by Kimberly | Jun 27, 2015 | marriage, mothering, parenting, Shepherding Children, World Events
It is no surprise to most people that the SCOTUS handed down a favorable win for same-sex marriage yesterday. This doesn’t surprise me at all because we are not a theocracy nor are most of the people in government controlled by the Bible. In a way I don’t find fault with a non-Christian society to assume that all marriage should be allowed.
However, even though my family lives in America, we are more controlled by the God of the Bible and know that He is sovereign over all, Jesus is no longer in the tomb, and God even controls the government and the leaders and the decisions by His sovereign will.
That being said, I, as a parent to two little boys, have a God-given responsibility and grace to teach these little ones in my care (and my husband’s care) about a biblical view of marriage and how to be men of God. So I’ve thought about it the last couple of days and here are some points that I will be instilling in their little souls and will pray that God captures their hearts at an early age, that they grow up to fight for Truth and freedom, and that they love God with all their hearts.
1. God’s Word is the Truth. There is no false teaching in the Bible. Every word of it is true. It is the final authority. In our lives, it is the final authority now. Unfortunately, those who don’t know Jesus don’t live under this truth. They choose to disobey a loving God who has a great plan for their lives. They will one day know that God is the only God and his truth is supreme. 2 Timothy 3.16-17
2. God has called them to be men. Men. Men of truth, valor, and integrity. Men who love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. Men who will unite themselves to one woman for the rest of their lives and seek to live out the Gospel in their home. Men who will lead, provide, and protect their wives and children. Men who will fight for justice. Men who will stand for truth. Ephesians 5
3. God is Ruler over everything. Many places throughout the Bible we see God the Father orchestrating the hands of government to do his will. This decision of the SCOTUS does not surprise him one bit. He is the Ruler and He knows all. He has a great plan for His great fame in this country and the world. Psalm 97
4. #lovewins is not about gay marriage. Love won the day Jesus conquered the grave after he died for our sin. ! Corinthians 15
5. Gospel applies to all. When we encounter those who do not believe the truth of the Bible we have one response – to love them as Christ loved them and point them to their need for a Savior. Romans 3
6. They are sinners. My boys need the Gospel. Their mommy and daddy need the gospel. Just because we will teach them that gay marriage is wrong (against God’s final authority) doesn’t make us better. We need Jesus. Romans 6-7
7. Love truth. I will teach them to love truth in every walk of life. In playing with their friends, in learning about the Bible, in standing up for justice and truth in their school, in not shrinking back when lies prevail. Psalm 119.9
It was a sad day. But, I have a responsibility to my children to train them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord and will pray that they will know the Truth and the Truth will set them free.
by Kimberly | May 8, 2015 | mothering, parenting, Uncategorized
I remember all those Mother’s Days where I just sat there…in the pews…seeing men pass out roses to their beautiful wives who were the mother of the their children. Listening to countless sermons telling me that being a mother was the best thing you could do in this life and nothing would ever come close to matching it. Telling me if I was a woman that I was created to be a mother. Being a mother is priceless. And God did create some women the ability to birth babies.
Past: I didn’t become a wife until I was 34 and was barely pregnant (hince a mother) that same year. I got to see my baby’s face when I was 35. That is a good 12 years after I should have been married and started having babies. That is 12 mother’s days sermons that I had to endure. Yes, endure. There were a few that I wouldn’t attend. I don’t normally like to cry during sermons. And I wasn’t married, didn’t have a baby, yet I was failing at the one thing that God had created me for.
Move on to today: Motherhood is a joy with lots of hugs and giggles and storytimes, but it is also hard. I have two amazing toddlers that I would never wish to have life without. I don’t want to miss a second of their growing and learning and running and playing. But, being a mother is a gut-wrenching job. It is a great task that can only be handled by the grace of God. And I’ve cried more since being a mom. I can’t watch shows with the same eyes as I do now that I have two little boys. I see Scripture and the Gospel in a whole new light – and know I need it now more than ever before. I cry for friends who have lost children, or who haven’t had the joy of being pregnant, or have had adoptions fail, or have lost foster children they have come to love as their own. Sin wreaks havoc on this world. The Gospel is our need. Every mother needs the Gospel. But every woman needs the gospel too. We are not counted more worthy because we are mothers, the blood of Christ already has made us righteous!
Future: My boys are (Lord willing) going to continue to grow, learn how not to throw food on the floor, learn how to tie their own shoes, take out the trash (my husband will be happy), and hopefully one day trust in Jesus. And when that day comes (I’m praying it will), I will still need the Gospel. When I’ve been a mom for two decades and they are both in college or living out another dream they have for their lives…I will need the gospel. When my littles are joined at the altar by their adoring brides…I will need the gospel.
I need to fill my mind daily and hourly and even minute by minute with the hope that I will never be a perfect mom – but I have a perfect Jesus who helps me in my times of weakness!
So thankful. And to Elijah and Sebastian – I love you both. Your eyes and kisses and hugs and vocabulary are a delight to me. Run to Jesus, babies!
by Kimberly | Apr 6, 2015 | Books, Kids r Readers 2, mothering, parenting, Shepherding Children
Do you remember what it was like to go to bed when you were younger? Did you ask for 20 glasses of water or want to read the longest book over and over again?
As my boys get older, I’m (usually) loving bedtime routines. I usually put the younger one to bed, and then get the older one ready. He likes to sit and read one or two books in the chair in his room. He gets really calm with his paci and sits in my lap and I read it quietly (with expression and voices) in his ear. We pray while holding hands. Then he hops down and goes to bed. I know this won’t last forever, but I think it is the sweetest thing and one of my favorite times with him during the day.
One of the books I’ve enjoyed recently with him is Really Woolly Lullabies by Tommy Nelson. Tommy Nelson sent them to me for a review, but all opinions are my own. We’ve enjoyed the Scripture on every page, the sentence prayer that helps me pray specific things for my toddlers as I’m putting him to bed.
Nighttime routines are important. They set a peace for the night that is crucial to my children, and probably yours. Enjoy this time with them, when you can. It doesn’t always work perfectly in our home, but it is getting better.
If you would like to win your very own copy of these lullabies, just leave a comment on here or on social media and tell me what your favorite song to sing with your children is.
by Kimberly | Oct 30, 2014 | mothering, parenting, Shepherding Children
The only show that my toddlers watch 5-7 days out of the week is Daniel Tiger. We only have Netflix so I can just put one on in the morning as I’m cleaning up from breakfast before we go out to do any errands or go to Bible study. Both of my little boys love it.
I do believe my older son’s first sentence was (in his own language) “Daniel Tiger rides a school bus”. School bus is his term for anything that moves that’s big. And my younger son does The Twist when the theme music begins.
I love that the show is based on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, which I loved as a child. Teaches good things to kids and helps them learn social behavior that is acceptable. My mister even was telling me the other night that he was able to put a Daniel Tiger song into practice during a conversation with some co-workers.
And I write this blog post from a stand point of a Mom who is in the throws of trying to get my two year old to behave. I’m trying to teach him about authority and what is right and wrong. When not to run away, why shoving his brother is wrong, how to share toys, why we don’t spit out food onto the table, why we don’t pitch fits when we leave time with Daddy at his store, why we don’t scream in the car long enough to make his brother cry.
Daniel Tiger is great at teaching what to do and how to be nice while doing it – playing nicely with others. Obeying your parents, giving hugs, etc. But, if that is all we teach our children as Christian parents, than we are missing the (gospel) boat entirely.
When my son disobeys, like he is right now because I’ve asked him to be quiet and play in his room or take a nap and he is singing and talking at the top of his lungs, I have trouble because I go to him and I say “I love you, E, BUT I really want you to obey Mommy.” When I should be saying “I love you E AND I really want you to obey Mommy. Here are some truths I’m learning about this way of parenting:
1. My love for my sons should not be conditional upon their obedience. I remember asking my Mom one time decades ago what she would do if I or my brother killed someone. She said I’d still love you, pray for you, and I’d turn you in. Good job, Mom! They should not have to work for my love or my snuggles. The Bible is very clear on this in Romans 5.10
2. Our children should learn how to have good behavior. Not by bribing, not by rewarding, not be yelling – but just because that is what is expected of them as one of our children. I don’t want to raise two little Pharisees, I want to raise little boys who see their need for a Savior. My Mister and I have been talking about this, especially now that our older one has gotten to a point where he completely understands what we are saying when we are trying to get him to obey. A sweet friend who is years ahead of me in parenting told me that these early years are for your children to learn that the parents are the authority. If they don’t learn that, they will have a harder time learning God’s authority. And that is where we definitely want to point them. One key Scripture is Ephesians 6:1-4
3. The main point of the Gospel is not so we will be better Christians. The Gospel is not there to tell us how to be good. It is actually the opposite. The Gospel tells us that we can’t be good and we can’t obey. The sin nature living in us makes us want to do our own things. Only turning our lives over to Jesus and relying on the Holy Spirit to shape us and live through us will work. Believing through faith is salvation. That faith is given to us. Out of a heart that has been changed will come right obedience. See Romans 6-8 and Ephesians 2.
4. We have to discipline, love and teach the Bible to our children through the eyes of the Gospel. We can’t teach them Bible stories that will lead them to share better, be kind more, or obey. We need to teach discipline, love, and teach them so they see Jesus in EVERYTHING. We must be the ones who share the Gospel with our children.
After all, that is our biggest job as Christian parents. Show the Gospel to our children. And pray the Holy Spirit will turn their little hearts.
by Kimberly | Oct 29, 2014 | Books, mothering, parenting, Uncategorized
I’ve already reviewed this book for Crossway and I stand behind everything I say. But, in this post I want to encourage (mostly Moms) yall from some of the highlights that I read. I’m grateful for Gloria’s writing, examples, and Christ-centered encouragement to other moms in the world. Many things I could relate to – and no matter what stage of mothering you are in, I’m sure you can to.
“It’s tempting to view everyday life merely as a monotonous cycle of making the beds on to be in them again.” (63)
Don’t let life be mundane to you. I know we have to clean and cook dinner and change diapers and run car pool. But, don’t be ok with that. That is when life gets boring and we get discouraged. Make fun things happen, change your attitude – don’t live there.
“Controlling my circumstances wouldn’t fill the void in my soul. You can’t organize your way into communion with God.” (78)
I see this in myself a lot today. My littler toddler is sick. I can’t take them anywhere I normally go because he would be around children and I don’t want him to get others sick. So we are at home. In a small townhome, all day. Well, I can’t control that. Now I can either apply the gospel or live in a bad mood the rest of the day until they go to bed? It is choice!
“God is greater, more powerful, and more mysterious than we could ever dream, and it will take an eternity for him to reveal to us his magnificence.” (92)
God is our reward – not the perfection of heaven. He is infinite and no matter how much we seek to know him on this side of his presence – we will never know him fully – because He is inexhaustible.
“Our craving for admiration is diluted and the praise of others is muffled as we serve with the strength God supplies. Why would we take credit for the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives?” (105)
This is an area of biggest struggle for me. God is the one who does the work and needs to get all the praise for it.
“I need God’s grace and something baked with peanut butter and chocolate.” (138)
Perhaps my favorite line in the book!
“I forget that homemaking is not primarily about my personality; it is primarily to adorn the gospel because the grace of God has appeared.” (155)
Another one of those needed statements that I will need to think through.
This book is highly marked up and I’m shipping it out today to a friend who will also love this book. There are many other things I highlighted that I’ve talked about with friends or my husband because they bring up too much hurt from past relationships.
Mom – keep pursuing the gospel in your parenting! God has got this! Be encouraged!
by Kimberly | Oct 23, 2014 | Books, Kids r Readers 2, mothering, parenting, Shepherding Children
Being a parent is amazing and hard and always full of new moments. But, this moment we are in right now is something I’ve waited for. “Mommy” then I get a little pat on my leg and I see my older toddler standing there in front of me with a book in his tiny hands. Begging for me to read to him. So, I do. Over and over again.
There is a certain train book from Usborne books (gift from Oma) that he has carried everywhere – coffee shops, hikes, car trips, gym kid’s club – and Daddy has even had to tape it up. It came with a little train – sometimes we can find it sometimes we can’t. But, no matter – he has other cars that will work on its tracks – or at least work for him.
One of the things I want to instill most in my kids (besides a love for God) is a love of reading. I love to read and I know how books take you to other places, teach you so much more than you could ever learn, and also put a desire in you to see the world around you. C S Lewis and L. M. Montgomery are two of those authors for me. I have a feeling the boys will love L. A. Wilder, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Andrew Peterson. We shall see. Can’t wait to actually read chapter books with them at night. But, that is a moment in time later to come.
How can you instill a love of reading in children?
1. Use the library. We go to the library some for story time. My boys are harder to sit still than some others but we still attempt it and its good song and play time too. The public libraries, especially in bigger cities, are great resources (and free)!
2. Buy them books. Buy them at thrift stores, online book clubs, ask for them for presents.
3. Read to them. Use some time before bed, or after breakfast to read to them. It teaches them to pay attention and sit still but also helps stir up an amazing appetite to read.
4. Be patient with them as they learn to read. My boys aren’t to that stage yet, but I have to be willing as their Mommy to be patient, let them stumble over words, help them when I need to, and listen to them.
5. Encourage them to write their own stories. This time will come too. I still have the first book I wrote in 4th grade – all about animals. I can’t wait to show it to our boys. I hope they will love it and not laugh!
6. Read different genres. As a gospel Christian, I do like to read boys about Jesus to them. But…I love to read them other books about the world God created and things that happen in it and teach them about a Christian worldview – seeing everything through the lens of the Gospel. That is so important to teach to our children early in their learning adventure.
My friend Leah is an Usborne consultant. They have delightful and interactive books for children of all reading levels. Here is a link to an online party I am hosting for her. I have been pleased with the Train book so far – and so has our toddler. I’m sure you will find some your children like as well.
What are your favorite books to read to your children?
