by Kimberly | Sep 17, 2015 | life together, marriage
Obsession is a strong word. Hmmmm…I’ve got one main one. Its been my latest obsession for the past 4.5 years now.
My mister. As we come up on our 4 year wedding anniversary, I’d have to say he gets better with age. I can say he’s in his 40s because he is and I’m not…I’m such a baby compared to him (ha!)
He is definitely my better half. He is the caring, shepherding person who makes any and every church that he is a part of more wonderful. He listens to people. He cares about them. He takes what they say to heart.
He is an amazing musician. Its like he doesn’t have to work at it. It just flows from him – like worship. Though I know he does work at it – it is more a part of him. He loves playing with his favorite musicians: Erica, Nathan, Tim…and some penny whistle action by Phil.
He is a humble man of God who seeks to lead me gently and lead our children well. They will know patience by knowing their daddy.
I do not get enough time with this man. But, tonight, after he got back from a concert…he tasted the food I cooked, helped with cleanup, fixed my knife block, and now we are sitting on the couch both working on our computers.
He is amazing. I’m obsessed with him. And will be for the next 60 years so Lord willing.
by Kimberly | Oct 13, 2014 | Bible, creatives, Uncategorized
When I first met my husband, I knew immediately of his love for integrity and his love for the Word. It was clearly evidenced in his life and speech and faithfulness to the ministry that God had called him to. It still is. He pursues integrity and fights the sin that so easily entangles.
Before we got married, on my first tour of the entire house which we would share, I walked in to his master bathroom and saw a printout of Ephesians 6: the Armor of God section. What? Single men don’t have Scripture on their walls that they are memorizing. He said he read it every morning to help engage his mind and prepare his mind and body for the battle against sin that would face him that day. I didn’t know any single men that did this – that took Scripture this seriously – that was just an added confirmation that I was right when I said “yes”!
Our first three years of marriage have been exciting, ever-changing, and hard at times too. One of the verses that have been such a comfort to me has been this one:
I love the truth that I hear and know to be a fact in this verses. That doesn’t mean that no harm will ever come to me or my family, because the Bible indeed says that we will face hardships in this life. But, God has promised He will protect me. I am safe in his hands. And my family is too.
As I head out of town this week, with our boys, I know I need to pray a shield of protect around this house, my husband’s car, his work place, our church where he will be some while I’m away, his mind, and his heart. I don’t only need to pray this while I’m away, but I need to pray for him daily that he would remember this truth and the truth found in Ephesians 6 – that God is his armor.
Gracewear Collection contacted me a few weeks back about their products. Their simple jewelry line whose primary purpose is to remind folks that God has given us an armor. We are shielded by faith! Their jewelry is simple and artistic. I love the shielded charm that I picked out. I love pearls and I loved the fact that I could wear it or hook it on something that I with me at all times. What woman doesn’t love jewelry. And this jewelry doesn’t scream hey – look at me. No. It is simple and pretty – creatively designed to not draw attention (1 Peter 3) but to remind of the truth it proclaims and to look pretty.
Christmas is coming up. And if you’ve already completed your Christmas shopping – then what about birthday, a housewarming gift, a wedding gift, a baby shower gift (because don’t we mommas worry about our babies?). There is always a reason for jewelry. You can use my referral link to shop and I get credit. How great is that?
Ladies – our trust isn’t in jewelry, but in the God who created all things for his glory – and we hope in Him to be our shield.
(This post is sponsored by Gracewear Collection, but all thoughts and comments are my own.)
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 | Jul 15, 2014 | Uncategorized
Big announcement: Prayers for the Journey: Ephesians edition is finally on Kindle! That’s right – I have a self-published book on Amazon!!!
Here is a review of it on the CBMW site via my friend Courtney Reissig
If you haven’t heard of Prayers for the Journey – it is a kindle book devotional with journaling pages that literally walks through specific verses in Ephesians (or other books of the Bible) and helps wives know how to pray the word for their husbands. I’ve been writing these since I got married, but have been learning about praying for my husband for two decades.
There are so many people to thank:
My parents and in-laws : thank you for always being an encouragement and my greatest fans
My Mister: thank you for being one who sanctifies me and prays for me – and also my first editor
Amy Torcasso: My designer – who also did the work on Treasuring Christ when I was writing it – but now we stay in touch through this! Super talented and selfless
Sarah Popovczak: My editor for this edition of the Prayers for the Journey – she’s about to be a mom too!
Amelia McNeilly: A great publicist and encourager and the one who got this worked out for Kindle
Phyllis Robshaw: Amazing mentor and the one who lives out this act of praying for her husband and family and me – by praying the Word.
My Little Misters: Dudes that will make amazing husbands one day – and I’m already praying for them as they will be husbands to precious wives.
Margo Bowen: a mom of many and grandmom to many and a wife to one. Thank you for loving my Mister as a son and for writing the introduction to this edition.
Future Editions: Nehemiah is available now on the blog for free. Colossians is being typed up now and getting ready to be sent to my editor before she has her baby. James is being written and prayed. 1 Peter is the the next one in the works.
Thanks all. Please feel free to get the word out. 2.99 is a great deal and its for your kindle!
by Kimberly | May 26, 2014 | marriage, Prayers for the Journey
How do your survive and thrive in marriage? My mister and I are coming up on three years in October, and I’ve learned a lot about praying for him through these three years. Prayer is such a vital connection in our relationship to the One who loves us like no other, who desires our hearts above all else, and who pursues us when we don’t feel loved.
Nehemiah is a book in the Old Testament that talks of a servant of the Lord who pursued fighting for his people and the land. He worked against strong opposing odds and diligently worked on the task He knew was of the Lord.
How much more does something describe marriage?
Marriage is between two sinning servants of the Lord. In marriage, both partners are sinners. If you need more information, just watch how you interact with your spouse – there you go. I’m a great sinner – see it everyday in how I communicate with and fail to love my Mister.
Marriage is a fight – it is a battle. Yes, there are opposing people who want to see your marriage destroyed. Look at media, news, the world, even some in the church (as we see the divorce rate just as high in the church as out of the church). This world glamorizes the wedding – but not so much the marriage.
This task of marriage is from the Lord. The Lord designed marriage ultimately for his glory and to show a lost world the glory of the Gospel. The only way to survive and thrive in marriage is with the Lord on your side!
In the series of e-books I’m doing – devotional, prayer guides for wives to use to pray for their husbands – Nehemiah is here! You can get it free by clicking and downloading. I’m thankful for Amy, Jeanie, and Laura who helped this one come together. Eric – thank you for reading it and being blessed by it.
Love your marriage. Love God. Pray for your spouse. And if you aren’t married ladies – pray for your future spouse (if God so wills) now!
