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 17, 2015 | Books
Over the past few years with the pick up in social media sites, I fear that more people (mostly women I’m writing about here) are better friends with the people on their social media networks than they are with people in their daily lives. I am not saying those online friendships are bad, I just want to make the case that they are insufficient.
I would say that the main way I see this dominating the circles I follow are online Bible studies. Again, I’m not saying these are bad – I’m just saying they are insufficient. You can only be so real with people you only know through a computer (that’s why I think there are great problems with online dating). The good thing about these online Bible studies is that you study the Word and you get to know people…but that can’t take the place of real life Bible studies if you have access to good ones.
Neither can these online friendships take the place of real life friends. Since I’ve traveled a lot and moved a bit since being an adult, I have plenty of my best friends that don’t live in my immediate area. Social media is definitely a way I keep up with them and know what’s going on in their lives – and they know how they can pray, encourage, and help me along in my sanctification process by loving me and loving the Gospel.
I’ve been reading a surprisingly good book A Friend in Me by Pamela Havey Lau. It is about friendship – but more importantly, an older generation of women being grace-imparting friends to younger women. Sounds very much like Titus 2. I found this book for women to be refreshing because its deeper than most books on friendship. This has been a convicting read to me in getting to know knew women, continuing relationships with women I already know, pursuing Gospel love with them, encouraging them in whatever stage of life God has them in right now, and even in my parenting and imparting the Gospel to my boys who are so little.
Thankful for this book on friendship, real life friends, and yes, social media where I can keep up with all my friends spread throughout the world.
I received this book from LitFuse in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Jun 8, 2015 | Books
I was supposed to write this blog a few days ago, but time got the best of me – and I was out enjoying my family – so here it is.
Even though we were an active family growing up: sports, fishing trips, playing baseball and basketball in our yard, ballet, etc – we didn’t eat healthy. My brother was the more active one and had a much higher metabolism than me, but I didn’t. And my body definitely showed all the southern foods that we ate a lot of.
I remember being chubby by the time I was in 3rd grade. Man, I hate that picture in the yearbook. But, I stayed overweight. I remember buying a size 12 dress pants to wear to school to fit the school dress code at my Christian school that I attended. I played volleyball and had that baby fat white (no tan) look in all the team photos. I even cheered, and I still have my cheerleading uniform to try it on every now and then.
But, even though I was active, the food I ate didn’t warrant a healthy lifestyle. Going to the corner convenient store almost every summer night to get a pm snack to eat while watching the Mets play baseball. Once I could drive I would drive over to McDs and get a Big Mac meal for dinner after the school activities. When we would go to Chilis after basketball games I chose the most fattening thing on the menu – the chicken crispers with fries and corn – at 10pm! No wonder I came close to 200lbs by the time I graduated high school.
I’ve struggled with weight and addiction to food and a gluttony and laziness in regards to food. My heart and compassion and eagerness to love and guide goes out to every overweight person – but especially those in elementary and high school.
That’s why I wanted to read Who’s the New Kid by Heidi Bond. It is a story of her daughter’s struggle with weight in elementary school and how she lost weight, changed eating habits, and became active. What I did like about the book was the recipes and activities and the eager outlook that things can change. You don’t always have to be heavy.
I think I would approach fitness and health with a family member differently – but everyone, no matter the situation, should look at each situation with compassion and knowledge, and seek to counsel in love and truth. No situation is the same.
My boys are going to be really tall. They are going to be boys. I don’t want them to be overweight. I want them to be active and healthy. I feed my boys yummy desserts, but also greens and fruit and grilled meats. They run and play every day. Balance is good! I want to cook them healthy foods – but not swear off doughtnuts and macaroni and cheese.
(I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.)
by Kimberly | May 16, 2015 | Books, parenting, Shepherding Children
Thanks to Litfuse for the chance to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own.
There is something to say for having a great title. When I first saw this book come through my emails – I wanted to read it solely for the purpose of finding out what the Foreman’s had to say about parenting – based on the title Never Say No. And they raised two creative children (Switchfoot) and I want to know how to bring out my sons’ creativity.
I was really surprised by this book and how much I liked it. It was practical, not at all saying your children should run the home or the universe. They had an underlying focus on the grace that Jesus offered to us at the cross, and how that enables us to parent with eyes focused on Him and handing out more grace. “Everything is grace. Be thankful. Give grace away.” (pg 21)
I think really in the overall picture – they still tend to be more man-centered in this book then I would naturally point to. With good goals – like spending time with your children, bringing out there gifts, giving them grace, etc. But maybe, we could point them to their Savior and His Will for their life and what God gave them to do for his glory. I think it is really semantics – I do believe the Foremans would say the exact same thing.
I would recommend this book for parents of school-age children or pre-teens. I think that is where it is hard to connect and communicate with your children and help them to see their amazing purpose in the world – to shine Jesus!
