Do you want to embrace who you really are? To become all God created you to be? To better share Him in your own amazing way wherever He places you?
In the You’re Already Amazing LifeGrowth Guide, Holley Gerth leads us through an interactive journey of discovery of who we are and into a deeper relationship with the God Who has created each of us to be an amazing masterpiece for a special purpose in life. The LifeGrowth DVD is meant to be used along with it. With each session, Holley sits with her cup of coffee and offers additional hugs of encouragement. Both are intended to be companions of the book she previously published – You’re Already Amazing. These resources can be used whichever way works best for you: a group study, an online study, one-on-one, or an individual study.
Sometimes I still fear that thinking of ourselves as “amazing” is prideful. According to the church we grew up in, it was prideful to say anything good about ourselves. And for sure we were not supposed to love ourselves. I still struggle with this, and it’s hard for me to grasp the thought that it hurts God when we condemn ourselves just as much as when we condemn others. I’m learning, but I’m still a work-in-progress. Holley’s books have helped me a lot in this area. I can no longer ignore those two words at the end of this verse – “as yourself.”
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39
Holley believes that “seeing who God made us leads to praise, not pride.” Her purpose in this book is to give God praise and to encourage us to go out and love as only each of us can, equipped with the strengths and skills God has uniquely gifted us with.
“For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things
He planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
There are six sessions:
1. Who God Created Us to Be
2. What’s True No Matter How We Feel
3. Our Amazing Journey with Jesus
4. God’s Plan for Our Relationships
5. God’s Purpose for Our Lives
6. How We Can Thrive for a Lifetime
Each session is filled with heart-freeing truths along with questions and activities that help us to better understand who God really made us to be and to discover our LIFE (Love Is Faith Expressed) statement.
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision has any value.
The only thing that counts is
faith expressing itself through love.”
Galatians 5:6
With the help of lists of specific strengths and skills, the choosing of which ones fit me, and the guiding prompt Holley gives, I have discovered my LIFE statement: “I am created to express my faith through love, especially by bringing encouragement and hope in Jesus to hurting hearts through words.”
Probably my greatest “aha” moment of this book is that I’m exactly where God wants me to be. I have been beating myself up far too much that I’m “not doing enough,” but I need to just be me, the me God created. I need to quit putting so much pressure on myself and to let go of fears and insecurities that are holding me back.
As Holley writes – “Insecurity or fear of rejection keeps us alone.” And when this happens “we let the world miss out on who we are, what we have to give, and the beauty God has placed within us.”
Friends, we all have something to give because of the beauty God places within us. I encourage you to prayerfully read and personally interact with the truths in this book. Try to discover your own LIFE statement, and let it guide you and free you to be who you really are.
Perhaps your shoulders will droop and your eyes will look blankly at the lists of strengths and skills and think – I don’t have any. I remember thinking that the first time I read Holley’s previously published book You’re Already Amazing. That’s what happens when we’re all down on ourselves. I hope you will not give up on yourself as I often have. I believe as surely as I am writing this that everyone who reads this does have God-given strengths and skills. Sometimes we may have to dig deep past the garbage of our insecurities and toss out lots of lies to find them, but they are there.
Once we’re more clear about who God created us to be, will it always be easy? No way. Satan doesn’t want anyone to use their God-given gifts for God’s glory, so he will sometimes sock us right in the gut of our vulnerabilities. There will be days where we feel so weary that we don’t think we can take the next step. Days we will fall down. Days we will feel like failures. But let’s remember that in our weakness we are strong in the grace of Jesus. With His power in our hearts, we will keep putting one foot in front of the other.
And remember that no matter what, God loves you just as you are.
“God loves you for who you are.
You don’t have to earn His love.”
~ Holley Gerth
GIVEAWAY – Visit Lori Schumaker for a chance to win one copy of Holley Gerth’s “You’re Already Amazing” Book and Study Guide.
Linking up with:
Holley – Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer – Tell His Story
Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith
Barbie – Weekend Whispers
Freed to Fly 
Everywhere I go, I’m seeing Holley’s book! Looks to be a good one, Trudy! Thanks for highlighting it here …
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You’re welcome, Linda. 🙂 Yes, it is a good book. The launch day is today. May we see ourselves as God sees us! Hugs!
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Holley’s book sounds very helpful in showing why we need to show love to ourselves, not in a selfish, me first way, but honoring who we are because we are created in God’s image. I love what you say here, “…I need to just be me, the me God created. I need to quit putting so much pressure on myself and to let go of fears and insecurities that are holding me back.” May God help us all to do that. Blessings to you. I’m visiting from the #RaRaLinkup!
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Thanks so much for visiting, Gayl. Yes, Holley’s book is very helpful. Being who we created to be and letting go of our fears and insecurities can be difficult, can’t it? Yes, may God help us and give us His power to do it! Hugs!
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Hi Trudy! You mentioned this book in your month-end review too. I think I’ll have to enter that give-away, or order one for myself. It sounds like a powerful tool to boost our sometimes flagging self-esteem. Thank you for being a part of her launch team!
Blessings,
Ceil
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Yes, I did introduce it last week, but since today is the book’s launch day, I thought I’d expand on it. 🙂 It certainly is worth reading and does help to boost our flagging self-esteem. May God help us to rest in our identity in Christ! Hugs!
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Sounds like a great book, Trudy. It’s true that we all have something that God has given us to offer to others and it’s important to have confidence in that. Too often we can feel, as you say, that it’s prideful to see ourselves as “amazing” but I’m realising more and more that is how God sees us and that we shouldn’t let fear or insecurity hold us back from believing that. I love the verse you quoted from Ephesians which talks about us as God’s masterpiece. I like the comparison at the end between perfectionism and growth as well.
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I’m glad your heart was touched, Carly. I’m realizing it more and more, too, that we really are “amazing” in God’s sight. When we are “God’s masterpiece,” how could we not be, right? I love that we’re on this journey together to encourage each other as to who we are in Christ. May God’s all-sufficient grace fill our hearts to believe! Hugs!
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One of the best and most thorough reviews I’ve read on Holley’s new book! I know … I’m hesitant to call myself anything close to amazing, but I love that vantage point of it leading us to praise our Creator for making us and loving us so well. Thanks for sharing this today, Trudy!
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Thank you, Tiffany. 🙂 Yes, I know what you mean about being hesitant to call ourselves “amazing.” Our Creator truly does make us and love us so well. Such a precious thought! May we cling to our identity in Jesus! Hugs!
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Great review of this wonderful book and study guide. Many blessings to you ❤️
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Thank you, Beth. Yes, it is wonderful. 🙂 Many blessings to you, too! May God keep you and guide you day by day! Hugs!
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This is an awesome review, Trudy. Getting unstuck from that “I’m not doing enough” mentality was a huge aha moment for me as well. I’ve struggled with that for far too many years. I absolutely loved this book. I can’t believe it’s the first one of Holley’s I’ve read. The perfectionism vs. growth image you shared above was a game changer for me too. Yet another issue I struggle greatly with :). Hugs and blessings to you, my friend.
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Thank you, Candace. I love all of Holley’s books, but God used this one to touch me deeper. It gives me goosebumps that your aha moment is like mine. Kindred spirits, right? And I, too, still struggle with perfection. It’s better than before, but… 😦 I love how Holley distinguishes between it and growth. May we encourage each other and others to be who God created us to be, not to focus on doing more! Hugs!
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Trudy,
I’m nodding with you when you say you feel uncomfortable calling yourself amazing, but really since that’s how God made us and sees us, it’s no wonder that the enemy works so hard to make us believe otherwise. Let’s walk together and see how amazing we really are, experiencing God’s goodness in our lives and sharing it with others, shall we, friend?! 🙂 xo
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Oh, Valerie. You’re bringing tears to my eyes. That devil is always busy, isn’t he? But the victory is ours through Christ Jesus. 🙂 Yes! “Let’s walk together and see how amazing we really are, experiencing God’s goodness in our lives and sharing it with others.” I’m blessed to be on this journey with you. May we encourage each other to see ourselves through our Maker’s eyes! Hugs!
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Trudy, thank you for sharing your review of Holley’s new book and your personal reactions to it. I agree with the way we need to learn to love ourselves because of those verses in Matthew 27 among others. How can we hope to love others well if we fail to love ourselves – in a balanced, biblical way? I totally agree with your LIFE statement and the welcome insight it brings into how you are right where God desires you to be as you carry it out. Good for you!
I’ve read the original, ‘You’re Already Amazing’ and can see how this builds on it beautifully. The calendar based on that book is one I’m using this year and its truth is hitting home every day as I turn its pages.
I had a definite “aha” moment too when I read of the enemy’s desires to derail us from our God-given purpose. This rings loud and clear: “will sometimes sock us right in the gut of our vulnerabilities.” Oh yes! As I compile, collate and prepare to self-publish my poetry I am feeling really low, weak and lacking in confidence. Now I am clearer about where those thoughts are coming from and am one step closer to defeating them! Bless you for this great review. Blessings and hugs. Xx ❤
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Oh Joy. I’m so sorry that enemy is trying to dissuade you from publishing your poetry. It moves me to tears that you had an aha moment that it’s the devil who desires to derail us from our God-given purpose. Yes, he is the one who breaks down our confidence. He doesn’t want us to publish anything that would give God glory or help others to find hope in Jesus. Go forward, my friend, in the powerful and all-sufficient grace and love of Jesus! May God help us to recognize those feelings of discouragement come from the devil, not from Him! Hugs!
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Hi Trudy, I’m your neighbor again over at TheFaithBarista! “I have been beating myself up far too much that I am not doing enough” really resonated with me today! God has been teaching me those same lessons, as I have had to step away from most of the myriad of things that I was so busy doing. Isn’t it amazing how He leads us to Himself in these waiting times? Thank you for sharing your encouraging heart!
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Welcome back, neighbor. 🙂 I’m so grateful you were encouraged, Bettie. Yes, God is so amazing to lead us into these lessons of truth to just “be” who He wants us to be and not be focused on “do, do, do!” Holley’s books and blog posts stress these truths and have helped me a lot in this area. We never have to earn His love. He will never stop loving us! May our hearts be filled with His love and truth! Hugs!
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I need this book! 🙂 I’m visiting you from #onewordcoffee at Faith Barista. Have a blessed week and I’m so glad I found you!
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Welcome Carolina. 🙂 I feel certain this book will help you on this journey of life. You have a blessed week, too! May God give you daily strength and grace! Hugs!
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Hi trudi!
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Hi Susie! 🙂
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oops! sorry! This looks so good! I read the book a while ago but this study looks helpful! Thanks for being so honest and sharing your journey- It is encouraging to me to know I am not alone in the same struggles! Thanks for speaking truth to my heart tonight trudi! xox
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Thank you, Susie. I read the book a while ago, too, but it seems this went deeper. Or maybe it was just that my heart was more ready to soak it in? I’m so glad you feel less alone! I’m with you on this journey, my friend! May God help us to cling to our identity in Jesus! Hugs!
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Thanks so much trudi! this means lots to me- hugs back your way!
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💞
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Trudy, I think you are amazing! You are definitely living your life statement and you are such a great encourager! You have certainly helped me a lot on my journey. This is a really powerful thought to me:: Holley believes that “seeing who God made us leads to praise, not pride.” Thank you and blessings to you!!
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Thank you for your sweet encouragement, Michelle. I am grateful for you and so blessed to be on this journey together. Your posts so often speak my heart and give me hope. May we keep on bearing one another’s burdens and pointing each other to our only hope in Jesus! Hugs!
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Thank you for this thorough review. I love Holley Gerth and her way of teaching us through her writing. This book sounds like one I would benefit from greatly. As for your life statement-ti sounds like the Trudy I am getting to know. I am so glad you shared it with all of us. I love coming here and spending time with you.
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Thank you for your kind words, Mary. It warms my heart that you love coming here. I love to spend time on your site, too. 🙂 I love Holley Gerth, too. Her posts and books have helped me a lot to learn to find my identity in Christ and to be who I was created to be instead of thinking I have to do more. Maybe keep on encouraging each other to rest in Jesus! Hugs!
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I loved Holley’s book and I am sure the study guide is just as amazing. Thank you so much for sharing at Weekend Whispers.
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You’re welcome, Crystal. Yes, all Holley’s books are really good, aren’t they? God bless you and keep you in His tender loving care! Hugs!
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