Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Help for Reading Resolutioners

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Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash

While many are setting New Year’s goals and making promises they may or may not keep, may I selfishly encourage you to consider a reading resolution this year.  It’s selfish only because I am a writer who needs readers.  But reading benefits us on so many levels.

 

Reading improves memory, enhances vocabulary, increases creativity, relieves stress and lowers blood pressure, and makes you more empathetic.  Books provide entertainment, education and keep the brain young.  In my un-asked-for opinion, getting lost in a biography or novel is also a much easier path to self-improvement than going keto.

 

I read about half as many books in 2019 as I did in 2018.  I don’t think I actually spent that much less time physically reading, but I did discover a wheelbarrow load of new podcasts that kept me from listening to as many audio books.  If you are looking for some reading inspiration for 2020, I gladly share what I consumed last year and even divided them into categories – with the tiniest of commentary.

 

Fiction

  1.  When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury .  I used to read all of her books.  I don’t follow Kingsbury that closely anymore, but I’m so invested in the make-believe Baxter Family after all these years that I have to keep up with anything about them.
  2. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery.  I’m a fan of hers from way back and discovered an old but new-to-me title.
  3. Gennie the Huguenot Woman by Bette M Ross (It’s a long and weird story why I chose to read this, but it is actually pretty good.)

And that, sadly, completes my fiction list.  When I looked back at my year in books this appalled me.  I resolve right now to indulge in more stories in the months to come.

 

Devotional or Bible Study

  1.  Perseverance:  30 Devotions for Faith that Moves Mountains.  I had to list this one.  It’s the first book I’ve ever been published in.  And I’m proud to be included.
  2. Seeing God’s Hand Through the Art of Sign Language by Connie Rowland
  3. Discerning the Voice of God:  How to Recognize When God Speaks by Priscilla Shirer
  4. Awaken:  90 Days with the God Who Speaks by Priscilla Shirer (I love her)

 

Books on Writing

  1.  The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.  Yep.  That’s it.  I am a student of my craft.

 

Non-Fiction

  1.  Is the Bible Good for Women?:  Seeking Clarity and Confidence Through a Jesus-Centered Understanding of Scripture by Wendy Alsup
  2. Mended:  Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters by Blythe Daniel and Helen McIntosh
  3. Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors:  How Less-Than-Perfect Parents Can Raise (Kind of) Great Kids by Jami Amerine
  4. Stolen Jesus:  An Unconventional Search for the Real Savior by Jami Amerine (I really dig her raw and honest voice)
  5. When Harry Became Sally:  Responding to the Transgender Moment by Ryan T. Anderson (It’s time for the church to talk about it.)
  6. The Power of Christian Contentment by Andrew M. Davis (a definite struggle for me).
  7. Big Magic:  Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (For me, this did not live up to the hype.)
  8. It’s a Love Story:  From Happily to Ever After  by Lincee Ray
  9. The Sacred Echo by Margaret Feinberg
  10. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality:  It’s Impossible to be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature by Peter Scazzero
  11. Prototype:  What Happens When You Discover You’re More Like Jesus Than You Think?  by Jonathan Martin
  12. The Wondering Years:  How Pop Culture Helped Me Answer Life’s Biggest Questions by Knox McCoy (a gift from my BFF)
  13. Sex, Jesus, and The Conversations the Church Forgot by Mo Isom
  14. Giddy Up, Eunice (Because Women Need Each Other) by Sophie Hudson (I love her podcast with Melanie Shankle.)
  15. Anatomy of a Song:  The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits that Changed Rock, R&B and Pop by Marc Myers (Just listen to the songs.)
  16. For Young Women Only:  What You Need to Know About How Guys Think by Shaunti Feldhahn (I read this to discuss with my daughter because For Women Only:  What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men was extremely eye opening to me as a newlywed.  The original was much better and I would advise any moms out there to just go with the more “adult” book for convos with your daughter about boys and dating.)

Books That Should Be Required Reading

  1.  Night by Elie Wiesel (hard, but important)
  2. The Louder Song:  Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament by Aubrey Sampson (taught me so much about being real)
  3. Winning the Heart of Your Child by Mike Berry (even though my kids are older, this book motivated me to change my parenting)
  4. Your Future Self Will Thank You:  Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science (A Guide for Sinners, Quitters and Procrastinators) by Drew Dyck  (Just look at the title!  Do you not fall into one of those categories!?!)
  5. A Practical Guide to Culture:  Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle
  6. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands:  People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Resources for Changing Lives) by Paul David Tripp (All church members should read and apply.  It’s really about being a good friend.)

Books That Will Make You LOL

  1.  I Ain’t Doin’ It:  Unfiltered Thoughts From a Sarcastic Southern Sweetheart by Heather Land (If you like yourself at all, get it on audio and prepare to need to change your underpants.)
  2. by Melanie Shankle (one of my all-time fave authors and speakers)

Christmas Books (Saved for Last Because You Won’t Need Them for a While)

  1.  Because of Bethlehem:  Love is Born, Hope is Here by Max Lucado
  2. Christmas Joy:  A Novel by Nancy Naigle (the delightful book equivalent of a Hallmark Christmas movie)
  3. Christmas in Georgia by Celestine Sibley
  4. Touching Wonder:  Recapturing the Awe of Christmas by John Blase (LOVE!)

I hope you found something here to intrigue or inspire.  If you did, do me a solid and order from my link so I get a small commission.  It helps me keep the lights on this site.  I would also love to hear about your favorite recent reads in the comments.  I need some inspo too!  Happy reading!

 

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

InstaEncouragements, Literacy Musing Mondays, Hello…Monday,

The Good. The Random. The Fun.

BloggerClubUK, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith,

GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up, Hearth and Soul Link Party,

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,

Legacy Link Up, 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

In Middle School, Middle Earth and Middle Age

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Photo by William Cavanah on Flickr

“We are always one flesh wound away from our middle school insecurities.”  -Kay Wyma

 

Mini-school night.  This is the middle school version of Open House – at least for our school district.  A week or two after school starts, parents are invited to walk their child’s schedule, complete with class beginning and ending bells.  Between bells, we parents spend roughly 8 minutes meeting each of our darling’s new teachers for the school year.  This is a ginormous beating.  You can’t find a place to park, you can’t find your spawn’s classes and you’ll be lucky if you can find your sanity by the end of the evening.  And yet I go every year.  At this stage in my daughter’s education, it may be the only time I lay eyes on some of her teachers.

 

As I moved from class to class at this year’s mini-school, I anxiously looked for a familiar face before choosing a seat.  That’s all it took to mentally transport me back to the awkwardness of my own teenage years.  The insecurity of growing curves and actually needing a bra before any of my friends.  The other girls still looked like sticks, so in my eyes, curves = fat.  At almost my full-grown height, I felt like a lumberjack with permed hair and the genesis of an acne problem.  The weird new feelings for boys increased my self-conscious insecurity.  Growing up and apart from my childhood friends added loneliness to the parcel of new and excruciating feelings.  Mix in my propensity to wear the ketchup or gravy served with most cafeteria lunches and it’s a wonder I escaped Jr. High with any semblance of dignity.

 

A couple of weeks after mini-school, I signed up for a new Bible study with a friend at a neighboring church.  My friend had an appointment the very first day and let me know she would be late.  Walking into the huge room filled with 200 women – not knowing if I would recognize a soul – gave me that middle-school feeling once again.  As a middle-aged, happily-married mother of 2, I kinda expected to be well passed the “will I fit in?” and “who will be my friend?” apprehensions.  But I still get blemishes, (How unfair is it to have pimples and wrinkles at the same time?)  so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.  Self-doubt still comes out to play at the most inopportune times.

 

To be truthful, I am nothing special in and of myself.  But my Savior is something very special.  So when I’m uneasy or feeling fragile, I like to remind myself of what He says about me.

 

  1.  When I feel like a dork, God says I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  (Psalm 139:14)
  2. When I’m needy, He reminds me that He supplies all my needs. (Philippians 4:19)
  3. When I’m struggling to belong, it helps to remember I’m a citizen of heaven.  (Philippians 3:20)
  4. When the last thing I feel is confident, Ephesians 3:12 says I have confident access to the God of the universe.
  5. As I dab concealer on a breakout, I’m reminded that in Christ I am holy and unblemished. (Ephesians 1:4)
  6. Even if I’m left out by friends, God chose me as His special possession.  (1 Peter 2:9)
  7. When the fat pants make an appearance and my hair won’t cooperate, God says He created me in His image (Genesis 1:27)
  8. When everyone else’s talents seem bigger and more significant than mine, I can read in God’s word that I am His handiwork, created in Christ to do GOOD work. (Ephesians 2:10)
  9. And lastly, the Bible counters those times I just feel all wrong (don’t tell me I’m the only one).  I am not only right, I am the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Do you remember the pimply, permed girl from middle school?

If God can transform me and use me, He can do the same for anyone.

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 Do you know His son Jesus, who makes these 9 things true of me?  If you aren’t sure, I would love to tell you about him.  Jump over to the comments page of my blog and you can send a completely private message to me there.  I would be so pleased to have coffee, lunch or a phone call with you.  And in the mean time, keep rocking’.  Sorry.  That flashback brought to you by adolescent PTSD.

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