Many Thanks and a Little Interview about ADHD, OCD, and Nathan's views of it all

Thanks so much for helping me! ~Nathan

One of the best things to me about the blogging community is the wonderful friends I have made over the past few years. These sweet women are motivated, love the Lord and want to have an impact through their inspiring messages.

Because of you and my sweet friends at Themobsociety.com (mothers of boys),   Nathan reached his goal. I was in Dallas for an interview, and couldn't be present at the party, but checked my phone constantly to see what the Lord was doing. It was pretty exciting for our family to watch the amounts grow!

Thanks so very much. Thought you would want to see this article as written on the mobsociety's blog. I so appreciate each and every one of you who were of so much encouragement.

A Facebook Party Recap {Interview with Nathan Clarkson}

March 13, 2013 by Alle

Did you hear the news?  This incredible BoyMom community had a HUGE hand in helping our own MOB Writer, Nathan Clarkson fund the beginning stages of his incredibly powerful film project, Confessions of a Prodigal Son.

Yesterday afternoon, the Kickstarter campaign hit the $10,000 mark and it’s still climbing!  If you didn’t get a chance to jump on board, you’re not too late — you can donate, share the link with friends and family, and pray for the work that God has already begun with this project!

As part of our celebration, we hosted a special interview with Nathan on our Facebook page last night and had such a fun time connecting with our wonderful BoyMoms!  In case you missed out on the festivities, we wanted to showcase the interview portion of our evening with you here  — we hope you’ll find encouragement and hope as Nathan shares his journey of being an “out-of-the-box” boy and the incredible work God has done in his life as a result!

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Nathan, you represent a sense of hope to our BoyMoms because so many of them are dealing with out-of-the-box boys just like you.  We know you dealt with ADHD, ODD, and OCD growing up.  What are some things you might say to our moms to give them hope for their own out-of-the-box boys tonight? 

I think maybe first to realize that being out-of-the-box isn’t something simple to deal with, but rather it’s something to celebrate!  Somewhere along the way I had to realize that God had actually made me like this!  I’m sure my mom and all you moms out there, sometimes worry how to deal with us OCD, ADHD, ODD boys, us sometimes being a little out of hand.  I’m sure it can feel helpless sometimes, but I think once you realize that God actually created us this way (the way He actually intended), You will start seeing your task less of “dealing with disorders” and begin to see your amazing job as guiding our gifts and helping us become the best men we can be!  Also, as far as hope goes, I see now in my life that all these things are often considered disorders in places like a classroom.  Now, they are the strengths that have enabled me to be doing what I’m doing — to live an out-of-the-box life!

Here’s a beautiful quote from your mama, Sally Clarkson: “Read as much as you can about any issues your child may have so that you can know how to neutralize issues.  When I understood my OCD children and that they could not help being the way they were, I knew it was not a discipline issue, but a capacity issue.”

It was so helpful for me to have a mom, who not only put up with, but understood what I was going through.  Oftentimes, the things that make us different are the things that can make us feel lonely and want to hide.  But having a partner (my mom) in the game with me, enabled me to cross any bridge I came across.  I had a teammate.  That’s all we need.

Nathan, we love what you share about the reason you were able to turn your heart back home after walking away for awhile.  Tell our moms how they can make their homes a place their boys want to come back to.

To this day, no matter where I go or what I do, I have my mom’s voice ringing in my head.  It follows me into every kind of situation and choice I make.  It’s not a voice of judgement or one listing off rules, but rather it’s the thousands of times she would look up from a book she would be reading and say, “Nathan, you are a Hero, just like the one we are reading about,” or “Nathan, no matter where you go or what you do, I will always love you,” and “Nathan, I am your best friend and champion, I will help you become whatever you were meant to be,” and “Nathan, God has made you to be His man, don’t ever forget that.”  I think that all of us find ourselves wandering away from what we know is right.  But as I would find myself in places or situations I knew I shouldn’t be in, I would begin to hear the words my mom had spoken to me thousands of times.  Not condemning me, or looking at my mistakes, but reminding me of who I was made to be, calling me back to the hero I had inside of me.  I always knew that no matter where I went, I had a home that had arms to fall into when I couldn’t stand and voices reminding me and pushing me to be the man I was made to be.

God gave Nathan a dream to tell stories in Hollywood with a redemptive edge.  Growing up, how did stories impact your life, Nathan and how do you think God uses them today? Stories have the ability to inspire us, make us think, push us, and remind us who we were meant to be.  Since I was young there were stories of heroes being read and shown to me, whether it was Superman or the great emancipator William Wilberforce.  I began seeing myself in their stories and emulating the kind of heroic lives they had.  Unfortunately, most of the stories now are simply inspiring us to live “how we feel,” pushing us towards a painful life apart from God and His perfect plan with the guise of “freedom.”  I think now, more than ever, good stories are needed to bring light into an ever darkening world.  Stories that show truth and remind us of the people we were meant to be!

Speaking of stories, tell us the story behind the movie you’re making, “Confessions of a Prodigal Son.”  Why is it so important for the boys of our generation?

I think The Prodigal Son is a story that we can all identify with, it’s a story of redemption that we all crave and need!  I think today, we live in a generation of Prodigals — not bad or evil people, just a generation lost in the consequences of trying to live life alone and without God.  I think this story is the amazing picture of what God does for all of us, He reminds us that we are His, takes us back into His arms (no matter where we have been), and helps us become the people we were meant to be!  Who doesn’t need to hear that story?!

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As we concluded our evening, Nathan shared that his team is currently working on a website for the movie and a unique site called, The Prodigal Wall.  This wall of stories will be a place for people to post their Prodigal story or leave a prayer request for one that needs to return home.  Nathan hopes this will be a space for prayer, encouragement, and hope!  To stay up-to-date on all the details of the film and related projects, be sure to head over to their Facebook page,“Confessions of a Prodigal Son” and click the “like” button.

The amount has now grown to: $11,240 and will be used, with accountability, to get the project started. We will keep you abreast of what happens next!

We ended our party with this question and we’ll ask it again here:

What do YOU most relate to in the Prodigal son story?

I would love to hear what you mamas love about this story--I think we are all prodigals and Jesus is looking for all of us to return to him.

• About Alle

  Most people run on food, sleep + strong coffee to get through their day. We're pretty sure Alle's energy comes from pure shots of creativity(although, she'd never turn down your offer for a Coke)! Her heart is fullest when she is being an image-bearer of the Ultimate Creator with her design work, writing, + music. Her day-to-day is filled with old children's books, large doses of refrigerator art, life-giving music + the world's best cuddles from her two favorite little people, Augustine + Caedmon. She prays that by infusing her messy-but-beautiful nest with worship + creativity, they too will learn to become followers of the King. With a passion to see the online conversation filled with the redemptive work of Jesus, Alle has partnered with her husband, Nate at Finding Eden where they document their creative journey as brand builders, blog designers, + story crafters for bloggers, ministries, + creativepreneurs.

  Thanks, Allie, for writing this article!

Just got back from the airport and I think I will sleep tonight! Friday I will write about Desperate!

Spring ... A Fresh Start Is Coming! Take time to breathe it in!

“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"... "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Spring is just around the corner. What a great time to make a fresh start at life!

A fresh start…kind of like the rains moving and  the sun shining to make things fresh and clean or the sprout of a new flower from the melting snow.

This truth also reminds me of a verse in Song of Solomon 2:11-12.

“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” Song of Solomon 2:11-12

This past season has had its challenges,  and sometimes winter can appear to be a season when many things have lost their life, but spring provides a pathway to new possibilities. The transition from one year to the next,  feels like there has hardly been enough time to pause and catch your breath. Sometimes, after being in such a busy season, the mere mention of taking a few moments to simply rest feels daunting.

Is there even enough time to just sit and be still before the Lord?

Spring is a time to begin anew in spending time with God, even in noticing His fingerprints--in the budding of leaves on trees, daffodils, iris's, tulips. Warmer weather. Baby animals abounding. All sorts of visible signs of His art. Be sure to notice them in front of your children.

There are always going to be people and circumstances that are vying for your attention, and seeking to suck the life out of you.

Spring is a time to make new goals, time to cultivate life and time to refresh your heart and soul even as the earth is renewed.

Despite how overwhelmed you may feel, time in His presence is not only possible, it is important. You don’t have to strive for it. As a precious daughter of the King, you have full access to His presence. The key to resting is simply being still and knowing that He is God and He is good. When you take the time to remember His kindness it is possible to remain calm amidst any storm or busy season.

In these next few weeks leading up to Easter I encourage you to

1. Take some time to remember what Jesus did for you and your family. Ponder the greatness of His sacrifice. He is no longer on the cross! He has risen! This means something. Personalize it for you and your family! You were purchased with a price and the value of something is measured by what it was worth. Jesus gave everything, His whole self. That makes you pretty valuable. Talk about something of great worth to your children and ask them what would be as valuable as giving a life away!

2. Read the Easter story aloud, one chapter each day, from each of the gospels and see if your family can pick out the differences in the telling.

3. Don’t miss out on what He did for you or forget to notice what He did at Easter. The Spirit of the living God is inside of you and His powerful resurrection life pouring through you. It is a stunning truth that we don't want to miss. Make an Easter tree and use construction paper to have your children decorate crosses or decorated eggs to hang on some branches from your own garden or pussy willows you can put in a vase. Punch a hole through each cross or egg and hang it on your Easter tree.

4.Pick flowers or purchase some lovely blooms and put them around your house.

5. Take time to have a spring day celebration--make a picnic of small, bite size sandwiches, fruit, cheese and enjoy outside or place a blanket in front of a window and have an inside picnic and look for the signs of spring.

As you celebrate the risen Lord this month with your family, spend time talking about Jesus' resurrection and His "aliveness" with your children. Listen to them as they grapple with what that means and help them explore the beautiful, vibrant, ever-present life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Sandra

My dear, lovely friend, Sandra Maddox, who started and leads a mom group with mentors  called Treasured,

at Saddleback Church in California!

And all of her mamas do feel treasured.

Thanks, Sandra for inviting us to celebrate spring.

Today at MomHeart: September McCarthy gives us a peek into a special day with her family in, "Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk."

What to do with an out of the box child? Send them to Hollywood! And giveaways!

Join us for giveaways, a party and celebration tonight at 9:00 eastern time when the MobSociety, features an interview between me and my wonderful, ADHD, OCD, artistic child, Nathan!

Go here for more!

www.themobsociety.com

When all of the other children stayed in the sidewalk when we walked around a lake at a 5 star hotel, Nathan was skipping, climbing a tree, following the squirrels.

As a small child, when Nathan had a hard time settling down to sleep, others said I was too lenient. I scratched his back and told him stories to help relax him.

He sang, pretended, wiggled, ran, talked a lot and was the pied piper--the kids all loved him, the parents wondered if being out of the box could be the right way to shepherd this child who was bigger than life.

Tonight, join Nathan and me for an interview at the Mobsociety (https://www.facebook.com/TheMobSociety) for a facebook party. We will be giving away:

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe (by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae)

Heartfelt Discipline (by Clay Clarkson)

A book on purity for girls (from Nathan’s girlfriend, Rachael Stroud)

Wisdom Chasers: Catching Glimpses of God in Pursuit of Truth (by Nathan Clarkson)

A music CD from Joel Clarkson

One person will win it all!

WILL YOU HELP US GET THIS LAUNCHED?

My out of the box child is now in Hollywood, wishing to change the world. Many of you wonderful friends have already committed to the goal of his $10,000 movie start up. Through you and other visionaries, God has helped Nathan raise $8245 toward his 10,000 goal. Won't you pray about being a part of the team? Here is more about his story--and we need you to help us complete his  Kickstarter off the ground! Go here for more information!

And be sure to scroll down all the way to find out where the party and interview between Nathan and me will be held and be sure to enter the giveaways!

Masterworks Festival became interested in Nathan's movie and recently interviewed him on their blog:

Masterworks, a great Christian summer conference for students in the arts and music to learn how to make an impact on their world for Christ, interviewed Nathan as an alumni.

Claire: What's going on in your life this year? (Family, work/career, etc.)

Nathan: Hmm, well, a lot actually! I just got back from speaking at two of my family's conferences, showing a promotional trailer, raising funds, and getting the word out about a new film that I wrote! It was a lot of fun and is really encouraging to get positive feedback. And as always, it was so nice to still be involved with my family as they continue to use their lives in ministering to other people!

Claire: When and how did you get interested in acting?

Nathan: To be honest I feel like I have always been acting, whether it was as a boy pretending to be Superman or dressing up as one of my favorite historical figures, I have always loved falling into characters and telling stories. Hearing/reading/watching stories was what lit my heart on fire since I was young, so it was only natural that I would grow up and search for ways to tell stories with my life. Somewhere in the middle of high school, I realized that I also loved people, and I saw what an impact the movies and stories had on all of us—shaping our decisions and feelings by inspiring, connecting, sympathizing, and moving us. So, I decided I wanted to be a part of the movement that was telling the stories that connected with my generation. In high school I attended MasterWorks, where I began to realize I could use my passion and natural gifts for God’s purposes. A little after high school I attended an acting/music commutation called AMTC (Actor Models Talent for Christ) where I was invited to attend The New York Film Academy. And the rest, I guess, is history!

Claire: What about your experience at MasterWorks most influenced you?

Nathan: I think the thing that so inspired and influenced me about MasterWorks was seeing and getting to take part in this amazing community of people who had realized they had been given amazing gifts and had decided they were going to use them for a bigger purpose than simply acclaim, fame, money or recognition. They had decided to use their God-given gifts to praise our Creator and bring people closer to Him. I think it is so rare for people to see their gifts and talents as something given by God and for God. Being at MasterWorks set the foundation for how I could use my God-given gifts.

Claire: You wear many different hats: writer, actor, film producer/director, musician, son of two popular speakers/writers… As a result, have you found it difficult for you to determine who you are as a person? Who or what defines you? Describe that journey of finding your identity.

Nathan: Being in LA, each day I see a city looking for identity: everyone scrambling, chasing, and doing almost anything thinkable to find themselves, to discover purpose, and to create their identity. And because of that, everyday I see people wrapping up their entire identity in such temporal and fading things, whether it's their talent, their ‘art,’ their sexuality, or even their popularity and money. I see people building their foundations of identity on things that will surely disappoint or disappear eventually. I have even found myself falling into the trap of finding my identity in things of this world, like my acting, music, writing, and even my family! But somewhere along the way, after I had been brought to my knees by the humbling process of failed acting jobs, losing friends, and a career with nothing to show, God found me and has been leading me down a path of finding my worth and identity in Him. This is the most life-changing, freeing experience I could ever feel, because He is the one thing that will NEVER fail. Even if everything else does, I know my worth is found in Him!

Claire: You recently wrote a modern-retelling of the Prodigal Son, and now you are in the process of raising funds to make this into movie. What inspired this, and what is the message that you want to portray through this project?

Nathan: Awhile back when I was going through one of my hardest times, I randomly found myself reading the story of the Prodigal Son, and little did I know what a powerful, recurring tale it would be in my life. In the months to come, I found myself trying to follow God but often getting lost in my own desires and foolish decisions, wondering what I was supposed to do. BUT, every time I found my head in my hands as a result of my decisions, I felt God’s loving arms holding me and His voice calling me back to the man I was made to be—just like the Prodigal. So, as I began to look, I realized I lived in a city and really, a world of prodigals, not bad or evil people—just people looking for meaning, purpose and love. Often, letting the deep desire we all have for those things led them into places, situations, and answers that too often turn out to be false, temporary, or even destructive.

I decided I wanted to be more intentional about what kinds of projects I would be in, which led me to look for projects that intended to bring light to a dark world! But unfortunately, I found out quickly that projects with the messages I desired to tell, messages I had been brought up to tell, were few and far between. So, one morning, I woke up and felt a gentle stirring in my heart to write a screenplay (something I had never done) with the messages I truly believe the world needs to hear. Long story short, a month later I had a script that had been written as a modern retelling of the prodigal son entitled Confessions of a Prodigal Son. Shortly after, some amazing people and I shot a trailer (in one day) for raising funds... and here I am!

Claire: You have a desire to use film and acting to influence the world for Christ. What needs do you see in the Hollywood scene, and what would you say are effective ways to accomplish this goal?

Nathan: I would love to see more people truly realizing the knowledge that God has created us individually with love and care to use our gifts to praise Him, and in doing so, bringing other people closer to Him as well. Hollywood needs people with a vision bigger than themselves, but one of eternity with a passion to create quality reflections of God’s amazing love through whatever medium possible.

Claire: What challenges have you faced as an actor in the professional world? How has your faith influenced how you live?

Nathan:

1. This might sound cliche, but I still deal with the pain of rejection and feeling not good enough, but that’s where finding my identity in God helps.
2. The feeling of loneliness, when you decide to follow your dreams. Oftentimes the way you can get the most discouraged is by feeling like you are always doing things on your own—every trial, every doubt—but that is why I made a choice a while ago to get involved in an amazing church, and that really helps me navigate this crazy thing called life.
3. Having to say "no" when "yes" would be so much easier. It is such an amazing feeling to find who you are and who you are called to be. But, with that comes who you are NOT called to be, and sometimes you have offers or situations come up, where, with just a little bit of compromise you can make money, get seen, or just feel important. This often makes saying "no" extremely hard, even if it’s clear I should. However, every time I have made the hard decisions to turn down roles/jobs/places I know aren’t a part of who I have been called to be, I see God lead me down His path into things 100 times better that what I could have imagined. It’s not always in my timing or the way I thought I wanted it, but it’s always amazing and better than what I could have done myself.

Claire: What are your long-term goals/dreams (acting or otherwise)?

Nathan: To be honest, I would just love living a life that brings light to a dark world and shows God’s amazing love for me and everyone with whatever I am doing! Though, making and acting in films that do that would be super awesome!

Claire: How can we be praying for you?

Nathan: I would love prayer for wisdom in every situation I come across as well as the continued ability to use my passions and gifts to connect with people!

Claire: What is your favorite movie, style of music, food, and place to travel?

Nathan:

• Movie: There are so many! But apart from all my favorite trilogies, I would have to say The Truman Show...Sooo amazing.
• Style of music: I love EVERY style of music (I know, SO cliche). Lately, I have been coming to an appreciation for pop music. I think that when it is done the right way, it has the ability to connect with someone and leave a message that will continue to play in their mind while using minimal time and potentially sharing deep personal messages in a non time-consuming format. And when you think about that, it’s kind of a beautiful idea!
• Food: Oh my, I am kind of a foodie. My classic is either a Caesar salad or a good grilled chickensandwich.
• Place to travel: Oh—I love all of Europe. My parents were missionaries there when they were young, so they have taken me back across the amazing countries! I am almost fully English and would someday love to go and explore England and maybe even find some of my history!

Be sure to join us tonight--and share about our giveaway! Thanks so very much. We are all very excited!

For more information, please go to:

A wonderful, insightful blog for mamas of boys:

www.themobsociety.com

Join them on:

www.facebook.com/themobsociety

Help us promote it on twitter!

www.twitter.com/boyraisers

Please tell us what you think and leave a comment to let us know you are there! Blessings sweet friends!

Way 3 Honor and Obedience: The Foundation of Worshipping God (Mentoring Monday)

François Antoine de Bruycker--The Firstborn

24 Family Ways # 3

We honor and obey our parents with a respectful attitude.

From the first days of life, we speak the attitudes of faith into our little babies. When we treat them with gentleness and respond to them with patience and treat them as little infants of great value, we are already training the value of honor and respect into their brain patterns.

Honor is a value that must have precedence in a home, so that a child can understand the importance of  people, and  to learn to bow their knee before others who deserve respect.

The beginning of learning to value a fetus, an old, frail or infirm adult, or a person of different race or color begins with the heart attitude of learning to honor and learning to submit oneself to others.

hon·or

Definition: to show high respect or esteem

To regard with great respect

Many years ago, I was taking Sarah, Joel, Nathan and Joy to a children's museum in Ft. Worth. We were standing in line behind what appeared to be grandparents with a little boy about 5 or 6. As we stood waiting our turn to enter, the little boy suddenly laid down on the floor, began screaming and then when his grandpa tried to pick him up, the boy started slapping and hitting and spitting on him.

Immediately all four of my children looked back at my face to see what I was going to do. Joel said, "Mama, don't you know? We always look at your eyes to see what we are supposed to do and how we are supposed to behave and react in life."

What do your children see when they look at your eyes?

Children naturally look to their parents for an example and model of what is expected.

One of the reasons, I believe, that God required children to honor  and obey their parents was to give them a visual and actual practice of what it would look like to give honor  and obey and value and worship to God.

How can our children learn the value of worshipping and honoring God if they have not seen it in the warp and woof of their daily lives?

It is very difficult to behave in belief and in worship to God--to understand that we are below him and are to bow to His holiness--if we have never been required to show respect to others in our lives.

There must be some visible, actual ways of teaching children respect and honor as a heart value so that they can learn the concept.

There are so many practical ways and tips to teach a child honor and obedience.

However, the most important thing to realize is that it starts with the heart. 

Respect, giving worth and honor to someone, is not a matter of forcing a child to submit to an authority  because the parent  is  stronger and bigger and can exert his power. Force of authority is the opposite of winning and training a child's heart to honor and obedience.

HOW DO WE TEACH THIS VALUE?

"Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" I Peter 3:15

It begins with an attitude of gentleness and reverence from our own obedient and honoring heart. The power is in our own maturity to train in maturity.

A wise mother looks into the heart of her child to understand what is mulling around in the mind and seat of thoughts and motivation. Honor is passed on to a child when we take the time to know their personality, understand their heart attitude and to be able to say or evaluate if a behavior was merely foolishness or if behavior showed a disrespectful and rebellious heart.

I corrected my children so very often because of the attitude I could detect--when they were willful or prideful or selfish in response to a person or situation--much more than I corrected for behavior.

Wise behavior was trained and modeled and corrected over time. However the essence of training our children to honor and obey was an issue of teaching them to submit their wills out of a heart of respect, rather than out of us forcing them to comply.

Understand that all of us are sinful and selfish and that our human way is to "push against" anyone who infringe upon our rights. And so it is natural to be selfish and immature, but it is supernatural to be mature. 

To become mature takes a whole lifetime--at least I am still working on it. To grow in maturity and to become wiser, humbler and more discerning and submissive in my behavior has taken me years of input, training, understanding, conviction, reforming my ways and repenting--and it is a process, not a one time act.

And so it is with a child, hundreds of times teaching, correcting, loving, training, and over and over again.

For this reason, a parent should not think the child is intentionally disobedient all the time just to thwart the parent--all children are born with such a nature and all children will grow in strength and ability to obey when consistently trained and guided and corrected.

This is a process.

Ours is to wisely keep them on the path of righteousness and to give them the value and love for righteousness and to correct and train them as they are going.

Just a few practical ideas:

When our children were little, we taught them to address adults with "Miss" or "Mister"--as our children called our adult friends either Mister Brown or Miss Deb to show that there was a distinction between adults and children. Different parts of the US and different countries have ways of imparting this understanding of the distance between adults and children, but it is a necessary distinction which helps children to learn the attitude of respect--to see a difference in themselves and in adults and authorities.

Teaching manners  is a wonderful way to teach children to value the worth of other people. Giving up chairs so others have a comfortable seat. Letting other adults or guests go first in line at a buffet, or serving our guests food or beverages before we were served were small ways of building a pattern of giving honor to others more than ourselves, so that our children could understand the whole concept.

Writing thank you notes and noticing the worth of other people through words helped our children have a pattern for respect. Honoring those in position--a pastor, a teacher, the President, leaders--in front of our children instead of always criticizing them in our children's presence helped them to learn that we also honored people.

In a world of cynicism and sarcasm, we must rule over the influences of our children when so often media and the internet feels that any person and any office is something open to being criticized or being made fun of in public.

This creates a culture that has no sense of honor or respect. Guarding our words and behavior is so important if we are to instill a heart value for respect, rather than just trying to force obedience.

Even small babes can learn to honor their parents by teaching them to use self-control. When our babes were very young and they were whining or screaming, but old enough to understand us, we would place them in a crib and say, "I am so sorry, but mommy (or Daddy) cannot listen to you while you scream or whine (or whatever). When you choose to talk to me in a normal voice, I will listen to you."

It was amazing how quickly our children learned to talk in quiet, gentle voices--even as young, crying babes.

But for a child to learn honor, a parent must display honor. The way we speak to each other and to our children should be with pleasant, loving words and voices. When we expect them to learn civility and honor, we have to exhibit it ourselves in the way we treat other people. (generally speaking, of course --we all raise our voices or become angry or frustrated on occasion.)  And even if we do become angry or raise our voices, we should always apologize if we expect our children to apologize. We must exhibit the same behavior we are expecting of them.

How can we train our children to act respectfully if we do not behave in a civilized, gentle, respectful way?

But then there is the second part of the way: obeying our parents with a respectful attitude.

Though this is a big area, and I cannot possibly address it all in one small article, the process of teaching a child the pattern of obeying is a long term pathway of learning obedience, little by little.

Teaching children to obey is essential to their character and moral strength, but it is a process. The beginning of learning obedience is to learn a value like this one--We honor and obey our parents with a respectful attitude.

So many parents do not teach basic expectations but merely react to their children in frustration--without having ever laid down the training of expectations of what is to be obeyed.

This merely frustrates parent and child as it is difficult for a child to learn to obey if they have never been told what is expected of them--any more than I could expect to please an employer if I did not clearly understand what was expected.

Training little by little is the key to having long term obedience and honor.

Since Clay and I believe that parenting is an organic process, considering the personalities of children, the sex and age of children and the ways to reach the children's hearts, we do not give specific advice but wisdom principles to follow.

Consequently, the first place to start is in giving our children a pattern of what to expect by being with them all the time when they are little so that we can speak to their little hearts, needs, shaping their values and understanding of behavior by directing it.

The children whose parents are most engaged and involved when their children are little are, generally speaking, the ones whose children are easier to train, as the children have learned to expect attention and love and training.

And so we teach them this way, teach them the memory verse and use this way and verse as a way of correction:

What is our way about obedience? What do you need to do in order to obey mommy now?

And so that I do not write a whole book tonight, I will leave you with this thought:

How are you modeling honor and obedience to God in  your home, by your attitudes, actions and obedience--so that your children will have a true picture to follow?

 

The Gift of a Quiet Day

The scene outside my kitchen sink.

Sequestered in my home with "blizzard warnings" buzzing on our phones, winds blowing, snow drifting, most of Monument is indoors today to avoid the storm. An unexpected gift from the Lord where all of us at home have gathered around in holiday spirit to enjoy the haven God has granted.

Freshly milled whole-wheat, pecan, apple pancakes with bacon was breakfast served at 11:00, accompanied by rousing discussion and sharing of ideas with Sarah and Joel, Clay and me. What grace to hear the hearts alive and passionate and idealist on a day when we all expected to be busy in other places.

View from my living room window

 In my quiet living room, listening to my Pandora channel to Alexander Desplat and .......

Reading and lots of tea and coffee will be next for me--A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle and The Long Legged House by Wendell Berry will be with me on my couch in front of the fireplace.

Praying for Joy at the nationals speech tournament in Arkansas as she gives her persuasive and learns more how to defend her ideas--and that her adventure with co-speakers would be blessed with delight and friendship.

Praying for Nathan, that God would protect him in Hollywood and lead him to other believers and bless his project.

Praying for Sarah as she grasps for high ideals and goals and the impossible that God will have to provide along the way.

Praying for Joel as he pursues his music and crafts new pieces for Easter and strains to make a living at his art, and preparing for the next step.

Asking God to bless dear Clay as he is so filled with wisdom come from living long in thought and presence of God and how we may serve Him best our autumn season, filled with years of seeing Him better and knowing his faithfulness through it all.

 

Homemade oatmeal-wheat-honey bread is rising in the kitchen which will be served with fresh potato kale soup, giving by a friend, who is an angel in disguise as a human.

Afternoon movie will be shared somewhere along the way with tea and cookies--like a holiday unexpected.

Stop! Can be such an unexpected gift when Hurry has been the mode.

May your Saturday be blessed wherever you find yourself.

Used Blog 3/17/2021 These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ...and keeping a civilized life

"Do you just drink tea and light candles all the time every day? When do you get work accomplished and what do you do with the rest of your time?" was the question of someone who had read a few of my posts but didn't know much about me.

I am 59, almost 60, and I have never been busier in my life.  I am a cook by ideals, personality and taste and so I cook most nights, still have 2-4 adult children living at home or coming in and out, am married to a visionary husband who has an endless list of ideals and books and projects he wants us to accomplish in the next 10 years. Every day people make messes around here and bills have to be paid and blogs written, speaking trips, talking to each child or writing them every day and friends and Bible studies and holidays, and new books each year and mentoring. And the list goes on and on--just like yours does.

Why wouldn't I want to light candles and listen to music and try to have some moment in my day that seemed quiet and peaceful?

When I was in my mid-40's, I suddenly realized that a wise woman keeps her own soul alive as no one else was looking out for my soul but me. This is a long-distance race and doesn't slow down so far as I can see, so it must be run with wisdom. Sabbath rest for my emotions, my body, my soul--my everything, is necessary for me to last well.

Unfortunately for me it means, not leaving comments on my own blog with women whose stories and comments I love to read--because I would have to sacrifice my personal time at home if I did. It means not answering important messages on facebook and letting many emails go--as no one, especially me,  can keep up with thousands and thousands of messages a year  and keep a balanced life and still have a quiet time and walk daily for my health and look my children and husband in the face and listen to them and not go crazy from always being busy--I had to cut somewhere. And I rarely answer my phone, no matter who or how often,  unless it is my children or Clay.

Now, after a busy season I find my soul desperately needing to relax and rest and just be quiet without any new adrenalin-filled ideas or people needing me.

When I can, I sleep! Sleep keeps a body from getting ill and keeps it healthy.

I must take care of myself and intentionally  step back and enjoy a few favorite things-because in giving out the past months, I am empty and so I must fill myself back up so I will have more to give--it is an endless cycle of giving--filling up--giving--filling up, that must take place for life to flourish.

When I travel, especially if I'm to be alone, there are a few things I intentionally pack and bring along to help me feel at home, while away so often--a rose table covering or scarf  and vanilla candles; Yorkshire gold tea and a china tea cup (keeps it hotter!); my favorite flower-covered lap throw as I hate to be cold on planes or in a hotel room or anywhere; lots of music--celtic, soundtracks of Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Potter, Ladies in Lavendar; Joshua Bales and of course my wonderful Joel's music and lots of indy artists.

When I get home I will take long walks in the mountains and enjoy more of the things I've drawn close at home--surroundings in the color blue and also rose;

sweet friends who love me and care about me-

-I need them so much with not so much family in my life--my children are some of those  best friends, and there are a few special buddies who love me no matter what;

great books and stories, Victoria magazine;

salad with lots of veggie's and avocado and walnuts or pecans and always onions;

chocolate--especially any chocolate with nuts; (dark chocolate salted almond) and especially Lindt--the dark one with the blue foil wrapper; if it isn't going to be with nuts.

a hot bath that covers my whole body--I love baths;

talking with Nate and Joy  to see how California and the other far places in the world are doing;

sitting around my dinner table or in the den talking and laughing every night with Clay, Sarah, and Joel--and of course, Kelsey, our beloved, neurotic golden retriever.

reading encouraging letters or emails from friends; Calling my loved ones for long talks,  to keep up, when I have planned it;

studying the Word and being with my precious Jesus and pondering Him! Reading soul stirring books and captivating novels.

I know it's time to surround myself with these things so I can be restored.

Comfort for me will be something of a rhythm. Scrambled Eggs with cheese, home made, whole grain bread, potato soup, French Food  and Mexican food and fresh food (love fruit and veggies).

Old fashioned chocolate chip cookies with pecans that Sarah makes ... (The secret to good cookies is to always whip the butter, vanilla, sugar and eggs by themselves for 5-10 minutes on high and then don't bake the cookies too long--they will cook a little more after they are out and on  a stone and they will dry out a little, and you don't want them tough!)

Of course there must be pots of strong tea. And good strong coffee. And some great English drama series or mysteries or dramas that we can be romantic or adventuresome with and enjoy the countryside and dream.

Some favorites that we have watched over the years  (we almost have them memorized!) are:

Pride and Prejudice (the new and the old 8 hour one!)

Sense and Sensibility

Persuasion

Emma

Larkrise to Candleford--so wonderful and new, but they are canceling it after its 4th season!

David Copperfield

Wives and Daughters

Victoria and Albert and Young Victoria

Mrs. Brown

Daniel Deronda

and more........

These are some books we've found which paint delightful pictures of life-giving homes ...

Brambly Hedge--delightful children's picture book series from England--more contemporary than Beatrix Potter and has the most inviting pictures of the inside of an English Home that is lived in by precious animals--lovely-- and worth buying second hand for your own library.

Pilgrim Inn--a favorite book from an old English author, Elizabeth Goudge, whose story is about the redemption of people in a home, and family after World War II-a book for adult readers or older teens. Also shows the mending of a marriage and grace that comes through acceptance. Makes the home come alive through a window into loving, giving grace, and living as a family. (All of Gouge's books.)

Wendall Berry books to harken me to ideals, community, real relationships, a technology free life and centering on what matters.

TV series on Net Flicks about history, mystery, great stories, drama, story--things that are fun for my soul.

I love Edith Schaeffer's books--The Hidden Art of Homemaking and What is a Family for instruction and stories about her own family and the life of using her home as a place of ministry and of course the story of L'Abri; a must-read for families to picture the hand of God at work in the life of people who live by faith--heart warming stories.

Also, I collect old Eloise Wilkin (an artist) books because her beautiful pictures of children in family, playing, doing chores, helping mommy and wonderful pictures of home are a great way to put pictures in your children’s minds of the importance of family and home. These are simple children’s picture books, and the first imprint I put on my children’s brains about family, home and Mommy!

Loved the melted cheese passages in Heidi, another must-read-aloud–a picture of salvation through a great story. It gives us a beautiful picture of creation. This author wrote purposefully, to give children literature to lead them to Christ. (We translated one of her stories into English for the first time in our book that we publish called The Gold Thread–the story was called The Rose Child and can be found through our website.)

Just David–also one of my favorite books in the world–such a picture of a child’s heart redeeming a whole village because of is wonderful integrity–we published this, too so you can find this through our website also!

The Little Princess–also a must read-aloud in our home–the meal she took on her porch was especially delightful!

I could go on and on about things that bring me pleasure, but these a few of my favorite things. And I will continue building into the treasure chest of these jewels so that my soul can stay healthy and strong, because a mature woman takes care of her own soul.

So I am off to rest and lie down in green pastures and let the Lord restore my soul while I give him a little practical help by pulling back and waiting till I am filled up again!

Even with Elijah, He touched him, fed him, let him sleep and then repeated it all over again.

So, use this weekend well and choose those things which will fill the drained places.

Peace, Selah

Used Blog 3/11/2021 Too Many Choices, Too Many Voices! Desperate chapter 11

Desperate - Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe: Chapter 11 - All the Voices that Influence Us

Last night, around 6, I was sitting in a chair by my window up in my second story bedroom. Our home sits up on a hill that is about 7500 feet high, and we look out over tall Colorado pines with the mountains not too far in the distance. As I sat amidst the peace of my darkening room, I looked out on the horizon and across the sky, once again, the Lord had painted the most vibrant sky--luminous, "screaming pink"--(the color of shirts my mother used to love to buy for me!)--seemed to be dancing across the sky for those who would see it! Then fading into hues of orange and finally darkness. I was reminded again how present God is in all of our moments yet wondering how many people in my little town took the time to notice Him and His art. How many times He is there to speak, to comfort, to love, but we are too busy to notice or listen.

I was pondering some of the dilemmas of modern, Christian life---way too many choices and way too many voices. Choices scream at us and block out the simplicity of Christ and His love and His voice.

We live in a time of so many voices that represent so many choices--republican, democrat, independent; theologies--charismatic, reformed, catholic, baptist, emergent church, Bible church; public, private and homeschool; whole book, curriculum, or classical; movies or tv acceptable to watch, those that violate our conscience; dating or courtship; what music is acceptable; universalism or  limited atonement; whole foods or MacDonalds,  soccer or piano lessons; t.v. or no media at all; infiltrate culture or draw back and seclude, spanking or grace-based parenting; and on and on and on.

And then there is the busy-ness associated with getting it all right and reading all the blogs and books and reviews and making all the choices--looking for the right formula, seeking the most profound expert, frenetic that we might make the wrong choice--yet confused in the midst. There is such a pressure to be involved in all that is relevant and the pressures of our modern Christian culture cultivates insecurity and fear and isolation.

Lots of head focus, not so much heart.

So much wrangling over words and so much judgment and pride and finger pointing--what is the right way to believe? So many who are involved in these issues have a heart that desires to find what is best and to do what is right. Who is the right authority?

Such choice overload obscures the simplicity and presence of God.

Satan can use the frantic searching and frenzy to obscure what is essential--loving God and knowing Him. So many I talk to long to be close to Him, but find Him illusive. No wonder there exists so much shallowness in our culture--we are seeking so hard after the answers and to please others

and He wants us to seek Him.

Now don't get me wrong, I am orthodox in my beliefs and trust in Jesus for my salvation and am so very grateful for this. I have a strong foundation of ideals for my home and children.

But the older I get and the more countries I have seen and the more people I have worked with, the more I see that it is the heart--where love and faith and beauty and humility exist where the life of Christ flourishes.

It is in Him and His presence that I find peace that transcends "getting it all right."  I have learned that God is much bigger than I originally thought and that He understands and has compassion for many outside the comfort zone of my own ideals and beliefs and values and that I would be wise to be quick to listen and slow to speak and even slower to judge. His purposes and ways transcend time, history and cultures and I would be wise to focus on Him above all else.

I find rest when I ponder the One who took small children into His arms to bless them; who gently and lovingly washed the disciple's feet, who threw the vibrant colors into the sky for me to enjoy last night. Jesus, came in simplicity--not a man of titles or authority--but the authority that comes from within.

I ponder His messages--admonishing us to give cups of cold water; taking care of our enemies as did the good Samaritan; parenting in such a way as to have the heart of the father looking every day for his prodigal son to return; encouraging us to be like the gentle, humble Mary who chose the "good part"--to sit at his feet and rest in his love and be filled with the life of His words--not being like Martha who was "worried about so many things."

It seems His priorities were for us to be anchored in character and deeds of goodness and kindness--the simplicity of being a good neighbor, giving grace and forgiving as we have been forgiven--making bridges of peace--not walls of separation.

Often, with the media and so many "experts"--(everyone is an expert if given the opportunity to blog!),

I see people laden down with the voices that seek attention in their heads--seems that with all the conflicting messages and so much media in our face, pleasing and finding God can be complicated, confusing and overwhelming and impersonal--more about knowledge than personal in an intimate relationship.

Wouldn't Satan just love for us to be confused and insecure--since God so clearly wants us to be secure and stable in the knowledge of His love, His calling and His grace.

Jesus had great scorn and condemnation for the Pharisees who "tie up heavy loads and lay them on men's shoulders," --those who were so dedicated to defining every jot and tittle of the law.Just this morning, I was reading in Matthew 23:23 where Jesus says to them, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel."

Then I read in John 14 and 15, some of the last chapters recorded of Jesus's personal messages to his disciples. His desire and heart to comfort and encourage his precious disciples is so evident throughout these chapters.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled or let it be fearful."

He comes not to give as the world gives to us--but peace--restful, filling, assuring peace--that keeps us from being troubled or fearful.

The God who told us the most important commandments were to love Him and love others, is the gentle shepherd who will not judge us today if we get all the answers and choices right, but if we abide in Him, love Him, rest in Him and walk in the abundance and security of His love for us and His redeeming love for those needy in our lives who need not just answers and words, but love, forgiveness, healing and peace.

Lord, let me today and every day, abide in you, see you, listen to your voice, follow your wisdom,  rest against you--"not being concerned with things too difficult for me, but composed, like a weaned child rests against his mother, so will my soul be within me." (Psalm 131)

...

Head here to get your copy of Desperate!

"Mom, I Don't Think I Believe In God Anymore," and Other Mommy Nightmares

Some of the questions and doubts our children verbalize can bring great fear to our hearts. And yet as a mom of older children, I know that all children have such thoughts and handling them with peace, grace and wisdom (while praying fervently on your knees in private) will bring us to see God's grace as He leads our children. I'm so glad to have my dear, lives-right-around-the-corner friend Deb Weakly sharing with you today! I know you'll love her wise words. ~Sally

It's the stuff nightmares are made of.

"Mom, I don't see anything wrong with getting drunk if you are old enough."

"How do you know there is a God? He sure doesn't seem real to me!"

"How can God possibly be good when he killed all those people in the Bible?"

"If there is a God, why does Dad have cancer?"

"I don't think there is anything wrong with living together and not being married."

 And the list goes on and on...

What do we do when our kids come to us with their doubts, thoughts and questions?

Whatever you do, stay calm and don't blow a gasket!

Christian college chaplains have informed me before that it is a developmentally normal for teens and college-aged kids to wrestle with the questions of their faith. This is how they learn to own their own convictions--but it is a process of growth and may take some time!

I believe that I have even seen this in my own children. My daughter Christie went through a time when she was 16 years old and felt that God spoke to everyone else but not to her. She felt like her quiet times were lifeless and she never heard from God--ever. I remember just praying and praying for God to speak to her and for her to learn how to hear God's voice. She went through an internship the summer of her 16th year where the students and leader went through a Bible study that really clicked with her, and she finally learned how to hear God's voice for herself. And the rest is history. Christie loves God, hears from Him regularly and even writes a blog devoted to helping others understand God better. She has a depth in her soul that would not have been there had she not gone through her time of questioning.

From time to time, even young children can fuss about reading a Bible storybook.  They may even say things like “No Mommy, I don’t like Jesus!!” Our natural tendency when something like this happens is to worry and fret about the possibility of this particular child not growing up to love God. We have to remember--they are children! And children say things they don't mean or understand quite a lot of the time. When your children say things like this, just remind yourself ... children say silly things.

Older children say silly things, too! And sometimes they say scary things. What do we do? Stay calm, pray, and trust God. Whatever happens, "Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" Phillipians 1:27. Don't blow up or freak out!! Don't assume the worst of your kids. Remind your kids that God loves them. Tell them how awesome they are and how much you love their faith. Let your older kids know that their questions are okay because it shows that they are developing their own faith in God. Tell them how thankful you are that they come to you and trust you with their questions. Let them know that you believe in them and the God that is leading them.

I have been in situations where the parents of kids going through questioning times are praying about their child's lack of faith in a negative way--within earshot of their kids. Please, please, please never do that!  Don't ever let your kids think that you believe they are lost- especially your adult kids. God talks a lot in scripture about having faith. I believe we are to have faith in God and in our children. God will never let them go and wants none of them to perish.

Remember the Holy Spirit has access to our children's hearts and minds and will be speaking to them. He will work in ways that we never could ever dream of.

Being confident of this; that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Phillipians 1:6.

God is working. He will never let them go! Pray like crazy and believe in your kids and the plans God has for their life. Remind them often of things that you admire about their faith. If you can't think of anything, ask God. He will help you to know what to say to encourage your kids. Keep the lines of communication open and remember, if they don't come to you, they will most likely go to their friends or culture with their doubts. You want them to come to you and to know that you are always on their side and will always believe in them.

So hang in there, mama! And put the mommy nightmares to rest. You serve a big God, and He is in love with your children and will pursue them all their lives!

  Deb has a passion for discipleship and prayer that reaches around the world. She has led discipleship groups for the last 15 years- focusing on the art of the prayer-filled life as wife, mom and woman of God. Deb is a frequent speaker at women’s groups and has hosted International Leaders in her home with Momheart Ministries. Her favorite ways to spend her time include time with God in the morning on her favorite brown couch, with the fire burning, candles lit, hot tea and Bible in hand, while snuggling with her dog, Haylee; coffee time on Saturday mornings on that same couch with her husband of 22 years, Randy, and visiting with her kids, Christie(19), and Jack (16), while they sip hot tea and coffee. Deb hopes that her couch does not wear out any time soon.

Believe and Support your Children's Dreams! Get involved!

 

Confessions of a Prodigal Son  A New movie to draw families back together--at Home!

"Superman is who I want to be when I grow up! He saved the world from harm and danger! That is what I am going to do!"

And so Nathan dreamed of being a redeemer, a hero, helping and saving those in his own generation.

He has prayed, worked, loved, reached out and been faithful. And so naturally I want to see his faith in God's ability to work come to life through others who believe in the dreams of our children who are willing to take a risk to influence their world for Christ.

"Mom, there are so many lost kids in my generation. They need compassion, they need someone to lead them back home."

The trailer for Confessions of a Prodigal Son

"There are so many who are lost and scarred even just here in Los Angeles, let alone in the rest of the world. I want to write a screen play that will reach thousands of prodigals and their families to give them hope and to find a way back to their families."

And so, Nathan is, by faith following his dreams--and I want to be the cheerleader behind him as he steps out.

Please, will you consider supporting Nathan's work and dream?

Many of you have already joined the team. He is so excited and appreciative of your coming aboard and can't believe that he has raised half in 30 days. If he raises the other support in the next 25 days, producers will get behind this movie and it will become a reality. If he does not reach his goal, all the money will not be charged and will go back to those who joined the team, but the project will come to a standstill. This is the way of kick start for the arts.

Go here for more information on Kick Start!

$5, $10, $25, $50, or $10,000 adds up to reach his goal!:)  Everything helps!

BUT HE NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF OTHER CHRISTIANS WHO WANT TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE KINDS OF MOVIES THAT ARE BEING PRODUCED!

It is common in the arts to bring a group of people together in support of a project so that larger film companies will pick up on a project and make it come to life. Many people that Nathan has been reaching out to in Hollywood have read Nathan's script and have gotten excited about the project, but they want to see Nathan raise his initial artists Kick Starter fully funded in order to see if there is really interest and commitment to a movie like this to be produced in Hollywood. His agent, a producer and a number of influential people are meeting to see if they can bring this project to life--won't you please pray about supporting this great movie?

You can support the film a dollar to several thousand dollars, but mostly movies are funded by many people giving a little bit. And you can also see the gifts that are being given away to those who are willing to commit to this project.

Kick Starter for Confessions of a Prodigal Son and all the information can be found

HERE.

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING NATHAN'S PROJECT:

1. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CHILDREN GET INVOLVED AND SUPPORT AND PRAY FOR THIS MOVIE AND THEN SHOW IT TO THEM WHEN IT COMES OUT--AND THEN THEY CAN FEEL LIKE THEY WERE ABLE TO BE A PART OF A REAL LIVE STORY OF SOMEONE WHO STEPPED OUT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR WORLD,  AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE INSPIRED TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS!

2. OUR FAMILY WENT TO A MOVIE OVER THE HOLIDAYS TOGETHER AND I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED AND DISMAYED AT THE MOVIES THAT WERE BEING ADVERTISED--ESPECIALLY THE ONES FOR CHILDREN. THEY WERE FULL OF VIOLENCE, DARKNESS, EVIL AND SCARY THEMES. 

IF YOU HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED, THEN YOU CAN BE A PART OF SUPPORTING CHRISTIANS IN MOVIES THAT WILL HAVE POSITIVE, LIFE-GIVING THEMES THAT BRING HOPE AND RESTORE FAMILIES--SOMETHING YOU CAN BE PROUD OF!

3. BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PART OF GOD'S ANSWERS TO NATHAN'S PRAYERS! :) HE IS PRAYING EVERY DAY FOR GOD TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO WILL MAKE THIS MOVIE COME TO LIFE.

IF EVEN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE MOMS WHO READ THIS BLOG EVERY DAY GAVE AS MUCH AS A COUPLE OF COFFEES WOULD COST THEM, NATHAN WOULD HAVE FULL FUNDING in one day! IT IS THE FAITHFUL FEW WHO ARE THE ONES WHO END UP BRINGING CHANGE TO THE WORLD. 

WON'T YOU PLEASE SHARE THIS POST ON FACEBOOK AND WITH YOUR FRIENDS? I WOULD SO APPRECIATE IT!

Nathan wrote a book while he was attending the New York Film Academy a few years ago, about how God spoke to him to chase after Him instead of the world's voice and to become a wisdom chaser. It is a wonderful book to read aloud and to discuss about the right choices.

Nathan is donating all of the money he receives from those who buy his book to the film project.

You can also support the film by ordering his book, here.

I am praying that he will see this part of his dream come to reality through wonderful mamas like you who understand how important it is to support our children's dreams of being used by God in this world in their lifetime.

And thanks from the bottom of my heart for supporting this spiritually meaningful film. I can't wait to see it come to reality.

Nathan, my very own superman! :) Abundant blessings, my Nate!

When you give, you also have the opportunity for this fun opportunity!

• Pledge $10 or more

  17 backers

  You will get a special mention on the movie website, and the knowledge that you helped a truly moving story come to life

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

• Pledge $25 or more

  10 backers

  All of the above. As well as a call from your choice of one of our lead actors thanking you wholeheartedly for your support!

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

• Pledge $50 or more

  11 backers

  All of the above. Including a signed movie poster (from the stars of the film) for you to put above your mantle reminding you and you future generations, that you helped a truly worthy project come to life!

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

  Ships within the US only

• Pledge $100 or more

  5 backers

  All of the above. Including a your own DVD of the final film to play on repeat in your home.

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

  Ships within the US only

• Pledge $250 or more

  1 backer

  All of the above. Including, a special place on the website where you picture will be featured as one of our VIP supporters.

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

• Pledge $500 or more

  2 backers

  All of the above. Plus you will have a chance to be an extra in the movie (flights not included) Immortalizing you self, on the silver screen!

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

• Pledge $1,000 or more

  1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)

  All of the above, PLUS, you (or someone of your choice) will have the chance to actually have a role in the movie with real lines, and will be put on IMDB as an actor in the movie.

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

• Pledge $3,000 or more

  0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

  All of the above. Puls you will receive a producers credit on IMDB and in the credits of the movie. (Great thing to put on a resume!)

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

• Pledge $5,000 or more

  0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

  All of the above. PLUS, Nathan Clarkson the star/writer/producer of the film will do a personal screening for you and your group (church, school, etc...) Complete with a film Q&A session.

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

• Pledge $10,000 or more

  0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

  All of the above. Plus you will be treated to lunch with the stars and the producers of the film to a restaurant (in the Los Angeles area) and receive and invitation to the movie premier in Hollywood! As well as our lifetime debt of gratitude!

  Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

Way 2 Mama, Every Day I Heard God's Voice and It Sounded a Lot Like Yours

Mary Cassatt

Way #2 We read the Bible every day and pray to God with an open heart. 

Memory Verse

"All scripture is inspired by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction  in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

II Tim 3: 16-17

Recently, Nathan was talking about his year in New York City when he attended the New York Film Academy. He lived in an apartment in Harlem with two other young men.

"Every day, I would hear God speaking to me through so many scriptures that we had talked about and memorized. They just kept going through my head at different times and always when I needed them. And you know what, Mom? The voice sounded a lot like your voice and I knew I needed to heed the words, because I couldn't imagine breaking your heart! And those words became the prayers of my own heart amidst all the moments of my life in New York, because I knew God would be with me and speak to me and show me wisdom."

When Sarah was giving her talk at the conferences this year, I didn't know what she was going to say, as she is an adult and prepares her own talks. She shared a story that heartened me. Her memory of waking up early in the mornings was  finding me sitting in an overstuffed chair in the living room or a smaller one in my bedroom, reading my Bible.

"I knew her diligence and devotion was what shaped her life and it always made me expect that I could learn and hear from God in my own life,"

Sarah shared as she talked of what personal integrity looked like in reality.

I hardly need to say I was not a perfect mama, and like all mamas, some seasons I was faithful to this standard as it was a habit I had developed and committed to early in my life before I became a mama. And some seasons I just barely made it through with the crises of life coming my way. I found that reading God's word and praying was essential to my ability to keep taking one more step in the direction of my own ideals--the fuel for my strength when life was exhausting. It is a habit I want to help others learn how to develop.

But in a time when there are so many formulas and voices of advice and people are busier than ever, I wanted to write an article that clearly stated--raising godly children is an issue of spending time with them with God on a regular basis. God and His word are what shape hearts and reading the word of God together gives the Holy Spirit a vocabulary in which to speak to our children when we are not there. 

I didn't really know that my kids were paying attention-- I mean, really taking to heart what I was saying and teaching.  Really, it felt so good inside my heart, to know that my own obedience and work at keeping my heart and mind on scripture left a significant mark in the lives of my children.

Most of the time they just looked like normal, sweet kids; squirming, wiggling, chattering, fussing, and being children.

The Need

More voices and messages invade the sound waves of our brains every day than ever before. Living in a melting pot of cultures now where all religions and values and morals drift together in and through the media; where all varieties of moral behavior are validated and find acceptance; where television and film and the internet smudge the clear borders of truth every day, and even promote violent behavior and dark themes--even in cartoons; the call to teach children has never been more important or profoundly necessary.

We must not underestimate the draw or pull these voices will have in our children's lives as they become young adults and begin to make decisions that will determine the outcome of their whole lives.

A real, true, loving, living God is the voice they must hear of--not just platitudes of moral rules--that is not enough to fool any young adult who is looking for love and wants to be liked.

Only real wisdom and scripture will do.

Building Foundations that Cannot be Moved 

We build the foundational belief system and understanding of truth and God's nature and ways, in our children's minds, one day at a time, one brick at a time. For our children to have a strong house of truth invading and speaking to their invisible thoughts, their minds must already be filled with thousands of teachings of scripture so that their brains will have a "go to" place when they are making decisions about their lives.

As so many women have heard from me over the years, "In the absence of Biblical conviction, (when a person does not have a strongly held belief that has informed his commitments), then this person will indeed go the way of culture."

In other words, if a child has not been taught and trained and instructed in the wisdom of God's word and learned to pray to become familiar with His voice, then, the child will grow up to listen to the voices he has invested in the most, and the voices that will appear to make him happy.

A heart that is filled with and informed by Biblical convictions, does not just happen. It shaped intentionally over many years, day by day, circumstance by circumstance and repeated and lived thousands of times.

Advertisers never give up on loudly proclaiming their voices as they sell whatever is most profitable, and so we have to be even more vigilant to keep the voices of God's reason and wisdom going and shaping the minds of our children so that they can be strong in their generation and live to be great thinkers, communicators and shapers of culture in their generation.

It all starts with a mom who is willing to train and disciple her children and to pay the price of commitment, time, and winsomeness and preparation over many years of time.

And, God is waiting to bless us with His peace, love, wisdom, strength and comfort when we make time to go to Him. And our children will need the same from Him in their lifetime--but they will have a pattern of what that looks like because they will have learned it from our home.

And so, we read the Bible ever day in our home and pray with an open heart, and now our children do the same, because it was the very life and inspiration they breathed into their hearts day in and day out.

Do not be hard on yourself, mama. Just start out with 5-10 minutes--that becomes a habit worth following.

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." 

Deut. 6:4-9

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