Heart Touchers - Cinderella Story by Max Lucado

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A CINDERELLA STORY

by Max Lucado

My friend Kenny and his family had just returned from Disney World. "I saw a sight I'll never forget," he said. "I want you to know about it."

He and his family were inside Cinderella's castle. It was packed with kids and parents. Suddenly all the children rushed to one side. Had it been a boat, the castle would have tipped over. Cinderella had entered.

Cinderella. The pristine princess. Kenny said she was perfectly typecast. A gorgeous young girl with each hair in place, flawless skin, and a beaming smile. She stood waist-deep in a garden of kids, each wanting to touch and be touched.

For some reason Kenny turned and looked toward the other side of the castle. It was now vacant except for a boy maybe seven or eight years old. His age was hard to determine because of the disfigurement of his body. Dwarfed in height, face deformed, he stood watching quietly and wistfully, holding the hand of an older brother.

Don't you know what he wanted? He wanted to be with the children. He longed to be in the middle of the kids reaching for Cinderella, calling her name. But can't you feel his fear, fear of yet another rejection? Fear of being taunted again, mocked again?

Don't you wish Cinderella would go to him? Guess what? She did!

She noticed the little boy. She immediately began walking in his direction. Politely but firmly inching through the crowd of children, she finally broke free. She walked quickly across the floor, knelt at eye level with the stunned little boy, and placed a kiss on his face.

"I thought you would appreciate the story," Kenny told me. I did. It reminded me of the one you and I have been studying. The names are different, but isn't the story almost the same? Rather than a princess of Disney, we've been considering the Prince of Peace. Rather than a boy in a castle, we've looked at a thief on a cross. In both cases a gift was given. In both cases love was shared. In both cases the lovely one performed a gesture beyond words.

But Jesus did more than Cinderella. Oh, so much more.

Cinderella gave only a kiss. When she stood to leave, she took her beauty with her. The boy was still deformed. What if Cinderella had done what Jesus did? What if she'd assumed his state? What if she had somehow given him her beauty and taken on his disfigurement?

That's what Jesus did.

"He took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us.. He was wounded for the wrong we did; he was crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds" (Isa. 53:4-5).

Make no mistake:

Jesus gave more than a kiss--he gave his beauty.

He paid more than a visit--he paid for our mistakes.

He took more than a minute--he took away our sin.

From Gentle Thunder

Copyright 1995 Max Lucado (Used by Permission)

Max Lucado loves words - written, spoken - it does not matter. He loves to craft sentences that are memorable, inspiring and hopefully life-changing. In almost 25 years of writing, more than 65 million books filled with his words have been sold.

Max is the only author to have won three Christian Book of the Year* awards?in 1999 for Just Like Jesus, in 1997 for In the Grip of Grace, and in 1995 for When God Whispers Your Name. In 2005, Reader's Digest magazine dubbed him "America's Best Preacher" and in 2004, Christianity Today magazine called him "America's Pastor."

Max Lucado is the Minister of Writing and Preaching at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, where he has served since 1988. He has been married to Denalyn Lucado since 1981, and they have three grown daughters?Jenna, Andrea and Sara?and one son-in-law, Brett.

You can visit his web site at: http://www.maxlucado.com

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Creation Q & A

Q: Life in a test tube--would this prove evolution?

A: First of all, we need to realize that scientists have never made life in a test--and probably never will.

But in public school textbooks, students are shown experiments where scientists have been trying to create what they believe were conditions on Earth millions of years ago. Then they try to see if they could make life from chemicals.

But what are they really doing? They are using their intelligence to design experiments and complicated pieces of equipment, trying to make life to prove that it all happened by chance! Students can see how illogical this is. The scientists aren't using chance--but their intelligence!

Because all of these experiments have failed, some scientists have stated that life didn't evolve on Earth after all. They believe that it must have evolved somewhere in outer space--and then arrived on Earth! Then they think they have solved the problem about the origin of life--but they have just pushed the problem further out into space!

These scientists could save millions of dollars if only they would read the greatest Book of all time--the Bible, starting with Genesis--which has all the answers we need.

Source: AnswersinGenesis.org

Creation News

Click on the Bible above or visit the web site listed below!

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Creation_News

This new addition to our web site will give you an article on the leading news in the
Creation/Evolution controversy each day. This section also includes a rotating
Question and Answer feature and a weekly Creation Comic strip from the people
at AnswersInGenesis.org. Be sure to come back and visit each day for an informative
article that will help you keep up to date on the latest news in this controversial area

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Thought For The Day

The teacher asked the pupils to tell the meaning of loving-kindness. A little
boy jumped up and said, "Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a
piece of bread that would be kindness. But if they put a little jam on it,
that would be loving-kindness."

Verse for the Day

"Bless the Lord, O my soul...who crowneth thee with loving kindness and
tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things..." Psalm 103: 1,4,5

Kid's Thought For The Day

"When you've just caught the football, the tackle doesn't hurt as much."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth." --Erma Bombeck

Coach's Thought For The Day

When asked about which team is the toughest team in the league, he
responded with an answer all players must comprehend. He said simply
that it was, "The team you are playing." --Roy Campanella

Writer's Thought For the Day

"I had marked down in my notebook three characteristics a work of fiction must
possess in order to be successful. It must have a precise and suspenseful plot.
The author must feel a passionate urge to write it. He must have the conviction,

or at least the illusion, that he is the only one who can handle this particular theme."
--Isaac Bashevis Singer

Deep Thought For The Day

"I have an excellent memory except for three things: names, faces and... something else."

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Inspired Audio -- Inspirational Audio Message of the Week!

Inspired Audio is a brand new offshoot of HeartTouchers.com. Every week we will offer a different audio message that you can listen to right on your computer as you are surfing the net or just getting things done around the house. Be sure to come back and visit each week!

This Week: "Model Behavior" by Jeff Williams

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Inspired_Audio

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Over 180,000 people have listened to popular Chicken Soup Author Michael T. Powers' free inspirational message entitled: "Breathing Life into Others". If you aren't one of them just visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message.

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Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business

http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery

Dear Michael,

"I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the beautiful video you made for me! It was so special to see both of my parents in tears as they watched their children grow up in pictures before their eyes! I loved the way you made Estania's part set aside from the rest--that was the part that really got them! The music was beautiful. My mom kept blubbering, "What song is that?" I don't know how you did such a beautiful job with the video in such a short time. I really appreciate your doing it so quickly. You have a wonderful gift, and I thank God that you are using it to create such sentimental memories. I hope that I can find my niche like that in an area that I love. Your video gave us one of our most lasting Christmas memories! I hope yours
was filled with moments to be treasured forever!"

Love,
Trisha
Silverhill, AL

Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting:

http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery

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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Life_Purpose

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