By Quiet Waters

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

Own Your Life, Do Not Settle

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Do Not Settle for a Mediocre Life

“What will be the legacy of your life? What story will the days of your life tell?”

Will you own your life?

Will you invest it in what matters, what lasts?

Or will you waste it by frittering the days on what does not matter?

Those are questions I have pondered much since May 2003. After my Congestive Heart Failure diagnosis and Open Heart Surgery, I had a lot of time to think as I watched other people care for my young children and mange my household. It was very painful, and yet life-giving, to realize during that time, that many years of wasteful living were behind me. The legacy I was leaving my children was very weak and lacked the richness of wisdom, faithfulness, beauty and love.  And so I began a journey.Continue Reading

El Salvador Trip, Days 1 & 2 Preparation

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Compassion El Salvador 2018

 

As I told you all in May, a few of my daughters and I joined a Compassion Tour Trip in July.  Because of the way the flights worked out to reach our group and the connection in Miami, I was able to build in a couple of days on either side of the long weekend in El Salvador.  One of my older teens has had an extremely full summer with summer classes, an internship with a big project and working her “day job”.  We also had a change pre-trip and one of the daughters scheduled for this trip decided not to go, and another daughter jumped in at nearly the last minute.  All of that caused me to believe that a short break from regular life before we entered into what the trip held for us would be very good for us.

And it was so good.

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Measurements Help ~ Mr Gallon

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This was one of the most popular posts on my blog back when I was hosted on blogspot!  It used to crack me up that whenever I looked at the stats, there was Mr Gallon, right on top.

Have you ever met this guy?  We discovered him maybe 9 years ago when homeschooling and kids were deep in word problems that required learning to exchange cups for pints for quarts for gallons.

Since the kitchen remodel I’ve thought about consulting Mr Gallon a few times, so I decided to print a new Mr Gallon to slip onto one of the inside cabinet doors.  And since I’m doing that, I’m also refreshing this post to share good ol’ Mr Gallon with new and old readers.

Originally, I found Mr Gallon here.

 

Paul, the Apostle DVD Movie

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Paul Apostle of Christ

This movie is written and directed by Andrew Hyatt.  Starring Jim Caviezel, Jame Faulkner, Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whalley and John Lynch.

 

Have you seen this movie?  It was a surprise to me how much I enjoyed this movie, and how much I am continuing to think about it.  The Bible is precious to me and I love to read and study it.  But there is something about “seeing” it that helps me to better see the layers and the humanity in those stories and passages.

As the movie unfolded, I was concerned about Biblical integrity.  There doesn’t seem to be anything to be concerned about, and what I gained in Biblical application was rich.

The ending of the movie wasn’t what I expected.  Paul’s entrance to heaven got me imagining that moment, which I guess is a good response.

Thanks to Front Gate Media for this complimentary Blue Ray + DVD + Digital copy of Paul, Apostle of Christ, in exchange for this blog post.

 

 

 

 

 

The Lifegiving Parent, by the Clarksons

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Lifegiving Parent

A new book from the Clarksons is on it’s way to a young family that I love this week!  The Lifegiving Parent by Clay and Sally Clarkson.

Clay and Sally Clarkson

Clay and Sally Clarkson have been writing books and speaking about family life and education for many years.  For the most part, I’ve read books by Sally, and have enjoyed hearing Clay’s “voice” in this book. Each chapter is begun by Mr Clarkson, with wisdom from the Bible and history.  Sally weaves in applicable stories and encouragement.

As always, I have found the encouragement to press on in getting to know Jesus more deeply and getting to know my kids better in the pages of this book.  This is necessary so that I can more fully walk alongside them in this one life.

Lifegiving Parent

Part II:  Living as a Lifegiving Parent and Knowing Your Child’s Personality is where I have spent most of my time in this book.  I have enjoyed a fresh perspective on personality and appreciate the adjusted lens through which I see my children.

Thank you to the Tyndale Blog Network for a free copy of the Lifegiving Parent in exchange for this review.

42 Seconds, Just 42

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42 Seconds

42 Seconds, The Jesus Model for Everyday Interactions by Carl Medearis has been a most refreshing read.  The author tells, in this book, how He spent time considering the times that Jesus Himself spoke to people.  On average, according to Medearis, Jesus only spoke to individuals for about 42 seconds.

And as we can read in the Gospels, those brief encounters were effective and life giving.

This book takes the reader on a journey, to examine the everyday conversations we all have, and how one can bring the beautiful saving knowledge of Jesus into these communications.

This book is gently instructive and quite inspiring.  If you are interested in exploring a different way to sharing the Gospel of Jesus, take a look at “42 Seconds” by Carl Medearis.

Thank you to the Tyndale Blog Network for this free copy of 42 Seconds in exchange for this blog post.

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