Pocket Prayers by Max Lucado

Pocket Prayers (with various authors; Thomas Nelson, March 2016)

Bestselling author Max Lucado has teamed up with six authors to write the Pocket Prayers series for those in need of peace, renewal, rest, faith, hope, joy, direction, serenity, and courage.

Short, simple prayers are very effective, which is why each book in the series contains forty guided prayers and complementary scriptures for any situation, including for:

—Moms (written with daughter Andrea Lucado)
—Grads (written with daughter Andrea Lucado)
—Dads (written with Mark Mynheir)
—Military Life (written with Mark Mynheir)
—Teachers (written with blogger Jennifer Hale)
—Friends (written with Betsy St. Amant)

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT MAX LUCADO}

More than 120 million readers have found inspiration and encouragement in the writings of Max Lucado. He lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy, in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves the people of Oak Hills Church.

Find out more about Max athttps://maxlucado.com.

: 

My take: These Six little books contain powerful prayers for people in different walks of life to read and pray when they have a small bit of time.  Max Lucado has written each of the books with someone who would understand how it feels to be in that stage of life.  During this time of year there are many changes going on and in one of these books you can have a gift for someone in a change.   Great books, great gifts. 

I received copies of these book in exchange for an honest review

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe by Max Lucado

About the book:

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe (Thomas Nelson, February 2015)

What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would he answer?

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.

Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea's door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They've come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life's biggest questions.

When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1EaivpU

About the author:
More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings ofMax Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

Find Max online: website, Facebook, Twitter

My Take:  I enjoyed this book which mixes great story telling with the realities of other realms that influence our lives.  I felt for Chelsea and what her husband did.  I also felt for her after she inherited her mother's cafe and found out that she had a considerable debt that was owed.  And the children , who can't feel for the children who find themselves in this position through no fault of their own but because of the poor choices of their parent or parents.  The power of prayer is emphasized throughout the book especially when the God Blog is discovered.  Manny is more than meets the eye and turns out to be a true guardian angel.  Great book that helps one think about what is happening in other realms. 

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Before Amen by Max Lucado

About the book: 

We all pray . . . some.

We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray.

But wouldn't we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?

Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain words. Unmet expectations. Unanswered requests.

We aren't the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested.

And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn't we use the same?

In Before Amen best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.

Pre-order a copy of Before Amen by 9/29 and receive a FREE ebook copy of Max's best-selling Second Chances: More Stories of Grace.

Purchase a copy:  http://ow.ly/BbwcL

About the author: More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

Find Max online: website, Twitter,Facebook

My Take:  I am always trying to improve on my prayer life and am always on the lookout for what has worked for others and might work for me.  That is exactly the way I approached this book.  We all need to realize that prayer is not a one size fits all or even that one size fits most. Prayer is a very intimate one of a kind experience between you and God.  I have tried different things and tweaked things a bit to make it work for me which it what I will  be doing with material in this book.  If you are looking for a simple starting off place this may be just the book you have been waiting for.  This is a great start but you will want to grow your prayer time into a meaningful time between you and God.  

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Litfuse. 

Fearless by Max Lucado

"Fearless" tackles the subject of fear in today's world.  Max Lucado discusses with us different fears throughout the book.  One fact he stated was particularly telling to me, "ordinary children today are more fearful than psychiatric patients were in the 1950's" .   With biblical wisdom and witty illustrations Max Lucado explores the fears of today such as not protecting our children, violence, and death to name a few.
I really liked this book although it made me see I was more afraid than I realized. It also comforted me with all the scripture that says don't be afraid but trust in God. 
I read this as part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review blogger program.