Finding Joy in Your Home

We've got a fun discussion today! I have Stacy Myers with me and we are discussing healthy living, bread making, and even how to grind your own flour!! 

It was a fun chat and inspired me to get in the kitchen and to enjoy it more. Listen in today! 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. 

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

Finding a balanced approach to healthy living

I love Stacy's emphasis on healthy eating and healthy living! It's important to be aware of what we eat but it's also good to strike a good balance between healthy eating and realistic living.

I love Stacy's approach to eating "poorganic" and the 80/20 rule. Check out her articles to learn more! 

Grinding Your Own Wheat

One of the main reasons I wanted to have Stacy on the show was to talk about grinding your own grain. It might seem overwhelming and daunting, but grinding your own grain is actually really doable! 

Make sure to follow Stacy and myself over on Instagram to see the behind the scenes of our baking days! 

Links & Resources: 

Follow Stacy on Instagram

Follow Jami on Instagram

The Bread Beckers Website

A great source for grains with only $4.99 shipping

My FAVORITE cookbook for using freshly ground grains

Zojirushi bread maker (the bread machine that both Stacy and I have)

The grain mill that Stacy has

The grain mill that Jami has

The EWG Skin Deep Database

Learning how to dive deeper into God's Word doesn't happen by accident. It takes work, discipline, and a willingness to invest that time in the Lord. 

Last week on the podcast, we covered going deeper with Bible study when you have no time. Today we are going to be continuing that conversation with a Q&A time. We cover a ton of fabulous topics today, so tune in!! 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. 

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

Bible Study Q&A:

"Do you have a list of books you read, in order, if doing the book a month study?" - Elise

Elise is referring to my simple Bible reading plan that Jason and I have been following for a few years now. With this plan, we read the same book of the Bible everyday for 30 days. See the link above for a full explanation of the plan. 

But to answer Elsie's question: I don't. We just alternate between a big book and a little book. It's not that hard. When you get to the next month, just pick one! So I don't have a list for you, but don't make it overly complicated ;) 

"How long do you devote to quiet times vs general study times or are they the same?" - Jennifer

I think our culture has done a bit of a disservice surrounding our Bible study time with all our different lingo: "quiet time, devotional, Bible study, etc". It can be confusing as to what we are supposed to be doing! 

To answer this question, we have to first ask the questions "What is the purpose" and "Why do we study the Bible?" We must first recognize why we study, why we spend "quiet time" with God. Ultimately, we study God's Word to know him more. We want to learn his character, his commands, his love, and what he excepts of his disciples. We study God's Word because he commands us to and we want to learn more about our creator, to love Him more. 

When we approach it from that standpoint, we can more easily see that all of these things tie together - our bible study time, devotionals, etc. But the unifier is: We need to be in God's Word. Other books, devotionals, sermons and podcasts can be helpful in our knowledge of God. I know I have been mentored from afar from hundreds of books, but God's Word still needs to remain the core. 

So whatever you call it: other books, especially devotionals, shouldn't be the meat of what we study, God's word directly should be. 

Breadth versus depth: there are times for both in our study. Sometimes we read through entires books at a time, sometimes we hunker down and study one single passage. 

If you have never done so before, I highly recommend you: Read through the entire the Bible. Go through Genesis to Revelation. This gives you a good overview of the Bible. Then go through studies where you learn to study God's Word on your own. Katie Orr and Jen Wilkin's studies are both ones that do this wonderfully. 

Resources: 

Katie Orr's newest study on Philippians

Jen Wilkin's newest study on Genesis

Podcast by Katie: How much time should I spend when I study my Bible? <--- this is GREAT to listen through! 

"What are some ways you suggest to memorize scripture?" - Stacey

There is no way around it - memorizing Scripture is hard work. It's easier for some of us, and very hard for others. Jason memorizes scripture very easily. It takes me a lot more work, especially in this season of young kids. 

My preffered method is to use Scripture memory cards. You can just write them out on 3x5 cards. Or use the Scripture memoruy cards we have in our store to...

It can be so tough to find the time to study God's Word, and dig in deeper, when you feel like you have no time! 

You might be in a season of little kids, you might be suffering through a sickness, you might be working long hours, and/or you are just finding it hard to focus in busy times. In today's episode we are going to chat all about how to go deeper in God's Word...even when you have no time! 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. 

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

Deeper Bible Study with Little Time 

Where do you start? 

If you have never done so - read the entire Bible cover to cover. It can be in 90 days, it can be in a year. But start in Genesis and read through to Revelation.  

A neat way to do this is by reading it chronologically. The You Version Bible app has a chronological plan you can select which will give you your readings each day. You can also download a PDF here that you can print out and keep in your Bible. 

First Reading, then Interpretation 

We can't just skip straight to the application because often, we will be misunderstanding what the text actually means. We can't apply the text and the meaning to our own lives until we know what God originally meant to the original hearers of the Word. 

We need to remember that the Bible is a book about God, not about ourselves. When we read looking for ourselves in the text first, we are missing the most important point. 

“If I read the Bible looking for myself in the text before I look for God there, I may indeed learn that I should not be selfish. I may even try harder not to be selfish. But until I see my selfishness through the lens of the utter unselfishness of God, I have not properly understood its sinfulness. The Bible is a book about God. As Moses would learn during the Exodus, who he was bore no impact on the outcome of his situation. Who God was made all the difference.” – Women of the Word, page 27

Getting Started: 

1) Look at the bigger picture

"Our purpose in studying must be to look for that Big Story each time we go to the Scriptures. We must study asking not just what a particular portion of Scripture wants to tell us, but how that portion of Scripture is telling us the Big Story of the Bible as a whole. Studying the Bible with purpose means keeping its overarching message in view at all times, whether we are in the Old Testament or the New, whether we are in the Minor Prophets or the Gospels. In order to do this, we must "zoom out" from any one particular book or passage and gain an appreciation for how it plays its part in unfolding the Big Story."- Women of the Word, page 51

2) Study with perspective 

Questions to ask when studying: 

Who Wrote It?

When was it written?

To whom was it written?

In what style was it written?

Why was it written?

5 Steps to Deeper Bible Study 

1) Read the text

Jen recommends you print out the passage so you can mark it up, write question marks, and even write "WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?!?"

2) Read repetitively

"The historical, cultural, and linguistic gap that exists between the Bible and its modern-day reader makes repetitive reading a critical tool in our attempts ot build comprehension. Simply put, we are probably not going to catch what the author intended to communicate in one reading. The first step in comprehending a text is reading it several times from start to finish. We wouldn't expect to read once through a scene in Shakespeare's King Lear and come away...

Throughout the years, I have always been on the hunt for how to spend my time. I want to be intentional with how I use my time. I want to make sure that I am using my time wisely and with purpose. 

But this gets hard when my days consist mostly of ordinary, mundane moments. I go from changing diapers to making breakfast, to do dishes, to cleaning the bathrooms, then to lunch prep, and the whole cycle starts over again. 

Today I had the chance to sit down with Courtney Reissig and discuss our importance among these mundane moments. Listen in! 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. 

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

I am a boo-boo fixer, teacher, chauffeur, maid, and cook. For the most part, my day consists of ordinary moments. But it's in those moments that we have a powerful opportunity to serve and love God. The problem? It's often so hard to see that! 

One of the books I read last year that had a big impact was Glory in the Ordinary. The tagline to the book is Why Your Work in the Home Matters to God. 

When I read it, I knew I had to have the author on the podcast and I was delighted that Courtney could join me! 

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Glory in the Ordinary by Courtney Reissig

Accidental Feminisit by Courtney Reissig

Courtney's website

Today we are back on the podcast talking about reading goals, how to find more time to read, and what I've read so far in 2018 and loved (and didn't love)! 

Whether you are taking on an insane goal of 2 books a week, or 2 books a month, or 2 books this year, I think it's important to discuss and review your reading goals throughout the year. (And if you didn't make any reading goals yet this year - jump in and do it now)! 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. 

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

Honestly, I started off 2018 with a BANG!! I've been ahead of Jason by about 2-4 books consistently and I've been far ahead of my goal. I think if I get behind any more this week, I will be behind on my goal now and Jason has just pulled one book ahead of me! 

So I'm going to share a little about the books I've read so far this year, but first, I want to talk a little bit about making reading goals and how to make some progress in them. 

My tips for reading more

1) Set a goal

2) Enlist an accountability partner

3) Use Goodreads to keep track - You can follow me on Goodreads here. 

4) Use a combination of books you already own, books from the library, audiobooks, and free or cheap kindle books! 

Visit Christian Audio each month for the free audiobook

Sign up for a FREE 30 day trial of Audible and get a FREE audiobook!! 

5) Figure out when in your week or schedule you will read. 

6) Get drastic! 

 

Some of what I've read so far in 2018

As of today, I have read 15 books in 2018. I am very close to finishing up several more and I should roughly be nearing 17-20 books finished when we end February. 

Christian Books:

Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God - Noel Piper

I loved this book so much! Noel takes a look at 5 faithful women and their stories of following God! These biographies were the perfect length to really catch my interest and I want to go back know and read larger biographies on these women!! 

Heavenly Minded Mom - Katie Bennett

This devotional doesn't actually come out until April 3rd, but I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy and I LOVED it! I'm not usually someone who is a big fan of devotionals, but this one goes so deep while still giving you easy bite size pieces. 

Helper By Design - Elyse Fitzpatrick

Of course I love Elyse! This is a must-read book on marriage for all women. I love Elyse's practical and yet very Biblical advice on every day marriage! 

The Accidental Feminist - Courtney Reissig 

This is a fantastic book for anyone wanting to study more about Biblical womanhood. Courtney writes in a very light and conversational way but doesn't back down from the important things! I also HIGHLY recommend her newest book Glory in the Ordinary. 

For Business I read:

Your Best Year Ever - Michael Hyatt

I was greatly looking forward to this book since I LOVED Michael's last book Living Forward. But I was really disappointed with this book. It's on goal setting (I guess) but it didn't really give any new advice. I felt like it was very fluffy and didn't really contain anything new or practical. 

Published by Chandler Bolt

Jason and I both listened to this as an audiobook and LOVED IT!! If you are interested in self-publishing, this is the book to get. 

Book Launch by Chandler Bolt