1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening to the podcast today. Want 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: you to know that Victorian and I are praying for 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: you and your family this summer and just asking God 4 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: to bring you more peace and joy and victory than 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: you've ever seen before. Know that God's for you has 6 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: got you in the palm of his hand, and I 7 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: hope you enjoy the message today. Well God bless you 8 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: always our joy to come into your homes. We loved 9 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: you and we know God has great things in story. 10 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: If you're in our area, I hope you'll stop by 11 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: and be a part of one of our services. I 12 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: promise you it will make you feel right at home. 13 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: But thanks so much for tuning in. Thanks again for 14 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: coming out today. I like to start with something funny, 15 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 1: and I heard about this husband and wife. They'd been 16 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: arguing and now they were giving each other the silent treatment. 17 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: The man had to catch a flight early the next day, 18 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: and he needed his wife to wake him up at 19 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: five in the morning. Not wanting to break the silence, 20 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: he wrote a note and put it on her side 21 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: of the bed that said, please wake me up at five. 22 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: The next morning, he got up at eight. He missed 23 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: his flight. He was so upset, he went in to 24 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: ask why she didn't wake him up, and he noticed 25 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: a piece of paper on his side of the bed. 26 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: He opened it up. It said, get up, it's five 27 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: all right, Hold up your Bible. Say it like you 28 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 29 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: says I am. I have what it says I have. 30 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 31 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 32 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 33 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 34 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about how God 35 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: works all things for our good. And every person goes 36 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: through disappointments and things that don't seem to make sense. 37 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: It's easy to get discouraged and think, why did this 38 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: happen to me? Why did my loved one not make it? 39 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: Why did this person treat me wrong? Why did I 40 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: get laid off? Had a man recently tell me how 41 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: he lost his job after so many years, and he 42 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: just didn't understand it. He said, Joel, I gave that 43 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: company my best, was always there on time, I was loyal. 44 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: It's just not right. We have to understand even though 45 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: life is not always fair, God is fair, and he 46 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: promises in Romans eight twenty eight that all things work 47 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 1: together for our good. I believe the keyword is together. 48 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: In other words, you cannot isolate one part of your 49 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: life and say, well, this is not good. It's not 50 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 1: good that I got laid off. It's not good that 51 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: my child got sick. It's not good that my relationship 52 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: didn't work out. Yes, that's true, but that's just one 53 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: part of your life. God can see the big picture 54 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: that disappointment is not the end. Your life doesn't stop 55 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: because of one setback. That's simply one piece of your puzzle. 56 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: There's another piece coming that's going to connect it all. 57 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: It's going to work together for your good. My children 58 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: and I used to love to make chocolate chip cookies, 59 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: and we'd been doing it so long, since they were 60 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: two or three years old. We didn't even have to 61 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: look at the directions anymore. We knew exactly what they took. 62 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: So Jonathan would go get the brown sugar and the eggs, 63 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 1: and Alexander would grab the flour, the bacon, soda, the vanilla. 64 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: I'd get the bowls and the mixer. We were very 65 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: precise to put in the exact right amount and the 66 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: exact order it was called for. You had to have 67 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: separate bowls, and at one point you mixed the contents 68 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: of the smaller bowl into the larger bawl. You beat 69 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: one egg in at a time, and if you really 70 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: want it to taste good, it's very important how much 71 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: goes in and when it goes in. I remember one 72 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: time we forgot to put the bacon soda in. I thought, 73 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: no big deal, just a little tea spoonful. How could 74 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: that matter in such a large bowl. But when we 75 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: got those cookies out, they were as flat as could be. 76 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: They didn't rise one bit. They were tasteless. Nobody would 77 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: eat them. It was like something Victoria had cooked. I know. 78 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: I got to go out to eat today. Victoria's a 79 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: great cook. She is a master of the microwave. What 80 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: was the problem with our cookies? An ingredient was left out? 81 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: A small amount made a huge difference. And some people 82 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: are bitter on life because they haven't waited for all 83 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: their pieces to come together. God has promised a great 84 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: plan for you. He has predestined you to live in victory. 85 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: And when things happen that you don't understand things that 86 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: don't make sense. Don't get stuck there. God has some 87 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 1: more ingredients come in your way. You may feel like 88 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: your life is kind of flat today. Flatten your finances, 89 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: flatten your career, flatten your marriage. But all God has 90 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 1: to do is add some of his bacon soda that'll 91 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: cause you to rise to a new level. You've probably 92 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: seen that chef on television, Chef Emerald. When he adds 93 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: an ingredient, he always says, bam. Just imagine God puts 94 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: a little bit of favor BAM, A healing BAM, a 95 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: good break BAM. Some of you are lonely. All God 96 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: has to do is BAM, a divine connection. Have you're 97 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: at odds with the child? BAM, supernatural restoration A. I 98 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: don't know about you, but I'm expecting some bams in 99 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: my life. I'm expecting God to add the right ingredients. 100 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: That means the right people, the right opportunities, the right 101 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: breaks at just the right time. You may have had 102 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: some disappointments. Life may not have treated you fair, but 103 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: you wouldn't be alive if God didn't have another victory 104 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: in your future. That setback was not the end. That 105 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: breakup you went through years ago. It may not have 106 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: made sense, but there's another piece coming that's gonna pull 107 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 1: it all together. Don't be impatient. It's not over until 108 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,239 Speaker 1: God says it's over. And the fact is we all 109 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: have things that if we isolate them, we don't understand. 110 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: But if you will just keep pressing forward, one day 111 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: you will look back and see how it all played 112 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: into a master plan that God had designed for your life. 113 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: But the problem is when we isolate these negative experiences 114 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: and we wonder why something has happened to us, it 115 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: causes us to get better. And I know people right 116 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: now that are mad at God. They're soured on life, 117 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: no joy, no enthusiasm. It's because they went through a disappointment, 118 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: went through something unfair, and instead of believing that God 119 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: was still in control, believing that it was going to 120 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: lead to a new beginning, they isolate that incident and 121 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: they think, well, why did God let this happen to me? 122 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: But everything is not going to make sense on its own. 123 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: We have to have a deep inner trust, a confidence 124 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 1: down in here that says, I know God has a 125 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: great plan for my life. I know He is directing 126 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: my steps. And even though I may not understand this, 127 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: I know it's not a surprise to God, and somehow, 128 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: some way, He's gonna work it out to my advantage. 129 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: Imagine one day we decided we don't have time to 130 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: make the chocolate chip cookies. Let's just get the ingredients 131 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: out and eat them separately. Jonathan, go ahead, you start. 132 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: Here's a cup of brown sugar. Here's a teaspoon of 133 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: vanilla to wash it down with. Here's a raw egg. 134 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: Here's your two cups of flour. Now, Jonathan, you officially 135 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: have chocolate chip cookies on the inside. Somehow it's just 136 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: not the same. The key is it all works together. 137 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: It's got to be just the right mix, put in 138 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,119 Speaker 1: just at the right time if it's really gonna taste good. 139 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: In the same way, you can't isolate one part of 140 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: your life and think, oh, this doesn't taste good. My 141 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: life is sour, Joel. I went through a divorce, or 142 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: I lost a loved one that was so close to me. 143 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: I started a business that didn't make it. I've been 144 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: through so much. No, that's just one ingredient. It's not 145 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: supposed to taste good by itself. It's got to be 146 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: mixed together. When you go through disappointments, when your in 147 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: slow seasons, don't get discouraged. All your ingredients are not 148 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: in yet. Remember a little bit of bacon soda can 149 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: make a huge difference. That means just a little break, 150 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: Just meeting one new person, just getting one new idea, 151 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: just one touch of God's favor can turn the sour 152 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: into sweet, the sorrow into joy, the morning into dancing. 153 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: I read about a young man. He wasn't wanted by 154 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: his parents. He was given up for adoption at six 155 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: weeks of age, and when he turned two, he developed 156 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: a mysterious illness that kept him from growing properly. First 157 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: they thought it was something like cystic fibrosis, they rule 158 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: that out. For six years, he was in and out 159 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,839 Speaker 1: of the hospitals trying to find what was wrong. Eventually 160 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: he got a little better started growing, but he was 161 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,199 Speaker 1: still very small. His dream in school was to play 162 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: sports baseball, basketball, football, but he was way too small 163 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,719 Speaker 1: to make matters where some of the kids bullied him, 164 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: made fun of him, called him names. Didn't look like 165 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: God had a plan, didn't seem to make sense. But remember, 166 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: it's not over until God says it's over all. He 167 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: needed was a few more ingredients. Being left by his 168 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: parents being rejected. That isolated on its own is very distasteful. 169 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: Spending years in and out of the hospital, that alone 170 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 1: can be very discouraging, But that's not the end of 171 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: the process. When God begins to add some of his ingredients, 172 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: when he mixes in a spoonful of his favor and 173 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: a cup of his goodness, and he sprinkles a few 174 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: of his supernatural breaks, then all of a sudden, what 175 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: was very distasteful by itself, mixed together with the right ingredients, 176 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: becomes very tasteful. And even though he couldn't play those 177 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: kind of sports, he knew that wasn't the end of 178 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: his story. He knew God didn't make any mistakes. He 179 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: started going to ice skating lessons with his sister. It 180 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: wasn't long before the coach noticed he was an extremely 181 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: gifted skater. Long story short, he started training for the Olympics. 182 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: All the experts told him he was too small. You 183 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: don't have a chance. You're just wasting your time. But listen, 184 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: you are not who people say you are. You are 185 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: who God says you are. Scott Hamilton went on to 186 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:43,319 Speaker 1: win every national and International Skating Championship for four straight years, 187 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: including the nineteen eighty four Olympic gold medal. And in 188 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: the natural, you may not see how you could accomplish 189 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: your goals. You don't see how you could fulfill what 190 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: God's put in your heart. But not today. All of 191 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: your ingredients are not in. When we're making those cookies, 192 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: our favorite thing is to put the chocolate chips in. 193 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: That's what gives them the flavor and makes them look 194 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: so tasty. Some of you today, you haven't had your 195 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: chocolate chips put in yet. Why are you soured on life? 196 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: You don't know what God has in your future. Get 197 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,079 Speaker 1: your joy back, your vision back. Quit dwelling on all 198 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: your disappointments and why you went through what you went through. 199 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: Gonna shake that off and have the attitude. I've had 200 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: my flour put in. I've been through the mixing process. 201 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: Now I know I'm close to those chocolate chips. I 202 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 1: know just a few more ingredients, and God's gonna bring 203 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: it all together and cause it to work out for 204 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: my good. One time, when Moses was leading the people 205 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: of Israel, they'd been traveling through the wilderness day after 206 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: day without any water. They were so thirsty they didn't 207 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: know if they could make it. They finally came to 208 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 1: this river. They were so excited their dream had come true. 209 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: They rushed over there to drink it. But when they 210 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 1: tasted the water, it was bitter. They couldn't drink it. 211 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: It was too sour. Have you ever come to a 212 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: place in life where you thought it would be your 213 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: dream come true? You thought you would have finally accomplished 214 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: a goal, but all of a sudden something didn't work out. 215 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: You spent years building a business, maybe even working there. 216 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: You're ready to retire, only to find that it's not 217 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: going to happen. It's not going to last. I talked 218 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: to a young lady. She was so excited about having 219 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: a baby. It was her first child, and she and 220 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: her husband were getting the nursery already, everything prepared. But 221 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: unfortunately she wasn't able to carry the child full term. 222 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: She had a miscarriage. Those waters were bitter. In nineteen 223 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: eighty one, our family was looking forward to having a 224 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: big Christmas together. It was going to be a fun 225 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: time of family and friends. But on December the eleventh, 226 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: we got the news that my mother had terminal cancer 227 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: and given just a few weeks to live. What we 228 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: thought would be a season of celebration ended up being 229 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: a very bitter season. That's what happened to these people. 230 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: There was no water to drink. They were so thirsty, 231 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: and they begin to complain to Moses. They got so 232 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: discouraged they thought it was all over. But no, God 233 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: still had a plan. And God told Moses to put 234 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: a certain kind of tree in the water. And when 235 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: he did, those bitter waters were turned into sweet. Now 236 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: the people could freely drink as much as they wanted. 237 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: What is God saying when life turns out bitter, when 238 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: things seem unfair, I'm not at a loss. I still 239 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: have an ingredient that I can put in that can 240 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: turn your bitter waters into sweep. You may not understand 241 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: why you went through what you went through, but don't 242 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: try to figure it all out. Faith is all about 243 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: trusting God. When you don't understand things, some people get 244 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: so caught up on why God didn't answer their prayers, 245 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: things like God, you could have healed my loved one. God, 246 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: you could have restored my marriage. God, you could have 247 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: kept me from getting laid off. Listen, here's what I've 248 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: learned don't ever put a question mark where God has 249 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: put a period. When something is over and done, let 250 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: it go and move on to the next chapter in 251 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: your life. It may be bitter, but God has another ingredient. 252 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: There's something in your future that's going to turn the 253 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: sour into sweet. I know a gentleman that worked for 254 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: many years for a major newspaper. He was getting close 255 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: to retiring, but at the last minute they had to 256 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: let him go. Those waters were bitter. He understood this principle. 257 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: He didn't get soured on life go around complaining. He 258 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: stayed in faith, believing that God would open up another door. 259 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: His dream was always to write books, and he had 260 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: done a few here and there on the side while 261 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: he was working as a reporter, but he never had 262 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: to cur to really step out and do it full time. 263 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: But not long after he was laid off, he got 264 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: a call from a publishing agent asking if he was 265 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: available to work on a major book with the well 266 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: known author. He took that opportunity and today he's living 267 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: his dream. He's doing what he always wanted to do. 268 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: He told how if he had not been laid off, 269 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: he wouldn't have been available. That agent would have never 270 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: called him. What am I saying? God has another ingredient. 271 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: When one door closes, God's going to open up another door. 272 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: If you will stay in faith, it'll be a bigger 273 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: and a better door. Now. I found sometimes like this, gentleman, 274 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: if we don't have the courage to take a step 275 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: of faith, God will give us a push to get 276 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: us out of our comfort zone. Those bitter waters may 277 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: be a blessing in disguise. No, it's not good that 278 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: you lost your job, but it could be good if 279 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: it causes you to stretch to the next level, or 280 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: if it causes you to go back to school, go 281 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: back to college. It's not good that you get a 282 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: bad report about your health, but it can be good 283 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: if it causes you to get back in shape. It 284 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: wasn't good when my father went to be with the Lord. 285 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: We prayed, we believed the waters were bitter, But really 286 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: it was those bitter waters that forced me out of 287 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: my comfort zone. That's when I really stepped into my 288 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: divine destiny. And the symbol for the word the symbol 289 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: for the word crisis in Chinese is made up of 290 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: two words danger and opportunity. In every crisis and every 291 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: loss and every disappointment. There's both danger to get bitter, 292 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: to stay sour, to settle where we are, and there's opportunity. 293 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: We can grow, we can step out in faith, we 294 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: can stretch to the new things that God has in store. 295 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: I've talked to a lot of people that went through 296 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 1: Hurricane Katrina. They lost everything. I told them, you can 297 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: accept the hand that you've been dealt, seeing this as 298 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: an opportunity to meet new friends, to live in a 299 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: new city, to have a new job. Or you can 300 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: fight it. You can resist it, get bitter, live with 301 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: a chip on your shoulder. The choice is up to you. 302 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: There's both danger and opportunity in every crisis. There's a 303 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: couple that's here every weekend, find people, faithful people. They 304 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: lost their teenage daughter to cancer. We prayed and believed 305 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 1: with them for many, many years, and she made it 306 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: a lot longer than she was supposed to. But one 307 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: day she went home to be with the Lord. As 308 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: you can imagine, that was some bitter waters. They didn't 309 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: understand it. Even though it was difficult, they committed it 310 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: into God's hands. Today, that couple is a shining example 311 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: of how God can turn the sour into sweet. Every 312 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: time I see them, they radiate God's goodness. Whenever I 313 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 1: meet someone that's lost a young person, they're the first 314 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: people I think of. I always ask them to call. 315 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: They went through a major crisis. I can't think of 316 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: anything bigger. They face danger. They could easily be negative, bitter, 317 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: angry people blaming God why did this happen? But know 318 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 1: in that crisis, they saw the opportunity. They saw a 319 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: chance to receive God's grace, and today they're helping others 320 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: to make it through. God wants to show his grace 321 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: through you. When you go through a crisis, and instead 322 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: of getting bitter, you believe that God is still in control. 323 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: You stay hopeful and believe that He's going to open 324 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: up a new door. Then you, too will become a 325 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: face of grace. You will not only see God's goodness 326 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: in a greater way, but you will inspire others to 327 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: keep moving forward into the good things God has in store. 328 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: I love the way Job put it. Though he slay me, 329 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 1: yet will I trust him? The reason Job had this 330 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: unwavering trust was because he knew God was still on 331 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: the throne. When we go through things that don't make sense, 332 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: things that we don't really understand. We've got to be 333 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,239 Speaker 1: able to say with job, I'm not worried about it. 334 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: I know God is still in complete control of my life. 335 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: I know He's got me in the palm of his hand. 336 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: This may look like the end, but I know God 337 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: has a new beginning. These waters may be bitter right now, 338 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: but I know God has another ingredient that's going to 339 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: turn them into sweet. Weeping may endure for a night, 340 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: but I know a secret joy is coming in the morning. 341 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: The scripture talks about how all of our days have 342 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: been written in God's book. He's already recorded every part 343 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: of your life, from the beginning to the end. God 344 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: knows every disappointment, every loss, every challenge. The good news 345 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: is your story ends in victory. Your final chapter concludes 346 00:19:56,520 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: with you fulfilling your God given destiny. Here's the when 347 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: you go through a disappointment, when you go through a loss, 348 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: don't stop on that page. You've got to keep moving forward. 349 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: There's another chapter in front of you, but you've got 350 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: to be willing to walk into it. Sometimes we get 351 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: so focused on what didn't work out, why I went 352 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: through that divorce, and why I didn't get that promotion 353 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: that I worked so hard for. Listen, you've been on 354 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: that page long enough, you've reread that chapter four hundred 355 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:28,959 Speaker 1: and fifty times. Let it go and move into the 356 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: new chapter God has in store. You may not understand 357 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:36,400 Speaker 1: everything you went through, but if you just keep pressing forward, 358 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: not letting the bitterness take root, you will come to 359 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: a chapter in your future that'll pull it all together, 360 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: a chapter that'll cause it to make sense. Was talking 361 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: to this couple not long ago. They have a son, 362 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: and they've always had a good relationship with him. In fact, 363 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 1: they used to work together, but somehow they got crossways, 364 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: and now this son won't speak to them. He moved 365 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: to another city. They don't even have a phone number, 366 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 1: they don't know how to get in touch with them. 367 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: So you can imagine they're just very concerned, very discouraged. 368 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: I told them what I'm telling you. That is not 369 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 1: your final chapter. There's another chapter coming somewhere in your future, 370 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: is a restoration chapter. It may be a month, or 371 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: a year, or ten years. But don't get stuck on 372 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: that page. Keep praying, keep believing. That chapter will come 373 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: to an end. The bitter waters will be turned into 374 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: suite and you'll see that relationship restored. You gotta get 375 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 1: a vision for it. You gotta let the seed take root. 376 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: Some of you are ready to go to a new chapter, 377 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: but you've got to be willing to let go of 378 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: the old. What's behind you is not near as important 379 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: as what's in front of you. Everything you've been through 380 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: was to get you prepared for where you are right now. 381 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: Those disappointments, those challenges were never meant to destroy you. 382 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 1: They were meant to strengthen you, to build you character, 383 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:04,120 Speaker 1: to give you the fortitude you need to accomplish your 384 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: God given destiny. You may have had unfair things happen, 385 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 1: things that you don't understand, but let me tell you 386 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: have come too far to stop. 387 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 2: Now. 388 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: You need to dig your heels in and say, I 389 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: may not understand it, it may not have been fair, 390 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: but I am not getting stuck on this page. I 391 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:24,239 Speaker 1: know God has another chapter with my name on it, 392 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: and that chapter is full of blessing, full of favor, 393 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: full of victory. Our little daughter Alexandra used to love 394 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 1: to put puzzles together, and when she was about five 395 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 1: years old, every couple weeks we'd go buy a puzzle 396 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: and sit down and work on it, and sometimes it 397 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: would take us two or three days, and invariably we 398 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: would find a piece of that puzzle that didn't look 399 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: like it was gonna fit anywhere. We would try every 400 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: option that we could see here and there, but still nothing. Finally, 401 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: I would always think the manufacturer must have messed up 402 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 1: and left a piece out, or somebody came at night 403 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 1: and took it off the table, or the dog got 404 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: a hold of it. But this piece is a mistake. 405 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 1: It does not fit anywhere. But what's interesting, every time 406 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 1: when we got the puzzle closer to being finished and 407 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: more of the pieces came together, all of sudden that 408 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: piece would fit perfectly into place. What was the problem earlier? 409 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: All the other pieces weren't together yet. Some of you 410 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: today you have issues that you don't understand, and you're wondering, Joel, 411 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: if God is so good, why did my life turn 412 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: out like this? Or why did I go through that divorce? 413 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: Why didn't I get that promotion? Just doesn't seem to 414 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: make sense. Yes, that's true on its own, but it's 415 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: because you have pieces to your puzzle that have not 416 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 1: yet come together. If you will stay in faith, before long, 417 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: you will see how every setback, every disappointment, even a 418 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: loss that was simply another piece of your puzzle, if 419 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: it had not happened, it would not have connected you 420 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: to the great things that God had in your future. 421 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: Heard about this young lady. Her dad had had a 422 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: heart transplant and he seemed to be doing well. Everything 423 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: was going good. But several months later she got an 424 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 1: unexpected call saying that her father suddenly had died. He 425 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: didn't make it. She was in another city working on 426 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 1: her master's degree. She immediately went to the airport, so upset, 427 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: so heartbroken, and she was sitting there at the gate 428 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: area with her head down, just sobbing and sobbing. She 429 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: felt these loving arms put around her, and a young 430 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: man said, ma'am, what's wrong. She immediately recognized the voice. 431 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: She looked up and it was Kevin Costner, the movie actor. 432 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: She told what was wrong and how her father had 433 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 1: passed away, and he stayed there the whole time, comforting her, 434 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: letting her know that everything was going to be all right. 435 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: In fact, several times some of his people came and 436 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: tried to get him to go catch his own flight, 437 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: but he wouldn't go. He stayed with her until she 438 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: was ready to board. Just as they were leaving, he 439 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: mentioned that he was going to be back in that 440 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: city a couple of months later filming a movie. He 441 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,239 Speaker 1: asked her to stop buying let him know how she 442 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: was doing. Several months later, she was driving across town 443 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: running an errand she had some papers to deliver for 444 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: her company. Traffic was all backed up. When she got up, 445 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: she noticed they were filming a movie over on the 446 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: park area. Over there. She wondered if it was the 447 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: one with Kevin Costner. She didn't have time to stop. 448 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: She was in a hurry and didn't want to bother him. 449 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: But when she was coming back from that errand, shed 450 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,639 Speaker 1: got in some more traffic. Looked over it was another 451 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 1: part of a movie. This time she stopped. Indeed, it 452 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: was the movie with Kevin Costner. She told the security 453 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: guard to tell Kevin that the lady that was sobbing 454 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: in the airport was here. Sure enough, they brought her 455 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: right over to Kevin, and he was just as kind 456 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: and warm as he was before, and offered her a 457 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: place to sit and watch the scene take place. In 458 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: a few minutes, an executive in charge of the production 459 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: came and sat by the young lady, just being friendly, 460 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 1: explaining what the scene was all about and how it 461 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: all worked. Those two just hit it off like they 462 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: were old friends. That night, the lady called her mother 463 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: and said, Mom, today I'm at the man of my dreams. 464 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: I met the man I'm going to marry. Sure enough, 465 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 1: they started dating, fell in love. One year later they 466 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,719 Speaker 1: got married. Who would have ever thought sitting in an 467 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 1: airport grieving the loss of her father would be a 468 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: significant piece of her puzzle that God would use to 469 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 1: connect her with somebody she'd spend the rest of her 470 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 1: life with. What am I saying? God has the right 471 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 1: pieces to make your puzzle fit together. That puzzle may 472 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: not make sense right now, but don't get discouraged. There's 473 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 1: another piece coming that's going to pull it all together. 474 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 1: Don't get stuck on that page. God has some more 475 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: ingredients for your life. Ingredients that will turn the sour 476 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: into sweep, ingredients that will turn mourning into dancing even, 477 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: ingredients that will lift you out of mediocrity into a 478 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: life of abundance. And sometimes by faith, you just need 479 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: to hear it. Hear God saying it. Bam, another divine connection, Bam. 480 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 1: Another breakthrough BAM, another supernatural opportunity BAM. Another wall coming down. 481 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 1: Get ready for some bams in your life. You have 482 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: not seen your best days. They are still in your future. 483 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: If you will learn to shake off the bitterness and 484 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: not dwell on unanswered questions, but really believe that God 485 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 1: is in complete control, then God is going to show 486 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: up and show out in unusual ways. He'll take your 487 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,719 Speaker 1: scars and turn them into stars. He'll take the mess 488 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,199 Speaker 1: and make it into your message. When you come to 489 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: the end, you'll be able to say, I finish my course, 490 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 1: I fulfilled my destiny. God worked all things together for 491 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: my good. If you receive it, can you say amen? 492 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 493 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 494 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 495 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 496 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 497 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 498 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church. Keep God in first place. 499 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 500 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,160 Speaker 1: It's amazing what happens when you take a few moments 501 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: throughout the day to connect with God. A moment to 502 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: thank him for his goodness, a moment to declare his promises, 503 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: a moment to remember that He's working now. I love 504 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: to send you a new resource, three Minute Moments with God. 505 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 1: These short readings will help you refocus your thoughts, gain 506 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: a fresh perspective knowing that God is ordering your steps. 507 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: You don't need ours to connect with God. In just 508 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: a few minutes, you can turn your thoughts toward Him 509 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 1: and be encouraged by his promises. As you make time 510 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: for Him, you'll have greater peace and strength, and you'll 511 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: step into the favor that belongs to you. 512 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 2: Three Minute Moments with God is a powerful new devotional 513 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 2: designed to meet you right where you are inside. You'll 514 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 2: find topical readings for whatever you're facing, whether you need peace, wisdom, healing, 515 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 2: or hope. Each one is filled with scripture and encouraging thought, 516 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:26,440 Speaker 2: a heartfelt prayer, and faith building declarations. So in just 517 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 2: a few focused minutes, you can quiet the noise, turn 518 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 2: your heart toward God, and set the atmosphere for Him 519 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,760 Speaker 2: to move. It's yours as a thank you for your 520 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 2: gift to the ministry today, be sure to request your 521 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 2: copy of three Minute Moments with God available this month 522 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 2: by visiting us at Joelostein dot com or call eight 523 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 2: eight eight five sixty seven Joel. 524 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: Know today that God has you in the palm of 525 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: his hand. As you take time to acknowledge Him throughout 526 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: the day, He's going to fight your battles and get 527 00:29:57,040 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: you to where you're supposed to be. Victori praying for 528 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: you and your family every day. Thank you so much 529 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: for your prayer and support. Your generosity takes this message 530 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: of hope to people all over the world who need 531 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: their own moment with God. A special thank you to 532 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 1: our champion of Hope partners. You monthly support makes a 533 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: difference every single day. If you're not a partner, I 534 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: hope you'll consider becoming one. Until next time, let the 535 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you. 536 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of three Minute Moments 537 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 2: with God available this month by visiting us at Joelostein 538 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 2: dot com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 539 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,040 Speaker 2: With an additional gift, you can also receive the three 540 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 2: Minute Promise, Power and Authority collection featuring Abundance, Assurance and Authority, 541 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 2: a rich empowering study drawn from the Passion translation. It 542 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 2: opens up who you already are in Christ, what's already yours, 543 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 2: and the authority you already carry. Because your next moment 544 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 2: with God could change everything. Know who you are, walk 545 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 2: in what's yours, Step into every moment with confidence. You 546 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 2: can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight 547 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 2: five six seven Joel or logging on to joelostein dot 548 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 2: com today call or click anytime, twenty four hours a 549 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 2: day