Not Alone Series: Single Scriptures

What is your relationship with Scripture? Do you read the Bible every day? What is your favorite translation or edition? Do you use Scripture for prayer (a.k.a. lectio divina)? Do you play Bible roulette (flip to a random verse)? What are some Scripture verses that speak to you as a single woman?

This is my first time actually linking up since we restarted but not my first topic to write, Life has just been kicking my butt so I never got to finish the other one.

Scripture is very close my heart I love spending time reading my Bible. Even before I fully embrace my Faith, I started reading the Bible. I have read the whole Bible but not in a year, I have never been able to follow one of those plans. I do memorize scripture verses though sometimes I remember the words but forget where it's from.

I own five physical Bible so far, I like the different translations for better understanding. I also have an app or two on my phone. I love reading over different books and getting a different understanding from the last time. I highlight, underline, write notes and questions. I do read my Bible everyday but I do not "read" my Bible everyday. There are days I just go through the motions and there are days when I am so excited I read way more than I had planned.

My favourite Bible, pictured above is the NSRV translation but I also love the NABRE. I also own a New Jerusalem Bible which is an English, as in England, translation and spelling which I prefer for the Psalms.

I have used the Scripture for prayer and also right now I am trying something I am calling "Living Sripture". Example this week my verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:14 " And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them." I am challenging myself to how I can realistically living this out in my daily life. I can't say that I've admonished any idlers besides myself  but I can say that I have done some encouraging and helping and there have definitely been instances where I have been patient when I haven't wanted to be. When a co-worker asks me once again to help her because she just doesn't get a task but I'm so over it I remind myself that I am asked to encourage, help (one translation has support) and be patient.

Verses that speak to me as a single woman

The first is not a whole verse but just the first three words: "But if not..." Daniel 3:18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are about to get thrown into a burning, they give their speech about how great God is and His ability to save them and deliver them, then they say But if not (God chooses not to deliver them) they still refuse to serve and worship the idols. I feel called to marriage, I want to be married and have kids, lots and lots of kids. I pray about it, I dream about it but if God decides that is not the plan He has for me He is still God, He is still good and it is His will that I seek.

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 for those times when I think I can "fix" things. Get them to go my way.

"This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 for really bad days when all I can think about is what has gone wrong

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope" Jeremiah 29:11

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer." Romans 12:12

What is your relationship with Scripture? What are your favourite verse?

Visit Rachel and Lindsay for the link-up, check out what everyone else has to say.

31 Days of Where I live (day 13) - National Song

Day 13 of write 31

Unlike the National Anthem we don't stand at attention for this song. Like the National Pledge it was written by Marjorie Padmore. There are a few other songs classified as National Songs but this is the original.

God Bless Our Nation

God bless our nation 

Of many varied races

May we possess that common love 

That binds and makes us One.

Let it be known around the World

That we can boast of Unity

And take a pride in Our Liberty.

God bless our isles of tropic beauty rare

Of flaming Poinciana

And shady immortelle

The warm and sparkling waters

That beat upon our shores

Beat out a tune that seem to tell

We take a pride in Our Liberty.

God bless our leaders

Give them grace to guide

Bestow on them thy judgement wise

To rule our land aright

To keep the flag of freedom high that we may sing most lustily

We take a pride in Our Liberty.

If you would like to learn more about writing for 31 days in a row, please visit www.write31days.com and learn more about it. I chose the "Too Awesome to Categorize" category for my own blog this month.

31 Days of Where I live (Day 12) - The National Pledge

Day 12 of write 31.

The National Pledge, written by Marjorie Padmore, is known by by every school age child since it is recited at least once a day in all schools.

I solemnly pledge to dedicate my life
To the service of God
And to my country.

I will honour my parents,
My teachers, my leaders and my elders,
And those in authority

I will be clean and honest in all my thoughts,
My words and my deeds.

I will strive, in everything I do
To work together with my fellowmen
Of every creed and race
For the greater happiness of all
And the honour and glory
Of my country.

If you would like to learn more about writing for 31 days in a row, please visit www.write31days.com and learn more about it. I chose the "Too Awesome to Categorize" category for my own blog this month.

31 Days of Where I live (Day 11) - The National Anthem

Day 11 of write 31.

The National Anthem of Trinidad and Tobago was not actually written as the National Anthem of Trinidad and Tobago.

Composed by Patrick Castagne, a national, the song was written for the West Indies Federation which only lasted four years (less actually).

So when Trinidad and Tobago gained Independence the words were perfect, instant anthem.

Forged from the love of liberty

In the fires of hope and prayer

With boundless faith in our destiny

We solemnly declare:

Side by side we stand

Islands of the blue Caribbean sea,

This our native land

We pledge our lives to thee.

Here every creed and race find an equal place,

And may God bless our nation

Here every creed and race find an equal place,

And may God bless our nation.

If you would like to learn more about writing for 31 days in a row, please visit www.write31days.com and learn more about it. I chose the "Too Awesome to Categorize" category for my own blog this month.

31 Days of Where I live (Day 10) - The Coat of Arms

Day 10 of write 31.

Before Trinbago (short for Trinidad and Tobago) got it's Independence in 1962 a committee was formed to design and create the symbols that would represent the country. The coat of arms was one of those symbols.

Designed by Carlisle Chang and George Bailey to represent and reflect the future of Trinidad and Tobago without forgetting the past.

At the top we have a gold ship's wheel in front of a fruited coconut palm. This was originally the central figure in the British Colonial seals for Tobago before it annexed to Trinidad.

The gold helmet facing front represents the Queen, our monarch until the day of our Independence.

The colours of the shield are the colours of our national flag and have the same meaning.

At the top of the shield we have two humming birds. Trinidad was originally named Iere by the Amerindian, the Land of the Hummingbird for the overwhelming number of them that inhabited the the land. There are more than sixteen species of hummingbird found in Trinidad.

Next we have the three ship. The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. The ships sailed by Christopher Columbus when he discovered Trinidad.

The shield is supported on either side by the national birds. The Scarlet Ibis in it's resplendent red on the left of Trinidad and the Cocrico of Tobago.

Below the Scarlet Ibis we have the Trinity Hill which Columbus saw inspiring him to name the country after the Blessed Trinity. The land beneath the Cocrico represents Tobago.

We then have the ocean waves. The cradle of our heritage and the waters that join the two islands together.

Finally we have the nation's motto. Together we aspire, Together we achieve. These words speak for themselves and promote harmony in diversity for national achievement.

The Coat of Arms can be found on official documents as well as the back of all our coins. It is also found on our paper currency.

If you would like to learn more about writing for 31 days in a row, please visit www.write31days.com and learn more about it. I chose the "Too Awesome to Categorize" category for my own blog this month.

31 Days of Where I live (Day 9) - The Flag

Day 9 of write 31.

Trinidad and Tobago is a rather "young" nation in that we only got independence in 1962. At which time we chose our own flag.

Previously we flew the British flag. Trinidad and Tobago used a British blue ensign defaced with a circular badge depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain.

A red background with white and black horizontal stripes in the centre.

The red symbolises the sun which plentiful and hot here in the Caribbean, the fire of the people. It represents courage.

The black symbolises the earth representing dedication.

The white symbolises water representing purity and equality.

If you would like to learn more about writing for 31 days in a row, please visit www.write31days.com and learn more about it. I chose the "Too Awesome to Categorize" category for my own blog this month.

31 Days of Where I live (Day 8) - The Pitch Lake

Day 8 of write 31

Remember when I said Sir Walter Raleigh came to Trinidad looking for gold. Well he discovered what he called "black gold". The rest of us call it asphalt or pitch. He discovered the Pitch Lake in south Trinidad.

The Pitch Lake in Trinidad is the largest deposit of asphalt in the world. It is the only "lake" in Trinidad. Other asphalt lakes can be found in California and Venezuela.

The ashphalt is used to pave streets locally and abroad.

It is "alive" as a few like to say since it burps and hisses and consumes anything that put on it's surface after awhile

Warm Sulphur pools appears on the Pitch Lake in the rainy season when water collects in the cracks and crevices of the Lake. The pools, also known as the “fountain of youth” contain high levels of sulphur, which villagers claim is good for curing anything from skin conditions to joint pain. Visitors should be careful when bathing in the pools as some are very deep.

If you would like to learn more about writing for 31 days in a row, please visit www.write31days.com and learn more about it. I chose the "Too Awesome to Categorize" category for my own blog this month.