by Kimberly | Oct 5, 2015 | 31days
I think every mom could tell you that one of the most difficult traits to “cure” your toddler of is selfishness. They always want their toys, their food, their way, “mine mine mine”, etc.
One of the constant reminders I give to one of my sons (no need for name calling) is “share your toys” and when I see the act of generosity take root in his little heart – even for a second – I comment him for that. When that generosity spills forth from his life – from our lives – we are shorting something of our heavenly Father to the world. We bear his image of abundance.
When David calls on God to act according to his character – he doesn’t just ask for mercy – which of course would be plenty – but David begs God that he would act according to his abundant mercy. To his overflowing, spilling out all over the place, no room left for any more, bursting at the seams mercy.
And you know what – God answers David’s prayer. He gives him this abundant mercy – extravagant mercy – generous mercy that he was asking for. And that’s what He did for us. God chose to radically and abundantly show us truly amazing mercy in the gift of Jesus. The one who birthed the stars was born of a virgin – in a stinky stall. All for sinners who would reject Him.
Oh, Father help me to be mindful of this outpouring the next time I’m tempted to be less than generous.
Psalm 51:!
For further reading: James 1:17, Matthew 7:9-11
“You can never love without giving.” – Amy Carmichael
by Kimberly | Oct 5, 2015 | The Charming South Kitchen
Its a new week of planning bento lunches for my preschooler, using leftover taco meat for most of our meals, eating healthy for me, and saving up some calories for our 4th anniversary dinner at Antico pizza followed by some gelato. Celebration time!
Pizza Taco Rolls
Blanco Enchiladas
Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowls
Tater Tot Taco Bake
Almond Carrot Muffins
And more than likely some other things as we get closer to the weekend
That jam on those biscuits at the top is some peach bourbon vanilla jam from my friend Holly & Flora.
Speaking of packing my son’s lunches. This is a first for us. I like the idea of packing healthy lunches for him for preschool with just a touch of sweetness. And I don’t always have time to bake or throw something together from scratch. The Tastykake Mini Cakes are great for this purpose. They fit in the bento boxes and they are just the perfect size for a touch of chocolate and peanut butter. What kid doesn’t like a tough of chocolate in their lunchbox? Thankful for Tastykake and Influenster for sending me some! (All opinions are my own.)
by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2015 | Sundays in the South, Uncategorized
Most everyone I know is in some sort of weather today produced by Hurricane Joaquin. Maybe you are loving it – maybe you’d rather have sunshine. I love storms and wind – but I actually thrive on sunshine.
So, while some of you may be stuck inside today because of the weather, I thought I would send you some link to read up on:
I usually make muffins once a week in our kitchen because it is so easy for my misters’ breakfasts. These will be coming soon because I have everything in my kitchen already.
If you get really tired of meal planning – maybe these templates will help you out and bring on the food creativity.
Are you aspiring to more in the kitchen? Maybe you need to start with these? I want to make my own bucket list of recipes.
Having worked for Williams-Sonoma for a few years, I loved reading this story.
by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2015 | Books, Shepherding Children
How do you lead your family to know God better and to dwell in the truth of the Gospel?
As Christian parents, we know that is our chief goal as parents – not to save them (because only God can do that) – but to introduce them to the Gospel and to pour the Gospel into their lives so they will have every chance to respond to the Gospel before they are out of our homes.
But, it is much harder to do. We usually want a play by play or some ideas to help us achieve said action. Some of us struggle to know how to incorporate the Gospel into our every day lives, every day conversations, mini van rides from soccer games. And we also struggle with knowing how to plan special events that will hopefully be a supplement to our every day conversations – but will help drive home the Gospel into our babies’ hearts!
The new book, Pass it On, by Jim Burns and Jeremy Lee, is a special one to me. One of the authors, Jim Burns, wrote the first devotional I ever read as a teenager, Spirit Wings. I remember it being the first one I read when I was in high school and I was learning what it meant to have a quiet time.
Pass It On is a very helpful instructive book to parents. Not only does it give insight into your children (or children of the same age) on many different viewpoints, it helps you with activities you can do with them to help cement the Gospel into their lives. At every age it gives you a larger activity (not just a conversation). You can get some wonderful ideas from this. You can take all of them word for word and incorporate them into the life of your family, or you can just take the ideas, pray, see what the Lord would have you do – how to change it up, match it to your family.
The most important concept this book drives home is that raising your children to love God is hands on. It is active. If you want to make a lasting impact for the Gospel on your children, you need to always be sharing the Gospel with them, living it out in front of them. And parents, with older kids, parents who may have just become believers – its not too late. Its never too late. Don’t be regretful over the years in the past – but confess them to the Lord and press on in obedience now.
Thankful for Litfuse for sending me this book in exchange for this review, and all thoughts are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2015 | 31days
The longer you know a person – the more you know their character. You can normally predict how they are going to act in or respond to a situation before it even happens.
I’ve only known my husband less than five years. I suspect that when twenty years pass I will know him even better than I do now. Same with my children – how their little personalities are taking shape – how they will be even when they wake in the mornings.
David had walked with God for quite a while at this point in his life. David had known the Lord while David was a boy, a shepherd, a warrior, an animal-wrestler, a king, a husband, and all the while a sinner. In my thought, the greatest attribute or character trait of God that covers everything is his steadfast love. This is especially true for how He relates to sinners.
David calls on this early in this heart-penetrating psalm. He pleads for the Lord to act according to his steadfast, constant, unchanging, never fading love. The reason I think he does this is because he has truly experienced the steadfast love of the God. He has known that never-changing love of His Shepherd King.
Amazing how this works. And so telling to think of how much I’ve experienced this love and then how I often I fail to love others in the same way. Whether it is to friends who have hurt me or my sons who have disobeyed – how I’ve not shown an unconditional love in response.
The gospel has given me this love. This gospel will allow me to persevere when I fail in demonstrating this love. This gospel will keep me at the feet of Jesus – having my wear head covered in this unfailing love.
Psalm 51:1
More reading: Genesis 15; Songs 2.4
