by Kimberly | Jul 2, 2013 | Books, marriage, Uncategorized
Is the title of the blog news to anyone? Anyone who is married, in a relationship, friends with someone, or even just someone who loves yourself – you know the truth to the title – Loving is Hard.
Loving may not be hard when you look at the way the world defines or acts out love. If you have ever watched an episode of the Bachelor or Bachelorette or any other “matchmaking” reality show – you might think that love is all fun, easy, and highly entertaining. But, one thing you would not find much of on these shows is the Biblical definition of love.
Some ladies here in AR this summer are studying a newer Crossway release that I had already read and reviewed but am going back through with some friends. It is a highly convicting read – Phil Ryken’s Loving the Way Jesus Loves – but so good. The point of Ryken’s book is not to put love in a certain category, but make Jesus love applicable to every area of your life. Ryken takes the basic outline and characteristics of 1 Corinthians 13 and puts it in context of the gospels – showing how Jesus fulfilled every one of these characteristics of love.
One of the hardest displays of love is “love is not irritable”. At least it is one of the hardest for me to live every day. One aspect of love that I am working on in our marriage is not giving the silent treatment when I am hurt. I tend to be easily offended (that is the one thing I am often seeking forgiveness for) and my way of dealing with it (sinful way) is the silent treatement. That does nothing for a marriage at all. My rationale for it is I don’t want to say anything in the moment that would hurt worse – but while there is wisdom in it – during my silent time I’m usually becoming more angry rather than praying and seeking God’s wisdom on what to do about the occuring situation.
Jesus has never given me the silent treatment. He listens, talks (through his Word and the Holy Spirit), ever pleads my case to the Father. I need to be more like Jesus – keeping in mind that it isn’t my righteousness at all that makes me look or act or love better – but only having more of the love of Jesus in me – which is all Ryken’s premise in the first place.
Do you find it hard to love? Easy to love? Pick up this book for encouragement and edification in how to love.
by Kimberly | Jul 1, 2013 | Books, Uncategorized, Women, Women & Books Together
A new month and a new feature on kd316. As I’ve lived in many places there are many women whom I would love to have the ability to sit down in my living room and study this book together (or any other). But, that can’t happen. So, that’s why we have technology right?
Women from all over are going to join up and study Crossway Book’s new release (June 2013) of Alistair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson’s readable, applicable book on Jesus: Name Above All Names. This has been an outstanding book in my opinion and I’ve been enjoying getting to know Jesus better, getting to know the authors better, and getting to know myself better (as you inevitably will when you study Jesus).
So, join us. We will be starting on July 15 and the comments will be how we dialogue. If you don’t necessarily want to comment via the comment section, you can always use facebook or email to dialogue. But, I’d love to hear your thoughts (whether you are here in Little Rock or halfway around the world). You have plenty of time to order your book. The chapters are not long and they are very readable even for the average woman who has never been to seminary or anything. Jump on in! Everyone needs to learn more about Jesus!
I’ll post the study from each chapter each Monday, starting with chapter 1 on July 15 (so if you have time, please go ahead and read it).
by Kimberly | Jun 23, 2013 | Uncategorized
I love the Psalms. It is one of the books of the Bible that always brings me comfort when I read it. I’m thankful that God orchestrated and breathed every word of the book of Psalms. As my worship pastor husband said to me: these words of the psalmists weren’t only read in ancient churches but also sung, there were notes and melodies and harmonies. Singing is something that usually comes from deep within us and stirs up great emotion. There is great struggle and great rejoicing in the Psalms – anywhere from lament to generational jubilation. I love it all!
Psalm 16:11 (ESV):
“You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
I’ve been thinking on this particular Psalm much over the last 10 years, but as soon as a friend tweeted it the other day, something new stood out to me. I love the depth and the richness of the Word of the Lord. Find hope in this Psalm.
Ultimately, this Psalm is a Christological Psalm – meaning it refers to Christ. We find hope from knowing how Christ lived. He was a human much like us (though without sin) and found his ultimate pleasures on this earth in communion with His Father. That pleasure, that closeness, is being revealed in heaven now at the throne of God that Christ is standing at the right hand of the Father, interceding for His own, even when we don’t know how to pray. He prays for our pleasure to be found only in Christ. He prays for us to be satisfied with Him and Him alone.
How do we find that pleasure? The only way we find pleasure in God, forevermore (which includes today), is by His covenantal nature. He will not forsake His own. WE can have covenant with our pleasure-giving God because He has made a covenantal promise of faithfulness to those who are found in Him. He didn’t forsake Christ to the depths of Hell – and He won’t forsake us either.
We do ourselves harm when we find ultimate pleasure in anything else besides God. Sure, God gives us many gifts, callings, jobs, to enjoy for His glory and with His blessing – but not to find our ultimate, final pleasure. As the great author and masterful writer/theologian said it (paraphrase) – if we look at the mud and mudpies and are content with those, than we are wrong in doing so. Don’t fix our eyes on the mudpies.
One of the ways we continue to dwell in the pleasure before our final resting place in His true and glorious presence, is by staying close. I’ve heard it said stay “clean and close”. Here are some ways to stay close to our God:
1. Renounce sin. Not saying that you will never sin, because even though we have the righteousness of God imparted to us, we still live in the flesh and are at war with our Enemy who delights to see us sin.
2. Hope in God. When we do sin – find joy in the fact that Gospel prevails. Christ has conquered the grave. Our sin is not ours to bear anymore.
3. Read and love. When reading the Word – love the Word. It will be of great benefit to you – even in your discouraging times, even in the hard times (read Piper’s When I Don’t Desire God). There are times when I don’t, and from the words of my mentor as well as many of the psalms, read anyway, praying the Spirit would refresh your heart toward His righteousness.
Live and dwell in His presence, there finding all your pleasures.
by Kimberly | Jun 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
This weekend coming up holds a special holiday. It is definitely not as highly promoted as Mother’s Day – but that is a fault of the American public. I hope by now you have bought cards, planned meals, and bought gifts as a way to show appreciation to the Father in your life.
As I was at Target the past few weeks, I’ve been highly disappointed in the types of Father’s Day cards out there to choose from. The above display will show you a great majority of them and what their common theme is.
The aobve card should not be the sentiment of Father’s Day. Fathers get a bad rap out there due to some of the population living up the cards and also the television shows that depict fathers as dead-beats, uninvolved, lazy bums. This is not who God designed Fathers to be.
There are three overarching commands that Fathers (and husbands) need to be that God set up as a design:
1. Protector. I feel this greatly in my relationship with my husband and the father to our children. I remember the way he drove us to the hospital before Elijah came along and the first ride on the way home from the hospital with eli. He also is our protector here at home, protecting us not just from harm from the outside, but also harm from within (by what we watch, do, and listen to.
2. Leader. Men are commanded to lead in a Christ-honoring way. This is a self-less leadership but one that knows that it his job to lead our family. My husband/father to our children does this by choosing what we read, sometimes how we spend our time, and how he leads our family in financial matters.
3. Provider. My husband/father of our children is a great provider for our family. He is a hard worker and has a strong work ethic. I had that in my Father as well. E not only provides for our family financially, but provides a strong Christian-spirit for our home.
Bodily noises and beer should not be the focus of our celebration of our fathers. But, unfortunately for so many of us, that is where we are because that is the type of father we know or have. If this is the case for you, I pray you would ask your perfect Heavenly Father to redeem the time that you have with your earthly father and ask Him to work a good work in your Father’s life and heart.
by Kimberly | Jun 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
Friends of mine have a rule to not speak to each other before a certain time in the morning – mainly because I think they aren’t morning people (at least they have learned these things in their marriage). That is somewhat anecdotal – but how many times do our tongues get us into trouble.
My trouble? Always (or a lot of the time) speaking what I think. Sharing my opinion. As of this morning, I think that opinions are overrated. (Didn’t I just share an opinion – I’ve got a long road to recovery!)
Here is why and some guidelines as to whether you should share your opinion or not:
1. Eph 4.29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” I won’t even give examples, but use your brain and heart to answer these questions about your opinions that you so are ready to share: 1. Is it corrupting? 2. Will it build up every hearer? 3. Does it fit the occasion? 4. Will it give grace?
2. Deut 30: 14, 19-20a: “But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him.” Again – no examples, just questions: 1. Is what you are about to say a biblically based opinion (of course I’m not talking about mundane things like choosing a restaurant). 2. Will it bring blessing or cursing? 3. Are you being obedient to the Lord in sharing or even having that said opinion?
3. Proverbs 21:2, 23: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” 1. Would the Lord agree with your opinion you are about to share (meaning what is in your heart and why are you sharing it)? 2. What is your heart motivation in sharing your opinion or being heard (often for me it is because of pride and I think I’m right)? 3 Do you daily practice “keeping your tongue”?
After some previous conversations and looking more in depth at these verses and asking these questions – I may do a lot less talking and a lot more listening.
by Kimberly | May 27, 2013 | ethics, history, Quotes, Uncategorized
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Ben Franklin
I love living in America. Despite the problems with government that I may or may not agree with, this is still the best country to live in. There are many who have paid the price for it to be this way and I am grateful.
My two thoughts on this Memorial Day 2013:
1. Now that I’m a mom, I think one of the scariest things for me would be if little e came up to us one day and sad he wanted to be in the service. Scary because I never would know if he was going to be called into war or die somehow where I would only receive a flag and a salute in honor of him. Where I wouldn’t know if he was ever going to be at the next Christmas dinner or family gathering. Then the best because it would be such an honorable thing for him to do – to fight in serving this country, sustaining the freedom that we enjoy for generations to come – his children, their children.
2. Since we live in a democracy and not a theocracy – that freedom, as an American, has to apply to all peoples. Of all religions. Of all nationalities. If people from any country are here legally – then they should be offered the same rights and status and freedoms as we enjoy as natural born citizens. And if anyone else wants to practice their religion, worshipping their gods, then that must be allowed too. So, if we are in favor of bringing prayers back in our classrooms, than others will need to have the liberty to pray to their gods – or not pray at all. Freedom in America is not only for Christians, but also for everyone.
Are we willing to live out our faith in the One True God and let others practice their beliefs – all the while praying for them and telling them the truth that will save?
