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This Undeserved Life: Uncovering the Gifts of Grief and Fullness of Life Paperback – August 8, 2017

by Natalie Brenner (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 109 ratings
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Can I be wrecked by grief and still trust God? Have the walls of your life ever unexpectedly shattered, but you didn't feel you were allowed to acknowledge pain? In her memoir, Natalie honestly shares her story of endometriosis and miscarriage, church trauma and abuse, transracially adopting while pregnant, and birth trauma. But this story is so much more than her story: this is your story. Regardless of the details of your story, Natalie confronts the question: how do you follow Jesus in the midst of suffering and loss?Natalie charges straight into the ugliness of suffering and the scandalous grace of the cross.This book will invite you into grieving loss in honest ways. You will uncover brokenness is not a part of God’s plan, you are not faithless if you choose to give loss the space it demands, and you are not petty if you offer sorrow a voice.May these pages offer a voice to the unseen aches in your soul. BONUSES INCLUDE: -Grief guide workbook: a revised version of Wholeness Despite the Brokenness-Further reading and resources for adoption and racial bridge building
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  1. Print length
    364 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 8, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.82 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    099916340X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0999163405
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Sometimes it seems like the world of writing where real life and Jesus collide is just for women. It would be easy to put this text in that same vein. It is more than that though. As a foster dad figuring out how to love and raise kids that aren t like me, this book spoke to my heart. As someone trying to figure out what it means to love The Church when hurt is everywhere, this book spoke to my heart. As a guy trying to figure out the meaning of life and birth for the women all around me, this book taught me pieces I never before understood. Natalie is exactly what she seems like. Full of hope and kindness even in the darkest of places. There is nothing false or fake hiding between the lines. Grateful for the words of this book. --Seth King, Refugee Family Support Specialist

If you've ever wondered if it's okay to be sad, if you're wondering where God is amidst your greatest grief, read this book. Natalie's story is our story. --Jeff Goins, Bestselling Author of The Art of Work

Some words of advice when you read Natalie Brenner's This Undeserved Life: clear your schedule because you won't want to put it down; start a book club because you are going to want to talk about this book with everyone you know; and try not to bawl after reading because you realize how painful, incredible, stressful, and magical life can be. Natalie weaves a story about grief, adoption, infertility, heartache, love, and more. Page after page you will be amazed at how one person finds her way through trauma and pain to a beautiful, imperfectly wonderful life. This is a must-read for anyone looking to find more purpose, beauty, and life. --Crystal Perkins, Editor-in-Chief at Adoption.com

About the Author

NATALIE BRENNER is a mom to two under two. She likes her wine red, ice cream served by the pint, and conversations vulnerable. Natalie believes in the impossible and hopes to create safe spaces for every fractured soul. You can love Jesus or not, go to church or not: she'd love to have coffee with you. Natalie is a bookworm, a speaker, and a wanna-be runner. Connect with her at NatalieBrennerWrites.com and join her email list.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BB Books; First Edition (August 8, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 364 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 099916340X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999163405
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.82 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 109 ratings

About the author

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Natalie Brenner

Natalie Brenner

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

NATALIE BRENNER is a mom to three boys by love (adoption) and blood (biological birth).

She is a family & food photographer, adoptive parenting advocate, and author.

She likes her wine red, coffee iced, and conversations vulnerable.

Like you, she is a fierce believer in the impossible and hopes to create safe spaces for every fractured soul.

You can love Jesus or not, go to church or not: she'd love to be in community with you.

Natalie is a bookworm, a speaker, and a wanna-be runner.

Connect with her on IG @natalie.kristeen and on her website at www.nataliekristeen.com — join her community.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
109 global ratings
gives us so much grace to walk through things and just keeps loving us through it all- love her phrase "scandalous grace" - God does show us ...
5 Stars
gives us so much grace to walk through things and just keeps loving us through it all- love her phrase "scandalous grace" - God does show us ...
Knowing you are not alone is such a help when going through difficult, messy times in life. Natalie reminds us that our God - never leaves us, gives us so much grace to walk through things and just keeps loving us through it all- love her phrase "scandalous grace" - God does show us scandalous grace! Thank you for sharing your story and for providing a space for us to say "yes and me too".
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Top reviews from the United States

stuartjash
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible story. Well written. Don't wait, buy now!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2017
Verified Purchase
I received an ARC of This Undeserved Life to provide an honest review of it. I base my reviews solely on content and writing style.

First, this book opens up with a very shocking story that I think provides the perfect kick-start for this story. It is a story of loss, grief, accepting grief, redemption, and love. The first part of this book chronicles a very long, tedious journey between Natalie and her husband in a memoir. It is full of stories of joy, but also and more importantly, it touches on some of the most private and intimate parts of their life. The fact that she opened up so publicly in this book was nothing short of breath-taking and sobering. Natalie takes on, arguably, one of the most difficult subjects for someone to discuss: loss & grief. The passion and honesty brought into this book, backed with real-world experiences was incredible.

The book then moves on to the subject of dealing with loss, personal faith, and trust. It shows the journey Natalie and LB went through to deal with their loss - the nights of sleeplessness, the tears endured, the hugs, and finally, the love. Natalie perfectly grasps what it is like to lose and how to fight back and deal with grief.

Not only is the content of this book so immaculate, pertinent, relevant, and real, but the story in-and-of itself is so beautifully told. The story reads so flawlessly that you fly through the pages without even realizing that you've been reading for hours on end.

I am very much looking forward to more books from Natalie Brenner int the future. This story is so eloquent, timely, and quintessentially told.

This book is superb and is a page-turning must-read. Bravo!
13 people found this helpful
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C. Hoffpauir
5.0 out of 5 stars Real, raw, and tragically beautiful.
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
I could not put this book down. Mine and Natalie’s stories are so similar! This book made me feel less...alone. Church trauma can be so isolating. Especially when you are in a position of leadership. I could relate to every single emotion she portrayed here. I found myself saying “YES! I’ve been there! I KNOW!” Same with the infertility and adoption aspects. My husband and I also experienced a stork drop adoption, so that part of her story brought me back to those wonderful, beautiful, anxiety-filled weeks. This book has provided hope for healing by realizing that it’s okay to allow yourself to feel the grief of your losses. SO GOOD.

I know that EVERY WORD in this book comes from a place of brokenness and redemption and utmost humility. Every story was prayed over, no doubt. Every word was guided by the Holy Spirit. If it didn’t change her life in some way, good or bad, Natalie would not have written about it. Every story, every quote, every word was a significant part of her healing process. God used these people, these stories, these experiences to bring her to a place of physical and spiritual restoration! I hope and pray this book does the same for you. I know it did for me. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
7 people found this helpful
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Peggy M McAloon
5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty Is Born From Ashes
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
“This Undeserved Life” is the story of Natalie Brenner’s journey to understanding that although life can be messy and painful, God’s grace awaits us when we abandon our thirst for perfection. The story begins as Natalie attempts to shed the memories of a dysfunctional family life while falling in love with a handsome youth pastor.

My breath caught in my throat as she explained the diagnosis of infertility she’d received when endometriosis was diagnosed. My heart broke for her as I realized little has changed in the five decades since I received the same diagnosis. People react to despair on so many different levels. We tend to live in the dark shadows of our loss because no one has ever given us permission to grieve for our inability to be normal. Does God create us to accept our faults and the wounds others inflict on us in their callous responses to our loss?

“God did not give us brokenness, tragedy or trauma…He is faithful, even when we are not.” Natalie’s words are similar to the words I use when told the tragedies of my life were part of God’s plan. My response is always, “My God is a loving God. He did not create me to endure the abuses I suffered as a child or as an adult. It’s not His plan that I should spend my entire life suffering silently to cover up the injustices others have inflicted on me.”

This is a perfect book for anyone who has suffered loss and struggled with the grief that doesn’t seem to diminish as the days continue to slip by. Natalie teaches us it’s perfectly acceptable to ignore a culture which conditions us to hide the agony of the hardships we’ve faced. She reminds us that being sensitive toward others isn’t a failure; it’s a form of power many will never experience. This book teaches us that we have permission to feel the sadness through the joys in life. The raw truth too many fail to understand is that we should never allow shame and fear to rule our lives.

The scripture verses and workbook at the back of the book provide the beginning of your journey to acceptance of your grief and His healing grace. “Christ sits with us as we carry the cross of loss and hurt. Instead of erasing our scars, He validates our pain.”
17 people found this helpful
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