Healed By Grace 2...Review & Movie DVD Giveaway

Overview

Title: Healed By Grace 2: Ten Days of Grace

Studio: Blended Planet
Genre: Family/Drama
Rating: NR/Dove Approved: All Ages 
Run Time: 1:32
Release Dates: 8/20/18 Digital, 9/18/18 DVD.  
Talent: Sean Young, Kennedy Martin, Natalie Weese, David Matthew Weese

About

Jesse is approaching her 15th birthday and the only gift she desires is a horse. 

Unbeknownst to Jesse, her mother Brandy is in the throes of a cancer diagnosis which has Jesse's father jumping through unexpected obstacles. He signs Jesse up for summer camp, but when summer camp falls through he decides to have her stay with her estranged grandfather, an old gruff horse trainer named Gauff. Gauff, still recovering from the death of a special horse named Grace, now faces the challenges of teen negotiation. Gauff finds he must swallow his pride and ask his daughter Brandy for forgiveness. A humorous and inspiring story of how Grace works in mysterious ways. 

Themes

• Forgiveness
• Reconciliation
• Faith

Available now on Digital. Available on DVD 9/18/18! 

Purchase your copy here: Healed By Grace 2 DVD 

Official Movie Trailer

My Review

Healed by Grace 2 is the second in a film series set in an inspirational equestrian training setting.  While the movie begins by establishing Jesse's love of horses, it quickly gets into the tricky problem of dealing with a cancer scare for Jesse's mother, Brandy. Brandy doesn't want to let Jesse know about the possible cancer diagnosis until she has had time to go through diagnostic testing to establish whether it is cancer or not. So, they begin making plans to send Jesse to camp in order to give them time to work things out.

I don't want to retell the entire story in my review so I will just say that things begin to get a bit more complicated as Jesse's dad works on taking care of not only Jesse's situation with camp but also Brandy's need to take care of some emotional baggage in her own healing process with the cancer.  And it all becomes entangled with an old horse trainer named Gauff and a horse named Grace. 

The Takeaway

Again, as I said in my last movie review, like so many other movies within this genre there is a certain level of predictability. And some of the humor is a bit too cheesy for me...particularly the Christian camp director who Jesse's dad first spoke with. He was a bit too caricature-ish for me. 

That said, I would still recommend this movie as a good family movie. While it handles some serious subject matter, there is also a good amount of humor to lighten it up. 

I believe that there is value in watching movies with our children that handle difficult topics with grace. It can provide opportunities to discuss life's tuff stuff with our kids. In this case, there is family division, divorce, and cancer. But even more so the movie points out the importance of reconciliation, the role forgiveness plays in our healing both spiritually and physically, and the importance of unity within the family. 

This film will encourage you to trust "...that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."  


Here's the fun news! I have a flash giveaway! 
Enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win not just one, but two DVD's! The original Healed By Grace and Healed By Grace 2!  

No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Must live in the United States and be 18+ or older to enter. Must use a valid email address to enter. Winners will be notified by email used on the entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  

HURRY!! CONTEST ENDS  September 10th!

As a contributor for the Lev3L digital Influencer Program, I offer my honest opinion. I am not monetarily compensated, but I get to run the free DVD combo contest and receive a free DVD combo set for myself. So that's a possible win for you and a win-win for me! 

Editor’s note: The giveaway in this post has ended. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share solid Christian resources with you — this review remains as a reflection of that heart, even though the giveaway is no longer active.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grab some popcorn and enjoy the movie!
#HealedByGrace2L3 

Fresh New Canvas For The New Year

While I don't necessarily like the cold temperatures required to bring about a snowy day, I must say, I do so love the brilliant white beauty of freshly fallen snow. It is so perfectly designed to fall at the time of year when we are all thinking of New Year's resolutions, fresh beginnings, and a chance for a do-over.

The snow makes me think of all the ugly of the old year being washed away in the blanketing of snow...as if it were a slate wiped clean. A fresh canvas lying before us, clean and white, ready to take on all the colors of the New Year. Oh the possibilities that lie before us!!

This fresh white blanket covering the dirt and the grime of the dead leaves that had fallen to the ground reminds me of something else...my own dirt, wrong actions, selfish behavior...sin. But only as a reminder that Jesus has stepped into this world to wash away my sin, and yours...to cover over the depravity of our human nature and offer forgiveness, redemption, and restoration to our souls. I am so thankful for this reminder!

Not only do I have a fresh new year before me, but a freshly cleansed spirit and soul, as His blood washes over me...redeeming me...restoring me to the purpose He created me to fulfill.

I'm reminded of the old hymn:

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole
I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow;
Yes, whiter than snow
Now wash me and I shall be
Whiter than snow. 

In Psalm 51, David acknowledges his own need to be clean before God after being confronted by the prophet Nathan about his act of committing adultery with Bathsheba. He begins by pleading for God's mercy and grace.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 

In verse 7 David references the imagery of  freshly fallen snow, as he goes on to plead:
            Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be whiter than snow.  

Can you imagine? Whiter than freshly fallen snow?  David certainly had some heavy-duty sins to be covered. Not only had he committed adultery, but he essentially had a man killed in this lustful pursuit.  (For the full story see 2 Samuel chapters 11 & 12).  He had really blown it and knew there was nothing he himself could do to wipe out the sin he had committed. He knew the significance of the purging with hyssop.

In Leviticus, God had the priests use hyssop, as a paintbrush of sorts...a purification tool. Hyssop was used in the ceremonial cleansing of both people and houses. It was also the instrument used to apply lamb's blood to the doorposts so that the angel of death would 'pass over' them...marking God's people as pure and not deserving of the punishment that was about to be dealt out to the Egyptians (Exodus 12:22).

 I find it especially noteworthy that as Jesus hung on the cross the very moment He chose to utter the words, "it is finished" and breathe His last breath, was immediately after he was offered the drink of wine vinegar lifted up to his mouth on the stalk of the hyssop plant (John 19:28-30). I don't believe this to be a coincidence.

The ceremonial purification cleansing with the blood and the hyssop branch, the painting of the doorposts, the last moments of Jesus earthly life...all of this was merely the foreshadowing of the cleansing that is available to each and every one of us through Jesus Christ.

As the hyssop branch was extended as an instrument of purification...so Jesus' life, death, burial, and resurrection is the only way through which we can be forgiven of our sins and given a fresh canvas
on which to begin new life.  We need only follow David's example. Acknowledge our need for forgiveness, turn away from our sin, and reach out to take the 'branch' that is offered.

I will continue to take the branch. To accept the fresh white canvas on which to begin again in the pursuit of His purpose for my life in this New Year.

I'm linking up with other bloggers for  #TestimonyTuesday. Check it out here:

Testimony Tuesday

Forgiveness...Why So hard?

Forgiveness...a hard word for many people. Why is that? Why is it so very hard to forgive?

For some, I think the problem lies in the fact that they are afraid to admit that there is a deep hurt that needs to be forgiven. They like to think that if they just get on with life the wounded-ness will go away.  So instead of saying, "yes, I forgive you", they just say, "oh...don't even worry about it"...or "it was nothing, really".  Sometimes they don't even want to admit to others that they have been wounded. They may look at it as being too confrontational and they avoid confrontation at all costs.  The problem with this approach to life is that the wounds don't just go away on their own...they lie beneath the surface...waiting to fester at the next offense that flows from the direction of their offender.

And then there's this...

Some things seem just...well...unforgivable. Spousal abuse and child abuse(physical or sexual), extra-marital affairs and murder. These are just some the offenses that fall into that category.  We want to see people held accountable for their actions. Frankly, we want to see them suffer the consequences of their actions.   When we have been hurt and wounded deeply, we(in our human condition) want to see the guilty pay...and pay dearly.  

And I believe this is where the word 'forgive' gets all muddled in the translation.

We think that if we forgive someone for their unforgivable actions that we are condoning those actions. We feel that would mean we are excusing them...even giving them license to continue hurting either ourselves or others. We think, " How can we forgive and let them go...scott free! How can we allow them to continue hurting ourselves and others by their selfish and sometimes even heinous acts?"  

The truth is, forgiveness does not give people permission to go on offending...to go on hurting. It does not make the wrong that has been committed against you,'okay'. Forgiveness does not forbid us to put boundaries in place to prevent the offender from taking advantage of us or wounding us again.   IT DOES NOT!   See...that's where we get it all confused.

When you refuse to forgive you are giving the person who hurt you permission to hurt you all over again...in your mind, your memory. Every. single. time. you dredge up the offense you are allowing yourself to be hurt all over again. Bitterness becomes embedded into your heart and soul and becomes a heavy burden.

In Matthew Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Jesus then follows with these words: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."  Whoa...those are strong words.  There are passages in scripture that may, at first, make it seem as if forgiveness is conditional.  "If they ask...only then will I forgive". However, when I look at all of God's Word in light of the concept of forgiveness I see simply that we are called to forgive. Period.

You see...when we forgive we are not letting the person get away with anything. We are not setting the offender free! It's okay to hold someone accountable that you have already forgiven. It is even okay, to set boundaries so that you cannot be wounded by that person in the same way again. However, it is NOT okay to hang onto the anger, bitterness and hurt for the rest of your life.

The Greek word for 'forgive' in the New Testament is aphiemi and appears there 146 times.  It is actually translated 'forgive' only 47 of those times. It can also mean to suffer, to forsake, to let alone, and more. But more frequently it is translated 'leave'.   Forgiveness is to send the offense and our anger and bitterness away.

When we forgive we are setting ourselves free from the unfair pain that was caused by someone else.  We are letting go of the offense so that we can move on, without the baggage; the weight of wounded-ness on our hearts and souls. We are free to allow the Lord to heal the hurt and pain...the open wound can now close. Leaving behind only the scar in its place. The scar is simply an indication that healing has taken place. Forgiveness restores our own soul and gives us hope for a better future.

I am called to forgive as in Christ God has forgiven me. I don't deserve to be forgiven. Nothing I have done deserves the love and grace that God pours out on me. I am so very thankful that I serve a Savior who is so loving and forgiving. God requires justice for my sins, yes! But Jesus paid the penalty for me, and for you when He took our place on the cross of Calvary. He paid the price! Oh, how thankful I am that He did!!

Because of His great love, I walk forward...forgiven.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32


I am linking up with Jo Ann and the other beautiful women on Wednesdays to talk about forgiveness.  Not to rehash the past...or commiserate over our wounded-ness but with freedom and joy and purpose to share our hearts and allow God to use us...our voices...to make a difference, to help women find hope and healing.