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Living and Learning: A One Word Update

May 20, 2022 by Lauren 28 Comments

living and learningGod is teaching me so much as I continue through Lisa Hite’s 40 Day One Word Lenten Challenge.  Yes, I know Lent is long gone, but I’m slow (in more ways than one).  Day 27’s activity was to list 22 ways you can live your One Word in 2022.  With your indulgence, I’d like to share my list in order to explain how I’ve been living and learning so far this year.  They may not all make sense to you since you aren’t inside my brain (lucky for you), but the list as a whole paints a picture.

 

Living and Learning to Rest in 2022

  1.  be more intentional about sabbathing (can sabbath be a verb?)
  2. have days I don’t produce
  3. pray more – especially when I start to worry
  4. befriend my emotions
  5. use avoidance techniques less
  6. let myself read before it’s bedtime
  7. plan more friend time
  8. call Patsy (my best friend) more
  9. have some moments of doing nothing – and be ok
  10. plan more fun – Top Golf?  another scavenger hunt?  explore trails when walking?
  11. complain less
  12. work a puzzle
  13. stay in the word
  14. read Another Gospel? to increase trust
  15. listen to music and sing more
  16. game nights
  17. watch funny things
  18. be comfy as much as possible
  19. ask for what I need
  20. continue pursuing pain relief
  21. go on house- looking drives
  22. seek out new places/ experiences

 

Here’s where I remind you that my word focus for the year is rest.  It goes hand in hand with last year’s word – trust.  Here’s what I learned about myself as I made this list.  Being unproductive is a big struggle for me.  I already knew this and yet began to see the issue differently in light of what rest means for me.  I wrestle with resting in and trusting God because I think I need to be working all the time.  Or maybe I think I need to be working all the time because I struggle with resting in God.  Whichever way, the two are tightly connected!

 

This sounds like a strange conclusion for me to draw since I only work part time 1-2 days a week.  But that’s the work I do to make money.  I also take care of a house and family, spend time studying God’s Word and writing this blog and I stay involved in my church.  I often hear the clock ticking on all the things I “need” to do.  Which is exactly where I’m getting myself in trouble.

 

More Learning

 

My second lesson from this exercise?   Play = rest to me.  Even though I’m not physically resting, time spent with family and friends laughing, playing games and trying new things rejuvenates me.  And as I’ve ruminated on this, I believe more fun and enjoyment  would decrease stress and actually increase trust in God.  You know – more abundant living.  When my life is not all work and struggle, I feel more peace.

 

Two weeks ago I shared with you a journal entry on play.  This prompt came from a book I read.  It’s totally unrelated to my One Word work.  And yet, God often speaks to me in two’s.  Probably because I don’t listen well the first time.  So I’m not sure I would have make the play to rest connection had I not already journaled about it.

 

More play would force me to stop being so productive.  If I’m not producing all of the time, I’m leaving room for God’s provision and I’m in better position to watch Him move.  And He does promise He’ll move for me.  I’m going to make some changes so I can rest in that.

 

“O Lord, You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless till they rest in You.”  – from Augustine’s Confessions

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Link Up Time

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

 

Last week I shared a post about Mental Health Awareness month and I want to continue to be a part of the conversation by sharing Grace and Truth’s own Maree Dee’s resources on mental health.  Check out her favorites here.

 

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
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

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

TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Praying God’s Word Wednesday #41: Isaiah 52:6

March 23, 2022 by Lauren 24 Comments

Isaiah 52:6" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Verse-41.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Verse-41.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Verse-41.png?w=500&ssl=1 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />In the book of Isaiah, chapter 52, Isaiah prophesies of hope in Christ the Redeemer and the glory of His coming kingdom.  Israel, God’s chosen people, had been enslaved, abused and mistreated.  With their eyes on their circumstances, they questioned God, disappointed Him and oftentimes turned their backs on Him.  But in Isaiah 52:6, a time is foretold when the slaves will be redeemed and clothed as kings.

 

“Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am.'”  Isaiah 52:6 NASB

 

Our God has many names.  He is called Father, The Beginning and the End, The God Most High, The God Who Sees, God Almighty, The Creator, The Self-Existent One, The Lord our Provider, The Lord our Healer, and on and on.

 

Upon reading this verse, the simple words formed a very profound prayer for me. 

When praying for someone to know His name(s), we in essence ask for God to reveal every aspect of His nature to our loved one.

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And for that person to understand Him as such.  Let the enormity of that sink in for a moment.

 

In using the second part of the verse, when we ask for God to speak “Here I am”, we are also actually asking for the object of our intercession to know God well enough to recognize His voice in a sea of others.  And we also ask for God to draw near.  So much spiritual depth in one sentence of scripture.  So let’s pray.

 

Isaiah 52:6" width="500" height="500" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Prayer-41.png?w=500&ssl=1 500w, https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Prayer-41.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Prayer-41.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />

 

Replace the name and pronouns with the appropriate ones for the person (or yourself) that you are praying for.

 

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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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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