Thousand Foot Krutch

Thousand Foot Krutch
I love this band. I listen to them daily. Even though we are looking at another camera, we all look like we're alert for it being a fan signing and it's 11:30 p.m. on a Friday.

29 April 2013

How to journal, and the difference between journals and diaries


I think some people get confused between a journal and a diary.

A journal is a daily record of events and businesses, or, it's a newspaper or publication. Basically, journals keep track of events and business activities. They do not have to kept up daily.

Journals are not about your private thoughts. A diary, on the other hand, is private, records your thoughts, and you write in it daily. Men can have diaries as well as women. They're usually handwritten, although there has been a move to electronic diaries. However, in my experience, diaries are more personal, useful, and therapeutic when handwritten. This is where you put your thoughts, experiences, and sometimes thoughts on current events - like Facebook, only far more private. Since it's private, you can be far more open, sharing things you would not want or feel comfortable sharing with anyone else. You can write about crushes, about your perceptions of people, your personality, and your fears. People don't usually share their diaries with other people, or if they do they share them with a few close friends and family.

As for journals, not diaries, there are many different kinds.

You can have a budget journal.

You write down everything you spend and what you spent it on. For instance, if you bought food at a store, you write down how much you spent, when, and whether or not you charged it or used cash or check. You can also start with an amount and then subtract what you spend and add from there.

You can have an idea journal.

If you get so many ideas and thoughts about things, like if you are a writer and have story ideas, or you are an inventor, you can write down the ideas you come up with when you come up with them, so you don't forget them and can look back at them.

You can have a prayer journal. 

What does a prayer journal look like? It can be a regular notebook or a special book you buy. I just use a small spiral notebook. I wrote down the word "prayers" on one side, and flipped it over and wrote "answers" on the other side. This is a structure I prefer.

1) Write down your prayers. This can be like a list, or on one page, or however you want to form it.

2) Then you begin to pray about it outloud and in your mind, silently.

3) Flip the book over. Write down the answer when you receive it.

The good thing about this is that eventually your prayers and answers will meet - in the records. You also have a record of prayers you have and had, and answers, so when you are feeling discouraged you can look back and see how big our God is. I didn't come up with this on my own, though. My friend told me about it. I love mine.

You can have a Bibly study journal. 

What does a Bible study journal look like? It can be a notebook, a book, or anything with paper. This is a record of what you spend time reading in the Bible - it can be a passage of any length; it can be one verse or a book. This can also be an electronic journal, or you can create it as a blog or website if you want to share it with others.

1) Date it.

2) Write the scripture down.

3) Pray it.

4) Write down your thoughts and what God reveals to you.

I have attached another option for a Bible study journal. I had to recreate it but it is not an original creation of mine. It's a piece of paper that you print out and write in. Then you can file them away in a binder, folder, or other kind of container. You can do it online and save it in an electronic file, as well. You write the date, the Scripture, and there's a column for tasks (things you think of you need to do while you're reading - you don't stop to do them, you write them down to do later). There's also a section for further study, which are Scriptures or ideas or topics God gives you to look into some other day. If you want a PDF version, you can email or comment here and I will email you a PDF file, or you can recreate it yourself.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel