Thursday Thoughts with Theresa: 25 Points I Took Away From the Mom Heart Conference

I just returned from the Mom Heart Conference 2014: Inspired! Reaching Beyond What Holds You Back, with Sally Clarkson. If you are not familiar with Sally Clarkson, then read on. Sally is a modern­day classic, encouraging moms, with her depth of wisdom, to live out the biblical model of parenting. She has numerous books, including The Mission of Motherhood, The Ministry of Motherhood and Seasons of a Mothers Heart. Sally’s husband, Clay, authors Educating the Whole Hearted Child, Our 24 Family Ways and Heartfelt Discipline. The Mission of Motherhood is in two Chinese languages, The Ministry of Motherhood and Educating the Whole Hearted Child is in Korean. Ministry is also in Dutch, French and two books are in Polish. Both Mission and Ministry have consecutively been recognized by the United States congressional women’s Bible study as the number one book on mothering. The Clarksons put on an annual conference for moms in Colorado, Texas and California. The Speakers this year in Colorado were Sally Clarkson, Misty Krawsawski, Debi Chapman, Sarah Mae, and Sarah Clarkson. I came away feeling inspired and replenished. The following are some points that stuck with me.

25 Points I took away from the Mom Heart Conference: 

Sarah Mae

1.            Resolve to be in God’s presence. We cannot reflect God’s light to our children if we’re not in it.

2.            Resolve to be different than the world.


3.            If we don’t step up as parents, culture will step in.


4.            Prepare for the world by equipping with the Word.

5.            Don’t give one another permission to compromise.


6.            Know your calling. If you are a mother, your first calling is to motherhood.

7.            Reduce or eliminate technology. Technology creates a mental state of constant activity.

8.            Look at the sin issue of your child and then speak the opposite over them.

Sarah Mae is Co­author with Sally Clarkson of the book, Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breath.

Sarah Clarkson


9.      Children need quiet in order to hear God.

10.        Shape their perspective with stories. Stories shape a child’s point of view, cultivates imagination, provides a courageous character for your child to identify with, shows how choices are lived out (faithfulness), and gives a vision of happy endings.

Sarah Clarkson is currently writing The Storyformed Life and I highly recommend watching for that one!

Sally Clarkson

11.        Love is your aim. Only love can reach and transform hearts.

12.        Be a reflection of Christ to your children. Love and humbly serve like Christ.

13.        Walk with those who are wise. Put yourself in a place where people will draw you to a higher Spiritual place and thinking.

14.        Build on the foundation of God’s Word and truth. Love God and love others.


15.         It’s all held together by the Holy Spirit.

16.        We must be connected to the vine. Remain in him.

17.        If you’re not partnering with God, don’t expect supernatural results.


18.         God makes what we do enough.


19.         Don’t name your child something you do not want them to live into.

20.        Don’t keep disciplining a difficult child. Fill her heart. A child cannot learn until she feels her cup is full.

21.        Your message will come out of the life you live.


22.         The Kingdom is living in the freedom of who God created you to be.


23.         You are not defined by your mistakes (nor are your children.)


24.         Be who you are. Don’t compare.


25.         If you are justifying your life, you are probably compromising God’s call on your life.

There was so much great insight. I wish you all could have been there! However, a great place to start in gaining perspective as a mother is with Sally’s books. I highly recommend The Mission of Motherhood, if you’re not sure which to pick up first. Read and be inspired!

Sally, Me and Misty Krasawski

The crew from Sheridan

Mom Heart Panel

- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom

Theresa is a wife and mother of four children (3, 5, 7, and 9), who are embarking on their first year of homeschooling. Theresa has been involved in Sheridan MOPS for the last 9 ½ years, serving in multiple leadership positions, including Day MOPS Coordinator in 2007-2008. She took one year off, then started the Sheridan Evening MOPS group in September 2009. Theresa has published an article with MOPS International MOMSnext Ezine, in addition to other on-line publications. You can find Theresa encouraging mothers on her blog, Heavenly Glimpses.