Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

  • Home
  • About
  • Favorites
  • Policies
  • Contact

Higher Education

August 13, 2021 by Lauren 22 Comments

My kids start back to school next week.  I can’t believe it’s that time of year again.  We bought shoes and backpacks and supplies this week.  I think we only need a pair of jeans or two and our list is complete.  Allie already started PSAT camp – not really CAMP in the fun sense of the word.  More like several hours a day of intensive preparation and practice for the standardized test.

 

If you have kids, you probably already sent yours off or are preparing as well.  It all puts me in a studious state of mind.  But what is there for those of us post matriculation?

 

I think God desires that we be in a perpetual state of learning.  Proverbs 19:8 says “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.”  (NASB)

Click To Tweet
In Human Options, Norman Cousins gives this opinion:  “Education – the good education, that is – can help us to move out beyond the narrow and calcifying confines of the ego so that we can identify ourselves sympathetically – no, that word is not strong enough – identify ourselves compassionately with the mainstream humanity.”  What a noble pursuit!

 

What’s nobler still?  A biblical education.  Becoming a serious student of God’s Word not only increases knowledge of our Heavenly Father, but draws us into deeper relationship as we obey and apply.  Learning more about God shows our love for Him and brings Him glory and honor.  And the more we study, the better our understanding.  And the more understanding we have, the more we can become like Him.  His Word becomes a part of us as He lives in us.

 

Need resources?  Grab a copy of one (or all) of the devotional books pictured on right side of this page.  Or look back at this post from a few weeks ago, or this list of favorite study tools, this Bible review, or this article on Verse Mapping.  And that’s just a few of the many, many ways to explore the scriptures!

 

Form a study group if that word help you.  But one way or another, just hit that Book!  And while you’re at it, ask Him to shape, mold and better you in ways that please Him.  Happy back to “school”!

 

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

 

Jennifer Ross of  Tea with Jennifer captured what many of us must be feeling as the Delta variant ramps up.  She tackles the topic of resentment with grace and truth even as the consequences for her and her family feel daunting.  Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your heart with us in Letting Go of Resentment.

 

Grace and Truth_Rules

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 Truth_Button

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

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.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Praying God’s Word Wednesday #19

August 11, 2021 by Lauren 16 Comments

Today’s passage for Praying God’s Word Wednesday will be a familiar one to many.

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10 ESV

Click To Tweet

 

My prayer:

 

 

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 this 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

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
Read More

Subscribe for Updates

Enter your information below to receive the latest updates from the blog!

Recent Posts

  • Quiet in This Christmas Season
  • Remember Me?
  • An Election Year and Titus
  • Christmas is Over. Now What Do We Do With Jesus?
  • Thankful Thursday

Find Devotionals By Me in These Books and Click on Image for Order Information!

A 25-Week Bible Study with Topics from Abide to Zeal
A 26 week journey to a better prayer life.
30 devotionals for faith that moves mountains

For Sharing

Lauren Sparks

Like Podcasts? I’m on This One

…and This One! click to listen.

Click below to get a free trial of my favorite technology monitoring platform

Need More Than Just Monitoring? Find Filters and Accountability Here

Search This Site

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2026 Lauren Sparks | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM