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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 26 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: But he'll never forget how you invest it in his 27 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: future with the units stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 33 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 34 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 3: iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 35 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 36 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: UNEs dot co. 37 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 39 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 40 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with a friend. 41 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 4: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 42 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 4: your life. Will God bless you? It is always our 43 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 4: joy to come into your homes. We know God has 44 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 4: great things in store, and you're ever in our area. 45 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 4: I hope you'll stop by and be a part of 46 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 4: one of our services. I promise you it will make 47 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 4: you feel right at home. Thanks so much for tuning 48 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 4: in to day. I like to get started with something 49 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 4: funny each week, and I heard about this man named Bill. 50 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 4: He was a Southern Baptist, and he loved to sneak 51 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 4: out to the horse races and bet. And one day, 52 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 4: after losing almost all of his money, he saw a 53 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 4: priest step out onto the tracks and bless a horse. 54 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 4: He watched closely, and sure enough the horse won first place. 55 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 4: The next race, the priest blessed another horse. Once again 56 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 4: it won well. Bill ran down to the ATM machine 57 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 4: got all of his money out. This time he saw 58 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 4: the priest not only touch the horse's forehead, but he 59 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 4: touched his eyes, his ears, and all of his hoofs. 60 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 4: Feeling so confident, he bet all of his money. But 61 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 4: in the middle of that race, that horse fell over 62 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 4: and died. He couldn't believe it. He said to the priest, 63 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 4: what in the world happened? The priest said, that's the 64 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 4: problem with you Protestants. You don't know the difference between 65 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 4: a blessing and the last rites. All right, hold up 66 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 4: your Bible, say it like you mean it. This is 67 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 4: my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 68 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 4: have what it says I have. I can do what 69 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 4: it says I can do. Today I will be taught 70 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 4: the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 71 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 4: my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 72 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 4: In Jesus's name, God bless you. I want to talk 73 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 4: to you today about embracing change. One thing is certain. 74 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 4: Change is inevitable. People change, jobs, change, styles change, even 75 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 4: seasons change. And God has designed us to need change. 76 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 4: But so many people fight it. They hold on to 77 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 4: the old because they're familiar. It's what they're used to, 78 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 4: they're comfortable. If we're not careful, we'll get stuck in 79 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 4: a rut to where we're not growing, we're not stretching, 80 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 4: not using the potential on the inside. That's one reason 81 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 4: God sinds change. He willt allow us to stay stuck. 82 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 4: And sometimes the very things that we fight against, the 83 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 4: very things that we think are trying to pull us down, 84 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 4: is actually the hand of God trying to push us 85 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 4: into a new season. The way God works is he 86 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 4: will stir us out of comfortable situations, and he'll put 87 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 4: us in situations that make us stretch situations that force 88 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 4: us to use our faith. We may not like it, 89 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 4: it may be uncomfortable, but God loves us too much 90 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 4: to just leave us alone. And just as God can 91 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 4: supernaturally open doors, sometimes God will supernaturally close doors. And 92 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 4: if we can just realize nothing happens by accident, God 93 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 4: is directing every one of our steps. That means if 94 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 4: a friend does us wrong, if we go through a setback, 95 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 4: if we lose a loved one, we can either embrace 96 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 4: that change and God will use it to take us higher, 97 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 4: or we can resis list it and we'll end up 98 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 4: getting stagnant and just settling for mediocrity. We have to 99 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 4: stay open for change. Don't approach change from a negative 100 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 4: point of view to where you just automatically assume it's 101 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 4: going to be bad. It may be negative on the surface, 102 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,799 Speaker 4: but remember God would not allow it if he didn't 103 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 4: have a purpose for it. He's going to use it 104 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 4: to stretch you and to somehow hopefully push you into 105 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 4: a new dimension. What may be a perfectly fine situation 106 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 4: for years, all of a sudden you see a stirring 107 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 4: taking place. Maybe you thought you'd be at that job 108 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 4: for the next thirty years. But for some reason, the 109 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 4: people that were behind you are not behind you anymore. 110 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 4: You don't have the favor you used to have. There 111 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 4: seems like every day is an uphill battle. What is that? 112 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 4: That's God's stirring things up? It's easy to get negative. Better, God, 113 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 4: why is this happening? I thought I had your favor? 114 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 4: But a much better approach is to just stay old 115 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 4: and know that God is still in control. If you 116 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 4: will embrace that change, the whims that you thought were 117 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 4: going to defeat you will actually be the winms that 118 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 4: push you into your divine destiny. Stay open for change. 119 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 4: So many people resisted. They try to hold on to 120 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 4: things that God's been done with for ten years. Maybe 121 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 4: in a relationship. Deep down, we know that friend is 122 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 4: not good for us. We know they're keeping us from 123 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 4: being our best, But we think, man, if we change, 124 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 4: we're not going to have friends, We're going to be lonely. 125 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 4: We just don't want to rock the boat. That's why 126 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 4: sometimes God will turn the boat over. Sometimes God will 127 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 4: force us to move forward, not because he's mean, not 128 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 4: because he's trying to make our lives miserable, but because 129 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 4: he has such a great desire to see us reach 130 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 4: our full potential. So sometimes he may cause a friend 131 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 4: to walk away. He'll stir things up and maybe even 132 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 4: allow a friend to do us wrong because he knows 133 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 4: if he doesn't close that door, we would never move ahead. 134 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 4: Thirty years later, that friend would still be dragging us down, 135 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 4: keeping us from our destiny. Don't be discouraged over the 136 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 4: people that leave your life. You may have had a friend, 137 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 4: a coworker, an associate that walked out of a relationship. 138 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 4: You're kind of down thinking that it was the end, 139 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 4: but you need to realize it is only the beginning. 140 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,239 Speaker 4: God would not have stirred it up if he didn't 141 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 4: have something better in store. And you may think they 142 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 4: were doing you wrong, but really they were doing you 143 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 4: a favor. You need to just blow them a kiss, goodbye, 144 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 4: wave at him, never look back, keep moving forward. What 145 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 4: I'm saying is when things start stirring, that's a sign 146 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 4: transition is coming. My father, for many years pastored a 147 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 4: denominational church. He was doing great, they were growing. He 148 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 4: thought he would be there the rest of his life. 149 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 4: But one day he begin to feel something on the inside, 150 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 4: a desire to get to know God better. It was 151 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 4: about that time that my sister Lisa was born with 152 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 4: something like cerebral palsy, and my parents were forced to 153 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 4: deal with that change. My father went away for a 154 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 4: few days and God alone, and he began to search 155 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 4: the scriptures. And he came back to his congregation and 156 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 4: begin to preach with a new fire, a new enthusiasm, 157 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 4: letting them know that God is a good God, that 158 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 4: he has an abundant life, and that he could even 159 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 4: still heal today. He thought everybody would be excited, He 160 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 4: thought they would all be behind him, but it was 161 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 4: just the opposite. They didn't understand it. It didn't fit 162 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 4: into their tradition. They thought he was far out, and 163 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 4: some of my mother and father's longtime friends, people they 164 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 4: had known for years, turned on them, started talking behind 165 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 4: their backs, started stirring up trouble, saying that he needed 166 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 4: to leave. My dad was devastated. God, here, I've given 167 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 4: my life for these people. Why is this happening? But 168 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 4: the fact is God was the one stirring it all up. 169 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 4: God knew my father would never reach his full potential 170 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 4: if he stayed in that limited environment. He knew he 171 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 4: would never be able to spread his wings and soar 172 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 4: if he stayed in those confines, and it looked like 173 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 4: a big disappointment, it looked like the enemy was getting 174 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 4: the best of him. But the truth is behind the scenes, 175 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,319 Speaker 4: God was orchestrating it all. God could see the big picture. 176 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 4: My father left that church dejected, feeling like his days 177 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 4: of ministry may be over, feeling like he was a 178 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 4: big failure. But it was actually that closed door that 179 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 4: caused my dad to take a step of faith and 180 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 4: start Lakewood Church. That was on Mother's Day in nineteen 181 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 4: fifty nine. Here we are today, nearly fifty years later, 182 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 4: still going strong. My sister Lisa is perfectly normal. But 183 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 4: I don't believe we would be where we are right 184 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 4: now if God had not stirred it up, and if 185 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 4: my father had not been open for change. Moses said 186 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 4: in Deuteronomy thirty two eleven, as an eagle stirs up 187 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 4: her nest, so God will stir up his children. When 188 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,719 Speaker 4: you see things stirring in your life, things are uncomfortable, 189 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 4: changes are taking place, don't immediately think, Wow, why don't 190 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 4: always get these bad breaks? Nothing good ever happens to me. No, 191 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 4: just turn it around and say, God, I know you're 192 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 4: still in control, and I believe you're stirring this up 193 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 4: because you're about to open up a new door and 194 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 4: take me to a higher level. Stay in faith. I 195 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 4: read where people that live over one hundred years, one 196 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 4: of their common qualities is they are able to accept change. 197 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 4: They don't hold on to the old. And that's one 198 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,319 Speaker 4: thing I love about my mother. She's not quite a 199 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 4: hundred yet. When my father went to be with the Lord, 200 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 4: they had been married nearly fifty years, and sure my 201 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 4: mother was disappointed. She went through a season of mourning, 202 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 4: but she didn't stay in that season. She dusted herself off, 203 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 4: she put her shoulders back and got ready for the 204 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 4: new thing that God was about to do. And when 205 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 4: a season is over, we've got to learn to accept 206 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 4: it and get ready to embrace the new. That means 207 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 4: quit talking about the job that you lost, quit talking 208 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 4: about the relationship that didn't work out, or even quit 209 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 4: talking about how when you were younger you could run 210 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 4: so fast and you were so thin and you had 211 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 4: all your hair. Now this is a new day. You 212 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 4: got to accept where you are right now, learn to 213 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 4: embrace that change. I think about how when Victoria and 214 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 4: I took over after my father went to be with 215 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 4: the Lord. We didn't do everything exactly like it had 216 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 4: been done in the past. While we always honor the past, 217 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 4: and we honor and respect my parents. They founded the ministry. 218 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 4: But God made us all individuals, and so we made 219 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 4: some slight changes in the services here and there how 220 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 4: things operate. But my mother never once came and said, Joel, 221 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 4: I don't think we should do it that way. That's 222 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:14,439 Speaker 4: not the way we've done it in the past. I 223 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 4: don't know if that's the way your father would do it. 224 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 4: She's very good at embracing the new. So often we 225 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 4: try to hold on to the old. I've had people 226 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 4: tell me, Joel, this is the way we did it 227 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 4: when I was growing up. These are the songs we 228 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 4: used to sing in church. This is how our minister 229 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 4: used to minister. We didn't have those guitars, we didn't 230 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 4: have those lights, especially the ones that move, and we 231 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 4: weren't in a basketball arena. I grew up in a 232 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 4: little church, Joel, Well, I grew up in a little 233 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 4: church too. But it was God who moved us out 234 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 4: of the little church. It was God who opened up 235 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 4: this door. I'd stay open for change today. We're in 236 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:56,319 Speaker 4: a big church. Understand what was good in the past 237 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 4: was right for the past. It was right for that time. 238 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 4: But God is a progressive god. He likes to do 239 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 4: new things. And if you're going to be your best today, 240 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 4: you've got to learn to not only accept change, but 241 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 4: to embrace it. I say this respectfully, but I know 242 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 4: people that go to the same church year after year. 243 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 4: They don't enjoy it. They're not growing, they're not being challenged. 244 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 4: But they wouldn't dare try anything different because their family 245 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 4: has been in that church for four hundred and twenty 246 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 4: seven years. Great great great granddaddy sat on this pew. 247 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 4: Great Grandmama said, on this pew, I sit on this pew. 248 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 4: My kids said, on this pew, this is our pew. 249 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 4: You'd be better off to fight a pit bull than 250 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 4: to try to get their pew. Have you noticed we 251 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 4: don't have any pews around here. What's the problem? They 252 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 4: are stuck in tradition. Tradition is not bad, but tradition 253 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 4: can change. Have you ever thought about how you can 254 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 4: start a new tradition for your family. You can do 255 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 4: something different, and if you do it in the right spirit, 256 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 4: in love, people will accept it. And I'm all for 257 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 4: being loyal and sticking with something, but I also know 258 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 4: you have to put yourself in a place where you're 259 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 4: going to grow, where you're going to be challenged, not 260 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 4: just in your church, but in your relationships, in your job, 261 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 4: in your career. Recognize what was good in the past 262 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 4: was right for the past, but we can't try to 263 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 4: hold on to something that was right at one time 264 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 4: but it's not right for us now. Maybe that season 265 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 4: is over, and it's not that it was a bad season. 266 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 4: It's just a new day and God wants to do 267 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 4: a new thing. Just like it's great to have organs 268 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 4: in church. I like that, but it's also great to 269 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 4: have guitars. It's great to sing the old hymns. We 270 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 4: still do that, but it's also great to sing I 271 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 4: Am a Friend of God. It's great to have ministers 272 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 4: that are more formal, that can explain theology and doctrine, 273 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 4: but it's also great to have people that can make 274 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 4: the scripture practical and people that can teach us how 275 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 4: to apply it to our own lives. It's interesting in 276 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 4: the Book of Acts, chapter two, the disciples and some 277 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 4: one hundred and twenty people were in the upper Room. 278 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 4: They're in Jerusalem waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. 279 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 4: It finally came. There was a great outpouring of God's spirit, 280 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 4: a big celebration. They were all rejoicing. People heard it 281 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 4: from all over and they came to see what was happening. 282 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 4: That day, three thousand people were added to the church. 283 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 4: It was the biggest thing that had ever happened to 284 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 4: the early Church. And those disciples begin to stay around Jerusalem, 285 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 4: after all, that's where it all got started. That's where 286 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 4: they were comfortable. But understand, where something starts is not 287 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 4: always where it finishes. I can imagine those disciples anytime 288 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 4: they had a problem, anytime they got discouraged, they said, 289 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 4: let's go back to that upper room. Let's go back 290 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 4: and sing those same songs that we saying twenty years ago. 291 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 4: What they were saying is, let's see if we can 292 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 4: get God to do the same thing once again. Now 293 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 4: I know people that are sitting around waiting for God 294 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 4: to do something that he did fifty years ago. All 295 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 4: the while God is saying, come on now, I want 296 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 4: to do a new thing. Don't get stuck in the old. 297 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 4: It's easy to take a treasure and try to turn 298 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 4: it into a tradition. Well, Joel, if it could just 299 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 4: be like it used to be, like the good old days. No, 300 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 4: God is saying let go of the old. He's got 301 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 4: some good new days. What God is going to do 302 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 4: in your future is going to far supersede what he's 303 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 4: done in your past. But you cannot get stuck in tradition, 304 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 4: Stuck in a job that you're not growing, Stuck in 305 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 4: a relationship that you know god's stirring you out of, 306 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 4: stuck in a neighborhood that's hindering you, even stuck with 307 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 4: bad attitudes, wrong mindsets, limited thinking. It's time that we 308 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 4: get out of those ruts. And don't be surprised in 309 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 4: the coming days if you don't see God stirring things up, persecution, 310 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 4: people talking about your unfair things happening. Instead of getting 311 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 4: discouraged even though it looks like a bad break in reality, 312 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 4: that's God about to open up a door and take 313 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 4: you to a new level. Don't keep running back to 314 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 4: the old old friendships, old acquaintances, old attitudes, tradition. God 315 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 4: does things in seasons, and it's not that the old 316 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 4: was bad, not that the friend is not a great person, 317 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 4: but maybe that season is over. That job may have 318 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 4: been great for you for a time, but now God's 319 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 4: trying to push you into a new direction or that 320 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,479 Speaker 4: church that your family grew up in. They're still great people, 321 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 4: but maybe it's a new season for you. God knows, 322 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 4: like with my father, we are not going to become 323 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 4: everything He's created us to be if we stay in 324 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 4: a limited environment. So He's going to do his best 325 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 4: to stir us out of those situations. Sometimes he will 326 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 4: even close the door and force us to make a change. 327 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 4: I have a good friend, and he knew down deep 328 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 4: that he was supposed to leave his job. He had 329 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 4: so much more in him. He had certainly outgrown it. 330 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 4: We talked about it several times, but he was just 331 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 4: playing it safe, staying where it was comfortable. And you've 332 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 4: got to know this man. He is the nicest person 333 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 4: in the world. He is a model employee, goes the 334 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,479 Speaker 4: extra mile, gets there early, and stays late. But one 335 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 4: day he called and said, Joel, you'll never believe what happened. 336 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 4: I said what he said, I just got fired. I said, 337 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 4: you got fired. That's like saying, mother, Teresa just robbed 338 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 4: a bank. That's impossible. But sometimes if we don't take 339 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 4: the hint, God will close the door. God will force 340 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 4: us to move forward. Today, that gentleman is a vice 341 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 4: president of a major corporation. He continues to rise higher, 342 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 4: reaching his full potentially. But I wonder if God had 343 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 4: not been so good to close that door and to 344 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,880 Speaker 4: push him forward, he would probably still be there today, 345 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 4: settling for mediocrity. Friends, you weren't created to be average. 346 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 4: You were created to excelled. You were created to leave 347 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 4: your mark on our generation. When things are stirring in 348 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 4: your life, when doors are closing, change has taken place. 349 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 4: Don't get off into doubt and say, oh, man, another 350 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,160 Speaker 4: problem I've got to deal with. Stay in faith, stay open. 351 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 4: It could be that's God trying to push you into 352 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 4: your divine destiny. The scripture says persecution arose in Jerusalem, 353 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 4: so Philip went down to Samaria. It didn't say that 354 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 4: Philip prayed about it. He decided to go to Samaria. 355 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 4: He didn't have a choice. The persecution forced him out 356 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,160 Speaker 4: of Jerusalem. He got pushed out of his comfort zone. 357 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 4: Don't you know the same God that poured out his 358 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 4: spirit in Jerusalem could have stopped the persecution. God closed 359 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 4: the mouths of lions earlier. Surely God could have stopped 360 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,959 Speaker 4: those people from talking about him. Know that persecution was 361 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 4: for a purpose. God used it to get Philip where 362 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 4: he wanted him to be. It was in Samaria that 363 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 4: Philip saw his greatest days of ministry. That's where he 364 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 4: saw God do things that he had never seen before. 365 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 4: But I often wonder if Philip would have been a 366 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 4: little hard headed and thought, I'm not leaving Jerusalem. This 367 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 4: is where it started. I'm gonna fight this opposition. Now 368 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 4: I realize there are times we have to dig our 369 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 4: heels in, but sometimes we got to step back and 370 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 4: just say, God, what are you trying to do in 371 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 4: my life? I Am not going to be hard headed 372 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 4: and hold on to this job, this relationship, this ministry, 373 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 4: this attitude. If I can clearly see that you are 374 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 4: trying to close the door, we have to stay open 375 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 4: for change. Job said, I thought I would die in 376 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 4: my nest. In other words, he got his nest all 377 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 4: fixed up, He got his house just like he wanted it, 378 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 4: had a successful business, everything was going great. He was 379 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 4: finally comfortable, and what happened. God stirred up his nest. No, 380 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 4: God doesn't send the trouble, but he will allow difficulty 381 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 4: only if it can further us toward our divine destiny, 382 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 4: and if we can just keep the right perspective. Some 383 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 4: of you today, like Philip, you've been pushed out of Jerusalem. 384 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 4: You've had some closed doors, and you're kind of down 385 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 4: and discourage. You need to take heart because Samia is 386 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 4: about to open up. God will never close the door 387 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 4: unless he's about to open up another door. And if 388 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 4: you stay in faith, it will be a bigger and 389 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 4: a better door. God never performs his greatest feats in 390 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 4: our yesterdays. Quit being discouraged over what didn't work out. 391 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 4: Somebody may have lied about you. You lost a loved one, 392 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 4: lost a job. You got to shake that off. You've 393 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 4: been through the fire, been through the flood, been through 394 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 4: the famine. Now it's time for favor. It's time for increase. 395 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,640 Speaker 4: It's time to see God do the new thing He's 396 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:03,159 Speaker 4: about to do. That stirring is a sure sign transition 397 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 4: is coming. God is about to take you to a 398 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 4: new level. That's what happened in my own life when 399 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 4: my father went to be with the Lord. That was 400 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 4: the most difficult thing that I'd ever faced, but it 401 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 4: was actually that difficulty that pushed me into my destiny. 402 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 4: I would not be up here today if my father 403 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 4: was still alive. It was too easy. Behind the scenes, 404 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 4: I was comfortable, But when Daddy went to be with 405 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 4: the Lord, it was as if God just closed that door, 406 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 4: and I took that step of faith, and that's when 407 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 4: I discovered gifts and talents that I never knew I had. 408 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 4: We all love when God opens doors, but sometimes our 409 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 4: closed doors do us even more good, because if God 410 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 4: had not closed the door, we would have been satisfied 411 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 4: to just stay where we were. And sometimes the reason 412 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 4: God closes a door is so that we cannot go back. 413 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 4: This is what happened with the Red Sea. God opened 414 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 4: it up and the people of Israel went through on 415 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 4: dry ground. Then Pharaoh and his army were drowned. That 416 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 4: was important, But what really mattered is when God closed 417 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 4: it up. The people knew they could not go back. 418 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 4: At times they wanted to, but they knew the door 419 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 4: had been closed. And some of you, right now you 420 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 4: are fighting change, trying to hold on to the familiar. Well, Joel, 421 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 4: if it could just be like it used to be, 422 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 4: like the good old days, no God is saying, let 423 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 4: go of that. Maybe that season is over, and not 424 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 4: that it wasn't a good season. I have great memories 425 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 4: with my dad, but we can't stay there forever. It's 426 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 4: time to start moving forward. This is a new day, 427 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,959 Speaker 4: and God has new victories in front of you. He 428 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 4: has new mountains to climb, new friendships to make, new 429 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 4: business is to start, and God is trying to stir 430 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 4: you out of your nest. As you begin to take 431 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 4: these steps of faith, you're gonna discover, like I did, 432 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 4: you have gifts and talents that you never knew you had. 433 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 4: You're gonna go places, it's gonna amaze you. You're gonna 434 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 4: do things you never thought you could do. It's because 435 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 4: God's dream for your life is so much bigger than 436 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 4: your own. But so often we try to stay where 437 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 4: it's familiar, Especially when we're having difficulties, we run back 438 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,360 Speaker 4: to where it's comfortable. There are even foods that are 439 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 4: called comfort foods. These are foods we eat when we 440 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 4: get stressed out. I can tell some of you have 441 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 4: been very stressed. I read where after nine to eleven, 442 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 4: many Americans gained five to ten pounds. Why we were 443 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 4: stressed and so we started eating these comfort foods. These 444 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 4: are the foods that we ate growing up that make 445 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 4: us feel secure, foods that remind us of the good 446 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 4: old days growing up. Pizza, ice cream, nachos. Isn't it 447 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 4: funny how when we get stressed we never go eat 448 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:57,160 Speaker 4: a salad that doesn't do it. Human nature always likes 449 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 4: to go back to the old I remember growing up, 450 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 4: we had this dog by the name of Scooter. He 451 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 4: was a big german shepherd. After all of us kids 452 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 4: went off to college, he didn't have anybody to play with. 453 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,959 Speaker 4: He started roaming around the neighborhood and getting in all 454 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,680 Speaker 4: kinds of trouble, and so we decided to give him 455 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 4: to a friend of ours that lived out on a 456 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 4: farm about ten miles away. They had fifteen twenty acres 457 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 4: plus there were a bunch of kids out there to 458 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 4: play with. And one day, about six months later, I 459 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:29,639 Speaker 4: was at home on break from college, and it had 460 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 4: been really storming, thundering on and off and lightning for 461 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 4: several hours. And one thing Scooter never liked was thunder. 462 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 4: That was his pet peeve. Anytime it would thunder, he 463 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 4: would run to the very back of the garage and 464 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 4: hide in a certain spot. That was his safe place, 465 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 4: nothing could get in his way. And this day I 466 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 4: just happened to be looking out the window, and as 467 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 4: I said, it had been storming, and I noticed, about 468 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 4: a quarter of a mile away, this dog running full 469 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 4: last toward our house. I thought to myself, that could 470 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 4: not be Scooter. He lives ten miles away. Sure enough, 471 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 4: he got closer and closer. It was Scooter. When he 472 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 4: got to the house, he ran right past me, didn't 473 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 4: even stop to say hello. He went right into the 474 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 4: garage and got back in that exact spot that he 475 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 4: was used to. You know what's funny is Scooter's new place. 476 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 4: His new home was a whole lot better than ours. 477 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,919 Speaker 4: He had twenty acres, he had a big barn to 478 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 4: live in, all kinds of kids, didn't matter when it 479 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 4: got difficult, when it got tough. Instead of embracing and 480 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 4: accepting the new, he came running back to the old, 481 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 4: running back to what he was familiar with. And I 482 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 4: wonder how many times we do like old Scooter. God 483 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 4: has opened up new doors, He's given us new opportunities, 484 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 4: but we're so focused on how it used to be 485 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 4: and what we're familiar with. We keep coming back to 486 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:00,959 Speaker 4: the old. No, it's time to accept it. Change, stay open. 487 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 4: Once God is done with something, it's never gonna be 488 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 4: like it was before. Well, it's here was good back then, joy, Yes, 489 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 4: but let me tell you it's gonna be even better 490 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 4: in the days ahead. Don't keep going back in your thoughts, 491 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:20,880 Speaker 4: in your attitudes. It's not healthy to constantly relive how 492 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 4: it used to be. If a door is closing, that 493 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 4: means God is giving you the grace to move forward. 494 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 4: I say this respectfully, but I've never been back to 495 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 4: my father's grave. I loved my dad, but I know 496 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 4: that season is over. He's not in the grave anyway, 497 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:41,399 Speaker 4: He's in heaven. And if you go back and you 498 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 4: visit your loved one's grave and that's how you honor them, 499 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 4: that's fine as long as you're not living in the 500 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:49,479 Speaker 4: past thinking it's never gonna be as good as it 501 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 4: used to be, trying to bring something back. Now, you've 502 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 4: got to dust yourself off and get ready for the 503 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,680 Speaker 4: new thing God's about to do. Friends, you were created 504 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 4: to soar. You have a set of eagle wings just 505 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 4: waiting on you, just like that mother eagle stirs the 506 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 4: babies out of the nest and forces them to use 507 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 4: their wings. God's going to stir us out of our 508 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 4: nest when doors close, changes are taking place. Keep it 509 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 4: in the right perspective. That stirring is God getting you 510 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 4: prepared to go to a new level. That's God trying 511 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 4: to get you to spread your wings so you too 512 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,680 Speaker 4: can begin to soar. Don't hold on to the old, 513 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 4: don't stay with the familiar. Be willing to get out 514 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 4: of your comfort zone. Be willing to try something new. 515 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:36,439 Speaker 4: Or maybe you're at one of those places where the 516 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 4: door has completely closed you cannot go back. Don't get negative, 517 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 4: don't get bitter. This is a new season. Face it 518 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 4: in faith, stay hopeful, Get up every day with enthusiasm, 519 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 4: knowing that God has you in the palm of his hand. 520 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 4: And if you'll learn to not only accept change, but 521 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 4: to embrace change, God promises he will do a new thing. 522 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 4: Now I've discovered, God's new is always much better than 523 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 4: the old. You may have had great victories in your past, 524 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 4: but your greatest victories are still in your future. You 525 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 4: have not laughed your best laugh yet, you've not lived 526 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 4: your best year yet. You've not played your best ball 527 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 4: game yet. You've not closed your best deal yet. You're 528 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 4: going to rise higher and higher. The winds you thought 529 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 4: were going to destroy you are going to be the 530 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 4: winds that push you to a new level. You go 531 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 4: see God take your places that you've never even dreamed of. Amen, 532 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 4: do you receive that today? We never like to close 533 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 4: our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus 534 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 4: the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 535 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 4: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 536 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 4: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 537 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 4: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 538 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 4: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 539 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 4: God first place. He's gonna take your places that you've 540 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 4: never dreamed of. Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 541 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 4: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 542 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 4: podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 543 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 5: Help us to continue to share the message of hope 544 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 5: with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 545 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 5: or click the link in the description to partner with 546 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 5: us today. 547 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 4: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 548 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 4: be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 549 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,560 Speaker 4: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 550 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 4: see you next time. 551 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 2: More than ever before, people are turning to the church 552 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 2: for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 553 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 2: been ill equipped to help. That is until now. 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