Breathing Grace: What You Need More Than Your Next Breath [Kindle Edition]

Harry Kraus (Author), Mike Gaudaur (Photographer)

Book Description

Each week thousands of Christians will sing "Amazing Grace" at church, paying lip service to one of the most phenomenal aspects of Christianity, yet walking away untouched by its magnitude. They pay mental assent to the concept, but their hearts are untouched.

In the author's words, "God's grace is amazing, abundant, free, and available. So why is spiritual famine an epidemic both inside and outside the church? Because although we've come to Christ by recognizing grace, few of us have carried it along as essential equipment on the Christian path. . . . God never promised a pain-free life, but he did promise that his grace is all we need in our search for peace and fulfillment."

Breathing Grace is a unique look at a topic that stands at the very core of the Christian faith. Dr. Harry Kraus, best-selling author and practicing surgeon, reveals the gospel of grace through a series of medical metaphors, predominantly the physiology of our need for and utilization of oxygen. The clinical flavor of the book brings to life a subject that many Christians have failed to grasp and incorporate into their daily lives, illustrating our need, God's provision, and the moment-by-moment inflow and exhalation of grace to a starving world.

Breathing Grace includes study questions for group and individual use.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"My friend Harry Kraus is an accomplished surgeon and novelist. Now in Breathing Grace, he proves himself an insightful spiritual guide, using medical analogies to illustrate great truths. Harry's heart for God and for people spills over on each page."
Randy Alcorn
Author of Heaven, Safely Home, and Deception

"There is no shortage of books on divine grace, but this one is different. Kraus has resorted to a medical metaphor, which he uses especially well in an era when the public is obsessed with health and medicine. But the real lack is spiritual maintenance, which in this presentation is laid out in an interesting and exciting fashion. Thrilling case histories, both medical and spiritual, abound. The human body can go three weeks without food, three days without water, three minutes without oxygen, but spiritual need requires minute by minute dosing, and grace is the remedy. This is not merely a 'how to' book but conveys a simple and satisfying way of life."
C. Everett Koop
M.D., former Surgeon General of the United States

"With a physician’s skill, my favorite Christian fiction writer dissects the truths of grace with compelling medical analogies. Breathing Grace is soul surgery that will transform your life as it probes the core of your relationship with God."
David Stevens
M.D., M.A. (Ethics), Executive Director, Christian Medical Society

Review

"My friend Harry Kraus is an accomplished surgeon and novelist. Now in Breathing Grace, he proves himself an insightful spiritual guide, using medical analogies to illustrate great truths. Harry's heart for God and for people spills over on each page."
—Randy Alcorn, founder and director, Eternal Perspective Ministries; author, If God Is Good and Heaven

"There is no shortage of books on divine grace, but this one is different. Kraus has resorted to a medical metaphor, which he uses especially well in an era when the public is obsessed with health and medicine. But the real lack is spiritual maintenance, which in this presentation is laid out in an interesting and exciting fashion. Thrilling case histories, both medical and spiritual, abound. The human body can go three weeks without food, three days without water, three minutes without oxygen, but spiritual need requires minute by minute dosing, and grace is the remedy. This is not merely a 'how to' book but conveys a simple and satisfying way of life."
—C. Everett Koop, former Sugeron General of the United States; former Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Pediatric Surgery

"With a physician's skill, my favorite Christian fiction writer dissects the truths of grace with compelling medical analogies. Breathing Grace is soul surgery that will transform your life as it probes the core of your relationship with God."
—David Stevens, MD, CEO, Christian Medical and Dental Association

"Kraus combines creative imagination, professional and clinical perspectives, and cross-cultural insights from his work in Africa with the Scriptures as the word of grace and does so out of his own genuine commitment to Christ. The uniting thread that runs through the book is the emphasis that knowing Jesus in grace makes a radical difference in the way we live and relate to others. Through this work the reader will be enriched in spirit and in faith."
—Myron S. Augsburger, Former President of Eastern Mennonite University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 241 KB
• Print Length: 176 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008XZAJ1Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,241 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathing Grace October 26, 2007

By Barbara Borntrager

Format:Hardcover

Combining riveting, everyday occurrences as a surgeon along wtih scripture, Harry Kraus shows the difference between living moment by moment by grace as opposed to relying on ourselves. For those of us who struggle with self worth, the simple, yet profound truth is that we forget to breathe in God's acceptance for daily living and end up choking on our inadequacies. It happens all the time--we begin the day with a pure heart eager to honor our Lord. Then throughout the day we become anxious, angry, resentful, insecure, suspicious of another, trying to look better than we really are--we're losing life, in need of grace and not even aware of our need for spiritual resuscitation. As I read this book, I find myself breathing deeply of God's love, moving me from worthless to worthy, and finding new freedom to breathe grace out to others. This is a book I'll pick up again and again.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars AAHHHHHH!!! February 14, 2008

By Deborah Howard

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Breathing Grace is one book-long metaphor -- refreshing and satisfying as a deep breath of crisp, clear mountain air. Dr. Kraus has delivered a fresh look at the life-giving and life-sustaining qualities of the grace of God.

He begins each chapter with a medical story. His formula is to take these physiological illustrations and apply them to our spiritual life. The continuing theme of his book is that grace is to our very soul what oxygen is to every cell of our body. He does this with the gracefulness of a dancer and the mastery of a poet. Every chapter is written in an easy-going style, like he's sitting across the dining table dazzling us with the conviction of this assertion.

Breathing Grace is chock full of scripture, which effectively supports his arguments throughout the book. And while the chapters are practical and relevant, they challenge us to strive for deeper awareness of God's spectacular grace to His children.

Having a medical background, I found the medical illustration to spiritual application seamless and beautifully thought out. His explanations of complex physiology are clear and concise but may be too much for non-medical types who want an easier read. However, I urge you to push through it because the point he's coming to is completely worth your concentration through the medical passages. I believe you will find his stories fascinating and intriguing on their own. Dr. Kraus repeatedly reveals his heart to the reader and endears himself to us in the process. More importantly, he points us to Christ, reminding us of His sovereignty, justice and love. Without lecturing, Dr. Kraus pleads with us to wake up to the glories of God's grace.

Near the end of the book, he writes, "Take a breath and realize that you didn't deserve it. Every moment is a gift. And every moment we can function as a steward of that gift. So go ahead. Breathe in. That's God's grace. Now exhale grace on a dying world." Read this book. It will resuscitate your appreciation of God's grace - and every breath you take.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing message about grace August 28, 2008

By Sonya O. Mounts

Format:Hardcover

Dr. Harry Kraus uses a medical model to explain grace. I have this on CD and have listened to it several times. As Christians, we don't have to earn God's favor, we already have it and we can live fully with gratitude to Christ for his sacrifice for us. The book is really a beautiful reminder that we don't have to have this heaviness over our shoulders, will I be good enough, do enough, etc.--Jesus paid the debt for our sin and our motivation for service is not out of fear, but out of love.