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Grace Happens Here: You Are Standing Where Grace is Happening

Review

Grace Happens Here: You Are Standing Where Grace is Happening

Max Lucado is a household name within and far beyond the evangelical communities nationwide. And there’s a reason why. He always finds a way to craft just the right words to convey his message of hope. Whether discussing the weather or a dismal economic outlook, Lucado has a knack for drawing his readers close before hitting them with powerful promises from God directly to each of them. This well-loved author and pastor speaks from his heart, and not only supplies a good word of encouragement, but also offers in equal measure wise biblical counsel overflowing from his shepherd-pasturing heart.

"Whether readers are looking for a perspective changer or have a friend in need of one, GRACE HAPPENS HERE is just the right word for any occasion. Everyone at some time or other needs a healthy dose of grace reminders, and this book delivers."

With GRACE HAPPENS HERE, Lucado’s countless loyal fans will be delighted with a beautiful new gift item for their holiday season. And what theme better suited for Christmas than “grace?” If the poignant words of hope, help and blessing weren’t enough, each section has in it colorful photos of various nature scenes and gorgeous still-life photography. The pictures bring added dimension to the accompanying words and phrases surrounding it.

Lucado has excerpted from other books some of his most memorable stories on grace and compiled them into this hefty little volume. In six sections, he divvies up his essays on the many and varied sides of grace. He opens with “pursued by grace,” followed by “saving grace,” “changed by grace,” “shaped by grace,” “empowered by grace” and “giving grace.” As each title implies, grace is not a stagnant, one-time-only act. By its very definition, grace is alive and active and always in motion, as he describes grace as the change agent from God to humanity, and then from one person to another.

As Lucado says, grace from God pardons and forgives each of us so that we in turn go and pardon and forgive others. Throughout this timely text, he gently reminds Christians that grace upon grace has been given them by a loving Heavenly Father (and Lucado skillfully leads the way in helping readers identify the strange forms that grace sometimes takes) in order to set the example for their own lives. He aids believers in identifying first the great gift of grace and then shows them how to spot it in their day-to-day lives. Finally, Lucado issues the challenge to go out into the world and become aggressive “grace givers,” not limiting themselves to those who can repay or give back, but to give unreservedly and passionately wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Whether readers are looking for a perspective changer or have a friend in need of one, GRACE HAPPENS HERE is just the right word for any occasion. Everyone at some time or other needs a healthy dose of grace reminders, and this book delivers.

Reviewed by Michele Howe on September 19, 2012

Grace Happens Here: You Are Standing Where Grace is Happening
by Max Lucado

  • Publication Date: September 11, 2012
  • Genres: Christian, Nonfiction
  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson
  • ISBN-10: 1400320380
  • ISBN-13: 9781400320387