I reached out to touch one. Hard as a rock.

I offered it to the dog. She whined. I sighed.

What in the world had gone wrong?

This is how shortcakes are supposed to look. These are not my shortcakes.

My in-laws waited in the other room for the strawberry shortcake I'd promised. How to explain the outcome of my fool-proof dessert? Hours later I realized I'd used flour insead of bisquik. Huh.

What I learned that day:

1) How to make paper weights

2) Even the dog has limits to her digestion

3) Failure isn't the end of the world--it's just the end of that experiment

Sure, we face far weightier outcomes than my shortcakes-gone-wrong But even in the big failures of life, there are lessons to be learned, experiences to take with us, and a hearty dose of remembering that we are not God.

God made the universe. I can't make shortcakes. Enough said.

When we refuse to make friends with failure, our fear sky rockets because then we have to succeed every time. And that's impossible. Once we realize that, the only sure path to success is not to try. And that's unacceptable.

We've got a lot to offer. Maybe not shortcakes--but something.

Something good and worthwhile and God-given.

The Secret: Let failure be your friend. Then go change the world together. Every success has failure somewhere in the back story too.

--Holley

{Someone sent me a note sharing about starting the God's Heart for You devotional today because it has 40 days and 40 days from now is Easter. I thought that was a lovely idea so I'm sharing it with you too!}

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JOY is a powerful motivator.

And it always trumps fear.

We know that as kids. But somewhere along the way we forget how much it's true. We start believing life is serious business and getting rid of fear requires intensity and determination.

Not always.

Sometimes it's as simple as rediscovering our joy, embracing our passion, taking the hand of the Good-Gift-Giver and daring to follow him over the edge.

What do you really love?

What makes you feel joy in a way that nothing else does?

Where do you feel God's presence more than anywhere else (because where he is, joy is too)?

When fear tells you to turn back--to stop following that dream, taking that step, making that difference--run toward joy.

Because, here's the secret, fear has a fear of joy.

And it won't dare to follow you when you jump heart first over that edge.

--Holley

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We stepped through the door of the laundry room in our newest rental property. My husband pointed to a hole in the back of the wall. "That's the dryer vent," he said, "And we're going to clean it."

He proceeded to unfold a series of flexible sticks with a brush on the end and cram it into the wall. I watched wide-eyed in my skinny jeans and new sweater.

After a few minutes, I got a chance to join the fun. "I'm going to pull the brush back out and I need you to stay by the hole in the wall and make sure it doesn't get stuck."

I crouched down, cute boots and all, and peered into the tiny black space in front of me.

Y'all, what hubby failed to mention is that when the brush gets ready to exit the building so does all the lint it's collected. Do you remember the Monty Python movie when the soldiers are attacked by a killer rabbit? I had a flashback of that scene as the mother of all dust bunnies came flying out of the pipe and exploded all over me.

I got so startled I fell over. And I might have fainted if the sound of hysterical laughter from my husband hadn't kept me conscious.

Because my life is one big analogy, I found myself pondering the dust bunny as I laid in bed that night. While my skinny jeans got covered in fluff, no real harm was done. I just felt like I'd been attacked by a killer rabbit. My reaction didn't match the reality.

It's often the same way with fear. What we imagine is often far worse than what comes to be. And even if it does happen, we discover we're more resilient than we ever knew (and God is more faithful too). But the only way to find that out is to stare fear in the face and let it explode all over of us is needed. Not what we fear but the fear itself--which many times turns out to be worse.

What are you really afraid of?

And if that happened, then what?

And what about after that?

Keep going until you've gone all the way down the pipe of your fear and pulled every little bit back out. Then hold it in your hands and see if you've got a killer rabbit or a dust bunny. You might even find yourself laughing a bit about what you thought was in there.

The secret is not letting all of that fear grow in the dark.

Then stand up, wipe off your skinny jeans, hand it all to God and go out there and change the world...

I believe with all my heart you can.

--Holley

* THANK YOU for helping my new book, You're Already Amazing, go to #1 on the bestsellers list of Barnes & Noble.com! Woo-hoo! Haven't gotten your copies yet? Amazon now has it half price for a limited time and you get free shipping when you order four (stock up for Easter and Mother's Day gifts!). Y'all are wonderful. *

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Pssst . . . pull up a chair and I’ll tell you a secret. You’d better lean in close for this one.

Ready?

You don’t have to do more, be more, have more.

I’m 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 it’s true.

It’s 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 that’s what it did for me. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of other women too.

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

Even if we’ve never met, I know this about you: you’re a daughter of God, a holy princess, a woman created with strengths you’ve yet to fully grasp and a story that’s still being written by the divine Author himself.

And if you really take hold of who you are and what you’re called to do, there will be no stopping you. That’s because there’s no stopping him in you—and he’s got bigger plans for your life than you’ve even imagined.

Okay, you’ve been warned.

If you’re feeling brave, I dare you to turn the page . . .

-You're Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be

Since we don't get to have coffee every day, I've written you a book. I want my words to be with you the way I wish I could be. I believe it's a message that will change your heart forever and the hearts of the women you love too.

The exciting news: You're Already Amazing releases in March but it's half off if you preorder it February 15th and 16th from the Barnes & Noble web site. Woo-hoo! Update: You're Already Amazing is #1 on the Barnes & Noble site!

--------------

Will you help me spread the word? I'll even make it easy for you. You can just copy and paste what's below (or write your own)...

Facebook: Excited about this book! You're Already Amazing by @Holley Armstrong Gerth is half off on Barnes & Noble today! http://www.bn.com/yourealreadyamazing

Twitter: Excited about this book! You're Already Amazing by @HolleyGerth is 1/2 off on B&N today! http://www.bn.com/yourealreadyamazing

For every time you mention the book, you'll be entered in a giveaway. The prize? I will personally match the number of copies you preorder, write a note in them to whoever you'd like and even ship them right to those people (this would make great Easter or Mother's Day gifts!).

---------------

I'll share more about the book soon and look forward to this new journey together!

Thank you, friend. You really are already amazing.

--Holley

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We live in a world where "happily ever after" doesn't always come true.

I know that because I've heard it from many of you.

So today if you find yourself with a sweetheart, celebrate with much joy.

And if you don't, let me lean and whisper you are still loved.

Higher than the sky.

Deeper than the ocean.

More than you've even dared to dream.

The hairs on your head are numbered.

The cares in your heart are too.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

You are have a purpose and there is a good plan for you.

You are not alone--you are fully and beautifully known

by One who loves you more than you can even imagine.

I just wanted to whisper that to your heart again, especially today.

XO

Holley

photo: Loved print by RedLetterWords

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As I did, Savannah Hill kept coming to my heart again and again. So I slipped her a little note asking if she'd like to be part of loving on you. And in one of those God-is-good moments she immediately and enthusiastically said YES. So she'll be helping me around here and on other places like twitter and facebook too.

I asked Savannah to share a little about herself with you and this is what she said. I just know you're going to love her as much as I do...

Beautiful red apples. Oranges that look like sunlight. Peppers that started as seeds far away.

And I begin to think about time differently. How much time would it have taken me to have this abundance a hundred years ago? Months of work, cultivation, nurturing.

Now I roll my eyes after waiting for five minutes.

Why is that?

I realize it's because I'm used to production not growth.

Producing something is quick, easy.

Growth is intentional, done with care.

God isn't impatient like me. He's committed to working the soil, watering, harvesting, going through the process, all in the right time. His plans are better than mine. Time is not an obstacle to him. Instead it's an opportunity for what's truly best to come forth in my life.

And in yours.

God is growing beautiful things in us, friends.

The longer it takes, the sweeter the reward will be.

--Holley

p.s. Do you live around the Kansas/Nebraska area? If so, I'd love to meet you in person at the Embracing and Becoming Women's Retreat this March!

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They expect only to find scraps but as they travel to markets and farms, what they discover is stunning.

Beautiful tomatoes with the slightest imperfections in their skins.

Gorgeous corn blown over by hurricane winds that no one will pick.

Eggs that are not quite the right size or shape.

In the end, they have abundance that turns into a joyful feast that teaches me a truth my heart will remember forever...

Will you read the rest with me on (in)courage?

Define it with titles.

Step on the scale.

Climb up the ladder.

We chase it until we're exhausted.

Success.

What does it really mean?

I look through the sacred pages one day looking for an answer.

And I find, all the way through, it really comes back to one word.

Obedience.

Not results.

Not awards.

Not exceeding expectations.

Just obedience.

We are servants who bring our Master joy when we do what he asks.

No more, no less.

Success isn't as complicated as we make it.

And it's attainable. For all of us. Every day. Wherever we are.

Even this week.

Doesn't that make your heart feel freer?

Woo-hoo!

--Holley

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I know because you send me notes from places like Australia and Thailand. And each time one slips into my box I have the same thought, "I wish we could have coffee together."

I'm hoping heaven involves coffee too. And the chance to sit down with each one of you.

Because that's how I connect best, face-to-face.

I love what words can do. How they bring hearts together.

Yet there's just something about seeing each other.

In real life.

Jesus did it.

He crossed time and space and history to be in our world.

In real life.

Maybe that's why what (in)courage is doing matters so much.

(in)RL {short for In Real Life}

Have you heard about it yet?

On April 27 and 28th women all over the world will get together, face-to-face.

In coffee shops. Living rooms. Unexpected places.

There will be video content to share from some of the women from (in)courage (my smiley little face will be in there). Check out this awesome trailer for an idea of what it's like.

A community keynote will kick off Friday night and then Saturday will be time to connect with local friends--new and old. There will be more video content if you'd like along with whatever your host (or you) can dream up.  

 Here are the details: $10 to register and that comes with a free T-shirt and free Simply Marvelous card pack.

There may already be an (in)real life meet up in your town you can join. You can find out on the (in)RL site.

And if there's not one you can create your own as a host on the (in)RL site.

Let's do this together.

I'll be holding a cup of coffee that day and joining right in with you. 

In real life.

Yesterday Bonnie Gray shared about (in)RL and tomorrow Angela Nazworth will too.

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