Tuesday, October 7, 2014

A New Blessings Journaling Blog

Check out this new blog:

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

2014 A Year of Blessings Counted, Gratitude, and Thanksgiving: Preparation for Thanksgiving and End of Year

(Blessings Counted Journaling)

October 07, 2014, Tuesday, 1258 p.m.

October the First marked the beginning of the last quarter of this year. Needless to say, we are three-quarters of the way through our year.

Three months left is all we have to turn this year into what we had hoped. Three months is what we have left to look back at the last year and count all of our blessings from this year.

Thanksgiving, however, is in 51 days.

What if we spent the next 51 days counting as many blessings as we can? And do so each and every day between now and then?

What if we turned 2014, right now, into a year of blessings counted, gratitude, and thanksgiving? For, there's time. We can do so if we so choose.

Think about it:

2014, the Year of Blessings Counted, Gratitude, and Thanksgiving

What a wonderful epitaph that would be.

What a remarkable goal.

Can you think of anything more rewarding?

After all, a blessing is God showing us undeserved favor and is showing us Himself.

What about turning 2014, no matter what it's been up to this point, into a year of blessing? What about turning it into a year of blessing in spite of what has, or hasn't, happened?

Can you think of anything more rewarding?

Counting our blessings is the result of looking for God and his work in our lives, past, present, and future.

"2014 was a Year of Supreme Blessing."

We've got time to make this our final sentence in our prayer journals and in our Blessings Counted Journaling. How does this sound? Care to join me?

Counting My Blessings with a Troubled Heart--How?

Counting My Blessings with a Troubled Heart--How?
(Blessings Counted Journaling)

October 07, 2014, Tuesday, 1001 a.m. in Garage at My House in Hampton Roads or Newport News, Virginia

A NOTE OF DATE, PLACE, AND TIME
As I do any type of journaling, I try to always jot down the date, day, and time at a minimal. I usually journal at home, in my living/family room and study. Therefore, if I don't take note of the place, that's why. I jot down the place if it's something out of the ordinary, like right now.
I'm in my garage, hanging out with our black, cinnamon, and white colored feral or stray cat, Kara. I'm sitting on one of the most comfortable chairs ever, the patio chair, and have my tablet in hand, along with some coffee with cream and caramel and pumpkin spice syrup.
I want Little Bit, Lady Kara, to know someone is here and she is not alone. She's on her wood pile, hanging out and sleeping. It's a pile of a four by four, with three two by fours on top and is her favorite hang out and place to sleep. Not sure why. I hear a mocking bird, crickets and some type of machine. Are they trimming trees along the front of our house, where there are electrical wires? Hmm. Will look later.
Oh. And as I enjoy the delightful comfort of this chair, I have a designer throw pillow on my lap, acting as a tablet holder so I can journal. I have a jacket on and zipped. It's not cold, but is a little chilly.
Now, if only Kara would eat some more...
And, on to my devotional thoughts.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS, PRAYER JOURNALING, AND BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING
The Bible says how we are to give thanks at all times and for all things. How are we supposed to do this exactly? What does this even look like? Moreover, is it even achievable?
These questions swirl around in my mind, along with all of the unknowns and concerns. How do I give thanks when my heart is troubled? How do I focus my thoughts on giving thanks rather than on what is troubling me?
I just looked over at Kara and thought how amazing it is in the last twelve days how much Kara has become social. She's also getting used to carrying her and letting her all over her body. She no longer hisses as she feels confused about things. She never hissed out of anger, but out of confusion. She hasn't hissed since Friday when she was poked and prodded by the vet. Thank God she's getting more familiar with us.
See. That's what I'm talking about. How do I focus my thoughts to counting my blessings?
Wait. Isn't that what I just did? (Huh.)
Through my troubled heart, I found something to be grateful about and thank God for. How can I do more of this? I pause, think, and pray for the answer. As I do, I cannot help but wonder if it's as simple as that. Is it? Is it just a matter of doing it?
Yeah. I really do think it's that simple. I just need to count my blessings. That's it.

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS
I am thankful, God, for...
A new day. A blank slate. An opportunity to thank You always and throughout my day.
Yay!!! Kara just started eating. I praise You, Lord!
For Kara.
Zack.
Sinan.
Shelley.
Harry.
For B, my husband--and not in this order.
My faith.
Salvation.
Eternity. Heaven.

1032 a.m. Going to go back inside and to study to hang with those critters.

1041 a.m. in study

I am thankful, Lord for...

The sound of the filter of the turtle tank. It sounds like a water feature and is quite relaxing.

For the sounds Kara, Zack, and Sinan make. each individualistic and grip the heart in a good way. Precious.

Zack and Shelly hanging out with me in the study.

I have a pretty table cloth, folded in thirds, and is sitting on my desk. It's a harvest one. It's from WalMart and is orange mainly in color with white, red, and brown, and is of owls. It adds color to my study and is friendly and inspiring.

I also got a tablecloth for the floor when Kara comes inside of autumn leaves and pine cones. It will be what I put on the floor where her box will be, along with her food and water. It will protect the carpet and add more color in here.

I love this time of year. Fall is my favorite season.

I'm grateful for my husband. He is the greatest. He has a huge heart and is a wonderful man, husband, and friend.

My Amazon Kindle Fire HDX tablet.

The online journal, Penzu.

My ability to type. (Thanks Mom for getting me in typing glasses one summer when I was about ten years old. They've paid off for me ever since.)

A good book to read.

Answers, Lord, of how I'm supposed to focus first and foremost on counting my blessings.

How do I give thanks--even when I have a troubled heart? And, how am I to always give thanks? These questions swirl some more in my mind.

How? Through living this verse, along with Philippians 4:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18.

Psalm 105:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

1 Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name;
proclaim His deeds among the peoples.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I am to give thanks to the Lord.

I am to call on His name, in which He has many names and characteristics. I can give thanks for each.

I am to call on His name and pray. As I do that, I am to offer Him thanksgiving.

I am to remember what He has done in my life, in the lives all around me, and in history--and share all of this with others. This is another facet of giving thanks always.

Then, there's this verse:

Colossians 4:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

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 am to be devoted to prayer and thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 New Century Version (NCV)

17 Pray continually, 18 and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

New Century Version (NCV)

Give thanks--even when I have a troubled heart.

And, here is a verse I need to focus on most when my heart is troubled--and applying it and live it out:

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)

Bible and Prayer Journaling October 07, 2014 809 a.m.

Our beagle, Zack, at age 14.75 years has dementia (canine cognitive disorder) and some days and nights are rough. Last night was one of those. It means not getting much sleep as we try to calm him and just be there for our faithful and loyal companion who has done nothing to deserve this. It also means a late night of prayer and suffering from a broken heart as we feel helpless and wish he didn't have to experience it.

As my Granny says, that's something about old age. Your mind goes and you have good health physically otherwise, or your health goes and your mind is sharp.

Zack is in pretty good physical health for his age.

Needless to say, as tears kept streaming down my face, I read the Book of Job and 17.5 Psalms. I am a day ahead of schedule in my Read the Bible in 90 days now.

As I read the Bible and prayed, I kept asking myself what I really want to focus on in my writing. What blog post series do I want to write and books do I want to write?

I need to add another reason why my heart is troubled and why I got less sleep last night. I'm also worried about Kara. We are waiting the results from the vet from.her blood work to see if we can bring her inside. (And, I keep praying she would eat a great deal more than she does.)

So, what do I want to write?

Blog posts and books about counting our blessings through it all, and growing our faith in the process, as we deal with the storms and sunshine of this thing called life.

And, I think reading the Bible all the way through, cover to cover, Five fines in fifteen months would be revolutionary and transforming.

This, consequently, is my plan.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2009-2014.)

Monday, October 6, 2014

Always Give Thanks

Always Give Thanks
Written 2014-10-03 15:55:23, Friday

When are we to give thanks? (Prayer journal your answer before you read ahead.)

We are to always give thanks. We are to give thanks in everything and for all situations continually and without stopping. This is what the Bible commands, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18. And, in case we missed it, look at the end of the verse of 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

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

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

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Prayer journal your thoughts to those verses. What did you learn? What do these verses mean to your life?

Give thanks no matter what.

How seriously do we take these verses?

Do we believe they are commands from God?

Do our lives reflect the importance of these verses? Are we living these verses?

THE TEST

Let's do a little test. List at least twenty blessings from two days ago, thirty blessings from yesterday, and forty from today.

Those numbers may seem extreme, but seriously. If you are truly living 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 like the verses were commands given by God, then listing all of the blessings I just mentioned should be easy.

DO WE WANT TO?

Do we want to live these verses?

Do we really want to or are just giving lip service to the idea?

Do we want to apply these verses to our lives? (Or do we want to ignore them?)

The Bible commands we give thanks in and for all and at all times.

How can we do so? What is our plan to live out these verses?

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

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Prayer Journal your thoughts.

Three Current Blog Post Series

2014-10-06 09:40:58, Monday

As I write this blog post, I sit in my chilly garage, cup of warmish coffee beside me on the dirty floor, as I hang out with our new cat, Kara. She was feral up until ten days ago and has been in our lives fifteen days now.

I sit on one of our fancy and sturdy brown rot iron patio table chairs with a nice thick cushion that makes me think how a couple of these inside the house would be nice. Unusual, but comfy. I could sit and write in this chair all day long. It would be a pleasure. (Something to think about. I've never been the conventional type.)

I'm out here to give Little Bit, Lady Kara, some attention. I'm also praying the blood test results come in today or tomorrow and clear her so I can bring her in my study as we slowly introduce her to our beagle and other cat. I figure a week of sniffing each other through the door before we formally introduce them would be good. (Please, Lord!)

Now, as I sit here, I have my tablet in hand and am able to do some Bible reading and journaling, writing notebook and journaling, and prayer journaling. I am.still trying to figure out exactly what I want to write, but it seems as though three blog post series have come to me. Here they are in no particular order:

I am in the process of writing three blog post series:

1 Blessings Counted Journaling

2 The Read the Bible Five Times in 15 Months Blog Post Series

3 RYP Stories Fiction

1 Blessings Counted Journaling

This is a devotional Bible study with journaling and spiritual memoir.

2 The Read the Bible Five Times in 15 Months Blog Post Series

This is what you think. Between now and December 31, 2015, I want to read the Bible five times and this blog post series will share my journey.

3 RYP Stories Fiction

I have a story idea. We will see how far I go with it.

These are my three current writing projects and I'm excited about each of them.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2009-2014.)

Today's Bible and Prayer Journaling: October 06, 2014: THE READ THE BIBLE FIVE TIMES IN 15 MONTHS BLOG POST SERIES

2014-10-06 09:01:03, Monday

I decided two days ago (today is day 3) to start a "Read the Bible in 90 Days Program." After all, I want to read the Bible cover to cover between now and the end of the year, which means I technically need to read it in 88 days, not 90. I'm reading the readings from BibleGateway.com at this link:

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/bible-in-90-days/today?version=HCSB

This means my readings didn't start at Genesis 1, which I'm just fine with. I will get there between now and the end of the year, but just am not starting there. It works for me. I want to read all of the Bible for 2014 and then maybe twice or three times in 2015. I want the Bible to be the first book I go to and read each day, not any other book.

I didn't get all of yesterday's reading done, but have finished it this morning. My reading today is: Nehemiah 13:15 - Job 7:21. I hope to get to Job 15ish or so in order to make up for the two additional days I need to read of the 90 day Bible reading plan.

And, yes. I think I've just decided I want to incorporate the 90 day reading plan into my life all year. If I did this, it means I would read the Holy Bible four times in 2015.

Wow.

I'm pausing and letting that set in for a moment.

Read the Bible five times between now and the end of 2015? Yes. This seems like a life-transforming goal. Count me in! What an incredible journey it would and will be.

Hence, welcome to:

THE READ THE BIBLE FIVE TIMES IN 15 MONTHS BLOG POST SERIES.

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

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Choosing Blessing

Written 2014-10-02 14:33:06, Thursday

A few weeks ago, B and I walked around Wal-Mart, just walking around aimlessly, looking at stuff, not looking at stuff. Just being and hanging out together. Never mind how walking is good exercise.

We found our way to an aisle which had all sorts of Fall or harvest merchandise and I found a stand up sign that says, "Blessings."

We are trying to pinch our pennies, hoping to save for a house one day, but the sign called out to me and said, "I'm yours. take me." I glanced at B and his eyes smiled at me in the way only they can. It didn't quite make it to his mouth, but I could tell he sure felt the smile.

"Go ahead."

Neither B or I need permission from one another to spend a dime. That's not it. I just like to save money and he knows me and giving me permission to spend six dollars on a sign/plaque which will bring me absolute joy is priceless.

Of course, I beamed, clapped, and said, "Yay! Okay."

He shook his head and a smile came to his mouth this time.

Why did I have to spend the money we're tyring to save? Well, I didn't have to. It wasn't something I needed. But, I wanted it.

My theme for this year has been gratitude, blessing, and thanksgiving. And, it will be my theme for 2015. In fact, I think it will be my theme for the rest of my life.

Counting my blessings is my favorite and best way to worship God. For, counting my blessings requires me to be intentional and alert to God, His work, His presence, his glory.

My life has been full of storm, trials, temptations, tough stuff, challenges, whatever you want to call it. It's been full of yuck. I've seen and experienced a great deal. (Just like everyone else, let me add.) And, a long time ago, my dad taught me how I cannot control most of life, for it is anything but fair. However, I can sure control my reactions to it. My reaction I want to purposefully choose in every moment is to focus on the blessing and not on the storm (or the yuck).

I want to choose blessing.

Life has enough ugly and yuck in it. Why focus on that? What good comes from this?

The answer is nothing good comes out of focusing on the yuck.

However, choose to focus on the blessing, and what bad comes from that?

What bad comes from choosing to focus on the blessings of every moment?

The answer is simple: No bad ever comes from choosing on focusing on the blessing of every moment.

I started to try to focus on the blessing in November 2013 after some very ugly stuff happened in my life. No. It wasn't the ugliest stuff by any means. But, it still hurt and was still a storm. I didn't handle it the best way possible, but I did learn about counting my blessings. Or, at least I started to do so.

However, I started to slip away from this. I allowed myself to fall into the traps I know good and well to watch out for: the traps of busyness and lack of focus (getting sidetracked). These are two traps that seem to be my thorn in my flesh. They are how I stumble and lose focus. It's my continual struggle I need to be constantly aware of in my life.

Then, life brought another storm in April. This meant I slipped away from counting my blessings all the more. Sure, I still counted them from time to time, but not like I could or should.

Needless to say, in July, I tried to refocus on counting my blessings. I was quite successful at it until I got close to my fortieth birthday and then I got sidetracked trying to write and do other stuff for about a month. Now, I've returned to counting my blessings once again. Now, I hope to make it a continual, habitual practice that I stay focused on and do not stray from in my life. I am going to practice Blessings Counted Journaling so much and to the point I am so used to doing so I find it difficult to anything but.

Yesterday, when I took a prayer inventory and discovered my prayer strength is gratitude, I wasn't surprised. It was a good reminder and it brought me to the realization today of how I want Blessings Counted Journaling to be my main focus. I want to write a million blog posts and books on it. After all, I know how this life is full of tough stuff. I've experienced it firsthand and have walked with others through their tough stuff.

I want to choose blessing and help others to do the same.

I want to live my sign/plaque: BLESSINGS.

After all, God is good all the time.