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Living and Learning: A One Word Update

May 20, 2022 by Lauren 8 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!

 

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Praying God’s Word Wednesday #46: Hebrews 3:6

April 27, 2022 by Lauren 10 Comments

My intention for Praying God’s Word Wednesday was to change the background on these thumbprints to commemorate 1 year of praying scripture together.  And to create a benchmark for me to decipher one year’s posts from the next.  April 7th was that one year anniversary and here it is April 27th before I mention it to you – or honestly thought of it myself.  What a month it has been.  Come back on Friday for a recap of that, but now lets pray Hebrews 3:6 together.  Not before I thank you for meeting with me here every week.  This time is so precious to me and I really appreciate all of you that have reached out to let me know you feel the same!

 

“But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house.  And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.”  Hebrews 3:6 NIV

 

The minute we grasp on to Jesus, we become His house.  His Holy Spirit resides in us.  What a privilege!  And what greater reason for confidence in our hope, God’s victory and eternal glory that will be his and ours!  In this world it is so easy to loose sight of such eternal things.  I have had those moments just this week!  And that is one of the reasons I love this time together every Wednesday.  We encourage each other and you all (or y’all here in Texas) remind me that this victory and glory is guaranteed!

 

I reached out to a friend today who’s daughter is heartbroken over circumstances she cannot presently control.  And if you happen to have a child, you know that if said child is heartbroken – so is mama.  So I prayed this scripture and prayer over my friend and her daughter and thought there might be some of you in the blogosphere that could use prayer over a broken heart as well.

 

 

 

Amen.  Thank you for a year’s worth of communal prayer and I hope you’ll stick around for another.  Replace the 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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  • Living and Learning: A One Word Update
  • Praying God’s Word Wednesday #49: 2 Thessalonians 3:3
  • End Stigma in the Church: Be Doers, Not Hearers Only
  • Praying God’s Word Wednesday #48: 1 Corinthians 12:3
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