Response To The Unexpected
When I spoke a couple weeks back and launched our Christmas experiences, I said this quote, “A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected.” It’s so easy to say that but then when the unexpected happens and you have to live it, that is when it gets difficult. I love the fact that God uses ordinary people to do the extraordinary but sometimes because of the unexpected that will happen in my life I don’t even feel “ordinary” enough for God to use me. Ever feel that way? Ever feel like you blew it? Ever feel like what’s the point?
I’ve been bombarded with messages from students and adults over the last couple weeks that feel that exact way and are ready to quit. My challenge to you is this, if you are a Christ Follower, then you are a child of the King. It may not always feel like it but we don’t walk through life based on emotions and walk through life based on what is happening around us or to us…we walk through life with a joy knowing what was done for us. Find comfort that your joy is found in Christ and Him alone. Maybe as the new year approaches you need to get away from the business of life and run to Him. For those who read this who may not be a Christ follower, there is so much that will keep you from a true relationship with Christ because you will try to fix it before you run to Him. If only I can quit looking at that porn, or put down the bottle, or step away from this addiction of sex and drugs. If only, if only, if only. Just a reminder that you will never be good enough and you will never have it all fixed before you run to Him…so just do it now, He is waiting. He loves you. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. What a great way to start out the new year by giving everything to Him.
Maybe your unexpected moment before the new year gets here is to humble yourself and admit that you don’t have all the answers and don’t have it all figured out. Maybe your unexpected moment of surrender will reveal more about your character than you thought.
Are you resolution maker? Are you a goal setter? What changes for you in the new year?
Earn It
I watched one of the most powerful movies ever written on Monday and Tuesday called Saving Private Ryan. I sat there and watched the sacrifice of so many that have come before me and thought about the freedom that I have and in reality how I don’t deserve it because I have done nothing to earn it.
I watched the final scene of the movie where Tom Hanks is sitting on the bridge trying to blow it and keep the Germans from crossing over and taking a huge step towards victory. He could have taken private Ryan with his 6 out of 8 remaining guys and left but they chose to stay and fight. In doing so he gave his life for his country and for private Ryan. His ending statement to private Ryan was, “Earn this, earn it”. At the end of the movie private Ryan asks his wife if he has led a good life and if he was a good man? His entire life he felt the need to earn what had been given to him. He felt the need to pay back the debt that was paid for his freedom.
I sat and thought I am so much like private Ryan. There was a debt that was paid for me and I spend my life trying to pay it back and earn it. The truth is there is nothing I can do to earn God’s love or lose God’s love. There is nothing I can do to earn or payback the debt that has been paid for my life. So today live as if you are free because if you believe you belong and the debt has been paid for your life and you don’t have to try to earn it or pay it back you simply honor God by loving Him, loving others and serving both to the best of your ability. That’s it. We don’t deserve it but that is why it is a Gift.
