Purity - Week Seventeen

Essential Eight

 

THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER SIXTEEN IN YOUR BOOK,

 STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"That they may teach the young women... to love be chaste." Titus 2:4-5

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Still going on here with essential number eight! Forgive my long delay (once again). As you see I am still working on finding that "balance" in my life. :) I'm still hopeful that one day I will find it.

Last chapter we looked mainly at the purity of our body. This week we will be looking at how we can be pure in heart. I am looking forward to this important part and hope we will have lots to share at the end of the week.

I read this book awhile back and it goes right along with our current study. If you're looking for more on this topic of purity, I'm sure you'd enjoy it. :)

Purity: A Godly Woman's Adornment by Lydia Brownback

May your thoughts be ever focused on our wonderful Lord and Savior! He alone is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of our praise!

Love, Nicole

A free resource for you! As we focus on keep on our thoughts pure, the key is to focus our thoughts on our wonderful Lord! Print off your own "31 Days of Praise" cards. Each day focuses on one of God's attributes. :)

(Printing instructions: You will need four 12x12 pieces of cardstock paper. Cut each page into two 5x12 inch rectangles. Print on these strips, then cut into 3x5 inch cards. Punch corners and secure with a book ring.)  

Purity - Week Sixteen

Essential Eight



THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER FIFTEEN IN YOUR BOOK,

 STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"That they may teach the young women... to love be chaste." Titus 2:4-5

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Hello friends! I hope your study of Wisdom was inspiring and eye-opening. If you feel like I do, you are probably wanting to study wisdom deeper and more in depth. :) But for now let's go on to our next essential - purity. When I think of purity being separate from the world and set apart for God comes to my mind. What comes to your mind?

The marks of wisdom:
     1. Know your priorities and practice them
     2. Balance in every area of life
     3. Farsighted
     4. Work at wisdom
     5. Practice the seven steps of wisdom
               (Stop, Wait, Pray, Search, Ask, Decide, Plan)

I came across this quote by Leslie Ludy that went along perfectly with last week's study. Just have to share it with you all :)

"The only way to walk in the wisdom of God is to abide in Him daily,

and build our lives around Him. God's wisdom isn't what comes naturally to us - we must know Him in order to know and understand His pattern for our lives."

 

 

May you continue to seek the Lord and His strength today and always!

 

Love, Nicole

 

Wisdom - Week Fifteen

Essential Seven



THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER FOURTEEN IN YOUR BOOK,

 STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"That they may teach the young women... to love be discreet." Titus 2:4

"Wisdom makes it a habit to keep one eye on the future

 and the other on reality and makes her decisions accordingly."

Hello friends! Wasn't chapter thirteen great?! Wisdom is so much more than I ever imagined it to be. I hope your excitement for more truth about wisdom is high this week.

 

balance = harmonious arrangement of relation of parts or elements within a whole.

 

wisdom = making wise, thought out, determined choices so that your life will be orderly, calm, and balanced.

 

Balance is definitely a goal in my life that I am hopeful will one day be a reality. :) It is always a challenge to fit everything I need to do, want to do, and have to do into a 24-hour period. But one thing I find helpful is focusing my priority first and first most on my Lord. When I start to get so busy that I am neglecting time alone with Him, I find that it takes longer to accomplish any tasks, my attitude is not right, I am easily overwhelmed, and I have lost balance. As we strive to be women of wisdom we should seek to be woman who knows her priorities & practices them, and who is balanced in every area of life.

 

Did anyone try using Elizabeth George's "simple weekly calendar"? I tried it last week and did find it to be quite helpful. It felt like I accomplished more in a week then usual. I think I might change a couple of her points and use it in my weekly planner. :)

 

Well, this week we are continuing on with WISDOM. May this week be even better than the first! :)

 

Love, Nicole

 

"Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom." James 1:5ERV

Wisdom - Week Fourteen

Essential Seven

 THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER THIRTEEN IN YOUR BOOK, STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

 

 

"That they may teach the young women... to love be discreet." Titus 2:4

Discreet: curbing one's desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate

"Wisdom keeps her eye on her heart, on her homefront, and on heaven.
 Wisdom gives diligent attention to being who God wants her to be in her heart,
 to doing what God wants her to do on her homefront, and to doing the things that count for eternity in heaven. This is what wisdom is all about."

 

Hello again dear friends. We're onto essential seven already! Did you enjoy last week's study on loving our family? I, for one, certainly did! I loved looking at the list of ten practical ways to carry it out in my life. Like I said last week, I've been looking at this last study in light of loving my siblings and discovered many things I can apply to this area of my life. For one I want to spend time praying WITH them. Praying for someone is excellent, but coming together with that someone and praying TOGETHER is sure to encourage & strengthen both. :)

 

The same day I was doing this study, I was also reading in Psalms 35. A verse that stood out to me was verse eighteen - I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. I realized we should be giving thanks & praise to God in front of people. Others should be witnessing our adoration & love for our Lord. If we truly love Him, how could we not help but speak of Him continually? Our children (or siblings etc.) should be hearing us praising the Lord, thanking Him, and hearing of the blessings which He daily bestows. (Psalm 68:19)

As we begin our study on wisdom this week, here are a few inspiring quotes to start us off. I really liked the last one by R.C. Sproul. :)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." Psalm 111:10

"Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it." ~J.I. Packer

    

"Not until we have become humble & teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness & sovereignty. acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours." ~ J.I. Packer

    

"As we trust God to give us wisdom for today's decisions, He will lead us a step at a time into what He wants us to be doing in the future." ~ Theodore Epp

    

"People only have true wisdom when they look at everything from God's perspective. Authentic wisdom begins when we understand that God is to be the object of our devotion, our adoration, and our reverence (Psalm 111:6)." ~ R.C. Sproul

    

Loving Your Family - Week Thirteen

Essential Six

 

THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER TWELVE IN YOUR BOOK, STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"That they may teach the young women... to love their children." Titus 2:4

 

Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well & enjoying these beautiful, colorful, fall days. This past Sunday our family took our annual fall drive through beautiful Pennsylvania hills, enjoying the breath-taking views. Though this season never lasts long enough it sure is lovely while it lasts. :)

 

Life has been quite busy here lately (thus the LONG delay in my writing - SO sorry!). Hopefully I didn't lose anyone with this unseen deferment. Now that life is slowly down (a little :) hopefully I will faithfully continue this study with you all! It's exciting to see that we are already over halfway, with only 4 essentials left to go. :) I really am enjoying this study and have little notes in my notebook of things to do and apply to my life. :)

 

This week we will be finishing our study on "Loving Our Family". Since I'm not a wife or mother, I've been trying to look at this sixth essential in light of loving my siblings. Thought I'm certainly not their mother I can encourage them, spend meaningful time with them, and point them to the things of the Lord. Most of us are in different seasons of life & whether you are a grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, etc... we should all strive to encourage, uplift, and serve those closest to us.

 

"So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger

in faith, just as you are already doing." 1 Thess. 5:11 ERV

 

May your study be rejuvenating this week!

 

Love, Nicole

 

Loving Your Family - Week Twelve

Essential Six

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER ELEVEN IN YOUR BOOK, STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"That they may teach the young women... to love their children." Titus 2:4

"A godly mother is one who loves the Lord her God with all her heart,
soul, mind, and strength and then passionately, consistently,
and unrelenting teaches her child to do the same."

Hello dear Friends! Forgive me for this week late post. Life has a way of "flying" by much too quickly for me to get everything done! I hope your study of chapter ten was blessed and you have been working on applying the practical advice in there to your daily life. :)

I was at a Bible conference during that week of study and most of the topics were on loving your husband and children. (Goes right along with what we're learning...) One of the speakers made this point "Marriage is a spiritual battlefield not a romantic balcony."

Here's the 13 practical ways to love our husbands:

1. Make the choice to love your husband
2. Make the choice to love your husband before your children
3. Submit to being taught to love your husband
4. Set up a prayer book for your husband
5. Write a letter to God
6. Cultivate willful love
7. Listen to God's Word, not the world
8. Read daily on marriage
9. Do the works of love heartily
10. Do all to the glory of God
11. Confess any bitterness of heart
12. Learn to ask your husband
13. Put your husband first, even ahead of yourself

These are such great pointers, not only to apply to marriage but to every area of our lives. Whatever we do in life we should do it all to the glory of God. When we put Him first and foremost we will be filled with His love, which in turn we can pour out into the lives of those around us. It is only through His Love & Grace that we can truly love those He brings into our lives. :)

Praying for you dear friend as you seek more of Him in your life!

Love,
Nicole
 

Loving Your Husband - Week Eleven

Essential Five

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER TEN IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"That they may teach the young women... to love their husbands." Titus 2:3

"The greatest gift you can give your husband is the gift of lifting his name and his needs before the throne of God. Prayer for your husband releases the energies of God, for prayer is asking God to do what you cannot do."

 

Hello dear Friends! I hope your week of studying this new essential to godly living was blessed! I really enjoyed copying down all those great scriptures. What wonderful ones to memorize and hide in our hearts. (Anyone up for a challenge and want to join me?!)

These are the 4 important points I walked away with:

1. A wife is to HELP her husband
2. A wife is to FOLLOW her husband
3. A wife is to RESPECT her husband
4. A wife in to LOVE her husband

I thought her definition of "respect" was quite mind blowing - "actively demonstrating & showing high regard for him in ways all can see." It reminds me of the verse in Proverbs 31:23 where it says, "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." It is so important to build up our husbands, encouraging them & speaking well of him to others.

Prayer is such an important part of any relationship. What better thing can you do for someone than to uphold them in prayer! Perhaps you might want to start a prayer journal just for your husband. Even if you are not yet married you can still start praying for your future husband today. 

Enjoy your study this week as we look at practical ways we can apply this lesson to our lives and hearts. :)
Love & Prayers, Nicole  
 

Loving Your Husband - Week Ten

Essential Five

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER NINE IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"That they may teach the young women... to love their husbands." Titus 2:3

"We are to love our husband as a best friend, as someone we enjoy and enjoy being with. To spoil him. To think of him. To pray for him. To encourage him. To welcome him. To nurture a deep friendship with him."

Hello dear Friends! Well, hopefully everyone is back on schedule and finished reading and studying chapter eight. Sorry for the unseen delay...hopefully you enjoyed a week of extra study. :)
This week we are continuing on with chapter nine - "A Woman's High Calling to Her Marriage". Hopefully this chapter will encourage those of you who are married and even those of us who aren't (yet). :) I'd encourage you to read this chapter with an open heart and mind, being willing to learn whatever the Lord may be wanting to teach you. :)

May your week be blessed and may you be focused on Christ as you seek to serve and love those He has placed in your life.

Love, Nicole

One More Week

Hello to Everyone! Sorry to have gone MIA for a week. I have been under the weather but am thankful to be feeling better now. :) Unfortunately, it put me a little behind and I haven't finished catching up yet... So let's take one more week and finishing getting back on schedule.

We will be continuing on with CHAPTER NINE on August 28th!

Hope your studies go well. Enjoy the rest of your summer. :)

Love & Prayers,
Nicole

Catch Up Time - Week Nine

 

Hello dear Friends! Time to take a week and catch your breath. :) This week we won't be working on anything new. So if you've fallen a little behind in our studies now is the time to get caught back up. (You should have finished CHAPTER EIGHT by now.) And if you don't have any catching up to do, this would be a great time to dig even deeper into God's Word. Maybe you want to learn more about PRAISE, or spend some time studying PROVERBS 31. :)

  

I thought the quote pictured above went along beautifully with this week's lesson. "Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you others can see HIM." What a key point to remember as we strive to encourage and build others up! The most important thing we can do is point others to Jesus Christ. We are not to draw attention to ourselves. When others look at our lives may they only see HIM. We must decrease so that He might increase!

 

"The goal in any God-centered relationship should be to continually point the other person towards Christ, not to continually draw attention towards you." ~Leslie Ludy

Sending a Smile,
Nicole

 

 

"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded,
support the weak, be patient toward all men." 1 Thessalonians 5:14
 

Encouraging Others - Week Eight

Essential Four

 

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER EIGHT IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"The aged women likewise, that they be...teachers of good things..." Titus 2:3

"Here are two words of advice for women who desire to be godly. First of all, encouraging younger women is one of God's high callings upon your life. And we need to heed His calling. Each of us should be teaching and encouraging someone who is younger! Second, you should be learning from those who are older. Through all the ages and stages of life, God lovingly surrounds us with those who have gone before us. Someone will be available to help you."

 

Hello dear Friends! How is your time of learning and growing in God's Word? I hope and pray that you are learning much and growing ever closer to our dear Lord and Savior!

This week I thought I would share with you all one of my favorite ways to encourage others. In Colossians 3:16 we are told: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

I recently discovered deeper meaning to this verse when I realized we are to use the Psalms to encourage another in the Lord. I personally love the Psalms, and what a great way to lift up another's spirit and point them to the Lord!

After all ...the word of God is quick, and powerful... (Hebrews 4:12). Sharing portions of Scripture with others is sure to encourage and uplift! You may never know how the Lord might use a simple verse to cheer and inspire someone when they needed it most. :)

Here are some photos of "Verse Cards" (as I like to call them). They are made with decorative cardstock paper and various embellishments, like paper clips, fun yarn, stickers, etc. Then I write a Bible verse on them (or two) and send them on their way to someone's mailbox. :) The cards shown below all have the theme of Prayer. You could make these simply by using index cards and a few stickers. :)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being a younger woman, I have always read the passage in Titus 2 thinking of myself as the "younger women". But the Lord has since shown me that there are always girls younger than me, and that I am an "older woman" to them (so to speak :). This has really been an eye opener for me and since I have tried to be sure to encourage girls younger than myself and to set a godly example for them to follow. Can you think of someone younger than you who you could encourage TODAY?

 

Another verse that comes to my mind is 1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." We are to encourage those older than us too. After all, we are all part of the Body of Christ. Let's not forget to cheer on those older and more mature than us as well, in a spirit of humility.

 

"Therefore, my beloved (SISTERS), be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

 

Keep up the good work!

 

Sending a Smile & Hug,

Nicole

Encouraging Others - Week Seven

Essential Four

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER SEVEN IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

 

 

"The aged women likewise, that they be...teachers of good things..." Titus 2:3

"We tend to think of encouragement as meaning to build up or

cheer up another person so that they feel better. However,

God's word for encouragement means training, disciplining, and

 helping others by helping them to be sober-minded...so that they live better."

 

 

 

Hello dear Friends! I hope your time of study this past week has been inspiring, thought-provoking, and life-changing! :) If you're anything like me, you probably know of a few areas in your life in dire need of some discipline. :) This printable calendar is great for working on establishing discipline in your life and mine. Simply choose three specific things that you would like to form as a habit  and do them every day (for 100 days!). At the end of it, these areas should be firmly rooted in your life. :) 

 

I really liked the point about cultivating a regular quiet time with the Lord. So often in life it can be easy to let this all-important time fall to the back burner. Unfortunately, this is so often true in my life. But if we are desiring to be godly women, this time is so vital to our spiritual life and physical one as well. May each of us MAKE time each day to spend with our Lord Jesus! This is how we will truly grow - not by our own working, or our list of to-dos, but by the powerful working of His Spirit.

 

My definition of Self-Control: "Saying NO to your flesh & YES to the Lord Jesus!"

 

I'm looking forward to this week's new essential - Encouraging Others! I'm hoping to gain some new ideas and helpful hints on how to better carry this out in my life. *Note* At the end of Week Eight and before we start Essential 5, we're going to have a "catch-up" week. This will allow those of you (myself included!) who have either started late or are falling behind, sometime to catch up with the more disciplined who are still right on schedule :)

 

May you make time each day this week to spend with our Lord!

 

Love & Prayers, Nicole

Personal Discipline - Week Six

Essential Three

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER SIX IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"The aged women likewise, that they be...not given to much wine..." Titus 2:3

"Personal discipline can be as simple as the two-letter word NO!
Christ didn't say, 'Indulge yourself'.
Instead He said, 'Deny yourself (Matthew 16:24). So, just say NO!"

Hello dear sisters-in-Christ! Who has been enjoying studying about 'personal discipline'? *raising my hand!* I'm running a little behind in this week study but will hopefully be caught up by the end of this week. :) How is everyone else doing on staying on track? Are we ready for a catch up week or is everyone doing good? :)

I listened to this GREAT sermon yesterday on the subject of self-control. It was REALLY good and fit this week's essential perfectly! If you can find the time to listen/watch it, I would highly recommend it! :)

Click here to listen: The Prize Fighter: A Study in Self-Control.

Here's some important points from the sermon on how to perform self-control in our lives:

"First, "I" (Self) must be controlled, submitted, subjected to the Lordship

of Jesus Christ, the Rule of the Spirit of God, and the Authority of the Word

of Scripture. Then, it is no longer "I" (Self) who lives (controls the Body)

but Christ who lives within the Body. Thusly, "I" is now in its proper position (crucified yet alive - denied and yet yielded) to behave as it ought. It is now able to exert the authority of Jesus Christ over the body, its impulses,

its weaknesses, and its fleshly longings. Self in now controlled by Jesus

in order to now control the Body as it ought." ~Eric Ludy

I thought that was really good and such an important truth! How many times have "I" tried to bring my own body into submission and discipline and control "myself"? Submitting ourselves to Christ is the ONLY way to have victory in our lives! What does Galatians 5:22-23 say? "...the fruit of the Spirit is...self-control..."ESV. It's through His Spirit working in us and not a working of ourselves, that we can have victory! :)

 

"O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood."
 

Keep pressing heavenward and seeking His face!

Love & Prayers, Nicole

Personal Discipline - Week Five

Essential Three

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER FIVE IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"The aged women likewise, that they be...not given to much wine..." Titus 2:3

"It has been well said that the future is with the disciplines,
and that quality has been placed first...for without it the other gifts,
however great, will never realize their maximum potential. Only the disciplined person will rise to his highest powers." ~J. Oswald Sanders

Hello dear sisters-in-Christ! Wow, it's hard to believe we're onto our fifth week already. I'm looking forward to studying about our third essential to living a godly lifestyle - personal discipline. I'm sure I'll have lots to work on after this week's study. :)

Here's some quick thoughts from last week's study on godly speech. I enjoyed copying all those scriptures on wisdom & kindness. Thought it was interesting to note that both these things (wisdom & kindness) come from the Lord. I think that's the key to having godly speech. We'll never be able to achieve it on our own strength, only through Christ in us.

I think the only way to gain control over the words we say is to be filled with Christ. Before our words are ever spoken they are first thoughts. This is why it is so important to take every thought captive to Christ. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 2 Corinthians 10:5

Instead of praying for God to give us kind words, we should pray to be filled with Him. In our hearts are focused and filled with God-who is love, kind words will simply be an overflow of His working inside our hearts. Christ has given us the power to live a godly life but this is only possible as we yield up ourselves in exchange for life in Christ.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord I give myself to Thee,

Fill me with Thy love & power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.

 

May your week be blessed as you seek Him with all your heart!

 

Love, Nicole

Godly Speech - Week Four

Essential Two

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER FOUR IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

"The aged women likewise, that they be...not false accusers..." Titus 2:3

Hello dear sisters-in-Christ! Sorry this post is a little later than usual. My family and I are in the process of "deep" cleaning our bedrooms. The last two days my bedroom as been more of a wreck than it clean but after staying up a little later last night things are looking up! :) I love the feeling of having a clean room. Our God is a God of order and cleanliness and the simplicity of no clutter leaves me feeling free to focus more on my Lord and Savior and spending time with Him.

So how did your week of study go? I find I prefer the more positive study than negative but I did learn new and sobering truths. I thought the fact about false accusers being the same Greek word for "devil" quite sobering. Definitely causes me to want to avoid slandering at all cost! I certainly don't want my words to be words of the devil.

I thought this passage in Ephesians quite interesting in light of our study this week. The last verse "neither give place to the devil" is the same word in our study - "diabolos".

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil." Ephesians 4:22-27

 

Praying for you as you seek to put off the conversation of our old man, and that you will be renewed in your mind, focusing on the Lord & filling your heart with things of the Lord! I'm looking forward to this week's study and seeing how to practically apply this to my life.

 

Love in Christ, Nicole

 

Food for thought:

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45

 

Godly Speech - Week Three

Essential Two

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER THREE IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

Hello everyone! So how was your second (& last) week of studying Godliness? I am amazed and even somewhat overwhelmed of all that I should be doing as a woman of God! The Lord has definitely been pointing out to me how much I need to improve and areas in my life in need of major change. I'm so thankful I don't have to live out this godly life in my own strength, because I would most certainly fail! Only through Christ's strength and power can these truths we've been learning ever become effective in mine and your lives.

"But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 ERV

I loved her (Elizabeth George's) 5 guidelines for controlling our thoughts:

• Make a decision every day to seek to dwell on the Lord
• Make sure my thoughts meet the guidelines of Philippians 4:8
• Master the great hymns of the faith
• Memorize Scripture
• Mark out certain times each day for praising God

What great ideas and reminders for focusing our thoughts upwards! (One of those areas in my life in need of changes!) I was really excited to discover something in Philippians 4:8 that I had never realized before. (And I've heard & memorized this verse many times!)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

There are eight things listed here that we are supposed to think, dwell, and meditate on. They are things that are TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, of GOOD REPORT, VIRTUOUS, and full of PRAISE. Here's my exciting discovering...Only God is ALL of these things! Everything else in this world dims when compared to Him. Only He is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and worthy of praise. Therefore the key to focusing my thoughts is to simply focus on GOD! Meditating on Him, His goodness, His attributes, His Word, etc.

In the Greek the word for THINK is "logizomai" meaning "to make those things the subjects of your thoughtful consideration, or to carefully reflect on them, to reckon, count, dealing with reality..."

Thinking on the Lord, focusing on Him, and meditating on His Word, will certainly make Psalms 19:14 a reality in our lives: "May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock - the One who rescues me." ERV

Anyways, that was just some of my thoughts on this last week's study. :) Did you all choose a hymn to memorize?? I loved the idea of memorizing a hymn each month! I'm going to give it a try. :) The first hymn I'd like to memorize is I Surrender All. I'd love to hear what hymns you're memorizing!

Thanks so much everyone for your encouraging comments & for joining me on for this study! I am just loving it and hope you are too. :)

Love & Prayers, Nicole

"All to Jesus, I surrender; All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender; Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender; Now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to His Name!"

Godliness - Week Two

Essential One

Hello, fellow study partners! I hope your first week of studying was truly delightful and enlightening. :) I was excited to walk away with a lot of exciting gold nuggets of truth! After talking with some of you, we decided to work through only one chapter each week (Wednesday to Wednesday). Our study will last longer this way but it will be so much easier to keep up on it and not get behind!

After reading the first chapter this week I found some things I want to study more in depth at a later time. After reading about Anna fasting and praying, it aroused some questions to my mind about fasting. What is it's purpose? Why did people do it? Should believers still do it today? How should it be done? Hmm...lots of questions for me to study! Then I also want to study "praise" in depth. What exactly is the difference between "giving thanks" and "praise"? How do we praise the Lord? How does praise affect the believers life...? If any of you have any insights on either of this two subjects I'd love to hear your thoughts!

So ... We're onto our second week, continuing on with our first godly essential - Godliness! This week you need to work through CHAPTER TWO in your book and study guide. Here's a easy way to remember what we have to do each week: READ, STUDY, & SHARE! (READ the book, STUDY the chapter, SHARE your thoughts!) I look forward to hearing how second part of godliness blesses you!

Here's some thoughts I received from some of our fellow studiers (we should really think of a good name for our "study partners" lol!):

"I am enjoying (the study), and actually this morning, I got so engrossed in the study and looking up scripture that time got away from me!"

"I'm just loving this study and its just the first day. I keep seeing the word CONSECRATION lately. To devote irrevocably to the worship of God; to devote to a purpose with or as if with deep solemnity or dedication. "Set-Apart"."

Thanks so much everyone for your supporting, encouraging thoughts! Thank you for sharing! :)

Love & Prayers,
Nicole


EXTRA NOTES FROM WEEK ONE:
I was asked to share some of my notes from 2 Timothy 2:9-15. I didn't go into great detail on all the verses but here's what I do have.

GODLY DRESS - modest apparel, not broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly apparel. Why? So that my dress might point others to my Lord.

BECOMETH (Gr. prepo) - to stand out, conspicuous, to be becoming, seemly, fit

WOMEN (Gr. gyne) - women of any age

PROFESSING (Gr. epaggellomai) - to announce that one is about to do something, to promise, to engage voluntarily

GODLINESS (Gr. theosebeia) - reverence towards God's goodness

GOOD (Gr. agathos) - useful, good, joyful, happy, distinguished, upright, honourable

WORKS (Gr. ergon) - employment, any product, an act, deed, thing, done

MODEST (Gr. kosmios) - well arranged, seemly (note same greek word used in 1 Timothy 3:2 meaning "of good behavior")

APPAREL (Gr. katastole) - a lowering, letting down, a garment let down, dress, attire

SHAMEFACEDNESS (Gr. aidos) - a sense of honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect

SOBRIETY (Gr. sophrosyne) - soundness of mind, self control

LEARN (Gr. manthano) - to increase in knowledge, to hear, to be in the habit of

SILENCE (Gr. hesychia) - quietness, life of one who stays at home doing own work

SUBJECTION (Gr. hypotage) - obedience

MY MINISTRY - "Everything I do or say should point others to Christ. I am to be useful, joyful, happy, and put my heart into doing anything & everything I do as unto the Lord!"

Godliness - Week One

Essential One

Welcome to our first week of studying together! Let's open with a word of prayer.

"Dear Heavenly Father,
    Thank you for these upcoming weeks that we can devote time to spend learning more about You and Your will for us as women. Please be with each one of these ladies who are joining us. Bless them and open their hearts to the truths You are wanting to teach us. Give us sensitive hearts that are willing to change areas in our lives that are not well-pleasing to You. Plant a passion in our hearts that desires You above everything else and one that seeks to learn more and more about You.
    Thank you for Elizabeth George, who has gone ahead of us to prepare this book and study about our high calling as women that You have given to us. Lord, may we be willing and desiring to live out Your will for our lives. May we submit to Your ways and seek to live out Your plans for our lives. 
    Lord, as we begin this first week of study, open our eyes and hearts to the truths You are desiring to show us. Help each of us to make a point to spend time with You each and everyday. Lord, this is what changes us. This is how we can become godly women - by spending time learning of You, experiencing You, talking to You, and listening to You. May each of us make You a priority in our lives, putting You first above all else.
    In Christ's Powerful Name, Amen."

Okay, time to get out your book, study guide, Bible, pen and notebook and start studying! This week we are studying the first essential to godly living - GODLINESS. Here's what we're doing this week:

READ chapters one in the book. This part should be simple. :) Just read the first chapter and record anything that stands out to you in your notebook.

STUDY using the corresponding growth and study guide. Work through chapters one this week. Record your answers and thoughts, insights you've discovered, areas in your life needing change, and written prayers. The study guide will probably take you longer to work through than the book so be sure to leave plenty of time!

SHARE your gleanings, learning, and thoughts with us during or at the end of the week! I'm so excited to hear what things the Lord is going to be teaching us! Please share by posting in the "comment" section below or send me an email and I'll post it for you. :) Stay tuned for updates and encouragement during the week! (Maybe you might want to subscribe so you'll be sure to receive each new post in your inbox?!)

May your study be a blessed and fruitful time of growing and learning! I'm praying for you as you embark on this journey with me.

Love, Nicole

P.S. If you are joining us, please drop me a note if you haven't done so yet! Either email me atnicolemarie144(at)gmail.com or leave a comment below. It would be so nice know who is joining us and to keep each other in our prayers!

Please tell me your name, favorite Bible verse, & one thing your are hoping to gain throughout this study!

Notes on Godliness

Wow! Hasn't this been any amazing couple days of Bible study?! I'm looking forward to hearing from each of you what God has been laying on your hearts. Here are some of my notes and gleanings so far (I'm almost done with chapter one:). 

Since my Bible is KJV, Titus 2:3 reads a little differently then in the book. "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness..." After looking up the word "holiness" in the Greek I discovered that the word "reverent" could also be used (like it is in the NKJV.) 

I really love looking in the Greek to find greater truths and wisdom I would otherwise have missed. 

Behavior (Gr - katastema) having to do with the condition of something, demeanor, deportment, bearing 

Holiness/Reverent (Gr - hieroprepes) sacred & fitting, being consecrated to God

Following are some of my thoughts after studying the words behavior and holiness. "My behavior stems from my state of mind, my inner life. Before my behavior is an action it is first a thought. My thoughts and actions should be in accordance to God, as something sacred and consecrated to Him. I must empty my heart of self and dedicate my life completely to God. When God is my all, my actions will point to Him."

"Reverent in Behavior" - a heart and life that is set apart and consecrated to God. Every thought, word, and action is done to bring glory to God and honor to His name. It is a life that reflects Christ and points others to Him."

I love that fact the word "consecrated" keeps popping up in my study. Consecrated means being set apart fully for God. 

I loved the look into the life of Anna. (I've only touched briefly and still want to do more.) Anna was described as a godly woman. She was fasting (denying herself of world pleasures), praying (without ceasing), and giving thanks! Her life was filled with service and worshipping the Lord. She was committed, dedicated, self-controlled, and consecrated. She lived looking and seeking for her Savior. What an example for me and you!

I absolutely loved Elizabeth George's practical steps to making this real in our lives. Between this study and another book I'm reading (Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy) I'm excited to have some practical steps to take in my life. Below are some habits I'm hoping to establish in my life. 

PRAYER - spend 5 minutes at the beginning of every hour in prayer. Spend time on my knees right before I sleep at night & land on my knees when I awake in the morning. Choose to spend time talking to Him when I am alone, instead of simply letting my thoughts wander. 

PURPOSE - do this through worshipping and giving thanks.

PRAISE - read one chapter from the Psalms before getting out of bed in the morning. (A great book for this is The Psalms of David - the entire books of Psalms in beautifully illustrated! click here) Have a personal time of worship by singing hymns to the Lord. (Personally I thought going outside into our woods or by the pond would be perfect for this!)

PICK (an point to meditate on) - attributes of God, or promises from Scripture. Meditate by reading it in different versions, looking it up in the Greek, journaling thoughts and insights, or slipping a verse in my pocket to look at throughout the day. 

My Calling: "to worship God in spirit and truth, to seek to be consumed with Him, to love Him fully, to follow Him completely, to fill my heart, mind, soul and spirit with His Word." 

Ellerslie (in Windsor, Colorado) was a place that inspired me to worship and made me aware of God's presence. (See some pictures below for a glimpse of the scenery!)

After studying 2 Timothy 2:9-15, here's my very short summary. "Even my clothing should stand out separate from the world. EVERYTHING in my life should reflect Christ." (If anyone is interested in seeing my notes from looking up a lot of these words in the Greek, let me know and I'll try to post it.)

Spending time with our Lord and truly seeking to know Him is key to living this godly life. How can we expect to be godly on our own strength, without God? We cannot do this on our own willpower, strength, or thinking it into being. The truly godly life, one that reflects Christ in everything, in only accomplished by the emptying of self and allowing God to fill us with Him. 

Some changes I need to make in my life: (please pray for me!) I need to spend more time with Him, getting to know who He truly is, and not just who I think He is. In my conduct I need to be more joyful and more serving to others. Speech - more kind & encouraging, and not negative. And in my thought life I need to be willing to accept God's will and plans for my life and not seeking and planning my own way. 

Well, that's all I have for now. After some more studying I hope I'll have more to share. I'd love to hear what you've been learning, even if its just a sentence. :) Please share your gleanings by leaving a comment or sending me an email! 

May God bless you as you continue to grow and learn more about our high calling! 

Love, Nicole