March 13, 2012

Hey You! You Are Amazing!

Have you ever walked into a room full of people....and tried to blend into the wallpaper, because everyone seemed so pretty, so confident, so interesting, so funny,  and, well, soooo much more than you?  Have you ever sat in a meeting with a head full of ideas and not voiced a single one, because you knew everyone would think they were stupid? Have you ever heard someone was coming for a visit and FREAKED....going on a panicked cleaning spree that put the lives of children and small animals in danger as you tried to get all those jobs you'd been putting off done (like cleaning the kitchen junk drawer)...all because you'd die if so-and-so saw your house in its natural state?

You have?!

Source
Well, have I got a book for you!  It's called You're Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be.  It's written by Holley Gerth, who is the woman we all want for a best friend.  She's warm, funny, supportive, flawed just like us and God has given her this amazing talent to share his message.  Holley has written several other books that you can check out on her website.  She's the cofounder of (in)courage, an inspirational website for women.  She blogs.  She's a licensed counselor.  And she writes amazingly beautiful cards for DaySpring.  She's a busy lady with a lot of successes under her belt, but she still knows how we feel about ourselves as women.  She's been there.

I have to tell you that my copy of the book and a lovely card from Holley arrived at a very appropriate time in my life.  There were (and still are) some difficult things going on that really had me down in the dumps and questioning myself and my worth.  Opening the big, brown envelope and finding You're Already Amazing was like getting a big ol' hug just when I needed it most.

We women tend to be hard on ourselves and compare ourselves to each other.  And more often than not, we find ourselves lacking.  We tell ourselves we're not good enough, not talented enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not godly enough...and we believe our own bad press.  We believe it so much that we let it keep us from meeting new people, trying new things, serving others, and doing things we'd probably really love to do.  It doesn't have to be that way.

In her book, Holley tells us that "We are chosen, cherished, created women who have all we need to fulfill God's plans for our lives.  He has made us just as he wants us to be.  We have something to offer that no one else can bring...and the world is waiting."


God made us.  Exactly the way he wants us to be.  Wow.

If we're shy, it's okay.  If we're loud, it's okay.  If we're party girls, it's okay.  If we're bookworms, it's okay.  If we struggle with our weight, have curly hair and freckles, and can't sing worth a lick, it's okay.  God made us the way we are, he loves us the way we are, and he can use us the way we are.  We don't have to be more.  In him we are enough.  That's the message of the book.  We can stop believing the lies we tell ourselves and the lies others tell us!  We can stop trying to please everyone.  We're called to love people, but God is the only one we have to please.

The most freeing statement for me (given my current situation) was that "There is no condemnation in Christ, so if someone else has spoken condemning words over you, then they are not true - no matter how real they may feel."  Reading those words lifted a huge weight from my spirit.  I am not all the awful things that were said to me.

The book is a series of great advice from a friend and some excellent tools from a counselor.  The exercises throughout the book help you figure out the patterns you learned early in life, who is in your social circles, where you are in you journey, how you connect with people, what your talents are and how God wants you to use them....and so much more!

Women, you need to read this book.  I can honestly say that it has changed my thinking more than any other book with the exception of the Bible.  We're commanded to love....and that includes ourselves.  Let Holley help you see what God sees when he looks at his daughter.

**If you are interested, Bloom(in)courage, (in)courage's book club is just getting started with You're Already Amazing.

7 comments:

enthusiastically, dawn said...

Sounds great! I just finished One Thousand Gifts- but need a job before I can buy any more books! Hubs says!
BUT, I seem to be receiving a lot of books anyway. SO all's good. hanks for sharing another gift to read!

Marti said...

This is a book definitely going on my to read list. Thanks for sharing.

Rochelle@AFamilyofLooneys said...

Sounds like a really great book. I need to read this one.

Beth Zimmerman said...

Commented on your book blog. :)

Ellen aka Ellie said...

I'm so glad you were encouraged by this book!

Wonder if my library has it...

Wendy S. said...

Sounds like a great book! I'm always doubting myself and condemning my looks, the way I act, etc...esp. when I'm around others who seem to have it together when I don't. I absolutely believe that we're created beautifully and wonderfully and because of family, society, etc..we forget how wonderful we are and how sacred we all are. I might just have to check this book out :)

Stacy said...

Dawn...Tell Hubs you can get this one through DaySpring for only $9! It's more everywhere else.

Marti...You won't regret it.

Rochelle...It should be required reading for all women. We are so hard on ourselves.

Beth...Saw it. You're probably my only reader over there. LOL

Ellen...I don't know. It just came out. You may want to own a copy though because of the worksheet pages.

Wendy...That is definitely what this book is all about. It would thrill me if you read it. I think it would ease your mind so much. :)

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