Hey, watch it!

Ok, today I want to talk to you about something. But first, take a few minutes and watch this clip. No really, do it! Aaaaaaannnnnnddddddd...GO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an4MMQbtqM0

This scene is one of my favorites when I want to talk to people about certain things such as perseverance, positive attitudes, and encouraging others. So tonight as I sit with some friends at Dillon's in Lawrence, I am taking a minute to talk to YOU. I want to speak something into your life right now, so please keep reading.

First of all, if you are at a point in your life where you feel like you can't keep going and you just want to give up, I am challenging you right now....YOU CAN KEEP GOING! YOU CAN DO THIS! Life isn't always easy, my friend! Life is hard and messy sometimes! But you are NOT alone...even when you don't see anyone else around, God is there waiting for you to turn to Him and ask Him to help you. Don't believe me? Tell Him. Don't believe Him? I challenge you to tell Him and wait expectantly for Him to show Himself true to you. Seriously. For a whole month, I challenge you every day to tell God exactly what you think. See what He does.
Second of all, if you keep thinking that you are not good enough, strong enough, beautiful enough, rich enough, or any other kind of thing enough to make it, then congratulations. You won't. You have just talked yourself into getting in your own way. Listen, God created you for a purpose. Yes YOU!!! You have an eternal purpose for your life and you need to quit focusing on yourself so much and focus on God. Ask Him what He has for you to do. I dare you!
Lastly, if you are in a good place in your life...or even if you aren't, but you care about other people...stop sitting idly by and watching people while they drown in life! No, I don't expect you to solve all their problems, but you know what you CAN do? You can cheer them on. Let them know there is someone in their corner! Did you watch the coach in this clip? He didn't just tell Brock one time that he could do it. He cheered him on and encouraged him to keep going the whole way until he literally had nothing left. Also, the coach didn't just stand on the sidelines or at the start line and yell to him. Nope. Not this coach! He went the distance with him and encouraged him all along the way until the goal was beyond met. That is a true encourager.
So friends, wherever you're at in this scenario, take a lesson from Facing the Giants. You can get through this. You can push harder. You can negotiate with your body or emotions to find more strength. You can go the distance. And you can encourage others to do the same!
Hang in there friends...you're almost in the end zone.