Beating Bitterness

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It's time 0:01:00.160 --> 0:01:02.200 to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 0:01:02.200 --> 0:01:04.840 you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 0:01:04.920 --> 0:01:07.119 respect when you take the next step in your life 0:01:07.120 --> 0:01:10.280 and career. Make it count with Purdue Global Produce Online 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:14.920 University for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:15.680 --> 0:01:19.240 Welcome to the Joe Lostine Podcast. Help leu's continue to 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:22.240 share the message of hope with those all over the world. 0:01:22.680 --> 0:01:26.119 Visit joeloostin dot com slash give Hope. 0:01:25.760 --> 0:01:28.560 To give a gift today. 0:01:38.640 --> 0:01:41.360 Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:44.080 your homes and if you're ever in our area, please 0:01:44.120 --> 0:01:46.800 stop buy and be a part of one of our services. 0:01:46.959 --> 0:01:49.600 These are the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, 0:01:49.680 --> 0:01:52.520 right here at Lakewood, and we'd love to have you sometime. 0:01:53.320 --> 0:01:55.320 I'd like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:01:55.360 --> 0:01:58.600 about this lady that was stopped at an intersection. A 0:01:58.680 --> 0:02:01.560 man came up asking from money. She dug in her 0:02:01.600 --> 0:02:04.600 purse and found a dollar bill. She rolled down her 0:02:04.600 --> 0:02:08.000 window said sir, I'm not giving you this because you 0:02:08.120 --> 0:02:11.080 deserve it. I'm giving it to you because it makes 0:02:11.160 --> 0:02:14.160 me happy. He looked at her and said, ma'am, why 0:02:14.160 --> 0:02:17.560 don't you give me twenty dollars and thoroughly enjoy yourself? 0:02:18.840 --> 0:02:21.359 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:02:21.680 --> 0:02:24.040 I am what it says. I am. I have what 0:02:24.080 --> 0:02:26.560 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:29.320 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:02:29.360 --> 0:02:33.400 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:02:33.520 --> 0:02:37.760 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:02:38.240 --> 0:02:41.440 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:45.520 about beating bitterness. We all go through things that are 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:49.320 not fair. People do us wrong. We didn't get the promotion, 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:53.440 came down with an illness. You can't stop life from 0:02:53.520 --> 0:02:57.440 happening to you, but you can choose how you respond. 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:00.760 If you hold on to the hurt, you go around 0:03:00.840 --> 0:03:03.960 dwelling on the offense, thinking why did they say that 0:03:04.040 --> 0:03:07.160 about me? Why did I lose my loved one? Why 0:03:07.160 --> 0:03:10.280 did that friend walk away? Then you're opening the door 0:03:10.360 --> 0:03:14.440 to bitterness. When you're bitter, it affects every area of 0:03:14.480 --> 0:03:19.000 your life. Bitterness poisons your attitude to where you see 0:03:19.000 --> 0:03:24.000 things in a negative light. Bitter people don't have good relationships. 0:03:24.360 --> 0:03:27.600 They're easily offended. They'll jump down your throat for the 0:03:27.680 --> 0:03:31.799 smallest thing. It's not you, it's the bitterness coming out. 0:03:32.400 --> 0:03:35.360 You may have a good reason to be bitter something 0:03:35.480 --> 0:03:38.960 was unfair, but holding on to it is only going 0:03:39.000 --> 0:03:41.920 to make it worse. It's going to steal your dreams, 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:45.240 rob you of your joy. Bitterness can keep you from 0:03:45.280 --> 0:03:48.880 your destiny. Now I know people that are still bitter 0:03:49.240 --> 0:03:53.440 over something that happened thirty years ago. Bitter because they 0:03:53.440 --> 0:03:57.680 were mistreated growing up, Bitter because a relationship didn't work out. 0:03:58.400 --> 0:04:01.920 You have to let it go. God sees what's happening. 0:04:02.400 --> 0:04:05.440 He knows what wasn't fair, He knows who walked away, 0:04:05.880 --> 0:04:08.080 and he knows how to make it up to you. 0:04:08.760 --> 0:04:11.520 He knows how to bring you out better. Let it 0:04:11.600 --> 0:04:16.480 go and trust him to be your vindicator. The longer 0:04:16.560 --> 0:04:19.599 you hold on, the harder it is to get rid of. 0:04:20.560 --> 0:04:23.359 The more you dwell on it, the more you relive it, 0:04:23.560 --> 0:04:26.120 the more you let it bother you, the deeper it 0:04:26.120 --> 0:04:31.560 gets planted. The key is forgive quickly. Let go of 0:04:31.640 --> 0:04:35.440 things you don't understand quickly. When the questions come up, 0:04:35.480 --> 0:04:38.640 why did this happen? This isn't fair when you feel 0:04:38.680 --> 0:04:42.159 the bitterness trying to take root. Right, then, God, I'm 0:04:42.160 --> 0:04:45.240 turning this over to you. I know you're my vindicator. 0:04:45.440 --> 0:04:47.920 I know you'll make my wrongs right. You said you'd 0:04:47.920 --> 0:04:51.880 give me beauty for these ashes I found. Bitterness is 0:04:51.960 --> 0:04:55.320 always knocking at the door. You didn't get the contract. 0:04:55.560 --> 0:04:58.640 Bitterness will come have a chip on your shoulder. That's 0:04:58.680 --> 0:05:03.040 not fair. The medical report wasn't what you wanted. Bitterness 0:05:03.080 --> 0:05:06.360 will show up. You prayed, you believe what didn't God 0:05:06.400 --> 0:05:10.120 answer your prayer. That's bitterness trying to come in at 0:05:10.120 --> 0:05:13.320 the office. A coal worker says something to try to 0:05:13.320 --> 0:05:15.880 make you look bad in front of people. Just a 0:05:15.920 --> 0:05:19.560 little offense, just a small seed. If you ignore it, 0:05:19.680 --> 0:05:22.839 no big deal. But if you start dwelling on it, 0:05:23.440 --> 0:05:26.359 start thinking of how you can pay them back next 0:05:26.360 --> 0:05:28.920 time you see them, you give them the cold shoulder, 0:05:29.440 --> 0:05:33.440 then that little seed will begin to take root. Before long, 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:37.440 it will grow and pollute other areas of your life. 0:05:37.560 --> 0:05:40.919 That's why it says in Hebrews, make sure that no 0:05:41.160 --> 0:05:46.359 root of bitterness springs forth and causes trouble, and many 0:05:46.600 --> 0:05:50.800 become contaminated by it. Notice it refers to bitterness as 0:05:50.839 --> 0:05:55.200 a root. You can't see a root. It's hidden, it's underground. 0:05:55.680 --> 0:05:59.640 But here's the problem. A bitter root produces bitter fruit. 0:06:00.440 --> 0:06:03.120 If you have a root of bitterness, it will contaminate 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:06.159 your life. Now. I know a young man that became 0:06:06.240 --> 0:06:09.960 disgruntled with his employer. His boss was an older man, 0:06:10.000 --> 0:06:13.400 and he didn't feel like he'd been treated fairly. He 0:06:13.480 --> 0:06:16.479 moved on to another state, but over the years he 0:06:16.560 --> 0:06:19.880 never let it go. He became more and more offended, 0:06:20.400 --> 0:06:23.400 kept talking about it, bringing up all the ways he 0:06:23.520 --> 0:06:27.200 wasn't treated right. His boss was good to him, he 0:06:27.279 --> 0:06:30.680 was generous and kind. There were just little things. This 0:06:30.760 --> 0:06:34.200 young man kept dwelling on, blowing it out of proportion 0:06:35.120 --> 0:06:39.680 because he wouldn't let it go. That small offense turned 0:06:39.680 --> 0:06:43.120 into a root of bitterness. He used to be happy, 0:06:43.560 --> 0:06:47.479 fun to be around. Now he's bitter, souring, has a 0:06:47.560 --> 0:06:51.960 chip on his shoulder. It's affecting his relationships, it's affecting 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:58.200 his career. Proverbs says, guard your heart with all diligence, 0:06:58.640 --> 0:07:02.200 for out of it flew the issues of life. One 0:07:02.200 --> 0:07:06.520 of our most important responsibilities is to keep our heart pure. 0:07:07.720 --> 0:07:12.320 Life is too short to live offended. Not forgiving bidder 0:07:12.400 --> 0:07:15.720 over what didn't work out. You have to guard your heart. 0:07:16.640 --> 0:07:19.840 It's easy to let what's on the outside get on 0:07:19.880 --> 0:07:24.080 the inside. It takes discipline to say, I'm not going 0:07:24.120 --> 0:07:26.440 to dwell on that offense. I'm not going to go 0:07:26.520 --> 0:07:30.000 around feeling sorry for myself because something didn't work out. 0:07:31.120 --> 0:07:35.600 You only have so much emotional energy each day. It's 0:07:35.640 --> 0:07:39.480 not an unlimited supply. Do you know how much energy 0:07:39.560 --> 0:07:42.960 it takes to hold a grudge, to go around offended. 0:07:43.720 --> 0:07:48.120 That's wasting valuable energy that you need for your dreams, 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:52.520 for your children, for your destiny. Quit letting what's on 0:07:52.600 --> 0:07:56.520 the outside get on the inside. Start guarding your heart. 0:07:57.240 --> 0:08:01.320 The apostle Paul had plenty of opportunities to live, he said, 0:08:01.360 --> 0:08:05.800 in one place, Alexander the Coppersmith did me great wrong. 0:08:06.440 --> 0:08:09.200 But I'm not worried. I know God will pay him back. 0:08:09.960 --> 0:08:13.240 That's a mature attitude. Somebody did me great wrong, but 0:08:13.280 --> 0:08:16.440 I'm not upset, not bitter, don't have a chip on 0:08:16.480 --> 0:08:19.760 my shoulder. I know God is fighting my battles. I 0:08:19.800 --> 0:08:23.840 know God will be my vindicator. What's interesting is you 0:08:23.880 --> 0:08:27.080 can't see a root, but a root is where the 0:08:27.120 --> 0:08:31.160 tree gets life. We see the outside, the leaves, the branches, 0:08:31.360 --> 0:08:34.679 but the roots are what's feeding the tree. When your 0:08:34.760 --> 0:08:42.240 roots are healthy, positive, hopeful, then that's feeding you encouragement, life, strength, hope. 0:08:42.920 --> 0:08:46.720 The problem is if you have bitter roots, you're not 0:08:46.840 --> 0:08:50.200 being fed the right things. You wonder why you don't 0:08:50.200 --> 0:08:53.800 have any energy, why you don't laugh anymore, why you 0:08:53.840 --> 0:08:57.680 don't dream like you used to, It's because those bitter 0:08:57.800 --> 0:09:03.240 roots are feeding you bitterness, self pity, anger. That's draining 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:06.760 all the strength, the passion, the joy. They're feeding you 0:09:06.960 --> 0:09:10.720 what they are. The good news is you don't have 0:09:10.880 --> 0:09:14.679 to live with bitter roots. You need to ask God 0:09:14.720 --> 0:09:19.000 to show you what's causing you to be bitter. Maybe 0:09:19.000 --> 0:09:22.720 there's somebody you need to forgive. Maybe it's a dream 0:09:22.800 --> 0:09:26.200 that didn't work out you're still sour about it. Maybe 0:09:26.240 --> 0:09:29.320 it's a mistake you made and you're still beating yourself up. 0:09:30.160 --> 0:09:34.080 If you'll be honest with yourself and say, God, help 0:09:34.160 --> 0:09:37.960 me to get rid of this root of bitterness. God, 0:09:38.000 --> 0:09:40.480 I'm still angry over what happened when I was ten, 0:09:41.240 --> 0:09:44.920 still sour over the person that left, still grieving over 0:09:44.960 --> 0:09:48.400 my loved one that I lost twelve years ago. God, 0:09:48.440 --> 0:09:51.280 I don't want to be bitter. I want my passion back. 0:09:51.760 --> 0:09:53.840 I want to love again like I used to. I 0:09:53.880 --> 0:09:56.800 want to dream again. God help me to let it 0:09:56.880 --> 0:10:01.080 go and move forward. That's the first step to getting 0:10:01.160 --> 0:10:04.320 rid of a bitter root. Find out what it is 0:10:04.840 --> 0:10:07.440 and ask God to help you. You can't do it 0:10:07.480 --> 0:10:11.200 on your own. Ask Him to help you. Forgive the 0:10:11.240 --> 0:10:14.360 person that hurt you. Ask him to help you release 0:10:14.440 --> 0:10:19.679 the bitterness, the resentment. When you get those contaminants out, 0:10:19.880 --> 0:10:22.360 you'll not only feel the weight lift off of you, 0:10:22.600 --> 0:10:25.880 but you'll get your joy back. You'll start dreaming again, 0:10:26.400 --> 0:10:28.760 and you'll see the new things God has in store. 0:10:29.920 --> 0:10:33.520 Years ago, there was a great outbreak of disease in 0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:37.480 a small village in Africa. People were being overcome by 0:10:37.559 --> 0:10:40.960 nausea and sickness. After a couple of months, it was 0:10:41.000 --> 0:10:44.800 so bad people started dying. Word quickly reached the main 0:10:44.920 --> 0:10:47.760 city and they sent out experts to try to find 0:10:47.760 --> 0:10:51.320 out what the problem was. After several days of testing, 0:10:51.720 --> 0:10:56.760 they discovered their water was contaminated. This little village got 0:10:56.800 --> 0:11:01.200 its water from a mountain stream. The researchers began to 0:11:01.200 --> 0:11:05.000 travel upstream to find out where the problem was. They 0:11:05.080 --> 0:11:08.080 traveled for days and days and didn't see anything wrong. 0:11:08.760 --> 0:11:12.560 They finally came to the source of the stream. Everything 0:11:12.679 --> 0:11:16.000 on the surface looked fine. They decided to send some 0:11:16.160 --> 0:11:19.840 divers down to get as close to the source as possible. 0:11:20.720 --> 0:11:24.920 Much to their surprise, they found a big mother pig 0:11:25.600 --> 0:11:28.880 and all of her piglets were stuck right there at 0:11:28.920 --> 0:11:32.400 the source. Somehow, the pigs had fallen in and drowned 0:11:32.640 --> 0:11:36.680 and became wedged right at the opening. Now all this 0:11:36.880 --> 0:11:41.760 crystal clear water was being contaminated as it flowed past 0:11:41.840 --> 0:11:45.400 the dead pigs. All they had to do was removed 0:11:45.440 --> 0:11:48.800 the pigs, and once again the water was perfectly fine. 0:11:49.520 --> 0:11:52.880 It's the same principle in life. We all have unfair 0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:58.320 things that happened, things we don't understand. Too often, instead 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:01.840 of forgiving the people that hurt us, instead of letting 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:05.360 go of the wrong, we've held on to it like 0:12:05.440 --> 0:12:10.720 those pigs. It's contaminated our stream. We wonder why we're negative, 0:12:11.320 --> 0:12:14.080 why we can't get along in relationships, why we keep 0:12:14.120 --> 0:12:17.439 losing our temper. We think this is just who I am. No, 0:12:17.920 --> 0:12:21.120 that is not who you are. You were created in 0:12:21.200 --> 0:12:25.920 the image of God. He made you to be happy, healthy, whole, secure, 0:12:26.280 --> 0:12:31.240 not bitter, angry, resentful. You need to go back and 0:12:31.360 --> 0:12:35.280 get rid of what's contaminating your stream. You need to 0:12:35.320 --> 0:12:38.960 find those pigs. Forgive the people that did you wrong. 0:12:39.720 --> 0:12:43.800 They hurt you once, don't let them continue to hurt you. 0:12:43.840 --> 0:12:47.240 They can't stop your destiny unless you allow them to. 0:12:48.240 --> 0:12:51.640 You're not forgiving for their sake, You're forgiving for your sake, 0:12:52.120 --> 0:12:56.920 so your stream doesn't stay polluted. Quit reliving that dream 0:12:56.960 --> 0:13:00.600 that didn't work out, that business, that failed contract that 0:13:00.600 --> 0:13:04.319 didn't go through. Let it go. God has another dream. 0:13:04.800 --> 0:13:07.560 That was a test. You had to go through those 0:13:07.640 --> 0:13:10.760 closed doors before you could come to your open doors. 0:13:11.559 --> 0:13:14.559 It may not have been fair, but God saw what happened. 0:13:15.120 --> 0:13:17.719 If you'll get rid of the pigs, if you'll turn 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:21.120 it over to him, start dreaming again, start believing again, 0:13:21.240 --> 0:13:24.920 start hoping again. God will pay you back for what 0:13:25.040 --> 0:13:28.440 didn't work out. He's going to open doors you never 0:13:28.520 --> 0:13:31.679 dreamed would open. He's going to bring people better than 0:13:31.720 --> 0:13:35.840 you ever imagine. What's in your future is much greater 0:13:36.040 --> 0:13:40.679 than anything you've lost. Now my challenge, don't let a 0:13:40.760 --> 0:13:44.960 dead pig keep you from your destiny. Don't let a 0:13:45.000 --> 0:13:49.080 bitter root contaminate your life. It's time to move forward. 0:13:49.920 --> 0:13:53.840 It's very free when you can let things go. Say God, 0:13:53.880 --> 0:13:57.120 they did me wrong, but you're my vindicator. I had 0:13:57.160 --> 0:14:00.520 a disappointment, but I know you'll turn what was meant 0:14:00.520 --> 0:14:03.080 for my harm and use it to my advantage. I 0:14:03.160 --> 0:14:06.320 lost a loved one. Yes I still miss them, but 0:14:06.400 --> 0:14:08.839 I'm not going to live bitter the rest of my life. 0:14:08.920 --> 0:14:11.600 I know they're with you, and you have a new 0:14:11.640 --> 0:14:15.880 beginning for me. That's how you beat bitterness. You guard 0:14:15.960 --> 0:14:19.200 your heart. You don't let what's on the outside get 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:23.480 on the inside. In the scripture, a lady named Naomi 0:14:23.760 --> 0:14:26.720 had some tough times. She was living in a city 0:14:26.760 --> 0:14:30.440 called Moab. She was a widow, her husband had died. 0:14:31.160 --> 0:14:35.720 Years later, both of her sons were killed. And sometimes 0:14:36.000 --> 0:14:39.360 life doesn't seem fair. You have more than your share 0:14:39.480 --> 0:14:42.680 of bad breaks. It's easy to get bitter and give 0:14:42.760 --> 0:14:46.160 up on your dreams. But God wouldn't have allowed it 0:14:46.400 --> 0:14:48.640 if it was going to keep you from your destiny. 0:14:49.400 --> 0:14:53.520 And yes it's difficult, but God promises he will give 0:14:53.560 --> 0:14:56.720 you grace for every season. He won't let you go 0:14:56.840 --> 0:15:00.640 through more than you can handle. When that bitterness you 0:15:00.720 --> 0:15:03.160 have to put your foot down and say no, I'm 0:15:03.160 --> 0:15:06.160 not going there. I know God is still in control. 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:09.600 I know his plans for me are for good. What 0:15:09.800 --> 0:15:13.280 you're going through may not be good, but God knows 0:15:13.360 --> 0:15:16.200 how to bring good out of it. But every thought 0:15:16.240 --> 0:15:18.360 will tell you it's never going to get better. You 0:15:18.440 --> 0:15:21.880 might as well be bitter. Don't believe those lies. You 0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:25.760 wouldn't be alive unless God had something amazing in front 0:15:25.760 --> 0:15:28.400 of you. He has a purpose for you to fulfill. 0:15:29.720 --> 0:15:32.680 Naomi had gone through so much she thought she was done. 0:15:33.280 --> 0:15:37.840 She even changed her name. Naomi means my joy. She 0:15:38.040 --> 0:15:42.560 changed it tomorrow. Marra means bitter. Now When people called 0:15:42.560 --> 0:15:45.600 her Naomi, she would tell them, don't call me that, 0:15:46.040 --> 0:15:51.080 call me Marrow. I'm bitter, I'm broken, my dreams are shattered. 0:15:51.240 --> 0:15:54.240 Just let me live in my pain. She let the 0:15:54.280 --> 0:15:57.960 bitterness get on the inside. Maybe she had a reason. 0:15:58.040 --> 0:16:01.040 She had been through a lot of losses. But just 0:16:01.120 --> 0:16:04.880 because you've been through loss doesn't mean you're not going 0:16:04.920 --> 0:16:08.320 to win again. Does it mean you've seen your best days? 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:12.480 You may have had bad breaks, but don't change your name. 0:16:13.200 --> 0:16:16.280 God is not finished with you. The enemy doesn't have 0:16:16.360 --> 0:16:21.840 the final say God does. Naomi moved back home to Bethlehem. 0:16:22.480 --> 0:16:25.200 Her daughter in law, Ruth, went with her. I can 0:16:25.280 --> 0:16:29.400 imagine when her friends saw they came running out. Naomi. 0:16:29.440 --> 0:16:32.480 I can't believe it's you, she said. Don't be happy 0:16:32.520 --> 0:16:36.520 for me. I went out full, but I'm coming home empty. 0:16:37.360 --> 0:16:39.280 She was saying, I went out with my husband, my 0:16:39.360 --> 0:16:42.680 two sons, but look now it's just me. Have you 0:16:42.760 --> 0:16:47.280 ever gone out full? Big dreams, big goals? But things 0:16:47.320 --> 0:16:50.280 didn't work out the way you had planned. The marriage 0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:54.440 didn't make it, pregnancy didn't last, contract didn't go through. 0:16:55.040 --> 0:16:58.600 Like Naomi, you could easily be bitter. But here's how 0:16:58.720 --> 0:17:02.840 merciful God is. Even though Naomi thought she was done, 0:17:03.320 --> 0:17:06.160 even though she gave up on her dreams, God said, 0:17:06.200 --> 0:17:10.359 in effect, Naomi, you started in joy, and you're going 0:17:10.440 --> 0:17:13.440 to finish in joy. You may have changed your name, 0:17:13.720 --> 0:17:17.200 but I didn't change your name. You had trouble in Moab, 0:17:17.480 --> 0:17:21.360 don't worry. I have a blessing waiting for you in Bethlehem. 0:17:22.320 --> 0:17:26.960 What's interesting is, even though Naomi changed her name, the 0:17:27.040 --> 0:17:32.840 scripture never refers to her as Morrow. It keeps calling her, Naomi, 0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:37.520 have you changed your name? So to speak, tomorrow. Are 0:17:37.560 --> 0:17:41.480 you living bitter, negative, thinking about everything that didn't work out. 0:17:42.040 --> 0:17:45.000 Do yourself a favor. Get rid of those names you 0:17:45.080 --> 0:17:48.399 put on yourself, and go back to being who God 0:17:48.480 --> 0:17:51.919 created you to be. God didn't change your name. He 0:17:52.080 --> 0:17:58.280 still calls you blessed, prosperous, favored, healthy, strong, victorious. Go 0:17:58.359 --> 0:18:01.760 back to your original name. You may have had trouble 0:18:01.840 --> 0:18:05.080 in Moabs, so to speak, but get ready. God has 0:18:05.119 --> 0:18:09.240 a blessing waiting for you in Bethlehem. Instead of sitting 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:13.399 around bitter, Naomi started helping her daughter in law Ruth. 0:18:13.960 --> 0:18:17.160 There was a man Ruth was interested in, and Naomi 0:18:17.200 --> 0:18:21.000 started giving her relationship advice. She told Ruth, put on 0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:24.320 this perfume, wear this outfit, and go see this man 0:18:24.400 --> 0:18:29.720 named Boas. Naomi turned her focus away from her own 0:18:29.840 --> 0:18:34.560 problems and started helping somebody else. Her joy began to 0:18:34.600 --> 0:18:38.159 come back. When you're tempted to be bitter, one of 0:18:38.240 --> 0:18:40.840 the best things you can do is get your mind 0:18:41.000 --> 0:18:45.359 off yourself and go be a blessing to others. Ruth 0:18:45.480 --> 0:18:49.520 ended up marrying Boas. They had a baby named Obed. 0:18:50.440 --> 0:18:54.440 When Naomi saw that little baby, she was so excited. 0:18:54.960 --> 0:18:58.800 It was like something breathed new life, new purpose back 0:18:58.840 --> 0:19:03.480 into her spirit. The scripture says a son was born 0:19:03.720 --> 0:19:07.600 to Naomi, wasn't even her baby, but she took that 0:19:07.680 --> 0:19:10.760 little baby and raised him like he was her own. 0:19:11.680 --> 0:19:16.480 This once bitter woman was now more fulfilled than ever. 0:19:17.000 --> 0:19:21.240 She never dreamed she would be that happy again. God 0:19:21.320 --> 0:19:26.080 is saying, my blessing is going to override your bitterness. 0:19:26.720 --> 0:19:29.359 My favor is going to make up for your pain. 0:19:30.080 --> 0:19:34.000 What God has planned for you cannot be stopped by people, 0:19:34.400 --> 0:19:38.560 by bad breaks, by loss, even if you change your name. 0:19:39.040 --> 0:19:42.360 God is so merciful, He's still going to do something amazing. 0:19:42.760 --> 0:19:45.120 He's still going to get you to where you're supposed 0:19:45.119 --> 0:19:50.560 to be. Mark sixteen. Jesus had just been crucified. Mary 0:19:50.600 --> 0:19:54.480 Magdalene and another Mary went to the tomb early one 0:19:54.520 --> 0:19:58.400 morning to put perfume on his body. They wondered how 0:19:58.440 --> 0:20:00.960 they were going to roll the stone away, but when 0:20:01.000 --> 0:20:04.840 they arrived, the stone was already moved. They walked in 0:20:04.920 --> 0:20:08.560 the tomb saw a young man dressed in white. Was 0:20:08.600 --> 0:20:12.760 an angel. They were afraid. He said to them, you're 0:20:12.800 --> 0:20:17.560 looking for Jesus, but he is not here. He has risen. 0:20:18.200 --> 0:20:22.320 He has gone ahead of you to Galilee. There you 0:20:22.400 --> 0:20:27.000 will see him. Notice he is not here, he is there. 0:20:27.800 --> 0:20:31.480 The angel was saying, in effect, I know this looks bad. 0:20:32.000 --> 0:20:35.320 I know you're hurting. I know you're disappointed. But don't 0:20:35.400 --> 0:20:40.479 stay here. Something better is waiting for you there. In 0:20:40.520 --> 0:20:44.760 other words, here is the disappointment, Here is the bad 0:20:44.800 --> 0:20:47.800 medical report, Here is the dream that didn't work out. 0:20:48.520 --> 0:20:52.080 If you stay here, you'll be discouraged. You have to 0:20:52.119 --> 0:20:57.200 go there. Sometimes the reason God doesn't comfort us in here, 0:20:57.920 --> 0:21:01.679 in the disappointment, is because He doesn't want us to 0:21:01.760 --> 0:21:06.200 stay where we are. Yes, the loss is painful, Yes, 0:21:06.280 --> 0:21:10.760 the setback wasn't fair. But God is not here. He's 0:21:10.840 --> 0:21:15.000 gone ahead. He's waiting for you there. God is not 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:18.639 in your past, in what you lost, in what didn't 0:21:18.640 --> 0:21:23.000 work out. He's in your future. Don't get stuck in here, 0:21:23.640 --> 0:21:28.359 Move forward into there. There is where vindication is. There 0:21:28.480 --> 0:21:31.440 is where new beginnings are. There is where you'll find 0:21:31.480 --> 0:21:34.879 your healing. If the two Marys would have stayed at 0:21:34.920 --> 0:21:38.240 the tomb in self pity, I can't believe this happened. 0:21:38.400 --> 0:21:41.040 They would have never seen the there, they would have 0:21:41.080 --> 0:21:44.160 never seen the Lord. Are you living in the here 0:21:44.840 --> 0:21:48.280 while God is waiting for you. There are you stuck 0:21:48.320 --> 0:21:52.760 in a disappointment, bitter over a bad break, angry over 0:21:52.800 --> 0:21:56.359 what didn't work out. It's time to leave here and 0:21:56.440 --> 0:22:00.000 go there. There is where God is waiting for you. 0:22:00.119 --> 0:22:04.840 There is where the blessing is. The disappointment is simply 0:22:04.920 --> 0:22:08.720 a season. It's not the rest of your life. God 0:22:08.760 --> 0:22:11.760 has already gone ahead. God has already lined up the 0:22:11.800 --> 0:22:16.520 next chapter. Your house was damaged in the storm, that's here. Yes, 0:22:16.600 --> 0:22:20.280 that's disappointing. The good news is God has gone ahead. 0:22:20.640 --> 0:22:24.520 He's waiting for you there. He has restoration already lined up. 0:22:25.560 --> 0:22:27.919 This is what my father had to do. He'd been 0:22:28.040 --> 0:22:31.720 pastoring a church for many years and he was very successful, 0:22:32.119 --> 0:22:35.119 had just built a beautiful new sanctuary. He was on 0:22:35.160 --> 0:22:38.320 the state board for his denomination. On his way up, 0:22:39.080 --> 0:22:42.520 my sister Lisa was born with something like cerebral palsy. 0:22:43.320 --> 0:22:46.359 My dad began to search the scriptures in a new way. 0:22:47.160 --> 0:22:50.360 He found how God is a healer and how he 0:22:50.400 --> 0:22:54.560 came that we might live an abundant, victorious life. He 0:22:54.640 --> 0:22:59.480 started sharing that with his congregation, but much to his surprise, 0:23:00.080 --> 0:23:04.120 they didn't like his new message of faith, victory and healing. 0:23:04.600 --> 0:23:09.400 It didn't fit in their denominational teaching. Back then, people 0:23:09.680 --> 0:23:13.280 my father had known for years suddenly turned on him. 0:23:14.160 --> 0:23:18.679 Lifelong friends wouldn't speak to my parents anymore. My father 0:23:18.800 --> 0:23:22.160 ended up having to lead that church. Was so disappointed. 0:23:22.640 --> 0:23:25.680 Never dreamed he'd have to start all over. He could 0:23:25.720 --> 0:23:29.119 have been bitter. God, why'd you let this happen? I 0:23:29.200 --> 0:23:33.280 was being my best, I was honoring you like Mary. 0:23:33.320 --> 0:23:36.960 He was in the here. He didn't understand it, and yes, 0:23:37.080 --> 0:23:40.879 the here wasn't fair. But what he couldn't see was 0:23:40.920 --> 0:23:44.800 God had already gone ahead. God had already lined up 0:23:44.920 --> 0:23:49.520 Lakewood and was waiting for him there. If my father 0:23:50.080 --> 0:23:52.680 would have stayed in the here, he would have missed 0:23:52.720 --> 0:23:57.919 his destiny. He left that church started Lakewood with ninety people. 0:23:58.320 --> 0:24:00.920 That was over fifty years ago. Here we are still 0:24:00.920 --> 0:24:03.080 going strong. What am I saying? 0:24:04.000 --> 0:24:04.080 That? 0:24:04.280 --> 0:24:09.520 Here is not the end? The disappointment, the loss, the betrayal, 0:24:10.040 --> 0:24:15.000 that's temporary. God has already gone ahead. Don't let bitterness 0:24:15.000 --> 0:24:18.840 hold you back, don't sit around in self pity. Move 0:24:19.000 --> 0:24:23.080 forward into there. There is where God will pay you back. 0:24:23.600 --> 0:24:25.960 There is where he'll do more than you can ask 0:24:26.040 --> 0:24:29.440 or think. Luke fifteen is the story of the prodigal Son. 0:24:30.000 --> 0:24:33.480 This young man took his inheritance and left home. He 0:24:33.600 --> 0:24:38.560 wasted all of his money living wild, partying, making poor decisions. 0:24:39.040 --> 0:24:42.240 Finally came to his senses and decided to go back home. 0:24:42.800 --> 0:24:45.560 His father came running out to meet him and welcomed 0:24:45.600 --> 0:24:48.399 him with open arms. He was so glad to have 0:24:48.480 --> 0:24:51.560 his son back. He told his staff to go kill 0:24:51.600 --> 0:24:55.120 the fatted calf. They were going to have a party. Well. 0:24:55.160 --> 0:24:58.880 The older brother was out in the field working when 0:24:58.880 --> 0:25:02.320 he heard all the music the dancing. He asked someone 0:25:02.640 --> 0:25:06.600 what the celebration was all about. They told him, your 0:25:06.640 --> 0:25:10.080 brother has come home. We're having a party to welcome 0:25:10.160 --> 0:25:15.119 him back. Verse twenty eight says the older brother became 0:25:15.359 --> 0:25:20.120 angry and refused to go in. His father came out 0:25:20.400 --> 0:25:23.960 pleaded with him, Come on, son, come in, your brother 0:25:24.080 --> 0:25:27.680 is back home. He said, Dad, I've worked for you 0:25:27.840 --> 0:25:32.320 all these years, been slaving away. I always do what 0:25:32.400 --> 0:25:35.879 you ask, but you've never given me a skinny goat, 0:25:36.560 --> 0:25:39.439 and yet you go and kill a fatted calf for 0:25:39.560 --> 0:25:43.359 after all he's done. You can hear the bitterness in 0:25:43.400 --> 0:25:46.480 his spirit. It's not fair. He haven't treated me right. 0:25:46.480 --> 0:25:50.360 I'm not coming into your party. Here's my point. The 0:25:50.400 --> 0:25:55.240 party went on without him. His bitterness didn't stop the party. 0:25:55.600 --> 0:26:00.120 It just kept him from going into the party. Sometimes 0:26:00.400 --> 0:26:05.320 we're holding on to unforgiveness, anger, resentment, thinking that it's 0:26:05.359 --> 0:26:09.040 hurting the other person. The truth is, the party is 0:26:09.080 --> 0:26:13.119 still going on. It's just hurting us. Are you letting 0:26:13.160 --> 0:26:16.720 bitterness keep you out of the party. Are you letting 0:26:16.720 --> 0:26:21.200 a disappointment keep you from enjoying today? Why don't you 0:26:21.320 --> 0:26:24.720 let it go and come on into the party. Life 0:26:24.760 --> 0:26:29.199 is happening, there's a celebration going on. Today is a gift. 0:26:29.520 --> 0:26:32.359 Don't let a bad childhood keep you out of the party. 0:26:33.040 --> 0:26:36.760 Don't let a divorce a breakup cause you to be 0:26:36.880 --> 0:26:40.080 sour and sit on the sidelines. Come into the party. 0:26:40.720 --> 0:26:45.879 Start dreaming again, start loving again, start believing again. We 0:26:45.960 --> 0:26:49.200 have no guarantee that we're going to be here tomorrow. 0:26:49.920 --> 0:26:53.520 Life is fragile. Time is too short to live offended, 0:26:53.880 --> 0:26:57.399 bitter in self pity. God knows what you didn't get. 0:26:57.800 --> 0:27:00.239 Quit trying to get people to pay you back, and 0:27:00.280 --> 0:27:02.359 go to God and he'll make it up to you. 0:27:03.600 --> 0:27:06.920 If you'll come into the party, if you'll get rid 0:27:06.960 --> 0:27:11.200 of what's contaminating you. I believe and declare you're going 0:27:11.240 --> 0:27:16.320 to experience a new sense of freedom, better relationships, greater joy, 0:27:16.640 --> 0:27:21.080 clearer vision. I declare that every root of bitterness is 0:27:21.119 --> 0:27:24.920 coming out right now. You're going to rise higher, live happier, 0:27:25.280 --> 0:27:28.920 and reach the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. 0:27:29.359 --> 0:27:31.639 And if you receive it, can you say amen? Today? 0:27:33.440 --> 0:27:36.120 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:27:36.160 --> 0:27:38.800 the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:27:39.560 --> 0:27:45.080 Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 0:27:45.080 --> 0:27:48.880 into my heart. I'll make you my lord and savior. 0:27:50.400 --> 0:27:52.960 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:53.000 --> 0:27:56.400 born again. Get in a good Bible based church, keep 0:27:56.440 --> 0:28:00.120 God first place. Victorian, I'll be right back to speak 0:28:00.119 --> 0:28:01.080 a blessing over you. 0:28:03.359 --> 0:28:05.720 As a thank you for your support of our ministry 0:28:05.720 --> 0:28:08.280 this month, Joel and Victoria would like to send you 0:28:08.320 --> 0:28:15.280 a copy of Joel's new four part interactive resource Experience Experience, Experience, Experience, Purpose, 0:28:15.480 --> 0:28:21.360 Her Experience, Passion, Passion and Experience Joy genuis you never imagine? 0:28:21.880 --> 0:28:25.840 Get ready to experience God's best for your life. 0:28:25.920 --> 0:28:28.200 I found the more ways you get God's word in you, 0:28:28.359 --> 0:28:30.840 the more it stays with you. This is a great 0:28:30.880 --> 0:28:34.080 tool you can read, watch, and listen to. It will 0:28:34.080 --> 0:28:36.680 help you grow and experience the goodness of God. 0:28:36.880 --> 0:28:39.280 My father used to say, if you'll put God's word 0:28:39.320 --> 0:28:41.200 in you when you don't need it, then it will 0:28:41.240 --> 0:28:44.120 be there when you do need it. Request this resource. 0:28:44.240 --> 0:28:46.320 It will help build your faith so you can live 0:28:46.360 --> 0:28:48.680 a life of purpose, passion, and joy. 0:28:49.000 --> 0:28:52.880 Request your copy of Experience today at Joel Loustein dot 0:28:52.920 --> 0:28:55.800 com or call eight eight eight five six seven. 0:28:56.040 --> 0:29:03.240 Joel is changing lives. Thanks for being a part of 0:29:03.280 --> 0:29:07.240 the ministry. Your prayer, your generosity is what's helping to 0:29:07.280 --> 0:29:10.320 make a difference all over the world. Know that Victoria 0:29:10.360 --> 0:29:13.320 and I pray for you every day. We're believing you're 0:29:13.360 --> 0:29:17.240 going to see God's goodness in great, great ways. Don't forget. 0:29:17.320 --> 0:29:19.560 I have a new book out. It's called Blessed in 0:29:19.600 --> 0:29:22.160 the Darkness. Hope you'll pick up a coffee for you 0:29:22.320 --> 0:29:25.520 and a friend. You'll really enjoy it until we meet again. 0:29:26.040 --> 0:29:30.640 Know that you're blessed, you're redeemed, you're forgiven, you're talented. 0:29:31.120 --> 0:29:33.880 Have a great week knowing that you're a child of 0:29:33.920 --> 0:29:35.440 the most high god. 0:29:45.600 --> 0:29:49.800 Nice buns, soft, fluffy and ultra low net carbs. Discover 0:29:49.960 --> 0:29:53.880 hero Bread the delicious ultra low net carbbread with incredible 0:29:53.920 --> 0:29:57.240 taste and texture. 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