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Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation
Shaping the hearts, minds, and souls of your children starts with your words.
As a parent, your heart's desire is to guide your children to love and follow God. Yet so many voices are offering help and advice. Whose voice should shape your children?
Sally and Clay Clarkson suggest the answer is as simple as it is yours. They will show you how to use your own words to shape your child's life for Christ.
The biblical principles and wisdom they offer, drawn from their years of raising four children and mentoring parents worldwide, will equip you as a word-giving parent.
Start here to gain confidence to personally and intentionally cultivate a verbal home, one filled with words of faith formation and spiritual nurture.
Then, when your children "take your words for it," they will hear God's voice.
As a parent, your heart's desire is to guide your children to love and follow God. Yet so many voices are offering help and advice. Whose voice should shape your children?
Sally and Clay Clarkson suggest the answer is as simple as it is yours. They will show you how to use your own words to shape your child's life for Christ.
The biblical principles and wisdom they offer, drawn from their years of raising four children and mentoring parents worldwide, will equip you as a word-giving parent.
Start here to gain confidence to personally and intentionally cultivate a verbal home, one filled with words of faith formation and spiritual nurture.
Then, when your children "take your words for it," they will hear God's voice.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2022
About the author
Sally Clarkson
54 books1,451 followersFrom working on college campuses, to sharing the Gospel behind the Iron Curtain as a missionary, traveling around the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia to speak on discipleship, Sally Clarkson has tenaciously sought after God's kingdom, and has used her ministry to encourage others to do the same. From her best-selling books such as Own Your Life, Desperate (with Sarah Mae), and her latest, The Lifegiving Home, Sally has shared from her heart and home about the value of motherhood and the potential for home to cultivate life, love, and faith. In 1995, She and her husband Clay founded Whole Heart Ministries, which has encouraged thousands of families around the world in discipling their children
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
September 27, 2022
This is a primer on parenting with intentional words. Sally’s books work on a conceptual-aspirational continuum and this one is on the conceptual end of things.
It was also part memoir recalling things the authors were grateful they had done, and what their children have told them was most meaningful!
My favorite section was the second “Giving Words”. It was a reminder to me that all these long moments of motherhood in conversation with tiny people is worth it.
The coins of relationship deposited are an investment in their future.
The last pages were dedicated to a practical resource that you can use as intention devotion with your children!!
It was also part memoir recalling things the authors were grateful they had done, and what their children have told them was most meaningful!
My favorite section was the second “Giving Words”. It was a reminder to me that all these long moments of motherhood in conversation with tiny people is worth it.
The coins of relationship deposited are an investment in their future.
The last pages were dedicated to a practical resource that you can use as intention devotion with your children!!
October 5, 2022
I always love the Clarksons' work but this book is particularly poignant since I read it during the separation preceding divorce from my verbally (and other ways) abusive husband. It helped remind me of good edifying and healing words, and gave some really practical methods for building up that culture in my family as I get to start fresh while my daughter is still young.
"When you give your child words from your spirit, where Christ’s Spirit is alive, you are giving them living words."
"Too many Christian families wrongly believe that their Christian home automatically provides the family blessing for their children. Too often, the idea of that Christian home is defined by what the children are doing— Sunday school, Bible club, Christian friends and activities, Christian books, music and videos, and more. Those may all be good things, but they do not make a home “Christian.” If parents are not actively nurturing their children with the life of Christ, then it is a misnomer to call their home Christian. Only you can make your home a Christian home."
{I was provided a digital ARC on NetGalley by Bethany House}
"When you give your child words from your spirit, where Christ’s Spirit is alive, you are giving them living words."
"Too many Christian families wrongly believe that their Christian home automatically provides the family blessing for their children. Too often, the idea of that Christian home is defined by what the children are doing— Sunday school, Bible club, Christian friends and activities, Christian books, music and videos, and more. Those may all be good things, but they do not make a home “Christian.” If parents are not actively nurturing their children with the life of Christ, then it is a misnomer to call their home Christian. Only you can make your home a Christian home."
{I was provided a digital ARC on NetGalley by Bethany House}
October 4, 2022
Sally and Clay Clarkson have done it again. This book is a breath of fresh air for parents. When you need the reminder to keep going and why it's important , they bring it home. Investing in our littles with our words is one of the most impactful things we can do and this book gives some great tools and examples of how to make a Kingdom impact in our home. Love it.
February 16, 2024
3.5
I have followed the Clarkson family since my now teens were babies. Good reminders and truths put forth. Nothing new or earth shattering just gentle reminders.
In some sense it felt like a summary of their family and a wrap up since their kids are all adults now and making their own footsteps in the world. They all had done some words at the end. They reference their older works and experiences. Words matter!
💬 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
I have followed the Clarkson family since my now teens were babies. Good reminders and truths put forth. Nothing new or earth shattering just gentle reminders.
In some sense it felt like a summary of their family and a wrap up since their kids are all adults now and making their own footsteps in the world. They all had done some words at the end. They reference their older works and experiences. Words matter!
💬 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
November 12, 2022
Sally again points me to Christ and makes me not feel alone. That’s my favorite thing about her. All her books are Christ centered just like her life. Who says that parenting and homeschooling doesn’t need an emphasis on Christ?! Our whole lives should.
This book is a must read for anyone who hates the sin in them of being harsh, unkind, and short with our children.
This book is a must read for anyone who hates the sin in them of being harsh, unkind, and short with our children.
October 4, 2022
As a member of the book launch team I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of this book. As always, the books by the Clarkson family continue to encourage and inspire! This book has reminded me of the importance of being intentional with our words, it seems all the more important as our kids get older. While this isn’t my favorite book from the Clarkson family, it has been an encouragement and one I will keep on my shelf!
March 7, 2023
3 1/2 stars! While I love the Clarksons and everything they publish, this one felt like it could have been a chapter or two in a different book. I also find that when I listen to a lot of books written by Sally it leaves me feeling guilty and inadequate. I seriously wonder how the Clarkson family could fit in all the beautiful, wonderful things they write about. However, I did love the ideas and thoughts in this book.
December 7, 2022
Fantastic message but very repetitive.
March 2, 2023
Any book by Sally Clarkson I am all about reading it - it is just so, so good. Her voice is tried and true and her words are such an encouragement and grace to me as a mother. Giving Your Words not only is the culmination of decades of parenting (her children who are all incredibly successful and live wholesome lives as adults and professionals, themselves) but is also incredible wisdom about the power of our words, the way we speak to our children, ways to frame language, and how to speak life and humanity to our children. As a writer myself, I know the power of words - to tear down or build up, to speak life or death; It is about time we have a faith based resource for how to approach and encourage healthy, engaging, bright conversation in our households. I highly recommend it for any parent! I am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to review.
October 3, 2022
Clay and Sally have done it again! Taking a lofty concept - in this case, speaking life over your children - and bringing it down to street level where it can be organically put into practice, is what their books do best. This faith-over-formula, Scripture-rich primer is for any parent who desires to speak truth, beauty and goodness into the hearts of their children.
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March 8, 2023Gave up on this one halfway into it. Really love some of Sally’s books. Then others, like this one, just don’t do it for me. It felt really repetitive without saying much. The title of the book “Giving Your Words” is repeated oftennnn. This one wasn’t for me.
October 4, 2022
The Clarksons have done it yet again... beautiful, wonderful, life-giving! If you are serious about raising dedicated disciples of Christ, this book is for you. The core principle is love. Biblical principles are illuminated and made tangible. A must-read for every parent!
June 9, 2024
Many good things in this book. It felt challenging particularly because I’m not naturally skilled at giving verbal affirmation or thinking of ways to praise people, encourage others, etc. Some things struck me as a bit too sentimental or trite (and that’s often why I refrain from verbal affirmation). But praising/encouraging people poorly or awkwardly is often better than not praising them at all! I’m hoping to grow in this area and make it more a part of our home culture, as the Clarksons have.
October 21, 2022
This book was so helpful and so good for me as a new mom. The epilogue is each of their children sharing an example of how their parents' words shaped them. Holy cow--I cried so much through those, because I long to be a mom whose words leave a positive, Christ-exalting and soul-empowering impact for her child(ren). The epilogue alone is worth the price of the book, but the entire thing is saturated with Scripture and encouragement and practical examples. I would especially recommend this for new parents (although it's never too late to wield our words with more wisdom and intention).
I'm so grateful for the Clarksons and the way they used their words in their family and that they have shared those words with us.
I'm so grateful for the Clarksons and the way they used their words in their family and that they have shared those words with us.
November 24, 2022
I am reading an advanced copy of this book and it is amazing! As always, Sally and Clay are super inspiring and encouraging. This book reminds us that words matter. The words we choose to say to our children and how and when we say them make a difference. Little by little, our words, like seeds planted in a garden, grow fruit in our children’s hearts. Therefore, it is so important that we sow the word of God, along with words that are true, good, and beautiful, in their hearts. Each chapter has a short section at the end that gives suggestions on how to put that chapter’s ideas into action in your family. The epilogue is each one of the Clarkson children telling how their parents’ words affected their lives. This is a must read for all parents!
October 24, 2022
A helpful and practical refresher on the power of our actual words spoken within our families.
Loved the way she drives home the point (with personal examples!) of creating a verbal vs. a virtual home — for sharing your faith & cultivating its formation in your children. There is no substitute for speaking actual words (vs. relying on giving our children the "right" books, shows, music, etc..... which do not in and of themselves make a Christian family. We do!)
I did not grow up in a particularly verbal home in this regard, so I appreciated the practical ideas for fleshing this out. We have the opportunity to build up, encourage, and cultivate our children's hearts, minds, and souls with our intentionally-spoken words — so let's not be stingy with them!
Loved the way she drives home the point (with personal examples!) of creating a verbal vs. a virtual home — for sharing your faith & cultivating its formation in your children. There is no substitute for speaking actual words (vs. relying on giving our children the "right" books, shows, music, etc..... which do not in and of themselves make a Christian family. We do!)
I did not grow up in a particularly verbal home in this regard, so I appreciated the practical ideas for fleshing this out. We have the opportunity to build up, encourage, and cultivate our children's hearts, minds, and souls with our intentionally-spoken words — so let's not be stingy with them!
July 16, 2023
Sally's words encourage. She helps you ponder what YOUR words mean to others. Giving my words to our children takes on a whole new light these days after reading this book. I have enjoyed the deeper dive into scripture alongside of Sally's quotes from other authors that nicely compliment her writing. It is a great book to be used for a book club, couples read, or for a Sunday School class. I highly recommend this one to parents, grandparents, and anyone who wants to know more about how your words can shape others.
December 19, 2023
Best child rearing book I've read yet. I've taken quite a few practical ideas from the book and implemented it into how we foster spiritual formation in our daughters.
November 19, 2022
Even though I don’t have kids, I still found this a really intriguing read.
We all have people in our lives we can invest in, children or otherwise. I’m blessed to have two nieces and a nephew, and this encourages and challenges me, giving shape to how I can speak into their lives and be a godly mentor and loved one. I was particularly convicted by the reminder to treasure things up in my own heart, which made me think about what I spend my time dwelling on—is it wise and worthy stuff, or shallow, with no lasting value?
I want to speak well into their lives, and this will help guide me to do that well in future. Words of affirmation are my own love language, and this deepened my understanding of that and how I can live into it well with myself and others.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
We all have people in our lives we can invest in, children or otherwise. I’m blessed to have two nieces and a nephew, and this encourages and challenges me, giving shape to how I can speak into their lives and be a godly mentor and loved one. I was particularly convicted by the reminder to treasure things up in my own heart, which made me think about what I spend my time dwelling on—is it wise and worthy stuff, or shallow, with no lasting value?
I want to speak well into their lives, and this will help guide me to do that well in future. Words of affirmation are my own love language, and this deepened my understanding of that and how I can live into it well with myself and others.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 3, 2022
I received a review copy of this book, and I'm happy to say that it is just as encouraging and useful as Sally's others! I could definitely tell that Clay was the co-author of the book, as it slightly affected the style of writing, but not in a negative way. There are so many practical applications given in the book, and I'm looking forward to adding some things to our home. The idea that a verbal home is a powerful tool for growing our children into confident, competent, and curious adults is one that I have felt strongly about for a long time - it was interesting to see how the Clarksons were able to put that idea into words.
I definitely recommend this book for parents.
I definitely recommend this book for parents.
November 3, 2022
It’s not exaggerating to say it was Sally Clarkson who removed a lot of my fear of raising children. I listened to her podcast before I ever got pregnant, and it’s now become a favourite with my two-year-old as well. “Hello Friends” by “Sally Cup” is often requested while driving (At Home with Sally, for those in control of the podcast app). Her words gifted me with courage and the belief that I can use my words to build up my children and help them flourish, even in ways I never received. I was excited when I heard that Sally and Clay Clarkson were publishing a book called ‘Giving Your Words.’
Giving Your Words is a guide which demonstrates how the Giver of the Word enables us to give our words to bring life and wisdom to our children. It shows how the Servant calls us to serve our children and lead them to Him. It raises parents up in the knowledge that we are the best parents for our children, and that the Holy Spirit will enable us to use our unique personalities and words to greater effect than any parenting script or formula. It’s an encouragement to name and call forth the gifts, dreams and passions we see in our children and spur them forward.
Clay and Sally write that while love is a verb, it is also verbal. Love requires action, but for it to be deeply felt it must also be accompanied by the gift of our words and affirmations. Words are powerful, and creating a verbal environment of regular and intentional conversation will help our children flourish as they navigate the world and the life of faith. The Clarksons offer many suggestions and guides for how to use words well to encourage and disciple without resorting to formulas.
“Creating a verbal home begins with following Christ’s example of personal ministry by first choosing to serve your children. The words you give in your personal interactions with them will be effective for Christ only if they come from the heart of a parent who is a servant like Christ – one who with humility of mind regards others, even their own children, as more important than themselves.”
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Giving Your Words is a guide which demonstrates how the Giver of the Word enables us to give our words to bring life and wisdom to our children. It shows how the Servant calls us to serve our children and lead them to Him. It raises parents up in the knowledge that we are the best parents for our children, and that the Holy Spirit will enable us to use our unique personalities and words to greater effect than any parenting script or formula. It’s an encouragement to name and call forth the gifts, dreams and passions we see in our children and spur them forward.
Clay and Sally write that while love is a verb, it is also verbal. Love requires action, but for it to be deeply felt it must also be accompanied by the gift of our words and affirmations. Words are powerful, and creating a verbal environment of regular and intentional conversation will help our children flourish as they navigate the world and the life of faith. The Clarksons offer many suggestions and guides for how to use words well to encourage and disciple without resorting to formulas.
“Creating a verbal home begins with following Christ’s example of personal ministry by first choosing to serve your children. The words you give in your personal interactions with them will be effective for Christ only if they come from the heart of a parent who is a servant like Christ – one who with humility of mind regards others, even their own children, as more important than themselves.”
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2023
Inspiringly practical perspective on how to create a Christ-centered, verbal home that will give our children a foundation to carry through the years. Having raised four adults who love God fiercely, Sally and Clay Clarkson offer their wisdom on how they filled their home with words of godly truth, love, instruction, hope, and so much more. Truly grateful for the conversation this has started between my husband and me as we work to built our own verbal home.
November 29, 2022
Sally and Clay Clarkson hit it out of the park with this one. Within the first chapter, I was already recommending it. Now that I’ve finished it, I feel like it is a must read for Christian mothers AND fathers alike. I listened to it via audible, but I plan to get it either through kindle or a physical copy so I can refer back to certain parts when needed.
October 4, 2022
Sally and Clay have done it again. An invaluable resource for parents to see the impact of the worse they choose and what the Lord says about our words. Written in a friendly and easy to implement manner that makes you feel like you are being coached and encouraged align the way.
October 4, 2022
I read an early copy and this is exactly what we as parents need to hear and read and practice with our children. Clay and Sally Clarkson teach us how to parent intentionally with the words we use. What practical and helpful advice and encouragement this book gives the reader.
October 4, 2022
A wonderful and inspiring read that was FILLED with encouragement on how we could bless and help our children grow, simply by using our words. Sally Clarkson has such a beautiful and gentle way of using her words in this book. I love the biblical wisdom she so wonderfully shares and this is a book I’d recommend for all parents to read. No matter what stage of parenting you’re in, you will be able to utilize this amazing resource and apply it in whatever season you may be in.
October 5, 2022
Giving your words has been an encouraging and transformational resource to have as a grandparent of five and mother of four adult children. I am using the devotionals in the back of the book as a guide with my grandchildren and also in children’s ministry. Thank you Clay and Sally Clarkson. This book is a must-have resource for anyone to own.
January 26, 2023
Sally Clarkson is an influential person in christian mothers’ world. This book recalls the power of parents words in kids’ life. In a warm manner, the Clarkson couple encourage parents to focus on what matters.
You can’t go wrong with their writings!
You can’t go wrong with their writings!
February 12, 2023
I enjoyed this one! I think a lot of the truths here about speaking life into your kids and making the gospel known in your home in different ways with your words are so important.
March 11, 2023
I love the Clarkson's. So many of their books have helped me as a mother. This one was just harder for me to get through.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews