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Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joeln Victoria. Thanks so much for listening

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Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks.

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Speaker 2: For supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to.

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Speaker 1: Have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled.

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Speaker 2: God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, God

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Speaker 2: bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes.

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Speaker 1: We love you and we know God has great things

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Speaker 1: in store for each one of you. And if you're

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Speaker 1: ever in the Houston area, I hope you'll stop by

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Speaker 1: and be a part of one of our services. I

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Speaker 1: promise you we'll make you feel right at home. Thanks

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Speaker 1: for tuning in today and thank you again for coming out.

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Speaker 1: I like to start with something funny each week, and

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Speaker 1: I heard about this Southern Baptist man named Bill. He

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Speaker 1: liked to sneak off to the horse races and bet.

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Speaker 1: One day, after spending almost all of his money, he

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Speaker 1: saw a priest step out onto the tracks and bless

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Speaker 1: a horse. He watched very closely, and sure enough, the

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Speaker 1: horse won first place. Next race, the priest blessed another horse.

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Speaker 1: Again that horse won, so Bill went to the ATM

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Speaker 1: machine got out all of his money. This time, the

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Speaker 1: priest not only touched the horse's forehead, but he touched

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Speaker 1: his eyes, his ears, and all of his hoofs. Feeling confident,

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Speaker 1: billbent all of his money. But right in the middle

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Speaker 1: of the race, the horse fell over and died. He

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Speaker 1: couldn't believe it. He went to the priest and said,

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Speaker 1: what in the world happened. The priest said, that's the

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Speaker 1: problem with you Protestants. You don't know the difference between

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Speaker 1: a blessing and the last rites. All right, hold up

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Speaker 1: your Bible, say it like you mean it. This is

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Speaker 1: my Bible. I am what it says I am. I

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Speaker 1: have what it says I have. I can do what

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Speaker 1: it says I can do. Today I will be taught

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Speaker 1: the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert,

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Speaker 1: my heart is receptive. I will never be the same.

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Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk

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Speaker 1: to you today about having the right perspective.

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Speaker 2: It's easy to get focused.

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Speaker 1: On what's wrong in life, what we don't have, how

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Speaker 1: big our obstacles are. If we're not careful, we'll lose

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Speaker 1: sight of all the good things God has done. Will

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Speaker 1: take for granted, our family, our friends, our health, the

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Speaker 1: opportunity God blessed us with We'll get so busy and

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Speaker 1: so stressed out that we don't appreciate.

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Speaker 2: The gift of today. What's happened.

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Speaker 1: Our perspective has gotten off. Perspective is all about how

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Speaker 1: we see a situation. Business may be slow, the economy

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Speaker 1: may be down. The wrong perspective is I'll never make it,

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Speaker 1: it's just too much. The right perspective is God is

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Speaker 1: supplying all of my needs. He said he had prospered

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Speaker 1: me even in a desert.

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Speaker 2: You go through a disappointment.

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Speaker 1: The wrong perspective is I should have known this was

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Speaker 1: going to happen. I never get any good breaks, just

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Speaker 1: my luck. The right perspective is when one door closes,

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Speaker 1: I know God's going to open up another door. What

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Speaker 1: was meant for my harm? I know God will use

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Speaker 1: to my advantage. You can take two people and put

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Speaker 1: them in the exact same circumstances. One will be negative, complaining,

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Speaker 1: enduring life. The other will be happy, grateful, enjoying life.

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Speaker 1: What's the difference their perspective. It's in how they're choosing

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Speaker 1: to see the situation. When we all have things, if.

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Speaker 2: We focus on them, they can steal our joy and

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Speaker 2: cause us to be sour.

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Speaker 1: But if we're going to live life happy, the foundation

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Speaker 1: is having a grateful spirit. I've learned seeds of discouragement

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Speaker 1: cannot take root in a grateful heart.

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Speaker 2: If you're not.

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Speaker 1: Happy today, you've lost your enthusiasm for life. One of

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Speaker 1: the quickest ways to see that turnaround is to start

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Speaker 1: being more grateful. Instead of looking at what's wrong, start

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Speaker 1: thanking God for what's right. Instead of complaining about what

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Speaker 1: you don't have, start thanking God for what you do have.

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Speaker 1: Instead of dwelling on how far you've got to go,

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Speaker 1: take a look back and thank God.

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Speaker 2: For how far he's already brought you.

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Speaker 1: Now.

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Speaker 2: I've talked to people that have gone through disappointments.

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Speaker 1: They lost a job, maybe a relationship didn't work out,

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Speaker 1: or they're dealing with the health issue. They don't think

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Speaker 1: they have any reason to be grateful, But really it's

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Speaker 1: all a matter of perspective.

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Speaker 2: I heard about a man.

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Speaker 1: He complained that he didn't have any shoes until he

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Speaker 1: met a man that didn't have any feet. What happened

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Speaker 1: His perspective changed. He thought, you know what, maybe I

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Speaker 1: don't have it so bad. The truth is, somebody would

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Speaker 1: love to have your life. Somebody would gladly trade places

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Speaker 1: with you. Some people would love to be able to

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Speaker 1: breathe freely like you can breathe, to walk like you

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Speaker 1: can walk. Some people would give anything to be sitting

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Speaker 1: in an air conditioning building surrounded by believers. Have you

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Speaker 1: thank God lately for your family, for your friends, for

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Speaker 1: your health, for the opportunities God's blessed you with.

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Speaker 2: Here's a key.

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Speaker 1: If we complain about where we are, we will never

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Speaker 1: get to where we want to be.

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Speaker 2: Well, you say, Joel, if you were.

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Speaker 1: Driving this old rattle trap of a car like I'm driving,

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Speaker 1: doesn't even have any air conditioning, I'm burning up. You'd

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Speaker 1: complain too. If you lived in this small apartment, Joel.

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Speaker 1: Or how about this, if you were married to my spouse,

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Speaker 1: I guarantee you'd complain.

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Speaker 2: Now remember this phrase.

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Speaker 1: If you complain, you're going to remain. But if you praise,

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Speaker 1: you'll be raised. One thing I found that will help

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Speaker 1: keep the right perspective is to make a list of

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Speaker 1: all the things you have to be grateful for. Write

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Speaker 1: down a dozen things God has blessed you with, and

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Speaker 1: put it up on your mirror in your bathroom. Every

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Speaker 1: day before you leave the house, Go over it two

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Speaker 1: or three times before you go to bed. Do the

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Speaker 1: same thing. Get that down in your spirit. Meditate on

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Speaker 1: the good things God has done. Why don't you write

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Speaker 1: down the time God showed up and made a way

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Speaker 1: when it looked like there was no way. Write down

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Speaker 1: the time that God had you at the right place

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Speaker 1: and you got promoted. The time God protected you from

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Speaker 1: the accident, the time the medical report said you weren't

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Speaker 1: going to make it, but unexpectedly your health turned around.

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Speaker 1: Why don't you write down the fact that you have

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Speaker 1: healthy children, you have a roof over your head, you

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Speaker 1: have loving parents. When you meditate on the goodness of God,

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Speaker 1: it'll not only help you have the right perspective, but

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Speaker 1: that's your faith being released. When your faith is released,

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Speaker 1: it activates the power of the most High God. You

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Speaker 1: will see God show up and give you something else

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Speaker 1: to put on your list. I read about this man.

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Speaker 1: He was very down and discouraged. He went to his minister, said,

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Speaker 1: nothing is going right in my life. Have no reason

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Speaker 1: to be happy, no reason.

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Speaker 2: To be thankful.

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Speaker 1: The minister said, all right, let's do a little exam.

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Speaker 1: He got out of legal pad and drew a line

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Speaker 1: down the center. He said, I'm on write down all

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Speaker 1: of your assets on this side, all of the things

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Speaker 1: right in your life. And on the other side, I'm

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Speaker 1: on write down all your challenges, all these problems that

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Speaker 1: are bothering you. The man laughed and said, I'm not

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Speaker 1: gonna have anything to put on the asset side. The

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Speaker 1: minister said that's fine, let's just go through the exercise,

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Speaker 1: and the men kind of hung his head down. The

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Speaker 1: minister said, I'm so sorry to hear that your wife

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Speaker 1: passed away. He looked up abruptly said, what are you

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Speaker 1: talking about. My wife didn't pass away.

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Speaker 2: She's alive. She's healthy.

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Speaker 1: He said, oh, he wrote down, has a healthy wife

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Speaker 1: that's alive. He said, well, I'm really sorry to hear

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Speaker 1: that your house burned down. He said, my house didn't

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Speaker 1: burn down. I've got a nice house. He said, ah,

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Speaker 1: wrote it down, has a nice house. He then said,

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Speaker 1: I'm very sorry to hear that you got laid off,

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Speaker 1: you lost your job. The man said, where are you

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Speaker 1: getting all this nonsense. I didn't lose my job. I've

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Speaker 1: got a good job. He said, oh, wrote it down,

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Speaker 1: He's got a good job. The man finally caught on.

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Speaker 1: He said, give me that list.

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Speaker 2: He wrote down another dozen good things before he got finished.

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Speaker 2: He walked out of there with a whole new attitude.

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Speaker 1: What happened his perspective was all when he began to

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Speaker 1: focus on the good he got his enthusiasm back. And

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Speaker 1: if you struggle with staying in courage, you struggle with

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Speaker 1: staying grateful, you too, need to make a list of

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Speaker 1: all the things that God has blessed you with.

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Speaker 2: If you have your health, write it down. I'm healthy.

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Speaker 1: If you can see, write it down, I can see.

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Speaker 1: If you're good looking like me, write it down, I'm

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Speaker 1: good looking. It's your list. As long as you think so, that's.

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Speaker 2: All that matters.

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Speaker 1: I've got a job, I've got health, I've got family,

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Speaker 1: I've got friends. Make that list, then, all through the

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Speaker 1: day in your mind, go over it again and again

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Speaker 1: and again. You've got to get your mind going in

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Speaker 1: the right direction. Your life is going to follow your thoughts.

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Speaker 1: If you're constantly meditating on God's goodness and thinking about

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Speaker 1: what He's done and talking about how He's blessed you,

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Speaker 1: then you're gonna see God's favor in amazing ways. And

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Speaker 1: we have to realize that every day is a gift

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Speaker 1: from God. We're not always going to be here. What

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Speaker 1: a shame to live this day or any other day, negative, complaining,

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Speaker 1: no enthusiasm.

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Speaker 2: I realize we all have obstacles.

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Speaker 1: We all have things to overcome, but our attitude should

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Speaker 1: be I know God is still on the throne. He's

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Speaker 1: can complete control of my life. He said his plans

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Speaker 1: for me are for good and not evil. So I'm

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Speaker 1: not going to drag through this day defeated, complaining, focused

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Speaker 1: on what's wrong. Or I'm gonna change my perspective and

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Speaker 1: thank God I'm alive, and thank god I'm healthy, and

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Speaker 1: thank god I have family, Thank God I have opportunity.

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Speaker 2: I'm gonna make the most of this day. I'm gonna

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Speaker 2: live it to the full. Well, you say, Joel, I

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Speaker 2: would do.

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Speaker 1: That, but I just found out I have to work

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Speaker 1: late this week, I have to mow the lawn.

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Speaker 2: Later, I have to go to.

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Speaker 1: The grocery store, or I have to take care of

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Speaker 1: these children, clean up after their mess. Let me tell

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Speaker 1: you don't have to do anything.

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Speaker 2: You get to do it.

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Speaker 1: God is the one that's given you breath to breathe.

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Speaker 1: You couldn't mow the lawn if God didn't give you strength,

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Speaker 1: You wouldn't have to work late if God didn't provide

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Speaker 1: the opportunity.

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Speaker 2: Change your perspective.

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Speaker 1: Our attitude should be I don't have to go to

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Speaker 1: work this week.

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Speaker 2: I get to go to work. I don't have to.

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Speaker 1: Take care of these children. I get to take care

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Speaker 1: of these children. Do you know how many people would

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Speaker 1: love to have children. Some people have spent thousands of

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Speaker 1: dollars and gone through all kinds of medical procedures. They

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Speaker 1: would do anything to be able to take care of

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Speaker 1: those children. Every day we should thank God that He's

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Speaker 1: blessed us with children. They are a gift from God.

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Speaker 1: When you're on your way to work, instead of complaining

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Speaker 1: about the traffic, why not say Father, thank you that

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Speaker 1: I have a job. When it's time to come to church,

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Speaker 1: Instead of complaining, is too far, it's too crowded, why

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Speaker 1: not say Father, thank you that I have a great

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Speaker 1: church to go to. Thank you that I live in

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Speaker 1: a great country where we have the freedom to worship.

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Speaker 2: Well, Joel, business is really slow.

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Speaker 1: That may be true, but the right perspective is this

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Speaker 1: too shall pass.

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Speaker 2: A new season is coming. Well, I wrecked my car

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Speaker 2: last week. It may be total. That's not good.

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Speaker 1: But the right perspective is at least I'm still alive. Well,

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Speaker 1: I'm living in this small apartment. If I just had

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Speaker 1: a bigger house, if I just had more money, then

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Speaker 1: I'd be happy. No, you may not have all the

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Speaker 1: money you would like, but if you have your health,

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Speaker 1: can I tell you are very well off. That's worth

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Speaker 1: a whole lot. I was reading about a gentleman. He's

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Speaker 1: one of the wealthiest men in the world, worth billions

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Speaker 1: and billions of dollars, but he doesn't have his health

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Speaker 1: as a rare disease, where for years he has gone

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Speaker 1: from hospital to hospital, trying all different kinds of treatments.

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Speaker 1: Do you know how much he would give to have

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Speaker 1: his health back. He would give it all. You may

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Speaker 1: not have as much as you would like, but keep

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Speaker 1: it in perspective. If you have your health, you're extremely rich.

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Speaker 1: If you can walk, you can talk, you can hear,

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Speaker 1: you can think. You have something that billions.

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Speaker 2: Of dollars cannot purchase.

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Speaker 1: Don't take for granted the fact that you were able

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Speaker 1: to get out of bed this morning by yourself without

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Speaker 1: any health. When you opened your eyes, you could see,

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Speaker 1: when you told your legs to walk, they obeyed. When

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Speaker 1: your spouse said I love you, you could hear it.

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Speaker 1: When your child hold you, you could feel their embrace.

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Speaker 1: When you went to the kitchen, you could taste the food.

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Speaker 1: If we're going to have the right perspective, we've got

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Speaker 1: to appreciate the simple things that God's blessed us with.

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Speaker 1: I talked to a gentleman a few years ago. He

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Speaker 1: was a very famous singer. He had a sister that

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Speaker 1: was mentally and physically challenged. She couldn't walk, talk, feed herself.

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Speaker 1: She needed twenty four hour constant attention. Growing up, he

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Speaker 1: and his other family members took care of her. He

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Speaker 1: exclaimed how there were different cries that they understood.

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Speaker 2: That's how she communicated with them.

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Speaker 1: There was a certain cry for when she was hungry,

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Speaker 1: a cry for when she was thirsty, a cry for

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Speaker 1: when she wanted to go to bed. But he said,

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Speaker 1: the most difficult cry was the cry for when she

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Speaker 1: had an itch. See, she could not tell them where

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Speaker 1: the itch was, so they'd have to scratch and scratch

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Speaker 1: all over her body trying to get rid of that itch.

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Speaker 1: He said, Joel, that helped me to appreciate the simple

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Speaker 1: things that so many of us take for granted.

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Speaker 2: We think scratching an itch, that's no big deal. But

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Speaker 2: really it is a big deal. It's a big deal.

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Speaker 1: That we tell our arms to work and they work.

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Speaker 1: It's a big deal that we open our eyes and

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Speaker 1: we can see. When you get up in the morning

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Speaker 1: and you're at tempted to focus on your problems and

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Speaker 1: how bad life is treating you, why don't you turn

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Speaker 1: it around and thank God that you can scratch your

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Speaker 1: own hitch. Why don't you thank God that when you

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Speaker 1: got up this morning you didn't have any problem breathing.

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Speaker 1: Why don't you thank God that when you looked out

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Speaker 1: the window you could see the sunrise?

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Speaker 2: Learn to appreciate the simple things.

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Speaker 1: Sometimes we lose perspective because life can be routine. We think, man,

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Speaker 1: I'm just getting up and going to work, coming home.

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Speaker 1: Nothing exciting is happening. I'm doing the same thing again

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Speaker 1: and again. But understand, there's nothing ordinary about getting up

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Speaker 1: and going to work.

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Speaker 2: There's nothing ordinary about.

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Speaker 1: Being able to breathe, being able to see, being able

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Speaker 1: to think. Those are gifts from Almighty God. But too

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Speaker 1: often we don't realize how great we have it until

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Speaker 1: something is taken away. I have a friend that used

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Speaker 1: to play basket ball with the lot and he started

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Speaker 1: having problems with his eyes. It was always very strong, healthy, active,

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Speaker 1: a good ball player.

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Speaker 2: But this went on month after month.

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Speaker 1: Finally he went to the doctors and after many tests,

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Speaker 1: they diagnosed him with cancer of the eye. Looked like

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Speaker 1: he was going to lose his vision. It's very distraught,

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Speaker 1: very upset. He went in for the big operation. The

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Speaker 1: problem was behind his eyes. Much to the doctor's surprise,

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Speaker 1: they realized it was not cancer after all. It was

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Speaker 1: an unusual fungus and they were able to remove it

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Speaker 1: and save his vision. When he woke up from the

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Speaker 1: operation and he got the good news, he said, that

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Speaker 1: was the greatest day of my life. Think about it.

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Speaker 1: He didn't just win the lottery. He didn't just buy

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Speaker 1: a new house. He didn't just get a big promotion.

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Speaker 1: He simply got the news that he was going to

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Speaker 1: be able to continue to see.

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Speaker 2: He said, Joel.

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Speaker 1: Now every morning I get up and I look at

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Speaker 1: things on purpose. I stare at my children, I stare

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Speaker 1: at my wife. I'll go out and look up at

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Speaker 1: the trees. I'll pick up an acorn and just stare

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Speaker 1: at it. Why is that because he.

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Speaker 2: Almost lost his vision?

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Speaker 1: Now being able to see has taken on a totally

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Speaker 1: different meaning. Now, I dare say that most of us

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Speaker 1: would never say the greatest day of our life was

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Speaker 1: to wake up and be able to see. But how

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Speaker 1: things change when we find out we may not have

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Speaker 1: it anymore. I'm asking us today to not take for

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Speaker 1: granted the good things that God has already blessed us with.

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Speaker 1: If you can see, you can talk, you can walk,

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Speaker 1: If you have friends, family, opportunity, learn.

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Speaker 2: To appreciate that. Don't go around complaining about what's wrong.

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Speaker 2: Change your focus.

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Speaker 1: If you have a hard time getting to sleep tonight,

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Speaker 1: instead of lying there and complaining about it, why don't

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Speaker 1: you think about all the people that.

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Speaker 2: Don't even have a bed. That'll keep you from being frustrated.

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Speaker 1: If you get stuck in traffic, instead of being upset,

335
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Speaker 1: think about all the people that don't have a car.

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Speaker 1: If you have a tough day at the office this week,

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Speaker 1: instead of letting that ruin the rest of the week,

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Speaker 1: think about all the people that don't have a job. Well, Joel,

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Speaker 1: I had to park three blocks away to get to

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Speaker 1: church today. I prayed for favor I prayed for a

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Speaker 1: good parking spott.

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Speaker 2: It just never works. No, Instead of complaining.

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Speaker 1: With every step you take, you should say, Father, thank

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Speaker 1: you that I'm strong, think you that I'm healthy, thank

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Speaker 1: you that I'm able to walk?

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Speaker 2: How about this?

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Speaker 1: Instead of complaining that your hair is turning gray, be

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Speaker 1: grateful that it's not turning loose. Some of you is

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Speaker 1: too late, But staying grateful is a key to living

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Speaker 1: life happy. That's why David said in Psalm thirty four,

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Speaker 1: I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise

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Speaker 1: will continue be in my mouth. Notice how long, continually

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Speaker 1: all the time. David knew a secret. You can't praise

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Speaker 1: and complain at the same time. If you're constantly thanking

355
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Speaker 1: God for his goodness, meditating on what he's done, thinking

356
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Speaker 1: about how he's blessed you, then you won't have any

357
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Speaker 1: time to go around complaining about what's wrong in your life.

358
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Speaker 1: And every day we're gonna be tested in these areas.

359
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Speaker 1: Somebody's rude to you at the office, you go through

360
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Speaker 1: a disappointment, your plans don't work out, you get a

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Speaker 1: negative medical report. In those difficult times, we're either going

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Speaker 1: to be saying, poor oh me, I can't believe it's happening,

363
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Speaker 1: or we're gonna be saying, Father, I want to thank

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Speaker 1: you that I am more than a conquer You said

365
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Speaker 1: you always caused me to tryumph. You said no weapon

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Speaker 1: formed against me is going to prosper. So, Father, I

367
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Speaker 1: want to thank you in advance that I'm not only

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Speaker 1: coming out, I'm gonna come out better off than I

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Speaker 1: was before. We can either complain or praise. I'm asking

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Speaker 1: you to choose to praise.

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Speaker 2: First.

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Speaker 1: Thessalonians five eighteen says in everything give thanks. Doesn't say

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Speaker 1: to give thanks for everything, says to give thanks in everything.

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Speaker 1: In other words, we don't thank God for the trouble,

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Speaker 1: thank him for the sickness, thank him for the accident. No,

376
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Speaker 1: in the trouble, we thank him that we're coming out

377
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Speaker 1: in the difficulty. We think him that he's turning it

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Speaker 1: around in the slow economy. We thank him that he's

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Speaker 1: bringing favor, increase, promotion. And anytime you have an opportunity

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Speaker 1: to complain, let that be a reminder to give God praise.

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Speaker 1: Just turn it around and thank him that he's working

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Speaker 1: in your life.

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Speaker 2: What do we have to be grateful for?

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Speaker 1: I read where over a million people a week die,

385
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Speaker 1: you can be grateful that you made it another week.

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Speaker 1: This article talked about that if you have a roof

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Speaker 1: over your head, you are better off than seventy five

388
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Speaker 1: percent of the world's population. If you have fifteen dollars

389
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Speaker 1: to your name, you are in the top eight percent

390
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Speaker 1: of the world's wealthiest people. Fifteen dollars I know today

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Speaker 1: I am looking at wealthy people right now. Keep the

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Speaker 1: right perspective. I heard a poem that said, I am

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Speaker 1: thankful for the taxes I have to pay each year,

394
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Speaker 1: because that means I have a job. I am thankful

395
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Speaker 1: for the mess I have to clean up after the party,

396
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Speaker 1: because that means I've been surrounded by friends. I am

397
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Speaker 1: thankful for the law that needs to be mode, the

398
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Speaker 1: gutters that need repair, the windows that need to be cleaned,

399
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Speaker 1: because that means I have a home. I am thankful

400
00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,399
Speaker 1: for sore muscles and weariness at the end of the

401
00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,879
Speaker 1: day because that means I was able to work hard.

402
00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,480
Speaker 1: I am thankful for the lady behind me at church

403
00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,400
Speaker 1: that sings off key because that means I'm able to hear.

404
00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,520
Speaker 1: I am thankful for the alarm that goes off early

405
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Speaker 1: in the morning because that means I'm still alive. Friends,

406
00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,720
Speaker 1: It's all a matter of perspective, how we choose to

407
00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:15,159
Speaker 1: see it. My brother Paul, as you know, is a

408
00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,439
Speaker 1: medical doctor. He spent seventeen years as the chief of

409
00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:22,760
Speaker 1: surgery at a hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. At one point,

410
00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,000
Speaker 1: he and his wife, Jennifer had three children under the

411
00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,240
Speaker 1: age of six. Paul was working eighty hours a week

412
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Speaker 1: at the hospital. Then he would come home and have

413
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Speaker 1: babies to deal with, diapers, to change, children, waking up

414
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Speaker 1: in the middle of the night. And of course Paul

415
00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:41,800
Speaker 1: loved his family, but he was living very stressed out, frustrated,

416
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Speaker 1: not enjoying life, but enduring life. One day, something happened

417
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Speaker 1: that changed his perspective. One of his patients, an elderly

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Speaker 1: woman named Ella, came in for a checkup. She'd had

419
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Speaker 1: a minor operation. Paul had known Ella for many, many years.

420
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Speaker 1: In fact, just a few months earlier, Ella's husband of

421
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Speaker 1: over fifty.

422
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Speaker 2: Years had gone to be with the Lord.

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Speaker 1: Now, as usual, Paul was in a big hurry. He

424
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Speaker 1: was late for an operation, plus he had another patient

425
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Speaker 1: to see. Now he found himself rushing through Ella's exam.

426
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Speaker 1: As he finished up, Ella asked if she could talk

427
00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,680
Speaker 1: to Paul about something for just a moment. Paul thought

428
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Speaker 1: for sure it'd be a medical question, a health concern,

429
00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,280
Speaker 1: but she looked him in the eyes and said, doctor Paul,

430
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Speaker 1: you're so stressed out. I just want to know how

431
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Speaker 1: are you doing. Paul was kind of taken back. He

432
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Speaker 1: apologized for being in such a hurry. He began to

433
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Speaker 1: explain how hectic things were, busy at home with the babies,

434
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Speaker 1: swamped at the office. He said, Ella, I'm just kind

435
00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,600
Speaker 1: of frustrated right now. It's a very difficult season. I

436
00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,800
Speaker 1: wish I had more time. I just can't wait to

437
00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:53,520
Speaker 1: get through it. To be polite, he said, oh, Ella,

438
00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:55,040
Speaker 1: you're the one that lost your husband.

439
00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,520
Speaker 2: How are you doing? Is there anything you wish for? Her?

440
00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:03,240
Speaker 1: Eyes it up, she said, doctor Paul, I would give

441
00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,160
Speaker 1: anything to be where you are as a young parent.

442
00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,679
Speaker 1: I would give anything to hear the pitter pattern of

443
00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,680
Speaker 1: my children's feet running through the house. I would give

444
00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:16,320
Speaker 1: anything to change a diaper, to make formula, to rock

445
00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:17,760
Speaker 1: my children back to sleep.

446
00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:19,439
Speaker 2: How I long for those days.

447
00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,080
Speaker 1: Tears started coming down her cheeks. She said, Paul, one

448
00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,040
Speaker 1: day you are going to look back and miss the

449
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:31,280
Speaker 1: very season that you're trying to hurry through. Paul left

450
00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,560
Speaker 1: that day with a different perspective. He couldn't wait to

451
00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:38,200
Speaker 1: get home to change his children's diapers. Jennifer thought he

452
00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,360
Speaker 1: had lost his mind. He looked forward to his children

453
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,359
Speaker 1: waking up in the middle of the night so he

454
00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,679
Speaker 1: could spend time putting them back to sleep. With a

455
00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:52,119
Speaker 1: simple shift in perspective, Paul went from enduring his life

456
00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,399
Speaker 1: to enjoying his life. Could it be that you're missing

457
00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,480
Speaker 1: out on the best of life because your perspective is

458
00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:01,840
Speaker 1: all You're focused on what's wrong.

459
00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:03,760
Speaker 2: So busy, so stressed.

460
00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:09,680
Speaker 1: You're missing the good things God's given you, taken for granted. Family, friends, health,

461
00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,800
Speaker 1: opportunity friends. We are living in the good old days.

462
00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,959
Speaker 1: Twenty years from now, we're going to look back and say, you,

463
00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:20,080
Speaker 1: remember when our children were small, Remember when mother and

464
00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,520
Speaker 1: Daddy were here, Remember when we first moved into the

465
00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:26,720
Speaker 1: compact center. These are the good old days. Let me

466
00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:32,959
Speaker 1: challenge you. Ignite the moment, make memories together, Appreciate what

467
00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,320
Speaker 1: God's put in your life. Look around at all the

468
00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:39,879
Speaker 1: incredible blessings God has given you, David said in Psalm ninety,

469
00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,159
Speaker 1: God teach us to number our days. He was saying, God,

470
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,439
Speaker 1: help us to realize that every day is a gift.

471
00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,439
Speaker 1: Help us to not get so focused on what's wrong,

472
00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,080
Speaker 1: and so stressed and so hectic that.

473
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:57,119
Speaker 2: We don't appreciate the gift of today. I read a question.

474
00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:00,639
Speaker 1: I'll ask you, if you only had an hour to live,

475
00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:02,120
Speaker 1: who would you call?

476
00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,600
Speaker 2: What would you say? And what are you waiting for?

477
00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:10,359
Speaker 1: Sometimes we live and act as if we're invincible, like

478
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,320
Speaker 1: we're always going to be here, But the Scripture says

479
00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,200
Speaker 1: our life is like a vapor. We're here one moment,

480
00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:20,080
Speaker 1: then we're gone. Heard somebody put it like this. We

481
00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:24,960
Speaker 1: forget how fragile life really is. We wait for Thanksgiving

482
00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,440
Speaker 1: to give thanks, We wait for Christmas to give gifts.

483
00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,280
Speaker 1: We wait for Valentine's Day to show love to those

484
00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:33,080
Speaker 1: that we hold dear.

485
00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,200
Speaker 2: We say to ourselves, today is just.

486
00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:40,240
Speaker 1: An ordinary day, and so we wait. And while we wait,

487
00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:45,320
Speaker 1: the clock ticks, precious moments pass by. But in reality,

488
00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,359
Speaker 1: there's no such thing as an ordinary day. Every day

489
00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:53,959
Speaker 1: is a gift, unique and irreplaceable. It's ours can be

490
00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:59,480
Speaker 1: used or misused, invested or wasted. God teach us to

491
00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:03,000
Speaker 1: number our days. Friends, My prayer for each of us

492
00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,840
Speaker 1: is that we will go out with the right perspective,

493
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:11,320
Speaker 1: focused on the good, not taking things for granted, recognizing

494
00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:16,919
Speaker 1: that every day is unique and irreplaceable. Remember, life is

495
00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:22,440
Speaker 1: extremely fragile. Slow down and appreciate what God's given you

496
00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,960
Speaker 1: every day. Hug your children, take time for the people

497
00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,760
Speaker 1: that God's put in your life, and learn to be

498
00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,840
Speaker 1: thankful for the simple things, even the fact that you

499
00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:36,920
Speaker 1: can scratch your own edge. Remember, seeds of discouragement can't

500
00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,920
Speaker 1: take root in a grateful heart. Why don't you make

501
00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,800
Speaker 1: that list of all the things God's blessed you with,

502
00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,080
Speaker 1: keep it in front of you, and go over it

503
00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:45,760
Speaker 1: again and again.

504
00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,280
Speaker 2: Meditate on God's goodness. If you will keep the right.

505
00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:53,040
Speaker 1: Perspective and like David, let his praise continually be in

506
00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,120
Speaker 1: your mouth, then God says, when you praise, you're going

507
00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,639
Speaker 1: to be raised. That means God will pour out his

508
00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:03,160
Speaker 1: blessings in favor. You'll accomplish dreams, overcome obstacles, and you'll

509
00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,520
Speaker 1: live that life of victory he has in story.

510
00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,159
Speaker 2: Amen, do you receive it today?

511
00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,040
Speaker 1: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you

512
00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:13,480
Speaker 1: an opportunity to make.

513
00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:15,000
Speaker 2: Jesus the Lord of your life.

514
00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,960
Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I

515
00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:20,200
Speaker 1: repent of my sins.

516
00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,879
Speaker 2: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior.

517
00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,359
Speaker 1: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you

518
00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:29,200
Speaker 1: got born again.

519
00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,600
Speaker 2: Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place.

520
00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,159
Speaker 2: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of.

521
00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:40,119
Speaker 2: This is my Bible. I am what it says, I am.

522
00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,959
Speaker 2: I have what it says I have. I can do this.

523
00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,920
Speaker 1: As the first Bible that my parents gave me I

524
00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,879
Speaker 1: was six years old. They taught me the importance of

525
00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,320
Speaker 1: believing what God says about you and letting that determine

526
00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,159
Speaker 1: your self image to how through the Scripture you can

527
00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,679
Speaker 1: learn to handle challenges and pursue your dreams.

528
00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:00,400
Speaker 2: Some people tell me.

529
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,240
Speaker 1: That the Bible's not practical for them.

530
00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:03,720
Speaker 2: How they don't understand it.

531
00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:06,600
Speaker 1: We've created a new resource called how to Read your

532
00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:10,960
Speaker 1: Bible and Enjoy It. It provides twelve distinct lenses that'll

533
00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,600
Speaker 1: help you see the Bible with fresh eyes so you

534
00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:17,720
Speaker 1: can discover the hidden treasures that increase your faith, practical

535
00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:21,000
Speaker 1: truths that will help you in your everyday life. When

536
00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,760
Speaker 1: you tap into the power of God's word. There's no

537
00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:25,280
Speaker 1: limit to where He'll take you.

538
00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,359
Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift

539
00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,160
Speaker 3: of any size to the ministry this month, Joel would

540
00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:35,320
Speaker 3: like to send you this inspiring new resource. Sometimes reading

541
00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:38,880
Speaker 3: the Bible can feel confusing, out of touch, or even

542
00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,520
Speaker 3: produce more fear than faith. But now with this new

543
00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,920
Speaker 3: resource how to read your Bible and enjoy it, it

544
00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,120
Speaker 3: will make the Word of God come alive in new ways.

545
00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:53,200
Speaker 3: You'll discover fresh inspiration on every page of your Bible.

546
00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,680
Speaker 3: The twelve lenses give you the power to see the

547
00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:00,240
Speaker 3: Scripture in a whole new light. When you experience the

548
00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,800
Speaker 3: right way to approach God's word, it will ignite renewed

549
00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,080
Speaker 3: passion in your life.

550
00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,200
Speaker 1: When you get God's Word down in you, it brings

551
00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,800
Speaker 1: life and victory. This has a great Bible reading plan

552
00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:15,840
Speaker 1: plus introductions to each book. It'll help you enjoy reading

553
00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,520
Speaker 1: the Bible. Thanks so much for being a part of

554
00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,160
Speaker 1: the ministry. Victoria and I pray for you and your

555
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,800
Speaker 1: family every day and we appreciate your prayers and support.

556
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:26,080
Speaker 2: Remember you can.

557
00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:30,680
Speaker 1: Watch the services online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast,

558
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,760
Speaker 1: watch on YouTube, or we have a New Joel Ostein

559
00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,680
Speaker 1: television network twenty four hours a day, and of course

560
00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:38,160
Speaker 1: SYRIXXM as well.

561
00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:41,040
Speaker 2: Until we see you next time. May the Lord bless

562
00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:42,080
Speaker 2: you and keep you.

563
00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,160
Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of How to Read

564
00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:49,320
Speaker 3: Your Bible and Enjoy It today. Visit joelostein dot com

565
00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,240
Speaker 3: or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel call

566
00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:55,840
Speaker 3: or click anytime, twenty four hours a day