Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 45

Tea Time Tuesday: Aslan's Sympathy, Delicious Tartes, & Adventure

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“The return from the walk, and the arrival of tea, should be exactly coincident, and not later than a quarter past four.”

C.S.Lewis

I agree, Lewis! If only my life could be so predictable and if only there was someone ahead of me preparing it for me to serve me at just the right time. I have to admit, there is almost no more thoughtful deed done for me that I appreciate than when someone makes me a very hot, strong cup of tea and serves it to me wherever I am sitting or working,

Look at this amazingly large scoop of clotted cream! I was with a friend and we ordered one simple scone—but the cream was as large as the scone! (Pretty sure my cholesterol went up 25 points that day.) And of course, raspberry jam. I really love a scone with tea on a special occasion when I can take a bit more time to enjoy.

In light of my Lewis week, another favorite tea time quote which is known by many?

“You can’t get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

I am always a bit sad when a good book is over. I miss the characters who have become my friends. And, when a cup of tea comes to an end, I always wish for more.

This week, I was submerged in Lewis Land. One evening found me with scholars meeting over a French-themed dinner at the Kilns, Lewis’ home. Lots of fun, great food, and bubbling conversation. And so today, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite books of his and my favorite quote from that book. (Please do tell me—leave a comment: What is your favorite Lewis book and why?)

Mine is: The Magician’s Nephew gives a reflective, soul-touching account of creation that I love. I also love Aslan’s gentle treatment of a young boy, Digory, about the illness of his mother—a picture of Aslan’s (and God’s) compassion and sympathy for us when we experience grief.

As you will hear, I have had several days of faulty technology with my computer and mics, so I was unable to publish my podcast on Monday or Tuesday, so today is Tea Time Tuesday on Wednesday.

Today I speak of choral music, tastes of French food, adventures in a flower farm cafe, the best bread, finding light in the darkest clouds of life, Jacqui adventures, and more.

And do you know what Oculi omnium is? Listen to this choral piece online and find out why I asked you about it this week.

My friend, may I assure you that none of you bear grief or sorrow that Christ does not see. Always He feels sorrow with us and wants to hold us as we move through these times. Lewis reminds us through this passage:

“But please, please - won't you - can't you give me something that will cure Mother?' (Digory)
Up till then he had been looking at the Lion's great feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion's eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory's own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself.

’My son, my son,' said Aslan. 'I know. Grief is great.’”

(The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis)

Rest yourself for a few minutes, brew your favorite drink and join me for fun, inspiration, interesting moments in my week. What about your week—and what Lewis book is your favorite?

Grace Is the Word (Giving Your Words)

Grace, one of the most profound words. Get it right and your whole life will flourish.

The word grace in Hebrew means favor—to bow oneself in the service of another in order to show kindness, attentive love, favor.

John tells us that Jesus’s grace is over and over again.

John 1:16: For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

We approach His throne of grace with no fear, no worry of rejection, no shame because we are assured we will receive mercy and grace—help in our time of need.

Grace—undeserved kindness & attention in detail to show us blessing.

As a parent, I find that my heart is for my children, I go to great lengths to help, comfort, pray, provide, encourage them. I would do anything if it would bring them blessing or protection. They have a deep place of belonging in my heart, thoughts and plans.

So it is with God.

He is the ultimate One who is kind and gives His grace to us because we are His beloved children.

Grace is to personally experience the unending forgiveness, love, favor of God because of His nature to be kind, good, loving and compassionate with His children. God is the ultimate source of grace.

His grace as an artist created a world in which we could find deep joy in music, feel the comfort of a warm fire on a cold night, have a sense of pleasure from a child who snuggles against us, a husband who cares for us and gives his love. God’s grace is multidimensional and actually touches all of our senses and the very thoughts of our hearts.

Grace is: patience in the middle of the night when a hormonal teen pours out their heart and we receive them with love and affirmation.

*Bringing flowers to a neighbor who is ill

*Reading a story or book outlaid that gives our imagination hope and peace.

*Patiently rocking & singing to a toddler when they have awakened you, one more time, —giving them what they need with gentleness.

Live in His grace!

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Tea Time Tuesday: A Murder Mystery, Coffee Treat, Music, Dear Wallflower Podcast & More

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Dare I eat chocolate sweets before I have my breakfast? What do you think? I had never been served such a treat for breakfast before this. Yes, was my decision and it was correct. Listen for the rest of this week’s adventures!

“Come along inside…We’ll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.”

Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Oh, how I love this quote! I think I am soooo very British at heart. Someone recently commented to me, you know, I think to a Brit, tea is the greatest treasure. It will solve all problems and lighten all stress. I love Wind in the Willows and the humorous and delightful animal heroes and all the antics.

Last week’s adventures took me on journeys fun and mysterious:

A real murder mystery, a creepy ghostly jazz musician invading the old church we were in, a rain storm, a hike through shadowy woods with my littles, a sunset for a queen, and a delectable new coffee dessert I had never heard of that tempted me two nights in a row.

*Music and songs to encourage stole my attention.

*Dear Wallflower podcast host, Keelia Clarkson shares her vision for a gentle, warm community of kindred women.

*And so much more to delight.

Join me for another fun podcast of Tea Time Tuesday! And don’t forget to get your copy of my newest book, Giving Your Words.

Grab a cuppa something that is your favorite, sit back and enjoy.

Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay Buy on Amazon

Giving Your Words: Discernment: Wisdom to Navigate Life

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“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” -Rm 12:2

Today's word is discernment: the insight to understand what is true to navigate life in wisdom

Contrary voices fill our world with conflict and confusion. Culture has turned our children's training grounds into a battlefield. With relative morality, confusing voices, compromise of ideals, secular media values and opposing opinions, where will our children find clarity and strong, secure values to embrace?

Where do our children learn to discern what is true? By watching us as we walk with integrity at home, my children received from my life, training for battles that were ahead of them. By walking through the obstacles, curves of our lives, trusting God, living by faith, choosing to endure, our children became familiar with what it looked like to walk with God amidst of their own challenges. By memorizing & pondering scripture.

Children watch us, listen to us when we are talking to others, hear us behind closed doors as we talk to our husband, see us in public. Our lives are the walk that our children will imitate.

When your children are not sure which way to go, how to respond, or what is right or wrong, do they come to you for guidance? Do they know that you are the one to ask for wisdom in difficult moments?

No matter how old your children become, you are the example for them. They will look at you to see integrity, ideals, and how you interact with God. The longer you provide your children with wisdom based on truth, the more they will quickly consider your advice as they walk their own adult journey. Still, on a daily basis, I am walking with my adult children. They learned to trust their "path guide" on the trail of life we walked together, day by day.

We lead the way, set a solid foundation for the paths our children will follow. Teaching our children to walk truly never ends.

Are you walking with discernment today? Does your life show integrity?

For further study and practical devotions to do with your children, get your copy of Giving Your Words.

Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay Buy on Amazon Printable/Shareable: Books Referenced in this Podcast:   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!

  

Tea Time Tuesday: Are You a Good Samaritan?

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Morning tea moments are for slowing down, sipping in hot, sweet brew and surveying great thoughts that are waiting to come up from inside your souls.

This is my favorite “every day” teacup. I like how it is shaped, I like the color, I like everything about it, so I choose it, every morning. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy yourself as we spend friend time together.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." --John Quincy Adams

My life has been full of moments in which I am in front of large groups of people. My books have, by God’s grace, been read all over the world. But the true treasures of my life were the small moments spent in secret with my precious loved ones seeking to show them the excellent, beautiful ones who would open their souls to all that is good in the world.

My integrity is based on what I live at home. I had highly driven children who were watching us every minute. My children were hidden in the secrecy of our home life, shaping their ideals, watching their parents, listening to what is happening in our home. The books and stories we cherished were the ones they learned to cherish. The quiet times and devotions we had regularly with the Lord were laying a foundation in their hearts. Being accountable to our real live children and being responsible for the shaping of their souls caused us to pursue excellence, to sacrifice our energy on things that mattered, to seek to grow so that our children would have righteousness from which to draw as they came to us.

Join me today on my podcast as I talk about becoming a Good Samaritan in the normal moments of your life, cultivating compassion for those who need sympathy, fixing a pot of delicious fall soup for the crowds, a favorite book, wonderful readings, beautiful music, (Storybook Soundscapes by Joel Clarkson), and my yammering. Have a lovely week, my friends.

Instruction: Nurturing Minds to Apply Wisdom

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"A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation." ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

Instruction, our word for today, is the act of giving practical leadership. Instruction teaches one how to do something, how to apply wisdom and skill to life and the steps to do something. It provides practical steps to take.

For example, we wanted our children to be hospitable. It’s one thing to want to tell people about Christ. It is quite another to instruct them: to know how to reach out, start a conversation, put people at ease. Manners are the vehicles through which we act out honoring others, to grant them the respect they deserve as a fellow human being. Manners give the confidence to know how to act towards someone.

We spoke to our children of cultivating a life that says “welcome.” To welcome means to grant a sense of pleasure for someone’s presence.

By giving our children an image of “a life that says welcome” was the foundation for manners they learned. We instructed that we honor others made in God’s image because they had great worth to God . To extend hospitality & courtesy to others was a way to extend the heart of Christ to others. “A heart prepared to say, ’Welcome’" greets each weary traveler as to help drag heavy suitcases up our entry steps. They will find a bottle of water, a card, a chocolate, a fresh towel, a candle lit to bring fragrance to the room.. Candles flicker, music softly wafts through the air. Chocolate almonds, tiny wrapped gouda cheeses all say, "you are a valued person. We want you to find rest and peace as you enter our home." Practically we instructed them in having a heart for manners.

II Timothy 4:2 say: Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

When a child is not instructed, it will exasperate them, (frustrate them), because they will not have the knowledge, insight or understanding to give them confidence on how to live life skillfully. Most important is instructing them practically in areas of faith and wisdom.

Join me today in my podcast pondering how to understand the importance of instruction for living lives that can flourish..

Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay

Kindred Spirits, Daughter-In-Laws, and Wallflowers

In the journey of motherhood, there seems to be a never-ending amount of hopes and desires for our children and their goodness, not the least of which is the prayer that someday, they will find someone — a mate who will love and support and cherish them as much as we do.

I can’t tell you how relieved my mama heart and mind was when Nathan, my “Different” boy, brought home the girl he had been telling me about, Keelia. Right away I saw that Keelia was loving, intelligent, deep, and kind — everything I had ever wanted for Nathan in a wife. And while all those are valuable things, the most important aspect of Keelia that I discovered quickly was that she liked me! ;)

Since Nathan married her on a roof in New York right before the pandemic, Keelia and I have not just been friends but become kindred spirits. I have had trouble my entire life finding kindred spirits, those who I feel “get” me. So what a wonderful kiss on the cheek from God it was when I was not only able to be friendly with, but be close friends with, my child’s spouse.

Keelia and I giggle at the same jokes, share our favorite books, cook together, and dream together. Being a woman after my own heart, Keelia recently started her own podcast (she must be a Clarkson girl) after launching her online magazine, Wallflower Journal. Her podcast, Dear Wallflower, in likeness to my life’s work, is a place where she hopes to encourage, empower, and minister to women through all the issues they face today (it’s also a really fun podcast!). Every week, they read an anonymous letter from a listener asking for advice (just like “Dear Abby”) and offer sound, wise, and gentle insight.

I highly encourage you and any of the women in your life to listen if you’re looking for a place to find hope, insight, and beauty. I can’t emphasize enough how important and valuable it is to pray daily for the spouses of your kids, not only for their good, but for the joy and lifegiving-ness of yourself and your whole family. You can listen here:

Leaving A Faithful Legacy

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What a week! A whirlwind trip to the USA, a life-inspiring moment in a conference that reminded me of my vows to biblical ideals, great food and friends, a lovely book and more!—as well as the Queen’s preference for tea times.

Several years ago, after touring Buckingham Palace, I was drawn to this beautiful china mug dedicated to Queen Elizabeth, as many such mugs have been dedicated. As a young woman who studies history, I had been captivated by her faith and faithfulness and courage. And so I purchased one and put it away in a safe place. Now, I will cherish it even more because it is a graphic picture of the woman who promised to serve God and her people, never even comprehending how long or arduous it would be. And yet, for 70 years she worked diligently for her people and she remained faithful to her promise until her recent death.

Imagine the average 21 year old, coming to understand that she would have a stewardship to work on behalf of her country, serving constantly for 70 years to do her best to cause her country to flourish—through war, through eras of huge cultural battles, through devastating and public family scandals and difficulty, in a scope all over the world. How many of us truly understand the commitment to give our whole lives to serve—to serve our king, willingly, generously and with all of our heart—this has been my ponder this week as I have reflected the breadth of the legacy I have left and. hope to leave in the years to come.

This is what the young woman, Elizabeth, pledged,

“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Queen Elizabeth, at 21

And then her pledge was to cost her 7 decades of faithful, generous service. How could she have known—and yet her pledge to God kept her faithful.

In her first public broadcast as queen, she prayed and asked her people to pray:

'Pray for me … that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life. Queen Elizabeth

This week, both in America and back here in the UK, I have been pondering how commitments, vows, dedications of words hold us faithful to ideals we have committed to. Join me on Tea time Tuesday as I ponder the importance of making commitments to God, to review them, to live by them.

What are some of your commitments that you have written, reviewed, held fast to our of worship of and reverence of God?

Join me today as I ponder the power of vows and promises we make in our lifetime.

As per usual, there is a book to get, food that has inspired, quotes and verses that carry me.

What are the commitments, words you have made, held dear before God and will carry through thick and thin?

Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay Buy on Amazon

Tea Time Tuesday: Hope in the Mess of Life

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“While there is tea, there is hope.” -Arthur Wing Pinero

Today, at the end of a very draining, busy day, my sweet friend sat with me in my new back garden and we spoke as friends, shared one another’s burdens and gave one another hope. How I wish you could be here with me and I would love to have sweet conversations with you.

What a thoughtful week to have been able to review some of the legacy that Queen Elizabeth left for us to follow. Also, I wanted to share with you about the joys of pubs—and the amazing experience of punting on quiet, beautiful rivers. All in my tea time Tuesday podcast.

I have been struck lately by the thought that while mamas often give beyond measure for years on end, sometimes, their children, who are young or older and immature, unseasoned, criticize, retaliate for the difficulties in life, seem not to have noticed or remembered anything of the mama’s work and sacrifice. The mamas believe that nothing they have done really matters. Self-condemnation for not having been “perfectly mature” plagues them.

But sometimes the only way a child learns is by going through hard times when they do not want to accept instruction. That does not mean the sweet mama has failed—it means the child is making choices that do not always reflect the love and wisdom they had been given. This process started with Adam and Eve.

—and we have to stand back and let God have His way in their lives—to offer love and help but to understand that sometimes, it is not wanted or requested. Isn’t that how it is with God? He patiently waits for us to turn to Him, to listen, after we have walked in our own strength.

And that is how my very good life has been — beautiful and wonderful amidst many mistakes, many flaws, many immature moments. Yet, God's grace is like a beautiful cloth that covers the scars on my well-beloved old tables. His love and grace cover my imperfections. 

Take a cup of tea, give yourself and a friend hope!

Wisdom: The Word of the Day

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"As a man thinks, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[ a ] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,[ b ] get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”

Proverbs 4: 6-9

“Mama, I need advice. I need guidance.”

All of us need wisdom every day. Jesus tells us to worship him with our minds--to love Him with our minds. The ability to think biblically is no small matter in a world that shouts to us with values that are worldly, pumping out lies about life, family, morality,  in thousands of ways every day.

And yet, I find that very few people, know how to think biblically. In the absence of biblical wisdom, people go the way of culture.

Followers abound--those who find it easier to just do what others tell them to do, without really thinking through scripture or pondering it for themselves. So often, most people live in the philosophy, advice, boxes made by other people.

But God desires us to seek Him, to ponder Him, to listen to His voice, to read His word, and to be so familiar with scripture that He has a vocabulary to use in our lives that comes straight from the Bible.

Children who learn from an early age to read the Word, to digest its truth, to ponder its meaning, to pray over it to God, become those who have the ability to discern God's ways and to live in the freedom of worshiping a God who will direct their ways.

A person who owns and cherishes the wisdom of God has advantages in His life. Wherever he goes, the Holy Spirit will counsel him, lead him, guide him and give comfort and perspective. The Bible is the vocabulary that the Holy Spirit uses to lead us in his ways.

If you do not teach your children to think biblically and to love the word, no moralizing, no lecturing, no influence will work well, because it is not grounded in truth.

Giving words of wisdom will guide your children their whole lives. This is a truth that is very close to my heart — that is why we wrote Giving Your Words. I would be honored if you would join the launch team for Giving Your Words, to help get this message and this book in front of more parents and people. By signing up, you would not only be connected with countless other wonderful people who are doing the same thing, but be able to enter incredible giveaways and be given early access to the book. You can sign up for the team by clicking here.

Get your copy of Giving Your Words Today!

Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay