One Size?

My dear friend Holley Gerth is currently posting a series on God-sized Dreams. I'm thrilled to welcome Holley here as a guest blogger today:

God-sized dreams...aren't one size fits all

Vintage dress pattern photo by Laineys Repertoire (flickr) My friend Kim and I ventured out for a little resale shopping recently. One particular store had a hot pink neon sign, loud music, and gum-popping teenagers behind the counters.

I tried on my usual size but it seemed those jeans must have been designed for Barbie. At any rate, my hips weren't having any of it.

So I reached for a shirt that looked more like a bib. That was followed by a dress that would have barely covered my bellybutton. Ahem.

When it comes to dreams, it seems to go much the same way. I think, "Oh, that dream looks so cute on her! I want that one too!" So I try it on and it doesn't fit my heart any better than those jeans fit my hips.

I keep trying other dreams until I sink to the floor of life's dressing room in discouragement. Or worse yet, I go out looking like someone Stacey and Clinton should nab for What Not to Wear as quickly as possible.

But I'm learning something beautiful. Although God's dreams aren't one size fits all like I sometimes wish they could be, He's created particular ones just for us and they fit who we are perfectly.

We don't have to settle for off-the-rack dreams or someone else's discards. No, ma'am, we've got a divine tailor who does nothing but high end, one-of-a-kind couture.

True God-sized dreams feel like they're made just for you...

because they are.

And you're made just for them, just for Him, too.

Now that's simply stunning.

(c) Copyright Holley Gerth, all rights reserved

Holley Gerth has a masters degree is counseling and is an award-winning writer and editorial director for DaySpring with more than ten years of experience in the publishing industry. Her first devotional book, Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times is available online and in bookstores. She’s also the author of over 2,000 cards, as well as several devotionals, articles, journals, and books. Holley is passionate about bringing hope to the hearts of women. You’re invited to visit her online at Heart to Heart with Holley at holley.dayspring.com

Win FREE Makeup & Jewelry

I am helping one of my dearest friends, Julie D., celebrate her 40th birthday. She's hosting a huge birthday bash over on her Mom2Ways blog (yes, she's one of my after-infertility-mom sisters, with her family growing through both the blessings of adoption and birth). She's giving away over 20 wonderful prizes to blog readers this month and one of those prizes is a makeup bag stuffed with Affordable Mineral Makeup™ and some Gurrlie Girl™ jewelry. To enter, head over to http://mom2ways.blogspot.com/2009/09/birthday-bash-giveaway-post.html and leave a comment for item 22 (or any other great prizes you would like to win).



Happy Birthday, Julie!

Rain on Me Book Give-Away

If you participated in my Virtual Spa Weekend in May, you may remember Holley Gerth's post, God thinks You're Beautiful. Holley has also recently released the book Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times and she's giving away a copy on one of my other blogs, Harvesting Hope from Heartache™. Drop by and leave a comment there before July 31 to be entered for this drawing. :)

God Thinks You're Beautiful

I am delighted to welcome Holley Gerth as a guest blogger at our Virtual Spa Weekend! Holley is an award-winning writer and editorial director for DaySpring (check the first link tomorrow morning for a great give-away from DaySpring) with more than ten years of experience in the publishing industry. Her first devotional book, Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times, is now available online and in bookstores. She’s also the author of over 2,000 cards, as well as several devotionals, articles, journals, and books. Holley is receiving a masters degree in counseling, and she’s passionate about bringing hope to the hearts of women. You’re invited to visit her online at Heart to Heart with Holley at holley.dayspring.com

Just flip through a few television channels and it’s easy to see that our culture is obsessed with beauty. Stars get plastic surgery before they grace the red carpet. Makeover shows transform lives and faces. Miss America crowns one girl the fairest of them all. From the time we are young girls we wonder how we fit into all of this fuss about beauty.

I clearly remember changing outfits at least ten times the evening before the first day of school in fourth grade. I would put one on, parade in front of my parents, and then rush back to my room to stare in the mirror. None of them seemed quite right. I was a wallflower who got few compliments.

The next morning I woke up to find a note beside my bed. It said, “The outfit looks great and so do you. Love, Dad.” I don’t even think he knew which outfit I ended up choosing. It didn’t matter. I belonged to him and that made me beautiful in his eyes no matter what I was wearing.

Our Heavenly Father feels the same way about us. He created us and regardless of what the world may try to tell us, He thinks we’re beautiful. I attended a conference taught by writer and women’s ministry leader Bekah Mulvaney. She talked about women’s search for acceptance and how she is learning to embrace God’s view of her.

Then she said something I'll never forget, “When I look in the mirror I see my imperfections. When God looks at me He probably thinks I’m adorable! After all, he made this nose, these eyes, and my heart.”

The biblical book of Song of Solomon is thought by most scholars to be a picture of Christ and His relationship with us. Over and over the lover he says words to his beloved like, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me” (Song of Solomon 2:10).

Angela Thomas explores this more in depth through her book, Do You Think I’m Beautiful? The Question Every Woman Asks. She also shares how we can respond to our desire for beauty. She says:
“If the question, ‘Do you think I’m beautiful?’ came attached to my soul, then maybe the answer wasn’t ever meant to fully come from this world. Maybe the purpose of the question is to take me by the hand and walk me into the presence of the Creator. My soul cries out and asks me the questions meant to lead me to God. Maybe all that really matters is what He thinks of me.”

Whether we obsess about it or ignore it, we’re made to know we’re beautiful. That truth can ultimately only come from God. He’s waiting to speak to our hearts the words we’ve always longed to hear…
You are beautiful.