I’m not going to waste time making excuses, I’ll just come right out and say it
ABOUT
HOLLEY GERTH
Holley Gerth is a cofounder of (in)courage, author, counselor, life coach, wife to Mark, follower of Jesus, and friend to YOU. She'd love to have coffee with you. As the next best thing, she hopes...
I’m great at seeing the beauty and wonder in all of God’s creations…except me, oftentimes! So this post rang true for me. Thank you for the food for thought! (Oh, and the truffle recipe!)
Cxx
You get an “amen” from me, Sister! I have felt convicted about this EXACT same thing the last few days. It is easy for me to encourage others in their gifts but not to take His prompting at my own very seriously. Here’s to a very worthy resolution of putting “…all we’ve got on the table for Him!”
Happy New Year, gifted Holley!
Holley, thank you for (in)courage, thank you for this post, and thank you for ALL your postings so far. Your words touch my heart and always seem to be God speaking right to me. You and your words are such a blessing. I truly hope to carry your message throughout all of the new year.
I’ll say “Amen.” It is all about stepping out of my comfort zone. Doing something I haven’t done before. But when I do what I feel God is leading me to do, I get that “feeling.” Not any verbal praises from anyone. Just that deep down good feeling you know comes from God when you obey what He has laid on your heart to do.
Amen indeed!
Also, try making the Oreo truffles with almond bark or white chocolate chips instead of or in addition to the semi-sweet chocolate. I like the white chocolate ones even better! We served both white and milk chocolate-covered truffles at my wedding in May and they were a HUGE hit! Now I’m craving them…
This rings so true, Holley! God declares his love over us and so often we belittle ourselves. Laying it all out on the table for him–even the ugly truffles!
I am guilty of not seeing that beauty in myself, but seeing the beauty in others and wishing I had that. I need to rest in the fact that I am also fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God is using me despite the ugly areas I think I have in my life. I am beautiful because I am a child of God!
My son and I just had a talk about not getting defensive about things that we feel we don’t measure up in but just being honest. Not always an easy thing, I just usually stay silent. I agree though, maybe it would help others if we would open up. We might all feel just a bit more at ease.
Might have to try the truffles. I make some chocolate balls each Christmas and a couple of years ago I realized that chilling the balls prior to dipping them in the chocolate makes all the difference, otherwise they would tend to melt while dipping. Isn’t that the way life is? We learn as we go.
when my efforts don’t measure up to my own expectations (which is often!), I feel the need to make a disclaimer, and make sure people know I don’t think it’s great, either. I want to lower their expectations of me so that I still impress them when I exceed their expectations. YUCK.
and, what if my efforts are something another looks up to…and then I slam my own efforts. That might make someone else not try themselves or feel worse about their efforts. Thanks, Holley, for making me think about this.
YUCK. I think I’ve thought of it as humility…yikes.
This post was awesome. Really made me stop and think. Seriously, mid-post I literally stopped and prayed. Wow, way to make us think.
Also, question on making the truffles… do you scrape off the white filling from the oreos before you crush them? Or do you crush the whole darn thing in there, filling and all? I’m thinking of making these for a party tomorrow. :)
Holley!!!! Get out of town!! That is totally my holiday resolution — getting rid of my “ugly truffle complex” and it’s in my post today. Except your analogy is much sweeter.
Seriously. I told you you’re my Southern spiritual twin!! ;p
Thank you for the recipe. I’m gonna go make me some of that delicious, ugly truffle to give out to my girlfriends and include a copy of your post! LOL.
Thank You, Holley! You get an “Amen” from me too! God has definitely gifted you with the written word. You always seem to speak to our hearts on the every day stuff! Thank You for your heart of honesty, confessions, and also for that Truffle Recipe, which I gladly snagged! ;)
Many Blessings on you in the new year as you continue to follow the Father’s heart for your life!!
New Year’s Hugs,
Myrna
You’re right. There is such a fine line of “setting one’s self up – on a pedestal” and there is the woman who is “always tearing down her house”… discrediting her God-given abilities. Both are forms of pride (or nicer said) or “false-humility”. The Bible says in Proverbs 27, “Let another man praise you and not your own lips…”.
I have been thinking about Joy a lot over the holidays and I think if we can remember J*0*Y like this… it’s; “Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in between”… then ugly truffles or not, others are being blessed regardless of how we feel or what we think. Because it’s (whatever we do) to God first, then unto others and who cares if we get a truffle or not. (I’m preaching to the choir, here…)
AMEN! We all need a reminder to be kinder to ourselves! As for how you handled the candy, I am sure I would have tasted it first, but I can relate your disappointment on their appearances. Because I find we tend to rate gifts that are visually pleasing to the eye! As for hiding our unattractive parts – I get the message and shout AMEN! Thanks for sharing!
Holley, you’re a treasure. I confess, I don’t do holidays well, either. At least not with decorations or wrappings or baking. Last night I made a meal for a couple in our church who are dealing with medical difficulties for the wife. I was shagrinned because the meatballs were a little too done and the garlic bread too dark around the edges. It was definitely NOT what I wanted to feed Jesus! But it was definitely something I would feed my family. After reading about your ugly truffles I’m assured that my efforts still blessed them and pleased Jesus as well. And thank you for the recipe! I think I can make those without burning something!
“Amen” here too! I’m no Holiday Queen, for sure, mostly just a ‘wannabe’; but I did make the Oreo truffles too! They were not very pretty either, but were delicious! I think it would help if you chill them before dipping in the melted chocolate. I just used the almond bark.
Oh yes, the infamous “ugly truffle complex” and God’s glorious women. You are right, we all have some of it somewhere. Since God has redeemed and renewed us, why don’t we all share our recipes of His glorious Salvation this year?!
Thank you for your insight today…
Blessings.
Thank you for all of those Amens, ladies! You are making me SMILE. (:
Oh, and Gina asked about whether you needed to take out the Oreo filling. Nope, just put it ALL in there. And I like to smash mine up in a Ziploc (no mess)!
Hi Holley: So you can’t sing!!!! So you can’t make a beautiful looking truffle!!! No big deal!! But girl, you sure can entertain us and inspire us and always let us know that we are loved immensely and unconditionally by JESUS!!! In my book, that is really BIG!!!! To me, that is what life and love is all about. I always feel blessed after I read your blog. May 2010 be especially good to you and your wonderful hubby and bring you blessings galore. YOU ARE SPECIAL!! Love, Marge
Oh my gosh! I had a similar truffle story last Christmas (maybe that is why I did not attempt them this season). I scraped that chocolate and rolled those little balls until my biceps hurt! I thought they were ugly too until every said how tasty they were at Christmas Eve dinner. It is not about the truffles. Jesus is the gift!
I even go so far as to do this with my spirituality — looking at others, comparing and feeling that I come up short — less holy, less devout, less genuine, etc., etc. Thank you for this eye-opening post!
Amen Holley! I love your analogy. It fits so perfectly. It is true. I have that mind-set that it must be done perfectly or I just won’t do it at all. I’m with you on this one!
You are SO speaking directly to me, Holley! There’s no telling how many things I don’t even attempt because I fear failure or just not measuring up to others.
This even ties in with my recent blog post…I feel like God is pulling me away from doing a couple of things I enjoy–because I am confident in them–and instead He is wanting me to trust Him in areas where I will need to lean on Him more fully.
I do believe God spoke to me through your post!
Bless you!
Amy
(This may be one of my most favorite posts ever tapped out from the tips of your beautiful fingers! But oh — there have been so many — who can choose? Each one, a choice truffle!
I savor your words, Holley. They are so full of sweet Jesus.
Blessed New Year, soul friend….I ring it in with you and all the wondrous plans He has in store for you this year!
All’s grace,
Ann)
What a great story to start off the New Year! I can see the talents, gifts and promise in those around me but rarely myself, thank you for reminding me that I am ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ too!!!
For many years of my life, I felt like I was the ugly truffle, not just my life. The older I get the more grace I’m able to accept ~ I’m able to shake off some of the ugly truffle syndrome as I go. Thanks be to God. And thank you for a wonderful post.
Yes! It is so easy to think we need to be perfect to be usable! But like the “ugly truffles”, the first step is allowing ourselves to be broken, but then to be reshaped in the hand of the Master Truffle-maker! Bring it on, Lord!
Your Blog is such a blessing! I stumbled upon it by accident, which we all know isn’t true, God is good. Thank you for the encouragement. God bless you. terrie
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m great at seeing the beauty and wonder in all of God’s creations…except me, oftentimes! So this post rang true for me. Thank you for the food for thought! (Oh, and the truffle recipe!)
Cxx
You get an “amen” from me, Sister! I have felt convicted about this EXACT same thing the last few days. It is easy for me to encourage others in their gifts but not to take His prompting at my own very seriously. Here’s to a very worthy resolution of putting “…all we’ve got on the table for Him!”
Happy New Year, gifted Holley!
Holley, thank you for (in)courage, thank you for this post, and thank you for ALL your postings so far. Your words touch my heart and always seem to be God speaking right to me. You and your words are such a blessing. I truly hope to carry your message throughout all of the new year.
Women seem to be pretty good at agreeing with God unless he’s talking nice about us. Can I get an
Amen!
Amen! I’m with you! So true!
Can’t wait to eat all- ummm, I mean refrigerate- the truffles!
Amen to that Holley! You always give me food for thought!
I’ll say “Amen.” It is all about stepping out of my comfort zone. Doing something I haven’t done before. But when I do what I feel God is leading me to do, I get that “feeling.” Not any verbal praises from anyone. Just that deep down good feeling you know comes from God when you obey what He has laid on your heart to do.
Thank you and amen. I hide the ugly so often. Sometimes I wonder if any part of what the world sees of me is the real me.
Amen indeed!
Also, try making the Oreo truffles with almond bark or white chocolate chips instead of or in addition to the semi-sweet chocolate. I like the white chocolate ones even better! We served both white and milk chocolate-covered truffles at my wedding in May and they were a HUGE hit! Now I’m craving them…
“Women seem to be pretty good at agreeing with God unless he’s talking nice about us. Can I get an
AMEN!
Sing it, sister. It’s time to come out of hiding with our offerings.
I think I need to link this to my blog later today! Thanks.
“Women seem to be pretty good at agreeing with God unless he’s talking nice about us. Can I get an
This rings so true, Holley! God declares his love over us and so often we belittle ourselves. Laying it all out on the table for him–even the ugly truffles!
I am guilty of not seeing that beauty in myself, but seeing the beauty in others and wishing I had that. I need to rest in the fact that I am also fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God is using me despite the ugly areas I think I have in my life. I am beautiful because I am a child of God!
My son and I just had a talk about not getting defensive about things that we feel we don’t measure up in but just being honest. Not always an easy thing, I just usually stay silent. I agree though, maybe it would help others if we would open up. We might all feel just a bit more at ease.
Might have to try the truffles. I make some chocolate balls each Christmas and a couple of years ago I realized that chilling the balls prior to dipping them in the chocolate makes all the difference, otherwise they would tend to melt while dipping. Isn’t that the way life is? We learn as we go.
when my efforts don’t measure up to my own expectations (which is often!), I feel the need to make a disclaimer, and make sure people know I don’t think it’s great, either. I want to lower their expectations of me so that I still impress them when I exceed their expectations. YUCK.
and, what if my efforts are something another looks up to…and then I slam my own efforts. That might make someone else not try themselves or feel worse about their efforts. Thanks, Holley, for making me think about this.
YUCK. I think I’ve thought of it as humility…yikes.
This post was awesome. Really made me stop and think. Seriously, mid-post I literally stopped and prayed. Wow, way to make us think.
Also, question on making the truffles… do you scrape off the white filling from the oreos before you crush them? Or do you crush the whole darn thing in there, filling and all? I’m thinking of making these for a party tomorrow. :)
Holley!!!! Get out of town!! That is totally my holiday resolution — getting rid of my “ugly truffle complex” and it’s in my post today. Except your analogy is much sweeter.
Seriously. I told you you’re my Southern spiritual twin!! ;p
Thank you for the recipe. I’m gonna go make me some of that delicious, ugly truffle to give out to my girlfriends and include a copy of your post! LOL.
Thank You, Holley! You get an “Amen” from me too! God has definitely gifted you with the written word. You always seem to speak to our hearts on the every day stuff! Thank You for your heart of honesty, confessions, and also for that Truffle Recipe, which I gladly snagged! ;)
Many Blessings on you in the new year as you continue to follow the Father’s heart for your life!!
New Year’s Hugs,
Myrna
You’re right. There is such a fine line of “setting one’s self up – on a pedestal” and there is the woman who is “always tearing down her house”… discrediting her God-given abilities. Both are forms of pride (or nicer said) or “false-humility”. The Bible says in Proverbs 27, “Let another man praise you and not your own lips…”.
I have been thinking about Joy a lot over the holidays and I think if we can remember J*0*Y like this… it’s; “Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in between”… then ugly truffles or not, others are being blessed regardless of how we feel or what we think. Because it’s (whatever we do) to God first, then unto others and who cares if we get a truffle or not. (I’m preaching to the choir, here…)
AMEN! We all need a reminder to be kinder to ourselves! As for how you handled the candy, I am sure I would have tasted it first, but I can relate your disappointment on their appearances. Because I find we tend to rate gifts that are visually pleasing to the eye! As for hiding our unattractive parts – I get the message and shout AMEN! Thanks for sharing!
Holley, you’re a treasure. I confess, I don’t do holidays well, either. At least not with decorations or wrappings or baking. Last night I made a meal for a couple in our church who are dealing with medical difficulties for the wife. I was shagrinned because the meatballs were a little too done and the garlic bread too dark around the edges. It was definitely NOT what I wanted to feed Jesus! But it was definitely something I would feed my family. After reading about your ugly truffles I’m assured that my efforts still blessed them and pleased Jesus as well. And thank you for the recipe! I think I can make those without burning something!
Holley,you crack me up. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and life with us.
Cheri
“Amen” here too! I’m no Holiday Queen, for sure, mostly just a ‘wannabe’; but I did make the Oreo truffles too! They were not very pretty either, but were delicious! I think it would help if you chill them before dipping in the melted chocolate. I just used the almond bark.
Oh yes, the infamous “ugly truffle complex” and God’s glorious women. You are right, we all have some of it somewhere. Since God has redeemed and renewed us, why don’t we all share our recipes of His glorious Salvation this year?!
Thank you for your insight today…
Blessings.
Thank you for all of those Amens, ladies! You are making me SMILE. (:
Oh, and Gina asked about whether you needed to take out the Oreo filling. Nope, just put it ALL in there. And I like to smash mine up in a Ziploc (no mess)!
A Texas-sized “AMEN”! Sweet post!
Hi Holley: So you can’t sing!!!! So you can’t make a beautiful looking truffle!!! No big deal!! But girl, you sure can entertain us and inspire us and always let us know that we are loved immensely and unconditionally by JESUS!!! In my book, that is really BIG!!!! To me, that is what life and love is all about. I always feel blessed after I read your blog. May 2010 be especially good to you and your wonderful hubby and bring you blessings galore. YOU ARE SPECIAL!! Love, Marge
Oh my gosh! I had a similar truffle story last Christmas (maybe that is why I did not attempt them this season). I scraped that chocolate and rolled those little balls until my biceps hurt! I thought they were ugly too until every said how tasty they were at Christmas Eve dinner. It is not about the truffles. Jesus is the gift!
I even go so far as to do this with my spirituality — looking at others, comparing and feeling that I come up short — less holy, less devout, less genuine, etc., etc. Thank you for this eye-opening post!
Count me in sister!
Amen Holley! I love your analogy. It fits so perfectly. It is true. I have that mind-set that it must be done perfectly or I just won’t do it at all. I’m with you on this one!
“Women seem to be pretty good at agreeing with God unless he’s talking nice about us. Can I get an
You are SO speaking directly to me, Holley! There’s no telling how many things I don’t even attempt because I fear failure or just not measuring up to others.
This even ties in with my recent blog post…I feel like God is pulling me away from doing a couple of things I enjoy–because I am confident in them–and instead He is wanting me to trust Him in areas where I will need to lean on Him more fully.
I do believe God spoke to me through your post!
Bless you!
Amy
I’m with you, Holley!
Happy New Year to thee!
(This may be one of my most favorite posts ever tapped out from the tips of your beautiful fingers! But oh — there have been so many — who can choose? Each one, a choice truffle!
I savor your words, Holley. They are so full of sweet Jesus.
Blessed New Year, soul friend….I ring it in with you and all the wondrous plans He has in store for you this year!
All’s grace,
Ann)
What a great story to start off the New Year! I can see the talents, gifts and promise in those around me but rarely myself, thank you for reminding me that I am ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ too!!!
For many years of my life, I felt like I was the ugly truffle, not just my life. The older I get the more grace I’m able to accept ~ I’m able to shake off some of the ugly truffle syndrome as I go. Thanks be to God. And thank you for a wonderful post.
AMEN! Thanks for this. Looking forward to a new year with less ugly (fill in the black) complex. Peace!
Yes! It is so easy to think we need to be perfect to be usable! But like the “ugly truffles”, the first step is allowing ourselves to be broken, but then to be reshaped in the hand of the Master Truffle-maker! Bring it on, Lord!
Your Blog is such a blessing! I stumbled upon it by accident, which we all know isn’t true, God is good. Thank you for the encouragement. God bless you. terrie