I absolutely love this book, and am ordering several copies as gifts for friends, so that they too can experience the blessings that Bowler shares with her readers.

What an extraordinary talent it is to be able to capture the essence of so many different emotions so exquisitely! We live messy lives in messy times. Some days are quiet, others are filled to overflowing. At times we're in a good place in our hearts and souls, and sometimes we are desperately struggling to hold on. But in every day, in every situation, there are moments where we can find grace, and blessings, and gratitude. That is what Ms. Bowler shares so beautifully.

The writings are very real, spot on, relatable and refreshing. I can't recommend the book highly enough!

My very sincere thanks to Convergent Books for allowing me to access an ARC of this book via NetGalley. The book is scheduled for release on 2/14/23. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own and are freely given.

It was a refreshing read. Easy and a comfort for the weary days. Christian concepts filed in lyrical rythms. I expected a more God-centered book, but, still, it is welcome for the busy days you go through when you simply need a quiet reading.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This is a book of blessings that you may want I read from cover to cover but I encourage you to savor it slowly. Find your favorites and dog ear the pages so you can return to the encouragement and prayers again and again. I marked a lot of favorites and will definitely purchase a physical copy. I loved the depth expressed in these prayers. Each one is meaningful and the organization of the book makes it so the reader can flip to what may speak to them in different life moments. I highly recommend!

A great book meant to be read in bite sizes for when you need a reminder about how great you are, or if you need some consolation, or if you need a pep talk. At first I tried to read a large chunk of it at once, but it's really better taken a little at a time, leaving time to think about each short chapter. I'm always a fan of Kate Bowler's honest approach to spiritual life.

I loved this little prayer book. I really enjoyed the prayers for all the different times and how you could also use it for Easter and Advent. The only thing I would ask for is maybe a verse at the beginning of every prayer. Other than that, I really enjoyed this little book. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review.

I love Kate Bowler and was really looking forward to this book. It did not disappoint! It took quite a bit of time to get through it because there was so much insight that I felt the need to sit with it for a bit before reading on. I’d highly recommend!
** huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A awesome collection of blessings to refer to over and over and to share with or send to family or friends. Whenever I am struggling to find the words to express thoughts or feelings I'm having for myself or others, I check the contents list and usually finding a blessing that speaks to me and soothes my soul.

A gem of a book! To be honest, when I picked it up I was a bit skeptical: I was expecting some sort of prayer diary. Quickly this book proved otherwise. It is steeped in beauty and written with finesse and feeling.

The blessings touch all kind of moments in your life in a gentle and honest way. Moments for which you usually have no words, but are loaded with feelings. Moments that you would rather sweep under the carpet because they aren’t pleasant or cozy. This book pays attention to precisely those moments, gives words to the situations that my head often describes as ‘not worthy to remember’, it makes me feel seen. I feel heard by reading these words.

I would like to have this book on my table and pick it up daily. Wanting to whisper or recite the words to people in my life who are navigating the situations described. Tear pages from this book and send them in letters to loved ones. A beautiful collection of contemporary blessings.

Big thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A book of blessings for various seasons of life, good and bad. It also has guides and specific blessings for the Lent and Advent seasons. The reader can pick and choose what they need for the current season of life. I bookmarked many of them. Excellent read and reference for both good and tough times.

Five stars. Many pages bookmarked. Immediately pre-ordered upon finishing the NetGalley ARC. This book is a gift I'll return to again and again.

I have been slowly enjoying this book - it's certainly not meant to be read all at once! There are prayers and meditations for all sorts of situations. It would be a great book to keep at your bedside or to read with morning coffee. The language is lovely and accessible.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I absolutely adore Kate Bowler’s books and this one was no exception. I love the realistic and peaceful tone of these blessings, and find myself reading through some when I need to take a step back and find some peace. They are so relatable and I love sharing them with my friends. I would definitely recommend! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie for their devotional book that meets us where most of us live--in the messiness of real life. These prayers/reflections meet us in the Lives we Actually have and help us reflect and see God in those moments.

I was already a Kate Bowler Fan from her earlier writings and this cements that admiration. I appreciate the reality of her life and will refer to this devotional time and time again.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Bowler has done it again! Her books and thoughts on life are a breath of fresh air. She has an uncanny ability to speak to your spirit but in a way that's genuine, real, and honest. She has mastered acceptance and finding blessing even in brokenness or when life is not so picture perfect. Thought provoking and well written, this book will appeal to a broad audience and speaks to our humanity. A wonderful reading that feeds the soul.

Kate Bowler’s words always come into my life during God-ordained seasons and speak life to me. Her newest collection of blessings and prayers finds me grappling with a new cancer diagnosis, a child struggling, and a season loaded with expectations and longing. Most nights I cannot find my own words to pray, so these words from Kate and Jessica have interceded for me with the Father. They are short and beautifully organized into seasons and feelings in a way that allows them to both stand alone and flow together. I cannot wait to see the physical copy I’ve preordered and hold these blessings in my hands.

Thank you to Convergent for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

I began reading "The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days" a day or two after my latest surgery and wrapped it up about 24 hours away from when I will gather with my physician to discuss biopsy results that will determine the course of my healthcare journey over the next few days, weeks, and months.

As someone who has lived far longer than anyone has ever expected with spina bifida, medical care has long been at the forefront of every decision I make whether it's where I work (or even whether or not I do work), who I date/marry, determining if the places I go are wheelchair friendly, whether or not I need physical care or assistance, how I serve in ministry, and many other life decisions big and small.

I've long resonated with the work of Kate Bowler, a Canadian academic and writer who currently serves as an associate professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke Divinity School. Bowler's breakout came with the remarkable "Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel," one step in the journey toward the academic world that was unsurprising given her growing up in a highly academic world. It is a world that Bowler continues to exist in, of course, but the life that Bowler actually has had, at least it would seem, veered her toward a life of ministry grounded deeply within this framework of honoring both the darkness and the blessing of the lives we actually live.

For Bowler, this began to manifest following her 2015 diagnosis with Stage IV cancer despite there being no family history of cancer. "Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lives I've Loved)" was published in 2018 gave us, in many ways, the fiercely intelligent and funny and insightful Bowler that we love. Suddenly, it felt as if we had ourselves a spiritual companion for the imperfect days and someone who reminded us that our imperfections do not change who we are in Christ.

Working alongside "Good Enough" co-author and the executive producer for her podcast "Everything Happens" Jessica Ritchie, Bowler has crafted a gentle and affirming book of blessings for those of us whose lives aren't so much good or bad but simply ordinary. "The Lives We Actually Have" is richly grounded theologically, however, it's also accessible in its language and understanding that daily life is messy and real and happy and sad and tragic and exhilarating.

Sometimes, all on the same day.

While having some understanding of Bowler's journey may very well increase one's appreciation for "The Lives We Actually Have," this is a book of simple prayers and blessings offer a chance to exhale amidst the certainties and uncertainties of life. Each blessing includes quotes or scriptures or both, intellectual insights (my guess is Bowler can never completely shut off that brilliant mind of hers) that provide a thread of reason and thought amidst Bowler's honesty, transparency, and authenticity.

As someone who grew up in an unstable home, I resonated deeply with "The Lives We Actually Have." As someone who experienced sexual abuse early in life and sexual violence as a young adult paraplegic/double amputee trying to figure out independent life, I resonated deeply with "The Lives We Actually Have." As someone who married impulsively because I thought I'd found someone who would love me "as is" only to watch her end her own life and that of our daughter, my entire being resonated with "The Lives We Actually Have."

As someone who learned how to be the person I needed in those younger years, I rejoiced with "The Lives We Actually Have." As someone who became an activist determined to end violence in the lives of children, my heart celebrated the glory of imperfection and scars and wounds evident in "The Lives We Actually Have." As someone whose body is imperfect and messy and often needs assistance, I found safety and blessing in "The Lives We Actually Have."

In short, the fullness of all that I am and all that I surrender to God every single day of my life found a home in "The Lives We Actually Have" and made me feel like maybe, just maybe, this square peg in the round hole of Christianity really does belong even on those days when I feel disconnected from the whole of existence.

"We don't need to wait for perfect lives when we can bless the lives that we have," Kate Bowler and Jessica Ritchie.

Indeed.

This is my first Kate Bowler book and I loved it. The blessings read like poems, and they are beautiful and encouraging. I love that they shared a schedule for Lent and for Advent season that you can follow. I think this would also make for a great gift to a friend who is going through something difficult. Thank you Netgalley and Convergent Books for the free preview copy!

Already a proud member of the Kate Bowler Fan Club, and glad to add Jessica Richie to the mix! This book is thoughtful, delightful and gracious. It would make for a perfect gift for someone that needs encouragement to start their day or is feeling uninspired in what life and faith looks like in the mundane. I'll pick it up again and again. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I love Kate Bowlers writing and so I knew I would like this, and I did....I loved it actually. It's written like a friend you don't want to say goodbye to. I love a thoughtful, authentic, and down to earth devotional and this is perfect.Thanks to Netfalley, the publisher, and the authors for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful prayer book that fills a lot of gaps in currently existing resources. If you’ve ever had an awful day and had no idea what to do, this book offers prayers. It gives you a clear way to connect with God in all moments. With liturgical prayers for Holy Week, Advent, Easter, and Christmas you can celebrate the important holidays. The book also has ordinary prayers. It is written for everyday use in a typical and ordinary life. I highly recommend this to anyone who has struggled to find prayers in their everyday life, is a fan of the authors previous work, or is looking for ways to expand their workshop and prayer life.

*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and reflect my beliefs.