Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day! You are the best! :)

Wishing I could give each of you a bouquet of flowers!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you sweet, wonderful, sacrificial mamas who give so much to your children.

For all of you who give over and over again, and overcome the weariness.

To the ones who may not be honored today, but will have rewards in heaven.

For you who are the servant leaders that Jesus understands.

Your lives are not invisible--but so very precious to the one who chose you to be the mother of those sweet ones in your home. I wish you rest, peace and love today! (and a maid and someone to wash your dishes!) You are my heroes!

May your hearts be blessed and filled with an understanding that your love is the best kind of love. May you have a long nap, and a peaceful heart, and an inner sense that you are so very precious.

Mothers: Civilizers of Nations, Creators of Culture & The Winners!

 

Carl Larrson

Mother's: The Civilizers of Our Nation

civ·i·lize 1.    to create a high level of culture 2.    to teach somebody to behave in a more socially, morally and culturally acceptable way Enlighten, cultivate, improve, advance, subdue in terms of a people or nation.

“The home is the fountain of civilization. The value and character and appetites of a people are greatly determined by the reading, training and cultivating of moral and spiritual appetites in the home.

Mothers, you are the divinely-appointed teachers and guides of your children; and any attempt to free yourselves of this duty is in direct opposition to the will of God. If you neglect them, the consequences are swift and sure. …, Spend most of your time with your children. Sleep near them, attend and dress and wash them; let them eat with their mother and father; be their companion and friend in all things and at all times.”

From Golden Thoughts on Mother, Home, and Heaven: From Poetic and Prose Literature of All Ages and All Lands. Copyright 1878-1880

The above quotations were gleaned from a wonderful book that a friend gave to me at our Dallas conference. The words written over a hundred years ago are still very powerful today. This, in a culture where the imagination of the importance of mothers to the overall well-being of soul of the next generation has been lost. How affirming it is to see that truth of past generations still applies to us today.

Often, I find that in the absence of a clear enough vision for their children and homes, mothers replace conviction and vision with lots of activities and distractions for their children. This hyper-activity and rushing around to an endless list of expensive lessons and experiences and the buying of the newest expensive curriculum and technological options make moms feel like they are accomplishing something. However, when the home-life of children is rich with excellent, classic literature, passionate Biblical devotions, rousing dinner-table discussions around sumptuous, tasty meals, lots of love and affection given and household chores attended to—and a child will become committed to all that is good and excellent and develop a moral and compassionate soul for all the divinely important values.

From the beginning of time, God created the home to be a place sufficient to nurture genius, excellence, graciousness and grand civility. But the key factor is nothing that can be purchased or owned. The accomplishment of this grand life is found only in the soul of a mother, through the power of the Holy Spirit, personally mentoring her children.

It is a personal relationship with a real person whose soul is alive in which the deepest imprints of life are given. The secrets and deep emotions shared during the goodnight hours in which a the soul of a child is tender and open; the comfort of warm, home-made food shared in the early evening as ideas are shared and discussed and prayers and devotions given; the laughter, stories, advice given in the midst of washing dishes together or sharing of a meal; the heroic and riveting  stories read aloud and shared together that establish common patterns of morality, values and  dreams in the comfort of the blazing hearth, mugs of steaming hot chocolate and squishing against each other on a den couch are those heavenly things which are food to the soul and nourishment to the mind and conscience of a child fully awake to all that is important in life.

There is no computer, television, software or text book that can pass on such passion, love and motivation.

It is indeed the personal touch of a mother’s heart that creates grand civility, deep affection, care and commitment to the foundations of a family. When the invisible strings of a mother’s heart are tied to the heart of her children through loving sacrifice and nurture, the stability and foundations of a nation become secure and stable. A mother, living well in her God-ordained role, is of great beauty and inestimable value to the future history of any generation. Her impact is irreplaceable and necessary to the spiritual formation of children who will be the future adults of the next generation. Fun, comfort, humor, graciousness, spiritual passion, compassion for the lost, hospitality, chores, meals, training, life-giving words, hours and hours of listening and playing and praying and reading—all are parts of the mosaic which go into the process of soul development.

Moms, God is calling us to a work that is quite important--He will give us the strength and supply us with wisdom one day at a time. He will listen to our prayers. But most of all, we have to be willing to bend over backwards to meet needs and to encourage and to figure out a new game plan, because we are His guard in a fallen, tempting world; we are His hands and words of comfort and wisdom; and we are His voice to tell our children that we love them and believe in them, even in the midst of their immaturity. May He give grace to each of you today! Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks so all of my wonderful friends for helping our first week of launching our new book a great week. Love to you all! Have a lovely weekend with your loved ones!

Here are the winners:

The e-conference winners are:

Alia Regier

Bonita Penner

Trista Shah

And the audio book winner is:

Annette Blanch

The Winners of our new book, You Are Loved

Entry #50423Debora J.

Entry #26220Shelley B.

Entry #22995Ashelyn D.

Entry #66748Lavinia M.

Entry #22751Christina V.

Entry #28285Jannell N.

Entry #23227Cheryl O.

Entry #1001Natalie W.

Entry #6012Amy W.

Entry #10046Brenda S.

Entry #76527Trisha

Entry #59203Marietta T.

Entry #45737Betsy H.

Entry #58610Brooke M.

Entry #11319Mary S.

Entry #44822Andrea M.

Entry #74613brittany g.

Entry #3029Jennifer L.

Entry #39435Ashley R.

Entry #37905Sara D.

Entry #5452Heather D.

Entry #11376Kim V.

Entry #3681Jennie C.

Entry #36678Alyssa Z.

Entry #36681Sarah A.

Entry #39255Sasha L.

Entry #4806Heather '.

Entry #15418Holly K.

Entry #12874Holly W.

Entry #43987Terri B.

Mothers: The Civilizers of Nations, the Cultivators of Cultures & The Winners

Most of you who know me, know that I love international ministry and have been seeking to start Women's small groups, Bible studies all over the world, and how much I love missions for having had the opportunity to be involved overseas as a young woman. Angela and I have partnered in some ideas of how to reach more women in more countries with some of these Biblical messages in their own countries. For one, when you buy a book here in the US, we will donate one book for free to our translator's groups in their own countries, all over the world. I am so excited about the ministry vision that God has given Angela and me to train leaders of other countries to start women's Bible studies and to lead in their own countries.

But we are hoping to have some special training times for women in other parts of the world. I would love to see the Lord open doors for me to do some intensive leader's training in different countries. But Angela and I also have a more practical dream for next summer. Read about our vision HERE!

And now for a special Motherhood message! 

Carl Larrson

Mother's: The Civilizers of Our Nation

civ·i·lize 1.    to create a high level of culture 2.    to teach somebody to behave in a more socially, morally and culturally acceptable way Enlighten, cultivate, improve, advance, subdue in terms of a people or nation.

“The home is the fountain of civilization. The value and character and appetites of a people are greatly determined by the reading, training and cultivating of moral and spiritual appetites in the home.

Mothers, you are the divinely-appointed teachers and guides of your children; and any attempt to free yourselves of this duty is in direct opposition to the will of God. If you neglect them, the consequences are swift and sure. …, Spend most of your time with your children. Sleep near them, attend and dress and wash them; let them eat with their mother and father; be their companion and friend in all things and at all times.”

From Golden Thoughts on Mother, Home, and Heaven: From Poetic and Prose Literature of All Ages and All Lands. Copyright 1878-1880

The above quotations were gleaned from a wonderful book that a friend gave to me at our Dallas conference. The words written over a hundred years ago are still very powerful today. This, in a culture where the imagination of the importance of mothers to the overall well-being of soul of the next generation has been lost. How affirming it is to see that truth of past generations still applies to us today.

Often, I find that in the absence of a clear enough vision for their children and homes, mothers replace conviction and vision with lots of activities and distractions for their children. This hyper-activity and rushing around to an endless list of expensive lessons and experiences and the buying of the newest expensive curriculum and technological options make moms feel like they are accomplishing something. However, when the home-life of children is rich with excellent, classic literature, passionate Biblical devotions, rousing dinner-table discussions around sumptuous, tasty meals, lots of love and affection given and household chores attended to—and a child will become committed to all that is good and excellent and develop a moral and compassionate soul for all the divinely important values.

From the beginning of time, God created the home to be a place sufficient to nurture genius, excellence, graciousness and grand civility. But the key factor is nothing that can be purchased or owned. The accomplishment of this grand life is found only in the soul of a mother, through the power of the Holy Spirit, personally mentoring her children.

It is a personal relationship with a real person whose soul is alive in which the deepest imprints of life are given. The secrets and deep emotions shared during the goodnight hours in which a the soul of a child is tender and open; the comfort of warm, home-made food shared in the early evening as ideas are shared and discussed and prayers and devotions given; the laughter, stories, advice given in the midst of washing dishes together or sharing of a meal; the heroic and riveting  stories read aloud and shared together that establish common patterns of morality, values and  dreams in the comfort of the blazing hearth, mugs of steaming hot chocolate and squishing against each other on a den couch are those heavenly things which are food to the soul and nourishment to the mind and conscience of a child fully awake to all that is important in life.

There is no computer, television, software or text book that can pass on such passion, love and motivation.

It is indeed the personal touch of a mother’s heart that creates grand civility, deep affection, care and commitment to the foundations of a family. When the invisible strings of a mother’s heart are tied to the heart of her children through loving sacrifice and nurture, the stability and foundations of a nation become secure and stable. A mother, living well in her God-ordained role, is of great beauty and inestimable value to the future history of any generation. Her impact is irreplaceable and necessary to the spiritual formation of children who will be the future adults of the next generation. Fun, comfort, humor, graciousness, spiritual passion, compassion for the lost, hospitality, chores, meals, training, life-giving words, hours and hours of listening and playing and praying and reading—all are parts of the mosaic which go into the process of soul development.

Moms, God is calling us to a work that is quite important--He will give us the strength and supply us with wisdom one day at a time. He will listen to our prayers. But most of all, we have to be willing to bend over backwards to meet needs and to encourage and to figure out a new game plan, because we are His guard in a fallen, tempting world; we are His hands and words of comfort and wisdom; and we are His voice to tell our children that we love them and believe in them, even in the midst of their immaturity. May He give grace to each of you today! Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks so all of my wonderful friends for helping our first week of launching our new book a great week. Love to you all! Have a lovely weekend with your loved ones!

Here are the winners:

The e-conference winners are:

Alia Regier

Bonita Penner

Trista Shah

And the audio book winner is:

Annette Blanch

The Winners of our new book, You Are Loved

Entry #50423Debora J.

Entry #26220Shelley B.

Entry #22995Ashelyn D.

Entry #66748Lavinia M.

Entry #22751Christina V.

Entry #28285Jannell N.

Entry #23227Cheryl O.

Entry #1001Natalie W.

Entry #6012Amy W.

Entry #10046Brenda S.

Entry #76527Trisha

Entry #59203Marietta T.

Entry #45737Betsy H.

Entry #58610Brooke M.

Entry #11319Mary S.

Entry #44822Andrea M.

Entry #74613brittany g.

Entry #3029Jennifer L.

Entry #39435Ashley R.

Entry #37905Sara D.

Entry #5452Heather D.

Entry #11376Kim V.

Entry #3681Jennie C.

Entry #36678Alyssa Z.

Entry #36681Sarah A.

Entry #39255Sasha L.

Entry #4806Heather '.

Entry #15418Holly K.

Entry #12874Holly W.

Entry #43987Terri B.

 

Woman to Woman--We need each other! A Giveaway and Lots of love!

My sweet, amazing friends,

You truly amaze me! Thanks so much for responding to our new book and to the Bible study we will host together. I never thought we would find so many women responding to our message, but both Angela and I believe deep in our hearts that all women need to understand and embrace, deeply, in the core of their hearts, that they are worthy of the forever, unconditional love of their creator and Father, God.

Please read the comments from yesterday. My heart went out to each person who left a comment. So many of us live daily under the burden of difficult relationships, past hurts, inadequacy, and loneliness. I pray for each of you, that as we invest our time pondering, studying and sharing about the importance of love in our lives, and God's willingness to love us, we will truly be changed.

And even more, when I read the comments, it fills my own heart with a love for each of you and a desire to reach out in friendship to let you know how very special you are, and that you are worth being loved.

Today, Angela will be sharing about our ministries and how we hope to keep reaching out to more women who want to know God's love for them. So be sure to read about our story and ministries HERE, as this book and message are going all over the world. All of you have helped us in an opportunity where we will be spreading this message in many different languages and to help start groups all over the world. Let us know what you think about our ideas in the comments below--or just tell us your heart.

But today, I wanted to share another exciting event so many of you who read my blog. Two women from Australia came to an Intensive Leader's training at my home a couple of years ago. They went back to Australia and started A Mum Heart Ministry. They will be hosting a Mum Heart Conference. They will be hosting an encouraging weekend conference on May 24-25 in Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast to encourage! I wanted to invite all of my Australian friends to consider attending. Last year over 100 women gathered and had a wonderful time. You can read get the information HERE  Barb tells me they will have a couple of my books to giveaway to some lucky attendees! Hope many of you will be able to attend and take pictures to send back to us for my blog!

Our book sales will fund many more outreaches in other countries! I am so excited that Angela will be telling you more about it today on her blog at http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/ And you will find out about the winners of the first 30 books! Hope it is you.

I so appreciate all of you who spread the word. We are amazed at how the Lord is working to use this giveaway to draw women from all over the world--and Angela and I think you are all the bomb.com! :)

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30 Books to Give Away and a Women's Revolution!

What an amazing time we live in! Even though many dark challenges, and threatening circumstances greet us on the international news each day, as believers, we have an unprecedented opportunity to reach people all over the world with the love, truth, grace and inspiration of our wonderful God. Without even leaving my home, I am learning that God can use the messages I am learning from Him daily to bring hope to women all over the world right in their homes.

My sweet friend, Angela, and I are hoping you will help us reach more women than we could imagine with some messages that we think will be life transforming. It is not so much about the book we have written, but much more! Women gathering together in every region of the world to learn, pray, and worship together. That is what our hope is--and we need each of you to help us reach those sweet women who are praying to God for His encouragement. We can be His voice, His words of life in places beyond our imagination!

So for helping us, we have 30 more books to give away--and I will be giving away more bundles later this week, of my own books!

Angela and Me at the Mom's Conference in Dallas this year!

I love to see God arrange divine friendships and then to see His Spirit bubble up within the friendship to bring kingdom ideas to reality. I have hosted Leadership Intensives at my home the past 5 years as a way to pass on my discipleship training and messages to like-minded moms who are also leading, writing or speaking. Angela came to my home 2 different times for our summer Intensive.

We both love teaching women to study the Word of God, to know Him more personally, to help start small groups and to reach women all over the world in their own homes to be encouraged and inspired. And so, out of our late night talks and many phone calls, a book was born and hopefully a stronger movement than ever to see God's spirit bringing light and refreshment to women all over the world.

Tomorrow, Angela will tell you more about our ministries. But since we are hoping for countless thousands to join us this summer in our book club, discussion and Bible study, we are praying that many of you will help us reach your friends, neighbors, churches, small groups with this very foundational message of God's love.

If a woman truly feels and knows and lives in the unconditional, forever love of God, her relationships and her sense of well-being will give her life, strength, energy, patience and graciousness in every relationship the rest of her life. And so, even though love is often overlooked because it is such a common word, we want women to hear of and understand the uncommon love of God that changes people forever. This summer we hope many will give up the baggage they have carried for many years about inadequacy or guilt, and exchange it for a gentle and overwhelming God-love.

So, to make it possible for more sweet women to participate, I am giving away 30 more books--(15 Kindle and 15 print) for women who will help us spread the word about our book and book study! Invite your small group to join and anyone that you know needs to have a fresh dose of His encouragement!

We will tell you more about how you can join the book study in a later post, but above tells you a little about our book study. We can't wait to be with you and spend some time with you on video this summer. Blessings and blessings of His sweet love to each of you today!

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Mother's Day Extravaganza! You are my heroines! A Giveaway!

The precious ones who made me a mother. (Joel, Sarah, Joy and Nathan!)

You mamas are my heroines! You are the backbone of our culture, the angels who keep hearts inspired, the nurses who comfort all ills, the singer who fills little minds with sweet dreams, the cook who creates feasts that delight and please, the teacher who forms genius, the friend who holds all secrets. This is the week we celebrate you with lots of surprises and giveaways!

Stay tuned for more surprises tomorrow. But today, I wanted to thank you for all that you do by giving away some of my resources that I hope will encourage, inspire and help you to know how very wonderful you are to God's divine plan.

I have received so many letters about how many of you have enjoyed Desperate: Hope for the Mom who needs to Breathe! After many requests, it is finally on Audio! Sarah Mae and I both have excellent readers who sound so much like us and make the book come alive!Desperate is now on audio tape! I would love for one of you mamas to have this for yourself and to share with friends.

I have received so many emails and messages about how encouraged you have been through our e-conferences. Lots of you LOVED Sarah's inspiring message that she gave at the conferences and added to last week! We are so encouraged by your many letters! So I would like to give away 3 of these conferences to you sweet moms. This is the most recent course where Sarah and I speak about developing mental muscle in your children and shaping a story-formed child, by shaping their minds on heroes, great stories and faith strong tales that inspire.

This is the first home-education e-course we did for all mamas and filled up so quickly, we had to shut off registration. I would love to give 3 of these to you to share ideas and traditions that shape and developed our own children's lives and created self-motivation and a love for learning.

I held a giveaway for Sarah's newest book, and these are the winners:

Judith Martinez

Loren Sobaje

Melissa Rapp

Also, this week, I will be giving away my newest book, written with my wonderful friend, Angela Perrit. I believe so much in the crucial foundational importance of our message! Can't wait to tell you about it tomorrow! Read about her celebration of our book HERE and enter her very generous giveaway! Stay tuned tomorrow for all the news and more giveaways-

-to celebrate you and your wonderfulness!

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Sarah-strone! ***Almost Springtime minestrone recipe; wait or use anytime?***

There are so many times I approach the dinner time hour and think, one more time, what does everyone want to eat tonight? I try not to use the same recipes over and over again, but sometimes it is just easier not to have to think. Even though I have spring in my heart, it has still been 40's for the high this week!

So, I was thrilled when Sarah whipped this up, as it was easy, warm and so comforting--and with a green salad, a wonderful meal.

Enjoy and hope for spring--it is coming, I just know it! And for those of you who are already there, be glad!

Sarah-strone

2 Turkey sausages slice thin

I whole onion, chopped

a heaping tablespoon of garlic

1 large can (29 ounces?) tomatoes (I like the chopped)

1 full can of water--or a little more to taste

2-3 thinly sliced zucchini

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1 can beans (navy beans preferred--but we didn't have them last night so we used pinto)

1-2 teaspoons salt to taste

1 heaping tablespoon Italian seasoning

Saute sausage, onions and garlic in olive oil in a large soup pan. Add the tomatoes, water, salt and zucchini. Simmer for 20-30 minutes until the zucchini is soft. Add the beans and seasoning and salt. Simmer another little while (I think it tastes better if you just leave it on to simmer while you are doing other things--the tastes blend together better.)

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and a small dollop of sour cream on top and enjoy!

This was a great treat for us last week that Sarah made up on the spur of the moment! I had to repeat it this week to be sure I knew how! It is a real pleaser.

Home-Centered Learning Part 2 is now available for purchase, as the video has downloaded! We so enjoyed being with so many of you on Monday night. Enjoy! (Here for more information and for ordering.)

Identity Girls site launch! {Celebrity Guests & BIG Giveaways!}

{Today, my daughter-in-law, Rachael Lee Clarkson, is sharing some very exciting news about the launch of her new contributing blog for young women!}

Hollywood has been the place I call home for the past 5 years now. While I love my career as an actress and model, at the end of each night in Los Angeles "living the dream", I always felt something tugging at my heart. There was this desire for purpose in me...a desire for all of my work to actually mean something, for my life to mean something.

Living in LaLaLand, where I was constantly surrounded by unrealistic standards and photoshopped magazine models, I began to lose sight of my own value and worth. Who was I? What was my identity? Our surroundings, relationships, and experiences begin to form who we are as young women. Through the movies we watch, the books we read, and the company we keep, are we truly living out who God designed us to be?

I knew that I wasn't living out God's design, because I did not feel wonderfully made. I certainly did not feel like a valuable treasure. My heart and soul felt no strength and dignity.

God didn't call me to live in Hollywood for no reason, and I know He didn't bring me here for this hard work and struggle to amount to nothing. I used my own personal struggle as a fire to ignite the passion in me, to help other young women overcome their insecurities and step into who they were made to be.

Today is one of my favorite days ever. On this day, I am launching the Identity Girls blog...a contributing online community with the most incredible team of young women. The Identity Girls are Hollywood actresses, professional models, writers, chefs, singer/songwriters, health and wellness coaches, fashion stylists, and more who all have the desire to use their platform to inspire and encourage young women.

What makes Identity Girls unique is the fact that each young woman involved is not only successful and living out her God-given identity, but has the desire to be a role model for young women everywhere. This site will be a place where girls can come to be refreshed and do life with others who are sharing their stories, wisdom, and applicable ideas on how to become confident with the girl in the mirror. Our goal is to encourage young women to overcome insecurities and step into the life God has for them. I believe in being a well-rounded woman, which is why the team of writers is so diverse! We will have topics on recipes, fashion, decorating on a budget, health and wellness, resources, and more...all from a godly perspective. The Identity Girls believe in tackling the difficult issues, such as: anxiety, depression, body issues, deep rooted insecurities, how to have healthy boundaries, and more.

There are 20 AMAZING women on the Identity Girls team, but I am going to introduce you to 5 of the ladies on the writing team:

-Tanya Chisholm {Lead actress from Nickelodean's "Big Time Rush" and Disney's High School Musical 2.}

-Shannon Stewart Ratliff {Runner up on America's Next Top Model cycle 1, runner up in Miss Ohio USA, and a model for Sephora, Teen Vogue, Elle Girl, Allure, and many more.}

-Beverly Bautista {Professional dancer in Hollywood.}

-Rachel Zeskind {Health and Wellness Coach.}

-I am SO excited to introduce our very own Brandee Knowles who often shares her delicious recipes on I Take Joy! She will be writing our articles on food prep, cooking, and many tasty recipes so that young women feel encouraged and equipped to take on the kitchen!

Our writing team is so unique because so many different elements make up our identity! Learning how to be a well-rounded woman includes cooking, decor, fashion, beauty, health, wellness, art, and great godly wisdom. Visit the site to meet the rest of the Identity Girls! The team is so incredible, diverse, and will be able to reach so many young women!

During our launch week, we will have many celebrity guests, surprises, and BIG giveaways! You won't want to miss out on any of the excitement, so make sure you subscribe today to the Identity Girls blog. Since it is launch day, I have some exciting giveaways to share with you! All you have to do is go to the bottom of this page to find the giveaway, which will give you the instructions! Once you have subscribed to the blog, followed us on Twitter, and liked the Facebook page, you will immediately be entered in to win one of the 6 prizes below.

We are giving away 6 prizes, which means 6 ladies have the opportunity to win something fun! Enter below, and be sure to share Identity Girls with the ladies in your life.

Thank you for believing in Identity Girls, and for supporting young women everywhere as they begin the unique journey God has for them.

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Practicing a habit of Courage

Sarah and Joy, my inner circle BF's

A while back, my two girls and I were on my bed talking of dreams and adventures we hope to experience together as a family. I was covered up–my two girls were tucking me in! It was a bittersweet time for me to listen to their hearts--most of their dreams have not been fulfilled in reality, YET!

There are many dreams I have held all of my life that have not yet come true … but I still dream them. And of course, I know that some of my girls' dreams will lead them far from me. But how precious it was to hold this time close and hide it in my memory; this night when hearts are opened and deepest desires shared and we all snuggled together as I fought to keep my eyes open.

God’s will originally was that all women would have the opportunity to get married, to have children, and to do their work in harmony with their husbands–to leave a legacy of righteousness, beauty, productivity, and tradition. They were intended, through the family structure, to pass on righteousness and a loving relationship with God to every generation.

Yet my girls find themselves in a broken world where few have their values, and many children of their generation have ended up with broken hearts because their mothers lost the heart of God’s call on their lives. Every day, I pray that my girls will have the opportunity to meet godly, righteous men who have a dream of building family influence in their generation.

At the end of a conference one time, a sweet woman asked me through tears, “How long do you keep praying for some of your dreams to come true? When do you just give up and accept God’s response as ‘no’?”

Well, I can’t fully answer because I don’t know God’s will for her life. But I do feel the older I get, the more childlike I seek to be. There is a temptation to become cynical and crusty as we make our way through life. Yet, in studying verses about God’s will this year, I was impressed again to pursue child-like faith–to keep believing my God can do anything; to believe in His goodness; to believe in prayer.

So I continue sharing my own dreams with Him! I pray for miracles, and for Him to do great things in and through the lives of my children, Clay and me. I ask Him to knock down walls, to stretch our sphere of influence–because I want everyone to know how personal, responsive and gracious He is. I want to live with anticipation like a child; to not measure my life by what I can provide for myself, but by what He is able to do as I believe in Him and trust Him.

The Lord has brought me through many difficult, busy, trying seasons. When I’ve come into His presence and spent time in His word, He has been there for me. I didn’t always feel His presence, but took His word and promises at face value and rested in them, and then practiced taking steps of faith--one day, one issue at a time. Now, I can look back and see that He has used each part of the journey to shape me–my character, my love, my humility, my compassion—and taught me to rest in Him.

My heart and mind must be guarded so that I don’t spend unnecessary energy and time on worrying, but rather give everything into His hands and picture him taking and working it all out on my behalf as His daughter.

I need courage. Courage is the ability to face difficulty, danger, fear or pain without being overcome by present circumstances, but instead acting with resolve; with strength of mind and behavior. I have made a decision of my will to take courage–to practice being strong, to put one foot in front of the other, to believe in a good outcome from a Father who is good. Courage lies in believing and behaving as though God will indeed be faithful. These habits create a life of faithfulness and are the foundation of a life well-built and well-lived.

Growth in character has been the result of walking in God’s ways. He has stretched my capacity to work as well as my capacity to love, and also my ability to resist “down” feelings, to cultivate a content attitude, and to practice being joyful in front of my children and family.

 If you have the desire to go deeper in your study today, complete the reflection and application below.

• “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6.  What are you anxious about today? Make a list, and then in prayer and supplication--with thanksgiving!--make those requests known to God. Enjoy His peace!

• “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Have you embraced the simple fact that in the world tribulation will come? In what areas might you need courage?

• “… for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-14. What dreams are you holding on to? Spend some time with these verses in Philippians and see what the Lord might say to you about the reality of holding His hand tightly—and your dreams lightly.

Not-so-perfect mamas are pretty amazing! A Giveaway and an E-course

Nathan and me, at a talent competition, in Florida, when he was 18

Nathan had graduated from high school and was working at a landscaping job. My life was busy, demanding, I was tired and frazzled, in my 50's and still raising a 12 year old who was beginning to have hormones. I had two "olders" searching for themselves, with late night talks, (why does everything come out after 11 pm for older kids?) an almost full time job working side by side with Clay in our ministry and writing a daily blog and at least one book a year. But most of all I was mama.

The house was in a constant state of mess, straighten up, mess, straighten up. We ate more often on paper plates. I had to control my grumpy more often.

"Mama, I really think God wants me to go into the entertainment industry--be an actor or musician. Will you pray with me about this?"

"Mom, if an athlete trains and never gets to get into the ring, his training will be for nothing!"

Really? I thought. That is like asking to be the quarterback of the Denver Broncos or like planning to be president. It is not realistic and is it really possible to make money at such a job? And do I want my teenager in New York or Hollywood? REALLY?

But God whispered to my heart, "You need to allow him to live by faith as you have taught your children to do!"

BUT, I didn't say what I thought. I said, "You know that I will always pray with you for the things God puts on your heart." And so we prayed. and prayed. And prayed.

Then one day a radio commercial came on the Christian station and advertised a talent competition. "Mom, maybe we should go to this! Let's just see what it is about."

But I had an agenda  to accomplish and was already overwhelmed.  I got no less than 7 phone calls from friends who said, "Sally, have you heard the commercial......." And so I called, and we went to try out. Clay and I thought it must be a scam. it was expensive to fly Nathan to Florida and to stay in the hotel where he would be competing with others, and we did not have extra money that had been planned for this, but God whispered.....

"Mom, please! Please?"

And so I prayed, and prayed and God wouldn't let it go. We scrimped and saved and worked and flew there. As Nathan was competing before the judges, I sat alone in the coffee shop with Bible and journal in hand. "God, he really needs some encouragement in life, but what are we doing here? Please be with him now and help him not to get too discouraged. Please help him and give him favor. Please help me not to worry.............."

And so the beating on the doors of heaven, again, when I had no control, was a familiar place to be. God, only you can help and answer now.......

And so the process began, a mama and her "little boy become big" thousands of miles away from home, there to cheer and scream for him as he performed, and to pray and say, "You will do just fine!" when in my heart, I hoped, I wondered, then to lose more sleep, again, to pray and cheer and love and dress him well.

And that was the beginning--then there was New York City when he was 19 and then there was Hollywood when he was 21, and then.......

"Superman in a dark world to bring redemption--you know that has always been my dream.... You are the one who taught us to live by faith....."

Now, producing his first movie, Confessions of a Prodigal Son, and what next? Still on my knees, still believing in his dreams,

It is the beauty of mamas. We do it imperfectly and we sometimes stumble on the path. No mom is perfect--not even one. All of us become weary, yell at our children, do not keep a perfectly clean house, (because we have a constantly full house with people who want to eat and wear clothes on a fairly consistent basis.) We lose sleep, lose our muscle mass, lose keys, toys, receipts and library books. Sometimes we wonder if we are accomplishing anything, as we scan the horizon of our home.

Yet, mamas are truly the heroes of the world. What would a generation of kids do without that mama who believed in her child's dreams? If there were no one to dry their tears? or make birthday cakes? Or teach them how to be warriors in a very fallen and very tough world.

Would the world have heroes if mamas weren't there teaching about courage? Would marriages stay strong if mamas weren't there to train their children to love? Would faith be vibrant and strong if a mama wasn't on her knees asking for heaven to bend down and give her strength, wisdom, unconditional love and patience just one more day?

Mamas do not have to be performers, or perfect, or have a certain personality, but they have to have heart--a heart for Jesus, a heart for her very own children, a heart for righteousness and for the destiny of the next generation. And the heart is what drives the work--to keep going, to keep loving, teaching, encouraging, listening, one day of patience after the other and another.

Today, no matter where you are, no matter what circumstances, your sweet children are just waiting and hoping that they will see what it looks like to be a hero by watching the one who is living right in front of them in their very own home. You are God's best idea of bringing life and beauty, of being a gatekeeper for a pure heart of your sweet ones, of building character muscle and teaching them how to celebrate life. You are truly Amazing.

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Tonight, (Monday night) Sarah and I will be hosting a live e-conference and I hope many of you will join us. It is the last one I plan to do for a while, as i am pulling back to breathe and focus on the heart of God's plans for me in the next year. I need to fill my heart, celebrate my own family, and be fully engaged in life here so I can have strength and wisdom to give out in a new season of giving out. 

Teens--some ideas of what to do! How did my children learn to do so well in college? How to get scholarships? How to be initiators and engaged in their lives, character and education instead of being passive in life--how to develop a love for learning.

Our hearts are filled with inspiration, ideas, challenges and practical information for you. I will address some issues of foundations for home and for children so that they will be able to learn and grow strong mentally, academically, and in initiative and character. Mental muscles, my daily schedule with my children and everything I can fit into a 45 minute talk. 

Sarah, by the request of many at our conferences, will be speaking about why is it important to fill your children's minds with beauty, inspiration and truth so that they will draw on it in years to come--and they will remember what the heroes did. (What place imagination, moral training, and discipline plays in this role.)

Please help me by sharing about this conference on fb, twitter, and to your support groups, as I am not great at marketing, but want to help so many moms out there who need to be encouraged. Thanks for taking the time to help!

TONIGHT: 7:00 MOUNTAIN, 8 CENTRAL, 9 EASTERN, (6 MOUNTAIN)

WHEN YOU SIGN UP, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN OUTLINE AND A SOME BOOK LISTS, AND A CONNECTION TO THE PLACE WE WILL BE SPEAKING. WE HAVE BACK-UPS THIS TIME SO THAT IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, WE WILL GET A GREAT TAPE!

YOU CAN WATCH THIS LATER AFTER THE LIVE CONFERENCE IS RECORDED, BUT THE PRICE WILL INCREASE. If we reach our maximum, you can buy it after tomorrow on my blog.

WE WILL HOST A live QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME FOR 30 MINUTES FOLLOWING FROM SARAH AND ME FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PICK OUR BRAINS! REGISTER HERE.

THANKS FOR SHARING AND FOR BEING A PART OF ITAKEJOY.COM! You are partners with me in a ministry to mamas and to generations to come. a Rafflecopter giveaway