1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan's Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: God bless you. Well. We welcome you. It's always a 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: joy to come into your homes each week, and thank 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: you for letting us spend this next half hour or 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: so with you, and we believe that you'll be blessed 9 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: and encouraged. I can tell you that God is on 10 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: your side. He's got a good plan for your life, 11 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: and when you serve him, he'll take you places that 12 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: you've never even dreamed of. And if you're ever in 13 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: our area, come out and see us. We give you 14 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: a personal invitation. We'd love to have you be a 15 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: part of one of our services. Thanks for tuning in today. 16 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: And I like to get started each week with something 17 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: kind of funny. And I heard about this elderly lady. 18 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: She came in to the back of a country church 19 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: one Sunday morning and this friendly usher greeted her and said, 20 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: good morning, ma'am. Where would you like to sit? She said, 21 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: I want to sit on the very front road. He said, 22 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: oh no, ma'am, you don't want to do that, and 23 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: he kind of whispered. He said, this pastor is very boring. 24 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: He'll put you asleep. Let me seet you somewhere else. 25 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: She looked apalled. She said, sir, do you know who 26 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: I am? He said no. She said, I am the 27 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: pastor's mother. He put his head down and kind of grimaced, 28 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: and finally he looked up and he said, ma'am, do 29 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: you know who I am? She said no. He said, 30 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: thank God, All right, hold up your bibles and say 31 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: it with me. Ready, this is my Bible. I am 32 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: what it says I am. I have what it says 33 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: I have. I can do what it says I can do. 34 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: Today all will be talked the word of God. I 35 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,559 Speaker 1: boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 36 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 37 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: bless you. I want to talk to you about being 38 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: kind and courteous and treating people with respect. I believe 39 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: how we treat people is one of the most important 40 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: things to God. In fact, you can measure a person's 41 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: spiritual maturity not by how many scriptures they can quote, 42 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: not by how many times they come to church. And 43 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: although that's good, religious activity doesn't necessarily impress God. It's 44 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: how we treat other people. In other words, am I 45 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: being respectful to my wife? Am I kind to my children? 46 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: Am I courteous to the man on the freeway? Am 47 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: I friendly to the lady at the grocery store? Really 48 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: it boils down to this, do I have a gentle, 49 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:35,079 Speaker 1: caring spirit? And unfortunately much of our society is not 50 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: like this Today. Too many people are rude. They're harsh 51 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 1: and insensitive. They'll blow right by you and not give 52 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: you the time of day. They'll demand things from your 53 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: bark orders at you instead of politely asking. I mean, 54 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: where has common courtesy gone? Where has been understanding and 55 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: going out of our way to show our love gone? 56 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: And the scripture says here in First Corinthians thirteen verse 57 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: that love is not rude. One translation says love has 58 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: good manners. And I want to challenge you today to 59 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: develop a greater gentleness, a greater kindness, a greater understanding. 60 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: You may not agree with everybody, they may do some 61 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: things that you don't like, but that doesn't give you 62 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: the right to be rude doesn't give us the right 63 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: to look down on people and treat them as if 64 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: they were second class. Now, Jesus said by this, well, 65 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: all men know that you're my disciples. When you love 66 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: one another, there should be something different about us. We 67 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: should be the kindest, most friendly, most considerate people around. 68 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: That's one of the best witnesses we could ever have. 69 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: And if this is going to happen, then we need 70 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: to watch the way we say things. Be aware of 71 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: your body language. I read where communication is sixty percent nonverbal. 72 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: In other words, your body language, your facial expressions, the 73 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: tone of your voice. All of these things are communicating 74 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: even more than what we're saying, and that means we 75 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: need to learn to keep a pleasant demeanor. We need 76 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: to learn to smile more often. And when you're under pressure, 77 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: When you're under stress, you need to especially be on guard, 78 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: be sensitive, and do your best not to hurt other 79 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: people's feelings. And too often we just blow in and 80 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: we say something very matter of a fact and we 81 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: don't realize it, but it's not coming out like we 82 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: want it to. It's coming out much more harsh, and 83 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: that could all be avoided if we just be a 84 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: little more sensitive and a little more tactful in how 85 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: we say things. I know the other day I came 86 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: home and I was very tired. I'd had a long day. 87 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: Victoria asked me a question, and I did just what 88 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. I just blurted out the answer, very 89 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: matter of fact, and I didn't say anything wrong, and 90 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: I wasn't trying to be rude, but my whole demeanor, 91 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: my body language, the tone of my voice was basically saying, hey, 92 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: don't bother me. Can't you see I'm tired. I want 93 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: to be by myself now, quit looking at me like 94 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: I'm a sinner. I made one mistake. How about I 95 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: give you the microphone. We're gonna see what you did 96 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: wrong this way. But after about two hours, when I 97 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: noticed that Victoria wasn't speaking to me, I realized maybe 98 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: I'd been a little insensitive, and of course I pled 99 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: my case. I said, Victoria, I didn't say anything wrong. 100 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: She said, yeah, but you should have heard how you 101 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: said it. See, it was my voice, tones, it was 102 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: my demeanor, and that's what happens. Many times. We may 103 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: be saying the right thing, but how we say it 104 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: is equally important. Be sensitive and learn to say things 105 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 1: in a pleasant tone of voice. Well, you say, Joe, 106 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: my personality is just a little bit stronger. I'm just 107 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: real straightforward. I believe in telling it like it is. No, 108 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: do not let your personality be an excuse to be rude. 109 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: You can be truthful, but you can You can be truthful, 110 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: but you can be tactful as well. You need to 111 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: watch the way you say things, and you need to 112 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: make sure you even need to say it. A lot 113 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: of times we say things just to make us feel good. 114 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 1: You may know you're right and you know the other 115 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: person's wrong, but that doesn't mean that you have to 116 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: correct them. You need to ask yourself is this going 117 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: to benefit anybody? Is this really necessary? Are you just 118 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: doing it to prove your point to make yourself feel good. Now, 119 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: when you go around putting people down, being harsh, being rude, 120 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: you will always walk away from there feeling worse about yourself. 121 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: Right down in here, you'll have that nagging feeling just 122 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: gnawing away at you. You'd been much better off to 123 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 1: just leave it alone. And you may have a good 124 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: reason to jump in there and set the record straight, 125 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: But understand this, If you're right and you're rude, then 126 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: you're wrong. It's all in how you present it. Proverbs 127 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: eleven seventeen says you do yourself a favor when you're kind. 128 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: Notice you don't just do somebody else a favor when 129 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: you're good to them. But when you show a little mercy, 130 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: when you overlook a far, when you have that gentle spirit, 131 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: you're doing yourself a favor. I know one time, years ago, 132 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 1: I was at this restaurant and when it came time 133 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: to pay, all I had was a one hundred dollar bill. 134 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: There was a sign up front that said no bills 135 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: over twenty. Well, I didn't see it at the time, 136 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: and so when I went up there to pay, you 137 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: would have thought I just put the company out of business. 138 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: The lady behind the cash register was so rude. She said, sir, 139 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: can't you see no bills over twenty? I said, I'm sorry, ma'am, 140 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: I didn't see it. She called the manager over, and 141 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: I'll never forget. He looked at that one hundred dollar 142 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: bill and he went, give it here, I'll take it. No, 143 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: we need to be more understanding than that. When somebody 144 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: puts you out, when somebody inconveniences you, you need to 145 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: ask yourself, hey, have I ever put anybody out? Have 146 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: I ever made a mistake? If you'll learn to show 147 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: a little mercy, then you'll receive mercy, even out here 148 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: on the freeways. It's amazing how impolite people can be. 149 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: A couple of weeks ago, I saw two guys almost 150 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: get into a fight because one man turned from the 151 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: wrong lane and this other man got right up on 152 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: his bumper and he was telling him, honking his horn, 153 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: shaking his fists. So upset I wanted to ask him, hey, 154 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: have you ever made a wrong turn? Have you ever 155 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: cut anybody off? He looked bigger than me, so I didn't. 156 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: But we've got to learn to give people a little room, 157 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: so a little mercy. It's funny sometimes somebody will jump 158 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: in front of us in traffic and we'll want to 159 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: honk and get upset, and then just a few minutes later, 160 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: we'll cross four lanes of traffic to exit half of 161 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: Houston will be honking, and we'll be thinking, come on, people, 162 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: give me a break. I'm on a human now. Learn 163 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: to sew a little mercy, be a little kind, or 164 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: have that gentle spirit. And we should never do things 165 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: or say things to be little a person. Never make 166 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: a person feel unimportant. For instance, maybe you're trying to 167 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: explain something to somebody and they just can't seem to 168 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: catch on. Well, don't get all huffy and puffy and 169 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: try to make them feel like a loser. Be understanding. 170 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 1: God has given us all different gifts, and there are 171 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: areas that you can pick up on very quickly. It's 172 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: gonna take me a lot longer, and just the other 173 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 1: way around. We need to be understanding, keep the right attitude. 174 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: I know people that are always trying to be little 175 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: to somebody. Really the problem is they're so insecure they 176 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 1: do anything they can to put somebody else down. We 177 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: don't fall into that trap. The Bible says love covers 178 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:31,599 Speaker 1: a fault, love covers a weakness, and love never embarrasses anybody. 179 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: If somebody asks a dumb question in a business meeting, 180 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,839 Speaker 1: a dumb question at school, you should do your best 181 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 1: to smooth it over, cover for him, don't embarrass him. 182 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: Or maybe you're up at that checkout counter and the 183 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: clerk that's running that cash register can't seem to get 184 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 1: anything right. Maybe he's new. Well, don't just stand right 185 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: there and breathe down his throat and tap on the counter. 186 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: Come on, buddy, no, give him a little bit of slack. 187 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: Say hey, you know what, take your time, It's okay. 188 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: See what I'm saying is learn to sew a lit 189 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: little mercy. After all, we've all been in those situations before. 190 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure I'm not the only one that's ever asked 191 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: a dumb question before. We've all had times where we 192 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: need a little mercy, we need a little understanding. The 193 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: other day, when we opened up this building, they gave 194 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: me a key to get in back here where we 195 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: park and it was this real odd looking key. It 196 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: was kind of oblong, and I'd never seen anything like 197 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: this before. And so I came down one day during 198 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: the week and I tried and tried to figure out 199 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: how this key is supposed to work, and I had 200 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: it jiggling around the doorknob, and I don't know, I 201 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: thought maybe something was going to pop out, but I 202 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: just couldn't get it to work. And so finally I 203 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: had to go get the security guard and I told 204 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: him what I'd been doing. He said, well, let me 205 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: just go show you. So we came back over to 206 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: the back door and he took my key and he 207 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: put it over to the right of the door on 208 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: this electronic keypad, and when he touched that, then the 209 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: door just electronically opened. And when he realized what I 210 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: had been doing, trying to put that key in the doorknob, 211 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: he began to laugh and laugh, and then I started laughing, 212 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,839 Speaker 1: but man, he could not quit laughing. And after a while, 213 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: I thought, I'm glad you're enjoying this, because we're sure 214 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: gonna miss you. But you should do your best to 215 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: never make anybody feel small. I felt about that big 216 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: And when somebody does something foolish, when somebody makes a mistake, 217 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: just remember, with the same amount of mercy you show, 218 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: that's the same amount of mercy you're gonna receive. And 219 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: we need to learn to be understanding. If something is 220 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: not right, there's a way to correct it without being 221 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,559 Speaker 1: rude and getting all upset. I was at a fast 222 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: food restaurant one time and this guy was up at 223 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: the counter and he was just having a fit. He 224 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 1: was so upset. He said, listen here, I've been here 225 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: for ten minutes and I've watched three people leave that 226 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: were behind me in line, and I demand to know 227 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: what's wrong? On and on he went, giving them an 228 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: ear form, just making a big scene. Now, remember you 229 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: may be right, but if you're rude, then you're wrong. 230 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: You need to learn to lower your voice tones, ask 231 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: in a respectful way. I found people will do more 232 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: for you if you're kind and courteous than if you're 233 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: rude and obnoxious. Politeness wins people over, not rudeness. Need 234 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: to learn to be understanding, not demanding. It's like that 235 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: guy heard about. He was up at the airline ticket counter, 236 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: ranning and raving to the ticket agent, complaining about why 237 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: it's taking so long, complaining about why she couldn't go 238 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: any faster, And as he continued to just holler and 239 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 1: scream and throw a big fit, this ticket agent was 240 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 1: just as calm and courteous and polite as she possibly 241 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 1: could be. Didn't even look like it bothered her. Well. 242 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: He went on his way, and the next guy in 243 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: line came up and he said, ma'am, I got to 244 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: tell you, I am so impressed. You must be a 245 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: good Christian. That guy was so obnoxious, yet you were 246 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: so polite to him. I don't know how you did it. 247 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 1: She smiled and said, well it wasn't that hard. See 248 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: he's going to Detroit, but his bags are going to Bangkok. 249 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: People respond to politeness, not rudeness. Proverbs sixteen twenty one 250 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: says a mature person is known for his understanding. The 251 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is. Notice, 252 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: if you want to be more persuasive in your business meetings, 253 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: more persuasive with your clients, don't get loud, don't be 254 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: critical towards your competitors, Be pleasant, be courteous, be respectful. 255 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: You want to be more persuasive with your husband, more 256 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: persuasive with your children, more persuasive with the waiter at 257 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: the restaurant. The whole key is in the tone of 258 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: your voice. It's in our demeanor, it's in our attitude. 259 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: We've got to learn to be friendly, respectful, considerate. Please understand, 260 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: you are never persuasive when you're route. We're never persuasive 261 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: when we're loud and obnoxious. You've got to make sure 262 00:13:56,080 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: that your words are pleasant. It's politeness that changes peace. 263 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: It's being respectful, it's being understanding. I heard somebody say 264 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. 265 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: If you go around cyur all the time spout in 266 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: your opinion, trying to straighten everybody else out. Not only 267 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: are you not going to be a very good witness, 268 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: but people are not going to respond to that. I 269 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: found if you give respect, you'll get respect. If you're 270 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: courteous to people, they'll be courteous to you. And if 271 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: you will have this gentle spirit and go ahead and 272 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: let the guy in front of you in traffic and 273 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: stay at that door ten or fifteen seconds and hold 274 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: it open for the people behind you. When you do that, 275 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: God will make sure that people are always good to you. 276 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: And we need to get in a habit of being 277 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: kind and considerate to everyone, not just the people we're 278 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: trying to impress, but even the people that can't do 279 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: anything for us, even the people that are just passing 280 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: through our lives. I believe this is really the test 281 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: of our faith, because in a sense, we can all 282 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: be nice and kind to our friends and to our 283 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: coworkers because we want to keep a good reputation. But 284 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: how about that man on the freeway that wants to 285 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: get in front of you, or how about that lady 286 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: that calls during dinner time trying to sell you something 287 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: that you're not interested in. In other words, the people 288 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: that can't do anything for us, We'll probably never meet them. 289 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: Nobody's watching, nobody's going to give us any credit. And 290 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: the easy thing is to just blow them off and say, hey, 291 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: you know what kind of stay away from me. No, 292 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: I'm challenging you today to develop a habit of being friendly. 293 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: Make an effort to smile at people, Take time to 294 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: compliment them, take time to hold the door open for it. 295 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: Don't be in such a rush in life, in such 296 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: a hurry that you miss these opportunities to sow seeds 297 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: of kindness. We should be considerate everywhere we go, and 298 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: we need to make sure that we never feel like 299 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: we're too important or too busy to say please and 300 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: thank you. Learn to express your appreciation even if you're 301 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: paying somebody to do something for you, even if one 302 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: of your employees. That doesn't mean you don't have to 303 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: thank them. That doesn't mean you can just take them 304 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: for granted. I've had people say, Joel, I pay them good, 305 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: they better work hard. No, have you ever thought about 306 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: that person is made in the image of Almighty God. 307 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: He's got feelings, she's got feelings. They need encouragement. They 308 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: need your approval. Take time to thank them, be grateful, 309 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: say hey, I appreciate all you do for us. Thank you. See, 310 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: just because we may be over somebody, just because you 311 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: may be in management, that doesn't give us the right 312 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: to treat people under us like their second class. In fact, 313 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: God is going to hold us to a higher standard. 314 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: To whom much is given, much is required. And the 315 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: truth is, the more authority we have, the more humility 316 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: we should walk in. And the fact is the same 317 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: God that brought us up can be the same God 318 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: that will bring us down. And one thing that God 319 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: will never tolerate is that someone that abuses their position 320 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: of authority. If you're in leadership today and you want 321 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: to stay in leadership, you need to make sure you 322 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: treat people right. It's funny. I've seen people they're so 323 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,479 Speaker 1: nice and kind, but you give them a little bit 324 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: of power, they get a little authority, and all of 325 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: a sudden, it goes to their head. They start bossing 326 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: people around, being rude, being harsh. That's never going to last. Now, 327 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: treat your employees good, parents, treat your children good. If 328 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: you're a coach or a teacher, treat those students respectfully. 329 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: God's going to hold us responsible and really, this all 330 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: needs to start at home. The atmosphere of our homes 331 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,719 Speaker 1: should be peaceful, should be one of respect and honor 332 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: husbands and wives. If we're saying disrespectful things to each other, 333 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: all we're doing is teaching our children that it's okay 334 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: to be disrespectful. If we're making cutting, sarcastic remarks, we 335 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 1: can guarantee our children are going to grow up doing 336 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: the exact same thing. See more is caught than taught. 337 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,439 Speaker 1: Your children are not going to necessarily do what you 338 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 1: tell them to do. They're gonna do what they see 339 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: and what they hear you doing. You can tell them 340 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 1: all day long, be kind, treat people with respect, But 341 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: if they see you being disrespectful to their mother, to 342 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: their father, to another family member, you're giving them a 343 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: greenlight to do it as well. Now there should be 344 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: a sense of honor in our homes and parents. We 345 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 1: should not go around barking orders at our kids hard 346 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 1: and harsh. Clean your room, take the trash out. I 347 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: told you do your homework. No, be an example, learn 348 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: to say it in a loving and a kind way. 349 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: And I believe that we should even get in a 350 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: habit of saying please and thank you to our children. 351 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: We're training them, and sure we can boss them around 352 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: and bark orders at them and make it do it, 353 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: and I believe it's much better to say, hey, Jonathan, 354 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: please take the trash out for daddy. Alexandra, thank you 355 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: for keeping the room so clean. See, there ought to 356 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: be a gentleness about us. Be kind, be grateful. I 357 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 1: know every time Victoria cook's dinner, make a special point 358 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,719 Speaker 1: to thank her for it. And I know she knows it, 359 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: but I want her to hear it again, and I 360 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: especially want my children to hear me expressing my thanks. 361 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: And sometimes sometimes it's sad to see what really goes 362 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: on behind closed doors. And as I said, we can 363 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 1: all be nice and kind out in public. That's easy. 364 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 1: But the real test of our character is how do 365 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: we treat those that are closest to us. How do 366 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 1: we treat our own family members. Sometimes we can end 367 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 1: up treating somebody at the office better than we treat 368 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: our own wife, our own husband, our own children. You know, 369 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: we don't think twice about going to get a cup 370 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: of coffee and bringing it back for a coworker, doing 371 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 1: them a favor. But if our own wife, her own 372 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: husband asks us to do that, it seems like we 373 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: get all put out. I've seen men they'll go out 374 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: of their way to open up a car door for 375 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: a business associate, but when it comes to his own wife, 376 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 1: she's got a fend for herself. That's not right. We 377 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: should treat our own own family better than we treat 378 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: anybody else. I mean, they're the ones we're gonna grow old. Well, 379 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,239 Speaker 1: they're the ones that mean the most to us, and 380 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,479 Speaker 1: some of you need to examine your heart today and 381 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: make some adjustments. Make sure that you're treating the ones 382 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: very closest to you with respect and with honor. There's 383 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: a scripture that says a man's wife is a reflection 384 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: of his glory. In other words, Victoria is a reflection 385 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 1: of me, and how I treat her can be seen 386 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: in her smile, in how she dresses, in her attitude, 387 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: in the way she carries herself. She is a reflection 388 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: of my glory. Now she's all beaten down and depressed, 389 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 1: and she goes around discouraged all the time. Then me 390 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: being her husband, I need to examine my own life 391 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: and make sure that I'm not missing it somewhere. And 392 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: I know some women that are just like this, so 393 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: beaten down, and it's all because their husband is so domineering. 394 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: He's not kind, he's not affectionate, there's no love in 395 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: respecting the home. He's not putting into her what she needs. 396 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: And year after year, that husband just drains the life 397 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: and energy out of that wife. That should not be men. 398 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: You need to look at your wife and see if 399 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 1: she's reflecting the joy, the peace, the victory that God 400 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: wants her to have. Remember I used to play basketball 401 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: with these guys, and after we got through, there was 402 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: this one guy. He'd always come up to me and 403 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,719 Speaker 1: he said, well, Joe, I got to go home and 404 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: see my old lady. And I often thought, if you 405 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: speak about your wife like that, you must not think 406 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 1: too much of yourself, because she's a direct reflection of you. 407 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, men, but I want my 408 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: wife to shine. I want Victoria to be happy, to 409 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: feel good, to look good. She's a reflection of my character, 410 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,959 Speaker 1: of my goodness, of my glory. And know I'm not perfect, 411 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,479 Speaker 1: but I can tell you this. I respect my wife, 412 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: I treat my children kindly, I do my best to 413 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 1: treat my own family better than I treat anybody else. 414 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: And that's the way that it should be. I heard 415 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: somebody put it like this. At your house, you have 416 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: these different dishes that you eat off of, and if 417 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: you're in a hurry and you're out playing ball, out 418 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: mowing the lawn a lot of time, you'll just grab 419 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: some paper plates. They're quick and easy. When you're done, 420 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: you just throw them away. You don't have to worry 421 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: about them getting damaged. But then most of the time 422 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: you're gonna use your everyday plates and dishes, and you've 423 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: got to be careful with them. But they're a lot 424 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: more durable. They withstand a lot of wear and tear. 425 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: But then every once in a while, on a special occasion, 426 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 1: you'll go into your dining room and you'll take out 427 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: your fine china. Now, these dishes are expensive. You've got 428 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,120 Speaker 1: to handle them with care. You don't just toss them 429 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: around and treat them anyway you want. They're valuable. You'll 430 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: go to great links to make sure that they're taken 431 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: care of. And in a sense, that's the way it 432 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,120 Speaker 1: is in life. Some people we just see in passing. 433 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: We need to be respectful and kind, but they're not 434 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 1: in our lives very long. And then of course we 435 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 1: have our group of friends, our coworkers. We see them 436 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: more on a regular basis, and again we need to 437 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: treat them right. But when it comes to our own wife, 438 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: our own husband, our own children, they're not the paper plates, 439 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: they're not the everyday where. These people are our fine China. 440 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,239 Speaker 1: They need special attention. We don't treat them like we 441 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: treat everybody else. We go the extra mile. We got 442 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: to make sure they feel loved, they feel respected, they 443 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: feel secure. They need to know we care about them 444 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: more than anybody else. And oh yes, we need to 445 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 1: be kind and courteous to everyone, but these people are 446 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: the ones that God has entrusted us with. And I 447 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: would challenge you again today to make sure you're not 448 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: showing your boss, or your neighbor, or your friends more 449 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 1: respect than you're showing your own family. You've got fine China. 450 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 1: They need that special care. They need to know more 451 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: than anybody else, you're concerned about them. And I want 452 00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: us to have strong families, strong marriages, strong relations here 453 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: and I know how much the enemy would love to 454 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: tear us apart. And it starts so slyly. It starts 455 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: with just a little disrespect, a little comment here and there, 456 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,479 Speaker 1: and then as time goes on, you don't think anything 457 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 1: about it, you let your guard down, and then more 458 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 1: and more disrespect comes, and before you know it, you're 459 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:24,360 Speaker 1: living in two separate worlds. No, take care of your family. 460 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: Make sure that you're treating those the closest to you 461 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: with respect, with love, better than you're treating anybody else. 462 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 1: There's a scripture in one Peter three, verse seven. It says, men, 463 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,920 Speaker 1: if we are not considerate and kind to our wives, 464 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: if we don't treat them with respect, then it's going 465 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 1: to hinder our prayers from being answered. A good friend 466 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: of mine told me something that happened to him. He 467 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 1: and his wife tried for years to have a child. 468 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,159 Speaker 1: There were a young couple, but for some reason, she 469 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,119 Speaker 1: just couldn't conceive, and they prayed and prayed, did everything 470 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: they can, but no child, and so he got so frustrated. 471 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: Year after year went by, and one day he was 472 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 1: on an airplane returning home from India and he began 473 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 1: to ask God about it. He said, God, I don't 474 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: understand it. Why can't we have a child, Why can't 475 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: we have a baby. It's not fair. And he said 476 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: that God spoke something back to him, not out loud, 477 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: but right down in here. God said, son, you're not 478 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: going to have a child until you start treating your 479 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: wife better. And you got to understand, this young man 480 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: was a minister, he was a good person, he loved God. 481 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: But he was not treating his wife the way he 482 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: knew he should. He was making sarcastic comments, being disrespectful, 483 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: being hard to get along with. He said, when he 484 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: heard those words, it just pierced his heart. The good 485 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 1: news is he was obedient. He didn't make excuses, he 486 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 1: didn't blame other people. He began to make adjustments, and 487 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,719 Speaker 1: he started treating his wife better than he'd ever treated 488 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,199 Speaker 1: her before. He'd go out of his way to do 489 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 1: special things for her, her loving and kind, being considerate. 490 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 1: And do you know, it wasn't six months time until 491 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: his wife finally conceived. Just a little while after that, 492 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Today they're 493 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,679 Speaker 1: as happy as can be. And I'm not saying if 494 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: you don't have a child, that's the only reason, But 495 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: I am saying we need to treat people right. Being disrespectful, 496 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,439 Speaker 1: being rude, being sarcastic. That's always going to keep us 497 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,479 Speaker 1: from God's best. So I want to challenge you again today. 498 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: Make a decision with me that you're going to be 499 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: kind and courteous everywhere you go. Ask God to develop 500 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 1: a greater gentleness on the inside. Learn to be understanding, 501 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,680 Speaker 1: not demanding. If you want to be more persuasive, you've 502 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: got to make sure your words are pleasant. Remember, people 503 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 1: respond to politeness, not to rudeness. And if you'll do 504 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:50,439 Speaker 1: your part and have a gentle spirit, taking time for people, 505 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: treating him with respect and honor, I know God will 506 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: do his part. He'll pour out his blessings in your life, 507 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 1: and you'll not only be happier, but you'll see your 508 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: relationships go higher and hire get better and better. Amen, 509 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: how many of you receive it today? We never like 510 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: to close on broadcast without giving you an opportunity to 511 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: make Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray 512 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. 513 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: Come into my heart. I make you my lord and savior. Friends, 514 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 1: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 515 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 516 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take you places that 517 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 1: you've never dreamed of. It's January. Time to renew my faith. 518 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: It's January. It's time to start a new season. It's January. 519 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,119 Speaker 2: There is no better time than now to set the 520 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 2: course of our year ahead. 521 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: The beginning of the year is a great time to 522 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 1: start afresh and anew, to let go of negative things 523 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: of the past, and to get ready for the new 524 00:27:56,119 --> 00:28:00,040 Speaker 1: things God has in store. Every January we create a 525 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: new devotional calendar that will help you throughout the year. 526 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: When you start the day off in faith, grateful for 527 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: what God's done, making positive declarations over your future, you're 528 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 1: setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. 529 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: This devotional will help you get your mind going in 530 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 1: the right direction so you can go out each day 531 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 1: in faith knowing that God is in control that His 532 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: plans for you are for good. I'd love to send 533 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 1: you a copy. 534 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 535 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,199 Speaker 2: of any amount this first month of the year. We 536 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 2: would like to send you a copy of our brand 537 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 2: new twenty twenty four three hundred and sixty five day 538 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 2: devotional Calendar. Do you want to set a faith course 539 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 2: for your life in twenty twenty four? Do you want 540 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 2: to see your life take off in new directions of influence, favor, 541 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 2: and provision in the year ahead? Using this devotional calendar 542 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 2: is as easy as one, two, three, One Wake up 543 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 2: with an expectancy in your heart. Two reflect on the 544 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 2: day scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. Three Capture God's 545 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 2: promises to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection. 546 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 547 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 2: four devotional calendar available this month by simply visiting us 548 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 2: at Joelostein dot com or calling eight eight eight five 549 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 2: six seven Joel