When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado

Let's begin with the summary:

Do you find it hard to believe that the One who made everything keeps your name on His heart and on His lips? Did you realize that your name is written on the hand of God (Is. 49:16)? Perhaps you've never seen your name honored. And you can't remember when you heard it spoken with kindness. In this book, Lucado offers the inspiration to believe that God has already bought the ticket-with your name on it.

And now, my review:

Nuggets. That’s why I read Max’s books. Nuggets of wisdom tucked into anecdotes full of delicious prose. Max covers multiple topics in his essay-type book. One of the insights that stuck out to me was about a people mover.

He wrote of a delightfully exaggerated trip through Dallas-Fortworth’s sprawling airport, complete with descriptions of day-long hikes to find his terminal, mirages and a canteen. But there, in the distance, a people mover—one of those moving walkways that require little to no energy on the part of the person “riding” the belt for long stretches. He tied this to how sometimes we need to rest in God and let Him move us forward. He’s always moving us forward. That ministered to me and I think will speak to anyone who has ever gotten stuck in the striving mentality of having to earn every inch of progress. God commands rest (see the Ten Commandments), but sometimes we forget this.

Wherever you are in your life, this book will speak to you. Hope-filled chapters abound. And who couldn’t use someone coming alongside them and encouraging them? That’s what Max does. He links arms with you, whispers some helpful tale tied to a moral and urges you not to give up, unless it’s to give in to God.

I’ll leave readers to discover why he titled the book as he did. Loved those chapters! If you’re looking for light reading full of heavy doses of hope, this one’s for you.

*I was provided a free e-book copy of this nonfiction title from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review. This title is a reprint from 1999.

Max on Life by Max Lucado

I discovered this book online, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Q&A’s wasn’t quite it. (Though, if you look closely, you can see the subtitle giveaway above.) But I found the same thing you always find with Max: plenty of heart, great word-smithing, wisdom, and God-glorifying prose.

For years, I’ve loved Max’s writing. He has a way with words which makes reading his books utterly satisfying. And though this book was a different format than one would expect, reading it was still enjoyable.

I’m unsure how this book came together. Maybe these questions were accumulated over the years, or a call-out was given to his congregation, but there is a wide variety of questions here. And Max doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff—questions about why God lets bad things happen, why there is so much violence in the world, salvation, fear, why there’s persecution. He answers with Scripture and anecdotes, from a vast base of knowledge and wisdom. Max knows God, and he wants readers to know God. He points to Jesus, His work on the cross, His resurrection. He glorifies Him.

One of my favorite entries had to do with someone suffering from cancer and praying for healing. His/her friend had been healed. This person had not. Why not? Was it a lack of faith? Max’s answer? A change of perspective. What if death isn’t a failure? I’ll leave you to find the question for yourself and read more.

Whether you’re a Christian or not, if you’ve been looking for answers to the tough questions, you may find a new perspective, an encouraging word, and an answer in this collection of Q&A’s. Of course, it’s not substitute for the Word of God and I didn’t always agree with Max’s comments, but overall, I’d recommend this book to seekers.

Thomas Nelson provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Fearless by Max Lucado

Today Max Lucado's new book Fearless releases. For years I’ve enjoyed Max's books. One summer, I read chapter after chapter of God Came Near aloud outside, just for the pleasure of rolling the words off my tongue. So, when the opportunity presented itself to read Fearless for review as one of Thomas Nelson's blog reviewers, I volunteered.

First, the timely back cover copy:

Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear.

They're talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, turnovers at headquarters, downturns in the housing market, upswings in global warming. The plague of our day, terrorism, begins with the word "terror." Fear, it seems, has taken up a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop. Oversized and rude, fear herds us into a prison of unlocked doors. Wouldn't it be great to walk out?

Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, or doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less.

Can you imagine your life without fear?

And now my review:

Whether it's the stock market or real estate appraisals, doctor's visits or the future, there are lots of things in life to fear, especially lately.

Take a peek at the cover of this book. See that kiddo jumping off the end of the dock with no concern for 1) the water's temperature; 2) the depth of the water; 3) clearance of the dock; 4) creatures in the water. I can come up with a hundred things to worry about. But not that kid. He's fearless. And that's what I wanna be.

One of the ways Max woos his readers is through his fantastic word-smithing. I know. I know. I made it up. (sort of; writers know of it) Max strings phrases together you can't help trying out on your tongue the second time before moving on. He also engages your imagination. His opening illustration for chapter six had me laughing aloud as he described flying with a seasoned fighter pilot and regretting his dinner the previous night. All in a chapter about keeping our eyes on Jesus.

What a timely book. Max explains that he began writing the book two years ago, not knowing what kind of emotional, spiritual, economic climate the book would release to. God knew. And every chapter speaks to me in this midst of this trying season in our country.

When you get a chance, read this book, especially if you've ever struggled with fear or anxiety. I found each chapter addressed an issue God was pointing out in my own life. Pick up a copy to give as a gift, too. You'll be blessing the reader like Max encouraged you.

Here's to living FEARLESS!