Uncategorized

  • One Day Closer

    ByLauren Uncategorized
    0 Comments
    Posted by Lauren Sparks on August 1, 2015 at 11:55 AM Delete 
    So, if you are reading this, you probably know from social media that I am rather out of commission at the moment.  If you are tired of hearing me complain (and rightly so), please tune out for a minute while I catch others up.  I had ACL reconstruction and 2 meniscus repairs and have been ordered to stay off of it for 4 weeks.  We are inching toward the 3 week mark and cabin fever is rampant.  I can’t drive or walk witihout crutches, so I am mostly relegated to the couch.  I have some amazing friends and family that have taken me to physical therapy, church and other short outings.  Without them, I think I would loose my mind.  My sweet husband has been so patient and thoughtful through this.  Ladies, if you want to know how much your role in the family is valued, incapacitate yourself.  You will quickly hear how much you are needed when your significant other is forced to pick up your slack.  My husband is a man of order and he likes our home to run smoothly.  It is exhausting for him to work all day and come home and have to tend to meals and laundry and me.  He is doing a great job.  But those moments when he gets tired of doing EVERYTHING, I gently remind him – “We are one day closer”.  And in those moments when I get sick to DEATH of doing NOTHING, he gently whispers back to me – “It’s not forever.  We are one day closer.”

    In many ways, my current situation is a metaphor for the relationship between life on earth and eternity in heaven.  Compared to the riches that are heaven, this earth is a pit.  I don’t think we will fully understand how much this is true until we leave this world.  We work very hard to make ourselves comfortable here.  Air conditioning, electronics, cars and fast food are all meant to make our stay easy.  And yet, with all our modern technology, that’s still not the case.  Psalm 115:16 says, “The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.”  And we have mucked it up.  Although I believe God allows us to see glimpses of his kingdom here,  it is largely filled with greed, lust, murder and malicious intent.  The prophet Isaiah even warned us in chapter 2 verse 22 to, “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostils.  Why hold them in esteem?”  Everyone and every thing in this world will eventually disappoint you and let you down.  The proof is in the evening news.  Simply turn on the TV or log on your computer and see the darkness of humanity.  The headlines scream of hatred, racism, murder and every conceivable kind of immorality.  I say this, not to bring down the room, but to make sure you know that what you see is not necessarily what you get.  For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, “having been justified by his grace, we become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”  (Titus 3:7)  There is a heaven that Jesus referred to as Paradise.  Look up what the Bible says about heaven for yourself.  Here is a teaser – there will be no mourning, or sickness or death.  We will leave all those things behind.  Can you even imagine?  So my advice to you (and I’m preaching to myself too), would be to enjoy the moments here when you get to be with family and friends.  Find contentment in following after Christ and fulfilling your calling.  But in those moments when the brokenness around us seems to be too much, just remember that “We are one day closer.”

    “Praise be to the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ!  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 poweir unti lthe 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.  These have come so that the proven genuiness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, an honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  1 Peter 1:3-7


  • Of Crutches and Walkers

    ByLauren Uncategorized
    0 Comments

     Posted by Lauren Sparks on July 28, 2015 at 4:00 PM Delete 

    Things are getting pretty sexy around here.  Like my new wheels?  Since surgery to reconstruct my ACL and repair two meniscus tears, this is the way I have to motor-scoot.  No weight bearing for 4 weeks.  Ouch.  I use the walker around the house because it is more stable than crutches and has this handy lime green bag attached that allows me to carry small items from one sedentary spot to the next.  On my rare excursions outside of the house, I will use crutches.  Because…well…isn’t it obvious?

    Unless you are a long-time subscriber to AARP magazine, you probably can’t relate with having to use a walker to navigate.  But I would be willing to wager that many of you have had the misfortune of a short-term relationship with crutches.  Cue the sympathy violins, please.  Crutches are a hassle.  They are slow, unsteady and chaffe your armpits!  Let me add – uncomfortable and awkward.

    Do you know what else has been uncomfortable and awkward?  Calling on friends, family and church members to pick up my slack.  When you cannot stand on one of your only two legs, you can’t cook, tidy the house, work (in my case), drive, or even safely bathe (BIG shout out to those who have helped with that.  I will be discrete to protect your identity). I’ve had to swallow a big, ugly ball of pride to ask for so much help.   So I wish for you an extra jewel in your crown if you have brought a meal for my family, toted me to therapy, helped keep my house clean and organized, or taken care of (including entertaining) my kids.  I think I will refer to this posse as another crutch.  I certainly have been leaning on them and without them, I would fall flat.  Scripture says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”  Eccl 4:9-10

    To continue my “limping” analogies (see what I did there?),I have often heard unbelievers “ridicule” Christians by referring to God as a crutch.  Former governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura once said, “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.”  Other celebrities like Larry Flynt, Ted Turner and even Sigmund Freud have agreed.  Instead of arguing against the notion that God is a crutch, I would instead agree that He is – but that it’s a good thing.  A GREAT thing.  We give crutches a bad rap.  I get so frustrated with them because I want to do things on my own, but I am not whole enough.  Without the help, I would fall flat on my face.  I would be rendered practically useless.  Because I have a knee injury, I wouldn’t even be able to crawl.  I would be relegated to pulling myself around on my belly.  Completely unable to elevate myself above the ground.  Lower than low.  I would argue that the same is true for those who try to navigate this world without a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Don’t hear me say that it’s not possible to acheive success (by the world’s definition) on your own.  There are many who have money, fame, good jobs, nice cars, big houses, attractive spouses and smart kids who aren’t disciples of Christ.  But all those things are fleeting.  They won’t last forever.  They won’t give your life meaning and purpose.  They won’t truly satisfy.  They can bring temporary happiness, but not lasting joy.  In the end, only Jesus’ death on the cross brings eternal significance.  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.”  Acts 16:31

    So is God a crutch?  Do only the weak need Jesus?  Yes.  Because we are all weak.  But in Him we are made strong.  “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9