The Higher Grounds Cafe

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café, by Max Lucado, Candace Lee, and Eric Newman.

I love reading books by Max Lucado. He has many times helped me find hope from the grace of God. Recently, I found a fiction book he wrote with two other authors, Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café.

It was a delight.

Chelsea and her family are definitely in need of a miracle. Separated from her husband, she is trying to run her mother’s coffee shop on her own, handle great debt, and find hope for a new life for herself and her children.

Her guardian angel, Mannie, is sent down to help her. He is disguised as a clumsy, laughable, lovable human, who needs a job just as Chelsea’s assistant leaves her alone. He, and a couple of friends, bring the God blog to the coffee shop.

Only at the Higher Grounds Café can people come to ask God a question, and the business has a speedy growth.

The answers on the blog claim to come from God. They sometimes use Scripture, always agree with Scripture, and each one is personal.

Besides the blog, the story takes Chelsea, her family, friends, and community on a ride with many twists and turns, ups and downs, like one of the frightening amusement park rides Chelsea’s son loves.

A pastor and his wife need to reexamine the focus of their ministry. People with broken hearts find grace. Others come to believe in God, and there’s a Gideon-like sign.

After surprising sorrows and frights, God leads Chelsea and more hurting souls in a dance to find his love and grace, and pass them along to those they would never have believed they could meet with grace.

Psalm 86: 5: You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?