Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen - The Blessing

February 12, 2025 | S25:E44

Joel and Victoria Osteen's message of unconditional love and unending hope reaches everyone across the world.

#Faith #Blessing #Struggle #Religion #JoelOsteen #WordofGod #inActive #Self-Esteem #Authority #Affirmation

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Joel Osteen | Joel Osteen - The Blessing | February 12, 2025

(applause)
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(applause) well god bless you.
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Well god bless you. it's a joy to come into
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It's a joy to come into your homes and if you're
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Your homes and if you're ever in our area, please
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Ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of
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Stop by and be a part of one of our services.
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One of our services. i promise you we will
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I promise you we will make you feel right
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Make you feel right at home. thanks so much
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At home. thanks so much for tuning in and thank
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For tuning in and thank you again for coming out.
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You again for coming out. i like to start with
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I like to start with something funny.
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Something funny. i heard about this country
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I heard about this country grandmother. she would
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Grandmother. she would go out on her front porch
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Go out on her front porch every morning and thank
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Every morning and thank the lord for another day.
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The lord for another day. her neighbor didn't
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Her neighbor didn't believe in god. he'd
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Believe in god. he'd shout back, "there's no
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Shout back, "there's no such thing as 'the lord'!"
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Such thing as 'the lord'!" one day, he overheard her
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One day, he overheard her asking god to give her
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Asking god to give her groceries for the week.
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Groceries for the week. he snuck over the next
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He snuck over the next morning and put some
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Morning and put some groceries on her front
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Groceries on her front porch. she got up and
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Porch. she got up and said, "thank you, lord.
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Said, "thank you, lord. you did it again." he
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You did it again." he laughed and laughed and
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Laughed and laughed and said, "god didn't give
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Said, "god didn't give you those groceries!
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You those groceries! i put them there." she
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I put them there." she said, "lord, thank you.
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Said, "lord, thank you. you not only gave me the
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You not only gave me the groceries, but you made
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Groceries, but you made the devil pay for it."
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The devil pay for it." (laughter)
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(laughter) say it like you mean it:
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Say it like you mean it: this is my bible. i am
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This is my bible. i am what it says i am, i have
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What it says i am, i have what it says i have. i can
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What it says i have. i can do what it says i can do.
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Do what it says i can do. today i will be taught
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Today i will be taught the word of god. i boldly
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The word of god. i boldly confess: my mind is alert.
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Confess: my mind is alert. my heart is receptive.
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My heart is receptive. i will never be the same.
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I will never be the same. in jesus' name. god bless
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In jesus' name. god bless you.
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You. i want to talk to you
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I want to talk to you today about
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Today about "the blessing".
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"the blessing". as parents, we have the
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As parents, we have the ability to impact our
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Ability to impact our children like no one
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Children like no one else can. while the
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Else can. while the mother's role of
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Mother's role of nurturing, caring is
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Nurturing, caring is vitally important,
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Vitally important, without the father's
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Without the father's approval and validation,
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Approval and validation, the child will feel a
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The child will feel a void. every person needs
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Void. every person needs the blessing from their
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The blessing from their father. many adults still
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Father. many adults still struggle today, low
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Struggle today, low self-esteem, working all
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Self-esteem, working all the time, trying to prove
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The time, trying to prove that they're good enough,
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That they're good enough, all because of their
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All because of their father's lack of
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Father's lack of affirmation. their father
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Affirmation. their father never told them, "i'm
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Never told them, "i'm proud of you." he never
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Proud of you." he never made them feel approved,
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Made them feel approved, so they're still trying
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So they're still trying to measure up, gain this
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To measure up, gain this approval that can only
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Approval that can only come from a father.
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Come from a father. fathers, we have
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Fathers, we have something to give our
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Something to give our children that nobody
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Children that nobody else can give. other
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Else can give. other people can tell them how
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People can tell them how great they are, how
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Great they are, how special they are, but
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Special they are, but when you tell them, it
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When you tell them, it carries a whole new
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Carries a whole new weight. as the father,
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Weight. as the father, you have the god-given
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You have the god-given authority to bless your
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Authority to bless your child. every time you
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Child. every time you say, "i'm proud of you.
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Say, "i'm proud of you. i love you. you're
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I love you. you're beautiful.", god releases
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Beautiful.", god releases strength into your child,
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Strength into your child, value, confidence,
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Value, confidence, security. those are not
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Security. those are not just nice words; it's
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Just nice words; it's what the scripture
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What the scripture calls "the blessing".
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Calls "the blessing". you are propelling your
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You are propelling your child toward their
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Child toward their destiny. we're all busy,
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Destiny. we're all busy, it's easy to get
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It's easy to get sidetracked or even at
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Sidetracked or even at odds with our children.
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Odds with our children. "they're not doing right.
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"they're not doing right. when they straighten up,
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When they straighten up, i'll be nicer. when i'm
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I'll be nicer. when i'm not so busy, i'll spend
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Not so busy, i'll spend more time with them."
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More time with them." or "joel, they know i'm
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Or "joel, they know i'm proud of them. i told
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Proud of them. i told them 14 years ago when
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Them 14 years ago when we brought them home
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We brought them home from the hospital."
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From the hospital." no, they need to hear
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No, they need to hear it again and again.
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It again and again. you're the father. you
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You're the father. you carry the blessing. don't
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Carry the blessing. don't withhold your love,
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Withhold your love, your affection; your
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Your affection; your approval.
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Approval. now, you may not have
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Now, you may not have received this blessing
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Received this blessing from your father. he
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From your father. he wasn't around growing
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Wasn't around growing up or maybe he was there
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Up or maybe he was there but all he did was
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But all he did was correct you, tell you
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Correct you, tell you what you're doing wrong.
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What you're doing wrong. he didn't show affection,
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He didn't show affection, or make you feel valuable.
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Or make you feel valuable. don't let that negative
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Don't let that negative cycle get passed to the
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Cycle get passed to the next generation. you can
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Next generation. you can be the difference maker.
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Be the difference maker. you can set a new
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You can set a new standard.
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Standard. sometimes
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Sometimes we were raised to think,
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We were raised to think, "we're men. we don't
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"we're men. we don't express our feelings.
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Express our feelings. we don't hug. we don't
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We don't hug. we don't say nice things. that
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Say nice things. that would make us look weak."
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Would make us look weak." it's just the opposite.
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It's just the opposite. when you show your
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When you show your feelings, you're strong.
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Feelings, you're strong. real men hug their
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Real men hug their children. real men show
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Children. real men show affection, make their
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Affection, make their children feel valuable.
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Children feel valuable. real men go out of their
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Real men go out of their way to approve, to
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Way to approve, to validate, to encourage.
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Validate, to encourage. fathers, our children
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Fathers, our children have been given to us
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Have been given to us as a gift. do you know
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As a gift. do you know how many people would
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How many people would love to have kids? they're
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Love to have kids? they're going through infertility
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Going through infertility treatments, spending
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Treatments, spending thousands of dollars,
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Thousands of dollars, enduring pain, suffering.
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Enduring pain, suffering. they'd do anything to
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They'd do anything to have children like ours.
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Have children like ours. god has entrusted you
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God has entrusted you with his most prized
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With his most prized possession. he's counting
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Possession. he's counting on you as the father
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On you as the father to give them the blessing.
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To give them the blessing. your approval, your love,
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Your approval, your love, your affirmation, carries
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Your affirmation, carries more weight than any
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More weight than any other man. without your
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Other man. without your blessing, your children
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Blessing, your children will struggle in areas
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Will struggle in areas that they did not have
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That they did not have to struggle in. there's
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To struggle in. there's a reason people are
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A reason people are insecure, angry, overly
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Insecure, angry, overly competitive, promiscuous.
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Competitive, promiscuous. many times, the root
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Many times, the root cause can be traced back
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Cause can be traced back to they never got the
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To they never got the blessing from their
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Blessing from their father.
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Father. i know a man that's
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I know a man that's extremely successful.
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Extremely successful. his business has taken
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His business has taken off, but he's never
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Off, but he's never satisfied. he works all
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Satisfied. he works all the time, so competitive,
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The time, so competitive, he's got to go higher.
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He's got to go higher. we were talking one day.
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We were talking one day. he brought up how his
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He brought up how his father has never
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Father has never acknowledged his success,
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Acknowledged his success, never once told him he
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Never once told him he was proud of his son.
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Was proud of his son. when they visit on the
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When they visit on the holidays, his father
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Holidays, his father never brings up his
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Never brings up his accomplishments. this
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Accomplishments. this son, instead of being
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Son, instead of being proud of who he is,
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Proud of who he is, enjoying his success, he
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Enjoying his success, he keeps working harder
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Keeps working harder and harder hoping one
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And harder hoping one day he'll gain his
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Day he'll gain his father's approval. what
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Father's approval. what a difference it would
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A difference it would make if the father would
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Make if the father would just pick up the phone
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Just pick up the phone and say, "son, have i
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And say, "son, have i told you how proud
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Told you how proud i am of you? how i think
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I am of you? how i think you're amazing? how you
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You're amazing? how you mean the world to me?"
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Mean the world to me?" it seems so simple, yet
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It seems so simple, yet it carries so much weight.
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It carries so much weight. it fills a void that only
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It fills a void that only the father can fill.
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The father can fill. something we were all
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Something we were all born with. even as little
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Born with. even as little children on the playground,
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Children on the playground, there can be 20 other
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There can be 20 other adults, people that we
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Adults, people that we know, but we're
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Know, but we're constantly saying, "look
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Constantly saying, "look at me, daddy! watch me
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At me, daddy! watch me run, daddy! watch me
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Run, daddy! watch me jump, daddy. watch how
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Jump, daddy. watch how fast i am, daddy!"
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Fast i am, daddy!" we long for our daddy
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We long for our daddy to watch us. we long for
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To watch us. we long for our father to say, "that's
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Our father to say, "that's good! you're strong.
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Good! you're strong. you can run really fast!"
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You can run really fast!" we could have our
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We could have our babysitter watch us, our
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Babysitter watch us, our cousin watch us, our
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Cousin watch us, our neighbor watch us,
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Neighbor watch us, but when it's our dad,
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But when it's our dad, it takes on a whole new
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It takes on a whole new meaning. this longing
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Meaning. this longing for our father's approval
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For our father's approval was put in us by our
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Was put in us by our creator. your children
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Creator. your children may be 50 years old
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May be 50 years old today, but deep down
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Today, but deep down they're still saying,
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They're still saying, "watch me, daddy! look
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"watch me, daddy! look at what i'm doing! look
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At what i'm doing! look at how i'm raising my
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At how i'm raising my children, look at how
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Children, look at how i'm excelling in my
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I'm excelling in my career!" they still long
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Career!" they still long for your approval.
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For your approval. (applause)
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(applause) fathers, here's the good
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Fathers, here's the good news: it's never too late
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News: it's never too late to bless your children.
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To bless your children. you may not have done
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You may not have done this growing up. this
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This growing up. this is not the way you were
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Is not the way you were raised. i wonder what
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Raised. i wonder what would happen if you
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Would happen if you picked up the phone and
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Picked up the phone and called your son,
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Called your son, daughter. they may be
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Daughter. they may be 30, 40 years old, you
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30, 40 years old, you haven't spoken to them
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Haven't spoken to them in a while, but you call
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In a while, but you call and say, "hey, i just
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And say, "hey, i just want to tell you how
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Want to tell you how proud i am of you, how
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Proud i am of you, how much i love you. i think
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Much i love you. i think you're amazing."
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You're amazing." your approval, even
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Your approval, even later in life, can be a
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Later in life, can be a turning point for them.
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Turning point for them. your validation of their
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Your validation of their family, their success,
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Family, their success, their accomplishment
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Their accomplishment can put an end to issues
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Can put an end to issues they've been struggling
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They've been struggling with. it can bring
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With. it can bring healing and wholeness
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Healing and wholeness and set them on a whole
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And set them on a whole new path.
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New path. a friend of mine named
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A friend of mine named robert grew up with an
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Robert grew up with an alcoholic father. they
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Alcoholic father. they lived way out in the
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Lived way out in the country. his dad was
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Country. his dad was known as the town drunk.
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Known as the town drunk. robert was the star
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Robert was the star football player. in
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Football player. in high school, he was named
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High school, he was named an all-american, went on
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An all-american, went on to play in college.
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To play in college. football was what he
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Football was what he lived for. but in spite
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Lived for. but in spite of all of his
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Of all of his accomplishments, deep
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Accomplishments, deep down there was a missing
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Down there was a missing piece. as far as he
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Piece. as far as he knew, his father had
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Knew, his father had never seen him play one
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Never seen him play one football game. his dad
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Football game. his dad had never complimented
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Had never complimented him, never told him that
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Him, never told him that he was proud of his
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He was proud of his success. even though his
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Success. even though his father was an alcoholic,
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Father was an alcoholic, robert still longed for
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Robert still longed for his approval. years later,
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His approval. years later, he found out that his dad
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He found out that his dad did attend many of his
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Did attend many of his games but he stayed way
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Games but he stayed way over to the side because
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Over to the side because he was so embarrassed
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He was so embarrassed by his drinking problems.
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By his drinking problems. after robert's football
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After robert's football career, he went to seminary
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Career, he went to seminary and became a minister.
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And became a minister. one day he received a
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One day he received a phone call saying that
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Phone call saying that his father had a heart
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His father had a heart attack and might not make
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Attack and might not make it. robert rushed to the
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It. robert rushed to the emergency room and
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Emergency room and saw his father lying on
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Saw his father lying on the bed. his dad was
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The bed. his dad was going in and out of
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Going in and out of consciousness. he wasn't
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Consciousness. he wasn't completely there. he
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Completely there. he thought robert was the
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Thought robert was the doctor, the cardiologist.
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Doctor, the cardiologist. he said something that
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He said something that forever changed robert's
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Forever changed robert's life. he said, "doctor,
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Life. he said, "doctor, have i ever told you
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Have i ever told you about my son robert and
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About my son robert and how proud i am of him?
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How proud i am of him? he was the star football
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He was the star football player, led the league
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Player, led the league in tackles. now he's a
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In tackles. now he's a great pastor of a church.",
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Great pastor of a church.", went on and on, bragging
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Went on and on, bragging on his son. robert began
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On his son. robert began to weep. that day he
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To weep. that day he heard the words that he
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Heard the words that he had waited 35 years to
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Had waited 35 years to hear. it was like a
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Hear. it was like a healing balm was released
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Healing balm was released on the inside. it filled
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On the inside. it filled a void that only a father
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A void that only a father can fill. you'd think,
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Can fill. you'd think, "well, come on robert.
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"well, come on robert. he's an alcoholic. he's
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He's an alcoholic. he's never been there for
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Never been there for you. just blow him off."
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You. just blow him off." no, the father holds a
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No, the father holds a blessing that is a
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Blessing that is a strategic piece to our
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Strategic piece to our puzzle. (applause)
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Puzzle. (applause) maybe like robert's
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Maybe like robert's father, you haven't been
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Father, you haven't been there for your children,
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There for your children, had struggles and issues.
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Had struggles and issues. now you think, "my
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Now you think, "my children don't need
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Children don't need anything from me.
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Anything from me. joel, i've made a lot
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Joel, i've made a lot of poor choices.
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Of poor choices. they're doing better
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They're doing better than i am."
00:10:15.071 --> 00:10:16.272
Than i am." no, just like with robert,
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No, just like with robert, they still need your
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They still need your approval. don't withhold
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Approval. don't withhold your blessing. sometimes
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Your blessing. sometimes we think, "they know i
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We think, "they know i love them. they know i'm
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Love them. they know i'm proud of them. i don't
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Proud of them. i don't need to tell them."
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Need to tell them." no, a blessing is not
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No, a blessing is not a blessing until it's
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A blessing until it's spoken. people don't
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Spoken. people don't know what you're
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Know what you're thinking. they can't
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Thinking. they can't read your mind. even
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Read your mind. even though it may seem minor
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Though it may seem minor to you, as a father,
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To you, as a father, when you tell your
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When you tell your children you're proud
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Children you're proud of them, it can do
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Of them, it can do something major in their
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Something major in their life. the blessing of
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Life. the blessing of the father carries so
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The father carries so much weight. it can help
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Much weight. it can help release them to a new
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Release them to a new level of their destiny.
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Level of their destiny. i think about growing up
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I think about growing up how many times i heard my
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How many times i heard my parents tell me that they
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Parents tell me that they were proud of me; that i
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Were proud of me; that i was going to do great
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Was going to do great things in life. my
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Things in life. my father would brag on me
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Father would brag on me so much in front of other
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So much in front of other people, it would embarrass
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People, it would embarrass me. every place we would
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Me. every place we would go together, he couldn't
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Go together, he couldn't wait to say, "have you
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Wait to say, "have you met my son, joel?" he'd
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Met my son, joel?" he'd go on and on telling all
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Go on and on telling all of my history, how i did
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Of my history, how i did the television production
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The television production at the church, nobody
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At the church, nobody could do it better than
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Could do it better than me, i was the greatest
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Me, i was the greatest producer, the greatest
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Producer, the greatest director. none of that
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Director. none of that was true. i wasn't the
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Was true. i wasn't the greatest anything, but
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Greatest anything, but i kind of liked the fact
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I kind of liked the fact that i had my father
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That i had my father fooled. but really,
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Fooled. but really, more than bragging
00:11:35.785 --> 00:11:36.619
More than bragging on me, he was speaking
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On me, he was speaking the blessing. he was
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The blessing. he was approving, validating,
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Approving, validating, and honoring me.
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And honoring me. there's a reason people
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There's a reason people are secure, confident;
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Are secure, confident; they feel valuable.
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They feel valuable. it has a lot to do with
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It has a lot to do with the blessing from their
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The blessing from their father.
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Father. our daughter, alexandra,
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Our daughter, alexandra, her first date was not
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Her first date was not with another young man,
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With another young man, it was with this young
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It was with this young man. (laughter) i've
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Man. (laughter) i've taken her to dinner,
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Taken her to dinner, to the mall, to
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To the mall, to build-a-bear, to disney
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Build-a-bear, to disney land. i've opened the
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Land. i've opened the car door for her, i've
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Car door for her, i've carried her luggage,
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Carried her luggage, i've told her she's
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I've told her she's beautiful, valuable,
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Beautiful, valuable, talented, one of a kind,
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Talented, one of a kind, a masterpiece. i've set
00:12:17.293 --> 00:12:18.427
A masterpiece. i've set a high standard. the
00:12:18.494 --> 00:12:20.262
A high standard. the people she chooses to
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People she chooses to date are going to have
00:12:21.530 --> 00:12:22.798
Date are going to have a tough act to follow.
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A tough act to follow. not only are they going
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Not only are they going to have to be good looking
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To have to be good looking like me, but they're going
00:12:28.671 --> 00:12:31.140
Like me, but they're going to have to bring their
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To have to bring their a-game. they're not
00:12:32.374 --> 00:12:33.676
A-game. they're not going to be average,
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Going to be average, mediocre. she'll know
00:12:34.977 --> 00:12:36.045
Mediocre. she'll know to weed them out. they're
00:12:36.111 --> 00:12:37.513
To weed them out. they're going to have to be a cut
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Going to have to be a cut above. exceptional,
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Above. exceptional, extraordinary, people
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Extraordinary, people that will treat her like
00:12:42.017 --> 00:12:42.751
That will treat her like a queen. that's what a
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A queen. that's what a father does. a father
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Father does. a father sets the standard. don't
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Sets the standard. don't be harsh on your children.
00:12:49.425 --> 00:12:51.126
Be harsh on your children. don't be too busy for
00:12:51.193 --> 00:12:52.061
Don't be too busy for them. if you don't tell
00:12:52.127 --> 00:12:53.562
Them. if you don't tell your daughter how
00:12:53.629 --> 00:12:54.496
Your daughter how beautiful she is, don't
00:12:54.563 --> 00:12:55.998
Beautiful she is, don't be surprised if she finds
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Be surprised if she finds a young man to tell her
00:12:57.433 --> 00:12:58.901
A young man to tell her how beautiful she is.
00:12:58.968 --> 00:13:01.203
How beautiful she is. if you don't make your
00:13:01.270 --> 00:13:01.904
If you don't make your children feel special,
00:13:01.971 --> 00:13:03.505
Children feel special, they'll go out and try
00:13:03.572 --> 00:13:04.874
They'll go out and try to fill that void with
00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:06.242
To fill that void with something or someone;
00:13:06.308 --> 00:13:07.743
Something or someone; a void that you can fill
00:13:07.810 --> 00:13:09.545
A void that you can fill as the father. let's set
00:13:09.612 --> 00:13:11.413
As the father. let's set a high standard. this is
00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.816
A high standard. this is your legacy. this is what
00:13:13.883 --> 00:13:15.351
Your legacy. this is what you're passing down--
00:13:15.417 --> 00:13:17.253
You're passing down-- more than your money,
00:13:17.319 --> 00:13:18.721
More than your money, more than your success,
00:13:18.787 --> 00:13:20.022
More than your success, your accomplishments.
00:13:20.089 --> 00:13:21.123
Your accomplishments. your values, your
00:13:21.190 --> 00:13:22.391
Your values, your principles, what you
00:13:22.458 --> 00:13:23.325
Principles, what you believe in, that's what's
00:13:23.392 --> 00:13:24.760
Believe in, that's what's going to live on.
00:13:24.827 --> 00:13:26.228
Going to live on. i'm asking you to model
00:13:26.295 --> 00:13:27.196
I'm asking you to model excellence. model
00:13:27.263 --> 00:13:28.764
Excellence. model integrity. give your
00:13:28.831 --> 00:13:30.432
Integrity. give your children the blessing.
00:13:30.499 --> 00:13:32.034
Children the blessing. let them know they're
00:13:32.101 --> 00:13:32.801
Let them know they're made in the image of
00:13:32.868 --> 00:13:33.669
Made in the image of god, that they're
00:13:33.736 --> 00:13:34.904
God, that they're extremely valuable, that
00:13:34.970 --> 00:13:36.372
Extremely valuable, that they have seeds of
00:13:36.438 --> 00:13:37.539
They have seeds of greatness on the inside.
00:13:37.606 --> 00:13:40.442
Greatness on the inside. in the scripture, there
00:13:40.509 --> 00:13:41.577
In the scripture, there was a father named jesse.
00:13:41.644 --> 00:13:43.712
Was a father named jesse. he had 8 sons. when the
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He had 8 sons. when the prophet samuel came to
00:13:45.881 --> 00:13:47.082
Prophet samuel came to his house to choose one
00:13:47.149 --> 00:13:48.517
His house to choose one of those sons as the
00:13:48.584 --> 00:13:49.685
Of those sons as the next king, jesse's
00:13:49.752 --> 00:13:51.120
Next king, jesse's youngest son, david, was
00:13:51.186 --> 00:13:53.322
Youngest son, david, was out in the shepherd's
00:13:53.389 --> 00:13:54.223
Out in the shepherd's fields. jesse didn't
00:13:54.290 --> 00:13:55.958
Fields. jesse didn't even invite david in.
00:13:56.025 --> 00:13:57.993
Even invite david in. he thought, "he doesn't
00:13:58.060 --> 00:13:58.761
He thought, "he doesn't have a chance. he's too
00:13:58.827 --> 00:13:59.628
Have a chance. he's too young, inexperienced."
00:13:59.695 --> 00:14:01.730
Young, inexperienced." when samuel looked at
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When samuel looked at the other 7 boys, he
00:14:02.965 --> 00:14:04.233
The other 7 boys, he said, "it's none of
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Said, "it's none of these." he asked jesse
00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:06.802
These." he asked jesse if he had another son.
00:14:06.869 --> 00:14:08.737
If he had another son. jesse was so surprised.
00:14:08.804 --> 00:14:11.173
Jesse was so surprised. he said, "yes, david, my
00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.141
He said, "yes, david, my youngest. he's out there
00:14:12.207 --> 00:14:13.409
Youngest. he's out there taking care of the sheep,
00:14:13.475 --> 00:14:14.777
Taking care of the sheep, but i know it's not him."
00:14:14.843 --> 00:14:16.445
But i know it's not him." the moment samuel saw
00:14:16.512 --> 00:14:18.080
The moment samuel saw david he lit up and said,
00:14:18.147 --> 00:14:19.515
David he lit up and said, "that's him. he's the
00:14:19.581 --> 00:14:20.482
"that's him. he's the next king."
00:14:20.549 --> 00:14:21.917
Next king." here's my point: jesse
00:14:21.984 --> 00:14:23.719
Here's my point: jesse had a king in his house
00:14:23.786 --> 00:14:25.754
Had a king in his house and he didn't recognize
00:14:25.821 --> 00:14:27.189
And he didn't recognize it. he had one of the
00:14:27.256 --> 00:14:28.991
It. he had one of the greatest men that would
00:14:29.058 --> 00:14:30.092
Greatest men that would ever live, but he didn't
00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:31.260
Ever live, but he didn't see it. he just looked
00:14:31.327 --> 00:14:32.594
See it. he just looked on the outside and saw
00:14:32.661 --> 00:14:34.330
On the outside and saw his size, his ability,
00:14:34.396 --> 00:14:35.564
His size, his ability, his experience.
00:14:35.631 --> 00:14:36.899
His experience. he couldn't see the
00:14:36.966 --> 00:14:37.933
He couldn't see the seeds of greatness on
00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.535
Seeds of greatness on the inside. he didn't see
00:14:39.601 --> 00:14:41.370
The inside. he didn't see the giant killer, the
00:14:41.437 --> 00:14:42.771
The giant killer, the army general, the
00:14:42.838 --> 00:14:44.206
Army general, the skilled musician; the
00:14:44.273 --> 00:14:45.774
Skilled musician; the history maker.
00:14:45.841 --> 00:14:47.876
History maker. don't do like jesse and
00:14:47.943 --> 00:14:49.211
Don't do like jesse and have a king, a queen in
00:14:49.278 --> 00:14:51.347
Have a king, a queen in your house and not
00:14:51.413 --> 00:14:53.082
Your house and not recognize it. you don't
00:14:53.148 --> 00:14:54.583
Recognize it. you don't know the gifts god has
00:14:54.650 --> 00:14:56.485
Know the gifts god has put in your children.
00:14:56.552 --> 00:14:57.953
Put in your children. you could be raising
00:14:58.020 --> 00:14:59.188
You could be raising the next giant killer,
00:14:59.254 --> 00:15:00.789
The next giant killer, the next army general,
00:15:00.856 --> 00:15:02.257
The next army general, the next david, the next
00:15:02.324 --> 00:15:03.459
The next david, the next history maker. all they
00:15:03.525 --> 00:15:04.960
History maker. all they need is your blessing,
00:15:05.027 --> 00:15:07.129
Need is your blessing, your encouragement,
00:15:07.196 --> 00:15:08.764
Your encouragement, to know that you believe
00:15:08.831 --> 00:15:10.132
To know that you believe in them, that you're
00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:11.400
In them, that you're cheering them on, that
00:15:11.467 --> 00:15:12.801
Cheering them on, that you're their number-one
00:15:12.868 --> 00:15:13.969
You're their number-one fan.
00:15:14.036 --> 00:15:15.838
Fan. 2009, a young man named
00:15:15.904 --> 00:15:17.873
2009, a young man named jonathan sanchez was the
00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:19.208
Jonathan sanchez was the starting pitcher for the
00:15:19.274 --> 00:15:20.542
Starting pitcher for the san francisco giants
00:15:20.609 --> 00:15:22.378
San francisco giants baseball team. he'd
00:15:22.444 --> 00:15:23.846
Baseball team. he'd been doing okay but he
00:15:23.912 --> 00:15:25.447
Been doing okay but he started struggling,
00:15:25.514 --> 00:15:26.715
Started struggling, eventually he was sent
00:15:26.782 --> 00:15:28.250
Eventually he was sent down to the bullpen.
00:15:28.317 --> 00:15:29.885
Down to the bullpen. when the star pitcher,
00:15:29.952 --> 00:15:31.253
When the star pitcher, randy johnson hurt his
00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.721
Randy johnson hurt his shoulder, he was put
00:15:32.788 --> 00:15:34.089
Shoulder, he was put back in the starting
00:15:34.156 --> 00:15:35.324
Back in the starting rotation. it just so
00:15:35.391 --> 00:15:37.159
Rotation. it just so happened, his father had
00:15:37.226 --> 00:15:39.495
Happened, his father had flown in from puerto rico
00:15:39.561 --> 00:15:40.829
Flown in from puerto rico to watch him pitch for
00:15:40.896 --> 00:15:42.398
To watch him pitch for the first time in the
00:15:42.464 --> 00:15:43.432
The first time in the major leagues. with his
00:15:43.499 --> 00:15:45.834
Major leagues. with his father up there in the
00:15:45.901 --> 00:15:46.802
Father up there in the stands, jonathan pitched
00:15:46.869 --> 00:15:48.470
Stands, jonathan pitched the game of his lifetime.
00:15:48.537 --> 00:15:51.073
The game of his lifetime. striking out a career
00:15:51.140 --> 00:15:52.141
Striking out a career high 11 batters and not
00:15:52.207 --> 00:15:53.675
High 11 batters and not allowing 1 hit. it was
00:15:53.742 --> 00:15:55.978
Allowing 1 hit. it was the first no-hitter in
00:15:56.045 --> 00:15:57.446
The first no-hitter in 33 years for the giants.
00:15:57.513 --> 00:16:00.582
33 years for the giants. after the game, the first
00:16:00.649 --> 00:16:01.650
After the game, the first one in the dugout to
00:16:01.717 --> 00:16:02.785
One in the dugout to congratulate him was
00:16:02.851 --> 00:16:03.819
Congratulate him was his father. jonathan
00:16:03.886 --> 00:16:05.487
His father. jonathan said, "i was so pumped
00:16:05.554 --> 00:16:07.189
Said, "i was so pumped to know that my father
00:16:07.256 --> 00:16:08.924
To know that my father was watching me pitch
00:16:08.991 --> 00:16:10.125
Was watching me pitch for the first time."
00:16:10.192 --> 00:16:11.593
For the first time." it wasn't a coincidence
00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:13.195
It wasn't a coincidence that he pitched the game
00:16:13.262 --> 00:16:14.963
That he pitched the game of his life on the first
00:16:15.030 --> 00:16:16.598
Of his life on the first time his father was there
00:16:16.665 --> 00:16:18.834
Time his father was there to watch him play. the
00:16:18.901 --> 00:16:20.102
To watch him play. the blessing kicked in.
00:16:20.169 --> 00:16:21.770
Blessing kicked in. fathers, when your
00:16:21.837 --> 00:16:22.905
Fathers, when your children know you're
00:16:22.971 --> 00:16:24.306
Children know you're watching them, you
00:16:24.373 --> 00:16:25.541
Watching them, you believe in them, you're
00:16:25.607 --> 00:16:26.975
Believe in them, you're cheering them on, that's
00:16:27.042 --> 00:16:28.343
Cheering them on, that's going to give them an
00:16:28.410 --> 00:16:29.445
Going to give them an extra boost to rise
00:16:29.511 --> 00:16:31.013
Extra boost to rise higher, to go further,
00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:32.881
Higher, to go further, to accomplish things
00:16:32.948 --> 00:16:34.149
To accomplish things they never thought they
00:16:34.216 --> 00:16:35.284
They never thought they could accomplish.
00:16:35.350 --> 00:16:37.052
Could accomplish. i realize not everybody
00:16:37.119 --> 00:16:39.321
I realize not everybody got this blessing from
00:16:39.388 --> 00:16:40.756
Got this blessing from their father. some people
00:16:40.823 --> 00:16:42.925
Their father. some people lost their father early
00:16:42.991 --> 00:16:44.359
Lost their father early in life. half of the
00:16:44.426 --> 00:16:45.994
In life. half of the children today are being
00:16:46.061 --> 00:16:47.463
Children today are being raised in fatherless
00:16:47.529 --> 00:16:48.797
Raised in fatherless homes. maybe your dad
00:16:48.864 --> 00:16:51.066
Homes. maybe your dad was around but he wasn't
00:16:51.133 --> 00:16:52.534
Was around but he wasn't a good influence. he made
00:16:52.601 --> 00:16:54.136
A good influence. he made it harder on you. notice
00:16:54.203 --> 00:16:55.370
It harder on you. notice with david, even though
00:16:55.437 --> 00:16:57.172
With david, even though his father didn't believe
00:16:57.239 --> 00:16:59.441
His father didn't believe in him, that didn't change
00:16:59.508 --> 00:17:01.376
In him, that didn't change david's destiny. what god
00:17:01.443 --> 00:17:03.312
David's destiny. what god had planned for david's
00:17:03.378 --> 00:17:05.047
Had planned for david's life could not be stopped
00:17:05.114 --> 00:17:07.149
Life could not be stopped by how his father raised
00:17:07.216 --> 00:17:08.517
By how his father raised him. don't use this as
00:17:08.584 --> 00:17:10.219
Him. don't use this as an excuse.
00:17:10.285 --> 00:17:11.520
An excuse. "i didn't get the blessing,
00:17:11.587 --> 00:17:12.788
"i didn't get the blessing, joel. now i know why
00:17:12.855 --> 00:17:13.755
Joel. now i know why i'm stuck. now i know why
00:17:13.822 --> 00:17:15.224
I'm stuck. now i know why i can't accomplish my
00:17:15.290 --> 00:17:15.958
I can't accomplish my dream."
00:17:16.024 --> 00:17:16.892
Dream." no, what you did or did
00:17:16.959 --> 00:17:18.527
No, what you did or did not get is not a surprise
00:17:18.594 --> 00:17:20.529
Not get is not a surprise to god. you may not have
00:17:20.596 --> 00:17:22.531
To god. you may not have had a father involved in
00:17:22.598 --> 00:17:23.732
Had a father involved in your life growing up.
00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.567
Your life growing up. god said in psalm 68,
00:17:25.634 --> 00:17:27.803
God said in psalm 68, "he will be a father to
00:17:27.870 --> 00:17:29.404
"he will be a father to the fatherless." god
00:17:29.471 --> 00:17:31.406
The fatherless." god will be your father.
00:17:31.473 --> 00:17:32.875
Will be your father. he will watch over you
00:17:32.941 --> 00:17:34.243
He will watch over you in a special way. he'll
00:17:34.309 --> 00:17:35.744
In a special way. he'll get you to where you're
00:17:35.811 --> 00:17:36.478
Get you to where you're supposed to be. (applause)
00:17:36.545 --> 00:17:39.381
Supposed to be. (applause) many single mothers doing
00:17:39.448 --> 00:17:41.416
Many single mothers doing an incredible job raising
00:17:41.483 --> 00:17:43.585
An incredible job raising their children without
00:17:43.652 --> 00:17:45.187
Their children without the help of a man.
00:17:45.254 --> 00:17:46.622
The help of a man. (applause)
00:17:46.688 --> 00:17:47.523
(applause) god said he will be your
00:17:47.589 --> 00:17:48.790
God said he will be your husband. he will help you
00:17:48.857 --> 00:17:50.292
Husband. he will help you raise your child. he will
00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:51.894
Raise your child. he will give you wisdom. he will
00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.529
Give you wisdom. he will provide for your needs.
00:17:53.595 --> 00:17:56.598
Provide for your needs. there's a single mom
00:17:56.665 --> 00:17:58.167
There's a single mom that attends here.
00:17:58.233 --> 00:17:59.401
That attends here. she has 2 sons. they were
00:17:59.468 --> 00:18:01.170
She has 2 sons. they were raised on a limited income,
00:18:01.236 --> 00:18:02.671
Raised on a limited income, but today both of her
00:18:02.738 --> 00:18:03.906
But today both of her sons are in major
00:18:03.972 --> 00:18:05.507
Sons are in major universities on full
00:18:05.574 --> 00:18:07.075
Universities on full scholarships. one in
00:18:07.142 --> 00:18:08.944
Scholarships. one in medical school, one in
00:18:09.011 --> 00:18:09.912
Medical school, one in law school. god will be
00:18:09.978 --> 00:18:12.714
Law school. god will be your husband. god will
00:18:12.781 --> 00:18:14.449
Your husband. god will take care of you and
00:18:14.516 --> 00:18:15.484
Take care of you and your children.
00:18:15.551 --> 00:18:17.452
Your children. i read a story about a
00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.787
I read a story about a little boy. he grew up
00:18:18.854 --> 00:18:20.622
Little boy. he grew up with a single parent
00:18:20.689 --> 00:18:22.324
With a single parent mother in the hills of
00:18:22.391 --> 00:18:23.725
Mother in the hills of tennessee. back then,
00:18:23.792 --> 00:18:26.361
Tennessee. back then, especially in that area,
00:18:26.428 --> 00:18:28.163
Especially in that area, children that were born
00:18:28.230 --> 00:18:29.598
Children that were born to unwed mothers were
00:18:29.665 --> 00:18:30.832
To unwed mothers were really looked down on.
00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:32.434
Really looked down on. at 3 years old, neighbors
00:18:32.501 --> 00:18:34.269
At 3 years old, neighbors would not let him play
00:18:34.336 --> 00:18:35.871
Would not let him play with their children. they
00:18:35.938 --> 00:18:37.506
With their children. they would say things like,
00:18:37.573 --> 00:18:38.640
Would say things like, "what's he doing in our
00:18:38.707 --> 00:18:39.541
"what's he doing in our town?" and "who's his
00:18:39.608 --> 00:18:40.609
Town?" and "who's his father anyway?" he'd go
00:18:40.676 --> 00:18:42.778
Father anyway?" he'd go up to the local store on
00:18:42.844 --> 00:18:44.646
Up to the local store on saturdays with his mom
00:18:44.713 --> 00:18:46.248
Saturdays with his mom and people would make
00:18:46.315 --> 00:18:47.649
And people would make these disparaging
00:18:47.716 --> 00:18:48.617
These disparaging remarks loud enough
00:18:48.684 --> 00:18:49.918
Remarks loud enough so they could hear it.
00:18:49.985 --> 00:18:51.086
So they could hear it. "there he is again. did
00:18:51.153 --> 00:18:52.120
"there he is again. did you ever find out who
00:18:52.187 --> 00:18:54.156
You ever find out who his father is?" he grew
00:18:54.223 --> 00:18:56.358
His father is?" he grew up insecure; always
00:18:56.425 --> 00:18:57.960
Up insecure; always feeling like there was
00:18:58.026 --> 00:18:59.494
Feeling like there was something wrong with
00:18:59.561 --> 00:19:01.363
Something wrong with him. at 12 years old,
00:19:01.430 --> 00:19:03.031
Him. at 12 years old, a new minister moved
00:19:03.098 --> 00:19:04.666
A new minister moved into town, a young man,
00:19:04.733 --> 00:19:06.501
Into town, a young man, very dynamic, talented,
00:19:06.568 --> 00:19:08.737
Very dynamic, talented, created quite a stir.
00:19:08.804 --> 00:19:09.972
Created quite a stir. this boy had never been
00:19:10.038 --> 00:19:11.607
This boy had never been to church. one day he
00:19:11.673 --> 00:19:12.808
To church. one day he decided to go all by
00:19:12.874 --> 00:19:13.842
Decided to go all by himself to see what all
00:19:13.909 --> 00:19:15.210
Himself to see what all the excitement was about.
00:19:15.277 --> 00:19:17.613
The excitement was about. he went late, sat in the
00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:18.981
He went late, sat in the back hoping that nobody
00:19:19.047 --> 00:19:20.015
Back hoping that nobody would see him. that day,
00:19:20.082 --> 00:19:21.917
Would see him. that day, he felt a love and an
00:19:21.984 --> 00:19:23.151
He felt a love and an acceptance like he'd
00:19:23.218 --> 00:19:24.319
Acceptance like he'd never felt. planned on
00:19:24.386 --> 00:19:26.355
Never felt. planned on leaving early but he
00:19:26.421 --> 00:19:27.589
Leaving early but he got engrossed in what
00:19:27.656 --> 00:19:28.624
Got engrossed in what the minister was saying,
00:19:28.690 --> 00:19:30.125
The minister was saying, was over before he knew
00:19:30.192 --> 00:19:31.193
Was over before he knew it. he got caught in the
00:19:31.260 --> 00:19:32.227
It. he got caught in the crowd. as he was leaving,
00:19:32.294 --> 00:19:34.196
Crowd. as he was leaving, the young minister was
00:19:34.263 --> 00:19:35.530
The young minister was greeting everyone at the
00:19:35.597 --> 00:19:36.498
Greeting everyone at the door, he saw the young
00:19:36.565 --> 00:19:38.166
Door, he saw the young boy by himself. of course
00:19:38.233 --> 00:19:39.968
Boy by himself. of course he didn't know anything
00:19:40.035 --> 00:19:41.370
He didn't know anything about him. innocently
00:19:41.436 --> 00:19:42.571
About him. innocently this minister said, "son,
00:19:42.638 --> 00:19:44.339
This minister said, "son, who's child are you?"
00:19:44.406 --> 00:19:47.075
Who's child are you?" the whole place grew
00:19:47.142 --> 00:19:48.644
The whole place grew completely silent.
00:19:48.710 --> 00:19:50.679
Completely silent. that was the question
00:19:50.746 --> 00:19:51.713
That was the question they'd all been wanting to
00:19:51.780 --> 00:19:52.681
They'd all been wanting to ask. the boy put his head
00:19:52.748 --> 00:19:54.349
Ask. the boy put his head down. he didn't know what
00:19:54.416 --> 00:19:55.550
Down. he didn't know what to say. the minister
00:19:55.617 --> 00:19:56.785
To say. the minister snapped that something
00:19:56.852 --> 00:19:58.787
Snapped that something was wrong. he looked at
00:19:58.854 --> 00:20:00.022
Was wrong. he looked at the boy and said, "oh,
00:20:00.088 --> 00:20:01.023
The boy and said, "oh, i know who's child you
00:20:01.089 --> 00:20:02.257
I know who's child you are! i can see the
00:20:02.324 --> 00:20:03.659
Are! i can see the resemblance so strongly.
00:20:03.725 --> 00:20:04.893
Resemblance so strongly. you're a child of almighty
00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.296
You're a child of almighty god." that day was a
00:20:07.362 --> 00:20:10.365
God." that day was a turning point in the
00:20:10.432 --> 00:20:11.333
Turning point in the young boy's life.
00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.367
Young boy's life. (applause)
00:20:12.434 --> 00:20:14.002
(applause) chains of insecurity,
00:20:14.069 --> 00:20:15.370
Chains of insecurity, inferiority were broken
00:20:15.437 --> 00:20:17.439
Inferiority were broken off of him. over 30 years
00:20:17.506 --> 00:20:19.041
Off of him. over 30 years later, that young boy was
00:20:19.107 --> 00:20:20.876
Later, that young boy was elected governor of
00:20:20.942 --> 00:20:22.311
Elected governor of tennessee. if you were
00:20:22.377 --> 00:20:24.146
Tennessee. if you were to ask him, ben hooper
00:20:24.212 --> 00:20:25.647
To ask him, ben hooper would tell you the day
00:20:25.714 --> 00:20:26.948
Would tell you the day he really got elected
00:20:27.015 --> 00:20:28.784
He really got elected was the day that minister
00:20:28.850 --> 00:20:29.951
Was the day that minister told him who his father
00:20:30.018 --> 00:20:31.353
Told him who his father was.
00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:33.088
Was. a lot of people today
00:20:33.155 --> 00:20:34.723
A lot of people today grow up without fathers.
00:20:34.790 --> 00:20:36.925
Grow up without fathers. i wish that were not so,
00:20:36.992 --> 00:20:39.227
I wish that were not so, but if that's you, let me
00:20:39.294 --> 00:20:40.329
But if that's you, let me tell you what the minister
00:20:40.395 --> 00:20:41.563
Tell you what the minister told ben hooper. your
00:20:41.630 --> 00:20:43.532
Told ben hooper. your father is almighty god.
00:20:43.598 --> 00:20:46.201
Father is almighty god. he's chosen you, called
00:20:46.268 --> 00:20:47.602
He's chosen you, called you, set you a part. you
00:20:47.669 --> 00:20:49.271
You, set you a part. you didn't get here by
00:20:49.338 --> 00:20:50.138
Didn't get here by accident. you didn't just
00:20:50.205 --> 00:20:51.506
Accident. you didn't just happen to show up. god
00:20:51.573 --> 00:20:52.874
Happen to show up. god breathed his life into
00:20:52.941 --> 00:20:54.343
Breathed his life into you. you have a destiny
00:20:54.409 --> 00:20:56.144
You. you have a destiny to fulfill, an assignment
00:20:56.211 --> 00:20:57.679
To fulfill, an assignment that only you can
00:20:57.746 --> 00:20:59.381
That only you can accomplish.
00:20:59.448 --> 00:21:00.682
Accomplish. a few years ago, after
00:21:00.749 --> 00:21:02.250
A few years ago, after the service, this mother
00:21:02.317 --> 00:21:04.052
The service, this mother came up to me with 2 small
00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.520
Came up to me with 2 small children, a boy and a girl.
00:21:05.587 --> 00:21:07.989
Children, a boy and a girl. they were very loving.
00:21:08.056 --> 00:21:09.324
They were very loving. the little boy, about 5
00:21:09.391 --> 00:21:10.592
The little boy, about 5 years old, hugged me and
00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:11.993
Years old, hugged me and he wouldn't let go. we
00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:13.762
He wouldn't let go. we talked for a little while
00:21:13.829 --> 00:21:15.130
Talked for a little while and finally they walked
00:21:15.197 --> 00:21:16.498
And finally they walked away. a couple minutes
00:21:16.565 --> 00:21:18.066
Away. a couple minutes later, the little boy
00:21:18.133 --> 00:21:19.301
Later, the little boy came back, said he wanted
00:21:19.368 --> 00:21:20.602
Came back, said he wanted to whisper something in
00:21:20.669 --> 00:21:21.703
To whisper something in my ear. i leaned down
00:21:21.770 --> 00:21:23.338
My ear. i leaned down and he said in the most
00:21:23.405 --> 00:21:25.040
And he said in the most sincere voice, "i wish
00:21:25.107 --> 00:21:26.742
Sincere voice, "i wish you were my dad."
00:21:26.808 --> 00:21:29.378
You were my dad." i'll never forget that.
00:21:29.444 --> 00:21:31.213
I'll never forget that. but maybe today, your
00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.247
But maybe today, your father has not been
00:21:32.314 --> 00:21:33.215
Father has not been involved in your life as
00:21:33.281 --> 00:21:34.449
Involved in your life as much as he should have.
00:21:34.516 --> 00:21:36.485
Much as he should have. like that little boy,
00:21:36.551 --> 00:21:37.452
Like that little boy, you feel a void on the
00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.286
You feel a void on the inside, a longing for
00:21:38.353 --> 00:21:39.888
Inside, a longing for that approval. i believe
00:21:39.955 --> 00:21:41.556
That approval. i believe right now that void is
00:21:41.623 --> 00:21:43.825
Right now that void is being filled. healing
00:21:43.892 --> 00:21:45.527
Being filled. healing is taking place,
00:21:45.594 --> 00:21:47.462
Is taking place, wholeness, value,
00:21:47.529 --> 00:21:48.997
Wholeness, value, confidence. your
00:21:49.064 --> 00:21:50.065
Confidence. your heavenly father is giving
00:21:50.132 --> 00:21:51.800
Heavenly father is giving you the blessing. he's
00:21:51.867 --> 00:21:54.169
You the blessing. he's saying, "i'm proud of you.
00:21:54.236 --> 00:21:56.371
Saying, "i'm proud of you. you're amazing. you're
00:21:56.438 --> 00:21:58.106
You're amazing. you're valuable. you're going
00:21:58.173 --> 00:21:59.374
Valuable. you're going to do great things in
00:21:59.441 --> 00:22:00.409
To do great things in life."
00:22:00.475 --> 00:22:01.877
Life." some of you, like me, have
00:22:01.943 --> 00:22:03.612
Some of you, like me, have a father that's no longer
00:22:03.678 --> 00:22:04.846
A father that's no longer with us. he's in heaven.
00:22:04.913 --> 00:22:06.848
With us. he's in heaven. you hear people say,
00:22:06.915 --> 00:22:08.250
You hear people say, "i wish my dad could see
00:22:08.316 --> 00:22:09.551
"i wish my dad could see me now." even when we
00:22:09.618 --> 00:22:12.087
Me now." even when we lose our fathers, deep
00:22:12.154 --> 00:22:13.422
Lose our fathers, deep down there's still a
00:22:13.488 --> 00:22:14.790
Down there's still a part of us saying,
00:22:14.856 --> 00:22:16.091
Part of us saying, "watch me dad. look at
00:22:16.158 --> 00:22:17.259
"watch me dad. look at what i'm doing."
00:22:17.325 --> 00:22:18.827
What i'm doing." the scripture talks about
00:22:18.894 --> 00:22:20.095
The scripture talks about how there is a great cloud
00:22:20.162 --> 00:22:22.097
How there is a great cloud of witnesses, people that
00:22:22.164 --> 00:22:24.299
Of witnesses, people that have gone before us that
00:22:24.366 --> 00:22:25.700
Have gone before us that are cheering us on.
00:22:25.767 --> 00:22:27.669
Are cheering us on. in the grandstands of
00:22:27.736 --> 00:22:28.603
In the grandstands of heaven right now, looking
00:22:28.670 --> 00:22:30.138
Heaven right now, looking down, watching you closely
00:22:30.205 --> 00:22:32.073
Down, watching you closely is your father, my father,
00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:33.975
Is your father, my father, fathers that have gone
00:22:34.042 --> 00:22:35.076
Fathers that have gone before us. do you know
00:22:35.143 --> 00:22:37.512
Before us. do you know what they're saying?
00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.647
What they're saying? "look at my son, look at
00:22:38.713 --> 00:22:40.515
"look at my son, look at my daughter. look at how
00:22:40.582 --> 00:22:42.551
My daughter. look at how amazing they are! look at
00:22:42.617 --> 00:22:44.019
Amazing they are! look at what they're
00:22:44.085 --> 00:22:44.786
What they're accomplishing." they
00:22:44.853 --> 00:22:46.521
Accomplishing." they may not be here in
00:22:46.588 --> 00:22:47.189
May not be here in person, but you can
00:22:47.255 --> 00:22:48.623
Person, but you can rest assured they're
00:22:48.690 --> 00:22:50.125
Rest assured they're proud of you. they
00:22:50.192 --> 00:22:51.259
Proud of you. they still think you're
00:22:51.326 --> 00:22:52.327
Still think you're amazing. they still give
00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:53.628
Amazing. they still give you their approval.
00:22:53.695 --> 00:22:55.664
You their approval. we can look up and say,
00:22:55.730 --> 00:22:56.731
We can look up and say, "watch me dad. we're just
00:22:56.798 --> 00:22:58.166
"watch me dad. we're just getting started. there
00:22:58.233 --> 00:22:59.568
Getting started. there are a lot of great things
00:22:59.634 --> 00:23:00.368
Are a lot of great things still to come."
00:23:00.435 --> 00:23:02.003
Still to come." friends, life is short.
00:23:02.070 --> 00:23:03.572
Friends, life is short. make sure you give your
00:23:03.638 --> 00:23:04.840
Make sure you give your children the blessing.
00:23:04.906 --> 00:23:07.042
Children the blessing. it's never too late.
00:23:07.108 --> 00:23:08.310
It's never too late. you can pick up the phone,
00:23:08.376 --> 00:23:09.277
You can pick up the phone, call a son or daughter,
00:23:09.344 --> 00:23:10.445
Call a son or daughter, and tell them how proud
00:23:10.512 --> 00:23:11.546
And tell them how proud you are of them.
00:23:11.613 --> 00:23:13.181
You are of them. and again, if you didn't
00:23:13.248 --> 00:23:14.282
And again, if you didn't get the blessing, your
00:23:14.349 --> 00:23:15.383
Get the blessing, your earthly father wasn't
00:23:15.450 --> 00:23:16.751
Earthly father wasn't around, god is your
00:23:16.818 --> 00:23:17.953
Around, god is your father. he put his
00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.688
Father. he put his blessing on you.
00:23:19.754 --> 00:23:22.224
Blessing on you. i believe and declare,
00:23:22.290 --> 00:23:24.092
I believe and declare, because of that blessing,
00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:25.560
Because of that blessing, you're going to rise
00:23:25.627 --> 00:23:26.761
You're going to rise higher, you're going to
00:23:26.828 --> 00:23:27.863
Higher, you're going to accomplish your dreams,
00:23:27.929 --> 00:23:29.364
Accomplish your dreams, you're going to set a
00:23:29.431 --> 00:23:30.398
You're going to set a new standard for your
00:23:30.465 --> 00:23:31.366
New standard for your family. your children
00:23:31.433 --> 00:23:32.934
Family. your children are going to be mighty
00:23:33.001 --> 00:23:34.236
Are going to be mighty in the land, in jesus'
00:23:34.302 --> 00:23:35.670
In the land, in jesus' name. if you receive it,
00:23:35.737 --> 00:23:37.672
Name. if you receive it, can you say "amen" today?
00:23:37.739 --> 00:23:39.908
Can you say "amen" today? (applause)
00:23:39.975 --> 00:23:41.877
(applause) well we never like to
00:23:41.943 --> 00:23:42.644
Well we never like to close our broadcast
00:23:42.711 --> 00:23:43.545
Close our broadcast without giving you an
00:23:43.612 --> 00:23:44.513
Without giving you an opportunity to make jesus
00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.580
Opportunity to make jesus the lord of your life.
00:23:45.647 --> 00:23:47.148
The lord of your life. would you pray with me?
00:23:47.215 --> 00:23:48.850
Would you pray with me? just say, "lord, jesus,
00:23:48.917 --> 00:23:51.486
Just say, "lord, jesus, i repent of my sins.
00:23:51.553 --> 00:23:53.522
I repent of my sins. come into my heart, i make
00:23:53.588 --> 00:23:55.891
Come into my heart, i make you my lord and savior."
00:23:55.957 --> 00:23:59.561
You my lord and savior." friends, if you prayed
00:23:59.628 --> 00:24:00.762
Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer,
00:24:00.829 --> 00:24:01.830
That simple prayer, we believe you got
00:24:01.897 --> 00:24:02.564
We believe you got born again.
00:24:02.631 --> 00:24:03.899
Born again. get in a good bible-based
00:24:03.965 --> 00:24:04.866
Get in a good bible-based church, keep god first
00:24:04.933 --> 00:24:06.067
Church, keep god first place. he's going to
00:24:06.134 --> 00:24:07.602
Place. he's going to take you places that
00:24:07.669 --> 00:24:08.737
Take you places that you've never dreamed.
00:24:08.803 --> 00:24:09.538
When was the
00:24:10.005 --> 00:24:10.505
Last time you asked
00:24:10.505 --> 00:24:11.540
God to do something
00:24:11.540 --> 00:24:12.707
That seemed impossible?
00:24:12.707 --> 00:24:14.476
If you only pray small,
00:24:14.476 --> 00:24:15.977
Ordinary prayers,
00:24:15.977 --> 00:24:17.345
You'll live a small,
00:24:17.345 --> 00:24:18.380
Ordinary life.
00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.915
I have a new book
00:24:19.915 --> 00:24:20.682
Called pray bold.
00:24:20.682 --> 00:24:22.117
I'll challenge you
00:24:22.117 --> 00:24:22.851
To stretch your faith
00:24:22.851 --> 00:24:23.952
And believe
00:24:23.952 --> 00:24:24.586
For the big things
00:24:24.586 --> 00:24:25.453
God puts in your heart.
00:24:25.453 --> 00:24:27.355
Victoria and i used
00:24:27.355 --> 00:24:28.189
To have season tickets
00:24:28.189 --> 00:24:29.457
To watch the rockets
00:24:29.457 --> 00:24:30.492
Play basketball here.
00:24:30.492 --> 00:24:32.093
We never dreamed
00:24:32.093 --> 00:24:32.928
It could be ours.
00:24:32.928 --> 00:24:34.195
But when they moved out,
00:24:34.195 --> 00:24:35.430
Somehow
00:24:35.430 --> 00:24:35.997
We had the faith to pray
00:24:35.997 --> 00:24:37.165
A bold prayer.
00:24:37.165 --> 00:24:38.400
God made things happen
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:39.834
That we could
00:24:39.834 --> 00:24:40.302
Never make happen.
00:24:40.302 --> 00:24:41.469
It's the same for you.
00:24:41.469 --> 00:24:43.104
Who knows what
00:24:43.104 --> 00:24:43.805
God would do in your life
00:24:43.805 --> 00:24:45.307
If you'll dare to pray bold?
00:24:45.307 --> 00:24:47.208
Ask him for your dreams.
00:24:47.208 --> 00:24:48.810
Ask for your healing.
00:24:48.810 --> 00:24:50.045
Ask for your freedom.
00:24:50.045 --> 00:24:51.413
That's when god will show up
00:24:51.413 --> 00:24:52.948
And do more
00:24:52.948 --> 00:24:53.815
Than you could ever imagine.
00:24:53.815 --> 00:24:55.684
As our way of saying thank you
00:24:55.684 --> 00:24:57.385
For your gift of any amount
00:24:57.385 --> 00:24:58.920
This month,
00:24:58.920 --> 00:24:59.688
We would like to send you
00:24:59.688 --> 00:25:00.922
A copy of joel's
00:25:00.922 --> 00:25:01.957
Brand new book,
00:25:01.957 --> 00:25:03.325
Pray bold:
00:25:03.325 --> 00:25:04.492
Dare to ask and believe big.
00:25:04.492 --> 00:25:07.462
Joel shares that when we pray,
00:25:07.462 --> 00:25:09.864
We can tap into god's
00:25:09.864 --> 00:25:11.366
Creative, awesome power.
00:25:11.366 --> 00:25:13.435
Something bigger
00:25:13.435 --> 00:25:14.436
Than we have ever imagined.
00:25:14.436 --> 00:25:16.371
God doesn't
00:25:16.371 --> 00:25:17.038
Want us to just pray
00:25:17.038 --> 00:25:18.340
In our comfort zones.
00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.808
No, god loves when we pray big.
00:25:19.808 --> 00:25:22.711
Believe big.
00:25:22.711 --> 00:25:24.079
Expect him to do
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.347
The unexpected.
00:25:25.347 --> 00:25:27.015
There are inspiring stories
00:25:27.015 --> 00:25:28.550
From the bible, from history,
00:25:28.550 --> 00:25:30.418
And personal testimonies
00:25:30.418 --> 00:25:31.820
Of people
00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:32.420
Who dared to believe god
00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.989
In extraordinary ways.
00:25:33.989 --> 00:25:36.024
You'll learn
00:25:36.024 --> 00:25:36.591
How to practically
00:25:36.591 --> 00:25:37.392
Expand your prayers
00:25:37.392 --> 00:25:39.027
And watch your life
00:25:39.027 --> 00:25:40.095
Move from the common
00:25:40.095 --> 00:25:41.429
To the extraordinary.
00:25:41.429 --> 00:25:43.131
From less than to overflowing.
00:25:43.131 --> 00:25:46.101
God has put dreams in
00:25:46.101 --> 00:25:47.469
Your heart
00:25:47.469 --> 00:25:47.969
And things he's
00:25:47.969 --> 00:25:48.837
Whispered in the night
00:25:48.837 --> 00:25:50.005
That seem impossible.
00:25:50.005 --> 00:25:51.706
But as you pray
00:25:51.706 --> 00:25:52.374
These bold prayers,
00:25:52.374 --> 00:25:53.575
You're going
00:25:53.575 --> 00:25:54.042
To see the goodness
00:25:54.109 --> 00:25:54.743
Of god in ways
00:25:54.743 --> 00:25:55.910
You've never seen.
00:25:55.910 --> 00:25:57.379
Victoria and i
00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:57.912
Are believing you're
00:25:57.912 --> 00:25:58.647
Going to have a great 2025.
00:25:58.647 --> 00:26:01.049
We pray for
00:26:01.049 --> 00:26:01.716
You and your family every day
00:26:01.716 --> 00:26:03.418
For god's very best.
00:26:03.418 --> 00:26:05.286
We want to thank you
00:26:05.286 --> 00:26:06.087
For your prayer
00:26:06.087 --> 00:26:06.888
And your support.
00:26:06.888 --> 00:26:07.856
You're impacting people
00:26:07.856 --> 00:26:08.957
All over the world.
00:26:08.957 --> 00:26:10.225
Be sure to request
00:26:10.225 --> 00:26:11.393
Your copy of pray bold today.
00:26:11.393 --> 00:26:13.828
Visit joelosteen.com
00:26:13.828 --> 00:26:15.697
Or call us toll free.
00:26:15.697 --> 00:26:17.532
Finally,
00:26:17.532 --> 00:26:18.333
Elevate your personal time
00:26:18.333 --> 00:26:19.968
With god
00:26:19.968 --> 00:26:20.702
By requesting the my time
00:26:20.702 --> 00:26:22.337
With god collection.
00:26:22.337 --> 00:26:24.005
This beautiful
00:26:24.005 --> 00:26:24.906
Collection contains
00:26:24.906 --> 00:26:26.074
The pray bold
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New release,
00:26:26.875 --> 00:26:27.809
Plus the new living translation
00:26:27.809 --> 00:26:29.911
One year
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Chronological study bible,
00:26:30.645 --> 00:26:32.313
And a beautiful glass
00:26:32.313 --> 00:26:33.481
Mug and throw blanket
00:26:33.481 --> 00:26:35.150
Based around
00:26:35.150 --> 00:26:35.884
The inspiring scripture
00:26:35.884 --> 00:26:37.185
From psalm 46:10 “be
00:26:37.185 --> 00:26:39.421
Still and know that i am god.”
00:26:39.421 --> 00:26:42.057
You can learn more about this
00:26:42.057 --> 00:26:43.491
Unique new gift collection
00:26:43.491 --> 00:26:45.060
By calling 888-567-joel
00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:48.229
Or logging on to
00:26:48.296 --> 00:26:49.297
Joelosteen.com today.
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Call or click anytime, 24 hours
00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:54.402
A day.
00:26:54.402 --> 00:26:55.303
Remember,
00:26:55.303 --> 00:26:55.870
You can watch the services
00:26:55.937 --> 00:26:56.905
Online every sunday
00:26:56.905 --> 00:26:58.306
Morning, download
00:26:58.306 --> 00:26:59.574
Our daily podcast,
00:26:59.574 --> 00:27:01.042
Listen on sirius xm,
00:27:01.042 --> 00:27:02.577
Watch on youtube,
00:27:02.577 --> 00:27:03.945
And now the new joel osteen
00:27:03.945 --> 00:27:05.447
Network streaming on television
00:27:05.447 --> 00:27:07.182
24 hours a day.
00:27:07.182 --> 00:27:08.950
If you've never
00:27:08.950 --> 00:27:09.617
Been to lakewood,
00:27:09.617 --> 00:27:10.618
We have a great opportunity.
00:27:10.618 --> 00:27:12.687
We call it homecoming weekend.
00:27:12.687 --> 00:27:15.056
We'd love to meet you
00:27:15.056 --> 00:27:16.424
And your family.
00:27:16.424 --> 00:27:17.659
You can see the building
00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:19.260
And attend one of the services.
00:27:19.260 --> 00:27:20.829
It's a great time
00:27:20.829 --> 00:27:22.063
To be a part
00:27:22.063 --> 00:27:22.964
Of the lakewood family.
00:27:22.964 --> 00:27:24.032
Looking forward to seeing you
00:27:24.032 --> 00:27:25.333
Homecoming weekend.
00:27:25.333 --> 00:27:26.301
Homecoming weekend.
00:27:26.301 --> 00:27:26.301

Joel Osteen - The Blessing

February 12, 2025 | S25:E44

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