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 manuscripts right before they get published.

I’m guessing that if you’re listening to this episode, you like to read, too. And I’ve learned that books can often prompt some powerful journaling sessions with God.

But how do you know which books to journal about and what to write?

Today, I’ve got 8 ideas to get you started, plus 10 book recommendations you might want to check out for yourself.

Kari

See list of book recommendations here.

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 137: 3 Easy Ways to Journal When You Don't Know What to Write About

· Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference?

· Episode 61: Perceiving God's Presence and Love with Spiritual Director and Author Sharon Garlough Brown

· Episode 172: Trusting God Through Obedience: A Conversation with Neil Broere

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

>> Editing

http://karibartkus.com

Music by DappyTKeys

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 clearly to those around me. So that’s what I did: I majored in communication and minored in biblical studies, taking as many classes as I could to understand more about the Bible and spiritual formation.

The truth is, as much as I love supporting women as they seek healing in God and as they journal together with Him, one of my biggest passions is teaching God’s Word. You can see how the two go hand-in-hand, yet they are also distinct. Separate.

Teaching His Word has looked different for me over the years. Sometimes I was teaching children, sometimes youth, sometimes adults. Sometimes in small group settings, other times in large group ones. Always teaching in my local church, yet also sometimes teaching as a guest in places like retreats and conferences.

And today, you get a special treat. Because I’m sharing a message I gave titled “Love Does That,” which is where my business name comes from.

I originally gave this message in 2016. I started Love Does That in 2018. Which means I am now 7 years into this thing. Though there have been a few twists and turns along the way as I continue to discern how God wants me to use this space for Him, it is always an absolute honor and a privilege for me to use His Word to stir up the faith of others.

So I invite you to join me as we go back and listen to the message that started it all.

Kari

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 106: Leading As An Introvert

· Episode 57: A Heart to Heart with Women's Ministries Leaders: You've Got to Reach Out to Those in Your Church Who Are Hurting

· Episode 12: Caring for Hurting Kids at Your Church: 3 Powerful But Simple Things You Can Do

· Bonus Episode: Dry Bones: A Resurrection Story

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

Music by DappyTKeys

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 never really happened, right?)

Of course, some pieces always stay with us, regularly in the forefront of our minds. And some, we never really know how they're going to fit in until years down the road.

But they're all pieces of us.

They're not good, necessarily. They're not bad, either. They just... are.

Today, I want to talk about what healing might look like as we explore our stories one piece at a time. Then, I have a special invitation for you for this summer.

Kari

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons

· Episode 147: The Flip-Out Rule in Journaling

· Episode 98: Grief Has A Way Of… Well, Getting In The Way: A Personal Letter From Me To You

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

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 care from you, and that meant you had to step away from something else, at least for a little while.

There are hard decisions, and then there are decisions you don’t want to make—when your heart and your head are telling you two different things.

Lauren Black had a decision like this. And she has had to lay down her dream and move forward in surrender.

Lauren is a Decision Coach, as she’ll talk more about in our first moments together. And she has been able to develop some frameworks that have helped her—and others—discern what choices to make.

We also talk about how to grieve these hard decisions and if you should ever reconsider decisions later down the road. Is it okay to change your mind? Or is that too flakey?

And after this conversation, be sure to catch our episode over on Lauren’s podcast, Anchored Decisions.

Kari

Listen to my episode on Lauren’s podcast, Anchored Decisions:

www.anchoreddecisions.com/35

CONNECT WITH LAUREN BLACK:

· Anchored Decisions website

· Instagram

· Free Decision Compass

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 77: Three Prayers for Discernment: Making Difficult Choices in Difficult Seasons

· Episode 160: When Life Changes, Re-evaluate

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

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 asked us to do something, they knew it would be done and be done well. Extremely well.

While I have relaxed some over the years, I still have a high standard I hold myself to. Remember that strength of “responsibility” I mentioned last time? I tend to beat myself up if I don’t meet a deadline or forget to follow up with someone. I feel horrible about it and do everything I can to make it up to the other person.

This perfectionism can show up in many areas of life, including our journaling. In fact, I dare say it’s one of the biggest obstacles I see women facing as they start a journaling practice of their own.

But it’s tricky. It doesn’t always look like perfectionism. So today, we’ll talk about the disguises perfectionism can wear in your journaling and what you can do to overcome it.

Kari

RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES:

· 20 Ways to Journal with God (PDF)

· Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons

· Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference?

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

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. Yet when everybody needs something at the same time, it can get really hard, really fast.

And when I start to feel overwhelmed or discouraged, I’ve noticed that I usually end up retreating. In other words, I hide away.

Can you relate?

We can’t just ignore these seasons altogether. They are just a part of life. But by creating regular times of intentional solitude, we not only prepare ourselves for these overwhelming seasons, but we also give ourselves moments of peace and calm during them.

Why is that? Why is solitude such a big superpower for introverts? Stick around and we’ll explore that together.

Kari

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 173: [Written Spiritual Direction Session] Dialogue Journaling

· Episode 166: God in the Midst of the Storm: A Devotional Reading of Mark 6:45-52

· Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons

· Episode 159: Loneliness and Belonging: A Conversation with Sarah Westfall

· Episode 118: Tips for Journaling In Front of Others

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

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, and it’s called imaginative prayer.

Now, every time I think about explaining imaginative prayer to others, I can’t help but think about my conversation with Eva Kubasiak on her podcast, Bible Study Made Simple.

When I was talking with her, I shared with her this idea about imaginative prayer. With her permission, I want to share part of that conversation with you.

I not only explain what imaginative prayer is, but I also walk us through an example so you can see what it might look like in real life.

Kari

>> GROUP JOURNAL COACHING CALL RECORDING

http://lovedoesthat.org/store

RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES:

· Eva Kubasiak’s YouTube channel

· Episode 32 Bible Study Made Simple podcast: Imaginative Prayer with Kari Bartkus

· Episode 64: Approaching God Even In Your Anxiety with Your Bible Study Best Friend Eva Kubasiak

· Bonus Episode 2: [Guided Scripture Reading] When Someone Fights For You

· Bonus Episode 4: [Guided Scripture Reading] The Courage to Ask to Be Healed

· Bonus Episode 10: [Guided Scripture Reading] When You Don't Get Picked

· Bonus Episode 11: [Imaginative Prayer] Jesus, Have Mercy

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> JOURNAL COACHING: A 1:1 call to talk about journaling

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalcoaching

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

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 couple of years ago.

It’s one of many conversations I’ve had with Him. Some that I’ve just sensed in my spirit as I’ve prayed about something. But some that have taken place on the pages of my journal.

That’s right. Sometimes these conversations happen in writing in something called dialogue journaling. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at what dialogue journaling is and what it can look like as it relates to your relationship with God.

Kari

LENT JOURNALING RETREAT

http://lovedoesthat.org/lent2025

JOURNAL COACHING

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalcoaching

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 109: It's Getting Real: God's Invitation to Me for the Rest of Lent

· Episode 82: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 1: Ready

· Episode 83: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 2: Recognize

· Episode 84: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 3: Receive

· Episode 85: Posturing Your Heart to Hear from God, Part 4: Respond

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys