So many times we will choose to pursue the greatest payback for ourselves within our relationships. We will choose to obtain our own all-too-often self focused desires.

Our Dear God’s relationship advice is far different…far greater…far more challenging…and far more excellent!

…eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way…

LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind,

it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

LOVE is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no records of wrong.

LOVE does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

LOVE always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

LOVE never fails.

1 Corinthians 12:13, 13:1, 4-8

So there’s the most excellent, most challenging, most joyful and most fabulous relationship advice from our Dear God.

Now, here are my (in)famous two questions:

1. Do you believe it?…do you believe that this is God’s will for you in your relationships? And if you do…
2. What are you going to do about it? 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

The Kingdom of God—Within and Around Us!

Some thoughts from Sylane Mac

It’s still early enough in 2010 to acknowledge the entering into a new year and into a new decade. It’s still early enough in 2010 to ask ourselves some introspective questions…and some broader thinking questions. Actually, asking these kinds of questions is always a good idea. As is doing something about the answers we get-especially when (and IF) we invite God to be the One who answers us!

So, let’s each ask ourselves first the introspective questions: How is my life-my mind, my heart, my words, my actions, my reactions, my relationships, my stewardship of my body and all of my resources-reflecting the passionate love that Christ has for me…the sacrificial, unfailing love that cost Jesus His Holy Life to save me and to transform me to be more and more like Him?

And let’s each ask ourselves the broader thinking questions: What am I doing, not just for my own spiritual growth or even to help grow my own church, but what am I doing for the growth of the Kingdom of God-for, and with, the whole Body of Christ-since we all are called to be Ambassadors of Christ (not Ambassadors of our own home church or favorite way to worship, study and fellowship)?

As we ask ourselves these questions-and open ourselves to seeking God’s perspective, passion and purpose for both our personal and universal Body of Christ growth-I have no doubt that our God will answer!

Let’s each allow God’s Spirit and God’s Word to minister to us and challenge us-whatever the calendar date…or the life season we may be in-to live and grow in the present moment as His children and to live to help grow the Kingdom of God for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Above all, love each other deeply,

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Each one should use whatever gift

he has received to serve others,

faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking

the very words of God.

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength

God provides, so that in all things

God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory and the power

for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:8-11

REJOICE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST!

Update on events for end of 2009

November 6-8-Sylane Mack presented the four session, oft-requested Harvest of Hearts at the Women’s Retreat for Lawndale Baptist Church of Philadelphia, PA. God’s love and transforming power was declared and deeply responded to by those who attended this retreat held at S.P.A.D.E. International Conference Center in Kempton, PA. Kyoko Iwashita Kneller ministered faithfully and lovingly as the TBG prayer partner and team member.

November 14-Lydia Austin led an all day/3 session retreat for the women of Abundant Life Community Church of Port Murray, NJ held at The Inn at Panther Valley in Allamuchy, NJ. Lydia’s teaching was powerfully and passionately based on James 1:22-“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”-and is appropriately and encouragingly entitled:  Just Do It!

December 5-Lydia Austin gave a special Christmas presentation called Joy to the World!- at a Morning Christmas Tea for the women of Langhorne Terrace Ministries in Langhorne, PA. Rachel Mack, another of our TBG Speakers, ministered with grace and enthusiasm as the TBG prayer partner and team member.

Upcoming Events

March 1-5-Sylane will be at Bethel University and Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota.

• Throughout the week she will be speaking in various classes, at a Community Life Gathering Lunch and at the Friday Chapel Service.
• The schedule still very fluid-venues will be added even while Sylane is there! Go for it, God!

March 6-Transformed By Grace celebrates our 7^th Anniversary as a not-for-profit ministry!!! Join us in prayer and thanksgiving for all that God has done and is continuing to do as we yield to His leadership and minister to many lives-through speaking events and private counseling-with the love, grace, truth and transforming power of our Lord Jesus Christ!

March 9 and 10-Sylane will be speaking with young men in 2 different Therapeutic Group Sessions and to a Parent/Family Group Meeting over these 2 days at Mathom House, a Rehabilitation Center for Adolescent Sexual Offenders. These 3 sessions will be Sylane’s 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd time ministering with different groups connected with Mathom House since 2003. Thank you, Mighty God!

April 29-May 1-Sylane will attend and present at the BAACC Summit VIII in Atlanta, Georgia. On Saturday, May 1, Sylane will present a workshop entitled, Transforming Counseling: Counselors as Vessels of God’s Freeing Truth -based on Romans 8:6 -“The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace”

Registration for the BAACC Summit VIII can be made at www.BAACConline.net (Sylane serves as Assistant Chaplain to the Board of Advisors for BAACC.)

Update on CONVINCED!

We are thanking God deeply for what we have already seen and heard as to how our Lord is using the book, Convinced!, written by Sylane Mack, to minister to those who have read it since its publication on November 13, 2009.

Kathy Watson, one of our faithful Partners in Grace, wrote her own personal review-reaction to Convinced!:

Every day God is present in our lives, writing our life story, our testimony. We would all have to admit there are times we would rather forget, choosing rather to lock the door and forget about our ugly, shameful times. Instead, in writing Convinced!, Sylane has fully opened the doors to her dark places in order to give each of us hope and the assurance that God is with us in the midst of our darkest days and nights. God stepped into her life when Sylane was only 7 years old and took hold of her heart, but did not take away the pain. It was wonderful to read how, as her life went on, God continued to use amazing people to draw her closer to God, and how she found the loving, Abba Father she was seeking. The bookend to Sylane’s salvation is her witness to her abusers and her unrelenting desire to see each of them know the loving God of grace and salvation that transformed her life. We are blessed to read her testimony and find hope in this broken, sinful world-and to be Convinced! that God’s love changes everything!

You may order your copy (or several!) today via:

http://www.createspace.com/3404109 (our preferred site )

OR http://www.amazon.com

___________________________

Minister With Us! We Need You!

Please JOIN us as a Partner in Grace!

Become a PinG!

Your prayers and financial gifts provide the tangible and greatly needed support necessary to carry out God’s call on the ministry of Transformed By Grace!

Your FINANCIAL gifts help make possible:

• Counseling services to those who otherwise are without the financial resources that would allow them to participate in this healing process.
• Conference Speaking Events for churches and organizations whose budgets are greatly limited compared to their hunger for God’s Word and their desire to grow as disciples of our Lord Jesus.
• Purchasing Bibles-often given to the young men at Mathom House (see Upcoming Events) and to others via our counseling ministry.
• Purchasing copies of Convinced! for some with whom we counsel and many other ministry contacts.
• Administrative stewardship of this ministry.

Your gifts of PRAYERS join with ours so that we may bring glory to our Lord Jesus and His transforming grace to all the people with whom we minister!

You may let us know your PinG Support Commitment of Prayer and Finances by clicking on this link now: Partner With Us

• Or call the TBG office at 215.497.0882
• Or send your gifts directly to: P.O. Box 976, Newtown, PA 18940

With love and great thankfulness to our Lord Jesus for all of you!

The Ministry Team of Transformed By Grace

God Interrupts…Grace Intervenes

Scripture references from Matthew 1 and Luke 2

God loves us so much that He will interrupt our lives and our plans to intervene with His grace. God has always done this to call His people to Himself. Jesus Christ interrupts our ways of doing things when He comes to us to intervene with His grace for all eternity. He did this in a manger on His way to the cross.

Mary, a young virgin pledged to marry Joseph, was suddenly and shockingly visited by the angel Gabriel who told her that she will be with child…that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her and the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Mary’s response: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

These weren’t Mary’s plans, but God totally interrupted her life-to intervene in her life, and in the lives of all who would believe, with His grace.

Joseph’s plans for his life were also suddenly and shockingly interrupted when he found out that Mary was with child. Yet, even in the hurt and betrayal he must have felt, Joseph planned to quietly divorce Mary so she would not be publicly disgraced. But, before Joseph could carry out his plan, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream to tell him to not be afraid to take Mary home as his wife and to assure him that Mary was with child through the Holy Spirit; “She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph’s response: he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.

These weren’t Joseph’s plans, but God totally interrupted his life-to intervene in his life, and in the lives of all who would believe, with His grace.

May we each choose to let God interrupt our plans…our lives…our worries…our self-focused thinking…even our ways of doing Christmas…so that we may allow the full love and grace of Jesus Christ to interrupt and intervene in our lives.

May we each respond in awe and thankfulness, and full faith acceptance, to the God Most High who is born to us vulnerably as a baby in a manger with the purpose to die humbly for our sins on a cross.

Christmas and the Cross of Jesus and Christ’s Eternal Resurrection are God’s gifts of LOVE to every one of us…these are God’s full interruption over the power of sin and death in our lives through the full intervention of His grace!

Have a beautiful, God-interrupting,

Grace-intervening Christmas!

———————————

Celebrating our Call in 2009–with JOY from Transformed by Grace

We thank God for the privilege we have had throughout 2009 to be vessels of the love, grace and truth of Jesus Christ! We are so grateful to all of our Board of Directors and to Cathy Buser who, as our Bookkeeper, maintains our financial records with great detail and integrity and for DeAnne Harland, our ever-available Admin-istrative Assistant, who truly ministers to all who make contact with TBG.

All three of our Conference Speakers-Lydia Austin, Rachel Mack and Sylane Mack, plus Mindy Benjamin, one of our Counselors-have been invited to speak to a variety of groups in a variety of settings: at Women’s Teas and Women’s Retreats, at MOPS groups, at whole Church Outreach Programs, to speak to prisoners, train their counselors and minister to their families. We have been awed by the power of God’s Word and Spirit to use our words to bless, encourage and challenge many people to trust the grace and truth of Jesus Christ for salvation and for the transformation of their lives-for now and for all of eternity!

The openness of so many individuals, and even within large groups at the retreats, to receive the freedom offered through Jesus Christ has kept us humbled and in awe of the intimacy and sovereignty of our God. We are evermore aware of how God is passionately reaching out to all of us with His transforming love!

Likewise, our Counselors-Mindy Benjamin, Kristin Chace (now living in CT), Teresa Warren and Sylane Mack-count it a privilege …a very daunting and humbling privilege…to have ministered over this past year to numerous individuals, couples and families within the intimacy of our biblically-based counseling services. We seek to fully rely on the wisdom of God, on His grace and truth, on His Word and His Spirit as we serve those who seek counsel from us. We take seriously the trust that is placed in us-guarding people’s dignity and protecting their confidentiality-as we offer Christ-centered counseling for the transforming healing, and renewing of their lives spiritually, physically, mentally and relationally.

This past September Sylane was invited to serve on the Board of Advisors as Assistant Chaplain for BAACC, Black African-American Association of Christian Counselors. Our God is a God of love and unity. May we all become more like Jesus!

Another new ministry venue for TBG in 2009 were the daily devotions which Sylane has posted daily since January 1, 2009 on our website, entitled:  A Time for Grace and Truth

Check these out. Be encouraged. Be challenged.

Along with TBG’s ongoing ministries, it was with great joy that we celebrated the publication of Sylane Mack’s book, CONVINCED!-or as she calls it,

“God’s transforming love story written in my life.”

We encourage you to order your copy (or several copies!) via:

http://www.createspace.com/3404109 (our preferred site)

Or via:

http://www.amazon.com

We believe that God will use CONVINCED! for His glory and to bring His transforming freedom, healing and power of forgiveness into the lives of many, many people! Because God’s love changes everything.

———————————

Continuing our Call in 2010–with HOPE from Transformed by Grace

We, the Staff and Board, who serve through the ministry of Transformed by Grace prayerfully, faithfully and thankfully reaffirm our call to share the love, grace and truth of Jesus Christ through our Conference Speaking and Counseling ministries. We are ready and willing to “Go…and tell the full message of this new life”-Acts 5:20-wherever God would lead us. And we are ready and willing to continue to serve our local community as we disciple and counsel people with the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. Because…“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”-Galatians 5:1.

As we look ahead to minister in the year 2010, we also, quite honestly, have some significant challenges to meet. We have had to make hard choices to not consistently pay some of our Staff because the support funds have not been available. We are trusting God-our Jehovah Jireh-the Lord Provider to stir up His resources and His people to supply all we need for our operational expenses. God is faithful. And so are His people.

We are asking each of you to PRAY about how you will support TBG. If you are not already a Partner in Grace-a PinG-with us, we encourage you to join us now. We really do NEED YOU!

If you are already a Partner in Grace with us currently: THANK YOU!

• Continue those prayers! They are the powerful foundation for placing our full trust in God for all that we do!
• Consider how you may continue or increase your financial support for TBG.

As a gift of gratitude, we will send out a free copy of CONVINCED! to our PinGs who are able to make a Monthly Pledge of financial support of $25 or more for 2010 OR to those who can give a One Time Gift of $300 or more.

You may let us know your PinG Support Commitment of Prayer and Finances by clicking on this link now: Partner With Us

Thank You All for your encouragement, your prayers and your financial support for this ministry! We truly are the Ambassadors of Christ together!

We need and appreciate you greatly!

May this Christmas and 2010 cause each of us to know the interrupting, intervening LOVE of God in a more personal and powerful way!

Our love and thankful prayers,

The Ministry Team of Transformed by Grace

This may be a news flash for some of you, but: Even believers in Jesus can be grumpy—really, really grumpy! And we believers can also act in such self-pitying-downer ways that even Eeyore would have a hard time hanging around us. 

There will be times that the times we are going through and our interactions with others will make our choice to be—and stay—seething with anger or consumed with self-pity pretty darn easy…to the point that we begin to believe this is just how we are going to feel—and, therefore, act. 

But we have a choice. A life-bringing, freeing, powerful and, yes, still challenging choice: We can choose to be joyful.

…yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:19

Even in the midst of difficult times and difficult relationships: We can choose to be joyful. Because our LORD is with us, our LORD loves us, our LORD saves us and our LORD empowers us to choose to be joyful in Him! And having that perspective will make any relationship better—at least the part that we’re responsible for!

So there’s the anecdote to our grumpy, self-pitying ways: the life-brnging, freeing, powerful and, yes, still challenging relationship advice from our Dear God.

Now, here are my (in)famous two questions:

1. Do you believe it?…do you believe that this is God’s will for you in your relationships? And if you do…
2. What are you going to do about it? 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Sometimes when I’m counseling married couples—and listening to each of their hurts and their reasons for anger…and listening to how they speak and act towards each other in hurtful, angry ways—I just want to yell out, “Just be nice!!!

I do know that is an outrageously simplistic response to the dysfunctional patterns of communication and behavior couples have gotten themselves into over their years together. And yet, their words and actions that have brought their marriage to such a hurting, angry place were said and done by choices they each made. And it’s time to make different choices…it’s time to choose to speak and act in different ways towards each other.

Maybe “Just be nice!!!” is far too simplistic…or maybe it’s a good place to start when making choices that will heal hurting hearts and dispel angry words and actions.

“Just be nice!!!” isn’t found in any specific Scripture verse, but this succinct and powerful relationship advice from the Word of God is:

Be kind and compassionate to one another…

Ephesians 4:32

So there’s the simple and direct…and amazingly challenging and healing relationship advice from our Dear God.

Now, here are my (in)famous two questions:

1. Do you believe it?…do you believe that this is God’s will for you in your relationships? And if you do…
2. What are you going to do about it? 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

People can treat us in horribly hurtful and unjust ways at times. Being treated wrongly by someone else can run the full range from being ignored and dismissed…to being rejected and ridiculed…to being manipulated and controlled…to being abused and persecuted.

All of this is sin. All of this is wrong behavior from others towards us. And God’s advice, for our own freedom and healing (and also for the one who has wronged us) is clear and unequivocal:

Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

———-

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

———-

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:14

Okay, so there’s the mind and heart confrontative…transforming advice from our Dear God.

Now, here are my (in)famous two questions:

1. Do you believe it?…do you believe that this is God’s will for you in your relationships? And if you do…
2. What are you going to do about it? 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Today is Valentine’s Day. Over the years experts like Dear Abby, Dr. Ruth, Oprah and Kay Jewelers have shared all kinds of advice on how to make this day special for that special someone.

Their advice for how we should celebrate Valentine’s Day encourages fun, romance and excitement for the special couple…not to mention giving of delicious, dark (okay, that’s my own personal preference) chocolate and beautiful bouquets of flowers. Following their advice can be really good for the couple.

And yet, without any really deep, authentic, lasting expression of love, even the fun, romance and excitement of the day will eventually fade…the chocolate will be devoured rapidly eaten…the flowers will wither. 

God’s relationship advice—whether on special days…or on mundane daily days…or right in the midst of difficult days—is always the same when it comes to how we should love.

Love must be sincere.

Romans 12:9

Okay, so there’s the very succinct, to the point and, quite honestly, very challenging advice from our Dear God.

Now, here are my (in)famous two questions:

1. Do you believe it?…do you believe that this is God’s will for you in your relationships? And if you do…
2. What are you going to do about it? 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Okay, I’m not “Dear Abby”—and although I know she has had a lot of great advice about a lot of things, I prefer to offer advice on life and love and relationships from the One who is truly the Authority on life and love and relationships!

I have been counseling—formally for almost 30 years and informally…well, probably since I could talk! And the older I get (and I hope that means wiser, too!), I am more and more convinced that we need to seek GOD and GOD’s Word for the very best relationship advice…in order to have the very best relationships possible on this side of Heaven!

Be completely humble

and gentle;

be patient,

bearing with each other in love. 

Ephesians 4:2-3

Okay, so there’s the advice from our Dear God.

Now, here are my (in)famous two questions:

1. Do you believe it?…do you believe that this is God’s will for you in your relationships? And if you do…
2. What are you going to do about it? 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

The Winter Olympics begin today. I love the idea of these games. So many nations come together. And for the most part, the Olympics have been a symbol of peace and unity among the nations…among the people of this world. And that is beautiful!

The Olympics are a staging ground to watch what the hard work and dreams of individual athletes, who are willing to sacrifice their time, energy, minds, bodies and wills, can accomplish in their chosen sports. What they have achieved is amazing! And they will receive recognition and honor in their own countries and around the world for their accomplishments. Their names will be exalted!

And yet after a number of years, even these dedicated, hard-working, amazing athletes will have their names forgotten by most of us. But that is not…and never will be…the fate of the name of JESUS…who gave all of Himself for all of us!!

…he humbled himself and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:8-11

JESUS is the One and Only whose name will be eternally exalted among all peoples…among all nations!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Yep, God is putting it to us in an outrageously simple way: And be thankful.

And God is putting it to us in an outrageously challenging way: And be thankful.

No matter if we don’t get to have everything…and everyone…just the way we want them in life. And be thankful.

No matter if we are tired, sick and frustrated of body, mind and heart because of the obstacles in this broken world that we encounter, to some extent, on a daily basis. And be thankful.

Our God loves us so much that He wants us to know and sense and trust His love for us no matter what our circumstances may be. And be thankful.

Our God knows that being thankful for His love, His presence, His Intimacy and His Sovereignty will give our hearts and minds an all encompassing, transcendent peace and an eternal persective regardless of the hardest of circumstances or relationships.

Our God knows that being thankful for the amazing beauty that can be found within our own little corner of the world…and throughout all of God’s creation…will give us minds and hearts that celebrate the preciousness and the purpose of the lives we have been given.

So, live this day, know and trust God’s love this day! And be thankful!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane