Mentoring Monday Initiative builds servant leaders

As young children, my little ones were facinated with nature. Living on 200 acres of wildness in the middle of Texas provided many opportunities to catch and classify butterflies, catch bugs, put snakes into large jars to observe, (I found one on the kitchen cabinet!) and to see how God had built lessons of life into the very warp and woof of his world.

One evening about sunset, Nathan and Joel were running ahead as we sauntered on our traditional walk after dinner. With the summer hours at night, we still had full light. Joel was captivated by a tiny any that was carrying a leaf almost 5 times its size. l

"Mama, if a tiny little bug like that can work so hard for his family aunts, maybe we could do a lot more than we think."

Three days later, we received a shipment of a printing of one of our books. Boxes were stacked high and would take quite some work to empty them onto our shelves. Late in the afternoon, however, Clay came out of our little office and found Joel, sweating profusely in the Texas summer heat, but he had emptied 30 boxes of books neatly onto the shelves with only 2 more to go. It was quite a task, and we were amazed.

"Joel, this is amazing! What made you decide to do this?"

"Well, when I was thinking about the ant and how he carried so much more than we could ever imagine possible, I thought, I want to be like that ant! I want to be strong and dependable. Something came into my head and told me to empty the books." (Yes, he really said that--9 years old. Maybe the Holy Spirit came into his head! :))

Romans 5: 8 tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He saw our failures, our sin, our heartbreaks; He heard our cries; He, out of the driving force of His own nature that always causes Him to redeem, He took initiative to serve us an then die for us.

When we learn to take initiative, we reflect the out-reaching character of Christ. LIttle by little, as we train our children patiently and teach them to take initiative to be responsible, we are giving them a strong character and familiarity to take initiative when they are strong adults. There will always be work to do and so the one who takes initiative will always be in action. Initiative teaches believers to be responsible with the work of God.

Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful and the workers few. Why? Because many people wait to be asked to help. Those with the character of Christ are out in the world with eyes looking for people to help, work for the kingdom to be accomplished.

Initiative causes us to start a small group Bible study for women in our own home because we see a need--not because someone asked us. Initiative causes us to reach out to strangers to show them the love of Christ. A spirit of initiative says, "I am God's and I will live my life for His glory. I will be His eyes to look out for places I might help, love or redeem, in the spirit of His initiation to me."

From early years, we always told our children that God had created them with a personality and skills and drives in order to bring light and His truth into their worlds. Teaching them to be responsible for themselves and for others, made them familiar, when they were adults, with the need to reach out to others and to invest their lives, even if it took a risk, to bring His truth into their own worlds.

When we talk to our children throughout the moments of their days and create the vocabulary and train them to learn how to think of themselves as responsible, we are preparing them to live a story of servant leadership. And when they see us taking initiative to help, to reach out to and to teach others, they will develop a self-image of one who is especially called by God to take initiative to bring light to their own dark worlds--all for the love of God's design in their own lives and for their own love of their heavenly Father.

"We take initiative to do all of our own work without being told."

24 Family Way # 13

Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, 8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.

Memory Verse Proverbs 6:6-8

order here!

Spontaneous adventure is the best choice--just what a weary soul needs!

Santa Fe Plaza--Joy stooping to look at the southwestern jewelry.

Santa Fe Are you there? Do you swear you won't forget me? If I found you would you let me come and stay?

The Newsies

A week ago, as the sun was setting golden over the mountains, and the chill air swept across the pines, Joy and I rocked  slowly on our front porch, sighing with exhaustion. Her wide brown eyes held furrowed brow. Twenty-two nights in a row of sleep in company, and almost 7 weeks all together, had drained our little souls. Reflecting on my busy weeks ahead with more company, all the kids coming home for family day, I realized I would only have a couple of days to celebrate my sweet daughter until she went back to college. Heart-to-heart time has to take priority in the lives of our most beloved, but must be acted upon to provide that intimate strong fellowship we all desire. Work will always be there--but the opportunity to celebrate life with our precious ones must be acted upon now!

A couple of nights before, we had watched the old musical, The Newsies, and the song about Santa Fe must have been in my mind!

"Let's go on an adventure for a couple of days--just you and me. I know, why don't we go to Santa Fe? It is just a few hours drive and we can have an adventure before the busyness starts again."

Clay agreed. Sunday morning, we threw snacks, various music, and just a couple of pairs of jeans in the car,  and happily left all worry and responsibilities in our rear view mirror. Clarksons tingle with excitement when one more road trip is begun, as years and years of memories of fun together in the car, gives us anticipation of being together and living free.

Singing, munching on dark chocolate almonds, cheese crackers and strawberry limeades, found us singing wildly to Rich Mullin's album "Songs." Just as we were driving south of Raton, we witnessed a raging storm, lightning flashing on the left and on the right with one small bit of sunshine in between. Driving through the one light spot on the highway made us feel we were like Moses walking through--in the middle of the Red Sea with walls of water on both sides. There were river-lets all over the ground. Finally, we did have to stop in a surging storm because of lack of visibility in a pouring downfall. Spirits grew with the wild beauty surrounding us.

As soon as we reached Santa Fe, knowing the shops would be open only a couple of hours more, we started on foot to explore the old haunts I had known as a child, growing up only an hour away in Albuquerque.

Again the rain started pouring down, and a concerned shop owner provided us with make-shift garbage bag rain attire.

Conveniently, we were  in front of a favorite French bakery at the old La Fonda Hotel. We ran in and dried off and immediately knew what we needed! A fresh raspberry crepe, covered in chocolate sauce and whip cream, seemed to soothe our rain bedraggled bodies and we delighted in each delicious bite, while sipping hot cappucicnos. God ordained an inspirational conversation with a Christian surge0n and his wife who told us their adventures in starting a medical ministry to Haiti, and traveling each year to give aid to people in great need of a doctor's attention.

Never a dull moment, we walked literally miles and miles over our 2 days. As a center of art and cuisine, we had no end to fun and pleasure.

Just like her name, Joy made this trip a precious memory I will not soon forget. Having spent many days here when in High School, I had so much fun taking her to favorite restaurants and shops and exquisite and charming old churches, stained glass shimmering and telling stories of old.

Eating spicy red chile enchiladas and delectable buttered garlic bred at the traditional favorite, The Shed, brought back familiar memories of times shared with my own mom.

Because we did not have time to plan our adventure, I was looking all over the internet for a place for us to stay, since many places in Santa Fe were already booked up. I prayed God would provide us a place and we ended up at a charming bed and breakfast called Adobe Abode. This ended up being one of the best surprise blessings of our whole trip.It was as though God knew that not only did we need rest, we also longed for fellowship and friendship.

Nelly-Joy and my own Joy became instant friends! With the same name, they were instant kindred spirits.

The lovely hostess of the b&b was an artist with her life. Fresh warm quiches, homemade muffins, coffee and tea greeted us each morning. But beyond that, the lovely decor artfully arranged, the attentive giving of her whole self, spoke of a heart alive in our hostess, and opened a friendship that led to long sharing of heart stories. Nelly-Joy moved to Santa Fe from Berundi. Cloaked with a  gentle spirit and generously loving heart , Nellie-Joy immediately opened up warm fellowship as we shared our mutual love for our Jesus.

So, in the end, sometimes, getting away, leaving all worries and responsibilities behind, is just what a soul needs. Hours and hours of heart time to talk about silly and important issues of life, laughing, eating, walking, running out from the rain, and meeting the most wonderful people, made us know that even though we thought we had planned the trip, God had actually arranged each detail for the re-filling of our souls.

God: The One Who Teaches us to Celebrate Life

Travels with John

I am reading straight back through the Gospel of John early in the morning these days. It’s my second time this summer. I finished it once and paged right back to the start and savored the opening again: in the beginning was the Word. There are some books of Scripture  I want to learn as I would the mind and soul of a beloved friend; with concentrated and affectionate attention.I want their narrative to shape the story of my own days, their words to form my sight of the world. Isaiah is one of those. The Psalms. And definitely John.

John’s Gospel is a luminous book. The other Gospel writers seem to tell the story more from the outside in, relating the miracles, the teaching, those high and holy days of Jesus’ life from the viewpoint of what was seen. John tells it from this inside. He tells what it means. At least that’s the sense I get as I read. I feel often that he had an interior room within himself, a place where the Beloved spoke with him. From there he looked out on the spectacle and brilliance of what happened in Jesus’ life and perceived, not just the events, but the meaning of each, the great Reality unveiling itself in each action, word, and miracle. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…

The first time through this book I became aware of a certain theme in John’s storytelling; the way that Jesus invaded sacred or traditional spaces and retold their meaning with his words. He walked straight into days and spaces like the temple, the Sabbath, a Samaritan well, and by his words, his narration you could say, cleansed them of the fear and false law that had obscured the living presence of God within them. Take, for instance, the cleansing of the temple, the significance of the statement, “don’t make my Father’s house a place of business,” as if grace could be bought and sold, as if God’s favor were an object for which we could barter. Clean out, not just the doves and coins and dirt, but the assumptions that attend their presence, the consumer idea of salvation. In the cleansing of the temple, Jesus was renewing not just the physical spaces, but the ideas of the people who inhabited them.

Because of this realization, on my second read-through of John, I encountered the story of the wedding at Cana in a whole new way. And it rather stole my breath. I had always assumed this first miracle ought to be special in some way. This was the first flung challenge in the darkness, a sword of light unsheathed as Messiah began his unconventional conquest of men’s hearts. But the whole thing, if simply read straight through, is somewhat underwhelming. What’s more, I’ve rarely heard this story taught with any sense of excitement. Maybe its simply my own perception, but I feel that we often view this first miracle as a practice run, the flexing of Jesus’ miraculous fingers on insignificant wine before the real work of healing began. A divine token to mark the first try.

But early the other morning as I read this story for the second time in a month, read it with a mind not hurried, but willing to savor, I saw anew. I saw, I think, as John meant me to see, the way in which this story is is the prelude to the epic of the gospel, an embodied poem that told the tragedy of the world and hinted at a coming eucatastrophe. There is meaning, I think, in each word and action of this almost peripheral miracle. For it is the story of the very world told within the tale of a rural wedding feast. A feast that Messiah was about to save.

For in the beginning, not just of Jesus’ ministry, but in the making of the very world he had come to save, there was a wedding. Body and soul, God and man, a joyous joining that was a feast of existence put on by God himself and called life. Joy was the order of existence. Laughter the beat of heart and gladness the thrum of the very earth. The wedding that was creation was meant to inaugurate a world of love, of harmony, of continuous new creation. But the feast was shattered by sin and the marriage  brought to the very brink of collapse. The wine of life ran short, and it was us, God’s beloved who spilled it out, wasted his gift so that our own lives ran suddenly short. And the wedding feast of the world brought into being a whole human race of broken hearts.

But God was not a husband to be so easily defeated. No lover He, to be so quickly cast aside. The ages of the earth marched on and it seemed that the feast was  ended, the joy forever disrupted, the wine run short. But God never abandoned his Beloved. The feast was delayed, but by his own love it would be renewed, for even as we wept, he was planning the great gift that would save the wedding and cause the wine to freely flow again. The gift was himself, bundled up in flesh and blood, invading the earth so that he could take the hands and hold the heart of his beloved again. And when he came, the event he chose to announce his arrival?

A wedding feast. There was Jesus, the answer to the broken heart of the world. Just one more young man at a rural wedding party, he sat amidst a broken people and knew that he was the answer to every yearning of their hearts. The host and maker of the universe, if they but knew it, was the unassuming guest at a marriage that would become the event to announce the reconciliation of the world. All was set. The story was about to be renewed, the miracle announced.

I love it that Mary set the story in motion. She saw the lack of wine and she knew the shame at stake. But I think her insight carries a larger understanding. Perhaps in Mary’s remarkable heart was a sense of the symbolism of that moment. She was the human mother of God, more aware than any other human on earth of what had come, what dwelt so silently among the fallen and was about to be revealed. Perhaps when she confronted her Son with the disaster, she knew she was speaking of a larger lack, speaking to the deepest void in the human heart when she said, “the wine has run short.”

Jesus, in a voice I fully believe was playful and grave at once, says, “what is it to me?” A lively challenge. A parry and thrust, a question that could be our devastation if she really had to answer. For in the end, what ought it be to God? God gave humankind the world and we, the Beloved, cast it away. We flung his love back in his face and by our own choice squandered life itself. We are a band of impossible ingrates forever choosing against the one lover in all the world whose great affection gave us our being. What is it to God? Why should he stoop to save us from disaster?

But the mother of God knows, and I can almost see her steady eyes in that face shaped by a lifetime of “pondering these things.” This woman who has known the Holy Spirit and borne the baby God into the world knows that this is everything to God. For Jesus stands before her. Messiah came. If this weren’t everything to God her Son would never have been born. She smiles and turns.

“Do exactly what he says,” she tells the servants. And her words are an affirmation of faith in the action and grace of her God. He has come and he will save. Despite the stupidity of his Beloved, the fallen hearts, the corrupted loves, he has come to renew the feast, to save the marriage. We will be healed if we do what He commands and believe in the love of the great, redeeming Bridegroom.

Jesus, smiling I feel sure, acts. He points to six great vats set aside for… what? Ritual cleansing. Vats set aside to hold the water that has been our attempt to make ourselves enough before God, to keep the wine of mercy from running short. Throughout the long ages of sorrow, we have struggled toward God, reached for the mercy he still offered. Humankind has always attempted to become enough, to keep life and love and joy alive. But the wine always fails. And now, those symbols of man’s struggle and man’s failure to ever be clean or enough, the perennial symbol of his “fallen shortness” are what Jesus chooses for his first miracle.

“Fill them with water,” he commands. Let them brim afresh at his command. “Then,” he says, “take a dipper full to the steward and let him taste.”

And the water is turned to wine. Because Jesus has come, the struggle is going to end, the thirst will be slaked, the wedding feast of the world will swing back into being and it will be a revelry such as the world has never seen. Because of the coming of Jesus, the wine of life will never run short again. The sign has been accomplished, the first miracle flung, the first note of celebration sounded. Jesus goes quietly back to his seat, meets the beaming glance of his mother, and knows that his doom, and his glory, have at once begun. With his own life he will stay the shame of the world, save his bride and renew the wedding feast.

“You have saved the best for last,” sputters the astonished steward, stumbling up to the wedding party, holding out a wine finer than any he has tasted in his life.

And the best One in the world sits quietly amidst his people. Mary grasps the arm of her son, feels the pulse of his warm, sweet, human blood, touches the skin that houses God himself and knows that the wedding of the world has been restored. Perhaps she aches as well, knowing somehow that the wine required for this restoration is the blood of her son. But its giving is the seal of an eternal love, a marriage that never again will be broken. The feast begins anew, never now to end. The final word of the great lover God, the best word, is Jesus. And the wine of life will never run short again.

See what John is teaching me?

Sarah Clarkson can be found at http://www.thoroughlyalive.com/

where she weaves words into stories and beauty of life.

20 Minutes to Dinnertime--Kabobs and Persian rice---Yummmm!

Yummm! Even at the last minute, when you don't think you are capable of making one more meal! We had this for dinner tonight! Thanks to my friend, Brandee, who shared the idea with me.

This is for all the women in the world who have rice in the cupboard and a little more in the fridge! In order to creatively get dinner on the table in 20 minutes, which may seem like an eternity at the end of your day, improvising is key! Whether it is a picky eater you are dealing with, or the challenge to get your family to the table all together may be daunting at 5:30 pm while you are driving home from another exhaustive day. Don’t even think about the drive thru because this is where I can help you!

Dinner can seem to be such a heavy burden when you are tired and just want to accomplish the task of getting a meal prepared, but think about what a great opportunity this could be to teach your kids, especially teens who need to know how to cook the basics; how to cook rice. They will really appreciate it if they don’t already know how versatile rice can be, and it will take you all of about 5 minutes to get it on the stove and then you just let the magic happen! You will still be eating dinner in 25 minutes tops, while building relationship with your awesome kid(s)!

Here are three recipes for a Persian style feast you will be sure to enjoy! You can take all three recipes and have a complete meal on the table. Again, getting the kids involved will be helpful and memorable.  If you have a hurried schedule, just take the pilaf and leftover chicken from the night before or on the way home pick up a nice rotisserie chicken to throw into your rice bowl. The kids absolutely love it! If you know that there is an ingredient your family will not enjoy, omit it or exchange it. That is what makes this your own version of the recipe. No need to reinvent the wheel - just make it your own style of wheel!

When your day seems never ending and time keeps ticking by, remember that rice is your friend in the kitchen!  This new twist on rice will stir some conversation around the table! Wow your family and familiarize yourself a little with the Persian culture. Then, share a quick fact or two and they will really be amazed at how smart you are, on top of being a good cook!

I prepared the chicken and the rice in big quantities, and froze them in freezer containers. Then I took one container out tonight and heated it in my pressure cooker with a little liquid for 5 minutes and dinner was ready!

Persian Rice 

2 tablespoons butter 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 cup basmati rice (or brown rice) 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups water or broth 3/4 teaspoon curry seasoning 1/4 cup dried apricots, diced 1/4 cup slivered almonds

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in basmati rice, curry, and salt; cook and stir until rice is slightly opaque, about 3 minutes.
2. Pour in water; stir to combine. Mix in apricots, and almonds; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice has absorbed the liquid, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pilaf to stand covered for 10 more minutes. Stir before serving.

Chicken Kabobs

1/4 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup plain yogurt 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons tomato paste 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 2 inch pieces 2 onions, cut into large chunks 1 large green or red bell pepper, cut into large chunks 1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

*Optional veggies/fruit for Kabobs: pineapple, mushroom, cherry tomatoes/zucchini

Directions

1. Whisk together the lemon juice, vegetable oil, plain yogurt, garlic, tomato paste, salt, oregano, pepper, allspice, cinnamon, and cardamom in a large bowl; add the chicken and toss to coat. Transfer the chicken mixture into a large plastic bag; refrigerate at least 4 hours.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate. Thread the chicken, onions, and pepper onto metal skewers giving 1/4 inch in between meat & veggies. Cook on preheated grill until the chicken is golden and no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes each side. Sprinkle the parsley over the skewers.
3. Optional oven method: preheat oven to 375 degrees. On lightly greased shallow pan, line Kabobs 1 inch apart and cook in oven for 20 - 25 minutes. Turning Kabobs after 10 minutes for even cooking.
4. Serve immediately over rice pilaf or as is on the skewer.

Naan Bread Recipe     1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast  (2 1/4 tsp)

1 cup warm water

1/4 cup white sugar 3 tablespoons milk 1 egg, beaten 2 teaspoons salt 4 1/2 cups bread flour 2 teaspoons minced garlic (optional) 1/4 cup butter, melted

*This is a great bread to use alongside hummus as an appetizer to meal.

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes, until frothy. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes on a lightly floured surface, or until smooth. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise. Let it rise 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in volume. (If you live in a  cooler climate, preheat oven at 140 degrees. Then, turn off oven and place dough into oven to rise. Keep an eye on the dough, it may rise 10 - 15 minutes quicker!
2. Punch down dough, and knead in garlic. Pinch off small handfuls of dough about the size of a golf ball. Roll into balls, and place on a tray. Cover with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
3. During the second rising, preheat grill to high heat. (You can use an indoor grill or panini press as well!)
4. At grill side, roll one ball of dough out into a thin circle. Lightly oil grill. Place dough on grill, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until puffy and lightly browned. Brush uncooked side with butter, and turn over. Brush cooked side with butter, and cook until browned, another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from grill, and continue the process until all the naan has been prepared. If you make a double batch, this bread can be bagged in airtight container or ziplock/bread bags. To warm bread, wrap in foil and heat in oven at 350 for 10 - 15 minutes.

***Check out the giveaway below for your chance to WIN a copy of Chrystal and Tony's book, "Kingdom Woman." a Rafflecopter giveaway

Godly Women: Boring, legalistic, frumpy--Really?

Crystal candles atop a crimson table cloth flickered and sparkled on the victorian china  from a great grandmother's dowry, as the last guest opened the front door. Bedecked in frilly dresses, rouged cheeks and lipsticked mouths, smelling all like flowers, 14 mothers and daughters bashfully took their chairs around our dining room table.

The event marked our first ever traditional mother-daughter Christmas tea. My hopes were that as Sarah's friends and moms met together in such a civilized manner, we could share intimate thoughts, hear of the girl's dreams and build a foundation of friendship.

Politely quiet at first, the group oohed and ahhed at the raspberry soup, cream scones and raspberry jam.

Wanting to stimulate the conversation, I ask all the daughters, "What would some of you like to become or do in your life when you grow up?"

Much to my surprise, the comments quickly came:

"I am going to live a much more interesting life than my mom. She never seems happy and doesn't ever have any fun."

"Well, I am not sure, but I don't want to have lots of kids like my mom, because she is always tired and grumpy."

"I know what you mean. And my mom homeschools--I don't think I will ever want to do that, because I think it makes her angry with us, because we never do what as well as she wants us to!"

I was so surprised. Not exactly the comments I was expecting.

That was twenty years ago. Fast-forward to now. My adult-aged children and I often work with teen and college age groups. Last Spring, I was speaking to a group of young women and asked them to tell me their impression of godly women. Their answers were the same: boring, legalistic, frumpy, quiet and disengaged.

Motherhood is such a demanding call and we do have so many tasks to complete. But all of our work will be in vain if we do not seek to show our children, in our home, the reality of God's joy, love, creativity and life. And most of these young women said they got this impression from their mom's lives!

Our view of God will be reflected in how we live life in front of our children each day.

God is the author of all creation--including waterfalls, roses, puppy dogs, storms, color, sound, food and all delights. As the One who gave us the instinct to giggle and belly laugh, to sway and swirl with the sounds of vibrant music; to delight in the galaxies aglow on a summer's night, the ability to touch, kiss, hug and love; to be able to work and bring color, beauty, skill in the presentation of a well-planted garden, a well written story, a table well-set, a meal to delight the palette, the ability to nurse back the ill to health---so much more, then our lives should reflect this greatness of God, this "joie de vivre", through the ways we face and celebrate life each day.

If we do not reflect the very "life" of God, the fruit of living with Him filling every part of our being, then what is the point of working so hard to shape the life of our children. If the Spirit of God is not filling us each day with the capacity of His spirit lived out in a real personality, then our labor is in vain.

How do we move from the mundane to the beautiful? We become artists in our home, bringing color and design to our rooms. Romanticists, touching and caressing and singing love into the hearts of our children. We dance through the music and sing loudly as we wash dishes together. We celebrate life each night as we eat and drink together, sharing not just the table but the culture of our family life.

Instead of gluing our faces to a machine, we look deeply into the eyes of these creatures of God living in our home and we see inside their hearts and affirm the beauty we see there.

Now is the time for Christians--the Christ Ones--to emulate His greatness, excellence, civility, redemption, care, and truth that wins without condemning.

Each year, I reflect,

What is the Jesus my children are seeing through me each day?

How do I need to read, pray, fill my own heart, so that what my children and friends draw from is life-giving to them?

What do I need to confess and repent from--complaining spirit, fear, disappointment, critical attitude?

Specifically, what does each child need, at this phase of his life, from me to encourage with life-giving words, to build up, to love, to train?

When mamas are filled with the power, love, wisdom and celebration of the Spirit, then the next generation will catch the fire of their passion.

What about you? Can you lean into the strength, wisdom, love and gentleness of your sweet savior and then come out of His presence giving a fragrance of His reality? What do you need to change? What do you need to re-create your vision? What do you need to read to inspire?

May God move us to reflect more truly the reality of walking day by day the artist who threw the galaxies into the heavens, the God who gently washed 120 toes, caressing them with love, the one who fed the 5000 out of compassion because He did not want them to be hungry; the God who pointed out the lilies of the field.

Today I am also writing at: Thebettermom.com About cultivating Moral Purity in the LIves of Your Children

Savor the Seasons-a Kingdom Woman Giveaway with Chrystal Hurst!

Savor the Seasons

By Chrystal Evans Hurst

Today I took my three boys, ages 10, 8, and 4 to Target.  The oldest two had money from birthdays and grandma that was burning a hole in their pockets and I had promised them on a previous day when I was extremely tired that I would take them soon.  Today was that day.

I opened the door to my mini-van so the three boys could undo their seatbelts and exit the vehicle.  Gone are the days of unbuckling them from complicated car seats or placing infant carriers in the front section of the grocery cart.

We proceeded to walk into the store.  I pushed no strollers, I had no babies on my hip, and I carried no diaper bag.  My boys went up and down the aisles of the toy section.  I stayed in the main aisle so I could keep up with all three of them at a glance. I didn’t have to worry about keeping a hand on a toddler at all times.

When it came time to check out, my older boys went up to the counter, goods in hand, and proceeded to count out their money and pay the cashier.  After taking the four year old to get some water at the fountain, I turned and stood to wait for his brothers to finish their purchases.  Apparently, I’m also passed the time of having hollering babies in the cart while I struggle to pay at the register.

The time is gone.

But while I can still reminisce over their baby smells and their tiny toes, I’m not super sad about watching my boys grow up.  A wise “Kingdom woman” told me long ago to savor every season. And I did. Not perfectly of course, but I did make some memories cuddling, reading stories, and letting them soak in the tub until their fingers and toes were all wrinkled. And I look forward to savoring the season of watching these three boys turn into young men.

I’ve had other seasons too. Seasons of being single. Seasons of working crazy hours in the corporate world. Seasons of marriage with a traveling husband. Seasons of homeschooling. Seasons of sickness. Seasons of baking bread and seasons of eating out way too much.

And all of the seasons are good.

Each season in its own right can be enjoyed, can be valued, and can share a lesson to be learned and carried forward into the season that comes after. But it’s up to me to savor the season I’m in – while I’m walking through it.

One day I will look back on my three boys just like I look back on days gone by with my two daughters, now ages 21 and 17.  I’ve learned that every season is worth my presence and that every season doesn’t last forever. The days are long but the years are short. Make the most of today. Make the most of your season.

Can I encourage you today to savor your season? While you may adore your season, it will end.  You may abhor your season.  It will end too. However, the joys and pains will each make you a better person if you will allow them. The good and the bad can work together to make you a woman well-fitted for the King. Our God let’s nothing go to waste.  He uses everything for our good and for His glory.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. He has made everything beautiful in its time…. Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 11(ESV)

Kingdom Woman

By Tony Evans & Chrystal Evans Hurst

Tyndale House Publishers

http://kingdomwomanbook.com/

“While many women are enjoying this day and age when we have so many opportunities never before available to our gender, other women are crumbling under the pressure to do all and be all in the light of the options available to us. This book is about the wonderful possibilities that emerge when you align yourself with the dreams that God has in mind for you.

 —Chrystal Evans Hurst, on Kingdom Woman

 About “Kingdom Woman”:

Kingdom Man was such a success, that women were asking for “their” book--Kingdom Woman is a book of empowerment for women. Chrystal gives frank, authentic, real-life perspective to punctuate her father, Tony’s, biblically inspired teaching.

 In Kingdom Woman, Tony Evans and his daughter, Chrystal Evans Hurst, remind women of their calling from God to be free, delivered, healed, and to have hope. The authors bring insight that encourages women to correct distorted perceptions and understand who they really are—never settling for less when connected with the One who gives them hope. All believers are covered by God’s covenant with Abraham. Evans and Hurst want women to know these rights and confidently claim and live by them. The new covenant offer more than a life of mediocrity.

 Chrystal Evans Hurst:

@ChrystalHurst

 Chrystal Evans Hurst is a gifted writer, speaker, and worship leader. Being the eldest child of Dr. Tony and Lois Evans, the Word of God has surrounded and guided her for her entire life. As a member of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Chrystal assists her mom, Lois, in leading the women’s ministry and loves to encourage women toward a deeper relationship with the Lord. Her blog—Chrystal’s Chronicles—poignantly reflects her thoughts about her faith and day-to-day experiences. Most importantly, Chrystal is a dedicated wife and homeschooling mother of five.

Chrystal Hurst is writer, speaker, and worship leader in addition to serving as the chief executive operating officer in her home as a wife and mother of five. Chrystal is co-author of the recent release, Kingdom Woman and also blogs regularly at chrystalevanshurst.com.blog

***Check out the giveaway below for your chance to WIN a copy of Chrystal and Tony's book, "Kingdom Woman." a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mentoring Monday: Diligence--the golden key to life

Ernst William Christmas

Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.

William Penn

Quitting jobs, quitting school, quitting on marriage, quitting on friendship, quitting on God, just quitting is acceptable in every area of our lives. Often we use the word grace as an covering to all people in all circumstances who make wrong decisions, who fail to be wise, who prove to be lazy.

Just "quitting" has become an acceptable choice, an excusable choice. We blame others for our difficulties instead of choosing to be diligent to overcome our challenges. A lack of godly character is at the base of Christians having no impact on culture. Christians are as likely to except mediocrity as non-believers.

Yet, God gave us the capacity to "muscle-up" in life in order to be conquerers, to defeat the darkness, to work to completion. How many times have I been sorely tempted to give up on some of my ideals--my children have tested my patience and faith. Homeschooling challenged me to the core. Repetitive financial issues have tempted me to believe that God did not hear my prayers. People's negative voices in my life have caused me to second guess my ideals, and tempting me to think they did not matter.

Yet, God's word kept telling me to persevere, to be diligent, to overcome, to keep going. And by His grace, now I am so very thankful that He increased my capacity to work hard when I had grown up lazy. He stretched my faith so that I could live long enough to see His faithfulness. He kept me faithful through the hard times in marriage so that now I have a heritage of unconditional love.

We read that one of the fruits of the spirit is faithfulness--faithfulness is staying diligent to remain at the task or issue at hand. Paul, who suffered so much at the hands of persecutors, knew the importance of diligence.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Learning the importance of diligence in every endeavor of life is essential for fruitfulness in life. Though the world is in rebellion against God and His design, and thus our work is challenging, our relationships are fraught with pain, His spirit of redemption comes alive when we are diligent to complete the tasks we have been given to complete. Diligence is the energy, the inner will of determination to keep going, that provides the power to overcome in life.

When a mama trains her children, bit by bit, to work harder, to keep going, to develop an inner sense of integrity in work, faith, service, friendship and love, this child will become strong inside. To have a habit of diligence, to own the value of diligence in one's heart, provides the power, the strength to keep going--to move the mountains in his life.

Daily life is where diligence is trained and learned. As our children watch our diligence, and experience our love, they develop a heart to be diligent as we are. Giving children work to complete develops moral strength. Helping children to persevere in difficult relationships teaches them to be faithful in adult relationships.

If we do our children the disservice of taking them out of all difficult circumstances, then we are guilty of giving them a weak character. Diligence is a gold key to becoming productive and influential in life.

This week's way is crucial to the core of our children's character and will even help them to learn to stay faithful in times of doubt. When they learn to be diligent in one area, it spills into all areas of life. This is why it is crucial that we train this attribute into the very core of our children's values about themselves. We do it by gentle, daily, little by little, consistent training over a young lifetime at home.

But when it grows in the heart of the child, he will become the person who is reliable. This child will get the jobs he hopes for, work hard to reach ideals. If you love your child, you must patiently pursue this character quality in the life of your home and in your own life, and then you will see the ultimate reward of your own faith, as you learn to wait on God patiently and to work diligently in life to bring Him glory.

 We are diligent to complete a task promptly and thoroughly when asked. 

Way # 13

Memory verse:

"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing. But the soul of the diligent is made fat."

May God find our hearts and works diligent as we see the blessing of His ways, in His time.

Hearts, books, shopping and sales--what could be more fun?

Look what's here! You can read Desperate, by Sarah Mae and me,  and have a mug of coffee all at the same time! I obviously love this set because the mug has an encouragement from the Psalms about Joy. A perfect combination from my heart to yours! :) And it is on a special sale for 15.99!

I wanted to be sure to share this pretty heart to heart necklace with all of you mom heart moms--a perfect necklace for my love of mom heart small groups!  It is so fun for me to have a place that provides beautiful faith-based gifts.  Each month, Dayspring offers sales on selected items and I am excited to share these with you! It is an easy place for me to order thoughtful gifts right from my home to store away for special occasions for my girls and friends.

During July, Dayspring is offering an incredible 25% off your entire order with coupon code SUMMER25 as well as FREE shipping on any order over $50!  What a great time to stock up for summer birthdays and hostess gifts.

The Urban Soul Collection will bring inspiration to your home, now 25% off with coupon SUMMER25.

A piece from the Lisa Leonard Jewelry Collection would be a gift to bless any woman!

Need a new journal?  Click here to see Dayspring’s wide variety.

Be sure to use coupon code SUMMER25.

Have fun shopping!

Moms: God's source of grace in young girl's lives!

In a culture where women are confronted every day with photographs in media that show perfect bodies, messages suggesting sexual innuendos and the need for young women to be attractive to the opposite sex, there is a perfect emotional storm for all young girls seeking to be liked and wanting to eventually be loved by the opposite sex.  The passage from childhood to adulthood is fraught with kids wanting to still be loved and approved by their parents, but also longing to strain toward adulthood and wanting to be affirmed by their peers. This is a normal passage for all young women.

However, the way this passage into adulthood is handled will greatly determine the relative health and confidence with which a girl merges into adulthood. And as a mom, you can truly be a voice of affirmation, encouragement and guidance for your girls if you can understand the pressure they feel to conform and to please their peers.

Now in my 20's,  I have experienced my fair share of growing up, stretching, hurting, and learning how to enjoy being a young woman. Even now, I remember my first day of high school , and the confusion and anxiety I felt, like it was yesterday. The majority of my peers were nervous, maybe even terrified, wondering how well they would be received by the population of teenagers.

I couldn't fall asleep the night before because I couldn't stop thinking about what I should wear. My mom had taken me to my favorite outlet mall over summer break to pick out some new clothes. The entire night, I tossed and turned wondering which t-shirt/blue jean combo I should choose. Finally, I decided on some faded blue jeans with the "totally not already made that way" holes in the knees. Being from Florida, I also went with a Kenny Chesney t-shirt and some flip flops to complete my perfect high school look.

I walked down the halls my first day trying not to smile too much, because I didn't want to draw attention to my metal mouth. After each class that day, I rushed to the bathroom to fix my Florida humidified hair. Why was I so concerned about what people thought of me? They were just teenagers. The point is, we all want so badly to be accepted. We want to be liked.

These are the feelings all young women feel during their teenage years.

Now, as 22 year old young woman living in Hollywood, I have come to realize that these insecurities with which we struggle, don't really fade away with age. Women were created to be clothed in strength, dignity, confidence and grace, but looking around at our culture today, I see so much brokenness. So much hurt. So much insecurity. So many emotional scars.

We are in a generation with a serious identity crisis. We desperately want to be able to define who we are. This is why tween & teen girls will spend hours getting ready to go anywhere.  They long for affirmation in a culture that is passive and disconnected from real love. Constantly seeking answers and trying to figure out our ideals, beliefs, and dreams creates emotional vulnerability. Girls compare themselves to photo-shopped magazines. We are told that our value is in our bodies. We sometimes let our own insecurities discourage us deep within.  But what if I told you that you, as a mom,  held power and God given authority, to positively determine the outcome of your daughter's life? What if I told you that God has entrusted you to steward and raise a woman of influence?

This is a time and a generation filled with young women who desperately need to know they are worthy, valuable, and strong. All we need to do is change our definitions of ourselves. As a mother, you are in charge of a very important job.

Instead of getting frustrated with your daughter, her hormonal ups and downs, times of irrational responses, try to remember how you felt at her age. Relate to her and remember that it is not easy trying to figure out a strong identity.

Remember, "A gentle answer turns away wrath." Proverbs 15:1 (or anger, frustration, insecurity!)

I challenge you this week to make intentional time with your daughter. Have a cup of tea or coffee, laugh, chat, and ask her what is on her heart. When moms make time to be casual and personal with their daughters, to value the things their children admire, then it opens up a girl's heart to share with her inner most feelings with her mom. Perhaps your daughter is feeling confident and joyful. That is absolutely amazing, and it is my wish for every young woman. However, most girls struggle with feelings of doubt, insecurity, and confusion, but they do not want to reveal it unless they feel they can trust someone with their insecurities. Take the time to allow your daughter know how important her concerns are to you.

If you are seeking a Bible study, devotional resource to assist you as you spend quality time with your daughter, you can click on the following link to get your very own copy of my book, "God's Girl."

Relate to your daughter this week, and remind her that she is marvelously made.

***For more on Rachael Lee, check out her blog for young women.

Rachael Lee, Ministry Leader for Tween Girls; author, actress, Bible study Leader

A Few Thoughts on Wholehearted Homeschooling

Homeschooling must include mocha frappicino's to be effective!

A pioneers in the homeschooling movement, Clay and I had to imagine and design what the effects of our teaching would have on the long term life of our children. Ideals shaped the habits, rhythms and training of our children. Diligence to follow our plan was a constant effort to be sure we were faithful to be attentive to our children.

Many of you have heard our kids speak, or have read their writing in their books or on blogs, and heard their compositions and performances in various music, speech and debate, ministry arenas and in our conferences.

"Were all of your children just naturally intelligent? How did you give them that vocabulary? Why have your children stayed faithful to our ideals and to their faith in God?"

My wonderful children were just normal fun, loud, spunky kids who loved life together in our home. So many questions and letters--and probably a desire for us to give a formula!

The foundation and strength of our homeschool, of course, was our dependence on God, His word and His spirit's work in the life of our family and children's hearts.  But I do believe that because each child was made in the image of God, he has a capacity to be morally excellent, mentally strong, and accomplished in life. It is parents who must "call out" the capacity and ability of each child for God's glory.

As I have pondered these questions, I realize that I have very strong convictions about what really cultivates a strong and faithful heart, a deep and engaged soul and an agile, intellectually capable mind.

Four Areas come to mind:

1. A strong sense of self is necessary for a child to grow into the calling of God on his life. Heritage, history, self-government, and habits of excellence give children a roadway on which to move forward in developing confidence as adults.

2. A strong sense of place creates home as a haven, a place to read and discuss, a sanctuary for outreach to others, the center for traditions, morality, education and life as an anchor to the life that proceeds from the home.

3. Mental muscles  and strength are developed by reading the best authors, finest stories, observing excellent art and understanding the best composers, as well as being aware of the world issues, places and cultures, and discussing real ideas as a way of life. Intellectual acuity is possible to all children with all personalities because each one was crafted in the image of God. How adults view children's capacity is foundational to requiring excellence of skill and attention.

4. Discipleship training and practice in ministry expands the soul familiarity of Jesus's call on the lives of our children. But this must be experienced as a routine part of the family life. Love for Christ and discussions on a daily basis about the Word, practicing prayer together, and obeying God as a community provides healthy spiritual formation.

This summer, I have been watching my children interact over music and wrangle over books and movies, giggle over stories of the year reviewed, speaking passionately about convictions and taking turns patting our ancient golden retriever is always such a joy to me. The mind, soul and spiritual strength arose from the life of these commitments within the walls of our home every day. We spent so many hours here, the six of us, doing just those very things day in and day out for so many years! While there are many reasons homeschooling was a perfect fit for our family, this together-ness was perhaps the greatest gift of all, and the one I miss most now that they've flown (though only intermittently, thankfully!)

So much has changed in the homeschool world since we began. Speaking at several homeschool conferences this year reminded me of how sheerly overwhelming and perhaps confusing current glut of information, advice, and direction must be--especially to new homeschoolers.

And so I'm planning to share some thoughts on educating children at home each week. These articles will be shaped to encourage vision and application of education principles.  We realize each family must figure out its own particular puzzle. After many years of discipling young, new believers both here and overseas, we knew that when we did have children, that same dedication to discipleship must continue to mark our lives. Homeschooling just seemed a natural outgrowth of the way we wanted to raise our children.

At the time we were quite free to do whatever we wanted in terms of curriculum, scheduling (or not!) etc. because there just weren't the proliferation of confusing voices defining all of the formulas of home education! We were intentionally let's-read-lots-of-exceptional-books-together sort, by having researched educational options and data that suggested how to cultivate academic excellence. Reading as a focus required copious amounts of time. Exposing our children to the greatest thinkers, artists, musicians, and all things beautiful was our general "plan." But we did feel pressure sometimes for our children to behave in a certain way or to respond in a particular way to our direction, because of the criticism and opinions of others. As we have written about it in Educating the WholeHearted Child ...

"In our early years of homeschooling, we tried to follow laws of behavior to be more acceptable to God and others; we tried to conform to laws of belief in order to fit into movements or groups. Rather than sensing a freedom in the Spirit, though, we would end up feeling, in Paul's words, "burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). We wish we had discovered the biblical truth of our freedom in Christ earlier. Rather than depending on man-made Christian formulas and rules, we rediscovered the ministry of the Holy Spirit to guide us in our homeschooling days and decisions. We began teaching others to let the Holy Spirit be their confidence, and that teaching became this book."

Summer is a great time as you're having fun with your children rather than feeling the pressures of the typical homeschool year to think a bit about how the upcoming season of homeschooling might be different. Educating the WholeHearted Child is my favorite book on homeschooling ... I may be biased, as of course it was written by Clay and I, and we gathered just about every thought we've had on the topic over our 20-plus year journey! You can buy it here.

What pressures do you feel as a homeschooling mom? In what ways are you tempted to pass those pressures on to your children?

Be sure to let me know any specifics you want me to write about as I could write about ideas and books and creativity for eternity. Let me know what you think.