Lisa Shaw has become a good friend to me. You may know her through her blog
Lisa Shaw Cares.
I had the opportunity to meet Lisa in person and I can say that
...Lisa really does care. She's the real deal and is a joy to know.
Lisa published her first eBook entitled "
You Are Beautiful in God's Eyes". I asked Lisa questions regarding this new venture and I want to share her answers with you.
1.
“You Are Beautiful in God’s Eyes” seems to be so personal to you
Lisa. Why did you choose to write this book now?
For 10 years I have tried to finish
writing a book. I have several started on my hard drive or on paper but never
completed. Several reasons for that but
one day, the end of May of this year, I was at lunch with my friend
Johnine. I was showing her a very small
pocket-sized booklet written by Marilyn Hickey that I’ve had since 1999. It spoke
about how God uses women in His kingdom purposes, a subject that has always
been important to me especially in the roles in which God uses my life. As I shared with Johnine she was not very
interested in hearing about that booklet but rather she asked the question that
has changed my life and the lives of others and I’m so humbled by that and
grateful to God! The question she asked
was, “Lisa,
where is your booklet?” During
the 30 minute ride home from lunch I pondered that question. I asked myself,
“Lisa, where is your booklet?” I began to cry. I began to pray. With hot tears
streaming down my face I heard myself ask God, “Abba Father, where is my booklet”.
Within my heart I could hear Him say, “Within
you”. I began over the
next day or so. I prayed and asked God
what to write about. He gave me the topic from the heart of which I’ve lived
and from which I’ve ministered to many women over the years; helping them to
see themselves through God’s eyes. I
laid my hands to the keyboard and the Holy Spirit took over. Within two months You Are Beautiful In God’s Eyes was completed by God’s grace. By the beginning of September it was
published and in my hands. That was all God!
2.
In your ministry, do you see many Christian women who struggle with these
issues of not feeling beautiful? Doesn't becoming a Christian heal those
areas of hurt?
Yes
Debbie, many women struggle with seeing themselves through God’s eyes--the eyes
of His Word. Often women in certain
positions of ministry or business are apprehensive about admitting that. I have also found that at times women who
have been saved a long time are also timid in being transparent in this
area. We must get beyond the masks,
titles and positions and be transparent about the wounds we carry around so
that we can seek Jesus for full healing and wholeness and live the lives He’s
provided for us to live abundantly.
Becoming
a Christian does not automatically heal the hurts. That is why we can be a Christian for so many
years and live discouraged, depleted and defeated. The healing begins when we walk in genuine
fellowship with the Lord and answer His question. He asks, “Do you want to be
made whole?” as He asked the man at the pool in John 5. We have to be willing to answer that
question. We have to want the healing that Jesus provides. The woman with the
issue of blood in Mark 5 went after her physical healing. The sinful woman in Luke 7 went after her
spiritual healing. Jesus wants us to be
healed and whole but we have to want what He is offering to us and then go
after it in His Word and in prayer and receive all that He has for us. Not an
easy thing to do but doable with His help.
Healing and wholeness in the area discussed in my Book is often not
instantaneous. It’s often a process and
that’s ok as long as we begin the process to define ourselves by the Word and
not the world by learning what God sees when He looks at us and then daring to
believe Him!!
3.
I loved how you addressed 7 reasons why women find it difficult to see
themselves as God sees them. Straddling the fence was a chapter that
could have been taken from my life story. Do you think we in the church
miss opportunities to help new believers grow in their faith? Or is it
that people believe that when they pray the prayer inviting Jesus into their
heart they have a ticket to heaven and don’t focus on how they are to live NOW?
Sadly
yes, we often do miss opportunities in the church to help new believers to grow
in their faith. I would add not just new believers Debbie but struggling Christians
and even Christians who have been saved for a very long time. Often when people
meet me in ministry circles they ask me one main question: What
church do you attend? I think a better question is, “Do you have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ? How long have you been really walking with Him?”
There’s usually the date we become a Christian and then the date that we
really begin to walk with Him up
close. Not true for everyone but often
true for many people.
If
we reached the heart of the person and not just asking surface questions then
we’d probably see people open up more as we show them that we care in Christ
about their lives, and that gives opportunity for us to help people more.
4.
How are you getting the word out about the book? Who is marketing it?
Have social media platforms been helpful to you?
My
hubby and I published the book by God’s grace with a very good company. Then, God has put this book into hands I would
not have anticipated in the last three months. Women of various ages and backgrounds,
young ladies and teenagers have read it. I have been told that some husband
have read it as well! My book has traveled to India and that blessed my
heart. Our pastor and congregation have
embraced the Book without my pursuit or request. My pastor actually read it at night while on
a very intense mission’s trip to Madagascar!
God has opened doors for me to do
the Book as a 9 week Bible Study beginning January 4th at the
church. As a result I am also working on a Study Guide. I’m excited about the
doors God has opened already. I’m looking forward to being invited many places
to share God’s story to penetrate the hearts of Christian and non-Christian
women!
5.
Do you think this would be a good book to share with women friends who are not
Christians?
Absolutely. My sister in law, Kenya said that one of
things she loves about the Book was that it was not “churchy” sounding and that
it was conversational, relatable and relative.
I believe that all women can benefit from the message and prayerfully by
the time they read Chapter 7: Living Apart from His Truth will cause
them to give their hearts to Jesus Christ. That chapter was written for that
purpose.
6.
Lisa, you are beautiful. Have you finally come to the point where you
truly believe that and see yourself through the lens of God’s eyes?
Debbie you are beautiful too! Yes, I truly believe that I am beautiful in
God’s eyes and that was a long journey my friend! I truly believe that I am defined by His Word
and not by the world. There are times
when the enemy will whisper his lies but I have learned how to handle him
through 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. There are
times when negative thoughts will creep in my mind or the hurtful words of
others will attempt to distract me from my purpose in God but I grab those
negative thoughts and hurtful words and cast it down out of my mind and make it
subject to Christ. I then fill my mind and my mouth with His Word. I speak His
word aloud and encourage myself and fill myself with His truth over and over
until my mind is at peace.
If I could I would hug every woman who reads
this and tell her that she is beautiful in God’s eyes. I would encourage her to
read His Word and find out what He sees when He looks at her and then, dare to
believe Him and live her life based on that truth!
Debbie,
you are beautiful in God’s eyes and I love you! Thank you for the opportunity
to share more about my book: You Are Beautiful In God’s Eyes. For Book details and Book purchase or Kindle
or Nook information: www.lisashawcares.com
So now go and check out this book of Lisa's. I read it and loved it. I was not asked to conduct this interview by Lisa nor was I given anything in exchange for this recommendation.
Blessings and love,