“Out of difficulties grow miracles.”- Jean de la Bruyere, French philosopher, and moralist (1645-1696) In Chapter 4 (“Holding On When You’re Afraid”) of Holding On, Sheila Walsh tells a story about her West Highland White Terrier, Charlie. One day Sheila played ‘catch’ with Charlie in her neighborhood park. But, Sheila threw the ball too far. […]
“If you do the natural, its sets God up to do something super. Miracles happen at the place where our grit meets God’s grace.”- Mark Batterson In Chapter 6 (“The Mundanity of Excellence”) of Win the Day, Mark Batterson takes up the moral from Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare. That moral: slow and steady […]
“John recorded them . . . to urge us to believe in the tender presence and mighty power of Christ. This montage of miracles proclaims: God’s got this! Think it’s up to you and you ain’t much? Hogwash. God can carry you. You’re stronger than you think because God is nearer than you know.”- Max […]
“We want God to part the river before we step into it. Why? So our shoes don’t get wet. We want God to go first so it doesn’t require any faith. But this is where so many of us get stuck spiritually. We’re waiting for God to part the waters, while God is waiting for […]
“Pain brings deepest brokenness, and a hurting child always wants to run into the consoling, safe arms of a loving parent. Feeling our pain doesn’t prove that we lack faith — it proves our need for constant connection with God.”- Christa Black Gifford “The Spirit of the LORD GOD is upon me, because the LORD […]
“Don’t accumulate possessions; accumulate experiences.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson begins Chapter 12 (“Run to the Roar”) of Chase the Lion with a question. Mark wonders: “Are you living your life in a way that is worth talking about?” Sadly, the author notes, most people spend their lives accumulating possessions. Hence, when earthly goods become your […]
“Praying through is long and boring, but it is the price you pay for miracles.”- Mark Batterson In Chapter 123 (“Long and Boring”) of The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson states that, in the Bible, few people prayed with more consistency or intensity than Daniel. Daniel had the ability to pray urgently about things that weren’t […]
“Here is what I learned about arguments with God: If you win the argument you actually lose, and if you lose the argument you actually win.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson continues Chapter 5 of The Circle Maker by conceding that circling the promises of God often seems risky. However, he adds, circling the promises of […]
“After you pray through, you need to praise through.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 14 of The Circle Maker with the bold statement that we should praise God for disappointment because it drives us to our knees in prayer. Responding to disappointment in a God-pleasing way can restore our prayer rhythm and resurrect our desires. […]
“Define your dream. Claim your promise. Spell your miracle.”- Mark Batterson As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 3 of The Circle Maker, he references Matthew’s account of “Jesus Heals Two Blind Men” (Matthew 20:29-34). When two blind men sitting on the roadside outside of Jericho hailed Jesus, the disciples saw it as human interruption. Jesus, however, […]
“Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C., wrote The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears in 2011. Max draws and shares powerful insights from the true legend of Honi the circle maker. Honi, a first-century […]
“With God the smallest step of faith can activate the mightiest of miracles.”- Max Lucado “By this [crossing] you shall know that the living God is among you.”- Joshua 3:10 Max Lucado opens Chapter 5 (Unpack Your Bags”) of Glory Days with the story of country singer Jimmy Wayne. According to Jimmy, at the age […]