And I think it is only fair I (a) warn you and (b) tell you why.

I love writing books, it’s my job, and I am really grateful to do it.

But this book is different.

Speak Love is different.

. . . . .

From the beginning, I never intended to write a book about the power of words. I just talked about it at Girls of Grace. And then I wrote a 30-day devotional. And the doors just kept opening.

Zondervan offered to let me turn that talk into a book and that devotional into a journal.

And as I looked around, I realized God was doing something – something way too big and way too crazy and I was being invited to play along.

. . . . .

The first week of January, when I started writing Speak Love, I saw a picture in my mind. I was sitting at my round dining room table typing on my computer and standing around me, circled around the table, facing out, were bodyguards. Angelic bodyguards. I didn’t see anything attacking, I just saw them, looking up and out, totally standing patrol while I wrote.

And I knew, in that moment, that writing this book was part of a bigger battle that God is going to win- the battle for the hearts of teen girls.

[By the way, I’m writing this from a coffee shop and tears are just pouring down my face because I’m not kidding you when I say I can’t think of a greater honor than for God to offer me a small spot in this story. I am undone every time I think of it.]

I wasn’t scared when I saw this picture. I was motivated. I was focused. I understood that I was being protected from the enemy, who is real and against us every day, to get this book written. And while there were hard days in writing this book, it poured out from a place that has nothing to do with me.

. . . . .

So. I’m going to market this book to absolute death.

And people who don’t know me are going to say I’m an annoying self-promoter and all I talk about is Speak Love and whatever else that can come up with to make me feel stupid and bad at my job.

But I know the truth. And those of you who know me [all of you who come here] know the truth. I’m going to talk about Speak Love too much because I’m on a mission to be a part of rescuing teen girls from any and every way that the enemy tries to destroy them. And I won’t be quiet about that.

And I know what God has put in front of me next- using words to set those gals free, to heal them, to empower them to change the world. To get rid of the mean girl. Really.

. . . . .

I guess, in some ways, I’m asking you to join me. Will you blog about the book? Tweet about it? Tell your teen friends? Buy a copy or two for some college girls that you love?

Our pre-order swag is still going on, so you could get all that jazz too if you go ahead and order the book.

. . . . .

So that’s my heart. This is a much bigger thing than just the book- but I thank God all the time that He invited me into this, to use the gifts I have, to be a part of this story of rescue.

I am more grateful than I know how to express.

And that’s why I’m going to talk about Speak Love too much.