Designed to be builders

First of all, I was truly deeply touched by the amazing, generous comments I received from so many of you here on my blog, through facebook and by email. I was encouraged so much in my heart to know that my desire to encourage and inspire through out ministry over the years, has indeed been of some use. Thanks for all of you who took the time to write. I have been making a plan this week of what I will do in the future and have taken your input to heart. You can hear more about it on the Youtube video below: My plan for the blog and webinars and books!

Building is intrinsic to you as a Mother!

"A Wise woman builds her house."

Proverbs 14:1

I love walking the streets in the neighborhoods of old homes. Every Saturday for 8 years found Sarah and I having breakfast and then walking the streets around our turn of the century homes in Colorado Springs. It is also why I love Asheville, NC. All the homes are a little bit unique, different colors of paint, some have turrets, most have porches, but all planned to hold big families-the place to celebrate life together.

Each home came to life from a design created in the mind of the architect, the one who crafted kitchens, parlors, bedrooms, libraries, gardens and all that went into making the home unique. The more thought given to the plan, the more beautiful the home. Home building requires time, thought and lots of hard work. But the result is a great work of beauty and functionality. A great structure never just accidentally comes into being. It is as a result of planning, creating, gathering tools and building materials, and then the hard work of construction, brick by brick, paint in each room, and all that it takes to make a home function.

God designed you to be a builder of a home. But in this case, the home described in Proverbs refers more to a long term heritage, or building a family story--a history of righteousness. A wise woman builds her family, gives life to descendants ahead through her faith and good works, creates a story worth telling for generations to come. To build a godly heritage, a reputation of a community of believers who would live intentionally, morally, faithfully to bring a legacy to each generation is what is implied throughout scripture in home building. Home building is a glory of a godly woman and a capacity God has granted each woman who learns to walk in His wisdom and skill. Yet, homebuilding for a mom is a long term work of construction that takes endless years of work, devotion, and intentionality.

To shape a story, and to build a family happens through the formation of the children of a family: to shape the  souls of children with all that is excellent, to fill their minds with truth, to inspire their hearts with the purposes of God, to give them a "taste" of God's goodness and beauty---each of these elements of home building requires planning and intentionality.

Building this specifically requires intentionality, planning, and then long term implementing what you have envisioned.

September is a time of beginning a new school year--whether you homeschool, public school or private school your children. This is the time to plan how you will build this year.

Soul building:

What character qualities do your children need for you to help cultivate in their souls this year? How will you build a legacy of great faith stories into the days of your time with your children so they can have pictures of faith to inspire them as they grow older? How will you help your child learn to grow in serving others and cultivating a heart for the world? What can you do to help your child learn to have compassion on those less fortunate?

Faith:

What passages of scripture will you memorize as a family this year? What books in the Bible will you study? What stories do you want your children to know and understand from scripture? From the biographies of other heroes of faith? How will you implement music and worship songs into the minds and hearts of your children? How will you place prayer as a way of life into your days?

Relational building:

What does each child need to suit his or her personality to know your love intimately? Do they need individual time and attention? Words of encouragement? Unconditional love and forgiveness? Serving their felt needs? How will you build a foundation of security and unconditional love so that they will have reason to know and understand God's love?

Memory building:

What rhythms of life do you need to work on so that your children will have a sense of security and comfort in the walls of your home? Regular bedtime routines? Devotionals? Reading times? Time to play outdoors? Meals together?

Educational?

What areas do you want your children to stretch in this year? Reading? Skills in practicing an instrument? Thinking skills? Writing? Communications? Science and nature? The Arts? Plan specifically what you will do to implement building these capacities into your daily schedule.

Be sure to take time to envision what you are really hoping to build in and through your home this year. Make a very detailed plan about how you will accomplish this, so that distractions will not get in your way and draw you away from your ideals.

In the days ahead on mentoring Mondays, I will be writing about what it looks like to lay the right kind of foundations in the hearts and souls of your children so that they can have moral strength, emotional health and spiritual vibrancy.

What are the hardest or best areas for you in building a godly legacy and a strong community of believers in your own home?

God is with us, now!

This was my pondering today, in my quiet time!

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

3Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

Psalm 46

The Type-B Homeschool Planner Giveaway!

“I LOVE this planner. I think it would be great for non-homeschooling families as well.”

Leanne Eldridge

You all know that I absolutely adore Sarah Mae. When she calls me on the phone, my kids say, "It must be Sarah Mae cause mom is using her happy-friend voice. So fun to see this new planner for what I describe the more creative, out of the box types who want a little wiggle room and fun in their homeschool, but still plan. So glad to be sharing her newest book with all of you! Thanks for the giveaway, SM!

Sarah Mae writes:

Perhaps you're familiar with the U2 song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"?

Well, that has been me when it comes to planners, specifically, homeschool planners.

 I hadn't found what I was looking for, what I really wanted in a planner.

The planners out there are great, but there not great for me. I need guidance. I need examples. I need…TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

Here’s the catch: I like picking and choosing from different curriculum; I don’t use a one-stop shop. Therefore, I need to plan. And also? I don’t want to just plan for education, I want to plan for discipleship.

So, I decided to make my own planner.

I made a planner for us Type-B women. You know the ones: non-detailed, not-super organized, great-at-vision-terrible-at-lesson-planning kind of gals? That's me. You too? Then friend, I might have just what you've been looking for.

The Type-B Homeschool Planner

What is the Type-B Homeschool Planner?

It's the planner for the rest of us, the Type-B moms who love our kiddos but who struggle with details, get overwhelmed with lesson-planning, and are generally laid back but know we need to get our ducks in a row if we’re going to homeschool well.

Features:

• 14-day guide to getting homeschool ready (includes how to lesson-plan without breaking a sweat!)
• Spiral bound, physical book
• 233 pages 8.5 x 11 inches
• Full-year of monthly calendar pages (July 2014-June 2015)
• Full-year of daily calendar pages (July 2014-June 2015)
• Planning pages for up to five children
• Planning pages with question prompts to help you plan
• Words of wisdom on how to homeschool multiple children Wisdom from seasoned homeschool parents
• Encouragement from homeschool graduates

You can peek at the inside of the planner here, check out a some sample page here, and see what people are saying about it here.

“I got mine and I am LOVING it! The planning pages are so good and have started some great conversations for my husband and I. 
Thank you, Sarah Mae!”

Pamela Lowe

Giveaway!

In honor of the launch of the amazing new website, Storyformed, today you have the chance to win the paperback version of the Type-B Homeschool Planner! I am giving away TWO copies, so there will be two winners! WOOT!

Just fill out the form below! Good "luck"! :) a Rafflecopter giveaway If you don't want to wait, you can purchase the paperback planner HERE or get the PDF for 50% off by going HERE and using code: SALLY.

When you purchase the paperback, you get the PDF version for FREE! Just email sarahmaewrites (at) gmail.com with your name to get it!

Here's to a great school year!

Love, Sarah Mae

Slugs and Bugs and a singing giveaway!

 

Last weekend, Clay and I had the privilege of hosting Randall Goodgame for a special concert at our church. But the real fun of the weekend was talking and sharing stories until midnight. It is always such a blessing to meet kindred spirits who share our heart for ministry. His music is wonderful and memorable and will stay in your children's hearts.

Saturday night with Slugs and Bugs--Clay, Randall and me!

Randall wanted to share some of his own thoughts about the power of music in children's lives. Here it is!

Music is mysterious. There’s something about music that impacts our ability to remember. And few things are as important to remember as God’s Word.

Sing the Bible with Slugs & Bugs was inspired by that very purpose. With the help of friends like The African Children’s Choir, Sally Lloyd-Jones, Frankenstein, Dracula,and The Wolfman, :-) Sing the Bibleaims to make scripture memorization so lovely and enjoyable that you don’t even realize you’re learning (63 verses and all the books of the Old and New Testaments!).

It all started with my own kids. I wanted them to memorize more Scripture, and I realized I couldn't remember much either! I crafted a few songs with simple melodies and instantly the magic took hold of all of us. Then, when I visited Uganda in 2012, the simple but infectiously singable melodies sung by my young Ugandan friends inspired a flood of new songs. Before long my family and I had memorized over 50 verses!

Of course, memorization is only the first step. In the end, we want to be transformed by the Word. But if we do have it memorized, we can trust the Holy Spirit to bring the words to mind when we need them.

I’m so grateful to Sally for including Slugs & Bugs in their big website launch week!  (Looks awesome, Sally!) And thank you, dear readers, for embracing the introduction. It’s an honor to be among you!

Randall has generously provided us with 6 albums for us to giveaway for all of you who come to this blog. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter and tell your friends about this fun giveaway!

Everyone  gets a free coloring book by signing up HERE

Here are some great places to keep up with Slugs and Bugs!

Slugs & Bugs website: www.slugsandbugs.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slugsandbugs

Twitter: @slugsandbugs

Blog: http://slugsandbugsandlullabies.wordpress.com/

You will want to have them for a concert in your area--our families were thrilled!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Remember to  to join Sarah today at the 3rd day of Storyformed launch!

Storyformed Launch – Day Three!

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The winners for Joel's music giveaway have been announced! All winners have been emailed with further instructions. Thanks everyone!

If you haven't already picked up your Joel Clarkson music, you can do so by clicking the links below!

To buy Joel's CDs, CLICK HERE

To buy Joel's new book of sheet music, CLICK HERE

Joel Clarkson Music Giveaway—CDs and Sheet Music!

I am SO excited for today’s giveaway! Many of you have been blessed by the beautiful piano music of my son, Joel. He has released four albums and has performed his wonderful music at our conferences every year. For many years, so many of you have written me requesting that Joel release a book of his sheet music for you and your children to learn and perform. I am thrilled to announce that Joel has just released his first book of sheet music! It is the full collection of sheet music from his second album, “A Thousand Dreams in One Life”. We will be giving away three of Joel’s new PDF printable books of sheet music (PURCHASE BY CLICKING HERE), and three of Joel’s mp3 albums (PURCHASE BY CLICKING HERE), exciting original piano instrumental recordings. Before that, however, I asked Joel to share about his music and this new project:

 Joel, you have been writing and producing your lovely piano albums for many years now. What made you decide to produce this sheet music?

Since I came out with my first album in 2009, “The Night As Bright As Day”, I have been so blessed to share my piano compositions with so many people. I have often had moms come up and tell me that my music plays a vital part in their day-to-day world. Many moms use my music as background accompaniment to homeschooling and reading, others have shared that they use it to relax in the midst of busyness. Many people have shared with me how they use it to help their little ones go to sleep at night!

I have always felt grateful that my music has blessed so many families in those ways and others, and I have wanted to find a way to make that experience even more collaborative. I know so many families out there are sending their kiddos to piano lessons, and I have been approached countless times by people asking me to release the sheet music for my albums. The timing has finally worked out for me to prepare this music, and I am excited that many other people will now be able to be even more immersed in my compositions!

What place did music play in your own education as a child?

I think I was probably singing before I was speaking! Music was always integral to our world at home. From a very young age, we had music constantly as a backdrop to our daily lives; listening in wonder to Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” concerto is one of my earliest distinct memories. We listened to background music while homeschooling in the morning. We danced to fun upbeat music in the afternoon (probably to help get our energy out!). We had classical music at dinnertime. And we had soft, comforting music as a backdrop when we went to bed at night. That immersion in the world of great music, even before playing an instrument or understanding music theory, created a love deep in my heart for music.

Because of moving many times, I was never fully classically-trained in piano, my main instrument. However, because we had so much music in our house, and because we were encouraged to sing often and perform music, I developed a fantastic ear for listening and repeating. I learned to hear something and then sit down at the piano and repeat it. Having music as such a constant, vital rhythm of our daily lives was one of the finest gifts I could have asked for as preparation for becoming a composer.

Listen to one of Joel's beautiful songs off of his second album below!

https://soundcloud.com/joelclarkson/walking-in-knightwood-from-the-album-a-thousand-dreams-in-one-life

For the past few years, you have been composing and orchestrating music. What does that mean?

Being a composer simply means that I write music. A composer can write music of almost any genre—and oftentimes when I work for other people I am asked to write in wildly differing styles! Composers learn and grow the most by emulating other great composers—Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Bach—I often study their writing to learn how to write my own. As a composer, I write for many different reasons. Sometimes I am writing for myself, which means that I have a theme that is important to me and I work on it as a personal project that I hope will eventually get performed. More often, I am asked to collaborate with others. My main work in the past couple of years has been as a composer for film. When I am asked to work on a film, I collaborate with the director and producers of the film to write a “score”—the entire music for a film, which people often hear when they listen to a movie soundtrack—which is synchronized with the film for dramatic effect. When I do that kind of work, I am deferring my opinions so that I can help support the vision of the film. Sometimes, the best kind of film music is the music that we don’t notice, but it evokes deep emotional responses in us in relation to a movie.

When I work as an “orchestrator”, that means I am assisting another composer. My job as an orchestrator is to help their music sound bigger, richer, and to help the music be more effective for the purpose to which it is intended. Instead of writing music, I am “enhancing” the music—adding instruments, enriching the harmony—I help construct the walls and roof for the frame of a musical house.

(Above: Joel conducts for a recording session, in Tijuana, Mexico)

What suggestions do you have for parents to encourage a love of music in the home?

Immersion, immersion, immersion. There is no replacement for having music as an important daily rhythm. Your children must learn to love music before they can want to perform music or learn an instrument. I would suggest starting with the best classical composers—Beethoven, Bach, Schubert, Mozart, Haydn, Brahms, Chopin—there are countless others I could mention but that’s a great start. If you have music of your own that you love, whether popular music, worship music, or anything else, your children will learn to love music because they see you loving it first!

Once your children have that love for music, then they will be more prepared to start learning the difficult task of performing music on an instrument. Learning an instrument is a challenging, long-term journey for anyone, and if your kids already love music without even trying, it will make it easier for them to learn an instrument when they do have to “try”.

Kids are imitators in the best way. They learn by copying the adults they respect in their lives, especially their parents. If they see you loving music and reveling in it, they will learn to do the same! The best advice I can give is to show your children the importance and beauty of music by example.

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As mentioned before, we are giving away three of Joel’s new PDF books of sheet music and three of his mp3 albums. Make sure to enter right away, as this Raffle Copter will only last 24 hours!

If you haven’t already, go right away to “Like” Joel’s Facebook page (CLICK HERE to visit Joel’s page). That is where Joel regularly updates his fans.

To buy Joel’s new book of sheet music, CLICK HERE!

To buy Joel’s albums, CLICK HERE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget Storyformed launch! Another fun day at: http://storyformed.com/storyformed-launch-day-two/

Storyformed Launch Celebration! A grand giveaway and great inspiration!

As I mentioned yesterday, I am having lots of fun this week with giveaways and inspiration! So excited that Sarah has been involved in speaking and delighting women at our conferences about helping your children love reading, and how important stories are to inspire children to want to be heroes in their generation. Be sure to share with all of your friends about our news and giveaways. I wish I could win! :) From Sarah:

I am so delighted to announce the launch of Storyformed.com, and the release of my new book, Caught Up in a Story! I'm hosting a three-day celebration over at Storyformed.com and would love it if you would join me here at my mom's site (take a look at the giveaways below), or over at Storyformed and take part in the celebration and fun.

Buy Sarah's new book, Storyformed, by clicking HERE!

This website and book have been over a year in the making, but about a decade in the dreaming.

The concept of the Storyformed project has been simmering for years in the back of my mind, but a few radical decisions and plot twists in the story of my life last year opened up a space of time in which I could actually work to realize my vision. I want to briefly sketch the story for you here so that I can introduce this website and book as what I hope they will be: a gift.

About ten years ago, after reading the startling NEA report, Reading at Risk, I began to independently study the realm of children's literature, reading, and imagination. Having grown up in a home crammed with books, rich in story, I was startled to discover the decline of reading, the loss of vocabulary, and the loss of imagination in our culture as people moved away from a value for literature and toward a regular use of technological media. The more I studied, the more I grasped the vital educational gifts of reading - vocabulary, independent thought, imagination - and the more passionate I became to help parents understand how much their children needed simply to read, read, read!

But it was when I sat down to compile my favorite titles for Read for the Heart (my guide to children's literature), that the concept for Storyformed.com was truly born. As I paged through the picture books and children's classics that companioned the quiet hours of my childhood, I realized how richly the vivid characters and richly imagined worlds of those stories had outfitted my mind, formed my sense of self, and shaped my vision. Further, I realized that those books had been the gift of my parents. I understood that a home crammed with bookshelves, with hours spent reading, and evenings with stories shared was something my parents had specifically chosen. They understood the impact that a great story could have on the identity and imagination of a young girl. They knew that great stories could help me imagine how to live a great story myself.

My storyformed childhood was a gift, one that has enriched and shaped me into the woman I am today. And its a gift I want to give again by helping parents provide their own children with the marvel of a storyformed life. The goal of storyformed.com is to help parents and educators find the best books for their kids. And the goal of Caught Up in a Story is to help them catch a vision for how to create a storyformed life. I'm stocking the website library with reviews, creating booklists, and most of all, publishing a series of family-friendly stories to share. I've designed the website with families in mind. I hope it will be a resource, a delight, and a place of fellowship for all who visit.

So please, join me.

Visit today and then check back often as the reading adventure continues. To see this website and this book on the power of story come to completion, and to have the delight of finally sharing it all with you, is a triumph and a gift to me. Thank you so, so much for joining me!

You find Caught Up in a Story over HERE at Amazon

It's finally available! Hot off the press.

Also, both here and at storyformed.com, we'll be giving away three copies of Caught Up in a Story each day. We'll be giving away some beautiful pieces of artwork and jewelry provided by friends of the Storyformed project. I'm so delighted by these lovely gifts that I'm almost lost for words.

Today, we'll begin with a giveaway of two handmade necklaces crafted by the lovely Susie at Charms and Blessings. Here's her description of these whimsical pieces:

Words to live by: Read, Dream, Imagine. These three words are hand stamped on a heavy 18 gauge, one inch beaded pewter disc (or, for the second, three hand-stamped silver bars)~ accented with a wire wrapped pearl. The natural properties of pewter give this necklace a beautiful antique finish. Hung on a sterling silver chain of your choice.

Just take a look:

Beautiful, eh? Sign up below for the giveaway of these lovely necklaces and today's copies of Caught Up in a Story.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

But wait! For the next three days, I will keep open a drawing for the grand prize giveaway of the Storyformed Launch: a mini library of ten books hand selected and packaged with a card from your resident "Story Girl," Sarah. The giveaway will run all three days, so enter multiple times in the box below (you can find it in each day's post) or the sidebar to the right (on the Storyformed Blog page).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And if you are new to the whole Storyformed.com venture, just go here to the About page to read a bit more of what's going on at the website and be directed to the Library  and Book Lists.

No matter what, I hope you will come for a ramble round the Storyformed website. It's the next best thing to a visit in the library of a kindred spirit. If I could figure out how to offer a virtual cup of tea, I would. But stories, inspiration, reviews, resources, and constant reading encouragement... that I can offer aplenty!

Welcome to Sally Clarkson.com! Let me know what you think!

 He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Psalm 23: 3

I'm so happy you joined me at my new blog site. The winds of change have been blowing through my life, and consequently, I have been pondering how I can simplify my life. The pace seems faster than ever and yet I really believe God is whispering for me to slow down. I am not sure exactly what my path will look like in the days ahead, but I know that if I allow Him to lead me, He will lead me in the right paths and it will be filled with His goodness.

Why the change of name from Itakejoy to Sally Clarkson? Because my books, e-conferences, facebook page, twitter, articles all have Sally Clarkson on them, people have written to me many times saying, "I would never have found you by searching for joy because I didn't know what the name of your blog was!" And so this is a way to simplify--to have everything coming to my name. You can find all the many blog posts from years gone by on the tab above, so everything is still there. Only my sweet fellow writers' blogs have moved, but you can find them at our ministry website at www.wholeheart.org

(If you have signed up to receive itakejoy in your email inbox, you will still receive all of my blog posts there!)

I am still pondering how best to invest my life in the years ahead. These are some of the commitments I want to pursue:

*To have time to be more personal and present in loving people well, to focus on real relationships that God has placed in my path, and to support my sweet children and family with all of my energy and heart

*To free up some of my brain space that is currently filled with deadlines and duties to be able to be still with God more often, to pray more, to listen to Him more.

*To notice the immediate, present joyful moments of the daily miracles--a sunset, a flower in a vase, a song, a smile, the face of my sweet ones.

*To cook real food and serve many at my table so that they can find sanctuary in my home and in my presence

*To have time to read real books and less social media

*To enjoy my home, my life, the days God has given me with as much peace and joy as is possible--and to be able to rejoice in each day

*To be filled in my heart, mind and soul instead of feeling drained too often

And so I am seeking to simplify. I may not write here as often, but I hope when I write it will be poignant and thoughtful.

You can help me, please.

As I have pondered how to focus more on my priorities, I have been praying about what to cut back--

It seems I can't keep up all the ministry projects I have been pursuing the past few years and still have a still centered life.

So, what do you think is the most valuable tool to help encourage sweet mamas? What do you find most helpful?

Writing books to inspire?

Writing blogs to encourage?

Hosting Mom Heart conferences?

Hosting e-conferences, video conferences?

Having Leadership Intensive Trainings in my home so that I can more deeply encourage just a few?

I will be cutting back on some things so I can focus on just a few things--your input would be most appreciated.

This week, to celebrate my new site, I will be hosting some fun giveaways every day, so tell your friends to be sure to join me here.

I am excited about ideas that are developing inside. Meanwhile, I pray God will encourage you to enjoy and cultivate your wonderful home--that place where His life dwells and where your children are soaking up your love.

The Greatest Adventure

"Our children's hearts long to be a part of a great cause. Training our children for ministry is at the center of everything we are attempting to do in their lives. Serving God is not about knowing all the right rules and keeping them; it is about cultivating compassion in the hearts of our children for a lost world and showing them how they can practically be a part of His plans to reach the world." -The Mom Walk

This year, my 25 year old son, Nathan, got married, had his first feature film picked up, and just finished shooting a Sci-Fi film adventure in Canada! Living in Hollywood, his heart has been drawn to bring light to LA, the place where many of the messages of our world are crafted and promoted. Today, Nathan is sharing some of his thoughts about how God created us for an amazing, imaginative journey. Enjoy reading his message below!

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Growing up, I would often hear a couple of titles constantly ascribed to me; things like “out of the box” and “imaginative” (most likely synonyms for “a handful”). But what they ultimately meant was, I had a curiosity for life, and a wonder that reached beyond the mundane of the every day. Very little interested me more than stories, which naturally lent itself to me spending hours inside my own mind wandering the fantastic lands I would hear of in books, fighting the battles I would see in movies, and taking on the image of leading a life within a story of epic proportions. The books, films and games I would find myself caught up in, each told a story of a place more beautiful, epic, and grandiose than my reality in the moment. Filled with thought, beauty and whimsy, they invited me into the magical tales they were weaving in my heart.

So now fast-forward fifteen years as my newly found adventure-partner (wife), and I, climb into our ship (car) and head to something magical called Wonder-con. I had always wanted to go, but had never been able to for various reasons such as time, money, schedule, and other such limitations. As we landed in the land of Wonder-con (Orange County) and began to walk into the Wonder-con stronghold (convention center), I could feel the boy within me begin to fill with the magical excitement of entering a beautiful and epic story.

Wonder-Con is a convention held every year where thousands upon thousands of fantasy, sci-fi, superhero and all-around story lovers- convene to hear, see, taste, and touch the newest and most beautiful stories being told.

It is a place where you can walk booth to booth, doing things like picking up swords, previewing a new video-game, and my favorite, seeing up-close the beautiful works of original art and meeting the artists who brought them to life.

All of this, not to mention getting to witness the countless heroes passing by  (people who dress up as their favorite characters) dressed in their handmade, intricate and beautiful costumes. How intriguing to walk by a Storm Trooper, Aragorn, a Transformer, or even Superman as we walked through the hall. It’s a place where people have discovered and loosed the gift of their imagination upon the world. A place where people have realized the power of story and let its beauty effect, transform and invite us into a world beyond ours.

So naturally, as I walked past the miles of food-trucks closer to the convention center, my anticipation only rose. That was until we came upon the doors to the convention center. It was there I saw something that squelched my excitement.

There, in front of us and the thousands of excited story-lovers, were a group of men and women dressed in khaki slacks, tucked in white shirts, a countenance of mild disdain on their face, and large black and yellow signs in their hands that read “Sin brings God’s wrath” and “After death, the judgement” and the one that caused my heart to sink the most “Repent! and believe in Jesus.”

Now at this point you might ask what it was that made me so upset upon seeing these devout followers. After all I love Jesus with my whole heart, and I do think we (all) should repent and believe in Jesus. But it was less the words on the signs that bothered me, and more the context and way they were being thrown at people.

Hear me out… Here you have thousands of people, each person loves story, art, beauty, and imagination. All at the same place to give to and draw from the beautiful energy that each of these aspects can bring. And as they walk into something so beautiful, they are immediately confronted words representing Jesus, in a, guilt producing, fear inducing, people separating, coldly uniform way, and ultimately ugly way.

I don’t know about you, but this deeply bothered me. It bothered me because the “truth” they were espousing about my Jesus was the opposite of the message he gave his life to tell.

The Jesus I know is the teller of stories and the dreamer of dreams. He is the Jesus that told us of a beautiful land for which we were destined and that should we follow Him to that Kingdom. This land left John desperate for words beautiful enough to describe this place after seeing only a glimpse of it.

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb  through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river,the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."

(Revelation 22:1-5)

The Jesus I know, is the artist who, every night paints the sky with the very colors He imagined into life. He is the Jesus that hand crafted all of nature with it’s intricate beauty in flowers, trees, animals, mountains, crystals, eyes, storms, water, and all living things.

(Psalms 19)

The Jesus I know, is the master story-teller who invites us into a new narrative of life, adventure and overcoming. He is the Jesus that’s helps us and gives us the chance to tell a more beautiful story than we ever could on our own.

(Ephesians 2:10)

So when I saw those people there, standing back to the the convention, yelling, judging and condemning… My heart sank because I so desperately wanted everyone there, to know the Jesus I know.

I couldn’t help but see of the irony of a group so desperately trying to get the most creative people in the world to respond to Jesus, in perhaps the most uncreative way possible.

But it got me thinking… What would happen if: When we begin talking to the people who best love stories, beauty and imagination… We, instead of communicating fear and guilt, we start introducing them to the author, artist, and dreamer, of story, beauty and imagination? I don’t know, but I would be willing to guess, that maybe, just maybe some of these story/art/beauty lovers might actually want to know the creator of story/art/beauty.

So, today if you do know God, and want to share him with the world, perhaps start by showing the beauty of the God we follow.

And if you DON’T know Jesus, know this: God is the original storyteller, master artist, and the one who perfectly designed you with the desire to share in his pleasure. And he wants YOU- NO MATTER who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done to join in the story of EPIC proportions He is telling.

-Nathan

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***If you have the desire to go deeper in your quiet time today, take a moment to complete the reflection and application below:

-How can you inspire greater purpose in the hearts of your children today? Remind your children that they are a part of God's grand adventure. -What could you do today to ignite creativity and imagination in the minds of your family? -Stories are powerful. Read heroic, epic stories to your children...stories of heroes, beauty, and big dreams.

My Tiny Part Makes a big difference

The Girls, Joy, Sally, Sarah, Rachael

"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."

Tomorrow, Joy is off to Oxford, and once again, we are washing clothes, packing, giving last advice, having one last dinner of favorite food, and praying amidst the hearts that always dread the parting.

Yet, from the beginning, I knew clearly that God wanted me to send my sweet ones into the world to play their part in Christ's kingdom work. But, we also all believe that family, marriage, mothering and fathering are the anchor. As a mom, I saw my role as one in which I would inspire my precious children to love Him and to serve Him as the most important work I would do in my home.

Though I am just a tiny part of the influences in the lives of my children, my part makes a big difference in their faith and perspective of the world when purposefully pursued.

God has indeed taken our children to the far ends of the earth in their desire to love and serve Him, but one of the commitments Clay and I made was to bring them all together 3 times a year to build memories, to continue to grow the foundations of our love and friendship and to remind them of our part in His story.

Earlier this summer, we gathered the kids on a date all could come to remind them or the invisible strings of faith and love that ties each of us together.  The rituals have all become familiar and are mostly the same after all these years.

After a whole package of bacon, a loaf of homemade bread toasted and swimming in bubbling butter, scrambling cheese eggs and pouring countless cups of tea and coffee, I gathered my 5 children into the living room together, for one more moment to point all of them, at one time, to Him--the one who is my life and strength.

When they are all over the world--Oxford, Hollywood, Boston, New York City, Mexico, Colorado Springs, Etc, I often wonder, while on my knees, "Are they still walking with God? Are they being influenced by the world? Are their hearts loyal?" It is such a hard world they live in.

I do not always like what I have to walk through. I am Pollyanna and want life to be easy, neat, clean with no issues--(I always wanted an Ann of Green Gables neighborhood with them living close.)

but my life has never been that way, and I still have to walk through the messes and stresses that each day and each child brings.

But as their mom, they look to me to see how I am walking through them and what choices I make, a moment at a time, to live in faith amidst it all.

But in the four days when are together, I must steal this moment, one more time to be intentional, to point them to the One who is truth. I do what we did every day for years and years and take them with me before the throne of God and look into the heart of God and into His word.

And so I begin, "I know you have heard all of this before. But I have only this morning, while all of you are home together, to share my heart with you and to pray for you."

It is a rare moment for me--to have a 30 year old, 27, 25, 23 and 19 all in one room, all sipping, munching and together--wondering--did the work of my life take root. Is this motley crew, this group called Clarkson, attuned to what we have always held fast to--together, one day at a time.

But, this intention to not waste the opportunity to one more time document the eternal One who holds our lives, is the focus and strength of all that I am as a mother.

And so I ask, "What is the anchor, the verse, the foundational focus of your life right now? What is giving you strength to hold fast to the ideals we have always cherished in our home?"

And then, all five, in the midst of chatter, antics, even still the wiggling like they did when they were little, pour out their hearts honestly, naturally, comfortable still with our habit of gathering to talk about what really matters--

and the comfort and miracle for me is that each one is holding fast to the Word of God.

The boys--Clay, Joel, Nathan

Nate--"Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend--it is my model, my goal, to lay down my life and serve."

Joel, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Sarah, "Ephesians 1, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of your calling, ....."

Joy, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God, ....., and the heroes of faith who followed hard after Him."

Rachael, "Nothing can separate me from the love of God." Romans 8

And so I sit here, in my small room, exhausted from making all the meals, the dishwasher that decided to break just before they all got home making my burden a little more, putting up with the stress of 5 young adults straining towards life with differing personalities, always issues of finances, health, love interests, life decisions--honestly it all wears me out and I feel so small and inadequate at times.

But in my living room, this weekend, amidst all the messes of our lives, I saw eternity in their hearts, faith that informs and leads and gives strength and the God who is leading them all. There was a miracle in this quiet moment, unobserved by the world, but celebrated in heaven,

5 children seeking on their own, to follow hard after Him--that is the miracle I have always hoped for and here amidst jammies and tossled hair, I saw the hand of God.

"With God, all things are possible."

It is all too much for me to handle or control because at times, my heart is faint and my faith challenged, knowing I do not hold all the answers

--but in His hands, and by His faithfulness, somehow they were all listening, they all took heart nad believed, and I know as they all go back to their arenas and lives today, God will already be with them, ahead of me and waiting for them, and ready to show His faithfulness.

There is an illusion out there that some women have it all together--but really, it is only women who trust God to have it all together, that will ever have the hope that their labor of love will ever amount to anything--

Nothing is impossible for Him.

I am not and have never been up to the task, as I fail and fall short every day--but the miracle is that he took my paltry offerings, my little basket of fish and loaf faith, and made it, in His hands, enough,

So today, this early morning, as I prepare to send the first two away at the airport, I again come, begging before the throne of grace,

"Please, Father, you keep them. You hold them. You lead their hearts back to you every day--and unless you provide for them--they will have no hope. But I know that you are the one who provides and so I leave it all in your hands."

And now, I again move slowly to the tea kettle and toaster to send them off with all the love I can muster, but with the knowledge that I have never been enough, but He is always enough and in Him, I rest it all and wait to see, one more time what He will do.

Never, not one day in my whole life have all of my ducks been in a row. But one more time, I see that He is the one who holds it together and who makes it work, and one more day, my life will move on in His strength and in His abundant faithfulness.

"My grace is sufficient for you. My power is perfected in your weakness."

My squirrelly, fun, always adventuring children.

Choosing Courage in Fearful Times (Mentoring Mondays coming back!)

COURAGE

CHOOSING TO BE BRAVE DURING FEARFUL TIMES,

BRINGING HIS LIGHT INTO DARK TIMES.

Fear has been a threat to people over all of history. This week as Joy is preparing for her semester at Oxford, several people have sent her articles about ISIS and the increased danger of terrorism in England. We have had to talk through the issues and reality of living in a fallen world. We all have to make decisions for our lives based on wisdom and discretion. Yet, God has opened amazing doors for Joy to study in Oxford. He has ordained this path for her to take. She feels called to the studies she has been led to pursue, and so she is taking firm steps of faith to prepare herself spiritually, emotionally and mentally to go to England this week, and to cultivate a heart of trust in her companion God.

All of us have choices of how we will face our circumstances--the days in which God ordained that we would live. Our only choice as believers, is to hold His hand to believe in His reality and to walk our days by faith, and to seek to choose courage.

And so we are arming Joy with courage, faith, strength and wisdom as she prepares to walk the road God has set before her. None of us have control over all of the circumstances of our lives, but we do have the choice to hold God's hand and allow Him to companion us well through the days of our lives.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

JOSHUA 1:9

Moms have the unique opportunity in this time, to model to their children what faith looks like in the face of fear. We show by the way we live what it looks like to seize this moment that God has ordained for us to live in, to praise Him, trust Him as the one who holds control over the universe, and the one who will reign forever.

Today is the day for courage.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you have tribulation, but TAKE COURAGE! I have overcome the world!

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS! John 16:33

Five Things to do to help you and your family.

1. Write out Joshua 1: 9 on a small poster board or white board and memorize this verse this week as a family.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

2. Don't watch the news with your children in the room. Images create fear and are difficult to take away from the brain.

3. Stop looking at the feed on facebook that has articles that are fear oriented. Whatever you water will grow. If you feed your mind on images, newscasts, terrible happenings in the world, the natural consequence is that you will grow more fearful. I quit watching and listening to the world news, (except for the exceptional times when it involved my family directly.) about 20 years ago. I rarely watch images of violence, war, cruelty, as I know that for me to be a steward of my mind is to stay away from things that bring about false fears.

4. Read hero tales and stories of people who served others in difficult times. Define on character trait of each person you read and make a list of the character traits, with definitions, that you want your children to understand and the ones you want your family to exhibit. (Daniel--courage in the midst of lions; Mother Theresa--compassion for those who needed comfort; etc.)

5. Read through the heroes in Hebrews 11, one person at a time in the weeks ahead, and talk together with your family about how you will live the circumstances of your lives, the days of your own history, by faith--to bring His light, goodness and hope to a world that needs to know the hope of Christ. Talk of how your family might be a picture and words of hope and comfort during this time and use the difficulties that opens peoples hearts as a place of ministry and comfort to others.

Today, sweet friends, Jesus admonished  us to choose to take hold of courage, to face fear with His light, to choose to be strong, giving, redeeming in a time that needs to see His reality. May He give you peace of mind and the courage to live well during each day He has granted you.