Back to basics

After our women's retreat on living in the fullness of God, I have been challenged to go beyond my quick snack devotionals into a fuller meal with God. Actually sitting down and going through a passage of scripture instead of my devotional app has been a lot more challenging than I thought it would be.  It was no longer fun, or quick and quirky. I am not using what God has taught me or remembering what I have learned. I've become spiritually lazy. Learning how to use a concordance or what was going on culturally or in history at the same time is too much effort. It's time for me to relearn some basics.

Starting with Prayer, Read, Writing it down, Sharing it with someone, Obeying what I learned. Accountability, Mentoring- passing on what we've learned!

       From this I have been able to learn different verses for life checks. For example if I'm questioning if This book, music, ad, television program, conversation is something that I should participate in, I check  with Philippians 4:8-9
    Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I need to know scripture! I need to know the promises I can stand on no matter what. I need to know how disgusting sin is and what it is. I need to know how God views me and how precious I am, because He said so. What other instructions do scripture contain for life!

Here are some tools I am starting or have used that I have found very helpful in learning to read my bible without becoming overwhelmed.
 1. Prayer: all starts with hanging out with God. If I can do this he changes me so much.
2. Asking God to help me understand as I read.
3.Give myself grace as I learn. Its a relationship with the creator of the universe who loves me. Not cramming for finals.
4. Give myself permission to spend time to read

I still read devotional and use my quick 5 minute devotional, but I am trying to read the bible itself and that has been a daily struggle.  I am a work in progress. God is definitely trying to get my attention on my habits and priorities.

Just for fun, what habits help you have Christ focused perspective?



A Just for fun list of helpful tools:

Robin Sampson BibleJournalLove Psalm 119 Study
 Great variety of fun ways for me to add creativity, depth, and making bible studying a habit.

For us visual learners a quick synopsis of this study can be found on YouTube at
Bible Journaling in a Planner

Mrs Sampson also has a 7 minute YouTube video called Robin Sampson's passion, which is about the passion that God has given her. When I watched it for the psalm 119 study it reminded me of Pam Waites talk at retreat. When God gives you a passion for something, use it for his glory and to help others. Its amazing to watch how God given passions change lives and bring us to Christ.

Books I have found helpful:

7 lies women Believe and the truth that sets them free: Nancy deMoss

Adorn: Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth

Kneeling Christian by  Unknown Christian

Armor of God by Pricilla Shirer

Veggie Tales (they keep it simple for me :) )

Experiencing God by Richard Blackaby

Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe

Voice of the Martyrs

Andy Stanley YouTube series on Guardrails

Passport 2 Purity (when through with my oldest when she became a preteen)

Ministries and people:

Inquest Ministries: Parenting disc profile

Creation Museum

Lamar and Sandy Brenneman's Creation Class and Solving the Mystery series for preteens

Short term missions trips changed my self centered perspective

Meeting with a more mature Christ like older women who have guided, challenged and counseled me.
Teaching and training up younger christians (when you teach, you learn yourself!)