Deep Breathing for the Soul

I’m guest blogging about Sabbath and its role in spiritual formation all over the place this week. It’s been fun to connect with other writers and bloggers and create some new content.

If you’re interested in using any of the articles, say in a newsletter or a church website, just leave me a comment or use the contact form to get in touch. I’m happy to grant permission for use as long as you give attribution.

Here are a few sites that are running some articles I’ve written this week:

Spiritual disciplines for writers

What Moms really want for Mother’s Day

Sailing and Sabbath

What Jesus said about Sabbath

10 Steps to Sabbath Rest

Please visit these blogs and leave a comment or question–the bloggers will appreciate it. And stop back here and tell me which article you enjoyed or which blog you want to start reading regularly!

I’m guest blogging on my friend Anita Lustrea’s website today about how to get started on building a Sabbath habit. You can start reading the article here:

Life sometimes seem to spin past us so fast. Our family, career, church, friends all seem to have needs that can consume us. Our involvements and obligations are not often optional. But there comes a point when it can feel a bit overwhelming. We need a rest.The God who made us, who designed our bodies and souls, knew that we would not be able to function non-stop 24-7. That’s why when he laid out the rules for life, the best way to live, he told us to rest. It seem odd that people would have to be commanded to take a day off—until we look in the mirror and realize we don’t obey that command. But just as our bodies need sleep to function, they’re also hard-wired by our creator to need a weekly break. (Click here to read the rest of the article).

I’d love to hear your comments about this article. If you’d like to reprint it, just let me know, I’d love to share it with you.

A number of bloggers have recently posted reviews of my book Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity. Most have been very positive, which I appreciate. A few were honest about what they didn’t like about the book. Which is fine. Really.

Here are links to some of the blogs involved. I’d love for anyone reading this to go visit at least one blog on the tour, and leave a comment.

Like a lot of my books, Rest is a great resource to use with a small group. It includes a leader’s guide with questions and help for setting up a group. If you’re looking for a book to do with a group, ask your group to read the reviews on these blogs. If you do read the book with a group, you can contact me to receive a free book group kit, which includes bookmarks and signed bookplates for the members of your group. Be sure to stop back here and let me know what you think of the reviews.

Here are the links to the various blogs running reviews of Rest:  
http://drivehome.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/rest-by-keri-wyatt-kent-blog-tour/ 
 
http://gatorskunkzandmudcats.blogspot.com/2009/07/rest-living-in-sabbath-simplicity-by.html 
 
http://idontbelieveingrammar.blogspot.com/2009/07/rest.html 
 
http://tanyadennisbooks.com/2009/07/03/let-me-give-you-rest/ 
 
http://jenbh.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-tour-rest-living-in-sabbath.html 
 
http://thewritingroad.blogspot.com/2009/07/book-review-rest-by-keri-wyatt-kent.html 
 
http://beyourbestmom.blogspot.com/2009/07/rest-living-in-sabbath-simplicity.html 
  
http://cindystamps.blogspot.com/2009/06/rest-living-in-sabbath-simplicity.html 
 
http://cballan.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/2092
 
http://hisreadinglist.blogspot.com/2009/06/rest.html
 
http://www.katewicker.com/2009/07/rest-living-in-sabbath-simplicity-book.html
 
http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/2009/06/rest.html
 
http://llamamomma.blogspot.com/2009/06/downtime.html
 
http://llamamomma.blogspot.com/2009/07/rest-on-lake.html 
 
http://marysworld411.blogspot.com/2009/06/rest-living-in-sabbath-simplicity-by.html 
 
http://refreshmysoulblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/rest-book-review.html
 
 
 

There are certain places that feel sacred to me—the chapel where I was married, the lake at sunset, my garden when everything is in bloom.

God made us so intricately. When we come into a place where we have felt God’s presence before, our minds and hearts often automatically settle into a more peaceful state. Just entering a sacred space can make us more aware of God’s presence.

Click here to read the rest of my latest For Your Soul column on Christianity Today’s website.

I taught last week at Willow Creek’s Wednesday night classes, on Reading the Bible Devotionally in Groups. You can listen or download by going to this page (it’s week 3).

Take a listen, and let me know what you think.

Also, check out my Rest YouTube video. leave a comment on either of the two videos before midnight Friday, and you could win a free copy of Rest.

The MomLogic blog’s Christian MomLogic page is featuring an interview with me today. My friend and fellow author Suzie Eller came up with some new and thought-provoking questions, which I think you’ll enjoy. Check it out.

http://community.momlogic.com/profiles/blogs/can-a-mom-really-rest

The Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity blog tour is still going strong. Please stop by each of these to leave comments, and you’ll be entered to win a free copy of the book!

Read Nicole’s musings and her original interview with me .

Then, check out Melissa’s thoughts on Rest

Another orginal interview is up today here.  

And read Mary’s review by clicking here .

Tomorrow, I’ll be visiting with Carla and Caryn at www.themommyrevolution.wordpress.com

The tour ends next week, and you have only a few more chances to win that book.

If you’d rather get a book in person, and you live in the Chicago area, I’ve got two booksignings tomorrow. One is at 9:30 a.m. at Willow Creek Community Church (at Seeds Resource Center) in South Barrington. The second is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Avalon Spa, at Rand and Long Grove Roads in Deer Park. (originally scheduled for last week but delayed due to weather).

The Rest blog tour rolls on today.

Trish Berg, author and blogger, posted her review today at http://booksformoms.blogspot.com/ Be sure to visit and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a free book.

Also, Rachel Olsen of Proverbs 31 ministries is blogging about Rest today at www.rachelolsen.blogspot.com.

Please visit these blogs!

My friend and fellow author Mary DeMuth is on the blog tour today. You’ll want to read her post–she sent me original questions that were very thought-provoking.

Mary is a wonderful writer and her books are just terrific. I urge you to check them out.

Rest is also being reviewed on Trisha Novotny’s 24/7 Moms blog. This is a great blog, and they have a daily newsletter with great tips on saving money, plus giveaways, coupons and so on, which I’ve found to be really helpful!

And don’t forget–if you leave a comment on either blog, you’ll automatically be entered in a drawing for a free book. (If you’ve already won a book, please let someone else have a chance!)

I’ve had a couple of questions today about my blog tour. Just to clarify, in case you are wondering what a blog tour is, or where it is, here’s the scoop:

A blog tour means that various bloggers are “hosting” me as a guest on their site. They run an interview, photos, and/or reviews. To participate as a blogger, you let me know if you want to, and I’d send you stuff to post on your blog.
If you are not a blogger, you can just vist the blogs that are on the “tour” and leave a comment about how much you loved the book. Each blog is giving away a free copy of the book to one lucky reader who leaves a comment.
It’s a different blog, sometimes two, each day. The links to the blogs will be on my facebook page, and on my blog. tomorrow, Jan. 6, the tour takes us to blogger Karen Robbins. visit her site and leave a comment or question. 

I hope that makes sense! Also, if you want to listen to a radio interview about REST, you can go for the next few days to www.kneo.org, and click on “author’s corner” —then find my name and click on the earphones to listen. It’s actually a download, so I had to open my iTunes program to listen to it. Or, tomorrow, I will be on live at 9 a.m. CST, on radio station WDJC in Birmingham, AL. You can listen online at their website.