1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: Are you ready to move your career forward? Make your 14 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 2: comeback with Perdue Global and get college credit for your work, school, life, 15 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 2: or military experiences. With these credits, you may have already 16 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: completed up to seventy five percent of your undergraduate degree. 17 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: You've worked hard to get where you are. It's time 18 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 19 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 2: you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 20 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 2: respect when you take the next step in your life 21 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 2: and career. Make it count with Perdue Global produce online 22 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: University for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa, but. 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 3: He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 27 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: with the uns stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 3: code iHeart fifty at sign up to receive a fifty 33 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 3: dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code iHeart 34 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: fifty when you sign up at unest dot co for 35 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 3: a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs 36 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: dot co. 37 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 38 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 5: We enjoy spending this time with you and I hope 39 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 5: you'll leave inspired. 40 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week. 41 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 5: We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 42 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 5: Enjoy our son Jonathan today. 43 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 4: Hey, it's so to be here. Thank you for. 44 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 6: Coming out or watching online and spending your weekend with us. 45 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 4: I am so humbled and excited to get to share 46 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 4: with you. 47 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 6: Let me start off by wishing all the dads a 48 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 6: happy Father's Day. 49 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 4: Thank you for everything that you do. 50 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 6: We love and appreciate you, and we are so glad 51 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 6: to celebrate you this weekend. I've been blessed with an 52 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 6: amazing father, so this year, I'm giving him the best 53 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 6: gift I could think of by getting up here and 54 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 6: giving him the week off. I've spent the last few 55 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 6: days watching him enjoy a mini vacation while I do 56 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 6: his job. I'm not complaining, but he always made it 57 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 6: look easy. It turns out this is a lot more 58 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 6: work than I expected. So I thought what better way 59 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 6: to prepare for my first time speaking on a weekend 60 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 6: then to go back and listen to his first message. 61 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 6: He's come a long way, but but how did he 62 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 6: get started? But my dad called me Monday night and 63 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 6: he said, Joe, are you sitting down? 64 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 4: And I thought, oh, no, there's gonna be bad news. 65 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 4: And I thought maybe it's got his health or something. 66 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 4: He said, but I'm gonna ask you something. Don't pass out. 67 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 4: When I asked him, I thought, okay, what is it? 68 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 7: And he said, will you preach for me Sunday morning? 69 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 4: And I thought, boy, that was bad news. 70 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 6: And I said, but I thought about the advantages of 71 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 6: being my first time one. 72 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 4: If I'm really bad and you don't enjoy it, when. 73 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 5: You walk out of here, you can say you know 74 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 5: that boy has nowhere to go but up. 75 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 6: After seeing that, I realized I don't have a country 76 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 6: accent and I don't have a mullet, So in some 77 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 6: ways I think I'm already off to a better start. 78 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 4: I guess there's nowhere to go. 79 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 6: But uh, today, Hedy, I want to talk about the 80 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 6: love of the Father. There are many different ways we 81 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 6: can know God. We can know him as an all 82 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 6: powerful creator who made the universe and sits on a 83 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 6: throne surrounded by angels. We can know him as this 84 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 6: omnipotent being who part sees and brings the. 85 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 4: Dead to life. 86 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 6: We can know him as a man with a big 87 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 6: white beard who sits on a cloud and sounds like 88 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 6: Morgan Freeman. Different people have different ideas of who God is. 89 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 4: Some people see. 90 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 6: Him as this distant, cosmic being that couldn't possibly be 91 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 6: concerned with their lives. Some see him as a holy, 92 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 6: unapproachable figure to be feared and reverenced. Others think he's 93 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 6: just waiting for them to make a mistake. They know 94 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,799 Speaker 6: God as someone with a long list of everything they've 95 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 6: done wrong. 96 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 4: But with Jesus came a new way to know God. 97 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 6: Through him, we didn't just receive a savior, We were 98 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 6: given a father. When the disciples ask Jesus how they 99 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 6: should pray, the very first words he used were our 100 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 6: father in Heaven. Of all the ways he could have 101 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 6: told us to relate to God, Jesus said, he's our 102 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 6: father first. That's the best understanding we could have of God. 103 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 6: One of a loving father, someone that's proud of us, 104 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 6: someone that cares, someone that cheers us on and lifts 105 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 6: us when we fall. When we know this, we begin 106 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 6: to realize God's not distant, he's not unapproachable. 107 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 4: He's not mad at us. He is madly in love 108 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 4: with us. 109 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 6: Jesus, the Son of God, could have only referred to 110 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 6: him as his father, but when he spoke to people, 111 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 6: Jesus would say, your father. It was important to him 112 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 6: that we see God this way. Each time he said this, 113 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 6: Jesus was reminding us of the way God feels about us, 114 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 6: that he's not just the creator of the universe, but 115 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 6: he's your heavenly father. 116 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 4: He's your biggest far. He loves to spend time with you. 117 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 6: He gets excited to talk to you. He always has 118 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 6: your best interest at heart. Your father is a constant 119 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 6: source of strength and protection. He's there to encourage you 120 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 6: when you're down and push you forward when you feel 121 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 6: like giving up. If he cares for the birds of 122 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 6: the air, how much more must he care for you. 123 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 6: Maybe you grew up without a father, or he was 124 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 6: harsh in dealing with his own struggles. You may have 125 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 6: gotten used to him not being there for you, or 126 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 6: never being able to measure up. But we can't let 127 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 6: who are earthly father wasn't to distort the truth of who. 128 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 4: Our heavenly Father is. 129 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 6: He may have been difficult to please, but know that 130 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 6: God has always been pleased with you. He may have 131 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 6: been quick to find fault, but know that God is 132 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 6: filled with mercy. He may have been absent, but remember 133 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 6: God has promised. 134 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 4: To be with you always. 135 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 6: But some people never see God as proud of them. 136 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 6: They're too busy criticizing themselves. They think they're not smart enough, 137 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 6: they don't look the right way, they don't have enough talent. 138 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 6: They've decided if they don't like themselves, then God couldn't either. 139 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 6: They know he loves them, but he couldn't actually like them. 140 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 6: They're not as funny as their friends. They're not as 141 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,239 Speaker 6: gifted as their siblings. They don't have a great career 142 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 6: like their neighbor does. He would never want to show 143 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 6: them off. 144 00:07:57,920 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 4: Don't be like them. 145 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 6: Heavenly Father is the one who breathed life into you. 146 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 6: You've been fearfully and wonderfully made. He's the one who 147 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 6: gave you your smile, your personality, your gifts, your uniqueness. Everything 148 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 6: about you has been carefully designed into what he calls 149 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 6: a masterpiece. When God looks at you, he sees a masterpiece. 150 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 6: He's amazed. He is so proud. He can't help but 151 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 6: show you off. This is what he said in scripture. 152 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 6: Have you seen my servant Job? There is no one 153 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 6: like him in all the earth. That's how God feels 154 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 6: about you. He calls all the angels around and says, 155 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 6: come here, come here. Have you seen my son Brian. 156 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 6: There is no one like him. He's amazing. 157 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 4: Oh and have you seen my daughter Joy? She's the best. 158 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 4: I'm soud of her. 159 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 6: And the angels say, yes, God, we've seen them. 160 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 4: You do this every day. 161 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 6: But God says, I know, I just can't help it. 162 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 6: They're my children. That's the love of our heavenly Father. 163 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 6: When he looks at you, he smiles. He likes your height, 164 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 6: your ability, your ideas. He's the one who gave them 165 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 6: to you. Now, don't you dare let what other people 166 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 6: have said or your own negative opinion tear down God's masterpiece. 167 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 6: No father wants to see their child living defeated and 168 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 6: discouraged about who they are. If you were supposed to 169 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 6: be any different, your heavenly Father would have made you 170 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 6: that way. He doesn't make mistakes, he doesn't leave things out. 171 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 6: Let go of comparison, Let go of overly critical attitudes. 172 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 4: Know that God is proud of you. 173 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 6: And if he he not only loves us, but he 174 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 6: likes us, then we have permission to like who we 175 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 6: are too. One of the first times I spoke here 176 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 6: at church, I looked down at the front row and 177 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 6: I saw not one, but both of my parents holding 178 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 6: up their phones recording video. 179 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 4: I thought, you guys are the pastors. 180 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 6: If anyone can get a higher quality version of this. 181 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,719 Speaker 4: Message, it's YouTube. 182 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 6: You don't have to record it on your phone. And 183 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 6: on top of that, why are you both recording You're 184 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 6: sitting right next to each other. Can't one of you 185 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 6: just send it to the other. 186 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:43,839 Speaker 4: It didn't matter. 187 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 6: My parents sat on the front row for all three 188 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 6: services and recorded them on their phones. Yes they're the pastors, 189 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 6: but they're parents first. And I know they recorded all 190 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 6: those services because they were proud of me. And in 191 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 6: the same way, God is proud of you. I imagine he's 192 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 6: sitting on the front row of heaven with his phone 193 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 6: pointed in your direction. He's cheering you on. He's celebrating 194 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 6: every step that you take. He wants to remember every 195 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 6: little triumph in your life. You're so important to him, 196 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 6: he doesn't want to miss a moment. 197 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 4: Yes, he's God, but he's your father first. 198 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 6: He could have a whole camera crew of angels on 199 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 6: the scene, but he just can't help but do it himself. 200 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 6: He's been looking forward to the day you were born. 201 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 6: He couldn't wait to see you take your first steps. 202 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 6: He was so proud when you graduated college, and he 203 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 6: is so excited about the things he has planned. 204 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 4: For your future. 205 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 6: Psalm one O three says, as parents feel for their children, 206 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 6: so God feels for those who fear him. What's image 207 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 6: of God? Do you see him as your heavenly father? 208 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 6: Can you picture him on the front row with his 209 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 6: phone pointed toward you. He's not replaying your mistakes. He 210 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 6: doesn't hold on to those. His camera role is filled 211 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 6: with love for you. When we have the right image 212 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 6: of God, it gives us boldness. We can walk in confidence. 213 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 6: It allows us to pursue our dreams and even overcome challenges. 214 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 6: If the creator of the universe is for us, there 215 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 6: is nothing that could stand against us. I've heard some 216 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 6: people ask my dad to pray for them because they 217 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 6: think he's closer to God than they are. They think 218 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 6: maybe if a pastor prays, then God will listen. He's 219 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 6: always happy to pray with them. But my dad reminds them, 220 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 6: you don't need to go through a. 221 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 4: Third party to talk to your heavenly Father. 222 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 6: You're as much a child of God as anyone else. 223 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 6: You don't need a pastor, a priest, or a saint 224 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 6: to connect your call. When he sees it's you on 225 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 6: the line, God picks up right away. He won't put 226 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 6: you on hold, it doesn't go to voicemail. As his 227 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 6: son or daughter, you have priority access to your father. 228 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 6: But some people don't want to bother God. They see 229 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 6: prayer as a last resort. They think God's got bigger 230 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,719 Speaker 6: things to deal with than me. Understand this, You are 231 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 6: God's biggest deal. You're his prized possession. There's no detail 232 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 6: in your life that's too small to concern him. He 233 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 6: numbered the hairs on your head. He ordered your days, 234 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,319 Speaker 6: whether you like it or not. The Bible says he 235 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 6: watches you when you sleep. No nuance of your life 236 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 6: is too small to concern him. 237 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 4: He wants to be involved. You're saying. 238 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 6: God cares about what I make on this test. 239 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 4: He does. 240 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 6: He cares that my car needs repairs, he does. He 241 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 6: cares if I get a good night's sleep. 242 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 4: He does. 243 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 6: If it's important to you, it's important to God. He 244 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 6: wants you to bring these things to him. When you call, 245 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 6: he answers. When your name comes across his phone, so 246 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 6: to speak, he smiles. He says, I'll be right there 247 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 6: to help. The Bible tells us to acknowledge God in 248 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 6: all our ways, not just before we eat, but in everything. 249 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 6: He made the universe, and he made the atom. There's 250 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 6: no detail too small to concern him. We don't have 251 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 6: to pray in the King James version like Shakespeare authored it. 252 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 4: You can if you want to. 253 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 6: But Jesus said, this is your father you're dealing with. 254 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 6: When I talk to my dad, I don't say greetings, 255 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 6: thy pastor of Lakewood Church. I request an audience with thee. No, 256 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 6: he would think that was odd. When I talk to 257 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 6: my dad, I just talked to him In the same way. 258 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 6: Prayer is just talking to God. He wants to hear 259 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 6: the details. He wants to be involved in your life. 260 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 6: You can ask questions, you can express concerns. You can 261 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 6: tell him what you're grateful for or what you need 262 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 6: help with. When you go to your father, he'll give 263 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 6: you wisdom, he'll give you good ideas. He'll give you direction. 264 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 6: You don't have to have it all together. You don't 265 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 6: have to pray a perfect prayer. Like Jesus said, this 266 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 6: is your father you're talking to. He already knows what 267 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 6: you need. He just wants to hear from you. 268 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 4: There are times we feel like we have. 269 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 6: To convince God to love us. We have to win 270 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 6: him to our side. We think maybe if I come 271 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 6: to church enough, if I do more good deeds, then 272 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 6: I'll get some credit with him. The biggest lie that 273 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 6: some of us believe is not the God's angry with us. 274 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:10,479 Speaker 4: It's that he's indifferent. 275 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 6: Thoughts will tell us if we perform better, then we'll 276 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 6: get his approval, then he'll show us favor. But when 277 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 6: Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the moment he 278 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 6: came out of the water, a voice boomed out of 279 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 6: the heavens and said, this is my beloved son, and 280 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 6: whom I am well pleased. What's interesting is, up to 281 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 6: this point, Jesus hadn't performed a single miracle. He hadn't 282 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 6: opened any blind eyes, healed any lepers, raised Lazarus. 283 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 4: From the dead. He hadn't even turned water to wine. 284 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 6: Yet his father said he's my son, and I'm a 285 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 6: proud dad. Jesus didn't win God's approval based on his performance. 286 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 6: Was pleased with him because of who he was, not 287 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 6: what he had done. We tell ourselves if I could 288 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 6: be more disciplined, if I was more generous, if I 289 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 6: only made better choices, then God would be proud. No, 290 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 6: the truth is God is well pleased with you just 291 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 6: as you are. 292 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 4: You're his beloved son or daughter. 293 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 6: There is nothing you could do to make him love 294 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 6: you anymore. 295 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 4: He might not agree with all your behavior, but he 296 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 4: is pleased with who you are. He's already approved you, 297 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 4: He's already. 298 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 6: Called you his masterpiece. Why don't you accept right now 299 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 6: that God loves you and he's for you based on 300 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 6: who he is, not your performance. But thoughts may say 301 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 6: God can't. 302 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 4: Love you like he loves Jesus. 303 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 6: He never made any mistakes. You're not like him. You 304 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 6: know what you've done. Don't listen to those voices. If 305 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,199 Speaker 6: there's nothing you could do to make God love you 306 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 6: anymore than the good news is there's nothing you could 307 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 6: do to make him love you any less. When your 308 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 6: father looks at you, he sees Jesus. He sees someone redeemed, forgiven, 309 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 6: transformed by the power of the Cross. He doesn't see mistakes, 310 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 6: and he doesn't see failure. Jesus said, just as the 311 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 6: Father is pleased with me, so have I loved you. 312 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 6: Are we living for God's approval or are we living 313 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 6: from it? Are we striving to earn his love? Or 314 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 6: do we recognize we've been given more than we could 315 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 6: ever deserve. When I was about nine years old, I 316 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 6: had this video game that I loved. I was having 317 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 6: the time of my life playing it until one day 318 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 6: my mom heard from another mom who heard from another 319 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,679 Speaker 6: mom that this game was too dark for me to 320 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 6: be playing, and I wasn't allowed to anymore. I was devastated, 321 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 6: so of course I did what any sanctified, church going 322 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 6: nine year old would do, and I hit it in 323 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 6: the most secret place that I could think of, the 324 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 6: attic behind the hot water heater. Pretty sneaky, or so 325 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 6: I thought. A few weeks later, I was in the 326 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 6: car with my parents and out of the blue, my 327 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 6: mom asks, did you hide that game? 328 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 4: I told you not to play. 329 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 6: I panicked and said the first words that came to 330 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 6: my mind. 331 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 4: No, why, she. 332 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 6: Said, because there was a problem with the hot water heater, 333 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 6: and it just so happens your game was behind it. 334 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 6: My entire life flashed before my eyes. That was the 335 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 6: most secret place my nine year old brain could think of, 336 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 6: and it had been found. 337 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 4: I thought, this is the end. I've been caught. I'm 338 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 4: going to prison. 339 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 6: But right before I could get in trouble, my dad 340 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 6: spoke up and. 341 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 7: Said, Victoria, Victoria. 342 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 6: I told you he hid the game because if his 343 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 6: friends found it, and asked to play it. 344 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 4: He didn't want to have to tell them, though. I 345 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 4: don't know if my dad actually believed. 346 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 6: That or if he was just trying to bail me out, 347 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 6: But in that moment, all I did was nod my 348 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 6: head in agreement. I had never been so grateful for 349 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 6: a second chance. I thought, I've seen the last of 350 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 6: this PlayStation. I will never have fun again. 351 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 4: But my dad. 352 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 6: Spoke up and took my side despite what I had done. 353 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 6: I'm sure he knew why I had hidden the game, 354 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 6: but he chose to see the best. 355 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 4: He didn't bate me for my wrongs. He showed me 356 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 4: what was right. 357 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 6: And that's just a funny story, but it can be 358 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 6: a reminder of how merciful our heavenly father is. He 359 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 6: takes our side, he bails us out. He doesn't give 360 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 6: us what we deserve. When our mistakes became too much 361 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 6: to bear, he said, put the. 362 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 4: Blame on me. I'll take your sin, I'll take your failure. 363 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 4: I'll take the stuff you're not proud of. As for you, 364 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 4: you can move on, you can be free. 365 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 6: You don't have to keep bringing this back up. 366 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 4: I've forgotten it. 367 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 6: But sometimes we live like we're trying to pay God 368 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 6: back for what we've done wrong. We try to show 369 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 6: him that we're really sorry by being defeated and discouraged 370 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 6: about something that could have happened years ago. We've asked 371 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 6: for forgiveness a thousand times, but we just don't feel worthy. 372 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 4: That's not the Father's heart. He spoke up. 373 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,360 Speaker 6: On our behalf. He took the penalty so that we 374 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 6: didn't have to. We don't have to live beaten down 375 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 6: and discouraged after he went to such great links to 376 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 6: lift us up. 377 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 4: The price has been paid. The first time. 378 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 6: You ask for forgiveness, his mercy comes rushing in. 379 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 4: Now we have to receive it and move forward. 380 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 6: The reason some people get stuck in a cycle of 381 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 6: guilt and condemnation is because they only know God. 382 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 4: As God, not as their father. 383 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 6: They think they need to stop this and change that 384 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 6: and fix themselves before they could ever get right with God. 385 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 4: But the Bible tells us. 386 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 6: To come boldly to the throne of God race to 387 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 6: obtain mercy and find help even in our time of need. 388 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 4: We won't go boldly. 389 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 6: To the throne if we think the one sitting on 390 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 6: it is waiting to punish us for our sin. But 391 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 6: when we know God as our father. We can enter 392 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 6: with our head held high, knowing he is rich in 393 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 6: mercy and ready to help. It doesn't say come boldly 394 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 6: to the throne if you haven't made any mistakes this week, 395 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 6: or come after you get your issues figured out. No, 396 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 6: God wants us to come boldly to him even. 397 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 4: When we've messed up. 398 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 6: Even on our worst day, we can go to our father. 399 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 6: But most of the time, instead of running to God, 400 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 6: we run from him. We think he'll be angry or disappointed. 401 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 6: Thoughts will tell us you can't go to God, you'd 402 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 6: be a hypocrite. After all, you knew it was wrong, 403 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 6: and you did it anyway. God's not going to help 404 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,400 Speaker 6: you out now you got yourself in this mess. Those 405 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 6: accusing voices will try to draw us further and further 406 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 6: from the truth that at the heart of God is mercy. 407 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 6: Imagine a father teaching his son to climb a tree. 408 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 6: He warns him not to climb it when he's not around, 409 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 6: because he doesn't want him to get hurt. Then one 410 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 6: day he hears his son shouting for help from outside. 411 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 6: He rushes out and sees him hanging from the top branch. 412 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 6: For dear life, he says, Dad, please help, I'm slipping. 413 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 6: This father would not scold his son for climbing the 414 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 6: tree on his own. He wouldn't ask to see his 415 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 6: report card or if he took the trash out last week. No, 416 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 6: this father would do whatever it took to get his 417 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 6: son down safely. 418 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 4: God is a good father. He's not gonna leave you hanging. 419 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 6: You may have made the mess, brought the trouble on yourself, 420 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 6: but moment you call out to him, your heavenly father 421 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 6: is there to help. He'll climb any tree, scale any wall, 422 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 6: bring down any barrier to be. 423 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 4: At your side. You're his child. 424 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 6: There's nothing he wouldn't do for you. When we were 425 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 6: at our worst, He loved us. That's the father's heart. 426 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 6: Instead of running from God, let's run to him. In 427 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 6: Luke fifteen, Jesus tells the story of a son who 428 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 6: came to his father and said, I want my inheritance, 429 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,440 Speaker 6: and I want it right now. He packed his bags, 430 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 6: moved to some wild city and had a crazy few weeks. 431 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 6: He spent all his money on people and parties and 432 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,880 Speaker 6: things he thought would last a lot longer than they did. 433 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 6: And then a famine hit and all of a sudden, 434 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:58,439 Speaker 6: these new friends seemed to disappear, so we got a 435 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 6: job out in the fields feeding pigs. This son found 436 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 6: himself hungry and alone in some foreign country. 437 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 4: He thought, at least my father's. 438 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 6: Farm hands have better lives than this. Maybe if I 439 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 6: go to him and tell him I've been reckless and 440 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 6: I don't deserve to be called your son, then he'll 441 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:23,439 Speaker 6: take me back as a hired hand. So we gathered 442 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 6: what little he had and began his journey home, all 443 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 6: the while practicing this speech he had prepared, I've been 444 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 6: reckless and I don't deserve to be called your son. 445 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 6: How many times have we disqualified ourselves as a son 446 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 6: or daughter, as if it was something we earned in. 447 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 4: The first place. 448 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,880 Speaker 6: How many times have we written speeches trying to convince 449 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 6: God to take us back. That's not how biology works, 450 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 6: That's not how God designed it. A son is still 451 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 6: a son, no matter how he feels. A daughter is 452 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 6: still a daughter, no matter where she finds herself. 453 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 4: It's in the blood. 454 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:14,959 Speaker 6: No matter how reckless we've been, we can't undo the 455 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 6: power of the blood. This young man hadn't even made 456 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 6: it home yet, the Bible says, when he was still 457 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:25,719 Speaker 6: a long way off. 458 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 4: His father saw him. 459 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 6: And with his heart pounding, he ran and embraced him. 460 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 4: That's the good news. 461 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 6: Even when we're a long way off, even when we 462 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:45,159 Speaker 6: don't have it altogether, even when we're still broken and 463 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 6: messed up, our father comes running. He runs through any 464 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 6: mistake or failure, He runs through any disappointment or unfair situation, 465 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 6: He runs through any hurt or pain, and. 466 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 4: Embraces us as a father. 467 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 6: To the people Jesus was talking to, this wouldn't have 468 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 6: been a casual gesture. A respected man at the time 469 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,440 Speaker 6: would have never ran. If he were to run, he 470 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 6: would have had to tie up his tunic and expose 471 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 6: his legs. In that culture, this would have been humiliating. 472 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 6: It would have been seen as shameful and inappropriate. But 473 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 6: Jesus tells us the Father did not walk. He didn't 474 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 6: wait until he got closer. Jesus said, the father ran. 475 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 6: It's the only time in the Bible we see a 476 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 6: picture of God running, and he's running to someone who 477 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 6: had blown it. He's running to someone who had messed up. 478 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 6: He was running to his son and doing this, he 479 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 6: was saying, I'll take your shame, I'll take your guilt. 480 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 6: I don't care what's appropriate. My son is home, my 481 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 6: daughter is back. When we take one step toward God, 482 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 6: we'll find he's already running toward us. It doesn't matter 483 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 6: how far. 484 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 4: Off we feel. His arms are open wide. 485 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 6: But even after all of this, the son still tried 486 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 6: to give his speech. 487 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 4: He said, but I've. 488 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 6: Been reckless and I don't deserve to be called your 489 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 6: son ever again. And I love what Verse twenty two says. 490 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 6: But the father wasn't listening. He didn't have time for regrets. 491 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 6: He didn't want to dwell on the past. He was 492 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:54,920 Speaker 6: too busy putting a party together. He was already celebrated 493 00:29:55,520 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 6: for once his son was lost, but now he's found. 494 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 6: That's the love of our heavenly Father, and that's how 495 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 6: he feels about you. 496 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 4: Receive his love, enter his embrace. 497 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 6: Know that God is proud of you and you matter 498 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 6: so much to him. 499 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 8: Thank you for listening to the joel Ostine podcast. Help 500 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 8: us continue to share the message of hope with those 501 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 8: all over the world. Visit jolustein dot com slash give 502 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 8: Hope to give a gift today. 503 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 5: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 504 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 5: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 505 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 5: keep you inspired all through the week. 506 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 4: We're praying for you. 507 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 5: I know God's best is still ahead. 508 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 4: We'll see you next time. 509 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 2: More than ever before, people are turning to the church 510 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 2: for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, has largely been ill 511 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 2: equipped to help. That is until now. Join nearly fifty 512 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 2: thousand people just like you who've enrolled in the Mental 513 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 2: Health Coach training program and become equipped to help for 514 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 2: limited time. Apply for a full tuition scholarship and only 515 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 2: pay a one time tech fee of fifty four dollars 516 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 2: if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealth coach dot org. That's 517 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 2: mentalhealthcoach dot org. 518 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:27,640 Speaker 9: Be a barbecue hero with delicious ultralownet carb hero Bread 519 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 9: buns and tortillas, soft and fluffy, high in fiber, and 520 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 9: with zero grams of sugar end up to ten grams 521 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 9: of protein, coming in at under one hundred calories per serving. 522 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 9: Oh and did I mention they taste like their mouthwatering 523 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 9: traditional versions. It's enough to have the neighbors asking for seconds. 524 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 9: Use code IHM ten for ten percent off your first 525 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 9: Hero Bread purchase at hero dot co That's quote IHM 526 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 9: ten for ten percent off at hero dot co. 527 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 10: Summer is here, and our sleep is just as important 528 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:58,000 Speaker 10: as our weekend plans. So get the sleep you deserve 529 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 10: with Lisa. For a limited time, save up to seven 530 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 10: hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pillows during 531 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 10: our summer sale. Check out our hybrid mattress designed to 532 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 10: keep you cool during those hot summer nights. Lisa also 533 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 10: offers free shipping and a risk free one hundred night trial. 534 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 2: Get the sleep you deserve. 535 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 10: Shop our summer sale now and save up to seven 536 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 10: hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pillows at 537 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 10: Lisa dot com. That's l e e s a dot 538 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 10: com exclusion supply. Visit Lisa dot com for details