1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 2: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 2: God bless you to joy to come into your homes. 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 2: We've come with good news knowing that God rewards people 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 2: that seek after Him. And I know God has a 9 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 2: good plan and a purpose for your life. And we 10 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 2: believe you're going to be encouraged today. And we just 11 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: love you and pray for you every single day. If 12 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by 13 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 2: and see us. We give you a personal invitation, but 14 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,319 Speaker 2: we'll make you feel right at home. Thanks so much 15 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 2: for tuning in today. I'd like to get started with 16 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: something funny each week. And this was sent to me 17 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 2: by a ninety four year old woman that watches us 18 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: every week. And see what you think. And eighty five 19 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: year old widow went on a blind date with a 20 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: ninety year old man. When she returned to her daughter's 21 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: house later that evening, she seemed upset that oughter to 22 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 2: ask mom what's wrong? She said, I had to slap 23 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: him in the face three times. She said, you mean 24 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: he tried to get fresh. She said, no, I thought 25 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: he was dead. All right, hold up your bibles and 26 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 2: say it like you mean it. Ready, this is my Bible. 27 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 2: I am what it says I am. I have what 28 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,279 Speaker 2: it says I have. I can do what it says 29 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 2: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 30 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 31 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,119 Speaker 2: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 32 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 33 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: about the importance of spending quiet time alone each day 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 2: and learning to let your mind totally relax. We live 35 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 2: in a very noisy society. We've got cell phones always ringing. 36 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: We drive to work into traffic with the news constantly on. 37 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: You get home and the TV's blaring and doorbells ringing. 38 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 2: Sometimes you've got kids that are screaming. One of the 39 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: biggest stress inducers there is is simply noise. And when 40 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 2: we're constantly being bombarded by all this clutter, it's. 41 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: So easy to get out of balance. 42 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 2: We have to learn to get quiet and David said 43 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 2: in Psalm twenty three, The Lord is my shepherd, he 44 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: leads me beside the still waters. Well, let me ask you, 45 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: how long has it been since you've been beside those 46 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 2: still waters where you got quiet, where your mind wasn't 47 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 2: racing thinking about your problems, thinking. 48 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: About what you need to do. 49 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: See, we can let our bodies rest, but we've got 50 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: to learn to let our minds rest. And every day 51 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 2: we should have a period of quiet time where we 52 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: get alone and do nothing more but get quiet and 53 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: enjoy the silence. Not get away and pray, Not get 54 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: away and tell God all your problems. Not get away 55 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: and think about what you need to do. Now just 56 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: the time to get alone and let our minds totally unwind. 57 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: Jesus said in the Book of Matthew, come to me 58 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 2: all you that are weary, and I will refresh and 59 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: restore your souls. Well, our soul is our mind, our 60 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: soul is our emotions. And God is saying, if you'll 61 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 2: just come to me on a regular basis and get 62 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 2: quiet and tap into my peace, then I'll refresh you 63 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: and restore you. 64 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: It's one thing to rest physically. 65 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: I know people that take vacations, but they never rest 66 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 2: their minds. They're always worried, always uptight about something. And 67 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: if you're not careful, you can do that so long 68 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: that you don't ever really unwind. You can get to 69 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,119 Speaker 2: the point where you don't even know how to relax. 70 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: That will start to affect you physically. You can't sleep 71 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: well at night, you've got digestive problems, you're uptight down 72 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: in here, and it's all because you're never getting back 73 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: to that place of peace. And that's not the way 74 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: our bodies were meant to function. And if we're going 75 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 2: to stay healthy, then we've got to take time every 76 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: day to get alan to the quietest place we can 77 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: find and just totally put our minds in neutral and relax. 78 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: You've got to get beside the still waters. 79 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: Peace rebuilds your energies being quiet and calm and still 80 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: helps to restore what the world has pulled out of you. 81 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 2: A lot of times we think of relaxing as unwinding, 82 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: but really, when we get quiet, we get back to that. 83 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: Place of peace. 84 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: A better way to describe it is it's balancing us. 85 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 2: And most of the experts say that we need at 86 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 2: least fifteen minutes of quiet time for every twenty four 87 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: hour period. And I don't know of one person that's 88 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 2: really happy and really peaceful that doesn't have some type 89 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 2: of quiet time on a regular basis. And you may 90 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: want to do it in the morning when you first 91 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 2: get up. Just start the day off in peace. Don't 92 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: make the mistake of rushing around, being laid getting upset, 93 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: and all of a sudden at the very beginning of 94 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:53,799 Speaker 2: the day, you're on edge. 95 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: Now get into that place of peace. 96 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 2: Get up and maybe read your Bible and pray, and 97 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: then just take a few minutes to enjoy the silence. 98 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 2: Just close your eyes, or maybe you want to watch 99 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: the sun come up. Maybe you want to just enjoy 100 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: the trees, enjoy God's creation, but don't think about anything. 101 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: Just have a time of peace. 102 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: And this is something that so many of us have 103 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: forgotten how to do. I know my personality is to 104 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 2: always be on the go. I'm very driven. I'm always 105 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: thinking about the next thing that I should be doing. Now. 106 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 2: I used to think, man, taking time to get quiet, 107 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 2: taking time to be alone, let my mind unwine, that's boring. 108 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: That's a waste of time. I don't want to do that. 109 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: But now I've realized that's not a waste of time. 110 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: That's a part of being balanced. That's a part of 111 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 2: staying whole mentally and emotionally. And the scripture says here 112 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: in Psalm forty six, verse ten, be still and know 113 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: that I am God. You need to get still every 114 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 2: single day if you're going to expect God to refresh 115 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 2: you and re energize you. This is not something that's 116 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 2: just nice to do if you don't have anything else 117 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 2: going on. Know when you get quiet, when you let 118 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: your mind totally relax, that should be a priority in 119 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: your life. 120 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: That's what keeps us in balance. 121 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 2: And some of you are real good at giving out 122 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: to everybody else. You're always on the go, taking care 123 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: of your children, doing things for others. 124 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: You've got a heart of gold. But listen, you've got 125 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: to learn to take care of yourself. 126 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: Your spiritual and emotional well being should be your number 127 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 2: one priority. Should be way up there on your list. 128 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: And understand, nobody else can take care of yourself for you, 129 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 2: and you're doing your family a disservice. 130 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: If you're always. 131 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 2: Emotionally and mentally worn out, you need to take time 132 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 2: for yourself. Get alone every day, get quiet, put your 133 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 2: mind in neutral, let God's peace restore you and re 134 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: energize you. I know this man that's a CEO of 135 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: a very large corporation. He's got an extremely busy schedule. 136 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: People are always vying for his attention. But every day, 137 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: one in the morning and once in the afternoon, he 138 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: goes into his office, closes the door, turns off his 139 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: cell phone. You ask his secretary not to interrupt him, 140 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 2: and he takes what he calls a ten minute peace 141 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: break where he just closes his eyes, puts his mind 142 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: in neutral, and totally unwinds, and he says that's what 143 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: helps him to stay balanced. Well, he's tapping into that peace, 144 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: He's tapping into that inner silence. 145 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: That's where God refreshes us. 146 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: And do you know you can take a ten minute 147 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 2: vacation in your mind, even in the middle of a 148 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: busy day, if you can just get quiet and picture 149 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: yourself sitting by an ocean, picture yourself watching the sun 150 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: go down, and soak up God's peace. Don't go through 151 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: the day all upset and on edge and irritable. Learn 152 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 2: to get yourself back into balance. It's interesting back in 153 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: the old days, when people got sick, they'd send him 154 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 2: to a sanatorium to recover, and that was a place 155 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 2: where they could totally relax and totally unwind. 156 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: They found when they did. 157 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: This that their immune systems would get much stronger. And 158 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 2: there's no telling how much sickness and disease we could 159 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: avoid if we just learned to stay balanced, if we 160 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 2: just take a little quiet. 161 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: Time every single day. 162 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: I was reading about how our muscles have two states, 163 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: a stress. 164 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: State and a relaxed state. 165 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: When they're in that stress state, the blood vessels constrict 166 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: and this increases our blood pressure. But when we're relaxed, 167 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 2: that muscle tissue lengthens out and the blood vessels open up, 168 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: and of course that will reduce our blood pressure. I 169 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 2: remember the first time I ever had a massage. This 170 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 2: was years and years ago. The messuse. He kept telling 171 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: me again and again to relax. He just relax, and 172 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 2: I thought to myself, I am relaxed. 173 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: He told me afterwards, in. 174 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 2: His fifteen years of doing that he had never felt anyone. 175 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,439 Speaker 1: As uptight as I was. He didn't mean that as 176 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: a compliment. 177 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 2: Not tight like working out, but that was tight from 178 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 2: being stressed out. But as I said, my personality type 179 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: didn't know how to relax. I had trained myself to 180 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 2: always be on the go, and I had to make 181 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 2: some adjustments in my life. 182 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: Now I take time every day. 183 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 2: To get quiet, to meditate, to just totally wind down 184 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 2: physically as well as emotionally. And I learned to get 185 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: some of the clutter out of my life. I had 186 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 2: to turn off the radio in the car sometimes, I 187 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 2: learned to turn my TV off and not to always. 188 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: Have to have something to do. 189 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 2: Sometimes it's good to just allow ourselves to be bored. 190 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: Don't get to that point where you always have to 191 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 2: have something entertaining you, where every spare moment of the 192 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 2: day you run turn the TV on or you run 193 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 2: go do that chore. Now, that's a habit that you've developed, 194 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: and it's going to end up keeping you out of balance. 195 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 2: You've got to understand it's good to have times where 196 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 2: you just do nothing. It's healthy to have times where 197 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 2: you just have a two hour period to just totally. 198 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 1: Let your mind relax. 199 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: Don't put anything into it, don't go read a book, 200 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 2: don't go call your friend, just put it in neutral. Hey, 201 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: you say, Jeel, I really need to clean my garage 202 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: or I really need to go run these errands. I 203 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 2: know there will always be things to do. You have 204 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 2: to make it a priority to take time every day 205 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 2: to relax, and not just physically. I'm talking more today 206 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 2: about emotionally and mentally. 207 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: A friend of mine. 208 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 2: Told me how one day the power went off in 209 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 2: her home, and this lady is very high strung, and 210 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 2: she got so up tight and so on edge. 211 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: Just waiting for it to come back. 212 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: After about fifteen minutes, she finally thought to herself, well, 213 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 2: I can't just sit here. 214 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:33,719 Speaker 1: There's nothing to do. 215 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 2: I can't make any calls, I can't watch TV, I 216 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: can't walk on my computer. 217 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: And she just couldn't stand that. 218 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 2: So she decided that she'd get in a car and 219 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 2: drive across town to a relatives where they still had power. 220 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 2: But she got in the garage and she soon found 221 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 2: out that the garage door wouldn't go up. She said 222 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: she finally got the message. She said, Okay, God, I'm 223 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: gonna go back and I'm gonna make myself get quiet. 224 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 2: I'm gonna make myself just relax and see. We can 225 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 2: get to the point where we're so addicted to having 226 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 2: something to do. Our mind is always thinking, we're always planning, 227 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 2: that next thing that we've totally forgotten how to relax. 228 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 2: Sometimes we wonder why we're uptight, why we can't. 229 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 1: Sleep at night. 230 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 2: No, we need to have regular periods of downtime. Really, 231 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 2: we need to retrain ourselves to get quiet more often, 232 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 2: to have less clutter in our lives. 233 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: It's when we're really at peace, when our. 234 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 2: Mind is really relaxed, that's when God refreshes us and 235 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 2: restores us. And some of you, you know, you haven't 236 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 2: been this way in years and years. From the time 237 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: you get up in the morning to the time you 238 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 2: go to bed at night, your mind is constantly working. 239 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: You're always worried about that. 240 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 2: Child, or uptight about your finances, or maybe you've got 241 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 2: a whole lot of stress at work. But no, you've 242 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: got to make some adjustments. The more the world pulls 243 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: out of you, the more you need to get back 244 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 2: to your place of peace. The more time you need 245 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: to spend in silence, in God's presence. It's in that 246 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 2: stills that God renews you and gives you the strength 247 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 2: that you really need. I heard somebody say every night 248 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 2: before we go to bed, we should totally. 249 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: Empty out our mind. 250 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 2: We should let go of all of our worries, all 251 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 2: of our disappointments, what we didn't do right, the things 252 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 2: we have to do the next day. 253 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: We need to totally unload that and. 254 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: Go to bed with our mind at ease, at rest, 255 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,199 Speaker 2: at peace, knowing that God is in control. And it's 256 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 2: so important what we put into our minds right before 257 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 2: we go to bed. Don't lie there in your bed 258 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 2: and watch the news and let that fill your mind 259 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 2: and think about all the killings and all the accidents 260 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: and all the turmoil in the world. How can we 261 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: expect to sleep well after that? In fact, studies tell 262 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 2: us the last things we watch or the last thing 263 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 2: we think about before we go to sleep subconsciously, that 264 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 2: goes down into us, and many times we dream about it. 265 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 2: It affects our sleep and we wonder why we toss 266 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 2: and turn we can't sleep well. 267 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,319 Speaker 1: Could be because what we're putting into our minds. 268 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 2: We're worried about the project at work, we're upset with 269 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 2: that child. Well, let me encourage you go to bed 270 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 2: each night meditating on the goodness of God. Before you 271 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 2: go to sleep, just close your eyes and say Father, 272 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 2: thank you for another good day, thank you that I 273 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 2: can lie down in peace, thank you that you have 274 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 2: good things in store for me. See end the day 275 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 2: thanking God for his goodness, and take it one step further. 276 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 2: Start the day thanking God for his goodness. When you 277 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 2: get out of bed in the morning, first thing you 278 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 2: should say, Father, thank you for another good day. I'm 279 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 2: excited about today. I know You've got good things in store. 280 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 2: But start it in peace and end it in peace, 281 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 2: and every day at least once. Maybe you want to 282 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,319 Speaker 2: do it more often, but learn to empty out your 283 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 2: mind all your worries, all your concerns, all your frustrations. 284 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 2: Totally unload that and let God fill you with his peace. 285 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 2: And it's so important that we get the clutter out 286 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 2: of our lives. Why don't you learn to turn some 287 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 2: things off. Some of you drive to work every day 288 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 2: with the news going on into your mind ninety to nothing. 289 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: You know every accident and every killing and every score 290 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 2: and all this information. Now, why don't you try turning 291 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 2: that off for a little while and just enjoy the silence, 292 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: give your mind to rest. Or maybe you want to 293 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: meditate on a scripture. Maybe you want to just enjoy 294 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 2: the beauty of God's creation. But it would do us 295 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 2: all good to see how much of the clutter we 296 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 2: could eliminate. 297 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: From our lives. 298 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 2: And don't get me wrong, I love to watch the news, 299 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: but that is not healthy to have that stuff going 300 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 2: into you twenty four hours a day. And I'm asking 301 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 2: you today to take inventory of what you're allowing into 302 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 2: your mind. How much peace do you have, how much 303 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 2: quiet time do you spend each day, and what kind 304 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 2: of adjustments could you make in order to get some 305 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 2: of the clutter out of your life. Remember, it's when 306 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 2: we're really at peace that God refreshes us and re 307 00:14:58,440 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 2: energizes us. 308 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: And I believe that we should even have a physical. 309 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 2: Spot that we could call our place of peace. That's 310 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: where we go unwind and let God renew us. I 311 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 2: know at my house, back in our bedroom, we've got 312 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 2: this big green lazy boy chair. It's very comfortable, it's 313 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 2: very quiet back there, and every day that's where I 314 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 2: go to spend a few minutes to just totally unwind. 315 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 2: Sometimes I'll just lie back and meditate for ten minutes. 316 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 2: Sometimes I'll just look out the window and stare at 317 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 2: the trees and enjoy God's creation. Are the times I'll 318 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 2: just sit there and breathe real deep and think about 319 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 2: the goodness of God in my life. 320 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: But that's my place of peace now. I have an 321 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: appointment with it. Every single day. I find some time 322 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: that I can go unwind. 323 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: That's the time I let go of my worries, I 324 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 2: let go of my frustrations. 325 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: I don't think about what I have to do tomorrow. 326 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: I don't think about the future. 327 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: I just get still and learn to enjoy that silence. 328 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 2: And do you know, I can feel myself being renewed. 329 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: I can feel myself being afresh. Being still has a 330 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: calming effect. You can be all up tight and frazzle. 331 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 2: There have been days I've come home where it's been 332 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: so busy, so hectic, so stressful. But I know if 333 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 2: I can just get back to my place of peace 334 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 2: and spend ten or fifteen minutes there, I can feel 335 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 2: my whole attitude start to change. Well, what's happening really 336 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 2: is I'm just getting myself back into balance. And when 337 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 2: you go all day with people pulling on you at 338 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 2: work at home, you're dealing with a whole lot of 339 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 2: stressful situations, you too need to learn to get back 340 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 2: into your place of peace. 341 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: You don't have to be there long. 342 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 2: Sometimes, if you're there ten minutes to just totally unwind 343 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 2: and totally put your mind in neutral, you'll come out 344 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 2: of their feeling like a different person. The problem with 345 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 2: many of you today is that you're not spending any 346 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 2: quiet time to speak of. The only time that you 347 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 2: would consider yourself getting quiet is when you pray. But 348 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 2: the mistake most people make is when they pray, they 349 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 2: do all the talk. They talk to God like a 350 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 2: machine gun, giving him all their orders. God, you got 351 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 2: to help me do this. God, change my husband, God 352 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 2: fix my boss. 353 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: God. I need that promotion. God, I need wisdom. God 354 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: show me what to do. God, Why don't you ever 355 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: talk to me? No, you know as well as I do. 356 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 2: God can't get a word in edge wise, Why don't 357 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 2: you quit doing all the talking and start doing more 358 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 2: of the listening. Get quiet before God, be still and 359 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 2: know that he is your God. You got to come 360 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 2: back to that place of peace. God speaks to us 361 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 2: in a still small voice. If you're ever gonna hear 362 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 2: it his voice, you too are gonna have to get still. 363 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: And some of you. 364 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 2: The only reason you're not making good decisions, the only 365 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,479 Speaker 2: reason you don't have clear direction is because you're not 366 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 2: taking time to listen and understand. 367 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 1: God already knows our. 368 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 2: Needs before we ask, and even if he didn't, I'm 369 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: sure that we've told him so many times it's ingrained 370 00:17:55,960 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 2: in his memory. And if you normally spend ten, twelve 371 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 2: to fifteen minutes praying each day, why don't you take 372 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 2: part of that time and just get quiet and listen 373 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 2: to what God is saying to you. You may not 374 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 2: hear something every single time, but at least you'll get 375 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 2: back to that place of peace where God can restore 376 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 2: you and refresh you. I know some of my best 377 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 2: sermon ideas have come in the middle of the night. 378 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 2: I wake up and it's quiet, my mind is at rest, 379 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 2: it's totally peaceful, and all of a sudden the ideas 380 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 2: start coming. I'll probably get up two or three times 381 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 2: a week during the middle of the night and make 382 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 2: some notes. Well, I'm sure God would speak to me 383 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 2: during the daytime, but the problem is most of the 384 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 2: time we're too. 385 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: Busy, our lives are too cluttered. Now I've found the 386 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: more quiet time I can spend and the more peace 387 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: I can stay. 388 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 2: In, the easier it is for me to hear from God. 389 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 2: The clearer direction I have, the better ideas I get. 390 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 2: And you need to make sure that you have your 391 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 2: own place of peace. Make an appointment with it every 392 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 2: single day. Just go there to totally relax. Don't think 393 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 2: about anything, just put your mind in neutral. I've learned 394 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 2: to just breathe, real deep breaths and totally relax, not 395 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 2: shallow breaths. Breathe from way down in here. That naturally 396 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 2: relaxes you. And I know at first you may think, 397 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 2: like I did, all that's boring, that's a waste of time. 398 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 2: But if you'll just make yourself do it and get 399 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: into that place of peace, it'll be something that you 400 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 2: can't live without. Another great way to relax is to 401 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 2: get still and to meditate. I'm not talking about meditating 402 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 2: on your problems. I'm talking about meditating on God's word. 403 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 2: And you know, sometimes when we think about meditation and think, oh, Joel, 404 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 2: that's far out, that's not for me. You know, we 405 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 2: think of the Tibetan monks sitting up there on the 406 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: hills with their legs crossed. But meditation is all through 407 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 2: the Bible. It's very healthy. The Bible talks about how 408 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 2: we should meditate on God's word how we should keep our. 409 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: Minds stayed on Him. 410 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 2: And to meditate simply means to ponder the same thing 411 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 2: over and over again in your mind. Really, meditate is 412 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: the same principle as worrying. But when you worry, you 413 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 2: are meditating on the enemy's thoughts. You're thinking them again 414 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 2: and again. Now, the next time you drive to work, 415 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 2: instead of letting the news fill your mind, why don't 416 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 2: you pick out a few scriptures and begin to meditate 417 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 2: on them. 418 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: Things like I can do all things through Christ. 419 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 2: I am more than a conquer I am blessed, and 420 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 2: I cannot be cursed. Everything I touch prospers and succeeds. 421 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 2: See empty your mind of all that worry and just 422 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 2: begin to meditate on what God says about you. 423 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: And let me encourage as well. To create an atmosphere 424 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 1: of peace in your home. 425 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: Some of you don't even really realize it, but things 426 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 2: are always so cluttered at your house. The phone is 427 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 2: always ringing off the wall, the TV is always blaring. 428 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 2: You sit down to eat dinner with your family, and 429 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 2: the dishwasher sounds like a jackhammer. No, learn to create 430 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 2: an environment of peace. Your atmosphere has a tremendous effect 431 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 2: upon you and on your family. Now, I know sometimes 432 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 2: at our homes, I gotta put my foot down. Say 433 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 2: you know what, it's too noisy around here. We're gonna 434 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 2: have some peace. We're gonna turn off the TV. Let's 435 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 2: turn off the cell phone. We're not gonna go running 436 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 2: through the house. I don't want anybody banging on the piano. 437 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 2: We're gonna have some times of quiet. And if you're 438 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,239 Speaker 2: gonna have a healthy home, and more importantly, if you're 439 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 2: gonna keep your own sanity, you're gonna have to do 440 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: like I do sometime and just put your foot down 441 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 2: and get more peace in your home. 442 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: And don't get me wrong, I love activity. I love 443 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: to have fun. 444 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 2: Sometimes after a Sunday service, we'll have a dozen kids 445 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 2: over at our house, running, playing, having a good time. 446 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 1: And that's all great until about seven o'clock. Then it's 447 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: time to have peace. 448 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,159 Speaker 2: Our son, Jonathan, he loves to play his new electric guitar. 449 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 2: He only knows one way to play it, and that's loud. 450 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: It's not enough that our whole household can hear it. 451 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 2: He wants to make sure people across the country can 452 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:02,159 Speaker 2: hear it. But be aware of what kind of atmosphere 453 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 2: is in your home. As I said, sometimes we wonder 454 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 2: why we're up tight, why we're on edge, but it's 455 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 2: because there's too much chaos, the phones ringing, the doorbell 456 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 2: and just the TV's blaring. Know, the overall atmosphere in 457 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 2: your home should be very peaceful. 458 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 1: Make the adjustments. And another thing, learn not to bring 459 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: stress into your home. 460 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 2: By that, I mean what happens at the office you 461 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 2: need to leave at the office. You may have had 462 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 2: a real tough day and you're on edge and people 463 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 2: didn't treat you right, but don't make the mistake of 464 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 2: bringing that junk home. Some people take all their worries 465 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 2: and all their frustrations and they just dump them on 466 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 2: their family members. Now leave that at the office. Keep 467 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 2: peace in your home. I heard about this man that 468 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 2: had a very stressful job, and he would come home 469 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 2: every night so up tight and so on edge that 470 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 2: his family didn't even want to be around him. And 471 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 2: finally he realized what was happening, and he decided to 472 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 2: make some changes. And on his way home, about ten 473 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,399 Speaker 2: minutes from his house, there was this park, and so 474 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 2: instead of coming straight home and dumping all that turmoil 475 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 2: on his family. He would pull into the park and 476 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 2: just take five or ten minutes to totally unwind. That 477 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 2: was where he emptied his mind of all of his worries, 478 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 2: all of his frustrations, all of his disappointments. That was 479 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 2: his place of peace. He had so much pulled out 480 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 2: of him during the day. He went there to get 481 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 2: back in balance, to get quiet, to get peaceful. And 482 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 2: his wife said, it's a totally different atmosphere at our 483 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 2: home now. 484 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: It's fun, it's loving. We're happier than we've ever been. 485 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 2: See, don't make the mistake of bringing that stress with you. 486 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: Doesn't just affect you, it affects your family. And I 487 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: know some of you have very stressful jobs. 488 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 2: You work hard, and then you drive in the traffic 489 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:48,400 Speaker 2: home thirty minutes, forty five minutes fighting the traffic. 490 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: But you've always got. 491 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 2: The news going on. You're so bombarded, so cluttered. Let 492 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 2: me encourage you. On your way home, that's the time 493 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 2: you need to begin to unwind. Why don't you turn 494 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 2: the news off, turn the rady down, drive slower, breathe deeper, 495 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 2: and begin to relax your mind. You got to get 496 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 2: back to that place of peace, get back in balance. 497 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 2: If you have to pull into a park like that, man, 498 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 2: take a couple of minutes to totally unwind. But don't 499 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 2: make the mistake of bringing that stuff home with you. 500 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 2: It's not fair to your children, and it's not fair 501 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 2: to your spouse and parents. I've learned, the more peaceful 502 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 2: we are, the more peaceful our kids are. 503 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 1: Going to be. We set the tone for our homes. 504 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 2: I know one time it had been very noisy at 505 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: our house and I could feel myself getting on edge, 506 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 2: and I thought, well, I'm gonna go back to my 507 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 2: green chair and get quiet and just have a little 508 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 2: while to relax. But just as I started going back there, 509 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 2: the doorbell rang and some friends came over and their 510 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 2: daughter was selling something, and so I went and got 511 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 2: my check. 512 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: Book and I bought that. We visited a little while. 513 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 2: Then Jonathan needed some help with his homework, and then 514 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,239 Speaker 2: something else came up I had to deal with, and 515 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 2: it seemed like on and on and on. Well, finally 516 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 2: I got back to my green chair and I sat down. 517 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 2: I was ready to have some peace, but I wasn't 518 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 2: there thirty seconds until I heard this real loud, fast 519 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 2: knocking on the house. It was so annoying. I thought, 520 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 2: what in the world is this? And so I went 521 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 2: outside and do you know, right above our bedroom window 522 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 2: there was a woodpecker and he was just pecking away 523 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 2: right there while I was trying to get some rest. 524 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 2: And I thought, man, when it rains, it pours. I said, God, 525 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 2: I really love your creation, but this little woodpecker is about. 526 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: To come on home to see you. 527 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 2: I didn't hurt him, but with a few rocks I 528 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:41,399 Speaker 2: helped him to change his location. But my point is 529 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,239 Speaker 2: the enemy will do everything he can to keep you 530 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 2: from having peace. He doesn't want you to get quiet, 531 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 2: He doesn't want you to be refreshed and restored. 532 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: He doesn't want us to enjoy our lives. 533 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 2: If you're gonna have peace, you're gonna have to put 534 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,360 Speaker 2: your foot down, be determined, and have it on purpose. 535 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 2: And some of you know you haven't been by those 536 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 2: steel waters in the long law time. You hardly take 537 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,640 Speaker 2: any time alone. It do you good if you had 538 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 2: to to even hire a babysitter just to get you 539 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 2: some quiet time, says. 540 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: In Isaiah thirty fifteen. 541 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 2: In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. That simply 542 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,479 Speaker 2: means when we get quiet, when we get in peace, 543 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 2: that's when we're going to have the strength we. 544 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: Need to fight the good fight of faith. 545 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,160 Speaker 2: So let me challenge you again, take time every day 546 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 2: to get quiet in the stillness God renews you. The 547 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 2: more the world pulls out of you, the more time 548 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 2: you need to spend in God's presence and learn to 549 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,399 Speaker 2: get rid of the clutter. Turn off things that you 550 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 2: don't need, and every day make sure at least once 551 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 2: you empty out your mind of all your worries and concerns. 552 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 2: If you do that, God promises to fill you with 553 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 2: this peace. He'll refresh you, re energize you, rebuild you. 554 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 2: You'll experience the victories that He has in store. 555 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: Amen, how many of you receive it today? Call? I 556 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: know you do. 557 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 558 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 2: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 559 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll 560 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 2: repent of my sins. 561 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 1: Come into my heart. I'll make you my lord and savior. 562 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 2: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 563 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 2: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church, 564 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:20,359 Speaker 2: Keep God first place. 565 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:22,879 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places you've never dreamed of. 566 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 567 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 2: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 568 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 2: keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. Help 569 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 2: us to continue to share the message of hope with 570 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 2: those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com or 571 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 2: click the link in the description to partner with us today. 572 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 573 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 1: be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 574 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 575 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:51,360 Speaker 1: see you next time.