Let me give you Rest!
July 3, 2009
In 2005 Keri Wyatt Kent released a book entitled Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life. The subtitle is important there, because her emphasis is not on finding space for God, but creating it. The difference is intention. Spending time with God is not an accident; it’s not just a happening. If we want it to happen, we need to make it a priority. We must be purposeful.
Kent’s newest book Rest follows this same line of thinking, but takes it a step further. She encourages readers not only to create a space for God, but to rest in that space. She calls it Sabbath Simplicity. By setting sanely paced, God-centerd rhythms of work and rest we can renew our energy, boost our joy and heighten our impact on the people around us.
Sounds great – right? We’re all tired all the time. We all have too much to do and not enough hours in the day. How can we alleviate the hectic schedules of our lives? How can we find true rest, the kind that rejuvinates and actually makes us more effective?
This book expounds upon six aspects of Sabbath — WAIT! I know some of you are freaking out just a bit at the word “Sabbath.” We’re NOT talking about lists of activities we can and cannot do on a specific day of the week. We’re not even talking about which day of the week. That’s not the intention of this book. Rather, it’s about recognizing Jesus’ teachings of rest, understanding the examples He set for rest and Sabbath, and then seeing how we can emulate those practices in our lives. What benefits can we find from regularly practicing biblical rest patterns?
Now, this book expounds upon six aspects of Sabbath as a spiritual practice:
- Resting
- Reconnecting
- Revising
- Pausing
- Playing
- Praying
Reading through this book I was reminded that Sabbath is not about what you do or don’t do, but relationships. It’s an appointment to stop and know God, to remember who I am in light of who He is and all that He has given me. My identity is not found in what I do or what I wear or where I go. And while I spend all week working to keep a clean house, meet deadlines with writing or my kids or ministries at church, these are not what is most important to me. When I stop, when I rest, I discover what is most important to me.
Only when I remember these things can I truly evaluate how I’m doing. Yes, my kids are memorizing their verses, but are they capturing the meaning behind the rote words? Yes, I’m praying, but am I really communing with God? Yes, I’m busy, but am I effective? Am I fruitful? Yes, my life is abundant, but am I experiencing the joy and peace Christ intended for His disciples?
This book doesn’t set forth a lot of rules. To the contrary, it invites readers to freedom! To the joy of experiencing rest. Throughout the book you’ll find stories of different families and the various ways they celebrate Sabbath. These real-life examples challenge and encourage. It’s a great introspective book, one that I want you to read.
Let me give you Rest! I have a copy of the book I would like to give to you for FREE. You don’t even have to pay shipping. In the comments section below, simply tell me how you practice and teach rest OR why you need more rest. 
I’ll randomly select a winner on Sunday night (9PM EST), so be sure to enter before then.
A few of you frequently complain that you never win anything. If you’re one of those, just go to Amazon and buy the book via THIS LINK. It’s currently selling for $10.19 — 32% off the cover price! (This book is also available in Kindle format for recent converts.)
Learn more about the author at her site: www.KeriWyattKent.com.
Read author interviews and more reader thoughts when you visit other stops on the blog tour.
Entry Filed under: blog tours, books, giveaways, rest. Tags: books.
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1.
Jennifer Schmidt | July 3, 2009 at 7:52 AM
I NEED REST!
5 kids ages 18-4 plus babysitting “a few” others! Not much “me” time. I’ve been practicing – since a very challenging VBS class last week – “ordering my private world”. This has meant more study time, prayer time, reading time and – something new to me – journal time! I’ve been struggling with getting up early to get a head start on this but I was challenged last night when I realized that whether I get up at 5 or 6 or 7 or even 8, it doesn’t really make much difference. I STILL won’t want to get out of bed! And saying “Why, God, can’t you make it easier to wake up?” suddenly seemed to change to “God, since I have to get up, what better way than to get up to spend time with You?”. This morning, I hit the floor running to the shower at 5am w/plans to start my quiet time as soon as hubby left for work. Hubby ended up going in a bit later and my 4 year old snuggle bunny started crying when she heard us getting out of bed (yes, she spent the night with us). I felt the surge of frustration flood and then I “heard the voice of God” – “Can’t you talk to Me while snuggling a soft warm cozy little creature given to you from Me?” So, I snuggled her and talked to Him – in the darkness, in the coziness – then,when hubby was done showering, I was able to get up, help him get out on time and enjoyed sweet fellowship in the word and journaling. Not every day will offer such a cozy way to start but I really felt the Lord giving me a day that I could start with him AND enjoy a few more minutes of peace and rest AND snuggle a few extra minutes with my cozy little angel! What an amazing God we have!!! And – did you realize that the Spirit of God is living in us!?!?!?! 1 Cor 2 is such an amazing, encouraging passage.
2.
Cindie Thomas | July 3, 2009 at 8:00 AM
I am a 59 year old grandmother of 5… I am self-employed working at an ETSY business and am a certified Life Purpose Coach. I also take care of a grandson who is 3 on a daily basis and have since he was 8 weeks old. My life is busy and full, but I know the importance of resting.
Some days while he is napping (Thank God for long naps) I will have my quiet time with the Lord and then take a little nap. I have also started running again… and although for some that would not mean rest to me it is restful… I can put my headphones on, listen to upbeat Christian music and forget about anything else for at least 40 minutes. I also journal as it helps me sort out thoughts and feelings.
And then there is always play time… with 5 grandchildren in my life I am allowed to be a child again… they all tell me that I am the “coolest” Gram.. so that in itself is my reward ….
I
3.
Jennifer | July 3, 2009 at 8:11 AM
No rest here. I cold probably learn a lot from the book. Wink. Great giveaway here.
Smiles.
4.
dawn | July 3, 2009 at 8:24 AM
I’ll take some of that ;0)
5.
Helen | July 3, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Thanks for the review, I will definitely get myself a copy. Sounds very interesting from your review
6.
Mary Jo | July 3, 2009 at 9:00 AM
I really loved Keri Wyatt Kent’s earlier book: Breathe. I’ve learned that to create a time for rest I need to intentionally prepare for that time. But I’m not always mindful of that, so I think I need to prayerfully work on having Sabbath rest as a goal, not just once a week, but as a part of everyday. Busyness and clutter tend to derail me, so for me, just keeping mail clutter down, keeping up with the bills and moving the laundry along allow me to enjoy rest at the end of the day. Also, Sunday isn’t always a Sabbath day, depending on what’s going on. I always need a Sabbath day so it may be on another day. Life can be messy and I can’t always prepare for Sabbath time. I think the key is to make the resting in the Lord the goal and not to get so caught up in the preparation that I miss spending time with Him and being refreshed and strengthened in Him. I need the Sabbath time whether my surroundings are peaceful or not. Also a friend of mine was sharing with me recently how she was joylessly making her bed and decided to invite the Lord into that situation with her, and what a difference that made. I was reminded to live my life moment by moment, abing in Him.
7.
Michelle O'Brien | July 3, 2009 at 4:38 PM
This topic of “rest” has always been interesting to me…but I don’t always practice it
. I think there definitely is a reason God created for 6 days and then rested…a principle I need to apply better to life 
. It sounds like a good book!
8.
Life in the Crazy Lane | July 3, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Rest … Well, I go, go, go until I collapse from sheer exhaustion. *grin*
9.
Kristina | July 3, 2009 at 6:27 PM
I need rest! I’m really struggling with keeping the Sabbath holy. Sunday, as it turns out, is the only day I get to catch up on my sleep and delegate some of my mothering responsibilities to my husband. The ONLY day. So getting up and getting to church is…well, I want to, but I also don’t want to. Unfortunately, Sunday also often ends up being the day I catch up on things like housework. I know it’s wrong. I know I need the rest. I know it doesn’t please God that I do this. I’ve been praying on this, and struggling to obey God each week.
Thank you for reviewing this book. It’s one I think America really needs!
10.
dailydwelling | July 4, 2009 at 2:39 AM
Sounds like a great book!! It’s actually one that I have been wanting so it would be wonderful to actually win it! We have started taking some steps to do this in our home. I don’t cook big meals on Sunday, it’s usually take-out, simple brunch or pizza. We also only attend the morning service (that’s all that’s offered, but it’s something that we have committed to). And we spend the day resting on Sundays. I want to get away from the computer more and do more reading as that is actually more restful for me.
Thanks for the great review!
11.
Carrie | July 5, 2009 at 7:41 AM
Great posts Tayna! The books sound really amazing. Over the past year my family and I have become really intentional about just resting together. I loved your post the other day about your fun Sunday at home. Those have been our Sundays for some time now. The spring and summer are the perfect time to turn off the tv and just get outside. We have a small pool in the yard and while the kids play my hubby and I read books. We feel so refreashed by the evening. It is a great way to start the week.
I hope you can enjoy more Sunday afternoons.
Thanks again for all your inspirations.
12. Deep Breathing for the Soul » Rest blog tour | July 7, 2009 at 4:45 PM
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