1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: go back to school, but to come back and move 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 21 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 3: his birthday. 23 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 24 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 3: But He'll never forget how you invested in his future 25 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 3: with the units stapp. Wow, Thanks Grandpa. The units stap 26 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 3: makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to give 27 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 3: funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 28 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 3: Download the uns stap and use the code I heeart 29 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 3: fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 30 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 3: when you fund your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 31 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 3: you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 32 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 3: dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 33 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 34 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 5: We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 35 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 5: leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 36 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 5: every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 37 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 5: ministry going. 38 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 4: Enjoy the message. 39 00:01:59,240 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 5: Well, God bless you. 40 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 4: Thank you. 41 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 5: It's always a joy to come into your homes. And 42 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 5: if you're ever in our area, please stop by and 43 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 5: be a part of one of our services. I promise 44 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 5: you we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks 45 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 5: so much for tuning in, and thank you again for 46 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 5: coming out. I like to start with something funny and 47 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 5: one day up in heaven. God said to the men, 48 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 5: I want you to form two lines. One line for 49 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 5: the men who were the head of the house. The 50 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,959 Speaker 5: other line is for the men who let the woman 51 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 5: be the head of the house. The line where the 52 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 5: woman ran the house was one hundred miles long. There 53 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 5: was only one man in the other line. God said, men, 54 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 5: I'm ashamed of you. I created you to be the head, 55 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 5: but you let the woman run the house. Only one 56 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 5: man stood up to make me proud. He looked at 57 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 5: him and says, son, tell them, how did you manage 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 5: to be the only one in this line. Men looked confused, 59 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 5: said I don't know. My wife told me to stand here. 60 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 5: Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 61 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 5: This is my I am what it says I am. 62 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 5: I have what it says I have. I can do 63 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 5: what it says I can do. Today I will be 64 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 5: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 65 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 5: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 66 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:19,399 Speaker 5: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 67 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 5: to talk to you today about staying on the Potter's wheel. 68 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 5: We all face situations that we don't like, where we're 69 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 5: uncomfortable we're not getting our way, somebody's not treating us right, 70 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 5: traffic's backed up, a person gets on our nerves. It's 71 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 5: easy to get frustrated. Thank God, when are you ever 72 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 5: going to change this? But I've learned you can't pray 73 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 5: away every difficulty. Some of the things that are uncomfortable 74 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 5: in your life right now, if God removed them, you 75 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 5: wouldn't be prepared for the promotion that he has in store. 76 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 5: God uses difficulties to do a work in us. The 77 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 5: scripture says he is the potter. We are the claim. 78 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 5: When God is spinning us around on that potter's wheel 79 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 5: and he comes across a lump of impatience, of pride, 80 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 5: of jealousy, He'll put us in a situation to bring 81 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 5: those impurities to light. Nothing randomly happens. Every traffic jam, 82 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 5: every person that irritates you, every time you're at tempted 83 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 5: to worry, to be critical, to be jealous, that's an 84 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 5: opportunity for you to be refined. In the difficult times. 85 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 5: We prove to God what we're made of. That's when 86 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 5: our quality is tested. And if you'll work with God 87 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 5: and stay on the Potter's wheel, be mouldible. Pliable, willing 88 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 5: to change. Then your character will come up higher, and 89 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 5: as your character is developed, God will release more of 90 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 5: his blessings and favor. But too many people, when they're 91 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 5: in an uncomfortable situation, instead of doing the right thing, 92 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 5: keeping a good attitude, forgiving the wrong, being patient, they 93 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 5: try to get off the potter's will. They complain, get upset, offended, impatient. 94 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 5: I don't have to put up with this. I'm gonna 95 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 5: give them a piece of my mind. They respond the 96 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 5: same way year after year. That's why they get stuck. 97 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 5: And this is what happened with the Israelites. They were 98 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 5: headed toward the Promised Land. It was an eleven day journey, 99 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 5: no big deal. But they started complaining, it's hot, we're tired, 100 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 5: we don't like the food, Moses, it's uncomfortable out here. 101 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 5: Can't we just go back to Egypt? They kept getting 102 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 5: off the potter's wheel. That eleven day journey ended up 103 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 5: taking over forty years, and they never did make it 104 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 5: into the Promised Land. They kept going around the same 105 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 5: mountain again and again. If they would have just recognized, yes, 106 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 5: this is uncomfortable, we don't like it, but we know 107 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 5: God wouldn't have us here unless we needed it. He's 108 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 5: using it to refine us, to prepare us, to make 109 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 5: us tougher, stronger. It's not working against us, it's working 110 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 5: for us. If they were to pass those tests, let 111 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 5: God refine them, their character would to come up higher. 112 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 5: Their whole life would have been so much better. 113 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 4: Now. 114 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 5: My challenge to us today is don't do like they 115 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 5: did and go the next forty years responding to the 116 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 5: uncomfortable situations the same way, getting upset, offended, impatient, feeling 117 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 5: sorry for yourself. No, stay on the potter's wheel next 118 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 5: time you get stuck in traffic, instead of letting that 119 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 5: sour your day, have a new approach. God, I believe 120 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 5: you're guiding and directing my steps. You have me at 121 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 5: the right place at the right time. So I'm going 122 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 5: to stay in peace and enjoy where I am. That's 123 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 5: passing the test. That's letting God refine you when you 124 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 5: go through a disappointment an unfair situation, instead of being 125 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 5: discouraged living in self pity. No, God, you said you'd 126 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 5: give me beauty for ashes. You said what's meant for harm? 127 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 5: You'd use to my advantage. So I'm going to stay 128 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 5: in faith and get ready for the new thing that 129 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,679 Speaker 5: you have in store. Well, Joel, I always get upset 130 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 5: when I can't find my car keys. I always get 131 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 5: offended when my spouse does a certain thing, or I 132 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 5: always get discouraged when my friend doesn't call. Whatever the 133 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 5: always is for you the next time it comes up, 134 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 5: respond differently. Start passing these tests. Life is flying by. 135 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 5: You don't have time to spend another year going around 136 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 5: that same mountain. Your destiny is waiting on you. God 137 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 5: has amazing things he wants to release, new opportunities, new levels, 138 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 5: but it depends on the quality of our character. None 139 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 5: of us like on comfortable situations. But here's the key. 140 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 5: If God is not removing it, that means we must 141 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 5: need it. He's using it to refine us, to purify us, 142 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 5: to get us prepared for new levels of our destiny. 143 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 5: If you're still responding to difficulties the same way you 144 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 5: did five years ago, getting upset offended, I say this respectfully, 145 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 5: you need to grow up. Don't go another five years 146 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 5: letting those same things keep you from God's best. Recognize 147 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 5: that's a test. You're on the Potter's wheel. God's giving 148 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 5: you an opportunity to come up higher. Instead of complaining 149 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 5: about that person at work that gets on your nerves, 150 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 5: have a new perspective. That person is there to help 151 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 5: develop your character. Next time you see them they say 152 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 5: something rude and disrespectful. Instead of responding the same way, 153 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,959 Speaker 5: letting it upset you, or say something rude back to them. No, 154 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 5: stay on the potter's wheel. Let it bounce off of you. 155 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 5: Don't pay it any attention. Just smile and say, I 156 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 5: hope you have a great day. Here's the beauty. The 157 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 5: next time you do it, it'll be a little bit easier, 158 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 5: the next time, even easier. If you keep at it, 159 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 5: you'll look up in a year or two it won't 160 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 5: bother you at all. What happened. Your character came up higher. 161 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 5: They didn't change you changed. But too often we're praying God, 162 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 5: change my children, they're getting on my nerves. Change my 163 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 5: boss he's driving me crazy. Change the traffic it's making 164 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 5: me upset. I've learned God is more interested in changing 165 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 5: me than he is in changing my circumstances. Sometimes we're 166 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 5: trying to pray away the very thing that God wants 167 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 5: to use. The reason he's not removing it is he's 168 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 5: waiting for us to change that person that irritates you. 169 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 5: God can use them like sandpaper to rub the rough 170 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 5: edges off of you. That neighbor that's hard to get 171 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 5: along with. God can use them to teach you how 172 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 5: to be merciful, kind understanding, Or that loved one that 173 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 5: says things that are hurtful. God can use them to 174 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 5: toughen you up, to learn not to be easily offended 175 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 5: thereby accident. God has them there on purpose. Why don't 176 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 5: you look inside and say, God, how can I change? 177 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 5: How can I be more patient, more forgiving, more loving, 178 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 5: more understanding? How can I come up higher? 179 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 1: See? 180 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 5: Don't ever pray for God to change somebody else without 181 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 5: first saying, God, change me now. A question I asked 182 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 5: myself often is how much have I grown in the 183 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 5: last five years? Do I have a better attitude? Do 184 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 5: I forgive quicker? Do I treat people better? Am I kinder? 185 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 5: Am I more considerate? We shouldn't be at the same 186 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 5: place now as we were five years ago. If you're 187 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 5: still letting the same things upset you, the same people 188 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 5: offend you, the same circumstances, still your joy. This is 189 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 5: a wake up call. I'm sounding the alarm you don't 190 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 5: have time to waste another year going around the same mountain. 191 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 5: Your assignment is too important, your time is too valuable, 192 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 5: your destiny is too great. You can't afford forty years 193 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 5: like the Israelites to learn a lesson that we could 194 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 5: learn in a fraction of the time. You got to 195 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 5: put your foot down and say that's it. I'm done 196 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 5: going around this mountain. I'm done having a bad attitude 197 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 5: when I don't get my way. I'm done getting stressed 198 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 5: in traffic. I'm done arguing with my spouse over the 199 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 5: same petty things. This is a new day. I'm not 200 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 5: waiting for anyone or anything to change. I'm going to change. 201 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 5: The scripture talks about how there are different levels that 202 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 5: we can grow into vessels of clay, vessels of wood 203 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 5: that are used for ordinary purposes. But if you'll stay 204 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 5: willing to change and not get stuck in one level 205 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 5: in your attitude and how you treat people and how 206 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:19,439 Speaker 5: you respond to difficulties, but you'll let God keep refining you, 207 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 5: then you will become a vessel of gold used for 208 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 5: his highest purposes. And we all start off at the 209 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 5: same place in life, like a lump of clay, we 210 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 5: have impurities, impatience, selfishness, anger. God will put us in 211 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 5: situations to work that out of us. The key is 212 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 5: to pass those tests. Don't fight against everything you don't like. 213 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 5: That's an opportunity to come up higher. And if you 214 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 5: don't pass the test, the good news is you get 215 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 5: to take it again and again and again. It's not 216 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 5: going to go away until God does the work in us. 217 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,719 Speaker 5: The sooner you did with what you know God is 218 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 5: bringing delight, the better off you're going to be. When 219 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 5: Victoria and I were first married and we were about 220 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 5: to go someplace, I would ask her if she was 221 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 5: ready to leave, and when she would tell me yes, 222 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 5: I would go get in the car and wait and 223 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 5: wait and wait and wait. I'd get frustrated and go 224 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 5: back in and said, I thought you said you were ready. 225 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 5: She would say I am ready. I would say, well, 226 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 5: would you mind walking to the car. This happened time 227 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 5: and time again. I used to get so stressed, so 228 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 5: up tight, and I was praying, God, you gotta change her, 229 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 5: make her more of this, make her more that I 230 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 5: had her on my potter's wheel. One day I realized 231 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 5: I'm not the potter. God is the funny thing is 232 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 5: God didn't change her. God used her to change me. 233 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 5: Took a couple of years. I kept going around that 234 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 5: same mountain again and again. Finally it dawned on me. 235 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 5: Life is too short to let this stress me out. 236 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 5: She may not ever change, So you know what I'm 237 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 5: going to change. I learned how to be patient, to 238 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 5: stay calm, to be peaceful. Today, it's no big deal. 239 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 5: When she says I'm ready, I know that means in general, 240 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 5: she's ready. It's like the two minute warning in football. 241 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 5: The clock officially says two minutes, but if you know football, 242 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 5: it's gonna take fifteen minutes. Now. When she says I'm ready, 243 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 5: I'll go sit down, watch some television, get something to eat, 244 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 5: and mow the lawn, wash the car. She doesn't realize it, 245 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 5: but now I'm not looking that way. But God's used 246 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 5: her to refine me, to make me better. Are there 247 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 5: things that you keep letting upset you? Stress you out? 248 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 5: Do you keep going around the same mountain again and again. 249 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 5: This may be hard to swallow, but that other person 250 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 5: may not ever change. Why don't you change? God would 251 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 5: to put you in that situation if you didn't need it. 252 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 5: He is not going to be content with you. Stay 253 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 5: in a vessel of clay, a vessel of wood, not 254 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 5: even a vessel of silver. He's going to keep spinning 255 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 5: you around on that wheel until he brings out all 256 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 5: those impurities and you become the vessel of gold he's 257 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 5: created you to be. Now, our job is to recognize 258 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 5: that every challenge, every delay, every offense is an opportunity 259 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 5: to be refined. You can't just pray it away. God's 260 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 5: not going to remove every difficult person from your life. 261 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 5: You've got to learn to overlook the faults to stay 262 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 5: on the high road. He's not going to shield you 263 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 5: from every negative, derogatory comment. You've got to learn to 264 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 5: keep your walls up not be easily offended. He's not 265 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 5: going to keep us from every delay inconvenience, setback. We've 266 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 5: got to learn to believe that he's directing our steps 267 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 5: and go with the flow. Be aware of what your 268 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 5: dealings with this week. Don't let the same things continue 269 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 5: to hold you back. If you're going to become this 270 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 5: vessel of gold, you got to stay on the Potter's 271 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 5: wheel and be willing to change, keep growing, keep letting 272 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 5: God refine you. I was in New York City a 273 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 5: few years ago and went to a diner early in 274 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 5: the morning to eat breakfast. There was a gentleman sitting 275 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 5: a couple of tables over and he came up and 276 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 5: told how when he came in the restaurant that morning, 277 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 5: it was very windy outside, the person in front of 278 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 5: him let the door slam in his face. The person 279 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 5: clearly saw him, looked around at him. It's almost like 280 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 5: he did it on purpose. This man had been hot 281 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 5: tempered his whole life. Normally, he would have gone over 282 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 5: there and told them what he thought. But he had 283 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 5: been watching us on television for a few years. He 284 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 5: heard me talking about this subject, grow in not letting 285 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 5: the same things hold us back. Just as he was 286 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 5: about to give them a piece of his he said, Joel, 287 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 5: I heard your voice saying let it go and God 288 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 5: will fight your battles. He did just that. He ignored 289 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 5: what that person did. When he did, he said that 290 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 5: he felt this incredible joy bubbling up on the inside, 291 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 5: something that he had never felt before. When you pass 292 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 5: these tests, when you make a decision, I'm not going 293 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 5: around this mountain responding the same way. I'm going to 294 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 5: bite my tongue. Even though I feel like telling them off. 295 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 5: I'm gonna stay peaceful, even though I feel like being stressed. 296 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 5: I'm going to forgive even though they did me wrong. 297 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 5: When you do the right thing when it's difficult, like 298 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 5: this man, you will feel a new sense of joy 299 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 5: down in your spirit. You will know the creator of 300 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 5: the universe is smiling down on you. I read about 301 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 5: how up in the Northeast, fishing for codfish had become 302 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 5: a huge commercial business. It was a great market for 303 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 5: codfish all over the United States, but they had a 304 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 5: major problem with the distribution. At first, they tried freezing 305 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 5: the codfish, shipping it out all over like they did 306 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 5: their other products, but for some reason, when the codfish 307 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 5: was frozen, it didn't have any more taste. Next, they 308 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 5: tried shipping it alive in big containers with fresh seawater. 309 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 5: They thought that would certainly solve the problem, but it 310 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 5: only made it worse. Because the codfish just sat there 311 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 5: inactive in the water. They became soft and mushy, and 312 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 5: once again lost their taste. Someone came up with an 313 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 5: interesting idea. They decided to put a catfish in each 314 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 5: container with the codfish. The catfish is the natural enemy 315 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 5: of the codfish, So the whole time the codfish was 316 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 5: being shipped, it had to stay alert and active looking 317 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 5: out for this catfish. This solved the problem. When the 318 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 5: codfish derived at their destination, they were just as fresh 319 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 5: and tasty as they were up in the northeast. What's 320 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 5: my point. Sometimes what looks like an enemy is really 321 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,360 Speaker 5: an asset. That person that gets on your nerves, that 322 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 5: neighbor that doesn't treat you right, that traffic that gets 323 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 5: you stressed out. What you think is there to defeat you. 324 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 5: The truth is God put it there to make you better. 325 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 5: Nothing in your life happens by accident. The people you encounter, 326 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 5: the delays, the grouchy clerk, the slow water, the child 327 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 5: that never stops, they are divinely orchestrated by the creator 328 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 5: of the universe to help make you and mould you 329 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 5: into that vessel of gold. Now, how you respond is 330 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 5: what makes the difference. If you get upset, impatient, offended, 331 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 5: feel sorry for yourself, you'll get stuck. Pay attention to 332 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 5: what you don't like in your life, what you're praying 333 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 5: for God to remove, what you're fighting against. Recognize that 334 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 5: catfish is there to make you better, not to defeat you, 335 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 5: but to promote you. Now you may work with a catfish, 336 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 5: you may be married to a catfish. Or you say, Joel, 337 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 5: my mother in law, she's not a catfish, she's a 338 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 5: great white shark. God wouldn't have put you there if 339 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 5: you didn't need it. Like iron sharpens iron, that's going 340 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 5: to sharpen you. Stay on the potter's wheel. God's using 341 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 5: that to strengthen you, to refine you, to polish you, 342 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 5: to develop your character. Several years ago, Victoria and I 343 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 5: were headed to an important meeting that started at seven 344 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 5: point thirty. We got delayed at home, and we're running 345 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 5: a little late. But I knew we could still make 346 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 5: it on time if I caught all the lights just right, 347 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 5: didn't run into any traffic. Everything was going great. We 348 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 5: were making good time until I saw these flashing red 349 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 5: lights at the railroad tracks. A train was coming by. 350 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 5: We had never seen a train there at that particular 351 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 5: time of day. I was convinced this was the enemy 352 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 5: trying to delay me. I prayed, I rebuked, I confessed. 353 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 5: Seemed like the more I prayed, the slower the train went. 354 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 5: It got slower and slower finally stopped and started backing up. 355 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:25,239 Speaker 5: About ten minutes later, it had changed direction and was 356 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 5: just about to clear the road so we could go, 357 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 5: and I heard this loud train horn. Thought, that's strange. 358 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 5: They don't sound the horn at the end of the train. 359 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 5: I looked up and another train was coming on the 360 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 5: second set of tracks. I didn't even know there were 361 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 5: two sets of tracks. I finally got the message and said, 362 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 5: you know what, I'm just gonna relax. God is still 363 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 5: in control. Life is too short to let this stress 364 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 5: me out. You know what, that train was a catfish. 365 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 5: God allowed it to be there, not to just delay 366 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 5: the not to just make my life miserable, but to 367 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:04,360 Speaker 5: refine me, to make me better. For years, I thought 368 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 5: that was the enemy attacking me. Now I realized that 369 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 5: was God attacking my impatience. I've learned to stay on 370 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 5: the Potter's will. My attitude is God, you can have 371 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 5: it your way. It doesn't have to change. I'll change. 372 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 5: The scripture says there in Firs Peter, our faith is 373 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 5: tried in the fire of affliction, as fire purifies gold. 374 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 5: You don't really know what's in you until you're put 375 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 5: under pressure. The pressure brings to light what we need 376 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 5: to deal with. Peter said, Jesus, I'll never deny you. 377 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 5: I'm your biggest follower. But a few days later, when 378 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 5: Peter was under pressure, he denied that he knew Jesus 379 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 5: three times. When you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation 380 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 5: where you feel like being impatient, you feel like telling 381 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 5: somebody off, you at tempted to be upset, offended, that's 382 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 5: when you have to wreckonognize this is a test. I'm 383 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,679 Speaker 5: here for a reason. I'm not gonna go around this 384 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 5: same mountain respond in the same way. I'm gonna come 385 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 5: up higher. I'm gonna keep my cool. I'm gonna forgive 386 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 5: even though they did me wrong. I'm gonna stay in peace. 387 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 5: If you'll stay on that Potter's wheel and let God 388 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:23,479 Speaker 5: keep refining you, you are headed toward that vessel of gold. 389 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 5: That's when God can release some of the amazing things 390 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 5: he has in your future. But it all depends on 391 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 5: the quality of our character. You can have gifts, you 392 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 5: can have talents, but your character is what matters. Can 393 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:43,199 Speaker 5: God trust you with more responsibility, with greater influence, with 394 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 5: new levels, If you'll see these catfish, so to speak, 395 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 5: in the right way, Recognize each one is a test, 396 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 5: and respond properly. You'll see God take you places that 397 00:23:55,400 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 5: you've never imagined. Years ago, the government of Thailand wanted 398 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 5: to build a new highway, but right in the middle 399 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:07,199 Speaker 5: of their path was a huge religious statue that had 400 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 5: been there for decades. It stood over forty feet tall 401 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 5: and was made out of clay. This statue was greatly 402 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 5: revered by the people. They knew they had to move 403 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 5: it with extreme caution. Got their cranes very delicately and 404 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 5: carefully started to lift the statue. But even as hard 405 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 5: as they tried, some of the clay began to crack. 406 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 5: They stopped and readjusted. Tried to do it more carefully, 407 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 5: but again the clay continued to break off. They were 408 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 5: very distressed that they were damaging this important religious statue. 409 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 5: They finally got it to its new destination, but as 410 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 5: they were lifting it off the truck with the crane, 411 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 5: a huge piece of clay fell off. One of the 412 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:56,640 Speaker 5: men noticed something shiny underneath the clay. He went over 413 00:24:56,680 --> 00:25:00,959 Speaker 5: to examine it, much to their amazement, on underneath the clay, 414 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 5: the whole statue was made out of solid gold. The 415 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 5: clay was never supposed to be permanent. It was just 416 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,640 Speaker 5: a facade to protect the gold, yet it had been 417 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 5: there for hundreds of years. In the same way, we 418 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 5: all start off as vessels of clay. We have flaws 419 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 5: and weaknesses, impatience, selfishness, pride. All we can see is 420 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 5: the clay, But underneath that clay is a vessel of gold. 421 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:34,479 Speaker 5: God made you to shine. As you grow, you let 422 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 5: him keep refining you. Little by little, that clay is 423 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 5: going to come off. Maybe you used to get offended 424 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 5: by that coworker that said hurtful things. It ruined your day. 425 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 5: You tried to pay them back, but then you started 426 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,440 Speaker 5: overlooking it, staying in peace, taking the high road, letting 427 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 5: God fight your battles. Now it doesn't bother you anymore. 428 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 5: What's happening, the clay is coming off, is starting to 429 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 5: shine through. Maybe, like me, you used to be impatient 430 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,639 Speaker 5: in traffic, stress when your plans didn't work out, But 431 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 5: now you've learned to go with the flow, knowing that 432 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 5: God's in control. It's no big deal. What's happening. More 433 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 5: and more of that clay is coming off. Your gold 434 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 5: is getting brighter and brighter. Or perhaps you used to 435 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 5: rely on compliments, people's approval to feel good about yourself. 436 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 5: That's how you gained your value, your self worth. But 437 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 5: now you know that God approves you, that He's made 438 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 5: you valuable, that you're a masterpiece. So you put your 439 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 5: shoulders back. You live with confidence, knowing that you're one 440 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 5: of a kind. What's happening the low self esteem, the 441 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 5: insecurity is breaking off and your gold is starting to 442 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,679 Speaker 5: shine forth. We all have areas where we can come 443 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,880 Speaker 5: up higher. All of us still have some clay, some 444 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 5: dirt left on us. Don't get discouraged. The scripture says 445 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 5: he that began a good work in you will continue 446 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 5: to perform it until it's complete. The good news is 447 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 5: you're not a finished product. God is still working on you. 448 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 5: Don't beat yourself up because you're still dealing with some weaknesses. 449 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 5: Just stay on the potter's wheel, Just keep improving. Every 450 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 5: person fails from time to time. The key is to 451 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 5: get back up again. Don't you dare settle for the clay. 452 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,159 Speaker 5: You have gold in you. You were made in the 453 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:34,199 Speaker 5: image of Almighty God. He created you to shine, to 454 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 5: live free, happy, secure, peaceful, confident, calm. That's what's on 455 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 5: the inside. I'm asking you to work with God to 456 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 5: bring it out. Don't try to pray away every uncomfortable situation. 457 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 5: Recognize that's an opportunity for more clay to come off. 458 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 5: Don't complain about the catfish. God put it there. It's 459 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 5: not there to defeat you. It's there to make you better. 460 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 5: If you'll make this decision that you're going to stay 461 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 5: on the potter's will, let God refine you see these 462 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,439 Speaker 5: as opportunities to grow. Then you will not stay a 463 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 5: vessel of clay, a vessel of wood, nor a vessel 464 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 5: of silver. But I believe and declare you will become 465 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 5: a vessel of gold. Use for His highest purposes. You'll 466 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 5: not only enjoy your life more, but you will see 467 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 5: His favor in amazing ways and become everything God's created 468 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 5: you to be. I declare it in Jesus' name. If 469 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 5: you receive it, can you say it? 470 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 4: Men? 471 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 5: Today, we never like to close our broadcast without giving 472 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 5: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 473 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 5: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 474 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 5: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 475 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 5: you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 476 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 5: simple prayer. We believe you got born again. Get in 477 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 5: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 478 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 5: going to take your places that you've never dreamed. 479 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 6: Thank you for listening to the Joel Loustine podcast. Help 480 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 6: us continue to share the message of hope with those 481 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 6: all over the world. Visit joeloustin dot com slash give 482 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 6: Hope to give a gift today. 483 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 5: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 484 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 5: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 485 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 5: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 486 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 5: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 487 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 5: next time. 488 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 7: More than ever before, people are turning to the church 489 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 7: for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 490 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 7: been ill equipped to help. That is until now join 491 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 7: yourly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 492 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 7: the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 493 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 7: help for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 494 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 7: scholarship and you only pay a one time tech fee 495 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 7: of fifty four dollars if accepted. Apply now at Mentalhealthcoach 496 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 7: dot org. Again, that's Mentalhealthcoach dot org. 497 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 8: Nice buns, soft, fluffy and ultralow netcarbs. Discover Hero Bread, 498 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 8: the delicious ultralow net carbbread with incredible taste and texture. 499 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 8: Hero Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under 500 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 8: one hundred calories per serving, plus high in fiber and 501 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 8: up to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on 502 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 8: Amazon dot com, Walmart dot com, and Hero dot Co. 503 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 8: That's hro dot Co. Order from Hero dot Co now 504 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 8: and get ten percent off your purchase with promo code 505 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 8: IHM ten. 506 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 9: Summer is here and our sleep is just as important 507 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 9: as our weekend plans. 508 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 6: So get the sleep you deserve with Lisa. 509 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 9: For a limited time, save up to seven hundred dollars 510 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 9: off select mattresses plus two free pillows during our summer sale. 511 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 9: Check out our hybrid mattress designed to keep you cool 512 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 9: during those hot summer nights. Lisa also offers free shipping 513 00:30:57,240 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 9: and a risk free one hundred night trial. Get the 514 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 9: sleepy deserve. Shop our summer sale now and save up 515 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 9: to seven hundred dollars off select mattresses. 516 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 6: Plus two free pill ups at. 517 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 9: Lisa dot com. That's l e e s A dot Com. 518 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 9: Exclusions apply. 519 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 6: Visit Lisa dot com for details,