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What if 24 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 4: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 25 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 4: five minutes with a clear picture of where you stand 26 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 4: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 27 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 4: can visit Facet dot com to take the free quiz 28 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 4: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 29 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 4: This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 30 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 4: is an SEC registered investment advisor. This is not an 31 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 4: offer to buy yourself security s noor is it investment, 32 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 4: legal or tax advice. 33 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 34 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 3: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 35 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 36 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with a friend. 37 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 3: We appreciate you and pray put God's very best in 38 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 3: your life. 39 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 4: God, thank you. 40 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 3: It is a joy to come into your homes Equen. 41 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 3: We love you. We know God has great things in 42 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 3: store for you. If you're ever in our area, I 43 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 3: hope you'll come by and see us. Just be our 44 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 3: joy and honor to have you be a part of 45 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 3: one of our services. But thanks for tuning in to day. 46 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 3: I like to get started each week with something kind 47 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 3: of funny, and I heard about this pastor and song 48 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: leader that weren't getting along. It began to spill over 49 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 3: into the worship services. One Sunday, the minister preached on 50 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 3: being willing to change, and afterwards, the song leader got 51 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 3: up and led the hymn I Shall not be moved. 52 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 3: The next week he preached on giving. The song leader 53 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 3: got up afterwards and sang the song Jesus paid it all. 54 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 3: The next week he preached on not gossiping. The song 55 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 3: leader got up and led the song I love to 56 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 3: tell the story. The minister got so frustrated he finally resigned. 57 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 3: He said, Jesus brought me here, and Jesus has taken 58 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: me away. The song leader got up and led the 59 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 3: song what a friend we have in Jesus. All right, 60 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 3: hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 61 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 3: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 62 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 3: I have what it says I have. I can do 63 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 3: what it says I can do. Today all will be 64 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,799 Speaker 3: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 65 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 3: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 66 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 3: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. We've been 67 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 3: talking about not living in the past and how we 68 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 3: need to let things go. Life has a way of 69 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: pushing people down. We all go through disappointments at times. 70 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,839 Speaker 3: We all have unfair things happen to us, and it's 71 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 3: so easy to develop a negative mindset and this always 72 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 3: will rob us of our future. And I see too 73 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 3: many people going around with a chip on their shoulder, bitter, resentful, 74 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 3: kind of angry, and it's because they won't let anything go. 75 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 3: Every morning. We need to start our day with a fresh, 76 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 3: clean slate when we get out of bed. One of 77 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 3: the first things we need to learn to do is 78 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 3: let go of the disappointments of yesterday, let go of 79 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 3: our failures, forgive the people that did us wrong, release 80 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 3: any negative thing that's trying to pull us down. We 81 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,600 Speaker 3: need to start each day afresh and a new In 82 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: other words, we may have made mistakes yesterday, but the 83 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 3: good news is God's mercy is new every single morning. 84 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 3: Learn to receive that. Or maybe somebody offended you last week, 85 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 3: they said something to hurt your feelings, Let that go. 86 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 3: That unforgiveness will poison your own life. Maybe somebody cheated 87 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 3: you out of a promotion at work. They lied, manipulated things, 88 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 3: and man, it wasn't fair. But don't get bitter, don't 89 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 3: try to get even. If you'll let it go, God 90 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 3: will be your vindicator. God will make your wrongs right. 91 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 3: Some of you have been through a lot of unfair situations. 92 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 3: Maybe growing up you weren't treated right, a spouse walked 93 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 3: out of a relationship, you lost a loved one. It's 94 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 3: so easy to stay focused on the pains of the past, 95 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 3: but I'm asking you to let all that go. Don't 96 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 3: allow your past to poison your future. Know this, Your 97 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 3: best days are not behind you. They are in front 98 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 3: of you. And our God is called a god of restoration, 99 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 3: and he's promised if we'll keep the right attitude, he'll 100 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 3: not only restore what's been stolen, but he'll bring us 101 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 3: out better off than we were before. He said in 102 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 3: Isaiah he would pay us back double for our former shame. 103 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,559 Speaker 3: So when unfair things happen to you, instead of getting 104 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 3: bent out of shade and going around with that chip 105 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 3: on your shoulder, learn to just turn it around. Say 106 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 3: you know what, that wasn't fair. They offended me, But 107 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 3: I'm not going to get upset I know that just 108 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 3: qualifies me for double. They meant it for evil, but 109 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 3: God's going to use it for my good. So I'm 110 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 3: gonta believe to come out of this with twice the joy, 111 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 3: twice the piece, twice the favor, twice the victory. See 112 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 3: if you can learn to have the right attitude, then 113 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 3: when people do unfair things, you'll know, in a sense, 114 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 3: they just did you a favor. They put you in 115 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 3: a position to receive double. I remember one time, years ago, 116 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 3: this person that I knew started talking about me, spreading rumors, lying, 117 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 3: saying things that you're just were not true. He was 118 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 3: basically trying to ruin my reputation, turn people against me. 119 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: And the funny thing is I knew a whole lot 120 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 3: of bad things about him. He didn't have a good 121 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 3: reputation to start with, and when I heard he was 122 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 3: talking about me, the first thing I wanted to do 123 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 3: in the natural was to start talking about him. I thought, 124 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 3: let me set the record straight, let me announce to 125 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 3: you what I know about him. Better yet, let me 126 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 3: take out an ad in the newspaper. But I've learned, 127 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: no matter how we feel, no matter what our emotions 128 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 3: are telling us, it's always best to take the high road. 129 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 3: You don't overcome evil with more evil. Somebody's talking about you, 130 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 3: don't start talking about them. That makes you just as 131 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 3: wrong as they are. The scripture says we overcome evil 132 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 3: with good. We're supposed to bless our enemies. We're supposed 133 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 3: to be kind to people even when they're not being 134 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 3: kind to us. And that's what I tried to do. 135 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,119 Speaker 3: I said, God, this is not fair, but you said 136 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 3: you would be my vindicator, So I'm not gonna get offended. 137 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna go around with a bad attitude. He 138 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 3: doesn't realize it, but he's done me a favor. He's 139 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 3: put me in a position to receive double and all 140 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 3: through the day when that situation would come up, instead 141 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 3: of getting all stressed out, all worked up on the inside, 142 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 3: I just said, Father, thank you that you're fighting my 143 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 3: battles for me. I believe I'm gonna come out of 144 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 3: this better off than I was before, stronger, happier, and healthier. 145 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 3: And that was years ago, and I saw God do 146 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 3: exactly that. He'll do it for you as well. When 147 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 3: unfair things happen, maybe somebody's talking about you, or maybe 148 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 3: you've just gotten some bad breaks in life. Nothing you 149 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,679 Speaker 3: did to deserve. It wasn't your fault. But you've gone 150 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 3: through some painful, hurtful situations. What I'm saying is, don't 151 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 3: let it get down on the inside. Instead of trying 152 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 3: to pay people back and getting all worked up, learn 153 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 3: to stay on the high road. Know that God is 154 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 3: in control of your life, and if you will keep 155 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 3: the right attitude, He's promised to bring you out with 156 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 3: double what you had before. That's just the way our 157 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 3: God is. He never brings us out the same. He 158 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 3: always makes the enemy pay for bringing that trouble into 159 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 3: your life. You heard my sister Lisa until last week, 160 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 3: how when she was in her early twenties, she went 161 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:58,319 Speaker 3: through an unwanted divorce, was very unfair, very hurtful, very painful. 162 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 3: And for a week after week, Lisa just sat there 163 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 3: in all that defeat, thinking that she didn't have a future, 164 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 3: and she continued to sink lower and lower, allowing that 165 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 3: self pity to control her life. But one day she 166 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 3: decided enough was enough. She said, this is not the 167 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 3: end for me, this is a new beginning, and she 168 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 3: rose up in her authority, shook off that self pity 169 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 3: and she put on a fresh new attitude. She got hopeful, expecting. 170 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 3: She stayed aggressive, and God not only brought her out, 171 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 3: but he made the enemy pain. It was through that 172 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 3: difficulty that Lisa learned to teach God's work. She began 173 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 3: to help other people that were struggling in their marriages, 174 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 3: and she would share the scriptures with them and encourage 175 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 3: their hearts. That's where she developed her gift of teaching. 176 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 3: See the enemy minute for evil, but God used it 177 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 3: to thrust her into her destiny. Something new was birthed 178 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 3: out of that adversity. And when you go through unfair 179 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 3: situations in your time of need, don't you dare sit 180 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 3: around feeling sorry for yourself, thinking that your life is over. No, 181 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 3: dig your heels in and believe that you're gonna come 182 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 3: out of that better oft than you were before. Believe 183 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 3: you're gonna come out stronger, happier, wiser. You know the 184 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 3: scripture in Romans eight twenty eight, all things work together 185 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 3: for good when we love the Lord. It doesn't say 186 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 3: that all things are good. We all go through things 187 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 3: that are difficult, painful, unfair. We don't like them. They 188 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 3: may not be good. But know this God is good. 189 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 3: Life may not be fair, but God is fair, and 190 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 3: what you're going through today may be difficult. But if 191 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 3: you'll keep your trust in Him, not get bitter, not 192 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 3: get resentful, then somehow, some way, God will turn that 193 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 3: situation around and use it to your advantage. That's exactly 194 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 3: what God did for me. When my dad went to 195 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 3: be with the Lord. That was the most difficult thing 196 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 3: that I'd ever faced in my life. I had worked 197 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 3: with my father here at Lakewood seventeen years. Behind the scenes, 198 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 3: Daddy and I were the best of friends. I used 199 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 3: to think, what am I going to do when my 200 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 3: father's gone? Really, my whole world was built around him. 201 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 3: But in January of nineteen ninety nine, my father had 202 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 3: a heart attack and went to be with the Lord. 203 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 3: And of course we were kind of in shock. It 204 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 3: was a sudden thing, and I remember I had to 205 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 3: make a decision back then. Was I going to get bitter, 206 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 3: go around with a chip on my shoulder thinking God, 207 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 3: It's not fair, Why'd you let this happen to me? 208 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 3: Or was I going to press forward and believe that 209 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 3: God still had a good plan for my life? And 210 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 3: looking back now, I can see what I thought would 211 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 3: have been my darkest hour turned out to be my 212 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 3: brightest hour. God used that adversity to thrust me into 213 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 3: a whole new dimension of my life. I didn't know 214 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 3: that I could minister. I didn't know I had this 215 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 3: in me. My father tried to get me up here 216 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 3: many times. I said, Daddy, I'm not a preacher. I 217 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 3: can't do that. I'm too shy, I'm too nervous. Sometimes 218 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 3: God has to push us into our destiny. Sometimes he'll 219 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 3: use the adversity. He'll use the dark hour to get 220 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 3: you where he wants you to be. And if you've 221 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 3: been through some kind of loss, some kind of disappointment, 222 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 3: I know that's hard. But know this, God still has 223 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 3: a great plan for your life. I found that when 224 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 3: one door closes, God will always open up another door. 225 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 3: And you don't know. God may use that difficulty to 226 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 3: thrust you to a whole new level. You have things 227 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 3: on the inside of you, just like I did. That 228 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 3: you don't even realize it. I can tell you if 229 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 3: my father was still here, I wouldn't be up here. 230 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,719 Speaker 3: It was too easy behind the scenes. I was too comfortable. 231 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 3: Sometimes God has to give us that push, and it's 232 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: up to us to keep the right attitude and to 233 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 3: stay hopeful, and to believe that God is in control 234 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 3: of our lives. Now. I love what God said in 235 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 3: the Book of Joel two twenty five. I will restore 236 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 3: the years that the locust has eaten. I believe God's 237 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 3: saying that to every one of us. He wants to 238 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 3: restore the years that have been stolen from you. Some 239 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: of you feel like you've wasted years of your life 240 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 3: in a relationship that didn't work out. Or maybe you've 241 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 3: spent years on the job, working hard, doing your best, 242 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 3: but not getting promoted, not getting the credit you deserve. 243 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 3: I know some of you didn't have a proper childhood 244 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 3: growing up, you were mistreated, talked down to pass from 245 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 3: one relative to the other. The good news is God 246 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 3: wants to restore all those years. He wants to make 247 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 3: that up to you. 248 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: Now. 249 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 3: Why don't you do your part and have a vision 250 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 3: for it. Quit living depressed and defeated. Quit going around 251 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 3: with a chip on your shoulder. You got to get 252 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 3: up every morning excited about your future, get up expecting 253 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 3: things to change in your favor. I see too many 254 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 3: people going around better resentful Joel. I don't know why 255 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 3: this has happened to me. It's just not fair. But 256 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 3: understand that very attitude is going to draw in more 257 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 3: of the problems. It's a negative cycle that's just going 258 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 3: to keep getting repeated. The only way it's going to 259 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 3: change is for you to put your foot down and 260 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: say no, I'm not gonna let my past ruin my future. 261 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 3: I'm not going to allow what somebody did to me 262 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 3: to keep me from my destiny. It may have been unfair. 263 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 3: I may have gotten some bad breaks in life. I 264 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 3: may be in the middle of a big mess right now, 265 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 3: but I know this. It didn't come to stay, it 266 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 3: came to pass. It may not be good, but I 267 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 3: know God is good. He's still in control of my 268 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 3: life now. I believe he's going to restore and bring 269 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 3: me out better off than I was before. That's the 270 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 3: attitude we got to have. See, we need to keep 271 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 3: our hopes up. Hope is called the anchor of our soul. 272 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: No matter what you've been through, no matter how unfair 273 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 3: it was, know this the best is still yet to come. 274 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 3: May not have happened in the past, but this is 275 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 3: a new day, says about Abraham, all hope being gone, 276 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 3: he hoped on in faith, and you may feel like 277 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 3: him today. You hear what I'm saying and it stirs 278 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 3: your heart. You know, down in here it's true. You 279 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 3: know God's got great things in store. But when you 280 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 3: look out, you think, man, I don't see how it 281 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 3: could happen, Joel, I don't see how my dreams could 282 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 3: come to pass. I don't see how my marriage could 283 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 3: ever be restored. That's okay, that's not your part. You 284 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 3: don't have to figure it out. Your part is to believe. 285 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 3: Your part is to get up every day expecting good 286 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 3: things and know this. Our God is a God of justice. 287 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 3: He sees every wrong that's ever been done to you. 288 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 3: He sees every person that's ever mistreated you. He sees 289 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 3: every tear that you've ever shed. God is keeping the records, 290 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 3: and he's promised if you will keep your trust in him, 291 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 3: he will not allow you to be continually mistreated, no 292 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 3: matter what's come against you, if you will just dig 293 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 3: your heels in and keep fighting that good fight of faith. 294 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 3: That means you get up every morning, put a smile 295 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 3: on your face, and keep pressing forward, shaking off disappointments, 296 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 3: shaking off offenses, shaking off self pity. Listen, If you 297 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 3: do that, God will reward you. And the scripture says here, 298 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 3: do not cast away your confidence, for it shall be 299 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 3: richly rewarded. Notice God is saying, if we'll just stay 300 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 3: on the high road and keep doing our best, then 301 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: eventually things are going to change in our favor. Now. 302 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 3: I love one translation. It says, keep your hopes up 303 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 3: for payday is coming. 304 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 6: I like that. 305 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 3: You got to know. God will pay you back for 306 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 3: doing the right thing. Pay you back for staying hopeful 307 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 3: even though you felt like giving up. He'll pay you 308 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 3: back for being kind to somebody even though they were 309 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 3: treating you bad. He'll pay you back for having a 310 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 3: good attitude, even though you had a right to be 311 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 3: bitter and angry. And when unfair things happened. When you 312 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 3: go through tough times, I always remember, as long as 313 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 3: you're on the high road, payday is coming. I think 314 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 3: about Joseph. Nobody had more unfair things happened to him 315 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 3: than he did. When he was a young man. His 316 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 3: brothers were so jealous of him they were going to 317 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 3: kill him. They threw him into that pit, but they 318 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 3: finally sold him into slavery in Egypt, and even though 319 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 3: Joseph kept doing the right thing, the wrong thing kept 320 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 3: happening to him. He was led about, falsely accused. He 321 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,199 Speaker 3: ended up spending thirteen years in prison for something that 322 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 3: he didn't do. But what I love about Joseph is 323 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 3: he just kept on keeping on. He just bloomed right 324 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 3: there where he was planted. He didn't go through the 325 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 3: day saying God, it's not fair. I don't deserve any 326 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 3: of this. Why did this happen to me? No, he 327 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 3: just kept giving it his very best, and every place 328 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 3: they put him, he got promoted. He rose to the top. 329 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 3: Even in prison, they put him in charge of the 330 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 3: whole prison. Well, one day God turned this all around. 331 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 3: He brought him out. His payday came and he was 332 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 3: put in charge of all the affairs of Egypt. He 333 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 3: was second in command only to the Pharaoh. And at 334 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 3: this particular time there was a great famine in the land, 335 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 3: and Joseph was in charge of the food supply. And 336 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 3: one day his nine brothers showed up at the palace. 337 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,199 Speaker 3: They had traveled a great distance looking and hoping to 338 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 3: buy some food. These were the same brothers that sold 339 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 3: him into slavery, the same ones that had caused him 340 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 3: all that heartache and pain. And now they're standing before Joseph, 341 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 3: they're at his mercy, and they don't recognize who he is. 342 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 3: And the scripture says in Genesis forty two, verse nine, 343 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 3: when Joseph saw his brothers, he remembered his dream. Isn't 344 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 3: that interesting? You would have thought when he saw them 345 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 3: he would have remembered the pain and heartache they had cost. 346 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 3: You would have thought he would have been angry and 347 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 3: wanted to pay them back. Most of the time, we 348 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 3: tend to remember the negative. But Joseph remembered his dream. 349 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 3: The point I want to make is your dream has 350 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 3: to be greater than the painful memories of your past. 351 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 3: If you stay focused on who hurts you and why 352 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 3: did this happen and how unfair it is, that's going 353 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 3: to rob you of your future every single time. You've 354 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 3: got to do like Joseph and say this wasn't fair. 355 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 3: But God, I know my payday is coming. I know 356 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 3: you're going to restore. I've still got the dream in 357 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 3: my heart. See, too often we allow our painful memories 358 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 3: are hurts, the rejection, the unfair, the situations to push 359 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 3: down our dreams, and we find we're not pressing forward anymore. 360 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:07,919 Speaker 3: And some of you today, you've got to stir up 361 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 3: that dream. You've got to get your enthusiasm back, get 362 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 3: your passion for life back. Your dream has to be 363 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 3: greater than your painful memories. It's interesting what Joseph did 364 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 3: his brothers. As I said, they didn't recognize them. This 365 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 3: has been many, many years later, and so he kind 366 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 3: of played with them. He said, guys, if you want 367 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 3: to buy food from me, then you're going to have 368 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 3: to prove to me that you're not a spy. And 369 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 3: he asked them if they had any other brothers. He 370 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 3: knew they did. Their youngest brother, Benjamin wasn't with them, 371 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 3: and they said, yes, we've got one brother back at home. 372 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 3: And Joseph said, well, here's what you've got to do. 373 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 3: I want one of you to stay here with me. 374 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 3: The rest of you go back home and get that 375 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,640 Speaker 3: younger brother and bring him back, and that way i'll 376 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 3: know you're not spies, and I'll sell you some more food. 377 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 3: And so they headed off that way. I understand years earlier, 378 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 3: when those brothers sold Joseph into slavery, they took the 379 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 3: robe off of him and they ripped it up, and 380 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 3: they dipped it in some animal blood to make it 381 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,360 Speaker 3: look like he had been killed by a wild animal. 382 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 3: And then they took that bloodied robe back to their father, Jacob, 383 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 3: and that was their excuse as to what happened to Joseph. 384 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 3: And so this father, Jacob, he has a painful memory 385 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 3: of losing one of his sons. And when they come 386 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 3: back and given the news that they have to send 387 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 3: the youngest son, Benjamin back to Egypt, Jacob is so 388 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,479 Speaker 3: distraught I can imagine. He goes to the closet and 389 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 3: he gets out Joseph's old robe. It's torn, it's bloodied, 390 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 3: and he begins to mourn and weep all over again. 391 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 3: He says, no, I can't send Benjamin back. I know 392 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 3: what happened to Joseph, and I can't let it happen 393 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 3: to him as well. And Jacob is so focused on 394 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 3: the pains of his past asked that he cannot move forward. 395 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 3: And that's what many people are doing today. They're hanging 396 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 3: on to their blooded robes, the painful memories, the rejection, 397 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 3: the disappointments. Their attitude is, I can't go forward. I'm 398 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,719 Speaker 3: afraid I might get hurt again, and understand this whole time, 399 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 3: God had provision for Jacob and his family. He wanted 400 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 3: to restore his son Joseph back to him. He wanted 401 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 3: to give them the food and supplies they needed. But 402 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 3: it all depended on Jacob being willing to take a risk, 403 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 3: being willing to look away from the blooded robe. And 404 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 3: do you know how many people today will not move 405 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 3: forward in life because they've been hurt in the past. 406 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,959 Speaker 3: They won't get into a new relationship even though they 407 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 3: feel good about it because they were rejected in a 408 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,120 Speaker 3: previous one, or somebody burned them in a business deal. 409 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 3: Now they won't try anything to do. Or maybe at 410 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 3: one time they served in the children's ministry one they 411 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 3: were at church every Sunday, but somebody hurt them, somebody 412 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 3: offended them. Now they're too busy nursing their wounds to 413 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 3: move forward. That's exactly what was happening to Jacob. He 414 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 3: couldn't take advantage of the present opportunity because he was 415 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 3: so focused on the pains of his past. And as 416 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,439 Speaker 3: long as you're not willing to release the benjamins in 417 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:24,919 Speaker 3: your life, in other words, as long as you're not 418 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 3: willing to take a step of faith toward your new beginning, 419 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 3: then you're not gonna see God restore. The scripture tells 420 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 3: us in Isaiah that God wants to give us beauty 421 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 3: for our ashes. But I found we have to let 422 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 3: go of the ashes before God can give us the beauty. 423 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:44,640 Speaker 3: And if you're just playing it safe, nursing your wounds, 424 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 3: feeling sorry for yourself, that's gonna keep you from God's best. Finally, 425 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 3: after more than a year, Jacob agreed to allow his 426 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 3: sons to take Benjamin back to Egypt. When they got there, 427 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 3: Joseph prepared this big feast, a big table set, and 428 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 3: he put the brothers in birth order, from the oldest 429 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 3: to the youngest. They thought, how did he know how 430 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 3: to do that? Long story short, Joseph revealed to them 431 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 3: who he was. He was kind to them, He gave 432 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 3: them everything they needed and more. And eventually the father 433 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 3: Jacob God news that his son Joseph was indeed alive. 434 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 3: He was able to come back to the palace and 435 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 3: live close to them as well. God restored Joseph back 436 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 3: to his father Jacob. But it only happened when Jacob 437 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 3: was willing to quit looking at the pains of the past. 438 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 3: Let me ask you today, is your dream greater than 439 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 3: the painful memories of your past? It has to be 440 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 3: if you're going to move forward or are you kind 441 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 3: of doing like Jacob and you're so focused on the 442 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 3: negative that you're afraid to take that step of faith. 443 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 3: You're afraid you might get hurt again. Now get rid 444 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 3: of that bloodied robe. God wants to do a new 445 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 3: thing in your life. You gotta let go of what 446 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 3: didn't work out, Let go of who hurts you. All 447 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 3: that's gonna do is poison your future. It's just gonna 448 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 3: drag you down. And it may have been unfair. You 449 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,719 Speaker 3: may have a thousand good reasons to convince me that 450 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 3: you should be able to live bitter, angry, negative, sarcastic. 451 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 3: But I'm asking you to walk away from all of that. 452 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 3: The scripture says, because Joseph kept the right attitude, because 453 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 3: his dream was greater than his memory. Then God took 454 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 3: what the enemy meant for evil, and he used it 455 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 3: to his advantage. God wants to do the same thing 456 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 3: for each one of you. Quit living life looking in 457 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 3: your rear view mirror. This is a new day, and 458 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 3: you may have been through more than your share of 459 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 3: unfair experiences. But that's exactly the way you need to 460 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 3: see it. You've been through it. In other words, it's 461 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 3: over and done. Your attitude should be this is a 462 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 3: new season. I'm moving on. I know God's going to 463 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 3: restore and bring me out better off than I was before. Now, 464 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 3: you said, Joel, I don't see how that could happen 465 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 3: for me. Man, you don't know my circumstances. No, God 466 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 3: always has a plan. His ways are higher and better 467 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 3: than our ways. Just believe, Just keep pressing forward, get 468 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 3: up every day expecting good things. I heard a story 469 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,239 Speaker 3: about this lady. She and her daughter had gotten at 470 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 3: odds with each other, and they hadn't spoken in over 471 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 3: twelve years to each other, and this mother was very 472 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 3: distraught by it all. She had tried her best to 473 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 3: make amends, but there was just so much water under 474 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 3: the bridge, and the relationship was so strained that she 475 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 3: couldn't seem to make any headway. This daughter wouldn't speak 476 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 3: to her, wouldn't come to see her. The daughter had 477 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 3: basically just written the mother out of her life. But 478 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 3: this mother refused to give up. She kept praying, she 479 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 3: kept believing, even though it looked impossible. Just like Abraham, 480 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 3: she just kept hoping on in faith. She said, God, 481 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 3: I know you're a God of restoration. I know you 482 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 3: can do what men can't do. And God, I just 483 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 3: believe one day, somehow, some way, you're going to restore 484 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 3: my daughter back to me. And God works in mysterious ways. 485 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 3: Two years ago, I was at a book signing in 486 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 3: another state. There were several hundred people in line and 487 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,120 Speaker 3: had come up to the table and signed the book, 488 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 3: talked to them for a moment or two, and all 489 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 3: of a sudden, this lady stepped up and I didn't 490 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:26,880 Speaker 3: know who she was. She looked to be in her 491 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 3: mid fifties. She had a beautiful young lady by her side, 492 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,959 Speaker 3: and they both had tears streaming down their faces, standing 493 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,199 Speaker 3: their arm in arm. Come to find out, over the 494 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 3: last few years, they had both been watching our television 495 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,640 Speaker 3: program and not knowing any of this. When they heard 496 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,360 Speaker 3: we were coming to that city. They both showed up 497 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,160 Speaker 3: at the book signing, first time they had seen each 498 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 3: other in over twelve years, and God used that. God 499 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:58,200 Speaker 3: used that as a time of healing, a time of restoration. 500 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 3: The mother looked at me with big tears running down 501 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 3: her face. She said, Joel, this is the happiest day 502 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,919 Speaker 3: of my life. God has brought my daughter back to me. Friends, 503 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 3: God knows how to restore. He knows how to put 504 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 3: you at the right place at the right time. Stay 505 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 3: in faith. You may not think anything is happening, but 506 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 3: God is working behind the scenes. He's planning the right seeds, 507 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 3: He's rearranging things in your favor. He's in complete control 508 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 3: of your life. And when you believe, all things are possible. 509 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 3: When you don't lose your hope, payday is coming. It 510 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 3: may not happen overnight, but it will happen. God is 511 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 3: a faithful God. Now I want you to go out 512 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 3: of here today with a spirit of restoration. It may 513 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 3: look impossible to you, but it's not over until God 514 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 3: says it's over. Keep praying, keep believing, and know this. 515 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 3: When negative things happen to you, when unfair situations come, 516 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 3: don't get all discouraged, don't get all bent out of shape. 517 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 3: They just put you in a position to receive double 518 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 3: And if you'll do your part, keep your hopes up, 519 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 3: stay expectant, you'll not only rise above every negative circumstance, 520 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 3: but God promises he'll bring you out better off than 521 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 3: you were before. Amen. Do you receive it today? We 522 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 3: never like to close off broadcast without giving you an 523 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 3: opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would 524 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 3: you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent 525 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 3: of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you 526 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 3: my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 527 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 3: we believe you got born again. Get into good church, 528 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 3: Keep God first place. He'll take your places that you've 529 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 3: never dreamed of. 530 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the Jolus Deine podcast. Help 531 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 5: us continue to share the message of hope with those 532 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 5: all over the world. Visit jolusdin dot com slash give 533 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:48,959 Speaker 5: Hope to give a gift today. 534 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 535 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 3: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 536 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 3: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 537 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 3: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 538 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 3: next time. 539 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 6: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 540 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 6: for everyone. 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