Max Lucado (born January 11, 1955) is a best-selling Christian author and writer and preacher at Oak Hills Church (formerly the Oak Hills Church of Christ) in San Antonio, Texas.
It's nothing mystical, necessarily. It's nothing secretive. It's just what we do with our body we do with our soul.
When a Christian stops growing, help is needed. If you are the same Christian you were a few months ago, be careful.
I've never been surprised by God's judgment, but I'm still stunned by His grace.
God's love never ceases. Never. Though we spurn him. Ignore him. Reject him. Despise him. Disobey him. He will not change. Our evil cannot diminish his love. Our goodness cannot increase it. Our faith does not earn it any more than our stupidity jeopardizes it. God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.
No matter what the storm clouds bring, you can face your pain with courage and hope. For two thousand years ago-six hours, one Friday-Christ firmly planted in bedrock three solid anchor points that we can all cling to. For the heart scarred with futility, that Friday holds purpose. For the life blackened with failure, that Friday holds forgiveness. And for the soul looking into the tunnel of death, that Friday holds deliverance.
I firmly believe that the purpose of life is not this life. It is to equip us, whatever our role is going to be in the next life. And understanding God's story is really where I find the significance and purpose in my own story.
Prayer is the hand of faith on the door knob of your heart, inviting Jesus to enter.
God would rather give up His son. . than give up on us
Thoughts have consequences. Healing from anxiety requires healthy thinking. Your challenge is not your challenge. Your challenge is the way you think about your challenge. Your problem is not your problem; it's the way you look at it.
Choose satisfaction over salary. Better to be happy with little than miserable with much.
God sees us with the eyes of a Father. He sees our defects, errors and blemishes. But He also sees our value.
God meets daily needs daily. Not weekly or annually. He will give you what you need when it is needed.
Can you imagine a life with no fear? What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats?
Being religious without knowing the cross is like owning a Mercedes with no motor. Pretty package, but where is your power?
To be active in a church social life or church activities or even a church mission to help the hungry or reach the poor, but really our dedication has to be born out of an infatuation with Jesus.
The temptation is for us to share our own opinions, our own thoughts and to speak from the whole realm of possibility. We can't do that as pastors. We need to have a strong voice of conviction, and the way we can do that is through Scripture.
Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don't.
I think there is something about a story that is enduring. Stories take on a life of their own.
Vengeance fixes your attention on life's ugliest moments. Is this where you want to look? Remember: God dispenses perfect justice.
The next time you're disappointed, don't panic. Don't give up. Just be patient and let God remind you He's still in control.