Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Thanks for the Memories, November!

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Thanks for the memoriesI know it’s cliché to say, “This year has flown by!”  But hasn’t it? Maybe it’s because we are almost 1/2 way through my baby’s senior year.  Or maybe it’s because the older and slower you are, the faster everything else seems to be.  But regardless, November has been on turbo jet wings.  All that to say I’ll try to remember what’s happened so I can give thanks for the memories in this month.

 

I started the month having lunch with my twin sister.  She has a great new job and I wanted to see her office and meet her new people.  Was so much fun.  I am super grateful for her and the time.

 

The next week took Shelby and me to several doctor’s appointments and my local polling place.  None of that really brought me joy, but seeing Allie perform in another play did!  I don’t count Still Life with Iris among my favorite plays, but my girl + a stage = a good time.thanks for the memories

 

I made my family’s famous cornbread dressing (the secret ingredient is…well, then it wouldn’t be a secret) for the high school choir department’s annual Thanksgiving feast.  At the 11th hour I realized I needed more of the secret ingredient and my sweet husband drove to a store an hour away to retrieve it.  Thanksgiving feast was saved!  I mean, many other people brought food, but mine has a secret ingredient, people!

 

The very next day I had Thanksgiving feast with Shelby at her dayhab facility.  It was nice to get to visit with her caregivers and other special needs parents in a relaxed environment.  Bonus:  I discovered in a coffee shop that day that the white noise app I sometimes use to sleep works well in my earbuds to drown out noise so I can write!  If you already do this, don’t tell me.  This is revolutionary to me!

 

Chuck and I had some friends over to watch a Cowboys game.  They won and the company was fun.  I needed that because the next day I took Shelby to her annual sedated teeth cleaning (it’s a whole special needs thing) and I renewed my CPR certification.  I can hardly contain my enthusiasm (insert sarcastic eye roll).

 

During this time, my daughter’s high school had football and volleyball teams in the playoffs.  The volleyball team won the 5A State title!  And the football team made it to the 2nd round.  What a fun time for my senior girl!

 

In between all the fun and responsibility, Chuck and I dove into season 5 of The Crown.  I cannot tell a lie, this one didn’t measure up to previous seasons.  At least that’s our opinion.  Being a huge Friends fan, I talked the hubs into the train wreck that was Matthew Perry’s interview about his book.  I am still stunned at some of the things he shared.

 

We took Shelby to the theater to see Spirited.  Honestly not a very Christmasy Christmas movie.  And definitely not for the kiddies, but I found it silly and amusing.  When you see a Will Farrell movie, that’s all you really hope for.  Plus I never mind looking at Ryan Reynolds.  And that’s a good transition piece as I now move to all Christmas shows all the time!  At least for the next month.

 

I love a theme, so I tried to find a Thanksgiving book to read.  Pretty tough.  I checked out a children’s book Thanksgiving Poems.  There were a couple of good ones.  More enjoyable was digging into Charles Martin novels after hearing so much about him for so long!  I listened to The Water Keeper and The Letter Keeper.  Very different from what I usually choose, but I devoured them.  Can’t wait to complete the trilogy!  And now I shall commence reading Christmas books!  I do love a theme.

 

As this post goes to press I am still enjoying being with my family.  The older I get the more I want to be under the same roof with my family – including the ones who birthed me and know me best.  I pray your Thanksgiving involved some good food, your favorite people and gratefulness for all God has done.  And as always, I love you, I thank you and I hope December is merry!

 

 

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

 

Donna and I were thinking and writing about the same thing last week – where grace and gratitude meet in tough times.  Read Redeeming the Hard Places.  Especially if you are struggling this Thanksgiving week.

The Link Up

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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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).

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MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
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There is Rest in an Offering of Thanksgiving

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Offering of ThanksgivingThis has been a season of intense vulnerability for me – for reasons I won’t go into here.  The details involve other people who did not agree to have their business out on the internet.  But this feeling of vulnerability – like the other shoe could drop at any minute –  is the reason I chose “rest” for my Word of the Year.  I knew I desperately needed to learn to rest in my Savior.  Because, unfortunately, this broken world hands us storm after storm.

 

One of the things God is teaching me this year is that it’s hard to be anxious  and in a state of unrest when I’m giving Him an offering of thanksgiving.  Gratitude and fear don’t coexist.  And yet if you are anything like me, you spend a lot more time feeling anxious or fearful than you do feeling thankful.  I’d like to call this a personality flaw, but I’ll just call a thing a thing.  This tendency to focus on the “what ifs” and the “wish I hads” is nothing but sin.

 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”  Psalm 23:1 NIV.  There is nothing I lack!  If I chose to believe anything else, I deny the truth of God’s Word.  I have what I need to be safe and secure.  Jesus forgives my darkest parts.  And in Him I will always have more than enough.  It’s good to be reminded.  That’s what this time of year does for me.  As I stop and smell the butterball, I take the time to acknowledge and thank Him for the truth that banishes every lie.  Doubt and discouragement take a backseat to His glory when I express my gratitude for who He is and what He’s done.  I might even kick them out of the car!

 

Scripture Offering of Thanksgiving

 

“As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
    you who have done great things.
    Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
    and comfort me once more.

22 I will praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion.”  Psalm 71:14-24 NIV

 

Another Offering of Thanksgiving

 

Perfect rest comes from His perfect grace.  Perfect grace comes from a perfect God.  And today I thank Him for that grace.  And all the marvelous attributes and actions in this Psalm  In so doing, I come to understand that rest is not something that I do, but something to believe.

 

I pray you and yours have a joyous Thanksgiving.

 

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

 

I loved reading Barbara Lee Harper’s take on the “word of the year” trend.  I never felt the desire for one until two years ago as my family was going through an intense crisis.  It almost felt like the word choose me.  And the next year I chose a version of the same theme.  This year, once again, I have a word that just jumped in my lap.  But for me, I know picking a “word for the year” is a season.  One I am currently enjoying and learning so much from, but there are so many other ways to engage with our Father.  See what you think.  Read You Don’t Have to Choose a Word for the Year.

The Link Up

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

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).

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MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
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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.

 

 

 

A Glimpse of God Working at Panera Bread

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I’m sitting in a Panera Bread as I type this.  I came here with my bible study materials and my lap top looking for a quiet place to have a glass of tea and get some things done.  Call me an optimist or a fool, but every time I go to a public place to read or write I picture a quiet little cozy alcove to be with my creative thoughts.  And yet, every restaurant and coffee house has music playing and other people.  Many of whom came with someone else.

 

I am not one who can put words together while hearing other words.  I can handle distant muted conversations or quiet music that doesn’t beg me to sing along.  Much else and my concentration is blown.  So I came in loaded down with my stuff to “work”, an iced tea with Splenda and a naive dream.  I chose a booth (I like them better than chairs) away from the big group having a meeting.

 

As I unloaded my bible, planner and laptop I noticed a couple of ladies at a small table a short distance away.  And I hoped they would talk quietly enough.  I was wrong.  One of them droned on and on; she appeared to be telling her life story!  And she had a lot of life story.  These were older ladies.  Other than the white hair on one, their outfits gave away their age.  They were dressed to the nines – Sunday morning attire on a Tuesday morning in a fast casual joint.  The other tell?  They were eating lunch at 10:30am.

 

Frustration at Panera Bread

 

I won’t sugar coat it.  I got annoyed quickly and scanned the room for a better spot.  But I had a lot of stuff spread out on this table.  Such a hassle.  So I sat and tried not to fume.  As little bits and pieces of their conversation drifted over, I began to think about the privilege it is to be let into another person’s story.

 

When someone chooses to open up to me, I feel honored.  Sharing in this way generates intimacy and trust.  So as this impeccably dressed, white haired lady told stories of her relationship with her father and something that happened to her as a teen I started to see the beauty of the moment.  And then she said to her friend, “isn’t it funny how God works sometimes.”  In that instant this precious exchange turned into a sacred moment.  And God allowed me to witness it at Panera Bread. Oh, and I still got my work done since it inspired me to write.  Isn’t it funny how God works sometimes?

 

A Special Thank You

 

I want to offer my sincere gratitude to those of you who have served in our armed forces.  And thank you to the spouses and children of our service men and women for the many sacrifices you have made as well.  I know that our freedoms don’t come free and one day a year is not enough time to honor you.

 

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

 

Grace and Truth’s own Tammy Kennington gave us a beautiful collection of Thanksgiving quotes and verses.  She helped turn my heart in the right direction and really gave me some ideas to chew on.  Make reading her post a part of your gratitude celebration.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

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