A Loyal Faith
An Introduction, Vol. 1
Stacy Duplease
Smashwords Edition, Copyright 2011
REMEMBERING YOUR PRESENT, LLC
POQUOSON, VIRGINIA
Website and Blog:
http://aloyalfaith.blogspot.com
Copyright © 2011 by REMEMBERING YOUR PRESENT, LLC and Stacy Duplease. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy or copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Copyright © 2011 by REMEMBERING YOUR PRESENT, LLC and Stacy Duplease. All rights reserved of photography on cover of this book.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Remembering Your Present, LLC & Duplease, Stacy.
A Loyal Faith: An Introduction, Vol. 1
ISBN 978-1-4660-9522-9
Please visit:
http://aloyalfaith.blogspot.com
PRINTED AND CREATED IN THE USA
This book is dedicated to everyone who wants to grow deeper and more loyal in their faith in the Lord and in the Word.
Acknowledgments
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The book you hold in your hands is a rough draft. It’s the chronological blog version of what will be the Bible study book. Consequently, it needs a great deal of editing.
It is a copy of the blog posts from the ‘a loyal faith’ blog at: http://aloyalfaith.blogspot.com and this book will be updated frequently at http://www.smashwords.com Therefore, please check back regularly and download the new version.
This rough version of this book provides the reader with all of the blog posts so far in book form and makes it easier to look at as you go through the blog posts. The blog posts is a Bible study guide or workbook. Therefore, this form might be easier to read than the blog.
Please note that the days and chapters are not set-up yet in this rough form. Please bear with me. The rule of thumb is one blog post, for the most part, represents one day.
This blog to book format will be free and at no cost to you—ever. So, download it as often as you desire.
However, I will add more material to it, and fix errors, and make things more clear in the book in a polished book called, “A LOYAL FAITH: AN INTRODUCTORY BIBLE STUDY, VOL. 1” and will charge a nominal fee for it later. I will keep you updated about its progress.
Shall we get started on our journey towards growing a more loyal faith in God and in his Word?
Enjoy!
Blessings,
Stacy Duplease
INTRODUCTION:
a loyal faith
DO YOU WANT A LOYAL FAITH?
Do you want a loyal faith in God and in the Word?
Is this something you long for and try to reach?
I do not know about you, but this is a deep longing on my heart. I try to reach a loyal faith, but I tend to fall short at times. Furthermore, busyness tends to get in the way of me reaching this goal every day. After all, as a Christian, I know that this is something to constantly aim for and is something which requires an active, conscious, and daily commitment on my part.
Nonetheless, isn’t it worthwhile? Knowing God and his Word more are always best and require a commitment from us. Is it possible to have a loyal faith in God and in his Word? Is it achievable? Can it be obtained?
Moreover, if we mess up today, do we need to scrub the plan? Or, can we stand up, brush off our pants, and try again?
That is the question this blog, book, and series will cover.
BLOG
This is a blog as well as a Bible study series. So, you might want to sign up for a free subscription to the blog and check out past posts when you have the free time. You can find the blog at: http://aloyalfaith.blogspot.com
There is a great deal more information there and will not be a waste of time.
You may want to keep an eye out. In time, this blog will be converted to e-books, so you do not have to read all the past posts and so you can have them at your fingertips whenever you want to refer back to them.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
You can read more about Stacy Duplease and her writing at the following blogs and can contact her through them as well.
http://stacyduplease.blogspot.com
Blog for Bible Study:
http://aloyalfaith.blogspot.com
This is the blog to look at for more information, tidbits, and knowledge outside of this book. Also, you can meet others, and hear their questions and stories, through this blog regarding developing a loyal faith.
Email:
hisfiction@gmail.com or aloyalfaith@gmail.com
I welcome the chance to hear from you. Please write and I will do my best to reply in a timely manner.
Blessings,
Stacy
BOOK INFORMATION
You can find her information for her books on her website and can find the actual books at:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction
Part 1
Where We Came From
Day 1: INTRODUCTION
Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Subject: Welcome
Welcome to A LOYAL FAITH.
This is a blog about Bible study and prayer journaling.
Are you wanting to have a loyal faith to God and his Word?
Welcome.
Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Subject: How?
How do we have a loyal faith to God and his Word in today's times?
Is it possible?
How much work and sacrifice will it take?
What does this even look like today?
Why make our faith a priority anyway?
These are just a few of the questions we will look at on the blog.
Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Subject: Bible study, writing, and a loyal faith
It happened yesterday.
I went online and discovered something disturbing. It was quite disturbing actually.
I went and did internet searches looking for new Christian Bible Studies. I was disturbed by how few there were.
Greatly disturbed.
I even looked at several publishing houses. I did not find many. I found few.
Huh.
So, why is this the trend?
The moment I asked myself the question, I had part of the answer. I knew the answer before God even spoke to me.
I will help reverse the trend.
The moment I thought that was the moment I heard the Lord say, "Yes."
My next thought process was how I plan to write 5 books per year. So, I will write 3 historical fiction and 2 bible studies.
Oh. There is another disturbing new trend. Shorter Bible studies...
Oh. My blog will turn into a bible study book. So 3 -4 books per year.
My Book Ideas:
~ a loyal faith thru technology
~ a loyal faith thru time... finding time for faith
Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Subject: Hebrews 12:2: Focus
Please look up Hebrews 12:2 in your Bible.
The verse of the day for today at one of my favorite websites, http://www.biblestudytools.com/, is Hebrew 12:2. It got me thinking.
I think most of the issues we have in life, and regarding keeping a loyal faith, lie in the issue of our focus.
Where do we put our attention? What do we think about? What is our top goal? Why do we live? Why do we do the things we do? Who are we? Where do we hope to be in 5 years? 10? How do we live? When do we focus on what is most important? How often do we?
Are the answers to these questions seeped in God, faith, and the Word--or in something else? Are we God and Word focused? Or are we world and action focused?
Take some time to ponder what your true answers are to all of the questions above.
Then, take some time to ponder what your answers should really be.
Pray to God today about this.
Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Subject: Think of this blog as a bible study devotional journaling workbook tool: What is required of you, the reader: Answer the questions
This blog is meant to serve as a vehicle to bring us closer to God and to have a more loyal faith to God and his Word.
I have a request. Actually, it's rather a requirement.
Allow it to deepen your loyalty of your faith.
What does that look like? You might wonder. That is a good question. The answer might seem complicated. But, it really isn't. This is a:
A Bible study
B Devotional
C Journaling tool/starter
D Workbook
all in one. Use it as such.
Do not merely read it. Rather...
Think about it and chew on it. Ponder it. Do so for a day, then a week, then a month, then quarterly, then yearly.
TAKE ACTION. Apply it to your life.
Additionally, please use this as a Bible study workbook first and foremost. That means, you will need to write your answers to every question. Think about it for at least a couple of hours and then add to your answers and anything new which came to mind. Then, do it 24 hours later.
Do your weekly reviews. There will be more to follow.
Just reading this blog and pondering it only will take your faith so far. It is important to be active in faith. That leads to a loyal faith. So, use this blog as a tool. Allow it to bring you to a loyal faith.
Day 2: WHY KEEP A JOURNAL WORKBOOK?: ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Subject: answer the questions: part 2: why keep a journal of answers and review?
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:
In an earlier blog post today (05 November 2011), I requested you to answer every question I ask in the blog, and in every blog post, in your own journal.
That sounds like a great idea. But, what does that look like? How should you keep a journal for your answers and for review? More importantly, however, is why. Why should you keep a journal of answers and of review?
WHY KEEP A JOURNAL OF ANSWERS AND REVIEW:
A loyal faith is one that is:
A Reflective (thought through)
B Planned (Scheduled)
C Evaluated
D Implemented/Applied
E Re-Evaluated
Why keep a journal?
Can you remember every single thought you think today? How about your thoughts from yesterday? What about the day before? What about from 20 May 2003?
Do you see the point?
There is another point which needs to be made about why it is important to keep a journal. Something you think today will be different tomorrow, in a week, in a month, in three months, in a year, etc. It is one thing to work it through in your mind. But, when it is written down on the page, and you are forced to look at it, you will see it differently. Therefore, it is important to work things through and keep the progression of thought. If gives you something to evaluate and re-evaluate later.
Another reason to journal is because thoughts are fleeting. You can forget to think about something. Journaling it will help you keep on track.
Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Subject: how to keep a journal of answers and review
HOW TO KEEP A JOURNAL OF ANSWERS AND REVIEW:
If you have never journaled before, it's okay. The type of journaling I am talking about here is simply answering the questions I ask. It's like treating the questions as a question and you write your answer like you would in a workbook. The only difference here is you create the workbook for yourself. That way, you are not limited to how you have to do it. You can be as creative or as simple as you prefer. You can write as little or as much as you desire as well.
It really is that simple.
Now, as to the actual format... Refer to the next blog post: "FORMAT OF YOUR JOURNAL. "
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Subject: format of your journal: keep it digital
HOW SHOULD YOU FORMAT YOUR JOURNAL?
How should you format your journal? Or, how should you keep your journal?
ANSWER
I highly recommend making the switch form pen and paper to keeping it on the internet (i.e. email, Google Docs, Cloud, etc.). In other words, keep a digital email.
Now, for those of you who just cringed or said, "No way," please keep reading.
For those of you who like that idea, you can keep reading or jump ahead to the section of: KEEPING YOUR JOURNAL ON THE INTERNET.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT?
You may ask that question after I encouraged you to keep a digital journal or one on the internet. You may be extremely opposed to any such venture, as a matter of fact. However, let me tell you why you should.
If you have never done a Bible study workbook, and/or have never journaled, this might seem foreign to you regarding the answer I am about to give you. Hang with me, though.
Why should you keep a digital journal? The simple answer is 4-fold:
A It saves money.
B It saves space.
C It is permanent.
D You can carry it with you at all times--24/7/365.
IT SAVES MONEY
It saves money to save your journals online (on the internet). After all, you do not have to buy paper (i.e. blank journals or loose-leaf), pens, and storage.
IT SAVES SHELF SPACE AND BROKEN BACKS AND SHOULDERS
This is where for those of you who have never written down prayers, done journaling, and have never done a Bible study where you have a workbook need to trust me.
In time, this blog will help you to move from never keeping a journal to keeping a sentence to keeping a paragraph to keeping a page to keeping 2 pages or more daily. (Trust me. you will. It is a progression which we will help you move through without even realizing it. So, you still start off simple, in small chunks, and with minimal time to maximal time and having a loyal faith in God and in his Word.
If you keep a journal of paper and pen, it costs money. It means making sure you always have an extra journal around in case you run out of room if you don't. It means you would have to carry all of them with you at all times when you go back and evaluate, re-evaluate, and review. That gets heavy.
Also, journals start to pile up and that requires space. Imagine keeping ten years worth of journals or more. Those take even more space.
Ideally, this blog will help you want to develop, and keep, a loyal faith and that means a lifelong commitment. Part of a loyal faith is thinking things through, planning, evaluating, keeping track, re-evaluating, reviewing, and so on. This all requires space and money.
If you are 90 years old, I understand not caring about that. However, if you are less than 90, you might really think about this.
I've journaled for 26 years and have hundreds of paper and pen journals. They take up a great deal of space, needless to say. And, what is the reality I will get all fo them digitized and put on the computer? I hope to, but will I ever get all of the typed up? It is doubtful. Do you want to deal with that? Let me answer for you. I don't think so.
Trust me.
IT SAVES ROOM ON YOUR COMPUTER
If you save your journals onto your computer, they, too, will eat storage in your computer. If you save them on USB memory sticks or other storage devices, they take up memory as well. That costs money and you can still loose your journals. Hence, I recommend saving everything over the internet. Email is one option I highly recommend. The way I most recommend is through Google Documents. Memory storage/space is UNLIMITED. Also, you can get to your journals from any computer or cell phone with internet capability.
So, how do you do this?
I will do a future blog post on JOURNALING WITH GOOGLE DOCS. (It will be sometime in the next couple of days.)
For now, send yourself email of your journal entries, if you are not familiar with Google Docs.
Why do I recommend Google Docs?:
A Unlimited Storage Space
B You can email the file to yourself as well.
C You can get to it from any computer or cell phone with internet capability.
D It is FREE. No charge.
E It's easy.
F It has an excellent search feature for when you try to look up journal entries at a later date.
IT IS PERMANENT
If you have the paper and pen variety, a problem arises. I know this firsthand and get emotional just thinking about it.
Hurricanes and fires happen.
I am a Colorado native. Hurricanes were never a problem for me. Then, a few months ago, my husband and I moved to Virginia. We had a mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Irene in late August 2011. Do you see the problem? We have a mid-sized SUV--a beagle, an orange tabby, and two aquatic turtles. We have photographs (2 plastic containers worth). We needed clothes and food.
Do you see the problem?
I have three extra large plastic containers (i.e. Rubbermaid/ Sterilite about four feet by three feet in size each) of journals--packed to the brim. We did NOT have enough room in the car to bring them with us. That meant leaving them behind. (Yikes.)
Paper and pen journals are not permanent.
Also, when we moved here, the movers lost one extra large plastic container of them. They never found them.
I've also had well-meaning movers mix up loose-leaf pages when moving--over 5,000 pages of them. That also happened with this move.
Also, water spills. I've spilled glasses of water on my journals--when I've been on the last pages of my paper and pen journals. (Urgh!)
So, trust me.
You do NOT want to lose them (or have them put out of order) or have them destroyed. There is a lot of loss and grief which happens if you ever lose them. Consequently, make your journals permanent--where fire, hurricane, and movers cannot destroy them. They are too precious and valuable.
Your journals are permanent if you keep them online, over the internet, and in any one of the ways mentioned below.
PAPER AND PEN JOURNAL YELLOW AND INK FADES
Over time, paper and pen journals turn yellow and the ink fades. Some of mine have. Therefore, keep a digital journal and one over the internet. It never fades or yellows.
YOU CAN CARRY IT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES--24/7/365
It is absolutely necessary to keep a journal with you at all times. After all, if God tells you something, you want to remember it--not just for the short-term, but for the long-term as well. The problem with carrying a paper and pen journal means you have to carry them with you. Then, when you get to the point that you are almost done with one journal, you will need to have the second one with you as well so you don't have to stop journaling because you run out of space. This means it can get bulky.
It is highly valuable in your life of developing and keeping a loyal faith to review and re-evaluate your experiences and journey.
Also, as you go, you may want to find something you wrote in the past for whatever reason.
KEEPING YOUR JOURNAL ON THE INTERNET
See the section above which says "IT SAVES SHELF SPACE."
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Subject: journaling with google docs
HOW DO YOU JOURNAL WITH GOOGLE DOCS?
1 Sign up for a gmail account--whether you use it for gmail or not. You do so at:
2 Go to: https://docs.google.com/ and sign in with your gmail information (user name and password).
3 Create a new document.
4 Start your journal/workbook for this blog and Bible study.
5 Answer every question ever listed on the blog. Write at least an one-sentence answer.
6 You are finished. It's really that easy.
Your document will be saved on the internet, with unlimited storage capacity, for free. (Yay!)
If you have any questions, send me an email at: hisfiction@gmail.com or attach a comment at the end of any blog post on this blog and I will help you out in any way I can.
Good luck and happy journaling--so you can have a loyal faith.
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Subject: Bible and Scriptural references
In this blog, which is a Bible study notebook, I will mention Bible study references, for instance, Hebrews 11:1.
Most of the time, I will refer to them and ask for you to look up the verse on your own.
Please do so.
Let's face it, if the reference is there, we will not do it on our own. We tend to get lazy that way. (Me included!) However, I will help us out by not putting the verse in the blog post so that we can look it up for ourselves, and preferably in at least three bible translations (if you have the time or want to make the time).
Write the reference in your journal workbook (I will call it by both these names for whichever is more palatable to you. Sometimes one of the names can bring a negative connotation and I do not want to bring that to you by any means).
After you write the scripture reference (verse or passage) in your journal workbook, make sure to write your immediate thoughts on the verse or passage.
Then, read whatever the blog post says about that verse or passage and then write your thoughts about that reference again.
Finally, write in your journal notebook how you plan on applying that verse to your life.
Does this make sense?
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Subject: recommended but not required: journal workbook
By the way, everything I mention about your journal notebook is important if you want to grow a more loyal faith in God and in his Word. But, if you do not feel like it, by all means, do not. It is better to at least read this blog than not.
If you want to take steps to grow a more loyal faith, you will follow the each of the instructions. The more you do, the deeper you will find your loyalty to your faith. It works. Trust me.
But, if you are out of time, make a note to the side to go back to 'that'--whatever 'that' is.
This blog is not going anywhere. So, you can come back to it for years to come. Also, I will turn it into books later so you can have everything at your fingertips.
So, do not think you have to stop reading this because it asks you to do too much. The idea is a progression of transformation. We will grow in steps to go from never journaling to journaling pages each day. Just wait. you will see. It also will not be something that happens overnight. It's steps. It's a progression.
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Subject: This blog's different types of review
Every week, month, quarter, 6-months, and year, I will give you 2 different types of review in this blog:
A Blog material
B Questions to Ponder and put in your journal workbook.
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 1:05 PM
Subject: your personal review
Every week, quarter, 6-months, and yearly, you will also want to take a look at your journal workbook's writings and entries.
In the days, weeks, and months to come, I will arm you with information on how to do so.
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Subject: up-to-date: what to do
At this point in your journey with this bible study journal workbook (blog), here is what you should do:
A Read the previous blog posts to this point.
B Journal workbook about Hebrews 12:2. Do not worry about any of the previous questions so far. Start from here.
Does this help?
Day 3: ???
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Subject: Questions to Ponder: QTP: Spiritual inventory
THE SPIRITUAL INVENTORY
Let us take some time to evaluate where we are in our walk with the Lord and with the Word--and where we stand.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: THE SPIRITUAL INVENTORY
Please answer all of these questions in your journal workbook.
As of this point, I will start to number consecutively the questions we will answer in our journal workbook. So, I will not start every question with a number 1. I will start with the next consecutive number. Does this make sense?
Also, in a line, there can be multiple questions. They will be numbered, by the way. The reason is because the questions go together.
1 How close to the Lord do I feel right now? 2 How close am I?
3 How much time have I spent in reading the Word this last month?
4 How much time have I spent in the Word this week?
5 What from my time with the Word have I applied to my life? 6 How has it changed me?
7 How close do I want to be with the Lord?
8 How much do I want to be in the Word every day? 9 Every week? 10 Every month?
11 How much time have I spent in prayer this week? 12 This month?
13 How much time do I want to be in prayer each day? 14 Week? 15 Month?
16 How well do I know the Lord?
17 How well do I want to know the Lord?
18 How much time do I think about the Lord and his Word every day? 19 Week? 20 Month?
21 How much time do I want to think about the Lord and His Word every day?
22 How would I define a loyal faith?
23 Do I have a loyal faith today? 24 How can it improve? 25 What is working well for me in this regard?
26 How much Bible study have I done today? 27 This week? 28 This month?
29 How much time do I want to spend each month in Bible study?
30 Am I walking according to the Word? 31 How? 32 How am I not?
31 Is God the number priority in my life? 32 How does my daily schedule reflect this? 33 My weekly schedule? 34 My monthly schedule?
35 What has God said to me today? 36 This week? 37 This month?
38 How have I responded to what God has said to me today? 39 This week? 40 This month?
41 Extra thoughts. Write down anything that comes to mind.
42 When I look at this inventory again in a week, what will I want to have changed?
43 When I look at this inventory again in 2 weeks, what will I want to have changed?
44 When I look at this inventory again in a month, what will I want to have changed?
45 When I look at this inventory again in a week, what will I want to have repeated?
46 When I look at this inventory again in 2 weeks, what will I want to have repeated?
47 When I look at this inventory again in a month, what will I want to have repeated?
48 My prayer now:
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 3:58 PM
Subject: 1-sentence answers to the questions
I just wanted to be very clear at this point. The only thing expected of you at this point for all the questions asked is one-sentence responses in your journal workbook. If you write more, all the better.
But, one is all that is necessary at this point.
If you average more than once sentence responses, keep track of your average. If I ask you to increase your answers by one sentence, then do so--from your average. Does this make sense?
Date: Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Subject: Book version of this blog
I have already started to compile a rough draft version of this blog in book form.
Either click the Smashwords link below or click on the book cover on the left-hand side of this blog.
Day 4: ???
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 8:42 AM
Subject: Round 2 of the spiritual inventory: The evaluation
Yesterday, we worked on a spiritual inventory. Today, we will assess or evaluate our responses to the inventory. We will look at our answers we put in our journal workbooks, along with our inward responses to them.
Grab your journal workbooks. Mark your responses to the spiritual inventory and mark where you will respond to these questions. Then, read back over your inventory responses. Finally, respond to the questions below in your journal workbook.
49 What was your overall impression of the inventory?
50 How did you feel after you finished it?
51 What did you think after you finished it?
52 List seven things you mentioned you wished you could change, add to your life, and apply to your life?
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
53 Of the 7 you listed in 51, which are your top 3 you would like to apply to your life and why?
a
b
c
54 What did God say to you?
55 What did you say to God?
56 Summary
57 Prayer (Write one)
Make sure to do the spiritual inventory and evaluation every month, quarter, 6-months, and year. Do a review of previous inventories. When it gets to be that time in this blog, I will show you what I mean.
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Subject: A loyal faith definition
QTP: Questions to Ponder
58 How do you define a loyal faith?
59 How do you define loyal?
60 How do you define faith?
61 How is your faith?
62 How is your loyalty to the Lord and his Word?
63 Do you have a loyal faith today? 63 Why did you answer in that manner? 64 Can you grow to have a more loyal faith in God and in his Word?
64 If you say you can grow a more loyal faith, how can you do so today? List three ways you can apply this to your life today (how you will try to develop a more loyal faith).
a
b
c
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 1:24 PM
Subject: Analyze your daily planner and schedule: Set a plan into motion
Write your responses in your journal workbook:
65 Do you keep a planner or daily task or to do list? 67 Why or why not?
66 If you do not, please take a few minutes and write a list of everything you did the last 7 days. Write at least 4 items per day.
67 If you do, look at your planner the last 7 days. Make a quick list of the items found there. Write at least 4 items per day.
QTP: QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
68 What did you do the most? How much time did you spend doing it?
69 List the next 3 things you did the most and how much time you spent doing each:
A
B
C
70 How many of those items were spent for God? 72 How were they time for him?
71 How many were not spent for God?
72 Does your schedule, outside sleep and work, reveal God and the Word as your priority?
73 How can you put more faithful activities on your planner?
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
74 How did you include God and faithful activities into work? Tip: You can pray and learn to do so without ceasing, as an example.
75 How can you include your faith during family time?
76 Write into you planner three items each day that include God while you do activities you must do for the next month.
77 Write into your planner at least three items each day for the next month that are between you and God and you do not share with anyone or anything else (as far as the time).
Day 5: ???
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Subject: A lot to do
I realize that as you read this blog, you might feel overwhelmed at the complexity of what there is to do here.
Please note that each blog post from the spiritual inventory to now can and should be treated as a different day's activities. Translation: You do not have to do everything in a day. Treat each blog post as a new day--if there is something for you to put in your journal workbook. If not, it's just reading, so you might double up on those days.
Only do as much as the Lord leads you to do in a day. The spiritual inventory might very well take a couple of days for you to do.
Hint: The more you do, the more you'll get out of it, though, and the more loyal of a faith you will grow. But, do not let it stop you. Do as much as you are led by God to do.
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Subject: How Much Time?
QTP: QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Please write your responses in your journal notebook.
78 How much time should you spend with God each day?
79 How much time do you want to spend with God each day?
80 How can you spend more time with God each day?
Day 6: ???
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 3:26 PM
Subject: Evaluating your faith
QTP: Questions to Ponder:
Please write your responses in your journal workbook:
81 How would you define your faith?
a not very good
b complacent (neutral)
c so-so (up and down)
d more active than not
e active, strong and loyal
82 Explain your answer to question #83.
Day 7
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Subject: Complacency
Note: You might feel that I ask the same questions from time to time. At first glance, that is true. However, when I ask a question in different ways, it is to bring more out and get you to look at things differently. So, please, do not skip the question. Answer it agian--even if it is the same answer. Ideally, you would mix it up a bit, though, if you are able.
QTP: QUESTIONS TO PONDER
83 Are you practicing a good-enough, complacent faith? Where you do just enough to get by?
84 Or do you have a life-transforming, on fire, God-prioritized faith--where even your planner/to do list/schedule agrees?
85 How do you live a good-enough, complacent faith at times?
86 Have you done it lately? 89 If so, when?
87 How are you living a good-enough faith now?
88 How is your faith on fire today?
89 List three things you can do today, tomorrow, and for the next months, to live an active and loyal faith.
Day 8
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 3:43 PM
Subject: Are you distracted and busy?
QTP: QUESTION TO PONDER
Please answer these questions in your journal workbook.
90 Is your faith distracted?
91 Are you too busy doing things that you miss the relationship with the Lord and his Word dimension of your faith?
92 How is your faith distracted at times?
93 List 3 things you can do to make sure your faith is not distracted and stays on focus.
94 List 3 things you can do to minimize the busyness in your life.
Day 9
Date: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Subject: Confess Your Sin and Wrongdoings
QTP: QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Please answer these questions in your personal journal workbook.
95 What have you done wrong lately that you need to confess? Write out your confession.
96 What 3 steps can you take for each wrongdoing you listed to ensure it does not happen again?
Day 10
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Subject: Moving from introduction and self-review to Bible study
Today, and in this blog post, we move from introduction of A LOYAL FAITH blog/book and journaling to the introduction of FAITH. We also move from introduction and self-review to the real Bible study portion of this blog. Everything prior was necessary to bridge the gap and bring us to this point so we could meet on common ground before we start our journey through the Word and toward a (transformational and deep-founded) loyal faith.
Are you ready?
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 9:05 AM
Subject: Finding answers from the Bible
Whenever we want answers to a life question, moral question, or want to know how to live, the Bible is the first place we should go. But, the question is, do we? Do we really?
If we turn to the Bible, do we turn first to Bible studies, commentaries, Bible dictionaries, devotionals, Christian Living Books, people, etc.--or do we turn first to the Be and see if we can find the answer there and on our own through the assistance of the Answer (the Word of God)?
That was a complicated question. Did you follow?
In case I was not clear, let me ask the question in a different way.
Do you trust God with the answers or man--first?
Chew on that for a moment before you read any further.
All of the things I mentioned above are written by man--including this blog (well... woman, but you get the idea). Man is fallible. Man makes mistakes and might interpret something incorrectly. Therefore, it is important to listen first to the Word and find your answers there, along with much prayer. If you still are not finding the answer, then it helps to turn to trusted Bible resources--with much prayer again.
Do not trust man. Man will lead you astray.
Part of developing a more loyal faith is to turn first to God and not to man.
I am sure you already know all of this. However, I bring it up because of the errors I make and have made. There is a reason why I am writing this blog. I need it. I figured if I need it, others might as well. So, here we go. (Never mind how God told me to. Who am I to argue?)
I have had the tendency to forget everything I just mentioned. I KNOW it. But, it does not mean I ACT on it, if that makes sense. I get busy, lazy, or both. Therefore, I might turn first to a Christian Living book or to a study Bible for answers. Then, if I am still wanting, needing, or searching for more, I turn to a commentary. I do not take the time to look at cross-references. I do not give it the adequate amount of time to stew in my mind and take my time with finding the answers I seek. I look for the short-cut, fast food variety of faith. I'm busy. There are more pressing things I need to do. My schedule is not my own.
Is this resonating? Please tell me I am not the only one.
I KNOW better. Yet, I fall into the trap of busyness.
This blog and Bible study is my effort to corral my busyness and short-cuts and get back to the basics.
For instance, who and what are more important than God?
So, when I have asked you to write out your definition of A LOYAL FAITH, it's been in an effort to help us look and see what we think it means so we can compare what it means to God and his Word. We will start to look at that in the next blog post.
JOURNAL WORKBOOK TIME
Please grab your journal notebook and respond to the following:
97 What has God said to you today?
98 What have you said to God today?
99 What can you apply to your life from this post? List three things:
a
b
c
100 Your prayer:
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Subject: Bible resources
In order for us to be able to do Bible study, we need certain resources. We need those resources to we are able to do it to begin with and in order to get the most out of it.
Before we start the actual Bible study portion, I want to share with you where to get the most resources and where to get them for free--at no cost. There is a catch, though. These resources are only found online. You will need a computer, tablet, or cell phone in order to access them.
Let me state now how fortunate we are that this is the case. When I was 19, I started to become a serious Bible student. I was in college and paid my way through school, so I did not have much money. However, I would save and in time I would be able to buy these resources. I have most of them now and can testify they cost me a couple hundred dollars (more actually) and weighed almost 50 pounds (no exaggeration). Plus, they took up an entire bookshelf of space. If I wanted to carry them with me, if could be expensive if lost, stolen, or damaged--never mind how heavy they were!
Think about it:
A A Blank journal
B Pen
C Folder for other loose-leaf sheets
D 3 to 5 different Bibles
E 2+ Bible dictionaries
F 2+ Bible encyclopedias
G Exhaustive Concordance
H 2+ Commentaries
I Bible study book
That means at the very least, you carried 13 books with you--in a large sturdy box--with the worry the bottom could give out at any time. (How many of us did that? More often than not, we would leave at least half at that at home if we took them anywhere at all.)
Why do I share this story?
We live in a very advantageous time.
We have no excuse whatsoever to fail to do Bible study.
Let's look at the benefits of technology today regarding Bible study:
A It's free. No cost.
B We can access it 24/7/365.
C We can carry them with us at all times.
D It does not weigh a thing.
E We can get multiple versions of the Bible, dictionaries, encyclopedias, commentaries, concordances, etc.
So, where do we find these resources?
Here are some examples. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but my favorites are here. I will put them in order of my top personal favorites to my lesser favorite:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Subject: How Many Bible Versions?
Whenever we look up a verse or a passage in Scripture, I recommend looking up as many Bible versions as you can. 3 to 5. But, more is good.
What I mean is that we should look at, for example:
~ The New International Version (NIV)
~ The Message (MSG)
~ New Living Translation (NLT)
~ Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
~ The Amplified (AMP)
~ New King James Version (NKJV)
~ New American Standard Bible (NASB)
WHY SHOULD WE?
Why should we look up 3 to 5 versions of the same verse or passage?
There are two reasons:
The more we read it, and in different ways, the more we will (1) understand it and (2) remember it.
HOW DO WE?
Let's take this Bible study link as an example:
Here are the instructions, as an example:
A Go there now.
B Find, "SEARCH BIBLE".
C Type in Hebrews 11:1-2.
D If you look in the "USING" field, you can change the versions in which you see and can read the verses in.
That's it. It is that easy.
TO DO: I recommend every time you look up a verse, and in each version, you make notes about what it says in your journal workbook. Write what spoke to you, what didn't, what questions you have, and how you can apply it to your life (or what to do or what not to do). Make sure you note the differences between the versions.
Now, do not get out of those verses. They are what the next blog post is about.
ADDITIONAL BOOK MATERIAL:
Please take out your journal workbook and answer the following questions:
101 What has God said to you today?
102 What have you said to God?
Day 11
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Subject: Hebrews 11:1-2 What is faith?
You have addressed the question of how you would define faith in the previous days. Please look at your journal workbook and look at all of your answers regarding this and write a summary next.
QTP
103 What is faith? Write your summary and how you define faith.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
So, how does the Bible define faith? We will take several days and weeks in an effort to define this. We will look at examples of what faith is and what it is not. But, let us look first at the classic definition most people would give about faith and Hebrews 11:1-2.
HEBREWS 11:1-12
Look up those verses in at LEAST five versions this time.
There is a reason. There is a great deal to this thing called faith. If you only look at one version, or three, we will greatly shortchange what we can learn.
QTP
104 What are the differences you see in the five different versions about the definition of faith--or what the verses say about faith?
A
B
C
D
E
105 Write a summary definition of faith from what you learned from the 5 different versions of Hebrews 11:1-2.
106 What does God say to you about faith and Hebrews 11:1-2?
107 What do you say to God about faith and Hebrews 11:1-2?
108 List three things you can apply to your life about faith and Hebrews 11:1-2.
Day 12
Date: Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 8:24 AM
Subject: Hebrews 11:1-2 and the definition of faith: Part 2
Yesterday, we began to look at Hebrews 11:1-12 so that we could start to define faith and what it means to be faithful and unfaithful. We looked at several versions of the Bible in the process and came up with a summary of all the versions.
Today, I want to make sure that one of your versions was of THE MESSAGE BIBLE (MSG). If you studied it yesterday, then you know why. If not, take a look and see what you missed. It's a good one. As a matter of fact, that's the version I've decided to use to memorize regarding faith. Make sure if THE MESSAGE is new to you regarding your study of Hebrews 11:1-2 to write a summary of it in your journal workbook and add it to your overall exhaustive and all-inclusive summary of Hebrews 11:1-2.
I hope you got as excited as I did when I read THE MESSAGE version of those verses.
Now, do the same with THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE (AMP).
Again, THE AMPLIFIED added even more understanding.
109 QTP: If you could make the simplest definition of faith, what would it be--without paraphrasing one of these versions? Put it in your own words in your journal workbook.
Here is how I would summarize it. My definition is not more right than yours. It is just another way of phrasing it. So, don't change your based off of mine.
Faith is trusting, and having assurance, that what you cannot see or prove is true (Hebrews 11:1).
110 QTP: What have you learned about faith?
Hebrews 11:2 talks about what makes the people of the Bible great. It is their faith. They were not giants by earthly/man's standards, but they were great according to God's standards. Their faith was something that can set ups apart from the rest. And, do you know what? It can do the same for you and me.
111 QTP: Do you want your loyal faith to set you apart from the rest?
112 QTP: How will you make your loyal faith greater? List three action steps you will take:
A
B
C
113 QTP: What has God said to you today?
114 QTP: What have you said to God?
Date: Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 8:33 AM
Subject: Further Application of Hebrews 11:1-2
We are going to take a look again at Hebrews 11:1-2.
Please find your exhaustive-unabridged-long version of your summary of these verses in your journal workbook. Then, answer the following.
QTP: QUESTIONS TO PONDER
115 Regarding reading the Bible, how can you make your faith stand apart from the rest--and even from yourself in the past? List 3 actions steps you plan on using in order to have a more loyal faith in the Word of God:
A
B
C
116 Regarding your prayer life, list 3 actions steps you will do in an effort to demonstrate a more loyal faith:
A
B
C
117 Regarding Bible study, list 3 actions steps you will do in an effort to demonstrate a more loyal faith:
A
B
C
BIBLE READING VS. STUDY
By the way, the difference between Bible reading and Bible study is this:
When you read the Bible, you are reading it for familiarization. This is a quicker read. It takes less time.
When you study the Bible, you look at each word, each verse, and see how it fits in the Bible and what it means, and does not mean, for your life. You take your time and try to comprehend every word and you apply it to your life.
Does this make it clear?
a loyal faith, vol 1 10 Nov 2011 today’s additions
Day 13
Date: Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 8:33 AM
Subject: Further Application of Hebrews 11:1-2
We are going to take a look again at Hebrews 11:1-2.
Please find your exhaustive-unabridged-long version of your summary of these verses in your journal workbook. Then, answer the following.
QTP: QUESTIONS TO PONDER
115 Regarding reading the Bible, how can you make your faith stand apart from the rest--and even from yourself in the past? List 3 actions steps you plan on using in order to have a more loyal faith in the Word of God:
A
B
C
116 Regarding your prayer life, list 3 actions steps you will do in an effort to demonstrate a more loyal faith:
A
B
C
117 Regarding Bible study, list 3 actions steps you will do in an effort to demonstrate a more loyal faith:
A
B
C
BIBLE READING VS. STUDY
By the way, the difference between Bible reading and Bible study is this:
When you read the Bible, you are reading it for familiarization. This is a quicker read. It takes less time.
When you study the Bible, you look at each word, each verse, and see how it fits in the Bible and what it means, and does not mean, for your life. You take your time and try to comprehend every word and you apply it to your life.
Does this make it clear?
Day 14
Date: Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Subject: What does not demonstrate a loyal faith?
Now that we have taken a look at how faith can be defined, it is time to look at examples of those who are faithful and those who are unfaithful. This will help us as we learn more about that it means to have a loyal faith in the Lord and in his Word.