Developing Honor for Others in Our Children

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor ..." Romans 12:11

One of the most important parts of training my children has been training them how to relate well to others. While we all develop lists of hundreds of friends on Facebook and enjoy watching our Twitter followers grow, it seems to me that we have fewer and fewer real relationships of any lasting value. Part of the problem is that we've lost the concept of honor. When all is said and done, most relational problems boil down to this, don't they?  When we're focused on our own desires, ambitions and needs, we tend to offend and hurt people--often unintentionally.

If we want our children to have healthy, happy relationships both now and in the future, we can give them a wonderful boost in that direction by training them to consider other's needs before their own. "Give preference to one another" means just that--to consider others before and more often than we focus on ourselves. If you've spent any time with a toddler, you know that doesn't come naturally! Selfishness comes as a big part of our sin nature. And developing a preference for serving others takes much time and training on the part of parents, if it's ever to become part of the warp and woof of a child's daily life.

"In building relationships with our children, we need to consciously train them in the skills and attitudes that will enable them to sustain positive relationships. A person can only experience true intimacy when his heart has been deepened and exercised in real love and commitment. Consequently, an important part of deeply loving our children is training them to deeply love themselves and others. We train them by helping them to confront their own sin and selfishness and to replace these attitudes with patient and generous love. This provides them with something to give in a meaningful relationship and seals their ability to be the best they can be.

Relational training involves teaching our children the value of honor--giving worth to another person out of the dignity of our own heart. It often involves learning to reach out to others in practical, thoughtful ways and teaching them to be good friends. I have often said to my children, 'It is natural to be selfish, but it is supernatural to be kind and loving. It is only when we allow the Lord Jesus to speak with our words and use our hands and our voice to give His love that we can really know how to be close to others.'

This kind of relational training fits naturally into the course of a day. 'Sarah, let's surprise the boys with some cookies and hot chocolate!' As we mix the batter and talk about how much I appreciate her help, Sarah learns how to give away her love. The result (over many sessions of cookie baking) is increased maturity in her own ability to relate to others." ~from The Mission of Motherhood

What could you do with your children today to help them develop and display honor for someone?

**used- blog Awaking Wonder Launch 8/2020 Casting a vision in the heart of your child

Joel, sharing his music and message at a Mom Heart Conference

My cell phone rang three separate times in 5 minutes while I was driving home on a crowded freeway from grocery shopping. Finally, when I got home, I checked and it was Joy. Just as I was about to call her back, the phone rang in my hand.

"Mom, I am just so excited, I can't wait to tell you. I decided to go meet with an academic counselor today to check about all of the classes I had signed up for, and the debate coach happened to be my academic counselor. He helped me arrange all of my classes, he counseled me so that I can finish in three years, I will be able to be on the speech and debate team and learn new skills for communication, and now I have a purpose ahead and a life to conquer. My goal is  to become the best possible speaker and debater and teacher.  I am starting a Bible study for the girls on my floor. I am so excited about my life and what God is going to teach me!"

A drive for purpose and a desire to impact others for the kingdom of God does not come out of a vacuum. It comes from seeing deep inside of your children's hearts and drawing out the greatness that God has built there and giving them a dream for how God will use them in the world. Children, in spite of their bundle of immaturities, strengths, weaknesses and personalities are exactly what God crafted them to be to fulfill their purpose in His world.

From the time our children were wee ones, we gave each of them a part at our conferences. We said, "God has made all of us stewards of His messages of love, redemption, and His hope and life because He has entrusted us with this light that the dark world needs. What would you like to share with all the moms that might encourage them this year?"

Our two introverted children had to share as well as our two extraverted. As we knew all of us are to be stewards of the gospel, we raised them to be comfortable with knowing that they had a message that would turn their world upside down. We started with sharing our ideas and encouragement in our living room with 10 people in attendance. By faith, we kept writing and speaking and our children grew with ministry as we did. But their self image was one of, "I have something to give. My personality is a gift from God to use for His glory. I have an arena in which to bring His light that no one else on earth will ever have."

Serving meals, visiting sick, giving money, exercising hospitality and making thousands of meals for people in our home, praying, hosting Bible studies over and over and over again over the years was the oxygen of the life my children breathed. Their dreams flowed out of a life of giving and obedience that God had called Clay and me to follow.

But, we need to understand that vision of the heart is what empowers all of us, as God's children, to follow Him in faith and purpose in becoming fishermen in the world--it flows from inspiration--not from moralistic rules or laws to be kept.

If you as an adult cultivate a heart and excitement about how God might use you to reach His world, it will be catching to your children. Jesus modeled it to His disciples, as he taught them and loved them, and so they followed in His footsteps.

It is a natural extension of life--and so it becomes an exciting expression of vision as our children go into their own spheres of influence. They have heard it, breathed it, experienced it and then live it themselves.

Read more about my thoughts on this today at: thebettermom.com

**used blog 7/30/2020 Learning through Mistakes--and Mentors!

"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it yet?" ~Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

It is more than a comfort to know that each day offers the promise of a tomorrow--a new day, with no mistakes in it, yet.

The yet, perhaps, is the important word in that sentence! Because mistakes will surely be made. I will speak too sharply to someone, and I'll gossip or criticize someone and then feel guilty, I will break a commitment I have made to myself one more time. Perhaps I'll forget to return a phone call or water a plant that dies--and know that I wasted my money and failed one more time. The possibilities of ways to make big mistakes and small are endless. In the past, those sorts of things weighed heavy on my heart. Why couldn't I just get everything accomplished, as everyone else seemed to do? Why was I still impatient and unorganized sometimes?

Sometimes it is assumed that anyone who speaks or writes or works to inspire other moms has "arrived" to some extent. There can be an illusion that at my house, everything is perfect, no one is ever cross, and there's no effort necessary to keep things running smoothly. This, I can assure you, is not the case!

"I do not consider myself to be a perfect mother. My aspirations and what I can idealize oftentimes far exceed my ability to live up to them in reality. Yet it is in being able to visualize the dreams of my heart and beauty of God's design that I have found a standard of maturity to move toward.

As I reflect on my own life, I feel that I have learned so much--the hard way, by making many mistakes. Many moments of stress and struggle could have been handled so much more easily if I had had a wiser, older woman to shed light on my stages of life. It was through writers like Edith Schaeffer that I was encouraged and helped along my way. My hope is that in some way, I might be able to provide that same encouragement and inspiration."~ from The Mission of Motherhood

Mistakes will be made, and our ideals are not always realized- and others disappoint while we disappoint ourselves. But the most wonderful truth that I pray will go deep into my own heart and to yours, is that the love of God is steadfast--it never changes, it remains strong, it's loyalty does not change.

Take this deeply into your brain and into your heart--The steadfast love of the Lord never, ever ceases and His mercies never come to and end. Every morning they are there waiting for you to bathe yourself in once again.

--And best of all, the truth that I can always begin again! Every day a clean slate, a new beginning, a fresh history. 

Today, you are new and fresh--walk in the newness and reality of a clean slate and live into His everlasting love.

Aim high, sweet mama. And when mistakes come, know they are covered by the One who holds all in His hands, and whose mercies are "new every morning!"

Memorize this verse and sing it to yourself every day:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

~Lamentations 3:22-23

**used blog 9/3/2020 For When You're Feeling Worn Out

Some call it burn out. Some call it age. Some just think it is inevitable with too much activity and boredom. (van gogh--image)

There have been several seasons in my life where I've felt it. Creeping tiredness that seems to seep into my very bones. Weariness as I hear another story of a wife betrayed, a child left to his own devices and gone astray, a pastor abandoning his flock. Discouragement over a long to-do list that looks just like the one I almost finished yesterday.

I can find my self-talk sounding a tad like Eeyore. Busy day with people everywhere?

"Everybody crowds around so in this Forest. There’s no Space. I never saw a more spreading lot of animals in my life, and in all the wrong places.”

And then when things quiet down and I'm left alone?

One can't complain. I have my friends. Somebody spoke to me only yesterday. And was it last week or the week before that Rabbit bumped into me and said 'Bother!' The Social Round. Always something going on."

said Eyore!

And then I realize perhaps I've drifted a bit. When the pressures of life are great and negatives loom large they sometimes take up more room in my vision than they should. A re-adjustment is in order. I must get back to my first love.

"When I first fell in love with the Lord, I was so much happier. I was willing to read my Bible for hours, hungering for understanding and truth, discussing into the wee hours of night with my college friends the wonderful truths I had never heard before. Praying fervently and eagerly awaiting miracles was the call of my heart. Enthusiastically I would foray into the lives of strangers, eager to tell them about His redemption and grace. Fellowship with other believers was sweet and intimate. My whole life was genuinely wrapped up in God, not in a religious ritual but in an excited, passionate, graceful, purposeful way.

That was the place I had left, the place from where I had fallen. Since then, mundane duty had propelled me forward through the many corridors of my life. Yes, I'd enjoyed occasional waves of excitement and a heart choosing to love him. It is the commitment of my heart. But more often I'd been just putting one foot in front of the other. I wished for the reality of God to be true, but sometimes I had difficulty believing it or grasping Him. I was living in obedience and cultivating faithful character, but often I would feel no emotion. I would drag through some of the days and give the party lines that people had come to expect from me, but I definitely was not dancing and celebrating. Now I realized I wanted so much more than a spiritual theology or a philosophy; I wanted a real, living, intimate relationship with the One I originally had learned to cherish the most.

When entering the corridors of heaven, finally meeting Jesus face to face, I do not want to arrive gasping, out of breath, desperate, barely making it over the finish line. Instead I want to enter resiliently with a hopeful, loving heart. If joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment are what God desires for me, then God created me with those capacities so that He could fill them. God disdains dry, mundane obedience as much as I do! He wants true, pure-of-heart, devoted love--to be shared in a personal, vibrant relationship. The very One who created the wild, lively winds, the intense beauty of storms, waterfalls, sunsets, and music of nature is the One who wants me to love and enjoy Him amidst the dance of my life." ~from Dancing with My Father

And that's what He wants for your life, too! Let's return to our first love and dance, shall we?

Salad Art --adding health and beauty to your meals

Being surrounded by several great cooks who also happen to be my close friends, is a real gift. I love salads and we try to have one at each dinner meal. By making this a Clarkson tradition over the years, eventually all of my children ended up loving salads and will eat vegetables. I did not give my children choices--either they ate what we ate or they did not get much to eat for dinner. It wasn't a pressuring sort of thing--it just was what it was.

When my children were younger, they did not have as sophisticated of a taste--onions and peppers were not their favorite, but I just cut them into smaller pieces (as well as carrots!) and served them what we ate. If they left some of the bigger veggies on their plate (peppers, etc.) I did not bother with it as I learned that children's palots mature with age and the savory becomes something they like. Even Greek salad was a favorite of my boys and they both eat salads now.

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!

Summer is Almost Over ... Find a Happy Place!

With only a few empty boxes left on August's page in the calendar, school buses once again taking to the streets, and newly launched young adults off to college, it appears summer is truly almost over. Today, I catch a plane with Joy and Clay to take her to a new part of her life journey in California. My heart will be quite empty but also full with thousands of moments we took time to share.

As I finish off these last few days with Joy, I am garnering memories to visit that gave me pleasure in our years together, walking together the paths of her life. One cherished one was especially designed by God with me, my two princesses in a moment captured in time, together shoulder to shoulder to shoulder, skin to skin........

Several years ago the girls and I were blessed to be able to take a little getaway to Prince Edward Island. We'd had a lovely first day of exploring and a wonderful dinner, and decided to head to the beach to enjoy the last few hours of the day...

"We scrambled up the last few slippery steps of the sandy slope and turned our eyes to the ocean just in time to witness one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen. The sky was awash in a rainbow of rich rose light with swaths of purple and blue running all through it, and the sunlight was turning the edges of the sky gold. The colors of the sun were perfectly mirrored in the water and seemed to sparkle and frolic as the waves playfully licked the shore, seemingly dancing to the spectacular music of creation. It was the sort of sight you dream of, and we three sat shoulder to shoulder in an awed silence, simply soaking in the magnificent beauty.

I wondered in my heart at the way God, the great artist, had chosen to clothe the ending of this day. The vastness of His beauty was so powerfully displayed in the power and grace of His sky. Just looking filled us with awe. It was mind-boggling to realize that God was so full of beauty, so brimful of life and goodness, that He would faithfully paint this quiet northern sky for His own good pleasure, whether or not anyone admired the work of His hands.

As I sat and wondered, a verse I had read just the other day came to mind: "The Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken, and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shown forth." Psalm 50:1-2 ~ from The Mom Walk

God is still full of beauty, and He is still painting beautiful skies! Can I encourage you to take some time in these last few days of summer to hunt down some of His beauty for yourself? Only don't do it alone--today is the day to collect the treasure chest of memories made in the normal moments of life that you will visit long after your precious ones are gone. Enjoy it together and point out the wonder of our Creator, who loves to draw us close and display His glory for all to see.

Community--It's a way of life

As I am away from the internet for a while, I have asked several very wonderful friends and people close to me if they had anything to say. This article is by Christie Weakly, Joy's best friend. Our families and a couple of others made a covenant group a number of years ago, which means we needed close accountable friends, and so we challenged some people closest to us to help us develop the kind of community that we and our children would need in this isolationist culture. It is so great to see this from the eyes of one of the children who participated in our community plans and schemes. Joy and Christie left this week for college and so it is all fresh. Be blessed!

By Christie Weakly

Most people just have one mom. I have, like, five. They all hug me, pet me, pray for me, feed me, and give me advice, and I pretty much love it. For all you moms out there who read my blog: this article is mostly for you. I wanted to talk about what it looks like from the kid's perspective to cultivate community and adopt each other as extended family. It's wonderful.

As you know, I left for college a week ago. Before I left, we partied hard with all our family friends to send me off with a bang. We had four or five families over on a couple different nights for dinner and a prayer time for all us kids who were leaving. My family, the Clarkson family, and the Rose family gathered at my house, ate burgers, and joined in a circle to pray over me, Joy, and Joel as we all went our separate ways to school. It was so fun! Auntie Sally (I call her that since it's as close as I can get to "mom" =P) and Ms. Brandee and Ms. Shelley and my mom all hugged me and gave me advice about school and boys and God, so pretty much everything I need to know. I felt loved and supported as I left, and as a result, I'm not lonely since I know I have people praying for me and loving me from afar who are just a phone call away.

I noticed something very concerning the other day as I said goodbye to my Bible study girls: there are NO older girls mentoring younger ones! And especially no older guys mentoring the younger guys. Have you noticed that? Mentors just a few years older than me who are mature and godly and intentional are quite absent. I've never had a mentor within the age group above me.

But my mom has more than made up for this lack, as have all the other women in my life. We have a core of about five moms and their families who have been together for years. We all love God, are going in the same direction, and are committed to growing in maturity along the way. I hear these wonderful women talk about their struggles and how they've decided to mount over them. They are glowing examples of godliness in a wife and mother, more-than-worthy templates for a godly woman's life that younger woman can aspire to. And since they've fed me and had me over and loved on me all these years, they have earned the right to speak into my life--and let me tell you, they sure do! Sometimes it's hard to swallow, but my mom usually tells me the same things, and they reiterate it and support me in it, so it assures me that it's the correct path to follow, even if it's hard.

But our little community hasn't come easily. When you decide to commit yourself to someone for years and years and go deep with them spiritually and personally, things can get messy. We're all sinful. We've had PLENTY of times where someone has hurt or offended someone else, we've had little fights and disagreements, you know. Typical relationship stuff. But we've always forgiven and stuck with our friendship. We've never considered ending it; it's never been an option. That's what it takes if you ever want deep relationships of any kind--commitment.

And you know what was the clever thing on my mom's part? She fostered relationships with people who she knew would be good influences on me and Jack. She basically picked our good friends for us. We didn't really have a choice. But the more we came together and got to know each other, the more we liked each other! And of course, she was much more willing to have these friends over than the other neighborhood kids who weren't good influences on us, so we got more playdates back when we were kids if we asked to have those friends over. It was really a good scheme on her part.

You can do the same thing! Form groups for your kids. Have family dinners. Model the Christian life to your kids and encourage your mom-friends to foster relationships with them. Strategically place people in your children's lives who will influence them positively and create a strong Christian community they can grow up in and call home. This community could have the potential to change their lives forever.

One of the most convincing arguments for why I should live in Colorado Springs near my family that my mom has come up with is the one where she says she'll take my kids, when I am a mom,  when I need a break. My mom's friends have picked up on it too. Ms. Faith (I love her SO much) told me, "You can just call us anytime. 'Ms. Faith! I need a break! Can you take my baby??' 'What time is it? Midnight? Sure thing sweetheart, bring him on over!!'"

I want my kids to grow up in the same community I grew up in, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if I took them up on their offers. There is strength and protection in community. There's support and encouragement. I've NEVER felt alone. It's like that verse that talks about the great cloud of witnesses; I have my own living, breathing cloud of witnesses who will join with me in my resolves as life gets hard. They pray for me, send me encouraging texts, and will one day accept me into their number when I become a mom myself!

Ms. Faith has a 12-year-old, and she said, "If you get married at 21 and have a baby a couple years later, you and I could be stay-at-home moms together!" That sounds super weird since she has a son my age, but hey! Doesn't that sound fun?? It's community. Support. Love. Commitment. Foster it. It's important! Your kids need community: godly role-models and friends in a time where none step up to the plate. Model our faith through your walk. Have dinners! Pray for each other! You're investing in eternity when you foster a godly community committed to friendship and love no matter what life throws at you.

The Other Man Who Called Me Away (Unconditional Love)

Many years ago, before we'd even begun dating, Clay called to invite me on a surprise adventure. He wouldn't tell me anything about his plans for the day, but I soon found myself seated in a darling Polish restaurant complete with a costumed waitress, beautiful woven tapestries on the walls, and carved figurines about the room. I was delighted at his efforts to find such a special place for us, as I'd spent many years as a missionary in Poland. Afterward, as we drove home, he pulled over to a lovely spot next to a bubbling stream. And then he began a speech I'll never forget.

 "'I used to make lists of the qualities I hoped to one day find in a wife,' he said. 'But one day when I was reading my Bible, I realized that God's love for us isn't conditional, because of what we've done to please Him. He gives us His love freely because His nature is to love generously. So I decided that when I get married, God would want me to be committed to love a woman someday, not because she's perfect, but because she's someone God has called me to love unconditionally and to give my life to, no matter what. So I threw away my list and asked God to show me how to develop that kind of generous love He has given to me. But I'm not coming to you because you meet all the expectations I once had on my list. I want you to know that out of all of the women I've met, I think I would love to be committed to give my love, as best I can, unconditionally to you, and to spend  my life with you, giving to you as God has given to me.'

I was so surprised by his words! All my life I felt that I had lived with conditional love. I had spent so much time and energy trying to do the right thing in order to be loved. But here he was, saying that he wanted to be committed to loving me unconditionally in an act of faith and commitment; he wanted to model in our relationship the  kind of love he had received and experienced from God. It was such a purehearted gift. 

My heart overflowed with gratefulness and a natural responsive love. How could I not respond that way?"~ Dancing With My Father

As God romances my heart and I remember the man who swept me off my feet (and still does so) I'm reminded of His unconditional love.

It is always wooing, always drawing, always whispering to me of His beauty and wisdom, causing my heart to want to respond to Him well. The ways He deals with me in kindness are my daily lessons in how to relate to the others He's so graciously placed in my life.

Whom, I wonder, might He want to love through me today? 

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Be sure to join me today at Momheart.org for 10 ways to build fun and laughter in your home!

I wish you well

The one who has painted this sky, and has chosen these colors to delight my soul, has invited me away, to retreat with Him and to just be with my inner circle friends and family for some time away from the crowds.

I will not be here for a while, as I hope to spend these days refreshing, celebrating life with my sweet ones and cherishing last memories made, and filling my soul for the days ahead when I will be speaking into the precious lives of others. I am but an ordinary mama who wants to live in peace during these beautiful, cool crisp last days of summer, and celebrate my life with Him and my sweet children and Clay, my best treasures.

So, peace of the Lord be with you and yours. I will see you again when I decide I am ready to come back. Meanwhile, there will be some little blogs prepared from my heart and books, here and there. But I wish you well and pray you wish the same for me.

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Enjoy one of Joel's, (my composer son!), new musical pieces he just scored for an upcoming film!

Wonderful Nathan, chasing God in a world that longs for light

A REAL LIFE STORY OF GOD WORKING THROUGH A MAN WITH DREAMS But He [Jesus] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. -2 Cor. 12:9

As long as I can remember, Nathan, my 19 year old son, (now 23!)  has been acting. He would listen to me read stories of heroes and adventure, and then he would don the bright blue cape I had made him from a yard of material. He would become that hero. Superman was the most prominent of stories that he heard somewhere along the way. "Mom," he would say, "Superman is like Jesus. He came from a far off place to redeem the world and get rid of all of its bad people and rescue those who needed help. I want to be a superman someday."

Nathan would garnish  his sword and wield it high, and act out and dramatically host radio dramas, and dream of his valiant stories of heroism.  As the years progressed, he and I would still cuddle close and become captivated in  tales of great people and those who shaped  history. Stories of those who fought off the darkness and brought light, were his favorite. Nate started foraying out into the world of teenagers. There were some bumpy roads along the idealistic pathways  through teenage-hood, but as he grew, he continued to stretch in his desire to reach those who needed light and the goodness of God. My pied-piper, charming son  developed many friends.

Hungry for direction, affirmation and  in need of light, redemption and restoration, many flocked to our home because of him. "Mom," he would say, "I want to be a light and I am praying for God to open doors in music or acting or performance of some kind." He pursued shining that light in the darkness of many lost friends. Nate practiced making wise decisions and grew from inevitable mistakes.  Mounting up experience in faithfulness and faith, even amidst the difficult pressures he was facing, stretched and shaped his soul to become more like Jesus. Dreaming of a time when God would open doors, he  worked as a pizza delivery guy, very shortly as a Starbucks barrista and saving money at a landscaping job every day. So for two years, he has prayed and waited and worked. Often, I wondered how realistic it was, and supposed perhaps his dreams would fade away.  Late night discussions were filled with hopes and dreams and the sharing of hearts.

And so we prayed with him, that God would open doors. Nate stayed unflinchingly strong. "God will open his doors in His time, Mom." I kept praying for God's will in the life of this idealistic young man, but couldn't imagine just how it would happen. We live in Colorado, not exactly the mecca of the music industry or the movie and television capitol of the world.It seemed I knew hundreds of youth who had such dreams, and yet he was my son, so I prayed because he wanted us to and because he prayed.

When I prayed, I was confronted with fears--- the terrible secularism and garbage of the media. It wasn't the place Clay and I had dreamed of sending our children. But we kept praying and Nate kept praying and telling us that He knew God would open a door.

So, in April, in the midst of too many activities and responsibilities. two different friends called me and told me about a national Christian group who was auditioning local talent. I didn't follow up because it was just a commercial on a Christian radio station and I thought it was probably just a way for an agency to make money on all the "want-to-be's" who were hopefuls for the acting and music industry. But, both of my friends who had been praying with me for Nathan, called three times, unbeknownst to each other! Finally, one morning, my friend called and said, "Sally, it's on the radio in 5 minutes. You need to listen to the interview and decide for yourself--after all, Nathan has been praying for 2 years for God to open the doors.

So, I went to  my car to listen, since I couldn't get my indoor radio to work! After listening to the interview with the leaders of the organization, I decided that it couldn't hurt to audition. So, off we went where Nate had to prepare a monologue and have an interview. After the audition, we were invited to a national conference in Orlando where 890 talented people from 4--65 would be showcased before agents, casting directors, music companies and other industry leaders. No smoking, drinking or immodest clothing allowed at the conference. Clay and I made a step of faith to support Nathan in this endeavor because of his faithfulness to us and to the Lord.

After 12 weeks of input and training, we flew to Orlando. Morning, noon and night, people competed-while all the parents supported and prayed and hoped for a good outcome for their children. Nathan was particularly excited about the Monologue competition and the singer-songwriter competition, though he participated in 9 all together. (he had never had more than 3 months of piano so I knew he was depending on his own faith in his internal confidence in the song he would sing and play on piano!)

By God's grace Nate made the showcase talent show where just 40 were presented--dancers, models, singers and actors.  This meant that about 90 leaders in the industry  got to see these  contestants one extra time. I was  on pins and needles as Nate got up to perform his song in front of 1800 people . He sang from the bottom of his heart with poise and confidence I can  say only came from his trust in the Lord's strength.

Lots more to tell, but the bottom line is: he received a scholarship to the school in New York he was hoping to attend; he was approached by 5 other large industry agencies who want to give their execs a chance to hear his music and two agencies who want to represent him for possible jobs in acting, modeling and performing that will come up in New York. And, a godly young man, who is very well known in his field and established in the industry, approached Nathan to be a part of a discipleship group he was starting in the fall for young men to have a witness together in the industry in New York. Now, we are home and trying to figure out how to move Nate there by September and Joel to Nashville and Clay and I both writing  a book and speaking in Canada and feed everyone and attend Joy's performance from a drama camp and take care of the medical issues and and and you know the story! But I am so grateful that there are open doors after waiting and believing with our sweet third child.

So, I learned that it is not just my prayers the Lord hears, but always the fervent prayers and hopes of my sweet children. Nate acted as though he was not surprised at all. "Mom, there needs to be light in the industry. I have been praying every day for God to open doors. And He did! I am so grateful for the amazing things God did. But I was always leaning on him and trusting in His power!"

So, now, one more faith step as we send him off to New York in September. Please pray for Nate if he comes to mind. I know the Lord will be with him  in his Babylon as He was with Daniel. I hope and pray my sweet son will make Daniel choices.

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I wrote this story several years ago. As  many of you know, since then, Nathan wrote a book about his time in New York City where God met him, amidst all the glitz and glitter. Wisdom Chasers, where God whispered in his ear to follow hard after him through all the pathways He would lead Nathan, is filled with personal stories of his journey of faith as a young man.

The years have matured him, taught him to become a warrior in a place of much spiritual and moral battle, and the discipline in endurance in pursuing the dreams God put on his heart. As a mom, I would seek God and pray so very often for him. I had a choice to make--to believe in his dreams and to support this impossible pursuit or to tell him to live a more practical life.

But our home has been founded on the idea that God uses normal people who are filled with His Spirit, to bring his kingdom messages and light into all realms of the world. And so, I have become an advocate for Nathan--both before the throne of heaven and in daily life through phone calls, emails, visits and words of life. I believe that as Nathan walks with God and follows hard after Him, that God will use this talented young man in ways beyond my imagination. I am so very proud of Nathan staying strong, working hard and pursuing His God on a journey of faith.

In the past years, He became one  of the head marketers for Dolphin Tale. God also opened doors for him to be in a variety of television shows, commercials,  and movies and as an extra and with small parts. Cultivating faithfulness took him in so many directions, including becoming an blogger, writing music, cultivating friends and Bible study through his church and he continues to see God open doors.

Will you  be so kind and generous as to pray blessing and open doors and God's favor on my wonderful Nathan,  as he continues to seek open doors where he might develop a testimony of God's story in and through his life to those who are hungry and longing for a light in the darkness. I thank you with all of my heart because he is in a very challenging place, but his faith and hope send him daily to trust God and to continue to wait on His timing and blessing as he develops messages and works on books, music, messages and dreams.

So many of you have written of how his book encouraged you and your husbands and teens! Thanks for your kind letters. You may buy it here and know that you are helping support the dreams and work of this wonderful man, my sweet superman, dreaming son, Nathan! Thanks for praying for him!

Now, I will spend just a few more minutes tonight talking to God about Nathan, as he is freshly on my heart and since I cannot hug him, I will do the next best thing.........