In 2013

I aspire to do these things in 2013:

• Read the Bible (I'm using the One-Year Bible, English Standard Version)
• Study about Prayer
• Pray more
• Read 100 books
• Write something every day

1173

Back in August 2009 I began a new journaling project, based on something I saw on Ann Voskamp's blog. You can click on the link if you want to read about it. Mostly it was for me, as I had been in a time of dryness, a time of not knowing where I was going in my spiritual walk.

In the intervening time, I've lived in three states, held two different jobs, read through the entire Bible, done several Bible studies with myself and groups, and touched upon four life-themes: brave, grace, focus, and listen.

This is what my journal looked like then: August 18, 2009, and the passage was Psalm 1.

And this is today's final entry, 1173 days later, from James 5:

This is a journey I certainly plan to continue. As I head into a time of being away from home, and surgery, and - let's face it - upheaval, I will not begin my next volume until the new year. What will my theme be next year? I have no idea. But this is the next volume in the spiritual journal story of my walk with God, given to me a couple of years ago from my friend Maria:

100 Days Left

There area 100 days left in 2011. I was going to make a list of 100 things to do over the course of those days, but that list seemed too daunting. So I whittled it down to 50 things.

Now, this is not a list of things to DO, to accomplish, exactly. I mean, some of the things are things I need to do. Things that need to be done, and then they will be complete and out of my head. Off my shoulders. Crossed and markered off my haunting, taunting ever-lovin' never-endin' to-do list!

But it's also a list including some habits I intend to cultivate. To help change my attitude, to turn my life toward service and away from my self.

Some things I'll share, some will be private, but all of them will help me be a better Pattie.

One thing I'm doing on my Facebook page is listing random Alaska facts of the day. One goal is to learn something new about my new state each day. This means I should have a nice long list when I'm finished.

I'm also dusting off my gratitude journal and working on that 1000 Gifts list again. Remembering that all is grace.

One other thing I'll be seeking is my 2012 theme.

How about you...will you have a personal challenge over the course of the last 100 days of 2011?

Shouldn't this be catch-up week?

I'm sort of thinking, yes.

Yes, this week between Christmas and New Year's Day should be catch-up week. I need to catch up on so many things: book reviews, blogging (here and at Wives of Faith), paperwork, bills...

So look for a plethora of new book reviews as I clear out the "review" box, and a few other year-end wrap-up posts as well.

I'm also working through my 2010 yearly theme...more on that later. God takes His time with those. Last year it wasn't cemented until New Year's Eve, so I'm not worried...we have a couple of days! 2009 was the year of being Brave, and while I think it was a success overall, part of me is a little disturbed at my own use of the word "success." Having "Brave" as my theme helped me overcome a few fears and step out of my comfort zone more times than I would have liked, and with good results. It forced me to trust outside myself, and let God have control more than I might have otherwise.

And so, begin today with a prayer and a smile, and great hopes for a nice end to the new year.

Spiritual Journal

Anyone who knows me in real life has probably received a journal from me at some point. I love journals! I have been a diarist/journal-keeper since around fifth grade or so, but not consistently through the past 25-plus years. I've been more faithful to the craft since around 2000, when I first read Nicole Johnson's Fresh-Brewed Life: A Stirring Invitation to Wake Up Your Soul. This was an important book to me (revisit the top of this blog and see its title to see how much!).

Unfortunately, this year has not been a good journaling year. Normally I'm halfway through my second blank book by mid-August, but this year, I still have plenty of space in my journal. I just haven't been writing as much by hand. While that saddens me, I didn't do anything about it.

Until today.

Stephanie is one of my Women at Home friends, one of those gals who's walked through fire with me but whom I've never met in person. I visit her blog regularly, and yet, I missed this honey of a link before today, when I accidentally clicked on it in the margin of her blog.

Journaling as Spiritual Discipline.

Oh my goodness!

I was amazed. How did I miss it before? I don't know. But what I can say is, I've had as a goal all summer to read and study the Word more closely, but I just haven't gotten it done. I just haven't, and no excuse is good enough. But this blog, this entry, reawakened the desire in me to track my spiritual life so I can STAY on track with my spiritual life, and not let it go by the wayside, neglected.

I found an unused journal in my box of unused journals that closely matches the size of my Bible. I printed out portions of the journal entry so I'd have a couple of the examples and the suggested guidelines, and glued them into the first several pages of my journal.

Then I began:


Ann Voskamp? I don't know you, but I thank you.