You’re Already Amazing
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Psst … pull up a chair and I’ll tell you a secret. You’d better lean in close for this one.
Ready?
You don’t have to do more, be more, have more.
(Holley Gerth, You’re Already Amazing)
I wouldn’t normally read a book called You’re Already Amazing. (Me? Amazing? Hmm.) I picked You’re Already Amazing up anyway because I read Holley Gerth’s blog and I value her heart of grace. I thought it was going to be a fun, fluffy book — a sweet reminder that I don’t need to be so busy and tired or try so hard all the time.
I was wrong.
Oh, yes, it’s sweet. It’s sincere too. And it’s so friendly, so easy and fun to read, yet so serious…and serious is good when it’s the sort of serious that says, “Yes, really, this is true.”
I was delighted to discover that You’re Already Amazing is more than a fun, fluffy book. It’s a sweet, wholehearted guide to being and becoming the woman God has created and called me to be from the beginning. And, as I said, it’s written from Holley’s heart of grace.
So, yes, I struggle with the “amazing” thing. I know I have the treasure of the glory of God in a jar of clay. I know the fullness of the glory of Christ in me is still to come. I also know — more and more with every year of my life — that I need a Saviour. I need real, saving grace. Yet, by the grace of God, I also know I’m made in the image of God. I know I’m a child of God. I’ve always loved the fact that, as a daughter of the King of Kings, I’m a princess of His Kingdom. In You’re Already Amazing Holley Gerth says that because of Jesus I’m more than “fine”.
Jesus steps in, takes us by the hands, looks into our eyes and says, ‘Daughter, you don’t have to be enough or have a lot. Only offer all you are, all you have, to Me. I will turn that into an abundance beyond all you can imagine. All things are possible with Me.’
God created me, He created me a certain way, He created me a certain way for a certain reason. Isn’t that incredible? And isn’t it what the psalmist said thousands of years ago?
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14)
What I really like about You’re Already Amazing is that it doesn’t tell me that I need to be this or do that and — zap! — I’ll be the ideal, perfect Christian woman. It doesn’t tell me to stop thinking so much and feeling so deeply and get a life or get a ministry. It doesn’t tell me to fix myself in such-and-such a way and attract a godly husband in nine steps.
You’re Already Amazing says that God created me as He wanted me to be and that there are things He wants me — me being me, not my sister or my friend — to do with Him. It helps me discover who I am, how I’m wired, what my unique gifts and passions are and how I can be this person, do these things, for the glory of God through chapters such as:
- Who Am I, Really?
- Why Do I Feel This Way?
- Where Am I Going?
- What Does God Want Me to Do with My Life?
- Is It Okay to Take Care of Myself?
Holley Gerth writes with a delightfully cosy, friendly tone. She makes you feel that she’s a friend who cares that you know you’re loved by God and that you walk in His love. She writes to encourage the hearts of women and she does this beautifully.
“But in the end what, what He wants most is simply us. Our hearts. Our dreams. Our days.”
Giveaway
Revell has provided a giveaway copy of You’re Already Amazing to one of you! Enter below via the Rafflecopter form.
Oh, wow. I have been so reminded of His love lately. When life goes crazy, and there are so many questions and difficulties, I only have to pause to remember His love. Provision. Sunset. Quiet moments. Breath when I awake. Happy times with friends. Joy in my heart that can’t be explained. These remind me of His love.
God reminds me of His love in so many ways each day, not least of all through receiving the posts on this blog at sometimes very timely moments. He cares about the smallest detail of our lives, and that is very special.
By giving me opportunities that surprised me, by blessing me with such an amazing family, and by giving me special Scripture passages that spoke to me and helped me. Oh and Hugs from a sweet friend 🙂
Hugs from sweet friends are always special blessings!
The Lord reminded me of His love through His book of James, surprise financial gifts in time of need, and lots of friends who support and encourage me in times of difficulty.
I was reminded of Gods love just this morning while doing devotions. His presence was so close!
God has reminded me of his love this week by an unexpected phone call from a dear friend, the gift of my friends in Christ, and my family.
I see God in his wonderful creation, in the people who sorrounds me, in the laugh of my kids and in EVERY SINGLE TRIAL and BATTLE i must fight every single day. His grace is awesome.
Often, reminders of His love for me are found in the simple things… a song in my heart, a verse brought to mind, or an unexpected visit from a friend whom I haven’t seen in awhile. 🙂
I’ve been reading the Song of Songs lately and it has made me both realize again the extent of Christ’s delight in me and also how difficult it is for me to accept His love and delight. I can accept the love that He showed on the cross, but to accept His delight in me and to really know that He rejoices over me with singing is more difficult.
The question of how God has reminded me of His love for me recently was a chance for one of those “A-ha!” moments. I’ve been given the chance to walk through a season of emptiness lately, and while it isn’t what I wanted or what I would have chosen, it has been an opportunity to deepen my relationship with Christ – to search deeply, to cling tightly. Encouragement has come in the form of unexpected messages from strangers; most recently at church on Sunday when a woman we had only just met had the courage and grace to say thank you because she had been blessed by the fruit of a previous season of difficulty and pain. Her words were not given to me directly, but I was encouraged nonetheless – and I was reminded of God’s love for me, because if He can work blessings from someone else’s emptiness, He can do the same with mine. The reminder that He is still God and still working made me feel not so forgotten – and that usually makes me feel loved. 🙂
God reminded me of his love in a special way last week by putting an older lady in my life to mentor me, affirm me, encourage me, and speak truth into my life in a way I needed to hear.
Great Post!
This book sounds like something I really need to read right now! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy 🙂
God shows His love to me in so many ways, and I so often don’t notice it….I guess the first thing that comes to mind is the Passover Seder I was able to celebrate with friends a couple evenings ago. It was a wonderful evening of rejoicing and I was reminded of His love in many ways.
Oops, sorry! I forgot to add my entry note! ;D {that’s Rachel, too excited about the joy of sister’s in Christ to remember what she was supposed to be doing. haha}
He’s teaching me that closeness to Him is the only thing that will make me truly happy in this world. And, that in each new step His love for me never changes, it is only renewed. 🙂
Elizabeth, GREAT review (and love that you shared the links to all those things you “know” already – will have to go read them!). I’m so excited about this book now!!
Btw, jsut wanted to add an encouragement to the ladies of this blog…so happy to cooperate in sharing the love of Christ with sister’s like you all! 🙂 Your blog is a continuous blessing to me.
Love in Christ!
~Rachel~
Thanks so much for your kind words, Rachel, to me and all of us on the Kindred Grace team. It’s a privilege to share the love of Christ with our readers … like YOU! 🙂 Have a blessed Easter!
by sinking
a marshmallow moon
through pre-dawn
clouds
early
this
morning
Last year I was reminded about Gods grace when I almost died and spent 8 weeks in the hospital. It was a terrifying experience but it showed me how much love is out there.
God reminds me of His love in so many ways, even ways I don’t immediately notice at times. Recently, He has answered our prayers by bringing a sweet godly older couple into our lives to be our mentors, friends, and a sweet example for marriage. We are so blessed to have them in our lives!