Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 3

Building Your Life Around Scripture

Many years ago, Clay and I dreamed up the idea of Our 24 Family Ways as we discussed our desire to disciple our children. As parents of young children, we wanted them to have strong foundations of godly character and an understanding of what it meant to please God so that they could develop integrity. It was one of the most important ideas we wanted to convey, as we knew Integrity is something that is developed over time. It must be taught, practiced, and lived over many years in order to grow strong and vibrant.

Our 24 Family Ways as a book grew out of that foundation of working through a simple way of teaching the most important ideas of Christian discipleship to our children.

Paul spoke of his need to remind believers again and again about the same truths so that they could keep afresh in their hearts those truths from the Bible that would never change, hold them fast, give them direction and a way to flourish each step of the way. Because of the turbulent nature of cultural storms, I feel this series is something that will encourage you and has kept me going forward through many seasons of life.

Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide By Clarkson, Clay Buy on Amazon

Tea Time Tuesday: For the Joy Set Before Us

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“Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, 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.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Many years ago, when I was first married, I had an experience that was both devastatingly sad and eternally impactful in helping me to always have in my mind, “This is not the end. This is not my final home. I need to live for the kingdom to come.”

The puzzle for me has been understanding how to personally deal with suffering and yet have joy at the same time. This is a big subject and hardly one I can deal with comprehensively in a short post, but I do want to at least touch on this important question.

Being born with a strong sense of justice has made it difficult for me to understand why so much suffering happens to good people at the hands of a broken world. In reading Scripture and pondering life, I realized that in order for me to have joy and hold God's hand in this dance of life, I have to mount up over these questions. The seeming inconsistencies of unanswered prayer, sickness, broken relationships, sin that corrupts, destroys, and all the consequences of life that tear our hearts apart, will be satisfied when we are with Him. If I am to dance, I do so by holding God's hand in faith, celebrating that he will, in time, bring justice to our world, to all of His children.

As I began to examine joy in this context, I was not seeking to deal with the "why" of difficulty. That was a given. Instead I was seeking out the reality of how to live with joy amidst of the sadness and death. The writer of Hebrews compared our lives to a race of endurance, a race in which joy is connected to what lies ahead, not to what is here right now. In chapter 11, he called us to remember all of those who have gone before us who ran their race and finished well. We are to ponder Jesus, who for the joy before Him, endured the cross.

Join me today on my podcast as I pursue joy in the darkness.

Offering Jesus Your Little-Girl Heart

I love coming into the presence of Jesus. I am usually in my wrinkled pajamas, with​ sleep breath, no makeup, tousled hair, and a fearful ­ heart—I am naturally a fearful​ person. But I light my candle and have my tea, and in His presence I find love and​ acceptance and hope.

I may not give​ perfection, or maturity, or prowess, but I can give Him my ​little-girl heart. The heart​ that sees His beauty, His unconditional love, the freedom He gives me to be me, just as​ I am. And that makes me respond with such love, appreciation, and gratefulness! How​ very glad I am that Jesus does not compare me to anyone else. He is my justification.​ He is my badge of honor.

Do you sometimes forget that the King of kings is “gentle and​ humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29), not waiting to slap you​ on the wrist but rather to draw you close and embrace you?​ How can you offer Him your own little‑girl heart today?

Mom Heart Moments: Daily Devotions for Lifegiving Motherhood By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon

Hope Is Not A Feeling, But A Commitment

Hope is not natural​ — it is supernatural. Hope comes welling up from deep inside because of a belief that God is good. That He will win in the end. That there is always hope when God is present.

Women who choose hope and who choose to trust God are those who, instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.

The God-given gift of hope is the best possible medicine for any hardship in life. Hope is the physician of each misery, and God has given us this gift to heal so that we may have a future that is full of joy and light.

Do your children watch you in your tests of faith and see you walking in hope and trust as an example to them of how they will need to live their adult lives?

Read more about this in Help, I’m Drowning.

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope By Sally Clarkson Buy on Amazon

Tea Time Tuesday: Obedience: A Key to A Strong Spiritual Life

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I am sitting in a coffee shop, ear buds in, reading my Bible, pondering what messages really need to be said. This one pictured is a memory—but it represents what I do each week when I prepare Tea Time Tuesday—coffee (tea was earlier!), music, focus!

We live in a world of social media that tells us what to do. But that does not mean the voice is one of truth. What voices do you listen to?

Jesus said, “If you love me, obey me.”

Obedience is a theme in my spiritual life—learning to bow my knee before God, His word, doing what He asks, regardless of my feelings.

“Mama, why do I have to obey you and Daddy? Who said you were right?” (From a child who wanted to do something we didn't allow.)

Obedience is the action of authentic faith; “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

I said, “God loves us so much that He gives us principles of wisdom to teach us what is right and wrong, what will lead us to a godly life. God protects us from making painful mistakes in our lives by giving us instruction. But parents are God’s representatives to teach you how to obey Him. If you learn to obey us, you will want to obey God when you are an adult. We are God’s representatives to help our precious children learn to love wisdom, how to be righteous. You practice with us so that you will be ready to follow God’s leading when we are not there to help.”

We cannot please God unless we cultivate a heart that wants to obey Him. It is not about being religious, works oriented, or “churchy.” It is having a heart to ponder His words, stories, ways that He dealt with people, and then do what we can to obey His heart lessons. We grow as we learn to obey, even when it is a challenge. Without a heart to do what God tells us, we cannot please Him.

To obey: to act according what you have been asked or ordered to do by someone in authority, or to submit to instruction.

More on my podcast, Life With Sally.

This week, I pray you will be sensitive to listen to the Holy Spirit, to obey what God tells you to do in His word, to show His truth, His love because of your heart to obey Him in the real and now.

What Are You Planting In Your Children's Hearts?

From the time our children were wee ones, we gave each of them time to speak at our conferences. We said, “God has made all of us stewards of His messages of love, redemption, and His hope and life because He has entrusted us with this light that the dark world needs. What would you like to share with all the moms to encourage them this year?”

By faith, we kept writing and speaking and our children grew with ministry. Their self-image was, “I have something to give. My personality is a gift from God to use for His glory. I have an arena in which to bring His light that no one else on earth will ever have.”

A drive for purpose and a desire to impact others for the kingdom of God does not come out of a vacuum. ​A vision must be in your heart, growing, deepening.

It comes from seeing deep inside of your children's hearts and drawing out the greatness that God has built there and giving them a dream for how God will use them in the world.

Children, in spite of their bundle of immaturity, strengths, weaknesses, and varying personalities are exactly what God crafted them to be to fulfill their purpose in His world.

In what ways would you like to grow personally so that you may pass on the life you have intentionally cultivated?

Read more about this in Awaking Wonder.

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning By Sally Clarkson Buy on Amazon

Being A Faithful Friend To Your Children

Even in their adulthood, I continue to be a faithful friend to each of them who cares about the intricate details of their lives—their pressures, finances, relationships, faith growth, and overall heart issues. I keep their secrets and seek to be a “safe” person in whom they can confide. I am determined to continue in that joyful role for my whole life.

Being a friend of adult children has required adapting to a new way of interacting with them. I’ve learned to accept their unique choices of how to live their life, their ways of relating to life, and their faith decisions.

I have learned to love them even as I trust them to God and pray that they live their lives well.

I have made myself an open conversation partner in hearing them on their individual choices as adults, and as such have become a sounding board for them when they are open to it, a persona of wise counsel if they request it. And if there is conflict, I listen and apologize when appropriate.

And in that context, I learn so much from them as well, benefitting from their stories and enjoying their companionship with all my heart. Read more about this in Uniquely You.

Uniquely You: Exploring Your Child's Extraordinarily Distinctive Design By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Nathan Buy on Amazon

Tea Time Tuesday: Celebrating 10 Years of the Life With Sally Podcast

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Have you ever had a dream of a project, or a long term goal you hoped to complete? That is what hosting a podcast was for me. An idea of reaching women all over the world with inspiring Biblical discipleship and messages.

Fast forward 10 years this week, and I realize that God has exceeded my expectations and blessed my proverbial socks off me.

Celebrate with me! Ten years ago this week, my podcast, Life with Sally was launched. Almost 30 million downloads, in the top 1% of podcasts in the world. And it all started with an idea, a little step of faith, a heart to inspire and encourage and a willingness to work. And what an exciting ride it has been.

It all began when a friend of mine (thanks, Kristin!) said, “Sally, you should start a podcast.” I had no idea where to start or what to do, but I had a heart to learn and spread messages of hope. She was my co-host at the beginning to help me. Soon, I knew the ropes and dived into the waters of podcast land by myself—at age 62!

I had no idea that it would grow so much and become a podcast in the top 1% of all podcasts in the world. I was stunned to see that we were being heard in 141 countries on average each week. What an amazing time we live in that we can be connected to potential friends all over the world through media. And now I pray, “God what would you dream through my life to help me reach more precious women in the next season?”

Of course all of you have made this possible. You, my dear companions week to week, write me notes and messages to keep me going. Will you companion me in this adventure? My hope is that in the next 10 years, I will hear of more sweet women worldwide being inspired and encouraged in their divine design to be used in their own story to bring God's light, truth, beauty to the world.

To celebrate, I want to give away a copy of four books (Well Lived, Teatime Discipleship, Mom Heart Moments, and Awaking Wonder) and a year membership to my online community, Life with Sally .

To enter via Instagram or Facebook, like my latest post, leave a comment (tell me what subjects you would like me to address in future podcasts), and tag a friend and you will be entered!

Join me today on my new podcast about trusting God for His work in our life.

Because Of You, Your Children Will Know How To Be Courageous

When she understands the importance of civilizing nations by raising strong children of faith in her home, and through strong family relationships, she will indeed find courage to patiently ride out the dark nights of life.

Because of her faithfulness, her legacy will be a future adult generation able to exercise moral courage and fortitude because of the foundation of virtue she carefully laid. Those who remember her strength will exhibit strength of their own in places of leadership because of the example she lived.

A valiant woman understands that her children are watching as she chooses to exhibit courage, so that someday, because of her faith and faithfulness, they will know how to be courageous.

Read more about this in Help, I’m Drowning.

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope By Sally Clarkson Buy on Amazon

Embodying The Life Of God In Your Home

Home is the place where souls are shaped and nurtured. Each of us, as mothers, has the ability to picture and embody the life of God in our own homes.

The starting point is to see our home domain as a kingdom. We are the queens, ruling those domains. As sovereigns, we have the responsibility to rule over them with excellence and intentionality, shaping the outcome of the lives lived there.

We can cultivate samples of His creativity by filling our homes with ­ art — pictures on the walls, books in baskets, arrangements of flowers strewn through our rooms, pianos or flutes or violins or whatever we like readily available so we can all practice music, paints and crayons for drawing pictures of things real or ­ imagined — there is an endless amount of ways to pass on the reality of our living and vibrant God through our home life.

What might you do today to add reminders of all the beauty of God inside your own home?

Read more about this in Mom Heart Moments.

Mom Heart Moments: Daily Devotions for Lifegiving Motherhood By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon