Do You See Grace Among You?

Last week I talked about the importance of music in my life. This week I want to continue on the same note, haha same ♫ NOTE ♪, I’m so clever!

About 8 months ago I was introduced to a men’s Southern Gospel Trio. This trio is The Booth Brothers. The members include Ronnie Booth, Michael Booth and Jim Brady. I was extremely impressed with them from the first moment I heard them sing. The blend of their voices is impeccable, their harmony is so tight and their pitch is right on! It just amazed me. As I listened to them sing live, then listened to their CD I was shocked! This is one group that is better live than on CD! Then they spoke and I began to learn about their ministry! WOW! These 3 men again blew me away! Michael takes the time in every concert to present salvation. It doesn’t matter if they are in concert with other groups or by themselves, you know salvation will be presented. I find that so encouraging, because we should always be prepared to witness. We may think we are in a crowd of Christians, but we need to give God the chance to work in hearts. It is not our place to make that decision. Another thing I admire about the Booth Brothers is their commitment to other Christians. Michael usually does the preaching, but all of them have stories to tell and messages to present. So at any given time you will hear any one of them telling how God has worked in his life and encouraging us. I always walk away from their concerts knowing I have met with God.

Jim Brady does most of his story telling through song. Jim is a songwriter, and has written over 100 amazing songs. His songs have been recorded by several groups including, The Talley Trio, Legacy Five, Gold City, and of course, The Booth Brothers.

One of the first songs I ever heard The Booth Brothers perform was “I See Grace”, it was written by Jim. It made such an impact on me that when I started this blog I knew I HAD to share it with all of you! Y’all just won’t believe the ways God has worked in my life to bring things about. One of the coolest things is that Jim Brady has given me permission to print the words of that song here! Tears come to my eyes as I write this at how good God is! I am overwhelmed by the way God has worked in my life and through this blog. One of these days I should tell you all the things He has done in, through and with this blog. I just stand in awe of HIM! Anyway, below you will find “I See Grace” then you will find what the song means to me. 

Me and Michael Booth

Me and Ronnie Booth

Me and Jim Brady

I See Grace:

Here in these walls; here in these rows

There are those who regret the roads they once chose

More than the sorrow, more than the pain

There is joy for the way that

Through Christ they’ve been changed

There are lives freed from bondage of sins once concealed

There are bodies and minds, spirits now healed

Those who found freedom and shook off the chains

From the long years of guilt, anger, and shame

I see grace; I see grace

In every life; on every face

Of the faithful who gather each week in this place

I see grace

There are those in this life who’ve been dealt a poor hand

They’ve overcome and by God’s strength they stand

Those who have come through unbearable loss

Not defined by the past but defined by the Cross

I see grace; I see grace

In every life; on every face

Of the faithful who gather each week in this place

I see grace

Story after story, one common theme

God’s power and glory in those He’s redeemed

Such tender mercy time after time

So many ways in this story that’s mine

I see grace;

Grace; I see grace

In every life; on every face

Of the faithful who gather each week in this place

I see grace

The faithful who gather each week in this place

I see grace; I see grace

Written by Jim Brady, Barry Weeks, and Tony Wood/Brady House Publishing/BMI/New Spring/Row J, Seat 9 Songs/ASCAP/Building Bridge/BMI

As I have listened to this song, God has opened my eyes to His Grace in ways I never imagined. Everyday He is teaching me more and more about grace. As I learn I love sharing with you. I hope you get as much out of this as I have.

So Let’s look at “I See Grace” by Jim Brady.

Christians from all walks of life come together as a body to Worship the one true, sovereign God. Sometimes we think that the lives of the people sitting around us have been, and are going smoothly, with no problems, no trials. When in fact we just don’t know.

Some made choices before salvation that they simply regret, choices that sometimes cause them great heartache, but Christ changed them! We even make choices after salvation that we regret, but because of God’s Amazing Grace, we approach his throne and He forgives us!

Then you have those that things have happened to “those in this life who’ve been dealt a poor hand”. This is a really hard one for me. I don’t necessarily believe I’ve “been dealt a poor hand” God has given me a VERY GOOD and BLESSED life. However, He has allowed my family to go through some very difficult situations. Now I can say God’s grace brought us through them. I also believe He gave us these experiences to help others when they go through similar situations. Just as Jim writes we overcame and “by God’s strength” we stand!

In the next phrase the song talks about those that endure “unbearable loss”. That is something else my family definitely knows about, but the next phrase gives us the ONLY comfort that those with this kind of loss can be comforted with, “Not defined by the past but defined by the Cross”. Let me tell you just a little about the loss we have experience so you can understand. Between November 1983 and January 1985, my mom’s mom, my cousin who was 22 and had cystic fibrosis and my mom’s dad all went to be with Jesus. Then in 1997, after a long bout with Alzheimer’s Cecil’s grandpa went to be with the Lord. My dad’s mom passed away in 1999, she had also dealt with Alzheimer’s. Knowing the 2 of them have clear minds is so comforting! Then in June of 2000 my sister’s husband was diagnosed with Leukemia. I could go into great detail but I won’t. Let me just say the next 10 months were extremely difficult and a rollercoaster of emotions. In April of 2001 he went to be with Jesus. He was 33. By the end of 2001 we had also lost my other cousin who had cystic fibrosis, she was 35, and then Cecil’s grandma. Then 2 and a half years ago as quite a shock to the whole family my daddy met Jesus in heaven on a Sunday afternoon the day before his 64^th birthday. Now you want to talk about an unbearable loss. For me other than losing a spouse or child, losing a parent is about as unbearable as it gets! I miss my daddy EVERY day! BUT because of the CROSS Jesus gives me comfort EVERY time I feel that overwhelming sadness and loss. That is His grace!

I know if we all sat down together we could share one thing after another where God has pulled us through, when it didn’t seem like there was any hope. The thing we all have in common is that when we rely on God for our strength, our needs to be met, He WILL provide! In the bridge, Jim writes about 2 attributes of God that seem to be contradictory, but as Christians we understand how they work together. “God’s power and glory in those He’s redeemed, Such tender mercy time after time”, I love the picture of God working powerfully in my life yet He does it with tender mercy. Let me give you an example of this. In October 2000 the doctors found a large mass on one of my ovaries. They thought it was probably benign but they couldn’t be sure until they did surgery and because of the size of the tumor they had to actually open my abdomen up. This would mean 6 weeks of recovery. This was a very scary time for my family and me. We placed everything in God’s hands and I went in to surgery. As they rolled me into my room, I could hear Cecil on the phone with his mom saying, “there was no cancer”. To me that is God’s power and His mercy at work all at the same time.

In the last phrase of the song, before the chorus, the song pulls all of us back together again. “So many ways in this story that’s mine”, even when our stories are different, we can relate. The things I go through may not be as traumatic as yours, but God give us all the grace we need when we need it.

The next time you are at church or some other large gathering of believers, look around. Do you see grace? Do you see people whose lives have been touch by the grace of God for salvation? Have these people been through trials and tough times, just like you, yet God has given them His grace to live life on this earth?

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (KJV)

Living in Grace

Angie

Please check out the links to the Booth Brothers website and Jim and Melissa Brady's website.They are to the left. On the Booth Brothers website you can hear a clip of  "I See Grace" on the Declaration CD. Please listen to that and other song clips on both sites!

If you get the chance, you will want to see the Booth Brothers or Jim and Melissa or Melissa Brady in concert. Check out there concert schedules. I promise you will LOVE IT!!!

Here is a chance to go see Melissa Brady in concert! I know she will be a blessing!!!