The Annual Life Journal: With 13-Month Calendar

By Reverend Loyce E. Calloway MABS MDiv

How many of us know who we are at our core? How often do we take the time to understand what God is speaking to us now? Is the journey with God meant to be one where we mindlessly live it, abandoned to simply react to what we see on our own? Is there more for us? Is there good or better? Where is Christ Jesus in our everyday lives? What now?

Considering 2022 and beyond—If you are ready to peel back the layers of your life and explore your personal, Christian journey, The Annual Life Journal is for you!

The past couple of years have been years like no other. They have been polarizing, perplexing, scary, challenging, and passionate. We have seen the best of us and the worst of us. We are all grappling with what to do next, trying to understand what the Spirit of God is saying to us. Can we hear clearly?

So many emotions are running hot, yet God is still speaking. Are we listening? Can we calm down long enough to hear His still, small Voice? Are we able to find a safe way to channel our fears, frustrations, doubts, lack of understanding, sadness, anxiety, disappointments, grief, and losses?

I believe God’s answer to us is, “Yes.” But, we must journey with the Lord in order for this to happen. There is no other way. This Journal is a resource to center our attention where it should be—in life with Christ by the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus suffered, bled, died, and was resurrected for our lives.

This Journal is your invitation to come to the well, seek, understand; and place your hopes, dreams, aspirations, families, health, finances, emotions, relationships—the totality of your life and being—in Christ. The Journal is equally a comprehensive guide to help you navigate life.

Purchase your copy today. The Lord be with you as you journey, My Friend. May it be well with you always!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664250741

Reverend Loyce E. Calloway MABS MDiv

Loyce poured her heart into developing a unique journal to speak to your spirit and bless your life. Led by the Holy Spirit, Loyce draws on years of experience ministering to people of all ages and walks of life to inspire, uplift, motivate, and create a safe space for healing. She uses her personable approach to engage with you in your Christian journey. Loyce earned graduate degrees in Bible Studies (Master of Arts, concentration, Old Testament) from Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary (summa cum laude), and Master of Divinity from The Howard University School of Divinity (Dean’s List). She is an ordained minister, associate pastor, singer, songwriter, author, visionary, and entrepreneur dedicated to building the Body of Christ. She is dedicated to using her every God-given gift to reach out to God’s people. For more information, visit Loyce’s website at: www.voiceandfaith.com.

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Copyright © 2022 Reverend Loyce E. Calloway, MABS, MDiv.

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www.dinaDeephotog.com.

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except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-5073-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5072-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5074-1 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/20/2021

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CONTENTS

A FOREWORD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WELCOME TO YOUR JOURNEY!

HOW TO USE THE ANNUAL LIFE JOURNAL

Considerations for Getting Started

Peeling Back the Layers: The ‘Onion’ Metaphor

Step-by-Step, Layer by Layer

1.75 Meditations for Your Journey

2.Read, Pray, Reflect, and Journal

Peeling Back the Layers

1.Influence

The Influence of Those We Have Lost

Exploring Five Influential People and Situations

2.The Journey to Discovery

Passion

Purpose

Peace

3.The Journey to Being Well

An Initial Spiritual Consideration

Mentally and Emotionally

Financially

Physically

Relationally

Spiritually

4.Exploring the Necessities of the Life for the Journey

An Introduction

Adapting

Agreeing

Being

Believing

Dreaming

Forgiving

Giving

Healing

Hoping

Knowing

Laughing

Learning

Loving and Being Loved

Peace (Being at)

Practicing

Praying

Purging (Letting Go)

Rebuilding

Resting

Serving

The Blank Page

THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF CELEBRATION AND LAUGHTER

WHAT’S NEXT?

YOUR 13-MONTH CALENDAR REFERENCE

END NOTES CITATIONS

APPRECIATION

The Annual Life Journal

Second Edition

is presented to

by

on the occasion of

Special Message

Date

The

Annual Life Journal 2022

is dedicated to our Lord, Jesus the Christ,

Who is Faithful, even when I’m not;

to all, who are grieving the loss of loved ones—

particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic; to those I’ve been

privileged to pastor, you help to bless and shape my ministry;

to friends who support me with words of encouragement and strength;

to my beautiful mother and siblings,

who grace my life with love and meaning;

to one, who is like a father—

who continues to bless our family year after year;

and to my loving, brilliant, and gifted son,

who is my constant joy, and whom I am privileged to love.

I am grateful to each of you

for sharing the journey with me.

Journey Well with God

A FOREWORD

REVEREND DR. MICHAEL K. LEA, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

I have known and enjoyed a friendship with Sister Loyce for several years. We first met in my capacity as the President of Calvert Christian Training Academy, Inc. My specialty is using temperament to help others lead more Godly lives through learning to delight in themselves as God designed. As you move through the Journal, you will realize Reverend Loyce has the same desire for helping others delight in how they are made.

Early discussions with Loyce quickly blossomed into a friendship. To know, or to spend time with her, is to be blessed through her gift of encouragement and her gentle approach. Loyce has a passion for helping others experience the love of Jesus in every circumstance. She understands that the Gospel is for all…believers and those who are not believers yet.

Through music, her endeavors, and her writings, Loyce shares her deep love for her Creator and her Savior.

This Annual Life Journal:

■ Takes you through a journey that returns you to the love of Jesus

■ Brings you peace in times of challenge and in times of blessings

■ Reaffirms the special relationship God has with you, His creation

■ Refreshes and calms like a drink of lemonade on a sweltering day

While you meditate on the topics presented, you will experience the insights of the author, who desires your engagement with the Holy Spirit.

Enjoy and Be Blessed,

Reverend Dr. Michael K. Lea

Clinical Pastoral Counselor, N.C.C.A.

Pastoral Development Pastor, Chesapeake Church

President, Calvert Christian Training Academy, Inc.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Loyce E. Calloway is a woman of multiple gifts, skills, and interests. Loyce loves creative expression!!! She is a singer, songwriter, author, teacher and entrepreneur, who desires to uplift, inspire, transform, encourage, and touch the hearts of people. For her, every moment has the capacity to share beauty, love, hope, and laughter. She appreciates the love and support of close family and friends; and realizes her greatest blessing in sharing life with her son, whom she loves around the world and into eternity.

Music has always been a vital and integral part of her life. She started singing publicly at the age of 6, and never stopped! She loves a variety of genres including Classical, Contemporary and Traditional Christian, Gospel, Celtic, Broadway, Country, Classic Rock, and many others! She says, Music has such an ability to shape our lives, and expresses our deepest emotions through positive and uplifting lyrics and instrumentation . . . and even silence.

Loyce’s musical artistry is unique to her—demonstrated by her versatility and artistic expression. She appreciates the influence of past and present musical giants including Natalie Cole, Minnie Riperton, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, and Deniece Williams; composers, George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II; and contemporary composers, David Foster and Quincy Jones, among others! Loyce has sung in a variety of groups—beginning with school concert and church choirs, Sweet Adelines, a choral society and ensembles, gospel groups, and as a soloist in different musical traditions. She also played English handbells, and adds, she simply LOVES music!!!

Loyce has earned a degree in Radio & Television Communications (B.A.); and graduate degrees in Biblical Studies (M.A.) and Religion (M.Div.), with honors. She is an ordained minister, and enjoys speaking, teaching, preaching, and facilitating retreats and other uplifting events. She has served in churches, nonprofits, and for-profit settings as associate pastor and minister, executive director, assistant director of administration, director of membership and communications, pastoral ministries manager, assistant administrator, and grantwriter/developer.

In 2020, Loyce felt called to launch her business and ministry, Voice and Faith, LLC, which she describes as the culmination of her experiences. She draws upon those experiences as she performs for audiences from many walks of life. Whether belting out a Gershwin tune or sharing the music or ministry of her Christian faith, she believes God uses every talent and gift He has given her to bring people together and to glorify the Lord!

Voice and Faith demonstrates Loyce’s diverse interests and out-of-the-box approach to living and sharing life, love, and faith! She focuses on the power of the voice to communicate positively—uniting people through singing, speaking, and sharing life! She hopes the second edition of the Annual Life Journal helps you to rediscover your passion, purpose, and peace as you peel back the layers of your life and Journey Well with God.

VISIT LOYCE’S WEBSITE:

www.voiceandfaith.com

VISIT LOYCE’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

In YouTube, search Voice and Faith (or access YouTube video links

directly through her website for music videos and inspirational messages).

CONTACT LOYCE:

[e-mail]

WELCOME TO YOUR JOURNEY!

Welcome to this second edition of the Annual Life Journal! It’s been 10 years since I self-published the first edition, so the fact that God enabled me to finally prepare and get the second edition into your hands is remarkable (to me)! It has not been an easy 10 years, but by God’s grace, it has certainly been worth it.

This journal is designed to help you, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, begin to peel back the layers of your life and see how the Lord is at work within you. A friend of mine once said, Life gets in the way of living. Ever since I first heard these words, I’ve thought about this truth. As we go through life, we can often be distracted and bombarded with many pressing demands. These competing priorities detract from the person God wants us to be. But not to worry; God wastes nothing of us!

This journal is designed—building on the principal of the onion—to work with us to peel each layer in order to get to the core. In the core lies the new growth; it is where God reminds us of who we truly are—we are His. New layers are formed from our core, and the Lord is always doing something new.

As you use this journal resource, I pray you discover yourself anew. Journaling through reflection, prayer, studying, and listening to the still, small Voice of God, you will come to know yourself better. You will delve into various aspects of your life and see where you are on your journey. The journal is annual and will prayerfully be revised every year. I pray you are able to see yourself, as if for the first time, with the passing of each new year. Growing closer to the Lord and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, I pray you will grow in His Divine Grace, Peace, Healing and Joy!

Now, let’s begin!

Journey Well!

HOW TO USE THE

ANNUAL LIFE JOURNAL

Second Edition

CONSIDERATIONS FOR GETTING STARTED

PEELING BACK THE LAYERS: THE ‘ONION METAPHOR’

My Dear Friends in Christ,

I believe that 2020 and 2021 have changed the landscape of our lives. The novel coronavirus pandemic made (some of) us stop, think, observe, and learn. However, if we consider where we are in our walk with the Lord, how much have we grown? Have we learned the lessons the Lord has been trying to teach us? What is God speaking to us? Our nation? Our world? How well are we listening, and do we want to hear God speak truth to us? Where are we going in 2022? In 2023?

These are just a few of the things we will explore as we prepare to peel back the layers, cross the threshold of 2022, and journey through the New Year. Our journey will be filled with, as is in life, peaks and valleys. We will be challenged with seeking understanding as we live out our faith. We will succeed, and at times, feel like we have totally failed. But it is all a part of life . . . of the journey. Our experiences (individual and shared), shape who we are . . . who we become. How is your becoming?

Part of being alive is learning and understanding the collective and individual journey we all share—like it or not. When we are born, depending on what type of family we are born into, we are exposed to different things—i.e., beliefs, behaviors, values, practices, traditions and customs, cultural influences, desires, and ideas. All of these things help to influence, mold and shape us, into who we are, and if we let them, who we need to be. At the center of all of these influences is God, Who loves us more than anyone ever could. If we learn through the safety, love, and support of a caring family, we are very fortunate. If we learn these through the hardships of life, we are equally blessed.

When 2020 began, we probably did not suspect that the year would turn out to be anything like it did. I know that several of my friends and I were focused on the 20/20 Vision! We had celebrated Christmas, welcomed the New Year, and were on the brink of what next?! At least, until we started hearing reports of what would turn out to be a global pandemic in the form of COVID-19.

Did this beast of a virus mean that we had been abandoned, left alone to face the challenges of the year all alone? What was God saying through all of the infections and mounting increases in people who had succumbed to the virus? Was God speaking at all, and did He truly care about us?

It is easy, when facing the hard things of life, to feel as if we have been forgotten. When all of life is pressing our backs against the wall, what do we do? What should we do? We know, as Christian believers, how we want to appear to be? Strong, right? We might think that, if we admit we’re experiencing doubts, then we must not be Christian? If we admit that we need support, that we are having a difficult time healing from the loss of a loved one, then others might think us weak.

We are constantly judging each other when the only judge should truly be the Lord—the One, Who created us . . . Who knew us before we were in our mother’s wombs. I believe God has something to say about His creation. I believe He is still speaking—when we can remove ourselves from the chaos of life and give ourselves the gift of hearing His still, small Voice. A Voice that is no less powerful, and One that speaks when we are truly listening.

Life can be hard, messy, overwhelming and yet beautiful, full, inspirational, and worth living all at the same time. What a paradox! Why are we all here? What is our journey all about? What is the Lord calling us to do? There are but a few questions we ask ourselves.

This Annual Life Journal is for your journey. This message sets the foundation as we begin to peel back the layers of our lives, our being—using the onion as a symbol. It is prepared for you to be able to work on you—i.e., to make the time to reflect on your life in a holistic and practical way. It is created out of something that I was seeking for myself many years ago.

My prayer for you, Dear Friend, is, as you peel back the layers of your life’s journey, you will do so in partnership with God—as you discover, confirm, reaffirm, dedicate or