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This past Sunday, I experienced the incredible blessing of celebrating an important milestone in my life—the launch of my debut book, His Banner over Me Is Pursuing Love!
For those who wanted to attend but weren’t able to, this blog post is for you. And for me. To preserve the memories of this wonderful celebration.
Thank you, Angela Manross, (Pictures for a Purpose), for capturing many precious moments at my party! (There was a link to a Facebook photo album, but I am no longer on Facebook.)
There is no way that I could have pulled off an event like this by myself. It takes an army of servant hearts.
I want to say a special thank-you to …
Angie Graves, for the vision and provision of most of the decor and emceeing the event,
Betty Smith, who made the melt-in-your-mouth cupcakes and punch and sweetly served my guests,
Doris Kear, who welcomed my guests with a radiant smile,
Carol McGarraugh, who graciously oversaw the guest registry table,
Angela Buschman and Rita Tregellas, who took great care with my book sales, and
Everyone who helped transform the foyer in record time (after church and before 2 pm) and those who helped clean up.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who came out to celebrate with me and those who bought my book! Your presence meant so much to me.
Congratulations to Ludi Martin for winning the hard copy of my book and to Kaylee Johnson and Robin Farney for winning a copy of my eBook!
The following is my book launch speech—the inspiration behind my book—that I shared with my guests:
I want to thank my eternal Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and my wonderful husband, Steven. As I wrote in my book’s dedication: Without both unions, this study would not have been birthed.
Writing a book can be a lot like having a baby. But instead of nine months, it took me nine years to complete!
When I quit my job teaching high school math in 2006, I didn’t have a clue that the ministry God was calling me to would include writing a book.
Growing up, I didn’t even like to read, much less write. But when my search for lasting love and happiness kept eluding me and my world fell apart, I desperately started seeking God for answers.
I asked Jesus to come live in my heart when I was almost ten years old. But I remained a baby Christian until I was thirty-three. By then, I was so hungry to know Jesus better, I began devouring the Bible and other Bible-based books.
But even though my mind was getting renewed with truth, my addiction to performance-based acceptance bled over into my relationship with Christ. That’s when I found myself thinking, There has to be more to the Christian life than following a bunch of rules and being good.
That’s when God began to reveal my flawless identity in His Son, Jesus Christ, and His no-strings-attached affection for me (Song 2:4, 14 NASB).
That’s when I began to fall in love with the One who loved and pursued me first (1 John 4:19 NASB). The One who loves me most.
When I began to experience overwhelming joy in intimacy with Him through understanding my flawless identity, my heart naturally began to ache for other believers who are going through religious motions in their relationship with Christ.
In a way, His Banner Over Me Is Pursuing Love is my personal manifesto declaring to the church her one and only flawless identity in Christ revealed through the first two chapters of the Song of Solomon. It also exposes the epidemic of legalism found among Christians.
My heart’s cry is to see both the men and women of the bride of Christ freely enjoying their no-strings-attached relationship with Him in the here and now—not just something that will happen in glory by and by.
I hope you enjoyed reading about this day that was made extra-special by congratulations and encouragement from friends and loved ones.
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If you enjoyed this post, I invite you to check out all of my books and my video series based on my first devotional.
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