The JOY Challenge: Day 34 - The Rest of the Story

I'm deliberately finding joy for forty days. To start from day one click here.

   

It's late. The sun has long since slipped behind the autumn trees. Husband is curled under a blanket on the couch, sleeping peacefully while the news tells us why we should be afraid.

 

I'm sitting at the kitchen table. My hands rest on the white, too-wrinkled tablecloth. The computer screen buzzes blue and invites me to touch the silver keys.

 

But this time I decline and reach for my journal instead. I open the patterned cover and run my fingers along the lined pages. I pick up the pen and write secrets.

 

These are not the sort of secrets that would land me on a talk show. No, these are secrets of the heart.

 

For here, on these silent pages no one reads, I write down words of encouragement given to me, accomplishments, reasons for celebration.

 

Then God and I rejoice over them together. It's divine intimacy. It brings me back to joy.

 

You see, I tend to forget those things. Or I hide them. I'm embarassed by compliments, overwhelmed by spotlights.

 

But alone, with Him, they become treasures I can offer back up.

 

And when I'm done, perspective changed, my heart rests...

 

On difficult days I come back to this book and read again, remembering His faithfulness, knowing I'm loved.

 

Lord, may our hearts rejoice and rest in you. Amen.

 

 

To encourage you in your journaling (or someone you love)...

 

Leave a comment before midnight on Friday and you'll be entered to win any journal you choose from the collection on DaySpring.com.

 

Comments

[Cassandra Frear]

Holley,

This happens to me, too. Isn't God wonderful? Isn't it marvelous how he brings us back to the center of our universe, which is our relationship with him?

One of the things I have begun to realize and appreciate in recent years is how unique each relationship with him is. We each need to find our own special place with him -- our very own.

[Amy V.]

Hello!
I, too, am a fellow journal-writer. I have many-dreams journals, faith journals, prayer journals...you name it, I've probably got that journal! They are private-between God and me and that's something truly special. I keep them all--too precious to throw out, and love re-reading them to see all the work God has done in my life.

I also treasure reading my grandma's many diaries/journals of her life experiences. She's been in Heaven a little over a year now, and reading them makes me feel close to her.

Aren't words wonderful? They have so much power...more so than anything physical. I choose to use them in ways to bring honor and glory to God. :)

[Ally]

I love journals. Someday maybe I'll be brave enough to actually write in one.

[deb @ talk at the table]

I love the idea that you are writing down little encouraging notes to yourself.
I wonder why our insecurities allow us to get bogged down in the doubts and lose sight of all of the good things we've accomplished. Our how times we've truly made a difference to someone. These things are so incredibly valuable. We can't measure our value in them alone , but we can lean on them to overcome the fears. You are so inspiring , Holley. I was so glad to see you'd posted today.

[Lisa notes...]

What a lovely thing to share with us. I used to keep a "Joy Journal" and haven't written in it in a long while. Perhaps today I'll begin again? Thanks for the blessing.

[amy]

Holley,
I loved this! When you have 5 minutes, would you please read what I posted on my blog recently about my own journal? There are 2 postings...one I think is called "My Prayer Journal" and the other is "Why I LOVE my Prayer Journal". They are not long at all, but I would love to share with you how my journal has encouraged me recently!
Have a blessed day,
Amy

[Bonnie Gray]

Holley, what a beautiful post. Was this taken from your journal? ;)

It's personal and intimate.

I'm the same way. As much as my fingers fly across the keyboard, I always reach for my journal when I've really got secrets to share.

"Secrets of the Heart"... could that be the title of your next book? ;)

[Kristi]

Wow. I've never been much of a journal writer, but I'd never thought of using it like this. Thanks for the encouragement.

[Fiona]

Beautifully written Holley. You're amazing. God is amazing.
xx

[Candace]

Holley, thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I'm glad you did, because your comment led me back to yours. :) I have been so encouraged by the (in)courage posts, as well as the bloggers individual blogs. I'm glad to have found yours too. And, on the perfect day, a giveaway! LOL! I used to journal (pre-children) and am JUST NOW getting back into it...mostly motivated from Ann's blog, A Holy Experience. I agree with you, it is such an intimate -and beautiful- part of my relationship with God. I love it. :) Right now I'm doing a Gratitude Journal, prompted by Ann's Gratitude Community.

[Janice Kay]

It's been cold and raining here in Minnesota and my heart is feeling cold and all alone. I wrote today and I said ...sometimes when it rains we just have to make rainbows =) I read somewhere on a blog and it made my heart happy today!

Love your blog =)

[C.C.]

Holley,

Thank you for this. Somewhere along the way, I have lost the gift of journaling. Of course, there is my blog, but somehow, it is not exactly the same thing.

I have finished my 40 days, and I thank you for this journey. I am not done finding joy, but continue to choose it each and every day. It is amazing how much my perspective has changed despite the fact that my circumstances have not. Thank you so much.

C.C.

[Katie]

My journal is my most treasured possession next to my bible........oh the joy it brings to go over those precious pages and recount where my Savior and I have been over the last years........

[Denise Y]

Conversation with God....what special times! Joy is always there.....I am timid to write in a journal!

[Laurie]

I read this post with tears in my eyes. I always struggled with putting words down, then a day came I had to do it for the sake of mental health therapy. So I began to visual journal. I have a medical condition in my hand so I can no longer write for more than a minute. I connected to God through those visual collages.....but trials made me fall away from it. I blog with visual words but I miss the collage pages......your post has challenged me to go back to that and reconnect with God again in that manner. Thank you

[Nancy]

Thank You Holley for the reminder to take time to listen for God. I have really enjoyed these days of looking for the joy.

[Sue]

Dear Holley and all that commented today,
Thank you for your words. Every night before I go to sleep I pray and thank God for at lest 5 things in my day. I had what I thought was a challenging day and thought hard about what could I be thankful 4 today? All the words above have helped me realize that what I thought was a challenge could be transferred into a Blessing and then some! My son is 15 and needs to see a cardiologist asap and most likely diabetic too. He has severe autism and profound mental retardation so it is difficult to find out the reasons for pain, etc. Today he was being seen at the allergist for horrendous headaches that he has been having for at least a month. Back to the thankful part... I am thanking God for my son being able to express right in the doctors office that he most likely has a heart condition without words.... He was clapping/hitting his hands very hard and wouldn't stop, he said "boo boo" which means that I need to give him a washcloth with cold water (long story there); so I gave it to him. He put the washcloth on his hands... he needed to hit his hands and put the cold water on them so he could feel the stinging (Doctor: obvious that his hands are numb) and he laid on the floor and put his feet up in the air and kicked the air around for awhile (Doctor: obvious that he wa showing us that his ankles were swollen and bright red and the bottom of his feet were yellow hence poor blood circulation). He has gained approx. 40+ lbs since his last visit due to meds (Doctor: asked about his eating patterns; I shared that he eats sweet (strawberry pop tats) then salty (gold fish crackers) and drinks two glasses of icewater down before bed... which concluded that he most likely has developed diabetes). Once again, as the tables have turned since reading the post and comments, I think I am extremely lucky to have my son be able to COMMUNICATE WITHOUT WORDS something he was feeling b/c he knew he was at the doctor's office... didn't matter which doctor; and the other part where I needed to LISTEN! It doesn't get any better than that! Amen!

[Gailanne]

Holley, thank you for this tonight...you've touched something in my heart. I'm going to go out tomorrow, and buy a journal...I want that divine intimacy, and a place for "my" heart to rest.

Thanks again...for your perspective, encouragement, and sweet heart. God bless you.

[Carol Martin]

Holley:

Thanks for dropping by my blog! I put your thoughtful comment in my "encouragement folder." Every time someone sends me a encouraging email, greeting card or note, I sock them away for a rainy day.(Or a sunny day, or a dreary day, any day at all, really!) I also put scriptures that really touch my heart in there. It reminds me how much God loves and cares about me.

[Larie]

Once again Holley, I have to ask if we can be BFF's! :) I so totally feel the same way you do!

"You see, I tend to forget those things. Or I hide them. I'm embarassed by compliments, overwhelmed by spotlights."

I don't mind telling people about my secrets, I just prefer to do it behind the scenes. That's with anything I do.

smooches,
Larie

[Ellie]

Everytime I read back those journal entries, they are like echoes of love beckoning me back to those shared moments with the Lover of my soul.

Thanks for sharing. :)

[Cindy Faulkner]

Everytime I write in my journal, I end with something that I am grateful for. Seeing it in print always makes me feel more joy.
God Bless!

[Maria Jones-Davidson]

Holley, I remember putting all my prayer requests in a journal quite sometime ago. At the time I was going through tough times and needing answers from God. After writing down my prayer requests I started praying on behalf of prayer number through to the last one. I filled two pages and prayerfully prayed for each request. Uttering each person's name, family & friends, financial issues and all other issues. I felt God's presence come all over me. I thanked Him for each of the answer and worshiped God there at the same time. Yes, putting your thoughts & encouragements and prayer requests in the journal are all very beautiful and very effective!

[yolanda]

I have kept a journal since I was 9. It is the perfect friend.

[Mary Ann]

Holley, I just wanted to say thank you. You have touched my heart.