What spills out of the depths of your heart? Mentoring Monday

Charles de Bruyères

When you are taxed by your children, your friends, your husband, what flows out from the depths of your heart? Whatever you have cherished inside is what will flow out. When you are squeezed you will spill out what is in your heart. So it is essential to understand, what you are pouring in will surely spill out in your words, your eyes, your attitudes, your actions. Filling the inside of our souls with beauty, goodness, humility, faith and love of Christ must be intentional so that there will be substance of his life to spill over to others.

Proverbs warns us to guard our heart. "Above all else, guard your heart, for from it flow the well spring of life." Proverbs 4: 23

Jesus said that it is not the outside--the performance for others, the attempt to do righteous works, that determines what a man or woman is like. It is possible to fool others because of our behavior. But it is never possible to fool God. He sees what we are like on the inside,

"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Heart cleaning leaves us empty for heart-filling. Pouring in is something I must do on a regular basis, so that my heart is light, pure, filled with joy and love. This does not just happen accidentally. And of course, eventually, all of our children sniff hypocrisy pretty quickly--and by the time they are teens, they are fully aware of what our heart is revealing through time.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Matt. 23: 27

I have had a number of sweet women in my home the past 7 weeks. Usually, the questions flow, "What did you do to cultivate godliness in your children? Exactly what did your daily schedule look like? What books did you read to them? How did you deal with their bad attitudes?"

But the beginning point of a mama spreading inspiration and faith starts with her cultivating her own heart. If she is reading scripture, pondering the heart of Christ, worshipping him and following His ways, then her children will draw the love and sweetness of Christ from her every day.

If a mama is engaging her mind in great books and growing and learning new ideas and stretching her own intellect, then her children will also be drawing from the interesting thoughts in which she has invested her mind.

If a mama is developing her character and taking small steps to become more self-disciplined, more of a servant leader, more patient, more generous with life-giving words, because of her obedience to Christ, then her children's souls will be sprinkled with the strength of her obedience.

If she engages herself in meeting the needs of others and reaches out with the redeeming message of Christ, her children will learn not just to hear words of the gospel, but to learn what it looks like to live the gospel.

A mom is a mentor--a coach in all things excellent in life. If she is not growing in excellence, she cannot pass on to her children what she herself has.

Don't worry so much about the right rules, the best formula, what are the right books to buy. Be concerned instead, for your soul--what are you planting there? What are you watering in the depths of your heart attitudes? Whatever you water will grow. Nothing in your heart will be long hidden--as all things hidden eventually will come to the fore.

So the starting point of your influence is the state of your own heart, mind and soul. If there is purity, wisdom, strength, faith, love and righteousness there, then when you pour out your life, those around you will be blessed indeed.

No money, things, training and activities can replace the importance of Children finding the very essence of Christ spilling out in our lives, from what we have carefully taken the time to place there inside.

I am leaving off of the 24 Family Ways right now, as I have taken so long to complete this series due to life and busyness and commitments. If you still want me to keep teaching these, let me know, as it seems interest has wained. I will keep making Mondays a mentoring time.

I would love to hear what you think! Be blessed and fill your heart this week with the eternal, the personal, the sweet and the strong!

How To Read Aloud To Your Children

Some of our most beautiful memories of homeschooling  are snowy Colorado days complete with a cozy fire, a cup of hot chocolate or tea, a great read-aloud,  and my pajama-clad children. What a wonderful thing it is to have stories that you can all share together, the delights of which are not too soon forgotten. My family still recalls stories from books we have read during our school days, listened to in the car on long road trips to Mammo and Pappaw's house, and even the ones we listened to in the car just driving to and fro in town. Robinson Crusoe narrated by Jim Weiss is our all-time time favorite audio book. Since this particular edition was unabridged, we were able to hear the salvation message weaved in throughout the entire book. We love the unabridged stories which thoughtfully leave the heart of the author intact throughout the whole narrative.  Reading aloud to children is as natural as mothering itself. It is meant to be a delightful, bonding time together and a fantastic way to disciple your children through stories. In out home, we never made our children  just sit and listen, rather they always had some sort of an activity to do during reading time. At the beginning of each school day, I would give my children a few moments to gather their assorted activities and get ready to read. We had two cabinets in our kitchen dedicated to read-aloud activities. These cabinets were filled with Play-Dough, water paints, markers, puzzles, beads, jewelry kits, etc.. (The messy activities were done at the kitchen table on a place mat.) In our reading area, which was also our living room/kitchen area, were bins with Lego's and other toys. (Note- when we started to read, the children would have their stack of Lego's ready, then have to wait until I got to a stopping point to gather more. They are super loud when they shuffle through the box.) As my children got older, we graduated to hot glue guns, sewing machines, soldering irons for metal work, and my daughter even went through a time of using  a small blow torch to make glass jewelry. Christie was quite a sight to see in her pajamas, safety glasses with blow torch in hand.

After each reading session, I would ask my children to narrate back to me what was read to them, and they always could tell me. Sometimes, they were a bit distracted, but overall they retained what they learned at the time.These days, it's just my 16 year old Jack and me at the cozy recliners, drinking our tea while he programs his computer games or some other kind of high-tech craft. Because of the nature of how active our reading time has been, my children have never fussed about not wanting to have read-aloud time. They are each highly creative and educated individuals that love to learn.

Studies have shown over and over that a child who is read to has a higher IQ than children that were not read to. If you do nothing else in your homeschool, please read to your children. Every school day, we did some form of math, reading lesson, a small bit of  handwriting (only when they were ready and only a small bit) and read aloud. The read-aloud portion of our homeschooling day took an average of 1-2 hours each day. Often my children would beg me to read more because they loved the books so  much. If you don't like the book, or if it is boring, chances are your children will not like the book. Don't feel bad not finishing a book if it is not working for your family and particular interests.

The most important part of my school day was my time with the Lord each day where I would ask Him for wisdom about which books to read,  for us to have time to read, and be able to enjoy the books. Follow the Holy Spirit and read what He gives you. Pray each time you go to the library or book store. God knows the books he wants you to read to your children. Follow God, not man. Don't compare your homeschool with anyone else's. You follow your God and His wisdom for your family. With that in mind, here are a few of our most beloved books that we used in our home. Remember, pray and ask God for the particular books for your family.

Discipleship is easier when you have a beautiful book in hand to assist you in teaching your children. We have loved Leading Little Ones to God by Marian M. Schoolland, which explains spiritual truths to children in a way that they, and you can understand. 

The Childs' Story Bible by Catherine Voss is a beautiful and accurate account of the scriptures. It makes the Bible stories come alive in an easy to understand way.

One of the best Bible's to cuddle up with your kids and read to them in bed is hands down The Picture Bible by Iva Hoth. It's filled with word-for-word  scripture and helps everyone, young and old, to be able to understand God's word. My kids favorite words to me and my husband after we finished reading it for the day was "Please, please one more story!!"

Our all-time favorite story book, which I still read to my children as teens, is The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter. By the grace of God we were able to travel to the Lake District in England and see her beautiful country home. What a delight it was to see my teenage children so excited to see all of the things associated with Beatrix Potters' stories and characters.

When my children were teens, we read Sir Knight of the Splendid Way by W.E.Cule, which is available through Lamplighter Books. It is a dear old book written long ago that portrays the Christian life through allegory. This beautiful book has a chapter in which a character dies and goes to heaven. It describes Christian death in the most lovely an encouraging way I have ever seen. The story brought joyful tears to our eyes each time we re-read the book. 

In the later high school years, we read The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom. Words can't express how difficult it was to read her story, but how inspiring it was for our family to see how she showed the love of Christ everywhere she went, even in the concentration camps.

Stay tuned for next time where I will be discussing how to help your children to be creative through all sorts of easy crafts and mediums. May the Lord  bless you as you endeavor to educate your children with gentleness and grace in the power of the Holy Spirit.

We were meant to live for so much more, Have we lost ourselves???

We were meant to live for so much more  Have we lost ourselves?  Somewhere we live inside

Switchfoot

"but the people who know their God will display strength and take action." Dan. 11:32b

It's God's fault! I have been passionate and hungry for meaning since I was born. But I think all of us long for more--for bigger, better, a home that we will never have in this world.

Bubbling up in my heart from an early age was a desire to know the greatness of God. Extraverted and involved in so many activities, I was surrounded by people of all ages and many differing backgrounds. Yet there was a hunger inside to meet people who had a desire for greatness, excellence, vision in and through their own personal life. I always believed that if someone really knew the God who created this exquisite universe, that there would be an exceptional sense of  "life", beauty, power, love or purpose in the life of such a one.

And so I searched and searched for the hunger inside to be satisfied. Idealist is a name I have been called for most of my life.

When I came across this verse, my deep desire was validated and gratified. If one knows the eternal, compassionate, merciful, servant king God and if He indwells them, shouldn't they be different? Would the power of God in a person not cause them to reflect His reality--the incarnation of His spirit in all aspects of life.

The Holy Spirit, Galatians tells us, exhibits through the life of one yielded to him love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. And so, can we assume that when we are focussing our eyes on Him, praising and worshipping Him in all the moments of our lives, our very being, fallen as it is, will encompass such a light and be so salty, that those who have been in our presence will be uplifted, inspired themselves to love Him more.

What does it mean to display strength? Many of us live in constant challenges in life where we could become victims, or become discouraged or possibly bitter. A victim mentality suggests that one is limited by his difficult circumstances. However, does this verse not suggest that in every circumstance, when one is walking with God, strength will be available.

We see Daniel, who penned these words praying publicly when it was outlawed because he was not going to compromise His conviction that God wanted him to remain faithful. Thrown into the lion's den--quite a dilemma indeed--we see Daniel saying, whether I live or die, I still believe in God. Strength of faith, self-control in the midst of feat, peace in the face of chaos. Next was a firey furnace. Again, Daniel was persecuted for his testimony and faith. Yet, it was to God's glory that he was not even slightly burned.

Strength displayed in the midst of life-battles originates from someone who knows--ponders, worships, seeks, understands their God. When God is present, strength is given generously.

(Rembrandt)

Queen Esther, risking her life before Hamon and her husband, to save her people.

Taking Action--initiative, doing something, pursuing the harvest field of the lost, working diligently, engaging resources for kingdom work that is needed. Even as the spirit of Christ always compelled Him to provide, to instruct, to take on the problems of His children, and ultimately to redeem us by yielding his very life, so His spirit inside of us should compel us to action. Passivity and laziness is never reflected through the character of God.

Consequently, when we are in the presence of God and in His word daily, we see that He has compassion on the poor, that His holiness exacts moral excellence in our own lives, that His forgiveness covers multitude of sin in the lives of those so undeserving of His grace. Christ's spirit constrained Him to enter our fallen arena, to become the servant leader, to give all that He had and was for the sake of those who needed Him.

Where is action needed? Where would Jesus look and say, there is a place where my righteousness must prevail. There is the place unconditional love must be extended. We are the hands, feet and voice of God. We are the picture of God that the world will see.

Will they see Life, Goodness, Love, Compassion, excellence of character and generosity of spirit because they are in our presence? If we truly know our God, we will be genuinely different--the Spirit of the living God resides in us and we shall be a supernatural reflection of Him.

Yet, in our present day culture, mediocrity and compromise is evident in every arena--and especially amongst those who call themselves Christians, Christ-ones. Studies suggest that most people do not even use more than 10-12 percent of their brain capacity.

Is it possible that we do not use more than 10-12 percent of our spiritual capacity? One of my favorite life verses is:

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is completely His." II Chronicles 16:9

The strength does not come from our own effort--an exception attempt to gut out some kind of works. God promises that He will support us--give us that strength and help us to know how to take action.

And then Jesus tells us the same,  that when we abide in Him--live in Him, stay in Him, get our strength and wisdom from Him--that He will be the supernatural source of our strength.

Now is the time for believers to so stand in the presence of their God, that the aura of God shines from their heart, words, strength and actions.

Esther, Daniel, David, Moses, Abraham, Ruth, Mary the mother of Jesus, Peter and so many more, because of their love and knowledge of God, displayed strength and took action in their own times. These are our models who give us hope to think even all of us who are normal, when filled with the spirit of God, might also be those who display strength and take action.

And so I come to God this summer asking, "Lord, what would you have me do with the next decade of my life? How would your spirit move through me to display strength? Where do I need to muscle up and become stronger? Is there sin that is weakening me? Where would you compel me, within the limitations of my own puzzle of life, my own responsibilities, --where do you want me to obey you and take action?

What about you? In the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, where has God called you to display strength and to take action?

These few focusses have helped me to keep moving in this direction:

1. Find those who, when you are with them, cause you to want to be better, more faithful, who inspire you to walk with God. Whether in books, or in person, do what you can to be with them. I have sought out godly people and put myself in their path so that I can understand how to love God more and serve Him with strength and action. Their very lives motivate me to live more into the power of my God.

2. Read biographies of those  faith-oriented people that God has used. Corrie Ten Boom, Brother Andrew, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor, Chinese saints, Mueller, Ben Carson, Andrew Carnegie, Mother Theresa, Jim Elliot, even Ghandi--one who had so much compassion. These were some of my favorites. We can be inspired by those who have sacrificed their lives bravely and boldly, because they were moved to take action in their generation.

3. Obviously, to know God, we must invest in His word and prayer often and at times at length.  You could not know deeply someone with whom you never invested time or communicated. So, the more we are with God, the more we will reflect His influence. His word is alive, His spirit is alive and so we seek to read and memorize it and pray it back to Him. God speaks to us through His word and his ultimate Word, Jesus become flesh.

4. Regularly, at least every 6 months, go away by yourself and observe the details of your life. What is draining you? Where have you ceased to believe God? It there any sin habit that is building an invisible wall between you and God? What activities are necessary? What are important?

Cut back on the minimal issues of your life. Ask God, "Where do you want me to take action? What should I plan in order to move ahead in this your work?

The reason the harvest is plentiful and the workers few is because believers have not displayed strength and taken action. it is our tendency to sit back and wait for someone more qualified to lead.

And yet, He has qualified us--it is the knowledge of Him that equips and provides.

Where does God want you to display strength and take action? I am praying His spirit will inspire and encourage you today!

A Bag of Tricks dazzles the wiggliest of kids

I was sitting behind a young mom at church the other day who was holding a large 2 1/2 year old in her lap for an hour and a half. The little girl in her lap seemed sweet natured but wiggly, giggly, active and talkative--in a normal tone of voice. I admired the mom holding her, but know that she was worn out after the service.

When my children were various ages, we often found ourselves in places--not just church, where they needed to be quiet or sit still--in the car when I was talking to friends, at doctor's offices and church and concerts and restaurants. I found that if I prepared them ahead of time and told them what to expect and how long it would take it helped them immensely to be able to be quieter.

I wanted them to learn that church was a holy place--where out of honor to God, we would use a quiet voice, very gentle actions and that they were such "big" girls and "boys" for being able to sit still to show God honor. Training, training, training all the time before they were in a place where I had expectations of them.

I also traveled with a bag of tricks, to so speak, that was never used for any other occasion. Depending on the age of the child, there would be a boxed juice and little container of cheerios or gold fish or small fruit leather--only to be used at the later part of their patience. Colored pencils when they were older, puzzle books, I spy books, finger toys for babies, as well as soft blankies to comfort. Joel was my car man and he loved, loved drawing and or just holding toy cars. He drew a million jeeps in his growing up years. I had a sketch pad for each one. All were quiet toys to be used when they needed to be quiet or sit still. The food and drink were only used in appropriate places and appropriate times. But I always kept this bag loaded in the car and looked at the dollar store for new stickers or little quiet things to add so there would always be something new.

At Christmas, Clay once ordered each of the kids a Land's end travel bag with their name on it--in different colors for each child. The he spent a couple of months filling each bag with paper airplane books, books on tape with a small cd player, challenges, mysteries, little toys, coloring books and quiz books and all sorts of treasures.

We kept each child's brief case in the car and it gave them hours and hours of pleasure over the years when we were on trips and when they were waiting on us. We never used dvds in the car as we didn't want media to become a habit when there were so many creative things to do. When the family culture is to listen to long books on tape in the car, all learn to improve their listening skills and it feeds their brains with great literature and exciting stories. You can accomplish a lot when you keep books on tape or other creative entertainment for the cd player. Teaching children to listen is all a part of shaping their appetites. If they are used to too much tv or movie entertainment, they will complain when they have to listen to a book or draw or stare out the window and imagine life. It is the moms and dads who build the habits for their children. All kids can learn to give up media if they are provided alternatives and if you hold to your decision. Never in the history of mankind did children have movies in the car till now.

I do not want to create guilt for anyone. We are all free to make the best decisions for our family.  ( a strategic Winnie the Pooh saved us through many ear infections at home), In the car, there are so many things to see that offer food for thought and creativity and it is a great place to disciple your children with great conversation and great music. Especially during the junior high and high school ages. We reserve the right to say all ipods off when we want to talk or listen to something as a family. Because it is an expectation, our kids never questioned it.

It also taught our children that there were places to be quiet and to sit still and exercise self-control. We had lots of fun and to this day, they all travel with fun stuff to use on long trips and places where they will have to wait. (on the plane or a long car trip, my older children all download books on tape on their ipods, bring books, journals to write in and snacks.) Fun to see the habit stuck in their own adult lives.

Touch and back scratching can soothe a child that is ready to blow. My mom also taught me a trick when I was a little girl--she would take one of my hands and pull slowly on each finger until she had covered all ten and then she might do it again if needed.

Even when my kids were older, when we traveled, I would have a stash of their favorite magazine, a new cd of music of a favorite artist, a short mystery or book on tape--and always the snacks of the hour. It used to be gold fish for special. (You can even get them at Whole Foods!) But now my kids like dark chocolate almonds to munch at the 1000 mile marker.

The happiest children are those who are kept engaged by planning on the part of the parent and it trains children to learn to entertain themselves and to listen.

So, as long as a mama plans, she can always pull out her bag of tricks and all will be well! :)

What do you keep in your bag to entertain  your family when they need distraction?

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.

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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