About the Book
Book: Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place
Author: Tracy L. Smoak
Genre: Non-Fiction
Release Date: September, 2023
”This book is a life-saving manual meant for any soul who has bottomed out and can only look up for help.” – George Firehammer
Need a stronger connection with God? A safe place?
Anyone hoping for straight talk to bring Jesus close will find refreshment in Refuge of Grace. Learn from a fresh look at 22 little-told Bible passages via Tracy L. Smoak’s engaging storytelling and vivid imagery.
These scriptures offer true comfort in your everyday struggles. From hearing Gomer’s perspective about shame to imagining Jesus arriving in a Rolls Royce for the family reunion, you will know God’s working on your behalf-right now.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
A native Floridian, Tracy L. Smoak grew up riding horses and climbing citrus trees. Her passion is to encourage others in their faith journey. Smoak writes for Guideposts. Ambassador International released her debut novel, Who Brought the Dog to Church?. Bold Vision published her Bible study about encouragement titled Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place.
She loves photography and authored two hardcover devotionals with her original nature art (Living Water to Refresh Your Soul – tranquil lake scenes; and Arranged with Love- floral landscapes).
Smoak holds a master’s in Education and a bachelor’s in Communication. At her church home, she leads small-group Bible studies. She is an active member of Word Weavers International.
Author Interview with Tracy
Q: Please give us a little introduction to your book.
Tracy: If you feel discouraged and are facing hard times, this book offers encouragement. There are 22 little-told Bible stories about ordinary men and women who persevered with God’s help. Each chapter features a promise of God’s that they held onto, and that we also can draw strength from to overcome.
Q: What was the most surprising thing you discovered while researching and writing this book?
Tracy: God speaks in an amazing variety of ways. Sometimes, he used a picture, like of medieval armor, to spark ideas about battle. Other times, He drew my attention to nature, like when I saw sandhill cranes literally dancing in an open field at dawn. Each time I slowed enough to listen, God spoke with such tenderness to teach.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from your book?
Tracy: Bad stuff happens and we want to fall apart. Sorrow, disappointment, anger, and failure lurk around many corners. But these obstacles don’t have to destroy our faith. The hardships refine us into hardy soldiers who can go into the fray to help others in the trenches. Our best ministry isn’t from being “perfect.” Our ability to truly comfort others comes from being able to say we also survived the hardship they are going through.
Q: Are you working on another book now?
Tracy: Yes, I am researching scriptures about wisdom and where God would have us invest our time. To go along with this theme, I have taken photographs of foreign coins to pair with Bible verses about how to store up heavenly riches. This devotional is under contract, and I hope will be released in 2024.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you were younger?
Tracy: After achieving each milestone, there will be another mountain to climb. Life is about stretching and growing. Complacency robs us of the next blessing. I’d tell my younger self not to fear failure. That each attempt to move forward gains new skills.
My website for details: tracysmoak.com.
More from Tracy
When life knocks you down, where do you go for hope?
We all want to be brave, but sometimes circumstances overwhelm us. Health declines, bank accounts empty, and friends disappear. No matter the disappointments, one absolute certainty we can count on is God. He will stand with us through every adversity.
Ideas for Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place began at 3 a.m. on a January workday in 2021. I tossed and turned in bed, wondering how I could continue teaching in a public school under all the pandemic constraints. We wore masks, developed lesson plans for both in-class instruction and online modules, and juggled a revolving door of student quarantines with absences.
Fear surrounded us on all sides.
Others also struggled. My older son managed an emergency department in a large city and had to find ways to supply unprecedented needs. My younger son worked in the financial industry and watched markets reel. Neighbors lost jobs and income.
How could we model resilience and move forward?
I turned to the Bible for inspiration and studied stories about how believers overcame hardship. Six months and 22 chapters later—all the while teaching full time—this collection renewed hope and kept me going.
My prayer is that reading these Bible promises of God’s faithfulness also will empower you.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 9
Artistic Nobody, February 10 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 12
Fiction Book Lover, February 13 (Author Interview)
Girls in White Dresses, February 14
Its Mama Safe, February 15
Beauty in the Binding, February 16 (Author Interview)
By The Book, February 17 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, February 17
Cover Lover Book Review, February 18
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 19 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, February 20
Simple Harvest Reads, February 21 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 22
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Tracy is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy each of Who Brought the Dog to Church? and Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Link for giveaway: https://promosimple.com/ps/29c57/refuge-of-grace-celebration-tour-giveaway
This looks like a great read. Thanks for hosting.
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