IT'S CHEAP, AND IT WILL BE APPRECIATED: WHAT'S MORE, IT'S OBEDIENT

And it would make a great Christmas present. What I'm talking about is writing a spiritual journal. To give to someone special this Christmas.

Two weeks ago we attended Saddleback Church in California. Our daughter attended there for over a year, fighting 1 and 1/2 to 2 hour traffic on the busy 5 until time requirements got the best of her. But we go back when we can, and when we or her brother and his family are in town.

Pastor Rick Warren and his wife Kay gave away 20,000 journals to the attendees at the six services they have each weekend. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of journaling for the sake of preservation and better understanding.

Pastor Rick pointed out that in Psalm 102:18 we are "to write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, So that people not yet born will praise Him." That's reason enough to begin.

Recently my brother passed on to me my mother's bible. I shared it with our son, who commented that he remembered it. It was good to see her handwriting in the Bible. It had been awhile since she passed away in 1991. After we received the journal, I thought how great it would have been had my mother written something down about her spiritual walk, perhaps her testimony. That would really have touched my heart.

So in today's spiritual journal, ok it's really just a Christian blog entry, but at a prayer meeting last night at our church, Pastor Dave talked about different kinds of journals and included blogs, so I'll agree with him. But anyway(s) I'll offer a few suggestions for topics.

What are your favorite Bible verses? What is your favorite book in the Old Testament? The New Testament?

How have you seen the power of God's grace? How has grace enabled you not to sin?

If there's a distance between you and God, who moved? (I credited this quote to our lead pastor, and include it here to suggest that not all topics have to be positive in writing about our relationship with the Lord.)

From what sources to you get your spiritual nourishment?

What did you read in scripture today? Record your reflections or applications about God's Word and how it spoke to you.

How have you been feeding rather than grieving the Holy Spirit?

There. That should get you started. But remember, a spiritual journal is what you decide to make it. How can you go wrong when you surround yourself in thought, study, or meditation in God's Word? Writing will help you do that. And it will provide a great Christmas present for a loved one. Trust me; it will be appreciated, possibly cherished, and worth the effort.