Saturday, September 13, 2014

Verse of the Day from BibleGateway.com

Philippians 4:4New Century Version (NCV)

4 Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.

New Century Version (NCV)

Prayer Journal about this verse.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Blessings Counted Journaling

2014-09-12 07:56:09, TGIF

Thank God for...

785 Friday. The end of the week.

786 Talking with a girlfriend the last two.days I haven't spoken with in a while. We've been friends for 17 years or so. (Lord, has it been that long?)

787 I received two birthday cards in the mail yesterday.

788 Hubby has surprised me as well.

789 Zack had dementia off and on all day yesterday, but had a wonderful night. Consequently, B and I, and beagle, got a really good night's sleep 790 and we feel so much better today 791. Thank.You, Lord. I started the day off by counting that out loud before I even rolled out of bed or turned on a light.

792 Waking to praise the Lord.

793 I spoke with my Granny yesterday.

794 I cannot wait to see what they next year brings. Many memories 795. Many blessings 796. Many opportunities to bring God glory 797.

798 Thank.You, God, for 797 blessings.

799 My tablet

800 My online journal

801 Coffee

802 My husband. He is one fine man and I am absolutely crazy about him. I love him and like him. He is my best friend and is a godly man.

803 Today.

804 Getting through 9/11. It was rather rough.

805 Mac Lucado and his writing 806.

806 The sound of the water filters in the turtle tanks. It's so relaxing.

807 Answers, in advance.

808 Journaling.

809 The quietness of the morning

Journaling Prompt

Count your blessings.

Be thorough.

Capture all of them in your journal.

Turning 40: Life is a Blessing

Turning 40

2014-09-12 07:40:36, TGIF

I'm weird. I am quite excited to turn forty. After all, each day that passes is a day spent with God. Life simply doesn't get any better than that. He is life.

Every day I breathe is a day of Blessing for the overall day and many blessings throughout the day.

I do not deserve one blessing, let alone one big overall day Blessing. But, He's given them to me anyway.

I've lived 14,600 days so far. That's 14,600 overall day blessings and several more each and every day. I pray I live, God willing, at least that many more and I pray to count all day those blessings and not middle any.

Life is really good, for God is life and He is good.

I am thoroughly blessed.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

9/11 Writer's Notebook and Journaling

2014-09-11 09:53:16

At four this morning, Zack Beagle had a round of dementia which led to B and I sleeping on the couch. Or, trying to at any rate. Poor Zack fought several battles of confusion and disorientation, each time, he came running later to my hand as it hung off the sofa, knowing he usually snuggles up to it, even though he might not have any idea who I am or who he is.

About the time I finally got to sleep, at least for a couple of minutes, my eyes flew open and it wasn't because of Zack Beagle. Rather, it was because several writing ideas started to form in my mind. The more I relaxed and tried not to allow my heart to break too much for Zack, the more the ideas flew into my mind.

I didn't write any of the ideas down because i didn't want to move around too much and disturb hubby or Beags. But, the longer I played statue, the more ideas came to me like flashes of lightning during a storm. They were just as powerful and just as striking.

Then, I was finally able to get some shuteye and the alarm went off. Growl. Mumble. Groan. Sigh. Snooze button.

Finally after several rounds of snooze, i got up to make hubby coffee, then me, then feed all four critters, and then I sat on sofa and Zack snuggled right up to me. I started to journal, watched most of the 9/11 memorial service on Fox News and journaled about that, but still didn't journal about my writing, but about 9/11/2001 and 9/11/2012.

Then, I actually got out of my pajamas, played under the water, grabbed another round of coffee, I did some journaling/blogging, and here I sit. I still haven't gotten any of the ideas down on the page, but I will. Excuse me. I'm going to go do that right now.

9/11 Journaling

2014-09-11 09:34:10, Thursday

Looking back, reflecting, analyzing, thinking, remembering can be painful at times. Today is no different. Some days, though, are harder than others to remember.

A day, like today and 9/11, it isn't hard to remember because it's so foggy not much is remembered. Rather, it's hard to think.about because the memories have been etched into the synapses and core of our brains and down deep in the candle of our hearts. We could never forget the events which unfolded on this day thirteen and two years ago.

It's hard to remember because it's so vivid and painful.

Lives were shattered that day.

Lives changed.

The world as we knew it no longer existed, and it still doesn't, and never will again.

Now to borrow a phrase from the Columbine High School tragedy...

We ARE 9/11.

WE are 9/11.

We are 9/11.

A day, whichever year, from 2001 or 2012, will never be forgotten.

Why will it never be forgotten? Because there are some who refuse to ever forget and think of these events daily. It isn't just on 9/11.

9/11...

We hear you.

We choose to remember so you didn't die in vain.

You are remembered.

Benghazi... Not Forgotten

In remembrance of Benghazi...

2012.

Silence and remembrance

In memory of that day, and praying about what is to come, this blog will be silent today.

God bless the USA and guide each of us to His will, not ours, as a nation... in remembrance of them.

9/11

9/11...

13 years

In remembrance

We will never forget.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2008-2014)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Journaling Prompt: List Journaling

Journaling Prompt: List Journaling

Make a list of anything your heart desires. List your favorite books. What three memories have you made so far today. List 25 blessings you have in your life today. List 1000 places you want to see. List 1000 places you've been. List 1000 things you've owned or had in your possession in your life.

Now, here's the key: Make sure to list as many memories as you can for each item you list. And, make sure to journal at least three sentences on each memory to describe it and why it came to mind.

List journaling is a freeing kind of journaling where you don't have to write an essay of sorts. Just make a list.

This is the kind of journaling to do to keep things simple. If you don't have time to journal, try this one. It saves time and is too easy to do. (Never mind how it's addicting.)

Tag. It's your turn. Give it a try.

Verse of the Day

2014-09-10 08:59:47

BIBLEGATEWAY.COM VERSE OF THE DAY

Isaiah 46:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.

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.

Prayer Journal your thoughts.

What does God say to you?

What do you say to God?

How can you apply this to your life?

YESTERDAY'S VERSES OF THE DAY

1 Kings 19:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Prayer Journal your thoughts.

What does God say to you?

What do you say to God?

How can you apply this to your life?

John 15:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Prayer Journal your thoughts.

What does God say to you?

What do you say to God?

How can you apply this to your life?

#BibleJournaling #ChristianJournaling #PrayerJournaling #PrayerJournal

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Writing Notebook and Journaling September 09, 2014 a.m.

2014-09-09 09:44:24, Tuesday

What an ideal of writing would look like for me:

1 Daily Bible Reading, Christian Journaling, Prayer Journaling (I'll call Prayer Journaling to keep it simple.) 1

2 Blessings Counted Journaling 3

3 My 40th Year Journaling 4

4 Fiction 2

5 Anything else God leads me to journal. 5

Now in that order. So, what is the right order? See numbers to the right. That's my correct prioritized order of things.

This is my schedule:

1 Prayer Journaling

2 Fiction

3 Prayer Journaling

4 Fiction

5 Blessings Counted Journaling

6 Fiction

7 Business Side of Things: Income writing, editing, marketing, publishing (non-fiction books on journaling and daily devotionals)

8 Misc. Writing and Journaling

Okay. There. I have decided on my schedule. This is the ideal. It's keeping God first, but realizing I have to make a living writing and bring in at least some of an income.

So, what about the fiction? What is the perfect and ideal book and series I would want to write and spend the rest of my life working on in some capacity, whether it's writing, marketing, speaking about, etc.?

FICTION

I keep getitng pulled toward writing a series about faith, journaling, politics, love, and a small town. It's about this thing called life--all of its messiness and all of the blessings. In fact, I've been pulled to write this series for years.

The fact is, I've tried to write it in several different ways through the years, but nothing has stuck. I'm getting a vision for it now; it started to come to me yesterday.

Stay tuned.

Journaling Exercise or Prompt

What noise do you have in your life you need to silence?

What noise do you need to silence in your life today?

{Noise is anything that keeps you unfocused and not doing or focusing on what you need to focus on in this moment.}

When Life is Noisy: Morning Personal Journaling September 09, 2014

2014-09-09 09:09:10, Tuesday

Bible Journaling, Christian Journaling, Prayer Journaling

Good morning, Lord. (I stop and take a few deep breaths, trying to focus on You and not on all of the noise in my life, which there is plenty of at the moment.)

{Noise = Things that scream for my attention or keep fighting for my attention. Distractions. Circumstances, thoughts, decisions, planning, feelings, etc. Anything that isn't of God or His Word.}

This reminds me of a verse. Let me look at some of the context, though, then I'll focus on one verse, and a couple of verses:

1 Kings 19:1-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lordcame back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake,but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord wasnot in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anointas prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

New King James Version (NKJV)

Remember how anyone who sees the Lord's face falls over--dead. They cannot withstand seeing so much majesty and perfection. I would say they cannot bear to see His glory.

I would also, with a grin on my face, say, "It boggles the mind so much they cannot withstand it." But, I'm not really joking at all and am serious. God is awesome. He is Above ALL. He is all majesty, all power, all dominion. He is Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He is all Strength. He is. He is the Great I AM.

Verses 11-13 are the focus verses. But, the key verse is 12:

1 Kings 19:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

God can speak louder than a waterfall, louder than thunder, louder than an earthquake or a fire in a forest. However, God can also speak in a small voice and in a whisper. He can be all powerful and can be gentle. That being said, I think in verse 12, He is far more powerful from our human and finite perspective in the whisper. After all, He could choose to let loose, but He chooses subtlety at times, which shows His perfect restraint.

If He whispers, the noise in my life can cause me to fail to hear Him. This is why it's so important for me to remain open to Him at all times. The way I remain open to the Lord is through silencing, or at least quieting the noise in my life. I focus on Him and His Word, not on everything else demanding my attention. I focus my mind and heart onto Him alone. The only way I can do this is through living 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (look it up in your favorite version of the Bible and in the journal entry or blog post previous to this one) and John 15:7 intentionally, at all times. I have to be purposeful in this.

John 15:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Yes. I have a lot of noise in my life. I need to be still and quiet, so I can hear Him. This is what I will focus on today.

Lord, help me to live these verses today.

PRAYER

Lord, my mind and life are full of a lot of noise right now. Help me to either silence it or forget it through focusing on You and Your Word alone. Help me to be quiet so I can listen to and for Your whisper and small voice. If I allow the noise to overpower You, I cannot hear You or Your direction. Lord, teach me to do so--and help me to do so. I want to bring You glory and live in the center of Your will alone.

#BibleJournaling #PrayerJournaling #ChristianJournaling

Monday, September 8, 2014

The 5-Day Countdown to a Major Life Blessing

2014-09-08 11:46:43

I am reaching a monumental life marker on September 13, 2014.

I've talked about this in previous journaling entries and blog posts. However, this is different. I'm going to devote some time every day this week to focusing on this life milestone and major life blessing. I want to look back, look at the present, and look into the future and give God thanks and give Him the glory as I seek to do His will today and tomorrow (and every moment and day thereafter).

Yep. Turning forty--the big Four-Oh--turning four decades--turning two-fifths of a century old is a major blessing to me.

I am not upset at all to turn forty. It's a privilege in my opinion. That being said, it only adds more responsibility to my life. Now, let me explain everything I just said and to everything I just inferred.

Turning four decades old is an enormous blessing because God has given me forty years to try to grow my faith in Him and try to get to know Him more, as I also try to bring Him glory in all I do, say, think, feel, and believe.

Let me put it a little more simply, though. Why is turning forty a blessing? It's because God has had a purpose for each day and each moment He has allowed me to live on earth. And, the same can be said for every moment hereafter. What is His purpose? It's to bring Himself glory. It's to show how He alone is God and He alone deserves our loyalty and praise.

He has a purpose for me every moment I have been alive, am alive, and will be alive. The catch is, I need to continue to remain open to Him and the Word through prayer, Bible reading and contemplation and application, and thanksgiving. These are the vessels He uses to have a relationship with me and to speak to me, if I remain open and listen, never mind do what He says, how He says, when He tells me to do so.

Let me emphasize this point:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

16 Rejoice always!
17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I have spent the last four decades on earth, each and every moment and day, so I can do the things commanded to me in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. This is what I am supposed to do every day for the rest of my life. Period. End of story. The End.

What is my purpose now? In the past? And in the future? It's that--pure and simple.

Well, here's another way to phrase one of these points:

Verse to Focus on Today: Psalm 9:1

Psalm 9:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For the choir director: according to Muth-labben. A Davidic psalm.

1 I will thank Yahweh with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Psalm 9:1 is a good summary for 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, wouldn't you say? It's just another way to say it and adds a little more meaning. Both speak powerfully as to how I am to live my life.

It's all about You, Lord, not me. You are the reason why I've lived, am living, and will live.

1 Corinthians 12:6-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts ofhealing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to anotherprophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God has given me a Gift of the Spirit of faith.

Lord, thank You for the last four decades and for growing my faith.

Verse to Focus on Today: Psalm 9:1

Psalm 9:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For the choir director: according to Muth-labben. A Davidic psalm.

1 I will thank Yahweh with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Prayer journal and contemplate this verse all day and night long today as you continually give thanks.

Personal Journal September 08, 2014, Monday

2014-09-08 09:02:45

Personal Bible, Blessings, Blessings Counted, Prayer, Writing (Notebook) Journaling

BIBLEGATEWAY.COM VERSE OF THE DAY

Psalm 143:10 New Century Version (NCV)

10 Teach me to do what you want,
because you are my God.
Let your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

New Century Version (NCV).

Amen! Lord, this is my prayer this morning. Teach me (and hubby B) and show me Your will (and B) for me, my life, my marriage, my walk of faith, my writing, and what B and I are to do--each moment today, tomorrow, this week, this month, this quarter, this year, this decade.

756 Read Psalm 8.

757 The entire chapter of Psalm 8 is fantastic. It's a good worship, praise, and thanksgiving psalm.

956 a.m.

758 B fixed my computer over the weekend and I should be able to get at least a few more weeks out of it and be able to use it as needed.

Something just came to me as to another fix for my computer. Hang on. Be right back. I'm going to give it a try.

Well, that turned into needing to fix this and then that--and then that. Hence, I'm finally back.

2014-09-08 10:58:03

759 The more I'm using my PC today, the more I'm realizing how much I like just using my tablet instead. So, I think I wills witch over to it in a bit. I want to have some more Bible reading time first.

Psalm 8:1 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

For the choir director; on the gittith; a psalm by David.

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!

Your glory is sung above the heavens.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW).

Amen! Your name is above all names. You are the King of Kings, Lord of Lord, and You alone are God.

See. I just realized that if I use my computer, notes on BibleGateway.com works. So, I will need to save those down from computer to online journal (Penzu) once a month or so. I think this will work better than Amazon's notes... But, if I use my computer, Amazon's notes work as well.

Speaking of, I will save Amazon notes and highlights now. hang on. Be right back.

Got Amazon notes and BibleGatway.com notes, highlights, etc. saved on my online journal. Check.

Now, back to Bible reading.

BIBLE READING

761 Re-read Esther 1.

762 Starting to read Deuteronomy 1.

Lord, help me to hear You.

Unspoken prayer request and prayer.

Ugh! I am nervous. Waiting to hear from B about some news. My stomach is a little sour as I wait with great anticipation.

Back to the Word and what is important for me to focus on.

763 I highlighted most of Deuteronomy 1, which was Moses remembering what the Lord had done.

This is a reminder to me about what is coming up in five days.

Lord, guide me with all I do, particularly my writing, and B and I about our planning of our future. I thank You in advance for Your answers about each (764-765).

To You be the glory.