You'll Get Through This by Max Lucado Book Review

Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger, Affiliate, and Max Lucado blogger.  I was provided with my own copy of you'll get through this to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

My latest Max Lucado Book

I just finished reading you'll get through this: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times by Max Lucado.  Sometimes people mistakenly think that becoming a Christian means that you will have no problems.  Christianity does not equate to a pain free or trial free life.  Lucado addresses this very idea in you'll get through this.  He takes us on a journey through the story of Joseph while giving present day trial experiences.  Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, put into prison, and then remarkably placed as the second in command over all of Egypt.  Joseph's journey wasn't painless and it wasn't easy but he trusted in God and God was there.

Miss D

One of my own personal trials was when I miscarried back in December 2008.  That was a very difficult time and I really didn't understand why?  One year later, December 2009, D was born.  I miss the baby we lost, the one I haven't yet met.  I also enjoy Miss D more than I can express.  This girl has spunk, energy, and a personality for the world.  My life is better with her and she has helped bring healing to my heart.  So while I don't understand, I choose to trust in the Lord.  Have you experienced something like this or are you in the midst or a trial now?

When you are experiencing a trial or facing a difficulty remember these words from Max, "You'll get through this.  It won't be painless.  It won't be quick.  But God will use this mess for good.  In the meantime don't be foolish or naive.  But don't despair either.  With God's help you will get through this."  Amen!

Read more about you'll get through this by Max Lucado and remember you can purchase it from Family Christian.

Catching Fireflies In May & Letting My Journey Continue

Have you seen the fireflies lately?  They are all over the place here.  The kids and I have been catching them like crazy both during the day and at night.

 

 Here is one on our jar at night!

Fireflies belong to the family Lampyridae in the insect order of Coleoptera.  I know this because Entomology was one of my absolute favorite classes in college!  Their bioluminescence is extremely cool - the kids love watching them "light up".

Speaking of lighting up, I have a new book to share with you - Max Lucado's Let The Journey Begin - Finding God's Best For Your Life.  As you begin or continue your journey of life and adventure Max gives Scripture guidance, words of wisdom, and encouragement for the road ahead.  While this would be a great gift for a graduate it really applies to anyone in a new beginnings situation - all of us at certain times.  I am actually thinking of giving a copy of this book to a friend of mine who is pregnant with their first child.  Her journey into parenthood is beginning and the adventures await.

The book is divided into five sections:
  God's Plan for the Journey of Life,
  Stop, Look and Listen - Good Habits for a Good Journey,
  A Fork in the Road - Deciding Which Way to Go,
  Dangers and Detours Ahead - Slow Down, Avoid Disaster, and
  Two Is Fine Company - A Friend for the Journey.

Each section contains short excerpts full of nuggets of wisdom.  They can each be read quickly.  This book is set up so that one can read for whatever amount of time they have whether that is 5 minutes, 10 minutes or half an hour - I love that!

 A firefly enjoying my book.

I enjoyed thinking about my prayers as precious jewels and that they inspire action in heaven - what a thought!  I often tell my children that I am their biggest cheerleader.  I want them to succeed in all that they do and I really want the best for them.  It is good to be reminded that we are never alone, God is right there beside us on this journey of life.  

You can read more about this book and/or purchase it from Family Christian here.

Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger, Affiliate, and Max Lucado blogger.  I was provided with my own copy of Let The Journey Begin to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe Book Review

Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger, Affiliate, and Max Lucado blogger.  I was provided with my own copy of Miracle At The Higher Grounds Cafe to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Higher ground, what does that mean to you?  Is it simply ground that is elevated in some way making it higher than surrounding lower areas?  Does it have a spiritual meaning for you as well?  For me I think of raised alters, places of worship and holy ground - like when Moses removed his sandals.  These places have a connection and closeness to God.  Now imagine a modernized "higher ground", like your local coffee shop and you have the backdrop for Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe by Max Lucado.  How does this cafe have a connection and closeness to God?  An internet connection taps into the divine and everyone is alloted one question to ask God - thus the God Blog is born.  Of course the "grounds" reference is clever.  Chelsea Chambers, the owner of the new Higher Grounds Cafe, is known for her amazing cupcakes and baked goods.  Similarly, I have a friend who loves to cook!  In fact, she is known for making yummy treats.  Her creations are always delicious and creative!  I was even able to snap of few photos of her goodies.

 Yummy treats

So, what if you could ask God one question?  Only one question - that is what customers who flock to the Higher Grounds Cafe have the opportunity to do from the "God Blog".  I wonder what I myself would ask.  I have to think hard about this one, my question cannot be wasted, right?  How can I be the best wife and Mom that I can be?  Yes, I think that is it.  And I hear Him saying, "Trust Me".   And I do!  It is not always easy, in fact, often life is downright hard but I do trust the Lord and His promises.  Do you?

You may know and love Max as a nonfiction author but this book is definitely fiction and it is wonderful.  I devoured it like a baked good and my palette is indeed content.  Max, you truly have a way of sharing Biblical truths throughout your books, even fiction ones and I love you for that.

 Grab your book and treat to boot!

You can read more about this book and/or purchase it from Family Christian here!  Please enter the giveaway below and check out the amazing video of this book as well, it is so fun!

Ready for a giveaway?  Family Christian is generously providing one of you with a $10 Appreciation Certificate.  Just enter the form below and good luck!

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Press In This Easter Season with Max Lucado's On Calvary's Hill: Review & Giveaway

Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger, Affiliate, and Max Lucado blogger.  I was provided with my own copy of On Calvary's Hill to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Easter is just a week away from tomorrow.  Do you have big plans?  Do you celebrate Easter?  For my family Easter is a big deal.  It is the cornerstone of our Christian faith.  What must one do to be saved?  Romans 10:9 - If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

 

On Calvary's Hill is a compilation of material published in books written by Max Lucado.  This book invites us to follow Jesus and see how He spent His last days.  It includes 40 readings for the Easter season.  Each reading begins with a scripture and ends with a prayer.  There are 40 scripture segments, 40 excerpts and 40 prayers.  You can see the power already, right?  This book is also about life application.  Every excerpt has a life application nugget for you to grab.

We find ourselves on the road to Jerusalem with Jesus and his disciples.  Yet, we are reminded that this mission was set forth when the apple was first bit.  Draw courage from God and remember His promises.

I have always loved Mary's faith, and the way she luxuriously poured out the costly perfume on the One that mattered most.  Friends, be extravagant in your love for the Lord!

When faced with crucifixion, Jesus went to His Father.  We should also enter life's challenges with the Lord, not alone.  This book may seem small but it is full of truth and wisdom.

 the cross at our church last Easter Sunday

And the cross, oh the cross!  The greatest sacrifice ever made.

Don't you just want to dive right into this book?  I love that you can pause each day and breathe in one of these segments - read, think, pray and press into Him.  You can do this in just a few minutes or take an hour, whatever you need.  You can also read it in one sitting and do the same - your choice.  Gain a better understanding of the Easter season and the Lord at the same time. 

 You can order your own copy of On Calvary's Hill here.

Ready for a giveaway?  Family Christian is generously providing one of you with a $10 Appreciation Certificate (which is enough to buy this very book if you choose).  Just enter the form below and good luck!

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Before Amen by Max Lucado Book Review

Disclosure: I am proud to be a Family Christian Blogger and Affiliate.  I was provided with my own copy of Before Amen by Max Lucado to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 We have all heard the phrase, "Dance like no one is watching" but what if we changed that to "Pray like no one is listening" or better yet "Pray knowing the One is listening".  This is the freedom felt after reading Max Lucado's new book, Before Amen.  If you haven't figured it out, it is a book about prayer but it is much more than that as well.  It is a book that encourages a lifestyle of prayer.  It is more about one's heart and the need for prayer.  If you read my blog then you know that I am hoping 2015 is a year full of transformation for me personally.  In college I realized that God has gifted me with an intercessory calling but it has been far too long since I have really pressed into this or exercised that gift with intensity very much more than what Max calls PWA - Prayer Wimps Anonymous prayers.  I am praying that 2015 will bring about a change in my prayer life as I press into the Lord and free myself from having to say the perfect words during prayers and let go into the depths of my heart.

It was eye opening for me to be reminded that the first followers of Jesus asked for prayer guidance, not a million other things.  And what did Jesus give them?  He gave them a prayer.  As Max says, "a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer" found in Luke 11:1-4.

"Father,

you are good.  I need help.  Heal me and forgive me.  They need help.  Thank you.  In Jesus' name, amen"

Simple, right?  And easy to remember.  Max expands on each of the portable prayer elements and shows you how this prayer can become a cherished friend.

 

Relaxing...

I loved the chapter on gratitude and alphabetizing your blessings.  I feel as though I have been vulnerable to negativity lately and that can be poison to a person.  As Max states in his book, "gratitude is a dialysis of sorts, it flushes the self-pity out of our systems".   So, I am going to alphabetize my thankfulness right now.

I am thankful for...

Art, animals, and asparagus
Butterflies, belly laughs, and birthdays
Cats, cuddles, and crafts
Dish washers, dark chocolate, and David
Eyeglasses, elevators, and eggs
Fly swatters, funny jokes, and first moments
Giggles, guitars, and grapes
Hearts, health, and healing
Ice, Imaginations, and ice cream
Juggling, jars, and jewelry
Kids, kitchens, and kites
Ladybugs, lamps and letters
Mom, milk, and music
Nurses, nuts, and numbers
Oranges, onions, and origami
Parades, picnics, and personality
Quiche, quilts, and quarters
Roses, rainbows and rabbits
Sun, scissors, and sweaters
Tea, trees, and triangles
Underwear, umbrellas, and utensils
Vacations, visitors and vegetables
Water, women, and wind
X-rays, xylophones, and xtra
Yahtzee, yellow and you
Zippers, zig-zags, and zeroes

Wow, I feel better.  I want to be one with a grateful heart, one that prepares the way for the Lord.

I enjoy Max Lucado's work so much - Punchinello and Hermie and Friends are some of my kids favorites.  I love that Max is so simple with his writing and yet so profound.  This book is not just words, it is truly about life application and I really believe that it could help inspire a prayer movement!

Also, Before Amen is not intimidating: 100 pages, plus a 60 page study guide included.  It's no surprise to me that this book is Family Christian's book of the year.