MAX LUCADO & His Newest, Revised & Updated Book - Releases Today

"Experiencing the Heart of Jesus for 52 Weeks:

Revised & Updated: A Year-Long Bible Study" 

by

Max Lucado

is being released today

May 28, 2024

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This is not a book reviewbecause I do not have a copyyet of this book
but from doing the YV plan of 5 days, I'm sure it's worth getting!
I also have received a few devotionals from Devotionals Daily and as always
Max Lucado goes beyond teaching God's Word,
in this combination book of two others
we can experience Jesus
deeper and know
His heart
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Amazon's
book description adequately details this book
and currently the Kindle & Paperback are the same price ($12.99)Baker Book House has the Paperback for a little less & a few others
{I'm pretty sure that I will get the Kindle version. And I did this a.m. as it launched😉}
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Devotionals Daily
has shared some excerpts from the 52 Weeks:
[the most recent]
"Where Love and Justice Meet" 
{I tried to link this and I got null} 
[I believe it still takes you to the Devotionals Daily at Faith Gateway Store]
but if you just try the title, there are all kinds with that one, so that won't work either (sorry)
Another one there is:
"The Luggage of Life"

You Tube promo of "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus" 

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I was thinking that I would just announce this particular book by Max Lucado and then share more of the book that I started back here, but I will save that special moment of CALM for another time & day, as I continue enjoying this treasure gift book page by page and paced to slowly absorb my time with this real book (in other words, I'm not very far into the 10 Chapters but I also haven't skipped ahead). Meanwhile, in case you are not aware - Max Lucado's website has been featuring that ... CALM book since May 1st (I think), which was "Name the Problem" (you can either listen, or read, or both) and the most recent (May 24, 2024) "Two Sides of the Aisle" ... very brief encounters yet very enjoyable!

So, I guess this blog post is/was just a reminder

to me that today's the big day for his revised & updated book

NEW RELEASE of THIS BOOK

which is more of an 

EXPERIENCE

Here's a glimmer of some of the pages from this new book:

[credit: Church Source]

 for all 3 images

another valuable resource place to purchase this from

Looks like this will be another 52 Weeks of an Excellent Study!

[Amazon shared some pages also, if you scroll down]

Don't forget that you can read & experience 

5 days with You Version

bible (dot) com/reading - that link should work

No FOCUS One Word this Week

Just a reminder

NO

Focus One Word
this week
Time off or time to "Take Inventory"
on
the past week's One Word: CLARITY

"CLARITY 1. Did God open your eyes to see things differently this week? 2. How did pursuing His best for you change your life? 3. What most easily distracts you from spending time with Jesus, even if, like Martha, it’s something good?"

There were 4 One Words:

SEEK

ARRIVE

TIMING

and

CLARITY 

(the "Taking Inventory" for this one is above)

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{but I can't share the "Taking Inventory" for each one, but you have all week to reflect on

those One Words or if you have the book 

to go through all of them

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I may do a post later on

with more

CALM

from

"Trade Your Cares for Calm"

or

perhaps about the revised/updated book

coming out May 28th (Tues.)

by Max Lucado

"Experiencing the Heart of Jesus"

[there's a 5 day sample reading plan with YouVersion]

May you experience Jesus' & His Calm,Peace, Comfort & RestandBe Blessed this week!

C.A.L.M.

I try to do another blog post each week on the One Word, or at least think about it by today, but CLARITY has not given me anything more, so as I enjoy the Peace and CALM of today - in  many ways, I am beginning another one of my books on my 2024 One Word {I bet you thought I had forgotten it, or changed it to FOCUS, but it's still CALM} and for the month of June, the plan is another PAUSE for 30 days of Peace this time with a YV plan. But for today, I will be starting to

TRADE (MY) CARES FOR

CALM

(the word in parenthesis is actually 'your' in the title of the book)

by

Max Lucado

I can't believe that I've had this book (a real book) and have not even begun it, and half the year is just about over. It has 10 Chapters with beautiful scenic pictures and of course, the wisdom and gift of words of Max Lucado never disappoints, yet always teaches us with a unique wit and wonderful woven tales with scriptural insights and even includes short journaling pages. I wanted to jump ahead to Chapter 8 "Catch CALM" but I will pace myself and stay with the chapters in order. It's a good thing I did ... because after the Introduction, Chapter One clearly sets the tone (premise) which includes an acronym with "5 verses and 4 admonitions that lead to one wonderful promise: "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts & minds" (Philippians 4:7)" that acronym is C.A.L.M.

C - Celebrate God's Goodness (Philippians 4:4)  A - Ask God for help (Philippians 4:6)  L - Leave your concerns with Him (Philippians 4:6)  M- Meditate on good things (Philippians 4:8)

As you can tell the main focus is found in the book of
PhilippiansChapter 4 - verses 4-8
I've always known the book of Philippians main theme to be JOY
and with this, I will add Peace and CALM
In fact, this part was included under "God's Words of Peace"
{and skimming through each chapter, I notice there's a section of"God's Words ..." on something for each}
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I noticed on Amazon that an excerpt of the book is included of Chapter 1 (although you are missing out on the beauty of each page, you will catch a glimpse of the wonderful content and also all the chapters are listed there). Part of the book description reads, as follows:

"Bestselling author Max Lucado understands what it's like to feel overwhelmed by anxiety. In Trade Your Cares for Calm, you'll learn how to: Exchange your burdens for an abundance of mercy, gratitude, and trust Replace striving and stress with a faith-filled life, so you can see God's goodness Feel calm in chaos and find peace through prayer Make faith, not fear, your default reaction to circumstances Imagine being able to walk away from worry, conquer the need to control, get rid of guilty, and end if-only thinking." Trade Your Cares for Calm

When I ordered my copy of this book, I didn't need to know any more than that it was written by one of my favorite authors, Max Lucado; and had my One Word: CALMso to find this out and how beautiful this little treasure isI'm all set to "trade" my cares, chaos, and control for God's "Calm"
and it starts today
(*well, maybe - kinda)

Hope you can see these COPING STRATEGIES (I sure need to cope with hope) [if you click on the image I think it becomes larger]
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* I just heard some news on the weather and tornado in Iowaso this is why the hesitation of "maybe" and "kinda"because that report makes me concernedfor some people traveling through that way,when here I thought I was in the clear
JUST
need some more of
God's CLARITY 
and 
leave the worries, etc. in God's hands
He IS in control!
so
"Why Should I Worry or Fret"
but please
🙏
pray still for 
the people in Iowa & other states hitby these powerful tornadoes
devastating & destroyingcommunities
so hard to findCALMin the destruction of astorm
🙏🏼

Focus One Word: CLARITY

Now that we're FILLED with His Holy Spirit

we should be able to better

on
CLARITY
our One Word for this week
with these scripture verses from
Luke 10:41-42
[NIV in BOX]

"41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,   42but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Perhaps you are wondering like I am, about what this has to do with CLARITY. If not, please explain in the comments. {At this point, I have not read the devotional or even peeked ahead yet} But as usual the One Word: CLARITY is not in the chosen verses.

Doing a search for CLARITY at Bible Hub did not help me either. I only became more lost because my topical search gives me 27 results, none of which seem to be similar to CLARITY. However, I do have 13 verses containing CLARITY, yet I like to start out as I often do with at least a definition of the One Word, especially if I intend to focus all week on that One Word and so I really am hoping for some CLARITY before I begin this week. Or else I am going with OVERFLOW, but I looked through the 27 and "transparency" sounded the closest. Anyways, while I ponder to get some CLARITY on this topic and One Word so I can focus, I will just have to sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary; and ask Him for some CLARITY. 

Meanwhile, here are the scripture references & versions of the verses that contain CLARITY: 

Exodus 24:10 NKJV; Psalm 19:8 Voice; Isaiah 32:4 NET; Ezekiel 28:24 AMP; Daniel 7:19 CEB; Daniel 7:20 CEB; Matthew 18:31 AMP; Acts 22:14 AMP; Romans 1:19 Voice; 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT; Colossians 4:6 TPT; 2 Timothy 2:7 Voice

Perhaps you might find others.
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The verses given in the book to go with the CLARITY devotional are:

Deuteronomy 5:8 NIV; 1 Corinthians 7:35 NLT; 1 John 2:15 NLT; Galatians 1:10 ESV; Luke 10:41-2

The definitions (just as perplexing):

"clearness of appearance"; "clearness of thought or style"; "free from obscurity & easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression"; "the state of being easy to see, hear or understand"; "the state or quality of being clear; transparency; lucidity"

when I searched for a biblical definition, they gave another *word referring to
"clarity of scripture"
*PERSPICUITY
 that's not what I searched for ... but that's what I got
1 Corinthians 14:33
lets me know clearly that 
"God is not a God of confusion, but of peace"
This much I know to be true!
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So for now, I'm skipping ahead but if I get any
CLARITY
from or after I read the devotional
I might be back with more
in the meantime
my quick search (scan) of this week's devotional gives me
 the One Word on p.77

"...(Jesus) He always maximizes our time, replenishes our strength & gives CLARITY we did not have beforehand." C.C. Reaves

JESUS
Give me CLARITY.
I want to see through Your eyes.👀
🙏
(now that helps me a little more)
until later
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{since I'm already confused for this week, I'm already "whispering" the prayer & word: CLARITYand asking "Him to open my eyes to the bigger picture" so I'm ahead of the game with theFocus Tip for this week - I do check those out for clues, too}
Listening Lord for what You might be saying to me?
I'm in need of some CLARITY. I'm lost without You.
Holy Spirit come.
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[in 2 weeks the One Word Focus will return to Sunday, 6 pm blog post time]
May 26th I believe is time for "Taking Inventory" so I'll wait until June 2nd.
I didn't want to surprise you with it on 
Pentecost SONday!

PAUSES ... for Pentecost Day 50 from Resurrection SONday

Today is the day we celebrate Pentecost!

Let's celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit
and reread the second chapter of
ACTS
specifically
Acts 2:1
which shares the One Word for today
PENTECOST
[I shared the background of this word back in the beginning here]
"Pauses for Pentecost: 50 Words for ... * People"
The title actually uses *Easter in that place before People, however, I prefer to use the word Resurrection rather than Easterbecause of the origin of *Easter coming from a pagan holiday & a pagan goddess.Since I learned about this, I have chosen not to use that word when referring to the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ![the links give you more background on this]
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[Today, I'm taking the risk to share almost all of the devotional by Trevor Hudson. I don'tintend to infringe at all on his copyright in any way. I really just want to show you howgood each of his devotionals are & have been for me. I quite likely will remove & draft]
Also because the image is from You Version, where I shared it also, but it does not include v.1.
"When the day of Pentecost came, [the apostles] were all together in one place." Acts 2:1
Day 50
PENTECOST

"... On that day the disciples receive God’s power from above. It is a power that enables them to go out and out-live, out-think, and out-love the ancient world. They receive something extra, something new, something they did not have before. They receive power in their hearts. The flames of fire and the sound of wind are just outward signs that the Holy Spirit has been given to them. They receive what all of us desperately need: the Spirit of God filling us and helping us overcome the evil within and around us. We need to face the simple fact that to try to follow Jesus without the Pentecostal power of the Holy Spirit doesn’t work. We just cannot do it. From a biblical point of view, it appears that everything that happens before Pentecost is a preparation for this gift of Wind and Fire. This world was created so that in following Jesus Christ, we can have friendship with Abba. Father and be given the Holy Spirit. God-made-flesh lived, died, and rose so that our eyes would be opened to the unfathomable depths of God’s love and we would be ready to receive God’s Spirit. The message of Pentecost is that there is a new power available, the very power of the kingdom of heaven. So can I invite you again to think deeply about the place of the Spirit of God in your life? Is the Spirit of God really at work in your life? Are you experiencing greater freedom in your walk with Christ? Are you growing in your capacity to love in the way that Jesus loved? Do you have some sense of God working through your words and actions? Perhaps you can reflect on these questions when you gather together in one place with other followers of Christ for worship. This is what the early disciples did on that first Pentecost. Pentecost happened for them together. This could also be your experience today as you join together with other Easter people to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church. Whatever it is that you decide to do today, few things are more crucial in the life of faith than remaining open and yielded to the Spirit of God. Easter people are a Spirit-empowered people!... "Trevor Hudson, Pauses for Pentecost

I find that last paragraph to be so convicting and so good as a self-evaluation
with questions to reflect on as we gather to worship,
with hopes of a fresh anointing and outpouring of the
Holy Spirit
filling us over and over to "Overflow"!
In fact, one of the churches I watch online has been doing a series on
"OVERFLOW"

[image credit: Heartlight]

Romans 15:13 NIV
This is my prayer for you today & this week & for your life!
I found this Overflow Principle (small group Bible Study) to be very interesting!
So, I've decided that this is my One Word for this entire week, perhaps year!
Besides the One Word Focus: CLARITY!
(which should publish in a later post 😉)

"... He pours into our lives in overflowing measure so that we overflow & influence others around us. John 10:10 shows overflowing abundance, life flowing over the rim and spilling out. He wants you to overflow with His love, joy, peace, & more so that it overflows into the lives of others around you." credit

{This is what I am seeking!}

I pray that each day there is more evidence that the Holy Spirit is transforming me:

my self-centered life into a greater likeness of Jesus Christ & the power of the Holy Spirit!

for YOU too
🙏

[credit: You Version Bible App]