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Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting

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Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you

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Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend. Reappreciate

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Speaker 2: you and pray for God's very best in your life.

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Speaker 2: Will God bless you? It is always a joy to

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Speaker 2: come into your homes. We love you and we're believing

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Speaker 2: this is going to be your best year so far.

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Speaker 2: If you're ever in our area, stop buy and see us.

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Speaker 2: I promise you will make you feel right at home.

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Speaker 2: But thanks for tuning in. Thank you again for coming

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Speaker 2: out today. I'd like to start with something funny and

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Speaker 2: I heard about this husband. He was quietly reading the

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Speaker 2: newspaper when his wife walked up behind him and hit

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Speaker 2: him on the head with a frying pan.

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Speaker 1: He said, what was that for?

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Speaker 2: She said, that was for the piece of paper I

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Speaker 2: found in your pocket with the name Mary Lou on it.

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Speaker 2: He said, oh, honey, that's just one of the horses

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Speaker 2: that I bet on at the racetrack last week. She

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Speaker 2: apologized and went about her business. Three days later, she

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Speaker 2: walked up and hit him with a bigger frying pan.

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Speaker 2: When he came to He said, what in the world

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Speaker 2: was that for? She said, your horse just called. All right,

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Speaker 2: hold up your bible. Say it like you mean it.

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Speaker 2: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am.

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Speaker 2: I have what it says I have. I can do

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Speaker 2: what it says I can do. Today I will be

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Speaker 2: taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind

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Speaker 2: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be

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Speaker 2: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want

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Speaker 2: to talk to you today about living a no excuses life.

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Speaker 2: It's easy to come up with the reason why we

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Speaker 2: can't be our best now. I found most people have

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Speaker 2: what they think is some kind of handicap, something that's

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Speaker 2: holding them back. It may be something about their personality,

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Speaker 2: or something about their looks that they don't like, or

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Speaker 2: maybe they've been through an unfair situation, a divorce, a

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Speaker 2: business partner cheated them, they got a bad break. I've

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Speaker 2: had people tell me, Joel, I'm just the wrong nationality,

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Speaker 2: I come from the wrong family. We all have things

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Speaker 2: that we feel like could be a disadvantage, things that

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Speaker 2: make it harder on us. It may even be a

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Speaker 2: physical handicap where you can't get around like you used to,

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Speaker 2: you can't see as well, you're physically challenged in some area.

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Speaker 2: But just because you have a quote disadvantage, just because

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Speaker 2: you've been through a tough time, that doesn't mean you're

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Speaker 2: supposed to sit back and settle where you are. God

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Speaker 2: still has something great for you to do. You may

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Speaker 2: not look like everyone else, you may not be able to.

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Speaker 1: Do what others can do.

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Speaker 2: But if you will stay in faith and not get

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Speaker 2: negative toward yourself or negative towards your future, then what

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Speaker 2: you think is a liability is going to turn out

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Speaker 2: to be an asset. What you think is a disadvantage

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Speaker 2: God is going to turn to be an advantage. Many

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Speaker 2: of you know who Joyce Meyer is. She's a great minister,

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Speaker 2: a good friend. She told how in her early days

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Speaker 2: she couldn't stand the sound of her voice.

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Speaker 1: Her voice is very deep.

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Speaker 2: In fact, when people used to hear her on the radio,

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Speaker 2: they thought she was a man. She gets so discouraged

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Speaker 2: and say, God, why do I have such an odd voice? God,

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Speaker 2: why can't I just have a nice, polite, feminine voice.

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Speaker 2: But over the years she begin to realize that her

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Speaker 2: voice is so distinct it makes her stand out. When

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Speaker 2: people hear it, it draws their attention. What she thought

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Speaker 2: was a liability ended up being an asset. You need

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Speaker 2: to quit looking at yourself as being odd and start

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Speaker 2: seeing yourself as being unique.

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Speaker 1: You are not too tall or too short. You are

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Speaker 1: just the right size.

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Speaker 2: You have just the right personality, just the right looks,

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Speaker 2: just the right talents. When God made you, he wasn't

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Speaker 2: having a bad day. He made you like you are

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Speaker 2: on purpose. When God got finished creating you, he stepped

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Speaker 2: back and said that was good. I like that another masterpiece.

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Speaker 2: And sure there are things about us that we may

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Speaker 2: not like, things that we wish were different, But you

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Speaker 2: can't allow that to cause you to get sour and

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Speaker 2: keep you from pursuing your dreams. I think about my mother.

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Speaker 2: She had polio as a child. She had to wear

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Speaker 2: braces on her legs. Today, one of her legs is

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Speaker 2: much smaller than the other one. When she goes to

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Speaker 2: buy shoes, she has to buy two pairs because her

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Speaker 2: feet are two different sizes. But one thing I've always

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Speaker 2: loved about my mother is she has never let that stop.

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Speaker 1: Her from pressing forward.

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Speaker 2: She could have easily been kind of embarrassed by it.

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Speaker 2: She could have shrunk back and tried to hide it,

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Speaker 2: let it cause her to feel less than, but she

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Speaker 2: never did that. She has this no excuses mentality. She

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Speaker 2: knows she's been made.

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Speaker 1: In the image of Almighty God. Growing up.

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Speaker 2: That never stopped her from wearing shorts, never stopped her

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Speaker 2: from wearing dresses. She still wears dresses today, seventy five

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Speaker 2: years old, still showing off her legs.

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Speaker 1: That don't let her fool you. She loves it.

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Speaker 2: That never stopped her from doing things like working in

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Speaker 2: the yard. It never stopped her from praying for other

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Speaker 2: people that needed healing. She could have thought, I can't

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Speaker 2: pray for them to get well, my legs are not well. No,

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Speaker 2: you don't have to be perfect for God to use you.

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Speaker 2: You've got to take the hand that you've been dealt

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Speaker 2: and make the very most of it. Believe that God

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Speaker 2: turns it around, Believe that he'll bring healing. But even

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Speaker 2: if it doesn't happen, you can still honor God by

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Speaker 2: being the best that you can be right where you are.

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Speaker 2: My sister Lisa was born with something like cerebral palsy.

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Speaker 2: The doctors told my parents that she'd never be able

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Speaker 2: to walk, never be able to feed herself. They said,

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Speaker 2: you might as well get prepared to take care of

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Speaker 2: a disabled child.

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Speaker 1: Of course, my parents were devastated.

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Speaker 2: They prayed, they believed, they stood in faith, and little

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Speaker 2: by little, Lisa got better and better. Today she's perfectly normal.

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Speaker 2: She's on staff with us here, ministers for us many times. Now.

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Speaker 2: I have another friend by the name of David Ring.

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Speaker 2: You may know him. He's a minister like Lisa. He

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Speaker 2: too was born with cerebral palsy, but God's plan for

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Speaker 2: his life was different.

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Speaker 1: David Ring didn't get healed.

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Speaker 2: When he talks, it takes him three or four times

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Speaker 2: as long to get the words out. When he walks.

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Speaker 2: His legs and arms don't function like most of ours.

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Speaker 2: He could have easily sat at home and thought, too

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Speaker 2: bad for me. I've got this disability. My speech is slow.

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Speaker 2: I can't get around God. I thought you wanted me

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Speaker 2: to do something great. I thought you wanted me to

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Speaker 2: be a minister. I must have been wrong. I've got

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Speaker 2: this handicap. Now you've got to know David Ring. There's

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Speaker 2: nothing that slows him down. He goes all over the

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Speaker 2: world speaking to thousands of people, telling them about the

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Speaker 2: goodness of God and about how they too can overcome

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Speaker 2: any obstacle.

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Speaker 1: When he gets up to speak, it's.

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Speaker 2: Very difficult to understand. As I said, he speaks very slowly,

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Speaker 2: but I love the way he always starts. He says,

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Speaker 2: my name is David Ring. What's your excuse think about this?

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Speaker 2: Lisa was healed from cerebral palsy and she's honoring God

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Speaker 2: with her life.

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Speaker 1: David Ring is.

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Speaker 2: Living with cerebral palsy and he's honoring God with his life.

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Speaker 1: What am I saying?

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Speaker 2: You've got to take what God's given you and make

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Speaker 2: the very most of it. You cannot sit around thinking

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Speaker 2: why did this happen to me? Why did she get

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Speaker 2: healed and I didn't get healed? Why did my marriage

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Speaker 2: not work out? Why do my neighbors have power? And

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Speaker 2: I still don't quit focusing on all the wise. Faith

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Speaker 2: is all about trusting God even when you don't understand it.

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Speaker 2: And the fact is God could have healed David just

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Speaker 2: like he healed my sister Lisa. But God is a

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Speaker 2: sovereign God. I don't claim to understand it all, but

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Speaker 2: I do know this. God is a good God. He

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Speaker 2: has a great plan for your life a destiny for

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Speaker 2: you to fulfill. And no matter how many disadvantages come

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Speaker 2: your way, no matter how many setbacks try to pull

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Speaker 2: you down, if.

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Speaker 1: You'll shake off the self pity, shake off.

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Speaker 2: The blame, dig your heels in, and keep pressing forward,

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Speaker 2: then no setback, no disadvantage, no handicap can keep you

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Speaker 2: from becoming everything that God's created you to be. Now

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Speaker 2: I'm asking you today to get rid of the excuses.

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Speaker 2: Quit dwelling on your disappointments and how unfair it was and.

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Speaker 1: Who hurt you.

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Speaker 2: No. God has something great right where you are. There

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Speaker 2: are no handicaps except in our mind. But too many

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Speaker 2: people are waiting for God to remove everything and make

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Speaker 2: them perfect. Then they're going to pursue their dreams. Then

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Speaker 2: they're going to go after their destiny. Now you need

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Speaker 2: to go after your destiny right now. Honor God with

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Speaker 2: what you have. He wants to take that liability and

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Speaker 2: turn it into an asset. But here's what you have

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Speaker 2: to accept. God may not remove it, but he will

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Speaker 2: use it to your advantage. In the scripture, there was

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Speaker 2: a man that was born blind. Some people were asking

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Speaker 2: Jesus why was he born this way? Whose fault was

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Speaker 2: it his or his parents. They were trying to find

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Speaker 2: somebody to blame, some reason, some excuse. We tend to

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Speaker 2: do the same type of things today. But I love

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Speaker 2: the way Jesus answered. It's found in John nine, verse three.

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Speaker 2: He said, it's not anybody's fault, not his nor his parents.

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Speaker 2: The reason he was born this way was so that

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Speaker 2: the goodness.

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Speaker 1: Of God could be displayed.

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Speaker 2: Jesus is saying, when you have a setback, when life

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Speaker 2: deals you a tough blow, don't get.

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Speaker 1: Better, don't settle there.

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Speaker 2: Recognize you are a prime candidate for God to show

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Speaker 2: his favor and goodness through. In other words, if you

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Speaker 2: feel like you have a disadvantage, if you feel like

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Speaker 2: you have a disability, a handicap, instead of saying, oh man,

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Speaker 2: it's not fair God, No, your attitude should be God.

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Speaker 1: I'm ready.

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Speaker 2: I know you have something great in store, and I

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Speaker 2: refused to live defeated and depressed. I know this disadvantage

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Speaker 2: is simply another opportunity for you to show up and

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Speaker 2: show out. That's exactly what a young man did by

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Speaker 2: the name of Tony Melendez. He was born without any arms.

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Speaker 2: As a little boy, he had a desire to play

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Speaker 2: the guitar. Something on the inside said you're supposed to

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Speaker 2: sing and write music.

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Speaker 1: Tony didn't know any better.

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Speaker 2: Instead of saying, too bad for me, I'd love to

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Speaker 2: play the guitar, but I don't have any arms. No,

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Speaker 2: his attitude was, I may not have any arms, but

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Speaker 2: I do have feet. I may not have any fingers,

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Speaker 2: but I do have ten toes. Tony learned to play

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Speaker 2: the guitar with his feet.

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Speaker 1: You may have seen him.

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Speaker 2: He can play better with his feet than most of

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Speaker 2: us can play with our hands.

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Speaker 1: What am I saying?

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Speaker 2: When God puts a dream in your heart, when he

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Speaker 2: puts a promise on the inside, he deposits in you

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Speaker 2: everything you.

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Speaker 1: Need to accomplish that dream.

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Speaker 2: God wouldn't have given Tony the desire without giving him

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Speaker 2: the ability. It just wasn't the quote normal way, the

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Speaker 2: way most of us would be used to. Tony had

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Speaker 2: to be bold enough to say, I am living a

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Speaker 2: no excuse his life.

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Speaker 1: Yes, this may look like a handicap.

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Speaker 2: Yes, in the natural I may have a disadvantage, but

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Speaker 2: I know with God there are no handicaps. I know

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Speaker 2: when God made me, he wasn't having a bad day.

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Speaker 2: He made me with a purpose with a destiny to fulfill,

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Speaker 2: and I'm gonna do my best to bring honor to him.

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Speaker 1: He has that can do mentality. For some of you

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Speaker 1: today are.

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Speaker 2: Sitting there thinking of all the reasons why you can't

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Speaker 2: become everything God's created you to be. Well, Johold, I'm

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Speaker 2: not tall enough, I'm not that talented.

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Speaker 1: My voice is odd. Know.

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Speaker 2: All those things that you think or disadvantages are really

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Speaker 2: advantages just waiting to come to life.

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Speaker 1: Today.

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Speaker 2: Tony has unprecedented favor. There's all kinds of opportunity to

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Speaker 2: sing and share his story of faith. What's happening because

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Speaker 2: he had this no excuses mentality, because he didn't see

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Speaker 2: himself as handicap.

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Speaker 1: God's using him to do great things.

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Speaker 2: And the truth is none of us will ever have

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Speaker 2: to face, most likely anything that dramatic. Our biggest issue

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Speaker 2: is we think our nose is too big, or we're

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Speaker 2: too short, or I went through a divorced Joel, that's

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Speaker 2: my handicap. That's why I'm coasting. No, you've got to

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Speaker 2: shake that off. If you will have this no excuses

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Speaker 2: mentality and keep pressing forward, God will take every liability

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Speaker 2: and he'll turn it into an asset. I remember, even

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Speaker 2: when I first started ministering, I didn't think that I

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Speaker 2: had the right personality to do this.

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Speaker 1: I'm really laid back, easy going.

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Speaker 2: My mother has said she has never seen me angry

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Speaker 2: a day in my life. And in my mind, to

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Speaker 2: be a good minister, you needed to get mad every

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Speaker 2: once in a while. You needed to have that dynamic,

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Speaker 2: outgoing personality. I said, God, you're going to have to

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Speaker 2: change me. I have a disadvantage. I'm quiet, I'm soft spoken,

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Speaker 2: I'm more reserved. Even my father, he was more of

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Speaker 2: a fireball, and he could get the crowd worked up.

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Speaker 2: I've seen these other ministers and they have great voices.

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Speaker 2: They preach these deep theological messages that are so eloquent.

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Speaker 1: They can move.

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Speaker 2: The whole congregation just the way they enunciate the words,

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Speaker 2: and they're so dramatic. And I think, here, I've got

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Speaker 2: this Southern draw and I just get up here and

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Speaker 2: talk so normally. And when my father went to be

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Speaker 2: with the Lord, I said, God, I don't know.

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Speaker 1: I'll try. I'll see what happens.

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Speaker 2: But what I thought would be a liability turned out

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Speaker 2: to be an asset.

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Speaker 1: I realize that God made me.

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Speaker 2: I begin to realize that God made me like this

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Speaker 2: on purpose. No, I don't have the booming voice. No

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Speaker 2: I don't have the dynamic personality. No I don't preach

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Speaker 2: the fancy sermons. But one thing I do have is

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Speaker 2: the good looks. All right, I couldn't resist. Oh boy,

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Speaker 2: I hope you know I'm kidding. But listen, God uses

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Speaker 2: what we think are weaknesses. Do you know how many

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Speaker 2: people write and say, Joel, the reason we like to

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Speaker 2: listen is because your messages are so easy to understand,

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Speaker 2: because you're calm, because your voice is so soothing. Well,

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Speaker 2: let me ask you, what is it that you think

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Speaker 2: is your handicap? What is it that's keeping you from

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Speaker 2: really believing in yourself, really pressing in to your divine destiny. Hell,

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Speaker 2: I'm not tall enough, I'm not that attractive, or Joel,

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Speaker 2: I've made a lot of mistakes. Or I wasn't raised

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Speaker 2: in a good environment like you were.

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Speaker 1: Listen.

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Speaker 2: God knew the way you would be raised. He knew

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Speaker 2: the mistakes that you would make. God knew all the

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Speaker 2: issues we would have to face, our struggles, our weaknesses,

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Speaker 2: our inadequacies.

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Speaker 1: We are no surprise to God.

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Speaker 2: And many times, what you think is a handicap is

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Speaker 2: the very thing God will use to get you into

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Speaker 2: your divine destiny. In the Scripture, there was a man

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Speaker 2: by the name of zach Kius. He had a liability,

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Speaker 2: he had a disadvantage. Something was holding him back. You

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Speaker 2: know what it was. He was too short. He didn't

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Speaker 2: measure up to everyone else. This is something that he

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Speaker 2: had to deal with.

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Speaker 1: His whole life, no doubt.

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Speaker 2: Growing up in school, the other children kind of teased

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Speaker 2: and made fun of him. Hey, shorty, hay, peanut, how's

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Speaker 2: the weather down there? Imagine year after year he goes

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Speaker 2: around kind of feeling like on the inside something's wrong

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Speaker 2: with him, a little bit insecure, thinking God, why can

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Speaker 2: I be normal? Why can I be like everyone else?

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Speaker 2: But understand, God makes us like we are on purpose.

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Speaker 2: Many of you know who Cindy Crawford is. She's a

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Speaker 2: famous model. She's the one that has that very distinct

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Speaker 2: mole on her face. Now I read where when she

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Speaker 2: first started modeling, some of the advisers, different makeup artists,

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Speaker 2: they tried to get her to remove the mole. They

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Speaker 2: saw it as a blemish, as a distraction, as something

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Speaker 2: that made her less than perfect.

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Speaker 1: They even showed her how easy it would be.

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Speaker 2: To remove it electronically, but she would never allow them

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Speaker 2: to do it. She said, if you take away this mole,

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Speaker 2: I'll just look like every other pretty girl.

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Speaker 1: I love the fact that she liked her mole. Other

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Speaker 1: people saw it as odd, but she saw it as unique.

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Speaker 2: She saw it as some then God gave her that

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Speaker 2: made her distinct. Instead of looking at what you think

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Speaker 2: is a liability, you need to get a new perspective

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Speaker 2: and start seeing how it could be an advantage. I

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Speaker 2: realize now my personality of being laid back, easygo and

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Speaker 2: soft spoken, that's not a liability.

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Speaker 1: That's an asset.

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Speaker 2: And for me to change and try to be something

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Speaker 2: else that would end up being a disadvantage. Your personality

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Speaker 2: may be just the opposite. And you think, man, why

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Speaker 2: am I so bold? Why am I straightforward? And to

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Speaker 2: the point, listen, you have what you need to succeed.

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Speaker 1: You have the looks you need.

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Speaker 2: Quit looking at that birthmark and thinking, oh, man, if

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Speaker 2: I just didn't have this birthmark, and of all places

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Speaker 2: on my face, now that makes you distinct. Well, if

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Speaker 2: I just wasn't so short, No, I read we're short.

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Speaker 2: People live an average of ten years longer than tall.

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Speaker 2: People quit complaining, if you're tall, that just.

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Speaker 1: Means you're going to go to heaven ten years for us.

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Speaker 1: Quit complaining.

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Speaker 2: What I'm saying is there are no disadvantages with our God.

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Speaker 2: One day, Zaki has heard that Jesus was coming through

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Speaker 2: his town. All the people were lined up on the

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Speaker 2: streets trying to get a glimpse of him.

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Speaker 1: Here Zakias didn't have a chance. He's standing at the back.

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Speaker 1: He can't see over anyone.

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Speaker 2: He could have easily thought, just my luck, God, I

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Speaker 2: can't stand being short. Why'd you make me this way? No,

355
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Speaker 2: Zakia simply did what he had done his whole life.

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Speaker 2: When he couldn't reach what others could reach, he'd get

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Speaker 2: a ladder. When he couldn't see over others, he would

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Speaker 2: find a stool. It's a pain, It was a disadvantage,

359
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Speaker 2: but watch how God works.

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Speaker 1: There wasn't a ladder out there.

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Speaker 2: Obviously, he couldn't find a stool, so he climbed up

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Speaker 2: in a tree. Now he's got the prime view. He's

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Speaker 2: sitting at the fifty yard line. Isn't it interesting? Any

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Speaker 2: of those other people could have climbed up in a tree.

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Speaker 2: Matter of fact, they probably could have got up there

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Speaker 2: easier than he did. They didn't need to. His disadvantage

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Speaker 2: was turned into an advantage. When Jesus came walking down

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Speaker 2: the street, he saw hundreds of people, but when he

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Speaker 2: looked up and saw Zachias in the tree, that got

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Speaker 2: his attention. He said, Hey, zach Kis, come on down.

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Speaker 2: I'm gonna go to your house and have dinner. Here's

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Speaker 2: my point. If Zachias would have been a quote normal size,

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Speaker 2: he wouldn't have been noticed. Jesus passed by hundreds, possibly thousands,

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Speaker 2: But because Zacheus had what he thought was a handicap,

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Speaker 2: it caused him to do something differently, and it ended

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Speaker 2: up not being a liability but an asset. I read

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Speaker 2: about this young boy. His dream was to play professional baseball.

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Speaker 2: He was extremely gifted.

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Speaker 1: All through junior.

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Speaker 2: High and high school, he was by far the most

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Speaker 2: talented player in his league. Professional scouts were regularly at

382
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Speaker 2: his games. But one day he had a farming accident

383
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Speaker 2: and he lost his whole four finger in most of

384
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Speaker 2: his middle finger.

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Speaker 1: It was on the hand that he threw the ball with.

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Speaker 2: It looked like his baseball days were over, but this

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Speaker 2: young man had this no excuse his mentality.

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Speaker 1: He learned how to throw the ball without these two fingers.

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Speaker 2: If you know anything about baseball, those are your two

390
00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:26,800
Speaker 2: main throwing fingers. He'd always been a third baseman, but

391
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Speaker 2: one afternoon during practice, the coach was standing behind him,

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Speaker 2: and as he threw the ball from third to first base,

393
00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,840
Speaker 2: the coach noticed how much movement there was on the ball,

394
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Speaker 2: and he thought, if the ball moves that much, how

395
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Speaker 2: could a batter possibly hit it? So he moved him

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Speaker 2: from the third base to the pitcher's position. Mordecai Brown

397
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Speaker 2: went on to become one of the great pitchers in

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Speaker 2: all of Major League baseball.

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Speaker 1: Think about it.

400
00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:56,840
Speaker 2: What he thought was a liability turned out to be

401
00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:00,240
Speaker 2: an asset. The way he threw the ball without these

402
00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:05,000
Speaker 2: two fingers gave him an edge. Only God knows how

403
00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,080
Speaker 2: to take what should be a disadvantage and turn it

404
00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,120
Speaker 2: into an advantage. There are things in all of our

405
00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:14,639
Speaker 2: lives that we feel like are liabilities. It may not

406
00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:18,160
Speaker 2: be something physical, but even the way we were raised,

407
00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:22,800
Speaker 2: a disappointment, we went through a setback. We think, if

408
00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,919
Speaker 2: only that had enough happened, if only I could do

409
00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:30,600
Speaker 2: it again. No, if you'll stay in faith, nothing in

410
00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,600
Speaker 2: life will happen to you. It'll happen for you. We

411
00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,200
Speaker 2: need to get rid of all the if only thoughts.

412
00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,240
Speaker 2: If only I didn't have that accident, then I could

413
00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,719
Speaker 2: pursue my dreams. If only I were taller, Joel, then

414
00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,439
Speaker 2: I'd feel good about myself. If only I were a

415
00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:51,200
Speaker 2: different nationality. No, those thoughts will keep you from your destiny.

416
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,439
Speaker 2: Tony Melendez could be sitting at home right now, thinking,

417
00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,080
Speaker 2: if only I had arms, if only I was quote normal,

418
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Speaker 2: then I could lay the guitar.

419
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Speaker 1: Then I could touch a lot of people.

420
00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,600
Speaker 2: David Ring could be thinking, if only I didn't have

421
00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:10,359
Speaker 2: this cerebral palsy, if only my speech wasn't so slow,

422
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:14,880
Speaker 2: then I bet I'd make a great minister. Now let's recognize,

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Speaker 2: as far as God is concerned, there are no handicaps.

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Speaker 1: What you think is trying.

425
00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,200
Speaker 2: To pull you down may very well be the thing

426
00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:26,200
Speaker 2: that God uses to lift you up.

427
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Speaker 1: This is just what happened to Joseph.

428
00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,560
Speaker 2: He spent thirteen years in prison for something that he

429
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:37,119
Speaker 2: did not do. It was a terrible disadvantage, a terrible injustice.

430
00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:41,320
Speaker 2: But do you realize that's what God used to promote him.

431
00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,520
Speaker 2: It may look like a handicap in our eyes, but

432
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Speaker 2: with God, there are no handicaps.

433
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Speaker 1: That is not going to keep you from your destiny.

434
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,440
Speaker 2: If you'll stay in faith, it's going to launch you

435
00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:53,639
Speaker 2: into your destiny.

436
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Speaker 1: I have people write me from other countries a lot.

437
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Speaker 2: They say things like, Joel, if only I lived in America,

438
00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,480
Speaker 2: if only I had that kind of opportunity. And I

439
00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,119
Speaker 2: understand what they're saying, because this is a great place

440
00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,840
Speaker 2: to live. But you have to realize God has given

441
00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,080
Speaker 2: you what you need to succeed right where you are.

442
00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,840
Speaker 2: God knew where you would be born, He knew what

443
00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,600
Speaker 2: nationality you would be. He knew the obstacles you would

444
00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:26,040
Speaker 2: have to overcome. And the good news is God has

445
00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:31,040
Speaker 2: already equipped you. He has already empowered you. You are anointed,

446
00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,960
Speaker 2: you are strong, You have the favor of God surrounding you.

447
00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:35,600
Speaker 1: Right now.

448
00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,560
Speaker 2: Don't make a mistake of waiting till you get to

449
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:45,080
Speaker 2: another location before you decide to become everything God's created

450
00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,359
Speaker 2: you to be. If you'll shake off the self pity

451
00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,760
Speaker 2: and believe that God's directing your steps, believe that you

452
00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:56,240
Speaker 2: have what it takes, Believe that the most powerful force

453
00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,479
Speaker 2: in the universe is on the inside. When you do that,

454
00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:04,040
Speaker 2: every reliability will be turned to an asset. I heard

455
00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,960
Speaker 2: about this young man. He was born without a right hand.

456
00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,040
Speaker 2: One day he was at the doctor's office having a

457
00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:14,280
Speaker 2: physical so he could play football. The doctor asked him

458
00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:17,679
Speaker 2: what his handicap was. He said, sir, I don't have

459
00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,040
Speaker 2: a handicap. I just don't have a right hand. I

460
00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,080
Speaker 2: love that attitude. I don't have a handicap. I just

461
00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,320
Speaker 2: played the guitar with my feet. I don't have a handicap.

462
00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,200
Speaker 2: I just speak a little slower. I don't have a handicap.

463
00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,600
Speaker 2: I'm just not as tall as somebody else. Friends, I'm

464
00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:37,480
Speaker 2: asking you to live this no excuse his life. That

465
00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,399
Speaker 2: means you are not going to go around dwelling on

466
00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,399
Speaker 2: what's wrong with you and all the reasons why you

467
00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:47,239
Speaker 2: can't be happy. Well, jo all my personalities odd. I

468
00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:51,280
Speaker 2: went through this breakup in a relationship. No, your destiny

469
00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,320
Speaker 2: didn't get thrown out because you had a set back.

470
00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,080
Speaker 2: You didn't get disqualified because you're to this or to that.

471
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,679
Speaker 2: God knew you would be where you are before the

472
00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,920
Speaker 2: foundation of time. You need to get a new perspective,

473
00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:09,760
Speaker 2: have the attitude. I refuse to live with a handicap mentality.

474
00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,600
Speaker 2: This may not be fair, it may look like a disadvantage,

475
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,560
Speaker 2: but I'm not going around feeling sorry for myself. I'm

476
00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,080
Speaker 2: shaking off self pity. I'm shaking off every disappointment and

477
00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,080
Speaker 2: I will become everything God has created.

478
00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:22,000
Speaker 1: Me to be.

479
00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,879
Speaker 2: If you'll live a no excuse his life, then no

480
00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,800
Speaker 2: matter what comes your way, God will turn it around

481
00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,199
Speaker 2: for your good. He will take every stumbling block and

482
00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,000
Speaker 2: turn it into a stepping stone. It may look like

483
00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,280
Speaker 2: a liability, but just like Zach he is in the end,

484
00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,199
Speaker 2: it'll turn out to be an asset. Some of you

485
00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,840
Speaker 2: today you've lost your fire, You've lost your enthusiasm. You

486
00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,440
Speaker 2: need to stir up what God's put on the inside.

487
00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:52,440
Speaker 2: Remember there are no disadvantages with our God. You have

488
00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:56,760
Speaker 2: everything you need to succeed. No weapon formed against you

489
00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,439
Speaker 2: is ever going to prosper. And as you rise up

490
00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,120
Speaker 2: with this no excuses mentality, let me just declare over

491
00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:04,080
Speaker 2: you what's gonna happen.

492
00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:06,560
Speaker 1: You're gonna see God's favor in a greater way.

493
00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:11,200
Speaker 2: New doors are gonna begin to open, Supernatural opportunities are

494
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,639
Speaker 2: come in your way. Divine connections. You're gonna be at

495
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,600
Speaker 2: the right place at the right time. What was meant

496
00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,960
Speaker 2: for your harm, God's gonna use to your advantage. You're

497
00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,800
Speaker 2: gonna overcome every obstacle. You're gonna defeat every enemy. You're

498
00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,200
Speaker 2: gonna see every dream, every desire God's put in your heart.

499
00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:30,880
Speaker 2: I declare it in the name of Jesus. It will

500
00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:32,960
Speaker 2: come to pass. Do you receive it today?

501
00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:39,080
Speaker 3: Life throws so much at us disappointments, failures, challenges. We

502
00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,800
Speaker 3: can feel so out of touch that we no longer

503
00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:43,080
Speaker 3: recognize ourselves.

504
00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:46,400
Speaker 2: Life has a way of changing us. At one time

505
00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,720
Speaker 2: we were outgoing and excited about our dreams. But when

506
00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,840
Speaker 2: we go through disappointments and people do us wrong, it's

507
00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:53,920
Speaker 2: easy to lose that.

508
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,600
Speaker 1: Positive, passionate person that we used to be.

509
00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,960
Speaker 2: In my new book, Rediscovering the Forgotten Youth, I'll help

510
00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,800
Speaker 2: you get back to who you really are, the joyful you,

511
00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,480
Speaker 2: the confident you, that talented you. It's not too late.

512
00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,440
Speaker 2: You haven't been through too much. You may have lost

513
00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,960
Speaker 2: part of yourself, but you can find yourself.

514
00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,240
Speaker 1: God is in the business of restoring what was lost,

515
00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:17,760
Speaker 1: healing what was broken.

516
00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:21,160
Speaker 2: You haven't seen the best version of you, yet it's

517
00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:22,440
Speaker 2: still in front of you.

518
00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,320
Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift

519
00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,639
Speaker 3: of any amount, we would like to send you a

520
00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,639
Speaker 3: copy of Joel's brand new book, Rediscovering the Forgotten. You

521
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:36,040
Speaker 3: take back your passion, reignite your dreams, and embrace the

522
00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:40,040
Speaker 3: life you were created to live. This book shares uplifting

523
00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:44,640
Speaker 3: scripture and personal stories that will help you release bitterness, silence,

524
00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:48,400
Speaker 3: self defeating thoughts, and embrace by faith the vision of

525
00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,080
Speaker 3: the life God designed for you. Life's challenges might have

526
00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:56,480
Speaker 3: distorted the true you, but now you can reclaim, revitalize,

527
00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:59,640
Speaker 3: and restore the version of yourself that you once knew,

528
00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:02,520
Speaker 3: a version that you know God has made you to

529
00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:07,440
Speaker 3: be filled with hopes and dreams, optimism, and confidence. Request

530
00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,960
Speaker 3: your copy today and discovery the best version of you yet.

531
00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:15,120
Speaker 2: God is about to breathe new life, new passion, new

532
00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:16,520
Speaker 2: dreams into your heart.

533
00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,800
Speaker 1: What he started, He's going to finish. Thanks so much

534
00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:20,920
Speaker 1: for being with us today.

535
00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:23,560
Speaker 2: Victoria and I are praying for you and your family

536
00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,800
Speaker 2: for God's very best. Thank you so much for your

537
00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:31,120
Speaker 2: prayer and support. Your generosity helps people all over the world.

538
00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,160
Speaker 2: The special thank you to our champion of Hope, partners

539
00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:35,200
Speaker 2: for all you.

540
00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:36,920
Speaker 1: Do to make the ministry possible.

541
00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,200
Speaker 2: If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one.

542
00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,040
Speaker 1: Until we meet again, May the Lord bless you and

543
00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:43,680
Speaker 1: keep you.

544
00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:48,040
Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Rediscovering the Forgotten

545
00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:52,200
Speaker 3: You available this month by simply visiting us at Joelostein

546
00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:56,000
Speaker 3: dot com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel.

547
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Speaker 3: You can also receive the God's Got You Rediscovery duo.

548
00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:04,640
Speaker 3: You'll receive Rediscovering the Forgotten You and God's Got You

549
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:09,280
Speaker 3: Promises for Overcoming Fear. It's the perfect combination to help

550
00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:13,320
Speaker 3: you rekindle your purpose while standing firm in God's promises.

551
00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,920
Speaker 3: In addition to these two inspiration books, you can also

552
00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:21,200
Speaker 3: receive the beautifully crafted CSB Thin Line Study Bible in

553
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Speaker 3: camel Swedes soft leather touch, an elegant Bible that offers

554
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Speaker 3: a rich, immersive study experience and brings God's Word beautifully

555
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Speaker 3: into your everyday life. This collection is more than encouragement.

556
00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:38,080
Speaker 3: It is a foundation for lasting renewal, rooted in God's Word,

557
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Speaker 3: strengthened by faith, and anchored in his promises. You can

558
00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:46,720
Speaker 3: request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight five

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Speaker 3: six seven Joel, or logging on to joelostein dot com

560
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Speaker 3: today