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Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting

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Speaker 2: the ministry.

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Speaker 3: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a

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Speaker 3: blessing and share it with a friend.

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Speaker 2: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in

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Speaker 2: your life.

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Speaker 1: Well, God bless you.

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Speaker 2: It's great to be with you today, and I hope

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Speaker 2: you'll stay connected with us during the week through our

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Speaker 2: daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can

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Speaker 2: come visit us in person. Findest people in all of Houston,

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Speaker 2: Texas right here at Lakewood, and we'd love to have

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Speaker 2: you be a part of one of our services. I

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Speaker 2: like to talk with something funny, and I heard about

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Speaker 2: these three pastors that were in a boat together fishing.

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Speaker 2: One of them said, we never get to let our

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Speaker 2: hair down. Let's each tell the area that we struggle

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Speaker 2: in the most, our greatest sin, so we could pray

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Speaker 2: for each other. First pastor said, I hate to admit it,

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Speaker 2: but I have a problem with gambling. Sometimes I'll sneak

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Speaker 2: out at night and gamble. Second pastor said, I'm ashamed

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Speaker 2: to admit this, but I have a problem with cheating.

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Speaker 2: I hardly ever pay my taxes third pastor sat there silently.

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Speaker 1: They waited and waited. He wouldn't budge.

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Speaker 2: They said, we are not leaving until you tell us

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Speaker 2: your greatest sin. He said, all right, My greatest sin

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Speaker 2: is gossiping. And I can't wait to get off this boat.

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Speaker 2: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible.

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Speaker 2: I am what it says I am. I have what

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Speaker 2: it says I have. I can do what it says

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Speaker 2: I can do. Today I will be taught the word

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Speaker 2: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my

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Speaker 2: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God,

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Speaker 2: bless you. I want to talk to you today about

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Speaker 2: grow through it.

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Speaker 1: We all go.

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Speaker 2: Through things that are uncomfortable and things that we don't like.

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Speaker 1: A coworker is getting on our nerves.

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Speaker 2: Child is difficult to raise, a dream is taken longer

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Speaker 2: than we thought, and it's easy to live frustrated wondering.

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Speaker 1: Why it's not changing.

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Speaker 2: But I've learned you can't pray away everything this it's uncomfortable.

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Speaker 2: God uses difficulties, delays, and inconveniences to do a work

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Speaker 2: in us. And if the situation is not changing, maybe

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Speaker 2: God is using the situation.

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Speaker 1: To change you.

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Speaker 2: He wouldn't have allowed it if he didn't have a

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Speaker 2: purpose for it.

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Speaker 1: Don't just go through it upset, bitter, offended, grow through it.

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Speaker 2: That's an opportunity to get stronger, to develop your character,

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Speaker 2: to build your spiritual muscles. Because we don't grow so

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Speaker 2: much in the good times. We grow in the difficult times.

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Speaker 2: The scripture says our faith is tested in the fire

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Speaker 2: of affliction. That person that did you wrong, that's not random,

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Speaker 2: it's not just a bad break.

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Speaker 1: That's a test God is seen. Are you going to

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Speaker 1: get bitter, hold a grudge, try to.

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Speaker 2: Pay them back, or are you're going to take the

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Speaker 2: high road and forgive? Or you didn't get the promotion

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Speaker 2: you deserved, wasn't fair. Are you gonna get upset, bad

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Speaker 2: mouth the company, slack off, or are you gonna keep.

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Speaker 1: Being your best, going the extra mile knowing that God

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Speaker 1: has something better coming.

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Speaker 2: These times when we're uncomfortable and we're not getting our way,

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Speaker 2: those are opportunities to prove to.

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Speaker 1: God that you're ready to go to the next level.

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Speaker 2: Before you're promoted, there's a time of testing, a time

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Speaker 2: of proving.

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Speaker 1: If you keep letting the same people offend you.

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Speaker 2: The same traffic upsets you, same challenge is still your joy.

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Speaker 1: Then you're going to get stuck.

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Speaker 2: You're going through it, Try a better approach, grow through it.

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Speaker 1: God, I don't like this.

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Speaker 2: It's uncomfortable, but I trust you. I know you wouldn't

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Speaker 2: have allowed it if I didn't need it. So I'm

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Speaker 2: gonna pass this test. I'm not gonna let this jerk,

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Speaker 2: I mean, this coworker get on my nerves anymore. I'm

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Speaker 2: not gonna get frustrated every time I don't get my way,

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Speaker 2: not gonna be sour because things aren't changing on my timetable. God,

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Speaker 2: I know you're working all things for my good. That's

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Speaker 2: how you grow. That's how you come out stronger, more confident,

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Speaker 2: more loving, more forgiving. When the Israelites were in the

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Speaker 2: desert on the way to the Promised Land, the scripture

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Speaker 2: says that God didn't take them the easiest way because they.

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Speaker 1: Weren't prepared for war.

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Speaker 2: There were enemies that were bigger and stronger that would

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Speaker 2: have defeated them.

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Speaker 1: They had to go.

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Speaker 2: Through some things to get ready for what God had

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Speaker 2: in store, and the longer route wasn't because God just

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Speaker 2: wanted to make their life miserable, having to deal with delays,

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Speaker 2: not knowing what they were going to eat, people coming

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Speaker 2: against them. That was all strategic. That was growing them up,

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Speaker 2: making them stronger. God knew they needed that to go

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Speaker 2: into the Promised Land. The reason you face difficulties and

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Speaker 2: things that may not seem fair is because God has

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Speaker 2: an awesome future in store for you. Where God is

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Speaker 2: taking you is going to take greater faith, greater strength,

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Speaker 2: greater patience. Every challenge you face is a sign that

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Speaker 2: God is getting you ready for something you've never seen.

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Speaker 2: Don't get sour. Why is this happening? Have a new perspective.

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Speaker 2: God is growing me up. He's getting me prepared for

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Speaker 2: my promised Land. But if God gave you right now

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Speaker 2: all that He has lined up, it wouldn't be a blessing.

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Speaker 1: It would be a burden.

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Speaker 2: He loves you too much to give you what you

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Speaker 2: can't handle. There will be seasons where it's taken longer

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Speaker 2: than you thought. You're still in the desert, dealing with

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Speaker 2: that cranky neighbor, fighting that battle in your health, pressured

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Speaker 2: raising that child.

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Speaker 1: You could be sour. When is this going to change? Now?

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Speaker 1: That's the time to prove to God. Who you are.

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Speaker 1: You're not weak, You're a warrior. You don't fall apart

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Speaker 1: when trouble comes. You are strong in the Lord.

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Speaker 2: You don't complain that you can't take it anymore. Can

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Speaker 2: do all things through Christ. You don't live offended by

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Speaker 2: people that did you wrong. You let God be your vindicator.

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Speaker 2: That's how you don't just go.

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Speaker 1: Through it, you grow through it when you prove.

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Speaker 2: To God that you'll be faithful when it's not fair.

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Speaker 2: You'll be good to people that are not good to you.

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Speaker 2: You'll stay in peace when you should be upset. Because

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Speaker 2: your spiritual muscles are growing, because you're getting stronger, developing

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Speaker 2: your character.

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Speaker 1: God can take you to new levels of your destiny.

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Speaker 2: He can entrust you with more favor, more resources, more influence.

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Speaker 2: And I know sometimes it's painful, but the pain has

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Speaker 2: a purpose. When I lift weights, the last two or

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Speaker 2: three reps are always painful. My mind says, stop, this

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Speaker 2: is hurting. I'm uncomfortable. I don't like it, but I

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Speaker 2: know that pressure. That pain is number one only temporary,

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Speaker 2: and number two is causing me to get stronger. I

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Speaker 2: was on comfortable for a short time, but the results

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Speaker 2: lasted a long time.

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Speaker 1: Now I have this massive, good looking for sea, but

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Speaker 1: in my mind I do.

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Speaker 2: But you may be uncomfortable for a season.

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Speaker 1: And yes, it's hard to bite your tongue when somebody's rude.

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Speaker 1: It's hard to keep.

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Speaker 2: A good attitude when the contract didn't go through. It's

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Speaker 2: hard to stay in faith when things aren't changing. But

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Speaker 2: if you'll dig down deep and pass the test, you're

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Speaker 2: going to come into favor.

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Speaker 1: That will last a long time. Here's what I've learned.

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Speaker 2: The pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret.

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Speaker 2: It is painful to do the right thing when it's hard,

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Speaker 2: but it's less painful to look back and think what

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Speaker 2: could I have become if I wouldn't let this temper

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Speaker 2: get the best to make? What could I have become

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Speaker 2: if I learned how to overcome this compromise and deal

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Speaker 2: with this impatience, this jealousy, this pride not being easily offended,

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Speaker 2: Not let that hold me back. The mistake the Israelites

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Speaker 2: made out there in the desert is they didn't grow

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Speaker 2: through it.

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Speaker 1: They didn't pass the test.

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Speaker 2: They thought the delay was a bad break, when in

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Speaker 2: fact it was God protecting them.

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Speaker 1: He knew they weren't ready they would have been defeated.

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Speaker 2: He was doing them a favor, but they thought he

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Speaker 2: had forgotten about them. They were negative and complained, Moses,

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Speaker 2: why'd you bring us out in.

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Speaker 1: The desert to die? It's nothing good to eat out here.

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Speaker 2: God gave them manna every morning for breakfast, but they

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Speaker 2: got tired of it because they didn't pass the test.

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Speaker 2: Because they never grew, never developed the faith, the trust,

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Speaker 2: the character. They went around the same mountain for forty years.

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Speaker 2: Here God had brought them out of slavery, sent plagues

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Speaker 2: on their oppressors, parted the Red Sea, drowned Pharaoh's army.

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Speaker 2: God didn't do all those amazing things to lead them

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Speaker 2: in the desert.

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Speaker 1: What was the problem. They didn't pass the test. They

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Speaker 1: never got prepared for where God.

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Speaker 2: Was taking themlained when it wasn't easy. They got discouraged

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Speaker 2: because it was taking longer. They were frustrated because they

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Speaker 2: weren't getting their way. When the truth is, all those difficulties,

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Speaker 2: all those inconveniences, that wasn't the enemy.

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Speaker 1: That was God giving them opportunities to grow.

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Speaker 2: How you handle difficulties will determine whether you make it

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Speaker 2: into your promised land.

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Speaker 1: God has the good breaks.

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Speaker 2: He is the right people, the resources, but before that happens,

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Speaker 2: you have to prove to him that you can handle it.

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Speaker 1: The way you're tested is in the fire of affliction.

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Speaker 2: It's in disappointments, delays, when you're not getting your way,

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Speaker 2: recognize that's an opportunity to come up higher. It's easy

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Speaker 2: to get negative, try to pay people back. It's easy

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Speaker 2: to live in self pity, discourage over a bad break.

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Speaker 2: It's easy to get upset in traffic. It's easy to

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Speaker 2: be rude to people that are rude to you. If

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Speaker 2: you knew all that was a test, that it wasn't random,

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Speaker 2: it was strategic that God put you there to see how.

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Speaker 1: You would respond.

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Speaker 2: Don't be like the Israelites and go the next forty

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Speaker 2: years letting the same things upset you, same people offend you,

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Speaker 2: same traffic frustrates you, same compromise defeats you.

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Speaker 1: That's going through it.

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Speaker 2: I'm asking you to grow through it instead of waiting

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Speaker 2: for it to change. Why don't you change instead of

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Speaker 2: trying to pray away the difficulty, why don't you pray

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Speaker 2: God help me.

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Speaker 1: To do the right thing in the midst of this difficulty.

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Speaker 2: Every challenge is an opportunity to prove to God that

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Speaker 2: you can handle the favor, the influence, the destiny that

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Speaker 2: He's laid out for you. It's not going to come

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Speaker 2: without testing, without proving that you have the character, the integrity,

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Speaker 2: the fortitude to handle it. We see this with Joseph

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Speaker 2: in the Scripture. As a teenager, God gave him a

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Speaker 2: dream that he would be in leadership and he would

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Speaker 2: see great favor and influence. He was excited. He knew

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Speaker 2: big things were in his future. But Psalm one O

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Speaker 2: five says until the time came to fulfill Joseph's dream,

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Speaker 2: God tested Joseph's character. It's significant that God gave him

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Speaker 2: a dream. Then God said, I'm going to test you

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Speaker 2: to see if you can handle it. I'm gonna test

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Speaker 2: your character. Will you be good to people that are

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Speaker 2: not good to you. I'm gonna test your endurance. Will

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Speaker 2: you give up if it doesn't happen fast enough. I'm

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Speaker 2: gonna test your integrity. Will you do the right thing

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Speaker 2: when no one is watching. I'm gonna test your attitude?

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Speaker 2: Will you get sour when things don't go your way?

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Speaker 2: We love when God gives us a dream. We know

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Speaker 2: something big is in our future. We have to realize

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Speaker 2: along with the dream come test. How we respond will

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Speaker 2: determine whether we keep going around the mountain or whether

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Speaker 2: we go in to our promised land. Joseph's brothers heard

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Speaker 2: about this dream, and they didn't like it. They were

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Speaker 2: already jealous of Joseph. He was their father's favorite child.

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Speaker 2: One day, these brothers were in another city taking care

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Speaker 2: of their animals out in the pastures.

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Speaker 1: Joseph's father asked him to travel there to check on them.

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Speaker 1: When the brothers saw him coming, they thought, this is

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Speaker 1: our chance to get rid of Joseph. They threw him

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Speaker 1: into a pit.

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Speaker 2: They were going to leave him there when they saw

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Speaker 2: a caravan of Ishmaelites coming. Instead, they sold Joseph as

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Speaker 2: a slave. His whole world was turned upside down. He

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Speaker 2: went from his father's favorite child to a slave in

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Speaker 2: a foreign country, didn't speak the language, His freedom was gone.

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Speaker 2: You would think he would be bitter, God, where are you?

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Speaker 2: Why did you let my family betray me? But you

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Speaker 2: never read where Joseph complained, kept being his best, doing

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Speaker 2: the right thing when the wrong thing happened, so much

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Speaker 2: so that the owner of that house put Joseph in

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Speaker 2: charge of all of his household.

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Speaker 1: Joseph wasn't just going through it, he was growing through it.

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Speaker 2: His attitude was, this is where God has me, so

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Speaker 2: I'm gonna shine.

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Speaker 1: It's not fair.

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Speaker 2: I don't understand it, but God, I trust you. I

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Speaker 2: believe that you're ordering my steps.

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Speaker 1: The owner's wife.

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Speaker 2: Lied about Joseph. He is falsely accused and put in prison.

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Speaker 2: Surely now he would be upset. God, I've had enough,

255
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Speaker 2: But Joseph kept doing the right thing. He excelled in prison.

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Speaker 2: The warden ended up putting him in charge. Notice how

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Speaker 2: he's passing the test, proving to God that he could

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Speaker 2: be trusted, that he had the character, the integrity, the humility.

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Speaker 1: He interpreted a dream for a fellow prisoner.

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Speaker 2: Could have been sour, not going to do you a favor. Man,

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Speaker 2: I got more problems than you, But he was unselfish.

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Speaker 2: Not long after that, he interpreted the Pharaoh's dream. The

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Speaker 2: Pharaoh was so impressed he made Joseph the prime minister

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Speaker 2: of Egypt. Overnight, he went from a slave to one

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Speaker 2: of the most powerful people of that day.

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Speaker 1: But notice how the dream came to pass.

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Speaker 2: God tested Joseph's character all along the way. The challenges

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Speaker 2: we face aren't random. That's God giving you an opportunity

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Speaker 2: to develop your muscles, to get stronger, to prove to

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Speaker 2: him that you can handle the promotion. It may not

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Speaker 2: be as dramatic as Joseph being put in prison for something.

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Speaker 1: You didn't do.

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Speaker 2: It may just be how you handle the traffic each morning,

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Speaker 2: how you treat the person at work that's not good

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Speaker 2: to you, how you respond when you're doing the right

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Speaker 2: thing but the wrong thing is happening. Don't get bitter,

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Speaker 2: don't try to pay people back.

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Speaker 1: Be a Joseph.

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Speaker 2: Show God what you're made of. That's an opportunity to grow.

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Speaker 2: When you do the right thing, your spiritual muscles are

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Speaker 2: getting stronger. Trust, your patience, your endurance, your faith is increasing.

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Speaker 2: When God sees that you can handle the dream, when

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Speaker 2: you've proven to him that you have the character, the integrity,

284
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Speaker 2: he'll open doors you could never open. He'll defeat giants

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Speaker 2: that were much bigger. You'll find yourself further than you've

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Speaker 2: ever imagined. Maybe, like Joseph, you're in that time of

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Speaker 2: testing now, wondering why these unfair things have happened, why

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Speaker 2: the doors have closed, why it's taken so long. God

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Speaker 2: has not forgotten about you. He sees you doing the

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Speaker 2: right thing when it's hard. He sees you praising.

291
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Speaker 1: When you could be complaining.

292
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Speaker 2: He sees you at work being your best and not

293
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Speaker 2: getting the credit.

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Speaker 1: He sees the lonely nights, those tears from what's breaking

295
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Speaker 1: your hearts.

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Speaker 2: But you're still serving, still giving, still being good to people.

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Speaker 1: You are proving to God that you can handle the blessing.

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Speaker 1: I know thoughts, so Whisper's never gonna work out.

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Speaker 2: No, your time is the scripture says, when you have

300
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Speaker 2: passed the test, you will receive the Victor's crown of life.

301
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Speaker 2: Victory is coming, Favor is coming. You've been struggling a

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Speaker 2: long time. Ease is coming. God is about to shift

303
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Speaker 2: some things, like with Joseph. He's gonna take it from

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Speaker 2: the background to the foreground. It's gonna happen suddenly, a

305
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Speaker 2: shift from borrowing to lending, from being stuck to being promoted,

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Speaker 2: from morning to dancing, from sorrow to joy. That Victor's

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Speaker 2: crown is on the way. Now, keep being faithful, keep

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Speaker 2: doing the right thing. When you're uncomfortable.

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Speaker 1: You don't understand it. It's not fair. Don't just go

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Speaker 1: through it, grow through it. It's doing something on the

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Speaker 1: inside of you.

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Speaker 2: It's getting you prepared for something that you've never seen.

313
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Speaker 2: A couple of years after my father passed them, the

314
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Speaker 2: church was growing and we needed a larger auditorium compact center.

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Speaker 2: This place became available after a year and a half battle.

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Speaker 1: By the grace of God, ten.

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Speaker 2: City council members voted for us, and we got the

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Speaker 2: facility in.

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Speaker 1: We were so excited.

320
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Speaker 2: I grew up watching the Rockets play basketball here and

321
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Speaker 2: this was more than I ever dreamed. But the day

322
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Speaker 2: after that big victory, a large company that owns all

323
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Speaker 2: the property around this building filed a federal lawsuit to

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Speaker 2: try to keep us from moving in. They said we

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Speaker 2: violated the deed restrictions, that this was a sports facility

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Speaker 2: and not a church. Our attorneys told us there was

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Speaker 2: no guarantee that we would win, that it could be

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Speaker 2: tied up in the court system for ten years. I thought, God,

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Speaker 2: you just gave us this great victory. We just spent

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Speaker 2: the day celebrating. Now it was like the wind was

331
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Speaker 2: taken out of our cell. I prayed, I believed, I declared,

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Speaker 2: but nothing changed. Months went by. The other side didn't

333
00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,520
Speaker 2: want to talk. It was to their advantage to just

334
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Speaker 2: sit it out longer it took the worse.

335
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Speaker 1: It was for us. I had to do what I'm

336
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Speaker 1: asking you to do. I didn't like it.

337
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Speaker 2: I was uncomfortable. Thoughts told me it was never gonna

338
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Speaker 2: work out. You're gonna look like a fool. You told

339
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Speaker 2: those people you got the building, you celebrated, and you're

340
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Speaker 2: gonna have to give it back. I said, no, Thanks God,

341
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Speaker 2: I know you're still on the throne. I know what

342
00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,960
Speaker 2: you started you will finish. I know you being for

343
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Speaker 2: us it's more than the world being against us. There

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Speaker 2: were many nights I woke up in a cold sweat,

345
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Speaker 2: tempted to worry, doubt. Had to make that decision to

346
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Speaker 2: tune it out. Two years later, with hardly any contact,

347
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Speaker 2: the other side called and said they wanted to meet.

348
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Speaker 2: Twenty four hours after that, they had not only dropped

349
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Speaker 2: the lawsuit, but they leased us nine thousand cupboard parking spaces.

350
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Speaker 2: We didn't have to build a fifty million dollar garage.

351
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Speaker 1: What am I saying?

352
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Speaker 2: Before your dream comes to pass, God will test your character.

353
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Speaker 2: He'll put you in situations that are uncomfortable, that you

354
00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:05,360
Speaker 2: don't understand God could have turned this around in two.

355
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Speaker 1: Weeks instead of two years. It's no harder for God.

356
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Speaker 1: He's God. But He was doing a work in me.

357
00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,119
Speaker 2: He was getting me prepared to handle the blessings that

358
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Speaker 2: were coming.

359
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Speaker 1: It's not always about right now.

360
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Speaker 2: God is looking down the road at what you're going

361
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Speaker 2: to need to handle the weight of blessing, the weight

362
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Speaker 2: of favor.

363
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Speaker 1: In those two.

364
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Speaker 2: Years, I learned to pray like I'd never prayed. I

365
00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,200
Speaker 2: learned to trust that God was in control.

366
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Speaker 1: I learned to lean not to my own understanding.

367
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Speaker 2: Some things you can only learn in the battle, in

368
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Speaker 2: the difficulty, when you don't see a way. But God

369
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Speaker 2: wouldn't have allowed it if it wasn't working for your good.

370
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Speaker 1: If it's not changing, maybe God is changing you.

371
00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:54,400
Speaker 2: He's giving you an opportunity to grow, to develop greater character,

372
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Speaker 2: to prove to Him that you won't give up easily,

373
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Speaker 2: that you'll do the right thing when it's hard, that

374
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Speaker 2: you'll believe when every thought says to doubt, that you'll

375
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Speaker 2: stand strong in faith even when you're.

376
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Speaker 1: Facing a goliath.

377
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Speaker 2: Isaiah forty one says, God will harden you to difficulty.

378
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Speaker 1: Some of the things I face today. If I would

379
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Speaker 1: have faced twenty years ago, they would have defeated me.

380
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Speaker 2: God knows what you can handle as you keep passing

381
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Speaker 2: these tests.

382
00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:27,120
Speaker 1: What's happening is he's hardening you to difficulty.

383
00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:32,040
Speaker 2: You're getting stronger, your faith is growing, your endurance is increasing,

384
00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:36,280
Speaker 2: your spiritual muscles are being built up. The reason God

385
00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,359
Speaker 2: is doing this is because there are awesome things in

386
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Speaker 2: your future. God is taking you to a wide and

387
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Speaker 2: spacious place.

388
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Speaker 1: He's going to enlarge your territories. Here's the key.

389
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Speaker 2: With greater influence comes greater giants. With greater blessings come

390
00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:58,320
Speaker 2: greater opposition. Greater favor comes greater persecution. If he didn't

391
00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:02,400
Speaker 2: harden you to difficulty, you couldn't withstand what comes against you.

392
00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:03,880
Speaker 1: Even now.

393
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Speaker 2: If you look back in your life, some of the

394
00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,520
Speaker 2: things that you faced today, if you would have faced

395
00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,000
Speaker 2: a few years ago, they would have caused you to

396
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:16,119
Speaker 2: live worried, upset. Now it's no big deal. You know

397
00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,560
Speaker 2: God's fighting your battles. You know no weapon formed against

398
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,560
Speaker 2: you will prosper. You know this too shall pass. Why

399
00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:27,840
Speaker 2: is that you're growing. You've gotten stronger, Your faith is increased,

400
00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:32,000
Speaker 2: your expectancy is greater, your trust at a new level.

401
00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:33,800
Speaker 1: The things you've been through.

402
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,800
Speaker 2: I know they weren't fun, they weren't comfortable, but it

403
00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,800
Speaker 2: wasn't God just making you suffer. They deposited something on

404
00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,400
Speaker 2: the inside. Everything you've been through was necessary for where

405
00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:46,440
Speaker 2: God is taking you.

406
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:48,600
Speaker 1: If you don't understand.

407
00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:52,240
Speaker 2: This, you're lift frustrated, fighting everything you don't like, bitter

408
00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:53,399
Speaker 2: over who did you wrong?

409
00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,840
Speaker 1: God? Why did these brothers throw me into a pit? God?

410
00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,560
Speaker 1: Why did that company file the lawsuit? God?

411
00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,680
Speaker 2: Why did I have this setback? That's just going through it,

412
00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:08,080
Speaker 2: discouraged upset. That's what most people do. But I'm asking you.

413
00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:09,320
Speaker 1: To grow through it.

414
00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,840
Speaker 2: See it as an opportunity to show God what you're

415
00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,600
Speaker 2: made of, to prove to him that you'll do the

416
00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,280
Speaker 2: right thing when it's hard, that you'll keep a good

417
00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:22,840
Speaker 2: attitude when you feel like being upset. That's developing your character.

418
00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,520
Speaker 2: That's proven to God that you're ready for the fullness

419
00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,320
Speaker 2: of your destiny. And when things are taking longer than

420
00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,000
Speaker 2: we thought, could it be we're delaying what God wants

421
00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:34,320
Speaker 2: to do.

422
00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,560
Speaker 1: We're waiting for him to change the situation.

423
00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:41,320
Speaker 2: But God is waiting for us to change. We're waiting

424
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Speaker 2: for him to remove what's uncomfortable. But if we'll do

425
00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:45,960
Speaker 2: the right thing when it's.

426
00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:50,679
Speaker 1: Uncomfortable, then God will change things. Think about David. He

427
00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,200
Speaker 1: was anointed to be the next king of Israel.

428
00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,760
Speaker 2: Prophet Samuel showed up at his house chose him over

429
00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:01,680
Speaker 2: his brothers, a remarkable moment. David didn't go to the palace.

430
00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,080
Speaker 2: He went back to the shepherd's fields. You can be

431
00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:10,480
Speaker 2: anointed before you're appointed, like Joseph. You can have the dream,

432
00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,160
Speaker 2: but there will be a time of testing, a time

433
00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,720
Speaker 2: of proving, to get you prepared for what God promised.

434
00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:18,880
Speaker 1: And this is where we can get discouraged.

435
00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,840
Speaker 2: God, you anointed me, Why did you send me back

436
00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,080
Speaker 2: to take care of these sheep? David could have complained,

437
00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,880
Speaker 2: could have slacked off, But out in the shepherd's fields,

438
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Speaker 2: with no one watching, he kept being his best.

439
00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,080
Speaker 1: He's a king with a big dream.

440
00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:39,720
Speaker 2: What's he doing shoveling sheep dum protecting the animals closely

441
00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,440
Speaker 2: watching over them. He had his slingshot ready for wild

442
00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:44,200
Speaker 2: animal came.

443
00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:45,280
Speaker 1: David was there.

444
00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:49,200
Speaker 2: He nailed it, never dreaming that one day he would

445
00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:50,760
Speaker 2: use that same skill.

446
00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:51,720
Speaker 1: To slay a giant.

447
00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,560
Speaker 2: David had to prove that he would take care of

448
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,560
Speaker 2: those sheep before God would allow him.

449
00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,760
Speaker 1: To take care of his people. Don't despise the small beginnings.

450
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,040
Speaker 2: Don't slack off because you're not getting recognition.

451
00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:09,240
Speaker 1: Nobody's celebrating you. You're in preparation.

452
00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:13,760
Speaker 2: Keep passing those tasks, being your best serving when no

453
00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,479
Speaker 2: one is looking, doing the right thing when you're not

454
00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:17,359
Speaker 2: getting the credit.

455
00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:21,359
Speaker 1: God is watching. He sees your faithfulness.

456
00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,239
Speaker 2: He sees how trustworthy you are, how you have that

457
00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:25,560
Speaker 2: spirit of excellence.

458
00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:28,160
Speaker 1: King Saul suffered from depression.

459
00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,000
Speaker 2: They sent for David to come to the palace to

460
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,720
Speaker 2: play the heart for sauls As David was playing being

461
00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,639
Speaker 2: good to Saul saw through a spirit David and tried

462
00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:41,320
Speaker 2: to kill him. This happened several times. David had to

463
00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,399
Speaker 2: flee for his life. He had done no wrong, he

464
00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,440
Speaker 2: didn't deserve this, but now he was living in caves,

465
00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:49,040
Speaker 2: hiding in the wilderness.

466
00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,000
Speaker 1: Saul kept chasing him. One night, Saul and his men.

467
00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:56,320
Speaker 2: Were asleep, and David snuck over to their camp.

468
00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,080
Speaker 1: This was his big chance to get rid of Saul.

469
00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,199
Speaker 2: Could finally put an end to this man that was

470
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,119
Speaker 2: making him miserable, finally get out of this uncomfortable situation.

471
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:08,199
Speaker 1: But David wouldn't do it.

472
00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:11,960
Speaker 2: He knew Saul was the king, and he wasn't going

473
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,240
Speaker 2: to touch God's anointed.

474
00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:15,720
Speaker 1: He was going to let God make the transition.

475
00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,520
Speaker 2: When God can trust you to not get out of

476
00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:24,119
Speaker 2: every uncomfortable situation, but to do the right thing, to

477
00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,800
Speaker 2: take the high road, forgive your enemies.

478
00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:29,600
Speaker 1: Not live sour because you had the bad.

479
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,720
Speaker 2: Break, frustrated because a dream hasn't.

480
00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:33,080
Speaker 1: Come to pass.

481
00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,600
Speaker 2: You are proving to God that you can take your throne,

482
00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,640
Speaker 2: so to speak, that you can handle the blessing, the

483
00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:43,520
Speaker 2: favor that He has in store. It may be unfair,

484
00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:45,159
Speaker 2: you don't understand it.

485
00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:49,320
Speaker 1: Don't just go through it, grow through it. God sees

486
00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:50,040
Speaker 1: what's happening.

487
00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:53,720
Speaker 2: He sees who did you wrong, he sees what didn't

488
00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,720
Speaker 2: work out, he sees the medical report. That's not how

489
00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,600
Speaker 2: your story ends. That's one chain in the book.

490
00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,119
Speaker 1: That He's written for your life. There are many great

491
00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:05,320
Speaker 1: chapters up ahead.

492
00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,600
Speaker 2: Don't fight everything you don't like before you ask God

493
00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:13,200
Speaker 2: to change the situation. Say God, help me to change,

494
00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,879
Speaker 2: help me to grow, help me to come up higher,

495
00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:17,040
Speaker 2: to trust you more.

496
00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:19,919
Speaker 1: Those are opportunities to show.

497
00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:23,320
Speaker 2: God that you're ready for the amazing future he has

498
00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:27,440
Speaker 2: in store. You haven't seen, heard, or imagined where God

499
00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:28,119
Speaker 2: is taking you.

500
00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:30,280
Speaker 1: That's why you face challenges.

501
00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:34,320
Speaker 2: He's getting you prepared for something greater if you'll keep

502
00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,240
Speaker 2: the right attitude, not just go.

503
00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:37,719
Speaker 1: Through it, but grow through it.

504
00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,600
Speaker 2: I believe and declare, like Joseph, you're going to see

505
00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,160
Speaker 2: God vindicate you and suddenly turn things around.

506
00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:47,760
Speaker 1: Like David, You're going to defeat.

507
00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:52,040
Speaker 2: Giants, accomplish dreams, and reach the fullness of your destiny.

508
00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,560
Speaker 1: In Jesus's name, And if you receive it, can you

509
00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:56,159
Speaker 1: say amen?

510
00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,840
Speaker 2: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus

511
00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:02,040
Speaker 2: the Lord of your life.

512
00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:03,480
Speaker 1: Would you pray with me?

513
00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:08,800
Speaker 2: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come

514
00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,320
Speaker 2: into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior.

515
00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,680
Speaker 2: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got

516
00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,920
Speaker 2: born again. We love to send you some free information

517
00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,520
Speaker 2: on your new walk with the Lord. You can text

518
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,200
Speaker 2: the number on the screen or go to the website.

519
00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:27,320
Speaker 2: But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based.

520
00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,520
Speaker 1: Church and keep God first place.

521
00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:32,760
Speaker 4: It's easy to let the day get away from us

522
00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,800
Speaker 4: before the day even starts. The first few minutes of

523
00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:39,080
Speaker 4: your morning are more powerful than you might think. Life

524
00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,080
Speaker 4: moves really fast sometimes, and it can be easy to

525
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,439
Speaker 4: begin each day by zeroing in on your problems. But

526
00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:46,399
Speaker 4: here's the truth.

527
00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:49,679
Speaker 2: How you start the day can determine what kind of

528
00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:51,879
Speaker 2: day it's going to be. I'd love to send you

529
00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:53,840
Speaker 2: my devotional three minute Mornings.

530
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:55,600
Speaker 1: Start your day the Blessed way.

531
00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,320
Speaker 3: Three minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time, but

532
00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:00,800
Speaker 3: when you put God first place and get your mind

533
00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,240
Speaker 3: going in the right direction, is set in the town

534
00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,320
Speaker 3: for a blessed productive day.

535
00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,400
Speaker 2: Is filled with inspiration and encouragement to help you begin

536
00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:09,120
Speaker 2: each day with.

537
00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:11,719
Speaker 1: A fresh attitude, grateful that you're alive.

538
00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:15,040
Speaker 2: It's amazing what happens when you take three minutes and

539
00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,680
Speaker 2: speak blessings over your life and declaring God's favor. Three

540
00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:20,400
Speaker 2: Minute Mornings is our gift to.

541
00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,320
Speaker 4: You as our way of saying thank you for your

542
00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:25,879
Speaker 4: gift of any amount. This month, we would like to

543
00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,240
Speaker 4: send you a copy of Joel's new devotional three Minute

544
00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:33,360
Speaker 4: Mornings Start your Day in faith. This powerful book will

545
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Speaker 4: open the pathways to experience God's presence and peace in

546
00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:41,280
Speaker 4: your life, and there you will find renewed energy, assurance,

547
00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,960
Speaker 4: and wisdom to face your day. The Bible promises that

548
00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,560
Speaker 4: God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

549
00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,880
Speaker 4: So as you pause for only three minutes and take

550
00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,920
Speaker 4: in his wonderful promises in this book, you will be

551
00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:58,800
Speaker 4: positioning yourself to receive all the amazing things that God

552
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,120
Speaker 4: has in store for you. Please request your copy today

553
00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:06,840
Speaker 4: and watch anxiety turn to divine answers, weakness to strength,

554
00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:13,480
Speaker 4: problems to renewed possibilities, frustrations to God's favor. Yes, only

555
00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:16,360
Speaker 4: three minutes will transform your entire day.

556
00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,280
Speaker 2: From the time I was a little boy, my parents

557
00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,160
Speaker 2: taught me the value of starting the day off in faith.

558
00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,800
Speaker 2: Three minute mornings will help you do just that. Victoria

559
00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,800
Speaker 2: and I pray for you every day for God's very best.

560
00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,560
Speaker 1: We want to thank you for your prayer and support.

561
00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,160
Speaker 1: You're impacting people all over the world.

562
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,240
Speaker 2: A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners

563
00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:40,080
Speaker 2: for your monthly support. If you're not a partner, I

564
00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,400
Speaker 2: hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember you can watch the

565
00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:48,400
Speaker 2: services online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, listen

566
00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,040
Speaker 2: on Serious Exam, watch our YouTube channel, and the joel

567
00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,680
Speaker 2: Osting Network, streaming on television twenty four hours a day

568
00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:57,320
Speaker 2: and until we see you again.

569
00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:59,560
Speaker 1: May the Lord bless you and keep you.

570
00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:03,320
Speaker 4: Be sure to request your copy of three minute Mornings

571
00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,280
Speaker 4: start your day in faith. Visit jolostein dot com or

572
00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:11,160
Speaker 4: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for an

573
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,720
Speaker 4: additional donation. This month, we are also offering the Faith

574
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Speaker 4: and Freedom Bundle. You'll receive an additional devotional filled with

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Speaker 4: daily wisdom to guide you in living with favor, focus

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Speaker 4: and freedom. Also available, our Morning Power and Peace Collection

577
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Speaker 4: includes Power, Provision and Peace, beautifully bound and timeless elegance.

578
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Speaker 4: This dynamic New Testament, the Passion Translation helps you walk

579
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Speaker 4: in God's best. You can request these inspiring resources by

580
00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:44,560
Speaker 4: calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel or logging

581
00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:49,000
Speaker 4: on to jolostein dot com today, call or click any time,

582
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Speaker 4: twenty four hours a day, be inspired every morning. Request

583
00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:54,880
Speaker 4: your copies today.

584
00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:00,280
Speaker 2: Yeah