Chapters 9&10 of You're Already Amazing Book Talk

I am so sorry that this post is late getting to you all. It was actually scheduled to go out on Monday. However, I have a cornea abrasion that has kept me down and haven't been able to get to a computer. But I am back... so let's get to Chapter 9 and 10

Chapter 9- What are My Next Steps?

This was a really good chapter and one I enjoyed journaling about. In this chapter, Holly talks to us about what hinders and entangles us. Holly says, " You have the Holy Spirit with you, and he will show you what you need to change in a way that's gentle, life giving, and affirming."

I don't know about you, but I needed to hear that. All to often, the world tells me that I need to do more, give more, look different, be better. I feel like I am constantly trying to keep up with a world that is moving too fast for me. This reminds me that is not TRUTH. God is gentle and comes to bring me life, not make it feel like it is being sucked out of me.

One of my very favorite parts of this chapter was the "Going the Distance" section. I loved the line, "Distance first. Then speed." So often in my life, I am all about speed. I rarely take the time to slow down. But that is what it is all about. Holly says, " The best place to start is with one small step. It's the only way to bigger things with God."

Holly tells us, " As you begin to do what you can and live in grace, love will begin to grow even more in your life. With each choice you make, you become a litle more of who God made you and draw a little closer to His purpose for your life."

Questions for discussion:

1. What tends to hinder or entangle you?

2. What organizational strategy fit you best? What did you learn from that?

 

Chapter 10- Is it Okay to Take Care of Myself?

 

I think this is something that we as women struggle with the most. When we do things for ourselves, we tend to feel selfish. We are all about helping others, but when it comes to people helping us, we think we are inadequate or incapable. Holly says that when we feel this way, pride can be a part of that. Holly says,

" In order to receive, we have to open our hearts, hands, and lives. We put ourselves in a position that is vulnerable. Receiving feels messy, more unpredicatable. But it's essential. Look at the world around you. Everything in nature is about give and take, offering and receiving, graspiing and releasing. If you only feel safe when you're giving and consistently resist receiving, then you may have some fears holding you back from getting what you need."

 

 

When God looks at us, he sees us the same. " He wants us to love ourselves the way we love others in our lives. You are worth investing in. You are a daughter of the King, a holy princess, a woman with a purpose in this world and a calling on your life. Take care of yourself. You are blessing all of us when you do , and you bring joy to the heart of God too."

 

 

"Dare to take a risk. Love yourself because He loves you."

 

 

Questions for Discussion:

1. What fills you up and brings you joy?

2. Why is it so hard for women to receive?

 

 

Song: I'll Wait by Sara Groves

 



 

Free Printable

http://www.incourage.me/2012/04/youre-already-amazing-freebie-of-the-week-recap.html

 

 

Chapter 8- You're Already Amazing Book Talk

Chapter 8- What Does God Want Me to Do with My Life?

Wow! This could possibly be my favorite chapter yet. ( I may have said that for every chapter so far. What can I say! I love this book.) There was so much truth spoken to me through this chapter and I really feel God at work in me. This chapters constant theme is LOVE.  From His goal for us, to our expressions and expectations, it all is grounded in LOVE.

Holly says on page 131, " God is love, and everything he does is loving. As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. What does God really want us to do with our lives? Not make them perfect. Grow in love."

She calls us to ask a very important question of ourselves. " How is God asking you to live in love, first with him and then wtih family, friends, and others he's called you to serve.?"

To answer this question she asks us to make a LIFE statement - " Love Is Faith Expressed". She helps us start it with Galatians 5:6 " I am called to express my faith through love..."

To make a LIFE statement, you start with " I am created and called to express my faith through love... especially by (verb)+ (what)+(who)+(how)

After thinking for awhile about this, about how God designed me, where I feel Him most alive in Me, I ended up writing my LIFE statement.

" I am created and called to express my faith through love, especially by bringing hope and encouragement to my family, friends and community through active and intentional relationships."

Our LIFE statements all will look different. We all have different strengths, different places and different ways we are able to love others. She says that our own LIFE will even look different based off of seasons and circumstances. For me, this is so true. I am at a time in my life where my children need me. They are busy, very involved, and with me working full time, I don't have a lot to offer in the way of time and service to as many people as I would like to. That is okay. This is my season currently... one of teaching and being a mom. There are times when I would love to see my friends more, be involved with more things at church, help more in the community, but just not right now. For some of you reading this, you may be in the same season or different ones and I am sure you can relate. I get so tired of trying to do it all... of being the BEST mom, the BEST wife, the BEST friend, the BEST bible study leader. It just gets so overwhelming sometimes. God isn't calling me to live a life of unrealistic expectations on myself, to be the BEST. Holly writes, " We are not to be under anything but GRACE, the love of Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit."

Holly asks the question on page 137 "What does God require of me?". We find that answer in Micah 6:8
" The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you; to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

There doesn't need to be any expectations or rules, only to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him. Holly writes, " God is love- whatever he directs you to do will be loving to others too. Let go of what you're simply to please people. You are nto required to please people. You don't have to meet their expectations. You are a servent to one master."

I loved Holly's topic of Fear vs. Love. Those of you that have known me for a long time or have read my blog for awhile know this about me. I am a person easily led by fear. Holly really spoke to my heart here. She invites us that anytime we feel like we need to do something, we need to measure whether it is motivated by fear ( what people will think of me) or love ( desiring to make a haven for my family). If the only reason we are doing something is out of fear, then that isn't from God.

Holly ends this chapter with a beautiful quote that I actually have written next to my computer as I type this. " You are FREE. Free to love. Free to live in joy. Free to be who you are. If you're loving God, others, and yourself, then you're already doing enough."

I hope this chapter helped you and that you are enjoying this journey of discovering that you don't have to be more or do more. You are already amazing.. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!
Some scripture reminders:

 

Song: " Your're Grace is Sufficiant" by Shane and Shane

 

Discussion Questions:

1. If you feel okay with this, please share your LIFE statement and how you feel about the process of making one?

2. Are you driven more by fear or by love? Is there anything that is helping you be more driven by love than by fear?

3. What has been the best part of this book so far for you?

Chapter 5&6- You're Already Amazing Book Talk

I am loving this book and praying that everyone reading this blog can get their hands on it. This is a message EVERY woman needs to hear. The book just keeps getting better and better for me.

Chapter 5- Where Am I Going?

This chapter talks about our journey. Holly writes, "God has a journey for your life. It looks different than anyone else's. The road he's carved out for you is yours alone. It's always the road less traveled because you're the only one who is ever going to walk it."

This chapters talks about the feeling of being " In Egypt", where we feel that we are in a period of waiting. She describes three reasons why this may be occuring: we're weary, we're being prepared, or it's just not time yet.

She also talks in this chapter about being in "The Promised Land". She describes the Promised Land as this: " a desire of your heart that God guides you into through an intimate journey with him." This is when we see His blessings in our lives. It may be a new home, a baby who have prayed for, a new relationship, a new job. All of our "promised lands" look different. God says when we are in the Promised Land, we should possess it, defend it, and enjoy it.

For me, this chapter was eye opening in many ways. I don't particularly think I feel just one of these all the time. They change for me. This is probably due to the fact that I am a "heart" person and not much of a "head" person. My feelings seem to lead me in my life, although, I am learning that this isn't necessarily good all the time. For instance, right now, I feel encamped. I want to do BIG things for God but yet, I really just don't know what that is yet. I know that my job now is to be a mother and wife to my husband and the best teacher I can be to my students. I believe that I may be just in a season of growth with Him. I know that He has a lot to teach me, so I think He is just calling me to be still. I also feel like I am in the Promise Land at my many times. What I have learned about myself is this, I don't defend it. My prayer is that He will help me to possess, defend and enjoy it.

Chapter 6- Who's With Me

This chapter is all about connection. God is all about relationships. It is who He is. I love her quote on page 101, " The kingdom we serve in is one of love, relationships, and intmiacy. We're not made for each other, but we're certainly made to share life with eachother."

She talks about our fears, why we hold back, the safety we feel when we hide, our desire to be perfect, our fear of getting hurt. I shed a few tears in this chapter. Fear has been a driving force for the majority of my life, but I am determined to break free from this. The control part of this chapter was very powerful to me. I love her quote by CS Lewis on page 111. " To love at all is to be vulnerable. Loveanything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. "

Holly goes on to write, " Control keeps us alone. God invites us instead to love. We're to give him the reins of our hearts, and then he loves others through us."

I have a strong desire to be a reflection of Christ's love and know that when I am free of fear and allow Him to love others through me, I am in His perfect will.

Below are a few things that will enrich your reading of this book.
1. The video for Chapters 5 and 6 from incourage.me

http://www.incourage.me/2012/04/youre-already-amazing-chapters-5-6.html
2. A freebie printable for you from: http://deepsouthsweets.blogspot.com

 

3. A song by Cold Play called "Fix You"

 

4. Questions for discussions. I would love those of you that are going through the book to comment.

 

Where are you currently with God? Are you feeling that you are in Egypt or the Promised Land and why?

In the description of internal and external cotnrol ( chapter 6), which one could you most relate to? What helps yuou let go of control and trust God?

 

Join us Friday for Chapter 7 

Chapter 2 and 3-You're Already Amazing

Chapters 2- Who Am I, Really?

In this chapter, Holly focuses on three places that together help us figure out who we are.

She says, "Your strengths+ your skills+ who your called to serve= you making a difference in the world in your own amazing ways."
1. Strengths- "a personal characteristic that can be used on behalf of God in service to others"
2. Skills- "a strength expressed in a specific way that builds others up and benefits His kingdom"
3. Your Who- Your "heart relationships, personal relationships, and functional relationships"

Holly does a great job of using activities within this chapter of helping us to go within ourselves to identify those above. I hope you will take the time to really pinpoint these in your life. For me, this was challenging, because I haven't really looked at these in depth but I am so glad that I did.

Some of my favorite quotes of this chapter: (all quotes come from Chapter 2 of You're Already Amazing)

"The goal is not perfection. It's simply to be in an intimate relationship with Christ, each day, fully embracing who he created us to be, and seek to fulfill the purpose he has for us. He is our greatest strength- and the One who enables us to live out all the others strengths he's placed in us."

"In the end, what he wants most is simply us. Our hearts. Our dreams. Our days."

" We have something to offer that no one else can bring... and the world is waiting."

Video from incourage.me with Holly over Chapters 1&2 are found below:

http://www.incourage.me/2012/03/youre-already-amazing-chapters-1-2.html

 

Printable from Chapter 2 Below: (from www.incourage.me)

http://www.incourage.me/2012/04/schedule-change-and-freebie-of-the-week.html

Chapter 3: Why Is It So Hard To Believe I'm Amazing?

In this chapter, Holly uncovers some of the lies we tell ourselves and replaces those lies with God's truth.
Lie #1- " I have to be perfect"
TRUTH: God's goal in our lives is growth. Growth is about who we are becoming in Him.
Lie #2- " I need to be more like her"
TRUTH: I love what Holly says in this section, " Your story and strengths belong to you. God doesn't compare them (or you) to anyone else, and you don't have to either. Go for these three steps. Share, care, prayer. And skip the compare."
Lie #3- " I don't have anything to offer"
TRUTH: We do have something to offer ladies, and God says it's good
Lie #4- " Being confident will make me prideful and selfish"
TRUTH: Holly says in her book, " Jesus shows us: true confidence leads to service."
Lie #5- " I am who others say I am"
TRUTH: "God has the ultimate word on who you are. He declares you are loved, valuable, acceptable and irreplacable."

Chapter 3 Video with Holly Gerth from www.incourage.me below:

http://www.incourage.me/2012/03/youre-already-amazing-chapter-3.html

Chapter 3 printable below from incourage.me:

http://www.incourage.me/2012/03/youre-already-amazing-freebie-of-the-week.html

 

I don't know if you have heard of the band Mumford and Sons. This is a beautiful song and illustrates to me what God wants from me. He just wants me to open my eyes to see His light. He wants to shine His light on me so I can shine it onto others. One of my favorite quotes from the song is, " in these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life. Awake My soul... for you were made to meet your maker."

"Awake My Soul" by Mumford and Sons

 

Discussion Questions:

1. Look back at your "Find Your Who" exercise in chapter 2. Who does it seem God most wants you to use your strengths and skills to serve?

2. What lie do you find you most often tell yourself? What truth can you replace that lie with? Are there any scripture that you have found that can help with this?