Invited: Live a Life of Connection, Not Perfection

“God is perfect so we don’t have to be.”
Do you ever feel like you are chasing perfection?
Perfection is passion, an ideal that makes us feel so strongly about the matters of our hearts that we act in ways that make us later feel shame and unworthiness, like we will never quite measure up. Passion doesn’t always lead to positive results. How can we pursue perfection without becoming undone?
In Invited, Bible teacher Christen Price weaves together personal stories with a practical party planning handbook as she shares about her own struggle with perfection when she moved home and began to build community. Her desire for perfection causes her to experience anxiety and meltdown when parties (and life!) don’t always go as planned.
With kindness, honesty, and Biblical truth, Christen will encourage you to:
•    Overcome the hurdles of perfection by finding balance instead of breaking down,
•    Receive others in love by releasing your anxieties to God so you can rejoice in the moments worth celebrating,
•    Discover that the antidote to perfection is embracing the beauty of imperfection and present not only yourself, but your home in an artful way so you can give and receive joy.
Celebrations, whether they be special occasions, a surprise party, or a spontaneous cookout on a Saturday night, are about spending time with the people we love. Hospitality helps us to pursue Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, so we can invite others to join us in a party we will never forget. Connected to Christ, we find wholeness, completeness, and beauty so we can celebrate the life we’ve been given.

Endorsements

If you are a woman who struggles with perfectionism and putting too much pressure on yourself to be all things to all people, you will love Invited. Invited takes you on a journey to freedom from the pain of always feeling the need to measure up.
-Alli Worthington,
Author of Breaking Busy: How to Find Peace and Purpose in a World of Crazy and Fierce Faith: A Woman’s Guide to Fighting Fear, Wrestling Worry, and Overcoming Anxiety

“Whether you’re a seasoned party planner or throwing your first-ever dinner party, Invited will draw you in with the warm welcome, genuine voice, and Southern charm of the author. And then, once you’re settled in, you’ll find inspiring truth about the ministry of hospitality and the many ways we can love one another through celebration. With story after story, Price shares her own experiences with events and parties, demonstrating how to plan and enjoy lovely events while also reminding readers that life will never be perfect—but, with Christ, it can be beautiful and something worth celebrating.”
~ Mary Carver
author of Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts and Plan a Fabulous Party {Without Losing Your Mind}

“Invited could be my story. Christen Price gets me. She understands a woman’s drive for perfection and how that drive so often just drives her over the edge. If that also describes you, don’t miss Christen’s new book, Invited: Live a Life of Connection, Not Perfection. Through real life illustrations and practical, biblical wisdom Christen digs out the roots of our need to be “perfect” and guides us to experience real connectedness with others through everyday hospitality.”
~ Kathy Howard
speaker and author of Unshakeable Faith, www.kathyhoward.org

“This book, oh my! It’s like a bubble bath for the frazzled woman’s soul. All my adult life I’ve been envious of friends who can whip up a five-star event without breaking a sweat. Invited has freed me from the shame of my party deficiencies, my dust bunnies, and burnt pie crusts. It invites us, through delightful stories, practical tips, and biblical insight, to explore God’s heart for hospitality—one that’s far less about perfection than it is about love. And we all know love can be messy sometimes. Why shouldn’t our parties be, too?”
~ Becky Kopitzke
author of The SuperMom Myth: Conquering the Dirty Villains of Motherhood

“In today’s world where social media is the mainstay of human interaction, Christen Price reminds us the gift of hospitality is about loving others up close and personal—nothing fancy, just a warm invitation to the table. Christen reminds us to live a life of connection, not perfection, and it’s this refreshing remedial lesson we all desperately need to hear.”
~ Joanne Kraft
author of The Mean Mom’s Guide to Raising Great Kids and Just too Busy—Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical

“Hospitality is not one of my spiritual gifts. I love being around people. I just tremble at the thought of letting them inside my messy house or my messy life. It feels too vulnerable. I’m afraid of being judged. Christen lovingly and transparently challenges me—and you—to get over ourselves. Because hospitality is not about perfection. It’s about connection. It’s about opening the doors of our homes and our hearts to the beauty of relationship. It’s about making people feel loved. It’s the same beautiful invitation Jesus extends to us: to be accepted and loved, just as we are, in all our messiness.”
~ Melinda Means
speaker and author of Invisible Wounds: Hope While You’re Hurting, www.melindameans.com

“In Invited: Live a Life of Connection Not Perfection, Christen Price literally invites the reader to embrace the power and beauty of relationships ignited and nurtured through the lost art of imperfect and authentic hospitality. Invited is woven with biblical insight, infused with doable ideas, and chock full of delightful recipes in the back. I highly recommend Invited for individuals and women’s small groups as well.”
~ Stephanie Shott
author, Bible teacher, and founder of The MOM Initiative

“A refreshing breath of hope and hospitality, Invited reminds us that rich relationships are far more important than a Pinterest-perfect life. Christen encourages us to embrace the grace-filled life of connection rather than the distracted hustle of perfection, and inspires us to look to Christ as we continue the hard, rewarding work of loving our people. “
~ Kayse Pratt
www.IntentionalMoms.com

“With her southern hospitality charm, Christen Price makes plans to connect with and celebrate her people, but she’s learned the hard way those gatherings don’t always go according to plan. In Invited, Christen encourages people to never see a party in the same way again. This book has a biblical foundation and ushers readers into the freedom that comes with letting go of perfection and striving for genuine connection with your people instead.”
~ Kristin Hill Taylor
www.kristinhilltaylor.com

“If you have ever struggled with anxiety or its cousin perfectionism, this book will gently release you from fear to love your people, place, and purpose through the art of perfectly imperfect celebration. This book is full of Southern charm and real stories and was an absolute joy to read.”
~ Amanda Conquers
blogger at www.amandaconquers.com