Grace Notes: Embracing the Joy of Christ In a Broken World

"Grace Notes" is a sweet, quick read. I love that the chapters are short, so when I need a little pick-me-up -- a reminder of God's grace, that it's REAL and alive every day -- I can just open the book. Lorraine's stories are everyone's stories. She describes how she learned of "God in the details," sometimes as her faith matured from childhood to adulthood, sometimes as a lightning flash moment, and sometimes the hard way, as she chose the winding path like we all do. None of us is perfect, but as the book reminds us, Jesus "can't resist" caring for us, all through our lives. This one brings tears to my eyes frequently. You can't help being moved -- the author's sharing of her stories is a gesture of kindness. You feel like it's a gift from a friend.

This book is an absolute joy. Lorraine Murray's wonderful message of hope permeates her essays. In her heartwarming stories she offers gentle reminders that Christ loves us and is with us on every step of our journey even though, in our struggles, we may not notice Him. This book is also a fantastic reminder of how easy it is to find God in His glorious creation if we just take the time to look. I highly recommend this book.

I had purchased and read Grace Notes long before I saw the email from a study group at my church, recommending this as a "must read." Lorraine Murray has a gift for meeting the reader where she is in her faith journey, for "touching a chord." Every chapter/vignette presents an opportunity to recognize past or present struggles in one's personal walk with our Lord. There are those who are fortunate to have never wavered from or questioned God's presence in their lives. Then there are those of us who experience conversion - metanoia - an ongoing, lifetime process. God isn't finished yet with any one of us. This book gently depicts real-life evidence of how intimately involved God is in our lives, our stuggles, our hopes and our joys. Ms. Murray is as deeply honest and human as one can get in sharing her personal faith journey. Her book is a good example of the verse from Scripture (John 21:7) when John, recognizing Jesus on the shore, was contemplative (he knew Jesus with his heart) while Peter, jumping in the water, was conquering (he was action in his imperfect humanness). Exactly what we're called to through Baptism: contemplative and conquering. Thank you, Lorraine Murray, for a sweet walk with our Lord.

If you believe that God is ready to pounce on your every sinful deed or every major flaw in your character, read this book! That God loves you as you are is the central theme. What a joyful and utterly honest read! Murray's journey to the REAL God mirrors that of so many of us who ran from Him and were gently but firmly coaxed back to His all-embracing love. Every women's group would benefit from this brief but lyrical book.

This is a very sweet book of reflections on everyday lifeand on finding Christ in all things. There are questionsto ponder following each chapter, making it an ideal choice for church study groups and/or personal lectio divina/spiritual reflection. Well written, subtle, and graceful. And very inexpensive (anotherplus for church study groups)!