Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

Since July I’ve been writing book 3 of the Southern Breeze Series, Carolina Grace, while doing book signings and marketing for book 2, Carolina Mercy.

I’ve been discombobulated through most of the writing of Carolina Grace, probably because I’ve been in a season of change in my life. Nothing out of the ordinary, just stuff that a wife, mother, daughter can expect during that middle season of life that includes retirements, job changes, grown daughters, and aging parents.

I’ve felt so unsure. The title, Carolina Grace, indicates that God’s grace is involved in the plot. Duh. But to what end? What will be the plot points that showcase that grace? I muddled around until I found A direction, and on Friday I turned it in to my publisher at Mantle Rock Publishing. Mind you, I’ve not gotten back my edits yet, so I don’t know yet if it’s THE direction the book needs to go.

But an interesting thing happened at church last night. Our praise team (of which I’m keyboard) did a small set of just two songs (we’re all feeling the effects of fall allergies! LOL). The first was “Our God,” which points out the undeniable attributes of our God, and the second was “Amazing Grace: My Chains are Gone.” The hymn, “Amazing Grace,” plays a big part in Carolina Grace. (Thank you, public domain!)

We’re currently without a pastor, so we had a guest preacher last night. When he reached the podium, he said that he loved it when the song service affirms his sermon choice. What was his sermon? GOD’S GRACE! I drank it in.

Do you know what I learned last night? I learned a lot of what I tried to convey in my book. That God loved us enough to send His only Son, Jesus, to die for us, and that if not for Jesus, we would not be called His children.

Grace is when you get something you don’t deserve, because someone else paid for it.

Grace is something we can’t truly understand, because it goes deeper and wider than our human brain can conceive, but we can accept it. In fact, that’s all we CAN do, and all we’re asked to do.

I felt a little like that preacher. I felt affirmed. I think you can never write enough about God’s grace, and I’m so happy that this was what I felt led to write.

Thank you all for praying for me! Now pray for my editors! 🙂

Grace to you!