Encouragement Comes

On Monday I wrote about the importance of "tending the garden."  The garden being our minds.  It was spurred by a post I read on another blog about how life, situations, and people can sometimes cause us to doubt if we aren't vigilant.

Maybe you don't know, but regular readers know that I have been dealing with some family drama in recent weeks.  Without getting into it here, I can tell you that some horrible, hateful, hurtful things were said to me and about me.  I know all about tending the garden and all the things I am supposed to do to keep doubts from creeping in, but it still happens.  A particular thought will sneak through the armor and plant itself firmly in my mind.  Then it will sprout, sending tendrils out into my thoughts so that it is constantly coming to mind.  And after a while I begin to wonder and doubt.  I pray, I read the Bible, I sing praise songs...anything to focus on God, but all it takes is one second of letting my guard down.  So, that's where I was on Monday....wrestling with doubts and my post was as much for me as for you.

Then a very cool thing happened.  The mail came.  And in the mail was a package for me.  Yea!  I got mail!  And it wasn't a bill.  Yea!Yea!!  It turned out to be Holly Gerth's new book, You're Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be.  Holley is a counselor, a life coach, a speaker, and a writer.  She co-founded (in)courage, keeps up a blog, and is in partnership with DaySpring.

I didn't remember at first but I had actually signed up to get Holley's book in exchange for a book review on my blog back in October at Relevant '11.  The timing was perfect!  There I was, in a funk and moping around feeling really bad about myself and here's this book out of nowhere with the message that I'm already amazing.  I've started to read it.  It's wonderful.  You'll have to wait until next month for the review, though.  Sorry....publisher's choice.

Then Tuesday evening at Bible study we were talking about the armor of God and fighting off the enemy's fiery darts.  We talked about how when one slips through it causes exactly what I've been writing about and the only defense is found in the Word, in prayer, in focusing on God.  I shared with the class about my struggles and about the package in the mail.  It was good for me to think about how God gives us encouragement when we need it and it was good for the class to see an example of that.  As an added bonus gift, the sweetest older lady leaned over, wrapped me in a hug, and said simply..."I love you."

I know who was sending me a message.  :)

The words in the card that accompanied the book:

You are a woman of strength-

more than a conqueror,

able to do all things,

a warrior and princess

in the kingdom of God.

You are called 

to persevere,

to minister, to pray,

to change the world.

The Lord has given you

all you need

and made you

all you need to be for victory.

So go forth,

strong sister, 

with a smile

on your face,

a heart full of hope,

and a determination

to never stop

until you receive

every blessing 

God has for you.