Loving with All Our Soul: Focusing on a Devoted Life

By Joy M. Pedersen

Examining and applying God's Word to the soul is part of validating love for our Lord. What is the soul, and how can we demonstrate our love for God there?

Are you hoping to increase your relationship with God and others? Committed time of soul-searching through these pages can help you produce more love. The Lover of our soul in

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jul 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887389172

Joy M. Pedersen

Joy Pedersen is president of Clear Hope Association founded in 2004. Her passion is equipping and discipleship in the family of God providing counsel and training. Using challenging life experiences, she has grown to walk alongside others using the Word of God. As a dedicated and effective communicator, she encourages others to develop a deeper, more personal, and effective relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Loving with All Our Soul: Focusing on a Devoted Life

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2023 by Joy Pedersen 

Scripture quotations marked (

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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.™

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are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

Scripture quotations marked (

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are taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of God’s Word Mission Society.

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are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (

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are taken from the Disciples’ Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples. Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing.

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amp

) are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.

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are taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (

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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 (

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are from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.

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taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (

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taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

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

ISBN:  979-8-88738-916-5

ISBN: 979-8-88738-917-2

THE MESSAGE OF THE COVER

God’s Roots to Fruit

The picture for this series of books reflects what happens when we develop a personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit (God, three in one). In Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV), Paul prays for the effect of this connection:

"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."

God’s love burrows through trauma and turmoil messing with our lives. Jesus Christ is the vine providing spirit life to all who receive Him as Savior and Lord. Through Him Christians are able to branch out, grow, and flourish drinking in Living Water provided by the Holy Spirit who empowers and strengthens us. Firmly affixed to God in this way we bloom and grow producing spiritual fruit. Jesus solidifies this in John 15:5 (MSG)

I am the Vine; you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to nurture us, the fruit produced is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Dedications

To my God, who has made me three parts in one - body, soul, and spirit. He has held my hand and taught me much in the process of writing this book.

To those at CLEAR Hope who have encouraged me in prayer and conversation, helped edit, stay centered, and authentic while writing.

To all those who have supported me, walking through my weakened and strengthening moments in life. You have enriched my soul. My gratitude is extended to you each.

Table of Contents

Setting the stage

Glimpses by The Author

Chapter ONE

NOTES

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

FURTHER INSIGHTS

Chapter Two

NOTES

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

FURTHER INSIGHTS

Chapter Three

NOTES

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

FURTHER INSIGHTS

Chapter Four

NOTES

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

FURTHER INSIGHTS

LEARNING RECALLED

Words of Encouragement

THE TRUTH

Jesus said:

"The most important commandment is this: The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

And you must love the Lord your God with

all your heart,

all your soul,

all your mind,

and all your strength.....

The second is equally important:

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

No other commandment is greater than these."

New Living Translation - Mark 12:29-31

Setting the stage

God is love (I John 4:8, NIV). This is His identity and as such, He gives freely and fully out of love only. He desires this fulfilling love in return. As we receive and embrace Him we are able to experience deep inner peace and joy. Such a life depends in part, on the attention given to our soul. Because of this, it is important to understand the soul so that we can lovingly engage with God. However……

If we are driven mostly by feelings;

If our desire and will give way to a world-view;

If our character is low on integrity –

How is it possible to love God with ALL of our SOUL?

Love for God does not flourish in a soul that has not attended to matters of the heart nor when examination of self is avoided!

The first book in this series, The Heart of Love, challenged