Book: Everyday Holy: Finding a Big God in the Little Moments

About the book:It seems to be a rite of passage for every woman: one day you wake up and think, “Wait. This is the life I signed up for?!?”
We’ve all been there. Melanie Shankle is just brave enough to say it out loud. And Everyday Holy is your invitation to reexamine your life and find the little pieces that create a beautiful picture of a big God.

On any given day, you may be asking yourself:

Is Instagram making me crazy, or am I actually supposed to have a perfectly curated cup 
of coffee on my artfully rumpled throw blanket every morning?
Doubts about my faith are normal, right?
Is eating cookie dough straight from the fridge fine as long as it’s organic?
Could it be that loving my family well is my spiritual gift?

It’s a common theme: Am I okay? Is my life significant? And how do we measure significance, anyway? Melanie’s hilarious and poignant insight offers you the deep breath of relief that God is working in all the moments, no matter how big or how small. In 100 devotions, Everyday Holy: Finding a Big God in the Little Moments invites you to see your life as God intended: rich with opportunity, significance, and beauty, even on days that feel overwhelmingly ordinary.

If you’re looking for the line that connects the dots, Everyday Holy is for you. If you wonder where God is in this mess or how exactly He’s working behind the scenes, this book is for you. Whether you feel overwhelmed or disillusioned or frustrated by how your life feels, there’s room for you at this table. And here’s the best news: We’re all in this together.

My thoughts:
I have been a follower of Melanie Shankle's blog for many years and have read her other books.  I was happy to have the opportunity to review this one. 

Each devotional is about a page and a half in length and includes a topic verse.  I found so many of these devotionals to be very applicable to my own life.  She uses real life experiences that I'm sure many readers will find applicable and relevant. 

This book will be a nice way to start or end your day.... or even for a bit of encouragement in the middle!  You will be blessed!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have a day of blessings! 
  Bethany

Church of the Small Things

About the book:

Is my ordinary, everyday life actually significant? Is it okay to be fulfilled by the simple acts of raising kids, working in an office, and cooking chicken for dinner?

It’s been said, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.” The pressure of that can be staggering as we spend our days looking for that big thing that promises to take our breath away. Meanwhile, we lose sight of the small significance of fully living with every breath we take.

Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author and writer at The Big Mama Blog tackles these questions head on in her fourth book, Church of the Small Things. Easygoing and relatable, she speaks directly to the heart of women of all ages who are longing to find significance and meaning in the normal, sometimes mundane world of driving carpool to soccer practice, attending class on their college campus, cooking meals for their family, or taking care of a sick loved one.

The million little pieces that make a life aren’t necessarily glamorous or far-reaching. But God uses some of the smallest, most ordinary acts of faithfulness—and sometimes they look a whole lot like packing lunch. 

Through humorous stories told in her signature style, full of Frito pie, best friends, the love of her Me-Ma and Pa-Pa, the unexpected grace that comes when we quit trying to measure up, and a little of the best TV has to offer, Melanie helps women embrace what it means to live a simple, yet incredibly meaningful life and how to find all the beauty and laughter that lies right beneath the surface of every moment.

My thoughts:
I was excited to find out I was part of the launch team for Melanie Shankle's new book Church of the Small Things.  I have read her blog The Big Mama Blog for years as well as her other books (previously reviewed on the blog) and knew once I started this one that I wouldn't want to stop reading.  I made myself read slowly and enjoy it!  This is definitely one I want to read again.

I think so many times in life we are looking for something BIG to happen or something GREAT to do.  We want to feel important and for others to notice our contribution.  We miss out on the moments that really matter sometimes because we rush through them or don't pay enough attention as they are happening.  We think it is just another day, doing the same routine with the same people.  This book is a great reminder to appreciate those little moments that DO matter and are significant.   Slow down and don't rush through life!  God wants our faithfulness to our tasks as we daily serve Him doing whatever it is we do....at home, with our families, in our jobs, with our friends.

This book will make you laugh out loud and nod your head in agreement (maybe even shed a few tears) as Melanie shares snippets of her life with stories about her childhood, college days, marriage, friendships, and parenting.

There was so many quotes I liked in this book!  Here is one......

(As a side note I liked that she mentioned Alamo Cafe in this book. I have always wondered if she ever ate there since she lives in San Antonio.  As a fellow Texan we always eat there at least once when we visit San Antonio so I wondered if I'd ever run into her there.)

Find out more about this book on the website ChurchofTheSmallThings.com

You can pre-order this book now before it comes out on October 3.  Look at all these extra free "goodies" you will receive with your pre-order.....

Please consider buying this book today. You won't be disappointed!

I also wanted to share the book trailer with you. Take a couple of minutes to watch it.  Sometimes I think these trailers for books are corny but this one is such a perfect one for this book.  Watch it here.

I received this book from the publisher for being part of the launch team, and this review is my own opinion.  Thank you.

#ChurchofTheSmallThings

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany