I enjoy this book, from chapter one I found myself related to what she says. Emily Lex, open up and tells her own story about how it started and what it meant for her. Taking from the Bible verse from Mattew 11:28(The Message) in this book we will find many practical insights and advice, please take your time, don’t skip over. I think that many, I know I did can relate to Emily Lex's story, about her growing up since young age in church. She talks about how she did all the good things, had a great family and life, and still felt something was missing. In each chapter, we found a layer of her story of discovering and growing healthy toward God’s plans for her and how that can be for each one of us. This book helps me see much powerful truth, one of them was to learn the unforced rhythm of grace and how that changes our lives and how we see God. This book is a great choice for all those in a moment who feels something missing( even if you have been a long-time Christian), with great bible advice, this book could be a blessing to you.

Lovely drawing from the author( I like them)


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital copy for review, all opinions are my own.

This book is absolutely beautiful and I love Emily's art, style, and layout of the book. However, the content had a 'nothing new' and a bit redundant.

I have followed Emily Lex on social media for quite some time. So, when I got the opportunity to read and review her book, I couldn't wait. Her book is compiled of simple but beautiful watercolor images that will make you want go back and study the art again and again. Then when you read the words, inspiration and journey that Emily has put on paper, you will also want to go back and read the words over and over. It's a perfect book to give as a gift to a friend, family member or anyone you want to encourage. This book is a definite read and perfect addition to your bookshelf or coffee table!

How to categorize this book?! Even the author didn't know how to do so! Memoir/spiritual teaching/coffee table book. But really it's a beautiful mix of all 3. I read and listened to the book, so I got the benefit of Emily Lex's sweet spirit as she read it aloud for the audio, while also getting to see her beautiful art that fully inspired me as both a writer and artist.

Most nonfiction books I read start out strong and begin to plateau in their repetition or just become dully written. But not this one. I actually found it ramping up and becoming more and more relatable as the pages and chapters went on.

The highlight for me was toward the end when Emily laid out her Bible reading plan/journal. I immediately decided I wanted to try it. Get a journal, write out a table of contents for each of the chapter of all 4 Gospels, read a chapter a day and journal it, leaving space for a title of that chapter out of what you gleaned from it. You'll have to read her full description, how she did it, and what beautiful take-aways she includes. But it inspired me to definitely do the same thing. And not just through the Gospels, but through the whole Bible. What a wonderful and simple way to study the Word of God.

Another highlight for me, simply because I am a writer and entrepreneur who has newly discovered my love of creativity extends to art as well...was when God spoke to her and said, "Be an artist" not just do art. So she committed to a painting a day. As a writer, we always hear "Write every day" whether we are inspired or not. Well recently my brain has been too foggy to write but my creativity has come out in art instead. So why had I never thought to treat it the same way I did writing. "Create every day" would be just as easily said. I am giving myself this same challenge.

I highly recommend the book (probably even more than the audio, simply because of the beautiful illustrations) for you to take your own highlights from it.

"Life beings at the end of your comfort zone." ~ Emily Lex

We all strive to live a life of freedom and contentment; however, the weight of this world and the temptations that regularly attempt to take us away from God make our decision to follow the True Vine, Yeshua/Jesus, a daily battle. Do you feel like you're struggling to keep your head above water? You're not alone in this struggle. There is someone who wants to take your hand and pull you out of this place of despair and longing.

"The bravest thing you can do is open up your hands and turn your feet toward the path that leads to new, flourishing growth as you accept Jesus’s call to live freely and lightly." ~ Emily Lex

Emily Lex didn't know who she was. After years of being who others needed her to be, she realized that she had lost herself in the process. As Emily sat on the beach, looking at the gorgeous Hawaiian scenery, she cried out to God and asked Him to reveal Himself to her. Through many difficult lessons and life events, Emily learned how to relinquish control, abide in Yeshua's rest, fully embracing the promises found in the Word, and discover who God had always called her to be! In her book, Freely and Lightly, Emily details the journey she went on, encouraging readers to use her story as a spark to ignite a hunger within themselves and strive for a more purposeful life!

"Life with God is the very best partnership, and it’s one big, amazing lesson in collaborating, considering, and giving up control. This is what leads to real rest." ~ Emily Lex

Freely and Lightly was a stunning memoir with a touching testimony of how God wants to rescue us from living a mediocre life, transforming our hearts so everything we strive for will bring Him glory and give us the freedom that cannot be found anywhere else! As I read Emily's book, I felt the Father show me how her words are going to be used to inspire those struggling to root their identities in Him. We all go through many of the same struggles Emily writes about, making her open and honest stance inviting and relatable to everyone who is looking to release the weight that is preventing them from standing tall.

"Before we can fully trust, we need to get to know the One in whom we’re placing our trust." ~ Emily Lex

While I didn't always connect with Emily's story, her words inspired a new stream of journal entries that turned my focus off myself and onto other's faith journeys. Freely and Lightly reminds us that it's never too late to call out to God, placing the reins in His hands, though the journey will take a lot of trust, faith, discipline, obedience, and surrender!

"Are you longing for true, lasting change from the inside out? Jesus invites you to learn his unforced rhythms of grace, and when you walk in step with him, you will take on your true identity." ~ Emily Lex

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

Positive content: 4⭐️
Language: 0⭐️
Sexual content: 0⭐️
Violence: 0⭐️
Age: 16+

Emily Lex takes you along on her faith journey. From believing to truly surrendering to God, she doesn’t shy away from the often uncomfortable ups and downs that believers encounter in their spiritual life. What she discovered is that a life surrendered to God is the fullest and freest it can be. I’ve been a fan of Emily Lex since her days as Jones Design Company and this book didn’t disappoint. This book is for anyone who is an Enneagram 9, enjoys biographies or loves reading about faith.

Just like her beautiful watercolour paintings, the words in this book are fresh, vibrant and full of life. Emily Lex's gentle words tell her story of surrender to and discovery of Jesus' perfect way for us, while at the same time reminding me that freedom is available to me too. This book is just lovely.

Great book. Pleasant to read and challenging at the same time. I understand “try harder” girl. Even at my more mature age I still too easily fall into the trap of being anxious and concerned about the opinions of others. The book is full of great illustrations, both words and art. I read a digital copy of this book but intend to get a hard copy so I can see the lovely artwork in color.

With delightful illustrations to match her personal stories, Emily delivers her invitation to find God.

In Freely and Lightly, author and artist, Emily Lex uses beautiful illustrations and relatable anecdotes, as well as encouraging Biblical truth to remind us that we can find true rest in our Creator and Saviour. Because of Jesus' promises, we can live a truly full life, secure in the knowledge that we are who He created us to be. When we keep our eyes focused on what's most important--Jesus--we can move forward in faith knowing that He goes before us and that He holds our future. He invites us to come to Him, to lay down our burdens, and to find peace and rest in His presence.

I found this book to encouraging and easy to read. I loved the stunning artwork and appreciated that Emily always points the reader to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

If you're looking for a new book to use as a devotional, or just something to encourage you in your walk with God, Freely and Lightly just might be what you're looking for.

*I received a complimentary copy of Freely and Lightly through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

This is personal story woven into the verses from Matthew 6:28-30 (based on the beautiful Message version). I appreciated the author's vulnerability and gracious way of sharing the work God was/is doing in her life. I also imagine that this would be a beautiful book as a hard copy, based on the illustrations by the author. I will be taking on board her suggestion of personal bible study: reading through a gospel and without commentaries, accompanying devotionals, just take personal notes and observations and then give each chapter your own title.

From the moment Emily Lex taught with hope*writers last year, I wanted to get my hands on all of her books! To my amazement, she was releasing a new book - Freely and Lightly - and I just so was able to get an early digital copy. I devoured it. Her words are calming, peaceful, and fluid. It was a gift and breath of fresh air to read this book. I gave it 4 stars because there were a lot of dilemmas that I couldn't relate to personally as a single mom, so her upper middle class suburban issues may not be appealing to everyone, because I sure would welcome some apparent menial problems just to have a little more ease day to day. This book invites you to find "recovery, rest and refreshment at the feet of Jesus" and by going to Him again and again, we learn to do just that, in the middle of it all, to accept the gifts he has already given you and live freely and lightly in His presence. It's a daily struggle but her words are just the package I needed. I do love the premise behind this book and the title and cover are very appealing. Her illustrations throughout are gorgeous - even on kindle! Beautiful book and message.
*I received a copy of the book for review from Netgalley! All opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful book! An invitation to find true rest in Jesus with gorgeous illustrations to accompany Emily’s story. Anyone who has enjoyed her work in the past will love this book, a natural overflow of what we’ve come to expect from her.

There are millions of Christian books out there with different meanings and ideals. Emily Lex however, has the beautiful ability to take the knowledge given and share it with others. Emily's words feel like they are coming from a friend. I recommend this to anyone who wants to dive into their relationship with Christ or who wants a fresh focus.

There are a few writers that make you relax upon reading the first sentence. When I read Emily’s words, I take deeper breaths and I feel more at peace. Freely and Lightly was no exception. The repetition of the truths of trust let me rest in the unforced rhythms of grace. It’s lovely.

The illustrations are beautiful! Emily's watercolor style is unique and lovely. I had great anticipation for this book, but feel that the artwork is stronger than the writing. This would be a nice coffee table book or perhaps could have a spin-off as a devotional, but in my opinion, the manuscript itself does not hold enough weight / go deep enough to move from coffee table to bookshelf. Instead, moments are shared in snippets that are strung together like a devotional -- not a trade book.

Very similar in style to other books Emily writes. I connect with the audience she’s writing too but her style of writing lends itself to skimming instead of immersion.