1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: go back to school, but to come back and move 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 21 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 23 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 4: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 4: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 25 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 4: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. 26 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 3: Well, God bless you. 27 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 4: It's always a joy to come into your homes, and 28 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 4: if you're ever in our area, please stop by and 29 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 4: be a part of one of our services. I promise 30 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 4: you we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks 31 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 4: so much for tuning in, and thank you again for 32 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 4: coming out. I like to start with something funny, and 33 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 4: one day up in heaven, God said to the men, 34 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 4: I want you to form two lines. One line for 35 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 4: the men who were the head of the house. The 36 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 4: other line is for the men who let the. 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 3: Woman be the head of the house. 38 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 4: The line where the woman ran the house was one 39 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 4: hundred miles. There was only one man in the other line. 40 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 4: God said, men, I'm ashamed of you. I created you 41 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 4: to be the head, but you let the woman run 42 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 4: the house. Only one man stood up to make me proud. 43 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 4: He looked at him and says, son, tell them, how 44 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 4: did you manage to be the only one in this line. 45 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 4: Men look confused, said I don't know. My wife told 46 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 4: me to stand here, Hold up your Bible. Say it 47 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 4: like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 48 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 4: what it says I am. I have what it says 49 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 4: I have. I can do what it says I can do. 50 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 4: Today I will be taught the word of God. I 51 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 4: boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 52 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 4: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 53 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 4: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 54 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 4: staying on the Potter's wheel. We all face situations that 55 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 4: we don't like. Where we're uncomfortable. We're not getting our way, 56 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 4: somebody's not treating us right, Traffics backed up, a person 57 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 4: gets on our nerves. It's easy to get frustrated. Thank God, 58 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,399 Speaker 4: when are you ever going to change this? But I've 59 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 4: learned you can't pray away every difficulty. Some of the 60 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 4: things that are uncomfortable in your life right now, if 61 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 4: God removed them, you wouldn't be prepared. 62 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: For the promotion that he has in store. 63 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 4: God uses difficulties to do a work in us. The 64 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 4: scripture says he is the potter. 65 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 3: We are the claim. 66 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 4: When God is spinning us around on that potter's wheel, 67 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 4: and he comes across a lump of impatience, of pride. 68 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: Of jealousy. 69 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 4: He'll put us in a situation to bring those impurities 70 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 4: to light. 71 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 3: Nothing randomly happens. 72 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 4: Every traffic jam, every person that irritates you, every time 73 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 4: you're at tempted to worry, to be critical, to be jealous. 74 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 4: That's an opportunity for you to be refined. In the 75 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 4: difficult times. We prove to God what we're made of. 76 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 4: That's when our quality is tested. And if you'll work 77 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 4: with God and stay on the Potter's wheel, be moldible, pliable, 78 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 4: willing to change, then your character will come up higher. 79 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 4: And as your character is developed, God will release more 80 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 4: of his blessings and favor. But too many people, when 81 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 4: they're in an uncomfortable situation, instead of doing the right thing, 82 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 4: keeping a good attitude, forgiving the wrong, being patient, they 83 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 4: try to get off the potter's will. They complain, get upset, offended, impatient. 84 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 4: I don't have to put up with this. I'm gonna 85 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 4: give them a piece of my mind. They respond the 86 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 4: same way year after year. That's why they get stuck. 87 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 4: And this is what happened with the Israelites. They were 88 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 4: headed toward the Promised Land, it was an eleven day journey, 89 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 4: no big deal. But they started complaining, it's hot, we're tired, 90 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 4: we don't like the food. Moses, it's uncomfortable out here. 91 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 4: Can't we just go back to Egypt? They kept getting 92 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 4: off the Potter's wheel. That eleven day journey ended up 93 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 4: taking over forty years, and they never did make it 94 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 4: into the Promised Land. They kept going around the same 95 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 4: mountain again and again. 96 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 3: If they would have. 97 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 4: Just recognized, yes, this is uncomfortable, we don't like it, 98 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 4: but we know God wouldn't have us here unless. 99 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 3: We needed it. He's using it to. 100 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 4: Refine us, to prepare us, to make us tougher, stronger. 101 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 3: It's not working against us, it's working for us. 102 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 4: If they were to pass those tests, let God refine them, 103 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 4: their character would to come up higher. 104 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 3: Their whole life would have been so much better now. 105 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 4: My challenge to us today is don't do like they 106 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 4: did and go the next forty years responding to the 107 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 4: uncomfortable situations the same way, getting upset, offended, impatient, feeling 108 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 4: sorry for yourself. No, stay on the Potter's wheel next 109 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 4: time you get stuck in traffic, instead of letting that 110 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 4: sour your day, have a new approach. 111 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:13,799 Speaker 3: God. 112 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 4: I believe you're guiding and directing my steps. You have 113 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 4: me at the right place at the right time. So 114 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 4: I'm going to stay in peace and enjoy. 115 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 3: Where I am. 116 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 4: That's passing the test. That's letting God refine you when 117 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 4: you go through a disappointment an unfair situation, instead of 118 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 4: being discouraged living in self pity. 119 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 3: No, God, you said you'd give me beauty for ashes. 120 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 4: You said what's meant for harm, you'd use to my advantage. 121 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 4: So I'm going to stay in faith and get ready 122 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 4: for the new thing that you have in store. Well, Joel, 123 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 4: I always get upset when I can't find my car keys. 124 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 4: I always get offended when my spouse does a certain thing, 125 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 4: or I always get discouraged when my friend doesn't call. 126 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 4: Whatever the always is for you, the next time it 127 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 4: comes up, respond differently. Start passing these tests. Life is 128 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 4: flying by. You don't have time to spend another year 129 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 4: going around that same mountain. Your destiny is waiting on you. 130 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:20,239 Speaker 4: God has amazing things. He wants to release new opportunities, 131 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 4: new levels, but it depends on the quality of our character. 132 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 4: None of us like uncomfortable situations. 133 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 3: But here's the key. 134 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 4: If God is not removing it, that means we must 135 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 4: need it. 136 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 3: He's using it to refine. 137 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 4: Us, to purify us, to get us prepared for new 138 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 4: levels of our destiny. If you're still responding to difficulties 139 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 4: the same way you did five years ago, getting upset offended, 140 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 4: I say this respectfully, you need to grow up. Don't 141 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 4: go another five years letting those same things keep you 142 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 4: from God's best. Recognize that's a test. You're on the 143 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 4: Potter's wheel. God's giving you an opportunity to come up higher. 144 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 4: Instead of complaining about that person at work that gets 145 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 4: on your nerves, have a new perspective. That person is 146 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 4: there to help develop your character. Next time you see 147 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 4: them they say something rude and disrespectful, instead of responding 148 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 4: the same way, letting it upset you or saying something 149 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 4: rude back to them. No, stay on the potter's wheel. 150 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 4: Let it bounce off of you. Don't pay it any attention. 151 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 4: Just smile and say I hope you have a great day. 152 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 3: Here's the beauty. 153 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 4: The next time you do it, it'll be a little 154 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 4: bit easier, the next time even easier. 155 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 3: And if you keep at it, you'll look up in 156 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 3: a year or two. It won't bother you at all. 157 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 3: What happened, Your character came up higher. 158 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 4: They didn't change you changed. But too often we're praying God, 159 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 4: change my children. They're getting on my nerve. Change my 160 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 4: bass he's driving me crazy. Change the traffic it's making 161 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 4: me upset. I've learned God is more interested in changing 162 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 4: me than he is in changing my circumstances. Sometimes we're 163 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 4: trying to pray away the very thing that God wants 164 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 4: to use. The reason he's not removing it is he's waiting. 165 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 3: For us to change. That person that irritates you. 166 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 4: God can use them like sandpaper to rub the rough 167 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 4: edges off of you. That neighbor that's hard to get 168 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 4: along with. God can use them to teach you how 169 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 4: to be merciful, kind understanding, Or that loved one that 170 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 4: says things that are hurtful. God can use them to 171 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 4: toughen you up, to learn not to be easily offended 172 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 4: thereby accident. 173 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 3: God has them there on purpose. 174 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 4: Why don't you look inside and say, God, how can 175 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 4: I change? How can I be more patient, more forgiving, 176 00:09:58,320 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 4: more loving, more understanding? 177 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 3: How can I come up higher? 178 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 4: See don't ever pray for God to change somebody else 179 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 4: without first saying God, change me now. A question I 180 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 4: asked myself often is how much have I grown in 181 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 4: the last five years? Do I have a better attitude? 182 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 4: Do I forgive quicker? Do I treat people better? Am 183 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 4: I kinder? Am I more considerate? We shouldn't be at 184 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 4: the same place now as we were five years ago. 185 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 4: If you're still letting the same things upset you, the 186 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 4: same people offend you, the same circumstances. 187 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 3: Still your joy. This is a wake up call. I'm 188 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: sounding the alarm. 189 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 4: You don't have time to waste another year going around 190 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 4: the same mountain. Your assignment is too important, Your time 191 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 4: is too valuable, your destiny is too great. 192 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 3: You can't afford forty. 193 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 4: Years like the Israelites to learn a lesson that we 194 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 4: could learn in a fraction of the time. You got 195 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 4: to put your foot down and say that's it. I'm 196 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 4: done going around this mountain. I'm done having a bad 197 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 4: attitude when I don't get my way. I'm done getting 198 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 4: stressed in traffic. I'm done arguing with my spouse. 199 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 3: Over the same petty things. This is a new day. 200 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 4: I'm not waiting for anyone or anything to change, I'm 201 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 4: going to change. The scripture talks about how there are 202 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 4: different levels that we can grow into vessels of clay, 203 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 4: vessels of wood that. 204 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 3: Are used for ordinary purposes. 205 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 4: But if you'll stay willing to change and not get 206 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 4: stuck in one level in your attitude and how you 207 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 4: treat people and how you respond to difficulties, but you'll 208 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 4: let God keep refining you, then you will become a 209 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 4: vessel of gold used for his highest purposes. When we 210 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 4: all start off at the same place in life, like 211 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 4: a lump of clay, we have impurities, impatience, selfishness, anger. 212 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 4: God will put us in situations to work that out 213 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 4: of us. The key is to pass those tests. Don't 214 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 4: fight against everything you don't like. That's an opportunity to 215 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 4: come up higher. And if you don't pass the test, 216 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 4: the good news is you get to take. 217 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 3: It again and again and again. 218 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 4: It's not going to go away until God does the 219 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 4: work in us. The sooner you deal with what you 220 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 4: know God is bringing delight, the better off you're going 221 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 4: to be. When Victoria and I were first married and 222 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 4: we were about to go someplace, I would ask her. 223 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 3: If she was ready to leave and When. 224 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 4: She would tell me yes, I would go get in 225 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 4: the car and wait and wait and wait and wait. 226 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 4: I'd get frustrated and go back in and said, I 227 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 4: thought you said you were ready. She would say I 228 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 4: am ready. I would say, well, would you mind walking 229 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 4: to the car. This happened time and time again. I 230 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 4: used to get so stressed, so uptight, and I was praying, God, 231 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 4: You've got to change her, make her more of this, 232 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 4: make her more that I had her on my potter's wheel. 233 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 4: One day I realized I'm not the potter God is. 234 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 4: The funny thing is God didn't change her. God used 235 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 4: her to change me. 236 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 3: Took a couple of years. I kept going around that 237 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 3: same mountain again and again. 238 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 4: Finally it dawned on me. Life is too short to 239 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 4: let this stress me out. She may not ever change, 240 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 4: so you know what I'm going to change. I learned 241 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 4: how to be patient, to stay calm, to be peaceful. Today, 242 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 4: it's no big deal. When she says I'm ready, I 243 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 4: know that. 244 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 3: Means in general, she's ready. It's like the two minute 245 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:45,559 Speaker 3: warning in football. 246 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 4: The clock officially says two minutes, but if you know football, 247 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 4: it's gonna take fifteen minutes. Now when she says I'm ready, 248 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 4: I'll go sit down, watch some television, get something to eat, 249 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 4: and mow the lawn, wash the car. She doesn't realize it, 250 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:07,199 Speaker 4: but I'm not looking that way. But God's used her 251 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 4: to refine me, to make me better. Are there things 252 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 4: that you keep letting upset you, stress you out? Do 253 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 4: you keep going around the same mountain again and again? 254 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 4: This may be hard to swallow, but that other person 255 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 4: may not ever change. 256 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 3: Why don't you change? 257 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 4: God wouldn't have put you in that situation if you 258 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 4: didn't need it. 259 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 3: He is not going to be content with you. 260 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 4: Stay in a vessel of clay, a vessel of wood, 261 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 4: not even a vessel of silver. 262 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 3: He's going to. 263 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 4: Keep spinning you around on that wheel until he brings 264 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 4: out all those impurities and you become the vessel of 265 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 4: gold he's created you to be. Now, our job is 266 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 4: to recognize that every challenge, every delay, every offense is 267 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 4: an opportunity to be refined. You can't just pray it away. 268 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 4: Not going to remove every difficult person from your life. 269 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 4: You've got to learn to overlook the. 270 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 3: Faults to stay on the high road. 271 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 4: He's not going to shield you from every negative, derogatory comment. 272 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 4: You've got to learn to keep your walls up, not 273 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 4: be easily offended. He's not going to keep us from 274 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 4: every delay inconvenience, setback. We've got to learn to believe 275 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 4: that he's directing our steps. 276 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 3: And go with the flow. 277 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 4: Be aware of what you're dealing with this week. Don't 278 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 4: let the same things continue to hold you back. If 279 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 4: you're going to become this vessel of gold, you got 280 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 4: to stay on the potter's wheel and be willing to change, 281 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 4: keep growing, keep letting God refine you. I was in 282 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 4: New York City a few years ago and went to 283 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 4: a diner early in the morning to eat breakfast. There 284 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 4: was a gentleman sitting a couple of tables over, and 285 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 4: he came up and told how when he came in 286 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 4: the restaurant that morning, it was very windy outside. The 287 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 4: person in front of him left the door slam in 288 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 4: his face. The person clearly saw him, looked around at him. 289 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 4: It's almost like he did it on purpose. This man 290 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 4: had been hot tempered his whole life. Normally he would 291 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 4: have gone over there and told them what he thought, 292 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 4: but he had been watching us on television for a 293 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 4: few years. 294 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 3: He heard me. 295 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 4: Talking about this subject growing not letting the same things 296 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 4: hold us back. 297 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 3: Just as he was. 298 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 4: About to give them a piece of his mind, he said, Joel, 299 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 4: I heard your voice saying let it go and God 300 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 4: will fight your battles. 301 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 3: He did just that. He ignored what that person did. 302 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 4: When he did, he said that he felt this incredible 303 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 4: joy bubbling up on the inside, something that he had 304 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 4: never felt before. When you pass these tests, when you 305 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 4: make a decision, I'm not going around this mountain responding 306 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 4: the same way. I'm going to bite my tongue even 307 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 4: though i feel like telling them off. I'm going to 308 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 4: stay peace, even though I feel like being stressed. I'm 309 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 4: going to forgive even though they did me wrong. When 310 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,920 Speaker 4: you do the right thing when it's difficult, like this man, 311 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 4: you will feel a new sense of joy down in 312 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 4: your spirit. You will know the creator of the universe 313 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 4: is smiling down on you. I read about how up 314 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 4: in the Northeast, fishing for codfish had become a. 315 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 3: Huge commercial business. 316 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 4: There was a great market for codfish all over the 317 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 4: United States, but they had a major problem with the distribution. 318 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 4: At first, they tried freezing the codfish, shipping it out 319 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 4: all over like they did their other products, but for 320 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 4: some reason, when the codfish was frozen, it didn't have 321 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:48,959 Speaker 4: any more taste. Next, they tried shipping it alive in 322 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 4: big containers with fresh seawater. They thought that would certainly 323 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 4: solve the problem, but it only made it worse. Because 324 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 4: the codfish just sat there inactive in the water, they 325 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 4: became soft and mushy, and once again lost their taste. 326 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 4: Someone came up with an interesting idea. They decided to 327 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,959 Speaker 4: put a catfish in each container. 328 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 3: With the codfish. The catfish is the. 329 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 4: Natural enemy of the codfish, so the whole time the 330 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 4: codfish was being shipped it had to stay alert and 331 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 4: active looking out for this catfish. 332 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: This solved the problem. 333 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 4: When the codfish arrived at their destination, they were just 334 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 4: as fresh and tasty as they were up in the northeast. 335 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 4: What's my point, Sometimes what looks like an enemy is 336 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 4: really an asset. That person that gets on your nerves, 337 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 4: that neighbor that doesn't treat you right, that traffic that 338 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 4: gets you stressed out. What you think is there to 339 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 4: defeat you. The truth is God put it there to 340 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 4: make you better. Nothing in your life happens by accident, 341 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 4: the people you encounter, the delays, the grouchy clerk, the 342 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 4: slow water, the child that never stops. They are divinely 343 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 4: orchestrated by the creator of the universe to help make 344 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 4: you and mould you into that vessel of gold. 345 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 3: Now, how you respond is what makes the difference. 346 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 4: If you get upset, impatient, offended, feel sorry for yourself, 347 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 4: you'll get stuck. Pay attention to what you don't like 348 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 4: in your life, what you're praying for God to remove, 349 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 4: what you're fighting against. Recognize that catfish is there to 350 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 4: make you better, not to defeat you, but to promote you. 351 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 4: Now you may work with a catfish, you may be 352 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 4: married to a catfish. 353 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 3: Or you say, Joel, my mother in law. She's not 354 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 3: a catfish, she's a great white shark. 355 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 4: God wouldn't have put you there if you didn't need it. 356 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 4: Like iron sharpens iron, that's going to sharpen you, stay 357 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 4: on the potter's wheel. God's using that to strengthen you, 358 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 4: find you, to polish you. 359 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 3: To develop your character. 360 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 4: Several years ago, Victoria and I were headed to an 361 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 4: important meeting that started at seven point thirty. We got 362 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 4: delayed at home and were running a little late, but 363 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 4: I knew we could still make it on time if 364 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 4: I caught all the lights just right, didn't run into 365 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 4: any traffic. 366 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 3: Everything was going great. 367 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 4: We were making good time until I saw these flashing 368 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 4: red lights at the railroad tracks. 369 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 3: A train was coming by. 370 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 4: We had never seen a train there at that particular 371 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 4: time of day. I was convinced this was the enemy 372 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 4: trying to delay me. 373 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 3: I prayed, I rebuked, I confessed. 374 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 4: Seemed like the more I prayed, the slower the train went. 375 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 4: It got slower and slower. Finally stopped and started backing up. 376 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 4: About ten minutes later, it had changed direction and was 377 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 4: just about to clear the road so we could go, 378 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 4: and I heard this loud train horn. Thought, that's strange. 379 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 4: They don't sound the horn at the end into the train. 380 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 4: I looked up and another train was coming on the 381 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 4: second set of tracks. I didn't even know there were 382 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 4: two sets of tracks. I finally got the message and said, 383 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 4: you know what, I'm just gonna relax. God is still 384 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 4: in control. Life is too short to let this stress 385 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 4: me out. You know what, that train was a catfish. 386 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 4: God allowed it to be there, not to just delay 387 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 4: the not to just make my life miserable, but to 388 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 4: refine me, to make me better. For years, I thought 389 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:35,439 Speaker 4: that was the enemy attacking me. Now I realized that 390 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 4: was God attacking my impatience. I've learned to stay on 391 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 4: the Potter's wheel. My attitude is God, you can have 392 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 4: it your way. It doesn't have to change. 393 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 3: I'll change. The scripture says they're in one Peter. 394 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 4: Our faith is tried in the fire of affliction, as 395 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 4: fire purifies gold. You don't really know what's in you 396 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 4: until you're put under pressure. The pressure brings to light 397 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 4: what we need to deal with. Peter said, Jesus, I'll 398 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 4: never deny you. I'm your biggest follower. But a few 399 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 4: days later, when Peter was under pressure, he denied that 400 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 4: he knew Jesus three times. When you find yourself in 401 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 4: an uncomfortable situation where you feel like being impatient, you 402 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 4: feel like telling somebody off, you tempted to be upset, offended, 403 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 4: that's when you have to recognize this is a test. 404 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 4: I'm here for a reason. I'm not gonna go around 405 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 4: this same mountain responding the same way. 406 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 3: I'm gonna come up higher. 407 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 4: I'm gonna keep my cool, I'm gonna forgive even though 408 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 4: they did me wrong. 409 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:41,679 Speaker 3: I'm gonna stay in peace. 410 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 4: If you'll stay on that Potter's wheel and let God 411 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 4: keep refining you, you are headed. 412 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 3: Toward that vessel of gold. 413 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:54,440 Speaker 4: That's when God can release some of the amazing things 414 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 4: he has in your future. But it all depends on 415 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 4: the quality of our character. You can have gifts, you 416 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 4: can have talents, but your character is what matters. Can 417 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 4: God trust you with more responsibility, with greater influence, with 418 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 4: new levels. If you'll see these catfish, so to speak, 419 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 4: in the right way, recognize each one is a test, 420 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,439 Speaker 4: and respond properly, you'll see God take you places that 421 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 4: you've never imagined. Years ago, the government of Thailand wanted 422 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,439 Speaker 4: to build a new highway, but right in the middle 423 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 4: of their path was a huge religious statue that had 424 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 4: been there for decades. It stood over forty feet tall 425 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 4: was made out of clay. This statue was greatly revered 426 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 4: by the people. They knew they had to move it 427 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 4: with extreme caution. Got their cranes very delicately and carefully 428 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 4: started to lift the statue. But even as hard as 429 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 4: they tried, some of the clay began to crack. They 430 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 4: stopped and readjusted, tried to do it more careful, but 431 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 4: again the clay continued to break off. They were very 432 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 4: distressed that they were damaging this important religious statue. They 433 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 4: finally got it to its new destination, but as they 434 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 4: were lifting it off the truck with the crane, a 435 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 4: huge piece of clay fell off. One of the men 436 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 4: noticed something shiny underneath the clay. He went over to 437 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 4: examine it, much to their amazement, underneath the clay, the 438 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 4: whole statue was made out of solid gold. The clay 439 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 4: was never supposed to be permanent. It was just a 440 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 4: facade to protect the gold. Yet it had been there 441 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 4: for hundreds of years. In the same way, we all 442 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 4: start off as vessels of clay. We have flaws and weaknesses, impatience, selfishness, pride. 443 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 4: All we can see is the clay, But underneath that 444 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 4: clay is a vessel of gold. God made you to shine. 445 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 4: You grow you let him keep refining you. Little by little, 446 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 4: that clay is going to come off. Maybe you used 447 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 4: to get offended by that coworker that said hurtful things. 448 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 3: It ruins your day. 449 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 4: You tried to pay them back, but then you started 450 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 4: overlooking it, staying in peace, taking the high road, letting 451 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 4: God fight your battles. Now it doesn't bother you anymore. 452 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 3: What's happening. 453 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 4: The clay is coming off, the gold is starting to 454 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 4: shine through. Maybe, like me, you used to be impatient 455 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 4: in traffic, stress when your plans didn't work out. But 456 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 4: now you've learned to go with the flow, knowing that 457 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 4: God's in control, it's no big deal. What's happening More 458 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 4: and more that clay is coming off. Your gold is 459 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 4: getting brighter and brighter. Or perhaps you used to rely 460 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 4: on compliments, people's approval to feel good about yourself. 461 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 3: That's how you gained your value, your self worth. But 462 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 3: now you know that God approves you, that He's made 463 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 3: you valuable, that you're a masterpiece. So you put your 464 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 3: shoulders back. 465 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 4: You live with confidence, knowing that you're one of a kind. 466 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 3: What's happening. 467 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 4: The low self esteem, the insecurity is breaking off, and 468 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 4: your gold is starting to shine forth. We all have 469 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 4: areas where we can come up higher. All of us 470 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 4: still have some clay, some dirt left on us. 471 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 3: Don't get discouraged. 472 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 4: The scripture says he that began a good work in 473 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 4: you will continue to perform it until it's complete. The 474 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 4: good news is you're not a finished product. God is 475 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 4: still working on you. Don't beat yourself up because you're 476 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 4: still dealing with some weaknesses. 477 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 3: Just stay on the potter's wheel. 478 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 4: Just keep improving. Every person fails from time to time. 479 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 4: The key is to get back up again. 480 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 3: Don't you dare settle for the clay. You have gold 481 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 3: in you. You were made in the image of Almighty God. 482 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 3: He created you to shine, to live free. 483 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 4: Happy, secure, peaceful, confident, calm. 484 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 3: That's what's on the inside. 485 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 4: I'm asking you to work with God to bring it out. 486 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 4: Don't try to pray away every uncomfortable situation. Recognize that's 487 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 4: an opportunity for more clay to come off. Don't complain 488 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,920 Speaker 4: about the catfish. God put it there. It's not there 489 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 4: to defeat you. It's there to make you better. If 490 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 4: you'll make this decision that you're going to stay on 491 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 4: the potter's wheel, let God refine you see these as 492 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 4: opportunities to grow. Then you will not stay a vessel 493 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,719 Speaker 4: of clay, a vessel of wood, nor a vessel of silver. 494 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:46,679 Speaker 4: But I believe and declare you will become a vessel 495 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 4: of gold. 496 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:49,679 Speaker 3: Use for His highest purposes. 497 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 4: You'll not only enjoy your life more, but you will 498 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 4: see His favor in amazing ways and become everything God's 499 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:58,360 Speaker 4: created you to be. 500 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 3: I declare it in Jesus name. If you receive it, 501 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:02,639 Speaker 3: can you say him inn today? 502 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 4: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 503 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 4: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 504 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 4: Would you pray with me? Just say Lord, Jesus, I 505 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 4: repent of my sins. 506 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 3: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 507 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 4: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 508 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 4: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 509 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 4: Keep God first place. He's going to take your places 510 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 4: that you've never dreamed. 511 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the joelos Deine podcast. Help 512 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 5: us continue to share the message of hope with those 513 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 5: all over the world. 514 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 3: Visit joelos dein dot. 515 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 5: Com slash give Hope to give a gift today. 516 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 517 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 4: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 518 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 4: podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 519 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 3: We're praying for you. 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