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One Word – a Little Late…and Grace and Truth Link Up

January 22, 2021 by Lauren 18 Comments

Every year I engage either IRL or online with others about the “word” they chose for the year.  Christian women especially utilize this practice to help them learn/ focus more in an area they feel God’s leading.  And though I definitely see how a focal point can grow faith and understanding, I never felt the urge to participate.  Until now…

 

As I saw blog posts on this topic creeping up around the end of last year, I began questioning whether God had a word for me – for the first time.  I initially only entertained this in passing, but the idea stuck around and grew.  Two words kept digging into my spirit:  Trust and truth.  I started praying about whether this idea came from FOMO or the Lord.  And I prayed specifically about these two words.

 

While most bloggers with a “word” posted weeks ago about theirs, I am either slow, hard of listening, or God just had a different timeline for me.  As I prayed and mulled over the one word, I’m pretty sure  I “heard” the voice of God.  “Truth is something you think some of your loved ones need more of.  Your struggle is trusting me.”  Oh, I don’t want to admit it, but truer words were never spoken.

 

I have never in my life been less at peace for such a long period of time.  And I’ve suffered through cancer, job loss and financial issues.  Faith in God has always come easy for me, but trust in the God of the universe to take care of me and my loved ones evades me.  It sounds ridiculous to say, but feels very real.  If I’m honest, I have trusted more in food, the distraction of TV shows and movies, and shopping to care for and comfort me.

 

I hate to feel this way in regards to a loving and steadfast God.  His track record of faithfulness to me should be enough to sustain me.  But as much as I rehearse the miracles and answered prayers, I struggle to overcome the lies of the enemy.  My sin nature blocks the forest for the trees.  So much so that mini anxiety attacks now plague me.  And I don’t want to passively wait for things to get better.

 

My word for the year, or until God releases me, is TRUST.  I spent some time praying and journaling and researching trust.  With the guidance of the Holy Spirit I chose a handful of verses to meditate on as I pray for God to change my heart.  And in case trust is an issue for you too, I’ll share the scriptures with you.

 

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust Him and He will act.”  Psalm 37:5

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  For they will be like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8

“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

“But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”  Psalm 13:5

“They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”  Psalm 112:7

 

Praying that we all put our complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

I am still being fed by Food for the Spirit by AnneMarie of busyblessedwomen.com.  I think you will be too.

 

 

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).

Grace Truth_Button

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

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

Now Let’s Link Up!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to

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The Holiday Dork

December 11, 2020 by Lauren 22 Comments

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!

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).

Grace Truth_Button

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

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

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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.

 

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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