A few of my favorite resources to grow closer to Christ

With all of the New Year’s resolutions and goal-setting that is swarming about on social media right now, all of it just makes me want to stick my head in the sand.  There are so many aspects of my life that I could improve upon or just refresh that my list alone could paralyze me from moving forward.  Perhaps you feel the same way?

In those early morning hours before my household gets busy, I sit quietly talking to my Lord thinking about what is it that I need most?

My answer is always the same.

Jesus.  Simply Jesus.

I need to start there.  Every day.  And then build up from that foundation which would include the following:

My marriage.

My mothering.

Managing my home and health.

And ministry.

If my foundation is saturated in Christ, then I’ll spill forth Christ into all other areas of my life.

The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.  Isaiah 58:11

Whether you need to be refreshed, restored, or revived, Christ is always the One who will meet this need, friend.  The question is, are you pursuing Him?  Our relationship with Him doesn’t get stronger if we’re not sitting at His feet.

Ready to go deeper?  Here are a few of my favorite resources to help you do just that!

Team Us: Online Marriage Book Club from Fulfilling Your Vows

Carlie Kercheval from Fulfilling Your Vows is a dear friend of mine.  The support she has given me in this ministry has been invaluable, uplifting, and oh so encouraging. I’m happy to share with you her newest ministry endeavor, which is her on-line book club for married couples.

Join her and her husband, Michael as they go through the book, Team Us.

Here is how the online study will work:

Beginning Friday, January 8, 2016, we will publish a weekly blog post with that week’s book study information as well as some encouraging words to go along with it. In order to be kept up to date and in the loop of fellowship, we suggest that you join our email list and like our Facebook page. Below we will explain exactly how we will be utilizing both platforms for the upcoming couples study.

Learning to Trust by Caitlyn Burns

Are you a single woman?

Are you wanting to trust Christ more with your life?

Do you desire to be transformed by the Great I Am?

Do you want to grow in your faith?

If you’ve said yes to any of the above, then I’ve got a Bible study for you!

Caitlyn Burns is the author of the bible study, Learning to Trust, and she just so happens to be a personal friend of mine!  We share a few common interests: to know Christ more and to make Him known.  We’ve chatted about our passions in the local coffee shop, our church, and my home. 🙂  By the way, if you’re a single woman reading this, make sure you follow Caitlyn on her blog and/or via social media.  Her heart for the Lord will be a big blessing in your life!

Here’s a snippet of what Caitlyn has to say about her newest bible study:

As a Christian woman, I have always loved the Lord and loved reading His Word. However, there have been instances in my life when I have had a difficult time trusting Him and His plans. During a particular trial in my life, God directed me to read Ruth and Esther. As I began diving into the verses, I allowed the lessons, thoughts, and feelings of Ruth and Esther to sink deep into my heart and mind. The lessons I learned changed my life! God knew exactly what He was doing in my life, even though I didn’t understand, I needed to trust that the God of Ruth and Esther was the same God who loved me. His plans for Ruth and Esther far exceeded any plans they could dream of for themselves!

In this study, you will discover these personal truths for yourself and see through personal stories, how trusting the Lord is a much needed character quality in every Christian’s life! Open the pages of the study and your Bible, and watch the Lord transform you into a woman who is more like Him! 

 

The Book of Job-Good Morning Girls

Here’s another study that I highly recommend which is from Courtney Joseph.  Although Courtney and I are separated by many U.S. states, I’m sure if we lived around the corner from one another we’d be sipping coffee at the local coffee shop sharing our passion for women to know Christ more.

If you have ever experienced a time of tremendous trials and sufferings, then this study is for you!

Why do the righteous suffer?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

The book of Job gives us this insight. We live in a broken world and as a result bad things are going to happen – even to good people. However, some people have believed that these go hand in hand with sin. While this is true at times, it is not always the case. -excerpt from Courtney Joseph, Good Morning Girls

Any great studies that you’re digging into this year?  I’d love to hear about them!

Live a poured out life for Christ,

Jolene

This post contains affiliate links.  See my disclosure here.