Holidays with Jesus #7 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Blog Post #7 of the Holidays with Jesus Series of Books
Book #1: Thanksgiving to Christmas
Written: 03 December 2009, Thursday
Posted: 04 December 2009, Friday

THE CURSE OF THE HOLIDAYS
Today, we were supposed to start to go through each of the people listed in Matthew 1 of Christ’s lineage. However, I felt led to address another subject before we start that study. It’s about the curse of the holidays and with Thanksgiving and Christmas in particular. You know the one I’m talking about. It’s the expectations we set which aren’t met and we become disappointed by them and we curse our families and swear off the holiday because our expectations weren’t met.

Another curse is that if it’s going to go wrong, it will usually go wrong now. Hence, it’s even more important to take a look at our expectations so that when things go wrong, we’re less disappointed and are more apt to stand strong in spite of the circumstances. (Also, see my extra yesterday’s blog where I talk about the difference between happiness and joy. Knowing the difference can help us to have more appropriate expectations of the holidays.)

EXAMPLES OF THE CURSE IN MY LIFE
First, my husband and I have been in the process of buying a new vehicle. Everything that could go wrong has. We’re going to get the vehicle, and I have it in my possession, but we haven’t actually signed on the dotted line at the dealership because of several stupid technicalities. It’s enough to drive everyone crazy. However, all parties involved between the dealership, the financial institution, and my husband and I have been patient and have had steady emotions. We’ve been working together and not against one another. This is a huge positive in a negative situation. And trust me, I had to look HARD for this silver-lining. But, things are still sketchy and could be quite irritating.

Second, yesterday was a day of bad news, bad situations, and things which threatened to get me down. Between the car-buying stress, taking my dog (Zack Beagle) to the vet and having to watch him be tortured getting bloodwork because his blood refused to go into the vial… And, then getting some scary news about the results… Then, getting bad news that when my husband and I have to temporarily move to Las Vegas because of his work from January to May originally has now been moved to July. We’ll be in temporary living, with a carload of stuff only, and will bring Zack Beagle and our orange Tabby, Sinan. What that means is I’ll see my husband far less for longer now. Not looking forward to that, but it is what it is and I will make the best of the situation.

EXAMINATION OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
In other words, we set ourselves up to fail on holidays because of inappropriate or unrealistic expectations. We need to examine our holiday expectations. Even if we love the holidays and think they’re perfect in every way, it’s still important for us to take the time to examine them.

Grab your journal/notebook, a pen, and your favorite drink. Then, let’s ask ourselves some questions and answer them in our own hand.

Does Christmas bring pain in your life? Why?

Does just the term ‘Christmas’ make you want to put your hand over your ears and start to run as fast as you can away from it? Why?

Does Christmas remind you of what you don’t have or have lost?

Do you feel angry, sad, stressed, frustrated, disappointed, or any other negative emotion when you think of Christmas? Why? Take some time to answer this question. Ideally, you would write an entire page about this subject. At least, write 8 sentences, please.

What was your worst Christmas ever and why (it can be several)? Take some time with this one as well. Ideally, you would write a page for each occurrence. However, at least do 4 sentences each.

What was your best Christmas ever and why (it can be several)? Take some time with this one as well. Ideally, you would write a page for each occurrence. However, at least do 6 sentences each.

Hang in there.

If the above questions stirred up the negative in you, please, bear with me. I’m going to help you see Christmas differently. However, you’ll need to unfortunately answer more questions below which might add to your pain. Stick it out, please. It will pay off. Go through this and answer the questions in spite of how you want to ignore them because they hurt. Sometimes, we need to go through the pain for a few minutes in order to heal. Furthermore, we need to look and see from time to time why we are hurt by things, even when we think we know why, because the reasons might change.

Also, if you need to set this to the side for a few minutes, do. Take a short break, but finish it in one day. If you wait any longer than that, you might not ever do so and if it takes longer, you won’t get as much out of this exercise.

Please define Christmas.

What does Christmas mean to you, good or bad, and why? Write a minimum of 8 sentences.

How much money do you spend on Christmas?

What traditions do you have?

What do you want out of Christmas?

What do you want out of others for Christmas?
I WANT TO SEE CHRISTMAS THROUGH GOD’S EYES—NOT MINE
Everything from yesterday in my life could make me not want Christmas to come around. Everything could make me a Scrooge. However, I refuse to go there. I’m making an active choice to focus on what really matters and what is really important. Here’s why:

What is Christmas really about? It’s about Jesus. It’s not about family. It’s not about gifts. It’s not about giving. That is what Christmas has become, nonetheless, and is the reason why we have unrealistic and inappropriate expectations of the holiday. The original meaning of Christmas was to celebrate Christ’s birth.

Please don’t hate me for saying what I just did. I’m sorry if it struck a nerve.

However, as Christians, this is a fact. If we let it be anything other than about Jesus, we’ve missed the entire point and His birth, crucifixion, and resurrection were for NOTHING. We will miss that Christmas is about the gift HE gave us—heaven. Living forever with God. No more pain. No more disappointments.

If we don’t celebrate the TRUTH of Christmas, we will be disappointed most Christmases. We will also be stressed most Christmases and might even drive other’s a little crazy because of our lack of realization of the truth of Christmas.

Every day, we need to ACTIVELY, INTENTIONALLY choose to remember the reason of Christmas. We need to see Christmas through God’s eyes and not our own.

Then, we can give gifts—as long as we don’t stress ourselves or our finances. If it comes down to this, or we think we HAVE to give gifts, we’ve missed the point.

If we think we HAVE to give or volunteer, we’ve missed the point.

If we have to force our families to get together, we’ve missed the point.

Can’t Christmas be a time to just be together as a family and enjoy one another? Can’t we just be a family? Isn’t that enough? If you have kids, I understand gifts for them, that’s different. Please don’t misunderstand me. But, we can use it as an opportunity to teach them about the reason for Christmas—every day in December from the first to the thirty-first. Not just a quick one-time read through of the Christmas story.

Can’t we simplify Christmas? Can’t we make it more enjoyable and never stressful in the least? We could choose this approach. Yet, most of us choose not to take this approach--why? (Please answer all those questions.)

Can’t we individually celebrate Jesus’ birth? (Please answer question.)

Choose to make Christmas a time to focus first on Jesus, to enjoy our family, to give to charity rather than on gifts (except for children), and rejuvenate in the knowledge that we’re reborn because of Christ’s birth and our acceptance of Him?

MORE REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
What does Christ’s birth mean to you?

How do you focus on Jesus?

How do you keep Jesus front and center in your life from Thanksgiving to Christmas?

What can you eliminate in your life to focus on Christ rather than on gifts, spending, giving more than you have to give (emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially)?
Christmas is about Jesus. It’s not about us. It’s not about our families. It’s about Jesus.

Let’s see Christmas through God’s eyes and kill the curses of Christmas.

What are your thoughts?
By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Holidays with Jesus #6 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Blog Post #6 of the Holidays with Jesus Series of books

Book #1: Thanksgiving to Christmas
Written: 29 November 2009, Sunday
Posted: 03 December 2009, Thursday

HOW DO WE FOCUS ON JESUS AND NOT ON THE HOLIDAY ALONE?
How do we take the focus off of the holiday and put it onto Jesus? Also, how can we use the foundation of the holidays to remind us of different things to worship Jesus because of and put our focus on during the different holiday seasons?

~ Grab your notebook/journal, a pen, and a mug of your favorite drink and answer the above questions. What do you think? Take several minutes and answer the above questions in a minimum of 8 sentences.
FOCUSING ON AND GETTING TO KNOW JESUS/REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
The questions below are two-fold. One is for you to take time and answer each as fully as you can today. Take a lot of time and answer each one. Answer each one fully and don’t rush your answer. Ideally, you could answer each in 8-12 sentences (or a lot more). However, try for 4 minimum. Then, the second part of these questions is they will be answered through this book and through the “Holidays with Jesus Series.”

Part of focusing on Jesus is to get to know:

1. Who was Jesus when He lived on earth?

2. Who is Jesus to us today?

3. Who is Jesus in the future?

4. What did Jesus do?

5. What’s important to know about Jesus?

6. What has Jesus done for you?

7. What can you do for Jesus?

8. What did Jesus do?

9. What did Jesus say?

10. What did Jesus feel?

11. What would your life be like without Jesus?

12. What have you been forgiven from because of Jesus?

13. Where did He come from? (Before birth, while alive, when resurrected, and when He comes again)

14. When did He live on earth?

15. When did people first realize He was the Messiah and the Savior of the world?

16. When did you first get to know Jesus as your Savior?

17. When will you focus on Jesus today?

18. Why is it important to know Jesus?

19. Why did Jesus come to earth and was born?

20. Why was Jesus crucified?

21. Why was Jesus resurrected?

22. Why will Jesus come again?

23. Why should you believe in Jesus?

24. Why is Jesus important to you?

25. How did Jesus worship God?

26. How has Jesus changed your life?

27. How can you share Jesus with others?

28. How can you focus on Jesus and on Him alone?


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Holidays with Jesus #5 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Blog Post #5 of the Holidays with Jesus Series of books

Book #1: Thanksgiving to Christmas
Written: 29 November 2009, Sunday
Posted: 02 December 2009, Wednesday

TODAY: LET’S GET TO KNOW WHO JESUS CAME FROM AND HIS ANCESTRY
One of the ways to get to know people is to know where they came from and who they came from. Even though Jesus was God, He was born from a woman. He was raised by an earthly father and mother as well. Hence, He was fully man.

Even in cases where we try to deny our family heritage, much of who we are can be directly linked to them and what we learned from. Jesus is no exception. It was even more true back then because in those times, and according to His faith, heritage and remembering the past was essential.

Who God chose as the family line for the Savior of the world is important. Who they were, what they did or didn’t do, what God thought of them, etc. is critical for us to know. After all, everything Jesus said and did was meant to be an example for us and to teach us how to live the best lives possible. He came so that we could learn how to live for and worship God on this earth and how to bring Him glory. Therefore, let’s see what example is set for us in his family line.

Please read Matthew 1 below and then let’s start to break it down and look at person by person and what they did or didn’t do in the name of God.

Matthew 1


The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah


1 The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:


2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.


3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.


4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.


5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.


6 Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.


7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.


8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.


9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.


10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah.


11 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.


12 After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.


13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.


14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.


15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.


16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.


17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.


Conception and Birth of Jesus


18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.


19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.


20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.


21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."


22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:


23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."


24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,


25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus, (NASB).



(Author’s Note about the NASB: "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.")

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
~ Grab your journal/notebook, pen, and a mug of your favorite beverage. Sit back and answer these questions.

1. What names do you recognize?

2. Can you remember what names you recognize did, didn’t do, who they were, and why they’re mentioned in the Bible?

3. How many women are listed above? Who are they? (The answer is 5, as a hint.)

4. Why were the women listed? Any idea? If not, it’s okay. This will be studied later in this study.

5. Why is his heritage important? (Also, his heritage is important because they prove He is the Messiah. There are verses which refer to them. We’ll get into this later as well.

6. What is important about Babylon? (We’ll discuss this later as well.)

7. What do you think Mary thought when she found out she was with child—in an unnatural and abnormal fashion?

8. What would you have thought if you were her and in those circumstances?

9. What do you think Joseph thought when he found out Mary was with child?

10. What would you have thought if you were him?

11. What would you have done if an angel appeared to you?

12. What would you have thought if you discovered you were carrying the Son of God?

13. What kind of pressure would you have felt?

14. What responsibilities would this bring?

15. Would you have believed the angel?

16. What would it be like to carry the Son of God?

17. What would it have been like to give birth to the Son of God?

18. What would this have done to your faith?


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Holidays with Jesus #4 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Blog Post #4 of the Holidays with Jesus Series of books
Book #1: Thanksgiving to Christmas
Written: 29 November 2009, Sunday
Posted: 30 November 2009

THANKSGIVING
I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.

GREETINGS
Good day to you. I hope all is well with you and if not, I'm grateful you're finding solace with God in this blog and blog posting. May your hearts and minds be comforted. If you are suffering in any way, please let me know so I can pray for you. Send me an email to: stacyduplease@storiesbystacy.com or add a comment at the end of this blog. If you want me to add it to my prayer requests on this blog, tell me to do so.

If this is the first time you've read this blog, I hope you go back and read the other three. You can find them in the ARCHIVES of this blog on the right-hand side of this blog about halfway down the page.

HOLIDAYS WITH JESUS: THANKSGIVING TO CHRISTMAS

INTRODUCTION
Today marks the forth day after Thanksgiving and I pray that you had a blessed day and are still feeling grateful. However, realistically speaking, for a lot of people, the holidays aren't the joyful time of year between Halloween and New Year's Day. Rather, Thanksgiving and Christmas can bring pain. They can be a reminder of what you don't have. Moreover, because of the negative emotions and connotations the holidays can conjure, we may want to try to forget them altogether.

That's why I have written this blog and will turn it into a book on the subject. It's for those who love the holidays and those who would prefer to forget. Additionally, for those who love the holidays, do we love them for the right reasons?

This blog and book is to help us focus on Jesus all year long and to evaluate our faith and where we stand. It's to help us get to know Jesus even more and is meant to help us follow the Lord and the Word. After all, we are nothing, and our lives are nothing without Jesus being in them and without us being in the Word (the Holy Bible).

KEEP READING
All of the blog posts that I do for this series will eventually be put into book form throughout the next two years (preferably over the next year and a half). Therefore, please sign up as a follower for this blog and/or keep checking it because I will try to do a posting on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Some days will comprise of multiple. I will always label it and you can always find it that way, in the blog archives, or use the search engine that I have on this blog on the right-hand side of the page about halfway down the blog page.

BIBLE STUDY, REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS, PRAYER, & LIFE APPLICATION
This is meant to be a Bible study as a whole. It will also offer Reflective Questions, Prayer, and Life Application. I will also include some stories to help make you think and learn how to apply the Bible, an ancient text, to your lives today. Additionally, I hope it helps you to develop a passion for the Word, for Jesus and God, and for prayer.

LET’S GET STARTED
Grab your journal or notebook, along with a pen and a mug of your favorite drink and let’s get started.

THANKSGIVING TO CHRISTMAS
The focus of the first book in the “Holidays with Jesus Series” is on making the shift from Thanksgiving to Christmas. We’re going to look more at Jesus Christ than on Christmas. After all, the reason for the season is He—not presents, not stress, not missing anyone or anything, not wishing things were different, not on the fact that you don’t have money, the should’ve been’s or could’ve been’s. or anything else of the sort.

The Christmas season is supposed to be about JESUS and Him alone. Period. End of sentence, paragraph, and story. If you don’t like Christmas, then maybe this is why. Your focus is on the insignificant.

If you love Christmas, is it because of the parties or the gifts? Both are good. However, is Jesus the first focus and priority you and your family have?

My family, for example, no longer gives gifts on Christmas. We give what we would have spent on one another to charity, instead, and on the people who can’t afford to have Christmas. I’m not saying that for a pat on the back. No, no, no. But, we got tired of the stress it brought and wanted to enjoy one another. This brings true joy. We got rid of the stuff that doesn’t really matter—the stuff. After all, we all have what we need. Why collect more stuff? It clutters.

Jesus is to be the focus. Nothing and nobody else truly matters on this day, but Jesus.

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
What can you do to focus on Jesus for the holidays and not on what you wish for but can’t have, or what was and never will be again?

Who is Jesus to you?

How can you celebrate His life?

What can you do to be more Christ-like?

TOMORROW
Tomorrow, we’ll look at the ancestry of Jesus.

By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Holidays with Jesus #3 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Holidays with Jesus Series
Book #1: Thanksgiving to Christmas

Blog Post #3 on
Posted 29 November 2009
Written on 24 November 2009 Wednesday
Was meant for Before Thanksgiving

NOTEBOOK OR JOURNAL
Please note how in this book, there are no lines to use to write your answers to the questions. However, you need to know that's because I personally find lines rather confining. I don't think that in most cases, lines provide adequate space for us to respond to thoroughly not just now but in the future. Furthermore, if you write on the lines, it means you may never return back to this book in the future. The ideal is that you'll return to this book periodically in order to see how much you've grown or where you might need to review and try to relearn the lesson missed or forgotten. Furthermore, I'm a firm believer that every time you re-read something, you get more out of it. Consequently, it's important to re-read things from time to time.

Since this book does not have lines, please purchase a notebook or journal to answer all the questions in this book or answer on your computer and keep a permanent digital copy where it's easy to add comments to at a later date. Just make sure to write the date of each time you answer a question so you can see over time how you grow. Every time I ask a question, please write your answer in a notebook. That is of course unless I put a (x) behind the question. That means it's something you don't need to write. For example: What do you think about this study so far (x)?

Reflective Questions
When was the last time you intentionally spent an entire day in prayer and thanking God for what He's done, is doing, and will be doing in your life? Yes. An entire day.

Have you ever taken the time to do so? If so, when did you take a day to offer God thanksgiving?

How about half a day? Four hours? Two hours? An hour? Ten minutes?

Why has it been so long or not so long?

Why would this be important?

How meaningful is thanking God in your opinion?

Take a few minutes and think about these questions. Evaluate your life and where you are with bringing God the proper respect He deserves through thanking Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do in your life, through your life, and around you.

Do not feel guilty about what you may not have done. Acknowledge it, ask God for forgiveness, repent, and change your course of action today. Don't wait. While you may not be able to take an entire day for thanksgiving, you can give what you can now and for the rest of your day whatever you are able. This is what matters most. It's what you choose to do now. You can't change the past, but you can learn from it and make your every today and tomorrow better than your yesterdays. That's what you can control.

So, start thanking God.
A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
We just asked ourselves some very difficult questions. I'm sure they were rather weighty. They were meant to get you to think before the big Turkey Day. Take some time to thank God and think about these things.


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Thanksgiving: Holidays with Jesus by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Thanksgiving: Holidays with Jesus

Blog Post #3 on 24 November 2009 Wednesday
Before Thanksgiving

NOTEBOOK OR JOURNAL
Please note how in this book, there are no lines to use to write your answers to the questions. However, you need to know that's because I personally find lines rather confining. I don't think that in most cases, lines provide adequate space for us to respond to thoroughly not just now but in the future. Furthermore, if you write on the lines, it means you may never return back to this book in the future. The ideal is that you'll return to this book periodically in order to see how much you've grown or where you might need to review and try to relearn the lesson missed or forgotten. Furthermore, I'm a firm believer that every time you re-read something, you get more out of it. Consequently, it's important to re-read things from time to time.

Since this book does not have lines, please purchase a notebook or journal to answer all the questions in this book or answer on your computer and keep a permanent digital copy where it's easy to add comments to at a later date. Just make sure to write the date of each time you answer a question so you can see over time how you grow. Every time I ask a question, please write your answer in a notebook. That is of course unless I put a (x) behind the question. That means it's something you don't need to write. For example: What do you think about this study so far (x)?
Reflective Questions
When was the last time you intentionally spent an entire day in prayer and thanking God for what He's done, is doing, and will be doing in your life? Yes. An entire day.

Have you ever taken the time to do so? If so, when did you take a day to offer God thanksgiving?

How about half a day? Four hours? Two hours? An hour? Ten minutes?

Why has it been so long or not so long?

Why would this be important?

How meaningful is thanking God in your opinion?

Take a few minutes and think about these questions. Evaluate your life and where you are with bringing God the proper respect He deserves through thanking Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do in your life, through your life, and around you.

Do not feel guilty about what you may not have done. Acknowledge it, ask God for forgiveness, repent, and change your course of action today. Don't wait. While you may not be able to take an entire day for thanksgiving, you can give what you can now and for the rest of your day whatever you are able. This is what matters most. It's what you choose to do now. You can't change the past, but you can learn from it and make your every today and tomorrow better than your yesterdays. That's what you can control.

So, start thanking God.
A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
We just asked ourselves some very difficult questions. I'm sure they were rather weighty. They were meant to get you to think before the big Turkey Day. Take some time to thank God and think about these things.


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Holidays with Jesus #2: Thanksgiving to Christmas: Book 1 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Holidays Blog Post #2
22 November 2009 Sunday


Book: Thanksgiving to Christmas:
A Bible Study Journey with Jesus
Book 1 of the Holidays with Jesus Series

Holidays are a mixed period of time. They are both curses and blessings. They are busy and we wish we could take the time to enjoy them more. They tend to make us feel stress and/or anxious. They have the potential to bring our hopes up, only to have them dashed. They make us long for what was or what could be. They hurt. They bring great joy. Never mind how they can cost us a great deal in emotion or in the wallet.

Do you want to know the biggest problem with holidays? We tend to focus more on me and what we wish could be rather than on what really matters. We've lost sight of the real reason to celebrate the holidays.

How can we reshape our thinking about the holidays?

We can learn new ways to look at the holidays be focusing on what is really important and the only thing that really matters.

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

He's the only reason why we should ever celebrate.

Jesus lived and died for us. He (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) should be the only real thing we focus on and live for in this life. He is the only way we get to heaven. He teaches us how to have eternal life and how to overcome this world.

How do we survive the holidays? By focusing on Him.

We do not live for us, we live for Him. It's not about us at all and is all about Him.

How do we survive the holidays? Focus on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This book is to help us accomplish this endeavor.


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Holidays with Jesus: Thanksgiving to Christmas: Book 1 by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Holidays Blog Post #1

20 November 2009 Friday

Book: Thanksgiving to Christmas:
A Bible study Journey with Jesus
Book 1 of the Holidays with Jesus Series

Over the next year, I'm going to do a blog about Jesus. Here's the start of the first chapter.

Day 1:
Two Days before Thanksgiving
Introduction to the Series, Holidays with Jesus


Holidays
I don’t know about you, but sometimes (more often than not) the hustle and bustle of the holidays gets to me. I can’t help but wonder why we’ve made the holiday seasons so chaotic and why we thought it was important to take away the real meaning of them. What purpose has this served? I want to get rid of the stress and get back to the basics and the real meaning of the holidays. How about you?

The holidays are supposed to be a magical time of rest and relaxation where you’re able to receive refreshment and renewal to help you get by until your next vacation.

Every Day
It’s also a concern to me that I worship Jesus every day, not just the holidays. However, the holiday seasons can give us different emphasis to focus on Jesus when our faith might seem a little stale, or if we want more and want to draw nearer to Jesus.

Is Jesus the Messiah?
I also want to discuss throughout this series how we know Jesus is the Christ, Messiah or Savior. I will show how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, which proves He is indeed Jesus Christ the Messiah and Savior. There are approximately 300 prophecies which show how Jesus is the Messiah and are fulfilled in the New Testament. I will discuss all of them throughout this series.

By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Whew! My NaNoWriMo Status by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Whew! I am four days ahead of schedule on my novel for National Novel Writing Month of November. It's also called, NaNoWriMo.

Four days!

Throw the confetti. This is huge. I'm quite thrilled to be able to say that. It's taken a lot of hard, but quite enjoyable work.

I've had a blast writing that novel and feel quite comfortable with it. I'm not having to fight it and am finding it quite easy to write. (Glory be to God!)

I also have come up with a new idea for a new Bible Study series. It's called:
"Thanksgiving to Christmas:
A Bible study Journey with Jesus"

and is part of the "Holidays with Jesus Series".

I also have picked up an old novel I started writing in July 2008 and am working on it again. It's called, "4.14.14" and spins off from the idea of what if the world ends on 12.21.2012

How are you? What's new?

Take care.

By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy