A Peek At My Bookshelf: Love Idol by Jennifer Dukes Lee

About the Book:

“Hi, I’m Jennifer. I know we’ve just met, but already . . . I want you to like me.”

YOU’VE FELT IT—that deep longing for people to value you, respect you . . . and love you. You’ve worked hard for their approval. You’ve wanted to make people think you’ve got it all together, but on the inside, you’re falling apart. And you’ve heard this one question ringing in your ears: What will people think of me?

Jennifer Dukes Lee knows exactly how you feel. She understands how exhausting life can be when you’re chained to your approval rating. Jennifer has spent plenty of time and energy trying to earn others’ approval—at work, home, and church—all while wondering what would happen if the facade dropped and everyone saw her hidden mess. She’s made the same mistakes many of us make as we try to sprint for significance—and wear ourselves out pursuing human love and acceptance above all else.

And now Jennifer leads you on a journey to rediscover the joy found in the unconditional love of God. Through her own life journey, she gently invites you to make peace with yourself and to stop working overtime for an approval that is already yours in Christ. Love Idol will help you dismantle what’s separating you from true connection with God and rediscover the astonishing freedom of a life lived in authentic love.

My Thoughts:

Buckle up, reading buddies, this is going to be a different kind of review!

"Hi, Jennifer. I'm Deena. I know we've just met, and I'm reviewing your book....but I'm hoping you'll like me!"

Yup! I totally get where Jennifer is coming from with her book "Love Idol", making a legitimate need for love, approval and affection into a substitute for God. I've spent most of my life undoing my natural nature to be a people pleasure, and as Jennifer's pastor told her...

...it's a process.

But instead of telling you how wonderful I think "Love Idol" is, I'm going to let Jennifer do the talking:

"I cup her hands in mine and ask her straight out: "What is the worst thing that could happen if you lose? If you don't even get a second place? If...you miss the first word?" A single tear falls down her cheek, and she brushes it away with her shoulder. "Well," she says, "I guess we would just go home".

It stuns me, how I need to relearn simple lessons. We go home when it's over. Isn't this what we've preached? Fix your eyes upon Jesus," we tell our children. "Think on Heaven, our forever home."

"You know it already, Lord, but let me say it out loud here: the world tells me to be all the things that end in y: funny, pretty, skinny, witty. I'll turn it upside down and chase after the One whose name begins with y--You, Yahweh."

"Dear God, help me get over myself today."

Have you read enough? Convinced yet? Yeah, me too. This is a book vital for today's woman, especially today's Christian woman. So don't miss it.

My thanks to my friends at Tyndale House Publishers for my advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This could be the most important book you read this year (outside of the Bible, of course!)

Happy Reading!

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