Congratulations to Val and Jen who will receive a PDF copy of Being OK With Who You Are!! Thanks to all who commented.
It is with great pleasure to relinquish the reins of my blog today to Stacey Thacker, blogger at 29 Lincoln Avenue and author of the just-released-on-Tuesday Being OK with Where You Are. Stacey's is a sane, encouraging voice in the internet's noisy sea, and hers is a message not just worthy of listen, but needed by many.
For those who carry dashed dreams or have suffered from defeat by comparison, this is a book for you. If you're wise, you'll pick up the e-book this week while it's still just $3.99.
Enough from me and on to today's special guest post. With gracious thanks to Stacey for inviting me to share in the celebration of her book's launch!
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“An infallible spell that makes you she,
the beauty you’ve always wanted to be.”
The Book of Incantations from “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” *
Comparison runs deep in God’s daughters. I know this because it runs deep in my soul, too. There are many days I wish I could speak a magic spell over my life and make myself the girl I’ve always wanted to be. It would be so much easier to become her than the worn out version of myself I see in the mirror lately.
She has dreams coming true left and right.
She is invited to all the cool gatherings.
She never raises her voice.
She knows exactly what she is doing, all the time.
And by comparison, my life looks a bit weary. My wish list is only magnified when I keep my eyes fixed on her status updates or the Photoshop perfect images on her Instagram feed. Which, by the way, always seems to be online when I am not OK with where I am.
This truth is beautifully illustrated in one of my favorite scenes in the movie “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” Lucy wanted to be beautiful like her sister. She wanted it so badly she wished her life away with fancy words. Aslan, tells her, “Your brothers and sisters wouldn’t know Narnia without you, Lucy. You discovered it first, remember?” In wanting what her sister had, Lucy lost her childlike joy. She forgot who she was and entered an ugly place. She is drawn back by Aslan’s words, “You doubt your value, don’t run from who you are.” *
As it turns out I’m not the only one who feels like Lucy. I recently wrote a book called "Being OK With Where You Are" and the chapter on comparison has drawn more than a few head nods and amens from others. Here is an excerpt:
“Comparison is a two headed monster. It keeps us in an ugly place and it makes us want what our sister has. If we want to grow through this process and find Jesus in the middle of it, we have to look to Him and not others. When we are in a place of struggle, we have to look ten times more to Christ and His Word. The bottom line is, though, you have to choose it.” “The ‘C’ Word”, Chapter 4
His Word tells us we have value. His Word helps us remember who we are and what God has done in our lives. His Word simply draws us away from the world and straight into His lap. The only way we are going to quit running from who we are, is to choose His Word instead and run straight to Him:
“Let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the source and the goal of our faith. For he himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy he knew would follow his suffering; and he is now seated at the right hand of God’s throne. Think constantly of him enduring all that sinful men could say against him and you will not lose your purpose or your courage.” (Hebrews 12:2-3, J.B. Phillips Translation)
Girls, we have to run this race together. We need to remind each other to quit doubting our own value, fix our eyes on Jesus, and think constantly of Him. No more magic spells, ugly places or two-headed monsters. Only Jesus.
I’d love to share more of my journey with you through "Being OK With Where You Are". It is a small book God put on my heart to write last year when one of my dreams fell flat and how being OK with where you are is really a process. It would make a great coffee date to share with a friend.
I’d like to share 2 PDF copies with one of of Robin’s readers.
Just leave a comment below to be entered to win.
"Being OK With Where You Are" is available exclusively at Amazon.
About the Author:
Stacey Thacker is Mike’s wife and the mother of four vibrant girls. She is a believer and writer who loves God’s Word and connecting with women. You can find her blogging at 29 Lincoln Avenue where she seeks to encourage your heart, grow in faith, and talk about the stuff of life. She is also the owner of Mothers of Daughters a monthly e-zine for moms. Stacey is the co-author of Hope for the Weary Mom: Where God Meets you in Your Mess. You can find her on Facebook or on Twitter, where she usually hangs out with a cup of coffee in her hand.
*The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Fox 2000 Pictures, 2010), directed by Michael Apted, chapter 13.
Disclosure: Compensated affiliate links used.
Thanks sweet friend for the kind words and letting me hang out with you today! My very first guest post about the book! Love you so much!
Comparison is such a corrosive thing. It eats away at the fabric of family, friendships, communities and churches. Contentment, on the other, is the glue which helps build!
So hard in the online world especially to not compare! Would love to read this book!
Oh, bitter, bitter comparison. It is, indeed, the “c” word that probably causes me the most hurt. What an important, timely topic to address!
Feels like perfect time for this book to enter my life.
So true Amy! I think even more so because we live in such a visually connected world!
This sounds like a perfect message! I need to be OK with my life and not compare it to others.
Such beautiful words, Stacey. Congratulations on a wonderful book!!!
I grew up always being compared to my cousins who always did everything right in the eyes of my mother. When I was blessed with my daughter, I vowed to never raise her like my mother raised me…..never feeling like I was good enough, pretty enough or successful enough. My daughter has grown into a compassionate young lady with a heart for The Lord. My prayer is for your blog and book to be an inspiration to others and free those of us suffering from the “c” word.
Hope to win! This is so me. Comparing myself to everything from the post of facebook, to my own sister, to the person I “think” I should be. As a single mom of 3, there is always someone doing something better, faster, and without forgetting. So I totally understand!
Beautiful reminder that He has a purpose for us all, even when we just can’t see it and really aren’t quite there. The journey itself has a purpose in creating who we will be.
Thanks Robin.
I want this book for my 17 year old daughter.
She is drowning in “comparing” and struggling to believe Jesus.
I think this could encourage her.
Since I have 3 daughters, I trust that Stacey has some God given wisdom to offer up…..I see she mothers 4 daughters.
I’ve never felt “enough”; struggled to internalize God’s vision of me and love for me. This book sounds just the ticket.
I am definitely guilty of falling into the comparison trap through all the phases of my life and when I finally start to feel comfortable in my own skin, C rears its ugly head. I know that if I see myself as God sees me, I can kick C to the curb.
“Being OK with Where I Am ” sounds like exactly what I need right now. I sure would love to win a copy. Believe it or not, I cannot even afford the e-book. Due to the coming “Obamacare” his hours have been cut in half. I could really use this advice I think in this book !
Dashed dreams? Defeat by comparison? I’m there right now!
I am so excited to read this book!!! Honestly, the title says it all…I WANT to be ok with where I am so badly
Blessings,Jody
Isn’t this impossible sometimes. I like to think with age I am gettin more and more comfortable in my skin.
It’s so easy to compare with other people, or even with our idealized version of ourselves, it takes effort to remain in God’s Word and allow the words to penetrate our hearts. Sounds like a great book!
What a concept…being OK. Why do we find it hard to be ok? Would love to read this book!
Thank you for the reminder. I NEEDEDit today! 🙂
Oh Jen, I do know a little about raising girls! Praying for you and your girl! Why not read it with her? And chat about it over coffee?
Blessings!