***used blog 10/17/21 A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath in all sorts of precious ones

Henri Edmond Cross

“A gentle answer turns away wrath. But harsh words make tempers flare.” Proverbs 15:1

 Standing in the hallway of the hotel where we were hosting our mom’s conference, I noticed a sweet mama who looked as though she was at the end of her rope. Holding a several months old baby, who was arching his little back and crying as though his heart would break, she looked beside herself.

Offering to hold her little one so she could get some rest. Sure enough he would begin to quiet and then something, probably a little girgly tummy would cause him to begin to wail once again. I held him up, check to cheek, his to mine, with my mouth aimed toward his little ear.

Softly I began to talk to him and then I would sing the song so often sung to my children, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,” very softly, very gently. He would quiet down. Then another cry would begin, and I would talk to him very softly, “You are not alone, you are so very precious, you are a darling boy,” lyrically, holding his soft cheek so he could feel mine. Each time my voice started, his little eyes got big and he would quiet.

Suddenly, he fell fast asleep.

Whether my children were young and tiny or old, and if they were in a snit, if I wrapped my demeanor, by my will, in softness and gentleness and answered their anger in a gentle voice, non-accusing eyes, they were more likely than not to listen to me and to respond.

“I understand you are feeling frustrated or angry, but I want to listen to you and understand what you are saying so that I can help you.”

Angry words answered with loud voice and accusation, just adds fuel to the flame of anger. Gentleness and sympathy puts water on the fire of one’s angry heart, and soothes the frustrated feelings.. Once I had this scripture in my head and learned to use it in many relationship situations, I saw how effective this piece of wisdom was—all of us desire, in our frustration, to be honored.

There is no absolute solution or formula to calming an angry quarrel. Yet, wisdom from proverbs has often saved the moment for my family.

A hormonal teen, an exhausted toddler, a school-aged child, or a husband who is angry—all of these, long to be treated with focused attention, an understanding heart and a loving response.

As we all know, it is natural to react in like—anger to anger. However, it is from the Spirit of Him who is love that leads us to react in love. And yet, as the Spirit lives through us, we will see His power and fruit drawing others to Him in us, when we choose to remember bits of truth he has left for us to follow. A gentle answer, turns away anger.

Gentleness grows stronger with practice. It comes with humility. It grows as wisdom and takes root in the heart that values the ones she loves. May God grant us to become gentle in our love, that others may see Him through us.

***The 24 hours of the .99 on Amazon is now over, but as an almost full length book, I think you will enjoy it and be blessed at the normal price of $4.99! We were so happy that we were able to do a 24 hour deal for so many of you. Thanks for making the launch such a wonderful blessing to us, who work on the blog and books just for you! You were amazing!

*** used blog 10/14/21 Service: The Gift of Giving Yourself

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” –Mark 10:45

“Make it a rule, and pray to God to help you to keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say: "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day." -Charles Kingsley

I was in quite a hurry on the rainy day we pulled up to a stoplight in Nashville and saw a weather-beaten man on the curb holding up a dripping sign. I had both of my boys with me, they were seven and five, and we were late to their weekly music lessons. Windshield wipers thumping, streetlights gleaming through the rain, I glanced at the bedraggled figure standing outside our car, but I couldn’t stop today. There simply wasn’t time.

“Mama,” Nathan’s voice piped up from the backseat, “look at that man in the rain. Look, he has a sign. He must be cold.”

“’Homeless: anything helps, God bless’.” Joel read the words off the damp sign. “Look Mom, he only has one leg.”

For a moment, Joel contemplated this with a solemn, sad little face, and then he turned to me, eyes big and urgent.

“Mom, we should help him. We should buy him a hamburger!” I glanced at my watch and scouted the busy street for fast food restaurants. There were none in sight. But Joel, seeing the hesitation in my face leaned forward from the back, straining against his seatbelt, “come on Mom,” he urged “he really needs our help and you said we should always help the people God puts in our way.”

So I did. Clay and I were always telling our kids to keep their eyes open for the people God might put in their lives who needed their help or kindness. We wanted our kids to see themselves as servants, to have an identity as givers. I couldn’t contradict Joel’s impulse to give. I decided that music lessons would simply have to wait and I rolled down the window.

“Hello sir,” I said as the man moved stiffly toward us, “my boys want to buy you some lunch.”

“Ask him if he wants hamburger or chicken,” called Joel, while Nathan added his own high-pitched command to be sure of his favorite drink. The man told me what he liked and we took off as the light turned. By the time we found a McDonald’s, ordered the perfect meal (with many directions from my boys – “supersize it Mom, he looks really hungry!”), and made it back around to the stoplight, the rain had lifted a little and the man shuffled over to meet us.

As I handed him the bag of hot food and the supersized coke, the boys piped up from the back with “we got you a hamburger like you said, and lots of french fries!” The man took the food, then put his hands on the window and leaned into the car.

“Boys,” he said looking back at each of them, “thank you so much. You’re the first people who stopped all day. What are your names?” the boys told him, and the man nodded, “well thank you Joel, thank you Nathan. God bless you.”

“What’s your name,” piped up Nathan from the back as the man turned to go.

“Michael,” he said simply, and with a nod to me, walked away.

That night, as I put Nathan to bed and prepared to pray for him, he looked up at me with a very serious face. “Let’s pray for Michael, Mama,” he said, and that began a month in which the boys prayed fervently for Michael, “their homeless man,” every night. As I watched their little hearts ache for the loneliness and hurt of another person, I thanked God that I had taken the time to stop, to live out the message I was trying so hard to teach them every day in our home: how to have the heart of a giver, the heart of a servant.

From the time our kids were old enough to listen, Clay and I told them over and over, “I wonder how God will use you in the world. I wonder whose heart you will heal or what truth you will bring.” We wanted our children to think of themselves, even when they were little, as someone who had a responsibility to give, love, and to serve the people around them.

You can find the rest of the chapter and more encouragement in: 10 Gifts of Wisdom.

Announcing! "10 Gifts of Wisdom"- My new e-book! {Launch Week Giveaway #5}

Because so many of you have loved mentoring Monday, and asked me to write about lots of topics of training excellence into your children, teaching them to love well, giving them integrity and building their character, I have been working hard on this book to answer a whole bunch of questions and to encourage you. You, my readers, are the encouragement for me to writ this book. I planned it today, the end of our celebration week, just for you.

Because we are celebrating and it is the launch day, I have asked if I could sell it for 99 cents just today so that all of my friends could get it. It is just for today, though, so be sure and purchase it before the price goes up. This book is 31,000 words--almost regular length and chapters you will love. I kept receiving this question,

“How did you raise all of your children to be so self-composed and polite?” I hear this statement often and it is inevitably followed by, “it must just be a Clarkson trait. It must have just been natural!”

How far from the truth! Excellence of character comes only through rigorous training, instruction, and practice. Every parent wants their child to grow up into a vibrant, gracious, competent adult, yet few today have a vision for cultivating those traits in their children. Giving children moralistic rules and policing their behavior is not enough to captivate their imagination in such a way that they will want to be men and women of strong character. They need vision.

I realized this as I worked to nurture my own children early on. When Clay and I provided them with a vision for becoming compelling leaders in their generation, when we trained them to become skillful, challenged them to graciousness, they responded. By combining a compelling vision of what they could be with day-to-day training and encouragement, we prepared them to become influential with the messages of Christ in their lifetime.

Many children today learn principles of morality, but they enter adulthood without the kind of intentional training that will help them to stand strong, to live well, and to be faithful. So I am sharing with you the basic blueprint of the vision that provided our children with strong foundations. I want to share the training, the habits, and the rhythms that we formed along the way that have prepared our children to stand strong in the storms and the beauty of life.

I have excerpted articles, ideas, and writings from a variety of places to put this book together, so the format varies from chapter to chapter. I hope this will be a potluck feast of stories, thoughts, suggestions, and encouragement. But I also hope that these principles will prepare your own children to have confidence, a sense of calling, and wisdom to walk the roads God brings their way. May all of our children be worthy ambassadors for Christ and His kingdom.

I truly hope that this e-book encourages and equips you as a mother.

10 Gifts of Wisdom-What every child must know before they leave home.

Blessings,

Sally

Click here to get your copy of this brand new book at the special price of just .99 for today only! Read just one of the reviews below, as my hope is that this book will inspire you as well:

"Sally writes from a heart of wisdom and a life of deep Faith. She gives parents a vision for a Godly family then completes that vision with fun, practical ways to make it a reality. You will find yourselves reading and retreading these words of encouragement as you seek to raise children who will follow The Lord with their whole hearts. " Heroes need advocates behind them, and that is one of the greatest roles you can play as a mom." Just one of the many gems you will find in Sally Clarkson's inspiring, new book."

To celebrate our new site, ITakeJoy.com and MomHeart.org, along with 6 years I have been writing, we will have a full week of giveaways!!! Please help us celebrate by sharing our new site with your friends!!

Launch Week Giveaway Day #5

Enter to win our launch week giveaways with rafflecopter below!!

10 Gifts of Wisdom by Sally Clarkson (3 copies)

If you purchase the book at the special price and then are a winner, we will refund the book. It will regularly be $4.95.

Dayspring Choose Joy Pillow (Quantity 3)

(Regularly $23.00 -- THIS WEEK only $11.50)

Thanks for helping me make this a wonderful week. Hope the book blesses you, my wonderful readers!

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Mom Heart Conference 2014...We're Back! {Launch Week Giveaway #4}

I am so excited that it is almost conference season again. Since 1998, this conference just for moms like you has been a bright light in the gray days of winter. And now we're ready to turn the light on again for our seventeenth year with Mom Heart Conferences in Colorado, California, and Texas. The brand new MomHeartConference.com just went live on October 1. Come check it out, and while you're there register for a conference. We hope you can join us!

To help join in the celebration here at I Take Joy, there is an "October Online Only Promotion" with two ways to win: (1) If you are one of the first 200 to register for a conference, you will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to use at our book tables, and (2) if you register anytime in October, your name will be entered in a drawing for a FREE conference registration. The 200 gift certificates will go quickly, but the drawing list will stay open until midnight on October 31. You must register ONLINE to be entered in the promotion.

When and where are the conferences? Glad you asked. Here's our 2014 conference calendar:

• January 24-25 - Denver, CO (Denver Marriott South)
• February 7-8 - Irvine, CA (Irvine Marriott)
• February 21-22 - Irving/DFW, TX (Dallas Marriott Las Colinas)

My message series this year will lift you up for God: Inspired! ~ Reaching Beyond What Holds You Back. You'll be inspired to look at your life differently--spiritually, relationally, and personally. In addition to Sally, each of the events will feature speakers you know and love: Sarah Mae (CO), Ruth Schwenk (CA), and Chrystal Hurst (TX). Sarah Clarkson will share her insights on artful living at all of the events, and there will also  be workshop speakers, inspiring worship, a lovely banquet lunch, and great books. It will be a wonderful year. I hope many of you will be able to join us! We shall have a grand time and go back to our homes stronger and with more peace and empowered to build homes for our God.

If you're ready to register, click on over right now to MomHeartConference.com and be prepared to be Inspired!

To celebrate our new site, ITakeJoy.com and MomHeart.org, along with 6 years Sally has been writing, we will have a full week of giveaways!!! Please help us celebrate by sharing our new site with your friends!!

Launch Week Giveaway Day #4

Enter to win our launch week giveaways with rafflecopter below!!

One Ticket to MomHeart Conference 2014

Conference Dates and States:

JANUARY 24-25: Denver/Littleton, CO

FEBRUARY 7-8: Irvine/OC, CA

FEBRUARY 21-22: Irving/DFW, TX

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***Used blog 10/7/21 Romance still lives in my heart---someone has to have ideals! {Launch Week Giveaway #3}

Robert_Thegerström_Lättja

Robert Thegerstrom; Lattja

This picture makes me long for a mountain breeze, a deep hammock, a cup of tea, an engrossing book and an open-ended afternoon.

I can probably swing one of those, the open-ended afternoon being perhaps the most elusive of the four. But one can dream!

In many ways these beautiful classic art pieces are evidence of ideals I have in my own life. Perhaps they're indicative of the way I wish life were, more often than it actually is. Perhaps you, too find yourself longing for life to be more settled, more peaceful, more predictable, more tame than you find it.

As I wrote several years ago in my book, The Mom Walk ...

"I am a deeply romantic woman, always yearning for a picture-perfect home--fires on the hearth with feasts and laughter nearby, pleasant and gracious conversations, an ambience of beauty and peace. I write about my ideals. I breathe my ideals in the secret moments of my life. I want a picture-perfect marriage where I am adored and appreciated. I want my children to be healthy, happy, and harmonious. I want strong friendships and a stable community with friends. I want an extended family to be close to us and to provide my children with love and support and lots of godly input. I want there to be money for all the bills, a home that isn't always exploding with messes, and time to sit and read a good book and ponder life.

These longings are not wrong. Ideals and the desire for beauty are simply the echoes of God's design in our hearts. He was the one who designed the world to be a masterpiece of wonder and life. The yearning for peace, health, and comfort is natural to our souls and comes from the depths of our hearts where we can still feel and imagine what God created life to be before the fall."

I think God is the biggest Idealist of all. He created everything in a perfect state, and someday He will "restore all things." (Acts 3:21.) I think He understands my heart's longing for a beautiful life and fulfilling relationships.

I think He feels just the same way I do. When I long for life to line up with His ideals, I reflect His own heart. When I create pleasing settings, soothe ruffled feelings, play beautifully crafted music, offer grace to a tired and cranky child, or prepare a hearty meal that fills stomachs and enriches souls as we share ideas around the table, I remind those who share in the moments with me that we are, indeed, sons and daughters of a King, meant for more than workaday life in this broken world.

Though I still wish for an "Anne of Green Gables" neighborhood, where friends come by and sit on my porch over a cup of tea to talk, and my children have only a g-rated world in which to live, I can still craft my own home to be such a sanctuary. And when my children store these pictures of moments shared in the treasure chest of their hearts, they are more likely to always remember what they were made for and how to hold fast to His ideals their whole life.

How can you remind those around you, today?

Blessings,

Sally

To celebrate our new site, ITakeJoy.com and MomHeart.org, along with 6 years I have been writing, we will have a full week of giveaways!!! Please help us celebrate by sharing our new site with your friends!!

Launch Week Giveaway Day #3

Enter to win our launch week giveaways with rafflecopter below!!

Dancing With My Father by Sally Clarkson {3 copies}

dancingwithfathercover

Dayspring Fullness of Joy Mug (3 Winners)

(Regularly $9.99---ON SALE for only $4.99 THIS WEEK!!)

fullnessofjoymug

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Celebrating 6 Years of I Take Joy & Our New Site! {Launch Week Giveaway #1}

 

“One of the marks of a godly woman is that she takes responsibility for her soul's need for joy and delight. A woman is a conductor, who leads the orchestra of her surroundings in the songs and music of her life."

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe

This morning, I am sitting in my living room, celebrating a normal day with flowers, candlelight and a cup of tea that is so traditional in my life. The rains have struck our hamlet and the fire is burning to keep the 52 degree chill at bay! And I have been reflecting on all that has transpired in my life the past years.

A theme that I hope will mark my life is that of dancing to the music of God's leading in my life. I named this blog Itakejoy at its inception because I believe that God has a desire to bless us, be our strength, give us hope and to celebrate each moment of our lives with us, as dearly as I love to celebrate the life of my own children. So, I hope that the messages you find here will fill your life with His life, light and joy for many years to come!

As I turned into a new decade of my life, I have been evaluating the past years and how God has worked. Pondering the story God has written through our family is one of the most deeply satisfying chapters of my 60 years. And now, of course, I have been pondering the future years--the ones I have left in which to glorify God, love my children and Clay even better, encourage women to know Him and to see His light and love, and to live celebrating each day of life because I know Him and I have His joy as my strength available every day.

Simplifying in many areas, in order to become more focussed, is something the Lord keeps impressing on me. I have been writing at this blog for over 6 years, often daily. My hope is to bring hope and the practice of bringing joy to each woman who comes here.  I also started a network for moms on MomHeart.com that have similar hearts and the same perspective on walking with God in grace, becoming a life-giving mother, growing in a walk with God and living a joy-filled life.

Today, we are celebrating a marriage of the two blogs so that I can focus on just one place. I am hoping to write lots more books and ebooks, and so I need time to invest in these new messages. I am hoping to craft books that will draw women to the excellencies to which they have been created. But this means I must have lots and lots of time to read, pray and write.

Yet, I also think it has been wonderful to have been a part of  such gifted moms who have written for  MomHeart.org and I am so happy that they will be partnering with me to make Itakejoy an even richer site. We have so many fun plans ahead for this new blog.

Today, we are celebrating a marriage of the two blogs so that I can focus on just one place. I am hoping to write lots more books and ebooks, and so I need time to invest in these new messages. I also think it has been wonderful to invite such gifted moms to be a part of Mom Heart and I am so happy that they will be partnering with me to make Itakejoy an even richer site. We have so many fun plans ahead for this new blog. I will still write here 2 or 3 times each week and there will also be other wonderful articles by such talented and insightful writers, who are kindred spirits.

Momheart.org will still be a place where you can find training, a leader's guide, suggestions on how to lead mom's groups. But itakejoy will be the place of articles on joy and motherhood.

To celebrate our new site, ITakeJoy.com and MomHeart.org, along with 6 years I have been writing, we will have a full week of giveaways!!! Please help us celebrate by sharing our new site with your friends!!

Launch Week Giveaway Day #1

Enter to win our launch week giveaways with rafflecopter below!!

The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson {3 copies}

The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson {3 copies}

The Mom Heart Necklace {3 winners}

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Today, be the most excellent you can be, because...

Today, I am working on a book that I hope will encourage many of you--the writing of it is profoundly shaping and encouraging my life. Today, be the most excellent you can be, because you will never have another opportunity to glorify God in this day again. This is the day He has made--how will you live it well?

Today--Be set apart for God in everything you do--your attitude first of all

Your love--let it be generous

Your work--let it be energetic

Your teaching--let it be inspiring because you have been inspired by Him

Your joy--let it bubble over--look at His fingerprints in every corner of your life today.

Your friendships--appreciate those who are in your heart--your children, husband, friends--tell them how much you are thankful for them

Notice Him today--and thank Him for all that He brings to mind--the sunset, the beauty of a child, the color of a leaf, the taste of coffee and whip cream

This is the day He has made for you--make it an epic story to remember and for your children to remember in the years to come--

Let your "will" discipline your heart so that you may do all of these things--remember, He lives in you and He is capable of more than you can imagine.

You are capable of more than you think--strain towards the holy and you shall become holy!

You can also find me today at this wonderful new site, Forthefamily.com, writing about slowing down all the fussing!

"Learning to accept the personality of my son through the e-conference has given me new windows into his heart. Thanks for sharing these truths. They have been life-changing for me." TM

Order here.

On Books and Boys {A Review of Two Books to Nourish the Hearts of Sons}

I don't even know anyone who has a bigger library. My sweet friend, Lynn Custer, has worked by my side at conferences, taught Seasons of a mother's heart groups for 15 years, held mama's teas in her home and cried with ones who needed encouragement for so many years. We raised our children together and we raised this ministry together. I told her she needed to start sharing all about books with us, as she raised her own two boys on the best! Thanks, Lynn.

Nature Got There First by Phil Gates is a book that will grab the attention of that rambunctious, easily distracted, eight to thirteen year old boy. You know the one? The little guy that runs up to everything and anything with wheels or a motor and looks underneath it to try and figure out what’s making it tick? This book is perfect for the young boy that plays outside for hours coming up with all sorts of make-shift uses for sticks, rocks, and insects.

What do earthworms and elevators have in common? What about leaves and shoes, or your knees and engines? This book explores these things as well as many others. Take the example of squid for instance: what invention could have resulted in the study of the way squid drive themselves through the oceans? Phil Gates says it's jet propulsion. And what about armadillos? Is it possible that man’s idea of the armored car or a knight’s medieval armor was first formed after observing the suitably attired armadillo? How about a tropical tree? Could man have really got the idea of building mighty cathedrals based on their knowledge of how these trees are rooted and stabilized?

When Nature Got There First will cause your guys to look out of doors through a completely different lens. It draws upon the similarities between modern day inventions and those things found in nature, designed by a Creative Genius. While I wouldn’t say this book is necessarily written from a Christian perspective, I will say that it draws the Christian reader in and causes his or her gaze to fall upon the Master Designer. It will reinforce the fact that man’s ideas and creativity is not original to man. It all begins with the Maker of all things, the Inventor of all things, and the Giver of every creative thought. Who knows what other inventions can be inspired by further study and investigation of God’s amazing world?

Furthermore, who needs a boring biology textbook when there is something like this available? In fact, if more boys were allowed to read books like this one, they may find themselves a lot more interested when that biology class finally rolls around.

 

"Nature is but a name for an effect, Whose cause is God." ~ WILLIAM COWPER

 "Gotta go, Mama," called Billy. "I finished my Saturday chores, and now I need to meet Seth and the fellas for a game of stickball." So begins  The Day the Circus Came to Town by Melody Carlstrom, a story of a young boy who is about to learn the valuable lesson of thinking for himself and following that still, small voice of God.

In The Day the Circus Came to Town, Billy is a young man that can't wait to hang out with his friends, but before he gets out the door, his mama calls and reminds him, "Don't forget about the circus!" After promising to be back in time for this family outing, he's off for a fun afternoon of stickball.

While out playing, Billy and his friends bump into Zino, a funny, joyful clown. With much enthusiasm, Zino presents the boys with tickets to the circus and invites them to come along and check it out. Billy very quickly reaches to take a ticket, but then immediately hears the other boys sneering, using words like 'sissy' and 'babies' and 'wimps'. In the blink of an eye, Billy has fallen in line with all the others and rejects Zino's invitation.

What Billy soon discovers though, is that blending in with the crowd and just following along has very real consequences. It not only costs him something but it affects his family as well. In this beautifully illustrated allegory by Melody Carlson, boys and girls alike will benefit from learning from Billy's mistakes. Giving in to peer pressure, ignoring God's voice of conscience, and the advice of parents, will eventually lead to sadness and regret. Billy finds this out the hard way.

But, then there is grace. Gratefully, the book doesn't end there with Billy's mistake looming over him. With a repentant heart, He makes his way out to the circus, regretting his decision to refuse to go. Standing outside the tent, looking mournfully on as his family is inside having a wonderful time, Billy contemplates what a fool he has been and how it's too late to make it right.

But, it's never too late for God. It is never too late to pull away from the crowd and start thinking for yourself. More importantly, it is never too late to listen to God's voice and follow His leading.

What are some of your favorite books for boys? Share so we can all add it to our list?

The following post is written by Lynn Custer, a wife and mom of two grown boys, who is passionate about books, whole- hearted education and encouraging moms. Lynn makes her home in North Carolina, where she has been leading Mom Heart groups and mentoring women for over 15 years. We are so thankful to have her sharing with us today! 

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The Discipleship & Discipline Webinar

Over 1,000 moms joined us on the Discipleship & Discipline Webinar! If you weren't able to attend the live course, now you can get it on-demand. If you would like to get access to the Webinar, simply click here. It was so much fun, and we are so excited to share this with you.

Ways to Make Time for His Word

"I have come to believe that the success or failure of any woman who hopes to build her children into a godly legacy depends to a great degree on whether or not she is spending time in the presence of the Lord and filling her mind with His word." -Sally Clarkson, The Mom Walk

Desiring to secure the hearts of our children with a love for God, often we try to teach them what is right, correct their attitudes, and often become frustrated with their immaturity, and so in our exhaustion, point out faults to our immature children.

We strive to be women of godly ideals, but tend to fall short and overwhelm ourselves with the mundane, ordinary day "have-tos."

Yet, we cannot show our children the excellencies of God's character if we have not invested time in His presence. We become like the ones we spend time with! --And so if we can never make time to cultivate a deep love, a fresh worship, a spontaneous conversation with our dear Father, then we will not be living from His spirit's truth, wisdom and grace.

Spending time in God's word is essential to our restoration as mothers. Without God's word, what voices are filling our minds, hearts, and souls?

In the midst of busy, hectic schedules, it can be extremely difficult to make time for His word. We must be intentional and prioritize this necessary peace. Today, I am going to share some ideas with you on how we can not only pencil in and squeeze in our time with God, but full benefit from His amazing word.

1: Get an accountability partner.

Some of us need that extra push and reminder so that we don't forget to spend time in His word. Talk to your best girl friend about holding each other accountable for your time in scripture. Call each other, or email, weekly to check in and remind each other of the importance of God's word. Commit to a 6 month period of time to be prayer partners or to study a book of the Bible or a devotional together.

2. Bible reading plans.

With so many things going on in various directions, sometimes we don't even know where to start once we open our bibles. Bible reading plans provide schedule, routine, order, and continuity to our time in scripture. Read through one Psalm a day and circle or note each verse that speaks of His character. Or underline wisdom or truth or a promise of principle. Or Read John and do the same thing. Keep a journal close by and each day write one thing you have learned. If you have time, pray through what you have learned. These books are good places to start.

3. I Take Joy scripture challenge. 

If His lovingkindness is before you every day, then you will walk in His ways and find His blessing.

Choose one of the scriptures below and personalize it for yourself:

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."119:105

"For Your loving kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth." -Psalm 26:3

If you're up for the challenge, write that verse on multiple sticky notes. Commit in your heart to seek His truth so that you may walk in it. Place one on your mirror, one in your car, and one on your coffee maker. Really meditate on that scripture, memorize it, and feel free to leave a comment on this blog post to share what that verse means to you in your current season of motherhood. Share this post with your friends so that we may learn from each other and grow in His wisdom, love, and truth.

Write the verse, tape it on your bathroom mirror and repeat it each time you are in the room. Or put it on your kitchen wall and say it with your children when you wash dishes. Add one verse each week and you will have a heart full of encouragement and truth when your year is up!

The Discipleship & Discipline Webinar

Over 1,000 moms joined us on the Discipleship & Discipline Webinar! If you weren't able to attend the live course, now you can get it on-demand. If you would like to get access to the Webinar, simply click here. It was so much fun, and we are so excited to share this with you.

The Power of Influence in a Home that Breathes Real, Not Just Virtual Life!

Whispering breezes amongst towering, swaying pines; pelting, drumming showers invading our car conversations, mists obscuring our views bespoke to all of us the need for an August fire in our cozy living room, steaming cups of tea, and soul-feeding sharing of hearts.  And so began a memory-making afternoon.

Even as God filled the earth with the art of a His best creation, so our homes must bespeak of His glorious creativity--colors abounding, lilting music setting the mood, feasts celebrated amongst every possible topic discussed, observed--from jokes to convictions, ideals to devotions, sadness to hilarity.

Real life should be lived in first person,--not virtual life observed.

We have had a house full of people for the last couple of weeks. The walls are fairly swaying with the life of friendships deepened, laughter ringing, voices raised in the spirit of competition of games played late into the night. (Golf,--a card game you can find on the internet-o- hearts, speed scrabble and scrabble, with even a little bit of tripoly type of card games being some of our favorites over the years.)

Oh how I wish you could hear the deeply felt convictions and beliefs and conversations of our children as they share over books read, convictions challenged by others, beliefs cherished and preserved in their lives out in the world--to peek into souls that have been nourished on the best minds of great authors, the daily devotions and faith shared that lives deeply, authentically in their own hearts, the creativity and life of these adult children being lived out as they have  become lights in their own worlds.

It is deeply fulfilling to know that all of those years of the labor of love and educating has born such satisfying fruit in their lives and souls. They were actually listening and paying attention all of those years, day in day out of the giving of our best to their hearts, minds and souls. So, my sweet friends, your work is not in vain--in God's hands it becomes a miracle.

This "life" is what my older children return home to experience--the cups of their souls longing to be refueled with the virtue, love, purity of moments shared together in the breath of God's love warming our hearts, filling us all with the sense of belonging to His destiny, kingdom, and caling, and  binding us together in the grand purpose of His calling on this family called the Clarksons.

Last night, at one time we had 3 guitars, a djembe thrumming and Clay leading the host. Real music pulsing through the open windows.

Old friendships remembered and rebuilt over banana pudding, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, and brownies with Europeon chocolate chips sprinkled in--after a feast of spaghetti pie--an all time fav from an old Amish recipe.

Joy sported a headache and didn't feel well, so her precious friend Andrea ministered comfort by soaking her hands in warm water and making her nails beautiful.

Meanwhile, the a serious game of cards ensued, though it could have been scrabble or 10 other games that we have perfected over the years through much practice.   My dear friend and I sat on the couch and pondered the gift of our precious ones who had grown up so quickly, and by God's grace so wonderfully full of His life. Souls, minds and values were shaped mostly in the moments of every day when we breathed the life of God into the very atmosphere of our home.

The Discipleship & Discipline Webinar

Over 1,000 moms joined us on the Discipleship & Discipline Webinar! If you weren't able to attend the live course, now you can get it on-demand. If you would like to get access to the Webinar, simply click here. It was so much fun, and we are so excited to share this with you.