I am excited today to participate in the Revell Books Blog Tour and bring you this review of my latest favorite book—A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made To Live by Emily P. Freeman.
This book is a masterpiece. And the author will tell you in its pages—So are you.
There are not many authors who make me want to read their books twice. Right in a row. Like finish page 212, breathe, sigh, open back up to page 11 where the writing begins, and start again. But this is my experience with A Million Little Ways. Yes, I have a stack of other books waiting to be read—but this one’s too good to put down just yet.
The first thing I noticed when I pulled this book out of the box was a question on the back cover.
“Do you desperately fear you have nothing to offer the world but secretly hope you’re wrong?”
“You were born to make art. You were made to live art. You might not see yourself as an artist, but you are—in so many unexpected ways.”
Emily makes the case that we are all artists, made in the image of God, who first created. So yes, this book is for traditional artists. But it’s also for people who do anything…it’s for all of us.
“You are an image bearer with a job to do….You are art and you make art.”
Emily suggests readers stay right where we are, and look in five different places—where we will begin to “uncover the art [we] were born to make”. She speaks as one who has been with Jesus, has learned from her journey, and is willing to share generously with her readers.
You will adore her honesty, and maybe even gain the courage to admit your own interior messes in the presence of others. Which frees us all to love each other and be who we really are, doesn’t it?
Some of the ways I make art these days…
In the end, Emily encourages us to release the art we were made to live. She says to show up—as we are, where we are and believe God wants to come out of us in a million little ways. Art, much like love, is “yourself ALIVE in the world, for His glory and for the benefit of others.” I hope you will read this book, because it has reshaped my thinking…in a million little ways.
And now, because I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, I would love to give it away. Leave me a comment–just tell me a line from this review that piqued your interest in the book. I’ll pick a winner on Sunday November 24 at 5 pm. Until then…
“We are His poem, and we will make art.”
Update: Giveaway winner is Kim K.!!! Congratulations, Kim!
“You were born to make art. You were made to live art. You might not see yourself as an artist, but you are—in so many unexpected ways.” LOVE this! I’ll plan to reblog this review on “Flourish”.
Yes, Shan, I love that quote! And thanks for reblogging it!
“…show up—as we are, where we are and believe God wants to come out of us in a million little ways. Art, much like love, is ‘yourself ALIVE in the world, for His glory and for the benefit of others.’” 🙂 I am excited to read this book regardless if I win it or not!
Definitely, T! Show up as we are…
This sounds like a great read. What caught my attention, other than your admiration for the book, was this question:
“Do you desperately fear you have nothing to offer the world but secretly hope you’re wrong?”
I have thought this. 🙂
Mariah, yes…I think maybe we’ve all thought that!
“Do you desperately fear you have nothing to offer the world but secretly hope you’re wrong?” Sounds like a great book! I love your blog by the way! Tonia
Tonia, I agree…that question is important. Thanks for reading!!!
“You are an image bearer with a job to do….You are art and you make art.”
Sonnets like a good one Angela. I don’t usually read books twice, but you got my interest when you said you couldn’t put I’d down yet.
Great, Katie. I don’t usually read books twice either. It’s that good! 🙂
There are not many authors who make me want to read their books twice. Right in a row. Like finish page 212, breathe, sigh, open back up to page 11 where the writing begins, and start again. But this is my experience with A Million Little Ways. Yes, I have a stack of other books waiting to be read—but this one’s too good to put down just yet.
That comment made me pause. The truth is that I haven’t bought this book yet because I also have a stack of books to read already… perhaps I do need just one more. =)
I understand completely. I’m always saying, too many books, so little time. 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
The part of your review that really stuck out to me was at the very end…”Emily encourages us to release the art we were made to live. She says to show up—as we are, where we are and believe God wants to come out of us in a million little ways.” I have so much rattling in my mind and in my heart all the time of things that I wish I could do, or want to do, or need to do, or thing I can do…trying to put those into action is hard and deciding what God has for me is harder sometimes. That comment that she made that you put into your review has made me decide to take action on the things in my heart and in my head and try to decide what is of God and what He would have me do with those. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book. I really want to read it!! Sounds like exactly what I need to read.
Oops…realized I was logged into my blog name…I have changed to my real name 🙂
I get that, Leah. I often have way too many things cooking up in my head that I want to do or feel God wants me to do. But I also know I’m not supposed to attempt to do it all in this one season…thanks for the comment!
In the end, Emily encourages us to release the art we were made to live. She says to show up—as we are, where we are and believe God wants to come out of us in a million little ways. Art, much like love, is “yourself ALIVE in the world, for His glory and for the benefit of others.” This really hit me.. for some reason I think I have to do something big to make a difference. I like the thought of doing small things just where I am – and just how I am. Can’t wait to read this book – and start changing the way I look at life!
Minta
And you are not alone in that, Minta! “I think I have to do something big to make a difference.” Just yesterday, I was talking with a friend about this same thing, the way we judge writing a book as a big thing and taking a sick neighbor soup a small thing. We have it all wrong though…those “small” things done in love ARE big things!!! Thanks for the comment!