Why I Put Pen To Paper

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I thought I would take just a moment to share some thoughts on why I put pen to paper almost daily… in my journal. This is a big part of my time with the Lord. My journal is messy. There are pages ripped out and scribbled on. There is really even no sense of order. But that is ok! Do you have a journal? Let me see if I can convince you in putting pen to paper for yourself as you interact with Scripture.

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Writing in a journal is critical for me when I’m interacting with God’s word. It keeps me focused. I often doodle Scripture that I’m reading or write prayers or just bullet points of what stuck out to me. I have so many journals! I wrote Just RISE UP! to be interactive as we converse with the Lord and dig into His Word. So! I encourage you to journal through it!

This is where the rubber meets the road in any of our interactions with God’s Word. First, that we sit quietly in prayer asking God’s Spirit to speak to us through Scripture. Secondly, that we do our part to interact and that comes through using our senses! Really.

Hearing: When we read the word aloud.

Sight: reading the Word with our eyes and with our hearts.

Touch: feel the words as we physically write out Scripture or our prayers. (Well that’s not all of our five senses, but you know what I mean.)

Sometimes we just don’t feel like it, right? I know I’m not the only one who feels blah about faith sometimes. (getting real here, friends!) Here is what the Lord has taught me…

Just SHOW UP! When we show up and make ourselves available, God will do His glorious thing with our blah. When we come to Him even when we don’t wanna, because we know that He is WORTHY, the Lord will bless that. He who authored our heart and knows every twist and turn of emotions will kindly hold our hands and speak to us when we just show up.

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy but I (Jesus!) have come to give you life abundantly. {John 10:10)

So…do you need to just show up today in the Word knowing that He is worthy? 

It is OK to be raw and real with the LORD.
This is where journaling is helpful. We can scribble and hash things out on the page with a prayerful intention of taking our doubts, fears, trust issues, questions…anything to the Lord. And, you know what?

He CAN handle it! So hand it over.

When we offer up even our most raw feelings to Him this opens the door for meaningful conversation between us and the Almighty.

So have I convinced you to journal in your prayer time and Bible study? If so, you can join me in a journey of interacting with Scripture through Just RISE UP!

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To get you started, here is a printable of a journal cover that I painted with you in mind. Click HERE to download the link to print off the image. So fun!

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Also! I would love for you to join me on the Just RISE UP! Online study that begins November 3rd! Click on the sidebar or HERE for more information. This is a go at your own pace type of study. You can join in while in your p.j’s or at work or really anywhere as we RISE UP together to make Jesus famous. All you need is a copy of Just RISE UP!, your Bible, and a journal.

Finding Wholeness In Christ-LIVE Author Chat

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author chat

Join us for the FREE InScribed Collection Author Chat: “Finding Wholeness In Christ” on October 16th at 9pm EST.

Meet and chat with authors:
Amanda Hope Haley

Ashley Linne

Sarah Francis Martin

Wendy Blight

Get your questions answered about “Finding Wholeness In Christ.” Hear from these women as they share what inspired them to write their books, and ask them questions. They’ll be taking YOUR live Q&A during the chat via Twitter with hashtag #InscribedStudies. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity!

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Register NOW for your FREE printables and InScribed Collection excerpts here: http://bit.ly/InScribedStudies-AuthorChat

 

Be Magnetic-Book Giveaway!

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I love the word magnetic. It is so strong and action oriented. When my friend Lynn Cowell told me last year that she was writing a book with the title Magnetic, I knew it would be powerful.

Today, Lynn and I are sharing about each other’s books. **And giving away a copy of our books!** We each desire to encourage women to make Jesus the center of our lives. We each have a passion to share Truth and how it applies in real and relevant ways. We also each want YOU to know you have a kingdom role and that starts with reflecting Jesus (be Magnetic!) and making Him famous (RISE UP!) You can read  what Lynn is sharing about Just RISE UP! HERE.

***Be sure to read at the bottom of the post about today’s giveaway of Magnetic!

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I love how Lynn invests in the next generation, those teen girls who need to hear Truth. Her mission for Magnetic is this:

When we empower young women to switch from fixating on a guy to focusing on the Guy, they can reach their fullest potential

It is so important to invest in the young women in our lives. I know that when we make time to sit, to sit and really listen, these women see Jesus through us. Sometimes all they need is to be heard. Sometimes all they need is to hear they are valuable. Sometimes all they need to hear are wise words from a women who cares enough to invest her time and support.

Do you have a young women to invest in today with God’s Truth?

Today I’m excited to share an excerpt from Magnetic that I found personally powerful. I also know this nugget of Truth would be extremely helpful for that young girl in your life. Will you soak in these wise words from Lynn and maybe even pass it along?

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Gentle Words Are Like Honey

No place is gentleness—or lack of it—more evident than in our words. So often the areas in which we are hardest on ourselves are the same areas in which we become harsh and judgmental toward others. A student who fights to maintain a high GPA puts down one who struggles academically. The girl continually working out has little sympathy for the overweight.

Those judgmental attitudes we inflict on ourselves poison our thoughts with negative feelings toward others as well. Remember what Anne said in chapter 6? “Since I hated my body—actually I hated myself—this made it easier for me to hate other people.” Somehow we decide that others don’t deserve grace and forgiveness since we don’t give any to ourselves.

Criticized for a project that didn’t turn out, I beat myself up. Why didn’t you do better? You could have slowed down, worked harder. What do they think of you now? Discouraged and defeated, I fill up with negativity, oozing onto those around me. I find myself picking on their less-than-perfect qualities, finding fault. When I’m not gentle with myself, I am not gentle with others.

This is opposite of where we want to go. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Too often as Christians we are known for what we stand against rather than what we stand for. Yes, we want to avoid those things the Bible says are wrong, but more of our energy needs to be spent on doing the Jesus stuff! Loving the poor, speaking words of respect, showing tenderness to everyone.

Rather than harsh words of judgement, our conversation should be filled with light, life, and hope. First Peter3:15 makes it clear: “…always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” We need never be ashamed to share our faith when we do so with gentleness and humility.

When others shared their faith with you, were they gentle or judgmental?

The way we speak to others makes all the difference in whether we will be heard and others will listen. Consider how God spoke to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:9–18. Elijah was on the run. He had just participated in one of the biggest miracles the Bible records, but now a witch of a woman was promising to kill him. Running for his life, he hid in a cave. There God came to speak with His discouraged prophet.

First came a wind so powerful, the mighty force shattered the rocks. But God didn’t speak to Elijah in the powerful wind. Next came an earthquake, shaking the mountain. God wasn’t in the earthquake either. A fire followed, but that wasn’t God. Lastly came a gentle whisper. God spoke.

God didn’t choose to be dramatic or forceful, as Elijah might have expected. He tenderly whispered the words He needed Elijah to hear.

Like God, the magnetic girl doesn’t have to make a scene in order to be heard or noticed. She doesn’t judge others, calling them out. She has no need to shock others with her words, her wardrobe, or her “womanhood.” She takes her cue from God.

Sometimes a whisper speaks loudest of all.

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I want to be gentle and magnetic, don’t you? How can we best exemplify this in our life?

***Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of Magnetic!***

I will choose a random winner on Wednesday, October 15th

lynn_headshotPacked with honesty, encouragement and perspective-changing truth Magnetic by Lynn Cowell(available at Amazon, B&N, CBD, everywhere books are sold), will empower girls and young woman to reach their fullest potential by focusing on becoming who God made them to be! A girl who reflects God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A girl who will attract the right type of guy one day: one who loves God with all his heart and who will cherish her!