Making it Till the End

Amazon has done a really rather disturbing change to author's payment for e-books. We are only paid when a certain percentage of pages are read. In other words, even though Amazon gets paid up front, we authors only get paid if we hold the readers' interest enough for them to read a good portion of our book.

So they have added a new number to our 'sales dashboard' where we can determine how many sales we have each day. Now we can see in real time pages read. For example, by 8 a.m.this morning, I saw that 277 pages of I'm Listening With a Broken Ear had been read today. I have no way of knowing if that was several people reading just a few pages, or one person who could not put my book down. I had a moment of elation thinking the 277 were number of books sold just that morning by 8 a.m., but the elation was short-lived. Now I have a new way to waste time. I can sit in front of my computer whispering, "For Pete's sake, reader, turn the page!"

I wonder if that is what God experiences in a small way. He sits in front of His 'souls dashboard', and sees just how far those souls are willing to trust God before He can decide they are truly sold on this whole journey of Faith.
"Oh dear," He laments, "One page of adversity in the whole story of their life, and they bail out on me!"
"Bravo!" He coos, "She had all those tragedies in such a short time, and look at her praying more fervently, and leaning on my strength more trustingly!"

See, if you are not willing to risk more than a small percentage of yourself to follow God, maybe you really aren't convinced His Story is the one you really want to immerse yourself in. This is a huge mistake, because the ending is the best part.
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James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Matthew 16:27 

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 5:12 

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Luke 12:33-34 

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 25:21 

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Revelation 22:12 

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.

Revelation 2:10 

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.