AYOAGT Day 3, Part 3

AYOAGT Day 3, Part 3
April 09, 2014, Wednesday, 4:26 p.m.

I am thankful for:
72 CHRISTIAN JOURNALING: I decided to turn this afternoon into a time of praise and worship. For a couple of hours, I had a short quiet time or Bible reading, reflection, journaling, etc.--feeling, needing more. But, I had to stop and share this with you and why it's a thanks. So, one of my favorite songs, for years now, came on the radio: "REVELATION SONG." So, sitting my desk, in front of an open window. Open curtains. Closed window. I sat in my study, with beagle sleeping on one of his two dog beds in my study and two turtles doing the swimming thing. I closed my eyes and sang the song at the top of my lungs. You know what I mean. Ladies in particular. 
Sometimes the louder you sing, the better you feel. You work through the emotion. You get it out and you find God in the process. At any rate, when I was done, I felt six sets of eyes on me. No joke. I opened my eyes and saw cat to my left, sitting on the ladder I use to reach the top shelves of my book cases, underneath the open window. Both turtles had their heads sticking up out of water, necks stretched, looking at me and looking up. None made the 'you-are-so-weird" look. Instead, it was as though they joined me in worship. How incredible of a moment. I am thankful for that. God was present. Id on't think ? I will ever forget it. I think angels joined in the chorus of praise and worship. What a moment. (Thank God. To you be all glory, honor and praise.)

CHRISTIAN AND MAINSTREAM JOURNALING: 
That moment only reminded me of something I wanted to share earlier in the day... I just hadn't. 
Do you know what makes always giving thanks so powerful? If you keep giving thanks, even in the yuck and mess of life, even during the life-changing-on-a-dime moments, even when you don't want to and certainly don't feel like it, something unexplainable happens. You will start to feel--joy. 
And, joy is something deeper than happiness. Happiness is fleeting. Happiness ebbs and flows with emotions, weather, choice, wants, needs, etc. Joy doesn't depend on anything or anyone. Joy is long-lasting and is deeper and far more meaningful. For Christians, joy comes from God. For the mainstream, joy comes from a deeper life. 
Always giving thanksgiving + no matter what + at all times = joy.

I am thankful for:
73 Joy.
74 Chinese food leftovers, which I'm about to get. 

75 Making time for stillness.

76 Making time for quiet.

77 Enjoying the moment. 

536 p.m. 

Warmed up my leftovers, ate them, emailed with hubby as he did the work thing, and now I am back here. As I warmed up my food a thought came to mind:

How much have I missed because I haven't paid attention to the small stuff? 

How many blessings? I've been so busy, so sidetracked. Excuses. (Pathetic really.) So, how many have I missed? 

Huh. Talk about an eye-opener. 

I am thank for:

78 Microwaves

79 Coffee pots

80 AHA Moments!!!

Duh! I never got back to my AHA Moment from last night. With what happened in Pittsburgh, I forgot. (See part 1 from today if you forget what I'm talking about: http://ayoagt.blogspot.com/2014/04/ayoagt-day-3.html

AHA Moment #1 was realizing I am hurting--and I didn't realize it. The hurt stems form a succession of life-changing-on-a-dime moments (no joke) over the past year, but particularly since one month before Thanksgiving 2013 was the second latest round. The latest round of painful, life-changing-on-a-dime moment is stemmed to the ones from the last year. There have been five painful events that have changed my husband's and my lives forever. We hope to make it in the best way possible change, though. But, then, came round six. That was last week (Or was it the week before? I'm not sure.). I think I've been trying to go on, pretending that life was normal, that I was tough, that I had faith, that I was strong, that I could handle this. As of last night, I realized I wasn't handling it. I was denying it. I was ignoring it. I refused to deal with it. 

Now, I have to ask myself this: Have I said thank you about those six things? Have I counted each as a blessing? 

As a matter of fact, I think I have. 

If I have, did I really mean it? Really, really? If I did, the pain wouldn't still be so raw. Saying thanks, in all things and for all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18) doesn't have any exclusions. So, these six things... If I was relaly thankful for each of them, I would not feel this pain. 

Now, what can I do to really mean the thanks? 

I'll be honest. At this point, I have no idea whatsoever how to really mean the thanks for the hurts. 

I think that's what I need to pursue. 

THE BEAUTY OF A FOREST FIRE ANALOGY FOR THOSE IN PAIN: THOUGHT TO PONDER AND BE THANKFUL FOR

AYOAGT Day 3, Part 3 

THE BEAUTY OF A FOREST FIRE ANALOGY FOR THOSE IN PAIN:

THOUGHT TO PONDER AND BE THANKFUL FOR

A forest fire is destructive. It rages and ravages. It claims life. It destroys. It scars.

But, do you want to know the secret beauty of a forest fire? Most of the trees seeds require fire to burst their seed so they can grow. A fire brings forth life. And, the trees and vegetation come back fuller, stronger, more beautiful.

That's the beauty of a forest fire. True beauty. Scorching fire and burning, combined with the loss of life, brings new, stronger more beautiful life. 

That's the way it is supposed to be with the life-changing-on-a-dime moments of our lives. They are the fire. We can then have stronger, fuller, more beautiful lives that burst forth because of the burn. If we choose it. 

Day 2 AYOAGT Personal Journaling, Part 2

Day 2 AYOAGT Personal Journaling, Part 2
April 08, 2014, Tuesday, 531 p.m.

Bible Reading Plan for Today April 08, 2014:
Leviticus 11-12, Psalm 13-14, Prov 26, 1 Thes. 5
1 Thess 5:18 was in the Bible reading I did today. Funny! How not ironic at all. It's a Jesus thing.

545 p.m.
I am thankful for:
54 My new "THE STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN,"  HCSB Bible is on the way. It looks like one I will devour--in a good way. I also ordered a new Bible cover. I will devote myself to the next several years to enjoying it.  (See this link: http://smile.amazon.com/The-Study-Bible-Women-Hardcover/dp/1586400983/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1396993514&sr=8-4&keywords=women%27s+study+bible)

55 The Bible
56 Being able to read and study the Bible.

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
A Year of Always Giving Thanks Blog:
http://ayoagt.blogspot.com
My Official Writing Blog:
http://WritingsOfSD.blogspot.com

Day 2 of AYOAGT: April 08, 2014

Day 2 of AYOAGT: April 08, 2014, Tuesday, 932 a.m.

READER

Thank you so much for reading this blog and, in turn, joining me on a year of always giving thanks. I hope it inspires you to do the same.

And, for the record, I hope to practice this for the rest of my life. I just want to be as intention as I can be every day for a year so that it becomes a well-lived habit.

*~*~*~*~*  MAINSTREAM THANKSGIVING JOURNALING:

MY MORNING: SETTING THE SCENE AND OFFERING SOME BACKSTORY

I realize I'm supposed to be giving thanks. I am and will. But, I need to set the scene so you know what's happened this morning already. (Ugh and argh.)

I can always tell when I'm on the right track. Everything starts to go wrong. They seem to go hand-in-hand. I think there is an equation which depicts this phenomenon:

On track = trouble + challenges + anything to get me sidetracked + anything to get me frustrated + anything to make me want to stop what I'm doing

Well, I started this: "A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS: THE JOURNAL OF MY JOURNEY" project and WHAM! Here we go. The equation is alive and working. Now, I need to give a little backstory so you know where this is coming from. So, please bear with me. It's necessary.

Yesterday, I mentioned a very important member of our family and household. It's my beagle, Zack. He's an elder. We (my husband, B, and me) call him the bald-faced beagle since it's mostly white.  He's 14 years old. He suffers from canine dementia (canine cognitive disorder). What that looks like in a dog is they might start shaking for no reason, then they dart and start to run for no apparent reason. They forget their name and any order you give them (sit, stay, etc.) and you can tell they do not recognize you. They are confused. This isn't an all-day thing. It comes and goes.

Zack has far more good moments of the day than the bad at this point. Of course when that changes... (Fill in the blank. I don't want to write it.)

But, that isn't what's going on with Zack today. Nope. Rather, he has this thing that he does off and on where he'll wake up in the morning with a growling stomach. He is so hungry he refuses to eat. He's doing this now.

Of course I will start feeding him a little more to see if this avoids the situation. But, that doesn't help Zack now. He won't eat. He's too hungry. It's been hours since we woke. His stomach is making more and more noise. He's really hungry. But, he's so hungry he won't eat. Sigh. I've tried everything. Hopefully I will figure something else to try to get him to eat. He's acting fine other than that. I wish I could reason with him.  (It's not time to take him to the vet. I know what it is. It's the too hungry he doesn't feel like eating thing, plus maybe a little dementia. But, if he's like this until tomorrow, I will. Until then, I will try making food I know he likes and getting the house to smell good. Maybe that will bring on his sense he wants to eat.

1140 a.m.

The moment I finished writing the last sentence, I decided to see, once again, if I could persuade him to eat. Thank the Lord, he did!

11 Zack ate after not wanting to do so

Then, B called. (He's working a different schedule at the moment.)

Since then, I had to run to Target and am now sitting at my favorite Chinese Restaurant with a delightful wife and husband team who own it and cook and serve. Hence, now that I can sit and breathe, in a change of scenery, I will count some of my blessings and what I am thankful for:

12 Cell phones to be able to speak with loved ones

13 Speaking with my best friend, B

14 That there wasn't an active shooter at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center

15 Cars to ride in and get places faster

16 Target, the store. Love that place.

17 Chinese food

18 The Chinese restaurant I frequent, the business and the husband and wife who own it

19 Timeout of the house for a bit after being cooped up for two days

20 Ann Voskamp, 21 One Thousand Gifts Book, 22 One Thousand Gifts Devotional, 22 One Thousand Gifts Gift and Photo Book, 23 One Thousand Gifts Study Book, 24 One Thousand Gifts Study Videos, 25 Ann Voskamp allowing God to use her

25 Shrimp Kung Pao

26 Wanton Soup

27 Crab Cheese Wantons

28 Rice

29 That I have teeth to eat with

30 Egg rolls

31 Rain to help flowers, grass, trees, and bushes bloom and grow

32 Romans 5

It's nice to get out of the house for a while--and as I drive, I keep the radio off and soak in the quiet. There is so much noise in our lives. All of the noise means we cannot hear ourselves think. We focus on the noise, on the radio, then be quiet and think. Sometimes thinking can be painful. But, if we gave thanks, as our minds wandered to painful things, we would experience contentment. We wouldn't feel upset because we focus our thoughts on giving thanks instead.

1251 p.m.

33 Home--a refuge, safe place, a haven

34 Critters meeting me at the door when I've been gone

35 Good friends

36 Books--to read, enjoy looking at as they sit on the shelves, imagining are sitting on the shelves but really are in/on e-reader, and imagining where the words on the page will take you when you pick one of them up

37 Coffee! The smell. The taste. (I drink mostly decaf.)

38 A pretty coffee mug

39 A coffee mug bought to mark and memorialize a memory

40 The warmth of a mug of coffee held between the hands

41 The warm coffee as it trickles down the throat

42 Spring flowers

43 Cameras to take pictures, capture memories, and capture beauty

HOW HAS THIS "A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS (AYOAGT): THE JOURNAL OF MY JOURNEY, PART 1" IMPACTED ME SO FAR?

In other words, what do I think of my AYOAGT so far?

Would you believe I already feel a difference in me and in my life? The shoulds-coulds-woulds and must-do's, the busyness of life, the busyness of mind, the stresses, the high expectations, all of it is--easier. I've slowed down. I'm trying to live intentionally and on purpose. I'm trying to focus my thoughts on what I'm thankful for and why. Also, I'm trying to find thanks even when there is stress (need I mention Zack not eating) and busyness.

*~*~*~*~* CHRISTIAN THANKSGIVING JOURNALING:

1256 p.m.

I'm thankful for:

44 A good Bible study--one that challenges me and isn't a feel-good one

45 A good pastor--one that challenges me and isn't a feel-good one

46 A good sermon--one that challenges me and isn't a feel-good one

47 http://www.youversion.com/and https://www.bible.com/ for easy daily Bible reading on cell, Kindle, and PC

311 p.m.

My girlfriend stopped by for a few.

I am thankful for:

48 The girlfriend I'll call B2 I have in my life and her two kiddos.

49 Fortune cookies

50 My faith

51 Jesus Christ and what He did for me. What did He do for me? He lived, so he could die (be murdered actually), and because of that, I have eternal life--meaning, I get to go to heaven! He died so my wrongdoings (sins) could be forgiven. He died so I may have grace. Wow. (Wonder of Wonders.)

52 Romans 5, the chapter I'm going to start memorizing.

53 The quiet time I hope to have now of reading the Bible, prayer journaling, and then coming back here to write more things I'm thankful for.  (Funny. I just wrote: 'thanksful' for.) Also, I want to start to re-read this book:

"ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A DARE TO FULLY LIVE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE" by Ann Voskamp

http://smile.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1396985317&sr=8-1

"ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A DARE TO FULLY LIVE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE"

By Ann Voskamp  

I give full credit to Ann Voskamp and every book, and study she has associated with "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS," as my muse for my year of always giving thanks (AYOAGT). Thank God she has allowed God to use her and her writing.

I recommend, even if you're the type who actually prefers e-books to buy her book, devotional book, study book, and selections book in the paper version. They're ones you'll want to re-read over and over. you'll want them in your hand. You'll want to highlight them, write in the margins, etc. In fact, buy several devotionals so you can keep using it every year for the rest of your life.

I cannot recommend these enough.

See these two blogs of hers:

1 A Holy Experience

2 One Thousand Gifts

Also check out this link:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/one-thousand-gifts-book/

Get her newsletter from "A Holy Experience" sight. Trust me. You want her gems every day.

She writes in the most lyrical, musical way. She's a poet and phrases things in the most incredible way. What a gift.

The next time I teach a Bible study, I will teach this material. With B (my hubby) and his job, we move every two to four years and I will teach this material everywhere we go until I cannot teach any longer. I will teach this for decades. It's powerful, life-transforming, moving, eye-opening stuff.

HOW IS THIS JOURNEY AND WRITING DIFFERENT FROM "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS"?

1 I am only 1%, if that, of a writer she is.

2 I want to write to both the mainstream and Christian audience.

3 I'm writing my story and journey to my year of living a life of always giving thanks.

Now, let me try that quiet time thing. I got a little sidetracked.

~ Stacy Duplease

Christian, Patriot, Writer, Journalkeeper

Main Writing Blog:

http://WritingsOfSD.blogspot.com

AYOAGT (A Year of Always Giving Thanks) Blog:

http://ayoagt.blogspot.com

New Cover of A Year of Always Giving Thanks: The Journal of My Journey, Part 1

I decided to change the cover.

~ Stacy Duplease

Christian, Patriot, Writer, Journalkeeper

Main Writing Blog:

http://WritingsOfSD.blogspot.com

AYOAGT (A Year of Always Giving Thanks) Blog:

http://ayoagt.blogspot.com

AYOAGT Day 1: An Introduction and 1st Journal Entry

AYOAGT Day 1: An Introduction and 1st Journal Entry

INTRODUCTION TO A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS:
THE JOURNAL OF MY JOURNEY
This is the journal of my journey of my year of always giving thanks. It's my goal to spend the next year, all night and day long, of giving thanks. 
By the way, I want to focus on this full-time for the next year, where I give all of my attention to this journey. It will not be about writing, but will be about my journey of learning how to "give thanks in and for all things" (source: 1 Thessalonians 5:18). 

TWO DAILY SECTIONS OF BLOG
I will have two main sections each day, or at least most days, of:
1 Mainstream Thanks
2 Christian Thanks
The mainstream thanks section is for those of you who are not Christian. However, if you are Christian, you'll get something out of it if you read the journal entry. It's the same way with the Christian section. It's for Christians in particular, but if you are not, you can still get something out of the journal entry. 

*~* DAY 1 OF AYOAGT (A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS) 1ST JOURNAL ENTRY:

MAINSTREAM JOURNALING
I have forgotten and not lived as though every moment of every day was sacred. Living intentionally is something of the past. Furthermore, I've taken things for granted. My life shows all of this.
I've gotten caught in the busy trap. I've been lured away by the things that don't matter. Not really. At the time, it seems as though they matter, but they don't. I am all over the place, unfocused, undisciplined. And, I'm tired. Exhausted. Worn-out. Something has got to give. My life is not what I want. Not my spiritual life. Not my writing life. 
The worst part is I know better. 
Sure. My marriage and home life are wonderful and are major blessings in my life. I am married to my best friend, B, and he loves me deeply. We like each other and love one another. 
I have an elderly Beagle named Zack (he's 14), a 5 year old Orange stripes Maine Coon cat named Sinan (pronounced See-nawn--it's Turkish for spearhead), and two aquatic turtles named Shelly and Harry ('when Harry met Shelly'). 
We don't have any kiddos yet. We hope to adopt. 
I've been a journalkeeper for 30+ years. I'm addicted to coffee, I love to devour books, and am a runner.
I am content. Life is good.
The tough stuff in life might sting, but I hold fast to my faith and it holds me steady. 
Now, saying all of that, I realize my life is missing something. It's not as deep as it could be. I do not have the joy I could. Also, I realize I've fallen into the busyness, getting sidetracked trap.

COUNTING OF MY BLESSINGS
1 My faith
2 A new day
3 The close of a day
4 Snuggling Beagles
5 Loving cats
6 The fountain sound of the turtle tanks
7 The trill of our cat
8 A good book to get lost in
9 My Amazon Kindle Fire HDX, which I can use to write, journal, and count my blessings wherever I am

~ Stacy Duplease

Christian, Patriot, Writer, Journalkeeper

Website & Blog:

http://WritingsOfSD.blogspot.com

A Year of Always Giving Thanks

Stay tuned.

Give Thanks in ALL things.

I don't care if you're religious or not. Those words speak. They mean something. And, they are life-changing.

When was the last time you stopped and took note of all of the blessings in your life? According to these words, we are supposed to give thanks in ALL things. Are we living in this manner? Are you?

I know I sure do not live in this manner.

Give thanks in ALL things.

This is a good reminder. I will spend some time today and tomorrow, perhaps longer, to try to figure out to do that. Also, I want to try to add this to my daily life again.

How about you?

Giving thanks should be a daily, all day long, practice we implement in our lives. How much different would our lives be if we lived by this motto and way of life?

Give thanks in ALL things.

A THANKS RESOURCE
Check out this blog if you need help in figuring out how to give thanks and what it means to do so:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/