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.

A Time of Change and Healing: How hurts and trying to heal have impacted my writing

They say that the Bible is the answer to and for everything. I couldn’t agree more, particularly as I type this. I will get back to this thought in a moment.

What I am about to share is a story I think everyone can understand to some degree and has been at this place in life as well. I cannot wait to share the journey of healing and how it’s changed me enormously already, for the good. More of this will be reflected in the next blog post, by the way.

You see, I am using a new system now with my blogging and writing. I am handwriting my prayer journaling, then typing it up as a blog post. Once I get enough blog posts, I will turn them into a book by editing and adding to them. This is a drastically different approach than I have ever used and I want to make it one I keep using from now on since the truth is I write better on the page by hand and then as I type it up, I am able to edit it and make it all the better. It works well so far. I pray that trend continues.

I stopped blogging and writing for a while so I could pray and see truly where the Lord is leading me with each, never mind my life. I had to. I was desperate. After all, I realized nothing in my life, other than my marriage, was working as it should or could. I am out of sync somehow. What I am about to share is proof of my state of transition.

I am an adult. I have a brain and I know how to use it. This means I can change. I have the ability to change. If I choose to do so. I also realize it takes months of hard work, where it takes a constant deliberate mindset to change. It does not come easily by any stretch of the imagination. I have to change, and so did my blogging and writing because of what I am about to share.

A little over a week ago, I had a wakeup call as I allowed someone to hurt me deeply. It was someone I knew I should not have given the power to do so, since they have bit me before, but I did. I thought, by mistake again, that they had changed. Well, they have. They have the same spots, the spots just moved a little and acted as camouflage so I didn’t see it coming. The truth is, I don’t think they expected it either and it surprised them just as much as it did me. They didn’t do it intentionally, but it still happened. Also, I still have no idea how to pick up with them from here. I love them, but I am no doormat. But, I cannot be a callous individual either. I keep praying God shows me His biblical way and that I do not act merely out of what I desire, which is self-preservation at this point.

I have forgiven, but it’s the forgetting part I am finding a little challenging. (Okay… Maybe a lot challenging. Lord, help me.) However, it says in 1 Corinthians 13 how love keeps no record of wrongs. Ugh. I know that is essential. It’s nonnegotiable. That is why I have pulled away from them for now because they don’t deserve any of my hostility as I try to forget and heal. They don’t need me confused as I try to have a relationship with them. I will say and do something stupid, by accident, and possibly intentionally at the time, if I am completely honest with myself… and they sure don’t deserve that. Two wrongs have never made a right. (Sorry about the cliché, but it conveys so much.) Nor will I put myself in that predicament.

Needless to say, I am in the process of trying to heal, but frankly have no idea where to turn or how to go about that. Or, maybe I should have said that in the past tense. I had no idea where to turn and how no idea to go about the process of healing. I do now, but again, I will get there in a moment.

The fact I allowed myself to be hurt like that, when it is in their nature, gave me a muchly needed wakeup call. That was when I realized how my blogging and writing are proof that something is off with me, and allowing the hurt is more proof. I have not been able to commit to one style of writing. I even started to ask, am I supposed to even be a writer? Have I been spinning my wheels, getting nowhere, for nothing? Have I been fooling myself? Was it wishful thinking? Consequently, I took a step back.

That was when I started to do something I should have done all along. I analyzed my life and where I am and where I will end up if I keep heading in this direction. I’m talking as a person, as well as a Christian, as a blogger, as a writer, and as a journal keeper. I didn’t care for what I saw. I am a scatterbrain who commits to not much but my marriage. I want to commit to my blogging and writing, but nothing ever lasts. I get an idea and the moment the wind shifts, I give up the idea and switch to the latest, greatest, this is it idea. None of this is fair to any of the readers of the blog or my writing.

So, what can I commit to anyway? What is holding me back from making the commitment?

One thing I realized is as much as I try to pray, I really don’t. I hope that makes sense, or will after a few blog posts (or should I say blog post confessionals). I pray, but again, I haven’t really, truly, totally, completely committed. (Yes. I used all of those synonyms to stress how lost I am with my praying life.) Like my blogging and writing life. Like my Bible reading and study as well.

Short of wanting to bury myself in a hole, or at least under the covers of my bed in shame, I realized that it was with my prayer and Word life I needed to start to commit. Really commit. Never give up or stop commit.

If my prayer life and Word life are nothing they should be, wouldn’t it stand to reason that the rest of the facets of my life would be out of kilter as well? After all, nothing is more important than my prayer and Bible life. And, I mean nothing. But, my life sure has been a sorrowful poor example of this, if I were to stop and be honest. Sure, I might do well for a couple of days or weeks, but it wouldn’t last. It never did. And, it never will unless I do something I have never done before.

So, what on earth does that look like? I couldn’t help but wonder.

And, I ever dreamed the answer would be what it is. (I sure do love it when He surprised me like He has the tendency to do.)

I realize now that I look back on things, God has been trying to point me in this direction all along, but I never imagined it would be in this manner.

I realized how I put too many expectations on prayer. Do all of us do this or is it just me? And, in my effort of placing all of these expectations on prayer, it would stop me from praying. It would stifle me and make me not want to pray. Too many expectations on prayer would stop any of us from praying as we should or could.

Now, it starts. (Just wait. You will see what I mean. I just made the switch form narrative to prayer.)

I realize the main thing about prayer is to turn our hearts and minds toward You, Lord… and talk with You, and listen, and pray Your Word. Praying Your Word is the main answer to every question, problem, dilemma, confusion, expectation, etc. with prayer.

No. Scratch that. Praying the Word is the answer for everything… not just prayer.

Literally.

Don’t know what to pray or how, pray what you read in the Bible, which is Your Word, Lord. Think your prayers are silly or immature? Pray the Holy Bible. Want to pray more powerful prayers? Pray the Word. What to pray without ceasing? Pray the Bible. Want to count your blessings and worship God by giving thanks? Pray the Word of God.

Just open the Bible and pray whatever you read. Pray the Bible. It really is that simple.

Thank You, Lord, for simplifying things. I oftentimes make things far more complicated than they need to be. This makes it something I can do, even when I am not thinking straight, and even when I am.

This is what I am focusing my entire life on now, is praying through the Bible. I will also focus all of my blogging and writing on this. And, this will not change. It cannot. There is too much at stake.

Just wait until the next blog post. That’s when things will come together and it will bless your socks off! I guarantee it. God is good that way.

Pray through the Bible. This is the answer. 

The Gift of Faith in a Stormy Morning: An AHA Moment

The Gift of Faith in a Stormy Morning: An AHA Moment

Original Title for this Post: Is It a Hit Rewind or Fast Forward Type of Morning?: News and Grief: The Bible and Prayer

Secondary Title: A Personal Prayer, Blessing, Bible Journal Entry (2014-09-05 09:18:19, Fri.)

NOTE TO READER: If you journal, this entry is one I hope inspires you in every sentence to journal your thoughts and response. If you are a writer, I hope it inspires you to write a book. 

This is one of those journaling and blog entries in which I am not sure what to title. It's jammed back with several nuggets, treasures, AHA moments, powerful and moving material, and my emotional and thoughtful response. 

REWIND OR FAST FORWARD?

Sometimes, I cannot help but wonder if I want a do-over (rewind) or if I should fast forward a couple of hours and start there instead. This morning has been one of those days. It hasn't been a great morning by any stretch of the imagination. 

I'm not sure if God is allowing this yuck to happen to my husband and I, knowing we'd be faithful. Thinking of Job here and: 

Job 1:6-12 New Century Version (NCV)

6 One day the angels came to show themselves before the Lord, and Satan was with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been wandering around the earth, going back and forth in it.”

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil.”

9 But Satan answered the Lord, “Job honors God for a good reason. 10 You have put a wall around him, his family, and everything he owns. You have blessed the things he has done. His flocks and herds are so large they almost cover the land. 11 But reach out your hand and destroy everything he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “All right, then. Everything Job has is in your power, but you must not touch Job himself.” Then Satan left the Lord’s presence.

New Century Version (NCV)

The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. (Blessing 729)

Or, if God is giving us answers that where we thought He was leading is not really the place.

Or, if it was just a bad morning, where we have the choice to allow it to get to us--or rise above. 

PRAYER

I guess time will tell. Regardless, I know I am in desperate need to snuggle in with the Word and You, Lord. I know You are always, without fail, the answer. I also know You have perfect plans and perfect timing. I trust in all You do--and in what You allow. Nothing escapes Your notice--and nothing can take Your presence from me. You are my all in all. You have never failed us yet. Never. I hope, trust, have faith in, and place my total confidence in You.

You are my Rock, my Firm Foundation, my Strength, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are my Savior, Rescuer, Daddy, Teacher, Friend. 

To You alone be the glory!

Blessing 730 Thank You for my absolute confidence in You, even when I feel unsteady. 

NEWS AND GRIEF

I also read several news articles online about ISIS and Christians in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, the Middle East--and that added to my blahness this morning. 

Two American journalists were executed. Beheaded. Murdered. And, our government has not responded accordingly. This really bothers me.

Christians are having to flee from their homes of CENTURIES--and the world isn't responding. The USA isn't responding. Christians aren't responding. 

This bothers me. 

I am beyond disturbed. I am outraged. I am righteously indignant. Angry.

And, I am sad. 

Hence, I know what all of this means today. I am grieving. I am grieving about some news B (my husband) and I received first thing this morning. I am grieving because of the two Americans. I am grieving for Christians in the Middle East.

And, I am also grieving--furious--sad--horrified--stunned over this:

Fox News Headline: "Top CIA officer in Benghazi delayed response to terrorist attack, US security team members claim"

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/09/05/top-cia-official-in-benghazi-delayed-response-to-terrorist-attack-us-security/

Please, I beg of you. Do not look at the link and then skip over it. Read every word of the link. Please. It's important. 

So, yes. I am outraged. Sad. 

And, it's more than the American govenment that has me grieving. It's the American people. And, it's Christians in particular.

THE EASY WAY IS NOT THE BEST WAY

And, another thought and question keeps coming to mind through this: 

Why do most of us think the best way is the easy way? 

I cannot name one instance in my life where the best way has been the short or the easy way. Not one. 

And, the easy way goes against everything the Bible tells us to do. Everything. It's the wrong way. It's also usually intentional sin that makes us travel the easy path. 

(Again, looking in the mirror. Not casting stones. The first one would be aimed at myself. This is a reminder to me--especially after this morning.) 

BRING IT ALL AROUND FULL-CIRCLE

So, do I hit rewind or fast forward on this day? 

Look at the Verse of the Day on BibleGateway.com:

Matthew 28:18-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

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. (731)

All nations. 

The USA included.

The Middle East included. 

ALL nations. 

Christians, how are we bringing about this in our world today? In our home? On our block? In our city? In our state? In our region? In our country? In the Middle East? In our world? 

How are we doing this individually, in our personal church, and in the church as a whole? 

DAILY BIBLE READING 

I need to read my readings from Friday 8/29/2014 through today. It looks like I need to read Psalms 143-147 and 1 Corinthians 10:19-1 Corinthians 15:28

Psalm 143:4-10 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

4 That is why I begin to lose hope
    and my heart is in a state of shock.

5 I remember the days long ago.
    I reflect on all that you have done.
    I carefully consider what your hands have made.
6 I stretch out my hands to you in prayer.
    Like parched land, my soul thirsts for you. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord.
    My spirit is worn out.
    Do not hide your face from me,
    or I will be like those who go into the pit.
8 Let me hear about your mercy in the morning,
    because I trust you.
    Let me know the way that I should go,
    because I long for you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord.
    I come to you for protection.

10 Teach me to do your will, because you are my God.
    May your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. (732)

Amen and amen! These verses really speak to me right now. Thank You Lord for each of those verses--and for showing them to me at this time. (733)

Lord, my mind is all over the place. Help me to focus on You. 

This reminds me of some verses from yesterday I said I wanted to ponder, contemplate, pray, and think on for a while. 

So, the following verses and Psalm 143:5 are verses I want to keep turning to today, this weekend, and as long as I feel pressed to do so. 

Psalm 141:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

A Davidic psalm.

1 Lord, I call on You; hurry to help me.
Listen to my voice when I call on You.
2 May my prayer be set before You as incense,
the raising of my hands as the evening offering.

3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips.
4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing
or perform wicked acts
with men who commit sin.
Do not let me feast on their delicacies.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved. (725) (733)

Blessing 734 All of Psalm 145.

Psalm 145:2-5 Expanded Bible (EXB)

2 I will ·praise [bless] you every day;
    I will praise ·you [L your name] forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and ·worthy of our praise [greatly to be praised; 48:1];
    ·no one can understand how great he is [L there is no searching out/limit to his greatness].

4 ·Parents [L A generation] will ·tell their children [L praise to a generation] what you have done.
    They will ·retell [proclaim] your mighty acts,
5 ·wonderful majesty, and glory [L and the majestic glory of your splendor; C God’s manifest presence].
    And I will ·think about [meditate on] your ·miracles [wonderful works].

Expanded Bible (EXB)

The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved. (735)

Another passage to think on for a while--and pray.

736 and 737 Friends--blessings. 

2014-09-05 10:34:46-- I am marking this time for a moment. A big AHA moment just occurred for me and I am wiping tears of joy from my face (738). It came from this passage:

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. (739)

Every individual, who is a Christ-Follower, is given at least one gift by God and sometimes more. Sometimes, a person may have the same gift for all of their lives. Other times, we may have different gifts for different seasons, which I think is far more common.

It's been a while since I visited the 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 passages, as well as others about the gifts of the Spirit. I just read them once. Then, God told me to read through them prayerfully to see if any applied to me and my life. So, I did. (Oh, boy, did I!)

What the Lord revealed to me has me in tears again, and several times since I read it, and it's just been a few short minutes.

It's verse 9, part a... The part about 'faith' that spoke to me, and speaks to me, so clearly. 

Crystal clear.

Four by four over the head clear (bigger than a two by four, mind you).

Flashing neon sign clear.

I now have been given this spiritual gift--the Gift of Faith.

It has come with a high cost of life experience.

Receiving this gift has been a journey. It wasn't something God just bestowed upon me overnight. He grew me into it. This journey has brought me great anguish throughout the course of my life. And, it's brought out the worst in me at times. It's also brought out the best in me at other times.  

Blessing 740 1 Corinthians 12:9a. The Gift of the Spirit of Faith. FAITH.

The last two years or so have been full of many a storm. Many heartaches. Many times of great concern. Periods of mild depression and even anxiety (all self-induced, mind you). The blows seem to keep coming. And coming. And coming. (Today is no exception.)

And, I will not sugar coat or deny something. The period of life, and the choices my husband and I are facing, and the vast and great unknowns, is difficult on the best day.

But, through the course of the last two years. Through the last year. Through the last six months. Through the last couple of weeks. Through this week. Through today... Through it all I have known this:

God has perfect plans, perfect timing, perfect power and control. He's got this. 

Over the last two years, I have known this firmly and strongly. I've been able to shout it from the mountain tops and whisper it deep in my soul. GOD IS IN CONTROL. He will never fail me. He never has, never will. He's got this. 

I always hoped to have a strong faith. I prayed for it. I longed for it. I even doubted if I would ever get it. But, here it is. I have faith. 

No, that's not true. I have FAITH. Underscore. Bold. Italics. Shouted. Whispered. Cheered. Danced. Cried with joy. Given thanks. Counted blessings. 

I have faith. 

And, now I know where I got it. It was not through anything I've done or haven't done. It's only by the grace and blessing of God. It's only through the Spirit's Gift of Faith that I have it. 

Faith.

Faith, faith, faith. 

I approach the throne with confidence.

I do not need to see the way illuminated. I know He will direct my steps for me, for they are His steps. 

I do not need to know why-- except in this regard: Why me--and not someone else? How has He gifted me to handle this? And, why now and not another time? And, what lessons are to be learned and shared?

I just trust. It's an absolute blind faith most of the time (Hebrews 11:1)--and I'm okay with that. How am I? Because of what He does through it. He accomplished His purposes and is given glory. Does anything else matter? Really? No. It does not. 

Wow. Wonder of wonders.

Thank You, Lord. (741) Thank You for the Gift of Faith. Given by You alone--and not through anything I've done or haven't done. To You be the glory.

1 Corinthians 12:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

9 to another, faith by the same Spirit,
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved. (742)

Here is a link for research on 1 Corinthians 12:9:

http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-9.htm

I am confident, and have full faith, in His blessing. A blessing is how He shows favor. It's how He reveals His glory.  That He will answer ALL prayers. Without fail. 

And, this link:

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_corinthians/12-9.htm

I am absolutely confident in the promises of God. In the Word of God. 

I have a faith in You, Lord, that is deeper than I've ever known. I trust in You without fail. 

I amy not see where You are leading. I may not know when, where, or how. But, I know You will lead me and direct my steps. I do not need to see. I know that I know that I know You are in control. I just need to remain in You and in Your Word. 

FULL CIRCLE ROUND TWO

Now I see why this morning, and this week, and this month... etc. have been so stormy. I can see clearly now. It was for this. For this. Echoing. FOR this. For THIS. FOR THIS. 

It was so I could see You have given me the Gift of the Spirit of Faith--for such a time as this. 

Now that I know this, what now? That is the question. Lord, please guide me. I'm Yours. 

To You be all glory, honor, and praise-forever and ever.

I--have--faith. 

Counting My Blessings for My Marriage

When my husband, B and I married, we didn't do the traditional marriage vows. However, we sure thought of them and still do to this day. The part "for better and for worse" part, along with the "love keeps no record of wrongs" and "love bears all" parts in 1 Corinthians 13 meant and mean something to us.

Words have meaning. Each word does.

We dissected the traditional wedding vows and the love verses to make sure we would live by them before we ever got married. And, we still reflect on them today. 'Are we living them?' is a question we constantly ask ourselves.

B and I made a vow to one another and to God. We know our marriage is a reflection of our relationship with the Lord.

We take our marriage seriously. It's not something that's flippant.

When we go through the hard times in life, which there are plenty, we cling to one another and to God. We do not allow division between us--B and I and God. We know that it takes all three to make this thing called life work, plus our marriage.

The little stuff in life, we keep little. We do not make a mountain out of a molehill. (Sorry to use a cliche. But, again, words have meaning--and this best illustrates the point I'm trying to make.) We have gone through so much in a few years past a decade--and we've learned to take things in stride. It does not help anything, or make things easier, to throw a fit, fight, and have division in our marriage when life sends us a challenge. (How ridiculous is that?)

Our challenges grow us.

Marriage is meant to help carry one another's burdens and that sure makes things easier and more meaningful.

We have a good marriage because it's something we work on. We make it worth the effort. We refuse to hold the past against one another and to try to make the best of our situation, one another, our faith, and our marriage today.

In our marriage, there is a word we try to never use. "I." Rather, it's "We." Marriage cannot ever be self-serving. It has to be we-centered. and, by golly, God better be the first in the equation on both parts.

Marriage takes on a whole new level when you live in this manner: "Always give thanks--no matter what." Always give thanks, even for the challenges. Always give thanks to one another. Always give thanks how life is a journey meant to be shared together. Always give thanks--for God is the reason for everything. It is, after all, all about Him--and not about us.

God, thank You for helping us center our marriage on You, not on each other, and surely not on circumstances or emotion.

Lord, thank You for all the bends in the road, the life challenges You've sent our way over the last few weeks, never mind the last two years. To YOU be the glory in all of it. It's all about You and Your perfect plan.

(Top image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)

Life's Difficulties and Challenges: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Life's Difficulties and Challenges: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 / The Message (MSG)
3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. 

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

Psalm 91: A Psalm for Life's Challenges and for Perspective

Read it here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+91&version=MSG

A Warning to Journalkeepers: Keep Journaling and Be Blessed

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

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

Or, journaling might lose its appeal for a while.

Or, you might get too busy to journal. 

Tragedy also might happen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep journaling.

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

Give your journal a chance.

Give us a chance.

And, great things will happen. 

They really will. You will be greatly blessed. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper