Faith Journaling

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Easy Way, Short-Cut and Prayer

Most of the time, the short-cuts and easy way are the worst ways to go. There is too much you miss if you go for the easy way or the short-cut.

I used to like to make sure that my prayers were measurable and could be answered by God. I helped him out that way. I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be disappointed. I was impatient and wanted answers now, thank you very much.

I now realize how shallow that is.

The USAGC 2026 prayer could be seen as a pipe or an impossible dream. The Bible mentions nothing about it, so obviously that will never come true... Right?

Wrong.

The Bible doesn't mention the internet, satellites, tanks, cell phones, abortion, presidential elections, etc. Does that make them any less true or real?

The USAGC 2026 prayer is very possible. It will take more prayer... more intentional prayer... than I can even begin to fathom. But, I am going after it. I am giving it my all. No short-cuts. No easy ways. Just dropping to my knees and getting to the down and dirty. I am praying to the point of callouses on my knees--and holes in my jeans where my knees are. I will pray like this every day for the next 25 years--and then beyond. I am tried of little, short-term, easy, short-cut prayer. I want to the meat and potatoes of my faith--not just the milk.

Again... Wanna join me? Let me know if you do. Send an email of attach a comment to a blog post, please.

(Photo is from Microsoft Clipart)

Blessings,

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

The Easy Way, Short-Cut and Prayer

Most of the time, the short-cuts and easy way are the worst ways to go. There is too much you miss if you go for the easy way or the short-cut.

I now realize how shallow that is.

The USAGC 2026 prayer could be seen as a pipe or an impossible dream. The Bible mentions nothing about it, so obviously that will never come true... Right?

Wrong.

The Bible doesn't mention the internet, satellites, tanks, cell phones, abortion, presidential elections, etc. Does that make them any less true or real?

Again... Wanna join me? Let me know if you do. Send an email of attach a comment to a blog post, please.

(Photo is from Microsoft Clipart)

Blessings,

Book News

I now have two books based off of this blog. They are both free. You can get them at the link below (in this blog post) that is for Smashwords.

They are free for now and will be until there is enough material for an entire book. Hence, please note that they are ROUGH DRAFT copies and need to be corrected. They are based off of posts from this blog.

In time, both books will be available for $5.00 each. But, that's months from now.

If you want this blog in book version, you might want to download the free book at Smashwords. It's easier to use and you can have it at your fingertips. Also, I am re-downloading each book once a week or so. Whenever there is a new copy available to download, I will notify you with a blog post.

They are:

and...

Christmas Prayers for the Military and Their Families

My prayers go out to the members of the U.S. military and their family and friends for Christmas.

For those away from home, and who cannot get home for whatever reason (whether deployment, working, or distance), my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thank you for the sacrifice of the military member and their loved ones. Our country, and my life, would not be what it is today without you and your service.

God bless you!

(Photo is from Microsoft Clipart)

Stacy Duplease

The USAGC 2026 Prayer and Vision

The USAGC 2026 Prayer is that the Great Commission is fulfilled in the United States of America on or by 31 December 2026. It's that all people accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and believe in John 3:16.

It's also for revival and for the Great Commission to be fulfilled in the world.

Any time you see 'USAGC 2026', that is what it means.

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

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

States Prayer List for Today

Today, we are to pray the USAGC 2026 prayer for:

Ohio and Oklahoma

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Join the USAGC 2026 Prayer Campaign? Prayer Requests?

Would you like to join the USAGC 2026 Prayer Campaign and pray for the Great Commission to be fulfilled in the USA on or by 31 December 2026?

Let me know. Send me an email at the email below or add a comment to any of the blog posts.

Also, if you ever have prayer requests, let me know. It would be an honor to pray for you!

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com

Prayer Starter

Here is a prayer starter and something to help you get in the Christmas mood.

(It's a photo I took at a writer's conference in May at the YMCA of the Rockies.)

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Thank you

Thank you for taking the time to read the blog. May God be glorified.

Blessings,

Stacy Duplease

How is Your Prayer Life?

This is another prayer journaling opportunity, by the way.

So, how is your prayer life?

How is it since you started to read this blog? (To Him be the glory, by the way.)

The reason why I ask these questions is because I started this blog on 14 December. Here it is 6 days later and my prayer life has been dramatically transformed. It has nothing to do with what I've written. It has to do with how God has worked in my life.

Has he worked in your prayer life as well? How?

What has worked in your prayer life over the last week? The last year?

What hasn't worked very well?

What answers have you received for your prayers this week? This year?

My prayer for you: Lord, open his/her heart and mind to praying for you in a whole new, active, personal, and more intimate way. May he/she learn how limiting his/her prayers have been in the past because it wasn't fully realized, or remembered, how every prayer--no matter how little or how much it has to do with the now--impacts generations upon generations. The reverse is true. Help him/her to remember how generations are impacted by the lack of prayer. Abba, help him/her with the Prayers of Determination and teach them, how to pray in the way you desire. Help him/her to know how you want them to pray for USAGC 2026 and the fulfilling of the Great Commission on or by 31 December 2026. To you be all glory, honor, and praise, forever and ever. You are holy, holy, holy.

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

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

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/)

Be Still

It's critical at points in our lives for us to be still. After all, we often get so busy that we miss hearing what God is saying to us, we miss opportunities, and we don't always notice God's blessings. Busyness tends to cloud things in our lives and get us sidetracked from the that which is most important in our lives.

That's why it is so important for us to have times of stillness, rest, and rejuvenation. We need to be still at least one entire day per week and actually take a Sabbath day.

You know all of this. I bet you struggle with the same thing I do. It's the application component. Consequently, I am about to suggest something you might think odd and impossible at the moment. But...

Christmas is in 5 days.

Be as still as you can possibly be between now and then. Don't miss the time with the Lord and your loved ones because of busyness. You don't have to do it all. It will not make Christmas any less. In fact, through the years, I've learned the less I do for Christmas, the more enjoyable Christmas is because I can actually sit back and make memories--vs. worry about perfection. You can't force memories and good times. But, they can sure happen when you give them the opportunity.

And, during your periods of stillness or busyness, don't forget to pray USAGC 2026 and all your other Prayers of Determination. Those are the things that will be long remembered. Generations upon generations will be impacted by them.

Take time. Be still. Enjoy.

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

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

Monday, December 19, 2011

Perpetual Prayers of Determination (Determined Prayers)

What are the Perpetual Prayers of Determination?

Determined Prayer is a prayer we pray over and over until a certain target date or until the day we die.

These are the prayers we wrestle with God about and A-S-K (Matthew 7:7) over and over until we receive our answer.

USAGC 2026 is one of these.

There are several determined prayers within the USAGC 2026 that we should pray repeatedly and without ceasing for and they are:

~ Each of the 50 states

~ The Weekly Great Commission Fulfillment List

~ The Monthly Great Commission Fulfillment List

These are the prayers you can pray, and should pray, 24/7/365. these are serious prayers. They are prayers that will allow God to work in a way He hasn't been able to work before. They are so big and important that we need to make sure to be very intentional about them and make sure to keep a record so we do not forget what we've prayed, or what God has answered so far. These are the prayers of the heart that change our lives--and the lives of everyone in our lives, the lives of everyone we come across, and the lives of those we are praying for.

These are the circle prayers Mark Batterson talks about in his book: "The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears." (See http://www.amazon.com/Circle-Maker-Praying-Greatest-ebook/dp/B005EGK0MI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324319680&sr=1-1)

Keep praying these prayers. Get determined. Make sure to give lots of daily attention to each of your Perpetual Prayers of Determination (Determined Prayers).

Stacy Duplease

Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

How to contact Stacy Duplease

You can add a comment to the end of any of my blog posts or email me at: usagc2026@gmail.com

The USAGC 2026 Prayer Notebook Version 2

I have started to compile "The USAGC 2026 Prayer Notebook" and will periodically give an update of the complete list. This is a guide to assist us with our daily, weekly, and monthly prayers and keep track of answered prayer.

Feel free to use this list for your prayers, if you would like. Also, in time, I will publish a book of this list so that you can have it as a resource at your fingertips.

They are:

A Monthly Prayer List of 50 United States:

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/monthly-prayer-list-of-50-united-states.html

B Daily Prayers:

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/daily-prayers.html

C Specific Prayer Prayer Journal List:

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/specific-prayers-prayer-journal-list.html

D Weekly Great Commission Fulfillment Prayer List:

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/weekly-great-commission-fulfillment.html

E Monthly Great Commission Fulfillment Prayer List:

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/here-is-monthly-list-in-which-to-pray.html

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

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

Monthly Great Commission Fulfillment Prayer Lists (for USAGC 2026 Prayer Notebook)

Here is a monthly list in which to pray regarding the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on or by 31 December 2026. It is in additional to your 50 United States Monthly Prayer List.

1 The USA

2 Your state of residency

3 Your home state

4 The state in which you want to retire

5 The country in which you live

6 The city in which you live

7 The block in which you live

8 The people who go to and work at your grocery store

9 The people who go to and work at your Wal-Mart or Target

10 The people who go to and work at each of your other stores

11 The people who go to and work at where you get your hair cut

12 The people who go to and work at your bank

13 The people who go to and work at your work

14 The people you see as you drive

15 The people who go to and work at the restaurant you go to

16 Hollywood

17 The people who go to and work at your doctor

18 The people who go to and work at your dentist

19 The people who go to and work with your spouse

20 The people in the life of each family members

21 The people in the life of each of your friends

22 The government

23 The Church (as a whole in this world) to help bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the world on by by 31 December 2026

24 The Church in the USA to help bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on by by 31 December 2026

25 The Church in your state of residency (as a whole in this USA) to help bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on by by 31 December 2026

26 The Church in your city of residency (as a whole in this USA) to help bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on by by 31 December 2026

27 The Church you attend (as a whole in this USA) to help bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on by by 31 December 2026

28 Christian authors to help bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on by by 31 December 2026

29 Christian movie producers to help bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on by by 31 December 2026

30 The government

31 Hollywood

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Weekly Great Commission Fulfillment Prayer Lists (for USAGC 2026 Prayer Notebook)

Here is a weekly list in which to pray regarding the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the USA on or by 31 December 2026:

Sunday: The USA

Monday: Your state of residency

Tuesday: Your home state

Wednesday: The state in which you want to retire

Thursday: The country in which you live

Friday: The city in which you live

Saturday: The block in which you live

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Will you commit?: Daily, Weekly, or Monthly

Do you want to join the prayer campaign and the USAGC 2026 Prayer Team? Will you commit with me to pray for the USA and for the Great Fulfillment to be fulfilled in the USA on or by 31 December 2026?

I would love to have you join me.

You can commit to praying daily, weekly, or monthly--meaning:

A Every day praying without ceasing for USAGC 2026 to be fulfilled.

B One day per week praying without stopping for USAGC 2026 to be fulfilled.

C One day per month praying always for USAGC 2026 to be fulfilled.

You would pray for the country as a whole, for your state, your county, and your city.

Attach a comment to the end of any blog post or send me an email to: usagc2026@gmail.com (That's my new email address.) Let me know which you would like to commit to, if you know. (Thank you!)

Thank you for your consideration!

Blessings,

Stacy Duplease

USAGC 2026

Our Prayers are Cumulative: The Impact of One Prayer

Last week, in several blog posts, we learned how much of a difference one prayer could make. For instance:

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/immediate-results-never-cease.html

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/lifespanof-prayer.html

http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/problem.html

One prayer impacts generations and has the potential to impact trillions of people (literally).

One prayer impacts generations of the pray-er and everyone the pray-er comes across for the rest of their lives after the one prayer.

One prayer impacts generations of the prayed for and everyone the pray-er comes across for the rest of their lives after the one prayer.

In other words, our prayers are cumulative.

As I said last week, if you do not pray one prayer, you will negatively impact trillions. So, imagine if you fail to pray all day, for a week, for a month, for a year...

Do you hear the difference prayer, and the lack thereof, can make? So, now... What are you going to do about it? What is God telling you about this?

Stacy Duplease

Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

Public Prayer

I discovered something very special over the weekend. I cannot wait to share it with you. I am still in the process of what it means to pray for the fulfilling of the Great Commission in the USA on or by 31 December 2026. After all, this is a whole new way of life for me... The praying of the Great Commission in the lives of the U.S. is something I started last week on the 14 of December. Hence, I am only 5 days into this. Consequently, what I am about to share is quite new and different for me.

So, how can we pray the great Commission to be fulfilled in the USA? Here is one way:

This weekend, I was at an airport, at two restaurants, at the gym, at Bass Pro Shop, at another airport, and drove quite a bit around town. Needless to say, I was in public more than usual and I was able to pray the Great Commission on each of those places, and during the driving in-between. Therefore, I learned quite a magnificent lesson.

Pray the Great Commission for each person you see and think of. Go to public places and pray for everyone you see there--and along the way to and from your home. Pray for each of the houses and cars you pass . Granted, sometimes there are so many you pass, it has to be a prayer to cover the multitude, but still pray over all of them. Now, if they already believe in Christ, pray that they are a conduit to help plant, fertilize, and/or grow the seed of faith in their lives. I pray simply, "Father, help them and all others in their life to believe in Jesus Christ and fulfill the Great Commission on or by 31 December 2026."

Do this everywhere you go, every time you go.

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

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

The Gift of Jesus Christ

The greatest gift you can give anyone is prayers for them.

There are two prayers in particular It depends on who they are if you pray just the first or if you pray both for them. The two prayers are:

A That they accept Jesus Christ as Lord and believe in him.

B That they become a rock solid, on-fire, determined follower of Jesus Christ who reads and prays the Word without ceasing.

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

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful Writer
USAGC 2026

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Prayer for Today

Lord, please help the U.S. to fulfill the Great Commission by 31 December 2026.
Help us to become a Christian nation who is God-fearing and honoring again.
Lord, help me know what to pray, and how to do so, to bring USAGC 2026 to pass. Give me the words.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Prayer Notebook vs. The Prayer Journal

I recommend keeping one of each as you pray. This is far more true as you now have learned that your prayers impact generations. How can we remember what we've prayed unless we write them down? Also, how can we remember what to pray?

A Prayer Notebook is an outline of what to pray. It's generic.

A Prayer Journal is what you have prayed and what you pray as you write. It's your record.

Have you ever kept one before? What does each of those look like?

As far as the notebook have a resource for you for that already: http://usagc2026.blogspot.com/2011/12/usagc-2026-prayer-notebook-version-1.html

As far as how to prayer journal. Stay tuned. This will be one of the things I focus on this week.

(Photo if from Microsoft Clipart)

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026

Snowy Days

(Photo is from Microsoft Clipart)

I am a Colorado native who lives in Virginia at the moment. Here it is, almost winter and almost Christmas and, oh! how I miss snow. While I do not miss driving in it and all the crazy drivers, I miss how life slows down. It offers the opportunity to pray. You will not travel far, unless you absolutely have to do so. Hence, it give you more time for intentional prayer--where that is all you are doing. You are not having to drive across town or run errands at the same time.

Life slows and you can pray more. That's what snow means to me.

So, I think I am going to start declaring snow days--even if it's only in my mind.

What can you do to pray more in your life?

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior and Faithful WriterUSAGC 2026