I can't not write and I am bubbling with excitement

A few years ago, Nathan adventured to the New York Film Academy where he had received a scholarship. Fearful of him making it there as a believer, I spent a lot of time on my knees and made a lot of calls. But, as it ends up, God lives in New York, too, and he did just fine through all the tests and trials, he stayed strong.

After a couple of months there, he called me one day and said, "You know, Mom, I feel like I fit in for the first time in my life. I am surrounded by dreamers and artists and people who don't think it is crazy to talk about music, books, ideas, and who have an international view of life. I feel like I belong with the people who are visionary like me."

That is why I am excited. I am attending a conference this weekend with 200 women who write blogs. Writers cannot not write. I am writing an article in the shower, when I am in the car, when I walk. I love to think and I love to express it.

And so you can imagine how much talking, chattering, opinions flying, ideas going around, I will meet with this week--with others who think about life in terms of writing and communicating.

Blogging is an easy outlet for me because every time I read or have a quiet time, I want to share what i have been thinking, and so blogging is in some ways, a journal for me.

So I am excited that I get to go to a place where the real me will be the norm! :) This is what I met this morning on the way to the airport--winter wonderland and snow and foggy skies. But it is already an adventure--just to see if I actually get to take off and make it to Harrisburg to the Relevant Conference.

I wish all of you a good day and the opportunity to be with those who think and behave in the same manner as you!

Which personalities are the most acceptable?

spotty or

striped?

quiet or loud? Intellectual or artistic? orderly or inspirational? driven or gentle? Humorous or serious?

"Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed." Romans 12: 1

Early one morning, my chatterbox little boy ran into the room, jumped on the couch next to me, snuggled and said with a sparkle, "Come on, admit it, mama! You must love me the best because I am the most fun of all your kids."

Followed by, "Nuh huh! She loves me best because I help her the most and you just get into trouble!"

And so the conversation escalated. My answer, "I love you the Nathanest! I love you the Joy-est!" You each have a place in my heart that only you can fit.

Personality--what a strange animal!

Perhaps you prefer one type of personality, and some personalities are surely easier to deal with. But the reality is, all personalities are holy to the Lord.

God gave me two introverts and two extroverts and a variety of different issues in between to shepherd. He expanded my soul and stretched me by challenging me to look at them from His eyes.

We live in a world that values conformity. We want to use our force, our power, our authority to make people, and our children, fit into the box. Be good. Be tame. Be moral. Don't bring attention to yourself. Don't contend or question the norm.

I remember a time when Nathan had brought some boys home from a class he was taking. A mile high pile of chocolate chip cookies, just out of the oven, was the enticement for them to stay around in my kitchen and jabber. One of the boys always called me, "Dude, mama." From him, it was a compliment. I had attained approval.

As they were talking, they said, "We thought Nathan was so weird when he first came into our class. He walked up to the teacher and introduced himself and said he was looking forward to being in the class. We all thought, 'Everyone knows you don't speak to a teacher in front of everyone else."

He then went on to say, "All of us learned by third grade to fit in, don't do anything that would call attention to yourself or you would be bullied by the whole group, all of your peers gang up against anyone who is different---everyone is supposed to fit in. So when Nathan comes and doesn't care what people think and makes friends with everyone, even the teachers, it blew our grid of norm.Truly, for a while, everyone thought he was a weirdo."

Quietness but fire underneath fits the description of one child, while steady Freddy, slow but dependable; funny, in your face charming, another. All have pushed my buttons through the years, but they have humbled me, too, in a good way. I now know for sure that I cannot control my children--they are free agents with a will and desires and dreams, all unique to the call on their lives and the personalities God gave them.

But, no matter the personality, I am called to shepherd them to love God, to teach and train them to have the character underneath that they will need to complete the tasks God gives them to do in their life time.

Most important, though, as a mom, I am called to control but to release them into His hands, as they are, to live out their uniqueness in a world that needs them to sparkle as God made them.

Nathan called me yesterday and said, "Hey, guess what, I got a new commercial with Nike! Keep praying, mom. God is opening doors."

This from the child who never fit into the box--always dreamed of something bigger, some way to influence the world. We are still waiting to see and spending time on our knees, but if I had followed the advice of those in the world who just knew "God's will" for us and told me to spank Nathan more, to make him fit in, I would never have seen God's will, would never had known the story of God shaping a young man's soul to be passionate for Him, to have the courage  to dream, and  to love him unconditionally with his stripes and spots--just as God had made him.

Training--the key to a godly character

Hey Sweet Momma, You're tons of fun and a great cook. Joy

Awakening to the darkness of an early day, I sleepily sauntered into the kitchen to make my early morning cuppa. Joy had thought ahead and placed this napkin message on the place she knew I would be making her breakfast. Taking her an early cup of tea each morning to awaken her and then making a hot breakfast of some kind and sending her off to her college classes with a prayer and a verse is our way around here these days. It is my way of filling her heart cup just a little before she forays off into the world of clashing values, a variety of challenges and people.

Showing what is in her own heart, gratefulness and the willingness to give back to me, is what warmed me when I found her sweet note. Gratefulness is not a natural character trait--it must be trainend, modeled, lived, practiced, cultivated.

So it is with all character. I often think that women that I speak with don't get the picture of discipleship. Their minds think like this, "I clothe my children, I provide their basic needs, we go to church, we have a fairly Christian home, and I think it is enough for my children.

However, when I picture my children's souls as a garden and realize that greatness of character must be planted, cultivated, fertilized, watered, protected, removing weeds and bugs and all that would kill the garden of their soul, I understand that discipleship is very intentional. It must be a daily, moment by moment endeavor. It is a way of life input. Excellence of character is not an accident. It is a purposed goal, and it must be trained over and over and over.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I was reading an article about brains and it goes so well along with this verse. When children are very young, we can create pathways, deep highways of thoughts in their brains. We teach a truth and then we repeat it and then we practice it and so on, and each time a word and concept are repeated, it is like going over the path again and it creates deeper pathways and broader highways of brain patterns, and when the brain integrates new ideas or words, it immediately goes to the pathway already established in order to integrate an idea. So the more we train, talk, verbalize, and give our children food for thought about this concept where they speak back and interact more about an idea, the more clearly this concept is set.

I love it when science elucidates biblical principles--train up a child, over and over and over and in many different ways and in many different scenarios, and when he is old, it will be the first go to response of the adult because it is a deep pathway in his mind.

That is why children must be attended to by their parents---otherwise the soil of their hearts will just be subject to whatever else is planted their if the intentional planting and gardening is not well established. Whatever is planted, fertilized, watered and given sunlight will grow deep roots in their souls.

So many children just have fallow ground for their heart--not much intentionally planted, and so seeds and weeds and blown in by the wind and take over the uncultivated ground.

Training, then, will be the topic of some of my near articles, in between all the rest of life issues as I write about them.

So, today, what do you want to plant? What character qualities do you want to harvest in the lives of your self and in your own children?

 

Straining to hear His voice today, so grateful He is here

We need silence to be alone with God, to speak to him, to listen to him, to ponder his words deep in our hearts.  We need to be alone with God in silence to be renewed and transformed.  Silence gives us a new outlook on life.  In it we are filled with the energy of God himself that makes us do all things with joy.  Mother Teresa need silence to be alone with God, to speak to him, to listen to him, to ponder his words deep in our hearts.  We need to be alone with God in silence to be renewed and transformed.  Silence gives us a new outlook on life.  In it we are filled with the energy of God himself that makes us do all things with joy.  Mother Teresa

A few years ago, one of my children was spending time getting to know a friend who seemed a possible candidate for a serious relationship. However, when spending time with this precious one, she seemed to be interested only in herself. She talked all the time, spoke of herself all the time, and never engaged anyone else with a question or interest in their lives.

I am a bit shy at heart. I do not easily reveal what is going on inside and honestly, it is rare for someone to take the time to talk to me about what is going on inside of me. I realized then, that I feel closest to those who want to know me personally. One who takes the time to ask my questions that engage my heart, my interests, my dreams--someone who wants to hear from the inner most part of my heart--this is the one I grow to love, because a conversation between two souls will take place.

And so, I realized it must be with God. If anyone had anything to say, it must be Him, all wisdom and truth--and so I realized, I need to go into His presence, not always talking about myself, but to be there to listen, to seek His heart, to know His perspective.

But to do this, I have to stop--the noise, the voices, the people, the responsibilities.

Oh, God, let me hear you today.

A Miracle in the form of a Macbook Air--and angel in a Mac shirt

Sooooooooo, this has been an adventuresome and challenging couple of months. End of July, I spoke at a conference in Houston. August started with a leadership intensive in my home for 32 leaders from all over, then off the next weekend to a family day weekend with our kids in California, where we were notified that my sweet mom died. Then, travel to Oklahoma for the memorial and burial, then drive to Texas for clearing out her house and dividing up the "stuff" and then driving in a rental truck 820 miles home. Pack Joel off in a move to Los Angeles. Pack Sarah up and move her to southern Colorado. Sarah then had a friend who rolled her car 3 times and totaled it, then she had a wreck in the conference van she was driving for Summit Ministries and a truck plowed into the back of her car while she was stopped, followed by a ruptured ear drum and visit to the clinic. Joy needed surgery, which was eventually postponed while I took Clay to different appointments for his surgical procedure. Then surgery and the last 10 days of nursing, falling, having pain, sleepless nights and a trip to the emergency room and now anemia. Holding it all together amidst articles, meals, house-keeping, ministry, plane tickets, more trips ahead and deadlines and being mom to all the various needs of my children.

Sometimes, I have observed, that when I am seeking to walk with God, bearing under lots of stress by faith, seeking to have a strong and resilient spirit, I have not known just how tired I am or how vulnerable, I am until something unravels me unexpectedly.. When I am running at full pace without a break, I  don't have time to think about how I am doing--just no time to think about myself.

Then there was yesterday. My computer had died on Tuesday, and I need my computer for almost everything I do. Finally, got a call from the store yesterday and said, "Come in and we will talk to you about it." So, I took a short break from Clay, made it to the store and was talking with the "genius" at the genius bar about the ramifications. Seemed they would have to look at it again , it was very sick and needed work, and they have keep it over the weekend for more days. Arrrggggghhhhhh--I felt frustrated because I am so far behind on everything. But somehow, I kept calm and practiced my strong, "I can deal with this" attitude because I really have been just releasing things to the Lord and somehow He has sustained through day after day.

Then, a manager came up and asked me what was going on---I began to explain, "The fan doesn't stop, the motor keeps running, it overheats,  it shuts down and won't reboot........."

And then, out of the blue, she said, "This is what we are going to do," as she pointed to the top of the computer window to her fellow employee. He shook his head in the "yes" motion, and walked away to get something.

"I am going to give you a Mac for free and 3 years of warranty. It is the right thing to do as I don't think we can fix this any other way. And would you like a MacAir or a macbook? I would suggest the air since you travel a lot and write books. And I will throw in extra space on the computer, and a three year Apple care warranty, because I want to do it!  I just want you to have this because I just felt like giving it to you and that you might need it."

I was stunned. Shocked. Absolutely did not expect it. Suddenly, my tears began to roll---something about someone being unexpectedly nice to me in the midst of all that I have been carrying, melted me. I am quite sure the sweet angel woman thought, "Well, she has lost her marbles now. I do something nice for her and all she can do it cry! Wonder what that is about?!"

Joy walked up and was shocked that I was crying. She said in alarm, "Mom, what's wrong? What happened? Did something happen to Daddy?"

"The store manager just gave me a brand new Macair for free and extra bells and whistles--and it just made me cry, cause I am so touched."

Then we both started giggling at me, and couldn't stop giggling.

I can tell you, I believe in angels, miracles and I feel like I am typing on a toy, because it is so cool and thin and sleek and fun and light. So, that was my miracle Thursday--and it all came about through a Mac Computer!

How was your Thursday?

Conducting a symphony of soul

Sipping my white chocolate cappacino in my favorite blue hand crafted mug, while curled up in my pj's, I am listening to Christmas music, I am as happy as a clam. (how ever happy they are?!) Remember that bubbling excitement you felt as a child when you looked at a sparkling Christmas tree with presents underneath and anticipated Christmas morning? God Himself created us for pleasure and joy and comfort and beauty and all the deep down satisfying feelings of pleasure.He mounted a chorus of angels at the first birthday party of Jesus--He just couldn't hold back celebrating!

Yesterday, I wrote about choices of joy to be an over-comer, but cherishing joy and creating it and placing pleasure into the difficulties of life is a way we become artists of light and beauty and creators in His image. Even as HE casts a glowing pink sunrise every morning for me to behold and honor and enjoy, so I can cast in the midst of darkness light, color and beauty that brings hope.

And so overcoming doesn't mean simply gutting it out, grinding our teeth in an, "I will make it if it kills me," sort of attitude.  I

t means crafting pleasure in the midst of darkness which eventually reaches our souls and helps us remember His light and beauty. And I have found that in the obedience of cultivating light and joy in my home and life, even when I do not feel it, invests in my eventual happiness because as my sweet ones around me, whom I serve become delighted in my life celebrations, my own soul becomes encouraged. I know it isn't Christmas yet, but I so enjoyed my George Winston Christmas album this morning in the early morning chill of dawn, and so it became a comfort to myself.

And many thanks to a thoughtful friend who knew I had been sequestered inside for too many days taking care of Clay, who went by my favorite coffee shop and brought me a special coffee--another lighter of joy in my life today.

Choosing Joy, Choosing to Overcome

Carl Larsson

'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

I am currently teaching three women's Bible studies in my home, that encompasses well over 100 women. Stories told by these precious ones reveals a multitude of challenges and difficulties--autistic children, single parenthood, cancer, financial problems, marriage problems, exhaustion, anger, depression--the list goes on.

Jesus said, "In this world, you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world."

With that in mind, we must understand that this is the fallen place, the place of spiritual battle as evidenced in the different stories of the women in my Bible studies. As I have said before, heroes are made in times of battle. Yet, each of our lives will tell a story. Each of us has been granted a portion from God--our own circumstances, obstacles, challenges, in which we are the only ones who can choose to be faithful and courageous.  No one else gets our story. We are not allowed to choose someone else's story.

However, I see that often the circumstances, the giants of our lives, can bring fear, weariness, defeat.

But godly character comes into play when we determine to make a choice to be an over-comer--one who will turn towards every obstacle of life with a heart of faith.  We have the choice and opportunity to accept our own "portion" with faith and fortitude that says, "By God's grace, I will live this life, this moment today, with courage, strength, grace and joy. God is my strength. God is with me. God will guide me and God will leave me through."

Or, we can choose to capitulate to fear, bitterness, an unforgiving attitude, lack of acceptance, or any other attitude that we allow to rule our heart that leads us to give up our ideals.

If we want to pass on faith to our children, a real, vibrant, strong faith, then in our trials, we must exhibit to them faith that practices walking with God, persevering, holding fast to convictions, even when they don't seem to matter.

Faith must believe that He is--that He is with us, that He is good, that He is in control, that He will reward us in His time and in His way.

The decisions we make when no one else is looking, will determine the ultimate outcome of our character and the ability to become leaders or women of influence. I have learned over the years that is ti not in some distant future time, when all of my trials are gone, that I will be able to be more spiritual. It is this day, this moment, where I must gird up strength and choose to obey.

There are brave, courageous women in my midst, who against formidable odds, have held fast to Jesus and their stories are breath-taking and encouraging and cause me to want to trust Jesus more for my own problems.

However, there are also in my midst, whiners--women who nurture the idea that they are being "picked on" by God, that somehow He has given them more than they can take, that they are a victim of life.This victim mentality will cause havoc for the rest of their lives, as women who do not trust God and choose to believe in His goodness will be left to battles of soul the rest of their lives. I see and hear from sweet women, who have become victims because they have not had the heart to accept life as God has given it--they have practiced complaining and shaking their fists at heaven so long that it has become a habit and robbed them of the ability to have joy or to see God at work. The eyes of our heart and the obedient choices we make when we are squeezed by life will determine the kind of women we become.

Many seasons of our lives will be quite difficult and filled with tears, deep darkness and sadness--this is a part of scripture, "In this world we have tribulation." Jesus was crucified and has not asked us to bear anything He has not already born. Yet, what we do with the giants in the land, how we choose to walk forward in the midst of these trials will determine our testimony.

Overcoming, by the blood of the lamb, is a theme in Revelation. Through reading and studying these passages, I have found courage and inspiration to practice being an over-comer. Over the past years, I have seen that I have to choose to worship Him right where I am by obeying Him in the moment of each challenge He brings my way. This obstacle or test along my journey will teach me something I need to learn about life. This moment I am writing my story of faith. This day, He will give me the strength to overcome.

It has been the very obstacles in my life that have deepened my compassion for others, that have made me more humble and shown me my limitations, that has expanded my reach in ministry, because of understanding other's struggles more personally from having gone through them myself.

But I strategically named this blog, "I take joy"--I choose joy today, because He is my song, He is my salvation, He is my redeemer and He has overcome before me. May He grant each of us the faith to be over-comers today, right where we are, with precious eyes of children and peers looking on, so that we may teach the patterns of walking with God, and waiting for His miracles to others who need hope. May God give you strength, in whatever you are facing. May we tell stories of His miracles and provisions in heaven as we celebrate what He was willing to accomplish through us in our life-time.

Off to face my own obstacles with His companionship every step of my day.

 

Salad Art and this and that and giveaways and winners

I love salads and we try to have one at each dinner meal. It is an easy way to get your 5 fruit and vegetables in as well as just to provide health with daily greens. I found over the years, from the time my children were quite small, that if I made things interesting or beautiful or fun, they were much more likely to develop an appetite for those things.

My friend, Shelley, is masterful at this. This beautiful centerpiece is just a simple salad made pretty. And of course our challenge is to have the kids have at least one veggie of each kind when they make a scoop. We all marveled and ooohhed and ahahahed at this before we dived in. You can use other veggies and fruit (like cranberries or blueberries) to add some extra tangy flavor--for me the more the merrier.

So, tonight, look at your recipes in a differently and see if the presentation can make the very same recipe a little bit more artistic. What are some of your family's favorite recipes? We might pursue some great fall recipes, soon!

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"So sorry about the broken links to Brooke's websites below. You can find all of the links you need, conveniently located in one place, by going to www.brookemcglothlin.com! Thanks!"
The winner of the book is Janine, whose comment says:
Janine says:

I have 3 boys – Malachi, 12 Josiah, 10 and Elijah 7 and boy(no pun intended) could I relate with everything written. So glad I have Someone to turn to for help!!

 

Thanks, Brooke, for making this book a gift to Janine. You can also purchase this book for a download at her sight and it will really encourage you!
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In the midst of life and nursing, I forgot to announce the winner of Nathan's ebook. It is:

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Kimberly Sanchez

Oh, Sally, I want a copy! How exciting is this for Nathan and for your family. I cannot imagine how proud you must be, as a writer, to have your son follow in your author footsteps. I can’t wait to read the book and share it with others. All the comments so far echo my own heart. Raising a child that has so many difficult needs wears the mama soul down. It’s so good to keep seeing you standing there on the other side seeing the victory playing out in your child’s life. I dream of those days, and pray my heart can last that long. Thank you, Sally, for everything you do.

Thanks for everyone who has left comments  and entered in. You can order Nathan's book as a pdf or kindle at: http://www.e-junkie.com/nathanjclarkson/product/468014.php#Wisdom+Chasers

Finally, my sweet friend, Brenda Nuland, has a wonderful blog and she has written a great review of Educating the Whole Hearted Child and is giving one away. Join her at: http://coffeeteabooksandme.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment to win the book. Or you can order it at www.wholeheart.org

Off to my afternoon. Cheers!

 

 

I need a friend

Mary Cassat a cup of tea

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts, nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with breath of kindness, blow the rest away."

George Eliot

"A friend loves at all time." Proverbs

I have needed you and I am indebted to you and I love you.

My life has brought so many seasons of blessings and grace and also, endless trials that lend to an "out of control" seasons of life. When I look back on the Lord's many blessings over the years, I see friends as one of the main ways He has shown me His reality, His words of grace and love, His compassion, His wisdom, His gentleness and forgiveness and grace. I have needed friends that knew me and still loved me as I am a very imperfect person, who needed to know I could still be loved with all of my imperfections.

Without my friends, I would not be as mature in the Lord, or want to keep believing in His goodness. We could never, ever worked so broadly in ministry without so many to help, pray, work at registration, book tables, help set up, take care of us and our precious children.

Our ministry would have gone under financially without generous support through all of the hard seasons. Even in this season of financial challenge with medical bills, there have been those of you who have reached out beyond what we deserved and helped. I simply could not have made it without friends.

Have I experienced loneliness? Of course--regularly over the years. When moving 17 times and 6 times internationally, there are inevitable times of being alone--the new kid on the block. And as an idealist going against the grain of culture,  always there have been such times of loneliness and long bouts of isolation. Of course, there are so many times one feels alone. But even in these times, there have been those who have left a note, or comment, or sent a letter or email--when they could have had no idea, that it was their one word that lifted me up and kept me from despair.

Recently, with my mom's death and cleaning out her home and grieving in the midst of a very busy life, there were angels I did not even know well, who provided  grace, help and meals in Texas when I was not even in my hometown.

Next came Sarah's wrecks, illness. Nathan's campaign. My home Bible studies--and there were those who have held up my arms and prayed--even from their own beds of cancer and surgery.

And with Clay's serious surgery, and now the nursing at home, I could not have known what it would have cost me in time and energy and effort. Yet, behind the scenes, again, God smiled on me, by sending amazing meals, notes, emails, and even a friend who helped me clean house last night, because of a group of women coming to my house in the midst of the chaos.

There have been friends I have never met, but who take time to write me and encourage me and share in our kindred heart dreams, disappointments and life issues.

Today, I want to say, I could not have made it without you. I would not be the person I am without you being willing to invest love, time, thoughtfulness in so many different ways. I love each of you who has taken the time to give or encourage. I am sitting here waiting to help Clay in his next task and thinking how very blessed I have been to feel the hands  of God through real, live people.

I have had no time to send thank you notes, (and yes, Mom, I do feel guilty), and I have not even been answering the phone this week, because the daily tasks have been quite daunting, but nonetheless, you have been in my heart and on my thoughts.

THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU--even if I have been more absent than usual, you are still a very important part of my heart and thoughts. You mean more to me than you will ever know.

There is probably a friend in each of our lives today who need to hear our words or know our kindness or prayers and you have inspired me. May each of you who have blessed me so, feel the love of God through a friend, and know my love coming your way from my heart,  today.

Warrior Prayers and a book giveaway!

Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most

A wonderful new book I will give away!

When women hear the stories of my two boys, Joel and Nathan, they are amazed and so often think, "How did Sally raise boys who are having such wonderful opportunities? What method of child training did she use? What was her philosophy of education?"

Though all of these might have influenced much of my boy's souls, it is the Lord who has opened doors for them. God is the only one who we had to commend us. We had no wealth, no great education, no outstanding training--just an understanding that we were to be dependent on Him--the source of all wisdom, strength, help, love, grace. We lived the Lord, spoke of Him, sought Him and worshipped Him.

Joel, composer           Nathan, actor,  writer

Though the outcome of our boy's lives so far have had some external fruit--Joel getting into Berklee even though he could not really read music and had little back ground, and then graduating with summa cum laude and composer of the year, and finished in 2 1/2 years-- it was totally a miracle, a grace of God. We were on our knees praying every single day. We prayed him through overwhelming moments when his work load was too big, he didn't have enough money to pay for school, challenges on the learning curve because he did not know all the music that his peers who had studied for all their lives--so Joel worked diligently, by faith, and we prayed and prayed and prayed. And in God's hands, our little became enough. The process was all by faith and took years, and yet God moved and was faithful and opened doors and blessed. He is the source of blessing, not any works that we could garner without His help.

Same with Nathan--scholarship to New York Film Academy, moving to Hollywood, getting his sag card and having the opportunity to be behind the marketing of Dolphin Tale and writing a book. The boys worked hard, but mainly both boys prayed every day and knew that prayer--trusting in Him, asking Him to guide, looking to Him for wisdom--was the secret. We give our fish and loaves to God and depend on Him--He is enough and more.

Rarely have I met someone who really understood this principle so well at such a young age. Brooke McGlothin is a sweet friend of mine, a young mom of two boys, who has captured this truth so well. Her new ebook is profound and simple--if you want to see God work, you must depend on Him in prayer. He is the source of all blessing, He is the one who must receive the glory for working through normal people in extraordinary ways. I found myself nodding and underlining all the way through her book. I want you to know Brooke's heart and her blog and have the opportunity to be encouraged by her wonderful book. Brooke has generously offered to give a book away to one of my readers who leaves a comment on my blog. Here is her heart and an article by her:

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I watch their little faces as we prepare for bedtime prayers. I’m overwhelmed with love for them, overwhelmed with parenting them, these little boys who have stolen my heart and rocked my world. As I write this, my sons are six and four. Already I find myself wondering where the time has gone. I'm running as fast as I can to keep up with every step they take, tucking each moment away in my memory for safekeeping.

I asked God to give me boys. Even before I was married I knew I wanted boys--to raise men who would be different, respecters of women, lovers of God--to teach little men to work with their hands, take com- mitments seriously and protect the least of these. Warriors, protectors, worshippers, peacemakers and friends--these are the dreams I have for my little ones.

Fast forward twelve years or so, and the present-day circus that is my life often finds me asking this question:

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

I don’t have any clue how to be the mom of boys! They’re rough and tumble. I don’t have an athletic bone in my body. They’re loud and obnoxious. I enjoy peace and quiet. They love dirt and mud and bugs. I’d rather curl up with a good book in my nice cool family room.

Obviously, God has a sense of humor.

If you are the mother of at least one boy you are shaking your head in agreement with me right now. I used to think there was something wrong with my boys, that they were the only ones in the world who ac- ted the way they do. Then the Lord hooked me up with an awesome community of boy moms and I learned that this simply isn't true! There is something different about boys!

·    They’re loud.

·    They like to leap from tall buildings with no safety net (a.k.a. jump off the top bunk).

·    They like to build forts and hide candy.

·    They break toilets and “go” in (and all over) anything BUT the toilet.

·    They’re adventurous.

·    They’re natural born protectors.

·    They like to shoot things (even when there’s nothing actually resembling a gun).

·    They shower you with spit when showcasing their sound effects skills.

·    They love their mommies and need their daddies.

·    They’re made of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails (OK, not really. But when I told my oldest that girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice, he asked if he could lick me!)

I’m afraid that we’re losing the beauty of training up godly men.

The bottom line is this: our boys need strong parents now more than ever. We’re losing them; raising a generation of weak men. Young men who have no idea what it means to be a man are everywhere.

We’ve failed them.

So what, you’re asking, do we do about it? My answer is short and sweetly simple. There are so many books out there today on the topic of parenting that I can’t count them. Nor do I have time to read them all. But even if I did, reading these books, and putting the solid tools in them to work, still doesn’t come with guarantees. Knowing this, it becomes quite clear that there is only one thing we can do.

Plead with God. Pray.

“The fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much” James 5:17.

It's our hope.

So many of you moms, right this very moment, are kneeling down or lying flat on your face before God, asking Him to help you.

You’re lost, overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed, heartbroken, and seconds away from waving the white flag in defeat. I know where you are. I’ve been there. I’m still there. I have no idea how to make this dream of mine come true. I have no idea how to raise men who will be different: respecters of women, lovers of God. I have no idea how to teach little men to work with their hands, take commitments seriously, and protect the least of these. And I certainly have no idea how to raise warriors, protectors, worshippers, peacemakers, and friends by myself.

But I do know how to get down on my knees and cry out to God on their behalf. I do know that God’s Word is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart“ (Hebrews 4:12).

So I pray the Word over my boys daily. Asking the One who has the power to change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh to find my boys and make them His.

In spite of me.

Brooke is a mom of two young boys who leave her desperate for God’s grace. Her pursuit of being a better mom has left her at the foot of the cross, knowing that if God doesn’t show up … nothing happens. This dependence upon God to turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh leads her to her knees in prayer. She’s the author of the best-selling eBook Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most (on sale now for just $2.99 as a PDF download!), creator of the 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge and co-founder of the well-loved online community for mothers of boys, the M.O.B. Society. She offers hope for change to the hearts of women at her main blog, A Life in Need of Change.