by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2016 | Books, Kids r Readers 2, parenting
In the back of our car there is a kite. My mister has had the kite since he went to the OBX in Carolina. I wonder if he bought that kite thinking he might one day have boys that love to spend time with their daddy and fly kites together.
Chris Tomlin, worship songwriter and dad, has writtten a great book for littles that starts out with a kite. But, more importantly this story is about many of the ways (God is inexhaustible) that God loves us. It is beautifully illustrated. It is so true
One of the best things about my husband is that he is a good Father. We had such a short courtship before we got married that I rarely got to see him around children. I knew from his character that he’d be a great Father. And, now I witness it. My men love to fly a kite during the week at a local park, always scouting out the new parks to hopefully catch the wind. He is more patient with those boys than I will ever be – which they desperately need. He is loving and plays with them on the floor or with toys. He is so caring toward them. They resemble him. He teaches them the truth about Jesus.
These are all good ways in which hopefully the boys will see God the Father in my husband, their earthly dad, so that one day they might come to know God.
This book by Tomlin is available to you. Tommy Nelson is giving one away to a reader! Get excited because this will make a great addition to your at-home library, wonderfully teaching your children about God.
One question: what is one activity your children love doing with their dad?
by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2016 | Books, parenting
Those who know me know I love snail mail. I think I always have, pen pals when I was younger, getting mail from my Mom when I was in college, and now writing letters and surprising people with a note or letter or fun little gift. It just makes my day to give!
I want to instill gratitude and snail mail love in my boys. What better way to do that? Here are some tips:
- Find cute stationery themed for boys or girls. Blogging for Books sponsored this post by sending me Wee Alphas – a book of cute and original animal post cards. I love them. They not only help my boys learn the alphabet, but it will be fun to use to write postcards to people as well. But, for us, it is going to be room decoration in the next house we live in come January. (Another good thing about Wee Alphas is that all the postcards are attached in an accordion book and you can rip each out as you go – so you don’t lose them.)
- Help them know what to write. Whether your children know how to write or not, you may need to help them know what to write. When writing thank you notes, or even letters (especially to grandparents), you may have to coach them. This is also a great way to teach them gratitude.
- Make it a habit. Maybe write one letter a week, especially older children, write letters to older men or women in your church, have them ask questions that will help them seek after God. Older men and women in the faith will be a great encouragement to you and your children. (I digress). Seriously though, making letter writing a habit might instill this in them when they get older. And, you can have fun field trips to the post office to meet the postmaster, talk about where mail goes, and look at the cool mail trucks (my younger loves them).
How do you encourage your children to write letters and/or reach out to others who are older than them?
All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 3, 2016 | Books
I will never know God as fully as I can.
I definitely won’t know him perfectly this side of heaven, because of sin. Even in Heaven, God is eternal and so big – that every day in heaven (which will never end) will bring me new wonder of God – so I will always be in new wonder of him. I can’t wait.
This year, as I’ve been reading through the Bible (I’m in Joshua), I’m writing down in the margins of my ESV journaling Bible all the ways that I see God as He has revealed Himself to me. It is beautiful to see and know that God is the same God today as He was in the days of Moses, Joseph, and Job.
Sheryl Giesbrecht has written a really good study on the names of God. She takes God’s character and let’s us know how we can experience it in our lives. I found it helpful as I’ve been walking through the Bible to find out what the meaning of some of these names are. And they are short – so you could do a month study on the names of God, and add this to a little journal, a quiet time, and knowing God more in his perfection.
I hope you pick this book up and find out more of God’s beauty.
Thanks Litfuse for this book and all opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 3, 2016 | Uncategorized
Don’t we all think we are pretty good at forgiveness – or is that just me?
I am learning I stink at it – truly.
Most of the time.
The Bible says that “While we were still in our sin (we hadn’t said I’m sorry, will you forgive me), Christ died for us.”
Here’s what has been in my head, the Spirit has been working in my heart, and I’m still not there yet. All I can ask of the Lord is that He would continue to work forgiveness in me.
I’m really good at forgiveness when someone asks me to forgive them. I’m all about it. No matter the sin. Because, I’ve been forgiven much so I need to forgive. Christ has done so much to forgive me, I have no right to leave the door shut to others.
Oh, but wait…what happens if others don’t ask forgiveness. What happens if someone has said something that has hurt me to the core, and they won’t ask forgiveness because they don’t know they’ve hurt me. What happens if someone has hurt me, and they don’t think that it should have hurt, so they don’t need to ask forgiveness. What happens if someone hurts my husband, therefore hurting me, but has yet to ask forgiveness?
Will I mend bridges? Will I sulk? Will I forgive them no matter the personal cost to myself? Will I truly believe and act in a way that communicates gospel reconciliation, even when it hurts me so much.
That is what I’m working on folks. That is what the Spirit shows me all the time. I want a heart that pleases Him, not one that holds on to bitterness and grudges.
by Kimberly | Oct 3, 2016 | Bible, Books
I’m one of those people who find it hard to stick to one thing.
Maybe blame it on a lack of patience, or always wanting to see results, etc. I really find it hard to believe I’ve been blogging for 11 years almost – that I’ve stuck to something that long.
For me, I like to jump around in my Bible study I don’t mean that I just pick out a verse and think about that. No, I like to do different things any given year. Maybe I’ll read through the Psalms while doing a Bible study. Right now I’m going page by page through the Bible to find out what God says about Himself.
Jesus and the Beanstalk would be helpful for folks like me, who may want to change up their quiet times or Bible study time near the end of the year. Lori Roeleveld has written a humorous but good study through the book of Second Peter. This will give you a lighthearted look at life while walking you the little book of 2 Peter.
She helps you look at the characteristics that you need as you walk the life of faith in Christ to battle any (and many) of the giants that you will inevitably face in this life.
Thank you to Litfuse for this book. All opinions are my own.
