Emily Freeman’s A Million Little Ways
Okay friends…. you are in for treat! Emily Freeman, author, speaker, blogger, and way-encouraging wordsmith has agreed to give away three copies of her latest book A Million Little Ways to three of you who comment on this post. But, before we go all crazy trying to win this wonderfully helpful book, let’s take a little peek into who Emily is and just what this book is all about.
In her own words…….
I live in North Carolina with my husband, John. We have been married for twelve years and have three children: twin girls who look like him and a son who looks like me. I’m deeply curious about the mystery of Christ, the gracefulness of the everyday, and the sacredness of our inner lives. Everything I write or speak about comes from this curiosity and the deep conviction that every need, desire, and expectation is met in the person of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes when blog readers meet me in real life, they are surprised by my personality. I am a quiet, contemplative writer with a loud, obnoxious laugh and an emotional allergy to small talk. Technically I’m an introvert, but from the outside you probably wouldn’t know it.
You can find me writing on my blog Chatting at the Sky several times a week as well as once a month over at (in)courage.
My books are Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life (2011) Graceful {For Young Women} (2012) and the book I am giving away here today: A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live (2013)
{Karen here again} Isn’t this fun getting to know Emily?
Now, here is the low-down on her third book, A Million Little Ways. It uncovers the creative, personal imprint of God on every individual. Inviting the discouraged parent, the bored Christian, the exhausted executive to look at their lives differently by approaching their critics, their jobs, and the kids around their table the same way an artist approaches the canvas–with wonder, bravery, and hope.
In her gentle, compelling style, Emily encourages readers to turn down the volume on their inner critic and move into the world with the courage to be who they most deeply are.
She invites regular people to see the artistic potential in words, gestures, attitudes, and relationships. discover the art in a quiet word, a hot dinner, a made bed, a grace-filled glance, and a million other ways of showing God to the world through the simple human acts of listening, waiting, creating, and showing up.
If you want to be entered to win the random drawing for one of the three copies of this fabulous book, leave a comment here on this post.
Tell us the answer to this question: In what area of life are you the most critical of yourself? Your marriage? Mothering? Housekeeping skills? Your work? A personality trait or physical characteristic? We all have at least one area so please share.
And then? Know that His grace covers it all. In fact, after you tell us your area, in all caps please write GRACE, GRACE, GRACE!
The three winners will be announced Friday.
I am critical of my housekeeping skills. Organization doesn’t come easy to me!
I am most critical of myself in regard to personal traits and physical characteristics.
GRACE! GRACE!! GRACE!!!
This has got to be my weight. GRACE,GRACE,GRACE
My husband tells me I am too hard on myself, that I don’t give myself enough credit. (just had this conversation last night…:) I think I feel I could always do better in any area.
I am most critical of my mothering and housekeeping skills. I strive to be this perfect mother who can teach my kids how to be christ-like and how to function in the world and feel like I fail all the time when they are fighting and arguing and being selfish. I wonder what I am doing wrong and saying prayers at the end of the night with them makes me feel better until we get up the next day and start all over and I feel like a failure again. I am a perfectionist and put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything right or everything will be chaos and will fall apart. If things aren’t perfect, then what’s the point? :( It doesn’t help that I’m a divorced mother of two.
GRACE, GRACE, GRACE
I am most critical of my mothering skills and housekeeping skills. Still struggling :(
Love your book. would love to win it.
Sounds like a wonderful book!! Although I have improved, I am most frustrated by & critical of my inability to hold my tongue in hard situations & keep my emotions in check.
I’m so critical of myself in every area. If I had to choose one, it would be mothering. It’s what I feel is my most important job so I give myself the most grief about my imperfections there. This book looks amazing! Thanks for the opportunity to win one :)!
Motherhood and legs GRACE GRACE GRACE!
Unfortunately, I feel lacking in most areas of my life. R
Sounds amazing! Thanks for the offer!!!
Eek… I am critical towards myself in a lot of areas, these days an area that is especially difficult is my ability to ‘handle/manage’ life – caring for my body, nourishing my family, being a mom & working part time.. my baby is almost 18 months old and I keep thinking “I should have this figured out by now, if I Just…….” blah blah blah. This mindset of not being enough totally squelches my creative freedom
so often I seek perfection rather then Jesus & obedience in the next thing
would love to read this book; in typing this I’m realizing I probably should reread Grace for the Good Girl ;)
I would love to read this book. I guess I feel like I’m critical of a personality trait I have where I expect too much of others. Being divorced for over 10 years & the very few relationships I’ve been in since then; I feel like I love people & I try to give my all only to find others don’t seem to care about that. I don’t always see this when they too are acting like this is what they want…..it’s usually when they have changed their minds that I question did I love too much? GRACE! GRACE! GRACE!
Do I have to pick just one area?! ;) I think I’m most critical of myself in the way I relate to others. I tend toward being an introvert so I kick myself all the time for not being more friendly or (accidentally) ignoring that person, etc., etc. GRACE, GRACE, GRACE!!
I would love to read this book. My Sunday school class is just finishing up Emily’s book Graceful. It has been so helpful in my life and in the other girls’ lives. So, Emily, if you read this, thank you for following God’s leading in writing that book!
I am probably most critical of my role as wife and mother as those are such important roles to me.
I am most critical of myself in my work. I struggle with knowing that I’m doing things the “right way” and that my thoughts and opinions are valid.
I think it would be a shorter answer if I had to say where I am least critical of myself…Most critical would probably be my mothering skills, but that really encompasses a lot: housekeeping, educating, interactions, etc. I need a whole lot of Grace!
Would love this book! I’m most critical of my ability to follow through….on anything and everything. From decorating to weight loss to bible studies to coffee dates, nothing ever gets finished.
This week I am so frustrated with my mothering – finding balance between discipline and encouragement to guide rather than boss around
In my complete inability to get out for a walk in this heat.
In my homemaking. I am a great cook but not a great decorator – I feel like my style has desintigrated into early library and legoes with a side of children’s art studio.
I work hard in these areas but progress is so slow.
I am most critical of my housekeeping and my weight and health habits. I would love to win a copy of this book.
Definitely most critical over my body image and weight issues. Trying to learn to embrace GRACE!
I’m most critical of my outer appearance. I never am as skinny or as pretty as my friends. I love reading Emily’s blog and this book sounds great!!
I’m excited for the opportunity to receive a copy of the book, thanks to seeing Karen’s post on Facebook. I AM my own worst critic … in every area of life right now so the timing of this couldn’t be better. GRACE, GRACE, GRACE.
I am most critical of myself over my weight issues where I feel like a failure and have for years! BUT, GRACE, GRACE, GRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!