by Kimberly | Nov 27, 2017 | Bible, Books
I’ve not been this excited about a preschooler/toddler Bible in…EVER.
My friend Jared Kennedy makes this book a winner – by beautifully written stories and everything pointing back to Christ – for young kids. Of course I love the Jesus Storybook Bible, but its more for older children, say 5-6yo. But, this Bible, the Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible, is perfect for preschoolers. And that’s just where my boys are.
This Bible isn’t about us. Its not about how to get our kids to behave better or obey a list of rules (even good rules). This Bible is about Jesus. And that’s what the God Story is all about anyway.
Jared hits it out of the park with this one. And after we finish our current family worship book, and Advent, we are going to use his.
Thanks to Litfuse for this book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 17, 2017 | 31days, Bible, lavish hospitality
How do you get to know someone? Thankfully in today’s technology-driven world, I think that is easier and harder. Let me explain.
You can get to know people on social media. This is how I love to keep track of new friends and old friends who live in different areas of the country/world.
You can get to know people by running into them at small groups or in church services. Or playing basketball, shopping, being in a creative group together or a book club.
But, I genuinely think that the only way to truly get to know someone is to sit down with them. Talk with them face to face. You may not want to genuinely know everyone – but for those close friends, don’t you want to genuinely know them and sit down with them face to face as often as you can.
With my husband: I can get to know him through texts, through what he posts on facebook, but most I get to know him when we are talking to each other without distractions. Or if we are sitting side-by-side traveling alone together.
WIth my best friends – I want to get to know them while sitting on their porches, sipping coffee together, or grabbing a quick breakfast together (without our kids).
With new people: it is hard to get to know new people at 40. It is. But, I have found it best to just sit down with them, have food or beverage present, and talk. Share. Be open.
That is what God’s Word does for us. Though we don’t have a face-to-face with God, the Word reveals God’s heart to us. He has been hospitable in creating the Word. He was hospitable when He sent Jesus. And He was (and still is) hospitable to us when He God-breathed the Word to be carried down to generations for us, believers today in 2017.
Quote from Noel Piper Treasuring God in Our Traditions
by Kimberly | Oct 17, 2017 | Bible, Books
If you are anything like me, sometimes you get in a rut with your time in the Word. Maybe not, but I know I do. If I always study the Word in the same way, I get stale (not the Word).
So, I thought I would highlight some new(er) Bible study helps. Maybe these will be new to you, maybe you will have tried them and love them.
KJV Know the Word Study Bible. This is a new Bible from Thomas Nelson. I grew u with KJV at my Christian school. The verses that I have memorized over the years are a hybrid of KJV, ESV, NIV, NASB. One thing I love about technology these days is to read the Bible in so many different translations – and the KJV is a good one. This new Bible has topical study notes on subjects: the Trinity, Love, Covenant, Purpose, Church, etc. These are helpful if you are doing a topical study in your Bible study. There are helpful footnotes on the bottom margin so you can access it easily as you are reading. This Bible has book introductions which are helpful if you are doing a read through the Bible, you are getting a brief synopsis and knowledge about the book before you read it. So, if you want a very neutral (not personality-driven study Bible) this new one is a good, basic one.
The Daily Grace Co. Kristin produces Bible studies that I think are ideal for the beginner.
She Reads Truth – this is an easy app that you can have on your phone right when you wake up, get in the Word right away, or you can purchase their Bible studies. Solid material.
What are some Bible study tools that you use?
Thanks Litfuse and Thomas Nelson for the KJV Bible. All thoughts are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 12, 2017 | 31days, Bible, lavish hospitality
There are times I fail at hospitality. And, yes, fail is a strong word. Most will probably say just practicing it is enough, but for me, I want to do it right. So, there is often a struggle between doing it and doing it well.
I’m a number 3 with a 2 wing on the Enneagram. I like to be known and loved and be needed and always seem to be giving my resume. But, I hate the fear of rejection. Rejection and me do not get along.
The last 6 years I’ve had the most love I’ve ever known (husband, 2 boys), but I’ve also experienced the most rejection and dislike in my life. It has been some incredibly lonely times. Filled with so many tears.
I remember just one little example of this. I was hosting a meeting of ladies in my home. I love to bake. And I make these delicious and beautiful cupcakes. I had spent all afternoon making them (with a toddler and baby). One person ate a bite, no one else had any. I wanted to cry the whole meeting. When my husband arrived home, I threw them in the trash. He didn’t even get to taste one.. When you work on something creatively for someone, have others reject it, its really a rejection of yourself.
So, the past few months, I have really been taking that rejection and placing it on Christ. Where I need to sit and dwell in is his everlasting, never-rejecting love for me. I’m his beloved. He will never let me go. He will hold me fast.
When we welcome others in our loves, in our home, not rejecting them – we will be a piece of Christ to them. In order to show them the Gospel. To let them dwell in the love of Jesus.
More on this Psalm in The Songs of Jesus by Tim Keller
by Kimberly | Aug 28, 2017 | Bible, Books
Last night I was at a church in the country outside of Augusta. Friendliest church to newcomers I’ve ever been in. I was quickly shown a seat, many people were including me in conversations, introducing themselves to me, and telling me about the oldest church building in Georgia and that they did baptisms in the creek there and still do them there. Talk about a loving church. A welcoming church.
The book of Acts is all about the early church, the adventurers they had in sharing the Gospel, and how the word of the Cross was shared throughout the region.
In Erica Wiggenhorn’s second Bible study, The Unexplainable Church, one covering the last half of the book, you will find thoughtful questions, great history, and spaces to write your own story – how God is leading you to obey the commands that is found in Acts.
We all have a journey in the Gospel. Acts is filled with conversions, and beatings, joys, friendship, sorry. And today, in the life of Christians, we find relationships, new relationships with Christ, we find our brothers and sisters in Christ being persecuted because of the name of Jesus.
When you study the book of Acts, you find yourself in God’s story. His story is neverending. And so thankful we get to be a part of it.
For a good study on Acts, check out this one., which is the first half of the book of Acts – and then follow it up with this one here. Here is my review of the first one. They are a great set of studies and you will know God’s story better. Thanks SideDoor communications for this book and Moody Publishers. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Aug 24, 2017 | Bible, Books
There are some themes that take over the Christian conversation world from time to time. And by that I mean so many of the books being published are about the same topic, or podcasts are interviewing people speaking on the same topic.
Right now is seems to be about friendships, belonging, community, etc. And one of the questions or tips with figuring our my enneagram number has something to do with this. One of the reasons I chose my enneagram number is because I have the ability to fit in anywhere, but I don’t always feel like I belong.
Belonging is a deep sense of “I’m loved no matter what” and “these people get me” verses just being able to get along, hang out, or blend in. As someone who has been in ministry leadership for 20 years and moved around for 17 years, I’ve been rather good at that.
But fitting in is not belonging. Belonging is sitting down and having your soul poured into for hours on end, and you don’t even have your flip flops on.
Belonging is sharing whatever is on your heart without a lull in the conversation because you don’t have to worry about what to say. You won’t be condemned because you aren’t perfect or don’t fit the mold. I’ve lived in areas where I’ve not fit the mold and so I’ve neither fit in or belonged – and that is so lonely.
I was listening to a podcast just yesterday and they were talking about Sabbath, resting, and loneliness. And usually, I have found if I am lonely, it is not primarily because I am not around friends. It is because I’ve been absent from the Word in an intimate way, slow to pray, and seeking all of my fulfillment from those who can’t fill it.
Heather Holleman writes a Bible study called Included in Christ – a study on the book of Ephesians. She does a really good job at helping us know where we are in Christ – rooted in Him – and known by Him – and tells us that we can belong. She helps you see your part of the story in this wonderful book of the Bible.
Some folks are very detailed and organized in their Bible study. I’m not. I kinda pick a book then study it in different ways: a Bible study, sermons, books, lettering, drawing, writing it out, etc. So, this is a good one to help me along my journey in Ephesians.
If you would like to win a copy of it, just leave me a comment about anything and I’ll pick a winner soon!
Thanks to Sidedoor Communications and Moody Publishers for my copy. All thoughts are my own.
