Here, Now

Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overconnected World

By: Kate Merrick, Jamie Ivey - introduction

Narrated by: Jill Blackwood

Kate Merrick takes readers on a journey to drop the distractions and check back into their actual lives, discovering the good, true, and beautiful things God offers when they choose to be present right here, right now.

For too many women, life just passes by. They feel a lack, a deep dissatisfaction with their circumstances, so they busy themselves in an effort to distract from their less-than-hoped-for lives, constantly looking for what better season may be coming next. In the process, they miss the everyday glorious moments God wants to use and speak through today.

In Here, Now, Kate Merrick invites women to stop running away from their actual lives and instead to walk in the peace and fullness God offers when they quiet their souls, listen to what he's saying, and live with brave intentionality. With more than a little personal confession, humor, and honest contemplation, Kate brings readers into her journey to look deep inside her heart, identify and remove the obstacles that prevent her from being truly present, and intentionally receive the gifts of God found in all of life's moments--the painful ones, the big and beautiful ones, and also the ordinary ones.

All time favorite

Kate’s words are inspiring and entertaining. I couldn’t recommend this book more. Couldn’t stop listening

Highly recommend

This book is beautifully captivating, a tenderly truthful wake up call, and right to heart.

Loved It!

Loved It! The book was what I needed at this moment to give me a different perspective on something I was struggling with. the Narration was Excellent.

Mindset altering

Careful.....don’t read this book unless you are ready to change your mindset and be challenged. So much of what we do on a day to day basis is centered around social media. Kate will challenge you take control of the amount of time and thought you give social media and identify what is truly important and meaningful. This book will have you analyzing your life and reprioritizing in a way that will stretch and grow you. Love it. Having my teens listen to this book while traveling this summer and hoping to instill a sense of responsibility and control over the role of social media in their lives.

No more living for "likes"

I was blessed with Kate speaking at a women's conference last year. Her message struck me profoundly. I went the summer off social media. I was astounded at what a chore it was, how ingrained in my life it had become. At the end of summer I downloaded the app again and had discovered just how disappointed I was in most of my friends list. Hate spewing politics, unChristianlike proclamations by people claiming to be "His." I had uninstalled over the summer to discover the richness of life without social media. Pouring in to "Here Now." After a brief reentry not only did I uninstall - I deactivated! Probably just in time with this pandemic happening.

On a technical note, setting the audible app to stop at chapter end didn't work. It cuts off about 5 minutes before the actual conclusion of the chapter.