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Joel Osteen | Joel Osteen - Carried By The Creator | April 7, 2025
- > joel: god bless you.
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- > joel: god bless you. it's great to be with you
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- It's great to be with you today. i hope you'll stay
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- Today. i hope you'll stay connected with us during
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- Connected with us during the week, through our daily
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- The week, through our daily podcast, our youtube
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- Podcast, our youtube channel, social media.
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- Channel, social media. we'll keep you encouraged
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- We'll keep you encouraged and inspired.
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- And inspired. 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 college
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- I heard about this college professor. he was going to
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- Professor. he was going to prove to his students that
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- Prove to his students that there is no god.
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- There is no god. he said, “god, if you're
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- He said, “god, if you're real, then knock me off
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- Real, then knock me off this platform and i'll give
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- This platform and i'll give you 15 minutes to do it.”
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- You 15 minutes to do it.” with every minute that went
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- With every minute that went by, he taunted god.
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- By, he taunted god. “god, i'm still here, i'm
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- “god, i'm still here, i'm still waiting.” at the last
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- Still waiting.” at the last minute, a 300-pound
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- Minute, a 300-pound football player walking
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- Football player walking down the hall overheard
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- Down the hall overheard him. he took off running,
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- Him. he took off running, full speed toward him, put
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- Full speed toward him, put his shoulder down and sent
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- His shoulder down and sent him flying off the
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- Him flying off the platform. the professor
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- Platform. the professor woke up in a daze, “what in
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- Woke up in a daze, “what in the world did you do that
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- The world did you do that for?” the football player
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- For?” the football player replied, “god said he was
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- Replied, “god said he was busy, so he sent me.”
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- Busy, so he sent me.” come on, say it like you
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- Come on, say it like you mean it. this is my
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- Mean it. this is my bible. i am what it says
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- Bible. i am what it says i am. i have what it says
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- I am. i have what it says i have. i can do what it
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- I have. i can do what it says i can do. today,
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- Says i can do. today, i will be taught the
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- I will be taught the word of god. i boldly
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- 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 in
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- I will never be the same in jesus' name. god bless you.
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- Jesus' name. god bless you. i want to talk to you today
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- I want to talk to you today about carried by the
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- About carried by the creator.
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- Creator. we all face seasons where
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- We all face seasons where we don't know how we're
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- We don't know how we're going to make it through.
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- Going to make it through. we lost a loved one, we're
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- We lost a loved one, we're dealing with a sickness, we
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- Dealing with a sickness, we have a child that's off
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- Have a child that's off course.
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- Course. it's easy to feel
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- It's easy to feel overwhelmed, live worried,
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- Overwhelmed, live worried, think we don't have the
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- Think we don't have the strength to go on.
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- Strength to go on. but david said in psalm 68,
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- But david said in psalm 68, “each day, god carries us
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- “each day, god carries us in his arms.” you may have
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- In his arms.” you may have situations that are too
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- Situations that are too much for you, god is
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- Much for you, god is saying, “don't worry, i'm
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- Saying, “don't worry, i'm going to carry you.” you're
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- Going to carry you.” you're going to feel supernatural
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- Going to feel supernatural strength, peace that passes
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- Strength, peace that passes understanding, favor that
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- Understanding, favor that causes things to fall into
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- Causes things to fall into place.
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- Place. on your own, you wouldn't
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- On your own, you wouldn't make it through the
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- Make it through the sickness, you would fall
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- Sickness, you would fall apart in that divorce, that
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- Apart in that divorce, that trouble at work would
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- Trouble at work would defeat you, but you're not
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- Defeat you, but you're not on your own.
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- On your own. you're being carried by the
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- You're being carried by the god who created you.
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- God who created you. when you look back over
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- When you look back over your life, you can see
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- Your life, you can see these times where god
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- These times where god carried you.
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- Carried you. how'd you make it through
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- How'd you make it through that unfair childhood?
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- That unfair childhood? you should be insecure,
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- You should be insecure, dysfunctional, floundering,
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- Dysfunctional, floundering, but look at you, you're
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- But look at you, you're blessed, you're strong,
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- Blessed, you're strong, doing great things.
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- Doing great things. how did you get through
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- How did you get through that challenge with your
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- That challenge with your child?
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- Child? you should have had a
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- You should have had a nervous breakdown.
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- Nervous breakdown. it should have worn you
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- It should have worn you out, caused you to give up
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- Out, caused you to give up on dreams, but every day
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- On dreams, but every day you had strength to move
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- You had strength to move forward, you had the grace
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- Forward, you had the grace to stay in faith, you
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- To stay in faith, you believed when every thought
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- Believed when every thought said it was never going to
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- Said it was never going to work out.
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- Work out. the enemy tried to take
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- The enemy tried to take your child out, but because
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- Your child out, but because you kept praying, god not
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- You kept praying, god not only carried you, but he
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- Only carried you, but he carried your child.
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- Carried your child. where would we be without
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- Where would we be without the god who carries us.
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- The god who carries us. it's easy to thank him for
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- It's easy to thank him for blessings, i thank him for
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- Blessings, i thank him for turning things around, but
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- Turning things around, but i've also learned to thank
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- I've also learned to thank him for carrying me through
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- Him for carrying me through the difficulties.
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- The difficulties. for sustaining me.
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- For sustaining me. for not letting the
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- For not letting the opposition defeat me, not
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- Opposition defeat me, not letting the worry take
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- Letting the worry take root, not letting the doubt
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- Root, not letting the doubt talk me out of my dreams.
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- Talk me out of my dreams. that wasn't just my strong
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- That wasn't just my strong will, my great faith, that
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- Will, my great faith, that was god carrying me.
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- Was god carrying me. when my father went to be
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- When my father went to be with the lord in 1999, my
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- With the lord in 1999, my whole world was turned
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- Whole world was turned upside down.
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- Upside down. my father was my hero.
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- My father was my hero. outside of victoria, he was
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- Outside of victoria, he was my best friend.
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- My best friend. i had worked with him
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- I had worked with him seventeen years here at
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- Seventeen years here at lakewood, behind the scenes
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- Lakewood, behind the scenes doing the television
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- Doing the television production.
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- Production. we had traveled the world
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- We had traveled the world together.
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- Together. he'd come over to the house
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- He'd come over to the house for dinner, we'd go see the
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- For dinner, we'd go see the astros play.
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- Astros play. i thought he would live
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- I thought he would live into his nineties, but at
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- Into his nineties, but at seventy-seven, he had a
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- Seventy-seven, he had a heart attack and was
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- Heart attack and was suddenly taken away.
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- Suddenly taken away. i had never ministered, but
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- I had never ministered, but i knew i was supposed to
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- I knew i was supposed to step up and pastor the
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- Step up and pastor the church.
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- Church. it didn't make sense to my
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- It didn't make sense to my mind, i didn't feel
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- Mind, i didn't feel qualified, i didn't have
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- Qualified, i didn't have the experience.
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- The experience. thoughts told me, “nobody
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- Thoughts told me, “nobody is going to listen to you,
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- Is going to listen to you, joel.” but in my heart, i
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- Joel.” but in my heart, i felt it so strongly.
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- Felt it so strongly. i took that step of faith.
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- I took that step of faith. i started ministering on
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- I started ministering on sunday mornings.
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- Sunday mornings. our daughter alexandra was
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- Our daughter alexandra was three months old at the
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- Three months old at the time; our son jonathan was
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- Time; our son jonathan was four.
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- Four. i didn't know how to put a
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- I didn't know how to put a message together.
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- Message together. i had never done any public
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- I had never done any public speaking.
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- Speaking. on top of that, i was
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- On top of that, i was grieving the loss of my
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- Grieving the loss of my father.
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- Father. trying to navigate him not
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- Trying to navigate him not being here, how to run the
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- Being here, how to run the church, how to minister, a
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- Church, how to minister, a newborn baby.
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- Newborn baby. i look back now and think,
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- I look back now and think, how did i make it through?
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- How did i make it through? how did i learn how to
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- How did i learn how to minister in the most
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- Minister in the most difficult time of my life?
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- Difficult time of my life? how did we raise our little
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- How did we raise our little children when we were both
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- Children when we were both learning a new profession,
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- Learning a new profession, becoming pastors?
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- Becoming pastors? that was god carrying us.
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- That was god carrying us. i felt a strength that i
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- I felt a strength that i had never felt. yes, i
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- Had never felt. yes, i missed my father, but it
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- Missed my father, but it wasn't what i thought.
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- Wasn't what i thought. i didn't fall apart. i
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- I didn't fall apart. i wasn't overcome with sorrow
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- Wasn't overcome with sorrow for months, i felt peace.
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- For months, i felt peace. there was a grace to step
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- There was a grace to step into my destiny.
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- Into my destiny. it wasn't all easy, but i
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- It wasn't all easy, but i had the passion, the
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- Had the passion, the determination, the favor to
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- Determination, the favor to keep moving forward. that
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- Keep moving forward. that wasn't natural, that was
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- Wasn't natural, that was supernatural.
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- Supernatural. i should have been worried,
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- I should have been worried, stressed out, intimidated,
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- Stressed out, intimidated, but i thought, “i can do
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- But i thought, “i can do this.
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- This. i'm well able.
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- I'm well able. i'm strong in the lord.
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- I'm strong in the lord. this is not going to defeat
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- This is not going to defeat me.” god has grace for
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- Me.” god has grace for every season.
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- Every season. how many times has he
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- How many times has he carried you and you didn't
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- Carried you and you didn't know it?
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- Know it? you can look back now and
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- You can look back now and see, he carried you through
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- See, he carried you through the sickness.
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- The sickness. you had strength that you
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- You had strength that you never felt. he carried you
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- Never felt. he carried you through the loss.
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- Through the loss. it was painful but deep
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- It was painful but deep down you felt peace,
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- Down you felt peace, somehow you were able to
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- Somehow you were able to keep moving forward. or he
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- Keep moving forward. or he carried you through the
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- Carried you through the legal battle.
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- Legal battle. you didn't think you could
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- You didn't think you could take it, but day by day,
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- Take it, but day by day, you had just what you
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- You had just what you needed.
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- Needed. here you are, on the other
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- Here you are, on the other side, blessed, healthy,
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- Side, blessed, healthy, going stronger than ever.
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- Going stronger than ever. can i encourage you?
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- Can i encourage you? if god carried you back
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- If god carried you back then, he's going to carry
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- Then, he's going to carry you now.
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- You now. whatever your facing, it
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- Whatever your facing, it may seem insurmountable,
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- May seem insurmountable, but it's not going to
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- But it's not going to defeat you, it's not going
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- Defeat you, it's not going to be too much, you're not
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- To be too much, you're not going to be overwhelmed,
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- Going to be overwhelmed, the creator of the universe
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- The creator of the universe is carrying you.
- 00:06:37.854 --> 00:06:39.889
- Is carrying you. exodus 19 says, “god
- 00:06:39.956 --> 00:06:41.924
- Exodus 19 says, “god brought them out of
- 00:06:41.991 --> 00:06:42.925
- Brought them out of oppression by carrying them
- 00:06:42.992 --> 00:06:45.495
- Oppression by carrying them on eagle's wings.” you may
- 00:06:45.561 --> 00:06:47.797
- On eagle's wings.” you may have some oppression,
- 00:06:47.864 --> 00:06:49.298
- Have some oppression, things that are not fair,
- 00:06:49.365 --> 00:06:50.833
- Things that are not fair, you don't understand, stay
- 00:06:50.900 --> 00:06:52.401
- You don't understand, stay encouraged, eagle's wings
- 00:06:52.468 --> 00:06:54.270
- Encouraged, eagle's wings are coming.
- 00:06:54.337 --> 00:06:55.571
- Are coming. the god who made you is
- 00:06:55.638 --> 00:06:57.440
- The god who made you is going to carry you out of
- 00:06:57.507 --> 00:06:59.041
- Going to carry you out of depression, carry you out
- 00:06:59.108 --> 00:07:01.244
- Depression, carry you out of the heartache, carry you
- 00:07:01.310 --> 00:07:03.012
- Of the heartache, carry you out of the loneliness,
- 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:04.680
- Out of the loneliness, carry you out of poverty,
- 00:07:04.747 --> 00:07:06.616
- Carry you out of poverty, lack, not having enough.
- 00:07:06.682 --> 00:07:08.751
- Lack, not having enough. that is not how your story
- 00:07:08.818 --> 00:07:10.520
- That is not how your story ends.
- 00:07:10.586 --> 00:07:11.454
- Ends. he's about to carry you
- 00:07:11.521 --> 00:07:12.722
- He's about to carry you into abundance, carry you
- 00:07:12.788 --> 00:07:14.857
- Into abundance, carry you into freedom, carry you
- 00:07:14.924 --> 00:07:16.726
- Into freedom, carry you into joy, peace,
- 00:07:16.792 --> 00:07:18.427
- Into joy, peace, breakthroughs.
- 00:07:18.494 --> 00:07:19.962
- Breakthroughs. it looked like you were
- 00:07:20.029 --> 00:07:20.796
- It looked like you were stuck, but you're about to
- 00:07:20.863 --> 00:07:22.198
- Stuck, but you're about to feel some eagle's wings,
- 00:07:22.265 --> 00:07:23.833
- Feel some eagle's wings, lifting you, restoring you,
- 00:07:23.900 --> 00:07:26.202
- Lifting you, restoring you, promoting you, taking you
- 00:07:26.269 --> 00:07:28.204
- Promoting you, taking you where you can't go on your
- 00:07:28.271 --> 00:07:29.605
- Where you can't go on your own.
- 00:07:29.672 --> 00:07:31.040
- Own. i love how it uses the
- 00:07:31.107 --> 00:07:32.275
- I love how it uses the analogy of eagle's wings.
- 00:07:32.341 --> 00:07:34.010
- Analogy of eagle's wings. it could have said chicken
- 00:07:34.076 --> 00:07:35.645
- It could have said chicken wings, hawk's wings, crow's
- 00:07:35.711 --> 00:07:38.047
- Wings, hawk's wings, crow's wings.
- 00:07:38.114 --> 00:07:38.881
- Wings. but the eagle is known for
- 00:07:38.948 --> 00:07:40.283
- But the eagle is known for soaring, for rising higher
- 00:07:40.349 --> 00:07:42.685
- Soaring, for rising higher than other birds.
- 00:07:42.752 --> 00:07:43.986
- Than other birds. god is going take you
- 00:07:44.053 --> 00:07:45.187
- God is going take you further than you've
- 00:07:45.254 --> 00:07:46.355
- Further than you've imagined.
- 00:07:46.422 --> 00:07:47.089
- Imagined. you're not being carried by
- 00:07:47.156 --> 00:07:48.891
- You're not being carried by a goose, carried by a
- 00:07:48.958 --> 00:07:50.326
- A goose, carried by a pigeon, carried by a crow.
- 00:07:50.393 --> 00:07:52.495
- Pigeon, carried by a crow. you're being carried on
- 00:07:52.562 --> 00:07:53.596
- You're being carried on eagle's wings.
- 00:07:53.663 --> 00:07:55.031
- Eagle's wings. you're not going to just
- 00:07:55.097 --> 00:07:55.965
- You're not going to just make it through that loss,
- 00:07:56.032 --> 00:07:57.934
- Make it through that loss, through the breakup,
- 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:59.001
- Through the breakup, through the trouble, you're
- 00:07:59.068 --> 00:08:00.403
- Through the trouble, you're going to come out promoted,
- 00:08:00.469 --> 00:08:02.271
- Going to come out promoted, increased, better than you
- 00:08:02.338 --> 00:08:03.839
- Increased, better than you were before.
- 00:08:03.906 --> 00:08:05.675
- Were before. david said, “if it had not
- 00:08:05.741 --> 00:08:07.643
- David said, “if it had not been for the goodness of
- 00:08:07.710 --> 00:08:08.844
- Been for the goodness of god, where would i be?” he
- 00:08:08.911 --> 00:08:10.913
- God, where would i be?” he was saying, “if god had not
- 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:12.715
- Was saying, “if god had not carried me, where would i
- 00:08:12.782 --> 00:08:14.150
- Carried me, where would i be?” you may not realize
- 00:08:14.216 --> 00:08:16.485
- Be?” you may not realize it, but right now god is
- 00:08:16.552 --> 00:08:18.254
- It, but right now god is carrying you.
- 00:08:18.321 --> 00:08:19.755
- Carrying you. the challenges you're
- 00:08:19.822 --> 00:08:20.723
- The challenges you're facing would be much more
- 00:08:20.790 --> 00:08:22.358
- Facing would be much more difficult, if god wasn't
- 00:08:22.425 --> 00:08:24.160
- Difficult, if god wasn't lifting you, strengthening
- 00:08:24.226 --> 00:08:25.995
- Lifting you, strengthening you, favoring you, pushing
- 00:08:26.062 --> 00:08:27.964
- You, favoring you, pushing back the darkness.
- 00:08:28.030 --> 00:08:29.599
- Back the darkness. i can't tell you that god
- 00:08:29.665 --> 00:08:31.167
- I can't tell you that god is going to turn it around
- 00:08:31.233 --> 00:08:32.134
- Is going to turn it around instantly, but i can
- 00:08:32.201 --> 00:08:33.869
- Instantly, but i can promise you, he's going to
- 00:08:33.936 --> 00:08:35.371
- Promise you, he's going to carry you.
- 00:08:35.438 --> 00:08:36.806
- Carry you. you're not in the struggle
- 00:08:36.872 --> 00:08:37.974
- You're not in the struggle by yourself.
- 00:08:38.040 --> 00:08:39.308
- By yourself. you're going to feel
- 00:08:39.375 --> 00:08:40.042
- You're going to feel strength that you've never
- 00:08:40.109 --> 00:08:41.077
- Strength that you've never felt, doors are going to
- 00:08:41.143 --> 00:08:42.812
- Felt, doors are going to open that you couldn't
- 00:08:42.878 --> 00:08:43.846
- Open that you couldn't open, the right people are
- 00:08:43.913 --> 00:08:45.615
- Open, the right people are going to be there to help
- 00:08:45.681 --> 00:08:47.083
- Going to be there to help you.
- 00:08:47.149 --> 00:08:48.451
- You. the israelites had been in
- 00:08:48.517 --> 00:08:49.852
- The israelites had been in slavery for ten generations.
- 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:52.388
- Slavery for ten generations. god sent plagues on the
- 00:08:52.455 --> 00:08:53.522
- God sent plagues on the pharaoh, he finally let
- 00:08:53.589 --> 00:08:54.924
- Pharaoh, he finally let them go.
- 00:08:54.991 --> 00:08:55.992
- Them go. they headed out into the
- 00:08:56.058 --> 00:08:57.093
- They headed out into the desert toward the promised
- 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:58.794
- Desert toward the promised land.
- 00:08:58.861 --> 00:08:59.962
- Land. these people weren't
- 00:09:00.029 --> 00:09:01.130
- These people weren't trained to survive in the
- 00:09:01.197 --> 00:09:02.431
- Trained to survive in the wilderness.
- 00:09:02.498 --> 00:09:03.132
- Wilderness. there was no food out
- 00:09:03.199 --> 00:09:04.634
- There was no food out there, water was very
- 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:06.369
- There, water was very scarce.
- 00:09:06.435 --> 00:09:07.470
- Scarce. there were bandits, armies,
- 00:09:07.536 --> 00:09:09.538
- There were bandits, armies, people trying to kill them.
- 00:09:09.605 --> 00:09:11.507
- People trying to kill them. yet for forty years they
- 00:09:11.574 --> 00:09:13.376
- Yet for forty years they never went without food.
- 00:09:13.442 --> 00:09:15.378
- Never went without food. god gave them manna every
- 00:09:15.444 --> 00:09:16.712
- God gave them manna every morning.
- 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:17.847
- Morning. when they were thirsty god
- 00:09:17.913 --> 00:09:19.515
- When they were thirsty god brought water out of a rock.
- 00:09:19.582 --> 00:09:21.684
- Brought water out of a rock. their shoes never wore out,
- 00:09:21.751 --> 00:09:23.486
- Their shoes never wore out, year after year.
- 00:09:23.552 --> 00:09:24.920
- Year after year. god, do that for victoria.
- 00:09:24.987 --> 00:09:26.322
- God, do that for victoria. their clothing lasted their
- 00:09:26.389 --> 00:09:27.923
- Their clothing lasted their whole lifetime.
- 00:09:27.990 --> 00:09:30.259
- Whole lifetime. when enemies came against
- 00:09:30.326 --> 00:09:31.627
- When enemies came against them, many times
- 00:09:31.694 --> 00:09:33.095
- Them, many times supernaturally they were
- 00:09:33.162 --> 00:09:34.363
- Supernaturally they were defeated.
- 00:09:34.430 --> 00:09:35.598
- Defeated. they never should have
- 00:09:35.665 --> 00:09:36.432
- They never should have survived forty years out
- 00:09:36.499 --> 00:09:38.000
- Survived forty years out there.
- 00:09:38.067 --> 00:09:38.801
- There. how did they make it to the
- 00:09:38.868 --> 00:09:39.869
- How did they make it to the promised land?
- 00:09:39.935 --> 00:09:41.470
- Promised land? deuteronomy 1 says, “in the
- 00:09:41.537 --> 00:09:43.572
- Deuteronomy 1 says, “in the wilderness, there you saw
- 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:45.675
- Wilderness, there you saw how the lord your god
- 00:09:45.741 --> 00:09:47.209
- How the lord your god carried you, as a father
- 00:09:47.276 --> 00:09:49.378
- Carried you, as a father carries his son, all the
- 00:09:49.445 --> 00:09:51.280
- Carries his son, all the way until you reached this
- 00:09:51.347 --> 00:09:52.882
- Way until you reached this place.” at times, i'm sure
- 00:09:52.948 --> 00:09:55.418
- Place.” at times, i'm sure they thought, “where is
- 00:09:55.484 --> 00:09:56.352
- They thought, “where is jehovah, where is our god?
- 00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:58.187
- Jehovah, where is our god? how come we haven't come
- 00:09:58.254 --> 00:09:59.755
- How come we haven't come into the promised land.”
- 00:09:59.822 --> 00:10:01.724
- Into the promised land.” they didn't realize, the
- 00:10:01.791 --> 00:10:03.059
- They didn't realize, the whole time god was
- 00:10:03.125 --> 00:10:04.760
- Whole time god was sustaining them. he hadn't
- 00:10:04.827 --> 00:10:06.829
- Sustaining them. he hadn't delivered them yet, but he
- 00:10:06.896 --> 00:10:08.330
- Delivered them yet, but he was carrying them. they
- 00:10:08.397 --> 00:10:10.366
- Was carrying them. they didn't recognize that god
- 00:10:10.433 --> 00:10:12.134
- Didn't recognize that god was giving them strength to
- 00:10:12.201 --> 00:10:13.602
- Was giving them strength to travel through the desert.
- 00:10:13.669 --> 00:10:15.271
- Travel through the desert. he was the reason their
- 00:10:15.337 --> 00:10:16.572
- He was the reason their clothes didn't wear out;
- 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.207
- Clothes didn't wear out; armies couldn't defeat
- 00:10:18.274 --> 00:10:19.475
- Armies couldn't defeat them. they didn't get sick,
- 00:10:19.542 --> 00:10:21.577
- Them. they didn't get sick, they didn't have nervous
- 00:10:21.644 --> 00:10:22.378
- They didn't have nervous breakdowns, they didn't go
- 00:10:22.445 --> 00:10:24.080
- Breakdowns, they didn't go without food and provision.
- 00:10:24.146 --> 00:10:26.115
- Without food and provision. he carried them all the way
- 00:10:26.182 --> 00:10:28.084
- He carried them all the way until they reached the
- 00:10:28.150 --> 00:10:28.951
- Until they reached the promised land.
- 00:10:29.018 --> 00:10:30.920
- Promised land. on the way to your promised
- 00:10:30.986 --> 00:10:32.354
- On the way to your promised land, there will be
- 00:10:32.421 --> 00:10:33.355
- Land, there will be detours, people that do you
- 00:10:33.422 --> 00:10:35.524
- Detours, people that do you wrong, times you don't see
- 00:10:35.591 --> 00:10:37.293
- Wrong, times you don't see how it can work out.
- 00:10:37.359 --> 00:10:38.928
- How it can work out. you don't have the
- 00:10:38.994 --> 00:10:39.562
- You don't have the provision, the dream looks
- 00:10:39.628 --> 00:10:40.930
- Provision, the dream looks impossible, the obstacle
- 00:10:40.996 --> 00:10:42.932
- Impossible, the obstacle too big.
- 00:10:42.998 --> 00:10:44.200
- Too big. you'll be tempted to worry,
- 00:10:44.266 --> 00:10:45.935
- You'll be tempted to worry, live stressed out.
- 00:10:46.001 --> 00:10:47.002
- Live stressed out. no, stay in peace, just
- 00:10:47.069 --> 00:10:49.004
- No, stay in peace, just like god did for them, he's
- 00:10:49.071 --> 00:10:50.806
- Like god did for them, he's going to carry you all the
- 00:10:50.873 --> 00:10:52.441
- Going to carry you all the way till you get to your
- 00:10:52.508 --> 00:10:53.909
- Way till you get to your destination.
- 00:10:53.976 --> 00:10:55.377
- Destination. like a father carries his
- 00:10:55.444 --> 00:10:56.879
- Like a father carries his son, god is carrying you.
- 00:10:56.946 --> 00:11:00.082
- Son, god is carrying you. if you're a parent, you
- 00:11:00.149 --> 00:11:01.417
- If you're a parent, you know how much you loved
- 00:11:01.484 --> 00:11:02.485
- Know how much you loved carrying your children.
- 00:11:02.551 --> 00:11:03.486
- Carrying your children. when our daughter,
- 00:11:03.552 --> 00:11:04.920
- When our daughter, alexandra was a little
- 00:11:04.987 --> 00:11:06.555
- Alexandra was a little toddler, barely able to
- 00:11:06.622 --> 00:11:08.491
- Toddler, barely able to speak.
- 00:11:08.557 --> 00:11:09.492
- Speak. one of the first things she
- 00:11:09.558 --> 00:11:10.559
- One of the first things she learned to say was, “baby
- 00:11:10.626 --> 00:11:12.294
- Learned to say was, “baby up.” she'd come up to me,
- 00:11:12.361 --> 00:11:14.163
- Up.” she'd come up to me, hit my pant leg, “baby up.”
- 00:11:14.230 --> 00:11:16.332
- Hit my pant leg, “baby up.” that meant she wanted to be
- 00:11:16.398 --> 00:11:17.333
- That meant she wanted to be picked up.
- 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.400
- Picked up. i would carry her
- 00:11:18.467 --> 00:11:19.068
- I would carry her everywhere.
- 00:11:19.135 --> 00:11:19.769
- Everywhere. i was so proud of her.
- 00:11:19.835 --> 00:11:21.003
- I was so proud of her. i'd carry her in my arms,
- 00:11:21.070 --> 00:11:23.005
- I'd carry her in my arms, carry her on my shoulders.
- 00:11:23.072 --> 00:11:24.573
- Carry her on my shoulders. she'd ride piggyback.
- 00:11:24.640 --> 00:11:25.908
- She'd ride piggyback. she loved being in her
- 00:11:25.975 --> 00:11:27.042
- She loved being in her father's arms. she's
- 00:11:27.109 --> 00:11:29.078
- Father's arms. she's twenty-three years old now;
- 00:11:29.145 --> 00:11:30.679
- Twenty-three years old now; i don't carry her quite as
- 00:11:30.746 --> 00:11:31.881
- I don't carry her quite as much.
- 00:11:31.947 --> 00:11:32.681
- Much. but god is not like us.
- 00:11:32.748 --> 00:11:34.650
- But god is not like us. he said in isaiah, “even to
- 00:11:34.717 --> 00:11:36.886
- He said in isaiah, “even to your old age, i am he who
- 00:11:36.952 --> 00:11:39.288
- Your old age, i am he who will sustain you.
- 00:11:39.355 --> 00:11:40.923
- Will sustain you. i have made you and i will
- 00:11:40.990 --> 00:11:42.925
- I have made you and i will carry you.” you never get
- 00:11:42.992 --> 00:11:45.327
- Carry you.” you never get too old for god to carry
- 00:11:45.394 --> 00:11:46.962
- Too old for god to carry you.
- 00:11:47.029 --> 00:11:48.364
- You. as much as you love
- 00:11:48.430 --> 00:11:49.932
- As much as you love carrying your small
- 00:11:49.999 --> 00:11:50.766
- Carrying your small children, holding them,
- 00:11:50.833 --> 00:11:52.401
- Children, holding them, protecting them, making
- 00:11:52.468 --> 00:11:54.436
- Protecting them, making sure they feel safe and
- 00:11:54.503 --> 00:11:55.738
- Sure they feel safe and secure, your heavenly
- 00:11:55.805 --> 00:11:57.439
- Secure, your heavenly father loves carrying you.
- 00:11:57.506 --> 00:12:00.676
- Father loves carrying you. when you're tempted to
- 00:12:00.743 --> 00:12:01.443
- When you're tempted to worry, feel overwhelmed,
- 00:12:01.510 --> 00:12:04.146
- Worry, feel overwhelmed, “joel, i don't think i can
- 00:12:04.213 --> 00:12:05.047
- “joel, i don't think i can make it through this
- 00:12:05.114 --> 00:12:05.881
- Make it through this sickness, how can i make it
- 00:12:05.948 --> 00:12:07.449
- Sickness, how can i make it through this loss, these
- 00:12:07.516 --> 00:12:08.884
- Through this loss, these people at work are not
- 00:12:08.951 --> 00:12:09.885
- People at work are not fair.” instead of worrying,
- 00:12:09.952 --> 00:12:11.754
- Fair.” instead of worrying, just say, “baby up.
- 00:12:11.821 --> 00:12:13.656
- Just say, “baby up. god, i thank you for
- 00:12:13.722 --> 00:12:14.523
- God, i thank you for carrying me.
- 00:12:14.590 --> 00:12:15.724
- Carrying me. i don't see a way, but i
- 00:12:15.791 --> 00:12:17.293
- I don't see a way, but i know you control the
- 00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:18.627
- Know you control the universe.
- 00:12:18.694 --> 00:12:19.695
- Universe. you're my provider, my
- 00:12:19.762 --> 00:12:21.197
- You're my provider, my protector, my deliverer, my
- 00:12:21.263 --> 00:12:23.232
- Protector, my deliverer, my way maker.” the fact is god
- 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:26.535
- Way maker.” the fact is god is carrying you right now,
- 00:12:26.602 --> 00:12:28.470
- Is carrying you right now, but if you don't recognize,
- 00:12:28.537 --> 00:12:29.805
- But if you don't recognize, you'll live stressed out,
- 00:12:29.872 --> 00:12:31.841
- You'll live stressed out, upset.
- 00:12:31.907 --> 00:12:33.175
- Upset. no, you're in your father's
- 00:12:33.242 --> 00:12:34.443
- No, you're in your father's arms. he's holding you
- 00:12:34.510 --> 00:12:36.212
- Arms. he's holding you tightly.
- 00:12:36.278 --> 00:12:36.879
- Tightly. nothing can snatch you away.
- 00:12:36.946 --> 00:12:39.548
- Nothing can snatch you away. isaiah 40 says, “he carries
- 00:12:39.615 --> 00:12:41.684
- Isaiah 40 says, “he carries you close to his heart.”
- 00:12:41.750 --> 00:12:44.386
- You close to his heart.” you're not way out there in
- 00:12:44.453 --> 00:12:45.521
- You're not way out there in the distance, just one of
- 00:12:45.588 --> 00:12:47.122
- The distance, just one of the billions of people on
- 00:12:47.189 --> 00:12:48.557
- The billions of people on earth, god has you close to
- 00:12:48.624 --> 00:12:50.526
- Earth, god has you close to his heart. you're his most
- 00:12:50.593 --> 00:12:52.528
- His heart. you're his most prized possession.
- 00:12:52.595 --> 00:12:54.296
- Prized possession. there's nothing more
- 00:12:54.363 --> 00:12:55.164
- There's nothing more valuable to god than you.
- 00:12:55.231 --> 00:12:57.933
- Valuable to god than you. the scripture says, god
- 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.401
- The scripture says, god knows when a sparrow falls
- 00:12:59.468 --> 00:13:01.203
- Knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, a little
- 00:13:01.270 --> 00:13:02.571
- To the ground, a little bird. how much more is god
- 00:13:02.638 --> 00:13:05.007
- Bird. how much more is god concerned about you.
- 00:13:05.074 --> 00:13:07.009
- Concerned about you. as much as you love your
- 00:13:07.076 --> 00:13:08.110
- As much as you love your children, multiply that by
- 00:13:08.177 --> 00:13:10.246
- Children, multiply that by billions of times, that's
- 00:13:10.312 --> 00:13:12.147
- Billions of times, that's how much god loves you.
- 00:13:12.214 --> 00:13:14.450
- How much god loves you. he's been carrying since
- 00:13:14.516 --> 00:13:15.885
- He's been carrying since you were born, he's going
- 00:13:15.951 --> 00:13:17.486
- You were born, he's going to continue to carry you
- 00:13:17.553 --> 00:13:19.288
- To continue to carry you till you breathe your last
- 00:13:19.355 --> 00:13:20.522
- Till you breathe your last breath.
- 00:13:20.589 --> 00:13:21.857
- Breath. you may have things coming
- 00:13:21.924 --> 00:13:22.925
- You may have things coming against you, but god
- 00:13:22.992 --> 00:13:24.593
- Against you, but god wouldn't have allowed it if
- 00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.961
- Wouldn't have allowed it if it was going to stop you.
- 00:13:26.028 --> 00:13:27.763
- It was going to stop you. come back to that place of
- 00:13:27.830 --> 00:13:28.898
- Come back to that place of peace, that place of trust.
- 00:13:28.964 --> 00:13:31.000
- Peace, that place of trust. “father thank you that
- 00:13:31.066 --> 00:13:32.268
- “father thank you that you're carrying me, that i
- 00:13:32.334 --> 00:13:34.003
- You're carrying me, that i have grace for this season,
- 00:13:34.069 --> 00:13:35.838
- Have grace for this season, strength for this day, the
- 00:13:35.905 --> 00:13:37.640
- Strength for this day, the favor to move forward.”
- 00:13:37.706 --> 00:13:40.442
- Favor to move forward.” a friend of mine was
- 00:13:40.509 --> 00:13:41.243
- A friend of mine was married to a professional
- 00:13:41.310 --> 00:13:42.478
- Married to a professional football player, a big,
- 00:13:42.544 --> 00:13:44.246
- Football player, a big, strong man.
- 00:13:44.313 --> 00:13:45.714
- Strong man. later in life, he developed
- 00:13:45.781 --> 00:13:47.283
- Later in life, he developed diabetes and ended up
- 00:13:47.349 --> 00:13:48.951
- Diabetes and ended up losing both of his legs.
- 00:13:49.018 --> 00:13:51.320
- Losing both of his legs. this lady took care of him
- 00:13:51.387 --> 00:13:52.554
- This lady took care of him like a king.
- 00:13:52.621 --> 00:13:53.756
- Like a king. she would get up at four in
- 00:13:53.822 --> 00:13:55.090
- She would get up at four in the morning, before she
- 00:13:55.157 --> 00:13:56.558
- The morning, before she went to work and bathe him
- 00:13:56.625 --> 00:13:58.093
- Went to work and bathe him and get him dressed.
- 00:13:58.160 --> 00:13:59.962
- And get him dressed. she's a strong woman.
- 00:14:00.029 --> 00:14:01.563
- She's a strong woman. she would pick him up out
- 00:14:01.630 --> 00:14:02.932
- She would pick him up out of the bed physically and
- 00:14:02.998 --> 00:14:04.667
- Of the bed physically and carry him around the house.
- 00:14:04.733 --> 00:14:06.402
- Carry him around the house. carry him to the dinner
- 00:14:06.468 --> 00:14:07.403
- Carry him to the dinner table, carry him to the
- 00:14:07.469 --> 00:14:09.004
- Table, carry him to the family room, carry him back
- 00:14:09.071 --> 00:14:10.606
- Family room, carry him back to bed.
- 00:14:10.673 --> 00:14:11.640
- To bed. she never complained, she
- 00:14:11.707 --> 00:14:13.375
- She never complained, she never said, “god why me?
- 00:14:13.442 --> 00:14:15.244
- Never said, “god why me? i can't do this for thirty
- 00:14:15.311 --> 00:14:16.445
- I can't do this for thirty more years.” i would see
- 00:14:16.512 --> 00:14:18.113
- More years.” i would see her here at church she
- 00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:19.481
- Her here at church she always had a smile, a
- 00:14:19.548 --> 00:14:21.083
- Always had a smile, a report of victory.
- 00:14:21.150 --> 00:14:22.084
- Report of victory. i'd asked how she was
- 00:14:22.151 --> 00:14:23.419
- I'd asked how she was doing, “joel, i'm blessed,
- 00:14:23.485 --> 00:14:24.920
- Doing, “joel, i'm blessed, life is good.” how could
- 00:14:24.987 --> 00:14:27.122
- Life is good.” how could she have that kind of
- 00:14:27.189 --> 00:14:28.123
- She have that kind of attitude when life had
- 00:14:28.190 --> 00:14:29.725
- Attitude when life had dealt her such a tough blow?
- 00:14:29.792 --> 00:14:31.493
- Dealt her such a tough blow? it seemed like she should
- 00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:32.928
- It seemed like she should be overwhelmed.
- 00:14:32.995 --> 00:14:34.596
- Be overwhelmed. but while she was carrying
- 00:14:34.663 --> 00:14:35.898
- But while she was carrying her husband, god was
- 00:14:35.965 --> 00:14:37.633
- Her husband, god was carrying her.
- 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:39.201
- Carrying her. when you're giving your
- 00:14:39.268 --> 00:14:40.002
- When you're giving your time and energy to help
- 00:14:40.069 --> 00:14:41.603
- Time and energy to help others, god is going to
- 00:14:41.670 --> 00:14:42.972
- Others, god is going to give you fresh strength.
- 00:14:43.038 --> 00:14:45.040
- Give you fresh strength. when you're doing the right
- 00:14:45.107 --> 00:14:46.108
- When you're doing the right thing when it's hard,
- 00:14:46.175 --> 00:14:47.810
- Thing when it's hard, keeping a good attitude
- 00:14:47.876 --> 00:14:49.445
- Keeping a good attitude when you've been through
- 00:14:49.511 --> 00:14:50.112
- When you've been through loss, helping someone else
- 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:52.247
- Loss, helping someone else in your time of need.
- 00:14:52.314 --> 00:14:53.849
- In your time of need. you should be worn out,
- 00:14:53.916 --> 00:14:55.451
- You should be worn out, discouraged, no you're
- 00:14:55.517 --> 00:14:56.752
- Discouraged, no you're going to feel those eagle's
- 00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:58.053
- Going to feel those eagle's wings lifting you,
- 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.955
- Wings lifting you, breathing strength, favor,
- 00:15:00.022 --> 00:15:01.957
- Breathing strength, favor, endurance.
- 00:15:02.024 --> 00:15:03.792
- Endurance. jesus told his disciples,
- 00:15:03.859 --> 00:15:05.361
- Jesus told his disciples, “take up your cross and
- 00:15:05.427 --> 00:15:07.129
- “take up your cross and follow me.” sometimes we
- 00:15:07.196 --> 00:15:09.365
- Follow me.” sometimes we think, that's going to be a
- 00:15:09.431 --> 00:15:10.766
- Think, that's going to be a heavy burden.
- 00:15:10.833 --> 00:15:12.334
- Heavy burden. people told me growing up,
- 00:15:12.401 --> 00:15:13.802
- People told me growing up, “joel, it's hard to carry
- 00:15:13.869 --> 00:15:14.937
- “joel, it's hard to carry your cross.
- 00:15:15.004 --> 00:15:15.604
- Your cross. it's hard to live a life of
- 00:15:15.671 --> 00:15:17.206
- It's hard to live a life of faith.” one night my father
- 00:15:17.272 --> 00:15:19.675
- Faith.” one night my father had a dream. he was going
- 00:15:19.742 --> 00:15:21.643
- Had a dream. he was going through a difficult time,
- 00:15:21.710 --> 00:15:23.212
- Through a difficult time, dealing with
- 00:15:23.278 --> 00:15:23.846
- Dealing with disappointments, it didn't
- 00:15:23.912 --> 00:15:25.114
- Disappointments, it didn't look like it was going to
- 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:26.081
- Look like it was going to work out.
- 00:15:26.148 --> 00:15:27.416
- Work out. in this dream, he saw a big
- 00:15:27.483 --> 00:15:29.351
- In this dream, he saw a big cross over on the ground.
- 00:15:29.418 --> 00:15:31.086
- Cross over on the ground. it was made out of railroad
- 00:15:31.153 --> 00:15:32.855
- It was made out of railroad ties, about fifteen feet
- 00:15:32.921 --> 00:15:34.523
- Ties, about fifteen feet tall.
- 00:15:34.590 --> 00:15:35.157
- Tall. it looked like it weighed
- 00:15:35.224 --> 00:15:36.258
- It looked like it weighed hundreds of pounds.
- 00:15:36.325 --> 00:15:37.826
- Hundreds of pounds. he knew that was his cross,
- 00:15:37.893 --> 00:15:40.129
- He knew that was his cross, but he didn't know how he
- 00:15:40.195 --> 00:15:41.030
- But he didn't know how he could possibly carry it.
- 00:15:41.096 --> 00:15:42.531
- Could possibly carry it. it seemed so overwhelming.
- 00:15:42.598 --> 00:15:44.933
- It seemed so overwhelming. he walked over to pick it
- 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.335
- He walked over to pick it up, and it wasn't what he
- 00:15:46.402 --> 00:15:48.137
- Up, and it wasn't what he thought.
- 00:15:48.203 --> 00:15:49.138
- Thought. when he lifted it, it was
- 00:15:49.204 --> 00:15:50.539
- When he lifted it, it was like styrofoam. it was so
- 00:15:50.606 --> 00:15:52.574
- Like styrofoam. it was so light, he was amazed.
- 00:15:52.641 --> 00:15:54.443
- Light, he was amazed. he easily put it on his
- 00:15:54.510 --> 00:15:55.644
- He easily put it on his shoulder and started
- 00:15:55.711 --> 00:15:56.979
- Shoulder and started walking.
- 00:15:57.046 --> 00:15:58.113
- Walking. a few steps later, the
- 00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:59.648
- A few steps later, the cross started lifting him
- 00:15:59.715 --> 00:16:01.250
- Cross started lifting him up.
- 00:16:01.316 --> 00:16:02.251
- Up. instead of him carrying the
- 00:16:02.317 --> 00:16:03.552
- Instead of him carrying the cross, the cross was
- 00:16:03.619 --> 00:16:04.987
- Cross, the cross was carrying him. when you take
- 00:16:05.054 --> 00:16:07.489
- Carrying him. when you take up your cross, it doesn't
- 00:16:07.556 --> 00:16:08.924
- Up your cross, it doesn't mean you won't have
- 00:16:08.991 --> 00:16:09.725
- Mean you won't have difficulties, people won't
- 00:16:09.792 --> 00:16:11.427
- Difficulties, people won't betray you, you won't make
- 00:16:11.493 --> 00:16:13.028
- Betray you, you won't make mistakes, life will happen.
- 00:16:13.095 --> 00:16:15.631
- Mistakes, life will happen. but the beauty is, when you
- 00:16:15.697 --> 00:16:17.366
- But the beauty is, when you should be overwhelmed,
- 00:16:17.433 --> 00:16:19.034
- Should be overwhelmed, you'll feel the cross start
- 00:16:19.101 --> 00:16:20.369
- You'll feel the cross start to carry you.
- 00:16:20.436 --> 00:16:21.403
- To carry you. there'll be strength,
- 00:16:21.470 --> 00:16:22.738
- There'll be strength, peace, favor, that sustains
- 00:16:22.805 --> 00:16:25.574
- Peace, favor, that sustains you, takes you through
- 00:16:25.641 --> 00:16:27.076
- You, takes you through things that should have
- 00:16:27.142 --> 00:16:28.310
- Things that should have stopped you.
- 00:16:28.377 --> 00:16:29.778
- Stopped you. that's what happened to a
- 00:16:29.845 --> 00:16:30.712
- That's what happened to a young man named
- 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:31.480
- Young man named mephibosheth.
- 00:16:31.547 --> 00:16:34.116
- Mephibosheth. he was jonathan's son,
- 00:16:34.183 --> 00:16:36.251
- He was jonathan's son, david's best friend and he
- 00:16:36.318 --> 00:16:38.287
- David's best friend and he was the grandson of king
- 00:16:38.353 --> 00:16:39.922
- Was the grandson of king saul.
- 00:16:39.988 --> 00:16:41.056
- Saul. he was born into royalty,
- 00:16:41.123 --> 00:16:43.158
- He was born into royalty, destined to one day take
- 00:16:43.225 --> 00:16:44.560
- Destined to one day take the throne, but his father
- 00:16:44.626 --> 00:16:46.428
- The throne, but his father and grandfather were both
- 00:16:46.495 --> 00:16:48.430
- And grandfather were both killed in a battle on the
- 00:16:48.497 --> 00:16:49.898
- Killed in a battle on the same day.
- 00:16:49.965 --> 00:16:51.400
- Same day. a messenger came rushing to
- 00:16:51.467 --> 00:16:52.968
- A messenger came rushing to mephibosheth's house
- 00:16:53.035 --> 00:16:54.436
- Mephibosheth's house telling the bad news and
- 00:16:54.503 --> 00:16:55.971
- Telling the bad news and how the enemy was on their
- 00:16:56.038 --> 00:16:57.339
- How the enemy was on their way to wipe out all of
- 00:16:57.406 --> 00:16:59.108
- Way to wipe out all of saul's relatives.
- 00:16:59.174 --> 00:17:00.876
- Saul's relatives. in a panic, a maid picked
- 00:17:00.943 --> 00:17:03.078
- In a panic, a maid picked up little mephibosheth and
- 00:17:03.145 --> 00:17:04.713
- Up little mephibosheth and took off running.
- 00:17:04.780 --> 00:17:06.482
- Took off running. she had good intentions,
- 00:17:06.548 --> 00:17:08.150
- She had good intentions, she was trying to spare his
- 00:17:08.217 --> 00:17:09.485
- She was trying to spare his life, but going down the
- 00:17:09.551 --> 00:17:11.120
- Life, but going down the stairs, she lost her
- 00:17:11.186 --> 00:17:12.721
- Stairs, she lost her footing and dropped
- 00:17:12.788 --> 00:17:14.256
- Footing and dropped mephibosheth.
- 00:17:14.323 --> 00:17:15.724
- Mephibosheth. both of his legs were
- 00:17:15.791 --> 00:17:16.792
- Both of his legs were broken, he became crippled
- 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:18.927
- Broken, he became crippled and could no longer walk.
- 00:17:18.994 --> 00:17:21.163
- And could no longer walk. fast forward, years ahead.
- 00:17:21.230 --> 00:17:23.165
- Fast forward, years ahead. he was living in the city
- 00:17:23.232 --> 00:17:24.399
- He was living in the city of lodebar, one of the
- 00:17:24.466 --> 00:17:26.001
- Of lodebar, one of the poorest, most rundown
- 00:17:26.068 --> 00:17:27.603
- Poorest, most rundown cities of that day.
- 00:17:27.669 --> 00:17:29.371
- Cities of that day. he was destined to take the
- 00:17:29.438 --> 00:17:30.606
- He was destined to take the palace, but life threw him
- 00:17:30.672 --> 00:17:32.674
- Palace, but life threw him some curves.
- 00:17:32.741 --> 00:17:33.375
- Some curves. at no fault of his own, he
- 00:17:33.442 --> 00:17:35.377
- At no fault of his own, he was dropped.
- 00:17:35.444 --> 00:17:36.445
- Was dropped. his relatives were killed,
- 00:17:36.512 --> 00:17:37.779
- His relatives were killed, it looked like he had
- 00:17:37.846 --> 00:17:38.747
- It looked like he had missed his destiny.
- 00:17:38.814 --> 00:17:40.916
- Missed his destiny. years later, david was
- 00:17:40.983 --> 00:17:42.551
- Years later, david was reminiscing about his good
- 00:17:42.618 --> 00:17:44.419
- Reminiscing about his good friend jonathan, how much
- 00:17:44.486 --> 00:17:46.121
- Friend jonathan, how much he loved him. he asked his
- 00:17:46.188 --> 00:17:48.123
- He loved him. he asked his assistant, “are any of
- 00:17:48.190 --> 00:17:49.758
- Assistant, “are any of jonathan's relatives still
- 00:17:49.825 --> 00:17:51.160
- Jonathan's relatives still alive, so i can be good
- 00:17:51.226 --> 00:17:52.895
- Alive, so i can be good them.” they did some
- 00:17:52.961 --> 00:17:54.396
- Them.” they did some research and said, “yes,
- 00:17:54.463 --> 00:17:56.331
- Research and said, “yes, we've learned one of his
- 00:17:56.398 --> 00:17:57.566
- We've learned one of his sons is still alive, but
- 00:17:57.633 --> 00:17:59.368
- Sons is still alive, but he's crippled, living in
- 00:17:59.434 --> 00:18:00.869
- He's crippled, living in the slums of lodebar.”
- 00:18:00.936 --> 00:18:02.971
- The slums of lodebar.” david told them to go get
- 00:18:03.038 --> 00:18:04.573
- David told them to go get him and bring him to the
- 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:06.041
- Him and bring him to the palace.
- 00:18:06.108 --> 00:18:07.376
- Palace. i can see the guards come
- 00:18:07.442 --> 00:18:08.877
- I can see the guards come into the city of lodebar.
- 00:18:08.944 --> 00:18:11.413
- Into the city of lodebar. there's a big stir.
- 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:13.048
- There's a big stir. everyone is talking.
- 00:18:13.115 --> 00:18:14.616
- Everyone is talking. “the king's mean are here.
- 00:18:14.683 --> 00:18:16.418
- “the king's mean are here. what do they want?
- 00:18:16.485 --> 00:18:17.452
- What do they want? who's in trouble?” they
- 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.054
- Who's in trouble?” they find out, they're looking
- 00:18:19.121 --> 00:18:20.322
- Find out, they're looking for mephibosheth.
- 00:18:20.389 --> 00:18:21.924
- For mephibosheth. word gets to him, and he
- 00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:23.058
- Word gets to him, and he thinks, “oh man, i'm done.”
- 00:18:23.125 --> 00:18:25.027
- Thinks, “oh man, i'm done.” his grandfather king saul
- 00:18:25.093 --> 00:18:26.762
- His grandfather king saul tried to kill david.
- 00:18:26.828 --> 00:18:28.430
- Tried to kill david. i'm sure mephibosheth
- 00:18:28.497 --> 00:18:29.631
- I'm sure mephibosheth thought, he's going to take
- 00:18:29.698 --> 00:18:30.933
- Thought, he's going to take it out on me.
- 00:18:30.999 --> 00:18:32.367
- It out on me. the men showed up and said,
- 00:18:32.434 --> 00:18:33.468
- The men showed up and said, “mephibosheth, the king is
- 00:18:33.535 --> 00:18:35.337
- “mephibosheth, the king is looking for you.” what's
- 00:18:35.404 --> 00:18:37.272
- Looking for you.” what's significant is mephibosheth
- 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:39.441
- Significant is mephibosheth couldn't walk.
- 00:18:39.508 --> 00:18:40.809
- Couldn't walk. these men had to pick him
- 00:18:40.876 --> 00:18:42.077
- These men had to pick him up and carry him back to
- 00:18:42.144 --> 00:18:44.046
- Up and carry him back to the palace.
- 00:18:44.112 --> 00:18:44.713
- The palace. it wasn't close, they had
- 00:18:44.780 --> 00:18:46.615
- It wasn't close, they had miles and miles to travel.
- 00:18:46.682 --> 00:18:48.951
- Miles and miles to travel. when he arrived, they
- 00:18:49.017 --> 00:18:50.085
- When he arrived, they brought him before david.
- 00:18:50.152 --> 00:18:51.553
- Brought him before david. mephibosheth fell on the
- 00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:52.688
- Mephibosheth fell on the ground, afraid,
- 00:18:52.754 --> 00:18:54.156
- Ground, afraid, intimidated, thinking this
- 00:18:54.223 --> 00:18:55.857
- Intimidated, thinking this was the end.
- 00:18:55.924 --> 00:18:57.159
- Was the end. but david said,
- 00:18:57.226 --> 00:18:57.859
- But david said, “mephibosheth, i'm not here
- 00:18:57.926 --> 00:18:59.595
- “mephibosheth, i'm not here to harm you, i'm here to
- 00:18:59.661 --> 00:19:01.296
- To harm you, i'm here to bless you.
- 00:19:01.363 --> 00:19:02.631
- Bless you. from now on, you will not
- 00:19:02.698 --> 00:19:04.299
- From now on, you will not live in the slums of
- 00:19:04.366 --> 00:19:05.267
- Live in the slums of lodebar, you're going to
- 00:19:05.334 --> 00:19:06.602
- Lodebar, you're going to live here in the palace
- 00:19:06.668 --> 00:19:07.936
- Live here in the palace with me.
- 00:19:08.003 --> 00:19:09.037
- With me. every night, you will sit
- 00:19:09.104 --> 00:19:10.606
- Every night, you will sit at my table and eat dinner
- 00:19:10.672 --> 00:19:12.474
- At my table and eat dinner with me.
- 00:19:12.541 --> 00:19:13.675
- With me. i'm going to give you all
- 00:19:13.742 --> 00:19:14.710
- I'm going to give you all the land that belonged to
- 00:19:14.776 --> 00:19:16.378
- The land that belonged to your grandfather king saul.”
- 00:19:16.445 --> 00:19:18.714
- Your grandfather king saul.” mephibosheth couldn't
- 00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:19.648
- Mephibosheth couldn't believe it.
- 00:19:19.715 --> 00:19:20.882
- Believe it. he never dreamed he'd be in
- 00:19:20.949 --> 00:19:21.950
- He never dreamed he'd be in the palace, never dreamed
- 00:19:22.017 --> 00:19:23.685
- The palace, never dreamed he'd be sitting at the
- 00:19:23.752 --> 00:19:24.553
- He'd be sitting at the king's table.
- 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.954
- King's table. he thought he'd had too
- 00:19:26.021 --> 00:19:26.722
- He thought he'd had too many bad breaks, gone
- 00:19:26.788 --> 00:19:28.390
- Many bad breaks, gone through too many
- 00:19:28.457 --> 00:19:29.091
- Through too many disappointments.
- 00:19:29.157 --> 00:19:30.259
- Disappointments. he'd accepted that he had
- 00:19:30.325 --> 00:19:31.560
- He'd accepted that he had missed his destiny.
- 00:19:31.627 --> 00:19:32.594
- Missed his destiny. but i love this picture of
- 00:19:32.661 --> 00:19:34.963
- But i love this picture of mephibosheth being carried
- 00:19:35.030 --> 00:19:37.332
- Mephibosheth being carried to the palace.
- 00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:38.867
- To the palace. god was showing us that
- 00:19:38.934 --> 00:19:40.602
- God was showing us that even when life throws you a
- 00:19:40.669 --> 00:19:42.170
- Even when life throws you a curve, when it's unfair, no
- 00:19:42.237 --> 00:19:44.906
- Curve, when it's unfair, no fault of your own, you were
- 00:19:44.973 --> 00:19:46.475
- Fault of your own, you were dropped, you didn't get the
- 00:19:46.541 --> 00:19:48.110
- Dropped, you didn't get the scholarship, the person
- 00:19:48.176 --> 00:19:49.878
- Scholarship, the person walked out.
- 00:19:49.945 --> 00:19:50.979
- Walked out. it's easy to think, “it's
- 00:19:51.046 --> 00:19:52.114
- It's easy to think, “it's just not meant to be.” no,
- 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.815
- Just not meant to be.” no, like mephibosheth, your
- 00:19:53.882 --> 00:19:55.484
- Like mephibosheth, your time is coming.
- 00:19:55.550 --> 00:19:57.019
- Time is coming. god is going to carry you
- 00:19:57.085 --> 00:19:58.520
- God is going to carry you into your destiny.
- 00:19:58.587 --> 00:20:00.122
- Into your destiny. the right people are going
- 00:20:00.188 --> 00:20:01.390
- The right people are going to come looking for you,
- 00:20:01.456 --> 00:20:03.258
- To come looking for you, the right breaks, the
- 00:20:03.325 --> 00:20:04.826
- The right breaks, the favor, the promotion.
- 00:20:04.893 --> 00:20:07.429
- Favor, the promotion. god didn't quit carrying
- 00:20:07.496 --> 00:20:08.797
- God didn't quit carrying you because you had a
- 00:20:08.864 --> 00:20:09.898
- You because you had a setback.
- 00:20:09.965 --> 00:20:11.033
- Setback. those eagle's wings are
- 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:12.434
- Those eagle's wings are still coming.
- 00:20:12.501 --> 00:20:13.602
- Still coming. he still has you close to
- 00:20:13.669 --> 00:20:15.203
- He still has you close to his heart.
- 00:20:15.270 --> 00:20:16.972
- His heart. mephibosheth thought he was
- 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.307
- Mephibosheth thought he was forgotten, year after year,
- 00:20:18.373 --> 00:20:20.676
- Forgotten, year after year, nothing but lack, defeat,
- 00:20:20.742 --> 00:20:22.778
- Nothing but lack, defeat, mediocrity, but that whole
- 00:20:22.844 --> 00:20:24.713
- Mediocrity, but that whole time god was sustaining
- 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:26.481
- Time god was sustaining him, not letting him go
- 00:20:26.548 --> 00:20:28.216
- Him, not letting him go under.
- 00:20:28.283 --> 00:20:29.484
- Under. god has not forgotten about
- 00:20:29.551 --> 00:20:31.253
- God has not forgotten about you.
- 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:32.154
- You. he's been carrying you all
- 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.522
- He's been carrying you all these years, through the
- 00:20:33.588 --> 00:20:34.656
- These years, through the hardship, through the lack,
- 00:20:34.723 --> 00:20:36.725
- Hardship, through the lack, through the struggle.
- 00:20:36.792 --> 00:20:38.126
- Through the struggle. that's why the enemy
- 00:20:38.193 --> 00:20:39.227
- That's why the enemy couldn't take you out.
- 00:20:39.294 --> 00:20:40.996
- Couldn't take you out. that's why that sickness
- 00:20:41.063 --> 00:20:42.197
- That's why that sickness couldn't end your life,
- 00:20:42.264 --> 00:20:43.732
- Couldn't end your life, that accident didn't stop
- 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.000
- That accident didn't stop your purpose.
- 00:20:45.067 --> 00:20:46.001
- Your purpose. when those things tried to
- 00:20:46.068 --> 00:20:47.202
- When those things tried to push you down, god lifted
- 00:20:47.269 --> 00:20:49.004
- Push you down, god lifted you up.
- 00:20:49.071 --> 00:20:50.238
- You up. the psalmist said, “my
- 00:20:50.305 --> 00:20:51.573
- The psalmist said, “my enemies did their best, but
- 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:53.442
- Enemies did their best, but they could not finish me
- 00:20:53.508 --> 00:20:54.876
- They could not finish me off.” why?
- 00:20:54.943 --> 00:20:56.178
- Off.” why? he was being carried by the
- 00:20:56.244 --> 00:20:57.979
- He was being carried by the creator.
- 00:20:58.046 --> 00:20:59.281
- Creator. god was carrying you even
- 00:20:59.348 --> 00:21:01.683
- God was carrying you even when you were in lodebar.
- 00:21:01.750 --> 00:21:03.685
- When you were in lodebar. he was carrying you, when
- 00:21:03.752 --> 00:21:05.087
- He was carrying you, when they dropped you.
- 00:21:05.153 --> 00:21:06.321
- They dropped you. he carried you when you
- 00:21:06.388 --> 00:21:07.489
- He carried you when you were left out, when the
- 00:21:07.556 --> 00:21:09.124
- Were left out, when the medical report wasn't good,
- 00:21:09.191 --> 00:21:10.992
- Medical report wasn't good, when business went down.
- 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:13.095
- When business went down. just as he carried you in
- 00:21:13.161 --> 00:21:14.696
- Just as he carried you in the tough times, like with
- 00:21:14.763 --> 00:21:16.531
- The tough times, like with mephibosheth, he's going to
- 00:21:16.598 --> 00:21:18.066
- Mephibosheth, he's going to carry you into your
- 00:21:18.133 --> 00:21:19.234
- Carry you into your purpose, carry you into the
- 00:21:19.301 --> 00:21:21.169
- Purpose, carry you into the palace, carry you into
- 00:21:21.236 --> 00:21:23.004
- Palace, carry you into abundance, carry you into
- 00:21:23.071 --> 00:21:24.873
- Abundance, carry you into victory.
- 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.508
- Victory. there was a movie being
- 00:21:26.575 --> 00:21:27.642
- There was a movie being filmed.
- 00:21:27.709 --> 00:21:28.810
- Filmed. the lead actor was in a
- 00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:30.312
- The lead actor was in a helicopter over the ocean.
- 00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:32.681
- Helicopter over the ocean. in this scene, he was
- 00:21:32.748 --> 00:21:33.915
- In this scene, he was supposed to hand something
- 00:21:33.982 --> 00:21:35.217
- Supposed to hand something from the helicopter to
- 00:21:35.283 --> 00:21:36.685
- From the helicopter to people on a boat below.
- 00:21:36.752 --> 00:21:38.954
- People on a boat below. the helicopter came down
- 00:21:39.020 --> 00:21:40.155
- The helicopter came down real low, but it hit a
- 00:21:40.222 --> 00:21:41.723
- Real low, but it hit a burst of wind and the pilot
- 00:21:41.790 --> 00:21:43.592
- Burst of wind and the pilot lost control.
- 00:21:43.658 --> 00:21:44.459
- Lost control. it spun around several
- 00:21:44.526 --> 00:21:45.961
- It spun around several times and hit the water
- 00:21:46.027 --> 00:21:47.429
- Times and hit the water very forcefully.
- 00:21:47.496 --> 00:21:48.430
- Very forcefully. it quickly began to sink.
- 00:21:48.497 --> 00:21:50.766
- It quickly began to sink. about thirty seconds later,
- 00:21:50.832 --> 00:21:52.367
- About thirty seconds later, the pilot's head popped up.
- 00:21:52.434 --> 00:21:54.002
- The pilot's head popped up. he was alive.
- 00:21:54.069 --> 00:21:55.337
- He was alive. people were so relieved, no
- 00:21:55.404 --> 00:21:57.439
- People were so relieved, no sign though of this other
- 00:21:57.506 --> 00:21:59.040
- Sign though of this other man, the lead actor.
- 00:21:59.107 --> 00:22:00.108
- Man, the lead actor. a minute went by, two
- 00:22:00.175 --> 00:22:02.244
- A minute went by, two minutes, three minutes,
- 00:22:02.310 --> 00:22:03.478
- Minutes, three minutes, four minutes.
- 00:22:03.545 --> 00:22:04.179
- Four minutes. it seemed like an eternity.
- 00:22:04.246 --> 00:22:06.047
- It seemed like an eternity. they thought he was gone.
- 00:22:06.114 --> 00:22:07.649
- They thought he was gone. then five minutes in, he
- 00:22:07.716 --> 00:22:09.251
- Then five minutes in, he came bursting up out of the
- 00:22:09.317 --> 00:22:10.619
- Came bursting up out of the water.
- 00:22:10.685 --> 00:22:11.586
- Water. they took him to the shore.
- 00:22:11.653 --> 00:22:13.388
- They took him to the shore. he told how he was knocked
- 00:22:13.455 --> 00:22:14.923
- He told how he was knocked unconscious when the
- 00:22:14.990 --> 00:22:16.291
- Unconscious when the helicopter hit the water.
- 00:22:16.358 --> 00:22:18.293
- Helicopter hit the water. when he came to, he was
- 00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:19.795
- When he came to, he was underwater, still in the
- 00:22:19.861 --> 00:22:21.296
- Underwater, still in the helicopter and disoriented.
- 00:22:21.363 --> 00:22:23.165
- Helicopter and disoriented. he couldn't find his way
- 00:22:23.231 --> 00:22:24.533
- He couldn't find his way out.
- 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.434
- Out. he said, “i want to thank
- 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.435
- He said, “i want to thank the rescuers and especially
- 00:22:26.501 --> 00:22:28.403
- The rescuers and especially the one that grabbed the
- 00:22:28.470 --> 00:22:29.738
- The one that grabbed the back of my shirt, pulled me
- 00:22:29.805 --> 00:22:31.640
- Back of my shirt, pulled me out of the helicopter and
- 00:22:31.706 --> 00:22:33.108
- Out of the helicopter and gave me that big push
- 00:22:33.175 --> 00:22:34.409
- Gave me that big push toward the top of the
- 00:22:34.476 --> 00:22:35.277
- Toward the top of the water.” the people
- 00:22:35.343 --> 00:22:36.645
- Water.” the people listening were confused.
- 00:22:36.711 --> 00:22:37.813
- Listening were confused. they said, “what do you
- 00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:38.647
- They said, “what do you mean?
- 00:22:38.713 --> 00:22:39.347
- Mean? there were no rescuers.
- 00:22:39.414 --> 00:22:40.916
- There were no rescuers. you were down there by
- 00:22:40.982 --> 00:22:41.683
- You were down there by yourself.” tears began to
- 00:22:41.750 --> 00:22:43.685
- Yourself.” tears began to come down his cheeks.
- 00:22:43.752 --> 00:22:44.886
- Come down his cheeks. he looked up and said,
- 00:22:44.953 --> 00:22:46.121
- He looked up and said, “then it was his hand that
- 00:22:46.188 --> 00:22:47.689
- “then it was his hand that lifted me out.” god's been
- 00:22:47.756 --> 00:22:51.126
- Lifted me out.” god's been carrying us our whole life.
- 00:22:51.193 --> 00:22:53.361
- Carrying us our whole life. keeping us from harm,
- 00:22:53.428 --> 00:22:55.130
- Keeping us from harm, pushing back the darkness,
- 00:22:55.197 --> 00:22:56.731
- Pushing back the darkness, sustaining us in the tough
- 00:22:56.798 --> 00:22:58.166
- Sustaining us in the tough times.
- 00:22:58.233 --> 00:22:59.234
- Times. i thank him for his
- 00:22:59.301 --> 00:23:00.068
- I thank him for his blessings, i thank him for
- 00:23:00.135 --> 00:23:01.536
- Blessings, i thank him for his favor, but i also thank
- 00:23:01.603 --> 00:23:03.338
- His favor, but i also thank him that he carries me.
- 00:23:03.405 --> 00:23:05.841
- Him that he carries me. you may have things coming
- 00:23:05.907 --> 00:23:07.042
- You may have things coming against you now, you don't
- 00:23:07.108 --> 00:23:08.643
- Against you now, you don't see how you can keep going,
- 00:23:08.710 --> 00:23:10.445
- See how you can keep going, you could live worried,
- 00:23:10.512 --> 00:23:11.680
- You could live worried, upset, god is saying, “i'm
- 00:23:11.746 --> 00:23:13.849
- Upset, god is saying, “i'm going to carry you.
- 00:23:13.915 --> 00:23:15.250
- Going to carry you. i have you close to my
- 00:23:15.317 --> 00:23:16.284
- I have you close to my heart.” he knows what
- 00:23:16.351 --> 00:23:18.086
- Heart.” he knows what you're going through, the
- 00:23:18.153 --> 00:23:19.387
- You're going through, the struggles, the lonely
- 00:23:19.454 --> 00:23:20.922
- Struggles, the lonely nights, the unfair
- 00:23:20.989 --> 00:23:22.090
- Nights, the unfair situations.
- 00:23:22.157 --> 00:23:23.291
- Situations. you're about to feel
- 00:23:23.358 --> 00:23:24.125
- You're about to feel strength that you've never
- 00:23:24.192 --> 00:23:25.360
- Strength that you've never felt, peace when you could
- 00:23:25.427 --> 00:23:27.362
- Felt, peace when you could be stressed, favor that
- 00:23:27.429 --> 00:23:29.197
- Be stressed, favor that will make things happen
- 00:23:29.264 --> 00:23:30.565
- Will make things happen that you couldn't make
- 00:23:30.632 --> 00:23:31.466
- That you couldn't make happen.
- 00:23:31.533 --> 00:23:32.334
- Happen. you're going to look back
- 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.235
- You're going to look back and think, “how did i make
- 00:23:33.301 --> 00:23:34.736
- And think, “how did i make it through that?” it was
- 00:23:34.803 --> 00:23:36.171
- It through that?” it was god sustaining you when you
- 00:23:36.238 --> 00:23:38.240
- God sustaining you when you should have gone under.
- 00:23:38.306 --> 00:23:39.908
- Should have gone under. i believe and declare, like
- 00:23:39.975 --> 00:23:41.910
- I believe and declare, like the israelites, god is
- 00:23:41.977 --> 00:23:43.411
- The israelites, god is about to carry you out on
- 00:23:43.478 --> 00:23:44.846
- About to carry you out on eagle's wings.
- 00:23:44.913 --> 00:23:46.314
- Eagle's wings. you're not going to just
- 00:23:46.381 --> 00:23:47.115
- You're not going to just make it through, you're
- 00:23:47.182 --> 00:23:48.116
- Make it through, you're going to soar to levels
- 00:23:48.183 --> 00:23:49.618
- Going to soar to levels you've never dreamed.
- 00:23:49.684 --> 00:23:51.052
- You've never dreamed. like mephibosheth, despite
- 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:53.154
- Like mephibosheth, despite what's tried to stop you,
- 00:23:53.221 --> 00:23:54.689
- What's tried to stop you, he's going to carry you to
- 00:23:54.756 --> 00:23:55.924
- He's going to carry you to the palace.
- 00:23:55.991 --> 00:23:56.925
- The palace. you're going to see favor,
- 00:23:56.992 --> 00:23:58.527
- You're going to see favor, promotion, breakthroughs.
- 00:23:58.593 --> 00:24:00.562
- Promotion, breakthroughs. you will fulfill your
- 00:24:00.629 --> 00:24:01.563
- You will fulfill your purpose and become all you
- 00:24:01.630 --> 00:24:03.498
- Purpose and become all you were created to be, in
- 00:24:03.565 --> 00:24:05.200
- Were created to be, in jesus' name.
- 00:24:05.267 --> 00:24:06.635
- Jesus' name. if you receive it, can you
- 00:24:06.701 --> 00:24:08.169
- If you receive it, can you say amen?
- 00:24:08.236 --> 00:24:08.970
- Say amen? (applause)
- 00:24:09.037 --> 00:24:09.938
- When we
- 00:24:10.372 --> 00:24:10.605
- When we face challenges, it's easy
- 00:24:10.672 --> 00:24:12.307
- Face challenges, it's easy to feel like god
- 00:24:12.374 --> 00:24:13.108
- To feel like god has forgotten about us.
- 00:24:13.174 --> 00:24:14.709
- Has forgotten about us. we don't see
- 00:24:14.776 --> 00:24:15.210
- We don't see anything happening,
- 00:24:15.277 --> 00:24:16.278
- Anything happening, and thoughts tell us
- 00:24:16.344 --> 00:24:17.145
- And thoughts tell us it's not going to work out.
- 00:24:17.212 --> 00:24:18.980
- It's not going to work out. but god is not called the great
- 00:24:19.047 --> 00:24:20.649
- But god is not called the great i was or the great i will be.
- 00:24:20.715 --> 00:24:23.084
- I was or the great i will be. he's called the great i am.
- 00:24:23.151 --> 00:24:25.253
- He's called the great i am. in my new book,
- 00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:26.321
- In my new book, he is i am,
- 00:24:26.388 --> 00:24:27.956
- He is i am, you'll discover
- 00:24:28.023 --> 00:24:28.757
- You'll discover that god is with you
- 00:24:28.823 --> 00:24:29.691
- That god is with you in every area of your life.
- 00:24:29.758 --> 00:24:31.960
- I am is always in the present,
- 00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:34.396
- I am is always in the present, not at a later time.
- 00:24:34.462 --> 00:24:35.931
- Not at a later time. god is working
- 00:24:35.997 --> 00:24:36.798
- God is working in your life right now.
- 00:24:36.865 --> 00:24:38.700
- In your life right now. i am means i am your healer.
- 00:24:38.767 --> 00:24:40.669
- I am means i am your healer. i am your provider.
- 00:24:40.735 --> 00:24:42.203
- I am your provider. i am your waymaker.
- 00:24:42.270 --> 00:24:44.039
- I am your waymaker. whether you're
- 00:24:44.105 --> 00:24:44.506
- Whether you're facing a challenge
- 00:24:44.573 --> 00:24:45.674
- Facing a challenge or pursuing your dreams,
- 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:47.242
- Or pursuing your dreams, stay in faith.
- 00:24:47.309 --> 00:24:48.343
- Stay in faith. the great i am
- 00:24:48.410 --> 00:24:49.444
- The great i am is right there with you.
- 00:24:49.511 --> 00:24:51.613
- Is right there with you. as our way of saying thank you
- 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.315
- As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount
- 00:24:53.381 --> 00:24:54.816
- For your gift of any amount this month,
- 00:24:54.883 --> 00:24:55.483
- This month, we would like to send you
- 00:24:55.550 --> 00:24:56.651
- We would like to send you a copy of joel's book,
- 00:24:56.718 --> 00:24:58.486
- A copy of joel's book, he is i am:
- 00:24:58.553 --> 00:25:00.188
- He is i am: god is for you here and now.
- 00:25:00.255 --> 00:25:03.091
- God is for you here and now. are you in need of protection
- 00:25:03.158 --> 00:25:04.626
- Are you in need of protection or provision today?
- 00:25:04.693 --> 00:25:05.961
- Or provision today? jesus assures us,
- 00:25:06.027 --> 00:25:07.395
- Jesus assures us, "i am
- 00:25:07.462 --> 00:25:08.029
- "i am the good shepherd."
- 00:25:08.096 --> 00:25:09.431
- The good shepherd." does the path ahead
- 00:25:09.497 --> 00:25:10.532
- Does the path ahead seem uncertain or dark?
- 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:12.601
- Seem uncertain or dark? jesus declares,
- 00:25:12.667 --> 00:25:13.802
- Jesus declares, "i am the light of the world."
- 00:25:13.868 --> 00:25:16.304
- "i am the light of the world." do you feel like your career,
- 00:25:16.371 --> 00:25:17.872
- Do you feel like your career, calling, or marriage
- 00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:19.207
- Calling, or marriage is beyond hope?
- 00:25:19.274 --> 00:25:20.609
- Is beyond hope? jesus promises,
- 00:25:20.675 --> 00:25:21.977
- Jesus promises, "i am the resurrection
- 00:25:22.043 --> 00:25:23.545
- "i am the resurrection and the life."
- 00:25:23.612 --> 00:25:24.813
- And the life." with every i am statement,
- 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:26.948
- With every i am statement, you'll discover
- 00:25:27.015 --> 00:25:27.649
- You'll discover more about who god is
- 00:25:27.716 --> 00:25:29.417
- More about who god is and what he has made
- 00:25:29.484 --> 00:25:30.452
- And what he has made available for you.
- 00:25:30.518 --> 00:25:31.620
- Available for you. not someday, but today.
- 00:25:31.686 --> 00:25:33.855
- Not someday, but today. request your copy today
- 00:25:33.922 --> 00:25:35.624
- Request your copy today and watch god's promise
- 00:25:35.690 --> 00:25:37.058
- And watch god's promise come alive.
- 00:25:37.125 --> 00:25:38.360
- Come alive. no matter what you face,
- 00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:39.995
- No matter what you face, he is here and now for you.
- 00:25:40.061 --> 00:25:42.764
- He is here and now for you. be sure to request your copy of
- 00:25:42.831 --> 00:25:44.599
- Be sure to request your copy of he is i am:
- 00:25:44.666 --> 00:25:46.167
- He is i am: god is for you here and now
- 00:25:46.234 --> 00:25:48.269
- God is for you here and now today.
- 00:25:48.336 --> 00:25:49.070
- Today. visit joelosteen.com
- 00:25:49.137 --> 00:25:51.039
- Visit joelosteen.com or call 888-567-joel.
- 00:25:51.106 --> 00:25:55.010
- You're never alone.
- 00:25:55.210 --> 00:25:56.344
- You're never alone. the great
- 00:25:56.411 --> 00:25:56.845
- The great i am is behind the scenes
- 00:25:56.911 --> 00:25:58.747
- I am is behind the scenes making ways, opening doors,
- 00:25:58.813 --> 00:26:01.016
- Making ways, opening doors, turning things in your favor.
- 00:26:01.082 --> 00:26:03.385
- Turning things in your favor. victoria
- 00:26:03.451 --> 00:26:03.685
- Victoria and i want you to know
- 00:26:03.752 --> 00:26:04.419
- And i want you to know we love you
- 00:26:04.486 --> 00:26:05.053
- We love you and we pray for you every day.
- 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:07.188
- And we pray for you every day. thanks for your prayer
- 00:26:07.255 --> 00:26:08.323
- Thanks for your prayer and support of the ministry.
- 00:26:08.390 --> 00:26:10.025
- And support of the ministry. your generosity
- 00:26:10.091 --> 00:26:11.126
- Your generosity is making a difference
- 00:26:11.192 --> 00:26:12.227
- Is making a difference in people's lives
- 00:26:12.293 --> 00:26:13.361
- In people's lives around the world.
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- Around the world. a special
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- A special thank you to our champion
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- Thank you to our champion of hope partners
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- Of hope partners for your monthly support.
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- For your monthly support. if you're not a partner,
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- If you're not a partner, i hope you'll consider
- 00:26:20.301 --> 00:26:21.169
- I hope you'll consider becoming one.
- 00:26:21.236 --> 00:26:22.537
- Becoming one. remember,
- 00:26:22.604 --> 00:26:23.004
- Remember, you can watch the services
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- You can watch the services online every sunday
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- Online every sunday morning, download
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- Morning, download our daily podcast,
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- Listen on sirius xm, watch our youtube channel,
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- Watch our youtube channel, and the new joel osteen network
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- 24 hours a day. and until we see you next time,
- 00:26:37.185 --> 00:26:38.687
- And until we see you next time, may the lord bless
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- May the lord bless you and keep you.
- 00:26:39.654 --> 00:26:41.356
- You and keep you. be sure to request your copy of
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- Be sure to request your copy of he is i am:
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- He is i am: god is for you here and now
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- God is for you here and now today.
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- Today. visit joelosteen.com
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- Visit joelosteen.com or call 888-567-joel.
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- Or call 888-567-joel. for an additional donation
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- For an additional donation this month,
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- This month, we are offering the
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- We are offering the i am collection.
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- I am collection. it includes
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- It includes a beautiful two-piece
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- A beautiful two-piece scripture wall art,
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- Scripture wall art, plus the he is i am
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- The stretched canvas elegantly features "i am”
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- Elegantly features "i am” and scripture
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- And scripture reference john 14:6.
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- Reference john 14:6. you can request
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- These unique resources
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- These unique resources by calling 888-567-joel
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- Or logging on to joelosteen.com today.
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- Joelosteen.com today. call or click anytime,
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- 24 hours a day. yes, be reminded
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- Yes, be reminded that the power of i am is
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- That the power of i am is for you each and every day.
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