Lauren Sparks

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First Friday Prayers: Christmas Gift

December 2, 2022 by Lauren 10 Comments

Well, I don’t need to tell you that Christmas time is upon us.  Obviously major retailers starting putting out Yuletide decorations in October, but December takes it to an entirely different level.  Every street we turn onto is adorned with lights and blow ups.  Each and every store is having a sale.  In addition, every school and town square advertises holiday activities while red and green hued  tv commercials try to convince us they all have the perfect Christmas gift.

 

It’s easy to get caught up in it all.  “Parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting,” and the whole nine yards.  Not to mention present wrapping, Hallmark Movies and Christmas carols.  Maybe you feel it’s the most wonderful time of the year – maybe not.  But for many it is definitely the busiest time of the year (except maybe the month of May for parents of school aged kids.  Regardless, that’s a discussion for another time.)

 

For our prayer time together this month, I’d like to ask you a simple question.  Would Christmas still be magic for you without any lights or tinsel or packages under the tree?

 

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

 

God gave us the best Christmas gift of all in Jesus.  Because He is the gift that NEVER stops giving. This is my prayer in this season – and every season:

 

Christmas gift

Praying for you in this.  And if you aren’t sure why I would call my Savior Jesus a gift, I would love to talk with you about Him.  Send me a message to lauren@laurensparks.net.

 

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 post, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.

Lauren

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

 

I don’t know if it’s because I am enamored of Christmas or because I just set up a little nativity featuring an inn keeper, but Saturday Morning Devotional:  A Look at Christmas from the View of the Inn Keeper hit the spot for me.  Give the Christmas story a second look with this article.

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
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!

Click here to enter


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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Happy National Tattoo Stories Day

September 16, 2022 by Lauren 18 Comments

Have you heard of National Tattoo Stories Day?  I had not – probably because I’m not a big tattoo kinda girl.  But I do have one.  And I actually love hearing the story behind a tattoo. 

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I know some people simply like the art of ink and may choose a design purely for aesthetics, but those of you who got inked to commemorate something, remind yourself of something or memorialize someone, you are my people.

 

They say tattoos are addictive, but I got my first one at 42 and have not been tempted to get another (almost 7 years later if you’re counting).  I regret that as a tattoo virgin I did not know to look for a real artist and wound up going to a guy who used stencils.  So mine doesn’t look great.  And one day I would like to find an artist who can touch it up and make it look a little more inspired.

 

My Tattoo Story

 

In spite of the amateur art, I don’t regret getting the tat.  I went with a group of moms who all have a child with the same rare genetic disorder as my daughter.  I share so many things with these friends that no one else can truly understand.  And I will never forget having our purple butterflies (the symbol for Dravet Syndrome) permanently applied to our wrists together.

 

I have another daughter, though, and didn’t want to honor one on my body and not the other.  So I chose a rose (my girl’s middle name and the first flower my husband ever gave me) to symbolize her beautiful fragrance in my life.  And then I decided to have a small cross put between the butterfly and rose.  My children are so precious to me, but Jesus remains the most important and central person in my life.  tattoo stories

 

The cross – the symbol of the horrible death my Savior endured to take away the sin separating me and the Lord Most High.  It is because of Him that I am forgiven, saved and blessed.  It is Jesus I seek to emulate in how I live my life and parent my girls.  So His symbol sits between the symbols for my daughters.  Because this is how we try to live.  Jesus in the middle of it all.

 

Do you have a tattoo with a cool story?  I would LOVE to hear it.  Type your story in the comments below or click on the contact link at the top of the page to send me a private email.

 

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

 

Donna of serenityinsuffering.com wrote beautifully of threshold moments.  Not sure what they are?  Read here.  Thank you, Donna, for linking up with Grace and Truth!

 

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
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!

Click here to enter

 

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.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

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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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