1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,279 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,239 Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend, reappreciate 5 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 2: you and pray for God's very best in your life. 6 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: Well, God bless you. 7 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 2: Always a joy to come into your homes. And if 8 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 2: you're ever in our area, please stop buying. Be a 9 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: part of one of our services. I promise you we'll 10 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: make you feel right at home. Thanks so much for 11 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 2: tuning in, and thank you again for coming out today. 12 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: I like to start with something funny, and I heard 13 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 2: about this minister. 14 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: He bought a new horse. 15 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: He trained it to respond to praise the Lord meaning 16 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 2: giddy up, and hallelujah meaning woe. Every time he said 17 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 2: praise the Lord, the horse took off running. When he 18 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: said hallelujahed quickly stopped. One day, he is out riding 19 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: and the horse got spooked took off straight toward the cliff, 20 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: going full blast. In the panic, he couldn't remember what 21 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 2: he taught the horse. 22 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: He said, Bless God, Amen, Glory. 23 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: Nothing happened. The last second he shouted Hallelujah. 24 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: The horse came to a screeching halt just inches from 25 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 2: the edge of the cliff. He breathed a sigh of 26 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: relief and said, Praise the Lord. 27 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 3: All right, hold up your Bible. Say it like you 28 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 3: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 29 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 3: says I am. I have what it says I have. 30 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 3: I can do what it says I can do. Today 31 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 3: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 32 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 3: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 33 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 3: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 34 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you. 35 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,479 Speaker 2: Today about giving the gift of yourself. The greatest gift 36 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 2: you can give is not necessarily your money. 37 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: It's not what you can buy someone. 38 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: The greatest gift is your time, your attention, your love. 39 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 2: You'll concern when you take time to go see someone, 40 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: you look them in the eyes, They feel your love, 41 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: They enjoy your company. That means more than any material 42 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: gift that you could ever give. The people that are 43 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 2: close to you, that really love and respect you, they 44 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 2: would rather have you than your money. You can give 45 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,839 Speaker 2: them all the money in the world, but if you're 46 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: not spending time with them, they're missing out. 47 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: On the best of you. 48 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,119 Speaker 2: When you give the gift of yourself, you're saying you're 49 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 2: extremely important to me. I care about you, I love 50 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 2: you, You're valuable. You're giving something that money cannot buy. Sometimes 51 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: writing a check is taking the easy way out. I 52 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 2: know I need to go visit my parents, but I'm 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: so busy at the office. I'll just pay the neighbor 54 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: to watch after them. My friends in the hospital, I 55 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: know I should go see them, but I don't want 56 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 2: to miss working out this week. I'll just send them 57 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: some flowers. Now, take time to give your greatest gift. 58 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: I learned this from my father. At least once a year, 59 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 2: he would have me drive him back to Paris, Texas. 60 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: That's where he grew up. And there was this older 61 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 2: couple that was related to us somehow, and the men 62 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 2: was American Indian, so nice and his wife and him. 63 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 1: They lived in this small wood frame house. 64 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: And they were in their late eighties and had some 65 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: health issues and didn't have much money, didn't have anybody 66 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: to watch after them. My father would pay their rent, 67 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 2: buy their medications, have somebody take care. 68 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: Of the house. Daddy could have thought, that's good enough. 69 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,399 Speaker 1: I'm doing my part. 70 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 2: No, he understood this principle that the greatest gift he 71 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 2: could give was. 72 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: Not his money but himself. 73 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: My father was very busy, pastored a large church, had 74 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: a lot of responsibilities. This could have been very low 75 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: on his priority list, but every year we would take 76 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 2: that five hour journey. First time we went, I told Victoria, 77 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: next Tuesday, we're going to Paris. Didn't tell her Paris 78 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: to until the morning. We got to Paris, and she 79 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: never did find the Eiffel Tower there. But I'll never 80 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: forget pulling up in their driveway. They were sitting on 81 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 2: the front porch waiting with such anticipation you would have 82 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 2: thought the President of the United. 83 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 1: States showed up. They were so happy. We'd go in 84 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: and eat the lunch they had prepared. 85 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 2: Then we would sit there and visit for hours and hours, 86 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: listening to their stories, the same ones I'd heard before. 87 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 2: A couple of times I thought, let me finish it 88 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 2: for you. I was in my early twenties, to be honest, 89 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: I was so bored. Come on, Daddy, let's go, We've 90 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 2: had lunch. We said hello. They know we loved them. 91 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: My father sat there just as patient as can be. 92 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 2: What was he doing giving his greatest gift, his time, 93 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: his attention, his friendship, the gift of himself. And today 94 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 2: people are so busy with the technology, it's easy to 95 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 2: not interact one Where we used to go see someone 96 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: in person, or we used to at least pick up 97 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 2: the phone. Now we may go months and months and 98 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: only communicate by text, by email, by Facebook. And there's 99 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 2: nothing wrong with that, but you have to make sure 100 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 2: you're not cheating people out of the best of you. 101 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: To look someone in the eyes is very powerful. 102 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 2: To give them your undivided attention, speaks volumes, to let 103 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: them hear. 104 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: Your voice is extremely important. 105 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: You will never regret spending time with the people that 106 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: you love. Now, I'm all for using technology, but nothing 107 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: makes the impact like. 108 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:43,799 Speaker 1: Seeing someone face to face. 109 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: There was this older gentleman that I grew up with, 110 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 2: and he was always very good to me. He bought 111 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: some television equipment for us, just a kind, generous man. 112 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: He'd come up to the office and bring lunch and 113 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 2: we'd all sit around, laugh, talk, have a good time together. 114 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 2: One day he had a stroke, couldn't get out anymore, 115 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 2: he couldn't drive, and I felt so badly for him. 116 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 2: I meant to call him. I had good intentions, but 117 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 2: I was so busy. We had a new born, little 118 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: baby daughter. I was just learning how to minister, had 119 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 2: so much going on. I kept putting it off and 120 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 2: putting it off. I know friends that would go out 121 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 2: to see him, and I'd always tell them be sure 122 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: to tell him for me that I miss him, I 123 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 2: love him, and I'm going to come see him. Well, 124 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: weeks turned into months, months turned into years. One morning, 125 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: I woke up with him on my mind so strongly 126 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 2: that I got in the car and drove to his 127 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: house and the lady that. 128 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: Took care of him answered the door. She said, Joel, 129 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: he is. 130 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 2: Going to be so happy to see you. He talks 131 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 2: about you all the time. He tells people you're just 132 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: like his own son. I went in gave him a 133 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: big huggin He wept and wept. We're all busy, we've 134 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 2: all got a lot going on. But I'll never regret 135 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: the time that I spent with him that day. That 136 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: one hour did more to express my love, my gratitude, 137 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 2: my respect than a thousand people telling him for me. 138 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: I could have sent. 139 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: Him money, food, medication, encouragement. 140 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: That would have been good. He would have been grateful. 141 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: But it would not have had half the impact of 142 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 2: that one visit, The fact that I took time to 143 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: look him in the eyes, to let him feel the 144 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: warmth of my hug, to give him my undivided attention, 145 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: to laugh and talk about old times. That was invaluable 146 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: that cannot be purchased by money. Why is that The 147 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 2: greatest gift you can give is yourself. You can't do 148 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: it for everyone, but you can do it for someone. 149 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: God has put people in your life that need your gift. 150 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 2: Don't put it off and say, oh, yeah, Joel, I'll 151 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 2: do it one day when it slows down at the office, 152 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 2: maybe when the children get back in school, maybe when 153 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: the price of gas comes down. 154 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: Don't hold your breath. 155 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: If you keep putting it all, you may miss the opportunity. 156 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: Life is short. 157 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 2: It's no guarantee of another day. That visit you've been 158 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 2: planning to. 159 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: Make, Why don't you make it? That friend you've been 160 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: meaning to see, Why don't you go see them? When 161 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: I left his house that morning, part of. 162 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 2: Me felt very happy and very fulfilled that I could 163 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 2: make his day. Another part of me felt sad that 164 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: I'd held my gift back for so long. It had 165 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: been years I had been planning to see him, to 166 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: see the impact that it made. To see him come alive, 167 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 2: to see his smile made me wish I'd done it 168 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 2: a whole lot sooner. I made a vow that day 169 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: that I wasn't going to withhold my gift anymore. 170 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: I'm asking you to do the same thing. 171 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 2: Take time for the people that invested in you, the 172 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 2: people that made sacrifices. 173 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,839 Speaker 1: Like this man, the people that went out of their 174 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: way to be good to you. 175 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 2: They need more than your money, more than your well wishes, 176 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 2: more than your friends saying hello for you. 177 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: They need the gift of yourself. Here's the key. Only 178 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: you can give it. 179 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 2: Your love, your smile, your friendship, your gratitude. 180 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: That's one of a kind. 181 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 2: Can't be transferred, doesn't necessarily translate through another person through 182 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 2: a letter, a phone calls good, but don't use that 183 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 2: as an excuse to never see them face to face. 184 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: Tell you something strange about me. There's more than one thing, 185 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: but this is one. When I read the newspaper every morning, and. 186 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 2: I always read the obituaries, I scan through it and 187 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 2: read about people to see who they are, what their 188 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: story is, how long they've lived. 189 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,199 Speaker 1: My children still make fun of me. Dad. 190 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 2: He's reading the obituaries again, starting the day off right 191 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: thinking about death. But I've done that for years and years. 192 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 2: I think the main reason is to make sure I'm 193 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: not in it. But the real main reason is it 194 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 2: reminds me of how fragile life really is. We grow 195 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: up thinking that we're invincible. We're going to be here 196 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: forever with our family and our friends. Our world is 197 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 2: always going to be perfect. 198 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: That's not the case. 199 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: James four or fourteen says. Our life is like a mist. 200 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 2: We're here for a moment, then we're gone. When you 201 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 2: read the obituaries, you see people who were old, and 202 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 2: people who were young, people who had big families, and 203 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 2: people with no family. Some obituaries are very long with 204 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 2: great accomplishments. 205 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: Some are short. 206 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 2: They just list the people's name and their dates, their age. 207 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: One thing they all have in common is they're no 208 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: longer here. Their time on this earth is over. And 209 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: it's very sobering to look around at who God has 210 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 2: put in your life, who has made a difference, who 211 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 2: has invested in you, who was there when nobody else 212 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 2: was around, they took you under their wing. They mentored you. 213 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 2: Are you giving the gift of yourself back to them? 214 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 2: Some people come into our lives to get us to 215 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 2: a certain level. They make sacrifices, they pay the price. 216 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 2: Then we take off and pass them by. Now they're 217 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: in the shadows. It's easy to forget about them. It's 218 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 2: easy to not have any time. Too busy, too important, 219 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 2: too successful. I've got too much going on. No, if 220 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: it had not been for them, you wouldn't be where 221 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 2: you are. Take time for the people that took time 222 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 2: for you. When my father was in high school, he 223 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 2: had a friend named Sam Martin. Sam was always talking 224 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 2: to him about the Lord and how he needed to 225 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,439 Speaker 2: give his life to Christ. My father always thought Sam 226 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: was a little odd, too religious. Sam would get to 227 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 2: school early in the morning and write scriptures on the chopboard. 228 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 2: Most of the students agreed with my father that Sam 229 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 2: was just too. 230 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: Far out well. 231 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 2: One night, at two o'clock in the morning, my father 232 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 2: was walking home from a nightclub seventeen years old. He 233 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 2: began to think about his eternal destiny. He got home 234 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 2: and opened the family Bible on the coffee table. 235 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,439 Speaker 1: It was just there as decoration. 236 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 2: My father had no kind of spiritual upbringing, never been 237 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: to church before The Bible fell open to a picture 238 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 2: of Jesus knocking at a door. The caption read, eye 239 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 2: stand at the door and knock. If any person opens 240 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: the door, I will come in. My father couldn't understand religion, 241 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 2: but he could understand opening a door. The next day 242 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 2: he told Sam what had happened. Sam said, John, that's 243 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,839 Speaker 2: God drawing you unto himself. He invited my father to church. 244 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 2: They went and sat on the very back road. The 245 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 2: end of the service, the minister invited people to the 246 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 2: altar to receive Christ. 247 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: My father wouldn't go. He was too scared. 248 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 2: Sam whispered in his ear seventeen years old, John, if 249 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 2: you'll walk down there, I'll go with you. That day 250 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 2: they both walked down there. My father gave his life 251 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 2: to Christ, and that he went on to become a 252 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 2: very well respected. 253 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: Successful minister founded this church. But here's my point. 254 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 2: Sam didn't have that same success. He pastored a church 255 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 2: here and there, but nothing really caught on. Later in 256 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 2: Sam's life, everything had gone downhill. He was really struggling, 257 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 2: working as a greeter at a local retail. Story He 258 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 2: and my father had stayed in touch somewhat, but not 259 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 2: that close. They would call each other every several years. 260 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 2: When my father heard how much Sam was struggling, he 261 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: got in his car and he drove to Dallas to visit. 262 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: Now they were both in their seventies. Sam was so 263 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 2: thrilled he couldn't believe his old high school friend John 264 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 2: had taken time to come. 265 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: My dad was very loyal. 266 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 2: He invited Sam to be a part of our staff 267 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 2: as one of our ministers. Sam and his wife moved 268 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: to Euston. Sam spent the last eight years of his 269 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 2: life working with. 270 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: My father day in and day out. What was my dad. 271 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: Doing giving the gift of himself. He knew he wouldn't 272 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 2: be here if it weren't for Sam. Sam was there 273 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 2: for my father in his time of need. My father 274 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 2: was there for Sam in Sam's time of need. Don't 275 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: forget about the people that help you get to where 276 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: you are. Don't be too busy, too important. Take time 277 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 2: to reach back and invest in those that have helped you. 278 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 2: May not be to give them a job like my 279 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 2: dad did, but at least you can stop by their 280 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: house and say thank you. You can invite them over, 281 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 2: or you can do something kind for their family. 282 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: This is what David did. 283 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 2: In the scripture, his best friend Jonathan was killed in 284 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 2: a battle. Jonathan was the one that really looked after David. 285 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 2: When his father, King Saul, was trying to kill David, 286 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 2: Jonathan would get inside information and sneak over and give 287 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 2: it to his friend David. Years after Jonathan's death, now 288 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 2: David is the king. 289 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: David asked his assistant. 290 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 2: Is anyone from the house of Jonathan still alive? If so, 291 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 2: I want to do something good for them. They said, 292 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 2: he has one son that's crippled, but he's still alive. 293 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 2: This son was living in extreme poverty, no future to 294 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 2: speak of. David had them go get the young man, 295 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 2: bring him to the palace. 296 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: He looked him in the eyes and. 297 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 2: Said, listen, from now on, you're going to eat at 298 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 2: my dinner table every night. From now on, you're going 299 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 2: to live in the palace with me, treated like royalty. 300 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 2: The young man was amazed. He asked, what did I 301 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 2: do to deserve all this? David said, your father was 302 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 2: a friend of mine. Your father helped me get to 303 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 2: where I am. 304 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: Now I'm going to show you honor. 305 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 2: I'm going to show you respect because of who your 306 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 2: father was. David could have taken the easy way out 307 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 2: and said, I'm going to build you a house down 308 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 2: the road, have somebody take care of you. You go 309 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 2: off and live a good life. No, David understood this 310 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 2: principle that the greatest gift he could give was himself. 311 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: David gave that young man his time, his attention, his friendship. 312 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 2: The truth is, none of us got to where we 313 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 2: are on our own. It's easy to find fault with 314 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 2: the people that raised us. I hear it all the time, Joel. 315 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: My parents didn't treat me right. My father worked all 316 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 2: the time, he was never there. My mother had issues. 317 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 2: My teachers, they didn't really invest in me. No, they 318 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 2: may not have been perfect, but they made sacrifices so 319 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 2: that you could go further. Most likely, they did the 320 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 2: best that they could with what they had. He's talking 321 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 2: to a friend recently. He was the star football player 322 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 2: in high school. He loved sports, but his father never 323 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 2: came to one game, never saw him play one time. 324 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: But this son wasn't bitter, he said, Joel. My dad 325 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: was a good man. 326 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 2: He spent all of his time and energy working to 327 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 2: provide for the family. That's how he showed o love. 328 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 2: Come to find out, his father was raised without a father. 329 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 2: He had never seen a father modeled, didn't really know 330 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:12,959 Speaker 2: what he was supposed to do. Sometimes we judge people 331 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 2: by what we know instead of by what they know. 332 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 2: This son was smart enough to realize his father didn't. 333 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: Know any better. He was doing the best that he knew. 334 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: How Now this son takes his father to all of 335 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: his grandson's football games. They sit together in the stands 336 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 2: and enjoy each other's company. 337 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: What am I saying? 338 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 2: Don't make excuses for why you don't need to see 339 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 2: a loved one. Don't live bitter because you didn't get 340 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: what you needed. Well, Joel, they didn't treat me right. 341 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 2: They didn't make me feel important. They should have spent 342 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 2: more time with me. Why don't you have a bigger 343 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 2: point of view? Maybe they did the best that they knew. 344 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:58,640 Speaker 2: How After all, that's your family, that's your flesh and blood. 345 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 2: That's the one God or deigned to be in your life. 346 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 2: You didn't just come from any parents. God hand picked 347 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 2: your parents. He knew what they would have and what 348 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 2: they wouldn't have. He knew what they could give you 349 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 2: and what they couldn't give you. It's easy to focus 350 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 2: on the negative, but keep the right perspective. They're the 351 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 2: ones that changed your diapers. They're the ones that fed you, 352 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: clothed you stayed up late at. 353 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: Night when you didn't feel well. 354 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 2: They're the people that when you were a baby you 355 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 2: spit up on them. They shook it off and gave 356 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 2: you another bottle. Now what have you done for them lately? 357 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 2: Have you invited them out to dinner? Have you stopped 358 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 2: by the house to enjoy their company, to talk about 359 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: old times. 360 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: To laugh together. 361 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 2: What if they weren't going to be around next year 362 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 2: at this time. What if the next few months was 363 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,400 Speaker 2: the only chance you had to let them know how 364 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 2: you feel. 365 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: What they mean to you. 366 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 2: Are you allowing you work schedule too busy to keep 367 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 2: you from it? Or maybe have you not spoken in 368 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 2: years because you don't get along anymore. You're at odds 369 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 2: and you're just letting it ride. 370 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: Maybe one day you'll make things better. 371 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 2: God is saying today is your one day reach out 372 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 2: to the people that have sacrificed for you. 373 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 1: Go visit that family member. 374 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: You have a gift that they need and it's not 375 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: necessarily just your money, your clothes, your food. The gift 376 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 2: you have is yourself, your friendship, your time, your love, 377 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 2: your hug, your smile, your gratitude. 378 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: Don't keep putting it all. Do what you know you 379 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: need to do. 380 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 2: Last week I was flipping through the obituaries, my favorite 381 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 2: thing to do. I saw this picture of a man 382 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 2: about my age, and he always waited on me at 383 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 2: the department store. Just saw him a couple months ago 384 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 2: in the back of the story. 385 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,120 Speaker 1: I was in a hurry, but I took a few 386 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 1: moments to go over and shake his hand. See how 387 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: he was doing. 388 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 2: Just a two minute, friendly conversation, no big deal. I 389 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 2: never dreamed that would be the last time I ever 390 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:14,400 Speaker 2: saw him. 391 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: He had been there for years. Friends, life is short. 392 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: Don't miss these opportunities to give the gift of yourself. 393 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 2: I was so glad that at least I took time 394 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 2: to go say hello when I saw his picture. While 395 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 2: I was saddened to know that he was gone, I 396 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 2: was satisfied knowing that I had taken the time to 397 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 2: let him know that I cared that he was important 398 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: to me. 399 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: My question is the people God put in your life? 400 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,120 Speaker 2: Your family, your friends, those that you interact with, if 401 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 2: they were gone tomorrow, would you be satisfied that they 402 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 2: know how much you loved. 403 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: Them, what you mean to them. Have you seen them lately. 404 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 2: Express your feelings, taking time to enjoy their friendship, laugh together. 405 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 2: If not, why don't you do it sooner than later. 406 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 2: I've been to too many funerals where I hear people say, 407 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 2: if I only had another chance, if I could just 408 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 2: really tell them what they meant to me, This is 409 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 2: your other chance. 410 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: Look around this week. 411 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 2: Don't take the people God put in your life for granted. 412 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 2: When you give the gift of yourself, your time, your attention, 413 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 2: your love, your keeping the accounts full. When somebody goes 414 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 2: to be with the Lord, while you'll still be sad, 415 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 2: you'll have no regrets. There'll be a satisfaction knowing they 416 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 2: knew exactly how much you love them, how much you. 417 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: Value them in your life. 418 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 2: What makes losing a loved one much more difficult is 419 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 2: when we have all these things we wish we would 420 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,360 Speaker 2: have done. I wish I would have gone to see them. 421 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 2: I wish I would have taken my friends, or I 422 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 2: wish I would have forgiven them and made things right. 423 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 1: Talk to a young lady just recently. She's dealing with. 424 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 2: All this guilt, all this remorse, because she got at 425 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 2: odds with her father. 426 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,360 Speaker 1: They had not spoken in a long long time. 427 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 2: Her father, in his early fifties, was suddenly killed in 428 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 2: an accident. She said, Joel, I can't handle it. I'm 429 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 2: dealing with all this guilt. 430 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: How do I let it go? 431 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 2: Of course, God will give you the grace to do it. 432 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 2: But the point I'm making today is it's much better 433 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: to keep the accounts full. You've heard the saying live 434 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 2: every day like it could be your last. Another good thought. 435 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 2: Live every day like it could be your loved one's last. 436 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 2: Because when you die, if you know the Lord, you're 437 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 2: gonna go to heaven, You're not gonna miss us. There's 438 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 2: no time in heaven. The next thing you know is 439 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 2: will be there. The difficulty is not when you die, 440 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 2: but when a loved one dies. That's when people have 441 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 2: too many regrets. I've heard it said, if you only 442 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,400 Speaker 2: had an hour to live, who would you call? 443 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: What would you say? And what are you waiting for? 444 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 2: It was a Thursday night thirteen years ago. I was home, 445 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 2: sound asleep in my bed, and I heard the phone ringing. 446 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 2: I woke up in a daze, looked at the clock. 447 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 2: It was four o'clock in the morning, entered the phone 448 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: and it was my father. He said, Joel, I'm not 449 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 2: feeling well. I need to go up to the clinic 450 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 2: to take dialysis. 451 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: Can you take me? Said sure, I'll be there in 452 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: just a moment. 453 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 2: I'd gotten in bed that night at two o'clock, just 454 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 2: had a couple of hours of sleep, picked my father 455 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 2: up and got him to the dialysis center. Most of 456 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 2: the time, once he got all hooked up, he would 457 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,239 Speaker 2: go to sleep, and so I would leave and go 458 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,959 Speaker 2: to work, or go back home and come pick him 459 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 2: up four hours later. This morning, I was particularly tired, 460 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,719 Speaker 2: but something down in here said, Joel, you need to 461 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 2: stay and with your dad today. 462 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: It just felt right. I knew I was supposed to 463 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: do it. 464 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 2: So I pulled up a chair and for the next 465 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 2: three or four hours, my father and I just sat 466 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 2: there and talked and laughed, had a good time together. 467 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 2: He got finished about eight in the morning, and I 468 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 2: took him home and I was standing in my parents' 469 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 2: kitchen just about to leave, and my father called me 470 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,439 Speaker 2: back over. He gave me a big hug and said, Joel, 471 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 2: You're the best son. 472 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: A father could ever hope to have. 473 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 3: Now. 474 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 2: I left that day feeling extremely satisfied. I knew how 475 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:38,120 Speaker 2: much my father loved me, and he knew how much 476 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 2: I loved him. What I didn't realize was later that 477 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 2: day he would have a heart attack and go to 478 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 2: be with the Lord. The last thing I remember him 479 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 2: saying to me was what a good son I was. 480 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 2: The last thing he remembers me doing for him was 481 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 2: spending that three. 482 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: Or four hours together. 483 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 2: And while I still miss my dad, I have no regrets. 484 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 2: There's nothing I wish I would have done differently, Nothing 485 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 2: I wish I would have said. 486 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: I'm at peace. 487 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,440 Speaker 2: And I don't say that to brag on me, but 488 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 2: rather to challenge us to make sure we're keeping the 489 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 2: accounts full. Make sure you're not putting things off, thinking, yeah, 490 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 2: one day I'm going to go see them, one day, 491 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 2: I'm going to take my grandchildren. One day, I'm going 492 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 2: to forgive and make things right. 493 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: Let today be your one day. 494 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 2: Take time for the people God put in your life. 495 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 2: Don't cheat them out of the best of you. Your friendship, 496 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 2: your love, your smile, your hug. That's one of a kind, 497 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 2: nobody else can give it. If you'll learn to give 498 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 2: the gift of yourself, then your accounts will stay full, 499 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 2: You'll have no regrets. The people in your life will 500 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 2: not only be better, but you will be better. I 501 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:58,960 Speaker 2: believe in declare you will live a blessed, happy, fulfilled, 502 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 2: victorious life in Jesus' name. 503 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: If you receive it. Can you say a man today? 504 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: And we never like to close our broadcast without giving 505 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 2: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 506 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus. 507 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 2: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 508 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:24,400 Speaker 2: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 509 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 2: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 510 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 2: in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 511 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,399 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 512 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 2: We all go through disappointments and things that are not fair. 513 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 2: But God sees every hurt, every injustice, and He's promised 514 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 2: to pay. 515 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: You back for the unfair things. 516 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 2: Now, I love to send you my new resource double 517 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 2: for your trouble. It's filled with inspiration. Help you stay 518 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 2: in faith and not get bitter and think why me. 519 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:56,679 Speaker 1: No. That setback may. 520 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 2: Have been painful, but the fact is it sets you 521 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 2: up for God will make the enemy pay and bring 522 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 2: you out better than you were before. 523 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 4: This ministry is reaching people around the world with the 524 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 4: message of hope, and as our way of saying thank 525 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 4: you for your gift of any amount, we would like 526 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 4: to send you a copy of Double for Your Trouble, 527 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 4: a daily guide for restoration. This thirty one day spiral 528 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 4: bound resource is an invitation into healing, restoration, and the 529 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 4: abundant life God has promised. Whether you're walking through a 530 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,439 Speaker 4: season of loss, believing for a breakthrough, or simply looking 531 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 4: for a deeper connection with God, this guide is designed 532 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 4: to help you reflect, realign, and rebuild day by day. 533 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 4: Receive your copy and know that whatever you're facing today grief, loss, uncertainty, 534 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 4: it doesn't define your future. Choose to trust God. He 535 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 4: sees you, He cares deeply, and He is the God 536 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:56,479 Speaker 4: who restores Double. 537 00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 2: None of us like difficulties. But if you'll stay in fact, 538 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 2: you won't come out the same. You'll come out with Double. 539 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 2: Nicktoy and I pray for you and your family every day. 540 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,239 Speaker 2: Thank you for your prayers and support. Your donations are 541 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 2: bringing hope to people around the world. Special thank you 542 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 2: to our champion of Hope partners for all you do 543 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 2: to make the ministry possible. Until we see you again 544 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 2: next week, Middle Lord, bless you and keep you. 545 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 4: Be sure to request your copy of Double for Your Trouble, 546 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 4: available this month by simply visiting us at Joelostein dot 547 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 4: com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 548 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 4: You can also receive God's Got You Restoration Duo. 549 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: This book is. 550 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 4: A powerful reminder that no matter what you face, you 551 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 4: are not alone. God's got you and he will never 552 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 4: let you go. In addition to these two inspiration books, 553 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 4: you can also receive the Double Portion Restoration Bible Collection. 554 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 4: This beautifully curated collection brings together the restoring of hope 555 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 4: of Double for Your Trouble and the comfort reassurance of 556 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 4: God's Got You, Paired with a stunning CSB Thinline Bible 557 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 4: Digital Study Edition in Camel Swaede's soft leather touch, This 558 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 4: elegant Bible offers a rich, immersive study experience and enduring 559 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 4: companion as you lean into God's promises of renewal and restoration. 560 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 4: Let these resources strengthen your faith, study your heart, and 561 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 4: remind you each day that God is restoring, bleeding, and working. 562 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: Double on your behalf. 563 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 4: You can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight 564 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 4: eight five six seven Joel or logging on to joelostein 565 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 4: dot com today. 566 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 2: If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great 567 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 2: opportunity to come. We call it Homecoming Weekend. We'd love 568 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 2: to meet. 569 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: You and your family. 570 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 2: You can see the building and attend one of the services. 571 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 2: It's a great time to be a part of the 572 00:30:52,560 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 2: Lakewood family. Looking forward to seeing you at Homecoming Weekend.