by Kimberly | Mar 15, 2016 | Books
Cutting Edge would be one phrase I would definitely use to talk about Steven Furtick. I’ve heard him preach one time at my church in Durham back in the day, white suit, bleached hair. Yes. That’s extreme in SBC Culture.
And unqualified is cutting edge in how it talks about rebels who are totally unqualified to have any relationship with God – and talks about how Jesus is our qualifier.
This book is balm and wit and grace and Word. Story and grace told in a way that will read the masses. Its good.
Thanks Blogging for Books.
by Kimberly | Mar 15, 2016 | Books
As a busy mom and wife, who is trying to get a creative business going, I don’t really have time to read. I love reading – but by the time I sit down to read I’m so tired, so a book really has to be compelling for me to read it.
Enter: Gwen Smith’s I Want it All .
I really thought this book was going to be about women who could do everything and be everything to everyone. I was so skeptical about it. Then, I opened the book.
Immediately, Smith’s winsome, real, and grace-filled writing was so captivating and encouraging to a broken heart that needs lots of healing.
If you are in a place with wounded faith that needs encouragement – find it here as she saturates her book with the Word and life.
by Kimberly | Feb 29, 2016 | Bible, Books, Shepherding Children, Uncategorized
We have so many kids’ books in our home. We have them in our cars, in our living room, in the toy box, upstairs in both of their rooms, in our master bedroom on our nightstands, and in the hallway outside their rooms just in case they need to find one on their way to the stairs. And we get more every month. Yes, I give some away, some to other moms, some to our church nursery rooms, and some to goodwill. If the books are very well worn, then they just go in the recycle bin.
However, out of all the books we have, the only one that has authority, power to change their little hearts, and shape their souls and hearts and actions is the Bible. It is the belief of “sola scriptura”. One of the five solas of the Reformation. Basically, (taken from wikipedia) it is : the Christian doctrine that the Bible is the supreme authority in all matters of doctrine and practice. Sola scriptura does not deny that other authorities govern Christian life and devotion, but sees them all as subordinate to and corrected by the written word of God.
And that is one of the reasons I love Crossway and the ESV Bible. They publish books that are so full of Scripture and are such a good help to their readers. They also design great Bibles, for adults, and children. I personally have used their Journaling Bibles for almost 10 years now and LOVE them. And one of their new ones is a hardcover ESV Children’s Bible. Think back to the 70s and those picture Bibles: Now, erase that memory from your mind’s eye and picture realistic pictures, larger print, maps to help your children get a heart for the world that God so loves, and a concordance to help studying the word easier for little minds.
Here’s a simple way you can ease in to family worship if you don’t already do anything. Using this Bible:
- Start in the Gospel of Mark, one of Paul’s letters to the churches, the Psalms, or even Proverbs (especially if you have older children).
- Read a short passage. Have them read it if they can read.
- Talk to them about who God is, who Jesus is, what the passage says about man, and what it says about the gospel.
- Pick one verse the passage to help your children memorize. You may stick to that one verse all week, or depending on how old your children are, you may do a few a week. Kids can memorize the Word of God!
- Pray with them. Pray the Scriptures you just read. It will help them understand them. Pray the Spirit would give them a new heart that loves the Word of God and loves the Jesus who died for them.
Family Worship doesn’t have to be long and hard and have a lesson plan written out. It can, or you can just read the Bible with your kids, talk about it, and pray. And believe me, the Spirit will be molding your heart as well. His Word is good like that.
Thank you Crossway for this Bible. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Feb 29, 2016 | Books, mothering, parenting
A new book for mommas is coming out. So funny that there is never a shortage for new books for tired mom’s who never find the time to read all the books.
I had high hopes for this one, Hope Unfolding, by Becky Thompson, and I love the cover and get real talk.
But, I want a book more centered on the gospel, less centered on story and example. When I listen to a sermon I want gospel truth mixed w a little personal story or joke. In this book, while saying good stuff and offering tired mommas hope only found in Jesus, it is more personal story mixed with a little gospel.
Just out of properbalance,in my opinion, and that’s what Blogging for Books gave me the book to do…write an honest review.
by Kimberly | Feb 23, 2016 | Books
The longer I live the more I am introduced to and reminded of pain and hurt. A believer’s life is not immune from it – we just have help and a Healer when we experience it.
And hopefully, we can share that help and Healer with others who are going through pain.
The book Come Empty by Saundra Dalton Smith is good on many levels:
- Her transparency. I love that there are people in the world who are hurting, who have been hurt, and know that they have the freedom to share that hurt. Not everyone is given that freedom for fear of guilt, shame, or rejection. I think that is something we in the church can be more aware of and open to. Not shunning people who are in pain, but helping them with the purity of the Gospel in their pain.
- Her use of Scripture. I do love that this book is full of the Word of God – because through the Word we receive healing.
- Short reads. I know in periods of hurt, I might not be able to emotionally handle a long chapter, or a lengthy book. Short daily readings are great.
One negative: This book is in the same family as Jesus Calling in one regard: there is a His Reply section and the author puts it in first person, so it is as if Jesus is actually speaking these words to her. And if He is, then these words are infallible and perfect, on the same par with Scripture. Scripture is the only Scripture. It is one thing to give readers Scriptures that they can internalize, but another to say that the Lord is actually speaking these words.
Thanks Litfuse and Dr. Smith for the book and all opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Feb 20, 2016 | Bible, Books, Kids r Readers 2, Shepherding Children
There are many sounds to motherhood. If you have been a mom for any length of time, you are quite familiar with them, and you know that they quickly change depending on your child’s age. Here are a few of mine:
- Apple chewing. Yes, I love to hear my two boys ask for a “big apple”, ask for mommy to “tut it”, and then chomp down on it. That means that are craving healthy foods and I give them enough sweets to balance it out 🙂
- Crying. We just took our younger son to the eye doctor for the first time. Come to find out he is extremely near sighted and will need glasses (just like his older brother). He is really clumsy even though he is a daredevil. (His eyesight probably has something to do with his clumsiness.) So, I know that when he falls and cries, than he is actually hurt. He has busted his gums and caused his two front teeth to be completely gray now (because they are dead with damaged nerves), yesterday he was playing instead of napping and tipped over a wooden chair in his room and almost punctured his eye. Thankful it was just the corner of his eye, and black eyes heal. He has scraped the top of his head from spinning circles on the back porch, getting dizzy, and falling over. He just loves to be crazy, but he knows when he cries mommy or daddy will come running – and usually his older brother will show great compassion on him.
- Mommy. Honestly, some times this gets old because they’ve said it 20 times in a row, whining for something they really don’t need. Any other mom our there know what I’m talking about? But today, as I was reading to my boys in the car while we ate lunch (waiting for a showing on our house to be finished), my younger said Mommy. Yes, he has said it plenty of times, but something just caught my attention this time when he said it. I’m there Mommy. I’m the one who loves them most in this world (with their daddy), and will be there for them, and play with them, and tuck them into bed at night. I pray that through my imperfect love they will come to see the perfect love for their Abba.
- Singing. Both of my boys have grown fond of singing. The two songs we know perfectly are the ABCs (finally, it was delayed in our home), and Jesus Loves Me. I’m glad the boys are learning that one in their SS class at our church. We sing it all the time. As my younger was awake at 6am this morning he was singing this. As I was getting ready to head out the door, I saw his little fingers sticking out at the bottom of the door, and heard his little voice singing.
My favorite line of Jesus Loves Me is “for the Bible tells me so.” Especially as I parent, and make mistakes, and don’t know what to do half the time, or how to balance everything that I need to balance, it is good to know that I have the perfect Word of God.
And Judah and Chelsea Smith just put out a great story book Bible for your kids (think grade school). It is more storybook (like Jesus Story Book Bible), but it tends to be more concrete and practical, making it somewhat easier for younger kids to grasp and know how to implement. This is an easy to use Bible, especially helpful to parents in leading Family Worship time in their home. Remember, as a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your kids about God, and the church’s job is to come along side you and partner together.
If you would like to win this Bible (and believe me, you do), just leave me a comment on one of the verses you are teaching to your children or one of the songs that your children are learning right now. Thanks Tommy Nelson Mommies for the Bible and the opportunity to pass it along to someone else!
