Journal Gently: Helping Introverted Women Find Healing After Grief, Hurt, and Trauma

Hey, friend. Whether you are someone who has been listening to the podcast since the beginning or you just found me through one of the recent conferences I spoke at, I want to say welcome, and I’m glad you’re here. It would seem as if God has a funny sense of timing, and He’s asking me to pause the podcast for a while. I need to practice what I preach: taking breaks, caring for my family first, and leaning in to my relationship with Him so that I can continue doing the work He has called me to. That’s the very thing I spoke about last week, and at the Lead Well conference this past Saturday. So for the time being, I’ll be stepping away from the podcast. Kari ______ Other Resources ·       Daniele Evans – spiritual director with trauma and writing ·       Karen Altzier – grief coach ·       Julie Lynn Ashley – grief coach ·       Kristin Vanderlip – writing and grief ·       Kristen Joy – coach for Christian women and ministry leaders ·       Jennifer Shook – inner healing coach ·       Heather O’Brien – healing with God   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

Imagine this scenario: Someone you dearly love is hurting. Maybe they are grieving the loss of a loved one or battling the depths of depression. Maybe they’ve lost their sense of purpose or just got a hard diagnosis from the doctor. What is the best thing you can do for them? Is it calling them every day? Making them meals? Being willing to sit with them in the quiet? Should you watch their kids? Offer to drive them around? Pick up their groceries? All of those can be really good things for us to do. They show our love and support in very practical ways. But what if I said the very best thing you could do was to stay close to Jesus yourself? Let’s explore some reasons why staying close to Jesus is so important when we are caring for someone who is hurting. And then be sure to stay to the end for a special invitation to dive deeper into this topic with me at a live event coming up next week. Kari   >> Get your free ticket to the 2025 Lead Well Conference (affiliate link): http://lovedoesthat.org/leadwell   RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES: ·       Episode 163: Letting God Use Our Wounds: A Conversation with Russell Joyce ·       Episode 171: Temptation, Testing, or Fallen World? How to Respond When Life Gets Hard ·       Courageous Care book, available on my website or on Amazon ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

I have been incredibly blessed over the past several years to connect with other individuals who are doing similar work. Laura Howe is one of those people. Laura and I met as part of a mastermind we were both in. Where I focus on helping individual women come alongside their loved ones who are hurting, she focuses on equipping the church to support those in their congregations and communities. She does this through her organization, Hope Made Strong.  Back in 2021, we were each other’s podcasts, and today, I want to share an excerpt from my interview on her podcast. Laura and I talk about the power of companionship for those who are hurting, plus how your church can minister to the grieving during the Christmas season by offering a Blue Christmas service. Kari   >> Get your free ticket to the 2025 Church Mental Health Summit (affiliate link): http://lovedoesthat.org/mentalhealthsummit     RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES: ·       Care Ministry Podcast, Episode 11 – The Power of Standing with Those Who Are Struggling with Kari Bartkus ·       Episode 7 – 5 Things to Say When You Don't Know What to Say with Laura Howe ·       Episode 42 – Offering a Blue Christmas Service to Honor the Loss and Cling to the Hope ·       Episode 95 – Blue Christmas Mini Service: Holding On to Hope in the Midst of Suffering and Loss ·       Advent resource – When Your Silent Night Feels Empty ·       Courageous Care book, available on my website or on Amazon   ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

“God doesn’t talk to me.” “I can’t hear God’s voice.” “I don’t know what God sounds like.” Hearing from God is pivotal to the life of a Christian. Not only do we seek guidance from His Word, but we also ask Him questions about which path to take, what to do, and how He wants us to behave. We want insight into situations we find ourselves in. And we long to receive His words of love and comfort, especially when life around us is full of chaos and heartache. Yet there are times when we struggle to hear His voice, when it seems that He is silent. Why is that? I won’t be able to address any and every situation that might make it harder to hear from God—at least, not all in this episode. But there is one issue in particular that I’ve noticed in my own life, and I bet you can recognize it in yours, too. And if we truly want to hear from God, it’s something that we’re going to have to address. So what is it? What can prevent us from hearing from God? You don’t expect to. Let’s take a few minutes and unpack this idea together. Kari   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 183: [Bible Journal Session] How Do You Need to Be Restored? ·       Episode 173: [Written Spiritual Direction Session] Dialogue Journaling ·       Episode 99: Spiritual Practices to Help You Learn to Hear God's Voice (Re-Release) ·       Episode 94: Entering the Silence and Stillness with God: A Conversation with Blogger and Writer Celia Miller ·       Episode 91: When God is Silent: Experiencing His Presence in New Ways   _____ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

There are many ways to journal, but one of my favorites is to journal as I read the Bible. I take note of things that grab my attention, I ask questions, and I explore various ideas together with God as a result of the passage I’ve read. Today, I want to invite you into a Bible journaling session with me. We’ll pray and journal through Psalm 23:3 together. And though it is a familiar passage, I pray God would meet you there and share His heart with you. I know this has been a powerful verse for me. We’ll use my Bible Journaling Framework: ·       Ready ·       Recognize ·       Receive ·       Respond If you’d like to learn more about journaling together with God, you can get access to my free journaling workshop at lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop or download my guide entitled 20 Ways to Journal with God, which you can find at lovedoesthat.org/store. Kari   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 168: [Journal Reviews] Bible Study Journals ·       Bonus Episode 19: [Scripture Reading] The Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23, John 10) ·       Episode 166: God in the Midst of the Storm: A Devotional Reading of Mark 6:45-52 ·       Episode 117: Running Away From God: A Devotional Bible Study on Jonah 1 ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys      

As women, as moms, we carry a lot of responsibilities, and sometimes a lot of expectations—from ourselves and from others. Yet one thing is clear: God has called us to keep our families as a top priority. The question is, how do we do that? In this episode, I talk with life and business coach Danielle Roberts and we explore what this might look like, often sharing personal examples from our own lives. Danielle and I are both work from home, homeschooling moms, but we recognize that women fill all kinds of roles and callings. So there’s no judgment here. Just an open conversation between friends about how to care for our precious families that God has entrusted us with.  We talk about: ·       Not comparing your family/priorities with others ·       God's funny timing ·       How many priorities you can actually have ·       Balancing discipline and discipleship ·       Letting your husband know you care ·       And deciding what’s best for you and your family This whole thing is something that needs to be regularly evaluated, and changes made when needed. And I wonder what God might reveal to you as you listen. Is He reaffirming a choice you have already made? Inviting you to make a change? I encourage you to listen for His voice in the midst of this conversation with Danielle—see what He might be saying to you. Kari   CONNECT WITH DANIELLE: ·       Website ·       Instagram ·       5 Creative Ways to Rest   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 48: The Power of Pre-Deciding in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 148: Don't Vacuum While the Dog's Sleeping: A Story About Juggling Responsibilities ·       Episode 160: When Life Changes, Re-evaluate ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

Have you ever prayed for God to open doors for you so it’s clear which way you should go, which decision you should make?  But, my friend, take a minute and think about the sayings we Christians have: ·       If God shuts the door, He always opens the window. ·       God doesn’t close one door without getting ready to open another with bigger and greater things. ·       He will open the doors of opportunity as He sees fit and close doors that He doesn’t want us going through. Are these true? Are they the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Is there anything we’re missing? I believe that circumstances, like what we call open doors and closed doors, can definitely be a way for God to lead us through major decisions.  But I think we need to be really, really discerning about how we go about this. Because the truth is, some open doors aren’t from God, and some closed doors aren’t from Him, either. So how should circumstances play a role in our decision-making process? Today, I want to explore what the Bible says about open and closed doors and how we can use them to discern which path to take. Kari   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 77: Three Prayers for Discernment: Making Difficult Choices in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 108: Just Because Something's Hard Doesn't Mean It's Wrong ·       Episode 158: Burdens vs. Loads: Discerning When to Help Someone ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys  

It’s probably no surprise to you that I am an avid reader, averaging about one or two books a week. Not only do I read for fun, but I also get to read for work, editing and proofreading book manuscripts right before they get published.  I’m guessing that if you’re listening to this episode, you like to read, too. And I’ve learned that books can often prompt some powerful journaling sessions with God. But how do you know which books to journal about and what to write?  Today, I’ve got 8 ideas to get you started, plus 10 book recommendations you might want to check out for yourself. Kari   See list of book recommendations here.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 137: 3 Easy Ways to Journal When You Don't Know What to Write About ·       Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference? ·       Episode 61: Perceiving God's Presence and Love with Spiritual Director and Author Sharon Garlough Brown ·       Episode 172: Trusting God Through Obedience: A Conversation with Neil Broere ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking >> Editing http://karibartkus.com   Music by DappyTKeys

Deciding on my major in college really wasn’t that hard for me. I knew I wanted my studies to focus on the Bible and speech. I wanted to learn more about His Word so that I could communicate it clearly to those around me. So that’s what I did: I majored in communication and minored in biblical studies, taking as many classes as I could to understand more about the Bible and spiritual formation.  The truth is, as much as I love supporting women as they seek healing in God and as they journal together with Him, one of my biggest passions is teaching God’s Word. You can see how the two go hand-in-hand, yet they are also distinct. Separate. Teaching His Word has looked different for me over the years. Sometimes I was teaching children, sometimes youth, sometimes adults. Sometimes in small group settings, other times in large group ones. Always teaching in my local church, yet also sometimes teaching as a guest in places like retreats and conferences. And today, you get a special treat. Because I’m sharing a message I gave titled “Love Does That,” which is where my business name comes from. I originally gave this message in 2016. I started Love Does That in 2018. Which means I am now 7 years into this thing. Though there have been a few twists and turns along the way as I continue to discern how God wants me to use this space for Him, it is always an absolute honor and a privilege for me to use His Word to stir up the faith of others. So I invite you to join me as we go back and listen to the message that started it all.  Kari   >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 106: Leading As An Introvert ·       Episode 57: A Heart to Heart with Women's Ministries Leaders: You've Got to Reach Out to Those in Your Church Who Are Hurting ·       Episode 12: Caring for Hurting Kids at Your Church: 3 Powerful But Simple Things You Can Do ·       Bonus Episode: Dry Bones: A Resurrection Story ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently   Music by DappyTKeys

It's funny how pieces of our stories get set down, lost, discovered, or picked up again.  Some pieces we hide away, hoping never to look at them again. (We think if we don't acknowledge them, they never really happened, right?) Of course, some pieces always stay with us, regularly in the forefront of our minds. And some, we never really know how they're going to fit in until years down the road. But they're all pieces of us. They're not good, necessarily. They're not bad, either. They just... are. Today, I want to talk about what healing might look like as we explore our stories one piece at a time. Then, I have a special invitation for you for this summer. Kari   >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 147: The Flip-Out Rule in Journaling ·       Episode 98: Grief Has A Way Of… Well, Getting In The Way: A Personal Letter From Me To You ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

What hard decisions have you had to make? Maybe it regarded your job, like me. Or maybe it focused on which school your kids should go to, or where you live. Maybe someone in your family needed extra care from you, and that meant you had to step away from something else, at least for a little while. There are hard decisions, and then there are decisions you don’t want to make—when your heart and your head are telling you two different things. Lauren Black had a decision like this. And she has had to lay down her dream and move forward in surrender. Lauren is a Decision Coach, as she’ll talk more about in our first moments together. And she has been able to develop some frameworks that have helped her—and others—discern what choices to make.  We also talk about how to grieve these hard decisions and if you should ever reconsider decisions later down the road. Is it okay to change your mind? Or is that too flakey? And after this conversation, be sure to catch our episode over on Lauren’s podcast, Anchored Decisions. Kari   Listen to my episode on Lauren’s podcast, Anchored Decisions: www.anchoreddecisions.com/35   CONNECT WITH LAUREN BLACK: ·       Anchored Decisions website ·       Instagram ·       Free Decision Compass   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 77: Three Prayers for Discernment: Making Difficult Choices in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 160: When Life Changes, Re-evaluate ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking     Music by DappyTKeys

In high school, my best friend and I were known as the Perfectionists. We had high standards for ourselves when it came to our school work, our extracurricular activities, and our jobs. If someone asked us to do something, they knew it would be done and be done well. Extremely well. While I have relaxed some over the years, I still have a high standard I hold myself to. Remember that strength of “responsibility” I mentioned last time? I tend to beat myself up if I don’t meet a deadline or forget to follow up with someone. I feel horrible about it and do everything I can to make it up to the other person. This perfectionism can show up in many areas of life, including our journaling. In fact, I dare say it’s one of the biggest obstacles I see women facing as they start a journaling practice of their own. But it’s tricky. It doesn’t always look like perfectionism. So today, we’ll talk about the disguises perfectionism can wear in your journaling and what you can do to overcome it. Kari   RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES: ·       20 Ways to Journal with God (PDF) ·       Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference? ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking     Music by DappyTKeys

I’m pretty good at juggling multiple commitments and responsibilities. In fact, my number one strength per StrengthsFinder is “responsible” and my spiritual gifts include the gift of administration. Yet when everybody needs something at the same time, it can get really hard, really fast.  And when I start to feel overwhelmed or discouraged, I’ve noticed that I usually end up retreating. In other words, I hide away.  Can you relate? We can’t just ignore these seasons altogether. They are just a part of life. But by creating regular times of intentional solitude, we not only prepare ourselves for these overwhelming seasons, but we also give ourselves moments of peace and calm during them. Why is that? Why is solitude such a big superpower for introverts? Stick around and we’ll explore that together. Kari   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 173: [Written Spiritual Direction Session] Dialogue Journaling ·       Episode 166: God in the Midst of the Storm: A Devotional Reading of Mark 6:45-52 ·       Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 159: Loneliness and Belonging: A Conversation with Sarah Westfall ·       Episode 118: Tips for Journaling In Front of Others ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

Have you ever found your Bible reading to be a little dull or lifeless? Is it hard to see the people of the Bible as real individuals who encountered God? There’s a practice that can help with this, and it’s called imaginative prayer. Now, every time I think about explaining imaginative prayer to others, I can’t help but think about my conversation with Eva Kubasiak on her podcast, Bible Study Made Simple.  When I was talking with her, I shared with her this idea about imaginative prayer. With her permission, I want to share part of that conversation with you. I not only explain what imaginative prayer is, but I also walk us through an example so you can see what it might look like in real life. Kari   >> GROUP JOURNAL COACHING CALL RECORDING http://lovedoesthat.org/store   RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES: ·       Eva Kubasiak’s YouTube channel ·       Episode 32 Bible Study Made Simple podcast: Imaginative Prayer with Kari Bartkus ·       Episode 64: Approaching God Even In Your Anxiety with Your Bible Study Best Friend Eva Kubasiak ·       Bonus Episode 2: [Guided Scripture Reading] When Someone Fights For You ·       Bonus Episode 4: [Guided Scripture Reading] The Courage to Ask to Be Healed ·       Bonus Episode 10: [Guided Scripture Reading] When You Don't Get Picked ·       Bonus Episode 11: [Imaginative Prayer] Jesus, Have Mercy ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> JOURNAL COACHING: A 1:1 call to talk about journaling http://lovedoesthat.org/journalcoaching  >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

Do you ever talk to God—and expect to hear back from Him? Back in episode 109, I shared a little conversation that God and I had as it related to something He was calling me to do during Lent a couple of years ago. It’s one of many conversations I’ve had with Him. Some that I’ve just sensed in my spirit as I’ve prayed about something. But some that have taken place on the pages of my journal. That’s right. Sometimes these conversations happen in writing in something called dialogue journaling. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at what dialogue journaling is and what it can look like as it relates to your relationship with God. Kari   LENT JOURNALING RETREAT http://lovedoesthat.org/lent2025   JOURNAL COACHING http://lovedoesthat.org/journalcoaching   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 109: It's Getting Real: God's Invitation to Me for the Rest of Lent ·       Episode 82: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 1: Ready ·       Episode 83: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 2: Recognize ·       Episode 84: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 3: Receive ·       Episode 85: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 4: Respond ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

I don’t know about you, but I read a lot of books. And there are a lot of good books out there. Many of which I recommend to you. But there are only a few that really stir deeply in my soul. Neil Broere’s upcoming book, Obedience, Suffering, & Reward was one of those. When I read it, I knew I wanted to talk to him more about it. And today, you get to hear that conversation. While obedience is a simple concept to understand, it can be hard to live out. Especially when there are questions or doubts weighing on your mind. What might it be like to obey Jesus with everything we have? What does that kind of a life look like?  I can’t wait for you to hear what he has to share about this. And when his book is released, I highly encourage you to grab a copy.  Plus, stay tuned to the end, where I’ll share about my upcoming Lent Journaling Retreat. I’d love for you to join me. Kari   LENT JOURNALING RETREAT http://lovedoesthat.org/lent2025   CONNECT WITH NEIL BROERE: ·       Instagram ·       The Table California ·       Book: Obedience, Suffering, & Reward (Amazon affiliate link)   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 163: Letting God Use Our Wounds: A Conversation with Russell Joyce ·       Episode 109: It's Getting Real: God's Invitation to Me for the Rest of Lent ·       Episode 62: Questions to Ask When You Doubt a Decision You've Made ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Coaching: A 1:1 call to talk about journaling http://lovedoesthat.org/coaching >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

I don’t know what it is, but life has just felt… hard. People misunderstanding one another. Feelings getting hurt. Work to do. Family to care for. Trying to balance it all while also cleaning the house and completing other mundane but necessary tasks. All piled on top of one another and it’s hard not to wonder if something deeper is going on. Is this what spiritual warfare looks like in 21st century America? Is the enemy trying to just wear us out with all the compounded grief and piled-up hardships that we can never escape from? Or is God trying to test us, refine us in this season? Is there something in us that needs to be removed, and He is using this situation to do a spiritual surgery within us? What do we do in the face of hardship and trial? How does God want us to respond? That’s what we’re going to talk about on today’s episode. I want to review some of the common reasons we experience hard times in this life and then share with you how I believe God is calling us to respond to each of them. Kari   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 103: 6 Strategies to Manage Overwhelm, Stress, and Change ·       Episode 108: Just Because Something's Hard Doesn't Mean It's Wrong ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop  >> Journal Coaching: A 1:1 call to talk about journaling http://lovedoesthat.org/coaching  >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

I can have a difficult time explaining how I feel about something, and when it’s incredibly important to me, the words seem even harder to find. But there are other times when words feel hard, too: when you’re grieving, when you’re busy, when you’re depressed, when you’re anxious. What do you do then? Today, I want to share with you two ways you can still journal, even when you are struggling to find the words to do so. Both of these can be incredibly powerful, and I can’t wait to see what happens when you try them. Kari   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 137: 3 Easy Ways to Journal When You Don't Know What to Write About ·       Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference? ·       Episode 118: Tips for Journaling In Front of Others   ______   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Coaching: A 1:1 call to talk about journaling http://lovedoesthat.org/coaching >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking >> Support the work of Love Does That http://PayPal.Me/LoveDoesThat     Music by DappyTKeys

In July of 2021, I ran my first challenge as a ministry. It was the Courageous Care 5-day challenge, and it walked women through five obstacles that prevent us from reaching out to those around us who are hurting. What was a challenge became a masterclass, which became a book. And it features the key principle behind what Love Does That is all about: that God has called every one of us to care for those around us who are going through difficult seasons. To walk alongside them. To love them. To support them. Because, as Michael Slater said, “To hurt is bad enough, but to hurt alone destroys people physically, mentally, and spiritually.” Courageous Care is all about discovering how God has designed you to do this, to care for others. And last summer, I had the chance to teach about the CARE framework to a group of pastor’s wives. Today, I want to share that opening part of that message with you. And I lovingly and gently ask you, what is stopping you from caring for others? Which of the five obstacles hits closest to home? Take a few minutes to journal about it once the episode is over and see what God might have to say to that. Kari   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 2: Discerning Who to Encourage ·       Episode 31: Why You Can't Let Failure Stop You From Reaching Out ·       Episode 69: The Problem with "What Not to Say" Lists and What You Need to Know Instead ·       Episode 158: Burdens vs. Loads: Discerning When to Help Someone   ______   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop  >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking >> Grab your copy of my Courageous Care book http://lovedoesthat.org/care  >> Support the work of Love Does That http://PayPal.Me/LoveDoesThat   Music by DappyTKeys

Journaling through God’s Word is a great way to read, study, and actually engage with what He is saying to you.  And since the New Year is just a few weeks away, it’s a natural time to recommit ourselves to being in the Bible. Psalm 119:16 (NIV) says, “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Not only are we to not neglect God’s Word, we are to take delight in it! Do you delight in it? Or has it gotten dreary and dull?  Wherever you are in your Bible study journey, I want to support you. So today, I want to share with you some different ways to journal through God’s Word. And then I’ll offer you some specific guided journals that you might want to consider as a tool to use in your Bible study. As you listen, I really invite you to pay attention to if God is inviting you to try one of these. My hope and prayer is that He would kindle a hunger for His Word within you.  Kari   RESOURCES MENTIONED (some are Amazon affiliate links) The 5-Minute Bible Study Journal for Women, by Emily Biggers Bible Study Journal, by Faith Maslo Simple Bible Study Journal, by Eva Kubasiak Scripture Writing Journal, by Emily Fontes Love God Greatly Journal: A SOAP Method Journal for Bible Study, from Love God Greatly Verse Mapping Journal, by Courtney Jenson Verse Mapping Bible Study Journal, by Kristi Cambron Christian Women’s Sermon Notes Journal, by Christian Faith Gifts Daily Grace Co Horatio Printing SOAP Bible Studies   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 47: 10 Ways to Encounter God Through His Word ·       Episode 64: Approaching God Even In Your Anxiety with Your Bible Study Best Friend Eva Kubasiak ·       Episode 72: Tending Your Soul with Bible Teacher Mariel Davenport ·       Episode 127: How to Choose a Bible You'll Actually Use ______ >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Grab your copy of my Courageous Care book http://lovedoesthat.org/care  >> Support the work of Love Does That http://PayPal.Me/LoveDoesThat   Music by DappyTKeys