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Living a Beautifully Dignified Life - Part 2 Sally Clarkson Conference

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Women Living Well Blog: Living a Beautifully Dignified Life - Part 2 Sally Clarkson Conference

Women Living Well Blog

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Living a Beautifully Dignified Life - Part 2 Sally Clarkson Conference


Monday I shared powerful quotes from Sally Clarkson's Mom Heart Conference(her family is pictured above). Today I want to take you a bit deeper into some of the things I am wrestling out in my own life as a result of the conference.


Living Beautifully:

Some of you may remember Women Living Well's Making Your Home a Haven Fall Challenge . I encouraged us all to light a candle and pray for peace everyday. I am still practicing this habit in my home daily and as I undressed my mantel from the holiday season, I realized that the word PEACE from my mantel would go well right on my desk by my keyboard. It has served as daily reminder to pursue God and his peace. Living beautifully brings peace in the home.


Sally's daughter Sarah opened the conference with a talk on Living Thoroughly Alive. She encouraged us to cultivate time for beauty in our lives. The Bible starts "In the beginning God created..." In nature we can see God's grandeur and beauty - we cannot watch television and experience this. God is the source of beauty. Whatever keeps us from his beauty keeps us from his presence.


Sally and Sarah tag teamed as they gave practical ways to express beauty inside our homes.


1. You can read books together - to make books even more beautiful - do it beside a fireplace with a warm glow.


2. You can serve the family a warm dinner - but if you add a candle and some light music it becomes an event.


3. Take the time to make holidays extra special - celebrate life together - this builds a beautiful strong foundation.


4. Read good books - you can only give to your children what you already possess inside. Good books are essential not a frivolity.


5. Expose your children to the best things - the best art, best people, best books, and the best thoughts.


Sally shared that it was in some of their dark moments that their pursuit for beauty saved their family. And all this beauty doesn't happen by accident. We must cultivate time for beauty and time to celebrate life with our families. We must remain connected to the source of all beauty.


Dignity:
One of the most convicting moments of the conference for me personally, was Sally's talk on Proverbs 31:25. It says "She is clothed with strength and dignity."


I'm really not a very dignified person. I pretty much am an open book and I lay it all out there. I thought this was a strength for what I do in blogland BUT Sally opened my eyes to the fact that if I'm not careful...I could be a "blabber mouth" - OUCH!


Sally talked about how many women today in our media saturated world lack dignity. A dignified woman chooses to be dignified just as she chooses her clothing for the day. She does not live in fear, whine or have a critical attitude. She cultivates contentment, overlooks another's sin and is known by her love.


Family Ministry:

Watching Sally's husband and children come up on the stage one by one and sing, play their compositions they had written on the piano and share their hearts was moving. Sally said that when God called her to ministry this meant that God had also called her children and husband. I have never viewed Women Living Well as a "family ministry" but in that very moment I realized that indeed - not only is Women Living Well a calling on my life, but also on my husband and children's lives.


I came home and immediately shared this thought with my husband and he agreed. He has shared me with my on-line friends and the entire family not only prays daily out loud for my blog but also cooperates with letting me take pictures of them and splatter them all over Women Living Well! Bless their hearts!


Faith:

Sally said "If you only live by what you can accomplish by yourself, you will be condemned to works for the rest of your life. Step out in faith."


I have saturated my thoughts with this challenge...and am wondering...what is it that God wants me to step out in faith and do? Fear has been a hurdle for me in blogland - what if I say the wrong thing? What if I get a bunch of nasty emails for something silly I say lol!? What if people don't approve of my school choices? What if my children go wayward? What if what if what if...
I must choose faith over fear - clinging to God's great goodness and beauty. It is the only way to live thoroughly alive!

Thank you Sally for a weekend of both challenges and comfort. Your conference has been a spring board for me and I carry your words in my heart as seeds that I pray sprout into a beautifully dignified life.


Walk with the King!

Today is Women Living Well Wednesday! It's a Link-Up Day!!!


Join the fun, do a little blog hopping and don't forget if you join below -please add the Women Living Well Wednesdays button to your post so your readers can find us here! (posts can include the topics of marriage, parenting, homemaking, finances, recipes, organization and more!)


I am linked up at Titus2days (Time Warp Wife), Raising Homemakers, and Works for Me Wednesday.

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18 Comments:

Blogger Jessica said...

Hey, Courtney, it's been a busy couple of days but I wanted to tell you thank you for addressing my question about first times obedience, and pointing me to Sally's article. I've felt the Lord convicting me lately about how we are to truly raise our children, and her article was such a blessing. I can't tell you how freeing it was for me yesterday to realize my 3 year old wasn't being rebellious he was just overwhelmed by a busy morning and needed something to eat. Thanks so much for taking the time to share! Jessica

March 1, 2011 at 11:05 PM  
Blogger Crystal Paine said...

Such great thoughts! Thanks for sharing!

March 1, 2011 at 11:16 PM  
Blogger Nicole Auld said...

Thank you for sharing...job well done Courtney--so inspiring.

March 1, 2011 at 11:28 PM  
Blogger Strong Man said...

What an inspiration to see your confessions and your efforts to improve.

Thank you for sharing and encouraging everyone by your example.

March 2, 2011 at 12:32 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

good stuff, Courtney! When I was reading the part about the "what ifs" it made me think of some things. I mean, what mom doesn't have fear and say "what if????"!!!! But you know what, IF those things happen...IF your kids go through a rough time, or IF you get nasty e-mails or whatever....you will seek to glorify God in those times, just like you are seeking to glorify Him now. We aren't called to raise Godly children, we are called to teach them every moment we can, to be an example, and to pray for them...and to glorify God in whatever happens. We are called to "put ourselves in harms way" by sharing the hard stuff (gospel centered living!) and then to glorify God in whatever may be the response. You are glorifying God right now, so I know that whatever happens in the future, that is what you will do then! Be encouraged! That is so obviously your desire!!! You are a blessing!

March 2, 2011 at 8:10 AM  
Blogger Jennifer @ Just Peachy in Dixie said...

Thank you for hosting the hop! I just love your blog. You have been such an inspiration to me. I look forward to seeing your blog page loaded in my inbox everyday. :)

Have a great day,
Jennifer @ http://justpeachyindixie.blogspot.com

March 2, 2011 at 8:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great article,I feel at peace when I've done my chores/duties for the day.It really is a fight daily for me as I didn't learn to maintain a home so have lots of unrooting and sowing to do in that area.Thank you for your blog it is a blessing.

March 2, 2011 at 8:35 AM  
Blogger Mary Ellen said...

Such profound teaching! Thank you for sharing!

Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper

March 2, 2011 at 10:12 AM  
Blogger Just Me said...

Courtney, I always love your posts. I need to get to one of these conferences. Thank you SO much for sharing this widsom. For those of us who can't really afford it, I sincerely appreciate it.

March 2, 2011 at 10:29 AM  
Blogger Claire said...

The conference sounds like a truly amazing experience, Courtney. I am loving reading your reflections.

Cxx

March 2, 2011 at 10:34 AM  
Blogger Dianne said...

When I think of a woman who has a lot of dignity and quiet strength, I think of "Maria" (the main character nun-turned-governess) in the sound of music. Especially the part toward the end after they get married and are trying to flee the country. It helps me to see a picture of a dignified woman even if she isn't the real character in a true story.

March 2, 2011 at 11:24 AM  
Blogger Stacy @ A Delightful Home said...

Thanks for sharing these thoughts Courtney. Dignity and beauty are two lovely things I want to have in my home and life. Two things I need to improve on.

March 2, 2011 at 11:33 AM  
Blogger Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama said...

That really spoke to my heart today..clothed with dignity..something I need to work on.

March 2, 2011 at 11:48 AM  
Blogger Let'sMakeADifference said...

Thanks for hosting and for the great post!! I few 'extras' go a LONG way in making hubby and kids feel special! I enjoy reading your posts!

March 3, 2011 at 7:50 AM  
Blogger Anna said...

This is such an inspiring post. It's so true that we have to cultivate beauty and seek it out, making beautiful moments - they don't just happen. God is in the beauty. Thanks for sharing!

March 3, 2011 at 8:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This was a really inspiring post!
Some of the best and most uplifting parts of your blog are when you share with everyone your own efforts and hurdles. You are definitely dignified! You are also real and honest and I love that about Women Living Well. It makes me feel like I can do better in my daily life, too. :)

-Autumn

March 3, 2011 at 11:02 AM  
Anonymous Becky @ From Ministry to Motherhood said...

What lovely thoughts on beauty, dignity and grace as a Mother. It's so easy to forget our impact on others. Thank you for sharing!

March 3, 2011 at 2:32 PM  
Anonymous erin@weelittlemiracles said...

Thanks you so much for sharing all of these wonderful insights. I found the message to choose faith over fear with the challenge to "step out" particularly convicting. I also loved the reminder to not parent by formula. Too often I find myself frustrated when something that worked well with my oldest son fails to work for my younger one. It's a great reminder to treat each child and each circumstance on an individual basis. Thanks again! Erin

March 3, 2011 at 7:57 PM  

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