only by His grace...

As most of you know my sister, CeLes, recently traveled to China to begin her missionary journeys. She has such a heart after the Lord and I admire that so much in her. God placed this specific journey to China on her heart years before it actually became a reality. She spent 3 weeks in a children's rehibilitation center for those with hearing impairments. Mary, the founder of New Hope Recovery Center, told her to prepare lessons on learning to speak English, so she could to teach these 23 precious children. Little did CeLes know how God was going to use those 23 children along with their teachers to minister and touch her heart. I have yet to hear all of the stories that CeLes has to tell me, but the day after she returned to the USA when I was able to finally talk to her (we had only been able to email back and forth; and those emails had to be very very vague due to the Chinese gov't) I heard a change in her voice and knew she had experienced God in a very special way. Days after her trip she texted me and asked me to listen to the song, Grace by Micheal W. Smith. Mary, would play this CD in the car as she and CeLes would drive the streets of Fujian; so this song brought great meaning to CeLes. I recently listened to this song and it brought me to tears. With Resurrection Sunday drawing so near I would like each reader to remember that it is only by God's loving grace that we are made whole.

I was lost when you found me here
You pulled me close and held me near
And I'm a fool but still you love
I'll be your fool for the king of love

He gave me wings so I could fly
And gave me a song to color the sky
And all I have is all from you
And all I want is all of you

It's grace, grace
I'm nothing without you
Grace, your grace
Shines on me

And there've been days when I've walked away
Too much to carry
Nothing left to say
Forgive me Lord when I'm weak and lost
You traded heaven for a wooden cross

And all these years you've carried me
You've been my eyes when I could not see
And beauty grows in the driving rain
Your ode of gladness in the times of pain

It's grace, your grace
I'm nothing without you
Grace, your grace
Your grace, your grace
I'm nothing without you
Grace, your grace
Shines on me oh yeah
Shines on me
Shines on me

I'm everything with you
Shines on me
Shines on me
It's your grace
Shines on me
Your grace

Oh
Your grace it shines on me
Your grace
Your grace
Shines on me
Shines on me
Your grace it shines on me
Your grace