1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jorlan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: God bless you. It is always a joy to come 6 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: into your homes, and we come with good news. I 7 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: know that God is on your side. He rewards people 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: that seek after Him and you wouldn't be watching today 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: if you weren't doing just that, so we know God 10 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: has great things in store. I've been saving since the 11 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: first of this year. Two thousand and six is going 12 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: to be your best year so far, so you be 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: believing that as well. If you're ever in our area, 14 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: come out and see us. We give you a personal invitation. 15 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you, and thanks for tuning in 16 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: to day. I like to get started each week with 17 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: something funny. I heard about this man that was very 18 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: stingy with his money. Just before he died, he made 19 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: his wife promise that she would have him buried with 20 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: the twenty thousand dollars he had saved. She reluctantly agreed, 21 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: and eventually he died. At the funeral, just before they 22 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: closed the casket, she slipped in this envelope. Her friends 23 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: stood there in disbelief. She said, surely you didn't just 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: put the money in there. The lady said, of course 25 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: I did. I'm a Christian. I promised him I would 26 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: do that. I can't lie. She said, you mean you 27 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: just buried twenty thousand dollars. The lady said, I sure did. 28 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: I wrote a check. All right, hold off your Bible. 29 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 30 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what 31 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 32 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 33 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 34 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 35 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 36 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: about taking a stand for your family. I believe one 37 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: of the greatest attacks that we're facing in this twenty 38 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: first century is not a terrorist attack or a financial attack, 39 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: but it's an attack on our homes. There's nothing the 40 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: enemy would love to ruin anymore than your relationship with 41 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: your husband or wife, or your relationship with your children, 42 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: your sons and daughters. And I see too many homes 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 1: being destroyed through strife, through lack of commitment, through wrong priorities, 44 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: through bad attitudes. And if we're going to have strong, 45 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 1: healthy families, we've got to dig our heels in and 46 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: fight for our families. And in the Old Testament, here 47 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 1: Niemiah was rebuilding the walls of his city. They were down, 48 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: and now the enemy was coming against them, against their homes, 49 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: their wives, their children. And his men had a hammer 50 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: in one hand working on the walls, and a sword 51 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: in the other hand, and he said to them in 52 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: Niamiah four verse fourteen, men, fight for your sons, fight 53 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: for your daughters, fight for your wives, fight for your families. 54 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: He went on to say, if you will fight, then 55 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: God will fight. And I believe God saying the same 56 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: thing to each one of us today. If we will 57 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,559 Speaker 1: do our part and take a strong stand for our families, 58 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: then God will do his part and help us to 59 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: have great marriages and great relationships with our children. And 60 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: in our marriages. There are two things we need to 61 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: settle first and foremost. Number one, we as a couple 62 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: are committed to God. We're going to live a life 63 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: that honors him. We're gonna come to church, We're gonna 64 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: read our Bible. We're gonna be people of excellence and integrity. 65 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: The second thing is we as a couple are committed 66 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: to each other. We may disagree, we may say things 67 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: we shouldn't, we may pou we may throw some fits, 68 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: but when it's all said and done, we're gonna get 69 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: over it. We're gonna forgive and move on. In other words, 70 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: leaving is not an option. We're committed through the good 71 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: times and the tough times. We're committed through thick and 72 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: in lid. Then see if bailing out of that relationship 73 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: is an alternative, then you will always find some reason 74 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: to justify it. And Joe, we just can't get a 75 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: long man. We're not compatible. We tried and tried. No, 76 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: the truth is, no two people are really compatible. We 77 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: have to learn to become one. That means we have 78 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 1: to make sacrifices, we have to overlook things, we have 79 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: to be willing to compromise. Most of the time, when 80 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: somebody tells you that they're not compatible, what they're really 81 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: saying is I'm just too selfish, I'm not willing to change, 82 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: and I see too many people today getting married with 83 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: the attitude I'm gonna try this out and see if 84 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: it works. We'll go a couple of years and if not, 85 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: no big deal, I'll find somebody else. No, you'd be 86 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: much better off to stick with that person and make 87 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: that marriage work then to go try to make another 88 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: marriage work, and it'll always look like the grass is 89 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: greener on the other side. But don't ever forget. It 90 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: still has to be mode. You have to put something 91 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: into that relationship. There is no such thing, no such 92 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: thing as the perfect spouse. I know Victoria's been up 93 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: here before and said, oh, Joe, he's the perfect husband. 94 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: Don't believe that for a minute. She is calling that 95 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: by faith. I know I'm good looking, but I'm not perfect. 96 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: Stick with that man, Stick with that woman, Stay committed. 97 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: I heard somebody ask Billy Graham's wife if she ever 98 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: contemplated divorce. She said, divorce no, but murder yes. One 99 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: lady said, my husband and I got married for better 100 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 1: or for worse. He couldn't do any better, and I 101 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: sure couldn't do any worse. But sometimes we let the smallest, 102 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: most insignificant things build up and cause us to grow apart. 103 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: We've got to learn to let these things go. Don't 104 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: keep a running record of all of your mate's faults, 105 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: everything they've done wrong. You get into a disc agreement, well, 106 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: I remember back in nineteen forty three you did the 107 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: same thing. Get rid of your list. Quit going back 108 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: to the past. You will never have a healthy relationship 109 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: as long as you keep bringing up a bunch of 110 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: negative history. Let it go and start each day afresh 111 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: and anew. And when you do have disagreements, learn to 112 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: disagree from the neck up. Don't let it get down 113 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: in here. Victoria and I don't always see eye to eye, 114 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: but we've learned how to agree to disagree. When you 115 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 1: present your case, don't try to make that other person 116 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: change their mind. Give them the right to have their 117 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: own opinion. If you're not going to be happy unless 118 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: they agree with you, then really what you're doing is 119 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: trying to manipulate them. You're trying to force your opinion 120 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: down their throat. Now, a better approach is to present 121 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: your case, share your heart, and then step back and 122 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: allow God to work on that person. But as long 123 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: as we're argumentative and we're trying to force our opinions 124 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: there's going to be strife. Their strife, there's confusion. There's 125 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 1: nothing worse than living in a home that's tense. Everybody's 126 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: on edge. You feel like in any moment something could explode. 127 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: Or you don't have to live that way. Do your 128 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: best to create an atmosphere of peace and unity in 129 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: your home. And when you're tempted to say things that 130 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: you know you shouldn't, maybe you're tempted to pop off 131 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: and say hurtful, critical things. The next time you have 132 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: that opportunity, do yourself a favor. Take a deep breath, 133 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: pause about ten seconds, and think about what you're going 134 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: to say. Do you know those words can cut like 135 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: a knife. It may only take you fifteen seconds to 136 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: say them, but three months later, the person will still 137 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: be feeling the steam. It's like a burn dealer touched 138 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: the stove. Men. You pull your hand off immediately, but 139 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: weeks and weeks later, it's still bothering you. That's what hurtful, 140 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: critical words can do. And we should never threaten our 141 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: spouse with divorce. It's very unhealthy. I've heard people say, 142 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: if you ever do that again, I'm out of here. 143 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: If you don't do this, I'm leaving. No, don't even 144 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: let those words out into the atmosphere. Your words have 145 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: created power. When you speak something like that out, you're 146 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: just giving the enemy a right to bring it to pass. 147 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: And the Bible tells us to be angry and sin not. 148 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: The truth is, at times we're all going to get angry. 149 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: Anger is an emotion God has given us. But we 150 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: don't have to blow up and say these hurtful things 151 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,599 Speaker 1: that are going to damage our relationships. Let's learn to 152 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: take a step back, collect our thoughts, and think about 153 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: what we're gonna say. I love what my mother did. 154 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: One time, she and my father had gotten into a 155 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: disagreement and my dad was kind of put out, and 156 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: he decided he was going to give my mother the 157 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: silent treatment. Mother had come through the house and ask 158 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,719 Speaker 1: him something, and Daddy would answer back in the shortest, 159 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: most unfriendly way he possibly could. I mean, he was 160 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: giving her the cold shouldered Deluxe. And this went on 161 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: for an hour or two, and he was doing his 162 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: best to ignore my mother. Well, my mother finally got 163 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: tired of it. She's kind of feisty, and she decided 164 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: to do something about it. So she went and hid 165 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: behind a door and she stayed there as still and 166 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: quiet as she could be. Well, my father got to 167 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: looking for her everywhere, couldn't find her anywhere. The more 168 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: he looked, the more frustrated he got. He said, it's 169 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: terrible to try to ignore somebody and you can't even 170 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: find them. This went on for ten or fifteen minutes, 171 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 1: and finally Daddy started getting kind of worried. He thought, man, 172 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: maybe the rapture came and I got left behind. About 173 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: that time, he walked past the door where my mother was, 174 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: and my mother jumped out on my father's back, wrapped 175 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: her arms and legs around him, and said, John, I'm 176 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: not getting off until you cheer up. They laughed so 177 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: much that my father forgot what he was mad about. 178 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: What's my point, ladies, You need to start jumping on 179 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: your husband's back now, seriously. What I'm saying is to 180 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: create a fun, loving atmosphere in your home. These are 181 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: stressful times. We all get up tight. We all have disagreements, 182 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: but we should not allow that to linger, and too 183 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: often we get complacent. Well, I know I shouldn't say this, 184 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: but I'm mad. I'm gonna say it anyway. I know 185 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,319 Speaker 1: I need to forgive, but I don't feel like it. 186 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go around poutin for a couple of weeks. 187 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: Little by little, the relationship gets worse and worse. But 188 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: if we're gonna have strong, happy marriages, we have to 189 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 1: fight for that marriage. Now. I want to sound the 190 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: alarm while there's still time to do something about it. 191 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: Don't allow strife in your home. Don't play these petty games, 192 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: don't go around with bad attitudes. Do whatever it takes 193 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: to keep the peace. Victoria and I have been married 194 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: going on twenty years now, and we don't agree on 195 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: every single thing. But one thing I can tell you 196 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: is we are committed to each other. We're committed to 197 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: our family, we're committed to our children, and any difference 198 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: says we're going to work through them. I've known people 199 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: they're committed while they're dating. They're committed the first couple 200 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: of years of marriage. They're committed while everything's rosy. But 201 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 1: how about when the sizzle wears off, so to speak, 202 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: and you're not in never never Land so in love? 203 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: Now instead of that man romancing you, you're having to 204 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: pick up his dirty socks, You're having to wash his 205 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: smelly workout clothes. That takes commitment. For some of you, 206 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: it takes real commitment. Are men? How about when you 207 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: were dating she always looked perfect, dressed to a tea 208 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: you never saw or without her makeup. Now you wake 209 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 1: up in the morning you think, who is that woman 210 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: over there? But marriage is a commitment, not a feeling. 211 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: I heard a true story about a president of a 212 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: very prestigious university. He was an older gentleman, very well 213 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: respected leader. Later in his life, his wife developed Alzheimer's, 214 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: and unfortunately, month after month, it continued to get worse. 215 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: Several years down the road, it got so bad that 216 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 1: she could not even recognize her husband anymore. This man 217 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: was well to do, had plenty of people taking care 218 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: of her. But one day he went in and announced 219 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: to the board of the university that he was going 220 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: to resign so he could spend his full time taking 221 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: care of his wife. And man, they just couldn't understand it. 222 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: They tried to talk him out of it. They told 223 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: him how needed he was. One board member spoke up 224 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: and said, why would you even want to do this. 225 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: She doesn't even know who you are. He looked at 226 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: him and said, listen, I made a commitment to this 227 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: woman over fifty years ago. And she may not know 228 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: who I am, but I know who she is. That's 229 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: the kind of commitment that we need to have. And men, 230 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: God is going to hold us responsible to keep our 231 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: families together. The word husband comes from a Latin word 232 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: which means house band. Think of a rubber band that 233 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,319 Speaker 1: keeps something together. That's what the husband is supposed to do. 234 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: And Solomon is a great examples for us. Men. He 235 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: was the wisest men that ever lived. And you know 236 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: what he did when he got up every morning, he 237 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: blessed his wife. He looked her in the eyes and said, 238 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: there are many beautiful women in the world, but you 239 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: excel them all. He started his day off by praising 240 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: and encouraging his wife. Men, you can imagine how our 241 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 1: relationships would improve if we'd start complimenting our wives like that. 242 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: I know some ladies they hadn't had a compliment in 243 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: ten years. All they hear about is what they're doing wrong, 244 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: How the dinner wasn't any good, The kids are being 245 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: too loud. Now, that's out of balance. Take inventory of 246 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: what you're saying to your spouse. Are you complaining all 247 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: the time? Telling them what they're not doing right? Or 248 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: are you doing like Solomon blessing, encouraging, uplifting that man, 249 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 1: that woman. I heard somebody say that compliments are like 250 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: the glue that hold a relationship together. We all go 251 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: through difficult time, but if our spouse knows how much 252 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 1: we appreciate them and love them, then it's going to 253 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 1: make it a lot easier to get through those difficulties. 254 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: And Solomon wrote a book in the Bible. It's called 255 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: the Song of Solomon. It's a love story eight chapters long. 256 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 1: And in those eight chapters he praised his wife forty 257 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: different times. He was constantly talking about her strength, her beauty, 258 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: her intelligence. Well, you say, Joe, you don't know my wife. 259 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: She's the problem. She's argumented and she's hard to get 260 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: along with. Now let me tell you men, if you 261 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: start praising your wife, if you start telling her how 262 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: beautiful she is and how glad you are to have 263 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: her in your life. When you talk about the good, 264 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: you'll draw out the good. You talk about the negative, 265 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: you'll draw out the negative. It's up to each one 266 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: of us. Every day we should be saying, I appreciate 267 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: you being so kind, And you know what. You're a 268 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: great mother to our children. I'm so glad I can 269 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: always count on you. Men, speak the blessing over your 270 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: wife and you'll see that lady rise to a new level. 271 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: Most people, all they need is a little encouragement, a 272 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: little praise. Now I've found if you'll treat your wife 273 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: like a queen, then she'll make you the king. And men, 274 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: we have to understand our wife needs our blessing, she 275 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: needs our approval. Well, Joel, I'm just not a real 276 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: romantic kind of guy. I just don't get into all 277 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: those gooey things. Now, this is not an option, it's 278 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: a necessity if you're going to have a healthy marriage. 279 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: Just like Solomon, we got to get in a habit 280 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: in the morning looking at your wife and saying, man, 281 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: you are beautiful. I'm glad you're in my life. There's 282 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: a lot of pretty girls, but you excel them all, 283 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: just like you brush your teeth in the morning. You 284 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: need to speak the blessing over your wife. Too. Many 285 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: women today are beaten down, depressed, lonely, insecure, and low 286 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: self esteem, all because the husband is not giving her 287 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 1: what God requires of him. The Bible says the wife 288 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: is a reflection of the man's glory. If Victoria got 289 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: up here, all be down and depressed, hair's missed up 290 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: clothes on iron, Well, me, as the husband, I have 291 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: the problem. She's reflecting my glory. I need to examine 292 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: my life. I should ask myself, Hey, am I treating 293 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: her right? Am I making her secure? Does she know 294 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: I'm proud of her that I think she's the best. 295 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: Men on a regular basis, we need to look at 296 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: our wives and see if they're reflecting our glory. Your 297 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: wife should be strong, confident, secure, beautiful, radiant healthy. You 298 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: should see it in her smile. You should see it 299 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: in the way she carries herself. I remember I used 300 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: to play basketball with this guy, and every time after 301 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: the game was over, he said, well, Joel, I got 302 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: to go home and see my old lady talking about 303 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: his wife. And I used to think, if you talk 304 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: about your wife like that, you must not think too 305 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: much of yourself, because she's reflecting you a glory. I'd 306 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: always smile and say, well, I'm gonna go home and 307 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: see Queen Victoria. She's the queen of our house. And 308 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: guess what, Since I've made her the queen, that makes 309 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: me the king, and I kind of like that. The 310 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: scripture says, because Solomon praised his wife, his children rose 311 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 1: up and blessed her as well. In other words, when 312 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,719 Speaker 1: the husband praises and blesses the wife, the children are 313 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: going to follow. Men, we're setting an example. How we 314 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: treat our wives is going to have a great impact 315 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 1: on how our children respect and honor their mother. Your voice, tones, 316 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 1: your body language, all those things are being subconsciously taken 317 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: in by your children. Here's the thing, Dad's your daughter 318 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,239 Speaker 1: is going to marry somebody just like you. That's what 319 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 1: all the studies tell us. We tend to marry people 320 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: like our parents. If you're hard and disrespectful, you go 321 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:53,199 Speaker 1: around saying rude, hurtful things to your spouse, don't be 322 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 1: surprised if your daughter gravitates towards somebody just like that. 323 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: What this tells me is I need to treat my 324 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: wife the way I want somebody to treat my daughter. Ladies, 325 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 1: you need to treat your husband's the way you want 326 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: somebody to treat your sons. Men, open the car door 327 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: for your wife, take a coffee in the morning, go 328 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: out of your way to show respect. I heard somebody 329 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: say If a man ever opens the car door for 330 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 1: his wife, he's either got a new car or a 331 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: new wife. But we need to get back to the 332 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,120 Speaker 1: good old days of respect in an honor. May you say, Joel, 333 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: if I do that, my friends may look at me 334 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: as being kind of weak. They may give me a 335 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 1: hard time. Let me tell you you need to get 336 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: some new friends, because those are weak friends. A real 337 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: man can open the car door for his wife. And 338 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: here's the thing. Being male doesn't necessarily make you a man. 339 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: Taking care of your family makes you a man. Watching 340 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 1: over your children makes you a man. Speaking the blessing 341 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: over your wife, that makes you a real man. You 342 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: may not have been raised in this kind of environment. 343 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: You can set a new standard. You can raise the bar. Men. 344 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: We're only going to go as high as how we 345 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: treat our wives. And if we're treating them a second class, 346 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: that's going to keep us from being everything God's created 347 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: us to be. And it's interesting. In reproduction, the father 348 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: is the one that gives the child identity. The female 349 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: has two X chromosomes. The male has an X and 350 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 1: a Y. If the father gives the female an X, 351 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: it'll be a baby girl. It gives a wy, it'll 352 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: be a boy. But the female has no power to 353 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: determine the sex of the baby. The child's identity comes 354 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,199 Speaker 1: solely through the father. What am I saying, Father's we 355 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 1: need to make especially sure that we affirm our children. 356 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: We have incredible influence over them, and every day, just 357 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: like we bless our wife, we need to be blessing 358 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: our children. Look at that child and say, you know what, 359 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: I'm proud of you. I think you're great. There's nothing 360 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: that you can't do. Your children need your approval. You're 361 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: helping them to form their identity. And if we're too 362 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 1: busy as fathers we're never there, or maybe we're just 363 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: always correcting our children without ever showing them this other side, 364 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: then our children are not going to be as confident 365 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: and secure as they should be. And I know there 366 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: are times when the father can't be there. There are 367 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: other responsibilities, but fathers, I'm asking us to do our 368 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: best to keep our priorities in order. No amount of 369 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: success in our career is going to make up for 370 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: failure at home. Now, I've seen some men, they do 371 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: great things in the corporate world. They're great business leaders. 372 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: And listen, I'm all for that, but they've done it 373 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: at the expense of their children. Their children grew up 374 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: without a father figure. Now, fathers, be involved in your 375 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 1: child's life. Bring them to church, be at their ballgames. 376 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: Know who their friends are. Listen to what they're listening 377 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: to on their iPods. Children are looking for direction and guidance. No, 378 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: that young man comes over to take your daughter on 379 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: a date, you should be the first one at the door. 380 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 1: Let him know there's a man in the house that's 381 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: watching after that young lady. Parents, we have to fight 382 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: for our children. If we will fight, then God will fight. 383 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: A friend of mine growing up, this friend growing up, 384 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: he told me as a teenager that he had a 385 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: drug problem. I thought that was strange. He seemed like 386 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: a good kid. I knew him very well. It didn't 387 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: look like he was on drugs. He said, yeah, Joel, 388 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: every Sunday, my parents drugged me to church. They drugged 389 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: me to Sunday school, they drugged me to Bible study. 390 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 1: And he said, you know what, those drugs are still 391 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 1: in my veins. They affect everything that I say and do. 392 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: He went on to say, this world would be a 393 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 1: better place if everybody had those kinds of drugs. What 394 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 1: he was saying was, my parents took time from me. 395 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: They poured into my life. Years ago, at the largest 396 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: game reserve in South Africa, they discovered that the elephants 397 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: were overpopulated. There wasn't enough room for them all, and 398 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: so they decided to take three hundred of the youngest 399 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: male elephants and separate them from their parents, from the 400 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: other adults, and they sent them a couple hundred miles 401 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: away to another national park. And the dominant animal at 402 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: this national park was the white rhinoceros. And the rhinoceros 403 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: has no natural enemies, nothing stocks it, not a line, 404 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: a tiger, a bear. It's too powerful, and so they 405 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: thought there would be no problem mixing the elephants in there. 406 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 1: But over time they begin to find these dead rhinos 407 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 1: out in the brush. They couldn't understand what was happening, 408 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,159 Speaker 1: so they set up some surveillance cameras, and much to 409 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: their surprise, they found that those young male elephants, the 410 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,400 Speaker 1: ones that no longer had a father figure a mother figure, 411 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: they had formed gangs and they had gone in there 412 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: and started killing the rhinoceros, which is not even in 413 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: the elephant's nature. It's not even in the elephants god 414 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: given instincts to that way. I believe that's the same 415 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: thing that happens to our children many times. The reason 416 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: our children get off course and teenagers do things that 417 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: they shouldn't is because they don't have any positive role 418 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: models in their life giving them any kind of guidance. 419 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 1: They don't have anybody speaking the blessing, they don't have 420 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: a father figure, and it doesn't mean that they're bad children. 421 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: Is just when they're left without this guidance, any of 422 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: us can do things that are not even in our nature. 423 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: And I don't know if you realize today, but half 424 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: of the children being raised are in fatherless homes. Fifty 425 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: percent do not have a father figure in their life. 426 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: And if you're a single parent mom in here, I 427 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: know that God's going to give you the grace and 428 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: the strength to do what you need to do. But 429 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 1: I'm asking the fathers today to rise up and become 430 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: the man that God's created you to be. Where are 431 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,399 Speaker 1: the fathers that will make a difference. Where are the 432 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: fathers it will take time and make sacrifices to pour 433 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: into that child's life. Don't take the easy way out. 434 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: Man and just be a career man and make your 435 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: wife do all the parenting your child needs you. You 436 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: have something to give that only the father can give 437 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: that child. And really, all of us who are healthy fathers, 438 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: we have a responsibility to reach out to other children 439 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: that don't have a father figure. We should all be 440 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,439 Speaker 1: mentoring a young man, mentoring a young woman. If you 441 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: really want to be blessed, don't just fight for your family, 442 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: fight for somebody else's family. Stand in the gap for 443 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: that single parent mom. When you take your son out 444 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 1: to hit base falls, swing by and pick up that 445 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 1: young man that doesn't have a father figure. Or when 446 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: you go camping with your family, ask that single mom 447 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: if she and her children want to go along. Dads, 448 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: reach out to some other child, help them discover their identity. 449 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: I have a good friend that grew up in a 450 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: very dysfunctional home. Her father was never around and her 451 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: mother had plenty of problems on her own, and this 452 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 1: young lady, as a teenager, was basically raising her younger 453 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: brother and on the inside, she was crying out for help. 454 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: One day, a friend of hers at school mentioned that 455 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: her father owned a fast food restaurant and maybe he 456 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,679 Speaker 1: would give her a job. She went up there, and 457 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: that gentleman not only gave her a job, but he 458 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: took her under his wing. He began to watch after her. 459 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 1: He made sure she changed the oil in her car, 460 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,199 Speaker 1: made sure she was doing okay in school, on and on. 461 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 1: He didn't even realize it, but he became the father 462 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,880 Speaker 1: figure that she had so longed for. Years later, when 463 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: this young lady went to get married, father still not 464 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: around at the wedding. You know who gave her away? 465 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 1: The men from the fast food restaurant. See, he took 466 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: time to care. He fought not only for his family, 467 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 1: he fought for somebody else's child. That's what I'm asking 468 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:00,880 Speaker 1: you to do today. Don't be passive, too busy, don't 469 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: be indifferent. Get involved in somebody else's life. Friends, Our 470 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: homes are under attack today. Where are the fathers that 471 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 1: will stand up? Where are the mothers that will be 472 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: a great example? Where are the couples that will stick together? 473 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: Let me challenge you. Fight for your marriage, fight for 474 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: your sons, fight for your daughters. Keep the strife out 475 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: of your home, and stick with that person that God 476 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: has given you. If you will stay committed to each 477 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: other and committed to God. There is nothing that you 478 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 1: cannot overcome as a couple. Learn to be free with 479 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: your compliments. Speak the blessing over your wife, over your husband, 480 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: over your children, and then take it one step further. 481 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: So is sde and mentor a young man mentor a 482 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: young lady. If you do this, I know you'll not 483 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: only have a great marriage, but your children will go further. 484 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 1: Your family will grow stronger, and I believe you'll live 485 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: the life of victory God has in store. Do you 486 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: receive it today? I know you do. We never like 487 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: to close all broadcast without giving you an opportunity to 488 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: make Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray 489 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 1: with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. 490 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:19,400 Speaker 1: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 491 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 1: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 492 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 493 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take your places you've 494 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: never dreamed of. 495 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 2: Sometimes the stresses of life can feel like you're just 496 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 2: getting by. God wants to bless us, But how do 497 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 2: you move from barely enough to just enough to more 498 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 2: than enough? 499 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: We all face difficulties and people that are hard to 500 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 1: deal with. You can't eliminate all the stress, but if 501 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: you'll handle it the right way, you don't have to 502 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: live stressed out. Much of our frustration is we're trying 503 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: to control things that we can't control, letting things stress 504 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 1: us that don't have to. I'd love to send you 505 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: by new book, fifty five Ways to be Blessed and 506 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 1: Not Stressed. I'll show you practical things you can do 507 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 1: to live more peaceful and enjoy each day. 508 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 2: You can move from stressed to blessed and fully realize 509 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 2: God's goodness, favor, and blessings. As our way of saying 510 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 2: thank you for your gift of any amount to the ministry, 511 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 2: this month, Joel and Victoria would like to send you 512 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 2: this powerful life transforming resource, fifty five Ways to be 513 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 2: Blessed and Not Stressed. With this book, you'll not just 514 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 2: see one pathway forward, but fifty five powerful life changing 515 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 2: ways to kill the stress and give life to a 516 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:43,959 Speaker 2: life of blessing. These fifty five promises will open God's 517 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 2: floodgates and release double the impact of his divine direction, 518 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 2: opportunity and blessing every day. Now expect, declare, and receive 519 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 2: a blessed not stressed over the top outpouring in your life. 520 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 1: How much time are you spending worry, upset, and frustrated. 521 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: Life is too short to live stressed. If you'll make 522 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 1: some simple adjustments, you can live blessed and not stressed. 523 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: Victoria and I want you to know we're praying for 524 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: you that you'll experience peace and joy and see your 525 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,640 Speaker 1: dreams come to pass. Thank you so much for your 526 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: prayers and support. Your generosity is impacting lives all over 527 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 1: the world. Remember you can watch the services online Sunday mornings, 528 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on Serious XM YouTube social media. 529 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: But until we meet again, let the Lord bless you 530 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: and keep you. 531 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of fifty five Ways 532 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 2: to be blessed and not stressed today. Visit Joelostein dot 533 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 2: com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel