Showing posts with label Spiritual Memoir. Show all posts

Monday, September 19, 2016

A new journaling entry series

I am going to start a new focus or theme within my journaling. It will be a series of journaling entries, which I turn into blog entries, which will one day be turned into my spiritual memoir. This is where it all starts.

The title of this series is:

"How Going Against the World Has Brought Me Great Joy and Blessing: A spiritual memoir written through journal entries"

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

This Time of Year: A Time of Reflection

This time of year makes me very reflective. I am not sure why, but it does.

Is it because another birthday has passed?

Is it because of Fall and the changing of the seasons?

Is it because Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year are approaching?

Is it because I associate Fall with giving thanks?

Is it because on September 26, 2015, we put our cat Kara to sleep?

Is it because of the second round of IVF failure that happened at this time of year?

Is it because I started using my favorite online journaling program, Penzu, at this time of year?

Is it because I started reading ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp?

Or, is it because of all of the above?

What is it that makes me reflective at this time of year? It is because of all of the above indeed. I have no doubt.

Life is rarely about the "or" situations, but is about the "and" situations.

Hence, I am going to focus on writing and journaling about this:

"A Way of Life: The Faithful Trio of Prayer, Bible, and Thanks"

This is my spiritual memoir told through journal entries.

(Written on September 13, 2016 in the evening.)

Friday, April 3, 2015

My Personal Prayer Journaling 04.02.2015.-04.03.2015.

MY STORY OF HOW I MOVED FROM BEING ANGRY AND SAD TO PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING
This is my personal prayer journaling, which shows how I moved from anger and sadness to praying without ceasing. Only God can change us so much. Only God can give us the proper perspective... His perspective.
Here is the story of angst to submission, from fury to active in prayer:

THE STATE OF AFFAIRS OF OUR WORLD, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE CHURCH:
I am beyond disturbed. Or, more specifically, I was. I have processed through all of this, but let me back up and journal this from my perspective a couple of days ago.
Every time I turn on the news, open my email, or read a blog post, I discover how things keep getting worse in the world, in the U.S., and in the Church as a whole. It frustrates me, saddens me, enrages me, and makes me wonder. Then, I toss and turn in bed and lose sleep.
There is a holocaust going on, where if you do not believe as a terrorist believes, they will torture you, send you into sexual slavery to fund their terrorism, and or murder you. They want everyone who doesn't believe like them annihilated. Destroyed. Silenced. Along with their families.
The Christian Church as a whole is silent.
Christians are silent.
And, this is disturbing.
What would Jesus say or do?
Then, there is a war against Christians in the United States.
The Christian Church as a whole is silent.
Christians are silent.
And, this is disturbing.
What would Jesus say or do?
I am ashamed of Christians and the Church in the U.S. and in the world.
Leaders of the Church, where are your voices? Every sermon, blog, and Bible study right now should be addressing these issues. (Why aren't they?)
Easter services should be cancelled in their present format and these issues should be addressed instead.
Every church and every Christian should talk about these issues. Without fail. Immediately.
If you are Christian and have a blog, you should write about these things immediately. Drop the happy-go-lucky messages and the bookselling and get to the issue at hand. There is a holocaust going on right now. Yes. A holocaust.
Christians were also silent during the holocaust by Hitler. We learned those lessons through our study of history. Right? Wrong. If we did, every Christian would be praying fervently and unceasingly.
No Christian should be in the presence of another and not talk about these things.
Where is the outrage?
Why are Christians silent?
How will you answer God when you die and He asks for accountability of these things?
Jesus never said Christians should be silent. Was Jesus ever silent? Or, did He address the issues immediately and straightforwardly? (Hint: The latter is true.)
The Church and Christians have failed.
Are we going to continue to fail?
Wake up, Christians. Get focus off of self and stuff and get focused on what really matters right now.

WHAT PART HAVE YOU PLAYED?
Then, God asked me, "Stacy, what part have you played?"
Did I hear that correctly? I replayed the question in my mind.
Huh? I think about it for a moment and then I realize--ouch. I have played my own part in this mess... in this current holocaust... and have been silent. I haven't known what to say photo say it. After all, I have not been as informed as I should be. Furthermore, I have not prayed for all of this like I could or should. I am at fault as well.
Ouch. I really need to look in the mirror more often.
So, what can I do, should I do, knowing what I know now? Huh. I prayed about this for a few minutes and then I remembered 2 Chronicles 7:14. I paused. When was the last time I prayed this verse?
Crickets. I heard crickets in response and didn't hear anything. Nothing came to mind. I had no idea whatsoever. Needless to say, I had an answer and realized what I needed to do. Not only should I pray 2Chronicles 7:14, but I should pray it without ceasing.
But, for how long?
Hah! Duh. I felt foolish as the answer came to me.
Without ceasing.
Got it.
Now, what? How?
I looked up the verse.

I WANT TO PRAY, AND LEARN TO PRAY, 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 WITHOUT CEASING

2 Chronicles 7:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
-- New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

More of the story to follow. Stay tuned. This is just the beginning.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Slowly, purposefully meditating, contemplating, and pondering the Word

Friday, March 13, 2015, Personal blessings and prayer journaling

I think one of the greatest errors we make with Your Word today, Lord, is rushing through it so we can check off the box and feel good about ourselves. There. We did it. Now, we can move on and do other (more) important things, or at least that is what our actions say.

Lord, that could be said about me far more often than I care to admit. However, I need to acknowledge this and try to change this.

Through the rushing through Your Word, through a Bible study or a yearly Bible reading, we do a grave disservice to Your Word. In rushing to make the checkmark of "done" in the real or imagined To Do box, we fail to fully think through Your Word. In doing so, we then misunderstand the Word and then fail to apply the Word correctly. We do not allow it to sink in and enjoy it. And, far more importantly, we fail to listen to You (fully) regarding Your Word, the Bible. Through these rushing failures or errors, we miss so much. We miss You and the fullness and abundant life You have planned for us.

Hence, Abba, I hope to glean as much out of the following verse as possible:

Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

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 want to get as much as possible out of this verse, and all others, as possible. I want to make sure I listen to You, fully, about it and not rush off to the next few person, place, thing, or event that steals my attention.

Philippians 4:6 New Century Version (NCV)

6 Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.

New Century Version (NCV)

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

(Edited last on March 16, 2015.)

Sunday, March 15, 2015

My life of prayer and blessing

My prayer journaling about Philippians 4:6:

Lord, thank You for so patiently, and thoroughly, teaching me about this verse:

Philippians 4:6 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
6 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

What I find interesting about Your Word, Lord, is how it takes on far more depth and meaning each time I read it. Philippians 4:6 is a prime example of this. I have read it repeatedly over the last two plus decades, for it is one of my favorites and is one I try to keep in mind and apply (live by). And I can honestly say that the verse means more to me, as far as my understanding, today than it ever has. The beauty is I know how with Your living Word, I will be able to say the same with this verse for the rest of my life. (This also shows why it is so important to be in the Bible and stay in the Bible through reading it repeatedly).

Thank You for this lesson and reminder, Lord. Thank You for the beauty of Your Word.

How is it best to live each day, in every moment? The answer is found here:

Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)
6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
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 wish I lived this verse a great deal more than I do. I wished it became a true way of life and living. If I did, I would truly practice His presence and live in never-ending, unceasing prayer. My life would be a prayer of thanks and blessing.

Wow. Wonder of wonders.

Pause.

I am going to sit here for a moment and allow this to sink in more fully and thoroughly. I do not want to rush this moment.

Hah! I just realized the blog name You gave me: A Life of Thanks. A life of prayer and thanks. Philippians 4:6 comes around full circle and the meaning grows deeper.

Friday, March 13, 2015

A new blog

Welcome to my new blog, A LIFE OF THANKS.

It's a prayer journaling, spiritual memoir, blessings counted list, devotional, Christian Living blog. It's my journaling and my thoughts of faith in the world we live in today and how the Bible applies today.

A Life of Thanks is about counting my blessings, no matter what.

Blessings,

--Stacy Duplease

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

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Is Grace All I Need?: Faith Learned From a Feral Kitten

2014-10-01 11:38:37, Wednesday

PERFECT TIMING, PERFECT VISION, PERFECT PLAN

I've been in this tent of my human earthly body for over four decades, as of a couple of weeks ago. I realize my flesh and bones are temporary. God could call me home any day. Hence, I do what I can to live every day as though it were my last. Some days, I am more successful than others, granted.

These forty years have taught me how God never works according to my timetable. I cannot think of one time He's answered my prayer or done what I wanted, when I wanted. For, He is God--and I most certainly am not. However, looking back, I can say every prayer He didn't answer how I wanted, and every prayer He didn't answer when I wanted, has worked out far better than if it would have been in the manner I preferred.

Need I mention how many times God has blessed me when I didn't expect it and certainly when I didn't deserve it? God blesses me in immeasurable and innumerable ways each and every day, if only I would stop and pay attention and acknowledge them.

God has perfect timing. After all, He is perfect, infinite, all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing. He seems with limitless, perfect vision, while I see with sinful, limited vision. Thank God He is the One in control. He is beyond time, for He created time. This only adds to His perfect vision and timing.

I've lived four decades and can say without hesitation how God has perfect timing, a perfect plan, and perfect vision.

Over the last week and four days, God has put two things in my path, at just the right time, in just the right way, and both have been undeniably Him.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The first thing God has allowed in my life is a feral kitten who has adopted us. She is malnourished, deaf, and declawed. She adopted us, and we adopted her, for about eleven days now. She's been in our garage, though, for six days so far.

The other thing God has put in my life, at the perfect time, was a blog post by Max Lucado. You can find it here:

Max Lucado: Content

http://maxlucado.com/audio/daily-audio/content/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=content&utm_source=MaxLucado.com+Weekday+Emails&utm_campaign=bed254b726-RSS_DAILY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9b9306e0eb-bed254b726-222957317&mc_cid=bed254b726&mc_eid=3ec8c24aa8

What Max Lucado talks about is this: IS GOD'S GRACE SUFFICIENT? IS IT ENOUGH?

Is His grace enough?

Is His grace all I need?

Is His grace all I want?

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Expanded Bible (EXB)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is ·enough for you [sufficient for you; all you need]. ·When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you [L For (my) power is perfected in weakness].” So I am very happy to ·brag [boast] about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can ·live [reside; or rest] in me. 10 For this reason I am ·happy [pleased; content] when I have weaknesses, insults, ·hard times [times of need], ·sufferings[persecutions], and ·all kinds of troubles [distress] ·for [for the sake of] Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

--------------

PRAYER JOURNALING AND CONTEMPLATION QUESTIONS

Prayer journal your response to each of those questions. Write your thoughts now--and keep coming back to these questions consistently over the next twenty-four hours. Keep expanding upon your answers. Then, do the same every couple of days, then ever week, for the next year--and see how you and your life are changed because of the question: Is grace enough for me and my life? Imagine how much your answer will change throughout today, this week, this month, this quarter, this year, this decade, and over the rest of your life.

--------------

Kara, my feral kitten (four to five months from what my husband, B, and I can tell) has taught me a great deal about faith. Then, add the Max Lucado email and the question of: Is grace enough for me and my life, and I am forced to stop and analyze things. Never mind how it is the last quarter of the year. Three months are left this year. (As I write this, it's October 01, 2014.)

Hence, I'm going to start writing a new blog post series, which I think I will write during NaNoWriMo (National Novel writing Month, but it will be a non-fiction, Christian living, Bible study, devotional, spiritual memoir type). It's called:

Is Grace All I Need?: Faith Learned From a Feral Kitten

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering your Present, LLC 2014. Kara. Feral Kitten 4-5 months old. Taken Sept. 30, 2014.)

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

My Spiritual Memoir: My Prayer for the United States

"My Prayer for the United States:

A Prayer Journalkeeper’s Reflection on History From Historic Jamestowne to Today

(And What It Means to Faith and Life Today)"

Are you a Christian? Do you pray? Do you prayer journal? Are you an American? Do you like history or want to learn more about it? Do you pay attention to current events? Do you like to read spiritual memoirs and/or want to write your own? Do you like to read about the stories of families and learn about family trees? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, this book is for you.

This book is my prayer journaling about current events and is a reflection on the history of the United States from Historic Jamestowne to today. I reflect on what the current events and history mean to my faith and life today.

My prayer for the U.S. is a very personal one because I had family members come here through Historic Jamestowne in 1607 and I can trace my family back to Nero, Emperor Charlemagne, and Joseph of Arimathea, never mind the Plantagenet and Tudor families or several Presidents of the USA, along with founding fathers, and writers and signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Moreover, several were of the House of Burgess and some even signed and wrote the Magna Carta.

I’ve had men in my family tree serve in every single war of the United States of America. This includes a father and his twelve sons who served in the American Revolutionary War or War of Independence.

The current events happening as I write this, and the history of my nation, along with faith, make me quite passionate about this topic and book. This is a spiritual memoir because as I prayer journal, I’m growing in faith and patriotism as I learn and reflect more on history. It’s how all of this shapes who I am today.

What is happening today in current events in our nation, through the lens of history, is something every citizen and every Christian needs to be aware of, think about, and pray about. There is too much at stake and it impacts each of us right now—where we are. We can keep burying our heads in the sand or we can help make this nation a Christian one again—and it all starts with you (and me, of course). It starts through awareness, thinking, and praying. This book is my spiritual memoir about how I do precisely that and how it impacts me and my life.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Current Events Change Things: A New Book Title

I've written 6,714 words so far of my spiritual memoir, but have put that material at the back of the book as bonus material.

This marks a new book. It's in light of current events, of the USA and in my own life that is causing me to change this book. I will return to the idea of writing a spiritual memoir about living a life of simple faith, but today is not it.

I will now write a spiritual memoir in which I prayer journal about history and current events and what it means for me and my life today as a Christ follower and as an American.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Camp NaNoWriMo and My Spiritual Memoir

In July, I'm taking part of Camp NaNoWriMo (Camp National Novel Writing Month), where people around get together and write a book in 30 days. Yes. A book. They write part of a book or an entire book during that space of time.

I try to take part in Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo every year during the months in which I can participate: April, July, November.

This year, I plan on working on my spiritual memoir.

You can find my spiritual memoir and view my progress here--starting July 01, 2014. So, stay tuned.

(NOTE: Click on the bold words above and in this post to go to those links.)

Tentative Title and Cover

This could change, but this is what it is right now. :)

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease at Historic Jamestowne on June 15, 2014)

I Am a Prayer Journalkeeper: The Richness of My Experience

Prayer Journal and Letter June 14, 2014, Saturday, 1008 A.M.

Mom,

Hello. I hope you are well on this fine Saturday morning. Thinking and praying for you--always.

I know you want to know how we are here in Virginia. And that is precisely why I write this email, which will be end up being Chapter One of my latest book (with your permission, of course).

For years, I keep fighting it. I surrender. I am not meant to do anything but prayer journal. Why do I keep fighting it? Why else has God allowed the richness of my life experience?

Huh. I never thought of looking at the challenges in my life as a treasure from God--and that makes me rich in Him. Very wealthy. Wow. Wonder of wonders. (Pardon me while I sit here for a moment and try to fully digest what I just prayer journaled, but in form of a letter to you.) I wrote that before I even comprehend what I wrote.

God has allowed the challenges in my life, including the last year and a half, so He could make me rich in Him and His Word. These life challenges are a treasure of great richness to intensify my relationship with Him, my faith, and my growth in Him. Glory!

Wow. I shake my head, blown away by His goodness. What a sacred gift, my life's challenges.

I have been able to, over the last five years, thank the Lord deeply for everything He has done and allowed in my life, including the challenges. For, they have made me who I am today. I thank Him for helping give me this perspective, and my new one of the richness of those challenges.

Wow. Pardon the light bulb moment.

Now, the original reason why I wanted to write this email was to share with you how I am changing, once again (Lord, help us all) what I want to write. I am done fighting it. I know my God-sized life's purpose:

I am a prayer journalkeeper.

Nothing more. Nothing less. This is me. It is all of me--deep and shallow. I am not supposed to be anything but. This is how God made me. Period.

Why hasn't this been enough for me?

That question has stopped me in my tracks. If God made me a prayer journalkeeper, and that is indeed my life's purpose (and, it is), then that is more than enough. This is how He wants me to share Him and His Word with the world, and bring Him glory. This is the sacred thing He wants from me most: To share how I live, in my corner of the world, in faith and how I interact with Him and the Word, through prayer journaling.

Could anything be grander?

Is anything more important?

So, I surrender. I will live as He wants, write what He wants, and share this thing called life with others. I will be the best prayer journalkeeper I can be.

Could life have gotten any simpler? I will live in His will alone and stop living outside of it, which had me hopping in a million other insignificant directions and kept me so busy--and missing Him.

That's the latest here.

I am a prayer journalkeeper.

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer

Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX

Blog: http://APrayerJournalkeeper.blogspot.com/

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2011-2014.)

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Prayer Journal June 14, 2014, 123 p.m.: My Psalms and Proverbs Reading Today: Psalm 6 & Proverbs 6

My Key Verse:

Proverbs 6:23 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

23 For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,

and corrective discipline is the way to life.

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

The Word of God, the Holy Bible, sheds light to how to live and which path to follow.

Proverbs 6:23 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

23 These commands are like a lamp;

this ·teaching [instruction] is like a light [making things clear].

And ·the correction that comes from them [disciplined correction]

will help you have [is the path of] life.

His Word shows me how to live, so this shows how critical it is for me to be in the Bible every day, preferably all day long. There is nothing more important.

If I want to live in Your will, Lord, this is how to do it: Be in Your Word. Lord, help me to get as much out of Your Word as possible and mediate on it day and night (Psalm 1:2).

(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014)

Prayer Journal June 14, 2014, 1255 p.m.

I am a prayer journalkeeper.

God created me to prayer journal. This is my life’s purpose.

Me: Lord, why do You want me to prayer journal?

God: So, you can live these verses firsthand, Stacy:

Proverbs 3:6 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

Remember the Lord [Know him] ·in all you do [on all your paths],

and he will ·give you success [keep your roads straight].

Psalm 143:10 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

10 Teach me to do Your will,

for You are my God.

May Your gracious Spirit

lead me on level ground.

Psalm 77:11 / The Message (MSG)

11 Once again I’ll go over what God has done,

lay out on the table the ancient wonders;

I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished,

and give a long, loving look at your acts.

Isaiah 46:9 / The Message (MSG)

Remember your history,

your long and rich history.

I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have—

incomparable, irreplaceable—

Psalm 40:5 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

5 Lord my God, you have done many ·miracles [wonders; great acts].

Your plans for us are many.

If I tried to tell them all,

there would be too many to count [104:24; 139:17–18; John 21:25].