by Kimberly | Aug 1, 2015 | Bible, Books, Shepherding Children
Toddlers: they are the funnest and hardest part of my day. This afternoon when I was eating Chickfila with my boys on the back porch – watching my older one get so excited about dipping his fries in the sauce or hearing my younger say “coke coke” begging for a sip of my diet coke – I looked at both of them with a huge smile – telling them I love you. And then there are moments when I just want to put them to bed and have a moment of silence to myself. And I’ve learned that is ok. Grace comes with bedtime.
But, grace also is imparted to our children by them learning about spiritual disciplines. One of the disciplines that we are teaching our boys is prayer. They clap and say yay when we are done praying at dinner.
A great new resource to help your child learn how to pray is the Say and Pray Bible. It is by Tommy Nelson resources and is a board book with great illustrations for your toddler. One of the aspects of this Bible that I love is that it helps them identify objects in the story (learning new vocabulary, helping them learn how to spell). This is purely educational. But, when tied in with a Bible story and prayer guide – this is a great resource for your toddler – probably my new favorite.
One of the ways I intend to use this as my boys get older is create worksheets that they can do as we read along with the story. I want to pull of the words and give them space to learn how to write, draw pictures of the words that they can match, There is a variety of creative games or word searches that you can do to help your children learn how to read, spell, match, and learn the Bible.
If you would like to win this resource for your children – just leave a note here or on Social media and tell me one verse that you are teaching your kids to pray.
That’s all.
by Kimberly | Jul 22, 2015 | Bible, Books
My son is nearing three years old. A few times we have kept him in our church’s evening prayer service just during the time for the singing. He does remarkably well, especially since Daddy is usually playing the piano and he doesn’t yell out “Daddy” during the last stanza of Be Thou My Vision. We will start keeping him in more because we want him to learn to be in the “big church.”
It is hard to think about this. As a parent, I do like the “break” for my active toddler boys for a little bit on Sunday mornings, knowing they are getting solid teaching and fun in the kids’ area. But, I also want them to learn to worship with adults in “big church”. I don’t want to have to break them from the motions and screaming singing and then for them to hate big church because its boring.
Having children in the services at your church is so crucial. They hear the gospel. They worship with mutliple generations. They learn to listen. And parents can be a model for them of how to listen, interact with other believers, and engage with the Word of God.
What is one way that a church can make it clear that children are welcome in the main church service?
Have children’s Bibles in the pew. I great younger children (preschool) Bible would be the Jesus Story Book Bible. I love the pictures and some children who are able to read can pick out the smaller words or even have worksheets that go along with different stories or just a blank notebook.
A great new older children’s Bible is the Crossway ESV Children’s Bible. It is actually a Bible. It has pictures that are colorful and would appeal to children (say ages 8-10). The resources are great for curious minds who want to learn more about the Bible: a dictionary, maps (I miss maps in my Bibles), a topical index, a timelines for Christ’s ministry, a very abbreviated systematic theology page, other detail information and more timelines. It is hardcover so that makes it durable. It feels just like a Bible and would sit well in a pew rack. And children can learn to follow along with the pastor, especially if your church uses the ESV during sermons like ours.
This would be a great Bible to give your child if he/she accepts Christ during this age range (again, 8-10ish). I still have my first Bible (that I can remember). It is always special.
Thank you Crossway for this Bible for our children! (This review is my own opinion and the Bible was given to me by Crossway).
by Kimberly | Jul 21, 2015 | Books
One of the best things that my husband ever said to me before we had children was that they would know how to be affectionate because I was their momma. I cling to that these days when the discipline is so hard. I still love getting their hugs, wrestling with them, tickling them, and having them give me kisses and hold my hand. I will take it all. It is one of my favorite things about being a mom!
There are so many children out there who don’t get the love they need from loving adults (whether it is their parents, other family members, or loving adults in their lives). One of the reasons we wanted to settle on a church quickly when we moved to the metro area is so that the boys would get familiarity from other adults besides us. They would get to know their SS teachers, pastors, friends’ parents. They would be shown love.
Some say it is hard to love when you have to discipline a child. It is hard. Disciplining is hard. But disciplining them (when done with a correct action and spirit) is loving. God loves us, his children, when he disciplines us and he is always love.
Tommy Nelson just released I Love You Even When, a book for toddlers. It is a foam board book but has enough letters that it would be a great book for those learning to read. Animals are a usual high attraction for most children and these illustrations are cute.
Good points about this book: God’s love is unconditional. Helpful illustrations that will be perfect for most toddlers and the messes they get into.
Questionable – not bad, but just some points to talk about with your children as you read through it together – our kids should not feel they are more accepted and loved by us (their parents) when they obey. That only teaches them legalism. If you need a good book to talk more about this go here.
If you want a copy of this book, just leave a comment either here or on social media and answer the question: what is one thing your toddler does that as you are disciplining them you are trying not to laugh (yes, kids do the darndest things).
by Kimberly | Jul 20, 2015 | Books
It is no secret that I love to read. But, I need more time in my schedule to read. And with two toddlers, a husband, a photography business, White Collar, West Wing, and lots of books – I have to do something to find more time!
One thing I am doing is getting more organized in my reading. I am one of those readers that reads multiple books at once and always has a stack of books by my nightstand. I have several books a month I’m reviewing for one publisher or another and that always keeps my mailbox full (and that is a happy mail day!)
So, since I have different interests and ways I need to read to fit my life – here is the deal. I’m going to try each week to organize what I’m reading and let you know about it. That way you can be introduced to new authors and books and you can also give me suggestions on what you are reading in those categories.
Christian Life: Newton on the Christian Life and Packer on the Christian Life (these two are both on my Kindle and they are both books I’m reviewing for Crossway). I think I would highlight the whole book! So good!
Creativity/Business/Photography: A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman
Marriage: The Fruitful Wife by DiMarco
Food: A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones (a book review I’m doing for Blogging for Books) and My Life in France by Julia Child
Children: Just for Me Bible, Say and Pray Bible, and I Love You Even When (all book reviews for Tommy Nelson)
Parenting: My husband and I are reading through Shepherding a Child’s Heart together and even though I’ve read it is very important for me to re-read it now that I have children.
by Kimberly | Jul 16, 2015 | Books
Do you realize that we are ALL broken people? This isn’t a blog post just for the people who have major problems in life and their lives are falling apart. This post is for every single person in the world.
And do you know that we serve an amazingly beautiful Creator who takes everything that is broken and turns it into a beautiful thing for his glory? That is one of the aspects of God that I love the most. That He takes the broken and makes beautiful wholeness out of it.
We see the God of beauty shining through all of Scripture. Just a few:
1. Nehemiah and his getting the wall rebuilt. Nehemiah knew of the broken down wall in Jerusalem and he wasn’t even there. So he went and saw the rubble. And he prayed. And he got normal every day joe people to work on the wall. And you know what – God restored that wall. He showed that His beauty could shine again around the walls of the city for His own people.
2. King David. A lot of people mentioned that he was a man after God’s own heart. Which he was. But he was also a murderer and an unfaithful husband. But God used him to write amazing worship songs and lead God’s people – and he is an integral part in the history of redemption.
3. The Apostle Paul who wrote a good portion of the New Testament and his letters are still an encouragement to us today. He was in charge of the people who stoned one of the early deacons of the local church – and hated Christians – even though he knew the law of God and was really smart.
4. And the most broken story of all. The perfect Jesus being broken on a cross to pay for the sins of those who believed. God chose Him to bear our burden. To pay for our sins.
Today…
1. I’ve seen women who have longed for babies have their arms full of precious ones even when doctors said it was impossible.
2. I’ve seen marriages restored when unfaithfulness has been relationship-dominating.
3. I’ve seen teenagers come to know Christ and then go on the mission field and lead churches for the glory of God.
4. I’ve seen the bonds of addiction broken because of the glory of the gospel.
5. I’ve seen orphans taken into families and loved on because of the gospel.
In Cynthia Ruchti’s new book, Tattered and Mended, she brings so many Scriptural highlights and life-giving words to help bring life to brokenness. I really love her thematic way she set up her chapters in different forms of art and restoration. Such a good thing for a creative to do. I love her use of Scripture. And that she brings out a very personal side of God – His healing power!
If you are in a season of brokenness – don’t despair (think of your favorite Anne of Green Gables quote). Believe in him. Wait on him. You will see beauty because God is faithful and never changes.
This post is sponsored by Litfuse who sent me Ruchti’s book to review. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Jun 30, 2015 | Books
There are a lot of dead people who live on through their writings and teachings. I’m so thankful for other people who study their lives and put together books that summarize their lives and their teachings on important truths of the Christian Life. Crossway has been tackling a series that does this very thing, and Tony Reinke just released the book showcasing John Newton, former slave holder turned grace-filled Christian preacher. (Thank you Crossway for this book in exchange for the review. Always a pleasure.)
The book is not primarily a biography, though I did learn a lot about Newton’s life that I didn’t know. What more that Tony Reinke does is take a broad look at all of his writings, mostly found in letters to other people, and summarize to his readers what Newton believed and how he lived in light of that belief.
This was such an intriguing read to me because it was so applicable to my life as a mom and wife. Some theology I find hard to incorporate into my daily life – but the grace of God – I need so much of it that I want it just to pour into my spirit. As I read yesterday on an instagram photo – I want to empty my life of more stuff so that there is more room for Christ to overflow!
Anyway, I digress. So, how did John Newton change my look at grace? He (in a nutshell) said that Christ and grace were so intertwined that the two were pretty much inseparable. And one day, a hot Sunday afternoon after a hard morning before church – one that my husband was working so he wouldn’t be home in the afternoon to help me play with them – I was so frazzled. I wasn’t able to be in the service that morning either because I was serving in the preschool praise area. When I got to my car there was a note scribbled on the back of our church’s bulletin. Just a quick note from my husband (after we had recently talked about this Newton theme of grace). It was so impactful that I still say it to myself now weeks later.
Here’s something to try. In every verse or hymn…try replacing the word grace with Christ.
Amazing Christ, how sweet the sound.
Christ my fears relieved.
Christ will lead me home (all taken from Newton’s famous Amazing Grace hymn).
My Christ is sufficient for you
Christ, Christ, God’s Christ.
As Reinke pointed out sometimes grace is overused these days. We refer to it as any show of kindness. As “grace”filled Christians we should more tie our displays and life of grace to Christ rather than to just being nice. When you show grace to a neighbor – let it be because Christ is compelling you – and share Christ with them.
For me, I need Christ to overflow into my parenting. It isn’t a want – it is a necessity.
And that’s why I love saturating my mind with good, gospel-centered books.
