Showing results by narrator "Ben Holland" in All Categories

Common people. Maybe you heard their names in a childhood Sunday school class. They're not often the champions or the go-to sermon illustrations. They probably didn't stand at the foot of the cross or even hang next to Jesus on one of their own. But they pepper the pages of the Bible, reminding us that we're not alone. Just like you and me, these ordinary people stumbled and struggled. They faced their own sin and came face-to-face with a God who not only wipes it away, but also makes the common extraordinary.

A joy that can't be quenched? A peace that can't be broken? A happiness that can't be threatened? There is such a joy. It is a sacred delight, a holy gladness. You can't open your Bible without reading about it. You can't live a truly satisfying life without it. And it's nearer than you think. Jesus describes that sacred delight in the astonishing mountain message we call the Beatitudes. And Max Lucado, in this classic exploration of enduring joy, shows you how this familiar but revolutionary prescription for living can bless your life beyond your wildest imagining.

In a world full of achievement, praise, and accolades, we can easily fall into the trap of thinking we can save ourselves and direct our lives with our own actions. But the way of the cross guides us toward a place where we stop striving, stop pushing, and stop self-initiating - so that we can fall into the boundless, liberating, refreshing grace of God! New York Times best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado urges us to exchange the pressure of accomplishment for the peace of God’s grace.

Embrace your identity as God's beloved, step out of your own brokenness, and bring hope to a darkened world. You have a calling to fulfill. Are you ready to take the risk of moving past your past to fulfill it? Christine Caine faced hurdles that seemed insurmountable - abuse, abandonment, and the loss of a child. Yet she decided to answer God's call on her life no matter where it would lead her. Many times, the only thing that kept her going was knowing that she was God's beloved. She was God's chosen.

You're the best, Mom. Mothers, for so many, are a welcoming hug, a helping hand, a comforting ear, a wise source of guidance. They do so much for so many, and in the devotional Grace for the Moment for Moms, bestselling author, husband, father, and grandfather Max Lucado offers moms comfort, encouragement, and some much-needed moments of grace and appreciation....

Weaving baseball history with personal memoir, this book is one that will make you thrill to victory, believe in hope, stand up to cheer for what is good in peoples' lives. It's a powerful story of redemption and faith that reminds us that God can work in our lives even when we think it's too late to change - and sometimes he sends us signs from heaven if we only have eyes to see.

New York Times best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado has discovered that at any given point, almost everyone is dealing with something difficult. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, marriage issues, illness, job loss, or the stress of everyday life, you need the assurance that God will be there for you during tough times.

The wilderness. Maybe you know it well. The Israelites sure did. After all, they spent 40 years wandering the desert. Victories were scarce. Progress was slow. They were free from Pharaoh but not free from fear. Saved but stuck. Sounds a lot like midlife misery. Caught in a rut. Stalled out. Running on empty. Are you mired in the same? You can name the day you became a Christian and escaped Egypt. But you can't remember the last time you defeated a temptation or experienced an answered prayer.

Have you ever wondered what the Holy Land might have looked like through Jesus's eyes? Join pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado as he takes you on an unforgettable journey following Jesus through his life on earth, giving you a chance to see the Holy Land and God’s heart for humanity in a brand-new light.

You really want to do what is right. But sometimes life turns south. You're anxious, you're busy, you're cautious because you've been hurt before--or maybe you're all of the above. But pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado is here to share some good news: in the Bible and in the circumstances of your life, God whispers your name lovingly, tenderly, patiently, and persistently.

How long has your Goliath stalked you? Invaded your first thought of the morning and last worry of the night? David knows a little something about facing giants. The shepherd boy seemingly had little to offer against the nine-foot, nine-inch Goliath. You could read his story and wonder what God saw in him. Throughout his life, David fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered. But for those who know the threat of a Goliath, David gives this reminder: Focus on giants — you stumble. Focus on God — your giants tumble.

Weary travelers. You've seen them - everything they own crammed into their luggage. Staggering through terminals and hotel lobbies with overstuffed suitcases, trunks, duffels, and backpacks. Backs ache. Feet burn. Eyelids droop. We've all seen people like that. At times we are people like that - if not with our physical luggage then at least with our spiritual load. We all lug loads we were never intended to carry. Fear. Worry. Discontent. No wonder we get so weary. We're worn out from carrying that excess baggage.

Max Lucado invites you to examine the cross, contemplate its purpose, and celebrate its significance in He Chose the Nails.Go ahead and linger on the hill of Calvary. Rub a finger on the timber and press the nail into your hand. Taste the tinge of cheap wine and feel the scrape of a thorn on your brow. Touch the velvet dirt, moist with the blood of God. Allow the tools of torture to tell their story. Listen as they tell you why the hope of all humanity balances on the truth of the claims of the cross.

They are simple phrases. They sound Christian - like something you might find in the Bible. We've all heard these words. Maybe we've said them. They capture some element of truth, yet they miss the point in important ways. Join Adam Hamilton in searching for the whole truth by comparing common Christian clichés to the message and ministry of Jesus.

In this compelling quest for the Messiah, best-selling author Max Lucado invites readers to meet the blue-collar Jew whose claim altered a world and whose promise has never been equaled. Readers will come to know Jesus the Christ in a brand-new way as Lucado brings them full circle to the foot of the cross and the man who sacrificed His life on it.

Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.

This short audiobook features 40 scriptures of promise and purpose and corresponding inspirational passages to encourage those facing everyday battles. Ideal for daily listening, each segment includes a reminder that even in difficult times, God fights for his people.

It's early in the final week. The props and players for Friday's drama are in position. Five-inch spikes are in the bin. A cross-beam leans against a shed wall. The players are nearing the stage - Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas, Judas, the centurions. Players and props. Only this is no play; it's a divine plan. A plan begun before Adam felt heaven's breath, and now all heaven waits and watches. All eyes are on one figure - the Nazarene. Commonly clad. Uncommonly focused. He's on his final journey.

In Six Hours One Friday, Max Lucado delves into the meaning of Jesus' last hours on the cross. Through his death, your life has purpose and meaning. You are forgiven and loved by a savior who died for you. An empty tomb proclaims that death does not have the final word.

This audiobook assures children of God's love through all their experiences - including during hard times such as being afraid of the dark or being bullied - and gives assurance that the parent was there when they were first born and will be with them even in heaven. From New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado comes Just in Case You Ever Wonder, the classic children’s book that has made its way into hearts and story times around the world. This award-winning story about the love between a parent and child: