Prayer

Want to read a good article about prayer? Read this one:

http://www.faithgateway.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-prayer/#.U61Iso7D_MI

This is about the best book on prayer I've ever read, THE CIRCLE MAKER by Mark Batterson.

Want your life changed? Read this article and book. The same goes for your prayer life and your faith.

Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014)

Psalm 23 (06.26.2014)

Psalm 23 (06.26.2014)

Psalm 23:1 HCSB
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
-- 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.

The Lord is...
He exists.
He is and always will be. He has always been.
He is and has an identity. He has character and attributes. There are certain things that describe Him.
The Lord is my shepherd.
He isn't just anyone's shepherd. He's mine (and yours).
He is my shepherd. He takes care of me like a shepherd takes care of his sheep.
Wow. Wonder of wonders.

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Blog: http://WritingsOfSD.blogspot.com/

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2014)

Bible Verse to Prayer Journal and Ponder

Bible Verse to Prayer Journal and Ponder

HOW I GET THE MOST OUT OF THE WORD OF GOD EACH DAY
The first thing I do in the morning, is put dog outside and feed Beagle and Maine Coin and grab a cup of coffee. Then, I sit and have time with God. I make Him the precedent of each day. I give Him reverence and put Him first. I turn to the Bible, His love letter to us, His Word.
I am reading the Bible through in a year and am using this program, which you can start at any time:
http://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/old-new-testament/today?version=HCSB
I find at least one verse that speaks to me and try to keep prayer journaling it and pondering it all day long. With every verse that jumps out at me, I try to look it up at least three translations or versions of the Bible of it and get as much meaning out of it as possible. Often I look up five to seven.
Why do I look up more than one translation? As I said, I get a great deal more meaning out of it and I also read it more. The more I read it and ponder it, the verse will take root deep inside of me and become a way of live and living. It becomes part of me. Every time I read it, it grows and changes me.
Then, I read this program, which you can start at any time. I read a chapter of Psalms and Proverbs. Today, it's Psalms 10 and Proverbs 10. I find a verse of several from this reading as well.
I write these verses down and carry them with me. I also keep the tabs open of the internet links that lead to these daily verses and a document on my computer so I can look them up all day. I also pull them.up on my cell and tablet when I am not at my computer.
Some people are anal about checking texts and emails on their cell. I use that as my cue to pull up my daily verses on my cell. I also do this when stopped at a light. I use the light as a reminder to think of my daily verses.
Another cue I use is every time I take a sip of a liquid or a bite of food. I'm hypoglycemic so I eat and drink all dynamic long, so I stretch out my daily verses as much as possible.
This is how I get as much out of the Bible as I can and is how I try to include and remember God and His Word every moment.
I won't lie. Some days, I do all of this. Other days, once and that's it. I am constantly trying to do this more--and in doing so, just being with Him more each day.

Read the following verse and prayer journal about how this applies to you, your marriage, your house and family, your larger family, your city, your county, your state, your nation, and the world:

Proverbs 10:17 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
17 Whoever ·accepts correction [guards instruction/discipline] is on the way to life,
but whoever ·ignores [abandons] correction ·will lead others away from life [wanders aimlessly].
-- Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 10:17 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
17 Whoever practices discipline is on the way to life,
    but whoever ignores a warning strays.
-- Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease June 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)

Bible Verse to Ponder and Prayer Journal

Bible Verse to Ponder and Prayer Journal

Deuteronomy 1:29-31 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
29 Then I said to you, “Don’t tremble. Don’t be afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God, who is going ahead of you, will fight for you as you saw him fight for you in Egypt 31 and in the desert.” There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as parents carry their children. He carried you wherever you went until you came to this place.
-- Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Do not be afraid now or at any time.
"Them, they, or Egypt" can be anyone, anything, any time.
God will fight for you, for us, so you/we do not have to fight. We just need to open our eyes and look for Him and seek Him. We can live confidently knowing He sees all, even this. He will fight for you and carry you. You are not alone. For, Emanuel. God is always with us.
God knows.
He's got this.
This is true in the good times, the challenges, and the so-so times. God never, ever changes.

Prayer journal your thoughts.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2008-2014.)

Bible Verse to Prayer Journal and Ponder

Bible Verse to Prayer Journal and Ponder 

Psalm 86:8 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 Lord, there is no one like You among the gods,
and there are no works like Yours
-- 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.

Prayer journal your thoughts.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)

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

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.

-- 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.

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.

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].

-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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.

-- 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.

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.

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

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—

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

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].

-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014)

Bible Verse to Prayer Journal and Ponder

Proverbs 3:6 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

6 ·Remember the Lord [Know him] ·in all you do [on all your paths],
    and he will ·give you success [keep your roads straight].

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


Prayer journal your thoughts, what  God says to you, and what you say to God.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2008-2014)

Welcome

Welcome to my prayer journaling a blog, which is my spiritual memoir and a blog on how to prayer journal.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)

Writing Status

Day 1 of writing was June 01, 2014.

Writing goal per day is 3,637 words per day, 7 days per week.

Total word count goal is 200,000 words or so.

As of right now, I have 8,751 of 11,803 words due today of 200,000 total words.

Verse of the Day

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.

Verse of the Day

Psalm 77:11 / The Message (MSG)

^"11-12 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."

We are to focus our minds on these things.

Prayer journal your thoughts. 

The Importance of Remembering: Every Moment is Sacred

Prayer journal your thoughts.

Verse of the Day

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—

Isaiah 46:9 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁹ Remember what happened long ago,

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and no one is like Me.

Prayer journal your thought to each of these versions of the Bible and look up a few more versions as well.

What jumped out at you and grabbed your attention? Why?

What does this mean to you?

What do you say to God?

What does God say to you?

How can you apply this to your life?

Write a summary prayer about this verse. 

Verse of the Day, Week, and Month

-- 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.

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].

-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

My Writing Space, The Progress of Book 1, and a 56 Day Writing Marathon

MY WRITING SPACE
Recently, my husband and I ought new furniture for my study/office, where I sped all day doing Bible study and writing. I was in desperate need for some organization and smaller furniture to take up less space in the room, but still be functional. So, Ikea came to the rescue and fulfilled both of those requirements. (This is only part of my work space. I will share more photos later, by the way.)

MY WRITING PROGRESS OF BOOK 1
I still have no idea of a title for Book 1 of Land of Risina Series. Then again, the idea is so new I'm not surprised. I've started to do some of an outline, some planning, and some writing and have 23 pages, 3,496 words so far.

56 DAYS OF A WRITING MARATHON
Starting Saturday, I'm am going on a writing marathon, where I plan on writing at least 3,000 words per day for 56 days, for a total of 168,000 words minimum. Usually, I write about 2,000 words per day.

Also, I plan on writing at least twelve hours a day. So, I may get a great deal more written than I anticipate. We shall see.

EXERCISE 
Also, during those 56 days, I plan on increasing my workout. I am a runner, something I took up just a couple of years ago, after over three decades of only running in order to avoid getting hit by upcoming traffic or if I didn't want to get drenched by rain. Once a week, I run a 10k, but it hasn't been consistent. I do it once to twice a month. I would like to run more than that. Moreover, my minimum run is a 5k and I want to increase that to five miles a day, three days a week and 10 or more miles once a week. Ideally, my long run will be a half marathon, then a marathon. But, I need to get serious about working up to those distances. So, I plan on doing this the next 60 days or so--in order to establish a habit. From there, I will continue it and try to keep increasing my distance.

WRITING IS A SOLITARY ACTIVITY
As a writer, it's easy to get lazy and not keep in shape like we should. That's why I am adding to my writing marathon more physical running. It's my desire to lose weight and get in better shape than I've been in a long time, if not ever.

As a writer, it's essential to have a balanced life. The next 56 days will be part of that. I will also be doing two to three Bible studies at that time as well.

Now, back to writing.

(Top Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2014. Middle and Bottom Image Credit: Microsoft images online 2009-2014.)

The Book of Daniel

I am in the process of writing Book 1 of the Land of Risina Series, which is a parable of the Book of Daniel. Needless to say, I'm doing a personal Bible study of the book of Daniel. I've been working on Daniel 1 the last five days and will continue to study it for a while longer. It's what Book 1 of the Land of Risina will be based off of and is quite an interesting and motivational chapter.

What to Expect From This Blog

This is a writing blog about a new fantasy series I am writing that's based on an allegory of the Book of Daniel. It's my intent to share my writing story as well as the writing of this series. Hence, it's about my writing life.

This blog will also be about reading fantasy (speculative fiction) and watching fantasy movies and television.

This blog will also be about faith, politics, and the news of today--for the Book of Daniel tells of what is happening today and in the future, as well as the past.

I would love to make this an interactive blog. Therefore, feel free to post questions, comments, suggestions for story-line, etc. You can add a comment at the end of any blog post, use the contact form on the left side of this blog--about one-third of the way down on the page, or you can send me an email.

Welcome.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2014.)