Max Lucado - Lucado 2in1 (In the Eye of the Storm and Applause of Heaven)

IN
THE
EYE OF THE
STORM

THE
APPLAUSE
OF
HEAVEN

Max Lucado

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In the Eye of the Storm
1991, 1995 by Max Lucado

Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: New International Version . 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Those marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. Those marked TLB are from The Living Bible. 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. Those marked NEB are from the New English Bible, 1961, 1970 by The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. Reprinted by permission.

The Applause of Heaven
1990, 1996, 1999 by Max Lucado

Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: New International Version . 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Those marked TLB are from The Living Bible. 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. Those marked NEB are from the New English Bible, 1961, 1970 by The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. Reprinted by permission. Those marked PHILLIPS are from J. B. Phillips: The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition. J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. Those marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN 978-0-8499-2114-8

Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 RRD 11 10 09 08

IN
THE
EYE
OF THE
STORM

To Robert and Elsie Forcum

two ambassadors with a love for the church and a burden for the world

CONTENTS

Heres a salute to some special friends who made this book possible.

First to the folks at Word Publishing:

Kip Jordon, Byron Williamson, Ernie Owen, Joey Paul, and Roland LundyIts a privilege to be on the team.

Dave Moberg, Tom Williams, Susan Russell, Ed Curtis, and Michal RutledgeCreativity unlimited!

Nancy Norris and Leslie HughesWe know who really keeps the office working.

Stephen and Amanda SorensonYou can cross my ts and dot my is anytime. Thanks for the great editorial work.

And to my church family at Oak Hills:

Mary StainMy supersecretary who corrects my mistakes, takes my calls, keeps me prompt, and saves my neck on a daily basis. Thank you so much.

Elsie Clay, Marcelle Le Gallo, and Kathleen McCleeryOur secretarial staff who help Mary so she can help me. Thanks again.

Glen Carter, Jim Toombs, John Tuller, Pat Hile, Jeff Pickens, and Rod ChisholmSix co-workers who make my work a joy.

Karen Hill, Rod Chisholm, and Allen Dutton, Jr. Thanks for proofreading the manuscript.

The members of Oak Hills ChurchYou make every Sunday a homecoming.

And to the Lucado family:

Jenna, Andrea, and Sarathree little girls whove taken my heart hostage.

And most of all, to my wife Denalyna decade with you has convinced me: there is a heaven, and you dont have to die to go there.

BEFORE
YOU
BEGIN...

CHIPPIE THE PARAKEET NEVER saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.

The problems began when Chippies owner decided to clean Chippies cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. Shed barely said hello when sssopp! Chippie got sucked in.

The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie still alive, but stunned.

Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do... she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.

Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.

A few days after the trauma, the reporter whod initially written about the event contacted Chippies owner to see how the bird was recovering. Well, she replied, Chippie doesnt sing much anymorehe just sits and stares.

Its hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over... thats enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.

Can you relate to Chippie? Most of us can. One minute youre seated in familiar territory with a song on your lips, then... The pink slip comes. The rejection letter arrives. The doctor calls. The divorce papers are delivered. The check bounces. A policeman knocks on your door.

Sssopp! Youre sucked into a black cavern of doubts, doused with the cold water of reality, and stung with the hot air of empty promises.

The life that had been so calm is now so stormy. Youre hailstormed by demands. Assailed by doubts. Pummeled by questions. And somewhere in the trauma, you lose your joy. Somewhere in the storm, you lose your song.

Ever found yourself in a storm of life? If so, if Chippies story is your story, then Im glad you picked up this book. I wrote it with you in mind. I wrote it because there is a day in the life of Christ that you need to know about.

Aside from the Crucifixion, it is the most stressful day of his life. A roaring sequence of bad news, demanding crowds, and doubting friends. Twenty-four hours in which Jesus faces the same gale-force fears that you and I face. Waves of pressure slam. Winds of anxiety blow. Clouds of darkness billow.

Yet through it all Jesus remains calm. He endures the day without losing his song. Id like to help you see how he did it.

First well consider the stress of demands. Jesus handled twelve hours of chaos. What did he do to keep his cool? What did he know that gave him strength? If your days are bookended with deadlines and chuck-it-all frustrations then youll like this section.

The second section is entitled Storms of Doubt. Have you ever found yourself in a storm and wondered why Jesus doesnt pull you out? The disciples did. While Jesus went up the mountain, they went out on the sea. The storm came, their boat bounced, and they were left with a long night of fear and a long list of questions. Jesus knows were in a storm. Why doesnt he come?

Sound familiar?

The final section of the book deals with a third source of anxietythe sting of failure. In the twilight hours of that night we discover a sweet story of grace, Peters attempt to walk on water. What began as a step of faith ended up as a belly flop of fear. If youve ever wondered what God does when we fail, then read this section and allow the hand that saved Peter to touch you.

Storms come. They come quickly. They pounce ferociously. If you are in one, then you know what I mean. If youre not in one today, you know as well as Ione may be in tomorrows forecast.