Herbert Cooper - But God: Changes Everything

Herbert Cooper shares his amazing testimony in But God. We all face obstacles in life, and this book will encourage you as Herbert unpacks how the power of God can change any situation. No matter the challenge, But God changes everything!

MARK BATTERSON, bestselling author of The Circle Maker and lead pastor of National Community Church

Herbert Cooper is a fresh and powerful voice for faith today and it shows in this incredible book. But God is a must-read that delivers brilliant insight, brimming with hope. This book is meant to be savored personally and shared with others.

JUD WILHITE, author Pursued, senior pastor Central Christian Church

The one word that describes the book But God is hope. As Herbert Cooper shares his own story of pain you will discover that the redeeming power of God can change any situation. But God will encourage you, inspire you, and give you biblical perspective on lifes toughest challenges.

STEVEN FURTICK, lead pastor, Elevation Church, and NewYork Times bestselling author of Crash the Chatterbox, Greater, and Sun Stand Still

But God could possibly be two of the most powerful words in the Bible. Herbert unpacks how we use those words as a bridge to get from where we are to where God wants to take us. This book will change your life.

STOVALL WEEMS, lead pastor, Celebration Church

But God Changes Everything reveals the essence of our hope in the power of Gods love to transform our lives. With stories from his own life that will crack you up, along with insightful exploration of the Bibles least likely heroes, Herbert Cooper inspires you to invite Gods healing presence into your hardest struggles and darkest secrets. But God is a handbook of hope for anyone longing to trust God in every area of their lives.

CHRIS HODGES, senior pastor, Church of the Highlands, author of Fresh Air and Four Cups

In But God, Herbert Cooper unflinchingly tells his own story of pain and redemption. The gospel is the good news that our struggles are never the end of the story. But God is the reminder we need that there is always hope.

GREG SURRATT, founding pastor, Seacoast Church

We are used to having all the resources we need to solve our problems on our own. But those who truly know God have learned to rejoice when everything looks bleak, when problems look impossible because these moments are the beginning of a but God story. Pastor Herbert lays out the uncomfortable, glorious reality that our First World problems mask a fundamental need for a Savior who will be there in the moments when all hope is lost. This book will confidently lead you into the exhilarating safety of a God who invades, intervenes, and provides on behalf of his children.

SCOTT WILLIAMS, church growth/leadership consultant and strategist at NxtLevel Solutions, author of ChurchDiversity and Go Big, @ScottWilliams

Herbert Cooper is an amazing testimony of Gods redemption. His life is an example of someone who faced many challenges and has overcome them all. This book will transform how you think about your situation and will equip you with powerful tools and hope that God can turn any obstacle into a victory in your life.

PASTOR JOE CHAMPION, Celebration Church, Austin, TX

There is no obstacle or challenge we face in life that a but God moment cant overcome. In this book, Herbert Cooper shares how but God moments transformed his life of brokenness into a life of wholeness. Throughout the pages of this book, you will discover that God can turn any hopeless situation into hope-filled victory. This book is a must-read. ButGod truly changes everything!

ROBERT MADU, international evangelist

ZONDERVAN

But God
Copyright 2014 by Herbert Cooper

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition January 2015: ISBN 978-0-310-33894-9

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Herbert Cooper is represented by Thomas J. Winters of Winters & King, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Interior design: Beth Shagene
Editorial: Sandra Vander Zicht, Jane Haradine, Lauren Niswonger

First printing November 2014

To my amazing Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
Thank you for rescuing me.
Your radical love, grace, and mercy
have brought me a mighty long way.
My life is truly summed up in these two words,
but God.
Ill serve and worship you for all of eternity!

Contents

by Craig Groeschel

Its amazing how quickly life can take a turn. One moment everything is normal; the next minute everything can change. My family knows this all too well. After my wife, Amy, gave birth to our second child, we were on top of the world. That was until she began to feel weak and frail, and the right side of her body went completely numb. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. And we still couldnt find any answers for the numbness. Panic set in.

If you live long enough, youll realize that life can be extremely tough. You might receive a phone call with bad news about someone you love. Or maybe you find out your company is downsizing, and youre likely to lose your job. Maybe your trusted friend betrays you and leaves you wondering how youll ever heal.

Chances are good that you might be facing one or more challenges right now. You might be enduring the dire consequences of something you did or said that you regret but cant change. You could be trying to climb out of a financial hole that seems too deep to ever overcome. You might be licking your wounds, struggling with bitterness after someone misled you, lied to you, or betrayed you. You could be experiencing health issues that have you paralyzed with fear, wondering what will happen to you.

What do you do when you dont know what to do? So many people try to escape the pain with mindless hours watching TV, perusing social media in front of a screen, reaching for the dulling effects of alcohol or drugs. Others get mad, vowing never to risk again. Some are tempted to quit on people, on school, on church, or even quit on God. Its easy for the excuses to pile up:

I know I need to go to the doctor, BUT I dont want to face the news.

I should forgive him, BUT I am still so angry.

I really need to change, BUT Ive tried and tried and simply cant do it.

I should trust God, BUT I feel better when I take control.

If you feel like youre up against an obstacle too big to overcome, you are going to absolutely love Pastor Herbert Coopers life-changing book based on two simple words:

But God.

When you stop saying, But I, and start saying, But God, everything changes. And thats exactly what my good friend Herbert will teach you to do. Honestly, I dont know anyone better equipped to empower people with this simple, yet game-changing truth.