A Centurion's view....

Here is one of my favorites from Max Lucado....

"If it is true the picture paints 1000 words, and there was a Roman centurion who got a dictionary full. All he did was see Jesus suffer. He never heard him preach or saw him heal or followed him through the crowds. He never witnessed him still the wind; he only witnessed the way he died. But that was all it took to cause this weather – worn soldier to take a giant step in faith. Surely this was a righteous man.

That says a lot, doesn’t it? It says the rubber of faith meets the road of reality under hardship. It says that the trueness of one’s belief is revealed in pain. Genuineness and character are unveiled in misfortune. Faith is at its best, not in three-piece suits on Sunday mornings or at VBS on summer days, but at hospital bedsides, cancer wards, and cemeteries."

From my devotional book "Grace for the Moment : Morning and Evening Readings"

God's favorite word...

It is a regular habit of mine to read things written by Max Lucado. Every so often I come across a few paragraphs I think are worth repeating here on this site.

This is a great illustration of one of those times...

"God is an inviting God. He invited Mary to the birth of his son, the disciples to fish for men, adulterous woman to start over, and Thomas to touch his wounds. God is the King prepares the palace, sets the table, and invites his subjects to come in.

In fact, it seems his favorite word is come.

"Come, let us talk about these things. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

"All you who are thirsty, come and drink."

"Come to me all, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest."

"God is a God who invites. God is a God who calls."

Taken from the book by Max Lucado, "And the Angels were Silent."