Captured by Grace: No One Is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God

First I must say that David Jeremiah is a great preacher. I used to watch him on tv almost every week, but then stopped watching because of many circumstances. I did however see him on tv recently, and knew I needed to get to work on myself. After getting a little sidetracked with problems over the past year and a half, I am trying to get back to building my relationship with the Lord. Captured By Grace was a wonderful book that reminded me that God always loves me, and is always available to both help and comfort me. Sometimes my own sin and shortcomings cause me to feel distant from God and make me feel that He is so very far away from me. After reading both this, and another great book called Passenger's Side, I am feeling like a new person. Both of these are must read books. Praise the Lord for his grace and faithfulness!

This book helped me understand the meaning of God's word and the stories He uses to illustrate His point, like The Prodigal Son, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, and the conversion of 17th century slave trader turned abolitionist preacher, John Newton. In addition, I got a good definition of Grace, Mercy, and Justification. It made me think. Their conversions did not happen overnight. Saul of Tarsus, a Hebrew by birth, a Roman citizen who spoke Greek, and understood Aramaic, which was the language Jesus spoke, persecuted Christians and was on his way to Damascus to arrest the sect he found there before he heard the voice of God say "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" John Newton was a slave trader. He understood the Scriptures thanks to his mother, but he was rebellious. Like the Prodigal Son, grace came when they both hit bottom. In this case, he went below to get a knife for the captain during a storm. The man who took his place on deck was swept overboard. When he retired, the captain that took his place aboard ship was lost at sea. The trials we Christians go through are a test of faith and endurance. If the Lord removed us from every trial we faced, we wouldn't grow in understanding. By leading us through it, we sometimes understand the reason. Dr. Jeremiah's words are both timely and timeless. This is a powerful book.

I am fortunate to have Dr. David Jeremiah as my pastor at Shadow Mountain Community Church here in San Diego, CA. His newest book "Captured By Grace" possesses the power of the Holy Spirit as it speaks through him. The words we've seen many times before, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound..." have a new life in this book. I recommend it as a book that will change your life, change your heart, and capture your spirit--the part of you that God seeks and will never rest until it is found. "I once was lost but now am found." You will be blessed by this book, whether you want to be or not.

Pastor David Jeremiah uses the lyrics (and the story behind them) of "Amazing Grace" to present a biblical portrait of grace, emphasizing the life and teaching of the Apostle Paul. This easy-to-read, scriptural, and practical volume encourages people to find their source of acceptance in the free but costly grace found in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."

Regardless of what we have done in the past, no one is beyond the reach of our loving God! What a blessing it is to know that God loves ME (despite all my failures and all my faults)! Using John Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace" as his outline, Dr. Jeremiah explains how God lovingly extends an offer of grace to each and every sinner. Our choice is to accept His offer--or not.