I LOVE Max Lucado.

Ever since I’ve had children and received the bestselling book,

You are Special

which goes on to tell the story of Eli, the woodcarver, who helps Punchinello understand how special he is

–no matter what other Wemmicks may think.–

It’s a vital message for children everywhere: that regardless of how the world evaluates them,

God cherishes each of them, just as they are.

I saw that he has written quite a few books, so I began reading the book, Before Amen- The Power of a Simple Prayer.

It was a book that was slow reading and took me a bit of time to get through, but some of the remarks from it really took my breath away.

I always read a little bit at a time, because I really wanted to take it what I had just read and let it jumble around in my brain.

I learned a lot of great things from this book and it has strengthened my life and definitely my prayers.

Here are my favorite quotes from the book:

Wouldn’t we all like to pray…

More?

Better?

Deeper?

Stronger?

With more fire, faith, or fervency?

When we invite God into our world, he walks in.

He brings a host of gifts: joy, patience, resilience.

Anxieties come, but they don’t stick.

Fears surface and then depart.

Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child.

Friend, it’s a stormy world out there.

Every day brings turbulence.

Moody economy.

Aging bodies.

Declining job market.

Increasing  street violence.

The question during these troubling

times is this:  Do we have a good pilot?

Life is a gift, albeit unassembled.

It comes in pieces, and sometimes it falls to pieces. Part A doesn’t always fit with part B.

The struggle is too great for the strength.

Inevitably, something seems to be missing. The pieces of life don’t fit.

When they don’t, take your problem to Jesus.

The punch line is clear: take your problem to Jesus.

Don’t take your problems to the bar.

Jim Beam cannot solve them.

Don’t take your problems out on others.

Temper Tantrums never advance the cause.

Jesus responds with this invitation: “Bring your problems to me”.

State them simply.

Present them faithfully, and trust him reverently.

God will do the same with you. He will use your struggle to change others.

Jesus will heal us all ultimately.

Wheelchairs,

ointments,

treatments,

and bandages

are confiscated at the gateway to heaven.

God’s children will once again be whole.

The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:10).

Period.

End of discussion.

He has the final word on your life.

And his word is GRACE.

His ultimate will is inflexible,

but the implementation of his will is not.

He does not change in his character and purpose,

but he does alter his strategy because of the appeals of his children.

 Gratitude is a dialysis of sorts.

It flushes the self-pity out of our systems.

You’re never without hope,

because your never without prayer.