"glory days" by max lucado

One of the things I love about Max Lucado's writing is the way he's able to take biblical truth and explain it in a way that is relatable, understandable, and impactful. His latest book, Glory Days is no different.

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The wilderness. Maybe you know it well.

The Israelites sure did. After all, they spent forty years wandering the desert. Victories were scarce. Progress was slow. They were free from Pharaoh but not free from fear. Saved but stuck.

Sounds a lot like midlife misery. Caught in a rut. Stalled out. Running on empty. Are you mired in the same?

You can name the day you became a Christian and escaped Egypt. But you can't remember the last time you defeated a temptation or experienced an answered prayer. You're fighting the same battles you fought the day you came to Christ. You're out of Egypt, but Egypt's not out of you.

Isn't the Christian life supposed to be better than this?

Jesus offers abundant joy. Yet you live with oppressive grief. The epistles speak of grace. You shoulder guilt. You are more than a conqueror yet are commonly conquered by temptation or weaknesses.

But there's good news. With God's help you can close the gap between the person you are and the person you want to be. Like Joshua and the Israelites, you can move from a wilderness existence into a promised inheritance.

This is God's vision for your life. You, at full throttle. You, as you were intended. You, as victor over the Jerichos and giants. You, minus the stumbles, hurts, and hate.

You and your Promised Land life.

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In Glory Days, Max Lucado takes the Israelites' journey chronicled in Joshua to show how Christians can get out of the wilderness and find their Canaan, their Promised Land.

There's nothing earth-shattering here. I already knew everything Lucado had to say ... but the way he presented it made me think, "I can do that!" For example, Lucado says the most important step to spiritual growth is reading the Bible. Of course that's true, and of course I've heard it before ... maybe it will sink in this time?

Each chapter is incredibly practical and reads like a mini sermon (an interesting one). Lucado uses scripture to back up every point he makes.

I finished this book with passages highlighted, notes jotted in the margins, and much to think about. I highly recommend it! 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Lucado's Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe (4-1/2 stars), Fearless, and The Tallest of Smalls. 

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More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

Find Max online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Are you stuck in the wilderness known as midlife misery? Can you name the day you became a Christian but can’t remember the last time you defeated a temptation or experienced an answered prayer? Find encouragement in Max Lucado's new book, Glory Days. With God’s help you can close the gap between the person you are and the person you want to be. Like Joshua and the Israelites, you can move from a wilderness existence into a promised inheritance.

Now through August 31, 2015, pre-order Glory Days and receive free gifts!

 

There are two pre-order options:

Option 1:

Pre-order one copy of Glory Days (any format), and receive a free digital download of the abridged audio version of In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado.

After you've pre-ordered, please claim your free gift by submitting your email and proof of purchase at GloryDaysBook.com.

Option 2:

Pre-order one copy of Glory Days (any format) AND one copy of God is With You Every Day (Max's brand-new, 365-day devotional—any format), and receive both the abridged audio version of In the Grip of Grace and a paperback copy of Traveling Light by Max Lucado (U.S. addresses only). 

After you’ve preordered, please claim your free gift by submitting your email and proof of purchase at GloryDaysBook.com.

Pre-order today and get your free gift by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the offer ends on August 31, 2015.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"miracle at the higher grounds cafe" by max lucado

What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would he answer?

Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.

Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea's door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They've come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life's biggest questions.

When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.

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When I heard that Max Lucado had written a novel, I was intrigued. Lucado's writing, specifically Fearless, has had a big impact on my life, but I wondered if he could successfully shift into the world of fiction.

He has, without a doubt!

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café is a sweet story about faith and community that seems a bit farfetched at first. A direct line to God via the internet? I was skeptical, as I'm sure I would be if I heard about something like this in real life. So I could really identify with Chelsea's pastor brother-in-law Tony, who asked why God would use a blog to speak. The answer was basically, why not? After all, God used a fleece with Gideon, a donkey with Balaam, and a star with the Magi. Why not a blog? (p. 61).

In another section of the book, Manny, one of Chelsea's employees at the café, is pondering the spiritual battle taking place.

...Manny's mind was racing. Not with doubts, but questions, for the two are not the same. Even the deepest, darkest questions can lead to a deeper faith (p. 49).

And that's what I loved most about this book—wrapped in an engaging story, Lucado brings truth without seeming preachy. With this novel, he'll reach a new group of people who may not be inclined to pick up a non-fiction book.

While I completely loved the story and spent some time pondering my own faith, I do wish that the novel had included more of Chelsea's relationship with her husband. Once things began to wrap up, they did so very swiftly, and I would have appreciated another chapter or two near the end to expand on things. That said, I really loved this book! 4-1/2 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Watch the book trailer.
Get the first three chapters free!
Join Lucado and his daughter for a live webchat about this book.
Read my reviews of Lucado's Fearless and The Tallest of Smalls.

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More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

Find Max online: website, Facebook, Twitter

In Max Lucado's new fiction release, Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe, he asks, If you could ask God anything, what would you ask—and how would he answer? When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.

Join Max in celebrating the release of his new fiction book by entering his iPad giveaway and RSVPing to his Coffee with Max webcast!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A copy of Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on the Litfuse blog. Then tune in later on the 24th for his Coffee with Max webcast. RSVP here!



{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.} Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."