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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa, but. 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 3: He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 27 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: with the units stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: a limited time. 32 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 5: Download the uns stapp and use the code I heeart 33 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 5: fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 34 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 5: when you find your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 35 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 5: you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 36 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 5: dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 37 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 39 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 40 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with a friends. 41 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 4: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 42 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 4: your life. It is always a joy to come into 43 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 4: your homes each week. We love you. Oh God has 44 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 4: great things in store for each one of you. I 45 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 4: tell them here all the time. This is going to 46 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 4: be your best year so far, so get that down 47 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 4: on the inside. But thanks for tuning in. If you're 48 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 4: ever in our area, I hope you'll stop buy and 49 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 4: say this promise you will make you feel right at home. 50 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 4: I like to get started each week with something funny. 51 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 4: And I heard about this atheist. He was spending a 52 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 4: quiet day on the lake when all of a sudden, 53 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 4: his boat was attacked by the Lockness Monster. In one 54 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 4: easy flip, it tossed him and his boat high into 55 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 4: the air. Then it opened its mouth, waiting to swallow. 56 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 4: As the man tumbled head over heels, he cried out, God, 57 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 4: help me. All at once time stood still. The whole 58 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 4: picture froze. God said, but I didn't think you believed 59 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 4: in me. The atheist said, God, please give me a break. 60 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 4: Two minutes ago, I didn't believe in the Lockness monster either. 61 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 4: All right, hold up your bibles. Say it like you 62 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 4: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 63 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 4: says I am. I have what it says I have. 64 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 4: I can do what it says I can do. Today 65 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 4: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 66 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 4: My mind is alert, my heart is recepted. I will 67 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 4: never be the same in Jesus' name, God, bless you. 68 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 4: I want to talk to you today about trusting God 69 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 4: to do it his way. Every one of us has 70 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 4: things we're believing for situations we want to see change, 71 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 4: dreams God's put in our heart, and if we're not careful, 72 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 4: we'll put God in a box and tell him how 73 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 4: to do it and when to do it and where 74 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 4: to do it. We have our plan of how God's 75 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 4: going to answer our prayers and how He's going to 76 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 4: get us out of debt, and how He's going to 77 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 4: change our loved one. We get it all figured out. 78 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 4: But the problem with this is if it doesn't happen 79 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 4: the way we want, we get discouraged and frustrated. God, 80 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 4: I thought you were going to get me out of debt, 81 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 4: but I didn't get that promotion. I prayed six months. 82 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 4: Oh for sure this man was the right one for me. 83 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 4: I thought for sure this situation would turn around. By now. 84 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 4: I don't know what I've done wrong. No, you may 85 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 4: not have done anything wrong. It just wasn't God's plan. 86 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 4: He has another way to bring that to pass, and 87 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 4: the scripture says here in Isaiah fifty five, God's ways 88 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 4: are not our ways. They are higher and better than 89 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 4: our ways. And if you don't get your way, if 90 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 4: it doesn't happen on your timetable, instead of getting discouraged, 91 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 4: why don't you believe that God has something better in store. 92 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 4: Just because it doesn't happen your way doesn't mean it's 93 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 4: not going to happen. God has a plan, He's got 94 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 4: it all figured out. But when we put God in 95 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 4: our box tell him how to do it and when 96 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 4: to do it, all that does is limit him. It's 97 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 4: much better to say God, I'm trusting you. I know 98 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 4: you have my best interest at heart, and even if 99 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 4: I don't get my way, I'm going to stay open 100 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 4: and believe that you're still directing my steps. I talked 101 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 4: to a man a while back. He asked me to 102 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 4: pray that he would get this position at a new company. 103 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 4: It seemed like a great opportunity. I prayed that he'd 104 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 4: have God's favor and that he'd have the words to speak, 105 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 4: people would like him, on and on. He came back 106 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 4: a couple of months later. He was so disappointed. He 107 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 4: couldn't believe it didn't work out. You'd have thought it 108 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 4: was the end of the world. And I told him 109 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 4: what I'm telling you. You can't get so set on 110 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 4: having it your way that if it doesn't work out, 111 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 4: you're going to go around disappointed for six weeks. If 112 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 4: the only way you're going to be happy is if 113 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 4: it happens your way, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. 114 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 4: A better approach is to say, God, this is what 115 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 4: I want. I'd love to have this promotion. You know 116 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 4: it's in my heart. But if it's not your best, God, 117 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 4: I'm fine with it because I know you have something 118 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 4: better in store. About six months later, the company that 119 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 4: that man wanted to work for so badly had some 120 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 4: major setbacks and the position that they offered him was 121 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 4: totally eliminated. If he had had taken it, he wouldn't 122 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 4: have a job today. See God can see the big picture. 123 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 4: He knows what's best for us. So instead of worrying 124 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 4: about it and going around frustrated because it's not happening 125 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 4: as fast as we would like, we need to learn 126 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 4: to just turn it over to God, trust him to 127 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 4: do it his way. Tewod King's chapter five, there's a 128 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 4: story about Naeman. He was a captain in the Syrian army, 129 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 4: a very well respected and influential man, but he had leprosy, 130 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 4: and one day a young lady that worked for him, 131 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 4: a maid at his house, said Naeman, if you'll go 132 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 4: see the prophet Elisha and let him pray for you, 133 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 4: I know you'll be healed. Naemon took her advice and 134 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,679 Speaker 4: traveled a great distance and finally showed up at Elisha's house. 135 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 4: But when he got there, Elisha didn't even come out 136 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 4: to meet him. He had one of his servants go 137 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 4: give him a message. The servant said, Namin, if you'll 138 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 4: go wash in the Jordan river seven times, you'll be healed. 139 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 4: Namin was offended here. He had traveled a great distance, 140 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 4: he was an important person, but Elisha didn't even come 141 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 4: out to meet him. Plus, he didn't want to go 142 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 4: wash in the river. He had his own plan, He said, 143 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 4: I thought Elisha would come out and wave his hand 144 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 4: over me and make me well. Notice two words that 145 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 4: almost kept him from his miracle. I thought, In other words, 146 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 4: this is not the way I expected it to happen. 147 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 4: I didn't think I was going to have to wash 148 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 4: in a dirty river. Besides, we have better rivers back 149 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 4: at home where I live. That young servant girl that 150 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 4: was with him, said, Naemin, if he had asked you 151 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 4: to do a difficult thing, you would do it. Why 152 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 4: don't you do this easy thing. He finally went down 153 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 4: to the river on the seventh time. When he came up, 154 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 4: skin was perfectly clean. I wonder how many of us 155 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 4: miss out on our miracles because we thought it would 156 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 4: happen another way. I thought I'd get that promotion and 157 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 4: that's how God would bless me. I thought I would 158 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 4: get well without having to take this medicine Joel. I 159 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 4: thought this person would introduce me to their friend and 160 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 4: we'd hit it off big. But it didn't happen. No, 161 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 4: we have to learn to say open. I know my 162 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 4: sister Lisa, she and her husband Kevin, they tried for 163 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 4: several years to have a child. Lisa went through all 164 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 4: the fertility treatments. She had several surgeries, but nothing helped. Finally, 165 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 4: the doctor said to her, Lisa, I'm sorry, there's nothing 166 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 4: more we can do for You're just not going to 167 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 4: be able to have a child. Lisa was devastated. She 168 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 4: told how she had become consumed with having that baby. 169 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 4: That's all she thought about. It was always the main 170 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 4: focus of her prayers. God, please give me a child. God, 171 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 4: you promised me children. God help me to see on 172 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 4: and on. One day she realized, just like when Abraham 173 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 4: had to put his son Isaac on the altar, he 174 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 4: had to put down the thing that meant most to 175 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 4: him when he was willing to let it go. That's 176 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 4: when God gave him his son back. Lisa realized she 177 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 4: had to put that baby on the altar. She had 178 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 4: to turn it over to God. She said, God, I'm 179 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 4: not going to ask you another time to have this baby. 180 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 4: You already know what I want. You know what's in 181 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 4: my heart. And so instead of begging you and telling 182 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 4: you how to do it and when to do it, 183 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 4: I'm going to relax and start trusting you. She made 184 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 4: a decision that she was going to be happy even 185 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 4: if she never had a baby. She made a decision 186 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 4: she was going to enjoy her life even if that 187 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 4: dream never came to pass. Once she made that decision, 188 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 4: once she got God out of her box, then that 189 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 4: opened up new doors. A few months later that they 190 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 4: got a call from a friend of ours that has 191 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 4: a ministry that takes care of teenage girls, and she 192 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 4: asked Lisa and Kevin if they would be interested in 193 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 4: adopting baby twin girls. Lisa immediately knew that was the 194 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 4: answer to her prayer. They felt peace about it. Kevin 195 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 4: and Lisa adopted those children at birth. Today they couldn't 196 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 4: be any happier. And of course it's good to be 197 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 4: passionate about our dreams. But the fact is, sometimes you 198 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 4: have to put a dream on the altar. Don't let 199 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 4: it consume you, don't let it frustrate you. Do you 200 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 4: know a dream can become an idol. If that's all 201 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 4: you think about, and you're not going to be happy 202 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 4: unless it happens your way, that's out of balance. You're 203 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 4: holding on to it so tightly. But actually, when you 204 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 4: let it go, that's when God can bring it to pass. 205 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 4: The scripture says, delight yourself in the Lord, and He 206 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 4: will give you the desires of your heart. Some of you, 207 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 4: like Lisa was, you're frustrated because you're trying to force 208 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 4: things to happen. You're not going to be happy unless 209 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 4: you have a baby, unless you get married, unless you 210 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 4: get that promotion. That's all you think about. But when 211 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 4: you focus on that more than you do, all the 212 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 4: great things already in your life that can keep God 213 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 4: from bringing it to pass, turn it over to God. 214 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 4: Dare to say, God, even if this never happens, I'm 215 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 4: still gonna be happy. God. I love to get married, 216 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 4: but even if I don't, I'm still going to enjoy 217 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 4: my life. God, I really want this promotion, but if 218 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 4: it doesn't work out, I'm not gonna live negative discourage. 219 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 4: Sour God, I'm trusting you, and if you'll let go 220 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 4: of that frustration and not let it become the center 221 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 4: of your attention, but instead use that same time and 222 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 4: energy to thank God that he's in control of your 223 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 4: life and thank him that he's directing your steps. When 224 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 4: you do that, God can give you the desires of 225 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 4: your heart. I know people they tell God every five 226 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 4: minutes something they want. They practically beg God. It's always 227 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 4: on their mind. But we have to remember God already 228 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 4: knows what we want. He's the one that put the 229 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 4: desires in us. And it's okay to ask. But what 230 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 4: I'm saying is it's not okay to get consumed. A 231 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 4: greater act of faith is to be happy right where 232 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 4: you are and stay open and trust God to bring 233 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 4: it about his way and in his timing a few 234 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 4: months ago, I was out running and I'd had a 235 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 4: long day. Things hadn't gone the way I'd hoped, and 236 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 4: I was wondering when this was going to change, and 237 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 4: why this was taking so long, and how I could 238 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 4: make this happen faster. I was kind of frustrated. And 239 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 4: while I was running, the wind was blowing. These leaves 240 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 4: were falling, and one thing I've always liked to do 241 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 4: is try to catch leaves. This big burst of air 242 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 4: came by and I grabbed and grabbed and grabbed. But 243 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 4: these leaves were long, slender leaves, and they darted everywhere. 244 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 4: They were almost impossible to catch. At one point, there 245 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 4: must have been a thousand leaves falling all around me. 246 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 4: I couldn't believe it. I could not catch a single leaf. 247 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 4: Here I was out running to relieve stress. I felt 248 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 4: like I was getting more stressed out because I couldn't 249 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 4: catch a stinking leaf. Finally, I said, you know what, 250 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 4: forget about it. It's not worth wasting my time and 251 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 4: energy over doesn't even matter, so I just let it go. 252 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 4: About ten minutes later, while I was still running, all 253 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 4: of a sudden, as this hen came up, I felt 254 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 4: this leaf fall right into the center of my hand. Now, 255 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 4: I've been running for a long time. I've never had 256 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 4: that happen before. It says if God was saying, Joel, 257 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 4: just trust me. You don't have to grab, you don't 258 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 4: have to try to make things happen, You don't have 259 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 4: to live frustrated. Just turn it over to me, and 260 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 4: I'll give you the desires of your heart. So every 261 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 4: time I'm tempted to worry about why something isn't happening, 262 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 4: or I'm tempted to get frustrated, I just remember this leaf. 263 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 4: If God can cause the wind to blow a leaf 264 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 4: out of the air and have it timed perfectly so 265 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 4: it can hit the palm of my hand while I'm running, 266 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 4: he can surely take care of anything else in my life. 267 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 4: Don't live frustrated. God is in complete control, and you 268 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 4: may not see how it's going to work out. But 269 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 4: that's okay. That's not our job. Our job is to believe. 270 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 4: Our job is to stay open. If Lisa had kept 271 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 4: God in her box and only been set on having 272 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 4: it one way, she may not have those beautiful children today. 273 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 4: And God has all kinds of ways to bring your 274 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 4: dreams and desires to pass. In the scripture, Jesus healed 275 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 4: one blind man by making mud and putting it on 276 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 4: his eyes. Another time he spoke to a blind man 277 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 4: and instantly he could see nahemen had to go wash 278 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 4: seven times. Another person with leprosy, Jesus told him to 279 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 4: go show himself to the priest. It was that act 280 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 4: of faith that made him whole. And sometimes we think, well, 281 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 4: God did it for me one way this time, surely 282 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 4: he'll do it the same way next time. But that's 283 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 4: not necessarily true. I remember how my mother was healed 284 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 4: without any medical treatment of cancer of the liver back 285 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 4: in nineteen eighty one. The doctors told her that chemotherapy 286 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 4: and radiation wouldn't do her any good. My mother prayed, 287 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 4: she stood on the scripture, she spoke words of faith, 288 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 4: and God in his great mercy, totally healed her. But 289 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 4: about seven years ago, my mother had terrible pain in 290 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 4: her hip. She had polio as a child, and one 291 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 4: of her legs is smaller than the other from years 292 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 4: of favor in that leg. It wore her hip out. 293 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 4: She could hardly walk without great, great pain. So she prayed, 294 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 4: just like she did when she had cancer, stood on 295 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 4: those same scriptures. She fought the good fight of faith, 296 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 4: but she didn't get any better. I'm sure my mother 297 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 4: in the natural could have thought, well, God did it 298 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 4: without medical treatment back then, surely he'll do it again. 299 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 4: But no, my mother was smart enough to know that 300 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 4: God does it in different ways. She didn't have God 301 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 4: in a box. So one day she went and had 302 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 4: the surgery, had her hiphoplace. Today she can walk better 303 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 4: than ever. She's totally free from that pain. Not long 304 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 4: after the surgery, she said, Jeel, I don't know why 305 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 4: God didn't heal me this time like he did last time. 306 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 4: I said, well, mother, really, God did heal you this 307 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 4: time like he did last time. He just used a 308 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 4: different process. We have to realize every good thing comes 309 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 4: from God. I mean God. God is the one that 310 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 4: created medicines. God's the one that's given doctors and scientists 311 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 4: the wisdom to help us live healthier lives. Doctors can 312 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 4: perform surgery, but only God can heal. If my mother 313 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 4: had been hard headed and stubborn thought and norm'll bleed 314 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 4: for it one way, she would probably still be in 315 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 4: great pain today. We have to stay open. I heard 316 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 4: about a guy that was stranded at his home because 317 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 4: of a big flood. He prayed and prayed that God 318 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 4: would get him out of that situation. A couple of 319 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 4: hours later, the fire department came by in a big 320 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 4: truck and they said, come on, we'll take you to 321 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 4: higher ground. But he refused to leave. He just kept 322 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 4: on praying, God, please stop the rain, God, please get 323 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 4: me out of all this trouble, all this water. The 324 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 4: water continued to rise. A few hours later, people came 325 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 4: by in a boat. They said, get in, we'll take 326 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 4: you to higher ground. He said no, I'm waiting for 327 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 4: God to deliver me. They looked at him kind of puzzled. 328 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 4: Paddled away, and four or five hours later the water 329 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 4: was all the way at his roof. Coastguards sent a 330 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 4: helicopter by. They dropped him a ladder. Once again, he 331 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 4: refused to take it. Not long after that, he drowned. 332 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 4: Got to heaven. He said, God, why didn't you answer 333 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 4: my prayers? Why didn't you deliver me? God said, son, 334 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 4: I sent you a firetruck, I sent you a boat, 335 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 4: I sent you a helicopter. You were just too stubborn 336 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 4: to take it. I wonder how many times we miss 337 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 4: out on our miracle because we are so set in 338 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 4: having it our way. I know God sent me the 339 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 4: helicopter several times in my life, and I flagged him off. 340 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 4: I don't need that. That's not God, that's the enemy 341 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 4: trying to steal my blessings. No, I've learned my lesson. 342 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 4: Now I'm the first one on the fire truck these days. 343 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 4: I don't care how God answers my prayers, just as 344 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 4: long as he does. Stay open. Don't let the helicopter 345 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 4: pass you by. And just because it doesn't work out 346 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 4: your way, know that God has another plan. I've told 347 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 4: you how several years ago we were trying to find 348 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 4: property to build a new sanctuary on. We found one 349 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 4: hundred acres right off the freeway, about a mile from 350 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 4: our other location. I was so excited. I just knew 351 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 4: that was God. I knew he had saved that property 352 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 4: for us, and so for four or five months we 353 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 4: worked on it full force. But the day we were 354 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 4: to close, the people that owned it sold it right 355 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 4: out from under us. I was so disappointed. I went 356 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 4: home and told Victoria what happened. I'll never forget what 357 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 4: she said. She said, Joel, that just means God has 358 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 4: something better in star I thought, I don't want to 359 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 4: hear my own sermon. I wanted her to feel sorry 360 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 4: for me. I wanted her to join in, have a 361 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 4: pity party, complain. But I knew deep down in here 362 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,719 Speaker 4: what she was saying was exactly right. God closed that 363 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 4: door for a reason. It's because it wasn't his best. 364 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 4: But you know it was hard to accept. I had 365 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 4: to make a decision. Am I going to sit around 366 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 4: discourage negative complaining, or am I gonna shake it off 367 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 4: and believe that God's still in control. This is where 368 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 4: many people miss it. Their plan doesn't work out. They 369 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 4: get all to scourage, they lose their passion, lose their enthusiasm, 370 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 4: give up on their dreams, all because it didn't happen 371 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 4: their way. They had their plan, they had it all 372 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 4: figured out. We have to remember this scripture. God's ways 373 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 4: are better than our ways. If a door closes in 374 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 4: your life, instead of going around all discouraged and defeated, 375 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 4: we need to learn to immediately turn it around and 376 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 4: just say Father, thank you. I know you have something 377 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 4: better in Starve. That's exactly what happened here. Six months later, 378 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 4: we got the news that this place was becoming available. 379 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 4: This was more than we could even ask or think. 380 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 4: I thank God every day for closing those doors. I've 381 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 4: learned to stay open. Don't put God in a box. 382 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 4: In fact, sometimes you have to go through closed doors 383 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 4: before you'll ever get to your open doors. Those closed 384 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 4: doors help me to enlarge my vision. I would have 385 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 4: never moved the church I was young. I thought I'm 386 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,159 Speaker 4: not going to rock the boat. But through that process 387 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 4: of seeing how God supernaturally closed those doors, it got 388 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 4: me prepared for when this place became available. And sometimes 389 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 4: God will take you from A to D, to E 390 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 4: to F just so He can get you back to B. 391 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 4: God works in mysterious ways. All the things that influence 392 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 4: you along the way, the people you're meeting, the experience 393 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 4: you're getting, all those things are a part of God's plan. 394 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 4: Learn to stay open. Some of you today have God 395 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 4: in a little bitty box. You don't think you could 396 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 4: ever accomplish your dreams, or ever get out of debt, 397 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 4: or ever be healthy again. It's because you're only focused 398 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 4: on the natural. But God is a supernatural God. When 399 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 4: we believe, all things become possible, and the first step 400 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 4: is to quit trying to figure everything out. There may 401 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,640 Speaker 4: not be a way in the natural, but that's okay. 402 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 4: God can do what men can't do. You think about 403 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 4: the children of Israel when they left Egypt, there was 404 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 4: two million of them. Pharaoh changed his mind and came 405 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 4: chasing after them. They came to a dead end at 406 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 4: the Red Sea. Looked like it was over. They couldn't 407 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 4: see a way out, But that didn't mean there wasn't 408 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 4: a way. God simply parted the Red Sea. They went 409 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,679 Speaker 4: through on dry ground. Now I always remind myself of 410 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 4: that principle. Just because I can't see away doesn't mean 411 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 4: God doesn't have a way. When they told me it 412 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 4: was going to cost one hundred million dollars to renovate 413 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 4: this facility, after I got up off the ground, I said, God, 414 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 4: I don't see how that could happen. But I know 415 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 4: you have a way. I know you wouldn't have given 416 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 4: us this place if you didn't already have a plan. See, 417 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 4: God never gives a vision without making provision. We've met 418 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 4: every one of our goals, and I know we will 419 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 4: continue to do so well. You say, Joel, the price 420 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 4: of gas is so high and the cost of living 421 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 4: keeps going up. No, God has a plan. He can 422 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 4: cause your to get more miles to the gallon. I 423 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 4: believe while you're driving out here, your engine is getting 424 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 4: a new beginning. Your carburetor is getting resurrection power. God 425 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 4: can cause our money to go further. When you're at 426 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 4: the grocery store at the mall, he can help you 427 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,439 Speaker 4: to find the best deals. He can cause people to 428 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 4: wanna be good to you. I was out shopping with 429 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 4: Victoria one time and she found this blouse and she 430 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 4: asked me to go up to the counter and pay 431 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 4: for it so she could continue to look. And when 432 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,360 Speaker 4: I got there to the counter, the lady just out 433 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 4: of the blue said, you know what, this is going 434 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 4: to go on sell tomorrow. I'm gonna go ahead and 435 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 4: give you the sell price right now. Said well, thank you. 436 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 4: That's very kind to you. And as she folded it up, 437 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 4: she's just about to put it in the bag, and 438 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 4: she noticed a little bitty spot on the back, she said, 439 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,160 Speaker 4: look at that. Do you see that? I said, oh, yeah, 440 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 4: that looks terrible. She said, well, if it be okay 441 00:23:57,119 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 4: with you, I'll go ahead and cut the price in half. 442 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,479 Speaker 4: I guess that'll be all right. I told Victoria, I'm 443 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 4: gonna go shopping with you more often. But God has 444 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 4: a plan, and the good news is we don't have 445 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 4: to figure it out. We just have to believe. We 446 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 4: just have to stay in faith. And when you don't 447 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 4: see a way out, it's good to remind yourself. God, 448 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 4: you created the universe. You spoke the world into existence. 449 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 4: You stopped the sun for Joshua, You closed the mouths 450 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 4: of lines for Daniel. You parted the Red Sea for 451 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 4: the children of Israel. God, nothing's too difficult for you. 452 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 4: Even though I can't see a way, God, I know 453 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 4: you can make a way. When Victoria and I had 454 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 4: been married for a couple of years, we used to 455 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 4: take a walk many nights through our neighborhood and we 456 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 4: lived in a one story ranch home was built back 457 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 4: in the nineteen fifties, and it had had some foundation 458 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 4: problems and other things wrong with it, but it's on 459 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 4: a beautiful piece of property. We were happy, just as 460 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,719 Speaker 4: content as can be. One night, as we were walking, 461 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 4: Victoria saw the nice two story home was brand new. 462 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 4: It looked like a dream home. She said, Joel, one 463 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 4: day we're going to live in a house just like that. 464 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 4: She might as well have said, one day we're going 465 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 4: to go to the moon. I no more believe that, 466 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 4: and I went on to tell all the reasons why 467 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,439 Speaker 4: it wasn't gonna happen. I said, Victoria, we don't have 468 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 4: that kind of income. We could save up for years 469 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 4: and years and never be able to afford that. I 470 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 4: did my best to fill her with doubt and unbelief, 471 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 4: but none of that affected her. It bounced off of 472 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 4: her like water off of a duck's back. She said, no, no, no, Joel, 473 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 4: I feel it right down in here. One day we're 474 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:39,479 Speaker 4: going to live in a house just like that. Every 475 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 4: time we passed that house, night after night, week after week, 476 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 4: she told me the same thing. One day, we're going 477 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 4: to live in a place like that. Finally, after about 478 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,640 Speaker 4: three or four months, she convinced me. Instead of arguing 479 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 4: with her, I started agreeing with her. I let that 480 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 4: seed take root. I quit looking at what I didn't have, 481 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 4: and I started looking at what God did have. I 482 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 4: didn't see away in the natural, but I knew just 483 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 4: because I don't see a way, does it mean God 484 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 4: doesn't have a way. Victoria's attitude was, I'm not moved 485 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 4: by what I see. I'm moved by what I know. 486 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,440 Speaker 4: And I know God can do more than we can 487 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 4: ask or think. I know God's dream for our life 488 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 4: is bigger than our own. I know God's not limited 489 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:28,120 Speaker 4: by our income. See God's limited by our thinking. He's 490 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 4: limited when we go around telling him how it's not 491 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 4: going to work out. We don't have the education, we're 492 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 4: just not talented enough. Joeli come from the wrong family, 493 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 4: and my supervisor at work he doesn't even like me. No, 494 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 4: none of that matters to God. He's already got a plan. 495 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 4: I'm sure like I was, you've probably come up with 496 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 4: a thousand reasons why you're not going to be blessed, 497 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 4: and why you'll not ever get married, and why you 498 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 4: won't get any good breaks. But we have to quit 499 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 4: dwelling on that and let new seeds take root. God 500 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 4: is not limited by your income, or by the economy, 501 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 4: or by your past or by your future. Dare to believe. 502 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,120 Speaker 4: Dare to put your faith out there. Let God out 503 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 4: of your box. A couple of years after that, the 504 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 4: deed restrictions in our neighborhood were changed that allowed us 505 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 4: to subdivide our property. We ended up selling half of 506 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 4: our property for more than we paid for the whole thing. 507 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 4: Long story short, Today we live in a house just 508 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:29,479 Speaker 4: like the one Victoria saw, and we still we still 509 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 4: go by that other house all the time, and every 510 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:35,159 Speaker 4: time we do, Victoria punches me and says, O, ye 511 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 4: of little faith. She will not let me forget it. 512 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 4: I'm trying to get her let go of the past, 513 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 4: but she won't do it. But my problem was I 514 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,160 Speaker 4: was only focused on the natural. I didn't see a way. 515 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 4: But God is not limited to the natural. One touch 516 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 4: of his favor can change everything. Why don't you be 517 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 4: a believer and not a doubter. You may not be 518 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 4: able to figure it out, that's okay. Just turn it 519 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 4: over to God and say, God, I know you can 520 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 4: do what men can't do. You can cause me to 521 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,639 Speaker 4: be at the right place at the right time. You 522 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 4: can give me the breaks I need to get to 523 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 4: the next level. Dare to believe God has a plan. 524 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 4: If it doesn't work out, you don't have to live 525 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 4: all frustrated. Just keep doing your best every day, knowing 526 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:21,640 Speaker 4: that God's got you in the palm of his hand, 527 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 4: and some of you today you need to lighten your load. 528 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 4: You're going around trying to figure everything out, and you're 529 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 4: discouraged because it's not happening as fast as you would like. 530 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 4: Now turn that over to God. Don't let your dreams 531 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,680 Speaker 4: and desires consume you to where you're not going to 532 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 4: be happy unless it happens your way. Put that dream 533 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 4: on the altar. Trust God to bring it about his 534 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 4: way and in his timing. And remember, just because you 535 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 4: don't see a way doesn't mean God doesn't have a way. 536 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 4: If you'll dare to let God out of your box, 537 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 4: trust him to do it his way. He's promised he'll 538 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 4: not only give you the desires of your heart, but 539 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 4: he'll pour out his blessings and favor and you'll live 540 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 4: that life of victory he has in story. Amen, do 541 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 4: you receive it today? We never like to close on 542 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 4: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 543 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 4: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 544 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 4: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 545 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 4: make you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 546 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 4: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 547 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 4: in a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. 548 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 4: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed 549 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 4: of thank you for listening to the joel OUs Deine podcast. 550 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 2: Help us continue to share the message of hope with 551 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 2: those all over the world. 552 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 4: Visit joelus dein. 553 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,959 Speaker 2: Dot com slash give Hope to give a gift today. 554 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 555 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 556 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 4: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 557 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 4: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 558 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 4: next time.