1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. Reappreciate you and pray for 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: God's very best in your line. God bless you and welcome. 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: Thanks for letting us come into your homes, and if 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 1: you're ever in this area, please stop buying. Be a 8 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: part of one of our services. I promise you we'll 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: make you feel right at home. But thanks so much 10 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: for tuning in. I like to start with something funny, 11 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: and I heard about this husband and wife. They'd been arguing. 12 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: Now they were giving each other the silent treatment. The 13 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: man had to get up early the next day and 14 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: catch a flight, and he needed his wife to wake 15 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: him up. Not wanting to break the silence, he left 16 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: a note on her bed that said please wake me 17 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: up at five am. The next day, he got up 18 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 1: at eight o'clock missed his flight. He is so upset 19 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: that I'm gonna go and find out why she didn't 20 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: wake me up. There was a note on his side 21 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: of the bed. It said, wake up, it's five Hold 22 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 23 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what 24 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 25 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 26 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 27 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 28 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 29 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: about the blessing and the burden we all love. When 30 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: a dream comes to pass, we get the promotion, we 31 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: move into the new house, we meet the right person. 32 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: We know that's the favor of God. But with every 33 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: blessing comes a burden. Life is full of contradictions. It's 34 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: a blessing to move into that bigger house. It's a 35 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: burden to have more to clean. It's a blessing to 36 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: have that baby. It's a burden to get up in 37 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: the middle of the night. It's a blessing to marry 38 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: that beautiful girl. It's a burden to not have any 39 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: more money. God blessed me with a large ministry, with opportunity, 40 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: with influence. But with this big blessing came big burdens, 41 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: more critics, more opposition, more funds to raise, more responsibility. 42 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: The mistake we make is we want the blessing without 43 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: the burden. That's not reality. They come as a package. 44 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: The key is to learn to enjoy the blessing while 45 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: the burden is still there. Some burdens are not going 46 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 1: to go away. Not being negative, but you'll never get 47 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: to a place where you're problem free. Nobody's talking about you, 48 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 1: no conflict, no traffic, no bills. If you're always trying 49 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: to pray away the burdens, you'll be frustrated. God wouldn't 50 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: have given you the blessing if you couldn't handle the burden. 51 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: It all boils down to what are we focusing on? 52 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: But Joel, when my baby gets out of diapers, when 53 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: they're not so much work, then I'll be happy again. 54 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: That child is a gift from God. Some people would 55 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: give it anything to have a baby like yours. Don't 56 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: stay focused on the burden and miss the blessing. Well, 57 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: when these people stop talking about me, then I won't 58 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: be upset. The reason they're talking about you is because 59 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: you're making a difference. God has blessed you with influence. 60 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: With that blessing comes off position. It's a part of 61 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: the package. Don't be frustrated by it. If I didn't 62 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 1: have to deal with these coworkers take all my time 63 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: and energy, then I wouldn't be stressed out. You prayed 64 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: for a promotion, God answered your prayer gave you a 65 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: management position. Don't pray for a bigger blessing. If you're 66 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: going to complain about a bigger burden. The problem is 67 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: you're focused on the burden. You need to change your perspective. 68 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: Start looking for what's right, seeing what's good. You have 69 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: the grace to be where you are with a good attitude, 70 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: not sour discourage. Why is this taking so long? No, 71 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: enjoy where you are on the way to where you're going. 72 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: Life is a journey. After you accomplish this goal, there'll 73 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: be another mountain to climb, another set of burdens to 74 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: deal with. Don't get so caught up in where you're 75 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: going that you miss the beauty of this moment. Enjoy 76 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: the season that you're in. If we're not careful, we 77 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 1: won't enjoy our teams. We're in a hurry to get 78 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: out of school. We won't enjoy our twenties. We're stressed out, 79 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: trying to find a job, trying to meet the right person. 80 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,679 Speaker 1: We won't enjoy our thirties. We're pressured raising these kids, 81 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: trying to be good parents. We won't enjoy our forties. 82 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: We're trying to get into management, get that promotion, make 83 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: sure we have savings. At some point you have to 84 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 1: put your foot down and say, this is the day 85 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: the Lord has made. I'm going to enjoy where I 86 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: am right now. I may have a few burdens, I 87 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: know it's because I have big blessings. It's because God 88 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: has been good to me. See, you could be in 89 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: one of the best seasons of your life and not 90 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: realize it because you're focused on what you don't like, 91 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: on how long it's taking on somebody that's not doing right. 92 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: Instead of enjoying the blessing, you're letting the burdens weigh 93 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: you down. My brother Paul was the chief of surgery 94 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: in a hospital in Little Rock for many years. At 95 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: one point, he and his wife, Jennifer had three children 96 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: under the age of six. Paul was working eighty hours 97 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: a week at the hospital and then he had come 98 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: home and have babies to deal with, diapers to change, 99 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: and kids waking up in the middle of the night. 100 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: It's very stressed out. One day, an elderly patient that 101 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: he had known for many years came in for a 102 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: checkup and she had recently lost her husband of over 103 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: fifty years. Paul was in a hurry that day, as usual, 104 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: running late to the next appointment. He rushed through her exam, 105 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: trying to make up for lost time. Just as he 106 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: was about to leave, she asked if she could speak 107 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: to him for a moment. He thought it was going 108 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: to be a medical question, some big health issue, but 109 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: she said, doctor Paul, I just want to know how 110 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: were you doing. Paul was kind of taken aback, and 111 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: he apologized for being in such a hurry and explained 112 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: how things were very hectic at home with the little 113 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: babies and how he'd been swamped at the office. He said, 114 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: I'm just a little frustrated right now. It's a very 115 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: difficult season. I wish I had more time. I can't 116 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: wait to get through it. He knew she had lost 117 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: her husband, and being polite, he asked her how she 118 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: was doing and if there was anything she wished for. 119 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: Her eyes lit up. She said, oh, doctor Paul, I'd 120 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 1: give anything to be where you are as a young parent. 121 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: I'd give anything to hear the pitter patter of my 122 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: children running through the house again. I'd love to be 123 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: able to change a diaper, to rock them back to sleep. 124 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: How I longed for those days. She looked Paul in 125 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: the eye and said, one day, you're going to miss 126 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 1: the very thing you're trying to hurry through. Paul left 127 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 1: that day with a new perspective. He couldn't wait to 128 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: get home to change a diaper. He looked forward to 129 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: getting up in the middle of the night and rocking 130 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: his children back to sleep. What happened, He went from 131 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: focusing on the burdens to focusing on the blessings. Are 132 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: you trying to hurry through a season? Focus on what 133 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: you don't like, upset, frustrated. There's a blessing in that season. 134 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: God wouldn't have you there if there wasn't something good. 135 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: If you would do like Paul and change your perspective 136 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: instead of focusing on the burdens, start focusing on the blessing, 137 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: then you'll enjoy your life and not just endure it. 138 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: I heard about this college student. She wrote her parents 139 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: a letter, said, dear mom and Dad, there was a 140 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: riot on campus from the smoke I in Heald I 141 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: developed a life threatening lung disease. At the spittle, I 142 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: met a parking lot attendant. We fell in love. Our 143 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: baby is on the way after one month when he 144 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: gets off of probation. I'm going to drop out of college. 145 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: We're going to move to Alaska and get married. Signed 146 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: your loving daughter. At the bottom, there was a ps 147 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: it said, none of this is true, but I did 148 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: feil chemistry. She wanted to make sure her parents had 149 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: the right perspective. Could it be the things that are 150 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: bothering you still in your joy? In the big picture, 151 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 1: it's not as bad as you think. You've magnified it 152 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: made it bigger than it really is. You need to 153 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: shift your focus from the burdens to the blessing, from 154 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: what you don't have to what you do have, from 155 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: what's wrong in your life to what's right in your life. 156 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: Maybe you're at a challenging time at work. Instead of 157 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: complaining focusing on the burden, the right attitude is, Lord, 158 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: I'm grateful to have this job. I know people that 159 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: are unemployed. Father, thank you for blessing me with this opportunity. 160 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 1: Instead of complaining about your spouse, focusing on what you 161 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: don't like Lord, thank you for blessing me with my spouse. 162 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: They're not perfect. They have some flaws, so do I. 163 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: But Lord, I'm grateful that I have somebody in my 164 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,599 Speaker 1: life to love. If you stay focused on the burdens, 165 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: on what you don't like, over time, it's going to 166 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: sour your relationship. A mature person knows how to enjoy 167 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: the blessing while the burden is still there. Don't put 168 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: your life on hold waiting for everything to be perfect. 169 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 1: Then you're going to be happy. Then you're going to 170 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: start being your best. The way to pass the test 171 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: is to be your best right where you are, in 172 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: the midst of the difficulty, when you're not being treated, 173 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: right when the medical report wasn't good. Friends, life is 174 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: flying by. We have no guaranteed that we're going to 175 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: be here tomorrow. Make the most of this day. There 176 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:06,599 Speaker 1: will always be something to deal with, something to worry about. People, traffic, opposition, 177 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: health issues. If you stay focused on your burdens, you 178 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: won't enjoy your blessings. In the Book of Luke, an 179 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: angel appeared to a young lady named Mary. He said, Mary, 180 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: you are highly favored of God. You're going to have 181 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: a baby without knowing a man, he will be the Messiah. 182 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: You couldn't get any more favored. You've just been told 183 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: you're going to give birth to the savior of the world. 184 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 1: Mary was blessed, but with that blessing came a burden, 185 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 1: a contradiction. She was favored, but misunderstood, favored and controversial, 186 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: favored but talked about. Everywhere she went, people whispered, there's 187 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: that young lady. She says, she's having a baby without 188 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: a man. Yeah, right, we've heard that before. On one hand, 189 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: she was excited, couldn't believe it was happening. On the other, 190 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: her life was much more complicated. She had to tell 191 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: her fiance what happened. I can imagine. She said, Joseph, Honey, 192 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: when you have a moment, we need to talk. He says, fine, 193 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 1: let's talk right now. She said, well, I don't really 194 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 1: know how to tell you this, but somebody stopped by 195 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: the house the other day and now I'm pregnant. It's 196 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: not what you think. It's all good. I'm faithful, but 197 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to have a baby. After she picked Joseph 198 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: up off the floor, he said, I'll tell you what. 199 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 1: We'll just call off the wedding. I won't tell anybody, 200 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: I wan't embarrass you. Let's just go our separate ways. 201 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: Here's my point. You can be favored and have complicated situations, 202 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: favored but talked about, favored but frustrated. Don't let the 203 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: fact that you have difficulties, opposition, things you don't understand, 204 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: make you think that you don't have God's blessing. It's 205 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: just the opposite. The fact that those things are coming 206 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: again is a sign that you are favored, you are blessed. 207 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: That's why you have some burdens. It's a part of 208 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: the package. Now, Mary could have stayed focused on the 209 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: burden and tried to prove to people that she was faithful, 210 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: tried to protect her reputation, live stressed out. She didn't 211 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: do that. She accepted the burden as a part of 212 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: God's plan. She knew with this big burden comes a 213 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: big blessing. Here's the whole key. She was okay with it. 214 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: She didn't get upset, she didn't live worried. She stayed 215 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: in peace, kept doing the right thing, running her race, 216 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: and God brought the promise to pass. But Mary's life 217 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: would have been a lot easier if the Angel had 218 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: not appeared to her, she wouldn't have had to deal 219 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: with the opposition, the ridicule, the stress, but she would 220 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: have never reached the fullness of her destiny. Sometimes God 221 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: will ask us to do things that are difficult. It's 222 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: much easier to stay in our comfort zone. You play 223 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: it safe. But God loves you too much to let 224 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: you miss your destiny. He's saying today you are highly favored. 225 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,559 Speaker 1: I'm going to take you further than you can imagine. 226 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: I'm going to open doors that no man can shut. Now, 227 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: you can handle the blessing, that's easy. The question is 228 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: can you handle the burden. Will you do like Mary 229 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: and keep a good attitude, knowing that that difficulty is 230 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: a part of the package. Will you keep yourself encouraged 231 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: and not be frustrated by the process. What's interesting is 232 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: Mary never asked to have this baby. She never prayed 233 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: that she would be the one to carry Jesus. She 234 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: was not looking for fame for notoriety. She was happy 235 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: with who she was. She was about to get married, 236 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: making wedding plans, calling her girlfriends. It was one of 237 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: the most exciting times of her life. Right in the 238 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: middle she was interrupted her plans were put on haul. 239 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 1: Now she has to tell friends and family members something's 240 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: come up. The wedding is off. It went from being 241 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: a very celebratory, exciting time to being a very stressful, 242 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: discouraging time. But you never read where Mary complained. She 243 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: never said God, why is this happening to me? At 244 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: one point, it almost seemed like the burden was bigger 245 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 1: than the blessing. She's having a baby, but nobody knows 246 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: whose the child is. They didn't hear the angel. All 247 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: they know is this young girl is supposed to be 248 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: a virgin, but now she's pregnant, she's about to have 249 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: a child. That said one thing to them. She's not 250 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: telling the truth. She hasn't been faithful. It was a 251 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: heavy burden to carry. Having your reputation tarness, having your 252 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: wedding called off, having to make excuses to family, friends, 253 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: your fiance was embarrassing, humiliating. It would have been different 254 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: if Mary would have prayed, God, please let me have 255 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: this baby, but she didn't do that. The reason God 256 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: chose Mary is because he knew he could trust her. 257 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: He knew she would carry that burden with a good attitude, 258 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: without complaining, without having a chip on her shoulder. As 259 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: God was searching for who it would be, No doubt, 260 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: he came across other ladies and this one and this one. 261 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: But when he came to Mary, he said, there's somebody 262 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: I can count on to be uncomfortable for a season 263 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: to carry out my purpose. There's somebody I can trust 264 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: to not understand what I'm doing, to have her plans interrupted, 265 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: to have her life not make sense temporarily so I 266 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: can bring about the Messiah. And we talk a lot 267 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: about us trusting God and believing that he's in control. 268 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: That's important. But my question today is can God trust you, 269 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: count on you to be uncomfortable for a season, to 270 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: go through things you don't understand, to have it take 271 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: longer than you thought. Yet you still have an attitude 272 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: of faith. You still have a smile on your face, 273 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: you still come to church, You're still good to other people, 274 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: like job. Your attitude is though he slay me, yet 275 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: will I trust him the burdens you have to carry 276 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: the child that's difficult to raise, the trouble at work. 277 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: When God laid out the plan for mankind, he passed 278 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: over this one and another and another. When he came 279 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: to you, He said, like Mary, I can trust them. 280 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: I know what they're made of. They're not weak, they're 281 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: not complainers, they don't try to figure everything out. I 282 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: can count on them to bring about my purpose. When 283 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: you face difficulties, the burden seems heavy. You didn't ask 284 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: for it. Keep the right perspective. It's because God can 285 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: trust you. Well, Joel, Why am I having to raise 286 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: this child this hard? This is not what I had 287 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: planned in life. Do you know how many people God 288 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: passed over before he got to you. He chose you 289 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 1: because you can handle it. You're strong, you're tenacious, You're 290 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,919 Speaker 1: filled with can do power. Other people would have given up, complainers, 291 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: would have gotten bitter, some would have a chip on 292 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: their shoulder. But God looked at you and said, I 293 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 1: can count on them. Put your shoulders back, hold your 294 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 1: head up high. If it was easy, anybody would do it. 295 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: If you were ordinary, you wouldn't have an extraordinary challenge. 296 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: If you were average, you wouldn't be facing Goliath. The 297 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: reason the burden is so big is because you were big. 298 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: You're a giant killer. You're a history maker. You are 299 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:51,360 Speaker 1: destined to leave your mark on this generation. For seventeen years, 300 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: I worked behind the scenes at Lakewood doing the television production. 301 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: When my father went to be with the Lord in 302 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety nine. Even though I'd never ministered before, I 303 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: knew I was supposed to step up and pasture the church. 304 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: I didn't ask for it, but I couldn't get away 305 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 1: from it. I felt it so strongly. So I started 306 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: ministering most weekends, and it was difficult enough learning how 307 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: to prepare a message and getting up in front of people. 308 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: In one sense, I was comfortable knowing that most everybody 309 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,120 Speaker 1: at the church was very behind me. They loved my parents, 310 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: very loyal. When I'd get up to speak, they had 311 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: cheer and cheer, but we never dreamed the church would grow. 312 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: People started watching all over on television and networks put 313 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 1: the program on. In a few years, I looked up 314 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 1: and everybody wasn't cheering. Beyond Critics had come out of 315 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: the woodwork and opposition people writing articles saying we were 316 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 1: anything but good. I thought, God, this is not what 317 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: I signed up for. I was minding my own business, 318 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: happy behind the scenes when nobody knew my name. That 319 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 1: was a lot easier, less stressful. I had these bigger 320 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: burdens to deal with Over the years, I had learned 321 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: to trust God and believe that He's in control. I 322 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: realize now, and I say this humbly just to make 323 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 1: this point. God chose me not just because I trusted him, 324 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: but because he could trust me. And so when you 325 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: face tough times and things you don't understand, the pressure 326 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: seems strong. Remember that's not random. God chose you because 327 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: he knows you have what it tasks. He knows you're 328 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: not average. He passed over people with less faith, less strength, 329 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: less tenacity. He chose you on purpose. He knew when 330 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: the going got tough, you'd get going. He knew when 331 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: it was all said and done, you'd still be standing strong. 332 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: He knew you wouldn't let the critics talk you out 333 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: of it. He knew you would have a merry spirit, 334 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: a spirit that said I may not understand it, it 335 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: may not seem fair, I may be on comfortable, but 336 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: bring it on, let it happen. I am well able. God. 337 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: I not only trust you, but you can trust me. 338 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: Our attitude should be God. You can trust me to 339 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: stay faithful when I don't feel like it. You can 340 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 1: trust me to do the right thing when the wrong 341 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: thing is happening. You can trust me, like Paul and Silas, 342 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: to sing praises in a midnight hour. You can trust me, 343 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: like Esther, to not compromise even though my life's on 344 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,639 Speaker 1: the line. You can trust me like David to face 345 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: Goliath without fear. You can trust me, like Abraham and 346 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: Sarah to believe even when it seems impossible. Now I 347 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: know today I'm looking at people that not only trust God, 348 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: but can I tell you? God can trust you. He 349 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: hand picked you, given your grace for every season, strength 350 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: for every battle. Sometimes, when the burden seems heavy you 351 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: didn't ask for, it doesn't seem fair. You have to 352 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: keep reminding yourself the reason it's you and not somebody 353 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: else is because God can count on you. You have what 354 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: it takes. Now I've learned, the bigger the burden, the 355 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: bigger the blessing. Like Mary, people may be making fun, 356 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: making light, but don't worry. Your time is coming. The 357 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 1: baby is on wroute. The promise is headed you away. 358 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: When you give birth to that promise, you're gonna forget 359 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: all about the burden. The blessing God has come in 360 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: your way will far overshadow anything that you've been through. 361 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 1: Looking back in my own life now, sixteen years later, 362 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: having outlasted the critics, overcome the opposition, seeing God promote 363 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: established take me where I've never dreamed, I can tell 364 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: your first hand it was well worth it. The blessing, 365 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: the joy, the fulfillment that comes from simply staying faithful, 366 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: enduring hardships, passing the test is more rewarding than you 367 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: can imagine. You'll be able to say, like Paul, these 368 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: life afflictions were for a moment, but they worked in 369 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: me and eternal weight of glory. If Mary were here today, 370 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: she would tell you it was a heavy burden to 371 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: carry the Messiah, but it was well worth it. The 372 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: burdens you're having to endure. One day you'll look back 373 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: and say, I wouldn't change a thing. I didn't like it. 374 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: I was uncomfortable, but God used it to propel me 375 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: into my destiny. Yes, it was a heavy burden, but 376 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 1: it brought me into a heavy blessing. This is what 377 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 1: happened with David. He was anointed to be the next 378 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: king of Israel, chosen by the prophet Samuel to lead 379 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: God's people, and he went out and defeated Goliath and 380 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 1: overnight became a national hero. He was highly favored. But 381 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: with that big blessing came his share of burdens. King 382 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: Saul was jealous of him, spent months chasing David through 383 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 1: the desert, trying to kill him. David could have said, God, 384 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 1: I thought you anointed me to be king. You didn't 385 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: tell me with this blessing came this burden. You didn't 386 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: tell me that even though I was doing the right thing, 387 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: this man that's supposed to be my friend would make 388 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: it his life mission to try to keep me off 389 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: the throne. That was all a part of God's plan. 390 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: God handpicked David because he knew he could trust him. 391 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: Other people would have gotten bitter, discouraged, tried to take revenge. 392 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: Not David. He wasn't a complainer. He knew he had 393 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,880 Speaker 1: grace for every season. He kept doing the right thing, 394 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 1: and at the right time, God took care of Saul 395 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: and David took the throne. And it's easy to handle 396 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 1: the blessing. We loved giving birth to the dream, we 397 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,199 Speaker 1: loved taking the throne. But God is looking for people 398 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: who can not only handle the blessing, but who can 399 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 1: handle the burden. People who won't give up because they 400 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: had a bad break. They came down with an illness. 401 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,880 Speaker 1: The business didn't make it. You wouldn't have that opposition 402 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: if you weren't highly favored. That Saul wouldn't be trying 403 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: to stop you. If you didn't have royalty in your blood. 404 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: The enemy wouldn't be working over time, if you weren't 405 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: about to take the throne. Don't get discouraged by the burden. 406 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: Keep doing the right thing. The blessing is coming, the 407 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: baby's coming, the promise is coming, the health is coming, 408 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: the victory is on the way. Here's what I'm saying. 409 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 1: I know God can trust you with the blessing. Make 410 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,360 Speaker 1: sure he can trust you with the burden. Paul said this, 411 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: A wide door of opportunity is open to me, and 412 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: there are many adversaries. With every wide door, there will 413 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: be plenty of opposition. Instead of being discouraged by it, 414 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: you can be encouraged knowing that that's a sign that 415 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,400 Speaker 1: new doors are opening, breakthroughs are headed your way. Favor 416 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: is in your future. Our attitude should be I am 417 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: in it to win it. I am not gonna get 418 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: discouraged because it's taken longer than I thought. I'm not 419 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: gonna give up because people have come against me. I'm 420 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:11,239 Speaker 1: not gonna live frustrated because I'm disappointed, I'm lonely. I've 421 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 1: had some tough times. No, I know I've been armed 422 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 1: with strength for this battle. I know the forces that 423 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: are for me are greater than the forces that are 424 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: against me. Like Mary, you may be carrying a burden 425 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: that you didn't ask for. Remember it's because God can 426 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 1: trust you. Keep the right perspective. You are highly favored. 427 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: Your time is coming. The burden you're having to endure 428 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 1: is going to pel in comparison to the blessing God 429 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: is about to release. I believe and declare You're going 430 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: to give birth to promises that are going to take 431 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: you further than you've imagined. God is going to propel 432 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 1: you where you could not go on your own. Like David, 433 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 1: You're going to outlast the opposition, take your throne, and 434 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: become everything God's created you to be. In Jesus' name, 435 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: If you receive it today, can you say amen? Well, 436 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 1: we never like to close our broadcast without giving you 437 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 438 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say Lord, Jesus, I 439 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 440 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: you my Lord and save you. Friends, if you prayed 441 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,400 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 442 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church, keep God first place. 443 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:38,439 Speaker 1: He's going to take you where you've never dreamed. We 444 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: all go through disappointments and things that are not fair. 445 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: But God sees every hurt, every injustice, and He's promised 446 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,119 Speaker 1: to pay you back for the unfair things. Now. I 447 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 1: love to send you my new resource, Double for your Trouble. 448 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: It's filled with inspiration. Help you stay in faith and 449 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: not get bitter and think why me? Now? That setback 450 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: may have been painful, but the act is it sets 451 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 1: you up for Double. God will make the enemy pay 452 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: and bring you out better than you were before. 453 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 2: This ministry is reaching people around the world with the 454 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,120 Speaker 2: message of hope, and as our way of saying thank 455 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 2: you for your gift of any amount, we would like 456 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 2: to send you a copy of Double for your Trouble, 457 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 2: a daily guide for restoration. This thirty one day spiral 458 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 2: bound resource is an invitation into healing, restoration, and the 459 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 2: abundant life God has promised. Whether you're walking through a 460 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 2: season of loss, believing for a breakthrough, or simply looking 461 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 2: for a deeper connection with God. This guide is designed 462 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 2: to help you reflect, realign, and rebuild day by day. 463 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 2: Receive your copy and know that whatever you're facing today grief, loss, uncertainty, 464 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:53,199 Speaker 2: it doesn't define your future. Choose to trust God. He 465 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 2: sees you, He cares deeply, and He is the God 466 00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 2: who restores Double. 467 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 1: None of us like difficulties. But if you'll stay in faith, 468 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: you won't come out the same. You'll come out with Double. 469 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: Nicktoy and I pray for you and your family every day. 470 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,239 Speaker 1: Thank you for your prayers and support. Your donations are 471 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: bringing hope to people around the world. Special thank you 472 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: to our champion of Hope partners for all you do 473 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: to make the ministry possible. Until we see you again 474 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: next week, mid the Lord bless you and keep you. 475 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of Double for Your Trouble, 476 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 2: available this month by simply visiting us at Joelostein dot 477 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 2: com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 478 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 2: You can also receive God's Got You Restoration Duo. 479 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: This book is. 480 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 2: A powerful reminder that no matter what you face, you 481 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 2: are not alone. God's got you and he will never 482 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 2: let you go. In addition to these two inspiration books, 483 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 2: you can also receive the Double Portion Restoration Bible Collection. 484 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: This beautifully curated collection brings. 485 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 2: Together the restoring of hope double for your trouble, and 486 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 2: the comforting reassurance of God's got you. Paired with a 487 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 2: stunning CSB Thinline Bible Digital Study Edition in camel Swaede's 488 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 2: soft leather touch, This elegant Bible offers a rich, immersive 489 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 2: study experience and enduring companion as you lean into God's 490 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 2: promises of renewal and restoration. Let these resources strengthen your faith, 491 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 2: study your heart, and remind you each day that God 492 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 2: is restoring, bleeding and working double. 493 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: On your behalf. 494 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 2: You can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight 495 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 2: eight five six seven Joel or logging on to joelostein 496 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 2: dot com today. 497 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great 498 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: opportunity to come. We call it Homecoming weekend. We'd love 499 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: to meet you and your family. You can see the 500 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 1: building and attend one of the services. It's a great 501 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: time to be a part of the Lakewood family. Looking 502 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: forward to seeing you at homecoming weekend,