Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Max Lucado (2013-04-29) from his book, Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible (p. 175). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever thought of how big a deal that is? Max says, “Big deal? I think so. Jesus understands you. He understands small-town anonymity and big-city pressure. He’s walked pastures of sheep and palaces of kings. He’s faced hunger, sorrow, and death and wants to face them with you. Jesus ‘understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it’ (Heb. 4: 15– 16 NLT).” Max then says, “But here is something amazing about Jesus, Jesus never missed the mark. Equally amazing, he never distances himself from those who do.   Just read the first verse of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus knew David’s ways. He ...

A thought by Max Lucado (2013-04-29) from his book, Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible (p. 170). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever started a day with a bunch of determination to keeping your carbs down to a minimum and expecting a major difference but when you get on the scales the next morning nothing happened?   Or you heard that getting out and doing some type of exercise for a half-an-hour will make a difference but the next morning when you get on the scales nothing happened?   But you decide to do both together for a week and you have success.   Have you found that so, so you decided to keep at it? Max says, “Why did David quarry a quintet of stones? Could it be because Goliath had four relatives the size of Tyrannosaurus rex? For all David knew, they’d come running over the hill to defend their kin. David was ready to empty the chamber if that’s what it took.” Max goe...

A thought by Max Lucado (2013-04-29) from his book, Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible (p. 170). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) We’re looking here at how to take care of that giant in our life by looking at how David took care of his giant. 1 Samuel 17: 48– 49 NLT says, “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it from his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face downward to the ground.” Max says, “David ran, not away from, but toward his giant. On one side of the battlefield, Saul and his cowardly army gulped. On the other, Goliath and his skull-splitters scoffed. In the middle, the shepherd boy ran on his spindly legs. Who bet on David? Who put money on the kid from Bethlehem? Not the Philistines. Not the Hebrews. Not David’s siblings or David’s ...

A thought by Max Lucado (2013-04-29) from his book, Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible (p. 167). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) We are looking here with Max Lucado at how David in the Old Testament defeated the giants in his life.   Max says, “Note the valley between your thumb and finger. To pass from one to the next you must go through it. Let it remind you of David’s descent. Before going high, David went low; before ascending to fight, David descended to prepare. Don’t face your giant without first doing the same. Dedicate time to prayer. Paul, the apostle, wrote, ‘Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long’ (Eph. 6: 18 MSG).” Max later says, “When David soaked his mind in God, he stood. When he didn’t, he flopped. You think he spent much time in prayer the evening he seduced Bathsheba? Did he write a psalm the day he murdered Uriah? Doubtful. “Mark well this promise...