Several bloggers I follow regularly do posts on their favorite things. I just love these posts! In the midst of their thoughtful, challenging, engaging regular posts, I enjoy seeing a more practical side of them as individuals.
So I thought I’d follow the crowd and offer my version of my “favorite things.” I can’t promise I’ll do this every Friday, but I hope to do it regularly and offer you some ideas and resources I’ve found valuable in my life.
So here are this week’s Friday Favorites:
Follow Me by David Platt
I’ve heard a lot of buzz around pastor David Platt, who heads the International Mission Board for our denomination. I had never read his books, but when Money Saving Mom posted that his book Follow Me was free as an audio download, I couldn’t pass up free!
This was my first audiobook to listen to, and I really enjoyed it! It was a 7 1/2 hour “read” and apparently I’m in the car a lot because I was able to listen to it in 6 days. I think with this type of book, listening to it kept my attention.
I can’t say the same for my kids, though. When they were in the car with me, Alyssa kept asking for Toby Mac instead. 🙂
For those of you who don’t normally pick up this genre of books, try the audio version. You’ll be glad you did. I will say that just because I recommend a book, that doesn’t mean I feel the same way as the author in everything he says. I agree with most things in this book and believe in the overall message enough to share it with you. Listen to it to the end. Some of its best parts for me were past the first few chapters.
Basically the book details what Jesus called His followers to when He said, “Follow me.” This book is challenging. It made me examine my heart and what I’m doing (and not doing).
This audio version of Follow Me is available for free download the entire month of October.
Feedly
I read a lot of blogs. Many of them I see through my Facebook feed, but many times I don’t have time to stop and read them. Or, with the way Facebook’s algorithms work, I can’t always guarantee when I see a new post.
With feedly, an app you put on your phone or tablet, you just add the blog or site you like and it automatically updates with the latest posts. I enjoy just sitting down and doing blog reading. I’m not distracted and I’m able to really sink in to the topic.
I also divide the blogs I follow into categories: Friends (I have several friends who blog), Christian, Motherhood, Homesteading, and Coupons. You can create whatever categories you want.
Have I sold you yet? Then you’ll need some blogs to get started. Of course, your first one would be Journey with Jill. 🙂 Some of my other favorites:
Jennifer Dukes Lee (her words are like honey to the soul. So encouraging, refreshing)
We Are THAT Family (love her view on the world, her honesty and her work with young moms in need)
Emily P. Freeman (I really enjoyed her book Grace for the Good Girl and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her on an everyday level through her blog)
Garden Betty (practical gardening advice, always helpful)
Melissa K Norris (Melissa’s blend of homesteading and faith are a perfect match. Her blog and podcasts are useful and encouraging at the same time.)
I have so many more, including my friends’ pages, but I’m trying to crank this blog post out before Alyssa gets bored playing in her room. But those are a few to get you started.
Scorpion
I got into CBS’s new show, Scorpion, last year, and it has moved up to a very close second behind NCIS on my favorite show list. If you haven’t seen it, it’s about a team of geniuses who save the world every week.
I particularly like Toby, the medical doctor psychologist. I also noticed last year several Bible references, and compared to most other shows, they were shown in a favorable light. That was just a positive for me.
(And I did an Internet search to see if the creators or writers are from a faith background. I’m weird like that. And no I didn’t find out anything.)
For the superhero fan/intellectual in me, this show hits the mark.
Seeds Family Worship
I mentioned in my Back to School post that I was having the kids memorize Scripture verses based on the songs on the Seeds Family Worship albums. Every morning instead of TV I play this album. Now, almost two months into it, the kids pretty much know all the lyrics, thus making their weekly memory verses pretty easy.
I am doing the Seeds of Faith album first because I want to give them a foundation of the basic concepts of salvation. All of these songs are free for Amazon Prime members to stream (I use the Amazon Prime Music app) but this week the Courage album is also a free download this week.
Avocados
I thought it was just a phase. But I think I’m keeping the avocado growers in business. I put avocados on sandwiches instead of mayo. And I make this killer fresh guacamole from Alton Brown. I probably make it twice every week. The guacamole goes not only on Mexican dishes, but I put it on sandwiches and burgers, and I use it as a side to my delicacy of melted Mexican style cheese on tortilla chips.
These are a few of my favorite things this week. What are some of yours?
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