Starting a Prayer Journal
64Most Christians know that they need to take time out of their day to speak to God, but do they take as much time as they should? God deserves as much attention, praise, and thanks as we can possibly give Him. When we have a decent amount of spare time, a prayer journal is a great way to spend our extra time with Jesus. Aside from your prayers, you can write to Jesus somewhat like the way you would write to yourself in a personal journal, and you will become even closer to Him. For example, you can write about how your day at work went, how you bought a new puppy, your goals, your fears... anything. This is God you're talking to. He already knows everything there is to know about you, but He wants you to talk to Him and give Him your love and affection. Not only are you praying to the Father, but it's a great way to release pent-up feelings, since you are writing to God about all of your concerns. It also makes it easier to remember what you have already prayed for and to find out what you need to pray for.
It can be a good way to relax at the end of a hectic day, propping your feet up or relaxing in a warm bath surrounded by candles while journaling. Speaking to Jesus either way can help you relax, but journaling may help you explain your feelings, wants, and needs more completely than it would if you were speaking to God with your voice or mind. You may find that you feel more connected to God from your writing sessions. I am in no way telling you to replace your "hands in the air praise" of the Lord, or kneeling and praying, but journaling is a wonderful way to connect with Jesus and keep up with your prayers.
Online Journaling
If you feel that typing is best for you, there are a few great, free customizable blog sites for you to consider. Http://www.livejournal.com and http://www.xanga.com are two worthy choices. Another nice blog is located at http://www.blogger.com . All three of these blogs can be made private, or you can branch out and add friends' blogs. There are many other blog sites out there, but these are quite possibly the best free, customizable blogs around.
Journaling the Old-Fashioned Way
Wal-mart, K-mart, Target, and the other major chain stores out there carry nice journals, or you can order one online. There are some prayer journals for sale online that are absolutely beautiful.
I took quite a liking to this journal: Daily Devotions, A Prayer Journal. A bit expensive, but it would be worth it. It is lilac, hard cover, asks questions to fill out on every page (scriptures, special prayers, goals, etc.), and is on recycled paper. Amazon. com has a great selection of prayer journals.
You may want to get crafty by purchasing a cheap composition book and decorating it. When decorating, decorate the journal for God. Take your time and make Him something He will appreciate. He doesn't expect a gold-plated diary encrusted with diamonds and sapphires. It would please Him though if you would take the time to decorate for Him a journal that is pleasing on the eyes. Maybe you could buy a book cover, fabric and adhesive spray, or neon paper. Get some stickers and colored glue... or maybe you could try decoupage. You may even want to learn how to make books and/or handmade paper. And for the young at heart, there are special notebooks with black paper to use gel pens to write on. It creates a beautiful effect. Happy journaling!
cgmindia1@gmail.com 5 months ago
#No, 06, Shriniwas nilaya, Santosh Nagar, opp-Lake
Near Ganpathi Temple Hubli
Karnataka state India-580032
chinyard@gmail.com
Website: www.chinyard-india.org
Ph: (91) 0836-2356184
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ref. No: 18997/2011/12 Date:
Welcome to Chinyard NGO
Good Day
We are writing this letter on behalf of CHINYARD, hereby we would like to enlighten you about our organization. CHINYARD is operating in North Karnataka region over the last 21 years. Chinyard is one of the development initiatives rendering service to poorest of the poor. Chinyard’s prime vision is to bring destitute people into main stream society. Because underprivileged masses are deprived from economic, social and institutional opportunities. Chinyard was registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act-1950. For overseas assistance purpose Chinyard was registered under Ministry of Home Affairs for the Foreign Contribution and Regulation Act-1976.
Chinyard’s operation is recognized in drought prone areas; most of the marginal and poor farmers depend only on agricultural, due to scarcity of rains land remains fallow. Therefore peasants are not getting adequate employment opportunities here. Hence farmers are migrating towards metropolitan cities for search of livelihood options. Consequences of parent migration children are deprived from education. Chinyard organization has been implementing several social development programmes for upliftment of destitute people. These programmes are as follows.
1. Promotion of Livelihood Activities: Under this programme Chinyard has organized various livelihood activity trainings like tailoring, dairy farm, poultry, embroidery and vermin-compost training to women self help groups. After the training Chinyard has helped them startup their own enterprises and provided market linkage to sell their product in the market.
2. Rural Small Micro Entrepreneurship Development Programme: Under this Chinyard has given training to 976 women on various rural micro enterprises. After the training Chinyard supported them to begin their own enterprises.
3. Women Empowerment: Under this programme Chinyard formed 5243 women self help groups and provided bank linkage. Chinyard believes in UNITY IS STRENGTH keeping this quote in mind Chinyard organized women into self help groups. For this accomplishment Chinyard has received state level second award. For women self help group member’s skill up gradation purpose Chinyard has organized various trainings and workshops.
4. Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resource Management Programme: Under this project Chinyard formed watershed committee, community based tank management committee and village forest committee this projects prime objective was to create awareness about Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resource Management. For this accomplishment Chinyard received National level productivity award, given by central agricultural ministry of India.
5. Capacity Building Training for Self Help Group Members: Under this programme Chinyard has given training on the concept of SHG, Credit Management, Unity and Cooperation, Problem Solving, Panchayat Raj System, Right To Information Act, Leadership and Effective Communication, Book Keeping and Account Maintenance.
6. Road Safety Awareness Programme: By this programme Chinyard has taken initiative to provide road safety awareness among vehicle owners, school and college students through street plays, photo exhibitions and dramas.
7. Eradication of Violence against Woman: Through this programme Chinyard organized several human rights awareness programmes among rural people under this Chinyard gave awareness about gender sensitization and mitigation of dowry system. And those who were facing violence Chinyard has provided legal assistance for them.
8. Tribal Handicraft: Through this programme Chinyard has taken initiative to conserve ancient tribal handicraft, and give technical training to upgrade their handicraft skills. Promote market linkage to sell their product in the market. Chinyard has given training to 300 Kasuthi Artisans, 107 Mirror Artisans and 40 Quilt Production Training.
9. Scholarship Amenities to Merit Students: Through this programme Chinyard has been providing scholarships to economically background merit students to continue their studies through this yearly 150 merit student’s benefit.
10.Computer Literacy Programme: Through this programme Chinyard is providing computer education to rural and slum students. Chinyard has also been giving basic computer training to unemployed youths.
11.Animal Welfare Programme: Through this programme Chinyard has taken initiative to construct water ponds in rural areas and started animal fodder center from this center Chinyard has been disbursing fodder to farmers.
12.Micro Credit Programme: By this programme Chinyard has been supporting Micro Credit facility to rural poor masses. This programmes prime vision is support to startup micro enterprise and to generate income generation activities to rural masses. Chinyard has supported 53,200 women self help groups. Till date women self help groups cumulative savings is 4.50 crore and Internal lending is 9 crore.
13.Drinking Water Project: Under this project Chinyard has given bore well repair training to 35 Tribal women to take initiative to repair bore wells.
14.Documentation: Chinyard has been keeping day to day activity reports, if higher authorities, donors require Chinyard will submit the report immediately. Chinyard has done rating care by M-Cril rating agency, Mumbai and also done external evaluation of rural women empowerment by Mahamad Guttigar. Chinyard has published annual reports. Chinyard provides opportunities to researchers to do a study at the organization.
15.Human Resource: In Chinyard’s organization there are 32 well qualified, experienced staffs working over the last 21 years. Chinyard’s staff has passion towards social work and work for underprivileged development upliftment purposes.
Now we are unable to carry out the above activities, due to lack of financial sources. In this connection we are requesting your assistance for further development work. Your one contribution can bring brightness among the underprivileged masses. Your kind donations will get tax exemption under 12(A) and 80G Income Tax Act-1961. Further any more information, visit our organization website: www.chinyard-india.org
If you have friends, or donors who would like to donate for this noble cause please kindly forward these details to them and help in serving the purpose.
Looking forward to your positive response.
Yours Faithfully
(Secretary-Chinyard)