How Tolkien Saved Sarah & Podcast & Book Girl Launch

This week my Sarah launches her solo book, Book Girl. I know many of you will love this book. We made a really fun and funny podcast for you last week--we have so much fun talking together about all aspects of life, past stories and memories and of course books. Be sure to get your copy to be lifted up in spirit at the beginning of this new school year. Fall is a great time to read. 

Sarah tells a story at the beginning of one of her chapters about how Tolkien truly saved her faith through Lord of the Rings. Here is a bit of that chapter so you can take a peak into her book. 

I was seventeen, and it was actually, in the words of so many mystery novels, “a dark and stormy night.” Oh, I felt the drama of it with all my teenage intensity. I was wrestling for the first time with real pain, with the reality of circumstances I hated and could not change. In many ways, the world I knew was coming to pieces around me. After a terrifying two months of anxiety, I had been diagnosed with obsessive- compulsive disorder. I felt that my mind was broken; I could not control the images or thoughts that intruded upon my consciousness. In the same time period, I watched our church experience a painful and bitter split that made me question the whole concept of Christian integrity. And my family decided to move across the country and away from the starlight and mountains we all so deeply loved. I felt a sense of bitter vulnerability as the things I considered immovable—a controllable mind, a beloved home, my lifelong faith—revealed them- selves as frail and faulty. I had the comeuppance we all must face, the smack of my heart against the fallenness of the world as I discovered that what I best loved could be harmed, broken, lost.

My reaction was outrage—a grieved sense of betrayal, com- pounded by the drama and shifting identity of my teenage years. I was hopeless on that stormy night, and my faith felt very frail as I reached for my current book, The Fellowship of the Ring. It was distraction I was after, but ah, it was a challenge I found as I was swept into a story about dark lords; evil powers intent on destruction; and the good elves, the wise wizards, the small but courageous hobbits who give the whole of themselves to fight for beauty and health and kindness. I stumbled across Frodo’s grieved wish that such things “need not have happened in my time” and nearly wept in agreement. But I was also gripped and almost mercilessly challenged by Gandalf’s gentle rebuke that such wishes are not in our gift; rather, “all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

The words seemed to be aimed directly at me, confronting my undisciplined bitterness so that I felt myself begin to wonder, What must I do with the time given to me? In that moment, with Gandalf ’s challenge ringing in my imagination, I encountered the reality that a girl who reads is a girl who understands that she has a part to play in the drama of the world. A woman who reads is a woman who knows she must act: in courage, in creativity, in kindness, and often in defiance of the darkness around her. She understands that life itself is a story and that she has the power to shape her corner of the drama. 

Book Girl, Sarah Clarkson

e sure to plan on joining Sarah, Joy and me on Tuesday for a cup of tea and time to chat. I will be trying to put up a facebook live event on my facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/therealsallyclarkson/ 

Be sure to join us for the launch party and be entered to win a really fun prize--12 of Sarah's favorite books. 

Book Girl: A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life

By Sarah Clarkson

Yes or No? It's a Question of How You'll Spend Your Time, Mama.

“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.”
John 17:4

As September approaches, many are busy preparing for and entering into another school year. It can feel a bit like January 1st--a chance to begin something again, to look over our calendars and planners and decide how we will spend our time in this season. Colorado has beautiful aspen trees whose leaves are a fantastic gold every fall, and I know I will miss their shimmering beauty even as I adore snuggling in to chillier Oxford with my sweet family and especially baby Lily, who will experience her first fall this year.

One thing I think many moms find difficult is the fact that every yes is by definition also a no. A "yes" to time watching somersaults in the backyard is a "no" to a phone call, a glance through a magazine, or a bit of alone time. A "yes" to asking friends over for a time of encouragement is a "no" to the free time you might have spent on yourself, rather than cleaning the bathroom, organizing your notes for the evening, or baking cookies to share. "Yes" to the carpool means "no" to sleeping in; "yes" to playing during bath time means "no" to your favorite television show ... and on and on it goes.

As a mom, what we really need is long-range vision! While the decision to draw your circle of direct influence a little smaller than many around you choose to draw theirs might appear to minimize who you are,  the truth lies elsewhere. Think about a drop of food coloring splashed into a cup of water. The more water, the more diluted the color. And so it is with each one of us. When we spread ourselves thin, leaving no time for snuggles and backrubs, Bible study and reading deeply, family vacations and Saturday afternoons at the park, our influence becomes diluted.
So may I suggest something, mama? Feel free to say lots of "yes"-es to your littles, and lots of "no"-s to others. Limit yourself in this season of mothering young ones, and watch your influence grow where it's most important. Truthfully? Your big kids are going to need a lot of your yes-es and time, too!

I have never heard a woman say, "I wish I would have worked more hours while my children were young" or, "I wish I would have read more magazines and watched fewer somersaults." Rather, the longing is for time long slipped away, somersaults tumbled and blown away like so many autumn leaves.

Book Girl: Shaping Your Life Story, Imagination & Choices & Podcast with Sarah

Imagine Sarah's shock that someone who traveled to Prince Edward Island several times a week, 35 weeks a year, not having any idea who "Anne of Green Gables" is. 

When I look back on our reading life at home, I think the characters of our books actually became almost friends to all of my children. These friends went deep to their heart issues and lead my children to safe places, to learn to make good choices. 

Aragorn helped Sarah out of a pool of doubt, Anne led her to dream of becoming a writer, reading the story of Narnia gave her friendships with countless characters who led her to become a student at the very place one of her most admire writers took her in his books, C.S.Lewis.

Sarah's book, Book Girl, is filled with wonderful, personal stories. I am even one fo the people she writes about. I know you will be inspired by this book. Leave a comment about either why you love Anne, what some of your life time favorite books are, and you will be entered into a giveaway on my site where I will give away 4 copies. 

If you want to know the rest of the story, you will have to buy your own copy of the book and you will be so glad you did. :)

Book Girl: A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life

By Sarah Clarkson

Buy on Amazon

Becoming A Book Girl: New Podcast with Sarah & Sally

"There are moments when it seems the clouds of life part and the sun comes peeking through like a warm blanket grace, wrapping around my soul. It feels as if God is tenderly bending down to kiss my cheek to remind me of his affection and grace."

"This sunshine invaded my life when I had my first child, Sarah."

"I was not prepared to be a proper mother. I had never changed a diaper, had only babysat once that I remember, and was totally ill-equipped to know what to do. Not being practical by nature, I awkwardly learned how to meet her basic physical needs. But I mainly dreamed of caring for my little one by attentively investing in her mind and soul. "

"Prior to Sarah's birth, I had lived in Vienna, surrounded by highly intellectual and educated adults from then international community of the United Nations with diplomats, expats, and people from countless nations and every walk of life coming through the international chapel where my husband and I worked. Though I had a college degree, had studied four different languages in the countries where I had lived, and had taken theology classes with my husband, Clay, while he was in seminary, I felt keenly the lack of a broad and well developed education in my own life."

Book Girl: A Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life

By Sarah Clarkson

And so begins the intro Sarah allowed me to write for her newest book. It has inspired me, challenged me, brought tears of gratefulness to my eyes and made me aware of how much God had affection for me to bring such a gift as her into my life. 

I know you will love the podcast today, and even more, I know you will be challenged and blessed to your toes as you read this book. I pray you are inspired today as you listen to our time together to renew your commitment to take care of your own soul by taking intentional time to invest in it. 

Enjoy!

Book Girl: A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life

By Sarah Clarkson

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Facing Life's Difficulties

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."      

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I think one of the ways we honor God the most is to have a grateful heart, to practice thanksgiving every day--practice, I say,--and to say with our heart, "I trust you in this place. I believe you are good. I know you will show your faithfulness in my life."

But often, we live by our feelings instead and sometimes we communicate them too much to others. I think that is what the Israelites did when they were condemned to 40 years in the desert. 

Believe me, I know life is sooooo very demanding and challenging in this fallen world. Jesus knew it, too. He said, "In this world you have tribulation (stress, battles, overwhelming difficulties), but TAKE COURAGE! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."

TAKE COURAGE? WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?

There is no Scripture I know of where God says it is okay to grumble, pout, or complain. I sure would like to find one, but it's not there (I'm still looking!) There are, however, plenty of verses where God says to be thankful.

When I'm facing difficult circumstances, that verse at the top of this page can be a very annoying! If I consider the alternatives to being thankful, though, I can readily see God's point.

When I pout instead of being joyful, grumble instead of praying, and complain instead of giving thanks, I am in effect telling God that He is mishandling my life and I don't like it.

At that point, I have ceased to put my faith in my sovereign Lord, and have chosen to put my faith in my circumstances. In other words, I am telling God and myself, that if my circumstances change, then and only then can I be happy.

Until then, I have nothing to be thankful for. And that, according to Paul, is when I step out of God's will.

Embracing the Lord's will for my life means accepting the exact set of circumstances He has handed me, one day at a time. Sometimes, I have to remind myself to accept them one moment at a time! Today, I have a choice to make. Will I grumble and complain? Will I stomp and lament and wonder why He isn't changing things?
(I do that, sometimes.)

It takes an act of my will and the grace of the Holy Spirit to pull myself back into line. I have to remind myself that God is for me; He loves me; He knows what is best for me and He is able to take everything that affects me and work it out for His pleasure and my good.

Our children are watching our responses as we walk through difficulties. They want to know if we really believe the things we teach them. They need to see us lean into Jesus in those times.
Will we drink the cup He has placed before us? As Jesus prayed in the Garden ...

"Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."~Luke 22:42

I think it's important to see here that Jesus did ask for the cup to be removed! We are not offending God when we ask Him to change our circumstances. But when we pray and He doesn't change them; when the fires rage or the waters rise ... it's there we find the question remains: Will I drink this cup? Will I do it with grace?

How about you? What cup is the Lord asking you to drink? Let's pray for one another.

I wrote the book, Dancing with My Father, when I was trying to figure out how to let him lead through the challenging pathways of my life. 

Dancing with My Father: How God Leads Us into a Life of Grace and Joy

By Sally Clarkson

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Joy & Mama: Soul Care & Stories to Share & a new Podcast

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."

Proverbs 4:23

Responsibility can often pile high this time of year. Combined with tragic national news, an exceedingly busy lifestyle, constant demands from children, bills, mamas can  start to grumble and stew and spew, placing a lot of energy, worry and fear into the constantly demanding issues of our lives.  And then we fret. Often grumpiness and harshness overcomes our souls as a byproduct of the days we are living.

Fear. Fretting. Darkness. These can plague our inner hearts if we do not watch over our hearts.

 The last thing that seems productive when life is busy and overwhelming is to rest. Yet, rest may very well be the most strategic thing to do if we have a busy, full and demanding life.

When I was younger, there were times I thought life was so overwhelming and it seemed as I couldn't make it as a mom and tears were close to my eyes. But I remember that a sweet friend of mine said, "Don't think about it today. I am going to pick up your children and have them spend the night with me. You need to eat chocolate, watch a great, romantic movie, sleep for at least 10 hours, spend tomorrow at leisure--and housework is not allowed. Then do the same thing for one more day and come back when the weekend is over.  We will talk about how you are feeling."

A miracle happened. Sleep was what I most needed. I felt so much better about my life, loved my children anew and found hope--all because I just needed a little break.

Without giving ourselves time to rest, we can end up with serious illness, exhaustion, bad attitudes and fist shaking faith aimed heavenly--and then fretting about our lives.

As I have said before, "Fretting leads only to evil doing."

God put Sabbath Rest into the weeks of our lives with a purpose. I have found that when I believe and engage my heart in the goodness of God's character, and put out of my mind, after praying, all that I am carrying and just seek to be still and find joy, I see the miracles bubbling up slowly, surely, as He, my Father, delights to provide.

However, a Martha heart is often wont to see the miracles, as she is so busy living in the whirlwind of her own meek provisions, she loses all hope and becomes a wretched nag.

The more exhausted I am with life, the more tense, grumpy and tight I become and it spills all over everyone else.

Finding myself at a juncture of exhaustion from giving all that I had the last few weeks, I find that somehow when I try to figure out all of the responsibilities of the next few months, which are huge, I am tempted to be overwhelmed.

Yet, from so many times like this in the past, I have learned a secret. My Prince Jesus comes to me at just the right time, but like the story of Sleeping Beauty, the prince comes, not when she is searching the horizon, pounding her fists, running the floor, but when she is doing nothing but resting.

Resting in Him, choosing peace and putting off responsibilities and recreating is sometimes such grand medicine for my soul, that after choosing to rest and to invest in fun and love and ease of life, my strength is renewed and all issues are able to be faced with grace. I know busyness is coming, but I will face it with courage later if I rest today.

And so today, my plan is to go back to bed, to pace leisurely through the pathway of the next few days, to sip and really taste my coffee  and my tea!--And, to just sit and listen to my sweet ones at home, and focus on the beauty of their light filled eyes, to stay in comfy clothes all day, to read and pray, and then maybe to rest again, because I know that while I am resting, my Prince is already coming to my rescue.

Peace, be still, the Lord is near.

Cultivating A Heart to Serve Others & Podcast

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

"Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

When I ponder all the work, all the tiring days and nights, the fusses, the times I just wanted to escape, I often think, "Should I really keep writing to encourage all of these wonderful women to hold fast to their ideals? I am asking them to do something that cost me more than I could ever have imagined and the road was so often hard."

But then, if I have one more quiet time, and have any time at all to ponder Christ and his love for children, I know it is a message He has asked me to keep speaking about. When I look at the secularism of Christianity and observe all of the terrible issues that confront our culture, I know that He is the truth and leads us in what is true. 

Then, I keep thinking about these verses. We want so much to give our lives to the "bigger" cause. We want to invest our lives for what is important. And yet, is there anything more important than the building of a righteous soul?

The laying down of our lives is not just about moving to the most impoverished country or preaching to thousands, but loving the one right in front of us; the child who would long to have our comforting touch and gentle voice speaking life-giving words, that he may imagine the voice and touch of God when He ponders faith as a young adult and chooses to believe because the reality of God was tangible in his home.

The child who needs one more song to be comforted before sleeping, so that he might  be able  in adulthood to believe in a God who is patient and willing to answer prayer and hear our voice when we as his children cry out in faith.

The child who is lonely, confused, hormonal, who will feel the touch of God, the sacrifice of God as we give up the rights to our time and comfort to befriend and listen and show compassion and sympathy for what is on his heart.

Love is given through a candle lit and a special breakfast served one more time on Sunday before church as we open the gospel together, that the reality and beauty of God's creativity is validated in how we live.  It is shown with the sacrificial life of giving up what we wanted to do, or the job we hoped to have, in order to build a soul through the attention of ourselves. A looking into the eyes with true interest and compassion instead of looking at a screen while half-heartedly listening. These are the sacrifices of our love, the moment by moment giving up of ourselves, the constant, year end year out practice of worship as we serve those in our home in order to please His heart.

It is for Him, for His kingdom that we serve with willing, generous, life-giving hearts, as the building of His kingdom is one heart at a time.

Jesus could have done the big thing, and reached leaders all over the world and brought kings to their knees. But He gave his life to the personal, the love, encouragement, instruction, service of his twelve, the common people, those entrusted into his hands, that they might know and feel the love of God, the touch of God, hear the words of God. He laid down His life in the daily that they might live a life of faith and invest in His kingdom for eternity.

And in the serving of our children, we give them a model and a reason to lay down their own lives for Him. It isn't just an over-spiritualization of life==it is life. Living to love, living to give light, living to tell a story of His love reaching out through us. 

The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

By Sally Clarkson

Your loving touch, patient service, and sacrifice of time today is not in vain. It is a sacrifice of worship to the One who laid down His own life in moments of time, that we could imagine what God was really like by viewing the incarnate, servant King--the Providing Father.

Mama, You Need an Undivided Heart

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Matthew 6: 24

We live in a time in history when culture tries to convince us that we can do it all---but each of us only has one life to invest in what matters. Each of us is limited in the amount of time we can use to invest in the priorities of our lives.

Choices have consequences. What a man sows he will reap--the way one invests  time, money, mind, heart and energy will indeed have long term consequences.

Excellence of character must be intentionally developed. Moral foundations take hundreds of hours of teaching and modeling to cultivate. Pouring into the souls of our children, developing sharp minds, protecting them from the draw of culture, passing on faith--these things do not come about by chance. God will hold us responsible for the ways we used our lives to cultivate these attributes in the lives of our children.

I do not think there is one formula in regards to accomplishing these things, and all of us have different pressures, issues, puzzles to figure out in regards to motherhood. But we cannot foster a divided heart within ourselves and be able to truly pass on a legacy of righteousness. Our heart must be devoted to the stewardship of the lives that have been trusted into our hands. We cannot serve the world and God's purposes.

The reality is we can only serve one master and God does not put up with idols or competition to see who will win, in our lives or in the lives of our children or ministry or church. Obedience is simple and straightforward, and not a matter of opinion.

He allows us free rein, the ability to ignore and go against Biblical logic and wisdom, but we will usually be left to live with the consequences of unwise and poor choices.

After all these years of mothering as well as watching other families, I have seen that if children do not find stability, love, training, spiritual reality, purpose,  and comfort in their own homes, they will look for them wherever they can find them, and become like the place they spend the most time and the people they spend the most time with, because they are shaped by the culture in which they invest their hearts.

What do your children find, when they look for home in your heart?

Training Children to Virtuous Character & Podcast

"But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity."

Psalm 9: 7-8

Passing each other in the kitchen with mugs of coffee, crazy sleep hair, pajama'd and groggy, I kissed my daughter and whispered good morning and headed toward my front porch for a few moments of quiet as I began my day. Just before I left the room, I was prompted to ask her, "How are you, sweetness? Is anything on your mind this morning?"

Sometimes the most normal moments and mundane of places become holy when God shows up.

Though just 30 years old, my daughter had walked in wisdom for such a long time.

"I feel like God always has me in boot camp--basic training for war! It would be great to have an easy season in my life for just a little while," she said, as she sipped her coffee. "But, you know, mom, I have decided in my heart, that no matter what comes my way, I want to keep trusting God, keep seeking to show His light, keep loving when it is difficult, keep strong when tempted to be weak."

"I want  to be one of those people who Jesus says, 'You were one of my most vibrant, powerful warriors for the kingdom, because you always sought to be holy and you never gave up!' So, mom, I will stay in boot camp and God's training as long as He has me here because I want to be faithful and love Him until I see Him face to face."

Wow! What an unexpected but powerful message greeted me so early in my morning. But how grateful I was to hear from her own heart that my daughter understood that to live holy and righteous and strong in love is a battle and requires training. When we learn to accept the limitations of the place that God has us with faith and submission, we will learn to see His purposes and experience a depth of His love anew. His love is so profound that he does not want us to stay limited in our lives but to learn to trust Him and find freedom, strength in His training and deep satisfaction in life as we walk with Him. A a loving parent, He wants what is best for us--He wants us to grow strong and beautiful.

God has us in "training grounds" because He desires us to become like Jesus--holy, strong, bold, and righteous. Training and discipling us to become like him is a long term process. But in order for us to experience His profound love, we have to submit to His profound plans for our lives.

Good soldiers learn to submit to their leaders, the authorities over them, their officers, to lead them well. So, as we are warriors for Christ, we must learn to submit to His ways, to seek to be as godly as we know how, to learn the ways of righteousness, so that we can become strong ambassadors and workers for His kingdom.

My daughter has not had an easy life, but because she has walked her years trusting God, she is mature beyond her age and in so many ways exhibits His light and beauty powerfully through her life.

Each of us must choose His ways, submit to His will, so that we can truly become stronger in understanding that His love for us requires that He will train us for growth. God does not want us to just be shallow and happy--getting our own way at every juncture. He wants us to learn the depth of His wisdom and to learn the way of contentment and peace.

Passing on the Gift of A Living Faith & Podcast

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Luke 1:45

The primary point of parenting, from God's point of view, is to pass on a legacy of faith. We are to teach our children to look at life through the lens of pleasing and obeying God and passing on His messages. 

I love the story of Mary. A mother, like me, she modeled the acceptance of God's choice to make her the mother of his son and lived in worship, faithfulness and obedience the rest of her life. 

When we read about her in Luke, we see that she not only exhibited faith by being obedient to what the angel required of her, but she was also a woman of the word and lived by the truth that she had learned by hearing scripture her whole life. The magnificat that she spoke tells us of her knowledge of the word of God from the Old Testament which was what gave her ability to live by faith in His call on her life.

As women, faith exhibited in and through our lives is what will make the reality of God seem real as we live our lives in front of others. Think of how faith was worked out through out the Bible. 

If the risk that faith requires had not been taken, there would be no Jewish Nation, the same way we know of it.

Abraham had to go out, not knowing where he was going and then

he had to be willing to sacrifice his son on the altar.

Mankind could have been decimated if Noah hadn't listened and obeyed.

Noah had to build an ark, against much ridicule, and collect animals, against ridicule.

The Jews might still be slaves.

  By faith, Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

He was willing to take millions of men, women and children, into the Red Sea with an Egyptian Army racing at his back.

Jericho may have won the battle.

Without David's slingshot, the Philistines would have won the battle.

Without Mary's heart saying, Be it done to me according to your will, we would have no heroine of motherhood to follow.

She had to move to a foreign country for two years, the most hated country of her nation,

Move to a whole new town, live with a perfect son,

Watch him die on the cross and live by faith through it all.

Battles would not have been won, heroes would not have been made,

Mother Theresa would not have ventured to India to show compassion to thousands. 

Amy Carmichael would not have retrieved girls from prostitution.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer would not have written The Cost of Discipleship in prison.

Children would not be trained and educated at their mother's knee.

Marriages would have ended.

Ministries would not have been established.

When God's spirit is alive within us, HE compels us to take ground back for the Kingdom of God.

God's spirit drives us to redeem.

He motivates us to give generous love and to work unto sacrifice that others might be reach with the kingdom messages.

In short, when the people of God are moved by faith, to do His works on earth during their short lives,

The whole world is turned upside down, by normal people who serve a transcendent, omnipotent  God.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

When people become passive and fearful, there is no power or mystery of the Kingdom of God sweeping over the world with life and healing.

What is God whispering in your heart today, to accomplish by faith in Him?

Faith requires a listening heart. God is so willing to use normal people--who are listening and willing to obey.

How are you being responsive to Him today to live a life of faith?

It cost Jesus His life to redeem the world, but because of His sacrifice, the battle has been won.

What risk are you willing to take, by faith, to venture to live a story that others will tell for generations to come?

Read the stories of my life and how I discipled my children, following the lead of Christ.

The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

By Sally Clarkson

Buy on Amazon