God Illuminates our Darkness!

  Guest Post by Adriana Morales Spokane “… Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Mark 4:
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Why Journal?

  In December of 1969, nearly 50 years ago I started journaling about life, my life, and my search for life. Since March of 2010, I’ve been journaling daily in the Bible. My wife sits by the fire with me. Because it brings so much value to us, we devote two hours each day. It’s one of the best decisions we’ve made. I currently coach several business leaders in daily journaling in the Word. Once they begin and remain consistent, they start experiencing amazing results in every area of life. Here are some insights we’ve gleaned from journaling. • Everything
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I’m a Fake Writer

Every other Saturday morning I meet with a group of writer friends and we talk shop, drink coffee or lattes and write together. Everyone in the group is a unique type of writer. We have bloggers, novelists, non-fiction writers, journaling enthusiasts, academic writers and more. Yes, there really are more types of writers. Some of us are self-published, some write e-books and others write in their journals. A few of us have no idea what we want to write. One lady is scared to write and is looking for inspiration. Some people have ideas, but are waiting to articulate what
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Sandy Toes Journaling

For years my family would travel to the lovely beaches of North Carolina for our summer vacation. We would all cram into our rented 1200 sq ft. beach house on Topsail Beach just steps from the waves. I loved it. It was my escape from work, life, household chores. The minute we crossed the state line into NC, I could feel my stress melt away. Ahh!!! How I longed for the peace and serenity. And of course, my journal was tucked away in my beach bag. Journaling while lounging on the beach is one of my favorite writing spots. I
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To Do or Not To Do–Lists

  I’m a list maker. I’m also easily overwhelmed by my busy life. That’s why lists have come in handy for me. Nothing helps my stress and monkey mind more than jotting down all the “stuff” I need to accomplish.   Anyone who suffers from anxiety would do well to give it a try. Most feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious come from a sense of being out of control. When I have a multitude of things I need to accomplish, allowing these looming tasks to swirl around in my mind only makes things worse. I begin to feel as
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A Quick Course in Journaling for Faith

  Haven’t started journaling yet?  Try these 10 simple steps to get you going!   Choose a notebook that feels right for you. It can be as fancy or as simple as you like. Choose a pen or other writing instrument that flows well on the page. Pens that leak or markers are sometimes more difficult to write with. Choose a quiet place to start your writing. Turn off the TV, your cell phone and your computer and keep distractions at a minimum. Begin your writing time with a prayer. Ask God to reveal to you what he wants you
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Journal Bites

Journal Bites Greetings fellow journal writers and Happy New Year! I’m super excited about what God has in store for the National Association of Christian Journal Writers (NACJW) this year. I also know He has great plans for all of us and I’d love to hear the hopes and dreams you have in hearts. Please send us an email and stay in touch as the year progresses! This year we plan to offer some great courses to help you expand your personal journaling pursuits, as well as grow your counseling and coaching practices. Take a quick peak at some exciting
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Journaling for ADHD

Guest Post by Megan Mansyr   ADHD manifests itself differently within the varying populations of those who suffer from the disorder and is largely dependent on the victim’s age. While children with ADHD seem to respond best to stimulant medical intervention, adolescents and adults seem to be able to adjust using behavioral therapy, either in conjunction with or without medical intervention. Among these, cognitive therapies such as self-reflective journaling appear to hold great promise in treating ADHD later in life.             Under the Cognitive theory, “learning is constructive…not repetitive… , “self-awareness” and “self-regulation” are essential to learning and “cognitive growth,”
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Make Journaling a Habit

  We’re told that developing a habit can take anywhere from 21 days to 30 days, especially if we are determined to make the necessary changes and maybe even feel a little uncomfortable in the process. Can this be true of developing our journaling habit? I think we have a good chance if we practice a few consistent behaviors. Time: I like to journal in the evening before I hit the pillow. This has always worked well for me, but it took me a while to discover it was my best writing time. Some people like to write first thing
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