As a Mom of two toddlers – and very active boys at that – I know what full days are. They are fun, encouraging, eventful, demanding, and days filled with laughter. We are always on the go, exploring new parts of our city or heading out to hang out with some friends or go see Daddy at work, or walk along the river or see animals at the zoo. I love cherishing times with my sweet boys.
But, something else I highly look forward to is either the days when they sleep in late and I get up to get some time in the Word in early – or their nap times – so I can again get encouraged by being in the Word.
The new(ish) book by Jen Wilkin, who serves at The Village Church in Texas, helps women with their understanding of how to better study – and fall in love with – the Bible (and more importantly, it’s Author).
I’m thankful for Jen’s organization, gospel-driven remarks, personal history with the Word, and imploring her readers to invest their time in the study of the Word – not just the glancing at it as you go along.
One of the hardest chapters for me to impliment on a daily basis if praying and the word. I love the pray – and have written journals for wives to pray for their husbands, working on a prayer journal for moms to pray for themselves as moms, but really to engage in the word – before, during, and after – by praying. Usually, I approach the Word quickly and haughtily and just start reading. I’m thankful that Jen included this in her book.
“Ask him to make his word come alive for you in such a way that you
know him better and see your own needs of him more clearly.
– Jen Wlkin
If you are looking for a way to learn how to study the book, or need encouragement in how to love the Word – turn to Jen’s book. It is for women, new believers and the believers who’ve known Jesus a while.
This is bar far one of my husband’s favorite hymns. It tells a story of his conversion and his growing in Christ while in high school. I love hearing him tell how Christ saved him.
And one of the stanzas coincides nicely with a Pauline theme that was found in Philippians 3 this morning in our small group study of it at church. Always love how God gets your attention over and over again. He is ever gracious and patient with us (as I also was reminded of again in my reading in 2 Peter via She Reads Truth.)
He is good to remind us of our need and gift of the Gospel.
In the She Reads Truth reading today in 2 Peter, the passage talks about how many will come to not believe in the word of God. Anything God speaks is always true! We can stand firm in it when everything around us is changing!
This little hymn popped in my head – an oldie but a goodie:
Anxiety is something we ALL struggle with: traffic, raising our children, burning dinner, getting married, being successful, death – all these things can make us anxious.
But, if we are anxious because we are sinning and not trusting – that doesn’t bring glory to God.
I took a little break in Little Rock, unplugged except for my phone, and didn’t have time to pre-write all the hymn blogs before I left – we had a lot of celebrating going on!
One of the reasons I love this hymn is because of the movie Little Women. You know the scene where they are all dancing around the canopy at the wedding – singing this song. Then my Mister includes it on his cd and I love that version too.
So, the reason I include it in this month is because I love FALL (really, who doesn’t?). I love the crisp weather, all the fun stuff you can do in the kitchen, and football, birthdays, our anniversary, and the colors!
When I read one of the stanzas, I’m also reminded of how much we live by our calendars and our phones – instead of just putting everything down and running through leaves. Most of us don’t tend to be “lazy” we tend to be too busy. But then we are too busy with the least important things. I’m guilty of this too.
But, if we can just take more minutes of our days to play in the earth that God gave us!
We are finally out of celebration mode – and I’m happy to say I didn’t gain any, but actually lost some in the last month even with the celebrations. Thankful for exercise and grace! I definitely ate too much – but new mercies are every day!
This week I’m cooking high protein and low carb, to jump start my weight loss again – and also using Pinterest. One other thing I hope to start doing is going back through my old food blog and recreating those recipes and taking better pictures and making improvements. I’ve hopefully improved some in both photography and cooking in 9 years!
Sometimes it may take me a while to get to a book, but God knows why he had me pick it up at that moment. I’ve had this book for a while, and just really picked it up in earnest this weekend. As you can see by this review – I’m done with it and it has many underlines and !!! sections!
Kimm Crandall is a mommy of four – and a funny one at that – and one who knows her weaknesses and is steeped in the Gospel. And even though she has written a helpful and gracious book, she would probably tell you herself that she needs to practice and rehearse the gospel every day (even after she wrote the chapter on rehearsing the gospel).
I liked this book because she shared stories I could relate to – even though her kids are definitely older than mine. She pointed me not to my mistakes and where I fail every day as a Mom, but instead she pointed me to Jesus – who is perfect in every way and intercedes for me as my Great High Priest.
I liked it because it was short and practical – two things I need as a Mom to two active toddler boys.
I liked it because she encouraged women to be honest with other women – and to use wisdom in sharing – but not to hold on to this idea of perfection that we seem to do so well in many of our churches.
I would recommend this book to any mom but especially ones who are :
1. Like me, in the throws of teaching two boys what it means for mommy and daddy to have authority and how they won’t get everything they want just because they throw a temper tantrum.
2. Like me, who loves their to do lists and hates it when everything isn’t marked off by the end of the day.
3. Like me, who knows the Gospel but still needs help in accepting it every day and also passing along that acceptance to their husbands and children. Oh, ladies – how I struggle with that. Teaching my boys to obey and listen and accept authority – and doing it with the love of Christ in my actions, words, and tone of voice.
Here are some of my favorites from the book:
“God’s faithfulness is not measured by tangible blessings. It’s measured by his character and his promises to us.” (22)
“God’s grace leaves us with nothing of ourselves but all of Jesus.” (32)
“Grace is a mystery so disturbing I can’t bring myself to look away.” (44)
“When you know you are being pursued by a merciful admirer, the lure of sins’ crude pleasure loses it’s sparkle.” (51)
“Take off the strong mother mask and embrace your weakness. Stop hiding the very inadequacy God wants to use to display the Gospel.” (61)
“Everything in Scripture points, not to our obligations, but to our Redeemer,” (67)
When you live in light of the Gospel – you are set free from your incessant need for approval.” (93)
Live in light of these truths – grounded in the Word and the Gospel.
(Thanks Kimm for providing me with a copy of this to read. All comments and thoughts are my own.)
I feel like I’ve come to one of the most popular hymns in any given hymnbook. Since this song doesn’t explicitly mention the Gospel through Jesus Christ and His Work on the Cross – any “believing” person could sing this song – even if they weren’t necessarily a Gospel-believing Christian.
What I love about this hymn is that is marvels at the Creator God, infinite, wise beyond all measure – perfect in everything – yet, one who wills us and bids us and welcomes us to worship him. Worship him in a way that the created angels don’t. Worship him in front of other people. Worship him in front of non-believers.
And if we get a glimpse of this God – this all-consuming God who desires us to know Him – than we will also be introduced to His amazing Song. Or even vice-versa! The Father and the Son are one!
If there ever a Southern food besides collards, cornbread, and fried chicken – it would be pimiento cheese.
I think you could really leave the pimiento’s out and it would still be good – but they offer tang which is needed.
Why not eat cheese and mayonnaise? What could be better for you?
Pimiento Cheese may not be good for your waistline (though this one is slightly better) but it is definitely good for your food-loving soul.
I definitely recall not liking this sandwich growing up. I would always opt for the chicken salad to eat at parties and leave the pimiento cheese for the other people. But, somehow, as I’ve refined my Southern palette, I’ve come to really like grilled cheese. I even chose to make this over chicken salad for a church gathering we were having. Who am I?
Anyway, this pimiento cheese is great by itself, on crackers, on white bread, grilled on Mountain bread to make a tasty grilled cheese and you might just want to add bacon – you know, if you are looking to make it healthier! 🙂
Pimiento Cheese for a Crowd
Recipe Type: Spread
Cuisine: Appetizer/Sandwich
Author: kd316
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4 loaves
Sharp cheddar really makes this sandwich filling a stand out!
Ingredients
3 cups thick grated sharp cheddar cheese (or extra sharp)
