Pages of Faith

I have always been addicted to making lists, jotting down quotes, and sketching doodles.  I collect little notebooks and journals and fill them up with my goals and things I must do…..all handwritten with something like colorful gel pens, of course.

Beyond the grocery and bucket lists however, came a unique way for me to become closer to God.  One day I bought the prettiest notebook, hundreds of stickers, and a set of fine tipped Sharpie markers.  I began to write in this notebook……favorite bible verses, thoughts on God, prayers, and simply what was on my heart……and then I  began to decorate it with colorful stickers and Sharpie doodles.

I call it my Faith Notebook.  I love it.  As I thumb through the pages I realize it has changed my life.  It makes me laugh and uplifts my spirit.  I can vividly see prayers that have been answered and how my faith has grown.  Best of all, my girlies look through it and want to make one of their own.   I am hoping if I show you how, you will want to make one too. 

What you need:

·        A notebook or journal

·        Colorful things to write with

·        Stickers

Okay, really all you need is a notebook.  But gel pens and stickers will make you happy!  I bought a fancy spiral hardback notebook, splurged on the package of 80 fine tipped markers, and loaded up on hundreds of stickers.  Shhhhh.  Don’t tell my husband.

Getting Started:  You can write about anything you want in your Faith Notebook, but mine mainly consists of my favorite Bible verses.

Often times, I would write notes to myself about the verses or write down why they meant something to me, during a bible study.  The point is, to collect your thoughts so you can go back and remember what you have learned.

Making It Personal:  It would take eons to fill in a large notebook with just bible verses and although they are the main portion of a Faith Notebook, I just love how I made my notebook mine.  Here are some ideas that I used that will make your notebook uniquely yours.

*Be Creative*  Draw something.  Color it.  Use these illustrations to draw analogies about the Bible verses you have written down, or to explain what you are studying.

*Ask Yourself Questions* As you look back on your notebook you will be able to re-ask yourself the questions that you wrote down, and if you are anything like me, they will be questions that you need to ask yourself over and over. 

*Give Thanks*  Thank you Oprah, this is just like a gratitude journal.  Your journal can be a great reminder of what you have to be thankful for, no matter what situation you are facing.

*Pray* 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to “Pray without ceasing.”  Praying is an open line of communication between you and God.  When you write your prayers down, you will actually be able to see that they have been answered when you look back on them.  It is AMAZING!

*Talk To Yourself*  In my notebook I am always bossing myself around.  I use my name.  Like, “Hey Lynnie!  Listen to this!” or “Lynn, you gotta remember that….”.   It’s like giving yourself a little pep talk during the messy game of life.

*Use Song Lyrics*  The words from a favorite praise song or hymn are a great way to add to your journal.  I sometimes get a little crazy and take lyrics from any old love song and give those words a “God” theme.  I think any song will work as long as you focus on Him.

*Repeat Yourself*  Many times I have written a Bible verse or special quote more than once in my journal.  Sometimes what I have written is applied differently to whatever situation I am struggling with at the time, compared to when I wrote it down the first time.   Sometimes it is simply a part of God’s word that I hold fast to over and over.  Either way, don’t God’s words and promises bear repeating again and again?

*Be Funny*  When I watch my girls reading through my journal I love to see them laughing about my silly drawings and analogies.  Being happy in your faith is a life altering experience.  Nothing will make you happier in life than an ongoing relationship with God.  Write about it and laugh!

So there it is, my Faith Notebook.  I have been working on it for over two years!  I am about half way through it now and it is one of my goals to finish this year. (Goal #65 of 101 Goals in 2012)  It is something I plan on continuing for the rest of my life and hopefully it will inspire someone to start one too.  Get ready…..your faith is about to grow!

Linking with:

Women In the Word Wednesdays

Candy Hearts & Ex Boyfriends

For my Facebook status on V-day 2011  I wrote….Roses are red, Violets are blue, Its Valentine’s day, And I have a hangnail.

I don’t really have a hangnail, but the fact was I wasn’t too excited about the romantic holiday without my man, and the other fact is….I think I have had a bad run of this holiday throughout my life.

It all started in second grade and for some reason, we had our Valentine’s bags hanging on the sides of our desks.  The class party was later in the day, but I could actually sneak my hand into the bag and steal some of my own candy.  Obviously I was gifted child.

Hours later, the class party started and everyone was opening their candy and eating it and guess who didn’t have any candy in her Valentine box?

Me.

Fast forward into high school.  It was my Junior year and I had my very first real life boyfriend.  His name was Greg Gerbers and no, I didn’t change his name to protect his identity.  Some of my friends called him King Part. Because of the way he combed his hair.  I probably should have used the nickname as a predictor of how long our relationship would last. (Umm, two months.)

We first kissed while watching The Little Mermaid and we went to the Morp together….you know, the backwards prom.

He gave me a stuffed bear for Valentine’s day and then dumped me three days later, for the girl we double dated with to the Morp.  Turns out, he gave her a rose on Valentine’s Day and had been trading notes with her for a whole week! He was totally a slimy cheater! (Can you see his part?)

Skip ahead about four or five more years and I am sitting in a steakhouse eating a fancy dinner with my boyfriend.  We had been dating for a year now and we had met each other’s parents and everything.  He was a cattle rancher in Southwest Nebraska…..a cowboy.  He had a belt buckle and everything. 

I was in love…..I think.

We had just finished dessert and he pushed the red velvet box towards me.  I opened it and it was a diamond.  I looked at him and he said, “Well……..will ya?” And I said yes.

There I was, engaged.

Happy Valentine’s day right? 

Not really.  We got in a fight on the drive home.  The ring was too big because he didn’t get it sized.  And oh yeah….WHAT THE HELL KIND OF PROPOSAL WAS THAT?

We broke up a little over a year later, just about 4 weeks before the wedding.  And now, I am not a cattle rancher’s wife, living in Beaver City, Nebraska for the rest of my life.  (Dear God, Again I thank you for unanswered prayers. Amen)

So there you have it. Candyless, dumped, and stuck with 200 unusable wedding invitations.  Valentine’s Day…..a big, red, sore, oozing, hangnail of life.  Ouch!

But wait!!!!

Guess what was on my bed last night before I got in it?

Thank you my three girlies.....maybe Valentine’s Day isn’t so bad after all.