God truly does love us. Every single one of us. With all our baggage of hurt or shame…with all our bondage of sin habits—whether they are seen or unseen by others.

The last two days I have been blessed and challenged to spend time again (my 20th–22nd visit since 2003) with different groups–two Therapeutic Groups and one Family Group–at Mathom House, the Rehabilitation Center for Adolescent Sexual Offenders in Bucks County, PA.

Having been so horrendously abused myself, it is only by the power and passion of the love of Jesus Christ—who died for all sin committed by all people—that I am able to enter into to the lives of these perpetrators of ugly sexual sins and into the lives of their families and still be absolutely CONVINCED that our God is a God of Transformation! Our God is the Lord of Salvation, Forgiveness, Eternal Life…and RENEWED MINDS and LIVES right here and now! 

BUT! We must do things God’s WAY which is the very BEST way for all of us. Period.

This is what the LORD says—

your Redemeer, the Holy One of Israel,

“I am the LORD your God,

who teaches you what is best for you,

who directs you in the way you should go.

If only you had paid attention to my commands,

your peace would have been like a river,

your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

Isaiah 48:17-18

Our LORD loves us. He alone truly knows what is best for us—what will bring peace and righteousness to our lives…and to the lives of all those with whom we interact. It is time for all of us to pay attention!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Oh, I do want this to be true of me. I want God to grab such a hold on me that everything I say, do and think would be pleasing in His sight. This is my sincere prayer from my heart.

But, sadly and frustratingly, not every word…not every action…not every thought of mine is always pleasing to my LORD. Not from today and not from yesterday. And I’m pretty sure that unless I’m either in a coma or already in Heaven with Jesus tomorrow, that not every word, action and thought of mine in the coming days will be perfectly pleasing to my LORD either.

Yet! We still need to desire that every word, action and thought we have would please our LORD.

And then, we need to accept the full grace that comes to us through salvation and receive the gift of forgiveness and renewal that Jesus alone offers—without ever forgetting the full truth that these gifts come to us at the high cost of Jesus sacrificing His life for ours.

This is grace and truth. Receiving both of these from Jesus will keep us in that place of balance where we truly are able to seek and to pray with sincere hearts:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Twice this past weekend I saw what I consider very optimistic signs which read: Temporarily Out of Order.

I like that. The things that carried this sign were not to be discarded, nor were they to be considered as permanently out of order. There was hope for them yet! They were only Temporarily Out of Order.

And there’s hope for me too. And for all of us who trust our eternal lives over to the King of Heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ! We will walk through this life where things and our bodies and relationships break down and suffer. But in Jesus, we are only temporarily out of order! We can hold onto the glorious promise that all things will yet be made new—for all eternity…and that the old order of things that are temporarily out of order will pass away!

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4

Thanks be to our Loving Lord, our Almighty God, who makes all things new! Our Lord redeems and transforms all that was once Temporarily Out of Order…all the brokenness of sin and shame and suffering and death from the old order of things will pass away as He proclaims,

“I am making everything new!”

Revelation 21:5

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

“I am the vine; you are the branches.

If a man remains in me and I in him,

he will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

Jesus is so beautifully, so powerfully direct with us. He tells it like it is. Jesus is our source of life and power and value and fruitfulness. Period.

A branch apart from the vine, apart from its life giving source and flow of nutrients and water, withers and dies. It offers nothing. It can bear nothing. It can do nothing.

Yet in Jesus, in our true and eternal life source, we have been given life and power and value and fruitfulness. In Jesus we are fed by our Lord Creator to bear the fruit that will feed the world—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. In Jesus, our lives will draw others to know Jesus as the source and redeemer of their lives too!

But to bear this true and eternal fruit we must stay deeply attached to Jesus. Because apart from Him, apart from the source of our life, we can do nothing! We do not even breathe on our own. Each breath is a breath given as a gift from our Lord. How much more must we remain in Him in order that we may offer His life giving fruit to others!

Complete and utter, undeniable dependence on Jesus is our greatest strength!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Happy 7^th Anniversary, Transformed By Grace!!

O  LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all of the earth!!

Psalm 8:1

Wow! I cannot even begin to express my thanks and my awe for what our LORD has done in my own life and with and through the ministry of Transformed by Grace—and the amazing Ministry Team of Board Members, Counselors, Conference Speakers and Partners in Grace—of Transformed by Grace in these past seven years!  

I am simultaneously on my face in utter humility before our Sovereign God who has chosen to use us as His Ambassadors and I am dancing with joy with my Jesus—the Intimate Lord and Lover of all people!

Back in 2003—we began as a Ministry Team that included 7 hard working Board Members (Lydia Austin, Francisco Batres, Keith Brown, DeAnne Harland, Tim Mack, Chris McCloskey and Karen Secrest—with Karen also acting as a volunteer Treasurer of the Ministry Funds), and 1 Staff member–-that would be me, Sylane Mack-as Conference Speaker and Counselor. 

Today we have grown to a Ministry Team which includes: 8 Board Members (Adding Andy Chirico and Dave Ridder to our original Board team, with Chris M. now in the role of advisor)—all still hard working!

We now have a Ministry Staff of: 2 Administrative Assistants-Cathy Buser, our Book-keeper and DeAnne Harland, our primary Administrator (and my personal right arm!); and for a far too short period of time, we had Carol Mehl acting as Director of Ministry Advancement before she moved to Colorado; 3 Conference Speakers—Lydia Austin, Rachel Mack and I; 6 Counselors–-Patty Arvanites, Mindy Benjamin, Linda Donohue, Allison Taite, Teresa Warren and I—with 1 of our wonderful and wise counselors, Kristin Chace, having moved to Connecticut after counseling with TBG for 2 years.

We are so thankful and blessed to have several Partners in Grace who support us faithfully in Prayer and a few others who support us with their Financial Gifts.

Over these 7 years God has privileged and prepared us to minister to many men, women and youth in both the Counseling Ministry and through our Conference Speaking Ministry—which has taken us to several different venues in our local region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and nationally to Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, New York, Tennessee and Washington (soon we’ll be adding Georgia and Missouri to the list!)…and internationally to Bermuda, England and Poland (hoping to add events in Scotland later this year!). 

And now with CONVINCED! published—God’s transforming love story written in my life—many people with whom we may never minister face to face have the opportunity to hear (read) of the transforming, unfailing love our Majestic LORD!

It is a joy for me to be part of the Beautiful Body of Christ as a member of the Transformed by Grace Ministry Team! It is a joy to work with these amazingly humble and powerful Brothers and Sisters in Christ as God leads us to reach out to those in the Body…to those who are not-yet-believers…and to those who are in prisons. We are called to reach out to all of people with the same message of hope: The love of our Lord Jesus Christ, His living and active Word and His ever-present, all-powerful Holy Spirit are able to save and transform every life—no matter what someone may have experienced or how far from God he or she may feel! Jesus has conquered sin and shame and death for all time! Jesus brings forgiveness and renewal and life! Amen and Amen!

 O  LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all of the earth!!

Psalm 8:1

 Thank You, Jesus! Happy 7^th Anniversary, Transformed By Grace!!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

This week I have been in Minnesota with staff and students at Bethel University and Seminary…and a few from Northwestern too.  So many of the people I met are truly seeking and choosing to live their lives as Ambassadors of Christ whether they are preparing for jobs in the secular world or for jobs within some kind of direct Christian ministry. 

The Body of Christ is beautiful and filled with hope and power when we let our God be God…when we allow His Spirit and His Word to be fully alive and fully released in our lives. We as God’s children always need to grow in knowing Jesus better and all that He has for us in beauty, in hope and in power.

My prayer for all of us who have been saved by our Lord Jesus Christ is that we will also be fully transformed by Him so that we may know Him better, and reveal His love, His hope, His power to all those around us—to all who still need to know Jesus.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,

may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, 

so that you may know him better.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,

the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:17-19

And this power is not summoned up from ourselves—it is the very power of the One True God!

That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead

and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,

and every title that can be given,

not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

And God placed all things under his feet

and appointed him to be head over eveything for the church, which is his body,

the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. 

That is the unfailing, unlimited power we have been given—the very power of the living, sovereign Jesus Christ! May we know Him better…so that we will make Him known to those who are still lost!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

A few days ago I was on an airplane which was approximately the length of a school bus—and maybe even a little narrower. Personal space had no more meaning than what I imagine the inside of a sardine can would feel like. And, yep, you may have guessed this was coming: I was surrounded by a family of four—two of them being under the age of four. Their need to hop up and down, move constantly and change seats continually, parents included, was phenomenal. (And I was the one who had the triple shot of espresso in my non-fat cappuccino before boarding!)

Within the first 30 minutes at cruising altitude my cup got knocked over, my laptop was firmly gripped by the little boy’s fingers (pressing several keys at once while I was trying to write) in an effort to keep himself from falling onto my lap as he got trapped in his iPod cord! And the background noise of pages being ripped from the airline magazine during the last half of the trip was far better than the screaming, crying, slapping demands of the youngest child during the first half of the trip.

Had I mentioned that I was hoping to have a peaceful, reflective time of prayer and writing while on the plane in order to prepare for my ministry trip to Bethel University and Seminary in Minnesota? I hope you’re laughing. I had to!

I was actually grinning. And shaking my head a little. But not at the hyper-active family. I was shaking my head at me and laughing at me…because of the GOD TRUTH that I know is this: Life and life’s circumstances—and interactions with others—are just not all about me. And certainly not about my plans.

Be wise in the way that you act towards outsiders;

make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be always full of grace,

seasoned with salt, so you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6

God is good…and God wants His goodness—His wisdom and grace—to flow freely and continually through us who are His children. Even when our plans are changed. Even when our peace is disturbed. The members of this precious, albeit hyper-active family, were still sadly “outsiders” to knowing Jesus as Savior (as evidenced by the yarmulkas and hair locks worn by father and son).

And so God called me first to laugh at myself and laugh at my plans (and get over myself!)…and then to offer smiles and kindness and patience and grace as I interacted and chatted with them on the flight—and in the very short time we had been given to share a portion of our lives. 

May God use everything for His glory—to bring all people to His love and salvation. Because all of us, who now know Jesus as our Savior, were once outsiders too.

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

I live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and we’re currently experiencing some pretty heavy snow storms for this part of the world. However, I do have to admit that I’m not really all that impressed since I grew up in the snow belt area on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario! I believe that officially makes me a Snow Snob!

So…I’m thinking: Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Might as well because I certainly don’t have any power to stop it from coming!

And the same is true about the Word of the LORD! When God sends out His Word to express His desire and His purpose, His Word will be fulfilled—no matter what the obstacles may be.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

 but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

God’s Word is true and powerful and like the snow and the rain that come to feed the earth and sustain life, the Word of the LORD comes with an uncompromising purpose to bring life to His creation…and eternal life to all who will trust in Jesus Christ—God’s Word made flesh!

So! Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!! And let the Word of the LORD go forth and fulfill its life giving, life redeeming, life resurrecting purpose in each of us!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24

Every life is worth living. Every life is of such high and incalculable worth to our God that He gave His own life for us…to draw us intimately to Himself by His loving, self sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins and for the renewing of our lives—right now and for all eternity!

Yes, every life is of great worth to our God! And when we respond to the great love and passion, forgiveness and salvation that our Lord Jesus has for us, He will instill in us the desire to carry out the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace—the task of telling others the good news of forgiveness and salvation—through the love and passion of Christ! 

We each will complete this task in different ways…in different venues…with different people…with our different gifts. But the gospel of God’s grace belongs to all of us who proclaim Jesus as our Savior. And the task of living our lives to testify to the gospel of God’s grace is a task for each one of us who have been made alive in Christ!  

Now, that’s a life worth living!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane