Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 91

Planning for & Creating a Beautiful Life & Podcast Shelly Miller

“I am the light of the world.” “The people who were walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

What have you trained your heart to notice and your mind to dwell upon? To observe? What are you looking for in the moments of your life every day?

Each of us has eyes in our heart that see life as we choose to see it. If we have determined to look for beauty, to be aware of light and goodness, then we will notice it wherever we go. Each year, I determine several themes that I will choose for the actions of my heart eyes. This year, I determined to look for light, to observe it, to note its beauty. Light reflects the essence of Christ to me, so I notice light to remind me He is everywhere.

Because of my determination to look for light, I have noticed light casting shadows and grace upon trees. I pay attention to sunrises and sunsets. I look for light because He is light and it causes me to think of Him and worship Him for bringing out of darkness into light. If we have made a decision to be critical and complaining as a way of life, we will see fault and have disappointment wherever we go.

Imagine my delight, when I went to visit a dear friend in London, and she whisked me off to an amazingly exquisite chandelier shop, with a captivating story of a woman’s legacy to gather gorgeous lights and chandeliers from castles, estates, even from Victorias’ events as well as from Lady Diana’s family home. I can’t wait for you to hear my story on my podcast today. (and my sweet friend, Shelly Miller, who took me to see the shop and meet the owners, didn’t even know I had made light a theme of my year.

But even more, my sweet friend brought me beauty, rest, comfort, pleasure and delight that I didn’t even know I needed. She prepared for me in such wonderful ways and I felt refreshed and inspirer from head to toe. It caught me pondering how to create beauty and prepare pleasure for those in my life who need to be cared for.

Hats for a rainy day! Love Shelly Miller!

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I am on my fifth week of living out of a suitcase. I have been in 4 cities, spent 3 weeks helping to care for sweet grandchildren who have not quite learned the skill of sleeping long and reaching out and seeking to help and meet needs of many on my path. I have been writing, editing, doing podcasts and blog posts and have tucked them in amidst this very demanding few weeks.

It is a privilege to me. I love pondering how to bring the love, gentleness, grace of God to my precious family, my friends and those He brings my way because He has been so very gracious and kind to me. But, as I am human, my body can become weary and exhausted or depleted, sometimes when I do not even know it.

I hurriedly packed a small computer bag, threw everything together, and then caught an early morning train to London to stay with a friend while ultimately on my way to Scotland to see Joel and Joy. My friend said she would meet me in the train station so that I would not have to figure out the subways by myself to get to her house.

Much to my surprise, she had planned such a fun day, but it unfolded a little at a time. . A visit to a chandelier shop with an amazing story behind it began our time. The delightful owners guided us through gorgeous rooms filled with treasures from castles, estates, famous and renown. The shop had a story, the people had a story and each piece was a treasure with a history of the places they had hung and the people they had served. It was fascinating as I had no idea such a shop existed. People from all over the world come to be served at this splendid place, even royalty!

Next, we lunched at a charming English cafe, (Churchill pub) where every view held charm and intriguing objects of historical interest.. We sat near a crackling fire and ate Thai food and chatted. (Who thought a pub would specialize in Pad Thai—nary a fish and chip in sight!

Next, across the street was a visit to Sally Clarke bakery. (Almost Sally Clarkson!) which was grand—a tour with the staff there, photos, and giggles. Next, after tromping through lovely roads with twists and turns, we arrived at her lovely flat. A hot pot of tea warmed us after being blown over the boulevard. Next, I ran up to my third floor room to get settled and came down to an elaborately prepared home cooked meal with candles.

The over all effect on me was an overwhelming gratefulness that someone had taken the time to serve me, to show me consideration, thoughtfulness and kindness. I had not known I needed someone to show me personal attention, but I drank it in from a parched soul that had gone too long without nourishment.

I remembered another such time that I had recorded in my journal when I was weary, depleted and felt I could not even get out of bed. I hope my story helps you to know that you are not alone and that you are seen right where you are.

*********

Sunday morning found me hiding under my covers. For years and years, as long as I can remember, I have been an early riser, mostly because it is the only way I could write and carry on a full fledged ministry and still keep my family as a priority. With books to be written and deadlines to be met and emails to be answered and radio shows for interviews and conferences to arrange, arising early gave me two to three more hours to my day. But this day, I didn't want to get up, feeling weary from the fray. I had thoughts wandering through my head like, "I don't think I can do this anymore. Why have I been driving myself for ministry? You know I love you, Lord. But for the moment, I can't think about everything and I don't want to face this day. I may never get out of bed!" Funny how Satan attacks our thoughts and uses discouragement against us female beings who live and love so much with our emotions.

Now, to give perspective, I was churning inside from the news of a friend's 6 year old daughter who had been sexually molested by a 15 year old cousin; a close family member of mine is struggling against deathly illness, another friend heavy with the care of a precious child who will have mysterious medical challenges forever, the medical issues of two of my own sweet children looming always; and all the other burdens of life. I thought about the time when Jesus was walking along and a woman who had been bleeding for years and she touched his garment and "the strength went out of him." That's how I was feeling--in the midst of my labor with sweet ones, "the strength had gone out of Sally."

Finally, after hours of staying in bed, (from 6 a.m. to 9--that is very late for me!), my feet mechanically moved to the floor. Joy's sweet voice yelled up to me from downstairs, "Don't you dare get up, Mom!" I slipped back in bed, arranged my pillows and waited. She breezed in chattering joyfully about the great morning she was having bearing a tray with a lovely napkin, a steaming hot cup of tea, a glass bowl with freshly cut up cherries, raspberries and blueberries and whip cream on the top, and a small lit candle.

Now, I might have expected this from Sarah, but I wasn't expecting it from Joy, as she was much younger at the time. (12 at the time). In that moment, Joy became to me the arms of God as she said, "I think you need a nice hug." She squeezed me tight and planted a kiss on my cheek. Her love offering to me seemed to say, "I love you, Sally. I am aware of the ragings of your soul. Here is a sweet angel to soothe your spirit with kindness today," as though it were from God Himself. Joy's service to me became an act of an angel from God, an unexpected flash of light--a gift to strengthen me.

"I have been working for an hour, Mom. I cleaned up the whole downstairs and the kitchen. It looks so pretty. I figured if you were staying in bed that long, you must be in need of cheer. I love you! Now, enjoy yourself alone for a few minutes, I have a couple of more things to take care of!"

The battle lines are familiar to me. I am what one might call an old warrior--familiar with the darkness, the battles raging, the issues at stake. I have learned to put one foot in front of another year after year, because my eyes are on what lies ahead--the reward of being with Jesus in His place that He is preparing for all of us who love Him.

I have looked at Him and thought about Him and cherished His sacrificial life and His pattern has given me reason to keep going. But this day, this weary day, He broke into my moments, through two small acts of kindness to assure me of His presence. How thankful I am that two people responded to the promptings of my heavenly Father to pour out His gentle, quiet lovingkindess on my weary soul.

Never under-estimate the power of kindness to help someone make it through. A vase of flowers, an email, a cup of tea or coffee, a candle, a short visit, a cleaned house, all of these can shift the mood and place of emotional havoc to one of “I think I can make it.”

I hope you enjoy our chat today and prepare a place and a time of kindness for yourself or someone you love.

You can find my wonderful friend and her books at: https://www.instagram.com/shellymille...

Refresh yourself through her words:

Books Referenced in this Podcast:
























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Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

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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!

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God Regards The Love Motivating Our Lives

We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.

~Brother Lawrence

The World is brimming over with philosophies and values that proclaim the importance of  self-fulfillment, self-promotion, accomplishment, status. Yet, our Jesus came as a man who had no stately form or majesty, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He purposely chose to humble Himself, to become the ultimate servant king. "I am humble and meek," He said. He came not proclaiming His rights, but bowing His knee. He washed feet, touched lepers, embraced and caressed the least of these—precious children, whom He deemed worthy of honor.

When we accept with open arms and heart a precious little baby and wash their little hands and feet with love in our hearts, we are worshipping. When we hold and rock and sing comfort into the heart of a screaming babe in the middle of the night during an ear infection, we become the voice of Jesus.

When we stay up late to listen to the forlorn heart of a teen who is growing and stretching toward adulthood and feeling the injustices of the world and the imperfection of our own families, and we spend some time extending grace, patience, and soothing, hopeful words, we become the patience, hope, and compassion of Jesus.

Our multitudinous little tasks within our homes—washing one more dish, correcting one more attitude, kissing one more forehead—when given from a heart full of love for Him,  please Him far more than if we made millions and had a title of strategic importance in a life all about ourselves.

He sees in secret, He cherishes our hidden worship more than anything else we could give Him-the worship of serving His own children out of a servant heart filled with love and gratitude for Him. In this work of service is our treasure we lay up in heaven for His glory.

Nathan gave me a precious little figurine on a Mother's day many years ago. He said, "Mom, you held my heart in your hands and shaped it with your love every day, every task, every minute of serving us kids. And for that reason, you will always be there in my heart, speaking to me of all the treasures you poured in one day at a time."

Love Him today, and love those He has given you to serve today.

5 Ways To Be Healthy and Strong for the Long Run & podcast

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“Mama, do you think we can fit in a short tea time this afternoon with Kristen?”

My days in Scotland have been full to the brim with early morning heart-felt chats and warm cups of tea, dinners with friends and colleagues of Joel and Joy; attending lectures; sitting sequestered with 18 PHD students in an old paneled room on a cold rainy day for 8 hours of work as each lived in their own mind palaces and worked fervently at their these, while I wiled away hours editing a book.

The promise of a tea time with an infectiously-enthusiastic-for-life friend seemed a reward to a busy week. We split Victoria sponge Cake, and carrot cake, sipped very strong tea and talked of messages on our hearts to inspire our friends.

Kristen Emmer always inspires me, her enthusiasm for life and ideals always makes me want to grow stronger, be better, love more generously. As a trained functional medical health coach, she cares deeply about how to help women thrive within the confines of their own life story. We talked and I, once again, got excited about what she was sharing with me.

Though time was short, I thought, “I really want to do a podcast on this because my friends would be so encouraged.”

Kristen was on her way for a weekend trip with her husband, but we raced to Joy’s apartment and quickly recorded some thoughts we had all been sharing. Her desire to help women live a healthy life-style, to live strong is contagious. She is in the process of putting together all sorts of inspiration that I know will encourage you, so be sure to follow her at for more to come. https://www.emmerandearth.com

Here are the five areas we discussed today and just a brief set of notes to give you an idea of what is aired on the podcast.! I am remotivated to stay on track!

Nourishment— what you put in your body

Do you feed your body from other substances that are alive? veggies, fruit, real? Pick recipes that are made with fresh food, start out with one ingredient choices and you will probably be closest to natural.

So much more to discuss in this area, but truly what you put into your body will determine the long term health of your body.

Movement— what you do with your body

Our bodies love movement: walking, dancing, carrying, bending, stretching. If you include movement in your routines every day, it will increase your circulation, your sense of well-being and happiness, your body strength, lower your blood pressure, give better mental strength and so much more. Making this a habit as a way of life will give you a foundation of strength.

Stress—how you deal with internal and external sources of strain

Managing stress, being aware of it regularly, simplifying life will determine your long term emotional, physical and spiritual health. Determine the drainers you can get rid of, find new ways to deal with the ones that will never go away.

Relationships— the way your networks drain, train, and shape you. What people add to your life? Spend time with them. What draining people are in your life? How can you either remove yourself from drainers or find ways to get a break. Become aware about how the health of relationships adds or subtracts from you every day.

Sleep— the way you reset your body

Sleep provides rest, restoration, emotional balance, hormonal balance. How can you improve your sleep and or deal with the rhythms of sleep so that it can best benefit your body?

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!

Play Episode

Why Education Matters & Adventures in Scotland, Peacocks & Podcast

What a whirlwind of a week here in Scotland, but what fun. I am always amazed at how the Lord arranges devine appointments for me as I just pitter patter through my days. I am excited to share my podcast with you today because being in St. Andrews and rubbing shoulders with students and having conversations with Joel and Joy has reignited the fire in my mind and heart about why I believe so deeply in education and its impact on our legacy, history and lives.

I hope you will enjoy this discussion today on my podcast. Education is not primarily to prepare us to be able to get jobs, nor is it about 12 or 15 years in a formal school setting. Whether one works as a waitress, a nurse, a professor, a lawyer, a builder or farmer, education is about forming an excitement to know, to learn, to think. It also paves the way for spiritual formation and a knowledge and love of God based on intellect and wonder and worship. We are educated by what we spend our time on and engage in, by how we invest the hours of our lives. Education is about capturing the heart’s and mind’s imagination about story, history, legacy of righteousness needing to be passed down through every generation. It is a lifetime and a lifestyle pursuit. We are the conductors of such life. Join us as we talk about these important issues.

But first, imagine my delight and surprise about getting embroiled in a discussion about peacocks and their calls with four friends who have met over many years, all cyclists and all jolly and fun. I was innocently sitting on the only couch in a very tiny coffee shop typing away on my computer, (because it had internet which Joel and Joy did not have!) and was totally engrossed in my work. I finally looked up at the three other men sharing the couch with me and found out their story, a birthday celebration, an authentic peacock call right in the cafe and a basketful of delights and giggles.

I am off today again to revisit my little grands and Sarah and Thomas and then home to America to tell Clay all about it. I told him I feel a little guilty and actually thrilled that I missed the 2 feet of snow that fell in our little neighborhood while I was gone. My fondest wish is to never drive my car in snow again!

I wish you all a lovely week. Let me know what you think about my thoughts and be sure to keep the Awakening Wonder Weekend on your calendars. Love to all of you—this community is so very dear to me.

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

By Sally Clarkson

Awaking Wonder Weekend with Sally Clarkson & Friends Aug 21-22 in Denver, CO
Aug 28-29 in Irving, TX
Sep 18-19 in Irvine, CA

Registration opening April 1st! Hope you can join me.

A Day to Celebrate Love With Those Who Long to Know Your Love

A Living Room Picnic for the cold winter days speaks of celebration!

Love One Another!

Happy Valentine’s Day, wonderful friends!

I hope that today is a day when you know deeply that you are loved, because you are precious to your Heavenly Father.

I love that we have a day in the year when we can be especially encouraged to give words of love, kisses and hugs, acts of service and delight in an overall celebration of loving others well. It is a day that we can use as an anchor that reminds us that everyone in our lives needs to know that they are loved.

Loving by showing it does not have to be expensive or elaborate. It just needs to be expressed. It is a day that helps us practice acting out our love in tangible ways.

Whatever you want your children to cherish and tuck deeply into their hearts must be something that is an intentional part of their lives every day, every season. Loving one another, as adults find out in marriage quickly enough, is a choice, not a feeling. Honor given to another comes from an attitude of humility and respect that is trained into a young child and practiced over many years. So, those who cultivate love and respect find it blooming more often than those who leave it unattended, or expect it to blossom all by itself.

Consequently, if you want to have children who know what it means to exhibit generous, unconditional love, you must help them practice loving every day, but especially on Valentine’s day!. When my children were young, at regular intervals, I would give them practical ways that we would practice love and giving encouragement to others.

First, we had studied our 24 Family Ways and memorized them and learned the verses—you can find the book by clicking the link below!

"We treat one another with kindness, gentleness and respect," was one of the ways that our children heard and wrote over and over again, so that this principle became a pathway in their brain.

Then, I would create ways, over the years, to help them practice taking the initiative to extend their words and actions of love towards others they cherished. One of these ideas would be a perfect project for Valentine’s Day!

One lonely year, when we felt we had no friends because of moving to a new town, we made a list of people that were special to our family, some we had just met or seen at church and a community group we had attended a couple of times. Together, we spent a whole day baking--cookies, bread, cinnamon rolls. While we waited for them to bake, I provided doilies, markers, paper, ribbon, and glue and we spent the day crafting "I love you, I am so thankful you are my friend," and "I appreciate you and thank God for you," cards.  Each child chose one of the people to present his or her card to. And of course, you could do this for ten, or three, or even just one special person!

Finally, we all gathered our plates of goodies, ribboned and carded, placed them gingerly in the car, and we were off. It took us 4 hours to deliver them to all the homes of those we had chosen to give our words of love to, and it delighted and filled all of my precious ones with memories of how much a tiny thoughtful gift can mean to someone who needs to hear the words, "I love you."

That night, I made a picnic in our living room to celebrate the day. (After all the dirty dishes and pans fun cookies made, I did not want to have one more dish to clean!) We lit candles all over the room, bought some chocolates, made a special board of picnic fare and ate in front to the fireplace. It was a favorite memory of all.

Other times we made homemade bread, a meal for someone in need of practical help who had been ill, a tea time for a friend who had just lost her mother, a feast of cookies and a “king of the mountain” game with favorite friends. More than anything, shaping my children’s hearts around the idea that love is practical and it is something we give to others from the storehouse of our own abundance became a way of thinking.

These kinds of patterns practiced are a part of who my children perceive themselves to be now as adults--lovers of others. The habit of being thoughtful was a learned value, as we practiced it regularly. The fruit of that kind of seed planting is a soul that emanates love, from being planted intentionally, cultivating and watering those seeds with deeds of kindness, led by a mother who gave her time.

Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide

By Clay Clarkson

Flourishing in the Meantime, Part 2 & Podcast

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The secret to becoming content and to cultivating happiness in your story is learning to make a plan to flourish right where you are, as a habit. Today, I speak about practicing holy attitudes that will serve you well as you grow and mature and live well in this long journey of life. I pray it inspired you.

Fifty-five women clustered in groups of 3's, 5's, 10's around the cozy table of our local coffee shop. Chattering, ordering coffee, quiche and soup, all seemed so very happy to be together as adults, as women, enjoying a rare time away from the daily grind. When I am going to be out of town on the night of our monthly Bible study, I reserve a local coffee shop for our evening together--just for us. So nice to have owners who love us and give generously to our group, after we have dubbed them our favorite coffee cafe for over 2 years now.

After our time of study, I always open it up for any question and spend about 10 minutes just addressing issues we all share.

"Sally, how did you live through all the mundane boring days where one day melted into another? Did you ever just feel like you were overwhelmed with the mundane tasks of it all? I feel like a prisoner in my own home."

It is true that all of us find ourselves amidst repeated chores, duties, and responsibilities--part of being an adult, part of eating, sleeping, living in this world--and often a challenging part when we feel we have no help or friends to carry the burdens.

Another mama, the next day, wrote almost the same letter. "I am dying here. Want to quit homeschooling but feel to guilty to do so. What should I do? I have been at it for 15 years."

Sometimes I see that moms have lost their vision along the way to live lives of ideals. Sometimes they just get lost in the journey, feel lonely, unappreciated, unnoticed and wonder if they are making a difference.

Though I will address some of these issues later this summer, after Joy graduates and I give her the party with all of her friends, after her's and Sarah's birthdays, after I return from California, after I get through with 6-8 weeks of therapy for my back and leg that has been so painful, after I turn in the manuscript for the Bible study guide for my new book, after my leadership intensive, after after after! :) We all have full plates.

1. Take the free short Myers-Briggs test at Truity.com and find out your personality. Assess if you think the description of you is true.  I am fully between an Enfj and an Enfp--mostly leaning toward an ENFP at this point. It means I hate to be boxed in, I love variety, I enjoy personal relationships, I am an idealist--(no surprises there!)

Many years ago, I realized that I needed to take my personality needs into account when considering what kind of life I would shape for my family so I could last better, longer. And so, I included in my life: music, experiences, adventure, interesting opportunities, personal relationships, creating community, etc. If God made me the mother of these children, he made me the way I needed to be to fulfill His purposes.Who I am is enough to fulfill His will for my life. I do not have to live someone else's life.

On hard days, if we were fussing too much and all felt like prickles, I would throw the kids in the car, give them some little snacks to munch on, put on a fun book on tape to listen to-exciting and adventurous or a wonderful sweet story, and drive. I found places in my area that would get us all outside and give us fun. Parks, hikes, bookstores, museums, frozen yoghurt places, interesting places where they could run or swim or engage their own little needs and personalities--even my little 5 star hotel where we could have a hot chocolate on a cold snowy day--and if we did not have enough money--I would get 2 mugs full and make them split! Getting out on some impossible days helped all of us settle down.

Why do people insist on living by duty and so called "authorities "voices that limit their own fun or interest? We have great freedom in the Lord to use our own brains, our own values to live into His will for our lives, if we are basically orthodox in our beliefs and the way we practice them.

Sometimes our lives seem overwhelmingly mundane because we are choosing to live boring lives.

When shaping my own plan, I knew that reading, discussing, devotions, engaging and giving a verbally rich environment was the best I could offer my children, so I did not limit our education to the lists and formulas and curriculum ways of others, as I trusted God that He had given me  a will  to use my imagination within the wise counsel I read about and the input I had taken in.

And so, when my adult children got into schools I did not even dream of, (Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Berklee, New York Film Academy) I could see that reading, giving freedom to develop their own muscles emotionally, mentally and spiritually and engaging them in life,  helped them all to grow into the person God made them to be and gave them a more than adequate education and rich life. Formulas would never have worked for my family as they would have been bored and so would I have been.

2. Get rest and refreshment If you are exhausted, take some time to sleep, give yourself a break from responsibility fatigue. Play and recreation can be so healthy for your well-being. Some of the things I have added over the years are tea or coffee breaks every day--for me and 15 minutes of pleasure to do what I want. Taking a French cooking class with my girls. Going out to breakfast with my teen boys. Playing tennis as a family. Having Clay take the kids out sometimes on a Saturday so I could do something fun with a friend or just stay home and watch a movie or take a bath or whatever.

3. Don't do life alone Whether  you are an introvert or extravert, you were made for relationships. Seek people who have your values or who can build into your life. I meet with an older friend I met from mutual Austrian mission experiences as often as possible when we are both in town. We share so many values, tastes and life appetites in common. When I am particularly down, I call her and we gather. I also have regular lunches, breakfasts with a group of friends that have been meeting for 9 years now and we do ministry and life together. We are different ages, different in personality and go to different churches, but I invited them over for lunch some years ago just once a month and from that we committed to each other.

If you do not have friends around you, read books by inspiring people--(books were my mentors amidst 17 moves!) Go to a seminar, volunteer in a ministry, do something--give of yourself and invest in others.

Walking miles each day, especially in natural, beautiful places, writing, playing music all the time, using my intuition to plan new ideas, projects, writing, speaking, traveling--and then figuring out how to pay for it--and regarding my children's needs and commitments as well as Clay's when I make plans. Making the mundane parts of my life as interesting and easy as possible have helped me to endure with grace. Simplify your expectations--you will never be in control, you will never get it all done, there are always new challenges around the corner, so prepare yourself for these life occurrences.

4. Make it a goal to seek out wise women, those more mature than you, those whose lives you would like to emulate. 

"He who walks with the wise will be wise, a companion of fools suffers harm." This verse is not just for children--it is for you. Don't spend lots of time on vanity, empty websites, television, books, people who bring you down. You know if you are compromising your life--turn away from harmful influences and repent (go the other way) and ask for God's help. Jeremiah tells us if we walk after emptiness, we shall become empty. What you allow yourself to think will take hold in your life. The values you cultivate will grow in your heart. Determine to walk on the road to excellence one step at a time. Invest in the ideals you want to pursue--don't allow your heart to become addicted to women who pull you down, give you excuses to compromise your life in any way, tell you its ok to move in immoral directions. Avoid consummate complainers, those who criticize many people, those who always blame others for their difficulties or have a habit of shaking their fist at God.

Instead seek out the holy, the lovely, the good. What you seek after will determine what you become--where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seems to me that seeing results always took longer than I thought they should but now when I look back I see how gently, strongly, intentionally, wisely God was directing and training and fulfilling his ways in my life.

5. Use your God-given imagination--it is part of the Holy Spirit to fill us with ideas, give us beauty, open doors, enlarge our boundaries. Part of being a mature believer is to use your mind, desires, convictions, dreams, enjoyment to create life in your own life.

Do it today--Own Your Circumstances, Own your design, Own your puzzle and make it an interesting, god-glorifying place to live or at least slowly move into that direction. Don't be a victim to your life's duties, find ways to make it personally fulfilling.

Off to work on bringing some color into my black and white duties of life right now. Praying blessing for each of you.

For lots and lots more ideas, read:

Own Your Life

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Proverbs 13:20 PDF
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!

Play Episode

Flourishing In the Meantime of Life, Part 1 & Podcast

Have podcast will travel. :)

Play Episode on iTunes & Stitcher

   "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." C. S. Lewis

 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

The past three weeks, I have had the privilege of serving as a grandmother in my sweet Sarah’s home. Baby Samuel is 4 weeks today and LiIy is almost two—approaching those interesting challenging times. Now I remember what it was like to sit for hours on end rocking, walking, nursing, playing, feeding and wondering if I was accomplishing anything at all.

Seems we all have lots of meantime when we are waiting for something to happen when we will be happier or freer or more fulfilled. I have learned that waiting for any other circumstance or person to fulfill all the felt needs of your life is a wrongly directed expectation. It is a process to learn, but only as we learn how to flourish in all those meantimes when we are waiting, (for a spouse, for enough money, for children or for children to be out of diapers or out of teenage hormones, or a new house or whatever), it is possible to flourish. Today, I am speaking about how to flourish while you are waiting. I have learned it over many years and was not always patient, but it has served me well.

I am not naturally a very noble or valiant person. And so when I read this verse over the years, I would flinch and go through it quickly, because I didn't relish trials. Our lives have been full of them and I have, at times, learned to dread another day in case it might have some new trial in it. 

Having 4 children, homeschooling, moving 19 times, 8 times internationally, and all the difficulties in relationships, criticism for my ideals, finances, health issues, loneliness, marriage, the different phases of my children's lives, ministry and an overload of responsibilities, just keeping up with all the work that never ends was so very much harder than I ever realized life would be.

Though in my early 20's, I became serious about the Lord, and truly committed to going anywhere, doing anything for His kingdom, I no more had an idea of what that would mean, than a little girl who dresses up as a princess and pretends to know what it would mean to become a queen and rule a country. 

Yet, I can look back now, after many years of trials, and see that God had such great plans for my life, and the only pathway to these plans of His, was through many trials. I had pretty much committed myself to becoming a warrior for His kingdom in this life, not realizing that in order for someone to become a general to lead others into battle, he must first begin with basic training.

Basic training is that hard, disciplined, demanding season of training that seeks to build strength, self-control, in the life of a would-be soldier. It is also for the purpose of drawing soldiers forward, stretching their capacity to be stronger, more capable, to live up to their own ability and potential.  

After passing successfully through basic training, a soldier must  prove worthy in real battles to earn the right to humbly and wisely lead others into victory in bigger arenas.

And so, because God delights in us entering into the fray of this world, to bring light, beauty, truth and to stand strongly and boldly for His purposes, he sends us trials and training to prepare us for the platform He would have us stand on. His trials have been the training grounds to give me integrity in my messages so that I really could encourage other women. Only God was there in the dark moments of my life, to see if my heart would respond in faith, to do the hard work, to love when no one else knew I was making this choice but God. 

And so, my victories through the trials became the very platform in which I saw the grace of God, His goodness and love, in seeing that He had a better plan for me than I had for myself. My integrity was won in the seemingly invisible places, where He was testing and strengthening me for bigger arenas. And so I understand this process better for my children as they foray into life.

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A Month to Focus on Love!

Every year, as I put up my Christmas decorations into lidded boxes marked "Christmas,” I pull out the plastic lidded boxes called "Valentine's Day," and put hearts out everywhere--on all the tables, in the bathroom, as books on the hearth, on my brass fireplace covering, on top of my china hutch, and in the basket with magazines in the bathroom.  

Even if you haven’t done so yet, it might be fun to seek out some heart-y decorations to place around your own house! It is fun to have decor every season. Love is such a central theme in our Christian life, that it deserves to be celebrated for 6 weeks!

One of the things I have practiced in the past is to review one love verse a day in February--to remind us all just how foundational love is to marriage, ministry, family, friends, healing, giving, serving.  If you just search “Bible verses love” you will find many such verses to review with your precious children—or just for yourself! These habits practiced for many years become a highway in our hearts, reminding us to always practice love.

As I taught my family these important verses, it was actually me who became the definition for what unconditional love is really like. It is as I see my children through the grid of wanting to show them just how generous God's love is, that I behave in a way that helps them believe the words of scripture about His love.

So make this a month of loving, decorating, celebrating, and of course eating a little bit of your favorite chocolate!

Some verses to get you started:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believe in him shall not parish but have eternal life." John 3: 16

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all you soul, and all your strength, and all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10: 27

"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in sin, but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. Love never fails." I Corinthians 13: 4-8

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." I John 4:7-8

Some of my very favorites for our family:

"Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend." John 15: 13

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another because love covers a multitude of sin." I Peter 4:8

"Above all things, put on love, for love is a perfect bond of unity." Colossians 3:4

"God is love." I John 4:8

I hope you all have a wonderful month celebrating love this February!

Building a Great Legacy, One Day at a Time, Part 2 Podcast

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling--painted by Michelangelo

Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance. Samuel Johnson

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Hebrews 10:36

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Life is a long story for most of us. The sum of what we have accomplished when we go to see Jesus face to face is not measure by one deed, or one act of faith. It is measured by years of love growing, compassion stretching, faithfulness practiced over and over. When we add up a life of faithfulness in serving God, accumulating maturity, grace, knowledge, wisdom, failure, forgiveness, compassion--it is thousands of moments of choosing to practice greatness, one moment at a time.

The history of the Sistine Chapel

A great example of enduring greatness in a work of art is the ceiling paintings of Michelangelo. He painted over 5000 square feet of ceiling, one stroke at a time. Hundreds of scenes from the Bible, meticulously painted. Set backs, mold problems, scaffolding problems, financial issues, criticism, and more. Over four years, it took him to complete this work. Yet, now, thousands if not millions of people have admired his great work.

For him, it was grueling, sweating work that took a master artist perseverance and endurance of great magnitude to finish this distinguished work. You can read about it here: Michelangelo Sisteen Chapel 

And so it is with our lives. God has given us this opportunity, today, to invest our lives for His glory. But greatness requires endurance, perseverance. Am I one who keeps going, keeps seeking, keeps trusting, keeps moving ahead by faith? What does it require us to accomplish God's work? A steadfast heart, mind and work ethic.

Today, as you contemplate Him, and His work, may you decide to keep fervent and patient and strong in His call to use you in your life time to bring His kingdom work to bear on a world that is desperate for His touch and redemption.

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Building a Great Legacy, One Day at a Time, Part 1 and podcast

Each vessel distinguished by a different shape, different design, but all bear light. And so we all have different stories but bear light within the context of our own lives and homes.

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Patience--the ability of bearing up under trials without complaining.

High infant squeals, saying “Feed me, feed me now,” are erupting from somewhere in the upstairs, while I sit on the carpeted floor, once again, putting one duple on top of the other and saying outlaid, “Good job. Good tower.”

Arising early to take little Lily in hand so her mama and daddy can get 15 or 20 more minutes of sleep; making one more breakfast and cutting it into small pieces, changing one more diaper, snapping one more snap on footy pajamas, going out for a little walk and collecting treasures to show “mama” is the routine day for me the past 2 weeks.

The difference for me now is that 36 years ago, I wasn’t sure if what I was doing mattered. And today, I know that every kiss, every tender, gentle moment of talking and being patient matters more than most of the other things I have accomplished. For, in these repetitive days, my daughter and I and her husband are building a legacy of faith, love and goodness. I know now that Lilian and Samuel are looking at the ways we are relating to them and to life and that they are storing up impressions of what matters in life.

I see that it matters because I have 4 children who care about Jesus, who care about taking His love to their world, about bringing light and beauty to their worlds through their professions. I know because all of them believe in the sacredness of marriage, of faith, of the life of human beings. And all of this came from days upon end of being faithful in small places.

Your faithfulness matters. Your choice to trust God is ringing out cheers in the heavenliness because it is so rare. There is no formula and no guarantee of exact results and we do not control our adult children’s choices. But they are more likely to follow truth if it has been lived out in myriad moments of serving, loving, feeding, listening, praying, teaching faithfully over years. The moments of lifegiving relationships, truth discussed, virtue modeled, happens over thousands of days, many years, lots of laying down of life. Today, you are writing your own story of faith and faithfulness.

Join me today and be encouraged in your own life to live faithfully.

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