Self-Examination as a Christian by Stacy Duplease & Stories by Stacy

Please check out my blog at: http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/ before you read this blog. Then, return here. Also if you read either of the blogs, please comment on them or send me an email about them to either: stacyduplease@storiesbystacy.com or storiesbystacy@gmail.com since I love any input you can give.

Self-Examination as a Christian
As a Christian, we are not to focus on self. Luke 9:23 tells us to deny ourselves. However, it never tells us to not analyze or examine where we are in life, through God's help. We need to know where we are, where we've come, and make adjustments if we fail/sin somewhere. We also need to make adjustments if we feel lost or like there should be more to life than what we're currently experiencing.

However, most importantly, is how close we are to God. This is the most critical thing we need to ask Him and ourselves. Are we drawing ever closer to Him? Are we praying more to Him every day or less? Are we in the Word more daily or less? Are we living the purpose He has for our lives and are we bringing Him glory?

Where are you on your Christian road/journey? Where do you need to be? Where are you headed? Is it your road for your life or God's?

Take some time to analyze where you are. Ask God to speak to you about it over the next couple of weeks.

Read and re-read Psalm 139 often while you're in the mode of self-analyzation.

We should self-examine at least two weeks every 6 months, if not more. This helps us to stay on track and to live smack-dab in the middle of God's will in our lives. 

Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

NoNaWriMo

Look what I just decided... I decided to take place in that National November Writing Month where you write a book of 50,000 words in one month.

I'll keep you informed about my status.

By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

Living the Bible

How many of us read the Bible? How many of us just hear a sermon on the Bible from time to time? And how many of us actually apply the word to our lives after reading it, thus showing it's a priority in our lives?

How many of us read the Word every day?

How many of us live the Word actively and consciusly daily?

This has become a goal of mine. I want to pray without ceasing and forever mediate on the word--and apply it to my life.

The two books I'm working on right now are about doing precisely that.

How do you live the Word? Send me your comments or emails about it.

How many of us are in a bible study group at the moment?

Are we Christian or Christ-Followers? For me, there is a difference. A Christian just believes in Christ. A Christ-Follower is someone who believes in Christ, follows Him, and actively tries to live the Word. Which one are you?

Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

9/11

God be with the families and friends of the victims of 9/11. You're in my thoughts and prayers daily. God bless you.

Also, be with the military who has fought every day since at war in the Global War on Terror and their familes.

The sacrifices made on 9/11 and since have completely changed my life and I think I'm a much better person because of you. You've inspired me to live well so that your sacrifices aren't in vain. Thank you.

Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

The Renewal of Rain Part 2 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

Please check out my blog called, "The Renewal of Rain" at: http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Then, proceed to read this one.

Rain offers us a symbol of renewal (restoration of life). Of cleansing. What in your life needs to be restored or renewed and what needs to be cleansed?

Christ is the only way we receive the true water of restoration. It's through Him we're freed and forgiven. He is the life.

What can Jesus help cleanse and restore in your life? Think on this today. It's freeing.

For me, I find that busyness tends to trap me. I get so busy that I forget to slow down. Therefore, I'm quite blessed by the rain today. I'm reminded to stop and take time. To be still and know that He is God. To pray. To draw near to Him.

Enjoy your day of rain--even if it's all in your mind. Enjoy the refreshment that only God can bring.

Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy &Publishing by Stacy

Bible Study

Has anyone been involved in a Bible study lately? What material did you use? Let me know. Drop me an email to:

stacyduplease@storiesbystacy.com

Thanks!

Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

Updates About Editing and Writing Projects of Stacy Duplease and Stories by Stacy

Vacation/Time Off

First of all, I'm going to be gone the week of 07 September-13 September 2009. I'll be back on Monday 14 September 2009. My mom's coming to visit and we're going to play and see the sights of Omaha, Nebraska.

Blogging
It looks like I'm a madwoman thinking I can do 8 blogs. Time is a very precious commodity and I enjoy spending time with my husband and getting writing done. (Call me silly.) We shall see. For now, my main blogs are:

http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/

http://www.sacredstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

The sacred one is my Christian-based blog.

I'll blog about the other stuff: journaling, writing, mom stuff, marriage stuff, patriotic stuff, and spec lit stuff in both of the above. When I can, I'll add to the other blogs, but I need to be realistic. I don't want to kill myself or you.

Updates About Editing Projects
I am still editing "Cammi's Story" and "Demarcations" and will put them both on this blog when I am able to again. Then, once I am done editing, I'll publish them. My guess is two more months.

Updates About Writing Projects
Forget all the other stuff I've said I was working on the past. They all got moved to the backburner for now. I need my ideas to stew and simmer sometimes. (Okay, a lot of times.) These are my present projects:

"An Easy Faith: A 50-Day Study Guide" from the series: Putting God in the Every Day Series. It's a Bible study. Hence, is non-fiction.

My fiction project is: "The Best of Darci Thompson: Saying I Do to the Best Man." It's about a woman who gives up on men and decides to marry God and she blogs about it. I tell her tale.

Website
Also, don't forget to check out my new website at:

http://www.storiesbystacy.com/

By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

An Easy Faith: A 50-Day Study Guide by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

This is the first segment of my new book or Bible Study I'm writing. It's called:

An Easy Faith: A 50-Day Study Guide

It's book one of a new series called:

Putting God in the Every Day Series

It's about how in life we have the habit of overcomplicating our faith to the point that we kill it or make it unattainable. Therefore, it's essential we learn how to reframe our view of faith and live our faith in the every day throughout the day.

I will put my reflections from the study on this blog under this "label" so that people can turn to it as a resource. Also, please leave your comments, thoughts, questions, or kind suggestions as an attachment to the blog postings. Or, you can email me at my new email address:

stacyduplease@storiesbystacy.com

Have a good evening.

Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy