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That's face t 32 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 4: dot com. This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth 33 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 4: in Corporated is an sec registered investment advisor. This is 34 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 4: not an offer to buy your self securities, nor is 35 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 4: it investment, legal or tax advice. 36 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 37 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 5: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 38 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 6: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 39 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 6: blessing and share it with a friend. 40 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 5: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 41 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 5: your life. 42 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 3: Oh God, bless you. It is always a joy to 43 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 3: come into your home that God has good things in 44 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 3: store for you. 45 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 5: He rewards the people that seek after Him, and we 46 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 5: just counted an honor to spend this next half hour 47 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 5: or so with you. 48 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 3: So thanks for tuning in. 49 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 5: And if you're ever in our area, I hope you'll 50 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 5: stop by and be a part of one of our services. 51 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 5: It's a lot better in person that it is on TV, 52 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 5: So come out and be a part of one of 53 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 5: these and we'd love to have you. But glad to 54 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 5: have you joining us by TV today. And I like 55 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 5: to start with something funny each week. And I heard 56 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 5: about this pastor that was walking down the street and 57 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 5: he came upon this group of young boys that were 58 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 5: surrounding this little dog, and he asked them what they 59 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 5: were doing, and they said, we're having a contest. Whoever 60 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 5: can tell the biggest lie can keep the dog. He 61 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 5: went into a ten minute sermon, beginning with don't you 62 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 5: know lying is a sin? And ending with when I 63 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 5: was your age, I never told a lie. 64 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 3: There was complete silence. 65 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 5: Just when he thought he'd gotten through to them, the 66 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 5: youngest boy spoke up and said, all. 67 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 3: Right, give him the dog. 68 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 5: All right, hold up your Bible. Say it like you 69 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 5: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says. 70 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 5: I am, I have what it says I have, I 71 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 5: can do what it says I can do today. 72 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 3: I will be talked the word of God. 73 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 5: I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 74 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 3: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 75 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 3: bless you. 76 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 5: I want to talk to you today about the importance 77 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 5: of being a peacemaker. If we're going to have healthy relationships, 78 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 5: then we've got to learn how to keep the strife 79 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 5: out of our lives. And probably the greatest opportunity that 80 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 5: we have for conflict is in dealing with people. 81 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: Because we're all different. 82 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 5: We have different personalities and different temperaments, and we've got 83 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 5: to learn to give everybody a little bit of room. 84 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 5: I've discovered just because somebody is not like me, and 85 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 5: just because they don't agree with every decision that I make, 86 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 5: that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm right and they're wrong. 87 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 5: We're just different and it takes maturity to get along. 88 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 5: It takes maturity to not start something over a little issue, 89 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 5: takes a mature person to not go around offended all 90 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 5: the time. And if we're going to keep the strife 91 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 5: out of our lives, then we've got to learn how 92 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 5: to give people the benefit of the doubt. 93 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 3: We've got to learn how to overlook some things. 94 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 5: See, every person has faults, every one of us has weaknesses, 95 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 5: and we should not expect the people we're in relationship 96 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 5: with to be perfect, no matter how great of a 97 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 5: person they are, no matter how much you love them, 98 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 5: if you're around them long enough, you will have an 99 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 5: opportunity to be offended. You'll have an opportunity to get 100 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 5: into strife. There's no such thing as a perfect spouse, 101 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 5: a perfect boss, or even a perfect pastor. Although I'm 102 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 5: very close, and what are you all laughing at? But 103 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 5: if we're putting these unrealistic expectations on people, expecting them 104 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 5: to be perfect, not only is that not fair that person, 105 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 5: but it's going to be a source of frustration for us. 106 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 5: We're always going to be disappointed. And I know people 107 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 5: that kind of have the attitude, well, I love you 108 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 5: as long as you never hurt me, as long as 109 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 5: you never make a mistake, or I'll be your friend, 110 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 5: as long as you treat me just right, as long 111 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 5: as you do it my way, then I'll accept you. 112 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 5: Then I'll be happy. You know, that's very unfair. That's 113 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 5: way too much pressure on that person. And the scripture 114 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 5: says that love makes allowances for people's weaknesses. Love covers 115 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 5: a person's faults. In other words, you've got to give 116 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 5: people a little room. You've got to learn to overlook 117 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 5: some things. Quit picking at people, Quit demanding perfection out 118 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 5: of your spouse, out of your children, out of the 119 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 5: people you're in relationship with. 120 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 3: Learn to show a little mercy. 121 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 5: I know, even with Victoria, I couldn't find a better wife. 122 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 5: I couldn't find a more loving, caring, generous person. And 123 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 5: yet there are some things I have to overlook. There 124 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 5: are some things that I have to make allowances for. 125 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 5: It nothing wrong with her, She's just human. But if 126 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 5: I were a fault finder, if I were critical and 127 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 5: picking out things here and there, and keeping an account 128 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 5: of everything she did wrong, then our relationship wouldn't be 129 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 5: what it is today. 130 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 3: You know as well as I do. 131 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 5: All that does is open up the door to strife, 132 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 5: and before long we'd bid odds with each other, arguing, fighting, 133 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 5: No make allowances for each other's weaknesses, and learn not 134 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 5: to wear your feelings on your shoulder. Don't be easily offended. 135 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 5: There is nothing worse than living with a touchy person. 136 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 5: And if somebody offends you, if somebody. 137 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 3: Does you wrong. 138 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 5: You've got to learn to just shake it off and 139 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 5: move on. The scripture says love believes the best in people. Hey, 140 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 5: you said, Joel, my husband, he hardly even spoke to 141 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 5: me this morning, or he didn't even thank me for 142 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 5: cooking dinner the other night. Well, that's a great opportunity 143 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 5: to show him some mercy. Love covers a fault instead 144 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 5: of going through the day all offended and all upset. 145 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 5: Have you ever thought about the fact that maybe he 146 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 5: wasn't feeling enough to part, Maybe he's under a lot 147 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 5: of pressure at work, Maybe he's a little stressed out. 148 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 5: Why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt. 149 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 5: Why don't you believe the best in him? My father 150 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 5: used to say, everybody has the right to have a 151 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 5: bad day every once in a while. 152 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 3: If somebody does something you don't. 153 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 5: Like, if they're rude, or they walk by without speaking, 154 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 5: let me tell you you're gonna have to be the 155 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 5: bigger person. You got to swallow your pride and say, 156 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 5: you know what, I don't believe they really meant to 157 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 5: do that. 158 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 3: I'm gonna overlook it and move on. 159 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 5: See what I'm saying is instead of immediately going to 160 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 5: the negative and seeing the worst. Let's get in a 161 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 5: habit of immediately going to the positive. Let's get in 162 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 5: a habit of believing the best in people. That's what 163 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 5: it means. 164 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 3: To cover a fault. 165 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 5: And the scripture says here in First Corinthians thirteen, verse five, 166 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 5: that love keeps no record of wrongs done to it. 167 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 5: And some of you would see your relationships go to 168 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 5: a whole new lefs if you just get rid of 169 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 5: the record book. I know people that have a mental 170 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 5: list of everything anybody's done wrong to them for the 171 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 5: last twenty years. I mean, they'd make a great accountant. 172 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 5: They've got a detailed record every time their spouse hurt them, 173 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 5: every time their boss was a little rude, and every 174 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 5: time their parents missed the grandkid's ballgame. 175 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 3: Now get rid of your record book. Let those things go. 176 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 5: Somebody told me the other day, Joel, every time my 177 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 5: wife and I have a little disagreement, she brings up 178 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 5: every mistake I've made for the last ten years. Well, 179 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 5: you did this last year, and ten years ago, you 180 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 5: did that last month. 181 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 3: You hurt me. 182 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 5: Know, as long as you're bringing up all that junk, 183 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 5: you're going to have strife in your life. You say, Joel, 184 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 5: it's true. I'm telling now I'm the one that's right. Well, 185 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 5: let me ask you, do you want to be right 186 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 5: or do you want to have peace? Do you want 187 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 5: to have your way all the time? Or do you 188 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 5: want to have healthy relationships? Many times we can't have both. 189 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 5: I heard somebody say any married man should forget his 190 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 5: mistakes because there's no point in two people remembering the 191 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 5: same thing. 192 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 3: You get the message. Get rid of those record books. 193 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 5: And in our relationship, especially in our marriages, it's so 194 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 5: important that we not keep score. 195 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 3: I've heard people say. 196 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 5: Well, I took out the trash last week, I did 197 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 5: the dishes and I changed the diapers. You have it. 198 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 5: I had to go to work, I dealt with the boss, 199 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 5: I put up with the traffic. Now put away your scorecard. 200 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 5: All that does is make you more competitive. It's going 201 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 5: to bring out bitterness and resentment, and before long you're 202 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 5: going to be treating that person less than you know 203 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 5: you should. You've got to work together, be respectful, and 204 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 5: learn not to pick at little things here and there. 205 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 3: Friends, there is strength in unity. There is strength when 206 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 3: you're in agreement. 207 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 5: You and your spouse are more powerful together than you 208 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 5: are apart, and sometimes in order to keep the peace, 209 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 5: you just got to be the bigger person. And overlook 210 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 5: some things you say, Joe, and my husband is lazy 211 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 5: and he does this and he does that. Well, that 212 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 5: may be true, but that tells me you got your 213 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 5: record book out. That tells me you're keeping a detailed account. 214 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 5: I'm asking you today to throw that thing away. I'm 215 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 5: asking you to make allowances for the sake of peace. 216 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 5: And even if you don't do it for yourself, do 217 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 5: it for your family, do it for your children. 218 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 3: Lets some things go. 219 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 5: I mean, you got to make an effort to keep 220 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,839 Speaker 5: strife out of your life. I heard about this lady 221 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 5: that was driving through an intersection. She accidentally turned too 222 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 5: sharply and she sideswiped this other car and she couldn't 223 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 5: believe it. It was her brand new car, a wedding gift. 224 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 3: She was so upset. So she pulled over to the 225 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 3: side of the road and this older. 226 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 5: Gentleman got out of his car and he began to 227 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 5: examine the damage, and it was pretty beat up. The 228 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 5: front bumper was messed up, and so he went over 229 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 5: to where she was and she was sitting in her 230 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 5: car there just crying, so distraught, and she said, you know, 231 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 5: I just got married and gave me this car as 232 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 5: a wedding gift, and he is going to be so upset. 233 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 5: I don't know what I'm going to do. And that 234 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 5: older gentleman tried to console her. He said, no, it'll 235 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 5: be okay. I'm sure he'll understand. And after they talked 236 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 5: for a few minutes, he said, if I could just 237 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 5: get your insurance information and we'll exchange that and be 238 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 5: on our way. And she said, you know, I don't 239 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,079 Speaker 5: even know if I have an insurance card, and he said, well, 240 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 5: it's usually in the glove compartment. 241 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 3: Why don't you check. 242 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 5: She opened it up and sure enough it was there, 243 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 5: and attached to the little envelope that the insurance card 244 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,559 Speaker 5: was in, there was a note. It said, honey, just 245 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 5: in case you ever have an accident, please remember I 246 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 5: love you and not the car. That's the kind of 247 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 5: people we need to strive to be. 248 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 3: Show mercy. Don't keep a record of every mistake. Learn 249 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 3: to cover some of those weaknesses. 250 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 5: You said, Joel, my spouse and I we're just not 251 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 5: really that compatible. 252 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 3: We just can't get along. We are so different. 253 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 5: No do you know, God puts you with someone different 254 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 5: than you are on purpose. 255 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 3: That is not a mistake. 256 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 5: Opposites attract. God knew what you needed. You have strengths 257 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 5: and weaknesses. That other person has strengths and weaknesses, and 258 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 5: most likely your strengths make up for their weaknesses, and 259 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 5: their strengths make up for your weaknesses. You compliment each other. 260 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 5: You should not compete with that other person. You should 261 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 5: complete that other person. 262 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 3: Really, you need each other. 263 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 5: But you've got to learn to get along and not 264 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 5: allow these little weaknesses or little quirks in people's personalities 265 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 5: to cause conflict cause strife. For instance, maybe you're a 266 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 5: very neat and a tidy person. You like everything put 267 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 5: perfectly into place. But your husband, he's a little more sloppy. 268 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 5: He tends to leave things lying around, and you've told 269 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 5: him a thousand times to not leave his shoes in 270 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 5: front of the TV. So you go in there one night, 271 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 5: and sure enough, there they are. That just really aggravates you, 272 00:12:57,679 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 5: and so you make the mistake of going in there 273 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 5: and find him. 274 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 3: You stay. 275 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 5: When are you ever going to start picking up your shoes? 276 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 5: All I do is clean up around here. I'm so 277 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 5: tired of working at this house. Oh, that's the wrong approach. 278 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 5: Why don't you be the peace banker, Why don't you 279 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 5: be the bigger person. You need to learn to just 280 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 5: pick the shoes up and put them away quietly so. 281 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 3: You can enjoy the rest of your evening. 282 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 5: What I'm saying is, don't make a big deal out 283 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 5: of things that are not a big deal. That really 284 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 5: is not worth allowing strife into your home, that is 285 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 5: not worth starting an argument over. 286 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 3: Why don't you just let that go? 287 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 5: Well, you said, Joe, and my wife, I've told her 288 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 5: a thousand times to put the garage down when she 289 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 5: comes home, but she forgets, and that just aggravates me. 290 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 3: That gets on my nerves. 291 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 5: Oh, why don't you cover for Why don't you make 292 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 5: allowances for her weaknesses. 293 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 3: Like she does yours. 294 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 5: But you said, Joel, when's she ever gonna change? When's 295 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 5: he ever going to change? Let me tell you when 296 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 5: people are going to change. They'll change when you quit 297 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 5: nagging them. They'll change when you keep a good attitude 298 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 5: and quit complaining about it. And see if you'll do 299 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 5: your best to cover a weakness and go out of 300 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 5: your way to keep strife out of your life. 301 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 3: You know what you're doing. 302 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 5: You're so in a seed for God to change that person. 303 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 5: You can't change people, only God can. You can nag 304 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 5: them night and day, but it's only going to make 305 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 5: matters worse. It's only going to bring more strife and 306 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 5: more division. And the scripture in Romans twelve, verse sixteen 307 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 5: says we need to adapt and adjust. 308 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 3: In order to keep the peace. 309 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 5: It doesn't say that everybody should adapt and adjust to us. Now, 310 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 5: we've got to be willing to change if we're going 311 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 5: to have peace in our lives. 312 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 3: That means you can't have the attitude. 313 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 5: If my wife starts doing what I ask her to, 314 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 5: then we'll have peace in our home. If my husband 315 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 5: will start putting his stuff away, then we'll begin to 316 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 5: get along. Or if my boss will start treating me better, 317 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 5: then I'll start treating him. Okay, now you have to 318 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 5: make adjustment in order to keep the peace. In other words, 319 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 5: you've got to just swallow your pride and go put 320 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 5: the shoes away, and then don't go announce to him 321 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 5: that you, well, I picked up your shoes again. I've 322 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 5: done it a thousand times. I don't know when you're 323 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 5: ever going to learn. No, just put the stinking shoes 324 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 5: away and move on. We'll make sure you get it today. 325 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 5: But you may not realize when you do your part 326 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 5: to keep strife out of your home, you are honoring God. 327 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 5: And when you honor God, God will always honor you. 328 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 5: And now, I believe one of the main keys is 329 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 5: we have to adapt. We have to make adjustments. Quit 330 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 5: waiting for the other person to change. You be the 331 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 5: peacemaker in your family. And sometimes we allow strife in 332 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 5: over the smallest, most insignificant things. We argue over things 333 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 5: that don't even matter, little petty things. I remember one 334 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 5: time Victoria and I were driving out of our neighborhood 335 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 5: and we stopped to look at this new house that 336 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 5: was being built, and I simply made the comment, I 337 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 5: wonder why they put the garage over there. 338 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 3: That's not the way I would have done it. 339 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 5: And Victoria said, well, I think he did that so 340 00:15:57,760 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 5: he'd give him more room. 341 00:15:58,760 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 3: On his lot. 342 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 5: I kind of studied it and I said, no, that 343 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 5: wouldn't give him any more room. She said, sure, would 344 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 5: Joe give him a whole lot more room? 345 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 3: Do you know? 346 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 5: Fifteen minutes later, we were still debating why that guy 347 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 5: put his garage where he did. Our voice tones were 348 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 5: getting louder, our words were getting sharper. Finally it dawned 349 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 5: on me, why are we arguing over where this guy 350 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 5: put his garage. We don't even know who the man is. 351 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 5: That's not worth losing our joy over. That's not worth 352 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 5: losing your peace over. And I'm asking you today to 353 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 5: let go of all of this petty stuff. I'm asking 354 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 5: you to quit arguing over things that don't matter. You know, 355 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 5: I know people that have gotten a divorce all because 356 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 5: they stayed stirred up over these. 357 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 3: Little insignificant things. They allow it to fester. 358 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 5: It takes root, and before long they're living at each 359 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 5: other's throat. And the funny thing is, they know, deep 360 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 5: down in here they really love each other. But through 361 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 5: the years they've allowed strife to get in. They didn't 362 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 5: take it seriously. They begin to argue, They started treating 363 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 5: each other disrespectfully, and sure enough, eventually that relationship was destroyed. 364 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 3: Jesus said in. 365 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 5: The Book of Matthew, a house divided is continually being 366 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 5: brought to destruction, and it will not stand notice. Jesus said, 367 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 5: if you allow strife into your relationship, it is being 368 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 5: brought to destruction. In other words, it may not happen overnight, 369 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 5: may not happen in a couple of months or even 370 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 5: a couple of years. But if you allow strife to 371 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 5: stay and you don't think anything about arguing, holding grudges 372 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 5: and keeping the record book and making sarcastic remarks, you 373 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 5: may not realize it, but that relationship is in the 374 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:47,479 Speaker 5: process of being destroyed. That strife is chipping away at 375 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 5: your foundation. And unfortunately, unless you make a decision to 376 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 5: do something about it, you could very well look up 377 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 5: one day and think to yourself, man, what in the 378 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 5: world have I done now? I'm challenging you today to 379 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 5: do whatever it takes to keep strife out of your life. 380 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 5: Don't be hard headed, don't be stubborn. Some of you 381 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 5: have been at odds with people in your life, month 382 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 5: after month after month, not speaking to them, giving them 383 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 5: the cold shoulder. Listen, you need to make things right. 384 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,400 Speaker 5: Life is way too short to live it that way. 385 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 5: I talked to a man a while back, and he 386 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 5: was so broken, so defeated. 387 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 3: I asked him what was wrong. 388 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 5: He explained how he and his father got at odds 389 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 5: with each other over a business decision, and they hadn't 390 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 5: spoken in over two years time, and he said, Joel, 391 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 5: I knew deep down in here that I needed to 392 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 5: make it right, but I just kept putting it off 393 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 5: and putting it off and putting it off. And earlier 394 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 5: that week he had got a call from somebody telling 395 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 5: him that his father had had a heart. 396 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 3: Attack and was no longer with us. 397 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 5: You can imagine what he has to deal with now. 398 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 5: Don't wait until you cannot do it, do it today. 399 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 5: Swallow your pride and apologize, even if it wasn't your fault. 400 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 5: Quit having to have the last word in every argument. 401 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 5: How many times have we heard the still small voice 402 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:10,919 Speaker 5: right down in here tell us walk away, keep the peace, 403 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 5: just let it go, But we ignore it. We end 404 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 5: up getting into a great, big argument, and all kinds 405 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,680 Speaker 5: of turmoil could have been avoided if we'd just been 406 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:23,679 Speaker 5: the bigger person and walked away. And understand, it's not 407 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 5: always about being right. It's about keeping strife out of 408 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 5: your life. Because you can win every argument in the world, 409 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 5: but if it opens the door to turmoil, if it 410 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 5: brings division and tears you the part, in the end, 411 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 5: you really didn't win at all. You'd been much better 412 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 5: off to just let it all go and some of 413 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 5: you today. If you don't make some changes, if you 414 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 5: don't heed what's being said, then that relationship is not 415 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 5: going to last. And I believe that God always gives 416 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 5: us a warning. God always gives us a wake up call, 417 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 5: and he's simply saying today, quit being so argument, quit 418 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,640 Speaker 5: being a fault finder, quit keeping your record books, let 419 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 5: all that stuff go, and start being a peacemaker. Well, 420 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 5: you say, Joel, I'll do it as soon as my 421 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 5: husband changes. I'll do it as soon as my boss 422 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 5: starts treating me better. No, if you wait for somebody 423 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 5: else to be the peacemaker in your life, you may 424 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 5: wait around your whole lifetime. Peace starts with you. You've 425 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 5: got to make the first move. Well, Joel, I apologize first, 426 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 5: last time. 427 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 3: That's not fair. 428 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 5: It's his turn to apologize. Well, it may not be fair, 429 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 5: but it can keep you together. Swallow your pride, be 430 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 5: the bigger person. Do it anyway. When you do that, 431 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 5: you're so in a seed. When you do it, you're 432 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 5: passing the test. Let me tell you, God will always 433 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 5: make it up to you. I think about the story 434 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 5: of Abraham. One time he moved to a new land 435 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 5: with his nephew Lot, but the land wasn't big enough 436 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 5: to support both of them, and the Bible says in 437 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,880 Speaker 5: Genesis thirteen, verse seven that Lot's herdsman begin to get 438 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 5: it to strife with Abraham's herdsman. Well, what did Abraham do? 439 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 5: He immediately begin to deal with it. He knew if 440 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 5: he allowed that strife to continue before long, it would 441 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 5: not only be affecting the herdsman, but it would affect 442 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 5: his relationship with Lot. He knew that strife would eventually 443 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 5: bring turmoil to the whole family, and so Abraham. 444 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 3: Took the high road. 445 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 5: He said in verse eight, Lot, I don't want there 446 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 5: to be any strife between you and me, and he 447 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 5: let Lot choose the best piece of land. In other words, 448 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 5: to avoid strife. He allowed Lot to be right. He 449 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 5: allowed Lot to have it his way, even though technically Abraham, 450 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 5: he was the older gentleman, he should have been able 451 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 5: to choose the best piece of land. My point is, 452 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 5: sometimes you're gonna have to let the other person be 453 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 5: right simply for the sake of peace. Sometimes you're gonna 454 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 5: have to swallow your pride, and no matter how much 455 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 5: it hurts. You got to let the other person do 456 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 5: it their way just so you can keep strife out 457 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 5: of your life. 458 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 3: It may not be fair. 459 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 5: You may know beyond a shadow of a doubt that 460 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 5: you're right and they're wrong. 461 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 3: Doesn't matter. 462 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 5: You got to just bite your tongue, let it go, 463 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 5: and trust God to make it up to you. The 464 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 5: Bible says that because Abraham kept the peace because he 465 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 5: refused to get into strife, God turned it around and 466 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 5: honored him. 467 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 3: By giving him the whole country. 468 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 5: And you too, If you will make a decision to 469 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 5: keep the peace, even though it's not your fault, even 470 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 5: though somebody's done you wrong and you've got a good 471 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 5: cause to get in there and argue. If you'll keep 472 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 5: the peace anyway, let me tell you, God will honor 473 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 5: you and bring you out with an abundance. 474 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 3: And some of you today. 475 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 5: The only thing that's keeping you from getting out of 476 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 5: strife is the fact that you know you're right and 477 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 5: you know the other person's wrong, and you just can't 478 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:50,719 Speaker 5: let it go. 479 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 3: You think, Joel, that's not fair. 480 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 5: Well, it may not be fair, But if you will 481 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 5: just leave it up to God, take the high road 482 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 5: like Abraham did, and just refused to get into strife. 483 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 5: Then in the end, God's going to bring you out 484 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 5: better off than you were before. The Bible doesn't say 485 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 5: that if we're in strife as long as it's not 486 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 5: our fault, and it's okay. Now, when we're in strife, 487 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 5: no matter whose fault it is, it's going to bring 488 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 5: destruction and turmoil. We have to make adjustments to keep 489 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 5: the peace. 490 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 3: We have to do our part. 491 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 5: I heard about this couple that had made your problems 492 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 5: in their marriage, and the truth is the man was 493 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 5: the main cause. He was very selfish, very argumented it, 494 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 5: and basically he was just a very hard to get 495 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 5: along with, critical, negative person. And neither of these two 496 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 5: people would give an inch. Now, this woman, she really 497 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 5: loved God. She went to church every week and did 498 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 5: her best to live a life of integrity. But the man, 499 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 5: he was just the opposite, wouldn't have anything to do 500 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 5: with the things of God, very cold and sarcastic about that. 501 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 5: And so this lady prayed and prayed for God to 502 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 5: change her husband. Year after year went by, nothing got better. 503 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 5: They just can continued to live in strife. And one 504 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 5: day she was praying and she said, God, why do 505 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 5: I have to live in such a terrible environment. When 506 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 5: are you ever going to change my husband? And God 507 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 5: spoke something back to her, not out loud, but right 508 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 5: down in here, and he said, I'm going. 509 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 3: To change your husband as soon as you change. She said, God, 510 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:19,120 Speaker 3: what do. 511 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 5: You mean, he's the problem, He's the one that mean 512 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 5: inn argument if I go to church every Sunday. God said, no, 513 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 5: you're not doing all you can to keep the peace. 514 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 5: You become indifferent to this situation and you're being a 515 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 5: part of allowing that strife to stay into your home. 516 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 5: Then God said something very interesting. He said, I'm going 517 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 5: to hold you responsible because you know the truth, you 518 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 5: know the right thing to do, and when you start 519 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 5: doing that, I'll begin to change your husband. See the 520 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 5: scripture says to him that knows what's right and doesn't 521 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 5: do it, then it's sin. And a lot of times 522 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 5: we're waiting for the other person to change. We know 523 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 5: they're wrong, we know they're at fault. We have to 524 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 5: realize God is going to hold us responsible to do 525 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 5: what we know to do. When we allow strife into 526 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 5: our homes, we just simply opened up the door to trouble. 527 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 5: A few years ago, Victoria and I and our two 528 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 5: children went for a bike ride together out at the park, 529 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 5: and this day had not gone real well for me. 530 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,360 Speaker 5: I was kind of aggravated at something Victoria had done. 531 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 5: I didn't think it was right. It just kind of 532 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 5: irritated me. I remember so clearly that I chose to 533 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 5: hold on to it. I could have so easily overlooked it. 534 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 5: It wasn't any big deal. 535 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 3: I could have so. 536 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 5: Easily just let it go and enjoyed the day at 537 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 5: the park, but no, I chose to stay sour. I 538 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 5: was kind of giving her the cold shoulder, didn't want 539 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 5: to have too much to do with her. And so 540 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 5: we're out at the park riding our bikes, and I 541 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 5: gotten my little daughter, Alexandra on my bike seat behind me, 542 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 5: and Jonathan had just learned how to ride his bike 543 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 5: a few months earlier, so we had to go kind 544 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 5: of slow. He wasn't real sure of himself, and I 545 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 5: had gotten maybe fifty or one hundred yards ahead of 546 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 5: he and Victim for you, and all of a sudden, 547 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 5: this biker came riding the other way, had passed. 548 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 3: Me, going very very fast, and. 549 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 5: My first thought was, man, I hope Jonathan is careful, 550 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 5: this guy is flying well. Sure enough, just as he 551 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 5: got up there close to Jonathan, Jonathan saw him and 552 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 5: he got spooked and he turned right into his path 553 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 5: and they had head on. Now. I mean it was 554 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 5: a loud collision. I thought for sure he had broken 555 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 5: an arm or a leg or something. 556 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 3: It just sounded so bad. 557 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 5: And I set my bike down and I ran back 558 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 5: there as fast as I could, and I picked up 559 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 5: little Jonathan, and I was amazed that he wasn't hurt 560 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 5: that badly. I mean, he was skinned up on his legs, 561 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 5: in his arms, he didn't have any broken bones. Fortunately, 562 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 5: that other writer was okay as well. But when everything 563 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 5: kind of calmed down, something said on the inside of 564 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 5: me so strongly, Joel, you brought all this on yourself. 565 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,199 Speaker 5: You had the choice to make things right. You had 566 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 5: the choice to keep the strife out, but. 567 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 3: You chose not to. 568 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 5: And see, I knew better. I can relate to what 569 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 5: that lady was saying. I knew I was holding onto 570 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 5: the offense. I knew I wasn't treating Victoria right. And 571 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 5: this is what happens. The scripture says, don't give any 572 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 5: foothold to the enemy. All he's looking for is a 573 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 5: little foothold of strife, a foothold of arguing, a foothold 574 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:16,879 Speaker 5: of hav an unforgiveness. 575 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:18,400 Speaker 3: And of course I'm. 576 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 5: Not saying that every accident is because of this, but 577 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:21,880 Speaker 5: I knew I. 578 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 3: Had brought this on ourselves. 579 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 5: And see, when we choose to hold on to strife 580 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:29,360 Speaker 5: and to not forgive, and to be hard headed and 581 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 5: to not overlook little things, what we're really doing is 582 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 5: stepping out of God's protection. We're stepping out of God's 583 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 5: blessings and favor. And that's why I'm challenging you today 584 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 5: to do everything you can to keep strife out of 585 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 5: your life. Don't be hard headed like I was, be 586 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 5: the bigger person, Swallow your pride and keep the peace. 587 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 5: Learn to overlook some things, give people the benefit of 588 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 5: the doubt. Remember, you and I have to adapt and 589 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 5: adjust if we're going to have peace. And again, it 590 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 5: may not always be fair, but we have to ask ourselves, 591 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 5: do I want to be right or do I want 592 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 5: to have peace? 593 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 3: And I know God's dealing with some of you right. 594 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 5: Now, and I believe today can be a turning point 595 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,119 Speaker 5: in your life if you will just simply make a 596 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 5: decision that you're gonna swallow your pride and you're gonna 597 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 5: do everything it takes to keep the peace. Let me 598 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 5: tell you, if you do that, God promises you're gonna 599 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 5: be blessed. He said, blessed are the peacemakers. If you 600 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 5: will have that kind of attitude, your relationships are going 601 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 5: to get better and better. And I believe you're going 602 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 5: to experience the life of victory that God has in store. 603 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 3: Amen. How many to receive it today? But I know 604 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 3: you do. 605 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 5: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 606 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 5: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 607 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 3: Would you pray with me? 608 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 5: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 609 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 5: into my heart. 610 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 3: I'll make you my Lord and savior. 611 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 5: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 612 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 5: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church, 613 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 5: keep God on first place. He's gonna take your places 614 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 5: you've never dreamed of. 615 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 6: Thank you for listening to the Joel Loustine podcast. Help 616 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 6: us continue to share the message of hope with those 617 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 6: all over the world. Visit joeloustein dot com slash give 618 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:15,959 Speaker 6: Hope to give a gift today. 619 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 620 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 621 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 5: podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 622 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,719 Speaker 3: We're praying for you. 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