As a child, my favorite day of the summer was Monday. I had the most difficult time waiting for Monday every week. You see, Monday was the day – the only day – our elementary library was open. The school librarian often found me sitting on that old wood floor waiting for her arrival.

For the first hour or so, I helped her with the returns and ever so gently placed each book on their proper shelf. And then it was my turn. Row by row. Shelf by shelf. Book  by book. I pondered by next choices. With just minutes to spare before the door closed for another week, I checked out my five books. Just five. Only five. That was the rule. I didn’t like it one bit, but this first-born, rule follower, couldn’t bear to lose my library privileges girl chose five.

Authors inspired me. Their words took me to places I couldn’t go. Their adventures helped me dream of my own. Their emotions brought clarity to mine. Their stories gave me hope.

Authors inspired me then and their inspiration continues today. My basement is my library. And my night stand. And the sofa table. And my kindle. Lots of inspiration in all of those places.

My friend, Holley, inspires me with her words. She’s been given a gift and she’s using it all for His glory. I’ve had the privilege of being a part of Holley’s God-Sized Dream Team this past year. She has generously shared her words and has been our biggest cheerleader in pursuing our dreams.

And sometimes you get an amazing opportunity to meet the person whose words have changed your life. On Friday I get to hug sweet Holley for real and get to talk to her face to face. I’m so excited!

To celebrate my friend and her inspiration, I’m giving away a copy of You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream and her newest book, You’re Going to be Okay.

 

Just comment below. Tell me who inspires you. The winner will be announced on Monday. I’m looking forward to reading your comments.

 

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s Coffee for Your Heart day over at Holley’s blog. You’ll love the inspiration you find there.

Holley’s Coffee For Your Heart writing prompt was probably chosen weeks or months ago. I needed it today. Maybe you do too. I needed to be told the Truth. I – We are not alone. God is holding onto us when we feel like it and when we don’t.

For I, the LORD your God,
Hold your right hand;
It is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”
Is 41:13

 

If you’ve spent any time around this little blog of mine, you know I’m a word nerd. Here’s the Hebrew Lexicon definition of HOLD:

to cling, to cleave, to adhere, especially firmly, as if with glue – to be glued

It’s not us holding on to God…He’s holding on to us! I love the visual of “especially firmly, as if with glue.” It’s tight. It’s secure. It’s confident.

When your marriage is hard – you’re not alone

When parenting is exhausting – you’re not alone

When friendships are wounding – you’re not alone

When your heart is breaking – you’re not alone

When the darkness is suffocating – you’re not alone

When the way seems daunting – you’re not alone

You’re not alone even when you most feel like it.

So go ahead. Take that next step. Do that hard, scary thing. God’s got you – just like glue. That’s His promise. And He’s faithful.

 

Come and visit Holley and so many others reminding us we are not alone. You’ll be so glad you did. I promise.

 

Dear friend,

Today. Right now. Just are you are. You are beautiful.

It’s funny, but I can just hear your thoughts frantically tumbling around in your sweet head. Those thoughts that are fighting so very hard to deny that truth. The truth that you are beautiful. I know because that same battle goes on in my head and heart.

The words we hear, the words we tell ourselves give definition to beautiful.

I’m the oldest of four. More than anything my Dad wanted a firstborn son. I wasn’t him. His words settled deep in my young heart…”If you had to be girl, at least you could have been pretty.” Until the day he left our family, he showed me verbally and physically I was not what he wanted.

Maybe the longing underneath you are beautiful is You. Are. Wanted. That shift in my thinking has brought clarity, freedom, and some much needed healing.

God says…

You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you. Is 43:4

The LORD your God has made you beautiful. Is 60:9

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD. Is 62:3

 

God thinks about you all the time…

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!   Ps 139:17-18

 

You are beautiful. You are wanted. Just as you are. On the days you feel like it, and especially on the days you don’t.

Dear friend, I challenge you today to start believing these verses are true about you. What lie(s) are you going to get rid of in order to believe and live like a beautiful, wanted woman of God?

 

Today I’m joining Holley Gerth’s Coffee For Your Heart. It’s a place of some sweet encouragement. Come and visit.

I love mornings. Not 2:30 a.m. haven’t been to sleep yet mornings. But I’m in the season of teenagers. They give a new definition to time.

It’s the end of the quarter here. My daughter, Grace, had a big project due and little miss perfectionist was struggling…and procrastinating. I wish I could say I didn’t have a clue what that was like. Ha! It’s my every day battle. That’s another blog post for another day.

The later it got, the more anxious she became. All my words of Mom wisdom were doing nothing for her. As midnight passed, I must admit my words were no longer said in tender tones, but with great urgency and a tired edge. And then it happened. His gentle whisper to my heart. “Deb, just love her. No words.” What I deserved was a harsh “shut up!” I’m grateful for His kindness.

So for the next two and a half hours I sat with her on her twin sized bed. I watched her type away on her iPad and prayed for this sweet, determined girl of mine. And then it was done. Finally, it was done. The clock said 2:30 a.m.

She fell asleep in mere seconds. It took me awhile longer. God taught me a huge lesson about love that night. Love is rarely convenient. Love is flexible. Love doesn’t always need words. Love gives just enough courage to take the next hard step.

God loves you, Grace, and me just like that.

You are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you.   Isaiah 43:4

When life is messy, and you’re tired, and you’re afraid, God loves you. You are not an inconvenience to Him. He loves you always. Even at 2:30 a.m.

I’m joining Holley Gerth on Wednesdays for Coffee for Your Heart. It’s a sweet place of encouragement. Please come and join us.