Do you find it difficult to turn to prayer when you need it most? Do you have trouble finding the words to capture exactly how you’re feeling? Start with Prayer, by pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado, will give you the tools you need to feel more comfortable when you communicate with God.

When struggles and anxieties come up in our lives, we invite God into our world, watching our fears surface and then depart. But how do we help prayer become a tried-and-true practice in our daily lives? Finding the right words to pray can be challenging, but Max is here to help.

Whether you’re learning to pray for the first time or you’re hoping to reinvigorate your prayer life, Start with Prayer will change the way you think about your relationship with God. Pairing timeless scripture with thoughtful prayers, Start with Prayer is a special collection of 250 prayers that will help you develop the strength and hope you need to turn to prayer first in any situation you're facing.

Adapted from Max’s series of Pocket Prayers with brand new prayers added, Start with Prayer is divided into categories designed to foster prayers that impact every aspect of life, including prayers centered around:

• Clarity and creativity
• Healing and safety
• Inspiration and encouragement
• Preservation and endurance
• Wisdom and leadership

Start with Prayer is a trustworthy resource that you can turn to no matter what season of life you’re in right now, reminding you that starting with prayer is always the right answer.

Is your soul weary? Are you worn out by the demands of life, disappointing setbacks, or downcast days? If so, stand under the waterfall of God’s unfailing love and soak in the promise that God will never let you go.

“For God so loved the world…” This verse stops us in our tracks: “Wait, this world? With heartbreakers, hope-snatchers, and dream-dousers?” Yes. And God loves this world so much that he gave us the precious gift of himself. New York Times bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado invites us to dive deep into the heart-stilling, mind-bending, deal-making claim of John 3:16.

In this book, Max will help you:

• Rest in the fact that there is nothing you can do to earn salvation.
• Understand more fully the living hope you have through Jesus’ resurrection.
• Stand in awe of how deep, wide, long, and high God’s love is for you.

Don’t wait another minute to get to know the God who invented time. Don’t live another second without growing close to the God who is life itself. Today, step confidently into the greatest news you’ll ever receive.

Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

Our thoughts have consequences. Most people would agree that positive thoughts generate positive actions. Negative thoughts activate negative behaviour. But do we understand that we can manage our lives by managing our thoughts? Not only does neuroscience back this concept, but the idea is also embedded throughout Scripture. "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom.12:2 ESV). Tame your thoughts and transform your life!

In Tame Your Thoughts, Max explores three key thought-management tools and then applies them to the most common thought problems: worry, guilt, anxiety, and other types of mental quicksand that threaten to trap us. God loves us too much to let us lead a life marked by poor thinking. He made our brains; he can retrain our brains. God has not left us alone in this battle of the mind.

Stuck in your head? Hounded by regrets? Weighed down by worry? Change is possible! The thoughts that have characterized your past need not characterize the rest of your life. Readers will learn to

• Take thoughts captive,
• Test each message against the truth of Scripture,
• Interrupt poisonous thought threads, and
• Think and act like Jesus.

If God can resurrect the dead, can he not resurrect hope? Defy depression? Clarify confusion? Silence shame? Destroy doubt? Banish bitterness?

Take God at his word. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7 NKJV, emphasis added). With God as their helper, the reader will discover a new way of thinking and a better way of living. A new person will begin to emerge.

The core idea of the book of Romans is that we are saved from sin by the grace of Christ. The apostle Paul unpacks the power of grace in a way that can completely change your life...

In this six-session Bible study (streaming video included)—the first of the 40 Days Through the Book series—Max Lucado welcomes you and your group into the knowledge and freedom of grace with his exploration of Paul's letter to the Roman church. Throughout the study, you'll explore the book of Romans with Max to gain a deeper understanding of its context and content, focusing on central truths such as:

• The extent and power of sin.
• The amazing reality and availability of God's grace.
• The battle we're still in, and the hope we have despite the lies of the enemy.
• The grand story—from creation to restoration—that we're all a part of.
• The call to live in fellowship with each other and with Christ.

• The study guide itself—a 40 Day reading plan through Romans with discussion and personal reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide.
• An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).

Teach children that they are precious in God’s sight.

This omnibus contains three books about the popular character Punchinello. It communicates the message to all children that they are precious in God’s sight, no matter what the rest of the world thinks. The Max Lucado Children’s Omnibus will remain one of children’s favourite books even as they grow older.

You Are Special

Every day Wemmicks do the same thing: either stick gold stars or grey dots on one another. The pretty and talented ones always get stars. Others, though, who can do little or who have chipped paint, get ugly dots. Parents will appreciate the message this story conveys to children: regardless of what the world thinks, they are precious in God’s sight.

You Are Mine

The need to be important is creating havoc in Wemmicksville. And once again Punchinello is in the middle. Follow his foibles as he learns a lesson that kids of every age must never forget: God’s children are loved because they belong to the Father, not because of what they possess.

Best of All

When the famous Bess Stovall arrives in Wemmicksville, everyone wants to be in her club. But Punchinello can’t because he is made of the wrong wood. Eli the woodcarver helps Punchinello see that he is special because Eli made him. We don’t have to be famous to be special. God made us just the way we are – on purpose.

Also available in Afrikaans under the title Max Lucado Omnibus.

Hierdie omnibus bestaan uit drie boekies van die immergewilde Pinkenolsie. Dit bring ’n boodskap dat elke mens vir God spesiaal is omdat Hy elkeen uniek gemaak het. Dis ’n wonderlike geskenk wat kinders sal koester selfs wanneer hulle al groot is.

Jy is spesiaal
Die Wemmels doen elke dag dieselfde ding: hulle plak óf goue sterre óf grys kolle op mekaar. Dié wat mooi en talentvol is, kry altyd goue sterre. Dié wat egter min kan doen of stukkende hout het, kry lelike kolle. Kinders sal mal wees daaroor om te sien hoe Eli vir Pinkenolsie oortuig dat hy baie spesiaal is, net soos hy is! So sal hulle besef dat hulle self ook kosbaar is vir God.

Jy is myne
Die behoefte om “belangrik” te wees veroorsaak al weer chaos in Wemmeldorp. Pinkenolsie is natuurlik weer in die middel daarvan. Volg sy avontuur terwyl hy ’n les leer wat kinders altyd moet onthou: dis nie wat jy het wat jou kos¬baar maak nie, maar die feit dat jy aan God behoort.

Die heel beste
Wanneer Alta Wonderlik in Wemmeldorp aankom, wil almal deel van haar klub wees. Pinkenolsie mag nie deel wees nie, want hy is van die verkeerde hout gemaak. Eli die houtsnyer wys vir Pinkenolsie dat hy baie spesiaal is omdat Eli hom gemaak het. Kinders sal besef hulle hoef nie soos iemand gewild te wees om spesiaal te wees nie. God het elkeen van ons met ’n doel gemaak soos ons is.

When you feel powerless . . . help is here Bills pile up. Savings go down. Marriages go south. Work goes off the rails. Stress goes off the charts. It's all too much to take on by yourself. Fortunately, you don't have to take it all on yourself. In fact, God never intended for you to do so. He has provided heaven-sent help to walk with you, guide you, and shoulder the load. Someone who never gets tired. Someone who is strong and powerful. Someone who is unhindered by what hinders us. Someone who is always nearby. Interested? If so, join Max Lucado in this five-session study to learn more about this "helper" whom we know as the Holy Spirit. You will receive the tools and encouragement you need to become joyful, enthusiastic, and empowered as you draw closer to God; learn who the Spirit is and how he can help you; find true rest and peace as you let him carry your burdens; and discover your unique gifts to further God's kingdom. Help Is Here reminds us that our Good Shepherd doesn't just feed us; he leads us. He does more than correct us; he directs us. God keeps us on track-and best of all, he's commissioned the Holy Spirit to guide us down the winding roads of life, wherever they may lead us. Sessions and video run times: Our Powerful Ally (17:00) Our Strength and Guide (16:30) Our Peace and Guarantee (18:30) Our Intercessor and Advocate (16:30) Our Gift-Giver of Life (16:30) This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including: The study guide itself-with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide. An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!) Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Like so many people today, you probably know all about Jesus. You can name his birthplace, describe his life story, even quote a few of his teachings. But do you really know him the way you know a close friend? Do you know his habits, his emotions, his passions, his personality? Could you predict how he would react in a given situation? Could you finish his sentences for him? Although Jesus' name is familiar and his story universal, so few of us could really call him a close personal friend. Just as over time we learn the subtle, familiar expressions of our closest friends, so too we can come to know the personality of our Savior.Experiencing the Heart of Jesus is about really knowing him. In this study, beloved author Max Lucado invites you to step closer to Jesus. This life-changing workbook includes: Excerpts from Max Lucado's bestselling books 52 weekly Bible study lessons on the person of Jesus Christ. A Heart of the Matter section with key takeaways for the lesson. A leaders guide to help small groups go through the material. As Max notes, One of the phenomenal things about this study is that it will give you hope. Sometimes we assume that we cannot change. You might think I've always had a quick temper. Thats just the way I am. Or maybe I've always been a cranky person, and I always will be. It's too late to change that.I've had this addiction for a lot of years. I just can't give it up. God's perspective, however, is that every single person is a work in progress, and it is his goal to take us and to shape us more and more into the image of Christ. This study encourages us to interact with God. All you need to do is call on him. 'God, help me! Change me so that I don't have to be the person I am. I want to be changed into the image of Christ.

What Happens Next, A Traveler's Guide Through the End of This Age

Seven years of chaos called the Tribulation. A cruel and cunning Antichrist. The dreaded battle of Armageddon. These images and ideas associated with prophecy can be stimulating but also unnecessarily scary. Max Lucado believes God wants us to be prepared, not scared. In his first book exploring the end of this age, Max provides a wise, well-researched, and reassuring overview of what God's Word has to say on a topic that often creates confusion and anxiety.

Max explores four big ideas that will provide a solid foundation for understanding God's plans and will remind us that we are headed to a far better place than where we started.

He explains that:

• We were made to reign with Christ;
• God has made and will keep his promises;
• Heaven has a timeline; and
• A golden era, the millennium, awaits God's children.

In a world filled with political tension, personal trials, and international turbulence, we find ourselves drawn to exploring what happens next on heaven's timeline. Whether readers find themselves in the "I can't wait," "I'm almost ready," or "I'm not sure about all of this" camp, they will be encouraged to ponder God's plans and promises for the future. In Max's signature encouraging style, he reminds us, "It's all about hope. It's all about him."

Enrich Your Faith by Walking with Jesus Join Max Lucado on an inspirational journey through the hills, the dust, and the homes of the Holy Land! Discover, with new eyes, God's heart for his people and his deep love for you. In this video Bible study, you and your small group are invited to come with Max through Capernaum, Galilee, Bethany, Jerusalem, and more. As Max weaves together insights from his own travels to Israel with teaching from his bestselling books, he will guide you to walk where Jesus walked and ponder the promises he made. God has more in store for you than you can imagine! This video Bible study will provide you an encounter with the life-altering Holy One as you follow in the footsteps of the Savior through the Holy Land. Sessions and video run times: Capernaum: Following Jesus When You Doubt (20:00) Sea of Galilee: Following Jesus in Your Storms (20:00) Mount of Beatitudes: Following Jesus When You Worry (21:00) Temple Steps: Following Jesus...And Only Jesus (20:00) Garden Tomb: Following Jesus When You Need Hope (20:30) Caesarea by the Sea: Following Jesus When You Need Grace (21:00) This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including: The study guide itself-with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide. An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!) Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2028. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Have you ever wondered what the Holy Land might have looked like through Jesus's eyes? Join pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado as he takes you on an unforgettable journey following Jesus through his life on earth, giving you a chance to see the Holy Land and God's heart for humanity in a brand-new light. In the Footsteps of the Savior is an invitation to come alongside Max as he shares meaningful, insights on the people and places that shaped Jesus's life. In this special compilation, Max weaves together in-depth teaching from his bestsellers with poignant reflections on his time in the Holy Land, guiding you through three distinct aspects of Jesus' life: The arrival of the Savior Jesus's ministry The crossroads and the cross With beautiful photographs and thoughtful questions for reflection, In the Footsteps of the Savior will take you on a journey through Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, the Jordan River, Bethany, Jerusalem, and more. As you see the places Jesus walked from a new perspective, you'll also deepen your connection with the King of the universe who became the Savior on the cross.

Spread the spirit of the Christmas season by giving the true love worth giving-God's love. A Love Worth Giving to You at Christmas will remind you that before we can pass love on, we must learn to receive it ourselves. Based on Max Lucado's book A Love Worth Giving, this holiday booklet tells the story of a love that has no bounds, no limits, no end. The Christmas kind of love. A love worth giving to others and to you. There's a problem, though. How can you give something that you never truly received? A Love Worth Giving to You at Christmas will shed light on God's generous gift, giving you the encouragement that you need to: Embrace your place as a dearly loved child in his heavenly family Learn to love others well by living loved Graciously accept the unending love that God has for you Maybe it has something to do with the lavishness of the gift that first Christmas morning, the extravagance of love that came in the form of a tiny, helpless newborn. Consider the gift for a moment, what Jesus really did. He swapped a spotless castle for a grimy stable. He exchanged the worship of angels for the company of killers. Why? Because that's what love does. It puts the beloved before itself. Your soul was more important than his blood. Your eternal life was more important than his earthly life. Your place in heaven was more important to him than his place in heaven, so he gave up his so you could have yours. And that's what extravagant giving is all about. Reminding us of the most priceless gift of all, A Love Worth Giving to You at Christmas invites you to let this love worth giving fill you, flood you, and change you forever.

Most of us agree that positive thoughts generate positive actions and negative thoughts activate negative behavior. But do we understand that we can actually manage our lives by managing our thoughts?

Not only does science back up this concept via the study of the brain and "neuroplasticity," but this idea is also embedded in every chapter of of the Bible. "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2 ESV). Change your thoughts and change your life!

Your enemy has one aim: to entangle you in a web of unhealthy thoughts. He wants to corrupt, contaminate, and confuse your mind with a false system. But God loves you too much to allow you to lead a life marked by poor thinking. He made your brain, so he can retrain your brain. If you are feeling stuck in your head, or hounded by regrets, or weighed down by worry, change is possible. The thoughts that have up to this point characterized your life need not characterize the rest of your life.

In the Tame Your Thought Bible Study, you will explore three key thought management tools and learn how to apply them to the most common thought problems: worry, guilt, anxiety, and other types of mental quicksand that threaten to trap you. You will discover what it means to:

• take your thoughts captive;
• test each message against the truth of Scripture;
• interrupt poisonous thought threads before they infect you; and
• think and act like Jesus.

• Individual access to six streaming video sessions
• Video notes and a comprehensive structure for group discussion time
• Personal study for deeper reflection between session
• A guide to best practices for leading a group

Join Max Lucado on a journey through the book of Esther as he reminds us that God need not be loud to be strong, he need not cast a shadow to be present...and he is active even when he appears distant. This study was born in a hard season-a pandemic that locked down the world. Church doors closed. Students were stuck at home. Masks hid smiles. And as if this weren't enough, the ancient sin of racism and hatred seems to be trying to undo us. Many of us are left wondering if this season will ever pass. To all these things, God has a six-letter word of encouragement: E-S-T-H-E-R. The book that bears her name was written to be read in hard seasons. It was crafted for those who feel outnumbered by foes, outmaneuvered by fate, and outdone by fear. In the You Were Made for This Moment five-session video Bible study (streaming included), pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado presents the story of Esther in all its drama, urgency, and hope. This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including: The study guide itself--with discussion and personal reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide. An individual access code to stream all five video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!). Esther's is a story that reaches out of the past to our present circumstances with a singular message: God is present, and he will act. It's a story that demands from us a singular response: what will we do when he does? Sessions and video run times: Cozy in the Culture - Esther 1:1-2:18 (17:30) A Moment of Decision - Esther 2:19-4:14 (17:00) Heaven Set in Motion - Esther 4:15-6:14 (16:30) The God of Great Turnarounds - Esther 7:1-8:17 (17:30) Remembering God's Faithfulness - Esther 9:1-10:3 (16:00) Watch on any device! Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob's Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, And God's Relentless Love is a book for the members of the Lost Halo Society. For the strugglers among us and the fumbler within us. For those of us who are part saint, part scoundrel. We mean well, but we don’t always do well. We have breakthroughs and breakdowns, often in the same hour. We need no reminder of our failures, but we could always use a refresher course on God’s perfect plan to use imperfect people to do great things.

No one is more suited to the task than Jacob. He was less a prodigy and more a prodigal. Strong on savvy. Low on conscience. Jacob took advantage of his famished brother and pulled the wool over the eyes of his dying father, yet God never turned his back on Jacob.

God used Jacob because God chose to use Jacob. Period. The word for that kind of devotion? Grace. Grace came after Jacob. Grace found him in the desert. Grace protected him in exile. Grace wrestled him to the ground and blessed him. Grace led him home to Canaan.

By taking a closer look at Jacob’s incredible story, you will:

• Learn to see the ways God turns your brokenness into blessings
• Overcome shame and negative thoughts by embracing who you are in the eyes of a loving, merciful God Strengthen your relationships by leading a life marked by grace and forgiveness for yourself and others

Jacob’s story invites us to believe in a God who sticks beside the unworthy and underachievers and leads us safely home. If God can use Jacob to further his kingdom, he can use us too. Let Max show you how.

Children love hearing how Eli the woodcarver helps Punchinello understand how special he is, marks and all. Now in a condensed version, this award-winning tale and its charming illustrations are available for younger children in a board-book format.

An unexpected bill. An upcoming doctor's appointment. A tense family visit. The list could go on. Every day struggles of all sizes creep into our lives, leaving us stressed. Frustrated. Anxious. Just plain miserable. The believers in Philippi were struggling.

They were trying to grow in faith and live for Christ. Trying to deal with conflict and threats of persecution. The apostle Paul was stuck in a Roman prison when he wrote to this young church. His letter could have focused on his own troubles. Instead he wrote about living a life full of joy, peace, and contentment. He reminds us of important biblical truths and points us to Jesus as the ultimate example. Paul's letter encourages. It inspires. His confidence reminds us of God's wisdom and control in the difficult moments of life. His excitement challenges us in this guide to joy.

The Life Lessons with Max Lucado series brings the Bible to life in twelve lessons filled with intriguing questions, inspirational stories, and poignant reflections to take you deeper into God's Word. Each lesson in this updated edition of the bestselling series includes an opening reflection, a description of the context in which the passage was written, an excerpt of the text (from the New International and New King James versions), exploration and reflection questions on the passage, inspirational thoughts on the theme from Max Lucado, and a closing Life Lessons takeaway and personal devotion.

The Life Lessons with Max Lucado series is ideal for use in both a small-group setting or for individual study.

The Max Lucado Life Lessons series continues to be one of the bestselling study guide series on the market today. This updated edition of the popular New Testament and Old Testament series will offer readers a complete selection of studies by Max Lucado. Intriguing questions, inspirational storytelling, and profound reflections will bring God's Word to life for both individuals and small-group members. Each session now includes a key passage of Scripture from both the NIV (formerly NCV) and the NKJV, and the guides have been updated to include content from Max's recent releases (2007-2016).

"Long, long ago God made a decision - a very important decision. One that I'm really glad He made. He made the decision to make you. . ." The opening lines of Max Lucado's classic book Just in Case You Ever Wonder have made their way into families, story times, and hearts around the world. This award-winning book about the love between a parent and child has sold more than 1.7 million copies, touching lives for more than 25 years. Now Lucado's heartfelt assurances of a parent's love are paired with Eve Tharlet's breathtaking artwork to reach a whole new generation.

Written especially for children ages 3-7, Just in Case You Ever Wonder is inspiring for all ages, as it reminds readers of Jesus' love for them: "Remember I'm here for you. On dark nights when you hear noises in your closet, call me. On hard days when kids are mean and don't treat you like they should, come to me."

The timeless reminder of the love between a parent and a child - and ultimately, between God the Father and His children - will always hold a special place in readers' hearts and homes. Readers who loved Just in Case You Ever Wonder as a child will welcome the opportunity to give this updated edition to their children. This richly illustrated book is also an ideal way for grandparents to pass on their faith and love to their grandchildren or as an encouragement to any child needing a reminder of God's love. This book assures children of God's love throughout all their experiences, such as fear of the dark, being bullied, and even assurance that their parent was with them when they were first born and will be with them in heaven.

Children long to hear they're special and loved. Just in Case You Ever Wonder assures them that as they grow and change, in both good and bad times, their parents - and their heavenly Father - will always be on their side . . . just in case they ever wonder.

There is a weariness among us. We are weary from the loads we carry and the challenges we face. We have questions we cannot answer and problems we cannot solve. We’d hoped that life would be an invigorating pilgrimage, a high-country adventure. We never expected to grow so tired, so soon.

Yet, what if there is help? Someone to walk with us and guide us, to shoulder the load. And what if this help was heaven-sent? Not another person who, like us, is prone to blisters and leg cramps. Someone who is ever strong and powerful. Never tires. Always near. Unhindered by what hinders us. Interested? Then there is good news: the Holy Spirit is among us—help is here.

In this book, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado will help readers:

• Learn who the Spirit is and how the Spirit can help
• Become joyful, enthusiastic, and empowered people as they draw closer to God
• Confidently face any difficulty with the power of the Spirit

Challenges come with life, but they need not define our lives. Help is here!