August Macke Women Reading
The Spirit of God living, working, breathing in and through the life of a women will always be producing new fruit.
I see so many women planning the school year for their children–what they will study, what they will read or what lessons they will take or activities they will engage in.
But as women who walk with God, we are all teachers and leaders. What is deep within our soul is what others will draw out when they are around us.
A wise woman will always be growing, learning, stretching. Now there are seasons when just surviving seems to be the way of life. Yet, I have seen, that I must be responsible for my own life and that means planning and incorporating wisdom as a part of my every day–reading books, articles that stretch me in the direction of excellence. Feeding my soul on scripture, on writers who stimulate me to love God, to serve others, biographies that inspire me is what gives me ideas to discuss, thoughts to lead my heart and wisdom to share. It does not come from a vacuum–we must invest in what we hope to become. What we sow we will reap.
Joy and I were at one of my conferences, (as I mentioned much earlier in a blog), and we were lying under the stars on some lounge chairs.
I had a lovely conversation with her about cultivating her soul and me wanting always to be cultivating the garden of my own soul–what I would plant there, and what I needed to pluck out, (sin, bad attitudes) in order to be sure that my heart was always growing more into the person I wanted to be–when I grow up into His likeness.
So each of us came up with 5 attributes that we both wanted to be and grow into. The list was different for each of us. So I will pose this question to you. What five attributes do you want to characterize your life? In the days ahead, I will share with you more about mine and how the study of each of these areas and writing them down and looking up verses and stating my commitment to them has been changing my life.
Mine are:
1. I want to be a person who is characterized by Biblical, generous love–to all people in all situations as much as possible.
2. I want to always lean in the direction of faith at every curve in my path–to believe in Him, always, and honor him with a heart of faith.
3. I want to leave a legacy of truth, wisdom, righteousness through teaching and writing and speaking, that others may know and love Him more because I was intentional in their lives.
4. I want to be humble, gentle, and gracious–redeeming the lost, healing the broken hearted–and bring this spirit into my relationships.
5.Taking initiative to serve and reach out to others and being faithful to be a servant leader is an aspiration of mine–to be as Jesus was–while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us–He sought us.
So, what do you want to be when you grow up? Whatever grid you establish in your mind is how you will live and how you will invest. I am praying that each of you will be inspired to live in the excellencies of His Spirit who is stirring inside of you.
Grace and peace to each of you today.
Please pray for me as I host 29 women from all over the world in my home the next 3 days to encourage, teach and serve them in their own walks with the Lord. Pray that lives would be changed and receptive to Him.
And if you would pray for my sweet mama–she is on her deathbed and I would love for her to sweetly know Jesus’ mercy and grace deep inside where we cannot penetrate and it would mean so much to me if she would wait until the weekend is over to go see Him, but I am ready for her to be with Him whenever He chooses. Onward.
o sally, my heart is heavy for you as you have a busy weekend, and your mother is dying! i am praying for you!
Thank you for sharing these words!
It is always an honor to pray!
About your #1, I am tying it to a post you shared recently on the things we bear. I get so confused in faith as to how to walk some things out, if it’s okay to put my foot down and say no? Or must I just continue to smile and bear it, even when it causes confusion to my household? OH Sally! I stink at this!
Sally, I know it must be difficult to be serving and hosting these ladies while your heart is also burdened for your Mom. Praying for your ability to leave her in His able care and for a special time with the ladies coming to learn from you!
Oh my dear. Courage. Strength. Dignity. and Beauty. All belong to she who serves her Master so unselfishly. My heart is yours this moment as I whisper a prayer for you, your mom and your guests.
Oh, I am praying for you and your mama! I pray for His grace and mercy to reach deep inside both of you, and for His comfort in the days to come. Grace to you this weekend as you minister, and for God to minister to your heart as well.
Praying for you and your mother today. I pray that His peace and love would just embrace and surround her. God bless you and thank you so much for sharing your heart. God is using you to change lives for His purposes. He has certainly used you to change mine. Thank you!
May the Lord Bless you and Keep you. May His face shine upon you and give you peace!
Praying for you this weekend and for your sweet family. I undertand what it’s like to be far away from a mama who’s dying. May Jesus be your strength. Mercy and Grace to you, Sally.
Sally, I will be praying for you, your mother, and your family.
Hi Sally! I wanted to start by saying with everyone else that I will pray for you today and this weekend and for your mother. May you both sense His peace and His presence as His will unfolds.
In response to your post, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I wanted to encourage you by telling you that just two days ago I was thinking about that very question and I prayed that God would shape me into a woman like you! I’m sure you hear that all the time, but I do sincerely mean it! I was blessed to hear you speak in Alberta this year and since then have been reading “Educating the Wholehearted Child.” What I’ve seen and heard from you has sent such a message of grace to me and with that grace has come the freedom that my life in Christ has been lacking. God has used your words, testimony and book to minister to my heart and enable me to proudly state that, “I want to homeschool! I want to have a large family! I want to follow Jesus even when it looks like foolishness to the world!” I’ve been praying for a mentor, but finding that it’s so hard to find an older woman who is able/willing to be that involved in our lives; our families also live far from us and truthfully, think what we’re doing is a bit crazy! My point is that your words have resonated with my soul, and while I may never meet you this side of Heaven, I consider you to be a woman I can look up to and model. Some adjectives that I put down on my list as far as who I envision myself being, with Christ’s empowerment of course, are: having my priorites straight (God, Family, Ministry), passionate, hard working, purposeful, intentional, confident, genuine and aware of time (how it is fleeting, yet it’s eternal value.). I see those attributes in you and I know that you have been very disciplined in seeking Him and walking closely with Him; such a great example for us all. So, I say a big “thank you,” to you for being faithful to His call for you and for being willing to pass it on to women like me!
God bless you, your family and this ministry.
Sincerely, Kendra
Prayers for you and your mom his week Sally. Much to ponder about who I want to grow up to be. Thank you for posing the question. Prayerfully Yours, Janene
Dear Sally,
May Jesus hold and cradle your mama’s heart and whisper to her of His great love and delight for her. And may He wrap you in supernatural peace- Himself, as He is the prince of peace. I am praying this verse/song for your mama: And with your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye and go in peace and laugh on Glory’s side. And fly to Jesus, fly to Jesus and LIVE! Praying for you, Sally~ physical strength, emotionally upheld by all that He is and grace boundless and free.
Love in Him,
Ashley in Lubbock
I have read some of the responses and have wondered how i could add any thing more, except for my thank you and how grateful i am to have you in my life ….grateful for your sharing in all the ways you do.
~joey
Praying.
As a young newlywed, I told my Mom my goal for my life was to be gracious, and 19 years later, it still encompasses everything I weant my life to represent. Sometimes the process seems painfully slow, but I trust that God is always at work, modling me more and more in His image of grace and love.
So thankful to be able to learn from your example. You have taught me so much through your writings, and continually inspire me, as you point to God in everything you do.
Blessings.
Oh, Sally!!! (((HUGS))) I am praying for you & your Mom. I pray that you will feel the peace that only God can give.
What do I want to be when I grow up? I’m not there yet. I want to be a “fun” mom, someone who is patient & kind & slow to anger. Thank you God, that it is never to late to try to achieve these. I’m so grateful for a very forgiving God.
Truly inspired by your words. I immediately made my own list of 5 attributes, areas where I feel the Lord is calling me to grow. I praise the Lord for your talents!