Life with Sally

Nathan and Sally wrote a book called Different: The Story of an Out of the Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him. In this episode, they discuss the long term pathway of walking through all the stages of life with a child who will always deal with his or her issues and how to live this life with grace, patience and sustainability. You will find encouragement and sympathy for your own life and inspiration about how to live this puzzle of life with contentment and Peace.

Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35 Table-Discipleship Principle: Creating an environment of beauty, comfort, and acceptance cultivates hearts that are open to your messages. Creating a life-giving table begins with a vision for cultivating beauty and a hosting place for others. In this episode, Sally and Kristen dive in to chapter 4 of the book, The Life Giving Table, to share stories and encouragement that will help you develop your own vision and sustain it through a commitment to your original ideals for years to come. What we talk about: -Sally's special story of her first apartment as a newlywed -How we create beauty -The way our tables become a are a part of our history and family story -The table as a place to extend life and a hosting place to share Christ -The promise we have that Jesus wants us to never feel alone or wonder where He is -The personalities of our tables -Commitment to ideals as important to sustaining vision -The way we create family culture at our table -Ideas to involve very young children in bringing beauty to your table

Music is one of the defining cultures of the Clarkson family. A handful of talented musicians have permeated all the seasons of our family history, as we listened together, sang along in the car, filled our walls with the melodies that tied the strings of our hearts together. Our friend, Andrew Peterson, is one such singer songwriter and close to all of our hearts. I am so happy to have him as a guest on my podcast today. The Petersons are kindred spirits and fellow "creatives" in so many areas. They love to feast, talk, read, sing, and create a rich life with a warm welcome to all who would join their community. I am happy to introduce some of you to Andrew's story, his music and his books, though I am sure many of you have followed him for years as we have. I know this podcast will encourage you. Clay is a long time supporter of all things Andrew and we have both loved attending Hutchmoot, a gathering of artists, musicians and creatives for many years. Every year we draw closer to the friends we have found in this community.

How can our table make Christ real to those who share life with us? How can it inspire them to serve him their whole lives? In this episode, Sally and Kristen begin a series on discipleship and invite you to discover how feasting invites you in to celebrate the delights, creativity, and personality of God. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT: -The example of the Life of Christ- feasting, caring for those he came in contact with, feeding them, preparing a place for them, touching them, and desiring intimate connection with them. -How feasting fills spiritual, physical and emotional needs. -The meaning of sanctuary and why is it important to create one for your family. -What qualities of the table aid in reaching the personal harvest fields of our lives. -Coming to the table is not just about the physical act of eating, but about sharing life as God designed and gave it to us. -Approaching the table with an intentional purpose and expectation with shape how we cultivate it. -What we can do to protect and set boundaries for our tables. -Why the table is just like a beautiful piece of music: carefully arranged, thoughtfully directed, and passionately played. LINKS: "The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine." Isaiah 25:6, NASB "When Jesus wanted to explain to his followers the meaning of his death, he didn't give them a theory, he gave them a meal"- N.T. Wright "If the home is a body, the table is the heart, the beating center, the sustainer of life and health." Shauna Niequist "For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:9 "For Jesus the home is not what defines the table; the table is what defines the home." Leonard Sweet, From Tablet to Table

I am so excited to share this Mini-Podcast with you. Dr. Michael Ward and I sat down quickly together and recorded this conversation after a quick breakfast the morning I left for Nashville. I know you will enjoy hearing his lovely accent and his insight about stories, an inspirational poem and C.S. Lewis about table time.

A special treat for me today was the opportunity of having Ellie Holcomb as my guest on my podcast. We spoke of music, life stories, our table and planting a flag. You will love her story about how her new album came about and the story of her family holding fast together during some trials will touch your heart.

I am so excited to share this mini-podcast today with you. My sweet friend, Heather MacFadyen, has four little boys, and she knows the reality of trying to help them move toward maturity. She also knows what it feels like to fail and fall short of your own expectations when your own children act in an immature way. Heather is the host of a wonderful podcast called The God Centered Mom. You can read more about her here and find her podcasts HERE Hope you are encouraged by our time together.

As Christians and mothers, we can feel overwhelmed with the daily battles. From piles of laundry, bad attitudes in our children, sibling arguing, hormonal teenagers, loneliness and isolation, all of the meals to be prepared, and wanting to do it all with excellence, we can often feel defeated before we even begin. When we look to God's Word and in particular Ephesians 6, we can better understand that we are truly in a battle by observing Paul's inspiring metaphor. In this episode, we, Sally and Kristen look at each piece of armor, and share how we can be prepared along with preparing and training our children, too. We can grow from feeling defeated and on the defense, to becoming more than conquerors and prepared for battle through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT: -What a soldier needs before he enters into battle -What it means to stand your ground -How we can know what is true -Why Jesus says, "If you continue in my Word" is a condition of knowing the truth? -What it means to guard your heart on a daily basis -How God's word protects our heart -What it means to walk in peace -What it means to move forward instead of staying stagnant in our faith -Why having a shield of faith pre-supposes that we will have arrows thrust at us from the enemy that it is meant to protect us from -What we know about the emotional,spiritual and relational battles of life -The significance of only one piece of armor mentioned that is an offensive weapon and how we should use it LINKS: Ephesians 6:10-13 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.2 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Charles Spurgeon quote: "To be a Christian is to be a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease in this world: it is a battle-field." -John 8:31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. Ephesians 6:15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 1 John 5:4-5 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. -Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.