Editor’s note: There’s a good reason that Max Lucado is called “America’s Pastor.” He has his finger on the pulse of the nation and words of healing and hope to share. In this age of fear, anxiety, depression, social unrest, racial divide, we hope you find great comfort in this excerpt of Anxious for Nothing. …
Chairs in the Tide
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift. — Romans 3:23-24 ESV Have you ever placed your chair on the beach right on the ocean’s rim? It may be the most relaxing spot on shore. The chair legs sink into the wet sand…
Captivating: Healing the Wound of Our Feminine Hearts
I didn’t know just what was wrong with me, Till your love helped me name it. – Aretha Franklin Down those old ancient streets, Down those old ancient roads, Baby there together we must go Till we get the healing done. – Van Morrison Just an hour ago, a hummingbird was trapped in our garage. They come here to…
The Prayer That Is Answered Specifically
Editor’s Note: Today is the National Day of Prayer, a special day set aside for all believers to pray and meditate on the Lord. Pray for our nation, pray for the world, pray for revival, pray for marriages, pray for people seeking God but not knowing Him yet. Pray for kids and school safety, pray…
Cultivating Joy
When I was young, I thought that following God and being a Christian would lead to a life that was kind of easy, filled only with happiness and free from pain and sorrow. Silly me. I’m not even sure where I got that idea, except maybe from teachings spouted by TV evangelists who espoused a…
Prayer: The Garden of Gethsemane
“Not My Will, but Yours” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” — Luke 22:41–42 Gethsemane means “oil press.” The Garden of Gethsemane is mentioned in Matthew 26:36: Then Jesus went…
Praying to Know God as Lord Over Every Area of your Life
Once I’d begun to know God as Savior, as Father, and as Holy Spirit, I found I needed to expose many areas of my life to His influence. This was difficult because it called for my deepening trust. Until then I’d had few positive experiences when someone other than myself was in control of my…
Doing Life with Your Adult Children: “Wear Beige and Keep Your Mouth Shut”
“The first forty years of parenting are always the hardest!” A woman I know was asked at her son’s wedding, “What is the responsibility of the mother of the groom?” She smiled and said, “Wear beige and keep your mouth shut.” She got a chuckle, but it was great advice, especially when it comes…
Peace: God’s Ultimate Goal
God’s ultimate goal for humanity is for peace to blanket the earth. His Son, Jesus Christ, was called the “Prince of Peace” by Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 9:6). That’s because Isaiah saw another day on the prophetic horizon. He described that day as a time when nations would beat their swords into plowshares, and their…
Religion Makes Enemies / Jesus Makes Friends
We are trained to make enemies. From birth it’s always “us versus them.” Black vs. whites. Conservatives vs. liberals. Rich vs. poor. Republican vs. Democrat. Americans vs. whoever we’re at war with. Let’s be honest: sometimes Christians are the worst. Calvinists vs. Arminians. Complementarians vs. egalitarians. Charismatics vs. cessationists. Catholics vs. Protestants. As if the world…