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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 26 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: But he'll never forget how you invest it in his 27 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: future with the units stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 33 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 34 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 3: iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 35 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 36 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: UNEs dot co. 37 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 39 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 4: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 40 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 4: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 41 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 4: for God's very best in your life. Oh God bless you. 42 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 4: It's always a joy to come into your homes. We 43 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 4: love you and we're believing that this is going to 44 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 4: be your best year so far. If you're ever in 45 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 4: our area, I hope you'll stop by and be a 46 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 4: part of one of our servises. These are the finest 47 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 4: people in all of Houston, right here at Lakewood, and 48 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 4: we'd love to have you come out sometime. But thanks 49 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 4: for tuning in today. I like to start with something funny, 50 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 4: and I heard about this new pastor. He was in town, 51 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 4: going from house to house inviting people to come to church. 52 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 4: He knocked on this one door and he could tell 53 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 4: somebody was home, but nobody would answer. So he took 54 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 4: his business card out and he wrote the scripture reference 55 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 4: Revelation three twenty and left it there in the door. 56 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 4: The next Sunday after service, and Usher handed him the 57 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 4: same card and under that reference was Genesis three ten. 58 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 4: Here's what they say. The pastor's words, Revelation three twenty. Behold, 59 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 4: I stand at the door knock. If anyone answers, I 60 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 4: will come in. The reply was Genesis three ten. It 61 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 4: says I heard your voice, but I was afraid because 62 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 4: I was naked. Hold up your bible. Say it like 63 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 4: you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 64 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 4: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 65 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 4: I can do what it says I can do today. 66 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 4: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly 67 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 4: confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I 68 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 4: will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 69 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 4: I want to talk to you today about thriving and 70 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 4: not just surviving. It's easy to get into a survival 71 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 4: mode when times get tough and things aren't going our way. 72 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,399 Speaker 4: It's tempting to just hunker down and settle where we are, 73 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 4: not believe for increase, not believe to go any further. 74 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 4: If you watch the news reports long enough about the 75 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 4: economy and the price of gas and how groceries are 76 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 4: going up, it's tempting to think if I can just 77 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 4: hold on, if I can just make it through another year, 78 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 4: and if we're not careful, we'll develop this survival mentality 79 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 4: to where we're not releasing our faith. We're not believing 80 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 4: to rise any higher. We're just hoping to maintain. We'd 81 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 4: be satisfied if we could just break even. But we're 82 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 4: not supposed to break even. We're supposed to break through 83 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 4: to a new level, to more of God's favor, to increase, 84 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 4: to promotion. I've known people that have been through tough times, 85 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 4: maybe a relationship didn't work out, some kind of disappointment, 86 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 4: and they never get rid of that survival thinking. I 87 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 4: saw somebody wearing a T shirt that said I survived 88 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 4: Hurricane Katrina, and I know what they mean. But you 89 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 4: can't stay in that survival mode to where you kind 90 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 4: of feel like you're a victim and the future is 91 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 4: going to be so tough. You just got to hold on. Now. 92 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 4: You're not a survivor, you are more than a conquer 93 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,679 Speaker 4: And I realize some seasons are more difficult. Not every 94 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 4: season is harvest. Sometimes we go through trying times where 95 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 4: it seems like things are drying up and getting a 96 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 4: little more challenging. But there's a scripture in Jeremiah that's says, 97 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 4: if we'll keep the Lord our trust and confidence, God 98 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 4: will prosper us even in the desert. He'll prosper us 99 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 4: even in difficult times. That means when others are going under, 100 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,799 Speaker 4: God says, you'll go over. When other people are losing clients, 101 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 4: business is slow, God's bringing you new clients. When companies 102 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 4: are laying people off. God's opening up supernatural doors for you. 103 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 4: When other people are pulling back, worried, afraid, we're pushing 104 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 4: forward in faith, believing, expecting good things. That's what it 105 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 4: means to have a thriving mentality. Deep down, we know, 106 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 4: even when we're in the desert, even when things are 107 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 4: slow financially, even when we get a negative report, God 108 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 4: is still on the throne and our job is not 109 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 4: our source. The economy is not our source. We know 110 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 4: God is our source. And in one sense, it doesn't 111 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 4: really matter what the stock market does or doesn't do. 112 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 4: Doesn't matter how high the price of gas goes. God 113 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 4: always has the final safe. If gas goes to ten 114 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 4: dollars a gallon, that just means God's gonna bless us 115 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 4: in a greater way. David said, I've never seen the 116 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 4: righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread. For some 117 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 4: of you have been talked into having this survival thinking 118 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 4: you've watched so many news reports it's so bad, How 119 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 4: may I ever go make it? 120 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 5: Now? 121 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 4: I want to talk you into thriving and not just surviving. Now, 122 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 4: realize we need to be wise and use wisdom with 123 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 4: what God has given us. But I don't believe we're 124 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 4: supposed to pull back to where we're not pursuing our 125 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 4: dreams anymore. We're not expecting increase, we're not believing for favor. 126 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 4: We're just trying to hold on. We're just trying to maintain. Now, 127 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 4: that's a survival mentality. It may be difficult, and at 128 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 4: times you wonder how it's all gonna work out, But 129 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 4: just remember this, as God took the five loaves and 130 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 4: the two fish and multiply that to feed thousands of people. 131 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 4: God can multiply what you have. He can multiply your 132 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 4: time and help you to get more done. He can 133 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 4: multiply your wisdom and help you to make better decisions. 134 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 4: God can multiply our finances and cause them to go further. 135 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 4: This may sound kind of far out, but God can 136 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 4: cause your car to get better gas mileage. He can 137 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 4: cause you to stay out of those traffic gems. God 138 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 4: can help you find the best deals at the stores, 139 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 4: to find things that are on sale that are usually 140 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 4: never on sale. God is in complete control. When times 141 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 4: get tough, don't hunker down think oh, it's so bad 142 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 4: if I can just hold on and make it through 143 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 4: another year. No, dig your heels in and say I'm 144 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 4: not going to just survive, I'm gonna thrive. I'm going 145 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 4: to prosper in spite of this difficulty. I was talking 146 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 4: to a young lady the other day and she told 147 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 4: how she had struggled in her marriage for a long, 148 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 4: long time. She had done her best to keep it together, 149 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 4: but it just didn't work out. She said, Joel, Well, 150 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 4: at least I survived. She was happy that she had 151 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 4: made it through, but I could tell that had taken 152 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 4: the wind out of her cells. She's a beautiful girl, 153 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 4: but she had lost her fire, lost that sparkle in 154 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 4: her eyes. I told her what I'm telling you. You 155 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 4: made it through, But you can't keep that survival mentality. 156 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 4: God has new seasons in front of you. He has 157 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 4: new doors he wants to open. He wants the next 158 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 4: part of your life to be better than the first part. 159 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 4: But you can't make the mistake of just settling where 160 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 4: you are and thinking, oh, I've been through so much, 161 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 4: I'm just glad to be where I am. Now, that's 162 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 4: a survival mentality that'll keep you from God's best. You 163 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 4: got to shake that survival mentality off and say, God, 164 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 4: you promised what was meant from my harm you would 165 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 4: use to my advantage. Now I may have been through 166 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 4: the fire, through the famine through the flood. But I 167 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 4: know it's my time for favor. It's my time to 168 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 4: see more of your goodness in my life. We have 169 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 4: to have a made up mind that no matter what 170 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 4: comes our way, no matter how difficult, no matter how unfair, 171 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 4: we are not going to just survive it. We're going 172 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 4: to thrive in spite of it. Hell, Joel, I've been 173 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 4: through so much. You're exactly right. You've been through it. 174 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 4: You didn't stay there. This is a new day. You're 175 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 4: not a survivor, you are an overcomer. Well, Joel, what 176 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 4: about the economy, Well, let me ask you what about 177 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 4: our God. He's still on the throne. The good news 178 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 4: is there is not a recession in heaven. God has 179 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,359 Speaker 4: not had to cut back because of high gas prices. 180 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 4: He's not having a shortage of food and supplies. I'm 181 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 4: happy to report that all is well. Here's the key. 182 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 4: As long as our source is okay, we're going to 183 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 4: be okay. If we'll just stay connected to the vine, 184 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 4: keeping God first, believing and expecting for his favor, then 185 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 4: as his branch is, we're not going to just survive. 186 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 4: We're going to thrive. But you have to keep your 187 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 4: faith out there. There are so many negative voices trying 188 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 4: to steal our dreams and talk us into settling where 189 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 4: we are. If you let those words take root, you'll 190 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 4: start acting on them. When you act on them, that's 191 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 4: your faith at work. You can bring it to pass. 192 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 4: In other words, if you expect to have less and 193 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 4: expect to barely get by, and expect to have a 194 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 4: tough year, your faith can draw that in. I want 195 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 4: you to start expecting God to increase you in a 196 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 4: greater way. Start expecting this to be your best year 197 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 4: so far. Really, it's not that impressive for us to 198 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 4: be blessed and promoted. When the economy's strong and business 199 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 4: is great, and everybody around us is being blessed. People 200 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 4: can say that's just the benefit of good times, that's 201 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,559 Speaker 4: just the benefit of a strong economy. They can make 202 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 4: excuses for it. But when times are tough and every 203 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 4: other news report talks about how bad it is and 204 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 4: how we're not supposed to make it, and yet God 205 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 4: shows up and does something unusual and extraordinary, that's a 206 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 4: greater testimony to the faithfulness of our God. When God 207 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 4: prospers you in the desert and people see you increasing 208 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 4: even though they're stuck. That's when they'll know it makes 209 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 4: a difference to serve the most high God. Growing up, 210 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 4: we knew this man. He was a very successful business person. 211 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 4: He owned hundreds and hundreds of acres of orange crops, 212 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 4: and during this one particular winter, it was predicted to 213 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 4: be a hard freeze that was very unusual. It never 214 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 4: froze in that part of the country, and he knew 215 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 4: if that happened, it would destroy all of his crops, 216 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 4: cost him thousands and thousands of dollars. And this man 217 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 4: was kind of far out. He believed God could do anything. 218 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 4: So he went out and marched around his orange trees 219 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 4: and he said, God, I'm asking you to protect my 220 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 4: crops and keep them from freezing. When his friends heard 221 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 4: about it, they thought he was so strange that that 222 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 4: was so odd. The next morning, the big freeze came 223 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 4: in lasted a little over twenty four hours. Those other 224 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 4: farmers were so discouraged trying to figure out how they 225 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 4: were going to survive, knowing that the crops were going 226 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 4: to be destroyed. This other man, he just kept thanking 227 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:35,959 Speaker 4: God that he was protecting his crops. Several days later, 228 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 4: it was the most unusual sight. His property, hundreds and 229 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 4: hundreds of acres, had the most beautiful, healthy orange trees, 230 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 4: but the properties around him, on all four sides, their 231 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 4: trees were just as dead as could be. It looked 232 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 4: like somebody to put a big blanket over his property. 233 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 4: Those other farmers were amazed. Instead of making fun him, 234 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 4: they said, next time, do us a favor. Pray over 235 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 4: our crops as well. Friends. God is well able to 236 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 4: take care of us. He can prosper us even in 237 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 4: the desert, if we'll just be bold enough to believe. 238 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 4: It says no weapon formed against you will prosper. That 239 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 4: means things may come, disappointments, set backs, bad reports, But 240 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 4: we don't have to get all down and go into 241 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 4: that survival mode. Now, let's stay in faith and believe 242 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 4: that God will supernaturally protect us, that we'll see his 243 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 4: unprecedented favor. Maybe you're trying to sell your house. No 244 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 4: other houses in the neighborhood are really selling. Why don't 245 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 4: you be bold like this man and believe for favor. 246 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 4: Won't you be bold and march around your property and say, God, 247 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 4: I know I'm not supposed to survive, I'm supposed to thrive. 248 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 4: So I'm asking that your favor would cause my house 249 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 4: to stand out. Maybe business is slow, the people in 250 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 4: your same field are really struggling. Well, you've got to 251 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 4: start thanking God that he's bringing you new clients, that 252 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 4: he's given you new ideas, that he's opening up supernatural doors. 253 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 4: I was reading a report the other day and it 254 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 4: told how giving to nonprofit organizations and different charities is 255 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 4: down nearly twenty five percent this year. And when I 256 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 4: read that, instead of getting discouraged and thinking, aw man, 257 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 4: it's probably coming our way, we're probably going to be down. No, 258 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 4: I said, Father, I want to thank you that we're 259 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 4: going to have our best year so far. I want 260 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 4: to thank you that every person that gives will see 261 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 4: your supernatural favor supernatural increase. You might as well get 262 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 4: ready for promotion, for divine connections, for supernatural breaks, to 263 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 4: have your best year so far, to thrive, not just survive. 264 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 4: I was thinking about my sister Lison her husband Kevin. 265 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 4: Years ago, they wanted to sell their house and they 266 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 4: asked God that it would sell quickly. Most houses in 267 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 4: that neighborhood were taken anywhere from three months to a 268 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 4: year to sell. They couldn't really close on their new 269 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 4: house unless they sold this other house, And so they 270 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 4: pray and ask God that it would sell fast and 271 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 4: that they would get close to what they were asking 272 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 4: for it. The first day the house went on the market. 273 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 4: That morning, a lady came over and said, I'll buy it, 274 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 4: and if you'll take it off the market, I'll pay 275 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 4: you more than you have it listed for. That's unprecedented favor. 276 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 4: God is not limited to the economy, he's not limited 277 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 4: to what's going on around us. He's only limited by 278 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 4: our own thinking. That's why it's so important that we 279 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 4: don't get into this survival mode thinking my business can expand. 280 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 4: The economy's too slow. I'll never sell my house. No 281 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 4: houses are selling. I'll never get a promotion this year, Joel, 282 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 4: of all years, nobody is spending. Everybody's cutting back. No, 283 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 4: that's when God, especially likes to show up and show out. 284 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 4: God likes to do the extraordinary. That way, it brings 285 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 4: him more honor when we go around saying, look what 286 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 4: the Lord has done. I sold my house when no 287 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 4: other houses were selling. My crops were protected when everybody 288 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 4: else's were freezing. I had my best year when people 289 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 4: were trying to tell me it's going to be my 290 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 4: slowest year. There's nothing that brings God any more honor 291 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 4: than we go around bragging on his goodness. And I 292 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 4: want you to get ready for God to show up 293 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 4: and show out in your life in a greater way. 294 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 4: God wants to do the extraordinary. He wants to make 295 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 4: you an example of his goodness. I remember how for 296 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 4: years my father tried to build a new sanctuary at 297 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 4: our other location, but he just couldn't get peace about it. 298 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 4: Every time he got excited and he thought about starting, 299 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 4: he would pull back, knowing that it wasn't the right time. 300 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 4: And in nineteen eighty six, the city of Houston was 301 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 4: in one of the greatest recessions it's ever seen. All 302 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 4: kinds of businesses were going bankrupt. People were really struggling. 303 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 4: My father had just gotten out of the hospital after 304 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 4: having open heart surgery just a few weeks before Christmas. 305 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 4: It looked like the worst time in the world to 306 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 4: start a new project, the worst time to try to 307 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 4: raise funds. My father wasn't even totally recovered, he was 308 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,719 Speaker 4: still weak from that surgery. But down in here he 309 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 4: believed it was the right time. He felt good about it. 310 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 4: He told how he even argued with God, said, God, 311 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 4: this doesn't make sense. People are struggling. It's close to Christmas. 312 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 4: They're spending money on their own families. How are we 313 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 4: ever going to raise these finances. God spoke back to him, 314 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 4: not out loud, but right down in here, and said, son, 315 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 4: I want you to start now, so people will know 316 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 4: it's me and not anybody else. They started the project 317 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 4: that year, and a little less than two years later 318 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 4: we dedicated Debt Free a brand new eight thousand seat sanctuary. 319 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 4: God prospered us even in the desert. Nobody could doubt 320 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 4: that had to be the hand of Almighty God. If 321 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 4: he did it for us back then, he can do 322 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 4: it for us today. But my father could have easily 323 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 4: got into that survival mode. Listen to the news reports. 324 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 4: We better pull back this in the right time. If 325 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,679 Speaker 4: he'd have done that, he would have missed out on 326 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 4: God's goodness. If you believe to barely get by, you're 327 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 4: gonna barely get by. If you believe to have a 328 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 4: tough year, you're gonna have a tough year. Your faith 329 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 4: is gonna draw that in. I want you to start 330 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 4: believing that you are blessed not that you're going to 331 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 4: be blessed, but that you are already blessed. Start believing 332 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 4: that God's favor is surrounding you in a greater way. 333 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,919 Speaker 4: When you say, Joel, I don't really feel blessed. I 334 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 4: don't feel like I have favor. I never get any 335 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 4: good breaks. This is what faith is all about. You've 336 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 4: got to believe it before you see it. You need 337 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 4: to start acting like you're blessed. Start talking like you're blessed, 338 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 4: Start thinking like you're blessed, Start dressing like you're blessed, 339 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 4: Start walking like you're blessed. Start being good to people 340 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 4: like your blessed. That's your faith at work. You're gonna 341 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 4: draw in the goodness in favor of God. And that's 342 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,400 Speaker 4: a whole lot better than going around thinking, oh man, 343 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,239 Speaker 4: I hope I make it. Beryl of oil went up 344 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 4: five dollars last night while I was sleep and how 345 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 4: could that be? Have you seen the price of groceries? 346 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 4: No quit talking about the problem. If you have a 347 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:36,440 Speaker 4: poor mouth, you're gonna have a poor life. Gas may 348 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 4: be high, but the good news is we're still connected 349 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 4: to the vine. Insurance may have gone up, but God 350 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 4: is still on the throne. Your dreams may require more 351 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 4: resources than you have right now, but God owns it all. 352 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 4: Let's stay in faith and make a decision. We're gonna thrive, 353 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 4: not just survive. I talked to this lady that lived 354 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 4: in another state. She's in the real estate business. She 355 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 4: told how the housing market there is really depressed and 356 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 4: her coworkers are really struggling. Everybody's worried. But she said, Joe, 357 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 4: it's the most unusual thing. My cells this year are 358 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 4: three times what they were last year, and it seemed 359 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 4: like every time I turn around, I sell another house. 360 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 4: I grabbed her hand and said, give me some of 361 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 4: that favor. That's what God said. He would prosper us 362 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 4: even in the desert. He would cause us to go over, 363 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 4: even when others are stuck in a rut. Too many 364 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 4: people have this survival mentality. Well, I survived another month. 365 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 4: Thank god, I survived another year. Now, that's good. But 366 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 4: surviving is not God's best. You need to switch over 367 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,959 Speaker 4: from a surviving mentality to a thriving mentality. It's a mindset. 368 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 4: I met this couple that had gone through Hurricane Katrina 369 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 4: not long ago. They had lost everything, their home, they'd 370 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 4: moved here to town and found some temper housing, and 371 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 4: I could tell they were still in this survival mode. 372 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 4: They weren't believing to get a nice new place to live, 373 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 4: They weren't believing to rise any higher. They were just 374 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 4: grateful that they had made it through another month. And 375 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 4: I knew I had to jump start their faith. And 376 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 4: her reminded them God has promised that he will pay 377 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 4: you back double for every unfair thing that's happened. God 378 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 4: said he will bring you out better off than you 379 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 4: were before. But you've got to shake off that survival mentality, 380 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 4: get in agreement with God. You may have been through disappointments, 381 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,479 Speaker 4: you may be in a tough time right now, but 382 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 4: you need to dig your heels in and say it's 383 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 4: payback time. I know my God is a god of restoration, 384 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,440 Speaker 4: and I believe it's my time for favor. I may 385 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 4: be in the desert right now, but I know God 386 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,679 Speaker 4: can cross for me even in the desert. All the 387 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 4: odds may be against me, but I know if God 388 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 4: be for me, who dare be against me? You got 389 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 4: to understand, as a child out of the Most High God, 390 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 4: as long as you were walking in His ways, then 391 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 4: you have the blessing of God on your life. That 392 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 4: means wherever you go, the blessing goes. You can be 393 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 4: out in the desert and God's going to cause you 394 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 4: to be blessed. You can be working at an office 395 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 4: with negative people, with people that complain, but when you 396 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 4: get there, the blessing gets there. Really, that company should 397 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 4: be glad to have you, because you bring the blessing, 398 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 4: you bring God's favor. This is what happened to Abraham. 399 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 4: He and his nephew Lot had moved with all of 400 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 4: their family and all their flocks and herds to a 401 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 4: new land. But they soon realized the land was not 402 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 4: able to support them both, and so Abraham, being the 403 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 4: bigger person, told Lot, you choose wherever you want to live, 404 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 4: and I'll go in a different direction. Well, Lot chose 405 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 4: the best part of the land, the land that had 406 00:22:55,760 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 4: the lush green pastures, beautiful ponds, rolling hills. It looked 407 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 4: like a postcard. All Abraham had left over was the desert. 408 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 4: It was rocks and sand, dry and desolate. I'm sure 409 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 4: at first Abraham was tempted to think, man if I 410 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 4: can just survive out here, God, how am I ever 411 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 4: gonna make it. There's not enough water, not enough supplies. 412 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 4: How is this ever gonna work out? No, Abraham understood 413 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 4: this principle. He knew as long as he was being 414 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 4: his best, as long as he was honoring God, then 415 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 4: wherever he went, the blessing of God went. He knew, 416 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 4: even if he was in the desert, even if there 417 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 4: were not enough supplies in the natural, God could still 418 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:44,120 Speaker 4: cost him not to just get by, not to just survive, 419 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 4: but to prosper and to have more than enough. It 420 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 4: wasn't long before that desert turned into an oasis. In fact, 421 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 4: his crops and his herds multiplied so much the scripture 422 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 4: says Abraham was the wealthiest man in all the East. 423 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 4: What's interesting is Lot wasn't walking in God's ways. He 424 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 4: didn't have God's favor, and his land began to dry up. 425 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:14,639 Speaker 4: Abraham eventually had to go rescue Lot. And that tells 426 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 4: me that when people do us wrong, when somebody cheat 427 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 4: you out of a promotion, somebody plays politics to get 428 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 4: the position you should have had, don't worry about it. 429 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 4: Where you are is where the blessing is. You can 430 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 4: be stranded on a deserted, remote island, and let me 431 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 4: tell you, you're going to be blessed because when you got there, 432 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 4: the blessing got there. And this is what happened to Joseph. 433 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 4: Everywhere they put him, he just kept rising to the top. 434 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 4: His brothers threw him into the pit, he rose up 435 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 4: out of the pit. He was sold into slavery to 436 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 4: a man named Potiphar. Potiphar put him in charge of 437 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 4: his whole household. He was falsely accused and put in prison. 438 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 4: The officials put him in charge of the whole prison. 439 00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:00,080 Speaker 4: He stood before Feroh and was able to interpret his dream. 440 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 4: Phairah put him in charge of the whole country. You 441 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 4: cannot keep a good person down. It's because when you 442 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 4: honor God with your life, when you're a person of 443 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 4: excellence and integrity, you have the blessing of God. And 444 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 4: wherever you go, just like cream, you go rise to 445 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 4: the top. You need to put your shoulders back, hold 446 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 4: your head up high, not in arrogance, but in confidence, 447 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 4: knowing that wherever you go you're taking something very special. 448 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 4: When you go to work next week, you go to 449 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 4: the grocery store, go to the ballpark, just remind yourself, 450 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 4: when I got here, the blessing God here, God wants 451 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 4: us to be so blessed that when other people see us, 452 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 4: they want what we have. Back in those days they 453 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 4: prayed to the God of Abraham. Their attitude was, Abraham 454 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 4: has so much favor. He's so kind, so generous, so peaceful, 455 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 4: so blessed. If we can just get to his God, 456 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 4: we know that everything will be all right. That's what 457 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 4: I want people to say about us. If we can 458 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 4: just get to the God of those people at Lakewood, 459 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,920 Speaker 4: if we can just get to the God of Jim, 460 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 4: the God of Susan, the God of Jeremy, Everything's going 461 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 4: to work out. Like Abraham. You may not be at 462 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 4: a perfect place today. You may not have a perfect marriage, 463 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 4: a perfect job, being a perfect neighborhood. But remember your 464 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 4: location doesn't determine the blessing. Other people don't determine your favor. 465 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 4: God does. The fact is when you got there, the 466 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 4: blessing got there. You may not always feel like it. 467 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 4: That's why it's so important that you continually remind yourself 468 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 4: that I am blessed. Goodness and mercy are following me 469 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 4: right now. God's favor is surrounding me like a shield. 470 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 4: He prospers me even in the desert. Some of you 471 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,479 Speaker 4: have been in this survival mode too long, but I 472 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 4: believe today can be a turning point. If you'll get 473 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,880 Speaker 4: in agreement with god'll just to glare it. Your days 474 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 4: of survival are over and your days of thriving have begun. 475 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 4: I want you to go out of here in faith, 476 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 4: knowing that God has great things in your future. You 477 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,159 Speaker 4: may have been through disappointments, you may be in a 478 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 4: tough time right now, but deep down, you've got to 479 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 4: know you were never created to survive. You were created 480 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 4: to thrive. Get up every morning and remind yourself. Wherever 481 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,239 Speaker 4: I go, the blessing of God goes. I'm blessed on 482 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 4: the freeways and I'm blessed on the side streets. I'm 483 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 4: blessed at home, and I'm blessed in my office. I'm 484 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 4: blessed in the city, and I'm blessed in the country. 485 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 4: I'm blessed in the projects and I'm blessed in the 486 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 4: nice neighborhoods. I'm even blessed in the desert, blessed in 487 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:48,719 Speaker 4: the hospital, blessed when people do me wrong. I just 488 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:51,680 Speaker 4: can't get away from the blessing of God. If you 489 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 4: have that kind of attitude. Nothing will hold you back. 490 00:27:56,320 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 4: God will amaze you with his goodness. To somebody last week, 491 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 4: I knew he was having tough times, and I asked 492 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 4: how it was going. I love the way he answered, 493 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,199 Speaker 4: He said, Joel, I'm too blessed to be stressed. I 494 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 4: like that. That's the way we need to be. I'm 495 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 4: too blessed to be worried. I'm too blessed to be negative. 496 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 4: I'm too blessed to be upset. I've seen God do 497 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 4: too many great things, says They're in Psalm chapter one, 498 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 4: verse three. If we'll keep God first, we'll be like 499 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 4: a tree planted by the waters, and our relief will 500 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 4: not wither. The message translation says, you will be a 501 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 4: person that is always in blossom. I believe that's who 502 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 4: I'm looking at today, People that are continually in blossom. 503 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 4: That means you're always happy, You've always got a good report, 504 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 4: You've got a smile even when you should be complaining. 505 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 4: You've got a song of praise, even when times are tough. 506 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 4: You are prospering even in the desert. Why is that? 507 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 4: Because deep down you know everywhere you go you have 508 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 4: the blessing of God. Why don't you make that decision 509 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,719 Speaker 4: with me today. You're gonna shake off a survival mentality. 510 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 4: You're not gonna pull back, hunker down, just try to 511 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 4: hold on. Un Let's dig our heels in and say 512 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 4: I am not going to just survive. This is my 513 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 4: year to thrive. If you'll do that, God's gonna prosper 514 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 4: you in the desert. He'll amaze you. He'll make you 515 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 4: an example of his goodness. Now, I believe every one 516 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 4: of us are gonna be able to look back and say, Wow, 517 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 4: God has done great things in my life. Amen. Do 518 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 4: you receive that today? Amen? I know you do. Thanks 519 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 4: so much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll 520 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 4: subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep 521 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 4: you encouraged and inspired all through the week. Help us 522 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 4: to continue to share the message of hope with those 523 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 4: all around the world. 524 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 2: Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 525 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 2: description to partner with us today. 526 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 4: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 527 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 4: be sure to follow us on social med We're praying 528 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 4: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 529 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 4: see you next time. 530 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 2: Did you know you can be happier enjoying watermelon. Eighty 531 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 2: two percent of consumers agree eating watermelon boost their mood. 532 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 2: Savor A slice pool side tossen to a salad blends 533 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 2: into a chilled sommer smoothie, whether you eat the fruit 534 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 2: or drink the juice, anyway you slice it. Eating watermelon 535 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 2: one hundred percent makes you feel happy. Just look at 536 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 2: the rind. 537 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 4: It leaves a smile behind. 538 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 2: Be happy and check out the Slice of Happy project 539 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 2: at watermelon dot org. 540 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,959 Speaker 5: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 541 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 5: for everyone. 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