New Releases by Max Lucado

We all pray. . . some. But wouldn’t we like to pray better? Stronger? With more fire, faith and fervency? We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested. In Before Amen, New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado helps readers discover the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubters and confidence for both prayer beginners and experts. In this book, Max will help you: Distill prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer. Remember that the Good Shepherd has authority over your life. Learn that prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Don’t be bogged down by crafting elegant words or apologizing for incoherent sentences. Climb into God’s lap and tell him everything on your heart. Today is the day to let the conversation begin.

We all pray . . . some. We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out. When the marriage is falling apart. But wouldn’t we like to pray . . . more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency? In this four-session video-based study (DVD/digital video sold separately), bestselling author Max Lucado reveals his own struggles with prayer and how he discovered that it is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few but a simple tool everyone has been given to have a conversation with God. He shows you how to: Let go of uncertainties about prayer. Trust that God hears you. Embrace a prayer life that brings peace and rest. Join Max Lucado on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer and the power unleashed with five simple sentences: "Father, you are good. I need help. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus'' name, amen." This study guide includes leader helps, discussion questions, conversation starters, and between-session activities to enhance your understanding and application of Max''s teaching. Sessions include: Father, You Are Good I Need Help They Need Help Thank You Designed for use with Before Amen Video Study 9780529123428 (sold separately).

One God, One Plan, One Life by bestselling author Max Lucado is a 365-day devotional for students that focuses on teen issues, such as bullying, self-esteem, and purity, delivered in short daily devotions. A perfect gift for Christmas or New Year, New You resolutions that support quiet time with God. One God, One Plan, One Life is an ECPA 2015 Christian Book Award finalist. Over 100,000 copies sold! With a focus on Christian faith, this devotional for teens helps them cut through life''s distractions and rely on the one thing that is truly important: a relationship with God. Building faith through short devotions, busy teens can find a few minutes each day to spend time with God and grow in trust and confidence. Each devotion includes the following: An inspiring Bible verse, A simple but thought-provoking devotion, and An application to help students put their trust in God and His plans. Including a devotion for every day of the year, this guide for teens... Is for ages 13 to 18, boys and girls; Is easy to fit in a backpack at school or to carry to small groups and bible study; Has a bright ribbon bookmark and embossing on the cover; Has a presentation page to make gift-giving easy; Is a great gift for graduations, baptisms, birthdays, and coming-of-age celebrations; and Makes a great Christmas gift for teens or New Years resolution daily reader.

Find hope from God to get you through when life is messy…really messy. Does it ever feel like life is out of control? Could you use the reminder that God is in control? You might remember the Old Testament story. He was tossed in a pit, wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten, and dismissed. But Joseph''s story contains an audacious promise. Whatever mess you face, God will use it for good. He did for Joseph, and he will for you. In the meantime, don''t become bitter or angry. Do what Joseph did. Trust in God. In God Will Use This for Good bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado encourages you, “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.” In this hope-filled booklet, Max will help you: Find the courage to never give up during turbulent times Trust God to help you through all of life''s trials Remember that God will use every painful circumstance for good God Will Use This for Good also includes a “Scriptures for Your Turbulent Times” section to help you ground your faith and hope in the promises of God''s Word when everything else seems to be shifting under your feet. So even when your world is upside-down the words of Scripture can remind you that God will never give up on you and that he will help you get through it. God Will Use This for Good is ideal if you or someone you care about is experiencing a difficult time in life. It doesn''t promise quick fixes or easy solutions, but it does show you that God is faithful, that he has a plan for your life, and that he will get you through your present trials.

In this six-session small group Bible study, pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado reveals how your life story is part of a grand, overarching narrative, and helps you see between the lines to witness God’s hand at work. With contemporary anecdotes and New Testament stories, God’s Story, Your Story traces your Savior’s unchanging, loving pursuit of you through the chaos of life. In God’s Story, Your Story Max Lucado casts a fresh perspective on how your daily life relates to God’s grand, epic story. Your journey of faith will come alive as you explore the divine narrative in New Testament and contemporary characters, and discover how the ancient stories of Scripture reveal God’s plans for you today. Join America’s favorite Christian author for a personal look at the story of God’s eternal redemption being told through your individual story right now. Sessions include: When God’s Story Becomes Yours Ordinary Measures You Hear a Voice You Can Trust You Won’t Be Forsaken Your Final Chapter Becomes a Preface You Will Finally Graduate Designed for use with the God''s Story, Your Story DVD 9780310889861 (sold separately).

How long has your Goliath dominated your days and pilfered your peace? Like David, you know well the presence of Goliath. Your Goliath doesn’t carry a sword or shield; he brandishes blades of unemployment, abandonment, or depression. Your giant doesn’t parade up and down ancient hills; he prances through your office, your bedroom, your classroom. He brings bills you can’t pay, addictions you can’t resist, a past you can’t shake, and a future you can’t face. How long has your Goliath stalked you? Invaded your first thought of the morning and last worry of the night? David knows a little something about facing giants. The shepherd boy seemingly had little to offer against the nine-foot, nine-inch Goliath. You could read his story and wonder what God saw in him. Throughout his life, David fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered. But for those who know the threat of a Goliath, David gives this reminder: Focus on Giants—You Stumble. Focus on God—Your Giants Tumble. Are you ready to face your giant? Let David’s story inspire you. The same God who helped him will help you.

"God''s love is like the ocean, my little boy," she said. "It''s always here. It''s always deep. It never ends. God''s love is special." Just how wide, how deep, and how big is the love of God really? See for yourself in this heart-warming story about a boy, his parents, and the wonder of creation. From the vast reaches of the ocean to the towering heights of the mountains, Max Lucado takes us on a journey of discovery and thanksgiving as he shows us how creation expresses the unmatched love of the Creator. Filled with beautiful illustrations, this charming tale teaches about the God whose love never ends, and will remain a favorite among families for years to come.

Humans are prone to failure, experts at muddying, mixing, and messing up. Who hasn''t looked up from the bottom of a pit and realized he dug it himself? In these low points, we crave reminders that there''s hope for the broken. Max Lucado offers stories of second chances for the rebellious, prideful, failure-prone, and more.

God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you there. He wants you to be just like Jesus. Can you think of a better offer? In Just Like Jesus, pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado reminds us that being just like Jesus feels like an impossible goal until we accept one simple truth: God loves us. Jesus felt no gui He doesn''t love us and leave us alone; he loves us enough to live within us, making our hearts his home. But doing so requires a bit of sprucing up, remodeling, refurnishing. Why? Because he wants us to have a heart like his too. Just Like Jesus will teach you how far God will go to transform us into his likeness. Along the way, Max addresses questions that might arise as you examine the peaceful, passionate, and pure heart of Christ, including: How do we know that God wants us to be made in his image? How does this change occur? If God wants me to be just like Jesus, why do I still seem just like me? In Just Like Jesus, Max gives you the tools you need to better understand God''s gracious gift of transformation and restoration, so you, too, can start to live Just Like Jesus.

We applaud men for doing good things. We enshrine God for doing great things. But what about a man who does God things? One thing is certain. We can''t ignore him. If these moments are factual, if the claim of Christ is actual, then he was, at once, man and God. The single most significant person who ever lived. Forget MVP. He is the entire league. The head of the parade? Hardly. No one else shares the street. Who comes close? Humanity''s best and brightest fade like dime-store rubies next to him. Dismiss him? We can''t. Resist him? Equally difficult. Why would we want to? Don''t we need a God-man Savior? A just-God Jesus could make us, but not understand us. A just-man Jesus could love us, but never save us. But a God-man Jesus? Near enough to touch. Strong enough to trust. A next door Savior.

Find hope as you learn to hear God''s voice and realize He is searching for you. How far do you want God to go in getting your attention? Don''t answer too quickly. Give it some thought. What if God moved you to another land? As he did Abraham. What if he called you out of retirement? Remember Moses? How about the voice of an angel or the bowel of a fish? Á la Gideon and Jonah. God does what it takes to get our attention. It''s the message of the Bible. It''s the message of this book: the relentless pursuit of God. God on the hunt. God in the search. Peeking under the bed for hiding kids, stirring the bushes for lost sheep. Searching, wrestling, pulling us back to him, over and over again. Kind, then stern. Tender and tough. Faithfully firm. Patiently urgent. Eagerly tolerant. Softly shouting. Gently thundering. With pictures and parables from everyday life Max Lucado calls us to trust God in tough times. God''s goal, Max reminds us, is to get us home safely. He''ll do whatever it takes to save his children. God''s thunder is gentle. And his gentleness never ends. If you need a reminder of God''s love, an assurance of his strength, an example of his kindness, A Gentle Thunder will help you hear a message of hope as you realize God has been trying to get your attention all along.

The author paints a picture of Christ''s calm in what he calls "the second most stressful day in the life of our Savior." He shows the secret of transforming panic into peace, stress into serenity, and chaos into control.

What image best describes your heart? A water-drenched kid in front of an open fire hydrant? Or a bristled desert tumbleweed? You’re acquainted with physical thirst. Stop drinking and see what happens. Coherent thoughts vanish, skin grows clammy, and vital organs shut down. Deprive your body of necessary fluid, and it will tell you. Deprive your soul of spiritual water, and it will tell you. Dehydrated hearts and desperate messages. Snarling tempers. Waves of worry. Growing guilt and fear. Hopelessness. Resentment. Loneliness. Insecurity. But you don’t have to live with a dehydrated heart. God invites you to treat your thirsty soul as you would treat your physical thirst. Just visit the WELL and drink deeply. Receive Christ’s work on the cross, The energy of his Spirit, His lordship over your life, And his unending, unfailing love. Come thirsty and drink the water of life. The book you receive may have a different cover design than shown on the website.

Invites readers to envision their lives untouched by fear and encourages them to trust more, at a time when people are losing their jobs, the economy is slowing down, and terrorism plagues the world.

Teens really do want to make a difference, but sometimes their attitudes get in the way! Today’s teens are faced with some big issues, and their attitudes can sometimes create even more struggles for their own lives and those around them. But best-selling author Max Lucado wants to teach teens that life is a gift and that gratitude is critical. With a little perspective, teens will see that God can help them overcome their ungrateful days, their stressed-out days, and even their catastrophic days. Life is not going to be perfect. When teens understand that and realize that God is their constant source of support, help, and blessings, even the difficult days can be faced with a cheerful spirit. Make Every Day Count shows readers how to deal with each day—no matter what it throws at them. Real-life teen stories, biblical accounts, and inspiring “Daylifters” encourage teens to make each day count for God. A study guide at the back of the book makes this a perfect choice for individual or group study.

Today''s teens are being shaped by the pressures and disappointments of the world. But Max Lucado encourages them to take a close look at what can shape their hearts and their futures from the inside out?God?s grace. As Max explains, "God?s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A whitewater, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you." Wild Grace gives teens an understanding of how grace can change their lives in powerful ways, even when those lives are messed up, off track, or in trouble. Each chapter describes another miracle that happens when we allow God?s grace to work on us and through us. -- Publisher''s website.

Carpools and car crashes, job switches and joint custody, moves and motionlessness. Is there a cohesive storyline to the chaos, confusion, and clutter of your daily life? According to well-loved author Max Lucado, the answer is a resounding yes!So what is the text of your life? With his unequaled warmth and honesty, Lucado plumbs the depths of your storyline and comes up smiling. “Your story indwells God’s,” writes Lucado. “This is the great promise of the Bible and the hope of this book ... Above and around us God directs a grander saga, written by his hand, orchestrated by his will, unveiled according to his calendar. And you are a part of it ...” Join Max for an unforgettable journey woven with New Testament stories and contemporary examples of God’s beautiful story-making skills. The beginning of the narrative is legendary, the middle unfolds with surprises still in store, and the ending of your final earthly chapter ushers in a reunion that almost defies description.It’s time to see what your life looks like when God’s story becomes your story.

This Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends® best-selling story now available in easy-to-read format! Hermie and his friend Wormie have always felt common. They don’t have stripes or dots, they aren’t very strong, and they can’t find anything special about themselves. But every time they pray, God tells them that He loves them all the time just as they are and that He isn’t finished with them yet. When Hermie becomes a beautiful butterfly, he realizes just how special God’s plan is for him! This classic story has been revised for kids to read and enjoy on their own as a Lever 2 Reader. With fresh new art and a story kids can read themselves, plus a new, low price—this classic story will find a whole new generation of kids who love Hermie and his garden friends!

With sweeping brushstrokes, God painted his creation across the emptiness. “Let there be light,” he called into the darkness, and a sweep of brightness blazed across the blank canvas. The Story for Children isn’t just another collection of Bible stories—it’s The Story—the big picture of God’s enormous love for his children! Presented by New York Times bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado with Randy Frazee and Karen Hill, these 48 pivotal stories show how God has a grand and glorious vision, beginning with Creation and ending with the promise that Jesus is coming again. Each story in this storybook Bible is: Personalized with God’s message Accompanied by vibrant illustrations from accomplished artist Fausto Bianchi that help bring the Bible to life for young readers ages 4–8 Perfect for sharing with elementary school kids during Bible study, small groups, and story time With a designated presentation page inside The Story for Children, a Storybook Bible, it makes a great gift for birthdays, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and the holiday season.

"Sweet Spot." Ever swung a baseball bat or paddled a Ping-Pong ball? If so, you know the oh-so-nice feel of the sweet spot. Life in the sweet spot rolls like the downhill side of a downwind bike ride. But you don''t have to swing a bat or a club to know this. What engineers give sports equipment, God gave you. A zone, a region, a life precinct in which you were made to dwell. He tailored the curves of your life to fit an empty space in his jigsaw puzzle. And life makes sweet sense when you find your spot. But if you''re like 70 percent of working adults, you haven''t found it. You don''t find meaning in your work, or you don''t believe your talents are used. What can you do? You''re suffering from the common life, and you desperately need a cure. Best-selling author Max Lucado has found it. In Cure for the Common Life, he offers practical tools for exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, motivation to put your strengths to work, and the perfect prescription for finding and living in your sweet spot for the rest of your life.

Have you ever wondered what the most important part of the Bible is? Among all the do''s and don''ts and shoulds and shouldn''ts, do you know what''s absolutely essential? Bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado teaches us that the answer lies at the foot of the cross. Come with Max as he guides you through the drama of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, bringing to life Peter''s denial, Pilate''s hesitancy, and John''s loyalty. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior will lead you up the hill of mankind''s highest hope and remind you why he deserves to be called our Savior. In No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, you''ll see Jesus'' final acts in a new light: His final prayer of forgiveness His plea honored His request of love His question of suffering His confession of humanity His call of deliverance The cry of completion In No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, Max invites you to relive the events leading up to Jesus'' crucifixion, from the foggy garden of Gethsemane to the incandescent room of the resurrection. Let''s examine this hour in history. Let''s look at the witnesses. Let''s listen to the voices. Let''s observe the one they call the Savior. And, most of all, let''s see if we can find hope in the unlikeliest place: at the cross.

God''s greatest desire is to be your dwelling place -- The home for your heart. He doesn''t want to be merely a weekend getaway. He has no interest in being a Sunday bungalow or even a summer cottage. He wants to be your mailing address, your point of reference, your home ... always. He wants you to live in the Great House of God. Using the Lord''s Prayer as a floor plan, Max Lucado takes you on a tour of the home God intended for you. Warm your heart by the fire in the living room. Nourish your spirit in the kitchen. Seek fellowship in the family room. Step into the hallway and find forgiveness. It''s the perfect home for you. After all, it was created with you in mind. There''s only one home built just for your heart. No house more complete, no structure more solid: The roof never leaks. The walls never crack. The foundation never trembles. In God''s house, you''re home. So come into the house built just for you. Your Father is waiting.

"This bestselling Lucado Christmas classic is now refreshed and updated with a new title and a beautiful new design. But the heart of the message-the miracle and wonder of the birth of our Lord-remains the same. Max combines warm, personal stories with the ultimate story-one that has reformed the world since Christ was born in a manger more than 2,000 years ago. One Incredible Savior will be a forever classic for generations to come"--Publisher''s description.

Meditations on the divinity of Jesus offer readers inspiration to renew their commitment to a spiritual life.

Christmas is best pondered, not with logic, but with imagination. In the mystery of Christmas we find its majesty. The mystery of how God became flesh, why he chose to come, and how he must love his people. Such mysteries can never be solved, just as Love can never be diagrammed. Three Christmas novellas: An Angel’s Story, The Christmas Candle, The Christmas Child A charming collection centered around the love and mystery of Christmas Perfect for reading aloud and spreading quick holiday cheer

Pointing out that we must love one another, Lucado issues an impassioned plea to accept God''s love in order to truly, unselfishly, whole-heartedly love another.

This bestselling author proclaims the grace of God to be "the greatest discovery of my life," and he wants to share that discovery by taking readers on a journey through the mountaintop truths found in Paul''s letter to the Romans.

The heart of Jesus is sacred, and the lessons and examples it provides to us are paramount in our daily mission to follow in His footsteps. Max Lucado poses the question "what if, for one day and night, your heart was replaced by the heart of Christ?" That thought-provoking question leads to many personal revelations demonstrating that we can recast our hearts to be more like that of Jesus, and the blessings created by the transformation will unleash ripples to the widest edges of our lives and those around us.

It all comes down to one thing: The Cross! You have seen it. You have worn it. Maybe you have even prayed to it. But do you know it?

Through inspirational anecdotes and observations of life, Lucado comparesthe lives of Christians to tools in various stages of usefulness in the shop of a blacksmith.