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Rick Warren

Rick Warren - You Are Called To Become (Part 2)

February 15, 2026 | 27:29

Rick Warren - You Are Called To Become (Part 2)
Pastor Rick shares biblical truth and practical tools for living the full life God desires for everyone.
#WordofGod #Calling #Earth #Purpose #Grace #Family #Respect #Humility #LoveofGod #LoveyourNeighbor #RickWarren

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Rick Warren | Rick Warren - You Are Called To Become (Part 2) | February 15, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor rick warren: life is hard.
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  • It's not easy.
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  • Why?
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  • Because this isn't heaven; this is earth.
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  • Everything on this planet's broken.
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  • Is there pleasure on earth?
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  • Of course there is.
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  • Are there happy times on earth?
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  • Of course there are.
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  • Are there moments of joy on earth?
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  • Yes.
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  • Are there times when things are going great?
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  • Yes.
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  • But as a general rule, life is hard.
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  • You're not on the easy street.
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  • Everything in life you have to struggle for, you have to
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  • Work for.
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  • It's not easy.
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  • This is intentional.
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  • And you're learning through the school of character development,
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  • The character that you're gonna carry with you into heaven.
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  • The bible says this, look here on the screen, it's not on
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  • Your outline.
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  • Romans chapter 8, "since we are his children," god's children,
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  • "we will share in his treasures," in other words, we
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  • Get the inheritance.
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  • If you're in a family, you inherit the family treasures.
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  • "for everything god gives to his son christ, is ours too.
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  • But," here's the but, "but if we are to share his glory, we must
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  • Also share his suffering."
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  • I don't like that part.
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  • Let's just cut that part out of the bible, okay?
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  • You know, we just forget that part.
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  • No, it says, "if you're gonna share in his glory, then you're
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  • Gonna share in his suffering."
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  • No guts, no glory.
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  • No pain, no gain.
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  • They said, "this is part of life, don't be surprised."
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  • And when life gets hard, you need to remember the reward.
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  • Romans 8:28 says, "in all things god works for the good of those
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  • Who love him, who have been called according to
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  • His purpose."
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  • Number five, the fifth step in the marathon to maturity is i
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  • Must gather a team to run with me.
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  • I gather a team to run with me.
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  • Now, it's your race and nobody can run your race, but people
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  • Can support you in your race.
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  • And what is helpful is that in your life at different stages of
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  • The race you're gonna need different people to run along
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  • With you.
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  • Nobody is going to run your entire life with you because
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  • Even if you married, there were years that you didn't know
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  • That person.
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  • But at different stages in life, you have people running with you
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  • Through life, helping you, encouraging you, supporting you.
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  • That's called a small group.
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  • If you don't have anybody running with you, you're not
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  • Gonna make it to the end of the race.
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  • You're gonna give up, you're gonna discourage, and you're not
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  • Gonna become the woman you were intended to be.
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  • You're not gonna become the man god created you to be.
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  • You need some other people in your life who are encouraging
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  • You, spurring you on, helping you run your race.
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  • You know, i've been to africa many, many times.
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  • There's an old parable, a proverb in africa that says, "to
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  • Run fast, run by yourself.
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  • But to run far, run with other people."
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  • Hebrews chapter 10 says this, "let us consider how we may spur
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  • One another on to love and to good deeds."
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  • Spur, that means encourage.
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  • How do we encourage each other to do the right thing?
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  • "let us not give up meeting together," it's talking about a
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  • Small group, "as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
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  • Encourage one another, as you see the day is approaching."
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  • Why do some people not make it to the finish line?
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  • Why do we get stuck?
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  • Why do we stop growing?
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  • Why do we settle for second best and less than god's plan in
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  • Our life?
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  • Why do we cop out and give up?
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  • One reason, fear.
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  • It's fear.
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  • And a lot of times we don't even realize how fearful we are, but
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  • What we think is, "i am so afraid of failing.
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  • I'm so afraid that i won't be able to measure up.
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  • I'm so afraid that i can't keep this commitment.
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  • I won't even try."
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  • And it is fear that causes you to miss god's best for
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  • Your life.
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  • But when you belong to a small group and that small group
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  • Believes in you and that small group loves you, then when you
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  • Are beloved and you belong, you can become.
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  • And they give you the courage to do things.
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  • Having a small group who loves you unconditionally gives you
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  • The courage to start the race, gives you the courage to stay in
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  • The race, gives you the courage to finish the race, and gives
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  • You the courage to get up and start over when you stumbled and
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  • Really screwed it up.
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  • They say, "you can do this.
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  • You can do it."
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  • Now, that is a safe place.
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  • When you get in a small group where people love you
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  • Unconditionally, that doesn't happen overnight.
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  • You don't--a small group doesn't become safe in three weeks or
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  • Five weeks or six weeks.
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  • It takes time.
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  • As you begin to learn to know these people, that you begin to
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  • Trust them.
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  • You know their weaknesses, they know yours.
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  • You begin to be more open.
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  • You say, "i really had a tough time today," and you begin to
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  • Have more openness with them because you're safe.
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  • Then you can grow.
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  • I'm in a very safe small group, but it didn't happen overnight.
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  • Okay, number six, this is a big one.
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  • When you're running the race of life, you need to realize "god
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  • Is cheering me at every stage.
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  • I need to realize when i'm running a race of life to become
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  • The man or the woman god wants me to be, that god is cheering
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  • Me at every stage of life."
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  • Some of you have the mistaken idea that god only smiles at you
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  • When you do things right or that god only smiles at you once
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  • You've reached the finish line.
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  • Once you've arrived at maturity, then god is gonna like you, but
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  • Until you become spiritually mature, god doesn't have any
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  • Time of day for you.
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  • You're dead wrong.
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  • Nobody shames a baby for not knowing how to read, "you dumb,
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  • Dumb baby."
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  • You don't expect a baby to be able to read.
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  • Nobody shames a 10 year old for not knowing how to drive or
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  • Balance a checkbook, "you dumb 10 year old."
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  • No, no.
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  • You know what is appropriate for that stage of growth.
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  • When my grandkids draw me a picture and they bring it to me,
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  • I say, "that's perfect."
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  • Now, i'm not saying it's a picasso.
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  • I'm saying it's perfect for that stage of their development.
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  • God smiles at you at every stage of your development.
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  • He's not waiting for you to get to a certain level of maturity
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  • Before he says, "you're okay."
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  • You're already okay in his eyes because christ died for you.
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  • Nobody shames a baby for not being mature.
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  • And you need to not be ashamed at whatever stage of spiritual
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  • Growth you are in right now.
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  • A lot of times we secretly thinking, "man, i should be
  • 00:07:31.133 --> 00:07:33.936
  • Further along than this.
  • 00:07:33.936 --> 00:07:35.404
  • Given my age, i should be a lot more mature.
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  • I shouldn't have these problems anymore.
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  • I mean, i'm this number of years old.
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  • Why am i still having this hang up?
  • 00:07:43.746 --> 00:07:45.615
  • Why am i still having this problem?
  • 00:07:45.615 --> 00:07:47.216
  • Why am i still having this difficulty?"
  • 00:07:47.216 --> 00:07:48.918
  • And we start shaming ourselves because we think god is ashamed
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  • Of us.
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  • God is not ashamed of you.
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  • There's no condemnation for those who are in christ jesus.
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  • Now, why is this important that you realize that god is cheering
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  • You at every stage of your life?
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  • Because the major reason you don't become the man you're
  • 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:08.504
  • Supposed to be is shame.
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  • It's shame.
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  • And what happens is, instead of admitting that we don't have it
  • 00:08:13.943 --> 00:08:17.580
  • All together, we spend all of our time and energy trying to
  • 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:20.883
  • Pretend that we have it all together.
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  • Philippians chapter 3 in the bible.
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  • Paul, this is the guy who wrote most of the new testament part
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  • Of the bible.
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  • Paul says this, saint paul, "i don't mean to say that i have
  • 00:08:31.327 --> 00:08:35.898
  • Already achieved these things or that i've already
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  • Reached perfection!"
  • 00:08:39.035 --> 00:08:40.369
  • Now, wait a minute.
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  • This is the guy who wrote the bible and he's going, "hey, i
  • 00:08:41.737 --> 00:08:43.773
  • Don't have it together.
  • 00:08:43.773 --> 00:08:45.308
  • I'm not saying i've already achieved all this.
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  • I'm not saying i've already done all this.
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  • I'm not saying i'm perfect."
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  • He's not.
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  • He's saying, "thank god i'm not what i used to be and i am what
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  • I am.
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  • Thank god i'm not what i'm going to be one day."
  • 00:08:56.752 --> 00:08:59.655
  • He says, "i don't--haven't already achieved these things.
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  • I haven't already gotten to perfection!
  • 00:09:01.624 --> 00:09:03.759
  • But," he says, "i keep working toward that day
  • 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:10.366
  • When i will finally be all that christ saved me for and wants me
  • 00:09:10.366 --> 00:09:16.339
  • To be."
  • 00:09:16.339 --> 00:09:17.707
  • "one day i keep--i'm going to be what god wants to be.
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  • The man god wants to be, one day i'll be that."
  • 00:09:19.442 --> 00:09:21.711
  • He says, "i'm still not there.
  • 00:09:21.711 --> 00:09:23.879
  • I'm still not all i should be, but i am focusing all my
  • 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:31.654
  • Energies on this one thing: i forget the past--you know, all
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  • Those dumb decisions that really messed me up.
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  • I'm--it's gone.
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  • My past is past.
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  • I'm gonna forget the past.
  • 00:09:41.197 --> 00:09:42.565
  • Forgetting the past, looking forward to what lies ahead, i
  • 00:09:42.565 --> 00:09:47.336
  • Strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for
  • 00:09:47.336 --> 00:09:55.211
  • Which god, through christ jesus, is calling," there's that word,
  • 00:09:55.211 --> 00:10:00.116
  • The third calling to become, "is calling us up to heaven."
  • 00:10:00.116 --> 00:10:04.920
  • So, they just keep on going.
  • 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:06.322
  • I don't have it all together, but i keep straining ahead.
  • 00:10:06.322 --> 00:10:09.659
  • Now, god is cheering you at every stage of the race.
  • 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:14.630
  • Those of you who are parents, have you ever watched your child
  • 00:10:14.630 --> 00:10:18.267
  • Run a race at school?
  • 00:10:18.267 --> 00:10:20.002
  • Yes.
  • 00:10:20.002 --> 00:10:21.671
  • At what point did you start cheering them?
  • 00:10:21.671 --> 00:10:26.542
  • When they crossed the finish line?
  • 00:10:26.542 --> 00:10:28.678
  • No, you start cheering your kids the moment they started
  • 00:10:28.678 --> 00:10:34.150
  • The race.
  • 00:10:34.150 --> 00:10:36.318
  • When the whistle was blown or the gun was shot and they'd get
  • 00:10:36.318 --> 00:10:39.221
  • Out of the starting box, you're going, "let's go!
  • 00:10:39.221 --> 00:10:41.691
  • Let's go! let's go!
  • 00:10:41.691 --> 00:10:43.459
  • You can do it! you can do it!"
  • 00:10:43.459 --> 00:10:45.094
  • You're cheering them at every stage of the race.
  • 00:10:45.094 --> 00:10:50.099
  • God is doing that with you right now.
  • 00:10:50.099 --> 00:10:52.635
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:10:52.635 --> 00:10:59.675
  • Announcer: hey, would you like to go deeper with pastor rick to
  • 00:11:01.043 --> 00:11:03.746
  • Discover god's purpose in your life?
  • 00:11:03.746 --> 00:11:06.048
  • Well, now you can with the video-based study kit called
  • 00:11:06.048 --> 00:11:09.952
  • "what on earth am i here for?"
  • 00:11:09.952 --> 00:11:11.921
  • This life-changing study is
  • 00:11:11.921 --> 00:11:13.823
  • Taught by rick and includes a
  • 00:11:13.823 --> 00:11:15.357
  • Workbook and six video sessions.
  • 00:11:15.357 --> 00:11:18.027
  • As you go through these lessons, you'll embark on a journey of
  • 00:11:18.027 --> 00:11:21.564
  • Discovery to answer life's most fundamental question, what on
  • 00:11:21.564 --> 00:11:26.202
  • Earth am i here for?
  • 00:11:26.202 --> 00:11:28.003
  • You'll learn that it's only in god that we discover our origin,
  • 00:11:28.003 --> 00:11:32.174
  • Our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and
  • 00:11:32.174 --> 00:11:36.879
  • Our destiny.
  • 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.247
  • Every other path leads to a dead end.
  • 00:11:38.247 --> 00:11:41.083
  • This resource is packed with biblically centered principles
  • 00:11:41.083 --> 00:11:44.754
  • And is perfect for personal or small group study.
  • 00:11:44.754 --> 00:11:48.424
  • So, be sure to request this
  • 00:11:48.424 --> 00:11:50.092
  • Study kit when you give a gift
  • 00:11:50.092 --> 00:11:51.694
  • To "daily hope" to help share
  • 00:11:51.694 --> 00:11:53.529
  • The hope of jesus with a
  • 00:11:53.529 --> 00:11:55.197
  • Hurting world.
  • 00:11:55.197 --> 00:11:56.532
  • We'll send it to you today as
  • 00:11:56.532 --> 00:11:58.200
  • Our way of saying thanks.
  • 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:00.202
  • Pastor rick: god is cheering you every moment.
  • 00:12:02.338 --> 00:12:04.874
  • And when you stumble, he cheers more.
  • 00:12:04.874 --> 00:12:07.276
  • "come on, i know you can do it.
  • 00:12:07.276 --> 00:12:09.512
  • I know you can do it.
  • 00:12:09.512 --> 00:12:10.880
  • I believe--i made you, i created you, i died for you, i love you.
  • 00:12:10.880 --> 00:12:15.551
  • I've got--put my spirit in your life."
  • 00:12:15.551 --> 00:12:18.454
  • And he cheers even louder.
  • 00:12:18.454 --> 00:12:20.990
  • You need to never forget that truth.
  • 00:12:20.990 --> 00:12:23.759
  • Number seven, if you're gonna make it to the finish line and
  • 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:27.763
  • Be the woman god wants you to be, be the man god wants you to
  • 00:12:27.763 --> 00:12:31.233
  • Be, i must take every step with purpose.
  • 00:12:31.233 --> 00:12:36.272
  • Take every step with purpose.
  • 00:12:36.272 --> 00:12:40.009
  • Now, i'll tell you, i didn't do this for a lot of years in my
  • 00:12:40.009 --> 00:12:43.312
  • Life, but i don't wanna waste any step anymore.
  • 00:12:43.312 --> 00:12:46.849
  • I don't wanna waste any energy anymore.
  • 00:12:46.849 --> 00:12:48.884
  • I don't wanna waste any word anymore.
  • 00:12:48.884 --> 00:12:51.020
  • I don't wanna waste any breath, any step, because i don't know
  • 00:12:51.020 --> 00:12:54.156
  • How many steps i have left, and you don't either.
  • 00:12:54.156 --> 00:13:00.429
  • You don't know if you're gonna live a week, a month, a year,
  • 00:13:00.429 --> 00:13:03.232
  • Or what.
  • 00:13:03.232 --> 00:13:04.600
  • You don't know.
  • 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.101
  • So, whatever steps you're going to take, you better do them
  • 00:13:06.101 --> 00:13:09.138
  • On purpose.
  • 00:13:09.138 --> 00:13:11.140
  • And you need to be more disciplined, and you need to be
  • 00:13:11.140 --> 00:13:14.009
  • More self-controlled, and you need to take every step and
  • 00:13:14.009 --> 00:13:18.147
  • Every moment of your life with purpose.
  • 00:13:18.147 --> 00:13:22.952
  • Now, if you're going to become the person god wants you to be,
  • 00:13:22.952 --> 00:13:26.388
  • That's the third calling in life.
  • 00:13:26.388 --> 00:13:29.658
  • I'll be honest with you, there are some things you're gonna
  • 00:13:29.658 --> 00:13:31.827
  • Have to deny yourself.
  • 00:13:31.827 --> 00:13:34.396
  • You're not gonna get to do everything that everybody else
  • 00:13:34.396 --> 00:13:37.333
  • Does, because if you want to be god's woman, god's man, you
  • 00:13:37.333 --> 00:13:43.772
  • Wanna be what you're created to be.
  • 00:13:43.772 --> 00:13:45.641
  • You just can't go out and do everything what everybody
  • 00:13:45.641 --> 00:13:47.476
  • Else does.
  • 00:13:47.476 --> 00:13:48.844
  • As i said, you can't follow their plan and your plan and
  • 00:13:48.844 --> 00:13:50.446
  • God's plan all at the same time.
  • 00:13:50.446 --> 00:13:53.215
  • Anybody who trains for the olympics gives up an enormous
  • 00:13:53.215 --> 00:13:56.685
  • Amount of things to be a winner.
  • 00:13:56.685 --> 00:13:59.188
  • They eat a certain way, they go to bed at a certain time, they
  • 00:13:59.188 --> 00:14:01.991
  • Don't do certain things, and you're gonna have to
  • 00:14:01.991 --> 00:14:04.260
  • Deny yourself.
  • 00:14:04.260 --> 00:14:05.628
  • You just can't tack on god's purpose to what you want to do
  • 00:14:05.628 --> 00:14:08.797
  • With your life.
  • 00:14:08.797 --> 00:14:10.532
  • It's plan a or plan b, and so you have to say, "i'm gonna have
  • 00:14:10.532 --> 00:14:15.404
  • To be disciplined.
  • 00:14:15.404 --> 00:14:16.739
  • I'm gonna have to take every step on purpose."
  • 00:14:16.739 --> 00:14:20.376
  • Like saint paul, you have to be purpose-driven.
  • 00:14:20.376 --> 00:14:23.812
  • Look at this next verse, 1 corinthians 9, "all athletes
  • 00:14:23.812 --> 00:14:29.318
  • Practice strict self-control."
  • 00:14:29.318 --> 00:14:30.819
  • In other words, to be a win, to get the super bowl, you gotta
  • 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:33.722
  • Discipline yourself.
  • 00:14:33.722 --> 00:14:35.624
  • "they do it," they do all this self-discipline, self-control,
  • 00:14:35.624 --> 00:14:38.727
  • "they do it to win a prize that'll fade away, but we do it
  • 00:14:38.727 --> 00:14:43.799
  • For an eternal prize," in heaven.
  • 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:46.602
  • "so i run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.
  • 00:14:46.602 --> 00:14:53.375
  • I'm not like a boxer who misses his punches."
  • 00:14:53.375 --> 00:14:56.312
  • Paul says, "i'm way beyond the years of shadow boxing.
  • 00:14:56.312 --> 00:15:00.249
  • If i'm gonna take a punch, i'm gonna make sure it lands.
  • 00:15:00.249 --> 00:15:04.053
  • I'm not just out there beating the air.
  • 00:15:04.053 --> 00:15:05.788
  • I'm not just shadow boxing.
  • 00:15:05.788 --> 00:15:07.189
  • I'm not wasting my time.
  • 00:15:07.189 --> 00:15:08.557
  • I'm not wasting my life.
  • 00:15:08.557 --> 00:15:09.892
  • If i'm gonna land a punch, i'm gonna make sure it has contact.
  • 00:15:09.892 --> 00:15:13.896
  • And if i'm gonna take a step, i'm gonna make sure it has a
  • 00:15:13.896 --> 00:15:17.499
  • Step of purpose in my life."
  • 00:15:17.499 --> 00:15:20.469
  • That's how you get to the finish line.
  • 00:15:20.469 --> 00:15:22.938
  • Hebrews--the book of hebrews gives us more advice.
  • 00:15:22.938 --> 00:15:25.207
  • Back to chapter 12.
  • 00:15:25.207 --> 00:15:26.809
  • Hebrews 12, verse 13, 12, and 13 says this because god knows
  • 00:15:26.809 --> 00:15:31.680
  • You're gonna get tired in the marathon of life.
  • 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:35.150
  • He says, "lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your
  • 00:15:35.150 --> 00:15:41.991
  • Trembling knees!"
  • 00:15:41.991 --> 00:15:43.359
  • In other words, when you feel like, "i can't go on.
  • 00:15:43.359 --> 00:15:46.028
  • I'm out of energy, i'm out of gas," he says, "you just ask god
  • 00:15:46.028 --> 00:15:49.331
  • For more strength."
  • 00:15:49.331 --> 00:15:50.833
  • Keep walking.
  • 00:15:50.833 --> 00:15:53.736
  • Keep--when you're going through hell, what do you do?
  • 00:15:53.736 --> 00:15:56.405
  • You keep going.
  • 00:15:56.405 --> 00:15:57.740
  • You don't wanna stay in hell.
  • 00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:59.108
  • When you're going through hell, you keep walking.
  • 00:15:59.108 --> 00:16:00.809
  • When you're walking through hell, you keep walking.
  • 00:16:00.809 --> 00:16:02.578
  • And he says, "keep walking on straight paths," circle
  • 00:16:02.578 --> 00:16:06.682
  • Straight paths.
  • 00:16:06.682 --> 00:16:08.050
  • We'll come back to that, "so that your lame foot," circle
  • 00:16:08.050 --> 00:16:12.221
  • That, lame foot, we'll come back to that, "may not be disabled,
  • 00:16:12.221 --> 00:16:17.126
  • But instead be healed."
  • 00:16:17.126 --> 00:16:20.396
  • In the race of life, we all run with a limp.
  • 00:16:20.396 --> 00:16:26.135
  • Every one of us have limps.
  • 00:16:26.135 --> 00:16:29.438
  • As we--i just said it earlier, you have some emotional limps.
  • 00:16:29.438 --> 00:16:32.474
  • Your emotions don't always work right.
  • 00:16:32.474 --> 00:16:35.244
  • You have some relational limps, you have some weaknesses in
  • 00:16:35.244 --> 00:16:38.080
  • Your relationships.
  • 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:40.249
  • You have some physical limbs, your body doesn't always
  • 00:16:40.249 --> 00:16:42.918
  • Work right.
  • 00:16:42.918 --> 00:16:44.653
  • You have some spiritual limbs.
  • 00:16:44.653 --> 00:16:46.055
  • You're not as strong spiritually as you could be.
  • 00:16:46.055 --> 00:16:49.491
  • You have some financial limps.
  • 00:16:49.491 --> 00:16:51.326
  • You don't have the money that you could have.
  • 00:16:51.326 --> 00:16:55.297
  • You have all kinds of limps.
  • 00:16:55.297 --> 00:16:57.366
  • Everybody walks through life with a limp.
  • 00:16:57.366 --> 00:17:00.335
  • Now, if i have a natural limp, i better stay on the straight path
  • 00:17:00.335 --> 00:17:04.807
  • Because if i get on a crooked path with a natural limp, i'm
  • 00:17:04.807 --> 00:17:08.210
  • More likely to stumble.
  • 00:17:08.210 --> 00:17:10.379
  • And if i get on a rocky path with a natural limp, i'm more
  • 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:13.649
  • Likely to fall.
  • 00:17:13.649 --> 00:17:15.384
  • If i get on a crooked path and a mountain path, then i'm gonna
  • 00:17:15.384 --> 00:17:19.354
  • Stumble because i have a natural limp, a bent to fall.
  • 00:17:19.354 --> 00:17:23.692
  • Now there's one last step, and this is my favorite one of all.
  • 00:17:23.692 --> 00:17:29.565
  • It touches me deeply.
  • 00:17:29.565 --> 00:17:32.167
  • The eighth thing that the bible teaches us about the race of
  • 00:17:32.167 --> 00:17:34.703
  • Life is this, i need to realize that what i don't finish,
  • 00:17:34.703 --> 00:17:41.276
  • God will.
  • 00:17:41.276 --> 00:17:43.479
  • What i don't finish, what i don't get finished in my life,
  • 00:17:43.479 --> 00:17:47.082
  • God will.
  • 00:17:47.082 --> 00:17:48.450
  • I was created to become like christ, but if i don't get there
  • 00:17:48.450 --> 00:17:53.355
  • And there's still some remaining parts left, god is going to
  • 00:17:53.355 --> 00:17:58.193
  • Complete the character development in my life one day.
  • 00:17:58.193 --> 00:18:04.600
  • And he's gonna finish it and bring me to perfection, and
  • 00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:08.003
  • Bring me to completion into heaven.
  • 00:18:08.003 --> 00:18:11.206
  • Philippians chapter 1 says this, this is a great promise, "i am
  • 00:18:11.206 --> 00:18:16.645
  • Sure that god, who began the good work within you, will
  • 00:18:16.645 --> 00:18:23.385
  • Continue his work," it's his work, "he will continue his work
  • 00:18:23.385 --> 00:18:27.756
  • In you until it is finally finished," circle that, finally
  • 00:18:27.756 --> 00:18:32.961
  • Finished, "on that day when christ jesus comes back again."
  • 00:18:32.961 --> 00:18:40.769
  • Friends, what a day that is gonna be.
  • 00:18:40.769 --> 00:18:45.541
  • What a day.
  • 00:18:45.541 --> 00:18:46.909
  • When you either go into heaven or he comes here, either one,
  • 00:18:46.909 --> 00:18:50.312
  • What a day that's gonna be.
  • 00:18:50.312 --> 00:18:52.514
  • Because on that day, when you see jesus christ, you don't see
  • 00:18:52.514 --> 00:18:56.952
  • Him right now face to face.
  • 00:18:56.952 --> 00:18:58.320
  • He's invisible to you, but when you see him face to face, every
  • 00:18:58.320 --> 00:19:01.690
  • Mirror neuron in your body, in your brain is gonna start going
  • 00:19:01.690 --> 00:19:05.928
  • On overload.
  • 00:19:05.928 --> 00:19:08.630
  • Mirror neuron and you're going to be transformed to become
  • 00:19:08.630 --> 00:19:12.167
  • Like him.
  • 00:19:12.167 --> 00:19:13.635
  • All your weaknesses, gone.
  • 00:19:13.635 --> 00:19:17.739
  • All your limps, gone.
  • 00:19:17.739 --> 00:19:21.710
  • All your fears and faults, gone.
  • 00:19:21.710 --> 00:19:26.148
  • All your failures and frailties, gone.
  • 00:19:26.148 --> 00:19:30.252
  • All of your insecurities, gone.
  • 00:19:30.252 --> 00:19:33.855
  • All of your blemishes and flaws, gone.
  • 00:19:33.855 --> 00:19:38.794
  • And you will be transformed into perfection one day, and those
  • 00:19:38.794 --> 00:19:43.565
  • Mirror neurons are going to be on overload.
  • 00:19:43.565 --> 00:19:47.269
  • And you will reflect the glory of the lord.
  • 00:19:47.269 --> 00:19:49.504
  • That is such good news.
  • 00:19:49.504 --> 00:19:52.241
  • I'm not who i ought to be.
  • 00:19:52.241 --> 00:19:56.578
  • You're not who you ought to be.
  • 00:19:56.578 --> 00:19:59.181
  • We're not a fraction of what we could be.
  • 00:19:59.181 --> 00:20:02.851
  • But god says, "that's okay.
  • 00:20:02.851 --> 00:20:04.786
  • I'm taking my time.
  • 00:20:04.786 --> 00:20:06.922
  • I'm cheering you at every stage.
  • 00:20:06.922 --> 00:20:09.491
  • You just take every step with purpose, because one day, i'm
  • 00:20:09.491 --> 00:20:13.595
  • Gonna finish what you didn't finish.
  • 00:20:13.595 --> 00:20:17.065
  • And you're going to be changed, boom, instantly into my likeness
  • 00:20:17.065 --> 00:20:21.270
  • If you have put yourself in my hands."
  • 00:20:21.270 --> 00:20:25.040
  • 1 john 3:2, it's an amazing promise, "dear friends,
  • 00:20:25.040 --> 00:20:31.880
  • Dear, dear friends, we are already god's children, and we
  • 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:39.454
  • Can't even imagine what we will be like when christ returns.
  • 00:20:39.454 --> 00:20:48.297
  • But we do know that when he comes
  • 00:20:50.132 --> 00:20:55.737
  • We will be like him,
  • 00:20:55.737 --> 00:21:00.509
  • For we shall see him as he really is."
  • 00:21:00.509 --> 00:21:05.080
  • And what i don't finish in my lifetime, god is gonna finish.
  • 00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:10.786
  • I am so, so glad for that.
  • 00:21:10.786 --> 00:21:13.622
  • In this race, you may have stumbled.
  • 00:21:13.622 --> 00:21:18.593
  • We've all been there.
  • 00:21:18.593 --> 00:21:21.797
  • In this race, you may have been sidelined.
  • 00:21:21.797 --> 00:21:26.868
  • We've all been there.
  • 00:21:26.868 --> 00:21:29.271
  • But your race is not over.
  • 00:21:29.271 --> 00:21:32.374
  • It's not.
  • 00:21:32.374 --> 00:21:33.809
  • Your heart's still beating, so your race isn't over.
  • 00:21:33.809 --> 00:21:36.645
  • And it's never too late to get back up and get in the
  • 00:21:36.645 --> 00:21:39.648
  • Race again.
  • 00:21:39.648 --> 00:21:40.982
  • And as your pastor, i am committed to helping you cross
  • 00:21:40.982 --> 00:21:45.520
  • The finish line.
  • 00:21:45.520 --> 00:21:47.823
  • It's never too late, you're never too old.
  • 00:21:47.823 --> 00:21:51.293
  • It's time to get back up and get in the race.
  • 00:21:51.293 --> 00:21:54.763
  • Let's bow our heads.
  • 00:21:54.763 --> 00:22:01.903
  • Now each week i give you one or two baby steps as a suggestion,
  • 00:22:01.903 --> 00:22:06.141
  • And i don't know what baby step you're going to take out of this
  • 00:22:06.141 --> 00:22:09.077
  • Message, but i want to begin with a prayer, and i want you to
  • 00:22:09.077 --> 00:22:13.749
  • Follow me in this prayer.
  • 00:22:13.749 --> 00:22:16.818
  • Say, "dear god," just say that in your mind, "dear god, for the
  • 00:22:16.818 --> 00:22:21.223
  • First time today, i have realized that you are cheering
  • 00:22:21.223 --> 00:22:27.996
  • Me at every stage in the race.
  • 00:22:27.996 --> 00:22:32.868
  • And when i stumble, you don't condemn me, you cheer me more--
  • 00:22:32.868 --> 00:22:41.343
  • That you believe in me.
  • 00:22:41.343 --> 00:22:45.580
  • I want to take every step with purpose.
  • 00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:48.216
  • I don't want to waste one day of the rest of my life.
  • 00:22:48.216 --> 00:22:51.353
  • I've done too much of that.
  • 00:22:51.353 --> 00:22:53.955
  • I want to accept the third purpose of my life, my calling,
  • 00:22:53.955 --> 00:22:57.993
  • To become like jesus and i'm willing to take these steps.
  • 00:22:57.993 --> 00:23:06.101
  • I wanna lay off, strip off the stuff that doesn't matter in my
  • 00:23:06.101 --> 00:23:09.838
  • Life, the stuff that slows me down, holds me back, especially
  • 00:23:09.838 --> 00:23:14.409
  • The sins that tripped me up.
  • 00:23:14.409 --> 00:23:16.578
  • I want to simplify my life and focus on the particular race
  • 00:23:16.578 --> 00:23:21.850
  • That you've given to me.
  • 00:23:21.850 --> 00:23:25.687
  • I'm so grateful that you're patient with me.
  • 00:23:25.687 --> 00:23:29.257
  • Help me to not get in a hurry.
  • 00:23:29.257 --> 00:23:31.893
  • I wanna be an oak tree, not a mushroom.
  • 00:23:31.893 --> 00:23:36.698
  • And so, i want to spend time with you so i can become
  • 00:23:36.698 --> 00:23:41.069
  • Like you.
  • 00:23:41.069 --> 00:23:43.572
  • I want to find a special place to spend a few minutes every day
  • 00:23:43.572 --> 00:23:48.910
  • Focusing on jesus so that i can be a mirror that reflects your
  • 00:23:48.910 --> 00:23:54.649
  • Love to others.
  • 00:23:54.649 --> 00:23:58.553
  • And lord, when it gets hard and i'm winded and i feel like
  • 00:23:58.553 --> 00:24:02.858
  • Giving up, help me to remember the reward.
  • 00:24:02.858 --> 00:24:07.896
  • Help me to remember jesus, all that you went through, and you
  • 00:24:07.896 --> 00:24:10.899
  • Never gave up.
  • 00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:12.501
  • Thank you.
  • 00:24:12.501 --> 00:24:14.302
  • Make me strong, give me the support, keep me from falling as
  • 00:24:14.302 --> 00:24:18.573
  • You've promised.
  • 00:24:18.573 --> 00:24:21.910
  • Help me to find a team to run with me at this next stage of
  • 00:24:21.910 --> 00:24:25.313
  • My life.
  • 00:24:25.313 --> 00:24:27.382
  • I wanna get in a small group.
  • 00:24:27.382 --> 00:24:28.783
  • I wanna build a safe place for others.
  • 00:24:28.783 --> 00:24:31.353
  • I want to spur others on, and i want them to spur me on.
  • 00:24:31.353 --> 00:24:38.093
  • Most of all, dear jesus, i thank you that what i don't finish,
  • 00:24:38.093 --> 00:24:43.365
  • You will.
  • 00:24:43.365 --> 00:24:45.534
  • And that one day, all of those things that i dislike about
  • 00:24:45.534 --> 00:24:49.971
  • Myself are going to be removed from my life.
  • 00:24:49.971 --> 00:24:53.808
  • And when i look at you, and those mirror neurons start
  • 00:24:53.808 --> 00:24:57.579
  • Flashing, i will become like you.
  • 00:24:57.579 --> 00:25:02.417
  • Thank you.
  • 00:25:02.417 --> 00:25:03.952
  • Thank you that i don't have to stay the same.
  • 00:25:03.952 --> 00:25:06.721
  • Thank you that you give me the power to change.
  • 00:25:06.721 --> 00:25:10.091
  • Jesus christ, i give you as much as i know how, every part of
  • 00:25:10.091 --> 00:25:14.195
  • My life."
  • 00:25:14.195 --> 00:25:18.233
  • If you've never done this before, say, "jesus christ, come
  • 00:25:18.233 --> 00:25:21.069
  • Into my life and make yourself real to me."
  • 00:25:21.069 --> 00:25:26.141
  • And if you said that, say, "jesus christ, today, i
  • 00:25:26.141 --> 00:25:28.476
  • Rededicate my life to you and i thank you that you will finish
  • 00:25:28.476 --> 00:25:35.016
  • Whatever i don't complete.
  • 00:25:35.016 --> 00:25:38.219
  • In your name i pray, amen."
  • 00:25:38.219 --> 00:25:43.058
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:43.058 --> 00:25:52.701
  • Announcer: hey, would you like to go deeper with pastor rick to
  • 00:25:56.404 --> 00:25:59.107
  • Discover god's purpose in your life?
  • 00:25:59.107 --> 00:26:01.409
  • Well, now you can with the video-based study kit called
  • 00:26:01.409 --> 00:26:05.313
  • "what on earth am i here for?"
  • 00:26:05.313 --> 00:26:07.282
  • This life-changing study is
  • 00:26:07.282 --> 00:26:09.184
  • Taught by rick and includes a
  • 00:26:09.184 --> 00:26:10.719
  • Workbook and six video sessions.
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  • As you go through these lessons, you'll embark on a journey of
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  • Discovery to answer life's most fundamental question, what on
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  • Earth am i here for?
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  • You'll learn that it's only in god that we discover our origin,
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  • Our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and
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  • Our destiny.
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  • Every other path leads to a dead end.
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  • This resource is packed with biblically centered principles
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  • And is perfect for personal or small group study.
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  • So, be sure to request this
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  • Study kit when you give a gift
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  • To "daily hope" to help share
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  • The hope of jesus with a
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  • Hurting world.
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  • We'll send it to you today as
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  • Our way of saying thanks.
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  • ♪♪♪
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