Author: Stacy Duplease

Did you know that you are loved?

Did you know that you are loved by the Lord?

Do you know how much He loves you?

Do you live according to this knowledge?

Do you do so every moment?

Do you base everything you do on this? That you are loved by the Lord?

How do you?

How do you not?

What would your life be like if this was the focus of everything you ever do henceforth?

How can you live in this manner?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS JOURNAL ENTRY

– THE EVENING OF MARCH 04, 2026, WEDNESDAY

• EVENING THOUGHTS
• MORNING OF MARCH 05, 2026, THURSDAY
• THE THREE O’CLOCK HOUR
• ONE POST PER DAY
• I THANK THE LORD FOR… 
• A MORNING PRAYER
• HOW EVERYTHING WE DO CAN BE BLESSED (with some stipulations)
• PRAYERS OF THE DAY
• WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING?
• GIFTS, STRENGTHS, WORKAROUNDS, AND ACCIDENTAL ANSWERS
• BIBLE VERSES FROM TODAY

• THE EVENING OF MARCH 04, 2026, WEDNESDAY

• EVENING THOUGHTS

I find it… interesting… how about the time you realize you are in a better place with the Lord, then things happen to try to sidetrack you or frustrate you. That is what I am dealing with at the moment actually it’s what I’ve been dealing with the last couple days about the time I get traction, about the time I start feeling that peace that transcends all understanding.

Doesn’t that just figure? But it is what it is. I am trying to roll with a punches. So far, I am just rolling my eyes and are not and internalizing it so this is good. Now, I pray, that I can continue being this way.

I blame my positive reaction on the fact that I have been focusing on giving thanks. It puts things into proper perspective. So I thank God for this. It is a testament to how giving thanks works. It helps me chill and deal with things easier and more laid-back.

Thank the Lord.

(Oh dear, the cat just sat on my phone so all sorts of crazy things were just journaled by accident. Whoops.)

• MORNING OF MARCH 05, 2026, THURSDAY

• THE THREE O’CLOCK HOUR

Gulp. For the last week or so, I have been waking again at the 3 o’clock hour. It had been months since I had done that. There are many reasons why I wake up at that time, and there have always been.

Usually, it is a call to prayer.

But sometimes it is because of health reasons.

Sometimes it is because I am worrying, ruminating, replaying moments that I try to dissect and figure out exactly what was going on, I forget to stop looking at my cell early enough that the blue light gets me (even though I have a filter), I get too hot, I get too cold, or I just can’t sleep. And sometimes, this is a combination of any above. Last night, however, and the last several nights, I think it was because of the blue light I need to be handwriting my journaling again from 5 PM and on.

Regardless, I think that it is always a time a prayer and a time to be alone and still with God.

The three o’clock hour can be a very sacred hour, if we choose to combat all the negative things that may have woken us by turning to the Lord. Spending quiet, close, alone, and still time with Him is imperative. It can make our day, week, month, year, and future years God-centered, rather than self or world-focused.

This hour helps us listen more to Him. We do not have other noise interfering.

Embrace this hour. It is special and sacred time.

• ONE POST PER DAY

Out of interest of ensuring there are not too many journal entries each day, I have decided to do one blog post (mostly) each day of the workweek, and will post it around noon EST in the US. Consequently, each blog post hold entries from noon the previous day to just before noon the day of the blog post.

Therefore, I will have a summary of each journal entry from that day inserted at the top of each day’s blog post for easier navigation.

• I THANK THE LORD FOR… 

• Yesterday
• Today
• The grey cat that has been snuggled up on my chest as I journal and is keeping us both warm 
• My new cell
• I changed platforms with it
• The new platform is a game changer, and I do not think it is possible to overstate that
• Today we will be getting new exterior doors installed at our house
• How the war in Iran against the present regime is going
• A clean guest bedroom 
• A fresh smelling house after having the windows opened yesterday all day
• I now have an orange cat between my ankles
• I am waiting to receive a special package from a mail carrier, which will hold my new tablet
• I cannot wait to receive my new tablet because of everything that I’m going to be able to do with my journaling and my blogging
• Everything that God and I have already done this morning
• AI (never in a million years did I think I would ever say something like that)
• The almost 17 years that I have had with Sinan the orange cat
• All of the verses that the Lord has given me today so far, and it is still early morning
• Discovering better ways to do things
• Learning new things
• The ability to learn
• How we can constantly learn
• So far, I have walked 1 mile and it is still relatively early in the morning. Hallelujah.
• My husband got a notification that, in fact, my tablet is on its way to be delivered sometime today. I am so excited, Lord.
• How an old dog can learn new tricks, as I have been on my new cell, with the way that I journal
• Thank you, Lord for my new system with journaling and blogging. It is making a big difference. And it seems with every single minute this week, I have been drawing near to You and getting closer. Thank You.
• I am also liking the new way that I am doing one blog post a day
• I am seeing the great benefit of my new format and how I am blogging
• I am receiving great benefit spiritually in this new journal and blog format
• Dishes
• Dishwasher
• Eyeglasses
• Peanuts
• A good book
• The ability to read
• I am grateful for how easy it is to save things on the Internet so my Journaling and my blogging is saved automatically online when I save it to the (Internet)
• That brings great peace of mind.
• I am thankful for how easy it is to go back-and-forth between my personal journal that I will not save online and my Blog journal
• That I can dictate all of my journaling and writing, and AI will turn it from speech to text
• That saves a great deal of time and effort
• It is also helping me with my vocal skills. After all, I am a better communicator with Writing than I am with talking. Dictating is helping me to become more verbal, where it is taking less time for me to form a complete thought. And the complete thought actually makes more sense. The more I am doing dictation.
• The previous reasonings are more reasons why I like this new cell phone and my new Journaling and blogging system. I am very thankful Lord.
• I am grateful for tea.
• An electric kettle for boiling water
• Filtered water
• Electricity
• Plumbing
• Running water
• Speaking with hubby
• 1.57 miles walking so far 
• I have never used the blogging platform that I am using now. Hence there is a steep learning curve for me. I start the blog journal four days ago and ever since I started it. I have been trying to figure out how to search the blog for something that I’m looking for. Having a new cell phone has also added to the learning curve. I am so thankful because I accidentally just stumbled on how to use search within my own blog. I laugh. But it was important for me because if my readers can’t search the blog, would essentially make the blog unusable, and let’s face it, I also need to be able to look for information on my blog so I am grateful that I accidentally stumbled upon the magnifying glass so I could do searching of my blog. I did check it to see if it works. It does. Thank you, Lord.
• Finding accidental answers
• Using a step counter again.
• I have walked 2 miles so far 11:14 AM
• The opportunity for laughter. Or should I save the multiple opportunities of laughter?
• That I can laugh at myself
• I moved my trashcan last night from out with the end the kitchen proper and moved it to underneath my kitchen sink. Do I need to mention how many times I keep going to that original location of the trashcan? As a matter of fact, I was doing something early this morning, without drinking much coffee mind you, and I realized that I was in the wrong place for the trash when I walked close and was getting ready to drop something in the trashcan and it was not there so I walked a few steps to the kitchen sink and put it there then I am not kidding less than a minute later I was doing something and I have more trash so I need to throw it away. And what did I do? I went to that same old location again I am rolling my eyes, just thinking about it and chuckle at myself we are such creatures of habit, but Lord, thank you that I can laugh at myself and realize that there are so many far more important things to get worked up and upset about. My silliness and forgetting where a trashcan and is not one of those.
• God, I am thankful that I have spent a majority of my morning on giving you thanks. It has been a very sacred and special time.
• As much as I wish the installers came an hour and a half ago, I would not have had the opportunity to spend so much time giving you thanks
• Your plans are so much better than mine. Thank you for this reminder. What a special one that I can cherish
• How it seems multiple obstacles keep coming our way. I know the reason for the obstacles is to get us to lose our focus l, and not keep our eyes, our hearts, and minds on you. Thank you that I have this realization. Help me to remember it please.

• A MORNING PRAYER

Eternal One, Faithful One, Holy One, the Most High, there is none like You (Exodus 15:11; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Jeremiah 10:6-7). You are the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9). You alone deserve our praise and thanksgiving. This is the day You have created; therefore, we will rejoice and be extremely glad in this day (Psalm 118:24). Thank You that have provided for us and have already given us the bread, and everything else, we need this day (Matthew 6:11). There is comfort with this acknowledgment. We know we cannot do anything without You (John 15:5). Help me remember constantly how if You did not want me alive, and on earth, and for a purpose, I would not be. Thus, You have a purpose for me to accomplish this day. Help me to live for You today, and every moment, not for myself, not for anyone else, not for anything of this world, but only for You. To You alone, be the glory, the honor, and the praise.

HOW EVERYTHING WE DO CAN BE BLESSED (with some stipulations)

It is rather mind-boggling how God can bless every single thing that we do. But, of course, it has stipulations. Naturally, it needs to be something within His will and line up (agree) with the Bible.

Then, there is this: We need to be mindful about everything that we do. And in doing so we need to commit literally everything that we do to God. After all, when we do so, our plans will succeed. Will. Not possibly. But our plans will succeed. It is a promise. (See Proverbs 16:3.)

However, there is that stipulation. Our plans will only succeed, if we commit them to the Lord. And that is not a one time at the beginning proposition rather, it is an ongoing thing that we are to do. It is to be mindful, intentional, and purposeful.

Therefore, everything that we do can be blessed. We just need to be intentional about committing it to the Lord, and do so constantly this in itself is a great blessing.

• PRAYERS OF THE DAY

– Lord, bless Israel. May there be peace in Jerusalem.

– God, protect Israel, and the United States with all that is going on with Iran. May Your well alone be done.

• Help the installation of our exterior doors go well today. May it be a good team.

• WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING?

• Pray
• Read the Bible
• Praise Him
• Count your blessings; give thanks for literally everything
• Exercise
• Journal
• Keep your mind busy so it does not have time to focus on your struggle. Therefore take your thoughts captive, as it says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
• Read a good book
• Call or text your spouse
• Call or text a friend
• Look at this blog. Over time, there will be many additional resources, journal entries, and blog, posts, that can help with this
• Pray, pray, pray

• GIFTS, STRENGTHS, WORKAROUNDS, AND ACCIDENTAL ANSWERS

One of the reasons I love the Lord, and how He works, so much, is also one of the reasons that I can become quite frustrated, stressed, and anxious at times.

I always find it amazing how God works in that things happen in ways you don’t expect, that are very unlikely, and is something that could not have happened any other way, so it proves that God is real. And that He is in control, not us.

I had the following on my thank you Lord list, my counting a blessings list. However, I thought that I could turn it into a journal entry, and it would be more effective to do so. After all, it is a good illustration and parable of sorts, where we can learn how to live the life of faith, a little bit different differently and a little bit deep deeper.

Here is what I wrote as an item on my I am thankful for list:

God, I thank You for a gift that you have given me. I seem to have the ability to find answers that other people cannot find at the time. Somehow, my brain keeps ruminating and trying to figure out a solution. Moreover, if one solution doesn’t work, I am really good with finding a workaround, another option. I do not mean to sound prideful about this at all. It is just a strength that I have. And let me prove how it is not prideful. How I find the answers is usually accidental in my search rarely is it intentional. While I may be looking for an answer, how I find the answer, is what is accidental. And a lot of times I can’t tell you how I find the answer because it was accidental and I wasn’t paying attention as to precisely how I found the answer. After all, I was focused on trying to figure out how to find the answer and thinking on that so I didn’t pay attention to all of the steps and finding the answer. So finding answers is accidental a lot of times for me. But God works through me and somehow I usually am able to find the answers. Lord, I am thankful for this.

So that was one of my counted blessings for today.

I think that this accidental discovery, and through the realization of how it is a gift and strength that the Lord has given me to find answers, it gave me a new thought or insight.

Isn’t it just like God to work through us and such odd, funny, and lively ways? Where He makes our strength and gifts creative. And what I mean by creative is unique, different, and colorful even.

God does work in mysterious ways.

His ways are unique.

Our God is an awesome God. How he works through the flawed and the week. Through the unexpected people and an unexpected ways He chooses people in ways that do not make sense whatsoever. He uses people and gifts them in such a way that if people are paying attention, it is obvious that it can only be God working through them, and through the circumstances around them.

Hence, if He can use little, real, raw, unrefined, simple, and greatly flawed me, He can use anyone. And He does.

Look at the Bible. Look at the stories of the ancestors of Jesus. They were all flawed. Some more than others. Some were quite unexpected, and He did great and mighty things through them and did so an extra extraordinary ways that can only point to Him, to His work, and to His existence.

As a believer, as someone who is of the faith, as someone who tries to live the Bible, trust God. Trust that even in the unlikely, even in the unexpected, even when we cannot see Him, even when we cannot feel Him, even when it seems, He is distant, He is working in us, through us, and around us. And through it all, He is fulfilling His purpose in us and through us and around us. And His purpose is to point all of people throughout time that Jesus Christ is our Savior and redeemer. He is the long awaited Messiah.

So trust that even in unique you, He is working mighty. And you can trust Him in that. He has given you strengths and weaknesses, and has given you time so that he can be with you and work through you to point everyone to Jesus, it is the best and greatest story of all time and you are part of it. Even flawed you.

• BIBLE VERSES FROM TODAY

Exodus 15:11; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Jeremiah 10:6-7; Philippians 2:9; Psalm 118:24; Matthew 6:11; John 15:5; Proverbs 16:3; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

• A PRAYER

Father, this day is Yours. Thank You for it. Help me to seek you first for the rest of this day and all of this night. Thank You for using my flawed self and my flawed writing, as it is just journaling. Help me to continue looking at this journal entry, this blog post, and continue to listen to what You want to say, and pay attention to what You want to do through it. Father, I pray that anyone who reads this is inspired, comforted, moved, and changed. This day, this journal, this blog, is all about You and it belongs to You and to You alone. To You alone be the glory, the honor, and the praise.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS JOURNAL ENTRY

• A BLOG POST A DAY (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)
• I THANK THE LORD FOR…

A BLOG POST A DAY (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)

I have been debating, and trying to decide, how best to do the format of this blog journal. After all, I could technically do between one and twenty journal entries a day. However, it just dawned on me for whoever subscribed to this Journal, you probably don’t want 20 emails a day. As a matter of fact, you might not want one a day. However, with how much I want to share, I don’t want blog post or journal entries to be fifteen pages long. That is why I will keep this at mostly a Monday through Friday content schedule.

I apologize that I have not thought about subscriptions until now. Please forgive that oversight. I will change things from this point forward.

I THANK THE LORD FOR…

The weather is finally nice enough that I have my windows open to air out the house

It is a beautiful sunshiny day

Since my windows and sliding glass door is open, I can hear the birds chirping

I can also hear our wind chimes as there is a very slight breeze

Things are just as they should be in this moment

My gray cat is basking in the sunshine

My husband is coming home early

What a blessing it is that my husband can work from home a little bit each day

It is so nice to be still for a moment

I am so thankful because there are so many things that I need to be doing, but I trust You, Lord, that they will get done. Therefore, I can stop between tasks and spend a quiet moment with You

I just heard a bird make a call that I have never heard before. How interesting. Glory

How quiet our neighborhood is

I started this blog journal three days ago and consequently, it is brand new. I am trying to get into the swing of things so to speak.

Because this is a journal, it is extremely real and raw. You will see that I use improper grammar. You will see that it is not formal at all this is not a professional blog by any means. In fact, it is very much a what you see is what you get blog journal. And I will admit, this will not change. The focus is being a Journal.

Since this blog journal is so new, you can see how it is a work in progress. (It is definitely that.) However, I need to warn you, that this journal will be a constant work in progress. In fact, it might appear rather erratic, jumbled, and messy even. However, in time, you will see that there is a method for the madness. You will see that there is a reason for it as well. Themes and things will come together. Just give it time.

And please keep checking back here so you can see the progress, so you can see the rhyme and reason.

While this is my personal journal, it is written with God as my first audience, but also for you, my sisters and my brothers. After all, we are on this rock called Earth together. We are doing life together. And the purpose of this journal is focusing on living the best life possible. And the best life possible is not done in the vacuum. It means linking arms together and walking the journey together.

So while this journal is new, and while it may appear chaotic, I promise that things will come together.

Also, I have the ability to learn. Needless to say, I will find a better way of doing things as we go.

Thank you for joining me on this journey and I pray that we can live the best life possible together.

Have a very blessed day.