Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 107

Giving Generously As God Gave to Us (24 Fam. Way #11)

WAY # 11WE ARE GENEROUS WITH WHAT WE HAVE, SHARING FREELY WITH OTHERS.MEMORY VERSE: "EACH ONE MUST DO JUST AS HE HAS PURPOSED IN HIS HEART, NOT GRUDGINGLY OR UNDER COMPULSION, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER."

II Cor. 9: 7

In the news, we see tragic headlines of devastating world events that can discourage us. Often, it seems that we only hear of bad news, horrible deeds. Yet, it is heartening to me to collect stories of encouragement to read and collect to share when I find them. I love stories of people who give, love and serve--and it happens every day, whether reported or not.

In an isolationist culture where, often, we do not know anyone on our block, we sometimes wonder how we can be generous to those in need. Not knowing the personal needs of my neighbors means I am in a vacuum for meeting those needs.

We are presented with opportunities to help people far away--the starving, the young prostitutes in other countries, to help with disasters. Yet, it is in giving of our own time, our own money, our own service when we are filled with the blessing that comes from giving our life away to others personally. Looking for opportunities to personally give as a family has kept us more humble, more compassionate and helped to model and train our children to think of themselves as "givers."

Two years in a row, Colorado Springs, and Monument, where I live, had devastating fires. Many houses were destroyed but it also placed us in a community to see generosity expressed in amazing ways. Mitch Slate, a modest man, decided ahead of time that he wanted somehow to do something personally for those who had lost their homes. Even though he lived on the un-evacuated side near the fires, he spent four hours handing out more than six cases of water to residents waiting to be escorted into the Black Forest burn area Saturday, June 15, 2013. Michael Ciaglo/The Gazette

This thoughtful man did not sit home and wonder what to do. He took initiative to go out and buy gallons and gallons of water to give to those who had been waiting and waiting to see their beloved homes.

Others in the area showed the kind of community support that I have not experienced on a regular basis in our area. An estimated 1,000 people lined the streets outside of the Black Forest Fire command center that night to say thank you to the heroic firefighters, national guardsmen, police officers and sheriff's deputies working long hours, without sleep, to protect their homes as they changed shifts. Many had lost their own homes, but wanted to be a part of the community that thanked the fire fighters for risking their lives to save their homes.

Thousands of people were affected by the fire that occurred with the most homes lost in Colorado History. (460 homes totally destroyed.) How amazing it was to see this gathering of people support one another, help generously, pray together, and show love in countless ways. photo Michael Ciaglo/The Gazette

Members of First Baptist Church on Black Forest Road prayed Sunday, June 16, 2013 over church members who lost their homes in the Black Forest fire northeast of Colorado Springs, Colo. The church, which is just outside the evacuation area in Black Forest, held a community prayer and praise worship service Sunday. At least eleven church families lost their homes to the Black Forest fire. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (Photo credits given to The Gazette)

GENEROSITY EXPRESSES THE WAY WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES.

Giving our time, love, consideration and thoughtfulness to those surrounding us in our lives is one of the ways people are able to perceive the love of Christ, expressed through us. Yet, when one comes to Christ, it is not just to receive forgiveness and entrance into heaven.  Humility and bowing our knees before the creator of the universe, must cause us to understand that our lives are not our own. When we give our lives to Christ, we give him our all. Everything we have belongs to God. Our possessions are not only for us to use, but what we possess is to be used for the service and provision of others. God entrusts us with resources because He wants to believe that we will be good stewards of his provision in order to help others.

GENEROSITY, THEN, FLOWS FROM A PERSON WHO PERCEIVES HIMSELF AS A STEWARD OF GOD'S GIFTS.

However, the attitudes that are swirling around in our hearts, will most likely show  and burst to the surface when difficult circumstances squeeze our lives. Devastating fires, so near our home, effected all of us in our community two years ago. Disbelief that a fire could come so quickly and devastate so many homes in such a short time left us all breathless.

Yet, as with many disasters, we witnessed an outpouring of generosity from those who had already decided that giving of themselves was one of the ways to most model the sacrificial life of Jesus.

As we housed sweet family friends whose house was at times right in the center of the infrared map, we watched them as they lived what they had practiced believing--the joyful and humble trust of God.

One morning, as they heard of family friends who lost their home, their first response was not fear of losing their own home. But, immediately, they pondered, "What would most help this family? Let's give a gift card to Target, get their kids some new clothes, and go visit them to cheer them up. They probably need a lot of support right now."

The heart of Jesus is to give whatever it required to save his beloved children. In our case, He had to give His all.

Generosity is caught when taught and  modeled. It is learned when practiced. It plants seeds in the heart when, out of great thanksgiving to God, for all that He has done, we give always out of our resources to His kingdom causes and to others who are in need.

When we capture the reality of God's nature being extravagantly generous on our behalf, this character quality born in our lives and trained into the lives of our children, reflects a wordless picture of a love that will reach hearts.

No wonder God loves a cheerful giver--it is a true reflection of His children behaving like Him.

Practical ways we practiced giving as a family included:

*Serving meals at homeless shelters

*teaching children's Sunday School classes as a family or caring for children while single moms did Christmas shopping

*Helping with work days to serve elderly, single moms and those who were unable to mow their lawns

*Hosting missionaries in our home when they were on furlough and helping them gather goods to send back to the country in which they lived

*Gathering money weekly from the kid's giving and storing it in a jar and turning it into a check at a bank to send to the cause our family voted on after a period of time

*Making meals and decorating "love" cards for neighbors and those who were ill, in the hospital or had a loss in the family.

*Baking plates of cookies for new neighbors and visiting their home to say welcome.

*Stuffing shoe boxes full of toys and books for overseas friends who did not have material goods.

There are so many ways to give, but making it a habit, taking the time to plan it is the key to seeing the root of generosity grow in the culture of our lives and our family's lives.

Play Episode #259

Back to Oxford, Hidden Places & Pizza & Podcast

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evil-doers came upon me to devour my flesh,My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though a war arise against me, In spite of this, I shall be confident...... For in the day of trouble, He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent, He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock." Psalm 27:1-5

 When Joy was a little girl, we had a strange little closet at the entrance of our bedroom. It was a small, angular room that was a bit awkward and not suitable to hold much. But Joy found a use for it: her own little hiding place! We hung a battery-operated lantern on a little nail on the wall, and she would take all of her stuffed animals and her beloved blanket inside to hide, pretend, and play for hours. When I read this verse ... “In the day of trouble, he will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of his tent, He will hide me ...” it reminds me of this wonderful hiding place of Joy's--a safe place from the outside world, where no one could find her; hidden in our room, safe from all the visitors who came to our house.

It seems I am surrounded by women who are in the midst of very difficult circumstances--hurting marriages, rebellious children, family members who are very ill, economic crises, broken relationships, and hurtful misunderstandings in friendships. I so wish I could somehow make all of these difficulties go away, knowing the deep struggles  many are experiencing during the dark times of life. Sometime over the course of many years, though, I’ve realized that I never really had a realistic picture of just what it meant to live in a fallen world. This, earth, is the broken place. Heaven is the place where we will see justice and wrongs being righted and healing and deep, bubbling-over happiness and freedom from the burdens of life. Here...not so much.

The other day, I was talking with my children and one said, "You know, it seems like people think that our family is so sweet and perfect, that it is easy for us to be good and make right choices, and that things have been easier for us than for their families. I wish everyone could see that the beauty of our lives and the messages we all talk about is a result of mounting up over difficulties, having faith in the darkest of times, putting up with impossible circumstances and difficult relationships. We have had to light candles of faith in the darkness and inconsistencies of our lives. I hate having people just think we are naturally sweet and good--they don't know the journey of faith it has cost us."

At heart, I am a very fearful person. So often, I awaken at night after only a few hours of sleep and the first feeling I experience is fear--fear of the future, a lack of finances, worry regarding my children, and so on. Yet I am learning so much, even now, about the importance of mounting up over fear by faith.

As I study the stories of scripture, it is obvious that when people looked at their obstacles in life--the storms, giants, battles--that they became fearful and useless and defeated. But when they looked at God Himself instead of their fears, they became strong and conquered in the midst of their battles, storms and difficulties.Peter saw Jesus walking on water and started out toward him, actually walking on water too! But when he turned his eyes to the waves, he became scared and began to fall.

The only way I have found peace and assurance and confidence in life was to let Him hide me in the corners of His tent--to let Him fight my battles, to submit to His will, and to say, "You be my defender and provider, because I am your child." Fixing the eyes of my heart on Him, on His face, on His integrity of character and strength, is the only way I could live by faith and not by fear.

And so throughout life, it is in resting in His presence and strength and power and goodness that will put our hearts at rest. It is only when we patiently face the storms confiding, "This is too big for me to handle, but I am asking you to handle it for me," and then learn to wait--and sometimes wait and wait and wait!--that we will see His purpose, ways and yes, salvation from our storms. I wish I had learned at a much earlier age not to struggle so and worry and fret--it did me no good, and now I see how very faithful God was--He just didn't always do it my way!

 If you have the desire to take your study deeper today, take a few moments to complete the reflection and application below:

Where are your eyes? On Jesus? or on the storm? Hebrews 12:2-3 says for us, "fixing our eyes on Jesus--(looking to Him, trusting in Him, depending on Him!), who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him (ponder Him, understand His life, His sufferings) who has endured such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart."

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 Do you have a secret place like Joy’s? It might not be an awkward closet and perhaps not filled with teddy bears, but it can be so helpful to have a spot set aside specifically for drawing away from the world and meeting with Jesus.

Play Episode #258

Elizabeth Foss Podcast: Girls' Club Book Series!

 























 “Love never runs out; it just expands our capacity to love.” ~ Girls’ Club

I’ve been a fan and friends of Elizabeth Foss for many years. I know you will love her heart because she is seasoned, has journeyed through many years of raising her children, has passed through so many seasons of marriage and has developed wisdom at every point. She is a faithful, kind mama to nine, a true lover of Jesus, and an encourager to many, for many years now through her blog and writings.

I found her many years ago as I was looking at beautiful blogs with meaningful messages. Eventually, we became dear friends and she even visited me in my home though we live thousands of miles apart. I know you’ll be encouraged by our conversation! You’ll definitely want to follow her, so find Elizabeth here:
www.elizabethfoss.com

www.takeupandread.org

Twitter and Instagram: elizabethfoss

Elizabeth is also so kind as to offer our readers a copy of her new study on friendship, plus a beautiful mug! Comment below to enter to win.

Thanks, sweet Elizabeth!

And of course, we hope you’ll grab your own copy of Girls’ Club! Find it here …

Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson




































Play Episode #257

Bailey Hurley Podcast: Girls' Club Book Series!

“Close relationships are nourished by people who ask intentional questions.”
~ Girls’ Club

Today we’re joined by Bailey Hurley as we continue our discussions about Girls’ Club! I met Bailey when she came to my home for a day of gathering with the winners of a day at my house for another book. Later she came to visit with me over a cup of tea. I love her desire to gather friends, to build into their lives, to create community. So fun to be inspired by a friend who loves the same things. I know you will enjoy this podcast today.

You can find Bailey at her website: Bailey Hurley She also has wonderful friendship journal prompts that are free for download from her website! These journal prompts redirect you back to Scripture to help you define friendship for your current season. Here’s the direct link:  https://baileythurley.com/friendship-journaling-prompts/

And be sure to get your copy of Girls’ Club, here!

Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson




































Play Episode #256

Mackenzie Koppa Podcast: Girls' Club Book Series!

“The whole gospel is, in its way, the tale of loneliness being turned backwards.” ~Girls’ Club

So grateful that Mackenzie Koppa was able to join me for today’s podcast! I consider her a kindred spirit and love her passion for life, her ability to be courageous and her love for anyone who comes into her sphere. I know you will enjoy our conversation today. I could talk with her for a very long time.

She says … “I'm MacKenzie Koppa and around the interwebs I'm known as Bold Turquoise- or the gal who attempts to cultivate loveliness in her life and tries to encourage other women to as well (I'm an ENFP, I can't help it!).

I'm a single mom of four sweet kids, voiceover artist, podcaster and speaker.

I love Jesus, my kids and chocolate- in that order.” How could I not agree wholeheartedly with that.

We hope you enjoy our podcast!

Find Mackenzie here at Mackenzie Koppa

She also podcasts at Cultivating the Lovely!

And here’s the podcast that Sally specifically asks about toward the end of the episode~ thesamepagepodcast.com

Instagram- @mackenziekoppa

Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson
































Play Episode #255

Gina Smith Podcast: Girls' Club Book Series!

“Women must have been kissed by God, because they have been created with immeasurable potential to accomplish beautiful feats. “ ~ Girls’ Club

You know how some times the Lord seems to give you a special gift of his love by bringing friends into your life that you didn’t know you needed but are so blessed by? Well, this would be the SD Smith family. I am so very thrilled to be sharing this podcast with Gina Smith today! Gina is a lovely friend, gentle, encouraging, loving to all who know her. I love knowing her and wonderful Sam and his brother Josiah as dear friends, ( who run their business of publishing and speaking.)

They have written and produced the amazing Green Ember series. Joel, my son, has been privileged enough to be the voice of the series on audible and considers it such a privilege to be a part. Look at all of the places you can find them below.

Gina is a wonderful mama and friend to many, and her husband is the author of the Green Ember series. You can find his information here …

Audio book! https://sdsmith.net/freeaudio/

Newest book! https://sdsmith.net/book/the-wreck-and-rise-of-whitson-mariner/

Sam on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/sdsmithereens/?hl=en

And today, the Smiths were so kind as to offer an incredible gift for one of our readers! You will love this.

Go to my Instagram page and find this poster to tag a friend and enter!

I hope you’ll enjoy listening in, and you can find and order our books here!

Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson




































Play Episode #254

Its A Great One With Sarah, Joy and Sally Girls' Club Book

Whew! Sweet Friends,

We love you so much. I am probably on a plane from Dallas to England as you read this. We have all been so very inspired by meeting so many at Dallas, Raleigh and Wild and Free. We are already getting letters from so many of you who say this book is inspiring you to embracing your capacity as a woman, to seeing the need to cultivate excellent accountability and community and we are thrilled. Thanks for sharing this book with so many. We have a few more wonderful recordings with our friends but wanted to give you a look into some of what we have been talking about together. I hope you enjoy our chat today.

Sending love from the three of us.

And be sure to get your copy if you don’t already have one.

Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson




































Play Episode #253

Emily Thomas Podcast: Girls' Club Book Series!

“Love teaches us to hope, to see what is possible, to imagine beauty where there has been only grief.” ~ Girls’ Club

So glad to be with Emily Thomas today! Emily’s first job was teaching juvenile inmates in the prison system.  That job didn’t kill her so she thought she’d try parenthood.  Before kids she was a teacher, nurse, and world traveler. Now she mostly travels around her house picking up toys. Motherhood proved much harder than Emily anticipated so, in an effort to not run away from home, she started a podcast.   On her weekly show, Emily interviews other women who are struggling WELL in some area in hopes of figuring out how to be less of a mess herself.  She uses humor and honesty to share the encouragement from God’s word and her personal misadventures in an effort to build up worn-down ladies everywhere.  

Find Emily here at her website: strugglewellproject.com and on instagram: instagram.com/strugglewellproject I hope you’ll enjoy our talk today!

Of course, you can still find our newest books, here!














Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson




































Play Episode #252

Renee Swope Podcast: Girls' Club Book Series!

“Love challenges the tyrannical finality of loneliness.” ~ Girls’ Club

I met my sweet friend, Renee Swope, several years ago. Gentle and loving are the words I would use to describe her. Renee has encouraged and ministered to women from her desire to really support and encourage them. I know you will feel sympathy with her heart in the thoughts she shares on my podcast today.

She describes herself as:  Word-lover, heart-encourager and grace-needer. Wife of 25 years, mom of three (ranging from 10-23), former radio co-host and executive director of Proverbs 31 Ministries and best-selling author of  A Confident Heart  and  A Confident Heart Devotional

I so enjoyed our conversation and I know you will, too!

You can find Renee here:

https://www.ReneeSwope.com 

https://www.facebook.com/aconfidentheart

http://www.instagram.com/reneeswope 

Did you get your own copies of Girls’ Club and Girls’ Club Experience, yet? Find them here!














Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson




































Play Episode #251

Erin Loechner Podcast: Girls' Club Book Series!

“Godly friendships are not just a luxury but a necessity to be able to sustain a healthy spiritual life.” ~Girls’ Club

Lovely Erin Loechner is joining me today to talk about how hard it is sometimes to find friends who “get” us as we are inside. I always love talking with her and so enjoy her thoughtful responses. We talk about what it is like to be an introvert who needs friends but finds it hard to reach out. She is the author of Chasing Slow and founder of Design for Mankind,

Erin Loechner has been blogging and speaking for more than a decade. Her heartfelt writing and design work has been showcased in The New York Times, Lucky, Parenting, Dwell, Marie Claire, Elle Decor, Huffington Post, and a two-season HGTV.com web special, garnering over one million fans worldwide. She has spoken for and appeared in renowned international events for clients such as Walt Disney World, IKEA, Martha Stewart and Home Depot. Erin has a brand new site for homeschooling mamas of littles that she would love for you to see called  othergoose.com(@othergoose on Instagram), Her creative ideas and plans of how to engage little ones in an interesting way will be such an encouragement to so many moms who are in the same stages.

Erin is nestled in a Midwestern town, with her husband, and two kids and they “strive” for less in most areas except three: joy, grace, and goat cheese.

Find Erin here: Design for Mankind

Her book, Chasing Slow, can be found at Amazon!

And of course you can find our newest book here!

Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson





















Girls' Club Experience: A Guided Journey into Friendship

By Sally Clarkson, Joy Clarkson




































Play Episode #250