If you are honest enough to admit that you aren't perfect, this book will guide you to a Redeemer whose love for you isn't bound by your behavior. If you need toknowthat God's love will remain steadfast and true -- no matter what -- this book is for you.He is pursuing you at this very moment. Are you ready to be found? Open the pages of this book, and open your hear to Hisrelentless love.

Lisa Harper was the creator and hostess of "Renewing the Heart," Focus on the Family's conference series involving almost 200,000 women. She's coauthored two books, May Bell's Daughter (Thomas Nelson) and Renewed Hearts, Changed Lives (Tyndale), and contributed to several others. She lives in Nashville, speaks at conferences and events around the country, and directs the women's ministry at her church.

Introduction
Adulterated Affections
Struggling with Sovereignty
The Necessity of Neediness
Problems with Perception
Faltering Forefathers
The Perils of Pretense
Bargain Basement Grace
Company that Corrupts
Really Big Rocks
Misunderstanding Majesty
Balking Behind Barriers
The Mark of Maturity
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

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Introduction

Teresa Moshell, one of my closest friends, bounced into my office one morning, giggling as she set her guitar down. She'd just gotten back from a visit to a tiny southern town, and she couldn't wait to share one of the colorful slices of small-town life she'd been privy to!

Teresa met a woman in the town who had rounded up her entire family to attend their church social. When the youngest son, Jimmy, announced that he wanted to sing a solo in the program, the woman was thrilled, assuming that her five-year-old wanted to sing the "B-I-B-L-E" song they'd been practicing at home. She beamed when Jimmy's turn came, and he bounded onto the stage and grabbed the microphone. But her pride turned to horror when her strong-willed son shattered the sanctity of the Southern Baptist shindig by belting out the raucous lyrics to the Hank Williams Jr. song, "A Country Boy Can Survive." If you haven't heard this "classic"in a while, one of the more memorable lines is:

We make our own whiskey and our own smoke, too,

Ain't too many things these 'ole boys can't do...

We grow good 'ole tomatoes and homemade wine

And a country boy can survive.

Instead of sweetly singing a Bible camp song, her mischievous kindergartener had cleared his throat and burst forth in a ribald tune about cigarettes and beer!

Teresa and I got so tickled that morning talking about all the ways children embarrass and disappoint their parents, especially in "religious" settings! Because even mild-mannered children don't always behave appropriately in church or in front of our "church friends." And some parents get really bent out of shape about it -- as if their spiritual reputation is somehow dependent upon what pops out of their offsprings' mouths or how much the kids fidget in the pew on Sunday.

Our conversation reminded me of how very different our heavenly Father's character is. Every single one of His children has rebelled in some way or another. We've thrown temper tantrums, shoving our fists in His holy face and arrogantly demanding that the King of Kings give us different circumstances. We often misbehave like strong-willed kindergartners too, determined to do whatever we want.

Throughout history God's people have wandered in literal and figurative deserts, searching in all the wrong places for something to quench our thirsty souls. "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places" is another cheesy country song with significant spiritual application! We're a rag-tag crew of reprobates who get it wrong far more often than we get it right. But the great news of the Gospel is that in spite of our flaws, God is faithful. In spite of our mistakes, He extends mercy.

This week my friend Teresa and I have spent more time crying than laughing. She's walking through a very difficult, very sad situation that involves some Christian friends who can't admit they've made a mistake. And their pride has inflicted much more pain than they realize. Yet in the midst of her disappointment and hurt, I've watched Teresa respond with humility and kindness. I think it's because she's so keenly aware of her own propensity to sin -- and therefore, her need for God's mercy -- that she's able to extend more compassion to others. Even when their sin stabs her right through the heart.

Teresa's seemingly irrational, loving response to a bunch of Benedict Arnolds reminds me of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and then anointed those feet that would soon be pierced on a cross with expensive perfume. The Pharisees were appalled at her lavish, "inappropriate" behavior. It just didn't make sense to them. But Jesus said this woman loved lavishly because she had been forgiven lavishly. Her poignant display of adoration reflected her gratitude for His grace. That woman (who is referred to as a "sinner" in Luke 7:39) and my friend Teresa (who is usually referred to as "a gifted Christian singer and songwriter") have much in common. They both recognize their own depravity and their desperate need for God.

This book is about human failure and God's faithfulness. It's about our never-ending need for our Father's compassion. It's about the divine mercy He extends in spite of our mistakes. The mercy He extends in spite of our doubts. Its message is meant to encourage everyone honest enough to admit they aren't perfect. There is hope -- because there is a Redeemer whose love for us isn't bound by our behavior.

Whose love for us isn't deterred or swayed by our imperfections.

Whose love for us is positivelyrelentless.

We may run from His mercy and hide from His grace, thinking,How could God possibly love someone like me?But the truth is, God is faithful even when we aren't. Hopefully the following pages will remind you of that.

He is pursuing us at this very moment with His amazing love.Are you ready to be found?

Excerpted from Relentless Love: God's Faithfulness in the Face of Human Failure by Lisa Harper
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