MY FAVORITE BIBLE STUDY TOOLS

We've all seen the beautifully staged photos with the perfect amount of sun peeking through the window onto an open Bible. There is usually a steaming hot cup of coffee, a vase full of soft pink flowers, and maybe a cozy white blanket nearby. Paints a picture of the perfect morning doesn't it?

If your reality is like mine, that image looks nothing like a typical morning. Even when I get out of bed as early as I wish to, the true reality is that I stumble into the kitchen with a greasy face, my old yet trusty glasses, major bed head, and trust me when I say there's nothing picture worthy over here. I do start the coffee immediately, but I find myself scrolling through Facebook while the coffee brews. I stumble to the overstuffed recliner fully expecting to start my quiet time right away but either my mind doesn't know where to start and I just give up, or I instantly get distracted on my phone and before I know it I need to start packing the kids' lunches and waking everyone for school.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has wrestled with the habit of rising early to meet Jesus regularly and wanted to share with you my favorite tools and apps for Bible study. These are my current favorites for stopping the scroll and defeating the "I don't know where to even start" struggle.

1. ABIDE APP

I LOVE this app. When I first downloaded the Abide app I wasn't quite sure. Trust me when I say this is nothing like I was expecting. I begin my morning moments by turning on this app and listening to someone reading/praying over me. The Abide app guides people in Bible truth and personal reflection. I found this app so valuable that I used my birthday money to subscribe.

How do I use it? 

Abide has a new daily meditation/study each day on the home page. While I often will listen to these later, during my morning quiet time I head straight to TOPICS -> MORNING, and I'll select the STREAMING option and listen to a few prayers. There are SO many categories in the topics section to choose from but this is just where I always choose to start and it completely sets my mind and heart to be ready to start my quiet time.

Want to go a little more in-depth on this app? They have GUIDES that are like a daily short study to listen too. I've loved the 30 Day Prayer Challenge guide.

Side note - this doesn't relate to my mornings, but the SLEEP option is amazing. Abide has several Bible stories that are read to you quietly. I love turning these on for my kids when they are falling asleep at night.

2. BIBLE APP + A CHEAP NOTEBOOK

Pretty much everyone knows about the YouVersion Bible app. In fact, I'm sure most of you have it installed on your phone right now. The daily verses, reading plans, and options to open different Bible versions with a single click are amazing.

This is the second part of my morning quiet time. Once I've listened to a couple prayers and set my mind on Christ, I open my study plan and my cheap spiral notebook. I have grown to really love writing out Scripture. If it seems overwhelming, start with a small book like Philippians or Ephesians. I like to use the LOVE GOD GREATLY plans as they have reading plans that take about a month to go through an entire book of the Bible. I write down the verses for the day in my notebook and use the accompanying devotions. This is a super easy way to get started when you don't know where to begin.

Give Scripture writing a try. I'm pretty sure you won't regret it!

3. ECHO PRAYER APP

Prayer is so critical to our walk with the Lord and staying connected to Him. The Echo prayer app has been an essential addition to my morning routine. This app will help you keep track of your prayers, gives you the ability to set reminders to pray throughout the day, and even has a way to share prayers with others. I often cut and paste prayers from the Scripture I'm writing or from devotionals I'm working through - prayers that I want to pray over myself or my family. I like to end my God time scrolling through the prayers and lists of people to pray for that I've saved in my app. Of course, this app isn't for just morning - how awesome that we take our phones with us everywhere we go, which means we have our Bible and prayer app with us at all times to open and use!

I filmed a Facebook Live video this week where I shared more about these Bible study tools and how I use them. You can watch it HERE. If you're curious about Hello Mornings, which is where this whole getting up early and spending time with Jesus got real for me, visit their website. You'll be glad you did!

What are your favorite tools for studying God's Word? I'd love to hear.

Jess

Everyday Obedience :: Now Available for Pre-order!

I am honored to get to be a part of the launch team for this brand new Bible Study that is releasing May 1 from my friend Katie Orr. Katie is head over heels in love with Jesus and is passionate about teaching women how to dig into God's Word. She loves teaching women the practical ways to really study the Bible on their own.  

Don't believe me? Check out this page FULL of resources and how-to posts! Her Focused 15 method is a simple way to open and glean from the Bible even for the busiest of moms.

I can't wait to dive into Katie's 5th Focused 15 Study Everyday Obedience. This description from Amazon has me so excited to get a copy and get started!

"Most of us know that our lives have purpose. But somehow day-to-day moments cloud our perspective and we lose sight of God's grace and purpose for our lives. Everyday Obedience, an easy-to-use, four-week study will help you better understand the correlation of how God's grace coupled with your obedience leads you to unexpected freedom as you walk forward in holy living. In as few as 15 minutes a day, discover God's purpose for you as offered through Colossians 3:1-17. As you gain new understanding of the rich truths of these verses, you will soon find yourself longing to respond to God's grace through joyful obedience to Him."

Everyday Obedience is available for pre-order now and is on sale for $2 off! Pre-order and get these amazing give-aways. Get your copy HERE.

★ THREE beautiful Scripture printables

★ E-VERSION of the study so you can begin studying right away

★ A chance to win a 1-on-1 hour-long coaching call with Katie

★ A chance to win a signed set of the entire Everyday Bible study series

These freebies go away after Friday, March 31st, so don't delay.
Go here http://katieorr.me/obedience/ to claim your free goodies!

While you wait for May 1 to arrive, you can also check out Katie's other studies...

Everyday Peace
Everyday Faith
Everyday Hope
Everyday Love

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

We Have No Idea How God Works

Matthew 16:21 - 23

21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (NIV)

23But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.” (MSG)

Jesus begins this section of Matthew 16 by telling the disciples of his impending death & resurrection.  I think I would have reacted exactly like Peter did.  “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”  I wouldn’t let this happen to you!  Of course we’d be quick to defend and encourage our friend and say those awful things wouldn’t happen. 

But Jesus’ response dropped me to my knees today.  To sum it up – God knows best.  Jesus responded basically saying that Peter had a simple view and understanding but God knew the whole picture.  He knew beginning to end and the reason behind it.

Oh how that can be hard to comprehend and accept.  I like verse 23 in the Message version. “You have no idea how God works.”  The disciples didn’t know Jesus’ torture and death would result in Life for the believing world.  God worked in a crazy, unusual, amazing way! 

God’s working in our lives too.  Through the impending hurts, pain, struggles that we will face or may already be facing.  I have the mind of man so often and want to say “no, I won’t let that happen.”  No.  I don’t want to have a flooded house.  No.  I don’t want Gma’s health to fail.  No.  I don’t want a child with a syndrome and challenges.  The list could go on, and on, and on. 

While verse 23 could give me a bit of fear – that I don’t know what, why, or how; I actually sense peace.  God – our big all seeing, all knowing God who loves me dearly has everything in his hands. And like his big amazing plan that from human eyes just looked like pain and death we now see He used that plan for the most good of all. 

So I trust You, Lord God, with all I face.  Work your plans in and through me.  And may I respond the way You, Lord, would have me respond to the trials I face.

what i'm reading tonight

A perfect evening for me is a quiet night at home either reading or watching a movie with my hubby.  Add chocolate and I'm in heaven!  Tonight my hubby is sick in bed (praying the rest of us don’t catch it!), there’s no football on TV (sad actually, I love football Sundays!), and the kids are in bed (can we say hallelujah!).  

So I indulged in a little blog reading. (I just can’t get into this Downton Abbey craze. I tried friends, it’s on now, but I just can’t.)  Here are some of my favorites that you should take a moment to read.

From Grouchy to Great Verse Cards The Better Mom

A Peak Into This Blogger’s Everyday Marriage Emily Wierenga

If You’ve Ever Regretted a Little Vulnerability Kristen Strong (in)Courage

Are you looking for a Bible study to dig into this week?  Hello Mornings has a free 5 day study in Colossians starting tomorrow.  I can't wait!

I'm also looking forward to this “Intentionally Focused” study that starts in a couple weeks.  Take a peek; you just might want to join in too!  

Happy reading!

Glorious Grace Week 2

This week women from all over the world spent time each day with Ephesians 1:1-14 in the Glorious Grace study.  One of the reasons I love this method is we spend an entire week on the same verses, pulling out Truths, Promises, Commands, and Application from God's Word.  I love reading the same passage in different translations, writing out the verses, and memorizing as well.

This passage is rich with truth of God's blessing.  We were chosen, pursued by God.  Through faith in Christ Jesus I am a child of God!  I am blessed with redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, understanding, all of which I am so undeserving of.  But God, who is rich in grace and mercy, loves me - and you - enough to choose, accept, and bless us in this way.

I think these verses, Ephesians 1:6-7 say it best.

6So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Those verses make me want to praise His holy name, testify of his glory, and faithfully follow Him!






I love this method of studying God's Word!  The Glorious Grace study guide isn't filled with mini sermons.  Rather you will find verses to study each week and prompts to get you pulling out truths, promises, and commands from God's Word.  Would you like to join me?  Pick up your e-copy here. I'll be journaling each Friday here would love to have you join me.  

out of my comfort zone - shining for Christ

Paul's story is such an amazing one of grace, forgiveness, and complete dedication to spreading the Good News of Jesus. This week women from all over the world began the e-book “Glorious Grace” - a study guiding us to dig into and hear God's voice as we look deep into Ephesians. I was super excited about this study. Seven years ago I began to memorize the entire book of Ephesians. I only got half way, and I hope to finish someday, but those words from Paul are always with me. I find my mind almost daily starting “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus...” It's there. Stuck in my mind. But not only do I want to be able to quick rattle off chapter 1, I am looking forward to gleaning Truths and Promises from the book of Ephesians.

This week we took an overview glance of Paul's life. What a transformation! From actively seeking to destroy believers to a life completely sold out for Christ we see God's forgiveness and choosing. God saw through the hate and sins to a man who could use that drive and passion for Christ's name. He chose, forgave, and changed Saul/Paul from the inside out.

Paul was “all in” with God's calling on his life. He lived sold out for Christ, fearlessly doing whatever it took to complete his mission of declaring the Good News. His mission was to spread the good news and build up the body of believers.  In Ephesians we see him encouraging, building up, and showing us how he prayed passionately for those believers. I just love reading Paul's heart felt prayers.

My challenge from this week came from Paul's example and purpose to share his faith, to share the Truth. I reflected on my own life. I work in a church and spend the rest of my time raising my family quietly at home. It's so easy to live in that “Christian bubble” of comfort just doing our lives and sharing my faith with my kids. That's awesome and truly has meaning, but there should be more, don't you think? Am I so sold out for Christ that I spread his truth to the unbelieving neighborhood/city I live in? Do I know how to share my faith? Do I know Christ' message so well that I would know what to say if I started a conversation?

Our recent move took us to new a neighborhood school and I'll admit at the back to school night I felt the culture shock of being in a community that wasn't just all proper or preppy people where most of them loved Jesus. I didn't know what to think. “Should I protect my children from these people” flooded my mind I'm ashamed to say. But now I see that we have just entered the real world. Poverty and hurting people are all around us. I have a message of hope and truth that I can live out in front of parents and our community without fear, or I can just live under the radar rushing to and from school not interacting with this group of people who seem quite out of my comfort zone. What an opportunity to teach my children to “let their lights shine before men.” To live for Christ and know and share their faith when the time comes. To love even the unlovable as Christ did! And as Paul did! 

My knees might be trembling, but I commit right now to love as Christ and Paul did looking for opportunities to shine for Him, sharing my faith throughout my neighborhood.  

I love this method of studying the Bible.  The Glorious Grace study guide isn't filled with mini sermons.  Rather you will find verses to study each week and prompts to get you pulling out truths, promises, and commands from God's Word.  Would you like to join me?  Pick up your e-copy here. I'll be journaling each Friday here would love to have you join me.  

Confusing Scripture

My Hello Morning's view today

I am loving studying through 1 Peter this fall.  What a tremendous book that I'm regretting not digging into sooner!  I'm not sure why I haven't spent much time here before, but 1 Peter is filled with so verse after verse of  truth and conviction to chew on.  This week we are studying a few verses that are REALLY hard to understand and grasp.  But to be honest, I love that about these verses.

What a picture of how crazy amazing our God is!  There are things about our amazing, all-powerful, loving God that we don't even know or understand right now.  That actually gives me a huge peace and confidence in Him.  So thankful I can cling to this complex, loving, mysterious God as my Abba Father!

Seeking HIM

My favorite time of day is the 6:00am hour when I can sit on the couch with the sun peeking through, the cool breeze blowing through the window, and I have my quiet alone time with God.  Unfortunately the time goes by too fast!  I hear baby Z talking in his bed and before long I'll be making bottles, changing diapers, making breakfast, doing laundry, the list goes on!  I'm thankful for the chance to sit and be still before the day begins.  I began this early morning journey not too long ago, but now it's a time I wouldn't trade for anything.

I've been pondering the phrases "Righteous", "Godly person", "speaks wisdom", and "seeks God" this week. To me those qualities are beautiful.  Oh how I want to be known as a person who loves God, seeks Him, and speaks wisdom.  I want to be growing and becoming.  Learning and knowing more of Him each and every day.

1 Chronicles 28:9
...acknowledge the God of your Father and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind.  For the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

My eyes are ever on the Lord,
Jessica

Access to the Father

Ephesians 2:18
For through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.


Ephesians 3:12
In whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.


I have access to the Father!
Have you really thought about that phrase?  Really tried to get that?  It's something I "know."  A truth I've been told and read in God's Word.  But today it hit me right between the eyes.  I love how God does that!  I know this passage.  I've read it and even memorized it.  But today I saw and heard that verse like never before.  I HAVE ACCESS to GOD THE FATHER, the creator of the universe, the savior of the world.  I can fearlessly come into God's presence.  He welcomes me!  I can enter directly into God's presence through prayer.


Oh how this makes me re-evaluate my prayer life.  I don't want to take advantage of God.  To not take prayer serious.  I am entering God's presence when I pray. This amazes me.  


Thank you, Lord Jesus, Father God, for the power of prayer.  Thank you for loving me enough to grant me direct access to you.  I am sorry for the times I take advantage of you, for not taking serious the power of prayer.  Help me to remember the seriousness of coming to you.  

Day 1

I love fresh starts.  Mondays feel like a new start and a new chance; to be a better wife, mother, homemaker, and employee.  Seasons changing feel new and fresh, like a new beginning.  I love to start a new notebook or journal with it's never before written in crisp pages.

Today is Day 1 of a summer study going through Proverbs 31 at Good Morning Girls.  This is also Day 1 of the Hello Mornings challenge at Inspired to Action.  I am committed to rising up early and starting my day with my Savior.  My days are different when I start my day right.  I am excited for new truths to be revealed to me.  I am ready to be challenged and pushed in my walk with Christ.  I am ready to come out of this summer a different wife and mother than I am today.  I am up for the challenge!

My Sweet Boy Is Fearfully & Wonderfully Made!

Psalm 139 has beautiful truths about GOD – and his presence and knowledge of me.  I have enjoyed listing the truths I see about God during the Run to Him study this week.  

But I keep being drawn back to verses 13 – 16 this week.  For those of you that don’t know, our now 11 month old boy Zachary was born with Congenital Cataracts in both eyes.  He had cataract removal surgery when he was 5 and 6 weeks old.  He now has no lenses in his eyes and wears ADORABLE super thick glasses, and will have more eye surgeries when he is at least 2 years old.  Not long after those surgeries we began to notice developmental delays and limpness in his body.  He has what they call Hypotonia – low muscle tone.  This is just a symptom name, not a diagnosis.  He has had numerous blood tests, and an MRI of his brain, all of which continue to come back normal.  We do physical and occupational therapy weekly and milestones for him these days are holding his head up, beginning to roll over, and sitting supported.  These are big steps.  Not necessarily big steps for a typical 11 month old, but for Zachary these are monumental.  Zachary has many more milestones to make in the days ahead.  He is a joy and we love him to pieces.  His smile will light up a room!

I pray for my little guy.  I pray for God to make his muscles strong.  I pray for him to get the desire to try rolling over.  I pray that he will one day learn to sit, crawl, walk, & talk.  I pray knowing that there’s so much still unknown.  Is there something wrong we don’t know about?  My mind can go crazy if I let it.  Every doctor appointment I pray like mad and feel God’s peace and presence to get us through. So far every time we come away with no answers.  We keep saying “maybe he’s just delayed and he’ll catch up and be fine.  Maybe there isn’t an answer to be found.” 

All week as I studied Psalm 139 I couldn’t help but see these verses and hear God speak Zachary’s name in them.

Psalm 139: 13 - 16

For you created Zachary’s inmost being; you knit Zachary together in my womb.

I praise you because Zachary is fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Zachary’s frame was not hidden from you when Zachary was made in the secret place.  When 

Zachary was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw Zachary’s unformed body.

All the days ordained for Zachary were written in your book before one of them came to be.

These verses were somehow meant for my mother’s heart this week.  I feel a peace in the unknown once again.  Does that make me stop praying?  NO!  Do I still find those moments of worry?  Yes!  But I will continue to cry out to Zachary’s Creator on his behalf.  I pray for miracles in his tiny body.   I pray with a peace knowing God the creator of the universe, the creator of precious Zachary sees, knows, and created him just the way he wanted him to be.

Run to Him - Psalm 119: 129 - 144

Psalm 119:129 - 144

This week Run to Him had us spending the week in Psalm 119:129 - 144.  I am a list person and tend to fill my journal with lists of things I notice about God, his Word, etc.  Here's what I noticed this week.

God's Word:

Wonderful

Gives Light

Gives Understanding

Directs Our Footsteps

Right

Righteous

Trustworthy

True

Words from the Psalmist:

I obey

I long for

Teach me

Redeem me

Direct me

Have mercy on me

I love your name

Your commands are my delight

Give me understanding that I may live

I wish I knew who this writer was.  What was his story?  How did he know God?  What brought him to a place a penning these heartfelt verses?  What did he do so long ago to know so much about God?  All I do know is I see his passion, love, and knowledge of our true and righteous God.

Psalm 63

I have LOVED my Bible study this week.  In the Run to Him study we are working through some of the Psalms.  This week was Psalm 63.  Wow - my new favorite Psalm.  David had such a desire for God.  My desire should be for God alone because only he satisfies fully.  

It is my prayer that I would earnestly seek my Lord, to glorify HIM because of his deep love for me, to cling to HIM, and know him.

Exploring the Psalms Week-2

I struggled this week. Sick kids & now a sick "me" have knocked us down. I did try to keep in the Word but I didn't keep up with the housework much this week. It's a disaster in here!

The Run to Him study had me spend time in Psalm 27.  In focusing on facts about David and truths about God, here's what I gleaned this week.

David:

Knew God's promises

Knew what God could do

Sought God's face

Wanted God to teach him

Had confidence in his future

God:

My light

My salvation

Stronghold of my life

Keeps me safe

My helper

Receives me

Teaches me His ways

Psalm 27:4

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Verse four is beautiful and I love to see David's devotion to God.  I long to be the same way; to have the thing I seek most be the Almighty God.  To live in His presence each day delighting in His perfections.

What steps are you taking to seek God each day?

Exploring the Psalms

I look forward to Fridays now! I get to post what God has been teaching me this week. It's so good to look back on a week in the Word. I've been spending my morning quiet times in the Psalms doing Do Not Depart's study Run to Him. Psalm 4 was the psalm of the week. David cried out to God in distress "hear my prayer, O Lord, have mercy on me." Again and again David mentioned God hearing his prayers. I have a couple situations that I have been crying out to God for what feels like years and years, and I'm honestly weary of continuing on in my prayer. I was encouraged by David's cries to God that I should keep on. That God really is listening! Well...by Wednesday of this week one situation I'd been crying out to God about hit another dead end. What? Lord? Are you there? While I'm even being taught by you that you hear and answer? I struggled Wednesday. Then Thursday came and time to dig in deeper into this Psalm. Why should I? Is God really there? He must not care. These false thoughts flooded my heart and mind. I cracked open my Bible and prayed to God and fought through those discouraging thoughts. And God, like he always does, spoke to me. He is hearing me. He does love me. He does love my family and our situation that I've been bringing to his feet for years. So I am encouraged. I wait. I pray. I love my God. I'm not giving up. He doesn't want me to. I look forward to all that God will teach me as I lean even more on my Savior.

You can join me in this walk through the Psalms. Head over to Do Not Depart and download the Run to Him study guide!