STORIES OF BLESSING #6

NANOWRIMO PREPARATION

Written 2014-10-20 12:30:23, Monday

I'm taking part in NaNoWriMo. November marks NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, where writers around the earth gather together and write 50,000 words in 30 days. 

Yes. It's NOVEL writing month. Meaning fiction. Therefore, why would Stories of Blessings, a work of nonfiction, be part of this? 

I'm what NaNo calls a rebel. The writing of nonfiction is being a rebel in the fiction writings of traditional NaNoWriMo. 

I want to use November, the month of Thanksgiving, as the opportunity to write as many of my life's stories of blessing as possible--or at least 50,000 words. As a matter of fact, since last week, I've been trying to do the same. I want to see how many stories of encouragement and inspiration I can tell as I act as a counter of blessings--and as a storykeeper of blessings--in that I want to see how many stories of blessing from your lives can be shared on this blog.

Life is tough at best sometimes and having a resource to turn to for hope, inspiration, and encouragement is, well, quite the blessing. 

My goal is 2,000 words per day of Stories of Blessing captured on the page. 

I started this blog, and this goal on Saturday, October 12, 2014. It's been 8 days. So, I should have by the end of day today 16,000 total words written. 

So far, I have 13,536 words written. 16,000 is my minimum. Therefore, I am roughly 2,500 words short. (I guess I better get busy counting!) 

Therefore, between now and November 30, 2014, I will have at least 88,000 words written of STORIES OF BLESSING, VOL. 1. 

I want to take all of my blog posts, combine them, edit them, add to them, and publish a book of 400 pages or so. I imagine it will be every 2.5 months or so. 

This is my progress and plan for NaNoWriMo. I will keep you updated about my word count progress (my goal progress). 

What a blessing it is to think of writing and keeping all of my blessings ans stories of blessings--along with yours. 

-- By Stacy Duplease of Virginia

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UGH... WHEN THINGS DO NOT GO AS PLANNED, FINDING THE BLESSINGS

Written 2014-10-21 07:06:31, Tuesday

Yesterday, in the early afternoon, I got my new computer. This was a major blessing. Of course, I spent the rest of the day working on set-up as well as trying to figure out how it, and.Windows 8, work. Which means I didn't get the 3,000 words of writing my stories of blessing done. (Sigh.)

However, I got my new laptop. This is a major blessing. (Thank the Lord.)

But, I didn't get my writing done, which means 5,000 words are due today. So, yesterday didn't go according to plan in general and with my counting of blessings. 

Am I complaining and whining a little bit? You bet I am. That means I now need to try to find the blessing in there and count more than normal. 

Then, for the last month, I've been dealing with back and neck pain. It's muscle related. That much I've figured out. I also know it's sleeping related. Is it pillow, sleeping position, mattress pad, or mattress, I'm not sure. I've been trying to figure it out. The first thing I tried was a different pillow. Three actually, but not one has helped. All three are cheaper pillows. I think we will go get me a nicer one later today and see if that helps. If that doesn't do it, I will try a pillow between my knees. And, then try getting rid of the topper or the mattress. 

After a month of getting five hours of.sleep on average... and last night four hours... I am desperate. I need sleep and pain free sleep, thank you very much. 

Now, after a house complaints, where do I find the blessing? After not much has gone according to plan in the last day, what now? Blessings? Hmm.

Yep. My crankiness is caused from pain and lack of sleep, which shows me all the more how I have to count my blessings and more than usual in order to counteract my mood and busyness.

Oh, how I so thoroughly need desperately to find some blessings. 

I feel blah and heavy, never mind hurting and tired. 

What blessings can be found in these things? Let me think...

I am alive. 

I am healthy... other than that.

My husband, B, is a very fine man, is an extremely loving and loyal husband, and is my bestest friend in the whole wide world. He is so good to me. He spoils me rotten, but also holds me accountable. He brings out the best in me. 

See. I'm feeling better in body, mind, heart, and soul already. Whew. 

For my five critters.

My home.

Rice socks! I warmed one up and have been using it on back and neck and feel so much better. Thank the Lord. What a blessing.

Being able to call home

Being able to email home

My new laptop

A hot shower on a sore body

Atkins shakes

Coffee

Morning

The sense of wonder

The wild cry greeting of a deaf old lady cat 

Stores

Water to drink

Water for shower

Hot water heater

New ideas

Mom

Dad

Granny

Aunts and uncles

Cousins

A throw blanket to snuggle under

Going to lunch with hubby, then shopping for new pillows

Yes. I feel a great deal better. Counting my blessings changes me, my perspective, my mood, etc. It's hard to be cranky while doing so. 

Counting my blessings is a blessing.

What a way to conquer when things go wrong or poorly.

-- By Stacy Duplease of Virginia

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*** Updated last on Oct. 21, 2014 at 139 p.m. ***

STORIES OF BLESSING #4

THE DEFINITION OF BLESSING

Look at the definition of blessing from Dictionary.com:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blessing

It's rather interesting.

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ARE YOU READING THIS BLOG?

Are you reading this blog? Welcome, if you are! I would love to hear from you. Add a comment at the end of any blog post.

It's my desire for us to form a community where we can walk with one another through this journey of life, and inspire and encourage one another as we share blessings.

Do you have any suggestions, thoughts, questions, etc.?

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ARE YOU DOING THE THANKSGIVING CHALLENGE?

Again, I would love to hear from you. Add a comment to the end of any blog post.

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THOUGHT TO PONDER

Do you want to leave your legacy?

What a legacy it would be if you recorded all of the blessings in your life. I cannot imagine anything more meaningful or spectacular than that.

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HOW DO YOU WRITE YOUR STORY OF BLESSING?:

A HOW-TO, TIP, HINT, SUGGESTION, TEACHING MOMENT

Written 2014-10-17 12:24:05, Friday

I recommend my starting with a list. Count your blessings in list form. Write as much with each bullet/point in the list. Start with one sentence each and then grow to four sentences each. Do this every day for a week. Then:

Once you get a good and sizable list started, pick one of those memories, or another that pops into your mind, and write a 100 word story of blessing. Do this every day for a week. Keep adding to your blessings list as well. Then:

Write a 200 word story regarding a blessing you want to count. Do this every day for a week. Keep adding to your blessings list as well. Then:

Write a 300 word story regarding a blessing you want to count. Do this every day for a week. Keep adding to your blessings list as well. Then:

Keep doing this until you are up to the word count you feel most content with. Add 100 words per week per story until your each the desired number count. I would say try to do a 1,000 word (max) story at least once a week, though. Ideally, though, in time, you'll do at least three per week. Do most of your stories of blessing, though, the word count you prefer. 

Why do all of this?

1 To count your blessings

2 Leave a legacy

3 Remember what has happened in your life

4 It brings a proper perspective

5 It helps improve your health (this is a scientific fact)

6 You can encourage and inspire others

7 You will live a better life if you do, one of more contentment and purposeful living

8 Why not? 

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CAN YOU AND DO YOU COUNT THE STORMS AND CHALLENGES OF LIFE AS A BLESSING?

A Tip, Suggestion, Hint, How-To, and Prompt

Written 2014-10-17 11:56:33, Friday 

Think of the really tough stuff in your life. Think of the storms and challenges you've experienced. Think of the things you would prefer not to think about.

Just wait. I know that it's painful to think about, but there is a reason for my madness and for this suggestion. 

Think about all of those things and try to find three blessings or more from each experience. 

Why? Finding the blessing of each puts you in control of the situation for starters. You are able to take control of the situation so the situation no longer takes control of you. 

Also, finding the blessings finds the good out of a tough situation. Finding the good always outweighs the bad. So, shift the scales. The more good you can find, the more blessing, and count it, the more good will come out of the tough situation and will conquer the bad. 

Finding the blessing shows growth. You never want a situation to make you regress. You want to learn from each situation and make it count for something.

At first, trying to come up with one blessing might be difficult. However, keep thinking on it. Find a blessing from each experience--and make sure to write it down. Count it as a blessing. Be very intentional. Keep thinking on each experience until you can come up with a minimum of three blessings from each. 

If you were to do this, and really do it, you would be surprised at the result. 

I've discovered through my life that the biggest and most blessings have come out of a time of storm. They are the very things that have shaped who I am, what I stand for, and what I want to be. Every challenge has made me better. And, every time I've conquered a time of storm with counting my blessings (at the time and later), it's become a favorite memory--for I was challenged and morphed it into something to be thankful for. 

Give it a try. I guarantee you'll be deeply blessed. 

Count your blessings and turn them into stories of blessing. You'll bless others in the process. 

--By Stacy Duplease of Virginia

#Blessings #Challenges #CountYourBlessings #StoriesOfBlessing #Storms #ToughStuff

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WHAT STORIES OF BLESSING SHOULD YOU WRITE AND SHARE?

All of them is the answer.

However, share whatever you feel most comfortable with. Also, don't forget, you can change the details in order to keep some secrecy--or you can even use your name as 'anonymous' and your place of residence can be 'earth.'

Seriously, though. Every blessing in your life, every story of blessing, matters. All of them.

A blessing is a special favor you are given that you do not deserve. But, you received it anyway. Do you hear the true blessing it is? You were given a gift you didn't expect or deserve. Take stock. Count them. Don't let them pass by without acknowledging them. After all, there is so much in this life we shouldn't acknowledge and do, each blessing is that much more important to observe and remember.

Share all of your stories of blessing, or just a few. The choice is up to you.

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THE GODLY BLESSING

Written 2014-10-17 13:51:10, Friday

The blessings we are talking about on this blog are the blessings given to us by God. He may use people, places, things, or events to do so, but it's still God giving us the blessing, the special favor. And, we are to count each blessing and show our reverence of God. Counting our blessings makes us realize, with awe, what God has done, is doing, and will do. 

Our counting of blessings is taking noticed of what God has done in our lives, through our lives, and around our lives. It's acknowledging God. 

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DAY 1 OF 365 DAYS OF COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS (AND WRITING YOUR STORIES OF BLESSING)

Think of three blessings from last week and write them down in a list. 

Then, turn them into a story of blessing of whatever length you would prefer, but at least 100 words. 

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Thanksgiving and Everyday Blessings by Ellen of Denver

Having food,  being able to eat.

Toilet paper

Toothpaste,  brushing teeth

Water

Internet

Clothes, shoes

Advil,  Tylenol for pain

Refrigerator,  stove

These are just a few things we take for granted

-- By Ellen of Denver

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HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE ON TRACK AND GOD IS REALLY WORKING? (WE MUST PERSEVERE.)

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE ON TRACK AND GOD IS REALLY WORKING? (WE MUST PERSEVERE.)

Written March 24, 2014, Monday

How do you know when you’re on track with the Lord and God’s really working in, around, and through your life? I mean it. Really. How do you know?

The answer is simple: Distraction. Challenges. Busyness.

All of the sudden, out of nowhere, everything, and I mean everything, comes up and gets you off of your task at hand—being with the Lord. You’re hit with a little bit of everything—and all at once. Distraction, tragedy, challenge, busyness, fear, doubt, anger, frustration, stress, etc.

Well, it’s been that way for me. And my blog posting sure reflects these new developments in my life. All sorts of challenged have happened to those in my life. Terrible, life-challenging, and life-taking challenges. The storms haven’t been rainstorms or thunderstorms. They’ve been more than a torrential downpour. They’ve been hurricanes with tornados—along with an earthquake.

Do you know what I mean?

None of these have been in my life directly. Thank God. But, they’ve been in the lives of those I care about and support. It’s been some heart-breaking, heart-rendering, terrible stud—where I have no idea how I would handle one thing these individuals have gone through. I cannot even imagine. So, my husband, B, and I have been living at the hospital since Thursday. And, the hospital that is best for all the individuals involved is thirty-one miles away in each direction. We’ve traveled this numerous times over the past few days. The dog needs to be let out and fed. So, we do that and quickly grab a quick bite to eat, then, back out the door we go.

Is it just me—or has the enemy tried to stop you and your progress with the Lord and with this “6+ Year Four Gospel Project” (SYFGP)? (Answer this in your prayer journal—and if you’ve experienced this, or when, please contact me so I can pray for you as you go through this—and I ask for yours as well. Contact me at my email or attach a comment at the end of any blog post.)

Have you been tempted to stop altogether? (Same thing as above. Please prayer journal your answer and contact me if you’ve been here, or when you go through this.)

The way I figure, is we need to be praying for each other through this “6+ Year Four Gospel Project.” It’s the only way we’ll make it through.

With how many challenges I’ve faced already, it’s sure letting me know that God is working, and wants to work, MIGHTILY through this SYFGP. In an awesome, powerful, glorifying way. He will show how He is God. But, far more importantly, we will get to know Jesus in a personal, intimate way. More so than we can even fathom or imagine. Furthermore, we will learn how to live a life of Jesus in a way we never knew was possible.

This is inevitable. I know it is. God is working. He’s stirring us. We must persevere—even if this turns into a 20+ year project. God is working.

Matthew 11:28-30 and Times of Trial and Challenge: The Tough Stuff of Life

Matthew 11:28-30 and Times of Trial and Challenge: The Tough Stuff of Life

Matthew 11:28-30 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

28 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(A) 29 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me,(B) because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.(C) 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Cross references:

1. 11:28 : Jr 31:25; Jn 7:37
2. 11:29 : Jn 13:15; Eph 4:20; Php 2:5; 1Pt 2:21; 1Jn 2:6
3. 11:29 : Jr 6:16; Zch 9:9; 2Co 10:1; Php 2:7-8

-- HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Matthew 11:28-30 / The Message (MSG)

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

--  MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.  

Matthew 11:28-30 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

28 “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Place my yoke[a] over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves30 because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 11:29 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

-- GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Matthew 11:28-30 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

28 “Come to me, all of you who are ·tired [weary] and ·have heavy loads [overburdened; T heavy-laden] and I will give you rest. 29 ·Accept my teachings [L Take my yoke upon you] and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in ·spirit [heart], and you will find rest for your ·lives [souls; Jer. 6:16]. 30 ·The burden that I ask you to accept [L …because my yoke] is easy; ·the load I give you to carry [L and my burden] is light.”  

-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Matthew 11:28-30 / New Living Translation (NLT)

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  

-- NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

REFERENCES:

1 http://biblehub.com/matthew/11-28.htm

2 http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/11-28.htm

3 Etc.

(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)

A Warning to Journalkeepers: Keep Journaling and Be Blessed

Note: Even if you are not going through a hard time in your life or in your journaling, read this blog post. You need to know what to do and expect when it happens. I guarantee. It will happen. 

There will be times when you go through challenges in your life. Things pop up and you can't journal or write--or do either like you would prefer. You're too busy trying to get through the challenge. 

Or, journaling might lose its appeal for a while.

Or, you might get too busy to journal. 

Tragedy also might happen.

Take all of these for what they are. Each of these things is meant to keep you from journaling or journaling as deeply as you should. 

What this usually means is you've struck a chord. You are on the precipice of something wonderful. you are on your way to a major breakthrough. Something amazing is about to happen. (I cannot stress this enough.) 

But, it will only happen, if you keep journaling. 

Granted, you might not want to journal. Or, you might be too busy putting out fires to be able to journal. Or, your journaling might be trash (in your opinion, but not in reality) and not what it could be. 

Whatever you, do not ever stop journaling. That's your biggest mistake if you do. You will lose your rhythm and your train of thought. The breakthrough will be hindered and halted. In fact, it might pass you by because you didn't seize the moment. 

So, whatever you do, KEEP JOURNALING. Do not stop. Ever. 

In fact, during these times, journal more. If you journal more trash than anything, it's okay. Even the trash will be useful to you later. Trust me. Persevere. 

Keep journaling.

And, add a comment to any blog post -or get on my Google+ community and say, "Help! I am struggling." Let the community rally behind you. We can encourage you and help you through whatever you are dealing with.

Give your journal a chance.

Give us a chance.

And, great things will happen. 

They really will. You will be greatly blessed. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper