1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victorium. 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and thanks 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 2: for supporting the ministry. 4 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: We believe you're going to have an. 5 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 2: Awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 6 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: God bless you today and enjoy the message. 7 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come 8 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 2: into your homes. We love you and we know God 9 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 2: has great things in store. And if you're ever in 10 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,319 Speaker 2: our area, I hope you'll stop buy and be a 11 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 2: part of one of our services. I promise you we'll 12 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 2: make you feel right at home. Thanks for tuning in 13 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: and thank you again for coming out today. And I 14 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: like to start with something funny. And I heard about 15 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: this man. Somebody had stolen his wife's credit card, and 16 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: a couple of months later, the company called him and said, sir, 17 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: we've got good news. 18 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: We found the credit card. 19 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 2: Without missing a beat, he said, tell the thief to 20 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 2: keep it. He spends less than my wife. All right, 21 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 2: hold up your Bible, say it like you mean it. 22 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 2: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 23 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 2: I have what it says I have. I can do 24 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: what it says I can do. Today I will be 25 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 2: taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind 26 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 2: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 27 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:13,479 Speaker 2: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 28 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: to talk to you today about enjoying the journey. Life 29 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 2: is not really about the destination. It's about how we 30 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: live all along the way. And it's easy to become 31 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 2: so goal oriented and so focused on our dreams that 32 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 2: we overlook the simple things that we should be enjoying. 33 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: We have to realize life is a journey. There's no 34 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 2: such thing as the finish line. Once you accomplish this dream, 35 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: God will give you another dream. When you overcome this challenge, 36 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: there'll be another challenge. There's always another mountain to climb. 37 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: If we make the mistake of just living for the destination, 38 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: we'll look up one day and realize we've missed out 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 2: on the biggest part of life. 40 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: Because most of life is routine. 41 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: Most of us get up every morning, go to work, 42 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: come home, eat dinner, go to bed, and do it again. 43 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 2: There are very few mountaintops where you graduate from school, 44 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: or you get married, or have a child, or go 45 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: on vacation. The high times are few and far between, 46 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 2: but many people are living for the mountaintops. They're so 47 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: focused on their promotion that they work night and day. 48 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: They don't really enjoy their family. 49 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: They're so stressed raising their children, they don't enjoy their children. 50 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: They're so caught up in getting out of a problem. 51 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: Their life goes by in a blur. We've got to 52 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: slow down and learn to enjoy the journey. This is 53 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: what I had to do before I was married. I 54 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: used to travel overseas with my father a couple of 55 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: times a year, and I lived for those big trips. 56 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: I couldn't wait. 57 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 2: I counted down the months, the weeks, hurried through the 58 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 2: days trying to get to that trip. When one trip 59 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 2: was over, I'd immediately start looking forward to the next trip. 60 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: One day I realized, I'm hurrying through life, just trying 61 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 2: to get to my big events. Of course, it's good 62 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: to have things to look forward to. It's good to 63 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 2: have goals in front of you, but don't put your 64 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 2: life on hold until that happens. Enjoy all. Along the way. 65 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,399 Speaker 2: I heard Dion Sanders talking. He was a star football 66 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 2: player and his dream was to win the Super Bowl. 67 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: That's what he wanted more than anything else. He trained 68 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 2: and trained year after year, working tirelessly, one day his 69 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: dream came to pass. 70 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: He won the Super Bowl. 71 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 2: He told that night, when he went home after the 72 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: big celebration, he was so disappointed. 73 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: He thought, is this all that it is? 74 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 2: I've worked and reached the pinnacle of my career, and 75 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: I thought. 76 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: It would be different. 77 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm happy, Yes God's blessed me, but it's just 78 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 2: not what I thought it would be. And sometimes we 79 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: can spend our whole life trying to reach a goal, 80 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: only to find out it's not what it's all cracked 81 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 2: up to. Be friends, the real joy in life is 82 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 2: in the simple things. It's in being with your family, 83 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: getting up early and seeing the sunrise, taking a walk 84 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: through the park, taking your daughter on a date, going 85 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: on a bike ride with your spouse. 86 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: Sure, the goals, the accomplishments. 87 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: They bring us a sense of satisfaction, but they're only temporary. 88 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: You can't live off your Super Bowls. You can't live 89 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: off your big events, because after you savor them for 90 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 2: a moment, God's going to birth a new dream in 91 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 2: your heart, something new. 92 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: To look forward to. 93 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: And I've talked to a lot of people that have 94 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: made it to the very top in their field. The 95 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: one common regret I seem to hear is that they 96 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: did it at the expense of their family. 97 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: They say, Joel, if I. 98 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 2: Could do it over again, I would take time to 99 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 2: stop and smell the roses. I would be there at 100 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 2: my children's Little league games. I would take some more 101 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: walks through the park with my spouse. I wouldn't live 102 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: so stressed and uptight, thinking if I can just get 103 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: to the next level, then I'll slow down and enjoy 104 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 2: my life. No, slow down and enjoy the journey right now. 105 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: Take time for the people God's put in your life. 106 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: They're not always going to be there, the scripture says 107 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: in James, our life is like a mist We're here 108 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 2: for a moment and then we're gone. 109 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: Every day we. 110 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: Should tell our spouse, our children, the people that mean 111 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 2: the most to us, how much we love them. I 112 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: told Victoria the other day how much I appreciate her 113 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 2: coming and listening to me speak every service. A while back, 114 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: we were out of town holding services. Then we came 115 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: back and did the three services on the weekend, and 116 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: I figured up she had heard my same message that 117 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: week eight times in a row. 118 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: Listen. After eight times, I'm even tired of it. 119 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: But she sits there three services a week and she 120 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 2: laughs at my same jokes like it's the first time 121 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: she ever heard them. And I know she's faking it. 122 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: But. 123 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 2: At least she's faking it to make me feel good. 124 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: I don't take that for granted. 125 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 2: Make sure the people in your life know how much 126 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: you appreciate them sacrificing and being behind you. After all, 127 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,119 Speaker 2: you wouldn't be where you were if somebody wasn't paying 128 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 2: the price to get you further down the road. I 129 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,119 Speaker 2: think about my mother every service. When I'm up here. 130 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: I can hear her agging me on right there on 131 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: the front road. Under her breast. 132 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 2: She's constantly whispering, that's good, Joel. Doesn't matter what I'm 133 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: talking about. I'm her son. She thinks everything I say 134 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 2: is good. I can say, you may be seated. All 135 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 2: that's excellent today, Joel, But I realize I wouldn't be 136 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: where I am today without the people that have sown 137 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 2: into my life. Now, I'm not going to take for 138 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 2: granted those who are closest to me, my family, my friends, 139 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: my co workers that are making sacrifices so I can 140 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: fulfill what God's put in my life, in my heart. 141 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: A lot of people today they're making a living, but 142 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: they're not really making a life. They're working all the time, living, 143 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: stressed out, bringing the tension home, too busy to enjoy. 144 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: What God's given them. 145 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: We have to understand when we come to the end 146 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 2: of our life, most likely there will still be work 147 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: to do. 148 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: At the office. 149 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: Your inbox will still be full. It's never going to 150 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: be all done. And if we don't make our family 151 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: and those that we love a high priority to enjoy, 152 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: to spend time with, to invest in, then we'll end 153 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: up missing out on the thing that matters most. Because 154 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: in your final days here on this earth, the job 155 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 2: won't keep your company. 156 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: Your family will. 157 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 2: But if you spend all your time just investing in 158 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 2: a career, giving the best of your life energy to 159 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 2: build a business, then your lack of investment in what 160 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 2: matters most, your family, could leave you a very lonely person. 161 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: And it's good to be focused and driven, it's good 162 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: to be a hard worker, but you've got to know 163 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 2: how to walk away and say, you know what, this 164 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: work is still going to be at the office tomorrow 165 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 2: when I show up, so I'm gonna be my best today. 166 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: I'm gonna work hard, but i'm gonna play hard. I'm 167 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: gonna enjoy my family. I'm gonna have fun with my children. 168 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: If you don't make this decision, then your family will 169 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 2: always only get your leftover time and leftover energy. They 170 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 2: deserve better than that. Don't take the stress from the 171 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 2: office home to where you show up the whole house 172 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 2: tenses up. Don't let how somebody treated you or what 173 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: you didn't get done sour your day to where you 174 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: take it out on your family. 175 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: Leave that outside the home. 176 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 2: I don't know about you, but I would rather make 177 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 2: less money and be able to enjoy my life and 178 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 2: joyed my family, then to be so overwork that I 179 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 2: never have any extra energy. There are plenty of opportunities 180 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: I say no to because I don't want my life 181 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 2: to go by in a blur. I don't want my 182 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 2: children to grow up without knowing me. I don't want 183 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: to be so busy that I can't come home and 184 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 2: work out, or take a walk through the park, or 185 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 2: stay up and look at the stars, or get up 186 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 2: early and hear the birds sing. 187 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: It. You've got to realize I'm a very. 188 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 2: Goal oriented, disciplined person. I've got to do just what 189 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 2: I'm asking you to do. I trained myself to slow 190 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 2: down and enjoy the journey. I read about Frank Lloyd Wright. 191 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: He was a famous architect, and when he was a 192 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 2: young man in his early teens, he was walking through 193 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 2: a snow covered field with his uncle. They were headed 194 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 2: to a house up in front of them, but along 195 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: the way Frank veered off and stopped by the barn 196 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 2: to see the animals. Then he went over to the 197 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: pond and took a look at that, and then he 198 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 2: saw fort off in the disc that they had built. 199 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 2: He went out of his way and went and saw that. 200 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 2: When he finally caught up with his uncle way across 201 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 2: the snow covered field, his uncle said, now, Frank, I 202 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: want to teach you a lesson. Look back at our 203 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 2: footsteps in the snow. Mine came straight here. I never 204 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,199 Speaker 2: ventured off, and I got here much quicker than you. 205 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: But Frank, look at yours. You zigzagged all over the place, 206 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 2: wasted so much time stopping all along the way. Frank 207 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 2: Lloyd Wright said that was one of the best lessons 208 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: he ever learned, but he took it just the opposite 209 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 2: his philosophy was. I still got to where I was going, 210 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: but I enjoyed all the sights along the way. And 211 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: in life, there will always be a balance between working hard, 212 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: being focused, accomplishing dreams, and taking time to stop and 213 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 2: smell the roses. 214 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: Some of you today you don't zigzag enough. 215 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 2: You need to start venturing off here and there and 216 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 2: appreciate and enjoying the great things God's placed in your life. 217 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 1: You're all working no fun. 218 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 2: But if you would change your approach and slow down 219 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 2: and enjoy the journey, you will not only still get 220 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 2: to where you're supposed to be, but your life will 221 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 2: be so much more fulfilled now. I learned a lot 222 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 2: of this from Victorious side of the family. They loved 223 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 2: to laugh, they love to have fun. They enjoy each 224 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 2: other at dinner, they can sit there and talk for hours. 225 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 2: My personality is I can eat in ten minutes and 226 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 2: I'm done. Let's get busy, Let's go do something. We 227 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 2: got goals, we got dreams. The other day, Victoria, her 228 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 2: mom and brother and some of the family came over 229 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 2: after church and we had a late lunch. And after 230 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 2: I got through eating, I went to the back and 231 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 2: watched the football game two and a half hours later, 232 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 2: I came back out and they were still sitting at 233 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 2: the table in the. 234 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: Same seats, laughing, talking, having fun. 235 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 2: I was so amazed. I said to Victoria, what are 236 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 2: y'all talking about? She said, all nothing. Let me tell you, 237 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 2: they can talk about nothing better than anybody I know. 238 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 2: Why is that they enjoy each other. They've taught me. 239 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: How to take time to smell the roses. Think about this. 240 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: God gives us a sunrise every morning. 241 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: Do you ever enjoy it? He gives us stars every night? 242 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 2: Do you ever look up and appreciate it. Maybe you 243 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 2: have your mom and dad living close by. Do you 244 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 2: ever stop by and spend time? Do you ever call 245 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: them and talk about nothing? 246 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: Many of us? 247 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 2: God is blessed with beautiful children. Do you enjoy them? 248 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 2: Or are you so busy raising them and cooking their 249 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 2: dinner and making sure they're doing their homework and making 250 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 2: sure they're cleaning their room that you don't really appreciate 251 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 2: the gift that. 252 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 1: God has given you. 253 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 2: I know people that love their children, no doubt about it, 254 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 2: but they don't really enjoy their children. They left the 255 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 2: pressures of raising them rob them of what they have 256 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 2: to offer. When our daughter, Alexandra, was about three years old. 257 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: She used to wake up at night and come down 258 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 2: the stairs and come into our room. Of course, we'd 259 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: have to get up and take her back to bed. 260 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: For a period of three or four months, she was 261 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: waking up two or three times a night and coming down. 262 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: This was not long after I took over from my 263 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 2: father and started pastoring, so I was learning to minister, 264 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: and there was a lot of stress and changes just 265 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 2: with that. And now I wasn't getting that much sleep. 266 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 2: And one time I was telling Victoria, we just got 267 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 2: to do something about Alexandra. She's coming down so much, 268 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 2: and you know, I'm just so tired and I'm not 269 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 2: getting out of sleep. On and on, Victoria said something 270 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 2: I'll never forget. She said, Joel, just remember, twenty years 271 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 2: from now, you'll give anything to hear those little footsteps 272 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 2: coming down the stairs. You'll give anything to have her 273 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 2: wanting to come into your room. That changed my whole perspective. 274 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 2: I started looking forward to it. I started treasuring those 275 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 2: moments that we. 276 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: Could spend together. 277 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 2: Your children may be a lot of work right now, 278 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: but make sure you're enjoying them. 279 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: They're not always going to be there. In the house 280 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: with you. 281 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 2: I heard Doctor ed Young tell about something that happened 282 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 2: with his son. Doctor Young is a good friend of ours, 283 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: great leader and the pastor of Second Baptist Church here 284 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 2: in town. When doctor Young was the president of the 285 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: Southern Baptist Convention, he received an invitation to go to 286 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 2: the White House and have a personal meeting with the President. 287 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: It was a big deal. He was very excited about it. 288 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 2: But his son's basketball team won their division and they 289 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 2: kept it advancing, and it just so happened that the 290 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 2: state championship was on the same day. 291 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: He was supposed to go to Washington, So. 292 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: He had to decide was he going to stay and 293 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: see his son or where was he going to go 294 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 2: and see the president. I'm sure he could have thought, well, 295 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 2: I can watch the game later by video, I can 296 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 2: call and get updates. I'll be heard on the radio. No, 297 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 2: doctor Young didn't think. Twice, he had his staff and 298 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 2: formed the President's office that he would not be able 299 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 2: to attend. He went to his son's game and it 300 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 2: was very exciting, very close. The score kept going back 301 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 2: and forth. Toward the end of the game, his son's 302 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 2: team was down by one point looked like they'd come 303 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 2: up short, but in the final seconds, his son hit 304 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 2: the game winning shot and they won the state championship. 305 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: Doctor Young said, I. 306 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 2: Would not have traded that moment for anything in the world, 307 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 2: not even a meeting with the president. Friends, we have 308 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: to realize some things we cannot get back. Our children 309 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: will only be this age once. Take time for the 310 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 2: people in your life. Don't rush out of the house 311 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: without giving your spouse a hug. Don't be so busy 312 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 2: that you can't go on the date that you promised 313 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 2: your little daughter. Don't come home so tired that you 314 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 2: can't go to the park and watch your teenage son skateboard. 315 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 2: Make memories together. Twenty years from now, we're gonna look 316 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 2: back and say, those were the good old days. You 317 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 2: remember when you hit the game winning shot. You remember 318 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 2: when I used to go to the park and chase 319 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: you around. You remember when we used to sit around 320 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 2: the dinner table and laugh and tell stories. Friends, we 321 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 2: are living in the good old days. Don't take it 322 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: for granted. Your family needs what you have. They need 323 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 2: your smile, your encouragement, your support, your wisdom. They need 324 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 2: to know that you care and that they mean the 325 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 2: world to you. 326 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: And it's important not to just be in the house. 327 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 2: Don't just show up, be involved, be engaged. Heard somebody 328 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 2: say it's not the time we spend together that really matters, 329 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 2: it's the moments we ignite to make a memory. And 330 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 2: now I know plenty of people that are living in 331 00:16:56,040 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 2: a house full of family, but they're very lonely. Everybody 332 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,719 Speaker 2: is busy, everybody's doing their own thing. Nobody is stepping 333 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 2: up to say, you know what, We're gonna be a family. 334 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 2: We're gonna take time to sit together at the dinner 335 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 2: table and see how we're doing. We're gonna go to 336 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: the ballgame or to the dance recital and cheer that. 337 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: Other person on. 338 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 2: We're gonna lift each other up when we're falling. We're 339 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 2: gonna enjoy what God has given us. See, it's easy 340 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 2: to be too busy, it's easy to become disengaged. 341 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: But if you want to get the most. 342 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: Out of life, you've gotta draw the line in the 343 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 2: sand and say, I'm gonna slow down and enjoy the journey. 344 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna take for granted what God has given me. 345 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna be a workaholic and not see my 346 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 2: children grow up, I'm not gonna live so stressed out 347 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 2: that I can't appreciate the simple things in life. A 348 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 2: few years ago, I was rounding everybody up at our 349 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 2: house to leave. 350 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: We were headed to church, and we. 351 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 2: Were running late, and I was in a big hurry, 352 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 2: all stressed out about it. And our son, Jonathan was 353 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 2: about eight years old. Somebody had given us a label maker, 354 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: one of those little machines that you can type a 355 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 2: message and it'll print out a little label that you 356 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 2: can stick on somewhere. Jonathan was there by the back 357 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 2: door and he was typing in a message. I said, Jonathan, 358 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 2: you gotta put that up. 359 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: We're late. We got to go right now. 360 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 2: He said, hang on, Dad, I just need another minute, 361 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 2: just another second. I said, Jonathan, we don't have another second. 362 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: We're not going to get to church in time. You 363 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:26,919 Speaker 2: got to put it up. I was getting more and 364 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 2: more stressed out about that time. He printed out the 365 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 2: message and handed it to me. It said, you're the 366 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 2: best dad in the world. I thought, well, maybe we 367 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 2: can stay here a little longer, print out a few 368 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 2: more of those. But sometimes we get so caught up 369 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 2: in our goals and so focused on the end result 370 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: that we missed the miracles all along the way. Take 371 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 2: time to smell the roses, enjoy the different personalities God's 372 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 2: put in your life. I found it's the simple things 373 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: that mean the most to us. You don't have to 374 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,360 Speaker 2: take an expensive vacation to make a memory. You can 375 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: make a memory sitting at the dinner table. You can 376 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 2: make a memory watching your children play in the backyard, 377 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 2: getting up early with your spouse and taking in a 378 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: beautiful sunrise. Some of my best memories growing up were 379 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 2: when all of us kids, there were five of us, 380 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 2: would sit with my father early in the morning and 381 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 2: drink coffee by the fire. When my father would take 382 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 2: his first sip of coffee, he would always. 383 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 1: Let out a long ah. Now all of. 384 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 2: Us kids from four to fourteen would do the same thing. 385 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 2: We'd have a contest to see who could do the 386 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 2: best odd We'd sit there and laugh and have fun together. 387 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 2: My brother Paul tells how he and his children still 388 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 2: get up today and drink coffee early in the morning, 389 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 2: sip it and say they're ods. I don't drink coffee anymore. 390 00:19:56,200 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 2: I'm a little bit holier than he is. But growing up, 391 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 2: we didn't have a lot of money, but my parents 392 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 2: were very innovative. We lived close to the big airport, 393 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 2: and a couple of nights a month when it wasn't busy, 394 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 2: they would take us up to the airport and we 395 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 2: would ride the train together. 396 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: That was free. 397 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 2: We loved it. You would have thought they were taking 398 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 2: us to an amusement park. 399 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 1: We would go back and forth between Terminal A and 400 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: Terminal B for an hour or two. 401 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 2: I'm sure people thought that family is so lost, they 402 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 2: don't know what they're doing. Now you know what we 403 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 2: were doing. We were making a memory. We were having 404 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 2: fun together. 405 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: As a family. 406 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 2: It's not how expensive it is or how exciting it is. 407 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: Life is all about what we make it. 408 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 2: When our children were younger, we took them to Disneyland, 409 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 2: and Alexandra was about five years old, I would guess, 410 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 2: And it was very much a struggle getting there that day. 411 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 2: There was a lot of traffic and we were in 412 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 2: the rental car and hard finding a place to park, 413 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: and a long to get on the tram to catch 414 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 2: it to the park. And by the time we got 415 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 2: in the park, I was very stressed out. We weren't 416 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 2: there fifteen minutes until little Alexandra said, Daddy, I want 417 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,959 Speaker 2: to go back to the hotel and go swimming. I 418 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,959 Speaker 2: said no, no, no, Alexandra. We can swim anywhere. We 419 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 2: can swim at home. We're at Disneyland. She said, Daddy, 420 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 2: I don't want to be at Disneyland. 421 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: I want to go swimming. 422 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 2: I said no, Alexandra, we may see Mickey Mouse. We're 423 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: gonna go find snow White. We're gonna have so much fun. 424 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 2: She said, I don't want to have fun here. I 425 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 2: finally had to say, listen, Alexandra, I. 426 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: Pay fifty bucks for your ticket. 427 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 2: You're gonna have fun whether you like it or no. 428 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 2: What am I saying? It doesn't take a lot of 429 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 2: money to have fun. Many times, it's the simple things 430 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 2: that we remember the most. I heard about this man 431 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 2: that was a huge baseball fan. For his son's eighth birthday, 432 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 2: he bought him a baseball that was autographed by all 433 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 2: of the New York Yankees they had just won the 434 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 2: World Series. Paid a lot of money for it, and 435 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 2: he was sure his son would treasure it for years 436 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: to come. But when he gave the ball to his son, 437 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 2: his son wasn't excited about it at all. In fact, 438 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 2: He just looked at it and put it off to 439 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 2: the side. The dad was so disappointed, he said, son, 440 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 2: don't you like the ball? His son said, yes, Dad, 441 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: but I'd like it a lot better if somebody hadn't 442 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 2: written all these names on it. Friends, we've got to 443 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 2: learn to enjoy the simple things in life. 444 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: Today. 445 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 2: Everything is so complicated. We have five hundred channels on TV, 446 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 2: the internet, cell phones, PDAs. Everywhere you look, there's something 447 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 2: to do, some kind of entertainment, and if we're not careful, 448 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: we'll fall into the trap of thinking that we've always 449 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 2: got to be busy. 450 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: We can't have fun. 451 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 2: We can't enjoy our life unless we're doing something big 452 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,880 Speaker 2: and exciting. So slow down and enjoy the simple thing. 453 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 2: Turn off the TV and spend more time with your family. 454 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 2: Take a walk, go for a bike ride, play games 455 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 2: together that doesn't cost anything. Growing up, we used to 456 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 2: play hide and go seek as a family. My mom 457 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:15,880 Speaker 2: and dad would chase us all through the house. It's 458 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 2: one of the highlights of my day. My favorite memory 459 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 2: is when my sister Lisa got stuck. 460 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:21,880 Speaker 1: In the drier. 461 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 2: Thank god we had it on permanent press. But it's 462 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 2: not about what we have or don't have. Life is 463 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,120 Speaker 2: all about what we make it. You can have all 464 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 2: the money in the world and not be happy and 465 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 2: enjoying life. Plus you can have very little and be 466 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 2: just as satisfied and fulfilled as. 467 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: You can be. It's all in our approach. 468 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 2: Now. I read about this family that was very wealthy. 469 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 2: The father wanted to show his seven year old son 470 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 2: how the quote poor people live, and so he left 471 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: the big home in the city and they drove to 472 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 2: a little farm in the country where this family they 473 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 2: knew was and they spent the night with them. 474 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: And it's just a. 475 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 2: Little frame, wood house and didn't have any TV, no 476 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 2: fancy furniture, no carpet. And at night this family, since 477 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 2: there was no entertainment inside, they would go out on 478 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 2: the front porch and sing and laugh and tell stories together. 479 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 2: After being there a night or two, the father and 480 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 2: son headed back home. The father was very curious as 481 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 2: to if his son had learned his lesson, and he 482 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 2: asked him how he liked it. A little boy said, oh, Dad, 483 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 2: I really loved it. He said, well, son, do you 484 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:34,679 Speaker 2: see how poor people can be? 485 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: And the son said, yes, Dad, I did. 486 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 2: He said, well, son, tell me what exactly did you learn? 487 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 2: The little boy said, well, Dad, I learned that we 488 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 2: have one dog at home and they have four. We 489 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 2: have a swimming pool in the middle of our backyard, 490 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 2: but they have a stream with no end. We have 491 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 2: fancy lanterns on our house, but they have the stars. 492 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 2: We watched TV by ourselves at night, but they sit 493 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 2: around as a family and have fun. His dad was 494 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 2: shaking his head. He knew it had backfired. About that time, 495 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 2: the son said, Dad, thank you so much for showing 496 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 2: me how poor we really are. 497 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: Friends. 498 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 2: If you have people in your life to love, you're rich. 499 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: If you have your health, you're rich. 500 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 2: If you can hear your little girl's footsteps coming down 501 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 2: the stairs, you're rich. If you can talk with your 502 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 2: family about nothing, you're rich. Keep the right perspective, slow 503 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 2: down and enjoy the simple things in life. Take more 504 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 2: walks through the park, look at the stars at night. 505 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 2: Think about God's goodness when you get up in the morning. 506 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 2: Don't just drink your coffee, Sip it and say ah, 507 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 2: make a memory, Ignite that moment. I'm asking us today 508 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 2: to slow down and enjoy the journey. There will always 509 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 2: be another dream, another goal, another challenge. Take time for 510 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 2: what matters most. Some of you are so focused and driven, 511 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 2: so busy with what you have to do each day, 512 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 2: you're missing the miracles all along the way. You need 513 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 2: to do like Frank Lloyd Wright and start zigzagging. Start 514 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 2: enjoying the different things that God has put in your life. 515 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 2: I heard somebody say, it's not that life is so short, 516 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 2: it's that we wait so long to begin. Why don't 517 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 2: you begin today? Take time to smell the roses, appreciate 518 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 2: the people in your life. Hug your children before you 519 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 2: leave each day. Give your spouse a kiss, Call your 520 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 2: parents and tell them how much you love them. Go 521 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 2: visit those relatives you've been meaning to. Life is short, 522 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:40,120 Speaker 2: We're not always going to be here, and it's good 523 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 2: to work hard, but you've got to learn how to 524 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 2: turn it off, stay in balance and play hard as well. 525 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: We're living in the good old days. 526 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 2: If you'll make this decision that you're going to slow 527 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,959 Speaker 2: down and enjoy the journey, then you will experience the 528 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 2: fullness of what God has in store. When you come 529 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 2: to the end of your life, You'll have no regrets. 530 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 2: You'll be able to say, I made the most of 531 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 2: my life. I enjoyed my family, I enjoyed my friends. 532 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 2: I finished my course with joy. 533 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: Amen. Do you receive that today? 534 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 535 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 2: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 536 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? 537 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 2: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 538 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 2: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 539 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 2: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 540 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 2: born again. Get in a good Bible based church, Keep 541 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 2: God in first place. He'll take your places that you've 542 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 2: never dreamed of. 543 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 3: Sometimes the stresses of life can feel like you're just 544 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 3: getting by. God wants to bless us, But how do 545 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 3: you move from barely enough to just enough to more 546 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 3: than enough. 547 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 2: We all face difficulties and people that are hard to 548 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 2: deal with. You can't eliminate all the stress, but if 549 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 2: you'll handle it the right way, you don't have to 550 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 2: live stressed out. Much of our frustration is we're trying 551 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 2: to control things that we can't control, letting things stress 552 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 2: us that don't have to. I'd love to send you 553 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 2: by new book fifty five Ways to be Blessed and 554 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,360 Speaker 2: not stressed. I'll show you practical things you can do 555 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 2: to live more peaceful and enjoy each day. 556 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 3: You can move from stressed to blessed and fully realize 557 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 3: God's goodness, favor and blessings. As our way of saying 558 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 3: thank you for your gift of any amount to the ministry, 559 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 3: this month, Joel and Victoria would like to send you 560 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 3: this powerful life transforming resource, fifty five Ways to be 561 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 3: blessed and not stressed. With this book, you'll not just 562 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 3: see one pathway forward, but fifty five powerful life changing 563 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 3: ways to kill the stress and give life to a 564 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,959 Speaker 3: life of blessing. These fifty five promises will open God's 565 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 3: floodgates and release double the impact of his divine direction, 566 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 3: opportunity and blessing every day. Now expect, declare, and receive 567 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 3: a blessed not stressed, over the top outpouring in your life. 568 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 2: How much time are you spending worried, upset and frustrated? 569 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: Life is too short to live stressed. 570 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 2: If you'll make some simple adjustments, you can live blessed 571 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 2: and not stressed. Victory and I want you to know 572 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 2: we're praying for you that you'll experience peace and joy 573 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,959 Speaker 2: and see your dreams come to pass. Thank you so 574 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 2: much for your prayers and support. Your generosity is impacting lives. 575 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 1: All over the world. 576 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 2: Remember you can watch the services online Sunday mornings, download 577 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 2: our daily podcast, listen on Serious XM YouTube social media. 578 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 2: But until we meet again, let the Lord bless you 579 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 2: and keep you. 580 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of fifty five Ways 581 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 3: to be Blessed and not Stressed today. Visit Joelostein dot 582 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 3: com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel