At Home With Sally

As we ponder the countless thousands who have engaged in our ministry through the years, through conferences, through the publishing and launching of 20 books and Bible study guides, the development of an online ministry, our blogs, podcasts, small group and international ministries, the Bible studies and conferences that are taking place all over the world, we are humbled by what God has done. 

In today's podcast, you will hear about: *My time with a dear friend, Terri Moon, and reminiscing about our lives with our children who have grown up together.  *Favorite music and why we study composers and their character qualities in our membership, "Cultivating Life with Sally. And how music is healing *Favorite recipes and traditions we both celebrate (She is an amazing cook!) *How worry has never ever changed any of our circumstances *How both of us restore and refresh and celebrate Christmas to bring Joy *Why joy is a healer and why a joyful heart is good medicine. We think that Christmas is a great time to share books as gifts because they also bring healing and inspiration to those we love. So, we are giving away 3 books to our readers for Christmas.

Take time to regroup today--Go eat some chocolate, and don't feel guilty as you are eating it (that would certainly be a waste of good chocolate!) Listen to some beautiful music, watch a heart-warming movie, take a nap, eat off of paper plates to save cleanup! The rest of December is still coming and you will be the better for it. I'll be praying for you!

The Value of Learning to Wait--practicing patience takes time and courage but it produces the deepest most heart gratifying fulfillment.  1. I talk a legacy of beauty and how it passes to the future generations. What we practice grows deep into the lives of the next generation. 2. Looking at the biblical subject of waiting and how it is a process that builds the things we invest in into the story we leave.  3. Learning to stand back and get the long view of life, and working with the end in mind and believing by faith that you are building something that will matter.  4. Cultivating a Community of Great Souls--Life with Sally membership is a way to have discipleship and spiritual mentoring online as well as leadership training.

Traveling to Scotland after being in Oxford with Sarah and Thomas all week has been such a refreshing week. Learning the stories of those who have lived brave lives in these places has been inspiring.    Join Joel and Joy with me today as we tell of the history of St. Andrews, talk about the great food in the cafes here, and share the fun of our time together here.   Be sure to look for Joy's blog, Joyclarkson.com and weekly podcast, Speaking with Joy.    Enjoy the Wexford Carol as Joel arranged it and find the music at Amazon (Midwinter Carols by Joel Clarkson) and other places where music is sold.

Discipleship is always an issue of relationship. It is not about curriculum, church attendance, rules, indoctrination, but always about reaching the heart.

The ways you learn to respect the learning process of your children, to admire their ability to think, to engage them in great ideas and thoughts will give them a chance to digest great convictions that will shape their faith for a lifetime.

The table is central to the everyday moments of our lives, even when we are busy, or find ourselves stretched in the midst of seasons that require much from us. Feasting goes on! It is also the anchor to much of our milestones and family celebrations. In this episode, Sally and Kristen discuss Chapters 7 and 8 of the Life Giving Table and offer their own tips for how to create for simple feasts when life is overwhelming or we are short on time. They also share how each of their families create traditions with food and fellowship to mark life's special moments.  What we Talk about: -Living Well in the midst of daily choas and real life -How we can train ourselves to see God's gentle hand of provision in our lives -How to live sustainably in pressured seasons -How to bear weariness that comes from what God is calling you to do -The ways we each add beauty to our homes to encourage our hearts (and those of our families) -How to stop waiting for the ideal and learn to enjoy the moment. -Our favorite staples, recipes and tricks for feasting simply or when we have little time. -Our family traditions and celebration rituals -Birthdays in the life of the Clarkson Family -How to create a blessing celebration in your own family -The way God blesses us through words of affirmation, and how we can do the same with those at our table -The power and necessity of creating a home of belonging links: "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." -Author unknown Mark 6:31 "Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat."   Table-Discipleship Principle: A wise discipler must make space for rest and beauty in the midst of life. "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." -J. R. R. Tolkien Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you; And be gracious to you;The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace."  Table-Discipleship Principle: Love and affirmation given generously provide the foundation for opening a heart to influence