7 An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

A pastor's wife recounts her family's humorous and inspiring experiences while conducting a seven-month experiment to reduce their dependence on material consumption by selecting seven areas of excess and making seven decisions to combat it.

7 Experiment Workbook. A guided journey through the 7 major areas of excess and clutter that we need to minimize and fight against. American life can be excessive, to say the least. And I was living it. In fact, all I wanted was more. Was there even such a thing as enough? My family finally decided that we wanted to do something about it, and that's where 7 came in. SEVEN was an experiment. We decided that we were going to try - just try - to address 7 places in our lives where we were overdoing it: Food, Clothes, Possessions, Media, Waste, Spending, and Stress. Simply put - SEVEN changed our lives. I think it can change yours, too. Learn How to be Free

Why do we pursue more when we'd be happier with less? In this updated edition of 7, now in hardcover for the first time, New York Times bestselling author Jen Hatmaker tells the story of how she and her family tried to combat overindulgence--and what they learned along the way about living a truly meaningful life. Simple & Free is the true story of how Jen Hatmaker (along with her family) identified seven areas of excess--food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, and stress--and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence. So, what's the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It's the discovery of a greatly increased connection with God--a call toward simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better life. In this new edition, written not just for readers of faith but for everyone who craves a gentler, simpler life, Hatmaker shares how sustainability and generosity still impact and challenge her today. Annotated throughout with new reflections from the author, this book offers thoughtful insights on the vastly different world of Simple & Free from back when it was first published as 7, and considers the dramatically different space Hatmaker occupies now. Simple & Free is funny, raw, and not a guilt trip in the making. Come along and discover what Jesus' version of rich, blessed, and generous might look like in your life.

Interrupted follows the author’s messy journey through life and church and into living on mission. Snatching Jen from the grip of her consumer life, God began asking her questions like, “What is really the point of My Church? What have I really asked of you?” She was far too busy doing church than being church, even as a pastor’s wife, an author of five Christian books, and a committed believer for 26 years. She discovered she had missed the point. Christ brought Jen and her family to a place of living on mission by asking them tough questions, leading them through Scripture, and walking together with them on the path. Interrupted invites readers to take a similar journey.

What is the payoff from living a deeply reduced life at Christmas? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased God; a call toward Christ-like generosity.

Big Mama blog founder and New York Times bestselling author Melanie Shankle helps us sort through our questions about being true to ourselves in a world gone crazy and what matters the most in the end. These days, so many voices tell us what to do, what to think, and what kind of parent or friend or spouse to be that it's easy to feel overwhelmed and defeated. Somewhere in the midst of online arguments and crazy politics and the ups and downs of life, we've lost sight of the gifts that are all around us: kindness, love, mercy, and joy. In On the Bright Side, Melanie Shankle reminds us of the unchanging principles we can count on in a changing world. These are lessons that Melanie has learned along the way about how to find all the joy that life has to offer--and why encouragement is never something to keep to ourselves. Melanie invites us to lead with love in all areas of our lives, exploring topics such as: Finding your people Giving up on comparing and competing Aging (kind of) gracefully Believing in ever after Staying mostly sane while raising kids Thinking before speaking Making decisions And more! This delightful memoir highlights the joys of life told in Melanie's down to earth, relatable, and totally enjoyable style. On the Bright Side is a how-to guide to knowing--and living--what matters most.

Discover the peace found in a radically simpler life using this guided journal featuring prompts based on the joyful, liberating lessons shared by New York Times bestselling author Jen Hatmaker in Simple and Free- 7 Experiments Against Excess. In Simple and Free, first published as 7, Jen Hatmaker described her reckoning with excess through a social experiment, which turned into a spiritual movement. Now, in Simple and Free- Guided Journal, Hatmaker invites readers to examine their own seven areas of excess--from stress to spending to social media--and identify personal practices toward creating a life of "enough." It's one thing to imagine a better story; it's another thing to live one. This guided journal helps readers simplify the excess in their lives in practice, not just wishful thinking. Simple and Free- Guided Journal is a tool to help readers stay attentive, inspect their tendencies thoughtfully, and combat the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence. It invites readers to deeply explore seven areas of excess- food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, and stress--and create pathways towards a gentler, simpler life.

Inspired by her iconic 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, New York Times-bestselling author Jen Hatmaker explores the spiritual side of a simpler life and the way our choices affect our spirit, our loved ones, our community, and the earth in her new gift book 7 Days of Simplicity: A Season of Living Lightly. In 7 Days of Simplicity Hatmaker shares from her own experiences in living lightly, “finding deep delight in exactly what you have and where you are, never letting anyone shame you out of simplicity or contentment.” Throughout the book are excerpts of Jen’s own journey to offer hope, humor, facts, and encouragement for the reader with a fresh look at how our own daily choices affect the sustainability of our lives and God’s earth. The book confronts our desire to compete in the all-consuming consumer-goods game calling the reader to slow down, catch a breath, live with intention, and live like today is all we have, because those small ripples eventually make big waves for everyone.