AJC on Living Loved (my new book!)

AJC Faith & Values:
Messages: He uses own struggles in writing devotionals

By Rebecca Rakoczy
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/09/07

Peter Wallace is a listener by trade. As host and executive producer of "Day 1," the Alliance for Christian Media radio program based in Atlanta, he listens as others share their stories of faith and redemption.

Wallace's latest book, "Living Loved: Knowing Jesus as the Lover of Your Soul" (Seabury Press, $16) is a devotional based on the Gospel of John, but its roots spring from Wallace's —- and others' —-personal struggles. He has written six other devotional books.

"Writing a devotional takes a lot of reading Scripture, a lot of listening and a lot of soul searching," Wallace said. "I try to be open to what comes up in my own mind and heart, and think about what is troubling people and seek any type of insight from the Scripture to address these things," he said. "In writing 'Living Loved,' I was going through a personally rough time in my life and knew several people who were having intense problems and struggles in their lives. And what struck me as I was reading [the Gospel of ] John is that he is known —- or [it is] assumed —- that this is the disciple whom Jesus loved most, and my question was, if that person could feel like he was the one Jesus loved, can we experience that? How can we live in a way that we know that Jesus loves us?

"And as I read this whole Gospel, [I wondered] how do I fit into that place, that place of being loved? Writing this was helpful to me personally, to realize that I am loved and accepted by God, but also to know that you are supposed to be positive and proactive with that love —- you are supposed to share and show other people that love."

"Living Loved" will be published in July.