1 00:00:00,510 --> 00:00:02,330 Speaker 1: Hey, thanks again for being with us today. 2 00:00:02,540 --> 00:00:05,140 Speaker 2: Always my honor to be able to share God's Word 3 00:00:05,180 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 2: with you and hopefully inspire you and encourage you. If 4 00:00:07,820 --> 00:00:09,900 Speaker 2: you're enjoying the podcast, I hope you'll share it with 5 00:00:09,980 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 2: a friend, pass it along. Let's inspire some other people 6 00:00:12,940 --> 00:00:14,890 Speaker 2: as well. But know that we love you. It's going 7 00:00:14,910 --> 00:00:17,790 Speaker 2: to be a blessed day for you. Well, God bless you. 8 00:00:17,829 --> 00:00:20,610 Speaker 1: It's always a joy to come into your homes. We 9 00:00:20,710 --> 00:00:23,610 Speaker 1: love you and just appreciate being able to spend this 10 00:00:23,690 --> 00:00:25,910 Speaker 1: next little while with you. And if you're ever in 11 00:00:25,970 --> 00:00:27,850 Speaker 1: our area, I hope you'll stop by and be a 12 00:00:27,890 --> 00:00:30,510 Speaker 1: part of one of our services. I promise you, we'll 13 00:00:30,530 --> 00:00:32,909 Speaker 1: make you feel right at home. But thanks for watching 14 00:00:32,930 --> 00:00:35,620 Speaker 1: and thanks again for coming out. I like to start 15 00:00:35,630 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: with something funny each week and I heard about this 16 00:00:38,020 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 1: mother that invited some people over for dinner. And at 17 00:00:41,260 --> 00:00:44,380 Speaker 1: the table, she said to her little five-year-old daughter, honey, 18 00:00:44,420 --> 00:00:47,020 Speaker 1: do you want to say the blessing? She said, no, mom, 19 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,390 Speaker 1: I wouldn't know what to say. She said, oh, sure 20 00:00:49,430 --> 00:00:51,910 Speaker 1: you would, honey. Just say what you hear mom say. 21 00:00:52,490 --> 00:00:54,750 Speaker 1: So she bows her head and said, oh Lord, why 22 00:00:54,770 --> 00:00:59,750 Speaker 1: did I invite these people to dinner? All right, hold 23 00:00:59,810 --> 00:01:02,450 Speaker 1: up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This 24 00:01:02,550 --> 00:01:05,169 Speaker 1: is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 25 00:01:05,790 --> 00:01:08,180 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 26 00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today, I will be 27 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: taught the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind 28 00:01:14,660 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be 29 00:01:17,940 --> 00:01:22,490 Speaker 1: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 30 00:01:22,510 --> 00:01:26,170 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about being excellent in the workplace. 31 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: unemployment is at one of the highest levels that it's 32 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,060 Speaker 1: been in many years. Every day we read about more 33 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,380 Speaker 1: businesses closing and more potential for layoffs. And if we're 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,340 Speaker 1: going to keep our positions or at least see new 35 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,250 Speaker 1: opportunity open up if something were to close down, now 36 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,490 Speaker 1: more than ever, we need to be people of excellence. 37 00:01:48,390 --> 00:01:51,850 Speaker 1: We live in a society where mediocrity is the norm. 38 00:01:52,670 --> 00:01:55,190 Speaker 1: Many people do as little as they can to get by. 39 00:01:55,890 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: They're always looking for the easy way out. If the 40 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: boss isn't watching, they're playing on the computer. They simply 41 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,060 Speaker 1: go to work to pick up a paycheck. Then they 42 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:08,500 Speaker 1: wonder why they're not promoted and why they don't see increase. 43 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: It's because God doesn't bless mediocrity. He blesses excellence. And 44 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,899 Speaker 1: whatever we do, we should do it to the best 45 00:02:17,940 --> 00:02:21,300 Speaker 1: of our ability. If you're a teacher, don't be an 46 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,430 Speaker 1: average teacher. Be an excellent teacher. If you're a plumber, 47 00:02:25,490 --> 00:02:29,010 Speaker 1: don't be an okay plumber. Be a great plumber. If 48 00:02:29,050 --> 00:02:32,090 Speaker 1: you work in sales, don't give it a half-hearted effort. 49 00:02:32,550 --> 00:02:36,450 Speaker 1: Make a few phone calls, get discouraged. Nobody's buying. Business 50 00:02:36,530 --> 00:02:40,489 Speaker 1: is slow. No, come up with new strategies. Learn from 51 00:02:40,530 --> 00:02:43,450 Speaker 1: the people that are in front of you. Stay determined. 52 00:02:43,830 --> 00:02:47,869 Speaker 1: Stay focused. You have excellence on the inside. It was 53 00:02:47,950 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: put there by the creator of the universe. And whether 54 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,570 Speaker 1: you're a waitress, a truck driver, an architect, a police officer, 55 00:02:55,610 --> 00:02:58,350 Speaker 1: a CEO, do it to the best of your ability. 56 00:02:59,150 --> 00:03:02,790 Speaker 1: You and I should set the standard for excellence. Other 57 00:03:02,830 --> 00:03:06,419 Speaker 1: people may show up late. They may complain. They may 58 00:03:06,460 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: cut corners, but don't sink down to their level. Well, 59 00:03:10,180 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: you say, Joel, everybody's doing it. Yes, but you're not everybody. 60 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: You're a cut above. You are called to excellence. God 61 00:03:17,930 --> 00:03:21,750 Speaker 1: wants you to set the highest standard. Your company should 62 00:03:21,889 --> 00:03:26,100 Speaker 1: use you as the example, as the model employee. Your boss, 63 00:03:26,139 --> 00:03:29,460 Speaker 1: your supervisor should be able to say to the new hires, 64 00:03:29,860 --> 00:03:34,380 Speaker 1: watch that man. Learn from that woman. Pick up their habits. 65 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,620 Speaker 1: Develop your skills like they've developed their skills. They are 66 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: the cream of the crop. You know what you're doing? 67 00:03:40,740 --> 00:03:43,910 Speaker 1: You are honoring God. A lot of times we think, 68 00:03:44,150 --> 00:03:46,590 Speaker 1: let me go to church to honor God. Let me 69 00:03:46,630 --> 00:03:49,510 Speaker 1: read my Bible to honor God. Let me sing and 70 00:03:49,550 --> 00:03:52,890 Speaker 1: clap to honor God. And yes, that's true. But do 71 00:03:52,930 --> 00:03:56,110 Speaker 1: you know it honors God just as much to get 72 00:03:56,150 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: to work on time? It honors God to be productive 73 00:03:59,580 --> 00:04:03,140 Speaker 1: each day. It honors God to excel in your career. 74 00:04:03,950 --> 00:04:07,460 Speaker 1: When you are excellent in the workplace, your whole life 75 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,140 Speaker 1: is given praise to God. And that's one of the 76 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: best witnesses we could ever have. Just to show up 77 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:18,930 Speaker 1: each day to work on time with a good attitude, friendly, organized, 78 00:04:19,210 --> 00:04:22,530 Speaker 1: being our best. That's a stronger witness than quoting a 79 00:04:22,589 --> 00:04:26,810 Speaker 1: dozen scriptures. Our life should give praise to God. In 80 00:04:26,850 --> 00:04:29,910 Speaker 1: other words, we don't have to say anything. Just the 81 00:04:29,950 --> 00:04:32,669 Speaker 1: fact that we are people of excellence, we do the 82 00:04:32,890 --> 00:04:37,190 Speaker 1: right thing whether anybody's watching or not. We're consistently good natured, 83 00:04:37,650 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: consistently improving. We do more than we have to. When 84 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: you have that kind of attitude, it not only gets 85 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,780 Speaker 1: God's attention, it gets other people's attention. They see the 86 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: depth of your character. They see your spirit of excellence. 87 00:04:53,770 --> 00:04:58,170 Speaker 1: you begin to gain influence, credibility, respect. And it's great 88 00:04:58,210 --> 00:05:01,030 Speaker 1: to honor God on Sundays. It's great to all come 89 00:05:01,050 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: in here together to celebrate today. But what I want 90 00:05:04,140 --> 00:05:06,900 Speaker 1: you to see is you can honor God just as 91 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,900 Speaker 1: much on Monday, on Tuesday, on Wednesday. When you go 92 00:05:10,940 --> 00:05:13,820 Speaker 1: to work this week, don't you dare think, oh man, 93 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: I got to go to work again. What a bummer. No, 94 00:05:15,940 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: get up with enthusiasm and say, I get to go 95 00:05:18,490 --> 00:05:23,729 Speaker 1: to work today to honor God. The scripture says here 96 00:05:23,770 --> 00:05:27,979 Speaker 1: in Colossians 3 23, whatever you do, do it with 97 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: all your heart as though you're working under God and 98 00:05:32,060 --> 00:05:35,900 Speaker 1: not under men. You have to realize you're not just 99 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,470 Speaker 1: working for people. You're not just working for that company, 100 00:05:40,050 --> 00:05:42,970 Speaker 1: not even just working to get a paycheck, even though 101 00:05:42,990 --> 00:05:45,910 Speaker 1: that's part of it. But the truth is you are 102 00:05:45,970 --> 00:05:49,539 Speaker 1: working under God. He's the one that gave you breath 103 00:05:49,620 --> 00:05:52,419 Speaker 1: to breathe today. He's the one that woke you up 104 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,219 Speaker 1: this morning. You may have thought it was the alarm clock, 105 00:05:55,460 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: but God was the one that gave you strength to 106 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: get out of bed. He's the one that's given you 107 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:05,310 Speaker 1: your talents, gifts, wisdom, creativity. You have a responsibility to 108 00:06:05,490 --> 00:06:08,750 Speaker 1: use what you have to honor him. Do you know 109 00:06:09,170 --> 00:06:12,700 Speaker 1: when you look good, it makes God look good? When 110 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,890 Speaker 1: you get promoted, God is honored. When you excel and 111 00:06:16,930 --> 00:06:19,550 Speaker 1: you go around telling people, I got this new position, 112 00:06:19,589 --> 00:06:22,650 Speaker 1: God's been so good to me, you are exalting God. 113 00:06:23,110 --> 00:06:26,490 Speaker 1: You're bringing attention to Him. But when we just sit 114 00:06:26,550 --> 00:06:29,270 Speaker 1: back and dread going to work and we can't wait 115 00:06:29,290 --> 00:06:32,310 Speaker 1: till five o'clock and we're not growing, we're not applying 116 00:06:32,350 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: what we know, we are not being responsible with what 117 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: God's given us. He has entrusted you with His gifts. 118 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,849 Speaker 1: He is expecting you to be your very best. Whatever 119 00:06:42,890 --> 00:06:45,570 Speaker 1: we do, we should do it with our whole heart, 120 00:06:46,170 --> 00:06:49,030 Speaker 1: not halfway, not with what we can get by with. 121 00:06:49,430 --> 00:06:52,810 Speaker 1: Do it to the best of your ability. Even small things. 122 00:06:53,390 --> 00:06:56,820 Speaker 1: Mowing the lawn, do it with excellence. You are working 123 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 1: unto God. When your lawn looks good, you're making God 124 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,650 Speaker 1: look good. If you're going to sing in the choir, 125 00:07:02,870 --> 00:07:05,860 Speaker 1: don't show up every other Sunday, not knowing the songs, 126 00:07:05,940 --> 00:07:09,020 Speaker 1: no enthusiasm. Here I am. I told you I'd come. No, 127 00:07:09,060 --> 00:07:13,100 Speaker 1: show up like these guys on fire, excited, looking good, 128 00:07:13,220 --> 00:07:20,010 Speaker 1: feeling good, anointed, equipped, empowered, being their best. That's what 129 00:07:20,070 --> 00:07:24,810 Speaker 1: honors God. When you understand this principle, it's easy to say, 130 00:07:25,090 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: I'm not going to be late to the office today. 131 00:07:27,580 --> 00:07:31,780 Speaker 1: I'm working under God. I'm not gonna build this house shoddily, 132 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,559 Speaker 1: just good enough to get a paycheck. No, I'm working 133 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,980 Speaker 1: under God. I'm gonna do it as precise as I can. 134 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: At the office, I could kick back and relax. I've 135 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,350 Speaker 1: done my duty for the day. Nobody would know. But no, 136 00:07:44,380 --> 00:07:46,580 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna waste a couple of hours. I'm working 137 00:07:46,620 --> 00:07:49,570 Speaker 1: under God. I'm gonna help my coworker finish their project. 138 00:07:50,030 --> 00:07:52,970 Speaker 1: I'm gonna organize these files for another colleague. I'm gonna 139 00:07:53,090 --> 00:07:56,990 Speaker 1: keep giving it my best because I'm working under God. Well, 140 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,430 Speaker 1: you say, Joel, I'd love to do that, but you 141 00:07:59,470 --> 00:08:01,930 Speaker 1: don't know my boss. He's hard to get along with. 142 00:08:02,470 --> 00:08:04,750 Speaker 1: You don't know my company. They just don't treat me right. 143 00:08:05,170 --> 00:08:07,250 Speaker 1: You have to get a new perspective. You are not 144 00:08:07,330 --> 00:08:10,310 Speaker 1: working for them. You are working under God. If you 145 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: will start being your best each day and do the 146 00:08:13,900 --> 00:08:17,300 Speaker 1: right thing, even though the wrong thing is happening, let 147 00:08:17,340 --> 00:08:19,980 Speaker 1: me assure you, God will take care of your boss. 148 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: He will take care of the people that are doing 149 00:08:22,460 --> 00:08:26,730 Speaker 1: you wrong. You have an incredible advantage when you work 150 00:08:26,850 --> 00:08:29,670 Speaker 1: for the creator of the universe. God is the one 151 00:08:29,690 --> 00:08:32,610 Speaker 1: that brings promotion. He's the one that lifts one up 152 00:08:33,130 --> 00:08:36,849 Speaker 1: and brings another down. The scripture says God can turn 153 00:08:36,910 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: the heart of a king. That simply means God can 154 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: change your boss's mind. He can cause them to see 155 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,109 Speaker 1: you in a new light. You don't know God may 156 00:08:47,170 --> 00:08:51,430 Speaker 1: have you at that place specifically on purpose so he 157 00:08:51,470 --> 00:08:54,090 Speaker 1: can do a work in that boss. You may be 158 00:08:54,130 --> 00:08:57,510 Speaker 1: the only light that person will ever see. They may 159 00:08:57,590 --> 00:09:01,150 Speaker 1: never read the Bible, but they will read you. When 160 00:09:01,190 --> 00:09:04,030 Speaker 1: you show up each day with a good attitude, you 161 00:09:04,070 --> 00:09:06,090 Speaker 1: do the right thing, even though you're not getting the 162 00:09:06,130 --> 00:09:09,450 Speaker 1: proper credit and you are consistent, you do it day 163 00:09:09,610 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: in and day out. You don't know what kind of 164 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,780 Speaker 1: impact you're having on that person. Keep being your best 165 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: in spite of who's trying to pull you down. And 166 00:09:19,059 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: when you have this spirit of excellence, you go the 167 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,940 Speaker 1: extra mile knowing that the quality of your work is 168 00:09:25,980 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: a reflection of the quality of your character. Excellence shouldn't 169 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,060 Speaker 1: be something that we do every once in a while. 170 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,660 Speaker 1: As long as somebody is watching, as long as it's 171 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,839 Speaker 1: evaluation month, as long as management is in town, no, 172 00:09:40,020 --> 00:09:43,059 Speaker 1: excellence should be our standard. It should be the norm. 173 00:09:51,429 --> 00:09:55,030 Speaker 1: At home, we have these big five gallon bottles of water. 174 00:09:55,450 --> 00:09:59,050 Speaker 1: They're large glass containers and they have this neck on 175 00:09:59,070 --> 00:10:00,969 Speaker 1: them and you have to pick them up and turn 176 00:10:00,990 --> 00:10:03,150 Speaker 1: them over and set them on the dispenser. That's how 177 00:10:03,190 --> 00:10:06,270 Speaker 1: the water comes out. And they're not only very heavy, 178 00:10:06,309 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 1: but they're extremely awkward. And Victoria likes everything super clean. 179 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,439 Speaker 1: And even though the part where the water goes in 180 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,550 Speaker 1: is completely sealed, the receptor goes way up on the inside. 181 00:10:17,929 --> 00:10:19,890 Speaker 1: You can't even get to it without breaking the seal. 182 00:10:20,410 --> 00:10:24,130 Speaker 1: But Victoria's pet peeve is that the whole glass bottle 183 00:10:24,429 --> 00:10:27,620 Speaker 1: gets wiped down with soap and water. Well, after you 184 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,459 Speaker 1: wipe it down, no matter how much you dry it, 185 00:10:29,700 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: it makes it extremely slippery. And I've debated with her 186 00:10:33,780 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: several times about why we do not need to wipe 187 00:10:37,090 --> 00:10:40,589 Speaker 1: the whole bottle down and how it is absolutely positively 188 00:10:40,730 --> 00:10:43,530 Speaker 1: impossible for germs to get up in there. It is sealed. 189 00:10:44,090 --> 00:10:47,950 Speaker 1: I'm very passionate. I'm very persuasive. But I've never once 190 00:10:48,050 --> 00:10:50,010 Speaker 1: been able to convince her that we don't need to 191 00:10:50,050 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: do it. She likes it wiped down, so I've given 192 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,740 Speaker 1: her my word that I will always wipe it down. 193 00:10:56,420 --> 00:11:00,540 Speaker 1: But there have been a few times where we run 194 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,940 Speaker 1: out of water and I go to the room where 195 00:11:02,980 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: we store it and I get the new container and 196 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,210 Speaker 1: I come back into the pantry where I'm all alone. 197 00:11:09,190 --> 00:11:12,770 Speaker 1: Nobody can see me. I'm tired. I don't feel like 198 00:11:12,830 --> 00:11:14,750 Speaker 1: wiping it down. It makes it harder. It makes it 199 00:11:14,790 --> 00:11:17,490 Speaker 1: so slippery. I know there's no germs on it, but 200 00:11:17,690 --> 00:11:20,230 Speaker 1: every time I start to put it up, I can 201 00:11:20,270 --> 00:11:24,020 Speaker 1: hear a small voice right down in here. saying, Joel, 202 00:11:24,380 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: do the right thing. Be a person of excellence. You've 203 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: given your word more than once. Don't listen, Victoria. More 204 00:11:32,070 --> 00:11:34,350 Speaker 1: than once I've had to take that down, put it 205 00:11:34,390 --> 00:11:36,530 Speaker 1: on the ground, get the soap and water and clean 206 00:11:36,550 --> 00:11:41,790 Speaker 1: that sucker off. What am I saying? Excellence is doing 207 00:11:41,809 --> 00:11:44,689 Speaker 1: the right thing. Even when no one can see you, 208 00:11:45,450 --> 00:11:50,699 Speaker 1: even when you don't think it's necessary. Even when you 209 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,230 Speaker 1: don't agree, you've given your word, so you're going to 210 00:11:54,250 --> 00:11:57,550 Speaker 1: live up to it. Sometimes we have to say, God, 211 00:11:57,610 --> 00:11:59,750 Speaker 1: I don't feel like doing this, but I'm going to 212 00:11:59,790 --> 00:12:02,450 Speaker 1: do it unto you. God, I don't agree with what 213 00:12:02,490 --> 00:12:04,340 Speaker 1: my boss is telling me, but I'm going to do 214 00:12:04,380 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: it unto you. I didn't make the mess, God. I 215 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: shouldn't have to clean it up, but I'm going to 216 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,820 Speaker 1: do it unto you. A lot of people are not 217 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,700 Speaker 1: experiencing God's favor like they should because they're not passing 218 00:12:15,740 --> 00:12:19,570 Speaker 1: the small test. Being excellent in the workplace for you 219 00:12:19,870 --> 00:12:23,270 Speaker 1: may not mean some huge adjustment. It may just mean 220 00:12:23,929 --> 00:12:26,110 Speaker 1: leaving 10 minutes earlier so you can get to work 221 00:12:26,190 --> 00:12:29,630 Speaker 1: on time. It may mean not complaining when your supervisor 222 00:12:29,710 --> 00:12:32,170 Speaker 1: asks you to do something. It may mean not making 223 00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:35,839 Speaker 1: personal phone calls on company time. It's just a small thing. 224 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: Nobody would know. It's not hurting anything. The scripture says 225 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,460 Speaker 1: it's the little foxes that spoil the vines. If I'd 226 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: have gone week after week putting the water up without 227 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:50,930 Speaker 1: cleaning it, nobody would have known just between me and God. Technically, 228 00:12:51,010 --> 00:12:53,230 Speaker 1: I could get away with it. But here's what I've learned. 229 00:12:54,010 --> 00:12:57,730 Speaker 1: I don't want something small to keep God from releasing 230 00:12:57,790 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: something big. I don't want a little thing to keep 231 00:13:01,270 --> 00:13:04,180 Speaker 1: me from becoming everything that God's created me to be. 232 00:13:06,030 --> 00:13:08,490 Speaker 1: I remember my father told how when he was just 233 00:13:08,530 --> 00:13:11,150 Speaker 1: a little boy, five or six years old, he was 234 00:13:11,220 --> 00:13:13,660 Speaker 1: out in the cotton fields with his father. They were 235 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:16,980 Speaker 1: cotton farmers. One day his father gave him a bag 236 00:13:17,020 --> 00:13:19,239 Speaker 1: of cotton seed and said, John, I want you to 237 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,580 Speaker 1: go up and down these rows and sprinkle a little 238 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,740 Speaker 1: seed all along the way. Well, it was hot. My 239 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,610 Speaker 1: father didn't feel like doing that. So instead he came 240 00:13:29,690 --> 00:13:32,089 Speaker 1: up with his own plan that he thought was much better. 241 00:13:32,530 --> 00:13:35,109 Speaker 1: He was going to dig one big hole and dump 242 00:13:35,410 --> 00:13:38,500 Speaker 1: all the seeds into that. So when his father went 243 00:13:38,540 --> 00:13:40,340 Speaker 1: away for a few minutes, he did just that. He 244 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: dug the hole and planted every one of those cotton 245 00:13:42,820 --> 00:13:45,900 Speaker 1: seeds and he didn't think any more about it. But 246 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: several months later, the strangest thing happened. There were row 247 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,300 Speaker 1: after row of empty fields. And on this one end, 248 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:57,730 Speaker 1: it looked like a jungle. It looked like cotton on steroids. 249 00:13:58,370 --> 00:14:01,730 Speaker 1: You've never seen anything like this. The scripture says, be 250 00:14:01,830 --> 00:14:05,470 Speaker 1: sure your sins will find you out. What am I saying? 251 00:14:05,890 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: Don't take the easy way out. Sooner or later, it's 252 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,470 Speaker 1: going to catch up to you. Make a decision with me. 253 00:14:12,710 --> 00:14:15,990 Speaker 1: You're going to be excellent in the workplace. That not 254 00:14:16,090 --> 00:14:18,770 Speaker 1: only honors God, but it is one of the best 255 00:14:19,030 --> 00:14:22,980 Speaker 1: witnesses we could ever have. I know people that can 256 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: quote half the Bible. They can pray two hours a day, 257 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: but they have no influence, no credibility because they're sloppy 258 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:36,420 Speaker 1: in the workplace. They're always late, always wasting time. They're 259 00:14:36,460 --> 00:14:40,190 Speaker 1: not productive. They're not efficient. No one will even listen 260 00:14:40,210 --> 00:14:44,620 Speaker 1: to them. I heard somebody say your performance gives you 261 00:14:44,660 --> 00:14:48,580 Speaker 1: a platform. When you excel in what you do, that 262 00:14:48,620 --> 00:14:52,110 Speaker 1: gets people's attention. You can talk to them all day 263 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,190 Speaker 1: long about your faith, but if they don't see something 264 00:14:55,310 --> 00:14:57,630 Speaker 1: in you that they want, then it's going to go 265 00:14:57,770 --> 00:15:00,530 Speaker 1: in one ear and out the other. The way to 266 00:15:00,570 --> 00:15:04,370 Speaker 1: gain respect, the way to gain influence is to develop 267 00:15:04,430 --> 00:15:08,070 Speaker 1: your character and develop your skills in such a way 268 00:15:08,570 --> 00:15:12,330 Speaker 1: that people are almost envious of you. They may not 269 00:15:12,450 --> 00:15:15,470 Speaker 1: agree with what you believe, but when you lead the 270 00:15:15,530 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: company in sales, they can't argue with that. Something is working. 271 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,260 Speaker 1: They may make fun of you at the shop, but 272 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,580 Speaker 1: when you're the best mechanic in the company, you've taken 273 00:15:25,660 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: time to develop your skills. Then when they can't figure 274 00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: out how to fix the car, they may not like you, 275 00:15:31,820 --> 00:15:34,310 Speaker 1: but they'll come ask you how to do it. What happened? 276 00:15:34,510 --> 00:15:38,090 Speaker 1: You earned their respect, not by your words, but by 277 00:15:38,110 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: your spirit of excellence. Jesus said it this way, let 278 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,820 Speaker 1: your light shine before men that they may see your 279 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,220 Speaker 1: good work and praise your father in heaven. He's saying, 280 00:15:51,340 --> 00:15:54,730 Speaker 1: if you'll develop what God's put in you and excel 281 00:15:54,850 --> 00:15:59,610 Speaker 1: in your career, then when people see your accomplishments, your character, 282 00:15:59,990 --> 00:16:03,980 Speaker 1: your worth ethic, that will bring praise to God. We 283 00:16:04,010 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: hear the phrase a lot, glory to God. Glory means 284 00:16:07,780 --> 00:16:12,660 Speaker 1: to make illustrious, to exalt to a higher position. And 285 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: the way we bring glory to God is not just 286 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,940 Speaker 1: with our words, not just with our praise, but when 287 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: you excel in the workplace, you are exalting God. When 288 00:16:22,380 --> 00:16:25,830 Speaker 1: you develop that new software for your department, you just 289 00:16:25,990 --> 00:16:30,090 Speaker 1: glorified God. When you coach your team to a winning season, 290 00:16:30,330 --> 00:16:33,729 Speaker 1: you glorified God. When you are the example that your 291 00:16:33,780 --> 00:16:37,610 Speaker 1: company uses to train the new employees, you glorified God. 292 00:16:38,490 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: The truth is, we should glorify God more during the 293 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:46,230 Speaker 1: week than we do on Sundays. We all already know 294 00:16:46,290 --> 00:16:48,830 Speaker 1: how great God is in here. We know God can 295 00:16:48,870 --> 00:16:52,290 Speaker 1: do anything. But when you go out Monday and you 296 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: close that big sale that you've been working on and 297 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: your co-workers think, wow, how did he pull that off? 298 00:16:58,780 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: You just glorified God. That one accomplishment made God look better. 299 00:17:04,460 --> 00:17:07,070 Speaker 1: I know a young man that attends here. He has 300 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: over 50 scholarships to play basketball at major universities. I 301 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: saw him not long ago and he had a big 302 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: game the night before and I asked him how he did. 303 00:17:16,980 --> 00:17:19,810 Speaker 1: He had scored 42 points. I said, how many did 304 00:17:19,830 --> 00:17:23,050 Speaker 1: your team score? He said, 80. He had scored more 305 00:17:23,070 --> 00:17:25,690 Speaker 1: than half the points. You know what he's doing? He's 306 00:17:25,710 --> 00:17:28,530 Speaker 1: glorifying God. Well, you say, Joel, he just won a 307 00:17:28,550 --> 00:17:31,370 Speaker 1: basketball game. He just has a lot of talent. Yes, 308 00:17:31,609 --> 00:17:34,390 Speaker 1: but that's the talent God's given him and now he's 309 00:17:34,430 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: taking time to develop it. He's focused. He's disciplined. He's 310 00:17:38,780 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: honoring God by being his best. Do you know there 311 00:17:42,580 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: are a lot of talented people sitting on the sideline? 312 00:17:45,780 --> 00:17:48,409 Speaker 1: A lot of gifted people that are not tapping in 313 00:17:48,670 --> 00:17:51,380 Speaker 1: to what God put on the inside? And I'm not 314 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:55,700 Speaker 1: talking about competing with others and trying to outdo somebody else. 315 00:17:56,180 --> 00:18:00,060 Speaker 1: I'm talking about honoring God by being the very best 316 00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: that you can be. And every one of us can 317 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,700 Speaker 1: be excellent at something. You can be an excellent mother. 318 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: You can be an excellent accountant. You can be an 319 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:14,460 Speaker 1: excellent receptionist, one that finds new ways to make the 320 00:18:14,540 --> 00:18:17,429 Speaker 1: company run smoother. People look at you and think, wow, 321 00:18:18,230 --> 00:18:20,429 Speaker 1: We couldn't make it without that young lady. She is 322 00:18:20,470 --> 00:18:23,870 Speaker 1: something else. You know what you did? You glorified God. 323 00:18:24,330 --> 00:18:28,310 Speaker 1: In their mind, you made God more illustrious. You may 324 00:18:28,350 --> 00:18:30,910 Speaker 1: not be able to win people over with your words. 325 00:18:31,550 --> 00:18:34,689 Speaker 1: You may not gain their respect with your speech. But 326 00:18:34,730 --> 00:18:38,260 Speaker 1: when you cause that company to run like a well-oiled machine, 327 00:18:38,670 --> 00:18:41,940 Speaker 1: then they'll respect you. When you get your students' test 328 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:46,739 Speaker 1: scores higher than the experts said, that'll get attention. When 329 00:18:46,780 --> 00:18:50,180 Speaker 1: you show up on time, go the extra mile, do 330 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:54,490 Speaker 1: more than that's expected, that will get noticed. Our attitude 331 00:18:54,530 --> 00:18:57,950 Speaker 1: should be, I'm going to glorify God this week. I'm 332 00:18:57,990 --> 00:19:00,370 Speaker 1: going to go out and make God look better. I'm 333 00:19:00,390 --> 00:19:02,949 Speaker 1: going to make him look more illustrious by being the 334 00:19:03,010 --> 00:19:05,869 Speaker 1: very best that I can be. When you have a 335 00:19:05,950 --> 00:19:10,820 Speaker 1: spirit of excellence, you're always sharpening your skills. You're always 336 00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:15,420 Speaker 1: looking for new ways to grow. Here's a challenge. Whatever 337 00:19:15,460 --> 00:19:19,060 Speaker 1: you do, get better at it. If you're a carpenter, 338 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,180 Speaker 1: get better at it. If you're a doctor, get better 339 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:24,790 Speaker 1: at it. If you're in sales, get better at it. 340 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:29,219 Speaker 1: Find out how you can improve. Study ways that you 341 00:19:29,270 --> 00:19:32,949 Speaker 1: can become more effective. You should not be at the 342 00:19:33,010 --> 00:19:36,270 Speaker 1: same skill level next year as you are right now. 343 00:19:36,930 --> 00:19:40,910 Speaker 1: You should be doing something on purpose to increase your skills. 344 00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:44,830 Speaker 1: You have to be proactive. We cannot sit back and 345 00:19:44,850 --> 00:19:49,730 Speaker 1: just expect our talent to automatically increase. God helps the people. 346 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: that help themselves. Can you take courses on the internet? 347 00:19:54,330 --> 00:19:57,230 Speaker 1: Do you have a mentor speaking faith into your life? 348 00:19:58,010 --> 00:20:00,590 Speaker 1: Are you studying the people ahead of you? Are you 349 00:20:00,650 --> 00:20:04,460 Speaker 1: learning the next position in line? If you'll take these 350 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 1: steps to grow, it not only honors God, but God 351 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:12,010 Speaker 1: will open up the right doors. The scripture says your 352 00:20:12,090 --> 00:20:15,619 Speaker 1: gift will make room for you. You say, Joel, I 353 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,619 Speaker 1: never see promotion. I never see new doors open. My 354 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,870 Speaker 1: question is, are you developing your gifts? Are you improving? 355 00:20:23,390 --> 00:20:26,030 Speaker 1: Are you an employee that the company can't live without? 356 00:20:26,650 --> 00:20:28,669 Speaker 1: If you were to miss a couple weeks, do they 357 00:20:28,730 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: miss you? Do they feel your impact? God promises if 358 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:37,500 Speaker 1: you'll develop what's in you and continually be improving, he 359 00:20:37,540 --> 00:20:41,090 Speaker 1: will make sure the right doors will open. But we 360 00:20:41,109 --> 00:20:43,410 Speaker 1: can't sit back and think, okay, God, open the door 361 00:20:43,490 --> 00:20:45,710 Speaker 1: and then I'll get ready. No, we have to make 362 00:20:45,730 --> 00:20:49,050 Speaker 1: the first move. We need to develop a habit of 363 00:20:49,230 --> 00:20:52,210 Speaker 1: looking for ways to grow. It should be a part 364 00:20:52,410 --> 00:20:55,930 Speaker 1: of our nature. It doesn't matter if we're 90 years old, 365 00:20:56,210 --> 00:21:00,570 Speaker 1: we're still growing, increasing, improving. I can look back at 366 00:21:00,630 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: my messages from when I first started 10 years ago 367 00:21:03,890 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: and see how I've improved. Every year I've gotten a 368 00:21:06,619 --> 00:21:09,369 Speaker 1: little bit better, a little bit better. And the fact is, 369 00:21:09,790 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: I could have stayed at that same level I was 370 00:21:12,150 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: when I started. I wasn't bad. I was okay. Nobody 371 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,020 Speaker 1: would have complained, but I would not have seen these 372 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,780 Speaker 1: new doors open. I took time and was disciplined to 373 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: develop what God's put on the inside. And I believe 374 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,150 Speaker 1: even five years from now, I'll look back at this 375 00:21:27,230 --> 00:21:29,010 Speaker 1: message and think, man, I can do it a whole 376 00:21:29,050 --> 00:21:33,210 Speaker 1: lot better now. I'm constantly studying how I can improve. 377 00:21:33,690 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 1: How can I communicate more effectively? I am proactive when 378 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,580 Speaker 1: it comes to sharpening my skills. No matter how great 379 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,460 Speaker 1: you are at what you do right now, you cannot 380 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:49,750 Speaker 1: get satisfied. When you stop improving, you stop growing. And 381 00:21:49,790 --> 00:21:53,230 Speaker 1: when you stop growing, that's when you become stagnant. It's 382 00:21:53,290 --> 00:21:57,490 Speaker 1: very easy to get complacent and lose your enthusiasm, start 383 00:21:57,530 --> 00:21:59,410 Speaker 1: slacking off, start cutting corners. 384 00:21:59,730 --> 00:21:59,950 Speaker 2: Why? 385 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,129 Speaker 1: You're not being challenged. There's nothing pushing you. I love 386 00:22:04,150 --> 00:22:08,139 Speaker 1: what it says about David. He played his harp skillfully. 387 00:22:09,010 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: Notice he didn't just play the harp, he played it 388 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:15,500 Speaker 1: with excellence. Even with that slingshot, when he slung that 389 00:22:15,619 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 1: stone that defeated Goliath, that was not an accident. That 390 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:24,170 Speaker 1: wasn't a lucky break. David had practiced the slingshot year 391 00:22:24,390 --> 00:22:27,970 Speaker 1: after year out there in the shepherd's fields. He was 392 00:22:28,070 --> 00:22:32,550 Speaker 1: extremely talented with that slingshot. Some experts say he could 393 00:22:32,590 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: hit a small bullseye more than 100 feet away. What 394 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:40,220 Speaker 1: am I saying? he didn't get complacent. He kept improving. 395 00:22:40,900 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: And in today's competitive world, with the economy being so 396 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: tight and businesses being so bottom line oriented, if you're 397 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:53,010 Speaker 1: not growing, then you're at a disadvantage. If you're at 398 00:22:53,050 --> 00:22:56,090 Speaker 1: the same skill level this year as you were five 399 00:22:56,150 --> 00:22:59,470 Speaker 1: years from now, then you are falling behind. You need 400 00:22:59,510 --> 00:23:02,150 Speaker 1: to step it up a notch. I saw an article 401 00:23:02,190 --> 00:23:05,310 Speaker 1: that talked about how to reduce the risk of being 402 00:23:05,350 --> 00:23:09,310 Speaker 1: laid off. There were three main things that businesses looked 403 00:23:09,470 --> 00:23:11,550 Speaker 1: at when they were thinking about who to lay off 404 00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:14,250 Speaker 1: and who not to lay off. The people that didn't 405 00:23:14,270 --> 00:23:18,490 Speaker 1: get laid off, number one, had a positive attitude. Number two, 406 00:23:18,630 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: they were versatile. And number three, they were always improving 407 00:23:22,859 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 1: their skills. And so if you want to reduce the 408 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:30,379 Speaker 1: chance of unemployment, make sure, number one, you stay positive, 409 00:23:30,660 --> 00:23:35,939 Speaker 1: stay flexible, and keep growing, keep increasing, keep improving. If 410 00:23:35,980 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 1: you will get better at what you do, there will 411 00:23:38,790 --> 00:23:42,230 Speaker 1: always be a place for you. Your gift will make room. 412 00:23:43,369 --> 00:23:47,110 Speaker 1: When you're a person of excellence, you do more than expected. 413 00:23:47,810 --> 00:23:50,450 Speaker 1: You don't take the easy way out. You don't do 414 00:23:50,470 --> 00:23:55,140 Speaker 1: the minimum requirement. You go the extra mile. That phrase 415 00:23:55,280 --> 00:24:00,100 Speaker 1: actually comes from the Bible. Jesus said it in Matthew 5, 41. 416 00:24:00,100 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 1: If someone asks you to walk a mile with them, 417 00:24:02,550 --> 00:24:06,310 Speaker 1: do more, go two miles. Here's the context. Back in 418 00:24:06,350 --> 00:24:10,030 Speaker 1: those days, Roman soldiers, when they were walking through a city, 419 00:24:10,630 --> 00:24:13,990 Speaker 1: by law, they could require a person to carry their 420 00:24:14,130 --> 00:24:17,489 Speaker 1: armor for one mile. And after that mile, they'd have 421 00:24:17,530 --> 00:24:20,469 Speaker 1: to get somebody else. Jesus said, if they ask you 422 00:24:20,490 --> 00:24:23,669 Speaker 1: to do it one mile, go above and beyond the 423 00:24:23,710 --> 00:24:27,500 Speaker 1: call of duty. Do more than expected, carry it two miles. 424 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: That's the attitude we need to have. Not, I'm just 425 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:32,820 Speaker 1: going to do what I have to. I'm going to 426 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,780 Speaker 1: do the minimum amount to keep my paycheck. No, we 427 00:24:35,820 --> 00:24:38,139 Speaker 1: are people of excellence. I'm going to go above and 428 00:24:38,180 --> 00:24:40,609 Speaker 1: beyond what I have to. I'm going to do more 429 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:44,670 Speaker 1: than expected. That's the attitude God rewards. One time in 430 00:24:44,710 --> 00:24:48,820 Speaker 1: the scripture, Abraham sent his servant to another country to 431 00:24:48,859 --> 00:24:52,459 Speaker 1: find a wife for his son Isaac. This servant traveled 432 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:56,460 Speaker 1: a great distance with ten camels. Around sunset, he came 433 00:24:56,500 --> 00:24:59,780 Speaker 1: to a well outside of a city. This was a 434 00:24:59,820 --> 00:25:02,090 Speaker 1: time of day that the young ladies would come and 435 00:25:02,109 --> 00:25:05,470 Speaker 1: get water for their families. The servant didn't know how 436 00:25:05,530 --> 00:25:07,910 Speaker 1: he was going to know who the right wife would 437 00:25:07,950 --> 00:25:09,810 Speaker 1: be for Isaac and who he was going to choose. 438 00:25:10,130 --> 00:25:12,570 Speaker 1: So he prayed. He said, God, I believe you'll give 439 00:25:12,609 --> 00:25:15,790 Speaker 1: me a sign. I'm going to ask these ladies for 440 00:25:15,810 --> 00:25:19,070 Speaker 1: a drink of water. And the one that says, yes, 441 00:25:19,210 --> 00:25:21,750 Speaker 1: I'll give you a drink. And also let me get 442 00:25:21,790 --> 00:25:25,050 Speaker 1: your camel some water. I'll know she is the right 443 00:25:25,230 --> 00:25:29,420 Speaker 1: wife for Isaac. About that time, a beautiful girl named 444 00:25:29,460 --> 00:25:32,379 Speaker 1: Rebecca came to the well. The servant said, I've traveled 445 00:25:32,420 --> 00:25:34,409 Speaker 1: a great distance and I don't have a bucket. Do 446 00:25:34,450 --> 00:25:37,810 Speaker 1: you mind getting me some water? Rebecca said, sure, I will. 447 00:25:38,290 --> 00:25:40,890 Speaker 1: Not only that, let me get all your camels some 448 00:25:40,930 --> 00:25:43,930 Speaker 1: water as well. He knew immediately she was the right 449 00:25:43,990 --> 00:25:47,820 Speaker 1: young lady. But here's what's interesting to me. A camel, 450 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,260 Speaker 1: after a long day's walk, can drink 30 gallons of water. 451 00:25:52,820 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: They're like an SUV. Can you imagine the magnitude of 452 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,490 Speaker 1: what Rebecca did? She said to the servant, yes, I'll 453 00:26:01,530 --> 00:26:04,650 Speaker 1: not only do what you've asked, but I'll dip down 454 00:26:04,690 --> 00:26:08,730 Speaker 1: in this well 300 more times and get your 10 455 00:26:08,730 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: camels water as well. That's what I call going the 456 00:26:12,460 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: extra mile. She went far beyond the call of duty. 457 00:26:16,460 --> 00:26:21,629 Speaker 1: Notice what happened. God chose her to marry Isaac. Isaac 458 00:26:21,690 --> 00:26:25,570 Speaker 1: came from one of the wealthiest, most prominent families of 459 00:26:25,630 --> 00:26:28,930 Speaker 1: that day. I doubt if Rebecca ever had to reach 460 00:26:28,990 --> 00:26:32,810 Speaker 1: down into a well 300 times again. What am I saying? 461 00:26:33,390 --> 00:26:37,770 Speaker 1: God rewards excellence. When you do more than what's required 462 00:26:37,810 --> 00:26:40,130 Speaker 1: of you, you better get ready. You're going to see 463 00:26:40,170 --> 00:26:44,970 Speaker 1: God's favor in amazing ways. And I know today... I 464 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,700 Speaker 1: know today I am looking at the cream of the crop. 465 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:50,980 Speaker 1: I'm looking at people that go the extra mile. People 466 00:26:51,020 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: that will say with Rebecca, let me get your camel 467 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: some water. You are people that don't cut corners. You 468 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: do the right thing even though no one is watching. 469 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:04,550 Speaker 1: You're continually sharpening your skills, growing, increasing, improving. Here's what 470 00:27:04,590 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: that tells me. Increase is coming your way. New doors 471 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:13,510 Speaker 1: are going to open, new relationships, new connections, new opportunities. 472 00:27:13,869 --> 00:27:17,150 Speaker 1: Your gift will make room for you. Get up every 473 00:27:17,190 --> 00:27:21,010 Speaker 1: morning with enthusiasm. Whatever you do, large or small, do 474 00:27:21,050 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: it to the best of your abilities. Honor God in 475 00:27:24,020 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 1: the workplace. If you will be a person of excellence, 476 00:27:27,460 --> 00:27:29,880 Speaker 1: knowing that you're working under God and not under men, 477 00:27:30,540 --> 00:27:33,100 Speaker 1: then I believe like Rebecca, God is going to take 478 00:27:33,140 --> 00:27:35,830 Speaker 1: you places that you've never dreamed of. You are going 479 00:27:35,850 --> 00:27:40,170 Speaker 1: to accomplish goals you never thought possible, overcome obstacles that 480 00:27:40,190 --> 00:27:45,130 Speaker 1: looked insurmountable. And I believe and declare every dream, every 481 00:27:45,230 --> 00:27:47,490 Speaker 1: promise God put in your heart, you're going to see 482 00:27:47,510 --> 00:27:50,090 Speaker 1: that come to pass. Amen. Do you receive that today? 483 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:54,980 Speaker 1: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 484 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 485 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I 486 00:28:01,859 --> 00:28:06,230 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 487 00:28:06,270 --> 00:28:09,690 Speaker 1: you my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that 488 00:28:09,750 --> 00:28:12,490 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 489 00:28:12,530 --> 00:28:15,869 Speaker 1: a good Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going 490 00:28:15,890 --> 00:28:17,790 Speaker 1: to take you places you've never dreamed of. 491 00:28:26,150 --> 00:28:29,460 Speaker 3: Don't wait for the perfect time Don't wait for things 492 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 3: to change Don't wait another day Start believing and taking 493 00:28:34,550 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 3: action now The. 494 00:28:36,180 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: Scripture says, write the vision and make it plain to see. 495 00:28:40,060 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: There's something powerful about writing down what you're believing for. 496 00:28:43,420 --> 00:28:45,980 Speaker 1: That's why I'd love to send you my new I 497 00:28:46,020 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: Believe Planner. It's a place to write down your dreams, 498 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:53,070 Speaker 1: your prayers, and the promises you're standing on. What stays 499 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,990 Speaker 1: before your eyes has a way of staying in your heart. 500 00:28:56,570 --> 00:28:58,969 Speaker 1: Every time you see what you've written, let it be 501 00:28:59,010 --> 00:29:01,490 Speaker 1: a reminder to thank God that He's already at work 502 00:29:01,570 --> 00:29:04,870 Speaker 1: behind the scenes, even when you can't see it. As 503 00:29:04,890 --> 00:29:07,130 Speaker 1: you keep your faith in front of you day after day, 504 00:29:07,410 --> 00:29:11,330 Speaker 1: you'll be encouraged, your expectation will grow, and you'll begin 505 00:29:11,350 --> 00:29:13,650 Speaker 1: to see God bring those dreams to pass. 506 00:29:14,380 --> 00:29:17,780 Speaker 3: The I Believe Planner is a beautiful new resource designed 507 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,780 Speaker 3: to help you believe God for more in your health, 508 00:29:21,060 --> 00:29:24,980 Speaker 3: your family, your future. Inside, you'll find a weekly I 509 00:29:25,020 --> 00:29:28,870 Speaker 3: Believe Declaration to frame your mindset and shift the atmosphere 510 00:29:28,930 --> 00:29:33,180 Speaker 3: with God's Word. daily planning, to-dos, and prayer prompts, and 511 00:29:33,270 --> 00:29:36,710 Speaker 3: space to reflect and record God's faithfulness in your life. 512 00:29:37,250 --> 00:29:39,990 Speaker 3: Each month brings a fresh scripture and theme, plus a 513 00:29:40,060 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 3: QR code linking to an exclusive message from Joel to 514 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:48,070 Speaker 3: keep you encouraged all year long. This 15-month planner will 515 00:29:48,110 --> 00:29:50,730 Speaker 3: inspire you for the rest of this year and set 516 00:29:50,770 --> 00:29:55,180 Speaker 3: you on a course for breakthrough throughout 2027. It's yours 517 00:29:55,260 --> 00:29:57,900 Speaker 3: as a thank you for your gift to the ministry today. 518 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:01,860 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of The I Believe Planner, 519 00:30:02,140 --> 00:30:09,150 Speaker 3: available this month by visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 520 00:30:09,930 --> 00:30:12,390 Speaker 1: Don't just carry your dreams in your heart. Put them 521 00:30:12,470 --> 00:30:15,210 Speaker 1: on paper. And as you read them each day, keep 522 00:30:15,270 --> 00:30:18,540 Speaker 1: thanking God that He's working. Victoria and I are praying 523 00:30:18,580 --> 00:30:21,450 Speaker 1: for you and your family every day. Thanks so much 524 00:30:21,470 --> 00:30:25,290 Speaker 1: for your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take 525 00:30:25,350 --> 00:30:28,390 Speaker 1: this message of hope to people around the world. A 526 00:30:28,410 --> 00:30:31,180 Speaker 1: special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for 527 00:30:31,260 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: all you do to make the ministry possible. Until we 528 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,380 Speaker 1: meet again, may the Lord keep you and bless you. 529 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:41,620 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of The I Believe Planner, 530 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:48,850 Speaker 3: available this month by visiting us at joelosteen.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 531 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:52,150 Speaker 3: With an additional gift, you can also receive the I 532 00:30:52,210 --> 00:30:56,310 Speaker 3: Believe in His Word collection, featuring the Passion Translation New 533 00:30:56,350 --> 00:31:00,570 Speaker 3: Testament Reader's Edition, alongside the I Believe Planner, so you 534 00:31:00,610 --> 00:31:04,270 Speaker 3: can carry God's Word with you every single day, right 535 00:31:04,330 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 3: alongside the promises you're standing on. Don't wait until 2027 536 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:10,500 Speaker 3: to believe God for more. 537 00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:12,220 Speaker 1: This is your moment. 538 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:18,310 Speaker 3: You can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or 539 00:31:18,370 --> 00:31:23,150 Speaker 3: logging on to joelostein.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 540 00:31:23,150 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 3: hours a day.