Day 31 | Closing Thoughts

Today makes the last day in my 31 Day Series:  Growing in Godliness.  For those of you that have kept up with it, I pray that you have been encouraged and challenged.  

Growing in godliness often gets over looked, but scripture points out its significance.  God is clear in His word that once we've given our lives to Him, we must be disciplined to die to ourselves and grow in our knowledge and understanding of Him.

This is Paul’s point when he says,

"Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."  1 Timothy 4:7

Growing in Him is life's greatest pursuit and though we will never arrive spiritually, this side of heaven, we are strengthened, refined, and sharpened as we become more disciplined.

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Today is a special day:  REFORMATION DAY!  I'll leave you with Martin Luther's wonderful words in his hymn, A Mighty Fortress!

       

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 30 | Pointing Your Kids to Christ

For starters let me say, I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy in my parenting.  There are SO many times I screw up and swear if my kids turn out "right" it'll be a miracle... But God, right?!  

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4-7

He is the one that changes hearts and does a work in people.  Graham and I are doing our best with our kids, but even on our best days we need His help! I'm so thankful that the God we serve is greater than all and can work through us (as imperfect as we are) to point our kids to Himself.

Each morning, Graham leads a Bible study with the girls over breakfast.  We creatively named it "Bible Study for Breakfast".   Here are some of our favorite gospel-centered children's Bible studies:

***I highly recommend each of these:

Big Truths for Little Kids | Susan Hunt & Richie Hunt

The Gospel Story Bible | Marty Machowski

The Jesus Storybook Bible | Sally Lloyd-Jones

R.C. Sproul's Children's books

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 29 | Podcasts to Pin

One of my favorite things to do is to listen to sermons while I am getting ready in the morning, cleaning, or cooking.  Here are some of my favorite church apps:

Grace to You | John MacArthur

The Village Church | Matt Chandler

Desiring God | John Piper

Ligonier Ministries | R.C. Sproul

Grace Family Baptist | Voddie Baucham

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 28 | Scripture Memory Cards

About a month ago, I shared some scripture memory cards I made for a discipleship group I lead.  Click HERE to check out those cards and to grab the free printables.  I also made verse cards to go along with my 31 day series.  They are mostly the same verses, but just coordinate with my series graphics.

[8X10 printable]

[8X10 printable]

**I recommend printing these cards on white cardstock.  I laminated my cards, punched a hole in the corner of each card, and used a ring to hold the cards together.

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 27 | Growing in Godliness as a Couple

Today, I am sharing a few books that Graham and I have read together.  These books aren't your typical self-help books for marriages, they are gospel-centered and challenging.  

Sacred Marriage | Gary Thomas

When Sinners Say "I Do" | Dave Harvey

What Did You Expect?? | Paul David Tripp

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 26 | Recommended Reading

I love to read.  Unfortunately, I'm not afforded much time for recreational reading, but I try...I really try.  I wanted to share some of my favorite books that have truly helped grow me in Christ.

Desiring God | John Piper

Crazy Love | Francis Chan

The Knowledge of the Holy | A.W. Tozer

Radical | David Platt

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life | Donald S. Whitney

These are just a few of my favorites.  I will be sharing a few more that have been so beneficial to my marriage and my kids in the coming days. 

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 25 | Favorite Hymns

Good music.  It's my thing.  In Christian music, the words are the most important part of the song. Here are a few of my favorite hymns...just a few.  I could go on, and on, and on...

**And, I'll inevitably forget "my favorite song ever!"

Click HERE to check out more wonderful hymns and the sheet music, too!!!!!  How awesome is that?!!?!!!             

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 24 | Phillipians 1:6

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 23 | Perseverance

Throughout this series, I've shared about about the spiritual disciplines--how discipline makes us more like Him.  Bible intake, prayer, worship, service, etc. are just a means to growing us in godliness and we must persevere!  We all have dry spells and valleys, but even through the trials, the droughts, and the low points we must keep on keepin' on!

Remember that quote from Graham's seminary professor?  A faith that fizzles before the finish was faulty at the first.  I love that quote and it's so true.  Although we are not saved by our works, our works do prove us to be saved.  

We must discipline our lives, but we must do so all the year round, and not merely at stated periods.  I must discipline myself at all times.  --Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 22 | Romans 12:2

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 21 | Learning

Learning is essential for growing in godliness.   We are told in scripture to learn...

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Romans 12:2  

We will not grow much in Godliness if we do not know much of what it means to be Godly.  --Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Will you be intentional about learning through studying the scriptures, reading good books on Biblical topics, attending a Bible study, listening to a sermon podcast, etc.?  

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 20 | Psalm 62:8

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//

Day 19 | Write it Down.

Journaling.  What is it?

jour·nal
 noun \ˈjər-n^əl\: a book in which you write down your personal experiences and thoughts

So how is journaling a spiritual discipline?  Better yet, how does journaling grow us in godliness?  

1)  Self-evaluation:  Journaling helps us take a closer look at our spiritual state.  It forces us to look at our sins, our flaws, our weaknesses.  As we write, we examine ourselves against the scriptures in a time of reflection.

2)  Points us to Him:  As we are open with our sins, flaws, weaknesses, etc., we see our need of Christ.  We are able to write prayers to Him and "pour out our hearts to him." Psalm 62:8

Journaling also aids us in meditation, in remembering, in preserving our thoughts, and in monitoring our goals and priorities.

Personally, I study my Bible with a pen in hand--journaling as I go--recording His truths, my thoughts,  confessions, prayers, and thankfulness.

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//GROWING IN GODLINESS INDEX//