BAD is the new GOOD

Abandon the thought that only good situations produce good results! 

It just isn't true. God LOVES YOU so much that He turns the bad things in our lives into nail biting, dark horse, scream-and-shout VICTORIES!

For instance, if God ever put you in some crazy scenario where you'd have to do the unthinkable and, let's say, cut off your own arm, God would make it a win! God would give you the strength to do this horrible, unnatural act and His peace would fill your heart as you whacked away your very own limb. Then, God would create a curiosity and a wonder about your story and, kazaam!, you'd have a platform of influence that you'd never had before! Because of your story, people would draw up courage from deep within their own spirit and remind themselves, "Someone cut their own arm off...I, too, can get through this visit to the DMV". You would be on every news broadcast, in dozens of magazines, write bestselling books, make blockbuster movies, become a motivational speaker (who does NOT live in a van down by the river) and still enjoy your life, finding deep gratitude for the privilege of living each and every reclaimed day! You might even be on game shows, reality shows, maybe even guest star in a sitcom or two all because God turned your epitaph into the day you were resurrected for a new, improved life! God would make your life better without one arm than you could have ever imagined it to be with two!

Some of you are probably thinking "hey...I saw the movie, I heard about that guy on the news...of course it worked out". But Aron Ralston didn't know that. He hadn't watched 127 Hours. What is just an exaggerated expression of greed to us (I'd cut off my right arm for that car!) has been a crazy reality to him. And he not only survived his ghastly ordeal, but he THRIVED! He's labeled a hero and he says he even climbs better than he did before the accident as well as receiving all the benefits detailed above! The disaster that changed his life changed it for the better--he's got a clear perspective about what's important and even a well-paying career out of the deal!

If God ever presented you with a tough decision, the outcome would not kill you, it would set you free. We need to abandon the thought that only good situations produce good results! 

What sad circumstance is crippling your life? God's ready to regenerate your loss! He's kinda in the business of resurrection...He's sorta the creator of bringing the dead to life. You could say He invented resurrection. And if God was willing to do this for a man who made some "bad choices" about canyoneering alone that fateful day (his outcome makes "bad" look like the new "good"!) then none of us are exempt from a miraculous turn-around!

Sometimes the turn-around begins when we do the unthinkable...like cut our own arm off. Sometimes the answer looks crazy, but when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, you have to try something that doesn't feel natural. You have to have faith! You have to believe that God has a turn-around that's gonna wreck your life--in the best way possible!

Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves...turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles...refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. 

--Hebrews 11:33-35 from THE MESSAGE