Sometimes It Takes a Star To Remind Me How Big God Is

When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7

Some years ago, our family was sharing delectable hamburgers and sizzling steaks outside on the mountain deck of close friends. They had borrowed a high powered telescope from a relative to give all of our children an opportunity to celebrate the night sky on a clear summer's night. Having never had this experience, I had no idea  how deeply beguiled my soul would become from viewing the intricate artistry of God amongst the constellations, cast out infinitely across the heavens above.

After every child had taken his turn at the amazing telescope and gasped and danced in delight, my children all said, "Mom, you have to see this--this is your star--it is bright blue (my favorite color)!"

As I peered into the scope, it took my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the picture inside the scope, and then, suddenly, I was confronted by an astonishingly bright blue, dancing star, seemingly sparkling and turning in beauty and celebration of life. I was mesmerized as I had heard all of my life of "twinkling" stars, but had never seen something so clearly beautiful with my own eyes. The telescope had revealed to me what had always been there, but what I had never been able to perceive with my own limited powers.

I was deeply changed that night, unexpectedly. Confronted once again with the "bigness" of God, the divine beauty and power beyond my understanding. A realization dawned on me that I can only see circumstances and the steps of my journey from a very limited perspective. Yet, God, my heavenly Father, who is vastly more infinite and wise than my small mind can comprehend, is above all moments and all days.

Often, as a "toddler" I can shake my fist and say, "God, don't you care that I am going under or that you are making my life or marriage or children's lives more difficult than I can imagine?"

And yet, God is not threatened by my tantrums as He has lived through the fist shaking and heart rending prayers of so many generations of children. And because He is a good Father, He does not give in to our demands, knowing that His will is far better for us and that He truly is able to turn all things together for the good for those of us who are called to His purposes and who are willing to wait upon Him to work His ways through us.

Usually serving God requires endless waiting on His timing and His ways. And yet, if we could remember the lesson of the Capella star--there are things going on that are truer than the present issues and circumstances that we perceive. God is suiting our soul, building our character, stretching our spiritual and mental and emotional muscles to become Holy, to truly be able to reflect Christ back through us to a world so desperately in need of light. If we obediently trust Him and wait for Him and rest in the knowledge that He is good, even though we live in a fallen place, we will live to see His goodness and His blessing abundantly in His time. He redeems all, He restores all, He is the resurrection power.

Yet, all things may not be obvious until we are with Him, in His place in eternity.

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." If we are living for satisfaction and glory in this world, we will not find ultimate satisfaction. I wish I had not fought against God so many times in the years of my family's journey. God allowed so much, but He was also there to walk with me through all of the harsh realities of life and in the midst of it, He forged faith and depth and character in the lives of my children that they would otherwise not have had.

When we pray, "God, make my children holy!", we must understand that it means their road and ours will be challenging and stretching, as all of our faith muscles will have to be stretched in order for us to become strong. I see that in spite of the ways my mother heart would have over-protected my children, God was having His way and building my children into strong adults. His ways trumped my ways because He heard my prayer to make them strong.

I love this quote by David Adam, from the Edge of Glory:

"He forever goes before us to prepare a place for us. He is on the road we tread. Wherever life is leading us, He has gone before. Perhaps we have no clue about what lies ahead; we know who is ahead of us, so the future is not quite unknown." 

I hope something will make you feel small today, and remind you of being in the powerful hands of God!

Have you taken a look at our calendar for June? You can download it here: Lifegiving June

A Heart for Friendship

Cultivating a heart for friendship lays a foundation that will serve your children, (and you!) the rest of your life. One of the deepest blessings of my life at this stage is the very close, intimate, inspiring, fun friendships I have with my now adult children. But, of course, as with everything else, it took years of heart-work. After all, we invested years and years in one another's lives. Kristen and I hope this podcast and post will be of help to you this summer as you invest in friendships with your own children and friends.

1.   Time and Availability Whatever the age, children develop better when they know we will make our time together a priority. People grow close not through monitoring one another’s behavior but by working together, playing together, talking together, celebrating together, weeping together. Relationships develop when people are there for each other—and that’s as true for parents and children as it is for anyone else.

2. Acceptance and Unconditional Love In building meaningful relationships with my children, I must learn to accept unconditionally the person God made each of them to be—even with personality traits that differ from mine or that make me uncomfortable. I need to accept the “warts” and irritating characteristics that may never change. I have to love my children with a mature commitment that reaches past my feelings for them, which can change from circumstance to circumstance.

3. Affirmation and Encouragement I believe most children, (and adults) are acutely aware of their limitations and their failures. While they might need correction for their mistakes and or even confrontation for their sinful selfishness, they also need recognition for their real efforts and accomplishments and positive reminders of who they can be with God’s help. And sometimes we need to remember, "It is to a man's honor to overlook a sin."

4. Grace Our children need us to give them the grace to grow. If we make them think that we expect perfection, then eventually they may give up trying to please us, because they know they will always fail, or they may spend their whole lives feeling guilty for their failures. And sometimes when life has too many rules, as teens, our children will quit telling us the truth of what they are doing for fear we won't understand or will condemn them. (We cannot live by fear.)

5. Relationship Training We need to consciously train our children in the skills and attitudes that will enable them to sustain positive relationships. A person can only experience true intimacy when his heart has been deepened and exercised in real love and commitment. Practice in manners and speech and gracious behavior comes over a lifetime of cultivating this day in and day out). This is taken from  Mission of Motherhood by me!)

Episode #85 A Heart for Friendship

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

"You are the first example of friendship to your children." - Sally Clarkson

" True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." C.S. Lewis

You were never meant, or expected, to do life alone. In this episode, Sally and Kristen discuss how to impart a love of community and friendship to our children. They encourage moms to model how to serve in friendship themselves, as the first model their families will see, and explain what it looks like to serve in friendship through trust, loyalty, empathy and encouragement. They share how to become an invitation to others in everyday life, and how to teach your children to be a friend through:

-Trusting the Holy Spirit

-Training them how to share and live generously

-Teaching them HOW to create community

Ultimately, Sally and Kristen encourage and equip moms to cultivate their own hearts for service and love, while becoming a living example of how to put others first.

Then, they are joined by special guest and friend, Elizabeth Foss who shares her own testimony of trusting God even when we feel weary. Reflecting on her cancer journey and the community knit in her own family mothering nine children, Elizabeth reminds us all that there is nothing that we face that Christ has not also endured. She's also sharing about a special new project that we are excited to share with you called Take Up and Read 

Episode #85 A Heart for Friendship

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

"You are the first example of friendship to your children." - Sally Clarkson

" True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." C.S. Lewis

You were never meant, or expected, to do life alone. In this episode, Sally and Kristen discuss how to impart a love of community and friendship to our children. They encourage moms to model how to serve in friendship themselves, as the first model their families will see, and explain what it looks like to serve in friendship through trust, loyalty, empathy and encouragement. They share how to become an invitation to others in everyday life, and how to teach your children to be a friend through:

-Trusting the Holy Spirit

-Training them how to share and live generously

-Teaching them HOW to create community

Ultimately, Sally and Kristen encourage and equip moms to cultivate their own hearts for service and love, while becoming a living example of how to put others first.

Then, they are joined by special guest and friend, Elizabeth Foss who shares her own testimony of trusting God even when we feel weary. Reflecting on her cancer journey and the community knit in her own family mothering nine children, Elizabeth reminds us all that there is nothing that we face that Christ has not also endured. She's also sharing about a special new project that we are excited to share with you called Take Up and Read, a place that invites women to read, to ponder, and to respond to the word of God and provides a gorgeous journal that can aid you in pouring out your own heart to Jesus, to embrace him in any area where you may be suffering, or to learn how to come alongside and be a friend to another person in your life who is walking a road of consolation.

We pray today will be a gift to your hearts as you listen along with us!

Elizabeth Foss is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She’s happy curled up with a good book or tinkering with a turn of phrase. Long walks make her heart sing and occasionally cause her to break into a run. Though she travels frequently, it’s usually only between northern Virginia and her beloved Charlottesville, or to the weekend’s dictated soccer or dance destination. You can find her personal blog at www.elizabethfoss.com

Find this week's Bible Memory Printable by clicking here!

And if you're looking for our June Calendar full of things to do, books to read, art to view etc. etc. you can find that here!

This week, try teaching your children one of your favorite childhood games--chess, jacks, hopscotch ... whatever you enjoy! Have a wonderful time just being friends.

I WILL BE DOING A SHORT FACEBOOK LIVE ABOUT SOME ASPECTS OF CULTIVATING A LOVE FOR YOUR CHILDREN THROUGH RELATIONSHIP MONDAY, 7:30 Mountain TIME AT THEREALSALLYCLARKSON ON FACEBOOK. HOPE YOU CAN JOIN ME. I WILL ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT OF HOW TO LOVE YOUR CHILDREN WHEN IT IS HARD TO DO.

The Importance of Bedtime Routines

Some years ago I was speaking at the Military Regional Women’s Conference in Hawaii, and I took my youngest, Joy, as my travel companion. Someone asked Joy, then sixteen, to share how to reach the heart of your child or teenager. I had no idea what she would say in response because she and I had recently experienced some conflict in our relationship.

Joy tossed her long, red-streaked brown hair and commented without hesitation, “Every night, no matter what, I knew my mom would come to my bed and spend time with me and talk with me and pray with me before I went to bed. It was our time, when I could pour out my fears, my secrets, my confessions, and my dreams. If you want to win your teen, you need to give them time to talk to you, and bedtime is a great time to do that.”

I was a little surprised to hear that out of all the things we had done together, our bedtime routines came to her mind first. But it made sense when I thought about it. Early in our marriage, Clay and I had heard someone speak about bedtime being an important moment for children, and I had taken that to heart. When each of our children was born, I determined that I would spend an extended time with him or her every night, and I would try to not let them go to bed without a special word of blessing.

Blessing children each night before they go to bed gives them the gift of a peaceful, restful, loved heart. No matter what a day has held—fussing, conflict, excitement, drudgery, joy, celebration, hard work—it’s a way of ending the day well. A bedtime blessing ties all those loose ends together with unconditional love and helps put to rest all the burdens of the day by placing them into the hands of God.

No matter what has transpired throughout the day, we can close it by speaking to our children’s hearts with something like “I love you no matter what. Please forgive me for my impatience today” or “I forgive you for your disobedience today” or “You are very precious to me. I am blessed to have you. You may go to sleep without bearing anger or a guilty conscience or fear because I love you and God loves you, and He will be with you. Sleep in peace, my precious.”

It’s not always easy to manage this, of course. Bedtime can be a burden for an exhausted parent, and it’s not always possible to spend extended time with each child.

Sometimes it’s all but impossible to keep from losing our patience! Please do not imagine our own family bedtimes were without struggle. Not all bedtimes go as we hope, but making a regular rhythm of the closing of the day helps everyone learn to know what to expect. 

But I think when one is intentional about making a bedtime blessing an anchor of the day and guiding and leading your children, friends, and guests to expect that the end of the day will be relational, bedtime can become a grace to all that has transpired throughout the day. A bedtime blessing gives children one last impression of their whole day, and it is a redeeming time of bringing and restoring and offering peace. Best of all, the same principle works with a spouse or roommate.

Clay and I had elaborate bedtime routines for our children when they were young so that they knew what was coming and more easily submitted to the routine. As Nathan had some OCD tendencies about bedtime, we knew that if he could not remember the prayer and the kiss, he would not be able to go to sleep. So often I would repeat a short prayer and say, “Now this time I want you to remember how much I love you and God loves you.”

For many years in our house, baths marked the beginning of the bedtime routine. We would put the kids in our big old bathtub with every imaginable toy—whatever it took to keep them there and to give them a place to expend one last surge of energy. While they splashed, I would sit down to rest and read or have a cup of something just for me, even if the dishes were still in the sink and the house was a wreck. I would spend those few minutes restoring myself because I wanted to be available to extend a nighttime blessing to each of the kids. (If you want to try this, please remember to do it only with age- appropriate children. Babies and toddlers should never be left alone in a tub.)

Once bath time was over, Clay and I would take turns making sure pajamas were on and teeth were brushed. Finally we would gather in the living room or a child’s bedroom for a short read-aloud from a children’s storybook. This expected routine helped them to understand that bedtime and sleep time were coming.

After we read, we would send the kids to the bathroom one last time, then tuck them into bed personally, touch or stroke their foreheads, pray for them, and kiss them. Every night we gave an “I love you” or “I am so very blessed to have you” or other intentional words of acceptance and encouragement.

The more positive and predictable the bedtime routine, we found, the more our children went to bed willingly. “Now it is bedtime,” we would say. “We have bathed, read, and prayed, and now you get such a privilege—you get to snuggle in your lovely bed with your soft, cuddly stuffed animals and go into dreamland.” We always talked sweetly of their beds and tried to make them seem as delightful as possible. We also made good use of positive peer pressure—when all the children worked in routines together, the younger ones tended to follow the routine without much of a fuss. And we made a point to praise them: “You are growing so strong inside. You go to bed like a big boy or girl.”

Children do grow up, eventually, even though we might think that there will never be a time they will go to bed easily. But, now, I am at the place where I would love to have those cuddly, giggly, innocent, affectionate children running around in my own home. 

The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming

By Sally Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson

Do you have a bedtime routine with your own children? Take a few extra minutes tonight to hear their hearts and connect.

Read more about some of our natural family routines here: The Lifegiving Home!

The Mysterious Power of Fairy Stories

Some of my children’s favorite stories are the ones my husband or I make up and share with them at bedtime. Now, it’s a delight to hear my older kids making up stories to share with their younger siblings in hopes of helping them to drift off to sleep when mine can’t seem to do the trick. They frequently ask for us tell them the same stories we’ve made up over and over again. Thus the beginning of our own collection of made-up and passed-along stories.

The most well-known collection of made-up and passed-along stories are what may be called fairy tales, or fairy stories. I’m using the term, ‘fairy stories’ rather loosely to refer to stories that present various forms of supernatural beings, imaginative situations, and worlds. This is a broad field of literature which includes nursery tales, legends, myths, and ancient tales. 

There is incredible value in reading stories to our children in many different genres, but there is something mysteriously powerful about fairy stories. Why are children especially drawn to stories that don’t resemble their everyday life? 

And perhaps more importantly, are fairy stories shaping a child’s moral imagination or damaging it?

Click Here to read more....

The Sounds of Summer: Some Suggestions and Our Favorite Resources for Listening!

Everyone knows the Clarkson home is always filled with music! We aren't only music fans at home, though--I carry my favorite tunes along not only on my walks, but also to hotel rooms across the world whenever I travel. Familiar music makes any place seem more like home, even as it transports us to other places. Pandora and Spotify are family favorites as we can create the stations and lists for our varying moods and seasons. Here, from the Lifegiving Home Resource pages, are a few other resources you may find helpful this summer! These are great ways to incorporate a quiet hour in the afternoons. I am convinced that my children gained more wisdom and insight and inspiration from listening to great books, stories and music as well as our dinner table discussions than anything else we did.

Resources for Audiobooks, Radio, and Podcasts

Our family has always loved reading aloud to one another, and listening to audio broadcasts is just another form of being read to. We have always loved to listen together—especially on long car trips, but also while doing chores or just snuggling by the fire. These days you can find almost anything in audio form—as CDs, mp3s, streaming podcasts, or simply listening on the radio. Many, many books are available in audio form, from classics like Oliver Twist to more recent fare like Holes. Below are some great sources—plus a few specific audio books that we especially love.

Adventures in Odyssey

This Christian radio drama and comedy series for kids has been on the air since 1988. Centered in the fictional town of Odyssey, it “uses storytelling to teach lasting truths.” The shows are professionally produced and recorded in Hollywood. When mine were elementary to junior high-ish, I loved the history ones because they made me feel like the kids were affirming some of the historical biographies they had already read or studied. To locate a station, download a podcast, or buy a recording, visit the Adventures in Odyssey website

Audible.com

This subscription service is worth every penny for families who enjoy audiobooks on a regular basis. Choose from a wide variety of fare. I have downloaded many books on audible to take with me on trips so that I don't have to drag along as many books. I know, I said I would never do it, but I actually love carrying a light suitcase. And there are some great dramas on audible. One of our favorites that every family should listen to is Cheaper by the Dozen. So fun, interesting, such a great story, so inspiring. 

Cracker Barrel Books-on-Audio

Cracker Barrel’s audiobook system is a great resource for traveling families. Buy an audiobook CD at any Cracker Barrel location—and keep the receipt. After you listen, you can return it to any other Cracker Barrel. They will refund the purchase price minus a rental fee of about $3.50 a week—a bargain.

Focus on the Family Radio Theater

Radio Theater productions include professional scripts and productions, orchestral musical scores, and motion-picture quality sound design. These dramas are still available on radio, or you can choose from an impressive selection of recordings in CD or mp3 format. The Radio Theater’s production of the Chronicles of Narnia are the most famous (see above), but we also loved their version of Oliver Twist, Amazing Grace (the story of England’s abolition campaign), and others. To locate a radio station, buy a recording, or simply find more information, visit the Radio Theater web page.

Lewis, C. S.. The Chronicles of Narnia (audiobook). Dramatized and directed by Paul McCusker. Focus on the Family Radio Theatre. Collector's Edition. Tyndale Entertainment, 2014.

This is a dramatized version of C. S. Lewis's classic--that is, produced as a radio drama rather than simply read aloud. Recorded in London with an all-star cast, this version is perfect for families. All seven Narnia books are included. I personally listen to these as an adult and am inspired every time.

Loyal Books

At www.loyalbooks.com you can download a wide variety of free public-domain audiobooks in several formats. This is a great source of classics like Alice in Wonderland or Jane Eyre. The quality of the narration varies, so be sure to check the reviews!

Public Libraries

Don’t forget the library as a source of downloadable audio. Some libraries also lend out CD audiobooks. Visit your library’s website for information about what is available to you or just ask a librarian.

Your Story Hour

Established in 1949, YSH produces weekly radio productions for children that are also available in CD or podcast form. The dramatized radio stories include Bible stories, historical stories, and contemporary stories. For more information or to buy story albums, visit the Your Story Hour website. These were a staple for our kids in the elementary years. Great historical series. Sometimes they might sound a bit old fashioned to the modern ear as they were produced to be radio drama for kids in the 50's and 60's but our children learned so much from them. See if you can find a review of the best ones. We did not listen to the Bible ones, though they might be great, but more to history, character, inventors.

Podcasts

Of course you will want to listen to our inspiring podcasts this summer! Join us for our newest podcast: At Home with Sally and Friends with Kristen Kill as my host. 

We want to make sure you've seen this week's Bible Memory Aid! Click here to download and print this lovely pdf to add to your refrigerator or wherever it can be a help to you! Bible Memory Week One

And we want to make sure you saw our webinar winners from last week! $5 Starbucks cards for Leesa McLelland and Sarah Swanson; Our 24 Family ways for Danielle Wiseman and Amy McGarr! Please email admin@wholeheart.org with your address so we can send them on their way!

Thanks so much for all of your generous comments about how much you are enjoying the podcasts for the summer sessions. Here is the link below if you would like to join us and listen with us:

Giving them Faith: The Gift of Living Spiritually Week 1

We hope our summer podcast series will give wind to the sails of your heart this summer as you take some time to refresh your own life. Let us know what you think. We start out with faith as the center post of our plan for giving our children gifts that will take them through the rest of their lives with the grace and strength of God accompanying them every day. 

Summer is  time to sow seeds and water them so that they will grow.

"Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness."

Hosea 10:12

I have always loved fields of wildflowers. Seems to me when I see fields and fields of the beauty, (and blue is my favorite color), I almost feel like it is evidence of the invisible hands of God still planting flowers in His gardens to remind us that He is still creating and perpetuating life, even when we are not aware.

When looking at a tiny seed, it is impossible to see what will bloom from this minute speck of nothing, -the color it will produce, the bloom or fruit, or how large the plant will be. There is vast potential locked within, that under the right circumstances--planted in good soil, watered and covered in sunshine, a miracle will happen. The seed transforms into something more than itself--it gives birth to a plant that blooms and brings beauty, life, color and a fruit--and this is a miracle-almost something out of nothing.

And so, God calls us to sow--to sow broadly, generously, diligently.

Sometimes the seeds that He requires us to sow, do not obviously promise anything--yet, we are asked to believe in the potential--the latent miracles inside of these small life-seeds.

We are to sow with a view to righteousness--not seeing or knowing totally the vast potential of what is in our hands. But ours is to be faithful to sow, by faith, the seeds of promise given to us--

to cast the seed of promise into the soil of life, generously, diligently, faithfully--

May this be a summer when you sow seeds of faith and then watch it grow to fruition over your years of watering and protecting the seeds you have planted in the heart of your children.

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Episode #84

"A spiritual life isn't a list of rules to keep, it is living in the spirit of the living God." -sally Clarkson

In this episode, Sally and Kristen encourage moms to introduce their children not just to the truths of God, but to His reality in their lives, by showing them the ways that God has entered into their family story personally. They share how the life you create in your home can communicate the reality of God everyday, and inspire a wonder and imagination for God's kingdom in their hearts. 

Here's a printable to help your family memorize this week's Bible verse This would be a great verse for memorizing with your children. Print it out and review it every day:

Week One Bible Memory

And don't miss this summer special--You can also print our June calendar by clicking here to download! June Lifegiving Calendar

Have you ever wondered how to begin the habit of a personal quiet time? Its wonderful to want to invest in the truths of God's word and to simply spend time with Him, but often , its difficult to begin because we think there are certain expectations involved and a list of tasks to complete. So, today, we also asked our friend Kat Lee to share with us. Kat is passionate about helping moms develop a morning routine that begins with Jesus. She's sharing her own story and ideas for devotions for herself and for her kids and we know you are going to love getting to know her today!

Also--winners from the webinar last week! $5 Starbucks gift card: Leesa McLelland and Sarah Swanson; Our 24 Family Ways: Danielle Wiseman and Amy McGarr! Please email admin@wholeheart.org with your contact information to receive your gifts. Thanks so much!

WITH SPECIAL GUEST KAT LEE

Kat Lee is passionate about teaching others how to jump-start each day with a grace-filled, life-giving morning routine. She is a writer, speaker, podcaster and founder of HelloMornings.org. She and her husband, Jimmy, live in Waco, Texas, with their three children. Stay connected with her at TheKatLee.com.

Summer is a Season of Sowing and Tending: Free Lifegiving Calendar for June!

There is a summer season of life in which the lives and hearts of children are open to the sowing of seed. It is a season in which we need to be ready to respond to their open hearts and to make the most of each moment. God requires that we cultivate, sow into, and water the gardens of our children's hearts in this season of growing.

From the time a toddler can understand language until the time when middle-school-aged children approach maturity, there are bounteous seasons when their hearts are open and ready for planting the seeds that will bear future fruit of spiritual truth, emotional health, unwavering moral standards, educational excellence, and general well-being. During these times we must take every opportunity to cultivate the ground of our children's hearts, to make them ready to take in the seeds of righteousness that God has prepared us to plant there.

There is still time for planting during the high school and college years, but the days are shorter then. This season is meant for children to mature, to begin the owning of their own lives and convictions. Other voices begin to speak into their lives. The time of seed-sowing in the life of a child is one that must be treasured and used well, because it will come to a sudden end as the seeds grow to full fruit and the time for the harvest has come.

The season of planting does not last forever; it is a gift of time granted for a single fleeting season. But what precious time! I have come to understand that what is planted in their lives in this time will determine the future harvest in the lives of my children—great stories of heroic believers, living words of biblical wisdom and encouragement, pictures of godly character, memories of daily love and affection. The outcome of their souls depends in large part upon how well I till their hearts and plant the seeds of love and righteousness. I think that in many ways the heart of the mother's soul is reflected in the soul harvest of her children—what we sow we will indeed also reap.

How important it is then that I take every opportunity to be a skillful and wise farmer of the souls of my children. I must faithfully and generously work the ground of my children's hearts, plant seeds of righteousness, and water those seeds with my love and prayers, because the season of harvest is ahead when there will be no more time to plant. And it will come sooner and more quickly than I expect.

We want to encourage you in your summer sowing! So, if you click below, there's a free printable calendar with suggestions of things to do, art to study, books to read, etc. with your precious family. We pray it's a blessing to you!

Lifegiving Summer June Calendar

What seeds are you sowing in your children's hearts, this summer?

Storyformed Summer, Part 2: Getting Out & a New Podcast

When you think about the summer days ahead, do you think about finding space for you and your kids to get outside? I know I do. An adventure for your family may look like reading Blueberries for Sal and then taking your kids to a berry patch for picking. If you live in a big city, getting outside may involve hiking around a public park. Whether you live near an ocean coastline, in the mountains, or on the Midwestern plains - adventure is out there!

In this episode , Holly Packiam and Jaime Showmaker, talk about ways to get kids and families outside and about books that will transport you to natural worlds even when you can't explore yourself. 

CLICK HERE to listen to the new Storyformed podcast and to view the Show Notes.

Training is the foundation of Soul Strength, A Facebook Live and A Giveaway!

Banging around on a piano does not a musician make! But it is a start. 

"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence. But we rather have those because we have acted rightly.We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

Aristotle

Merely having a piano in a home and having a child bang on the instrument will not nurture a child into becoming a classical pianist. To become excellent in playing, the child must be instructed over a period of many years, hours must be given to practice and learning music.  Playing and playing and playing again is the course of action that produces skill and excellence.

Proverbs tells us that "a skillful man will go before kings." Regarding character, wisdom and soul strength, a child must also be instructed, have many years to practice and apply the teaching before an excellent character and life skills are developed.

Contemporary Culture Mitigates Against Excellent Character

Because our culture is so given to crudity and a devaluation of human beings, with secular media determining the values of children, many adults and children reflect shallow character and lack of wisdom and discretion.  Couple this with  a lack of intentional training on the part of adults, with moral compromise at every turn, and many children are at a disadvantage in their lives because they have never developed a strong moral character, or seen a strong moral character in the life of the adults around them.

A child who is not trained and taught to exercise strength in righteousness, truth, work ethic, relationships and integrity, will often be at a disadvantage his whole life, because instead of his character serving him, his lack of training and ignorance will detract from his ability to live an excellent life.

I believe that many moms struggle with motherhood and the burden of raising children because they have never been stretched or trained in character and are morally weak, complaining and undisciplined. An undisciplined soul reacts to pressure with complaining, anger and frustration. Often, a lack of strong character and a developed work ethic is at the bottom of depression in young women. I know that I was never trained for such hard work, and so struggled to meet the ideals I held in my heart because I had never been trained to be strong in character--I was spoiled in many ways and so had to learn character along with my children--and it was more difficult as an adult who had become lazy and self-centered--and I didn't even know it! I had been quite indulged and was unaware of my own lack of character--I wanted to blame my struggles on everything else except myself!

We are living in a culture where compromise is an accepted norm in marriage, in movies and television, in morality, in work, manners, leadership, responsibility. Also, addictions and lack of discipline of every sort are the norm and acceptable, so that lack of character is not even affirmed or valued. Addiction to food, substances, social media, pornography, television, gaming, gambling, and every sort of pleasure that eats up the beauty and possibility of life is tolerated. In surveys, it is often found that believers are just as apt to divorce, become addicted to pornography, and to live an immoral lifestyle.

I find that so many parents are mostly anxious that their children cease to have "bad" behavior. They just want a formula for disciplining their children that will make them easier to deal with on a daily basis, so that they as parents can have an easier life. Yet, as I observe many families, children, and moms in all of our travels and teaching, I find that there are fewer and fewer children who have an internal sense of composure, self-control, wisdom, and manners, because they are not receiving this kind of instruction at home. Their moms, even the stay at home ones, are busy with their own agenda and pastimes.

Yet, if we are created in God's image, shouldn't we, as believers, be the most excellent in our behavior, character and influence? Doesn't scripture teach us to lay down our lives for the sake of others--in this case, our children? Doesn't anything worthy always require great sacrifice, vision and hard work?

The next few weeks, I will be addressing the importance of training in character qualities through our podcast series with Kristen. We will discuss  how this training develops a foundation of strength for the life and soul of a child.

I am excited about this series! It has been bubbling up as I have talked to many moms over the past weeks, been at our first conference, observed behavior of adults in several situations, and discussed many of these issues with my own children.

Character matters! Training excellent character into the very fiber of children takes intention, perseverance, commitment, wisdom--and honestly, it requires character from our own lives.

I hope/pray this series will be of great encouragement to you, as this character training gives children and adults discretion, confidence and integrity in living life for the glory of Christ.

Thursday night join us for a Facebook Live Event! And a Givewaway!

I hope some of you can join us at our Facebook live event on Thursday evening, 9 Eastern, 8 Central, 7 Mountain and 6 Pacific. We will be giving away a few prizes to those of you who are live with us--some Starbucks Cards and 2 copies of The 24 Family Ways. Kristen will be with me. You can find us at: Therealsallyclarkson on Facebook.  Hope you can join us. 

Hold Fast to Love, Laughter, Beauty: In the End, It is Your Grace & A New Podcast

In April, I took an evening walk with Sarah in Oxford and God painted the sky for us. Taking a photo of it gave a sense of worship in my heart for that moment I shared with Sarah. It was a breathless moment, a quiet one, in which we just stood together and watched the sky change from fire to pink to purple to dark.  An amazing moment, the church across the street from her home.

This early morning I am listening to Ralph Von Williams on my Pandora and sometimes switching to Alexander Desplaut, two of my favorite composers of film music. I poured myself a cup of Yorkshire Gold tea and lit all the candles around me, like I do every day. Indulging myself by looking at velvety red roses that I found on sale at the grocery store is bringing me much pleasure.  After all, I am an adult and I can buy myself flowers once in a while when I think I need them! I am looking out my windows on tall, lean pines amidst the bluish-purpleish gray sky, with gleaming white snow peaking out from Pike's peak. Remember that May snow from last week? :)

I have taken literally thousands of pictures of beautiful flowers, sunrises, scenes in nature I find over the years because it is a sort of worship in the moment a recognizing His fingerprints as I go through my days.

I am taking time to love Jesus and tell Him how very happy I am that He is real and with me--that He has painted the sky and made music to stir my soul and that He is with me loving me. I am seeking to cultivate love notes to heaven as I appreciate the lover who is invisible but here in my life today. I have to take time to remember to keep our love fresh, just like I have to do with Clay. I have to work so that I don't lose my first love.

I text Joy and Sarah and tell them I am the most blessed mama in the world because they are such treasures to me. "I love you more every day." I tell them. Nathan calls me before I get a chance to call him and we chat at "besties" and I tell him that God is with him and that God and I love him. Joel comes up for a first cup of tea. "Hi, wonderful Joel. So thankful for you today." Words of love invested every day form a heart that feels full of HIs love because we have modeled Him to them in the oxygen of our moments.

Darcy Dog comes ambling in with a tennis ball in her mouth and throws it at my feet. I look at her, really notice how darling and ridiculous she is all at the same time. She makes me giggle a lot no matter what kind of day I am having. And I thank God for my silly dog and how much she makes me smile.

Recently, teaching a Bible study I have hosted for 10 years, I mingled with a variety of sweet women varied in age and in life puzzles. Later, flying one more time, I spent time with dear, inner-circle friends I have long known in California, then late at night talked on face-time to my children then ending with a cherished friend as I came home from a week of travel. All my conversations seemed to go in the same direction.

Many beautiful, precious women who have deep burdens to bear--a prodigal son or daughter; a heavy and dark marriage partner who refuses to love or give grace; many with chronic illness--cancer, pain, many living quietly with years of heart-break they bear in silence. Different, outside the box kids, illnesses of every sort. A truly lovely single mom was abandoned by her husband for a woman he met on facebook.

I could go on. I am familiar with deep sadness in my own life, some things I will never be able to share publicly because I believe in loyalty and protection of my family and friends from the public eye. It is my sacred trust to bear up through dark passages and to trust it just to Him, as He has promised to be with me.

We are subject all round us to the consequences of a fallen world--so beautifully made, so scarred and marred by the illness of our own souls, the sin that has created havoc, abounding in so many corners of life. And there it is for our children to figure out. Innocence and hope are my heart's desire--to be like a child fully delighting in life. But God has trusted me with adulthood and so I bow to His will.

Much of the sadness or at least sad circumstances will be with these precious women, who are in my heart, for many, many years--if not their whole lives.

But the circumstances of their lives do not need to define who they are or how they live.

Home is a place to light a candle in the darkness, to bring hope to sadness, to celebrate that He has overcome the world. Yet, making home the best place to be requires a grid that says, "I am the one called to bring light."

I often hum the old Steve Green song from scripture, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

I have added my own verses, "Do not be overcome by darkness, but overcome darkness with light."

"Do not be overcome by hatefulness, but overcome hatefulness with love."

"Overcome death with life."

"Overcome sadness with joy and celebration in the midst of the mundane."

The invisible, the Lover, the maker of beauty, the servant King is in our midst as a devoted Father. He is a bridegroom preparing a wedding feast. He is a wonderful counselor who has compassion on us when we feel lost. He is a shepherd who lays down His life for his sheep and leads them beside still waters.

As long as I keep my soul alive by dwelling in His presence, remembering the roles he plays in my own life, as long as I cultivate and practice a heart of love and give it and live in it, I can overcome the darkness--all darknesses of my soul here on earth.

But love and beauty and faith must be cultivated daily, in His presence, looking for His reality, so that my heart will be filled with the reality of Him and His overcoming goodness and redeeming light. I must cultivate this inner life if I am to find rest and peace in my daily life. 

The glory of a woman is her ability to stir up Life and light in this dark world.

We are born to civilize, to encourage, to inspire, to heal.

Women are most beautiful when they are engaged in creating the reality of His life and love wherever they go. But this love comes from intentional cultivation--it is the grid that we see life through--

I am created to be an overcomer, an artist who leaves beauty, a counselor who brings peace, a magician who brings hope and comfort in the very midst of despair, laughter and joy amidst the draining moments.

I am given the possibility of leaving a fragrance of words that bring hope, inspiration, affirmation to one who is starving for soul food.

And so today, I become a co-creator with Him, who is the source of all that is beautiful and good--celebrating His reality into the midst of this puzzle that is called my life.

The strength of any woman is built on a foundation of what she cherishes, practices, waters, cultivates.

Love is there, waiting to strengthen--the soul of a great woman depends on Him flowing in and through her every day.

This organic faith life is what we want to live and then teach our children to live. These heart messages are exactly what they need in order to leave home and keep their faith alive, and to have the courage to face their own temptations and darknesses. 

They may forget how to spell some words or how to conjugate a verb or a therum from math. But what they need, before they leave home, is the picture burned into their minds every day, of the reality of Christ's live in their home, their moments, their feelings as found to be true in the life of a faith-filled mama. 

This is what our summer podcast is about--figuring out what all kids need before they leave home and understanding how to pass it on. 

Please join us for the next 10 weeks. Invite your friend and then we will all gather at the end to discuss together on a live presentation, maybe at parties in your home, what we have learned, what we plan to do, how we need to encourage one another. 

We are so excited. Can't wait to share with you. 

Join us this summer for our special Podcast series this summer !

And mark your calendars for 9PM EST/ 6PM PST for a special night on facebook live with Sally, Kristen and friends broadcasting from Colorado to kick off our special summer series! We'll be taking questions LIVE and want you to join the fun!

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