Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

We Will Dance: After Cancer

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“We Will Dance”

I’ve watched the sun rise in your eyes
And I’ve seen the tears fall like the rain
You’ve seen me fight so brave and strong
You’ve held my hand when I’m afraid
We’ve watched the seasons come and go
We’ll see them come and go again
But in winter’s chill or summer’s breeze
One thing will not be changing

[Chorus:]

We will dance
When the sun is shining, in the pouring rain.
We’ll spin and we’ll sway
And we will dance.
When the gentle breeze becomes a hurricane,
The music will play
And I’ll take your hand and hold you close to me
And we will dance.

Sometimes it’s hard to hold you tight
Sometimes we feel so far apart
But sometimes we dance as one
And feel the beating of each other’s heart
Some days the dance is slow and sweet
Some days we’re bouncing off the walls
But no matter how this world may turn
Our love will keep us from falling and …

[Chorus]

The music will play
And I’ll hold you close and I won’t let go
Even when our steps grow weak and slow
Still I’ll take your hand and hold you close to me
And we will dance…

What This Song Means to Me

Steven Curtis Chapman released this song in 2003 on his “All About Love” album.  I owned the CD.  I listened to it often.  My marriage was still as shiny and new as our wedding rings and I loved all the songs written and dedicated to his wife.  I’m a romantic, but this one wasn’t a favorite.  However, I came across it on Spotify a couple of weeks ago and the lyrics hit completely different.
2003 Chuck and Lauren had barely started life together.  We were in love and thought we could weather any storm.  2022 Chuck and Lauren have lived through some things.  In 2003, our first born was already having seizures, but we had no idea how severe her medical and developmental problems would become.  We struggled with the challenges of a blended family and have now seen the aftermath of divorce devastate.  Had we any idea then how difficult raising a teenager in the information age would be?  Nope.  And we never dreamed we would grind through job loss and financial insecurity.

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We have now both had cancer.  Breast cancer for me and tonsil cancer for him.  Cancer changes you in ways I cannot describe.  Our bodies are forever altered with scars you can see and scars you can’t.  Surgeries, injuries, treatments and chronic pain checker our histories.
As a couple, we have depended on God more than we ever thought we would need to.  We begged Him for healing, thanked Him for mercy and walked with Him through incredibly challenging things.  He has moved on our behalf in ways we asked for and in ways we didn’t expect/ still haven’t seen.
What I’m saying is,

we have lived some life since 2003.  And our marriage is all the sweeter for the storms.  Would I choose any of them?  Emphatically no.  But I know now how strong we are now.

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 I KNOW.  When SCC sings, ” the gentle breeze becomes a hurricane”, I remember the day a phone call rocked our world.  As he’s “seen the tears fall like the rain” I understand and remember (and not that far back).  When the sun is shining,” or “in the pouring rain”, Chuck keeps on dancing with me.  I am so grateful.

Public Service Announcement:

I don’t wear pink in October just because I like it (although I do).  A mammogram caught my invasive ductal cell carcinoma at Stage 1.  That day was over 5 years ago.  I’m not sure I would be here today had I waited for a physical manifestation.  Go get squeezed ladies.  It may not be your idea of a fun time, but it’s important!  Also, if you are not yet subscribed to this blog, do it now.  You will receive my ebook This was Not On My Bingo Card:  Essays on Cancer and Related Surprises.  
Testimonial from a cancer patient I shared the ebook with: “I woke up about 2AM the night before last, and after several attempts to go back to sleep, I realized that I was having anxiety about my upcoming surgery and a few other events coming up. So, I got up and read your essays on breast cancer. I shed some tears, at times laughed, and felt empathy and completely related to many aspects of your journey. I did feel much lighter and was able to stop worrying after reading, so thank you for sharing your personal experience.”
And now for this week’s featured post from the link up.
Paula from simplycoffeandjesus.com wrote about a problem I have been talking about for years (and even have a podcast idea about) in Sustaining Friendships from Midlife and Beyond – A Woman’s Guide.

The Link Up

 

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).

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

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

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

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Praying God’s Word Wednesday #54: John 14:13-14

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Pucker up!  It’s National Kissing Day!  Ok, maybe I don’t know some of you well enough for that yet.  So what if we pray John 14:13-14 together instead?

 

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  John 14:13-14 NIV

 

Verse 13 gives us an incredible promise of God.  A praying person’s blank check.  Or is it?  Only in the words “in my name” do we grasp the full understanding (or as much as that is possible for us this side of heaven).  To ask in Jesus’ name is to ask in accordance with His mind and His will.  And Jesus lives solely to bring glory to God.

 

When we pray for things that don’t align with the will of God, He will answers us.  But that answer will be “no”.  We receive exactly what we ask for when what we ask for what glorifies God.  It may sound simple, but is anything but.  Spending as much time as possible in prayer, Bible study and fellowship with other believers brings us ever closer to knowing and understanding the will of God.

 

Verse 14 reiterates this same idea, for those of us who really need something explained on repeat before we get it.  Because God is just that kind.  Thank you for speaking in two’s for me, Lord!

 

Today I’m praying this scripture over my sweet husband:

 

Replace the pronouns with the appropriate ones for the person (or yourself) that you are praying for.  And if you are praying for your kids, say their names before the Father.  I am doing so here in the privacy of my home.

 

Praying for you in this.  And don’t forget to share on social media or with a friend who could benefit.  It would mean so much to me.  And if you don’t want to miss a Praying God’s Word Wednesday, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.

Lauren

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