Prešiel od rozkazovania anjelom k spánku na slame. Od podopierania hviezd k zvieraniu Máriinho palca. Dlaň, ktorá držala vesmír, prijala od vojaka klinec. Prečo? Pretože taká je láska.
With more than 150 million products in print and several NYT bestsellers, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy. His most recent book published in August 2024 and is titled What Happens Next.
This is a short little booklet talking about the love of God and the love of Christ for us. (It is basically an excerpt from a book the author wrote, A Love Worth Giving: Living in the Overflow of God's Love.) This booklet makes the topic of God's love specifically relevant for the Christmas season. It is a very quick read with some great insight.
This quote has to do with a story in Luke chapter 7.
"She came thirsty. Thirsty from guilt. Thirsty from regret. Thirsty from countless nights of making love and finding none. She came thirsty. And when Jesus hands her the goblet of grace, she drinks. . . . She comes thirsty and she drinks. She drinks deeply.
Simon, on the other hand, doesn't even know he is thirsty. People like Simon don't need grace; they analyze it. They don't request mercy; they debate and prorate it. It wasn't that Simon couldn't be forgiven; he just never asks to be."
"'A person who is forgiven little shows only little love.' [Luke 7:47] In other words, we can't give what we've never received. If we've never received love, how can we love others?
But, oh, how we try! As if we can conjure up love by the sheer force of will. As if there is within us a distillery of affection that lacks only a piece of wood or a hotter fire. We poke it and stoke it with resolve. What's our typical strategy for treating a troubled relationship? Try harder.
'My spouse needs my forgiveness? I don't know how, but I'm going to give it.'
'I don't care how much it hurts, I'm going to be nice to that bum.'
'I'm supposed to love my neighbor? Okay. By golly, I will.'
So we try. Teeth clinched. Jaw firm. We're going to love if it kills us! And it may do just that.
Could it be we are missing a step? Could it be that the first step of love is not toward them but toward Him? Could it be that the secret to loving is receiving? You give love by first receiving it. 'We love, because He first loved us' (1 John 4:19)."
"Does bumping into certain people leave you brittle, breakable, and fruitless? Do you easily fall apart? If so, your love may be grounded in the wrong soil. It may be rooted in their love (which is fickle) or in your resolve to love (which is frail). John urges us to 'rely on the love God has for us' (John 4:16). He alone is the power source.
Many people tell us to love. Only God gives us the power to do so."
Very short, simple, and lovely. A charming summary of the gift of Christ's love.
A lovely encouragement for the commited. A simple explaination for the familiar. Perhaps not enough info for someone complete unaware of Christianity/story or Christmas.
I love this man's writing. I have enjoyed all of his books (at least the ones that I've read). And this one was no exception. As a matter of fact I do believe that this is my favorite one of his. His words ring as clear as a bell. He gave me new ways of looking at what love is and does.
This was a very nice little read for Christmas. Max Lucado is alway touching and inspirational. This book is very short, but it was worth the half-hour it took to read it.
Just a short little book of reassurance about God’s love for us and our ability to love others. A nice little pick me up for the dark, dreary Winter season 🩵.
Remembering Luke 7:47 Principle: Receive first, Love second. Receive the love of God so that we can love as God loves. Great short read at Christmastime.
I think this was a spinoff from another book (same title, minus the Christmas part), which I haven't read. It was decent, but it felt more like a long sermon than a short book.
I was looking for a book to give as a Christmas present. when I saw how short this was, and noticed how little it was I was very disappointed. After reading it I felt a little bit better. However, if I had known before buying it, that it was an excerpt from another by the author I would have bought the other book. I'm hoping I can return this book back to the company.