Embracing Brave

Posted on by Michele Morin

It certainly doesn’t happen often enough, but when it does, it’s a glorious thing — the meeting over tea that has all the marks of the C.S. Lewis definition of friendship:

““Friendship … is born at the moment when one [wo]man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”

Open the cover of Brave Faith by Mary Geisen and begin to ponder with an understanding friend what it means to move toward the courage that leaves “fear, uncertainty, and other stumbling blocks behind.”  Read Mary’s personal narrative, and find yourself also yearning to be on the way to a soul-enriching journey down the road and away from your comfort zone.

Dipping her brush into the Scriptural accounts of the lives of brave saints, Mary also consults with well-known authors who have offered their wisdom on the brave life including Holly Barrett, Preston Yancey, Annie Downs, Emily Freeman, Jennie Allen, and Ann Voskamp.

Living brave may mean correcting our misunderstandings of what qualifies as brave.  In her own journey, Mary found herself staying put when that was not her plan at all.  Caring for her father in the final days of his life, Mary put her dreams on hold and found a contentment that was every bit as inexplicable as the wild courage that enabled her to tackle a mid-life missions trip to Nicaragua.

The brave give thanks by faith, and Mary challenges her readers to stop in their tracks and to give thanks for the gift of their present circumstances — whatever they may be.

Brave living is seasoned liberally with an abundance of well-placed yeses — and circumspect noes — and a clear-eyed awareness that much of life is not ours to control.  Living life’s messy stories with grace and strength requires a God-given courage and a living faith that trusts when God says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you . . .” (Jeremiah 29:11).

With daily Scripture reading and an offering of questions that invite the reader to ponder and to journal in reply, Brave Faith opens a soul-lifting conversation and then leaves space for the Holy Spirit to work as the reader steps out in courage — and in surprise, for the journey toward brave is a life-long process with a new vision and a fresh opportunity to experience the wonder around every corner.

//

This book was provided by the author in exchange for my review.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

45 thoughts on “Embracing Brave”

  4. Thanks for sharing this review, Michele. I have loved connecting with Mary through our blogs and reading some of her thoughts on living with brave faith. This book is definitely on the list of ones I want to read.

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  5. Thank you dear friend for this beautiful and thoughtful review. I am humbled by your words and encouraged in how when we walk with friends we are always stronger. We learn that we are braver than we know.

    Walking with you in this blogging world is one my great joys. Now if we could just somehow meet in person. 🙂

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  13. Mmm… being content with out calling takes courage. I’m gonna let that marinate today. Thanks for sharing about what appears to be a must read! Blessings!

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  19. Brave faith. I love that title. You don’t always associate those two words together, but when I stop to think about it–yes, they very much belong together. — Thank you for sharing a review, and congrats to Mary. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with #ChasingCommunity! ((xoxo))

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  20. Love this line in your post:
    “Brave living is seasoned liberally with an abundance of well-placed yeses — and circumspect noes — and a clear-eyed awareness that much of life is not ours to control.”
    Brave does start with knowing when to say yes and when to say no. #StillLearning
    ~Sherry Stahl
    xoxo

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  22. Isn’t it funny how we can twist what courage truly is? Love this: “Living brave may mean correcting our misunderstandings of what qualifies as brave.” Thanks for sharing about this book.

    I finally got to listen to your interview with Holly! So fun! It was wonderful getting to hear your voice and glean from your wisdom. I was encouraged.

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  23. Michele, I just read a quote from Jill Briscoe about staying put … It’s all about finding out what God wants, and sometimes it’s not taking off on the big adventure but living small right were you are …

    I listened to you and Hollie’s podcast, too, but got interrupted. I want to go back and finish it. Hearing people you blog with is almost as good as meeting them!

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  26. I love that phrase: “The brave give thanks by faith.” I will remember that one. (This author’s name is familiar – is she the one who hosts Literacy Musing Mondays?) Thanks for linking this up at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

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