Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 59

Maybe You Should Start a MomHeart Group!

How might you imagine God could use you, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to change your part of the world for eternity?

God is so good and He sends grace when we ask Him to work in our lives. Eight years ago, I was feeling lonely and unsupported in my stage of life. I knew that fellowship was what I needed, but I didn't know of a group or Bible study where I would find like-minded friends.

So, as I had learned many other times, if I wanted a group, I knew would have to start it!

And so I put out an announcement to all the people I knew from various activities and invited moms in for a Bible study, snacks, and friendship at my home once a month.

In the first year or so, my little group grew to become a roomful. We started at 6:30 and shared snacks and talked and talked. Then we did introductions to find out where everyone came from. A chapter discussed from one of my books, discussion of the verses in the back of the book, prayer, and more talking followed. Sometimes I would say goodnight and go upstairs to bed at 11:00, and still mamas would stay and talk with each other!

Eventually, we ran out of room in my living room, dining room, and entrance hall combination, and finally people started sitting all the way up our front stairway!

These were the sweet women in my life, many who became my closest friends. So fun and sweet. I loved having them in my home. At one point, we had about 70-90 coming regularly at a time! Our largest group was 180—don’t ask how we managed—we just all sat close! That meant lots of cars. Finally, the police came to my door and said, "If there are this many cars again, we will have to fine you $1000.” Whoops!

So, we approached our church and said, "Could we begin a mom's Bible study at church by hosting my home Bible study there and asking if anyone else is interested?"

When we held our first meeting, 260 women showed up! We made circles of chairs and placed moms at tables, so everyone could have a small group of women to meet and talk with.

I have written 24 books that can be used as a basis for discussion and learning in a small group-it’s what we call Mom Heart Groups.

What about you? Do you have community already? So many people are missing it, but haven’t stepped out to try creating one on their own—and this has always been key in my life. Perhaps you’d like to start a Momheart group! Just pick up one of my books, invite some people over who are interested in friendship and reading, and make a pot of tea and maybe some cookies. Sometimes people are just waiting to be asked. You never know what God might do if you take initiative, step out in faith and see how He may use you to change your world. Everyone needs a support group. How about this fall?

We Choose to be Peacemakers: Our 24 Family Ways #18

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.

Way # 18 We choose to be peacemakers, even when we feel like arguing!

MEMORY VERSE:

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” ~James 3:17

As a young missionary in Communist countries many years ago, I cut my teeth on discipleship, "making disciples of all nations", learning to live by faith in a very foreign place, and holding fast to my Bible. One of my surprises, however, was the prevalence of conflict and issues, at times amongst the missionaries themselves.

Young and unseasoned, I believed that if someone was brave and courageous enough to go into the mission field, they would probably be "superhuman" and surely super-spiritual! And yet, living overseas can be so very stressful that it magnifies difficulties. This was the place I began to learn the importance of peacemaking, when disharmony and discord infiltrated the relationships on my staff team. Most were maturing believers, but all were in need of the mercy and grace of God. Discord of large proportions could disrupt our unity, causing multiple issues.

Fighting, warring, and arguing are some of the foundational evidences that this world is separated from God. We war against each other as countries, but also as individuals, because we are self-centered, focussed on our own agenda and our own well-being as opposed to focusing on serving and bringing harmony to others. Do not be surprised by relational conflict; it is a mark of the fallen world. As believers, we are called to redeem broken places.

You will notice in this particular set of four rules that each begins with, "We choose."

It is a choice of our will, an obedience of conscience where we serve God by doing what is right. Maturity in Christ is learning to do what is right because righteousness is deeply instilled in the pathways of our minds and hearts. When we have memorized God's word and wisdom principles, when we later encounter animosity (and we surely will, daily) our minds will already have a truth to go to so that we can behave as Christ would have us behave. Truth, understanding, and obedience are partners in peacemaking.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." Matthew 5:19

What a defining verse! By becoming peacemakers, we will be observed to be God's sons (and daughters). But the verse also implies that peace is not easy--it is a "work" of life--something that must be made.

Every relationship, by definition, is between two selfish people! The question in relationship struggles is not who is right, but who will make peace, give grace, and forgive. Making peace starts inside, with a decision that says, "I can become a vehicle to bring peace and to restore this relationship if I am willing to humble myself and reach out."

Whether in the setting of marriage, friendship, family, with colleagues, or as parents, peacemaking—the act of choosing to reach out in the work of restoration—comes from a heart that worships God.

 We gently, consistently, peacefully, instruct our children in becoming peacemakers. We teach them that there is a cost to making peace with others--the cost of bowing our own hearts to our pride and becoming willing to serve the one with whom we have conflict.

Humbling ourselves brings the possibility of unity and restoration as we admit our ability to fail and disappoint. We must show our children, by our own kindness, that humility is the bridge to making peace.

The memory verse this week is profound. God's wisdom--insight and understandable truth--is pure, peaceable and gentle. May the Holy Spirit quicken our hearts to obey and practice this truth, that we might bridge the gaps in our relationships with the love of God.

Are there any relationships God is pressing on your heart that you need to restore?

Is there anything keeping you from making peace with those who are in conflict with you? Do you need to humble yourself or forgive the other person? If I have learned anything from the heart of Jesus, it is that when I choose to obey what He shows me in His word, ultimately it brings me peace and deep joy. I do not have to carry hate or bitterness--He will relieve me from them when I accept His will for me to make peace.

Teach words of peacemaking:

I'm sorry. 

I was wrong.

I forgive you. 

I love you. 

How can I help you believe that I am really sorry?

I understand.

And remember today, that God offers peace to you.

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

Seasons Remembered, Seasons Celebrated

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.

When we moved into this house, I mused to my children, “See that tiny aspen tree in front of the house? Someday, it will be tall and filled with shimmering leaves that will delight us to our tiptoes. And we will watch it turn golden. Its golden leaves will slowly dance down as snow falling upon our grass. Then we will be amazed at its beauty and how it grew through all the years.”

Now, the tree does dance in the breeze. Joy was just a young teen then. Now she is a grown woman foraying out into her world of writing, speaking, teaching in places far from home. Sixteen years passed in the blink of an eye. Just like the years my children and I sat in my living room with each season, delighted at the beauty. And just so, my children all grew and changed and found their own seasons of beauty and growth as they went into the world.

As a young mama, I never knew how deeply connected and loved I would feel by these children now my deepest and very best friends, grown up. I didn’t understand how beautiful God’s design for family, that it would be the place that held us, shaped us, defined us, grew us into a tight community.

On her last afternoon, Joy and I sat, sipped tea, listened to the music and watched our leaves gently dance to the ground as the breezes played with the delicate pieces of gold. Now when I know the seasons pass swiftly, I cherish every minute I have with her, with my other precious ones, and thank God for all the years and what He was weaving into my life as the greatest blessing I would experience here on earth—belonging to my people, being safe in their friendship.

I wish I had known not to dispose the day of small things when our friendship was just being formed, the days of singing them to sleep, of reading stories together, of feasting on home-cooked meals, of sharing the birthdays and Christmases, tea times and talks.

Today, sweet mama, you are building a gift of love for yourself that will bless you your whole life. Cherish this season with your precious ones and watch it grow into something beautiful.

Join my lovely friend, Misty, as we speak of the treasure of shaping your own best friends day by day.

Answering Gently to Calm Even the Hottest Tempers

“A gentle answer turns away wrath. But harsh words make tempers flare.” Proverbs 15:1

 Standing in the hallway of the hotel where we were hosting our mom’s conference, I noticed a sweet mama who looked as though she was at the end of her rope. Holding a several-months-old baby, who was arching his little back and crying as though his heart would break, she looked beside herself.

I offered to hold her little one so she could have a tiny break. Sure enough, he would begin to quiet and then something, probably a little gurgly tummy, would cause him to begin to wail once again. I held him up so his cheek was touching mine, with my mouth aimed toward his little ear.

Softly, I began to talk to him. Then, I sang the song I had so often sung to my own children: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,” very softly and gently. He would quiet down for a few moments, and then another cry would begin. I said to him very softly, “You are not alone, you are so very precious, you are a darling boy,” lyrically, holding his soft cheek so he could feel mine. Each time my voice started, his little eyes got big and he would quiet.

Suddenly, he fell fast asleep.

Whether my children were young and tiny, or older and in a snit, if I wrapped my demeanor, by my will, in softness and gentleness and answered their anger in a gentle voice, with non-accusing eyes, they were more likely to listen to me and respond calmly.

The message I wanted to get across was, “I understand you are feeling frustrated or angry, but I want to listen to you and understand what you are saying so that I can help you.”

Angry words answered with a loud voice and accusation just adds fuel to the flame of anger. Gentleness and sympathy puts water on the fire of someone’s angry heart, and soothes the frustrated feelings.. Once I had this scripture in my head and learned to use it in many relationship situations, I saw how effective this piece of wisdom was, because all of us desire in our frustration to be honored.

There is no absolute solution or formula to calming an angry quarrel. Yet, this bit of wisdom from Proverbs has often saved the moment for my family.

A hormonal teen, an exhausted toddler, a school-aged child, or a husband who is angry—all of these, long to be treated with focused attention, an understanding heart, and a loving response.

As we all know, it is natural to react with a mirroring quality—anger to anger. However, it is from the Spirit of Him who is Love that leads us to react in love. As the Spirit lives through us, we will see His power and fruit drawing others to Him in us when we choose to remember bits of truth he has left for us to follow. A gentle answer, turns away anger. It really does!

Gentleness grows stronger with practice. It comes with humility. It grows as wisdom and takes root in the heart that values the ones she loves. May God grant us to become gentle in our love, that others may see Him through us.

We Choose to Be Joyful: Our 24 Family Ways #17

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.

Way #17We choose to be joyful even when we feel like complaining. 

Memory Verse:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."

~Phillippians 4:4-5

Many years ago, when Joel was a little boy, he played Legos for hours a day. He would design elaborate cars, towns, houses, roadways, playgrounds--whatever he could imagine. We all admired his skill. When he was about nine years old, he worked for months and months on a town that became an elaborate creation, around 5 feet wide. On top of this he had placed some of his best car designs. We all marveled at each stage of development of his wonderful creation.

One day we hosted a family for lunch. When Joel took the boy his age back to his room to play, the little boy rushed into the room and began hitting and destroying the whole of Joel's creation before we could pull him away. The devastation was complete, and broke the hearts of our whole family as we had been bragging on his enormous Lego city for months.

The little boy's mama said, "Oh well, boys will be boys!"

Joel was heartbroken and seemed to have a cloud around him for several days. Time had taught me he had a very strong sense of justice.  I learned that if I sat down with him, eye to eye, and talked to him about how he was feeling, he would open his heart, reveal what was bothering him, and then he would not whine any more. What he needed was sympathy.

On this particular week, I went into his room and sat down on the carpet next to him. We looked at the demolished Legos, and I held one in my hand. "Joel, I can't even imagine how bad this made you feel. I would be so hurt. What bothered you the most?"

"That boy had no right to be so destructive. I had never done anything to him. It took me almost a year to build all of these pieces. I just thought it was so unfair," Joel ended with a sigh.

"I understand, and I want you to know how very, very sorry I am. It was unkind and unjust."

Then I prayed with him and blessed him. Later he said, "Mama, I think I can be strong now and build a whole new city. I just wanted someone to listen to me and to understand. Thanks, Mama." And off he went outdoors to play with the other kids.

Dealing with Disappointments

Life is a constant challenge, every day, all the time. Things quit working, someone makes a mess, a Christian friend offends us or rejects us, life just isn't fair.

My life the past few months has included one interruption to my life after another and a whole slew of cancellations of planned events replaced by medical issues and reclining lots indoors, quietly alone away from my family with whom I had so many plans. Yet, this particular 24 Family Way has developed deep roots in my heart of learning to be content, choosing to be grateful, even in difficult circumstances. It has protected my heart from despair.

Jesus said, as a warning to us, a glimpse into how the world would be, "In this world, you will have tribulation."

Tribulation can also be translated, "great stress." He forewarned us about what a fallen world would bring.

But what can make it worse is children and adults who whine and complain all the time and never learn to walk within the realities of a fallen world. When we have tribulation of any kind, Jesus admonishes us to "take courage."

Have courage, change your attitude from hurt to brave, from overwhelmed to, "I can move through this with God's grace."

The habit of whining and complaining turns quickly into nagging and an attitude of self-absorption--which destroys hope, light, and beauty. God is so clear about how he felt about the complaining of the Israelites. It led them to disbelief.

They wandered in the desert for 40 years because of their complaining hearts and disbelief. This story is a great warning to our children as we are teaching them this Way. When we choose not to practice trusting God, turning our hearts to faith and thankfulness that we are not alone, we are prone to wander in wilderness in our lives.

It is not wrong to be sad or depressed because of a tragedy, because God is the one who supplied our ability to have emotions. We need and long for people who will sympathize with us. We need to have comfort for pain, brokenness, and injustices in life. God wants to comfort us, and we heal more quickly if we have someone who will help bear our burdens. For my sweet boy, this demolishing of his work was a tragedy.

But for Joel to become emotionally healthy and strong, I had to help him learn not to stay in the complaining/whining place but to learn to move to an attitude of gratitude. "God will comfort me. God will help me grow stronger. God is just. He understands. He is with me."

The past couple of  years, I have watched my oldest children seeking scripture over and over again to become peacemakers, to choose to be gentle, to choose to forgive, to actively trust God when unfair circumstances came along. I have been amazed as they have chosen to be faithful because scripture and training was the foundation of their hearts. And of course the result of their chosen pathway of obedience has been greater peace.

I wish I could give them and myself a "G"-rated life where everything was fair and all people were healthy and loving. But that is not reality in a broken world. Teaching them how to love, how to be joyful as a choice, often by modeling those qualities ourselves, will evidence the reality of God's spirit in our own lives and give our children tools that will help them to be strong when they encounter inevitable trials as adults.

Do you have your copy of Our 24 Family Ways? Find it here!

Our 24 Family Ways (2010) By Clay Clarkson

Books That Changed Our Lives Forever

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode. 

To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark. —Victor Hugo

“Sally, why do you write so many books? Can’t you say what you want to say in one or two books?”

When I look back on my life, I realize that I came into motherhood, marriage, life with a pretty empty blank slate. I was subject to the many voices I found in culture while searching for wisdom in living out a meaningful, purposeful life as a woman, mother, wife.

Once I found biblical truths that gave me wisdom and guidance, roadways for going forward, I wanted to share the ideas with others who longed for direction along God’s paths.

As I look back over the years, I have learned more every year, every season. I cannot not think about philosophy or ideas. It bubbles up in my mind when I am taking a shower, driving in the car, washing dishes.

What you think, the ideas you believe, the truth you cherish determines what you become, it determines the trajectory of your life. If you think truly, you will live truly. If you think falsely, you will live falsely.

As a writer, I hope that the books I write will give guidance, wisdom, truth, strength for those who read my books to better understand the way God designed us to live, to think, to behave.

What you feed your mind determines what thoughts will direct your life. Today, my wonderful team and I are reviewing some of the books I have written and how they have transformed our lives.

It is my prayer that the books Clay and I have written will be a treasure of ideas that will give you hope, guidance and peace in your profoundly important role as a parent, marriage partner and woman serving Christ.

Be inspired today as my friends and I talk about how these books have changed our lives forever.

The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon Educating the Wholehearted Child By Clarkson, Clay, Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon



Civilization of Nations Begins at Home

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.

I have a deep love and reverence for women. I wanted my girls to be able to live into their intellectual strength, their skill in creating beauty, their love in relationships. In short, I wanted them to fully access their amazing design crafted by God to be excellent in every way. When fully filled with the vision for who they were made to be, they have the power, the nobility of l heart, the reverence for excellence to bring all that is good, light, lovely, right into the world to flourish.

Whenever I have time with one of my girls, I am enriched in every area of my life. In spite of my own imperfections, my girls have become fully actualized as influential women.

 The vision I see is this: if women rise to be the gatekeepers, making their homes places of excellence, cultivating love for each other as well as reverence and worship of God, spending personal time teaching and discipling their children, neighbors, friends, keeping them from worshiping the idol of television and serving them through this training and nurture and giving up of her own time, there will be hope.

 Then a civilization will be born where the whole culture will be populated with adults who have great souls, a call to the Kingdom of God, a passion to do what is right, a desire to protect the weak, and an honest moral character that is the foundation of right decisions made in politics, medicine, government, media and the arts.

 Yes, it requires great personal sacrifice. But in the battle between evil and good, the allegiance between our commitment to our God or our bowing to Satan has always required sacrifice. Evil is never passive and never takes a break–and neither can God’s chosen ones cease to work tirelessly to be about His business.

 When women abandon this great and important responsibility, there is a greater tendency for children to become the kind of adults who can be self-centered and self-serving; under-developed and ineffective without intentional training, --Those who can overlook unrighteousness without any pang of conscience—because that conscience has never been developed. They become the kind of adults who can passively let others take responsibility for our government and country--to accept and validate those who would promise the moon even though the moon isn’t available in reality. When a person has no convictions, he cannot operate his life in God’s strength. It is moms who help to develop foundations of righteousness in their children’s souls.

 For this gatekeeping to occur there must be hundreds—thousands—of dinners made, laundry loads run, backs scratched and cookies baked. There must be watercolor projects and messes, hikes and games of hide and seek, money spent on wonderful life-giving books and concerts and the theatre. It will not happen in the absence of a cost.

 Time spent ministering to our people is time well spent because that investment grants us the door to their hearts. When they are soft to us because we have ministered to their needs, their minds and hearts will be soft to hear our values, our convictions, and our guidance.

Today on my podcast, Joy and I speak of other brilliant and outstanding women throughout history who have made a difference in their world, their time in history. You will want to participate in her course where she teaches about excellent women from past history.

Let’s be those kind of women.

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon

Community is Necessary — Gather with Friends!

"And when you pour yourself out upon us, you do not sink to the lowest level, but you raise us up; you are not dispersed, but rather you gather us together."  -Augustine

It is so easy as mothers to get swept away doing a million tasks, investing in numerous projects at the same time until we are absolutely drained. Much like a teapot, we can continue pouring into all our various cups ... our children, husbands, friends, homes, meals, jobs, and so much more. We aren't always aware that our hearts, minds, and souls are almost empty until suddenly, we have nothing left to give.

There have been times in my life when my soul felt much like the empty gas tank of a beat-up car. Flashing red light, running on "E", knowing that at any moment, I may not be able to take another step. Once we allow ourselves to get all the way down to completely empty, we are no longer able to be good stewards of the things which God has entrusted to us. If you have only been spilling out and had no filling up, you will become impatient, frustrated, and drained.

In order to be a mother who is loving, gracious, and patient with her little ones, we must have our cup abundantly filled on a regular basis. The same goes for our marriages, as well. If you find yourself irritable, easily agitated, and unloving toward your husband, you may need to reevaluate where those feelings are stemming from. If your entire week has been so incredibly hectic that you never had a moment to yourself, never had a cup of coffee with a friend, and never spent time in scripture, your emptiness will drive you to irritation toward your family.

Scripture often talks about God pouring out for us (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18), and just as Augustine said, God has the ability to gather us together. Community is one of the most incredible tools God has given us, to allow the opportunity for someone else to pour into our cups! In Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he reminds us that fellowship with other Christians brings incomparable joy and restoration to the believer.

No matter how busy your schedule may be this week, regardless of how many tasks you have on your to-do list, make time to at least talk to a friend on the phone. The enemy wants to get you alone and make you feel isolated, because he knows there is great power and strength in numbers (Matthew 18:20). Make sure that you always have godly women of wisdom pouring into your life and speaking words of encouragement over you. Without this, you will continue running on empty, and you won't be able to build up your family, friends, or God's kingdom. If you lack friends right now, pray the Lord brings some your way! Then look around; who in your neighborhood, at work, or at church looks like they may need a friend, too?

We Take Personal Responsibility: Our 24 Family Ways #16

Click here to play today’s podcast episode.

Way # 16 We take personal responsibility to keep our home neat and clean at all times.

Memory Verse:

“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor. “

Proverbs 12:24

Time changes from much travel left me so exhausted, I thought I would fall asleep standing up. An unusual season of many weeks of traveling had found me coming and going constantly. Walking out to our meeting place at the airport, Joel whisked my bags from me, placed them in the car and then drove me the hour home from the airport.

"We packed you some cherries, Mom, ‘cause we thought you might be hungry," Joel informed me.

Home sweet home called my name as we drove into the driveway. Candles had been lit, music was wafting softly, and the table was set with a warm bowl of soup and crusty herb bread. Fresh flowers and a “welcome home “ sign greeted me in the sweep of entering the front door.

"Welcome home, mama. I bet you are ready to sleep in your own bed for a long while," Sarah commented as she put the last bowl of soup on the table.

I waited many years to know if all of my training and providing had gone into their hearts and minds. May I be the first one to say how glad I am to be in this place? Finally, the fruit of my labor has come to fruition. My children have "caught" it!

They take initiative, when they are home, to make our own home inviting, a prepared sanctuary, a solace to my soul, a place that says welcome when I get home from necessary trips.  The values that I had in mind when I prepared my home this way, year after year, month after month, day after day, have become their own standard of what a home should "speak" to people when they come here. They do the same things in their own homes around the world. And they do it without being told, because of all of the years of me training them and making them help me daily, straightening up, lighting candles, putting on music, making a meal, setting the table, over and over again. Training takes lots and lots of practice and patience.

No one becomes excellent of character automatically from lectures, but rather from practicing skills, responsibilities, and chores together with contented spirits. This is the way we  build values they will learn to cherish. Wisdom and skill require time, instruction and practice.--modeling combined with gentle and patient instruction.

And so, one of the most important ways of training into our children is, "This is not just my house, it is your house. We take care of it by keeping it a place of life and beauty together. How do you want others to see your home? What do we do to make it a place of refreshment for all who come here?" And then, you, the mom, make the standards every day, and you show them how to do all the tasks, and you give them responsibility.

Our 24 Family Ways is a wonderful, simple-to-use guide to family devotions. Find it here—there’s a coloring book, too!

Our 24 Family Ways (2010) By Clay Clarkson

Don't Mom Alone with Heather MacFayden

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.

Not long ago, I was feeling quite alone and invisible in my life. I was carrying several serious burdens of my children and friends, was weary from loads of work, and felt so alone.

A very loyal and trustworthy friend texted me, “I am going to be gone for a month. I need some Sally time.”

As we sipped the strong black tea we both loved from England, I poured out my heart’s issues. Out of compassion, tears came to her eyes. “I don’t know if you realize it, but I am praying for you diligently almost every day. All the things that are piling up in your life are indeed heavy to carry, but my life is similarly burdened, and I want to tell you how I have been seeing God’s goodness amidst my own personal circumstances.”

When my friend left, nothing in my circumstances had changed, yet I felt hope in my heart because of her words. Our friendship carried me to peace because she helped to shoulder my burdens and sympathize.

God created us for companionship with real people. We were born for community, love, help, encouragement, and the blessing and intimacy that comes from close friendship with others. Consequently, fellowship with like-minded women and men is essential to our spiritual health, and to our well-being in the Christian life.

A woman alone in her home, giving and being emptied on a regular basis, and dealing with her limitations -- plus those of the sinful people who dwell in her home -- is a target for discouragement, feelings of inadequacy, confusion and a sense of failure.

Having support systems is essential to our spiritual life, growth, health and pleasure. God intended us to live in a greater sense of family—to have aunts, grandmas, sisters, cousins, and friends who would surround us and give help and instruction to us as we learn to live life as moms, wives, ministry leaders, and friends.

In an isolationist society, we have falsely accepted the premise that we can “do it alone.” That belief brings so much pressure on one person to be all and do all!

Cultivating fellowship, friendship, and community may require you to take initiative, since isolation is the norm in this culture at this time.

Keep looking until you find someone more mature than you who can draw you forward in your walk with God. Find someone who is right where you are to share similar issues, ideas, and help, and also find someone younger in the Lord or at a younger stage to whom you can bring encouragement.

ECCLESIASTES 4:9-10 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their

labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one

who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

HEBREWS 3:13 (NIV) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”

so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

GALATIANS 6:10 (NLT) Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good

to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith.

In light of these verses, what action steps do you need to move on to create a less isolated life for you and for your family?

Today on my podcast, I am talking with Heather MacFayden who is launching her wonderful book, Don’t Mom Alone.

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!