This is a book about love. It’s about how you choose to love and who you choose to love, but most of all it’s about the God who first chose to love you and the ways his incredible love can shape our own relationships.
In a world where teenage girls are bombarded by different messages about love, dating and marriage, God’s voice can get lost in the noise. Take some time to discover the kind of love God wants for you. Learn how listening to God and choosing to love like he does – even when it’s difficult – can lead to real, deep satisfaction and a love that helps others see the heart of God. You might just find that God’s design for relationships is bigger and more wonderful than you ever imagined!
Each chapter includes questions to think about, Bible passages to help you dig deeper and discussion questions to use if you’d like to read this book with a parent or youth leader.
The riches and beauty of God’s love and his plan for relationships are yours to discover.
What others are saying about Choosing Love:
"Heidi has given to us and to our daughters a crucial gift: the shining picture of godly womanhood written for a generation that has been told more lies than we can even imagine. This loving book, clearly and accessibly written, cuts through the dishonesty and deception of this confused world without belaboring its values or belittling its captives. Heidi talks directly to her young readers with respect and care. The writing is fresh and clear, and the subject matter is vital. Parents, give this book to your girls. Better yet, read it and discuss it with them." —Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, Speaker, Homemaker and Author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert
"If I could give any book to myself when I was a younger woman with dreams about love and marriage, it would be this book. Choosing Love casts a deep, wide, and stalwart vision for the purpose of marriage and beautifully invites readers to be a part of a story that is so much bigger than their own. Choosing Love will make your heart beat fast for the beauty God intended to flourish within the context of marriage." — Ellie Holcomb, Dove Award Winning Singer/Songwriter
"I've known Heidi for years, and have seen her love for her family, her church, and her Savior up close. She's the real deal. Amidst all the clamor of the untrue story the world tells us about who we are and who God is, Heidi's voice is a calm, clear, and wise reminder that there's a better, truer story to be told. I can't wait for my daughter to read this book." —Andrew Peterson, Singer/Songwriter and Author of Adorning the Dark and The Wingfeather Saga
"Often when we think about teens, love, and dating we begin with a list, leaving them without a sure footing for the path before them. Heidi Johnston begins where all paths to godliness should begin--God's word and his good plan for his people (even teenagers). She invites teens into something far better than what the world offers in fleeting pleasures. She invites them into relationship with the God who made them, and who made them to live in relationship with fellow image bearers. This is a book I wish I had when I was navigating the confusing waters of dating as a young Christian. It is one I will pass on to others as well." - Courtney Reissig, author, Teach Me to Feel, mom to four sons.
“With so many mixed messages today about love, marriage, relationships and sex we’ve forgotten what the Creator of them all has to say. This is why I cannot overemphasise the importance of Choosing Love for rooting our daughters in the truth of God’s word. In fact, I recommend every girl mom pick it up as a guide for navigating these necessary foundational conversations with our girls.” - Kristen Hatton, Author of The Gospel-Centered Life for Students in Exodus, Face Time: Your Identity in a Selfie World and Get Your Story Straight
This is such a rich yet accessible book about relationships from a Biblical perspective. Taking us right back to the creation of humanity, Heidi shows us how we are created to be in relationship with each other, but more importantly with God - and it is our relationship with Him which we need to focus on and cultivate in order to become fulfilled in life. As Heidi herself says this is not a book about dating - but about becoming the person God created you to be, so that you realise marriage isn’t about finding perfect love, feeling wanted and where you will find ultimate satisfaction but it’s a partnership where both parties give of themselves to each other, and in turn those around them - which makes for a more fulfilling and God-glorifying life. Each chapter is followed by discussion questions and follow up Bible readings. I read this as a parent of a not yet teenage girl (and a boy) and a teacher and youth leader. I am looking forward to using this book with a group of teenage girls from church. And, hopefully reading it with my own daughter some day. This is aimed at teenage girls (Heidi is the mother of two teenage girls) and their parents and leaders. Everything in the book is relevant for boys so a similar format of book written from a male perspective would be a great resource too!
Warm, positive and uplifting
Customer
When I read that a 2 year long heroine of mine called Rosaria Champagne Butterfield had recommended the book, I pricked my ears up. She’s is no push over!
My Hub and I are reading the book together as a wee head start for when our 9 year old is ready.
We are 2 chapters from the end and wondering what we can read next as we will miss it !! How to find something that is as warm, positive and uplifting yet still calling a spade a spade!
I’d no intention of introducing our daughter to it yet but what took me aback was that I found myself reading 2 pages of it to her, because it is so easy to ‘cherry pick’ the very issue that had arisen that day. A romantic storyline in a movie we had watched together left me feeling ‘that was only ok for her to watch if we talk about it’
I was able to flick to the page I was looking for. Her attention was held because of the down to earth illustrations about the authors own family. It was an ideal catalyst for us chatting.
The books I read as a teen are way outdated – now I can throw them out with confidence!
A valuable book about relationships as God intended them.
RMC
This is such a rich yet accessible book about relationships from a Biblical perspective. Taking us right back to the creation of humanity, Heidi shows us how we are created to be in relationship with each other, but more importantly with God – and it is our relationship with Him which we need to focus on and cultivate in order to become fulfilled in life. As Heidi herself says this is not a book about dating – but about becoming the person God created you to be, so that you realise marriage isn’t about finding perfect love, feeling wanted and where you will find ultimate satisfaction but it’s a partnership where both parties give of themselves to each other, and in turn those around them – which makes for a more fulfilling and God–glorifying life. Each chapter is followed by discussion questions and follow up Bible readings. I read this as a parent of a not yet teenage girl (and a boy) and a teacher and youth leader. I am looking forward to using this book with a group of teenage girls from church. And, hopefully reading it with my own daughter some day. This is aimed at teenage girls (Heidi is the mother of two teenage girls) and their parents and leaders. Everything in the book is relevant for boys so a similar format of book written from a male perspective would be a great resource too!
Deep truths that I wish every teenager grasped
Alistair Chalmers
This book is written for teenage girls, it is written by a mother who wants to teach her two daughters that they are loved by God. The world tells girls that they need to be in a relationships, that they need to find their ‘Prince Charming’ and if he isn’t about they just need to find someone. That is horrible advice for anyone, not least a teenage girl!
In this book Heidi explains some deep truths that I wish every teenager grasped; that they are made in the image of God, that true love in found in Him and that romantic relationships are not as important as the world says they are.
“No matter what happens in your life, whether you marry or don’t, whether you have children or don’t, no relationship will ever matter more than your relationship with the God who carries your name on his heart”
The book is written to Christian teenager girls and it is designed in such a way that they can read it themselves, but also (and probably more effectively for their own spiritual growth) it is written so that they can read it with a parent. At the back of the book is a letter to the parents which explains how to use the book and how to have good conversations about the contents. I cannot stress this enough; if you have a teenage girl, or if you have daughter who is going to be a teenager, or if you want to know how to best counsel and support teenage girls, you need this book! I do not say that lightly, buy it here.
The book explains what love is, how it is not just a feeling and how it is not selfish.
“Real love is not just a response in your heart or in your stomach; it is a decision in your mind that is bigger than what you feel at a particular moment in time”
I read this book in a few hours because of how excited I was to find such an important book that can make such a great impact on young teenagers lives. Choosing Love lifts teenagers eyes away from the lies of the world and honestly and openly talks about what real love looks like.
Perfect for 12–18’s…or those willing to listen again as a child
Gayle Maynard, King’s Church, Edinburgh
‘Choosing Love’ is a true gift appropriate for girls between the ages of 12–18 but could be equally instructive for an adult seeking gentle discipleship in this area and prepared to listen again as a child. Like its clever title, the book may be read in at least two ways. First, it is a biblically based reminder of the priority which God has placed on loving intentionally in all of our relationships: ‘The way we treat the people in our lives matters more than we can possibly imagine’. The author debunks the misconception that love is only a feeling and teaches with examples that real love asks ‘What can I do to love this person like Jesus?’
The other reading of the title deals, of course, with core issues surrounding choosing one’s mate. There is wise counsel here and much that will encourage young hearts to shape their desires in the right way from early, including a standout chapter on biblical expressions of covenant which brings to life the wondrous security of true commitment. ‘Choosing Love’ is composed of 11 short chapters each followed by questions for discussion and reflection. In conversational style and with an honest, engaging tone, Heidi Johnston effectively handles weighty matters without heaviness and there is a sense of being invited further into the fullness of God’s Story.
