Have you ever been pleasantly surprised?  This is the experience I had when I actually took the time to watch a movie put out by The World Wrestling Entertainment Group, starring John Cena.

The title intrigued me, but when I saw that the movie was starring John Cena and was put out by WWE, I thought to myself: “This is probably going to be a waste of time, but I might as well give it a shot!”  And now I have to confess, it actually was a good movie with a very encouraging message.

The movie is a story of redemption and a different kind of victory.  It is a mixture of redemption stories, promises made and promises kept, as well as a look at what really winning is all about.  It is the story of a teenage boy coming of age, while coming to terms with the hand that life has dealt him.  It is the story of a single mom, who is doing her best to make things work, even though none of her current life is what she planned.  It is the story of a man, older son and big brother, who thought it was easier to walk away, but discovers life can’t work without his family.

Life is hard.  Life will throw you more than a few curves.  Life is about learning, growing and becoming.  I enjoyed this movie, walked away with a good feeling inside and found encouragement to keep learning and growing.

I hope if you get a chance to see it, that it will be a surprising encouragment to you…

There are times in life when you just know that God is working.  You don’t necessarily know how you know, you just know and it is amazing.  Romans 8:28 says:  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and who have been called according to His purpose.”

When God calls you to something, you know He has plans, but you really do not have a clue about all that He is up to.  We like to think we know, understand and can make sense of it all, but we don’t and we can’t, because God gives us only what we can handle in the moment.

I have been blessed in my life time to see God do some amazing things.  I personally have experienced some God work in the last couple of years that I still can’t come up with words to describe or explain.

I have seen God do enough to know that what we have not even come close to scratching the surface of all the good that He wants to work in and through our lives according to His purpose.

So remember, you don’t have to understand it all and you don’t have to explain it all.  Just make sure that you take some time to enjoy the journey of grace that God has you on.

I was sitting in my study this afternoon, when all of a sudden there was a knock at the door and a lady standing there wanting to know if I had a rag she could use?  I had to ask to be sure that I had heard her right.  She said she needed it to wipe out her chair.

When I went outside to take her the rag which I had run under the faucet, I discovered that she had come and hour and half early with a group of other folks to sit outside and wait for Grace Place to open.  They had brought folding chairs, but she did not have one, so she made herself at home and went out behind the building and found her one of her own.

At first, I thought what in the world is going on?  And then it hit me:  Grace Place really has become a place of grace!  A place where people want to come.  A place where people feel comfortable, safe and at home.  And this place and ministry are allowing us the amazing opportunity to share just how amazing God’s grace really is.  Makes me want to spin a rag around in the air and shout:  Go God!