CLASS RESPONSE AND QUESTIONS TO THE WATCHMAN'S JOURNALING LESSON
 

First of all, OH MY THIS ASSIGNMENT IS SO EXCITING FOR ME!! :)

I'm 23 (almost 24) and have been writing in a prayer journal since I was 16,(now in total I have 45! So exciting) and every one of those 12 reasons to journal that you (Sandy) wrote out have special meaning to me. It was very exciting to read and be able to relate so much with why you write. Now on to the assignment (as my heart is fluttering quickly!) :)

2. Sometimes I struggle when trying to decide whether to record something or not for the future. As I've been typing up my old prayer journals into word documents, sometimes I just totally leave something out that I feel is inappropriate now. Do you (Sandy) or anyone else struggle with deciding what to record and what to just leave out? Sometimes I'm afraid that I'm leaving out something important or something that may bless someone in the future when it comes to struggling in prayer over a specific sin. My goal is to glorify the Lord and record what I think will be a blessing to Him, to me, and to any one else who may come across my journalings in the future. Any thoughts or guidelines?

3. This is so wonderful that this assignment was posted today because I literally just finished typing up what I consider to be one of the most important and wonderful, life changing journal entries. Here it is, and I sincerely hope and pray that the Lord will bless you all through this Word from:

January 28, 2007

Often times I see God as the director, and we are the actors, put there for His desires, just to mess with us, like I wonder what the reason for even creating us was, and it was never a good picture; always some type of negative emotion paired w/this. Even though I know this is wrong and it doesn't make sense, and God is not selfish, I think about it sometimes. All day at work I was thinking about that and could figure out no good reason that He created, except for Himself. I prayed while I was thinking these things, asking Christ to take these thoughts captive, but they continued. Til after work and teaching Sunday School, sitting in my room on my bed. I was praying aloud, started crying, asking for forgiveness for accusing Him of selfishness and projecting my thoughts onto Him. I asked Him to grow me in His love. Finally I just called out

“Why!? Why did You make us!?”

And immediately I thought of the mothers with babies at church tonight.

Why did they choose (if they choose) to have a baby?

To lavish their love upon it!

And I thought in answer to my question:

“I wanted something to love. I made you to love you.”

HOW BEAUTIFUL! He made me to love me! Even though things got messed up along the way…

He made me to love me!

And it made everything BETTER.

I knew it was Him that spoke that to me. I needed to know. :)

As far as format goes...whatever I'm thinking about, I write. If I like a Bible verse, I write it. If I hear the Lord or see quickened signs, pictures, words, letters, numbers, I try to record it. I also write my prayers. Many times, unless I'm with others, I lose track easily of what I'm saying aloud in prayer, so writing down word for word is a huge help for me. I kept diaries all throughout my childhood and teen years, so this practice really works for me. It is what brought me nearer to the Lord and I would recommend it to anyone. May the Lord bless all of you in your journaling--this is sooo exciting and I can't wait to see what you all share!!

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SANDY RESPONSE

Your enthusiasm gives me so much joy! Thank you for sharing your heart.

I love your journal entry! What a spectacular discovery of truth. I asked the Lord before I read your answer, why He created us, and immediately He questioned, "Why do you have children?" He is our FATHER and wanted to have children, because He is LOVE. He wanted children to love. So, so special to understand this about Him. Can you imagine having all this love that He has and have no one to lavish it upon? Wow.

Your journal question is a good one. I went through that too. One of my problems is that I was praying over issues and people and so treasured hearing and seeing what the Lord said, that I didnt want to delete them. Finally after waiting several years, I re-read some of the old entries and realized that those things were resolved, and totally off God's scope. I was different, people were different, and those things werent important any more... all had changed.

So I began asking Him what to do. I turned with anointed hands and my eye dropped to a line that said, "Do you want to edit soul?" I laughed and laughed. YES I wanted to edit my soul and delete the stuff that just wasnt there any more! So I gratefully did edit it. That little edit cost me $300. I took all 14ish of my printed rhema books down to the local shredder and had them shredded. Then I edited to my heart's delight, took out everything I did not want to leave as a legacy and re-printed.

I learned in my early years that love does not keep a record of wrong. And when we ask forgiveness, neither does God. It is ALL tossed into the sea and wiped out. So I tried very hard not to record bad things, but when they were genuine concerns that I prayed over and heard the Lord about, I recorded and kept. So the above shredding was for that purpose of deleting all the soul surgeries.

One time I had a vision of piles and piles of shredded printed rhema and doing it in hilarity. We used to print them from the computer and with each change, I shredded. One time I shredded all and it totally filled our kitchen floor about 3 feet tall. smile. We finally discovered it was cheaper to have them printed at Lulu into real books with real bindings!

Hi,

Thank you, this is perfect timing for me. I am trying to settle down in my journaling and be consistent with one format or another.

My question would be, "how do you journal honestly and privately when it involves others?"

My journal note from today (which happened to be a great day for learning the answer to what the Lord had been trying to get me to understand):

Today's entry: Last night I watched a Sid Roth interview with a lady who shared how the Lord was answering prayers quickly. This was on my mind and I was seeking the Lord about the Body of Christ having these kind of testimonies all over everywhere.

As I made my first cup of coffee this am, I had a quick vision of an elder (where the board runs the church, not the pastor) telling the pastor, "Fat chance you are going to spend your days in your study, praying and studying the Bible. We hired you on to be the pastor of this church and explained the duties involved before you took the job. If this is not satisfactory to you, then find another job." I could see the pastor's heart so clearly. It was broken, angry, and discouraged, all in one instant. His first desire was to respond with a resounding, "leave it," but he knew to keep his mouth shut.

[I went to my desk to write this down because I knew it was of the Lord.]

Directions: (based on my recent issues)

- Draw your strength from the Lord

- plant your roots deep into the water and wait for 'due season.'

- do not defend yourself, let God do the promoting.

- use this time to learn discipline for the spirit, soul, and body.

[Scriptures to meditate on: Ps 1 and Acts 6]

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SANDY RESPONSE

This is a good question, thank you for participating with us.

There are ways to journal without naming names or writing bad things about people.

I use a numbering system where one can create a number for people, churches, ministries, work, etc.

Like, *** Lord what do You have to say about what #10 said today, and what should I do about it?

Or ... *** been praying about the issue at #11, battling condemnation. Then I would enter the things that the Lord gave me in regards to that situation that comforted me, guided me and built me up.

Another thing that I have done is mark with *** any place that I know I dont want in my journal forever. I try to close the books at the end of the month, so that each month is harvested and ready to put into archives. And sometimes the *** last longer than a month because they are not resolved. So before I harvest the end of the year, I go through all the *** and take them out before printing.

If I was to journal on the internet to help others with the fresh understandings I get, I would not be able to share my personal issues with anyone who knows me or knows my boss. Is there a way to share my journal lessons with others and get around this?

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SANDY RESPONSE

Scripture is pretty clear about our standards for talking about people. We dont want to get involved with gossip, slandering authority, unforgiveness, jealousies and down the list of carnalities.

Part of maturing is listening to people, watching them and discerning or understanding why they behave the way they do. Every day is a teaching from God, if we simply watch people and how they are, and ask Him for wisdom to understand them.

Then with that understanding, you can take the same identical issues you have walked through at work or else wise and turn them into teachings, prophesies, words of wisdom, helpful tips for people.

In the past, after feeling a burden for and praying about a person's behavior, I would write a Word to Ponder about it, because I realized it is something the Lord is burdened about. It is important to say that these Ponders were inspired with wisdom and the Lord's yearnings to reach out with a message, and were not a catharsis of my own emotions about a person's behavior. Then I'd make it a point not to release that Word until a few months later and the person is not aware that it was "inspired" by their life. Many of my early Words to Ponders were like that. Then later as I was receiving more and more rhema, the Ponders were about the rhema, and included the lessons I learned in watching people and praying over them. Living life is a wonderful teaching ground for wisdom and understanding and revelation into people, if we would listen to how God views things going on around us.

I have never really learned to journal, although I write down all dreams and visions I see and try to write down how they connect to my life or what God is doing. I often write down Scriptures that I read that makes an impression on me that specific day. So maybe I journal a little bit about the Scriptures that makes an impression on me.

My question I think is how much of the journal is about my own feelings and experiences and how much of it is about what God is doing in my life? In a diary for instance someone would express their feelings, what is the difference between to journal and keeping a diary?

This is something that came to me today:

The past two weeks it felt like a hurricane went through our house. Everything has quieted down and I think the storm has passed.

While listening to the IHOP webstream they sang about the Scripture in Phil 1:6 "And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." I felt impressed to take out my seamless Bible and opened to the place where I was supposed to read and it started with the exact same Scripture. I realized that this is a promise from God that the good work He began in my life He will see through to the end.

Also, Hosea 6:6 "I don't want your sacrifices - I want you love. I don't want your offering - I want you to know me." In difficult times we sometimes press through and do things because it is our duty, Holy Spirit just reminded me today that it is my love that Jesus wants, that my love is worth more than anything else to Him, more than anything I can do for Him.

Hosea 6:3 "Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him, and he will respond to us as surely as the coming of dawn or the rain of early spring." The coming of dawn and the rain of early spring is not something we can control, He will respond to us when we press on to know Him.

Above anything else, He wants us to know Him!

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SANDY RESPONSE

You asked: My question I think is how much of the journal is about my own feelings and experiences and how much of it is about what God is doing in my life? In a diary for instance someone would express their feelings, what is the difference between to journal and keeping a diary?

In the world, they teach children to keep diaries for expressing their feelings as a way to help them vent and get their feelings out on paper. It helps children deal with life and the emotions that come with it. And it helps them dream about the future.

This lesson is about learning to journal as God's watchmen waiting on His walls. So our God journals are best kept with the focus of recording our journey with God and what He is saying to us. If you record a dream, a scripture or anything that is quickened to you from God, then it is a watchman's journal. We keep in remembrance what He is saying and have a track record to give us understanding of the whole picture.

For instance, this week I had a whole day where God spoke to me about horses. It started with a horse vision, and then continued the whole day long. I even had a software company tell me that since I had not logged into the new software I had been looking at, that they assigned me a password: Horse! By the end of the day, I said, "Lord obviously this is a BIG deal to You!"

So today I spent some time copying and pasting all my horse rhema together and studying it. I was astounded that the very first entry from 2004 told EXACTLY what the next 6 years would be for me in regards to this horse stuff. He told me that the day before it all started. WOW. Ofcourse I would not ever know that, unless the horse stuff was over, and I read that 2004 entry in hindsight. It gave me a huge encouragement and validation to an area I had wrestled with for 6 years and finally overcome. Thank the Lord for His rhema Word and thank the Lord for the grace to journal!

Hi all.....

It was interesting for me to read the assignment and to realize how many things I use time spent with God and my journal to do. One thing that I started a journal to do that was not in the assignment was to process all that was happening in my life. My father had recently died very suddenly, and I felt on the cusp of many changes...how true that was! Now, I think I do a combination of all that you mentioned depending on what's going on or what He's revealing.

When you talk about using a journal "to vote", do you think that making declarations and such in your journal fill the same purpose as verbal declarations? I've made statements in my journals that could be considered declarations, but were more a statement of how I felt...somewhat like some of the psalms where the psalmist whines and moans for a while and then states, "But God", or something to that effect. Am I opening myself up to anything I wouldn't want by doing this, do you think?

A randomly chosen word from God I wrote in my journal earlier this year:

"Your life is built on My firm foundation. There is no reason for fear or shame. I am weaving all that happens to you into a beautiful tapestry: both the lows and the heights. If you begin to wander away, I will make Myself heard -- let Me remove your fears. The evil one has contrived to keep you submersed in fear and shame. But I say to you that your time of being withdrawn and separate are a baptism that you must have so there are no more tears in your heart or soul. You are my daughter and I love you. You shine brightly for Me - don't let anyone weight you down with their expectations."

I don't have a format that I follow when I journal, sometimes it's more like a diary of things and events I want to remember, sometimes it's questions or thanks or praise to God for what He's done through all that's happened, sometimes it's dreams I've had, or words I've received, and rhema. Sometimes I print out things from online that have been very quickened. I also keep a computer journal of all the things I read online that is separate from my physical, handwritten one. I use the composition notebooks you fine anywhere, and cover them with pretty papers, or my most recent one is covered with chocolate candy wrappers from my last trip to Italy. I use colored post-it notes to flag things I want to return to frequently.

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SANDY RESPONSE

You asked "When you talk about using a journal "to vote", do you think that making declarations and such in your journal fill the same purpose as verbal declarations? Am I opening myself up to anything (negative)... I wouldn't want by doing this?"

Consider the fact that the Bible is the written Word of God. Does it have power and authority to create and change the world? The written Word is just as powerful as the spoken Word when it is God's Word. And He has given us the power to decree, pray, and prophesy things into existence. So yes, I do believe we open ourselves us for what we speak into existence through our statements of faith, whether it be negative or positive.

I thank you, Sandy, for the wonderful teaching from the word. How comforting and encouraging it is to read about them all and also your rhema words!!

I have been journaling for about thirty years but recently have not been writing every day and I would like to get back to it because I have learned so much from it. And I guess that is my question. How do I keep that fire burning bright and give that sacrifice of time? As you shared, there were many times when you felt burned out and maybe I am at that place now. Sometimes I feel that I don't really know if it is worth anything and my writing is mostly unfocused. Who am I writing for? What difference do these words make? My journaling now has dwindled to writing what I feel the Holy Spirit is urging me to write down.

When I first began journaling, it was because I was having such a hard time praying without being totally distracted. Someone mentioned that it might help if I would write out my prayer and so I began doing that. Soon I began using a daily devotional with a scripture for each day. I would begin with my prayer and then read the bible verse. I would think about it and write down questions I had about it. I would continue writing and many; many times the Holy Spirit would teach me the answers. He would bring memories to mind of things that happened in my own life or a little story I remembered from my childhood or my children's lives.

For instance, one of those very early writings was called “Black Sewer Mud”. I had been meditating on Christ's sacrifice and how He took all my sin. I was having a hard time thinking of it as a reality until I wrote this little analogy. Somewhere I had seen a miry pit? Or some kind of lagoon covered with black sewer mud. I remembered how terrible it stunk and how it stuck to your shoes and everything it touched and also it was hard to get out of because it was kind of like quicksand. I began thinking that sin was kind of like that black sewer mud and Jesus just willingly stepped into it. Then He just stood there, not trying to escape but letting Himself sink into it. He sank until it came up to His chin and His mouth, then into His nose and His eyes and finally completely covering Him. It became such a vivid picture for me that I had tears running down my face as I thought about it. Now I finally understood God's love a little better.

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SANDY RESPONSE

What a wonderful Word about the black pit.

You asked how do you keep the fires burning after so many years of journaling? Although I have now discovered afer my deeper refining last year, that my deepest reason is to give Him pleasure, because He loves to listen.... I found when nothing else could pick me up, that gave me the fuel to continue.

I think that just underneath that motive is the realization that my intimacy with Him is connected with journaling. That is the journey of where I seek Him and He answers and it is our roadmap of our intimacy together.

If I dont record it, I forget what He has said to me - where He has met my heart and life, where He has made extra effort to send angels to my side and confirm me... they are like a piece of chocolate. Oh His connections are so sweet and melt in my mouth and heart. But no sooner do I get involved in something else, the flavor is gone from my mouth and I would have forgotton had I not recorded that precious morsel. This is true especially at night. Most nights I have NO memory at all of what He said to me. If it were not for the mini recorder I keep on my pillow, I would never know.

To my relationship with the Lord, journaling = intimacy.

Dear Sandy,

I've never heard any teaching about journaling, so this is a first for me. I enjoyed reading your twelve reasons for journaling and it was wonderful. You could make a book from that one teaching and it would be an eye opener to everyone. I think I will have to turn in this lesson in two parts, mainly because I have company visiting from AK, and it will take some thinking on all of your points and re-reading the teaching, plus pondering and meditating when they leave.

I write down every promise I can find in the Bible, so I can claim them and receive all of the gifts God has for me. Also, I write down every praise verse I find, so I'll be able to praise Him more. I have written devotionals and have a huge collection of quotes that explain religious concepts to me. Does this qualify as journaling? I can't write as legibly as I used to, so I keep these things on my computer now. My question for now is this: do you journal on your computer and do you do it daily? I read the Bible and pray daily, so should I journal then or are you more spontaneous?

Here is one of my devotionals:

August 23, 2007

We are God's garden, which He transforms from desert places and briars. He creates in our heart a beautiful garden when His word takes root in us through His indwelling Spirit. He tends our heart's garden daily to shine His light on us, take away the weeds of sin, prune the dead branches, water us with His word, and draw us into close relationship with Him in prayer. Gardens are places separated and dedicated to beauty, fragrance, growth, fruitfulness, rest and resurrection. Let us receive His word with gladness and be the good soil in which His garden grows, and not be reluctant to have the weeds pulled and dead branches removed. Thus, will our Heavenly Gardener patiently make of us a fragrant, fruitful garden. May we be that quiet, dedicated, separated, beautiful place that is increasing with fruit and the finest of aromatic flowers. Truly, as His garden grows in our hearts, we experience the resurrection life of “Christ in us the hope of glory”.

VERSES:

The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:8-9

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. (The Shulamite) Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

Song of Solomon 4:12, 16

The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Isaiah 58:11

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Luke 8:15

Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

John 19:41

QUOTES:

Christians are like the flowers in a garden, that have each of them the dew of Heaven, which, being shaken with the wind, they let fall at each other's roots, whereby they are jointly nourished, and become nourishers of each other.

John Bunyan (1628-1688)

The mischief of Eden fell upon Gethsemane. The mist of sin rose up in the garden of Paradise, and as it rose it gathered and collected into a black, tremendous storm cloud, and anon it burst, with flashes of lightning and with claps of thunder, upon the great Shepherd of the sheep, that we, who deserved to be overwhelmed by the tempest, might find fair weather in the rest which remaineth for the people of God.

--Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I just had to write you my experience today! WOOOOO! I'm telling you, it gave me goosebumps all over my body. I was praying and reading my Bible, when I turned to my Psalm for the day. Guess what it was! It was just about our lesson on journaling and it hit me right between the eyes and made me even more excited about all of this. Here's the verses:

My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:1

Gird Your sword upon Your thigh.....and in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things. Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies

Psalm 45:3a-4-5a

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God Your God, has annointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. Psalm 45:7

Now don't all these verses speak about journaling, even though the chapter is really talking about the Messiah and his bride? The pen of a ready writer, gird your sword (the word), ride in majesty (horses), and loving righteousness and hating wickedness (voting)!!!!

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SANDY RESPONSE

You have encouraged me so much. Thank you for taking the teachings so sincerely.

YES you are journaling! Your ideas are wonderful. A journal is simply our history of what is quickened to us of our life in God. One of our class members journals her photographs of what is quickened to her as Word parables. One could have a whole journal of just inspired bumper stickers... whatever speaks to us as from the Lord.

Yes I do journal every day and if I dont have time, it is all spoken in my mini recorder so that I dont forget it when I do have time to journal. I take my recorder even in the car. I find when I am relaxed and driving the Lord brings so much back to memory and also confirms things for me.

I think I have worn out 5 hand recorders so far! Since 1984, I am on my 4th lap top, after my first 4 computers. When I upgrade from an exhausted and well used computer, I smile when I say goodbye to my keyboards... they have dents in the most used letters and ofcourse the paint identifying the letters are mostly gone.

The class was so precious to give me donations for the lap top I have now. It means so much to me, such a wonderful gift and reminder that I am no longer walking alone. The last one was grinding terribly and was so hot it was burning my finger tips. So yessssssssssssssss I do journal on my computer. (smile)

I think this is an awesome assignment at just the right time. it is so apt. I have been keeping journals from when I was much younger but I had to stop for numerous reasons, I didnt feel comfortable when others read it without my knowledge, the timing, what to write and what not to write but I started back again couple of months back just writing some things and turning them into prayer points as I read from the bible. I am particularly glad about the point that says we write to please God and I was touched when you said he said he loves to read what you wrote. it touched me so much.

I know this assignment has re-fired me to continue writing and I know I will learn a thing or two when I finish posting and read other people's assignment.

I would like to know what do we really write in a journal, your personal thoughts and feelings? are they involved in it? how can it be said to teach when nobody sees what I write? sometimes it gets so voluminous that I had to stop cause of the space it was taking up.

I have shared what I wrote on May 3rd. and am eager to learn from everyone on this.

May 3rd.

There is a light of God within me that produces only what is good, right and true. I am full of the light and my behavior should show it. I will find out what is pleasing to God and do it. I will be careful to live as a wise person. I will make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. I wont act thoughtlessly but I will try to understand what God wants me to do.

Let my words be gentle to bring life and health and turn away wrath. let me wise to make learning a joy, to learn from correction and to give good advice. let there be treasure in my house. O Lord help me to honor you with my tongue. help me to show discernment and please you with my tongue. let me filter the words that escape my lips when i speak. let me guard my mouth and tongue. Lord teach me to use kind positive words to address tough subjects. help me avoid words that reflect poorly on who i am . teach me to use words that are pleasing and acceptable to a holy God.

God will turn what is meant for evil to good. God doenst live in temples built by human hands. His throne is heaven. announce me with every disappointment.

There is a spiritual and physical growth to follow. Holiness is a key to realizing our life's goal. Lord help me to keep sin away and continue in faith, obedience and humility. let the vision speak.

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SANDY RESPONSE

Your lesson response was such a blessing to me. I am so glad it confirmed and encouraged you to continue journaling.

Yes our emotions and responses do matter to God. And many of the times when He responds, it is to help our soul align with His Truth about us. And it perfectly fine to journal them along with His Words. Together, if we end on a good note with being comforted and settled by Him, then it is a great devotional.

I usually dont write my emotions unless I am in a really deep pit, and then it is just a couple sentences to relate with what God said in response.

What is most important is that we dont write about people's wrongs, because according to 1 Cor 13, love keeps no record of wrongs. Instead of recording the wrongs, we can ask God about the situation and then pray and stand on the Word He said.

Love your journal entry!

1. Read the above 12 Scriptural Reasons to Journal as a Watchman. Wonderful teaching! I have been journaling since 2004. By divine revelation I was ordered to start a journal. There have been times in my life in which I went through great struggles and doubts. The teachings, prophetic messages and experiences documented in these journals were what kept me going in those difficult times.

2. I don't have any questions, but I do have a comment. I think reason n. 10 "To Give Our Sacrifice of Time" has been the most challenging for me. Because of my busy schedule I find it hard to stop everything I'm doing "just" to journal. I've only kept this practice up because of the mandate that was put upon me. The 12 reasons you've given us, Sandy Mom, has helped me to understand how important this simple discipline really is. Thank you so much!

3. In my journals (one for each year since 2004) I only record: a) quickened Bible verses; b) prophetic words; c) visions and dreams; d) prophetic experiences; e) highlights in my spiritual walk (new seasons, trials, victories). I have a whole bunch of your Quickened Words glued on to the pages of my journals (smile). Here is an example of one of my prophetic experiences:

BIRDS OF A FEATHER …

It was summer time and my family and I were on vacation. It was about the same time everyone was talking about the bird flu. Sandy mom had sent out a prophetic word warning that the devil was trying to curse the birds because of their gift of praise. So my family and I really began to pray hard over the fowls of the air. Well, this brought about a strange behavior from our feathered friends. It's like they new what we were up to ... Soon, birds began visiting us in amazing ways (but that's another story)

Well, we're at the beach and it's early morning. I'm sitting on the front porch reading my Bible, minding my own business when all of a sudden a small sparrow lands to the right of me and begins chirping at me. That's right, chirping AT me! It was furious. His feathers were all ruffled up, his wings dropped down in a defensive position. I thought: "What's got into this little fellow?"

I tried to ignore it, but the little guy wouldn't stop. So I asked him what was the problem. When I did that, it flew over my head a perched on the fence that was to my left. As my eyes followed his flight I saw something from the corner of my eye, on the ground, against the wall of the house, slithering slowly up to me, a green garden snake! The sparrow had been literally trying to warn me! Can you believe that!

When the reptile realized that I had seen it, it made a "U" turn a rushed back the same way it had come from. I followed it and as soon as it's head turned the corner of the house, I saw a broken brick strategically laying near by. Forgive me all you snake lovers, but I felt I had to kill the thing. I used the brick to smash It's head against the wall. The birds must have approved because what follows is surreal ...

The green garden snake is now officially dead, but it's body is still waggling about. Suddenly, there is a choir of at least ten sparrows sitting on the fence as happy as can be. Then out of nowhere comes a little bird that I couldn't identify and perches on the broken brick to see the snake up close. The "choir" and "braveheart" must have staid there for over two minutes. Then they all happily flew off.

After so much excitement, I gave up reading my Bible and took it upstairs to put it away. Then, low and behold, lying on one of my sons' beds is a Walt Disney comic book. On the cover Donald Duck is being squeezed by a green python. The thing is rapped around him, looking at him with hypnotic eyes. Donald is furious, but he can't get loose.

That afternoon, I go back to see how the dead serpent is doing. The ants had eaten him all up. Only the skeleton was left. The next day, not even that ...

Now, that was a lot to chew on at the time, and I'm still trying to digest it. But I believe the birds represent angels that are sent to protect and warn us of coming attacks of the enemy (many times through dreams). When the enemy is exposed, the element of surprise is taken away and we can better deal with what is sent against us. The Lord will always give us strategies and spiritual weapons to deal with the crisis and continue standing. Praise and boldness are always important attitudes to have when facing the enemy - never forgetting who has already crushed his head. If you happen to get hurt in the process, "Don't worry. Be happy." The Holy Spirit is able to heal every wound, removing any trace of harm done.

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SANDY RESPONSE

What a fantastic journal entry and experience in the Lord!  Thanks so much for sharing it with us! 

You mentioned the sacrifice of time. One of the cornerstones of hearing the Lord is to have a resting heart, be at peace and rest. I have a laptop and sit in my recliner, with an orthopedic pillow for my back and am supported and very comfortable when I write. Most of the time my soul is at rest and this is a position and place I can have intimacy with the Lord!

Many times as I am writing the Word of the Lord, I will hear Him interject a word or sentence as a reminder not to forget to put that in there too. Many times I hear the angels talk about what I am writing, as I am pondering it. Taking time to journal, for me is a living relationship with the Lord. Now I understand it has taken years to get to this place, but it is my comfort zone. I once heard Bobby Conner share a story where he was up writing late at night and he suddenly saw an angel leaning over his shoulder and reading his words. Bobby squawked, "What are you doing here!" The angel was so startled he squawked back, "I am helping you!" .... so next time you feel the sacrifice part, consider it a time to rest in the Lord and a chance to have intimacy with Him about what you are writing. He LOVES to read what you write and keep it in memory.

The written Word does take a sacrifice of time.  But consider this contrast:  The spoken word as in a sermon or a prayer, once shared is spent and planted. Sometimes after a sermon, by midlunch, people can only remember one point of a sermon and only one thought that was particularly quickened to them. But writing is a way to KEEP those same words and experiences and share it over and over again with many people outside of that one room. It is not only shared over again with others in this time, it is preserved to share with another generation. I have a devotional book by Smith Wigglesworth, one for every day. I have never listened to his sermons, but I have a treasure of his life in the Lord, written in a simple fashion that gives me one nugget a day. It means a lot to me because I know he walked in miracles and God was with him.

I have been Journaling for many years, way before I ever heard the term "Journaling".. I never thought of it in terms of "JOURNALING AS A WATCHMAN" but now I see that is EXACTLY what it is! ~ Day & night the watchmen keep at it-- praying--calling out--reminding God to remember..We are to give Him NO peace until He does what He said…..Isaiah 62: 6,7

I call my Journal writings "Potpurri" because what is written is a mishmash of thoughts--scriptures--prayers--answers to prayers--questions--answers to questions--dreams--dialogues with the Lord--notes from teachings, quickened words & signs--Words from the Lord for others & for me..Even print a page from a devotional that speaks to me & paste it on a Journal page…...Anything I want to remember….I do date the writings..

Actually for some time now, I have been writing in more than 1 Journal at a time....No reason why..I currently have 4 in various places around the house & depending on where I'm sitting or walking by, I'll grab that particular Journal & write..

I enjoy going back & reading them, because it is surprising how easy it is to forget even what was significant enough for me to want to write it down….It sometimes is like going back through old photos..Memories…

Even though I tend to shy away from writing anything down which wouldn't be open for just anybody to read, sometimes I feel it is necessary & then I use initials or even shorthand which I learned in High School…

I VERY MUCH like the 12 reasons you shared here.. The one I least understand is #6 praying for anointed hands & opening pages at random.. I have tried that with my Bible but never seem to get far with it..Maybe it is just not where my faith is..I think that is wonderful that you are able to hear from the Lord in that way…… Do you have any suggestions other than to just do it?

A Page from my Journal: 12-4-06

A Word I received. I know it is for more than one person, so if it speaks to you, receive it...

"You've already been walking in this--in a measure--but you will see with your own eyes a rapid acceleration of it--at the Unction of the Holy Spirit--in the warp & woof of your everyday life, you shall decree & call things that be not, as though they were--over lives--people--situations--& it shall come to pass--even according to your words..The proclamations you speak will be creative--you will refute lies that you hear & the power of those lies will be negated. It will be a natural--flowing thing & Yes-you will be aware of it each & every time--even though it will be commonplace…Sometimes it will be a simple "NO" when you hear words that you know are destructive.."

"In quietness & confidence is your strength--as you move about quietly--but behind you will be a great shaking & quaking in the spirit realm..You are close to My heart & can hear My sighing…The negative words--even spoken ever so quiet--will nevertheless be as clanging symbols & alarm bells to your ears, so attuned you are to My Holy Spirit..Decree! Proclaim! See that I thy God will bring to pass those utterances…"

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SANDY RESPONSE

It is so special that you suddenly realized you have been a watchman recording the Words of the Lord! I so appreciate your entry and participation.

You are wondering about the gift of Anointed Hands. I know I am not the only one with this gift, because I have heard testimonies via Bobby Conner, Mike Bickle, Bob Jones, Heidi Baker and others who receive confirmations and directions through this means. I have been turning with anointed hands to scriptures since the late 60's early 70's, in earnest. There are 2 things that come to mind to share about this.

First, my FAITH is there and I know how to recognize a Word that is quickened. As to faith, if I am looking to commune with the Lord, I am expecting Him to meet me there. I can tell what is quickened on the page and I go with that. I have been doing this for so many years, I dont have to search for something quickened on the page. Rather my eye actually goes directly to it. But that is 2 separate gifts... actually it is 3. The ability to turn to the page of the Lord, the ability to recognize what is quickened and relevant from His Spirit for that moment or season, and last the ability to have my eyes drawn to the right place.

Secondly, the other thing that I have learned about using the gift of anointed hands is how to lay low, lay down my striving and not ask Him questions. Anointed hands is not an 8 ball, I dont ask Him questions and seek answers from Him through this means. Instead, I ask Him if He would like to talk to me about anything, if He has a subject on His heart, or wants to get my attention about something. Almost always I pray and ask the Lord if He has anything He wants to say. It is my time to listen, not barrage Him with questions.

There is coming a time when God's people will fully walk in the mystery of the scripture, Christ in you, the hope of glory.  When I turn with Anointed Hands, I know it is Jesus living in me and His glory is being revealed to me when I see what He does through my hands to point to His Word. 

Col 1:27-28 NKJV

What are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Here is a teaching I wrote about Anointed Hands and below that is a graphic my son drew for me:

This lesson was perfect timing as I was just sharing with two friends the importance of journaling and how it lifts you up re-reading all that the Lord has done in the past, his word to you in a situation, his scriptures and his voice, soon your heart is rejoicing in Him! Each of us has a story to write: I want to share what the Lord shared with me which goes along with journaling:

Author of our Lives - Feb 21 2010

We are the ink in God's fountain pen. He writes our story through the trials and tribulations and lessons in life, they are tools in His hand, our lives speak out his name if we allow it. Let the ink flow like a river. Write your story in God's hands. “The ink flows in my hand, as I lead and guide it. You are the ink precious one. Allow my hand to guide you. You cannot flow if you look to the world for help. Look-up, here I AM. Rest IN Me. Wait on Me. Fret not. Stop when I stop. Go when I go. Look to Me. The period at the end of the sentence means the end of that sentence (prison) in your life. I am the Author of your Life. I wrote the book. My heart beats after you. Follow my lead. “

June 18 2010

As I start a new sentence in your life give thanks with a grateful heart.

Hebrews 12:2

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Blessings to you all!

I have been keeping journals for several years off and on. Most of what I record are Scriptures the Lord quickens, anything I feel the Lord is speaking to me, prayers, teachings, and my personal feelings on matters. As I look back over my journals, I've found that so much of it is a mixture of flesh (venting my feelings) and spirit (recording words filled with faith).

Sandy, thanks for sharing your wisdom and thoughts in regards to writing about people and situations to vent frustrations. I liked what you said, "Love keeps no record of wrongs." I liked your suggestions, as well as the suggestions of others when it comes to mentioning others, such as just write a couple of sentences (rather than going on and on and on). And use initials, assign a person a #, or write in shorthand (I did learn shorthand in high school).

The journal entry I chose to share is not for a specific day (in its entirety), but excerpts for the month of January 2010.

Journal Excerpts From January 2010

1/11/10

Heard: I will protect you. I will defend you. His angels are around you.

1/12/10

Quickened Scriptures:

Deut 23:5b (TLB): “He turned the intended curse into a blessing for you because the Lord loves you.”

Lk 1:38 (NKJV): “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be unto me according to Your Word.”

Isa 35:3 “Confirm the feeble knees.” Stand firm in faith without wavering.

I have heard the following phrase several times lately, and even seen it written on a banner, in a book, on the internet, [and now on a ministry envelope - August 2010):

“NOW is the time!”

1/13/10

“Be still and know that I am God.” Ps 46:10

“Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” Ps 4:4

“Offer up the sacrifice of praise.” Heb 13:15

1/14/10

Keep seeing 4:11 on the clock.

Scriptures quickened to me today:

Ps 36, 37, 41

Matt 7:11, Lk 11:13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”

1 Sam 7:8-9 “And the Israelites said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines. So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and the Lord answered him.”

This passage speaks of the importance of intercessory group prayer. We need Samuel's in our life to come and stand beside us, and to help us intercede on behalf of a matter. We are not islands, but need the support of others praying with us and for us, and God will answer and bring victory.

1/15/10

Heard: “You get what you expect.”

If we expect defeat, then that's what will happen. If we expect God to do what is impossible for man, He will do it. If we doubt, waver or are full of fear and unbelief, then the outcome will not be good. If we are full of faith, are positive, and expect the favor of God , then we will win and walk in victory.

If we don't trust God, and we don't believe that He will do anything about our situation, then we will get what we expect. If we see God as trustworthy and believe He is on our side, and if we expect God to display His mighty power, splendor and glorious deeds, then we will receive our expectation.

Everyday give the matter over to God, but then be able to go on with your day without ruminating over it. Don't dwell on the problem incessantly. Push away negative thoughts and replace it with faith thoughts and spoken decrees of what you would like to see happen.

Instead of thinking about the problem and the opposition, instead spend that energy praising God for the victorious outcome.

If you do these things, your mind and heart will be more clear to hear from God, as He will give you strategies of how to resolve your issues and overcome your obstacles. Also, your physical body will be healthier … as stress is a heavy load to bear. You will be more fruitful and productive.

Quote From James Goll:

“God has given us authority to open doors, and authority to close doors that can never be reopened.”

There are some doors that need to be shut and not reopened. God has given us keys of authority and access. We can unlock doors. And lock doors. We can go in or out. There are some situations in which we need to exercise our authority and lock some doors shut, and the door be kept sealed so that even a crowbar cannot open it.

1/17/10

Keep on seeing 4:11 on the clock. Today at church the theme Scripture passage was 1 Chronicles 14:11 … the “Lord of the Breakthrough”.

1/25/10

Keep on seeing 2:22 on the clock.

1/26/10

“With God all things are possible.” Matt 19:26, Mk 9:23; 10:27, Lk 18:27

“If you ask the Father for anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:14

1/30/10

Heard: “Rejoice and be glad.”

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SANDY RESPONSE

I am so glad you participated and shared your rhema! I was thrilled to read it and see it displayed like this. My rhema looks very much like this when still in the raw form, before I use it as a place to start, to sit down with the Lord.

All that you need to do is now take what He has given you and cook something with it. First of all your keeping the dates is very good. I was able to go back to my dates of what you recorded and find places where the Lord was encouraging me through your rhema. When we are plugged into the Holy Spirit as our Source, we find that the Lord speaks to us all in seasons and moves us together as one unit, ever advancing His kingdom and His image in our lives.

So here is an example of how to get more from the Lord in what you are receiving from Him. Consider a kitten that needs to DRAW from his mother's breast. He smells it and gets one sentence..... hmmmmm I want more! And so he snuggles in close and begins drawing out the milk.

So you heard the following:

1/11/10

Heard: I will protect you. I will defend you. His angels are around you.

If I heard what you heard above, after typing it, I would sit with the Lord and see if a scripture pops into my mind. This AM as I was praying over something demonic I heard and saw last night, I heard "It is time to return to the fortress" so this is the scripture that popped up when I typed in fortress in the concordance:

2 Sam 22:2-4

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation,

My stronghold and my refuge;

My Savior, You save me from violence.

4 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

NKJV

So now in my distress, I have a huge promise of protection, defense, angels, a fortress, deliverance, refuge, saved from violence, strength, a shield, salvation, totally saved from my enemies! GLORY!

With that great feast I can now write a Word based upon what I am experiencing and His amazing promises in regards to it:

WORD TO PONDER:

Beloved, when the darts of witchcraft are manifest and you become aware of what is going on around you, I realize that it can be traumatizing. I want to speak peace to your soul and say, "Fear not!" I have heard the cries of your heart as you run to Me for your safety. I AM your refuge, your fortress and defense. I have surrounded you with angels and My shield of defense. I am protecting you from violence and am protecting you. I AM your strength and your salvation!

2 Sam 22:2-4

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Kathleen, you can do this with any Word you are given, simply sit with Him and pray over what was quickened to you. Make it a starting point, like the kitten to the milk. Consider what is on your heart at the time, what you are dealing with. Ask Him to bring a scripture to mind, a Bible story, or another memory that He brings to mind, like what someone else said, or something you experienced before. Maybe sit still and see if you hear or see something.

I have been watching some cooking show competitions and noticed a common thread in them. They are supposed to cook something with a mystery ingredient and I have noticed that if that ingredient is buried and doesn't surface when the judges taste it or see the plate, then they dont get the good scores. These mystery ingredients just dont look too great sitting in the basket when they open the lid; especially when there are several and none of them look like they can connect to make a meal. But amazing enough the chefs turn them into something. The one I saw last night, one of the ingredients was sugar cane. It looked like bambo and the chefs had a terrible time just cutting it. It is just not edible in raw form at all. One of the chefs put it through the juicer and got the sweet liquid from it! Another boiled it to make sweet water.

So when we open our basket from the Lord for daily bread, sometimes these things dont look very appealing because they are in raw form. He wants these to be the creative inspirations that start a meal with Him. If we are given more than one ingredient, we need to ask Him how they connect, where is He going with those thoughts? As we spend more time at His feet pondering and asking for His input, He gives us more. Why? Because we are drawing from Him, after Him giving us that first taste.

My rhema looked just like yours for a few years, and then the Lord told me to go back through it and cook something from them, so I would have a Word to Ponder that was a finished meal. Often the raw rhema doesnt have enough backbone to give some more spiritual nourishment at a later date, but when they are harvested and turned into meals with summary Words, like I do with Words to Ponders and Anna does with her Selah Words, and Andrea does with her Broken Breads... then that old raw rhema all of a sudden comes to life and there is a backdrop, more understanding, wisdom and a wonderful meal all cooked and available in your spiritual pantry. It took me several months working every day to go back and harvest my rhema with Words to Ponders. It took Anna a few years. But we both obeyed and Lord and got it done. Now of course it is a habit and a part of our relationship with the Lord to cook and make our daily bread into a meal.

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SANDY GENERAL COMMENTS

I heard this years ago, dont remember the source. But I have found it is very true. If a person has a sermon, a prayer, or something that is burning on the inside of them to give away, it is best not to practice it prior or share it with another person until you actually share it for real. If you share it even once, (the fullness of it) then the fire and passion in your heart is spent and the sermon or writing or whatever becomes second hand sharing.

I mention that in regards to spending my emotions. If I have been holding something on the inside of me and it is churning around, if I find a place to pour it out in prayer instead of talking about it, then the fire is fueling the prayer and there is a great relief in spilling it out to the Lord. So if we do that in prayer to the Lord via writing, instead of just venting our feelings on paper, it is channeled vertically to the Lord and not plunging into self stuff.

About Journaling the Words of the Lord. Class Assignment.

I love to journal and have journaled my walk with the Lord in one way or another for at least thirty years. First of all haphazardly in notebooks and later on the computer. My early notebooks are still in the USA. When I moved there in 2001 I had two suitcases and one carry on bag to bring all of my precious possessions and memories of my first fifty four years with me to Pittsburgh. My note books were one of my priorities, they had to come. When I returned to Australia they remained. I don't know what has happened to them now but I believe and trust my husband will be looking after them.
 

I didn't use to keep a diary before I was saved but when Jesus entered into my life in 1975 it was like I just simply had to start keeping a record of the amazing wind which had blown into my life, scattering, challenging, turning everything upside down (or perhaps the right way up) The contrasts to my old life, the struggles, the awe, the prayers and the heart breaks. They needed to be recorded and that's what I did. I wrote in tears, I wrote in bitterness, I wrote in awe of God, I wrote in repentance and thankfulness and I wrote in utter honesty with my heart bared. Nobody else would read them, they were like the little stones to be kept in my bag (Hinds Feet for High Places), I would keep them as a remembrance. As I wrote I can't say I always felt God's presence with me in those season of the early years. No, the writing then seemed a catharsis and a record. Yet later I would re-read the entries of twelve months previous and be amazed to recognise the presence of Father God with me in those difficult days. That got my attention. It highlighted to me how I couldn't judge a circumstance through the lens of my emotions and natural reasoning but I had to weigh the circumstance in the light of the Word of God. That was quite a revelation for me which might have taken ages to sink in if it hadn't been for the journaling.
 

Another thing struck me. In the journaling I could see the history of God's faithfulness. Journalling allows us to see the beginning of a matter and then view the end. Like the people of Israel escaping from Egypt. When that generation read later of the account of that time, each one would have remembered the events going on in his life at that time and how he felt and how over whelmed and how over awed he was. He would remember his heart thumping as they left their dwellings and how his mind raced and the doubts flooded in. Then he would remember the Red Sea and seeing Moses lift his staff and the waters parting. He would remember the provision of God. The cloud the the fire and the food. He would see the faithful history of God and how it unfolded for him in his own life as he trusted the revelation God provided and followed the Godly men like Moses and Aaron and Joshua. I think that is why the Holy Spirit created the Bible, for that reason. Our journals become to some degree our own personal record of the faithfulness of God and His extraordinary works.
 

Of late, since coming across the Quickened Word, I began to also record my dreams and visions. I find I need to do this now as much as I need to record the encounters and the trials because the dreams from God seem to prepare for what is ahead and how to approach what is coming and what is God's Word, the truth about this new season to navigate by and to hold on to.
 

I've had some false starts here and there as I have been learning to understand God's language. I find it easier to understand what the dreams meant in hindsight rather than interpret them to help with the season ahead but I believe this is a growing process.
My question about journaling today is what to share with others and what not to share. I've think I've asked this before and I still don't really know the answer. I think I do and then I realise I don't.
 

Is it because I've heard God wrong or interpreted it wrong? Is it because I've heard God right but needed to pray it and not talk about it? Is it a matter of timing? Is the enemy trying to steal?
 

I really don't know but I've made some errors of judgement I suspect which has led me to earnestly, earnestly ask the Lord to be a guard over my lips. I am so grateful to Him for this. It's tough at times though. I've tried to write this assignment a number of times and been unable to complete. This time might be different. I have two important letters to write and I just can't find the words.
 

But I can still journal freely. Bless the Lord. I recommend journalling to all that he may run that reads it.
 

Hab. 2:2 - 3
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

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SANDY RESPONSE

Your question about what to share is a common one that we all walk through one time or another.  I truely believe that our walk in the Lord should be super and natural.  We simply walk through our lives and relationships and simply share as occasion provides.

1 Sam 10:7-8

Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.

If the Lord opens a door with what you just heard and it is natural to share it in context, then that is your clue.  When we walk in the SPirit, it is like flowing in His river.  It naturally flows from one thing to the next and we just simply participate as the flow takes us.  If it is something forced, then it is probably not His river.

Prov 18:16

A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

Luke 2:52

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

When the Lord wants to "send" you with the idea of gaining an audience, He will generate the gift and the favor.  So the level of giftedness and favor in receiving the gift is also a good clue as when to share vs when to pray.