Journal Gently (formerly Let’s Encourage One Another) is a podcast designed to help introverted women find healing after experiencing grief, hurt, and trauma.
This is a sacred space for us to meet together and draw close to God on the pages of our journals, especially when life is hard. It's all about taking small, gentle steps and inviting God to do His healing work in us. Let's journal gently.
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Kari Bartkus is a spiritual director who walks with hurting Christian women, helping them recognize God's presence in the midst of their pain, including grief, depression, illness, and relational struggles. She specializes in written spiritual direction, perfect for more introverted gals drawn to quiet spaces and written words.
Recorded Workshops and PDF Guides:
http://lovedoesthat.org/store
Journal Gently Writing Program:
https://lovedoesthat.org/journal-gently
1:1 Written Spiritual Direction:
https://lovedoesthat.org/spiritual-direction
Book "Courageous Care":
https://lovedoesthat.org/care
Imagine this scenario: Someone you dearly love is hurting. Maybe they are grieving the loss of a loved one or battling the depths of depression. Maybe they’ve lost their sense of purpose or just got …
I have been incredibly blessed over the past several years to connect with other individuals who are doing similar work. Laura Howe is one of those people.
Laura and I met as part of a mastermind we …
“God doesn’t talk to me.”
“I can’t hear God’s voice.”
“I don’t know what God sounds like.”
Hearing from God is pivotal to the life of a Christian. Not only do we seek guidance from His Word, but we a…
There are many ways to journal, but one of my favorites is to journal as I read the Bible. I take note of things that grab my attention, I ask questions, and I explore various ideas together with God…
As women, as moms, we carry a lot of responsibilities, and sometimes a lot of expectations—from ourselves and from others. Yet one thing is clear: God has called us to keep our families as a top prio…
Have you ever prayed for God to open doors for you so it’s clear which way you should go, which decision you should make?
But, my friend, take a minute and think about the sayings we Christians have…
It’s probably no surprise to you that I am an avid reader, averaging about one or two books a week. Not only do I read for fun, but I also get to read for work, editing and proofreading book manuscri…
Deciding on my major in college really wasn’t that hard for me. I knew I wanted my studies to focus on the Bible and speech. I wanted to learn more about His Word so that I could communicate it clear…
It's funny how pieces of our stories get set down, lost, discovered, or picked up again.
Some pieces we hide away, hoping never to look at them again. (We think if we don't acknowledge them, they ne…
What hard decisions have you had to make? Maybe it regarded your job, like me. Or maybe it focused on which school your kids should go to, or where you live. Maybe someone in your family needed extra…
In high school, my best friend and I were known as the Perfectionists. We had high standards for ourselves when it came to our school work, our extracurricular activities, and our jobs. If someone as…
I’m pretty good at juggling multiple commitments and responsibilities. In fact, my number one strength per StrengthsFinder is “responsible” and my spiritual gifts include the gift of administration. …
Have you ever found your Bible reading to be a little dull or lifeless? Is it hard to see the people of the Bible as real individuals who encountered God?
There’s a practice that can help with this, …
Do you ever talk to God—and expect to hear back from Him?
Back in episode 109, I shared a little conversation that God and I had as it related to something He was calling me to do during Lent a coupl…
I don’t know about you, but I read a lot of books. And there are a lot of good books out there. Many of which I recommend to you. But there are only a few that really stir deeply in my soul.
Neil Bro…
I don’t know what it is, but life has just felt… hard.
People misunderstanding one another. Feelings getting hurt. Work to do. Family to care for. Trying to balance it all while also cleaning the hou…
I can have a difficult time explaining how I feel about something, and when it’s incredibly important to me, the words seem even harder to find.
But there are other times when words feel hard, too: w…
In July of 2021, I ran my first challenge as a ministry. It was the Courageous Care 5-day challenge, and it walked women through five obstacles that prevent us from reaching out to those around us wh…
Journaling through God’s Word is a great way to read, study, and actually engage with what He is saying to you.
And since the New Year is just a few weeks away, it’s a natural time to recommit ourse…
I remember sitting on my bed, reading through a box of old journals I had tucked away in the closet. At first, it was fun, remembering some of the friendships I had and experiences I had gone through…