“In Want and Plenty” came at a perfect time in my life. Fresh out of a church split and disillusioned by many shattered plans and dreams, Meredith’s words came alongside me like the voice of a trusted friend. The best part? It’s evident through her sweet and gracious spirit that shines through her words that she’s lived out this message of looking for manna in both want and plenty. My favorite part of the book are the exercises and questions and songs peppered through the chapter and at the end of each chapter. If you’re like me and love deep introspection and processing, this book will be an excellent companion for your journey. My hand is often cramped from journaling furiously, and I’m learning so much about myself and God through these prompts. Don’t hesitate to buy this book! It’s beautifully and thoughtfully written. I can already tell it will be one I revisit often as I look for manna in my life!

Encouraging, thought provoking and insightful book that will stick with you long after you finish it! Would recommend to many!

3.5 stars. I liked this one, but there were a couple of things I struggled with and the writing wasn't the most engaging. Review to come.

Due to being a high school teacher, I have been falling behind on reviews. Here are my initial thoughts.

From the moment I saw the cover of In Want + Plenty on the Revell books table at the Hope*Writers Conference, I knew I was going to read this book. I listened to Meredith share her story on the road to publishing panel as a conference session, and was really intrigued. Soon after, I saw the announcements for the launch team, and there was no question about it - I was going to read it, and read it now! I devoured In Want + Plenty as soon as it was available to us. She incredibly weaves her story alongside that of the Israelite's wandering and search for manna... hunt for manna... longing for manna? There are so many facets to this illustration. It's easy to get overwhelmed in this life, and as a licensed counselor, Meredith McDaniel shares how to navigate our stories, especially the hard, raw, sorrowful moments, while anticipating how God will provide for you - in these everyday manna moments. It is very practical, scriptural, narrative, and immersive, even. Meredith went so far as to create a playlist, with beautiful worship to coincide with each chapter, as well as beautiful printable resources and prints - one of which was included in our conference goodie bag! It was meant to be, and I'm so grateful to her for sharing her story and encouraging us, the readers, to process everyday life, awake to God's manna gifts.

In Want and In Plenty by Meredith McDaniel is an amazing, encouraging read. She guides you so beautifully to look back at your life and see the hand of God. I could not recommend this book more. It is a book to read slowly and savor, to read again and again throughout your life. God is near and always has been. This author's encouraging words will help you examine your own life and see Him at work. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

“We open our eyes, we discover the beauty in the mess, and we find the manna in every moment. We become fully present and mindful of what is good right here, right now with every breath. This is how we live in a land of longing while we await heaven and all that is to come.”
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through thoughtful journaling prompts and the story of God’s people in Exodus, IN WANT + PLENTY teaches how to trust in God’s care and provision even through difficult circumstances. the book was filled with truth to encourage in seasons of doubt and brokenness and provided really helpful questions and guided journaling. worth picking up if you’re in a season of questioning your story or purpose. #InWantPlenty

When an author writes from her own spiritual relationship coupled with being a licensed counselor, you get an authentic perspective with thought provoking guidance. Meredith McDaniel discusses the book of Exodus as the Israelites journey through the desert. It is not necessarily a Bible study on the book of Exodus, but more of a side by side comparison. She uses guided journaling to help you see how to let go of the tight grip we have on  our plans and let God be our provider. Just as God would provide "manna" from heaven daily to feed the Israelites, she focuses on finding the "manna" in our own lives. Learning how to recognize God's hand in the daily circumstances. 

I really enjoyed the way in which this book is laid out for the reader. It leads you through the journey as though you are sitting with a trusted mentor who doesn't just tell you the answer but leads you to it. It's not a surface level read as it will make you take pause and think deeper. It has many thought provoking questions throughout, scriptures for you to meditate on and songs to use as a resource. It's a book that I will go back to as a guide when I need to be reminded to look for the "manna". Enjoy this read and discover the Creator and how He provides for you!

A beautiful book to accompany you throughout your spiritual journey.

Meredith was able to bring the Book of Exodus into a wider narrative of one's own life, alongside personal stories with herself and others and poses questions for you to look at your life in a deeper sense.

A book which definitely needs to be with you as you travel through the obstacle of life.

The only criticism I had, was that the book seemed to repeat itself a lot and I found myself skipping through to get to the point of what Meredith was trying to put across.

This book, although principles are used from the book of Exodus, is not really a Bible study. It’s more like having several counseling sessions with the author, who leads the reader through a series of questions to explore the reader’s own personal story. She also refers to the readers enneagram type, which is not a tool that I’m referring to in my life at this present time. The author does give some good advice about how we look at our lives and the struggles we face. I’m sure this book might be of help to those who may be struggling. I’m glad to have this book to refer back to, but I was looking for a deeper, detailed Bible study on Exodus.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful book. Based on the book of Exodus and the concept of manna, Meredith walks the reader through their own life journey and how they can see God at work in it. I loved the way she incorporated practices from her counseling background as ways for the reader to intentionally reflect on their own life journey. This book is creative, intriguing and very impactful.

In Want + Plenty
Waking Up to God's Provision in a Land of Longing
by Meredith McDaniel

Revell
Christian
Pub Date 21 Jan 2020




I am reviewing a copy of In Want + Plenty through Revell and Netgalley:



Despite having varying circumstances we all tend to long for something more. We ache for a longing of something more. We are born with dreams and many have plans and many have details on how to make those plans come true. But there comes a point in our life that we awaken to the fact that we are not in control. Perhaps it's a tragedy, the unexpected loss of a loved one, someone you love gets sick, or a plan backfires.


In In Want + Plenty Meredith McDaniel invites you to walk amongst God's people in Exodus as they wake up each morning to manna,
God's provision for them in desert places. The Manna of course represents God's provision in the desert places. In this Book Meredith McDaniel unfolds the story of the people of Exodus complete dependence on the Lord, and through the journaling exercises included with this book you'll learn the importance of that dependence on your own walk.




If you are looking for a good book that will highlight the importance of that dependence on the Lord.


I give In Want + Plenty five out of five stars!



Happy Reading

This book is one you will want to take down and reread every year or so as a touchstone. Her chapter that touches on anxiety was particularly helpful to me, and her whole book spoke freedom and knowing what to do with what we’ve been given as weaknesses AND strengths. This is a practical “about face” reminder and guide, much needed, especially in this generation of mental/spiritual health awareness. Reading it makes you feel simultaneously like you are on a trusted therapist’s couch, under her competent guidance, while at the same time the couch of a friend who you can be vulnerable with and kick off your shoes, drink your tea and cry and pray with. She is an encourager and a mentor, and speaks one on one. Devour this book and then give it to a friend.

Our circumstances might look different but we all usually long for something more. We all have dreams, we make plans -- but we all come to a point in life where we have to realize we are not in control. Whether it is health issues, financial troubles, relational problems or even the death of a loved one, we will come to the point where we have to accept that we are not in control. And yet, the Lord can always provide for us what we need, just when we need it.

With compassion, Meredith McDaniel invites the reader to walk alongside God's people in Exodus where the Israelites walking through the wilderness and war, and yet they wake up each morning to manna, God's provision for them in desert places. As Meredith McDaniel unfolds the story of the Israelites' dependence on their Creator, you will also discover how God is providing for you right now, where you are in your own story. Each chapter comes with questions and prompts for journaling, so you can process your own life and God's provision for you. The chapters also come with song recommendations for the journey.

Meredith McDaniel's book, In Want + Plenty, came at the right time for me. In my devotions, I was reading through Exodus while I was reading this book. Reading both of these at the same time, opened my eyes to see the way God is providing and has been providing me in my times of wilderness and in my times of plenty. This book is a beautiful companion to the Exodus journey, helping the reader to reflect their own life and how God is at work in every situation. I enjoyed reading this book.

This has to be one of the first nonfiction Christian books that I have read that uses an entire book of the Bible within their writing to tell a story and teach a message, and it was SO well done!

Meredith McDaniel wrote 'In Want + Plenty' using the book of Exodus to show readers how God used manna as sustenance for the Israelites as they were escaping slavery and oppression and how he STILL uses manna for us today. It just looks a little different than the bread the Israelites experienced.

Manna comes in the form of a friend who reaches out on a hard day, or a sermon that feels like it is spoken directly at us, or in the kind stranger who lets you cut the grocery line with two crying toddlers. All manna points us to the kindness of God.

This may be the most beautiful book I have ever read, and I'm not just talking about the words! The cover is just a sneak peek to what you will find inside. Each chapter has beautiful quote pages, and at the end of each chapter, Meredith includes prompts to help you journal throughout the book.

“We don’t allow ourselves to feel the emotions that flow as a result of our distrust, and we are unable to connect with people or God. We guard our heart and keep those we love at bay to resist the pain that may come. We feel unworthy of loving well and accepting love.” - From “In want + plenty“ by Meredith McDaniel

Starting from the want we all feel in life at some point, Meredith McDaniel, in In want + plenty walks the reader through how to recognise and appreciate the manna God provides each day. She shares her hope that “using the book of Exodus as our guide, we will travel together on a narrative journey—a quest if you will—to trace the hand of our Creator throughout a 440-plus-year wilderness.” It is a familiar narrative but, using her psychology background, Meredith shares new truths nestled in this historic journey.

Throughout the book deep, reflective questions are shared and there is plenty to ponder on. This is not one to rush but to rather to relax into and savour. In learning to appreciate our daily manna, Meredith shares several practices to achieve a sense of peace. She remarks “Rest comes in the stillness of surrender, when we relax and realize we cannot hold it together. Opening our hands to what Jesus has for us in the moment versus what we think we need breeds peace. When we learn to live in abundance instead of scarcity, a calm comes over us. We can start to hear God whispering for us to lean on him and lay down all the thoughts that are swirling. We start to breathe again in the silence.” I loved these elements to the book.

“If you were to hold out your hands right now, what would you list as manna in your life? Are your hands starting to fill up? How does this shift your perspective?“ - From “In want + plenty“ by Meredith McDaniel

Meredith goes on to tackle a difficult part of living the plentiful life, coping when hard time strike the ones we love. She shares several case studies and, through stories, she shows us how to live through the pain whilst drawing on God’s power to get us through, drawing on His provision and love. It’s inspiring and hope-filled.

“Sometimes it’s not even our own longings that affect us but the longings of those we love. We ache as others ache. Amid all the heaviness this world brings, we can see the loving hand of God threaded throughout each story, and his provision.” - From “In want + plenty“ by Meredith McDaniel

Exodus has so many key happenings which teach the people how to live for God and what that should look like. Accordingly, it is jam-packed full of relevant lessons for us. Meredith contemporises it for the reader and helps us to put it into practice.

“We are all image-bearers, uniquely designed to help point like arrows back to our Creator by the way we live our life.” - From “In want + plenty“ by Meredith McDaniel

I loved this one from start to finish and will be referring to it in the future. If you are looking to move from the “want” culture of the world to the “plenty” one of God, this book will show you how and deepen your appreciation for both the manna given by God daily and the journey the Israelites went through. It’s a five out of five on enJOYment scale and highly recommended.

1 star
This book was such a huge disappointment! I wanted to like and I really tried but I finally had to give it up at about 50%. Ms. McDaniel's obsession with the Enneagram personality type is just bizarre. This is supposed to be a Christian devotional type book, yet she quotes Enneagram and other random things throughout the book. I finally gave up when McDaniel started referencing Beth Moore, a woman who is a well known false teacher. I have no desire to read a " Christian" book from someone who follows false teachers.
I just cannot recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the book, In Want +Plenty, Meredith McDaniel explores the Israelites' exodus through the lenses of gratitude and being anchored in God's provision. Along the way, she weaves in her personal stories and reflections with examples from her experience as a licensed counsellor.

While she does offer numerous points of self-reflection, a further deep dive into the lives of the Israelites would have made the book more meaty. In Want +Plenty seems to be a beautifully designed book (sometimes, Kindle does not do justice to illustrations) and would easily be a great book to read chapter by chapter during one's morning and/or evening routine. Readers might also want to try the audiobook version since her conversational tone makes the content quite digestible. If you are a fan of fellow author Emily P. Freeman (who also blurbed this book), then you will enjoy In Want +Plenty.

I may be slightly biased since I was on the launch team for this book but as a research/psychology nerd (so much so that I majored in it in university) and a Christian, this book was fantastic. It is based on the book of Exodus, the therapists own clients and stories, and her own experiences. And it was fantastic. the questions throughout worked perfectly with the content and Bible verses and it made me want to read more. I now own two copies of this book and will be working through one slowly and gifting the other. I'd highly recommend it for anyone in a weird season of life and feeling like maybe God isn't listening or hearing you.

Meredith McDaniels is the real deal. Her genuine love for people is displayed throughout her book. Meredith's enthusiasm to point readers in the direction to look for daily manna is contagious.
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She gently guides us to know the ultimate manna, Jesus, God's provision of Rescuer and Savior. I highly recommend In Want and Plenty to help all of us needing to walk through our issues and rest in our struggles.
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She lovingly provides questions for us to ponder and gives us hope on our journey. I loved that she included scriptures and songs with lyrics to live by. Her explanation and details of the Exodus story all point us to Jesus.
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You will be blessed beyond measure and become a manna maker yourself after engaging in this book. Get yourself a copy soon!

This was a good reminder to focus on Christ through all your circumstances. I don't think it was really new or different from other things I've read, but we all need that reminder constantly and I appreciated the reminder. I liked the authors tone and perspective. She helped make it conversational and real.