Lord, teach me how to pray

There are times I do not know what to pray because I am so stunned by what has happened. But, there is something far more prevalent in keeping me from praying as I want or should. I am not sure I really, truly, fully, deeply know how to pray. Or, at least I am scared that I don't. Therefore, I doubt if it would hurt if I prayed this prayer: Lord, teach me how to pray.
Almighty God and Holy One, if I am realistic, I do not think it is ever possible to learn enough on how to pray to You and communicate with You, the Eternal One and All-Powerful One.
And, I want to learn and know more about prayer just in general. I want to
Luke 11:1 Expanded Bible (EXB)
11 One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his ·followers [disciples] said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his ·followers [disciples].”
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Lord, teach me how to pray without ceasing for those touched by terror and for the terrorists. Show me how. Give me the words and remind me to pray about these things. Guide me.
Teach me how to stand in the gap and be a watchman in prayer aobut terrorism.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Messiah and Lord, my Redeemer and Strength, I pray that You bring each terrorist to believe in Jesus Christ--and if not, that You bring justice.
Thank You, my Rock and Refuge, for being the One who saves and that it isn't up to me to make or force someone to believe. Thank You for being all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, so You do not depend on me to bring people to believe--nor do You depend on me to bring You justice. You do all of that just fine on Your own. You are the One True God and You do not depend on man for anything.
Lord, help the wicked to know that there is a better way. In fact, there is only one true way.
John 14:1-7 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
-- 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.
Lord, help terrorists to learn and believe in John 14:6.
There is something else that is strongly on my mind and in my heart right now, Lord. Protect people, in Brussels and anywhere else there is a plan of a terror attack. Put a hedge of protection around them.
Lord! You just spoke to me and made my prayer book aobut how to pray about terrorism very clear. You said that this is to be a book about "Spiritual Warfare Prayer and the War on Terror." Period. End of story.

Prayer Focus: Praying for the world and about terrorism

Saturday, November 21, 2015
Last night as I tried to fall asleep, I prayed. As I prayed, this came to me:
Lord, the world seems like it's falling apart at the seams. I realize there is nothing new under the sun as it says here:
Ecclesiastes 1:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
The world turmoil is not new. We just know more about it because of the internet and social media. (For instance, when hearing about breaking news, social media is usually the best way to find out information because social media posts in real-time. That being said, you have to know most of the information is marginally true and is subjective, so you have to filter it for the facts later.)
Lord, none of this is a surprise to You. However, Lord, it is a surprise to me. It hurts knowing the suffering of people. I wish I could go give them a hug and just be there for them. I pray instead and I realize well this is best anyway. Prayer offers them more than anything or anyone of this world.
The world is in turmoil and seems so... ugly... Bleak. Hurtful and hurting. Busy. Lost. Confused. Angry. Sad. There are so many challenges and so much ugliness, God. We are all trying to find our own way and are trying to find some beauty and at least one blessing to count. First, there was Paris. Then, Mali. Then, now, there is a threat in Brussels. They are in lockdown and are on alert. Americans are told to leave there or not to go there.
Lord, so much ugliness in this world.
Where is the beauty? Where is the light in this dark mixed up world?
Wait. We are all looking inside of ourselves, and all around, so we are not looking where we should. We should look for You. We should seek Your face. You are eve good, beautiful, and light. You are our only hope.
As our hearts break...
As we learn of more ugliness...
As we crave beauty in this muck...
We should look for You. Search for You. See You alone. You will never fail us and always want what is best for us. You are our one and only true and absolute hope.
We should also remember how You have a purpose for and in everything.
Acts 17:27 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Lord, I wish You didn't have to get my attention with events and circumstances. I wish I turned to You first and foremost... and I wish I stood in the gap and on watch without having to remind me and get my attention. Help me to remain focused on looking for You in all I do, think, feel, and say. You alone, Lord. In these times... You first and You alone. The world will fail me every time and is a man versus man world. You are the only sure foundation.
Isaiah 28:16 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,
    a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
    Whoever believes need never be shaken.
-- 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.
I should search for You, seek You and Your face, at all times. Yes, Father, in the times of sunshine, clouds, rain, snow, and storm, we should seek You and Your face. First and always. For, when we do, You reward us and bless us.
Matthew 6:31-34 New Living Translation (NLT)
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
-- 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.
Another terror attack? We should not worry. We should pray instead.
Lord, it is sometimes difficult to look for You in this vile and mixed up world at times that leads only to trouble. People are so self-centered they forget about You or are so focused on self they have never known You at all.
Psalm 53:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
For the choir director: on Mahalath. A Davidic Maskil.
1 The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.”
They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Lord, help me be the one. Help me be the one who seeks You first. Help me be the one who stands in the gap. Help me seek You every moment. Help to stand on watch.
But, Lord... all of this can be difficult at best. I cannot possibly do any of this, let alone all of it without You.
First, Paris, then terror attacks in Israel, then in Mali, and now Brussels is on high alert. People are dying. People are being murdered because of a difference in belief and a difference in a way of life. Ouch. There's so much tumult and turmoil... I feel like I am drowning in this sea of ugliness. Therefore...
Psalm 63:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Davidic psalm. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
1 God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
2 So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.
3 My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.
4 So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
I long for stability in this topsy-turvy world. I know that it's only found in You.
Lord, I know it isn't just me who struggles with these things and is grasping at anything to make sense of things and in order to stop myself from drowning in this sea of terror, never mind everyday life.
God, I realize that the fact that I am finding so much ugliness means in part that the terrorists are getting what they want. They want to disrupt lives. They want to cause terror and incite a war. I ahve fallen into that trap. That is why I should seek You first, always, and alone, so I do not fall into their trap and get my eyes off the prize.
Philippians 3:13-14 Expanded Bible (EXB)
13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not ·yet reached that goal [taken hold of it], but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the ·past [L things that are behind] and ·straining toward [stretching/reaching forward to] what is ahead, 14 I keep ·trying to reach [pursuing; chasing] the goal and get the prize for which God called me ·to the life above [heavenward; L upward] ·through [or in] Christ Jesus.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
My goal should be to focus on heaven, not on the things of this earth. The things of this earth are only temporary. Heaven is eternal.
Colossians 3:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
-- 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.
Help all of us to turn to You and seek You. Helps us all to pray for what we should, when we should, in all things, for all things, and at all times.
I pray this for myself and for everyone who has been touched by terror the last few decades:
Psalm 91 New King James Version (NKJV)
91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
-- New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
///

Love, prayer, and terrorism

(Prayer about terror, standing in the gap, acting as a watchman for prayer)
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Here is a passage of scripture that separates Christians and terrorists:
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Ephesians 3:17-19 Expanded Bible (EXB)
17 I pray that Christ will ·live [make his home] in your hearts by faith and that your life will be ·strong in love and be built on love [L rooted and grounded in love]. 18 And I pray that you and all ·God’s holy people [T the saints] will have the power to ·understand [comprehend; grasp] the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is ·greater than anyone can ever know [beyond comprehension/knowledge], but I pray that you will be able to know that love. ·Then [L …so that] you can be filled with the fullness of God.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
///
The only way we can fully know love is through knowing Jesus Christ. His life is a representation of God's love.
If we know Jesus, we know love. True love. Unconditional love.
And, God expects us to show others this love.
This is what the terrorists lack. True, unconditional love.
Christianity is based on the love of God.
///
John 3:16-18 Expanded Bible (EXB)
16 “[L For] God loved the world so much that he gave his ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 1:14, 18] Son so that whoever believes in him may not ·be lost [T perish], but have eternal life. 17 [L For; Indeed] God did not send his Son into the world to ·judge the world guilty [condemn the world], but to save the world through him. 18 People who believe in God’s Son are not ·judged guilty [condemned]. Those who do not believe have already been ·judged guilty [condemned], because they have not believed in [L the name of] God’s ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 3:16] Son.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
///
If you do not know Jesus, these verses mentioned throughout this blog post will not make sense. See the following verse for an explanation:
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1 Corinthians 2:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
-- New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
///
Here is a more simplistic version of the previous passage:
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John 3:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
-- 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.
///
Here is a more simplistic version of the earlier passage:
///
Ephesians 3:16-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
///
Our God is Love. And, He expects us to make love our focus--not judgment. (Also, He is the only one who judges. We do not.) Christianity is centered on love.
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Matthew 22:37-39 New Living Translation (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
-- 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.
///
Nowhere does the Bible say we are to judge other Christians. Nor does it say that we are to judge those who are Christians.
///
Matthew 7:2-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
///
God does not tell us to murder other Christians we disagree with. Terrorists will murder, and have, others of their own faith who do not have the same faith and belief as their own. They do not believe in the saying: "Let's agree to disagree."
///
Lord, help me to take all of these verses to heart and think on them so I can apply them to my life. Help me to fully grasp these verses. Then, I can pray more about terrorism and for terrorists. Help me to know You and Your love so much that it helps me to pray about terrorism, Father.
Lord, help me to fully, completely grasp and understand Your love. Help those touched by terrorism to know your love as well. Help this world to know Your love today--not tomorrow. Today and tomorrow even.
The love of Christ is perfect. The love He has for us and the love we have for Him. To know Christ is to know love. Without Jesus Christ, there is no love. There's false love and shallow love, but not true, deep, unconditional, eternal love.
Lord, help those touched by terrorism to know love through what they are going through. Help them know that circumstances and feelings cannot diminish Your love one millimeter. Love is beyond emotion and circumstance.
///
1 John 4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. 3 But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.
4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.
13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because He first loved us.
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
///
Lord, I pray all of these verses and will keep praying them for those touched by terrorism and I pray this for those who do not believe--that they may know Jesus and these verses.
///

Marriage Journaling #002

There is only one person you can control.
There is also only one person you can change.
You.
I learned long ago that if I ever feel frustrated, upset, insecure, unfulfilled, or stressed about my marriage, the very first thing I should do is work on me. I work on myself. I do what I can to find contentment with the Lord, and then suddenly, like a magic word or potion, my marriage ends up being better and even my husband starts to feel the same way--content.
It's a magic formula. If your marriage is out if sorts in any way, get in the Bible, pray a lot, and journal about your Bible reading and prayers, and then, POOF! Your marriage will take on new growth and life. It stokes the flame, so to speak.
Always look at self first and foremost. This is the only true place of real change that can be achieved.
And, always remember: Our earthly marriage is a represent of our relationship with the Lord.
When we remember that, we will see our marriage in a whole new light and will act on it.
Journal your thoughts.
A marriage journaling prompt or exercise: How can you draw nearer to the Lord and His Word today--and through doing so, growing your marriage and deepening it?

A New Blog Post Series (Marriage Journaling #001.)

TYPES OF JOURNALING
There are several different types of journaling will list a few in just a moment.
I do several different types of journaling each day, each week, each month, etc. Most weeks, though, I use the following (not in any particular order):
1 The Box Journal: It's the one I capture all of it in, collect, and sort through later.
2 Blessings Counting Journaling
3 Idea Journaling
4 Memory Mining Journaling
5 Dream or Goal Journaling
6 Nature Journaling
7 Observation Journaling
8 Biblical, Christian, Prayer, and/or S.O.A.P. Journaling
9 Review Journaling
10 SOC (Stream of Consciousness) Journaling
12 News or Current Events Journaling
13 Reading Journaling
14 Photo Journaling
15 Marriage Journaling
In time, I hope to address all of these in a blog post series and then turn it into a short book. So, stay tuned.
The type of journaling I want to begin with is:
Marriage Journaling:
Capturing your story as a couple on the page
Our marriage is the most important relationship in our lives, hence we should devote time to journal about our marriage each and every day. However, it should be in counting our blessings in our marriage, and not our or their pitfalls.
Love is a choice and is a verb.
It is far more, far deeper than an emotion. An emotion is short-lived and blows with the wind.
Love is anchored by choice and intentionality. This is what makes a marriage last the distance.
Let's journal about our marriages and see if we can deepen the footing of our anchors. Let's do some marriage journaling.
Shall we begin?
~*~
A DAILY MARRIAGE JOURNALING TEMPLATE
Each day, do or answer the following:
At least three memories you've made as a couple:
1
2
3
Three current blessings you count in your spouse and marriage:
1
2
3
Three past blessings you count in your spouse and marriage:
1
2
3
~*~
IT'S YOUR TURN: A MARRIAGE JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
Do the daily template at this time.

00002. Journaling Through Romans. Romans 1:1-2. Word of the Day.

MORNING
{Written 04.24.2015. 0938 a.m.}

Good morning, Lord.

I have no idea on where to begin with words, forming a prayer to You right now, in the midst of this thing called life. My mom is taking her cat to an emergency vet appointment this morning. It is troublesome. Yesterday, we had a scare and a vet appointment with our old ferral cat who found us in September 2014, Kara, and we are waiting for test results on Monday. Thank You, Lord, for trusting us with your precious ones.

And, as we are in a new holocaust. A current holocaust. Even a Christian holocaust. And, Christians and the Church are silent. Beheadings and executions... women and girls being sold into sex slavery to fund terrorism... Christianity is being wiped out of the Middle East... and Christians are silent... and the Church is silent... and Christians authors and bloggers are silent... And, I am furious! Wake up, Christ Followers. Take a stand. Stop being silent. Speak! Contact your government officials and tell them to get serious about stopping this holocaust.

Then, I remember something. God, You have this. This is not a surprise to You. That helps.
But, nowhere do You say in Your Word not to stand up for and pray and give voice to the persecuted, Christians or not. All those terrorists want dead and annihilated because of differing beliefs.

Cats... Terrorism... Government scandals of Hillary Clinton...

Oops. That last part got me riled all the more.

There is one thing I have in spite of all this. Hope. Absolute, unfailing hope. My hope is found in You alone.

For example:

~*~

1 Peter 1:18-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

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

~*~

In spite of the tough moments and parts of life, there is great, perfect, never-ending hope. Life might falter and fail me at points, but You, Lord, never do. Never, ever. Have never. I have hope because of You. You are love (1 John 4:7-8) and You love. Your love, Lord, never ends. I have this promise in the following verses, Verse 8 in particular:

~*~

1 Corinthians 13:7-9 Expanded Bible (EXB)

7 Love ·patiently accepts all things [T bears all things; or always protects], ·always trusts [T believes all things], ·always hopes [T hopes all things], and ·always endures[T endures all things].
8 Love never ·ends [fails; falls short]. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will ·be ended [cease; pass away]. There are gifts of ·speaking in different languages [or ecstatic utterance; L tongues], but those gifts will ·stop [cease; fall silent]. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will ·come to an end [pass away; be set aside]. 9 ·The reason is that [For] ·our knowledge and our ability to prophesy are not perfect [L we know in part/imperfectly and we prophesy in part/incompletely].

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

~*~

Lord, please help mom and her cat... and the vet and the veterinary team...

I pray about Kara's tests results consult on Monday...

Now, let me get to the hope of Your Word and being with You in Your Word.

~*~

Psalm 19:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,(A)
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.(B)

Cross references:
19:14 : Ps 104:3419:14 : Ps 78:35

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

Original source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+19%3A14&version=HCSB

~*~

CROSS-REFERENCE OF PSALM 19:14

Psalm 104:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the Lord.
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.

~*~

WORD OF THE DAY
Today, I am focused, and am focusing, on these verses:

~*~

Romans 1:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

God's Good News for Rome

1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle [a](A)and singled out(B) for God's good news(C)— 2 which He promised long ago(D) through His prophets(E) in the Holy Scriptures—

Footnotes:
Romans 1:1 Or Jesus, a called apostle

Cross references:
1:1 : 1Co 1:1; 9:1; 2Co 1:11:1 : Ac 9:15; 13:2; Gl 1:151:1 : Mk 1:141:2 : Ti 1:21:2 : Lk 1:70; Rm 3:21; 16:26

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

Original Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom+1%3A1-2&version=HCSB

~*~

EXPLANATION

I may or may not journal about everything right now. But, I want to get information here to journal more about later. I want to get it all on the page, so I can remember. I am limited on time to journal as much as I want or need, but I sure try to think on these things throughout my day and night.

The cross-references mentioned in this journaling entry, along with all of the Bible verses listed today and yesterday, are all things I want to interact with, but I am limited on time at the moment, but will return to this and will review each journal entry in the future and will journal about it, so I can go even deeper and remember.

~*~

BLOG TO BOOK

I will edit all of these entries, add to them, and will then publish them in book form. So, pardon if there are some errors, or if things do not make sense like they could or should. Also, this is my journaling. My grammar will be lousy. It is a journal, after all, and is meant to go deep, not grammar savvy. And, I will not edit that out. It is how I converse with the Lord and go deeper and seek meaning.

Now, back to the text.

~*~

ROMANS 1:1-2

1118 a.m.

Text: Paul... a slave of Jesus Christ.

My Prayer Journal (PJ): Lord, what does this really mean and look like in real life? Paul, if anyone, made this a way off life and lifestyle. Lord, He loved You this much He was able to think and act as Your servant.

I want to put You first in all I do, think, and feel. I want You and Your Word to be my priority.
Text: Paul was called...

PJ: Lord, You have a purpose for everyone and call everyone. That purpose is to bring You glory.

How do You want me to bring You glory? What is my calling today and in the future?
Have I found it?

Is it to Journal the Word and make it real to all... Christians and those who are not? To show the hope of Jesus Christ, which is something no other religion offers?

Journaling is my passion. And, so is pondering, contemplating, thinking on Your Word. And, so is figuring out what Your Word, the ancient text, means today. Put all of that together and it makes sense this is my calling.

But, is it really? Or is it just what I hope?

Guide me, Abba. Instruct me. Help me to hear You early about this.

~*~*~*~*~

‘American Sniper’ Wife Taya Kyle’s Anniversary Note to Her Late Husband Goes Much Deeper Than Love

http://www.ijreview.com/2015/03/274118-american-sniper-wife-tara-kyles-anniversary-note-late-husband-goes-much-deeper-love/?source=EMshare

Beautiful.

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease

Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Adoption

Adoption
2014-09-28 16:06:28, Sunday

My husband, B, nor I realized it at the time, but we were adopted one week ago today. A feral kitten appeared in our just opened garage and won B's heart when he found it. Then, he introduced the kitten and me. It was the most adorable and loving little one.

Monday through Wednesday, the kitten made repeat visits (probably because of the food and water we set out Sunday afternoon for the malnourished little one). Over that time, I figured out it was a girl, she was deaf, and was clawless on her front paws. Never mind how she was malnourished. There was no way she would survive on her own. She couldn't defend herself and how would she catch food? Never mind how winter is approaching.

Therefore, as of her Thursday appearance, she has found a permanent home with us, but is in a temporary home in our garage as we socialize her so we can take her to the vet for a check-up and shots.

Her name is Kara (Kare-uh). It means "friend" in Turkish.

She no longer has to sleep with her head up in the air, alert for danger. As of this afternoon, she no longer pigs out immediately on the wet food we set down for her. She does not know hunger any more. Her little tummy is plump, but her sides are still hollow. They are slightly filling out, but it is slow in coming. She is safe and protected and she knows it. Her life has drastically changed.

Every time B and I see her, she is more social and experiments with us to see what she can do to us and with us. She tries different ways to show affection. The kitten has several favorite sleeping places in our garage: dog/cat bed, on top of a paper bag, on the steps, and on a comfy patio chair with thick cushion.

It's truly amazing.

Kara is wild. Feral. A little beast.

Who is also the biggest lover.

By the way, it's quite interesting trying to figure out how to interact with and socialize with a deaf cat who sleeps a lot. How do you approach her? I've learned to pet her and make sure to leave my hand right there for her to smell. The second she knows it me, or B, she perks up, meows, and gets to her feet/paws. Or, is she wakes before we get to her, or if she is already awake, she meows and rushes over to us.

She has learned a whole new life in the last four days.

Kara has gone from feral and homeless to lover and home. Hungry to full. Wild to gentle. Alone to having a family (B, beagle, cat, and two turtles).

The building of a relationship between between B, Kara, and I has been a special and sacred one.

Written: 2014-09-29 12:38:49, Monday

B and I keep doing everything we can do to tell her, through our actions, how we are trustworthy, faithful, and loving. She's responded to every gesture we've made, except for one. She does not like to be picked up. She hisses most of the time when we do.

Consequently, we wonder if she might be bruised on the inside (from either hurting herself or something/someone hurting her) or if Kara had something dramatic happen to her when she was carried. Therefore, we're slowly trying to recondition her. I started off picking her up off of the ground about half an inch and for just a couple of seconds. Now, I can hold her to about three inches off the ground and for about ten seconds. I make sure to pet her and love on her after she allows me to do so--and she gets all excited to receive my affection. Hence, it's a win-win. I just wish she could hear me as I tell her, "Good girl." But, I'm sure she senses it.

I wish she could tell me her story. She does in her own Kara, sweet thing, and girlie way. But, I wish she could speak to me and tell me all about it. Like, who dumped her? When? Who had her declawed? (I personally think this is inhumane. It impacts their every movement the rest of their lives. They are defenseless and cannot walk, jump, climb, like they could. It takes all of three minutes to trim their claws and is quite easy actually.)

Other questions I want to ask her: How old is she? What type of cat is she? Why doesn't she like being carried? What does she want from me/us?

I also wish I could tell her how she was loved and never had to worry about anything again. she'll always have shelter, food, water, and love. I wish I could tell her how sorry I am for whatever she experienced in her past.

Kara talks to us every single time we walk into her haven, the garage. She has the sweetest wildish meow and she tells us how excited she is to have company. She trots over to us and immediately starts to purr. Who knew that someone so small could make so much noise? What an absolute delight!

We can make fast movements and she doesn't flinch. She trust us.

I think she has a very laidback, happy-go-lucky, charming, sweet, gentle, loving, easygoing personality. She's as cool as a cucumber. It's wonderful for us--and for her. But, it makes me even more glad she adopted us because this tenderness wouldn't bode well for her in the wild. Thank God she found us--and we found her.

I cannot help but wonder the story of whoever dumped her. They clearly wanted to love her (she's fixed and declawed). Did they move? Did they figure out she was deaf and didn't know how to handle her?

How could they put her in the wild--so defenseless?

She didn't get out. If that was it, I learned last week how many times she returns, if it's a good home. Also, with how malnourished she is/was, she wasn't fed or taken care of by anyone.

I count our blessings she is so loving and has been from the second B met her. Feral cats and kittens usually aren't that way.

It also amazes me how she doesn't door dart or want to leave the garage. Nor does she try to walk away from us when we visit her in the garage. She knows she has it good where she is and likes us. (Praise God.)

B and I did not want another cat right now. (Let me stress that. We did NOT want another cat right now.) It's too soon. Five animals? That's just plain nuts. We are not a zoo or an animal sanctuary.

Yet, Kara adopted us. She is wild. Feral. But, she loves us and trust us. She had no reason to trust us or love us from the onset, but she did. And, she is a thief--of hearts. She has stolen ours thoroughly, that is for sure.

Kara is a reminder to me of my faith and how I am with God.

{Note: It's 214 p.m. as I sit in the garage on our patio chair and Kara is curled up in a tiny ball, on her paper bag, with her head down, whiskers back, sleeping. She has her guard completely down as we hang.}

The feral cat reminds me how I am wild, too. I am a sinner. I run around and try to do things on my own. I act independent.

{Kara just got up and ran to me for affection. Purred. Then, went back to sit on her bag.}

I act wild and have several deficiencies which could kill me (spiritually). The reality of my situation is I am totally dependent on God. I need Him in order to survive. I need to keep my eyes forever on Him because I cannot always hear Him.

Yes. I have a lot to learn from Kara about faith.

So, who adopted whom?

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

--Stacy Duplease
http://rypstories.blogspot.com/
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

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.)

Love

Journaling helps me love more.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Psalm 63:3

Psalm 63:3

New Living Translation (NLT)

^{3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;}     how I praise you!

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

A Couple's Journaling Chronicle: Part 4

~*~ What do you enjoy about your marriage?

~*~ What special things do you do for your spouse and why?

~*~ What has your favorite Christmas been as a couple?

~*~ Describe your marriage in one word.

~*~ Describe your marriage in one sentence.

~*~ Describe your marriage in one paragraph.

~*~ Describe your marriage in a letter.

~*~ What are your three things of marriage advice would you tell a couple getting married today? Explain.

~*~ What are your three things of marriage advice would you tell a couple getting married today to do? Explain.

~*~ What are your three things of marriage advice would you tell a couple getting married today not to do? Explain.

~*~ What do you love most about your spouse and why?

~*~ How does your spouse make you want to be a better person?

~*~ What plans, goals, and dreams do you have as a couple? What are you doing to bring them to pass? 

~*~ How do you lift one another up?

~*~ How do you compromise as a couple?

~*~ When was the last time you had an extended snuggle session as a couple? 

~*~ What do you enjoy doing for your spouse and why?

~*~ Do you love your spouse warts and all--or do you try to change them? Why?

~*~ Define love. 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

A Couple's Journaling Chronicle: Part 4

~*~ What do you enjoy about your marriage?

~*~ What special things do you do for your spouse and why?

~*~ What has your favorite Christmas been as a couple?

~*~ Describe your marriage in one word.

~*~ Describe your marriage in one sentence.

~*~ Describe your marriage in one paragraph.

~*~ Describe your marriage in a letter.

~*~ What are your three things of marriage advice would you tell a couple getting married today? Explain.

~*~ What are your three things of marriage advice would you tell a couple getting married today to do? Explain.

~*~ What are your three things of marriage advice would you tell a couple getting married today not to do? Explain.

~*~ What do you love most about your spouse and why?

~*~ How does your spouse make you want to be a better person?

~*~ What plans, goals, and dreams do you have as a couple? What are you doing to bring them to pass? 

~*~ How do you lift one another up?

~*~ How do you compromise as a couple?

~*~ When was the last time you had an extended snuggle session as a couple? 

~*~ What do you enjoy doing for your spouse and why?

~*~ Do you love your spouse warts and all--or do you try to change them? Why?

~*~ Define love. 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

A Couple's Journaling Chronicle: Part 3

~*~ What is the most romantic thing you have ever done as a couple?

~*~ List 25 more memories, good and bad, as a couple. Describe why are they important? 

~*~ What do you do for your marriage health and to stay on track?

~*~ What do you do when you get off track as a couple?

~*~ What do you do when you fight? What do you fight about? Why? What do you learn as a couple?

~*~ List 10 reasons why you are grateful for your marriage and explain them. 

~*~ Define marriage.

~*~ What do you for fun?

~*~ What are your favorite pictures as a couple and why?

~*~ How do you make your spouse a better person?

~*~ How does your spouse make you a better person?

~*~ How much do you give to your marriage? What percentage? Your spouse? As a couple? 

~*~ What are your most prized possessions as a couple?

~*~ What have you done for vacation? What memories have you made?

~*~ What restaurants do you go to and why?

~*~ What houses (or other living spaces) have you lived in as a couple? What memories are associated with each?

~*~ List memories you have made in the last month as a couple.

~*~ List memories you have made in the last week as a couple.

~*~ List memories you have made in the last year as a couple.

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

A Couple's Journaling Chronicle: Part 2

Grab your journal ans answer these questions about your relationship. If you can, both of you answer individually and then as a couple. If only one of you is doing this, that is okay, too. What a gift you have to offer your mate. Good for you. 

~*~ Your marriage is the one of the relationships in your life you choose. Your friends are another. Why do you choose to be married to your mate today?

~*~ Why did you choose to marry your mate to begin with?

~*~ What does your marriage mean to you?

~*~ What do you enjoy doing as a couple and why?

~*~ How is your communication as a couple? 

~*~ Have you had any misunderstandings lately? Why? What did you learn from them and how have you applied those lessons to your live and to your marriage?

~*~ What can you do better as a spouse?

~*~ What do you love most about your mate?

~*~ Do you still go on frequent dates? Why or why not? If so, what do you do? If not, make plans to do so.

~*~ Can you sit in silence as a couple? Or do you have to fill in the gaps with noise or talking?

~*~ What was your favorite date?

~*~ Write a letter to your spouse to read the day before you get married about your marriage up to now. Talk about your experiences--good and bad. What would you do differently for them? What would you do more of? What do you treasure most about your mate? Tell your mate why you are marrying them then and why you would do it again today. 

~*~ Write a letter to yourself to read the day before you married about your marriage up to now. Tell lessons learned, what to change, what to do more of, and so on. Say why you should marry your mate. 

~*~ Write wedding vows today. What would they be and why? 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper

A Couple's Journaling Chronicle: Part 1

Welcome to a blog post series on journaling for the memories and lessons learned as a couple. This series is aimed at both members of the couple or just one of you. The point of journaling for you as a couple is because your relationship is one of the most significant parts of your life. Not journaling about your relationship would be like not journaling about your own personal life. Keeping a chronicle of your life story is important. After all, no on else has had the experiences you have, not everyone is like you, and every minute lived is something to cherish. This is true as individuals and as a couple.

If you have not journaled before you might want to look at the blog post series, "365-Days of Journaling Your Story" first. It is an introduction to journaling. (This is just a suggestion.) 

Shall we take a look at couples journaling now? Let's jump right in and see what transpires because of this. It will help you to remember and will help you to not take a moment for granted as a couple. Please grab your journal at this time ans answer the following questions: 

~*~ How did you meet?

~*~ When did you start dating? What did that look like?

~*~ When and how did you get engaged?

~*~ When and how did you get married?

~*~ What do you do to treat every day like Valentine's Day or like your anniversary?

~*~ What are you most grateful for in your relationship with one another?

~*~ List 25 of your most memorable experiences as a couple and what made them memorable.

~*~ What are you doing today to keep your marriage fresh?

~*~ List 10 things you love most about your marriage.

~*~ Are you happy today as a couple (overall and not just today specifically)? Why or why not?

~*~ Do you treat one another as the best thing/person in your life? What does that look like?

~*~ If you could do anything different in your marriage, what would it be?

~*~ If you were to have the ideal marriage, what would that look like? What can you do to bring this to pass?

~*~ List more memories as a couple.

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

Interesting

I just decided, with it almost being Love Day (Valentine's Day) and all, to do a search on Amazon for books on marriage journaling. I do not have books on it and wondered if I have missed some anywhere. Well... I have not missed anything. There is not ONE book on the subject.

I did not find any relationship journals either.

So, I did a search of couple's journaling. Well, I found a couple of journals, but not books on how to journal about your, and for your, marriage. 

Hmm. It is February 8th. Valentine's is around the corner... I will do some blog posts on Marriage Journaling from not until then. stay tuned. 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.com
Blog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction