Some books begin with a grand plan. Others begin quietly with reflection, solitude and a growing awareness that God may be speaking through the ordinary moments of life.
For Judy Nelson, To Live Is Christ: Inspired Reflections of Faith. Volume 1 grew from just such a season.
In the book’s foreword, Nelson reflects on returning to Opheim, Montana and feeling at times as though she had little opportunity for growth or meaningful connection. She admits that the experience could feel lonely and that she questioned what purpose she served in the kingdom of God.
But over time, something changed.
The quiet that once felt limiting began to create space. Nelson recognized that the solitude gave her time with the Lord in a way she had not experienced before. She also became more aware of how many distractions had consumed her everyday life. Out of that realization came a new habit: journaling the “word pictures” that helped illuminate Scripture and make its meaning relevant to daily living.
Those reflections would eventually become To Live Is Christ.
The result is a deeply personal collection that connects biblical truth with familiar experiences. A snowflake becomes a reminder of being individually known by God. A tugboat becomes a picture of strength and guidance. A cluttered house becomes an invitation to consider surrender. A GPS becomes a reminder to stay on course. Even a train journey becomes a metaphor for spiritual growth and the importance of continuing forward rather than becoming comfortable along the way.
What makes the book especially compelling is that these reflections do not come from abstract theory. They are shaped by a long life of faith.
Nelson is a retired registered nurse, devoted farm wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has walked with the Lord for more than fifty years. Her hope is to encourage and inspire others through reflections rooted in faith and everyday life.
That sense of lived experience runs throughout the book.
Nelson writes about peace in the middle of conflict, the distractions that compete for our attention, the importance of obedience, the difference between knowing God’s acts and knowing His ways, the responsibility of raising children in faith, the meaning of legacy and the question of what purpose we ultimately serve on earth.
Again and again, the message returns to spiritual growth.
For Nelson, faith is not meant to remain an idea. It is meant to shape the heart, influence choices, deepen trust and become visible in everyday life.
Perhaps that is why the story behind To Live Is Christ feels so fitting.
A season that seemed quiet and isolated became a season of listening. A period that raised questions about purpose became the setting in which a new purpose began to emerge. And private journal reflections became something meant to be shared with others.
To Live Is Christ: Inspired Reflections of Faith. Volume 1 is therefore more than a collection of devotions. It is also a reminder that seasons we may initially consider unproductive can become deeply formative when we make room to listen.
Sometimes, what feels like stillness is where something meaningful begins.
Judy Nelson’s To Live Is Christ is coming soon.
To begin a life centered on Christ, this book helps us to move from self-direction to God-direction. Please visit the following link to know more and to purchase your copy: https://www.facebook.com/judynelsonbook
