Direction matters. Just an inch or two off course, and you’ll eventually end up at the wrong destination. In my walk of faith, I’ve been miles off course and can only marvel now that I didn’t end up in much more trouble. I can credit that to a redirected life, one where God Himself stepped in and set my mind and heart on a brand-new course.
One word changed it all: love, love as in “God is Love,” love as in “Beloved,” the one Jesus loves. After a season of stumbling and eventually taking a hard fall out in the world, I returned to God and collided with love in a way that has totally redirected my life. I’m often still messy, but what Christ follower isn’t? At least now I’m able to navigate the messiness of life while walking next to Jesus, the real One, not the Sunday Jesus I used to know.
Right now, as I count down the weeks until my granddaughter Ellie comes for her two-week visit in June, I have a hope to direct her life toward Love now rather than see her have to redirect later. She just turned nine and has every major life decision ahead of her—if the Lord tarries. What if she enters young adulthood with Love as her guide, with Jesus as her own intimate possession in a way that I didn’t know until my 40s? I want that for her.
To that end, I’m creating what I call VBS material for her so that we can spend those two weeks watching for and working through the love God has for her. While she takes a vacation from her normal life (and annoying little brother ;), I plan on saturating her with the love of God in every way I can. I’m using my nonfiction book, You. Are. Loved., as a reference and customizing it for her.
Because I’ve been deep into a revision of the book, it only seemed natural to use it as my framework. Then, understandably, you came to mind, all of you ladies who read my books. I’ve noticed over the years that my fiction readers aren’t much on nonfiction, so many of you have never read You. Are. Loved. That, too, is understandable. Others’ stories are more captivating than our own spiritual growth. What if, however, you happened to collide with Love in a way that completely redirected your life? What if?
There are three possible scenarios in your future. 1) Jesus comes soon. 2) Jesus tarries and you die before He comes. 3) The world as you wait on either one or two gets worse and worse and worse. Whichever comes, you need to be ready, saturated in Love. For scenarios one and two, wouldn’t you love to arrive in heaven knowing Jesus on an intimate level versus encountering Him as a near stranger to you? If you only know the Sunday Jesus that others talk about, then put in the effort now to build your relationship with Him.
If scenario three happens, where things on the world stage only get worse, then you need to be so grounded in His love for you that nothing shakes your faith. When you know in the deepest-down part of who you are that you’re loved, whatever may come and whatever may go won’t affect you like it will others. You will be able to trust Him in a way others can’t. You will be willing to follow Him when others won’t. You will surrender to Him when others refuse to. His love for you is everything. His love for you changes everything. He is everything. If you don’t “feel” that way, that He is your everything, then it’s time to get to know the Groom you will someday stand before at the wedding.
Obviously, I’m hoping for a soon wedding, even a June wedding, but however long it takes for Him to come, I know that I can only wait and watch and walk and work well if I’m close to Him and continuing on this love journey He has had me on for the past couple of decades. I want you to be able to do that as well, so I’m inviting you to join me on this love journey.
I know you don’t want to start some massive project. I’m not asking you to buy or read a book. Come to think of it, I’ve never asked anything of you other than maybe for a prayer or two along the way. But now, I’m going to ask you to read a little something here and there. Each week or so, I’ll send out a small chapter or two for you to read. I’ll include a Takeaway for you to answer some questions as a review. If you have a few extra minutes, I’ll even include a video of this goofy girl giving you a little more insight.
For the record, I really don’t want you to buy the book since we’re currently revising it. We have added much deeper reflection questions after each chapter. I would rather you do the online version. You can create an email folder and save my posts. That way you can work on it as you’re able with no deadlines. Actually, that’s the best way to journey through the You. Are. Loved. book, slowly, taking your time to sit with Jesus and ponder along the way.
Even if you’re super in love with Jesus and know His love to such a degree that you’re walking more in the heavenly realm with Him than walking here on this dusty ground, it would still benefit you to take this journey. And even if you’ve read the book before, I would recommend a fresh read if you weren’t part of the recent Zoom group who read through this with me. Every time I read the book, it ministers to me, not because I’m some great writer or teacher, but because I encounter Jesus in a fresh way in every new season. I’m a new Lisa every year and have needs He meets in new ways along the way.
All this to say, please do this. I really don’t ask for much. If you only knew how desperately I want others to know the Jesus I know, to know the love I’ve found. It’s what keeps me awake at night. Just a chapter or two as a trial, will you at least give it a try?
Still not sold on the idea? Below, I will share a few testimonies from readers, some who had the You. Are. Loved. book long before they read it. Then once they did read, they collided with Love in a way that redirected their lives. Okay, one is from my ministry partner, Kim, but I met Kim through the You. Are. Loved. book. She signed onto this ministry after she attended a You. Are. Loved. Zoom group study I offered back in 2020, and we’re still working together all these years later. Over the course of those years, I’ve witnessed her life be redirected in such a way that only Jesus can claim the glory, all because of Love.
I’ll never know if you do or don’t give this a try, so no commitments needed. No response to this even needed. Just know that I love you and am only asking you to read the following intro chapter for now.
About the Book:
Book Trailer for encouragement
Testimonials if you need a nudge
If you decide to give it a try, start with the Online Introduction below.
Online Introduction to read
Intro Video shares the backstory of God’s You. Are. Loved. message to me.
Next week, I’ll send out the first two brief chapters along with the printable Takeaway you can complete. I really hope you’ll tag along.
Blessings,
Lisa