Saturday, September 1, 2012

Pray Constantly for Writers in 365 Days: Day 1 Welcome

 
 
Blog Post Series and Book:
Pray Constantly for Writers in 365 Days
Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which states: Pray continually.

Day 1: Welcome
Are you a writer? Welcome.
Do you want to write? Welcome. You will learn to be a writer over the next year.
Are you a Christian writer? Welcome.
Do you have a craft or hobby? Welcome.
Do you have a dream? Welcome.
While this book, and blog post series, is specifically for writers, you can use it no matter who you are--to help you to learn to pray without ceasing and follow your calling every day.
This book is to help Christian writers to follow their call from God and draw forever closer to him in the process. This is a book to help you to learn to pray constantly as you learn to hone your craft.
This is a daily devotional, a Bible study, a prayer guide, a prayer journal, writing guide, and book of encouragement to help you give your craft every day to the Lord.
The book you hold in your hands (literally or metaphorically) is something I have hunted for, and have not found, in over 10 years of searching. I decided to write it since I could not find anything like this on the market and I hope you will be blessed by it over the next 365 days. I also hope it will be an encouragement enough to help you pray constantly and live your calling every day, that you will re-read it every year.
I do not know about you, but I constantly pray that every word I write be the words God wants me to write. Then, I worry that I am writing my words and not his. The truth of the matter is if writing is an act of worship, and is how you pray constantly, and without stopping, then your writing will be of God. Period. End of story. It cannot be anything but.
So, how do you know if your writing is a hobby--and how do you know if it is a calling?
Answer: You pray about it.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 gives us a simple command. It is to pray constantly. That means to pray without stopping, to pray always, to pray first and foremost, and to pray above all else. Lord, I want to learn how to do this literally. I do not want it to be a figurative expression in my life. I want to learn how to pray constantly as I live my life day by day, minute by minute. I recognize this is an act of worship. So, Lord, teach me to pray constantly, 24/7/365.
Abba, there is something else on my mind. I know you already know what I am about to confess before I even address it. And, I think you in advance for your answer. Lord... I keep experiencing a strong pull that leads me to want to write. Do you want me to write as a calling or as a hobby? That is my question.
And, if I am to write as a calling, as an act of worship, then is my current project (or the one I have planned or will plan) the one you want me to write?
Lord, use my pen. Make every word I write your own. I do not want any word to be mine, but every word to be yours alone. I want to write what you want me to write.
Guide me.
Instruct me.
Teach me.
Use me.
Give me understanding.
Help me to listen. Help me to hear. Help me to immediately respond.
Verses to Look-Up and Pray: 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:8-13; Psalm 19:14; Ephesians 1:7-9; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 John 5:20.

(Image from Microsoft Iamges Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Presidential Elections


I just had an ephiphany when I spoke to my husband a couple of minutes ago and wanted to share it with you.

Vote in the Presidential Election in November.

Why?

This is probably the most important election of our lives. 

(Image from Microsoft Images Online.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

Monday, August 27, 2012

An Interesting Fact



Where was the first permanent English colony in America?

I must admit that before I moved to Virginia, I would have given the wrong answer. 

Was it Plymouth, Massachusettes or Jamestown, Virginia?

The correct answer is Jamestown.

Jamestown is the real birthplace of the United States of America.

Did you know this?

(Photo credit: Stacy Duplease. 2012. At Jamestown.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

Historical and Writing Resources: Today in Weather History


I just found a site that gives "Today in Weather History" facts. It is found at:
 
 
You can also look up weather for past years.

(Photo Credit: Microsoft Online Images.)
 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Praying about Isaac



Will you join me in prayer for Hurricane Isaac (as it takes a eerie course similar to Katrina's in 2005--and will be just one day off from that anniversary)?

(Image Credit: Microsoft Online Images.)

Stacy Duplease



What an interesting weekend: Etc. Etc. Etc. #4



Well, this weekend was an interesting one.
 
First, my husband came home from being gone for a week for work. His flight was delayed twice when he came home. Then, we had a torrential downpour of rain for hours, which led to our flooded yard (in the picture above). We kept waiting for Noah, the ark, and all the animals to pass by.

The water, thankfully, never came into the garages or into our house. But, it sure made a mess in our front yard. It took a few hours for the water to subside.
 
Never mind how every distraction came to me last week imaginable, so I was not able to get ahead with my writing when my husband was gone, like I usually am. As a matter of fact, I am running behind. (Sigh.)
 
Now, today, I have been hit with more distractions. It seems like whenever I think I am going to get ahead, another shoe falls. Today was a bad day from the moment the alarm went off, though. Bad moods and bad luck--mixed with being tired from not sleeping well last night, then add how dog decided to get sick in the house, and cat was stepped on, and other distractions... What a lousy day and it is only 11:16 a.m.
 
So, did I have a nice, relaxing weekend?
 
Umm... No... Not really.
 
Am I refreshed and ready to take on the week? Um... No. I keep getting further and further behind on my writing--and that is not like me. So, this only adds more stress and frustration. It seems like everything is complicated and a mess at the moment. Oh. And, a family member is having a operation tomorrow. So, that only adds even more yucky stress.
 
Am I complaining? Not really. Rather, I am letting you know how the best laid plans do go astray and how it is absolutely essential to journal, do Bible study, have prayer, and regroup when that happens.
 
I realize that I need to stop. Halt. Freeze. I am going to print out the last partially types page I was trying to write. I am going to stop hitting my head against the wall and do what I just said. I will journal, do Bible study, and regroup. I probably should have done that first thing this morning. But, I felt the pressure of my writing goals slipping away. So, I tried to shortcut the process. Shortcutting never works. Not having a quiet time until later rarely works for me. I get the most out of my quiet time when I give God the time he deserves first. The next thing I know, he usually helps me get far more done that day than I could imagine or would have otherwise.
 
I fail. I mess up. I am human. I am a sinner. It is what I do from here that counts and I am going to apply the lessons learned to my own life and try again. I will let you know how this works in a bit.  
 
Do you ever have this kind of Monday?

(Photo Credit: Stacy Duplease. 26 August 2012.)

 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA