Quotes from Max Lucado

I have a sin nature. So do you.

Begin by thanking God for thumps. Every thump is a reminder that God is molding you (Hebrews 12:5—8). 2. Learn from each thump. Look upon each inconvenience as an opportunity to develop patience and persistence. 3. Be aware of "thump-slump" times. Know your pressure periods. Bolster yourself with extra prayer, and don't give up. Remember, no thump is disastrous. All thumps work for good if we are loving and obeying God.

Don't worry about skills you don't have. Don't covet strengths others do have. Just extract your uniqueness.

GOD LOVES YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, BUT HE REFUSES TO LEAVE YOU THAT WAY.

When you look at all the mistakes you've made, you see a mess. Like the innkeeper, you just want to repaint it and start over. But God sees what you can't. He sees a canvas with unique possibilities. When he goes to work on you, the result is breathtaking.

Exaggerated, overstated, inflated, irrational thoughts are the devil's specialty.

God does not play favorites.

Take time to meet with the Lord as a friend this week. Rest, knowing he sees and he feels along with you more than anyone else in your life can.

Expect to see the God of ages fight for you. He is near, as near as your next breath.

We Christians tend to miss this. We banter about pledges to "change the world," "make a difference for Christ," "lead people to the Lord." Yet these are by-products of the Christ-focused life. Our goal is not to bear fruit. Our goal is to stay attached.

Our lives are a little like a milkshake. Ingredients get mixed together. Some of the ingredients are unimpressive by themselves. Some—rejections, disappointments, failures—are awful at the time. Yet God shakes them up and pours them out into a concoction that is delicious and good.

If there was anything Jesus wanted everyone to understand, it was this: a person is worth something simply because he or she is a person.