Holley Gerth - Youre Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be

2012 by Holley Gerth

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2012

Ebook corrections 01.26.2022

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3609-8

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

Scripture quotations labeled NIV 1984 are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I am honored to endorse this book for my friend Holley Gerth. Not only is she a fabulous, relatable writer, but she is a gift to everyone who has had the opportunity to share a corner of life with her.... In Youre Already Amazing , Holley invites you to settle in with her, to hear the words of Christ, and to walk away changed. I have a feeling youll be calling her your friend by the time you finish the first chapter, and I also have the sense that youll feel a peace in knowing what the Lover of your soul longs for you to embrace as reality. He created you just as you are, for purposes that will bless and honor him. We can all use that reminder!

Angie Smith , Women of Faith speaker and author of I Will Carry You and What Women Fear

Simply put, this is a book for every woman. Every woman who feels a crack line somewhere in her heart. Every woman who needs to find her way back to hope, Jesus, and everything she was made to be in Christ. Holley Gerth is a fresh voice for every womanshe echoes the voice of our Father.

Ann Voskamp , New York Times bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts

Stepping out to be who Gods called us to be is a faith dare. We cant make this journey alone, and because of Holleys book, we dont have to. Holleys words strike that beautiful balance of trusted confidante, biblical counselor, and encouraging BFF. Youre Already Amazing gives our hearts permission to be at home with who we are and to receive Gods love down deep where we crave it most.

Bonnie Gray , www.FaithBarista.com

Holley Gerth turns words like a poet. Warm and personal, Youre Already Amazing is a biblical, practical handbook for every womans heart. I would love to read this again with a small group of women or high school girls.

Emily P. Freeman , author of Grace for the Good Gir l

Reading this book is like sitting down for a conversation with Holleyand trust me, thats a real treat. Youll get all her attentive compassion and empowering wisdom. Best of all, youll end up believing the truth of her God-given message: You are amazing!

Heather Gemmen Wilson , bestselling author and international speaker

Holley has an amazing way of speaking to and captivating the heart of a woman. This inspirational book is a must read for any woman needing a huge dose of encouragement and new perspective on how amazing she really is!

Janet Daughtry , co-founder, Biblical Coaching Alliance

Youre Already Amazing offers women a dare they cant refuse. In Holleys gentle, loving way, she challenges us to dismiss the lie we think about ourselvesthe one that insists we arent enough. And then she offers us the tools we need in order to believe that we are already amazing. I found freedom in her words.

Kristen Welch , author of Dont Make Me Come Up There! and founder of Mercy House ministry

When youre wondering who you are and why you are, this book is like the good friend who takes you out to coffee to help figure it out. Holley Gerth understands all the expectations we heap on ourselves and shows us how to lay them down one by one in favor of the relationship God is inviting us into. This book and its message are the most wonderful, encouraging, and comforting relief.

Lisa-Jo Baker , social media manager for DaySpring and community manager for www.incourage.me

I so appreciated Holley Gerths heart as I read Youre Already Amazing a work full of encouragement, joy, and extremely helpful prompts that helped me overcome obstacles in my own heart. This book is a perfect addition to the library of any woman who wants to see genuine life change and experience it with joy alongside.

Mary DeMuth , author of Beautiful Battle

For amazing you

and the God who made you that way

Pssst ... pull up a chair and Ill tell you a secret. Youd better lean in close for this one.

Ready?

You dont have to do more, be more, have more.

Im sure there are security alarms going off somewhere. You should probably hide this book when your in-laws come over. And this could be the makings of a Sunday morning scandal.

But its true.

Its the kind of true that will change your life, set you free, and make you wake up smiling for the first time in a long time. I know because thats what it did for me (and believe me, for this nonmorning girl thats nothing short of miraculous). Ive seen it happen to a lot of other women too. Ive read it in their words through thousands of comments on my blog. Ive seen it in their faces as they sit on the couch in my counseling office. Ive heard it in a new kind of laughter over coffee with friends.

So watch out, sister. If you keep reading, you just might be next.

Even if weve never met, I know this about you: youre a daughter of God, a holy princess, a woman created with strengths youve yet to fully grasp and a story thats still being written by the divine Author himself. And if you really take hold of who you are and what youre called to do, there will be no stopping you. Thats because theres no stopping him in you and hes got bigger plans for your life than youve even imagined.

Okay, youve been warned.

If youre feeling brave, I dare you to read on...

My friend sits across the table at lunch. Shes lovely, wonderful, a bringer of joy to my heart. Yet today theres little light in her eyes. She talks of endless jugglingkids, work, church, marriage, sex, groceries, and God.

She whispers, Sometimes I dont even like my life. And I feel so guilty because Im so blessed.

She speaks of reading books, doing studies, and listening to sermons that say she needs to give more, have more quiet time, find more friends.