Praying the Bible and Psalm 119:1 (and 2 Chronicles 7:14, an everyday prayer)

Note 1 to readers and friends: Every day, I will try to include some blessings counted (with the hopes it inspires you to count your own), additional prayer, thoughts on prayer and the Bible, a devotional of sorts, and the verse to pray the Bible. I will share my areas of sunshine and storm and the lessons I have learned as well. I think you will see there is (or will be) depth to this blog as I hope to inspire you to pray the Bible as well. God bless you.

Note 2 to readers and friends: Each of these prayers are meant to be prayed over and over. They are not meant to be one and done prayers. Hence, this blog can be read in any order and at any time. Each blog post is meant to be timeless for the most part. There are a couple of timely prayers here and there, but I am sure if you read them in the future, they will inspire you to pray for your own prayer and that time regarding the current events of your day.

Lord, thank You for: yesterday, tomorrow, this moment, this day, this week, this month, this year, this decade, this home, this family, and this life. Thank You for every single blessing that surrounds each and for the blessings I will receive today. Help me, Father God, to not miss counting one blessing. The more I count, the more I see You, and the more I am able to see You working my life, around my life, and through my life. It is through Your blessing and favor I see You glory and get to know You all the more.

Thank You for Jesus Christ being born so He could die on the cross and be resurrected, for the forgiveness of my sins, and so I can live in and for eternity with Him.

Thank You for the Bible, Your Word, O Lord.

Thank You for prayer.

And, thank you for teaching me how to pray the Bible more and more each day, and how to get the most out of it as well. To You be the glory.

Father God, You my Rock and Redeemer, my Friend, the Way, The Truth, the Light, the Life, my Father and Daddy, the One Most High, the One and Only. I praise and worship You.

Thank You for a good cup of coffee or tea.

Thank You for breakfast.

Thank You for the feel of sheets as they cocoon me at night.

Thank You for waking to a snuggling grey kitten. Help me to snuggle up to You and Your Word.

Thank You for an orange cat who is hanging out close to me on the sofa and that he is resting so well. Help me rest in You and Your Word.

Lord, teach me how to pray.

Teach me, Father, how to pray the Bible.

Give me the desire and the want to pray and pray the Bible... and to do so all day and night.

Lord, tell me what to pray and when. Put the prayers on my lips, heart, and mind.
Please, Father God, help me to not get sidetracked and to stay on task of praying through Bible 24/7/365 without exception.

I want to begin with this verse first:

A VERSE TO PRAY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY EVERY DAY FOR OUR HOME, NATION, THE CHURCH, AND THE WORLD

2 Chronicles 7:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

I will let you form your own prayers around 2 Chronicles 7:14 first. Then, later, I will write a blog post on the verse.

I was serious, by the way. We really need to pray this verse all day long and save our friends, families, homes, neighborhoods, nations, the Church, and the world.

PRAYING THROUGH PSALM 119

As You know, Lord, there is a chapter in the Holy Bible which has been on my heart and mind for years now. I have tried repeatedly to prayer journal about, to blog about it, and pray it through. However, I usually stop. I unfortunately get sidetracked. Needless to be say, I think it is time to pray through the Psalm and learn everything I can about Your Word and prayer. So, here it goes.

Lord, help me pray this Psalm 24/7/365 AND learn as much as I can from it.

PRAYING THE BIBLE AND PSALM 119:1

Father God, help me understand, live/apply, and remember the verses of Your Word. For, if I do, my way will be blameless and I will be happy.

Help me follow Your teachings and instructions, God, so I can be blessed from living a pure and blameless life.

How fortunate, blessed, and happy am I, if I am undefiled, pure, blameless, and mind upright I and minds when I live and walk according to the Bible.

Lord, this verse shows the importance of being in Your Word and praying through it.  If I do, then I will be happy, blessed, and and fortunate. Let me be honest here. I do not think I could ever get enough of any of those, particularly the blessed part. Your favor is everything. Your blessings are what I can count and they will last for eternity.

Father, help me pray the Bible and counting my blessings all day and night long. (I also pray this for all of the areas of prayer on my prayer list.)

Praying the Bible and Psalm 119:28

Lord, You and your Word have perfect timing. I had no idea I was battling the familiar grief until...

Lord, as You know, I started out praying another verse today. However, I was stopped in my tracks after I read a Christian blog post about Mother's Day. The next thing I knew, I was a sobbing mess, which is rare for me these days, and I had something dawn on me. And, it seems in my times of tears You teach me so wonderfully. I think it is because of the verse I want to pray today.

This thought makes me smile. One that is easily found because I have Your Word tucked in way deep inside so silly emotional moments are short-lived while Your Word, and its impact, are eternal.

Gotta love it when I sit at our dining room table, windows and blinds wide open with multiple houses could look in as I cry. Sheesh. I was too transfixed to move. The blog post got my attention. It was for those who have lost a child or who are childless.

Ugh. I have pulled myself together, Abba. The tears start again. I still sit at the same dining room table. Maybe if I don't sob and just let the tears fall, no one will tell what I'm really doing. Or, why should I care?

Lord, You know how hard Mother's Day around Father's Day is for us, for B (my hubby) and me. It's the days we wish we could lack ourselves away a reminded pretend like it isn't happening. We do not go to church. We try not to make any plans. We just get lost in our own little world.

We do not regret not having kids. We couldn't. And, in many ways, we are at peace we didn't have them. But, there are times we miss what could have been. What should have been. If it wasn't for Eve and that fruit, this would never had been a problem.

I still think it is kind of funny, Lord, how both of us are infertile. Not one. Both. It kind of helps since neither one of us have to feel the guilt since we cannot. We both cannot, so no guilt ever known here. Thank you for that.

There was a verse that got me through the second time IVF didn't work. It comes to mind from time to time still.

It is what held me up after the realization we would never have children of our own. Other than four-leggeds. And, oh how we have invested in them!

What makes Mother's Day particularly difficult this year is how we lost two of our four-leggeds. One at the end of September 2015 and the other at the end of January 2016. Two losses in four months, Lord.

So, Father God, we are childless and have lost two.

Ouch.

I haven't cried about Kara cat, Zack Beagle, or not having children in quite some time. Not a cry like I cried today.

But, that verse, Lord.  That verse came to mind and I realized it is the perfect verse to pray. Particularly  today. Particularly since I am also grieving the pain terrorism has caused. A U.S. Navy SEAL was lost in battle today in Iraq. It is terrible to have to fight war, but terrorists cannot be allowed to torture, rape, and slaughter people like they are. It is necessary to fight this war, but the wounded and deaths that result are terrible losses. I thank You, Lord, for them and their sacrifices so I can sit here blubbering at my dining room table. This loss puts mine into proper perspective.

Lord, I cry for his family, friends, and team. I cry to You to bring comfort and resolve that this war is a just one and that his sacrifice was truly worthwhile and will not be forgotten. I will uphold everyone associated with him in my prayers. His loss. Before Mother's Day... Lord, be with those left behind and bring them this verse...

PRAYING THE BIBLE AND PSALM 119:28

Your Word says how David was weary and heavy and he wept from sorrow and grief. He asked You, Lord, to strengthen and encourage him from and through Your Word and its promises.

Lord, my heart is heavy. Encourage and strengthen me according to the promises of Your Word.

This verse is a prayer and is about the Word. It is a perfect verse to show and display how to pray the Bible and it tells why it is so important to pray the Bible to begin with, God.

Strengthen me by the promises of the Bible, Lord.

My strength is insufficient at best.

I seek real strength. Strength of an all-powerful, all-loving,  ever-present, all-knowing God is truly real strength. And, I get that strength through praying Your Word.

Praying Your Word is like weight training. It's good strength building.

Lord, help me keep turning to the Bible, to You alone, for strength. Your strength, given through praying the Word, is infinitely better than my strength.

Praying the Bible is the answer to everything and everyone.

Thank You, Daddy, for all of this. To You be the glory forever and ever.

Please give Your strength to all associated with the fallen U.S. service member.

Also, give Your strength to all families and friends who have lost loved ones because of terror.

God, encourage and strengthen all of those who have lost a mom, lost a child, or cannot have children.

Anyone hurting today is this crazy, mixed-up world, please let Your beautiful Word encourage them and give them strength.

Strengthen us and encourage us through You Word, Lord. All the time.

Help us to continually seek the Bible to pray all day long so we can continually, moment by moment, be enriched by Your Word.

Praying Through Psalm 1:1-6

Lord, let me start with a reminder of where we left off last time as I pray through Psalm 1:1-4.

You taught me how praying through the Bible is holding my thoughts captive. When I pray the Word, I am holding my thoughts captive and am making them obedient to Christ, who is the Word. Wow, Lord. Thank You. I will think on that and pray that thought through.

Praying Through Psalm 1:4:

Father God, Psalm 1:4 says how the wicked are not like this, which means are not like Psalm 1:2-3.

Pause.

The wicked. I’m letting this roll around in my head for a moment, Lord.

Those who do not live verses two through three are wicked. God?

Gulp. The implications of that are pretty staggering. I used to think I wasn’t wicked. Before today, that is, as a matter of fact. Not praying through the Bible 23/7/365, and taking our thoughts captive by being in the word, by not praying, leads to temptation, to sin, to long-term sin, to multiple sins, which are wickedness.

I’m going to do a word study of “wicked” in Psalm 1:1 and 1:4. “Wicked” = rasha (raw-sha) = wicked, criminal, evil, guilty, ungodly, offender, deserving punishment, hostile, sinful, rebellious, wrongdoer, morally or actively, etc. It occurs 262 times in the Bible, according to Strong’s and Englishman’s Concordance.

I must admit how easy it is for me to say I am not or cannot be wicked. However, I have a pulse. Which means I can be. If I am not praying without ceasing, not always giving thanks, and are not meditating on the Bible 24/7/365, I will at the very least have moments of wickedness. The longer I am between not praying through the Bible only adds to the chances of my acting and being wicked, if I were to be totally honest. Which only means… I am wicked at times. Talk about a wakeup call.

The further I am in-between of praying through Your word, Lord, the more my temptation can turn into sin, which can turn into wickedness. Yes. The longer I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing, the more wickedness will sink its teeth into me and not let go, whether in my emotions, thoughts, and/or behavior. Moreover, I may not even realize it, Lord. This is dangerous.

Praying through the Bible is absolutely essential. Being in the Word protects me from myself, others, temptation, sin, and wickedness. It is an inoculation. It’s like a preventative shot in the arm. Praying through Your Word is the first line of defense and offense (since the Word is the Sword of the Spirit—an offensive weapon—see Ephesians 3:17).

Wow, Lord. I keep shaking my head and have a grin on my face one moment and weepy eyes the next moment. Oh, how You have enlightened me, taught me, answered my prayers, and amazed me this morning, Lord! Glory! Thank You, God.

Father God, looking at Psalm 1:4 some more… When we have a wicked nature (which all of us have and should not ignore or deny), we then do not live Psalm 1:2-3. If we do not live verses two through three, we act wicked and act as chaff, which is useless and is easily scattered by the wind. And here in Wyoming, the wind rarely ceases. I would rather live like a big, strong, thriving, solid, fruitful tree (verse 3) than live like a dead leaf which is easily moved.

I just heard of a former neighbor who has to pay three thousand dollars to have a 30-year old willow tree removed because it died. It is now a danger to all around it because it could fall over and smash all underneath it. It is like chaff now. And, this willow warns me what happens if I thrive through praying the Word, and ever stop, everyone around me will be and could be impacted by my lack of self-discipline of praying through the Bible 24/7/365. The more I thrive in the Bible now, if I fall and stop doing so, I will cause more damage to self and others and even other things.

Hah! I have been scattered for years, I realized just now. Furthermore, I haven’t been blown just by the wind, but by even a small, gentle breeze. Wow. I see it and get it, Lord. You have opened my understanding to Your will this morning, Lord (see Isaiah 50:4).

I have been chaff and have caused damage because of my lack of praying through the Bible. This is another big, light bulb moment for me, Lord. I must be firmly planted in praying through the holy Word. I have thought and felt as though something was missing. I have not felt whole. I haven’t been able to write. Not like I could or should, never mind want.

Well, no wonder… I need to pray through the Bible. This is what I was missing. THIS is my purpose—and is all of our purpose, without exception.

Praying Through Psalm 1:5:

The wicked will face condemnation at the time of judgment. Moreover, a sinner will not have a place with the godly. Oh, the importance of praying the Word of God!

Praying Through Psalm 1:6:

The Father watches and observes the way of the godly. But, destruction is where the wicked travel. A fork in the road… Which way do we want to travel? Lord, help us all choose the road which leads to thriving, abundant life—not destruction. Little.  Which road would you rather take? One path is easy. One path demands constant, relentless focus and determination. One path requires no work. The other path requires no breaks and constant work and attention to detail. One way is easy. One way is hard. One requires little. The other way requires much.

I stop and look around at the view as I journey and pray through the Bible, Lord, and I see one path of light and thriving fruit trees and another path of a desert in drought in mid-summer. If I chose life, it requires much of me. But, I will live and prosper. The other road is easy and requires little to none from me, but has no life. I have learned the past two days how praying through the Bible requires 23/7/365 attention and commitment, But, it is more than worthwhile and means I will thrive. Why would I want to be lifeless chaff easily scattered when I can thrive and be fruitful at all times and in all seasons?

And, then, Lord, we wonder what is wrong with us—and with the word. We feel dead, lifeless, empty, pointless, purposeless, and bored if we are not constantly praying through the Bible, Lord. And, we do not just feel it. We are dead. And we wonder why our latest pursuits do not make us feel happy, content, and joyful. We cannot be if we do not personally live Psalm 1:2 24/7/365.

I think I want to pray through all of this a while more, Lord.

To be continued in the next blog post.

(Originally written on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.)

Lord, teach me how to pray through Your Word

Lord, teach me how to pray through the Bible day and night.

Give me the want to do so.

Tell me what to pray. Put it on my mind and in my heart.

Teach me the meaning of each verse of the Bible and how I can pray it through for everyone and everything.

Praying through Psalm 1:1-3, Part 2

Lord, as I pray through the Bible, whenever I pray for I or me, unless it is highly personal, I also pray for: My husband, our marriage, our home, our family and friends, our block, our neighborhood, our city, the churches and government in our city, the businesses in our city, our county, the churches and government in our county, the businesses in our county, our state, the churches and government of our state, the businesses in our state, our region in our country, the churches and government in our region, the businesses in oir region, our country or nation, the churches and government and military of our nation, the businesses in our country, the nation's of the world, the churches and governments and militaries of all nations in this world, the businesses of the world, the U.N., NATO, against all terrorism worldwide, for our allies, for the news and current events worldwide, for all believers, and for nonbelievers worldwide (for the Great Commission to be fulfilled every year).

These are the we and us, not just the I or me. It will take me far longer to write out each of those out each time I pray something than just to say I, me, us, and we. Please forgive the abbreviation, Lord, but I think You understand. I, of course, will pray specifically when led by You to do so.

I pray for all of us.

Praying Through Psalm 1:3: The Word makes us thrive and it means we will always have what we need, in abundance, so we will never want because it is already provided for. In advance. Ahead of time. Before we ask, because we pray through the Holy Bible 24/7/365. Period. How marvelous, awesome, amazing! How You, God. This is so You. Glory! You are holy, holy, holy times holy, holy, holy. Wow! Wonder of Wonders.

We will only thrive if we pray through the Bible morning, noon, and night, day in and day out. Then, we will not only thrive, but we will bear fruit in each and every season. Meaning all the seasons. All four of them. Meaning all the time. We will bear spiritual fruit all the time, in every season, even in scorching summer or snowy winters, as well as rainy spring and cooler autumn. We will love an abundant life and will never want or need. Afternall, of we pray through Your Word 24/7/365, then we are on Your path and You, Lord, will be able to work through us, in us, and around us, for we are without need or want, are thriving, and are bearing fruit and having abundant lives.

Moreover, our leaves will never wither, dry up, or die.

After all, we meditate on Your Word, and pray through the Bible, all day and all night, and are like trees planted besides streams of water.

We will not falter, as in verse one, and it is because of verses 2 and 3.

Lord, I have gotten all of this out of reading and praying through Psalm 1:1-3 alone, without Bible commentaries, Bible textbooks, Bible studies, or sermon notes. It has been from praying through Your Word alone.

Praying Through Psalm 1:4: Lord, verse 4 shows the exact opposite of living of verses two and three. But, I imagine verse 4 is true because the wicked do not live verse two. Father God, I am going to pause and let that sink in for a moment.

How easy is it, without even realizing it, to move from temptation to sin to being a wicked mess and multiple sinning when we are not in the Holy Bible. Again, Lord, I am letting this sink in. I do not want to gloss over this and miss it's importance in my life.

A couple of weeks ago, I realized something important. I have never been able to have two thoughts at once (at the same time). I only am able to think one thought, then the other. Sure, the thoughts might come fast and are strung together, but are never at the same time. It is like walking. I cannot stop with both feet at the same time, unless I hop. I have to put one foot in front of the other in order to walk. Needless to say, I cannot think two thoughts at once.

Hence, if I am praying through the Word, it is hard for my thoughts to lead me to sin or wrongdoing because I am already thinking and praying the Word. I cannot pray through the Bible and think wicked thoughts at the same time and then I will jot act on those thoughts if they do come to mind, because I am already thinking, reading, and praying the Word of God.

Is this not why the Bible tells us to always pray, always meditate on the Bible, always be joyful, and always give thanks? Praying through the Word should always be our primary thought because it keeps us out he right path and keeps us from temptation and wrongdoing.

The wicked in verse 4 are not living verse 2. If they were, their primary thoughts would be on praying through the Bible. Praying through the Word of God is keeping our thoughts captive (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) and makes us think on godly things (Romans 12:2 and Philippians 4:8).

Wow. This is another big and important light bulb moment. Praying through the Word is holding our thoughts captive is making them obedient to Christ Jesus, who is the Word. Wow, Lord. Thank You.

Praying through Psalm 1:1-3, Part 1

Note:

Today will be the first blog post of actually Praying Through the Bible. I hand wrote this post a couple of days ago and my life has not been the same since. It’s quite a lengthy prayer. I guess we will see if it is one blog post or two. Time will tell. The prayer journaling I hand wrote was over eleven pages long, but I may add to it as I type it up on my computer. We shall see. Time will tell.

Prayer:

Lord, I just read all the way through Psalm so I could familiarize myself with the Psalm again. The initial reading made me a little weepy as I realized, Father, how it was the perfect chapter to start praying through. I realize now how You have really given me my purpose. My purpose for living in general. My purpose for my prayer, Bible reading and study, giving thanks, life in general, my prayer journaling, my blogging, my writing. It is praying through the Bible, no doubt.

I also realize how you have given me this purpose all along, or at least since I was nineteen years old, and here we are over two decades later and I see it come around full circle. This was why You made me. I am to pray through the Bible and share my journey as I do so. What I share on my blog, and later in book form, can inspire others to pray the bible for themselves by using these blog posts as a stepping off point.

Amazing, Lord. Simply amazing.

I cannot wait to create on my blog the Praying Through the Bible resource of every chapter, ever verse of the Bible in time. It will also be a resource on prayer in general. The blog, in time, will also be able to be used as a Bible reading and Bible study resource, as well as a daily devotional. In short, it is everything You ever put into my heart spiritually and professionally rolled up into one—and Psalm 1 is the perfect stepping off point. Thank You, Lord.

What an answer to prayer, God, You showing me how everything through my life has come together to bring me to this point. To You be the glory forever and ever. For, this is all about You and is not about me. If it were left to me, I would still be shriveled up in a corner twiddling my thumbs, trying to figure out how to heal from my hurts and fix my writing. Thank You for working in me, through me, and around me up to this point and I cannot wait to see where You take me and us (readers of the blog) on this journey.

I was made for this, Lord. I can see that now. Then again, looking back on this a couple of days later, I can honestly say I believe wholeheartedly every single human being on the planet was made for this. Thank You for opening my eyes to this.

Last night, Lord, I shared Your vision of my personal prayer journaling being typed up and turned into a blog post, and the blog posts then being turned into a book over time to my husband. He got a faraway look for a moment and said, “This truly is. I will do everything I can to support you so you can fulfill the vision God has in your life.” And, bless his soul, I know he meant every word. Thank You, Lord, for such a fine husband, and for confirming things through him.

April 19^th was Day 1 for me in my personal prayer journal, but April 20^th was the first blog post. Therefore, this will be the anniversary date, Lord. I look forward to looking back in a week, in a month, every three months, and over a year and see what all I/we have prayed through. I am pretty sure it will be absolutely amazing, Father.

Oh, dear, Lord. This blog post, as I pray through Psalm 1 again as I type, is growing by the second and I am afraid I have been quite babbly in prayer. I would say forgive me, but I am pretty confident You would rather have me babble for a minute or two than be silent for a minute or two.

Lord, verse 2 shows how I avoid verse 1. I have always wondered how it is possible to meditate on the Word night and day (verse 2), pray without ceasing (Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17), and always be thankful (give thanks, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)—at the same time. Now I know how. It is by praying through the Bible every day, all night and day long.

Abba, how should I proceed? Should I pray one book at a time? Should I pray one chapter or one verse at a time? I am, obviously starting with Psalms. Wait. Or, am I? I will hush and will follow Your lead as to what I pray through in Your Word next. Lead me, Father. Help me hear You every clearly as to what to do and when, and how and what to pray. But, first, I should get back to Psalm 1, Lord.

I just read through Psalm 1 again.

Your Word seems to ask: Want joy? (Joy is found in verse 1.) Then, do verse 2. Want delight? Verse 2 is also the answer. Want both joy and delight? Verse 2 is still the answer. Do you want to learn how to have true joy and true, absolute delight in the Holy Bible? See verse 2. If we meditate on the Word of God, the Holy Bible, Lord, and do so night and day, we will have joy and will then develop delight in the Bible. But, neither joy or delight develop until then… until we meditate, ponder, contemplate, think on, and pray through the Bible morning, noon, and night.

God, I cannot help but think how if I am praying through the Holy Bible all night and day, it becomes harder to be tempted and sin. It makes it difficult to live a sinful lifestyle of Psalm 1:1. See, Lord. I am liking the sound of that already.

Verse 3 is the answer to prayer and is an answer in advance, ahead of time. If we pray through the Bible morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and night… then verse 3. Then, we will be like trees which are planted by the bank of a river… never of need. Never thirsty. Thriving. Tall. Wide. Built up. Strong. Wow. Weepy again. This is what Your Word offers. Thank You Lord.

To be continued…

Remembering my present with the Word of God and prayer (01.11.2016.)

RYP Stories: Prayer journaling and memoir
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Section title: The new plan of this blog and my writing and journaling
This is the plan with this blog as of Monday, January 11, 2016
I have decided to keep all of my writings under one umbrella, once again, and in this blog. Therefore, I will include several different writings in each blog post and will post at one o'clock Mountain Standard Time (Denver and Cheyenne time) each day. Therefore, you can expect to see these daily segments:
Treasure Journaling: This segment or section is my prayer journaling and what I call "treasure journaling" (where God speaks, I listen, and I respond in prayer). This is my main writing and will be what I do first every day.
Bible reading series
My personal stories (where I share my stories which I will eventually turn into a memoir)
A deeper daily devotional (where I share more Bible thoughts and notes)
Additional prayers
Life wisdom
Spiritual, Journaling, Writing, and Life Tips: Prayer journaling, journaling, memoir writing into, personal stories, daily devotional writing, spiritual disciplines, Bible Reading, etc.
What I'm reading
Health, diet, and exercise thoughts
Misc.
(Treasure Journaling, Personal Stories, Daily Devotional, Prayers, Tips, Health Thoughts, and Misc.)
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Every time you see this: /// ... it represents a change in thought and topic. /// is a segment or section divider.
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What is a summary of my new blog approach?
Thoughts about the Bible, prayer, life stories, life in general, journaling, and writing. (No.)
Summary of topical divisions of each blog post: RYP Stories: Prayer journaling, life stories, health, and other writings and tales. (No.)
RYP Stories: Prayer journaling and memoir. (Blog plans, health, what I'm reading, life, love, and other thoughts and memories) (No. This is too much.)
RYP Stories: Prayer journaling and memoir. (Yes.)
From there, I can add subjects and hash tags.
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Section title: Prayer journaling on Hebrews 4:16

Hebrews 4:14-16 New Living Translation (NLT)

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

-- 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.

My love,
Come to me.
Come to my throne and meet me as you are. You do not have to pretend to be perfect and perfect prayers are certainly not required. You do not have to be elegant or flowery in your prayers. Just come to me and talk to me. Then, listen ten times longer than you speak.
And, when you come to me, be bold. My son knows first hand what life is on earth and he and the Holy Spirit come to me and pray on your behalf. They will translate to me what is on your mind. For, they know your intent and what is on your heart.

Hebrews 4:16 Expanded Bible (EXB)

16 Let us, then, ·feel very sure that we can come before [L confidently approach] God’s throne ·where there is grace [L of grace; C as opposed to a throne of judgment and condemnation]. There we can receive mercy and ·grace [L find grace] to help us ·when we need it [L at the right time].

-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My love, do you need mercy and grace? Approach my throne boldly and tell me everything on your mind and heart. I will listen and will give you grace and mercy. I will also speak to you and offer you guidance.

Hebrews 4:16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

My love,my throne is a place for answers and for healing. It's also the place to just be in my presence.
Come to me. I am here. I am waiting for you to come near.
My Lord,
I am a sinner. I fail far too often. I do not pray or meditate on your Word as I could or should.
Give me the want to do so, please. And, teach me how to do both.
///

Section title: Prosperity, success, and the Bible

How can I proper and have success in 2016?: What does the Bible mean in 2016?
(Meditating, pondering, thinking on, praying, contemplating the Word of God)

I want to prosper in all I do. I also want to be successful in all I do.
What does the Bible mean in the year 2016?
What does it mean for and in my life?
Joshua 1:8 provides some of the answers.

Joshua 1:8 New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
-- 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.

Joshua 1:8 Expanded Bible (EXB)
8 ·Always remember [L Do not let depart from your mouth] what is written in the Book of the ·Teachings [Law]. ·Study [Meditate on] it day and night to be ·sure [careful; diligent] to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be ·wise [prudent; successful] and ·successful [prosperous] ·in everything [or along life’s path; along the way].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Joshua 1:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Joshua 1:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Joshua 1:8 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
8 Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.
-- GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

I will keep reading these versions and will keep meditating on what they have to say.
///////

Praying Journaling on Joshua 1:7-9

My love,
Do you want to know what to do and when? For your life overall? Today? Tomorrow? This week? This month? This quarter? This year? This decade?
Are you ever concerned if you are on the path I want you to follow?
Do you ever want to know what my will is in your life?
The answer to each is found here:

Joshua 1:7-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

-- 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.

My love,
If you want to do my will, it requires you to be strong and courageous.
Since you live in the period of time after Jesus walked the earth, you are held to a different requirement. You are to live and obey the entirety of my Word, the Old and Testaments. This requires you to act with strength and courage. If you obey all of my Word, and do not turn away from one verse or deviate from one verse, then you be successful in all you do, without fail.
How can you gain strength and courage? Study my Word continually.
How do you study my Word continually? Meditate on it night and day.
If you study my Word continually, and meditate on it night and day, you will then be sure to do all my Word says. If you do all those things (study, meditate, do), then you will prosper.
You will not just prosper, you will succeed in everything you do.
Be strong and courageous then again. If at that point you are not afraid or discouraged, then I will be with you everywhere you go.
But, all of this requires you studying my Word continually and meditating on it day and night.

Joshua 1:7-9 Expanded Bible (EXB)

7 Be strong and ·brave [courageous; resolute]. Be ·sure [careful] to obey all the ·teachings [law] my servant Moses ·gave [commanded] you. If you ·follow them exactly [L do not turn from it to the right or to the left], you will be successful in everything you do. 8 ·Always remember [L Do not let depart from your mouth] what is written in the Book of the ·Teachings [Law]. ·Study [Meditate on] it day and night to be ·sure [careful; diligent] to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be ·wise [prudent; successful] and ·successful [prosperous] ·in everything [or along life's path; along the way]. 9 ·Remember that I [L Have I not…?] commanded you to be strong and ·brave [courageous; resolute]. Don't be afraid or ·discouraged [dismayed], because the Lord your God will be with you ·everywhere you go [or in all you do]."

-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My Lord,
What a beautiful passage. What hope it brings!
Help me to live this passage, night and day.

My love,
There are no shortcuts in faith.
Faith doesn't require just your leftovers. Faith requires your firsts, seconds, thirds, leftovers, etc.
Faith requires all of you and all of the time. You cannot shortchange your faith or my Word.
Do you want to know my will? Study my Word all the time, without fail, never taking a break. Meditate on my Word day and night. Also, do what my Word says. After all, if you do, you will be successful in all you do and you will be prosperous.
But, it requires strength and courage.
To truly study my Word, meditate on it, and apply it, you will need strength and courage.
If you are in my Word all the time, you will be in the middle of my will, you will prosper and will be successful, and I will be with you everywhere you go.
Be in my Word, my love.

My Lord,
I will think I am going to study and meditate on this passage for a while.

Prayer Journaling of Romans 15:13: Hope, Joy, Peace, Trust, and Power

My love,
Do you want hope?
What about peace and joy?
Trust in me.
Trust is a simple five letter word with a simple definition: have faith in and believe. Trust also means to put confidence and reliance in something or someone. The complicated part of trust is not in the definition, but is in the application. People tend to make it far more difficult than they really need.
How do you trust me? You trust me by believing in my son, Jesus Christ.
You trust me by praying, being in my Word, by meditating on my Word and pondering it, and by giving thanks in and for all things. You trust me every time you think of me and my Word.
Trust in me and draw close to me and my Word. The more you pray and think on my Word, the more you trust me and the more you draw near to me. They naturally go together.
The more you trust me and my Word, the more you will find the true source of hope..Nothing and no one else can bring you eternal hope, other than me and my Word. If you trust in anything or anyone on earth, in this world, you will put your hope and trust in that which is temporary. For everything and everyone on earth will die. I am timeless, and exist outside of time, since I created time and my Word is eternal. So, where and in whom will you place your trust?

Romans 15:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

-- 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.

If you trust in me and my Word, you will find that which is worthy of your trust, and I will fill you with peace and joy because of your trust. Again, I offer you real peace and joy that is lasting and depends on nothing but your trust, which is you turning to me and my Word. Note, that I will fill you entirely and completely with joy and peace, and will not fill you partially with them.
When you do trust in me and my Word alone, and then I fill you completely with peace and joy, you will then overflow with confident hope through the Holy Spirit's power.
How can you trust me or my Word?

Psalm 33:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.

-- 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.

My love, if my Word states something, I will never act to contradict it. I am consistent and do not change.
Trust in me and my Word, your source of true and absolute hope, because I never change. And my Word never changes.

James 1:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

--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.

My love, trust me and my Word always and without fail. You will then have hope, peace, and joy, because I will give them to you. You show your trust in me and by Word through spending time with me and my Word.
My Lord, I want to know the source of true hope, and have confident hope, true peace, and true joy. I realize the only way I can have overflowing and confident hope is through You, the power of the Holy Spirit, and trusting in You and Your Word. I show my trust by spending time with you and being in your Word and meditating on your Word.

Psalm 33:4 Expanded Bible (EXB)

4 God's word is ·true [upright; virtuous],
and everything he does is ·right [faithful].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Psalm 119:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

1 Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
4 You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
6 Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
7 As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
8 I will obey your decrees.
Please don't give up on me!

-- 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: Always be in the Word

Written on January 07, 2016, Thursday

My Lord,
Help me to prepare for this special time together. I pray this verse:

Psalm 19:14 New Living Translation (NLT)

14 May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

-- 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.

My Lord, help me to remember to meditate on all the verses and teachings you bring to me. Help me meditate on and ponder, review, apply, and enjoy them. Help me to meditate on them so much I find delight in them.

Psalm 1:2 Expanded Bible (EXB)

2 They ·love [delight in] the Lord's ·teachings [laws; instructions],
    and they ·think about [meditate on] those ·teachings [laws; instructions] day and night.

-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My Lord, Help me to really want to meditate on and live out these verses today, along with yesterday's, and the day before's.

My love,
Remember that to meditate on my Word is to think on it, ponder it, contemplate it, and do so repeatedly. It means to think of all angles and facets. It means to chew on it so much that you cannot help but feel full.
Keep approaching me and my throne. You do so every time you think of me, read my Word, ponder my Word, pray, and give thanks. Keep doing these things and you find your delight.
I will help you want to always meditate, pray, and give thanks. After all, each is a spiritual need you have, whether you realize it at all times or not. You need them in order to survive spiritually. You need them in order to thrive as well.
What do pondering my Word, prayer, and giving thanks have in common, other than they are what you should do morning, noon, evening, and night? Think about it for a moment.
The answer is that all three boil down to this: spend time and your thought life with me.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

-- 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.

My love, being in my Word (reading it, studying it, meditating on it and pondering it) is my will for you. If it is my will, and it is, know that you are not alone. I am the other part in this equation. I have my duties, and you have yours, in our relationship. For you, it's to be present and be in my Word. For me, I am to help you want to be in my Word, understand it, live it, and find delight in it.
If you are in my Word, then you will naturally pray and give thanks. You cannot help but do each. They are all facets of the rich, beautiful gem that is our relationship.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Expanded Bible (EXB)

17 Pray ·continually [without ceasing], 18 and give thanks ·whatever happens [in all circumstances; in everything]. That is ·what God wants [God's will] for you in Christ Jesus.

--Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My love, I want you to spend time in my Word. Do so all of the time. All, meaning without exception.
How can you know me or my Word unless you spend time with us?
How can you know me if you do not spend continual time in my Word?
How can you know and hear my voice if you do not spend continual time in my Word?
How can we have a close relationship if you are not in my Word?
How can we have and share intimacy if you are not in my Word constantly?

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

My love, how can you do my will if you are not consistently in my Word?

My Lord,
Help me to want more of you and your Word. I want to draw as close to you as possible, to hear you, and to delight in your Word.

Prayer Journal: Meditate on the Word

Written on January 06, 2016, Wednesday at a local bookstore

My love,
Do you want more delight in your life?
Delight means: Desire, good pleasure, and care.
Delight is when you bubble up with glee... and when you curl up with a good companion (loved one, book, pet). Delight is deeper than happiness. It is pure enjoyment.
If I were to tell you that you can find delight in my Word, would you believe me?
I know that at first perusal, my Word can appear confusing, boring, or both. If you read my Word once, and then close it off from you because you find it one of those things, you will never find delight in it. Reading a verse or once does my Word injustice. You will never understand it or find delight in it with one reading or even two. Your human, sinful, finite mind requires more.
My Word is not faulty. You can find delight in my Word. You can find it delightful and can understand it deeply. However, it requires more than one reading in one sitting.
There is a way to find delight in my Word. You need to meditate on my Word morning, noon, and night. The more you contemplate it, think on it, ponder it, pray it, the more delight you will find in it.

Psalm 1:2 New Living Translation (NLT)
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
-- 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.

My love,
My Word is best treasured and best understood through meditating on it and praying on it without ceasing for an extended period of time.
Again, write down our moments in the Word and as I reveal more to you from the verse and passage. As you continue to meditate on it over a long period of time, I will reveal more and more. After all, each time you think on it, you grow. It requires growth for you to learn from it and to hear from me about it. The more you grow, the more I will reveal, and the more delight you will find in it. It requires each of these things. They go together.
Multiple readings are needed.
Multiple prayers with each reading.
The think on the verse or passage over and over, morning, noon, and night.
With each reading, with each prayer, with each pondering, you will grow.
The more you grow, the more delight you will find in my Word.

Psalm 1:2 Expanded Bible (EXB)
2 They ·love [delight in] the Lord’s ·teachings [laws; instructions],
and they ·think about [meditate on] those ·teachings [laws; instructions] day and night.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My love, you will delight in my Word and will love it, but only with multiple exposures. It also takes multiple exposures over the long-term, over the long-haul, where you meditate on it daily.
Each time you read a verse, you grow a little more and your life experiences have grown you as well. Therefore, with every reading, with every meditation, you will get something more out of the verse or passage. You will go deeper, will learn more, and will communicate with me more.
Every time you talk to me about a verse or passage, I will reveal more to you. I will grow you more and the verse or passage will grow you.
The more you grow, the more delight you will find in my Word.

Psalm 1:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

My love,
How can I instruct you and grow you unless you are in my Word? Unless you meditate on my Word and pray about it, day and night over a long period of time, you will not grow enough to find the delight.
My Word is how I communicate with you best. Find delight in it through multiple and intentional exposures.

My Lord,
Thank you for the insight you have given me. It has been a light bulb moment, a life-transforming moment for me. I realize how important it is for me to keep meditating and praying on your Word and about your Word. Help me to remember all of these things and try to meditate on your Word as much as possible and pray about it.

Psalm 119:33-40 New Living Translation (NLT)
33 Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
    I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
    I will put them into practice with all my heart.
35 Make me walk along the path of your commands,
    for that is where my happiness is found.
36 Give me an eagerness for your laws
    rather than a love for money!
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,
    and give me life through your word.
38 Reassure me of your promise,
    made to those who fear you.
39 Help me abandon my shameful ways;
    for your regulations are good.
40 I long to obey your commandments!
    Renew my life with your goodness.
-- 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.

Psalm 119:105 New Living Translation (NLT)
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.
-- 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: Treasure

Written on January 06, 2016, Wednesday at a local bookstore

My love,
Who and what do you treasure and why?
Who and what brings you meaning?
The truth is if you treasure, value, find meaning, or find happiness in anything or anyone other than me and my Word, then you will never be fulfilled. You will always feel like you are missing something, will feel hollow and empty, and will not be full of joy. Anything or anyone other than me and my Word is just an imitation. It will not last and will leave you void.
Do you want to treasure someone or something temporary or eternal?
How do you know who or what you treasure? Besides looking at your calendar, your thoughts will provide you the answer. Who and what do you think of? Who and what do you think of most often?

Matthew 6:19-21 New Living Translation (NLT)
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
-- 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.

Treasure my Word, prayer, and giving thanks. Do these nonstop. If you do these, you will treasure them more and more. If you treasure these things, you will build up your treasure in heaven. What you treasure from these three, you bring with you to eternal life.
Nothing and no one else you treasure will be brought with you to heaven. Just the moments with me and my Word will you bring with you.
The moments we have, treasure. Remember them. Think on them over and over. The only way you can do so is to write them down. Journal them. This will help you treasure them and build up your treasure in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21 Expanded Bible (EXB)
19 “Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. 20 But store ·your [for yourselves] treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will be where your treasure is.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My love, where your treasure is, so is your heart. Remember that heart and mind go hand-in-hand and are not mutually exclusive. So, if you think on our moments of prayer, my Word speaking to you through your meditation day and night, and offer thanks for the blessings of each moment, then you will treasure these things all the more and will build up your eternal treasure in heaven, in your eternal life. Keep drawing close to me and my Word in prayer and meditation, and you will treasure our moments all the more.

Matthew 6:19-21 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
19 “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
My love, things on this earth get lost, are damaged, and are stolen. They never last. They do not bring you joy. They may bring you short-term happiness, but they will fail you in time.
The people of this earth are sinners. They will fail you. This is why no one should ever be put on your pedestal, but me and my Word.
Things and people are imperfect. Why treasure anyone or anything that is imperfect and will fail you?
I am perfect and so is my Word. We are eternal. We offer you so much more.
Everything you seek or want pales in comparison to me and my Word.
Treasure me and my Word and our moments when you pray and meditate on my Word. You add to what you take with you to heaven.

My Lord,
Help me to fully treasure you and your Word. My mind is shallow and faulty. Help me to treasure you and your Word in spite. Help me to remember all of our moments and treasure them. I want perfect and eternal treasure that will never fail me or seduce me. Make me want You and Your Word alone, not the things of this world.

Prayer Journal: His inner strength, deep love, mighty power

Written on January 06, 2016, Wednesday at a local bookstore

Ephesians 3:16-20 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
-- 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.

My love,
I have so many things to give you and so many priceless things for you to truly treasure. In fact, I have an unlimited supply.
My blessings, my gifts, only require belief from you. If you believe, I will supply you with everything you need. If you will believe, I will shower you with blessings to treasure. You may be tempted, or may even sin, but I will have treasure for you anyway. After all, I created you knowing all you would do, and all you wouldn't do, and I created you still.
You could never be worthy of one treasure I have to offer you, if not for your belief in my son, Jesus Christ, and what he did for you. I made you wonderfully (Psalm 139:???) and he has made you holy already. Trust him. The more you trust him, the deeper your roots of my love will grow and the roots of my love will strengthen you.
Do not for a moment I think you can find strength in anyone or anything apart from my love. You do not find your strength from within yourself. You find strength from me alone and from my love alone. If you find strength anywhere else, or in anyone else, it is false strength and it does not last.
Do you want to know how much strength you can receive from my love? Look at verse 18. My love is bottomless and endless, deep, wide, thorough, and unconditional. This is how much strength you can get from my love.
Do you ever feel uneasy, empty, or stressed? Do you ever feel off or like you are missing something? Meditate on verses 18 and 19 and on the love I have for you.
Now, look at verse 20, my love. Meditate on it as well.
When you meditate on my Word, and when you believe in my son and what he did for you, then you will be able to more thoroughly grasp my love and what I can accomplish in you and through you.
Keep reading this passage, and meditate on it. Think on it. Pray on it. Listen to what I have to say about it.
Let this passage help you see how much I can do through you as you deepen your trust in my son through meditating on this passage again and again. Treasure this, my love.

My Lord,
What hope this passage brings. Help me to trust in your son and in your Word more and more each day.

My love,
The best way to do so is be in my Word and meditate on it day and night. Start with this passage today.

Prayer Journal: Come close and draw near

(Written January 05, 2016, Tuesday)

James 4:8 New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
-- 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.

My love,
Do you want to hear me?
Do you not want to miss what I have to say?
Stop talking and stop being busy. Let me in.
The only way you can truly hear me is to saturate your life with my Word. Read, meditate, and pray on it. Study it and apply it.
You will never hear from me if you are so busy, so loud, so self and or situation focused, I will not get through. You won't let me.
How can you hear my voice? If you are standing so far away, or are moving from me, you will not be able to hear me. If you are far from my Word, you are far from me, and will not hear me either. Therefore, take steps to draw close and near to me. Then, you will hear me. If you draw close to me, and hear me, then you will be purified from the inside out.
If you have drawn close enough to me you can hear me, you will be purified and will no longer be world-focused, but will be focused on me and my Word.

James 4:8 Expanded Bible (EXB)
8 Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, ·clean sin out of your lives [L cleanse/purify your hands; C a metaphor for cleaning up your behavior]. ·You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time [L You double-minded ones], ·make your thinking pure [L purify your hearts; C a metaphor for cleaning up your interior life].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My love, if you focus on listening for me and to me, and meditate on my Word and pray on it, then your inner life will be purified and you will hear me better and will draw even closer to me.
Stop talking.
Stop the busyness.
Listen.
Conversation is at least fifty-fifty. Have you given me at least that?
Do you want to draw even closer to me? Listen far longer than you ever speak.

My Lord,
Help me to be silent and to listen. Help me be still and draw close to you.

James 4:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Prayer Journal: Life by faith and not by sight

January 05, 2016, Tuesday, 1153 a.m.

2 Corinthians 5:7 New Living Translation (NLT)
7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
-- 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.

My love,
Do you live by sight or by believing?
Do you live by sight or by trust?
Do you demand answers, or expect answers, rather than trust and remain in faith?

2 Corinthians 5:7 New Living Translation (NLT)
7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
-- 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.

My love,
Do you want to live, fully and freely live? Live this verse. Embrace it fully.
Let me rephrase it another way:

2 Corinthians 5:7 Expanded Bible (EXB)
7 We ·live [walk] by ·what we believe [faith], not by ·what we can see [sight].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB).The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My love,
Do you live this way or do you give it a nod or lip service? Do you nod your head in agreement or do you take action and live in this manner?
Live and walk by faith. Do not demand answers. Just trust me. Tell me that you do and show me that you do. If you do, you will then fully live and I will bless you and your life.
Believe. There is nothing more important in your life.

2 Corinthians 5:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight,
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

My love,
Know that nothing in your life is a surprise to me. Nor is it something you have hidden from me.
If you love me, you will trust me.

2 Corinthians 5:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—
New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

My love,
If only you would ask for me to show you how to live by faith, and not by sight, then I would. All you need to do is ask.

2 Corinthians 5:7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
7 Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight.
-- GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

My love,
Nowhere does this verse say to trust and follow me blindly. Rather, I give you my Word, the Bible, to help give you insight and understanding of my character and my overall plan. I give you the Word to help you walk in and by faith, not by sight, as I work my purpose. If you would remain in my Word, meditate on it and pray on it, you would find it easier to walk by faith alone.
Trust me.
If only you would trust me, believe, and have faith, regardless of what you see or don't see, I would bless you and we would have a deeper, more content, more joyful relationship.
Through not walking by faith, you limit what I can do in you, through you, and around you. Whereas, if you trust me, and believe in me, you free what I can do then. You allow me to work fully and without limit.
What I accomplish through you must be your choice. I will force nothing on you. Walk in and by faith.

My Lord,
Prayer: Lord, help me to not need answers and to just trust You, no matter what. No matter how things fail to make sense. No matter how things feel. Help me to walk by faith through it all, in spite of it all, and to cling to the Bible alone as truth to help me live a life of belief, not of doubt or demanding answers. For, you owe me no answer. You are God and I am not. I will trust you. Always. And I will try not to fight you or what you are doing. I will walk by faith and not by sight. Or, at least I want to do so. Show me how, Lord.

Prayer Journal: What do you treasure?

January 05, 2016, Tuesday, 1010 a.m.

My Lord,
I just took a shower, checked my email, and now I sit here, Lord. I am drawing near to you. I am moving my heart and mind to focus on you entirely. I will listen. I listen.

Luke 2:19 New Living Translation (NLT)
19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
-- 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.

My love (The Lord speaks),
Mary watched carefully what happened all around her and through her. She did her best to take it all in and not miss anything. She was fully present. She looked for my work and my glory. She looked in her life, around her life, through her life, and in the life of those around her, to find me, my work, and my glory.
Then, Mary committed what she saw, experienced, and learned to her heart and mind so she would remember these things and so she could ponder these things. She thought about these things so thoroughly she came to treasure them and she wanted to remember me and what I had done.
Mary had to be fully present in order to be able to treasure what she saw and experienced. If she had not been, she would have missed these blessings. Since she treasured these things, she would remember them and her life was transformed through what she treasured.
It is too easy to get so busy that you don't see the blessings all around you. Busyness clouds your eyes and makes your vision laser focused in what you are doing. It makes you self and activity focused, rather than on me or on my Word. Busyness takes you away from me and makes it so you do not see the blessings all around.
How can you fully see if you are busy?
How can you hear me if you are busy?
How can you pray without ceasing or meditate on my Word day and night if you are busy?
Busyness is an addiction. You have the choice. Choose activities and busyness, which make you feel important and valued, or choose me.
Is the way of busyness your salvation or am I?
How can you treasure anything if you are busy, never mind me or my Word?
Make me and my Word your treasure, not anything or anyone of the world. I offer you eternal life. The world offers you temporary, sinful things which prevent you from seeing how I have lavished my blessing on you.
I have a great deal more to offer you to treasure than this world ever could. Be still. Look around. Every moment has showers of blessing from me for you to treasure.

Luke 2:19 Expanded Bible (EXB)
19 But Mary ·treasured [kept; preserved] these things and ·continued to think about them [pondered/considered them in her heart].
--Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

My love,
Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them, pondered them, meditated on them, and kept them in her heart.

My Lord,
My prayer: Lord, help me to focus on You and the treasure of blessing you and your Word bring, not on the things of this sin-laced world.

How to pray effectively about terrorism #2 and a prayer retreat

How to pray effectively about terrorism #2 and a prayer retreat

(Topics: Journaling, writing, news/current events, history, prayer, terror, thanks and blessing, and the Bible: Dabbling with a little of this and that)

November 19-20, 2015

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TOPICS OF THIS BLOG POST:

AN INSPIRATIONAL BLOG POST TO HELP PREPARE US FOR ADVENT

MY PERSONAL JOURNALING 

ARTICLES, NEWS, CURRENT EVENTS, AND OPINION

PRAYER RETREAT

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NOV/19/2015/Thurs.

AN INSPIRATIONAL BLOG POST TO HELP PREPARE US FOR ADVENT

I am grateful for this inspirational blog post by Ann Voskamp:

Title: "when the world feels dark & angry & scary: How To Carry Light through this season anyways" 

Link: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/11/when-the-world-feels-dark-angry-scary-how-to-carry-light-through-this-season-anyways/

I am convinced everything Ann Voskamp writes is dynamite, and I have thought this for over three years now. What a blessing. She allows the Lord to speak through her, that is for sure. 

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My personal journaling: Ugh. About the time I start feeling less yucky... less wound up... less dread... less blah... Then, I see this:

Article, News, Current Events, Opinion

Title: "Report: ISIS Trying to Develop Chemical Weapons"

Link: http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2015/11/19/report-isis-trying-to-develop-chemical-weapons-n2082880

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My personal journaling: I must admit I would love to have a prayer retreat. Stop. I will tomorrow. Yes. That sounds like the best thing to do. I feel like I need a break or a vacation. I feel like running away from all of the turmoil in this world. So, I plan on running to the Lord and the Bible instead in prayer. 

Care to join me? You can follow this blog post at any time and have your own prayer retreat, whether it's tomorrow or twenty years from now.

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Nov/20/2015/Fri.: The Prayer Retreat

Today is my prayer retreat. I am going to spend the day in prayer. It's really quite necessary because terror has struck again and it's in Mali.

Let me begin by sharing some specifics I'm going to pray about today:

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Article, News, Current Events, Opinion

Title: "At least 3 dead, dozens of hostages held as gunmen storm Mali hotel"

Link: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/20/mali-hotel-attack/

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Article, News, Current Events, Opinion

Title: "UPDATE: Hotel Stormed By Police; Terrorists Storm Hotel in French Mali, Take Nearly 200 Hostages"

Link: http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2015/11/20/terrorists-storm-hotel-in-mali-take-hostages-releasing-some-n2083147

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Article, News, Current Events, Opinion

Title: "Islamic extremists attack hotel in Mali's capital"

Link: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_29143207/shooting-reported-at-mali-hotel

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(726 a.m.) Sure. I should spend more time learning the history of terrorism. But, I think prayer is mandatory right now. A day of focused prayer will help me his world and will help me soul.

I will post another post later today about this prayer retreat. Here are some verses to get us started. Let's start with this:

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We are to always give thanks. 

Psalm 95:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

1 Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord,

shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!(A)

2 Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving;

let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.(B)

Cross references:

95:1 : Jb 38:7; Ps 81:1; 98:4, 6

95:2 : Ps 100:4; Jnh 2:9

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

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1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

17 Pray constantly.

18 Give thanks in everything,

for this is God’s will(A) for you in Christ Jesus.

Cross references:

5:18 : Eph 6:6; 1Th 4:3; 1Pt 2:15; 4:2; 1Jn 2:17

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

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Philippians 4:6-8 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. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

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.

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Colossians 2:5-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

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.

How to pray effectively about terrorism #1

How to pray effectively about terrorism #1
(Topics: Journaling, writing, news/current events, history, prayer, terror, thanks and blessing, and the Bible: Dabbling with a little of this and that)
November 19, 2015, Thursday
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TOPICS OF THIS BLOG POST:
AN EXPLANATION OF 'HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY ABOUT TERRORISM'
MY PERSONAL JOURNALING ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 (Blessings counted)
ARTICLES, NEWS, CURRENT EVENTS, AND OPINION
INSPIRATIONAL BLOG POSTS TO READ
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AN EXPLANATION OF 'HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY ABOUT TERRORISM'
It's my main goal since the Paris Terror Attacks to learn how to pray effectively about terrorism. The victims in Paris, never mind all of the terror attacks worldwide in the last four decades or so. May no one die in vain and may they always be remembered. And may we remember the wounds of the wounded. They are far more than physical.
What is the best thing I can do in their memory, apart from remember them? It's to stop terrorism so not another is wounded or killed because of a difference in belief. How can I, a civilian and a nobody do this?
The answer is simple. It's to pray for all victims of terrorism, wounded and killed, and their families. It's the most powerful weapon we have in the war on terror. However, the best prayer is effective prayer. We can hope through popcorn, indiscriminate, general, shot in the dark prayer that we hit the target. Or, we can pray pinpointed, targeted, powerful prayers that are effective and win the entire war on terror, not just a battle here and there and when we fill like. This takes constant vigilance and purposeful effective prayer.
What is effective prayer? It's prayer backed up with knowledge of the history and current events of terrorism. It's knowing the beliefs of the terrorists as well. This is the only way to pray effectively about terrorism.
Stop. That last paragraph is loaded with the answer and with information. In order to pray absolutely effectively, it will take years of learning and being aware. It's over one thousand four hundred and almost six years of history to learn.
Therefore, the more we learn each day, the more we stay updated on current events, the more we can pray effectively about terrorism and win the full and complete war on terror.
To do anything less is immoral and wrong. As Christians, it is our responsibility to not bury our hear in the sand, but be advocates in effective prayer for all victims of terrorism and their families and nations.
This is my main focus.
This is why I am sharing so many articles. It's so we can know how to pray as effectively as possible. Also, the these articles, and my blog posts, will help us establish a history of terrorism as we fight this war.
I pray we are all ready to fight the good fight and get in the trenches so we can win every battle that will lead to the end of the war on terror. It will take years of daily intentional learning and praying. But, there is far more to lose if we don't.
For Paris.
For 9/11.
For all the other terror attacks the last forty plus years.
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The day began with news that I had to read and share -- before I was able to do any journaling:
Article, News, Current Events, Opinion
Title: "Suspected mastermind of Paris massacre killed in terror raid"
Link: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/19/suspected-mastermind-paris-massacre-killed-in-terror-raid/
Me: What a blessing. Good news. Well done, France and the French authorities. For Paris. May you find peace and comfort in this.  (556 a.m.)
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Article, News, Current Events, Opinion
Title: "As Obama Touts Refugee Resettlement, Many Veterans Sleep on the Streets"
Link: http://www.mrctv.org/blog/obama-touts-refugee-resettlement-many-veterans-sleep-streets
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Psalm 9:1 Expanded Bible (EXB)
Thanksgiving for Victory
A psalm of David.
9 I will ·praise [or give thanks to] you, Lord, with all my heart.
    I will ·tell [recount] all ·the miracles you have done [your wonderful deeds].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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INSPIRATIONAL BLOG POSTS TO READ:
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A Blog Post to Read about Thanksgiving
Title: "Thanking God: A Reflex Action"
Link: http://www.faithgateway.com/thanking-god-reflex-action#.Vk3jgbLn_MI
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A Blog Post to Read about Praise
Title: "The Prayer of Praise"
Link: http://www.faithgateway.com/the-prayer-of-praise/#.Vk3kjrLn_MI
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I am a fan of books, TV shows, movies and will also share different types things here. Here is one I find really interesting. A new "Star Trek" series.
Link 1: http://www.tor.com/2015/11/02/star-trek-new-series-from-alex-kurtzman/
Link 2: http://www.tor.com/2015/11/18/now-is-the-perfect-time-for-a-new-star-trek-series/#more-196629
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Article, News, Current Events, Opinion
Title: "At least 5 dead in West Bank and Tel Aviv terrorist attacks"
Link: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/19/at-least-5-dead-in-west-bank-and-tel-aviv-terrorist-attacks/?intcmp=hpbt3
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Article, News, Current Events, Opinion
Title: "Testing the gates? Syrians nabbed south of the border stoke terror fears"
Link: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/11/19/testing-gates-syrians-nabbed-south-border-stoke-terror-fears/?intcmp=hpbt1
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