Lift up the little things!

Today, someone is going to do a little thing. I small and simple gesture. Sometimes they will do it purposely and sometimes without any thought. Sometimes it's just who they are. What is it? It's a small act of joy, kindness, or service. Maybe it's holding the door or even as simple as smiling while they work. What keeps them going? Encouragement!!

Here is your stone!! "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). Lift up those who do the little things today!!

Remember the day? There is a way!!

Remember the day you realized you just can't do this life thing on your own and gave it all to Jesus? Remember at that moment, the path you were on, changed. You had a New Life Plan! Actually that was God's plan not ours. Imagine if we could be perfect from then on and have a perfect plan. Well, how about half of that? Thing is, the plan is perfect because it's God's, we are not perfect and will never be. Doesn't matter, He still wants our plan to be perfect.

Here is your stone!! "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6 NIV). It may feel like it ain't working, but have faith that it is. Continue to give it up and live it out.

Weak?

Here is your stone!! "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). We don't grow from sharing our great accomplishments but rather from our failures. I again think about my testing. It is not a story of my great moments of strength and success. It is about weakness, failures, and realization of our dependence on someone much bigger. That is what leads us to Christ. We all fail forward!!

Still thirsty?

Do you ever feel like there is a thirst in your life for something? You go to the places that have brought you "satisfaction". Those things are like wells that we go to sometimes for "refreshment". But do they bring completeness?

Here is your stone!! Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13, 14 NIV). Seek the true well of life!!

Could have been a great story!!

Imagine reading a book or watching a movie and as you go through, pages are missing or the movie skips parts. You can see where they are leading you and then it ends. The movie is messed up, the book is destroyed. What was the outcome going to be? The story seemed great but we don't get to see the great work in its entirety.
Will that be your life review?

Here is your stone!! "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16 NIV). He has your story written, will you be obedient and allow Him to complete your story or will you let it all end one day with wonder?

Lean on....

Here is your stone!! " but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31 NIV). God is saying; "Lean on Me!!" Whatever challenge, struggle, disappointment, or even frustration you may be facing today, know that you are not alone. He is there for us all!! Lean on Him.. Thank You Jesus!!!

Are you about affiliation or inspiration?

Here is your stone!! "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."" (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). Attending church, wearing crosses, maybe even work for a organization that is the ministry. All of these are awesome things that others are able to see your "affiliations". Yet God looks at our hearts for the real "Inspiration". What is inspiring you today?

Greatness

Here is your stone!! "But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, "The Lord is great!"" (Psalm 40:16 NIV). The Lord is Great!! Let that be your heart starting now. Today, someone will need to hear that word from each of us. The Lord IS Great!!!

He chose Grace! You choose Faith!

Here is your stone!! "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" (Ephesians 2:8 NIV). God Almighty could have chosen any way possible to accept us or not. He chose Grace. On going and eternal forgiveness. Slate cleaning. He chose to give us grace. Yet it is also through our faith. Believing in Him and His Grace. The falls and mistakes of our journey are the steps of our testimony, and how we learn, once we have the faith in God that all is forgiven. Thank You God for Your on going grace in my life.

Lay it down.

Here is your stone!! "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13 NIV). This verse was the verse used in my first "Here is your stone!!" text message. As I read it then and I read it now, I look at laying down ones life to have meanings beyond just physical sacrifice. As a man, the hardest thing to do at times is to share our life. Whether it be about my weaknesses and failures, my time, or my heart felt challenges. We have to be able to share and go deep. Start now, start today, go to a trusting person and just talk. Allow God to use your story to give Him Glory!!!

Two Points of Truth

Here is your stone!! "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"" (Mark 1:35-37 NIV). 2 points.
1. Jesus got up early and prayed, are we following that example?
2. Everyone was looking for Jesus. Are we all seeking Him out?
These are two clear points that we must grab ahold of now. If we fail here, how will it affect our journey, or is the journey already a second priority?

Ever Present!!

Here is your stone!! "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1 NIV). So often we think when things are getting difficult, that God has left us alone. Truth is that He is there with His arms wide open! Ever present!!! Always there!!! When it gets tough, know that the direction you choose can draw you closer or further away!! Seek Him First!!!

Ahh

Here is your stone!! "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27 NIV). Peace.... Just the word alone strikes a sense of "ahh" in our day. Imagine if all the challenges, hurdles, or frustrations today could be walked by or passes through. No worries or bothers. They can!! Peace. It was a gift from He who created all things. Are you going to use what Christ Himself gave you just before He left? Use it, live it, & remember the One who provided it.
Peace!!!'

High or Low - Doesn't matter.

Here is your stone!! "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.". (Romans 12:16 NIV). No matter how good we may think we are, we still fall short. Share the truth with everyone.

We've heard it and read it, so??

Here is your stone!! "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters," (Colossians 3:23 NIV). Many have heard and read this verse hundreds of times. As I read it today, I really ask myself, Are you? Everything? Or just certain things? The stuff others see or everything? Commit to it today.

R U?

Here is your stone!! "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34, 35 NIV). Love one another is an action. R U?

IWHW

Here is your stone!! "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 NIV). IWHW. If we, He will! All through the scripture we see this in place, If we take a step, He will be there. Faith is taking those steps. Are we waiting to be pulled, pushed, or will we just fall? Why wait? Take steps today and see the relationship flourish!!!

Storms or witnesses?

Here is your stone!! "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us," (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). Your association impacts your destination! Are you surrounded by great clouds of witnesses or storms?

Triple Gift - Use them!!

Here is your stone!! "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV). Triple gift. POWER, LOVE, and SELF-DISCIPLINE. Live these out today and begin to really see God in ACTION. NO FEAR!!

You can't hide Fire!!

Here is your stone!! ""Is not my word like fire," declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces!". (Jeremiah 23:29 NIV). His word is like Fire. If we aren't spreading it, are we hiding it. Truth is that if you don't give fire oxygen, it goes away. Are we giving breath to the fire or is our fire burning out. Be alive and in Fire!! Spread the WORD!!!

Two Proclaim!

Here is your stone!! "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19 NIV) Two things to Proclaim - Freedom and Favor!! Proclaim It and Live In It!!!

Get off that mountain.

Here is your stone!! "The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain." (Deuteronomy 1:6 NIV). We all have one, some of have MANY. Those mountains that prevent us from the next level. How long are we going to sit here and wait. We have stayed here long enough. Let's GO. Are we just going to let a fear or failure hamstring us? Is pride your mountain? Is it you trying to make someone else proud or to accomplish something for the way it looks? Why?? We have got to seek what God is calling us to and GO!! Get off that mountain and make the journey.

God's plan?

Here is your stone!! "he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—" (Ephesians 1:5 NIV). What is God's plan? It starts with His passion and plan for us to be his children. Next to love us as one of His children. Family, a Strong family. What a awesome realization of God's desire for us.