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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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March 19, 2012

You’re Already Amazing~ Book Review

 
I don’t know why it surprised me.
I knew it was coming and yet when I eagerly opened the package and saw the title, there was a part of me that just wanted to shove it right back into the mailbox!
Don’t get me wrong.
I really wanted to read this book!
 Had, in fact, happily accepted the opportunity to read it.
But, there was just something about that title that made me cringe.
You see, I didn’t really want to know that I’m “Already Amazing”.
It makes much more sense to me to keep trying harder, working longer and just generally avoiding the truth.
What truth is that, you ask?
That God thinks I’m amazing, just as I am.
One might go into reading You’re Already Amazing, by Holley Gerth, thinking it will be just another “feel-good-because-God-loves-you” kind of books.
And, or course we know that he does love us!
But as I began to read this book (I didn’t shove it back into the mailbox after all!), I realized that there is a big gap in my thinking.
I know that he loves me, but do I really KNOW that he loves me?
Even the deep, dark, hidden parts of me?
Somewhere along the line, I’ve fallen into the same trappings with which so many of us struggle.
I’m insecure about my looks, my clothes, my friendships, family relationships, my parenting.
Am I doing enough, being enough, serving enough?
Holley beautifully captures, on page 39, the moment in which she heard God whisper to her how he sees her. How he sees me…and you!
“Inside a voice whispered, ‘You’re not enough.’”
“You are not enough…in me you are so much more.”
“We are much more than pretty…we are wonderfully made.”
“We are much more than likeable…we are deeply loved.”
“We are much more than okay…we are daughters of the King.”
Understanding this truth is essential to growing in our faith.
And yet fully embracing it is another story!
Holley’s own experiences as someone who can be a bit “intense” in her spiritual life (pg. 92) really rang true for me. I, too, struggle with this. Working hard at my faith seems to come far more naturally to me then just resting in the comfort and security of his love for me.
But, by sharing her own process of discovering that she is “already amazing”, Holley perfectly balances the gentle truths about getting to the core of our emotions and insecurities, mixed in with some good old-fashioned hits-you-right-between-the-eyes statements!
On page 104 she says, “We are to love people, but we’re only asked to please God.”
Ouch!
Have I fooled myself into believing that just because I’m pouring myself into serving and loving God’s people I’m guaranteed that this is pleasing to him?
Holley even goes so far as to declare on page 106, “While God does want us to be open with others, he also encourages us to put boundaries in place as we do so.” And further on down in the same paragraph she says, “In other words, we’re not to deliberately put something of worth where it won’t be valued. Some people in our lives can’t or won’t treasure our hearts.”

Double ouch!
You mean I have permission to stop being a doormat for people to wipe their feet on?
I don’t have to continue to pursue a close relationship with that person who just so obviously “can’t or won’t treasure” my heart?
Whew!
Coming to terms with these and other areas of our hearts is truly a process.
But, through a series of brief but thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter, Holley gently leads you through this process, and to a place of accepting that “we’re amazing not because of who we are but because of who lives within us.” (page 127)
As I read the last few chapters of You’re Already Amazing, the word ‘freedom’ kept coming to my mind.
Freedom to “move forward in faith.” (page 150)
Freedom to “receive” (pages 167-175)
Freedom to truly believe that I am “loved more that I know.” (page 188)
With the addition of a wonderful “Go Deeper Guide” at the end of the book, Holley leaves the door wide open for us to use this as a resource for ourselves individually or in a group setting.
The questions provided help to summarize as well as expand on the content of each chapter and leave room for you to write down your thoughts along the way.
In Holley’s words, “This isn’t a book about self-improvement. It’s about aligning our lives with love in the way God created us to do. To do that, we need a lot of grace and an approach that makes sense based on who God made us.” (page 150)
My deepest desire is that my life would be aligned with God’s desires for me.
To do that I must give myself a lot of grace and accept how deeply he loves me.
I guess I’m also going to have to embrace the truth.
That he thinks I’m “Already Amazing”!
 
Thank you so much to Holley Gerth and the wonderful folks of (in)courage for the opportunity to read and review this incredible book. I strongly urge you to pick one up as I know it will impact you as much as it has me! Just go here to find out details about how you can get your very own copy.
And, thanks so much for joining me today at the Fence!
1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B
Author of the A Labor of the Heart Series

 

 
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Comments

  1. Angela says

    March 19, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    Vanessa, you would not believe how much a friend of mine needed this today! I have sent her the link and hope she will read your post this morning. She is struggling with letting go of a friendship where she has become the “doormat.” God works in mysterious ways!! Thanks for sharing this today…you have made a difference!
    Hugs,
    Angela

    Reply
  2. Judy says

    March 19, 2012 at 2:04 PM

    You don’t know how much I needed to see this today. Thanks for sharing…I will consider this the sign I was looking for.

    Reply
  3. NanaDiana says

    March 19, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    Wow- That sounds like a wonderful book. And you know the amazing thing is that you are at the age you are at and I am a generation ahead of you and the age-old insecurities still affect both of us. I am struck by this quote that you shared…”We are to love people, but we’re only asked to please God.” I am such a people pleaser even when it is to my own determent sometimes. Great post today, Vanessa! xo Diana

    Reply
  4. Ruby Jean says

    March 19, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    I am a HUGE reader. So I will certainly be picking up this book. Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a Blessed week!!

    Reply
  5. Fox Hollow Cottage says

    March 19, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    Thank you for always sharing such beautiful, heartfelt posts. This is truly a special place to visit!

    Reply
  6. pigsathome says

    March 19, 2012 at 9:51 PM

    I can’t wait to get this book! Sounds like just the thing I need.

    Reply
  7. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    March 19, 2012 at 11:26 PM

    Thank you so much for presenting this book and sharing your feelings about it….This is such a truly inspiring post..thank you, thank you!

    Reply
  8. Good Time Charlie says

    March 20, 2012 at 1:37 AM

    What a very, very wise woman the author is! I love how she phrases things re how we see ourselves. I do try to remember this. Esp. when it comes to loving other people. I have to remind myself to see them as God does, unconditionally loving them, even all the bad parts. I too agree though that boundaries are a good thing. We can love someone, but not need to have them in our lives. We can forgive, but this doesn’t mean we have to allow the offender into our lives to hurt again. There are lots of things in this life that are hard to understand, but I think seeing ourselves as God truly does and knowing that he LOVES us despite all the ugly things we may feel inside, helps us to know that we can aspire to be so much more than what we see ourselves as. Beautiful post, thank you for sharing. -K

    Reply
  9. Richella says

    March 22, 2012 at 2:54 PM

    WOW. I’d seen this book advertised, but I wondered if I should order a copy. Now I know that I should. I NEED this message (over and over and over!). Thank you for sharing the review.

    Reply
  10. Liberty says

    March 23, 2012 at 4:50 PM

    ordering…this is a great review, THANK YOU!!
    this mornings verse that I stopped short and stayed with for a long time was “god is the strength of my heart” not all my striving…
    blessings
    https://bit.ly/FOLnSm

    Reply

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Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
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And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
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The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
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