1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,279 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,239 Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 5 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, 6 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 2: God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. 7 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 2: We love you and we know God has great things 8 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 2: in store. And if you're ever in our area, I 9 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: hope you'll stop by and be a part of one 10 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 2: of our services. I promise you it will make you 11 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 2: feel right at home. But thanks so much for tuning 12 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: in today. Thanks for coming out again. I like to 13 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 2: start with something funny each week, and I heard about 14 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: this teenager. He had just gotten his driver's permit and 15 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: he asked his dad if he could borrow the car. 16 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: The dad said, son, I'll make a deal with you. 17 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 2: If you bring your grades up, read your Bible every day, 18 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 2: and get your haircut, I'll let you borrow the car. 19 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: Months later, he came back and asked about the car, 20 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 2: and the dad said, son, you brought your grades up, 21 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: you've been reading your Bible, but you still haven't gotten 22 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: your haircut. The son said, well, Dad, I've been thinking 23 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: about it. Moses had long hair, Sampson had long hair, 24 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: even Jesus had long hair. The dad said, yes, son, 25 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 2: and they walked everywhere they went. Hold up your bible, 26 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 2: say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 27 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: I am what it says I am. I have what 28 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 2: it says I have. I can do what it says 29 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 2: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 30 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 31 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 32 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 33 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 2: about pushing people up. There are people that God brings 34 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 2: into our lives that hold the key to our promotion. 35 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 2: They hold the key to us reaching our full potential. 36 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 2: But these are not people that are there to help us, 37 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: to give us breaks and to open new doors. It's 38 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 2: just the opposite. These are people that God puts in 39 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: our path so we can help them, so we can 40 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: show them favor and help them. 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: Get to a new level. 42 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 2: They are divinely connected to our destiny. We won't go 43 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 2: higher until we help them go higher. God's waiting for 44 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: us to sow a seed, and if you will push 45 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: them up and help them succeed. It's all connected. The 46 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 2: higher they go, the higher you're going to go. If 47 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: you will help others fulfill their dreams, God will help 48 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: you fulfill your dreams. 49 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: On purpose. 50 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: God will put people in our life. May be a neighbor, 51 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: a co worker, a student from another country, or even 52 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: a cashier at the grocery store that you see each week. 53 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 2: You may not realize it, but that person could be 54 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 2: connected to your destiny. And if you will take time 55 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 2: to invest in them, to encourage them, to use your 56 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: influence to push them up, then as they go higher, 57 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 2: you're going to go higher. When you sow those seeds 58 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 2: of kindness and help others improve, it's just like a boomerang. 59 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: Is going to come right back to you. 60 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 2: That's what it says in Ecclesiastes eleven to one give 61 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: and your gifts will come back to you. That means 62 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 2: when you give favor, you're going to receive favor. When 63 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: you give your influence and open doors for others, you're 64 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,239 Speaker 2: going to receive more influence. People will open doors for you. 65 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 2: When you help somebody get better, somebody will be there 66 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: to help you get better. And every one of us 67 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 2: should have a project. Somebody we're believing in, somebody we've 68 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: taken under our wings. We're encouraging them, We're giving them advice, 69 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: introducing them to our contacts, doing everything we can to 70 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: help them become the best that they can be. It 71 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: may be a coworker at the office, at the job site. 72 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 2: You could easily help that person go to a new level. 73 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: They just need a little mentoring, a little training, a 74 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 2: little advice. Well, Joe, I'm busy. I've got my own goals, 75 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: I've got my own challenges. I don't have time. No, 76 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: you need to see it. A different way you're in 77 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 2: is linked to that person. God brought them into your 78 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: path for a reason. If you will push them up, 79 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: God will make sure you get pushed up. What you 80 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: may happen for others, God will make happen for you. 81 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 2: We were never created to live in grown where we 82 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: just focus on ourselves, and this is what limits many people. 83 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 2: They think inward. But when you take time to invest 84 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: in someone else, you go out of your way to 85 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 2: give them a break. Maybe you introduce them to somebody 86 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: they would never normally meet. 87 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: What you send out is going to come back. 88 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 2: That's when God will open the right doors for you, 89 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: He'll bring the right people into your life and those 90 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: seeds that you're soul, and they'll not only come back, 91 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: they will come back multiplied. 92 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: Let me ask you today, who are you pushing up? 93 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: Who are you investing in? Who are you promoting? 94 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 2: Who are you helping with their dreams? Look around? There 95 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 2: are people in your life that hold the key to 96 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: your promotion. I realize I am where I am today 97 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: because people have pushed me up, people have invested in me. 98 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: I think about all the seeds that my parents have sown, 99 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: all the times they've encouraged me and told me that 100 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: I could do anything. Think about all the meals my 101 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 2: mother cooked growing up. I mean, it took a lot 102 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 2: of work to heat up those TV dinners. I think 103 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: about how my grandparents on my mother's side, they made 104 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: great sacrifices for us children. When my parents were out 105 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: of the country, they would always stay with us, and 106 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 2: grandmother and granddaddy were always building me up and telling 107 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 2: me how great they thought I was. I found a 108 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 2: note from my grandmother the other day. I was nine 109 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 2: years old. It said, Darling, Joel, you are so sweet. 110 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: I've never seen another young man like you. I must 111 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 2: admit my grandmother didn't get out much, but they invested 112 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 2: in me. I remember specific Sunday school teachers that took 113 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: time to impart into my life. A baseball coach that 114 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 2: went out of his way. He'd swing by and pick 115 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: me up and take me to practice, take me to 116 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 2: the batting cages. When I was nineteen and I first 117 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 2: started working here doing the television production, there was an 118 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: older gentleman, very experienced, very knowledgeable. He took me under 119 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 2: his wing and he taught me everything that he knew 120 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 2: about production. And if you could see all the people 121 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 2: that made me into who I am today, they wouldn't 122 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: fit on this platform. Brothers, sisters, parents, cousins, friends, relatives. 123 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: The fact is none of us got to where we 124 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 2: are by ourselves. Somebody pushed us up. Somebody made sacrifices 125 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 2: so that we could go further. Somebody put in a 126 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 2: kind word when we were down. Somebody gave us a 127 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 2: break when we needed it. Well, you say, Joel, I 128 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 2: wasn't raised in a good environment like you were. Maybe not, 129 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: but you wouldn't be as far along as you are 130 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 2: if somebody somewhere didn't go out of their way to 131 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: help you. Well, father left us at an early age, 132 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,799 Speaker 2: may be so, but your mother stepped up. She worked 133 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 2: twice as hard to give you everything you needed. Or 134 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: maybe those grandparents came into your life to give you guidance, 135 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: or that coach took you under his wing to help 136 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: you succeed. Nobody makes it alone. You may think you 137 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 2: got that good position, you got that break just because 138 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: you were lucky, but listen, luck didn't have anything to 139 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 2: do with it. It wasn't a coincidence. Somebody in your 140 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: family line was praying. It may have been a great 141 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: great grandmother you didn't even know, but she prayed that 142 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: her seed would be blessed. And today God is honoring 143 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: that prayer through you. Somebody pushed you up, or you 144 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 2: wouldn't be where you are now. One of our goals 145 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 2: should be to reach out and push somebody else up. 146 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: Should be a continual cycle. 147 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: We're doing our best to help someone else be better. 148 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 2: We're going out of our way to give a break. 149 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 2: We're using our influence to do something good for somebody. 150 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 2: And as we so those seeds, God is orchestrating another 151 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: person's steps to be there for us, to give us 152 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 2: a break to put in a kind word when we 153 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 2: need it. When we're pushing people up, God will make 154 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: sure that we're going to get pushed up. I read 155 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: a story about a little boy by the name of 156 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,679 Speaker 2: Andy Valdez. He grew up in a single parent home. 157 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 2: They didn't have too much, and so he would sell 158 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 2: newspapers on the street corner. This was back in the 159 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: early nineteen sixties. During the summer, little eight year old 160 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: Andy would go to the same street corner Main Street 161 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 2: and second he would make three cents of paper. After 162 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 2: four or five hours, he'd usually come home with a 163 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: little more than a dollar. There was a gentleman named 164 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: Jack Keller that owned a printing shop across the street. 165 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 2: Every morning, Jack would pass by a little Andy, but 166 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: he already had his paper. One day, Andy got his 167 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 2: nerve up and he said, hey, mister, why don't you 168 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 2: ever buy your paper from me? That kind of took 169 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: Jack back, and he laughed. He said, I don't know, 170 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 2: maybe I'll start. That man not only began buying a 171 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: newspaper from him, but he took little Andy under his 172 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 2: wing and began to mentor him. He met with his 173 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: mom and asked if he could come help at the 174 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 2: printing shop. She was thrilled. At eleven years old, Jack 175 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 2: started taking Andy to the country club where he belonged, 176 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 2: and he taught him how to play tennis. Andy would 177 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 2: hear some of the other kids joking behind his back 178 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 2: about his clothes, about his race, about how he was different. 179 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 2: Jack would tell him, don't worry about that, Andy, you 180 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: don't have a problem. They have the problem. He instilled 181 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 2: confidence and self esteem into this young man. Andy got 182 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 2: better and better at tennis. In fact, when he graduated 183 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 2: from high school, he was offered a full tennis scholarship 184 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 2: to a major university. Nobody in Andy's family had ever 185 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 2: gone to college, and Andy decided that he was going 186 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 2: to become a lawyer because all the people at the 187 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: country club that were nice suits were lawyers. He said, 188 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 2: the lawyers dressed better than the drug dealers in my neighborhood. 189 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 2: Today it's no longer Andy, it's Judge Andrew Valdez. He's 190 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 2: not only a lawyer, he's a state district judge. One 191 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 2: of the things that Judge Valdez is known for is 192 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 2: he started all these youth mentoring programs, helping other troubled teams. 193 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: Now he's reaching out. 194 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: Helping teenagers that were just like him. And what's interesting 195 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: is over the years, Judge Valdez lost contact with his 196 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 2: friend Jack. He began to wonder about it and worried 197 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: about how he was doing. So he went back to 198 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: the printing shop, couldn't find him. Went to the home 199 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,959 Speaker 2: where Jack lived, but he had moved. He even checked 200 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 2: the death records, assuming that he could have died. Still nothing. 201 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 2: For six years, Judge Valdez looked for his friend Jack. 202 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: One day, he was at a grocery store and he 203 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 2: saw this old man over in the corner. 204 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: He was about to be arrested. 205 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 2: He was homeless, disoriented, had the health problems. When they 206 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 2: looked at each other, their eyes met. He said, Jack, 207 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 2: is that you There was a small smile. Jack was 208 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 2: in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He had wandered from 209 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,359 Speaker 2: his home and lost everything. Now it was Judge Valdez's 210 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: time to return to favor. When you give your gifts 211 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 2: will come back to you, Judge Valdez. Judge Valdez took 212 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 2: Jack in, got him a place to live, and hired 213 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 2: somebody to take care of him, to feed him, to 214 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 2: watch over him for the next four years until Jack 215 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 2: went to be with the Lord, Judge Valdez would go 216 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 2: visit with him time and time again. He said his 217 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 2: favorite thing was to walk in and see Jack reading 218 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 2: the paper, sitting there eating dinner. That's where it all began. 219 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: Friends. 220 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 2: You never lose when you push people up. Today, Judge 221 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 2: Valdez is pushing other young people up. Why because Jack 222 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 2: pushed him up. When you take time to invest in others, 223 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: it starts a chain reaction. Not only will you come 224 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 2: up higher, but all down the line people are going 225 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 2: to be impacted. You never know the day friends you 226 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 2: make when you take time to care, When you take 227 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 2: time to make someone else's life better, it may seem 228 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: like something small, but very often it'll have a domino effect. 229 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 2: It'll keep giving and giving. Let's develop a lifestyle of 230 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 2: pushing people up. Let's get in a habit of looking 231 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 2: for people we can be good too. Doesn't have to 232 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 2: be something big. Wherever you go, give a smile, brighten 233 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 2: somebody's day, give a compliment. 234 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: Hey, you look great today. 235 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 2: Or if you see someone sitting alone by themselves, don't 236 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 2: stay in your same group, reach out to them, invite 237 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,439 Speaker 2: them to dinner. We should always be looking for ways 238 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: to push people up. Remember, the higher they go, the 239 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 2: higher we're going to go. Here's the key. It may 240 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 2: not be someone under you, they may be over you. 241 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 2: You're tempted to think, well, all I'm doing is making 242 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 2: my company rich. All I'm doing is making my boss 243 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 2: look good. I do all the work and he takes 244 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 2: all the credit. Had a lady tell me the other day, Joel, 245 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 2: my supervisor takes all my ideas. I'll work for two 246 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 2: days planning, strategizing, meeting with people, and she'll walk in 247 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 2: a room and present it like she was the one 248 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 2: that did it all. I told her what I'm telling you. 249 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 2: You got to look at it differently. You're sowing seeds. 250 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 2: The higher you help your supervisor go, the higher you're 251 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 2: gonna go, the better you make that person look. Eventually, 252 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 2: it's gonna boomerang right back to you, and God's gonna 253 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 2: get you to where he wants you to go. You're 254 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 2: gonna get the credit that you deserve. I think about 255 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 2: in the scripture Elisha. For a long time he took 256 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 2: care of the prophet Elijah. Elijah was much older than 257 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 2: he was, and Elisha was basically bringing him food and 258 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 2: water and just doing these menial tasks here. Elisha was 259 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 2: a young man. He had big dreams and goals. He 260 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: wanted to do something great in life. I'm sure some 261 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 2: of his friends said, Elisha, what are you doing wasting 262 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 2: your time taking care of this old man. Why are 263 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: you spending all your energy trying to make him look good. 264 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: You need to go out and do your own. But 265 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 2: Elisha understood this principle. He knew his destiny was linked 266 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,559 Speaker 2: to Elijah, and the higher Elijah went, the higher. 267 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: He was going to go. 268 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: So he just kept pushing him up and pushing him up. 269 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 2: When it came to the end of Elijah's life, he 270 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 2: was caught up in that whirlwind taken to heaven, and 271 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: as he went up, the mantle that. 272 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: He had came down on Elisha. Not only that, it was. 273 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 2: A double portion. Elisha had twice the annoying, twice the favor. 274 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 2: He did twice as many miracles as Elijah did. And 275 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: that's what happens. When you push people up, blessings are 276 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 2: going to come down. Don't ever be intimidated to invest 277 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: in those that are ahead of you. A lot of 278 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 2: times we think, well, Joel, they don't need my help. 279 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 2: They're successful, they should be helping me, or they don't 280 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 2: need me to give them a break. They got so 281 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 2: much favor or that church they got so many people, 282 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: they don't need me to serve. No, it's just the opposite. 283 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 2: If you'll get linked up to the right people, just 284 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 2: like a train, the higher they the higher you're gonna go. 285 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: When you push people up, the blessings are gonna come 286 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 2: down on you. For seventeen years, I worked behind the 287 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: scenes here with my father doing the television production. And 288 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 2: I say this very humbly, but I always did my 289 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 2: best to make my father look good. 290 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: I know I was called to be here. 291 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 2: I didn't understand it all at the time, but I 292 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 2: realize now my destiny was linked to my father. The 293 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 2: more I pushed him up, the more it was pushing 294 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 2: me up. I would spend hours working on the lighting, 295 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 2: adjusting one little slash, making sure it was perfect. I 296 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 2: would go to my parents' house every Saturday night and 297 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 2: pick my dad out a suit and tie to wear. 298 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: I wanted to make sure it looked good on television. 299 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: I'd seen some of the other things my father had 300 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 2: picked out. I mean, put it this way. My dad 301 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: loved color. If you've been around here very long, you 302 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 2: remember at the old campus, the blue buildings, the red buildings, 303 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 2: the orange buildings, the yellow buildings. Because a friend came 304 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 2: by and said, John, you ought to paint this place 305 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 2: like a rainbow. My father took him seriously. I still 306 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 2: haven't forgiven that man. When we remodeled the platform area 307 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 2: at the other facility, I had my father come in 308 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 2: stand behind the podium, make sure it was the right height, 309 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 2: the right with make sure everything was sized properly. I 310 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 2: never dreamed one day I would be standing behind the podium, 311 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 2: never dream one day the lights would be focused on me. 312 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 2: But that's what happens. When you push people up, you're 313 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 2: sowing seeds. The higher you help them to go, the 314 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 2: higher you're going to go. Some of you today this 315 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 2: may be the reason you're not seeing God's blessings and 316 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 2: favor like you should. Are you pushing anybody up? Are 317 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 2: you making someone look better? Are you investing in that friend? 318 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: If you're not swing into others, you don't have any 319 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 2: good seed in the ground. We need to be on 320 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 2: the lookout of who we can be good to. Remember, 321 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 2: God sends people as the key to our promote. It 322 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 2: may not be a family member. It may be a friend, 323 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 2: may be a neighbor, may be a young man selling 324 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: newspapers on a street corner. In the scripture, there was 325 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 2: a lady that lived in a certain town, and every 326 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 2: so often Elisha would come through that town. She started 327 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 2: noticing him, and she began to feel this desire to 328 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: help him, a desire to be good to him, to 329 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 2: make his life easier. She sensed that her destiny was 330 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 2: linked to Elisha, and so she simply invited him to 331 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 2: her house to have dinner with her and her family. 332 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 2: Then she offered him a place to stay. Elisha was 333 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 2: gracious and he accepted that. The next day, after he left, 334 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 2: she said to her husband, let's add a room to 335 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 2: the house, so any time Elisha's in town, he'll always 336 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 2: have a place to stay. She reached out to him 337 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 2: from the kindness of her heart, and they built that 338 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 2: spare bedroom, and time and time again, Elisha would come 339 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 2: and stay with her family. This lady wasn't trying to 340 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,880 Speaker 2: get anything. She wasn't trying to manipulate him into doing 341 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 2: something for her. She was simply investing into his life, 342 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 2: pushing him up, making it a little bit easier on him. 343 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 2: And one day, while Elisha was staying there, he said 344 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 2: to his servant, go find out what this lady wants. 345 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 2: Go find out if there's anything she needs. I want 346 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 2: to be good to her. 347 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: That's the way God works. 348 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 2: When you're good to other people, God will cause people to. 349 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: Want to be good to you. 350 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 2: It may not even be the same people. You may 351 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 2: so accede and do good for someone or some company 352 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 2: for a lifetime, yet you never receive anything in return 353 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 2: from them. But don't get discouraged. The way God works 354 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 2: is you cannot give without it causing a chain reaction. 355 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 2: When you push people up, it sets a series of 356 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 2: events into motion. Somewhere, somehow. God will cause a person 357 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 2: to feel a need to be good to you. They 358 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 2: may not even know you, they may be in a 359 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:59,679 Speaker 2: different city, but all of a sudden, they have a 360 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 2: desire to show you favor, a desire to give you 361 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 2: a good break. It's those seeds of kindness that you're showing. 362 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 2: This servant came back and said, Elisha, the lady doesn't 363 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 2: want anything, she's perfectly happy. But Elisha wasn't satisfied. He said, 364 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 2: go back and ask her again. I want to do 365 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 2: something good for her. He was determined. It's because you 366 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 2: can't sew a seed without it bringing you a harvest. 367 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 2: The servant finally came back and said, Okay, Elisha. She said, 368 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 2: she's never had a baby, but she's an old lady 369 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 2: and her husband's even older than she is. That's impossible. 370 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 2: Alicia said, that doesn't matter. You go back and tell her. 371 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 2: By this time next year, she's going to have a child. 372 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 2: The servant went back. When he told her, the lady 373 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 2: laughed and laughed. She thought it was a joke. She said, 374 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 2: tell Elisha to quit kiding with me. That'll never happen. 375 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 2: But sure enough, a year later she was showing off 376 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 2: her new baby boy. A dream come true. What am 377 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 2: I saying today? When you are good to people and 378 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 2: you develop a lifestyle of pushing them up, God will 379 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 2: bring your dreams to pass. Doesn't have to be something big, 380 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 2: even small things. When my mother was a child, she 381 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 2: had polio. She had to wear braces on her legs 382 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 2: so she couldn't run and play sports like the rest 383 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 2: of the children. Not long ago, she met an old 384 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 2: friend that she hadn't seen in over sixty years. They 385 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: had gone to grade school together. This lady reminded my 386 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 2: mom when they would play softball as little kids, and 387 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: my mother was up to bat. When my mother would 388 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 2: hit the ball, this was the lady that ran the 389 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: basis for my mother, just a small thing, just pushing 390 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 2: her up, making her feel a part. One time, Moses 391 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 2: was on a hill overlooking this battle taking place. He 392 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 2: was holding his rod up in the air. As long 393 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 2: as he had his rod up, the people of Israel 394 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 2: were winning, but the battle went on hour after hour, 395 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 2: and he got tired. When he put the rod down, 396 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 2: the Amalekites would start to win. 397 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 1: Moses couldn't take it anymore. He's just too tired. 398 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 2: When Erin and her saw what was happening, they ran 399 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 2: up the hill, God on each side of Moses, and 400 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 2: they held his hands up for him. Because they stepped 401 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 2: up and did something seemingly insignificant, the people of Israel 402 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 2: went on to win the battle. You may not be 403 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 2: able to do something big. Maybe you can't add a 404 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 2: room to your house or give somebody a job, but 405 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,640 Speaker 2: you can run for a child that's not able to you. 406 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,199 Speaker 1: Can't hold up somebody's hands. 407 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 2: In other words, you can give somebody a ride. To 408 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 2: work to church. You can babysit someone's children, or you 409 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: can teach someone tips about what you know in your field. 410 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 2: There's all kinds of ways we can push people up 411 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,479 Speaker 2: and understand. It doesn't have to be something big in 412 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 2: order to make a big difference. Probably nobody has done 413 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 2: more to help mankind, at least in the field of medicine, 414 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 2: than doctor Michael de Bakey. He has spent his lifetime 415 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 2: studying the heart. Many of the procedures that linked in 416 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 2: our lives today, even the artificial heart, were developed by 417 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 2: doctor de Bakey. But do you know where it all 418 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 2: really started. When he was a little boy, way back 419 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 2: in the early nineteen hundreds, his mother taught him how 420 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 2: to sew. She took time and invested into him. Little 421 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 2: did she realize that small seed that she planted in 422 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 2: an eight year old boy would one day grow and develop, 423 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 2: and those hands would become one of the most skilled 424 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 2: surgeons that's ever lived. Take time to invest in those 425 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 2: around you. Here's the key. Start with your own family. 426 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 2: Make sure you're pushing up those that are closest to you. 427 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 2: Don't take them for granted. I wouldn't be half of 428 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 2: who I am today if it was not for Victoria. 429 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: She's always pushing me up. 430 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 2: In these days, in families, there's competition in marriages, competition 431 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 2: in families. But if we can just realize the higher 432 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 2: we help others go, the higher we're going to go. 433 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: It's all connected. 434 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 2: I've got to tell you my brothers, sisters, brothers in law, 435 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 2: sisters in law, they're always encouraging me, so loyal, so supportive, 436 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 2: no wonder, I'm so blessed. They inspire me to want 437 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 2: to return the favor. That's the way it should be. 438 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 2: Push your spouse up, push your children up, push your 439 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,919 Speaker 2: cousin up, push your nephew up, push your grandparents up. 440 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 2: Start with your own family. One more I left out, 441 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 2: push your mother in law up and not out. I 442 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 2: read a story about a young man named Patrick Henry. 443 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,880 Speaker 2: He was born with no eyes, totally blind. 444 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: And he had no ability to walk. 445 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,880 Speaker 2: He couldn't fully straighten his arms and legs out. His 446 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 2: parents were so discouraged, but after a few months they 447 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 2: discovered that little Patrick had an incredible gift for music. 448 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 2: He actually started to learn to play the piano at 449 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 2: nine months old. He grew up and not only became 450 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 2: a concert pianist, but he was a world class trumpet player. 451 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 2: He went to the University of Louisville and they invited 452 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 2: him to play in the marching band. Of course, he 453 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 2: couldn't march, he couldn't walk, he couldn't see. He was 454 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 2: in a wheelchair. But that didn't stop him. His father 455 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 2: resigned from his daytime job and he took an overnight 456 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 2: position at the mail company so he could be there 457 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 2: to help his son. The father attended every band practice. 458 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 2: He learned all the routines. I'm talking about a marching band, 459 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 2: not putting his child on the sideline and letting them 460 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 2: march around him. This father would push his child in 461 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 2: a wheelchair in perfect formation, zigging, zagging, grooving, moonwalking. You're 462 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 2: talking about pushing people up. When you watched them on. 463 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 1: The field, you would have thought the father was the child. 464 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 2: He was so happy, he had a big smile just 465 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 2: maneuvering that wheelchair. He told later, when their child was 466 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 2: first born, he and his wife said, God, why us, 467 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: what did we do to deserve a child like this? 468 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: Now they asked the question in a different light, God, 469 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 2: why us, what did we do to deserve such a 470 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 2: great child like this? A child that could bring us 471 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 2: so much joy, so much happiness. Let me ask you again, 472 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 2: are you pushing anybody else? Are you encouraging your family? 473 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 2: Are you investing your time and energy making. 474 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 1: Someone else better? Look around you. 475 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,359 Speaker 2: There are people in your life that are connected to 476 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,880 Speaker 2: your joy, to your peace, to your dreams. They hold 477 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 2: the key to your promotion. If you'll help them go higher, 478 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:29,639 Speaker 2: then you're going to go higher. 479 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: When you give, your gifts will. 480 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 2: Come back to you. I heard somebody say, if you 481 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 2: want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want 482 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 2: happiness for a month, get married. And I didn't say this. 483 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 2: If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. 484 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: But if you want happiness for a lifetime, help others. 485 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 2: I'm asking us today to develop a habit. 486 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: Of pushing people up. 487 00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 2: When you take time to invest in someone else, it 488 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 2: doesn't go unnoticed. Every minute you encourage that friend, every 489 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 2: mile you go out of your way to do a 490 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 2: good deed, every penny you spend to make someone else better. 491 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 2: God sees that he's keeping the records. He's not only 492 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 2: gonna pay you back, He's gonna multiply what you've sown. 493 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 2: When you push people up. You might as well get ready. 494 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 2: The blessings are gonna come down. You're gonna get breaks, 495 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 2: You're gonna see favor. New doors are gonna open. I 496 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 2: believe because you're a giver, because you're looking out for others, 497 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 2: You're gonna see your dreams, your desires, every promise God 498 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 2: put in you, your goodness is gonna boomerang right back, 499 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 2: and you're gonna see those promises come to pass. Amen. 500 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 2: Do you receive it today? I know you do. We 501 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 2: never like to close our broadcast without giving you an 502 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 2: opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would 503 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 2: you pray with me, say, Lord Jesus, I repent of 504 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 2: my sins. 505 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 506 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:02,640 Speaker 2: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 507 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 2: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 508 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 2: God first place. He's going to take you places that. 509 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 1: You've never dreamed of. 510 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 2: We all go through disappointments and things that are not fair. 511 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 2: But God sees every hurt, every injustice, and He's promised 512 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 2: to pay you back for the unfair things. Now. I 513 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: love to send you my new resource double for your 514 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 2: trouble It's filled with inspiration to help you stay in faith. 515 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,199 Speaker 1: And not get bitter and think why me? 516 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 2: Now? That setback may have been painful, but the fact 517 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,719 Speaker 2: is it sets you up for Double. God will make 518 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 2: the enemy pay and bring you out better than you 519 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 2: were before. 520 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 3: This ministry is reaching people around the world with the 521 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,640 Speaker 3: message of hope, and as our way of saying thank 522 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 3: you for your gift of any amount, we would like 523 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 3: to send you a copy of Double for your Trouble, 524 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 3: a daily guide for restoration. This thirty one day spiral 525 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 3: bound resource is an invitation into healing and restoration and 526 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 3: the abundant life God has promised. Whether you're walking through 527 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 3: a season of loss, believing for a breakthrough, or simply 528 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,919 Speaker 3: looking for a deeper connection with God, this guide is 529 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 3: designed to help you reflect, realign, and rebuild day by day. 530 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 3: Receive your copy and know that whatever you're facing today, grief, loss, uncertainty, 531 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 3: it doesn't define your future. Choose to trust God. He 532 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 3: sees you, He cares deeply, and He is the God 533 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 3: who restores Double. 534 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:34,679 Speaker 2: None of us like difficulties. But if you'll stay in faith, 535 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,199 Speaker 2: you won't come out the same. You'll come out with 536 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 2: Double Niktoy and I pray for you and your family 537 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 2: every day. Thank you for your prayers and support. Your 538 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 2: donations are bringing hope to people around the world. Special 539 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 2: thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for all 540 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 2: you do to make the ministry possible. Until we see 541 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 2: you again next week, Maid, the Lord bless you and 542 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 2: keep you. 543 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Double for Your Trouble, 544 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 3: available this month by simply visiting us at Joelostein dot 545 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 3: com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 546 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 3: You can also receive God's Got You Restoration Duo. 547 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 2: This book is a. 548 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 3: Powerful reminder that no matter what you face, you are 549 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 3: not alone. God's got you and he will never let 550 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 3: you go. In addition to these two inspiration books, you 551 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 3: can also receive the Double Portion Restoration Bible Collection. 552 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 1: This beautifully curated collection brings. 553 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 3: Together the restoring of hope of Double for Your Trouble 554 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:37,320 Speaker 3: and the comforting reassurance of God's Got You, Paired with 555 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 3: a stunning CSB Thin Line Bible Digital Study Edition in 556 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 3: camel Swaye's soft leather touch, This elegant Bible offers a rich, 557 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 3: immersive study experience an enduring companion as you lean into 558 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 3: God's promises of renewal and restoration. Let these resources strengthen 559 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 3: your faith, study your heart, and remind you each day 560 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 3: that God is restored, bleeding and working. 561 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: Double on your behalf. 562 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 3: You can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight 563 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 3: eight five six seven Joel or logging on to joelostein 564 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 3: dot com today. 565 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 2: If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great 566 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 2: opportunity to come. We call it Homecoming Weekend. We'd love 567 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 2: to meet you and your family and you can see 568 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 2: the building and attend one of the services. It's a 569 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 2: great time to be a part of the Lakewood family. 570 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 2: Looking forward to seeing you at Homecoming Weekend.