Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

The Holiday Dork

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This is a story about yours truly.  Not very many years ago, my friends threatened an intervention regarding my Christmas sweaters.  I wore them long past in vogue, but way before they came back in style as “ugly Christmas sweaters”.  (For context see the pic of my twin sister and I in our reindeer gear.)  I record ALL the Christmas programming just in case we have time to get to it before the holiday ends.  I scour the paper (back in the day) and the internet for festive activities to drag my family to – including my poor retail manager husband.  He works his tail off this time of year and yet I show him no mercy.

 

I want my decorations up the day after Thanksgiving, and the Christmas music to play exclusively then as well.  I even want Christmas carols at church for the whole month of December.  But alas, no one asks my opinion.  Several years ago I even invented a thankfulness tree.  It’s truthfully a veiled excuse to put the tree up November 1st (with leaves and pumpkins and decorative cards with the people and things we thank God for written on them) so that it’s easier and quicker to deck it in red and green once we finish the turkey and dressing!

 

If I had the only vote, I would watch exclusively Christmas movies and TV shows from December 1st through the 25th.  And since I do have the only vote on what I read, I set all but Christmas books and bible studies aside, even if I’m in the middle of something else!

 

I love all the Christmas things.  The lights, the wrapping paper and ribbon, the scarves and Santa hats, the cookies and smells.  I admit I get carried away.  I surround myself with cheesy, sappy sentimentality.  It’s over the top, but I don’t care.  Yes, Christmas was a magical time during my childhood.  But looking back excites me much less than looking forward.

 

Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus.  That happened over 2,000 years ago.  But I celebrate because He still lives, and He has big plans for me and all who believe.  God’s word tells us His plan.

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  1 Peter 1:3-6 NIV

 

God sent Jesus to earth to die – taking the punishment for all my sins and yours.  Because of this, believing in Jesus for salvation guarantees us a place with Him in heaven someday.  We call it an “inheritance” because we become His child.  And parents typically pass on good things to their children.  The Bible tells us that God does this times 1000 (Matthew 7:11).  And God protects us with His power until the time comes to go to Him.  That doesn’t mean nothing bad will ever happen to us (hello, 2020).  But that He doesn’t leave us alone to deal with the troubles we encounter in our time on a broken earth.

 

For these reasons I get fired up about Christmas.  Yes, even this year.  Because through all we suffer, He watches over us to fulfill His purposes in us.  And when His will is fulfilled, He rewards those of us who believe by His much more tangible presence in a perfect new home.  We have the victory, because that baby left heaven to come to earth.  Woohoo!

 

So my prayer for you is this:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 NIV

 

Merry Christmas!

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

If you are looking for something new to study in your time with the Lord, read Michele Morin’s compelling argument in Why You Should Read Isaiah this Christmas!

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Take Off the Gloves! A Guide to Political and Other Discourse

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I want to start by letting you know about my new e-book This Was Not on My Bingo Card:  Essays on Cancer and Other Related Surprises.  It is FREE, but the only way to get it is to subscribe to my blog.  Do it today in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  I pray you will be blessed.  Now…on to the post: 

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.  James 1:19-20  NIV

 

I often pray the words, “Lord, come quickly.”  I recently added the prayer, “Let the election pass quickly.”  People seem to lose their ever loving minds over presidential elections.  Social media turns into a hotbed of hatred and vitriol – even more so than usual.  And from my vantage point, Christians often shout the loudest and fling the most poo.  This both frustrates and saddens me.

 

There is a reason people say we should never talk about politics or religion at the dinner table.  And it’s not because those topics aren’t interesting.  We have simply forgotten (or maybe never taught) how to listen to people we disagree with.  I use the election as a current and relevant thorn in my side, but we could just as well substitute racial equality, differences in theology, our response to COVID-19, or a slew of other hot topics.

 

John 13:35 says, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  NIV  What I have never seen in the Bible is that we will show others we follow Jesus with our anti-fill in the blank rhetoric.  I don’t know how “love one another” got translated to “convince you to think just like me”.  And even if it did, I don’t see the arguing leading to much convincing.  If anything, it’s just causing more arguing.

 

I think our conversations become so cyclical and fruitless because we fail in the art of listening well.  In a debate (friendly or not), we most often listen only long enough to formulate our counter-point instead of listening to understand.  It’s a problem as old as time.  I mean, did you see the 1st presidential debate?  Or some would say debacle?  Proverbs 18:13  NIV states, To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.  But that foolishness is exactly what most of us do.  So how can we listen better, and as a result, conduct healthier dialogue?  

 

1.  Be About the Relationship

 

God is love, and the Bible tells the story of His love relationship with us from beginning to end.  His word commands us to love others because He loves us (1 John 4:19) and love is about relationship.  Our goal in any interaction – whether in person or online – should be to show Christ-like love.  If we are primarily motivated by forming, maintaining or furthering relationship with another, we will naturally use language that encourages, builds up and shows compassion.  Care more about the person than your point.

 

2.  Ask Clarifying Questions

 

In a sermon a couple of months ago, my pastor suggested saying, “Help me understand… (what you said, what you’re feeling, what lead you to your opinion or ideas).  How did you arrive at that conclusion?”  Knowing where someone else is coming from leads to fewer misunderstandings and promotes empathy, which benefits the relationship.  It also gives you the opportunity to think twice and speak once, which also leads to fewer misunderstandings.

 

3.  Present Your “Side” with Permission

 

This suggestion came from my wise pastor as well.  Ask permission to ask questions about what’s been said.  Then say, “Is it okay if I share some thoughts on some things I see differently?”  Become less of a bulldozer.  You are entitled to your opinion, but you aren’t always entitled to share it.  Having the humility to ask for permission shows respect for the individual (remember relationship is the goal).  And let’s be honest, mowing over someone with your ideas or beliefs never really works.

 

Let’s open our ears and rain down grace on those we come in contact with.  2020 has been hard enough.

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

I just featured Barbara Harper of Stray Thoughts last week, but I had to do it again.  I think she is somehow reading my mind and my struggles!  In What Do You Look for When You Read the Bible, she touched on reading the Bible for truth and not just to speak into our current struggle or feeling.  I believe God often does that for us with His word, but this seeking out this type of study is a slippery slope to twisting God’s word to meet our narrative.  Thank you, Barbara, for this glimpse of the whole of God’s Word.

 

Grace and Truth_Rules

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

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We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

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Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

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