by Kimberly | Oct 2, 2012 | 31days
A friend pointed me to this Paul Tripp quote today on grace and it is much needed in my life right now. Knowing that I am not to blame for my dilemnas post-delivery, I can’t soothe my baby every time he cries, and I am not to blame for everything that is stressful right now is why I need this new quote. This will carry me through, thankful for Paul and his writings and God and his truth and sovereignty.
“Grace confronts you with the fact that you control almost nothing, while it places you in the care of the one who rules everything. – Paul Tripp
by Kimberly | Oct 1, 2012 | 31days
Today starts a new month, the best month of all, and a writing challenge that Nester is hosting. It is a challenge to write every day on a certain topic for an entire month. It is really a great challenge in discipline that I am hoping will spread to other areas of my life.
The topic for me is Everything’s New. Because in my life right now everything is new. New baby, in the next week we will be moving to a new state, starting new friendships, starting new ministries, living in a new apartment for a while (till we sell our home in Durham), starting a new year of marriage, etc. So many things are changing.
My posts will document some of our changes – some will be lighthearted, some will be pictures, some will be serious. Check back everyday for how life changes – but how God is faithful in all of them!
by Kimberly | Sep 22, 2012 | mothering, parenting, Uncategorized
I will write a post all about the birth of our firstborn son, Elijah Levring, and thoughts about his name and what he has meant to us so far, but that will come soon. Right now, I want to think through some early lessons I have learned in motherhood:
1. I am not in control. No matter what I tried to bring on contractions (and believe me, we tried almost everything), we delivered at 40.6 wks. That was really long. I think I had been done for at least 4 weeks. But, God knew when I was done and I kept telling myself that He would not give me anything which I could not handle with Him. Then I couldn’t control the tub I had. The nurse filled it so full that when I got in, we had about 4 inches on the bathroom floor. It was like a tidal wave of water. I can’t control the weight I lose (or don’t lose). Elijah was 9.06 lbs and I lost just that much and now have gained some back – maybe I should just stay off the scale. My husband would love that! I can’t control the lights on Duke Street. Since we are having to make trips to Duke UMC every day we travel Duke Street a lot – and we always hit the lights. I can’t control his platelet levels (which is why he is in ICN).
2. Prayer is my heart language at 2am. Who else is up with me? A friend gave me Psalm 121 and that is so true. I pray when I am holding him tight and he has all the cords hooked to him. I pray as I’m singing to him. I pray as I’m writing in his journal about what kind of man I want him to grow to be. E and I pray as we are going to bed, clearly exhausted, and just sometimes mumbling our prayers – thankful that our God hears even when we don’t make sense due to exhaustion and sleep-deprivation!
3. I need to extend myself grace. I started crying this morning when the only shirt that fit that would also be good for breastfeeding was a maternity shirt. I was upset at myself when I turned off the alarm at 2am which I had set so I could pump him some milk. i just rolled over and finally got up at 6am. I was frustrated this morning when Eli wouldn’t eat very well, but ate like a champ yesterday. I needed to extend myself grace when I finally gave in to stadol and an epidural 7 cm into delivery. I need to extend myself grace! My husband extends me much of it, but I need to as well.
Thankful for all these lessons I am learning.
by Kimberly | Sep 17, 2012 | Coffee with...
Love catching up with old friends. Stacy Rist is a friend of mine from Southeastern Seminary who is serving in a local church.
We sat at Caribou…sipping on pumpkin chai and Diet Coke…talking about life and fall and women’s ministries.
What is your favorite thing about Fall?
Sweaters. Christmas in the air. Leaves changing. Leaves dying…Hope is coming.
What is your favorite part of the Church?
The Church has many parts…all integral. They all reflect God and His glory. Redeemed. All walks of life.
If you had a purpose for women in the church…what would it be?
For them to truly understand God’s Word and have the tools and methods to study it and be involved in their growth.
If you had your dream job, what would it be?
Investing in women’s lives by writing and speaking with intentionality.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Australia: hopefully doing intentional women’s ministries (anywhere in the world).
Stacy writes over at Chord of 3 Strands if you would like to check out her blog and her heart for Jesus, the church, and women.
by Kimberly | Sep 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
If you are so inspired to pray for your husband on a regular basis – and would like some guidelines or areas of prayer in which to start – look no further than Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons by Thabiti Anyabwile.
Now you might be saying, Kim, my husband isn’t an elder or a deacon, so why do I need to pray for him in that regard? Well, just as Proverbs 31 is a guideline for women and who they ought to be, I think the characteristics of an elder/deacon is what every man should aspire to be. Not the office per se, the characteristics.
Here are some of the characteristics you can pray for your husband out of this book: sincere, holds firm to the faith, above reproach, a one-woman man (who doesn’t want that?), leader at home, not materialistic, humble, mature, and the list goes on.
And, if you are a church goer – you should be lifting up your pastors/elders/deacons as they serve and lead you and others in the local church. This book has short chapters and is very applicable. Yes, written to men, but I found it very helpful to pray for my husband, who just finished as an elder at one church and is about to start a new role as an Elder
