Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

When you have a big test tomorrow, and the test counts for a huge portion of your grade, what do you do? You can: A) Be the good student and start studying 2 weeks in advance as though the test was the next day or B) Be the procrastinating student and start studying the night before the test.

Either road you choose, you pay the price. Choosing to be student A could get you better results, but you will have to make sacrifices and be self-disciplined. How desperate are you for a good grade? Choosing to be student B could result in crashing after the test day. Again, how desperate are you for a good grade?

The reward for the student's work is an A. Simple.

Another example is from Crossfit Hoka Hey...

People want to reach their fitness goals. How desperate are you? Do you want to get fit for a wedding? I am. So, I am working out. The best thing I can do is go every day. Costing me time and money. I also have to be self-disciplined. Just as a bride makes herself ready for her wedding day, so should Christians make themselves ready for eternity.

When you are facing eternity tomorrow, and your whole life will be judged by God, what do you do? You can: A) Choose to accept Jesus as Savior to cover your sins and save you from eternal death (mercy) or B) Choose to reject Jesus as Savior and face judgment from God for your sins and face the consequence of eternal death.

How desperate are you to be with Jesus forever? Some people want their rewards on this earth. Again, there is a cost to save your life on Earth. There was a cost for the Rich Young Ruler inherit eternal life: he had to sell all his possessions and give to the poor. Let's just say, he walked away from the deal Jesus put on the table.

What makes you tick? What makes you desperate?

You can choose to run from your problems, like I used to... or train yourself to fight the good fight of faith.

My reward will be in heaven.

"Welcome home, my beloved Child." is better than any A I have earned.

We win, Gracie!

We have all heard the saying, 'Stop and smell the roses.' Do you remember a time you said this to someone you cared about? Do you remember a time this was said to you? If you don't, that's okay.

The phrase's systematic use is to change a persons' perspective on his day/life, not necessarily to offend the party.

On Tuesday, I had the privilege to sit-in on a 2nd year BSSM (Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry) class with Kris Vallotton. After the class, I met with the hero (friend) of my story.

In a good story, when the character gets confused, the writer brings in a friend or mentor. Heroes rarely figure out the path alone.
— Donald Miller (@donaldmiller) April 27, 2013

Her name is Olga. After Kris spoke, I met her in the parking lot. She shared with the pain of my unchanging circumstance. She encouraged me that we are not supposed to make life harder, it is already hard enough. During this time in the car, I recollected memories of where I thought I would be in life... and what these memories of the heart surprisingly brought in was JOY in the midst of my pain. 

A scene-by-scene lifespan ran through my head:

One of me smelling roses, one of me running through a wide-open field of grass (Psalm 23), and finally, a scene of Grace (Liz Taylor) in Armageddon hoping against hope. 

For example, if my friend was in a difficult unchanging circumstance, I would say (at some point in the conversation) have you stopped to smell the roses? There is always good to be found despite circumstances. 

There is always rest to be found in the midst difficult circumstances. "Oh Great God, Give us Rest," by David Crowder  Band is a beautiful worship song to bless you. Psalm 23 is my place in God's story, running in open fields, where time and space seem trivial compared to God's vastness and beauty. (Thank you, Larena for this)

In the 1998 movie Armageddon, Harry (Bruce Willis) sacrifices himself for the sake of his daughter's future with A.J. Frost (Ben Affleck) and for the future of the world. In the final scene, A.J. Frost states, "Harry doesn't know how to fail." A.J. demonstrates faith in Harry. Of course, this is like God. The God of the Bible doesn't know how to fail. He never fails us, he is unfailing love (read the Book). Before Harry preses the button to detonate the asteroid that is about to destroy the earth, he states, "We win, Gracie!" Love knows no sacrifice that is "too big." It does not stop at "woah, that hurts way too much to give that part of me away." Love gladly gives the deepest part of it away, without stopping. Scenes of Grace's life pass before her eyes, and the mystery of God is revealed in this scene (2 Corinthians 4). Love always wins. 

God's goodness is ultimately shown when he sacrifices Jesus for the sins of the world to be removed, and for the world to know truly who God is: Our Father. Let his sons and daughters rise. (John 3:16; Romans 8; John 1)

Today, I want to ask you have you stopped to smell the roses? 

What have you done for someone else today? (John 15:13)