1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: Will God bless you always a joy to come into 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: your homes. We love you and we know God has 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: great things in store for each one of you. And 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: if you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop 9 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: by and be a part of one of our services. 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 11 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: But thanks for tuning in today and thanks again for 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: coming out. I'd like to start with something funny each week, 13 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: and I heard about this mom. She had two small 14 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: boys that were known for their mischievous behavior. Anytime trouble occurred, 15 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,599 Speaker 1: they were sure to be a part of it. So 16 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 1: she decided to take them one at a time to 17 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: see her pastor. The pastor said to the first boy, 18 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: where is God? There was no reply. He said it again, 19 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: where is God? He sat there silently. The third time 20 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: the pay astor asked, The boy bolted out the door, 21 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: ran home and said to his brother, God is missing 22 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: and they think we did it. Hold your Bible up, 23 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 24 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: I am what it says. I am. I have what 25 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 26 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 27 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 28 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 29 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 30 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: about knowing God as a father. There are many different 31 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: ways that we can know God. We can know him 32 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: as a God that's far off, way out there, untouchable 33 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: somewhere in the universe. We can know God in a 34 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: very formal way where we have this deep respect and 35 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: reverential fear. Some people see God as a God that's 36 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: out to get them. They think he he's got a 37 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: baseball back looking down from heaven, waiting for them to 38 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: make a mistake. They know God as an enforcer, harsh 39 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: and mean. There's a pressure that they can never live 40 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: up to. But that's the wrong image of God. The 41 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: best picture we could have of God is as of 42 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: a loving father. A father is someone that's for you, 43 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: someone that helps you overcome mistakes. Someone that cheers you 44 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: on as you pursue your dreams, someone that believes the 45 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 1: very best in you. And many people know God as 46 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: their savior, that's the most important way. But when you 47 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: know God as a father, it takes on a whole 48 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,239 Speaker 1: new meaning. You realize he's not a god that's far off. 49 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: He's not out to get you. He's not just there 50 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: to point out what you're doing wrong. He's there as 51 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: a constant source of strength and encouragement. He's there to 52 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: lift you when you fall, to encourage you when you're down, 53 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: to push your full when you feel like giving up. 54 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: He's the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Most 55 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: people get their image of God from their earthly father. 56 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: If you grew up without a father, or maybe your 57 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: father wasn't nice and kind and loving, he was harsh 58 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: and mean and not there when you needed him, then 59 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 1: you have to make sure you don't let that image 60 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: taint the picture of who your heavenly father is. One time, 61 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: Victoria and I got a new dog. Every time I 62 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: tried to get close to him, the dog would run 63 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: away like I was going to harm him. And it's funny. 64 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: He wasn't afraid of women. He would go right up 65 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: to Victoria. He was only afraid of men, and if 66 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: I did get him cornered, he would cower down and 67 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: look up a to me like he was terrified. Come 68 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: to find out that dog had been mistreated by a man. 69 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: It had been hurt and abused. Now its image of 70 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: all men was harsh and unkind. He would shrink back 71 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: in fear. Took me several months of loving him and 72 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: being kind for him to finally get over that. Then 73 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: the same way, if you were raised by a father 74 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: that was harsh, judgmental, impossible to please, not caring, it's 75 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: very easy to have the wrong image and think that 76 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: God is harsh and God's going to berate you when 77 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: you make a mistake, and God's going to condemn you 78 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: when you do wrong, and you could never measure up. Now, 79 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: you cannot let that image get mixed up with who 80 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: your heavenly father really is. I was very blessed to 81 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: be raised by a great earthly father. I know. That's 82 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 1: one reason that I see God as being loving, kind, 83 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: forgiving good. It's because my father was incredibly loving and 84 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: kind to us children. He thought we were the greatest 85 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: things in the world. He would do anything for us. 86 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: Remember one time in the fourth grade, I was in class. 87 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: There was an knock on the door. This man came 88 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 1: and whispered to my teacher that I needed to go 89 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: down to the principal's office. I thought, oh, man, wonder 90 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: what's wrong. I hope everything's okay. He said, Joe, your 91 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: dad's holding on the phone and he really needs to 92 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: talk to you. My heart started beating fast. I went 93 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: in there and said, yes, Daddy, what is it? He said, Joel, 94 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: I'm about to go to Red Lobster and pick up dinner. 95 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: Do you want French fries or tater tots with your meal? 96 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: I said, Daddy, you mean you called just to ask 97 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: me that. He said, yes, Joel, I want to make 98 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 1: sure you get exactly what you want. I thought to 99 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: myself later, Daddy, you need to get out more often. 100 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: I went back to my class and my friends were saying, 101 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: what's wrong, what's going on? I said, oh, nothing, I 102 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: just had to order some tater tots. That's the way 103 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: my father was. He wanted the best for his children. 104 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: When you know God as a father, you realize no 105 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: detail is too small. He's constantly watching after you, making 106 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: sure that you're well taken care of. Victoria and I 107 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: get a lot of phone calls during the day here 108 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: at the ministry, and unfortunately we don't have time to 109 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: take most of them. But there are two calls that 110 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: we will always take without exception. I can be in 111 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: the middle of an important meeting, I can have a 112 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: thousand things left to do on my schedule, but when 113 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: these two people call, no matter what I'm doing or 114 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: who I'm with, I'm going to step aside and take 115 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: that call. That's our two children, Jonathan and Alexandra. They 116 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: have twenty four hour access. When they call, I'm going 117 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 1: to respond. That's the way it is. As God's children, 118 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: you can call on your heavenly Father whenever you need, 119 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: and he will always be there to take your call. 120 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 1: He won't put you on hold, you won't get a recording, 121 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: it won't get transferred to a call center overseas. As 122 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: God's child, you have a hotline, have a direct access. 123 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: He will always stop what he's doing and be right 124 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,119 Speaker 1: there to take your call to see what you need. 125 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: I have people say, well, Joel, since you're closer to God, 126 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: would you pray for me and talk to God about me? 127 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: And I appreciate their respect. But the truth is you're 128 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: just as much a child of God as I am. 129 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: You don't have to go through a third party. Of course, 130 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: I'd love to pray for you, but you don't have 131 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: to come through me or your priest, or your bishop, 132 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: or some other saint that's already in heaven. You can 133 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: go directly to God for yourself. You've got that hotline. 134 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: God will always take your call. When my children call 135 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: during the day and I see their name come up 136 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: on the caller ID, something on the inside comes alive. 137 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: I smile before I even talk. They bring joy to 138 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: my spirit. In the same way, when God sees your 139 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: name come across his phone, so to speak, you bring 140 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: a smile to his face. He says, Wow, that's my son, 141 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: that's my daughter. Wonder what they want to talk about. 142 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: And some of you today you have this deep respect 143 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: and a reverential fear of God. And that's good. But 144 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: you're in such awe that you don't realize this majestic God, 145 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: this king of kings, this awesome creator, he's your heavenly father. 146 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: He longs to hear from you. That's why when Jesus 147 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: taught us how to pray in the Lord's prayer, he 148 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: didn't say. Started off by saying, King of Kings and 149 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: Lord of Lords, or old, Great, Holy, majestic Creator of 150 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: the universe. Now, Jesus said, when you pray, address God 151 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: like this our Father, which are in heaven. He wanted 152 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: us to see God, not as this all powerful, untouchable, 153 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: awesome creator, which he is, but he wanted us to 154 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: have an image of God as a loving father, as 155 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: someone right there close to us, someone that would listen 156 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: to what we have to say, someone that guides us 157 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 1: through our life. A while back, I had an opportunity 158 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: to pray at a very important event. There were several 159 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: other religious leaders there to pray, and one man prayed 160 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: in the King James version of the Bible in Old 161 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: English to THEE, O, Lord, our Maker, doth we bow 162 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: down before thee today? Very beautiful prayer. Another man prayed 163 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: all in Latin, quoted scripture in another language. First I 164 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: thought he was speaking in tongues. It was very formal, 165 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: very reverential, but I've learned you just got to be yourself. 166 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: When I stepped up to pray, I simply said, Heavenly Father, 167 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: we love you today. There's something about addressing God as 168 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: a father. When you know, deep down, this great creator, 169 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: this King James God, this Latin God, the same God 170 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: that they're addressing, he's your father. When you see God 171 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: as a father, it's easy to talk to him. It's 172 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: easy to expect good things. It's easy to accept his 173 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: forgiveness and his mercy. When you know God as a father, 174 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: you'll be strong and confident. You know your father controls 175 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: the universe. You know your father is concerned about every detail. 176 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: You know your father will always take your call. You 177 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: know your father is incredibly proud of you. I used 178 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: to travel with my dad and everywhere we would go, 179 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: he would brag on me. He couldn't wait to find 180 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,959 Speaker 1: someone new that he could introduce me to. He would say, 181 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: do you know my son Joel, He is the most 182 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: fantastic television producer. He would go on and on telling 183 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: them how smart and great and talented that he thought 184 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: I was. So much so that it would embarrass me, 185 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: but he was so proud of me. He wanted to 186 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: show me off. Now, as a father, I know exactly 187 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: how he feels. The other day, after service, we saw 188 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: some friends that we haven't seen in a long time. 189 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: The first thought that came to my mind was, somebody 190 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: go find our children. They haven't seen our kids in 191 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: several years. And I didn't say it, but I thought, 192 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: they've got to see how awesome our children are. They 193 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: got to see little Alexander. She's gotten tall, she's a knockout. 194 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: They got to see our son Jonathan. He's almost as 195 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: good looking as I am now. But my point is 196 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: I could not wait to show them off. Let me 197 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,679 Speaker 1: tell you that's how God feels about you. He loves 198 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: showing you off. He's incredibly proud of you. Now. Don't 199 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: you dare drag through life beaten down. Don't listen to 200 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: the negative things people are saying about you. Don't let 201 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: your own thoughts, your own mistakes, convince you that you're 202 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: all watched up. Listen, you have been fearfully and wonderfully made. 203 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: Your heavenly father, the one that breeded his life into you, 204 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: the one that gave you your gifts, your personality, your smile. 205 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 1: When he looks at you, he stands in amazement. He 206 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 1: calls you his masterpiece. I love what God said about Job. 207 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: Have you seen my servant Job? There's none like him 208 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: in all the land. Notice God was bragging on one 209 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: of his children. If God were standing here today, he 210 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: would say the same thing about each one of you. 211 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: Have you seen my son William. He's amazing. There's nobody 212 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: like him. Have you seen my daughter Judy? She is 213 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: so beautiful. I'm incredibly proud of her. Have you seen 214 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: my son Ramon? When I think of him, my world 215 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: lights up. See, many people have never seen God as 216 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,079 Speaker 1: being proud of them because they don't know God as 217 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: a father. They know Him as a savior, they know 218 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: their sins are forgiven. They know him as the king 219 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: of kings, sitting on the throne. Let's bow down in worship. 220 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: And that's good. But God is saying, I want you 221 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: to take it one step further and get to know 222 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: me as a father. I want you to know when 223 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: I see you, you bring a smile to my face. 224 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: I see each one of you as one of my 225 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: favorite children. Have you ever noticed how as parents we 226 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: all think our children are the smartest, the greatest, the fastest, 227 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: the most talented, the most beautiful. I've had parents bring 228 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: up their newborn babies so proud, beaming with joy to 229 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: show them all. They said, Joel, look how beautiful she is. 230 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: Look how cute he is. And I say this very respectfully, 231 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: but that baby can be as homely as can be. 232 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: Skin all dried up, head not proportioned it yet, drool 233 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 1: coming out of his mouth. Doesn't matter. Those parents think 234 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: it's the most beautiful baby that's ever been born. Why 235 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:57,599 Speaker 1: is that? Here's why parents see their own children differently 236 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: than other people do. Can I tell your heavenly father 237 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: is crazy about you. He thinks you're amazing. He loves 238 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: showing you all. I remember when our son Jonathan was 239 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: just a toddler, maybe two years old. We bought him 240 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,199 Speaker 1: this Batman book that he really loved, and we'd read 241 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: it to him again and again all through the day. 242 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: About a week later, I came home and he was 243 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: sitting on the couch by himself with that book. I 244 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: was going to sit down and read it with him, 245 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: but he opened up the book, turned to the first page, 246 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: and he pointed to the words and he started reading 247 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: it word for word. My eyes got this big. He 248 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: turned to the next page, pointed it and read it 249 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: word for word. I thought, my goodness, I knew he 250 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: was smart, but this kid is a total genius. I 251 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: called Victoria, I said, come in here. He's two years old. 252 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: He's already reading. He went to the next page, the next, 253 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: the next, read it word for word. But at one 254 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: point he looked up at us and he quoted it 255 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: exactly what was on the page. I suddenly realized he 256 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: wasn't reading, he had it all memory. I was so disappointed. 257 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: I thought he was the smartest child in all the world. 258 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: That's the way your heavenly father feels about you. Now, 259 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: you said, y'all know, God couldn't see me that way. 260 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: I've made mistakes, I've lived a rough life. I've got 261 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: some bad habits. Listen, my children aren't perfect. They've made mistakes, 262 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: but nothing they've ever done, for one moment, has changed 263 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: the way I feel about them. I may not always 264 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: be proud of their actions, but I am always proud 265 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: of them. Now as a parent, I will naturally have 266 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: more mercy on my own children. I'll take up for them. 267 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: I won't condemn them. I will forgive them and help 268 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: them to do better next time. Now, other people, when 269 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: you make mistakes, they may beat you down. Friends and 270 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 1: family members may judge you and try to make you 271 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: feel guilty. A coworker may be harsh on you because 272 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: you made some kind of mistake, but your heavenly father 273 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: will always see you in a different light. He'll be 274 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: more merciful, understanding, forgiving, loving, why because you're his own child. 275 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: I grew up watching doctor Charles Stanley on television. He's 276 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: a great pastor, a great Bible teacher. I know his 277 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: son Andy. He pastor's North Point Community Church in Atlanta, 278 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: and he's a fantastic minister as well. Andy told how 279 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: when he was growing up in his teens, he would 280 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: go to his father's church on Sunday mornings, but when 281 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: his dad got up to minister, he and his friends 282 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: would sneak out and go across the street to the 283 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: donut shop. There was a television there and they would 284 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: switch it on to his dad's channel. The service of 285 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: his dad's was carried live on television that way, when 286 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: his father asked him what the sermon was about, he 287 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: would know. He saw it in the donut shop. One day, 288 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: a staff member saw him in there. He went to 289 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: doctor Stanley huffing and puffing and told him how his 290 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: son was skipping church and that was very wrong and 291 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,719 Speaker 1: he needed to set a better example and on and 292 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: on all these ways how he needed to correct him. 293 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: Doctor Stanley looked him in the eyes and said, do 294 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: me a favor. You raise your son, and I'll raise 295 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: my son. See fathers see their own children in a 296 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: different light. That man wanted him to chew his son 297 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: out and wanted him to read him the Riot Act. 298 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 1: But doctor Stanley was much more loving, much more understanding, 299 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: much more forgiving because it was his own son. It's 300 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: the same way with our heavenly father. When we make mistakes. 301 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,360 Speaker 1: So often people judge us, put you down, tell you 302 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: you don't deserve anything good. You should have known better. 303 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: Thank God, our heavenly father, he doesn't see us in 304 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: that same light. I'm not saying this is an excuse 305 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: to live sloppy and not have integrity and not be disciplyn. 306 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: But I am saying that we're all going to make mistakes. 307 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: We're all human. Many people are living guilty, condemned, beaten 308 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: down by life because they're constantly listening to the accusing 309 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,360 Speaker 1: voices reminding them of everything that they've done wrong. You've 310 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 1: got to know your heavenly Father does not judge like 311 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: other people judge. He sees the wrong, but like doctor Stanley. 312 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: He's not going to give you what you deserve. He's 313 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 1: going to show you mercy because you're his child. When 314 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: we make mistakes, three main things that we need to do. 315 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: Number one, ask for forgiveness. Number two, receive God's mercy, 316 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: and number three move forward with your life, let it 317 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: go and press ahead. Some of you are still beating 318 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 1: yourself down over something that you did five years ago. 319 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: You've asked God to forgive you a thousand times, but 320 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: you can't let it go. You're living depressed, defeated, feeling unworthy, 321 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 1: trying to show God that you're sorry, trying to pay 322 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: God back. Listen, the price has already been paid. The 323 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: first time you ask God to forgive you, he forgave you. 324 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: Now you've got to receive God's mercy and press ahead. Listen, 325 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 1: that mistake did not change your name. My children have 326 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: never once gotten up in the morning as an osteem 327 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: and then done something wrong and gone to bed that 328 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: night with a different last name. No matter what they did, 329 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: they're still my children. You may have made mistakes, done 330 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,479 Speaker 1: something you're not proud of. You need to know you 331 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: are still your father's child. You are still the apple 332 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: of God's eye. You are still his most prized possession. 333 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: And God may not be pleased with every action, but 334 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: he's still pleased with you. He's still pleased that you're 335 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: in the game. He's pleased that you're here today, you're watching. 336 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: One of the greatest examples of God as a father 337 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: can be seen in the Parable Jesus of the Prodigal Son. 338 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: The young man left home, wasted all of his money, 339 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: living a wild life. He ended up living in the 340 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: hog pen. At his lowest moment, he thought, man, even 341 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,360 Speaker 1: the servants at my father's house live better than I do, 342 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: So I will arise and go to my father's When 343 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 1: you make a mistake, the best decision you can follow 344 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 1: it up with is to not run away from God. 345 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 1: But do like this young man and say, I will 346 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: arise and go to my father. When this father saw 347 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 1: the son a long way off, he took off, running 348 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: down the road toward his son. He gave him a 349 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 1: big hug, said to the staff, bring the best road, 350 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,360 Speaker 1: kill the fatted calf. We're going to have a party. 351 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: My son has come back home. The only picture of 352 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: God running in the Bible is where he's running as 353 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: a father to one of his children in need. And 354 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 1: sometimes when we make mistakes, religious and will beat us down. 355 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 1: You don't deserve anything good. You blew it, sit on 356 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: the sidelines of life. Nothing good is in store for you. 357 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 1: Please don't believe those lies. If you'll dare do like 358 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: this young man and take one step toward your heavenly Father, 359 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: he'll come running towards you with his arms held open wide. 360 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,239 Speaker 1: He'll receive you back, He'll restore you, give you a 361 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: new beginning. God can even make the rest of your 362 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: life better than the first part. But a lot of 363 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 1: times when we make mistakes like this young man, we 364 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 1: bring trouble on ourselves. We think, Oh, I can't ask 365 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: God to help me. I'd be a hypocrite. I knew 366 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,439 Speaker 1: it was wrong, I knew I shouldn't do it, but 367 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 1: I did it anyway. No way, God is going to 368 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: help me out of this mess. Now think of it 369 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: like this. When our son Jonathan was about five years old, 370 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: we had a big oak tree in the backyard that 371 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: he loved to climb. This tree had some low branches, 372 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: maybe six or eight feet off the ground. But I 373 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: told him, Jonathan, don't ever climb the tree without me 374 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: being here. Because you could fall off and really get hurt. 375 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: Imagine one day I'm in my bedroom and I hear 376 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: these screams coming from the backyard. I look out there, 377 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: and sure enough, Jonathan is hanging from that tree, holding 378 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: on for dear life, about to fall and get hurt. 379 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: He's saying, Daddy, Daddy, please come and help me. What 380 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: kind of father would I be if I said, hang on, Jonathan, 381 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 1: let me check and see if you've done your chores, Victoria. 382 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: Has Jonathan cleaned his room lately? Daddy, please, I'm about 383 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: to fall hurt just a second. Has he been nice 384 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: to his sister lately? No, you know as well as 385 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: I do. We would run out there as fast as 386 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: we could to help that child get down. It's the 387 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: same way with God. You may have made the mess, 388 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: You may have brought the trouble on yourself. The good 389 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,360 Speaker 1: news is your heavenly father is not going to leave 390 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 1: you out there hanging if you will call to him, 391 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: call out to him, knowing that he's not just your God, 392 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: he's not just your creator. He's more than that. He's 393 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: your father when you ask him. The scripture talks about 394 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 1: how God will help you without finding fault a lot 395 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 1: of people. They're living guilty, condemned. They go around they 396 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 1: don't think they deserve God's goodness. It's because they know 397 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 1: God as God, but they don't know him as a father. 398 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 1: If you'll start to see him as a father, then 399 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: when you make mistakes, you won't run away from God, 400 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 1: you will run to God. Victoria has a fantastic father. 401 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: He's one of the kindest, most generous people that I've 402 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: ever known. When Victoria was a teenager, she asked if 403 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: she could borrow the car and go to a friend's 404 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: house in the neighborhood. He said, yes, you can, as 405 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: long as you'll go directly there and come directly back home. Well, 406 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: Victoria was not quite as holy as I was growing up. 407 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: Of course I never did anything wrong. But Victoria did 408 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: go directly to her friend's house. But when she got there, 409 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: she thought, since we have the car, we might as 410 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: well go out and drive on the freeway a little while. 411 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,919 Speaker 1: The only problem is when she went to put the 412 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: car in gear instead of putting it in drive, she 413 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: accidentally put it in low one, which is basically first 414 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: or second gear. It's for climbing steep grades. So she's 415 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: out there on the freeway trying to go fifty miles 416 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 1: an hour in first gear. The engine is screaming like 417 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: a race car. She's wondering why it won't go any faster. 418 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: It begins to smoke. About fifteen minutes later, the engine 419 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 1: blows up. The car dies, the engine's ruined. She's sitting 420 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: on the side of the freeway. Most people in that situation, 421 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:48,879 Speaker 1: the last thing they would do would go call their father. 422 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,640 Speaker 1: But not Victoria. She said, like the prodigal I would 423 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 1: arise and go to my father. She said, Dad, I 424 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: blew it. I'm sorry forgive me, but I went out 425 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:00,959 Speaker 1: on the freeway and something happened to the car and 426 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: it won't run anymore. Now. If her father years before 427 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: would have been mean and harsh and judgmental, always beating 428 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: her down, she would have run away from him instead 429 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: of running to him. The reason people live guilty and 430 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: they think God's mad at them, and they give up 431 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,719 Speaker 1: on life, give up on their dreams, is because they 432 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 1: have the wrong image of God. It was easy for 433 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:27,440 Speaker 1: Victoria because her father is so loving and kind. Her 434 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: father came and picked her up, had the car toad, 435 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: and do you know he never said a word to 436 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 1: her about that situation. That's the mercy of a father. 437 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,399 Speaker 1: Sometimes we learn our lesson without God ever having to 438 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: say a word. And yes, God can bring correction, Yes 439 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:47,200 Speaker 1: he can bring discipline. But God doesn't harp on us. 440 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: God doesn't beraate us. God doesn't nag on us. Those 441 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: are the voices of the accuser, trying to keep us 442 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: from moving forward. When you make mistakes, God stands before 443 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: you with his arms held open wide. He says, come 444 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 1: on back home. I've already forgiven you. You may have 445 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: made the mess, but I'm gonna help you clean it up. 446 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,399 Speaker 1: Go get the best row, get a ring for their finger, 447 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: get shoes for their feet. We're gonna have a party 448 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,479 Speaker 1: because my child has come back home. Many of us 449 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: today we know God as a savior. We know God 450 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: as the king of kings, and that's great. But my 451 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: prayer is that we'll begin to know God better as 452 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 1: a father. If you didn't have a good father growing up, 453 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: don't let that taint the image of who your heavenly 454 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: father is. He's merciful, he's forgiving, he's loving, and he's 455 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 1: incredibly proud of you. He loves showing you off. He 456 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: thinks that you're amazing. Remember, you don't have to go 457 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: through anybody else to talk to God. You have a 458 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: direct line. Your heavenly Father will always take your call. 459 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 1: If you will begin to see God as a father, 460 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: then you won't live life guilty, condemned, feeling like you 461 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: don't measure up. No, you'll be strong, confident, secure. I 462 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: believe in declare you will become everything He's created you 463 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: to be, and you will live that life of victory 464 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: that He has in store. Amen, do you receive it today? 465 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: But we never like to close our broadcast without giving 466 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 467 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll 468 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 469 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 470 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 471 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church, keep God first place. He's 472 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 473 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 2: It's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. 474 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 2: It's a new year, time to forget the struggles of 475 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 2: the past and make room for new blessings. 476 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: It's a new year. 477 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 2: The perfect time to build expectation and faith for an 478 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 2: amazing new season. 479 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: The beginning of the year is a great time to 480 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,160 Speaker 1: start afresh and anew, to let go of negative things 481 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: of the past, and to get ready for the new 482 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:07,239 Speaker 1: things God has in store. Every January we create a 483 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 1: new devotional calendar. When you start off each day in faith, 484 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:15,680 Speaker 1: grateful for what God has done, making positive declarations over 485 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,800 Speaker 1: your future, you're setting the tone for a blessed day 486 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,919 Speaker 1: and a victorious year. This devotional calendar will help you 487 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: get your mind going in the right direction so you 488 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: can live in faith expecting the goodness of God. 489 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 490 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 2: of any amount this first month of the year, we 491 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 2: would like to send you a copy of our brand 492 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: new twenty twenty five three hundred and sixty five day 493 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 2: devotional calendar. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two, three. 494 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 2: One wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two 495 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 2: reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 496 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 2: Three capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines 497 00:28:57,920 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 2: for writing and reflection. 498 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: This is going to be one of your best years. 499 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 1: Our twenty twenty five devotional calendar is going to help 500 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: you stay in faith and see the goodness of God 501 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: in ways you've never seen. Victoria and I pray for 502 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 1: you and your family every day, and thank you so 503 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting 504 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 1: lives around the world. And a special thank you to 505 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. If 506 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 507 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, 508 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:35,959 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube now the new 509 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: joel Osteine Network twenty four hours a day, and of 510 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: course listen live on SERIOUSXM as well. But until we 511 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 1: meet again, met the Lord bless you and keep you, 512 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: may show you His favor and watch over you. 513 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 514 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 2: five devotional Calendar today. Visit Joelostein dot com or call 515 00:29:56,240 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 2: us toll free.