Categotry Archives: Conferences

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WholeHearted Mother Conferences 2009 in NC, CA, and TX

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Categories: Conferences, Ministry, Mothering, Prayer

Dear WholeHearted Moms,

    
    There is a wholehearted mother described in Scripture. She has a good husband, a house-full of children who love her, a passion for building her home, a heart for solving problems and being resourceful, and she fears and serves the Lord. I’m sure life wasn’t any easier then for this mission-minded mother than it is now for you and me, but this is how she is described:
  
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
 
    I’m sure you recognize the Proverbs 31…mother. If she were here today, I’d ask her to come speak at our 2009 WholeHearted Mother Conferences. As I have prayed and planned what God would have me share with all the wonderful moms who will come to this year’s gatherings, this godly woman is on my heart. In these faith-challenging times, when there is a pall of economic uncertainty hanging over all of us, I want to give us all reasons as godly moms to be known as women of strength and dignity. I want every woman to know she can look the future full in the face and smile because she knows God is there. That is my message this year:
 
Smiling at the Future with Faith ~ Building Your Heart
and Home on Solid Foundations
 
    That is a message I believe many moms need to hear. Especially now. That’s why I have a big favor to ask of you this year. In order to conserve our modest ministry financial resources (remember the “economic pall”?), we are not printing a full-color brochure and mailing it to our entire list like we have done in the past. Instead, we will be promoting the conferences almost entirely on the internent and through word of mouth. That means we need as many “mouths” to spread the “word” as we can find. Will you help me tell other moms about our conferences?
               

Tell Other Mothers about the WH Mother Conference!

 
   
    If you have a blog, or a newsletter, or a group, would you consider posting, sending, or handing out an announcement about this conference? If the word gets out, and moms get in, that will save us over $10,000 as a ministry! That would be great. We know you don’t need an incentive to want to help us, but as our way of saying “Thanks!” we’ll do two things:
 
1) Everyone who participates will receive a free Our 24 Family Ways Kids Color-In Book, and
2) Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for six $50.00 Gift Certificates.
 
    The Color-In Books can be picked up at the conferences (or mailed if you send us postage). Two Gift Certificates will be given away each month in November, December, and January. If your name is drawn, your certificate may be used like cash at the conference book table, or applied to a new conference registration (not redeemable for refund or cash). You will be entered in the monthly drawing each time you create a new post, send out a newsletter, or distribute a flyer to your group. Reporting will all be on the honor system, so just send us an email with your name, address, phone number, and the date and description of your participation. Send it to Jennice Jones, our wonderful admin assistant, at admin@wholeheart.org. At least one participation email will also make you eligible for your free Kids Color-In Book.

    We’re trying to get there soon, but we’re not quite tech-savvy enough yet to provide banners and graphic goodies to use. What we can offer to help you will be at the bottom of this newsletter. Use whatever you need, and we’ll try to provide more soon. Spread the word! Thanks.

 Help Single Moms Attend a WH Mother Conference!     But there’s another way you can help, too. We know that there are many single parent mothers and widowed mothers who would really like to come to the conference. They need the getaway and company of other mothers more than most, but some are unable to attend due to financial constraints. We have always offered hardship scholarships, but we can offer only partial assistance due to fixed costs. This year, we would like to try something new. We will establish a Mom Alone Blessing Fund to be able to provide full registration scholarships to single moms who are unable to attend. This will be a permanent fund of Whole Heart Ministries, so any money remaining in the fund after the conferences will be used only to bless single parenting mothers. Your entire gift will be tax deductible. Be sure to designate it for the “Mom Alone Blessing Fund.” You can send a check to Whole Heart, or donate online and send us an email to let us know it is for the fund. If you are able to help financially, you can provide a tremendous blessing to a mom alone. Thank you!

 

Be a Part of Mom Heart to Minister to Mothers Worldwide! 
    Finally, there’s one more thing new this year, and you can be a part of it, too. We are humbly launching the Mom Heart Ministry initiative at this year’s conferences. Mom Heart, as God has put the burden and vision in my heart, is the next step in my over twenty years of ministering to mothers. Mom Heart is a motherhood small groups movement that, I am praying, will help restore God’s heart for motherhood to the next generation. I believe mothers, by God’s design at creation, are strategic to the spiritual health of the family and the wholeness of their children. I want to spend the rest of my life championing the cause of biblical motherhood, and encouraging and equipping mothers around the world to become all that God intends them to be.

 

 
     I envision not just another program, but a movement of small groups in the U.S. and around the world in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. When fully implemented, it will include leadership training materials and events, Mom Heart Group Bible studies and discussion guides, an interactive website where moms and groups can network for mutual encouragement, a digital Mom Heart Mom-e-Zine, downloadable and streaming audio and video resources, print resources, and much more. As Habbakuk says, though, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.” So, as we wait for it, here’s what you can do to become a part of Mom Heart:
 
1) Pray for Mom Heart. We are just beginning to inch forward with the vision. Sandra Maddox, our featured speaker for the Conferences this year, is partnering with me to help shepherd this burden into a ministry. We will be planning, looking for staff, and developing resources together. We need the prayers of mothers who share our burden for biblical motherhood.
 
   
    If you have a blog, or a newsletter, or a group, would you consider posting, sending, or handing out an announcement about this conference? If the word gets out, and moms get in, that will save us over $10,000 as a ministry! That would be great. We know you don’t need an incentive to want to help us, but as our way of saying “Thanks!” we’ll do two things:
 
1) Everyone who participates will receive a free Our 24 Family Ways Kids Color-In Book, and
2) Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for six $50.00 Gift Certificates.
 
    The Color-In Books can be picked up at the conferences (or mailed if you send us postage). Two Gift Certificates will be given away each month in November, December, and January. If your name is drawn, your certificate may be used like cash at the conference book table, or applied to a new conference registration (not redeemable for refund or cash). You will be entered in the monthly drawing each time you create a new post, send out a newsletter, or distribute a flyer to your group. Reporting will all be on the honor system, so just send us an email with your name, address, phone number, and the date and description of your participation. Send it to Jennice Jones, our wonderful admin assistant, at admin@wholeheart.org. At least one participation email will also make you eligible for your free Kids Color-In Book.

    We’re trying to get there soon, but we’re not quite tech-savvy enough yet to provide banners and graphic goodies to use. What we can offer to help you will be at the bottom of this newsletter. Use whatever you need, and we’ll try to provide more soon. Spread the word! Thanks.

 Help Single Moms Attend a WH Mother Conference! 
    But there’s another way you can help, too. We know that there are many single parent mothers and widowed mothers who would really like to come to the conference. They need the getaway and company of other mothers more than most, but some are unable to attend due to financial constraints. We have always offered hardship scholarships, but we can offer only partial assistance due to fixed costs. This year, we would like to try something new. We will establish a Mom Alone Blessing Fund to be able to provide full registration scholarships to single moms who are unable to attend. This will be a permanent fund of Whole Heart Ministries, so any money remaining in the fund after the conferences will be used only to bless single parenting mothers. Your entire gift will be tax deductible. Be sure to designate it for the “Mom Alone Blessing Fund.” You can send a check to Whole Heart, or donate online and send us an email to let us know it is for the fund. If you are able to help financially, you can provide a tremendous blessing to a mom alone. Thank you!
Be a Part of Mom Heart to Minister to Mothers Worldwide!  Finally, there’s one more thing new this year, and you can be a part of it, too. We are humbly launching the Mom Heart Ministry initiative at this year’s conferences. Mom Heart, as God has put the burden and vision in my heart, is the next step in my over twenty years of ministering to mothers. Mom Heart is a motherhood small groups movement that, I am praying, will help restore God’s heart for motherhood to the next generation. I believe mothers, by God’s design at creation, are strategic to the spiritual health of the family and the wholeness of their children. I want to spend the rest of my life championing the cause of biblical motherhood, and encouraging and equipping mothers around the world to become all that God intends them to be.
 
     I envision not just another program, but a movement of small groups in the U.S. and around the world in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. When fully implemented, it will include leadership training materials and events, Mom Heart Group Bible studies and discussion guides, an interactive website where moms and groups can network for mutual encouragement, a digital Mom Heart Mom-e-Zine, downloadable and streaming audio and video resources, print resources, and much more. As Habbakuk says, though, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.” So, as we wait for it, here’s what you can do to become a part of Mom Heart:
 
1) Pray for Mom Heart. We are just beginning to inch forward with the vision. Sandra Maddox, our featured speaker for the Conferences this year, is partnering with me to help shepherd this burden into a ministry. We will be planning, looking for staff, and developing resources together. We need the prayers of mothers who share our burden for biblical motherhood.
2) Be a Mom Heart Leader. If you share my heart for biblical motherhood, please consider becoming a Mom Heart Group leader. If you are interested, you will have an opportunity to respond at the conference, or you can send an email to Jennice in our office at admin@wholeheart.org.
 
3) Attend a Mom Heartbeat Brunch. Watch for more information about this special brunch on Friday morning of the Conferences. If we are able to work out the arrangements at each of the hotels, it will be a time for you to hear in more detail about the vision and plans for Mom Heart Ministry. There will be a small cost to attend, which will include a light, mid-morning brunch.
 Links & Info to Promote the WH Mother Conference 
 NORTH CAROLINA
January 23-24, Charlotte, NC (Church at Charlotte)
Conference Early Registration Deadline: Friday, DECEMBER 26 (Save $10) 

 Hotel: The Marriott Charlotte SouthPark
 

 

Room Rate: $109/night (guaranteed through December 26)
Reservations:       704-364-8220   704-364-8220       704-364-8220   704-364-8220

Click Here for a PDF Information Sheet about the NC Conference.
Click Here for a PDF Registration Flyer for NC (full page, one side, flyer with registration form).
Click Here for a PDF Registration Handout for NC (half page x2, landscape)

CALIFORNIA
February 6-7, Irvine, CA (Crowne Plaza Irvine Hotel)
SPECIAL Early Registration Deadline: Friday, NOVEMBER 14 (Save $20!)
 

 

Early Deadline: January 9 (Save $10)

Hotel: The Crowne Plaza Irvine
Room Rate: $85/night (guaranteed through January 23)
Reservations:     949-863-1999   949-863-1999      949-863-1999   949-863-1999

Click Here for a PDF Information Sheet about the CA Conference.
Click Here for a PDF Registration Flyer for CA (full page, one side, flyer with registration form).
Click Here for a PDF Registration Handout for CA (half page x2, landscape) 

Click Here for a PDF Registration Handout for TX (half page x2, landscape)Register by Phone:
Thank You!     It will be so good to be with you again for our 11th year. I’m praying all the moms who come this year will be refreshed and renewed in the Spirit of the Lord so they, too, with strength and dignity can smile at the future. Thank you for helping me spread the word virtually. I look forward to sharing my mom heart with you. Grace and peace. 

 

 

TEXAS
February 20-21, Irving-DFW, TX (Dallas Marriott Las Colinas)
SPECIAL Early Registration Deadline: Friday, NOVEMBER 28 (Save $20!)
Early Deadline: January 23 (Save $10)

Hotel: Dallas Marriott Las Colinas
Room Rate: $83/night (guaranteed through February 6)
Reservations:     972-831-0000   972-831-0000    972-831-0000  972-831-0000

Click Here for a PDF Information Sheet about the TX Conference.
Click Here for a PDF Registration Flyer for TX (full page, one side, flyer with registration form).

 
  888-488-4466  888-488-4466    888-488-4466  888-488-4466 or   719-488-4466  719-488-4466    719-488-4466  719-488-4466 . Jennice will take your registration M-Th 9:00-3:30, or leave a message and she we will return your call as soon as possible.
Register by Fax: 888-FAX-2WHM (329-2946). Use a downloadable PDF Registration Flyers (links above), fill out the form, and mail in or fax in the registration.

 

 

   
    If you have a blog, or a newsletter, or a group, would you consider posting, sending, or handing out an announcement about this conference? If the word gets out, and moms get in, that will save us over $10,000 as a ministry! That would be great. We know you don’t need an incentive to want to help us, but as our way of saying “Thanks!” we’ll do two things:
 
1) Everyone who participates will receive a free Our 24 Family Ways Kids Color-In Book, and
2) Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for six $50.00 Gift Certificates.
 
    The Color-In Books can be picked up at the conferences (or mailed if you send us postage). Two Gift Certificates will be given away each month in November, December, and January. If your name is drawn, your certificate may be used like cash at the conference book table, or applied to a new conference registration (not redeemable for refund or cash). You will be entered in the monthly drawing each time you create a new post, send out a newsletter, or distribute a flyer to your group. Reporting will all be on the honor system, so just send us an email with your name, address, phone number, and the date and description of your participation. Send it to Jennice Jones, our wonderful admin assistant, at admin@wholeheart.org. At least one participation email will also make you eligible for your free Kids Color-In Book.

    We’re trying to get there soon, but we’re not quite tech-savvy enough yet to provide banners and graphic goodies to use. What we can offer to help you will be at the bottom of this newsletter. Use whatever you need, and we’ll try to provide more soon. Spread the word! Thanks.

 Help Single Moms Attend a WH Mother Conference! 
    But there’s another way you can help, too. We know that there are many single parent mothers and widowed mothers who would really like to come to the conference. They need the getaway and company of other mothers more than most, but some are unable to attend due to financial constraints. We have always offered hardship scholarships, but we can offer only partial assistance due to fixed costs. This year, we would like to try something new. We will establish a Mom Alone Blessing Fund to be able to provide full registration scholarships to single moms who are unable to attend. This will be a permanent fund of Whole Heart Ministries, so any money remaining in the fund after the conferences will be used only to bless single parenting mothers. Your entire gift will be tax deductible. Be sure to designate it for the “Mom Alone Blessing Fund.” You can send a check to Whole Heart, or donate online and send us an email to let us know it is for the fund. If you are able to help financially, you can provide a tremendous blessing to a mom alone. Thank you!
Be a Part of Mom Heart to Minister to Mothers Worldwide!  Finally, there’s one more thing new this year, and you can be a part of it, too. We are humbly launching the Mom Heart Ministry initiative at this year’s conferences. Mom Heart, as God has put the burden and vision in my heart, is the next step in my over twenty years of ministering to mothers. Mom Heart is a motherhood small groups movement that, I am praying, will help restore God’s heart for motherhood to the next generation. I believe mothers, by God’s design at creation, are strategic to the spiritual health of the family and the wholeness of their children. I want to spend the rest of my life championing the cause of biblical motherhood, and encouraging and equipping mothers around the world to become all that God intends them to be.
 
     I envision not just another program, but a movement of small groups in the U.S. and around the world in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. When fully implemented, it will include leadership training materials and events, Mom Heart Group Bible studies and discussion guides, an interactive website where moms and groups can network for mutual encouragement, a digital Mom Heart Mom-e-Zine, downloadable and streaming audio and video resources, print resources, and much more. As Habbakuk says, though, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.” So, as we wait for it, here’s what you can do to become a part of Mom Heart:
 
1) Pray for Mom Heart. We are just beginning to inch forward with the vision. Sandra Maddox, our featured speaker for the Conferences this year, is partnering with me to help shepherd this burden into a ministry. We will be planning, looking for staff, and developing resources together. We need the prayers of mothers who share our burden for biblical motherhood.
2) Be a Mom Heart Leader. If you share my heart for biblical motherhood, please consider becoming a Mom Heart Group leader. If you are interested, you will have an opportunity to respond at the conference, or you can send an email to Jennice in our office at admin@wholeheart.org.
 
3) Attend a Mom Heartbeat Brunch. Watch for more information about this special brunch on Friday morning of the Conferences. If we are able to work out the arrangements at each of the hotels, it will be a time for you to hear in more detail about the vision and plans for Mom Heart Ministry. There will be a small cost to attend, which will include a light, mid-morning brunch.
 Links & Info to Promote the WH Mother Conference 
 NORTH CAROLINA
January 23-24, Charlotte, NC (Church at Charlotte)
Conference Early Registration Deadline: Friday, DECEMBER 26 (Save $10) 

 Hotel: The Marriott Charlotte SouthPark
 

 

Room Rate: $109/night (guaranteed through December 26)
Reservations:       704-364-8220   704-364-8220       704-364-8220   704-364-8220

Click Here for a PDF Information Sheet about the NC Conference.
Click Here for a PDF Registration Flyer for NC (full page, one side, flyer with registration form).
Click Here for a PDF Registration Handout for NC (half page x2, landscape)

CALIFORNIA
February 6-7, Irvine, CA (Crowne Plaza Irvine Hotel)
SPECIAL Early Registration Deadline: Friday, NOVEMBER 14 (Save $20!)
 

 

Early Deadline: January 9 (Save $10)

Hotel: The Crowne Plaza Irvine
Room Rate: $85/night (guaranteed through January 23)
Reservations:     949-863-1999   949-863-1999      949-863-1999   949-863-1999

Click Here for a PDF Information Sheet about the CA Conference.
Click Here for a PDF Registration Flyer for CA (full page, one side, flyer with registration form).
Click Here for a PDF Registration Handout for CA (half page x2, landscape) 

Click Here for a PDF Registration Handout for TX (half page x2, landscape)Register by Phone:
Thank You!     It will be so good to be with you again for our 11th year. I’m praying all the moms who come this year will be refreshed and renewed in the Spirit of the Lord so they, too, with strength and dignity can smile at the future. Thank you for helping me spread the word virtually. I look forward to sharing my mom heart with you. Grace and peace. 

 

 

TEXAS
February 20-21, Irving-DFW, TX (Dallas Marriott Las Colinas)
SPECIAL Early Registration Deadline: Friday, NOVEMBER 28 (Save $20!)
Early Deadline: January 23 (Save $10)

Hotel: Dallas Marriott Las Colinas
Room Rate: $83/night (guaranteed through February 6)
Reservations:     972-831-0000   972-831-0000    972-831-0000  972-831-0000

Click Here for a PDF Information Sheet about the TX Conference.
Click Here for a PDF Registration Flyer for TX (full page, one side, flyer with registration form).

 
  888-488-4466  888-488-4466    888-488-4466  888-488-4466 or   719-488-4466  719-488-4466    719-488-4466  719-488-4466 . Jennice will take your registration M-Th 9:00-3:30, or leave a message and she we will return your call as soon as possible.
Register by Fax: 888-FAX-2WHM (329-2946). Use a downloadable PDF Registration Flyers (links above), fill out the form, and mail in or fax in the registration.

 

 

 

Whole Heart Ministries / P.O. Box 3445 / Monument, CO 80132 /  719-488-4466  719-488-4466
Sally Clarkson
 
 
 

 

To reach me personally, send an email to sally[at]wholeheart.org.

To reach the office for more information, send an email to whm[at]wholeheart.org. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Building on Solid Foundations that can’t be moved!

3 comments

Categories: Bible Studies, Conferences, Family, Home, Ministry, Mothering, Our Family, Parenting, Trust in God

Maroon Lake, White River National Forest, Rocky Mtns CO

Maroon Lake, White River National Forest, Rocky Mtns CO

“God is our refuge and strength, a very  present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change,
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Psalm 46 : 1-3; 7; 10-11

“The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth. He who fashions the hearts of them all.
He who understands all their works.
A King is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength, A horse is a false victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name. Let the lovingkindness of the Lord be upon us according
as we have hoped in thee.” Psalm 33: 13-22

The past few days have been filled with twitterings, muses, ponderings, projections and all sorts of opinions on blogs and newsletters. It seems that many are pleased about Obama being elected president and many are very disappointed and fearful. It is so very difficult for us in this age to not look at life from the short term perspective–the temporal and now. We want our lives to be happy and secure and stable.  We want there to be a leader to meet our needs now and to provide for our well-being and of course there is discourse and differing of opinion about who that man would be!

Yet, no matter which man you are for, or what country you live in, a man will never be our fulfillment. Only God is designed to take that place. We should all know that there are great difficulties ahead no matter who had won–financial crisis with the huge governmental debts and failures. Moral devastation of families and children (We personally have 3 friends in our lives who are pregnant or had babies out of wedlock in the past 3 months! How many children are going to be born without a family to surround them? How many more precious single moms will end up in homeless situation without the support or help of a father or family)

Turbulence in the Middle East with rumblings of attacks on Israel or Israel preempting an attack by attacking first. Or the fall of the European market. Or the North Koreans escalating pressure. Or the Russians developing more missiles and becoming a hostile nation. Or rights being taken away from Christians. None of us would ever ask to be born during a time of great war or disaster, yet, Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulation–tribulation has been the norm for all people in all generations.He did not deceive us about the reality of living in a fallen world–but culture did. Culture promised happiness and wellness and a beautiful body and and and all of this now–if you just found the right formula!

It is just such times, when the glory of God is most evident. When the mountains are about to fall into the sea–when the giant is attacking, when the Red Sea needs to open. It is also during these times, and God knew we would be born in these times, when those who love God may stand in faith, boldly share His  love and compassion and give their lives generously–that the reality of Christ shines forth.Times like these  produce opportunities for us to restore and redeem a fallen culture to the God who created it! But the key in it all is what Jesus also said about living in a world of tribulation–take courage–a choice of our will–a choice of a warrior–Take Courage–why? Because He has overcome the world!

When the Jews felt most forlorn, lost in Roman oppression and under so many burdensome taxes, Jesus came in the “fullness of time” to redeem a world that seemed forgotten and lost. His light shined so brightly of hope-amidst  the darkness. When Babylon had demolished Jerusalem and the army dragged a few “royal” Jews to live in the courts of the wicked king, it provided a perfect platform in which Daniel could live a life of integrity–a platform in which the God of Daniel would bring great glory to himself and to a pagan nation.  God always brings His light into the dark places of history–that is when heroes are made.

We need to stand back and look at this time in history from God’s point of view–history is always about Him–are people coming to know Him and serve Him? What place must our country and our nations have in history to thrust us forward toward the last times? How does what is happening in history fit into His plans? When we ask Him these questions and pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we gain a whole different perspective. What is your will for this time, Lord? How can I best live  boldly for you? How do I best need to prepare myself, my children, my priorities in order to stay faithful and minister to the lost and bring your light to bear? How can I finish faithfully? Perhaps when we are forced to look at the troubles of life square in the face, we come face to face with the fact that this isn’t home! This is not the place we will live forever–we were made for a better place!

History can be a helpful tool for us! We see so many times in scripture when a nation would depend on a person or their own ways and methods to provide for themselves or to seek for a man to champion their cause and the substitution of a man or king for the place of God always wreaks havoc. When the Israelites rejected God as being king over them, and asked for a king just like the other nations, God warned them that when they turned away from His leadership and got what they asked for, it would come at great cost. (I Samuel 8:16-22)  He forewarned them there would be great calamity–They could indeed get what they asked for–but there would be other consequences for their choices—the king would provide for himself and His palace, by taking their sons and daughters as servants for his kingdom; he would tax them a tenth of their seed and wine and produce, he would take their children for his army and so on (a whole list of verses of the consequences of getting their own way.)

Whenever man tries to provide for his needs in some way other than by following God’s ways and serving Him by living by faith, the consequences are devastating. We have lived in a time when everyone wanted everything for free–a house and car and things without money to pay for it, sex without marriage and without the burden of having a baby; stability and security without fighting a war against enemies of their own stability and freedom;  children without the responsibility of spending personal time to discipline and train them and so on. In the times in history of great freedom or prosperity always came with a high price. Even as we were given the grace of  salvation we must always recognize that it came with a great price.

Yet, there is an interesting parallel–when parents lack character, their children and the next generations always pay a great price. When Germany sold their soul to a tyrant, and refused to love the Jews, the young and infirm and the aged, they ended up with the death of hundreds of thousands of people. When Rome turned to sensual pleasure and violence and the abuse of Christians, they fell and the whole nation was devastated. When Russia turned to a godless dictator, millions of lives were devastated, faith was lost , families became broken and oppression of every kind overwhelmed the country.

There is also an opposite principle of the cost of decisions. Always before, when there were parents who sacrificed and worked hard so that their children could have more, great freedoms came. When the heart of a family is great and spiritually disciplined and moral and hard working, the nation becomes a place of freedom and productivity and also develops a great soul. The status of the homes always determines the status and character of a nation.  Blessing and harvest come after much labor and perseverance, faith and duty.

Yet, it seems as though this time in history, people have borrowed from their children’s future so that they could selfishly have all of their needs met now–and their children will be paying for it for generations to come. The debt we have accrued in America has been building and building for many years–there had to be a day of reckoning. Evolution, the sexual revolution, the destruction of moral values and the tearing down of family will have its consequences. Foolishness will always have consequences. Christians have wanted freedom and blessing without working for God’s ways in the world and against the warfare of Satan. Is it pessimistic to write about such things? No. If someone had cancer, it would be wrong of a physician not to tell the patient the state of his health so that he could look for ways to be healed of his disease. We cannot close our ears and our minds and pretend away the issues like Scarlett O’Hara did when she said, “I will not think about this now. I will worry about it tomorrow!”

These issues will not go away by ignoring them. Yet, we are are true believers in Christ, when we spend time with Him in His word and with other believers, will find a renewal of our passion for things of His kingdom-we will have the resolve in our hearts to spend and invest ourselves to be a part of His solution. Perhaps he will bring about great revival of which we have the honor and privilege of being a part. It has been my children who have had a part in keeping me focussed. I am definitely in the passing of the baton to the next generation stage. It is worth it –worth all the work and sweat and tears–to see the spirits of my children emerging with passion and understanding and willingness to seek to serve. There have been bumps and I don’t share this to make anyone feel like my children are perfect, because they are not, but in their hearts, they “got it” and love the Lord within their young and growing and maturing hearts–they don’t see life as a picture of getting a job and just existing until they go to heaven–they see their time on earth as a time to invest in His kingdom–somehow, some way.

Nathan and I talked for 45 minutes this week about what he is learning in New York and how God is putting a burning in his soul to be godly in front of people–that his life will have integrity and that he will have more love and heart for the lost. He asked me to pray for his friends to become believers and for God to open doors. (any prayers for him or my other children are always appreciated!) Joel put up on his face book:

Joel Clarkson

sees a future with a hope, because there is only one person who will unfailingly bring true hope and change, and His name isn’t Obama or McCain.

He is being stretched in thinking how he can reach his generation. It was in being with some believers who have sadness and depression about what is ahead, that he was energized to stand up for His wonderful God. it has spurned him on to wanting to really hold on to the Lord and to find how to live by faith. (eucharisto.wordpress.com  his blog–musings on his work at a Bakery and on the beauty of life)

Sarah and I meet most Saturday mornings for breakfast and walking. She is on fire with ideas and light and thoughts and a desire to reach her generation. The depth I see mulling around in her soul makes me wonder about what God has ahead for her. (itinerantidealist.wordpress.com ) Joy and I and also our history group have been discussing the need for believers not just to be knowledgeable, but also winsome and gracious. How do we get into the mind of this generation? What messages will make sense to them? How to take our ideals and still find a way to exercise them in a culture who desperately need to have foundations of truth and life.

In each generation, it is the children who give us hope. This has been after many, many years of talking, sowing, correcting, praying, affirming and waiting for the seeds to take root and produce. Yet, now, seeing them look at the future with hope, courage, desire and a knowledge that things are pretty bad, but they want to be used to bring about redemption and light has been such an encouragement to me in the last few days. I see that God knew this is the time my family would be born into–even if I don’t think I would have chosen this time–maybe He has a special work for us to do–maybe we can burn brightly now–Oh Lord, I keep praying, use me, use us, help us to be energetic and faithful and courageous. Thank you for letting us be born for such a time as this.

A sweet friend asked me yesterday, “How do you know the balance between exposing your children to the lost and immoral and to seeing them as a part of God’s light in this world?”

I don’t think there is a formula and I have been pondering this, but I believe it is building on the right foundations–building your own life on the knowledge of God’s word every day and every day; loving Him and cherishing Him and worshiping Him from the heart and not living from a heart of law or moralistic obedience; living in integrity; learning the faith way, living every day to exercise believing prayer, cultivating fellowship with believers so that there is support and life-giving fellowship, choosing to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, confessing sin and a few more essentials.

It is understanding the importance of building our homes on Biblical foundations and establishing our homes on the rock of His reality that will help us build homes that will have a living legacy for many generations to come.

This is why Clay and I decided that this will be the theme of our mom’s conferences this year! We want moms to feel the joy of knowing that they can indeed build surely and soundly–that God is on their side, that there is important work to do, but that even the doing of God’s will is what builds our souls and invigorates our health. We also hope to uplift and affirm all who are tired, weary and feeling inadequate! There is something wonderful about being a room full of like-minded moms who are all committed to similar ideals–makes you feel that you are a part of the movement of the hand of God. And of course our conferences are for all moms–young and old, every kind of educational philosophy, but all committed to wanting to be a godly mom right where they are!

But this year, we decided to experiment and see if we could reach a much wider group of moms by connecting on the internet to moms that we may not ordinarily reach–it could be fun to see how far the Holy Spirit could go to reach moms–but you will be an essential part to helping us make this happen. Our ministry has always been so much a part of so many families who work with us, help us, pray for us and befriend us to help us get the messages out. So thanks ahead of time for being a part of our experiment!

Because of some of the financial issues, we decided not to send out brochures by mail  for our conferences this year–as it will save our ministry more than $10,000. (When we send brochures to thousands and have them printed, it is a great cost and we have to register so many just to pay for our printing bills!) But we are stepping out in faith with this and need to enlist our cyber space friends for help. You can help us! If you have a similar heart for Biblical encouragement for Moms, you can help us reach more people by putting announcements on your websites, blogs, newsletters and giving the information to your support groups.

My friend, Brenda, from coffeeteabooksandme gave me a good idea for a fun contest. She offered my books to those in her blog by telling them they could enter a drawing for receiving them if they left her a comment. It was a lot of fun.

So Clay and I decided to offer 6  $50 gifts to be drawn from a list of women who can enter this contest by putting out announcements to their own audience–this $50 gift certificate can be used toward a conference registration or to apply to books or cd sets. (You can also apply this to an already registered mom-we will refund the money up to $50 if you register early and then win!) We will pick two December 1, two in January, and 2 in February. Of course this is an honor system issue. We want to offer this to women who have a mailing list or blog list that is sizable and we do hope that if you enter you will really help us to reach lots of moms.

I am so excited about our conferences this year. It feels timely for women to group together and to focus on the foundations together and to see us corporately really build a godly heritage in our homes, and countries and to truly change history for the glory of God!

It is also our hope that we will be able to start an international ministry of small groups where moms can be encouraged, inspired, have accountability, get help. We will be meeting with women in our conferences who would want to be a part of this. We are working on a new website for moms, looking for people to come along side of us in this as writers, a web developer who has a heart for our messages and the skill to manage a very interactive website; group leaders and who can help us reach more moms, and more. We will be talking about some of these issues at our conferences this year and know that it will again be a place where the Holy Spirit will renew and refresh hopefully hundreds and hundreds of moms. The Lord has brought a team of 4 other women who will be speaking along with me at most of the larger conferences (Charlotte, Irvine and Dallas/Ft. Worth) and a number of great messages at the Colorado Springs, Raleigh, Baltimore conferences) and I will also be speaking at the Heart and Home conferences in Illinois. We want moms to feel empowered to stay the course, feel confident, find grace and practical ways of raising godly children. The team of women who are working with us on this and who are speaking at our conferences are passionate about encouraging moms.

I will put a new blog up early next week if you want to wait for more information for all of this–but we are gearing up and trying to get all the information online. Clay, Sarah and I are all in the midst of book contracts as well as so much more, so if we seem inefficient, it is only because we are! But we are moving ahead every day to try to get all the information you need to know what to expect about the conferences ahead. We do not have all the details of the Colorado conference yet. We just added it because we got so many emails from moms who wanted to come here again–so we are waiting on the church where we will be speaking for final details. Stay tuned and know we are working every day to make this a special time for so many of you. We also hope to record the conferences and make available cd’s of our messages to those of you who can’t attend.

Meanwhile, take courage today, know that the Lord loves you and has a wonderful plan. He will be faithful and bless us–it is His nature! Must on to other things!

Sally
Sally@wholeheart.org

P.S. Stay tuned as the first of next week, we will have the details of all of this. If you are interested in sending out an announcement, we will have email flyers and brochures that you can download for your group. We will also set up a way for you to enter our contest–by sending your name and address and the group you announced the conference to, to our wonderful secretary Jennice@wholeheart.org. You may also enter once a month for three months–each time you send out an announcement. Moms tend to be overwhelmed with Christmas and sometimes don’t register until after Christmas is over, so that is why we have to send multiple announcements. However, Clay has set an incentive for those of you who do register early–you can save $20 dollars if you sign up before December 1! and another $10 before January 1–though you must  read online to see what applies to the conference you will attend as there are different deadlines for each one. Go to www.wholeheart.org for information. Also, from that point, you may go to events and click on that to find out about the specifics of the conferences.  The Information option will give you the details and resources option  will take you to the printable handouts. Or just write your own enthusiastic announcement and send your friends to the website. (I was so blessed by a friend who did that the other day–made me want to go to a conference! :) )

I will also be sending out an email newsletter to those on our mailing list about Mom Heart, so if you want to be included in that letter, go to www.wholeheart.org to sign up for my newsletters and you will get our ministry newsletters where I also write some articles.

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Seasons of a Mother’s Heart

4 comments

Categories: Conferences, Ministry, My Books, Prayer

  Hi,
Just getting ready to get in the car for the Texas wedding. Many of you have asked about the Season’s dvd’s. This is just a beginning, but here is the first chapter on Youtube–had to be broken up into two segments. My desire is to due videos of our conferences and of Bible studies with all of our books so that moms all over the world can have access if they can’t come live! This is a part of Mom Heart that we are hoping to create. Please pray with us about all of this as we pursue more venues of getting the messages out!
    1. Pray for God’s direction
    2. Pray for the publisher we are working with to get a ministry vision.
    3. Pray for the right, skillful staff who can help us with the web stuff but who has a real Biblical heart for moms.
    4. Pray for financial support for the projects.
    5. Please pray for health and safety for our trip.

So blessed by your comments and prayers. Have a great weekend in this beautiful fall weather!
Blessings!
Sally@wholeheart.org
PS If you want to be on our Mom Heart mailings, please send your emails to Jennice@wholeheart.org

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Stuff and Things

11 comments

Categories: Conferences, Family, Ministry, My Books, Our Family, Simplicity, Travel

Hi, Sweet Friends,

I have been somewhat absent from this blog and may be somewhat inconsistent again in the weeks ahead. I have never accepted so much ministry commitments at once, but the Lord seems to be opening doors that He wants us to walk through. I want to finish Joy, my thirteen year old, well. So I have to be vigilant to see that she  gets the time, attention, discipleship, and education that all of the other kids received. But, Joy was born with that personality that is driven and so she is not hard to direct. I have to keep her from being committed to too many activities as she is an extrovert and likes to be on the go and is doing and working all the time.

I did want to let many of you know about our conferences this year. Our Mom’s conferences seem to be such a wonderful place where God meets with us in our ideals, vision and need. It has been such a blessing to be a part of what the Lord does through these conferences over the last 11 years! I hope that the economic issues in our culture will not keep too many moms from coming as I think the Lord works in such an amazing way to bring life and inspiration to many that feeds their souls for many months. So if you are going to be in an area where we will host these conferences, be sure to save your money now and to bring a friend as it is such a great time of fellowship and encouragement! I am also excited about this year, because we will try to have a pre-conference training for those moms interested in leading Mom Heart Groups. I have two new guest speakers joining me, as well as Sarah and me speaking and of course we will have music, chocolate, a great luncheon, a sweet favor and lots of great fellowship. We will be developing online brochures to send out to our email list this year and would so appreciate it if any of you bloggers could let people in your area know about the conferences. We started these mom conference in 1998 because we wanted to spiritually and emotionally fortify moms in their great calling to build a godly legacy in their own home. We try to make it as spiritually refreshing and encouraging and helpful as we can. 

 The following is the conference schedule:
                December 29-January 3 Orlando, Fl. AMTC
                January 23-24 Charlotte, NC–a Wholehearted Mom’s conference in a church there
                February 6-7  Costa Mesa, Ca–Whole Hearted Mom’s conference in a hotel
                February 20-21 Dallas/Ft. Worth Whole Hearted Mom’s conference Marriot Hotel
                February 27-28–Apologia Women’s conference Baltimore area
                March 3-4 Mom’s weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina
                March 10-11 Heart’s at Home conference in Illinois

Then, God willing, we will be doing a strategic mission trip in Asia for three weeks in multiple cities and to a variety of groups. Hopefully we will have  the informational brochures out by mid or late October. Please be sure to put the dates on your calendars!

Though this will be more travel than our family has ever attempted at once, the girls and I will be a team together and we have become quite a support to each other in the midst of the past few years of ministering together. Joy is developing a real ministry heart in the midst of all of this and Sarah has been my right hand for many years. I hope that we will be able to see many of you, and we do covet your prayers for good health and safe travel.

There are times I am tempted to take a sabbatical for a year or two, but then I will meet a young man or woman who has emotional scars or terrible moral or spiritual baggage from their upbringing or lack there-of and then I will feel compelled to share what I do know with sweet moms who need help–to write what I hope will encourage. I was praying about this yesterday morning, and the picture of Jesus holding the children in his arms came to mind and I felt that He said to me, “I love my children. I want you to keep training and encouraging moms so they will know how to love and care for these precious, vulnerable children. The consequences of their lives are important to me! You must keep working for the children’s sakes!” So, I do feel that my life is not my own, but that I have been so blessed to have experienced His love in my family and I have seen His redemption, so I have a stewardship to share.

This is also the basis of our desire to train moms to start Mom Heart groups–moms reaching out to moms–for emotional encouragement, spiritual training and input and for help. So many of you, I know, are already a blessing to so many by leading groups yourselves. We are working hard to get Bible study guides to go with all of our books and to write training materials for moms who need a little bit of help starting groups. In time, we are planning a national leadership conference as well as putting lectures to all of our books and to produce more discipleship materials that you can use with your children. Clay is busy with the writing and publishing arm while I work with other women on the detailed part of Mom Heart.

I am also writing a new book which is due December 15. Please pray with me that in the midst of it all, that I will hear from the Lord every day and be able to speak His voice into this book. There are also a couple of other book contracts that are in the process, so my plate is quite full!

People have asked me how I do all of this and still keep my priorities. I could never have done so much when my children were younger as I would have compromised my time with them. But we grew our commitments gradually. I also have had to be very committed and focused  and have to say no to many activities that would be fun but would compete with my family time. I have had to write books early in the morning and often my deadlines get pushed back, but somehow we muddle along together as a family in this together. It helped that Clay and I have been partners in this forever.

Now the next thing I feel guilty telling you about. Clay has been so wonderful to me for the past few years in seeing me become depleted and he is always so generous to see that I get a few days here and there to refresh.Since we have traveled so much for ministry, Clay is inclined to stay home–but he knows that I love to get away with the kids because then I don’t have to cook, or email or talk on the phone and as the kids became older, I so enjoyed getting away with them.  It has been quite a while since I have traveled somewhere just to travel–without speaking or writing or something.

Well, such a trip is coming up and I can’t wait. A friend asked Sarah to teach her children about the great English authors this summer. In return, she said she would pay for Sarah to travel to England to give her and her grandchildren a tour of the great English authors’ homes.  They decided to have a practice run this fall. I asked if I could go with them and bring Joy on the practice run! So, next week, I will go to a family wedding in Texas. Then, we will drive on to Nashville to see a sweet friend and celebrate her mom’s 93rd birthday and then off to England for an 8 day trek! I feel so excited–just a fun girl’s trip–no work allowed! Just thinking of all that tea and trains and country side rambles makes me giddy!

We will see homes of Dickens, Shakespeare, Potter, Harriot, and Wordsworth and possibly a couple of more. We will also hopefully go to the premier pre-Raphealite museum and have a great tea in a palace with one of Sarah’s friends who is studying and working there. So, I will be off of my blog for at least 8 days while I travel. Joy and I are shopping for warm coats and good walking shoes as we are going to be making quite a few treks–even hope to see the place that the banner of my blog represents! Sarah has arranged it all as she is the only one who has been to these places. I added up all of my points and got two free airline tickets which I consider a grace gift from the Lord, or we wouldn’t have been able to go!

So, I wish you all well and covet your prayers and I promise I will take pictures along the way and fill you in on little details when I get back home. I might be writing a blog between now and the time I leave, but thought just in case that I would get this letter written!

God’s grace to you all.

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Life and love and Kingdom work

17 comments

Categories: Conferences, Family, Family Trips, Food, Holidays, Joyful Life, Our Family, Ponderings, Relationships, Travel, Trust in God

Well, we made it through our last couple of weeks and are coming up for air before leaving for our Texas conference next Wednesday. I so appreciate the many emails, comments and cards I have received. Our family made it more gracefully through this trying time because of many of you. It is so comforting to hear life-giving words from friends and we appreciate you all very much.

We also had a wonderful trip to California. Though pretty tired, we had angels who met us in Anaheim and held up our arms as we tried to minister to the sweet moms who attended. It was such a great time of fellowship and encouragement with so many of you and lots of smaller meetings as well. I love your noble and enthusiastic hearts–what great moms you all are! So many of you said that you felt you had a whole new perspective on life. I am so grateful to hear your great comments. The most common thing people said at this conference and at the last was, “I wish I have invited more friends to come–I didn’t know how much I needed this and am so thankful I made it. Just wish my other friends had come cause they needed encouragement, too.” I have seen so often in my own life that the busy-ness and demands and financial pressures and time pressures sometimes immobilize me and I stay home from more activities just because I am pooped!

But I did see, again, how many moms need to be in a room full of moms like themselves, called to their own ideals and to renew their minds. It is why we keep doing it year after year. For all of you who came, we appreciate you supporting our  ministry by attending, as it helps us to pay our staff and put more parenting books into print!

It always helps me to be with so many of you! Thanks for your encouraging words. (I do have to say that leaving Colorado for the airport in minus 10 degree weather in the midst of a snowstorm–and arriving in 65 degree California–with green grass and flowers all around–was also a boon to us! We thawed out and really enjoyed our “animal style” In and Out Burgers” (sauteed onions, mustard and melted cheese–gooey and good!) and our trip Saturday night to Downtown Disney–just to stroll amidst the lights and people and our once a year stroll on the beach in Laguna–(which is where my picture was taken for the top of my blog last year–a moment of fun at Laguna Beach, where we went when I was a little girl!)

Just a couple of thoughts. I have been speaking through the seasons of a mother’s heart at these conferences. Spring–time for rejoicing and saying, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Learning to celebrate life and all the spring seasons takes a choice of the heart and a submission to the limitations of each season.

Summer is a time for cultivating and gardening of the souls and planting seeds and foundations. Summer is just for a season and once the season is over, there is no more time to cultivate or garden–The window of opportunity to train and instruct and inspire in eternal values and great thoughts suddenly closes–so how important it is to really take advantage of that season and know just what you want to sow and how you want to immulate the reality of God and His character during that planting season.

Fall, is when one season of life is closing (toddlerhood, elementary, preteens, teenage and college) Falls are a time of readjusting expectations, choosing to be flexible with the life God brings and choosing to accept the harvest for what it is, while planning to be faithful to plant well the next summer season. Learning to accept those ideals that were never grasped and planning for how to continue forging a godly heritage in new seasons.

Winter–the season when all appears to be dead and the times are dark and sometimes overwhelming. During this season, the soul is deepened like in no other season–as roots are pushing downward into God’s word and sap is restoring by learning to wait patiently for God’s answers–and straining towards Him. In winter, souls are made and godliness and faith is forged–no one becomes seasoned and mature in faith or compassionate or ministry oriented without winters–they reveal the true character of our souls and stretch our faith.

So many moms I know are presently in winter seasons. It seemed this conference talk opened many eyes to the reality of the many seasons and demands of a mom and many were encouraged to remain faithful and true as a result of our study of scripture together during this particular conference talk.

Clay and I committed to bringing God’s kingdom to bear in the lives of families all over the world to help equip them and to inspire them 27 years ago. We have seen, by God’s grace, much ground taken for His cause. Yet, because Satan literally hates for us to be about God’s business in helping families to restore their vision for loving and protecting their children, we have had many, many years of difficulty and spiritual warfare. Satan hates for people to be committed to the saving and building of children–just think of how he tried to destroy a whole generation of babies when Christ was born–to attempt to kill baby Jesus. What consequences would have been wrought in history if he could have stopped baby Jesus from becoming the savior of the world. He also hates for us to raise such babies for God’s kingdom and to build them into soldiers!

We have definitely had to weather much discouragement and many dark feelings, but I do believe that the longer we persevere, the more we see the consequences of the battle are great in our lifetime and at this time in history. May He give you grace, encouragement and strength to persevere in your own parenting journey–don’t give up! Don’t throw away your ideals–they are working in due time to prepare a strong, light-filled generation who will stand for Christ in the difficult days ahead and it is the most important work you will do for His kingdom.

Tell your friends who still have the opportunity to try to come to the Texas conference. (Put your curser on the sidebar about the Texas conference!) We are about building moms and undergirding them and loving them as they continue this great road of parenting for His kingdom. We so appreciate those who pray for us and covet your prayers for the trip to Texas, for all of our health (Joy, and all of her friends in history coop have strep!), for safety and for God’s spirit to work mightily through us and in the lives of all the precious moms who attend!

Finally, be sure to tell your sweet ones how much you love them. Take the time to celebrate your love as a family this Valentine’s day! We will have a Sunday morning breakfast with cinnamon rolls and cheese eggs, and verbally express what we love and appreciate about each dear person in our family and then close in thanksgiving prayers to our supreme lover for His faithful and everlasting love for us. May He fill your week with His love and grace. My favorite two family verses for this time are “Love covers a multitude of sin!”(mine and those of my children and husband!) and “Love is a perfect bond of unity.” Love gives grace and life each and every day to the home who rests in the unconditional love that Christ provides for us each and every day!

Blessings upon blessings!

Sally

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