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?

 

 

 

 

 

You're Already Amazing- Chapter 1

Chapter 1: A Heart to Heart Talk

I hope you have had the chance to get your copy of the book, You're Already Amazing. If not, you still have time. This is designed to be an outlet for open communicaton between a community of girls who are trying to grow to be who God created them to be. Chapter 1 for me was a beautiful way to start this book. Holly describes three different types of women in this first chapter.

The friend sitting across the table at lunch- this is the woman who is constantly trying to juggle it all. It is the woman who is always trying to keep up with life. She feels like she has to do more, be more, give more of herself... only to be losing peace in the process. She's the one who says, "Sometimes I don't even like my life. And I feel so guilty because I am so blessed."

A women settling on the couch at the counselors office- She has dealt with abuse, with rejection, words spoken that have broken her heart. This is the woman who, because of deep hurt and brokenness, whispers, " I will never be enough".

The woman who writes the email from across the world- She feels meaningless and wondering if she has anything at all to offer. She says, "Everyone else matters but me. Everyone else has something to of offer but me. God must be so disappointed."

Holly says that there is a commonality of the women she encounters: "I know what it's like to wrestle with insecurities, guilt and the impossible standards of my own making."

On page 16, Holly describes the "it girl". Everything she wrote here, I related to. I don't know about you, but there are many times that I just don't feel like I can measure up. I tend to compare myself a lot. It may be with the girl who is running down the street, as I am driving in the car eating my children's leftover lunch. It could be the mom who has sent her child to school with the personalized snack, while I forgot to even pack one that day. Or the friend who's house always smells as if Mr. Clean actually lives there. It is the race we all run, and can never seem to finish...the exhausting race. I love how she says, "there aren't 'it girls'. There are only 'is girls'.

"God looks at you and says, 'She is loved, acceped and valued. She is created just the way I wanted her to be."

That is what this book is about. Us learning that message of Him creating us for something beautiful that only WE can accomplish. Everyone has their part in this beautiful design. Our goal isn't about looking at everyone elses, it is about finding ours.

She writes, "There's no competitition-only complementing and completion. Part of the beauty of that is how different we are from each other."

I am so excited about diving further into this book. I hope those of you reading this, will dive deeper with me.

So let's get this girl talk under way. In the comment section, would you mind sharing your answers to any or all of the following questions...

1. Which story at the beginning of the chapter could you most relate to (the lunch friend, counseling client or the woman who sent the email)?
2. The "it" girl is thought of as a woman everyone wants to be like in our culture. Do you ever feel pressure to be like women in the media or community? Share an example.
3. God says we are the "is girl". From the list in the picture below, which one does your heart need to hear the most?

 

I found this great printable from the website below:

www.deepsouthsweets.blogspot.com



Click on the link below to print a copy

http://deepsouthsweets.blogspot.com/2012/03/sweet-life-bloom-book-club-youre.html

 

 

Beautiful song by Bethany Dillon

You're Already Amazing Book Talk Starts TODAY!!!

I am so excited to be starting this book today. We will start reading Chapter 1 today and discuss on Wednesday. So excited! In the meantime, I found a beautiful printable for you from a great website at www.wunderbarwanderings.com

You can find it here:

 

http://www.wunderbarwanderings.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/amazing-free-printable.jpg

Also a song to get your morning going:

You're Already Amazing Book Talk Starts April 22...Join Me!

One of my most favorite things in life is womens bible study. I love meeting with ladies in my home twice a month to study together. Because it is almost summer, we aren't going to start a new study, but we are going to take part in a book study on You're Already Amazing by Holly Gerth.



I found this book through one of my favorite devotional sites at www.incourage.me . Holly Gerth is the co-founder of this site. Her message is that women don't need to do more and be more: they can just be, because they are already amazing the way God created them. She describes this book in her own words in the video below.

 

I would love for you to join me reading this book. There are a few ways to take part in this.

 

1. Buy the book and read it at your own leisure. You can find the book at Lifeway or online at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_sabc?url=search-alias%3Daps&pageMinusResults=1&suo=1366145713457#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=your%20already%20amazing&sprefix=your+al%2Caps%2C206&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ayour%20already%20amazing .

 

2. If you are interested in really focusing in on this book, Holly provides a study guide that you can download on her site http://holleygerth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Youre-Already-Amazing-by-Holley-Gerth-Interactive-Tools.pdf .

 

3. I will be writing about this each week and offering up questions for us to discuss through this blog. I will also share videos of the chapters that I have found on the incourage.me website, as well as songs that relate to our chapters, and printables that I have found for all of you. This is where I am hoping we can learn from each other, gain insights, and share our thoughts as we are reading. If you are interested in signing up to receive the posts, please put your email on the upper left side and I will make sure you receive the weekly posts. Also, please let me know in the comment section if you would like to take part through this format. The dates for the reading and posts are below:

 

Schedule:

Monday, April 22: Kick off

Wednesday, April 24: Chapter 1
Friday, April 26: Chapter 2 and 3 and freebie from www.incourage.me
Monday, April 29: Chapter 4
Wednesday, May 1: Chapter 5 & 6
Friday, May 3: You’re Already Amazing Freebie from www.incourage.me
Monday, May 6: Chapter 7
Wednesday, May 8: Chapter 8
Friday, May 10: You’re Already Amazing Freebie from www.incourage.me
Monday, May 13: Chapter 9 & 10
Wednesday, May 15: Chapter 11
Friday, May 17: You’re Already Amazing Freebie and wrapup from www.incourage.me

Invite your friend, maybe even a few of you can commit to doing this and meeting together to share. My prayer is that no matter what, at some point this book will find its way to you hands as well as your heart.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to email me at andrearoberts13@gmail.com



Suffering.Extraction.Mercy

Raccoons have invaded my life for over a month now. One night back in February, I heard what sounded like a human being on my second floor. Being that Josh was gone, I jumped out of my skin in a panic. A few evenings later, Josh heard it and we concluded that an animal was somewhere in our attic. Over the course of three weeks, trappers entered and exited our home with empty cages. We couldn't find this animal and I can tell you, I was defeated. One morning last weekend, while having coffee with a friend in my living room, we heard what sounded like animal babies crying. OH NO! This raccoon mama had her babies... in my house! For the next few days, I heard crying through the walls all the time. I was losing it! I would sit on the couch and pray audibly to God, "Please help me. Send me your peace. I don't know what to do. Are these animals ever going to leave. God, I am a mess. I can't sleep, all I can think about is what they are doing to my home. What if they die up there? What if they damage wires, insulation, what if they cause a fire?" The what-ifs took me captive and were not letting go. I was suffering and needed PEACE!

Two nights ago, Josh and I learned that the raccoons were between floors of our house. They weren't going to leave on their own, they needed to be extracted out. Did I mention that we were not handy people nor wildlife experts? The trappers explained to us that if we could make a hole in the floor, they would extract them, but WE had to make the hole. My poor husband doesn't even own a saw. What were we going to do? Then I remembered that a friend's husband from church was in the remodeling business and maybe he could help us. Maybe we could orchestrate the time to have the trappers there, and pay our friend to make the hole and repair it. Yesterday, Operation Raccoon Extraction was in full force. Josh, Clint and the trappers all arrived at 3:00 to work on getting these animals out of our home. 4 babies, eyes not yet opened, were taken out of the crawl space between floors. The hole was repaired, and the house was quiet. When Josh tried to pay our friend, he wouldn't accept our money. He said that he was happy to help, but maybe we could remember him if we wanted to do remodeling to our home.

When Josh walked into the house and told me this story, I was overwhelmed. I was in awe of the kindness, the mercy shown to us, and the beauty of it all. What I thought was going to end in disaster, actually ended with such beautiful grace and mercy. It was all God... God using His children to help eachother... showing kindness, compassion, love and using the gifts He gave to help others.

This morning, I can't seem to stop crying. Through this circumstance I see the cross for what it. I understand Easter a little more than I did before. This is Jesus. This is what He did for us. He saw suffering, He saw our sin, He saw our ugliness and by His death... He extracted it! I am overwhelmed by His sacrifice for Me. His sacrifice changed my life. My soul that was in turmoil over my ugly sin, has been transformed by a SON who paid His life in exchange for mine. God uses what looks like defeat to bring victory... Mercy

Jen Hatmaker says it better than I ever could. " I simply can't get over Jesus. His humanity moves beyond words. His suffering shatters my heart. His courage leaves me undone. I am aching, so gratefully devasted. By His wounds, I am healed. The story that crushes me also saves me, and there is nothing to do but worship through the tears."

The truth of the matter is, God showed me all this through someone else sacrificing for me... all for free. This is what Easter is about. It really is, but Jesus paid His own life for you and me! Jesus sacrificed for us, and the only way this story really can pierce our soul, and change lives, is by us sacrificing for others. That is how Jesus gets into the hearts, that is how this story of Easter is fully comprehended. When we sacrifice, we see Jesus for truly who He is. We get to show mercy, grace and His perfect love. There is no better ending than that.

Second Week of Weight Watchers

Being in my mid-thirties, I have learned that eating what I want, when I want and as much as I want isn't cutting it anymore. While the wrinkles are increasing, the metabolism is decreasing:) Although, I am realistic that I don't need to be the size I was in college, I still want to fit into my clothes comfortably and lead a healthy lifestyle. I want to be a good role model for my kids and teach them that moderation is the key. Weight Watchers has taught me that. I don't feel deprived, I don't feel sluggish, or grouchy. I feel empowered actually, confident that I can carry this thing through. I started Weight Watchers two weeks ago, after hearing about the success from my best friend. I attended a meeting, weighed in, and received a goal weight. I opted for the monthly pass that gave me access to the online tools as well as the app for my phone. So far, I am loving it. The first week, I lost 3.2 pounds and will weigh again Saturday. I choose not to weigh myself during the week and use the meetings as my once a week weigh in. For me, if I weighed myself daily, it would dictate eating more or less and I don't want to be a slave to the scale every day ( Just my preference though, everyone is different). I look forward to the meetings, and hearing the success of other women. I enjoy learning tips and new recipes. I feel like I am doing it the right way. In the past, I would deprive myself of all carbs, lose the weight and then gain it all back... and then some. Today, I don't limit myself to any food groups, just make sure that it is all done within my point limits for the day. I thought I would share with any of you all out there interested some of the tools and websites that have been key for me the last two weeks. If anyone reading is doing Weight Watchers and has tips or recipes that they like, please share. Thanks!

1. WW Mobile- This has been key for me to track my food and my activity points.

2. Lots of water- In the past, I can go practically all day without having water. ( I tend to be an all day coffee drinker) Now I make sure to drink water all day long. I have felt a difference in my skin since doing this.

3. Weight Watchers online success stories. I read one every day to keep me motivated.

4. The following websites have helped me with recipes and finding points at restaurants.





Recipes Websites that include points

http://www.emilybites.com/

http://www.skinnytaste.com/

http://freckleberryfinds.com/category/recipes/

http://dashingdish.com/recipes/

http://www.mealplangirls.com/category/mealplans/ashs-plans/

(I like the one above because she gives you meal plans for the week)

 

To check the points at many restaurants ( even if they aren't listed on the app)

 

http://www.justdietnow.com/points-for-restaurants.html

 

Hope this helps you all. Even if you aren't doing weight watchers, but want to make healthy recipes for your family, these websites are great.

 

James: Mercy Triumphs Session 1

For those of you ladies who have joined me in online bible study, week 1 has started. Hopefully you have had the chance to get your books. If not, try to do so this week sometime. So excited to be starting the study of James with you. It is going to be a worthwhile journey for sure. This sunday the home group was able to watch the first video. If you would like to download session 1 video, you can find it here. Session 1 video ( They do cost 4.99 just in case you were wondering).

The video notes are located here for you. Viewer guides with answers

The study of James is going to really get us active in our faith. It is about going loving others, helping our neighbors and those in need and connecting with Christ on a deeper level.

If you have any questions for me along the way, please don't hesitate to ask. I will be posting some questions by the end of the week.

Love you ladies.