Wednesday's Word of the Week - Completely Human

When a bookstore owner told me a woman had stomped into his shop, angry, slamming one of my books on the counter, I knew exactly what he was talking about. I wrote that Jesus may have had pimples. He may have had bony knees. But I said, “One thing’s for sure, he was, while completely divine, completely human.”

There’s something safe about a God who never had calluses. There’s something majestic about a God who never scraped his elbow. But there’s also something cold about a God who cannot relate to what you and I feel.

Rejection? He felt it. Temptation? He knew it. Loneliness? He experienced it. Death? He tasted it. And stress? He could write a best-selling book about it.

Why did he do it? One reason. So that when you hurt, you’ll go to him and let him heal you!

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15.”

From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Grace Chooses Foregiveness

Victoria Ruvolo doesn’t remember the 18-year-old boy leaning out the window holding, of all things, a frozen turkey. He threw it at her windshield. Crashing through the glass, it shattered Victoria’s face like a dinner plate on concrete.

John 13:14-15 says: “Since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Do as I have done to you.”

Victoria Ruvolo did. Months later, she stood face to face with her offender in court. No longer cocky, he was trembling, tearful, and apologetic. Six months behind bars, five years’ probation. Everyone in the courtroom objected. He sobbed, and she spoke: “I forgive you. I want your life to be the best it can be.”

The reduced sentence was her idea. “God gave me a second chance at life, and I passed it on” she said!

Grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness!

From GRACE by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Make it Personal

Christ took away your sins. He endured not just the nails of the Romans, the mockery of the crowd, and the spear of the soldier, but the anger of God!

God didn’t overlook your sins, lest he endorse them. He didn’t punish you lest he destroy you. He instead found a way to punish the sin and preserve the sinner. Jesus took your punishment, and God gave you the credit for Jesus’ perfection. As long as the cross is God’s gift to the world, it will touch you but not change you.

Precious as it is to proclaim, “Christ died for the world,” even sweeter it is to whisper, “Christ died for me!”

For my sins he died. He took my place on the cross. He felt my shame and spoke my name. Thank God for the day Jesus took your place, for the day Grace happened to you!

From GRACE by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Gifted, Equipped and Commissioned!

Satan’s condemnation brings no repentance or resolve, just regret!

Satan has one aim: steal your peace, kill your dreams, and destroy your future.

He’s deputized people to peddle his poison. Friends dredge up your past. Preachers proclaim all guilt and no grace. And parents, oh, your parents. They own a travel agency that specializes in guilt trips. “Why can’t you grow up?” “When are you going to make me proud?”

But he will not have the last word! Jesus has acted on your behalf. Jesus Christ rises to your defense.

Hebrews 10:21 urges: “. . .let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience.”

Not just for our past mistakes but also for our future ones. Behold the fruit of grace: saved by God, raised by God, seated with God!

Gifted, equipped, and commissioned!

From GRACE by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Pigeonholing

Life is so much easier if we can put labels on people! Pigeonholing permits us to wash our hands and leave.

“Oh I know him—he’s an alcoholic.

“She’s a liberal Democrat.”

“He’s divorced.”

Categorizing others creates distance and gives us a convenient exit strategy for avoiding involvement. Jesus took an entirely different approach. He was all about including people.

John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

Jesus touched lepers and loved foreigners. His Facebook page included the likes of Matthew the IRS agent, and some floozy he met at Simon’s house. Jesus set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave. He became human!

Jesus sends this message: Don’t call any person common. Don’t call any person unfit! Every person matters to God.

From GRACE by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Some Days Never Come

“Someday we’ll take that cruise. . .”

“Someday I’ll have time to call and talk. . .”

“Someday, the children will understand why I was so busy. . .”

But you know the truth, don’t you? Some days never come.

Go to the effort. Invest the time. Make the apology. Take the trip. Do it. The seized opportunity renders joy. The neglected brings regret.

Remember Mary’s extravagance in pouring expensive perfume over Jesus’ head? And Jesus’ disciples criticizing her- “Why waste that perfume? It could have been sold for a great deal of money and given to the poor.”

Don’t miss Jesus’ prompt defense of Mary in Matthew 26:10: “Why are you troubling this woman? She did an excellent thing for me.”

Don’t miss Jesus’ message. There’s a time to pour out your affections on one you love.

And when the time comes—seize it!

From Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Jesus Honours You

You are valuable just because you exist! Remember that the next time some trickster tries to hang a bargain basement price tag on your self-worth.

Just think about the way Jesus honors you—and smile! I do. I smile because I know I don’t deserve a love like that. None of us do.

When you get right down to it, any contribution any of us makes is pretty puny. All of us, even the purest of us, deserve heaven about as much as that crook on the cross did.

It makes me smile to think there’s a grinning thief walking the golden streets of heaven who knows more about grace than a thousand theologians.

No one else would have given the thief on the cross a prayer. But in the end that is all he had. And in the end, that is all it took!

No wonder they call Jesus the Saviour. 

From Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - We Are Valuable

Value is now measured by two criteria: appearance and performance. Where does that leave the ugly or uneducated? Where hope does that offer the unborn child? The aged? The handicapped? Not much at all. We become nameless numbers on mislaid lists.

This is man’s value system. But it is not God’s. His plan is much brighter. In God’s book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny.

We’re being prepared to walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Jesus. We’re going to live with him. Share the throne with him. We count. We’re valuable.

Jesus’ love does not depend on what we do for him. If there was anything that Jesus wanted everyone to understand it was this: A person is worth something simply because he is a person. That’s why Jesus treated people the way he did.

You have value simply because you are!

You are His.

From Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Make a Choice

Maybe your past isn’t much to brag about. Maybe you’ve seen raw evil—and now you have to make a choice. Do you rise above the past and make a difference? Or do you remain controlled by the past and make excuses?

Healthy bodies. Sharp minds. But retired dreams. Back and forth they rock in the chair of regret. Lean closely and you’ll hear them.

If only I’d been born somewhere else. . .

If only I’d been treated fairly. . .

If only I’d had more opportunities. . .if only. . .

Put down the scrapbook of your life and pick up the Bible. Read Jesus’ words in John 3:6: “Human life comes from human parents but spiritual life comes from the Spirit.”

God has not left you adrift on a sea of heredity. You have a choice in the path you take.

Choose well!

From Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Worth Saving

No one believed in people more than Jesus did. He saw something in Peter worth developing, in the adulterous woman worth forgiving, and in John worth harnessing.

He saw something in the thief on the cross, and what he saw was worth saving. And in the life of a wild-eyed, bloodthirsty extremist, He saw the apostle of grace. He believed in Saul.

Don’t give up on your Saul. When others write him off, give him another chance. Stay strong. Call him brother. Call her sister. It’s too soon to throw in the towel. Talk to your Saul about Jesus, and pray.

God is at work behind the scenes. And remember this: God never sends you where he hasn’t already been. By the time you reach your Saul, who knows what you’ll find.

God used Saul, who became Paul, to touch the world.

Has God given you a Saul?

From Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Wednesdays Word of the Week - To Know the Heart of the Pilot

Three passengers share a row of seats in an airplane. As the plane is taxiing for takeoff, their conversation turns to the topic of the airplane pilot.

Stunningly, passenger 'A' doesn't believe one exists. 'No one flies the plane. We are guided by a computer system in the terminal. This plane is an occupied drone. Why should I believe otherwise? The cockpit door is closed. Who can know? There is no pilot.'

Passenger 'B' disagrees. 'Oh, there is a pilot. Someone sits at the controls of the plane. But, once we take off, he takes a nap. He gets the plane in the air and then goes to sleep.'

The third passenger is shocked by what she hears. 'You don't know what you are talking about. First, there is a pilot. Second, the pilot is alert, competent and kind. I know; he is my husband. He is seasoned and sensitive and has every intention of a successful flight. We are in good hands.'

Three passengers. Three opinions. A plane with no pilot. A plane with a disengaged pilot. A plane with a seasoned and concerned pilot. Fast forward a few minutes. Turbulence shakes the plane like popcorn in a paper bag. Will the three passengers experience the flight in the same way? Of the three travelers, which is most prone to stay calm?

Nothing is more important than the right view of God. Nothing. I've seen the wealthy and highly educated crumple like cowards at the face of death. I've seen the simple and humble take their final breath with a smile and a song. The difference? They knew the Pilot.

You need to know the heart of the pilot. That is why the story of Jesus is in the Bible. He is the only picture of God ever taken. To know Jesus, is to know God. To know God is to know: this flight gets bumpy, but the Pilot? He knows how to get us home.

Max Lucado

Wednesdays Word of the Week - Always Praying

Early Christians were urged by the apostle Paul to 'pray without ceasing.' In Romans 12:12, Paul said: 'always be prayerful'. And in Ephesians 6:18, to 'pray at all times and on every occasion.'

Unceasing prayer may sound complicated, but it needn't be!

As you stand in line to register your car, think, 'Thank you, Lord, for being here.' In the grocery store as you shop. As you load the dishwasher, worship your Maker.

Brother Lawrence was a well-known saint who called himself the 'lord of pots and pans.' He wrote: 'The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.'

Though a rookie in the League of Unceasing Prayer, I sure enjoy the result! I think you will too.

From 'Come Thirsty' by Max Lucado

Wedesdays Word of the Week - Acknowledge His Presence

Do you desire power for your life? It'll come as Romans 12:18 instructs: 'As you do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.'

It'll also come as you pray!

For ten days Jesus' disciples prayed. Ten days of prayer plus a few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls.

We're prone to pray for a few minutes and then preach for ten days! Not the apostles. They lingered in Jesus' presence. They never left the place of prayer.

Sound burdensome? Are you wondering, my business needs attention, my children need dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in one place of prayer?

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of it less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God.

Acknowledge His presence everywhere you go!

From 'Come Thirsty' by Max Lucado

Wednesdays Word of the Week - One Scary Place

Here's a test. How far do you have to go to hear the reminder, 'Be afraid'

How near is your next; You're in trouble memo. A flip of the newspaper page? A turn of the radio dial? A glance at the Internet? According to the media the world is one scary place!

There's a stampede of fear out there. Let's not get caught in it. Let's be among those who stay calm. Acknowledge threats but refuse to be defined by them. Let's be numbered among those who hear a difference voice: God's!

Courage doesn't panic, it prays. Courage doesn't bemoan, it believes. Courage listens to the voice of God calling through Scripture, 'When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic.'

Let not your heart be troubled.

Trust these and other words from God.

Trust God and fear less!

From 'Fearless' by Max Lucado

Wednesdays Word of the Week - Life Stinks

Yes, life stinks. But it won't forever!

As one of my friends likes to say 'Everything will work out in the end. If it's not working out, it's not the end.'

In the meantime, don't over-react! Psalm 37:7 reminds us, 'Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.'

Avoid Pollyanna optimism. But neither do we join the Chicken Little chorus of gloom and doom. 'The sky is falling.' 'The sky is falling!'

Somewhere between Pollyanna and Chicken Little, between denial and blatant panic, stands the follower of Christ.

Psalm 27:3 says, 'My heart shall not fear, though war arise against me, yes, I will be confident!?'

Confident in Him.

Max Lucado

 



Wednesday's Word of the Week - A Good, Healthy Struggle

God is using your struggles to toughen you up!

It’s like viewing a movie after you’ve read the book. When something bad happens, everyone else gasps at the crisis on the screen. Not you. Why? You’ve read the book. You know how the good guy gets out of the tight spot.

God views your life with the same confidence. He’s not only read your story, he wrote it. His perspective is different, and his purpose is clear. One of God’s cures for weak faith? A good, healthy struggle.

Consider it a gift when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. Under pressure, your faith-life is forced into open and shows its true colors. Scripture says, let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-3)

Join with the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who resolved, “I will trust in him and not be afraid!” (Isaiah 12:2)

From Come Thirsty by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Taking Out the Trash

Who wants to live with yesterday’s rubble? Who wants to hoard the trash of the past? You don’t, do you? Or do you?

I’m not talking about the trash in your house, but in your heart. Not the junk of papers and boxes but the remnants of anger and hurt. Do you rat-pack your pain? Amass offenses? Record slights?

A tour of your heart might be telling. A pile of rejections. Accumulated insults. No one can blame you. They’re innocence takers, promise breakers, and wound makers. They’re everywhere and you’ve had your share.

Jesus answered Peter’s question in Matthew 18:21 and 22 when he asked: “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus said. “Seventy times seven!”

Do you want to give every day a chance? Jesus says to get rid of the trash. Give the grace you’ve been given!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - God is Enough

Let’s face it–anxiety or worry have no advantages! They ruin our health, rob us of joy, and change nothing! Our day stands no chance against the terrorists of the Land of Anxiety.

But Christ offers a worry-bazooka. Remember how He taught us to pray? “Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11” This simple sentence unveils God’s provision plan: live one day at a time.

Worry gives small problems big shadows. Corrie ten Boom said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength.” And Romans 8:28 affirms: “Every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”

Most anxiety stems, not from what we need, but from what we want. Philippians 4:4 says, “delight yourselves in the Lord, yes, find your joy in Him at all times!”

If God is enough, you’ll always have enough!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - The Secret of Success

An accomplished Ironman triathlete told me the secret of his success. He said, “You last the long race by running short ones.” Don’t swim 2.4 miles; just swim to the next buoy. Rather than bike 112 miles, ride 10, take a break, and bike 10 more. Never tackle more than the challenge ahead.

Didn’t Jesus offer the same counsel? He said in Matthew 6:34, “So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

When asked how he managed to write so many books, the author explained that he’d never written a book. All he did was write one page a day.

Face challenges in stages. You can’t control your temper forever, but you can control it for the next hour.

Remember, you last the long race by running the short ones!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - He Is Able

If your Father is God and you have a problem on your hands, what do you do? Scripture tells us what to do.

Is your problem too large? Ephesians 3:20 says, “God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Is your need too great? 2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us, “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance.”

Is your temptation too severe? Hebrews 2:18 says, “God is able to help us when we are being tested.”

Is your future too frightening? Jude 24 tells us, “God is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.”

Make these verses part of your daily diet. God is able to accomplish, provide, help, save, keep, subdue. He is able to do what you can’t. Go to Him!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado