An artist more passionate would be difficult to find. For Lisa Bevill, her life is propelled forward by the things she is passionate about: her family and her ministry. Both of which are evident on her latest recording, Love Of Heaven.

As is the case with her debut album, My Freedom, which included three Top-Five Christian radio singles plus the number one CHR hit, "Place In The Sun," as well as her sophomore project, All Because Of You, which spawned the number one CHR singles "No Condemnation" and "Sunshine And Joy," Love Of Heaven is filled to the brim with songs that communicate the truths of a life lived for Christ, even through the pain and trials that come along the journey. Love of Heaven features production from David Pack (Phil Collins, Linda Rondstadt, James Ingram, Michael McDonald), Don Koch (4HIM, East to West), and Jimmie Lee Sloas (PFR, Randy Stonehill, Geoff Moore).

This new project also showcases Lisa's talents as an emerging songwriter, with her skills being added to four of the album's songs. "There are times when songs written by other writers really take hold of my heart. But being able to be involved in the writing is an incredibly freeing experience for me. You're just able to make things a little more realistic for the listening audience, especially a concert audience where they go, 'She really meant that! Maybe she actually really cares about us!' And I do. I hope above anything that that comes across."

Love Of Heaven is a showcase for Lisa's stellar vocal ability that has made her one of the most sought after session singers in Nashville. Having sung on dozens of jingles, movie soundtracks, and superstar albums by artists like Reba McEntire, Michael Bolton, Linda Ronstadt and Amy Grant, Lisa feels that this album is finally her chance to let loose and sing like she's wanted to for many years.

Not only does her voice communicate strength and versatility as an artist, it also reveals the compassion found in her heart. "I just hope this album brings people to a reality of knowing that God's in control. It's time to really get down to the bottom of ourselves and realize that God has a plan for our lives and He wants us to look to Him so He can set the plans in motion."

From the tender prayers of "Safe Inside," "Only A Savior" and "If We're His," to the aggressive vocal stylings of "Happiness" and "Changed," every note is sung to point listeners to a closer relationship with her God.

Regarding the album's title track, Lisa says she fought for three years to include it on her past recordings, but it finally found its home on this album. "When I was re-writing the lyrics, I was thinking about somebody who was experiencing God for the first time. A 'I've never been here before, this is the first time, Lord let me hold onto You.' When I go through tragic situations, I'm always thinking, 'Oh God, please show me that something good is going to come out of it. Please let me know that You're eventually going to rain down Your grace and mercy upon me."

Every time Lisa leaves her home to perform somewhere far away, she asks God to show her why she has to leave her family behind. "I pray everytime I walk out the door that God will show me exactly why I have to go to this city...and why I'm doing this. And everytime, the Lord shows me the fruit of that concert." She says that the song "Safe Inside" is a reminder to her that God is taking care of her family the whole time that she is gone. "God won't send me out there and not cover my family. Just knowing all that allows me to go out and do what I'm supposed to do and know that we're all safe in God's keeping, no matter what city we're in. Even if we're apart."

Lisa is quick to talk about her family as the heart of her life. She's the queen of the house-her husband, the king, and her two boys, Cody, 7 and Trevor, 2, both princes. You can tell exactly how she feels about them as she lights up, talking about the joys of motherhood.

Her family is of the utmost importance to her, perhaps due to the trials she went through in her own family as a young woman. Lisa grew up dealing with the pressures that came along with the illnesses of her parents. She was twelve when her mother was diagnosed with incurable cancer. Never knowing when the disease may overtake her mother's life allowed Lisa the opportunity to seize every moment they had together. "Every year it was the same prognosis... 'She has six months to live,'" Lisa adds.

Her father experienced surgery for rheumatoid arthritis every year for eleven years. One year, when Lisa was 19, his recovery appeared normal, although slow. One day, he stood up from his chair and called to Lisa that he thought he was going to faint. He died in her arms moments later. She had been preparing all this time for her mother's death, so the passing of her father hit her harder than she had expected.

From that time on, Lisa knew she had to be strong to keep the family together. Lisa's mother was able to hold on long enough to attend Lisa's wedding, but she lost the battle with cancer the day after Lisa returned from her honeymoon.

Through this pain, Lisa tells the story of how God has revealed his earthly plan for her life through these tragedies. She now knows the importance of knowing love and encouragement that can only come from God.

What developed out of an article in Brio magazine has brought Lisa to a deeper awareness of God's continued working out of His plan. In the story, Lisa revealed teen years of low self-esteem and frustration with some of the very normal dilemmas that teenage girls encounter. Her honesty triggered hundreds of letters from girls across the country who felt validated and encouraged by Lisa's story. She has dubbed these girls the "Brio Girls," or "My Girls" as she says, and is committed to recording one song on each of her albums for these young women.

"Tender Reed" is her opportunity to send a word of encouragement and compassion out to these girls and many other young people who just need to be told that God is working out His plan in their lives, no matter how challenging the circumstances may appear.

Lisa has also developed a retreat for these girls. A time to come together without boys, make-up, or covered-up feelings. She calls this "Place In The Sun" Retreat and plans to make it an annual event. Topics covered include self-esteem, weight control, sex, beauty, and love, among others, as well as how to better discern God's will. "It's been a dream of mine for more than a year now to start a retreat just for girls," said Lisa. "It is my hope that when the retreat is over, the girls who have attended will love the woman that God made them to be."

Lisa also adds her vocals to the second "Sisters" project, a collaboration between some of the best female vocalists in Christian music that celebrates sisterhood and the stories that are shared between believers. A highlight of the album is her duet with Cynthia Clawson on "Somehow She Stays," a tribute to the sacrifices that are made as a woman raises a family. Lisa recently recorded another duet, "We Will Follow You," with John Elefante for the upcoming My Utmost For His Highest: The Covenant recording.

Meeting an artist like Lisa, is more like making a new friend. Her insight into success and tragedy makes for a listening ear with incomparable empathy. It's a privilege to be an audience to the vulnerability and honesty of a woman who can point to the scars in her life as times that she has grown. A woman who is committed to encouraging others, that although pain and trials will occur, it is possible to emerge on the other side...and as Lisa has shown, with infectious compassion for others.