I sit still, in a state of waking up, letting the quiet envelop me as my day begins. My mind honors the stillness for several minutes before it veers off in other directions as the everyday creeps in to steal the quiet. A fight ensues in my mind as I crave peace and quiet on one hand, but once again ordinary routines win out until I invite God to be present in my stillness.
The deep inhale of a soul breath is needed in the quiet moments to begin recognizing who is in control and with whom we should follow. Deep soul breaths fill us with peace and center our focus on the importance of our day. Emily P.Freeman, in her new book, Simply Tuesday Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World, describes these deep soul breath moments as sitting on a bench where we acknowledge “God exists right here in the moments where we live”. It is celebrating our smallness in a world that craves bigger is better. It is knowing that we are making a difference in the here and now and our name does not need to be well known to carry out God’s work.
[Tweet “Reality is that ordinary life takes precedence when we allow God to take residence.”]
As a newly retired teacher, you might imagine that I have plenty of time for these quiet and reflective moments. Reality shows that ordinary life takes precedence when we allow God to take up residence. Simply Tuesday is Emily P. Freeman’s new book that releases August 18th and as a member of her book launch team, I have had the pleasure of reading her book and soaking in my own deep soul breath moments. Emily has a gentle way of getting real with us and is convicting me that extraordinary is not meant to be the norm in our lives. Instead we should choose the ordinary, the here and now, the practice of being present as the snapshots that fill our photo albums and know it is the acts of doing laundry, running errands or standing out front talking to a neighbor that are used to honor God. Emily confirms this by saying:
The hope of glory shows himself in the smallest ways, in the midst of the most mundane tasks and annoying conversations.
We can choose to look at life through God’s lens, in which He clearly sees us doing His work right in this time and place or we can choose the world’s lens, in which we must shine brightly to be known in order to make a difference. We all have the choice to make, but which one really feels like you?
Small moments are the bench dwelling pauses where you meet ordinary head on and allow God to sit with you, in you and become you. No pretenses are needed as you feel comfy in your own skin because of the unique, beauty God created in you. Each time we reach for the small we become more confident in who we are in Christ and are able to reach for the stars that He puts in front of us.
Small is the position of my soul, the posture by which I approach others, God, and myself… When I’m small, I can move into the world confident as the person I most deeply am because I know I don’t move into the world alone.
Emily’s book will fill you with deep soul breaths and the grace needed to accept your here and now as God’s call for your lives. You will find so many “Me too” moments throughout the book that will have you nodding in agreement and dreaming of future bench dwelling moments in your own life. Let these words from Emily fill you right now and convict your heart that smaller is better.
In our small ways, it is Christ who makes it possible for us to move through our lives, believing and trusting he is establishing his kingdom-sized purposes within and around us.
I am honored to have read an advance copy of Simply Tuesday and know that you will be blessed by Emily’s words. Simply Tuesday comes out on August 18th and it available for pre-order today on Amazon. Click here. To find out more about Emily and to sign up for a short four part video series click here. You will be blessed!
Please know this review reflects my own honest thoughts of Simply Tuesday. Please come back in a a few weeks for a giveaway of this beautiful book by Emily.
In grace and peace,
Mary
Also hanging out at these lovely blogs today! Come check them out!
Which one feels like you? That’s a fantastic reminder of settling in to the place that God chooses for me, but still having the freedom to choose, to pursue my dream anyway. God isn’t a cruel taskmaster who gives us a dream then takes it away, saying, “Oops, sorry, too big for you. Besides, I found someone else who is a little more together, so you just stay here and be small.” That isn’t at all what smallness is. These are such thought-provoking words, Mary. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mary! What a good blog-friend you are to help out Emily with her book launch! Such a great name for her book too. Every day seems so ‘simple’ and really, they are. I like the point about walking in the freedom of knowing that I am small. I can’t do great things myself.
What an interesting concept ‘soul breaths’ is too. I like that! And the thought that not only does God come to us, he becomes us.
Really great post today 🙂
Ceil
Sorry for the delayed response. I had the pleasure of joining 17 women this past weekend for the FMF retreat in Nashville. It was such a beautiful gathering. I appreciate your kind words for Emily’s book and my words. You will truly find a treasure of words if you read Simply Tuesday. There is a such a mind shift to focus on our smallness and to be happy doing it. But that is where God meets us because we take the time to just be who we are and to be thankful that the ordinary routines are exactly where we need to be at that moment. Hope you are doing well and thank you for always being so supportive of me.
This book looks awesome, Mary. I’ve so enjoyed reading your thoughts on it throughout the launch. I loved Emily’s A Million Little Ways. That’s one of the few books on my to re-read pile. Your words here made me breathe deeper, which is a monumental task for me. I’m a panting kind of woman :). Short, quick stressful breaths. Thank you so much for the phrase “deep soul breaths.” I will carry that with me, my friend.
I can’t wait to hang out again and hear about your new life after retirement! I hope you are savoring every moment.
There is something about the phrase “deep soul breaths” that causes me to sink into it and relax. I know I don’t do it enough but after reading Emily’s book, Simply Tuesday, I am learning how to take those pauses and enjoy them. Thank you for being here and for always encouraging me in this journey called writing. Have a great rest of the week! Hugs!
Oh yes, those small moments with God are ours for the grabbing. I must say, I find God tapping me on the shoulder more and more these days to come and sit with Him. Thanks for sharing about Emily’s book with us, Mary. I’m sure it’s going to be a “big” seller with no a “small” impact spiritually! Hugs to you!
I loved reading Simply Tuesday and all the times I wrote in the margin “Me too” or “this is my life right now”. That soul connection you feel with a book is one that is a big reminder from God that He has more to teach us. Her book has been a huge blessing already in my life. Hoping your week is going well. Love having you here today. I look forward to Wednesdays every week! Love and hugs!
This book sounds beautiful!! Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my post today too…what a blessing that was!
Emily Freeman has such an honest, straight to your heart kind of writing that I know you would love. Her words touch deep and get you thinking “that sounds like me!” Thank you for being here, Kristin. I pray the rest of your week is blessed.
mmm … 2 of my favorite bloggers in one place.
loveliness.
I love being one of your favorite bloggers. What an honor friend!!! Praying your week is going well!
I am looking forward to reading Emily’s book. Sounds amazing!
I know you well enough Barbie, to be able to tell you that these words will speak to you in all those places you are feeling and changing in right now. Each word is carefully crafted and said in a way that you feel like Emily is speaking directly to you. So glad you stopped by here today.
I love Emily’s writing and I can’t wait to get my hands on Simply Tuesday! Life around here can be pretty crazy, I’m learning to take deep breaths and breath in the blessings God has surrounded me with! Thank you for your words. #raralinkup
You will love Emily’s book. Her words speak truth and grace. I was blown away with how many pages seemed to be talking to me right now. If you have read any of her other books, this one will be sure to bless you. So glad to have you here my friend! Happy week to you!