I Want To Have Tea With Mary

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Tea is a little bit of happiness in a world full of chaos. Anon

Happy Day to you, my friends. I certainly agree with the quote above. Miss Tea Cup and I were out shopping and we found these lovely floral mugs, (out of china), to add to her family of cups. Tea stays hotter in china than in ceramic, so we were thrilled to find these beauties. And a mug allows more tea! :)

A thousand thanks to so many of you who answered my questions yesterday. You have given me a lot to ponder. But even more, you have made me feel that the mutual encouragement of one another during this time in history is essential to the health and well being of our souls.

Today, in Tea Time Tuesday, I have so many fun things to share—a favorite book I just put on my coffee table once again, (I change out books so that there will always be something interesting to flip through in multiple places in my home.)

Gentleness has been at the heart of my study this week. I have been memorizing (refreshing) my thoughts about the beatitudes. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” I have had many opportunities this week to slow down, to extend gentleness, and to understand how important this quality is to the heart of Christ. He said, “I am humble and meek. Learn from me.” And so, when we choose gentleness in our response to others, we are reflecting Jesus in our world to others.

Orzo Mediterranean Salad is at the front of one of my favorite recipes as I move toward summer—and oh so beautiful. And I had a funny to share from my life this week, as well as a wonderful story about sharing beauty amidst the challenge of war in the Ukraine.

Finally, though, someone asked me on a podcast, who of all the women in the world in history I would want to have a cup of tea with—you will have to listen to find out. She is my hero.

Who would you choose to have a cup of tea with? I would love to know!

Happy sipping and peace to your life today. Off for a second cup! It’s a two cup tea sort of afternoon!

Your Opinion, Please?

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A friend asked me if I would record a podcast with her and her crew while I was home in Colorado. The podcast interview was a different experience for me. Most people ask me questions about educating children, family, parenting, motherhood, the lifegiving home. But the interview was about things I haven’t talked about as thoroughly in years.

It was so fun to talk about stories I hadn’t thought about for many years. I wondered if there are areas that I should consider speaking or writing about as an encouragement that maybe I haven’t considered for many years.

At almost 69, I have lived through decades of experiences of every kind and have learned through these seasons. I’ve seen God’s faithfulness through them all. But, maybe I need to go back and remember some things that might be of encouragement to you.

I write, speak, podcast because as a young believer, I was challenged to live a story, to share my story of faith with others that they could have hope and know more about Christ. I started doing this about 50 years ago. What a blessed journey it has been. God’s ways lead you to flourishing ways.

Consequently, it would help me so much if you could tell me specifically how I can best encourage you? What areas do you most want me to write about, speak about, podcast about—be specific!

Which photos do you want to see—meals, Oxford, home, nature, my family, me in the midst of what I love in life? Do you want more stories, more online conferences? What is your favorite part of my membership Lifewithsally.com ? What books that I have written do you want to hear more about? (favorite book?) My podcast is@At Home With Sally) what do you want to hear about? Do you enjoy Tea Time Tuesday? Bible? What?

Leave a comment on my blog, (Sallyclarkson.com), or on social media. I’ll give away a 30 minute mentoring or friend session to one of you who leaves a comment.

For Home to be Lifegiving, Someone's Got to Give

“The glory of God is a human being fully alive; and to be alive consists in beholding God.”

Irenaeus

This afternoon, I have been looking through photos from the past couple of years. This is one of my favorites—Lilian wanted to dress alike and be friends. The matching scarves and hats sealed it. Children mimic and value what they see in front of them.

The glory of God through me as I am fully alive in His love, reflecting His grace in all the ways I live. I consider the wonder of my grandchildren, full of life and fun, running toward me when I come to visit. All of my grandchildren, must behold the glory of God in the ways that I love them, kissing their sweet heads, pretending with them, listening to their questions and engaging in real conversation—to live in the beauty of Christ in front of them—but it must be given intentionally. Clay wrote this in our book, The Lifegiving Parent.

Despite the seeming circularity of his statement, Irenaeus is saying simply that we will become the “fully alive” people God designed us to be only by engaging with the living God. To put it another way, real life is found only in the life of God. That is, essentially, what I believe Moses was saying to parents in the Shema—real life is found only in God, and the life of God in our hearts must be diligently passed on to our children’s hearts. Godly parenting is heart to heart, but it’s also more—it’s life to life. That’s the relational heart of lifegiving parenting.

But don’t miss a hidden-in-plain-sight truth: If lifegiving parenting is about giving our children real life in God so they can be fully alive in Him, then . . . someone’s got to give. That transfer of the life of God to our children does not happen just by good intent or by accident. It happens for one reason only—because we decide that we are the people who’ve got to give. Not another person, group, or church; not an organization, resource, or influence . . . just us. We are the lifegivers. We are the ones who will give the life of God to our children. When we can get our heads, hearts, and hands firmly around that reality, then we’ll be on the path to becoming the lifegiving parents God designed us to be.

Tea Time Tuesday: Learning the Dance of Joy in the Arms of the Father

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“Where there’s tea, there is hope.” – Wing Pinero

How fun to be home in the US and spending the first evening in Colorado at the house of a very special friend, Brandee, and her daughter, Mandee, meeting her beautiful grandchild for the first time. Miss Teacup remarked, what a brilliant child. She already knows to enjoy her tea—look how she is holding it in her little hands!

Tea time Tuesday podcast has me thinking about so many things to share—Stories from Oxford, a delicious recipe—(anyone a trifle fan like I am? What do you put in yours?) But really a big part was thoughts about women who learn the art of dancing in the midst of darkness and life storms as they are led in the Dance by their Heavenly Father. I wrote Dancing With My Father amidst some very heavy trials but the picture of dancing because of His joy through my days has captured my imagination for many years. I learned to love these quotes:
Dance like no one is watching, love like you have never been hurt, sing like no one is listening, Live like its heaven on earth. Susanna Clark and Richard Leigh

We have a choice to dance, to love, to sing, to live fully alive as long as He is alive in our imagination, in our thoughts, in our worship—to celebrate His daily presence.

And I loved this quote below, as well: I often say, “Jesus, let me hear your music.” And often I think of the angels who sang when the world was being formed.

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn't hear the music." - Friedrich Nietzsche.

May God give you ears to hear and His grace to live fully during this time. I hope this podcast encourages you today.

And for those of you who follow me on Instagram @sally.clarkson, make sure to enter my giveaway on yesterday’s post with Nathan—and if you leave a comment here today, I will give a sword and book to those who follow me on my blog @sallyclarkson.com as well — you will be entered to win a copy of Nathan’s book (out today!) The Way of Kings, and a children’s play sword (a replica of Frodo’s sword from The Lord of the Rings).

Tell me your favorite hero tale! Leave your comment below.

And be sure to have a cup of tea and enjoy the podcast with me!



Walking in the King's Counsel: The Way of Wisdom

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How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

With warm mugs of coffee in hand, ease of mood and cheer of heart, the kids were sitting around repeating all of the mantras they heard over and over again throughout their lives.

“Mama, the funny thing is, I hear your voice every day of my life, everywhere I go. And the funny thing is, it keeps directing me to make good decisions.”

We all walk by the voices in our head. Today, Nathan and I recorded a podcast about his new book, The Way of Kings, and what it looks like to walk in the wise counsel of the king of kings.

Sometimes we don’t think our children are listening to our repeated in instruction. Yet, I believe that “Train up a child in the way he should go,” is a part of shaping brain pathways of truth and morality in the minds and even the souls of our children as they shape their values.

One of the mantras they heard over and over again was, “Wrong is always wrong even if everyone is doing it. Right is always right even if no one is doing it.”

Nathan, and all my children, as they have gone into very compromising places of thought and behavior, (Hollywood, New York City, Boston, Oxford, Cambridge), have said that developing this wisdom as a part of making decisions has helped them not to compromise. Having foundations of truth give strength amidst the important temptations, decisions of adult life. Understanding that the world is a place of compromise, and that we were called to be holy, set apart–light in the darkness, salt in a tasteless world, prepared my children to go into very challenging arenas, armed with an understanding of what the battle would become, and how they would be tested.

Nathan’s new book will inspire you to lead your children in the ways of wisdom, truth and virtue. And to celebrate its release tomorrow, I’d like to giveaway a copy of his book and a sword!

You can enter on Instagram by following me (@sally.clarkson) and Nathan (@nathanjclarkson) and tagging a friend in the comments, or on Facebook by tagging a friend in the comments, and you will be entered to win a play foam-sword (a replica Frodo’s sword from The Lord of the Rings!) for the young warrior in your life as well as a copy of Nathan’s book, The Way of Kings.

Building Godly Legacy at the Table

My home is a layered jumble of objects gathered and given, full of memories of all the people who have lived and visited and learned within its walls. It is always such a pleasure to return home after time away, because I am comforted by the familiarity of the blankets and dishes and pictures and books that my favorite people have handled and shared. Our tables are especially important to me …

Years ago, while I was rummaging through an antique mall in Texas, an old tea cart seemed to speak my name. The flaps lift up to make it more than a cart—a small table. When I open the tiny leaves, I have room for two place settings, a tiny vase of flowers, and a small candle. I keep it between two overstuffed chairs in my den for a private time with one other person. (Sometimes tables need to be small, to invite one-on-one confidences.) Our coffee table has held countless bowls of popcorn and cups of hot cocoa. The coasters on our end tables invite confidences over warm drinks. Bedside tables in our rooms often hold cookies and tea during a private time. So do the little tables beside our rockers on the porch.

If my table—my tables!—could talk, I wonder what tales they would tell.

A story of Vision and commitment

Souls are shaped in the common moments of life, the daily stuff of memories.

If my table could talk, I know it would tell of moments like those— toddlers happily munching on bits of food and Cheerios scattered over plastic placemats. Birthday breakfasts with cinnamon rolls, mugs of hot tea, and morning presents companioned by words of love and appreciation. Warm soup and stories shared on cold winter nights. Sunday afternoon teatimes with James Herriott’s animal stories read dramatically. Countless lively discussions about morality and worldview as we filled up growing teenage bodies with satisfying food.

But souls grow by season as well. As we celebrate the passage of time by establishing and commemorating joyful traditions, honoring milestones (however small), cultivating a taste for greatness through the stories shared, books read, memories made, and faith lived out, we also make a path for growth and development. Godly legacies are built, in other words, when we bring the life of Christ to the table through the grace of loving relationships and intimacy shared moment by moment. This is the essence of table discipleship. But doing it well requires both vision and commitment.

Tea Time Tuesday: Jesus Teaches us The Way of a Servant

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Tea Quote: ““My dear if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head I should better understand your affairs.” Charles Dickens

As I was sitting out on a bench drinking in the sun, I found one of my favorite tea cups with tulips on the side, dallying with the other blooming flowers—a desire to have sweet friendship with like-minded flowers!

Daily, I see the ways of the world invading not only our news, but the values and priorities of other people of faith. Yet, the longer I walk with the Lord, the more I see how important it is that we shape our lives on the ways of Christ in contrast to the ways of the world.

Consider, consider......the lilies of the field.

The world is noisy, busy, active, loud, relentless

The Bible says, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life."

The world says, power, money, things.

The Bible says, lay up your treasures in heaven. Man looks at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart.

The World says, beauty is on the outside.

The Bible says, "Man looks at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart.

The World says to live for today, live for yourself, seek pleasure and fulfillment now.

The Word says, live for eternity, in this world you have tribulation, to lay up treasures in heaven.

The  world says leadership is an issue of position and power.

The Bible says, "He who gains his life will lose it. He who loses his life in this world, shall gain it." The Bible promotes servant leadership, as modeled by Jesus washing feet.

The world says, children are not of the most important. They abort them, place them in babysitting options. The world says, children take your time, are expensive, bothersome.

Jesus says, "Woe to the one who causes the least of these to stumble." He says of children, "Unless you become like a child, you will not inherit the kingdom of God." He says, "Children are a blessing from God. The fruit of the womb is a reward."

The world says, "Accomplish, do something great you can be proud of--awards, degrees, position.

Jesus says, "I am humble and meek, learn from me."

The world's way of ministry is to the masses in large churches, on television, radio, blogs and websites, mostly dynamic and impersonal and focussed on the theology, measured in numbers reached.

Jesus built deep relationships for three years with a dozen men and a few others in a community of friends.His ministry was small and personal, meeting needs, eating meals, living life with a focussed few, serving and dying for them.

Tea Time Tuesday is about why we become most like Christ when we become servants of others around us.

Also, I speak of favorite music, an easy delicious recipe (bacon covered dates), a favorite book, and a fun story about my neighbor. I hope you enjoy the podcast today: At Home with Sally.

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A Great Estate is Built One Brick at a Time

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“The wise woman builds her house,” we are told in Proverbs. Yet, I have seen many women in the very midst of the messy, challenging work of building their house into a legacy of faith, righteousness, morality, kingdom messages, give up right in the middle of building because of weariness or discouragement.

As I spent the last 10 days with most of my children, talking, talking, talking and as I now spend time still investing in my relationship with them daily, I am realizing that the building has been years longer than I knew to expect. It has also cost me most of my whole life—and yet, the building of this legacy is deeply satisfying as it seems like a work that really matters for eternity.

“The House of Clarksons” was built one brick, one day at a time over many years.

Jesus reminded us about building, “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28

How important it is that we understand that the building of a legacy of faith (the house we are building) is over long years, requires much work and yet is the greatest work of our lives.

As Nathan and I share about what shapes one’s understanding of what it means to be royalty, God’s holy subjects, as stewards of all that is his, I am reminded that the faith he now holds dear was built over countless thousands of days, with stories told, love given, conversations had, training give over and over again.

Do not be discouraged in your vastly important work of “house building” but keep going, every brick is building towards a heritage that you were made to build and that you were also made to enjoy the fruits of.

Join Nathan and me today as we speak of the countless stories that were read and told to shape the ultimate destiny of His life.

Books Referenced in this Podcast:

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  • Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

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  • Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

  • Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

The Beauty of Love that Gives and Forgives

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

~I Corinthians 13:4-8a

When I graduated from college, I worked on the staff of Campus Crusade for 2 years at the University of Texas, and then moved to Eastern Europe to travel in Communist countries as a missionary. I had the illusion that because I had a committed heart, I was already mature even though I’d only walked with God for a short time.

Since the Lord is a good parent who wanted me to grow into the likeness of Christ, and He saw that I was quite young, immature, self-centered, and full of pride, He knew I needed more practice and training to become more like Christ. So He gave me a husband and children, so I could really find out what sacrificial love was all about. It has not been easy to pull out the weeds of unfair expectations; to fight the storms of giving up my rights, to endure the drought of feelings that did not always match up to what I thought a loving wife and mother should feel in a happy home. I just kept holding on to Him, pondering His life and seeking to be loyal through faith in His reality and presence, even though I could not always see Him.

Since that time, though still growing, I have learned so much more about true love, self-sacrifice, commitment, and long-suffering — and it has all made me love Him more, because I see how much of my life has required that of Him — as I have tested Him, misbehaved, thrown tantrums, and pulled away at times. But still He loves me. He sacrificed for us while we were yet sinners.

Love must grow over years and years to become mature. It must be cultivated and watered and nurtured and protected and worked again.

Thank you, sweet Lord, that You showed me the way and went before me to model real love.

"Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends."

Jesus, our gentle Savior, said, "Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do,” as He hung, bleeding, in great pain, yet with compassion and love still primary above all He was experiencing. He forgave all as He gave up His life.

May you have a blessed Good Friday, and a beautiful Easter full of the love and joy possible as we look at Christ’s suffering, and then His resurrection and joyous victory over death for all of us.

Tea Time Tuesday: What's Up with the Clarksons?

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Sometimes when I look back on my life, I don’t know how I did it all. This week, Nathan and Keelia visited from New York, and we gathered as a family, at a million meals, had other friends over multiple times, took long walks, celebrated tea time every day and even went to a formal one, stayed up too late, had scrambled cheese eggs and sour dough dark bread every day, and and and!

Some things never change! This week reminded me that our family was shaped by feasting, talking, laughing, being together over and over and over again. And this is how we celebrated our closeness and mutual legacy of family friendship this week. (We did miss Sarah and Thomas and my 3 grandkids!)

Finally, this, our last evening together, found us walking a couple of miles through a grassy meadow beside the Thames River, sharing burgers and chips (French Fries) and documenting once again that we are family. We have a place of belonging with another. In spite of introverts and extroverts, differing opinions, personalities, we are safe with one another. Forever commitment was once again celebrated and already we have all gone back to our various walks of life.

Today, for Tea Time Tuesday, I recorded a lively and hilarious podcast with these wonderful ones and I hope it brings a smile and encouragement to you, as you celebrate your own people amidst lots of life and love. One of our mutual conversations: Enjoy today—every day is a gift. Sending love from a tired but happy heart.

How was your week?

More Resources:

FOR MORE

  • Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

  • Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

  • Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

  • Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

  • Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!