Joel Osteen - Grass In The Desert

November 19, 2025 | 29:55

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

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Joel Osteen | Joel Osteen - Grass In The Desert | November 19, 2025
  • > (music playing)
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  • > (music playing) joel: god bless you, it's
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  • Joel: god bless you, it's great to have you with us
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  • Great to have you with us today. i know god has
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  • Today. i know god has amazing things in your
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  • Amazing things in your future. i hope you'll
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  • Future. i hope you'll stay connected with us
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  • Stay connected with us through the week. we have
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  • Through the week. we have a daily podcast that you
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  • A daily podcast that you can download, or go to
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  • Can download, or go to our youtube channel,
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  • Our youtube channel, follow us on social media.
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  • Follow us on social media. we want to keep you
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  • We want to keep you encouraged and inspired,
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  • Encouraged and inspired, but thanks for tuning in
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  • But thanks for tuning in today.
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  • Today. 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 young
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  • I heard about this young man. one day he was
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  • Man. one day he was talking to god. he said,
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  • Talking to god. he said, "god what's a million
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  • "god what's a million years like to you?"
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  • Years like to you?" god said, "a million years
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  • God said, "a million years to me is like one second
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  • To me is like one second to you."
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  • To you." he said, "well god, what's
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  • He said, "well god, what's a million dollars like to
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  • A million dollars like to you?"
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  • You?" god said, "a million dollars
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  • God said, "a million dollars to me is like one penny to
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  • To me is like one penny to you."
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  • You." he thought about it a moment
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  • He thought about it a moment and said, "god, will you
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  • And said, "god, will you give me a penny?"
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  • Give me a penny?" god said, "sure, just a
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  • God said, "sure, just a second."
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  • Second." come on. say it like you
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  • Come on. say it like you mean it.
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  • Mean it. this is my bible.
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  • This is my bible. i am what it says i am.
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  • I am what it says i am. i have what it says i have.
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  • I have what it says i have. i can do what it says
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  • I can do what it says i can do. today, i will
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  • I can do. today, i will be taught the word of god.
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  • Be taught the word of god. i boldly confess:
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  • I boldly confess: my mind is alert.
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  • 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.
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  • Jesus' name. god bless you.
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  • God bless you. i want to talk to you today
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  • I want to talk to you today about grass in the desert.
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  • About grass in the desert. in mark chapter 6, jesus was
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  • In mark chapter 6, jesus was with his disciples, so many
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  • With his disciples, so many people were crowding around,
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  • People were crowding around, he told them to get in the
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  • He told them to get in the boat so they could have some
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  • Boat so they could have some time alone.
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  • Time alone. verse 32 says, "they
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  • Verse 32 says, "they departed to a desert place."
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  • Departed to a desert place." people saw where they were
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  • People saw where they were heading, when they arrived,
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  • Heading, when they arrived, there were thousands of
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  • There were thousands of people waiting for them.
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  • People waiting for them. jesus began to teach them.
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  • Jesus began to teach them. late in the day, the
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  • Late in the day, the disciples said, "jesus it's
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  • Disciples said, "jesus it's almost night, we're out
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  • Almost night, we're out here in the desert, there's
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  • Here in the desert, there's nothing to eat, send the
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  • Nothing to eat, send the people home."
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  • People home." jesus said, "you feed them."
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  • Jesus said, "you feed them." they said, "with what?
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  • They said, "with what? we're in the desert.
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  • We're in the desert. we don't have food for
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  • We don't have food for all these people."
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  • All these people." jesus asked them for what
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  • Jesus asked them for what they had. they gave him
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  • They had. they gave him two fish and five loaves
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  • Two fish and five loaves of bread. verse 39 says,
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  • Of bread. verse 39 says, "jesus told the crowd to
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  • "jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on
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  • Sit down in groups on the green grass."
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  • The green grass." three times in this passage
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  • Three times in this passage it says they were in a
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  • It says they were in a desert place.
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  • Desert place. now he's telling them to
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  • Now he's telling them to sit on green grass.
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  • Sit on green grass. the people were tired,
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  • The people were tired, hot, hungry.
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  • Hot, hungry. jesus hadn't multiplied
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  • Jesus hadn't multiplied the food yet, they hadn't
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  • The food yet, they hadn't received the miracle, but
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  • Received the miracle, but while they were waiting
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  • While they were waiting god gave them grass in
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  • God gave them grass in the desert.
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  • The desert. he made the hard places
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  • He made the hard places easier.
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  • Easier. he didn't stop them from
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  • He didn't stop them from going into the desert, he
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  • Going into the desert, he didn't keep them from the
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  • Didn't keep them from the heat, but he did lighten
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  • Heat, but he did lighten the load.
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  • The load. we all go through these
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  • We all go through these desert places in life,
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  • Desert places in life, problems that should
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  • Problems that should overwhelm us, giants that
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  • Overwhelm us, giants that should defeat us, bad breaks
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  • Should defeat us, bad breaks that should make us bitter.
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  • That should make us bitter. but somehow in the midst of
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  • But somehow in the midst of these challenges, there's
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  • These challenges, there's a force sustaining us.
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  • A force sustaining us. we look back and think,
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  • We look back and think, "how did i make it
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  • "how did i make it through the loss of my
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  • Through the loss of my loved one? how did i
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  • Loved one? how did i overcome that sickness?
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  • Overcome that sickness? how did i raise that child
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  • How did i raise that child that was so difficult?"
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  • That was so difficult?" it was god giving you
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  • It was god giving you grass in the desert.
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  • Grass in the desert. god making the hard
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  • God making the hard places easier.
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  • Places easier. without his grace we
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  • Without his grace we would have gone under.
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  • Would have gone under. without his favor, that
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  • Without his favor, that sickness would have
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  • Sickness would have defeated you. without him
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  • Defeated you. without him breathing in your direction
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  • Breathing in your direction you wouldn't have made it
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  • You wouldn't have made it through that breakup.
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  • Through that breakup. he didn't stop the trouble,
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  • He didn't stop the trouble, but he did keep the trouble
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  • But he did keep the trouble from stopping you.
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  • From stopping you. you could have fallen apart,
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  • You could have fallen apart, you could have had a nervous
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  • You could have had a nervous breakdown, gotten bitter,
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  • Breakdown, gotten bitter, but god gave you green grass
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  • But god gave you green grass in the desert.
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  • In the desert. he sustained you.
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  • He sustained you. when you could have been
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  • When you could have been overwhelmed, he stepped in
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  • Overwhelmed, he stepped in and lightened the load.
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  • And lightened the load. that's why that person
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  • That's why that person showed up at just the right
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  • Showed up at just the right time to help you.
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  • Time to help you. it wasn't a lucky break;
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  • It wasn't a lucky break; it was grass in the desert.
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  • It was grass in the desert. that's why you had the
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  • That's why you had the strength to take that
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  • Strength to take that treatment when you should
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  • Treatment when you should have been discouraged, worn
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  • Have been discouraged, worn out; it was grass in the
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  • Out; it was grass in the desert.
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  • Desert. you could be stressed out,
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  • You could be stressed out, not able to make it, but
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  • Not able to make it, but there's grass in the desert.
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  • There's grass in the desert. god hasn't changed it all
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  • God hasn't changed it all yet. you haven't seen the
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  • Yet. you haven't seen the promise come to pass.
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  • Promise come to pass. you're still believing for
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  • You're still believing for the healing, the promotion,
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  • The healing, the promotion, the spouse.
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  • The spouse. the good news is while
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  • The good news is while you're waiting, god is
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  • You're waiting, god is making your hard places
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  • Making your hard places easier.
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  • Easier. you may not be able to tell
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  • You may not be able to tell it but if it wasn't for the
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  • It but if it wasn't for the goodness of god that
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  • Goodness of god that sickness would have taken
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  • Sickness would have taken you out.
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  • You out. without his favor that
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  • Without his favor that trouble would have
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  • Trouble would have overwhelmed you.
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  • Overwhelmed you. without his mercy that
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  • Without his mercy that addiction would have
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  • Addiction would have defeated you.
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  • Defeated you. no matter what you go
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  • No matter what you go through, an illness, a
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  • Through, an illness, a divorce, a betrayal, because
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  • Divorce, a betrayal, because you're a child of the most
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  • You're a child of the most high god, there's going to
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  • High god, there's going to be green grass in the
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  • Be green grass in the desert. it's not going
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  • Desert. it's not going to overwhelm you.
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  • To overwhelm you. it's not going to be too
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  • It's not going to be too much.
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  • Much. god is going to do things
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  • God is going to do things that don't make sense.
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  • That don't make sense. he's going to give you
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  • He's going to give you strength that you can't
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  • Strength that you can't explain.
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  • Explain. courage that you didn't know
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  • Courage that you didn't know you had.
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  • You had. favor that you didn't see
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  • Favor that you didn't see coming.
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  • Coming. you may be in a desert place
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  • You may be in a desert place now; the right attitude is,
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  • Now; the right attitude is, "lord, i want to thank you
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  • "lord, i want to thank you for the green grass.
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  • For the green grass. thank you for sustaining me,
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  • Thank you for sustaining me, thank you for what couldn't
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  • Thank you for what couldn't take me out, thank you that
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  • Take me out, thank you that i'm still standing."
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  • I'm still standing." how could joseph keep a good
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  • How could joseph keep a good attitude after all the
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  • Attitude after all the negative things that
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  • Negative things that happened to him?
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  • Happened to him? he was betrayed by his
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  • He was betrayed by his brothers and thrown into a
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  • Brothers and thrown into a pit.
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  • Pit. they were going to leave him
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  • They were going to leave him there to die, but they ended
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  • There to die, but they ended up selling him as a slave.
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  • Up selling him as a slave. he should have been bitter,
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  • He should have been bitter, angry, trying to get
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  • Angry, trying to get revenge, but god gave him
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  • Revenge, but god gave him grass in the desert.
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  • Grass in the desert. he made the hard places
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  • He made the hard places easier.
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  • Easier. despite all the injustice,
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  • Despite all the injustice, despite his world being
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  • Despite his world being turned upside down, joseph
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  • Turned upside down, joseph kept being his best, doing
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  • Kept being his best, doing the right thing.
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  • The right thing. when he faced temptation,
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  • When he faced temptation, the owner's wife tried to
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  • The owner's wife tried to seduce him, joseph could
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  • Seduce him, joseph could have thought, "i have
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  • Have thought, "i have nothing to lose.
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  • Nothing to lose. these people have done me
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  • These people have done me wrong."
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  • Wrong." he could have let his guard
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  • He could have let his guard down and compromised, but
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  • Down and compromised, but there was grass in the
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  • There was grass in the desert.
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  • Desert. joseph stayed faithful,
  • 00:05:59.816 --> 00:06:01.150
  • Joseph stayed faithful, loyal, committed.
  • 00:06:01.217 --> 00:06:03.219
  • Loyal, committed. you don't know how god is
  • 00:06:03.286 --> 00:06:04.854
  • You don't know how god is working in your life right
  • 00:06:04.921 --> 00:06:06.355
  • Working in your life right now.
  • 00:06:06.422 --> 00:06:07.356
  • Now. where did you get the
  • 00:06:07.423 --> 00:06:08.157
  • Where did you get the strength to withstand the
  • 00:06:08.224 --> 00:06:09.492
  • Strength to withstand the temptation?
  • 00:06:09.559 --> 00:06:10.726
  • Temptation? how are you able to keep a
  • 00:06:10.793 --> 00:06:11.928
  • How are you able to keep a good attitude when negative
  • 00:06:11.994 --> 00:06:13.463
  • Good attitude when negative things have happened?
  • 00:06:13.529 --> 00:06:14.831
  • Things have happened? how can you still be strong
  • 00:06:14.897 --> 00:06:16.532
  • How can you still be strong and do the right thing with
  • 00:06:16.599 --> 00:06:18.234
  • And do the right thing with these challenges you're up
  • 00:06:18.301 --> 00:06:19.402
  • These challenges you're up against?
  • 00:06:19.469 --> 00:06:20.470
  • Against? it's not just your will,
  • 00:06:20.536 --> 00:06:21.938
  • It's not just your will, your determination, it's god
  • 00:06:22.004 --> 00:06:24.373
  • Your determination, it's god giving you grass in the
  • 00:06:24.440 --> 00:06:25.575
  • Giving you grass in the desert.
  • 00:06:25.641 --> 00:06:26.542
  • Desert. he's not letting that
  • 00:06:26.609 --> 00:06:27.777
  • He's not letting that trouble overwhelm you.
  • 00:06:27.844 --> 00:06:29.378
  • Trouble overwhelm you. he's not letting that bad
  • 00:06:29.445 --> 00:06:30.780
  • He's not letting that bad break defeat you.
  • 00:06:30.847 --> 00:06:32.815
  • Break defeat you. the scripture says, "you'll
  • 00:06:32.882 --> 00:06:34.183
  • The scripture says, "you'll never face anything that you
  • 00:06:34.250 --> 00:06:36.085
  • Never face anything that you can't handle."
  • 00:06:36.152 --> 00:06:37.487
  • Can't handle." if it was too much, if it
  • 00:06:37.553 --> 00:06:39.222
  • If it was too much, if it was going to stop your
  • 00:06:39.288 --> 00:06:40.089
  • Was going to stop your destiny, god wouldn't have
  • 00:06:40.156 --> 00:06:41.591
  • Destiny, god wouldn't have allowed it.
  • 00:06:41.657 --> 00:06:42.925
  • Allowed it. like joseph, you may be in a
  • 00:06:42.992 --> 00:06:44.927
  • Like joseph, you may be in a desert place.
  • 00:06:44.994 --> 00:06:46.362
  • Desert place. life has thrown you a curve.
  • 00:06:46.429 --> 00:06:48.297
  • Life has thrown you a curve. you're dealing with things
  • 00:06:48.364 --> 00:06:49.232
  • You're dealing with things that you never saw coming,
  • 00:06:49.298 --> 00:06:50.800
  • That you never saw coming, people that did you wrong, a
  • 00:06:50.867 --> 00:06:52.468
  • People that did you wrong, a sickness that's not
  • 00:06:52.535 --> 00:06:53.302
  • Sickness that's not improving, your business
  • 00:06:53.369 --> 00:06:54.837
  • Improving, your business went down.
  • 00:06:54.904 --> 00:06:55.771
  • Went down. you don't see how you can go
  • 00:06:55.838 --> 00:06:57.139
  • You don't see how you can go on.
  • 00:06:57.206 --> 00:06:58.074
  • On. god is about to make your
  • 00:06:58.140 --> 00:06:59.542
  • God is about to make your hard places easier.
  • 00:06:59.609 --> 00:07:01.577
  • Hard places easier. you're going to feel
  • 00:07:01.644 --> 00:07:02.245
  • You're going to feel strength that you've never
  • 00:07:02.311 --> 00:07:03.412
  • Strength that you've never felt.
  • 00:07:03.479 --> 00:07:04.247
  • Felt. the right people, divine
  • 00:07:04.313 --> 00:07:06.015
  • The right people, divine connections are headed your
  • 00:07:06.082 --> 00:07:07.483
  • Connections are headed your way.
  • 00:07:07.550 --> 00:07:08.150
  • Way. god is going to get you to
  • 00:07:08.217 --> 00:07:09.752
  • God is going to get you to where you're supposed to be.
  • 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:11.687
  • Where you're supposed to be. the desert is not your
  • 00:07:11.754 --> 00:07:13.155
  • The desert is not your destiny, that barren place,
  • 00:07:13.222 --> 00:07:15.892
  • Destiny, that barren place, the disappointment, the loss
  • 00:07:15.958 --> 00:07:17.660
  • The disappointment, the loss is not how your story ends.
  • 00:07:17.727 --> 00:07:19.795
  • Is not how your story ends. the desert is temporary, the
  • 00:07:19.862 --> 00:07:21.831
  • The desert is temporary, the trouble is temporary, the
  • 00:07:21.898 --> 00:07:23.432
  • Trouble is temporary, the depression it's only
  • 00:07:23.499 --> 00:07:24.834
  • Depression it's only temporary.
  • 00:07:24.901 --> 00:07:26.302
  • Temporary. joseph ended up the prime
  • 00:07:26.369 --> 00:07:27.937
  • Joseph ended up the prime minister of egypt.
  • 00:07:28.004 --> 00:07:29.605
  • Minister of egypt. he came out of the desert
  • 00:07:29.672 --> 00:07:31.207
  • He came out of the desert into his promised land.
  • 00:07:31.274 --> 00:07:33.409
  • Into his promised land. we don't like the desert,
  • 00:07:33.476 --> 00:07:35.144
  • We don't like the desert, but the desert was
  • 00:07:35.211 --> 00:07:36.012
  • But the desert was necessary.
  • 00:07:36.078 --> 00:07:37.213
  • Necessary. without the opposition,
  • 00:07:37.280 --> 00:07:38.981
  • Without the opposition, without the betrayals, the
  • 00:07:39.048 --> 00:07:40.349
  • Without the betrayals, the disappointments joseph would
  • 00:07:40.416 --> 00:07:42.251
  • Disappointments joseph would have never made it to his
  • 00:07:42.318 --> 00:07:43.519
  • Have never made it to his destiny.
  • 00:07:43.586 --> 00:07:44.987
  • Destiny. god won't stop the desert,
  • 00:07:45.054 --> 00:07:47.089
  • God won't stop the desert, he never promised we
  • 00:07:47.156 --> 00:07:48.090
  • He never promised we wouldn't have difficulties,
  • 00:07:48.157 --> 00:07:49.792
  • Wouldn't have difficulties, but he did promise he'll
  • 00:07:49.859 --> 00:07:51.394
  • But he did promise he'll give you grass in the
  • 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:52.395
  • Give you grass in the desert.
  • 00:07:52.461 --> 00:07:53.296
  • Desert. he'll make your hard places
  • 00:07:53.362 --> 00:07:54.664
  • He'll make your hard places easier.
  • 00:07:54.730 --> 00:07:55.831
  • Easier. now quit telling yourself
  • 00:07:55.898 --> 00:07:57.266
  • Now quit telling yourself you can't handle it.
  • 00:07:57.333 --> 00:07:58.868
  • You can't handle it. "it's too much.
  • 00:07:58.935 --> 00:08:00.269
  • "it's too much. i'll never beat this cancer,
  • 00:08:00.336 --> 00:08:02.138
  • I'll never beat this cancer, i'll never raise these
  • 00:08:02.204 --> 00:08:03.005
  • I'll never raise these children, this pandemic is
  • 00:08:03.072 --> 00:08:04.707
  • Children, this pandemic is going to ruin my business."
  • 00:08:04.774 --> 00:08:06.375
  • Going to ruin my business." you're defeating yourself.
  • 00:08:06.442 --> 00:08:08.411
  • You're defeating yourself. victory starts in our
  • 00:08:08.477 --> 00:08:09.712
  • Victory starts in our thinking.
  • 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:10.813
  • Thinking. the scripture says, "take
  • 00:08:10.880 --> 00:08:12.381
  • The scripture says, "take hold of his strength."
  • 00:08:12.448 --> 00:08:14.317
  • Hold of his strength." try a different approach.
  • 00:08:14.383 --> 00:08:15.918
  • Try a different approach. "lord, thank you for the
  • 00:08:15.985 --> 00:08:16.919
  • "lord, thank you for the grass in the desert.
  • 00:08:16.986 --> 00:08:18.521
  • Grass in the desert. thank you that i can do all
  • 00:08:18.588 --> 00:08:19.755
  • Thank you that i can do all things through christ.
  • 00:08:19.822 --> 00:08:21.190
  • Things through christ. thank you that i'm strong in
  • 00:08:21.257 --> 00:08:22.458
  • Thank you that i'm strong in the lord.
  • 00:08:22.525 --> 00:08:23.326
  • The lord. thank you that you're making
  • 00:08:23.392 --> 00:08:24.193
  • Thank you that you're making my crooked places straight.
  • 00:08:24.260 --> 00:08:25.861
  • My crooked places straight. thank you that you being for
  • 00:08:25.928 --> 00:08:27.163
  • Thank you that you being for me is more than the world
  • 00:08:27.229 --> 00:08:28.664
  • Me is more than the world being against me."
  • 00:08:28.731 --> 00:08:30.633
  • Being against me." my father struggled with
  • 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:31.867
  • My father struggled with high blood pressure most of
  • 00:08:31.934 --> 00:08:33.302
  • High blood pressure most of his life.
  • 00:08:33.369 --> 00:08:34.437
  • His life. often the medicine he would
  • 00:08:34.503 --> 00:08:35.805
  • Often the medicine he would take would make him dizzy
  • 00:08:35.871 --> 00:08:37.607
  • Take would make him dizzy on sunday mornings, i would
  • 00:08:37.673 --> 00:08:39.175
  • On sunday mornings, i would come down to put his
  • 00:08:39.241 --> 00:08:40.042
  • Come down to put his microphone on in the tv area
  • 00:08:40.109 --> 00:08:42.278
  • Microphone on in the tv area before the service.
  • 00:08:42.345 --> 00:08:43.913
  • Before the service. many times, he hadn't slept
  • 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:45.314
  • Many times, he hadn't slept much the night before, he
  • 00:08:45.381 --> 00:08:47.083
  • Much the night before, he didn't seem up to par.
  • 00:08:47.149 --> 00:08:48.751
  • Didn't seem up to par. i would ask him if he wanted
  • 00:08:48.818 --> 00:08:49.952
  • I would ask him if he wanted to minister or did he want
  • 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:51.621
  • To minister or did he want us to get someone else.
  • 00:08:51.687 --> 00:08:53.155
  • Us to get someone else. he would never think twice.
  • 00:08:53.222 --> 00:08:54.857
  • He would never think twice. he'd say, "yes, i'm ready."
  • 00:08:54.924 --> 00:08:56.826
  • He'd say, "yes, i'm ready." he would go out as strong,
  • 00:08:56.892 --> 00:08:58.661
  • He would go out as strong, as anointed, as effective as
  • 00:08:58.728 --> 00:09:00.896
  • As anointed, as effective as ever.
  • 00:09:00.963 --> 00:09:01.697
  • Ever. when he stepped in the
  • 00:09:01.764 --> 00:09:02.698
  • When he stepped in the pulpit, it was like he was a
  • 00:09:02.765 --> 00:09:04.066
  • Pulpit, it was like he was a different person.
  • 00:09:04.133 --> 00:09:05.301
  • Different person. you couldn't tell anything
  • 00:09:05.368 --> 00:09:06.402
  • You couldn't tell anything was wrong.
  • 00:09:06.469 --> 00:09:07.570
  • Was wrong. i was so amazed.
  • 00:09:07.637 --> 00:09:08.838
  • I was so amazed. i thought how could he do
  • 00:09:08.904 --> 00:09:09.805
  • I thought how could he do that?
  • 00:09:09.872 --> 00:09:10.806
  • That? i realize now that was god
  • 00:09:10.873 --> 00:09:13.242
  • I realize now that was god giving him grass in the
  • 00:09:13.309 --> 00:09:14.877
  • Giving him grass in the desert.
  • 00:09:14.944 --> 00:09:16.212
  • Desert. david said, "god makes me to
  • 00:09:16.278 --> 00:09:18.047
  • David said, "god makes me to lie down in green pastures."
  • 00:09:18.114 --> 00:09:20.883
  • Lie down in green pastures." you can be in a desert and
  • 00:09:20.950 --> 00:09:22.585
  • You can be in a desert and god will create a green
  • 00:09:22.652 --> 00:09:24.086
  • God will create a green pasture.
  • 00:09:24.153 --> 00:09:25.254
  • Pasture. in a pandemic, you could be
  • 00:09:25.321 --> 00:09:27.056
  • In a pandemic, you could be worried, upset, but look at
  • 00:09:27.123 --> 00:09:29.091
  • Worried, upset, but look at you, strong, confident.
  • 00:09:29.158 --> 00:09:31.527
  • You, strong, confident. you know god is still on the
  • 00:09:31.594 --> 00:09:32.895
  • You know god is still on the throne.
  • 00:09:32.962 --> 00:09:33.863
  • Throne. you know he holds victory in
  • 00:09:33.929 --> 00:09:35.531
  • You know he holds victory in store for the upright.
  • 00:09:35.598 --> 00:09:36.966
  • Store for the upright. you know what was meant for
  • 00:09:37.033 --> 00:09:38.000
  • You know what was meant for harm he's turning to your
  • 00:09:38.067 --> 00:09:39.568
  • Harm he's turning to your advantage.
  • 00:09:39.635 --> 00:09:40.836
  • Advantage. it's barren all around you,
  • 00:09:40.903 --> 00:09:42.872
  • It's barren all around you, but you're in a green
  • 00:09:42.938 --> 00:09:43.873
  • But you're in a green pasture.
  • 00:09:43.939 --> 00:09:44.807
  • Pasture. you have grass in the
  • 00:09:44.874 --> 00:09:46.042
  • You have grass in the desert.
  • 00:09:46.108 --> 00:09:47.176
  • Desert. while others are
  • 00:09:47.243 --> 00:09:47.843
  • While others are complaining, talking about
  • 00:09:47.910 --> 00:09:49.412
  • Complaining, talking about how it's not going to work
  • 00:09:49.478 --> 00:09:50.546
  • How it's not going to work out, you have a song of
  • 00:09:50.613 --> 00:09:51.981
  • Out, you have a song of praise, you're expecting
  • 00:09:52.048 --> 00:09:53.716
  • Praise, you're expecting god's favor, you're
  • 00:09:53.783 --> 00:09:54.950
  • God's favor, you're declaring his promises.
  • 00:09:55.017 --> 00:09:57.253
  • Declaring his promises. when i looked at my father,
  • 00:09:57.319 --> 00:09:58.788
  • When i looked at my father, i didn't see green pastures,
  • 00:09:58.854 --> 00:10:00.856
  • I didn't see green pastures, all i saw was a desert,
  • 00:10:00.923 --> 00:10:02.925
  • All i saw was a desert, barren land, him not feeling
  • 00:10:02.992 --> 00:10:04.860
  • Barren land, him not feeling well.
  • 00:10:04.927 --> 00:10:05.895
  • Well. i didn't see how he could
  • 00:10:05.961 --> 00:10:06.962
  • I didn't see how he could prepare a message, how he
  • 00:10:07.029 --> 00:10:08.731
  • Prepare a message, how he could get up and be
  • 00:10:08.798 --> 00:10:09.532
  • Could get up and be effective.
  • 00:10:09.598 --> 00:10:10.966
  • Effective. but god doesn't wait till
  • 00:10:11.033 --> 00:10:12.301
  • But god doesn't wait till you get out of the desert,
  • 00:10:12.368 --> 00:10:13.903
  • You get out of the desert, he'll cause you to flourish
  • 00:10:13.969 --> 00:10:15.404
  • He'll cause you to flourish in the desert.
  • 00:10:15.471 --> 00:10:16.639
  • In the desert. he'll make you prosperous in
  • 00:10:16.706 --> 00:10:18.441
  • He'll make you prosperous in a barren land.
  • 00:10:18.507 --> 00:10:19.842
  • A barren land. what i couldn't see was in
  • 00:10:19.909 --> 00:10:21.510
  • What i couldn't see was in that desert, he had green
  • 00:10:21.577 --> 00:10:22.978
  • That desert, he had green grass.
  • 00:10:23.045 --> 00:10:23.779
  • Grass. he had strength to do what
  • 00:10:23.846 --> 00:10:25.347
  • He had strength to do what he shouldn't be able to do.
  • 00:10:25.414 --> 00:10:27.950
  • He shouldn't be able to do. at seventy-seven, my father
  • 00:10:28.017 --> 00:10:29.719
  • At seventy-seven, my father had to go on dialysis.
  • 00:10:29.785 --> 00:10:31.554
  • Had to go on dialysis. his kidneys had quit
  • 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:32.588
  • His kidneys had quit working.
  • 00:10:32.655 --> 00:10:33.489
  • Working. often, i would take him to
  • 00:10:33.556 --> 00:10:34.623
  • Often, i would take him to the clinic.
  • 00:10:34.690 --> 00:10:35.591
  • The clinic. he would sit there for four
  • 00:10:35.658 --> 00:10:36.625
  • He would sit there for four hours, three times a week.
  • 00:10:36.692 --> 00:10:38.861
  • Hours, three times a week. he was used to being able to
  • 00:10:38.928 --> 00:10:40.096
  • He was used to being able to travel, go places but now he
  • 00:10:40.162 --> 00:10:42.698
  • Travel, go places but now he was tied down.
  • 00:10:42.765 --> 00:10:44.300
  • Was tied down. this should have defeated
  • 00:10:44.366 --> 00:10:45.334
  • This should have defeated him; it should have taken
  • 00:10:45.401 --> 00:10:46.769
  • Him; it should have taken the joy and victory out of
  • 00:10:46.836 --> 00:10:48.204
  • The joy and victory out of his life.
  • 00:10:48.270 --> 00:10:49.505
  • His life. but god takes things that
  • 00:10:49.572 --> 00:10:51.006
  • But god takes things that should be disheartening,
  • 00:10:51.073 --> 00:10:52.875
  • Should be disheartening, defeating, unbearable, and
  • 00:10:52.942 --> 00:10:54.977
  • Defeating, unbearable, and he gives you the grace to
  • 00:10:55.044 --> 00:10:56.512
  • He gives you the grace to keep going strong.
  • 00:10:56.579 --> 00:10:58.514
  • Keep going strong. even though he was on
  • 00:10:58.581 --> 00:10:59.515
  • Even though he was on dialysis, he never missed
  • 00:10:59.582 --> 00:11:01.517
  • Dialysis, he never missed ministering on a sunday
  • 00:11:01.584 --> 00:11:02.952
  • Ministering on a sunday morning.
  • 00:11:03.018 --> 00:11:03.853
  • Morning. i never heard him complain.
  • 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:05.821
  • I never heard him complain. he didn't talk about how bad
  • 00:11:05.888 --> 00:11:07.056
  • He didn't talk about how bad it was.
  • 00:11:07.123 --> 00:11:08.057
  • It was. he was constantly thanking
  • 00:11:08.124 --> 00:11:09.825
  • He was constantly thanking god for his goodness.
  • 00:11:09.892 --> 00:11:11.727
  • God for his goodness. that didn't make sense.
  • 00:11:11.794 --> 00:11:12.862
  • That didn't make sense. he was in the desert, on
  • 00:11:12.928 --> 00:11:14.597
  • He was in the desert, on dialysis, not able to
  • 00:11:14.663 --> 00:11:16.132
  • Dialysis, not able to travel, but god knows how to
  • 00:11:16.198 --> 00:11:18.734
  • Travel, but god knows how to make your hard places
  • 00:11:18.801 --> 00:11:19.935
  • Make your hard places easier.
  • 00:11:20.002 --> 00:11:20.870
  • Easier. he may not keep you out of
  • 00:11:20.936 --> 00:11:22.271
  • He may not keep you out of the desert, but he will give
  • 00:11:22.338 --> 00:11:23.739
  • The desert, but he will give you grass in the desert.
  • 00:11:23.806 --> 00:11:25.541
  • You grass in the desert. he'll give you the grace to
  • 00:11:25.608 --> 00:11:26.976
  • He'll give you the grace to go through whatever comes
  • 00:11:27.042 --> 00:11:28.711
  • Go through whatever comes your way.
  • 00:11:28.778 --> 00:11:30.279
  • Your way. you may be up against things
  • 00:11:30.346 --> 00:11:31.714
  • You may be up against things that seem like they're too
  • 00:11:31.781 --> 00:11:32.848
  • That seem like they're too much to handle, too
  • 00:11:32.915 --> 00:11:34.350
  • Much to handle, too difficult, too unfair.
  • 00:11:34.416 --> 00:11:36.252
  • Difficult, too unfair. you don't have the strength,
  • 00:11:36.318 --> 00:11:37.453
  • You don't have the strength, the energy, the faith.
  • 00:11:37.520 --> 00:11:38.888
  • The energy, the faith. don't worry, there's grass
  • 00:11:38.954 --> 00:11:40.623
  • Don't worry, there's grass in that desert.
  • 00:11:40.689 --> 00:11:42.124
  • In that desert. god has a green pasture for
  • 00:11:42.191 --> 00:11:44.660
  • God has a green pasture for wherever he takes you.
  • 00:11:44.727 --> 00:11:46.796
  • Wherever he takes you. going through a divorce, yes
  • 00:11:46.862 --> 00:11:48.364
  • Going through a divorce, yes that's hard but there's
  • 00:11:48.430 --> 00:11:49.598
  • That's hard but there's grass in that desert.
  • 00:11:49.665 --> 00:11:51.400
  • Grass in that desert. you're going to feel
  • 00:11:51.467 --> 00:11:52.034
  • You're going to feel strength that you've never
  • 00:11:52.101 --> 00:11:53.102
  • Strength that you've never felt.
  • 00:11:53.169 --> 00:11:54.103
  • Felt. taking that treatment, it
  • 00:11:54.170 --> 00:11:55.604
  • Taking that treatment, it should wipe you out but even
  • 00:11:55.671 --> 00:11:57.573
  • Should wipe you out but even in the barren place, you're
  • 00:11:57.640 --> 00:11:59.141
  • In the barren place, you're going to discover a green
  • 00:11:59.208 --> 00:12:00.709
  • Going to discover a green pasture.
  • 00:12:00.776 --> 00:12:01.710
  • Pasture. god has already prepared it
  • 00:12:01.777 --> 00:12:03.512
  • God has already prepared it for you.
  • 00:12:03.579 --> 00:12:04.780
  • For you. raising that special needs
  • 00:12:04.847 --> 00:12:06.382
  • Raising that special needs child, it would be too much
  • 00:12:06.448 --> 00:12:08.017
  • Child, it would be too much for others, but not you.
  • 00:12:08.083 --> 00:12:10.019
  • For others, but not you. there's grass in that
  • 00:12:10.085 --> 00:12:11.220
  • There's grass in that desert.
  • 00:12:11.287 --> 00:12:12.454
  • Desert. when i look back over my
  • 00:12:12.521 --> 00:12:13.656
  • When i look back over my life, i can see these times
  • 00:12:13.722 --> 00:12:15.724
  • Life, i can see these times where god made my hard
  • 00:12:15.791 --> 00:12:17.293
  • Where god made my hard places easier.
  • 00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:19.128
  • Places easier. when my father passed, i was
  • 00:12:19.195 --> 00:12:20.763
  • When my father passed, i was in a desert place.
  • 00:12:20.830 --> 00:12:21.964
  • In a desert place. i had worked with him for
  • 00:12:22.031 --> 00:12:23.432
  • I had worked with him for years here at lakewood and
  • 00:12:23.499 --> 00:12:25.034
  • Years here at lakewood and traveled the world together.
  • 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.435
  • Traveled the world together. in 1999 when he had a heart
  • 00:12:26.502 --> 00:12:29.104
  • In 1999 when he had a heart attack and went to be with
  • 00:12:29.171 --> 00:12:30.506
  • Attack and went to be with the lord, that was the most
  • 00:12:30.573 --> 00:12:32.241
  • The lord, that was the most difficult thing i had ever
  • 00:12:32.308 --> 00:12:33.542
  • Difficult thing i had ever faced.
  • 00:12:33.609 --> 00:12:34.376
  • Faced. my world was turned upside
  • 00:12:34.443 --> 00:12:35.978
  • My world was turned upside down, but it wasn't what i
  • 00:12:36.045 --> 00:12:38.013
  • Down, but it wasn't what i thought.
  • 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:39.081
  • Thought. i thought i would be
  • 00:12:39.148 --> 00:12:39.949
  • I thought i would be devastated, overwhelmed, not
  • 00:12:40.015 --> 00:12:42.484
  • Devastated, overwhelmed, not able to go on, but i felt a
  • 00:12:42.551 --> 00:12:44.653
  • Able to go on, but i felt a peace that i had never felt.
  • 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:46.856
  • Peace that i had never felt. i missed my father but deep
  • 00:12:46.922 --> 00:12:48.858
  • I missed my father but deep down i knew he'd fulfilled
  • 00:12:48.924 --> 00:12:50.960
  • Down i knew he'd fulfilled his purpose.
  • 00:12:51.026 --> 00:12:52.194
  • His purpose. there was this grace to not
  • 00:12:52.261 --> 00:12:53.796
  • There was this grace to not only make it through his
  • 00:12:53.863 --> 00:12:54.997
  • Only make it through his loss but to step up and
  • 00:12:55.064 --> 00:12:56.832
  • Loss but to step up and pastor the church.
  • 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:58.434
  • Pastor the church. i suddenly had this desire.
  • 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:00.736
  • I suddenly had this desire. i never wanted to before.
  • 00:13:00.803 --> 00:13:02.705
  • I never wanted to before. my father tried for
  • 00:13:02.771 --> 00:13:03.672
  • My father tried for seventeen years to get me up
  • 00:13:03.739 --> 00:13:05.541
  • Seventeen years to get me up to minister, i wouldn't do
  • 00:13:05.608 --> 00:13:07.176
  • To minister, i wouldn't do it.
  • 00:13:07.243 --> 00:13:07.943
  • It. but now i not only knew i
  • 00:13:08.010 --> 00:13:09.778
  • But now i not only knew i was supposed to, but i
  • 00:13:09.845 --> 00:13:11.380
  • Was supposed to, but i wanted to.
  • 00:13:11.447 --> 00:13:12.781
  • Wanted to. what was that?
  • 00:13:12.848 --> 00:13:13.816
  • What was that? god giving me grass in the
  • 00:13:13.883 --> 00:13:15.484
  • God giving me grass in the desert, making my hard
  • 00:13:15.551 --> 00:13:17.052
  • Desert, making my hard places easier.
  • 00:13:17.119 --> 00:13:18.854
  • Places easier. i didn't know how to
  • 00:13:18.921 --> 00:13:19.588
  • I didn't know how to minister.
  • 00:13:19.655 --> 00:13:20.289
  • Minister. i had never written a
  • 00:13:20.356 --> 00:13:21.290
  • I had never written a message before.
  • 00:13:21.357 --> 00:13:22.658
  • Message before. i should have been
  • 00:13:22.725 --> 00:13:23.359
  • I should have been overwhelmed, stressed out
  • 00:13:23.425 --> 00:13:25.261
  • Overwhelmed, stressed out but every week by the grace
  • 00:13:25.327 --> 00:13:26.662
  • But every week by the grace of god i came up with
  • 00:13:26.729 --> 00:13:27.863
  • Of god i came up with something to stay.
  • 00:13:27.930 --> 00:13:29.798
  • Something to stay. our daughter alexandra was
  • 00:13:29.865 --> 00:13:31.267
  • Our daughter alexandra was three months old at the time
  • 00:13:31.333 --> 00:13:32.868
  • Three months old at the time and jonathan was four years
  • 00:13:32.935 --> 00:13:34.670
  • And jonathan was four years old.
  • 00:13:34.737 --> 00:13:35.537
  • Old. how could i step up and not
  • 00:13:35.604 --> 00:13:36.906
  • How could i step up and not only start ministering each
  • 00:13:36.972 --> 00:13:38.474
  • Only start ministering each week but lead the church,
  • 00:13:38.540 --> 00:13:40.643
  • Week but lead the church, have time for my family,
  • 00:13:40.709 --> 00:13:42.344
  • Have time for my family, raise my children, keep
  • 00:13:42.411 --> 00:13:43.779
  • Raise my children, keep victoria in line, i mean
  • 00:13:43.846 --> 00:13:45.180
  • Victoria in line, i mean love victoria.
  • 00:13:45.247 --> 00:13:46.382
  • Love victoria. how could that happen?
  • 00:13:46.448 --> 00:13:47.683
  • How could that happen? god makes your hard places
  • 00:13:47.750 --> 00:13:49.685
  • God makes your hard places easier.
  • 00:13:49.752 --> 00:13:50.686
  • Easier. he has a green pasture for
  • 00:13:50.753 --> 00:13:52.354
  • He has a green pasture for you when you lose a loved
  • 00:13:52.421 --> 00:13:54.089
  • You when you lose a loved one.
  • 00:13:54.156 --> 00:13:54.757
  • One. you're not going to fall
  • 00:13:54.823 --> 00:13:55.557
  • You're not going to fall apart.
  • 00:13:55.624 --> 00:13:56.191
  • Apart. you're not going to give up
  • 00:13:56.258 --> 00:13:57.226
  • You're not going to give up on life, new dreams are
  • 00:13:57.293 --> 00:13:58.861
  • On life, new dreams are going to spring up, new
  • 00:13:58.928 --> 00:14:00.296
  • Going to spring up, new desires are going to come.
  • 00:14:00.362 --> 00:14:02.431
  • Desires are going to come. he has a green pasture for
  • 00:14:02.498 --> 00:14:04.300
  • He has a green pasture for when that child is in
  • 00:14:04.366 --> 00:14:05.501
  • When that child is in trouble, for when your
  • 00:14:05.567 --> 00:14:06.702
  • Trouble, for when your business slows, for when the
  • 00:14:06.769 --> 00:14:08.370
  • Business slows, for when the medical report is not good.
  • 00:14:08.437 --> 00:14:11.040
  • Medical report is not good. when you look back over your
  • 00:14:11.106 --> 00:14:12.341
  • When you look back over your life, you can see these
  • 00:14:12.408 --> 00:14:13.776
  • Life, you can see these times where god gave you
  • 00:14:13.842 --> 00:14:15.044
  • Times where god gave you grass in the desert.
  • 00:14:15.110 --> 00:14:16.845
  • Grass in the desert. at the time you may not have
  • 00:14:16.912 --> 00:14:18.414
  • At the time you may not have realized it.
  • 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.515
  • Realized it. you were so caught up in
  • 00:14:19.581 --> 00:14:20.683
  • You were so caught up in what was going on and making
  • 00:14:20.749 --> 00:14:22.117
  • What was going on and making it through, you didn't
  • 00:14:22.184 --> 00:14:23.519
  • It through, you didn't recognize it was the grace
  • 00:14:23.585 --> 00:14:25.421
  • Recognize it was the grace of god giving you the
  • 00:14:25.487 --> 00:14:26.622
  • Of god giving you the strength, the favor, helping
  • 00:14:26.689 --> 00:14:28.824
  • Strength, the favor, helping you do what you couldn't do.
  • 00:14:28.891 --> 00:14:31.393
  • You do what you couldn't do. it's good to take time and
  • 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:33.228
  • It's good to take time and reflect on the goodness of
  • 00:14:33.295 --> 00:14:34.763
  • Reflect on the goodness of god.
  • 00:14:34.830 --> 00:14:35.731
  • God. "lord, thank you for the
  • 00:14:35.798 --> 00:14:36.899
  • "lord, thank you for the green pastures, thank you
  • 00:14:36.966 --> 00:14:38.934
  • Green pastures, thank you for bringing me through what
  • 00:14:39.001 --> 00:14:40.502
  • For bringing me through what should have stopped me,
  • 00:14:40.569 --> 00:14:42.071
  • Should have stopped me, thank you for peace when i
  • 00:14:42.137 --> 00:14:43.439
  • Thank you for peace when i lost a loved one, thank you
  • 00:14:43.505 --> 00:14:45.174
  • Lost a loved one, thank you for strength to make it
  • 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.241
  • For strength to make it through that sickness, thank
  • 00:14:46.308 --> 00:14:47.810
  • Through that sickness, thank you for sustaining me when i
  • 00:14:47.876 --> 00:14:49.545
  • You for sustaining me when i should have gone under,
  • 00:14:49.611 --> 00:14:50.913
  • Should have gone under, thank you for defeating
  • 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:51.914
  • Thank you for defeating enemies that were much
  • 00:14:51.981 --> 00:14:52.915
  • Enemies that were much bigger, thank you for giving
  • 00:14:52.982 --> 00:14:54.516
  • Bigger, thank you for giving me the stamina to outlast
  • 00:14:54.583 --> 00:14:56.719
  • Me the stamina to outlast the opposition."
  • 00:14:56.785 --> 00:14:58.554
  • The opposition." "well joel, this sounds
  • 00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.555
  • "well joel, this sounds good, but i don't see this
  • 00:14:59.621 --> 00:15:00.956
  • Good, but i don't see this grass in the desert.
  • 00:15:01.023 --> 00:15:02.658
  • Grass in the desert. i don't have these big
  • 00:15:02.725 --> 00:15:03.592
  • I don't have these big moments where i stepped up
  • 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.860
  • Moments where i stepped up and did something great."
  • 00:15:04.927 --> 00:15:06.695
  • And did something great." think about what could have
  • 00:15:06.762 --> 00:15:07.896
  • Think about what could have happened.
  • 00:15:07.963 --> 00:15:08.931
  • Happened. that sickness could have
  • 00:15:08.998 --> 00:15:10.332
  • That sickness could have taken you out, but god gave
  • 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.267
  • Taken you out, but god gave you the strength to
  • 00:15:12.334 --> 00:15:13.002
  • You the strength to overcome.
  • 00:15:13.068 --> 00:15:14.203
  • Overcome. that breakup should have
  • 00:15:14.269 --> 00:15:15.371
  • That breakup should have soured your life, left you
  • 00:15:15.437 --> 00:15:17.206
  • Soured your life, left you bitter but while you were
  • 00:15:17.272 --> 00:15:18.807
  • Bitter but while you were hurting there was a green
  • 00:15:18.874 --> 00:15:20.376
  • Hurting there was a green pasture.
  • 00:15:20.442 --> 00:15:21.243
  • Pasture. you had the strength to move
  • 00:15:21.310 --> 00:15:22.511
  • You had the strength to move forward and now you have
  • 00:15:22.578 --> 00:15:23.746
  • Forward and now you have someone great in your life.
  • 00:15:23.812 --> 00:15:25.848
  • Someone great in your life. that wasn't a lucky break
  • 00:15:25.914 --> 00:15:27.349
  • That wasn't a lucky break that was grass in the
  • 00:15:27.416 --> 00:15:28.550
  • That was grass in the desert.
  • 00:15:28.617 --> 00:15:29.718
  • Desert. maybe you spent years taking
  • 00:15:29.785 --> 00:15:31.320
  • Maybe you spent years taking care of your elderly
  • 00:15:31.387 --> 00:15:32.388
  • Care of your elderly parents, at the same time
  • 00:15:32.454 --> 00:15:34.256
  • Parents, at the same time raising your children,
  • 00:15:34.323 --> 00:15:35.657
  • Raising your children, pursuing your dreams.
  • 00:15:35.724 --> 00:15:37.426
  • Pursuing your dreams. how could you do all that?
  • 00:15:37.493 --> 00:15:39.094
  • How could you do all that? how could you have the
  • 00:15:39.161 --> 00:15:40.062
  • How could you have the energy, the desire, the
  • 00:15:40.129 --> 00:15:41.864
  • Energy, the desire, the consistency, it wasn't just
  • 00:15:41.930 --> 00:15:43.899
  • Consistency, it wasn't just your good heart, it was god
  • 00:15:43.966 --> 00:15:46.068
  • Your good heart, it was god making your difficult places
  • 00:15:46.135 --> 00:15:47.770
  • Making your difficult places easier.
  • 00:15:47.836 --> 00:15:48.837
  • Easier. god gives you grace for
  • 00:15:48.904 --> 00:15:50.305
  • God gives you grace for every season in life.
  • 00:15:50.372 --> 00:15:52.975
  • Every season in life. i talked to a lady several
  • 00:15:53.042 --> 00:15:54.443
  • I talked to a lady several years back.
  • 00:15:54.510 --> 00:15:55.377
  • Years back. she's in her sixties.
  • 00:15:55.444 --> 00:15:56.945
  • She's in her sixties. she just found out that she
  • 00:15:57.012 --> 00:15:58.147
  • She just found out that she was going to raise three of
  • 00:15:58.213 --> 00:15:59.715
  • Was going to raise three of her grandchildren.
  • 00:15:59.782 --> 00:16:01.083
  • Her grandchildren. she wasn't expecting it, the
  • 00:16:01.150 --> 00:16:02.751
  • She wasn't expecting it, the mother had some issues she
  • 00:16:02.818 --> 00:16:04.253
  • Mother had some issues she was dealing with.
  • 00:16:04.319 --> 00:16:05.554
  • Was dealing with. these children were all
  • 00:16:05.621 --> 00:16:06.822
  • These children were all under the age of seven.
  • 00:16:06.889 --> 00:16:08.791
  • Under the age of seven. she didn't know how she was
  • 00:16:08.857 --> 00:16:09.825
  • She didn't know how she was going to have the energy;
  • 00:16:09.892 --> 00:16:11.026
  • Going to have the energy; how could she help them with
  • 00:16:11.093 --> 00:16:12.461
  • How could she help them with school work, be there for
  • 00:16:12.528 --> 00:16:14.096
  • School work, be there for all their events.
  • 00:16:14.163 --> 00:16:15.330
  • All their events. she was so worried.
  • 00:16:15.397 --> 00:16:16.999
  • She was so worried. i told her what i'm telling
  • 00:16:17.066 --> 00:16:18.434
  • I told her what i'm telling you.
  • 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.201
  • You. you may be in the desert
  • 00:16:19.268 --> 00:16:20.569
  • You may be in the desert place, something you weren't
  • 00:16:20.636 --> 00:16:22.404
  • Place, something you weren't expecting, but it's not a
  • 00:16:22.471 --> 00:16:24.173
  • Expecting, but it's not a surprise to god.
  • 00:16:24.239 --> 00:16:25.707
  • Surprise to god. he has a green pasture that
  • 00:16:25.774 --> 00:16:27.609
  • He has a green pasture that he's already ordained for
  • 00:16:27.676 --> 00:16:28.877
  • He's already ordained for you.
  • 00:16:28.944 --> 00:16:29.645
  • You. it's going to be easier than
  • 00:16:29.711 --> 00:16:31.080
  • It's going to be easier than you think.
  • 00:16:31.146 --> 00:16:32.114
  • You think. now the key is don't talk
  • 00:16:32.181 --> 00:16:33.749
  • Now the key is don't talk yourself out of it.
  • 00:16:33.816 --> 00:16:35.184
  • Yourself out of it. "this is too much for me.
  • 00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:36.985
  • "this is too much for me. i can't believe this
  • 00:16:37.052 --> 00:16:38.087
  • I can't believe this happened."
  • 00:16:38.153 --> 00:16:38.854
  • Happened." don't complain about the
  • 00:16:38.921 --> 00:16:40.155
  • Don't complain about the desert.
  • 00:16:40.222 --> 00:16:40.989
  • Desert. you can flourish in the
  • 00:16:41.056 --> 00:16:42.257
  • You can flourish in the desert.
  • 00:16:42.324 --> 00:16:43.192
  • Desert. you can succeed in a down
  • 00:16:43.258 --> 00:16:45.127
  • You can succeed in a down year.
  • 00:16:45.194 --> 00:16:45.828
  • Year. the most high god is on your
  • 00:16:45.894 --> 00:16:47.896
  • The most high god is on your side.
  • 00:16:47.963 --> 00:16:48.697
  • Side. he makes rivers in the
  • 00:16:48.764 --> 00:16:49.932
  • He makes rivers in the desert.
  • 00:16:49.998 --> 00:16:50.699
  • Desert. he turns dry land into green
  • 00:16:50.766 --> 00:16:52.935
  • He turns dry land into green pastures.
  • 00:16:53.001 --> 00:16:54.603
  • Pastures. jeremiah said, "when your
  • 00:16:54.670 --> 00:16:56.438
  • Jeremiah said, "when your hope is in the lord, you
  • 00:16:56.505 --> 00:16:58.507
  • Hope is in the lord, you will be like a tree not
  • 00:16:58.574 --> 00:17:00.476
  • Will be like a tree not bothered by the heat or
  • 00:17:00.542 --> 00:17:02.277
  • Bothered by the heat or worried by long months of
  • 00:17:02.344 --> 00:17:03.979
  • Worried by long months of drought.
  • 00:17:04.046 --> 00:17:04.780
  • Drought. your leaves will stay green
  • 00:17:04.847 --> 00:17:06.882
  • Your leaves will stay green and you will go on producing
  • 00:17:06.949 --> 00:17:08.784
  • And you will go on producing luscious fruit."
  • 00:17:08.851 --> 00:17:10.419
  • Luscious fruit." because your hope is in the
  • 00:17:10.486 --> 00:17:11.854
  • Because your hope is in the lord, you're not going to be
  • 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.288
  • Lord, you're not going to be bothered by the drought.
  • 00:17:13.355 --> 00:17:15.057
  • Bothered by the drought. while others are drying up,
  • 00:17:15.124 --> 00:17:16.692
  • While others are drying up, you're going to flourish.
  • 00:17:16.758 --> 00:17:18.060
  • You're going to flourish. when they're shrinking back,
  • 00:17:18.127 --> 00:17:19.328
  • When they're shrinking back, you're going to move
  • 00:17:19.394 --> 00:17:19.962
  • You're going to move forward.
  • 00:17:20.028 --> 00:17:20.662
  • Forward. when they're going under,
  • 00:17:20.729 --> 00:17:21.563
  • When they're going under, you're going to go over.
  • 00:17:21.630 --> 00:17:22.898
  • You're going to go over. why?
  • 00:17:22.965 --> 00:17:23.732
  • Why? your hope is in the lord.
  • 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.034
  • Your hope is in the lord. that desert can't stop you,
  • 00:17:26.101 --> 00:17:28.504
  • That desert can't stop you, the sickness, the trouble,
  • 00:17:28.570 --> 00:17:30.005
  • The sickness, the trouble, the anxiety, it cannot stop
  • 00:17:30.072 --> 00:17:32.207
  • The anxiety, it cannot stop you.
  • 00:17:32.274 --> 00:17:32.875
  • You. you may be in a barren
  • 00:17:32.941 --> 00:17:34.476
  • You may be in a barren place, but god knows how to
  • 00:17:34.543 --> 00:17:36.311
  • Place, but god knows how to create grass in that desert.
  • 00:17:36.378 --> 00:17:38.847
  • Create grass in that desert. he's going to open doors you
  • 00:17:38.914 --> 00:17:40.349
  • He's going to open doors you couldn't open, cause the
  • 00:17:40.415 --> 00:17:42.251
  • Couldn't open, cause the right people to find you.
  • 00:17:42.317 --> 00:17:44.987
  • Right people to find you. he said, your leaves are
  • 00:17:45.053 --> 00:17:46.989
  • He said, your leaves are going to stay green.
  • 00:17:47.055 --> 00:17:48.757
  • Going to stay green. you're going to keep
  • 00:17:48.824 --> 00:17:49.758
  • You're going to keep producing fruit.
  • 00:17:49.825 --> 00:17:51.260
  • Producing fruit. not up one year and down
  • 00:17:51.326 --> 00:17:53.195
  • Not up one year and down two.
  • 00:17:53.262 --> 00:17:53.962
  • Two. you're going to be
  • 00:17:54.029 --> 00:17:54.696
  • You're going to be consistent.
  • 00:17:54.763 --> 00:17:55.697
  • Consistent. you're going to see the
  • 00:17:55.764 --> 00:17:56.431
  • You're going to see the faithfulness of god.
  • 00:17:56.498 --> 00:17:58.467
  • Faithfulness of god. he's not limited by the
  • 00:17:58.534 --> 00:17:59.968
  • He's not limited by the economy, by your job, by the
  • 00:18:00.035 --> 00:18:02.371
  • Economy, by your job, by the stock market.
  • 00:18:02.437 --> 00:18:03.172
  • Stock market. he owns it all.
  • 00:18:03.238 --> 00:18:04.673
  • He owns it all. keep your hope in him and
  • 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:06.375
  • Keep your hope in him and you're not going to just
  • 00:18:06.441 --> 00:18:07.442
  • You're not going to just make it, just get by, you're
  • 00:18:07.509 --> 00:18:09.745
  • Make it, just get by, you're going to keep producing
  • 00:18:09.811 --> 00:18:10.879
  • Going to keep producing luscious fruit.
  • 00:18:10.946 --> 00:18:12.214
  • Luscious fruit. not shriveled up, mediocre.
  • 00:18:12.281 --> 00:18:14.550
  • Not shriveled up, mediocre. you're going to see
  • 00:18:14.616 --> 00:18:15.217
  • You're going to see abundance, overflow, pressed
  • 00:18:15.284 --> 00:18:17.686
  • Abundance, overflow, pressed down, shaken together,
  • 00:18:17.753 --> 00:18:19.154
  • Down, shaken together, running over.
  • 00:18:19.221 --> 00:18:20.689
  • Running over. not after the drought, but
  • 00:18:20.756 --> 00:18:22.624
  • Not after the drought, but in the drought.
  • 00:18:22.691 --> 00:18:24.026
  • In the drought. in the pandemic, you're
  • 00:18:24.092 --> 00:18:25.227
  • In the pandemic, you're going to see god show out in
  • 00:18:25.294 --> 00:18:26.962
  • Going to see god show out in your life.
  • 00:18:27.029 --> 00:18:27.896
  • Your life. that's what it means to have
  • 00:18:27.963 --> 00:18:29.431
  • That's what it means to have grass in the desert.
  • 00:18:29.498 --> 00:18:31.333
  • Grass in the desert. you can't explain it, it
  • 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.868
  • You can't explain it, it doesn't make sense.
  • 00:18:32.935 --> 00:18:34.102
  • Doesn't make sense. it's just the goodness of
  • 00:18:34.169 --> 00:18:35.470
  • It's just the goodness of god.
  • 00:18:35.537 --> 00:18:36.872
  • God. i saw this lady recently.
  • 00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:38.707
  • I saw this lady recently. she told how raising these
  • 00:18:38.774 --> 00:18:40.342
  • She told how raising these children has been one of the
  • 00:18:40.409 --> 00:18:42.277
  • Children has been one of the most rewarding, fulfilling
  • 00:18:42.344 --> 00:18:44.146
  • Most rewarding, fulfilling things she's ever done.
  • 00:18:44.213 --> 00:18:46.215
  • Things she's ever done. she said specifically, "it's
  • 00:18:46.281 --> 00:18:47.950
  • She said specifically, "it's been so much easier than i
  • 00:18:48.016 --> 00:18:49.384
  • Been so much easier than i thought.
  • 00:18:49.451 --> 00:18:50.252
  • Thought. i never dreamed i would have
  • 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.453
  • I never dreamed i would have this much energy, this much
  • 00:18:51.520 --> 00:18:53.088
  • This much energy, this much strength, be able to get so
  • 00:18:53.155 --> 00:18:54.923
  • Strength, be able to get so much done."
  • 00:18:54.990 --> 00:18:56.124
  • Much done." sometimes we think when we
  • 00:18:56.191 --> 00:18:57.659
  • Sometimes we think when we get out of the desert, out
  • 00:18:57.726 --> 00:18:59.361
  • Get out of the desert, out of the barren place, then
  • 00:18:59.428 --> 00:19:00.762
  • Of the barren place, then we'll excel, then we'll
  • 00:19:00.829 --> 00:19:02.197
  • We'll excel, then we'll pursue our dreams, but god
  • 00:19:02.264 --> 00:19:04.366
  • Pursue our dreams, but god is going to cause you to
  • 00:19:04.433 --> 00:19:05.400
  • Is going to cause you to flourish in the desert.
  • 00:19:05.467 --> 00:19:07.336
  • Flourish in the desert. he's going to make those
  • 00:19:07.402 --> 00:19:08.103
  • He's going to make those hard places easier than you
  • 00:19:08.170 --> 00:19:10.105
  • Hard places easier than you think.
  • 00:19:10.172 --> 00:19:11.273
  • Think. you may have difficult
  • 00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:12.341
  • You may have difficult things coming against you
  • 00:19:12.407 --> 00:19:13.375
  • Things coming against you now, in your health, your
  • 00:19:13.442 --> 00:19:15.310
  • Now, in your health, your finances, your family.
  • 00:19:15.377 --> 00:19:17.179
  • Finances, your family. it seems like it's more than
  • 00:19:17.246 --> 00:19:18.447
  • It seems like it's more than you can handle.
  • 00:19:18.513 --> 00:19:19.681
  • You can handle. like this woman, it's going
  • 00:19:19.748 --> 00:19:21.316
  • Like this woman, it's going to be easier than it looks.
  • 00:19:21.383 --> 00:19:23.418
  • To be easier than it looks. things you thought you would
  • 00:19:23.485 --> 00:19:24.519
  • Things you thought you would struggle with, are not going
  • 00:19:24.586 --> 00:19:25.954
  • Struggle with, are not going to be a struggle.
  • 00:19:26.021 --> 00:19:27.289
  • To be a struggle. there's going to be an
  • 00:19:27.356 --> 00:19:28.190
  • There's going to be an anointing of ease.
  • 00:19:28.257 --> 00:19:29.324
  • Anointing of ease. an ease to raise those
  • 00:19:29.391 --> 00:19:30.192
  • An ease to raise those children, an ease to
  • 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.093
  • Children, an ease to overcome that illness, an
  • 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:32.794
  • Overcome that illness, an ease to build the business,
  • 00:19:32.861 --> 00:19:34.796
  • Ease to build the business, an ease to move forward
  • 00:19:34.863 --> 00:19:37.466
  • An ease to move forward after the loss.
  • 00:19:37.532 --> 00:19:40.068
  • After the loss. right now, god is creating
  • 00:19:40.135 --> 00:19:41.970
  • Right now, god is creating grass in your desert place.
  • 00:19:42.037 --> 00:19:44.306
  • Grass in your desert place. the forces that have stopped
  • 00:19:44.373 --> 00:19:45.741
  • The forces that have stopped you in the past will stop
  • 00:19:45.807 --> 00:19:47.342
  • You in the past will stop you no more.
  • 00:19:47.409 --> 00:19:48.176
  • You no more. god is releasing you into
  • 00:19:48.243 --> 00:19:49.911
  • God is releasing you into favor, healing, freedom, and
  • 00:19:49.978 --> 00:19:52.447
  • Favor, healing, freedom, and abundance.
  • 00:19:52.514 --> 00:19:53.382
  • Abundance. you are strong, you are
  • 00:19:53.448 --> 00:19:55.050
  • You are strong, you are anointed, equipped and
  • 00:19:55.117 --> 00:19:57.152
  • Anointed, equipped and empowered.
  • 00:19:57.219 --> 00:19:58.153
  • Empowered. you will flourish in the
  • 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.521
  • You will flourish in the famine.
  • 00:19:59.588 --> 00:20:00.322
  • Famine. you will prosper in the
  • 00:20:00.389 --> 00:20:01.556
  • You will prosper in the pandemic.
  • 00:20:01.623 --> 00:20:02.491
  • Pandemic. you will blossom in the
  • 00:20:02.557 --> 00:20:03.992
  • You will blossom in the desert places.
  • 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:05.827
  • Desert places. this is what happened to a
  • 00:20:05.894 --> 00:20:07.029
  • This is what happened to a young lady in the scripture
  • 00:20:07.095 --> 00:20:08.397
  • Young lady in the scripture named ruth.
  • 00:20:08.463 --> 00:20:09.665
  • Named ruth. she was going along fine,
  • 00:20:09.731 --> 00:20:11.533
  • She was going along fine, life was good, then her
  • 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:13.235
  • Life was good, then her husband unexpectedly died.
  • 00:20:13.302 --> 00:20:16.138
  • Husband unexpectedly died. you can imagine how
  • 00:20:16.204 --> 00:20:17.306
  • You can imagine how devastated she was.
  • 00:20:17.372 --> 00:20:19.374
  • Devastated she was. her mother-in-law, naomi,
  • 00:20:19.441 --> 00:20:21.176
  • Her mother-in-law, naomi, was moving back to her
  • 00:20:21.243 --> 00:20:22.210
  • Was moving back to her hometown of bethlehem.
  • 00:20:22.277 --> 00:20:23.945
  • Hometown of bethlehem. ruth decided to go with her,
  • 00:20:24.012 --> 00:20:25.614
  • Ruth decided to go with her, so she could help take care
  • 00:20:25.681 --> 00:20:26.882
  • So she could help take care of her.
  • 00:20:26.948 --> 00:20:27.749
  • Of her. she would go out into the
  • 00:20:27.816 --> 00:20:28.884
  • She would go out into the fields every morning to pick
  • 00:20:28.950 --> 00:20:31.053
  • Fields every morning to pick up the leftover wheat that
  • 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.754
  • Up the leftover wheat that the workers missed.
  • 00:20:32.821 --> 00:20:34.156
  • The workers missed. that's how she and naomi
  • 00:20:34.222 --> 00:20:35.490
  • That's how she and naomi survived.
  • 00:20:35.557 --> 00:20:36.825
  • Survived. ruth was in as desert place,
  • 00:20:36.892 --> 00:20:38.860
  • Ruth was in as desert place, a young widow, dreams
  • 00:20:38.927 --> 00:20:40.595
  • A young widow, dreams shattered, now living in
  • 00:20:40.662 --> 00:20:42.264
  • Shattered, now living in lack and poverty.
  • 00:20:42.331 --> 00:20:43.498
  • Lack and poverty. it didn't look like she had
  • 00:20:43.565 --> 00:20:44.933
  • It didn't look like she had much of a future.
  • 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.435
  • Much of a future. she could have been
  • 00:20:46.501 --> 00:20:47.135
  • She could have been discouraged, bitter, "god
  • 00:20:47.202 --> 00:20:48.870
  • Discouraged, bitter, "god why did this happen?"
  • 00:20:48.937 --> 00:20:50.706
  • Why did this happen?" but god won't let you get in
  • 00:20:50.772 --> 00:20:52.207
  • But god won't let you get in a desert where he can't
  • 00:20:52.274 --> 00:20:53.809
  • A desert where he can't create green grass.
  • 00:20:53.875 --> 00:20:55.811
  • Create green grass. one day the owner of the
  • 00:20:55.877 --> 00:20:57.079
  • One day the owner of the field noticed ruth.
  • 00:20:57.145 --> 00:20:58.847
  • Field noticed ruth. he told his workers to leave
  • 00:20:58.914 --> 00:21:00.615
  • He told his workers to leave handfuls of wheat on purpose
  • 00:21:00.682 --> 00:21:03.118
  • Handfuls of wheat on purpose for ruth.
  • 00:21:03.185 --> 00:21:04.286
  • For ruth. now she had more than she
  • 00:21:04.353 --> 00:21:05.554
  • Now she had more than she needed, she gathered it in
  • 00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:07.389
  • Needed, she gathered it in in a fraction of the time.
  • 00:21:07.456 --> 00:21:09.391
  • In a fraction of the time. with that one good break her
  • 00:21:09.458 --> 00:21:11.193
  • With that one good break her life become so much easier.
  • 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:13.929
  • Life become so much easier. when you're in a desert
  • 00:21:13.995 --> 00:21:15.063
  • When you're in a desert place, you don't know who
  • 00:21:15.130 --> 00:21:16.932
  • Place, you don't know who god is speaking to about
  • 00:21:16.998 --> 00:21:19.067
  • God is speaking to about being good to you.
  • 00:21:19.134 --> 00:21:20.669
  • Being good to you. god didn't speak to ruth.
  • 00:21:20.736 --> 00:21:22.537
  • God didn't speak to ruth. he didn't say, "i'm going to
  • 00:21:22.604 --> 00:21:23.305
  • He didn't say, "i'm going to tell that owner to help
  • 00:21:23.372 --> 00:21:24.506
  • Tell that owner to help you."
  • 00:21:24.573 --> 00:21:25.173
  • You." god is working behind the
  • 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.875
  • God is working behind the scenes in your life,
  • 00:21:26.942 --> 00:21:28.810
  • Scenes in your life, speaking to the people you
  • 00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:30.278
  • Speaking to the people you need to flourish in the
  • 00:21:30.345 --> 00:21:32.114
  • Need to flourish in the desert, lining up the breaks
  • 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:34.349
  • Desert, lining up the breaks you need to make your life
  • 00:21:34.416 --> 00:21:36.084
  • You need to make your life easier.
  • 00:21:36.151 --> 00:21:37.085
  • Easier. he knows how to make a green
  • 00:21:37.152 --> 00:21:38.920
  • He knows how to make a green pasture in the middle of a
  • 00:21:38.987 --> 00:21:40.589
  • Pasture in the middle of a setback, in the middle of a
  • 00:21:40.655 --> 00:21:42.357
  • Setback, in the middle of a loss.
  • 00:21:42.424 --> 00:21:43.759
  • Loss. i'm sure ruth was so happy,
  • 00:21:43.825 --> 00:21:45.827
  • I'm sure ruth was so happy, so grateful, god had been
  • 00:21:45.894 --> 00:21:47.496
  • So grateful, god had been good to her.
  • 00:21:47.562 --> 00:21:48.897
  • Good to her. but god didn't stop there.
  • 00:21:48.964 --> 00:21:50.766
  • But god didn't stop there. he created the grass, but he
  • 00:21:50.832 --> 00:21:52.667
  • He created the grass, but he didn't leave her in the
  • 00:21:52.734 --> 00:21:53.735
  • Didn't leave her in the desert.
  • 00:21:53.802 --> 00:21:54.770
  • Desert. the owner of the field, boaz
  • 00:21:54.836 --> 00:21:57.172
  • The owner of the field, boaz fell in love with ruth.
  • 00:21:57.239 --> 00:21:58.774
  • Fell in love with ruth. they ended up getting
  • 00:21:58.840 --> 00:21:59.674
  • They ended up getting married.
  • 00:21:59.741 --> 00:22:00.509
  • Married. now instead of working in
  • 00:22:00.575 --> 00:22:01.843
  • Now instead of working in the field, ruth owned the
  • 00:22:01.910 --> 00:22:03.478
  • The field, ruth owned the field.
  • 00:22:03.545 --> 00:22:04.713
  • Field. in those desert places you
  • 00:22:04.780 --> 00:22:06.681
  • In those desert places you don't know what god is up
  • 00:22:06.748 --> 00:22:08.083
  • Don't know what god is up to.
  • 00:22:08.150 --> 00:22:08.950
  • To. thoughts will tell you,
  • 00:22:09.017 --> 00:22:09.918
  • Thoughts will tell you, "you've seen your best days,
  • 00:22:09.985 --> 00:22:11.753
  • "you've seen your best days, you've been through too
  • 00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:12.487
  • You've been through too much, you'll never get well,
  • 00:22:12.554 --> 00:22:14.856
  • Much, you'll never get well, never meet the right person,
  • 00:22:14.923 --> 00:22:16.425
  • Never meet the right person, never beat that addiction."
  • 00:22:16.491 --> 00:22:18.393
  • Never beat that addiction." don't believe those lies.
  • 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:20.095
  • Don't believe those lies. god has already lined up
  • 00:22:20.162 --> 00:22:21.730
  • God has already lined up your boaz's, the right
  • 00:22:21.797 --> 00:22:23.498
  • Your boaz's, the right people, he's already
  • 00:22:23.565 --> 00:22:24.900
  • People, he's already arranged the good breaks,
  • 00:22:24.966 --> 00:22:26.568
  • Arranged the good breaks, the promotion, the healing,
  • 00:22:26.635 --> 00:22:28.437
  • The promotion, the healing, the favor.
  • 00:22:28.503 --> 00:22:29.805
  • The favor. he's not going to just make
  • 00:22:29.871 --> 00:22:31.239
  • He's not going to just make the hard places easier but
  • 00:22:31.306 --> 00:22:33.442
  • The hard places easier but he's going to cause you to
  • 00:22:33.508 --> 00:22:34.509
  • He's going to cause you to flourish in the desert, to
  • 00:22:34.576 --> 00:22:36.478
  • Flourish in the desert, to prosper despite what you've
  • 00:22:36.545 --> 00:22:38.413
  • Prosper despite what you've been through.
  • 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.114
  • Been through. the reason you have strength
  • 00:22:39.181 --> 00:22:41.383
  • The reason you have strength to withstand, the power to
  • 00:22:41.450 --> 00:22:43.351
  • To withstand, the power to outlast, the determination
  • 00:22:43.418 --> 00:22:45.554
  • Outlast, the determination to try again is because god
  • 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:47.856
  • To try again is because god has something awesome in
  • 00:22:47.923 --> 00:22:49.591
  • Has something awesome in your future.
  • 00:22:49.658 --> 00:22:50.826
  • Your future. if you were done, he
  • 00:22:50.892 --> 00:22:52.260
  • If you were done, he wouldn't have created grass
  • 00:22:52.327 --> 00:22:54.162
  • Wouldn't have created grass in the desert.
  • 00:22:54.229 --> 00:22:55.330
  • In the desert. if he wasn't about to
  • 00:22:55.397 --> 00:22:56.398
  • If he wasn't about to multiply what you have, do
  • 00:22:56.465 --> 00:22:58.800
  • Multiply what you have, do something that you've never
  • 00:22:58.867 --> 00:22:59.935
  • Something that you've never seen, he wouldn't have made
  • 00:23:00.001 --> 00:23:01.436
  • Seen, he wouldn't have made the green pastures for you
  • 00:23:01.503 --> 00:23:03.338
  • The green pastures for you to lie down in.
  • 00:23:03.405 --> 00:23:05.073
  • To lie down in. the fact that you're hearing
  • 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:06.408
  • The fact that you're hearing this tells me that your
  • 00:23:06.475 --> 00:23:07.809
  • This tells me that your future is much brighter than
  • 00:23:07.876 --> 00:23:10.145
  • Future is much brighter than your past.
  • 00:23:10.212 --> 00:23:11.480
  • Your past. now quit telling yourself,
  • 00:23:11.546 --> 00:23:13.181
  • Now quit telling yourself, "this loss is too much for
  • 00:23:13.248 --> 00:23:14.649
  • "this loss is too much for me, i'll never get past this
  • 00:23:14.716 --> 00:23:16.551
  • Me, i'll never get past this breakup, this sickness, this
  • 00:23:16.618 --> 00:23:18.420
  • Breakup, this sickness, this trouble at work."
  • 00:23:18.487 --> 00:23:19.821
  • Trouble at work." it's all a part of your
  • 00:23:19.888 --> 00:23:21.323
  • It's all a part of your destiny.
  • 00:23:21.389 --> 00:23:22.491
  • Destiny. without the desert places,
  • 00:23:22.557 --> 00:23:24.559
  • Without the desert places, you can't make it to your
  • 00:23:24.626 --> 00:23:25.861
  • You can't make it to your promised land.
  • 00:23:25.927 --> 00:23:27.462
  • Promised land. the question is are you
  • 00:23:27.529 --> 00:23:28.663
  • The question is are you going to take hold of his
  • 00:23:28.730 --> 00:23:29.331
  • Going to take hold of his strength?
  • 00:23:29.397 --> 00:23:29.998
  • Strength? are you going to do like
  • 00:23:30.065 --> 00:23:30.699
  • Are you going to do like joseph, like ruth and keep
  • 00:23:30.765 --> 00:23:32.100
  • Joseph, like ruth and keep moving forward, being your
  • 00:23:32.167 --> 00:23:36.271
  • Moving forward, being your best, knowing that god is in
  • 00:23:36.338 --> 00:23:38.573
  • Best, knowing that god is in control, or are you going to
  • 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:41.142
  • Control, or are you going to settle for mediocrity,
  • 00:23:41.209 --> 00:23:42.777
  • Settle for mediocrity, overwhelmed, discouraged?
  • 00:23:42.844 --> 00:23:45.413
  • Overwhelmed, discouraged? what you're up against may
  • 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.915
  • What you're up against may be difficult but this is a
  • 00:23:46.982 --> 00:23:48.517
  • Be difficult but this is a new day.
  • 00:23:48.583 --> 00:23:49.751
  • New day. god is about to lighten the
  • 00:23:49.818 --> 00:23:51.219
  • God is about to lighten the load.
  • 00:23:51.286 --> 00:23:52.020
  • Load. things are about to change
  • 00:23:52.087 --> 00:23:53.288
  • Things are about to change in your favor.
  • 00:23:53.355 --> 00:23:54.589
  • In your favor. you're going to feel a
  • 00:23:54.656 --> 00:23:55.290
  • You're going to feel a strength that you've never
  • 00:23:55.357 --> 00:23:56.424
  • Strength that you've never felt, a grace to do what you
  • 00:23:56.491 --> 00:23:58.493
  • Felt, a grace to do what you couldn't do, an anointing of
  • 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:00.595
  • Couldn't do, an anointing of ease.
  • 00:24:00.662 --> 00:24:01.329
  • Ease. favor is coming, healing is
  • 00:24:01.396 --> 00:24:02.998
  • Favor is coming, healing is coming, breakthroughs,
  • 00:24:03.064 --> 00:24:04.432
  • Coming, breakthroughs, freedom, promotion, the
  • 00:24:04.499 --> 00:24:06.468
  • Freedom, promotion, the fullness of your destiny, in
  • 00:24:06.535 --> 00:24:08.670
  • Fullness of your destiny, in jesus' name.
  • 00:24:08.737 --> 00:24:10.005
  • Your destiny is too great,
  • 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:12.741
  • Your destiny is too great, your calling too important,
  • 00:24:12.807 --> 00:24:14.843
  • Your calling too important, and your future too bright
  • 00:24:14.910 --> 00:24:16.611
  • And your future too bright to live in fear.
  • 00:24:16.678 --> 00:24:18.313
  • To live in fear. fear may knock,
  • 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.614
  • Fear may knock, but you don't have
  • 00:24:19.681 --> 00:24:20.549
  • But you don't have to let it in.
  • 00:24:20.615 --> 00:24:21.750
  • To let it in. it's time to let faith answer.
  • 00:24:21.850 --> 00:24:24.819
  • It's time to let faith answer. fear is a powerful force,
  • 00:24:24.886 --> 00:24:26.421
  • Fear is a powerful force, but so is faith.
  • 00:24:26.488 --> 00:24:27.756
  • But so is faith. what we focus on shapes
  • 00:24:27.822 --> 00:24:29.257
  • What we focus on shapes our reality.
  • 00:24:29.324 --> 00:24:30.392
  • In my new book, no more fear:
  • 00:24:30.492 --> 00:24:32.460
  • In my new book, no more fear: you have the mind of christ,
  • 00:24:32.527 --> 00:24:34.229
  • You have the mind of christ, i'll show you how
  • 00:24:34.296 --> 00:24:34.896
  • I'll show you how to silence fear and live boldly
  • 00:24:34.963 --> 00:24:37.098
  • To silence fear and live boldly in faith and confidence.
  • 00:24:37.165 --> 00:24:39.067
  • In faith and confidence. just like david said, "though
  • 00:24:39.134 --> 00:24:40.802
  • Just like david said, "though i walk through the valley,
  • 00:24:40.869 --> 00:24:42.103
  • I walk through the valley, i will not fear,"
  • 00:24:42.170 --> 00:24:43.672
  • I will not fear," you too can walk through
  • 00:24:43.738 --> 00:24:44.940
  • You too can walk through life's challenges
  • 00:24:45.006 --> 00:24:46.074
  • Life's challenges without being paralyzed
  • 00:24:46.141 --> 00:24:47.342
  • Without being paralyzed by fear.
  • 00:24:47.409 --> 00:24:48.443
  • By fear. i can't promise you
  • 00:24:48.510 --> 00:24:49.444
  • I can't promise you you'll never feel fear,
  • 00:24:49.511 --> 00:24:51.079
  • You'll never feel fear, but i can teach you
  • 00:24:51.146 --> 00:24:52.080
  • But i can teach you how to rise above it
  • 00:24:52.147 --> 00:24:53.481
  • How to rise above it by dwelling on what god says,
  • 00:24:53.548 --> 00:24:55.584
  • By dwelling on what god says, learning to replace
  • 00:24:55.650 --> 00:24:56.718
  • Learning to replace the anxious thoughts
  • 00:24:56.785 --> 00:24:57.953
  • The anxious thoughts with faith-filled ones.
  • 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.688
  • With faith-filled ones. you can live
  • 00:24:59.754 --> 00:25:00.488
  • You can live from a place of peace,
  • 00:25:00.555 --> 00:25:01.856
  • From a place of peace, power, and purpose.
  • 00:25:01.923 --> 00:25:03.892
  • Power, and purpose. as our way of saying thank you
  • 00:25:03.992 --> 00:25:05.694
  • As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount
  • 00:25:05.760 --> 00:25:07.195
  • For your gift of any amount this month,
  • 00:25:07.262 --> 00:25:07.963
  • This month, we would like to send you
  • 00:25:08.029 --> 00:25:09.197
  • We would like to send you a copy of joel's book,
  • 00:25:09.264 --> 00:25:10.765
  • A copy of joel's book, no more fear:
  • 00:25:10.832 --> 00:25:12.100
  • No more fear: you have the mind of christ.
  • 00:25:12.167 --> 00:25:14.269
  • You have the mind of christ. the bible proclaims,
  • 00:25:14.336 --> 00:25:15.637
  • The bible proclaims, "the lord is my light
  • 00:25:15.704 --> 00:25:17.072
  • "the lord is my light and my salvation;
  • 00:25:17.138 --> 00:25:18.506
  • And my salvation; whom shall i fear?"
  • 00:25:18.573 --> 00:25:20.175
  • Whom shall i fear?" this powerful
  • 00:25:20.241 --> 00:25:21.076
  • This powerful and practical book
  • 00:25:21.142 --> 00:25:22.243
  • And practical book will help you silence doubt,
  • 00:25:22.310 --> 00:25:24.079
  • Will help you silence doubt, overcome anxiety,
  • 00:25:24.145 --> 00:25:25.614
  • Overcome anxiety, and step boldly into god's
  • 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:27.482
  • And step boldly into god's overcoming power.
  • 00:25:27.549 --> 00:25:29.050
  • Overcoming power. when fear whispers,
  • 00:25:29.117 --> 00:25:30.352
  • When fear whispers, "you can't,"
  • 00:25:30.418 --> 00:25:31.286
  • "you can't," this devotional will stir
  • 00:25:31.353 --> 00:25:32.787
  • This devotional will stir your faith
  • 00:25:32.854 --> 00:25:33.421
  • Your faith to declare, "god will."
  • 00:25:33.488 --> 00:25:35.590
  • To declare, "god will." each page
  • 00:25:35.657 --> 00:25:36.424
  • Each page reminds you
  • 00:25:36.491 --> 00:25:37.158
  • Reminds you that you weren't
  • 00:25:37.225 --> 00:25:37.926
  • That you weren't created to live in fear
  • 00:25:37.993 --> 00:25:39.527
  • Created to live in fear or despair.
  • 00:25:39.594 --> 00:25:40.729
  • Or despair. you were created to live
  • 00:25:40.795 --> 00:25:42.330
  • You were created to live with passion,
  • 00:25:42.397 --> 00:25:43.398
  • With passion, purpose, and confidence
  • 00:25:43.465 --> 00:25:45.100
  • Purpose, and confidence in god's plans for your life.
  • 00:25:45.166 --> 00:25:47.469
  • In god's plans for your life. let god's word
  • 00:25:47.535 --> 00:25:48.503
  • Let god's word equip you to rise above fear
  • 00:25:48.570 --> 00:25:50.805
  • Equip you to rise above fear and walk in victory.
  • 00:25:50.872 --> 00:25:53.441
  • And walk in victory. fear doesn't have
  • 00:25:53.508 --> 00:25:54.275
  • Fear doesn't have the final say, god does.
  • 00:25:54.342 --> 00:25:56.277
  • The final say, god does. be bold,
  • 00:25:56.344 --> 00:25:57.012
  • Be bold, be strong, and step up to who
  • 00:25:57.078 --> 00:25:59.080
  • Be strong, and step up to who he made you to be.
  • 00:25:59.147 --> 00:26:00.749
  • He made you to be. victoria and i want you to know
  • 00:26:00.815 --> 00:26:02.017
  • Victoria and i want you to know we're praying for
  • 00:26:02.083 --> 00:26:02.784
  • We're praying for you and your family,
  • 00:26:02.851 --> 00:26:04.252
  • You and your family, believing for god's very best.
  • 00:26:04.352 --> 00:26:06.421
  • Believing for god's very best. thank you so much
  • 00:26:06.488 --> 00:26:07.322
  • Thank you so much for your prayer and support.
  • 00:26:07.389 --> 00:26:09.090
  • For your prayer and support. your generosity
  • 00:26:09.157 --> 00:26:10.158
  • Your generosity is helping people
  • 00:26:10.225 --> 00:26:11.059
  • Is helping people around the world.
  • 00:26:11.126 --> 00:26:12.661
  • Around the world. as we finish this year,
  • 00:26:12.727 --> 00:26:14.062
  • As we finish this year, i hope you'll consider
  • 00:26:14.129 --> 00:26:15.130
  • I hope you'll consider making a special year-end
  • 00:26:15.196 --> 00:26:16.698
  • Making a special year-end gift; helps
  • 00:26:16.765 --> 00:26:17.632
  • Gift; helps to keep the ministries strong.
  • 00:26:17.732 --> 00:26:19.734
  • To keep the ministries strong. i always want to thank our
  • 00:26:19.801 --> 00:26:20.902
  • I always want to thank our champion of hope partners
  • 00:26:20.969 --> 00:26:22.203
  • Champion of hope partners for your monthly gifts.
  • 00:26:22.270 --> 00:26:23.838
  • For your monthly gifts. if you're not a partner,
  • 00:26:23.905 --> 00:26:24.939
  • If you're not a partner, i hope you'll
  • 00:26:25.006 --> 00:26:25.473
  • I hope you'll consider becoming one.
  • 00:26:25.540 --> 00:26:27.208
  • Consider becoming one. and until we see you next time,
  • 00:26:27.275 --> 00:26:28.643
  • And until we see you next time, may the lord bless you
  • 00:26:28.710 --> 00:26:29.944
  • May the lord bless you and keep you.
  • 00:26:30.011 --> 00:26:31.646
  • And keep you. be sure to request
  • 00:26:31.713 --> 00:26:32.781
  • Be sure to request your copy of joel's new book,
  • 00:26:32.847 --> 00:26:34.749
  • Your copy of joel's new book, no more fear:
  • 00:26:34.816 --> 00:26:35.984
  • No more fear: you have the mind of christ.
  • 00:26:36.051 --> 00:26:37.919
  • You have the mind of christ. visit joelosteen.com or
  • 00:26:37.986 --> 00:26:40.088
  • Visit joelosteen.com or call 888-567-joel.
  • 00:26:40.155 --> 00:26:43.258
  • Call 888-567-joel. and for a special year-end gift
  • 00:26:43.324 --> 00:26:45.493
  • And for a special year-end gift this month,
  • 00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:46.327
  • This month, we're also offering the
  • 00:26:46.394 --> 00:26:47.696
  • We're also offering the god's word work study collection
  • 00:26:47.762 --> 00:26:50.198
  • God's word work study collection this empowering set includes
  • 00:26:50.265 --> 00:26:51.933
  • This empowering set includes the niv,
  • 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.801
  • The niv, the message
  • 00:26:52.867 --> 00:26:53.435
  • The message parallel bible, joel's
  • 00:26:53.501 --> 00:26:55.070
  • Parallel bible, joel's no more fear
  • 00:26:55.136 --> 00:26:55.904
  • No more fear devotional, the classic
  • 00:26:55.970 --> 00:26:57.505
  • Devotional, the classic how to read your bible
  • 00:26:57.572 --> 00:26:58.773
  • How to read your bible and enjoy it,
  • 00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.741
  • And enjoy it, plus a beautifully
  • 00:26:59.808 --> 00:27:00.975
  • Plus a beautifully crafted leather
  • 00:27:01.042 --> 00:27:01.843
  • Crafted leather bookmark with pen.
  • 00:27:01.910 --> 00:27:03.278
  • Bookmark with pen. you can request these inspiring
  • 00:27:03.344 --> 00:27:04.979
  • You can request these inspiring scripture discovery
  • 00:27:05.046 --> 00:27:06.047
  • Resources
  • 00:27:06.147 --> 00:27:06.815
  • By calling 888-567-joel
  • 00:27:06.915 --> 00:27:10.185
  • By calling 888-567-joel or logging on to joelosteen.com
  • 00:27:10.251 --> 00:27:12.854
  • Or logging on to joelosteen.com today.
  • 00:27:12.921 --> 00:27:13.655
  • Today. call or click anytime,
  • 00:27:13.722 --> 00:27:15.356
  • Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day.
  • 00:27:15.423 --> 00:27:17.225
  • 24 hours a day. silence fear.
  • 00:27:17.292 --> 00:27:18.526
  • Silence fear. strengthen your spirit.
  • 00:27:18.593 --> 00:27:19.994
  • Strengthen your spirit. let god's word
  • 00:27:20.061 --> 00:27:21.029
  • Let god's word equip you to rise above
  • 00:27:21.096 --> 00:27:22.731
  • Equip you to rise above fear and walk in victory.
  • 00:27:22.797 --> 00:27:25.166
  • Fear and walk in victory. request these resources today.
  • 00:27:25.266 --> 00:27:28.136