book review Archives - Lauren Sparks

With temps still over 90 degrees here in the beautiful Dallas, Texas area, it’s hard to believe that we are knocking on October’s door. But the calendar says it is so. We filled our September days with school, work, eye exams and dermatology appointments, church, and tending to loved ones with medical conditions. I got to attend open house at the high school for the first time. Walking my daughter’s schedule at this 3 story behemoth left this country girl breathless and overwhelmed. It sure dwarfs the two hallways that made up my 3A school. I guess that’s one way these kids put all that energy to good use. And once I finally found it, I helped decorate the girl’s locker room to commemorate the start of volleyball district play.

Allie’s team competed in a couple of tournaments which gave me a little PTSD from the club volleyball season. Our girls brought home gold from the second, but Allie brought home a concussion. This is our first foray as a family into head injuries of any kind. And even though it is slight, trainers and doctors take these things very seriously. She has to be symptom free for a week before she can be cleared to play, and so far she has experienced headache, nausea, dizziness and light and sound sensitivity. She is currently doing physical therapy specifically for concussions (which I still don’t completely understand what is – for the record). I had no idea this kind of PT existed, but apparently a combination of ocular exercises, balance work, cardio, and hand eye coordination drills can help the brain reorient more quickly.

On the 19th, a new Sparks was born. A little 5lb 13 oz sweet niece for Chuck and I named Dylan. Can’t wait to meet her in person. And I am adding new gray hairs every day because Allie has her first high school boyfriend. Jesus be near. She is also getting involved in Young Life – where Jesus IS near – and had fun at their annual Crud War. A massive outdoor food fight the likes of which her clothes and our car interior may never recover from.

Chuck and I went to the theater on a double date to see the Downton Abbey movie. After months and months of waiting, it did not disappoint. At home we watched the John Crist comedy special I Got Questions and Too Funny to Fail – a documentary about the rise and fall of The Dana Carvey Show. I always loved his characters. I read Giddy Up, Eunice: Because Women Need Each Other. I was ready for a light and funny snack and I love the podcast the author Sophie Hudson does with Melanie Shankle. I’ve also started reading, and discussing with a friend, Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities by Gary Chapman and Jolene Philo.

I finished the month by turning another year older. I am now officially closer to 50 than to 40. A moment to cry about that, please. But I got to celebrate with a girls’ weekend and then with my twin sister and PawPaw surrounded by family. I can’t think of a better place to be, and I’m so grateful. I’d love to hear what you did this month. What you read or what you watched. Drop me a comment below. And don’t forget, I love you, I thank you, and I hope October treats you well.

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And look up these great writers I link up with every week:

InstaEncouragements, Literacy Musing Mondays, Hello…Monday,

Dream Team link up, The Good. The Random. The Fun.

BloggerClubUK, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith,

GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up, Different Dream,

Let’s Have Coffee, Welcome Wednesday, Recharge Wednesday,

Worth Beyond Rubies, #TellHisStory Link Up, Porch Stories,

Encouraging Word Wednesday, Tune In Thursday,

Stories of Hope, Moments of Hope, IHeart Verse Link Party,

A Blogging Good Time, Fresh Market Friday, Feature Friday Time,

Friendship Friday Blog Hop, Faith on Fire, Traffic Jam Weekend,

Faith ‘n Friends, Dancing with Jesus, Grace & Truth, Booknificent

Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase 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 few months ago I heard someone on a podcast refer to their time with God as the “daily office”. I loved this so much that I have adopted it. “Quiet time” and “devotions” can both be valid, but time in prayer, bible study and meditation are truly the work of the Christian life. And my daily office is a top priority for me. I must confess that it usually doesn’t happen in a quiet house in a cozy chair while drinking my coffee from a pretty mug. That is – at this time in my life – a romantic dream. And it doesn’t always happen at one time for me. I try to attack prayer and scripture meditation before I leave the house in the morning and prayer again before I go to bed. Key word being TRY. And there are often short arrow prayers shot up throughout the day. And my time reading scripture? It sometimes happens on the treadmill or waiting in the pick up line at school. I have two part time jobs, 2 busy kids and a house to maintain. So I choose to make it a fluid part of my day. It’s what works for me.

It can be challenging to stay connected and engaged when the most important part of my day is often sliced up into bite sized chunks. But I have a feeling some of you might relate to a harried schedule. So I’m sharing my favorite Bible study tools.

My Christian Planner. I use the calendar pages to write out scriptures I want to memorize, to jot down prayers and to praise God for the thing I am most thankful for that day. It also gives me pages for sermon and bible study notes and anything else I need to write down that’s important. You can find one like it here.
The Echo app for my phone. This prayer tool allows me to record requests, descriptions, add an image and add a reminder of when to pray (such as a surgery or doctor’s appointment date). It also gives me the ability to mark a prayer answered or simply delete and has a prayer timer to help with this discipline.
The Devotable App. I have had the privilege to write daily devotionals for this handy instrument. For days when time is running really short or I’m on the go, a short scripture, perspective and prayer keep me in line.
The Blue Letter Bible App. The capabilities of this tech make me a much better student. I can search for scriptures by simple terms or exact phrases. It also contains a concordance, explanation of original word language, translation comparison, text commentaries and cross references.
NIV Quest Study Bible: The Only Q and A Study Bible. This new tool may become my favorite. I was gifted a copy by the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid and am amazed by all it offers. 1000 people where asked, “What questions do you have about this portion of the Bible?” Focus groups decided what questions should be included alongside the biblical text. As an example, the margins beside Proverbs chapter 22 contain the answers to these questions: “Why does God make some rich and others poor?” “What is the explanation for God-fearing people who are poor or unhealthy?” “Will good training guarantee that children will not rebel?” And it designates for us the top 100 most asked questions. This Bible’s study helps include beautiful color maps, a dictionary concordance, subject index and prayers, promises and perspectives from the Bible. Order one here to pump up your study time.

What are your favorite tools for time with the Lord? Comment below. One of yours might become my NEXT favorite!

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