The Heart of Love: Learning to Love With Our All

By Joy M Pedersen

Loving God has its challenges, but it's possible to grow through the clutter that has gotten in the way and love Him with all our heart. 

Doesn't everyone want to feel deep love and intimacy? As followers of Christ, Jesus reminds us that we are to love God with ALL of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Often, past events or

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jan 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781647736590

Book preview

9781647736583-Front-Cover.jpg

Book 1 in a Series on the Most Important Commandments

THE

HEART

OF LOVE

Learning to Love with our ALL

Joy M. Pedersen

The Heart of Love

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2020 by Joy Pederson

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

Scripture quotations marked CEB are taken from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.CommonEnglishBible.com).

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.

Scripture quotations marked VOICE are taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without written permission from the author. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 978-1-64773-658-3

E-ISBN: 978-1-64773-659-0

THE MESSAGE

OF THE COVER

In developing the cover of this series of books, my desire for all is to be rooted and grounded in the love of God. Paul expresses this desire best in the Word of God, Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he (GOD) may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

When our roots are planted in the soil of God’s love, His vine burrows through the rocks and weeds of our life, pointing us upward to Him. Then out of His love we begin to grow from Him as branches connected to Him and empowered by His strength as the vine. Continued growth and developing branches become healthier, blossoming and ultimately showing fruit of the vine. Jesus tells us in John 15:5, TPT:

I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.

This picture signifies God’s root to fruit!

Table of Contents

Dedications

The Truth

Setting the Table

Appetizer

Chapter 1: A Broken Heart

Notes

Discussion Questions

Further Insights

Chapter 2: A Restored Heart

Notes

Discussion Questions

Further Insights

Chapter 3: Hope for Restoration

Connective Prayer

Notes

Discussion Questions

Further Insights

Author’s Biography

DEDICATIONS

To my parents and siblings who loved me through the years of maturing and their faithfulness in prayer and love—even when I wasn’t lovely.

To my children, Melody and Mindy, who have allowed me to love them—though imperfectly—and have given me love in return. They have seen me go through years of learning to walk faithfully with my Lord, seeing both failures and successes.

To the supportive women of CLEAR Hope who have walked with me, allowing me to grow, assisting me in the writing and development of this book. Special appreciation for these dedicated women of CLEAR Hope for their many hours of editing: Nancy Miller, Sally Samarin, Lydia Bouwmeester, Priscilla Fair, and Lisa Flanagan.

Dedicated to the One who has loved and restored me in the body of Christ, making it possible to experience victory over hurtful experiences in this world.

THE TRUTH

Jesus said: "You should love the Eternal One your God,

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind, and

with all your strength...

The second great commandment is this:

Love others in the same way you love yourself. There are no commandments more important than these."

—Mark 12:30-31 (The Voice)

Setting the TABLE

What we all want is intimacy. As a follower of Christ we want it with Him and then with others—a parent, spouse, child, friend. However, intimacy happens only as we understand the truth of Christ and ourselves. Vulnerability opens the door to the truth so that love can flourish.

Jesus tells us in Mark to love with ALL of our heart, ALL of our soul, ALL of our mind, and ALL of our strength. However...

Can we truly love with our all when our HEART is broken and needs to be restored?

What if our SOUL is filled with condemnation of self and others, or we carry heavy shame and guilt?

What if our MIND is given over to deception and lies?

How is it possible to love with all our STRENGTH when it is sapped with defeat, despair, and fear?

Love