A New Post 😉

I haven’t been present here on my blog for sometime. The main reason is something that I’ve mentioned before…The Lord has called me to be more intentional with relationships and discipleship, which limits my time online.

If anyone out there is still following, I thought you might be interested in seeing some of the content from my latest Bible Journaling Study I am teaching at my church.

In this study, I am incorporating both Bible Journal entries along with weekly bullet journal layouts. The Bible Journal entries become a memorial to the Lord, the time spent with Him, and a record of what He is revealing to our hearts. The Bullet Journal spreads are designed to focus on the action of practicing His presence…taking tangible steps to abiding…inviting the Lord to be apart of every moment. Stopping, Pausing, Asking, & listening before we take the next step. Anything we want to excel in takes PRACTICE 😬 It is UP TO US to choose what we find important.

The content for this study comes from a workbook I wrote entitled The Virtue Of Contentment. It is a lesson I have learned through the process of transformation, which started over 20 years ago when the Lord pulled me out of my pit. I began my journey with the Lord at age 15, but lived as the poster child for discontentment for years, due to the fact that I had no idea what it looked like to walk with the Lord daily…really relying on Him for my every need.

BIG IDEA (WEEK 1)

We can learn to be content in ANY situation if we are relying in and connected to our God, through Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:12-13

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or  in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Contentment is not found in circumstances but in the person of Jesus Christ.

Until we arrive at this truth, we can spend a lifetime looking for fulfillment in what we THINK we can obtain or earn for ourselves.  Our loving Father has all that we need to live a life of true contentment …..if we look to Him to meet ALL our needs. 

In our workbook this week, we dug into our daily emotions to uncover some deeper roots. Emotional triggers that might be linked to the past…things that have been said or done to us that have left us with a distorted view of ourselves, others and even God.

Emotional responses often set you on a course that can lead away from God and towards sin…which then ignites a chain reaction with the people around you…a snowball affect that started with something that might not even be true.

When I was first married, I brought with me a very distorted view. I learned growing up, that if someone hurt your feelings, they did so because they don’t love you. My poor husband never knew where all my emotional reactions were coming from. He would do things, unintentionally “hurting my feelings” and I would put it all in my unloved bank account. Boy, did this lead to a big snowball that rolled out of control!

With practice, we can learn to stop this chain reaction, by ABIDING. Stopping in the moments of a day to lean in, to ASK and to LISTEN for the HELP of the Holy Spirit.

This is what Jesus told His disciples would be even BETTER than remaining with them Himself …but rather, he provided the Holy Spirit that would be within them…accessible at ANY time. 

Contentment is a “SECRET we can learn” if we lean into listen.

This is the bullet journal we are using in class https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Journal-Notebook-Journals-Travelers/dp/B075QLWTK6

This is one example of a cover design

This is a spread used to track our emotions. Becoming more aware of specific emotions, what triggers them, and how the truth can lift us above our circumstance to see
with God’s perspective.

This is a hard bound bullet journal I am also using. The page weight of this one is a bit heavier, so less bleeding through.

I recently found a SWEET resource for “HOUSING” several journals at once

Chic Sparrow is a company that creates beautiful leather products, including journal binders.

This is what the inside looks like. It has pockets, and 3 elastics to hold 3 separate journals

It is so much more beautiful in person!

This is another spread that includes some personal journaling. Childhood memories, and a verse that speaks to my heart as I think about serving others and my city:)

We find contentment in God’s presence as He meets us in our obedience. We can experience great joy as we operate in the purpose He has created us for:)

I will continue to post about this class in the 5 weeks to follow!

Much love

In Him,