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Seeking God and Knowing God

SEEKING AND KNOWING GOD

Seeking God is looking for and searching for Him. It’s trying to identify Him and His work in our lives and around our lives. In order to be able to identify Him, though, we have to know Him. Otherwise, how do we know it’s Him and not something or someone else? Part of knowing God is knowing His attributes or characteristics. It’s also about knowing His Word.

Let’s be real here and face it: if we are not in His Word, we do not know Him. If we do not know Him, how can we seek Him?

(Image credit for top image: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)

I Want to Seek God

Seeking God:

A Godly Vision Bible Study Journey

I WANT TO SEEK GOD

I want to seek God.

I want to seek Him where I am, doing what I am doing, not just during my quiet moments. And not just when I read the Bible and do Bible study.

I want to seek God and find where all He is working all around me, in me, through me, and in the lives of others. God is always present and is in me and is without (meaning around me). I want to seek Him and see Him in every moment. After all, every moment I am alive, He is there. He is here. And, He is in you, and with you, and is working and present around you.

So, yes. I want to seek God and find Him here--and there. And, I want to join Him in the work, and in the being, He has planned for me. How about you?

When I think of how God is always here and there, and how few times I've actually searched and looked for Him in the moment, it makes me sad and frustrated. How can I miss Him so often? So, I want to live with purpose and intentionality and seek Him in every moment. I want to be mindful of Him. Hence, I want to seek Him and to constantly be seeking God.

The Bible tells us to pray 24/7/365. It also says to thank Him always. It also says to meditate or ruminate on the Bible every night and day. If we are in the Word, are praying, and are counting our blessings, then wouldn't we be seeking Him all the time?

Care to join me in seeking God? That is what this Bible study journey is all about. Let's see the glory of God all around us and recognize it day and night—and stop missing Him. Let's seek God and continually do so.

This is Seeking God.

(Image credits of top picture: Stacy Duplease. Sunrise at Virginia Beach 2014.)

Updated on Apr/29/2014/815 a.m.

Nothing

There is nothing and no one more important than Jesus.

He alone brings life. 

Thank You, Lord, For the Opportunity of This Day

Thank You, Lord, For the Opportunity of This Day

Lord, thank You for a new day to worship You as I live for the purpose You have given all of us--to bring You glory.

Today is an opportunity. Help me not to squander it or drift from this purpose. To You be the glory in all I do, think, say, and feel. I want to honor You.

Help me see and count all of my blessings today. I don't want to miss one.

I love You, Abba.

What Led to This Blog: Part 2

WHAT LED TO THIS BLOG: PART 2

I want to know Him more. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. This, I do not doubt at all. Never have.  But, I can sure get to know Him more.  And, I can sure model my life in, for, around, through, and including Him.

A Life of Jesus. 

What Led to This Blog

What Led to This Blog

WHAT LED TO THIS BLOG: IT'S  COMPLICATED AND SIMPLE BOTH

What led to this blog is--complicated. But, it's also, oh, so simple at the same time.

The truth of the matter is the reason that brought me to starting, writing, and keeping this blog, and writing my journeying memoir, is something which I am still trying to fully grasp. It's so big and shocking, but shouldn't be, that I'm finding it a challenge to comprehend what I've learned.

I know this much:

My life has thoroughly changed.

I also know this:

It shouldn't change a thing.

But, it does.

WHAT DID I LEARN: WHY IS IT SO SURPRISING?

Let me give you some backstory in order to answer that question

MY FAMILY TREE JUNE 14, 2012 TO MARCH 01, 2014

On June 14, 2012, I started to work on my family tree. I started to become an amateur genealogist. I discovered many amazing things. For instance, I had three family members who came to the U.S. through Jamestown in 1607, and several thereafter. Also, through Plymouth.

More discoveries made through the many months were how I was a distant or an indirect descendant of the following: Charlemagne, Nero, the Plantagenet Family, the Tudors, several of the Fulks, several Kings of the Franks, several Kings of England, Hungary, France, and Jerusalem.

MARCH 02, 2014, SUNDAY: MAYBE? AND A NEW POSSIBILITY FOR MY FAMILY TREE

Historic Jamestowne is my favorite history site to visit. I think it's my most favorite site ever, as a matter of fact.

Why?

It's the real birthplace of the United States of America.

All others are impostors and are not based on truth or fact.  After all it's at Jamestown, Virginia that was the first permanent English settlement.

That being said, my husband, B, and I try to go visit there whenever we can. From our home, we take the Colonial Parkway from Olde Yorktown through Williamsburg, and then to Historic Jamestown. It's a beautiful drive of roughly thirty-five miles or so each direction. We try to go there at least once a month, sometimes more during the summer months. We are fortunate to live so close to it and the drive along the Colonial Parkway is so relaxing and refreshing. It gets rid of all of our stress and refocuses us.

We will make the drive, take the archaeological tour and grab a cup of coffee or something more at the cafe--as we sit along the James River and are quiet and just present with one another and with God.

Therefore, it's a very special place to B and me.

We were there on March 02, 2014, Sunday, and hear how on April 4th and 5th, 2014, they are having an reenactment of the wedding of John Rolfe and Pocahontas. Therefore, we looked at one another and determined we would go.

So, we went home and that night, I decided to look up more information about John Rolfe and Pocohantas. As I did, I saw how his mother's name is: Dorothea Mason.

Mason.

That's a family name. From England and Jamestown.

Huh!

Is he a relative?

I knew then and there I had to go to Ancestry.com and work more on my family tree and see what I could uncover.

MARCH 03, 2014 MONDAY

So, the moment I work up on Monday, March 03, 2014, and started to work on my family tree. By the end of the day, I found nothing to confirm if I am a relative of John Rolfe--or not.  But, I found more interesting discoveries.

MARCH 04, 2014 TUESDAY

So, the moment I work up on Tuesday, March 04, 2014, and started to work on my family tree. By the end of the day, I found nothing to confirm if I am a relative of John Rolfe--or not.  But, I found more interesting discoveries.

Then, at the very end of the day, through use of a program called, THE FAMILY TREE MAKER, I decided, for the fun of it to see who my oldest ancestor was. This was what started a very interesting journey.

I discovered an ancestor from 200 something BC.

Huh!

I had no idea.

So, I decided to check our relation--and discovered I was a DIRECT DESCENDANT of the individual. I'll be honest here. The name didn't ring a bell. Then again, my history knowledge isn't the best. (Although, it's changed since moving to Virginia.)

Needless to say, I decided to look at each relative from that one, down in the family to me, the lineage. And I was stopped in my tracks.

There was a name I never saw before in my family tree.

But, it was there.

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA IS THE RICH MAN WHO GAVE JESUS HIS TOMB

Joseph of Arimathea is the rich man who gave Jesus his tomb.

HOW SURE AM I OF HIM BEING MY ANCESTOR?

The next day, I started over with my family tree. Is tarted a new one and working like crazy for two days, I was able to trace the branches again.

So, I am 75% sure.

I want to do it one more time--just to make sure.

I've been able to look at history books and other family trees and confirm that Joseph of Arimathea, and my family tree, are accurate and he is my relative. I am his direct descendant.

Now, do you see why I am so surprised, dumbfounded, astounded, amazed, bewildered, astonished, and thunderstruck?

Do you see how this changes things for me? It doesn't change my faith, but deepens it. But, it sure changes the importance of my faith. I realize it shouldn't. My faith should have already been that strong to begin with.

That being said, can't we always grow deeper in our faith?

WHY THIS BLOG?

I want to get to know Jesus in a much more intimate way. I want to know Him more.

What better way than through the 4 gospels?

And, I sure what to live a life of Jesus.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, is My Savior and Redeemer. I believe.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, is My Savior and Redeemer. I believe.

One Word for 2014: Living a Yearly Theme or Focus Word or Phrase

ONE WORD FOR 2014

I decided this year to live by one word as the theme for 2014. It's supposed to be my main focus all year long. 

Well... The word I started with hasn't stuck. Sigh.

So, I'm having a do-over. My new word is:

Gospels

After all, this what I want to focus on for the rest of 2014 and to February 28, 2015, at least. 

My longer summary, a three word year theme is:

Living 4 Gospels

Or, my 6 word theme is:

Living the Four Gospels this year.

Or, my 12 word theme is:

Living A Life of Jesus, as I live the Four Gospels. 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

What about you?

Please prayer journal your response to each of the word themes I listed above. What are yours, in other words? 

Book Cover

Here is the book cover for:

A LIFE OF JESUS:
A JOURNALING MEMOIR OF READING THE 4 GOSPELS EVERY MONTH FOR A YEAR


(Image courtesy of graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

WHY CALL THIS BLOG "A LIFE OF JESUS?"

WHY CALL THIS BLOG "A LIFE OF JESUS?"

I want to life a life of Jesus.
I want to live a life with Jesus.
I want to life a life for Jesus. 
I want to live a life through Jesus.
I want to live a life where every day, I try to grow and become more Christlike, through being in Him and bearing fruit.
I want to live a Jesus-centered life.
I know Jesus lives in me.
I want to learn everything possible about Jesus.
I want to spend every second with Him and focused on Him.
It's all about Jesus. After all, he was born, he lived, he was crucified and murdered, he was buried, and He was resurrected and lives again.
We are waiting for Him to come again and end this world so.we can start eternity with Him and his Father. 
Hence, I want to live a life of Jesus. A Life of Jesus is a summary of everything I just mentioned. 
A Life of Jesus.
That's what it all about.
How simple.
How blessed.
A Life of Jesus.

A Life of Jesus: Welcome to a Study of the Four Gospels Every Month for a Year

A Life of Jesus: Welcome to a Study of the Four Gospels Every Month for a Year

WELCOME TO A JOURNALING MEMOIR AND MONTHLY STUDY OF THE FOUR GOSPELS FOR A YEAR
Welcome to a new blog and a year-long and monthly reading and study of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I plan on far-reaching them every month for the next year, at least. This will be my journaling memoir thereof, where I share my thoughts about the reading, what it means for my life, and how it transforms my life (or doesn't) over the next year at least. 

IT ISN'T ENTIRELY TRUE
What I just said isn't entirely true, I must admit up front. So, what is is the full truth? 
My goal is to get to know Jesus as much as possible, so I can live A Life of Jesus. Hence, I will look at the prophecies about Him, as well, those fulfilled, and those unfulfilled yet. I will also look at every verse in the Bible that talks about Jesus and living a life of Jesus, which means the entirety of the Bible.
The Epistles will probably be my next yearly study, where I re-read them every month, and so on. I will go from there. The New Testament will be my original main focus, then the Old Testament. Hence, this will be a lifelong study, not just the next year. 
But, during the next year, I will look at first and foremost the four gospels, then at the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus so far. The gospels, though, will be the main focus. 
Let's be realistic, this could be a year-long study of the four gospels, or it could easily turn into several years or even a lifelong study. I will remain open.

GOAL
In short, my goal is to become intimately acquainted with the four gospels. 
For at least the next year, I will re-read them and study them each and every month as I absorb them.

A Life of Jesus

Welcome to A LIFE OF JESUS.

This is a journaling memoir about my reading of the 4 Gospels of: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, books of the Bible.

Abiding

Journaling is how I abide in the Lord and in his Word..

Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

Confession and Running To: My Personal Journaling

I have a confession. I need to run to today (not runaway from). I need to run as fast as I can to my Lord who can bring me comfort and tell me that everything is going to be okay. I need to rejuvenate in him and seek some healing.

I have a million things that need to come first. My to do list is long as can be. But, it will wait.

However, there are times when we have to deal with something head on--or it will deal with us. I think the time is now for me. I need to acknowledge some feelings and thoughts that I try to push down. You know... Act strong. 

I trust God and his timing. He knows best. He sees things through divine eyes and I only see through my small, scarred, limited, sinful, and human eyes. 

But, that doesn't mean that sometimes I don't feel beaten. That doesn't mean I don't feel low and yucky. That doesn't mean I have a lack of faith. It's just that after four+ years, it can be difficult to wait... To be patient... To not know when my prayers will be answered.

And, have you noticed that when other people's same prayers are answered, and yours hasn't been... It can hurt? And, you feel guilty for feeling that way? That's where I am at today.

The truth is in four years, I haven't cried once about this. I've remained strong. I've held to my faith. I've trusted. I have tried to do everything I can to push through, to keep moving forward, to not feel sorry for myself, and to know that God has bigger, better, perfect plans. 

He promised me this prayer will be a yes answer. But, it's in his timing, not mine. I know he is preparing me and my husband for this. I know he is preparing everyone else for it, too. 

But, sometimes, it's hard to remain forever strong and faithful.

Sometimes, I just want a hug by God. A reminder he hasn't forgotten. A reminder that it just isn't time yet--that it will happen--and he is proud of the race I've run so far. 

It hurts.

So, today, I am going to take some time and not be so strong and sort through everything I've dealt with for over four years. It's time. 

I am running to--deal with it. Not runaway from and avoid having to do so. 

I am running to God and want to see if he has anything to say. I sure could use a word from him. That is for sure. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper 

Unite Us, O Lord

We tend to focus so much on our differences that there is friction.

We tend to focus so much on self we forget about everyone else.

We tend to get so busy that we tend to lose focus.

May we remember that we all have one thing in common. We all have souls. We all have a Savior who died for us so that we can have everlasting life. One day, there won't be division. One day, there will be no more tears, loneliness, cancer, regret, sadness, despair, worry, and so on.

Let us unite. We are all souls. We all have one Savior. He's Jesus Christ.

Spread the Good News, the Gospel. Christmas is an opportune time to do so.

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

What Have You Done This Year? How Have You Been?

My last blog post was about remembering what the Lord and you have done for Jesus over the last year. This blog is about what you have done for, and how you have been with, Jesus this year.

This is another Christmas tradition I have. It's analysis of the past year (and all my Christian life), review, and of my faith.

Before I continue, let me stress that it's far more important to be with the Lord. It's having your mind and heart focused on him--than to do any action for him. That's what matters most and above all. After all, we can do all sorts of what we would call godly acts, and never have our hearts and minds focused on him. They are rote acts for a checklist. 

Or, we can be focused on the Lord and his Word all the time. That's the being component of our faith and is what matters above all else. After all, we have to work for a living--in order to have shelter and food. So, while we work, we can be focused on the Lord and his Word. That goes for all the things we have to do: housecleaning, showering, driving, exercise, etc. We can be with him while we do other things. 

That's not to say acts of faith aren't important. They are necessary. The book of James reminds us of this. However, as we do those acts, our minds and hearts must be on him do they are not just for a check-mark to sign off on our to do list. 

So, that being said, it's important to reflect upon, and analyze, the past year of our walk with the Lord and the Word of God. This is where prayer journaling comes in to the equation. If you just answer these questions in your mind, you won't remember in 6 months, let alone in a month, what was said between you and God. 

PRAYER JOURNALING

A What did I do that worked well over the last year?

B What didn't work well?
C What all did I do to bring God glory this year?

D How close did I come to praying without ceasing?

E How close did I come to praying the Word, and meditating on it, morning, noon and night?

F How much time did my calendar literally reflect I spent with my Lord and his Word?

Now, answer questions A-F about the last two years, three years, five years, and every 5 years thereafter.

(Photo is from: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/)

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

5 Days Until Christmas: Remember

It's the countdown for Christmas (as you are more than aware).

What are the things you are grateful for this year that the Lord has done in your life? 

I use Christmas as a time, not for gifts, but for remembrance. Therefore, my countdown for Christmas is generally spent trying to draw ever closer to the Lord. I try to remember everything the Lord and I went through the previous year. That's the tradition I hang my stocking on and cherish most. 

Then, the week before New Years is a week of preparation and planning for the next year. 

What have you and God experienced this year as a team? 

What has he done in your life? What about in the lives of your loved ones? 

That's the meaning of Christmas.

(Photo is from: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/)

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

Prayer Blazers

Starting with my Tim Tebow blog post from yesterday, I am going to have a section in this blog called, "PRAYER BLAZERS." They are not meant to do anything, but increase awareness and blaze our hearts and minds in prayer.

I grow weary of Christians burying their heads in the sand, pulling their covers over their head, and living in a world of intentional ignorance and denial. That also goes against what Jesus would have us do. Jesus confronted the culture of his day (not the people, but the cultural beliefs). He asked his disciples to do the same. Acts and Romans talks about this as well. The cultural beliefs encouraged Jesus and his disciples to bring about the Great Commission. Disciples were made. Prayers were desperate for the souls of the people of the culture. 

Prayer Blazers are NEVER meant to cut people down or criticize them. They are just meant to ignite us in prayer for the beliefs, hearts, and minds of people--to soften them to the gospel and accept Jesus Christ as Lord. 

Check out this prayer blazer:

http://www.amazon.com/God-is-not-Great-ebook/dp/B0064M9WHK/ref=zg_bs_158296011_16

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

The Reality of USAGC 2026 being fulfilled

We will not know on paper if this will be the case. The statistics cannot confirm if everyone is really a Christian. However, if the statistics who claim they are Christian in the year 2026 is 100%, that's 22% more than those who do now on 16 December 2011 (looking at 2007 and 2009 statistics--see last blog post).

The other reality is we might not know for 5 to 10 years after 2026 if this happens. Hence, it will be a continual prayer even then. Just because the Great Commission is fulfilled at that point in time, it doesn't mean that babies weren't born. So, this will be a constant lifelong prayer.

The prayer campaign if USAGC 2026 is that it will be 100% real, not just in name Christians, in or by 31 December 2026, and fulfilling the Great Commission in the USA. Then, we will continue to pray after that.

The reality is that the Great Commission, once fulfilled, will need to be fulfilled every day afterward as babies are born and children mature to the age of accountability. 

So, what am I saying? I am praying for 2026 and the Great Commission being brought to pass in the United States. Then, after that, the prayers will be continued.

I am praying specifically for the USA, but also for the world as well in a more general fashion. Of course I want nothing more than this to be fulfilled in the world. 

This is a lifelong prayer. 

Want to join me in this USAGC 2026 Prayer Campaign? If you do, send me an email to: aloyalfaith@gmail.com or add a comment to any of these blog posts.

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026