Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

10 Spiritually Impactful Books

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impactful booksDid you know that Valentine’s Day is also Library Lover’s Day?  I didn’t or I might have celebrated with a trip to my local branch.  There are so many digital options that are cheap, easy and convenient for reading these days.  But I still love a library (and a librarian – Hi, Mom!).  I don’t know if it is the sheer volume of potentially impactful books or the memories I have with libraries, but they hold a certain romance for me.

 

Someone asked me a very intriguing book related question recently that I now want to ask you.  “Besides the Bible, what other books have made the most impact on your spiritual life?”

 

I confess that I went threw a stage a few years back when I had so many “spiritual” books I wanted to read that I relied on them almost exclusively for scripture.  The Holy Spirit convicted me of the danger of only ever reading an author-selected verse without context and the writer’s commentary on said verse.

 

But God has truly gifted some people to teach the Bible, and many do it well in book form.  So I didn’t throw out all books on biblical matters.  There is too much wisdom to be gleaned there.  But I make sure to take a more balanced approach to how much time I spend reading ABOUT God’s Word and reading God’s actual word.

 

There is a lot of hooey out there.  And no less hooey labeled as “Christian”.  We must be discerning in what we choose to influence us.  So I thought we could help each other.  I want to share my list of spiritually impactful books.  And I hope you will help me by commenting with at least one book you would recommend to me.

 

So here is my list:

 

Spiritually Impactful Books

 

  1.  Your Future Self Will Thank You:  Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science by Drew Dyck
  2. The Louder Song:  Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament by Aubrey Sampson
  3. Is the Bible Good for Women?:  Seeking Clarity and Confidence Through a Jesus-Centered Understanding of Scripture by Wendy Alsup
  4. Braving Sorrow Together:  The Transformative Power of Faith and Community When Life is Hard by Ashleigh Slater
  5. Women of the Word:  How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin
  6. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert:  And English Professor’s Journey Into Christian Faith by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
  7. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
  8. One Thousand Gifts:  A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
  9. I Beg to Differ:  Navigating Difficult Conversations with Truth and Love by Tim Muehlhoff
  10. It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way:  Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerKeurst

 

Happy reading!  And don’t forget to share your recommendations with us!

 

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

 

Nylse from lifenotesencouragement.com shared her thoughts on Black History Month and educated me on Black Love Day.  Learn more by reading Black is Love.

 

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
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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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Praying God’s Word Wednesday #35

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I promise I will write about things other than my husband’s cancer again, but it is top of mind these days.  It’s what I’m praying about the most, so I may as well be forthcoming with that this week as we pray God’s Word.

 

My mom and mother-in-law both sent us a copy of Max Lucado’s God Will Use This for Good:  Surviving the Mess of Life.  You might say, “Great minds think alike”, but I know that God often speaks to me in “twos”.  The most logical explanation for this is that I don’t listen well the first time, so He has to repeat it to drive home His point.  My twin sister recently said she thought it was because I am a twin that I learn best in “twos”.  Either way, God is so kind to make sure He gets my attention.

 

Since this book came in “twos” I made it a top priority to read.  My husband read it as well and has now decided to find someone in his chemo sessions to pass them on to.  In this booklet is this verse:

 

I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.  Jeremiah 33:6

 

Through Jeremiah, the Lord gave beautiful promises of restoration for Israel and Judah.  But because my husband accepted God’s gift of grace through the saving work of Jesus, he can claim this promise too.  So I’m claiming it for him, and I hope you will indulge me as I pray for Chuck today.

 

 

Is there someone is your life (or yourself) who needs healing physically, spiritually, mentally or emotionally?  There are so many layers of application here.  Try praying this scripture over them.  

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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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