When my copy of Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus by Mary DeMuth arrived, the simplicity of the blue cover with a heart on it reminded me of the doodles of a school girl. Although the cover may be reminiscent of the young at heart, the subject of giving Christ everything and allowing Him to be our everything is anything but simple.
With grace, passion, and authenticity Mary shares her own personal journey in letting Christ be her everything. This book looks at what causes some believers to grow and others to stagnate. Through the pages of this book, readers are taken on a three part journey to examine their head (what we think), heart (who we are), and hands (how we live). These three areas encompasses the whole of ourselves. According to Mary, “what we think about God, His world, and ourselves determines our growth story,” and I’m inclined to agree with her statement.
As I read Everything, I sensed a commonality with the author not because our circumstances were the same but because I saw glimpses of myself. Her words challenged me and compelled me to dig deeper and surrender more freely. Mary does not tell her story from the standpoint of one who has arrived but one falls short on many occasions. And she does not present a list of rules to follow, in fact she implores you to see if you are following the AYDI (All You Do Is) Gospel. She urges us away from clinging to lists and striving for control to a life of wild surrender to God.
If you been around here for long, you know I love quotes and I have so many rich nuggets to take away from Everything. Here are a few of my favorites.
Control is the inner disease of those who need stability and order to function. It is the shiny little idol we worship without noticing.
God calls each of us to be an “am”. Still, we live caged by our past, by our I “was” statements…We’d rather live chained to our strange comfort zone.
No matter where one is in their spiritual walk, this book will leave you questioning are you giving God everything or just some things.
About the Author: Mary DeMuth is an author and speaker who loves to help people live uncaged, freedom-infused lives. She’s the author of fourteen books, including six novels and her critically acclaimed memoir Thin Places. After church planting in Southern France, Mary, her husband, and their three teenagers now live in a suburb of Dallas.
Connect with Mary via:
Mary’s website: marydemuth.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryDeMuth
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaryDeMuth
Get your copy of Everything on Amazon.com:
Find out what others thought of the book at TLC Book Tours. Thanks to Lisa with TLC Tours and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a complimentary copy of Everything in exchange for an unbiased review.
Would you like to read Everything? TLC Book Tours is offering one of my readers a free copy. Just leave a comment below. 
Wow is all I can say at this time, Wanda. Just…wow! This is a confirming word for me.
Blessings to you LaVonne. Honor that you found something in it that was confirmation to you.
I like the sound of this book….everything, simple to Him
Everything is a simple compound word that has compound effects in our lives.
Hi! Wanda….this is another book that I know I will have to check out as well…I truly loved that message, and the Nugget you shared with us… “Control is the inner disease of those who need stability and order to function. It is the shiny little idol we worship without noticing. God calls each of us to be an “am”. Still, we live caged by our past, by our I “was” statements…We’d rather live chained to our strange comfort zone. God knows what we need, and where we are….and where we all need to be…We just need to be willing to step out of our comfort zone. Amen!! Have a bless Thrusday…Agape! 🙂
There are so many rich nuggets to take away from Everything. Even though I know I need to step out of my comfort zone, sometimes I find it quite difficult to put that into action.
I really like Mary DeMuth. She’s used her painful journey to show hope and overcoming and victory. This is a book that sounds like something I’d be interested in too. Thanks Wanda. Hope you have a beautiful Friday out there.
Hope you do as well Nikki. Although I subscribe to Mary’s blog, this was the first book by her that I had read.
I’m glad to see that this book inspired you to think about your own choices. Thanks for being on the tour!