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That's Facet dot com. 32 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 4: This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 33 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 4: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 34 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 4: offer to buy your self securities, nor is it investment, 35 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 4: legal or tax advice. 36 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 37 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 3: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 38 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 39 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with a friend. 40 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 3: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 41 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 3: your life. Oh God bless you. It is always a 42 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: joy that coming to your homes. We love you and 43 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 3: we count you as a part of our extended family. 44 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 3: And thanks for tuning in each week. And if you're 45 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 3: ever in our area. I hope that you'll stop by 46 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 3: and see us. You'll love our new facility. These are 47 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 3: the finest people in all of Houston, right here at Lakewood, 48 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 3: So come out and be a part of one of 49 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 3: our services. We'd love to have you. I like to 50 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 3: get started each week with something kind of funny. And 51 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 3: I heard about this pastor that skipped church one Sunday 52 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 3: morning to go bear honeing. He got his gun and 53 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 3: he went out in the woods and he searched and 54 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 3: searched and searched. He didn't see any sign of a bear. Finally, 55 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,119 Speaker 3: he got frustrated and threw his gun down and went 56 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 3: down to the stream to kind of cool off. About 57 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 3: that time, he saw this huge grizzly bear running full 58 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 3: speed toward him. He fell down on his knees and said, God, 59 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 3: please protect me. God, I'm praying that you would convert 60 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 3: this bear into being a Christian. Miraculously, the bear stopped 61 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 3: in his tracks, lifted up his paws toward heavens, and said, 62 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 3: thank you Lord for this food I'm about to eat. 63 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 3: All right, hold up your bibles and say it with me. 64 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 3: Are you ready? This is my Bible? I am what 65 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 3: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 66 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 3: I can do what it says I can do. Today 67 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 3: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly 68 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 3: confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I 69 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 3: will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 70 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 3: I want to talk to you today about bringing out 71 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 3: the best in people. I believe that God puts people 72 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 3: in our lives on purpose so that we can help 73 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: them succeed and help them become all God's created them 74 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 3: to be. Most people will not reach their full potential 75 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 3: without somebody else believing in them. That means you and 76 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 3: I have an assignment. Everywhere we go. We should be 77 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 3: encouraging people, building them up and challenging them to reach 78 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 3: for new heights. And when people are around us, they 79 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 3: should leave better off than they were before, not negative, discouraged, defeated, 80 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 3: no challenged and inspired. The scripture says here in one 81 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 3: Corinthians thirteen, verse four that love is kind. One translation 82 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 3: says love looks for a way of being constructive. In 83 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 3: other words, love looks for ways of improving somebody else's life. Now, 84 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 3: I want to encourage you today to take time to 85 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 3: make a difference. Don't just get up in the morning 86 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 3: thinking about yourself and how you can make your life better. 87 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 3: Think about how you can make somebody else's life better. 88 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 3: Our attitude should be who can I encourage today? Who 89 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 3: can I build up? How can I improve somebody else's life? See, 90 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 3: you have something to offer that nobody else can give. 91 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 3: Somebody needs your encouragement. Somebody needs to know that you 92 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 3: believe in them, that you're for them, that you think 93 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 3: they've got what it takes. If you look back over 94 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,799 Speaker 3: your own life, most likely you'll see someone that played 95 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 3: a very pivotal role in helping you get to where 96 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 3: you are today. Somebody had confidence in you, maybe a 97 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 3: parent or a teacher. They made you believe you can 98 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 3: do what you're doing. Maybe it was a boss that 99 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 3: puts you in a higher position even though you didn't 100 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 3: feel qualified, or a school counselor that said you've got 101 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 3: what it takes, you can go to this college, you 102 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 3: can be successful in this career. But most of the time, 103 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 3: they saw something in you that you may not have 104 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 3: even seen in yourself, and they helped you get to 105 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 3: that next level. Well, I'm asking you to do the 106 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 3: same thing for somebody else. Who are you believing in? 107 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 3: Who are you cheering on? Who are you helping to 108 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 3: become successful friends? There's no greater investment in life than 109 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 3: in being a people builder. Relationships are more important than 110 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 3: our accomplishments. And I believe that God's going to hold 111 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,239 Speaker 3: us responsible for the people that He's put in our lives. 112 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 3: He's counting on us to bring out the best in 113 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: our spouse, the best in our children, the best in 114 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 3: our friends and our coworkers. And we need to ask ourselves, 115 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 3: am I improving somebody's life, giving them confidence? Or am 116 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 3: I just coasting along doing my own thing. I remember 117 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 3: when I was in middle school. I was on the 118 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 3: basketball team and one of our first games was coming 119 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 3: up later that week, and I was one of the 120 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 3: smaller players and we were playing this real good team. 121 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 3: They had a bunch of big guys, and it was 122 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 3: very easy to be intimidated. I can't say that I 123 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 3: had that much confidence, but I was walking through the 124 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 3: hallways of school one day in between classes, and I'll 125 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 3: never forget my basketball coach called me over to where 126 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 3: he was and in front of all of my other friends. 127 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 3: He was a big, strong, tough coach, kind of a 128 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 3: gruff guy. And he said, Joe, you're not that tall, 129 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 3: But let me tell you size doesn't matter. What counts 130 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 3: is right down in here. He pointed his finger and 131 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: he said, Joel, you got a big heart, and you're 132 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 3: gonna do great this year. Man. When I heard that, 133 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 3: I stood up tall, put my shoulders back. You would 134 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 3: have thought I was Michael Jordan. I thought to myself, 135 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 3: this coach believes in me, and my confidence shot up 136 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 3: to a whole new level. And do you know I 137 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 3: did better that year than I'd ever done before. It's 138 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,239 Speaker 3: amazing what we can accomplish when we know somebody really 139 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 3: believes in us. That coach he didn't have to do that. 140 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 3: He could have stood over there all by himself, but no, 141 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 3: he took time to make a difference. He took time 142 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 3: to instill that confidence in me. And if we're going 143 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 3: to bring out the best in people, we've got to 144 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 3: learn to sow these seeds of encouragement. Well, you say, Joe, 145 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: nobody's doing it for me. Why should I No, If 146 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 3: you want your life to increase, if you want your 147 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 3: life to get better, then you need to sow a 148 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 3: seed by helping improve somebody else's life. If you will 149 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 3: help somebody else become success, God will make sure that 150 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 3: you are always successful. That's one thing I've loved about Victoria. 151 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 3: She's always believed in me. She's my biggest supporter, my 152 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 3: biggest fan. Victoria thinks that I'm the greatest person on 153 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 3: the face of this earth. And I know that's not true, 154 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 3: but I like the fact that at least she thinks so. 155 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 3: And listen, don't you dare tell her anything otherwise. But 156 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 3: Victoria thinks that I can do anything. She's always bringing 157 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 3: out the best in me. I remember one time we 158 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 3: were going to build a house. We'd sold our other 159 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 3: house and bought this property, and it came time to build, 160 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 3: and so I picked up the phone to call our 161 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: builder friend get everything lined up. And she said, Joel, 162 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 3: what are you doing that for. We don't need a builder. 163 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: You can build a house. I said, Victoria, I don't 164 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 3: know how to build a house. I don't know anything 165 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 3: about construction. She said, sure you do, Joel. You were 166 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 3: at our other house practically every day when they were 167 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 3: building it. You saw how they did it. You can 168 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 3: get those subcontractors lined up as good as anybody else. 169 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 3: Sure enough, she taught me into it, and I ended 170 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 3: up building our house and it turned out pretty good. 171 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 3: I forgot the plumbing, but other than that it's okay. 172 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 3: But seriously, Victoria, one thing I know is she has 173 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 3: confidence in me. I don't believe that I would be 174 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 3: standing up here today if she had not told me 175 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 3: years ago that one day I was going to pastor 176 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 3: this church. Ten or fifteen years ago. I had never spoken, 177 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 3: didn't have any desire yet, she said, Joel, she'd see 178 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 3: my dad up here. One day, that's going to be 179 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 3: you up there. You have so much to offer. One 180 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 3: day you're going to be helping a lot of people. See, 181 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 3: she saw things in me that I didn't even see 182 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 3: in myself, and she just kept planning those seeds of encouragement. 183 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 3: And I didn't think I could do it. I didn't 184 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 3: like getting up in front of people. I had never 185 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 3: been to seminary. And I used to say, Victoria, I 186 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 3: wish you'd quit saying that that's just not me. I'm 187 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 3: not a preacher. She'd say, no, Joel, I can see 188 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 3: it in you. You do have what it takes. And 189 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 3: when my father went to be with the Lord, there 190 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 3: were two things that had a major impact on me. 191 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 3: One was all the seeds of encouragement that Victoria had sung. 192 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 3: The other thing is when I first started ministring, as 193 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 3: I said, I was so nervous. I didn't know I 194 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 3: could do it. But one thing that kept me going 195 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 3: is every time I got up here to speak, many 196 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 3: of you, the people of Lakewood just cheered me on. 197 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 3: I mean you clapped and you clapped and clapped before 198 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 3: I even began my message. I could have been terrible, 199 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 3: but you just kept cheering me on. You kept giving 200 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 3: me that confidence that I needed. And after a few months, 201 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:41,839 Speaker 3: I began to realize that I don't know why I'm 202 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 3: such a crybaby, but I but after a few months, 203 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 3: I began to realize that you believed in me. Began 204 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 3: to realize that you know, hey, these people think that 205 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 3: I can do it. It did something on the inside. 206 00:10:55,320 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 3: You know what happened. You brought out the best in me. Okay, 207 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 3: let me tell you this. I'm committed to bringing out 208 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 3: the best in you. You have things on the inside 209 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 3: of you, just like I had, gifts and talents that 210 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 3: you've never even dreamed of. You can go further, you 211 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 3: can accomplish more. You've got seeds of greatness in you. 212 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 3: As long as I'm up here, I'm going to keep 213 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 3: challenging you to rise higher, to press forward. That don't 214 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 3: settle for the status quoth. You can accomplish your dreams. 215 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 3: You can overcome any challenge that's before you. You can 216 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 3: break any addiction. You got the power of the most 217 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 3: high God on the inside of you. Why don't you 218 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 3: rise up and start believing in yourself? Why don't you 219 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 3: start acting like it's true? See the Bible says in 220 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 3: First Corinthians eight, verse one that love encourages people to 221 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 3: grow to their full stature. That's what I want to 222 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 3: do to you to encourage you to go further. I 223 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: want to challenge you to encourage others to do the 224 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 3: same thing. See, when you believe the best in people, 225 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: you helped to bring the best out of those people. 226 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 3: I heard a story about a lady named leu Ann Johnson. 227 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 3: She had a very successful career and everything was going 228 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 3: great in her life, but she just wasn't satisfied. She 229 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 3: had a desire deep down on the inside to help 230 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 3: troubled teenagers, and so one day she quit her job 231 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 3: making a lot of money, and she went to work 232 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,599 Speaker 3: as a school teacher in one of the roughest schools 233 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 3: in California. This high school was known for its drugs 234 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 3: and games and all kinds of problems. It had one 235 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 3: of the highest dropout rates of any school. They could 236 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 3: hardly even keep teachers at this school because the students 237 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 3: were so wild and so rebellious, and nobody thought this 238 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 3: new lady would ever last. But miss Johnson took a 239 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 3: different approach. On the first day of school, she asked 240 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 3: her students to write down their names and addresses and 241 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 3: a little bit about themselves, and while they were doing that, 242 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 3: she walked up and down the rows and secretly memorized 243 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 3: each student's name. When they got finished, she announced to 244 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 3: the class that we're about to have our first test, 245 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 3: and the students all moaned and groaned. She said, no, 246 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 3: the test isn't for you, The test is for me. 247 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 3: She explained that if I can call each one of 248 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 3: you by name correctly, then I passed the test. But 249 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 3: if I miss even one of your names, then every 250 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 3: one of you will get an automatic A on our 251 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 3: first real test. The students were very excited, so she 252 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 3: went up and down the road and one by one 253 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:36,119 Speaker 3: she correctly called each student's name. They were very impressed. 254 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 3: She said to them, listen, class, the reason I did 255 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 3: this is to show you that you are important to me. 256 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: And when I look at you, I not only like you, 257 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 3: but I care about you. That's the reason I'm here. 258 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 3: And all of a sudden, these students begin to realize 259 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 3: this teacher was different. She's not just here to get 260 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 3: a paycheck, not just trying to get by. This lady 261 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 3: believes in us. This lady thinks that we can become something. 262 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 3: One day, Miss Johnson got word that one of the 263 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 3: roughest students in her class, a young man named Ryol, 264 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 3: owed one of the street gains one hundred dollars. It 265 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 3: was a very dangerous situation. He didn't have the money, 266 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 3: and she asked him to stay after class, and she said, Royol, 267 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 3: I've heard about your dilemma, and I want to loan 268 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 3: you the money, but I'll do it only under one condition. 269 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 3: He was a sophomore. She said, I'll give you this 270 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 3: money if you promise to pay me back on the 271 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 3: day that you graduate. And you've got to understand, Ryol 272 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 3: was the least likely one to graduate. His brothers and 273 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 3: sisters that went before him. They had not graduated, his 274 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 3: parents only had a second grade education, but this simple 275 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 3: act of kindness so touched his heart. Nobody had ever 276 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 3: shown him that kind of love. Nobody had ever believed 277 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,239 Speaker 3: in him enough to think that he could actually graduate. 278 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: Missus Johnson had the students keep a journal the week before. 279 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 3: She'd asked them to write down the nicest thing anyone 280 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 3: had ever done for them. Ryoel said, Miss Johnson, last 281 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 3: week I had to make up something because I can't 282 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 3: ever remember anybody doing anything nice for me. But he said, 283 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 3: what you did for me today I will never forget. 284 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 3: He went on to say, Miss Johnson, I will not 285 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 3: let you down. I will graduate because if you think 286 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 3: I can do it, then I know I can do it. 287 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 3: And see this, lady believed in her students so much, 288 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 3: they begin to believe in themselves. Long story short, Ryol 289 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 3: ended up being the first one in his family to 290 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 3: ever earn a high school diploma. And there are so 291 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 3: many people out there just like this today. They simply 292 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 3: need somebody to spark a little bit of hope, somebody 293 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 3: to say yes, you can do it, Yes you can 294 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 3: pastor the church, Yes you can take that new position. Yes, 295 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 3: you can overcome that addiction. You've got what it takes. 296 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 3: And understand, when you believe the best in people, you 297 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 3: help to draw the bets out of people. And it 298 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 3: may not be something as drastic as ryol, But let 299 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 3: me ask you. Are you believing the best in your 300 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 3: own children? Are you instilling the confidence in them that 301 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 3: they need, telling them that they're gonna do great things 302 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 3: in life? Are you believing the best in your loved ones? 303 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 3: Maybe some of them have gotten off course, well have 304 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 3: you given up on them? Have you written them all? Oh, Joel, 305 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 3: I've been praying for ten years. They're never gonna change. Now, 306 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 3: why don't you dare reach out to them like this 307 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 3: lady did. Make sure they know that you're concerned. Make 308 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 3: sure they know that you really believe in them. And 309 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 3: here's the key. Don't focus on what they are right now. 310 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 3: Focus on what they can become. See the potential on 311 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 3: the inside. They may have some bad habits, they may 312 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 3: be doing some things that you don't like, but don't 313 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 3: judge them for it. Don't look down on them and 314 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 3: be critical. No, just challenge them to rise higher. Tell them, hey, 315 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 3: I'm praying for you, I'm believing you're gonna break that addiction. 316 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 3: I'm believing for great things in your life. You'll be 317 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 3: amazed at how people respond when they really know you care. 318 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 3: I heard somebody say, people don't want to know how 319 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 3: much we know until they know how much we care. 320 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 3: In other words, people are not going to take our 321 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 3: advice until they really know that we believe in them, 322 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 3: till they know that we're genuinely concerned. And really, this 323 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 3: is what Jesus did. Everywhere he went. He saw potential 324 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 3: in people that they didn't even see in themselves. He 325 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 3: didn't focus on their weaknesses. He didn't just look at 326 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 3: their faults. He saw them the way they could become. 327 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 3: I think about Peter. He had a lot of rough edges. 328 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,959 Speaker 3: He was hot tempered, he was loud. He would tell 329 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 3: you what he thought. But you know that didn't necessarily 330 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 3: bother Jesus. Jesus didn't say forget it, Peter, I'm gonna 331 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 3: go find somebody a little more perfect than you. No, 332 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 3: Jesus worked with Peter to bring the best out of him. 333 00:17:58,240 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 3: It was in there, he just had to get it out. 334 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 3: And let me tell you, you never bring out the 335 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 3: best by condemning and criticizing. You don't bring out the 336 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 3: best by beating people down. You bring it out by love. 337 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 3: You bring it out by showing people that you care. 338 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 3: It's interesting. Peter's name literally meant pebble, it meant small stone. 339 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 3: But Jesus saw so much more in Peter. He said, Peter, 340 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 3: I'm gonna give you a new name. Your new name 341 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 3: is gonna be Sephus, which means a rock. In other words, 342 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 3: God said you are a pebble right now, But when 343 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 3: I get finished with you, you're gonna be a rock. 344 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 3: You're gonna be strong, you'll be solid, you're gonna be secure. 345 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 3: That's what we've got to learn to do. See the 346 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 3: best in people, see the potential, and then urge them 347 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 3: to go forward. Henry Ford said, my best friend is 348 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 3: the one that brings out the best in me. I 349 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 3: don't know about you, but I don't like to be 350 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 3: around people that are negative and critical, people that are 351 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 3: always complaining and always telling you what you can't do. 352 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,120 Speaker 3: All that does is drag you down. All that does 353 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 3: is take the life and energy out of us. Now, 354 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 3: if we're going to bring out the best in people, 355 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 3: we got to learn to keep a smile on our face. 356 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 3: We need to be positive and don't go around judging people. 357 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 3: Let me say it again, you don't bring out the 358 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 3: best by criticizing. You bring it out by encouraging people, 359 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 3: your friends, your family. They may do some things you 360 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 3: don't like, they may have some bad habits, but don't 361 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 3: focus on their weaknesses. Find something they're doing right and 362 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 3: encourage them for that. And I'm not saying that you 363 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 3: just sweep things under the rug, but at the right time, 364 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 3: once you've gained their respect, you can encourage them and 365 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,640 Speaker 3: challenge them to rise up higher. But we should never 366 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 3: do it through being a fault finder and through being critical. Remember, 367 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 3: we all have weaknesses, and people respond to praise and encouragement, 368 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 3: not criticism and condemnation. We've got to learn to magnify 369 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 3: what's right in a person, not what's wrong in a person. Now, 370 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 3: I found if you will treat somebody the way you 371 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 3: want them to be, they are much more likely to 372 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 3: become that person. They're much more likely to change. For instance, 373 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 3: if your husband is not treating you with as much 374 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 3: respect as you know he should, well, don't sink down 375 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 3: to his level and be disrespectful as well. No, so 376 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 3: is seed treat him respectfully anyway, and watch that man 377 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 3: begin to change. If he's lazy, treat him like he's 378 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 3: a hard worker. He may do a thousand things you 379 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 3: don't like, but you're going to have to find the 380 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 3: one thing you do like and encourage him for that. 381 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 3: See it is so easy in life to sit around 382 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 3: and nitpick, be a fault finder, be critical, be negative. Friends. 383 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 3: That is not our job. Our job is to bring 384 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 3: out the best in people. Our job is to encourage, 385 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 3: to build up, to challenge people to rise higher. And 386 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 3: let me say it again, people respond to praise, not 387 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 3: to criticism. I heard about this man that went out 388 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 3: to get his paper one morning. When he opened up 389 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 3: the front door, the little dog that lived across the 390 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 3: street was bringing his paper to it, and he thought, 391 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 3: what do you know. That's great, And he ran back 392 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 3: inside and got the dog a treat, and that little 393 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 3: dog left there just as happy as can be. The 394 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 3: next morning, when he went to get the paper, he 395 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 3: opened up the door and that little dog was sitting there, 396 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 3: and next to him there were eight of the neighbor's newspapers. 397 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 3: He had gone up and down the street collecting all 398 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 3: those newspapers. I guess he figured if he got one 399 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 3: treat for one newspaper, he's gonna get eight treats today. 400 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 3: And basically that's the way human nature is. We do 401 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 3: a whole lot more when we're praised and appreciated. Husbands 402 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 3: and wives, we should be each other's greatest cheerleader. Take 403 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 3: time to praise your wife, take time to compliment your husband. 404 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 3: Don't get lazy in this area, and learn not to 405 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 3: take each other for granted. You know, the other day, 406 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,919 Speaker 3: Victoria walked by me and she looked so beautiful. She 407 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 3: was all dressed up and had her hair off fixed, 408 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 3: and I thought to myself, man, she looks great today. 409 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 3: She looks so beautiful. But I was busy he doing 410 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 3: my thing, working at my desk. I didn't want to 411 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 3: slow down. I didn't want to be interrupted, and I 412 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 3: kind of thought to myself, anyway, she knows I think 413 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 3: she's beautiful. I've told her thousands of times, and so 414 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 3: I just let it pass. I missed that opportunity to 415 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 3: sow a compliment. Now, don't be lazy. She may know it, 416 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 3: he may know it, but they need to hear it 417 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 3: again and again and again. Every day. We should compliment 418 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 3: each other. I heard somebody say complimenting each other is 419 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 3: like the glue that holds relationships together. There are so 420 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,159 Speaker 3: many things that are trying to pull us apart today. 421 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 3: It's amazing what a little kind word here and there 422 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:42,439 Speaker 3: will do. Honey, you look beautiful today, Thanks for cleaning 423 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 3: up after me, Or how you did great on your 424 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 3: project last week. Those simple little things can help keep 425 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 3: our relationships strong. I know every time I get finished 426 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 3: speaking and I walk off the platform without fail, every 427 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 3: single time, Victoria will tell me Joel, that was great today. 428 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 3: May have been the worst message in the world, doesn't matter. 429 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 3: She's still gonna tell me it was great. And you 430 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 3: know what, that's fine with me. It's okay to lie 431 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 3: about stuff like that. Some of you women, you're telling 432 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 3: your husband, Honey, you are so handsome. You're either calling 433 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 3: it by faith or you're lying, but either way, it's 434 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 3: all right. We walked off the other day and Victoria said, Joel, 435 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 3: that was spectacular today. Man, I felt good. The next 436 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 3: Sunday she went back to saying, Joel, that was great today. 437 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 3: I said, what do you mean great? How about spectacular? 438 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 3: She's got me spoiled now, But we need each other 439 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 3: be free with your compliments. Remember your thoughts don't bless anybody. 440 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 3: You can think good thoughts about somebody all day long, 441 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 3: but it's not gonna do them one bit of good. 442 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,360 Speaker 3: You got to verbalize it, you got to speak it out. 443 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 3: And every day we should find somebody we can compliment, 444 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 3: Find somebody you can build up. A waiter at the restaurant. 445 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 3: If he gives you good service, don't just think about it. 446 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 3: Tell him, hey, thanks for being such a good way, 447 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 3: or thanks for taking good care of us today. That 448 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 3: does something on the inside of him. Somebody told me 449 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 3: last week they were at the grocery store inline to pay, 450 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 3: and this young lady that was running the register was 451 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 3: having a tough tough time and the people in the 452 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 3: lines started getting aggravated and being a little bit short 453 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 3: with her. And when he got up there, he said 454 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 3: he decided he wasn't going to be a part of 455 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 3: the problem. He wasn't going to do what everybody else 456 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 3: was doing. He was going to be a part of 457 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 3: the solution. And he just smiled real big and he said, ma'am, 458 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 3: I just want to tell you I think you're doing 459 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 3: a great job, and we just appreciate you. Trying so 460 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 3: hard that young lady just brightened up. It was like 461 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 3: he lifted a load of heavy bricks off of her, 462 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 3: and she said, sir, do you know I've been working 463 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 3: here for three months and you're the first person to 464 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 3: ever tell me anything like that. And I thought, really, 465 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 3: that's a sad reflection on our society. People are so critical. 466 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 3: They're fault finders. They don't have any problem pointing out 467 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 3: all you're doing wrong, but they wouldn't dare take the 468 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 3: time to point out anything you're doing right. I don't 469 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 3: know about you. I'm gonna live my life like that. 470 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 3: I'm gonna be a giver and not a taker. I'm 471 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 3: gonna build people up and not tear him down. I'm 472 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 3: gonna do my best to leave places better off than 473 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 3: they were before. Now I was thinking about there are 474 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 3: a lot of things in life that we can be 475 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 3: known for. We're all leaving a legacy, but one hundred 476 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,360 Speaker 3: years from now, I want to be known as somebody 477 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 3: that brought out the best in people, somebody that left 478 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 3: the world a better place. We can have all kinds 479 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 3: of accomplishments, but soon they will be forgotten. The only 480 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 3: thing that's gonna really last is the investment we make 481 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 3: in other people's lives. I want to bring the best 482 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 3: out of my wife. I want to bring the best 483 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:41,400 Speaker 3: out of my children, the best out of my friends. 484 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 3: I want people to say I like being around him. 485 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 3: He encourages me to go higher in his actions, in 486 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 3: his attitude, his integrity, the way he treats people. That 487 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 3: inspires me to be better. That's the kind of people 488 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 3: we need to strive to be. The Scripture says iron 489 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 3: sharpens iron. The way we live our lives, our examples 490 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,639 Speaker 3: should inspire people to do better. We should inspire people 491 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 3: to press forward and to become all God's created them 492 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 3: to be. And we need to ask ourselves today, are 493 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 3: the people in my life better off or worse off 494 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 3: because of me? Am I building them up and bringing 495 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 3: out the best? Or am I just dragging them down? 496 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,199 Speaker 3: Do I believe in somebody? Do I give them confidence 497 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 3: improving their lives? Or am I just focused on myself? Now, 498 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 3: let's make decisions today that we're going to be people builders. 499 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:37,159 Speaker 3: I know over the last few years I've gotten some 500 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 3: very complimentary letters from famous people, movie stars, government leaders, 501 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 3: pro athletes, and it's very flattering, it's very honoring. But 502 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 3: the greatest compliment I ever received came just a couple 503 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 3: of weeks ago, when Victorias stood up here and in 504 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 3: front of all of you, she said, after living with 505 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 3: Joel these last eighteen years, I can tell you that 506 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 3: I'm a better person. I've got more confidence, I'm kinder, 507 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 3: I've got a better attitude. I've grown, I've been challenged. 508 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 3: That's the greatest compliment I could ever receive. And of 509 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 3: course I could say the same thing about her. But 510 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 3: my point is that's the mark of a people builder. 511 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 3: And everywhere we go we should leave people better off 512 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 3: than they were before. That man at the gas station 513 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:26,399 Speaker 3: imparts something into his life, the lady at the grocery store. 514 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 3: Don't complain, take time to give a compliment. Your friends, 515 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 3: your coworkers, build them up. Everywhere you go. You should 516 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 3: be making deposits, not withdrawals. When we get up in 517 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 3: the morning, we shouldn't try to figure out how we 518 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 3: can get blessed. Let's figure out how we can be 519 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 3: a blessing. If you will make somebody else's day, God 520 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 3: will always make your own day. Now I know in 521 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:53,479 Speaker 3: my own life I've been so blessed to have people 522 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 3: that believed in me, my parents, my wife, my family. 523 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 3: And that's all great, But the real question today is 524 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 3: who am I believing in? Who am I cheering on? 525 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 3: Who am I helping to succeed? Friends, you have something 526 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 3: to offer that nobody else can give, and true love 527 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 3: looks for ways to improve other people's lives. I want 528 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 3: to challenge you to bring out the best in the 529 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 3: people that God has put in your life. You're never 530 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 3: more like God than when you give the closest thing 531 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 3: to his heart is helping others. And if you will 532 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 3: be a people builder focused on bringing out the best 533 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 3: in others, I can promise you this God will bring 534 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 3: out the best in you When you help somebody else succeed. 535 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 3: God will make sure you not only succeed, but He'll 536 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,479 Speaker 3: take your places that you've never even dreamed of. Amen. 537 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 3: Do you receive it this morning? Or you never like 538 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 3: to oppose our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to 539 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 3: make Jesus the lord of your life? Would you pray 540 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 3: with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 541 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 3: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 542 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 3: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 543 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 3: born again, get in a good Bible based church. Keep 544 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 3: God first place. He's going to take your places that 545 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 3: you've never dreamed of. 546 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the joel Osteine podcast. Help 547 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 5: us continue to share the message of hope with those 548 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 5: all over the world. Visit jolostin dot com slash give 549 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 5: Hope to give a gift today. 550 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 551 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 3: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 552 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 3: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 553 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 3: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 554 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 3: next time. 555 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 6: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 556 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 6: for everyone. 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