Max Lucado - Live Loved: Experiencing Gods Presence in Everyday Life

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Live Loved

EXPERIENCING GODS PRESENCE
in EVERYDAY LIFE

MAX LUCADO

Live Loved

2011 by Max Lucado

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NCV are from the New Century Version. 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked Gods Word are taken from Gods Word, a copyrighted work of Gods Word to the Nations Bible Society. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by Gods Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked JB are taken from The Jerusalem Bible. Copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and Doubleday. All rights reserved Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked PHILLIPS are taken from The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition. Copyright J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version. Copyright 1946, 1952 by Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked WEY are taken from the Weymouth Bible. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The English Standard Version. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible: Old Testament. Copyright 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation (used by permission); and The Amplified New Testament. Copyright 1958 by the Lockman Foundation (used by permission). New American Standard Bible 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. New Testament and Revised Psalms copyright 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by the permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. The Good News Bible: The Bible in Todays English Version (TEV) 1976 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission. Any italics in the Scripture quotations reflect the authors own emphasis.

ISBN 978-1-4041-9006-1

Printed in China
11 12 13 14 TIMS 6 5 4 3 2 1

I dedicate this volume
to my longtime copyeditor,
Carol Bartley.

Like God, you correct my mistakes.
Like God, you do so gently.
Thank you for being so much like him.

Contents

Loved with a
Steadfast Love

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
LAMENTATIONS 3:2223 RSV

Loved with a Steadfast Love

Jeremiah was depressed, as gloomy as a giraffe with a neck ache. Jerusalem was under siege, his nation under duress. His world collapsed like a sand castle in a typhoon. He faulted God for his horrible emotional distress. He also blamed God for his physical ailments. He [God] has made my flesh and my skin waste away, and broken my bones (Lamentations 3:4 RSV).

His body ached. His heart was sick. His faith was puny.... He realized how fast he was sinking, so he shifted his gaze. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him (vv. 2124 RSV).

But this I call to mind... Depressed, Jeremiah altered his thoughts, shifted his attention. He turned his eyes away from his stormy world and looked into the wonder of God. He quickly recited a quintet of promises. (I can envision him tapping these out on the five fingers of his hand.)

1. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

2. His mercies never come to an end.

3. They are new every morning.

4. Great is thy faithfulness.

5. The Lord is my portion.

The storm didnt cease, but his discouragement did.

FEARLESS

Thank you, precious Savior, that your love is steadfast. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Thank you for your great faithfulness, not only to me but to all your people from the first day of creation. When I am tempted to become depressed and distressed, may I choose to gaze on you. May I remember that you are my portion. May I hope in your unceasing love, amen.

Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD
(You are great, and Your name is great in might).
JEREMIAH 10:6

God is faithful, by whom you were called into
the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9

He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one
which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end.
DANIEL 6:26

Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.
PSALM 50:15 NLT

Problems Have a Purpose

God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems. My dying dad in West Texas.

The last three years of his life were scarred by ALS. The disease took him from a healthy mechanic to a bedbound paralytic. He lost his voice and his muscles, but he never lost his faith. Visitors noticed. Not so much in what he said but more in what he didnt say. Never outwardly angry or bitter, Jack Lucado suffered stately.