Jesuss view of women was radical. So why does it seem like the Church does not view women the same way? Why, in so many parts of the world (including America) are women not encouraged towards their full potential as leaders in the church? Are you living with a very palpable tension between your roles of wife, mother, and career woman? You are not alone. The secular world attempts to embrace women as equals. We are equals in many ways, but we are not exactly the same. I believe as women, we are uniquely created for such a time as this. Let us lay aside the damaging judgements that we bring against each other (working or not, divorced or not, single, childless, many children, black, brown, yellow or white) and let us unite. Let us come to the table and have conversations about the strong, vibrant, thriving place the Lord has designed women to live in. We are His ezer warriors. May we be humble as we allow space for this new kind of conversation. May we step boldly into the conversation and even more so as we are propelled into battle. I see you warrior woman.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A timely and important book that challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations, and culture, from the #1 bestselling author of Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection Don’t miss the five-part Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart! “True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, MSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives—experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging. Brown argues that we’re experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, “True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that’s rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it’s easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it’s a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It’s a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.” Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.”

Neither Jessica Stout nor her father, Walter Horak, set out to publish this book, both authors wishing foremost and forevermore that there had never been a reason. Yet love for a little boy compelled them. FEEL ME BRAVE began as a blog by Jessica to keep her family and friends abreast of her young son's struggle with an incurable disease. But the power of her prose-unflinchingly honest, piercingly insightful, and on occasion startlingly humorous-settled deeply into the hearts of people following Ryland Stout's journey. Caught up in the same struggle, Walter began to write poetry as he groped for a way to express a grief that tormented his entire family, even as each day brought them closer to that inevitable moment of parting. Over time, the idea took hold to merge the words of father and daughter into unique, shared testimony. And readers urged that it find a wide audience, especially those facing serious life challenges or simply contemplating its difficult mysteries. The result is this remarkable book, a "treasure" in Dr. Ira Byock's estimation. Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, FEEL ME BRAVE invites you to open your own heart and to dwell a while within those deep places that make us all more fully human.

How often does fear hold you back from living your life to the fullest? Join New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker Annie F. Downs as she shares a call to embrace the God-given courage living inside you. Annie is the first to admit that she's not exactly the bravest woman in the world. Even now, she still cries sometimes when she leaves her parents' home in Georgia, she's never jumped out of a plane, and she only rides roller coasters to impress guys. But Annie knows that courage resides inside each one of us, and she's on a mission to conquer her own fears while encouraging you to do the same. Let's All Be Brave is more than a book; it's a battle cry. Annie uses honest and often humorous illustrations from her own life, contemporary real-life examples from the lives of others, and fascinating biblical stories to challenge you to: Discover God's surprising answers to overcoming fear, uncertainty, and anxiety Let go of the things that hold you back--relationships, comfort zones, expectations, and more Say yes to both small and big things Live boldly and sacrificially for God and others Hold on to hope, trust God, and be brave no matter your circumstances This book is your call to step into those places that require courage, giving you the help you need to take the next step forward—even when it's scary. Praise for Let's All Be Brave: "There are certain types of people who are capable of nudging us toward courage without making us feel small or insignificant, and Annie is at the front of the line. She has done that with Let's All Be Brave, and before you even mean to, you are putting your YES on the table." --Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of For the Love and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire

Find the courage to be who you are—not who you wish you were. Is fear holding you back from becoming your best self? Does it add stress to your day and keep you up at night? What could be different if you let go and started living brave today? Bravery doesn’t have to mean cliff diving out of your comfort zone. Life is about being brave enough—for yourself, for God, for your tasks, and for your calling—right where He’s placed you. A brave-enough life is one lived fully and confidently, with your shoulders relaxed and free from the weight of responsibility and the burden of trying too hard. Nicole Unice, author of She’s Got Issues, wants that life to become a reality for you. She challenges you to get real about where you are right now—the places where you feel too scared to change, too tired to endure, or too worried to let go. Through personal stories and practical application, Nicole will lead you on a journey to harness all of your misspent doubts, concerns, and fears—and discover what God is saying about who you can be. Don’t miss the companion Brave Enough DVD Group Experience (UPC 031809201381)!

You were always meant to be brave. Whether you're coping with loss, making a major decision, or facing a fear, 100 Days to Brave will give you courage and confidence to move forward. With honesty and relatable humor, New York Times bestselling author Annie F. Downs invites you to embrace the path and plan God has for you. Stop allowing your fears to hold you back. Face them head on with 100 Days to Brave as your devotional guide to walking the road to your most courageous self. Dare to spend the next 100 days discovering how to: Experience personal growth, navigate difficult transitions, and overcome anxiety Conquer your fear so it doesn't hold you back Establish daily habits to keep you mentally strong Impacting 400,000 individuals and families, 100 Days to Brave is for: Women (and men, too) of all ages Individuals wanting to ignite hope in their life Devotions by yourself, with a small group, or a youth group Gifts of self-care and self-discovery Birthday gifts, Mother's Day, National Best Friends Day, and holiday giving As a society, we are going through a lot! With anxiety and loneliness at all-time highs, it's important that you take the next 100 days to discover that you are braver than you know and stronger than you thought possible. Look for additional inspirational books from Annie: Let's All Be Brave Perfectly Unique Speak Love

After their nine-year-old son, Brady, was diagnosed with a rare leukemia, the Martins were determined to find purpose in the pain they were walking through. Kristin S. Martin began an online journal in an effort to remain hopeful even during the most dreadful days. In it, she documented how she, her husband, Brady, and the entire family rallied to support him in his fight. For the author, writing became a way to heal from wounds inflicted by the battle. As the family fought, her love for Jesus grew and became a beacon of light for the entire family. In this book, she shares her journal entries, which reveal how the family fought every day. Her words don’t just shed light on her own journey—they encourage readers to find healing, hope, peace, love, and joy in their own lives. Sometimes life is undoubtedly hard. Scratch that—it can be downright exhausting and seemingly impossible. But fortunately for the Martins, God had prepared them to stay strong Through the Battle.

"A cozy affirmation for introverts and homebodies about loss, love, and being enough." —Abby Jimenez, author of Yours Truly She found the right guy at the dead wrong time . . . When thirty-year-old post-double-mastectomy BRCA1 carrier and reluctant thrill-seeker Alison Mullally arrives at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral to discover that no one knows he dumped her, she agrees to play the grieving girlfriend for the sake of the family. Little did she know this meant packing up Sam's apartment with his prickly best friend, Adam Berg. After all, it'll only take four weekends . . . But Adam doesn’t want Alison anywhere near him. Forced to spend long hours with the grump and his monosyllabic demeanor, Alison decides to put her people-pleasing abilities to the test. She will make him like her. And after awkward family affairs and packing up dilemmas, the two form a tenuous friendship . . . if “friendship” means incredible chemistry and sexual tension. Can Alison come clean and finally embrace the life and love she's always wanted? Or will her little white lie get in the way of her new, unexpected romance?

After a string of bad set-ups and boring dates, Reese Brannon is done with men. She’s focused on her job as a fitness model and blogger. Her life in the city is fun. She’s young. There’s no need to look for a man because she doesn’t want one. Especially when relationships usually end in heartbreak. Jean-Pierre Rochat—known as JP— is done with women. All this Swiss hockey player has ever wanted is to fall in love, but his relationships never end with a happily ever after. Believing he’s always going to be dealt the friend card, JP is over it. If he’s going to be stuck in the friend zone, he’ll keep things casual for his new endgame. But will one hot Dallas summer night change everything for Reese and JP? Because when the two meet again when JP returns for hockey season, Reese finds her attraction to him hasn’t waned since their first meeting. Charming and intelligent, JP is different in all the right ways, but Reese realizes letting him in will make her vulnerable, something that terrifies her. JP never forgot Reese from their initial introduction last winter, and the sparks fly for him even more so the second time. But with Reese, his thoughts are anything but casual . . . Can JP and Reese let their guards down to take a chance on love? Or will this simply be a game of playing defense? If you like swoony heroes, lots of romance, and a couple you can cheer for, you’ll love Playing Defense. Can be read as a standalone and a happily ever after is guaranteed. Keywords: hockey romance, hockey romance series, hockey romance complete series, complete series, hockey romcom, hockey, found family, romcom, romantic comedy, contemporary romance, HEA, Dallas Demons Series, Aven Ellis, humorous, humor, chick lit.

ÿTortured Love follows the meandering life of one individual and his bizarre effect on a handful of people. The reader will acknowledge the ever changing pattern of the world and how a personal influence can incite everything from suicide and murder to love and romance. There will be a tidal wave of emotions from happiness to disgust as violence; retribution, regret and happiness are explored with a veritable force. This unique journey will be enlivening and disheartening in equal measures, concentrating on a colourful array of characters from psychopaths to poets and their parallel coexistence. Tortured Love is not for the faint of heart but then neither is life itself.