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I Choose the Sky
Think for a moment about the ground you walk on. It is boring, stagnant, and usually lacking in beauty. What if all you were able to see every day was this lifeless ground? If all we could see was the earth below our feet, we would miss the beauty of the world God created. We would be less than God designed us to be.
This book is about seventeen women who chose to raise their eyes heavenward toward God by living lives of hope, boldness, generosity, and great faith. These are women of the bible whose faith will radically challenge you, encourage you, and move you to understand your faith in a new and beautiful way.
This scriptural devotion for young women will inspire you to raise your head and look into the eyes of Jesus, the God who loves you. This is more than a book - it is a challenge to make a choice. We can spend our lives downcast, or we can lift our eyes up to choose beauty - to choose Jesus - and to choose the sky.
This book is about seventeen women who chose to raise their eyes heavenward toward God by living lives of hope, boldness, generosity, and great faith. These are women of the bible whose faith will radically challenge you, encourage you, and move you to understand your faith in a new and beautiful way.
This scriptural devotion for young women will inspire you to raise your head and look into the eyes of Jesus, the God who loves you. This is more than a book - it is a challenge to make a choice. We can spend our lives downcast, or we can lift our eyes up to choose beauty - to choose Jesus - and to choose the sky.
Paperback
Published June 1, 2016
23 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Emily Wilson Hussem
13 books151 followersEmily Wilson is a speaker, YouTuber, author, and musician who travels the world sharing her faith through witness and worship at women’s conferences, universities, and diocesan events across the globe.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 10, 2021
Easily 5 stars
Every woman should own a copy of this book. (Another to add to my wish list since I borrowed it from a sister of mine.)
One of my sisters recommended Emily Wilson Hussem's YouTube channel to me a WHILE back and I never got around to it until 2020, when it seemed like all of the other channels I was subscribed to seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper into the current social cultures that I have been realizing to be toxic. I was super disappointed when a DIY channel I liked to watch had a video on "Drunk or High Painting" (one that was later taken down), and I looked specifically for an Emily Wilson video after watching a different video from the same channel that left me feeling... icky. Emily Wilson was a breath of fresh air. Her values and morals lined up with mine, and I didn't feel like I HAD to do what society was telling me was a part of new social "norms." It was freeing to step away from channels that had seemed so good at first but had somehow turned constricting with all of their "freeing" ideals. It was freeing to return to those who value faith.
Unlike other books for women that leave you with more questions and doubts than answers, not once did this book make me feel less than, behind in life, unworthy, or without a purpose. Instead, Emily Wilson Hussem delivers hope to her readers in the form of scripture, uncanny connection, and guidance. She seems to know what her reader needs to hear and know, but not in the "you're perfect" route that seems to be popular but unhealthy, rather in the "God made you for a purpose" truth that we often forget. We don't have to be perfect to do His will. He will guide us to do more and better than we could ever hope to do on our own.
I already plan to read this over and put more careful reflection. Each section relating to a woman in the Bible has a prayer and a reflection at the end. These made me pause, but I answered the questions in my head more than anything. For fiction, I often think about it a lot whenever I'm not reading it to try to figure it out, but for devotionals I haven't stopped often or at all to do some deep reflection that I should. These books require some more thinking put into reading them, so I plan to reread some books this summer when I'm not in school.
I'll be recommending this one to my sisters and friends. This was a part of my reading for Lent and my pursuit of teachings to strengthen my faith and trust in God. But I think that it should be read anytime, even if everything in life seems to be going right. This author's insights may bring to light something that needs to resolved or followed, as they did for me.
So, so good.
Every woman should own a copy of this book. (Another to add to my wish list since I borrowed it from a sister of mine.)
One of my sisters recommended Emily Wilson Hussem's YouTube channel to me a WHILE back and I never got around to it until 2020, when it seemed like all of the other channels I was subscribed to seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper into the current social cultures that I have been realizing to be toxic. I was super disappointed when a DIY channel I liked to watch had a video on "Drunk or High Painting" (one that was later taken down), and I looked specifically for an Emily Wilson video after watching a different video from the same channel that left me feeling... icky. Emily Wilson was a breath of fresh air. Her values and morals lined up with mine, and I didn't feel like I HAD to do what society was telling me was a part of new social "norms." It was freeing to step away from channels that had seemed so good at first but had somehow turned constricting with all of their "freeing" ideals. It was freeing to return to those who value faith.
Unlike other books for women that leave you with more questions and doubts than answers, not once did this book make me feel less than, behind in life, unworthy, or without a purpose. Instead, Emily Wilson Hussem delivers hope to her readers in the form of scripture, uncanny connection, and guidance. She seems to know what her reader needs to hear and know, but not in the "you're perfect" route that seems to be popular but unhealthy, rather in the "God made you for a purpose" truth that we often forget. We don't have to be perfect to do His will. He will guide us to do more and better than we could ever hope to do on our own.
I already plan to read this over and put more careful reflection. Each section relating to a woman in the Bible has a prayer and a reflection at the end. These made me pause, but I answered the questions in my head more than anything. For fiction, I often think about it a lot whenever I'm not reading it to try to figure it out, but for devotionals I haven't stopped often or at all to do some deep reflection that I should. These books require some more thinking put into reading them, so I plan to reread some books this summer when I'm not in school.
I'll be recommending this one to my sisters and friends. This was a part of my reading for Lent and my pursuit of teachings to strengthen my faith and trust in God. But I think that it should be read anytime, even if everything in life seems to be going right. This author's insights may bring to light something that needs to resolved or followed, as they did for me.
So, so good.
September 15, 2017
Finishing this devotional was indeed like losing a friend. I'm sure I'll read this time and time again. So, so inspiring; I'm left in tears. I'll choose the sky and every star in it (as I pass this on to the five or so people waiting in line to read this after me XD).
December 5, 2019
I started and stopped this book so many times. For some reason I found it very hard to keep studying it and meditating on it. However, there were a lot of really great messages that I needed to hear, and that probably lots of people need to hear. It's a book with a lot of personal faith questions and it's up to you how deep you want to dig and how open you want to be with yourself and with God.
I really liked the format of smaller chapters followed by a prayer and reflection questions. I would recommend to someone who is interested in faith and meditation.
I really liked the format of smaller chapters followed by a prayer and reflection questions. I would recommend to someone who is interested in faith and meditation.
October 10, 2017
This was written from a Catholic perspective, and I am not Catholic, so not all of the things in this book were relevant to my life. It did make some really good points, however, and I really enjoyed learning more about the women in the Bible, especially when able to compare their dreams, wishes, and struggles with my own.
January 25, 2018
Beautifully written by Emily. Her reflections and the selected bible verses were inspiring and uplifting. I would definitely recommend reading this book to those who are new to the sacred scriptures and want characters who are relatable and understand the joys and struggles of being a woman. Truly a humbling read that I won't forget.
May 17, 2023
This book is a love letter to the beauty of being a woman of God. Readers will become enamored with the heroic, passionate, and loving 17 women of the Bible that Wilson discusses in this devotional. This book will inspire women to be bold in their faith and to create a legacy for themselves as followers of Jesus.
August 11, 2017
I loved this devotional. It was a pleasure to dive into the lives of these women with my morning coffee. Reading this with a group of lovely ladies for book club, and cannot wait to see everyone's opinions. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gentle yet fiercely moving morning read.
June 21, 2020
The questions at the end of each chapter didn't really speak to me, but I loved the reflections after the scripture passages. Overall, a very empowering read that encourages women to reflect on their call to greatness.
July 4, 2020
If you ever want to just take a look and discover maybe for the first time the role of even the least talked about people in history, this is a wonderful read. It just tells you how much an impact each life can make on the world and that we can do the same.
April 8, 2019
Good spiritual book for teenagers. Has reading, reflections, and prayers.
May 30, 2019
Simple, sincere, beautiful.
Although some of the examples were more applicable to teenagers, this book of reflections has insight for every woman.
Although some of the examples were more applicable to teenagers, this book of reflections has insight for every woman.
June 19, 2019
“A life of faith is a life of action”
A great intro to the women in the Bible, some parts were a bit problematic, but i genuinely enjoyed most of it.
A great intro to the women in the Bible, some parts were a bit problematic, but i genuinely enjoyed most of it.
August 21, 2019
A wonderful chapter by chapter devotional for women, offering inspiring examples from women in the scriptures that transcend to our struggles in life today.
July 27, 2023
A sweet book reflecting on the lives of a few women in the Bible, and how we can apply the lessons of faith and trust in God they leave behind in our own lives.
October 14, 2023
I would recommend every young woman read this.
July 25, 2024
This devotion was inspirational! I enjoyed the reflection questions. I think I’m going to lead a Bible study using this book!
June 23, 2016
This book can be read by any women and it can enrich them to grow their Christian faith. As a 26 year old, I found this book very enriching. I felt called to tell others to read the book, and inspired to journal along as I read a section per day. For a long while, I've been looking for a book like this one. A Catholic focus on the women in the bible. I'm thankful that I bought the book and took this amazing literary, spiritual journey.
September 25, 2021
I just finished my second read through of I Choose the Sky, and enjoyed it immensely more than my first! Emily is engaging, welcoming, and relatable, making each reader feel like part of her family. She gives beautiful reflections and prayer space, and brings each woman's story into the modern day. I recommend reading through this book slowly, almost as a mini-retreat over several weeks. Overall, a book full of fantastic, feminine encouragement that I could not recommend more.
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August 20, 2016It was so well written and so beautiful. It reminded me how detailed and big God's plan for me is and it reminded me how beautiful and loved I am. Thank you Emily Wilson, you are brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews