1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:02,000 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 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 2: the ministry. 4 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 3: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 5 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 3: blessing and share it with a friend. 6 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 2: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 7 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: your life. 8 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into. 9 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 2: Your homes and if you're ever in our area, please 10 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 2: stop by and be a part of one of our services. 11 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 2: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 12 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: I say it often, but these are the finest people 13 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 2: in all of Houston, Texas, right here at Lakewood, So 14 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,279 Speaker 2: come out whenever you can. But thanks for tuning in. 15 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: Thank you again for coming out. And I like to 16 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 2: start with something funny. And I heard about this husband 17 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 2: and wife. They'd been arguing for a long time about 18 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 2: who should make the coffee in the morning. The man 19 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 2: definitely thought it was his wife's job, but she just 20 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: didn't agree. After several heated debates, the wife finally said 21 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: to him, I can prove to you from the scripture 22 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 2: that the man is supposed to make the coffee in 23 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: the morning. 24 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: He said, what are you talking about? 25 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: Nothing in the scripture about me the man making the coffee. 26 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: She said, sure, there is. 27 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: She opened her bible and pointed to the Book of Hebrews. 28 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 4: All right, hold up your bible. Say it like you 29 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 4: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 30 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 4: says I am. I have what it says I have. 31 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 4: I can do what it says I can do. Today 32 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 4: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 33 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,199 Speaker 4: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 34 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 4: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 35 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about the power 36 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: of your vision. Too many people are stuck in a rut, 37 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: not because they're not talented, not because they don't have 38 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 2: God's favor, but because their vision is limited. They don't 39 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: see themselves accomplishing their dreams, being promoted, living healthier. They 40 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: just see more of the same. What you see is 41 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: what you're going to move toward. We all have the 42 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: Every one of us has a picture in our mind 43 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: of our self, our family, our future. The real question 44 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 2: is what does your picture look like. Do you see 45 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: yourself rising higher, overcoming obstacles, living an abundant life, or 46 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: is the picture you have of yourself struggling, defeated, addicted, overweight, 47 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 2: never getting good breaks. The pictures you allow in your 48 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: mind will determine what kind of life you live. You 49 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: have to protect your vision. If your vision is limited, 50 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: your life will be limited. Seven times in the scripture, 51 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 2: God asks what do you see? God is interested in 52 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 2: our vision. Before your dream comes to pass, you have 53 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: to see yourself accomplishing that dream. Got to get a 54 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 2: picture of it before you lose the weight, before you 55 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: break the addiction, you have to see it happening in 56 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: your imagination. The pictures you keep in front of you 57 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 2: your vision not only drops down into your spirit, but 58 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 2: it gets into your subconscious mind. Once something is in 59 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 2: the subconscious without even thinking about it, just like gravity. 60 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: It will pull you toward it. 61 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: Many people have negative images in their subconscious mind. They 62 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 2: see themselves weak, defeated, inferior, and they wonder why it 63 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: feels like something's always pulling against them, it's always a struggle, 64 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 2: and never feel good about themselves. 65 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: It's because they have the wrong images. 66 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 2: If you will change those pictures and start seeing yourself 67 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 2: the way God sees you, blessed, prosperous, healthy, strong, talented, successful, 68 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 2: then instead of having something pulling against you. 69 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: It'll be pulling for you. 70 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: You'll be moving toward blessing, favor, promotion, increase. Our imagination 71 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 2: is incredibly powerful. In fact, it says in Genesis nothing 72 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: they imagined was impossible to them. 73 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: Once you get a picture. 74 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: Of it, either good or bad, you're going to move 75 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: toward it. I read this study that was done with 76 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: people that needed arthroscopic knee surgery. Their knees were worn 77 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: down and they needed the joint to be cleaned out. 78 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: These doctors, with permission from the family, on a certain 79 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: number of patients. Instead of actually performing the surgery, they 80 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: simply put the patients under anesthesia and made three tiny 81 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: incisions around the knee, but they didn't do anything. Of course, 82 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: when the patient woke up, they thought they had had 83 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: the full surgery. What's interesting is two years later, the 84 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 2: patients that had the fake surgery reported just as much 85 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 2: relief from the pain as the patients that had the 86 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 2: actual surgery. And it wasn't just in their mind. When 87 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: the doctor examined their knees over time, they could see 88 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: how their knees had improved. The doctor's conclusion was since 89 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 2: the brain expected. 90 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: The need to get better, it got better. It helped 91 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: it to heal. 92 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: You could say those doctors tricked the patience into having 93 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 2: a new image, and just like gravity, they. 94 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: Move toward it. Let's make it practical. 95 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 2: You may not feel blessed, but if you'll get in 96 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 2: agreement with God and get a picture of yourself blessed, 97 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: you're gonna move toward it. Your brain is gonna say, 98 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: come on now, let's get going. They're supposed to be blessed. 99 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: The medical report may not look good, but instead of 100 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 2: seeing yourself going downhill, start seeing yourself strong, healthy, full 101 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 2: of energy, full of vitality. 102 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:50,239 Speaker 1: That's what you're moving toward. 103 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 2: Your dream in the natural may look impossible, but I'm 104 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: asking you to look out through your eyes of faith 105 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: and see yourself into that new home, see yourself getting married, 106 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 2: see yourself taking that mission's trip. When you see yourself 107 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: accomplish in your dreams, all these unseen forces begin to 108 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 2: move in your direction. This is what happened with Abraham. 109 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 2: God gave him the promise that he was going to 110 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 2: be the father of many nations. In the natural, it 111 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: was impossible. Abraham was eighty years old and didn't have 112 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 2: one child. 113 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: But what's interesting is. 114 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: God didn't just give him the promise. God gave him 115 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: a picture to look at. God said, Abraham, go outside 116 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: and look up at the stars. 117 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: That's how many descendants you will have. 118 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 2: I read where there are six thousand stars in the 119 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 2: eastern sky where Abraham was that night. It's not a 120 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: coincidence that there are six thousand promises in the scripture. 121 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: God was saying, any promise that you can get a 122 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 2: vision for, I will bring it to pay. God told 123 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 2: Abraham go down to the beach and look at the 124 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: grains of sand. That's how many relatives you're going to have. 125 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: Why did God give him a picture. God knew there 126 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: would be times when it seemed like the promise wasn't 127 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 2: going to come to pass. When Abraham was tempted to 128 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 2: get discouraged and to start thinking it's never going to happen, 129 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 2: he would go outside and look up at the sky. 130 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: When he saw the stars, faith would rise. 131 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: In his heart. 132 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 2: Something would tell him it's going to happen. I can 133 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: see it in the morning. The thoughts came telling him 134 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 2: you're too old, Abraham, it's too late. You didn't hear 135 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 2: God write. Abraham would go down to the beach and 136 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: look at the grains of sand. Something would come alive 137 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: on the inside. 138 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: His faith would be restored. 139 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: Just like with Abraham. There will be times when it 140 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: seems like your dream is not going to come to pass. 141 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 2: It's been too long, the medical report looks too bad. 142 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 2: You don't have the money, the connections. You could easily 143 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: get discouraged and give up. Now, just like Abraham, you 144 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: got to go back to the picture God gave you. 145 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: When you close your eyes, you have to see yourself 146 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: strong and healthy, See the problem turning around, see your 147 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: family restored, See yourself paying. 148 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: Off your house. 149 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: Your vision is what's going to keep you encouraged. God 150 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: is saying to us what he said to Abraham. If 151 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 2: you can see it. 152 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,839 Speaker 1: I will do it. If you'll get a vision for it, 153 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: I will bring it to pass. 154 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 2: Several years ago, a lady came down to the altar 155 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: for prayer, and she had just gone through a very 156 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,599 Speaker 2: painful divorce. Her husband of many years left her for 157 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 2: another woman, and she was very devastated, very heartbroken. She 158 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 2: didn't see how she could ever be happy again. And 159 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: I did my best to encourage her, tell her that 160 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 2: God was going to give her beauty for those ashes 161 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: is God was going to pay her back for that 162 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 2: unfair situation. 163 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: She listened, but didn't seem like. 164 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 2: My words had much of an impact. She was very depressed. 165 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: She couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. 166 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 2: When our vision is negative, our life is going to 167 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 2: fallow that same direction. Sometimes it's difficult, you don't feel 168 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 2: like doing it, but you cannot afford to sit around 169 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 2: in self pity. Life may not be fair, but God 170 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: is fair. You got to shake off the disappointments and 171 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: get a fresh new vision. 172 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: Your life is not over because somebody left you. 173 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 2: If they walked out on you, you didn't need them. 174 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: God's plan was not canceled because of a disappointment, an 175 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 2: unfair situation, or even because of a mistake you made. 176 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: If you'll get a new vision, instead of being. 177 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 2: A setback, God will turn it into a setup to 178 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 2: do something greater. She was weeping and weeping and telling 179 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 2: me all the reasons she would never meet anybody, and 180 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 2: how she was too old and just too unattractive, on 181 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 2: and on, none of which were true. 182 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: I asked her to do something that would help her 183 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: to have a new image. 184 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 2: I said, get a picture frame and put it on 185 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,959 Speaker 2: the table by your bed with no picture in it, 186 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: just an empty frame. And every time you see that frame, 187 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 2: you just imagine that's going to be a picture of 188 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: you with the new person God brings into your life. 189 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 2: As an act of faith, she put that picture frame there. 190 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: Every time she saw it, she would begin to thank 191 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 2: God that he was directing her steps, bringing the right 192 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: person into her life, giving her beauty for her ashes. 193 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: She got rid of. 194 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 2: The picture of defeat, being lonely, being depressed. She started 195 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 2: seeing herself beautiful, happy with the person of her dreams. 196 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 2: Three years later, she showed up to the altar once again, 197 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 2: weeping and weeping, but this time they were not tears 198 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 2: of sadness. They were tears of joy. 199 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: You see. She had this very. 200 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 2: Handsome gentleman by her side. She said, Joel, this is 201 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 2: the man that I saw in that picture frame that 202 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 2: you had me put up. 203 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: We're gonna get married next Saturday. 204 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 2: The scripture says, weeping may endure for a night, but 205 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: joy is coming in the morning. My question is what's 206 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 2: in your picture frame? What do you see when you 207 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 2: look out into your future? More of the same. I've 208 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 2: reached my limits. My business will never succeed. I'll always 209 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 2: be lonely, overweight, addicted. That's going to keep you where 210 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 2: you are. You've got to change what's in the frame. 211 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 2: Got to put a new picture in there. Start seeing 212 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 2: yourself strong, beautiful, successful, fulfilled. Your life is not going 213 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 2: to change until you change the picture. 214 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: This is what my father did. 215 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 2: He grew up extremely poor, had no money, no education, 216 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 2: no real future to speak of. But at seventeen years old, 217 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 2: my father gave his life to Christ. 218 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: God called him to preach. 219 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 2: He began to see himself ministering to thousands of people. 220 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: That was unheard of back there in the nineteen thirties. 221 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 2: There weren't big churches like we have today. Daddy had 222 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 2: never been to seminary, especially not at seventeen, never had 223 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: any formal training. All he knew how to do was 224 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 2: pitt cotton. But my father changed the picture in the frame. 225 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: Instead of seeing himself poor, defeated, barely getting by, he 226 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 2: started seeing himself touching the world. He went on to 227 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 2: do exactly that. Friends, your life is going to fall 228 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 2: at your vision. If you have a small vision, you're 229 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 2: going to have a small life. But if you will 230 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: let the seeds of greatness that God's planning on the 231 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 2: inside take root. If you'll have a big vision, God 232 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 2: will take you places you never thought possible. I remember 233 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 2: as a little boy, Lakewood was in our very first auditorium. 234 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 2: It held two hundred people. My father would get up 235 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 2: on Sundays. He would point to the right and say 236 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 2: to the congregation, can you see that new sanctuary seating 237 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: a thousand people? 238 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: Can you see it totally paid off? 239 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 2: All that was out there was an empty field with 240 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 2: cows grazing in it. The visitors thought my father had 241 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 2: lost his mind, but he wasn't looking at it in 242 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 2: the natural. He was looking out through his eyes of faith. Eventually, 243 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 2: that sanctuary came into reality, plus many many others. Some 244 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,359 Speaker 2: of you today, If you would just put new pictures 245 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,319 Speaker 2: in your frame, your life would go to a new level. 246 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 2: You don't have to figure out how it's going to happen. 247 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 2: All you've got to do is believe. One touch of 248 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 2: God's favor can bring any dream to pass, could break 249 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 2: one promotion, one phone call, and what looked like an 250 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: impossibility all of a sudden is a reality. You've heard 251 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,719 Speaker 2: the saying, if you can see the invisible God can 252 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 2: do the impossible. When we were trying to acquire this place, 253 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,559 Speaker 2: the former Compact Center, it was a three and a 254 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 2: half year battle, and all kinds of things came against us, 255 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 2: and at times in the natural it looked like. 256 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: It wasn't going to happen. 257 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 2: But instead of worrying about it, letting those negative pictures 258 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 2: take root. All through the day, just like my father did, 259 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 2: I would see this place as being ours in my imagination. 260 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 2: I could see the lake would sign out front. I 261 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 2: could see myself up here ministry. I could see all 262 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 2: of you long before you got here. Many times at night, 263 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: Victoria and I would drive up to the building, if 264 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 2: nothing was going on, we'd get out and walk around 265 00:14:56,280 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 2: it and pray, believe, and dream. That image was becoming 266 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 2: ingrained in our thinking. The more we saw it, the 267 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 2: more faith rose in our hearts. In my imagination, I 268 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 2: could already see the mayor handing us the keys. I 269 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 2: could already see the confetti falling during the groundbreaking service. 270 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: I could already see it full of thousands of victors 271 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 2: and not victims. For three and a half years, we 272 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 2: kept that image in front of us. On December first, 273 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 2: two thousand and three, when the mayor handed us the key. 274 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 2: It was just like I had seen it before. On 275 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 2: December thirteenth, when the confetti fell on the groundbreaking services, 276 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 2: it was just like I had seen it before. In 277 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 2: two thousand and five, the week of the grand opening, 278 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: a reporter asked me what it was going to be 279 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 2: like to stand up and minister here for the first time. 280 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: I didn't say it, but I thought to myself. 281 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 2: I'd ministered in this build thousands of times before. Friends, 282 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 2: you got to see it on the inside before it's 283 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 2: going to come to pass on the outside. Have you 284 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 2: ever seen yourself accomplishing your dreams, graduating from college? Have 285 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: you ever seen yourself healthy, whole, free from addictions, free 286 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: from any kind of sicknesses. In nineteen eighty one, my 287 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 2: mother was very sick with cancer of the liver. She 288 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 2: weighed eighty nine pounds and her skin was as yellow 289 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 2: as can be. And I was away at college, and 290 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: when I came back home, I hardly recognized my mother. 291 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: She looked so bad. 292 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 2: One thing my mother did was she put up pictures 293 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 2: all over the house from a time when she was healthy. 294 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 2: She had her wedding pictures up on the refrigerator all 295 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: over the den. In her bathroom mirror, she had a 296 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 2: picture of herself riding a horse in Montana with a 297 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 2: big pink cowboy hat. 298 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: I thought, what are all these pictures doing up? 299 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: My mother had put them there to create a new 300 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: image on the inside. You see, when she looked in 301 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 2: the mirror, she saw death staring back at her. She 302 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 2: didn't want that image to become ingrained in her thinking. Now, 303 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 2: everywhere she looked all over the house, she saw herself, healthy, strong, happy, 304 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 2: fulfilling her destiny. That's the image she let take root. Today, 305 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 2: thirty one years later, she looks just like she did 306 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 2: in those pictures, as strong and healthy as conven it. 307 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 2: I've found life tries to push us down. Life tries 308 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 2: to put out the fire that God lights on the inside, 309 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 2: through disappointments, bad breaks, people discouraging us. Too often we 310 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 2: settle for mediocrity. We miss out on the fullness of 311 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 2: what God has in store. Some of you today your 312 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 2: vision is too small. God has a much bigger life 313 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: than your living. 314 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: But you're letting how you were raised, your. 315 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 2: Environment, Perhaps the disappointments of the past to set the 316 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 2: limits for your life. You've got to enlarge your vision 317 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 2: your parents may have reached a certain level, but God 318 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 2: wants you to go further. And there should be something 319 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 2: you're dreaming about that's too big for you to accomplish 320 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 2: on your own, something that you cannot afford, something that 321 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 2: you're not qualified for. It's going to take God's favor, 322 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 2: God's blessing to bring. 323 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: It to pass. 324 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 2: Friends, have a big vision. That's your faith being released. 325 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 2: Heard a story about a little frog that was born 326 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 2: at the bottom of a wellnes a small circular well 327 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 2: like you'd see at a farm, and it was he 328 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 2: and his family that lived down there. And this little 329 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: frog was so happy, so content all day long to 330 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 2: swim and splash in the water. He thought, life is good. 331 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: We've got all the water in the world to ourselves. 332 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: As he got a little older, he noticed the light 333 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 2: at the top of the well, then wondered what was 334 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 2: up there. One day, very carefully, he climbed up the 335 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 2: side of the well, and with great caution, he looked 336 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 2: over the edge and the first thing he saw was 337 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 2: a pond. 338 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,120 Speaker 1: He couldn't believe it. 339 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: It was thousands of times more water than he had. 340 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 2: He hopped a little more and came to a lake. 341 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: He stood there in amazement, hopped a little more and 342 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 2: came to the ocean, where as far as he could 343 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: see miles and miles of water. He began to realize 344 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 2: his vision was so limited. He thought he had it all, 345 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 2: but all he really had was a drop in the 346 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 2: bucket compared to what God wanted him to enjoy. 347 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: God's dream for your life. 348 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 2: Is so much bigger, so much larger, so much more rewarding. 349 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,199 Speaker 1: Than you can imagine. 350 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 2: You haven't touched the surface of what God has in store. 351 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 2: But too often we're like that little frog. We've been 352 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 2: enclosed in our own little well. Our vision is very limited. 353 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 2: It's called our environment. How we were raised. All we've 354 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 2: known is certain way of thinking, certain way of living. 355 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 2: It may not be bad, but God has much more 356 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:11,719 Speaker 2: in store. 357 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 1: I'm asking all. 358 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 2: Of us, like that little frog, to go a little 359 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 2: further than you used to break out of your box 360 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 2: and look out over the horizon. Dream bigger, Think bigger, 361 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 2: See bigger. God has oceans that he wants you to enjoy. 362 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 2: I have friends that pastor a church in another state. 363 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 2: When they first started their church, they barely had anything. 364 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 2: They were living in a tiny apartment, no furniture. Practically 365 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 2: could hardly pay their rent each month. They would both 366 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,919 Speaker 2: work during the day and then on Sundays about fifteen 367 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: people would come. 368 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: To their apartment and they would have church. This went 369 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: on year after year with no growth. They were very 370 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: tempted to get discouraged. 371 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 2: They knew God had put something bigger in their heart, 372 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 2: but didn't look like it was going to happen. But 373 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 2: rather than sit around in their little apartment every night 374 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 2: feel sorry for themselves feel like failures, they did something interesting. 375 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 2: They would drive down to one of the big fancy 376 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 2: hotels in their area. They didn't even have money to 377 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 2: pay for parking. They'd have to park way down the 378 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 2: road and walk the rest of the way. They would 379 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 2: go into that hotel lobby and night after night just 380 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 2: sit there and dream. They wanted to put themselves in 381 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 2: an atmosphere of victory, an atmosphere of success. As they 382 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 2: would look around at all the beautiful surroundings, they would 383 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,719 Speaker 2: begin to thank God, one day you're going to bring 384 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: our dreams to pass. One day we're going to be 385 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 2: pastoring a church with thousands. 386 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: What were they doing enlarging their vision? 387 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 2: They got out of their well to help expand their thinking. 388 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 2: Today twenty five years later, their living their dream, pastoring 389 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 2: a very successful church like them. You may be at 390 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 2: a place that doesn't seem very good. What you see 391 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 2: on the outside doesn't match what God's put on the inside. 392 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 2: But don't sit around in self pity, depress, discourage. Go 393 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 2: out and find someplace you can dream. Go to the 394 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 2: park and watch the sunset, look up at the stars. 395 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: And think about God's goodness. You've got to get out 396 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: of that well. 397 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 2: Find someplace that inspires you, someplace where your faith will 398 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 2: be elevated. And that's why it's important to come to 399 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 2: a church like Lakewood, where people are gonna build you 400 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 2: up and not tear you down, where people are gonna 401 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 2: challenge you to rise higher, to become all God's created. 402 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: You to be becaus. 403 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 2: Now, I know people they come home from work every 404 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 2: night and watch the same depressing TV shows week after 405 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 2: week and wonder why nothing gets better. Now. 406 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,160 Speaker 1: If you're gonna enlarge your vision. 407 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 2: You got to get out of a limited environment. 408 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 1: Put yourself somewhere. 409 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 2: Bigger than you are right now, that atmosphere of victory 410 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 2: of success. I heard a famous rapper being interviewed on 411 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 2: television years ago. The interviewer asked him why his lyrics 412 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 2: were so filled with hatred and violence, and why he 413 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:24,639 Speaker 2: always talked about killings and shootings and muggings. He said, Oh, man, 414 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,879 Speaker 2: I'm just rapping about life. That's the way the world is. 415 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,479 Speaker 2: The truth is, that's not the way the world is. 416 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,719 Speaker 2: That's the way his world is. That's the way it is. 417 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 2: The six blocks around his house, if he had drive 418 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 2: three miles down the freeway, he'd see people loving their families, 419 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 2: people going to colleges, people starting businesses, people fulfilling their destiny. 420 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: What's the problem. 421 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 2: His vision is being limited by his environment. All he's 422 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 2: got to do is get in a different environment, an 423 00:23:57,680 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 2: environment that inspires him in. 424 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: That it depresses him. 425 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 2: I have friends that run an orphanage in a very 426 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 2: poor nation. Every Friday, they go down to the slums 427 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 2: and they take these children to the beach. They call 428 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 2: it dream Day. As the children play in the sand 429 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 2: and the water, and they look at the beautiful ocean 430 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 2: and they watch the magnificent sunsets. They talk to them 431 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 2: about how God knew them before they were formed in 432 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 2: their mother's womb, how they have seeds of greatness, on 433 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 2: the inside. 434 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: They speak vision into them. 435 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 2: They're finding that these children from the slums are overcoming 436 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 2: incredible odds, getting scholarships to colleges, breaking out of poverty, 437 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 2: becoming leaders in the community. 438 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,360 Speaker 1: Proverbs twenty nine eighteen says where there is no vision, 439 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: the people perish. 440 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 2: Doesn't say where there's no money, where there's no opportunity, 441 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 2: where there's no talent. 442 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: What limits us is a lack of vision. 443 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 2: If you're going to enlarge your vision, you need to 444 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 2: get around other dreamers, get around people that are going places, 445 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 2: people that inspire you to rise higher. If you're the 446 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 2: smartest one in your group, your group is too small. 447 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 1: You got to get out of your well. 448 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 2: You need to be around people that know more than you, 449 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,119 Speaker 2: people that are doing more than you, and don't be 450 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 2: intimidated by them. God brings people into our life to 451 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 2: help expand our vision. Only small minded people get jealous. 452 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 2: Only small minded people try to compete and prove that 453 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 2: they're really better now. Don't be insecure, be inspired. The 454 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 2: right attitude is, Hey, God, if you did it for them, 455 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 2: you can do it for me. It makes a difference 456 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 2: who you associate with. Elisha hung around Elijah and he 457 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,439 Speaker 2: got a double portion. Joshua Will hung around Moses and 458 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 2: he went into the promised land. Samson hung around compromisers, 459 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:58,880 Speaker 2: and he missed his destiny. 460 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: You got to get around the dreamers. 461 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 2: Your vision is going to be greatly impacted by. 462 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: Who you choose to associate with friends. 463 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,120 Speaker 2: What's in your future has much to do with what 464 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 2: you can see. I'm asking you to see yourself blessed, prosperous, strong, healthy, talented, successful, 465 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 2: accomplishing your dreams. Don't get stuck in a rut and 466 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 2: just see more of the same. You may have been 467 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 2: through disappointments, but this is a new day. 468 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: Your greatest victories are still in your future. 469 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:35,040 Speaker 2: Now make sure what you put in that picture frame 470 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 2: is too big for you to accomplish on your own dream. 471 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: Big enlarger vision. 472 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 2: If you'll keep the right picture in front of you, 473 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,919 Speaker 2: instead of having something pulling against you, it'll be pulling 474 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 2: for you. 475 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:49,719 Speaker 1: Like Abraham. 476 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 2: Even though it looks impossible, God will bring the promise 477 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 2: to pass, and one day, instead of just having the dream, 478 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 2: you'll be living the dream. 479 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: What you see will become a reality. In Jesus' name. 480 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: Do you receive it today? 481 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 482 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,880 Speaker 2: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 483 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me, just say, Lord, Jesus, I 484 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 2: repent of my sins. Come into my heart, wash me clean. 485 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 2: I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you 486 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 2: prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 487 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 2: Get in a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. 488 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 2: He's going to take your place as you've never dreamed of. 489 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 5: What if every plan you set, every habit you formed, 490 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 5: and every decision you made became a pathway to see 491 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 5: God move in your life. 492 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 2: We all have hopes and dreams things were believing for. 493 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:52,400 Speaker 2: When you start the year in faith, expecting God's goodness, 494 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,120 Speaker 2: you are setting the tone for a blessed new year. 495 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 2: And we'd love to send you our twenty twenty six 496 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:01,199 Speaker 2: Faith for Today Planner and write down your dreams and 497 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,160 Speaker 2: goals and plus use it for your everyday activities and reminders. 498 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 3: It's important to feed your faith on a daily basis. 499 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 3: This planner it's not just a calendar. It's filled with 500 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 3: scriptures and inspiration to help you stay encouraged and keep 501 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 3: believing for what God has put in your heart. 502 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 2: Twenty twenty six is your year to see the goodness 503 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 2: of God in greater ways, let go of what didn't 504 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 2: work out, and get ready for the new things God 505 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 2: has in store. 506 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 5: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 507 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 5: of any amount this month, we would like to send 508 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 5: you a copy of the twenty twenty six Faith for 509 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 5: Today Planner. Each month features a fresh theme of encouragement, 510 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 5: a guiding scripture to stand on, room to write your goals, prayers, 511 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 5: and vision space for faith steps. Because faith isn't passive, 512 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 5: it's active. A monthly QR code linking to a message 513 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 5: or video to keep your spirit lifted. With a twenty 514 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 5: twenty six Faith for Today Planner, you'll be reminded that 515 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 5: living by faith makes room for God to do what 516 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 5: only He can do. Break through in your business, God's 517 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 5: healing touch. Loved ones returning to faith. Request your copy 518 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 5: of the planner and step into the new year with 519 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 5: bold faith, fresh hope, and daily encouragement. To strengthen your 520 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 5: spirit and face every challenge with confidence. 521 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 2: No matter what's happening around you, faith can rise up 522 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 2: in you. Keep believing and expecting a blessed twenty twenty 523 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 2: six Victoria and I pray for you and your family 524 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 2: every day. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. 525 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 2: Your generosity is helping people around the world. As we 526 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 2: finish this year, I hope you'll consider making a special 527 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 2: year in gift to help keep the ministry strong. We 528 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 2: so appreciate all the Champion of Hope partners. 529 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: For your monthly support. We wish you and. 530 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 2: Your family a very merry Christmas. Till we see you 531 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 2: next time, May the Lord bless you. 532 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 1: And keep you. 533 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 5: Be sure to request your copy the twenty twenty six 534 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 5: Faith for Today Planner. Visit joelostein dot com or call 535 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 5: eight eight eight five six seven Joel for a special 536 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 5: year end gift. This month, we are also offering the 537 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 5: Faith to Share Bundle, Keep One, Give One, Give the 538 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 5: gift of faith, focus and fresh hope for someone special 539 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 5: in your life. You can also request the God's Word 540 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 5: Work Study Collection. This empowering collection includes the NIV, the Message, 541 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 5: Parallel Bible, a beautifully crafted leather bookmark in ten, and 542 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 5: how to Read your Bible and Enjoy It, along with 543 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 5: two planners. You can request these inspiring resources by calling 544 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 5: eight eight eight five six seven Joel or logging on 545 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 5: to joelostein dot com today, Call or click anytime, twenty 546 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 5: four hours a day, Stay organized, encouraged, and full of 547 00:30:53,800 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 5: faith all year long. Request these resources today, any thing,