JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU,
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
WITH US TODAY. WE ARE
PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED
WITH US DURING THE WEEK,
THROUGH OUR PODCAST,
YOUTUBE CHANNEL, SIRIUS XM,
SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE WANT TO KEEP YOU INSPIRED
AND ENCOURAGED, BUT THANKS
FOR TUNING IN.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS PASTOR.
HE WAS RAISING FUNDS FOR A
NEW AUDITORIUM. HE SAID TO
THE CONGREGATION, "ANYONE
THAT WILL GIVE A THOUSAND
DOLLARS CAN PICK OUT THE
NEXT THREE HYMNS."
A LITTLE OLD LADY IN THE
BACK RAISED HER HAND AND
SAID, "PASTOR, I'LL DO IT."
HE WAS SO EXCITED, HE SAID,
"THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW
WHICH THREE HYMNS WOULD
YOU LIKE?"
SHE LOOKED OVER THE
CONGREGATION AND SAID,
"I'LL TAKE HIM AND HIM
AND HIM."
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 TRUSTING WHEN YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE ALL GO THROUGH THINGS IN
LIFE THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE.
A FRIEND WALKED OUT OF A
RELATIONSHIP, THE COMPANY IS
DOWNSIZING, AND THEY DON'T
NEED US ANYMORE.
WE WERE BEING OUR BEST THEN
THIS PANDEMIC HIT, BUSINESS
WENT DOWN, CHILDREN CAN'T GO
TO SCHOOL, DREAMS ARE PUT ON
HOLD.
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE
WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
IT'S EASY TO LIVE FRUSTRATED
AND THINK, "GOD WHY IS THIS
HAPPENING?"
BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENS.
GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS.
HE CAN SEE THINGS THAT WE
CAN'T SEE.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR
DOESN'T MEAN GOD IS NOT IN
CONTROL.
YOUR STEPS ARE BEING ORDERED
BY THE LORD.
IF HE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN,
HE'S GOING TO BRING GOOD OUT
OF IT.
HE PROMISES ALL THINGS WORK
TOGETHER FOR YOUR GOOD.
ON ITS OWN IT MAY NOT BE
GOOD.
IT WASN'T FAIR, YOU'RE
UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WHEN IT
ALL COMES TOGETHER YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE HOW IT WORKS
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
THE DIFFICULTY, THE DELAY,
THE BETRAYAL WAS ALL
INSTRUMENTAL IN YOU REACHING
YOUR DESTINY.
NONE OF US LIKE BAD BREAKS,
LOSS, DELAY, BUT WITHOUT
THAT DIFFICULTY YOU COULDN'T
BECOME WHO YOU WERE CREATED
TO BE.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A DEAD END
BUT REALLY, IT'S SETTING YOU
UP FOR PROMOTION, THAT DOOR
CLOSED SO A BIGGER DOOR
COULD OPEN.
THAT PERSON THAT LEFT YOU,
IT WAS HURTFUL, BUT IT
WASN'T JUST THEIR CHOICE.
GOD MOVED THEM OUT OF THE
WAY SO HE COULD BRING
SOMEONE BETTER.
THAT STRUGGLE WAS DIFFICULT,
YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG
BUT YOU HAD OPPOSITION AT
WORK, YOUR CHILD WOULDN'T DO
WHAT'S RIGHT; IT WASN'T FAIR
BUT WHAT YOU COULDN'T SEE IS
IT WAS GROWING YOU UP,
DEVELOPING YOUR CHARACTER,
GETTING YOU STRONGER, MORE
CONFIDENT, MORE DETERMINED.
WITHOUT IT YOU WOULDN'T BE
PREPARED FOR THE BLESSING,
THE INCREASE, THE NEW LEVELS
THAT ARE COMING YOUR WAY.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
YOU COULD LIVE WORRIED,
DISCOURAGED.
TRY A NEW APPROACH, "GOD I
DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I
TRUST YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE IN CONTROL,
YOU'RE WORKING ALL THINGS
FOR MY GOOD, SO I'M NOT
GOING TO LIVE UPSET, I'M
GOING TO STAY IN PEACE
KNOWING THAT YOU WILL GET ME
TO WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO
BE."
IN JOHN 13, JESUS WAS ABOUT
TO BE CRUCIFIED.
HE AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE
EATING DINNER TOGETHER AT
WHAT WE KNOW AS THE LAST
SUPPER.
THESE DISCIPLES HAD SPENT
THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH
JESUS, SEEING INCREDIBLE
MIRACLES, HIM HEAL THE SICK,
RAISE LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD,
FEED THOUSANDS WITH A LITTLE
BOY'S LUNCH.
THEY WERE WITH JESUS WHEN HE
MADE HIS TRIUMPHANT ENTRY
INTO JERUSALEM WITH PEOPLE
LINING THE STREETS,
SHOUTING, "HOSANNA."
IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE GREATER
THAN THEY EVER IMAGINED.
BUT THAT EVENING AS THEY
GATHERED FOR DINNER, THE
MOOD QUICKLY CHANGED.
JESUS TOLD THEM HOW HIS HOUR
HAD COME AND HOW HE WAS
GOING TO BE BETRAYED AND
CRUCIFIED.
INSTEAD OF PEOPLE
CELEBRATING, THEY WOULD MOCK
HIM.
AFTER DINNER JESUS TOOK A
BOWL OF WATER AND A TOWEL,
AND HE WASHED THE DISCIPLE'S
FEET.
HE SAID IN VERSE 7, "YOU
DON'T REALIZE NOW WHAT I'M
DOING, BUT ONE DAY YOU WILL
UNDERSTAND."
JESUS WAS TELLING THE
DISCIPLES IN EFFECT, "YOU'RE
GOING TO WALK THROUGH SOME
THINGS IN THE DAYS TO COME
THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
UP TO THIS POINT, THERE'S
BEEN PEOPLE CHEERING ME ON,
BUT NOW I'M ABOUT TO BE
BETRAYED.
THERE'S GOING TO BE
OPPOSITION, PERSECUTION, I
SAID I WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOU
BUT I'M ABOUT TO BE TAKEN
AWAY."
HE KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO
FEEL LONELY, CONFUSED,
AFRAID, SO HE TOLD THEM
RIGHT UP FRONT, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO UNDERSTAND IT NOW,
BUT ONE DAY YOU WILL.
LIKE THESE DISCIPLES, THERE
WILL BE TIMES IN LIFE THAT
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT
GOD IS DOING.
THINGS DON'T MAKE SENSE,
TROUBLE, DELAYS, CLOSED
DOORS, PEOPLE THAT BETRAYED
YOU, PRAYERS THAT HAVEN'T
BEEN ANSWERED.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE NOW,
BUT DON'T WORRY, ONE DAY
YOU'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND.
GOD IS GOING TO CONNECT ALL
THE DOTS.
HE DOESN'T ALLOW THINGS THAT
HE DOESN'T HAVE A PURPOSE
FOR.
THAT TROUBLE IS NOT A
SURPRISE TO GOD.
THE SICKNESS DIDN'T CATCH
HIM OFF GUARD.
THE CHILD GETTING OFF COURSE
IS NOT GOING TO STOP HIS
DESTINY.
GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE.
HE'S STILL ORDERING YOUR
STEPS.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT RIGHT NOW
BUT BEHIND THE SCENES GOD IS
LINING UP THINGS IN YOUR
FAVOR.
WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT TIME,
WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER
IT'S GOING TO WORK FOR YOUR
GOOD.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE HAND
OF GOD.
YOU'LL LOOK BACK AND SAY,
"IF THAT HADN'T OF HAPPENED,
I WOULDN'T HAVE THIS
POSITION.
IF THAT DOOR HADN'T OF
CLOSED, I WOULDN'T HAVE MET
THIS PERSON.
IF I HADN'T GONE THROUGH
THAT DIFFICULTY, I WOULDN'T
HAVE STEPPED UP TO THIS NEW
LEVEL."
NOW DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME
TRYING TO FIGURE EVERYTHING
OUT.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND
RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN'T SEE THE PLAN OF
GOD.
WE CAN'T FATHOM HOW HE DOES
THINGS.
WE THINK NATURAL, HE'S
SUPERNATURAL.
IF YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO
FIGURE IT OUT, IT'S GOING TO
FRUSTRATE YOU.
INSTEAD OF USING THAT ENERGY
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
HAPPENING, USE IT TO THANK
GOD THAT HE'S WORKING, THANK
HIM THAT HE'S FIGHTING YOUR
BATTLES, THANK HIM THAT HE'S
MAKING CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT, THANK HIM THAT
YOU'RE SURROUNDED WITH HIS
FAVOR.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GOD
WILL WORK OUT HIS PLAN FOR
YOUR LIFE."
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK IT
OUT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE
FRUSTRATED OVER WHAT'S NOT
HAPPENING, DISCOURAGED OVER
DISAPPOINTMENTS, YOU'RE NOT
DOING LIFE BY YOURSELF.
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
IS BREATHING IN YOUR
DIRECTION.
YOU KEEP HONORING HIM AND
HE'LL OPEN THE RIGHT DOORS,
HE'LL BRING THE RIGHT
PEOPLE, HE'LL TURN NEGATIVE
SITUATIONS AROUND.
HE'LL MAKE THINGS HAPPEN
THAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN.
HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE IS
MUCH BIGGER THAN YOUR OWN.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO STAY IN
FAITH YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO
TRUST WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
AFTER JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED,
I'M SURE THE DISCIPLES
THOUGHT, "WAS HE REALLY THE
SON OF GOD?
DID WE WASTE OUR TIME WITH
HIM?
I THOUGHT HE SAID HE WOULD
NEVER LEAVE US."
THERE WAS A TIME OF DOUBT,
CONFUSION, WHERE IT LOOKED
LIKE JESUS ABANDONED THEM.
BUT AS TIME WENT ON, THEY
BEGAN TO REALIZE THE
CRUCIFIXION WAS A PART OF
GOD'S PLAN, JUDAS' BETRAYAL
WAS A PART OF THE PLAN, THE
OPPOSITION, THE MOCKING, THE
RIDICULE IT ALL HAD TO
HAPPEN.
IT WAS LEADING TO
REDEMPTION, TO SALVATION.
ARE YOU FRUSTRATED BECAUSE
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT
GOD IS DOING?
UPSET BECAUSE THAT FRIEND
BETRAYED YOU, DISCOURAGED
OVER THE CONTRACT YOU LOST?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT
LEADING YOU TO YOUR DESTINY?
WITHOUT THE BETRAYAL WE
WOULDN'T HAVE SALVATION.
WITHOUT THAT SITUATION YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU
COULDN'T SEE THE FULLNESS OF
WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE.
SOMETIMES WE'RE TRYING TO
PRAY AWAY WHAT GOD IS GOING
TO USE TO TAKE US TO THE
NEXT LEVEL.
I KNOW IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE,
BUT THE BETRAYALS ARE
NECESSARY, THE LONELY NIGHTS
ARE NECESSARY, THE DELAYS,
THE STRUGGLES, IT'S ALL
NECESSARY.
IF JESUS COULDN'T REACH HIS
DESTINY WITHOUT THESE THINGS
THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE, THAT
WEREN'T FAIR, PEOPLE THAT
DID HIM WRONG, HOW CAN WE
REACH OUR DESTINY WITHOUT
THEM.
THE WAY TO STAY IN FAITH IS
TO RECOGNIZE IT'S ALL A PART
OF GOD'S PLAN.
IT'S NOT HAPPENING BY
ACCIDENT.
THE ENEMY DIDN'T SOMEHOW GET
THE CONTROLS OF YOUR LIFE,
WRESTLED THEM AWAY FROM GOD.
NOW GOD IS STANDING BY
HOPING THINGS WORK OUT.
GOD HAS YOU IN THE PALM OF
HIS HAND.
NOTHING CAN SNATCH YOU AWAY.
HIM BEING FOR YOU IS MORE
THAN THE WORLD BEING AGAINST
YOU.
IT'S VERY FREEING WHEN YOU
CAN SAY, "GOD I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I TRUST
YOU.
IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR, BUT
I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE
BITTER.
I'VE HAD SOME BAD BREAKS,
DISAPPOINTMENTS BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO GO AROUND SOUR.
I KNOW YOU'RE STILL IN
CONTROL AND YOU WILL WORK
OUT YOUR PLAN FOR MY LIFE."
A FRIEND OF MINE IS IN
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, HE
SPECIALIZES IN HOTELS.
HE'LL BUY THEM AND RUN THEM
FOR A FEW YEARS, THEN TURN
AROUND AND SELL THEM.
AT ONE POINT HE OWNED OVER
TWO HUNDRED HOTELS.
MOST OF THEM WERE SMALL IN
THE RURAL AREAS.
HIS DREAM WAS TO OWN A LARGE
HOTEL IN A MAJOR CITY.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, HE
HAD A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO
PURCHASE THIS PRESTIGIOUS
HOTEL IN NEW YORK CITY.
IT WAS IN A PREMIER
LOCATION, OVERLOOKING
CENTRAL PARK.
HE WAS SO EXCITED.
HE WORKED FOR MONTHS AND
MONTHS ARRANGING THE
FUNDING.
HE FOUND A PARTNER THAT
WOULD GO IN WITH HIM.
FINANCIALLY THIS WAS A HUGE
UNDERTAKING.
HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO
STRETCH AND LEVERAGE
EVERYTHING HE HAD, INCLUDING
HIS HOUSE.
FOR IT TO WORK, OCCUPANCY
HAD TO BE STRONG, BUSINESS
HAD TO BE GOOD, THIS WAS THE
ONLY WAY HE COULD MAKE THIS
HUGE PAYMENT.
AFTER OVER TWO YEARS OF
PUTTING IT TOGETHER, THIS
JANUARY HE WAS SUPPOSED TO
FINALLY CLOSE ON THE
PROPERTY, BUT AT THE LAST
MINUTE HIS BUSINESS PARTNER
BACKED OUT.
HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
HE SCRAMBLED TO FIND ANOTHER
LOAN, STRETCHED EVEN
FURTHER, NOW HE WAS WAY OVER
HIS HEAD.
THE DAY HE WENT TO CLOSING,
HIS BANK CALLED AND SAID
THEY'D CHANGED THEIR MIND
AND WOULDN'T LEND HIM THE
FUNDS.
HE WAS SO DISAPPOINTED.
THIS WAS HIS DREAM, A
PRESTIGIOUS HOTEL, TWO
YEARS' WORTH OF WORK, ALL
FOR NAUGHT.
HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
WHAT HE COULDN'T SEE WAS
THREE MONTHS LATER THIS
PANDEMIC WOULD HIT AND NEW
YORK CITY WOULD BE THE
EPICENTER.
ALL THE HOTELS HAD TO CLOSE,
NO INCOME, NO BUSINESS, NO
CUSTOMERS.
HE WOULD HAVE THIS HUGE
PAYMENT AND NO WAY TO MAKE
IT.
HE TOLD ME IF THAT DEAL
WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH, HE
WOULD BE BANKRUPT, HE WOULD
HAVE LOST ALL HIS OTHER
HOTELS.
HIS PERSONAL FINANCES WOULD
BE GONE.
SOMETIMES WHAT WE THINK IS A
BAD BREAK IS REALLY GOD
PROTECTING US.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT
GOD IS DOING NOW, BUT ONE
DAY YOU WILL UNDERSTAND.
ONE DAY YOU'LL SAY, "I'M
GLAD THAT DOOR DIDN'T OPEN,
I'M GLAD THAT PRAYER DIDN'T
GET ANSWERED, I'M GLAD THAT
RELATIONSHIP DIDN'T GET
STARTED."
I'M ASKING YOU TO TRUST WHEN
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
GOD CAN SEE THE BIG PICTURE
FOR OUR LIVES.
ALL WE CAN SEE IS A LITTLE
DOWN THE ROAD.
GOD KNOWS WHERE THE DEAD
ENDS ARE.
HE KNOWS WHERE THE SHORT
CUTS ARE.
HE'S ORDERING YOUR STEPS.
I USED TO JUST THANK HIM FOR
THE OPEN DOORS BUT NOW I
THANK HIM JUST AS MUCH FOR
THE CLOSED DOORS.
BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE MINE, I DON'T WANT IT.
IF GOD IS CLOSING A DOOR,
DON'T FIGHT IT.
IF YOU TRIED YOUR BEST AND
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, YES BE
PERSISTENT, BUT AT SOME
POINT, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT IT
AS GOD'S PLAN AND MOVE ON.
THAT'S A SIGN THAT GOD HAS
SOMETHING BETTER, SOMETHING
MORE FULFILLING, MORE
REWARDING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S
NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT MAY JUST MEAN THAT IT'S
NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
TOO OFTEN WE GET
DISCOURAGED, BITTER, IT'S
NOT FAIR.
BUT IF YOU BELIEVE GOD IS
ORDERING YOUR STEPS THEN
YOU'LL TRUST HIM WITH THE
OPEN DOORS AND TRUST HIM
WITH THE CLOSED DOORS.
YOU'LL TRUST HIM WITH THE
GOOD BREAKS AND TRUST HIM
WITH THE BAD BREAKS.
HOW WE RESPOND TO THESE
TESTS HAS A GREAT IMPACT ON
WHETHER NEW DOORS ARE GOING
TO OPEN, WHETHER WE SEE
THINGS TURN AROUND.
IF WE GO THROUGH
DIFFICULTIES DISCOURAGED,
"GOD WHY DID THIS HAPPEN,
WHY DID THEY DO ME WRONG,
WHY DID MY BUSINESS PARTNER
BACK OUT, WHY DID MY HEALTH
GO DOWN?"
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP US
WHERE WE ARE.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT JESUS
WASHED THE DISCIPLE'S FEET.
THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD.
PART OF THE ARMOR IS OUR
SHOES OF PEACE.
WHEN HE WASHED THEIR FEET,
HE WAS SAYING, "AS YOU GO
OUT AND WALK THROUGH THINGS
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, STAY
IN PEACE."
HE DIDN'T WASH THEIR EYES;
HE KNEW THEY WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO SEE WHAT HE WAS
DOING.
HE DIDN'T WASH THEIR EARS;
HE KNEW THEY WOULDN'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
SO, HE WASHED THEIR FEET AND
SENT THEM OUT INTO SOMETHING
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
IT'S LIKE US TODAY.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT
THIS YEAR WOULD TURN OUT
LIKE IT HAS?
A PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMY
SHUTTING DOWN, NOT ABLE TO
GO TO WORK, PEOPLE'S LIVES
PUT ON HOLD, SO MUCH
UNCERTAINTY, UNREST,
TENSION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE
DON'T UNDERSTAND, TROUBLE
THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN.
LIKE JESUS WASHED THE
DISCIPLES' FEET.
YOU'RE HIS DISCIPLE.
IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN
THERE, HE WOULD HAVE WASHED
YOUR FEET.
I CAN IMAGINE HIM DOING THAT
TODAY.
HE'S SAYING, "YOU'RE GOING
TO WALK THROUGH THINGS YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND, SEE
DIFFICULTIES THAT YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN.
THERE'S GOING TO BE PLENTY
OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE
UPSET AND AFRAID, BUT DON'T
WORRY, I'VE WASHED YOUR
FEET.
I'VE PREPARED YOU FOR WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO FACE.
I'VE ARMED YOU WITH STRENGTH
FOR THE BATTLE.
IT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE BUT
IT'S ALL A PART OF MY PLAN."
GOD IS GETTING YOU READY FOR
NEW LEVELS OF INFLUENCE, NEW
LEVELS OF FAVOR, NEW LEVELS
OF LEADERSHIP, NEW LEVELS OF
RESOURCES.
NOW MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR
SHOES OF PEACE ON.
DON'T PANIC OVER THE
PANDEMIC, DON'T FEAR THE
UNKNOWN, DON'T LOSE SLEEP
OVER WHAT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE.
GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU,
EMPOWERED YOU AND ANOINTED
YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN RAISED UP FOR
SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU
WILL PROSPER.
YOU KEEP WALKING IN FAITH,
TRUSTING WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND AND YOU'RE GOING
TO WALK INTO BLESSINGS,
FAVOR, HEALING, FREEDOM,
ABUNDANCE, VICTORY LIKE
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
I'VE LEARNED WHEN YOU STAY
IN FAITH WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND, YOU'RE GOING TO
COME INTO BLESSINGS THAT YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WHEN IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, YOU'RE
GOING TO COME IN TO FAVOR
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
COULD IT BE THAT THE
DISAPPOINTMENT YOU'RE SO
UPSET ABOUT IS REALLY A
BLESSING IN DISGUISE?
YOU CAN'T SEE IT BUT IT'S A
PART OF A DIVINE PLAN, A
CRITICAL PIECE THAT GOD IS
GOING USE YEARS DOWN THE
ROAD TO TAKE YOU WHERE
YOU'VE NEVER DREAMED.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT
SITUATION BY ITSELF DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE.
IT SEEMS RANDOM, JUST A BAD
BREAK WHEN IN FACT IT'S THE
HAND OF GOD SETTING YOU UP
FOR INCREASE.
WITHOUT THAT CHALLENGE YOU
WON'T SEE THE FAR AND BEYOND
FAVOR THAT BELONGS TO YOU.
TRUST HIM WHEN IT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT EASY.
WE DON'T LIKE CLOSED DOORS,
UNFAIR SITUATIONS, BEING
UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT GOD USES
THESE THINGS TO MOVE US INTO
OUR PURPOSE.
IT'S NOT JUST THE GOOD
BREAKS THAT WILL TAKE YOU
INTO YOUR DESTINY, THE
CLOSED DOORS ARE AS
IMPORTANT AS THE OPEN DOORS.
THE BETRAYALS ARE JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS THE DIVINE
CONNECTIONS.
GOD USES THEM ALL.
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THIS,
YOU WON'T LIVE UPSET WHEN
YOUR PLANS DON'T WORK OUT,
YOU WON'T GO AROUND SOUR
BECAUSE SOMEBODY DID YOU
WRONG.
YOU'LL STAY IN PEACE KNOWING
THAT GOD WOULDN'T HAVE
ALLOWED IT IF HE WASN'T
GOING TO USE IT FOR YOUR
GOOD.
IT MAY NOT FEEL GOOD, BUT
THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO
SHOW GOD WHAT YOU'RE MADE
OF.
ANYONE CAN BE HAPPY WHEN
THINGS ARE GOING THEIR WAY.
ANYONE CAN THANK GOD WHEN
DOORS ARE OPENING, BUT IF
YOU WANT TO PASS THIS TEST
AND SEE GOD'S FAVOR IN NEW
WAYS, YOU HAVE TO THANK HIM
WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK OUT,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SMILE
WHEN YOU COULD BE
COMPLAINING, BE GOOD TO
OTHERS WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT
BEING GOOD TO YOU.
THIS IS WHAT FAITH IS ALL
ABOUT.
NOT, "GOD I'LL TRUST YOU AS
LONG AS YOU KEEP ME HAPPY,
ANSWER MY PRAYERS, CHANGE MY
HUSBAND, MOVE MY BOSS, KEEP
ME IN THE A/C, IT'S HOT
OUTSIDE."
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT
THINKING IS GOD USES
DIFFICULTIES TO GET US TO
OUR DESTINY.
IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO BE
UNCOMFORTABLE AND KEEP A
GOOD ATTITUDE WHEN THINGS
DON'T WORK OUT, IT WILL KEEP
YOU FROM RISING HIGHER.
WHEN I WAS IN MY LATE
TWENTIES, I RECEIVED A
CERTIFIED LETTER IN THE MAIL
SAYING THAT WE HADN'T FILED
OUR TAX RETURNS PROPERLY AND
NOW WE OWED THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS.
THE MAN THAT DID OUR TAXES
LIVED IN ANOTHER STATE.
HE WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH A
CERTAIN LAW IN TEXAS.
NOW WE HAD THIS UNEXPECTED
BILL.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE ABOUT
HALF OF WHAT WE OWED WAS IN
PENALTIES.
WE WERE A YOUNG COUPLE,
SAVING UP FOR A DOWN PAYMENT
FOR A HOUSE.
THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE ALL
OUR FUNDS.
I THOUGHT, "GOD THIS IS NOT
FAIR.
WE HIRED A PROFESSIONAL.
HE MESSED UP AND NOW I'M
HAVING TO PAY FOR HIS
MISTAKE."
NOTHING ABOUT THAT SITUATION
SEEMED GOOD.
I THOUGHT, "IT'S JUST A BAD
BREAK, LETS PAY IT AND MOVE
ON."
WE ENDED UP FINDING A MAN
THAT HELPED US GET THAT
STRAIGHTENED OUT.
HE'S A TAX ATTORNEY.
HE CAME OVER TO OUR HOUSE
EVERY NIGHT FOR SEVERAL
WEEKS; WE FILED THE FORMS,
DID THE PAPERWORK.
WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS.
WE'D GO OUT TO EAT AND RUN
ERRANDS TOGETHER.
TEN YEARS LATER WHEN I WAS
WORKING FOR MY FATHER IN THE
TELEVISION DEPARTMENT AT
LAKEWOOD, SOMEONE OFFERED US
A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR
THE LAST FULL POWERED
TELEVISION STATION IN
HOUSTON.
TV STATIONS IN MAJOR CITIES
ARE VERY VALUABLE BUT I
DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO START.
I WAS YOUNG; I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT BUYING A
PERMIT FOR A TELEVISION
STATION.
THEN I THOUGHT, "I'LL CALL
MY FRIEND."
THE ONE I MET DURING THAT
TAX ISSUE.
THREE MONTHS LATER WE HAD A
SIGNED CONTRACT.
WE PUT THE STATION ON THE
AIR.
MY FATHER WENT TO BE WITH
THE LORD, AND I BECAME THE
PASTOR.
A FEW YEARS LATER WE
ACQUIRED THE COMPAQ CENTER.
IT WAS GOING TO COST A
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO
RENOVATE.
WE DECIDED TO SELL THE
STATION.
WE WERE TOLD BY AN EXPERT, A
MAN THAT SELLS MORE STATIONS
IN THE UNITED STATES THAN
ANYONE ELSE, THAT WE WOULD
GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
WE BELIEVED IT WAS WORTH
MUCH MORE, BUT HE WAS VERY
VOCAL ABOUT HOW IT WOULD
NEVER SELL FOR THAT AMOUNT
AND HOW WE WERE WASTING OUR
TIME TRYING TO GET THAT
MUCH.
HE GAVE US ALL THE REASONS
WHY IT WASN'T GOING TO
HAPPEN, THE MARKET WAS DOWN,
THERE WAS TOO MUCH SUPPLY,
TOO MANY STATIONS FOR SELL.
HE HAD ALL THE FACTS AS TO
WHY IT WASN'T AS VALUABLE,
AND WHY IT WASN'T GOING TO
ATTRACT A BUYER.
WE LET THAT GO IN ONE EAR
AND OUT THE OTHER.
DON'T LET PEOPLE TALK YOU
OUT OF WHAT GOD PUT IN YOUR
HEART.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TOO
MANY FACTS.
THEY HAVE TOO MUCH
INFORMATION.
DON'T LET THEIR DOUBT GET
OFF ON YOU.
GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY WHAT
THE EXPERTS SAY.
HIS FAVOR ON YOUR PROPERTY,
YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR GIFTS,
YOUR TALENTS WILL CAUSE
THINGS TO HAPPEN THAT
SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.
WE HAD A BUYER COME TO US
AND OFFER ALMOST TWICE WHAT
HE SAID WE WOULD NEVER GET.
WHEN HE HEARD THE FIGURE HE
NEARLY PASSED OUT.
WE SOLD THE STATION AND USED
THOSE FUNDS TO HELP RENOVATE
THE COMPAQ CENTER.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS NONE
OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IF I HAD NOT HAD THE TAX
PROBLEM SOME TWENTY YEARS
EARLIER.
I WAS DISCOURAGED BY IT, IT
WAS A BAD BREAK, IT WASN'T
MY FAULT.
I DIDN'T REALIZE GOD WAS
ORDERING MY STEPS, THAT WAS
A CRITICAL PIECE FOR ME TO
FULFILL MY DESTINY.
I THOUGHT BACK THEN IT WOULD
ONLY BE THE GOOD BREAKS,
OPEN DOORS, THINGS FALLING
INTO PLACE.
I DIDN'T KNOW GOD WOULD USE
DISAPPOINTMENTS, BAD BREAKS,
THINGS THAT WEREN'T FAIR.
LIKE JESUS TOLD THE
DISCIPLES, YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M DOING
NOW, BUT ONE DAY YOU WILL
UNDERSTAND.
NOW, LOOKING BACK, I CAN SEE
IT SO CLEARLY.
IF I HAD NOT HAD THE TAX
PROBLEM, I WOULD HAVE NEVER
MET THE ATTORNEY.
WITHOUT MY ATTORNEY FRIEND,
I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURSUED
THE TELEVISION STATION.
WITHOUT THE STATION, WE
WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE FUNDS
TO RENOVATE THE COMPAQ
CENTER.
I WONDER IF YOU'RE UPSET
ABOUT SOMETHING NOW, THAT
LATER ON YOU'RE GOING TO
REALIZE, IT HAD TO HAPPEN TO
GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINY.
YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT, IT
WASN'T FAIR, BUT GOD USED IT
TO CONNECT THE DOTS.
IT WAS INSTRUMENTAL.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE MET THE
PERSON, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN AT THE RIGHT PLACE, YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE SOLD THE
PROPERTY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
STARTED THE BUSINESS.
MAYBE LIKE WITH ME, WHAT
YOU'RE DISCOURAGED OVER NOW
IS REALLY A BLESSING.
YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT GOD IS UP
TO, BUT LATER ON YOU'RE
GOING TO UNDERSTAND.
GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO NEED TWENTY YEARS FROM
NOW.
A DISAPPOINTMENT TODAY, A
SETBACK, A BETRAYAL, YOU MAY
NOT SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT
FOR YOUR GOOD UNTIL YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD.
WHEN OUR DAUGHTER ALEXANDRA
WAS A LITTLE GIRL, SHE LOVED
TO PUT PUZZLES TOGETHER.
EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'D
GET A NEW PUZZLE AND WORK ON
IT.
SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE TWO
OR THREE DAYS TO COMPLETE.
INVARIABLY WE WOULD FIND A
PIECE THAT WOULDN'T FIT
ANYWHERE.
WE WOULD TRY EVERY OPTION.
PUT IT HERE, THERE, STILL
NOTHING.
I WAS CONVINCED THAT THE
MANUFACTURER MADE A MISTAKE.
THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG,
LEFT SOMETHING OUT.
THEY PUT THIS PIECE IN FROM
ANOTHER PUZZLE BECAUSE IT
DOES NOT FIT.
IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS EVERY
TIME WE GOT CLOSE TO THE END
AND MORE OF THE PIECES CAME
TOGETHER, ALL OF THE SUDDEN
THAT PIECE THAT I WAS SO
SURE WAS A MISTAKE WOULD FIT
PERFECTLY INTO PLACE.
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE ON ITS
OWN, I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE
PIECES TO COME TOGETHER.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME PIECES IN
YOUR LIFE THAT DON'T MAKE
SENSE.
"WHY DID I NOT GET THAT
PROMOTION I WORKED SO HARD
FOR, WHY DID I HAVE THAT TAX
ISSUE, IT WASN'T MY FAULT,
WHY DID THAT PERSON WALK OUT
OF A RELATIONSHIP?"
BY ITSELF THAT PIECE DOESN'T
FIT.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO
MAKE SENSE.
YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR OTHER
PIECES TO COME TOGETHER.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "ALL
THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR
GOOD."
GOD IS IN THE PROCESS OF
CONNECTING THE DOTS IN YOUR
LIFE.
BE PATIENT AND LET HIM WORK
OUT HIS PLAN.
TRUST HIM WHEN THE PIECE
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU YOUR
MANUFACTURER DIDN'T MAKE A
MISTAKE.
WHEN GOD DESIGNED THE PLAN
FOR YOUR LIFE, WHEN HE MADE
YOUR PUZZLE SO TO SPEAK, HE
DIDN'T ACCIDENTALLY PUT IN A
WRONG PIECE, SOMETHING THAT
DIDN'T FIT.
HE DIDN'T LEAVE SOMETHING
OUT.
YOU HAVE BEEN FEARFULLY AND
WONDERFULLY MADE.
EVERYTHING IS SERVING HIS
PLAN.
BUT HERE'S A KEY.
HE NEVER SAID, "YOU'RE GOING
TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT
I'M DOING.
IT'S ALL GOING TO MAKE
SENSE."
HE SAID, "MY WAYS ARE NOT
YOUR WAYS."
HE SAID, "WALK BY FAITH AND
NOT BY SIGHT."
YOU HAVE TO TRUST HIM WHEN
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
STAY IN FAITH WHEN IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
GOD IS WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT
NOW.
YOU'RE ON THE VERGE OF
SEEING HIM CONNECT SOME
DOTS.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE
DISCOURAGED, THIS IS THE
TIME TO STIR YOUR FAITH UP.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE, YOU'RE ABOUT TO
STEP INTO A NEW LEVEL OF
FAVOR, BREAKTHROUGHS,
HEALING, DIVINE CONNECTIONS.
THINGS YOU HAVEN'T
UNDERSTOOD IN THE PAST,
YOU'RE ABOUT TO UNDERSTAND.
GOD IS ABOUT TO BRING IT
TOGETHER, YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE WHAT HE WAS UP TO, IN
JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY 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 LIKE TO SEND YOU SOME
FREE INFORMATION.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN AND WE'LL GET IT TO
YOU.
I HOPE YOU GET INTO A GOOD
BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND KEEP
GOD FIRST PLACE.
HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOU
PLACES THAT YOU'VE NEVER
DREAMED.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
WE UPLOAD NEW
VIDEOS EVERY WEEK
TO KEEP YOU
INSPIRED AND
ENCOURAGED.
SO DON'T FORGET
TO HIT THE LIKE
BUTTON AND MAKE
SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE
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!
沒有留言:
張貼留言
你發現了這篇網誌的留言板，在這留點什麼吧|д･)