JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED
WITH US THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
WE HAVE A DAILY PODCAST THAT
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD.
OR YOU CAN GO TO OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL AND WATCH THE
MESSAGES ANYTIME; OR YOU CAN
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I PROMISE YOU WE'LL KEEP
YOU ENCOURAGED AND INSPIRED.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN.
THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING
OUT TODAY.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
ONE SUNDAY MORNING IN
CHURCH, EVERYTHING WAS GOING
FINE UNTIL A BOLT OF
LIGHTNING HIT THE SANCTUARY.
WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED,
SATAN HIMSELF WAS STANDING
BEHIND THE PODIUM.
PEOPLE PANICKED AND TOOK OFF
RUNNING AS FAST AS THEY
COULD.
EVERYONE THAT IS, EXCEPT ONE
LADY.
SHE SAT ON THE FRONT ROW AS
CALMLY AS CAN BE.
SATAN WAS APPALLED.
HE SAID, "LADY, DO YOU KNOW
WHO I AM?"
SHE SAID, "I SURE DO."
HE SAID, "WELL AREN'T YOU
AFRAID OF ME?"
SHE SAID, "NOT IN THE LEAST
BIT."
HE SAID, "WHY NOT?"
SHE SAID, "WHY SHOULD I BE.
I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO YOUR
BROTHER FOR THIRTY YEARS."
(LAUGHTER)
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
THIS IS MY BIBLE.
I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE.
I CAN DO WHAT IT SAYS
I CAN DO.
TODAY, I WILL BE TAUGHT
THE WORD OF GOD.
I BOLDLY CONFESS:
MY MIND IS ALERT.
MY HEART IS RECEPTIVE.
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
IN JESUS' NAME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT RULE YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
YOU HAVE A SPACE THAT
BELONGS ONLY TO YOU.
IT'S YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR
ATTITUDE, YOUR EMOTIONS.
IT'S WHO YOU SPEND TIME
WITH, WHAT YOU WATCH AND
LISTEN TO.
THAT'S YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE CONTROL
OVER.
THE REASON SOME PEOPLE LIVE
WORRIED, OFFENDED, NEGATIVE
IS BECAUSE THEY LET
EVERYTHING IN.
THEY LISTEN TO THE NEWS ALL
DAY, THEY DWELL ON THE
MEDICAL REPORT, THEY GO TO
LUNCH WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE
CRITICAL.
SOMEBODY CUTS THEM OFF IN
TRAFFIC, THAT SOURS THE REST
OF THE MORNING.
THE PROBLEM IS THEY'RE NOT
RULING THEIR ATMOSPHERE.
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT
YOU ALLOW IN.
YOU CAN'T STOP EVERYTHING
FROM COMING BUT YOU CAN STOP
IT FROM GETTING DOWN IN YOUR
SPIRIT.
YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR
ATMOSPHERE FULL OF FAITH,
FULL OF PRAISE, FULL OF
HOPE, FULL OF VICTORY.
ANYTHING THAT TRIES TO
POISON THAT ATMOSPHERE, IT'S
UP TO YOU TO SAY, "NO
THANKS, YOU'RE NOT WELCOME
HERE."
SOMEBODY LEAVES YOU OUT AT
WORK, THEY DON'T INVITE YOU
TO THE MEETING, THE OFFENSE
WILL COME, SAYING, "BE
ANGRY, BE BITTER, THAT'S NOT
RIGHT."
YOU CAN YOU LET THAT OFFENSE
IN AND LIVE UPSET, OR YOU
CAN SAY, "SORRY OFFENSE,
YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE.
SORRY BITTERNESS, THERE'S NO
PLACE FOR YOU.
I'M GOING TO STAY IN PEACE.
I'M GOING TO ENJOY THIS
DAY."
YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER
WHAT PEOPLE DO, BUT YOU DO
HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR
THOUGHTS, YOUR ATTITUDE, HOW
YOU RESPOND.
PROVERBS SAYS, "A PERSON
THAT DOESN'T RULE HIS SPIRIT
IS LIKE A CITY WITH BROKEN
DOWN WALLS."
IN BIBLE DAYS, THE WALLS
WERE WHAT PROTECTED THE
CITY.
IF THE WALLS WERE DOWN THEN
ANYONE COULD GET IN, THE
OPPOSITION WOULD COME AND
TAKE THE CITY.
IN THE SAME WAY, IF YOU
DON'T KEEP SOME WALLS UP
AROUND YOUR SPIRIT, IF YOU
DON'T RULE YOUR ATMOSPHERE,
PUT SOME BOUNDARIES, THEN
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO GET
IN.
YOUR CHILD IS OFF COURSE,
INSTEAD OF TRUSTING THAT GOD
HAS HIM IN THE PALM OF HIS
HANDS, WORRY WILL GET IN,
YOU CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT.
YOUR BUSINESS SLOWS DOWN,
YOU LOST A CLIENT.
INSTEAD OF KNOWING GOD IS
YOUR SOURCE, HE'S GOING TO
PROVIDE, THE STRESS WILL
COME, THE ANXIETY, "WHAT AM
I GOING TO DO?"
MAYBE SOMEONE IS TALKING
ABOUT YOU, TRYING TO MAKE
YOU LOOK BAD, INSTEAD OF
LETTING GOD FIGHT YOUR
BATTLES, YOU LET THE OFFENSE
IN, YOU LIVE DEFENSIVE,
TRYING TO PROVE TO THEM THAT
YOU'RE OKAY, WASTING
VALUABLE TIME ON SOMETHING
THAT DOESN'T MATTER.
YOU DON'T NEED THEIR
APPROVAL; GOD HAS ALREADY
APPROVED YOU.
NOW KEEP YOUR WALLS UP.
QUIT ALLOWING ALL THAT INTO
YOUR SPIRIT.
YOUR TIME IS TOO VALUABLE,
YOUR ASSIGNMENT TOO
IMPORTANT TO LET EVERYTHING
IN.
BE SELECTIVE, IF IT'S NOT
POSITIVE, HOPEFUL, OF A GOOD
REPORT THEN DON'T DWELL ON
IT.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE WHOLE
WORLD, BUT YOU CAN CONTROL
YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT GOD
HAS MADE YOU TO BE A KING,
THAT YOU ARE TO REIGN IN
LIFE.
NEGATIVE THINGS WILL COME
BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER,
YOU'RE THE RULER.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
DECIDE WHAT YOU ALLOW IN.
AM I GOING TO DWELL ON THIS
OFFENSE?
AM I GOING TO HANG AROUND
THIS PERSON THAT'S PULLING
ME DOWN?
AM I GOING TO STAY FOCUSED
ON THIS BAD BREAK, LIVE IN
SELF-PITY?
IT'S UP TO YOU.
YOU RULE OVER YOUR KINGDOM.
WE TURN ON THE NEWS THESE
DAYS AND THERE'S SO MUCH
NEGATIVE.
WE HEAR ABOUT HOW BAD THE
PANDEMIC IS, THE
DIVISIVENESS IN POLITICS,
THE UNREST IN OUR SOCIETY.
IF YOU ALLOW THAT DIVISION
TO GET IN YOU, THE
DISRESPECT, THE ANGER, IT'S
GOING TO POLLUTE YOUR
THOUGHTS, STEAL YOUR JOY,
MAKE YOU SOUR.
YOU HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING, WHAT
ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
IS IT BUILDING YOU UP,
MAKING YOU MORE POSITIVE,
MORE HOPEFUL, OR IS IT
TEARING YOU DOWN, STRESSING
YOU OUT, MAKING YOU ANGRY,
UPSET?
YOU DON'T NEED THAT IN YOUR
ATMOSPHERE.
LIFE IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT
ADDING ALL THESE NEGATIVE
THINGS THAT MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT.
A MAN TOLD ME HOW HE DROVE
TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR AN
HOUR LISTENING TO TALK
RADIO.
IT WAS ABOUT NEWS, POLITICS,
PEOPLE WOULD GET ON AND
ARGUE AND DEBATE.
HE WOULD GET SO RILED UP, SO
UPSET, BY THE TIME HE GOT TO
WORK HE WAS ANGRY, ON EDGE.
HE SAID, "JOEL, I DIDN'T
LIKE WHO I HAD BECOME.
NOBODY WANTED TO BE AROUND
ME.
I WAS SO HARD TO GET ALONG
WITH."
ONE DAY HE ACCIDENTALLY CAME
ACROSS OUR SIRIUS XM
STATION.
HE STARTED LISTENING.
INSTEAD OF PUTTING ALL THE
NEGATIVE IN, HOURS A DAY,
THAT WAS CONTAMINATING HIM,
HE STARTED PUTTING IN
SOMETHING UPLIFTING, WORDS
OF FAITH, HOPE, VICTORY.
HE SAID, "I'M A DIFFERENT
PERSON NOW.
I'M POSITIVE, I'M GRATEFUL,
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORK, I
ENJOY THE PEOPLE."
HIS COWORKER EVEN ASKED HIM
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, WHY HE
WAS SO MUCH HAPPY, SO MUCH
MORE FRIENDLY?
IT WAS BECAUSE HE GOT RID OF
THE POISON IN HIS
ATMOSPHERE.
I LIKE TO WATCH THE NEWS,
IT'S GOOD TO STAY INFORMED,
BUT YOU CAN'T LISTEN TO THE
NEWS FOR HOURS A DAY AND
STAY IN FAITH.
YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT INTO
YOUR SPIRIT AND HAVE THE
ENERGY, THE FOCUS, THE
CREATIVITY TO BE YOUR BEST.
"WELL, JOEL, I WISH GOD
WOULD HELP ME DO BETTER."
GOD HAS DONE HIS PART.
HE MADE YOU A KING.
HE'S GIVEN YOU THE
AUTHORITY, YOU HAVE THE
POWER TO RULE YOUR
ATMOSPHERE.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL ALL THAT'S
AROUND YOU, BUT YOU CAN
CONTROL WHAT GETS IN YOU.
ARE YOUR WALLS UP, ARE YOU
RULING YOUR SPIRIT?
IT'S IMPORTANT WHO YOU'RE
SPENDING TIME WITH.
EVALUATE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.
ARE THEY MAKING YOU BETTER,
INSPIRING YOU, CHALLENGING
YOU TO GO FURTHER, OR ARE
THEY PULLING YOU DOWN,
CAUSING YOU TO COMPROMISE,
BRINGING OUT THE WORST IN
YOU?
THAT'S CONTAMINATING YOUR
ATMOSPHERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME LIKE
THE PEOPLE YOU HANG AROUND.
IF YOUR FRIENDS DON'T HAVE
WHAT YOU WANT, IF THEY'RE
NOT GOING PLACES, IF THEY
DON'T HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE,
IF THEY'RE NOT FAITHFUL,
TRUSTWORTHY, THEN YOU NEED
TO MAKE A CHANGE.
LIFE IS SHORT, YOU DON'T
HAVE TIME TO WASTE WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ADDING
TO YOUR LIFE.
YES, WE NEED TO HELP OTHERS
COME UP HIGHER, BUT YOU NEED
A FEW FRIENDS THAT HELP YOU
COME UP HIGHER.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN
THINGS THAT HOLDS PEOPLE
BACK.
IF YOU WILL CHANGE WHO
YOU'RE SPENDING TIME WITH,
YOUR LIFE WILL GO TO A NEW
LEVEL.
YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO LUNCH
WITH PEOPLE AT THE OFFICE
THAT ARE JEALOUS, TALK ABOUT
THE BOSS, COMPLAIN ABOUT THE
COMPANY.
SPIRITS ARE TRANSFERABLE.
IF YOU HANG AROUND JEALOUS
PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO
BECOME JEALOUS, IF YOU HANG
AROUND UNFAITHFUL PEOPLE,
YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME
UNFAITHFUL.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "DON'T
SIT INACTIVE IN THE PATH OF
THE UNGODLY."
THAT MEANS DON'T BE PASSIVE
WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE
POLLUTING YOUR LIFE.
"JOEL, I'VE BEEN FRIENDS
WITH THEM FOR YEARS, IF I
DON'T EAT LUNCH WITH THEM,
THEY MAY GET THEIR FEELINGS
HURT."
WHAT IF YOU MISS YOUR
DESTINY?
WHAT IF THEY KEEP YOU FROM
THE AWESOME FUTURE GOD HAS
IN STORE?
DON'T SIT INACTIVE AND LET
THEM POISON YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
YOUR EARS ARE NOT GARBAGE
CANS TO HEAR GOSSIP.
YOU WEREN'T CREATED TO TAKE
IN THE LATEST RUMORS.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY
DID."
YOU HAVE GREATNESS IN YOU.
GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO LEAVE
YOUR MARK, TO TAKE YOUR
FAMILY TO A NEW LEVEL.
DON'T WASTE YOUR VALUABLE
TIME ON PETTY THINGS, WITH
SMALL-MINDED PEOPLE THAT ARE
NOT MOVING YOU FORWARD.
THE LESS TIME YOU SPEND WITH
SOME PEOPLE THE BETTER OFF
YOU'RE GOING TO BE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE DREAM
STEALERS, THEY'LL TELL YOU
ALL THE REASONS YOU CAN'T
ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOAL, WHY
YOU CAN'T GET WELL, HOW
YOU'LL NEVER BREAK THE
ADDICTION.
YOU DON'T NEED THAT POISON
IN YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
DON'T SIT INACTIVE WITH
PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE IN
YOU, PEOPLE THAT DON'T COME
INTO AGREEMENT WITH YOUR
DREAM.
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO
ACQUIRE THE COMPAQ CENTER,
WE MET WITH A GROUP OF
ATTORNEYS AT THE VERY FIRST.
ONE OF THOSE ATTORNEY'S
SAID, "JOEL, I'LL HELP YOU,
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL GET
IT.
IT'S TOO BIG A BATTLE.
THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO
SELL IT TO A CHURCH."
THAT WENT IN ONE EAR AND OUT
THE OTHER.
HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN
TALKING TO THE WALL.
I THOUGHT, "SORRY DOUBT,
YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE.
SORRY LIMITED THINKING, YOU
DON'T BELONG IN THIS
ATMOSPHERE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHO MY GOD
IS.
I'M STAYING FULL OF FAITH,
FULL OF HOPE, FULL OF
EXPECTANCY."
WE LEFT THAT MEETING, I TOLD
OUR STAFF THAT I DIDN'T WANT
THAT MAN ON OUR TEAM."
HE WAS EXPERIENCED,
RESPECTED, KNOWLEDGEABLE,
BUT IF SOMEONE IS NOT FOR
YOU, IF YOU HAVE TO TALK
THEM IN TO WHAT GOD PUT IN
YOUR HEART, YOU DON'T NEED
THEM.
DON'T LET THEM POISON YOUR
SPIRIT, CONVINCE YOU THAT
YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH YOUR
DREAM.
RULE YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
GET RID OF THE NAYSAYERS,
QUIT SPENDING TIME WITH
PEOPLE THAT DON'T SEE YOUR
GREATNESS AND DON'T VALUE
WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER AND
DON'T RECOGNIZE THE CALLING
ON YOUR LIFE.
I'VE LEARNED, IF YOU'LL GET
RID OF THE WRONG PEOPLE, GOD
WILL BRING YOU THE RIGHT
PEOPLE.
HE'LL BRING DIVINE
CONNECTIONS, PEOPLE THAT
WILL COME INTO AGREEMENT
WITH YOU, PEOPLE THAT WILL
THRUST YOU FORWARD AND HELP
YOU REACH YOUR DESTINY.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S
HOLDING SOME PEOPLE BACK IS
WHO THEY'RE SPENDING TIME
WITH.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO SPEND
WITH NEGATIVE, CAN'T DO IT,
JEALOUS, CRITICAL,
SMALL-MINDED PEOPLE.
YOU NEED SOME EAGLES IN YOUR
LIFE.
PEOPLE THAT SOAR, PEOPLE
THAT ARE DOING GREAT THINGS,
PEOPLE THAT HAVE A GREAT
ATTITUDE.
BUT HERE'S THE KEY, YOU
CAN'T SOAR WITH THE EAGLES
IF YOU'RE HANGING AROUND
CHICKENS.
CHICKENS ARE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE THEIR HEAD DOWN,
FOCUSED ON THE GROUND, WHAT
THEY CAN'T DO.
"THIS PROBLEM IS TOO BIG."
YOU CAN'T REACH NEW LEVELS
HANGING OUT WITH TURKEYS,
PEOPLE THAT COMPROMISE, TAKE
THE EASY WAY OUT, MEDIOCRE.
YOU WON'T SEE YOUR GREATNESS
HANGING AROUND CROWS.
PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN, FIND
FAULT, SEE THE WORST.
YOU'RE AN EAGLE.
GOD CREATED YOU TO SOAR.
NOW YOU NEED TO ASSOCIATE
WITH OTHER EAGLES, WITH
PEOPLE THAT INSPIRE YOU TO
RISE HIGHER, NOT PEOPLE THAT
DRAG YOU DOWN.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE,
WHEN YOU'RE AROUND THEM,
THEY DRAIN ALL YOUR ENERGY.
THEY'RE ALWAYS HAVING A
PROBLEM, TELLING YOU WHAT'S
WRONG, HOW BAD LIFE IS.
THEY'RE ENERGY SUCKERS.
WHEN YOU LEAVE, YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU JUST RAN A
MARATHON.
YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT ON A
REGULAR BASIS AND REACH YOUR
POTENTIAL.
YES, IT'S FINE TO HELP THEM,
TO ENCOURAGE THEM, BUT IF
YOU'RE DOING ALL THE GIVING
AND NEVER RECEIVING THAT'S
OUT OF BALANCE.
YOU NEED SOMEONE THAT
ENCOURAGES YOU, SOMEONE THAT
SPEAKS LIFE INTO YOU.
DON'T SIT INACTIVE AROUND
PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW ARE
LIMITING YOU, NOT BRINGING
OUT THE BEST OUT OF YOU.
"JOEL, IF I DON'T HANG
AROUND THEM, I WON'T HAVE
ANY FRIENDS.
I'LL BE LONELY."
YOU MAY BE LONELY FOR A
SEASON, BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN
IS GOD WILL BRING YOU NEW
FRIENDS, BETTER FRIENDS,
FRIENDS THAT PUSH YOU UP,
AND NOT TEAR YOU DOWN.
IN PSALM 59, DAVID WAS ON
THE RUN FROM KING SAUL.
HE WAS HIDING IN THE DESERT.
HE HAD BEEN GOOD TO SAUL,
BUT SAUL WAS JEALOUS.
HE COULDN'T STAND PEOPLE
CELEBRATING DAVID MORE THAN
HIM.
SAUL AND HIS ARMY WERE
TRACKING DAVID DOWN, MAKING
HIS LIFE MISERABLE.
DAVID SAID IN VERSE 3,
I HAVE DONE THEM NO WRONG,
BUT THEY HAVE SET AN AMBUSH
FOR ME.
THEY COME AT ME AT NIGHT,
SNARLING LIKE VICIOUS DOGS.
DAVID WENT ON AND ON TELLING
ABOUT HOW BAD IT WAS.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN PANICKED,
UPSET.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL
THIS TURMOIL, DAVID WENT ON
TO SAY, "BUT AS FOR ME, I
WILL SING ABOUT YOUR POWER.
I WILL SHOUT FOR JOY EACH
MORNING.
FOR YOU ARE MY REFUGE, A
PLACE OF SAFETY IN MY TIME
OF DISTRESS."
DAVID UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
HE COULDN'T CONTROL SAUL.
HE COULDN'T MAKE HIM NOT BE
JEALOUS.
HE COULDN'T CHANGE THE MIND
OF HIS ENEMIES, BUT HE COULD
RULE HIS ATMOSPHERE.
HE DIDN'T LET THE WORRY IN,
THE FEAR, THE BITTERNESS,
THE PANIC.
HIS ATTITUDE WAS, "I'M GOING
TO STAY IN PEACE.
I'M NOT GOING TO THINK ABOUT
HOW UNFAIR IT IS, I'M NOT
GOING TO DWELL ON WHAT
DIDN'T WORK OUT.
GOD, I'M GOING TO PRAISE YOU
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS STORM.
I'M GOING SHOUT FOR JOY
DESPITE WHAT'S COMING
AGAINST ME."
YOU CAN'T RULE OTHER
PEOPLE'S ATMOSPHERE, YOU
CAN'T MAKE THEM DO WHAT'S
RIGHT, BUT YOU CAN RULE YOUR
ATMOSPHERE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "HOLD
YOUR PEACE, REMAIN AT REST
AND GOD WILL FIGHT YOUR
BATTLES."
YOU MAY BE IN A SITUATION
THAT'S UNFAIR, SOMEBODY DID
YOU WRONG, YOU'RE DEALING
WITH AN ILLNESS, YOU WENT
THROUGH A LOSS.
YOU COULD BE WORRIED,
BITTER, UPSET.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL WHAT
HAPPENED, YOU CAN'T MAKE
THAT GO AWAY.
THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO DO
LIKE DAVID, DIG DOWN DEEP
AND SAY, "I'M KEEPING MY
WALLS UP.
I'M NOT LETTING THAT
NEGATIVE INTO MY SPIRIT.
I'M GOING TO KEEP SINGING
PRAISES, I'M GOING TO KEEP
THANKING GOD.
I'M GOING TO KEEP SPEAKING
THE VICTORY."
WHEN YOU REMAIN AT REST, GOD
WILL FIGHT YOUR BATTLES.
HE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR
ENEMIES.
HE'LL PAY YOU BACK FOR THE
UNFAIR THINGS.
HE'LL BRING BEAUTY OUT OF
THOSE ASHES.
DON'T BE CONTROLLED BY WHAT
YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER.
YOU CAN'T STOP THE SAUL'S
FROM COMING.
YOU CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM
BEING JEALOUS, YOU CAN'T
STOP THE BAD BREAKS.
WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL, IS
WHAT YOU ALLOW IN.
A LADY TOLD HOW ONE OF HER
HUSBAND'S RELATIVES WAS VERY
OPINIONATED.
HE WAS CONSTANTLY MAKING
THESE CUTTING, DEMEANING
REMARKS TOWARD HER.
THIS COUPLE HADN'T BEEN
MARRIED THAT LONG.
EVERY TIME THEY WERE AT A
FAMILY GET-TOGETHER, THIS
MAN WOULD INVARIABLY SAY
SOMETHING THAT OFFENDED HER.
SHE WOULD GET UPSET AND IT
WOULD RUIN THE WHOLE TRIP.
JUST LIKE CLOCKWORK IT
HAPPENED TIME AND TIME
AGAIN.
SHE GOT TO THE PLACE WHERE
SHE DREADED GOING TO THESE
FAMILY EVENTS.
FINALLY, SHE TOLD HER
HUSBAND, "YOU HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT MAN.
HE'S YOUR RELATIVE."
SHE EXPECTED HIM TO SAY,
"YOU'RE RIGHT.
NOBODY SHOULD TALK TO YOU
LIKE THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO SET HIM
STRAIGHT."
BUT THE HUSBAND SAID, "I
LOVE YOU, BUT I CAN'T
CONTROL HIM.
HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO HAVE
HIS OPINION.
HE CAN SAY WHAT HE WANTS TO
SAY BUT YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT
TO NOT LET IT OFFEND YOU."
HE WAS SAYING, "YOU HAVE TO
RULE YOUR ATMOSPHERE, YOU
HAVE TO PUT YOUR WALLS UP."
YOU CAN'T KEEP THE OFFENSES
FROM COMING, BUT YOU CAN
KEEP THEM FROM GETTING IN.
THAT DAY WAS A TURNING POINT
FOR THAT LADY.
THE MAN DIDN'T CHANGE BUT
SHE CHANGED.
SHE QUIT LETTING THAT UPSET
HER.
WHEN YOU ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE
TO CONTAMINATE YOUR
ATMOSPHERE, YOU'RE GIVING
AWAY YOUR POWER.
YOU'RE LETTING THEM CONTROL
YOU.
SOMETIMES WE'RE WAITING FOR
THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO CHANGE,
"WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER,
JOEL, THEN I'LL QUIT BEING
SO STRESSED.
WHEN MY BOSS TREATS ME
BETTER, THEN I'LL QUIT
DREADING GOING TO WORK.
WHEN I GET THROUGH THIS
ILLNESS, THEN I'LL QUIT
BEING SO WORRIED."
NO, START RULING YOUR
ATMOSPHERE.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
ALLOW IN ONLY WHAT YOU WANT
IN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET THE
OFFENSE IN, THE WORRY, THE
SELF-PITY.
QUIT DWELLING ON IT.
WHEN IT COMES UP IN YOUR
MIND, TURN IT AROUND.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT
YOU'RE FIGHTING MY BATTLES.
THANK YOU THAT YOU BEING FOR
ME IS MORE THAN THE WORLD
BEING AGAINST ME."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GOD HAS
GIVEN YOU THE POWER TO
REMAIN CALM IN TIMES OF
ADVERSITY."
WHEN TROUBLE COMES YOU DON'T
HAVE TO GET UPSET, WHEN YOU
PLANS DON'T WORK OUT, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO FALL APART,
WHEN SOMEONE IS RUDE, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO GET OFFENDED.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO REMAIN
CALM.
IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A KING.
GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE
AUTHORITY TO RULE OVER YOUR
KINGDOM.
YOUR MIND, YOUR ATTITUDE,
YOUR RESPONSE.
YOU CAN'T RULE OVER SOMEONE
ELSE.
YOU CAN'T RULE OVER ALL YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THAT'S NOT UP TO YOU.
THAT'S IN GOD'S HANDS.
YOU CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN
CONTROL AND TRUST GOD TO
TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU CAN'T
CONTROL.
IN 2003, THE CITY COUNCIL
VOTED FOR US TO HAVE THIS
FACILITY.
IT HAD BEEN A TWO-YEAR
BATTLE.
WE HAD WORKED HARD,
CONVINCED DIFFERENT COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND GOD CAUSED IT TO
ALL FALL INTO PLACE.
IT WAS A GREAT VICTORY.
THE VOTE WAS ON A WEDNESDAY,
THAT NIGHT WE HAD A BIG
CELEBRATION AT THE CHURCH.
THE NEXT DAY, VICTORIA AND I
AND OUR CHILDREN WENT OUT OF
TOWN TO TAKE A FEW DAYS OFF.
WE WERE ON CLOUD NINE, SO
EXCITED.
WE ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL,
STARTED UNPACKING, AND MY
BROTHER-IN-LAW KEVIN CALLED.
HE'S OUR ADMINISTRATOR.
HE SAID, "JOEL, A LARGE
COMPANY JUST FILED A FEDERAL
LAWSUIT TO TRY TO KEEP US
FROM MOVING IN TO THE COMPAQ
CENTER.
THEY SAID WE VIOLATE THE
DEED RESTRICTIONS."
I ASKED HIM WHAT THAT MEANT.
HE SAID, "IT MEANS WE CAN'T
MOVE IN BECAUSE IT'S IN THE
LEGAL SYSTEM AND IT COULD
TAKE YEARS TO WORK OUT."
THE ATTORNEYS SAID THERE WAS
NO GUARANTEE THAT WE WOULD
WIN.
THIS WAS LESS THAN
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER ONE
OF THE GREATEST VICTORIES OF
OUR LIVES.
WE HUNG UP THE PHONE.
VICTORIA OVERHEARD
EVERYTHING.
SHE STOPPED UNPACKING AND
SAID, "JOEL, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?"
I SAID, "I'M GOING TO GO
DOWN TO THE BEACH."
SHE SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO THERE?"
I SAID, "I'M GOING TO SWIM."
SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
"AREN'T YOU WORRIED?"
I SAID, "NO, WE DID OUR
PART, NOW IT'S IN GOD'S
HANDS.
I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T
CHANGE.
I'M GOING TO STAY AT REST
AND I'M GOING TO TRUST GOD
TO FIGHT MY BATTLES."
YES, WORRY CAME,
DISAPPOINTMENT CAME,
FRUSTRATION CAME, BUT I KEPT
MY WALLS UP.
I DIDN'T ALLOW THAT IN MY
ATMOSPHERE.
WHEN YOU'VE HAD A SETBACK,
WHEN YOU'RE FACING
DIFFICULTIES, THAT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT TIME.
THE ENEMY IS GOING TO
BOMBARD YOUR SPACE, YOUR
MIND, YOUR EMOTIONS, AND
EVEN USE OTHER PEOPLE TO TRY
TO DISCOURAGE YOU AND GET
YOU WORRIED, FULL OF DOUBT,
"WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?"
THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE
YOUR AUTHORITY AND SAY, "NO,
I AM NOT ALLOWING THAT IN MY
ATMOSPHERE.
I'M NOT DWELLING ON IT, I'M
NOT RELIVING MY HURTS, I'M
NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT
DIDN'T WORK OUT.
I'M STAYING IN FAITH.
I KNOW GOD IS STILL ON THE
THRONE.
I KNOW HE DIDN'T BRING ME
THIS FAR TO LEAVE ME.
I KNOW THE ENEMY WOULDN'T BE
TRYING TO STOP ME, IF THERE
WASN'T SOMETHING AWESOME IN
MY FUTURE."
IF YOU'LL DO YOUR PART,
CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN
CONTROL, RULE YOUR
ATMOSPHERE, YOUR THOUGHTS,
YOUR ATTITUDES, THEN GOD
WILL DO HIS PART.
HE'LL MAKE THINGS HAPPEN
THAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN.
THERE'S A RESTAURANT CHAIN
THAT HAS A MOTTO THAT SAYS,
"RULE THE DAY."
THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO EAT
THE RIGHT FOODS AND TAKE THE
RIGHT VITAMINS SO YOU CAN
HAVE A HEALTHY DAY.
I LIKE THAT PHRASE, "RULE
THE DAY."
WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE
MORNING, MAKE THE DECISION:
"I'M GOING TO RULE MY
THOUGHTS TODAY.
I'M NOT JUST GOING TO THINK
WHATEVER COMES TO MIND.
I'M GOING TO THINK ON
PURPOSE, THOUGHTS THAT ARE
POSITIVE, HOPEFUL,
ENCOURAGING.
I'M GOING TO RULE WHO I
SPEND TIME WITH TODAY.
NOT JUST ANYONE, I'M GOING
TO BE SELECTIVE, I'M GOING
TO ASSOCIATE WITH EAGLES.
I'M GOING TO RULE MY
ATTITUDE TODAY.
I'M GOING TO SEE THE BEST,
I'M GOING TO BE GRATEFUL,
I'M GOING TO STAY IN PEACE.
I'M GOING TO RULE MY
EMOTIONS TODAY, I'M GOING TO
FORGIVE THE WRONGS, I'M
GOING TO OVERLOOK INSULTS,
I'M GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT."
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THIS
DECISION AHEAD OF TIME,
BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE,
THAT NOTHING THAT HAPPENS IS
GOING TO UPSET YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO STAY IN
PEACE.
THEN WHEN DIFFICULTIES COME,
TRAFFIC IS BAD, YOUR BOSS IS
RUDE, YOUR CHILD HAS A
PROBLEM.
YOU'VE ALREADY DECIDED
YOU'RE GOING TO RULE THE
DAY.
YOU HAVE YOUR WALLS UP.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIVE
UPSET.
WE SHOULD GO OUT EACH DAY
EXPECTING THE BEST BUT
KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING MAY
NOT BE PERFECT.
THERE MAY BE DELAYS,
INTERRUPTIONS, PEOPLE THAT
ARE HARD TO DEAL WITH.
DON'T LET THAT RUIN THE DAY,
RULE THE DAY.
KEEP THE NEGATIVE OUT OF
YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
GOD IS DIRECTING YOUR STEPS.
WHATEVER HAPPENS IS NOT A
SURPRISE TO HIM.
HE'S GIVEN YOU THE POWER TO
REMAIN CALM IN TIMES OF
ADVERSITY.
IT DOESN'T SAY THE POWER TO
AVOID ADVERSITY, TO NOT HAVE
CHALLENGES, TO HAVE A
PERFECT DAY.
THE FACT IS EVERY DAY CAN BE
A GOOD DAY IF YOU RULE YOUR
ATMOSPHERE.
DAVID HAD A GOOD DAY, WHILE
SAUL WAS CHASING HIM.
I HAD A GOOD DAY AT THE
BEACH WHEN THAT COMPANY
FILED A LAWSUIT.
QUIT WAITING FOR ALL THE
CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE PERFECT.
YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD DAY IN
THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD DAY EVEN
THOUGH YOU HAVE CHALLENGES
AT WORK, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE
DEALING WITH AN ILLNESS,
EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE YOU.
STAY CALM, STAY IN FAITH AND
RULE THE DAY.
MAKE THE DECISION LIKE
DAVID, "THIS IS THE DAY THE
LORD HAS MADE, I'M GOING TO
LIVE IT IN FAITH, I'M GOING
TO BE HAPPY TODAY, I'M GOING
TO BE GOOD TO OTHERS.
I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MOST
OF THIS DAY."
I CALLED TO ORDER A PIZZA
ONE NIGHT.
I HAD DONE THIS FOR MANY
YEARS.
THE FIRST THING THEY ALWAYS
ASK FOR IS YOUR PHONE
NUMBER.
A YOUNG LADY ANSWERED THE
PHONE AND I SAID VERY
POLITELY HELLO AND I STARTED
TO GIVE HER MY NUMBER.
YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I HAD
JUST COMMITTED A MAJOR
CRIME.
SHE PRACTICALLY SCREAMED IN
MY EAR, "SIR, I AM NOT READY
FOR YOUR PHONE NUMBER.
WHEN I WANT YOUR PHONE
NUMBER, I WILL ASK YOU FOR
YOUR PHONE NUMBER."
SOMEHOW AT THAT POINT, I
DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A PASTOR.
I FELT SOME OTHER THINGS
RISING UP.
I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION,
"AM I GOING TO RULE MY
ATMOSPHERE, OR AM I GOING TO
LET HER POISON MY
ATMOSPHERE?
AM I GOING TO KEEP MY WALLS
UP OR AM I GOING TO BE
OFFENDED?"
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO
BRING THEIR ATMOSPHERE INTO
YOUR ATMOSPHERE.
PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING,
THAT HAVE ISSUES, DEALING
WITH THINGS, THEY WILL TRY
TO PUT THEIR POISON ON YOU.
THEY'RE NOT BAD PEOPLE,
THEY'RE JUST HURTING.
THE MISTAKE WE MAKE TOO
OFTEN IS WE TAKE THE BAIT.
WE LET THE OFFENSE IN, WE
GET UPSET, DO TO THEM WHAT
THEY DID TO US.
BUT YOU DON'T OVERCOME EVIL
WITH MORE EVIL, YOU OVERCOME
EVIL WITH GOOD.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "I'VE
ALREADY MADE THE DECISION
THAT I'M GOING TO STAY IN
PEACE TODAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET UPSET,
I'M GOING TO RULE THIS DAY."
YOU'VE HEARD THE PHRASE,
KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS.
THAT'S WHAT I DECIDED TO DO.
I THOUGHT OF ANYTHING I
COULD POSSIBLY COMPLIMENT
HER ON.
GOD KNOWS I HAD TO USE MY
IMAGINATION.
I SAID, "I SURE APPRECIATE
YOU ANSWERING THE PHONE SO
QUICKLY AND TAKING MY ORDER,
BEING SO EFFICIENT.
YOU GUYS ALWAYS MAKE THE
BEST PIZZAS AND YOU'RE
ALWAYS ON TIME."
WENT ON AND ON, LYING, I
MEAN ENCOURAGING.
BUT BY THE TIME I GOT
FINISHED, SHE WAS THROWING
IN HOT WINGS, DR. PEPPERS,
COUPONS.
SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.
THE APOSTLE PAUL TOLD
TIMOTHY, "AS FOR YOU BE
CALM, COOL AND STEADY."
SOME PEOPLE LET THINGS UPSET
THEM WAY TOO EASILY.
THE TRAFFIC, THE WEATHER,
THE GRUMPY CLERK.
I WONDER HOW MUCH MORE YOU
WOULD ENJOY LIFE AND HOW
MUCH HIGHER YOU WOULD GO IF
YOU WOULD START RULING THE
DAY.
KEEPING YOUR WALLS UP, NOT
LETTING EVERYTHING GET IN
YOUR SPIRIT.
YOU CAN'T STOP IT FROM
COMING, BUT YOU CAN KEEP IT
FROM GETTING DOWN IN YOU.
YOU'RE A KING.
YOU HAVE A KINGDOM.
YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF YOUR
THOUGHTS, YOUR ATTITUDE,
START RULING YOUR
ATMOSPHERE.
MAKE THE DECISION AT THE
FIRST OF THE DAY THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO STAY IN PEACE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET
THINGS UPSET YOU, YOU'RE
GOING TO BE CALM, COOL AND
STEADY.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE, YOU'RE NOT ONLY
GOING TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE
MORE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE MORE OF GOD'S FAVOR.
HE'S GOING TO FIGHT YOUR
BATTLES, TAKE CARE OF WHAT'S
TRYING TO STOP YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO RISE HIGHER,
OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND SEE
NEW LEVELS OF YOUR DESTINY,
IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY? (AMEN)
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS,
I REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD AND
SAVIOR."
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN.
WE'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU SOME
FREE INFORMATION ON YOUR
NEW WALK WITH THE LORD.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR GO TO THE WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH
AND KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
WE UPLOAD NEW
VIDEOS EVERY WEEK
TO KEEP YOU
INSPIRED AND
ENCOURAGED.
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TO OUR CHANNEL.
> VICTORIA: LET US
KNOW IN THE
COMMENTS BELOW HOW
THIS MESSAGE HAS
ENCOURAGED YOU.
WE WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR FROM YOU.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME!
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