A Perfect Mess: Why You Don't Have to Worry About Being Good Enough for God

Lisa Harper is a master storyteller whose lively approach connects the dots between the Bible era and modern life.  She is a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker whose upcoming appearances include the national Women of Faith Conferences. A veteran of numerous radio and television programs and the author of several books, she also is a regular columnist for Today’s Christian Woman magazine. Lisa recently completed a master’s of theological studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. She makes her home outside Nashville.

“No one is more solidly in our corner than God himself. He lifts us up, dusts us off, and cheers us on in the ‘messy’ race of life. In this delightful and often humorous journey into the Psalms, Lisa Harper helps us discover God’s grace in every step along the way.” — Max Lucado

“Lisa Harper knows life. And she knows God’s Word. I love how she intertwines the two, bringing hope to the hopeless and help to everyone who’s ever felt like A Perfect Mess. With fresh insight and poignant stories, Lisa reveals a God who brings order out of chaos with just a word…even the chaos of our lives.” — Joanna Weaver, author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

“A Perfect Mess deftly applies the ancient truths found in the Psalms to our very frazzled, contemporary lives. Don’t let her breezy, easy-to-read style fool you: Lisa Harper is clearly a woman who loves the Lord and His Word, and she handles both with care, offering amusing examples from her own ‘messy’ life, even as she encourages us to get real about our ongoing need for God’s cleansing grace.” — Liz Curtis Higgs, bestselling author of Bad Girls of the Bible

“A Perfect Mess will cause you to breathe a sigh of relief. Finally we are assured that we aren’t the only ones who need encouragement as we stare in disbelief at the chaos in our lives. Thank God for His reassuring presence and thank God for my friend Lisa. In her own unique way, she has taken truth, stirred it with grace, and then sprinkled with her gentle and warm writing style. The result is a delicious read that soothes the deepest parts of those of us who are a perfect mess. Read and be blessed.” — Priscilla Shirer, author and Bible teacher

“This book is bursting with healing and hope. Lisa is a wonderful friend, Bible teacher, and storyteller who helps us find ourselves in the Psalms and understand that just as we are, we are loved by God.” — Sheila Walsh, Women of Faith speaker and author of Let Go

“I read A Perfect Mess from cover to cover, soaking up every word of teaching and each great story that Lisa told. She is one of my all-time favorite Bible teachers, so what a joy to learn from her in these new lessons from the Psalms. I will never forget reading about Lisa’s mom who crawled underneath the bed one night to comfort her sad and hiding baby girl. What a beautiful picture of our pursuing Father’s love. So grab your Bible and your favorite underlining pen, open this great book, and begin learning for yourself how our beautiful God makes something perfect and glorious from our messy lives.”—Angela Thomas, best-selling author and speaker

“What do climbing trees, tight-fitting clothes, loose-fitting sweat pants, and boogie shoes have in common with the books of Psalms? Don’t worry, I didn’t know either, but Lisa Harper has an incredible way of exploring a text written thousands of years ago and finding the relevance to our modern lives. Lisa points out something that I already knew but was afraid to admit: We are all perfect—messes, that is. She reminds us that although we may be messy, our heavenly Father has big arms and doesn’t mind getting dirty. ” — Chonda Pierce, comedian, author, and recording artist

Praise for A Perfect Mess

“No one is more solidly in our corner than God himself. He lifts us up, dusts us off, and cheers us on in the ‘messy’ race of life. In this delightful and often humorous journey into Psalms, Lisa Harper helps us discover God’s grace in every step along the way.”
–Max Lucado

“Lisa Harper knows life. And she knows God’s Word. I love how she intertwines the two, bringing hope to the hopeless and help to everyone who’s ever felt like a perfect mess. With fresh insight and poignant stories, Lisa reveals a God who brings order out of chaos with just a word…even the chaos of our lives.”
–Joanna Weaver, author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

“A Perfect Mess deftly applies the ancient truths found in Psalms to our very frazzled, contemporary lives. Don’t let her breezy, easy-to-read style fool you; Lisa Harper is clearly a woman who loves the Lord and His Word, and she handles both with care, offering amusing examples from her own ‘messy’ life even as she encourages us to get real about our ongoing need for God’s cleansing grace.”
–Liz Curtis Higgs, best-selling author of Bad Girls of the Bible

“A Perfect Mess will cause you to breathe a sigh of relief. Finally we are assured that we aren’t the only ones who need encouragement as we stare in disbelief at the chaos in our lives. Thank God for His reassuring presence, and thank God for my friend Lisa. In her own unique way, she has taken truth, stirred it with grace, and then sprinkled it with her gentle and warm writing style. The result is a delicious read that soothes the deepest parts of those of us who are a perfect mess. Read and be blessed.”
–Priscilla Shirer, author and Bible teacher

“This book is bursting with healing and hope. Lisa is a wonderful friend, Bible teacher, and storyteller who helps us find ourselves in Psalms and understand that just as we are, we are loved by God.”
–Sheila Walsh, Women of Faith speaker and author of Let Go

“I read A Perfect Mess from cover to cover, soaking up every word of teaching and each great story that Lisa told. She is one of my all-time favorite Bible teachers, so what a joy to learn from her in these new lessons from Psalms. I will never forget reading about Lisa’s mom, who crawled underneath the bed one night to comfort her sad and hiding baby girl. What a beautiful picture of our pursuing Father’s love. So grab your Bible and your favorite underlining pen, open this great book, and begin learning for yourself how our beautiful God makes something perfect and glorious from our messy lives.”
–Angela Thomas, best-selling author and speaker

“What do climbing trees, tight-fitting clothes, loose-fitting sweatpants, and boogie shoes have in common with the book of Psalms? Don’t worry; I didn’t know either, but Lisa Harper has an incredible way of exploring a text written thousands of years ago and finding the relevance to our modern lives. Lisa points out something that I already knew but was afraid to admit: we are all perfect–messes, that is. She reminds us that although we may be messy, our heavenly Father has big arms and doesn’t mind getting dirty.”
–Chonda Pierce, comedienne, author, and recording artist

“Lisa Harper is one of my favorite writers (and favorite people), and this is my favorite book she’s ever written! I love how she connects words and connects our hearts. She makes old truths so today. I feel safe with her. I think this might be how Jesus would talk if He were walking around in our lives, in our times. I sense His presence in the middle of my mess. This book is a gift. Give it to yourself.”
–Lisa Whelchel, author of the bestseller Creative Correction and The Facts of Life and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me