Burdened With Glorious PURPOSE (My Word of the Year 2019)

Repost from: Graceful Writer (A Writing Journey Blog by d. d. Boone)

This was written on February 8, 2019 for my professor blog.

I’ve adopted the vision boarding technique of choosing a word for the year and making it the focal point of my endeavors, activities, and thought process for the entire year.  I discovered this online in a Facebook group for Planning.  It hit me like a ton of bricks… “This could work for me!”  I embraced it and went full force with the idea.

My word for the year is PURPOSE.  Google.com dictionary defines the word as “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.”  It also means, “have as one's intention or objective.”

Dictionary.com defines the word like this, “the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.”  Another definition is “an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.”  One last definition, “to intend; design.”

All of the definitions about fit.  But the one that best suits my purpose is…

“an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.”

That’s what I’m focused on this year… an intended or desired result.  I chose the word PURPOSE specifically for that reason.  I want to act on purpose to accomplish several goals.  If I accomplish these goals, it will help me have a sense of accomplishment and will help me be better because I will have grown, matured, and changed some habits and my thinking.

I have some things I want to accomplish, and to accomplish them, I will need to be PURPOSEFUL with my actions, thinking, and planning.  There are four areas in my life where I have a specific purpose.

In regards to my faith, I want to find, join, attend, and get active in a church, making it my home.  I haven’t had a church home in over a year, so I need to find one and get busy.  I have gifts and talents that I need to use.

As a professor, I want to change the hearts, lives, and minds of students, specifically about writing, but in thinking about college success, too.

One other thing I want to do is to inspire a writer like my creative writing teacher from high school, Mrs. Spightner, did me.  She helped me discover my best writing gift, and I want to do that for someone else.

I want to read more this year.  Here’s what I want to do… read as many books on my calling and gifts as I can.  Write down what I learn and apply it.  I have to remember to apply.  My purpose won’t be fulfilled if I don’t apply it.

Lastly, as a writer, I want to finish all my unfinished NOVELS!  This is where the idea of purpose came from.  I have too many novels that I haven’t finished, and I need to finish them on PURPOSE and with PURPOSE.  I have tried in the past to finish them, but I wasn’t successful.  I feel that this year is filled with purpose, so I’ll be able to do it.

I feel like Loki of Asgard… 

Learn how to use Your Word of the Year

Using a Word of the Year

Repost from: Graceful Writer (A Writing Journey Blog by d. d. Boone) 

I do not use New Year’s Resolutions.  I stopped using them somewhere in the 1990s.  They did not seem to work for me.  But, I have always used goals as a way to measure successes in my life.  So, in leu of resolutions, I began to create goals for the new year.  In 2018, I learned about using a Word of the Year.  After I heard about it from the group and read more about it on my own, it made sense for me to incorporate it into my arsenal.  I believe life is all about growing, so if it will help me grow, then I am going to use it.

Using a WOTY is a good way to end the previous year and start a new year.  At the end of the year, you can look back and see how you progressed over the year with a specific goal – being intentional about how you wanted your year to go.  You can see how things went and how well your year was.  At the beginning of the year, you can make an intentional plan to set a tone for your year.  That is what a WOTY does for a new year, set the tone.  And with this tone, you will have intentionality and purpose for your year.

Read about my journey with A Word of the Year.

 

WHAT IS A WORD OF THE YEAR?

Taken from my Word of the Year Manual (get it here… https://tinyurl.com/wotymanual )

A word of the year is a word that “sets an intention, a theme per se, for how you want your year to flow.” (Elizabeth Rider)

A word of the year is “a practice that helps you to set intentions for the upcoming year with just one word.” (Masha Plans)

 

WHY CHOOSE A WORD OF THE YEAR?

Using a Word of the Year can help you stay on track. It will help keep you focused and moving forward, even in moments of tough times.

“Your yearly goals and resolutions can change, become irrelevant or simply be forgotten after the first month. The word of the year, however, is a more flexible practice that will stay with you throughout the whole year as a gentle reminder of your focus.” (Masha Plans)

“Whenever you’re in doubt or struggling (for example when you feel like your goals don’t work anymore and you are thinking about changing them), your word of the year will be your compass and it’ll show you the right direction.” (Masha Plans)

 

I recommend you try using a word of the month (the same principle as a word of the year, but shorter in time) to see how it will work for you.  I believe it will be helpful for you.

 

If you want a resource about how to find and use a word of the year, check out my resource and the companion workbook by clicking here…

 

5 Keys to Successful Bible Journaling

There are a lot of people who are new to Bible Journaling.  I thought I'd give you my 5 keys to successful Bible Journaling.

1. Set-up a routine.
This will help keep you on track and help keep you motivated.

2. Learn what works for you.
This is the most important thing to remember. What works for me, will probably not work for you and vice versa. You may have to try a few things before you find what works for you.

3. Don’t be afraid to flip things up.
If you get stagnant in your routine... Flip it up. Doing something different can reenergize you.

4. Be accommodating.
Allow yourself to have a day off if you need it or don’t feel good. Yes, you’re doing this for spiritual growth, but if you’re not feeling it, it’s okay.

5. Remember, this is about you growing with God.
Always keep the focus on God. If it becomes more about anything else, then, you need to rethink your motives.

Bonuses...
Don’t get caught up in the stuff.
Don’t catch FOMO when people are posting all their stuff. It’s very easy to want everything you see. If this starts happening... refer to #5.

Don’t get jealous of others.
It’s very easy to feel bad because other people’s layouts look better than yours. Try not to get jealous. If this starts happening... refer to #2 & #5.

HAVE FUN!
Most of all have fun as you grow spiritually.

Faithbox.com

Facebook ads work… but, don’t tell them that. LOL!

I had been hearing about subscription boxes since 2018 when I first got started with planning and faith planning and Bible journaling.  I was looking into learning more about subscriptions for Christians.  I searched for Christian box subscriptions online.  I didn’t find anything that really interested me, so, I shrugged and moved on.  Several days later, an ad for Faithbox popped up on my Facebook feed.

I laughed because, yet again, I had to face the reality that Facebook is tracking us…  these phones are so nosey and all up in our business…  but, that’s something for another time.

I checked out Faithbox and subscribed.  I don’t do online shopping... hate not seeing or knowing exactly what I’m getting.  But, I bit the bullet and did it.  So far, I’ve been blessed by it.  The first box for January has been excellent.  January focused on Harmony.

I started January off with the box and it contained a booklet called “Everyday faith.”  This was a blessing because it gave me as easily accessible resource to use as the second part of my morning journal routine I called Rememberminders.  As I mentioned before, January was on Harmony.  The readings were short, Biblical, insightful, and helpful.

Each month, so far, I have found myself anticipating the next box.  (I can’t wait for February’s box).  I’m glad I made an online purchase.

From Faithbox.com… Faith Box is… “A monthly subscription to strengthen your faith and help you grow closer to God.”

“Faithbox helps you grow closer to Jesus by delivering spiritually-enriching Christian devotionals and exclusive "do-good" products every month.”

They have several options that will fit almost any budget.  Check them out…

https://faithbox.com/about

Scripture Verse Writing Sheets 2020

 I have created some scripture verse writing sheets you can download and use.

Click on the link to learn more...

SOAK Bible Study Method...

SOAR Bible Study Method...

SALT Bible Study Method...

SOAP Bible Study Method...

SOAP Bible Study Method 2...

Rememberminders…

In December of 2019, I felt led to write out something to focus on each month.  As part of my morning routine, I needed to do something intentional.  So, this idea was born from my morning routine.

I decided to write out 3-5 affirmations about a specific area of my life.  Then I would write out a reminder to myself.  I call them Rememberminders.

December 2019, my first Rememberminder was…

This one was inspired by an affirmation image that I saw online.  I added a few things to make it my own, especially the scripture portion to remind myself that all things are possible with God, and I believe that.

As I journal and interact with other journalers, specifically Bible journalers… I often hear them say, “Sometimes, I don’t get to do it” or “Sometimes I sit to write and can’t write” or “I sit and nothing comes out” or some version of that.  I decided that I wanted to come up with a way to combat this in my own personal journaling experience.  And God, being God, gave me this inspiration and it helps me.

Each day, I make it a point to write out my affirmations and then my Rememberminder.  So, I have journaled and written something spiritual first thing in the morning.  I pray and read my Bible before doing this, immediately after I wake up.  My personal devotional time has grown from 5 minutes to fifteen minutes since making it a purposeful priority to spend time with God.

As a part of my morning journaling routine, I find a short themed devotional reading… by email at first, but now, I use Everyday Faith that comes in the Faithbox subscription box.  I read the devotional and write out the scripture and a line or two from it that stands out to me.

I try to make sure I do this every week day, no matter what…

So, if I don’t “write” out a Bible verse or “do” any Bible journaling, I have written something that day and I have a sense of accomplishment.

Do I always do it every day, no.  I’ve had days where I was sick and wasn’t able to do it.  But, I don’t let that get me down.  When I feel better, I get back on track.

(read my post entitled “5 Keys to Successful Bible Journaling”)

Writing out my affirmations and Rememberminders blesses me greatly, most importantly… I don’t feel defeated because I didn’t Bible journal.

Read about all my Rememberminders here.