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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 26 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: But he'll never forget how you invest it in his 27 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: future with the uns stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 5: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 33 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 34 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 3: iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 35 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 36 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: UNEs dot co. 37 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 5: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 39 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 5: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 40 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 5: share it with a friends, reappreciate you and pray for 41 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 5: God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 42 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 5: It's always a joy to come into your homes and 43 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 5: if you're ever in our area, please stop by and 44 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 5: be a part of one of our services. These are 45 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 5: the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, right here 46 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 5: at Lakewood. We'll make you feel right at home. But 47 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 5: thank you for tuning in and thank you again for 48 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 5: coming out today. And I like to start with something funny. 49 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 5: And I heard about this minister. He bought a new horse. 50 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 5: He trained it to respond to praise the Lord meaning 51 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 5: giddy up, and Hallelujah meaning woe. Every time he said 52 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 5: praise the Lord, the horse took off running. When he 53 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 5: said woe, it would quickly stop. One day he was 54 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 5: out riding, the horse got spooked and took off straight 55 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 5: toward the cliff, running full speed. In the panic, he 56 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 5: couldn't remember what he trained the horse to respond to. 57 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 5: He said, Bless God, Glory, Amen. Nothing happened. At the 58 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 5: last second, he shouted Hallelujah. The horse came to a 59 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 5: screeching hawk just inches before the edge of the cliff. 60 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 5: He breathed a sigh of relief and said, Praise the Lord. 61 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 5: Hold up your Bible, say it like you mean it. 62 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 5: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 63 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 5: I have what it says I have. I can do 64 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 5: what it says I can do. Today I will be 65 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 5: taught the word of God I boldly confess. My mind 66 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 5: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 67 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 5: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 68 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 5: to talk to you today about blessed in the dark places. 69 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 5: We all go through situations in life that we don't understand. 70 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 5: Company was downsizing and we got laid off. A friend 71 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 5: walked out of her relationship. Now we're having to start 72 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 5: all over. A young lady I met last week. She 73 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 5: had been pregnant for five months with her first child. 74 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 5: She was so excited, already decorated the baby's room, but 75 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 5: something went wrong and she had a miscarriage. She looked 76 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 5: like she was numb, no expression, a dark place. In 77 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 5: nineteen eighty one, my family thought we'd be celebrating the 78 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 5: Christmas holidays, looking forward to faun and fellowship. Instead, we 79 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 5: learned that my mother was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. 80 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 5: It's a very somber Christmas. All of us at some 81 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 5: time will go through dark places. A loss, a sickness, 82 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 5: a divorce, a child that broke your heart. It's easy 83 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 5: to get discouraged, give up on your dreams and just 84 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 5: settle there. But God uses the dark places. They are 85 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 5: all a part of his divine plan. Think of it 86 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 5: like a seed. A seed cannot germinate in the light. 87 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,679 Speaker 5: As long as the seed stays up on a shelf, 88 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 5: it will never become what it was created to be. 89 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 5: You have to plant the seed in the soil, in 90 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 5: the dark place, so that what's on the inside will 91 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 5: come to life. In the same way, there are seeds 92 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 5: in you, dreams, goals, talent, potential that will only come 93 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 5: to life in a dark place. And if you study 94 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 5: the scripture, every person that did something significant went through 95 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 5: one of these dark places. Moses made a mistake and 96 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 5: killed a man. He spent forty years on the back 97 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 5: side of the desert alone, feeling like he had blown it. 98 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 5: But in that dark place, something was happening. On the inside. 99 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 5: It was getting him prepared. He was developing patience, humility, confidence. 100 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 5: Without the dark place, he would have never held up 101 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 5: the rod and parted the Red Sea. The dark place 102 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 5: is a prerequisite to stepping into the fullness of your destiny. 103 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 5: Esther was an orphan, a young lady that had lost 104 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 5: both of her parents. She felt alone, forgotten a dark place, 105 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 5: but God used her to help save the people of Israel. 106 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 5: Elijah was so depressed he wanted to die a dark place. 107 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 5: It he's one of the heroes of faith or David. 108 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 5: He had an affair with a married woman, had her 109 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 5: husband killed. For one year, he was broken, sick, guilty, 110 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 5: Yet he's called a man after God's own heart. God 111 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 5: doesn't send the difficulties, but he will use anything that 112 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 5: comes into our lives. In those dark places is where 113 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 5: we really grow. That's where our character is developed. We 114 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 5: learn to trust, to persevere. Our spiritual muscles are getting stronger. 115 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 5: In the dark places, you pray more, You draw closer 116 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 5: to God, You get quiet and listen to what He's saying. 117 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 5: In those dark places, you reevaluate your priorities. You spend 118 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 5: time with your family. You have a new appreciation for 119 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 5: what God has given you. A friend of mine was 120 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 5: told that he was going to lose his vision. He 121 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 5: had some kind of infection and he had a surgery 122 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 5: and wasn't supposed to see after the operation. But it 123 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 5: wasn't what the doctors expected and they were able to 124 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 5: correct it. His vision is perfectly clear now. Every morning 125 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 5: when he wakes up, he spends the first fifteen minutes 126 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 5: staring at the sunrise, staring at the flowers staring at 127 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 5: his children. You may not realize it, but in the 128 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 5: dark places you're being blessed. Something's happening on the inside. 129 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 5: It's helping you to realign your vision. And when you 130 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 5: go through enough dark places, you don't complain about small things. 131 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 5: You don't get upset because you didn't get your parking spot. 132 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 5: You don't lose your joy because you got stuck in traffic. 133 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 5: You're not offended because a coworker was rude to you. 134 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 5: You've been through too much to let that sour you. 135 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 5: You got a backbone made of steal. A person said 136 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 5: to me the other day, Joel, I heard SO and 137 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 5: SO was talking about you, and I'm so sorry. They 138 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 5: were saying that. They meant well, they were being kind. 139 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 5: But I thought to myself, you don't have to feel 140 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 5: sorry for me. I buried my father, I saw my 141 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 5: mother fight through terminal cancer. I learned how to minister 142 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 5: when every voice told me I couldn't do it. I 143 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 5: believe for this place, when the odds were against uf, 144 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 5: if I could make it through that, I could make 145 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 5: it through somebody not liking me. But you know, really, 146 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 5: you know, really, that's just like a little gnat that 147 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 5: you got to flick away. When you go through a 148 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 5: few dark places, it toughens you up. The dark places 149 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 5: are what have made me into who I am today. 150 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 5: I liked the good times a lot better. I prefer 151 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 5: everything going my way. But it wasn't the good times 152 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 5: that brought out the best in me. It was the 153 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 5: lonely nights, the times I didn't think I could do 154 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 5: it on my own, the times that I didn't see away. 155 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 5: That's when I really learned how to pray. That's when 156 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 5: I developed an unshakable confidence in God. That's when my 157 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 5: faith was stretched and increased. Complain about the dark times. 158 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 5: There are blessings in the dark places. God is doing 159 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 5: something that can only happen in the fire of affliction. 160 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 5: When my father died, I was trying to learn how 161 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 5: to minister. I was so nervous to get up in 162 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 5: front of people. There were many nights after dinner I 163 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 5: would go to my closet to pray. Victoria would come 164 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 5: looking for me, ask the children, where's dad, and she 165 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 5: would find me in their praying. The fact is I 166 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 5: never prayed like that in the good times. I never 167 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 5: went out of my way to draw closer to God 168 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 5: when everything was going my way. It was the dark 169 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 5: places that helped me to really develop my spiritual muscles. 170 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 5: And even though I didn't like what I was going through, 171 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 5: I didn't like having to stretch, I was uncomfortable, I 172 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 5: wouldn't change it. It made me better. God uses the 173 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 5: dark places. When Joseph was falsely accused and put in 174 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 5: prison for thirteen years, the scripture says, as as he 175 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 5: sat in those chains of iron, his soul entered into 176 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 5: that iron. He developed a strength, a perseverance that he 177 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 5: could not get any other way. There are some things 178 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 5: you can only learn in the dark places. Quick complaining 179 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 5: about what you're going through. Who hurts you, how bad 180 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 5: it was. It may be uncomfortable, you may not like it, 181 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 5: but it's working for you. You're getting stronger. It's developing 182 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 5: something that you could only get in the dark. You 183 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 5: cannot reach your highest potential being in the light all 184 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 5: the time, no adversity, no problems, nobody coming against you. 185 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 5: That sounds good, but it will stunt your growth. David said, 186 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 5: God enlarged me in my times of distress. He wasn't 187 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 5: enlarged in the good times. He was enlarged when things 188 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 5: weren't going his way. As a teenager, he wanted to 189 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 5: be out having fun with his friends, but he got 190 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 5: stuck taking care of his father's sheep. Month after month, 191 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 5: he was out there alone, nobody to talk to. Didn't 192 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 5: look like he could ever accomplish his dreams. But those 193 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 5: years in the lonely shepherd's fields are what helped prepare 194 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 5: him to become a champion. When he went out and 195 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 5: defeated Goliath, people called him an overnight success. But the 196 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 5: fact is it didn't happen overnight. It happened because he 197 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 5: went through the dark places with a good attitude. When 198 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 5: he didn't get his way, when he didn't understand it, 199 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 5: when he felt like God had forsaken him, he just 200 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 5: kept doing the right thing. David understood this principle. His 201 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 5: attitude was God, this is a dark place now. I 202 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 5: may not see it, but I believe that it's working 203 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 5: for my good. I believe I'm getting stronger, developing character, patience, 204 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 5: learning to trust. At the right time, he not only 205 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 5: came out, but he came out increased, promoted, better than 206 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 5: he was before. It's not a coincidence that David said, 207 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 5: the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He 208 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 5: makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me 209 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 5: beside the still waters, and though I walk through the 210 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 5: valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil. 211 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 5: David was saying, an effect, the same God that leads 212 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 5: me to the green pastures, the same God that leads 213 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 5: me beside the still waters, is the same God that 214 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 5: leads me through the valley. We can all trust him 215 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 5: in the green pastures, that's easy. We can trust him 216 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 5: beside the still waters. I'm asking you to trust him 217 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 5: even in the dark valleys. He hasn't left you. You 218 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 5: may feel alone, forgotten. Life hasn't turned out the way 219 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 5: you wanted, but God is still leading you. The dark 220 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 5: places are all a part of the plan to make 221 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 5: you into who you were created to be. It may 222 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 5: not be easy, you may not understand it. But faith 223 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 5: is trusting God when life doesn't make sense. Dare to 224 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 5: believe that He's blessing you even in the dark places. 225 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 5: That what's meant for your harm He's going to use 226 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 5: to your advantage. David went on to say, after you 227 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 5: go through the valley after the dark places, God will 228 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 5: anoint your head with oil. He'll prepare a table before you. 229 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 5: In the presence of your enemies, your cup will run over. Notice, 230 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 5: you've got to go through the valley to get to 231 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 5: the table that's already set before you. You've got to 232 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 5: go through the loneliness, through the betrayal, through the sickness, 233 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,439 Speaker 5: to get to the fresh, annoying, the new beginning. You've 234 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 5: got to go through the shepherd's fields doing the right 235 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 5: thing when the wrong thing is happening, through the struggle, 236 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 5: the lack, the debt, before you come to your cup 237 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 5: that runs over. Now too often we want the overflow 238 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 5: and not the valley. God, give me more favor, more resources, 239 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,599 Speaker 5: more influence, God says, okay, fine, but you've got to 240 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 5: be willing to go through the valley with me. In 241 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 5: the dark times is where we prove to God what 242 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 5: we're really made of. Can God trust you with more favor, 243 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 5: with more influence, with more resources. You have to be 244 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 5: faithful in the shepherd's fields when you're not getting your way, 245 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 5: when it's lonely with Joel. I don't like my boss. 246 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 5: That's why I show up late to work. He doesn't 247 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 5: treat me right. That's why I slack off. No, if 248 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 5: you're not faithful in the wilderness. How can God trust 249 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 5: you to be faithful in the promised land? Have a 250 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 5: new perspective. The dark places are opportunities to grow. You're 251 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 5: not thereby accident. If God wasn't going to use that 252 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 5: for your good, he would have never allowed it. You 253 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 5: may not understand it, it may not make sense, but 254 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 5: God knows what he's doing past that test. This is 255 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 5: what I had to do when my father went to 256 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 5: be with the Lord. It was a dark place. And 257 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 5: sometimes when you go through a loss, it's easy to 258 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 5: get discouraging, kind of feel like that God lets you down, 259 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 5: there won't be any more good days. But I've learned 260 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 5: anytime something is dying in your life, something else is 261 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 5: coming to life. It looks like the end, but God 262 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 5: has a new beginning. A friend betrayed you walked away, 263 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 5: that relationship died. At the same time, God is birthing 264 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 5: a new relationship. He's got another friend already destined to 265 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 5: come across your path. You lost a position, a client, 266 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 5: an opportunity that may have died, but God's already lined 267 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 5: up a new position, a new opportunity, a new level. 268 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 5: And if you will go through the valley trusting believing, 269 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 5: knowing that God is still in then you'll come in 270 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 5: to the table that's already prepared for you, to the 271 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 5: fresh anointing to increase to where your cup runs over. 272 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 5: Friend of mine I used to play baseball with many 273 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 5: years ago, was the star player on the team. He 274 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 5: always led the league and hitting and fielding, and his 275 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 5: dream was to play professional baseball. And during the summer 276 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 5: he was invited to play on this highly competitive team 277 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 5: that traveled around the nation. Was a big honor. You 278 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 5: had to be extremely talented. He played that year and 279 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 5: did exceptionally well, but some of the players were jealous 280 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 5: of him. They started spreading lies and rumors about him. 281 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 5: The next year, the coach, even though he liked him 282 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 5: very much, he believed these rumors and didn't invite him 283 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 5: back to play. My friend was very discouraged. He tried 284 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 5: to get on several other teams, but there was no place. 285 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 5: They were already full and for the first time that 286 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 5: summer he didn't have anywhere to play. He missed the 287 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 5: whole season, no games, no opportunities, a dark place. He 288 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 5: didn't understand it. It wasn't fair, but he didn't get bitter. 289 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,199 Speaker 5: He knew the same God that led him to the 290 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 5: green pastures and the still waters was now leading him 291 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 5: through the valley. Every night he would go up to 292 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 5: the batting cages and keep improving his skills. He kept 293 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 5: working out, lifting weight, staying in shape. No games, not 294 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 5: treated right. But he knew on the other side of 295 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 5: that valley was the table already prepared for him. You 296 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 5: gotta go through it to get to it. Don't get 297 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,479 Speaker 5: stuck in your valley. Don't get bitter and lose your 298 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 5: passion with Joel. I don't understand why this has happened 299 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,959 Speaker 5: to me. They laid me off after all these years. 300 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 5: They broke my heart. I'm dealing with this sickness. I 301 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,640 Speaker 5: just don't If you're always trying to figure it out, 302 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 5: you're going to get stuck. Think about this. In punctuation, 303 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 5: an exclamation point is simply a question mark straightened out. 304 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 5: If you want God to take your question marks, the 305 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 5: things you don't understand, and turn them into an exclamation point, 306 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 5: you have to trust Him in those dark places where 307 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 5: it wasn't fair, instead of wondering why did this happen 308 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 5: to me? No, turn it around, God, I know you're 309 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 5: still on the throne. I may not understand this, but 310 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 5: I believe on the other side of this valley is 311 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 5: my exclamation point, the table that's already prepared for me, 312 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 5: the fresh annoying, the right people, the new beginning, the 313 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 5: new level. If you'll go through the dark valleys like that, 314 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 5: you will come in to those exclamation points. You'll see 315 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 5: God amaze you with his goodness. When my father died, 316 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 5: I had a lot of question marks. Would the church 317 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 5: make it? Really? Get up here? And minister, would anybody 318 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 5: listen to me? And over time, one by one, as 319 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 5: I stayed in faith went through the dark valleys with 320 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 5: a good attitude, I saw question marks turned into exclamation points. 321 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 5: Would the church make it? Yes? And here's a compact 322 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 5: center to hold all the people. Exclamation point, Would anybody 323 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 5: listen to me? Yes? And here are some number one books, 324 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 5: here are networks that will carry your program. Here's a 325 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 5: serious XM radio channel. Exclamation point, one after another after another. 326 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 5: You may be in a dark place right now. You 327 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 5: went through a breakup, somebody broke your heart. You're hurting 328 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 5: your lonely, wondering if you'll ever be happy again. I 329 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 5: can tell you firsthand, I am a living witness. If 330 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 5: you will keep honoring God moving forward. God will bring 331 00:19:54,800 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 5: somebody into your life better than you ever imagine, somebody kinder, friendlier, 332 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 5: that will treat you like a queen, like a king. 333 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 5: You won't even miss that person that left you. God 334 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 5: has an exclamation point waiting on you. Maybe in your 335 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 5: health it's a dark place. You don't see how you're 336 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 5: going to make it. The medical report is not good. 337 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 5: Stay in faith. Like my mother diagnosed with terminal cancer. 338 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 5: Thirty three years later, she is still healthy and strong 339 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 5: and listen, that's great. But here's the exclamation point. Every 340 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 5: week my mother goes up to the medical center to 341 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 5: pray for other people that are sick. That's God making 342 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 5: the enemy pain. Or perhaps it's in your finances a 343 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 5: dark place. You had a bad break, a disappointment, lost 344 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 5: to client. You're wondering, is it ever going to get 345 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 5: any better? Yes. On the other side of the valley 346 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 5: is your cup that runs over increase abundance a new 347 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 5: level of your destiny. And you may have been in 348 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 5: the valley for a long time. You need to get ready. 349 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 5: This is a new day. You're about to see the breakthrough. 350 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 5: You're about to see the overflow that problem is about 351 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 5: to turn around. Don't quit believing. God didn't bring you 352 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 5: this far to leave you. He has an exclamation point 353 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 5: come in your way. This is what my friend did, 354 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 5: the one that played baseball. One day, he was out practicing, 355 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 5: minding his own business. What he didn't know was there 356 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 5: was a scout from a professional team up in the stands. 357 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 5: This man was there to watch another player, but when 358 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 5: he saw how talented my friend was, he called him 359 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 5: over and said, I want you to try out for 360 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 5: our team. That's God putting you at the right place 361 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 5: at the right time. God knows how to get you 362 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 5: to your destiny. He tried out, made the team, played 363 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 5: a couple years in minor league baseball, then he got 364 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 5: bumped up, went to the major leagues, went on to 365 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 5: have a long, successful professional baseball career. But think about 366 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 5: early on those other guys. They tried to stop him 367 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 5: by spreading rumors. But people don't determine your destiny. God does. 368 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 5: A bad break can't stop you. Rumors can't stop you. 369 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 5: Injustice can't stop you. God has the final say. And 370 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 5: if you'll go through the dark places with the right attitude, 371 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 5: you'll see exclamation points come in your way. The surpassing 372 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 5: greatness of God's favor. In the scripture, when Jesus had 373 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 5: the little boy's lunch, five loaves of bread and two fish, 374 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 5: it's about to feed the thousands. He lifted them up 375 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 5: and gave thanks. Then it says he broke the bread 376 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 5: and it multiplied. Notice the blessing was in the breaking. 377 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 5: The more he broke it, the more it multiplied. There 378 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 5: are times that we all feel broken, broken dreams, broken promises, 379 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 5: a broken heart. The young lady that lost her baby, 380 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 5: as she told me, big tears ran down her beautiful face. 381 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 5: She said, Joel, I wanted this baby more than anything else. 382 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 5: When you feel broken, you go through a disappointment. Don't 383 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 5: get bitter, don't give up on your dreams. The brokenness 384 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 5: is not the end. It's a sign that God is 385 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:20,439 Speaker 5: about to multiply. That's what David said. God enlarged me 386 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 5: in my distress in that brokenness. It may have been 387 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 5: meant to stop you, but God's going to use it 388 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:31,679 Speaker 5: to increase you. The loss, the disappointment, the person that 389 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 5: didn't keep their word. They thought they were hindering you, 390 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 5: but in fact they were setting you up for God 391 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 5: to multiply you may have gone through more than your 392 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 5: share of bad breaks. To take heart. The more broken 393 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 5: you are, the more God's going to increase. The bigger 394 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 5: the disappointment, the bigger the blessing. God has beauty for 395 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 5: your ashes, joy for the morning. The brokenness is only temporary. 396 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 5: Now settle in the valley. Don't get comfortable there. The 397 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,439 Speaker 5: valley is not your home. The shepherd is leading you 398 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 5: through the valley. On the other side there are new beginnings, 399 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 5: fullness of joy, great relationships, health and wholeness, dreams coming 400 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 5: to pass. Jesus said in John chapter twelve. Unless a 401 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 5: kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it 402 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 5: will remain alone. But if it dies, it will produce 403 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 5: much fruit. He was using an example of a seed. 404 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 5: You can have a seed on your desk for a lifetime, 405 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 5: won't do any good until you plant it. As long 406 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 5: as it's where it's comfortable, it doesn't have to stretch 407 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:48,199 Speaker 5: deal with adversity. Then its potential will remain locked up 408 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 5: on the inside. Only after it's planet it goes through 409 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 5: a process of germination. The outer shell breaks off, new 410 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 5: growth begins. That's when it will blossom and produce much fruit. 411 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 5: The problem with some people is they want the fruit, 412 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,199 Speaker 5: but they don't want to go through the process. They 413 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,920 Speaker 5: don't want to be uncomfortable. They don't want to stretch 414 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 5: and have to deal with adversity, betrayal, opposition. But without 415 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 5: the dark place, your potential will not be fully released. 416 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 5: The seed can't germinate in the light. Now. I'm sure 417 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 5: if you were to ask the seed, it would say, 418 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 5: I don't want to go in the dirt. It's dark, 419 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 5: it's lonely, it's uncomfortable. I don't want people walking on 420 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 5: top of me. It looks like it's buried, like it's 421 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 5: the end. But what the seed doesn't realize is it's 422 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 5: not buried. It's planet. It has the life of Almighty 423 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 5: God on the inside. In those dark places, even though 424 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 5: it's uncomfortable, it's a critical part of the process. Over 425 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 5: a period of time, as the seed germinates and grows, 426 00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 5: instead of just being one seed buried, can become a 427 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 5: beautiful flower, blossoming, producing much fruit. If you were to 428 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,959 Speaker 5: ask the seed after the process, it would say, I 429 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 5: didn't like the dark place, but I realize now it 430 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 5: was a blessing. Look what I've become, Look what I've blossomed. Into. 431 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 5: We all go through these dark places and it feels 432 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 5: like at times we're buried. Thoughts will tell you, hey, 433 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 5: you've seen your best days. That layoff ruins your career, 434 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,639 Speaker 5: that divorce, it just tainted your future. That sickness is 435 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 5: going to be the end of you. No, have a 436 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 5: new perspective. You're not buried. You're planet. If you would 437 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 5: have never had the loss, the disappointment, the dark place, 438 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 5: you would never discover what's on the inside. Like that seed, 439 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 5: your potential is about to be released. You're not only 440 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 5: going to come out, You're going to come out bearing 441 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 5: much fruit, better, stronger, fully in blossom. See, when my 442 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 5: father went to be with the Lord, kind of felt 443 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 5: like I was buried. I could feel that pressure. But 444 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 5: in that dark place, when something was dying, something was 445 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 5: being birthed new on the inside. That's when I discovered 446 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 5: gifts and talents that I didn't know I had. I 447 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 5: didn't like going through the process, but that's what caused 448 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 5: me to blossom. None of us like to be planted. 449 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:27,439 Speaker 5: It's lonely, uncomfortable, But in the dark places, you have 450 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 5: to remind yourself new growth is coming my way. Even 451 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 5: though it feels like something is dying, something else is 452 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 5: coming to life. You're not buried, You're planted. When you 453 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 5: come out, you're going to bear much fruit. Now, my 454 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 5: challenge to us today is be willing to go through 455 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 5: the process. Too many people get bitter discouraged, Joel. If 456 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 5: God was good, how could he let this happen to me? 457 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 5: You know, dare to trust him. God knows what he's doing. 458 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 5: There may be dirt all around you right now. It's uncomfortable. 459 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 5: That dirt is not there to bury you. It's there 460 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 5: to bring out the seeds of greatness on the inside. 461 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,400 Speaker 5: It's just a matter of time before you break out 462 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 5: and blossom into who you were created to be. If 463 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:19,120 Speaker 5: you will go through these dark places with the right attitude, 464 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 5: I believe and declare God is going to turn your 465 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 5: question marks into exclamation points. You will go through every 466 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 5: valley to the table prepared for you, to the fresh 467 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:34,159 Speaker 5: anointing to increase where your cup overflows. You will be 468 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 5: able to say, like David, God enlarged me in my distress. 469 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 5: He blessed me even in the dark places, in Jesus' name. 470 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 5: If you receive it, can you say that? Then today 471 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 5: we never like to close our broadcast without giving you 472 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 5: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 473 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 5: Would you pray with me, just say, Lord, Jesus, I 474 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 5: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 475 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 5: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 476 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 5: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 477 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 5: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 478 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 5: going to take your places that you've never dreamed. 479 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 4: Thank you for listening to the Joelustine podcast. Help us 480 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 4: continue to share the message of hope with those all 481 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 4: over the world. Visit Joeloustein dot com slash give Hope 482 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 4: to give a gift today. 483 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 5: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 484 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 5: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 485 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 5: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 486 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 5: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 487 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 5: next time.