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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, Thanks Grandpa, but. 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 3: He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 27 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: with the uns stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 3: code iHeart fifty at sign up to receive a fifty 33 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 3: dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code iHeart 34 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: fifty when you sign up at unest dot co for 35 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 3: a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs 36 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: dot co. 37 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 39 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 4: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 40 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 4: share it with a friends, reappreciate you and pray for 41 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 4: God's very best in your life. Oh God, bless you. 42 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 4: It is always a joy to coming to your homes. 43 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 4: We love you and we're believing from good things in 44 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 4: your life. God rewards the people that seek after Him. 45 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 4: I believe that's you and all of you, or you 46 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 4: wouldn't have taken time to join with us today. But 47 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 4: God bless you. If you ever in our erea, come 48 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 4: out and see us. We'd love to have you be 49 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 4: a part of one of our services. I like to 50 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 4: start each week with something kind of funny. And I 51 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 4: heard about this man named Bubba. He was feeling really 52 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 4: down and discouraged, and he went to his little country 53 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 4: church and the pastor said, what's wrong, Baba? He said, 54 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 4: I need you to pray for my hearing. The pastor 55 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 4: very earnestly put both hands on his ears, and he 56 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 4: prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed, and finally he 57 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 4: got finished and he said, okay, now how's your hearing? 58 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 4: Baba said, I don't know. It's not till Tuesday morning. 59 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 4: All right, hold up your Bible, say it like you 60 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 4: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says. 61 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 4: I am. I have what it says I have. I 62 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 4: can do what it says I can do. Today I 63 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 4: will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 64 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 4: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 65 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 4: never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, 66 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 4: ever living seed of the Word of God. I'll never 67 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 4: be the same, never, never, never, I'll never be the same. 68 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 4: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 69 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 4: to you today about keeping your heart free from offenses. 70 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 4: Every day we're going to have opportunities to get upset 71 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 4: and offended. People are going to say things we don't understand. 72 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 4: Maybe somebody's rude to you at the grocery store, or 73 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 4: a coworker leaves you out of an important meeting. Offenses 74 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 4: are going to come. That's just a part of life. 75 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 4: So many people are living with their feelings on their shoulders. 76 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 4: They're easily offended. They let the smallest things upset them. 77 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 4: Somebody cuts them off in traffic. They don't even know 78 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 4: the person, but their blood pressure shoots sky high. The 79 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 4: next two or three hours, they're all uptight and on edge. 80 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 4: But if we're going to live in victory, we've got 81 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 4: to learn how to not take these offenses. Just because 82 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 4: an offense comes doesn't mean it has to affect us. 83 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 4: It all depends on what we do with it. The 84 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 4: other day, our son Jonathan and I were at a 85 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 4: department store. We wanted to buy some sporting goods, and 86 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 4: I tried and tried to get somebody to help us. 87 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 4: I could see three or four employees over there, talking, laughing, 88 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 4: having a good time, and so I just went over 89 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 4: there and very politely asked if one of them could 90 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 4: assist us. They no more gave us the time of day. 91 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,679 Speaker 4: They totally ignored us and just kept talking and talking. 92 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,799 Speaker 4: And the longer it went, the more I could feel 93 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 4: myself wanting to get upset. I could feel that offense 94 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 4: trying to take root. I had to dig my heels 95 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 4: in and say, no, I am not going to lose 96 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 4: my joy. I am not gonna let their sour attitude 97 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 4: ruin the rest of my day. And after I told 98 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 4: the manager, I shook it off. I'm just kidding, I didn't. 99 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 4: The word offense in the scripture comes from a Greek 100 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 4: word that means bait. It's used in reference to how 101 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 4: they would catch animals. Was actually the bait that lured 102 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 4: the animal into the trap. When you're tempted to be offended, 103 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 4: somebody's rude to you, somebody's inconsiderate, somebody ignores you, recognize 104 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 4: that's the enemy offering you his bait, he saying, come on, 105 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 4: get upset, get angry, argue you let it sour your day. 106 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 4: Many people don't know any better. They swallow that bait, hooked, 107 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:42,799 Speaker 4: line and sinker. They go around day after day, upset, bitter, offended. 108 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 4: But we need to be aware of what's happening. The 109 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 4: next time you have an opportunity to be offended, instead 110 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 4: of falling into that same trap, just say no, thanks, 111 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 4: I'm not gonna take the bait. I'm smarter than that. 112 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 4: I'm gonna live my life free. I'm gonna enjoy this day. 113 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 4: The things we can learn to do is forgive quickly, 114 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 4: and somebody does you wrong, learn to immediately let it go. 115 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,599 Speaker 4: Don't play that offense over and over in your mind 116 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 4: and dissect it and try to figure out what they 117 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 4: really meant. Don't go call your friends and get their 118 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 4: take on it. Can you believe how rude they are? 119 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 4: Can you believe what they said to me? No, just 120 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 4: drop it. The quicker you let it go, the easier 121 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 4: it will be, and some of you would see your 122 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 4: life go to a whole new level if you just 123 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 4: start practicing this simple principle. Forgive quickly, don't allow the 124 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 4: offense to take root. We cannot stop offenses from coming, 125 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 4: but we can keep them from dragging us down. And 126 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 4: the longer you dwell on it, the more it poisons you, 127 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 4: and the harder it is to get free. I had 128 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 4: some stain remover out the other day. I was trying 129 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 4: to clean a little spot on our carpet, and I 130 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 4: noticed the direction said, get to the spot as quickly 131 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 4: as possible, hopefully while it's ill wet. Why because the 132 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 4: longer it stays there, the more difficult it is to remove. 133 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 4: It's the same way with us when an offense comes. 134 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 4: If you allow that stain to stay in your mind, 135 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 4: so to speak, hour after hour, day after day, it's 136 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 4: getting harder and harder to get rid of. It's so 137 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 4: much easier to forgive right when it happens. I mean, 138 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 4: if somebody offends you at ten o'clock in the morning, 139 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 4: and now it's ten point fifteen, your attitude should be 140 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 4: I'm moving on. That's not going to sour the rest 141 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 4: of my day. Somebody cuts you off at traffic at 142 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 4: four o'clock, well, now it's four oh five. That's over 143 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 4: and done. I'm not taking the bait. I'm living my 144 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 4: life free, and the Bible talks about how we have 145 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 4: to put on the armor of God. One of the 146 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 4: most important pieces is our shoes of peace. But I 147 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 4: found too many people are going around barefooted. They're always 148 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 4: upset and bent out of shape about something offended at 149 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 4: the neighbor because they weren't invited to play little league, 150 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 4: Offended at the apartment store, because they wouldn't take something back, 151 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 4: Offended at their spouse because he left in such a hurry. 152 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 4: What's the problem They're not putting on their shoes of peace. 153 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 4: You have to make a decision first thing in the 154 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 4: morning that no matter what comes against you, you're not 155 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 4: gonna get upset. You're not gonna get offended. You're gonna 156 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 4: stay in peace. Have the attitude. If somebody ignores me, 157 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 4: that's all right. They're probably just having a bad day. 158 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 4: I'm gonna give them the benefit of the doubt and 159 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 4: move on. Somebody's rude to meet, no big deal. I'm 160 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 4: an eagle. I can rise above it. Somebody's talking behind 161 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 4: my back, trying to make me look bad, that's all right. 162 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,719 Speaker 4: God is my vindicator. I'm not gonna sink down to 163 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 4: their level start arguing. I know God will fight my 164 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 4: battles for me. We have to have a made up 165 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 4: mind that we're gonna stay in peace. We're gonna live 166 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 4: our lives free. But too many people are constantly taking 167 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 4: the bait, just like it was candy. They're always being offended. 168 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 4: They don't realize they're allowing the enemy to control them. 169 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 4: It's just like a puppet. He's behind the scenes saying, 170 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 4: let's have this person cut him off in traffic. This 171 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 4: person ignored him. This person be rude all day long, upset, 172 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 4: getting their feelings hurt, getting in his strife, trying to 173 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 4: pay people back. No, keep your peace. When the enemy 174 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 4: can upset you, he can't control you. When you're in peace, 175 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 4: you're in a position of power. When people do you wrong, 176 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 4: just leave it up to God. Trying to get revenge, 177 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 4: trying to pay people back, getting all upset, that just 178 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 4: makes matters worse. I heard about this man that had 179 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 4: been bitten by a dog, and at the doctor's office 180 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 4: they told him he had tested positive for rabies. He 181 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 4: immediately began making out this list, and the doctor said, 182 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 4: oh no, sir, you don't need to make out a will. 183 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 4: You're not going to die. We have a vaccine for it. 184 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 4: The man said, no, this is not my will. These 185 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 4: are all the people I'm going to bite. Just let 186 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 4: it go. Don't try to pay people back. The scripture 187 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 4: says in First Corinthia Hin thirteen, verse five in the 188 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 4: amplified love is not easily offended, Love is not touchy. 189 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 4: If we're going to have healthy relationships, we've got to 190 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 4: give people a little room. Don't expect everyone to perform 191 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 4: perfectly all the time. The other day I was talking 192 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 4: on the telephone to someone and Victoria came into the 193 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 4: room where I was. And every once in a while, 194 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 4: when she hears the conversation, she'll want to join in. 195 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 4: The only problem is she doesn't have a phone, so 196 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 4: she'll communicate to me in this year what I'm supposed 197 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 4: to tell them. And the whole time I was trying 198 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 4: to listen to them and listen to her and keep 199 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 4: my sanity. After a few minutes, I finally put the 200 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 4: phone down. I said, Victoria, I cannot listen to you both. 201 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 4: And I said it very nice, but I said it 202 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 4: very firm. About two hours later, when I noticed Victoria 203 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 4: was not speaking to me, I had to preach this 204 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 4: message to her and reminds her to show mercy that 205 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,959 Speaker 4: not everybody's perfect, and don't be easily offended. She always 206 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 4: gets my messages before you do. My father used to 207 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 4: say everyone has the right to have a bad day 208 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 4: every once in a while. Being in relationship with people 209 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 4: day in and day out, things can be misunderstood, comments 210 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 4: can be taken wrong, or maybe they're just having a 211 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 4: bad day. But you know what, that's okay. There are 212 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 4: no perfect people. Learn to let some things go to 213 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 4: keep the poison out of your relationship. Some of you, 214 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 4: this is exactly what's holding you back. You're too easily offended. 215 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 4: You need to toughen up. Don't wear your feelings on 216 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 4: your shoulder. Don't be so sensitive to where people have 217 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 4: to walk on eggshells around you, Afraid they're gonna hurt 218 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 4: your feelings, Afraid they're gonna get you upset. That's a 219 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 4: very selfish way to live. You need to draw the 220 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 4: line in the sand and say that's it. I'm done 221 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 4: with being offended. I'm done with losing my joy every 222 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 4: other hour. I'm gonna live my life free. And I 223 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 4: realize there are times when we need to bring things 224 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 4: up and say, hey, that's hurting my feelings. I wish 225 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 4: you wouldn't do that. We don't overlook everything, but I 226 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 4: believe that our relationships and our level of joy would 227 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 4: go to a new level if we just give everybody 228 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 4: a little room and not be overly sensitive. I found 229 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 4: most of the time people don't really mean to hurt 230 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 4: our feelings. We just take things wrong. We either too 231 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 4: sensitive or were a little insecure. I know people that 232 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 4: have a personality that's very direct. They're very bold, very straightforward. 233 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 4: They think nothing of telling you exactly what they think. 234 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 4: They may see you before work and say, you know what, 235 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 4: your hair doesn't look right today, you need to fix it. 236 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 4: They think they're doing you a favor. They say it 237 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 4: in all honesty and all sincerity. And sure they could 238 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 4: be more diplomatic, they could be a little more tactful, 239 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 4: but that's just who they are. We need to be 240 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 4: secure enough and be big enough that we don't get offended. 241 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 4: Often though, we get a little bit sour and we 242 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 4: may not say it to him, but we'll look at 243 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 4: him and think, well, honey, your hair doesn't look too 244 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 4: hot either, And one day those clothes you're wearing may 245 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 4: come back in style. No, just shake it off, don't 246 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 4: take the bait, don't get upset, just let it go. 247 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 4: Here's a key. If you're always getting your feelings hurt, 248 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 4: if you're always upset and offended about something, it's not 249 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,319 Speaker 4: anybody else's fault. It's your own fault. You are responsible 250 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 4: for your own happiness. Well, you say, Joe, you don't 251 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 4: know my boss, you don't know my husband, you don't 252 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 4: know the traffic I drive in. No nobody can make 253 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 4: you drink that poison. If you'll stop allowing yourself to 254 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 4: get upset and start putting on your shoes, apiece, you 255 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 4: can come up to a whole new level. I think 256 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 4: about the Apostle Paul. The scripture talks about how he 257 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 4: had to work to keep offenses out of his life. 258 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 4: People were always coming against him, doing him wrong, but 259 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 4: he refused to take the bait. He said, one time, 260 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 4: Alexander the Coppersmith did me great wrong, but I'm not 261 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 4: worried about it. I know God will pay him back. 262 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 4: That's the attitude we need to have. Somebody does you wrong, 263 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 4: maybe at work they take advantage of your cheat you 264 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 4: out of commission. Don't live your life offended. Don't go 265 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 4: around all upset, do what Paul did and just turn 266 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 4: it over to God, knowing that he's promised he'll make 267 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 4: you wrongs. Right. I know a person that got offended 268 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 4: at a shoe store. He bought these shoes and they 269 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 4: came apart, and he tried to take them back, but 270 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 4: they didn't allow him to. And one time, years later, 271 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 4: we were walking down the mall together. We're going to 272 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 4: our car, and all of a sudden, he said, let's 273 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 4: go this way, and I said, well, our cars right 274 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 4: down here. He said no, and he pointed to the 275 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 4: shoe store and he said, I don't walk by that 276 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 4: shoe store. They did me wrong. Now, I thought to myself, 277 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 4: does he really think he's hurting that shoe store? Do 278 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 4: you really think they're looking down the mall saying, oh man, 279 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 4: we're depressed. He's not coming by today. Friend's life is 280 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 4: too short to live it that way. Angry, offended, bitter. 281 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 4: I've made up my mind. I'm gonna stay in peace. 282 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 4: It doesn't matter what people do to me, doesn't matter 283 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 4: what they may say. You cannot offend me. Well, Joel, 284 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 4: I don't really like that suit you're wearing today. Will 285 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 4: find God bless you anyway. Well, the service was kind 286 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 4: of long, the music was kind of loud. Fine, God 287 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 4: bless you. I hope you come back next week. Well, 288 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 4: I didn't get anything out of that message. You'll fine. 289 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 4: I can't help it if you have a problem. I'm 290 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 4: not gonna be offended. I'm not gonna wear my feelings 291 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 4: on my shoulder. I found anytime you start seeing more 292 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 4: of the negative than the positive, you need to check 293 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 4: your own heart. I've come in here before on a 294 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 4: Wednesday night to a service. I've had a long day, 295 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 4: kind of stressed, maybe a little irritated. The first thing 296 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 4: I see is, why is that light not adjusted? Who 297 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 4: didn't shut those doors? The carpet looks like it's kind 298 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 4: of dirty. I don't think the singers are standing where 299 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 4: they're supposed to. I start seeing all the negative. When 300 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 4: I do that, I realize there's something wrong with me, 301 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 4: because ninety nine percent of the time when I come 302 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 4: in here, I think, Wow, it sure is beautiful. This 303 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 4: is how great it sounds, Look how fantastic that people look. 304 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 4: I don't see any of the negative. The scripture says 305 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 4: to the purer, all things are pure. But if you're 306 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 4: offended at a person and bitter at the shoe store 307 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 4: and mad at a coworker. You're going to see everything 308 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 4: from a very tainted point of view. The problem is 309 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 4: not your circumstances, it's not the people in your life. 310 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 4: The problem is your own well has become polluted. And 311 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 4: if you can just keep these offenses out of your heart, 312 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 4: if you can keep it free from bitterness, it'll make 313 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 4: it so much easier to live your life happy. We 314 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 4: need to learn to give people the benefit of the 315 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 4: doubt instead of believing the worst. Why don't we believe 316 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 4: the best. Maybe they didn't mean something the way it sounded, 317 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 4: Maybe we just took it wrong. I remember a while 318 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 4: back I was at this big event in the city. 319 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 4: There were all kinds of very well respected and influential 320 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 4: people from all over the country. I was in the lobby, 321 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 4: standing over the side, just talking with some friends, waiting 322 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 4: for it to start. And here comes this man that 323 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 4: I've really been warning to meet. I've always thought a 324 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 4: lot of him. He's very well respected. And there was 325 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 4: about ten of us in this line waiting, and just 326 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:24,400 Speaker 4: so happened to be that I was at the very 327 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 4: last of the line. The men came along and he 328 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 4: started shaking everybody's hand, very warm, very friendly, very kind. 329 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 4: But when he got to me, all of a sudden, 330 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 4: he stopped and looked away. Then he turned around and 331 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 4: walked into the event. I couldn't believe it. He totally 332 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 4: ignored me. I thought to myself, buddy, you don't know 333 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 4: what you just missed. My attitude was I wouldn't meet 334 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 4: him if they paid me to see, if I ever 335 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 4: give him the time of day. All these holy thoughts 336 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 4: were filling my pastoral mind. Well, the event took place, 337 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 4: and it's interesting. Afterwards, I was making my way through 338 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 4: a very crowded lobbying I saw this man walking toward me. 339 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 4: He came right up to me, shook my hand and said, Joel, 340 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 4: I've been wanting to meet you. My wife and I 341 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 4: watch you every week went on and on. I thought 342 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 4: to myself, you must have been in a trance thirty 343 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 4: minutes ago. But the truth is he didn't even realize 344 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 4: what he had done. He didn't realize that was me 345 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 4: standing there earlier. Do you know how many times people 346 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 4: are somewhere physically but their mind is somewhere else. That 347 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 4: man no more meant to offend me. He just had 348 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 4: his mind on something else. That's why we got to 349 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 4: learn to give people the benefit of the day, believe 350 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 4: the best in them. Even on the freeway, somebody zooms 351 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 4: by you, cuts right in front of you, and you 352 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 4: have to slow down. Instead of letting that upset you, 353 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 4: why don't you show a little mercy, believe the best. 354 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 4: Maybe they have an emergency, maybe their child sick at home, 355 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 4: Maybe they're trying to meet an important deadline. Show mercy, 356 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 4: not any of this Hong Kong. Get out of my way, 357 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 4: you idiot. No, don't take the bank, y'all. Laugh when 358 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 4: you know it's true now, or even you know you're 359 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,719 Speaker 4: waiting for a parking spot, clearly got your blinker on. 360 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 4: Somebody comes in, it takes your parking spot. Instead of 361 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 4: letting that sour you, just think, you know, maybe they 362 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 4: can't walk from the very back, maybe they're in a 363 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 4: big hurry, or maybe somehow they didn't see me. Next time, 364 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 4: I'll shoot up a flare. Don't drive away complaining, y'all 365 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,400 Speaker 4: to drive away, praying for him, God, bless him, God, 366 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 4: give them a good day, God give them your peace. 367 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 4: We overcome evil by doing good. Love covers a person's faults. 368 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 4: Love makes allowances for people's weaknesses. Here's the key. If 369 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 4: you're not going to be easily offended, you have to 370 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 4: stay full of mercy. It's funny how we can make 371 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 4: excuses for ourselves. Well, I was rude because I was tired. 372 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 4: I was unfriendly because my child was up all last night. 373 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 4: I didn't invite you to that meeting because I'd busy. 374 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 4: I got swamped, and I just forgot to It's easy 375 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 4: to justify our own behavior, But why don't we show 376 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 4: that same amount of mercy to other people? Why don't 377 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 4: we believe the best in them? A few months ago, 378 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 4: Victoria and I came across this man that we've known 379 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 4: for a long time, and he's always been very kind 380 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 4: and friendly to us. And we were in a room 381 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 4: with a bunch of people, and I walked over to 382 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 4: him and shook his hand and asked him how he 383 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 4: was doing, and he said fine. But he wasn't his 384 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 4: normal self. He was almost unfriendly, almost stand offish. I thought, 385 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 4: maybe it's just me. I was able to talk to 386 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 4: him a little later, but it was the same thing, 387 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 4: very cold, very distant. Driving home, I even asked Victoria, 388 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 4: well so and so friendly to you, She said, not 389 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 4: at all. There was just something different about him. We 390 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 4: began trying to figure out what it was. I thought, well, 391 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 4: maybe it's because we didn't go to that event he 392 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 4: invited us to, or maybe I haven't called him enough, 393 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 4: or maybe somebody said something bad about us. And we 394 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 4: were just trying to figure it all out. And the 395 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 4: more we did, the more I could feel the offense 396 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 4: trying to take root. That thought came up, We'll find 397 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 4: if he doesn't want to be my friend, that's okay. 398 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 4: I've got other friends. That was the enemy offering us 399 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 4: his bait. But love covers a person's faults. Love believes 400 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 4: the best. Finally, I caught myself and I changed my attitude, 401 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 4: and I told Victoria, I don't know what it was, 402 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 4: but I'm not gonna take it personally. I'm just gonna 403 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 4: believe that he had a lot on his mind, or 404 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 4: maybe he was having a hard day, but I know 405 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 4: he's a good man. I just let it go, didn't 406 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 4: think about it anymore. Well, several weeks later, I found 407 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 4: out from a mutual friend earlier that week that man 408 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 4: had learned that his wife had some kind of very 409 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 4: serious illness. He was very distraught, very upset over it, 410 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 4: but he just didn't want to tell anybody, And I 411 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 4: was so glad that I didn't change my opinion of 412 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 4: him and let that offense take root. We don't know 413 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 4: what people are going through. Usually there's a reason why 414 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 4: they act the way they act. And if somebody is 415 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 4: rude and inconsiderate to you, if they don't treat you 416 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 4: the way they normally do. Instead of being quick to 417 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 4: judge and letting the offense take root, we need to 418 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 4: learn to be more merciful because most of the time, 419 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 4: if we really knew what they were going through, if 420 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 4: we just walked in their shoes for a couple of weeks, 421 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 4: we'd understand why they were uptight, why they were on edge, 422 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 4: why they didn't treat us right. If we're going to 423 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 4: keep our heart free from these offenses, we've got to 424 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 4: learn to cover some faults. We've got to learn to 425 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 4: overlook some insults. With the same amount of mercy you 426 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 4: show other people, the same amount of grace you give them, 427 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 4: that's the amount of mercy God's going to show back 428 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 4: to you. The longer I live, the more merciful I become. 429 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 4: The older I get, the less judgmental, I am. And 430 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 4: the easier it is for me to forget. You know why, 431 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 4: because I know people have gone through things that we 432 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 4: know nothing about. They may smile, but on the inside 433 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 4: will hurt and pain. We just see the surface. But 434 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 4: if we could see their heart and know what they've 435 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 4: endured and the battles they fought and the challenges they're facing, 436 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 4: we would understand why they were a little hard to 437 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 4: get along with. Now I'm asking us today, instead of 438 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 4: being quick to judge, let's be quick to show mercy. 439 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 4: Instead of playing the offense over and over and wondering 440 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 4: why they did that, let's spend that same time praying 441 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 4: for that person. If you'll pray for them and not 442 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 4: let the poison take root, you'll not only be better off, 443 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 4: but you can inspire them to come up higher. That 444 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 4: means if a coworker, a boss early in the morning, 445 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 4: the kind of rude to you, they jump down your 446 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 4: throat for no reason at all, don't take it personal. 447 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 4: Show some mercy. You don't know what they're going through 448 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 4: at home, You don't know what kind of issues they're 449 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 4: dealing with. Believe the best. After all, anybody can get offended. 450 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 4: Anybody can be rude back to someone that's roots to us. 451 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 4: That's easy. But love always takes the high road. Love 452 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,120 Speaker 4: is always a part of the solution and not the problem. 453 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 4: The scripture says in Ephesians four two, we have to 454 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 4: bear with one another. That means we're going to have 455 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 4: to put up with some things, and throughout the day 456 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 4: we're going to come across people that are inconsiderate, people 457 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 4: that are selfish, people that are rude, people that are angry. 458 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 4: We can either let them poison us and drag us down, 459 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 4: or we can show mercy and help to lift them up. 460 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 4: I was at a grocery store one time and there 461 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 4: was a girl up at the register that was very sour. 462 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 4: You could tell she did not want to be there. 463 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 4: She was unfriendly and cold. She acted like everybody was 464 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 4: bothering her, and I watched person after person in that 465 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 4: line get offended. They were taking her poison left and right, 466 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 4: leaving their upset and agitated. One lady when the young 467 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,239 Speaker 4: girl handed her her receipt, she just wadded it up 468 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 4: and threw it back down. She said, I don't need 469 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 4: that and stormed out of there. Well, when it was 470 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 4: my time to check out, I was just my normal, 471 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 4: friendly self. I said, how's everything going? She said, very coldly, terrible. 472 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 4: I said, well, I'm a minister and I would love 473 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 4: to pray with you. I believe God can turn any 474 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,719 Speaker 4: situation around. She looked up at me so surprised her 475 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 4: whole countenance changed. She said, are you serious? I said, 476 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 4: I am. She said, I would love for you to 477 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:30,199 Speaker 4: pray for me. My little girl's in the hospital. We 478 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,399 Speaker 4: don't have insurance, and my husband and I were not 479 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 4: getting along, and I don't know what I'm going to do. 480 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 4: Right there at the cash register, we prayed. When I left, 481 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,880 Speaker 4: she had big tears running down her cheeks. She said, 482 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 4: you'll never know what that meant to me. Most of 483 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 4: the time, when somebody's rude or inconsiderate like that, they've 484 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 4: got much deeper issues. They've got problems and heartaches we 485 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 4: know nothing about. If we allow them to offend us 486 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,199 Speaker 4: and get upset, all we're doing is sinking down to 487 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 4: their level. And you know what, I find, there's not 488 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 4: enough mercy in our world. Where is the love that 489 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,160 Speaker 4: will overlook a fault, Where is the love that will 490 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 4: give someone the benefit of the doubt. Where is the 491 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 4: love that will lift the fault. Let's learn to be 492 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 4: more merciful. What happened that day? I look beyond the 493 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 4: surface to her heart. When somebody's dishing out that kind 494 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 4: of poison, you can be assured they're crying out for 495 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 4: help on the inside. Don't do like everybody else, take 496 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 4: the bait and get offended. Sow a seed when you're 497 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 4: kind to someone that's rude to you. When you're good 498 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 4: to them even though they didn't deserve it, you're so 499 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 4: in a seed of God's mercy. I believe the number 500 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 4: one thing that's going to keep our heart free from 501 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 4: offenses is when we stay full of mercy. Let me 502 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 4: ask you today, are you making any allowances for people 503 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 4: in your life? Are you covering any faults overlooking things? 504 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 4: Or are you making everybody pay holding the line getting 505 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 4: up getting offended. No, let's be more generous with our mercy. 506 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,959 Speaker 4: Some of you are getting upset way too easily. You 507 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 4: need to start putting on your shoes of peace every 508 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 4: morning when you get up, make a decision. I'm not 509 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 4: gonna get upset. I'm not gonna get offended today. And 510 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:23,400 Speaker 4: when those offenses come and they will learn to forgive quickly, 511 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 4: don't allow them to take root. If you'll do your 512 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:30,880 Speaker 4: part and keep your heart free from offenses, staying full 513 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 4: of mercy, giving people the benefit of the doubt, you'll 514 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,440 Speaker 4: not only enjoy life more, but your relationships will get 515 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 4: better and better. God will pour out his blessings, his favor, 516 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 4: and you're going to live the life of victory he 517 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 4: has in story. Amen, do you receive it today? We 518 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 4: never like the curse on broadcast without giving you an 519 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 4: opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would 520 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 4: you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent 521 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 4: of my sins. Come into my mind. I make you 522 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:06,360 Speaker 4: my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 523 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 4: we believe you got born again. Get in a good 524 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 4: Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's going to 525 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 4: take your places that you've never dreamed of. Thank you 526 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 4: for listening to the Joel Loustine podcast. 527 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 2: Help us continue to share the message of hope with 528 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 2: those all over the world. 529 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 4: Visit joeloustin dot. 530 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 2: Com slash give Hope to give a gift today. 531 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,120 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 532 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 533 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 4: keep you inspired all through the week with praying for you. 534 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 4: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 535 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 4: next time.