Happy Almost New Years & Inspiration for 2015!

Sarah Mae, Crystal Paine, me and Angela Perritt

in my home, celebrating my new book!

Happy Almost New Years to my sweet friends!

I actually love having a new year with a fresh start. Christmas memories are tucked away until another year and now a brand new year is ahead. Rethinking my commitments, my ideals, my relationships, my walk with God, my health, so many priorities, gives me a way forward to have a great new year.

In the next two weeks, I will be launching my newest book. As a part of that, with the new year in mind, I am hosting an inspiring webcast with three of my dear friends, Sarah Mae, Crystal Paine, and Angela Perritt. We had so much fun working on ideas from this book in the past two years of my leadership intensives, and I asked them to share them with you next Tuesday evening, the day my book, Own Your Life, is officially released.

I hope you can join us and I know it will be a great way to have inspiration for the new year. Be sure to register so we can send you the information about how to connect to us the night of the launch. Hope you can come!

Sally

Join Sally Clarkson and friends Sarah Mae, Angela Perritt, and Crystal Paine for a FREE online Girl’s Night to celebrate the launch of Sally’s newest book.  They will all be discussing what the book has meant to them and sharing about partnering with God and pursuing God’s best for our lives.

This promises to be an uplifting, fun-filled hour of shared laughter and encouragement to help you and I know you will enjoy hearing the personal stories and a glimpse into the hearts of all of us as we share our own priorities, struggles and faith personally with you.

• Make the most of the life God has given you
• Move beyond barriers like guilt and chaos
• Create and nurture loving supportive friendships
• Refuel your life
• Love well and enjoy the journey!
• Learning to love who God has made you, leaving guilt and inadequacy behind
• Living into the generous, abounding and unconditional love of God
• Finding peace, rest and strength to live the life God has given you
• Discovering the ministry moments God has designed for you to engage in every day
• Finding contentment right where you are, single, married or somewhere in between
• Building a home environment that gives life to all who come there
• Becoming the friend and lover of all, that God created you to be
• Embracing your ministry of parenting and learning how to do it with grace
• Building a long term story of faithfulness in your marriage
• Leaving a legacy of a strong faith, generous love, an intentional life

*** After the webcast, please join Sally for a live online chat.***

Let Sally know you'll be watching by clicking the button below, reading more about the webcast, and registering at the bottom of the page. You'll be sent the link for the webcast and given reminders leading up to the webcast.

Get Sally's Latest Book!

Do you ever long for days full of joy and energy—days that bring out the best version of you? Sally Clarkson's Own Your Life offers a breath of fresh air for busy women who long to live meaningfully, follow God truly, and experience much–needed order in life's chaos.

So Thankful for Firemen! Especially in Monument

After Nathan and Rachael left for the airport today, I went to my little office to work and read. Clay came in and said, "What is that awful smell?" We eventually had such a burning smell all through our 3 floor home, (2 floors and a basement), that we were getting headaches. We left to go out for a few hours and when we came back the smell was so strong it began to make us all nauseous. We checked everything we could find! Clay said, "Maybe we should call the sherriff's department and see if there are any fires in our area.

The next moment, we looked out our front door and there were 3 fire trucks! After the wonderful men came in and looked over our house, smelling the same thing, they found a burned out lamp shade in Nathan's room that was fresh. (And they also found a short in our ceiling chandelier, too.)

We love our fire department and think they are the best!

Your Shepherd has a heart for you!

Charles A. Watson

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Matthew 9:36

One of my favorite verses in scripture is the one above. Our Jesus, our God, sees us when we are confused, helpless, weary, carrying so many burdens in our private worlds. He did not react with disdain, or criticism saying, "They should be stronger and more perfect." Instead, he saw us as people who were made to be shepherded. We need direction, instruction, help, guidance in order to live well into the lives we have been given.

Truth is, sheep are easily overcome. They are pre-wired to need guidance, protection, someone to look over their needs and welfare. We, as His sheep, were never meant to just buck up, and do life without help. We were made to need and long for our shepherd's guidance and help and love and joy in our lives.

Today, the day after Christmas, so many are surrounded by the messes that celebrating Christmas brings. Often, women are depleted for many reasons--loneliness because they were not with loved ones--and Christmas was a reminder. Weariness because they have come to the end of their strength. Exhaustion from caring for sick ones or from being sick. Or just the same old personal problems that do not seem to go away.

However you are today--living in doubt, living in discouragement, filled with dreams and hopes, lonely or wishing for alone time, He loves you and cares about your heart and life issues with compassion and with the care of the heavenly Father--the heart that can't let us go, but just keeps giving and giving to us, his own precious ones.

The true comfort I have found over the years is that He cares deeply about you today, He wants you to feel His love, His care and guidance for you. He understands your struggles--He was and always has been made to be a shepherd of us, his sheep. He lives to take care of us, to feed us beside still waters, to guide us in the paths of righteousness. It is His heart--not his duty.

The Lord is my shepherd.

And so, when I wrote my new book, Own Your Life, it was my desire to point to Him, His desire to lead us, comfort us, teach us, and to understand better how He helps us to live into the very life we have been given--not alone, but with His strength, His wisdom, His love, His Spirit filling our lives each step of the way.

Today, rest, knowing His heart is one of compassion. Today, know that in 2015, He will show you the way to find even more secure footing to live into the life where you are--with purpose, with strength and with Joy. Praying His blessing for you all as you enter this new year.

 

To see inside a heart, to embrace, hold and respond, is the gift of Christmas!

"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

Hebrews 10: 24-2

We need to be angels for each other, to give each other strength,consolation. Because only when we fully realize that the cup of life is not only a cup of sorrow but also a cup of joy will we be able to drink it.” 

― Henri  Nouwen

This year, as we celebrate those we love, those at church, neighbors, children, husbands, let us look inside their hearts to see what is there and respond to them--even as Jesus saw the multitudes and had compassion on them, because He saw inside their hearts that they had no shepherd, sheep with no one to comfort, to guide, to guard.

Candles lit, tables decorated, chairs counted, all preparations made as women started parading through the door.

Amazement filled my mind and heart. Why do they come? Snowy roads, a cold night, leaving their homes. Always, I am surprised as each month precious ones pile through the doorway. Why do they take the time to come, to meet one more time?

As I look at my own heart needs, I see how many years I have felt that deep down, hunger, longing, emptiness from lack of  community, wishing for friends who want to share life, for women--for someone who cares that I am alive and knows my struggles, my fears, my heart.

I am surrounded by people, crazy busy, rarely having a quiet, moment without the weight of life,

and yet, still so alone. But the places have now been filled by years of sweet, loyal, loving friends who have owned our friendship for years and years through it all. Such a gift.

***************************************************************************

Yesterday, I spent an hour on the phone with a cherished friend. A precious, faithful, loving heart--yet she so alone in carrying heavy burdens of life, that when an unsuspecting stranger asked her how she was, the tears began to flow--

just to have someone ask, to pretend to want to know. Well beloved by so many and yet,

No one knows, no one helps or reaches out to her.

I understand--how many people are in my life, how few souls  have known the scope or depth of the my own soul battles--they are all busy and overwhelmed, too. And this leads me to want to see into the heart of others for what they bear, where they live.

We were made for friendship. Our hearts are prewired to be loved, to belong, to celebrate and share life together, in community--to bear each other's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

And so where would the evil one attack?

He would separate us to be alone, vulnerable, weak as one by ourselves in the battle for souls, so that we cannot be strong, joining arm in arm, heart to heart.

He would isolate us in neighborhoods where we live alone, with no knowledge or shared life with those nearest to us in proximity. With values and faith and ideals, that separate us from the world, but impossible to uphold alone.

He would break the close bonds of fellowship that church was made to uphold, the body knit together,  and let us go to large buildings filled with noises of music, people all around with nary an intimate friendship.

Loneliness, an epidemic. Here is the battleground.

That feeling in the dark of night that your life is invisible--Does anyone care? Does it matter that I keep dragging on day by day? Does anyone know the weariness of my soul? Do others swell with anger? Or wish for relief? Or feel a lack of worth? Or want to quit and don't even know what that means?

And so we gather, with food, drink, a little reprieve from real life, and touch someone else who shares our world. We gather to listen to His words--together. We gather to understand that our sacrifice is precious to the One who sacrificed all.

We gather to know we are not alone.

Our hearts are cherished and held by the one who counts our tears and sees our faith and knows our exhaustion.

We ponder Mary, alone on her journey through countries, through years of questions, through people seeking the life of her son,

but because of her heart, her boldness to believe, Mary, finding favor with God, being chosen by him to bring His life into her home, so that the son of God find comfort, beauty, love for the years he would live on earth.

Even as we provide life, beauty, comfort,  love so our children will not feel alone.

A simple mother, whose heart gave all that He might have a safe haven to find rest for his baby soul.

And so, we meet to find strength, love, laughter, understanding and hope-the hope that keeps our feet on the path, our minds steadfast on our beliefs, our hearts willing to take another step of faith one more day, one more month, one more year, because once again, we know our life of giving and our love poured out is changing the world.

And so this is the message of Christmas--making time to love, giving time to talk, to share hearts to show compassion,

The gift of our time to listen and to share--it is what the baby did when he came for our sake and what we need and what will keep us worshipping a little longer.

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. 

You are not invisible to Him, the one who came because He loved saw you and loved you.

Someone else in your life also needs to know this truth.

Today, invite a friend, call a loved one, take initiative to make room for encouragement so that your own soul needs will be met.

Buying one more thing will not satisfy. Investing love and heart time will restore, redeem, fill bring life and hope. Who needs you today? Who do you need to celebrate life with today?

Life happens when you open your door, invite and welcome, look into eyes and share life--Wherever two or three are gathered, there I am in their midst.......

May God bless you with a new friend this season of celebrating the one who himself  took initiative in our lives, so that we would not be alone.

The Dreams in our Hearts: How will God use us to reach our world in 2015?

A Letter from all of the Clarksons

Sweet Friends,

For those of you who have followed my blog and ministry, you know that Clay and I have a ministry that we have built for 20 years together. We would so appreciate it if you would read our end of year letter and consider supporting our ministry if God puts it on your heart. Thanks so very much!

It’s That Time of Year – The Year-End Letter

Dear Friends and Whole Heart Partners, We celebrated twenty (20!) years of ministry to Christian parents in 2014. It all started in the spring of 1994 with about a dozen moms and dads in the living room of our small home in rural Texas. We held our first WholeHearted Child Home Education Workshop, then we published Educating the WholeHearted Child, and Whole Heart Ministries was born in September of 1994.Since that inauspicious beginning, God has allowed us to encourage and equip countless Christian parents through workshops, a children’s book catalog, fifty hotel conferences for moms since 1998, twenty print books and ebooks, national and international speaking and publishing, online ministries, training Intensives, Mom Heart Ministry, and more. If it all stopped here, we’d be thankful and content. God is good. But we believe God still has a heart for Whole Heart. And so do we.The Heart of Whole Heart Is Strong

As we enter what we are calling our “second generation” of ministry, we are thankful for all that God has done through Whole Heart. But we also realize there is so much more ministry left in our hearts yet to do. That’s why we are focusing so intently right now on what’s ahead in 2015 and beyond. We want to discover one thing: What is God’s heart for Whole Heart? In all our envisioning and planning, we are reminded of one simple truth: We would not still be serving Christian parents today if not for the generous support of so many friends of this ministry through the years. We need partners. We can’t do this alone. But before we get to that, we want you to know this: We will do what God calls us to do as long as we are able to do it.

We want to be among those “whose heart is completely His,” the ones God searches all the earth to find (2 Chr 16:9). The heart of our ministry vision has always been simply to help Christian parents—to encourage and equip them to raise godly children who will, as David said, “serve [God] with a whole heart and a willing mind” (1 Chr 28:9). As the biblical design for family is threatened by a tidal wave of cultural change, we want to make sure we can continue to “strengthen what remains” (Rev 3:2)—to keep helping families be faithful for Christ. At the end of this letter, we’ll share with you how you can help us help parents.

Will you take just a few minutes to catch a glimpse of our vision for Whole Heart?  We Want to Have God’s Heart for Whole Heart Every week we hear from parents who want us to know how Whole Heart Ministries has helped them. Whether they live in the heartland of America or in another land that doesn’t speak our language, our hearts and desires for our children are all the same. Here are two comments just from this week:

“[Your books] totally changed the mother I am and the way we have decided to parent and disciple our son. We are SO thankful to the LORD for your ministry!”   ~ a mother in California

“[Right] now there is a need in Poland for many excellent books you and Sally wrote, but we would like to focus on Educating the WholeHearted Child as we see specific need in rebuilding the unity and faith with Polish families ...” ~ a father in Poland

We have hundreds of similar letters in our files, from all over the world. Sally’s books have been translated into seven foreign languages, and our books and ministry reach families in English‐speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa. Young mothers are hungry for biblical perspective from a seasoned Titus 2 older woman, and parents want sound, biblical insight for building a Christian home and raising godly children.

God has given Whole Heart a mission field. We’ll Minister to the Beat of God’s Heart Like the Apostle Paul, we “press on toward the goal” (Phi 3:14) of fulfilling Christ’s call on our lives to strengthen families. But as our children leave home and find their own ways in the world, we are entering a new season of life and ministry. To stay effective, we are seeking God’s heart for Whole Heart. We want to invest in ministry choices that will last, and that will enable us to last.

We want to invite you, as a Whole Heart Partner, to join us in this ministry. Here’s where God is taking us:

• WHOLE HEART PRESS: We started Whole Heart Ministries with the vision of writing and publishing books to help Christian parents. That “ministry in print” will always be at the core of the Whole Heart mission as we write new books for moms, dads, kids, families, and small groups.
• WHOLE HEART ONLINE: Our ministry website, WholeHeart.org, is the online hub of this ministry. It’s a place where anyone can come to find out more about the books, resources, messages, media, initiatives, movements, and events that are the “ministries” of Whole Heart Ministries.
• MOM HEART CONFERENCE: Since February 1998, we have offered fifty WholeHearted Mother and Mom Heart Conferences in seven states to encourage thousands of Christian mothers to “come home to God’s heart for motherhood.” We believe in the power of gathering together as believers.
• MOM HEART INTENSIVES: Nearly fifty mothers attended the first three‐day Mom Heart Leader Intensive Training in our home in 2010. Other “Intensives” have followed, and now more are planned in Colorado and around the world as Sally trains mothers to minister to mothers.
• MOM HEART MINISTRY: Mom Heart Ministry is a strategic small groups ministry initiative to “restore moms’ hearts to God’s heart for motherhood.” On MomHeart.com, moms can find training, resources, media, encouragement, and connections to be part of this movement of mothers.
• STORYFORMED PROJECT: Sarah, our oldest daughter, envisioned, started, and leads Storyformed, a ministry initiative to champion the role of literature, story, imagination, and the arts in the home. As an author, she will oversee the Storyformed Books imprint and the Storyformed.com website.
• SALLYCLARKSON.COM: Sally’s online and in‐print ministry to Christian women and mothers has grown beyond Whole Heart to become her own personal ministry. Her heart is to be a biblical encouragement to women to become life‐givers who “own” the life God has given to them.

With Faith, and with Your Partnership, We Will Press On

We are, and always have been, just a small, family‐run, nonprofit, Christian, faith ministry. All that means is that we trust God to provide financially as we step out in faith. There are two needs we’re trusting God to provide for through this letter. First, looking ahead, we need financial partners who will move boldly by faith with us into our second generation of ministry.

Second, right now, we need partners to help us overcome a significant 2014 deficit. Because of an unanticipated shortfall of funds in August and September, we were forced to borrow against our 2015 budget to meet obligations. Your financial gift would be greatly appreciated at this time to help us remove the deficit and move into 2015 financially healthy.

If God puts it on your heart to support our ministry, you may donate HERE. WholeHeart.org. It is safe and secure, and will give you full control over your giving.

You can also send a check to the address below. Financial contributions to Whole Heart Ministries, a 501c3 tax‐exempt organization, are tax‐deductible. Thank you for your partnership! Your gift helps us press on in Christ to keep faith in the family.

Grace and peace to you and your family. Wholehearted blessings in Christ, Clay and Sally

Whole Heart Ministries Keeping Faith in the Family PO Box 3445 | Monument, CO 80132 719.488.4466 | 888.488.4466 | 888.FAX-2WHM www.wholeheart.org | www.momheart.com www.storyformed.com | sallyclarkson.com whm@wholeheart.org | admin@wholeheart.org — since 1994 —

Thanks for reading this. God bless you with grace and peace as you celebrate his coming to bring His light.

How can a Mother Find Favor with God? Mentoring Monday

The Annunciation Henry Ossawa Tanner

"Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you." Luke 1:28

Throughout the ages, artists have tried to illustrate the mysterious moment when the angel of God came to Mary and announced God's favor with her. But I think rather than seeing what the scene looked like, I would love to know what kind of woman, living in the unseen moments of her everyday life, would find favor with God?

Oh, how I wish these words expressed how God felt about me--would God see me as the kind of woman He would choose now to mother the most high God? By what means did she find favor, in the hidden moments of her life? These thoughts swirled around in my mind.

Mary lived in a tiny, obscure village amidst a humdrum life. Wheat was ground, bread was pounded out on wooden tables, crumbs were swept from the floor, children lovingly tended, mother and father presiding over the home, the Shema was listened to every day over shared family meals, the Sabbath was kept. Mary lived in invisibility in the moments of an ordinary, obscure life, as far as anyone in her own life knew. And yet, in the living of her life, quietly, faithfully, God noticed her, God saw her and she found favor and pleased His heart.

God always sees even when no one else is noticing.

Imagine being greeted by an angel, in the midst of a normal day, when no one else knew, "Hail favored one."

What would he find you doing? Believing? Saying? Loving?

And then, "Mary, do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God."

Really? She did not have a college degree or a ministry position or title and had never published a book or even spoken in the synagogue--and yet, in the midst of her quiet life, she of all women, had found favor with God. I have been pondering this.

But there are clues.Being the mother of Jesus would require a tenacious, steady, engaged faith. As his mother, her  life would be  in danger, Jesus would be  pursued by a crazy king, and at every point, people would cast doubt on her irregular, fantastical story.

 Satan would have wanted to prevent Jesus becoming savior and Mary would be his protector--a shelter from danger, a nurturer of his soul, a provider of truth, a teacher and trainer, a strength in storms--all of this she would be asked to be for God, the baby, entrusted into her hands, as his mother, a divinely appointed role.

She would have to move, put up with peer pressure of her own village, believe in the miraculous, obscure amongst the humble, live amidst despised Egyptians. Her life would be filled with stress, pressure, rejection, fear, loneliness and questions.

And yet, God had called her favored, He had seen her heart, he had noticed her response throughout her life, He had tested her willingness to obey, and she had been found faithful, and so she was favored.

Her response, ready on her lips, practiced in her heart.

"“Behold, the^]bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

God looked for one who would serve Him, willingly, readily, at the moment of His impossible request, one who would respond in utter submission.

I am your bondslave--a commitment he had seen in her prayers, through out her life as she engaged her heart in scripture, He had seen her practice of worship by choosing, through all the years of her training, her response of believing and her heart consecration to serve Him, to obey throughout the seemingly unnoticed moments of her life.

One who considers themselves a servant, believes and lives to accomplish the will of her master. Is that my heart--to obey, willingly, whatever He would ask?

Is that my response to this life He has given to me--be it done according to your will for I am your bond-servant? Even if it means sacrifice of the plans I hold dear? Even if it means being misunderstood? Rejected? Chased? Inconvenienced? Even if it requires me to have courage against fears that will assail my life?

And yet, we are left  another clue. Elizabeth, her older cousin, who had also lived above reproach and obeyed God, upon seeing Mary, responded,

"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

Mary believed God.

She had a ready heart to believe Him, trust Him with all that it would require of her, to await the miraculous, to live through long years of waiting and quiet and mundanity, as she awaited to see this little baby become the expected Messiah, the fulfillment of His role as a savior.

She believed there would be a fulfillment.

 She had practiced believing in Him her whole life and this, I think, was in part, what would qualify her to be the mother of the son of God, she was ready, willing to immediately respond to Him in belief--even to the impossible--even in the obscure place of dust, dishes, and duty.

And so God shined His light on my soul this early morning as I pondered Mary in His presence--am I ready to believe, to obey wherever He takes me, to await the fulfillment of His word and to choose to believe in His future fulfillment of faithfulness in my own life and in my own prayers--even if the ultimate fulfillment will take years and years, as it took Mary?

So, today, as I live amongst feasting, gift-wrapping, cleaning, sharing hearts and thoughts, singing beloved hymns at church, celebrating in the sparkle of our Christmas home, I hope that He will find me, in the integrity of my heart,  obeying, responding, bowing my knee to His will, a bondservant whose heart is ready to follow, obey, accept limitations of a world at battle for righteousness, and yet ready, in His strength, to believe.

May He prepare your heart today to worship in the quietness of your life, right where you are. May He bless you with His peace and grace.

I pray you have a most blessed and favored Christmas, and that God gently leads you, and me,  to embrace for our lives, the integrity that characterizes of the story of Mary, His choice to be the mother of his own son.

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Mom Heart Conferences are just the place we love to celebrate the eternal significance of motherhood. Hope you can attend one with us this year in Colorado, California or Texas.

Remember to enter our Christmas giveaway. Everyone who is registered by 11:59:59 PM on December 24 will be entered in a special Christmas Day drawing for another FREE REGISTRATION. Register Now! Hope you can come!

Hope you will consider getting my new book for a Christmas present and join my friends for an online book club to consider how to make plans to organize your life for the best new year ever, as you are inspired to live your life anew with God's purposes and with inspiration for living a life of intention and favor with God!

The Christmas gift my boys never forgot!

The Christmas Gift my boys never forgot!

“I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” Psalm 40: 12

Driving through the maze of crowds, and bumper to bumper traffic during the Christmas holidays was a true test of my mama patience. I had an agenda and evidently the world did not know what it was because everything was slow on this particular day.

My boy’s chatter, loud noises and vying for attention was particular irritating when I was stuck in a traffic jam with time ticking away.

“Mama, he hit me.”

“No I didn’t, I just tapped him.”

“You did not, you hit me!”

Finally, we got off the freeway, made it to the main intersection of the mall I was seeking, when Joel piped up, “Mama, look at the poor man with one leg and one crutch. He has a sign that says ‘I’m hungry!’. Don’t you think since it is Christmas, we should stop and get him something to eat?”

It just happened I was reading the boys Psalm 40: 12,(“I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”), just the day before. and We had talked about the need to have compassion on those less fortunate, the poor, those who were sick, the downcast.

Nathan shouted out, “He is one of the poor and needy ones, mama, don’t you think?!”

The Lord gently put his finger on my heart and said, “Let go of your expectations, now! This is a moment to impress compassion on your boys’ hearts because this is a moment they are open to the Spirit and what they have been memorizing with you.”

Taking a deep breath, I slowed down the car and said, “Boys, I know a fast food burger place near here. Why don’t you roll down the window and ask the man what he likes best—a chicken sandwich or a hamburger.”

The two boys almost crawled out the window yelling at the top of their lungs, “Hey, mister, do you like hamburgers or chicken sandwiches best?”

Hamburger and coffee it was. So we drove to McDonalds and I supersized a cheeseburger, French fries and coffee order.

When we drove up, the little boy faces filled with pride, “Merry Christmas, mister, we thought you might want this for lunch.” They took out each item from the bag and handed it to the crippled, gaunt man.

When they were finished, the weather worn man practically leaned into the car and shook the boy’s hands fiercely.

My name is John. What are your names?” the man asked in a gruff voice.

”I’m Nathnn.”

“I’m Joel.”

A smile from someplace deep in the man’s memory slowly crossed the lines of his face.”

Today, I am writing for my sweet friend, Ruth, at TheBettermom.com

For the rest of this article, go to: Thebettermom.com

Get yours as a Christmas gift to yourself! 

Keeping Wonder Alive in our Hearts

Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree, .... Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls my mom made for me 50 years ago.

************************************************************************************************* Flickering candlelight, shimmering slivers, golds, reds, greens and blues sparkling on a real tree inside the house; familiar songs that beg swaying and dancing; the smells of pine boughs, vanilla, sugar, spices, cookies, coffee, breads filling the air with invitation each different time of the day, lots of friends and family and hugs and kisses and celebration and presents,stories to stir up imagination of babies, wise men, young mothers, animals--all of these wrapped in one short period of a few weeks--all to fill the heart and stir the imagination to new dreams and the heart with lots of love---what's not to love about Christmas?!

I have had many women write to me and ask if I thought it was pagan to celebrate Christmas and have trees and presents. Of course Clay and I pondered this many years ago and studied the Word and we came to our own conclusions as each family must do. But, we now see even more, how it was the delights of our home and the filling of emotional cups and the fun and making of memories and cherishing Christ and carols every day, that gave our children even more love for Him. Since our family is not pagan, the celebrations in our home are not pagan--nor the ways we choose to celebrate.

And I so love the family togetherness. When my children have lived far away, and now all four, coming home to celebrate together--to celebrate all that it is--is something they can hardly wait for--it is another of the invisible strings that ties our heart so strongly together..

When I think about the wonders of the first Christmas--astonishing, bewildering, unimaginable beings appearing on the earth; terrestrial choirs filling the heavenly sky; a heretofore unheard of star filling the night sky; wealthy, learned kings traveling from afar; a virgin birth in the midst of a love story; an old woman and an old man marveling and speaking of the messiah as the baby is dedicated- with celebration and feasting;--our Heavenly Father was the first to celebrate.

He was the first one to document the birthday of Jesus--supernaturally with music and feasting and amongst the humble and the kings.

I love seeing the feasting--usually for days--in the old testament. God is a God of celebration. Christmas is a time when we bring friends and family into our home to be refreshed. It is a time of personal worship as I mentioned yesterday and a time of joy-work and preparation to say I love you to our family, whom God designed for the passing down of His story and of His love.

I think that sometimes people are afraid to have too much fun or to celebrate life. Yet, it is only when we do this fully, from our heart that we understand the joy of the Lord--the God who gave us the ability to be satisfied, to laugh and play games and eat merrily.

So, our family makes time to delight together. It is the organic life of Christ, the tastes, smells, fun, love and theology that gives the whole picture of this baby become king and savior. And so in a spirit of love, we celebrate Christmas--His coming to earth--fully and happily.

A Merry Christmas Book for you! A Giveaway!

 

Own Your Life: Read for your own education, Read to Your Children, Invest in your Mind!

Sometimes I like to just look at my children. They are miracles to me--that they are mine, that they have grown into such interesting, engaging adults, and that they still love to be with us, and that they love the Lord. It is a gift more fulfilling at this point than I even knew it would be. I gave my life to serve them and God's grace made it a work that deeply satisfied my heart.

Having my boys home for 2 days by themselves, sitting at the dinner table for two hours talking about life helped me to see that they are growing stronger, and flourishing--a relief to a mama who has been praying while they are in worldly, large arenas.

One of their conclusions at the end of our table talk stayed in my mind and heart.

"Mama, we are who we are because of the stories we stored in our hearts as little boys, because of the books you read outloud, because of the devotions we celebrated every day, because all of these epic stories lived in our hearts and shaped who we are now as adults investing in the creative world.

Love of books, love of stories, on of the most profound sources of heritage we gave to our children, that has prepared all of them for their calling and living in the World.

Fast forward, and you will find Joel working daily on recording a book on tape that he enjoyed day by day. His conclusion as he finished it last week was, "We need to read this story out loud as a family. It is really a good story!"

I am soo delighted, for these reasons, to be able to introduce you to this wonderful author. He has generously given me 10 books to give to you for Christmas. It is a perfect gift for your middle school aged kids and high school. Here is his story!

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We almost never made it through the wardrobe and into Narnia. It was a close call.  Stung by the strident criticisms of his close friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis was ready to abandon his Narnia series before it was ever published. Lewis was deeply hurt and discouraged because he respected Tolkien’s opinion so much. For his part, Lewis had been a longtime proponent of Tolkien’s own work. If not for the entrance of Roger Lancelyn Green, we would never have found our own way into Narnia.

Imagine that.

So what magical power did Roger Green exert on his friend and former tutor? What elixir was mixed or what castle stormed to save this magical tale from oblivion? I’ll tell you. Roger Green had words, words of encouragement, when they were most needed. Green’s enthusiasm and encouragement, by Lewis’s own admission, saved the whole project. What potent power lies in encouraging words.

My own story was, to borrow an expression, saved by childbirth. Specifically, my story would not exist were it not for the woman who gave birth to me and first read to me of Narnia. My mother believed--well, believes--in me. I have lost count of the encouraging encounters I’ve had with my mom related to my own writing dream. But it was when I was a child that her encouragement took root. I had never met an author, and you might as well have told me I was going to go to the moon as write books. But Mom convinced me it was possible. She encouraged me. So I worked on stories as a boy, and dared to dream. She always believed, even when I didn’t.

I’m 37. It’s been a long road, but my first novel is out in the world. The Green Ember is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. More, it might be a gateway to light for a child somewhere, perhaps one I don’t even know. That’s an incredible thought to me.

I’ve had more encouraging Roger Greens in my life than critical and discouraging Tolkiens, my mother being an early and regular one. But there have been more. My wife has been a rock of encouragement, our kids a chorus of enthusiasm. But it’s amazing how discouraging and derailing it can be to hear critical words. I’ve heard those too.

Don’t get me wrong. We all need to take criticism and coaching. What we want, however, is to avoid losing the heart for our calling in the midst of it.

 

I needed encouragement. All kids need encouragement. They also need equipping, and to be challenged. But what dreams are churning in our children’s souls?

Some of the Roger Greens in my life have been the Clarksons. Sarah is a dear friend and one whose opinion I deeply respect. She read a very early (think raw/bad) draft of The Green Ember and offered vital insights which have helped shape the story. But more than just constructive criticism, she had powerful words of encouragement. Sally too has been so encouraging to me as a new author, sharing insights and enthusiasm. Clay has been a wise mentor and friend for years and Joel has become a crucial creative partner.

There are more Greens to speak of, but this story of how Roger Green saved Narnia has more in it for us than just identifying, with gratitude, the enthusiastic encouragers in our lives. It raises another question.

Who in my life needs me to be Roger Green for them?

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The Green Ember by S. D. Smith is available here in both hardcover and paperback (ships now). 

It's also available at Amazon in paperback (out of stock at the moment, but restocked immanently) and also for Kindle.

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Join A Movement of Motivated Women and Make 2015 the best year yet!

I am so excited to finally be able to share my new book with you. It has been a project that has bubbled in my heart for many years--to take God at His word, to engage in His kingdom work, to love deeply, to live faithfully--to own the amazing life He has designed each of us to have!

All week, women from all over the world have been designing the most beautiful posters about how they are going to take responsibility for the stewardship of their own lives in 2015. We will be hosting several large online book clubs where you can sign up with other women to discuss the concepts developed in this book.

If you order it now, you can become a part of these clubs and discuss Biblical ideals and how to live them out within the demands of day to day life.

How will you own the legacy of leaving a heritage of faith to your children?

What ways can you cultivate your spiritual, emotional, intellectual and ministry life within the walls of your home to make it a life-giving place where all who come will find rest, inspiration and love?

What goals will you make for yourself this year so that you can realistically spend more time in the word of God, give yourself to times of prayer, and cultivate a more personal relationship with God?

All of these ideas and many more, you will find in the pages of Own Your Life.

We would love to see your own posters of how you will own your life this year. Share them on pinterest, instagram at #Ownyourlifebook or Sallyclarkson facebook page.- and I will share them with my own networks to encourage women all over the world.

Buy it now and get ready to join others in discussing how to live intentionally this  new year, 2015.

Start a group in your church or home to discuss these God-designed goals. I hope we can help establish a movement of encouragement all over the world. Won't you join us?