Outlive Your Life
You Were Made to Make a Difference
by Max Lucado
“These are difficult days in our world’s history. 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, natural disasters are gouging entire nations, and economic uncertainty still reigns across the globe. But you and I have been given an opportunity to make a big difference. What if we did? What if we rocked the world with hope? Infiltrated all corners with God’s love and life? We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives, not just in heaven, but here on earth. Let’s live our lives in such a way that the world will be glad we did.”1
Profound. Enlightening. Moving. Humbling. I could probably, if I put my mind to it, think of fifty more adjectives that honestly describe this book. I spent a little over a week reading, absorbed in it– not because I wasn’t interested; because each word I read, each sentence, each chapter spoke to my heart. After each chapter, I sat quietly and contemplated what I’d just read. Deliberate thought provoked by deliberate words. Words that move a heart into action. Ordinary people like me, like you, can do amazingly wonderful things and this book gives example after example. I shared many of these examples with my husband and children. Discussions were sparked by the story of Saul and Ananias and how it relates to us today. There are 16 lessons in this book that everyone should read. Sixteen valuable lessons in 16 chapters that define what Christianity is all about.
“The Greek word for hospitality compounds two terms: love and stranger. The word literally means to love a stranger.”
“Cut concern for the poor out of the Bible, and you cut the heart out of it. God makes the poor His priority.”
“The cross of Christ creates a new people, a people unhindered by skin color or family feud. A new citizenry, based not on common ancestry or geography but on a common Savior.”
“We can’t outlive our lives if we can’t get beyond our biases.”
My rating: 
On a scale of one to five, I give this book five stars easily: for the honest, thought provoking wisdom that spills out of each page. I’d recommend this book to everyone; give it as gifts for every occasion; purchase the church Bible study (shown in the back of the book); pass it on to your neighbors and friends. And keep in mind that all proceeds go to World Vision to benefit children and families who are in great need.
Buy Outlive Your Life.
Credits: 1 Summary from Booksneeze.com/Thomas Nelson.
Disclosure: 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”.
