Hi, Everyone!

Happy belated New Year!  How is 2012 going for you so far?  The winter time can be so challenging on our health, but it’s especially hard on our kids.  Adding extra illnesses like colds and flu on top of our child’s regular serious or chronic illness can wear us out.  When we’re tired and worried our faith is definitely challenged too!  It’s such a vicious cycle!

With that in mind, let’s start today with some resolutions that will help us remain  physically healthy (or get back to it), and give our faith that extra boost it needs for any struggle that lies ahead.

To help you get some ideas flowing, here’s a list of ideas:

What do you think?  What are 2 or 3 resolutions you can make right now to help yourself be as healthy in body and faith as possible?  Please share in the comment section below – it will be fun to see what everyone has planned AND you can inspire someone else by sharing your great ideas!  Can’t wait to hear from you!

In His Love,

Kimberly

     A friend just shared this video on Facebook, and I thought it was something that every beloved visitor to my site needs to hear. Based, on Jeremiah 29:11, this song speaks God’s truth so clearly. Nothing happens in your life unbeknown to God. Nothing in your life is out of His control. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him. He has a plan for your life, your child’s life and it is good.  We should strive, everyday, walk in this reality.

This video is also beautifully done. About a minute into the song, you will see powerful verses shared. Please feel free to pause the video so that you can allow the timeless laws of God’s love and active presence in your life to soak in. I also appreciated that half way through the song, the visual messages stop with the encouragement to “Just listen to Him to speak to you”.  What do you hear Him say to you?

In His Love,

Kimberly

kimberly@kimberlyehlers.com

Are you ready for Christmas or, like me, and still busy getting there?  It’s funny how all month I thought I still had plenty of time to get everything done and then, all of sudden, Christmas is here!  I confess that I did not do a good job of planning my December before it got here, and when Seth’s weeks of illnesses popped up right away at the beginning of the month, I was not prepared.  Lesson learned!  Next year, I’m getting my “Filling Christmas with Christ” out in the middle of November (or sooner) and getting ready – gift lists, food lists and the invaluable backup plans will be set for December!

Busyness is exactly what causes us to lose sight of the reason we celebrate.  As I feel myself anxiously running through the to do list in my mind, I find the joy of Christ’s birth being replaced with stress.  How about you?

I shared this video on my Facebook page today, and wanted to share it here.  Made to Francesca Battistelli’s “You’re Here”, it’s not only beautiful, but in just a few minutes it will help you to relax and refocus on Jesus.  It’s a wonderful visual reminder of the reason why we are celebrating this weekend – our Lord and Savior came to save and to love us.  He walked this earth caring for people just like you and me.  Be blessed!

Have a very Merry Christmas and may Christ’s presence fill your home!

Kimberly

     My family and I are reading “Tabitha’s Travels – A Family Story for Advent” by Arnold Ytreeide.  We have enjoyed all 3 of Mr. Ytreeide’s Advent stories for families and are disappointed to have reached the last in his series.

At the end of each little chapter, Mr. Ytreeide adds his own thoughts along with Scripture.  One particular reading ended with such a powerful question, I wanted to share it with you.  From p. 52 of his book, he writes, “We don’t really know what lies around the next corner or within the next year, but there is one thing we can know:  Jesus will be right there with us, protecting us, guiding us, or simply helping us endure, no matter what.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Isaiah 12:2

     Give your fears to God – fears about the future, fears about other people, fears about yourself.  He’d love to take your fears and give you peace and joy in return.  Why not let Him?”

     Why not let Him?  What is keeping you from being able to hand over your fears to God?   There are so many reasons, aren’t there?  We have such a desire to protect our children and control their circumstances.  We want to help our child.  The problem is that when we put more responsibility on our own shoulders our fears mount.  We know that we really are not in control of our child’s disease or defects.  We can do everything possible and it may not be enough.   Deep down we know (and hate) that we really can not make everything better for our child, but we don’t give up trying.  We fight a winless battle to control the doctors, the tests, the results, the medicines, and the illness.  We can’t give up, can we?  Of course not.  We keep striving and our fear keeps growing.

     There’s also the question:  Can I trust God with my child?  If I let go of control, if I allow Him to be the protector and helper, will He do it?  In our minds, we may know that He loves us and is good, yet our heart wants to gather our child in, trusting no one else with their safety.   Our fear for our child’s future keeps us from trusting Him.

    The fact is, there’s so much to worry about with our kids, it’s easy to be fearful.  Is it really possible to give your fears to God and experience peace, even joy, during your child’s illness?  In the words of Jesus himself, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,’” (Matt. 19:16, NKJV).  We can’t defeat our fears by ourselves.  We begin by asking God to take our fears and fill us with His joy and peace instead.  With His help, we train ourselves to recognize our fears.  They may be obvious or cloaked in the need to control or any desire that reveals a lack of trust in Him. We can hand those fears over to God every time they pop up.  This is truly entering into relationship with our Father.  Through this relationship, He really can take your fears.  Why not let Him this Christmas?

In His Love,

Kimberly

Yes, I’m a day late again !  Last night I realized that it was actually Tuesday – not Monday- and I had missed Getting to Know You Tuesday once again.  I hope you’ll accept my excuse because I’m sure you relate…

My son, Seth, has been fighting a bug for 2 weeks now.  It comes and goes.  Just when we think he’s healthy again a fever returns.

That seems to be the story of December doesn’t it?  Our kids (or even us) are sick and, boy, does it interfere with Christmas plans.

 So, what about you?   Is your child or children battling a bug too?  How is your child’s health doing this December?  How can we pray for you?  Please share in the comment box so we can pray for one another.

Love,

Kimberly

P.S. Did you see the Christmas video links I added to the homepage?  It may be just what you need right now .  Also, I will be sharing more videos on my Facebook page.  It’s such a simple way to both celebrate Jesus and lift our Christmas spirit (for more on that, check out yesterdays post “Too Worn Out for Christmas Spirit“).

I asked this question on my Facebook page, but I’d really like to ask it here too.  What I’d really like to know is what’s on your mind this Christmas season?  Are you excited about it?  Stressed?  Are you facing obstacles that stand in the way of a joy-filled Christmas?  Or do you have a worry in the back of your mind that won’t go away?

Grab a cup of tea or coffee with me and let’s talk about it…

Love,

Kimberly

Hi, everyone!

Just a quick note to remind you (or let you know for the first time) that this Thursday at 1:30 Central Time, I will be hosting a show on Blog Talk Radio called “Let Go of Perfect, Grab on to Joyful This Christmas”.  This will be a quick 30 minute show with the sole purpose of giving you the encouragement and support you need this Christmas season.  We’ll look at 3 simple, easy steps to making Christmas a joyful, blessed time for you and your family (yes, you do matter!  Christmas isn’t just for kids .)  My hope is that you’ll leave the program feeling a little less stressed and  ready for Christmas joy.

Here’s the link to join the show: Let Go of Perfect, Grab on to Joyful. You can go there on Thursday to listen to the show or check it out now for more information.  Can’t make it on Thursday?  I hope to have a replay of the show here on my site for you to listen to at your convenience.  I do hope you can make it, though, I’d love to see you there!

In His Love,

Kimberly

Thanksgiving… how are you feeling about this week and all it represents?
Some of us may be overflowing with gratitude right now because God has answered a much needed prayer.  Others of us are completely overwhelmed with anxiety and stress.

In this weeks “Getting to Know You Tuesday”, we will probably have very different responses.  If you’re in the first group I mentioned, sharing what you are thankful for will continue the tradition (and command) God gave the Israelites long ago.  He wants us to tell our stories so that others will be encouraged, receive hope, and God will be honored.  Your act of sharing glorifies God and is truly an act of thanksgiving.

If you’re in the later group, you may feel as though there is absolutely nothing for you to be thankful for right now.  I understand how you feel, but can I encourage you to try?  Find one thing, no matter how small it may seem.  When we lift up even one thanks, one tiny praise, the results are huge.  You are sending a message that you still belong to God and as His child, you will honor him – hard circumstances or not.  I believe that thanks given in our storm is also a healing balm for our hearts.  It reminds us that there is hope.  I also think that it pleases God so much that He blesses us with a moment of release and peace.

So, Dear One, what are you thankful for?

In His Love,
Kimberly
kimberly@kimberlyehlers.com

Good morning, Everyone!

It’s a rainy cold day here in Iowa, so I’d like to brighten the day a bit with a simple, fun way to get to know you.  In the comment box below please share your child’s (or children’s) first name and 3 adjectives to describe them.  THEN, do the samething for you .  Remember, first names only please.

I hope not only that you have fun with this too, but that we can all use it as a tool to pray for one another and our children.  Ready, guys?  Let the fun begin!

In His Love,

Kimberly

Hello, my friends!  Are you ready for another “Getting to Know You Tuesday” question?  We’ll jump right to it:  When did you find out about your child’s illness (before they were born, shortly after, or many years later) and what was your initial reaction?

We did not know about Seth’s heart defects until immediately after he was born.  I was thankful because I really enjoyed my pregnancy, but it definitely took awhile for things to sink it for me.  I think I was in shock going from the mountaintop experience of giving birth to trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my new baby had serious health problems.

What’s your story?

Love,

Kimberly