Heaven's Calling: A Memoir of One Soul's Steep Ascent - Softcover

Leanne Payne was called out of brokenness into union with Christ, and her nearly fifty-year journey with God has been an adventure of healing, grace, and truth--and of the accompanying spiritual battles. She has spent her life proclaiming the freeing message that Christ lives in us, and offers the ministry of Jesus especially to those suffering from the effects of past sins and woundedness, self-rejection, and long-standing addictions. By exposing her own life, complete with its triumphs and failures, Mrs. Payne brings extraordinary clarity and understanding on a surprisingly large range of subjects, including gender identity, sexual neurosis, gnosticism, false prophecy, transference, healing prayer, incarnational reality, and sacramental worship. Her story illustrates how one soul, listening to and obeying the Lord, can revel in the abundant life that is available to us all.

"In this book a great soldier for Christ, wearing the armor of the ages, allows us to see God's faithful dealings with a soul given to Him, and her tender and intelligent responses to heaven's call. How it all works out is a thing of beauty and alarm. You'll need to linger over it, and return again and again, for it to grow you in the power of resurrection life for the spiritual battle which is our age."--Dallas Willard, author, The Divine Conspiracy"A provocative and moving spiritual autobiography that vividly portrays the ongoing struggle of a person of faith toward wholeness and healing. It poignantly shows how the author has been mightily used by the Spirit of God to spearhead a ministry of renewal and celebration."--Dr. Donald G. Bloesch, author, Essentials of Evangelical Theology"I am delighted to recommend this fascinating account of an unusually interesting life. This is more than an autobiography, however. Indeed, the details of the author's life--told with great color and conviction--serve as the opportunities to insert deeper reflections on the significance of God's blessing on her life and ministry."--Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon, editor, Touchstone, and author, Christ in the Psalms"What we have here is the courageous, candid, and intense witness of a woman whose experience of God has asked, quite simply, everything from her. In chapter after chapter, readers will see what wholehearted obedience to God may cost His servant. It is an extraordinary tale."--Thomas Howard, author and retired English professor"Each path to heaven is unique. Leanne Payne's account of her journey to date relates a steep and often lonely path, full of rare terrors and beauties. Reading this rich, eye-opening memoir of pilgrimage, one cannot but be grateful for the bravery and frankness of the walker, not to mention the faithful persistence of her Guide. A story of dead ends, rabbit trails, giddy ridges, and spectacular summits, Heaven's Calling quickens and encourages one's own steps along the way."--Michael Ward, author, Planet Narnia, and chaplain, Peterhouse, Cambridge