*Chapters posted will be made available on the Lisa & Eric page for one week. To purchase Out Live Your Life, click here. All author royalties from the book will go towards building water wells in Uganda*
Chapter 3
Let God Unshell You
Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado
To hear Max Lucado talk about this chapter, click here.
“Reprinted by permission. Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make A Difference by Max Lucado, 2010, copyright date, Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.”
Questions for Discussion
1. What habits, attitudes, possessions, and technologies create a clamshell of sorts to seal you off from the needs around you? How can you work around or remove these barriers?
2. Have you experienced what the chapter calls a “compassion attack”? Did you respond by ignoring the need or becoming distracted? Have you responded by trying to meet the need?
3. Describe a time when you saw God work in a sudden and unexpected way. To what extent are you open to the unexpected leadings of God? How could you prepare yourself for those times?
4. Respond to the following questions posed in the chapter:
a. “With whom do you feel most fluent?” To what kinds of people or needs can you most easily relate?
b. “For whom do you feel most compassion?” What kinds of needs touch your heart most deeply?
Ideas for Action
■ Respond creatively to the needs around you. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Some people carry around fuel vouchers from the local gas station or free meal coupons from a nearby restaurant to give to people in need. Others have a special fund they are always prepared to use. Some individuals regularly give to a church benevolent fund and refer people to that church for aid. Plan ahead to respond with compassion (instead of waiting to see whether you feel like it in the moment).
■ Consider focusing on one country with greater needs than your own in your prayers, giving, and relationships. Discover the true needs. Research what is working well. Find out what is not working. Pray intentionally. Eat their food. Celebrate their holidays. It might be possible to use your vacation time to go on a mission trip to that country.
■ Research ministries or orphanages dedicated to that country’s needs. Invest resources and build relationships. Make that country a second home in your heart. Over time you will be amazed by what God will do in and through you.