Saturday, August 30, 2014

Blessings Journaling Counted and Esther (Aug.28.2014c.)

Blessings Journaling Counted and Esther (Aug.28.2014c.)

2014-08-28 09:22:40, Thursday

WARREN WIERSBE'S WRITINGS: BIBLE STUDIES AND COMMENTARIES IN MY LIBRARY

I just did an inventory for my information only and discovered these blessings. I have the Bible commentaries by Warren Wiersbe on the books of: Genesis 1-11; Mark; Revelation; Romans; and Ruth/Esther (Blessings 642-646). And, I have his commentaries on: Isaiah, Ruth/Esther, Acts 13-28; 1 Peter; Daniel; Romans; Revelation; and Psalm 1-89 (647-654). What wonderful blessings. Thank You, Lord.

ESTHER 1

Earlier I read Esther 1 and said how I highlighted every single verse. Thank God, my highlights and everything came through from the BibleGateway.com app to the internet version of my account. It didn't yesterday. (655)

BIBLEGATEWAY.COM HIGHLIGHTS, FAVORITES, AND NOTES

I just saved all three down in my journal of what I have for those three categories so far. (656, 657, 658).

MISC. AND ETC.

Unspoken prayer request.

659 B called--and gave me an update (660)--and told me some other stuff, quite the blessing (661). Thanks, Lord, for using my husband like You do (662 and 663).

Unspoken prayer request.

ESTHER 1

The introduction to the chapter and book:

Esther 1:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

1 These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2 In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne in the fortress at Susa. 3 He held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces. 4 He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness for a total of 180 days.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For more information on Esther 1:1, here's a link:

http://biblehub.com/esther/1-1.htm (668)

For more information on Esther 1 see:

http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/kdo/view.cgi?bk=16&ch=0 (669)

To listen to commentary and study on the Book of Esther, check out Dr. J. Vernon McGee's timeless audio at:

http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ttb/view.cgi?bk=16 (670)

And, his ministry, Through the Bible Radio Network has notes and outlines on Esther to Job which can be found here:

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/faithnetworkuserfilestore/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/filecabinet/ministries/cd22ad78-0b98-437d-bd00-f7876c5738b0/Notes%20&%20Outlines/no12_Esther-Job.pdf

INTRODUCTION OF ESTHER

There is no mention few the name of God in the book. However, 192 times the heathen king is mentioned. Also, there are only two books in the Bible named for women: Ruth and Esther.

Esther is a book of providence. Providence is how God directs the creation and universe.

Deuteronomy 31:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

18 I will certainly hide My face on that day because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Israelites focused on idols, then Deuteronomy 31:18. After the Babylonian captivity of seventy years, not everyone left and went back to Israel. It was a large segment of people. Several million didn't return when God commanded for them to do so. Esther is this record.

God directs these people even though they are not in His will--because of His providence. Esther talks about this. These people in a foreign land, who didn't obey His orders, are the people of Esther. God hasn't forgotten them.

Esther teaches the providence of God. Providence is the direction God gives all. His will prevails.

Ephesians 1:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

11 We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Ephesians 1:11 shows the providence of God.

Information on the providence of God can be found here (and it's extremely helpful):

http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/providence-of-god.html (673)

And:

http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons-bible-dictionary/providence.html (674)

Providence is provision given by God through his foresight. Direction given by God. God will provide and providence is this. It's the Almighty God working in the events of sinful, carnate, and finite human beings. He's in control. We/I are not.

Esther talks about the permissive will of God.

Writer and author of Esther is unknown.

COMPUTER ISSUES

Ugh! My computer is acting SOOO slow. Hang on... Need to do some maintenance on it.

(Side-Note to Self: 170,654 = a # I needed to remember.)

I'm deleting more files. Again...

(Note to self: # to remember: 38.1)

EMAIL

Checking email and responding to some... 2014-08-28 11:15:58.

Blessings Counted Journaling (Aug.28.2014d.)

2014-08-28 11:29:53

Blessing 675 I have 285 journal entries since August 04, 2014.

676 I have 675 blessings from August 16, 2014 to now.

677 How our cat, Sinan (pronounced See-naw-n) loves to lie on the dog's bed. It's where he is right now.

Oh! I just remembered something I want to do. I want to save all of my highlights from my Amazon Kindle Fire 8.9-inch HDX Tablet.

678 I saved my highlights of the Voskamp and Wiersbe books that I'm reading right now. So, I can look at them as a reference now. (Yay!)

679 Thank You, Lord, for showing me how to save stuff on cloud and Penzu and not to my desktop. 680 This makes them permanent in my life. (Yay!)

681 Thank God. At this point, if I were to accidentally lose everything on my computer, I would be okay. I have all of it saved elsewhere.

682 I still am trying to get used to doing more work off of my tablet and less off of my computer--so I can write everywhere in my house, in each room, in each nook and cranny, and even outside.

(Note to Self of new #s to remember: 37.2 & 170,654 to 158,405)

Switching to tablet now. 2014-08-28 12:00:45.

683 My pc just did an update. Maybe this will help it. (Please, Lord.) (I keep having the bad feeling I may need to wipe it clean and start over, so I have it ready if I need to do so. I pray the updates help.)

Zack is having dementia all of the sudden. Poor guy.

B was supposed to be home early today. Well... We shall see when he gets home. I'm not complaining. No. Not at all. Lord, use him. Give Him Your words.

Computer is restarting. Glad I switched to my tablet. (684)

685 Thank God for lip balm for chapped lips.

686 I am grateful, God, for my tablet.

Psalm 118:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. (687)

Lord, I am all over the place. Help me to center my thoughts and acts on You and Your Word. Give me focus, Lord. This is my prayer:

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

3 For though we live in the body, we do not wage war in an unspiritual way, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience has been confirmed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Amen!!!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Expanded Bible (EXB)

3 [L For] Although we ·live in the world [L walk in the flesh], we do not ·fight [wage war] ·in the same way the world fights [L according to the flesh]. 4 We fight with weapons that are ·different from those the world uses [not merely human weapons; L not of the flesh]. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy ·the enemy’s strong places[L strongholds; fortresses]. We destroy ·people’s arguments [human reasoning; sophistries] 5 and every ·proud thing [pretension; exalted opinion; L high thing] that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it obey Christ.6 We are ready to ·punish [avenge] ·anyone there who does not obey [L every disobedience], ·but first we want you to obey fully [L once/after your obedience is fulfilled;C once the church as a whole repents, Paul will discipline those who refuse].

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Lord, help me to take my every thought captive and make it obedient to You and Your Word alone. Teach me and help me to do so, God. I thank You for putting this thought and the verses on my mind (690).

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 The Message (MSG)

3-6 The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

The Message (MSG)

693 Thank You, Lord, for helping me with my computer.

694 Thank You, Lord, for Pocket, the app, which saves all of my blog and online articles.

Ugh. Having more computer issues. I'm working off of tablet, thank God, but am trying to delete stuff off of computer.

Give me a moment. Let me finish this up and then I will try to do what I hear You calling me to do, Lord.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Blessings Counted Journaling and the Book of Esther (Aug.28.2014b.)

Blessings Counted Journaling and the Book of Esther (Aug.28.2014b.)

2014-08-28 07:23:10, Thursday

Good morning, Lord.

I just took a couple of deep breaths. I finally had the time to do so, along with the inclination. You woke B and I up with a call of prayer needed. Thank You for the call (628), for waking us (629), and the opportunity to pray (630).

As I sit here, I think of a blessing and prayer journaling entry I did yesterday evening... where I talked about how we are to always give thanks, even when we don't want to, don't feel like it, and/or don't find it fair. (Sorry about the triple negative sentence, but You don't care about grammar in prayer. Thanks You for the grace 631.) Boy, that prayer request fits in here...

Lord, it amazes me what people experience in this world... some terrible, heart and gut wrenching stuff... where I have no idea how they could possibly deal with it... and they do... and far greater than they ever should be able to... when You infuse them thoroughly with Your strength. I pray that now.

Private.

I am at a loss and do not know at this point what to pray or what blessings to count. I'm blank.

Lord, You sure trust people with much. Thank You, I think... (632)

Ahh! I just remembered something I keep forgetting to share. (Thank You, Jesus. I praise You for reminding me to get this down and capture it on the page. 633.)

On Monday, I'm starting a ladies Bible study of the Book of Esther (634). I am so excited (635). It's an online Bible study by an organization called, Love God Greatly (636).

Here is the link:

http://www.lovegodgreatly.com/2014/08/insight-fascinating-book-esther/

I am a Bible study nut, where I usually do far more than the required reading. I like to learn as much as possible and get as much as I can out of it. I know the only way to do that is to put as much into it as possible. So, as of last night, I've started to read and do an additional Bible study (637) and commentary (638) on Esther by Warren Wiersbe (639) called, BE COMMITTED. (Note: Plus, in time, I want to get all 66 Bible study and commentaries by him anyway. They are really good and I could repeat reading them and doing them over the course of my next forty plus years.)

READING "BE COMMITTED" BY WARREN WIERSBE

"Doing God's will whatever the cost" is the rest of the BE COMMITTED title of the Bible study and commentary by Warren Wiersbe. The full title tell a great deal of what to expect from them, but far more importantly from the Book of Esther and from Esther herself. I can only imagine what life application I will glean from this study. (640)

God is never named or mentioned in the Book of Esther. Not once.

Interesting, is it not?

I'm going to read Esther 1 now. (2014-08-28 08:11:06)

Okay....So, I just highlighted every verse of Esther 1. (641)

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC. August 2014. Norfolk Botanical Garden.)

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Blessing Counted Journaling (Aug.28.2014a.)

2014-08-28 06:28:41, Thursday

Read Psalm 123-125 and 1 Corinthians 10.

605 Thank You, Lord,for the unspoken x 2. 606.

607 How my husband had a glory sighting this morning on way to work. He called 608 to share with me how he saw lots of deer, including a mama and her twins 609 we've been watching for a couple of months 610 as we drive by a certain place and see them 611.

Psalm 28:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

7 The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

New Living Translation (NLT)

I pray this verse for the people on my heart and You know why, Lord. Be their strength and shield. You already are, but help them to feel it and know it in a powerful way as they deal with this...

Psalm 28:7 is an amazing verse for my life. I want to read this verse, pray it, and ponder it all day and night for a while, Lord. Amen and amen. What an incredible verse I know to be true. It gives more reason to do Blessings Counted Journaling.

I just shared the verse with someone via email. I hope it will be a blessing for them. 613.

614 I read Psalm 123, Psalm 124 (615), Psalm 125 (616), Psalm 28 (617), Psalm 38 (618), Psalm 48 (619), and 1 Corinthians 10 (620). Psalm 58 (621).

Psalm 28:7 Expanded Bible (EXB)

7 The Lord is my strength [Ex. 15:2] and shield.
·I trust [My heart has confidence in] him, and he helps me.
·I am [L My heart is] very happy,
and I ·praise [give thanks to] him with my song.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Unspoken prayer.

Psalm 118:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Lord... private prayer.

Abba, the God who heals, I pray this... private prayer.

I pray this for...

Jeremiah 17:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed;
Save me and I will be saved,
For You are my praise.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Private prayer for another.

Psalm 105:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

4 Search for the Lord and for His strength;
seek His face always.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Private prayer for another.

Lord, I pray that verse for my life.

626 and 627 Private. Lord, You are so good and merciful. You have infused Psalm 105:4 on... Amazing. To You alone be the glory.

Be my strength, Lord, all of my days. Your strength is so much better than my human, sinful strength.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC. August 2014. Norfolk Botanical Garden.)

Oh, dear--deleted photos from this blog

I deleted a file from my computer I didn't realize was attached to the pictures on this blog. (Whoops.) I will fix it when I get the chance.

--Stacy Duplease
http://BlessingsJournaling.blogspot.com/
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Blessings Counted Journaling (Aug.27.2014c.)

Blessings Counted Journaling (Aug.27.2014c.)

Journaled 2014-08-27 13:26:54, Wednesday

565 I thank You, Lord, for 564 Blessings so far.

566 For 273 journaling entries since August 04, 2014.

Psalm 118:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.

New Living Translation (NLT)

This is why I'm counting my blessings. My goal is to count a minimum of 3,650 blessings over the next year.

It is not about the number, but it is. The number isn't the primary reason. The number is to help me keep track so I don't forget the sweet blessings You have given me Lord. For, if I do not count them, and write them in my prayer and blessings journaling, then I will forget them. I do not want to short-change the things You do in my life. I do not want to forget. Counting my blessings helps in this endeavor.

The other point of counting my blessings is it makes me cognizant of searching and seeking for You, God. I want to live a life of conscious faith, where I am intentional about living my faith. If I didn't count my blessings, and do blessings and prayer journaling, then I would not live the intentional life and walk in and with You, Lord.

When I count my blessings, I am showing You my reverence. I know I don't deserve one of the blessing You've given me in my life, let alone 567 since August 16th when I started to put together my Blessings Counted List. I am recognizing You alone are God. You alone can do these things. This Blessings Counted Journaling and list is my way of recognizing this is the case. Whenever I count a blessing, it's because I've had to look and around and search to find it and see it (or experience it).

568 How I've been counting my blessings and doing this intentionally since August 16, 2014 in an effort to look for Your work and glory Lord and acknowledge You. Every blessing, Lord, is You showing Your glory and how You alone are god. It's a reminder of how You are Creator, Sustainer, Judge, King, Redeemer, and Lord of all.

It's been nearly two weeks since I started this blessing journaling journey. I am jsut barely getting started.

569 The smile and welcome of acquaintances.

570 The taste of a grilled chicken tender dipped in mashed potatoes mixed with brown gravy.

571 Counting my blessings has made me stop and enjoy a slower, more mindful life where I try to notice every minute detail and see Your handiwork there.

572 Counting my blessings has helped me through the stress of trying to figure out the proverbial: "What's next?" Or, "Where is God leading?"

573 Counting my blessings makes me stop and look around. It forces me to cut the busyness and stress. It gives me perspective to see what really matters and what is really important.

574 Watching a turtle swim is so relaxing and rejuvenating. They are so smooth and carefree.

575 How turtles have a natural smile on their faces--and so do cats 576 for that matter. It makes me feel merry.

576 Counting my blessings is walking on sacred ground.

577 Counting my blessings, offering thanksgiving to God, shows my acknowledgment of how He alone matters and how He is above all.

578 I am very grateful to learn how much ingratitude I've offered the Lord over the years and decades. For, it makes me determined all the more in the present to count my blessings now and not take anything for granted, if I can help it.

579 Counting my blessings has given me some clarity and some perspective 580.

581 The sight of the light after a nighttime of dark--each morning when I rise.

582 The excitement my dog, cat 583, and turtles 584 and 585 get when they see me stir in the morning. Their greeting means so much.

586 The refreshing feel of cold water in my mouth, on my tongue, and down my throat whenever I feel warm or parched.

587 The taste of cold and fresh cream after you have a sip of coffee before you realize the cream has almost soured.

588 Knowing that Fall is just around the corner. It's my favorite season of the year and has been all of my life.

589 The sound of typing on the keyboard of my pc.

590 This morning and everything it entailed.2014-08-27 16:26:55

591 The acknowledgment, Lord, of how You are in control and You've got my future. You have a plan--I just need to wait, follow, and cooperate where and when You lead.

592 Counting my blessings makes me wait. I wait in between the spotting of, and/or realization, of a blessing--of You at work and Your glory.

593 Everything blessing is your bestowing grace on me and in my life. Wow. Wonder of Wonders.

2014-08-27 14:02:19

Lord, I cannot feel right now that I want more. A lot more. Of what, I have no idea. I just want more. I just cannot get enough.

Ahh. I just realized what it is. Of You. I want more of You and Your word--for I just cannot, and have never, gotten enough of You. I always want more. Hwo could I ever feel satisfied, particularly since the Fall. I do not live the life You ahve intended because of the Fall. But, one day I will have the life You intended. The fullness of life as I walk with You again, like Adam and Eve once did in the Garden of Eden.

594 Counting my blessings, through Blessings Counted Journaling and Blessings Journaling, is actually prayer.

595 For how social turtles are.

596 My coffee pot.

597 This journal.

598 Penzu.com

Took a little break. (2014-08-27 14:29:43)

God, teach me to live a life of gratitude in You.

599 Mom called.

2014-08-27 16:27:00

600 Just got off the phone with Mom.

God, teach me how to practice thanksgiving and gratitude no matter how I am or what I'm doing (or not doing). Teach me to always give overflowing thanks. (I thank You, now, in advance, knowing You will 601.)

Ephesians 5:20 Expanded Bible (EXB)

20 ·Always give [L …always giving] thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Ephesians 5:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

New Living Translation (NLT)

When should I give thanks? All the time--without fail--without stopping--and for everything.

About ten months ago I struggled with this concept. I still do to a point, but not like I did then. It was when the second round of IVF didn't work and we were told we would never be able to have a child naturally.

(Note: That being said, adoption wasn't a fall-back. No. Anything but that. I always dreamed of having a baby in my womb and what it would be like for God to grow the baby in me, without my help, as I went along for the ride--and experienced that bonding... So, that's what we wanted to try first. Plus, we're both only children and the end of the family bloodline was on our minds. But, we believe there is far more to family than blood. The family line will hopefully continue. We just wanted to try that first. That's all.)

So, after the blows of finding out I was infertile, then B was, then IVF round one didn't work, then round two didn't work... How do you give thanks in all of that?

That was why I stopped reading the book "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS" by Ann Voskamp at the end of last year. I couldn't figure out how to thank God through that--so I stopped. I realize now that was foolish. But, I cannot unscramble that omelet. It is what it is. The question is: How will I respond today? How can I learn to truly, really, always give thanks--even in the midst of something so painful.

I still need to learn how to give thanks even on Mother's Day and Father's Day--those days are even more painful for us. How do you always give thanks--even through that--through this?

How do you give thanks when a friend of yours fought the cancer battle, and won, only to develop another form of cancer and is fighting that battle? How do you give thanks when someone you see on a regular basis has a child, and wants another, but has no clue whatsoever in how to love or raise the child they have--and they admit to it? And, how do you give thanks when you would give anything to have one and have a clue (at least a small one)?

There was another instance that I think pushed me a year ago to stop reading "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS." It was two weeks after receiving the bad news the latest round of IVF didn't work... I went to a coffee shop to count my blessings and journal and write. Two women sat in the table in front of mine and I faced them and heard everything they said. Listen to what I heard:

"Yeah... So, I'm knocked up again--as if I don't have enough of those already."

Knocked up. One of THOSE. (Pardon?)

And, she added to her girlfriend, "I really hate being a mom, and don't really enjoy it at all, but I keep popping them out."

Keep popping them out. (Pardon?)

Ouch.

It was my favorite coffee shop. The truth is, I haven't been back. This conversation I overheard damaged me.

Why can people like THAT keep getting pregnant, multiple times, and the one who's wanted kids every day all of my life, and planned on how to raise them in a godly manner, cannot?

How do you give thanks in this?

And, how do you give thanks when there are people who don't even recognize a fetus as a life--and they have an abortion--when someone like me wishes for one? They are murderers. How do you give thanks for this?

How do you give thanks when you are a bodybuilder and have a surgery that had complications, which leaves you wheelchair bound?

Or, how does a former Olympic swimmer, gold-medal winner, give thanks after an accident that left her paralyzed?

How do you give thanks when God is silent?

The answer in all of these scenarios is this: Give thanks at all times and in all circumstances means that. It doesn't mean to give thanks only when it's fair or right. This is why I am counting my blessings now. Because through it all, we are to give thanks. And, now that I realize this, it got me through a very rough time last week. I am better off for it--since I thanked God right through it all.

Giving thanks shouldn't be just when you feel like it. Giving thanks is something we do at all times--no qualifiers. Period.