Spiritually Healthy

One of my goals for 2023 is to learn more hymns. Committing them to memory and savoring their rich, comforting words has been something I have been wanting to do for a while now.  While hymns don't replace Scripture, they do remind us of them.  This hymn was written by John Fawcett (1740-1817) in about 1772, "to commemorate the determination of its author to remain with his attached people at Wainsgate. The farewell sermon was preached, the wagons were loaded, when love and tears prevailed, and Dr. Fawcett sacrificed the attraction of a London pulpit tot the affection of his poor but devoted flock." And with that, this is what he wrote, Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Before our Father ’ s throne we pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares. We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows t he sympathizing tea

 Happy 2023!  The other day, I came across this list of helpful tips for journaling written by none other than Elisabeth Elliot. After reading through it once, I thought it would be helpful to implement some of them into my own Bible reading routine.  When reading the Word, write down... 1. Lessons learned from your reading of Scripture. (If you put these in your journals instead of marking up your Bible, you will find new things each time you read your Bible instead of reading it through the grid of old notes...worth a try, no?) 2. Ways in which you intend to apply those lessons in your own life. (Reading your journal later will reveal answers to prayer you would otherwise have overlooked.) 3. Dialogues with the Lord. What you say to Him, what He seems to be saying to you about some problem or issue or need. 4. Questions from your spiritual reading other than the Bible. 5. Prayers from words of hymns which you want to make your own.  6. Reasons for thanksgiving. (Caution: when you get