1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: listening to the podcast. We have a new resource. It's 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: a twenty twenty four daily devotional. We'd love to send 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: it to you. It'll help you start the day off right. 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 2: You will love this devotional and know this, we are 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 2: praying for you and we are believing for God's very 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 2: best for you in twenty twenty four. 8 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 3: Well, God bless you. Thank you so much for tuning 9 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 3: in today. 10 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: We love you and we know that God has good 11 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: things in store for you, and we. 12 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 3: Come with good news. 13 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: It's telling them earlier how God rewards people that seek 14 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: after Him and I know that's you, or you wouldn't 15 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: even be tuned in today. 16 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 3: So thanks for stopping by, and. 17 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: I hope you if you're ever in our area, you'll 18 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 1: come be a part of one of our services. 19 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 3: We'll make you feel right at home. But glad to 20 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 3: have you with us today. 21 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 1: And I like to start each week with something kind 22 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: of funny. So somebody told me this one was this man. 23 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: He was a Southern Baptist man by the name of Bill. 24 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: He loved to sneak away to the horse tracks and 25 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: bet and one day after losing almost all of his money. 26 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: He noticed this priest stepped out onto the tracks and 27 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: blessed this horse, and he watched very curiously, and sure 28 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: enough that horse won first place. 29 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 3: The next race, the priest blessed another. 30 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: Horse, and again he won. And so Bill ran back 31 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: to the ATM machine got all his money out. And 32 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: the next time, the priest not only touched the horse's forehead, 33 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: but he touched his eyes, his ears, and all of 34 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: his hoofs. And Bill was so confident he bet all 35 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: of his money on that horse. But in the middle 36 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: of that race, that horse fell down dead. He could 37 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: not believe it. He rushed over to that priest. He said, 38 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: what in the world happened? The priest said, this is 39 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: the problem with you Protestants. You don't know the difference 40 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 1: between a blessing and the last rites. 41 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 3: All right, hold your vivals up. Say it like him 42 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 3: in it. 43 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 4: Ready, this is my Bible. I am what it says 44 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 4: I am. I have what it says I have. I 45 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 4: can do what it says I can do. Today I 46 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 4: will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 47 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 4: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 48 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 4: never be the same in Jesus' name, God bless you. 49 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: We've been talking about how God is a god of restoration. 50 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: He wants to restore everything that's been stolen. We all 51 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: go through disappointments, we all have unfair things that happen, 52 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: and too often we just hold on to that hurt 53 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: and pain and we end up going around negative and sour. 54 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: And it may be something simple, like you didn't get 55 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: a promotion you were hoping for, or maybe somebody offended 56 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: you at work last week, or your spouse didn't treat 57 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: you right. Sometimes it's our own fault. We lost our 58 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: temper and we were short with our children, or we 59 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: didn't exercise enough last week, or we ate too much. 60 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 3: It's easy to go around feeling bad about ourselves, guilty. 61 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: And condemned, focused on our mistakes. Now I know a 62 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: lot of people that are living in regrets. Well, I 63 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: wish I had finished school, I wish I had chosen 64 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: a different career, I wish I had been a better parent. 65 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: Too often we live life looking in that rear view mirror. 66 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,399 Speaker 1: We have to understand we cannot do anything about what's gone, 67 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: but we can do something about right now. Now. I 68 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: want to challenge you today to not let your past 69 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: poison your future. You may have made some poor choices 70 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: in life, or maybe somebody did you wrong and your 71 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: dreams didn't work out. You need to know God still 72 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: has a great plan in store for your life. 73 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:27,679 Speaker 3: And when we get up in the morning, one of 74 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 3: the first things we. 75 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: Should do is shake off the disappointments of yesterday. Shake 76 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: off discouragement, Shake off how somebody treated you, shake off guilt, 77 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: shake off self pity. 78 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 3: Friends. 79 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: You gotta shake off the past. Our attitude should be 80 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: this is a new day. I may have made mistakes yesterday. 81 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: My plans may have fallen through. People may have disappointed me. 82 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: But you know what, what's. 83 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 3: Done is done. 84 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: I'm letting all that go and I'm gonna start this 85 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: day afresh and a new See every morning, you need 86 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: to just wipe the slate totally clean. You need to 87 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: say I am forgiving the people that hurt me. I'm 88 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: forgiving my spouse. He was insensitive, but I'm not gonna 89 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: let it ruin this day. I'm forgiving my boss for 90 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: being rude to me last week. I'm forgiving that person 91 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: for cutting me off in traffic. 92 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 3: That's over and done. Not gonna think about it anymore. 93 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: And when you make mistakes, learn to receive God's mercy 94 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 1: for yourself. Maybe last week you said some things you 95 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 1: shouldn't have, Maybe you spent too much money, maybe you 96 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: blew your diet. Well, don't go around today guilty and condemned. 97 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: The Scripture says in lamentations that God's mercies are fresh and. 98 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 3: New every single morning. 99 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: When you wake up and you're tempted to focus on 100 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: all your faults and mistakes of yesterday, or you need 101 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: to just shake all that off. You need to say, Father, 102 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday, but I 103 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: receive your mercy today. 104 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 3: I receive your forgiveness. 105 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: See, don't start the day off guilty and condemned. Started 106 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: off in. 107 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 3: Faith and expectancy. 108 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: And when you go through disappointments, when you suffer some setbacks, 109 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: don't get up in the morning all discouraged. Well, I 110 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: should have known my plans weren't going to work out. 111 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: Nothing good ever happens to me. Now you've got to 112 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: learn to shake off that self pity. And if your 113 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: plans didn't work out, it's not because God doesn't love you. 114 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: It's not because God's trying to punish you most of 115 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: the time, it's because God has something better in store 116 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: for you. And the scripture tells us that God will 117 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: take the unfair things, he'll take the disappointments, and he'll 118 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: turn them around and use them to our advantage. But 119 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: if that's going to happen, you've got to do your 120 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: part and let go of yesterday. And that's what the 121 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: apostle Paul is saying here in Philippians three thirteen. Forgetting 122 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: what lies behind, I press forward to the good things 123 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: that are in store. And after all, what's done is done. 124 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: If somebody offended you last week, you cannot undo that. 125 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: You can either get angry and bitter and try to 126 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: pay them back, or you can just forgive them and 127 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: move on with your life. Or maybe you didn't qualify 128 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: for that new home that you really wanted. 129 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 3: Well, don't get discouraged. 130 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: Know that God has promised that all things are going 131 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: to work together for your good friends. What I'm saying 132 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: today is you don't have to be a prisoner of 133 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: your past, whether it happened twenty years ago or twenty 134 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: minutes ago. Why don't you make a decision that you're 135 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: going to let it go and move on. 136 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 3: Your past does not have to poison your future. 137 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: And I'm asking you not to waste another minute being depressed, defeated, angry, bitter, 138 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: in self pity. 139 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 3: Don't let all that go. 140 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,799 Speaker 1: Our time here on this earth is so very short. 141 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: Before you know it, we're all going to be gone. 142 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: And what a shame to allow something that's happened in 143 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: the past to destroy this day, to destroy our future. 144 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 3: And that's exactly what we do. 145 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: Sometimes something can happen early in the morning and we 146 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: let it ruin our whole day. Get caught in traffic, 147 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: you get delayed, you can't find your car keys. Well, 148 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: you can either let that frustrate you and sour the 149 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: rest of your day, or you can do what the 150 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: scripture says and let the past be the past. Just 151 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: let it go and move on and enjoy that day anyway. 152 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: For instance, maybe somebody offends you at ten o'clock in 153 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: the morning and now it's ten thirty, Well our attitude 154 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: should be I'm moving on. I'm not holding on to 155 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: that offense. That's over and gone. Maybe at noon you 156 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: found out you didn't get that big account you've been 157 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: working on. Now it's two o'clock your attitude should be 158 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: no big deal. I'm not gonna let that ruin the 159 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: rest of my week. Yes I'm disappointed, Yes I would 160 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: have loved to have it, but I'm gonna hold my 161 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: head up high knowing that God is still in control 162 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: and He's got good things in store for me. See, 163 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: you've got to learn to shake off those disappointments, shake 164 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: off that discouragement, shake off your mistakes and failures. Don't 165 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: live your life guilty and condemned. I can tell you this. 166 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: The enemy will do his very best to try to 167 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: get your days started off all negative and sour. He 168 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: will remind you of every mistake you made last week. 169 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: He'll give you a complete inventory of every time you 170 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: had a bad attitude, every time you were undisciplined, every 171 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: time you blew it. His whole gold is to get 172 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: us to go through the day with a heaviness, feeling bad, 173 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: carrying around all this baggage. 174 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 3: Well, man, I should have read my Bible. 175 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: More yesterday, or I wanted to clean the house, but 176 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: I was lazy and I just watched TV all day. 177 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: I don't know what's wrong with me. Why am I 178 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: so undisciplined? 179 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 3: No, don't you dare start your day off like that. 180 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: You get up in the morning and say, Father, I 181 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: thank you that this is going to be a great 182 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: day and I'm gonna. 183 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 3: Do what I need to do. You just declare it. 184 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: Father, I thank you that I have discipline, I have 185 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: self control, that I am focused and God, I may 186 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: not have done what I should have yesterday, but I'm 187 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: letting go of that, and I'm gonna do better today. See, 188 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: don't live your life guilty and condemned. Yesterday you may 189 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: have blown your diet, but let it go. 190 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 3: That day's over. Get up and do better today. 191 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: If you go through this day guilty and you start 192 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 1: making excuses, you know as well as I do, you'll 193 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: go out and eat fourteen gallons of ice cream today. 194 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 3: Let it go. 195 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: Last week you may have been short with some of 196 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: your employees. Let it go and do better this week. 197 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: Last month, you may have spent too much money. You 198 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: weren't very wise and your finances will Let that go 199 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,199 Speaker 1: and do better this month. The scripture tells us in 200 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: Ephesians four to twenty three that every day, not every month, 201 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: not once a week, no every day, we need to 202 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: put on a fresh new attitude. 203 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 3: Being constantly renewed in the spirit of our minds. 204 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: That means every morning we need to forgive the people 205 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: that have hurt us. 206 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 3: Every morning we need. 207 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: To receive God's mercy for our own mistakes. And every 208 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,599 Speaker 1: morning we need to let go of the disappointments of yesterday. 209 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: And I know some of you have had a lot 210 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: of negative things happen in your life, and it's very 211 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: easy to stay focused on the pain the past and 212 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: all the people that hurt you and all the times 213 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: things didn't work out. But please don't fall into that trap. 214 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: And one of the main ways we let go of 215 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: the past is simply don't think about it and don't 216 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: talk about it. When those negative memories come up in 217 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: your mind, do not relive them. One of the best 218 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: things you can do is learn to change the channel. 219 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: Just like you do with that television remote control. You 220 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: see something you don't want to watch, you flip on by. Well, 221 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: you can do the same thing in your mind. You 222 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: can mentally change the channel, and when those painful memories 223 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: come up, don't stop there, flip on by. That's over 224 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: and done. This is a new day. You've got to 225 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: keep your mind going in the right direction. Keep your 226 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: mind focused on good things in an attitude of faith. 227 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: I know sometimes when I'm watching TV at home, I'll 228 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: come across a medical program where they're doing some kind 229 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: of operation and they've got the person all opened up. 230 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: You can see the skin pull back and the blood 231 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: and the organs. Well, do you know take me more 232 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: than a half a second to flip on by? That 233 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: stuff is not for me. I don't even have to 234 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: think twice. And really that's the same way it should 235 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: be when it comes to the negative things of our past. 236 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: The enemy would love for you to continually relive every 237 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: disappointment and every painful thing that's happened to you. 238 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 3: But don't make that mistake. 239 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: Some people, when all that jump comes up on the 240 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: picture screen of their mind, instead of flipping by it 241 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: quickly like they should, they pull up a chair and 242 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,079 Speaker 1: get a bag of popcorn, like they're gonna watch a 243 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: good movie, and for a half an hour they'll just 244 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 1: replay it and relive it over and over again. 245 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 3: You know as well as I do. 246 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: All that does it gets you more upset, more depressed, 247 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: more full of self pity. 248 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 3: Don't go there. Learn to change the channel. 249 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: If you make the mistake of dwelling on that junk 250 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 1: I found. Before long, you'll be talking about it. You'll 251 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: be telling your friends. Can you believe what happened to me? 252 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: Life is so unfair. The more you talk about it, 253 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: the more you think about it, the more stirred up 254 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: it's gonna stay. It's just like a wound that's trying 255 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: to heal, like a scab. Every time you talk about it, 256 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: you're picking that wound. It's never going to get better. 257 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: Quit rehearsing it, Quit reliving it. Learn to change the channel. 258 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: If you're going to go forward, you got to quit 259 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: looking backwards. I know a couple of years after my 260 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: father died, I was over at my parents' house one night, 261 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: all alone, and I hadn't been there by myself in 262 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: quite some time. And as I was walking through the 263 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: family room, I immediately began to think about the night 264 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: that my father died. 265 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 3: I don't know why. It just came up. 266 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: In my thinking. And I could see my father lying 267 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: there on the floor. Daddy had a heart attack and 268 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: died right there in the family room. I could see 269 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: the paramedics working on him frantically. I could see his face, 270 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: and I begin to feel those same emotions sorrow sadness, despair. 271 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: This went on for maybe fifteen to twenty thirty seconds, 272 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: and I finally caught myself. I thought, what am I doing? 273 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: Where is my mind going now? I had to make 274 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: a decision that I was not going to relive that night. 275 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 3: It was not going to do me any good. 276 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: And so instead I started on purpose thinking about all 277 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: the good memories I had in that room. I mean, 278 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: that's where my father and I used to watch Wheel 279 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: of Fortune together. He used to think he could beat me, 280 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: but he never could. That's where Daddy used to play 281 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: with my children. Sometimes I'd come over to see my 282 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: father and he'd be sitting there in his favorite chair. 283 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: He'd smiling and say, Joe, tell me all you know. 284 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 3: It'll just take a second. 285 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: He thought he was real funny. I thought, if he 286 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: could only see me now, it'd take me more than 287 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: a second. But I had to on purpose not allow 288 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: my mind to go back to those painful memories. It 289 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: was a decision I had to make. You got to 290 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: do the same thing, quit reliving all the negative things 291 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,599 Speaker 1: that have happened to you. I heard somebody say, we 292 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: have two main files in our memory system, one is 293 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: a file of all the good things that have happened 294 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,479 Speaker 1: to us, all of our victories, all of our accomplishments, 295 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: all of the things that have brought us joy and happy. 296 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: That's file number one. The second file is filled with 297 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: all of the negative things of our past, all of 298 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,079 Speaker 1: our hurts and pains, all of our failures and disappointments, 299 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: anything that's caused us sorrow and sadness, and throughout life. 300 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 1: We can choose which file we're going to go back to. 301 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: And some people, unfortunately, they're constantly going back to file 302 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: number two, thinking about all the times they were hurt, 303 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: all the times they were mistreated, all the times their 304 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: plans didn't work out. I mean, they just wear out 305 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: file number two. They are so preoccupied with the pains 306 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: of the past they never get around to look at 307 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: in file number one. They never even think about the 308 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: good things God has done in their life. Friends, I'm 309 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: challenging you today, if you're going to live in victory, 310 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: you got to throw away the key to file number two. 311 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 3: Don't go back there anymore. 312 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: If you go back for anything, go back to file 313 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: number one and remember the great things God has done 314 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: in your life. The scripture tells us we got to 315 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: think on things that are of a good report Lord, 316 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: things that build us up and not tear us down. 317 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: And this is where so many people are missing it today. 318 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: This is why so many people are not happy. It's 319 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: just like they're constantly dragging around all this baggage from 320 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: the past. They got this big old suitcase out. Somebody 321 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: offended them. They put that bitterness and resentment in there. 322 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: They pack it away. They didn't get that promotion we 323 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: talked about, so they got that self. 324 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 3: Pity packed in there. 325 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: Growing up, they were mistreated, they had some unfair things happen. Man, 326 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: they got a whole suitcase for all that junk, lugging 327 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: it around with them. Ten years ago a loved one died. 328 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: They sure don't understand that they got that packed away. 329 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: And everywhere they go they are so weighted down carrying 330 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,479 Speaker 1: all this baggage self. 331 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 3: Pity, bitterness, resentment. 332 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: And if that's not bad enough, every once in a 333 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: while they'll stop and open up a bag, take something 334 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: out and look at it. 335 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 3: Real good. 336 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: We live all the negative some of you even today, 337 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: you do not realize how weighted down you are. You've 338 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: been carrying around junk year after year, somebody hurts you, 339 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: somebody disappointed you. Your plans didn't work out this and 340 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: God wants you. 341 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 3: To be free. 342 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: You got to let go of that jump. Well, you said, Joe, 343 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: you don't understand what I've been through. It was so unfair. 344 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: They hurt me so badly. Now I don't doubt any 345 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: of that. I realize life is not always fair, but 346 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: don't let that continue to poison you by holding on 347 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: to it. If you will give it to God and 348 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: quit thinking about it and quit reliving it, God will 349 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: make your wrongs right. God is a god of justice. 350 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: He'll pay you back. 351 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 3: But as long as you're. 352 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: Holding onto it, it's just gonna make matters worse. 353 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 3: It's gonna keep you bitter and negative. 354 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: When you give it to God, though, he'll make sure 355 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: that you not only get what you deserve, he'll pay 356 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: you back with much much more. 357 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 3: I know. 358 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: A couple of years ago, we were trying to buy 359 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: some property to build a new church sanctuary on it. 360 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: And we searched and searched for probably six months time, 361 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: and we finally found this one hundred acre tract. 362 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 3: Of land, and we loved it. We thought it was perfect. 363 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: It was over by the other low cation not too 364 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: far off the freeway, and so we signed a non 365 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: binding letter of intent to buy that property. And for 366 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: the next several months, we did all kinds of studies. 367 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 3: And we did the soil samples. 368 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: We had our architects layout where the buildings would go 369 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 1: and how the parking lots would flow, and we spent 370 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: thousands and thousands of dollars zoo all this research to 371 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: really make sure the property would work for us. Well, 372 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: it finally came down to closing, and I'll never forget. 373 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 1: It was early on a Thursday morning, and we showed 374 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: up about fifteen minutes before our appointment, and this secretary 375 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: walked out and she said, I hate to tell you 376 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: guys this, but we sold. 377 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 3: That property last night to another buyer. 378 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: Man. 379 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 3: We could not believe it. 380 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: Here, We'd spent all this time and effort and energy. 381 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: We were so disappointed. I was tempted to go home 382 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: and have a pity party. I was tempted to say, God, 383 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: that is not fair. God, why didn't you do something? 384 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: How come you didn't stop them? 385 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 3: God? Your God? 386 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: But no I had to do just when I'm telling 387 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: you today, I just said, God, it is not fair 388 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: and I don't understand it, but I'm not gonna hold 389 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: on to it. 390 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna give it to you, and. 391 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna trust it You're gonna make it up to us. 392 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: And for the next several weeks, when I got up 393 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 1: in the morning, I had to change the channel. Those negative, 394 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 1: discouraging thoughts kept coming to my mind, and I'd have 395 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 1: to say, no, I'm not gonna go there. I'm not 396 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: gonna dwell on that, and I'm not gonna go around 397 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: telling everybody what happened. I just stayed in an attitude 398 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 1: of faith. Month after month went by, we didn't see 399 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: any new doors open up. 400 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 3: But see, that was a time of testing. 401 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: When you don't get your way, you're being mistreated, or 402 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 1: somebody did something unfair to you. God is closely watching 403 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: you to see how you're gonna respond. Are you gonna 404 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: hold on to it and get negative and better and 405 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: go around complaining all the time, or are you just 406 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: gonna let it go and keep a smile on your 407 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: face anyway and stay in that attitude of faith, trusting. 408 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 3: God to make it up to you. We just turned 409 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 3: it over to God. 410 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 1: And it was about six months after that that we 411 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: got a call that this place was becoming available, and 412 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: we knew right then and there that God had supernaturally 413 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: closed those doors so he could do something even far 414 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: greater than we had even imagined. And sometimes what may 415 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 1: look like a great disappointment in your own life is 416 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: really only God keeping you from making a mistake. You 417 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: got to learn to trust him. God always has. 418 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 3: Your best interest at heart. 419 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 1: And when your plans don't work out and you don't 420 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: get your way, don't sit around all depressed and sour. 421 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 1: And you've got to learn to shake off that discouragement 422 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 1: and keep. 423 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 3: Moving forward with your life. 424 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:37,919 Speaker 1: Too many people today they will not let go of 425 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: the baggage. I know this lady that went through a 426 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: felled marriage. She was married to a very well to 427 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: do man and for some reason he left her and 428 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: married somebody else, and she could just not seem to 429 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: get over this. She was so bitter about it, And 430 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: I told her what I'm telling you today, that you've 431 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: got to let that go, keep a good attitude, and 432 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: trust God to make it up to you. 433 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,880 Speaker 3: And year after you we prayed time and time. 434 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: Again at the Old Sanctuary that God would bring somebody 435 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 1: new into her life. And sure enough, one day that 436 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: door opened up and she met this man, a fine man, 437 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: a godly man, very successful as well. 438 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 3: But do you know she. 439 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: Made the mistake of carrying all that old baggage into 440 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: this new relationship. She was constantly talking about how badly 441 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: she had been hurt and all she had gone through, 442 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: and how just totally dreamed she was. And this man 443 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: told me privately later that she was so focused on 444 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: her past and so caught up in what she had 445 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: been through, he couldn't handle it anymore. 446 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 3: He just moved on. 447 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: And that's exactly what happens. When we hold on to 448 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: the hurts and pains of the past. It's going to 449 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: poison us wherever we go. And you may think other 450 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: people are the problem, and that's why you can't have 451 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: healthy relationships. 452 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 3: But I would. 453 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: Encourage you to examine your own heart and make sure 454 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: that you're not the problem. We cannot expect to have 455 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: good relationships if we're dragging all this baggage around with us. 456 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 1: Some of you today you need to draw that line 457 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: into sand and say, you know what, I've had enough. 458 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get rid of all my baggage, and I'm 459 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: gonna stop focusing on my disappointments and on who hurt 460 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: me and what didn't work out, and I'm gonna start 461 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: dwelling on the bright future God has in store for me. 462 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna start moving forward with my life. And when 463 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: you do that, God can give you a new beginning. 464 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: That's when things can begin to change. And I understand 465 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: that when we go through disappointments and unfair things happen, 466 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: it's normal to feel a little down and discouraged. 467 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 3: Of course, if you lose. 468 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 1: A loved one, it's natural to grieve and mourn over that. 469 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 1: But I would encourage you today to not let a 470 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 1: season of mourning turn into a lifetime of morning. It's 471 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 1: interesting in the Old Testament, when somebody died, they had 472 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: a certain amount of time they could mourn. A lot 473 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: of times it was thirty days, and after that they 474 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: didn't have a choice. 475 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 3: They had to get up and get going. 476 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: And I'm not saying today that we should have no 477 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: feelings toward the past and we just need to be 478 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: made out of still and let everything bounce off of us. 479 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: But I am saying we cannot while around in self 480 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,199 Speaker 1: pity and if something is over and done in your life. 481 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: You've got to be big enough to just accept it 482 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: and move on. If you have a loved one that 483 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: was sick and you prayed and prayed, but they didn't 484 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: get healed, they didn't get well, they died anyway, Well. 485 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 3: God is still in control. Don't get bitter. 486 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: Be grateful for the time that you had here with 487 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 1: that person, like I did with my dad. Focus on 488 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: your good memories, and then keep moving forward with your life. 489 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: And I don't know if there's any certain amount of 490 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: time set today, but if you're a one year past 491 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: a disappointment or a year past a setback and you're 492 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: still talking about it and thinking about it and grieving 493 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: over it, friends, that's way too long. You got to 494 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: get up and get going. Quit mourning over something that 495 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 1: you cannot change. Quit carrying around all that baggage. God 496 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: wants to give you a new beginning. Well, you say, Joel, 497 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 1: here's my problem. I just don't understand why this has 498 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: happened to me. But here's one of the best phrases 499 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: you could ever hear. Don't ever put a question mark 500 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: where God has put a period. There are a lot 501 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: of things in our lives that we're never gonna understand. 502 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 3: We deal with people that have lost. 503 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 1: Loved ones in an accident so unfair, people that have 504 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: been laid off of a job after twenty years, people 505 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: that have been raised in such a pitiful environment. We're 506 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 1: never gonna understand all that. But what I'm saying today 507 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: is what's done is done. We cannot do anything about 508 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: the past, but we can do something about right now. 509 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: You need to dig your heels in and make the 510 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: most of this moment. You may have lost a lot, 511 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: but you've got to make the most with what you've 512 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: got left over. 513 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 3: Don't let the past poison your future. You may remember 514 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 3: the story in the news. 515 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 1: A couple of years ago about a young mountain climber. 516 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,919 Speaker 1: He was in a remote section of Utah all by himself, 517 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: and as he was hiking through the canyon, all of 518 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: a sudden, this eight hundred pound boulder shifted in his 519 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: arm became trapped. He tried for five days everything he 520 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: possibly could to free himself. Had a little pocket knife 521 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: an hour after hour, he chipped away and chipped away, 522 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: but to no avail. When that didn't work, he tried 523 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 1: to use his climbing gear to somehow shift. 524 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 3: The rock, but again he could not budget. After three days, 525 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 3: his food. 526 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: And water supply ran out, and by this time his 527 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 1: arm was already dead. It had had no blood flowing 528 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: through it, and he told how it was hard and 529 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: cold and stiff. He had no feeling in it, and 530 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: it looked like he was going to die with that 531 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: dead arm. 532 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 3: Didn't look like there was any way out. 533 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 1: But on the fifth day he made a decision to 534 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: do the unthinkable. He knew that if he was going 535 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: to survive, he was going to have to cut that 536 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: arm off. 537 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 3: So he could go and find help and get rescued. 538 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: And believe it or not, he put a tourniquet on 539 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: up here, and somehow someway. 540 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 3: He amputated his own arm. 541 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,119 Speaker 1: He then walked two miles before somebody saw him and 542 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: rescued him. Miraculously, he was saved. And in a sense, 543 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 1: we all come to places like that in life, not physically, 544 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: of course, but where something is over and done there's 545 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: nothing we can do about it. We may not understand it, 546 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 1: it may not have been fair, but that does not 547 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: change the fact that it is no longer alive, and 548 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 1: we can either hold on to it and allow it 549 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: to drag us down and defeat us with it, or 550 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: like that young man, As difficult as it may seem, 551 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: we can choose to break away from it and move 552 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: forward with our life, so we too can receive our 553 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: new beginning. And I would challenge you today, if something 554 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: is dead in your life, don't die with it. If 555 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: something is over and done, don't hold on to it, 556 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: let it go, give it to God. Just say God, 557 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: these people hurt me. It wasn't fair. But I'm not 558 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: going to go around reliving it, thinking about it, talking 559 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: about it. 560 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 3: I'm gonna cut it off and move on. 561 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: Or maybe a dream has died, your plans didn't work out, 562 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: but don't die with it. If you'll keep moving far, 563 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:04,719 Speaker 1: God will give you another dream. Friends, your future starts today, 564 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: and no matter what you've been through, no matter how 565 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: unfair it was, God has. 566 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 3: Great things in store for you. 567 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: And my prayer is that you'll go out of here 568 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: free from the past, free from guilt, free from bitterness, 569 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: free from self pity. Why don't you get rid of 570 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 1: all that baggage? 571 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 3: As I said, whether. 572 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 1: It happened ten years ago or ten minutes ago, make 573 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 1: a decision that you're gonna let it go and move on. 574 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: With your life and get in a habit of doing 575 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: this on a daily basis. 576 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 3: Every morning, forgive the people that have hurt you. 577 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: Every morning, receive God's mercy for your mistakes, and every 578 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 1: morning let go of the disappointments of yesterday. If you'll 579 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: do that, I can promise you this, God will give 580 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 1: you a daily new beginning, and you'll live your life 581 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: refreshed and restored, and you'll experience the good things that 582 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 1: God has in store for you. 583 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 3: Amen. How many of you receive it today? 584 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 1: But we never like to close our broadcast without giving 585 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 586 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 587 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 588 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 589 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 590 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. He's 591 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 592 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 3: It's January. Time to renew my faith. It's January. It's 593 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 3: time to start a new season. It's January. 594 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 2: There is no better time than now to set the 595 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 2: course of our year ahead. 596 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: The beginning of the year is a great time to 597 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: start afresh and a new to let go of negative 598 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: things of the past and to get ready for the 599 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: new things God has in store. Every January we create 600 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: a new devotional calendar that will help you throughout the year. 601 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 1: When you start the day off in faith, grateful for 602 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: what God's done, making positive declarations over your future, you're 603 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. 604 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: This devotional will help you get your mind going in 605 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:15,200 Speaker 1: the right direction so you can go out each day 606 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 1: in faith knowing that God is in control that His 607 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: plans for you are for good. I'd love to send you. 608 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 2: A copy as our way of saying thank you for 609 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 2: your gift of any amount this first month of the year. 610 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 2: We would like to send you a copy of our 611 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:32,640 Speaker 2: brand new twenty twenty four three hundred and sixty five 612 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 2: day devotional calendar. Do you want to set a faith 613 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 2: course for your life in twenty twenty four? Do you 614 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 2: want to see your life take off in new directions 615 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 2: of influence, favor, and for vision in the year ahead? 616 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 2: Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one two 617 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,719 Speaker 2: three one. Wake up with an expectancy in your heart 618 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 2: two reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 619 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 3: Three. 620 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 2: Capture God's promises to you on journaling lines for writing 621 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 2: and reflection. Be sure to request your copy of the 622 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four devotional calendar available this month by simply 623 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 2: visiting us at Joelostein dot com or calling eight eight 624 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 2: eight five six seven Joel