Rest, part 2...an inner attitude of the heart--

   "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength."   ~ Isaiah 30: 15

A dear friend of mine had a surgery and she was told by the doctors and some friends that she would be back to normal in no time--maybe even back to her schedule on the second or third day. Her surgery took more time than they had thought, as there were a few complications, and even after 3 months, she was still recuperating. Her body needed time to adjust before it would come back to normal.

Sometimes I think that we come to God and expect Him to work today, this minute, now! Yet, we have been living busily, with stress, too much work, no rest, fear, works oriented, too many commitments, not according to God's ways, for years and years and we want a quick fix! But what I have learned from living with Him these many years is that God rarely seems to be in a hurry. When He wants me to learn a lesson or change my lifestyle, often it takes quite a time to adjust and move into the wisdom He wants me to know.

So it is with rest and peace and refueling. It takes time to restore.

True rest comes from an inner heart attitude of relinquishing my rights to God

Even more, true rest comes from clothing my heart with a different paradigm--not living by the outer, demanding circumstances and relationship demands of my life, but from an inner compass, an inner grid that stays in tune with God's ways, His power, His direction, His plans.

 No amount of forced sleep or taking time away can create rest if my heart is in turmoil. Because God is bigger than me and I am so limited in my humanness, He has had to get my attention many times in order to teach me His ways for me in my life in this world. I will share just a few thoughts on rest that have been enlightening to me over the years and lately.

1. Come to Jesus!

"Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. for I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Learn from me--is there any other place in scripture where Jesus says specifically--LEARN FROM ME. I have pondered this verse a lot this year. Jesus is humble of heart--a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He had no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him. He embraced children, forgave prostitutes, touched lepers. In coming to Him and pondering Him, I have slowly realized that He is with me, He wants me to learn from Him--in following Him and living out His priorities and ways, I will find rest.

  He is not one who lived for the praise or pleasing of others, and so I will find rest when I live not for the praise of others or seeking to fit in with those who cannot offer me peace. He lived by the love and grace in His heart  It is in pondering Jesus, and thinking about Him and submitting myself to His priorities of life that I have begun to live in peace.

It means living with your limitations and in the midst of it, abiding in His presence--

Living well within my skin--I will never be perfect or get everything done or always be patient, or understand or even always like my children, my husband, my life--but Jesus is here--He will take my problems, stresses, sins, fears, and He will be the source of my strength--He will take care of me and give me rest. He will give me strength to endure and then flourish if I look to His presence and provision

2. Learn to wait! (Did I hear a big uhg!!!!?) 

"Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:7

My notes say, "Feed on His faithfulness." for the word rest.

Isaiah says in quietness and rest will be your strength. It also says in Isaiah 40, "Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength." You want new strength--you have to wait on God.

I could give a zillion more verses on waiting, but waiting and not doing my will or trying to help God or begging Him---but waiting is where peace, rest and strength will come--it is His way of getting our attention, of helping us to change our heart toward His will, of learning that He is in control.

waiting till you get married; waiting till you get that new job; waiting till you get pregnant; 

waiting till your baby sleeps through the night or doesn't need diapers anymore or gets through the terrible twos or learns to read, or, or, or; 

waiting till you get that bigger house or new car, waiting till your teenager quits having such hormonal, irrational moments, 

waiting through the mystery of trying to understand or help a child who is autistic, downs syndrome, adhd, bi-polar, obsessive, compulsive or out of the box

waiting till your husband matures or until your work is over or whatever--we are always hoping and waiting for something--but in waiting on God in the midst of His will, we will find rest--not in changing the circumstances. 

We can only have rest inside that spreads through to our outside if we relinquish controls and expectations and wait, resting, trusting in Him in the midst of a storm.

Why did Jesus sleep through the storm on the sea? Well, for one thing, he was exhausted, so he fell asleep--talking to people all day long, ministering, helping, feeding, well--it is just exhausting.

But for another thing, he had no fear in the storm, he could rest because He knew the one who was more powerful than the storm and He knew He was in His care, so he rested in the storm while everyone else needlessly fretted and raved and tried to control it. 

3. Don't be Martha--be Mary!

I cannot achieve peace or rest in my life when I am running around like a chicken with its head off. There are so many applications about Martha--but overall, she was working too hard, feeling like a martyr, supposing she was bearing the whole world on her shoulders since Mary wasn't willing to help, fussing about and complaining and missing life in her overwhelming busyness. 

I know Marthas. I have been a Martha--anxious, busy, complaining, criticizing others, supposing by the franticness of my life, I am accomplishing lots.

I have learned, in my exhaustion, when God had my attention: Simplify, don't do activities that steal peace, rest or harmony unless you are absolutely sure they are necessary. Stop living by works. Stop trying to perform--sit down, listen to wisdom, be quiet, get perspective. 

4. Do not allow yourself to be anxious, or fearful and do not worry!

Ulcers, heart palpitations, fibromyalgia, cancer, depression--many illnesses are caused by anxiety, fear and anger. You cannot experience rest and you cannot get over exhaustion without trusting God. These attitudes wear us down, exhaust us, keep us from sleep. Faith is a choice to believe God, to believe Him that He will lead us out of this season, even when we do not understand or know the answer. Faith is a healer and faith restores physical strength. We are not made to carry the burdens of this world--only He is strong enough. There is no burden that He is not willing to carry or lift if we yield it to Him.

Psalm 37: 8 says, "Fret not, it leads only to evil doing."

Jesus himself said, "Do not be anxious for your life." Matt. 6: 25

Paul said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything, and the peace of God will guard your heart." Philippians 4: 6-7

When my children were very young and were whining or crying loudly, out of control,  having a tantrum, I would pick them up, take them to their crib and say, "I cannot speak to you or hel p you while you are out of control and crying. When you can quit crying and be quiet, then you will be able to hear my voice and I can help and comfort you."

It is the same with God. Though we, like children, don't always like what we have been given or feel good about our circumstances, the plain truth is that God is always right and His ways are always the best. We can throw a tantrum, cultivate anxiety, try to find peace by doing it our way, but He will just wait until we are quiet so that we can hear His voice and then be willing to let Him give comfort or perspective.

I wish I had just enjoyed life more instead of fighting against it. I could have had more rest, more fun, more joy. Much of the stress we feel or experience is just the norm of life--like living through the stages of a family of children, in the midst of the details of life--it is all ok. It is going to pass and another stress will come. Just relax-

Today, the circumstances you are in, the limitations you have, the relationships you have been given is the place in which God is present. Today you have the choice to seek to learn what you can, to strive to rest in His will, to cultivate a patient heart that trust in Him, to celebrate life. Today, if you bow your will, even if you don't especially like where you are, you will find that His will is good and acceptable and perfect. It will bring healing to your bones, rest to your heart, joy to your minutes. 

It is one of the reasons I wrote Dancing with my Father--I wanted not to be a victim of life, but to learn His rhythm, to hear His music, to follow His lead.

An Ode to Tired Mamas

There once was a sweet mom with children,Who worked day and night just to serve them, She cleaned and she cooked and she taught and she booked, Till she died of exhaustion and left them.

Here is a post from 2008, but I have had several moms ask me to reprint it. I will be adding my new thoughts about rest when I get beyond my tasks the next couple of days. Have a day of grace and make time for 15 minutes of total rest today!

Ok, ok--it's not great poetry, but I did think there should be a short dedication to all the moms who have given and given and given with nary a one to appreciate them. I got tickled the other day. I had written the blog about taking Nathan to dedicate him to the Lord after taking him out to lunch and then the little story about taking Joy out for her 13th birthday. A sweet mom who read the blog was probably sending a comment to a friend and accidentally pushed the reply button and sent her email to me which said, "She makes me tired!" (I have done this before much to my horror--meaning to send a comment to Clay and instead sending it to the person who wrote it! Grace and peace--don't worry!)

But, I do think this task of ideal mothering is such a tiring calling and we all put ourselves under  so much pressure to be perfect when we have too many sinful children,  no support systems, no breaks, no full time maids,  and they all want  to eat and wear reasonably clean clothes every day !  And we are  responsible for their character, manners, education and spiritual  outcome, sense of well-being and happiness! A lot to ask.

In light of this, I also received another letter from a sweet mom. She asked if I ever blew it and yelled at my children! Yes, I have sinned often in the presence of my less than perfect children. I have had to accept myself as God does--it says in Psalm 103, "He is mindful that we are but dust!" Oh well, God says, Sally is just dust anyway, what can you expect from her?" As Joel my son once well said when I was in a tizzy over the messy house. "Mom, we will clean the house and it will just get messy again. But when you are sad, we feel guitly, like we have done something wrong. But when you are happy, we feel happy and like we are the greatest family in the world. So, Mom, lighten up and we will all be ok!"

We moms are giving out at a much faster rate than we are taking in and so depletion and exhaustion and consequences thereof are normal. So blowing a top once in a while is very  normal. I love the verse in Proverbs that says, "Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean." I have at least six oxen in my stalls all the time, so my stall is always in different degrees of clean-ness!

I just want to affirm all of you who are hard on yourselves. You are making a difference in this world-your work is eternal and extremely important. Don't give up what you are doing--ever, ever, ever. But, take a break. What will it take to fill your cup emotionally? Going out with a friend to an adult lunch where no one tastes of your food? Or being by yourself alone? Or sleeping? Take time this summer to put beauty and life and joy and fun and pleasure in your life.

Another mom sent me a letter asking if my children were ever overworked in ministry or if we just had fun all the time. Probably, because my life has been so hard (children with illnesses and difficult issues; moving 17 times--6 times internationally; having little support or encouragement from family and almost never having anyone take my children as many grandparents do; and oh so many other difficulties), it is the very reason I seek to create life and beauty and fun--because I don't want to die in the process, and I don't want to live a life of constant depression and weariness, knowing it is not good for me! I want to keep going and live and keep being gracious, because life and light and beauty give strength--to me and to my children!

One summer, we had 62 nights of overnight guests. That meant weeks on end of kids giving up their beds, washing stacks and stacks of dishes, and loads of sheets and towels, babysitting other children--so that one day when one of my children looked out of the window and saw a strange car drive up, he said, "Quick, everyone hide and maybe no one will see us and want to come in!" I realized at this point, my kids needed a rest, fun, replenishing and a break from so much work.

So, knowing it is God's will for me to last, I have had to conduct my own symphony of beauty and joy, so to speak. I have had to take responsibility of planning grace, rest (I never do housework or ministry or tasks on Sunday--it is a sabbath rest for this girl!). I make my family and husband a priority above writing and ministry--which is why I am so slow at getting projects and books out.

Just this morning, was a perfect example of potentially getting tired over so many little things. I got up at 6 to have a quiet time and planning to go on a 30 minute walk and then write this short blog! Nate called up to me and said, "Hey, you wanta have eggs with me--then we can talk--you make them I will eat them--before he went to his landscaping job. By then, I had to awaken Joy and make her breakfast as she is helping with the 3-5 year olds at VBS. Then Joel came in and said, "I will do shopping for you if you make a list." Afterwhich as I got Joel and Joy out the door. (Joel is leaving for a summer project in 3 days and needed input on shopping.) Clay came in and said, "We really need to make a decision about some ministry stuff." Forty minutes later, he left for work, so I took a hot walk instead of a cool one because it was so late.  The moment I stepped in the door from taking the dog out, Sarah came in and said, "Can I just have a few moments of your time. It is about my future and a job that came up and what I should do." So now, it is almost 11 and my day has been taken up by everyone else, having gotten none of my own plans accomplished, but did what I am supposed to do. It as been that way since they were toddlers!

So, after years and years of 24/7, I have learned that I have to force things into my schedule that give me rest, provide a break, fill my cup. I am not talking about the cultural expectation that we deserve to have our own time--as my life has never regularly allowed this. But I am talking about being a good steward of yourself. Women must take time to read the word and pray--it is a foundation for fitting in to a schedule. I found that for my health and adrenalin, I had to build walking into my life almost everyday--Health and eating the right foods makes me last longer. It is also Biblical to have friends who can encourage us in the Lord--Lone Ranger mommies are more prone to give up, give in to depression and quit their ideals. Ecclesiastes tells us to find a companion to lift us up. As an introvert , I have to have some alone time in order to keep centered--it is why I developed the habit of getting up early to have a quiet time an to drink a cup of tea all alone. It doesn't always work, but I worked to let the kids stay up later so that they would sleep a little longer.

It is also why we started to do the Whole Hearted Moms conferences--to give moms a break, spiritually encouraging input, fun, encouragement, chocolate and a nice luncheon! So, as you are planning your summer, be sure to make time for yourself. You and your attitude are at the center of all things working well.

Remember, "A Joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." Take good medicine, and even in the midst of draining circumstances or difficult times, plan on lighting a candle in the darkness, playing music through the pain, dancing in the midst of the mess, and smiling often as it is truly good for the heart! And above all, give yourself sweet grace!

Sally Sally@wholeheart.org

Rejuvenating Rest...a mandate from God--part 1

When I had three children, 2 more miscarriages, and then Joy just shy of 42, I found myself almost constantly in a state of exhaustion. She was my third child who had nocturnal asthma, and I was up with her most nights as she gasped for breath and I was full into homeschooling my older children, and having a ministry, and busy, busy, busy all the time. I suddenly came to a point where I was gaining weight, trying to avoid depression and burn out and didn't know exactly how to get off the merry-go-round. When I went to a doctor, he said, "You can kill yourself of die early if you want to, or go downhill in your health continually, but if you don't figure out how to get some rest, you will surely have consequences in your life. You have got to manage your own life, stress, rest and health--no one else will do that for you. If you don't you are headed toward serious consequences."

It was a wake-up call for me. I could see that often I was short with my children and impatient with Clay and stress eating and fighting feelings of depression. It was not how I wanted to live. God got a hold of my heart and I began to look at scripture and come up with a plan. I realized that I needed to take hold of my life and make a plan.

God made our bodies to need sleep every night--our health depends on it. We cannot think without proper sleep. It creates problems with cortisol and adrenalin and increases the tendency to gain weight and can be one of the sources of depression. Here and here are articles concerning sleep deprivation and its results on the body.

I began to realize that I needed to be a steward of my body. If I was the key to my family's happiness and feeling of well being, then I needed to stay healthy, have a sense of balance in my life to be able to pass it on to them. 

As I looked at scripture, I found plenty of places that encouraged me to re-look at my life. 

"it is vain for you to rise up early or to retire late, 

to eat the bread of painful labors.

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Psalm 127: 2

I began to ask myself the question, what things am I doing that are vain--creating too much work and stress and "painful labor" that I can eliminate? Which activities are really not necessary or beneficial and drain our whole family and especially me! How can I eliminate some of the "hurry up and get in the car so we won't be late," times that really added stress to all of us. 

I began to realize that God had not given me more to do than I could do, so I needed to rest within the limitations of my season of life at that time. I began to say no to the expectations of other people that stole my energy and attention, but did not build my core priorities. (stealers of time like phone calls, emails, activities that robbed us from peace in our home, too much time with other people and not as much time of quietness in my home. I had to change my expectations from all the voices in my head that told me what I should do to what was my desire and what was best for me and for my children.

"By the seventh day, God completed His work which He had done and He rested on the 7th day from all His work." Genesis 2:2

I recognized that God valued and modeled rest to us, and that I needed to begin putting it into my mind as a grid from which I viewed life--that rest was strategic and necessary. I had to look for ways to simplify life, to rest, to put aside my own work--not as an option but as a command. 

"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Exodus 20:8

God instituted these mandates because they would bring health and well-being to our lives.

Not only did we establish our own Sabbath rest day and applied the spirit of sabbath to our own personalities and needs, but I instituted rest in the midst of every day at home. 

Sunday, Sabbath Rest

On Sundays, we put away the work of the house or Monday-Friday tasks. We established an afternoon tea time--I would make something wonderful on Saturday or buy something of a snack.   Around 3, on Sunday afternoon, after I had taken a nap or everyone had had a chance to rest or play outside, we would have a cup of tea and delectable snack and read grand story  or picture books, or Clay and I would just sit and talk to the kids or go for a walk as a family in the mountains or watch a fun afternoon movie or just rest and play. We still do this every Sunday we are home. It became a beloved tradition of all of us that my far away children still love to come home to--it was an anchor of time we all looked forward to spend together in peace and fun each week.

The work was always there on Monday, but our goal was to give ourselves and family a time to stop, to enjoy the fellowship of church, and then to play and have fun and put aside the duties of the week.

Daily Rest

I established a rest time every day in my home. Everyone would go to their rooms or places around 2 and have an hour quiet time--I piled baskets of books and magazines in their rooms, they could take a little snack and all would read or nap during that hour. I would usually manage a cup of tea and 30 minutes or so by myself--when you establish this early, and everyone does it, it becomes a habit and all cooperate. Especially when you have several children and the younger ones tend to do what the whole group does. 

This became a parenthesis in my day--a breath away--a time to sit just for a few minutes to regroup and to rest my mind, my emotions, my body. Of course no family is perfect and there are always exceptions and interruptions, but it was a goal, a discipline and it created space in my day and made my children into readers.

There are seasons when a mom does not get as much sleep--when she has babies, when there is illness. But in these times, a mom should just understand that these seasons are common and they should adjust their expectations and body to the limitations of this season. Have simpler meals--fruit, bread, cheese, popcorn, raw veggies, salads, simple sandwiches, make life as simple as possible during times of stress--plan your life so as to make your work load easier--eat off of paper plates if it helps. A mother's strength is essential to the well-being of her whole family.

Refortifying my soul---avoiding burnout!

"Restore unto me the joy of my salvation."  

Finding rest on the path of life.  

I find that I am always giving out--giving my time, energy, money and life to my husband and children. Giving time to cleaning my house, preparing a Bible study and reaching out to young moms; keeping up with my boys, calling, helping, writing, emailing. Writing articles, traveling, speaking, counseling. Trying to keep up with my failing mother and writing her, calling her and visiting on the occasions when it is conducive to her life and mine. Meeting with friends. Taking my part in all the commitments our family has and having lots and lots of people into our home. Driving, driving, driving, cooking, cooking, cooking, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning......

You get the picture. There are times I feel that I am being consumed but not replenished. At my monthly Bible study this month, I asked the women what they were hoping for this summer and most all of them said, "To be refreshed, renewed in my vision, to get back to my center, etc." 

What I have seen over my almost 57 years is that only the wise and diligent stay committed to their ideals. Many burn out. I have seen that if you become weary and exhausted, harshness and despair is a natural consequence. It really has little to do with spirituality. If a woman neglects her own body and mind and soul, and pours out, emptiness is a natural result.

A godly woman does not happen by accident--she is intentional. There must be a plan. Life is so busy that if I do not make a very specific plan, that applies to this season of life (all seasons have their own issues), then I will come out at the end of the summer even more spent than I am now. Consequences of being over extended are depression, confusion, willingness to listen to the wrong voices, looking for an immediate solution to present problems instead of trusting God, and giving up on ideals--marriage, friendship, church, children--giving them over to others to influence them instead of staying faithful to owning this responsibility.

Yet, one of the most important things I have learned is that no one else is going to initiate to me to tell me to slow down, to refuel, to get spiritual input. It is an evaluation I must make for myself. I must take the bull by the horns and manage my own life and my own stresses with wisdom and with a plan. This is part of being a wise woman--knowing and responding to your own limitations.

What to do? I will be writing some articles in the next days that specifically address these issues--and each of the areas I list. I have had to learn many of these things the hard way. But I have also sought the counsel of older, wiser, more experienced women and read and studied and prayed over these issues. I do not want to fall short of finishing the race that I started. I want to finish it with joy and resilience. 

What we sow, we will reap. If we do not sow the seeds of wisdom and water, nurture and protect our priorities, then there will be a death to the garden of our souls. These essential priorities insure that we are growing in balance with God and man and purposes of life. 

But it helps me to remember that choices have consequences. Sometimes bad consequences. So, if I stay diligent to see these core commitments as essential to my long-term productivity in my life, then I will fill my soul and body at the same rate as I am being depleted, and I will have enough strength to finish my race well.

1. Rest--God made it so that our bodies needed sleep every single day. He also commanded Sabbath rest.

2. Relationships--We were designed to be relational people. We need accountability, companionship, love, friendship, support, input, encouragement. In an isolationist world, we have the illusion that we can brave it on our own. In my own experience, the lone ranger Christian becomes an easy target for Satan.

3.  Community of believers--We need to be a part of God's body--we need church. It is not an option, even if it is difficult to find one. In Hebrews, we are commanded not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

4.  Regular time in the word. If we neglect time reading and studying God's word and praying, then we are cutting ourselves off from one of the means of grace that God intended for us to have every day--His strength, his voice, His solutions, His power, His comfort, His promises. You cannot be spiritual without investing in the spiritual.

5. Recreation--God created personality and laughter and desire and pleasure and drive. If we neglect beauty, pleasure, fun, celebrating life, enjoying his creation, we will cut off a part of His Holy Spirit's provision for us to flourish and believe in His goodness.

6. Productivity--work is a part of what can make us feel affirmed. We all have a need to feel that we are being productive in life, accomplishing purposeful, tangible tasks. If we feel useless and worthless, it mitigates against God's work in our lives.

7. Feeding our minds on truth. We need to fill our cups with the ideals, philosophies, stories, practical input that will undergird the commitments of our lives. Culture tells us that we deserve a break, it encourages our selfishness, it gives us the permission to give up on marriage, or caring for our responsibilities and children. We need to feed our minds on those areas that cultivate and nurture our ideals, so that we can be living and working from a corpus of truth. 

8.  Physical--Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. However, if you abuse your body--don't sleep, drink healthy fluids, exercise, eat well--not too much sugar, fast foods, white flour, fats, you will not be able to function in the other areas. Stewardship of your body is a must if you want to sustain energy and health.

There are other priorities, but these are essential to good emotional, spiritual, mental and physical health. 

I am taking time the next couple of days to evaluate my life in light of these areas to be sure that this summer, I am refueling, restoring and filling my soul with those things that will help me to continue to invest in those areas that ultimately bring delight and life--to keep me centered in the joy of my salvation and the love of my savior.

Delinquent, I know!

Hi, to all of my wonderful blog friends. I have received such great emails and facebook comments telling me you are praying for us at Whole Heart and just plain encouragement from you. Thanks so much. Your emails and comments have really been keeping me going. I have not been writing regularly for almost a month, and plan to get back to it soon. But, I have been living life and spending my time on things that are important to my own family during this time. (Planting flowers and a garden, having birthday parties and several luncheons and personal tea time with a few friends, and sleeping and cooking) so my life and need for rest have just not allowed me to write--though I have lots of new ideas brewing in my mind and lots to share from the last couple of months. So stay tuned!

But I did want to connect you to a few good articles that I thought might encourage you and or give you some pleasure and insight. 

First, I am always so glad when research validates what I have always been doing and says that it is good. This one is about the healthy impact of black tea--how good it is for you--even with caffeine! So, of course I had to share that with you! Drinking Tea as good as drinking water! You do not have to agree with the article--but you do have to let me be happy about my 2-3 cups of English tea a day!

Now, I am garnering all sorts of research about how far-reaching the physiological effects and emotional and physical effects a mother's love can have on a child and finding new evidence all the time. This is a great article about how the voice and or hug of a mom can lower a child's cortisol and be a calming influence--even into adulthood. You will love this article. Maybe this is why I miss my mom so much--I need her voice and hug.

I will be writing more soon! Blessings and lots of gratefulness for my sweet online friends.

Grace and Peace,

Sally

Vienna--the home of my heart

There is a physical place called home and it is the place family lives and traditions are celebrated and love and morality and righteousness taught. But then there is a home that feels like home. Vienna is that for me. It was here that I lived as a young single woman. I would board my underground or tram, walk the streets, see the flowers, buy veggies and fruit from my little market down the street and greet my little man who worked there every day. I would meet women to discuss Christ and purpose and the universe over coffee in the most delightful cafes, with little flowers on the table, usually sweet music playing in the background and always, always the coffee was served in a real porcelain or china cup. Everywhere I would walk and take in the beautiful crisp air, people would pass with a Grussgott--meant Greet God--but really meant good morning. I thought God lived in Vienna because that is where I learned to love, worship and trust Him all by myself when no one else was looking. So, going there with my sweet ones, yet one more time, and seeing old friends and old haunts was a much needed vacation for my soul. And yes, God still lives in Vienna, too. Coffee and hot fudge cake at Heiners--an old favorite.

 

Coffee tastes more elegant in this the melauge or cappicino to you. And note the little flowers!

 

The buildings are old, beautiful, full of artistic detail, archways everywhere.

 

I had to take everyone to the Sacher Hotel for real sacher torte--the real one always has dark chocolate topping and apricot jam in the middle. Again, it tastes better when served in a pretty way. :)

 

We trained everywhere and took the trams and underground all over. Joel spared my ankle and carried my load. Sweet, wonderful heart. I cherish him so much and now miss him again. He was born in Vienna. Maybe that is why he is musical.  

The beautiful Hoffburg Palace--the winter palace for the royalty--where Marie Antoinette and Maria Theresa her mother lived. The Hapsburgs ruled over the empire--the total rule in Europe for this great coalition between Hungary and Austria was over most of Europe and lasted for 600 years. Maria Theresa, a devout Catholic, felt it her spiritual duty to marry all of her children to leaders of other countries to promote faith.

 

Oh, how can one choose? I guess we will just have to come 3 times a day!  

Elegance and beauty cared for with every detail.

The Gorgeous Musikverein in Vienna--an evening with Mozart and the New World Symphony with my composer son who was in heaven, the two girls and a precious old friend, Monica, from Vienna. What an uplifting evening.

   

The inside of the music hall looking at the ceiling.

 

Joy, in Salzburg, in the tombs where the Sound of Music was filmed and in the movie where the family hid!

 

My last meal with Joy before we joined the others and came home. Thanks so much Lord for giving me such a gift into my past with my sweet daughter and into the recesses of my soul. You are so good!

Asking God to turn the world upside down.......

The Clarkson's Christmas picture 2009

 My Sweet Blog Friends,

 Clay and I and our precious children started a ministry by faith about 16 years ago. We saw the break-up of families and the scars on the hearts of so many young adults and the Lord put it on our heart to start a ministry to train families to disciple their children, to cultivate a healthy marriage, to engage their hearts in being responsible for the moral training, the emotional health and the educational excellence of their children. We went almost 5 years without a salary hoping to get this ministry up and on its feet. Our children have traveled the world with us, worked at conferences, hauled boxes of books, prayed for hours at a time, and worked in our little office--with a hope and prayer that the Lord would use our family to somehow impact the world for Christ and to bring spiritual reality and health to countless families all over the world.  

 God has amazingly answered our prayers and provided us abundantly with opportunities to impact the world with these messages. As Clay and I approach new phases in our ministry and publishing, we want to be first before the Lord--asking Him for His direction, guidance, blessing and provision. But it is not our ministry, it is the team effort of thousands of families all over the world. 

We need you to help us at the crucial time in history. Would you join with us in praying for Whole Heart for the month of June? We would so appreciate it. The following is the prayer letter that went out to our list. We believe that as parents embrace these messages, the world will indeed be changed for eternity. May God give all of us grace to endure and carry our ideals to the end, energy for the task, spiritual maturity to hear His voice and to have His perspective, and love to redeem many back from a broken world. May we finish faithfully. Thanks for being a part of our prayer call. Please help us pass the word to your friends.

Dear Friends, June 1, 2010

I am so blessed to have a group of Whole Heart Prayer Warriors join us in our ministry as we continue to seek God's favor and will in reaching families all over the world.

I have been convicted in my quiet time to persevere in prayer in a new way and to step out in faith in believing God for bigger answers to prayer. "You have not because you ask not," as well as, "When I come back to the earth, will I find faith."

In light of this, our team here in Colorado Springs is praying that we could find 100 people who would be willing to pray for us every day the month of June. I know it is a busy time for families as they go on vacations, but if you would be willing to pray for even a portion of that time, and join us as a team of people willing to go before the throne of God, we would be most grateful. I will be doing a short video message to encourage you along the way in another week or so, but just wanted to see if we could get started in lifting up our vision and prayers to God together for the next 30-40 days! Please email us if you are willing to be a part of this team!

First of all, praise God because He is worthy. Praise Him as the God who reigns, the loving Father who has compassion, the Savior, the One who leads us in all truth. Praise Him from your heart.

1. Praise God for what He has accomplished--thousands  upon thousands reached through our books, conferences, tapes and dvds. Books in 5 different languages, faithful financial support for 15 years! (8 books written, 2 more old classics in print, 12 years of conference cd's, blogs, websites, and more!)

2. Pray for Him to bless us more than ever before:  *to put our books and messages into the hands of literally hundreds of thousands in the next year  *to raise up leaders who are willing to train and disciple women in small groups in churches and homes (this is happening in so many areas.)

 *We need around $50,000 to bring in new staff to run the Mom Heart Ministry website, conferences, blogs and small groups

 *We need the right person who would fill these staff positions

 *We want to see a revival amongst families, as the Holy Spirit creates a hunger these messages and for committing to the Biblical  Design of the Home and family

 *We want to see a publisher and distributor raised up in the Spanish Speaking World, who could get some of our books in print for them

*Pray for Clay and me as we continue to write new books and discipleship products and Bible study guides--that we would have physical, emotional, and spiritual strength, as well as wisdom to do all that God has called us to do. 

    *And please pray for Him to continue to raise up more helpers and support systems for us as we work, to help us (Aarons and Hurs)

*Pray for all of our children in our families to respond to our training (I believe my children are always a point of attack when we are trying to teach about the area of a Biblical family)  and to become godly leaders in their generation 

 (this is for you to pray for your children and their friends!)

We are so blessed to have been a part of what He is doing in the world. We are amazed at our opportunities and how the Lord continues to bless, but we want to seek and please Him.

Thanks for joining us. We need to storm the gates of heaven and fight our spiritual opponents together. We look so forward to seeing the Lord glorified and to see Him working in new ways. We are asking Him to turn our world upside down as he did through the first century disciples--wouldn't it be exciting to be a part of a movement of God! 

We are so grateful to all of you who have given financially, prayed for us, attended a conference, given a book, helped by teaching groups, or served in any way. What a privilege to be a part of such an amazing team of families. May He bless you today. Much love and appreciation.

Many blessings to you all. Love, Clay and Sally

Please leave a comment if you are willing to be a part of our call to prayer! We so appreciate all of you.

The Secret of a blessed life..........

I am always the one who benefits the most when I have to teach or speak or have devotions with my children or be accountable to anyone in any way. It forces me to grow when I have to be responsible for truth and the word of God. Many people have asked me over the years, "How did you raise your children to love the Lord, to stay morally pure, to love you and to want to serve His kingdom? What exactly did you do--tell me exact principles; show me the books you read and followed; what curriculum did you use?"

I also have sought answers to my mysteries and responsibilities over the years. I think that wise women always seek wisdom from other wise women.

But I learned so much from writing my book, Dancing With My Father. I studied David's life and pondered it and learned so many spiritual secrets. Yes, David did a lot of foolish things and yet, God says, "He was a man after my heart," and this pleased God.

David, of course, first learned to love and write songs about God and trust Him when no one was looking, out in the fields. And by God's power, in this hidden place, he practiced faithfulness and stepped out in faith and strength and killed a lion and a bear.

Then, after having developed a faithful heart, came against Goliath, "in the name of the Lord of Hosts" and by faith, slung his stone and downed a super enemy.

But then, after being anointed as king, he was on the run and in battle for over 20 years. And yet still, in this, kept a humble heart and trusted God. But, finally when he was king over both kingdoms, we find His secret.

He did not want to rule unless the ark of the covenant was present in the land--because David did not want to be the authority over the kingdoms--He wanted God, His presence, His voice, His blessing, His companionship. He wanted the Lord God be be on His throne in their midst.

And herein lies the secret, God in the center, God as the source, God as the Truth and message of our lives, God as the guide, God as the provider, God as the one who will accomplish His will. Our heart engaging in loving Him, seeking Him, bowing our knee to His will, not matter what, honoring Him in front of our children, family, friends, every day, in spite of our blunders and vulnerability--a life of faith and love and obedience--centered on Him.

David led the Levites to sing and share in this message as he called the ark of the Lord, forward before all the Israelites. 

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

 Make known His deeds among the peoples, Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; 

Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; 

Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek HIs Face continually." I Chronicles 16: 8-11 

In the midst of our intensive, purposeful time together the past few weeks, Joy asked me, "Mom, what do you really want from us as children when you say you want us to be godly? What, in your heart, is what you really mean when you think about your goal for us as your children?"

I thought a few seconds and then said, "Joy, I want you to know God in all of His love, beauty and glory and truth. To know His love for you, to know His direction for you, and in truly knowing Him, to learn to love Him with all of your heart, to walk with Him, to seek Him. If you find God and love Him and engage your heart you will find all that you need for every other area of your life--strength, wisdom, love, comfort, guidance, peace--He is the source of all that you will ever need."

Our goal for our children is not for them to be good--they and we will never be good enough--only He is good. But if we know and understand Him and serve Him, "all these things will be added to us," and we will have all that we need. God desires above all, that we have a cherished relationship with Him and that we love and serve Him from our heart.

And so we seek to know, love and serve God with our whole hearts in front of everyone in our lives, depending on His strength, His grace, His love. Anything less than this is not worthy of our life's work.

What do your children think is your goal for them? By what goals are you living? What is the world's measure of success in life? What is God's measure of success--"Do do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with our God." 

May He give us the grace to remain faithful to the important priorities of His heart.

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In light of our understanding that God is the source of our strength, wisdom, messages and blessing, we at Whole Heart and Mom Heart, are spending the month of June to praise God, seek His face and His blessing and guidance for us as a ministry. Our goal is to help women all over the world know and understand God, and then in understanding the Biblical design of family, to understand how to pass on this knowledge and love of God to their children in building a godly heritage. We are partners with families all over the world who are seeking to make this message known. 

We are asking God to raise up 100 people who are willing to pray with us for His favor and guidance during the month of June. If you are willing to be a part of our prayer 100, please write to admin@wholeheart.org to let us know you are joining with us. The next post I send on this blog will be our prayer letter. 

We are so grateful to all of you who have given financially, prayed for us, attended a conference, given a book, helped by teaching groups, or served in any way. What a privilege to be a part of such an amazing team of families. May He bless you today. Much love and appreciation.

And they're off---London to Paris--picture this #2 and my silly and dangerous mama moment!

  We started off with such high hopes--my sweet baby, now 15 year old and I. She who has been dragged around the globe to conferences for families, moms, parents. She has worked and carried book boxes and run cash registers and organized registration for conferences and slept on a variety of beds and put up with all of her old siblings and their issues. Now was my time with her--all by herself--no one else to have to share me--a very rare occasion in our family. 

What a precious time it was for me. Joy is so hysterical and had me in stitches a lot of the time. She was  charming and grateful and such a trooper as we figured out the foreign money, transportation and walked a thousand miles. She was the keeper of tickets--subway, train, airplane, and all else. I so enjoyed her friendship, the sweet talks, the camaraderie and will cherish sweet memories forever. She is indeed my treasured friend and daughter. Thanks, Lord, for helping us make the memories!

  Joy exploring the treasures that were garnered from Egypt and sharing a few opinions with this fellow! (The British Museum) 

Street Mimes everywhere all over Europe--a bobbie giving her advice.

Our favorite day in London--a boat ride on the Thames, the tower of London, and the crown jewels, Phantom of the Opera, and tea to cap off the day.

 

tea time 

 

After seeing all the castles, grave stones and even song at Wesminster Abbey, shops, museums, ships, places where people of renown are remembered for the profound things they did in this world, we were privileged to see Susanna Wesley's grave, along with John Bunyon, writer of Pilgrim's Progress--in a little unpretentious garden in a park--these who were world changers, though no one stood in line or paid money to see them. 

Our kids laugh sometimes because we often have people say, "It seems like it is always easy for your family and for you as a mom." We live in the same fallen world as everyone else and fight the same battles--but God has been so gracious. Did I forget to mention I fell the first day I was there and sprained my ankle and had multiple contusions and deep tissue damage with my ankle twice its size? My foot barely fit into my shoe it was so swollen and I had a knot on my shin bone! Yes it was sore, But, this was my only trip with Joy and I was not about to let it change any plans! 

If I told you how I did it, you would laugh--it was a "mama moment"--I heard Joy yell at me from behind a subway gate because her ticket was not working--somehow I had gotten through on hers and was a few feet ahead, heading down a deep subway into never land. When I heard her voice, I didn't give it a second thought and began bounding up a down escalator--at about the 8 step--the last one, I tripped and fell full force into the sliding stair and cut my leg and bent back my shin and ankle as I fell--it was a real picture of grace in action--you should have seen the woman behind me just trying to get on the subway! We have giggled and giggled about it, but now I am home and wearing a wrap and am on anti-swelling pain meds. 

Kinda like raising children for the Lord--we do make it--but it isn't always a pretty picture! :) 

London at night--Thames River, Big Ben and Parliament--a lot to do in 2 1/2 days--now off to Paris. 

More tomorrow.

Picture this--some memories captured from Europe

Clay and I decided many years ago that a part of the heritage we would give to our children would be a visit to the places where I ministered as a single women as well as the place we were in ministry together in Vienna, where Clay was on the pastoral staff of the International Chapel of Vienna. We decided that 15 was a good time to take a child, alone. For one thing, we could never afford to take our whole family. But at 15, our children have become young adults and are on the cusp of moving into their own adult lives. Having 2-3 weeks to build on the relationship we have, without distractions, to talk about goals and purpose in life and to share in memories, gives our children a foundation of our love in a new way and gives us a chance to undergird those ideals we have built over the years. Of course it takes lots and lots of planning and saving to make it happen.I thought I would share a few memories from our trip. I am starting in the middle because these are the only pictures I have access to today.  

Coming to Austria calls to a part of me that is a part of my deepest soul. I cut my teeth on spirituality in this country for 6 years. I learned to trust God, walk with Him, celebrate life, appreciate culture and beauty, share in the pristine life of flowers, white-washed walls, the splendor of the Austrian alps. I wanted Joy, (and all the other children before her) to understand this part of my life.

Hiking in Sound of Music Country near Salzburg

 

"picnic"-ing along the way every day with semmels, whole grain rolls, ham, cheese, applesaftgespritz and of course Manner schnitte--cookies!

Joy was fascinated with the big snails.

 

Meeting up with Joel and Sarah half-way through the trip in Austria.

 

The beauty was breath-taking and oh so familiar.

Evidently there were Whole Heart Friends hundreds of years ago in the old castles at the top of a mountain where we hiked!

The Charming cafe we ate in at our hotel every day--typical Austrian decor.

(We had banked a time-share we had bought when the kids were very young at a very low price and got a week for free in the Austrian Alps.)

 

Of course, we had an afternoon Melange each afternoon with the traditional glass of water to rinse down such pungent coffee. Oh how I miss Austrian coffee.