What a marvelously challenging few weeks I’ve had.
It has been over-the-top crazy.
Next level madness, even.
Some good. Some bad. Some amazing. Some…not again moments thrown in for good measure.
Can you relate?
This morning, I did all the things:
Acknowledged God. Prayed. Read my bible. Praised. Reflected. Journaled. Check to all of the above.
What I finally decided to do was to engage in my dots & jots practice. It’s all about thinking out loud. It’s an exercise in sharing. By doing so, I get to take a breath and expel my thoughts, my questions, my considerations, etc. In other words, I get to share what I’m thinking. And let me tell you, it has proven to be so therapeutic.
While I won’t be sharing every single thing here (as I do believe some things are sacred and should only be between me and my Father), I will share one very enlightening lesson. It concerns Mark 5:22-36 (The Woman with the Issue of Blood).
Here are my personal dots and jots, as well as my reflective questions:
- Desperation – > Is there something that I have had to struggle with for a time? Have I tried to deal with it myself, without the aid of the LORD? What will it take for me to surrender it to the One who perfectly handles all things well? Am I desperate enough to believe that the LORD can, indeed, heal me?
- Identity and Positioning – > Am I known by my malady and/or suffering? Have I relegated myself to believe that I am what I am plagued with in this season of life? Do I define myself by the perceptios of others, where my illness is concerned? Who am I truly in Christ, even through my issue? How do I choose to be going forward?
- Suffering – > Why is suffering a part of one’s story? Is there a burden or a blessing in the hardships of suffering? Does all suffering lead to the LORD? If Christ suffered and endured, can I? What is the God message in longsuffering?
- Hope-fueled and Hope-filled – > What is hope and why is it so powerful in the life of the disciple? What is the link between hope and the mustard seed? Are hope, love, and faith uniquely tied together? What does the LORD want us to appreciate about the idea of hope and what can be birthed from it?
- Being Made Well, Being Made Whole – > Is being made well the same as being made whole? If one is whole, does that mean that one is complete, lacking nothing? What does being made well/being made whole require, and what does that look like in real time? Is it an ongoing, moment-to-moment exercise of faith?
- In the Waiting – > Does the LORD always present moments whereby one must give an answer for the things in which he or she has done? What is it that can be learned about the LORD, as well as about self, in the waiting? Is the “waiting” period meant to bring one to the place of self-examination?
- Confession Opportunities – > Is there value in sharing one’s story? Can the power of a testimony be helpful to someone else? Is there a freedom that exists in the releasing of one’s suffering experience?
So, what happens next after a dots & jots experience? I get to answer each question. I get to dig into the Scriptures and see other instances of how the LORD shows up and teaches about each of those aforementioned subjects. That makes me happy, and just like that, it feeds my spirit.
Try your own hand at dots & jots. You are guaranteed to walk away having gained something meaningful. I’ll be praying for you.
God bless!
Photo Credit: Norman Eng
The Phone Tree Bible Study Group 
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