Life with Sally

The table is central to the everyday moments of our lives, even when we are busy, or find ourselves stretched in the midst of seasons that require much from us. Feasting goes on! It is also the anchor to much of our milestones and family celebrations. In this episode, Sally and Kristen discuss Chapters 7 and 8 of the Life Giving Table and offer their own tips for how to create for simple feasts when life is overwhelming or we are short on time. They also share how each of their families create traditions with food and fellowship to mark life's special moments.

-Living Well in the midst of daily choas and real life

-How we can train ourselves to see God's gentle hand of provision in our lives

-How to live sustainably in pressured seasons

-How to bear weariness that comes from what God is calling you to do

-The ways we each add beauty to our homes to encourage our hearts (and those of our families)

-How to stop waiting for the ideal and learn to enjoy the moment.

-Our favorite staples, recipes and tricks for feasting simply or when we have little time.

-Our family traditions and celebration rituals

-Birthdays in the life of the Clarkson Family

-How to create a blessing celebration in your own family

-The way God blesses us through words of affirmation, and how we can do the same with those at our table

-The power and necessity of creating a home of belonging

Mark 6:31 "Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat."

Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you; And be gracious to you;The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace."

This little podcast is just me sharing some thoughts that have been passing through my brain. Hope you are encouraged.

What does it mean to be transformed, changed, and reshaped as an antidote to being conformed to the world? In this episode, Sally ponders these ideas as she discusses chapters four and five of the Life-giving Table and teaches us about how family culture has the distinct and grace-giving power to both change and protect us. She inspires listeners to instill a sense of "this is who we are" and "this is what we believe" into the hearts of her children as they gather at the table, and gives tools to not only create a vision to define our own family culture, but to practically cultivate a legacy.

I hope that you are encouraged by today's podcast. Let us know what you think below.

Discipleship Principle: Practicing the Rhythms of life regularly with your loved ones creates a secure feeling of belonging- of being welcomed and able to share convictions and faith in a community where one belongs.

-That your family culture needs to be a stronger pull than the culture of the world--you have to define it in such a way that your children will love it, flourish in it, grow in it and feel they belong

-That a unique family culture does not happen by chance and that you must fight to keep it going

- Why creating a family culture is particularly important in our too busy, fast paced and demanding worldly culture

-How to cultivate daily rhythms that keep us anchored in the storms of life

-Creating a cultural battle plan

-How a Kingdom culture means we are stewards of God's messages

-How to create a culture of honor, where our children recognize the significance and worth of human beings created in God's image

-How to create a culture of hospitality, where it becomes a pattern to serve others

-Defining a family culture for YOUR family and determining what characteristics you want it to reflect

-How to cultivate a culture of conversation

-Navigating squabbles at the table and teaching our children how to consider one another wisely.

Acts 2:42 NASB"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostle's teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Luke 24:14-15- "They were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them."

Table-Discipleship Principle:

"The most influential of all education factors is the conversation in a child's home." William Temple

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.

-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.

"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.