24 Nov 2015

Praying for Your Kids (and giveaway)

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

Let’s be honest for a second, sometimes (in the midst of temper tamptrums and bouts of continued disobedience) it is hard to be really thankful for our children.

But, God has given them to us as a blessing and should be one of the greatest gifts we’ve ever been given – and they need to be told over and over again how thankful we are for them.

One of the times i usually love the most, is when I get to lay down with my older one and pray over him as he goes to sleep at night. He has some sensory delays in his development, so he absolutely loves to sleep in the floor. We’ve made him a soft palette and pile on his stuffed animals and his night night (the blanket he has slept with since he was a few months old). He always wants either me or his Daddy to lay beside him until he falls asleep. And as soon as I lay down with him, I pray aloud over him with my hand on his back or his face. Such a sweet time. I pray for his little heart to be turned to God because God would be calling him, giving him a new heart. I pray that he would be obedient and that he would love God. I also finish each prayer saying how thankful we are for him, bubba, mommy, daddy, and most of all Jesus.

It is so important for our children to hear us praying for them – not just telling them about it. I learned from my mentor the importance of writing down prayers and journaling for future generations. I admit that the discipline has been a struggle for me in these early years, but I do it some. And it is such a treasure for me when I do journal and write out my prayers for them to my great Heavenly Father who listens to our prayers.

Tommy Nelson sent me Jean Fischer’s new book I Prayed For You – and I love it. A cute board book complete with cute illustrated bears. Tells of prayers a mama can pray for her cub as he grows up. And yes, like any good mom I cried as I got to several of the prayers.

This will be a book you can treasure reading to your little one – even until he or she is 5 or 6. Treasure the time. Treasure the prayers. If you want to have a chance to win this book – leave a comment with something you pray for your children. That’s it! I will pick the winner on Wednesday.

13 Oct 2015

A Momma’s Prayer to Her Two-Year Old

by Kimberly | posted in: parenting, Shepherding Children | 0

My little little turned 2 today – at 830 this morning. He is full on with all of life – from his runs and hugs and drinking his juice to his temper tantrums.So, I did a praynames for him a few weeks ago. Here is what is surrounding that given name of his:

Father

we take great delight in the wonderful son you gave us in young Sebastian.

We cling to the truth that you have made him in your image for your great glory.

As we watch him grow and jump and lead and love – I pray that you will take and use them to

bring glory to your great name in all the world.

We desire above all else for you to receive forever glory from his life.

I trust you that you will save him and give him a new heart of flesh – one that beats for you and you alone.

He desires closeness and companionship. I pray that he would grow in his friendship with you

through the Word, worship, and prayer.

I pray that he would develop close friendships with others who delight in you.

Yes Lord, I trust that you will develop his natural abilities and leadership into traits

that are used to shine Jesus in all the world.

And that one day he would be an exemplary husband and daddy

who shows the grace of Christ to his wife, his littles, his neighbors, and the world

for your great name!

Amen.

Little S – I love you. I’m glad you are ours. I pray that God would grip your heart little man. Happy 2nd!

2 Oct 2015

31 Days: The God Who Listens

by Kimberly | posted in: 31days | 0

If I’m honest, sometimes I tune out the constant chatter of my boys. Either I’m trying to concentrate on driving through the city of Atlanta with getting us injured, or trying to follow a recipe, or I can’t understand what they are saying anyway.

I’m so glad to know that God never tunes out our humble repentant, constant, loud (or whispered), silent prayers to Him. His ears are always open.

The other night while putting our three year old to bed I was reminded again of how God – the Almighty Creator – listens and attends our prayers. The little was still wired and it was already past his bedtime. He wasn’t wanting to read and get settled in for the night. I finally just put him in bed and said let’s pray. I took his little hand and started to pray aloud even in my rushed and impatient state. About three sentences into the prayer of help and patience and need, my soul was quieted and my son was more still.

I can imagine the psalmist David praying this psalm aloud – maybe on his knees, maybe saying it all out the window as Nathan stood with him, or maybe it was after Nathan had left that he laid on his bed and cried these words to the God he knew so well. I can also imagine him experiencing the quick answer and favor of the Lord – the restoration and joy that he so deeply desires later in the psalm.

God listens to a repentant heart. He is not one to continue to play spiteful games when his children have requests the pure joy of his presence again. He doesn’t hold us at arms length when we seek restoration.

And for me, as a daughter of the King, that is so reassuring that he bids me come and also it helps me see my sin when I don’t readily respond to my husband and children when they seek restoration.

I often still hold contempt or make them work for my community again. I need to remember the sweet mercy of God – how he attends my prayers. I need to love to see that in my own life and relationships.

Other reads: 1 John 5:14, Psalm 66.19-20, Hebrews 4.15-16

1 Aug 2015

Building Spiritual Disciplines in your Toddler (part 1)

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Books, Shepherding Children | 3

Toddlers: they are the funnest and hardest part of my day. This afternoon when I was eating Chickfila with my boys on the back porch – watching my older one get so excited about dipping his fries in the sauce or hearing my younger say “coke coke” begging for a sip of my diet coke – I looked at both of them with a huge smile – telling them I love you. And then there are moments when I just want to put them to bed and have a moment of silence to myself. And I’ve learned that is ok. Grace comes with bedtime.

But, grace also is imparted to our children by them learning about spiritual disciplines. One of the disciplines that we are teaching our boys is prayer. They clap and say yay when we are done praying at dinner.

A great new resource to help your child learn how to pray is the Say and Pray Bible. It is by Tommy Nelson resources and is a board book with great illustrations for your toddler. One of the aspects of this Bible that I love is that it helps them identify objects in the story (learning new vocabulary, helping them learn how to spell). This is purely educational. But, when tied in with a Bible story and prayer guide – this is a great resource for your toddler – probably my new favorite.

One of the ways I intend to use this as my boys get older is create worksheets that they can do as we read along with the story. I want to pull of the words and give them space to learn how to write, draw pictures of the words that they can match, There is a variety of creative games or word searches that you can do to help your children learn how to read, spell, match, and learn the Bible.

If you would like to win this resource for your children – just leave a note here or on Social media and tell me one verse that you are teaching your kids to pray.

That’s all.

28 Oct 2014

Prayer Journaling in Your Bible (ESV Journaling Bible Giveaway)

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Prayers for the Journey | 26

We all look back at different periods in our lives and see them as pivotal points in our lives. There are two in my life that pertain to this blog post:

College. Most people would probably say college, but I don’t say college for the same reason as many would. I loved college – don’t get me wrong. But, the best thing I got out of college was not a degree – but was a dear friendship with my mentor. She taught me – more than anything else – how to believe the Word of God for the hope of the ones that she loves. She prays all the time for her family members (and me, and others). I’ve seen the fruit of years of prayer that God has faithfully answered.

Louisville. For almost three years I lived and worked in Louisville, KY. I worked for SBTS and enjoyed my time assisting one of the Deans there. It was not only great for my personal life, but also for my spiritual life. During that time I was introduced to the ESV Journaling Bible and started using it for my note taking – and I was taught how Christ is in ALL the Scriptures. Basically – what it means to live a gospel-centered life and how all of the Bible points to Christ. This time in Louisville greatly impacted my life, writing, and now even my parenting and marriage.

Since I’ve gotten married, I’ve started writing prayer journals for my husband. But, I don’t just pray random prayers – though I do. I pray through books of the Bible for him. You can find the one for Ephesians on Amazon and the one for Nehemiah on the blog. Colossians will be out in early 2015 with Philippians to follow. I love reading through a particular book of the Bible and systematically praying for my husband.

I’ve also been praying in similar ways for my boys. I usually pray through parenting books for them, but also want to start journaling in a Bible for them – so they can see the prayers I prayed for them when they get older, or even after I’m in the presence of Jesus. To have that legacy, a failed legacy many times, but one were I strive to pray for them daily.

And I’m writing prayers for myself and other moms – prayers that point us to the hope of the Gospel in this very hard task that we seek to accomplish every day. Those will be coming out late 2015.

That’s why I love the ESV Journaling Bible. I’ve given one of my old ones to each of my sons – so they can have my handwritten notes later on in their lives. I got that idea from my friend Daniel Renstrom. (Thanks, D.)

But, now, if I had my dream world: I would have four journaling Bibles – all different so I could keep track of which is which. I would want one for my husband, one for each of my boys, and one for myself. That is how I take sermon notes and journal through Bible studies. Next year I’m studying Deuteronomy and what the Bible has to say about Family – while also keeping up with She Reads Truth.

So, how can you use a journaling Bible to aid in your prayers for your friends and family – or even for yourself:

1. Read the Bible systematically. I love working through a particular book of the Bible. As my pastor says – it helps you love that particular book. He just preached through Daniel. As I look in my journaling Bible, I see that I know more about Christ and the book/times of Daniel than I did before. My notes are right there – application points and everything.

2. Mark it up! That’s what it is there. I’ve not found any writing instrument except a pencil that won’t show through at all. I don’t use any that bleed through, but I can tell that I’ve written something. I use Micron pens 005 and 01 for most of my writing in my Bible. I love being able to see what the Lord has taught me through the Holy Spirit and the depth of His Word. Encouragement comes to us through the Word (Romans 15)

Through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have HOPE! – Romans 15.4

3. Always have it with you. My bag I carry with my most of the time (not a diaper bag) has my journaling Bible in it and blank notecards. The blank notecards are for my doodling and drawing and lettering. The journaling Bible is for my digging into the Word. In Sunday School one of the ways I keep my mind from wandering is by doing application in my head with the verses that are being studied that day. In my morning quiet time, I jot down things that I’ve learned – or even re-writes the studied verse in the margin (that’s what I love the ESV Journaling Bible). Writing out Scripture is for me – the best way to learn it. I love having write the Word parties in my home. It is a great way to connect and share with ladies over the Word of God.

4. Love the Word. One of the ways I know I love a certain portion of Scripture is (yes, by knowing it) by seeing how much it is marked up in my Journaling Bible. Colossians, Psalms, Philippians, Hebrews, James – just to name a few. I can’t wait to see all the marks in Deuteronomy at the end of 2015.

God, through the Holy Spirit, speaks life-changing hope and freedom through His Word. And by using the ESV Journaling Bible, taking notes, marking it up, praying for your loved ones, you will leave a written legacy of how the Spirit changed your heart and transformed you into HIS likeness for the generations to come – so that they might know him.

That the next generation might know them (the teachings), the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God. – Psalm 78.6-7

Thanks to the kind people at Crossway, they’ve given me a Bible (the red Journaling Bible) to giveaway. Here are a couple ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment here.

2. Share this post on FB, IG, Pinterest, Twitter.

3. Leave a comment on one of my posts about this blog post.

Drawing will be when I go to bed late on Halloween night! (that’s Friday night).

3 Oct 2014

Glory and Grace: Psalm 77:1-3

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, glory and grace | 0

I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might,
I yell at the top of my lungs.

He listens.

Psalm 77:1 – the Message

Do you know and understand and realize and stake claim to the fact that the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, the One who was before anything else ever came on the scene, the One who just spoke and everything came into existence – that God is the one who hears your prayers?

Shouldn’t that cause us to pray all the time – to seek him when we are troubled and scared and nervous and wondering what to do? He delights in us and desires us – and hears us!

And he would listen to us even if all we could muster up was a quiet whisper in the middle of the night.

15 Jul 2014

Ephesians on Kindle (SO EXCITED)

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Big announcement: Prayers for the Journey: Ephesians edition is finally on Kindle! That’s right – I have a self-published book on Amazon!!!

Here is a review of it on the CBMW site via my friend Courtney Reissig

If you haven’t heard of Prayers for the Journey – it is a kindle book devotional with journaling pages that literally walks through specific verses in Ephesians (or other books of the Bible) and helps wives know how to pray the word for their husbands. I’ve been writing these since I got married, but have been learning about praying for my husband for two decades.

There are so many people to thank:

My parents and in-laws : thank you for always being an encouragement and my greatest fans

My Mister: thank you for being one who sanctifies me and prays for me – and also my first editor

Amy Torcasso: My designer – who also did the work on Treasuring Christ when I was writing it – but now we stay in touch through this! Super talented and selfless

Sarah Popovczak: My editor for this edition of the Prayers for the Journey – she’s about to be a mom too!

Amelia McNeilly: A great publicist and encourager and the one who got this worked out for Kindle

Phyllis Robshaw: Amazing mentor and the one who lives out this act of praying for her husband and family and me – by praying the Word.

My Little Misters: Dudes that will make amazing husbands one day – and I’m already praying for them as they will be husbands to precious wives.

Margo Bowen: a mom of many and grandmom to many and a wife to one. Thank you for loving my Mister as a son and for writing the introduction to this edition.

Future Editions: Nehemiah is available now on the blog for free. Colossians is being typed up now and getting ready to be sent to my editor before she has her baby. James is being written and prayed. 1 Peter is the the next one in the works.

Thanks all. Please feel free to get the word out. 2.99 is a great deal and its for your kindle!

2 Jun 2014

KDCCreatives: Father’s Day Scripture Art

by Kimberly | posted in: creatives | 0

Being a Father is tough.

And many of you might be saying – Kim, you are a mom – how would you know?

Well, because I’m married to one. I see the importance of providing for his family, caring for his family, leading his family, praying for his family – all of that – weighs heavily on him.

Being a Father isn’t just about working hard to provide financially. Being a Father isn’t all about playing on the floor with your children at night or giving your wife a break from the kids sometimes.

Being a Father is mostly about shepherding the family that God has entrusted you with to look more like Christ – EVERY DAY!

This past weekend I was able to do a Scripture art piece for a father that I know. I got to pray the Proverbs for him as he leads his children. I got to pray the truths of Deuteronomy 6 for him as he shepherds his family by the Word of God. I got to praise God for the man of God that He is and how is wife described him.

What a blessing this man is to his family and those around him.

Do you want a personal gift for Father’s Day? Contact me about Scripture art – fully custom piece.

And please remember: be thankful for your fathers and the fathers that you know. And pray for them!

27 May 2014

KCreatives: Scripture Pictures

by Kimberly | posted in: creatives | 0

While I anxiously await the updates for this website and all the fun that it will bring – I want to introduce you to my creative side. I know you’ve seen it in photography and cooking, but now you will see it in hand-lettering (which I’ve always loved), calligraphy (picking up from my 7th grade days), and other art.

This is one that I did for a sweet friend of mine. I have several pieces like this around our home because another mutual friend did them. I love, like her, to get the Word into peoples homes and hearts. While I was penning this art I got to pray that a sweet little girl would grow up to love Jesus, make him known, and that she would realize that God made her beautiful – and wonderful. Most of our girls growing up in our society today won’t here that. I think we do need to tell every child that, especially now when they hear so much contrary to that.

How do you get Scripture into your child’s heart? How do you pray over your children?

And I accept custom orders. Email or contact on fb for order information. My Etsy store is KDCcreatives.

26 May 2014

Prayers for the Journey: Nehemiah

by Kimberly | posted in: marriage, Prayers for the Journey | 0

How do your survive and thrive in marriage? My mister and I are coming up on three years in October, and I’ve learned a lot about praying for him through these three years. Prayer is such a vital connection in our relationship to the One who loves us like no other, who desires our hearts above all else, and who pursues us when we don’t feel loved.

Nehemiah is a book in the Old Testament that talks of a servant of the Lord who pursued fighting for his people and the land. He worked against strong opposing odds and diligently worked on the task He knew was of the Lord.

How much more does something describe marriage?

Marriage is between two sinning servants of the Lord. In marriage, both partners are sinners. If you need more information, just watch how you interact with your spouse – there you go. I’m a great sinner – see it everyday in how I communicate with and fail to love my Mister.

Marriage is a fight – it is a battle. Yes, there are opposing people who want to see your marriage destroyed. Look at media, news, the world, even some in the church (as we see the divorce rate just as high in the church as out of the church). This world glamorizes the wedding – but not so much the marriage.

This task of marriage is from the Lord. The Lord designed marriage ultimately for his glory and to show a lost world the glory of the Gospel. The only way to survive and thrive in marriage is with the Lord on your side!

In the series of e-books I’m doing – devotional, prayer guides for wives to use to pray for their husbands – Nehemiah is here! You can get it free by clicking and downloading. I’m thankful for Amy, Jeanie, and Laura who helped this one come together. Eric – thank you for reading it and being blessed by it.

Love your marriage. Love God. Pray for your spouse. And if you aren’t married ladies – pray for your future spouse (if God so wills) now!

Prayer

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