20 Feb 2016

Sounds of Motherhood

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, Kids r Readers 2, Shepherding Children | 3

There are many sounds to motherhood. If you have been a mom for any length of time, you are quite familiar with them, and you know that they quickly change depending on your child’s age. Here are a few of mine:

Apple chewing. Yes, I love to hear my two boys ask for a “big apple”, ask for mommy to “tut it”, and then chomp down on it. That means that are craving healthy foods and I give them enough sweets to balance it out 🙂
Crying. We just took our younger son to the eye doctor for the first time. Come to find out he is extremely near sighted and will need glasses (just like his older brother). He is really clumsy even though he is a daredevil. (His eyesight probably has something to do with his clumsiness.) So, I know that when he falls and cries, than he is actually hurt. He has busted his gums and caused his two front teeth to be completely gray now (because they are dead with damaged nerves), yesterday he was playing instead of napping and tipped over a wooden chair in his room and almost punctured his eye. Thankful it was just the corner of his eye, and black eyes heal. He has scraped the top of his head from spinning circles on the back porch, getting dizzy, and falling over. He just loves to be crazy, but he knows when he cries mommy or daddy will come running – and usually his older brother will show great compassion on him.
Mommy. Honestly, some times this gets old because they’ve said it 20 times in a row, whining for something they really don’t need. Any other mom our there know what I’m talking about? But today, as I was reading to my boys in the car while we ate lunch (waiting for a showing on our house to be finished), my younger said Mommy. Yes, he has said it plenty of times, but something just caught my attention this time when he said it. I’m there Mommy. I’m the one who loves them most in this world (with their daddy), and will be there for them, and play with them, and tuck them into bed at night. I pray that through my imperfect love they will come to see the perfect love for their Abba.
Singing. Both of my boys have grown fond of singing. The two songs we know perfectly are the ABCs (finally, it was delayed in our home), and Jesus Loves Me. I’m glad the boys are learning that one in their SS class at our church. We sing it all the time. As my younger was awake at 6am this morning he was singing this. As I was getting ready to head out the door, I saw his little fingers sticking out at the bottom of the door, and heard his little voice singing.

My favorite line of Jesus Loves Me is “for the Bible tells me so.” Especially as I parent, and make mistakes, and don’t know what to do half the time, or how to balance everything that I need to balance, it is good to know that I have the perfect Word of God.

And Judah and Chelsea Smith just put out a great story book Bible for your kids (think grade school). It is more storybook (like Jesus Story Book Bible), but it tends to be more concrete and practical, making it somewhat easier for younger kids to grasp and know how to implement. This is an easy to use Bible, especially helpful to parents in leading Family Worship time in their home. Remember, as a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your kids about God, and the church’s job is to come along side you and partner together.

If you would like to win this Bible (and believe me, you do), just leave me a comment on one of the verses you are teaching to your children or one of the songs that your children are learning right now. Thanks Tommy Nelson Mommies for the Bible and the opportunity to pass it along to someone else!

12 Jan 2016

Doodling the Word

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Uncategorized | 0

Everyone has gone through phases in their spiritual journey where focus and energy and excitement about the Word has been less than enthusiastic. I remember hearing a great word from the woman in my life who loves and knows the Word the best and it went something like this :

even when you don’t feel like it – keep doing it – be faithful – God will bring fruit and excitement

That is so true.

One of the ways that I stay focused in my time in the Word (both during studies, classes, services, and personal devotions) is doodling. Most people might read that and say that I’m not focusing or I’m tuning out – but on the contrary. Doing something with my hands engages my mind and actually helps me listen and engage more (internally, as I’ve gotten less apt to speak aloud in a class). Doodling helps me focus on certain words in the Word or in the book or from a sermon or class that is being taught – or maybe its a lyric from a hymn. Doodling helps me remember what I’m learning. And isn’t that the point of Psalm 119: to get the Word in you so the Spirit can help you remember it when you need it – which is always?!

So, I thought I would share some tips – if you want to start doodling, or drawing, or lettering, or anything:

The focus of doodling is not you – but it is engaging the Word into your mind. An example: as I was lettering Jeremiah 29:11 this morning, and as I prayed it for a pray names art I did for a sweet little boy in Virginia for a Christmas present – I was thinking of the words wholeness and know that are in that verse. I was thinking of the verses after it. I was thinking that these verses are especially popular for kids and teenagers, but how true are they still today when I’m a wife and a momma of two little boys and we don’t feel settled in life and don’t know what is next. Even then – even this morning – I need to know the truth of that verse. How sweet the Word is to my soul!
Grab a pencil or any writing instrument you want. I use micron pens a lot, I love pencils, I love Staedtler pens and Le Pens too. Whatever you want to write or doodle with. Just grab it. It doesn’t have to be name brand or cost much of anything. You can grab dollar store pens and have them on hand for all that doodling.
Start doodling. The good thing with doodling is it doesn’t have to be perfect. And its your doodles. I doodle words mostly because I’m not a good artist. I love lettering – always have. I’ve always loved writing, journaling, writing out prayers, etc. And experiment. If you really like some lettering you’ve seen – try it out. You’ll never know unless you try. Pinterest and Instagram are great places to start if you want to find some new fonts to try out and practice.

That’s all there is to it. Happy doodling. And I pray that your doodling is fruitful in helping you understand and meditate on the Word! And this is a great summary of Don Whitney’s thoughts on meditating on Scripture. You can do a lot of this by doodling – not just thinking.

26 Oct 2015

Life Change in Your Kids (Bible Giveaway)

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, parenting, Shepherding Children | 2

As a parent, I love both of my boys, but I long to see lasting change in their behavior and heart. But, I’ve realized in a very short period of time that I can’t change their hearts – only God can.

One of the ways that God changes hearts is by the Word of God. And it is very important as parents who love the Lord to help instill in our children a love for the Word. I know they won’t love the Word unless God saves them, but we can work on creating moments where they Word gets in them and the Word works in their hearts.

Tommy Nelson just put out a new study Bible for kids (8-12) and I think its awesome. They gave me this Bible as a part of Tommy Nelson Mommies and are giving you a chance to win won too! It is in the NKJV and that is readable and understandable while still sticking to the languages pretty well. It has bold colors and a style that pre-teens will like Easy thumb tabs built in to the pages so the books are easy to find. Has application points that are geared toward pre-teens. Has further study points throughout the Bible that will help kids learn more about God’s will for their lives.

The Bible is living and active and life-changing. Get it into your kids’ lives and hearts.

If you would like to win won, comment with your favorite verse that you like to pour into your pre-teens, or kids of any age.

3 Oct 2015

31 Days: The Who God Shows Tender Mercies

by Kimberly | posted in: 31days, Bible | 1

Parenting has taught me a lot about this idea of mercy. I think children need both discipline and mercy. Of course they need to learn obedience, but they also need to be shown mercy sometimes when they fail. They need to be shown mercy if for no other reason that to get a fuller picture of the God that created them. Mine need mercy so they won’t spend 4 hours in time out each day.

I am a daughter. I have a merciful heavenly Father. I am so thankful that he shows me great mercy every day. How often do I speed without getting a ticket? How often do I say something out of anger or spite to a family member only to be shown radical mercy and not what I deserve? How often do I sin and am not struck down dead like some in the Bible?

I think if we realized the holiness of God and the sinfulness of our hearts than we would always start every prayer with mercy pleas.

David knew a trusted communion with God and he know he had sinned greatly. That communion was broken. The only was David was going to be in a right relationship with God again was if that just God showered mercy down on him. So, he opens his heart wrenching psalm with this plea.

This mercy that God showed to David didn’t stop there. All of God’s mercy toward us was brought to completion on the cross. Christ took all of the wrath of God for us – in other words – he got no mercy from his just Father. He got penalty, he got death, he got the absence of His Father’s presence.

In Christ, let us also rejoice and plead for great mercy.

Psalm 51:1 ” Have mercy on me, O God.”

Other readings: Psalm 86:5; Psalm 145.9; Ephesians 2:4-5, Hebrews 4:16

27 Sep 2015

Teaching Your Child the Discipline and Joy of Reading the Bible

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, illustrated faith, Kids r Readers 2, parenting, Shepherding Children | 2

When our children are small, we teach them many important things to do: tie their shoes, brush their teeth, look both ways before crossing the street. We teach them how to go to the potty, drink from a cup, and use a fork. We teach them how to do so many things that are crucial for life.

Sometimes we forget to teach them important spiritual disciplines to help them get to know the God who created them. The most important one we can teach them by both example and instruction is reading the Bible. And what a better way to teach them how to read – then to read the Bible.

Why do we need to teach our children to read the Bible?

The Bible is God’s voice to us today. He breathed the Bible into life. He used common sinners to record what the Spirit breathed. This was written down and kept for us for all of forever. This is by far the main way he chooses to communicate with his children today. It is how they will know what is right and wrong. It is how they will know what God is like. Psalm 119 tells us so much about the importance of knowing the Word of God.
The Bible tells them how they were created. Even from a young age, our children will be bombarded with many deceptions about who they are. God created them in His Image and it is crucial they understand that. They were created beautifully and wonderfully: no matter the skin color or chromosome count, or their family status. Psalm 139 and Genesis 1 tells us that.
The Bible tells them why they were created. All of creation exists for one reason: to bring glory to God. God created human beings in his image so we could reflect the grand glory of God to the world. Isaiah 43 clearly illustrates that truth.
The Bible helps us get to know God. There is no person we need to know better than God. And we can know God by reading His Word. We can know his actions, his character, and his truth. We can know His plan for salvation. Psalm 19 and the Gospels illustrate this.

These are just the simple basics of why we need to teach children the Word of God. We need a book on teaching Spiritual Disciplines to our children – anyone know of one. I guess I could write it if someone is willing to publish it. Any takers?

Tommy Nelson just released a 365 Read Me a Bible Story for young school age children and gave me a copy to giveaway. What a great way to get them in the habit of reading the Bible and learning God’s truth. It has fun pictures, a Bible passage for each day of the year, and a short recap of that story. What I would like to see is some follow-up questions that will help parents engage with their children during family discipleship time.

The most important thing to remember is that children are going to learn by your example. If they see you reading your Bible, living it out, memorizing it, quoting it, then they will hopefully desire to know the Word as well. We can pray that God would give them a heart like his – that desires to know God intimately through his Word.

If you would like to win a copy of this Bible story book from Tommy Nelson – tell me which of the 4 reasons listed above is the most important to you – and why and maybe how you are teaching your children that.

28 Aug 2015

Nightly Devotions with Preschoolers

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, Shepherding Children | 8

Something my husband and I are learning how to do (and we are talking about progression, not perfection) is having more time where we talk with our boys about Jesus and the Bible.

And if you have preschoolers, then you know that their attention spans for non-televised viewing is fairly short (one of the pitfalls of our media-driven culture). So, unless you have creative animals, paid sound effect personnel,and a storyboard producer – your nightly devotions might not live up to Daniel Tiger or the Octonaughts.

But, getting the Bible into your children, teaching them about Jesus, and loving them the way Jesus would love them (by the Spirit’s help) is the most important thing you could ever do for your children.

So, currently, my older son is just about to turn three. He loves books. So each night, we put our younger to bed (we read Good Night North Carolina and Goodnight Moon and a Sandra Boynton book and pray with him) and then scoot over to our older son’s bedroom and read a book with him. We are reading Read and Share 5 Minute Bible Stories (that I just got from Tommy Nelson – thank you). Our son loves it. It is short, great vibrant pictures just like in the Read and Share Bible which we also like, and its big (so even if he doesn’t have his glasses on, he can follow along. I love how even now (we are in the Moses story) it focuses on the work of God throughout the Bible – and not the men on earth who fail and are sinners. The whole Bible points to God and Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and the Spirit who indwells in believers. I want that to be what our son gets from reading the Bible.

So, when you are just starting out:

Be simple and short. Attention spans are short. Keep your kids’ focus by reading something, asking questions, and praying. It doesn’t have to be long – just consistent.
Utilize good resources. There are so many out there. I recommend this bible story book, and catechisms for kids. So many other tools out there, especially as your children get older.
Be faithful. God will reward even the smallest. He wants your children to know Him too.
Pray that God would capture your child’s heart! You can’t do it yourself. The greatest parents in the world can’t make their kids love Jesus. Only He can!

If you want to win a copy of the Bible story book I talk about here, then all you have to do is answer the question: what is one way you are teaching your children about God? I’ll pick a winner Sunday night!

21 Aug 2015

Coffee With Lindsey Hohman Designs

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Coffee with..., creatives, flowers, illustrated faith, kcreatives photography, photo shoot | 1

Watching people who are really great at what they do do what they do – it excites me! And I want to introduce you to one of those people.

Lindsey Hohman. I met Lindsey while we were both getting pedicures at a spa night hosted by her sister-in-law. I immediately was connecting with her down-to-earth personality and her creative bent toward everything. This girl has so much creativeness that it oozes out the ends of her hair.

You can see it in everything she does and her style fits her home perfectly. When I left her home a few days ago I called my husband and told him I found our dream house. No joke. Gray, white, lots of light, hydrangeas, plenty of space, a huge back yard, a rocking chair front porch, Gator stuff in the house. Yup. I hope this girl keeps me as a friend!

Lindsey is a handletter-er genius and it flows from her. I wish I could do it – and I can’t. We all have our gifts. Apparently. But, I love her whimsical style of writing and her soft style of watercolor. I love her floral looks but it doesn’t make everything too girlie. She is authentic. She loves Jesus, the Bible, and the Gospel. She uses an ESV Journaling Bible. She has two really cute kids. She loved my food. Yup. She’s a winner.

Our kids played, we ate and talked, and she was kind enough to answer some questions so you can get to know her a bit.

First, the question every one will want to know, what is in your coffee cup? Sweetness. Hazelnut coffee with french vanilla creamer. Stevia for more sweetness. If its not sweet, I’m not drinking it.

What are you learning from your art? I’m learning to view God in the light of grace. I am getting out of the box of “I need to do this before I will be ______” Living in grace and not living in law.

“Its a challenge to see you how God sees you.” – LH

What’s one area as a business creative in which you want to grow? I need to work on my shop set-up. Learning which avenues are best for which art styles.

What are your favorite materials? I love being creative with paints and pens and chalk. I like manipulating them in different ways to get a different effect.

What inspires your creativity? LOTS. I am a visually-inspired person. I love pretty things. Magazine and Pinterest lend inspiration. I love to sketch and doodle. If I’m listening to someone talk, I’m usually doodling. Watercolor is a new medium. One thing I’m learning is you can’t base your creations on others’. A lot of my inspiration comes from magazines and other print work. I love taking time to sit alone a read through a magazine!

How do you balance being a wife and a mom and a creative? Inclusion and patience. Basically, multitasking. I can’t do just one of the other. I am always Mommy and _____.

Lindsey, thank you so much for hanging out with me. I look forward to future play dates, cupcake dates, and creative sessions with you.

And yes, Lindsey made that necklace!

All photos are property of kcreatives photography. Use with permission.

13 Aug 2015

The Biggest Story is Coming

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, Shepherding Children | 0

When I was in college I served with Young Life, a great inter-denominational ministry that worked with middle school and high school students to build relationships with them and show them the glorious gospel. One of the main truths of Young Life that I still completely believe and affirm and try to practice today is “It is a sin to bore a kid with the gospel.” Jesus is not boring. Why should we bore a kid, a teenager, or an adult with the wonderful news of Jesus?

I’ve been hearing about a new book that Crossway was putting out by one of my favorite authors, Kevin DeYoung entitled The Biggest Story. I opened up my mailbox today and there was a brown package from Crossway and I definitely knew it was going to be a great mail day. I read three chapters of it sitting in the parking lot of Wendy’s while the boys were eating their junior frostys and I read the rest of it in the gym locker room before working out. Yes, it was that good.

It was witty.

It was full of adventure – cliffhangers mind you.

It was truth.

It was concise.

It was displaying the gloriousness of the gospel.

The pictures are so well done and fit in well with what is in the secular market right now (journals, etc).

It is not a Bible – but tells the beautiful story of the Bible to school-aged kids in a way that won’t bore them.

This is not a Bible. Its not even a The Message type Bible. It is a story. A true story. It shapes the readers mind around one single figure: Jesus. Just like in the Jesus Storybook Bible where Jesus is the hero of every story – and the whole Bible points to Him. Same way here. Kevin, in his masterful, comical, somewhat sarcastic, pastoral, daddy way – he skillfully weaves the truth of Jesus, the reality of sin, the fallenness of the human race, and the relationship that God will remedy one day – all into a lovely books that you need to get when it comes out the end of this month.

Here is just one example of how you can use this (if you are a parent):

One of my greatest hopes for you (if you have a family) is that you will figure out what family devotions looks like for you. Right now, for us, we read part of a Bible book for toddlers and pray with our older son before going to bed. It literally takes 2 minutes. But, that will change as both of boys get older. If you have grade-school kids I think this would be a perfect book to read with them and talk about the implications and truth that it shares. I would also pair it with a Bible story, from the actual Bible. Crossway has a great children’s Bible that I just did a review on. I would take the time to read the chapter that you are covering that day in The Biggest Story and pick just one of the stories that it talks about and read that story out of the Bible. Then just ask your kids questions about that. Pray with them. Turn their hearts to their need of Jesus and the great gospel.

Two disclaimers about this book as I was reading it.

1. DeYoung says that Adam ate from the only tree. Well, of course he did. It caught me off guard that he didn’t say Eve ate it (which she did). I know he knows that. My only thought it that either he is stressing male leadership and that Adam sinned or the Adam being the head of the human race side of things. Either way, no biggie, just wanted to share.

2. Also, most books you’ll read, especially around Christmas time is that Jesus is the greatest gift. In The Biggest Story, DeYoung says that the Holy Spirit is best present of all time. He so strongly talks about the Trinity (yay!) and having read J D Greear’s book Jesus Continued I can see why he would say this.

All together, I would give this book to absolutely anyone. I can’t wait to read it with my children more and have them understand it. I want to get another copy of the book just to cut out the pictures and frame them. I want my home to be filled with more books like this – the books that point to the magnificent gospel!

12 Aug 2015

the psalms and our emotions

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, illustrated faith | 0

As a wife and a mom (and basically as a human being), I experience many different emotions every single day.

Love.

Joy.

Irritability.

Fear.

Impatience.

Sadness.

Anger.

Bitterness.

Things are out of control.

Competitiveness.

And the list could go on, but you get the picture.

God created us as whole beings, therefore emotions themselves aren’t evil. But, they have been affected by the fall – when sin entered the picture long ago we have a different bent on emotions. But, the good news is we have been given something to help with our emotions.

We have been given the Bible, especially the book of Psalms. The Psalms to me is probably the most helpful book in the entire world when knowing how to deal with my emotions. One of my friends told me early this year that one of the best disciplines I could would be to journal through the psalms, praying through them, crying out to God using his very word to direct my thoughts. This practice has been so helpful in turning my thoughts and emotions back to God. This practice doesn’t necessarily have to go with hard times when our hearts are torn. But, it can help us specifically praise the One who deserves all the credit when things are going well in our lives.

Crossway recently came out with a Psalter that is amazing. My sweet husband just gifted it to me. He placed an order with random other household goods from amazon that he knew I would open. I found the psalter. I called him hoping I hadn’t ruined a surprise – he said no, just thought it would be a happy. It so was! I’d been wanting it forever! It is the perfect compact size to carry with me everywhere. It has thick pages perfect for people like me who like to write in their Bibles. And it is only the Psalms – which is perfect for reading and re-reading.

Another book has recently come out that has been helpful as I’ve started reading it. And this post has also been encouraging. IF you want a prayer journal that a wife can pray for her husband through certain books of the Bible, you can find one here on the blog for free that I wrote for the book of Nehemiah or the one I wrote for Ephesians.

One of the best parts about the psalms and the most instructive is how the writers deal with their emotions. They aren’t afraid to tell us what they are really feeling: doubt, fear, worry, anxiety, questioning, joy, praise, adoration, etc. But, even when they are struggling in their faith – they always come back to the understanding that God is in control. He is most glorious. He is in charge of all things. And that is why they praise. They know that every situation will be handled by the Great BIG GOD who is gently leading and guiding them through all things.

I never want to shy away from my emotions. I do want to run to my God who knows me and knows how all of it is going to turn out. And you don’t have to not share your emotions with others. Christians should not be a stoic people. (I mean, clearly, the Psalms is anything but stoic.) But, with our sharing, let us always return to the hope of Christ. May we always take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

2 Aug 2015

Building Spiritual Disciplines in your Toddler (part 2)

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, Shepherding Children, Uncategorized | 6

How many of you have more than 10 Bibles in your home? That would definitely define our home – we have so many, and many in boxes. The ones in boxes are probably from our childhood. They are tucked away to help us remember what the Lord has done in our lives by the help of His word. That is actually why I encourage note taking, prayer highlighting, etc in your Bible.

One of the ways to teach children, especially starting in the toddler years, even before they can read, to love their Bibles (the very Word of God) is by getting a little Bible made just for them. The new Tommy Nelson Bible,the Just for Me Bible, complete with round board book edges and a bridge red handle, is a perfect example.

You can teach your toddler to look in the Bible. You can teach them to take their Bibles to church. You can teach them to turn in their Bibles when the pastor instructs the adults to turn in their Bibles. They may not even be able to read yet and yet they will be learning a valuable discipline of loving the Word of God.

If you would like to win one of these for your toddler: tell me what was your favorite Bible story when you were little.

Thanks Tommy Nelson for the book: all thoughts are my own.

Bible

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