Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

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

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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

One Word Update: Common Phrases with the Word Rest

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one wordI have been working through Lisa Hite’s 40 Day One Word Lenten Challenge – although I’m behind.  I didn’t find it and start in time for Lent.  But my guess is God will honor it and teach me through it regardless of which 40 days I observe.  Anyway, I am learning so much.

 

In case you aren’t familiar, my “one word” is the word I feel led by God to focus on for this year.  I chose “rest” which ties in to “trust” that was my first ever word focus last year.

 

Day 4 of the challenge asked us to make a list common phrases that include our one word.

  1.  eternal rest
  2. rest in peace
  3. rest on your laurels
  4. the rest of the story
  5. rest assured
  6. at rest
  7. God rest his soul
  8. I rest my case
  9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman (more of a title than a phrase)
  10. lay to rest
  11. no rest for the weary
  12. the rest is history
  13. R&R (rest and relaxation)
  14. RICE (an acronym for treatment of an injury – rest, ice, compression, elevation)
  15. the rest of my life

 

Some of these phrases don’t really apply since they mean “the remainder”.   A few relate to my focus for 2022 with the general idea of cessation of work, movement or striving; such as “R&R”, “RICE”, “rest assured” and even “I rest my case”.  But what stuck out to me like a neon sign?  A full 1/3 of the phrases I came up with refer to death!

 

I think many people subscribe to the “you can rest when you die” mentality.  Go big, go hard, chase the dream/ money/ adventure, etc.  Nothing wrong with hard word or even hard play.  But without rest built into our schedule, we will eventually burn out or find eternal rest entirely too early.

 

In the very first chapter of the Bible, God modeled a day of rest.

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Not because the Almighty God couldn’t keep going, but because He knew we needed the example so we would rest.  Our bodies need rest, but our mind and emotions need it too.

 

Why “Rest” Is My One Word

 

I feel called to shoot straight here.  And I can without judgement because I’m talking to myself as well.  If there is an area of your life in which you feel you cannot rest, I guarantee that you lack trust in God over that same area.  God knew we needed rest for our own physical and emotional well being, but for our spiritual health as well.

 

True rest means we are trusting God.  We don’t have to work (or worry, etc) 24/7 because God’s working on our behalf.  I realize it’s easier said than done.  Which is why I’m learning about and meditating on rest this year.  Believing I’m ultimately responsible for it all is exhausting.  Trusting that He holds it all in His control frees me to…rest.

 

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

 

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

 

Here I am again unable to pick just one feature!  Good problem to have.  I want to highlight Barbara Lee Harper’s book review because it’s a book I really need to read.  And I want to feature Grace and Truth’s own Lisa Burgess because she really made me think with Just One Roll of Toilet Paper, OK?  Happy reading!

 

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

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