Reviews | By Quiet Waters

The Study Bible for Women, Christan Standard Bible version

April 22, 2018 By Michelle

One of the particular blessings of being a blogger, and being open to work with brands and marketers, is the opportunityy to receive items that one finds high value in, in exchange for a blog post or social media mention.

The Bible, the Word of God, is an item of the highest value to me and I am thankful to once again tell you about the newest packaging for God’s Word.

The Study Bible for Women, Christian Standard Bible version is published by Holman Bibles in Nashville Tennessee. The features of The Study Bible were designed to enhance study of God’s word, both independently and in a group setting.

Each book is introduced to help with context and study. A key verse, timeline and content outline are included in the introduction.

Features include:

Smyth-sewn binding
Two-column text
8-point type
Extensive commentary notes
Word studies
Answers to hard questions
Doctrinal notes
Biblical womanhood articles
Character profiles
“Written on My Heart” applications
Extensive book introductions
Presentation page
In-text maps, charts & timelines, Concordance, Full-color maps, and more.

About the translation:

The Christian Standard Bible thoughts by Alistair Begg.

My thoughts:

Personally, I do not use a study Bible most of the time. My family has some Bible Study tools including a study Bible on our book shelves, that each of us pull off from time to time.

What I do appreciate about this Study Bible are the maps, charts and the doctrinal boxes. I am enjoying reading through each of those this spring.

The Christian Standard version is great for readability, and accuracy as far as I can tell. My preferred translation is the New American Standard Bible, which is what my first Bible was as a young married woman. Most of the Scripture I have memorized has come from that Bible. That said, I often will pull several versions off the shelf and read a passage repeatedly, seeking a better, or fuller understanding. It is a great to have the Christian Standard Study Bible for Women on that shelf!

Do you have any experience with the Christian Standard Study Bible for Women?

What is your favorite version for study and memorization?

Thanks to Frontgate Media for the gift of this free Study Bible, in exchange for this review and social media posts.

Prone to Wander LA, Phone Cases and More

April 17, 2018 By Michelle

“We are all prone to wander away from the things that really matter. Sometimes, we just need a little encouragement, a breath of inspiration, a quick reminder of THE Truth, our identity, and our purpose.

Prone To Wander LA creatively brings God’s Word in the little things we carry, wear, or see everyday. We exist to bless little lives with the little things we create.”

Aren’t these phone cases great? They arrived some time ago in a rather plain package that opened up to some super fun!

These pretty phone cases arrived and were promptly passed around. I quickly discovered which one I wanted to try out on my phone, the wood case. The case has held up to about a month of use, and a few little falls and drops. Originally I was concerned about the wood showing wear. But it still looks great!

My youngest has been using the clear case, and I think she is quite happy with it as well. After taking a look at the website, I have found that there are many designs to choose from.

Prone to Wander LA also offers various art products such as pillow covers, banners, ornaments and art prints.

Thanks to FrontGate Media for these complimentary phone cases, in exchange for this review. If you are a blogger and interested in reviewing new products, check out FrontGate Media!

A Girl Like Me, Julie Elias

December 9, 2017 By Michelle

Julie Elias is a Christian singer/songwriter who has recently release the album titled A Girl Like Me.

This album has songs, like the title track, A Girl Like Me, that explore the feelings of loneliness and worthlessness. These are feelings that are all too common among all women, young and older, across all borders.

But we don’t have to live with those feelings. We have a faithful God Who can bring into our lives inspiration, strength, joy and peace. Julie Elias reminds each of us that when we are at our lowest, we must choose to remember that each of us are loved, and even “a girl like me” is chosen of God and dearly loved.

I received a cd of the album in November and have enjoyed listening to the fresh new music. I’m keeping the cd in my vehicle, for regular music rotation 🙂

I received this cd from FrontGate media in exchange for this review.

Indescribable, 100 Devotions about God and Science

December 6, 2017 By Michelle

This new devotion book by Louie Giglio is so exciting. Last spring I was introduced to the ministry of Louie Giglio when I was assigned to watch a series of dvds during training for my work at a local ministry. How he connects Scripture and science is fascinating, and inspiring. This devotion is based on Louie Giglio’s messages “Indescribable” and “How Great is Our God.” He wants this book to help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God.

Indescribable, 100 Devotions about God and Science is a fun and inviting new book for children. It’s going to one that I read with my grand children when they visit.

As the title states there are 100 devotions, each with Scripture, photographs and illustrations and amazing facts. One can read the devotions from start to finish, or by topic. On page 7 there are pages numbers for all the devotions on animals, space, Earth and people. That way you can dig into what interests the child. I definitely can hardly wait for a grand to visit and to invite her to look at this book with me!

Thank you to FrontGate Media for this complimentary copy of Indescribable by Louie Giglio, in exchange for this blog post.

Included in Christ, The Thrilling Message of Ephesians

November 16, 2017 By Michelle

Included in Christ by Heather Holleman is a Bible study that I recently began. this study is different from any study I’ve done on the past and I sense that the Lord is answering a long awaited prayer. Some years ago I shared here on the blog some about my past. Those posts have been taken down, as the healing and growth in my life has continued.

As that healing and growth have continued I have struggled with my identity. I have Struggled to no longer identify as only a survivor. But I haven’t known what that would look like. Over the course of the last two months two books have arrived in the mail that are gently leading me, showing me what my identity is. Isn’t that just how the Lord works?

Included in Christ is an 8-week Bible study, subtitled “Living a New Story From Ephesians.” Living a new story, this idea of taking my story and turning it into something that reflects the redemption and love of God thrills me to the core.

Through this study, I will create a Saviour Story. My story will no longer be about the details of my past, but of the Savior who is taking me out of my “shadow narratives”.

“It …(this study)… fuses what we know about redemptive personal stories with what Scripture teaches us about the reality of who we really are, and it sets us on the path to live daily in the presence of Him who tells the true story of our lives.”

This is a study that a couple of young women are interested in doing with me after the first of the year and I am so excited. May God be glorified as one by one we discover what it means to be Included in Christ and who we truly are.

Thanks to Moody Publishing for this complimentary copy of Included in Christ! All thoughts and opinions in this post I offer in exchange.

Live SoulFULL

November 11, 2017 By Michelle

“Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me, all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Thus I consider all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

These words of Solomon many years ago are words echoed still today.

I am reading a new book, Live SoulFULL, and the words in this very first chapter pointed me to Ecclesiastes, and gave me good reason to pause. While my life is full, hard and good, I recognize the ongoing need to slow and evaluate. What am I chasing after? For what am I laboring.

There are many good things that I do, the mundane duties of laundry, all that goes into meal planning, the not mundane activities of teaching, coaching, working to keep the airways clear between my husband and me, my daughters and me. But in all that, for what I am laboring? And from where am I drawing my strength, inspiration and knowledge?

This passage from Ecclesiastes, actually all of Ecclesiastes, has set my mind to working, to searching. What part of my life brings satisfaction and fulfillment to my soul? And there are many days when I feel completely empty, dry. All poured out, no words left. Why am I now running on empty?

“To be empty is to hold or contain nothing.”

” To fill is to occupy space or volume.”

“To be fulfilled and satisfied is to contain and hold all that is possible; to have a need met; to be fully or completely supplied.” ~ SoulFull, Tabot

As I continue to go through this study, I am excited to see how God works within my mind and my heart. He has been faithful, and gentle, and I know that even if I have to cover the same ground yet again, the Father knows just how deep to go each time to cleanse, fill and set me right on the place on the path that I am to be.

LIVE SoulFULL

Music has a unique ability to cut through the noise of the world and take God’s Word deep into the soul. I’ve experienced this gift many times. I’ve also seen how simply singing Scripture aids memorization, making pathways in the brain.

Live SoulFULL is a gospel-centered Bible study that combines immersive study of God’s Word with a 13 song album of original music. I am loving how the study and the music enhance each other, and enrich my time of study.

This study is created by Scott and Ginger Tabot. I received this complimentary copy of SoulFull from Frontgate Media in exchange for my opinions which are recorded here.

FrontGate Media will be giving away copies of SoulFULL on November 20. Click here for more information and to enter.