I Choose Brave by Katie Westenberg, had great verses and reference to the bible. We must dig into God's word for ourselves and seek God above all, heavily emphasized by 'fear of the Lord'.

I struggled with the writing in this book, found it rather jarring. Major trigger warning for infant death, and fertility issues. Most of which this authors personal story and experiences surrounded around.

I don't know anything about this author or background but found the story to this book to be more about the mourning and suffering of infertility. EVERY chapter touched on this women's experience. I understand with this type of book will ultimately be told from the author's life experience. Sad loss and heartbreaking. However, as the author admits in the most vulnerable state the author did not choose courage and stepping into community during their horrible loss.

This book took me a while a read to given the context of the TW and was a sad read, I didn't so much take away courage from this read, unless one is disclosing now their past pain with the loss of their daughter. HEART BREAKING. However, not what I had the intent or expectation of in picking this book up. Those stories and pain has a place and an audience but I think being vulnerable and visible with such a situation is key.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers for an ARC digital copy for my honest review.

I feel like before I share my review, I need to put out there an important trigger warning that I wish I’d have known about going into this book. If you’ve experienced or are sensitive to the topic of pregnancy loss, you may want to skip this book altogether or at the least proceed with caution. The author shares of her own devastating pregnancy loss in a very raw and honest way, and as somebody who has experienced several pregnancy losses, it was difficult to read her experiences at times. This is truly nothing against the author or her writing, and it absolutely wasn’t out of place, it’s just a worth caution I find necessary to share.

I Choose Brave dives deep into the topic of “fear of the Lord”, something that isn’t often discussed in lighter Christian non-fiction, and I felt that the author did such an amazing job of discussing this in a tangible and most importantly, biblical way. Scripture is the root of the writing here, and I couldn’t have appreciated that more. This book is an invitation and challenge to courageously sit in the uncomfortable and the difficult, and then a gentle encouragement to step out to shift and adjust your lens accordingly. The author does not beat around the bush and speaks out honestly and truthfully from her own life and journey in her faith as she discovered what living in “fear of the Lord” meant for herself. Because of that, it reads very conversationally and feels as if you’re sitting down and chatting with a friend. I was left with a perspective shift after reading this one, and can say firsthand how relevant and important this book is. It’s definitely one I highly recommend!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the gifted e-copy.

I absolutely loved this book. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. It was a great book.

In I Choose Brave, Katie Westenberg writes about a holy fear that is seen in Scripture. While many would say they've heard "do not fear" is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible, Westenberg challenges the reader to notice the call *to* fear that repeats as well.

Each chapter begins with a small snippet of her story before moving into a discussion on different aspects of her topic. As a reader, I most enjoyed the portion of each chapter that told her story. The rest seemed to repeat itself, continuing to go back to two specific examples (Moses at the bush, Joshua and the commander) although she wrote there are many (other?) examples that are not mentioned. (Why?) My biggest pet peeve is the continual use of "friend" in her writing. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't need the author to call me "friend" over and over. It feels inauthentic, a stretch, and there are plenty of ways to write in a friendly manner without weakening a sentence by saying "XYZ, friend."

The other side of a coin many write about, but overall it didn't feel ready for printing.

Wow! I have been waiting and looking for a book on this subject for years and it was perfect! Thankful for an author who is not afraid to discuss God’s character and what it means to fear the Lord!

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book!

A deep dive into the unpopular topic of embracing holy fear, the "fear of the Lord" that we so often want to sidestep or rephrase into gentler language. The author went through truly harrowing experiences that she shares in this book that combines personal and scriptural sources of learning. Her journey toward understanding how a courageous standing in that fearful place can be a doorway to greater trust and security will be inspiring to many.

In I Choose Brave, Katie Westenberg shares how she came to understand that fear is the new brave. That when we find the courage to overcome our fears, it first starts with learning to fear the Lord. Steeped in Scripture, Westenberg shares her personal story of loss and how through that God taught her to learn to lean into Him and trust His plan.

I appreciated the way Westenberg approached this topic. She has an approachable tone to her writing that kept drawing me back to the page. The thing that kept this book from being 5 stars for me was that occasionally I would lose track of the message Westenberg was trying to say and I would have to back up a few pages and start reading again.

"I Choose Brave" weaves Westenberg's personal journey of loss and struggle with truth and encouragement to seek Holy Courage and Godly Fear rather than fear itself. We need to choose to move forward bravely rather than to live in a constant state of fear. Westenberg points the reader back to Biblical truth in scripture to share how her loss led her to seeking the Lord and His truth to live a life of Holy Courage. Her message is a very timely one in our current world.

Choose Brave is written from the heart, personal experience and faith journey in the Word of God by the author. Katie is transparent, as she shares her story.. Her soul-searching journey of putting aside platitudes about fearing God, then looking for what the Bible really means about fearing God is enlightening.. The book Is inspiring, challenging and encouraging. A great read for anyone searching about who God really is and what that means to each of us in our day-in, day-out life!! I Choose Brave is certainly timely, in light of all that has happened in 2020.

This book beautifully explores what it means to fear the Lord... a topic not so easily understood! The author shares her personal story along with bible stories and scripture to point us toward a better understanding of this. She states, "finding the courage to overcome our fears must start with fear of the Lord." In this day there is so much uncertainty and I want to move towards holy courage, not trusting solely in myself. I found a deepening understanding how to do this through this book!

I love this book! It is challenging and encouraging. I felt inspired to step out of my comfort zone and look at myself with the same raw courage that Katie shares in her writing. She backs up everything with scripture. It is definitely worth reading.

This right here....

It has been years since a book actually brought me to tears. While Katie’s story is one of heartache and real fear, the way she succumbs, actively seeks and pursues the Lord and then triumphantly overcomes is nothing short of a miracle. I had no idea when I purchased this book that I would share a common bond with her.

If you are looking to move from fear to brave, you must read this book! Thank you, Katie, for your story, your passion and your holy courage!

In a world riddled by fear and anxiety, Katie Westenberg's new book challenges us to choose holy courage and godly fear.

In the pages of "I Choose Brave," Katie shares poignant stories of coming face to face with fear, through heart-rending loss as well as everyday circumstances. And then, ever so gently, she points us to the truth of what God has to say about hope and peace in the midst of suffering and uncertainty.

With insightful quotations and applicable scripture, each chapter is one to be read and absorbed. Yet the book itself is so gripping you won't want to stop reading.

A book about what to do with FEAR? What a perfectly timed feast.

For anyone who grapples with fear that prowls your days, that influences your decisions and relationships, or that steals your hope and joy, this book is for you.

I bought it because when I have tried to be fearless, it never works. Fear is as much a part of my life as breathing.

Katie Westenberg gets that. When I ran across one of Katie’s posts a couple of years ago, I hunted for more. Found out that she lives a short hour from the Washington town where my husband grew up. Learned that she's a mom, deep in the trenches of parenting and daughtering and broader community. Heard how, in a thousand daily ways, she chooses courage THROUGH her fear. I saw her repeatedly surrender to a holy God who translates and transforms her fear.

I followed her. Subscribed. We corresponded enough that I trust her as a friend and a sister in Christ. When she said she was writing this book, I knew it would be good.

It is. Moving seamlessly between illustrations from her own life and the lives of the most frightened brave people in scripture, Katie provides clarity on what to do with all our fear. Her observations are authentic, moving, true. I loved every page.

Katie guides us through Scripture and her story to help us choose brave - to pursue holy courage with godly fear. Katie does a beautiful job of demonstrating that bravery does not come from some motivational self-talk, or step by step self-help process. Bravery, wisdom and courage come from the Fear of the Lord, because "The Fear of God is a fear that bids us to come". That invitation is open to all of us. Katie's book is so timely. The world tells us there is so much to fear. We find ourselves anxious over a virus, the economy, our children's education, political tension, and a church divided. If "what we fear is what we worship", it is time to recalibrate and "step forward in courage, believing He will teach you to see Him anew and to fear Him, and Him alone, right in the midst of the very thing you fear". Purchase this book today!

A heartfelt in depth look at the way the world views fear and they way Christians in relation to respecting should have fear. Katie shares her story of delivery her still born daughter Alison and how it was her brave respect of her father in heaven she was able to come out on the other side still whole. I never experienced that kind of loss but I have experienced loss of a loved one. Katie’s does an excellent job of sharing her real life experience and aligning it with how we should be living our life in relation to our relationship with god. This book will arrive on the book science in the right time when so many of us are clinging to the tighten your pony tail idea when we need to be clinging to god. Great book.

I Choose Brave is a wonderfully organized reflection on faith. I appreciate Katie Westernberg's humanity and insight in this book. Recommended inspirational reading that is interesting and well-developed.