Verna Bowman

Encouraging Women One Story at a Time

Psalm 27:13

Scribing Scraps

By 40 Comments

My daybreak therapy is praying with a pen, recording trials and blessings of yesterday.

King David and I have spent many quiet dawns and silent nights in the Psalms he once penned in caves and pastures.  David the shepherd–king has faithfully been a good mentor, guiding me through the tough times of life, leading me beside still places.

An ancient scribe myself, as a young girl I kept a diary, logging (mostly erasing) my thoughts on my “beloved of the week.”

Now I write about my Beloved of my everyday in journals filled with naked thoughts on tear crinkled pages, and . . .  I emerge strong.

There are times my journal is nothing more than a tattered scrap recklessly scribbled at a traffic light, or jots on a napkin, transcribed later to the treasured keepsake.

Mostly, it’s in the sweet Selah pause and ponder times, when I come quietly before the Lord to write my thoughts of His greatness.  Then His voice fills the white space.

 Come away by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.  Mark 6:31

For me, there is no better way to remember the amazing.  We will always recall our life markers, the unforgettables, but it’s the before and after that becomes technicolor, when written during the times we travel deep to the well of our soul.

A journal is the archived landscape of your life drawn with words.  Not only printed on the brain, now immortalized and written forever in the heart.

Some words blow away with wind, but others need to be recorded on parchment . . . preserved . . . priceless.  I’ve taken jewel pieces of journals to stitch into a quilt of testimony for God’s glory, leaving a legacy of faith, the costly heritage only I can leave to others.

The great and excellent is . . . you don’t have to be female to journal.  Look at John-Boy Walton, a mountain scribe who recorded the simple and organics of life.  It became a long-running television series with forever re-runs!

We all have stories.  Faith is grounded and grows from recording the past mercies of God helping bring us through the today stuff.

Even if you don’t want to pay money for a blank book (sigh), use a spiral notebook or tablet tucked away deep in a desk drawer.

Get to the quiet, open your journal, tattered scrap or napkin, and spill your soul.

Start talking to God before the day starts talking to you . . . . and tell me what happens!

I am awake before the watchman that I may meditate on Your Word.  Psalm 119:148

Be blessed,
Verna

Comments

  1. Verna-I am always amazed at the way you weave your life’s experiences with God’s Word. The value of scribing our stories is a priceless gift. You are so right…looking back on where we’ve been and how God has brought us through those painful times does bring courage to keep going. It allows us to keep moving and emerge from the pit stronger in Him. Thank you for such a beautiful reminder!

    Reply

    • Your worthy comments are always welcome to undergird the truth of what Ifind in His word . . . thank you, Tracey!

      Reply

    • Thank you for remembering . . . it was a special season of communion for me, if you know what I mean . . . I had to write it down . . .thank you, Lee!

      Reply

  5. As a writer, I’ve see many how-to articles that recommend journal-ling: to improve your craft, to note ideas, to empty your mind. How refreshing it was to read your post about the true, deep impact daily journal-ling can have on your walk with Christ. No matter how many times I pray, in some way I connect with God in a most precious way when I write prayers to Him…or thoughts…or even complaints and worries.
    I do try to cultivate a morning writing time. It’s easier in my slightly-less-hectic summers. During the school year, I actually found a better time for journal-ling was right after teaching. Before I dumped my complaints or issues or joys on anyone else, I laid them at the feet of Jesus, and found myself refreshed and renewed in my calling as a writer and as a teacher.

    Reply

    • I love your wisdom, thank you for sharing, Janeen . . . you always encourage me to . . . more and better!

      Reply

  6. As a writer, I’ve see many how-to articles that recommend journal-ling: to improve your craft, to note ideas, to empty your mind. How refreshing it was to read your post about the true, deep impact daily journal-ling can have on your walk with Christ. No matter how many times I pray, in some way I connect with God in a most precious way when I write prayers to Him…or thoughts…or even complaints and worries.
    I do try to cultivate a morning writing time. It’s easier in my slightly-less-hectic summers. During the school year, I actually found a better time for journal-ling was right after teaching. Before I dumped my complaints or issues or joys on anyone else, I laid them at the feet of Jesus, and found myself refreshed and renewed in my calling as a writer and as a teacher.

    Reply

    • I love your wisdom, thank you for sharing, Janeen . . . you always encourage me to . . . more and better!

      Reply

  13. Hi Verna! I so loved this…King David and I have spent many quiet dawns and silent nights in the Psalms he once penned in caves and pastures.  David the shepherd–king has faithfully been a good mentor, guiding me through the tough times of life, leading me beside still places.
    David and I are good friends also, I love your blogs!

    Reply

    • Liz. . .thank you for your faithful visits! I know! . . . What would we do without the Psalms, especially the ones written by David . . . he was here when he was there! Times don’t seem to change!

      Reply

  14. Hi Verna! I so loved this…King David and I have spent many quiet dawns and silent nights in the Psalms he once penned in caves and pastures.  David the shepherd–king has faithfully been a good mentor, guiding me through the tough times of life, leading me beside still places.
    David and I are good friends also, I love your blogs!

    Reply

    • Liz. . .thank you for your faithful visits! I know! . . . What would we do without the Psalms, especially the ones written by David . . . he was here when he was there! Times don’t seem to change!

      Reply

    • Thanks, Nancy . . . God has placed all of us in His story . . for His glory, we need to tell it. I’d love to hear yours!

      Reply

    • Thanks, Nancy . . . God has placed all of us in His story . . for His glory, we need to tell it. I’d love to hear yours!

      Reply

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