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"You don't have to do more, be more, have
more."
This is what Holley Gerth suggests on the back cover of her
newest book, You're Already Amazing. The subtitle teases me with a
glimpse of what I long for, "Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God
Created You to Be."
But how?
How do we embrace our worth in a culture that caves in
around us, with the lie that is eternally whispered into the depth of a woman:
You aren't enough. You are too much. You must keep
reaching, keep trying, keep striving to be good, to be worthy of love.
You're Already Amazing is a big, soul-hug from a good
friend, but it's more than that. It's an instruction manual on personality and
purpose, and a mirror held up to reflect us only in light of who God says we are without the lies that blind our vision.
This is an interactive text and Holley gives us the
opportunity to work through the truths she presents bite by bite. There is a "Go
Deeper Guide" at the end of the book with sections for further study of
each chapter.
Holley has a beautiful way of presenting her loving message
directly, so it hits right between the eyes. She's never harsh, but helps us
look at the whole picture in such a way that we can operate in our strengths
and gracefully minimize the impact our weaknesses have on us.
"Love in a biblical sense isn't a touchy feely, vague
experience. It's a verb. It's a series of choices and actions in our lives. So
the next step in our process is to look again at your life through the lens of
love." – Page 131
Perhaps the most insightful aspect of the book (for me) is
its focus on pursuing purpose rather than perfection. Feeling like I was
able to internalize this in a new way frees me up to connect more deeply with
what God has for me in the world, not work to burden me but my heart and soul
in action with Christ's leading.
Holley leads us to develop a LIFE statement (LIFE = Love is
Faith Expressed) to help us check our actions, activities, and motivations
against what we know about our journey. Mine looks like this:
I am created and called to express my faith through
love, especially by inspiring, nurturing, and encouraging God's children through
honest words, shared experiences, and creative nourishment.
There is a profound power in connecting with your deepest
purpose in light of the Kingdom, and Holley's words were a beacon for directing
me to embrace all that I am and even what I am not, to make more room for that
which belongs in my path.
You're Already Amazing exceeded my expectations by
leaps and bounds. I expected a pep talk, a sweet reminder to love myself, and
an encouraging spur in the right direction. I didn't expect the book to be so
chalk full of actual steps on that path. Holley is a woman deeply connected
with her purpose, and it shows. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to glean
from her wisdom and experience in this area. Ladies, don't miss this great
resource.
Get You're Already Amazing through the links on this page. DaySpring has the entire Holley Gerth collection at 25% during the month of March! Woohoo! One of the best ways you can spend a couple bucks, for real.
It's also the (in)courage Bloom book club selection of the
month. Join the conversation!
Holley Gerth - You're Already Amazing
(Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.)
(Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.)
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Your comments are such an encouragement. Thank you for sharing your valuable words.