Kimberly's Expressions

Talking to the mamas here - When we entered motherhood, we entered a brand new world of authority and responsibility. In a flash, our little bundles were entrusted to us by God, and we became the ultimate source of health and happiness for our children. From trying to decide if our baby is ready for cereal to figuring out how to discipline them, to potty training, and far beyond, we see ourselves in that position of authority and importance day in and day out. It's what we've thrown our entire being into, and it matters so much to us that we parent and nurture our children as well as possible. Because of the responsibility we [rightly] feel, it can be difficult to be gracious with ourselves when we stumble, make mistakes, or just don’t have it all figured out. When we miss the mark or are experiencing a rough patch, it's easy to beat ourselves up and live in a discouraged state-of-mind. But please don't. Instead, let's learn from it, climb out of it, find a Godly ...

Several times on the road, while texting or checking a map or viewing an email, I have noticed how gradually irresponsible I have become about using my phone while driving. It's also frightening how invincible I feel while doing it. I have known that I needed to be more careful, but I just pushed away the idea that I could be in an accident and kill my own children or someone else or myself. That wasn't very likely to happen, right? So, I continued being, well,  stupid. About two weeks ago, out of the clear blue I suddenly felt like the Lord was speaking to me. Plain as day and as unexpected as snow in July, I had the thought, "Don't be busy on your phone while you're driving." I knew it was the Holy Spirit. Don't worry. This photo was made while the car was sitting still. Ha! :) While this prompting from the Lord to not be distracted on my phone while driving was surprising at that moment, I immediately felt the importance of it, and I thanked Go...

While being a stay-at-home mom has its own kind of freedom, which I value and enjoy, it is also a position that completely exhausts my mind and body. Why is it that I had more energy after an 8 hour day at the office than I now have at home by lunchtime? Part of it is because it takes a huge amount of mental energy to hear all those voices all over the house all day long, while still tuning in to what they are saying and processing how you can appropriately respond or solve the problem at hand. Part of it is because running on three bites of cold dinner isn’t exactly a balanced diet, and part of it is that the weekend is no more relaxing than the middle of the week. Most of it, though, is because loving the people in our lives requires more continuous pouring out of ourselves and all our resources than making money at any job. We simply have a lot of heart and a lot of hope that we are gladly and lovingly handing out by the bucket loads all day, every day.  Whether you are with y...

A few weeks ago, my sweet grandmother went to be with the Lord. I know that most everyone reading this blog has lost someone dear to them, so I don't need to go in depth describing all my sentiments; besides, some emotions and experiences are too deep and personal for me to want to share them via a blog post. But what I do want to share is still personal, and it is about how the death of someone dear has understandably and drastically increased my awareness of my own carnality. It upsets my balance to think of how a person can be on this earth for 87 years, and then, in one moment, one single, tiny moment, their life here is gone. Gone from this earth. Such finality. I think that for me, finality is the saddest aspect of death, because I am used to my relationship with Christ in which I am keenly aware that God forgives mistakes, that He restores, that He renews, that He breathes true life into my very being. So, while my grandmother is in the presence of God and missing me not...

After an accepted marriage proposal this past March, my brother is preparing for his wedding, which is almost here! At the end of September, Jason and Tate will be tying the knot! I just attended Tate's wedding shower in Kentucky, and it was so well done. Of course, she did a beautiful job visiting with all her guests and paying special attention to and appreciation for each gift. On my five hour drive home, I began reflecting on Tate and Jason's excitement for the wedding. I have heard it mentioned more than once that Tate has been planning and looking forward to her wedding day since... well, who knows when exactly. Like most brides, she wants the day to be perfect, memorable, beautiful, special, unique, and all the other adjectives you can possible think up. And she doesn't just hope that will happen, she is putting a lot of thought, planning, preparation, and heart into each choice and decision she makes. At this point, her life is pretty much consumed with the wedd...

Our Video Christmas Card to You press play on the video A Meaningful Christmas A friend from church was kind enough to invite us, along with other families, to visit her home and celebrate with a birthday party for Jesus. The children were to bring a present for Jesus, which would be given to a local outreach, and the gift was to be a baby gift. I told Ava and Landon about the party and that we were going to go to the store where each of them could buy a present for Jesus, which because Jesus is no longer a baby would be given to another baby who needs it. I explained to them that the Bible tells us whatever we do for others is like doing it for Jesus. Ava immediately ran to her room and came back carrying a baby rattle, which was hers when she was a baby but she now uses for her dolls. She said, "Look, Mommy! I want to give my baby's rattle to Jesus!" After reminding her that if she gave the rattle, she would no longer be able to play with it, she responded, ...

For the last several weeks, the Lord has almost overwhelmed me by blessing me with relationships with people who are strong in Him and who have been such an encouragment to me (usually without their knowing it). Isn't the Lord good? I didn't pray for these specific people to enter my life, and I couldn't have come up with a plan to cross paths with them in my own knowledge or power. But God knows what we need and when we need it, and sometimes He chooses to bless His children just because He loves us. I am so glad that I KNOW Him and I am so strengthened by knowing these new friends who for the time being are walking beside me as we continue on this incredible journey of following the Lord. It's lovely to have company on our Christian walk, isn't it? I hope that you, reader, can reflect on your own present relationship with the Lord and say that God is pouring Himself into you so that He is able to currently use you to bless and encourage others in your own life. ...

I have several good friends who are currently pregnant or have just had a baby, so I want to share this beautiful song in honor of them. May God bless and protect your precious baby whom He has created in His image. And may God bless you as you raise them to love and follow Christ. A Mother's Prayer - Rachel Aldous Verse :  My sweet baby on loan from above. No better treasure could I more love. I stand here beside your bed as I pray I lay my hand on your head and I say: Chorus : May you grow up to serve Him all of your days. May He lead you and guide you in all of your ways. May His hand bless your future with friendships that last. May you cherish your youth and not grow up too fast Verse : I stare in wonder at your tiny frame. Just to think that God knows you by name. He knows every hair on your beautiful head. He knows your thoughts before they are said. Chorus : May you grow up to serve Him all of your days May He lead you and guide you in all of your ...

It's tough. Some parts of life are just difficult. Life is not always a bed of roses - sometimes it just feels like a vast expanse of mud. We all go through hard times and find ourselves feeling like we are the only one. The fact is that we're not. Sometimes the nature of our situations just leave us quiet - Quiet in our sorrow or fear or hurt or worry or need. And all the other people in our same situation are quiet, too. So it is unsurprising that we often feel alone and closed-off. For close to a year, my family has been going through a very difficult time which we have been quiet about. We are quiet for many reasons, which we feel are good reasons. The downside is that by being quiet, we have shut ourselves off from people who are going through the exact same thing. Sometimes it would be nice to just be reminded that we are not alone. While I don't plan on opening up any time soon about all my feelings in regards to the situation my family is currently in, I do rec...

"You are a Christian, aren't you?" he asked. A gentleman in my neighborhood asked me this question last week as the kids and I were taking a walk and passing his home. He and I have only exchanged pleasantries from time to time when he happens to be doing yard work and we happen to be taking a walk. This time he surprised me when he asked, "You are a Christian, aren't you?" My response was a strong "Yes! How did you know?" He replied that he could tell by my spirit. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 We look alike. My mom has told me that when I was a little girl I looked so much like my dad that some...

This Easter, we have meditated on the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross and thanked Him for His precious blood. We have also rejoiced that He is not dead - He is alive! So, now what? Well, the season of giving thanks to Jesus isn't over, and while the "Easter" holiday has ended, our hearts full of thanks are still erupting .... so, we now.... celebrate with passion, because He is returning for us one sweet day! study His Word, because we are privileged to have it! worship Him with passion, because He is Lord! serve Him with passion, because time is short and we want to follow Him with all that we are! Praises and honor and adoration to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! And through Him, we may be saved! Below is a song of celebration, which I particularly love... "And everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved." - Acts 2:21

Think of a person who you love more than anything. Now imagine that person asking you, "Do you love me?" How would you reply? I was asked this question today on a quiet evening walk around the neighborhood, when my three year old daughter softly asked, "Mommy, do you love me every day?" My heart-felt reply was, "I love you every day, every moment, for as long as I live." If you ever wonder, "Does God love me?" I want to assure you that just as you know the immense love you have for that special person you thought of at the beginning of this post, God loves you immensely - even more than you are capable of loving. So if you wonder, "Does God love me?" I can tell you, no matter who you happen to be, reader, that God does love you - with an amazing and everlasting love. You can accurately imagine Him saying to you, "I love you every day, every moment. I gave my one and only Son so that you can know me and know eternal life, because...

If you know me very well, you know that I have always been one to grieve for the days that are gone. Even as a child, I always disliked turning one year older. I always liked things as they were and wanted them to remain that way forever. I haven't really changed in that regard. I turned 30 (that looks weird) a few months ago, and I still find myself wishing that things could stay the same forever. It isn't that I have a dim outlook on the future (on the contrary, I have great hope and expectation for the future!); It's more that I just love every season of my life so much that I hate to part with any of it. This is one area of my life and personal perspective on which I'm trying to improve, because while I'm dreading that these precious days will soon be over, I may be enjoying them less than I could be. I don't want to "miss" the present because I already "miss" what will soon be the past. My ever-growing children make me realize this eve...

I began this post by listing what I was thankful for, but the list was REALLY long. So, I have instead decided to share what I'm most thankful for... Thank you, Lord, for making a way for me to know you, to experience your forgiveness, to live my life in your awesome presence, and to one day spend eternity with you. Nothing I could ever do could make me worthy of your grace, your attention, and your love. But you give it freely and call me your own, and because of you, I live.

Here are some encouraging and refreshing words from Queen of the Castle by Lynn Bowen Walker:   As I sat on the gym floor waiting for my son's wrestling practice to finish, I read a magazine article about women who own their own businesses. Each had a specialty. A niche. Something that made her company different from all the others. I got to thinking about that in the light of homemaking. Isn't that true of us too? Aren't we all keepers of the home differently, depending on our interests, our energy level, the ages and number of our children, our family's priorities?.... Our spiritual gifts, too, help determine our niche as homemakers. If God has gifted us with hospitality, our homes might draw friends for warm chocolate chip cookies...and a listening ear. If God has gifted us in serving, our homes might be bustling hubs of meal preparation for the sick...or places where baby clothes are laundered and readied to be brought to crisis pregnancy centers. If God has...

Landon just turned eight months old, and this morning I was able to spend some quiet, alone time with him. He is so precious - I held him close and just let myself enjoy the sweet time I had to hold and love on him. I told him how wonderful he is and how much I love him. I told him of God's overwhelmingly big love for him, too, as I quoted John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world [that means you, Landon] that He gave His one and only Son [Jesus] that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Suddenly, my spirit was overwhelmed with the awesomeness of the truth that God gave His Son to die for my son. What a wonderful love God has for humanity. Who are we that God Himself should send His perfect Son to save us from our sin and give us marvelous life through Him? Thank you, God, that because your sinless Son died on the cross and rose again three days later, my son (and all of us) can live .

Brace yourself... I'm getting bold... To those who love the Lord with all their hearts, who are obeying Him to the best of their ability - You who are living righteously and are faithful to God's commands, read on... If you are like me, you are disgusted with the fast-paced track our country is taking toward disaster. You are more than a little concerned for your future and your children's future. You are sick of evil prevailing, perversion being accepted, and sin being encouraged. You are distressed by the effects of immorality and compromised values upon families, children, and society as a whole. You are tired of our government acting without a conscience, our society happily wearing blinders, and much of the "Christian community" behaving like little kittens. Just thinking about the wickedness that is not only going on unchecked but is being pushed on Americans, truly upsets me; the serious steps that have been made in our country to attack all things right a...

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I am reminded of the ultimate valentine - Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful time to celebrate and meditate on God's love for us and our love for Him. "What Held You On the Cross" by Michael O'Brien is a beautiful song that explains how Christ's love for you and me is why He endured absolute agony and torture on the cross so we may know true and everlasting life through Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He loves us with a love that only He can give...

Below is a poem/prayer I wrote one month before Ava was born. And I can express the same sentiments for my son... My Heartfelt Prayer Kimberly M. Farmer May 13, 2007 Lord, thank you for this miracle, this marvelous gift – Thank you for my daughter. I’m so amazed and blessed by You; I’m baffled by your goodness, and showered with your love. I haven’t held her yet; I don’t know the color of her eyes; I know nothing of her talents and her dreams. But I do know that I love her and I have a job to do And it starts when I hand her over and give all of her to You. You are her Creator; you know and love her the most And I need your help to raise her, to challenge her, to teach her how to fly. God, help me be an example of a lady reflecting You So she’ll have a daily reminder of what Your changing power will do. I want her to know that all she is and ever will become All begins with knowing You as Savior, loving You as Father, and trusting You as Lord. Your dreams for her are greater th...

Yesterday, I was pondering how at no moment in my life have I felt as much joy as during those times when I have been fully engaged in worship to my Lord.  Communing with Him and expressing my love for Him is so special and intimate and perfect that I can't fully describe it. Then I began to consider how wonderful it is to be worshipping the Lord in the fellowship of other sold out believers who will abandon all to give God praise.  How beautiful that must be to the Lord. The thought crossed my mind, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could hand-pick the people with whom I wanted to be in a worship service?"  Several people immediately came to mind. I pictured us all in a room together lifting our hands, dancing, bowing, singing, shouting, crying - expressing our love to the Lord in all the ways that we repeatedly read about in the Bible.  "Wouldn't that be incredible?" I asked Tim.  "Can you imagine worshipping God with only the people whom you knew wo...