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These are a Few of my Favorite Things (For Growing in the Lord that is!)




Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study.  Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.
-          Henry L. Doherty

I am eager to learn all that you want me to do; help me to understand more and more …
-          Psalm 119:32, CEV

Growth – all our lives are about growth.  We grow taller; we grow wiser; we grow in skill and ability; we grow older.   But how do we keep learning as we grow?  Well, like Maria von Trapp in the Sound of Music sharing her favorite things, things that help her avoid fear and sadness, I want to share with you some of my favorite resources for growing and avoiding discouragement, stagnation, and lukewarmness! :)  So, here you go!


Favorite Bible Study Tools/Websites:
-          E-sword - a great downloadable resource with lots of free translations of the Bible (each of which you can search for specific words/phrases, when you’re doing a word study, for example), a Strong’s Concordance, some daily devotionals, an 1828 Webster’s Dictionary (one of my favorite tools), and more!  Awesome resource!
-          http://www.biblestudytools.com/ - and online place to search for specific words/phrases in translations that may not be available for free through E-Sword.

Favorite Places to download free and biblically sound sermons to listen to and be transformed by:
-          Living Word Christian Church - my Pastor back home! :D
-          Andrew Wommack
-          John MacArthur - some of these are very old sermons, and I have not listened to any of them yet (having just discovered this page this last week, but he has a good reputation for Biblically sound books)

Favorite Places to BUY sermons/books from great ministers of faith
-          Andrew Wommack again
-          Dr. Mark T. Barclay
-          John and Lisa Bevere
-          Mark Hankins
-          Jerry Savelle (and family)
-          Dr. Philip Goodeaux (click bookstore tab)
-          Joyce Meyer

Favorite Christian Shopping Website of all time
-          Christian Book Distributors (CBD)

Favorite Translations (Ok, to be honest, just a few of them :D – in no particular order; also, I tried to find the least expensive copies of each translation – not the fanciest – but for sake of time, I used only one website; you may find cheaper shopping around a little more): 
-
-   Living Bible  (not the New Living Translation - the original)     
-     ERV
o   Contemporary English Version
o   Knox New Testament (There is an old testament, too, but it can be very expensive and hard to find, so I just linked to the New Testament)
o   Voice New Testament
o   Voice Psalms
o   Good News Bible (formerly the Today's English Version)
o   God's Word Translation
o   New Century Version
o   New Life Bible
o   Amplified Bible
o   Moffatt Bible
-                                                  Any of the Lovetts's Light Translation/Commentaries (they’re sold individually by book of the 
                          Bible – and they’re awesome)
               On Hebrews
         On Revelation
         On Romans
         On Galatians Thru 2 Thessalonians
              And there are LOTS more!  Just search for “Lovett’s Lights” :D
o   Barclay New Testament
o   Berkeley Translation
o   Phillips New Testament
o   Ferrar Fenton Translation
o   Wuest New Testament
-          Translations I haven’t spent enough time in to call favorites, but ones that I’m inclined to like anyway:
§  Common English New Testament
§  Centenary New Testament
§  Goodspeed New Testament
§  Kleist and Lilly New Testament
§  Jerusalem Bible
-          Paraphrases I like to use in translation studies but would never recommend as primary Bibles:
§  The Message
§  The Word on the Street
Ben Campbell Johnson
§  Paul's Epistles
§  Matthew and Mark
§  Luke and John
Johnson’s Cotton Patch New Testament
§  Matthew and John 1-8
§ Luke and Acts
§  Paul's Epistles
§  Hebrew and the General Epistles 
§  Clear Word



When you need more information about a certain country (for prayer or potential ministry):
-          Operation World - there’s also a great book by this title – you can order it through the website – but I use it daily, and it is blessing me!  Oh my goodness!  It gives prayer concerns, answers to prayers, demographic listings of how many people in each country are Christians, etc.  VERY helpful in praying for the nations!
-          CIA World Factbook - this is a great place to go for basic information and information on any international/major societal issues within a country you may have a burden from God for
-          Campus Crusade's Ministry Locations info - If Campus Crusade has a ministry outreach there, their website will be really helpful too.  I enjoy using their information.

Places to look for mission trip opportunities:
-          Short Term Missions.com  - a great search engine of short term mission trip opportunities
-          Reign Ministries
-          World Race  - awesome 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries!
-          Adventures in Missions


So, did I miss anything?  If you have an idea of another kind of "favorite" growth tool you'd like me to blog about, jot a comment on here, and I'll see what I can come up with!  Hope the resources in this one are a blessing to you!  And have fun growing!
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