Books And Thoughts On Books | By Quiet Waters

Newest Favorite Children’s Books

April 2, 2017 By Michelle

Over the many years of parenting, I have found many favorite children’s books. Now as a grandmother, I have the privilege of helping my daughter in raising another young reader. And in exchange, I am being introduced to many new books and authors! This month I want to share with you two of my newest favorite children’s books.

When God Made You is written by Matthew Paul Turner (husband of Jessica N Turner), and is illustrated by David Catrow. When God Made You is more than gorgeous. I truly can’t get over the colorful illustrations. As amazing as the words in this book are, it is the illustrations that capture my grand daughter’s attention every time we read the book together.

The illustrations are full of abundant, brilliant, wild color, with a little girl character who so closely resembles a little one I love so much. The words of this book are a prayer, or a blessing, to speak over our precious little ones. Words to settle in the deeper places of young hearts, to settle on the soil, take root and grow stems and branches of fruit as the child grows in understanding. I’ve purchased several more copies of this book, and I imagine it will be the baby gift I give, over and over again.

Another favorite is one that I was recently sent for review; Thank you, God for Grandpa by Amy Parker.

I have enjoyed many other books by Amy Parker, and this one is just as fun. The illustrations are cheerful and full in color, and the words are sweet. Papa and Miss Joyness have had a great time reading the book together. “Thank You, God, for Grandpas,For Pops and Papas too,For Granddads, Gramps, and Grandpappies— They’re great, grand gifts from You!” Yes, Miss Joyness calls her grandpa Papa, and I love how the book covered many of the names grandfathers go by.

Daddies and Grandfathers are invaluable and precious members of each family and it warms my heart that they are celebrated in this book.

Thank you, God for Grandpa by Amy Parker was provided to me for free by Book Look Bloggers, in exchange for my thoughts on the book. When God Made You was purchased by me, over and over again. There are affiliate links in this post, so I may receive a small compensation from Amazon if you make a purchase through these links. That will help me continue to add good books to our reading stack!

Reading in February, 2017

March 5, 2017 By Michelle

February passed so quickly, it always does. Two of my daughters have birthdays in this month, one at the beginning and another at the end. I think that is a fantastic was for months to begin and end. Some of our kids are prolific readers, and others not so much. That is the case in the February birthdays. So for one of these celebrations, enough books to nearly fill a shelf were gifted. Her to be read pile is very tall right now.

One to what I read this month. Again, audiobooks were how I took in the most “pages.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown. This book is in my top 5 most influencial books list. As a woman who grew up with shame and then passed shame onto my own children, I am excited to have more information and encouragement to continue to learn to live differently. This was an audiobook narrated by Karen White.

Project Mnemosyne (When No One was Looking Book 1) by Kim Frauli. (Book dying to read, MMD Read for Fun) This is a book I was sent for review. Can I say, I loved this book for the masterful use of suspense while remaining family friendly.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by the author. (Newbery Award winner MMD Read for Growth)Another audiobook. This one, I feel priviledged to have had the opportunity to read this book. During this time of so much unrest, and division in our country, cities and communities, it is very important to seek to understand others.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, read by Rachel McAdams. An old favorite. (Set somewhere I’ve never been, but would love to MMD Read for Fun)

The Essence of Courage by Lynn U Watson. (A genre I typically avoid, MMD Read for Growth) An interesting journey with women of the Bible, essential oils and a community of women who are learning through them.

Birthbond: Reunions Between Birthparents and Adoptees– by Judith S Gedimen. For anyone involved in post adoption reunions, this book offers a wealth of information. Just remember that each journey is unique and cant be defined by anyone else’s journey.

Forgotten God by Francis Chan, read by the author. (3 books by same author, MMD Read for Growth) I am reading and re reading the books by Francis Chan this winter, finding them once again full of Biblical encouragement.

The Gentle Art of Discipling Women: Nurturing Authentic Faith in Ourselves and Others by Dana Yeakley. This book helped me fill in blanks in my spiritual journey, and gave me the push I needed to get into a mentoring relationship with another woman in our congregation. Game changing.

Overall I completed 4 audiobooks, 2 paper and ink books and 2 books on my Kindle.

As March begins I am reading The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, What Really Happened in the Garden?: The Reality and Ramifications of the Creation and Fall of Man, His Word in my Heart by Janet Pope, and Full: Food, Jesus, and the Battle for Satisfaction by Asheritah Ciuciu.

What are you reading these days? Do you have any book suggestions for me?

Your Magnificent Chooser

February 14, 2017 By Michelle

Your Magnificent Chooser

Your Magnificent Chooser, by John Ortberg, a Tyndale Kids Title.

This book is a precious, delightful story introducing children to the concept of choosing, and also to feeling and thinking. The concept of choosing is linked directly to the WILL, which even the smallest child has!

“God gave you two eyes, two ears, and one nose, ten wiggly fingers and ten useful toes. But of all of those parts, the big and the small, your chooser just might be the best part of all.” And so the story begins. It is a tremendous job, to share the will of a child and train them to choose, and to choose wisely, of all the abundant relational, material, temporal opportunities in life. The choices we make in life are limitless!

“Will you wake with a smile or start with a frown?” The Chooser, the will, wields a lot of power, yet each one of us must train ourselves, and practice choosing right. This wonderful story, with cheerful and gentle illustrations is a fantastic and enjoyable book to have on the shelf, for the choosing. And I am choosing to do just that!

I received this complimentary book from the Tyndale Blog Network, in exchange for the thoughts and opinions shared here.

Go and Make Disciples

February 13, 2017 By Michelle

Most Christians have heard those last few verses of Matthew,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

But I have been wondering, how many of us know how to make disciples. Over the years I have seen and heard many demonstrations on sharing the Gospel, but the idea of making disciples has been a vague one. Jesus spent three years with His disciples, teaching them in their small group, and also while teaching the masses. But I’ve often wondered what did He specifically teach them and how were they prepared to go out and do all that they did, taking the Gospel throughout Israel and the world.

It’s been a roadblock to me, until now. The Gentle Art of Discipling Women by Dana Yeakley is the first book I finished reading this month (February 2017). I’ve been working through the book for a couple of months, as I found that I wanted to dig deep with this one. The subtitle summed up what I’ve been missing in my own life…nurturing authentic faith in myself and others.

Recently I was with a small group, and we were asked if any of us have ever been “discipled,” taken systematically through Scripture in a small group or one to one. It was a thought provoking question and most of us answered NO! Besides solid Biblical teaching from the pulpit most of us have not been taught the systematic basics of new life in Christ, and further, in a one to one or small group. And most of us were unsure on just how to “make disciples.” Yet discipleship is a responsibility of every Christ follower.

This book, The Gentle Art of Discipling Women is a strong introduction to what discipleship looks like, and how to do it. As is the case so often, I found in the first half of the book, Be a Disciple, that I needed to grow and find the bridge between discipled and ready to disciple. According to the book, there are four key building blocks to being well grounded and ready to minister to other women. It was good to take the time to go through each, to look for gaps in my understanding and to also formulate questions for further study.

We are Forgiven – Christ died for sins, once and for all. Once we have accepted this gift of grace, it is done. We are forgiven.

We are Safe – Through faith you are kept safe by God’s power. In Him our future is secure, and day to day we can trust Him.

We have Access – It is through Him that we both (whether far off or near) now have access by one Spirit to the Father so that we are able to approach Him.

We are Becoming – Christ has begun a good work in us, and will continue that work in us until we see Him in glory.

Each of these topics, or keys are explored deeply with characters in Scripture and thought provoking questions, while keeping things simple.

The second half of the book, Make a Disciple, covered everything from the how to the what in making disciples. It is my plan to pair what I’ve learned with this book with meeting an older woman from our congregation to further prepare in this most important endeavor.

It’s pretty early in the year to say this, but this might have been the most important book I read this year. It’s life changing for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Tyndale Blog Network, in exchange for my review. All thoughts expressed in this post are mine.

Reading in January 2017

February 7, 2017 By Michelle

Well into February and I am just taking a look at what I read last month. Both of the Modern Mrs Darcy 2017 Reading Challenges are taped into my bullet journal, but it’s the next page of that journal that I’m enjoying filling in.

First of all, audiobooks. During busy seasons, it is the audiobooks that are getting completed becuase I can listen while driving and waiting for kids. Just last night knitting was what I wanted to do, but I felt like I should be reading. That is when I realized, an audibook and knitting would be fantastic! Here are the audiobooks I completed in January:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith – (a book published before you were born, MMD Reading for Growth challenge)this classic “coming of age” story is the best story I’ve read recently. It may stay on top as my best read of this year, it is that good. Originally published in 1943, it fits the “classic” category that I am wanting to read more of, but it is the story that makes it truly worth reading. The audible narration was very well done by Kate Burton. This is a story that my daughters need to read!

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne – (a book you’ve already read, MMD Reading for Fun challenge) another classic, a reread for me. Builder and I took a short road trip at the beginning of January with a couple of our kids. This was the book we choose to listen to. He hadn’t ever read the, and the rest of us were happy to hear it again.

You and Me Forever by Francis and Lisa Chan – (Three books by the Same Author, MMD Reading for Fun) this is the first marriage book I’ve read in quite awhile. This book is more about being a Christ-follower first, and letting that express itself within marriage. Very encouraging, and it will be downloaded onto Builder’s phone the next time he travels!

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson – (book recommended by someone with great taste,MMD Reading for Fun) My youngest daughter has medical school dreams and reads many books that are beyond me. But this one she asked me to read, is simply good. Overdrive had it available quickly, and it is a short book, so I think I finished it in a week.

Using my Kindle and the Kindle app is another way I’m getting reading in. Now that I’ve learned how to turn on the night time light filter, I read ebooks at night, so that I can turn out the light for my hubby, and still get in a little reading. Lines at the grocery store don’t bother me any more, it’s a chance to get a few more paragraphs, or even pages read! The is how I read Chasing Mona Lisa (a topic I already love MMD R4Fun) and Horse in the Wilderness in January.

While I am thankful for Kindle and Audiobooks, Paper and Ink books are still my favorite way to read. It is so satisfying to hold the book in my hands, and to see the bookmark moving from day to day. I read, or completed reading, You Carried Me, (genre that addresses current events MMD Read for Growth) and The 30 Day Praise Challenge.

That is eight books this month, thanks to audible, Christian Audio and Kindle! In February I am hoping balance out my reading a little more and tackle a couple more books in our family library bookshelves.

What did you read in January? My stack is tall for February, but do you have any recommendations for reading in March?

Horse in the Wilderness

February 6, 2017 By Michelle

Horse in the Wilderness by Debbie Eckles was one of my January reads, on my kindle. After a very slow start, the story picked up pace and I found myself pulling out my phone often just to read a bit more. Horse in the Wilderness is the story of a lost horse, a boy who gets lost for a short time, and the people who find love as they search for both.

I give this story just 3 stars, but also tell you it was an enjoyable story. The beginning didn’t draw me in, and I was disappointed in the ending. I swiped my screen looking for the next page a couple of times before I realized the story was over. Not the best way to end a story in my opinion.

Book Description

A missing horse. A missing boy. A vandal with an unexplained grievance against a local farmer. A young woman who drives as though pursued by demons. An impulsive offer to help locate the missing horse draws Brent Travis unwillingly into the affairs of the Parker family. Are they the gracious, God-fearing Christians they appear to be, or are they the hypocrites of Brent’s past experience?

Book Look Blogger network provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my opinion.