Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Review of You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be by Max Lucado

God made only one version of you.  He custom designed you for a one-of-a-kind assignment.

You are heaven's Halley's comet; we have one chance to see you shine.  You offer a gift to the world that no one else brings.  So find it and bring it!  And when you do, both you and God will smile.

Yes, you can be everything God wants you to be.

My Thoughts:

Lucado’s You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be is clearly a book designed for a younger person.  The book is a quick read and has things such as fancy catchphrases, pictures,  and fonts to attract the reader.  This immediately gives the impression of being for a young reader.  The book is divided into several sections all designed to direct the reader to finding out their purpose in life.  Lucado provides great explanations in a clearly organized and concise manner.  Any reader should be able to take Lucado’s direction and apply it to their lives.  Additionally, the book is short enough and succinct enough that if you gave it to a graduate or new believer they would not be inundated with “something else to read” or overwhelmed with theology.  Lucado references several Scriptures throughout the book utilizing primarily The Message and New Living Translation.  This makes understanding the verses easy for young readers and new believers.  As with all Lucado books, I gleaned several concepts that could be applied in my life.   
  
On a side note, You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be also appears to be a book that was written and published because of contractual issues or something.  I was excited to receive Lucado’s new book as they are always great reads and applicable.  However, this book was a summary of a book already written by Lucado [The Cure for the Common Life] and did not provide much new insight.  Lucado did make his point well and I believe accomplished his intent with this book.

You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be comes with a sticker on the front advertising, "Great for Graduates!”  This is true and is also a book that you could give to a new Christian, or a young teenager.  A "seasoned" Christian can also read the book to be reminded that we are all made with a purpose and should not "live out of someone else's bag."  Lucado hit the nail on the head when he stated, "You cannot be anything you want to be.  But you can be everything God wants you to be."


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”