Life with Sally

All of our lives, if we are believers, our goal is to relate to God, His purposes, His plans, His personal love and involvement and love for us, and His faithfulness to us,  no matter what assails us in our lives. It is our glory to walk with Him every day until we see Him face to face.

One of the deepest blessings of my life at this stage is the very close, intimate, inspiring, fun friendships I have with my now adult children. But, of course, as with everything else, it took years of heart-work.

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, seeking, trusting, moving ahead by faith? What does it require us to accomplish God's work? A steadfast heart, mind and work ethic.

In his new book, I'm The Worst, and in the conversation we had on today's new podcast, Nathan explores the necessity of acknowledging and paying attention to our brokenness, as it is the conduit to freedom and redemption, not a hindrance.

It is not logical to forgive someone who has offended us, but it is supernatural — it can only come from walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, forgiveness and humility was constantly on the heart of Jesus.

If our goal is to become like Christ, little by little, every day by seeking to please Him, growing  in the direction of righteousness because of obedience, seeking to understand Him, His instruction, His ways.

As I ponder what I want to become more of this year, I must take seriously the cultivating of my own soul, so that when others come to draw from me, they are drawing from Him, because I have invested time in Him, His word, His wisdom, His truth and His ways.

Even as we declutter our home, put it back in order after a busy holiday season, so I find that I must declutter my heart to go into my year free, with grace, hope and good plans. Proverbs tells us to "Guard our heart, for from it flows the springs of life."

What you choose to believe and cherish, practice and submit to, work at and believe, happens when no one else is looking. These are the glorious days your children will remember—the joy of the meantime, the moments cherished, the memories of this Christmas, feasting together, choosing joy. Life teaches us to cherish every day.

As I was on my walk today, I had you in my heart. In such a dark time, it is difficult to put aside our anxieties. Yet, I have learned slowly to move in the direction of trusting God more practically, learning to claim, feel how to breathe peace in those moments of such feelings.

Advent is not only about longing for Christ to come again and put everything back together; it's about repenting and receiving grace so that we get to be put back together now.

A culture separated from God's wisdom over the centuries must surely provide lures that will destroy and distract from Him, from what is eternal, from what is true. Yet, to throw away those things which are not necessary, I must constantly be straining my ear to His voice and not to the voice of those who would draw me to vanity or more strife of busyness.

Real influence comes all the moments of the ways we live our lives in front of our children. It is not just about passing on doctrine, but as much about relationship, love, beauty as it is the concepts we teach them.

Today, sweet mama, you are building a gift of love for yourself that will bless you your whole life. Cherish this season with your precious ones, cultivate some delightful moments that will fill your heart and theirs. Watch it grow into something beautiful.

David seemed to understand the need for himself to restore and saw God as the source leading him beside still waters and restoring his soul. His shepherd heart valued nature from years of walking amongst the hills beside his sheep, enjoying sunrises, evening stars and the vast artwork of nature.

Embracing ideals that matter always comes with a cost, and yet, the giving of our rights and expectations to serve God and to follow His will is always worth it. God's ways change us, deepen our faith, build humility, teach us the value of love and perseverance and of course deepen our appreciation for the life and model of Christ.

Sometimes we don't realize how much life and duty have drained us and how much we need filling. But it isn't the activities, "things" or accomplishments we need—it is the real live moments of relationship and loving one another well, to be heard, to feel close and understood that create the type of relationship we all long for.

Today, after a series of unexpected adventures and plans, Joy and I had the opportunity to visit this amazing historical home where part of one of our favorite film series was filmed. Join me today to hear our story. What a day of deep delight and whimsy as we spent hours exploring this wonderful place.