Hope You Have a Wonderful Mother's Day! Still Time for the Giveaway Here ...

You are an amazing mom. Just take a look at your amazing children! Full of possibility and promise. They are your greatest gift and reward (Psalm 127:4).

Being a mother doesn't come free of struggle, difficulty, and hardship. Many moments in my life were filled with imperfect moments that overwhelmed me with stress. It is easy for us to sometimes imagine what else we could be doing. A more glamorous job, something overseas, something with meaning.

In the midst of the mundane tasks of laundry, cleaning, cooking meals, and bathing children, we often forget how incredibly important the task of motherhood truly is. God has entrusted us with lives to steward. We are responsible for the growth and education of these little lives that have the ability to flourish into world changers. Our children are the future of our culture. This generation will face many battles, and God has given us the job of preparing them for combat.

No meal, clean house, or blog article is more important than mothering your precious children. Psalm 127:3 says:

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

I am fully aware that in the midst of children fighting, a cluttered home, and extremely loud noises, you may not be viewing your children as a reward. Your patience, grace, love, and understanding in those moments of stress are what will cultivate your children into healthy, flourishing adults.

Never forget that God has a plan and a purpose for your life as a mother. He must think highly of you, as has trusted you with the most important job.

"The ultimate key to providing a nurturing environment in my home is me.

The physical surroundings can make a big difference. The lessons provided can be interesting. The curriculum I choose can challenge. 

In the end, though, what my children and husband need most from me is not a perfect home

or perfect training

or a perfectly spiritual role model

or a wife without faults--

but a mother and wife who is committed to doing whatever it takes to love them and make a living home for them and to fully live the life of Christ in the borders of this home in such a way, that they understand, feel, taste His reality."

~Sally Clarkson,

I hope you have a lovely Mother's Day. I know God is celebrating you!

It's been a treat to read all your comments about motherhood here--my team and I are praying for so many of you! I hope you'll win one of our prizes this weekend-- one of four motherhood book bundles! A copy in each of The Ministry of Motherhood, Own Your Life, and The Lifegiving Home. To enter (if you haven't already) just let us know ... what would be included in your perfect Mother's Day? Leave your answer in a comment below! We'll draw winners and announce them here on the blog Monday morning!

Stories to Inspire Motherhood

Jaime Showmaker

I collect old books.  Or, I should be more honest and say that I hoard old books. One of my favorite pastimes is waffling through old, dusty, second-hand book stores (the more stacks piled up to the ceiling, the better), searching for those perfect hardback editions of my all-time favorite stories. I have dreamy visions of a home library that contains beautiful copies of any classic that my sons would ever need (or want) to read over the course of their school years.  I work to fill our home with books that I believe will help strengthen my boys minds and nourish their souls. My husband teases me mercilessly because whenever I go anywhere, I usually come home with a trunk load of heavy, tattered, cheap, but gorgeous old books to add to our buckling shelves, and I say I am building our sons' inheritance. So, of course, when it comes to gifts, I can think of nothing I could ever want more than a beautiful, old, beloved book.

Two years ago, for Mother's Day, my husband and boys surprised me with just that. It was a first edition, signed copy of Kate Douglas Wiggin's book, Mother Carey's Chickens. I had been familiar with Wiggin's classic Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, but it had only been in the previous year that I had discovered this lesser-known gem, and it had quickly become one of my all-time favorites.  I opened the spine and discovered that on the front flyleaf, yellowed with age, Wiggin had inscribed a quote from the book: "I'm just a mother, that's all," said Mrs. Carey with a smile." As I read those hundred-year-old words, written in faded ink above her signature, I blinked back tears. I was overwhelmed that my husband had tracked down such a valuable copy of one of my very favorite books and had given it to me on such a special day. But the tears were induced by more than gratitude over such a priceless gift. It was Wiggin's words in beautiful script that moved me: I'm just a mother, that's all. 

"A mother, living well in her God-ordained role, is of great beauty and inestimable value to the future history of any generation." -Sally Clarkson, Desperate: Hope For The Mom Who Needs To Breathe

CLICK HERE to read more at Storyformed.com

The Importance of Motherhood ... And a Mother's Day Giveaway!

It's not easy being a child these days.

I listen to them talking around tables, gathered in groups at restaurants; watch their characterization on television shows and movies. I wonder if we understand as well as we think we do what it's really like to grow up during this season. Sometimes it seems that so much has changed, today's children live in a different world than the one I grew up in. The hurried, harried pace of it all wearies me as a mother, and I can only imagine its effect on this generation which has known nothing else.

As the world's raging current rushes past our homes, what happens inside?

Are we creating spaces of peace for our children? When they come to us with the hard questions about the difficult things in life, do we have real answers for them? Are we well-equipped to buffer the young ones from the onslaught of the world even as we prepare them to make their way--and even overcome-- in it?

They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. And I do believe this is true when we think about what our children really need from us as mothers.

They don't need sweet platitudes of faith that will momentarily placate their emotions. They need the authentic strength that comes from the true foundation of a biblical worlveiw and a proper understanding of the real Christ who is worthy of their worship. They need an unwavering, internal moral and spiritual compass that will help them weather today's storms and tomorrow's and will guide them for the rest of their lives. They also need to see what real faith looks like when lived day in, day out; so they will have a pattern to follow.

The process of providing such gifts to my children is what I've come to think of as the ministry of motherhood. I believe it's central to the calling of anyone God has privileged to bring children into this world.

If you are a mother, it's your ministry too." ~from The Ministry of Motherhood

Part of what's so difficult is that this same current carries us mamas along with it. Determining to live with grace and faith, to walk in integrity, to slow down--even to enjoy summer! -- will require a line in the sand. We must own our lives! We have to decide what's most important, or culture will be happy to do that job for us.

I so pray my words here are a blessing and encouragement to you in this incredibly important, great work of motherhood. This week, I'm giving away four prizes--bundles of a few of my books; The Ministry of Motherhood, Own Your Life, and The Lifegiving Home! Enter by answering this question below in the comments ...

How do you feel about the ministry of motherhood?

Friends, Angels and Foundations & A New Podcast!

Running into an Angel Friend, Kristen and I sharing messages on our hearts, being with friends,  made this a wonderful conference.

Cottage talk is one of my girls' favorite subjects. As they have grew toward independence, they would often speak of moving into their own places and building a haven for themselves and their own families. Sarah has made her row-house in Oxford where she and Thomas live, a place of beauty, interest, charm and comfort. How fun to have dreamed with her over the years and to have watched the reality of her artist touch as she built her home into a haven of life. Our talks always included their taste in architecture, decorating, colors, favorite pieces of art and furniture. To build an atmosphere and to design comfort and beauty and functionality in a home, requires forethought, skill, materials, planning and then a lot of sweat equity.

But, the home or apartment or castle that becomes home is only as secure as its foundations. If the foundation is sure, true, built well, it will hold the home in place for endless years, through all who live there, all who bring color and life and beauty in their own way.

The same is true of child nurturing--or building your home into a legacy of spiritual  and emotional, educational life requires laying strong sure foundations.  With planning and hard work our home becomes a  place of character building, development of moral character, cultivating faith, teaching manners, modeling mature relationships, slowly building and understanding of love and how to express it and so much more. Each of these facets builds a place that can also reflect beauty, values, personality and excellence.

But the building of any kind of superior, lasting house, spiritual or real, will not happen in by merely reacting to life.  This sort of house must be planned and formed and shaped with wisdom, skill and with diligence.

Today, I am announcing a summer series that I have been working on about building foundations for your own heart and soul so that you will have a grid from which you plan in building the foundations of your own children's lives and hearts. We will follow the chapters in our newly revised and reedited book, the 10 Gifts of Heart. You can get your copy from Amazon in the next week or so to use for the summer to take notes, to read and to be inspired about shaping areas in your home and children's lives that will help build them into strong adults when they exit your home. (It is in the process of being accepted into Create Space, a print on demand function of Amazon.)

I do pray for all of you who read here--that you will find God to lift your burden--that you will find friends to meet with to encourage you along this important path and that you will understand how very much your dedication to raising your children for His pleasure and glory will matter for eternity.

I am also sharing a podcast we just recored here in Portland where I am staying for a few days. I can't wait for you to hear the story of my sweet friend who rescued Joy and me in Italy in our time of need and I did not know she was going to show up in Portland at our Mom Heart conference. What a surprise to see my friend Shauna from Italy here in the States. 

You will also hear from Kristen and me. We will be doing lots of fun things this summer to give you ideas of activities to do in your home over the summer, recipes, posters, books to read and other fun ways to help the summer pass well. Hope you will like our ideas and be renewed and re-inspired this summer to build strong foundations of faith in your home.

Enjoy! I am off to tea time here in the Northwest but love hearing from you. Let me know how you enjoy our podcasts.

Child-Like Faith, and Holding On To Dreams

One night several years ago, my two girls and I were on my bed talking of dreams and the lives we hope to enjoy as a family. I was covered up--my two girls were tucking me in! Truth be told, it was a bittersweet time for me, listen to their hearts and desires, as I know that there are many dreams I have held all of my life that have not yet come true ... but I still dream them. And of course, I knew even then that some of their dreams would lead them far from me--as indeed, they have! But how precious it was to hold this time in my memory when hearts were open and deepest desires shared and we were all snuggled together as I fought to keep my eyes open.

God's will originally was that all women would have the opportunity to get married, to have children (who are by all Biblical standards, a blessing), and to do their work of life in harmony with their partners in life, their husbands. They would have the glory of being able to leave a legacy of righteousness, beauty, productivity, legacy and tradition. Through the family, they were to pass on righteousness and a loving relationship with God for every generation.

Truth be told, I want to support my children whatever diverse circumstances their lives hold and to be a source of love and support, if they get married, if they stay single, if they are able to have kids, if they work or don't--I want to be the cheerleader they need wherever God leaves them. 

However, I would love for each of my children to have a life partner who will be their best friend, companion, comforter, to provide a sense of belonging in their lives through all the battles, sadnesses, joys and adventures. I would love that. But, if they do not find that in this lifetime, I know they will all find stable companionship and support as "I will always have your back," siblings,  as the are a close group. Still I pray for it for each of them.

Yet, all of us find ourselves in a broken world, where few share our values.  Many children of my own children's generation have ended up with broken hearts because of growing up in broken families, with wounds, with neglect or passivity, or anger passed on from generations of anger passed on.

I would love to say that my children will all have the opportunity to meet godly, righteous spouses who have a dream of building family influence in their generation. I pray for it every day. It is the pattern God designed. 

Yet, I have also tried to help prepare my children for the reality of the disappointment that comes from living in a broken world, where they may have to endure the challenges of life with grace without getting what they had hoped for. There is no magic bullet, no magic formula to ward off irrational, immature people who will come their way, or to protect them from the evil that exists in every realm of lifel. 

 As we face another day, I am sought to give them hearts renewed for bringing light and beauty into the moments of their lives, to be a witness to the world of those things we have cherished in this life, whatever God's will ends up being for them.

C.S. Lewis reminds us that we have deep longings for another world because we were made to have those longings fulfilled. So in this life we live with the tension of what we can dream and imagine in a world that falls short of our ideals.

At the end of one of our Momheart conferences, one sweet woman, in tears, asked me, "How long do you keep praying for your dreams to come true, for God to answer prayers, and when do you quit and accept God's response as 'no'?"

Well, I can't answer exactly because I don't know God's will for her life, but I do feel that the older I get, the more childlike I seek to be. There is a temptation in life to become cynical and crusty. When I studied some of the verses about God's will this year, however, I was impressed again to pursue child-like (not childish) faith--to keep believing my God can do anything; to believe in His goodness and in prayer.

Maybe a child has become a prodigal or a marriage is a lonely one or brokenness in some form has scarred your life--and these are not the things you dreamed about happening in your life. The older I get the more I see the consequences of sin in our world and of people making decisions that have terrible consequences--and all of those things are a part of what effects our lives.

But we can seek to make our marriage stronger, one of peace, one where the life within us brings grace and beauty. Or we can keep praying for our prodigal and practice unconditional love and forgiveness in a way that will win our wayward child's heart. We are called by God to be a redeemer in the midst of our circumstances as well as to trust Him to work.

There is a seasoned wisdom in faith that says, "I am willing to believe in miracles because I know you can work in amazing ways in my life, Lord. But I am also willing to wait for you to reveal your goodness in my life in your time, because even while waiting, I choose to believe that you hear me, you care and you will take care of me even in the questions of life.

So, I continue sharing my own dreams with Him. I pray for miracles. I pray for Him to do great things in and through the lives of my children, Clay, and me. I ask Him to knock down walls, to stretch our sphere of influence, because I want everyone to know how personal, responsive and gracious He is. I want, like a child, not to measure my life by what I can provide for myself, but by what He is able to do as I believe and trust in Him.

It may be that some of my deep down, inner secret dreams may not be realized until heaven. But I can never imagine a time when I will be able to say, "Now I think God is telling me to live by what I can see and not to have faith anymore!"

And so, today, I am writing down in my journal just some of the things He has put on my heart to keep dreaming--and then placing them--and my girl's dreams-- into His lovely, capable hands, knowing and having experienced that over all my years, He has shown me His faithful love.

How about you? What are you dreaming/praying for? How can you choose to live as a child who knows she will see her Father's goodness and expects that He will take care of her. 

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27: 4

A Picture Paints a Thousand Stories: Why Illustrations Matter & a New Storyformed Podcast

In this episode, Holly Packiam and Jaime Showmaker discuss about ILLUSTRATIONS. Are illustrations cute ornaments to the words of a story? Or can they be in themselves a faithful guide into the story? Do they work at a deeper level, beyond words, so that even children who can't read are somehow drawn into beauty and wonder? We believe that illustrations, like good art, have the power to awaken wonder, and draw us to beauty and goodness of Christ. Find out how in our latest podcast! And don't forget to check out the notes below for links to the stories we referenced. Happy listening! 

CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast and to view the links to the books and resources we shared.

Own Your Life- Now's The Time!

This day, I didn't feel like I could face the demands of my toddling crew one more minute. Hearing them screaming, running, "I'll get to mama first," was sweet enough but at this moment, I didn't think I had one more ounce of strength to meet them as they pounced on me. And so I stayed sitting on the floor behind my couch in my bedroom where they were not tall enough to peer over to see my head. I had been sitting, pondering life with a big cloud hovering at the moment they ran into my room. Oddly, amazingly, they did not find me or even look beyond the couch that hid me. At first it was a fun achievement to me, then it became a refuge for me, away from the demands for just a few quiet minutes.

 "God," I asked, "I am stuck in this impossible situation, living with my mother-in-law, in the middle of flatland Texas, amidst critters and bugs, no salary, no friends, no support systems and this is not what I dreamed our life would become. Please show me that you are still there, that somehow I am not invisible."

It was in this very place that Whole Heart Ministries was born. Our future would allow us to write 20+ books, host conferences for tens of thousands of women, work internationally, raise 4 godly kids, but at this particular moment, I could not see into the future. I could not see anything of significance happening at all.

God seemed to whisper to my heart, ... "This is the place I want you to worship Me. Being faithful in these circumstances is where you will find the glory of My favor. This is exactly where I want you. This time of testing will be the making of your faith, the humbling of your heart, the shaping of your character, the writing of your story.

You can choose to waste this time with a bad attitude, to leave this situation, or to waste your days in ungratefulness and complaints. And then your life will continue moving through darkness and dim hallways.

You have a choice to make: if you trust Me and live faithfully in this juncture, I will make this a place of favor and honor for you. But if you look for a way out and disqualify yourself from the blessings and favor I had planned to give you, you will find yourself in the midst of a prolonged wilderness."

And one day at a time, God helped me to take one step forward, to put my issues into His hands, to live forward by faith into what He was doing, what I was becoming. And now, as I look back, I am beyond amazed at what He has accomplished on our behalf through His generous faithfulness. How important it was, I can see now, that I learned to own my life right where I was, to dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

This month we'll celebrate Mother's Day, just in case you've missed the giant signs in the grocery store, commercials on the radio and television, and posters at the mall!  I hope you all are gifted with a massage, or a maid, or dozens of roses. But since that's probably not practical, perhaps we should wish for sticky fingers and lots of laundry to wash, which is more likely! With my own children scattered off to their own lives of study and service, I'm a bit sentimental for the good old days of washing lots of sticky fingers.

My publisher, Tyndale, is offering a special on the ebook version of the book from which the quote above was taken: Own Your Life. From May 1-14, it's available for only $2.99 <--click to order! This particular book means so much to me, as I believe it's imperative for all of us to make a choice; not to be miserable in our own difficult situations (we all have them!) or fearful as we look at the world, full of so much we cannot control. Instead, we must look to God in hope, and determine to make the most of the puzzle and time He has given to us. This book is not just for mothers, but for all who want to be helped, inspired, challenged to own their lives and to move forward to a life filled with the beauty, love, grace and blessing of God's favor. 

But in light of motherhood, we recognize that there are so many parts of a mama's day which can come to feel very mundane and tiresome. Laundry, making meals, general cleaning up--no one gets too excited to tackle these jobs day after day! But if these activities make up so much of our lives, perhaps they're in need of reframing. Maybe you'd enjoy laundry more if you hung it out on the line (at least some of it, or just on the perfectly sunny sort of days!) Turning on fun music and singing along has made many a meal cleanup a fun family time in the Clarkson home, rather than something to be dreaded. Just adding rhythms to our days so everyone knew what to expect when was reassuring to many of my children. This day is the very shaping of history and laying the foundation for greatness in the souls dwelling in my home. But seeing it for what potential it really has right now, is so important.

Of course, there is so much more to life. Having laundry to fold means my family has clothes, and dirty dishes mean we've shared another meal together! I can be reminded to be thankful as I set myself to these tasks, too. Having a long range vision, remembering the goal of our lives--to honor God and love Him, to share Him with others and accomplish the purposes He has set us here to accomplish--this helps me not feel too stuck in a rut, but rather appreciate that it's the little things done well that make up a life.

How can you own-- and enjoy!--your own life, today?

How to Choose a Great Read-Aloud

When I think of pleasant, lyrical words that somehow perfectly describe my thoughts, my mind leaps to the beautiful words of a well-know character in a story, dear Anne of Green Gables. She has a way of cultivating beauty wherever she wanders. Anne can look at a serene sunset, describing its beauty and be reminded of the goodness in this world. She wanders under wavering willow trees and hears the sweet whispers of the wind.

Hearing beautifully written stories, shapes the imaginations of our children, which is truly a gift to them— a gift to be able to see the mystery and magic of our world now, and a preparation for what is to come. 

So, what is a ‘great’ read-aloud? How do I know if a beautiful story like Anne of Green Gables should be read independently or as a read-aloud? One possible indicator is when your child says, “Mom, will you please keep reading….just one more page? Please!!” You know you’ve likely found a great read-a-loud when your your kids are asking for more. There are numerous books out there that have a captivating story and are also wonderfully written. CLICK HERE to read more on the Storyformed site

Today, I Will Take Time to Be Present & A New Podcast

I want to take my walks and see the color, the shadows, the light, and breathe in the life of this day, this moment. 

Yesterday, we were snowed in, AGAIN! April 29 and had almost a foot in some areas. There was no reason to go out in this storm. I purposed myself to do some hated jobs--cleaning and throwing out some areas that have needed attention for a long time.

But the delight in my day was that Nathan and Joy both unbeknownst to the other, face-timed me twice, for a long time. I am so grateful that since my children live far off, I can not only talk to them, but see their faces that are so precious to me. I am happy that my children are finding purpose in life and pursuing ideals. But I am also a mama who misses them so much on some days, I almost feel it physically. So, when I get lengthy conversations, face to face, and we talk about cute earrings, theology, movies, friends, struggles, a funny thing that happened, it fills my longing for time with them. Hanging up is harder for me than it is for them, but I don't let on because I want to fuel their energy to pursue their lives without any baggage from me. And I do work on keeping a thankful attitude to support all of them with what they decide as adults.

But there is a realization when you are older, that you can't take time back, or have do-overs.

But, I was reflecting on what I would do if I had it to do over again and how I would want to reframe the way I looked at my days. I would want to be sure they knew every day how much I loved them and how much more God loved them. I would want to be sure that they all really heard and experienced the messages my heart, that  I wanted to imprint on theirs to store inside for when they would need to find wisdom, grace and strength..

I would stop in the midst of my chores to listen to a boy-joke being shared and I would laugh out-loud and tell them they were so much fun.

I would stop unloading the groceries when my husband is talking to me and look deeply into his eyes and listen to what he is saying, communicating with my whole self, "You are such a treasure to me. I want to know what you are thinking and feeling and dreaming."

I would take the moment to tossle a head as I am passing through a room and say, "I am so blessed to have you as my very own child. You make me so happy, just being you."

I would look into tearful girl eyes and show sympathy without even giving one word of advice.

I would sit down to build legos.

I would stop what I am doing, to go outside to look at a "treasure" when I hear, "Hey, Mama, come look!"--an apple blossom blooming on our very first apple tree or a worm on the grass or whatever had capture their curiosity.  

I would camp more outside on our deck and cuddle up under the sleeping bags more often to marvel at the stars and the one who made them.

I would open my eyes to take a snapshot of today--just as it is--with boy noises, loud discussions, toys being played with intently, piano being practiced, thoughts being shared, messes coming and going..

Instead of giving advice when a child is opening their heart through tears, I would listen with a sorrowful, sympathetic heart and take seriously what they were feeling, instead of mentally planning that the clothes in the dryer need to be folded.

I would laugh more, worry less, lecture only on rare occasions, overlook messes instead of wasting my time being neurotic, notice the fingerprints of my maker in the moments of my days, and cherish those few years when we were all home, together, being the Clarksons and celebrating life.

Someone had to take time to plant each bulb to make this so beautiful. Let me not walk by without noticing.

I would choose to really look and notice all the beauty in my daily walks--to really see spring shouting its alleluia, instead of brooding or fretting about things that would soon pass.

So, this weekend, I will make one more cup of tea in front of our living room window and look at the sparkling snow remembering that each snowflake is a different design and a reflection of His detailed care. 

 I will engage my heart in storing up pictures of the precious ones still here. I will listen, love, wash dishes and mugs happily and live fully in the few moments remaining before this season flies quickly into another season, and I will never be able to live this day well again.

And I will email my far away kids an "I love you and miss you" note, to tell them how very much they mean to me, how I believe in them and in their futures--which do have a hope, and how blessed I am to have them as my very own.

What would you do?

Kristen and I are asking all our friends to come and get to know one another on instagram today. Would you like to join us? Follow our accounts @sally.clarkson and @kristenkill, and share about what you do to live a sustainable life using the hashtag #momheartmonday. You can meet other moms, share ideas with one another and with us by searching the hashtag today, and every Monday. We can't wait to meet you there!

Links to All the Things we Love and Talk about in the PodcasT So that you can enjoy them with us!

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Questions to Ask Yourself in Hard Times

 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” Luke 22:31-34

I can only imagine the feeling around the table on the night Jesus was betrayed and taken away from His friends. The tension in the city full of Passover celebrants, the stress around the table as Jesus, knowing what is ahead of Him, breaks bread and passes wine and declares that it is His body and blood they are partaking in.

We forget sometimes that there is a real enemy who hates for us to keep faithful to our ideals for our families and for the Lord. Satan, Peter tells us, is our adversary. He prowls through the earth--like he did when he asked God if he could seek to destroy Job, and recorded again when Jesus says to Peter, "Satan desires to sift you like wheat." Grateful that He also records that He Himself prays for us in times like these.

We are, after all, caught up in a battle that rages in this world--a battle for the hearts and souls of men, called to give allegiance to the one true God, to believe in His goodness, to give the gift of our faith in the darkness--to choose to believe and praise and worship and live for His reality yet to be revealed.

We are getting slowly used to stepping beyond our difficulties and seeing who is really at war with us. We have to sometimes go through dark corridors of dealing with stress, issues, and then by obedience moving on to the pathways of faith, not by feelings, but by depending on His truth.  We can praise Him for His power and the ability to use all things in our lives to make us more into the image of Christ. We ask for His strength and for His grace and power. We walk by faith into our next day, confident that He will always be our defender and our Father and care for all the details of our lives.

I have learned to ask myself questions in the midst of my own dark times, and often asked these questions of other women, too:

Who would like for you to remain bitter? Discouraged?

Who would like for you to give up on your ideals--to say, "I can't do this anymore." ?

Who wants you to be angry at your spouse? To be resentful of your children? Your family? Your in-laws?

Who wants you to worry and fret and stew and hold on to pet fears?

Who is trying to separate you from your friends?

Who is tempting you to think that God does not hear prayer, that He doesn't really care about you? To doubt God's goodness?

I think that it is at this very moment--when the darkness comes in--that faith is of most value and pleases God the most and absolutely frustrates Satan. Satan doesn't think we will believe and be strong. God is already waiting to lead and provide and help. But we have this honorable moment, when we can say, "I love you. I believe you. I will choose to trust you."

David reminds us in the Psalm 139:7,

"Where can I go from thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, (hell) behold you are there.

If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there your hand will lead me and your right hand will take hold of me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to you and the night is as bright as teh day. Darkness and light are alike to you."

And so, we who are the children of the light, can be comforted by Him, who sees all, is over all, is with us through it all, knowing He will use it for our good and for His glory. May He give you encouragement today!

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Today, you can also find me in another friend's space. An interview about my rhythms as a mom, things I would have changed, stories about my life are all on gracelaced.com. Ruth even put one of my favorite verses on a lovely poster, with my favorite flower--a purple bearded iris. Her art is lovely and something very special. Enjoy!

By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:4

The above was a favorite verse of mine through out the years my sweet ones were at home to remind me to cultivate the reality of Christ in all places of my home, the music, the love given, the meals cooked, the art on the walls, the devotions shared--all rooms filled with the riches of His wisdom truth and love. 

My sweet friend Ruth at gracelaced is doing a special series this month called, Pictures of Grace. Ruth creates such wonderful beauty with scripture and watercolors, and I'm so glad to be part of this series and her blog this week! She's created a lovely print of some of my favorite verses. in Proverbs 24. This week she's hosted several lovely ladies, and right now she has a special going on, too! Take a look at her blog and read her interview  with me here ... Gracelaced

And this is the amazing print she's made of my verse! Love it so much--and you can get a copy at her shop. Enjoy!