Unexpected Grace A Discovery Of Healing Through Surrender

A journey to find physical, emotional and spiritual healing, Unexpected Grace will inspire you to discover the courage to handle life-changing challenges with ease and grace. Facing illness and disability, as well as the loss of dreams and expectations, each phase of the journey unfolds, bringing new truths, lessons and perspectives. True acceptance, center and balance are revealed through ultimate surrender and a strong connection to loving, supportive friends. And at the end of the journey, we come - quite unexpectedly - to a place of grace.

Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, highs and lows, moments of joy and seasons of sorrow. Along the way, we encounter moments that leave us breathless with wonder and awe, as well as moments that leave us shattered and bewildered. It is in these moments of disappointment and disillusionment that we are faced with a choice - to succumb to despair or to rise with resilience. In this book, "Embracing Divine Appointments," we embark on a journey of exploration and discovery into the depths of the human experience. Guided by the wisdom and insight of Lysa TerKeurst, we delve into the heart of disappointment, uncovering its transformative power and its potential to lead us closer to the divine. Through poignant stories, practical wisdom, and profound insights, we learn to navigate the turbulent waters of disappointment with grace and courage. We come to understand that disappointment is not the end of the road, but rather a doorway to growth and renewal. It is through our struggles and setbacks that we are refined, that we discover the depth of our resilience and the boundlessness of our faith. Throughout these pages, we will journey together through the valleys of grief and loss, the wilderness of doubt and questioning, and the storms of uncertainty and fear. Yet, amidst the darkness, we will discover rays of hope shining through, illuminating the path ahead and guiding us toward a brighter tomorrow. Together, we will learn to embrace disappointment as a divine appointment - a sacred invitation to encounter God in the midst of life's unexpected turns. We will discover that even in our darkest moments, we are never alone, for the divine presence is with us, guiding us, sustaining us, and leading us toward a future filled with hope and promise. So, dear reader, I invite you to embark on this journey with an open heart and a willing spirit. May these pages be a source of comfort and encouragement to you as you navigate the ups and downs of life's journey. May you find strength and solace in the midst of disappointment, and may you emerge from the darkness with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper faith in the goodness of God.

We Cannot Do Enough. And That’s Good News! Happiness and purpose—we work ceaselessly for them, but what does God have to say about our efforts? Through engaging and encouraging stories about serving the people of Uganda, Unexpected Joy challenges us to move beyond achievement and self-reliance, and instead embrace a life of sincere obedience and joy. With wisdom and wit, Kelly balances foundational Christian doctrine with real-life experiences. Through the lens of his personal story—and all the hurts and hopes along the way—you will discover how the joy God offers is not a future prize to be earned, but a gift to be received right now. As you contemplate Kelly’s reflections and insight, you will be encouraged and emboldened in your own whirlwind journey of God’s amazing grace. Kelly’s story will serve as a blessed reminder that the Lord is at work in your life, and that He is infinitely better than anything this world can offer!

When Eleanor Pfaehler and I met, we stood on opposite sides of an invisible, and seemingly insurmountable, wall," Sheila Walsh writes. "Eleanor and I talked over this wall. At times we reached up to hug. But the wall was always there. "Then Eleanor was diagnosed with liver cancer. Finally, by the grace and mercy of God alone, the wall came crashing down. Eleanor and I found ourselves swimming in the river of mercy with our arms around each other, holding each other, willing to give our lives for each other." Unexpected Grace is a tender account of the relationship between a mother and daughter-in-law and how they discovered extravagant grace in the midst of what could have been the most tragic experience of their lives. Their story will encourage you and help you see how God can bring good out of even the bleakest circumstances. Previously published as Stories from the River of Mercy.

In Unexpected Grace Bill Kramer offers a rare look into the human side of the world of scientific research. He goes behind the scenes of four scientific investigations on diverse aspects of the study of unlimited love and offers uplifting portraits of human beings struggling to understand and improve the complex issues facing them. He explores the dynamics between the researchers, the subjects they study, and the participants in the studies, and eloquently tells their personal stories. The stories touch on vastly different social and human issues, but all are connected by love. The first is the story of Courtney Cowart, who was part of a group of theologians who met at Trinity Place in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, not knowing her experience would become the subject of a study. The story of how the group struggled to survive and the formation of a practical, effective altruistic community is heartrending and inspiring. This is followed by a description of a University of California Santa Cruz psychology department study on the dynamics of friendship and prejudice that completely changed the perceptions of those involved. The third study, from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, focused on the benefits of religion on mental and physical health, which led its researcher to a greater understanding of forgiveness, humility, and grace. The final powerful story is about a physiology of love study conducted in Iowa City. Here, a functional MRI is the vehicle for measuring empathy and brings the researcher to wonder, "Is there a point at which empathy shuts down and we turn away?" Ultimately she comes to recognize that past experiences influences our ability to respond emphatically. Each story candidly unveils the transformations the researchers and their subjects experienced in the course of their work. This illuminating book, with its unique insights, will appeal to educators, researchers, students, study participants, and everyone who wonders what goes on behind the scenes of investigative studies.

A diaconal minister, author, and creative artist, Roela Victoria Rivera became legally blind in 2004, two years after she had severe illness that left her in a coma for three days and led her to a near-death experience (NDE) which allowed her to see the glory and beauty of heaven. While undergoing eight eye surgeries over a period of eight years, she felt her faith and trust fading away for awhile. However, her deep faith in GOD and fervent prayers have strengthened her belief that GOD has never left her side and is leading her each day with new meaningful plan and purpose for her life. GOD has blessed Roela to see glimpses of heave at three points in her life: when she was ten years old, at age eighteen, and in mid-life which guided her with wisdom and strength, courage and creative power to write this inspirational book with divine guidance from GOD, holy light from Jesus, and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. She will help you see glimpses of heave in many different ways in everyday life. She also wishes to share her creative artworks and the great Lessons of Life she learned from her heavenly visions and from the Scripture. She continues her ministry for GOD's glory through her GraceNotes Creative Ministry and inspirational items she designs to share GOD's Words of love and grace. Roela's physical and spiritual journey is an inspiration to everyone who reads about it in this book. We hope you find it so.

Bestselling author Kathleen Dowling Singh (The Grace in Dying) presents an opportunity to view and reflect upon our lives in a new way—as an already unfolding awakening. Kathleen Dowling Singh invites us to enter into an awakened relationship with our lives by exploring our own spiritual biography. Her thoughtful reflections and exercises guide us through the process, step-by-step, of recognizing the ever-presence of grace in our lives and learning to trust it and live from it. This book also offers accounts from renowned teachers, including Rodney Smith, Cynthia Bourgeault, and Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, as well as other long-time practitioners. These intimate first-person accounts offer rare glimpses into early spiritual yearnings, struggles, and realizations—and serve as encouragement and inspiration for us to rediscover our own.

Being Grace intends to raise awareness about Scoliosis, both the emotional and physical aspects, though the story of a young giraffe named Grace. Take a journey to self-acceptance with Grace, who suffers from being different from the others. Join Grace as she learns that all that matters is what she believes, not what others say. She finds joy in just being herself, and accepts that all she can do is be "Grace."