Quotes by Max Lucado

Christmas is best pondered, not with logic, but with imagination.

The Bible is the story of two gardens: Eden and Gethsemane. In the first, Adam took a fall. In the second, Jesus took a stand. In the first, God sought Adam. In the second, Jesus sought God. In Eden, Adam hid from God. In Gethsemane, Jesus emerged from the tomb. In Eden, Satan led Adam to a tree that led to his death. From Gethsemane, Jesus went to a tree that led to our life.

Want to know the coolest thing about the coming? Not that the One who played marbles with the stars gave it up to play marbles with marbles. Or that the One who hung the galaxies gave it up to hang doorjambs to the displeasure of a cranky client who wanted everything yesterday but couldnt pay until tomorrow. Not that he, in an instant, went from needing nothing to needing air, food, a tub of hot water and salts for his tired feet, and, more than anything, needing somebody - anybody - who was more concerned about where he would spend eternity rather than where he would spend Fridays paycheck. Or that he resisted the urge to fry the two=bit, self-appointed hall monitors of holiness who dared suggest that he was doing the work of the devil. Not that he kept his cool while the dozen best friends he ever had felt the heat and got out of the kitchen. Or that he gave no command to the angels who begged, Just give us the nod, Lord. One word and these demons will be deviled eggs. Not that he refused to defend himself when blamed for every sin of every slut and sailor since Adam. Or that he stood silent as a million guilty verdicts echoed in the tribunal of heaven and the giver of light was left in the chill of a sinners night. Not even that after three days in a dark hole he stepped into the Easter sunrise with a smile and a swagger and a question for lowly Lucifer - Is that your best punch? That was cool, incredibly cool. But want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown of thorns? He did it for you. Just for you.

Yet when God entered time and became a man, he who was boundless became bound. Imprisoned in flesh. Restricted by weary-prone muscles and eyelids. For more than three decades, his once limitless reach would be limited to the stretch of an arm, his speed checked to the pace of human feet.I wonder, was he ever tempted to regain his boundlessness? In the middle of a long trip, did he ever consider transporting himself to the next city? When the rain chilled his bones, was he tempted to change the weather? When the heat parched his lips, did he give thought to popping over to the Caribbean for some refreshment? If he ever entertained such thoughts, he never gave into them. Not once. Stop and think about this. Not once did Christ use his supernatural powers for personal comfort. With one word, he couldve transformed the hard earth into a soft bed, but he didnt. With a wave of his hands, he couldve boomeranged the spit of his accusers back into their faces, but he didnt. With an arch of his brow, he couldve paralyzed the hand of the soldier as he braided the crown of thorns. But he didnt.

When Jesus says he will keep you safe, he means it. Hell will have to get through him to get to you.

I think its noteworthy that the Almighty didnt act high and mighty. The Holy One wasnt holier-than-thou. The One who knew it all wasnt a know-it-all. The One who made the stars didnt keep his head in them. The One who owns all the stuff of earth never strutted it.

We will never be cleansed until we confess we are dirty. And we will never be able to wash the feet of those who have hurt us until we allow Jesus, the one we have hurt, to wash ours.

Who are they to give stars or dots? Theyre Wemmicks just like you.Eli to Punchinello (p. 25)

When grace moves in... guilt moves out

The meaning of life. The wasted years of life. The poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: grace.

You are loved by your maker not because you try to please him and succeed, or fail to please him and apologize, but because he wants to be your father.

GRACEGRACE is the GIFT of Gods Riches the PEACE of God, The LOVE of God, The HOPE of God.

Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven when they die just because a few drops of water were sprinkled over their heads a few weeks after their birth. They have no personal faith, have never made a personal decision, and are banking on a hollow ceremony to save them. How absurd.

Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven when they die just because a few drops of water were sprinkled over their heads a few weeks after their birth. They have no personal faith, have never made a personal decision, and are banking on a hollow ceremony to save them. How absurd!

If the Bible is called the Good Book, its not because its people are. Blood flows as freely through the stories as the ink through the quills that penned them.

The big news of the Bible is not that you fight for God but that God fights for you.

The sinless One took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint.

God sees us with the eyes of a Father. He sees our defects, errors, and blemishes. But He also sees our value. What did Jesus know that enabled Him to do what He did? Here’s part of the answer: He knew the value of people. He knew that each human being is a treasure. And because He did, people were not a source of stress, but a source of joy.

The snake pulled back the curtain to the throne room and invited Eve to take a seat. Put on the crown. Pick up the scepter. Put on the cape. See how it feels to have power. See how feels to have a name. See how it feels to be in control! Eve swallowed the hook. The temptation to be like God eclipsed her view of God.

Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff...Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread.