Inspiring A Sense Of God's Presence

When I first became a mother, I would never have guessed that the words "Come, look!" would be so important to my children's faith training. But as we all grew together, I came to understand the importance of pointing out to them the abundant evidence of God's power and glory and presence that surrounds us. This act of directing their eyes and ears beyond the mundane to the wonders of God's work is one of the most important ways I can give my children the gift of inspiration.

When we are ready to receive the grace of his power and presence into each moment of our lives, we cannot help but look differently at all our daily activities. When we learn to look and listen and ponder, our everyday moments can be transformed by the knowledge of a God whose companionship brings joy, "wind to our wings," and the possibility of a miraculous touch at any moment.

Read more about this in The Ministry of Motherhood.

Cultivating A Work Ethic In Your Children

God has entrusted to you the stewardship of your home and children. The cultivation of a work ethic is, in itself, a daily work. When your attitude and vision are right, all that remains is the work of faithful training — reminding your children to pick up their clothes, wash the dishes without complaint, keep their rooms clean, and complete their chores thoroughly.

That kind of training wasn’t necessarily my favorite part of mothering, but in hindsight it was one of the most vital. The habits, the chores, the tasks, the projects — they all helped to train and shape my children into adults who could work hard, with good attitudes and striving for excellence, in every aspect of their lives. Their ability to work, learned in my home, has equipped them to attempt anything they can imagine. That is a gift that will keep on giving.

Read more about this in 10 Gifts of Heart.

Tea Time Tuesday: Preparing Righteous Warriors

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Tea Time Tuesday: Coffee Reflections

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for, hope for and expect the Lord!” -Psalm 31:24

“My precious, each of us who are touched by the spirit of Christ, are created to bring light to this dark world. Maybe the light you bring will be to compose beautiful music to heal hearts. You might be a wordsmith to enlighten people’s faith. You will have a home of great hospitality where people can come to be loved, restored.” These were the messages my children often heard.

This is a time to build virtue and to form destinies by giving our children a vision of what their personal stories might be in God’s hands.

It is easy to fear the world our children have been born into. But what if, instead, we prepared our children to be warriors for His kingdom? What if we whispered over time, that God has chosen them to fight a valiant battle, to be a heroes of light, hope and goodness in their time, that some day, Jesus Himself will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" because they brought His light through their own story of faith?

We strengthen their virtue muscles by giving them opportunity to be sources of help or, comfort, love to those in need as we serve one another, bring meals to neighbors who are ill, host people who need God’s hospitality. We are the trainers, coaches of our children, to prepare them to stand strong in their world when God calls them away for His great work. To give purpose and meaning to life is one of the greatest gifts we can bestow. Now is the time to shape future adults who will be virtuous because God’s values have shaped their heart.

Though the battle rages, we shall prevail because Christ is the king and Lord over all. God uses real live people to live His reality into our worlds.

 It is my prayer to remember that we will reign with Him through all eternity, after we have been faithful here to fight the good fight. May we run the race with godly endurance, keep our faith, and wait for His return. May our children who follow behind us find us faithful to leave them a story of hope, a pathway of courage and an end that rejoices in the reality of His presence.

We Are Warriors Bringing Light To A Dark World

I never knew how deeply fulfilling and satisfying this life of sharing together every day would be to me as I was tending it. I remember one day thinking in great surprise, "Being a close family community is so deeply satisfying."

Now that my children are adults, they are my most trusted friends. Our little community of Clarksons, with all of our peculiarities, limitations, and challenges, is our mutual favorite place of being and gathering. We share in common our ideas, ideals, books, philosophy, world view, favorite Scripture. We like the same brand of tea. We talk a lot when together.

Scripture tells us to “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Though I was flawed, I did give my all to be excellent, to be generous in life-giving hospitality, to seek to inspire through my words and devotions, to love with all of my heart, giving enthusiasm and spirit to this wonder-filled life.

Were there conflict, challenge, weariness, discouragement at times? Yes, of course. I was a warrior fighting to bring light into a dark world. I had few support systems and fewer encouragers who believed in what I was doing. Yet one more quiet time, one more reflection on our ideals, and it would take me through another day, another year. And truly, the seed was growing deep roots that eventually manifested fruit.

Read more about this in Awaking Wonder.

The Times We Have Been Given

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

―J.R.R. Tolkien,The Fellowship of the Ring

Perhaps like Frodo, we have had the thoughts or feelings, “I wish I had not been born in these times.” Life is a bit confusing at this juncture, so much discord, differing opinions, despair, darkness in the world.

Early this morning as I rested in bed, pondering getting up, I was praying, “Lord, what role would you have me play for your kingdom during these times? How do you want me to serve you?”

I thought about this quote from Lord of the Rings. Gandalf reminded,“it is not for us to decide when we will be born but we must decide what to do with the time we have been given.” As I reflected, I was reminded again, that my purpose at this season in history is to trust Him, to hold fast to my faith, to choose in every way that I am able, to bring light to those I encounter, to write encouragement, to give hope, to choose loving generously in as many relationships as I am able, to forgive generously as I want to be forgiven, to cultivate a deeper love for God and His truth. I am called to hold up joy which means to rejoice in God, to worship Him in every situation and every day.

And as our children watch us making such choices, they will be drawn to do the same in their life time. Planting seeds of righteousness means reaping a harvest of righteousness. What we do during these times determines the history we will leave.

***

This week found me on a journey to another land. The temperature turned cold, and as usual, we were walking to our destinations, so I took joy in purchasing the cutest hat I could find to keep me warm in these long, chilly ambles. Do you like it? It is a small token of me choosing to celebrate life as a commitment and it has brought me a smile to my heart.

Can you guess where I am? I will reveal it tomorrow. May God bring peace to your heart today.

Building A Home That Invites Life

Directing the music of a home not only is essential to building an atmosphere that invites life; it is also a delightful pastime. I have found so much pleasure over many years finding ways to make my home a more interesting place to be — searching garage sales, secondhand stores, local shops, and foreign marketplaces for the treasures that now fill my rooms.

How do you bring life to the music of your home? Do you also like to peruse secondhand shops like me? Tell me in the comments.

Sympathizing With Your Children

My role model as a sympathetic parent is Jesus, who came down to my level as a sinful human being and sympathized with my hopelessness, weakness, and immaturity. He came down to help me, not to condemn me. He knows me, and he loves me.

In the same way that Jesus was able "to sympathize with our weaknesses," we must be able to sympathize, to "feel with" our children, and understand their weaknesses, uncertainties, and immaturities. Why? So they will be confident to come to us, because they know that when they do they will "receive mercy and find grace" just as we do when we go to Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).

Children are going to face so many unsympathetic people in their lives. But when they are in your home, they will find a sympathetic mother who is ready at any time to listen, affirm, comfort, and guide.

We forget so many details about our growing-up years. But we remember the people and how they related to us. And for those who loved us and understood us when we were immature children, I think we reserve a special place for them in our hearts.

Read more about this in Seasons of a Mother’s Heart.

Tea Time Tuesday: May We Hold Fast to Hope

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“Only a Christian has a right to hope, for only he has the power of God to give substance to his hope… Earth is bearable because there is hope."

-A.W. Tozer

As we prayerfully enter the next days and ask God to do His will, there is much room in our country for fear, despair or sadness. Yet, regardless of what party or person you support, our lives are much more about eternity than this present moment. And still, whatever the outcome, we extend His reality by choosing love, faith, humility, steadfastness, and hope.

I love this quote by Tozer. No matter what the circumstances, no matter what events, no matter what evil is boiling in the world, if we know our God, we understand that He is still at work, He is leading this world toward an ultimate celebration where all tears will be wiped away, all will be made new, all will be well.

My sweet friends, whatever you feel today, may you know that we have a future with a hope, and may you rest in the peace of mind of that hope.

“Be strong and take heart,  take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.”

-Psalm 31:24

On today’s Tea Time Tuesday podcast…

Today on my podcast, I am sharing a podcast I recorded last week that I made for my membership at Life with Sally.

Many people have asked me to have a peak inside at what takes place there. Every month, I record a special Bible study or share a message from my teachings from years gone by. I want those who are able to participate in my monthly offerings to feel encouraged and helped from God’s Word in their lives.

This particular message is about the meaning and call on our lives to be leaders through serving those priority people God has placed in our lives — servant leadership. My life changed when I understood this concept. I hope it encourages you. I wish you blessings and blessings of hope and courage today and in the days ahead.

Why God Made Us Mothers

Often times as mothers, we consider our tasks as being performed for the benefit of the children or babies. But God gave us children so that we might become unselfish, love generously, work more heartily, understand forgiveness, learn perseverance, develop endurance, grow in graciousness, expand our creativity, and learn the skills of life giving parenting.

To become this vessel where He is willing to dwell and to become the soul that reflects Him and his gentle love and powerful reality, we must submit to the building and crafting that He has designed by making us mothers after his own heart.

I did not know that this journey was about soul-making, but now I see that in the shaping of my soul, He also designed the end result to be deep fulfillment and happy pleasure. For being with my adult children is my greatest joy and brings me the deepest happiness in my days of living on this earth.

Read more about this in The Mission of Motherhood.

Home Is A Haven In A Weary World

The most effective discipleship, I learned, flows from genuine and deep connection, and such connection often begins in an atmosphere of fun, friendship, and both noticing and meeting needs.

As a single woman, I had many opportunities to talk to students about God’s love in the context of food, fun, and identifying with their student lifestyles. As a result, I saw many embrace a lifelong commitment to Christ. For lonely college students, having a space to laugh, meet people, and feel accepted was a profound answer to the deep longings of their hearts. Like Jesus, we were attending to their emotional, physical, and social needs as well as their spiritual needs and presenting the gospel as a personal appeal, not an agenda.

I carried this lesson with me when I started a family of my own. It was always my goal that our home be the place our children and their friends loved to be. Even now, in their adult years, their heartstrings are tied to home because it is a place where they know they will be cared for and known. A web of connection and love knits us together from the many fun times we have had as well as from our shared and growing faith.

Read more about this in The Lifegiving Table.