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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, but. 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 3: He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 27 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: with the units stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 4: 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 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 39 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 40 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with. 41 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 4: A friends, reappreciate you, and pray for God's very best 42 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 4: in your life. God bless you. It's always a joy 43 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 4: to come into your homes, and if you're ever in 44 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 4: our area, come out and see us. I promise you 45 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 4: these are the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, 46 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 4: right here at Lake four. Glad to have you today. 47 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 4: I like to start with something funny. And I heard 48 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 4: about this man. He was walking along the beach, and 49 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 4: God said, son, you've been so faithful, I'm gonna grant 50 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 4: you one special wish. The man said, God, I've always 51 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 4: wanted to go to Hawaii, but I'm afraid to fly. 52 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 4: Would you build me a bridge across the ocean? God said, son, 53 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 4: that's totally impossible. Think of the logistics of that. Now 54 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 4: take some time and wish again. He said, okay, God, 55 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 4: I've been divorced four times and all my ex wives 56 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 4: say that I'm so insensitive. My wish is that I 57 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 4: would be able to understand a woman. I want to 58 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 4: know why they think like they think, and why they 59 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 4: feel like they feel. I want to know how to 60 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 4: truly make them happy. There was a long pause, and 61 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,519 Speaker 4: God said, do you want two lanes or four lanes 62 00:02:54,560 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 4: on that bridge? All right, hold up your bibles, may 63 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 4: it like. 64 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 6: You mean it. 65 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 4: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 66 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 4: I have what it says I have, I can do 67 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 4: what it says I can do. Today I will be 68 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 4: taught the word of God, I boldly confess my mind 69 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 4: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 70 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 4: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 71 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 4: to talk to you today about making plans to succeed. 72 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 4: One thing I've learned is success is not accidental. You're 73 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 4: not going to accidentally accomplish your dreams. You don't accidentally 74 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 4: have good relationships. You won't accidentally lose twenty pounds. You 75 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 4: have to have a plan. If you're going to get 76 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 4: to the right destination, you've got to know where you're 77 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 4: going and how you're going to get there. If you've 78 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 4: ever been at the beach just floating in the water, relaxing, 79 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 4: you'll notice after a while the current has taken you 80 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 4: far away. That's the way it is in life. If 81 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 4: we don't have clear cut goals with a plan in 82 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 4: place to accomplish those goals, we're not going to end 83 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: up at the right place. Without goals, we can't really 84 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 4: measure our success. When we don't have goals, we're easily distracted. 85 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 4: It's easy to lose focus. And in business, there's something 86 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 4: called a mission statement for that company talks about what 87 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 4: the purpose of the company is and what it's there 88 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 4: to accomplish in life. You need to have your own 89 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 4: mission statement. Put it on paper. What's your purpose? What 90 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 4: are you dreaming about? What are your goals for? Everything 91 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 4: you have responsibility over, from a business to a ball 92 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 4: team to your family, you need to know what that 93 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 4: mission statement is. Whether it's a business with hundreds of 94 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 4: employees or just you and your child, you need to 95 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 4: have a clear cut plan. This is what we're all about. 96 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 4: These are our goals, and here's how we plan to 97 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 4: accomplish them. Don't go through life vague. Don't go through 98 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 4: life with no focus, not knowing your purpose, just kind 99 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 4: of hoping that you'll end up at the right place. No, 100 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 4: you'll miss your destiny, you'll miss what you were created for. 101 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 4: And it's important to know the difference between a god 102 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 4: given dream and just a wish. Sometimes as children we 103 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 4: dream of being a ballplayer, dream of being an actress, 104 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 4: dream of being a fireman. But most of the time 105 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 4: that's just wishful thinking. We grow out of it. I 106 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 4: remember when I was a little boy, I dreamed I 107 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 4: was gonna play basketball for the Houston Rockets. That was 108 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 4: definitely a fantasy. But there are dreams put in us 109 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 4: by the creator of the universe. The Latin word for 110 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 4: desire means from the Father. There are desires that God 111 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 4: puts in our heart. The way you can tell if 112 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 4: a dream is really from God is if that desire 113 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 4: won't go away. You'll know it's a real dream if 114 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 4: you let go of it. But it won't let go 115 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 4: of you. You push it down, you ignore it, you 116 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 4: try to get rid of it, it keeps coming back 117 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 4: again and again. That's a God given dream. I've heard 118 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 4: people say, Joel, I really want to start my own business. 119 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 4: I just can't get this off my mind. Or I 120 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 4: really want to get out of debt, or I know 121 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 4: I need to break this addiction. The dream is in them. 122 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 4: They can feel the desire God's put on the inside. 123 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 4: It's not going away. But there's something else we have 124 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 4: to do. You have to follow up that desire with 125 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 4: a plan. A dream without a plan ends up just 126 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 4: being a wish. The scripture says this faith without corresponding 127 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 4: actions is dead. Now I read where ninety five percent 128 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 4: of people don't have a goals program. They don't have 129 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 4: a plan in place to achieve what God's put in 130 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 4: their heart. In nineteen fifty three, they interviewed the graduating 131 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 4: class from Yale just as they were about to leave 132 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 4: and go out on their own, and they ask how 133 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 4: many of them to specific set of goals with a 134 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 4: written plan of how they were going to accomplish those goals. 135 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 4: Less than three percent had a written set of goals. 136 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 4: Twenty years later, they interviewed the same class and they 137 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 4: found the people that had written goals were not only 138 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 4: happier and more fulfilled, but their income was more than 139 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 4: the other ninety seven percent combined. Why was that they 140 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 4: were focused? They went out each day with purpose, knowing 141 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 4: what they were going to accomplish. They had not only 142 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 4: kept their vision in front of them, but they developed 143 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 4: a plan. They had goals that they were working toward. 144 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 4: The scripture says in Habakuk. Write the vision and make 145 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 4: it clear. I would encourage you to write down your goals, 146 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 4: write down what you want to accomplish. It's not enough 147 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 4: to just have it in your head. Old Joel, I 148 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 4: know what I want to do. You know something happens 149 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 4: when you get serious enough to put those goals on 150 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 4: paper and then keep those goals in of you. Put 151 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 4: them on your mirror at home, put them on your 152 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 4: desk at the office. I know at the first of 153 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 4: every year, I write down four or five of the 154 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 4: main things I'd like to see happen all through the week. 155 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 4: I can see those goals. If you'll keep that vision 156 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 4: in front of you, it'll help you to stay focused. 157 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 4: There are two types of goals. You need to have 158 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 4: long range goals. Where do you want to be ten 159 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 4: years from now? Where do you see yourself in your career, 160 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 4: in your finances, in your relationships. You need to look 161 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 4: way down the road and set the mark, set the direction. 162 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 4: Make a decision. This is where I'm headed. Ten years 163 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 4: from now, I'm not gonna be at this same position 164 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 4: in my office. I'm gonna be in management. Ten years 165 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 4: from now, I'm not gonna be renting this apartment. I'm 166 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 4: gonna own my own home. Or ten years from now, 167 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 4: I'm not gonna be single anymore. I'm gonna be married. 168 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 4: He's going to be rich and good looking. Now I 169 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 4: spose shoot high. Ten years from now, I'm gonna have 170 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 4: my college degree. Ten years from now, I'm gonna be 171 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 4: running my own business. You need to have some big 172 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 4: goals out in front of you. If you can accomplish 173 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 4: all your goals in a year or two. Your goals 174 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 4: are too small. You need to set some goals that 175 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 4: are gonna take you at least ten or fifteen years 176 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 4: to accomplish. I mean, I have some things written down 177 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,839 Speaker 4: on my office at home. I'd be too embarrassed to 178 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 4: share them with you. You think I'm too far out. But 179 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 4: you need to have some goals that are so big 180 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 4: you know it's gonna take God to bring it to pass. 181 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,319 Speaker 4: You know he's gonna have to give you the strength, 182 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 4: the favor, the wisdom if you're gonna see those goals fulfilled. 183 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 4: Those are your long range goals ten, fifteen, twenty years 184 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 4: down the road. But then you also need to have 185 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 4: some short range attainable goals. That's what you're working on 186 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 4: right now, things like this year, I'm going to get 187 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 4: to work on time, I'm gonna lose twenty pounds, I'm 188 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 4: gonna take a course to improve my skills. I'm gonna 189 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 4: pay down my debt X amount of dollars. The reason 190 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 4: you need short range attainable goals is so you can 191 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 4: celebrate your victories on your way to your long range goals. 192 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 4: In other words, I may not have quit smoking altogether. 193 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 4: But I did give up two cigarettes a day, I 194 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 4: can celebrate that. Or you, ladies, I may not be 195 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 4: a size eight just yet, but I did lose five pounds, 196 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 4: I can celebrate that. Or I may not be totally 197 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 4: out of debt, but I did pay my credit card 198 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 4: off this month. That's pretty good. You need to have 199 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 4: these short range, attainable goals so you can celebrate. That's 200 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 4: what helps you to stay encouraged. But here's where many 201 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 4: people miss it. A goal alone is not enough. You 202 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 4: have to have a plan. What steps are you taking 203 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 4: to achieve your goals. A lot of times we say 204 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 4: I'm praying, I'm believing, I'm staying in faith. That's important, 205 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 4: but that's not enough. God expects us to make a plan. 206 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 4: Proverb sixteen nine says there in his heart, a man 207 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 4: plans his course, but the Lord will direct his step. 208 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 4: That tells me, if I don't plan my course, then 209 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 4: God can't direct my steps. Noah had a plan for 210 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 4: the arc, Solomon had a plan for the temple. God 211 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 4: had a plan for the universe. You need to put 212 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 4: a plan with your goals. If one of your goals 213 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 4: is to have a better relationship with your spouse. That's great, 214 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 4: but that goal is only half complete without a plan. 215 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 4: You need to follow it up with here's what I'm 216 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 4: going to do to make my marriage better this year. 217 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 4: I will be more respectful, i will not argue over 218 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 4: things that don't matter. I will compliment my spouse at 219 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 4: least once a day, even if I have to make 220 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 4: something up. I believe this planning part is the missing 221 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 4: linked to why many people don't see their dreams come 222 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 4: to pass. It's important to have goals. It's important to 223 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 4: have dreams, but the plan is the practical part. God 224 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 4: puts it back on us. Maybe you have a goal 225 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 4: to break an addiction that's high on your priority list, but 226 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 4: what steps are you taking to make that happen. You 227 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 4: need to follow that up with here's how I'm going 228 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 4: to do it. I'm going to attend the recovery class. 229 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 4: I'm gonna change some of my friends. I'm not gonna 230 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 4: put myself in the wrong environment. I'm gonna go to 231 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 4: the support group twice a month. You've got to have 232 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 4: a plan. Goals without plans end up being ineffective. And 233 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 4: if you will do your part and make the plan 234 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 4: to the best of your ability, God will anoint your 235 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 4: plan and cause it to help bring those dreams to pass. 236 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 4: You don't have to have it all figured out. You 237 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 4: may not see how it can happen in the natural. 238 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 4: That's okay. The main thing is to get off dead 239 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 4: center and do what you can so God can start 240 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 4: directing your steps. When you make a move, God will 241 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 4: make a move. He'll give you more wisdom, more insight, 242 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 4: more favor. I talked to a young man the other day. 243 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 4: He had been addicted to cocaine for many years. He 244 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 4: had tried and tried to stop. He had good intentions, 245 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,559 Speaker 4: he was praying, believing his heart was right, but every 246 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 4: time he would fall back into that. But he told 247 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 4: how this time he had been drug free for six months. 248 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 4: This is the longest he's ever stayed clean. And I 249 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 4: ask him how he did it without missing a bet. 250 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 4: He told me three things. He had a plan. Number one, 251 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 4: he changed his friends. Number two, he came to our 252 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 4: recovery class. And number three, he had a friend that 253 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 4: would call him every day and encourage him and help 254 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 4: him to stay accountable. And this third thing is so 255 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 4: important because there are some things we can't overcome on 256 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 4: our own. Some things we can't break all by ourselves. 257 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 4: When you're making your plan, don't be too proud to 258 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 4: ask for help. Don't be too embarrassed to call a 259 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 4: friend and say, you know what, I'm struggling in this area. 260 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 4: Will you stand with me? Will you help me overcome? 261 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 4: Will you hold me accountable? We need each other. If 262 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 4: you're struggling in an area today, know that God has 263 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,679 Speaker 4: somebody there for you. You may not know who they 264 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 4: are right now, but if you'll stay open, God will 265 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 4: direct your path. He'll bring the right people into your life. 266 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 4: And this is one of the main things that keeps 267 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 4: us from pressing forward and really fulfilling our dreams. We 268 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 4: cannot fulfill everything that God's put in our heart all 269 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 4: by ourselves. God created us to need each other. We 270 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 4: need the wisdom or the advice from someone that's gone 271 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 4: before us. We need a friend to encourage us when 272 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 4: we're down. We need a brother or a sister to 273 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 4: stand with us and challenge us to be strong when 274 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 4: we're weak, to keep going when we feel like giving up. 275 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 4: When you're making your plans, stay open to including others. 276 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 4: That's what this young man did. He had failed all 277 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 4: those other times, but when he got the right people involved, 278 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 4: and he put the right plan behind his goals. That's 279 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 4: when he over let me ask you, do you have 280 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 4: a plan to keep your marriage strong? Do you have 281 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 4: a plan to improve your skills? Do you have a 282 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 4: plan to live a healthy life? A dream is not enough. 283 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 4: Take it a step further, write down your goals, and 284 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 4: then follow it up with this is what I'm going 285 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 4: to do to bring this to pass. You may have 286 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 4: a goal to advance in your career five years from now. 287 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 4: You want to be in management, or you want to 288 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 4: own your own business. What are you doing with that goal? 289 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 4: Are you being mentored by someone that's smarter than you are? 290 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 4: Are you reading books studying materials related to that field. 291 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 4: Could you possibly take a correspondence course or go to 292 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 4: class a couple of nights a week. That's putting actions 293 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 4: behind your goals. I have this friend that has a 294 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 4: desire to own her own company. Right now, she's got 295 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 4: a great job, she's content, but she knows she has 296 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 4: more in her That dream won't go away. So in 297 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 4: her free time, she's always learning, She's studying, She's already 298 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 4: written her business plan. She knows how many customers it's 299 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 4: gonna take for her to break even. She knows how 300 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 4: much her costs are going to run. She's already got 301 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 4: her eye on a certain location. She's making plans. That's 302 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 4: more than dreaming, more than setting goals. She's in this 303 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 4: third phase. She's strategizing. She's not sitting back waiting for 304 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 4: God to drop a business in her lap. She knows 305 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 4: that success is intentional. She's doing her part by getting prepared. 306 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 4: We can't have the attitude. Well, I wish I could 307 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 4: break this addiction. Wish I could get out of debt, jeweler, 308 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 4: I wish I could start my own business. No, all 309 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 4: that is is a wish without a plan. Your heart 310 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 4: is right, you can feel the dream on the inside, 311 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 4: but you've got to start taking steps. Have the attitude 312 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 4: this year. I'm not just gonna dream. I'm not just 313 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 4: gonna set goals. I'm gonna put this third step into 314 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 4: action and I'm gonna start making plans. I'm gonna actively 315 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 4: take steps to bring my dreams to pass. And again, 316 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 4: you don't have to have it all figured out. If 317 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 4: you'll just do the best that you can, little by little, 318 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 4: God will begin to lead you. I was reading a 319 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 4: story about this teenager that grew up in Pennsylvania on 320 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 4: a farm. This was many years ago. Nobody in his 321 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 4: family had ever left that small town. They just stayed 322 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 4: there and worked on the farm. But this young man 323 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 4: knew that he had more in him. He had a 324 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 4: dream to go to college, but in the natural didn't 325 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 4: look like he had much of a chance. The family 326 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 4: was very poor. They didn't seem to have any connections. 327 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 4: But instead of just sitting back and letting that dream 328 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 4: turn into a wish, he went down to the local 329 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 4: telephone company and he got the phone directory for New 330 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 4: York City. He wanted to work there and go to school, 331 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 4: and he searched that directory and found a certain department 332 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 4: store that had three tree hundred and ninety three locations 333 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 4: in and around New York City. He thought, they're so big, 334 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 4: surely they will have a job for me. And he 335 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 4: decided he was going to write every one of those 336 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 4: department stores and ask them for a job. And back then, 337 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 4: of course, they didn't have computers. He didn't even have 338 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 4: a typewriter. He had to handwrite three hundred and ninety 339 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 4: three letters. He wrote his resume and said he would 340 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 4: do everything from sweep the floor to work in the warehouse, 341 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 4: and his goal was to write about fifteen letters a day. 342 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 4: He did that diligently for a month or so until 343 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 4: he had written three hundred and ninety three individual letters 344 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 4: to each of those managers at those department stores. Well, 345 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 4: month after month went by, he didn't hear anything. A 346 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 4: few more months, still nothing. Six months later, still no word. 347 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 4: He was so discouraged, so tempted to give up, but 348 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 4: instead he came up with another plan. He just turned eighteen, 349 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 4: and he talked his parents into letting him catch it 350 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 4: to New York City so he could meet with some 351 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 4: of those stores and hopefully get a job. They mustered 352 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 4: up enough money. He had enough probably to stay about 353 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 4: a week or so, And when he got to New York, 354 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 4: he went to one of the bigger department stores there 355 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 4: in Times Square. He found the manager and said, my 356 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 4: name is so and so, and I was wondering if 357 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 4: you got the letter that I wrote you about a job. 358 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 4: The manager said, now, even if you would have written 359 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 4: it to this address, we wouldn't have got it. It 360 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 4: would have gone to our main headquarters, to the personnel 361 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 4: department that was about four or five blocks away. So 362 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 4: he walked over there. He went in and told the 363 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 4: receptionist who he was and asked if he could speak 364 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 4: to someone concerning a job. They took him into this office. 365 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 4: It's kind of a big, fancy place, and this executive 366 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 4: was sitting behind the desk. The young man were so nervous. 367 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 4: He said, sir, my name is so and so, and 368 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 4: I was wondering if you got the letter I sent 369 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 4: you asking for a job. The executive turned from his 370 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 4: desk and he put his hand on a big stack 371 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 4: of papers. He said, yes, we got your letter, all 372 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 4: three hundred and ninety three of them. He smiled and said, 373 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 4: we knew you'd be coming soon. You can start this afternoon. 374 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 4: But that young man not only went to college, but 375 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 4: he ended up coming back to manage a whole region 376 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 4: of that company's department stores. What's my point. He had 377 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 4: a goal, but he put a plan with it. When 378 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 4: you do what you can, God will direct your steps. 379 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 4: He'll make sure you come across the right people, the 380 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 4: right opportunities, the right breaks. But when we don't have 381 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 4: a plan, when we're not pressing forward doing what we can, 382 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 4: our dream turns into a wish. Well. I hoped it 383 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 4: would have happened. But when you know God's put something 384 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 4: in your heart and you can feel that it's a 385 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 4: part of your destiny, it won't go away. You let 386 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 4: go of it, but it keeps coming back again and again. 387 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 4: You can be assured that's a dream put in you 388 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 4: by the creator of the universe, and you should do 389 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 4: everything you can to bring that dream to pass. You've 390 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 4: got to get prepared. This may mean you need to 391 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 4: change some friends that you're running with. Maybe they were 392 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 4: fine for a season in your life, but you've outgrown 393 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 4: then this is a new season, and in order for 394 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 4: you to go higher, you have to break away from 395 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 4: relationships that are limiting you and develop some new friendships, 396 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 4: people that are going to pull you up and inspire 397 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 4: you to rise higher. I found if you're the smartest 398 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,680 Speaker 4: one in your group, your group is too small. Find 399 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 4: people that are smarter than you are, people that will 400 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 4: challenge you to stretch to the next level and become 401 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,719 Speaker 4: everything God's created you to be. This may mean that 402 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 4: you need to go to the library and research what 403 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 4: God's put in your heart. May mean you have to 404 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 4: give up playing ball one night a week and take 405 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 4: that course to learn more about what you're feeling on 406 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 4: the inside. Keep growing, keep learning, get prepared. Success is intentional. 407 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 4: I know people that are struggling in their finances. They're 408 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 4: very deeply in debt. They want to get out. They're praying, 409 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 4: they're believing, they're giving. But God is saying, do you 410 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 4: have a plan. If you'll come up with a plan, 411 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 4: God will direct your steps. But many times when people 412 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,239 Speaker 4: are in debt, they get so overwhelmed by it and 413 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 4: so discouraged they don't even want to face it. They 414 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 4: can't tell you if there are a thousand dollars in 415 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 4: debt or one hundred thousand. They don't want to deal 416 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 4: with it. They're afraid it's insurmountable. That is not true. 417 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 4: God always has a way out, and even if you 418 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 4: have bad credit, you can overcome bad credit. But you 419 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 4: have to have a plan. You need to sit down 420 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 4: with someone that can help you. Sit down with someone 421 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 4: that can give you good advice. We have free financial 422 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 4: counseling here at the Ministry, and we've seen people in 423 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 4: all kinds of debt more than you can imagine. But 424 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 4: as a general rule, most people, if they're on the 425 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 4: right plan, in three to five years, they can be 426 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 4: totally debt free other than their home. You simply have 427 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 4: to have a clear cut plan. Let me give you 428 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 4: an example. If you have five thousand dollars of debt 429 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 4: on a credit card today, and all you ever pay 430 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 4: is the minimum two percent monthly payment of one hundred dollars, 431 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,159 Speaker 4: that will take you eighty six and a half years 432 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 4: to pay that off, and if perchance you're still alive 433 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,440 Speaker 4: when that happens, you will have paid thirty eight thousand 434 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 4: dollars in interest. A good plan would be to pay 435 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 4: that off as soon as possible. When God sees you 436 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,479 Speaker 4: putting forth that effort, that's when he'll step in and 437 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 4: cause his blessings to overtake you. One more example. If 438 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 4: you have one hundred thousand dollars loan on your home. 439 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 4: The interest rate is eight percent and it's a thirty 440 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 4: year loan. If you will make one extra payment a year, 441 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 4: that will knock off approximately eight years of that loan. 442 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,439 Speaker 4: That's something we can do well. You say, Joel, I 443 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 4: wanted to hear about how I can get blessed today. 444 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 4: This is how you can get blessed. Set some goals 445 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 4: and develop a plan. The goal may be to get 446 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:20,679 Speaker 4: out of debt, but follow that goal up with the 447 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 4: plan this year. Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm not 448 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 4: gonna make emotional purchases. I'm not gonna go out to 449 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,880 Speaker 4: eat every other night, or maybe more extreme, I'm gonna 450 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 4: sell my fancy car and buy an ordinary car so 451 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 4: I can take that extra money and put it toward 452 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 4: my debt. When you take those kind of steps, God 453 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 4: will say they've got a plan. They're doing what they can. Now, 454 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 4: let me start directing their steps. Let me arrange a 455 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 4: promotion here, let me arrange favor here. Let me bring 456 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 4: the right people across their path. That's when you'll see 457 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 4: promotion increase God's blessings in a greater way. You do 458 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 4: the natural, and God will do the supernatural. I know 459 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 4: this young couple that really wanted to own their own home. 460 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,719 Speaker 4: They were living in a small apartment, just out of school, 461 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 4: and really they couldn't afford much of anything. But they 462 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 4: came up with a plan. They decided that every paycheck 463 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,440 Speaker 4: they would give ten percent to their church as their 464 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 4: tithe and then they would put another ten percent in 465 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 4: a fund toward a down payment to a new home. 466 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 4: And they had this one neighborhood that they really liked. 467 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 4: One day they went and met with the bank to 468 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 4: find out how much the down payment would be, and 469 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 4: they calculated it would take them about seven or eight 470 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 4: years to come up with enough for that down payment. 471 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 4: They were very faithful, diligent month after month to save. 472 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 4: They knew where they were going, what they wanted to accomplish, 473 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 4: and how they were going to get there. And many 474 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,120 Speaker 4: times on the weekends they would walk through the new 475 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 4: homes that were being built, just dreaming, just keeping that 476 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 4: vision alive. And one day, as they were walking through 477 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 4: this one particular home, they met the builder. He was 478 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 4: the main builder in that whole subdivision, and he asked 479 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 4: them if they were interested in purchasing that home, and 480 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 4: they said, well, we would love to, but we can't 481 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 4: afford it right now. We're just saving up the money 482 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 4: and maybe in six or seven years we'll be able 483 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 4: to do that. He asked them how much they have 484 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 4: saved up. It was several thousand dollars, but not nearly 485 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 4: enough for a typical downpayment. They knew no bank would 486 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 4: give them the money, but this builder, they hadn't talked 487 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 4: to him. Five minutes, out of the blue, he said, 488 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 4: I really want you to have this house, and if 489 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 4: you'll put down what you have, I'll finance the rest 490 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,880 Speaker 4: of it myself. When you have a plan, God will 491 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 4: direct your steps. He'll cause you to be at the 492 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 4: right place at the right time. He'll give you supernatural breaks. 493 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 4: But I don't believe this would have happened if they 494 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 4: had just vaguely been dreaming, vaguely been hoping that one 495 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 4: day they'd get a new house. They were diligent. They 496 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 4: didn't just dream. They didn't just have some goals. They 497 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 4: were taking steps. They were getting prepared. They knew what 498 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 4: the market was like, they knew how much it was 499 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:05,679 Speaker 4: gonna cost. They had met with the bank, they had 500 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 4: saved their money. They were focused, they were diligent, and 501 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,200 Speaker 4: they saw God do moore than they could even ask 502 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 4: or think. What are you doing to bring your dreams 503 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 4: to pass? Are you taking steps of faith? Are you 504 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:23,120 Speaker 4: getting prepared? Do you have clear direction for end? Success 505 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:26,640 Speaker 4: is intentional. We're not going to accidentally get out of debt, 506 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 4: accidentally start a business, accidentally break an addiction. You got 507 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 4: to have a plan. I'm asking you today to come 508 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 4: up with a goals program. Write it down, this is 509 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 4: where I'm going, this is what God's put in my heart, 510 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 4: and here's how I plan to get there. In your finances, 511 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 4: in your career, in your relationships. Don't go another week 512 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 4: without having a plan. Write your vision and make it clear. 513 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 4: Your long range goals. Where do you want to be 514 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,479 Speaker 4: in ten years? Put it on paper. Set the direction 515 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 4: your short range gold What are you working on right now? 516 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 4: Then strategize. Evaluate how you're spending your time, how you're 517 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 4: spending your money, Evaluate your friendships. Is that a part 518 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 4: of your plan? Be an on purpose person if you'll 519 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 4: go beyond dreaming, beyond setting goals and start making plans 520 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 4: to succeed. God promises he's going to direct your steps, 521 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 4: and I know he's gonna lead you into favor. He'll 522 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 4: lead you into increase, He'll lead you into promotion, and 523 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 4: you're gonna see your dreams come to pass. Amen. Do 524 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:36,679 Speaker 4: you receive this today? We never like to close our 525 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 4: broadcasts without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 526 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 4: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 527 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 4: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 528 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 4: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 529 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 4: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 530 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 4: in a good Bible based church. Keep God place. He's 531 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 4: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 532 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the Joel Lou's Dean podcast. 533 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 5: Help us continue to share the message of hope with 534 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 5: those all over the world. Visit Joeloustein dot com slash 535 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:15,959 Speaker 5: give Hope to give a gift today. 536 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 537 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 538 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 4: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 539 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 4: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 540 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 4: next time. 541 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 7: We live in a world of information overload. When it 542 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 7: comes to your health and wellness. It can be overwhelming 543 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 7: to differentiate between sound advice and harmful fads. Let us 544 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,520 Speaker 7: Sense of Wellness podcast be your trust to go to 545 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 7: for discerning health and wellness information. 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