WHO AM I AS A WRITER AND WHAT AM I MEANT TO REALLY WRITE?

*** Please forgive the formatting of this blog post. I keep trying to fix it, but it isn't cooperating. ***

WHO AM I AS A WRITER AND WHAT AM I MEANT TO REALLY WRITE?

Written February 03, 2015. Tuesday. 930 a.m. 

I keep struggling... trying to figure out what to write... and how to write it.

I have tons of ideas for books, but does that mean I should write them?

What about just enjoying reading books? What about that? So, that means I don't have to write several different kinds of books.

One of the things I feel most pulled to is writing my memoir, but I never find a way to make it work or stick. I know journal keeping is the theme of my life. Consequently, this lets me know, and reminds me, how my expertise and passion is journal keeping. Period. End of story. No question. No doubt. That's it.

What about writing a fictional series about journal keepers?

What about loosely basing parts of my life so I tell my memoir, but in fiction form, but taking some poetic license?

I can add journaling tips at the end of every chapter and a few pages at the end.

Huh. Something to think about. 

This feels right. 

Now, I think I will take some time and journal about this and see if it would work. 

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A RYP JOURNAL KEEPERS FICTION AND NONFICTION SERIES

How can I make it a journal keeping fictional series no one else has done? 

If I do it as a fiction book and series, there is the potential to get more people into journaling. 

BINGO! I just figured out Book 1. (Yay!)

This is precisely what I want to write. A series about journal keepers. 

Wait. Or, did I figure out Book 1? 

I have a million different ideas going through my head at once. 

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WHAT DO I KNOW FOR SURE? 

I know for sure it will be about journaling. 

I know for sure it will be about journal keepers. 

I know it will be fiction.

I know I will add journaling hints, tips, and prompts at the end of every chapter and at the end of every book.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2008-2015.) 

USA JOURNALING #10: QUESTIONS ABOUT FREEDOM

What is freedom?

What does "freedom" truly mean?

Am I really free?

Does everyone deserve freedom?

What have I done to defend freedom?

Answer each question as an American and then again as a Christian American.

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USA JOURNALING #9: HOW CAN I LIVE THE BEST CHRISTIAN AMERICAN LIFE POSSIBLE?

USA JOURNALING #9: HOW CAN I LIVE THE BEST CHRISTIAN AMERICAN LIFE POSSIBLE?

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HOW CAN I LIVE THE BEST CHRISTIAN AMERICAN LIFE POSSIBLE?

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 234 p.m.

How can I live the best Christian American life possible? How can I live the best Christian life possible here in the USA? The answer to each is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

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2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

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There are five things 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells me to do as a Christian American:

1 Believe in God

2 Humble myself

3 Pray

4 Search for God

5 Turn from my wicked, sinful ways

That's it. It's that simple. 

I just re-read those five items and two stood out to me: Pray and search for God. I think if I did just those two items, the rest would be lived naturally and without effort. 

For me to be the best Christian American I can be, I will draw as close to God as possible--and 2 Chronicles 7:14 points out how praying and searching for Him is how I will accomplish this. 

And, I want to also point out that if I am praying, I am searching for God. Therefore, I think that 2 Chronicles 7:14 can be summarized as this: Pray--for the USA. 

Pray for the U.S.

That's it. It's that simple. Pray every day, all day long for the United States of America. 

Need I remind us of the USA Journaling Prayer Challenge to pray for the USA at least for half an hour every single day? 

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USA JOURNALING #8

USA JOURNALING PRAYER CHALLENGE

Would you care to join me in living 2 Chronicles 7:14? 

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2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

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THE USA JOURNALING: A PRAYER AND PRAYER JOURNALING CHALLENGE

Would you care to join me in a challenge to commit to praying this verse over self and the USA for at least half an hour per day?

If so, please tell me when you will pray (the time) each day. Let me know through attaching a comment at the end of any blog post or sending me an email? I would love to be able to get all 24 hours covered with several people praying in each time slot for the USA. 

My goal is to pray 8:00-8:30 a.m. each day.

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HOUSEKEEPING AND NEWS: MOVING AND SHORTER BLOG POSTS

I just wanted to give you some heads up about my intent for this blog as I am in the process of preparing to move across the country in the next few weeks, go on vacation, and then unpack the new house. I'm trying to write several blog posts ahead of time so you will at least have a blog post every other day while that is going on in my life. 

Also, I will have a lot of time to think since I will not have a lot of time to journal, so I will periodically include a new thought. 

Therefore, you may end up reading in March a blog post I wrote in February. Once I get unpacked and settled, and am able to sit down and give my full-time attention to this blog, it will be different. I'm just trying to come up with a way to keep this blog going until then. 

I imagine in late march, early April, I will be back on this blog full-time. I hope to answer all of the questions I've listed in this blog at that time and hope to list even more. 

Thanks, again, for your patience during this time of transition.

COMMENTS: I will try to make sure to comment on any comments or emails you send during this time. I will not be that much of a stranger. I would love to hear about your struggles being an American and/or a Christian American. 

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CONTRARIETY

Stay tuned for my latest writing project.

It's Dystopian. Science Fiction. Futuristic. Speculative Fiction.

CONTRARIETY
QUADRANT 1 SERIES, BOOK 1

*** CANCELED AS OF FEBRUARY 03, 2015. ***

USA Journaling #7

USA Journaling #7

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USA JOURNALING BLOG TO BOOK: PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION 

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 1057 a.m.

I have the feeling that these blog posts will be turned into a book about prayer, contemplation, prayer journaling (and prayer journaling prompts), and application about what it means to be a Christian American today. Furthermore, I could also easily turn this into a memoir about me doing those things (prayer, contemplation, prayer journaling, and application). We shall see.

This is the purpose of this blog, though, everything I mentioned in the previous paragraph. Therefore, it only makes sense for me to do those things. 

I want to be the best Christian American I can be--and I want to make sure I am living it in the spirit and intent of our founders. (What is that, by the way? This provides more things to learn, pray about, contemplate, prayer journal, and apply.)

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2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

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HUMBLE MYSELF

Am I humble?

Do I focus more on or about self than on others? More on or about self than on country? 

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ALL OF THE QUESTIONS I ASK MYSELF ON THIS BLOG (HOUSEKEEPING AND NEWS)

By the way, it is my goal to go through and USA prayer journal my answers to each and every question of this blog. But, first, I want to think on it and pray on it for a while before I do. I want to ruminate, ponder, think, focus on, and let it roll around in my mind and heart for a while before I commit it to the page. 

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PRAYER FOR THE USA (AND PRAYER JOURNALING FOR THE USA): HOW HAVE I BEEN DOING WITH THIS ENDEAVOR?

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 1104 a.m.

How has my prayer and prayer journaling life been like for the USA? How have I been doing with this endeavor?

How about you?

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THE LATEST (NEWS): ALMOST ALL OF MY BLOG POSTS IN ONCE PLACE

Written January 28, 2015, Wednesday

I am sorry to do an extra blog post today, but there is a reason for it.

As I'm in the moving process, and waiting for the stars to align (figure of speech only) so we can put in an offer on a house, and as we are in the process of preparing to move and moving, I realize my writing is going to be in fits and starts--a little here and a little there--about this and that. Needless to say, I am going to do something once and for all. I am only going to write on this blog. It has almost every blog post I have ever written, in one place. 

Last night, I made sure to export and post most of my blog posts since 2009. I am quite excited to have everything here in one place. It simplifies things. Making things simpler is always a huge blessing. (To Him be all the glory.)

I am also in the process of trying to figure out what I really, truly, finally want to write when I grow up. I promise. Once I move, I will have an answer and will actually stick with it. I want to get serious about this once and for all. Therefore, I am working on getting the committed mindset and will make things work and will not switch once I do make the commitment. I might add a few bonus parts to blog posts, and even do an additional blog post series or two, but that is it. I want to write books--or more specifically blog posts to books. 

So welcome to this new and improved blog. I hope you enjoy. {Just a tip: Use the blog archive or labels to search for different topics you might find of use.}

Also, I would love to dialogue with you about any of the blog posts. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or input--or if you want to read more of something. Just let me know. 

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2008-2015.)

USA Journaling #6

USA Journaling #6

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MY PEOPLE

2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Am I one of God's people? This is the next question.

I am. I know the answer. I am one of His people because I believe in Him. 

Now, here is the next question: How do I live my belief in God?

How do I believe my belief in God as a Christian American? 

How should I--and how do I--regarding the previous two questions?

Does my life reflect I am a believer of God? And... Does my life reflect I am a believer in God as an American? And, how? And, how does it not?

The answer to all of these questions shows if I am one of His people and if I am called by His name.

Now... What about you?

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