1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: share it with a friend, reappreciate you and pray for 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you, 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: and it's great to be with you today, and I 7 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through 8 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: can come visit us in person. Now, I let you 10 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: start with something funny, and I heard about this college professor. 11 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: He was going to prove to his students that there 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: is no God. He said, God, if you're real, then 13 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: knock me off this platform. I'll give you fifteen minutes 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: to do it. With every minute that went by, he 15 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: taunted God, God, I'm still here. I'm still waiting the 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: last minute. Three hundred pound football player walking down the 17 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: hall over herding. He took off, running full speed toward 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: and put his shoulder down, send him flying off the platforms. 19 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: The professor woke up in a day, said what in 20 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: the world do you do that for? The football player replied, 21 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: God said he was busy, so he sent me. All right, 22 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: y'all say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 23 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what 24 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 25 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 26 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 27 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: about peace with the plan. What causes a lot of 30 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: frustration is when our plans don't work out. We thought 31 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: by this time we'd be further in our career, we 32 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: would have met someone. By now, we still wouldn't be 33 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: dealing with this trouble at work. It's easy to get 34 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: discouraged because things haven't turned out the way we plan. 35 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: But the scripture says God's ways are not our ways. 36 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: They are higher and better than our ways. If you're 37 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: going to stay in peace, you have to let go 38 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: of what you had in mind as long as you're 39 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: set on it happening one way. And here's how it's 40 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: going to work out. And this door has to open, 41 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: and this person has to come, and I've got to 42 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: be there. By this age, you have God in a box, 43 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,239 Speaker 1: telling him what to do, how to do it, when 44 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: to do it. The problem is that's your plan, but 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: it's not his plan. His plan is better. His plan 46 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: is more rewarding and more fulfilling. But here's the key. 47 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 1: You're not always going to understand his plan. It may 48 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: not make sense. God doesn't take you in a straight 49 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: line to your destiny. There will be twist turns and detours. 50 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,839 Speaker 1: Times where it looks like you had a dead end, 51 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: obstacles too big, times where you feel like you're going 52 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: the wrong way. This is when you have to trust God. 53 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: This is not what I had in mind, doesn't make 54 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: sense to me, but I know you're in control. I 55 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: talked to a man that was upset with God. He 56 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: was new to the faith and he was in this 57 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: problem and he had his plan, his idea, his strategies. 58 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: He had prayed and believed, and he was very passionate, 59 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: but it hadn't worked out the way he wanted, didn't 60 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: happen on his timetable. He said, Joel, God didn't come 61 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 1: through for me. He let me down. But if you're 62 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: only going to be happy if God does what you want, 63 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: then you're setting yourself up for disappointment. It's not our plan, 64 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: is God's plan. It's not what we want, It's what 65 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: he wants. The beauty is God's way is the best way. 66 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: If he followed our plan, always did what we had 67 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: in mind, we wouldn't see the fullness of our destinies. 68 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: And the scripture says that nothing can stop his plan. 69 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: Things may stop our plan, but what he is purpose 70 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: will come to pass. To be still and know that 71 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: he is God, not living. Upset and man, why is 72 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: this taking so long? And I can't believe that I'm 73 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: still here? No, turn it around. God, I'm at peace 74 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: with your plan. I know you're ordering my steps. You 75 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: will get me to where I'm supposed to be when 76 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: I'm supposed to be there. See we see that hymn. 77 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: I surrender all all to Jesus. I surrender. One of 78 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: the hardest things to surrender is what you had in mind. 79 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: Surrender how you think it's going to happen. If you 80 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: don't understand this like that, Man, you get upset. God, 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: where were you? I thought we'd have a baby by now. 82 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: I thought i'd have my degree. I thought i'd be 83 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: over this illness. This can save you a lot of frustration. 84 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: Put how you thought it was going to happen on 85 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: the altar. Release what you had in mind. There's a 86 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: freedom when you realize God is ordering your steps. He's 87 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 1: laid out every day. If you're lying, he said, his 88 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: plans for you are for good. You don't have to 89 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: figure everything out, come up with all the strategies. No, 90 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: trust his plan. Jesus was in the garden of Gysemine, 91 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: facing his greatest challenge, about to be crucified. He was 92 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: under so much pressure that he sweat great drops of blood, 93 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: and he knew his father could deliver him. I mean, 94 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: he had raised the dead, calm the storm, healed the lepers. 95 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: He fell to his knees and said, Father, if you're willing, 96 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: take this cup from me. He was saying, in effect, 97 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: this is not what I want. This is not fair. 98 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: I'm uncomfortable. If he had stopped there, he could have 99 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: missed his purpose. He went on to say, but not 100 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: my will. Let your will be done. He was saying, God, 101 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: I'll release what I had in mind. I trust your plan. 102 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: And there will be these times that you don't understand 103 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: things have come against you. You know, God could have delivered. 104 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: You could have turned it around, but it's not changing. 105 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: This is when you have to surrender your will and 106 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: surrender how you thought it would happen. God hasn't delivered 107 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 1: you yet because he has something better coming. That difficulty 108 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: is a part of his plan. You have to go 109 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: through it to get to the greater things He has 110 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: in store. This Almas said they went through the fire, 111 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: through the flood to great abundance. We don't like the fires, 112 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: the challenges, the people that do us wrong. But on 113 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: the other side of that difficulty is a new level 114 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: of your destiny. Jesus had to go through the garden, 115 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: through the betrayal, through the rejection, but now he's seated 116 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 1: at the right hand of the Father. When we're in 117 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: the garden dealing with things we don't understand, it's a test. 118 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: Are we going to get frustrated? God? Why did this happen? 119 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: Lose our passion, try a different approach, release what you 120 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: had in mind. Maybe Gasimine is leading you to a resurrection. 121 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: Maybe the betrayal was necessary to take your throne. Maybe 122 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: the delay is a part of God's plan taking you 123 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: somewhere that you never dreamed. Let go of how you 124 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: thought it would happen may not be by your strategy, 125 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: your timing. God's ways are not our ways. We don't 126 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: know what He's about to do. He doesn't always tell 127 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: us in advance. That's why we have to walk by 128 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: faith and not by sciens. Think about the three Hebrew teenagers. 129 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: They wouldn't bow down to the king's golden idol, and 130 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: he was so angry. He said, I'm gonna give you 131 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: one more chance. If you don't bow, I'm gonna have 132 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: you thrown into a fiery furnace. These teenagers never planned 133 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: on facing this kind of challenge. They planned on going 134 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: to school, being leaders, getting married, raising children. Now, unless 135 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: they compromise, they're going to be killed. They understood this 136 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: principle that nothing can stop God's plan for your life. 137 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: People can't stop it. Bad breaks can't stop it, betrayals, delays, injustice. 138 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: They said to the king, we're not going to bow down, 139 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: for we know our God will deliver us. They had 140 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: great faith, but their next statement is the key. But 141 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: even if he doesn't, we're still not going to bow. 142 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: They were saying, we trust his plan. Our life is 143 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: in his hands. They could have been complaining, God, this 144 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: is not fair. We were doing the right thing. Why 145 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: did it happen? They surrendered their will to God's will. 146 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: The king had their hands and feet bound with cords 147 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: and threw them into the fire. Sometimes God's plan will 148 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: take you into a furnace. Just because you're in something 149 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: that feels over your head, you're outnumbered, the position is stronger. 150 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean you're not where you're supposed to be. 151 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: God is still in control. He wouldn't have allowed the 152 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: difficulty if it wasn't a part of your purpose. A 153 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: lot of times we think, God, get me out of 154 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: this fire, and I'll give you praise. God. Move this 155 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,479 Speaker 1: coworker that gets on my nerves, then I'll trust you. 156 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 1: God's plan doesn't always deliver you from the fire. Sometimes 157 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: he'll take you through the fire. If you're set on 158 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: it happening one way, God, you have to change this person, 159 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: turn this problem around, make my business grow. That's telling 160 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: God to fit into your plan. Do it my way. 161 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: God has ways you've never thought of. That's not only 162 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: limiting what he can do, but it'll cause you to 163 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: be frustrated because things aren't going according to your plan. 164 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: Why don't you let go of what you had in mind? 165 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: Why don't you release how you thought everything would happen? 166 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: Heard about a man out hiking through the mountains and 167 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: he was on this high cliff overlooking a huge canyon, 168 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: and somehow he lost his footing and slipped, and he 169 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: was in this free fall, headed toward the ground. The 170 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: last moment he reached out miraculously grabbed a small branch 171 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: growing out of the side of the rocks. As he 172 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: hung on for dear life, dangling hundreds of feet in 173 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: the air, he cried out, God, please save me. A 174 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: voice boomed out of the heavens said, son, let go 175 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 1: and I'll catch you. There was a long pause. The 176 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: man said, is there anyone else up there? And we 177 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 1: want God to do it our way. We don't want 178 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: to let go of what we have in mind. We 179 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: don't want to surrender our will. We have it figured out, 180 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: we have our strategy, how it's going to happen, when 181 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: it is going to happen. And yes, it's good to 182 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: have plans, good to have a vision for your life, 183 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: but don't get so set in your ways that if 184 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: things don't turn out the way you fought, you had 185 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: a detour. You got thrown into the fire. It's taken 186 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,679 Speaker 1: longer than expected that you think God has forgotten about you. 187 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: It's never going to happen. God has you right where 188 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,319 Speaker 1: you're supposed to be. The reason it's not turning out 189 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: the way you thought is because what God has in 190 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: mind is much better than what you have in mind. 191 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,599 Speaker 1: His dream for your life is much greater than your dream. 192 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: But the way it's going to happen probably won't be 193 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: the way you thought. God will open doors you never 194 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: imagine would open. Sometimes he'll take you backwards so he 195 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: can thrust you forward. You'll go through the fire so 196 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: he can show out in your life. The giants aren't 197 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: there to kill you. They're there to reveal you, to 198 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: show people who you are, to establish you, give your 199 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: credibility and influence. None of us plan on having a Goliath. 200 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: We don't plan on being thrown into a furnace. If 201 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: you're set on how you think it's going to happen, 202 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: it's sour, Joel. This is not where I thought i'd 203 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: be looking for a new job at this stage in 204 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: my career, raising a special needs child, having to take 205 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: this treatment. These teenagers didn't plan on facing death at 206 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: an early age. They had all kinds of dreams and goals. 207 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: But they surrendered their will to God's will. God didn't 208 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: keep them out of the fire. He did something greater. 209 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: He made them fire proof where the fire couldn't harm them. 210 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: The king looked in the window, said, didn't we throw 211 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: three men in bound? I see four men loose, and 212 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: one looks like the son of God. They came out 213 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: without the smell of smoke. Nothing can stop what God 214 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 1: has purposed for you. Quick complaining because you got thrown 215 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: into the fire that what you had in mind didn't 216 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: work out. It may not have. But what God has 217 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: in mind will work out. He's in the fire with you. 218 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 1: You may not realize it, but you or fireproof. Nothing 219 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: can snatch you out of God's hands. When the teenagers 220 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: came out, the scripture says the king made a new 221 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: decree that from now on they were all going to 222 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: worship the God of Shadrack mishak. It have been deigo. 223 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: Sometimes what you go through is not just about you. 224 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: It's about what God wants to do through you. God 225 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: wants to make you an example of his goodness. When 226 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,679 Speaker 1: you go through the fire and come out without the 227 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: smell of smoke, You're a bright light that gets people's attention. 228 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: When we acquired this place, the former Compact Center, the 229 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: day after the city council voted for us to have it, 230 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,439 Speaker 1: a company followed a federal lawsuit to try to keep 231 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: us from moving in. They said we violated the deed restrictions. 232 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: They were the largest taxpayer in Texas, a huge real 233 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: estate company owned all the buildings around here. That's not 234 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: what I had in mind. We have just celebrated victory. 235 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: I'd announced to the congregation we're gonna renovate it and 236 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: move in. Now that was all put on hold. Our 237 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: attorneys told us it could be tied up in the 238 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: courts for up to ten years. That didn't make sense 239 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: to me. I was attempted to be disappointed and worried. 240 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:18,839 Speaker 1: I had to do what I'm asking you to do. 241 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: I surrendered my will to his will. I believe that 242 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: it was all a part of his plan, and even 243 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: though I didn't understand it, somehow, some way it was 244 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: working for our good. Otherwise we live fighting everything, upset 245 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: over the door that closed, discourage it has taken so long, 246 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: Frustrated over a child that's not changing. Come back to 247 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: a place of peace. Your plan may not have worked out, 248 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 1: but you can trust his plan. You may be in 249 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: a goseimine hard place, but when you say, like Jesus, 250 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: not my will, but let your will be done, that's 251 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: when angels go to work. That's when supernatural things will happen. 252 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: We all have these times where we can question what's happening. God, 253 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: he gave us the Compact Center. Why'd you let that 254 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: company follow a lawsuit? David could have said, God, you 255 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: had zamu'l come anoint me to be the next king. 256 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: He chose me in front of all my brothers. Why 257 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: is King Saul chasing me through the desert. I've done 258 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: nothing but good to him. Why is he so jealous? 259 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: Now I'm having to live in hiding. That didn't make sense, 260 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: but it was a part of God's plan. David would 261 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: have never taken the throne had he not passed the 262 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: test of trusting When he didn't understand surrendering his will 263 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: to God's will. Moses could have said, God, you delivered 264 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: us from slavery. You caused the pharaoh to let us go, 265 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: But now he's changed his mind. We're at a dead 266 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: end the Red Sea. We have no way out. We 267 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: have these questions. We don't understand the plan. Why did 268 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: this happen? Think about in punctuation, there's a question mark, 269 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: and there's an exclamation point. An exclamation point is simply 270 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: a question mark straightened out. God knows how to take 271 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: the question marks in your life and turn them into 272 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: exclamation points. He'll take things you don't understand. Now doesn't 273 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: make sense. But if you'll trust him, if you'll do 274 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: the right thing when it's hard, if you'll keep praising 275 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: when you could be complaining, God will straighten out the 276 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: question marks we see in part Now, the scripture says, 277 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: as though looking through a glass dimly, But one day 278 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: you will see in full. One day you'll see the 279 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: exclamation point. You'll see what God was up to. You'll 280 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: come out without the smell of smoke what you had 281 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: a question about. Now you're shouting about what you didn't understand. 282 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: Now you're thinking, God, did it happened? What you lost sleepover? 283 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: Now you realize it was all a part of his 284 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: that all things were working for your good. Now, if 285 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: you want God to turn your question marks into exclamation points, 286 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: you have to trust him. When you don't understand, I 287 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: didn't understand that company filing a lawsuit. But a year 288 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: and a half later, they not only dropped the case, 289 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: but they leased US nine thousand cupboard parking spaces. We 290 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: didn't have to build a garage. Those teenagers didn't like 291 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: the furnace, but now the whole city was worshiping Jehovah. 292 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: They had influence in favor they would have never seen 293 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: without the struggle. Don't complain about the furnaces, the goliaths, 294 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,719 Speaker 1: the red seas, the lawsuits. God is up to something. 295 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: He wouldn't have allowed it unless he had a purpose. 296 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: It's very powerful when you can be at peace with 297 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:54,479 Speaker 1: his plan. You don't understand it. It wasn't fair, but 298 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: you release what you had in mind. You surrender your will, 299 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: knowing that God has something better. Genesis fifteen, Abraham was 300 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: very disappointed. God had blessed him with a great life, 301 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: given him many cattle and livestock. But he said, in 302 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: verse two, God, what good or all your blessings when 303 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: I don't have a son, I don't have any children, 304 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: no heir to leave what you've given me and continue 305 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: my legacy. I'm gonna have to leave it to my servants. 306 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 1: God said in verse four. No, Abraham, your servant will 307 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 1: not be your heir. I'm going to give you a 308 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: son that will inherit everything. He told Abraham to look 309 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: up into the night sky. Many stars as he could see. 310 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: That's how many descendants he would have, too many to count. 311 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: Abraham was so excited he had this promise. He went 312 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: home told his wife Sarah, We're gonna have a baby. 313 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: The problem was they were both way too old to 314 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: have children. Logically speaking, it was impossible. They waited year 315 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: after year, nothing happened. Every circumstance said it was too late. 316 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: But at ninety years old, this was twenty years after 317 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: they received the promise. Sarah gave birth to a son. 318 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: They named him Isaac. You can imagine how thrilled they 319 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: were what that son meant to them. He was what 320 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: they had dreamed about for so long. Now the promise 321 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: was fulfilled. They're so grateful. If the story stopped there, 322 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 1: it'd be a happy ending. God is good. Let's move on. 323 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: But God's plan is going to include some twists, some turns, 324 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: things we don't understand. When Isaac was a young boy, 325 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: God told Abraham to take his son on top of 326 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: Mount Mariah and sacrifice him. Get here, Abraham, God, what 327 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: do you mean? You gave me this son? This is 328 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: what you promised, my er, my legacy, everything I've dreamed of, 329 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,719 Speaker 1: and now you want me to put him on this altar. 330 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: That was a test. Would Abraham give God the thing 331 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 1: that meant the most to him? Would he lay down 332 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: what he had in mind even though it didn't make 333 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: sense on the way to our destiny. We're all gonna 334 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: have some Isaac's to lay down these tests where God 335 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: is saying, will you trust me when it doesn't make sense? 336 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: Will you put on the altar how you thought your 337 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: life would turn out? Abraham didn't miss a beat. He 338 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: got up early the next morning, took Isaac. They headed 339 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: up the mountain. It's a three day journey. They got 340 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: close to the top. Isaac said, dead. We have the wood, 341 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: we have the fire, but where is the sacrifice. Abraham said, 342 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 1: don't worry, Isaac, the Lord will provide. He was saying, God, 343 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: I trust you. Doesn't make sense, but I'm surrendering my 344 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: will to your will. At one point, Isaac realized that 345 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: he was a sacrifice. He wasn't a little toddler. The 346 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 1: scripture says he carried the wood on his shoulders. He 347 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: was a young man, could resisted, fought his dad. Dad. 348 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: I didn't hear God find someone else. But even he 349 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: submitted to his father's will. He didn't understand it either, 350 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: but he was saying, God, we trust you. When Abraham 351 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: lifted his arm and angel shouted, do not harm the 352 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: boy lay down the ninth. Abraham looked over it. There 353 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: was a ram caught by his horns in the brush. 354 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 1: He took that ram and sacrificed it. While Abraham was 355 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 1: coming up one side of the mountain, being obedient, trusting 356 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 1: God's plan, the ram was coming up the other side. 357 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: Abraham couldn't see it, but the provision was already en route. 358 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: Like Abraham, many of you have laid things on the altar. 359 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: You didn't understand it, but you said, God, I trust you. 360 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: You had to lay your child this off course on 361 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: the altar. Dreamed that didn't work out. You've been taking 362 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: that treatment and things haven't improved. You know, God gave 363 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: you the promise, but you put it on the altar 364 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: because you've been obedient. You've trusted when it didn't make sense. 365 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:15,880 Speaker 1: God has some rams coming up the mountain for you. Healing, provision, restoration. 366 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: Abraham put what meant the most to him on the altar. 367 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: When he did, God gave it back to him. It 368 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 1: was through Isaac that all the nation of Israel came 369 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: to pass. God took that question mark what didn't make 370 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: sense to Abraham and turned it into an exclamation point 371 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: descendants like the stars in the sky. Now we know 372 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 1: him as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It 373 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: happened because Abraham trusted a plan that didn't make sense. 374 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: He was faithful with things he didn't understand. Had he 375 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: been set in his ways, God, you gave me this child. 376 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 1: No way I'm gonna put him on the altar, we 377 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:01,719 Speaker 1: wouldn't be talking about Abraham. Sometimes God will ask you 378 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,399 Speaker 1: to do a hard day to put something on the 379 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: altar that means a lot to you. But I found 380 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 1: when you give it to God and show him that 381 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: you trust him, he'll always give you more back than 382 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: you could ever imagine. My sister Lisa and her husband 383 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 1: Kevin wanted to have children. In it They weren't able 384 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: to conceive, and Lisa took all the fertility treatments, had 385 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: a couple surgeries. None of that helped him. Doctors finally 386 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: said I'm sorry, Lisa, You're not going to be able 387 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: to have children. She was devastated. She told how she 388 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 1: had been consumed with having a baby. It's all she 389 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:42,120 Speaker 1: thought about. That was the main focus of her prayer. God, 390 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 1: you promised me a baby. Please let me conceive. But 391 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 1: anything you have to have in order to be happy, 392 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: the enemy can use against you. Now. I'm not saying 393 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: to give up on a dream, but don't let them 394 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: consume you to where you don't enjoy where God has you. Now, 395 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: Lisa realized she had to do like Abraham and put 396 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: the baby on the altar. She said, God, I'm not 397 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: gonna ask you about this baby again. You already know 398 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 1: what I want. You know this is my dream. I'm 399 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: not gonna let it frustrate me anymore. I trust your 400 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: plan for my life. A few months later, she received 401 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 1: a phone call from a friend of ours that runs 402 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: an organization that helps girls in need. It was a 403 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: teenager about to give birth to twins. Lisa had never 404 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: mentioned anything to our friend. What's interesting is my brother 405 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: in law, Kevin, is a twin. It was always his 406 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:41,439 Speaker 1: dream to have twins. Well, they were able to adopt 407 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: those babies at birth. They raised them today they're beautiful 408 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: young ladies. God took that question mark, why can't I 409 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 1: have children? He turned it into an exclamation point. Lisa said, 410 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: I had two babies and I never had to get pregnant. 411 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: Happen when she let go of what she had in mind. 412 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 1: She is trying to force it. God, do it this way. 413 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: She had to put it on the altar, the thing 414 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 1: that meant the most to her. When she did, like 415 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 1: with Abraham, God gave it back to her. Sometimes we 416 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: can get so consumed with what we want. It's like 417 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: it becomes an idol. It's a good thing, but we're 418 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:27,160 Speaker 1: out of balance. We can't be happy without it. Turn 419 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:31,719 Speaker 1: it over to God. Pray, believe, then rest. Know that 420 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: God is working. Know that his plans for you are 421 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: for good, that nothing can stop what He's purpose for 422 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 1: your life. That at the right time, it will come 423 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 1: to pass. But the reason some people are frustrated is 424 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: not because God is not going to give you an Isaac. 425 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: Not because he's not going to do what he promised. 426 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,399 Speaker 1: But it's not going to happen the way you think. 427 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 1: When you think with whom you think you have to 428 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: be at peace with his plan. God has not forgotten 429 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:05,479 Speaker 1: about you. He sees the lonely nights, he sees the 430 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 1: closed doors, the hurts, the delays. You can't see it now, 431 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: but it's all working for your good. Isaac is not 432 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 1: only on the way the promise, but the ram is 433 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: coming up the mountain, the healing, the provision, the spouse. 434 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:25,639 Speaker 1: God is ordering your steps. He's fighting your battles. He 435 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: has not brought you this far to leave you. Trust 436 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,919 Speaker 1: him when you don't understand. Hold tightly to your dreams, 437 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 1: but hold loosely to how it's going to happen. If 438 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 1: you'll do this, I believe and declare, God's about to 439 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: turn your question marks into exclamation points, things you didn't 440 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 1: see coming, the right people, restoration, promotion, new levels of 441 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 1: your destiny in Jesus' name, and if you receive it. 442 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:58,959 Speaker 1: Can you say amen? I'd like to give you an 443 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 1: opportunity to Jesus, the Lord of your life. Would you 444 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of 445 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my 446 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, we 447 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 1: believe you got born again. We'd love to send you 448 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: some free literature on your new walk with the Lord. 449 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 1: You can text the number on the screen or go 450 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 1: to the website. But I hope you'll get into a 451 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: good Bible based church and keep God first place. We 452 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: all go through disappointments and things that are not fair, 453 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: but God sees every hurt, every injustice, and He's promised 454 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 1: to pay you back for the unfair things. Now, I 455 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: love to send you my new resource, Double for your Trouble. 456 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: It's filled with inspiration to help you stay in faith 457 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: and not get bitter and think why me? Now? That 458 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: setback may have been painful, but the fact is it 459 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: sets you up for Double. God will make the enemy 460 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: pay and bring you out better than you were before. 461 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 2: This ministry is reaching people around the world with the 462 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 2: message of hope, and as our way of saying thank 463 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 2: you for your gift of any amount, we would like 464 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 2: to send you a copy of Double for your Trouble, 465 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 2: a daily guide for restoration. This thirty one day spiral 466 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 2: bound resource is an invitation into healing, restoration, and the 467 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 2: abundant life God has promised. Whether you're walking through a 468 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:26,959 Speaker 2: season of loss, believing for a breakthrough, or simply looking 469 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 2: for a deeper connection with God. This guide is designed 470 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 2: to help you reflect, realign, and rebuild day by day. 471 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 2: Receive your copy and know that whatever you're facing today, grief, loss, uncertainty, 472 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 2: it doesn't define your future. Choose to trust God. He 473 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 2: sees you, He cares deeply, and He is the God 474 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 2: who restores Double. 475 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: None of us like difficulties, but if you'll stay in faith, 476 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: you won't come out the same. You'll come out with Double. 477 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: Niktoy and I pray for you and your Face family 478 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: every day. Thank you for your prayers and support. Your 479 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 1: donations are bringing hope to people around the world. Special 480 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: thank you to our champion of Hope partners for all 481 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: you do to make the ministry possible. Until we see 482 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: you again next week, Meddle, Lord, bless you and keep you. 483 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of Double for Your Trouble, 484 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 2: available this month by simply visiting us at Joelostein dot 485 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 2: com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 486 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 2: You can also receive God's Got You Restoration Duo. 487 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: This book is a. 488 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 2: Powerful reminder that no matter what you face, you are 489 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 2: not alone. God's got you and he will never let 490 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 2: you go. In addition to these two inspiration books, you 491 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 2: can also receive the Double Portion Restoration Bible Collection. This 492 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 2: beautifully curated collection brings together the restoring of hope, of 493 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 2: double for your trouble, and the comforting reassurance of God's 494 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 2: got you. Paired with a stunning CSB Thin Line Bible 495 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 2: Digital Study Edition in camel Swede's soft leather touch, this 496 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 2: elegant Bible offers a rich, immersive study experience an enduring 497 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 2: companion as you lean into God's promises of renewal and restoration. 498 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 2: Let these resources strengthen your faith, study your heart, and 499 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 2: remind you each day that God is restoring, bleeding and 500 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 2: working double on your behalf. You can request these inspiring 501 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 2: resources by calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel 502 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 2: or logging on to Joelostein dot com today. 503 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 1: If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great 504 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: opportunity to come. We call it Homecoming Weekend. We'd love 505 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 1: to meet you and your family. You can see the 506 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: building and attend one of the services. It's a great 507 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: time to be a part of the Lakewood family. Looking 508 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: forward to seeing you at Homecoming Weekend.