Author: Mary J. Nelson
Located in: Lakeville, MN
Submitted: July 18, 2006
Tell us a little about yourself. I attended church regularly, but it wasnt until
a breast cancer diagnosis in August of 1999 that
the Lord truly won my heart. During this dark
bald time of chemo, baldness, and fighting for my
life, my relationship with Christ became personal
and my occasional Bible dabbling turned into a
deep hunger for the Word of God. Jesus became
more than Lord of my Sunday mornings; He became
Lord of my life! I emerged from cancer with a
call on my heart to share what He had done for me
and what He can do for other women facing the
same battle. I was blessed to be able to start a
care ministry called Pray for the Cure at my
local church. Each month, we gather to encourage,
support, and pray for people facing a cancer
diagnosis. For more information, please go to
www.prayforthecure.net.
What was your motivation behind this project? A crisis like breast cancer can be the spark that
ignites any woman's desire to grow spiritually
and seek God. I discovered in my own journey that
many resources offered hope through self-
empowerment or New Age approaches. I wrote Grace
for Each Hour to meet her deepest need at this
critical time with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? Shock, fear, panic, betrayal, grief, anxiety,
loss of dignity...these are just a few of the
emotions every woman experiences when she finds
herself on the unexpected journey through breast
cancer. Grace for Each Hour is a collection of
120 devotional readings that apply God's
comforting words to the typical emotions and
fears every woman experiences. The book provides
hope and encouragement and helps her grow in her
relationship with Him during this difficult time.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? My favorite author is Oswald Chambers. His
classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest,
continues to challenge me year after year to come
to terms with the precious gift of redemption we
have in Christ Jesus.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: My second book, Grace for Tough Times: Keys to
Hope, Comfort, and Encouragement (Bethany House,
2006), is a devotional for anyone facing serious
illness,broken relationships, or devastating
personal loss. Please visit my website at
www.maryjnelson.com to learn more about my books
and my ministries!
