Used Blog 2/2/2021 The Motherhood of God

Benjamin West (a painting of his mother--and a great book about him for your children--Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin)

When God wants to comfort Israel through Isaiah to let them understand just how dearly he loves them and how lavishly He will bring about restoration and comfort to them, He who created mothers to be a picture of love, tenderness and comfort, uses this image of Himself to show just how His love will be extended.

“Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her; Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her,

That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, That you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.”

For thus says the LORD, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 66:10-13

And so, as a  mother who cherishes her child, so God cherishes us, His chosen.

May we know His comforting love today.

Sacrifice, yes, Mundane--shoot me now

Every morning when I awaken and sneak down the stairs, (I make myself get up early because I do not survive well without time alone to sit, awaken into the day and get my heart centered.)

I light my fire, and candles around the room and put on some music from my favorite Pandora channel. No, it is not a party and I am not having a group over--this is for me.

I find that if I could sacrifice my life at the moment for a cause--to die suddenly for rescuing someone on the spot or be killed for my faith, it seems noble and I think I am willing.

But it is the long haul, the day after day, faithfulness, the years and months and days of mundane that rattle my spirit. I am not naturally a sit still and work hard type. And so, to survive the mundane better with some grace, I have learned to place small pleasures in my day. It brings me pleasure to sit in an early morning, dark room with candlelight and music and a fire shimmering. It also brings pleasure to my children to be in beauty and color.

It is why I have cultivated a one woman tea time in the afternoons and take some time to do something that I like--from reading a favorite magazine or book or watching a 15 minute clip from a movie while munching a piece of dark, salted almond chocolate.

When my children were driving me crazy from being inside for too long, I would sometimes stop what we were doing and load them into the car and take them all to Barnes and Noble or another such bookstore or to a park or somewhere for hot chocolate or the goodwill store to spend $2 apiece or a garden shop or to the Focus on the Family Whit's end, or somewhere they could run and explore, hiking nature trails, just so that I could breathe.

God never said life had to be boring to be good.

In the spring, I would finagle a way to go on the road. I would offer to speak in different places for staying in homes in order to explore historical homes and cities, listen to books on tapes in the car and to give me and my sweet ones a break from the mundane.

I am a bit wild at heart and sitting still for too long, for years and months could tempt me to crater.

God slowly showed me that I am responsible to craft a life in which I can last long term with joy and pleasure of my own crafting along the way, so that I can maintain the ideals I have established for myself.

And in the midst of living an interesting life--my children have also become crafters of beauty and pleasure.

There is so much mundane, so many challenges, so much stress, that I finally learned, a wise woman takes responsibility for her own long term well-being so that she may stay the course and live well in the midst of daily ideals.

A tiny bit of investment of my time and creativity brings me days of little pleasures, as I enjoy the places of life I have crafted for the well being and life of my own soul.

It is not a luxury, it is a necessity. After all, God is the one who made color, beauty, music, stories, food and pleasure. It is in incarnating His  fullness that my life can be lived well.

(A little corner of pleasure--the dishes I just inherited from my mom; candle sticks from a friend wrapped with little berries from the craft store, a heart gift from a friend, and a framed calligraphy quote from my little team of leaders here in Monument. Just seeing this little table each morning and lighting my candles gives me a tiny pleasure and memory of loved ones.)

And so, today, I commend you to do at least one thing that brings a little pleasure to your soul and to celebrate life just a little as that will also bring pleasure to a God who loves to see us celebrating His reality.

How about you? What are some of your little pleasures?

This is the day, holy unto the Lord

Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.

Today is His, we are to look at Him, His sky art, the music of His loving voice.

Today, we have these moments to breathe His reality and goodness into the reality of moments invested with our children, our family and our friends.

May His gentle love be expressed through the words we say,

May His love, which covers a multitude of sin, transpose our relationships,

May our heart engage in His presence and please Him as we use this day, this moment, to bring pleasure to His heart.

This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice.

He who overcomes...recapturing beauty

Waterhouse

The Pre-Raphaelite movement was  reflected through the ideals of some English artists who wanted to reclaim the beauty, the detail of drawing well, the chivalry that art and artists had depicted  from a time in history that embraced these lofty ideals. Many of this movement wanted to reclaim the nobility and beauty of a time gone by,  when other art movements in France and Europe were moving towards less defined techniques of impressionism and when the philosophy of men was becoming more relative. The movement was not based only on Biblical spirituality and eventually lost influence when modern philosophies took over in the early 20th century. But the art produced during the time of these ideals was beautiful and reflected the soul of their philosophy.

In like manner, I hope that the philosophy I embrace in my soul, will reflect its reality in through the moments of  my daily life, a divine beauty. I hope it is recapturing the heart of God, in a time when family and relationships are not being honored as holy, but are being profaned by their brokenness and destruction, and lack of care.  When seeking to establish my home as a place of beauty, redemption, a restoring of God's design, I had to picture in my soul what I perceived as whole, healthy, full of the light of God's design. Though surrounded by a movement of sexual revolution, immorality, divorce, feminism, and leaving Christian values, I had to cultivate an imagination which sought to restore all that was good.

Much like lighting a candle in the darkness--or cultivating beauty and life in a garden that is filled with thorns and weeds,  I understood that I was going against the force of darkness and evil--Satan--who wanted to destroy family and children so that he could own the soul of the next generation.The knowledge and understanding that it is a fierce battle, fortified me for temptations of compromise and giving up, that accompanied my ideals in the midst of the obstacles of living in a fallen world.

But I also understood that this was my service of worship to God--to seek to emulate and live out the light of His call and design.

When I read the comments of the past few days and see into the deep cries of the hearts of the beautiful women who have posted their desires of what they would like for me to write, I also feel their struggles, challenges, battles. As one who has been immersed in the battle for family, motherhood and raising godly children, I closely identify with your battles and personal struggles.

Raising my family was fraught with weariness, frustration, darkness, hurt feelings, criticism, difficult children, stress in marriage,--you name it, I experienced it. And so in that light, you are my wonderful heroes--you who would take on this enormous task of subduing and civilizing your home, your family and your lives in a culture and time in which families are being torn apart and children's souls are being filled with darkness and despair.  No easy task. I feel so honored to be in the presence of women who would seek to overcome.

He who overcomes is mentioned eight times in Revelation and each time it is accompanied with a promise of reward. God particularly wants us to understand that when we prevail, by faith and obedience, in the power of His Spirit, over darkness, we live out the reality of His power and presence in the same way that Christ did when he was alive. It is a striving against sin and darkness to make His beauty and His light a reality. It is a work of love for Him, not works to earn salvation, for that we could never do.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good," we are admonished in Romans 12:21

This labor of faith, and the diligence and effort required to overcome evil,  reflects  glory to God and indeed a great work of faith, in the same vein of those who lived courageously and faithfully in the Hebrews hall of faith.

There is no rational reason why one would give up her life, her body, her time, her rights, for the well-being and building up of someone else. And yet, I believe that the sacrifice of Christ--the giving up of His life so that others might be redeemed and restored to the beauty of His character is portrayed by servant mothers through out all of history.

So, today, I wish you courage, a sense of victory, affirmation, that you are those who are making the reality of His great heart and soul by each tiny act of faith when you choose to love your little ones in your home, when you choose to serve by making your homes a lighthouse of righteousness and when you bring the grace of forgiveness and peace to those who have fallen short.

May He give you the spirit of overcoming and the eyes to see that ever invisible act of faith is a grace and glory to His kingdom purposes.

Be blessed today in His pleasure and love and grace, and in the knowledge that you, as one who overcomes,will find favor and blessing from Him, in this, your service of worship.

There is a reason that I am a serious and committed walker--it is to get away, be where there is quiet, leave the crowds, have time to reflect.

When I was a young mom, I was somewhat of a pioneer in most of my ideals. When the culture was moving towards feminism, God was whispering to me of the Biblical design of motherhood, and discipling my children, and cultivating a Biblical legacy. But, it required that my eyes were on Him, pursuing, pondering scripture, seeking the secrets of the life and influence of Christ--and trying to discover just what the power and influence of a family and home was created by God to be.

I love turning away from cultue and listening to His voice. He brings life, freedom, joy, grace.

But what I see in the lives of so many today is legalism, boxes, rules, pressure, living up to the Joneses, and not very much original thought. There are so many more experts, opinions and voices crowding the horizon today than when I was capturing my ideals. It must be confusing. But trying to follow all of these voices choke out freedom to be who you are, to live as the family that God has created you to be. These things will kill a soul.

What is needed most, is quiet, perspective, time to think and find ones center for your very own puzzle.

I was so convicted by a blog post yesterday by my daughter, Joy, that you will love--in light of thoughts of getting away to Him.

You can find it here: http://joynessthebrave.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/its-a-loud-loud-world/

May you find some getaway moments today, to be in silence, so you may hear His voice.

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PS I have been so very encouraged by all of your comments yesterday and am so excited to write on some of these subjects--after the conferences, after I finish my book with Sarah Mae and after I attend two more speech tourneys! But, I will get to this! Looking forward to seeing many of you in California and Texas--where I will speak to some of these very issues!

Accomplished, Intentional, Exceptional women feed the souls of others

Mary Cassatt

A woman who thinks and reads,  will serve others well and invest wisdom to those in her sphere of influence.

I have been intrigued, lately, by the thought of writing a book about great women--those who leave a legacy of spirituality, influence, wisdom and grace in the wake of their lives. I have known a number of what I would consider "great women" and I have been working on the the areas of strength and commitment that they all seem to share in common. I am wondering if that kind of a book would appeal to women like you, my friends. It seems to me today that our churches are neglecting some of the training and vision that can build women into godly, strong leaders in their generation.

Of course one of the attributes that has arisen from studying and interviewing these women, is that all of them are great readers. They have invested many hours in engaging their minds in scripture, with great thinkers, biographies and when I talk to them, I know I will be stimulated to greater thoughts and ideas because what is in their soul is worthy for me to come into contact with. A woman cannot give out greatness of mind if she has not invested her mind in great thoughts.

Now I am not talking about formal education. As a matter of fact, I learned so little of what I know from college, or public school. Most of what I know has been in my own personal pursuit, my own hunger to know as well as my desire to pass on great thoughts and ideas to my children. Being accountable to them, being a steward of their minds and thoughts has created an environment of learning for me. Any child who has a mother who loves to learn, will be blessed.

All women who are made in God's image, and who want to pursue excellence of mind, must intentionally cultivate their ability to think, to understand theology (the knowledge of God), and to follow paths of wisdom. Great women think well and pursue the virtue of a mind that can suitably worship God by its great thoughts.

Many women have asked me if my ministry and conferences are just for homeschoolers because I homeschooled my children. My answer is that I hope any woman who comes into contact with my teaching or writing will be encouraged because my goal is to be Biblical, true, add intelligence and wisdom and vision to all mothers and all women who attend our conferences. My goal is to enlighten women biblically and so many of every background, every educational choice attend and  come to our conferences and read my books, and in that I have had great fellowship with all who attend. All women and young women are welcome to come to our conferences and I hope my books are inspirational to anyone who has a heart for Biblical motherhood.

But I am getting off the subject. I have pondered what you really want me to write about. Please help me to know what is on your own heart.

These are some subjects I have contemplated writing about:

Leaving a Legacy

Traditions that give life

Cultivating a Great Soul

The aspects of a life-giving home

Discipleship

How to have a quiet time

Cultivating a habit of Sabbath rest in the midst of a busy life

Great books to read--for children, women, young adults, boys and girls

The needs of babies, children, teens, young adults

Getting rid of guilt and inadequacy

Dealing with loneliness and depression

Loving well

Would you please let me know which subjects appeal to you? I am also working on a new network that some of you know about where I will ask other writers to join me in feeding the souls of women in my arena.

Sometimes, I speak so often in different places and teach a couple of Bible studies at home and write articles and so I can have the feeling, "Haven't I already said this? Or written about this?" I have already said that or spoken this and so I forget what the needs of women are.

And so, can you please help me? What do you really want me to write about? What do you struggle with the most? What areas do you want help in for your daily life?

Some friends and I want to put together a wonderful network of ideas and inspiration that point women to Biblical ideals, grace, intentional mothering and so we want to know from you--what do you want to know, read and think?

Thanks for this--I don't want to be so immersed in so many areas that I am not meeting the real felt needs. I was so very alone in my own journey as a mom that I do not want others to feel so alone. And so, I look forward to your ideas, input and questions.

Be blessed today in His presence and companionship in your moment by moment life.

The happiest I ever am..........

Joy and Sallymama--my children's name for me--I love it when she leans on me

God has blessed me with a very full life. Because of starting out in missions, by God's plan and design, we have been an internationally traveling family all of our children's lives. We have seen sights and been places. (Europe, Russia, England, the Middle East, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand) and are so blessed by the many friends we have made. We love trekking on mountains in Austria, and training through big cities and drinking coffee at international cafes.

I have had the wonderful privilege of being in ministry and speaking at conferences and in famous places. It has been a privilege to write books and blogs and articles and speak in places I could never have imagined. I told Him I would be a steward. But I don't always understand the phenomena. In crowds my shy comes out. I am just a mama, who loves home.

Yes, I have lived a varied and wonderful life and for it I am indeed grateful.

But I am the happiest when I have my sweet family all sequestered in a room together sharing life in the privacy of  our own home. Just us at home. This is what I love the best, what comforts me, gives me rest .

Every morning, Joy goes in to put the tea kettle on, I am usually up, be-gowned,  having a quiet time. She comes and sits in my big chair close to me and sometimes leaning on my shoulder and we talk about life, our thoughts, dreams, what the day holds, who hurt our feelings, what we feel, and then my soul is so very content. I have this sweet friend who is intertwined in a deep part of my soul--we belong together. I am deeply happy.

Joel, who has generously moved home to help us this year for the conferences to take some strain off of Clay's back. He washes dishes and goes grocery shopping and shares in our lives. We talk and encourage each other all day long. He drives me places just so we can be together. Meeting for lunch and coffee, even though we see each other every day, we talk faith, possibilities, and all things future--marriage, teaching, redeeming culture. We do not deserve this grace that Joel has given.

In evenings, He mans up his dramatic voice as Clay, Joy and I snuggle on couches and listen as he reads us the familiar stories of the Chronicles of Narnia, and makes us giggle, on cold nights with fire burning and hot chocolate in mugs. This makes my soul smile.

Nathan shares his latest blog, his days, his auditions, his hope and dreams. We talk almost every day for long and for heart.

Sarah emails, skypes, shares the humor of Oxford, the newly discovered hikes and tea shops and I kiss the screen when our talks are ended.

These are my pleasures--what keeps me going.

Yes, God indeed had a good idea--give us a place to belong, a place to be loved, flaws, quirks and all.

Family, his idea for giving us comfort, love and soul friendship.

It is with these, my very own children and husband-this place of belonging, where I can be my real self,  and closeness is the happiest I ever am.

Training my princess

 

Carl Larsson

Celebrating last weekend with over 300 moms was quite soul-filling for me. Vibrant conversations, beautiful singing, inspiring speakers--I was so very humbled and blessed to be a part.

Yet, one of the issues that came to mind over and over again as I talked to these women was the issue of training, I  want to pass on the picture of training and filling the souls and hearts of children with kingdom principles and truth so that they come alive. It is not a procedure but a relationship. Passing on spirituality is not so much getting the right curriculum, or being "holier" than thou, but it is passing on a life of love, passion for Christ, and goodness that overflows from your own heart.  I am reposting an older blog article that gets to the heart of training our "Princesses and Princes" for the role of ruling in their own world someday. Happy Monday.

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Thursday morning was the first day, I think, in a whole year when I had Joy all to myself with everyone else out of the house for a whole day! (Sarah is in Kentucky with a dear friend of mine, Nathan in California, Joel and Clay at work!) We lit candles and sipped our own hot mug of brew in the quiet of my bedroom where no one could find us.

I then had the most wonderful time of reading to her and then teaching her about Abraham and Isaac. We spent almost an hour and half looking at different scripture about him--God calling him to leave his home to follow Him; the promise of a nation outnumbering the sand on the seashore coming from His line--becoming a Father of a nation; his waiting period for the promised son; the birth of Isaac; the sacrifice of Isaac; the passages in Hebrews of him and Sarah living by faith.

"Indeed, If they had been thinking of that country from which they went out (their home!), they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:15

We talked and talked about how we are here temporarily and will some day go to a heavenly country. We talked about Abraham giving up his treasure into God's hands, knowing that He could trust God to hold and keep all that was important to Him--and how indeed God provided the lamb stuck in the bushes--he had already planned to provide for Abraham, but gave Abraham the chance to worship by yielding his treasure and showing God his heart of trust. We talked about how great a nation, throughout history, the Jews became--how God multiplies the work of faith and service we do to make it beyond what we can imagine--just like he did for Abraham. We ended on Romans 12:1-2--the need for us to yield ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice to God which is our spiritual service of worship--just like Abraham did and to be willing to go anywhere, do anything for the privilege of serving God and doing His work on the earth!

I could almost see her little heart swell to the greatness of His calling on her life--I wonder how God will use you? I wonder what it will look like for you to live by faith. Look at how God has blessed and led our family as we have served Him. She then said, "You know, Mom, I used to sometimes worry about the possibility of us moving somewhere for our ministry and wondering if I would be willing to give up my friends, but I gave that to Him last week, knowing that I would rather serve Him and watch Him do great things, than to hold on to my little world and fears."

I realized again why I love homeschooling--I have the time to have access to my sweet princess's brain and heart and time to discuss really important things and to love her and nurture her without the hurry and worry that the imposition of a regular schedule might bring. I cherish the times I can train her for the realm in which she will some day rule and bring His light. I love knowing that she and I are such close soul companions because of all the focused time spent without the competition of so many others that she would have if she was in the company of hundreds and hundreds of kids every day. I am preparing to send my children out, and probably away from me, but they will go with hearts and minds filled with stories of heroes who lived differently--boldly, bravely, intentionally for Christ's purposes--to bring light and beauty and truth to their world.

Joy's concluding thought was, "I hope I have 12 kids so I can really have a lot of leaders to send from my home. I can't wait to have my own domain so I can make a place where greatness can live and be made every day as I teach my kids."

It is all about loving God and passing on the baton of His love to our children. Enjoy your day of training your own royalty to rule over the kingdoms God will give to them. And be sure to enjoy the moment--it will pass more quickly than you know!

Grace and peace!

Sally