Journaling?

yeah bill, i do this and have for a long time. i started when i was in jr. high sometime and felt frustrated with prayer... it's been on and off since then but i've grown a lot and seen it develope into so much more. much like journaling in hand is communicating in person. i'd love to get together and share some of my personal journey and what works for me... face to face. but i can say this, i love it. it's one of the most important parts of my time with God and while i don't do it every day and at a certain time, it has become something that i guard my time for. it's funny how much God has taught me in that and how much looking back through past entries (i have about 8 journals now... i'm most certainly paper... ever lost everything on a computer?)has reminded me of convictions and truths God showed me that i had forgotten. and the growth, seeing that growth is humbling. i think i know so much now, give me 6 months and i'll look back and be embarrassed... a good humbling shot in the arm of pride! i've also learned that i can't be like everyone else or even expect to match myself everyday but to just allow myself some freedom. there are certain things i do to focus myself and prepare but sometimes i don't write what i think i would. i had to make sure i didn't turn it into a bible study with an agenda ("how does this apply to my life?") but just be open. working for a church and writing several bible studies every week i would tend to take those prep. habits into my meditation and journaling time with God- that didn't work too well for me.
go for it bill, i think you'll really enjoy how God uses that in your life. take the plunge and don't set your expectations too high. aim for a closer goal at first and see what God grows it all into.
let's get together soon!

I'm not a journal everyday person, but a journal when pondering an issue person. (Examples: what it means to be a Christian wife, joy in times of Crisis, what Biblical prayer is, worship music, etc.) It has been great for me to have a place to first coherently work out my thoughts (have you ever sat and thought about things for a few hours and felt like you came to some conclusions and then forget the thought process that brought you there-I hate that) and second to be able to go back and reference them when the topic comes up with others, and third when I've been asked to share something at a gathering (youth group, retreat, etc.) I generally have something right there already that has been thought over for months, read about, with scripture references. Also, before Ana was born I always took notes in a journal of sermons. Of course, it would be difficult for you to do that. ;-)
I would also say that if you are feeling convicted to journal, then you probably should. I am generally of the opinion on matter such as this (ie:things which aren't specifically mentioned in the Bible) that if you are feeling that you should do them, then you probably should. Provided of course it never becames "Christ and"...Christ and quite time, Christ and christian rock music, Christ and journaling, Christ and small group, Christ and fair traded goods....you get the idea.
Anyway, that's my two bits on journaling. I would add to the idea of meditating on one verse that I think a lot of good could come out of it provided that it doesn't replace the bulk of your time in the Word. No matter how much wealth is in one verse (take Gen. 1:1 for example) it can't replace looking at the whole councel of God. Of course as a Pastor I'm quite certain you know that and wouldn't stop reading even when looking in depth, but I thought I'd add it anyway.

Yeah! I finally posted on your site! (Been meaning to for awhile) Must get back to the baby. I've left her to her own devices with her cereal. Way cute. Way messy.

*LOL* you quoted me....that's so funny......

Hi Bill: I've been journaling on and off for sometime. Believe it or not, what really helped with me was buying myself a really nice book to journal in, and getting myself a really nice instrument to write with. I mean, you'd be surprised at how much that helped. Mine is a prayer journal most of the time. I try to write out some preliminary thoughts for the people I'm praying for, and it seems to help me pray for them with more precision. Sometimes I just put praise on paper. Sometimes I consider a Bible passage I'd read that morning, and just ask myself questions about it, put down whatever comes to mind. Anyway, I find the whole process very helpful. Certainly not for everybody, but for some it is an avenue of grace.

I would second the comment on getting a nice journal and pen! I too have found that really helps. (I used to do it for school too...color coded everything-binder, notebook, pen-it was great)

i can see that, tiffany. one of my friends was very much a color-coded kind of girl... post its, highlighting, pen color. it was like she carried half of office depot with her to school.

update: i went and got a nice little journal (as best i could find in the booming town of seguin - can you believe they don't have a barnes n noble?!). wrote for awhile yesterday. it was great. i don't think i'm going to try to write out full prayers (i used to and i think it's part of why i quit... my hand couldn't keep up with my mind and heart and i got frustrated). instead, i may jot notes while i'm praying - but it was really nice to lay out some thoughts and insight i had while praying through scripture.

thanks so much for all the advice, everyone!