Huge Favor from My Readers

So I can keep track of who's reading this blog, can you please send me a comment, sign up as a reader, or drop me an email? I would really appreciate it. If you have time, let me know what you like, what you think, and any suggestions. Thanks!


By Stacy Duplease


of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

The Christian Muse of Inspiration: Where Does it Come From? by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

What inspires you as a Christian, an artist, a writer, or anything else that defines you? What or who is your muse? Is it a person? An idea? A place? A book or movie?

What moves you or drives you is another way to ask the same question.

Is your muse or inspiration something that comes from one place or several? Is it a single source of inspiration or a multifaceted source?

As Christians, I think there is only one source of muse or inspiration we draw from (or should draw from). I think God is our Muse with a capital 'M" and is the one who gives us our thoughts and ideas (when we are in Him). We may hear His voice from several different areas though: people, places, ideas, books, movies, etc.

What do you think?

I'm going to be blogging on this topic this week.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Love Stories and Christianity

The greatest love story of all is how Christ died for us--willingly and to save us.

The greatest love story of all is how much God loves us. Ephesians 3: 16-19 gives us an idea, along with several other parts of the Bible.

How much does God loves us? Far more than we can comprehend.

Why don't we try to comprehend it today and bask in it?

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

The Right Priorities, Spiritual Gifts, Planning, Ezekiel 16: Unfaithful, by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Please see today's blog posting at: http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/ before you read this blog.

The Right Priorities and the Wrong Priorities
The definition of today's man or woman: Busy.
We are busy doing the things that don't really matter. Yet, we refuse to do the things that are right. Why is that? For instance: Do you spend one hour in the Word daily? And, do you pray and rejoice without ceasing all day and all night long? Or, try this one on for size: Do you always give thanks?
Yet, we'll get caught up on the computer, playing video games, looking at porn, dreaming about what life should be, think that busyness gives us value or self-worth.
Why is it our priorities are so fouled up and why is it we continue to feed them even though they are the wrong priorities?
If our priorities aren't based on Kingdom-thinking, or on heaven, then we're focused on the things that don't last. We are going against what God has in mind for us.
How do you know your priorities? What should matter to you? These are a couple of questions that might be in your mind right now.
What are priorities? A priority must take precedence and come first in your life. Nothing else should ever come in the way of it. Never, ever. Our priorities must be first our spiritual gifts and what God has called us to do. It can be the things you do in order to bring about a dream. It can be your life goals. It can be the daily necessities: work, eating, sleeping, cleaning, etc. A priority is that which is important to you.
If your priorities line up with the Word and what God wants from you, then you're focusing on the wrong priorities. Delete them from your life. Eliminate them.

Spiritual Gifts:
What are spiritual gifts? Read 1 Corinthians 12.

Planning:
Part of the Sin of Busyness means that our priorities are out of line. Part of busyness, wrong priorities, and a stressed-out life stems from either the lack of planning or poor planning. Make your life easier by planning and making sure you live out your priorities through proper previous planning. Don't plan as you go. Don't neglect your planner even one day. It will mean your priorities slip.

Purging the Things That Don't Matter:
Get rid of the things in your life that don't matter. Do it today. Focus mainly on the things of eternal consequence. Be single -minded in this area. God matters. The Word matters. When we die, none of us will say that we wish we had more on our plate, a busier schedule, or focused on the things that weren't a priority in our lives. So, stop living that way now.

Learn How to Say No
If asked to do something, you don't have to do it because you're Christian and that's what Christians do. In fact, it's usually wrong when we don't say no. When we say that we'll do something that is not a priority and is not a spiritual gift, we're getting in the way of someone else who's gift it is to do that activity. Just say no. An explanation is never owed. Just say no--unless it's your priority. It will free up your schedule and decrease your stress.

Ezekiel 16: Unfaithful
I'm working on writing a Bible study based on this topic and out unfaithfulness to God.

How are you? What's new? What's on your mind? Let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

The Problem of Inaction in Our Walk with Christ, News, Vacation by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Check out my blog on this subject first at: http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com. Then, read this blog, please.

Inaction: What is it?
Inaction is not moving. It's being still. It's complacency.

Stillness for God:
We are to be still for God. We need to keep our sabbath and quiet our minds and hearts. But, nowhere in the Bible are we told to stop progress in faith or in our relationship with Him. Yes, we are to be still for Him--when we've been too busy (in heart, mind, and/or body). We are to listen to Him. This is a must.

What Inaction?
What inaction am I referring to, then? Inaction. Not moving. Not being active in faith. Not keeping mind in Christ. Not running for the faith. Not growing in faith. I'm talking about being stagnate in faith. Lukewarm or cold.

If we are inactive in our faith, our faith is dead.

We are to actively try to follow Him.

We are to keep our minds and hearts focused on Him--even in the midst of doing other things. We must forever remain alert to Him and His call.

We need to be aware of where we are, how we are, and aware of Him and His instruction.

Our lives in Him are at stake.

We can live a warm, rich, nourishing life with Him or we can be inactive, dead in faith, and not live for Him. When we don't live for Him, our lives take on a downward turn. I don't know about you, but life is tough enough without relying on Him and being active in Him. I don't know how I could get by without Him.

How are you in your faith? Are you moving too fast or too slow? Find balance in Him--and listen. He'll tell you what's up.

News:
I'm working on writing a study on 1 Corinthians. Stay tuned.

I'm also debating on doing a couple of Christian living books.

Vacation:
My Dad is coming to town tonight. I'll be back next Monday.

God bless.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

The Christian Perspective and Living for Heaven Today by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Before reading this blog, check out my blog at: http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com titled, "Perspective." Then, come to this post, please. If you don't have time, that's fine. Read on.

Life is about perspective, isn't it? If you have the right wrong, your life is greatly enriched by it. If not, then you will undoubtedly run into problems. Furthermore, perspective can impact us for the rest of our lives. It makes all the difference.

What is perspective?
It's our outlook or point-of-view. In many ways, it's what we think. However, there is far more to it than that. Our perspective makes us who we are as individuals and our perspective shapes the way we live.

A Christian perspective:
I think the sum of a Christian life can be found in this perspective:

Live for heaven today.

Or in this question:

How are you living for heaven today?

Or in this one:

What you are doing today impacts your eternity.

Living for heaven today
If we were to live every day, every second, every week, ever month, every year with this perspective, our lives would be drastically different.

This is a reality check for us.

We cannot call ourselves Christians and not keep this in mind and intentionally live this out day in and day out until we are called home.

Are you living for heaven today?

What does it mean to you to live for heaven today?

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Nearer My God to Thee, Moving Away From God, Seeking Him First and Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Ever feel far away from God? Like you've moved?

Is it just me or do you not realize it until later and then you wonder how you could have been so foolish to allow it to happen yet again? I always think I would have learned the lesson the last time I made the same mistake. However, it never seems to take hold. Ugh. When will it?

What Draws Us From God?
My biggest problem is busyness. I get busy. Time tends to fly when I'm busy; therefore, I lose track of time and focus. I lose sight of what's important and forget to be intentional about my faith. The funny thing is that the very things that keep me so busy would be even better, and more blessed, if I invested time in my Lord first and foremost.

How is it Feasible to Put God First?
How can it even be done to begin with in our age of busyness? Is it even feasible or realistic?

Seeking God first and above all simply means intentionality of focusing on Him.

Is it doable? Of course it is. We can talk, work, drive, and do anything else and keep our mind on Him at the exact same time. We just need to do it.

When we fail, we need to not beat one's self up about it, but refocus on doing it again.

Draw near to God. Be near to Him. There's too much at stake not to do so.

I'm going to start again. How about you?

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Greetings from Stories by Stacy

Hello! It's been a while. Sorry to not be here yesterday and add a posting to this blog. However, I'm here now.

I am mostly settled in my new home in Omaha. It's been fun (not sarcastically speaking, but I'm serious) setting up a new home and combining two households in one. This is the first time my husband and I've been under the same roof. Therefore, it's quite nice. I not only love my husband, but I like him. So, it's been a while in coming but here we are.

Omaha is a great deal better than I anticipated and I had positive thoughts about the place beforehand. It's pretty, green, and hilly. I love the people, the community in which I live, and so on. It's a slower pace than Denver and I definitely love that facet. It's also nice to be near more Christians and patriots. Everyone is friendly and when you let a driver over in front of you, they actually wave and say thank you.

It took us a month to get some of our furniture (and we're still waiting on the last round to come in on Friday). But, the wait was worthwhile. The house is a sacred place and quite peaceful. It's a retreat and that matters more to me than anything else.

We got a kitten named Sinan (pronouced See-naw-n) on Sunday and have been enjoying him very much. He's a huge ham. He has no fear. He's vocal, follows us around, and comes when called. He's a lover and purrs loudly. It looks like I've got a good helper.

I really have not had time to miss Denver yet and I think that's a good thing.

My dad is coming out to visit next week, so I'll be a little out of the loop again. Sorry about that.

It looks like I have four books I'm working on at the moment, as far as writing goes:
1. A book on 1 Corinthians. It's a bible study, devotional, reference, journaling type of book. It's meant to be done individually or in a group. Non-fiction.
2. A book on journaling. I actually call it journalblogging. It's a combination of journaling and blogging where you get thoughts out on paper or in a blog. It forces us to realize that we miss most of life every day because of busyness. We need to slow down and try to process what we experience, think, feel, be intentional about living, plan and seek our goals every day or we miss life. We forget what's important. Non-fiction. It can be done individually or in a group.
3. Zeagar. Fiction. Sci-fi.
4. A book about if walls could talk. It's set in the future and is going to be an epic love story about a construction worker who helped built the arch in St. Louis. The construction worker is purely fiction, but I want to do a series about 'Building America,' and how everyone has a story and these stories build America as well as the hands that build the landmarks. Fiction.

Also, I need to edit and get ready for publication:
1. Cammi's Story
2. Demarcations

How are you? What's new with you? Let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

I'm Back

Greetings from Omaha.

I'm back and will start to blog again tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your patience.

By the way, I have a new kitten. He's an orange tabby, named Sinan (pronounced: See-naw-n). Sinan is a good lion name. He acts like a lion and looks like one in a way. Sinan means spearhead. So, get ready for tales of the adventurous one.

How are you? What's new with you? Drop me a line and let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy