Number 5: Jesus Paid It All
Number 4: Sing Sing Sing
Number 3: Never Once
Number 2: Great I Am
Number 1: 10,000 Reasons
Monday, June 4, 2012
You're Already Amazing-Chapter Three
Why Is It So Hard to Believe I'm Amazing was both a wonderful and horrible chapter. I can't tell you how many times I picked up, started, put down, and tossed this book because of just the title of chapter three. IT'S CHAPTER THREE! Don't ya think it'll get a little more intense as it goes on? =/
This chapter started out with crazy questions that go through everyone's minds. When Satan works, he's a nasty little fellow. As Holley writes, he doesn't always blatantly tempt someone. When Satan was in the Garden with Eve, Holley says he didn't ask her if she wanted to run off to Vegas and run wild (can you imagine that bible story for 3 year olds???). Satan's questions were probably similar to "Did God really say you have what it takes?" "Did God really say you're loved?" "Did God really say who you are is okay?"
While the answers should be obvious, sometimes they aren't. Holley argues that if we answered the Devil's questions with "Yes, God really did say I can do all things through Christ" (Phil 4:13) and "Yes, God really did say he loves me with an everlasting love" (Jer 31:3) and "Yes, God really did say I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps 139:14), we wouldn't have a problem. Don't get me wrong, these truths are written across our hearts in gold. They aren't going anywhere. But what's written on our hearts is often hidden in the shadows of what's going through our minds and what society has to say, especially to the brothers and sisters of Christ who walk their journey alone at times because they live in a house with unbelievers.
Holley says we need to drop our guilt because that gives Satan ground to pick on us. Jesus was tempted and he was perfect. Perfect. "We're all going to wrestle with our identities, feel drawn to insecurity, and want to fill those holes within us in other ways. That's not a sin. What matters is what we do next. We have a choice between living in the truth or giving in to the flesh. And what we pick ultimately shapes us and the course of our lives."
To shape our lives and uncover truth, we have to sort through and pick out lies. Have you ever had someone tell you a lie that you believed for such a long time, you thought it was truth? It's like having the wind knocked out of you when you realize that what you believed for so long, and had faith in, is a lie. Devastation often comes from things like that. Pieces crumble and you start back at square one.
We all have heard these lies. A lot of times, they're so familiar to us, they just seem like truths and we don't pay any attention to them, especially when they come from people that love us like a parent or a sibling. What are some of the lies you believe about yourself? Has anyone ever told you you weren't pretty enough? How about that nobody likes you. Jesus said whoever has never sinned should cast the first stone in the book of John. Nobody can thrown stones at you because you are loved, accepted, chosen, and a beloved child of our Lord
Holley talks about 5 lies that women usually believe about themselves and looks at how to spin a lie into the truth:
Lie #1-"I have to be perfect"
Umm...no. Perfection isn't the same from people to people. While society has a "perfect" life, it's conditional. Holding a newborn in my arms is perfection to me. It might be a nightmare to someone else. Conditional.
But think of it this way, friends. While someone might throw a verse like Matthew 5:48 in your face when telling you to be perfect, look in Hebrews for truth. "By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Praise the Lord, we are made perfect the second we accept Christ in our hearts. He's the only perfect one and he lives in us!
Holley says there's a difference between perfection and growth. We grow in the Lord every minute of every day. "The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day"-Proverbs 4:18. Let's look at the differences between perfection and growth:
Perfectionism is all or nothing, growth is little by little.
Perfectionism is all about the goal, growth is more about the journey.
Perfectionism is all about outward appearances, growth is about what happens on the inside.
Perfectionism is all about what we do, growth is about who we're becoming.
Look at the growth. As we grow, we gain new wisdom, develop strengths, and lean more on God. That's the ultimate goal.
Lie #2-"I need to be more like her"
I don't know which "her" society is referring to but if it's anyone like Snooki, please, get me away from there!
Women were designed by God to be tender-hearted, compassionate, and beautiful creatures. It's a wonderful thing to be given but when someone else does something faster, better, or more efficient than you, your first instinct is to compare what you could do better. Holley says when we fall short against someone, we're insecure and a failure. If we surpass someone, we're prideful and boast about accomplishments. The answer is to focus on God and he will show you that your life is written by his pen. God doesn't compare you to anyone else because you are unique and a reflection of him. You are your own part of the body of Christ. We don't need a world full of elbows-someone has to be the knee.
Lie #3-"I don't have anything to offer"
When things don't work out like they should and we fail, often, our first reaction is to hide. The mistakes you make, however, might be a ticket to someone who is on the bottom. Have you ever stopped and thought about your failures being perfection to someone else? Probably not. When God talks favorably about us to other people, we usually shy away or find something negative to say about it.
We have to, as Holley says, "put all we've got on the table for him and share it with our whole hearts" One of the biggest lies we'll be told is that we aren't worthwhile and what we're offering isn't enough. God says we're fearfully and wonderfully made so everything we've got is wonderful too.
Lie #4-"Being confident will make me prideful and selfish"
I don't know who said confidence makes you selfish but they clearly haven't met me. I'm a very confident person...and I'm also one of the most selfless people I know. I know what you're thinking-HA! But really. Look at what I do with my time and for my friends. I've spent countless hours sacrificing my time to help others because I'm confident in what I'm doing and that it's for a better good. We only become prideful and selfish when we're pursuing our own agendas.
Pride is another form of insecurity. It's a way to make ourselves look better so when we have a snag along the way, people overlook it. We need to believe what God says about us if we want to become unselfish and unprideful. We need to stop looking inward and focus upward and outward on him and on others.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." (2 Tim 1:7)
Lie #5-"I am who others say I am"
For so long, I was deemed someone I'm not proud of. Why? Because a few missteps and actions I didn't think clearly through defined what a whole group of people saw. The only impression of me were these actions so naturally, this is who they think I am.
At some point, we have to grow up (1 Cor 13:11-12) and start facing the lies to sort out the truth. We won't see the whole picture of ourselves until we're in Heaven. God's truth, however, reveals piece by piece. PJ today said God gives us directions on step at a time. When we reach the end of step one, does God give us the next three steps? No. He gives us another step one. That's how God works. If he revealed a whole plan to you, you probably wouldn't go in that direction because God's plans are sometimes scary because they make you question who you are, test your faith, and make others look at you differently.
When you replace lies in your brain with truth, you're creating new pathways in your brain. It's physically changing your brain when you are revealed the truth. It's not easy. It's not promised to be. But, I swear, it's worth it.
Remember friends,
You're more than okay-you're His (Ps 139:14)
You've got all you need (2 Pet 1:3)
You can do all things (Phil 4:13)
and love will see you through.
This chapter started out with crazy questions that go through everyone's minds. When Satan works, he's a nasty little fellow. As Holley writes, he doesn't always blatantly tempt someone. When Satan was in the Garden with Eve, Holley says he didn't ask her if she wanted to run off to Vegas and run wild (can you imagine that bible story for 3 year olds???). Satan's questions were probably similar to "Did God really say you have what it takes?" "Did God really say you're loved?" "Did God really say who you are is okay?"
While the answers should be obvious, sometimes they aren't. Holley argues that if we answered the Devil's questions with "Yes, God really did say I can do all things through Christ" (Phil 4:13) and "Yes, God really did say he loves me with an everlasting love" (Jer 31:3) and "Yes, God really did say I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps 139:14), we wouldn't have a problem. Don't get me wrong, these truths are written across our hearts in gold. They aren't going anywhere. But what's written on our hearts is often hidden in the shadows of what's going through our minds and what society has to say, especially to the brothers and sisters of Christ who walk their journey alone at times because they live in a house with unbelievers.
Holley says we need to drop our guilt because that gives Satan ground to pick on us. Jesus was tempted and he was perfect. Perfect. "We're all going to wrestle with our identities, feel drawn to insecurity, and want to fill those holes within us in other ways. That's not a sin. What matters is what we do next. We have a choice between living in the truth or giving in to the flesh. And what we pick ultimately shapes us and the course of our lives."
To shape our lives and uncover truth, we have to sort through and pick out lies. Have you ever had someone tell you a lie that you believed for such a long time, you thought it was truth? It's like having the wind knocked out of you when you realize that what you believed for so long, and had faith in, is a lie. Devastation often comes from things like that. Pieces crumble and you start back at square one.
We all have heard these lies. A lot of times, they're so familiar to us, they just seem like truths and we don't pay any attention to them, especially when they come from people that love us like a parent or a sibling. What are some of the lies you believe about yourself? Has anyone ever told you you weren't pretty enough? How about that nobody likes you. Jesus said whoever has never sinned should cast the first stone in the book of John. Nobody can thrown stones at you because you are loved, accepted, chosen, and a beloved child of our Lord
Holley talks about 5 lies that women usually believe about themselves and looks at how to spin a lie into the truth:
Lie #1-"I have to be perfect"
Umm...no. Perfection isn't the same from people to people. While society has a "perfect" life, it's conditional. Holding a newborn in my arms is perfection to me. It might be a nightmare to someone else. Conditional.
But think of it this way, friends. While someone might throw a verse like Matthew 5:48 in your face when telling you to be perfect, look in Hebrews for truth. "By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Praise the Lord, we are made perfect the second we accept Christ in our hearts. He's the only perfect one and he lives in us!
Holley says there's a difference between perfection and growth. We grow in the Lord every minute of every day. "The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day"-Proverbs 4:18. Let's look at the differences between perfection and growth:
Perfectionism is all or nothing, growth is little by little.
Perfectionism is all about the goal, growth is more about the journey.
Perfectionism is all about outward appearances, growth is about what happens on the inside.
Perfectionism is all about what we do, growth is about who we're becoming.
Look at the growth. As we grow, we gain new wisdom, develop strengths, and lean more on God. That's the ultimate goal.
Lie #2-"I need to be more like her"
I don't know which "her" society is referring to but if it's anyone like Snooki, please, get me away from there!
Women were designed by God to be tender-hearted, compassionate, and beautiful creatures. It's a wonderful thing to be given but when someone else does something faster, better, or more efficient than you, your first instinct is to compare what you could do better. Holley says when we fall short against someone, we're insecure and a failure. If we surpass someone, we're prideful and boast about accomplishments. The answer is to focus on God and he will show you that your life is written by his pen. God doesn't compare you to anyone else because you are unique and a reflection of him. You are your own part of the body of Christ. We don't need a world full of elbows-someone has to be the knee.
Lie #3-"I don't have anything to offer"
When things don't work out like they should and we fail, often, our first reaction is to hide. The mistakes you make, however, might be a ticket to someone who is on the bottom. Have you ever stopped and thought about your failures being perfection to someone else? Probably not. When God talks favorably about us to other people, we usually shy away or find something negative to say about it.
We have to, as Holley says, "put all we've got on the table for him and share it with our whole hearts" One of the biggest lies we'll be told is that we aren't worthwhile and what we're offering isn't enough. God says we're fearfully and wonderfully made so everything we've got is wonderful too.
Lie #4-"Being confident will make me prideful and selfish"
I don't know who said confidence makes you selfish but they clearly haven't met me. I'm a very confident person...and I'm also one of the most selfless people I know. I know what you're thinking-HA! But really. Look at what I do with my time and for my friends. I've spent countless hours sacrificing my time to help others because I'm confident in what I'm doing and that it's for a better good. We only become prideful and selfish when we're pursuing our own agendas.
Pride is another form of insecurity. It's a way to make ourselves look better so when we have a snag along the way, people overlook it. We need to believe what God says about us if we want to become unselfish and unprideful. We need to stop looking inward and focus upward and outward on him and on others.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." (2 Tim 1:7)
Lie #5-"I am who others say I am"
For so long, I was deemed someone I'm not proud of. Why? Because a few missteps and actions I didn't think clearly through defined what a whole group of people saw. The only impression of me were these actions so naturally, this is who they think I am.
At some point, we have to grow up (1 Cor 13:11-12) and start facing the lies to sort out the truth. We won't see the whole picture of ourselves until we're in Heaven. God's truth, however, reveals piece by piece. PJ today said God gives us directions on step at a time. When we reach the end of step one, does God give us the next three steps? No. He gives us another step one. That's how God works. If he revealed a whole plan to you, you probably wouldn't go in that direction because God's plans are sometimes scary because they make you question who you are, test your faith, and make others look at you differently.
When you replace lies in your brain with truth, you're creating new pathways in your brain. It's physically changing your brain when you are revealed the truth. It's not easy. It's not promised to be. But, I swear, it's worth it.
Remember friends,
You're more than okay-you're His (Ps 139:14)
You've got all you need (2 Pet 1:3)
You can do all things (Phil 4:13)
and love will see you through.
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