Between a Rock and a Grace Place: Divine Surprises in the Tight Spots of Life - Softcover

Kent, Carol

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0310337577 ISBN 13: 9780310337577

Publisher: Zondervan, 2013

Synopsis

From bestselling author Carol Kent comes a riveting journey of facing the impassible obstacles of life and discovering the last thing she ever expected---the sweet spot of grace.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Carol Kent and her husband, Gene, are now living what some would call a heartbreaking life---their son, Jason, a young man who initially had so much promise, is now living out a life sentence for murder in a maximum security prison. All their appeals have been exhausted at both the state and federal levels---humanly speaking, they have run out of options. But despite their hopeless situation, Carol and her husband live a life full of grace. Kent reveals how life's problems become fruitful affliction where we discover the very best divine surprises, including peace, compassion, freedom, and adventure. Through the Kent's remarkable ongoing journey, Jason's riveting letters from behind bars, and true 'grace place' stories from the lives of others, Between a Rock and a Grace Place reveals that when seemingly insurmountable challenges crash into our lives, we can be transformed as we discover God at work in ways we never imagined. With vulnerable openness, irrepressible hope, restored joy, and a sense of humor, Carol Kent helps readers to find God's 'grace places' in the middle of their worst moments. Carol Kent and her husband, Gene, are now living what some would call a hopeless place in life, as their son, Jason--with a degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, a young man who initially had so much promise-- is now living out a sentence of 'life without the possibility of parole' in a maximum security prison. He has a 'toe-tag sentence.' In prison vernacular that means he will never leave a Florida state penitentiary until he is dead on a slab with a tag on his toe. All their appeals have been exhausted at both the state and federal levels. Humanly speaking, they have run out of options. They are in the middle of a rock and a hard place---but not really. With Kent's story as the backdrop, punctuated by true vignettes from the lives of others she has encountered, and her son Jason's letters from prison lacing each chapter with haunting transparency yet bright hope in the midst of iron bars and concrete, every chapter takes readers by surprise transforming seemingly impossible obstacles into towers of celebration, delight, and victory. Kent reveals how life's obstacles become the very foundations of divine surprises such as faith, compassion, contentment, thanksgiving, favor, freedom, joy, and even adventure. Readers are moved from tears to goose bumps to astonishment, joy, and even laughter. Kent writes: Since we have spoken publicly about our journey, thousands of people have written to us about their personal roadblocks in life. Media interviews have included countless inquiries about how we have been able to stave off depression, discouragement, and hopelessness. We're not sure when it happened, but on this journey we have discovered 'the grace place' that can only be experienced when you embrace your Rock (God himself) and allow yourself to find safety, comfort, opportunity, and joy in the most unexpected circumstances.' This is a book that addresses the felt needs of people who hurt, as it instills a surprisingly new way of thinking, leaving readers irresistibly drawn to see God's astonishing 'grace places' in the middle of their roadblocks.

About the Author:

Carol Kent is the bestselling author of When I Lay My Isaac Down and Becoming a Woman of Influence. Carol is an expert on public speaking, writing, and on encouraging people to hold on to hope when life's circumstances turn out differently from their dreams. She speaks internationally on the subjects of her books. With vulnerable openness, restored joy, and a sense of humor, Carol helps people to discover the secret of maintaining an enduring faith in the middle of an imperfect world. She and her husband, Gene, live in Florida.

About this edition

• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0310337577
• ISBN 13: 9780310337577
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224