He Turns My Pleas to Praise
When I am…
Angry
Consumed with grief
Caught up in sin
Discouraged
Desperate
Dumbfounded
Engaged in battle
Faithless
Fearful
Groping for guidance
Helpless
Hopeless
Overwhelmed
Panicked
Pressed
Pressured
Stressed
Tempted
I turn to my journal in prayer.
I ask.
I lament.
I cry.
I cry out.
I complain.
I list my lists.
I find my fears.
I confess my sins.
The Lord meets me there.
He hears.
He answers.
He opens my eyes.
He reminds me of…
His grace
His promises
His peace
His power
His truth
His mercy
His forgiveness
His strength
His ability
His help
His glory
His might
His victory
His blessings.
Pages upon pages
We meet in the middle.
He reveals.
He heals.
He calms my spirit.
He restores my hope.
He guides me.
He sets my course aright.
He strengthens me.
He gives me joy.
He turns my pleas to praise!
Do you know the blessing of journaling? The way God can meet us in the pages, when our words otherwise fail? When we are weak and weary, worried and confused? If you don’t, just start writing. Pray. See how God meets you right in the middle of the pages. Be amazed at the way he turns our pleas to praise.
When I am in a dry place, or just not even taking time to notice the condition of my heart, he uses helps to prime the pump and get me praying with words and art as my tools. I am blessed to have both local and on-line art/journaling friends to inspire me. Here a few of my favorites:
Kel Rohlf is a long time personal friend. A true gift, Kel loves to learn and shares generously with all. She is an accomplished writer, word lover and multi-media artist. She wrote “Defining Moments, Overflowing with Living Words,” where she shares her musings about life with the definition of words and their impact on her understanding of the Word of God. I am blessed to take her Souldare multi-Media art journaling classes in a local art studio and to share open studio time with her once a month in her personal studio. You can visit her soulPantry here: https://kelrohlf.wordpress.com/ where she shares words, ideas and prompts. You will be inspired to open up your journal and let God feed your soul too.
Lynn Morrissey, CJF, is not only a professional journal facilitator in journal therapy at Sacred Journaling, but another personal friend. She wrote a beautiful book called “Love Letters to God,” where she shares how God transformed her life through the intimacy of relationship with Him that grew out of her practice of writing her prayers in her journal. She has journaled for over 40 years and has a stack of journals that reach from floor to ceiling which represent the outpouring of her heart and God’s healing balm. As a professional journal facilitator she encourages transparency in women through journaling classes that she writes and teaches in her hometown, St. Louis, MO. God has really done some healing work in her classes. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lynn.morrissey.14
Dawn Paloetta is a super journaler and writer. I met her online. You can find her gathering stones on the beach most mornings. She loves hanging out with her hubby, daughter and family pets close to home in the smallest state in the US: Rhode Island. She blogs and shares her passion, poetry and prose on her blog, Enthusiastically Dawn A quick tidbit: She has filled 800 journals. Wow! She is funny too! Get inspiration and journaling ideas from Dawn.at https://www.enthusiasticallydawn.com or on Facebook at:
Enthusiastically, Dawn
Anna K. Pasquale, Artist at Anna K. Originals, “believes art is a verb, creativity is a love language, and that there is grace in the mess.” We met online too. You can find her beautiful art here at http://www.annakoriginals.com/ where there is a link to The Made Tribe where she shares art journaling prompts and inspiration for free or you can go there directly at www.madetribe.com to sign up.
How about you? Do you journal? Do you have a favorite place to go for inspiration and prompts?
Latest posts by Kelly Greer (see all)
- Don’t Quit & Jump Ship – Hold Tight & Pray - April 25, 2017
- He Turns My Pleas to Praise - May 24, 2016
- Longing for the High Place Where Death Does Not Win - March 29, 2016
Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing.
You are welcome Mimi. Thank you for reading.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Your post is like a delightful table of contents for all the reasons in the world why someone should pick up a pen and start journaling.
Yes Michele! I love that idea, “a table of contents as to why one would pick up a pen and journal.” Journaling has been a most effective method of turning my pleas to praise in all matter of life trials!
Kelly, this is so beautiful–this outpouring of your heart, letting others know the kinds of things you pour into your journal–this middleground–sacred ground–where you and God meet. I love that thought about your meeting God in the “middle”–in the middle of your journal pages, in the middle of your life–in the middle of your messes, your yesses, and even your guesses. Because God meets you there, there is no guessing how much He loves you. Think of it: The God of the universe wants to meet us and guide and comfort and bless. He BLESSES! Yes! I love your list poem, a “technique,” as you know, that we use in class. I think you could go on and on, growing a list from St. Louis to New York and back, about all the ways God has blessed you through journaling. And I could surely write a list poem about how you bless others–especially me! Thank you so much. And thank you for the kind mention. Goodness! I am in such truly wonderful company among these word-and-art lovers whom you’ve cited. I’m so glad that Kel has joined the Consilium, and we will have to get Dawn over here too. I don’t know Anna, but thank you for the introduction. Any friend of yours is one I’ll love!
Love you, krazy Kelly! 🙂 You are so wonderful.
xox
Lynni
Ah Lynn! I hope you do check out Anna’s sit. Her art is besutiful and her heart is so tender. The Made Tribe sparks are fun! You all would love each other so much I just know it! Wish we could all be in the same room for a artjournaling tourdejour!
Kelly, you are blunt and real. This speaks to me. Love you girl! Keep laughing.
Diane. I am “blunt” and real. Haha! I pray the Lord can make good use of these characteristics. Love you back!
Kelly, I have found in you, Kel and Lynn such amazing camaraderie and blessing…such kinship, connection, encouragement. Like a group hug of word love and creativity…I love your poem and am honored that you would include me . I will go check out Anna! I agree with Michele!
Ditto Dawn! I hope more women will join in this kinship of sharing art and words in time with the Lord. Oh how he knits us together!
My sweet Kelly. What a blessing! You now only show but you tell us the wonders, beauty and treasure of journaling: journaling with God! He treasures His treasure and His treasure you are.
Such a gift to share his words and heart in the pages of my journal. He always turns my sorrow to joy! I know he meets you on the page too Christine. Your words always reflect his heart.
Oh my. What an insightful poem to whet our appetites for what journaling can do in our spirits, pressing us closer to our Father God. And then, you introduced us to all these inspiring women with creative ideas just begging to be tried! I’ve written down the web addresses and look forward to stretching my journaling efforts in new directions. Thank you, Kelly!
Nancy. I hope you do have time to meet my friends at their lovely places of inspiration. Of course, God inspires us each in a personal way. I love witnessing the way that God inspires others. He stretches me!
Kelly, yes, I journal…..I have boxes of journals. No prompts, tho’, I just write what’s on my heart usually in response to God’s word or a devotional I’ve read. Or I sit outside and take a Sabbath on the Page (a phrase coined by Laura Barkat). Sure wish I lived in MO to take that journaling workshop (playshop, as Kel calls it) live and in person!
Great post, Kelly.
Jody I love how your words flow out of a grateful heart that relshes time with the Lord. I wish you were closer so you could come play with Kel, Lynni and others in the local workshops. So glad to have these friends in my life. And you too!