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Nobody Left Out: Jesus Meets the Messes
When Jesus walked this earth, he spent time with the messes.
A lonely thief.
An unwelcome dinner guest.
A death-row criminal facing his final hours on earth.
What do all of these people have in common?
They all faced the messiness of life. Some made the mess themselves. Some were thrown headfirst into a mess through no fault of their own.
Then something changed. It wasn't that they suddenly became unmessy. But they each came face to face with Jesus, and he invited them to be part of God’s story. He didn’t leave them out.
This 40-day devotional looks at eight encounters Jesus had with messy, broken people. In short, daily readings, you'll explore each story and see how Jesus met each person in their mess.
The eight stories we'll be walking through together are:
Jesus Meets The Lonely Thief
Jesus Meets The Know-It-All
Jesus Meets The Unwelcome Dinner Guest
Jesus Meets The Woman Who Was Exploited
Jesus Meets The Sick Woman & The Dead Girl
Jesus Meets The Blind Man With Perfect Vision
Jesus Sees The Invisible Widow
Jesus Meets The Honest Criminal
Whether you've been following Jesus your whole life or have never cracked open a Bible, Nobody Left Out: Jesus Meets the Messes will remind you that God's love is big enough for everyone….
He doesn’t want anyone left out!
A lonely thief.
An unwelcome dinner guest.
A death-row criminal facing his final hours on earth.
What do all of these people have in common?
They all faced the messiness of life. Some made the mess themselves. Some were thrown headfirst into a mess through no fault of their own.
Then something changed. It wasn't that they suddenly became unmessy. But they each came face to face with Jesus, and he invited them to be part of God’s story. He didn’t leave them out.
This 40-day devotional looks at eight encounters Jesus had with messy, broken people. In short, daily readings, you'll explore each story and see how Jesus met each person in their mess.
The eight stories we'll be walking through together are:
Jesus Meets The Lonely Thief
Jesus Meets The Know-It-All
Jesus Meets The Unwelcome Dinner Guest
Jesus Meets The Woman Who Was Exploited
Jesus Meets The Sick Woman & The Dead Girl
Jesus Meets The Blind Man With Perfect Vision
Jesus Sees The Invisible Widow
Jesus Meets The Honest Criminal
Whether you've been following Jesus your whole life or have never cracked open a Bible, Nobody Left Out: Jesus Meets the Messes will remind you that God's love is big enough for everyone….
He doesn’t want anyone left out!
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2020
413 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Michael Murray
2 books27 followersMichael Murray is just a broken, messy guy trying to follow Jesus one step at a time. He was born with cerebral palsy, a disability that affects motor skills. Living life with CP has given Michael a unique perspective on God's grace and mercy. He believes that every single person matters to Jesus.
Michael lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife Diana (who's an amazing artist!) and their dog Ruby. He attends Summit Church, where he serves as a writer and actor on the family productions team. Michael is a big fan of sweet tea, musicals, and writing about himself in the third person.
Michael lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife Diana (who's an amazing artist!) and their dog Ruby. He attends Summit Church, where he serves as a writer and actor on the family productions team. Michael is a big fan of sweet tea, musicals, and writing about himself in the third person.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 8, 2023
A hopeful, quick read that makes parts of the Bible accessible.
This is second of Mr. Murray's books I have read, and honestly my only criticism of them is that I wish they were longer! I'm not someone who lives my faith out loud. I never have been. I don't want to shove it in anyone's faces, but I think if more people paid attention to books like these, I think the world would start to feel a little better. I think the hardest part about following Christianity is the reading. It often comes across as dry, dated, and difficult to understand. I appreciate the author attempting to explain the parts of the Bible he chooses in both of his books. He gave me a lot to think about, and I found myself looking at parts of the Bible I've read or heard in church in an entirely different light, and I feel like I'm reading them for the first time because I actually understand them to at least some degree. You may not agree with everything Mr. Murray has to say, but I think it's worth applauding him for saying it anyway. He doesn't seem preachy or condescending in any way. He's actually rather self deprecating, and I found myself smiling at his side notes throughout the book. I really enjoyed reading this and his other book, and hope he produces more in the future. If Christian reading was discussed like this more often, I bet you'd see a lot more people going to church.
This is second of Mr. Murray's books I have read, and honestly my only criticism of them is that I wish they were longer! I'm not someone who lives my faith out loud. I never have been. I don't want to shove it in anyone's faces, but I think if more people paid attention to books like these, I think the world would start to feel a little better. I think the hardest part about following Christianity is the reading. It often comes across as dry, dated, and difficult to understand. I appreciate the author attempting to explain the parts of the Bible he chooses in both of his books. He gave me a lot to think about, and I found myself looking at parts of the Bible I've read or heard in church in an entirely different light, and I feel like I'm reading them for the first time because I actually understand them to at least some degree. You may not agree with everything Mr. Murray has to say, but I think it's worth applauding him for saying it anyway. He doesn't seem preachy or condescending in any way. He's actually rather self deprecating, and I found myself smiling at his side notes throughout the book. I really enjoyed reading this and his other book, and hope he produces more in the future. If Christian reading was discussed like this more often, I bet you'd see a lot more people going to church.
November 4, 2025
Biblically based. It is really for someone being introduced to the idea of redemption and Jesus love and forgiveness.
April 20, 2021
I ordered this book sight unseen and was so impressed by not only its author, but the theme. "Nobody Left Out" is a powerful reminder that all are welcome in Christ's Kingdom. Author Murray shares a relatable, easy to read set of 40 devotions. Each chapter/devo has a specific person's story in Scripture that Jesus welcomed, encouraged or restored.
I think this book would be great for a small group study or for personal devotional time. I think it would also be applicable for teens, too! I hope to read more from Murray in the future.
I think this book would be great for a small group study or for personal devotional time. I think it would also be applicable for teens, too! I hope to read more from Murray in the future.
March 25, 2021
Everybody should get this 40-day devotional it really does a great job of tying in scripture as well as personal experiences.
Easy to follow and much to learn and be inspired by.
Easy to follow and much to learn and be inspired by.
July 31, 2025
Having seen Michael Murray’s brave and touching ads on social media for his book series, and realizing everything he was saying was pointing right at ME and my situation that day, I took a chance and purchased the lot of them two months ago.
I am happy to report that the first in the series “Nobody Left Out: Jesus Meets the Messes,” is written with such genuine charm and humor that I was glad I had in hand the next book in the series as soon as I finished it. These are the first of this type of book I’ve ever purchased, as I've been “away” from practicing religion for a while now. The angle from which these are written speaks right to me- and the 2-3 pages to read each day made it so simple for me to include this Prayer Time in my day without a question.
I am so happy that I saw the author’s ad! What a wonderful way to help me step back in to daily prayer and start to embrace the spiritual side of my life again. Well done, Michael, and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I am happy to report that the first in the series “Nobody Left Out: Jesus Meets the Messes,” is written with such genuine charm and humor that I was glad I had in hand the next book in the series as soon as I finished it. These are the first of this type of book I’ve ever purchased, as I've been “away” from practicing religion for a while now. The angle from which these are written speaks right to me- and the 2-3 pages to read each day made it so simple for me to include this Prayer Time in my day without a question.
I am so happy that I saw the author’s ad! What a wonderful way to help me step back in to daily prayer and start to embrace the spiritual side of my life again. Well done, Michael, and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
January 27, 2022
Nobody Left Out – Jesus Meets the Messes: A 40-Day Devotional for Messy, Broken People (Like Me!) is an upbeat book that will help you get out of the mess you are in and also help you know yourself better. Michael Murray uses biblical stories and real-life experiences to talk about the complexities of life and how we can make our living experiences better. The author makes readers feel like they belong and is not judgmental. He understands that all his readers have their shortcomings.
Want to live a righteous life? Picking yourself up? Struggling with understanding the purpose of life? When you read Nobody Left Out, readers will feel the presence of other people that have gone through similar struggles. Reading this book will expand how readers think and improve their reasoning abilities. The author makes readers feel like they are a child of God and unique in everything they have. Michael Murray is not only a talented writer, he has the ability to give readers an encouraging outlook. This book is inspiring and eye-opening.
There are many lessons and messages shared in Nobody Left Out, patience, forgiveness, hope, faith, peace, tolerance, and much more. The biggest lesson, however, is about love. The author, through his text, preaches about the love of God and how God never leaves his people. By loving God and other humans, we get to live graciously and contentedly.
The eight stories the author shares in this book are all-powerful. There are, however, three stories that spoke to me on a different level. The story about Jesus meeting the unwelcome dinner guest, Jesus meeting the invisible widow, and Jesus meeting the honest criminal were the three stories that had me reflect on certain things about life.
Nobody Left Out – Jesus Meets the Messes: A 40-Day Devotional for Messy, Broken People (Like Me!) is recommended to any reader who wants to turn a new leaf, believers, and people who wish to strengthen their faith.
Want to live a righteous life? Picking yourself up? Struggling with understanding the purpose of life? When you read Nobody Left Out, readers will feel the presence of other people that have gone through similar struggles. Reading this book will expand how readers think and improve their reasoning abilities. The author makes readers feel like they are a child of God and unique in everything they have. Michael Murray is not only a talented writer, he has the ability to give readers an encouraging outlook. This book is inspiring and eye-opening.
There are many lessons and messages shared in Nobody Left Out, patience, forgiveness, hope, faith, peace, tolerance, and much more. The biggest lesson, however, is about love. The author, through his text, preaches about the love of God and how God never leaves his people. By loving God and other humans, we get to live graciously and contentedly.
The eight stories the author shares in this book are all-powerful. There are, however, three stories that spoke to me on a different level. The story about Jesus meeting the unwelcome dinner guest, Jesus meeting the invisible widow, and Jesus meeting the honest criminal were the three stories that had me reflect on certain things about life.
Nobody Left Out – Jesus Meets the Messes: A 40-Day Devotional for Messy, Broken People (Like Me!) is recommended to any reader who wants to turn a new leaf, believers, and people who wish to strengthen their faith.
April 30, 2023
I didn't read this for the devotionals, but to have some spiritual conversation with God, which I haven't done for a long time. I must say, "Nobody Left Out" is a great book that summarizes interesting chapters in the Bible in a way that is not too serious. It's suitable for both God's followers and people who just want to know a bit about Jesus.
The most important thing is that the eight encounters in the book affirmed me that, despite being a broken and lost person, I deserve a spot in God's place.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with God or gain a better understanding of Jesus' love.
The most important thing is that the eight encounters in the book affirmed me that, despite being a broken and lost person, I deserve a spot in God's place.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with God or gain a better understanding of Jesus' love.
June 17, 2025
I like the way the author weaves in his own struggles—his own mess—into these stories. I felt that I not only was able to look at some well-known stories of Jesus’ interactions with fellow messy folk like me, but I was also able to see from different perspectives, like the perspective of the “villains” (there are always villains!). I chose to read each encounter on a day, instead of in 4o days. They are short daily devotionals, and I found myself curious what all there would be to say about each for five days…so I kept reading. Looking forward to the other books in the author’s “Messy Bundle.”
December 30, 2022
Bible study for the uninitiated
Raised Catholic and currently attending a Presbyterian church, I am familiar with but not a student of the Bible. This devotional does an amazing job of presenting and getting the reader to think about eight stories from the Bible. The commentary and questions help bring the lessons home.
P.S. I read one story a day and completed the book in five days rather 40.
Raised Catholic and currently attending a Presbyterian church, I am familiar with but not a student of the Bible. This devotional does an amazing job of presenting and getting the reader to think about eight stories from the Bible. The commentary and questions help bring the lessons home.
P.S. I read one story a day and completed the book in five days rather 40.
June 25, 2021
I really enjoyed this book.
This is one of the few devotionals I actually finished. Granted, I didn't read it as you would a devotional, one chapter a day. I read 5 chapters at a time that went with the same story. Then I would take a few days to process that story before starting another. I love how the author describes Jesus' interactions with people.
This is one of the few devotionals I actually finished. Granted, I didn't read it as you would a devotional, one chapter a day. I read 5 chapters at a time that went with the same story. Then I would take a few days to process that story before starting another. I love how the author describes Jesus' interactions with people.
September 20, 2021
Devotionals for Messy People - a must read!!
This was truly an eye opening devotional. It gave me perspectives I wouldn’t have normally thought of in well known Bible stories. Thank you for the questions at the end of each devotion - enables one to examine themselves and their walk as a Christian.
This was truly an eye opening devotional. It gave me perspectives I wouldn’t have normally thought of in well known Bible stories. Thank you for the questions at the end of each devotion - enables one to examine themselves and their walk as a Christian.
June 23, 2024
Fantastic book for people of all ages and backgrounds who want to get closer to Jesus. The way he breaks down each encounter to help the reader understand its meaning really provides solace to people with messy lives. Because we are all messy in our own way, we all can benefit from reading this book.
October 12, 2025
A title I can identify with!
I read this book a story at a time because i wanted to see what Michael had to say about each character. Each character is unique, but Jesus see each as child of His own. Jesus is a people watcher and knows each person from the inside with all the hidden hurts and circumstances of life.
I read this book a story at a time because i wanted to see what Michael had to say about each character. Each character is unique, but Jesus see each as child of His own. Jesus is a people watcher and knows each person from the inside with all the hidden hurts and circumstances of life.
June 19, 2021
Uplifting and encouraging
By highlighting specific Bible characters, Michael uplifts and encourages his readers to form a personal relationship with God. It’s Real, Relatable, & Relevant.
By highlighting specific Bible characters, Michael uplifts and encourages his readers to form a personal relationship with God. It’s Real, Relatable, & Relevant.
October 10, 2021
Bits of Gold
Very good renditions of people from Canceled Culture society! It made me dig for supporting Scriptures that gave me more on-site into each situation! God bless the author for his publication! I highly recommend this short book!
Very good renditions of people from Canceled Culture society! It made me dig for supporting Scriptures that gave me more on-site into each situation! God bless the author for his publication! I highly recommend this short book!
August 27, 2024
Great devotional book!! I really enjoy the style of this author with compelling truths, humor and thought provoking questions that have you placing yourself in the scripture and really walking with Jesus. I look forward to reading Michael’s next book.
October 10, 2024
This is the third book I have read by Michael. I followed this one for forty days, focusing on his story daily. I found inspiration each day from his stories and was glad I took the time to read this book every day for forty days.
April 2, 2021
I absolutely loved this devotional. It really helped me draw closer to Jesus and see him in a new light. How he truly loved us and doesn't want anyone left out.
June 15, 2021
Michael has unique insight into the messy people we meet in the Bible. Great devotional!
November 4, 2021
I wish it was longer!
I loved this book. I lose interest in books easily but this one was different. I would encourage others to get this book.
I loved this book. I lose interest in books easily but this one was different. I would encourage others to get this book.
December 22, 2022
Great read
Quick but in depth chapters reviewing stories from the New Testament with fresh perspective. I appreciate the author's respect of women, marginalized and LGBTQ+ petsons
Quick but in depth chapters reviewing stories from the New Testament with fresh perspective. I appreciate the author's respect of women, marginalized and LGBTQ+ petsons
March 20, 2023
meaningful
You just never know the little thing God can use to pull you toward himself. I am thankful for the candor and honesty of a messy life.
You just never know the little thing God can use to pull you toward himself. I am thankful for the candor and honesty of a messy life.
January 11, 2024
Wonderful Devotional
I read it through as a book instead of as a devotional. I loved it! I definitely saw things from a different light and learned a lot.
I read it through as a book instead of as a devotional. I loved it! I definitely saw things from a different light and learned a lot.
May 26, 2024
Really enjoyed this devotional with great Bible lessons.
June 30, 2025
Easy to read, relatable content, insightful interpretation of the stories included with supporting scripture. Very much enjoyed it.
August 10, 2025
"When we come to Jesus in our brokenness, He'll never turn us away. He'll never leave us out."
August 29, 2025
Excellent. The chapters are short, engaging, and to the point. I have read many devotionals over my reading life (around 65 years). I rate this book as being among my top five.
January 8, 2023
I am really enjoying this devotional. The author's tone is friendly, inviting and non-judgmental, and his insights are thought provoking, much like Jesus himself. It is helping me kick-start myself back into more regular Bible reading without without making me feel guilty about getting off track. It is a much needed reminded that it's ok to be a mess. So happy to have stumbled onto this writer via a Facebook ad. I hope he keeps writing. He has a gift. I think this would make a good study book to do with a group.
June 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this highly relatable, readable devotional.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews