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I Choose Brave

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Staying Brave…and something new!

by Katie

Choosing brave is one thing, staying brave is another. Keep stepping. Keep choosing brave. It makes all the difference.

 

So here’s the thing, choosing brave isn’t just a onetime deal.  It’s an every time deal.

Brave isn’t something to check off your list, a task to be mastered or battle to be won.  Although there are small victories, victories which are no doubt a cause for celebration, life is a growing and changing mechanism.  Situations will arise daily, out of nowhere, at times.  And your brave will be tested.

Relationships seem to provide the most opportunity for us to choose brave.  It’s easy to take a brave stand in one corner of our minds, but when we engage the rest of the world, a world of individuals with their own ideas, their own backstory, their own opinions, well, that is when brave gets harder.  But brave isn’t always engaging, remember?  Sometimes brave is not engaging at all.  It’s tricky like that.

So I want to encourage you, friends; keep seeking Truth.  Keeping fighting to make brave choices, not just easy ones.  Brave isn’t a fast food choice, it’s the choice that represents your truest beliefs.  It’s not the easy way out, but the right one. It is getting back up and making amends after you’ve made the wrong one.   It’s swapping short term ideals for long term gains.  It’s diving into the fray, not because we aren’t afraid, but because we value truth, integrity and whole-hearted living over a cheap imitation, over just getting by.

 

Integrity is not just professing our values, but practicing them.

 

Six months now, I’ve been writing here.  I have so much still to learn, but it’s getting easier to navigate the world of blogging.  The technical part isn’t quite as challenging, and I’m starting to find a rhythm.  Even so, the choosing brave hasn’t changed.

A few months ago, I learned of two contributor sites that were looking to add writers.  Each were seeking writers in the Christian living niche, who would provide monthly articles for their site.  Having gained some comfortability here, I decided to apply, throwing it out a as fleece of sorts.  I prayed a simple prayer asking God to make this happen if it was supposed to and sink the ship if it wasn’t. And I left it at that.

With both applications I had to give a little information about myself, provide what I thought to be some of my best writing and if they were interested they would review this blog for more.  Simple enough.  Yet for me, every step of writing feels a bit like that old middle school nightmare – the one where you are standing in front of the classroom in your underwear.  Seriously.  I’m learning to just mentally process it every time, okay, underwear, I can do this.  I still cringe a little at times, but I keep stepping.

So I sent off my applications.  And I promptly received my first denial.  Thanks, but no thanks.  We got lots of great applicants and you weren’t one of them.  That wasn’t quite verbatim, but that is what I read anyway.  I fought the urge to sulk as I remembered my fleece, my sink the ship, and I kept stepping.

 

Brene Brown - Keep Being Brave

 

The second application fared a little better.  The site owner contacted me and asked a few questions.  We exchanged question and answer emails over the next couple weeks.  Until, we didn’t.

Weeks passed and I realized I never heard anything more.  No more follow up questions, no denial, just silence.  Upon realizing this I looked up the website, an existing site that was to be re-launching this fall.  And there I found the names of their newest contributors, their headshot and bios being added to the site.  Of course, I wasn’t one of them. Shoot, again.

I recently heard Andy Andrews speak about how he was rejected some 50 times before he published one of his best-selling books. Dr. Seuss was rejected 27 times and even told he didn’t have what it takes to connect with children.  I realize I’m not writing books here, but I’ve prepared my heart for rejection in this game.  It’s part of any game, really.  Rejection is inherent to putting yourself out there, inherent to stepping.

But I felt a bit different about this one.  The back and forth communication looked promising and then just disappeared.  So I chose brave. I sent the site developer who I had been corresponding with, an email.  I simply stated that I hadn’t heard back and was wondering if the selection process was complete.

Minutes later, I received a reply.  Yes, the contributors had all been selected.  But, there had been some kind of mistake.  My application was selected and approved, but somehow they thought I wasn’t interested.  Long story short, if I could catch up quickly they would make room for me as a monthly contributor, before the site officially launched.

One brave e-mail changed everything.

It doesn’t always work that way, friends, but sometimes, it does.

Often times, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose by taking the next brave step.  I could have reasoned that my e-mail was a waste of time, wondered if I would have appeared desperate.  I could have talked myself out of sending that e-mail in a thousand different ways, but because brave is never far from my mind I tapped out the 60 second e-mail and hit send.  One small, brave step that changed things.

He who promised is faithful.

 

So on Monday, the Sweet Jesus Ministries website officially launches and, guess what?  I get to be one of their monthly contributors!  I’m thrilled about this new opportunity and thankful for God’s faithfulness as I intentionally and continually seek to grow whatever gifts He has given me.

Pop on over and checkout the site.  I’ve gotten to know some of the ladies behind the screen over the past few weeks and let me tell you, these ladies can write.  They love Jesus wildly and seek to proclaim His truth with their lives.  I don’t know about you, but these are my kind of people.  So check out the site and be sure to stop by all month long; they have a ton of giveaways planned for the month of November as they celebrate the new site and welcome new readers.

And keep choosing brave, friends. I’m choosing it right along with you.

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Filed Under: Living Brave Tagged With: staying brave, writing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Darla Westenberg says

    November 2, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    Very excited to see where this takes you!

    • Katie says

      November 3, 2015 at 6:49 am

      Thank you! I’m just trying my best to be faithful, right where I’m at. 😉

  2. Diane Klettke says

    November 2, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    Hi Katie,
    I’m glad that you sent that email too. It is exciting for me to be a part of this wonderful group of women. I am looking forward to getting to know you and the others – through your words and your heart expressed in those words.

    • Katie says

      November 2, 2015 at 9:09 pm

      Thank you, Diane! I agree whole heartedly and I am blessed to be on this adventure with you! <3

  3. Laura E says

    November 2, 2015 at 8:55 am

    Congratulations, Katie! How exciting! 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” I seem to think that I have a timid spirit, but I remind myself of this when I need to step out and be bold, to send that email, to ask that question, to take action.

    • Katie says

      November 2, 2015 at 2:29 pm

      Yes, Laura! And thank you. He is the true source of all my brave. 🙂

  4. Susan says

    November 1, 2015 at 7:11 am

    Thank you so much for sharing your writing. You lift me up and make me step out bravely every day, and you also make me stop and examine my thoughts and motives. You are a real blessing, and I pray God continues to work through you.

    • Katie says

      November 1, 2015 at 3:18 pm

      Thank you for your encouragement, Susan! Your words are a blessing to me. <3

  5. Kelly Canfield says

    October 31, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Congratulations! I’m a newbie to the blogging scene, so thanks for the encouragement to push through apparent rejection. I hope it’s me some day!

    • Katie says

      November 1, 2015 at 3:25 pm

      If I’ve learned anything, Kelly, it’s to simply be faithful. Wishing you the very best as you bravely begin this new adventure!

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Katie Westenberg

Hey, friend, I’m glad you’re here! I’m Katie. One girl determined to do life bravely. One girl determined to Fear God and Live Brave, to parent well, live authentically and work hard for all the things that matter. I Choose Brave and I hope you will too!

Enter your e-mail address in the box below and join thousands of women in the brave community here. It’s the simplest way to keep in touch and stay encouraged!

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Raising Overcomers: How to Teach Your Kids to do Hard Things

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This is fun news! For a limited time, buy a copy o This is fun news! For a limited time, buy a copy of But Then She Remembered for MOM and we’ll send YOU a copy of the audiobook for free!

Distraction is a multi-generational struggle. Remembering is a multi-generational command. Let’s do this, together. Here are the details:

Purchase your copy of But Then She Remembered from any retailer and then head to my website (link in bio) to get your free copy of the audiobook. It’s that simple.
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Available while supplies last. (Note: the offer says buy a copy for mom, not necessarily YOUR mom. Buy a copy for a woman who is a mom, or a woman who has a mom. 😊 They all qualify. Just grab it before they’re gone!}
I scanned a post shared by a friend awhile back an I scanned a post shared by a friend awhile back and the words quickly wooed me. I’ve long been a sucker for words.
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The writer spun them expertly, thoughtfully, vividly, and I was glad to drink of her craft, greedy for story drawn artfully, delivered thoughtfully, from a deep well.

Until I realized, the words weren’t true. The author was believing a well woven lie and carefully threading mistruth into her own kind of gospel. Her mastery, a thin veil for mistruth.
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I was reminded, friend, perhaps the apple looks a bit different today. The shape and size, delivery method, have gone modern but the Truth is still the same - sin is crouching, desiring us and we are commanded to rule over it. Still, today.
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We must know Truth to spot lies. We must remember it, to recognize the difference. We must be aware of our weaknesses and the sticky compulsion of temptation. It’s our responsibility to rule here. May we do so, bravely..
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{Genesis 4:7 
And more like this in the newly released, But Then She Remembered.}
This morning, remember. This morning, remember.
Just a little PSA to remind you - it’s possible. Just a little PSA to remind you - it’s possible. 

It’s possible to be aware of the news and the world, of foreign relations and politics, and not be obsessed about it.

It’s possible to feel the real hurt of real trouble and not be possessed by it.

It’s possible to be in the world and not of it. To remember who God was, and is, and always will be, above it.

It’s possible to remember Him here.

May we learn to do so, bravely.
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{Beautifully modeled in Psalm 77. See for yourself, friend.❤️}
Slow processor over here. But this little book lau Slow processor over here. But this little book launched into the world on Tuesday and I’m still reeling from the beauty of celebrating side by side with so many sisters, the grace of what it looks like when so many women offer their gifts for His glory (fishes and loaves never looked so good!), and the incredible support of my local community. I’ll never forget it.
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If you want to join us as women determined to remember the goodness of God in this wildly distracting world, grab yourself a copy of the book and LET’S GO! We are ready for it.❤️
HOW SWEET IS THIS? My dear friend @jodie_berndt an HOW SWEET IS THIS? My dear friend @jodie_berndt and I get to release books on the very same day - tomorrow! To celebrate @growthrootsco (another dear friend and creator of the loveliest journals) is giving YOU a chance to win copies of them all!

Here’s the offering:

1. My book - But then she remembered (how to give God your full attention in a distracted world)
2. Jodie’s book - Praying the scriptures for your marriage (trusting God with your most important relationship)
3. A growth book! 
4. Jodie’s favorite pens!
5. An Amazon gift card!! 
6. Marriage conversation cards! 

Beautiful, right? I know these women, their love for Jesus, their work and their words. You will LOVE these books, friend (and the extra goodies too). 

Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow @jodie_berndt, @katie_westenberg and @growthrootsco

2. Tag 3 friends (or more 😉 each tag or share gives you another entry) 

3. Like this post.

That’s it! The giveaway will close Wednesday night and the winner will be announced Thursday! 

*Giveaway open to U.S residents only. As per Instagram’s rules, this promotion is not sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram in any way.*
The humanity of Jesus Christ is an indispensable g The humanity of Jesus Christ is an indispensable gift to us as believers. Every challenge we face He met and mastered. The Bible doesn’t speak of endless notifications and group texts, but it does speak of people with real needs showing up in Christ’s path constantly. 
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Wherever He went crowds followed with needs and questions and frustrations and problems. He got in a boat to cross to the other side of the sea, and people would race to meet Him there. 

Can you even imagine?

And His most common response? He was moved with compassion. 
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Over and over again, He stopped what He was doing, paused from the task at hand, and tended to the needy hearts - the bleeding woman, the woman at the well - right in front of Him.
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Far too often I find I’m happy to entertain distractions - anything that prevents me from giving my full attention to something else - and yet annoyed by interruptions. Perhaps it is because one I choose, while the other I do not?
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Discerning the difference between a distraction and an interruption has been a helpful tool to me. I want to love like Christ. I want to be interruptible, but I want to give my full attention to what He places in my path.
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What about you? Are you more frustrated by distractions or interruptions?
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{excerpt from But Then She Remembered: How to Give God Your Full Attention in a Distracted World.}
UPDATE: You all scooped up dozens of copies in min UPDATE: You all scooped up dozens of copies in minutes! 🎉 Well done! You know how to love your leaders well. I wish we had another case of books to give away! We are closing this giveaway for now. If you sent us a message watch for a reply soon!
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I need your help with something fun! 
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This little book is making its way out into the world and instead of sending all of the marketing copies to all of the “influencer” people, we’ve held a supply back for the real people on the ground. 
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These copies are for the women’s ministry leaders and the Bible study leaders. The small group leaders and women out there mentoring and serving others in quiet and unseen places. The women without a platform or audience in the world’s currency, but willing to do good and important work for the women right in front of them.
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I’m convinced this work of leading and serving face to face is more important than ever and I want to say thank you! And keep going! Your work matters.
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So here is how it works: If you are a local leader or know of one who you would like me to send a copy of my hot-off-the-press book, But Then She Remembered: How to Give God Your Full Attention in a Distracted World, DM me with a name and mailing address. I’ll send them a copy of the book with a personal thank you note for the good work they are doing.
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Crash my inbox. We’ll send ‘em out while supplies last!

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