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4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:4-9.

I have fond memories of the early 1960’s vacationing at North Myrtle Beach in a rustic seaside cabin conditioned only by the ocean breezes. Tall hotels now stand on the site of the isolated beach house. As a young man of eight my daily adventures included crabbing, fishing, and swimming until I collapsed in an old Pawley’s Island hammock on the front porch of the old weather-beaten beach house. I think my cravings for fried shrimp and flounder go back to those early beach trips.

Several years ago, I returned to the Grand Strand traveling for work. If you drive south of Conway on US 501 you may notice a small wooden chapel located on the east side of the highway in the vicinity of Coastal Carolina University. The tiny structure will seat about twelve. This small chapel has a book on the altar with the opportunity to list prayer requests and/or praise reports. The chapel exists solely on donations of the occasional traveler.

I don’t know the story behind the establishment of the chapel. I surmise that someone was lost and searching for Jesus or carrying a heavy burden. They knew from experience that a small roadside chapel represented an opportunity to find God’s grace and comfort available for burdened travelers. The chapel founders listened to that quiet whisper that tugs on the heart and said, “Here I am Lord” and built a chapel. It represents a recognition of the importance of God’s freely given and available grace.

Through God’s love, His grace, we gradually change our lives from an inward focus to a lifestyle of compassionate service. I’m not a believer that we ever achieve a perfect status….or even near perfect status, but we continue to strive to change. We gently move away from a secular world to an orientation of peace and reconciliation in Christ. 

In 1992 I had the great pleasure to meet Reverend John Rutland. Nearing retirement, he was serving as the minister for seniors for the Vestavia Hill Methodist Church located just outside Birmingham, Alabama. He had a powerful pastoral prayer that always offered the comfort of Jesus in his prayer… “….if there are those here today who come with a heavy burden, make this prayer for them and love them good in their heart ….and let them know we love them too.”1 He taught the value of God’s healing grace available to all…One of his most memorable sermons was a presentation of the children’s hymn, Jesus Loves Me, and the concept of grace. He reminded us that God’s love is available to all that ask for His blessings.

I remember a story from a long-ago sermon explaining the acceptance of God’s grace. The narrative is of a couple in their late 60’s who had saved for years for a Caribbean cruise to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. After departing from the dock, the frugal couple agreed to save their limited funds by eating their meals for the week from their luggage packed with bread, peanut butter, and miscellaneous snacks. On the last night of the cruise, the husband announced that they could afford a special anniversary dinner and made a reservation in the ship’s finest restaurant. After a fabulous meal of seafood and beef, the elderly gentlemen gestured to the maître d' to come to the table and requested the check. The confused maître d' responded, “But sir all the meals are free …paid in advance, you owe me nothing.” The minister paused and quietly said, “You understand that God’s grace is just the same. It’s free to all for the asking, Jesus paid the price for each of us.”2

Jesus said to Paul:

9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.


Whether we are traveling for vacation, or traveling through life in our own community, we come to the times when we need that immediate and direct comfort and peace of Jesus. We seek the Holy Spirit to grant a healing balm to our being to steady our path in the face of crisis. When I’m troubled, I recite the words of the first stanza of Jesus Loves Me and pray for God’s presence. I know help is on the way.

Prayer: Jesus, we pray for those with a heavy burden and for those that do not know how to pray. We ask that your grace heal them and help them to learn to accept a Father’s love. Inspire us to pray for, and comfort, those with a heavy burden and to lead them to find rest in our Lord Jesus. We pray for our church, our community, and our nation for a renewed sense of faith and for the peace of our Lord. We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

1 Mary and Me: Telling the Story of Prevenient Grace by John Rutland, 1996, Ardara House Publishers, Page 170.
2 Author unknown.

The Wesleyan Bridge is written by K.B. Kelly with the Reverend Valerie Mireb and Pastor Hank Brooks as Theological Editors with Debbie Kelly as Text and Content Editor.