By Quiet Waters

Embracing the Full, Hard and Good Life, While Pausing Often by Quiet Waters

Sofa Pillows, Home Made

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Sofa pillows

Decorating is not a talent or nor developed skill that I possess.  But last spring our home remodel was completed with a complete refresh of our living room.  Our hardwood floors were refinished, and all new furniture was purchased.  I have loved how our living room looks and feels now.   Even so, the sweet little touches have been missing.

During a visit to pinterest for crafting and sewing inspiration this fall, I found an idea that caught my interest.  Then, during a visit to Joann for some fabric for a different project, the idea took shape!

This plaiditudes brushed cotton is now lovely pillowcovers on my sofa!  I took some pillows from our old sofa, and purchased a few more pillow forms.  We have two sofas so I wanted a bunch of pillows.  We’ve had the choose love and also choose joy pillows for a long time, and I love how all the pillows look together.

Sofa pillows

This project was so easy and super quick, so I also grabbed a couple of Christmas fabrics and whipped up two more pillow covers.

Christmas Pillows

It feels good to have this project completed, and all the colors look great on our brown leather sofas.  The living room is more cozy!

What kind of creative pursuits are you up to?

Live SoulFULL

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“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.

Live SoulFULL

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

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.

She Reads Truth Bible

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She Reads Truth Bible

 the She Reads Truth Bible

I heard a lot about this edition of the Bible last year, but I am so very happy with my simple black NASB that I didn’t give the She Reads Truth Bible any thought.

But!  FrontGate Media sent me THIS!

The Hardcover Poppy She Reads Truth Bible.

She Reads Truth Bible

The first thing I did was look it all over.  The packaging of this version of God’s Word is just so pretty.

She Reads Truth Bible

 

She Reads Truth Bible

One of the things I love about this Bible are the 66 verses that are artfully lettered, one before each book of the Bible.  This one is just before Psalms.  Also before each book of the Old and New Testaments are simple reading plans that cross reference chapters of a particular book with other passages in the Bible.

This week I have been reading through Psalms and am appreciating the additional passages for going deeper.  Studying in this way has made some connections for praying Scripture, which is the primary way that I pray.

She Reads Truth Bible

This Bible has other fantastic features as well:  nearly 200 devotionals, 35 color timelines, 20 color maps, 11 color charts, a topical index, 2 ribbon markers and wide margins for journaling and note taking.

 

 

 

 

Thank you to B&H Publishing and FrontGate Media for this beautiful copy of the Hardcover Poppy She Reads Truth Bible, in exchange for my honest opinion told in this blog post.

 

Adored: Devotions for Young Women

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There is a lot of information for young people to sort through.  Everyday in all forms of media, on the bus,  walking down the neighborhood roads, messages are flying rapidly.  I remember what it was like when I was young, trying to sort out what is true, what I would choose to believe and how I would choose to live.

And I believe that it is more difficult for young people today.

Adored 365 Devotions for Young Women

Many authors, companies, musician, etc., work hard to present media and information that is beautiful, and true.  I appreciate that in all the clamor, if you listen, truth and beauty can be found and heard.

All this makes it all the more imperative that we supply young people with quality, and we take the time to walk along the road of life with them.

Handlebar Publishing recently sent me a new book in the mail:  Adored, 365 Devotions for Young Women.  First of all, this is a pretty book.  Just look at these images:

Adored 365 Devotion’s For Young Women

The beauty of this book’s cover and pages struck me right away.  Each page is bordered with a pretty blue strip, which looks pretty cool while the book is closed, and fun when one is fanning the pages.

Adored itself is full of 365 devotions, each beginning with a Scripture.  A devotion illustrating or explaining the Scripture follows, with a few journaling lines at the end of each.

The topics covered include bullying, social media, dating and friendships, and much more.  This might be a good gift for a young woman, a small group of girls or a mother/daughter.  Any of these are important places to speak truth, life and beauty into the young people around us.

This is a new book from Zondervan.  I received a complimentary copy from HandleBar Publishing in exchange for this review.

 

Perfectly Unique Letter 2

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Sponsorship Saturday

You will notice, these Perfectly Unique letters are quite short and simple.  I often struggle between being too wordy, and too abrupt.  In these letters, I wanted the message to be true and rich, but my words to be few.  Hopefully I have achieved a balance.

perfectly uniqueContinue Reading

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