Celebrating Motherhood Together & A Giveaway! More Conferences Coming!

About 20 years ago, I was sitting in our living room late in the evening, sprawled out on our couch and wondering how I was ever going to make it through my years as a mom. I was worn out, empty and felt alone in my journey as a mom. Baby Joy was about 1 and I had 11 year old Sarah, 9 year old Joel, and Nathan, who was almost 8.

"I am just soooo tired and seem to get to 9:00 in the evening and feel like I can't take another step--and then it is all over again the next day. I just wish I had a break!"

Clay and I began to talk and he said, "What would help you?"

I thought for a few moments and said, "I wish there would be a retreat I could go to with friends, maybe in a hotel, with women who could inspire me and help me as a mom, all grace and no guilt or legalism, and a sense of friendship to know I am not alone."

The conversation continued and we decided that we would attempt to create such a conference. The Mom Heart Conference was born and over the last 20 years, we have seen about 40,000 women join us in these conferences. We could not have imagined what God had in store for us and it has been one of the biggest blessings of our lives. (It is why we are creating another new conference series for this year! Stay tuned.)

What a string of stories followed us as our children grew up helping us host conferences all over the US and in several countries. Moms need moms to link arms and to give strength, understanding, inspiration to do this profoundly important job well. 

Sweet friends gathered from the Life Giving Home Launch Team!

The best part of this 20 year legacy is the many wonderful friends I have met through these conferences. I could not do life without them.Commorrative Mom Heart Video

The Irving/DFW conference in Texas is our oldest (annually since 1999) and largest event. This year we hired a professional film crew to capture the heart and spirit of the final Mom Heart Conference. It’s all there in four (4!) DVDs — Sally’s messages, the PossibiliTea, special sessions, testimonials with attendees, interviews with Sally and Clay, all of the Clarkson children sharing their thoughts and memories, and more.

This is the first time in 20 years we’ve video recorded an entire conference and put it into a DVD format. And it is probably the only time we’ll do it.

 If you've never attended a mom heart conferences before, this will be a great way to experience what they are like — to see and hear Sally’s “Heartbeats of a Lifegiving Home” messages, to get a taste of an event that has touched so many mother’s lives, and even to be able to share the experience with friends. And beyond the conference itself, it's all about how we can all leave a godly legacy of faith for our children.

My favorite part of the video, I think, is the 45 minute interview of my 4 kids being asked what they thought was the most important aspect of building our own Life Giving Home! (I had no idea what they would say, but it filled my heart to overflowing.)

 This 4x DVD Album is a Special, One-Time, Limited-Edition

Buy HERE

You can purchase the 4x DVD album today for only $29.95, and we'll pay for the shipping. Due to the high cost of DVD duplication and packaging, this limited edition DVD album will not be reprinted. Still, we've tried to keep this unique album as affordable as we can for you. The "profit" for our ministry in this DVD album will not be in dollars, but in the encouragement and inspiration it will bring to you and all our Mom Heart friends. 

 The ministry invested over $12,000 in the production, editing, duplication, and packaging of this special project. That's a lot of money for a small family ministry like ours. Despite the cost, though, it is well worth it to us to be able to commemorate one time for all time, in a quality and lasting physical format, a conference that has meant so much, for so long, to so many, and to us. Thank you for sharing in our joy and gratitude.

Here's How to Order Your DVD Commemorative Album!

 Just click on the link below to take you to our Whole Heart Webstore, complete the order information form, and pay via PayPal checkout (you don’t need to be a PayPal member).Just Click, Complete, and Pay. Allow 7-10 days for delivery (but expect it sooner).

 Our prayer is this album will be an encouragement, a keepsake, and a legacy of what God has done for the past 20 years of this special conference. So, if you’re ready to order your album, just click the link below.

New Conferences Ahead!

I am excited to launch a whole new set of conferences that will be held in Colorado, California, Texas, North Carolina and Oregon. I hope many of you can join me for new inspiration, a community of like-minded women, and a legacy of faith shared together. 

As a small gift of thanks to all of you who have joined us through the years, we would love to give away 5 copies of the conference DVD to our wonderful readers here. To enter to win, Just leave us a comment about what you have enjoyed at the conferences in the past or what topics you would like to see in the new conferences this year. 

We will be letting you know about the new conference in the coming weeks. Thanks for making these conferences such a wonderful experience for all of us Clarksons.  

 

Working Through Depression by understanding God's Comfort

"For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.  But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more."  2 Corinthians 7:5-7

As a "good Christian woman" I used to think that if I was truly loving God and walking with Him, I would have a positive, faith-filled attitude all the time. Guilt for disappointing God would occasionally stand pointing it's finger of accusation and I would feel disappointed in myself in an existential way. 

Yet, as an older woman, I have become intimately acquainted with the seasons of life and have come to realize that disappointment in others, disgust with the world's values, despair with some of the raging darkness in the international as well as personal arena of my life, was a common experience through my years and also for many through out scripture. 

In Seasons of a Mother's Heart, many years ago, I wrote a chapter about a time when I had been almost immobilized with a feeling of darkness. I was lying on my bed in the afternoon as the sun was going down and had the thought that I wanted just to stay there and disappear into the darkness, hoping no one in the house would find me.

I still remember that day and a number of other times when I felt so discouraged in my life that I felt, for the moment, hopeless and defeated. I remember that in Anne of Green Gables, Marilla, the woman who adopted Anne, had said to her, "To despair is to turn your back on God."

It always made me feel a little guilty, because I had felt despair many times in my life.  I wondered if I was the only one who felt that way.  Often, when a mom reads that chapter, she will write to me and say, "That is just how I feel!" And then, "It helped me to know that others had felt that way, too." In reality, if we are following God's will, difficulty and discouragement, even depression will be a common part of our lives.

I have to admit that when I read the passage by Paul, in II Corinthians, about his being depressed, it made me feel better about myself!  After all, if Paul, the great hero of the faith, had been depressed, then maybe there was hope for me. I discovered that it is not a sin to be discouraged or depressed--but our response to it is what determines our long term well-being. 

God made me an idealist. I love the idea of life being romantic and everything turning out happily ever after. I would like to have raised my children in a G-rated world. I would have liked to have a perfect family and good support systems and a really good church fellowship to be a part of, and a Pollyanna community who reciprocated to me in friendship and fellowship and no financial stress or relationship stress or health stress or spiritual stress, or, or, or!

Ultimately, this was the hardest thing for me over the years; I just wasn't expecting life to be so hard. I didn't know mothering would be so taxing. I didn't understand that the culture was heading in such a postmodern direction, in exactly the opposite direction that Clay and I were leading our family. I also didn't know or understand the constant work load of mothering, and wasn't trained to do it. I wasn't prepared for real life--and that was one of the most common sources of my difficulty. 

It was sweet, though, to see that Paul said, "God comforts the depressed." In our world today, we understand that depression can be so severe that counseling and medical help needs to be sought. Yet, as a believer, I also have to look at all the issues of my life through a spiritual lens and see where God is in the midst of each step of my journey.

God understands my depression. I have realized how important it is for me to know that God doesn't get some kind of perverted pleasure in watching His sweet children suffer. He is not a cosmic being that says, "Okay, now that you have decided to commit yourself to me to raise godly children, I am going to make your life just as hard for you as I can to punish you for seeking to be so godly." 

But, he does see us, know our struggles, weeps with us and longs to be our comfort. But I have seen over the years that my learning, slowly but surely to trust Him more, to lean in more, to understand the nature of the battle, has helped me to have more strength to fight against the darkness when it comes again. We can move to stronger places in all areas of our lives as we strain to walk all of these places with our eyes on Him and His perspective.

Even as a Father has compassion on His children, so God has compassion on us. Psalm 103

Even when Jesus experienced the excruciating pain of the cross, we read, "He endured the cross, (it was so dark an experience that he just had to endure it), despised the shame, (he hated the terrible, humiliating, condescending experience he bore for our sakes, and is seated at the right hand of God......

Even Jesus was one who wept, became angry, hated humiliation, felt disappointed and yet, he was perfect. And so, we take comfort that emotional experiences are a part of a healthy reaction to difficult things we experience in life.

Finding our hope, again, in Him, is a part of the journey that leads us gently and slowly out of despair. 

Clinical depression is a place where counseling might be needed, medical attention given. But as I write shortly about this issue today, my desire is to comfort those who find themselves struggling with the darkness. You are not alone. I can look back over years and see that I have learned more tools of life, faith and truth that have given me a path forward through these places.

God is a loving Father, and just as we want our children to be happy and to see their lives blessed, so He desires for us. After all, He made a perfectly beautiful garden as a place for His first children to live. He walked in this garden looking for their companionship and willing to give His unconditional love. During my quiet time this week, I noticed a phrase that was in the psalms several times, "Lovingkindness and truth go before thee."

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You." Psalm 89:14
 

Lovingkindess goes wherever God goes. He loves us and wants the best for us and He is the Creator of happiness and joy. Yet, we are living in a very fallen world, in which most of the world is in rebellion against God and His ways. As scripture says, the ruler of this world, Satan, is determined to devour us. Jesus said, "In this world, you have tribulation. But take courage, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

So the first thing I need to realize and acknowledge is that God is good and that He wants me to experience joy and happiness. That scares some people. They feel that there is such a distance between us and God that it is presumptuous for us to celebrate God's goodness. Yet, David rightly said, "In His presence is fullness of joy and in his right hand, pleasures evermore!" (Psalm 16:11)

Evermore, yet!

Pleasures, it says!

God created us to enjoy beauty, to feel happy in being loved, to accomplish great things, to sing deeply in our hearts, to laugh heartily at jokes, to enjoy eating great feasts and to enjoy warm, fluffy covers as we snuggle up on a cold winter's night. 

Yet, we are in a battle ground, where the booty is human allegiance and souls. Especially as moms, we are in a battle for our children's hearts. A battle is difficult, hard, challenging, relentless, and often deadly. So, understanding the nature of the battle is helpful. I was so unprepared emotionally and mentally for the riggers of the battle.

In spite of the many seasons of depression and struggle, I can see God had been faithful to me. He strengthened my hands, so to speak, in the midst of my trials and has increased my capacity to work. He stretched me and gave me more ability to be patient. He used these difficult times to mold me more into the image of Christ. The end result is, that little by little, I am becoming a person I always wanted to be, but it has happened through a constant process of submitting to God's will, even in the midst of difficulties. 

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was momentarily caught up in the painful drama of a many-years-old relationship in which I had been rejected and was being rejected yet one more time-which brought back many other memories of this same pattern. I was amazed at how quickly the darkness descended.

Yet, I decided that I didn't need to stay in that place and rehearse all the past hurts.  Instead, I turned my heart to God and asked Him for perspective and to show me how to be thankful for His presence, truth, and reality in the midst of it. He immediately helped me to see how He had used this painful relationship in my life to show me what it really looked like to be loving. He showed me how very grateful I had become for those in my life who truly did love me and showed loyalty to me. He reminded me how much I was able to understand other hurting women because of my own past hurt, and how it had become a part of my ministry message to help others find a way out.  He gave me the freedom to understand that I could be happy and free, even if the unloving people in my life never changed--I was not responsible for their bad attitudes, but only to keep my own pure and free from bitterness. 

I also was prompted by the Holy Spirit to redeem the day. What could have been a bad day spent trying to figure out the unloving person who often changed our plans and rejected us, leaving us in the lurch, turned into a sweet memory with my children. Then I made a plan with my sweet girls (we were on the road) and we enjoyed a great memory-making afternoon of going to an art museum and then discovering a great new Russian restaurant that served wonderful bread, European soup and strong tea out of glasses. We had such fun!

 I wouldn't have asked for these experiences, these difficulties; but because He is good, He used them for my benefit as I kept putting one foot in front of the other. It helped me to understand the Romans passage that says, "God causes all things to work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose." He will turn things out to work for our good, if we remain in His will, submitted to His purpose, determined to be overcomers.

What stands out most about this idea, today?  Is there truth you need to apply to your own life?  Praying you understand His love, grace, and strength extended to you--even in the difficult times.

Training Our Children in Initiative

Initiative: The Power or Opportunity to act or take charge before others do

When our children were young and we were training them to do household chores, often we would come into our kitchen and find a pile of dirty dishes. (Those piles can still be found on occasion today!) When we asked our children why the unwashed dishes were still in the sink, they would say, "Well, no one asked me to wash dishes." To which we would reply, "When you are mature, you will not require us to stand over you to see that you get your work done. You will do it because you see the need yourself, and you will take the initiative with no one even asking you to do so."

It works that way in the Christian life, too. As we mature in our love for the Lord and come to know him better, we will often feel compelled to reach out to others simply because we see the need—and because Christ's kind of love has become a part of us.

II Corinthians 5:14 reminds us that "the love of Christ controls us"; an even better translation is "compels us." In other words, Christ's spirit inside us will drive us to share his love with others, and we will take the initiative to be agents of his redemption. We share the gift of inspiration with our children as they see us reaching out to others and as we involve them in these acts of outreach.

I have found that young children are usually less reserved than adults when it comes to wanting to share generously with others. They are generally not as given to racial or social prejudice as we are. Therefore, as we have prayed for God to use our family in the world, their innocent and giving love has sometimes pulled us into situations that have really stretched us. My children, for instance, love to think they can always bring someone in need to "our house.. .because our mom always helps people when they need it!" This is not always convenient, but it is almost always of God. As we sought to give our children the gift of inspiration, they often gave it to us as well!

All of us long to feel our lives have meaning, there is a sense of purpose for us to fulfill amidst mundane days. I am convinced that our children grew into believing that their own lives mattered, that they had works to do to show His light, His love, His messages. Because we all initiated His ways into the lives of people He brought our way, they have felt a call on their own lives. It has given them strength, inspiration to carry them into a "call" on their own lives.

When we follow in the footsteps of Jesus to reach out in love to those in need, we will ignite in our children the sense that they are worthy to consider themselves part of the solution in meeting people's needs. Patterns of ministry will naturally be caught as they learn from us and from Jesus a new and initiating love. In the process they will be inspired to give themselves in ministry, to become skilled and loving workers for his harvest fields.

When we seek to inspire our children, we need to model for them this initiating principle.

That means we put out our spiritual antennas, so to speak, wherever we go, looking for people in need. Then we take steps to reach out to them in some way, whether or not they are people we would normally feel comfortable with or people we think are good "prospects" for accepting Jesus. Even as Jesus died for us when we needed it, following him means befriending others who, like us, are in need of his grace. Then, once a relationship is formed or a friendship is started, we seek opportunities to share the truth of God's love and forgiveness as gently and attractively as we are able.

"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." ~Matthew 9:36

Each of us has access to those who need to hear a kind word, feel a touch of Jesus, have a meal with friendship as a foundation. Even those different than us. Overcoming passivity to reach out must become a habit of our lives if we are going to be a part of transforming our culture. 

Who are some people in your life right now that your family could reach out to, so that your own children can feel they are a part of giving and initiating to their worlds.

Making a batch of cookies for a neighbor and giving a card with "Happy Autumn" wishes can brighten a day. Making a meal for someone who is ill or has a new baby. Taking flowers and visiting with an elderly person might give children a way to show their love. 

What about those who are different than you and your family culture? Can you think of some fears or prejudices in your life or your particular culture that might keep you or your children from seeing people as Jesus did? (What kinds of people do you tend to shy away from or find it hard to care about?) What might help you overcome these attitudes?

We also are happy to announce the winners of Give Your Child the World from last week's giveaway!   Katie L,  Jennifer H,  Mari, Sally Lockett,  Jannette, and Amanda,  would you please email Misty at mkrasawski@yahoo.comasap, and we will be thrilled to have those sent your way!

Living for What Really Matters

Walking on the Thames by Parliament and Westminster Abbey and being cherishing last moments.

Tonight, sluggish from jet lag, but so happy to be home after 3 weeks, I was pondering some of the precious moments with our whole family gathered together in England. What treasured moments as we ate meals and cherished moments and stories, shared in a deeply meaningful life event together. 

And still we kept some of the family home ways--walking nightly to wrap up the days events. Once we even walked on the Thames with the Parliament and Westminster Abbey across in the twinkle lights of the city. We talked again, before we scurried to our own parts of the world, the things we cherish before we part from each other. And of course, I had to throw in a little advice before we all left each other. 

These are some of the things we talked about, that we hold in common, cherish as ideals--those threads of ideals that hold us all together. 

People---not things

Kindness not being right

True life virtue---not opinion or debate

Loving, redeeming, forgiving, extending grace...

Not judgment, criticism, self-righteousness, cynicism 

Living into His grace...

not striving to impress or earn love through works, accomplishment, status, fulfilling expectations,  influence,

Being intentional...not just frantically busy

Seeking Him, pondering Him, listening to Him.....

not the approval of man or living by the rules of others or seeking to be popular

Seeking the Kingdom and eternity.... not the kingdom or voices of the world

Honestly admitting a need, confessing a weakness or sin...

not stuffing our insecurities and pretending to be perfect

Being humble and meek...not powerful and influential

Waiting for Him...not living in the flesh and striving

Living a life of worship...

not living a life of self-fulfillment

Being still and knowing He is God...not living a noisy, empty life.

And so all of us Clarksons are spreading to the far corners to seek to live faithfully our own story, but these things, are what we shall take with us in our hearts to live fully into what really matters.

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

Kristen and I hope to do some new podcasts this week, I am hoping to have another fun giveaway, but for now, I am very happily heading for a night to sleep away!

Take a Breath Before You Respond!

Having just sent Joy off to Scotland where she is very pleased to find herself the happy owner of a sea view--if only for a time!--I'm a bit nostalgic this week.  How does it all go by so quickly?  And yet, I'm so grateful for all the moments in my memory with my sweet ones.  This memory happened several years ago and is still a good reminder to me of the moment it takes to breathe deeply and extend grace when my nerves are frayed!

It had been a very long weekend, many years ago--the third such weekend in the string of conferences one winter. Lots of wonderful women chattering, asking questions, sharing hearts; speaking, praying, encouraging, laughing. One more conference done, with four more to go before our 20-day mission trip ending the season! We were leaving the hotel to spend a day with friends. Everyone's adrenaline was down and our tempers were short. I was bone-tired, finding myself feeling the weariness a little more with each year. The girls had been working long hours at registration, putting up boxes of books, setting up tables. They had spent countless hours running cash registers and putting gifts and chocolate out for all the women to enjoy, going to bed late, and getting up early. Everyone did their job as expected without being asked or checked on. Our family all knew the routine and what was expected as we worked together.

As we were to check out of the hotel, Sarah and Clay and I were walking down the hall to the elevator.  Just then, Joy said, "Hey, wait! I want to get my sweater out of my bag." And as I turned around to look at her, she reached into her bag and accidentally emptied the entire contents of her suitcase on the hall floor, sending hair bands and brushes, shoes and books, shampoo and lip gloss, socks and a swim suit rolling everywhere.

A sharp, "You need to be more careful! Why did you hold up the suitcase when you were unzipping it instead of setting it down?!" was right on the edge of my tongue. I did not feel like putting down my suitcase, computer bag, purse, coat, and Clay's shoes that were all barely juggled in my grip, as I knew I'd have to if I were to help her. But, something inside me nudged my heart. I pictured this sweet teenage girl, working, greeting, smiling, and helping without complaint all weekend long. I knew this was not the time to scold or to be impatient, though I felt all of this on the edge of my attitude, waiting to spill over.

I put all the things I was carrying down and walked toward her. "I am so very sorry it all fell out. You must feel so frustrated and if you are as tired as I am, you could use a real rest! Let me help you. By the way, did I tell you how amazed I was at how hard you worked this weekend? You were such a trooper. You are handling yourself like a pro. I can't believe you can work such long hours without anyone telling you. I really appreciate you, honey, and know you must be bone tired," I chattered as I picked up and folded and placed everything back into the bag alongside her.

How thankful I was that the Holy Spirit had put his finger on my heart. I saw eyes of anger  and defense change into gentle eyes--glad to be understood. She really didn't drop this whole bag of clothes just to further irritate me on a tiresome morning! And she really was a great 13 year old.

Grace--a cup of cold water to a thirsty body; a bouquet of flowers on a winter window sill; a kind patient timely word; a rescue to a four year old who drops his whole plate of food or spills one more cup of milk; a cup of tea for a hormonal girl; a back rub and chocolate chip cookies to an overwrought teen boy; instrumental music and a candle lit with a warm meal for a grumpy husband so worried about finances when he comes home from a hard day of work.

Grace is the undeserved and unforeseen act of kindness and patience that totally changes moments. It is the noble soul exercised toward the humble, needy, and grateful.

I am so very thankful that I have received so much grace from my wonderful heavenly Father. He keeps loving and giving and bearing with me through all my immature and awkward moments of life. Grace changes everything and redeems amazingly.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed ..." 2 Corinthians 9:8

How might you show grace to someone in your life who desperately needs it, today?

Discipleship on the Go!

I hate to say it, but enjoy today--it will all pass quickly! And in the end, they will be your very best, inner circle friends!!!!

As I say good bye to Joy in St. Andrews today and head back to send Joel to Cambridge. Sarah is now married and on a totally new track and Nathan is firmly planted in New York City, I will return home for the first time in 32 years! There is a hole in my heart--I will miss my best friends. So take time today to ENJOY THEM!

......................

The car was packed to the gills. Six people and their "must have" items— swimsuits, CD players, board games, favorite blankets, magazines, and lots and lots of snacks—competed for space in the crowded interior. One item we all agreed on as a necessity, however, was a rousing book on tape.

Every year when we started our ascent up the steep, winding roads to our favorite mountain town, we began a new book together. The only break we ever allowed in the narrative was a stop at an authentic A&W RootBeer drive-in along the way, where we would all indulge in big, cold Frosties (root beer swirled with ice cream).

Our pick for this trip was Gods' Smuggler, the thrilling autobiography of Brother Andrew, a Dutch factory worker who helped open up communist Eastern Europe to Christian missions. We all listened in rapt attention as the British narrator began to unwind for us the details of Brother Andrew's story. We learned about his early life—how the upheaval and heartbreak of World War II in Holland created questions and needs in the young man's heart. How he joined the army and how the death and devastation he witnessed while fighting in a brutal Dutch-Indonesian war led him to discover his own deep need for Christ.

As the story unfolded, we saw Brother Andrew learning to listen to the still, small voice of the Lord through his time of studying the Bible and in prayer. We saw him visiting Poland at the close of World War II, when the Soviet Union began to take over the country, and feeling compelled to visit a communist rally for thousands of young students. Though young and with few resources, Andrew dreamed that somehow God would use him to reach the millions of people behind the Iron Curtain for Christ.

Then the excitement really began as Andrew smuggled Bibles and Christian literature into Eastern Europe. Miracle after miracle took place as this young Dutchman trusted God for the impossible. Over and over again, God proved faithful through incredible, providential, and personal answers to prayers. And through it all, our family listened wide-eyed to this book that reads like a spy novel.

As we approached our destination, Clay reached to turn the tape off. "Dad!" all the kids cried at once, "Don't turn it off! We want to see what happens!"  As we talked about the story later that evening, Joel said, "I would love for my life to be like that. I would love to see miraculous answers to prayers and see God use me in a special way. I hope my life will be like that someday! We as a family need to pray like he did!"

I felt a thrill in my heart as I heard Joel voicing his desire to be used by God. In his eyes and voice I could detect the early signs of a heart totally committed to God and his purposes. This is what I had always longed to see in my kids. It is my central goal as a mother.

I don't just want my kids to be moral. I don't just want them to know all of the biblical rules for behavior. I don't just want them to make it through my home with good grades, no drug addiction, and no premarital sex.

I want them to leave my home with a hunger and passion to know God personally and to be used by him to accomplish great things for his kingdom. I want them to personally hear God's voice and have His Spirit's gentle touch and impression on their hearts as they read the Scriptures and struggle with the issues of their lives.

That's what God wants for our children as well. Whatever else we give our children as they grow, he wants us to pass along an eternal vision and purpose as well as a passion for Christ. If we are wise, we will keep this goal ever before us— to keep us focused on what really matters, on the ultimate purpose of our activity as parents.

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" ~ Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

How can you make the most of the opportunities presented to you with your family, today?

**winners of last week's Teaching From Rest giveaway ... Angella, Elaine P., and Sarah Gommeson! Please email Misty at mkrasawski@yahoo.com with your home address, and we'll get them to you asap!

Teach your children how to think, not just what to think & A Great Giveaway!

As I write this post, I am speaking at a conference in Wales with families from all over the world. 

"Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you."

Drinking tea in cathedral cafes with friends from different countries, jumping from subject to subject, hearing stories from all ages, has made my trip to the UK for Sarah's wedding rich for my soul. As a seasoned missionary, who cut my teeth on the world as a young woman, I am probably most comfortable amongst people from many cultures and languages. Seeing a bigger picture of life gives scope to my own.  I remember as a young woman in our international chapel in Vienna, Austria, being amazed that we had 40 countries represented on Sunday mornings. It was a little bit like glimpsing what heaven would be like. 

Now through London and on to Cambridge to meet with friends from 30 years ago, and spending 3 days with parents from all over Europe this weekend while speaking at a conference,  causes me to see the fingerprints of God transcending through all cultures, all of history. These days give me a renewed glimpse into eternity where we will all be together to celebrate the ways God has worked through all peoples, all languages, to show His reality through His faithfulness through many diverse stories lived well. 

As a young mama, I wanted my children to see the whole world and to hear great stories of those who lived in other cultures, other generations--Amy Carmichael, Winston Churchill, Florence Nightingale, Wilberforce and others from the UK, the brave story of William Tell and Heidi in Switzerland, the rousing faith tales of brother Andrew and the story of Corrie Ten Boom, The biography of Ghandi, the tales of Mother Theresa, and so many great people from all over the world. 

Stories make deep roadways on the heart that become the basis for our children becoming heroes in their own lifetimes. But hearing about heroes of all countries, including the heroes of the Bible, grant such scope for imagination. 

Another great book I am happy to give away to my readers this week is Give Your Child the World. 

When I received a review copy,  I began to thumb through the book and thought, "I love this book!" I made a note to talk to Kristen about doing a podcast about it. 

Much to my surprise, after I corresponded with Jamie, I read her introduction. She had also worked in Poland like I had, she married a wonderful man from the UK, also a place I love. the more I read, the more I realized that she had a vision for her home and children must like mine! My brain juices began to work and I wanted to read more.

As a woman who had spent years in missions, I wanted my children to meet people from all over the world, to study cultural and historical stories that would inspire them and show them how God could use them to reach out to their world in their lifetimes.

Giving children an appetite for great stories helps all of us to engage in thoughts beyond our own realm, and increases our wisdom for life.

 I didn't  just want to dump a lot of facts into my children's brains. I wanted to give them a heart for the whole world, to become Kingdom keepers for all of God's messages. I wanted to help my children learn to think well by exposing them to stories of great people from all over the world. And one of the ways I stretched my own children's brains was to read them hundreds of great books about people all over the world. 

I would follow up with, "I wonder where in the world God will take you to live your own story worth telling! I wonder how you will change the world with the messages God puts on your heart.

And so, I loved seeing that this book combined both great books to read to stretch your children's understanding about the very international world in which we live, but also a challenge to help our children to think.

The basis of fruitful education is giving a student a love for learning.

Helping to engage a child's heart in knowledge, ideas, history, stories that inspire, thoughts that produce life and vision is the foundation for shaping a child into one who will grow intellectually the rest of his life.

Great books and inspiring stories must comprise the shaping of a great mind. But to fully live well and to flourish in this era, we must help our children to be "world" Christians.

Long ago, I was riding on a train through Austria. I had just finished speaking on a mission trip in Dubai, Macedonia, Poland, Hungary and Austria. As I was contemplating the trip our family had just completed, I remember God whispering to me. "You know, all of these people you spoke to come to me through their own cultural understanding and apply scripture through the Spirit's direction in their lives. I am not American. I am a God of truth beyond this time, your country and your small cultural misconceptions of me. I love the people in every country as much as I love American Christians. Worship me as I am in all countries."

What a profound thought at the time. I did not even realize I was holding on to American Christianity and that I needed to see Him through a new lens. But God was speaking to me through my thoughts, my experiences as I was reading His word. 

The American culture has produced a generation of teachers and a philosophy of education that is often comprised of fill in the blank and multiple choice. Children are shaped by the idea that there is only one answer. Often, even as Christians, children are given moralistic instruction that indoctrinates them, but does not engage their mind in the life of ideas about God or their heart with faith.

Moralistic instruction tends to be rule based and produces pharisees but not disciples.

Rule based education produces children who can memorize and spit back what is expected, but does not necessarily prepare them to think, to develop convictions based on truth or shape their brains with ideas that extend creativity, and scope for life.

Education of children in our homes must not merely give them facts to memorize and things to know, but real education cultivates the mental muscle of teaching children how to think.

Strong thinking skills come from engaging minds in great books, interesting ideas, great minds, good writing. Discussion of ideas and stories gives children practice at learning how to evaluate, and own their own ideas. Writing opinions and evaluations of stories, political views, world shaping ideas develops mental muscles and increases the capacity of the students in strong thinking skills.

 Give Your Child the World is such a great book. Lists of literature about stories from all over the world are given as a guide to help us know how to immerse our children in stories and cultures all over the world. 

For children to stand up against wrong philosophies, they must have grappled with the fallacies and incorrect thinking of the world views that are not consistent with scripture. They must swim in ideas that are different and beyond their own cultural expectations. Having a comprehensive view of the world is a part of becoming His light to real issues that confront us on a daily basis. Working from a grid that is based on wisdom and knowledge provides real intellectual understanding.

That is why books, literature, poetry and history are the basis of teaching children to think and to give them a broad understanding of the world, not just America. Instead of boring facts to memorize, children learn real ideas in the context of real people and great thinkers through time and in different countries and exercise their minds on the best minds that have lived throughout history. Studying God's word and memorizing scripture, discussing a Biblical world view and seeing the world from the eyes and experiences from different cultures is the food for great thoughts.

Thinking properly is the basis of worshipping God with our minds.

And so, understanding the importance of giving children practice at thinking, articulating their thoughts, interacting with stories and writing opinions is so important to building a soul that comes to truth from exercising their own minds. Children and adults who are encouraged how to think will be able to evaluate truth from fiction, clear thinking from indoctrination and will be able to hold confidently to truth in a world that denies the reality of God.

So, today, ask a question, read a story, give opportunity for your child to think and to engage his personality and soul in the work of real education. And be sure to give your children a heart for the world!

This is my third week to have the privilege of giving away some of my favorite books. This week, I will be giving away 5 copies of Give Your Child the World. Leave a comment about one of your favorite authors or stories of any kind and you will be entered in the giveaway. Thanks, Jamie, for this great book.

Buy this great book HERE.

Buy this great book HERE.

Our Strength is Found in Trust--And In Pouring Out!

Depression and fear are natural results of being in and surrounded by difficulties--three times in John we read that Jesus was troubled. But when we move into the presence of the Lord, we begin to see life from His eyes, so we are able to refocus and gain strength and instruction about how we can move ahead with grace.

I was feeling exhausted and depleted one day several years ago, when those feelings of depression and fear threatened once again.  As a mom, it seems I have spent myself on others forever--serving them, loving them, providing for them, and caring for their endless needs.

But there was another part of the puzzle of our own particular family. We had all agreed that God had called our whole family to work as a team in ministry, which meant lots of travel, serving, odd hours, and preparing our hearts so we could give out. 

I have spent myself as much as possible, for as many years as I can remember! This night, when I had to pack up--again--and knew that we would only get two to three hours of sleep before our alarm awakened us at 3:20 a. m. so we could get to our taxi to the airport, and then board our 6 o'clock plane, I felt pretty much like giving up--or giving in, whatever that meant! But this was not a foreign feeling to me, so I knew not to water it and give it more attention, but to file it in the file drawers of heaven.

Then I reminded myself of an important truth: decisions should never be made at night. Happy hormones are down and we truly need a night of sleep to build them up again--never pay attention to the dark thoughts of a late night! They kill and deplete and destroy.

So I poured my heart out to the Lord for a bit.  "I think I need a long, long rest, Lord. I think I may be getting irrelevant, dried up, unusable--I don't think I can go one more year in ministry. I feel like I am failing in keeping the ideals I talk about in my own home. I am tired and drained and discouraged! This is only the first trip of our busiest season yet, and I'm already tired. Can I please have a year off--just to rest, refresh and gain perspective?"

And so the dark cloud swirled around, hovering around my depleted heart, threatening and accusing and intimidating.  As for me, I did what needed to be done--I finished packing!

Nate came in and we had a long talk.  This was my last time with him before he went back to New York the next day, so I found strength to give to him, knowing how important and rare talking time had become for us.

Just as I finished with him, Joy came in changed into her "flying" clothes and crawled in bed with me. Seems she was overwrought from tiredness and depleted adrenalin from many competitions in speech and debate, and at fourteen, it all left her feeling a little weepy. "Mom, I can't get to sleep. Will you please snuggle with me? I just need to be close to someone."

So I snuggled my sweet girl until 1:00 am thinking, One more time; I can give out one more time, because this little bundle is so very precious to me! Finally, I fell asleep, looking at the clock for the last time at 1:23 am! The impossible had been done again; there had been enough strength after all, in spite of my tempestuous emotions and thoughts. I call this the amazing endurance of faith, putting one faithful foot in front of the other. 

The next day was a blur--we slept as if we were drugged on the plane. But Clay picked me up at the Denver airport with some of my own homemade cinnamon bread, toasted, plus cheese and toasted pecans and a "welcome" heart for the hour long trip home. When Joy and I arrived at the house, Sarah and Joel had lit every candle in our house; they had cleaned and put on a beautiful instrumental cd, along with a fresh pot of tea with muffins for a lovely tea time. We enjoyed it all together, only having two more days with them before they both took off to Boston.

For so many years, this is how I had greeted them--after trips, in the mornings, or when they returned home from adventures. How very encouraged I was to be in the life of home again-- this time, a lovely treat that my own, young adult children had created for me.

And again I was reminded: difficulties and weariness are constants in life.  The paradox is this: pouring out of ourselves is the answer.  First, the pouring out of our hearts, our emotions and worries and discouragement, to God in prayer.  And then, by faith and obedience, embracing His help and strength as we turn and pour into the precious lives around us.

But now I have lived long enough to see that my serving of them has made them servants of me and those who would come into their worlds. What we water will grow, what we practice, they will become.

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. ~Proverbs 11:25

And for a fun treat, here are the winners of the LoveGodGreatly You Are Forgiven books!  Teresa, Sheila Miller, Shanna, K, Shelley Roy, Ashe Franklin, Katherine Lief, Bekah S, Carissa, and Liz Walker--please email Misty at mkrasawski@yahoo.com with your mailing addresses as soon as possible and we'll get those sent your way!!!

Loving Like Jesus Did

"In the twilight of our lives, we will be judged on how we have loved."St. John of the Cross

Trying to love people the way Jesus did can be intimidating. It can push us well beyond our comfort boundaries. Yet as we make this effort our children will learn what real love—and real ministry—is all about. The flame of inspiration may well be lit as our children observe our love in action—and begin to see the results in people's lives.

On Tea Time Tuesday today, I speak of 5 ways to practice love in our relationships near and far.

When our family first moved to the Colorado Springs area, we discovered a wonderful little restaurant that served a "proper" British tea, complete with scones and clotted cream. Since "teatime" is one of my favorite experiences, I frequented the little cafe often with my children in tow. Over a period of time, we befriended one of the waitresses who became dear to us. Each time we visited, we learned more about her life. And each time we returned home, the kids would have new excitement about praying for her.

"Mom, maybe we can have her to our house for tea and have a chance to be her friend and help her know the Lord."

The Lord did open up an opportunity for us to share a couple of our books with her, to talk about the Lord, and to become even closer to her before we moved away. And when we drove through the area recently on a trip, we stopped by the restaurant for a surprise visit. Our waitress friend threw up her arms in surprise when she spotted us coming in the door, and she treated all of us to lunch. Tears filled our eyes as she told us how much we had meant to her. I feel quite sure we will talk about our friend and pray for her for years to come.

So often in the context of our family routines the Lord has given us opportunities to reach out to others. It might be a checkout clerk at the store, a lonely neighbor, a nurse at the doctor's office, or a pesky neighbor child who hangs out at our house every day while his mother is at work.

Wherever the Holy Spirit places us is exactly where he can extend this special love through us. As we are faithful to take these opportunities to minister, our children will gradually get the idea that God wants to use them, one person at a time, to change the world by reaching out to people who need his love.

Romans 5:8 tells us that "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." It wasn't while we were praying for him to come or while we were being godly but while we were deeply involved in our particular brand of selfishness and sin that Christ saw our need, reached out toward us by coming to earth, and gave himself up to death for our benefit.

When we seek to inspire our children, we need to model for them this initiating principle. That means we put out our spiritual antennas, so to speak, wherever we go, looking for people in need. Then we take steps to reach out to them in some way, whether or not they are people we would normally feel comfortable with or people we think are good "prospects" for accepting Jesus. Even as Jesus died for us when we needed it, following him means befriending others who, like us, are in need of his grace. Then, once a relationship is formed or a friendship is started, we seek opportunities to share the truth of God's love and forgiveness as gently and attractively as we are able.

"Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart ... " ~Acts 2:47

Can you think of someone who might be in need of your hospitality today?  Invite someone for a meal or coffee, and love the way Jesus loved.

Why Education Should be Happening in Every Home & A Giveaway

Sarah's book embodies many of the ideals I held when I was homeschooling. A wonderful book!

"Sally, would you please, please start speaking and writing on Home Schooling, again???"

This was the most often received request at our Mom Heart conferences this year. Because I love all mamas and love just encouraging them in their roles, I have, perhaps, neglected writing articles on home schooling. But, if you have been in my home or have read some of my books, you know that I think all mamas are educators and trainers.

Each of us, no matter what school choice we make for our children, should be doing some educating of our children from our homes. Discussing important ideas, reading stories, teaching scripture, building character, are all areas moms should be practicing every day. 

Learn to inspire yourself.

Wise women learn from wise women. I have a sweet friend who is a kindred spirit--and she is wise. Sarah Mackenzie is gifted at communicating how to live through the whirlwinds of life and still be able to deeply impact your children. Her book brings heartfelt inspiration while granting freedom to live in peace every day, through all the circumstances of life.

We should all be reading great books to inspire ourselves in the direction of our ideals to fan the flames of our ideals. Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie is such a book.

  I loved, loved homeschooling my children and love who they have become. I home-schooled all of them from birth till they graduated from high school and pursued their own careers and school. By God's grace, they all love us, love God and have found affirmation and favor in their careers or educational pursuits, so I suppose I can now speak with some authority about how we did it in our home.

There is a way to homeschool that cooperates with the way God designed a home to be--and it will prepare them to flourish in life and give strength to your children. (A lot of the principles of helping adults and children to flourish are in The Life Giving Home book.)

This year, Sarah, my daughter, will be finishing her degree in theology at Oxford. Joy is getting her Masters at St. Andrews in Scotland, after being accepted to a Master's program at Yale,  Joel is completing his Masters in Cambridge, England at a wonderful Choral Music and conducting program. After having produced his first movie, Confessions of a Prodigal Son, and having it in Netflix and selling in many places, Nathan has been writing a book with me and working on a new movie.

Because all four of my adult children are thriving in their own fields of interest, and have been able to flourish in academic settings, many women ask me all the time, "How did you do it? What curriculum did you use?"

I was not a perfect mom and rarely in one year accomplished my educational goals with my children. But almost every day, we had devotions and read-alouds--sometimes at night, sometimes in the morning, sometimes at tea times, but I kept baskets of books everywhere--in every room, in the bathrooms, in their bedrooms. And each year on birthdays and Christmas and other holidays, they all received books as gifts and I helped each of them build their own libraries.

Yet, even as you plant seeds in a garden, protect the plants, fertilize them, water them-you should expect them to grow healthy and strong, so should all children grow healthy and mentally strong if the right seeds are planted, watered and cared for. 

I understood early that education, the acquisition of words and messages, faith and the ability to think provided a power and authority to people so as to give them an advantage in every field of study, every profession of life. And so, I focused on these as priorities--faith and reading and discussion.

We begin to understand the value of communication and messages by looking at scripture and even by looking at the one word definition God chose to use about Christ's name.

"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus's name--the word) and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1

If God's name was "word" then words and foundations of words are so very important.

So, if you do one thing right, read, read, read to your children. It is what was the foundation of the minds of all of my children.

There is so much pressure today, (as always), to conform to cultural norms--and to try to keep up with the Joneses and all the blogs and articles that everyone else writes about what kind of curriculum to use, when to put pressure on your 5 year old to become academic, what you have to complete in the teen years. But I did not follow or listen to the voices of culture. Even as I made a step of faith to educate my children full time at home, so I made a step of faith that we would follow life as God gave Clay and me our own ideals--not as the school system, or any other "authorities" told us to do. We were quite free to follow our own inclinations from reading and researching about what we thought would best build our children within the time limits of our own lives.

But really, really, really--the key to giving your children mental muscle power and an advantage in any kind of education, is to read out-loud to that child. All research complies with this, all teachers and writers say this, Clay and I say it emphatically in our own book. Read first--read daily---turn off media and put away work books and before you do anything else, read out-loud to them--and read out-loud to them until they are 30! Do not think that just because they can read at 6 that you should make them read to themselves and stop reading out-loud. Read to them because you get to share in mentoring, discussing ideas, your vocabulary is bigger and you can explain things and they develop better skills in thinking and writing and communicating when you read out-loud.

Here is another quotation that explains the culturally rich soul and the impoverished souls because of literacy and reading. Hope you enjoy these articles.

The poor and the affluent are not communicating because they do not have the same words. When we talk of the millions who are culturally deprived, we refer not to those who do not have access to good libraries and bookstores, or to museums and centers for the performing arts, but those deprived of the words with which everything else is built, the words that open doors.

Children without words are licked before they start. The legion of the young wordless in urban and rural slums, eight to ten years old, do not know the meaning of hundreds of words which most middle-class people assume to be familiar to much younger children.

Most of them have never seen their parents read a book or a magazine, or heard words used in other than rudimentary ways related to physical needs and functions. Thus is cultural fallout caused, the vicious circle of ignorance and poverty reinforced and perpetuated.

Children deprived of words become school dropouts; dropouts deprived of hope behave delinquently. Amateur censors blame delinquency on reading immoral books and magazines, when in fact, the inability to read anything is the basic trouble.” 

Peter Jennison

My sweet friend, Sarah Mackenzie, has written this great book, which embodies so many of the ideals I carried through my years of home education. Celebrating life with your children within the limitations of your own life puzzle. Reading great books. Giving a vibrant faith lived within the moments of life. You will love this book.

Giving Away 3 Books!

Sarah has generously offered to give away 3 books to my readers. Please leave a comment below and either tell us about yourself, your questions or why you would like to win the book. And if you already have it, we are happy to send one to the friend of your choice. Be inspired today!

But it HERE