“We crack under pressure. Like Esau, we give in to the cravings that gnaw at our guilt. Like Jacob, we connive and control. Who wants to use a broken vessel? God does. His grace never quits.”- Max Lucado In Chapter 6 (“Domestic Turf Wars”) of God Never Gives Up on You, Max Lucado observes that […] The post Broken vessel — God’s grace appeared first on Crown of Compassion .

“You find yourself far from home, far from hope, and far from the life you’d hoped to find. You’re working hard on an advanced degree from the University of Hard Knocks, and graduation seems forever away. If that describes you, before you blame Laban or scowl at Leah, take a long look in the mirror.”- […] The post The University of Hard Knocks appeared first on Crown of Compassion .

“Aren’t we all [a bit of a mess]? Like [Jacob], our spiritual walk follows a crooked path. . . . Our bad habits scuttle our good intentions. And we wonder, does God have a plan for us? The answer through Jacob is ‘yes.’ Our failures are great, but God’s grace is greater.”- Max Lucado “Those […] The post Crooked path = spiritual walk appeared first on Crown of Compassion .

“Nothing stunts spiritual development more than a flea market view of God. If you and I think he is puny enough to need our help, we’ll soon abandon our pursuit of him. . . . God does not exist for us. We exist for God.”- Max Lucado “That they may know that you alone, whose […] The post A flea market view of God appeared first on Crown of Compassion .

“Dare we hinge our belief on God’s response to our prayers? A working term for this might be transactional theology. Transactional theology presupposes that we meet God on equal terms. He’s got what I want. I know what he wants. So we reach an agreement. . . . Really? On…

“The fugitive had not been abandoned. The trickster had not been cast aside. God committed himself to the lifelong care of Jacob. . . . There is, thus far, not one mention of Jacob in prayer, Jacob in faith, or Jacob in the earnest pursuit of God. Even so, God drenched his undeserving fugitive with […] The post A Niagara of unexpected kindness appeared first on Crown of Compassion .

“In that desolate moment . . . God will meet you. You will sense and see him as never before. Do not begrudge the barren stretches, for in the barrenness we encounter God. We find the presence of God. Jacob did. And no one was more surprised than he.”- Max Lucado “[Jacob] took one of […] The post Barren stretches — begrudge? appeared first on Crown of Compassion .

“What shortcuts are we taking in life? God has promised to give us all we need. . . . All we need to do is wait on God. But he is so slow! His timing is out of sync with ours. So we cut corners. . . . We deceive . . . with lies, […] The post Cut corners — or wait on God? appeared first on Crown of Compassion .

“Neither are you [an exception to acceptance]. So for heaven’s sake, accept your acceptance.”- Max Lucado, God Never Gives Up on You “Now thank we all our God / With hearts and hands and voices, / Who wondrous things has done, / In whom His world rejoices; / Who from our mother’s arms / Has […] The post Accept your acceptance appeared first on Crown of Compassion .