• Strengths, Weaknesses, Warts and All

    ByLauren Christian, Grace & Truth Link Up, mental health, serving
    8 Comments

    warts and allRecently, a minister of our church made an announcement from the pulpit.  The women’s care team needed volunteers who were willing to walk one on one with a church member experiencing a hard thing.  “Maybe you have gone through something that would make you a good support for someone in a similar circumstance,” the appeal continued.  That was all it took for my wheels to turn regarding the hand I’ve been dealt.  Some say I’ve seen more than my fair share of heartache.  But what’s fair when it comes to heartache? (That sounds like good lyrics for a country song.)   Regardless, I knew that I wanted to help – strengths, weaknesses, warts and all.

     

    After lunch, I fired off an email to the women’s care ministry lead.

     

    Hi,

    I wanted to reach out and offer to help other women in some areas I’ve lived/ are living.

     

    I have a step-child (blended family dynamics).  My oldest biological child has severe medical and developmental needs.  I survived breast cancer and supported a spouse through his own cancer journey.  My family tree branches into mental illness and [several horrific things related to this that are not my story to tell].  My husband has dealt with multiple layoffs and job insecurity, and I’ve battled a subclinical eating disorder.  I’ve had chronic pain for years, experienced depression and I’m parenting a teen girl.  Some people need counseling for that last one alone.  

     

    What the Letter Revealed

     

    After I typed all this out (with more detail than I am at liberty to share publicly) I stopped and took a long look at this list.  Whew.  I later told the ministry leader that I didn’t know if she would think I could be a help or just needed help myself.  The answer to both is “yes”.  Spoiler alert.  She welcomed me into this amazing group of volunteers.

     

    Here’s what she knew, and I do too:  We all have done bad things, experienced bad things and had bad things done to us.  But

    God uses all those things to help others if we let Him.

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      Read this New Testament promise closely:

     

     “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

     

    Just as God told Paul, He tells us:  There is no temptation we face, nothing we have done, nothing we have endured, no weakness we have that excludes us from God’s service.  Those things showcase His power and glory all the more.  For this I’m so grateful.

     

    Thank you, Lord, for using me.  Warts and all!

     

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

     

    I have been doing battle with some “shoulds” in my life and found  good word over at carryonmyheart.com.  Take a look at Breaking Free from Anxiety by Walking Away from Shoulds.

     

    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

    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.

     

  • First Friday Prayers: Matthew 7:24

    ByLauren Bible reading, Christian, Grace & Truth Link Up, Jesus, obedience, prayer, wisdom
    4 Comments

    first fridayHello and welcome to the relaunch of our series on praying scripture.  Praying God’s Word Wednesdays will now be First Friday Prayers.  You can find First Friday Prayers right here on the first Friday of every month.  I so appreciate the enthusiasm you have shown for these segments and your desire for them to continue.  Our weekly prayer times will now be once a month, but my sincere hope is that you have already developed a habit of praying scripture that we will continue together and that you will carry out throughout the week in your time with the Lord.

     

    Now, before you start thinking that I am all business, I want to fill you in on an important holiday today.  It’s National Underwear Day!  Celebrate however you like, but the day puts me in mind of how vital it is to have the proper foundation.

     

    “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

    Matthew 7:24 NIV

     

    Jesus finishes a sermon here with a parable.  He tells the story of two men.  One who built a house on rock and one who chose a site of sand.  If you know this tale you know that rains and wind came upon the houses.  Which one do you think withstood the storm?

     

    Our Savior tells us that the rock we should build our lives on is scripture.  And it’s not enough to believe the words of God, we must obey them.  Live them.  This is the way to build a life that withstands the the storms of life.  So I pray these words for someone near and dear to me:

    first friday

     

    Modify this First Friday prayer to be appropriate 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 post, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.

    Lauren

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

     

    Deborah Rutherford and I seem to be living parallel lives.  At the very least, God is teaching us some similar things.  Maybe you could use the message in Here’s My Calendar, God.

     

    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

    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.