All posts by kolbyking

I’m Expecting… But I’ll Never Show!

I find myself doing all the things I did when I was expecting our boys. Cleaning. Preparing. Painting. Making room. I’m taking stock of the things we have and the things we need. I’m nesting. While I was pregnant with the boys I would look at my stomach and know that soon my baby would come. I would talk to them and sing songs. I remember feeling them move and kick. I dreamed of what they would look like. Of course, knowing they would be a mix of Kolby and me.

This time it’s so different for all the obvious reasons. I won’t carry our son or daughter. I won’t be able to sing to her or tell her of how she is being wonderfully made by a God who has known her before time ever began. She won’t hear my heart beat or my voice. I won’t be the one who will shelter her and keep her safe. So now I pray and I ask you to pray that God will speak to her and whisper to her all the awesome stories of His love. I pray that she hears His voice. That she would even now know His presence. That He would carry her. Protect her. Keep her safe.

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Just waiting…

It has been two months since our home study was complete and we’re still waiting. This process could take anywhere from a week to two years. We could get a phone call today or next spring. Right now our agency is looking for a mother who is wanting to put her baby up for adoption who fits our application. Then they will show her our “life book,” and if she chooses our family, the process will move to the next step.

If you know someone who is considering adoption, you can help too by putting them in contact with our adoption agency: Heritage Family Services in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (It’s okay if she’s from another state.) You can contact them at (918) 491-6767.

For now, I’m learning a lot about waiting and about the heart of God. For years I’ve read in Scripture about how those of us who accepted Christ have been adopted through Him. Now I see matters from a fresh perspective. I have a baby (probably a daughter) out there somewhere. I want to bring her home. I can’t wait to bring her home. Jesus came “to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10), to bring them home as well.

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We are adopting!

We’ve always known we would adopt but last fall both Mary Beth and I felt that God was leading us to begin the process. Just last week we completed our home study. Our “life book” is done and we’re waiting to get the final okay from our adoption agency, Heritage Adoption in Tulsa. We’re excited and are starting this blog as a way of keeping you up-to-date on how to pray and what is happening.

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The Great Race

YOU WILL NEED:

-Anything you might need for a fun race

-Your Bible marked at Hebrews 12:1-3 and 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Choose any race in which your children and you can compete. Some ideas are listed below.

RACE OPTIONS:

-Race to see who can eat a banana the fastest.

-Race to see who go the fastest with a ball or balloon between their knees..

-Race to see who run across the backyard the fastest.—have them try running, hopping, bear crawling, etc..

-Race to see who can build the tallest tower out of blocks, cups or even shaving cream.

Have fun with whatever race you choose. The point isn’t the race or even who wins the race. The point is for your children to understand that they are in a race in life.

SAY—The Bible compares the Christian life to a race but the winners in life are not the fastest or even the best…Real winners in life are those who totally live for Jesus.

Read the Hebrews 12:1-3 from your Bible.

ASK—What do you think the Bible means when it says to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily trips you?

ASK—What are some things that could hinder a person from running fast in a race? (Lots of things—an untied shoelace, a hurt foot, a hole in his path.)

ASK—What are some things that could hinder a person from totally living for Jesus? (Lots of things—greed, anger, disobedience, lying, selfishness…any sin and anything else that might stop a person from living a life of faith.)

Read 2 Timothy 4:7-8 from your Bible.

SAY—At the end of his life the Apostle Paul could say that he had “finished the course.” He had finished the race. God has a specific course for your life as well. He has great plans for you, but you’ll miss out on all those great things that God has in store for you if you don’t live for and follow Jesus every day.

ASK—If there anything in your life right now that you feel might be holding you back from fully living for Jesus? (As a parent, this is also a question that you need to be honest about. If your child has seen actions in your life that are contrary to someone following Jesus, you need to tell them that you too have had things in your life that have been holding you back and that you’re willing to let go of anything that will hinder you from living for Jesus.)

PRAY—List prayer requests and take time to tell the Lord that you want to live for Him without anything hindering you. If there are sins in your life, now is the time to ask for forgiveness.

BEDTIME BIBLE READING

After you’re done, feel free to have a few more races…and at bedtime tonight, read 2 Timothy 4:7-10. These are the same verses you read above with two additional ones to hear about someone who stopped running ”the race” because he cared more for this world than for following Christ.

This family devotion is from:

72 Family Devotions for Spiritually Training Your Kids
ON SALE for $5.99. Regular price: $9.99 USD. Nonfiction.
Featuring 72 action-packed, easy-to-lead family devotions. Set aside a night or two each week for a “special time” where you and your kids can have family fun together and learn valuable lessons from God’s Word. No advanced planning is needed. Anyone can do this. The ebook contains devotions concerning a variety of topics including salvation, fear, trust, sin, forgiveness and much more.

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




 

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Topical Bible Verses

 

The Bible is our guide for living. In it we find the full truth of God’s Word and instructions on what to do and how to live in any situation.

This index provides verses on a few topics to help you in times of need.

BIBLE TRANSLATION USED

Unless otherwise specified, Scripture references are taken form the World English Bible (WEB). The World English Bible is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible and is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. For more information on the World English Bible, go to www.ebible.org.

 

 

 

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Abortion

JEREMIAH 1:5

Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came out of the womb, I sanctified you…

 

PSALM 139:13-14

For you formed my inmost being.

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I will give thanks to you,

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Your works are wonderful.

My soul knows that very well.

 

EXODUS 20:13

You shall not murder.

 

 

 

 

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Alcohol

PROVERBS 23:20-21,23-25

Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat: for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags…

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complaints?

Who has needless bruises?

Who has bloodshot eyes?

Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.

Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.

Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging: “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it!

When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another drink.”

 

EPHESIANS 5:18

Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit

 

ROMANS 14:21

It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.

 

LEVITICUS 10:9

You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

 

 

 

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Anger

JAMES 1:19-20

Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

 

EPHESIANS 4:26

Be angry, and don’t sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.

 

PSALM 37:8

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.

 

PROVERBS 14:29

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who has a quick temper displays folly.

 

ECCLESIASTES 7:9

Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

 

EPHESIANS 4:31

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.

 

PROVERBS 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

 

PROVERBS 15:18

A wrathful man stirs up contention, But one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

 

PROVERBS 16:32

One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; One who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

 

PROVERBS 29:11

A fool vents all of his anger, But a wise man brings himself under control.

 

PROVERBS 19:11

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

 

 

 

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Bad Language

EPHESIANS 5:3-4

But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.

 

EPHESIANS 4:29

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

 

COLOSSIANS 4:6

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

 

COLOSSIANS 3:8-10

But now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator.

 

MATTHEW 12:37

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

 

MATTHEW 12:34

You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

 

MATTHEW 15:10-11

He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

 

DEUTERONOMY 5:11

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

 

 

 

 

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Beauty

PROVERBS 31:30

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;

but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

 

1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for I see not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

 

1 PETER 3:3-4

Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

 

1 TIMOTHY 4:8

For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

 

 

 

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Comfort

ROMANS 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

PSALM 34:18

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

 

JOHN 14:1-3

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

 

HEBREWS 13:5-6

Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

 

 

 

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Courage

JOSHUA 1:7

Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

 

JOSHUA 1:9

Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the Lord your God† is with you wherever you go.

 

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Fear

PSALM 56:3

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

 

2 TIMOTHY 1:7

For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.

 

ISAIAH 41:10

Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

PSALM 18:2

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

 

PSALM 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

 

1 JOHN 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

 

PSALM 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…

 

1 JOHN 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

 

JOHN 14:27

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

 

 

 

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Fear of the Lord

PROVERBS 14:27

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, Turning people from the snares of death.

 

PROVERBS 8:13

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

 

PSALM 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

 

1 PETER 2:17

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

 

PROVERBS 19:23

The fear of the Lord leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.

 

 

 

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Forgiveness

1 JOHN 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

PSALM 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 

ROMANS 10:13

For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

 

ROMANS 8:1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

 

 

 

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