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Today, I began a new journal!
It is always an exciting new time as I peel back the plastic packaging to reveal the brand new moleskine journal. My journal represents so much in my life, as I am sure many who will read this can attest to. Maybe it’s just me, but I have found that my printing is very neat on the first couple pages and that I do my best to include thoughts and ideas about the future. In addition one will find some referencing to the challenging, amazing, and noteworthy accounts in my last one. I have seen many journals come and go. I have had journals where I missed many days or pages with illegible handwriting that litters parts of it and includes possible drool. (Just kidding) There are coffee stains and different colored pen markings for sure, however. Well, today I put a reward of $50 for a lost journal in the front page as well as my address including "USA" at the end. This kind of got me thinking about how journaling is changing in me and about what I want to accomplish in this new journal, and rather, what God wants to accomplish in me.
I believe the 40daze are shaping myself as well as our team to see beyond the now and take the mountain.
Anyways, here are a few thoughts about starting a new journal.
1. Write legibly
-Yeah, I have problems with this….alot.
-print in clear letters.
-Make clear the points, sections, and divisions.
-David’s journal could be read.
"As the door pants for the wanton so my son laughs to me." psalm 42
If david wrote sloppy we may have something like this to read.
In addition, I am sure that scribes were very precise to preserve what was said.
2. Write counting on NO ONE reading it.
– We may not have gotten psalm 51. Which I am super thankful for.
– If you’re not going to be transparent with yourself, then why waste the time.
– Although mine is read every week, I must not give in to myself as an editor. Just write.
3. In addition to everything else, write about what’s happening right now.
-Think about answering these questions: Where are you? What are you looking at? What day is it? What is racing through you mind? Who is on your mind, heart?
-If all journaling is to me is a collection of short devotions, it will be a book for a shelf and retitled a homily.
-Even if no one ever finds my writing interesting. I will. It’s a record of my journey with God and life. 20 years from now you will be kicking yourself if you don’t. DETAILS WILL BRING INSIGHT LATER.
4. Include other things.
-not necessarily a scrapbook, but include ticket stubs or photos, a business card or receipt from a special dinner. Again, you will be so thankful later. I don’t save stuff like this anymore, but I know I will keep my journals. This will, again, be rewarding to you later. Be creative.
5. Plan for the archive.
-Get a journal that will last.
-Use good paper.
-Use good ink.
-I use the same kind every time. Moleskine squared journal. They will be easy to transport and keep together.
I want to grow in GOD, dangit! So I am TAKING MORE TIME with my journal process to ensure that I show how much God means to me in being excellent with my journal. Who knows what will happen to them?
Andy
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ever have a lot on your plate?
Get a global perspective.
Jesus is doing amazing things all around the world with busy people
Some things my dear friend Netta once said
Think Ahead
Get Organized
Be Prepared
Be on Time
I am still striving, yet tonight I was reminded (yet again) America has many false presuppositions regarding life, love, and the pursuit of all things.
My citizenship is in heaven. Praise God.
loving the life
Andy
GET IN THE ADVENTURE. TURNS OUT WE CAN HANDLE MORE THAN WE THINK, ALWAYS.
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One of my favorite views on the world.
Only one though. I have many hundred thousand. This one is special.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. Paul the apostle
Andy
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Wake up.
Write it down.
Win with others.
I am profoundly impacted tonight. Change is on it’s way.
Andy
Andy
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Do you ever get stumped, nervous, or confused when sending an email when it comes to putting in the subject line? Sometimes I think about it and just can’t come up with anything good, catchy, funny, etc. So i choose to leave it blank. When the email arrives to the recipients inbox it comes in as, which I am sure you are all aware, “”
Travesty.
Have you ever had a conversation which, recalling to mind, you couldn’t think of anything talked about of value? Maybe the conversation was about nothing important, or maybe you didn’t contribute anything of substance, or maybe prayer just wasn’t involved. Maybe you could say it has no subject?
I was just thinking that as a follower of Jesus every time I open this mouth it should be because I have something to say. When you talk, say something. Speak on purpose. I like it…simple, easy to remember. (thank you captain jack sparrow)
“And I tell you that on the Judgment Day people will be responsible for every careless thing they have said. The words you have said will be used to judge you. Some of your words will prove you right, but some of your words will prove you guilty.” -Matthew 12:36
IF YOU ARE CARELESS WITH YOUR WORDS YOU CONVERSATION WAS OF NO SUBJECT. PERIOD.
You know, honestly, I am careless far too often. BUT Praying first has been changing that. I am asking that Praying first will infiltrate every potential interaction. Right now, it has been a bunch, but I still enter conversations before I have prayed, not for long though.
Recently, I have been making it a point to pray for everyone I KNOW I am going to see, before I see them. REAL church gang, I have been praying for you before I see you. I really want to speak….not just talk when we interact. Word.
Andy
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There is a pioneer I know with some crazy vision.
Anybody remember this?
Here’s to reaching for what’s next!
Andy
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What will it take to finish? Finish what? The work you’ve been
assigned. If it wasn’t your assignment, God would not have given it to
you. So then what? Finish at all costs. At any cost. At every cost. Or
this may be your last assignment.
“Do your best to show yourselves approved…” 2 tim 2:15
Andy
Sent from my iPhone
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Things I am compelled by this moment
What’s really going on here?
Where is God in all this?
What will it take for me to be holy?
Andy
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Dear friends, I’ve dropped everything to write you about this life of
salvation that we have in common. I have to write
insisting—begging!—that you fight with everything you have in you for
this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish.
-a friend of mine named Jude
what is the everything in me?
observation: everything is a lot more than I perceive.
andy
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“There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.” – Kierkegaard
The average man is a fierce fighter, he fights for 9-5. He fights for a 2% pay increase. He fights for stability, something that is "nice." He is consistent enough that he is always striving toward consistency and yet his inconsistency is just as consistent. He prays, long enough to ease his soul, yet not to satisfy it.
At first glance, this quote is easy to sluff off. If it didn’t didn’t ring true maybe we should just take our fingers out of our ears to realize that God is beckoning us onward and forward. We thought one lap was good. We are satisfied with one soul saved, three new visitors, dreams enough to keep us pursuing but never overtaking. Improvement instead of victory. Discomfort but not agony. Inconvenience is fine, just as long as there is boundaries. And yet, Jesus wept because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus asked for a different cup and didn’t get it. Sweat became blood. All his disciples were gone. Peter disowned him, Judas betrayed him, all the rest scattered (until john showed up at the crucifixion.) He had to end up completely alone.
What can you do this year that fear kept you from last year? What can you become this year?
andy
