We humans are prone to failure. We’re experts at muddying, mixing, and messing up our lives. Who among us hasn’t looked up from the bottom of a pit and realized he dug it himself? Who hasn’t fallen so far, messed up so badly that she thought there was no hope? And it’s at these low points that we crave reminders that there’s hope for the broken. No reminder is quite as poignant as a story of second chances. A story of grace in action. Who couldn’t use more stories of grace like this? Second Chances releases just in time for Easter promotions and is an ideal companion to GRACE: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine . Filled with biblical, contemporary, and imaginative accounts of God’s grace in action pulled from Max’s previously published works, Second Chances includes tales of second chances for the rebellious, prideful, failure-prone, and more. From Peter to King David to a prodigal daughter, these stories will remind readers of the magnitude of the gospel of second chances. Since entering the ministry in 1978, Max Lucado has served churches in Miami, Florida; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and San Antonio, Texas. He currently serves as the teaching minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He is the recipient of the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding contribution to the publishing industry and society at large. He is America's bestselling inspirational author with more than 150 million products in print. Visit his website at MaxLucado.com Facebook.com/MaxLucado Instagram.com/MaxLucado X.com/MaxLucado Youtube.com/MaxLucadoOfficial The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast Second Chances More Stories of Grace By Max Lucado THOMAS NELSON Copyright © 2013 Max Lucado All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8499-4855-8 Contents Introduction................................................ix... FOR THE REBELLIOUS......................................11: Open Arms................................................32: Come Home................................................93: Bright Lights on Dark Nights.............................134: I Will Not Abandon You...................................155: The Golden Goblet........................................276: Nearer Than You've Dreamed...............................35... FOR THE REGRET-RIDDLED..................................477: Two Tombstones...........................................498: The Voice from the Mop Bucket............................619: Guilt or Grace...........................................6910: The Eleventh Hour Gift..................................7311: Imperfect People........................................79... FOR THE PRIDEFUL........................................8512: The Kingdom of the Absurd...............................8713: Dressed in His Righteousness Alone......................9314: Where Man Covers His Mouth..............................9715: Tank Your Reputation....................................103... FOR THE MISTAKE-MAKERS..................................11316: The Tenderness of God...................................11517: Puppies, Butterflies, and a Savior......................11718: Not Guilty..............................................12319: The Ring of Belief......................................12920: When Grace Goes Deep....................................13121: What We Really Want to Know.............................133... FOR A FALTERING FAITH...................................13522: The Gospel of the Second Chance.........................13723: Remember................................................14124: Leave Room for the Magic................................14925: Believe and Receive.....................................155... FOR THOSE WHO HURT US...................................15926: The Power of Forgiveness................................16127: Thanks for the Bread....................................16328: When You Get Booted Out.................................17129: When Crickets Make You Cranky...........................17330: The Father in the Face of the Enemy.....................183Notes.......................................................187Sources.....................................................189 Chapter One OPEN ARMS Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, 'Give me my share of the property.' So the father divided the property between his two sons. Then the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled far away to another country. There he wasted his money in foolish living. After he had spent everything, a time came when there was no food anywhere in the country, and the son was poor and hungry. So he got a job with one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs. The son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he realized what he was doing, he thought, 'All of my father's servants have plenty of food. But I am here, almos