by Kimberly | Oct 9, 2014 | creatives, Uncategorized
When I wake up in the morning – I stare at the bits of light streaming through our mostly-closed blinds. I see creativity. When I settle in for the evenings, I peak out and see the moon winking down on all the city. I see creativity. When I stare into the blue eyes of both my babies and see the wonder and excitement about everything that life will hold. I see creativity. When I scroll through bloglovin and see the many faces and pictures of blog posts that I read – of people I know and don’t know. I see creativity.
I would say the first passion in creativity that I had was music. Piano playing and voice. I wanted to be Barbara Mandrell – and thank goodness I’m not. I did sing on the stage at the Strawberry Festival – but that was a lifetime ago.
The next was photography. I took pictures of everywhere and everything and everyone in high school. That’s why I was class historian and presented a scrapbook of our class to the school upon our graduation ceremony.
The next was cooking. I seriously had cooked and grocery shopped as long as I could remember, but not until college did I love doing it for other people.
I didn’t come to love writing until seminary. In high school I was definitely NOT encouraged in my writing ability – and therefore never though I could write. And even now, sometimes discouragement sets in, sometimes I remember that I helped create a curriculum and wrote for it the first year – and I remember that we all have a writing style.
Here are the ways I engage in creativity today:
Photography: here is a goal (thinking through my place in life) – I want to continue to take photos and learn and save and do shoots – for the end goal of not only capturing moments and people – but starting a small business when the boys start school. I don’t have the time to do a small business now, but I can learn all I can for the next 3 years.
Snail Mail: lettering, art, and notecard making is an outlet of creativity. I love it. And it brightens mailboxes on other street corners.
Cooking: I still love to cook, plate, and photograph food. It is something I have to do, but MOST days it is also something I like to do. I love introducing my men to new foods. I love making yumminess for other families as a blessing.
Writing: I still do write. Maybe I don’t get paid – but I write devotionally. I would like to get better at food writing. I think all of writing is gift and practice. My brother is a great writer. I know many other great writers – and they all have a style that is all their own. Embrace it!
How do you engage in creativity – no matter the life you lead or the time restraints you have?
by Kimberly | Oct 8, 2014 | Uncategorized
What a morning? Let me back up – what a 24 hours!
Real life: my mister and I didn’t have the best 24 hours in communicating about finances. God is good. Communication is good. A husband who pursues wholeness in our marriage is good. Thankful for him.
More than once he’s asked me not to leave my wallet in the car. I’ve ALWAYS left my wallet in the car (please don’t lecture me). Never have had a problem. This morning, I go to get in my car and notice a random hot pink knit glove in my seat. I have little boys, not a teenage girl. I thought maybe I’d picked it up from the gym somehow or one of the boys had. Then I got to McDonalds to get a Diet Coke to drink during Bible Study. No wallet. Sorry McDonald’s drive thru lady. Screaming boys because they weren’t going to get any coke. Call my husband who is in a meeting. Look briefly in the house but know its not there. Realize I’d probably left the car unlocked last night because of several trips I made to the car. Looked for my emergency cash stash and that was gone too.
Seriously. Right after having hard conversations about finances? Really, Lord?
Well, this is what I have learned in the last 4 hours:
1. God will never tell a child He loves I Told You So. He doesn’t spitefully throw our sins back in our faces. He doesn’t haughtily say that He is right (which He always is). He lovingly graces us with his continual presence even when we fail. Oh the joy and assurance of the gospel. My husband didn’t tell me I told you so. He graciously waited where he was till I got there so I could have 2$ in cash for the day. He called all of our credit cards and the cops to get the ball rolling for a police report. All of this while fighting ATL traffic on his way to work. I really just wanted him to tell me I Told You So and get it over with so I could have my punishment and go on with my day. Oh, the last words he said to me as he walked toward his car was “go in grace.” Oh, how he loves me – because Jesus loves him!
2. Acts 2 is graciously lived out in our local church body. I had just gotten our cash envelope for the week of groceries. Gone. This morning – God is so gracious. Thank you ladies for your gracious giving and your prayers. It was a tough morning. God is good.
3. God has told us He will provide for all of our needs! Matthew 6 tells us many of the things that we could and often do worry about – and how God has commanded us not to because he is faithful. He is faithful.
4. Also, a lady in our Bible study group this morning asked the question of how will Christ be exalted every moment of our lives. I then mentioned this incident this morning. I wondered if I have the opportunity to meet the young girl who stole my wallet how I will respond. How will I show her Jesus? I thought of her as I drove to church this morning: does she have parents who care? Does she know Jesus? Is she dealing with guilt that only Jesus can remove? Why did she feel the need to steal my wallet? What will she turn out to be when she grows up? Oh, Father – change her heart, right now!
Do I believe God?
by Kimberly | Oct 8, 2014 | marriage, Uncategorized
Today, we celebrate.
Today marks the day that my Mister and I have been married three years.
In some ways it seems like a lifetime (just the past 6 months seems like a lifetime ago), and in some ways it seems like we’ve just begun. Instead of writing a thank you card to my love to tell you all of his wonderful qualities – which the list would go on forever – I though I would tell you three things (for three years) that we are learning to pursue in marriage.
Pursue: to find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish – especially over the long haul or for the duration
Pursue Intimacy. This isn’t just sex – though pursuing sex with your spouse is definitely wonderful and a lovely gift from God. But, beyond that – pursue knowing each other, pursue dreaming together, pursue hand holding, pursuit snuggling, pursue date nights (without the kids), pursue the little things that make each other smile. Pursue Intimacy.
Pursue Love. This may seem crazy that we would have to pursue that as we journey together in this thing called marriage, but believe me, it is so much harder than I ever thought. 3 years ago, a great friend of ours Landis read that (for memory) 1 Corinthians 13. I thought oh, I know this. But, then I got to review Ryken’s book on Love and then read it with some ladies in Little Rock – and I fail miserably at this…DAILY! Pursue forgiveness. Pursue putting the other first. Pursue not thinking of yourself. Pursue patience…when the days are long and they get even longer when traffic is bad. Pursue giving. Pursue the One who enables you to love.
Pursue Holiness. Set apartness. Pursue that with each other. You are not for anyone else…you are for your spouse. Your eye should not go in any other direction but that of your spouse. Something I say to Elijah all the time when it comes to helping him obey are : “Don’t even look at sin.” and “I’m helping you make a wise decision” Both of those apply to being married. Don’t look at sing. And help each other make wise decisions when it comes to pursuing holiness.
And the one thing I’ve learned the most in three years of marriage: my holiness and the holiness of our marriage is only by GOD. His Son Jesus imparted His righteousness to us. We shelter under the cross and live by the power of the risen Christ and the empty tomb.
Therein lies the strength of our marriage.
Photo props to GreenFlash Productions
Here’s to a number of years more, my Love. Happy Anniversary
by Kimberly | Oct 5, 2014 | Uncategorized
They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words.
Titus 1
I love crime shows.
They all need evidence.
So does our Christian life.
Our life should reflect our calling.
I wear my wedding bands to show that I’m married to my Mister.
How do my actions reflect or not-reflect my Savior?
by Kimberly | Sep 29, 2014 | Uncategorized
NINE.
For 9 years I’ve been blogging. So, this year I think it is time to regroup and rethink and re:purpose. While in seminary I took a class on mission and vision and purpose statements. So, I thought I would share my “mission” statement in blog format today for yall. Having a blogging mission statement helps you limit what you blog about – and limit is a good thing. The blogosphere is full of all types of blogs – and you could spend your time trying to blog about everything. That wouldn’t work.
First – so much has changed in these 9 years.
I was still in my 20s when I started blogging.
I had just finished seminary and was working odd jobs just so I could hang out and love on college girls at UNC (mostly), some State and Duke students mixed in. Some of these girls are some of my dearest friends now. I started two blogs: a devotional one and a cooking one.
I then moved home to my parents house in Florida to pay off debt.
Then I moved to Louisville, KY to work for the then president of one of my favorite religious organizations. I love everything they stand for and love their ministry.
Then I got my dream ministry job of writing curriculum for a church in Raleigh, so I moved back to my favorite state in the country.
Then I met my husband, got married, had a sweet little boy, moved to Little Rock, AR, had another sweet boy, and that brings us to today: the ATL metro area.
Here’s what you will find at this blog site.
Food: I love to cook. I love to savor food and wine and times with friends and family. I am a foodie at heart and love to share that heart with others.
Photography: I love to capture sweet moments – both in the lives of our family and for other people. A smile, the shade of light blue of my littles eyes or the perfect colors of a sunset. Or what about maternity shoots or faces or portraits, or families. Anything – capturing life’s moments.
Family: I love family ministry. Helping families be the family that God created them to be. That was my heart and passion at Providence when I was writing curriculum. Being a family in today’s world is so difficult – but with a lot of help and grace we can do it!
Faith: Everything I do, with God’s help, is looked at through the lens of faith. I’m thankful for God’s grace in my life. And I like to share that with others. Whether that is through books I read, devotionals I write, links I circle back to.
Maybe you’ll find some other topics every now and then, but mostly that’s what this blog is about. Enjoy reading.
by Kimberly | Sep 16, 2014 | Uncategorized
(Disclaimer: I will say at the forefront that I do NOT suffer well. I don’t like to suffer; and I really don’t know who does. And I have also learned much from writing this post. So, I hope this post is a blessing to you as well. Thank you for your sweet comments on the last several “faith and life” blogs I’ve written. You have been sweet community to me.”)
Probably in the world’s eyes I’ve not suffered a lot in my life. But, I’ve learned that suffering is indeed felt and experienced differently by different people. I’ve people in my life who:
– have children who have suffered long with different forms of cancers or disabilities
– have wombs that are barren and can’t have biological children
– have lost parents or grandparents
– have adult children who aren’t living for the sake of the gospel
– have family members lost in a natural disaster
– have lost jobs or friends
– aren’t sleeping because of babies in the home who are struggling to get on a schedule
– have absent spouses who don’t pursue Christ and their marriage
I wrote this post while waiting for a women’s event to start. When I got home from the women’s event my husband was holding our infant and said something was wrong. He never goes to sleep on him and his breathing was very labored. He had inhaled a small teething tablet into his windpipe and now it is stuck beyond the coughing it up point. We all had a restless night pondering what to do – and decided this morning to take him into a pediatrician. She immediately requested x-rays. Now we are waiting for the results and a plan of action. That is a form of suffering. Just as an example.
Below are 6 things that I’ve learned as I’ve pondered suffering for the last several months:
1. Suffering is inevitable. (John 15:20, 1 Peter 4:12) No matter what form your suffering takes – suffering will come to you (whether you are a Christian or not). For Christians, the Bible says that since Jesus suffered, we will suffer too. We should expect it. We should not be surprised when it happens – whatever “it” is. Suffering isn’t necessarily because of our sin. Jesus was perfect, but knew suffering. We may suffer for righteousness or we may suffer because of our sin. Either way, suffering will be in our lives. That is why we pray all the more fervently “Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 21:1, 4)
2. Suffering should lead us to humility. The reason I don’t suffer well is because I have come to the realization (through the help of the Spirit) that I don’t think I should suffer. My point of reference is other sinners around me. I don’t think I should suffer because I’ve not sinned as much as other people. But, thankfully the Spirit is showing me that I am indeed a sinner, and my suffering is sometimes because I sin and sometimes it is just because that is the will of God for my life.
3. Suffering has two ends: God’s glory and my good. God gets much glory in our lives when we suffer well. Tim Keller, NYC pastor and author, writes in his book on suffering: Suffering is unbearable if you aren’t certain that God is for you and with you.” (58) When we suffer well – God gets glory in this sin-filled world. And what do I mean that it is for my good? I’m learning as I study the Bible not to take verses out of context (something I learned mostly while in seminary and still practicing the discipline today). Philippians 1.6 says God will complete the work he began in you at the day of Christ Jesus. Mainly…Paul is meaning that since God the Father sent Jesus to purchase your salvation on the cross…that he will sanctify you and you will be perfect when Christ returns. We won’t look perfect here because we will still dwell in this sinful world – but once Christ comes we will be like him! Praise the Lord. I look forward to the day when my sin will no longer hurt me and will no longer hurt those I love.
4. God wants us to suffer well with joy. Note: I didn’t say with a smile on our faces. Joy is something that is of the Spirit and is only found in Christ. Joy runs deep. Joy is not based on our circumstances. Joy is something that can seldom be explained. I think of a mom of two adopted littles who is not able to have biological children of her own. Her hope and joy in Christ hasn’t decreased over the 7 years I’ve known her. She focuses and perseveres in Christ and His Word. She is hopeful and thankful. I think of a set of parents whose young son has struggled with cancer for over a year – and in that time the father has lost his dad and he himself is suffering with intense back pain. His hope stays on Christ. His joy doesn’t come in the fact that his son has cancer – but that his Christ is bigger than cancer.
5. Suffering is meant to bring us to Christ. When we suffer, we tend to look inward, find hope and strength or comfort in things that we can supply for ourselves. That is not the point of suffering. Christ, when he suffered, went to the Word and went to his Father. When we suffer – do we run to Christ or do we turn to other things that we think will bring us comfort. For me, the thing I turn most to is food (or shopping). Christ is kind to me when he gently reminds me that food will not make me feel better when I suffer, but ultimately it will leave me shameful and more deep in despair. John Piper says this of my favorite male author Jerry Bridges, “he writes with depth about suffering because he has gone deep with Christ in suffering.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
6. We should serve others even in the midst of our suffering. I’ve known so many families over the course of my life who live this out well. I know families who constantly have their door open and their home filled with people, even when going through immense struggles. I know women who love on others in their lives even when they are hurting. Paul, who was in prison during the writing of some of his letters, served the church (and not himself) by writing these letters even when his hands were in shackles. 2 Corinthians 1:4)
