1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victorium. 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and thanks 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 2: for supporting the ministry. 4 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: We believe you're going to have an. 5 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: Awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 6 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, God 7 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: bless you. 8 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: It's always a joy to come into your homes. We 9 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 2: love you and we know God has great things in store. 10 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 2: If you're ever in our area, please stop buying be 11 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 2: a part of one of our services. I promise you 12 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,319 Speaker 2: we'll make you feel right at home. These are the 13 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 2: finest people in all of Houston, Texas, right here at Lakewood, 14 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: So come on out and see us sometime. Thank you 15 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 2: for being a part of our services today. And I'd 16 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 2: like to start with something funny each week. And I 17 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: heard about this eighty five year old woman that went 18 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 2: on a blind date with a ninety year old man. 19 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: She returned to our daughter's home later that evening and 20 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: seemed upset. The daughter said, Mom, what's wrong? She said, 21 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 2: I had to slap him three times. She said, you 22 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: mean he's tried to get it's fresh. She said, no, 23 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: I thought he was dead. 24 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 3: Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 25 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 3: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 26 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 3: I have what it says I have. I can do 27 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 3: what it says I can do. Today I will be 28 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 3: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 29 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 3: is alert, my heart is recepted. I will never be 30 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 3: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 31 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about how God 32 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 2: has grace for every season of our life. Too many 33 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: people worry about their future. They live stressed out, wondering 34 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 2: what's going to happen If I get laid off, how 35 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: am I going to handle it? If my loved one 36 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 2: doesn't make it. 37 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: Or my parents are getting older, how can I take 38 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: care of them and my own family as well. Here's 39 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: the answer. 40 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: God's grace is going to be there at every stage 41 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: of your life to help you do what you need 42 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 2: to do. His grace is not just to save us. 43 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: It's an enabling power. God's grace will give you the strength, 44 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: the wisdom, the favor to accomplish what you could not 45 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 2: normally accomplish on your own. If you're in a difficult marriage, 46 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: if you're raising a child that's hard, if you're. 47 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: Facing a sickness. 48 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 2: One thing you can count on is the grace of 49 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: God will be there some of you. When you look 50 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: up ahead into your future, there are very difficult things 51 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: in the natural. 52 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: You don't see how you're going to make it. 53 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: Business is slow, somebody walked out of a relationship. 54 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: People are talking about you. 55 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: It'd be easy to get discouraged and let that overwhelm you. 56 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 2: But I want you to have a new perspective. Nothing 57 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: that you're facing is a surprise to God. 58 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: It didn't catch him off guard. 59 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 2: God is already lined up the grace, the favor. He's 60 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 2: already set into motion everything you need not to just 61 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: endure it, barely make it through, defeated, depressed in self pity. No, 62 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: you're going to feel a supernatural force breathing in your direction. 63 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: That's the grace of Almighty God. It's going to cause 64 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: you to rise up with eagle's wings and you're not 65 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: going to just get through it. You're going to soar 66 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: through it, coming out better off than you were before. 67 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 2: One day you're going to look back in amazement at 68 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 2: what God has done. 69 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: You'll be able to say, with the apostle, Paul. 70 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 2: I am who I am today and I am where 71 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 2: I am because of the grace of God. Well, you say, Joel, 72 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 2: I'm very worried. My company is downsizing. I might get 73 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 2: laid off. I don't know what I'm going to do. Listen, 74 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: I hope that doesn't happen. 75 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: But can I speak faith over you? 76 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 2: Can I declare something into your future because you're a 77 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: child of the Most High God, because you know who 78 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,119 Speaker 2: you are in Christ. Even if it did happen, you're 79 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 2: not going to fall apart. You're not gonna be depressed, 80 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: You're not gonna have a chip on your shoulder. You're 81 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: going to feel a power that you've never felt before. 82 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: You're going to have a strength or resolve, a determination 83 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: like you've never known. 84 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 2: That's the creator of the universe releasing his grace in 85 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: a greater way. That's why we don't have to be 86 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 2: worried about our future. God's got us covered. He has 87 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: promised he will not allow a situation to come without 88 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: giving us the grace to make it through victoriously. Well 89 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 2: what if the economy goes down even more, then God's 90 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 2: grace will be poured out even stronger. Well what if 91 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: my loved one that I'm praying for doesn't make it, 92 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 2: then God's peace is going to show up in a 93 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: greater way. What if this lawsuit drags on another five years, 94 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: then God's grace is going to give you the strength 95 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: to keep on keeping on. That's what the scripture says. 96 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. Notice the 97 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: principle grace always supersedes the opposition. 98 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: That means, if you have a big problem. 99 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 2: Then you need to get ready because grace is coming 100 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: in a big way. If people are talking about you 101 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: at the office, play in politics, trying to make you 102 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: look bad, don't get worried. 103 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: Get ready. 104 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 2: Vindication is coming in a great way. Or maybe you 105 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 2: have a major opportunity. God has opened a new door 106 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 2: to start a business, to purchase a new home, to 107 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: go on that missions trip. 108 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: Get ready. 109 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 2: God's about to release his favor in a major way. 110 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 2: When the opportunity abounds, God's grace will much more abound. 111 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: When the problems abound, his solutions will much more abound. 112 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: His grace always supersedes what you're up against. I can 113 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 2: look back in my own life and see the times 114 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: when God's grace showed up and empowered me far beyond 115 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: on my natural ability. Nineteen ninety nine, when my father 116 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 2: went to be with the Lord. 117 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: I had never ministered before. 118 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: I didn't know how to prepare a sermon, never been 119 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: to seminary, never spoken in public. But all of a sudden, 120 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: somehow I was able to come up with these messages. 121 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 2: Week after week, I was speaking in front of thousands 122 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:24,239 Speaker 2: of people. Looking back now, I realized that was God's 123 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 2: grace coming on my life in a greater way. 124 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: For that season that I was in. 125 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 2: When the opportunity abounds, God doesn't sit back and say, Okay, 126 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: show me what you're made of. Let's see what you 127 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: can do now. When you stay in faith, when you 128 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 2: say God, I'm trusting you, he says, all right, here's 129 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: my grace, here's my favor, here's my. 130 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: Wisdom, here's my ideas. 131 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 2: Some of you today have a major opportunity in front 132 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,799 Speaker 2: of you, but you don't feel qualified. All those thoughts 133 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 2: are telling you you don't have what it takes. You 134 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 2: better play it safe, you better just stay in the boat. No, 135 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 2: just like with me me, You're going to feel a 136 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: power that you've never felt before. God's grace is going 137 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 2: to cause you to go further to accomplish more, to 138 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: overcome what you thought was impossible. You need to get 139 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 2: ready because new opportunities are coming your way. New doors 140 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 2: are about to open, new businesses, new friendships, new ideas. 141 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: Here's the good news. 142 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 2: With the new opportunities comes a new level of God's grace, 143 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: a new level of his favor. He is going to 144 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: equip you and empower you to go through those new 145 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 2: doors and become all He's created you to be. Another time, 146 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: when we were trying to acquire this facility, the former 147 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: Compact Center, you remember how we needed ten votes from 148 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 2: the Houston City Council members. I had never done anything 149 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 2: in city government or didn't have any kind of political experience, 150 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 2: and my personality is not to try to win people 151 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: over and convince them to do something for us. 152 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: More quiet and reserved. 153 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 2: But for that year or two that we were trying 154 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: to get this building, practically every other week I was 155 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: down at City Hall visiting with the council members making 156 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: our case. When I look back, that doesn't even seem 157 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 2: like me. Once again, I can see that was God's 158 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: grace coming on me for the season I was in. 159 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: What I want you to see is what every stage 160 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: of your life. 161 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: God's grace is going to be there to help you 162 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: make it through victoriously. And some of you today, when 163 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 2: you look out into your future, you don't really feel 164 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: like you have what you need to accomplish what God's 165 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: put in your heart. 166 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: But don't worry about. 167 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: That, because when you get to that season, you will 168 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 2: have it. When you're faced with a task that you 169 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 2: don't feel like you're very good at, like I was, 170 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 2: you will discover on the inside talent and ability that 171 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 2: you didn't know you had. When you find yourself up 172 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 2: over your head, yet you know it's where you're supposed 173 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: to be, you can rest assured the power of the 174 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: most High God is going to come on you to accomplish. 175 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 1: What he wants you to accomplish. 176 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 2: That means there's going to be a favor that causes 177 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 2: you to stand out in the crowd, a strength when 178 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: you should have given up, a peace when you should 179 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 2: have been overwhelmed. 180 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: What is that? That's God's grace showing. 181 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: Up at every season in your life. I read recently 182 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 2: about this man and his friend. They were working on 183 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 2: an automobile and all of a sudden, the jack slipped 184 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: and his friend was pinned underneath the car. This man 185 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: went over just an average sized person, and he was 186 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: able to lift a two thousand pound car off of 187 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 2: his friend, and it saved his life. That was God's grace, 188 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 2: showing up in his time of need. When I was 189 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 2: eight years old, one time I was in my backyard 190 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: playing baseball with my friends. At one point, the ball 191 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: went over the fence into our neighbor's yard. And our 192 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 2: neighbors had a great, be big German shepherd. He was 193 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 2: as mean as can be as children. We were scared 194 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 2: to death of that dog, and even though their yard 195 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 2: was fenced in, they normally kept him on a leash. Anyway, 196 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: I was very small, and we had a six foot fence. 197 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 2: So I got this ladder and I leaned it up 198 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 2: against our fence and I looked over and I could 199 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 2: see my ball about forty feet away, and their yard 200 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 2: was very big. Way on the other side, maybe about 201 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty feet. I could see the German 202 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 2: shepherd looked like he had his chain, and so I 203 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 2: very quietly snuck over the fence and went out there 204 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 2: and got my ball. Everything was going great. All of 205 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 2: a sudden that dog saw me and started running toward 206 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: me ninety miles per hour. He hit the end of 207 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: that chain so hard he pulled the chain off of 208 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 2: the pole that was holding him. 209 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: So now he was coming toward me. Chain and awe. 210 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 2: Let me tell you, my heart sunk. I prayed the 211 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 2: sinner's prayer. I asked for forgiveness for all those mean 212 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 2: things about Paul. I took off running, and when I 213 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 2: got to our fence, I promise you have never seen 214 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: a white boy jump like this. 215 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: White boy jump. I didn't need a ladder. 216 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 2: I didn't need a boose. I didn't need anybody to 217 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 2: encourage me. I was only about half the size. Somehow 218 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 2: I got over that six foot fence. 219 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 1: And it's funny. 220 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 2: I've played basketball my whole life, I've still never jumped 221 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 2: that high. That was God's grace showing up in my 222 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 2: time of need. 223 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: What am I saying? 224 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 2: Quit worrying about your future. Quit worrying about how you're 225 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,839 Speaker 2: going to overcome that obstacle. God knows how to get 226 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 2: you over the fence. Quit worrying about the changes that 227 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 2: are in your future. God is in complete control, he 228 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 2: said there in Second Corinthians twelve nine. 229 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: My grace is sufficient for you. 230 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 2: That means my grace will not only always be there, 231 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: but it will all always be more than enough for 232 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 2: the challenge or for the opportunity that's in front of you. 233 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 2: Now it's up to you and I to learn how 234 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 2: to receive that grace. How do we do it? Get 235 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 2: up every morning and say, Father, I want to thank 236 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 2: you that your grace is bigger than anything that I'll 237 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 2: face today. If somebody does me wrong, I know I 238 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: have the grace to forgive them. If I get stuck 239 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: in traffic, I have the grace to keep a good attitude. 240 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: If my marriage gets. 241 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 2: Difficult, if my child acts up, I know that's not 242 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 2: a surprise to you. You've already empowered me. So I 243 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 2: refuse to worry. I take hold of your strength. I 244 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 2: receive your favor. I know I have the grace to 245 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 2: live this day in victory. See, you have to get 246 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 2: your mind going in the right direction. I've discovered it's 247 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 2: best to do it the very first thing in the morning, 248 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 2: then all through the day. It's very empowering to go 249 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: around in your thoughts saying, Father, I receive your grace, 250 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 2: I receive your favor, I receive your strength. When you 251 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 2: do that you'll not only feel stronger and more confident, 252 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 2: but your faith is what allows God to release his 253 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 2: goodness in a greater way. The scripture says, take hold 254 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: of his strength in the same way we have to 255 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 2: take hold of his grace. From time to time, Victoria 256 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 2: will say, Joel, I don't know what I'm going to 257 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 2: do when Jonathan leaves home and goes off to college. 258 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: That's going to be so hard to handle. Our son. 259 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: Jonathan is fifteen now, so he's got several more years 260 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: at home. 261 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 2: But Victoria could easily dread that day and think, Oh, 262 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 2: I just not going to be able to handle it. 263 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: But whenever I see her. 264 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 2: Start to get worried or discouraged, I remind her of 265 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 2: this principle I'm sharing with you, Victoria, when you come 266 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 2: to that season, God will not only give you the 267 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 2: grace to make it through, but there'll be a peace. 268 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: You'll feel good on the inside. You'll know it's the 269 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: right thing. Some of you too. 270 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 2: When you look up ahead, there's a thousand things you 271 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 2: could worry about, a thousand things. 272 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: You could wonder how you're going to handle. What if I. 273 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 2: Did get laid off, What am I going to do? 274 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 2: When my loved one goes to be with the Lord. 275 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 2: What about when my child leaves for college. Listen, here's 276 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 2: the key. You don't have grace for five years from now, 277 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 2: or next year, or next month, or even tomorrow. You 278 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 2: have grace for today, and if you will stay in 279 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 2: faith today, then when you get to tomorrow, there will 280 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 2: be grace for that day. But as long as you're 281 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 2: looking ahead, living, worried, wondering, then you're going to be frustrated. 282 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 2: You've got to learn to live one day at a time. 283 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 2: This is the only day that we have grace for. 284 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 2: Maybe you're in a marriage that's difficult, or you're raising 285 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 2: a child that's harder. Perhaps you're unemployed and you really. 286 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: Need a job. It's easy to think I just can't 287 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: do this for another year. It's just too hard. 288 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 2: Listen, God's not asking you to do it another year, 289 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 2: another month, another week. He's asking you to do it 290 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 2: one more day. Can you stand strong twenty four more hours? 291 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 2: Can you keep a smile a good attitude one more afternoon. 292 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 2: If you can make it one more day, then when 293 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 2: you wake up in the morning, God will have a 294 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 2: fresh new supply of grace. 295 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: Waiting on you. This is the principle we see all 296 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: through the scripture. When the people of Israel were in. 297 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 2: The wilderness, headed toward the promised land, God gave them 298 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 2: manna each morning to eat. It would appear on the ground, 299 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 2: but he specifically instructed them to gather up only enough 300 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 2: for one day's supply. In fact, if they got more, 301 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 2: it wouldn't last, it would spoil. In the same way, 302 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 2: God doesn't give us grace for a year at a time, 303 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 2: a month at a time. No, every twenty four hours, 304 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 2: God has a fresh new supply of grace, of favor, 305 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 2: of wisdom, of forgiveness. You're going to make it through 306 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 2: the slow season at work one day at a time. 307 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 2: How are you going to raise that child that's hard? 308 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: One day at a time. 309 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 2: I heard Cory ten Boone tell something very interesting. She 310 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 2: was the lady that during World War II hid the 311 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:19,239 Speaker 2: Jews from the Nazis and spared many of their lives. Eventually, 312 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 2: she was caught and put in prison. In the concentration camp, 313 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: she saw all kinds of atrocities. She even witnessed the 314 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 2: death of her own father and her own sister. Through 315 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 2: a series of unusual events, she was accidentally released and 316 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 2: her life was spared. And in spite of seeing all 317 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 2: the senseless killings, she never really got bitter. In fact, 318 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 2: she even forgave the man that killed her family. Somebody 319 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: asked her how she could make it through those dark 320 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 2: days of seeing such terrible acts of hatred and still 321 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 2: be loving and kind and forgiving. 322 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: She answered back with the story. She told how when she. 323 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 2: Was a little girl, her father would take her on 324 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 2: train rides throughout Europe. He would always purchase the tickets 325 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 2: several weeks in advance, but he would never give her 326 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 2: the ticket until right before they were going to get 327 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: on board. Course, she was a small girl and he 328 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 2: was concerned she might lose it, leave it at home, 329 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 2: something like that. But whenever he saw the headlights of 330 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 2: the train pulling into the station, he would hand his 331 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 2: little daughter the ticket and they would step on board together. 332 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 2: She said to the person that asked the reason you 333 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: can't fathom how I could forgive the person that killed 334 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 2: my family, How I could not be filled with bitterness 335 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 2: and hatred is because just like my father and the tickets, 336 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 2: God doesn't give us the grace we need until we're 337 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 2: about to step on board. But if you were to 338 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 2: ever go through something like I went through. I can 339 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 2: assure you God's grace will be there to help you 340 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 2: make it through the dark valleys and still keep your 341 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 2: head held high and your heart filled with love. 342 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: And maybe today when you. 343 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 2: Look out, you don't see how you could overcome an obstacle, 344 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 2: how you could accomplish a dream, how you could forgive 345 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 2: somebody that hurts you. But understand, when you get there, 346 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 2: God will hand you the ticket. He already purchased it two. 347 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: Thousand years ago on a cross at Calvary. 348 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 2: Now, when you come to a dark valley, a difficult season, 349 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 2: a sickness, don't worry about it. 350 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,479 Speaker 1: Your heavenly Father will hane you the ticket. 351 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 2: He'll give you the grace, the strength, the favor, the 352 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: forgiveness to do what you need to do. I think 353 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,360 Speaker 2: about Mary, the mother of Jesus, when the angel appeared 354 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 2: into her and said she was going to have a 355 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 2: child without knowing a man she dared to believe, said yes, 356 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 2: let it happen. 357 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 1: But think about this. Mary didn't ask to have this baby. 358 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 2: Yes, it was a great blessing, course she went down 359 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 2: in history, but in a sense it was a great burden. 360 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: Here Mary was planning her wedding, no doubt. 361 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 2: She had already invited the bride'smaids, she had already made 362 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 2: arrangements for the reception. Now her plans are interrupted. Imagine 363 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,360 Speaker 2: she's got to go tell her friends and family. For 364 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 2: some reason, the wedding is called off. Joseph, her fiance, 365 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 2: the man she greatly loves, she doesn't know is he 366 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 2: going to stay or is he going to leave? Instead 367 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 2: of having this big wedding, a great celebration, she has 368 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 2: to quietly. 369 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: Move off to another city. 370 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 2: Mary never planned on having her first baby in a manger. 371 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 2: She never planned on having to hide the child for 372 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 2: two years. Some of you today are not where you 373 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 2: planned to be in life. You never planned on raising 374 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 2: a child with special needs. You never planned on being 375 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 2: alone and single after many years of marriage, or you 376 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: never planned on dealing with that sickness or taking care 377 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 2: of a loved one that's ill. You could say, like Mary, God, 378 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 2: I didn't ask for this, This is not what I planned. 379 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 2: But just like with her, God has given you the 380 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 2: grace to do what he has put before you. He 381 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 2: will never give you an assignment without giving you the 382 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 2: ability the strength to make it through. Victoriously, and some 383 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 2: of you are even dealing with the situation that wasn't 384 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 2: your fault. Other people did you wrong, but now you're 385 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:26,360 Speaker 2: having to bear the brunt of it. 386 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: It wasn't fair. 387 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 2: It may be a heavy load to carry, but know this, 388 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 2: with every right choice you make, there will be a reward. 389 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 2: May not seem like it. You're taking the high road, 390 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 2: You're doing all the work, not getting any of the credit. 391 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 2: May be tempted to be discouraged, even embarrassed. You think 392 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 2: this is not what I asked for, It's not what 393 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 2: I had planned. Somebody else messed up my life. 394 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: Let me challenge you. 395 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 2: If you can just shake off the self pity, shake 396 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 2: off the bitterness, you will discover. 397 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: That God is a god of justice. 398 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 2: He will pay you back for every unfair thing that 399 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 2: has happened a year. There will be a reward for 400 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 2: carrying out his assignment. I have a friend that was 401 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: married to a professional football player, big strong man that 402 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 2: has served in the military. Later in life, he developed diabetes. 403 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 2: He ended up losing both of his legs. My friend 404 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: his wife, She took care of this man like he 405 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 2: was a king. She would get up at four o'clock 406 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: in the morning before she had to go to work 407 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: and make sure that he was bathed and dressed and 408 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 2: ready for a new day. She's a large woman, and 409 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 2: she would actually physically pick him up out of the 410 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 2: bed and carry him around the house month after month, 411 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 2: year after year. 412 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: She could have thought, God, I didn't ask for this, 413 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: This is not what I had planned. Why me, God. 414 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 2: Now she understood this principle, and she tapped into that 415 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 2: supernatural grace. 416 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 1: She knew she was equipped, she was empowered. 417 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 2: She didn't go around thinking, oh, man, I can't do 418 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 2: this for another thirty years. No, she took it one 419 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 2: day at a time. Eventually her husband went to be 420 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 2: with the Lord. But I still see her today. She's beautiful, 421 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 2: she's strong, she's healthy, she's blessed. She's enjoying the reward. 422 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 2: You too, may be required to do a hard thing, 423 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 2: but God has given you the grace for the season 424 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 2: that you're in, and that difficulty is not going to 425 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: last forever. And in the hard times, you have to 426 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 2: keep reminding yourself that a reward is coming. 427 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: God is promised he will give you beauty for your ashes. 428 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,120 Speaker 2: He will pay you back for the sacrifices that you've 429 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: made and some of you are very close to your payday. 430 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 2: You have done the right thing month after month, year 431 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 2: after year. You are just around the corner from seeing 432 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 2: God turn that situation around, and he is going to 433 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 2: pour out his favor in ways that you've never seen. 434 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 2: He is going to make sure you are well compensated. 435 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 2: Part of receiving God's grace is programming our mind with 436 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 2: the right thoughts. Maybe you have elderly parents that you're 437 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 2: going to have to take care of soon, Well, don't 438 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:16,159 Speaker 2: start telling. 439 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,639 Speaker 1: Yourself this is going to be so hard. It's just 440 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: not fair. 441 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 2: As soon as I get my children raised, now look 442 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: what I have to do. 443 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: No, take the ticket. 444 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 2: You are well able, have the attitude. I can do 445 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: what I need to do. God, just like Mary, I 446 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 2: may not have asked for this, but I know you've 447 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 2: given me the grace for the season that I'm in. 448 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 1: Now. I believe you will multiply my time, multiply my strength. 449 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: You have to make sure you're thinking. 450 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 2: The right thoughts, because as long as you're dwelling on 451 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 2: things like it's too hard, it's not fair. I can't 452 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 2: take this any longer, then your own thoughts will defeat you. 453 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 2: You would see a major change in your life if 454 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 2: you could just get up in the morning and instead 455 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 2: of saying I can't do this another day. I can't 456 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 2: change another dirty diaper, I can't deal with another grouchy 457 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 2: customer at the office. Now get rid of that and say, 458 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 2: with the Apostle Paul, I can do all things. 459 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: Through Christ, who strengthens me. 460 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 2: God, I know you've given me the grace for the 461 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 2: season i'm in, so I'm making the decision to take 462 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 2: the ticket that you provided. I know a man that 463 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 2: has chronic leukemia. Every two years, he has to go 464 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 2: in the hospital and take six months worth of chemo. 465 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 2: I saw him the other day and invited him to 466 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 2: come see us. He mentioned how he couldn't anytime soon 467 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 2: because he was about to start on his third batch 468 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 2: of chemo. Well, I didn't know anything was wrong with it. 469 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 2: But before I could respond, he said, now, Joel, don't 470 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 2: feel sorry for me. 471 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: I'm getting to encourage so many people. 472 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 2: At the hospital. I have never felt so rewarded. Even 473 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 2: the chaplain has me go by different rooms and pray 474 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 2: for people. You know what he's doing, He's taking the ticket. 475 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 2: He could be sitting at home saying, poor old me, God, 476 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:02,719 Speaker 2: this is not what I had planned. 477 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:03,880 Speaker 1: I didn't ask for this. 478 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 2: No, sometimes we're asked to carry a cross that's heavier. 479 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:14,719 Speaker 2: Sometimes life gets interrupted with disappointments and adversities. But the 480 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,239 Speaker 2: good news is with the disappointments, with the things we 481 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 2: didn't plan, we didn't ask for, comes a new level 482 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 2: of God's grace, a new level of his favor, not 483 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:28,199 Speaker 2: to just sustain us, but to help us overcome, to 484 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 2: be victorious even in the midst of the difficulty. 485 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: And some of you, I know, just like him. 486 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 2: You have gone through things that the average person would 487 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 2: have given up, and gone under betrayals that should have 488 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 2: caused you to be bitter. 489 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: But what happened. 490 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 2: Like Corey ten Boone, you took the ticket and instead 491 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 2: forgave the person anyway, and God not only brought you out, but. 492 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: Look at you today, you're better than ever. 493 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 2: Some of you, like my mother, you went through a sickness, 494 00:25:55,960 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 2: a difficult season that should have ended your life, but inte' dead, 495 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 2: you took the ticket one day at a time, you 496 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 2: fought the good fight of faith, and now you're a 497 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 2: living example of God's goodness. Some of you got off 498 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 2: to a rough start in life. People tried to push 499 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,239 Speaker 2: you down, tell you what you couldn't become. You've been 500 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 2: lied about, you've been through disappointments. But instead you took 501 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 2: the ticket, and now you're having the last laugh. You're 502 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 2: enjoying God's blessings and favor as never before. 503 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: That's my prayer today. 504 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 2: That on a daily basis, we will all learn to 505 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 2: take the ticket. We'll get up in the morning and say, Father, 506 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 2: I receive your grace for today. I know I'm equipped 507 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 2: and empowered for anything that comes my way. I'm asking 508 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 2: you to quit worrying about tomorrow. When you get to 509 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 2: that day, God will have a fresh new supply of 510 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 2: grace waiting on you. Learn to live one day at 511 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 2: a time, and remember this, Nothing that you're facing now 512 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:58,880 Speaker 2: and nothing that you're going to face in the future, 513 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:02,919 Speaker 2: is a surprise to God. His grace will always be 514 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 2: sufficient in every season of your life. If you will 515 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 2: learn to receive that grace and not get bitter and 516 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:14,120 Speaker 2: discouraged when your cross gets heavy, then God promises he's 517 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 2: not going to just bring you through, but He's going 518 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,959 Speaker 2: to give you a set of eagles wings so you 519 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:23,120 Speaker 2: can soar higher. And higher, overcome your obstacles, to feat 520 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,360 Speaker 2: your enemies, accomplish your dreams, and I believe in declare 521 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 2: you will live that life of victory he has in story. 522 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 1: Amen, do you receive that today? 523 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 2: Well? We never like to close our broadcast without giving 524 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 2: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 525 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 526 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 2: repent of my sins. 527 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 528 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 2: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 529 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 2: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church, 530 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 2: Keep God first place. He's going to take your places 531 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 2: that you've never dreamed of. 532 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 4: Sometimes the difficulties of life can be so overwhelming you 533 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 4: feel like you're stumbling around in the dark. Things are 534 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,920 Speaker 4: so bad you would need a miracle to change your situation. 535 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 4: But as a miracle even possible. 536 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 2: We all face situations where we don't see a way out. 537 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 2: It's easy to get discouraged and give up on what 538 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 2: we're believing. 539 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: For that's how we felt. 540 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:25,640 Speaker 2: In nineteen eighty one, my mother was diagnosed with terminal 541 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 2: cancer and given a few weeks to live. Nothing could 542 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:32,400 Speaker 2: be done medically speaking, but she chose to believe. 543 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 1: That God is a miracle worker. 544 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 2: Today, forty three years later, by the grace of God, 545 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 2: she's still healthy and strong. 546 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful to be alive. I'm ninety years young. 547 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: I thank God every day that he still does miracles. 548 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: I'd love to send you by new book. It's called 549 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: Miracles Happen. 550 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 2: It's filled with powerful stories of miracles from the Scripture 551 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 2: and real life stories of people that have seen the 552 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: hand of God. It'll help build your faith so you 553 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 2: can believe what seems impossis. God did it for my mother. Yes, 554 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 2: He'll do it for you. 555 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 4: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 556 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 4: of any amount to the ministry this month, Joel and Victoria, 557 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 4: we'd like to send you this powerful book, Miracles Happen 558 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 4: your journey to supernatural breakthrough. This new book details thirty 559 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 4: different miracles from the Word of God, and each one 560 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 4: comes with an encouragement and application to your own life. 561 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 4: God has miracles stored up for you, healing, freedom, favor breakthroughs. 562 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 2: Miracles still happen today, and faith is what activates God's power. 563 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 2: When you believe all things are possible, that's when you'll 564 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 2: see the hand of God do supernatural things in your life. 565 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: Victory and I are. 566 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 2: Standing in faith with you. We pray for you every day. 567 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 2: We appreciate your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting 568 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 2: so many lives. Remember you can watch the services live 569 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 2: online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, watch on 570 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 2: YouTube the new Joelo's Network. 571 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: Listen on Serious XM until we meet again. May the 572 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you. 573 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 4: Be sure to request your copy of Miracles Happen your 574 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 4: journey to supernatural breakthrough today. Visit Joelostein dot com or 575 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 4: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel