Owning the Spiritual Disciplines (Own Your Life Fridays)

The more we know Him, the more we will desire to know Him.

Brother Lawrence

“Well, I don’t know, it’s just, like...” These words had barely slipped out of Joy’s mouth before my eyebrows raised at her and we both started laughing. Ever since she had returned during breaks from her university in Southern California, the word “like” frequently visited itself upon her vocabulary. Joy had never been a “like” girl before, but after a few months in the land of surfboards and juice shops, that word, along with the slow rhythm of the Southern California accent, had begun to work itself into her way of speaking.

“I don’t mean to, Mom! It’s just the way I hear all of the voices around me speaking, and I can’t help but let it slip in to the way I speak and think.” I believe that Joy’s “like” predicament exhibits the power of the voices to which we listen.

We live in a culture that loves to quote movies, books, and song lyrics. I marvel as I watch my kids hold almost entire conversations in quotes from their favorite characters from television and literature. I have realized that as my children engage in certain forms of media, those forms begin to shape their vocabulary and way of thinking.

The same is true of friend groups. I am amused to see best friends who inadvertently dress and speak like each other, or friend groups who all order similar coffee concoctions. It is a part of human nature that we naturally begin to emulate who or what we spend time with and on, respectively. Proverbs says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20). We are formed by the voices that we allow to speak into our lives.

Cultivating the Practices That Deepen Your Faith

This is why spiritual disciplines are important. Cultivating such practices in your life creates a space in which one can be formed by the voice of God. In reading Scripture, we allow God’s truth to speak to our heart. In prayer, we listen for the whisper of the Holy Spirit. In honoring the Sabbath and resting, we train our hearts to rest in the knowledge that God will always provide. Spiritual disciplines remove distractions from our practice of faith, allowing the voice of God in our spirit to shape our vocabulary and our attitudes.

Women often say to me, “I’m too busy to have a quiet time or pray” or “I have young children and don’t ever seem to have free time” or “I don’t want to be legalistic about it.” When I hear this, I often respond with a question: “What voices are you allowing to shape your view of the world instead of Scripture and the Holy Spirit?” We are all in the business of listening to voices, and allowing various channels to broadcast over the rest.

I often find that when I don’t think I have time to listen to God, it is because I am busy prioritizing other voices. This is something that happens to the best of us. For some that may be wasting time on social media, putting an overemphasis on perfect housekeeping, or getting caught in an endless cycle of busyness. Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong about social media, housekeeping, and a busy schedule. None of those things is necessarily bad, but nothing can replace the voice of God, and the value gained from time in His presence.

The spiritual disciplines are not about legalism, but about developing practices which tune your ear to the truth of Scripture, your will to the practice of faithfulness, and your heart to communion with God. My children are able to bring to mind the quotes of many of their favorite literary characters because of the time they have spent invested in reading. In the same way, as you invest time in Scripture, the Holy Spirit will begin to bring passages to your mind when you encounter difficult situations.

At the heart of any spiritual discipline is relationship with God. Genesis 3:8 says, “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”

From the very beginning, God desired that we might share an intimate relationship with Him. His intention was that we would delight in our relationship with Him and reflect his image in us. Though the fall broke that relationship, Christ made a way for us to be once again in communion with God. God’s desire to be in relationship with us is the same as it was in Eden.

Spiritual disciplines do not take the place of that relationship, but rather, through the Holy Spirit, they give our impatient and sinful souls a way to engage with God. Because God delights in our relationship, He will always bless a heart that seeks to engage with Him.

 Buy a journal in which to write down all the things for which you are grateful or a list of your prayer requests. Be sure to write in it at least once a week. Then it will become a history of God's faithfulness in your life.

An excerpt from Own Your Life.

Own Your Life is just $3.99 on Kindle right now!

You're Invited to a Celebration!

I'm having a celebration for the LifeGiving Home with an online Launch Party and I'd love you to join me! You can find out more details here and sign up here.

Own Your Life on sale!

On sale for 3 days at $3.99.

Buy at your favorite store--kindle only.

http://bit.ly/1ZxBM1r

http://amzn.to/1mYcsQc

Just wanted to share this deal with you!

Enjoy!

Accepting Today, Just As It Is

As Kristen and I recorded the podcast last week, one of the things we discussed was the way all of us tend to think our lives would be better and we would be happy ... if only something in our lives were different.  Though it's a common belief, it's not a true one.  I wrote about it in Dancing With My Father:

After I became a committed Christian in college, I worked my way to righteousness: I attended church and Bible studies, tithed, and finally decided to go into Christian work. And I sort of expected, though perhaps subconsciously, that God would bless my obedience by giving me everything I desired in life: marriage, family, success in my work.

My first thought had been, I will be happy when I get married. I finally got married at twenty-eight. Since I equated happiness with achieving my ideals in my life,I was surprised when my marriage didn't soothe the restlessness in my spirit and fill the vacuum in my heart.

I thought a child might fulfill me. So I prayed, Lord, please bless me with a child.  I became pregnant at thirty-one. I gave birth to three babies in the next five years, which left me reeling! Instead of feeling fulfilled, I found myself overwhelmed with the responsibility of motherhood.

I was blessed with three children and married to my best friend. But my best friend worked seventy hours a week, leaving me to handle the house and parenting responsibilities mostly on my own. I felt alone. I had few friends because we moved every two years into new ministry situations.

I kept finding myself thinking, I will be happy when... And I filled in the blanks with a list of events I had built up in my mind, which I was certain would fulfill my life.

I will be happy when all of my babies are out of diapers.

I will be happy when we have friends and support systems.

I will be happy when my husband is home more.

I will be happy when we can change jobs.

I will be happy when we have a bigger salary.

The list marched subconsciously through my mind each day of my discontent. And with each passing day, my dissatisfaction and expectations grew. During this time, I was reading my Bible and serving God the best I knew how. I didn't realize that I mistakenly believed I needed these things to be happy because I was basing my expectations on worldly, temporal values.

Finally, I came to the end of myself. At some point in life, it dawned on me that this is the "broken place." Earth is the temporary place where Satan rules and where all people are sinful and subject to the disappointments of a fallen world, to the longings that come from being separated from God.

I can picture ideals and dream of the life for which I was created, but Jesus never promised I would experience ultimate fulfillment in this world.

I realized that if I didn't build my foundations on eternal realities, I would never be content. Nothing in this physical world would ever totally live up to my expectations. The Lord had to dissolve my self-will in a slow, humbling process of my reluctantly giving up my ideas about what I needed to be happy. I had to become willing to place myself on the altar of God's will. Trying to control my life and whip it into shape by means of my own effort only brought frustration and disillusionment. I realized that in a fallen world, happiness, perfection, and the fairy tale of a Cinderella life are always doomed to failure.

As we're beginning a new year, might I encourage you to accept the cup God has given you *today*?  And look for your happiness and joy and contentment in Him, regardless of your circumstances?

"Godliness with contentment is great gain" 1 Timothy 6:6.

Dancing With My Father is available here on Amazon.

A Party, A Celebration, An Invitation: The Lifegiving Home

Home is more than just a house—it’s a place where love, life, and treasured memories can grow all year long.

Sign up for the event by REGISTERING HERE!

Keep up-to-date with the party at the LAUNCH PAGE!

Join me in a party, a month from today! Invite your friends! We shall have a grand time.

I am so very excited to be announcing my official pre-launch to the release of my two books, The Lifegiving Home and the companion guide and Bible study, The Lifegiving Home experience.

As a mom of 4 adults, married for 34 years, I have learned that as Proverbs 14: 1 says, a wise woman builds not just her home, but her family’s story. And a truly life-giving home is one that brims over with love, welcome, and stories worth telling. Over the years, one of my goals for my home has been to  weave the love of God into every room of my  home and then into the lives of the people that live there.

Home should be an outpost in this dark world that brings light, beauty, refreshment, inspiration, traditions, feasts, that fill the heart, soul and minds of those who live there. Then from this sanctuary of all that is good, people can go back into the world to bring the love, life and beauty of God that has filled up their souls.

What a privilege it has been for me to join my oldest daughter, Sarah, to create a book that retells the story of our own home. Even more, our desire was also to re-ignite a vision in the minds and hearts of others to intentionally build such a home right where they live. We have sought to share secrets that will help you craft your home life into a beautiful heritage.

The Lifegiving Home book provides foundational ideas, inspiration and stories that will lead you to refresh your own vision for the profound importance of "Home." As we journeyed through the seasons of our lives, we wanted to provide a month by month story, ideas to implement, books to read, movies to watch and traditions to celebrate.

The Lifegiving Home experience is a Bible study, planner and guide  to plan for each month and to provide  practical touchpoints to guide you in your own plans, ideas, and dreams for what you want your home to become. Containing sections for each month of the year, The Lifegiving Home Experience offers:

• Creative ideas, new stories, personal reflections, and advice that will help your family to celebrate and enjoy one another
• Thought-provoking Bible studies and reflection questions to help you plan and establish the home that is right for you
• Clarkson family favorite recommendations for books, movies, holiday traditions, special events, and more
• A place to write your own thoughts and plans as you go through the guide

We have planned something very special to celebrate these books and more ideas with our friends all over the world.

On February 9, we will host a live webcast party!

Our idea is to ask you to invite your friends to a casual party in your home where we will spend the evening talking about home, how to build traditions, how to create an environment of love as well as lots of personal stories from my own life about the story of our own home.

Through the evening, we will be giving away fun prizes, provide some recipe cards, and ending with the final grand prize of:

*Two airplane tickets for one woman and the friend of her choice to Monument, Colorado

*A visit with Sally in her home and free entrance to a weekend leadership intensive where the winners will have personal mentoring and spiritual inspiration with an elite small group of women. You will have homemade meals in her home, tea times, a lovely brunch at the famous Broadmoor Hotel, and lots of other special moments

*A free hotel for 3 nights during the personal and inspiring retreat weekend

We would ask you to sign up below to register for this free conference, as the winners will be chosen from the entries into this party. You can sign up yourself if you are the host of the party in your neighborhood, but be sure to also sign up all who will attend so each one can be entered for the prizes that will be given away that weekend.

What to expect from joining the party?

*That evening, we will have prizes and giveaways

* We will have emails for all who register with support and prayer for their night of hosting, as well as printable recipe cards and  frameableart to give their guests.

*If you preorder books for all who attend, or have them bring their books, we will be posting photos of you and your friends with the book, as well as take some of the prize giveaways from answers to content in the books.ce

Our hope, prayers and wishes are that women all over the world will be strengthened and inspired to cultivate their homes into places where life, beauty, love and truth become the foundations and atmospheres of their homes.

Register for the party HERE!

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!