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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. We

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

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Speaker 2: God bless you today, such a joy to come into

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Speaker 2: your homes. We love you, and we know God has

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Speaker 2: great things in store for each one of you. He

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Speaker 2: rewards the people that seek after him. Thanks for tuning in.

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Speaker 2: If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop

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Speaker 2: buy and be a part of one of our services.

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Speaker 1: But we're glad to have you today.

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Speaker 2: I like to start each week with something kind of funny,

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Speaker 2: and I got this joke from my brother Paul, so.

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Speaker 1: Don't blame me. I heard about this blonde lady.

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Speaker 2: She was out in the yard using the weed eater

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Speaker 2: and she accidentally cut her cat's tail off.

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Speaker 1: He was hiding in the bushes. She didn't see it.

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Speaker 2: She felt terrible, so she picked up her cat, grabbed

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Speaker 2: the tail, and told her friend she was going to Walmart.

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Speaker 1: The friend said Walmart. Why Walmart?

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Speaker 2: She said, hello, They're the big retailer in the world.

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Speaker 1: I take no credit for that. I give it to Paul.

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Speaker 1: 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's name, God bless you. I want

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Speaker 2: to talk to you today about staying alive your whole life.

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Speaker 2: Too many people have lost their enthusiasm. At one time,

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Speaker 2: they were excited about their future.

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Speaker 1: They were pursuing their dreams.

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Speaker 2: But along the way they hit some roadblocks. Things didn't

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Speaker 2: work out. They didn't get the promotion they wanted, a

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Speaker 2: relationship falled, or they went through a health issue. And

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Speaker 2: now that's taking the wind out of their cell. They're

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Speaker 2: just going through the motions of life. They're breathing, but

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Speaker 2: they're not really living. They're alive, but they're not full

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Speaker 2: of life.

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Speaker 1: What happened?

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Speaker 2: They quit dreaming, they quit pursuing their goals.

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Speaker 1: They lost their purpose.

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Speaker 2: If we're going to stay alive our whole life, we

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Speaker 2: have to keep our dreams in front of us. We

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Speaker 2: have to have a reason to get up each day.

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Speaker 2: You've got to know you are a person of destiny.

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Speaker 1: You have a purpose.

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Speaker 2: You didn't just accidentally show up on planet Earth. God

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Speaker 2: knew you before you were formed in your mother's room.

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Speaker 1: He has an assignment for you.

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Speaker 2: There's something God wants you to accomplish.

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Speaker 1: Somebody needs what you have.

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Speaker 2: Somebody needs your love, somebody needs your smile, somebody needs

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Speaker 2: your encouragement. You were created to make a difference, to

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Speaker 2: impact our society, to make this world a better place.

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Speaker 2: And on the inside of you right now, there are

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Speaker 2: dreams and desires put there by the creator of the universe.

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Speaker 1: But over time, life.

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Speaker 2: Will try to push those dreams down, just little by little.

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Speaker 2: A disappointment here, a set back there, a failed relationship,

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Speaker 2: a dream that didn't work out. And if we're not careful,

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Speaker 2: we'll look up and we're not pressing forward anymore. We're

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Speaker 2: letting opportunities pass us by. We're not believing to rise

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Speaker 2: any higher. What's the problem. We're allowing life to wither us.

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Speaker 2: Just like a leaf that falls from a tree. It

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Speaker 2: doesn't wither overnight, but gradually it gets worse. And worse

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Speaker 2: until it's totally withered away.

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Speaker 1: And in the.

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Speaker 2: Scripture, Jesus talked to this man. It doesn't give us

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Speaker 2: his name, doesn't tell us what he does. It simply

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Speaker 2: calls him the man with the withered hand.

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Speaker 1: It's interesting.

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Speaker 2: This man could talk, he could walk, he had friends,

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Speaker 2: but his hand was withered.

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Speaker 1: That was symbolic.

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Speaker 2: It means he couldn't hold on to anything, was passing

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Speaker 2: him by. What he used to reach for, what he

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Speaker 2: used to be passionate about. Now he just sat back

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Speaker 2: and accepted it. After all, he had an excuse.

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Speaker 1: His hand was withered.

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Speaker 2: Somebody gave Victoria nine flowers a few weeks ago. They

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Speaker 2: were so beautiful, so radiant, so colorful and vibrant. But

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Speaker 2: every day, even though we couldn't really notice it, even

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Speaker 2: though it was too gradual to tell while it was happening,

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Speaker 2: those flowers were withering. Until one day we looked up

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Speaker 2: and they were totally dead. And that's what can happen

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Speaker 2: in life. We start out strong and vibrant, we're excited

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Speaker 2: about our dreams, we're passionate about our future. But because

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Speaker 2: of disappointments, setbacks, failures, life will slowly try to start

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Speaker 2: to wither us. If we're not careful, we'll begin to

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Speaker 2: think my dreams are never going to come to pass.

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Speaker 2: I'm never going to get out of dead, I'm never

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Speaker 2: going to get married. We developed these wrong mindsets. But

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Speaker 2: I love what Jesus said to this man. He didn't

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Speaker 2: necessarily comfort him.

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Speaker 1: He didn't say I feel sorry for you. You've had

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Speaker 1: a tough life.

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Speaker 2: Jesus asked him to do something that he could not do.

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Speaker 1: He said, stretch forth your hand.

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Speaker 2: That man had to.

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Speaker 1: Make a decision.

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Speaker 2: Was he going to take a step of faith and

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Speaker 2: shake off past disappointments, shake off past failure, shake off

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Speaker 2: what his mind was telling.

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Speaker 1: Him and believe he could do it.

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Speaker 2: Or was he going to shrink back and start making excuses.

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Speaker 1: I can't do that.

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Speaker 2: My hand's withered. Has been this way too long. I've

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Speaker 2: been through too much in life. He could have come

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Speaker 2: up with all kinds of excuses that would have kept

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Speaker 2: him right where he was. But this man was bold

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Speaker 2: enough to believe that God could restore. He believed that

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Speaker 2: God could give.

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Speaker 1: Him a new beginning. He did his part. He stretched

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Speaker 1: out his hand.

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Speaker 2: And instantly he was made hale. And some of you

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Speaker 2: today you're breathing, but you're not really living. Lost your enthusiasm,

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Speaker 2: you're not pursuing your goals. Maybe, like him, you've tried

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Speaker 2: and felled. You've gone through some disappointments, but you've got

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Speaker 2: to get your fireback. Life may have tried to wither you,

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Speaker 2: but God is saying, stretch forth your hand. Dare to

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Speaker 2: do something that you haven't done before. Stretch into a

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Speaker 2: new level. Stretch into a new annoying Stretch into a

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Speaker 2: new way of thinking. Enlarge your vision. Get rid of

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Speaker 2: any wrong mindsets. Maybe your parents are the people that

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Speaker 2: raised you. A coach or a teacher told you that

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Speaker 2: you'll never be successful. You just don't have what it takes.

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Speaker 2: Don't believe those lies.

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Speaker 1: Stretch forth your hand.

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Speaker 2: Maybe your own thoughts are telling you it's never gonna

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Speaker 2: get better. I'm never going to accomplish my dreams. I've

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Speaker 2: tried and felled. Stretch forth your hand. Get a new

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Speaker 2: vision for your life. Stir up the dreams that God

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Speaker 2: has put on the inside. You may think it's been

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Speaker 2: too long and you're getting too old.

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Speaker 1: That dream is still alive.

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Speaker 2: It started out as a strong fire at one time.

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Speaker 2: It was probably a burning desire.

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Speaker 1: Now it's just.

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Speaker 2: A tiny little flicker. You know what you gotta do.

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Speaker 2: You gotta fan the flame, you gotta rekindle that fire.

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Speaker 2: God is saying, this is your year to do something

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Speaker 2: that you've never done before. This is your year to

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Speaker 2: break free from every addiction. This is your year to

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Speaker 2: step in to supernatural opportunity. God said in Isaiah forty three.

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Speaker 1: Behold, I am doing a new thing.

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Speaker 2: Can you not perceiving God wants to do something new

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Speaker 2: in your life. You may have tried a thousand times

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Speaker 2: and hit a brick wall, But God is saying, I'm

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Speaker 2: still in control. I still have a plan. You're in

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Speaker 2: the palm of my hand. And as long as you believe,

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Speaker 2: all things are possible. And if we're gonna keep life

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Speaker 2: from withering us, we have to stay full of praise.

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Speaker 2: When you give God praise, it's just like your water.

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Speaker 1: Your seed.

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Speaker 2: When you go through the day, thanking God that he's

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Speaker 2: in control, thanking him that he's working behind the scenes,

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Speaker 2: thanking him that he's arranging things in your favor, that seed,

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Speaker 2: that dream is constantly being nourished. I talked to a

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Speaker 2: man the other day and he had taken a test

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Speaker 2: seven times to try to get his license to get

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Speaker 2: into a particular field. But he had failed every single time,

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Speaker 2: and he was so discouraged.

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Speaker 1: He said, Joel, it just must not be meant to be.

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Speaker 2: I've been working on this for over three years. He

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Speaker 2: was ready to give up, and I told him what

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Speaker 2: I'm telling you. You got to go back and take

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Speaker 2: that test again.

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Speaker 1: You don't know.

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Speaker 2: The eighth time could be the charm. If you know

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Speaker 2: God's put something in your heart, even if you have

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Speaker 2: to pursue it your whole lifetime, you should never stop trying,

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Speaker 2: keep believing, keep pressing for it.

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Speaker 1: I said to him, you need.

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Speaker 2: To start saying, Father, thank you that I will pass

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Speaker 2: this test, thank you that I'm.

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Speaker 1: Full of your wisdom. Thank you that I'm well able

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Speaker 1: to do what you call me to do.

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Speaker 2: Get your mind going in the right direction. You may

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Speaker 2: be here kind of like him. You've tried and failed,

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Speaker 2: and you're just about to give up on something. You

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Speaker 2: need to start fertilizing your seed. You know what I'm

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Speaker 2: doing today. I'm pumping you full of nutrients. God's word

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Speaker 2: is alive and full of power. David said there in

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Speaker 2: Psalm chapter one, in verse three. If you will meditate

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Speaker 2: on God's promises. You will be like a tree planted

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Speaker 2: by the water. Your leaf will not wither in whatever you.

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Speaker 1: Do will prosper.

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Speaker 2: That's my prayer for each one of you. Life is

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Speaker 2: not going to wither you. That means you will outlast

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Speaker 2: every attack. You will overcome every obstacle. You will defeat

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Speaker 2: every enemy. You will see every dream come to pass.

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Speaker 2: And if your leaf has withered, I believe today it's

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Speaker 2: starting to come back to life. Fresh vision is being

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Speaker 2: planted on the inside. God is birthing new dreams. Things

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Speaker 2: you may have given up on, things you thought were

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Speaker 2: too far gone. God's gonna resurrect those dead dreams. He's

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Speaker 2: gonna restore what you once thought was impossible. You need

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Speaker 2: to draw that line in the sand and say this

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Speaker 2: is for me. I'm shaking off every disappointment. I'm shaking

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Speaker 2: off every setback. I may have allowed life to wither

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Speaker 2: me for a little while, but I'm not settling where

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Speaker 2: I am. This is my year to step into God's

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Speaker 2: favor in a greater way. This is my year to

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Speaker 2: stretch to a new level. You got to make up

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Speaker 2: your mind no matter what comes against me, no matter

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Speaker 2: what doesn't work out, It's not gonna wither me. I'm

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Speaker 2: not gonna lose my enthusiasm. And even in the tough

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Speaker 2: times when things aren't going your way, you've got to

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Speaker 2: just keep on keeping on, keep on being good to people,

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Speaker 2: keep on serving, keep on praying, keep.

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Speaker 1: On hoping on in faith.

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Speaker 2: It's interesting to me how many of the great accomplishments

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Speaker 2: that we've seen in our society came from people that

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Speaker 2: refuse to get discouraged, people that refuse to give up,

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Speaker 2: to quit trying. I was reading about Henry Ford. He

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Speaker 2: went bankrupt five times. Don't you know after that first

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Speaker 2: bankruptcy he was tempted to be discouraged.

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Speaker 1: After the second one, after the third.

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Speaker 2: One, certainly after the fifth one, he must have thought, God,

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Speaker 2: this is just not in me.

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Speaker 1: I just don't have what it takes.

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Speaker 2: No deep down, I believe he knew that dream was

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Speaker 2: put in him by the creator of the universe, and

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Speaker 2: he just kept stirring himself up.

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Speaker 1: He didn't let life wither him.

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Speaker 2: And he may have gone bankrupt five times, but his

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Speaker 2: sixth company turned out pretty good. Some of you are

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Speaker 2: making payments to him every month. Don't let life wither you.

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Speaker 2: If one dream dies, dream another dream. You're only a

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Speaker 2: failure if you quit trying. That means if you get

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Speaker 2: knocked down nine times, all you got to do is

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Speaker 2: get back up.

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Speaker 1: Ten to be the victory.

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Speaker 2: The scripture says in Jeremiah, blessed is the person that

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Speaker 2: makes the.

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Speaker 1: Lord his hope and confidence.

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Speaker 2: He will be like a tree planted by the river banks,

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Speaker 2: with its roots reaching deep down into the water. It's

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Speaker 2: a tree not bothered by the heat, nor worried by

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Speaker 2: long months of drought.

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Speaker 1: It's leaves stay green and it goes on producing luscious fruit.

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Speaker 2: I believe that's the way you and I are because

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Speaker 2: we've got our trust and confidence in Almighty God. Even

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Speaker 2: though we may go through some dry seasons, even though

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Speaker 2: times get tough and things don't go our way in

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Speaker 2: the natural, we should be down and discourage. No, we know,

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Speaker 2: because our roots go down deep, it's not going to

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Speaker 2: affect us.

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Speaker 1: Our leaves are going to stay green. That means it

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Speaker 1: will not wither.

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Speaker 2: Other people may be getting laid off.

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Speaker 1: But supernatural doors are opening up for us.

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Speaker 2: Other people may be going around complaining, but we got

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Speaker 2: a song of praise in our heart. Other people may

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Speaker 2: be discouraged, but we got a smile on our face,

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Speaker 2: we got a spring in our step. Why is that

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Speaker 2: we're connected to the vine, our roots go down deep.

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Speaker 1: We've got our mind renewed.

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Speaker 2: We're meditating on God's promises. I love how it says

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Speaker 2: that even in dry seasons, we'll go on producing luscious fruit,

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Speaker 2: not all dried up, unattractive, rotten looking fruit, but luscious fruit.

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Speaker 1: And the fact is, we all go.

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Speaker 2: Through dry seasons or we're not getting any breaks, and

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Speaker 2: things aren't going our way. But God said, even in

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Speaker 2: the dark times, even if the bottom falls out, because

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Speaker 2: you're keeping him first place, you're gonna have a supernatural

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Speaker 2: strength and a supernatural favor that's gonna cause you to

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Speaker 2: overcome even when other people are going under. No matter

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Speaker 2: what the economy does, no matter what the medical report says,

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Speaker 2: you don't have to worry. God said, He's not only

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Speaker 2: gonna bring you through it, but he's gonna cause you

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Speaker 2: to prosper in spite of it. Your job is not

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Speaker 2: your source. God is your source. The medical report. It

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Speaker 2: may look impossible, but God can do the impossible. You

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Speaker 2: need to keep this vision in front of you, even

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Speaker 2: in my tough times, I'm gonna go on producing luscious fruit.

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Speaker 2: Somebody said, well, hadn't you heard what they said about

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Speaker 2: the economy, Joel, didn't I hear that they're gonna lay

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Speaker 2: people off at your office?

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Speaker 1: Aren't you worried? No, I'm not worried. My roots go

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Speaker 1: down deep.

285
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Speaker 2: I know I'm not affected by the drought. Even in

286
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Speaker 2: my dry season. I'm gonna keep on producing luscious fruit.

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Speaker 2: Another key to keep life from withering you is you

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Speaker 2: have to stay productive. You have to get up every

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Speaker 2: day with purpose in your heart. Without purpose, there will

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Speaker 2: be no passion. The Apostle Paul wrote a lot of

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Speaker 2: the New Testament from a prison cell. He could have thought,

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Speaker 2: nothing's going my way. Soon as I get out of prison,

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Speaker 2: I'll get back to fulfilling my purpose. No, he stayed

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Speaker 2: productive right where he was. When you quit producing, you

295
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Speaker 2: quit growing. If you're not growing, that's when life will

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Speaker 2: start to wither you. You have to have a reason

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Speaker 2: to get out of bed each day. You've got to

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Speaker 2: know you have something to offer. Somebody needs what you have.

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Speaker 2: This is especially important for older people. Stay active, keep learning,

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Speaker 2: keep growing, keep your mind working, keep helping others. You

301
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Speaker 2: may retire from your job. But don't ever retire from life.

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Speaker 2: Find some way that you can keep being productive. Go

303
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Speaker 2: volunteer at the hospital, or go find a young person

304
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Speaker 2: that you can mentor them. Come up here and help

305
00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,680
Speaker 2: us pray for people on the phone during the week.

306
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Speaker 2: But when you quit being productive, you start slowly dying.

307
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Speaker 2: If you quit using your mind, it's not going to

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Speaker 2: be as sharp as it should be. I read where

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Speaker 2: one of the best things older people can do is

310
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Speaker 2: crossword puzzles.

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Speaker 1: Why it makes your mind work. Don't get complacent.

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Speaker 2: Make yourself memorized scripture, make yourself memorized phone numbers. If

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Speaker 2: you have some math to do, don't just go grab

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Speaker 2: the calculator.

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Speaker 1: All the time. Do it manually.

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Speaker 2: Keep your mind alert and active. I saw art linkletter

317
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Speaker 2: on television the other day. He's ninety eight years old.

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Speaker 2: He still travels all over the world, speaking hundreds of

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Speaker 2: times each year. Most of the time he talks to

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Speaker 2: elderly people in this same area, encouraging them to be active.

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Speaker 1: His mind is so sharp.

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Speaker 2: He was dressed to a tea, he was articulate, he

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Speaker 2: was funny. Now I thought here, he's ninety eight years old.

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Speaker 2: He could be sitting at home but he knows when

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Speaker 2: he stops being productive, that's when he'll start slowly dying.

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Speaker 2: The interviewer asked him, Art, when are you going to retire?

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Speaker 1: He laughed and said retire? What would I do?

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Speaker 2: He understands this principle. We weren't created to sit back

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Speaker 2: and do nothing.

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Speaker 1: We were created to produce.

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Speaker 2: God promises us that if we will keep him first place,

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Speaker 2: he will give us a long, satisfied life. He say,

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Speaker 2: how long is a long life, Joel, Until you're satisfied.

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Speaker 2: If you quit producing at fifty and you're satisfied, then

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Speaker 2: the promise is fulfilled. I don't know about you, but

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Speaker 2: I've got too much in me to die right now.

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Speaker 1: I'm not satisfied.

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Speaker 2: I've got dreams that I've not yet seen come to pass.

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Speaker 2: I've got promises that have not yet been fulfilled. I've

340
00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,880
Speaker 2: got children I want to see grow up. I've got

341
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Speaker 2: a wife to raise, I mean, a wife to enjoy.

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Speaker 2: I've got mercy that I need, I guess. I've got

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Speaker 2: grandchildren i've never seen yet. I've got messages that I've

344
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Speaker 2: not yet delivered. When I get to be about eighty five, and.

345
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Speaker 3: I'm still strong, still healthy, still good, looking, still have

346
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Speaker 3: my hair, still telling my jokes. After about forty five

347
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Speaker 3: more years of productive ministry. Maybe when I'm around ninety,

348
00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,400
Speaker 3: then I'll kick back and say, Okay, God, I'm satisfied.

349
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Speaker 3: I'm ready for my change of address.

350
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Speaker 1: Let's go.

351
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Speaker 2: But I see too many people that get satisfied so easily.

352
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Speaker 2: They quit living at fifty. We don't bury them until

353
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Speaker 2: they're eighty.

354
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Speaker 1: They're alive, but they're not full of life. You gotta

355
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Speaker 1: know your purpose.

356
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Speaker 2: You gotta have that reason to get out of bed

357
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Speaker 2: every day.

358
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Speaker 1: You may be older.

359
00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,280
Speaker 2: Maybe you're older and you're struggling with your health, and

360
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Speaker 2: you're tempted to just kind of lie around in bed

361
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Speaker 2: all day. Think I don't want to get up and

362
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Speaker 2: get dressed.

363
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Speaker 1: I don't have anything to do. I don't fill up

364
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Speaker 1: to par.

365
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Speaker 2: No, you need to make yourself get up and get dressed.

366
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Speaker 2: Go visit a neighbor, Go take a walk, go call

367
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Speaker 2: a friend. If you don't get out of bed while

368
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Speaker 2: you can, you'll probably get to the point where you can.

369
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Speaker 1: Even if you.

370
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Speaker 2: Get up and get dressed just so you can wave

371
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Speaker 2: at the mailman, or just so you can walk five

372
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Speaker 2: minutes down the street and wave at a friend. That's good,

373
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Speaker 2: that's worth it. You got to have a purpose. When

374
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Speaker 2: you don't have purpose, you start losing your desire to live.

375
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Speaker 2: And that's when life will so easily wither you. You

376
00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,919
Speaker 2: may not be able to produce what you used to produce.

377
00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,439
Speaker 2: Just produce what you can. I got a letter from

378
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Speaker 2: a well known minister.

379
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Speaker 1: He's up in his eighties now.

380
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Speaker 2: For many years he pastored his church and traveled all

381
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Speaker 2: over the world.

382
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Speaker 1: He was a.

383
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Speaker 2: Great speaker, great man, in great demand. But a while

384
00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,920
Speaker 2: back he came down with Parkinson's disease and he got

385
00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,760
Speaker 2: to the point where he couldn't speak anymore in public.

386
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Speaker 2: It seemed very sad here. He was once very eloquent.

387
00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,480
Speaker 2: He was just strong and vibrant. But now it looked

388
00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,119
Speaker 2: like he was just sitting on the sidelines. Looked like

389
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,800
Speaker 2: he was washed up. His best days were behind him.

390
00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,639
Speaker 2: But I got this package in the mail. It was

391
00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,119
Speaker 2: a manuscript. He said, Joel, as you know, I can't

392
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Speaker 2: speak anymore, so I've taken up writing. Here's a copy

393
00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,040
Speaker 2: of my next book. And the title of it was

394
00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,400
Speaker 2: something like what to Do when you can't get out.

395
00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,280
Speaker 2: It talked about just being the best right where you are.

396
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Speaker 2: See he couldn't produce what he used to produce, but

397
00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:00,719
Speaker 2: he could produce something. If you can't speak anymore than write.

398
00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,360
Speaker 2: If you can't run, then walk. If you can't stand up,

399
00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,680
Speaker 2: sit up. If you can't sing, tap your foot. If

400
00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:12,720
Speaker 2: you can't dance, wiggle your head. Do what you can do.

401
00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:18,120
Speaker 1: Don't quit producing. When you quit producing, you quit living.

402
00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:19,800
Speaker 1: As long as you.

403
00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,080
Speaker 2: Have breath, you have something in you. You have something

404
00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:27,360
Speaker 2: to offer. Keep pressing forward, keep learning, keep growing, keep

405
00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,560
Speaker 2: your mind active, keep your body moving. Growing up, my

406
00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,760
Speaker 2: grandfather retired from Exxon after nearly fifty years.

407
00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:37,720
Speaker 1: He never missed a day of work.

408
00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,480
Speaker 2: But when Granddaddy retired, he didn't just stay at home

409
00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,840
Speaker 2: and do nothing. He would come up to the church

410
00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:48,440
Speaker 2: very often and work. He would mow the lawn, make repairs,

411
00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,080
Speaker 2: run errands. I remember seeing him crawl underneath those portable

412
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,639
Speaker 2: buildings many times to work on the plumbing. He stayed

413
00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,439
Speaker 2: active way up into his eighties. My mother does the

414
00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,439
Speaker 2: same thing. She's seventy four now, which is young these days,

415
00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,200
Speaker 2: but she still comes up to the office every day

416
00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,320
Speaker 2: and works on the mail. She writes notes and encourages people.

417
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,800
Speaker 2: One year we calculated that she had written over fifteen

418
00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:17,200
Speaker 2: thousand handwritten notes that year.

419
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Speaker 1: She stays active.

420
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Speaker 2: When my father went to be with the Lord, we

421
00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,320
Speaker 2: were kind of concerned that my mother wouldn't want to

422
00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,679
Speaker 2: come up to the office, or maybe she would just

423
00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,040
Speaker 2: sit at home and not get out as much. But

424
00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,040
Speaker 2: my mother was just the opposite.

425
00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,000
Speaker 1: She was never at home. I'd call her at ten

426
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,080
Speaker 1: o'clock at night. She would be out with.

427
00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,640
Speaker 2: Some girls from the office, going to a play, going

428
00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:40,760
Speaker 2: to a ball game, going to a birthday party.

429
00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:42,399
Speaker 1: I thought I was going to have to put a

430
00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:43,320
Speaker 1: curfew on her.

431
00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,280
Speaker 2: One time I called her and I could hear all

432
00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:48,800
Speaker 2: this noise in the background.

433
00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:50,920
Speaker 1: I said, Mother, where are you?

434
00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,159
Speaker 2: She said, I flew to Colorado today to watch the

435
00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:59,320
Speaker 2: Astros play baseball tonight. I thought to myself, my mother

436
00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:03,879
Speaker 2: is having more fun now that my dad's gone. Do

437
00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,640
Speaker 2: me a favor if I'm not here, make sure Victoria

438
00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:10,560
Speaker 2: doesn't have that much fun. But it's kind of interesting.

439
00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,240
Speaker 2: A lot of my mother's friends.

440
00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:14,280
Speaker 1: Are half her age.

441
00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,879
Speaker 2: She hangs around with young people. No wonder she's young.

442
00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,119
Speaker 2: If you're getting up there in years, don't have a

443
00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,480
Speaker 2: bunch of people you have to prop up in order

444
00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:28,720
Speaker 2: to have fun. Find some young friends. I heard about

445
00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,200
Speaker 2: this eighty year old woman. She went on a blind

446
00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,400
Speaker 2: date with a ninety year old man. She came home

447
00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:39,040
Speaker 2: so frustrated. Her daughter said, mother, what's wrong? She said,

448
00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:42,680
Speaker 2: I had to slap him three times. The daughter said,

449
00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:44,080
Speaker 2: you mean he tried to get fresh.

450
00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,200
Speaker 1: She said, no, I thought he was dead.

451
00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,680
Speaker 2: You gotta find you some young friends, at least young

452
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:56,000
Speaker 2: at heart. That'll keep you young, keep you active. Really,

453
00:22:56,040 --> 00:23:00,439
Speaker 2: I believe old is all in our mind. He may

454
00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,480
Speaker 2: be aging, but if we'll stay young in our mind,

455
00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,159
Speaker 2: then that'll help us to stay alive our whole life.

456
00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,520
Speaker 2: God's promised us a long satisfied life. What am I

457
00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:15,639
Speaker 2: saying today? Don't be too easily satisfied. I met a

458
00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,200
Speaker 2: woman the other day after the service. She's one hundred

459
00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,080
Speaker 2: and three years old, and she was just as happy

460
00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:23,320
Speaker 2: as can be, soul, full of life. She looked like

461
00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,240
Speaker 2: she could be in her seventies, and I kind of

462
00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,439
Speaker 2: jokingly said, how long are you planning on living?

463
00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,520
Speaker 1: She smiled and said, Joel, I.

464
00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:34,240
Speaker 2: Can't go home until I see all my children serving God.

465
00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:37,760
Speaker 2: She quoted that scripture as for me and my house,

466
00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,560
Speaker 2: we will serve the Lord. She was saying, in effect,

467
00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,160
Speaker 2: I'm not satisfied. I still got dreams in my heart.

468
00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,359
Speaker 2: I've still got promises that have not yet been fulfilled.

469
00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,680
Speaker 2: She has seven children, and just one of those sons

470
00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,199
Speaker 2: is not on the right path. I mean, he's like

471
00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:59,520
Speaker 2: in his eighties himself. She told how she gets up

472
00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:00,000
Speaker 2: every more.

473
00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,840
Speaker 1: She calls him, she encourages him, she quotes scriptures over him.

474
00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,840
Speaker 1: That's her purpose, that's her reason for getting up each day.

475
00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,840
Speaker 2: You got to make up your mind that you're going

476
00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,520
Speaker 2: to live a satisfied life. That means you're gonna see

477
00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:19,159
Speaker 2: every promise, every dream, every desire. You're gonna see that

478
00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:22,800
Speaker 2: come to pass. Some people they quit living at fifty,

479
00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,000
Speaker 2: and it's because they've let life wither them.

480
00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:27,160
Speaker 1: They've given up on their dreams.

481
00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:29,600
Speaker 2: You got to stir up what God has placed on

482
00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,280
Speaker 2: the inside. And you may have been through some setbacks,

483
00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,320
Speaker 2: but God still has something for you to do.

484
00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,040
Speaker 1: I think about the story of Naomi. She was a widow.

485
00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:40,560
Speaker 1: She had lived a very sad life.

486
00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,960
Speaker 2: Her husband had died, and now her two sons were

487
00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,440
Speaker 2: killed in a battle. She was so discouraged she didn't

488
00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,200
Speaker 2: think she had any reason to live.

489
00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:50,760
Speaker 1: She decided to.

490
00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,520
Speaker 2: Move back to her childhood home. That way, when she died,

491
00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,879
Speaker 2: she could be buried there. Her daughter in law, Ruth,

492
00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,439
Speaker 2: she was married to one of the sons that had

493
00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,320
Speaker 2: been killed, told Naomi she wanted to move back with her.

494
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,240
Speaker 2: Naomi tried to talk her out of it and said, no, Ruth,

495
00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:06,160
Speaker 2: go live your life.

496
00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:06,720
Speaker 1: I'm old.

497
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:08,639
Speaker 2: You don't need to take care of me, just go

498
00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,919
Speaker 2: do your thing, but Ruth insisted. They moved back together,

499
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,960
Speaker 2: and Ruth would go out into the fields every day.

500
00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,360
Speaker 1: And gather up the leftover wheat. That's how they survived.

501
00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,400
Speaker 2: And one day Ruth met the owner of that field,

502
00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:22,480
Speaker 2: a man by the name of.

503
00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,080
Speaker 1: Boaz, a wealthy man.

504
00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:29,560
Speaker 2: And Naomi started giving Ruth instruction, giving her advice kind

505
00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,439
Speaker 2: of matchmaking, saying, Ruth, when you go out wear this

506
00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,359
Speaker 2: today and when you see Boaz.

507
00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:34,920
Speaker 1: Telling this and that.

508
00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:40,680
Speaker 2: Naomi found her purpose in helping Ruth. When you find

509
00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,840
Speaker 2: your purpose, it will help to heal the pains of

510
00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:48,440
Speaker 2: the past. Even though Naomi was helping someone else, God.

511
00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:49,960
Speaker 1: Was using that to restore her.

512
00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:53,520
Speaker 2: Ruth and Boaz eventually got married and they had a

513
00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:54,760
Speaker 2: little baby by the name.

514
00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,560
Speaker 1: Of Obed they were so proud of the child. They

515
00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:58,840
Speaker 1: brought him to Naomi.

516
00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:03,840
Speaker 2: And when Naomi held the newborn, something interesting happened. Some

517
00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,280
Speaker 2: commentaries say that milk begin to be produced in her body.

518
00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,800
Speaker 2: Here Naomi, this older woman, way up there in years,

519
00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:16,119
Speaker 2: was able to nurse the child. She ended up taking

520
00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,879
Speaker 2: care of him. What am I saying? When you find

521
00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,280
Speaker 2: your purpose, your milk will begin to flow. Whether you're

522
00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,880
Speaker 2: twenty five or eighty five, God will give you exactly

523
00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:30,640
Speaker 2: what you need some of you Today you feel like Naomi.

524
00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:33,679
Speaker 2: You've been through disappointments, You've had unfair things happen.

525
00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,720
Speaker 1: You're tempted to think I'm finished. Joel, I'm done.

526
00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,320
Speaker 2: My dreams are never gonna come to pass. No, there's

527
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,800
Speaker 2: another Ruth out there that needs you. As you help others,

528
00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:45,520
Speaker 2: as you find your reason for getting up each day,

529
00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,440
Speaker 2: God's going to do something new in your life. You

530
00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:50,959
Speaker 2: got to stir up those dreams, stir up those gifts.

531
00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,480
Speaker 2: Don't let life wither you. As long as you're breathing,

532
00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,480
Speaker 2: God has something for you to do. If you're going

533
00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,840
Speaker 2: to stay alive your whole life, you've got to know

534
00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,399
Speaker 2: you're a person of purpose. Somebody needs what you have.

535
00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:07,200
Speaker 2: Shake off every disappointment. Don't dwell on the setbacks.

536
00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:08,560
Speaker 1: This is a new day.

537
00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,800
Speaker 2: Life may have tried to wither you, but God is saying,

538
00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:13,040
Speaker 2: stretch forth your.

539
00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:14,679
Speaker 1: Hand, get a new vision.

540
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,200
Speaker 2: Let these seeds of hope take root. Make up your

541
00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,040
Speaker 2: mind no matter what comes your way.

542
00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:21,359
Speaker 1: You're gonna keep producing.

543
00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,399
Speaker 2: You're gonna keep growing, You're gonna keep learning, You're gonna

544
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:28,440
Speaker 2: stay active. If you will stay passionate about life, knowing

545
00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:30,680
Speaker 2: what your purpose is, being your best every day.

546
00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,879
Speaker 1: God promises your leef will not wither.

547
00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,760
Speaker 2: God will pour out his blessings in favor, and you'll

548
00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:38,920
Speaker 2: live the life of victory he has in story.

549
00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,680
Speaker 1: Amen, do you receive it today? Or you never like

550
00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:42,480
Speaker 1: to pose our.

551
00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,720
Speaker 2: Broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the

552
00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:46,800
Speaker 2: lord of your life.

553
00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:51,360
Speaker 1: Would you pray with me, just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll

554
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:52,440
Speaker 1: repent of my sins.

555
00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,240
Speaker 2: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior.

556
00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:00,920
Speaker 2: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got

557
00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:04,040
Speaker 2: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep

558
00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,679
Speaker 2: God first place. He's going to take you places that

559
00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:07,639
Speaker 2: you've never dreamed of.

560
00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:15,119
Speaker 4: Are you in a situation where you feel lost, afraid, hopeless,

561
00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:20,159
Speaker 4: where there seems to be no solutions, no answers, no

562
00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,639
Speaker 4: way out. It's time for your turnaround.

563
00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,880
Speaker 2: We all face situations that look like they'll never change.

564
00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,840
Speaker 2: It's easy to get discouraged. I love to send you

565
00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,560
Speaker 2: my book turn Around, How God Can take You from

566
00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:36,120
Speaker 2: a setback to a Comeback, where you'll discover how God

567
00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:40,080
Speaker 2: can turn sickness into health, lack into abundance.

568
00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,040
Speaker 1: Addictions into freedom.

569
00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,960
Speaker 2: It'll inspire you to keep believing and have an expectancy

570
00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:48,640
Speaker 2: for things to turn in your favor. Recent weeks, we've

571
00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,560
Speaker 2: been celebrating the incredible life of my mother, her miraculous

572
00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,720
Speaker 2: turnaround story of overcoming terminal cancer over forty years ago.

573
00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,680
Speaker 2: It's a testimony of the power of God's promises. Just

574
00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:03,400
Speaker 2: because you don't see a way doesn't mean God doesn't

575
00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:06,560
Speaker 2: have a way. Stay in faith, your turnaround is on

576
00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:07,000
Speaker 2: the way.

577
00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,240
Speaker 4: As our way of saying thank you for your gift

578
00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,880
Speaker 4: of any amount this month, we would like to send

579
00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:16,240
Speaker 4: you a copy of Joel's brand new book, turn Around,

580
00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,720
Speaker 4: How God Can take You from setback to come Back

581
00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,880
Speaker 4: through biblical examples, real life applications, and practical encouragement.

582
00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:26,040
Speaker 1: You'll learn to.

583
00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:30,360
Speaker 4: See challenges through a faith filled perspective. Each section highlights

584
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:34,360
Speaker 4: a faith turnaround point to help you see a positive change.

585
00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:35,520
Speaker 1: In your life.

586
00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,960
Speaker 4: As you meditate on His promises, you'll begin to see

587
00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:44,080
Speaker 4: your greatest challenges turn around. These power packed life transforming

588
00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:48,400
Speaker 4: stories will shift your mindset, strengthen your faith, and turn

589
00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,960
Speaker 4: your trials into triumphs. Request your copy today and see

590
00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,960
Speaker 4: the turnaround and breakthrough you've been waiting for.

591
00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,360
Speaker 2: God won't let you get in a problem that He

592
00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:02,920
Speaker 2: can't bring you out of. There are turnarounds in your future.

593
00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,160
Speaker 2: Thanks so much for being with us today. Victoria and

594
00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,720
Speaker 2: I pray for you and your family, and we sure

595
00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:12,800
Speaker 2: appreciate your prayer and support. Your generosity is helping bring

596
00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:16,200
Speaker 2: hope to people around the world. Special thank you to

597
00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,280
Speaker 2: our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. If

598
00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:22,120
Speaker 2: you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider it becoming one.

599
00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:26,000
Speaker 2: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning,

600
00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:30,320
Speaker 2: download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube the new Joel

601
00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:31,280
Speaker 2: Hoasting Network.

602
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,560
Speaker 1: Social media. Of course, you can listen.

603
00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,160
Speaker 2: Serious XM twenty four hours a day. We'll keep you

604
00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:40,040
Speaker 2: encouraged and inspired until we see you next time. Made

605
00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:41,880
Speaker 2: the Lord bless you and keep you.

606
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,960
Speaker 4: Be sure to request your copy of Turnaround How God

607
00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,720
Speaker 4: Can take You from setback to come Back. Visit Joelostin

608
00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:53,160
Speaker 4: dot com or call eight eight eight five six seven

609
00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:57,080
Speaker 4: Joel for an additional donation. This month, we are also

610
00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,280
Speaker 4: offering the Turnaround Faith Duo for you and one to

611
00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:04,280
Speaker 4: share with a friend or family member to encourage them.

612
00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:08,560
Speaker 4: You can also request the Turnaround Victory Collection. It includes

613
00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:12,280
Speaker 4: two Turnaround books and the beautiful set of three wooden

614
00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:18,080
Speaker 4: encouragement blocks, Happy, Healthy, and Free, each featuring and uplifting scripture.

615
00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:22,480
Speaker 4: You can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight

616
00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:26,560
Speaker 4: eight five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelostein

617
00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:30,920
Speaker 4: dot com today call or click anytime twenty four hours

618
00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:35,200
Speaker 4: a day. Your life is about to turn around. Request

619
00:31:35,240 --> 00:32:00,960
Speaker 4: these resources today