Thankful Homemaker: A Christian Homemaking Podcast

We're continuing in a series on the Spiritual Disciplines and today's episode is on Bible Study. We're going to talk about the benefits, explain some basic Bible study methods, share some resources to help you get started digging into the Word. Jerry Bridges says in regard to God’s Word - "Reading gives us breadth, but study gives us depth." *I stated in the podcast the next episode in the Spiritual Disciplines series will be on prayer, and it will be up on Tuesday, April 23rd instead of April 22nd.  Head to ThankfulHomemaker.com for Full Show Notes Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App 

We all want to grow in our walk as Christians. We've talked about how often we read God’s Word close the book and forget what we’ve read. We can blame our memories or our intelligence or our age, but the reality is it has more to do with our method than our abilities. Today's podcast episode is going to address areas that are important to our growth as believers: Meditation on God's Word and Scripture Memory.  God desires us all to grow in the grace and knowledge of His Word, so we are all capable and equipped as believers by the work of Spirit of God in us. We talked in our last episode on bible reading that we need to read the Word and hear the Word preached but just doing those two things doesn't always guarantee we will remember or be able to apply what we read. So then we briefly touched on meditating on the Word because this is where growth starts to come about. Donald Whitney described it as: “While hearing and reading plant the seed of Scripture into the soil of our souls, other disciplines are the water and sun God uses to bring the growth and fruit of Christlikeness in our lives.” When we talk about meditation, please don’t get the image of a yoga class or some other kind of New Age practice. What the world describes as meditation is not what Christian meditation is. Again we are not emptying our minds, but in Christian meditation, we are filling our mind with God and His truth.  Donald Whitney gives us a good definition: "Let’s define meditation as deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture, or upon life from a scriptural perspective, for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer."  Head to ThankfulHomemaker.com for Full Show Notes Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App     

We are continuing in a series here at the podcast on the Spiritual Disciplines. On today's episode, we are going to discuss the importance of reading God's Word along with some practical helps to implement it into our days. We have a God that we can know and meet with and because of that, we should meet with God on a regular daily basis. My hope is by the end of the podcast today that we would all see and understand why we need to do this as those who are born again - first off if we’re in Christ God is our Father, and we are His children. I want to spend time with my Heavenly Father. I desire to know Him more because as I do that I get a clearer understanding of who I am in light of Him and it changes my perspective of the world as I begin to see all of life and the world through His perspective. This only comes about as I spend time with Him in worship, in fellowship and in the reading of His Word—which is the topic today.  I can only come before God because of Jesus—He is the mediator between God and sinful man. If we’re in Christ, we have access to the Father, and we can meet with Him and know Him because of Jesus.  Hebrews 4:16 tells us  - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  John 17:17 tells sanctify them in truth - your word is truth. Jesus is praying for our sanctification the process of being made more and more into Christlikeness. It’s to be like Jesus. He is asking the Father to do this by the truth. What is truth? God’s Word is truth. We are sanctified by truth - God’s Word is truth, so we are sanctified by the Word of God. I could just stop here because that’s a pretty good reason enough for us to be in the Word on a regular daily basis.  If you haven't listened to the first one in this series you can do that here - EP 52 Introduction to the Spiritual Disciplines Show Notes: Philippians 4:8 Questions to Help You Meditate on the Word: -What is true about this, or what truth does it exemplify? -What is honorable about this? -What is just or right about this? -What is pure about this, or how does it exemplify purity? -What is lovely about this? -What is commendable about this? -What is excellent about this (that excels others of this kind)? -What is praiseworthy about this? ~ Above Questions taken from Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life Hebrews 4:16 John 17:17 2 Peter 1:20-21 2 Timothy 3:16 Galatians 1:12 2 Peter 3:15-16 Matthew 4:4 Nehemiah 8:1-4 1 Timothy 4:13 Luke 11:28 1 Timothy 4:7 Matthew 19:4 Mark 12:10 Philippians 4:8 Seeking Whatever is Good(Review of All That's Good by Hannah Anderson) EP 52: Introduction to the Spiritual Disciplines Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Minds by Jen Wilkin What is a Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti M. Anyabwile Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons by Christopher Ash The Daily Bible (NIV) Chronological by F. LaGard Smith ESV Daily Reading Bible by Crossway Reading Plan App  Infographic: You Have More Time for Bible Reading than You Think Develop a Daily Bible Reading Habit - Find Bible Reading plan options in this post Robert Murray M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan Elisabeth Elliot on Hints for a Quiet Time Podcast EP 15: Prioritizing God's Word When Life is Busy Women's Hope Podcast YouVersion Bible App Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App     

Dive into the essential practices that strengthen your relationship with Christ. Explore how spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, and fellowship play a vital role in personal growth and Christ-likeness. Discover the importance of balancing solitary practices with community engagement. The journey of transformation is highlighted as an active, intentional process, encouraging listeners to cultivate habits that foster spiritual maturity. Get inspired to embrace these timeless practices for a deeper, more meaningful faith.

How many times do we give thanks to the Lord for the ministry He has given us at home. Are we thankful for the mundane everyday moments or are we are only thankful when we think we are doing “great” things for the Lord? We live in God's home. He owns it. He has gifted it to us and given us the job of stewardship over it. He's put us in charge, and we are responsible to Him. As believers, it should make us work harder, and we shouldn't desire to escape from work or difficult situations because we know they are all with a purpose and we also know we are equipped to meet these situations in Christ. Mundane tasks are what make up most of our days. Everything matters —all of life is sacred. Once we’re in Christ there is no separation of secular or sacred. Every moment is a holy moment that God has ordained. Do we think biblically about our time and what we see as these seemingly mundane tasks? We don’t see many photos on social media of people folding laundry or washing dishes—there’s no special medals or awards for these tasks. This is where we need to continually ask the Lord to gives us a mindset of remembering that the mundane matters. It's in these moments that He is growing us in holiness.  Show Notes: Marriage Series at Thankful Homemaker G3 Conference Cultivating a Heart for Missions in Your Family Titus 2:3-5 Colossians 3:23 Colossians 3:17 1 Corinthians 10:31 Romans 12:1-2 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, Wife of Charles H. Spurgeon by Ray Rhodes Jr.  Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul Tripp  Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App 

I'm re-sharing a previous episode I need to re-listen to this time of year. I'm praying it will be an encouragement to you today. We are already nearing Christmas Eve and plans that I had to bake or buy or clean haven’t all been finished.  There are gifts I wanted to purchase or send that didn’t happen.  There are cookies I wanted to bake that I didn’t get too and areas I wanted to tidy at home that I didn’t even get close to doing. But I want to share with you today reminders that I’m talking to myself about what I am choosing. I’m hoping to help us keep our focus on the main thing this Christmas season. You can read the full podcast here, but my hope is you will sit with me for just a few minutes of your day and listen in to the podcast and let me pour into you a bit. Christmas Posts: Podcast EP 50: Lessons from the Life of Mary Christ-Focused Gift Guide for the Whole Family Christmas Love, 1 Corinthians Style Podcast EP 9: Christ-Focused Christmas Celebration Ideas Thoughts to Ponder as You Celebrate Christmas Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App 

Every Christmas season I look forward to reading the account of the birth of Christ in Luke together as a family on Christmas morning. I'm amazed at Mary's faith.  What must have gone through her mind when Gabriel approached her?  How did she process the news that she and Joseph were to raise the Son of God?  What depths of sorrow did she endure while watching her Son die a horrific death on a cross?  There are many lessons we can learn from Mary’s life, but I want to share just ten today. Show Notes: 1.  Mary knew God's Word. (Luke 1:54-55) 2.  Mary was filled with the Spirit. (Luke 1:35) 3. Mary said "yes" to God's plan for her life. (Luke 1:38) 4.  Mary was quiet before the Lord and meditated on all He had done in her life. (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51) 5.  Mary turned to Jesus for help when she had a problem to be solved. (John 2:3-5) 6.  Mary was a woman of worship.(Luke 1:46-47) 7.  Mary trusted in the Lord and waited on the His timing. (Matthew 1:19-20) 8.  Mary was a chosen vessel of the Lord. (Luke 1:30-31) 9.  Mary was a faithful servant. (John 19:25) 10. Mary knew Jesus was dying on the cross for her sins. (Luke 2:34-35) Scripture & Resources: Luke 2:19 Matthew 7:21 Romans 8:9-10 John MacArthur Study Bible Mary of Nazareth@Revive Our Hearts Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur My Soul Magnifies the Lord: Meditations on the Meaning of Christmas by Martyn Lloyd-Jones Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Related Posts: 10 Lessons from the Life of Mary Christmas Love, 1 Corinthians 13 Style Podcast EP 9: Christ-Focused Christmas Celebration Ideas Our Simple Family Christmas Traditions Thoughts to Ponder as You Celebrate Christmas How to Avoid the Comparison Trap this Christmas Season Podcast EP 11: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App 

Many times in my walk as a believer I have heard and read the term "abide in Christ" and didn't have a full understanding of what that meant. I know abide means to remain in, and I pictured it as a state of resting in Christ. Studying through John 15 has been a help to me in grasping fully what our Lord meant as he walked and talked with His disciples on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane. Picture this; our Lord had just left the Upper Room in John 13 & 14 where He and the disciples shared a Passover meal together. During their time together in the Upper Room Jesus washed the disciple's feet and He dismissed Judas who would betray him (John 13). Now in John 15, they are headed in the darkness of the night to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus's timing in giving this teaching to his disciples was needed as they were going to face hard times ahead and this lesson is relevant to us today as we meet difficult days. So let's learn together what it looks like to abide in Christ, be a real disciple and bear fruit for our Lord. I'm working through  John 15:1-11 today.    Scripture & Resources: John 13 John 14 John 15:1-11 Galatians 5:22-23 Isaiah 53:3 1 Peter 1:8 Abiding in Christ: Becoming Like Christ through an Abiding Relationship with Him by Paul Chappell John 15 Study Doorposts Blog What Does it Mean to Abide in Christ? Christmas Posts: Christ-Focused Gift Guide for the Whole Family Christmas Love, 1 Corinthians Style Podcast EP 9: Christ-Focused Christmas Celebration Ideas Thoughts to Ponder as You Celebrate Christmas Podcast EP 11: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App 

It’s not the gingerbread houses or cookies or special meals that will have the most impact on your family. It is the attitude of your heart. It is them seeing the Gospel lived out in your day to day life – even in the midst of busy seasons. As the busy Christmas season is upon us we can find ourselves all wrapped up (literally wrapping too) in planning, cooking, cleaning, shopping, decorating, ministry activities and a multitude of other tasks that seem to come about during the Christmas season in addition to just the normal activities of life that we are dealing with. I can lose focus and need to continue to pray to the Lord to remind me to have the heart of Mary and not get caught up with the attitude of Martha in all that needs to be done. I’m a very task focused person, and it’s how my mind works so I need to be intentional and prayerful to not miss the wonder of the Christmas season. The Christmas season can be a time – a reminder to us to refocus - to again to think deeply about the realities of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Scripture & Resources: Luke 1:28-29 Luke 2:19 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Philippians 2:14 Matthew 1 Luke 2 Isaiah 7 Isaiah 9 Micah 5 Matthew 25:40 Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul Tripp Good News of Great Joy at Desiring God Ever Thine Home 10 Questions to Ask at a Christmas Gathering Jesus Unmasked by Todd Friel Wretched.org Answers in Genesis Christmas Cards 14 Simple Outreach Ideas with an Eternal Focus Remember When Tractat Living Waters Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper ESV Giveaway Bibles   Related Resources: Celebrating Advent: Looking Back and Looking Forward 10 Simple & Practical Hostess Gifts Christ-Focused Gift Guide for the Whole Family Christ-Focused Christmas Gift Guide 2017 Podcast Ep 11: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season 14 Simple Outreach Ideas with an Eternal Focus Find the Show Notes for this episode at ThankfulHomemaker.com Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker.com  

In a world quick to judge, finding the beauty in others becomes essential. The discussion highlights the significance of gentleness and meekness within the Christian faith. Listeners explore how to respond with kindness during disagreements, especially within close relationships like marriage and parenting. Trusting in God's sovereignty and leaning on the Holy Spirit are highlighted as key to cultivating this gentle spirit. Practical tips and personal reflections serve to inspire a Christ-like approach to everyday interactions.