by Kimberly | Oct 19, 2017 | Books
My husband asked me the other night if I ever thought I would say I struggle with anger. Never. In a million years.
That is actually one of the ways I would describe my parenting – on my bad days (or my kids bad days).
And I love me some Ed Welch, a great counselor, very competent at getting to the heart of the problem.
This little book about Anger is hard to read because I find me one every page. It takes less than a minute to read each devotional – but pray the Lord would allow it to stick for more than a minute. I need to keep this book by my bed and read a short chapter each day.
I would encourage every single mom to pick this up. And read it. And allow the Spirit to soften your bent toward anger. Like he is doing mine. (And this isn’t a book big on application, but let the Spirit be your application writer.)
Thanks Litfuse for this book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Jul 12, 2017 | Uncategorized
I fell in love with Marty Machowski’s writing for kids, youth, and parents when I was working on designing a curriculum for a church in Raleigh 7 years ago. And I’m still influenced by how he handles the Gospel to others. Whether its kids or teens or parents, any body can benefit from his writing.
His use of the Gospel and application and getting to the heart of the matter and correct theology – is all important parts of his writing.
And how hard is sin to explain to teens? When lives are hard, emotions run deep, friendships are off and on, hormones are raging, parenting relationships can be difficult. In his new book, Dragon Seed, Marty does a really good job using his sanctified imagination to explain sin, how it cuts us to the core, and how spiritual warfare is a real thing.
The Gospel is so crucial to that and the empty tomb wins though.
This would be a great book for parents to read with their pre-teen sons, I think especially sons. Maybe a good one for Dads and sons to read together or go on a weekend trip to discuss.
Thanks Litfuse for a chance to read this book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Apr 24, 2017 | Books, life together, Women
Women’s ministries come and women’s ministries go. I mean churches always minister to women, some way, good or bad. But through the years we have seen many fads come and go out of the church.
But, if there is any book, that can be used by all women, young or old, to learn how God wants her to live in relationship with other women in and outside of the church, it is Adorned.
First, its a beautiful book. And its thick – there are 350 pages. And even though its long, all of it is so good. I’ve underlined so much
Second, its written by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth. She has spent most of her life in ministry with women as a single. Now, she is still ministering to women as a married woman, who also ministers to her husband. She is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
She gears her book to women, young and old. Each chapter can be read through eyes of faith, trying to live to spur each other on, to love and good deeds.
So, if you are in women’s ministry, or leading a women’s ministry at your church, I would get this book and devour it, answering the questions, going through it with your ministry team, encourage your pastor to read it for him to get an idea of what women’s ministry should look like.
This doesn’t tell you exactly how you should plan every event or what events you should have, but it gives you biblical guidelines about the personality or reason behind your women’s ministry.
Every women’s ministry should include: Teaching the word in a way that will grip the lives of your women. Time to build meaningful authentic relationships (not all teaching, but good relationship building time too). Multi-generational. And, as a side note to me: some celebrative worship and childcare! But, it is all about living out the Bible in authentic ways to other women, celebrating the Gospel!
Thanks Moody for this wonderful book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Apr 20, 2017 | Books
Do you often feel like your whole life is one entire lesson in patience?
You wait in your mommy’s belly to be born.
You wait to take your first steps, to go potty all by yourself, to have your first day of school, to ride your bike without training wheels.
My big can’t wait to turn 5 because he wants to chew gum.
You wait for the day you get your driver’s license. Till you graduate. Till you turn 21. Until you get married. Until you have kids. Until you buy a house. Until you are an empty-nester.
My life has definitely been a long waiting period. Let’s just speed things up till my 30s. I had gotten my dream admin job. Then I got my dream writing/creative job. Then, shortly into my dream job, I met my husband. I was 34. Most of my friends were married. I still wasn’t. And I’d quit praying those prayers about finding my spouse. I was enjoying being single.
Thankfully, we didn’t need to wait long to get married or to have kids. But, already, I want them to be older so we can travel more, to be potty trained, or to be in school – without losing the swing time at the local park.
We are also in a time of waiting for restoration and news on a job. I’ve learned a lot in waiting. I can’t speed it up. I can’t do anything by worrying about it. Some would say I’ve gotten cynical and jaded, and may be I’ve in some ways about some things. But, I also know that life is out of my hands, and God has bigger, perfect hands.
Ann Swindell, in her book Still Waiting, does a masterful job of sharing with us not only her journey in waiting for healing, but also uses her sanctified imagination to bring the story of the bleeding woman (in the gospels) to life. I will never read that short narrative about her the same again.
When I was telling my husband about her book I was crying by the time I finished telling him of all the inner turmoil that the woman must have known. How her life was eaten up with shame and loneliness.
So, let me encourage you, no matter what stage of waiting you are in, you can learn truths about others and the gospel and yourself in this book. Ann is a skilled writer and storyteller and is authentic and real about boasting in the Gospel.
Thanks Tyndale for the book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Mar 13, 2017 | Books
I need to learn some things about reading. You think I’ve been reading for decades, I’d have it down, but my reading brain needs to be retrained.
For about 10 years now, post seminary, I’ve been reading mostly for review purposes, so it is hard for me to read for fun. I’ve read books that I love and adore, but most of those aren’t the ones I’m reviewing (there are exceptions of course). And when I read for review, it is hard for me to read for enjoyment.
And it is hard for me to read fiction, because it is hard for me to think that this will affect my heart and life.
Insert: why I don’t read much fiction anymore. I don’t know why it is so difficult.
Carolyn Miller, in her new book The Elusive Miss Ellison, has so many important things about life.
“But although she prayed and tried to believe things would somehow work out for good, the mortification continued to ebb and flow, the questions whirled, and heaviness of heart made sleep impossible.” – Carolyn Miller
Pride, love, family troubles, societal obstacles – you’ll find them all in this book.
Thanks Litfuse for this book. All opinions are my own.
