by Kimberly | Dec 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
Hey folks (whoever you are – let me know if you are reading this, just to say hi!)
Can I tell you how much I love being married? I love the security of my husband’s love (through Christ). I love the fact that I go to bed and wake up with him every day. I love Fridays because we both have off and we get to hang out and eat Thai food together and shop for clothes! I love knowing that I can tell him how my day has been and he actually wants to hear about it. I love that I can just sobbing in the kitchen on a Saturday and he’ll put his arms around me (more on that later).
1. What do you with the question “why”?
2. How do you keep white space in your calendar during the holidays? Is that important to you or do you go full throttle and pick the pieces in January?
3. Some of my friends are leaving RDU – that always makes me sad – but excited for them.
4. I love intentional relationships. Knowing that I can be real with people and they will still love me and encourage me. And on the flip side, surfacy relationships are more difficult for me.
5. I am learning there is much pride in my life. My heart is ugly – but bought for – and God keeps santifying it more and more each day. That is His purpose in my life: to make me more like Christ.
6. Wives/mothers: do you have a housekeeping schedule? What is it? Would you share?
7. I liked this post by Tim Challies about women and the public reading of Scripture in corporate worship.
8. I think every woman should study theology. Note: I didn’t say every woman needs to attend seminary: but every woman who professes Christ needs to study about God. Here is an excellent post on the subject.
9. We decorated our first Christmas tree together last night. We picked up the tree on Friday and then finally had time to decorate it last night. How fun – and there were (thankfully) not “discussions” (hint: arguments).
10. Leave it to Stephen Altrogge to lay it down about America’s shopping habits.
11. What are your Christmas plans and what was your first Christmas like when you first got married? Just curious!
Enjoy the beginning of December! This month has a magical feel to it. Soak it up.
by Kimberly | Nov 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
The old saying goes “a dog is a man’s best friend” – but is a dog a better spouse?
The new country song hitting the airwaves, climbing the charts, might make men reconsider marrying, and encourage them to go down to their county’s SPCA branch instead.
Curly-haired, country hit singer, Billy Currington has another winner on his hands. At least in the minds of country record execs. Here are the lyrics:
He never tells me that he’s sick of this house
He never says why don’t you get off that couch?
He dont cost me nothin when he wants to go out
I want you to love me like my dog
He never says I need a new attitude
Him and my sister ain’t always in a feud
When I leave the seat up he don’t think that
it’s rude I want you to love me like my dog does Baby
When I come home, I want you to just go crazy
He never looks at me like he might hate me
I want you to love me like my dog
He never acts like he don’t care for my friends
He never asks me “Where ‘n the hell have you been?”
He don’t play dead when I want to pet him
I want you to love my like my dog does,
honey
He never says, “I wish you made more money”
He always thinks that pull my finger’s funny
I want you to love me like my dog
He don’t get made at me and throw a major fit
When I say his sister is a b*
Here are my FIVE QUESTIONS for wives, just some things to consider:
1. Do you constantly nag or complain to your husband? It could be about his friends, job, schedule, schooling, ministry responsibilities, or his salary. I am not saying you should never share your opinions or question a friendship he has (especially if you see it leading your husband away from God), but does your husband actually enjoy hearing you talk because complaints don’t always come out of your mouth? Scripture: Proverbs 19:13, Proverbs 21:9, Prov 27:15, Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:33
2. Are you demanding of the finer things in life? Are you satisfied with what you have and what your husband has provided for you and your family? Right now my husband has asked me for my birthday and Christmas list. As I say “I want…” I think about these questions. These aren’t even expensive items, but still living in a state of “pinterest” desires. Scripture: Ps 145:16, Isaiah 55:2, Matthew 6:24-34
3. Do you get along with his family? Does he often feel like he has to choose between you and his mother/father/siblings? Do you strive to live in peace with everyone, even if you don’t get to have your way all the time? Often times, parents are the most important relationship to a husband outside of his own wife/children. Do you make that relationship easy or hard by your attitude? Scripture: Colossians 3:20, Romans 12:18
4. Do you make him glad to come home? Or do you look horrible (no make up, bathrobe, dirty clothes), smell bad (have you brushed your teeth or put on deodarant today), or bombard him with how bad your day has been? Let him come in the door, breathe for 15 minutes, give him a hug and kiss, try to be home when he arrives, be a good aroma for him. Scripture: Titus 2:4-5
5. Do you ignore/refuse his sexual advances? Does he even bother trying to “come on” to you anymore because you have negated or swat his hand every time he has tried? Are you willing to give him sometime in the morning or evening, if he so desires? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7
by Kimberly | Nov 29, 2011 | Women
What I want to do with this blog post: encourage those who encourage me. Help you to see that there are many ways out there to be a P31 woman – not just in our typical run of the mill ways.
What I don’t want to do with this blog post: give all the glory to these people (because none of these people would say their lives are about them) and also not to give the rest of us a “busyness” mentality or that we have failed if we don’t do some of these things. This is the one my husband has to remind me of often and where I struggle with the most. As a friend of mine says, “Here’s what I don’t do so that I can do what I do.”
Here’s what to do with this post: be encouraged. Especially with the new year coming quickly – pray about areas of growth or new goals for your life. Pray with wise women around you. If you are married: seek your husband’s advice and counsel on this, as well as asking other women.
So, here we go (and these are in no particular order)
Women who INSPIRE me and why:
Leah Finn: because she loves her family and seeks to serve them above doing anything else. In doing this: she is ultra creative and crafty. But, even besides this she is hospitable and giving. Finn definitely married himself a P31 woman. And she is so real with me and never lets on that she has everything together. She desperately knows her need for the Gospel!
Janel Blanchard/Rebecca Horton: These two girls I met when they were both students at Carolina (THE Carolina). Now, one is in Chicago and one is in Savannah. These are my two that challenge me to engage the world, engage the lost in the art/culture/theology/thiking world. They do so with not knowing all the answers, but trusting that God will use the gifts He has given each of them to make a difference in the world for Him! I love these girls.
Karisse Schilling: A friend from college. She has beaten death – meaning God has shown her great mercy in sparing her life from bouts with cancer over several years, almost a decade probably. She faces death head on, she believes God for BIG things. She teaches me to live life to the fullest, live out the Gospel to the hurting, and ask God for BIG GIGANTIC THINGS. I need to pray more like this. I think I’m afraid that I’ll get my heart so set on the answer that if I don’t get it – I’ll be hurt. That is wrong for two reasons: DOUBT and putting my hope and trust in the gift rather than the Giver.
Laura Williams: She is maybe the craftiest person I know with doing things with her hands: she cooks wonderfully, is known for her brilliant creative cards that are featured in so many of the card making books out there (that you find at Michael’s and places like that). She loves her family as well. She has two young boys and she is skilled at art and photography and uses those skills to make their lives more fun. Eric – you got a great wife!
Christi Davis: My pastor’s wife and friend. She is a mother to five ranging from college age to kindergarten (about). She is concerned about her husband, her family, and her home. That is her primary domain. But, she opens her mouth and she speaks in wisdom and kindness (see Proverbs 31). I’m so grateful to have her in my life and I look forward to all that God will show me through her.
I could go on – but these are the ones I wanted to mention today. I’m challenged by these women to:
Live out the gospel and their need of it.
Engage the world around them.
Know their primary domain and be ecstatic about that – and do it well
Use the creative gifts that God has given them and enjoy it
Pray Big!
by Kimberly | Nov 28, 2011 | Books
Since I’m actually getting opportunity to read more, I’ll probably update this little list weekly.
1. This Momentary Marriage: I’m really loving this book by John Piper and how it includes singleness and divorce in a book on marriage. His reasoning: to keep us from idolizing marriage.
2. I do…Every Day: This is a quick Kindle read that offers practicle life suggestions for newlyweds.
3. Note to Self: Be SBTS grad Joe Thorn. Practical book (and short daily reads) to help you know what to preach to yourself.
4. Lit!: Helps me with all this reading.
5. Excellence: Mostly for Christian scholarship – but trying to apply it to everyday life as well.
6. God on Sex: this book is very practical
You may ask yourself – what about the other books that were on your list. Still in the currently reading pile – but these on this list are what I’m concentrating on this week.
by Kimberly | Nov 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
Well, Thanksgiving is behind us now. Almost all the leftovers are out of our fridge. Whole Foods parking lot is back to normal and life returns to normalcy for a few weeks. I am writing on Psalm 23 today and have been reading commentaries on it this weekend. We need this in our lives (everyday).
1. I loved having 5 days with my husband – it was like a mini-honeymoon again.
2. Hugo is a really cute movie – though the marketing ploy to put in Jude Law was a rip off (not that I cared), but he was in there for like 30 seconds or so…
3. Watching football with my FIL on Thursday was great – even though the football wasn’t stellar. I miss football. But, I get a lot more accomplished around the house and have better conversations with my husband without it.
4. We were going to hit Kohls at midnight, but after hitting Michaels in the evening, I fell asleep while we had a movie on the tv. But, we still hit Kohls on Friday night and it wasn’t crowded at all. Got great deals – I love Kohls!
5. Q3 of this is all done editing! And i’ve got three new writers to help! Love teamwork!
6. This week is about Raleigh and buying our first Christmas tree. I am looking forward to all of it.
7. If you have children, you need to get this Bible. What a great Christmas gift!
8. I am finishing two craft projects this week (I know, who am I?): a Christmas wreath and an advent calendar. My husband is patient. My “craft table” right now is our rolling chopping block.
9. First Thanksgiving with the in-laws went great. Good food and time together. Thankful for in-laws who love me, love their son, and love Jesus.
10. Bring on December. Looking forward to holiday parties, chances to cook and bake, an open house, and days spent with my husband (maybe a snow too)!
