Journals

Journals are permanent records for posterity and also provide a cathartic release for those who write them. It’s like a track record of the highs and lows during your journey of life. And when you look back over them later, you see God’s hand at work.

There’s no right or wrong way to journal. You simply write down your thoughts as you go through different experiences and what God says to you through Bible verses, music, books and other people.

You may want to include things like:

• Thank you notes to God for everyday blessings.
• Praise to God for who He is.
• Prayer requests, leaving room to record how God answered that prayer.
• Notes from a sermon, Bible study, or seminar that spoke to you and why.
• Poems, songs or devotionals you wrote and the circumstances when you decided to write them.
• Poems, songs, or devotionals that meant a lot to you and why.
• How other people have brought you a blessing.
• How God used you to bring blessing to others.
• Thanks to God for cute or special things someone in your family said or did.
• Affirmation of your love for your family.
• A blessing on your kids or grandkids (nieces, nephews, godchildren).
• When your faith was tested and how it affected you.
• How God guided you into decisions, how you obeyed and how it blessed you.

You can also tape in things like unique bookmarks, retreat programs, or other writings that God used to speak to you.

What other things can you think of that you would like to include?

Here is a list of Scripture references you may want to include.

Letters and Notes

You don’t see handwritten letters and notes much anymore. It’s too bad because emails and text messages just won’t be treasured like our letters, scribbled notes, and postcards have been. How many of us have kept a shoebox full of old letters and cards that bring back sweet memories?

Mom wrote a long letter describing her wedding and early years of marriage

Before she passed away, Mom gave my daughter her wedding pearls. This was a great treasure, but more significant was the handwritten letter Mom sent along with it, describing her wedding and the early years of marriage. It was during the Depression, and God provided for them in many ways.

When Mom was well into her late 80s and early 90s, she made some beautiful heritage quilts as wedding gifts for several of her granddaughters and great-granddaughter. But, as meaningful as they are, they would not be the same if Mom had not included her story behind the various squares she had designed.

Memories and sentiments disappear when our in-boxes automatically delete old files or when a person passes away without leaving a password for someone to have access.

Is there someone you should write to today? Are you planning on leaving a unique treasure for a family member when you die? Will they know why it is so special to you?