose and direction seem to unfold for my life.
  6. Journaling has helped me know myself more fully. Who I am and what I am called to do in the world.
  7. I use my journal to write down ideas as they come to me during the day. I also write great quotes from books that I am reading or whatever I am listening to throughout the day. The journal is a repository for everything I do not want to forget.
  8. Journaling has helped to become more creative and productive. Journaling helps me to overcome my own fears and conquer resistance to getting started.

 

I have been journaling so long it has become a necessary part of my morning routine. When I have finished journaling I feel equipped for the day, organised and  focused. I know exactly what I want to go forth and accomplish. What direction to take. I have my marching orders. I get dressed and ready and off I go to make my contribution to the world. I am empowered to live my truth one day at a time.

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Wonderful Word#1 Dare

28 Saturday Jan 2017

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DARE.

DARE to believe you can.

DARE to dream big. What would you be doing if you had no fear?

DARE to REVEAL who you are to others. Define yourself.

DARE to rejoice and ENJOY life.

DARE to expect good things to happen. Walk in your favour.

DARE to walk by faith.

DARE to love, even when it costs you something.

DARE to live according to your inner guidance, your conscience.

DARE to be different. Swim against the tide.

DARE to CREATE. Bring forth your contribution to the world.

DARE to ask for what you want.

DARE to say what you REALLY feel.

DARE to SPEAK UP. For yourself and for the oppressed.

DARE to take MASSIVE ACTION in the direction of your calling.

DARE to BE YOU!

I DARE YOU.

DARE.

 

 

10 Keys to Being Open to Life

27 Friday Jan 2017

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  1. Be open to new ideas. The fact is we don’t know everything. It is good to be open to listen to someone with a differing view or perspective than you. This can either strengthen your own convictions or shift you in ways that a beneficial for you.
  2. Try new things. Follow your inspirations and curiosities. Consider them invitations to learn and grow. What have you always wanted to try? Food, sport, travel? What new skill would you like to develop? Playing an instrument, learning a different language, art, craft etc.? Dabble a little and you just might find something that inspires joy in you.
  3. Be open to guidance. Trust that you are being guided. The guidance will flow step by step. Truth and insights you need will be provided. Resources are laid out along the way. They are being added to you as you follow your faith path.
  4. Be open to constructive feedback and advice. Feedback is good if it is constructive. It can make your lifework better, more purposeful and richer. Negativity and spiteful criticism on the other help can kill enthusiasm for your lifework and discourage you into a state of inactivity.
  5. Know what you want. This sounds easier that it actually is in practice. Aim to gain clarity around what you want in every area of life. How do you want to feel? Setting goals is pointless if you vague about your core desires.
  6. Ask for what you want. Once you are clear on what you desire, start asking for it. From God, from loved ones, from everyone. Ask and you shall receive. Keep asking until the breakthrough comes.
  7. Ask for the help and guidance you need. God is an amazing source of help and guidance. He will guide us with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He will direct us to people who have the answer we need. Learn to ask great questions. The quality of your questions will determine the clarity of the answers. Listen carefully and you will learn much. it is about being receptive and responsive to truth.
  8. Practice telling others how you really feel. So often are breakthrough has not come because we have failed to share our true feelings. Be authentic. This takes great courage if you are a people pleaser. Be honest with yourself and others so that your relationships will become more truly engaged and connected.
  9. Share your dreams with others. Be brave and tell the world about your lifework and message. Learn to articulate who you are and what you are about to others. Define yourself as God sees you. Be on task with your own lifework otherwise by default to will be pulled into the agenda of others. Along the path of your lifework you will bump into others who are like-minded and with whom you may collaborate to serve others with your giftedness.
  10. Give yourself permission to show up and show out. Stop waiting for someone to pick you. Pick yourself. God has already chosen you and calls you to use your superpowers to the benefit of others. No need to wait for anyone to tap you on the shoulder and allow you to begin. You hold your own authority. Don’t give your power to others. It is not selfish or prideful to follow your passion. Stop apologizing for being you. Embrace yourself. You have your own keys. Open the door for yourself. You are allowed to. It’s okay. What would you be doing if you had no fear? Do that. Conquer.

Overcoming Fear of Being Yourself

26 Thursday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

I love You and I praise You. You are wonderful and amazing. You give me hope, light and truth.

B

Beloved daughter,

Your dream is what you hope for, what you love and what you are ALLOWED to have in your life. I designed and shaped the dream that will not go away. Do not fear, take courage and move towards it every day in the power of the Spirit. For you this means writing first thing every day and then having the courage to share with others. Take bold steps of faith. You are a conqueror. You are blessed in all you put your hand to.

Creativity involves being vulnerable. Taking those steps to bring forth YOUR truth requires great courage every day. Resistance meets you, trying to stop you from bringing forth the new. To share what we have created with others is to expose who we truly are and risk rejection. When you overcome fear you become courageous in other areas of life as well. Don’t be afraid to go after what you desire. To desire something to be brought forth in your life is not prideful, selfish or wrong. On the contrary, failing to pursue your calling is failing to give to the world the gift that you are.

To be obedient necessitates overcoming fear. You must examine your fears and see whether they have any basis in reality, or whether they are just an illusion. Where do they stem from? Who told us we could not follow what is our truth? Who told us we could not have what our heart was desiring? Who made us believe that it was prideful and selfish to even think such a thing?

You have a message. You are a message. The message your life reveals is one of overcoming fear and self-doubt in order to pursue the Kingdom of God. Your courage inspires others to take action in their own lives.

Therefore, Go forth and create.

God.

Question to ponder: What will you ‘bring forth’ today? Create the work. Bless it. Tell it to be fruitful and multiply.

Are You Scared to Live Your Truth?

25 Wednesday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

I love You and praise Your holy Name. I want to become who I am, for You glory. Thankyou for my place in the Kingdom. I have a function and assigned tasks within it.

Because of being controlled by others in the past, I have a great deal of trouble in owning my own calling and giving myself permission to do all the things I would love to do and experience in my life. As a child and into my teenage years I was scared to live, scared to try new things and have fun. I was the girl with her nose in a book sitting on the sidelines observing everyone around doing fun things but never joining in, not even wanting to. Books were my safety, my secure place, my escape. I could retreat into the thought world of the authors and live vicariously through them.

Later in life I was the homemaker who subscribed to numerous homemaker and craft magazines, always making and never creating. Sometimes I would make something, or write something, but my motive was usually to please others or save money, not necessarily to simply enjoy the process of being creative for its own sake.

I have always loved learning. I now realise that reading, writing journals, studying and sharing with others is all a part of my teaching gift. One of my superpowers. I have always loved watching documentaries and biographies about others who have done amazing things with their lives. I love beauty, art, music.

This year I have set my intention to be beautiful, be creatively brave and to live my truth. I even created a poster and put it on the fridge door to remind myself of what is important to me this year. I want to live a beautiful life and cultivate a beautiful heart. I know I must be braver, stronger and be willing to share my story as part of my ministry. I need to create, make, do, share. Own my calling as a creative person. By Your grace, I can, I will, I am. Writing this blog is a part of this. Sharing from the heart as I open up to all You have for me in Kingdom life. My prayer is that as I open up and become more vulnerable, more honest in  sharing my attempts to step out in faith each day, that those who read may be encouraged and emboldened to do the same.

Fear, get behind me. Amen

B

Question to ponder: What would you be doing if you had no fear?

 

Writing as a Daily Victory

23 Monday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

Thankyou for Your unconditional, unfailing love. I am Your child and You have great things for me to experience, learn and do in life. Wonder and grace. Love and light. You are with me and in me. I simply need to abide in You and follow when and where You lead. I am leading a guided life, Your Spirit guides me into all truth. You are helping me to own my calling and to be brave. I place my confidence in You. Nothing is impossible.

I am seeing the importance of being creatively brave and having faith to write. I must create a body of work. My process is to write every morning, in my journal and to share each weekday on my blog. There is something about writing with paper and pen that allows thoughts, feelings and ideas to flow out of me. Writing unlocks me. Writing first thing before the day really gets going means I can conquer internal resistance and procrastination, allowing my own creativity to flow without the distraction of other voices which will surely come at me during the day.

Words may trickle, or words may flow, but success is in the showing up and showing out every day. To make my contribution, no matter how small, or seemingly insignificant. Writing is a superpower I possess, given to me by God for the good of the world. To write is my ‘good part’ and it will not be taken from me because I have chosen it. It is my daily act of bravery which will mount up into a body of work in the future. Inspirational data which will keep on giving, building up God’s holy kingdom.

Thankyou Lord, for this great gift.

B

Questions to ponder: What is your superpower? How will you put it to use?

Communicate Your Truth and Overcome Resistance

20 Friday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

I love You. You are awesome. Thankyou for all the good things You have given me in life. I desire to honour You in everything I do.

I believe I am called to communicate truth. My truth. And, in doing so, encourage others to do the same.

How will I express myself truthfully? So many ways. Writing, making my environment beautiful for the people I love. Being an encourager to friends and family. Serving those in need. Being a good listener.

I love listening to the stories of others. What is their personal truth? Values? Dreams and goals? Challenges? I love to encourage and impart hope.

My tools are words, concepts, ideas. Being able to express myself though writing causes me to switch on and become engaged. After I write I feel lit up and alive. When I share what I write with others I feel like I have conquered the fear and insecurity monster. In sharing my work I become vulnerable to other people’s opinions and judgment. I also become open to acceptance, growth, opportunity and useful service to others. I see that failure is assured if we never try. Each day we must conquer internal and external resistance and show up in the world to share our story.

For me this means conquering resistance early in the day. Therefore this year I am setting an intention rather than a resolution. My sound intention is to live beautifully, be creatively brave and tell my truth every day. This will build momentum in my life. My act of creative bravery is to put pen to paper every morning and write three journal pages and to share something of what I have written on the blog each weekday.

An ideal beautiful week for me would be to spend my mornings writing and sharing and to spend my afternoons involved in practical ministry and service to others, making sure to go offline during this time. Each Friday afternoon will be free for taking myself out to do and experiencing new things and open myself to new ideas. To fill my inspiration tank, in other words.

Lord help me to achieve my intention and walk in abounding grace this year. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

B

Question for reflection:

In what ways is God calling you to be brave this year?

A Conversation About Desire

19 Thursday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

I love You so much. I adore You. I submit my will to Yours. I surrender to Your will. Your will be done in my life. Let this be the focus of my life. Continually. Every day of my life.

B

Be drawn forth by your most holy desires. Be guided by faith and conscience. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or taking wrong turns on your journey. You will. Trust your conscience to lovingly course correct you along the way. You are living a guided life. Your life is not your own. Walk worthy of your calling. Bundles of provision are set along the journey of life to sustain you in your walk. Be drawn by desire. Get in touch with what you want deep in your soul. What do you want to know and learn? What are you hungry for? It is also important to know what you do not want. In other words, know yourself and own who you really are. I am at work within you to will and to do for My good pleasure. I brings joy to Me when you walk worthy of your calling.

It is important for you to act out of your own deepest desires rather than what other people decide for your life. Act out of those deepest desires and trust your own inner compass. Even in the smallest ways. Honour your desires. I am shaping and forming you through them. What do you desire? What do you want? Knowing this is very important. Extremely important, so that your actions can be based on this truth and you will experience a sense of congruency, soul satisfaction.

Godly desires are characterised by love, truth and passion for Christ. They bring about great glory to My name and attract others into the Kingdom. They bring joy and peace even in the midst of trial and suffering. Trust your desires and allow them room to become reality. Follow where they lead. They call you onwards and draw to deeper. They shape your life’s work. They signal the right paths to walk along.

Be brave by:

Getting in touch with your deepest desires. Following where they lead. Trusting in My provision and not letting fear delay or distract you.

Don’t be ashamed to desire. You are allowed to desire. Desire powerfully inspires and motivates you. Let desire propel you. Following your desires is not selfish or prideful if you have loving intent. Delight yourself in Me and I will give you the desire of you heart. I delight in the prosperity of My servants.

God

 

 

O Lord, Clarify Our Calling To Ministry

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

I love You with my whole heart. You are so good. Your love is so rich and real in our lives. Draw us closer to Yourself.

I sense in my heart a desire to clarify more clearly what form our ministry will take, especially in the light of fact that I have only one more semester to complete before completing my Bachelor of Theology. What will my life and ministry look like from then on? What form will it take? How will my days unfold for Your glory?

Our pastor discussed with us the need to explore our calling and vocation during our internship and to develop a profile of who we are and what we have to offer. So I am prayerfully considering what we have to offer the body of Christ and the world? Both individually and as a couple?

Let’s start with the values and desires You have placed in our hearts. D and I desire to encourage others and empower them to break free from limiting factors in their lives that prevents them from serving You wholeheartedly. We deeply value Love, Freedom , Acceptance and Trust. We want to live our lives serving and blessing others. One avenue we both believe we can do this is through hospitality, opening our home to others, building friendships and relationships around food. We have been organising for this in practical ways such as D clearing out verandah area and cleaning the barbecue, fixing the outdoor charcoal stove and stockpiling food and drinks for when people visit. We have had a number of friends and family come but we also would like to invite those in need as well.

D has practical building skills and has used these to renovate our house and our church building. He has helped others when a handyman was needed and has occasionally earned side income from this type of work. D also has a caring, compassionate heart for others and comes alongside others to listen and encourage their faith. He is patient and kind and has favour upon his life. He is developing great discernment too.

My own giftedness seems to lie around encouragement and exhortation. I love to build others up. I love to write, teach, speak and sing. I love to speak a ‘now’ word in due season to those who are discouraged, frustrated or anxious. I sometimes has clear prophetic insight or discernment about a person or situation. To help people discern what God is doing in their life. I desire to help people discern who they are in You and to follow the desires You have placed in their hearts. I sometimes can discern what is hindering people from moving forward such as limiting beliefs or fears, entanglements with sin, lies they are believing and demonic activity. I pray strategically about these things when I am ministering to someone and teaching biblical principles to overcome and produce breakthrough. I desire to help people live in the freedom Christ purchased for us and to live the abundant life he offers.

I also have skills in music, sewing and household management.

We desire to bless people through strategic giving and we believe travel will be a big part of our future, both locally and overseas. These things are what we know in our hearts so far, as being Your calling for us.

Lord, I pray for further clarity regarding the form and scope of our ministry as husband and wife and that doors of opportunity will open to us for service. Bless the work of our heart and our hands, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

Defining Yourself to the People You Love

13 Friday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

I love you so much! I am deeply grateful for my relationship with You. It is my salvation.  Christ is my Saviour. He gave His life for me. I am wanted. I am accepted in the Beloved. I am a part of Him. I am consumed by the love of Christ. I abide in love. I am immersed in it. I am rooted and grounded in Love.

Help me to be brave and strong. Do not let fear consume me or hold me back. You are my life. Liberate me to live in bountiful grace.

I am scared to share with my husband about my desire and calling to write. He knows I enjoy writing, but knows nothing of this calling to serve by writing. I fear his response. Will he understand? Will he value what I feel called to do? Will he support and encourage me in it? I know I need to reveal my truest self to him, as You have made us to be one. I pray he will understand. Prepare his heart to see who I am and what You have called me to do. I pray he will be my strongest support.

I know that D requires nothing more of me than to be his wife and to make a home, roles I love and hold dear. He also knows that I am called to ministry and have been struggling to know what to do once I finish university. I have only one semester left and then I am done! I believe the answers will be revealed through writing. His patience in waiting for You to reveal my next steps has encouraged and comforted me. There is no pressure to perform from him. Thankyou for giving me such a wonderful husband.

I resolve to share my heart with him and I trust You for the outcome. I pray You will show me the right time and right way to approach this conversation. I am confident all the aspects of my ministry will be revealed through writing. This is the way forward for me. I believe that all my major opportunities for service will come through this avenue.

Therefore I purpose to write each day and post at least every weekday as a matter of developing a good writing discipline. I ask you to increase my readership and allow the conversations to flow. I pray my writings will liberate and empower people.

B

Dear daughter,

Writing is your path, you way forward. You do not need to be anyone other than who you are, beloved. I delight in your willingness to step out fully into this ministry after dabbling for many years with writing. I am forging fresh faith, strength and confidence in you. I am strengthening you for service to the world.

God

Question: Is there someone who you are afraid to share your dream with for fear they may not value it as you do? How will you move past that fear?

My Delight in Writing

12 Thursday Jan 2017

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Dear Lord,

I am grateful for the love of D, (my husband) and Your great love which inspires and envelops me. You are always at work in our lives, helping us discover who we are and who You have created us to be. I am excited about Your plan for us.

I am thankful to have rediscovered writing, after a long break. In fact, I haven’t written since I remarried in June last year. Writing brings out what is hidden deep within me, the secrets my heart holds, Words, thoughts, ideas, concepts. Writing changes me, releases me and relieves my hearts deep yearnings. I feel lighter after writing. Writing nourishes and restores my soul.

Through writing I am liberated, unlocked. I can write down what is bothering me internally and be aware of what I fear, hope and dream. Somehow my inner anxieties are relieved by writing. I become more objective about my life and more resolute in decision-making.

I realise I am a writer. I prophecy I am a writer who helps others grow in confidence and enthusiasm for their calling. I am drawn to write by the Spirit. You meet me at the page. As I begin to express myself in this way You enlarge my thinking and help me find the words that liberate my soul and express my hearts sincere desire. Writing is one of my superpowers, one of the ways I can be a blessing to others.

Writing helps me to solve problems and resolve conflicts. It helps me to clarify my thoughts so I can better discern my next steps, my next course of action.

Your grace is upon me to write. It is important for me to write. Writing is a gift from You. I must accept it wholeheartedly and give myself fully to the craft of writing. I must write daily because I believe great good will come from it. I prefer to write with paper and pen rather than digitally. There is something about the way the words flow from my heart to my pen as I write.

There is a desire within me to share what I have written with others, that my musings may be of benefit to others as I seek to become authentically me. I think the medium of blogging is a good medium by which to share my thoughts with the world. Perhaps others might be inspired to live a beautiful God-designed life, seeking who they are in Christ and how to share their  gifts with the world. I hope my writing will help others to cast of fear of going after the dream You placed in their hearts. We only have one life to live so Lord make it beautiful, captivating and awesome. Reveal Your glory through us. I pray that people see You in my writing.

I have faith that writing daily will cause me to become a better speaker and to communicate more clearly. I have faith that doors of opportunity will open up to me through my gift of writing. I need to surrender to writing, to the writing life and to fully receive what You wish to give me through writing. What I receive I will freely give to the world.

Wouldn’t it be great if I could make a living from writing, as a side effect of doing what I love. Not as a focus, as that would stifle my creativity. I feel slightly guilty about wanting to make money this way, I am not sure why. Yet I do believe it is possible and I will see how You lead and leave that part up to You Lord,

Your beloved daughter,

B

Questions for reflection:

As you read this post today, do you sense God is calling you to express yourself through writing? Or create in some other way? What fears are stopping you from taking action?

You are welcome to share in the comments below. Blessings