salvation

  • Happy National Tattoo Stories Day

    ByLauren Christian, community, Dravet Syndrome, Grace & Truth Link Up, Jesus, mothers, salvation
    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.

  • What Makes Something Valuable?

    ByLauren Christian, Grace & Truth Link Up, Jesus, salvation
    12 Comments

     

    In 2018, British street artist Banksy sold a painting (“Girl With Balloon”) at auction for $1.4 million.  What no one suspected was that the frame had a shredder built into it.  The moment the sale was done, the piece slowly lowered through the blades, cutting the bottom half into tiny strips.  The new owner allowed the altered art work to be displayed after the event made national news – and a household name of the artist.  Have you ever wondered what makes something valuable?

     

    While many were appalled by this turn of events, others considered it performance art.  And 3 years later, the owner put the piece up for sale again (it was renamed “Love is in the Bin”) and it sold to an anonymous collector for $25.4 million.  Because of the buzz generated and Banksy’s growing fame, the “ruined” painting fetched almost 25 times the original value.what makes something valuable

     

    I admittedly know nothing about art.  I remain baffled at times by what some consider art.  Talent is easy for me to see and admire at times.  But to be frank, some very expensive pieces look like kindergarten coloring to me.  What is it that makes one painting valuable and another relatively worthless?  Although there are undoubtedly some very scholarly explanations for this, what it all boils down to is what someone is willing to pay for it.

     

    What Makes Us Valuable?

     

    Do you ever have doubts about your value and worth as a person?  Our Heavenly Father places your value far above a Banksy painting.  He loves you so much that He wants a relationship with you and wants to build you a home in heaven for eternity.  And to accomplish this, He gave up His son to die in your place for you sins.  Jesus died for me too (I’m so grateful), but He would have gone to the cross if you were the only one who needed saving.

     

    Jesus paid for your life with His.  He paid the ultimate price, which makes you ultimately and infinitely valuable.  

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    If you have not experienced the sacrificial love of this Savior, I would be honored to talk to you more about Him.  Click on “Contact” from the menu at the top of this page to send me a private message.  I will email you back, call you or meet up in person if you are in the DFW metroplex.  There is nothing I would rather talk about.

     

    “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

     

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

     

    An Unwanted Answer from instaencouragements.com was just what I needed this week.  I sometimes feel like my life is a series of unwanted answers and this post brought peace with the reminders that God is in control and can work wonders where I cannot see them.

     

    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.