Celebrating Home: What is the Story You Are Writing for you Home?

"Our home is the best place in the whole wide world."

A three week road trip with me, my four, my friend and her three, all stuffed into a suburban, had found us exploring historical cities all over the East Coast. From the Minute Man museum in Boston, Gettysburg battlefields, George Washington's amazing home, Mt. Vernon, and to Williamsburg. These were just a few of the amazing places we toured. Rousing adventures, amazing memories, stuffing all of us into the car and rotating seats just to be fair, found all of us fast friends from our mutual escapades.

Yet, when we rolled into our Colorado driveway, Joel ran upstairs, plopped on our couch, hugged the pillows and said, "Our home is the best place in all the world. My bed is best, our yard is best, our food is best, and I may never leave again."

It pleased my mama heart to hear his sweet words. But it also stuck in my mind as a goal I wanted to keep fresh through the years.

Launching the Lifegiving home book is dear to my heart because I have wanted to write a book about the profound importance of Home for many years. Now, what a gift to be able to launch it with the stories of Sarah, my oldest child, from her point of view, as well.

The next few weeks, on our podcast, Kristen and I will be discussing home, how to plan for the story you will tell through the days of your life. We are also going to be giving you a pdf you can print out to think about and plan your own story.

When I asked my four what were some of the things they thought defined our home story, they all said,

"Tea Times, books, dinner together every night with lots of discussions and homemade food, music and song parties, lots of people in and out of our home, devotions, ....., and you will have to read the book for more!

Home is a sanctuary for life where souls are shaped and values are breathed from the oxygen that is in the life of the home every day.

Defining your own story of Home

It's always good to evaluate my goals so that we can focus on our ideals at every season of life. Answer these questions for yourself:

How would your neighbors, your children, your husband, your friends, explain the story of your home as they know it now?

What would you like for those who come into your home to feel when they are there?

How can you create the atmosphere in your home that you value?

What do you want to keep?

What do you want to change?

We're happy to be offering a pdf you can print out with some things to consider as you think through some of these questions this week! Click here to find it:

Home Is Where Our Stories Begin

Join Kristen and me for our newest podcast. Share it to encourage your friends.

On sale for pre-order at B&N for A$9.15 for a short while.

The winners of the giveaway books.

Elise

Kate

Rebecca

Tara

Laura

Heather

Owning Your Motherhood (Own Your Life Fridays)

My Influence on My Children

I’ve learned that my influence on my children is limited only by the smallness of my dreams and my lack of commitment to the Lord and his purposes.

-SALLY CLARKSON (THE MISSION OF MOTHERHOOD)

Sipping coffee from a mug on a snowy Colorado day brought pleasure to my weary soul. As the mother of two children under three years old, I was in need of a break. Clay volunteered to take Sarah, almost three, and Joel, just shy of six months, for a couple of hours so that I could visit with a friend of mine I had met as a young missionary in Eastern Europe.

She was eight years older than me, and much further along the path of motherhood with her children approaching teen years at the time. I deeply valued her wisdom and had always looked forward to our times together in the past. And yet today, something she said to me did not sit well with my spirit. Always I had longed for encouragement in my role as a mom, but her words made my heart feel uneasy.

“Sally, you are so talented in ministry and such a great speaker. You and Clay should just decide not to have any more children. You have your daughter and now a son, so you don’t need any more kids. It would be a waste of your ministry skills and training to further distract yourself with the burden of more children.”

Our time ended shortly after her unsolicited and unexpected counsel, but I couldn’t shake the dark feeling her words had brought. The next morning, I rose early, before the two little ones called for me, and began to look up scripture about motherhood and children. “God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth ...’” (Genesis 1:28).

Eve’s nature as the first woman, and as the “mother of all the living,” was established before the fall. Motherhood was an important part of God’s design for man and woman before sin ever came into the world. God’s original intent for motherhood was not changed by the fall. This seemed to elevate motherhood biblically.

Since I had been trained to disciple adults as a missionary, I began to realize that God had created me as a mother to disciple my children, the future adults in my own home. The more I have studied this topic in thirty-plus years of motherhood, the more I have become convinced of the importance of a mother as a disciple maker. That has inspired me to write six books on motherhood, and I am not sure I am finished yet! I have come to believe that mothers have the power to civilize nations by taking seriously the opportunity they have to disciple their children and to raise them to be godly leaders.

Though my friend had good intentions in giving her advice, I instinctively knew that childbearing was imbued with eternal significance—raising children, building a home, and passing on a legacy of righteousness was part of God’s eternal design for the family.

My investment in my children as a strategic ministry of faith was no less important than the ministry I had outside of my home. That encounter, and the study that followed, paved the way for us to decide to have more children, and for me to put aside the demands of public ministry in order to focus on the new personal ministry in my home.

Now, as a mother who has raised four children from birth into adulthood, I can affirm that engaging my life and faith in the lives of my children has been the most fulfilling and fruitful work I have ever pursued. I have never regretted the decision to do less ministry, have more children, and give myself fully to the ministry of raising them. It was a challenge every day, but giving up my life to serve my precious children formed my character and faith as God’s child.

My investment in my children was about more than all the routine work of motherhood, and even more than my spiritual influence as a discipler. In the bigger picture of my life at home, I was civilizing my children, and shaping their hearts and lives. I was cooperating with God to mold them into well-rounded adults.

To “civilize” means “to create a high level of culture” and “to teach somebody to behave in a more socially, morally and culturally acceptable way” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). I believe home, by God’s design, is the fountain of civilization, and the incubator of mental, moral, and spiritual character, appetites, habits, and values.

“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.”

The above quotation was gleaned from a wonderful book a friend gave to me called Golden Thoughts on Mother, Home, and Heaven, published in 1878.

The words still resonate, especially in today’s culture where the imagination for how mothers can affect the overall well-being of the soul of the next generation has been lost.

It's not to say that women can't work or do other kinds of ministry. But a culture who has lost the imagination of the importance of motherhood, leaves children at risk. Children  are the next generation of adults who will make decisions from the foundations of their souls. If wisdom, righteousness, faith, education has not been a priority of shaping for them,  they will be deplete of wisdom, and they will go into adulthood with sawdust souls.

So, each mom has a different puzzle, but she has to keep what is a priority to God at the center of her decisions in life, and when she seeks the heart of God, her legacy will be one of faith and faithfulness and will have implications for eternity.

Write down two specific things you can do to cultivate a more meaningful spiritual impact on your children--or in the lives of children you know. 

An excerpt from Own Your Life.

Own Your Life cover

Changing the World, One Mom Heart Group at a Time! A Great Book Giveaway

Mom Heart Conference in Dallas, 2015

FOLLOW OUR NEW BLOG AT MOMHEART.COM

Adrenalin is already bubbling all around in my body as I anticipate the Mom Heart conferences this year. I just love women. I love that they love well, make close friendships, champion ideals and are so much fun. When Clay and I conceived of our ministry to moms over 20 years ago, and then hosted our first conference, it was out of a belief that if moms needed support systems, friendships, Biblical vision and encouragement in order to stay strong in the Biblical ideals of motherhood. Our dream was to build a minister that would strengthen families and inspire moms to leave a godly legacy through their homes.

I knew mamas needed this kind of friendship and support because I longed for it so much.

Fast forward over 2 decades later and everything we have done as a ministry has been to build these support systems in many ways--through books, conferences, web conferences, leadership trainings. But one of the dreams closest to our hearts was to help women start Mom Heart Small groups all over the world in their own towns, churches, neighborhoods. How exciting it has been to see over 1000 groups form.

Today, we are launching a ministry blog to help women know how to start groups, how to encourage women and how to find each other.

One of the biggest blessings of being in ministry all these years is to see how God has raised up friends and partners in this ministry who can do so much more than I could ever do alone. Let me introduce you to Jennie, a precious friend, who will be running this blog and running the Facebook group, so that women like you can find help, encouragement and inspiration to start a group right where they are.

Jennie Nelson, will keep us inspired as she runs the Momheart.com blog

Hi Friends!

I am so excited to be part of the new Mom Heart Website and Blog.  I will be here to inspire and help you form new groups in your local areas, solve problems that may arise in your groups, and encourage you in your own walks, both as leaders and mothers.

As a teenager God specifically called me to raise up and encourage small group leaders, so I am privileged and thrilled to play a part here. There is no better ministry for me to walk out this calling than Mom Heart.  Sally and I have been friends for several years now, and I have been challenged and have grown immensely through Intensive Leader Training in her home.  I am eager to serve you in the same ways she has served me!

Over the next several weeks, I will be highlighting different areas of the site so that you don't miss out on anything.  Expect posts here about twice a week.  If you have any questions related to Mom Heart Ministry or Leadership, please visit the "About Us" page and send us a note.  I look forward to helping you begin or continue in ministry with local mothers in your communities.

To celebrate this new blog, we are going to give away 10 of our Mom Heart Study Guides:

You Can Make a Difference We live in a rapidly secularizing culture that is losing its heart for biblical motherhood. For over two decades, Sally Clarkson has called mothers back to God’s design, driven by her passion to restore moms’ hearts to God’s heart for motherhood.  Taking Motherhood to Hearts will give you a picture for how to join her by starting, leading, and tending your own Mom Heart small group. In this book you will find inspirational “why to” vision, practical “how to” advice, and motivational “can do” encouragement. Motherhood is more than just a biblical duty; it is a ministry of discipleship. This book will show you how to have a meaningful ministry to moms that will make a difference for eternity.

I am so excited to share this new study guide and planner that will be perfect to use in small groups, and personally for planning each month of the year to make your home a Lifegiving place. It is filled with personal stories about my home, gives space to plan your own home and each month--what days you will celebrate.

It’s time to plan some unforgettable moments with your family! Containing sections for each month of the year, this companion resource to The Lifegiving Home is a planner full of creative ideas that will help you be intentional about creating times and spaces for your family to relax, celebrate, and simply enjoy one another all year long. You’ll learn how to cultivate special times that will speak to your family’s hearts . . . and inspire cherished memories that you will all treasure.

To celebrate our new blog launch, I want to give away 10 study guides and 5 pdf's of The Lifegiving Home Experience. Please go to the new blog and then leave a comment here and share it on Facebook and twitter and let me know what you think about something you found on the blog or how you think this ministry blog might help you. We would love for you to join our community of small group Bible studies and enjoy new friends and fellowship.

Remember, You never know what God might do if you take initiative, step out in faith and see how He may use you to change your world. Everyone needs a support group. How about a new group in 2016?

Here is the link to the new blog: Momheart.com

The Secret to Peace & Rest: Decluttering Your Soul in 2016 & A New Podcast

My view on the freeway every day--Pike's Peak

Each year, on New Year's weekend, I get away to a private place whatever it takes, to view the state of my heart, mind and soul. This year, it seems I was carrying a lot inside that needed to be put in the file drawers of heaven. But, when I leave my past burdens in the file drawers of heaven, and by faith, trust God to move generously in my new year, I feel lighter, and ready to see what He will provide for me in the new year. Every year, I share these thoughts that I hope will give you a fresh wind blowing through your soul.

Snow blew through our whole area today and it gave me some time at home to begin my yearly tradition of planning my priorities, commitments and goals for a new year. Each year I write about how God has led me to de-clutter my heart, mind and soul. I hope it will encourage you to do the same!

There is something uniquely good about January 1. It marks a new year, a new beginning, a new possibility. It also marks, for me, the reentry into simplicity. I don’t know if there is a more satisfying feeling for me during the year than when we put all of our Christmas things away, the decorations, the remnant of cookies, the clutter. We did that in my home, today. I have also been revisiting an article that I rework every January 1, as it is a pattern I seem to keep needing to learn.

Every year for the past few years, I have pondered and written about de-cluttering my soul. I hope you will be blessed by these thoughts. I am pulling away for a few days, once again, to see what needs to stay and what needs to be cut. I am sending Sarah off to Oxford tomorrow and Nathan back to Hollywood and then we will get back to normal. And so I am deliciously excited to take time alone to get back to my soul.

I love the celebration of life and the traditions and the fun and the beauty of special times spent with my children, husband and friends. But, there is something deeply satisfying to me about getting it all put away and getting back to normal.

Perhaps it is because my normal responsibilities of caring for my family’s needs demand so much of me—cooking nutritious meals, organizing our schedules, cleaning and organizing on a daily basis, homeschooling and add to that ministry—these are enough, but holidays put on that extra load. Routines go by the wayside and so the clutter and demolishing of the house, slowly takes over.

I am not a person gifted in handling details—too much mail, too many catalogues, too many emails, too many options, too many things. The more there is, the more I become responsible for, the more work there is to be done, and so, the more anxious I become. Same with activities. The more I commit to, the more I say yes, the more I have to drive, the more my house gets into a mess, and the more anxious I become, the more hurried we feel, and the more weary I become. When I am not at peace, nothing in our home is at peace.

We can all see how too much clutter and too many piles causes us to feel overwhelmed with life. Consequently, slowly, I have learned to declutter as often as I can—throw away unnecessary stuff. Clay is really the master at this. He helps me get rid of things, organize things and put away things. Yesterday, he decluttered our pantry—threw away chip bags that held little but took up space, cleared out empty water bottles, bad, junky Christmas candy that had been given to us, but would never eaten; baskets that had fallen off of their nails, groceries that had never been put in their place. Now, if someone came into my pantry, they would mistakenly think that I am an organized person. (Thank goodness for Clay!) It made me feel good just to open the door and to see that all was manageable again.

But, I have also come to realize that my brain and heart can be the same way---cluttered with worries, responsibilities, duties, children’s future, finances, time constraints, expectations, disappointments, critical attitudes, resentment. All of these added together, can tend to create soul piles and mind clutter. If I don’t take the time to sort the piles of mind clutter, my spirit becomes a mess and my heart becomes overwhelmed and weary.

It is what awakened me at 4:00 a.m. this morning-soul clutter and worry. It is another reason I like January. It gives me an opportunity to make a new plan, to simplify the mind messes and to start off a whole new year well. In the same way that throwing away stuff and clearing out closets brings me relief, even more, soul and mind cleaning and decluttering brings me rest.

So, as I begin a new year, and head into my conference season, a very busy time for our family, I resolve to deal with my soul-clutter, so that I may have strength to face each day in peace. I come to the place where I know I will find the help that I need. I come to my Father and ask Him to help me, His child, to show me how to make get rid of the junk that is unnecessary, and to help me clean out and organize my soul.

He speaks to me gently.

It was in writing my book, Dancing with My Father, that I have learned so much about finding joy--and peace. In Him, with Him, by Him all the moments of my busy day. His voice leads me to what I long for--but I must get rid of all that causes me to fret, worry, criticize, control. There is a way....

“In quietness and rest shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 You need to come to me and give me all those things that are weighing on your heart. Resolve to seek rest and peace.

“Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

I listed all of my issues this morning in my journal (and there seem to be multitudes of clutter piles in my soul--worries, attitudes, bitterness, weariness, fear, sin and a few more!) These are issues that will suck me dry and my energy dry if I do not notice them in order to clean out my soul!

The Lord prompted, "List all of your issues, give them over to me, don’t hold on to them. I am capable of taking them from you and being responsible so that you will not be weary or carry what you are not capable of carrying.

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. “ Psalm 37:7

Focus on resting in me—sit in my lap, so to speak, rest in my arms. Let me carry you. I love you.. Wait for my timing. Don’t force things or beg me to hurry up. I am in control.

“Be still (cease striving) and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:2

Give me your attention and get control of your spirit. Be quiet. Be still. Recognize my sovereignty and transcendence. Remember what Jesus said, “Our Father who art in heaven, holy is your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus modeled his understanding that my will is what you need to rest in. I am in heaven and I see all things—the future, the past, your children, your relationships, --all your clutter. Give them to me. Quiet your soul and rest in my strength and power.

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this receives me.” Matthew 18:3-5

Come to me as a child—even as your children, in their innocence and sweetness of heart, know that you will care for them and meet their needs because you are a loving parent who cares for them, so I am your Father who will take care of you. Leave the burdens to your father and take your rightful place as a child. Humble yourself and trust me. Enjoy me. Delight in the beautiful moments of this day. Notice the little miracles. Live as an unfettered child. Accept your little and big children and receive them as a gift from me, and your will indeed receive me into your midst.

“ ... a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” I Peter 3:4

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about so many things. But really one is needed and Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10 41-42

Don’t worry and fret and stew and stir up unnecessary dust. Choose simplicity—just one thing I require—that you give it all to me and love me. I will take over. Even as I gave and provided a Sabbath in which all of my children should have rest from their work, so I want you to live in my Sabbath rest for your soul. Rest from your striving and labor. Take time for naps, for pleasure, for joy. This day you have to receive as a gift--I can't promise what tomorrow will hold. But today you can love, give peace, speak kind and wise words, dance in your soul with my secret pleasure that comes from knowing that I love you.Simplify your life, don’t make choices that will complicate or add unnecessary pressure or cause you to sin or grumble. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,” as Paul said.

So, as I yielded my lists into God’s hands and de-cluttered my troubled soul, I left feeling that even as my house has been coming to order, after we cleaned and straightened it yesterday, now my soul is moving in the direction of order.

Rest, rest, rest—in quietness and rest will be your strength every day, every year, until you see me face to face. I love you, my sweet girl. Don’t forget that I am with you each moment of today. Your doting and loving Father.

Our newest podcast:

A Fresh Start: Decluttering your soul in 2016!

Owning Your Integrity (Own Your Life Fridays)

The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith. BILLY GRAHAM

Harvesting a Godly Character

C.S. Lewis is famous for his essay “Men Without Chests” (from The Abolition of Man). In it, he describes a generation of people without virtue or character because of the rise of relativism and loss of objective truth. In the style of the ancients, he describes the head as the place of knowledge, the heart as the place of passion, and the chest as the place of virtue and character.

Only when a person has a well-developed character can they properly put to use knowledge and passion. Without the strength of character developed in the chest, knowledge can become cruel and passion destructive. With character, knowledge becomes wisdom and passion becomes love.

It seems that there are many people without chests in our world. With the constant influx of information provided by the internet, and no effective ways to determine the objectivity or truthfulness of that information, people can develop keen opinions, but not be required either to validate those opinions or to act on them. In the same way, it is easy for us to voice emotional and idealistic claims without doing the hard work of validating our opinions objectively and putting them into actual practice in our lives. Opinion becomes a substitute for character.

If we are truly to be full-bodied people who act on the biblical ideals that we hold to be objectively true, then we must practice integrity and grow the muscle of character; we must become men and women with chests.

The essence of character is found in the habitual heart choices of an individual over a long period of time. Character is the constant work of a lifetime and the product of a heart engaged in wisdom, choosing the right thing over and over again. It is like practicing a sport. If you’ve ever taught a child to catch or throw a ball, you know the moment in which it “clicks.”

Suddenly, the catcher goes from awkward fumbles to being able to catch the ball almost every time; snagging the ball out of the air becomes an automatic response. Character is the product of good choices made over and over again, so that when the curveballs of life come your way, you can automatically respond in wisdom because that is what you have practiced.

What we practice shapes who we become, and the voices we listen to shape what we will practice. If we are to live lives of character, we must invest in wisdom. One of my mentors once gave me a great quote: “God forgives, but wisdom does not.” The heart of wisdom is properly understanding the impact and meaning of our personal choices. The book of Proverbs very clearly delineates good and bad decisions, a practice which is not popular in our day.

The purpose of Proverbs is not to create strict rules to live by, but to help the reader live a life of wisdom which brings peace. I do not tell my children “don’t go over the speed limit” because I like to impose difficult rules upon them, but because if they do go over the speed limit they will more likely have to pay a ticket or get in a wreck. Wisdom creates healthy hedges around our behavior of what we will and won’t do.

We obey God's commands in order to build our lives on foundations that will stand and not fail us in the storms of life. We live with virtue so that others can look to us as beacons that will show them the love and redemption of God. Our virtue should help in our outreach and draw others to us, not send them away.

When God called us to be lights in a lost generation, His desire was that, through the virtue of our purity of life and behavior, we would become guides to those who long to move from darkness into light.

Becoming the best you can be requires that you own your integrity and live the most virtuous life possible.

Because we reflect the character of God, Christians should be the most trustworthy, hardworking, truth-telling, dependable, moral, patient, and grace-filled people. This is our heritage from God.

Our integrity comes before our influence. 

Take some time to develop a long-term plan for growing stronger in character.

 An excerpt from Own Your Life, Chapter 12.

Celebrating Life On The Bright Days and the Normal Ones

It's nearly New Year's Eve, and preparations have ensued for a night of celebration! A new calendar always inspires me to come up with new plans, new goals, and new enterprises for the new year, and with a house full of creative people, the wheels are certainly turning in all directions as we discuss all our thoughts for what's to come. 

Celebrations of holidays are nothing new, of course ...

Throughout the Old Testament, God instituted feasts for the Jews. They were to stop work and celebrate His faithfulness in their lives. Great preparation was made for them to feast together, sing songs, gather with family, and celebrate.

How does this apply to me as a mother as I seek to please God?

I need to remember that I am to lead my children in being a person who celebrates the joy of life.I am to model what it looks like to enjoy God and His creation. Often, in the midst of the duties of life, moms can easily become focused on the right things to do, correcting the immaturity of children, and inadvertently portraying God as a strict moral judge just waiting for them to fall short.

It is vital we realize we are a model of God to our children and we must take care that we present His light, beauty, humor, love, and joy. I love this verse in Proverbs: "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22).

Though this probably applies to an individual, I have seen how it applies to our family as a whole. Every day of my life as a mom is filled with chores, duties, problems, issues, and responsibilities. If I allow my soul to become overwhelmed by these things all the time, my spirit becomes dry and depressed, and I pass on my disparaging attitude to everyone in my house like a virus of darkness. Each day I must learn I have a choice to make. I can focus on all that is unjust in my life, on all the ways my children fall short, on all the demands each day makes of me, and end up with a complaining, griping spirit.

But a broken spirit dries up the bones!

One day, during some heavy, depleting, scary financial issues in our family's life, I decided to get up before everyone else. I made homemade pecan-apple pancakes, lit candles, put on soothing instrumental music, and had a lovely table set when the kids and Clay arose. We all enjoyed the breakfast surprise together. After we finished, Sarah was sitting next to me on the couch. She kissed my cheek and said, "You know, Mom, when you act happy and bring joy to our life, I feel secure and that all is well. But when you are upset and down, I feel guilty, like we have done something wrong and it makes me feel like brooding. Thanks for making the effort. I feel happy this morning:'

I realized that one of the roles God wants me to play in my children's lives is a conductor of joy, happiness, and celebration. After all, God designed our need for these things into our very hearts. We were made to enjoy life and our Creator, and we were meant to choose to live in His beauty and provision.

I pray you'll enjoy your own New Year's celebrations!  And while you're making those resolutions or filling in your calendars, think about some ways you could add celebration to your family's normal days, too.  Here's to a wonderful 2016!

This story was originally published in The Mom Walk.  Grab your copy here on Amazon!

Friendship: The Invisible Force that Keeps us Pursuing Ideals

"Two are better than one. Woe to the one who has no one to pick him up. A chord of three strands is not easily broken."

We were made for friendship, companionship, love, encouragement. We were not made to walk this pathway of life alone. Yet, we are living in an isolationist culture where we try to squeeze love from a machine by seeking friends on the internet--and we do find some sort of companionship there. But God designed us for a friend who can see the tear in our eyes, who can gently hold our hand and pray for us, who can sip a cup of coffee with us face to face as we share our stories.

When I imagined mom conferences, I imagined friendships like the photo above. It is taken just before we celebrated our Mom Heart conference in Dallas last year. Each of these is precious to me. Clay and I have 19 years of memories with such precious ones all over the United States.

This year is our 20 year and final year of the official Mom Heart Conference. We are filling up quickly and almost closed in one of our cities. I hope many of you will consider joining us for a celebration of Home, a meeting of friends and kindred spirits. We welcome you into our midst.

Here are the dates and places:

DENVER, Colorado – January 29-30 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center

IRVINE/OC, California – February 12-13 at the Irvine Marriott

IRVING/DFW, Texas – February 26-27 at the Dallas Marriott Las Colinas

Here is the official scoop:

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF MINISTRY TO MOMS! 

Our first official event for mothers was a WholeHearted Mother Workshop for our small church in Fort Worth, Texas in spring of 1996. We're declaring 2016 the official 20th anniversary of Mom Heart Ministry. (cue: cheers!) But 2016 will also be the official final season of this event. (cue: tears) If you want to help us celebrate 20 wonderful years of this conference, don't wait to register (really, don't wait). We expect more to register for this final year of conferences, but hotel space is limited so sell-outs are possible, especially in CA and TX. Avoid the dreaded WLAS (Wait List Anxiety Syndrome)! Click here to register now.

Some of the dear friends who have helped me reach thousands of women through conferences, books and intensives. Friends who have held my hand through all the years!

And, just a little note from me. Clay and I are so very thankful for all of you who have helped keep this ministry going for so many years through your financial support. If God puts us on your heart at this time to help us expand our reach through new resources, new online outreaches, international trainings, more media messages and intensive trainings for leaders in our home, we would so appreciate your support.

We could never have imagined God would have blessed us so much and taken our messages so far into the world in our generation. It is because of so many wonderful friends who have partnered with us along the way. We could never have fulfilled the goals of this ministry without amazing, wonderful friends like you.

Thanks so much.

God's love and grace to each of you today.

Sally

Donate HERE

If you are interested in knowing more about our ministry, you can read the letter below.

After 21 Years, Whole Heart Still Has a Story to Tell Dear Friends and Whole Heart Partners, The unfolding story of Whole Heart Ministries has been, so far, twenty-one incredible chapters of character development, narrative intrigue, and unexpected plotlines. It’s been a long story, but we’re not ready to write the final chapter. Not yet. Chapter 22, still to be written in 2016, includes a major plot twist that will turn the story in a new direction. And we hope you will continue to be a part of our story. Here’s the twist: After twenty wonderful years of hotel conference ministries to mothers we’re saying, “The End!” The 2016 conferences will be the final year of the Mom Heart Conference. But note: It won’t be the final year of Sally speaking to moms. Future events will be smaller and more personal, and more will be online, but Sally is not going away. We’re just slowing down now so we can focus on the heart of the Whole Heart story—writing, publishing, personal discipleship, and ministry training. Since the beginning of the Whole Heart story in 1994, God has allowed us to encourage and equip countless Christian parents through workshops, book catalogs, hotel conferences, print books, ebooks, international ministry, online ministries, training Intensives, ministry to moms, and more. If it all stopped here, we’d be thankful for our story. But we believe there is still more story to be told.The Continuing Story of Whole Heart The heart of our ministry has always been simply to help Christian parents—to encourage and equip them to raise children who will serve God “with a whole heart and a willing mind” (1 Chr 28:9). In a time of seismic cultural change, we want to help families find their place in the grand story of God’s faithfulness to His people. If that is your heart, then we hope you will help us help parents. Parents write us all the time to tell us their stories. It doesn’t matter if they are here in America or in another land with another language, the language of their parent hearts is always the same: [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 As the days toil on life frequently becomes rote and lacking in spirit; but reading Heartfelt Discipline I am refreshed and newly motivated to ensure I am in the Lord’s will. ~ a father in Idaho “I long to be a mother who builds my children up in the Lord. I purchased Ministry and Mission of Motherhood which I am forever re-reading and have lent to many friends.”  ~ a mother in Australia Christian parents are our mission field. We are missionaries to the Christian home. Sally’s books have been translated into numerous foreign languages, and our books and ministry reach families all around the world. Mothers are hungry for biblical perspective from a seasoned Titus 2 older woman. Fathers want sound, biblical insight for building a Christian home and raising godly children. Parents want the life of Christ in their family. This is the story God has entrusted to us to write and to tell. Turning a New Page to a New Chapter of Whole Heart Like the Apostle Paul, we too “press on toward the goal” (Phi 3:14) of fulfilling Christ’s call on our lives to strengthen families. We want to invest in ministry choices that will last, and that will enable us to last. We want to do what is strategic, not just what is comfortable. We want to leave a story worth reading. And we want to invite you to join us in writing it. Here’s where our story is headed in 2016: 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 and publish new books for moms, dads, kids, families, and small groups. SALLYCLARKSON.COM: Sally’s personal blog reaches tens of thousands of Christian women and mothers every day with biblical encouragement and inspiration. As a bestselling author, she is a trusted and respected voice for the traditional vision and values of motherhood, home, and family. THE LIFEGIVING HOME: Sally’s newest book with Tyndale Momentum, The Lifegiving Home – Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming (Feb 2), is a portrait of how she built and beautified her own home and influenced her children. It will become a regular theme of Sally’s messages in 2016. AT HOME WITH SALLY: This spring, we hope to launch a new “At Home with Sally” subscription site filled with twenty years of Sally’s audio and video messages, and including exclusive access to new webinars and other online events by Sally. Join early and save. (Target launch date: Mother’s Day.) FAITH-SHAPED FAMILY INITIATIVE: This new Whole Heart initiative will call families back to building a biblical “Christian home.” The Faith-Shaped Family blog will offer encouragement and ideas, a new book will define the vision, and new resources will equip parents. (Coming this summer.) MOM HEART MINISTRY INITIATIVE: Mom Heart Ministry is a strategic small groups 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 a part of this movement of mothers. 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. Let’s Write a Story Together Worth Reading! 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 right now, and in the months ahead. First, we need financial partners who will help us tell the story of God’s heart for the home and family. We need new partners to offset the loss of conference income that has funded our ministry for twenty years. Second, we need partners who will help us reach beyond our current limitations. We want to reach the Spanish-speaking world, expand our online ministry, and train mothers in other countries. A new fund-based online giving platform coming soon will enable us to set giving goals and receive funds dedicated to selected strategic projects. Your financial gift at this time would be greatly appreciated to help us move into 2016 financially healthy and amply supplied to write the story that God gives to us. We encourage you to use our online donation page on WholeHeart.org (link below). 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 Click Here to Donate Now Online You may also send a check to: Whole Heart Ministries, PO Box 3445, Monument, CO 80132. Or make a donation by phone at 888-488-4466. Thank you!

You Have to Stop Before You Can Move Forward

No matter how hard we try, none of us is able to control all of the circumstances and moments of our lives. From time to time, when my four were much younger, and I had pushed them to their limits during the day without a nap, too much activity, beyond their bedtime, too much sugar, and sometimes with lots of over-stimulation, bedtime would be impossible. Out of utter fatigue, they would wail and cry, throw little fits and not give into sleep until their bodies finally capitulated to utter exhaustion. Their reaction was equal to the level of exhaustion and abuse their bodies had taken.

I realized that there was nothing to do except let them cry and fuss until they finally fell deep into sleep. They didn't need to be disciplined--they needed to be loved and rested. Only when they caught up on their rest and their metabolism went back to a normal blood sugar level over a couple of days, were they less agitated.

Mamas do the same thing, at times. When living without enough sleep, and eating too much junk food, with work and taking care of others--who are often immature, irritating and draining, wrapping presents, cooking, life takes them to utter exhaustion, they are prone to fits expressed in different ways.

We cry, too--but in a more adult way. By being grumpy, irrationally angry, irritated or tearful at the smallest circumstances, our bodies rebel at exhaustion and show us that we have abused them.

Our hearts will not have peace until our bodies have had rest.

What a great Christmas we have had as a family this year. I see maturity even in adult years and everyone gets along better and better, as they all appreciate each other now that they are older. Still, the many meals, messes, dishes, shopping always takes a toll on me.

From many years of Christmas, I realized that in order to go into the new year with peace and a good attitude, I needed to catch up on life and take time to stop to ponder my priorities, and give my body, heart and mind rest,  before I jump forward into a new year of more activity.

Today, I got up before everyone else because I always feel a desperate need for time by myself. (When everyone is home, there is no end to talking, discussing, opinions, energy and adrenalin spent.)

Lighting several spiced candles, switching on the Christmas lights, playing some favorite music and drinking a big cup of tea latte, I settled into a comfy chair and just sat and allowed the stress to flow out of me. Sitting quietly for a half hour, I began to plan my next days so that I would have time to steal away a few minutes for myself. Getting some control of my life and planning for productivity means that others who draw from me will have more inside to draw out of me.

These are goals I wrote down for myself today. Each of us have differing priorities, so make your own list apply to you.

1. Emotional health is something I have to stay on top of as I live a very giving out life and can become down or a little depressed if I don't figure out how to refuel. How am I going to refuel emotionally? What friends, time with Clay, getting away by myself, will affirm the empty me and give me a sense of refreshment? And then I put some specific simple plans into place.
2. Spiritual Health  What do I need to do to gain control of my spiritual life? I need time to read scripture to give myself guidance for attitudes and for ways to trust God in the myriad details of my life. Is there anything I am fearful about? Am I harboring bad attitudes? Do I need to put anything to rest in my heart in order to move on without stress? What do I need to give to God in prayer? What devotion or spiritual book might I read in the next months that I most need right now to fill my soul? I know that I would never have made it through all the stresses and strains of my life is my spiritual time had not been a priority over all my years. God is my stability and gives me strength and wisdom to have the right attitudes. Without my spiritual perspective being guided by truth, my attitudes go awry.
3. Physical Health  Planning my physical health is a big issue for me before I go into a busy conference and launch season. What can I do to control my diet this month. (For me, no sugar, breads--limiting carbs, mostly fruit and veggies and lots of water--only two cups of coffee or tea a day--morning and one afternoon--that is cutting back for me!) When will I exercise? (I carry so much adrenalin and so I have to exercise so that I can relax. It is so snowy and cold in the winter, that I have to find ways outside of my normal long walks to get exercise. I have a few videos I use to get in at least a half hour of exercise a day and I have several dance playlists from Joy that I sometimes use for exercise.)
4. Educational goals. Reading restores my mental attitude. I plan what books I will be reading. I keep a journal to jot down what I am learning. I pick a book to read aloud to whoever is here. Read alouds are still a part of my family life and stories give me happiness and soul filling moments each day.
5. Putting together rhythms for my family after losing all control during the holidays is essential. Morning, breakfast routines, devotions, meals, chores, work, ministry, evening meals, time demanded by those living at home and relaxing activities are a must for me to control and plan, as I always have lots of people in my home. If I don't plan it, I will lose control of my time and I will find myself irritated at the very people I want to serve.

These are only a few of the commitments I have to make time for, time for planning and figuring out so that I can move from emptiness to a plan for filling.

This year, I actually took the outline of the chapters from Own Your Life to give me some guidance and reminders about how to better Own my time, Own my emotions, Own my commitments, etc. in the days ahead. This concept of taking charge of my life and purposes has taken hold in the past few years and so it still helps me each January to use these concepts to give me a plan for moving forward.

Take time to plan and refuel so that you can move forward with peace, a quiet heart and a restored soul. Off to sleep a very long sleep so I can begin to catch up! :)

If you want something to give you ideas of how to move forward in the new year, you might enjoy reading Own Your Life again and jot down ideas about how to move to purpose and peace. Or find another book that will help stimulate you to the kinds of priorities you need to refresh your own life.

Merry Christmas to All!

I Love You More than Christmas

All four of my own children have invaded my home and brought with them laughter, messes from suitcases, lots of coffee and tea cups being used over and over again. The joy of my season, so far, has been to just sit and listen to them share friendship together. My heart is saying, "It was all worth it. They all caught a vision for life. They are all alive with ideals, vision, purpose and love for the One who matters the most."

With such strong personalities and ideals, of course there is friction and stress in the up and down moments of our lives. But also lots of memories and stories. This one is one of my favorites from one of my very best friends, Nathan. We have grown even so much closer this year through the events of our lives and I am always happy when he is around. Take time to look into the eyes of your loved ones this season and you will make a memory you will love to visit years from now.

 Christmas Eve found me huffing and puffing over a kitchen cabinet overflowing with dough. Cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, herb and onion bread for the Shepherd's meal that very evening, and I was into my own vortex of checking off a mental list of all that had to be finished. Stockings, wrap presents, call my family, make the potato soup and fill the cookie trays......on and on the list grew.

Charming 12 year old, golden blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, marched into the kitchen with a purpose to his step.

"Mama, I know you are busy, but there is something real important I need to talk to you about. I need you to come right now!"

A little tightness wrapped itself around my attitude.

My thoughts, "Hello! Can't you see that I am up to my elbows in dough? Do you really know how much I am doing to make all of you happy? I am doing this for you. Can't you just see what I am up to and wait for just a little bit?"

My words, "Honey, I am a little busy right now. Can you just wait for a few minutes? Why don't you talk to me right here--I am happy to listen to you."

"Mom, we need to have privacy. It won't take long. If you could just come with me for a few minutes, I really need to talk to you."

Something in my heart said, "You need to take time. He is not usually this insistant in the middle of the day. Give him your focussed attention for just a few minutes."

And so I reluctantly wiped my hands clean, put the dough down and said, "Ok, Nate, let's go to my bedroom. No one is there."

He seemed to be holding something behind his back and wanted me to go in front of him.

I walked ahead of him into my bedroom, sat on our little love seat next to our bed and said, trying to smile amidst the tension I was feeling, "Now, Nathan, what did you want to talk about?"

Then, with a smile from cheek to cheek, he gingerly pulled out one long stem red rose from behind his back and presented it to me.

"Mama, I love you more than Christmas."

"I was thinking about all that you do to make us happy and I wanted to give you a present before I get all of my presents tomorrow. I wanted to let you know I love you and really appreciate you ahead of time. So here is my present, mama. I made Dad take me to the store and I got a red rose for you.  Do you like it?"

Of course, you could have pushed me over with a feather.

I was shocked, surprised, touched, and the tears began to flow and my heart began to melt.

"Nathan, that might be the sweetest, most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given to me. Thank you with all of my heart."

And so I drew his "little-boy" body to myself and gave a great big hug and kissed him on his smiling cheek.

"I will never forget this. I adore you, sweet Nathan."

And I haven't forgotten.

And now I saw my extraverted, ADD, bubbling over, OCD boy in a whole new light.

So very glad this one time God prompted me to listen with my heart instead of my head.