When I read the histories of people who have really made a difference in the world, one of the consistent disciplines most of them practice is the discipline of taking the time to journal everyday.

As a teenager I began to learn a little about journaling and started the practice of daily taking time to begin my day recording some thoughts about the things I was learning in my Spirit during time spent in the Word. Through the years, this has developed into a big part of who I am and what I do everyday through a process of inspection, reflection, learning, growing and personal development.

One of the most meaningful things I take time to do everyday is JOURNAL. I have a notebook with real paper and a good pen, I enjoy writing with. I begin my day in my journal by writing down a verse of scripture promise to focus on for the day. I then list out at least three things I am grateful for. Next up is my task list for the day and the rest is for anything I feel is important to record.

Here are a few reasons why I journal:

1. It Helps Me Begin My Day On The Right Track! So many times we rush into our day and before we know it, our day is over and we think: “What in the world have I accomplished?” and we end up beating up on ourselves, because we feel like we’ve accomplised nothing, even though we’ve been busy and running all day long.

2. It Helps Me Align With What Really Matters! Taking the time to actually slow down and write words on a page helps me to think through what really matters and allows me to prioritize by clearing my mind, so I am free to tap into the creativity I was created for.

3. It Helps Me Tap Into My Source! I cannot do life alone and I wasn’t meant to. God created me on purpose and for a purpose. The greatest thing I can do with this human experience is receive His gift of love and share it with others. When I get this right, everything else falls into place.

I encourage you to get a notebook, pen and take some time to practice this discipline in your life – it will make a difference and you will be glad you took the time…

Today started off as another ordinary Saturday. I got up, had my quiet time, brushed my teeth, and got ready to get dressed to head out into the world to see what I could get into. I decided this morning that I would wear my overalls, since I was planning on going to a local farm day event. I put on my overalls and then looked for a t shirt, slipped it on, buckled up my straps and just before I headed out the door, I rolled up my short sleeve shirt – two rolls. I then headed out the door for a normal Saturday of visits, fellowship, a little work and whatever else I might find along the way…

I began with a visit to one of our town hangouts – McDonalds to see my senior friends and we enjoyed some good conversation, talked about local events, football, hunting, politics and a little business. I love these guys because they always teach me something new and keep me very entertained.

I then headed over to our neighbor town – West Pelzer for their Farm Fest. Tractors, farm animals, all kinds of vendors and free ice cream. What’s not to love about that? I walked around, snapped some pics, visited with a few folks and decided I probably needed to get a little work done on the farm myself.

So I loaded up the chicken pen at one farm and moved it to the other. Got it cleaned up, set up and transferred the chicks. Did some more odds and ends, did a little studying, reading and note taking. And then took a little hammock break, because it is Saturday, right?

While I was laying there in the hammock thinking about my day, I was thinking back to my choice of outfits for the day. My overalls remind my of my Grandfather “Pa” Albert Harvell – one of my most favorite people in the whole wide world. He and I used to walk his property line every Sunday and as we did, he would tell me stories about growing up and growing old, teach me about farming, planting and growing and he would actually take the time to listen to whatever it was I had to say.

His daily uniform was a pair of “Pointer Overalls and a white t-shirt”. What I had never thought about or remembered until today was the way he wore that t-shirt. A lot of times when I put on a shirt, I will roll the sleeves up. I just assumed it was because I didn’t like the sleeve touching my arm or because I just think it looks better. I never really thought about where I even got the idea from until today. And laying there thinking and seeing my Pa in my minds eye, it hit me – I got that from my “Pa”.

He left this earthly expereince for his Heavenly home many years ago, but he still impacts my thoughts and actions everyday. Some times in complicated ways by helping me to explain things to my daughters about life and living. Sometimes in fun ways like enjoying outdoors, gardening, animals and watching things grow. And some times in very simple ways, like rolling up my sleeves, just because I can.

It felt so good to have that moment of realization, to see my Pa again and just enjoy sweet memories. And you know what? I think I might roll my sleeves up a little more often now!

The older I get, the more I realize that most of us know what to do, we are just not so good with follow through and actually doing what we know. It’s really not a difficult thing to figure out what is really important in this life. We know the basic difference between what is right and what is wrong. The challenge comes in our doing what is right and not doing what is wrong. The guidelines that God gives us in the scriptures are given to help us, not hurt us.

The secret to a blessed life is not just knowing what to do, but actually making sure we are doing what we know. We don’t have to know everything, because the truth is we know more than enough to keep us busy with just what we do know.

The best growth in life is growth that takes place as we learn. God does not expect perfection, He is looking for growth through our learning as we live. The fact that He gave us Jesus to do for us, what we could not do for ourselves is evidence of so much more than just His love. While God is not looking for our perfection, He is looking for our obedience and a willingness on our part to learn and grow. This is why the Scriptures are so important, because they teach us, guide us and correct our thinking and actions.

In our Scriptures in the book of Micah in chapter 6, verse 8, we find some very practical instruction that helps us to live the life of blessing we were created for. Let’s take a look at this amazing verse and allow it to grow us today…

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

The Micah Mandate is found in three very simple, but powerful commands: Act right, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Let’s take a few moments to consider each one and how we might better put them into practice in our life and living.

ACT RIGHT! There is a right way and a wrong way to act, do and be. To act justly is to act the way that God would act. Several years ago, everyone started wearing the “W.W.J.D?” bracelets to remind themselves to ask and answer the question: “What Would Jesus Do?” It’s a great idea as long as we ask and answer the question and then allow the answer to impact our follow through. We know what to do, the challenge is to do it. A great encouragement and help here is the Golden Rule: “Do unto others, as you would have the do unto you.” If we would just do what we know, it would make life so much better.

LOVE MERCY! To truly love mercy, we must first open our heart, mind and life to receive mercy, because we cannot give to anyone else what we do not possess and have not experienced for ourselves. The greatest evidence that we have received mercy is that we are sharing it with others. Remember: Grace is getting what you don’t deserve and mercy is not getting what you deserve…

WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD! I am nothing without my Creator. Anything I do good, is all God and anything I do bad is all me. When I get out of God’s way, He flows into and through my life in amazing and incredible ways. He does not force His way in, but waits for my invitation, which I can’t wait to give to Him when I am living in the humility that “I am nothing and can do nothing” of any significance without Him.

The Micah Mandate teaches us that with three simple steps, we can open up the floodgates of Heaven for the supernatural blessings of our Creator to flow into, through and all around our life. I challenge you to think about how you can act right, love mercy and walk humbly…