Don't Give Away Your Joy

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:03.040 Are you ready to move your career forward? Make your 0:00:03.040 --> 0:00:06.560 comeback with Purdue Global and get college credit for your work, school, life, 0:00:06.640 --> 0:00:09.760 or military experiences. With these credits, you may have already 0:00:09.760 --> 0:00:12.560 completed up to seventy five percent of your undergraduate degree. 0:00:12.640 --> 0:00:14.720 You've worked hard to get where you are. It's time 0:00:14.720 --> 0:00:16.880 to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 0:00:16.880 --> 0:00:19.520 you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 0:00:19.600 --> 0:00:21.799 respect when you take the next step in your life 0:00:21.800 --> 0:00:25.480 and career. Make account with Purdue Global produce online University 0:00:25.520 --> 0:00:29.600 for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:00:30.640 --> 0:00:33.360 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:33.400 --> 0:00:36.479 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:36.640 --> 0:00:39.239 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:39.280 --> 0:00:41.960 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:00:42.000 --> 0:00:57.840 for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 0:00:58.040 --> 0:01:00.360 It's always a joy to come into your home. And 0:01:00.720 --> 0:01:03.040 if you're ever in our area, stop buying be a 0:01:03.080 --> 0:01:05.640 part of one of our services. I promise you we'll 0:01:05.640 --> 0:01:08.039 make you feel right at home. These are the finest 0:01:08.040 --> 0:01:10.720 people in all of Houston, Texas, right here at Lakewood 0:01:10.800 --> 0:01:14.240 so come be apart. Thanks for tuning in, and thank 0:01:14.280 --> 0:01:16.559 you again for coming out. And I like to start 0:01:16.560 --> 0:01:20.200 with something funny and heard about this minister. He parked 0:01:20.240 --> 0:01:23.679 in a no parking zone downtown in a large city, 0:01:23.720 --> 0:01:26.600 and he left a note on the windshield said, Officer, 0:01:26.959 --> 0:01:30.679 I've circled this block ten times. If I don't park here, 0:01:30.840 --> 0:01:33.760 I'm going to miss my appointment. Big letters, he wrote, 0:01:33.959 --> 0:01:37.840 forgive us our trespasses. Returned to his car and he 0:01:37.880 --> 0:01:40.839 found he had a ticket. Officer had written him a note. 0:01:40.840 --> 0:01:43.360 It said, sir, I've circled this block. 0:01:43.160 --> 0:01:44.120 For ten years. 0:01:44.640 --> 0:01:46.720 If I don't give you a ticket, I could lose 0:01:46.760 --> 0:01:50.840 my job, big letters, he wrote. Lead us not into temptations. 0:01:52.320 --> 0:01:54.800 Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:57.840 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:58.360 --> 0:02:00.640 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:00.760 --> 0:02:03.160 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:03.240 --> 0:02:06.800 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:06.880 --> 0:02:10.040 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:10.160 --> 0:02:14.799 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:02:14.840 --> 0:02:18.240 to talk to you today about not giving away your joy. 0:02:18.919 --> 0:02:23.919 We have opportunities every day to get upset to go around, frustrated, 0:02:24.440 --> 0:02:28.520 can't find the car keys, traffic is backed up, or 0:02:28.520 --> 0:02:31.400 maybe somebody was rude to us, or what should have 0:02:31.480 --> 0:02:34.960 taken an hour ended up taking four hours. There will 0:02:35.000 --> 0:02:38.960 always be something that can sour our day. If we're 0:02:39.000 --> 0:02:41.640 going to live in victory, we have to have the 0:02:41.720 --> 0:02:45.680 right approach to life. I've heard it said life is 0:02:45.800 --> 0:02:50.000 ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how 0:02:50.000 --> 0:02:54.600 you respond. Some people are frustrated because they're trying to 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:57.840 control the ten percent. They're not going to be happy 0:02:57.919 --> 0:03:02.040 unless everything goes their way, everybody treats them right, all 0:03:02.080 --> 0:03:06.120 their plans work out. That's the wrong approach. You can't 0:03:06.120 --> 0:03:09.440 control the traffic, what your neighbor does, or how your 0:03:09.480 --> 0:03:13.440 boss treats you. All you can control is your own response. 0:03:14.240 --> 0:03:17.840 That's where the power lies, not in trying to control 0:03:17.960 --> 0:03:22.200 everybody and everything. I hear people say, I'd be happy 0:03:22.600 --> 0:03:26.200 if my spouse treated me better. I'd be happy if 0:03:26.240 --> 0:03:30.480 my boss would move to another planet. I'd be happy 0:03:30.520 --> 0:03:31.680 if I didn't have to sit. 0:03:31.520 --> 0:03:32.520 In traffic every day. 0:03:32.600 --> 0:03:36.320 Joel, No, you're allowing what you can't control to sour 0:03:36.400 --> 0:03:36.840 your life. 0:03:37.360 --> 0:03:39.080 You have to change your approach. 0:03:39.840 --> 0:03:42.520 The first part of the day, before we get out 0:03:42.560 --> 0:03:45.560 of bed, we need to make a decision that no 0:03:45.640 --> 0:03:48.520 matter what comes our way, we are not going to 0:03:48.560 --> 0:03:52.440 get upset. No matter what somebody says, We're not going. 0:03:52.280 --> 0:03:52.960 To be offended. 0:03:53.640 --> 0:03:56.760 No matter what interruption or delay, we're not going to 0:03:56.800 --> 0:04:00.760 be sour. The key is to decide ahead of time. 0:04:01.480 --> 0:04:05.840 Then when life happens, traffic is worse than normal, your 0:04:05.920 --> 0:04:09.000 children forget their homework at school, your wife is in 0:04:09.000 --> 0:04:13.480 one of those moods. Somebody said, PMS means pretty mean, sister. 0:04:15.440 --> 0:04:18.400 When your plans don't work out, it's no big deal. 0:04:18.480 --> 0:04:21.560 You've already decided this is the day the Lord has made. 0:04:21.720 --> 0:04:24.200 You're going to live it happy. But you can't wait 0:04:24.320 --> 0:04:26.360 till you're in the heat of the battle. It's too late. 0:04:26.640 --> 0:04:29.599 You've got to decide ahead of time. Then when things 0:04:29.640 --> 0:04:33.159 come against you, you're prepared. Your mind is already made up. 0:04:33.720 --> 0:04:36.400 But too often we think, God, if you just change 0:04:36.440 --> 0:04:40.960 these people, change these circumstances, then I could be happy. 0:04:41.000 --> 0:04:44.080 But the fact is, you could take someone with the 0:04:44.160 --> 0:04:48.080 right approach and put them in your same situation. They 0:04:48.080 --> 0:04:51.680 wouldn't be upset, they wouldn't be stressed, they'd be at peace, 0:04:52.320 --> 0:04:55.719 enjoy in life. Why they know God is in control, 0:04:56.200 --> 0:04:59.320 that he's directing their steps, that all things are going 0:04:59.360 --> 0:05:02.480 to work together for their good. They've already made this 0:05:02.600 --> 0:05:05.760 decision that no matter what comes their way, they're going 0:05:05.839 --> 0:05:08.560 to live their life happy. And if you just make 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:13.680 this simple adjustment, then what's upsetting you now doesn't have 0:05:13.760 --> 0:05:17.120 to upset you any longer. You have the power to 0:05:17.160 --> 0:05:20.160 be happy right where you are. That's what Jesus said 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:21.680 in John sixteen twenty two. 0:05:22.320 --> 0:05:24.240 No man can take your joy. 0:05:25.160 --> 0:05:29.960 That means other people cannot make you be unhappy. No 0:05:30.120 --> 0:05:34.320 circumstance can force you to get upset. Nothing can take 0:05:34.400 --> 0:05:37.680 your joy. You have to give it away. You're in 0:05:37.800 --> 0:05:42.000 complete control of your happiness. Somebody is rude to you, 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:43.720 what they're really saying is. 0:05:43.880 --> 0:05:44.839 Give me your joy. 0:05:45.640 --> 0:05:48.599 Somebody cuts you off in traffic, Let me have your joy. 0:05:49.440 --> 0:05:52.360 Somebody ignores you, leaves you out of a meeting. They're 0:05:52.400 --> 0:05:56.160 asking for your joy. You have a choice. You can 0:05:56.200 --> 0:06:01.560 give it to them, go around upset, frustrated, offended, or 0:06:01.680 --> 0:06:04.680 you can make a much better decision and say no, thanks, 0:06:04.960 --> 0:06:08.320 I need my joy. Not going to get upset because 0:06:08.320 --> 0:06:10.880 you were rude. I'm not going to be offended because 0:06:10.880 --> 0:06:13.520 you didn't speak to me. I'm going to be frustrated 0:06:13.520 --> 0:06:16.600 because you cut me off in traffic. I've already made 0:06:16.640 --> 0:06:19.040 up my mind. I'm going to live this day happy. 0:06:19.720 --> 0:06:22.840 I'll give you mercy. I'll give you an understanding. I'll 0:06:22.880 --> 0:06:23.320 give you the. 0:06:23.240 --> 0:06:24.200 Benefit of the doubt. 0:06:24.520 --> 0:06:27.719 But one thing I will not give you is my joy. 0:06:28.800 --> 0:06:31.719 While back, I was in a parking lot, driving around 0:06:31.800 --> 0:06:35.560 and around looking for a parking spot. Finally, this couple 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:37.960 came out of the store and headed toward their car. 0:06:38.720 --> 0:06:41.080 I had to guess which i'll I thought they were 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:43.240 going to be on, and just so happened, I turned 0:06:43.240 --> 0:06:46.200 down the right one. They were parked at the very 0:06:46.520 --> 0:06:49.240 first spot, closest to the store. Of course, I thought, 0:06:49.240 --> 0:06:52.200 thank you Lord for your favor. I was waiting there, 0:06:52.680 --> 0:06:55.039 But when they backed out, a car came from the 0:06:55.080 --> 0:06:58.760 main road and pulled in going the wrong direction and 0:06:58.800 --> 0:07:02.560 got that spot I've been waiting the whole time. My 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:07.039 first inclination was to haunt my horn, give them a 0:07:07.040 --> 0:07:10.280 piece of my mind. Then I remembered I'm a pastor 0:07:10.320 --> 0:07:14.760 of a church. I had to do what I'm asking 0:07:14.800 --> 0:07:17.800 you to do, I thought, No, I've already made up 0:07:17.800 --> 0:07:20.480 my mind. I'm not going to get upset today. I'll 0:07:20.520 --> 0:07:22.480 give them the parking spot, but. 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:23.960 I'm not going to give them my joy. 0:07:24.640 --> 0:07:27.840 When you're tempted to be upset, somebody does you wrong. 0:07:28.080 --> 0:07:31.480 You need to ask yourself, is this worth me giving 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:34.400 up my joy over they've already done me wrong? 0:07:34.600 --> 0:07:36.160 Am I going to make it worse. 0:07:36.040 --> 0:07:39.840 By letting them sour my whole day? And some people 0:07:39.880 --> 0:07:44.160 wonder why they're not happy, It's because they gave away 0:07:44.280 --> 0:07:47.600 joy when they couldn't find their car keys, gave away 0:07:47.680 --> 0:07:50.120 joy when they heard they had to work late, gave 0:07:50.160 --> 0:07:52.360 away more joy when they found out somebody was. 0:07:52.360 --> 0:07:53.600 Talking about them. 0:07:54.000 --> 0:07:57.720 It's not their circumstances that are keeping them from being happy. 0:07:58.080 --> 0:08:01.400 It's the fact that they keep giving away their joy. 0:08:01.640 --> 0:08:04.840 And friend's life is way too short to let these 0:08:05.000 --> 0:08:09.720 interruptions and irritations to keep us from being happy. We're 0:08:09.760 --> 0:08:12.360 never going to get away from them. You can't just 0:08:12.400 --> 0:08:15.600 pray them away. It's a part of life, and it's 0:08:15.760 --> 0:08:18.160 very freeing when you learn this principle. 0:08:18.440 --> 0:08:20.160 I don't have to give away my joy. 0:08:20.680 --> 0:08:24.160 There's nothing people can say, nothing they can do, no 0:08:24.400 --> 0:08:28.920 circumstance can keep me from living this day happy. Now, 0:08:29.040 --> 0:08:32.520 take inventory of your life. What are you allowing to 0:08:32.640 --> 0:08:37.160 upset you, what's causing you to be stressed, Identify what 0:08:37.280 --> 0:08:40.920 it is, and then make the decision to change your approach. 0:08:41.920 --> 0:08:45.160 A lot of times it's a small thing that we're 0:08:45.200 --> 0:08:46.679 making a big deal out of. 0:08:47.520 --> 0:08:48.760 Keep the right perspective. 0:08:49.280 --> 0:08:52.200 Is it really worth losing your joy because you couldn't 0:08:52.240 --> 0:08:56.000 find the remote control to the television, or your spouse 0:08:56.080 --> 0:08:58.280 didn't pick up his clothes like you ask him to 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:01.520 your child for God is lunch, you had to run 0:09:01.559 --> 0:09:04.600 back to the school. You're going to be inconvenience for 0:09:04.640 --> 0:09:07.080 fifteen minutes. That's a small thing. 0:09:07.600 --> 0:09:11.040 Don't give up your joy over that. I love this story. 0:09:11.040 --> 0:09:13.720 My brother Paul told he and his wife Jennifer have 0:09:14.080 --> 0:09:17.079 four beautiful children, and a few years back they were 0:09:17.120 --> 0:09:20.600 all under the age of seven. If you have small children, 0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:23.080 you know how hectic and stressful that can be. 0:09:23.160 --> 0:09:23.280 It. 0:09:23.840 --> 0:09:27.080 One of Paul's pet peeves is he always likes to. 0:09:26.960 --> 0:09:30.080 Be on time. He does not want to be late. 0:09:30.640 --> 0:09:33.160 One day, they had this important event to go to. 0:09:33.960 --> 0:09:37.960 Paul started way early an hour before, helping to get. 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:39.640 The kids dressed and ready to go. 0:09:40.080 --> 0:09:42.959 But when it came time to leave, everything that could 0:09:42.960 --> 0:09:45.960 go wrong. Did one of the children spilled something on 0:09:46.000 --> 0:09:48.840 their dress. They had to turn around, go back and change. 0:09:49.200 --> 0:09:51.840 Then the dog got out, he had to chase him down, 0:09:52.160 --> 0:09:54.280 He got a phone call, had to deal with something else. 0:09:54.480 --> 0:09:57.480 He could feel his blood pressure rising higher and higher, 0:09:58.679 --> 0:10:01.319 just before he lost his that's cool. You went in 0:10:01.400 --> 0:10:03.760 the den, sat on the couch and said to himself, 0:10:04.400 --> 0:10:07.760 you know, it's not really that big a deal to 0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:13.480 be five minutes late to chuck e cheese. Don't make 0:10:13.480 --> 0:10:15.520 a big deal out of something that's not a big deal. 0:10:17.280 --> 0:10:19.280 And that's not the only dumb thing he's done either. 0:10:22.400 --> 0:10:25.720 But I wonder how many you're not going to listen now, 0:10:25.760 --> 0:10:26.000 are you. 0:10:27.960 --> 0:10:31.880 I wonder how many things last week we let upset 0:10:31.960 --> 0:10:35.600 us that were small things? How many times did we 0:10:35.640 --> 0:10:37.439 get stressed over something. 0:10:37.160 --> 0:10:39.960 That, in the big picture, didn't really matter. 0:10:40.600 --> 0:10:43.400 You didn't get news that you have a major illness. 0:10:43.720 --> 0:10:46.080 You just found out you had to work late one night, 0:10:46.640 --> 0:10:49.200 or your ballgame was canceled, or there was a detour 0:10:49.240 --> 0:10:51.680 and you had to take the long way home. There 0:10:51.760 --> 0:10:55.320 are enough big issues in life to deal with. Make 0:10:55.400 --> 0:10:58.920 sure you're not giving away your joy over something small. 0:10:59.320 --> 0:11:00.360 Says in Verbs. 0:11:00.480 --> 0:11:04.640 A relaxed attitude will lengthen your life. But when we're 0:11:04.760 --> 0:11:07.880 up tight, everything's got to be perfect. Got to go 0:11:08.000 --> 0:11:09.920 our way on our schedule. If not, we're going to 0:11:09.960 --> 0:11:13.319 get all stressed out. That not only sours our day, 0:11:13.720 --> 0:11:17.800 but it could be shortening our life. Learn to relax, 0:11:18.480 --> 0:11:20.800 go with the flow, Know that God. 0:11:20.679 --> 0:11:22.120 Is directing your steps. 0:11:22.480 --> 0:11:26.280 Don't fight against everything that doesn't go your way. One time, 0:11:26.360 --> 0:11:29.040 Victoria and I were at Disneyland with our children and 0:11:29.480 --> 0:11:31.880 was ten o'clock at night. We'd been at the park 0:11:31.960 --> 0:11:35.680 all day long, and as we were leaving, Victoria wanted 0:11:35.720 --> 0:11:38.400 to go into the gift shop with our son Jonathan 0:11:38.480 --> 0:11:43.080 and pick up a few souvenirs. I was carrying our daughter, Alexander, 0:11:43.160 --> 0:11:45.160 she was two years old, and she was asleep on 0:11:45.240 --> 0:11:48.959 my shoulder, and I was hot, tired, been walking around 0:11:48.960 --> 0:11:51.040 all day. I said, Victoria, no, I don't want to 0:11:51.120 --> 0:11:53.840 stop at this gift shop. She said, come on, George, 0:11:53.880 --> 0:11:56.120 it's going to take me a minute. Said all right, 0:11:56.200 --> 0:11:58.920 and I went out sat on the bench at the 0:11:59.080 --> 0:12:00.280 entry way to Disneyland. 0:12:00.960 --> 0:12:03.800 Just so happened there was a big clock up in 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:04.280 front of me. 0:12:05.400 --> 0:12:09.960 I waited five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, twenty minutes. 0:12:10.040 --> 0:12:12.280 You know how when you're waiting, things seem to take 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:15.040 a lot longer than it really is. And the longer 0:12:15.120 --> 0:12:18.560 I waited, the more frustrated I got. I not only 0:12:18.559 --> 0:12:21.520 gave away my joy, I gave away my peace, my strength, 0:12:21.720 --> 0:12:24.880 everything I had. I was hot, and Alexander was making 0:12:24.920 --> 0:12:27.520 me more hot as I was holding her. And what 0:12:27.720 --> 0:12:31.760 was my big problem? Had a major accident, lost my job? No, 0:12:31.920 --> 0:12:33.079 I just had to wait. 0:12:33.000 --> 0:12:34.280 An extra half hour. 0:12:34.360 --> 0:12:37.520 At Disneyland, I got up, went in the gift shop, 0:12:37.559 --> 0:12:39.960 said Victoria, that's it. I've had it. I'm going to 0:12:40.040 --> 0:12:40.440 the car. 0:12:40.760 --> 0:12:41.640 Just meet me there. 0:12:42.000 --> 0:12:43.760 She said, no, No, Joe, wait, we're just about to 0:12:43.840 --> 0:12:45.880 check out. I said, no, no, I've tired, Victoria. 0:12:45.880 --> 0:12:46.960 I'm going to go to the car. 0:12:47.559 --> 0:12:49.760 I knew I should have waited for but I just 0:12:49.840 --> 0:12:54.439 too irritated. When we're upset, stress, frustrated, we don't make 0:12:54.480 --> 0:12:55.360 good decisions. 0:12:55.920 --> 0:12:56.079 Now. 0:12:56.080 --> 0:12:59.000 I got on the tram, still carrying Alexandra, took the 0:12:59.080 --> 0:13:01.640 fifteen minute ride to the parking lot. 0:13:02.080 --> 0:13:04.880 The only problem was I couldn't remember. 0:13:04.559 --> 0:13:10.240 Where we had parked. We were driving a white rental car. 0:13:11.200 --> 0:13:13.720 Do you know how many white rental cars there are 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:17.120 at Disneyland in the summer. I bet there's ten thousand. 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:21.800 I went up and down all after all, after oh 0:13:22.440 --> 0:13:25.760 so tired, totally sweating. Finally I had to do what 0:13:25.960 --> 0:13:29.120 no grown man likes to do. I had to go 0:13:29.160 --> 0:13:31.800 to the tram station and say I can't find my car. 0:13:32.960 --> 0:13:36.000 Might as well said I'm a loser. There was an 0:13:36.040 --> 0:13:37.720 older man there and he was very friendly. 0:13:37.720 --> 0:13:39.120 He said, don't worry about it, I'll help you. 0:13:39.559 --> 0:13:42.520 Did you park in the Mickey and Friends parking lot 0:13:44.000 --> 0:13:44.880 or did you park in. 0:13:44.840 --> 0:13:46.320 The Lion King parking lot? 0:13:46.880 --> 0:13:49.160 He said, I have no idea. He said, well, did 0:13:49.200 --> 0:13:53.160 you see Mickey Mouse when you drove in? Or did 0:13:53.200 --> 0:13:57.600 you see Simba? I said, I don't know who Simba is? 0:13:59.120 --> 0:14:02.680 He said, do you know who Donald Duck is? Long 0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:06.359 story short, I part on the other side of Disneyland. 0:14:06.880 --> 0:14:09.080 I had to get back on the tram, go back 0:14:09.080 --> 0:14:12.840 to where I started catch another tram. Hour later, I 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:15.640 showed up at the car. Little Jonathan was about five. 0:14:15.679 --> 0:14:18.280 He came running out, Daddy, Daddy, where have you been? 0:14:20.240 --> 0:14:24.080 I thought, I'll never tell I learned my lesson. 0:14:24.240 --> 0:14:26.000 Number one, be patient. 0:14:26.840 --> 0:14:29.680 Number two, let Victoria shop as much as she wants 0:14:29.680 --> 0:14:35.280 to shop. Number three, don't give away your joy, Jesus 0:14:35.280 --> 0:14:39.680 said John fourteen twenty seven. Stop allowing yourself to be 0:14:39.840 --> 0:14:43.880 upset and agitated. Notice it's a choice. He didn't say, 0:14:44.200 --> 0:14:47.960 I'll take away everything that will cause stress and frustration. 0:14:48.560 --> 0:14:50.600 Now, he said, it'll still be there. But if you 0:14:50.640 --> 0:14:50.960 have the. 0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:54.760 Right approach, it doesn't have to upset you. We all 0:14:54.800 --> 0:14:58.640 have to deal with not only delays inconveniences, but we 0:14:58.720 --> 0:15:01.280 have to deal with people that are hard to get 0:15:01.320 --> 0:15:03.480 along with, people that are rude. 0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:05.400 In consider it annoying. 0:15:06.120 --> 0:15:09.760 Sometimes it's not a stranger, somebody that's closer to you. 0:15:10.560 --> 0:15:14.320 One lady told how one of her husband's relatives was 0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:20.040 very opinionated. He was always making these sarcastic, demeaning remarks 0:15:20.080 --> 0:15:22.480 toward her. And this couple had just been married for 0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:24.760 a little while, and every time they went to a 0:15:24.800 --> 0:15:29.520 family get together, invariably he would say something that offended her. 0:15:30.160 --> 0:15:32.960 It would get her upset and end up ruining the 0:15:33.000 --> 0:15:36.640 whole trip. And this happened like clockwork again and again 0:15:37.240 --> 0:15:40.600 got to where she dreaded going to these family events. 0:15:41.040 --> 0:15:42.040 Finally, she said. 0:15:41.840 --> 0:15:44.560 To her husband, you've got to do something about this man. 0:15:45.040 --> 0:15:49.040 He's your relative. And she expected her husband say something like, 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:51.760 your right, honey, nobody should talk to you like that. 0:15:51.800 --> 0:15:53.440 I'm going to go in there and straighten him out. 0:15:54.240 --> 0:15:57.480 But he did just the opposite. He said, Honey, I 0:15:57.600 --> 0:16:01.520 love you, but I can't control this man. He has 0:16:01.560 --> 0:16:04.480 every right to have his opinion, he can say what 0:16:04.560 --> 0:16:07.680 he wants to, but you have every right to not 0:16:07.800 --> 0:16:11.320 let it offend you. She couldn't understand why her husband 0:16:11.320 --> 0:16:13.720 wouldn't get in there and straighten it out. This happened 0:16:13.720 --> 0:16:17.120 time and time again. She kept getting upset. Every time 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:19.640 he'd walk into one room, this man, she would walk 0:16:19.680 --> 0:16:22.680 into another. If this man came inside, she'd make sure 0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:27.160 she went outside. Her whole focus was centered on avoiding 0:16:27.200 --> 0:16:30.840 this man. One day, it was like a light turned on. 0:16:31.640 --> 0:16:35.560 She realized she was giving away her joy. She was 0:16:35.640 --> 0:16:39.160 letting this one person who has issues of his own 0:16:39.800 --> 0:16:43.280 to keep her from being who she was meant to be. Now, 0:16:43.280 --> 0:16:46.240 you may have somebody in your life like this, and 0:16:46.280 --> 0:16:48.960 if you don't make this adjustment, you'll go the next 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:53.640 twenty years allowing them to upset you change your approach. 0:16:54.480 --> 0:16:57.840 Every time you let them irritate you, all that's doing 0:16:58.160 --> 0:17:01.920 is empowering them the next time they do something that 0:17:02.160 --> 0:17:05.520 would normally get on your nerves. Don't give away your 0:17:05.640 --> 0:17:09.359 joy when they're rude. Keep a smile on your face. 0:17:10.080 --> 0:17:12.879 If they ignore you, leave you out. Don't call all 0:17:12.920 --> 0:17:16.000 your friends and talk about it. Now. When you stay 0:17:16.040 --> 0:17:19.359 on the high road, keep your joy, keep your peace. 0:17:20.000 --> 0:17:23.679 You're not fueling it anymore. In other words, you're taking 0:17:23.720 --> 0:17:27.080 away their power. But as long as they know they 0:17:27.080 --> 0:17:30.399 can push this button and you'll get upset this button, 0:17:30.480 --> 0:17:31.880 it'll ruin the rest of your day. 0:17:32.000 --> 0:17:34.080 They'll continue to do it. 0:17:34.119 --> 0:17:37.960 Says in Psalms, God has given us the power to 0:17:38.080 --> 0:17:43.600 remain calm in times of adversity. That's saying the people 0:17:43.800 --> 0:17:47.960 may not change, the circumstances may not change, but you 0:17:48.119 --> 0:17:50.879 have the power to stay calm. You don't have to 0:17:50.920 --> 0:17:54.400 give away your joy. I called to order a pizza 0:17:54.440 --> 0:17:57.600 one time. The first thing they always asked for is 0:17:57.640 --> 0:18:01.080 your phone number. Young lady answered the phone, and I 0:18:01.119 --> 0:18:04.200 said very politely, hello, and I went on to give 0:18:04.240 --> 0:18:07.080 her my phone number. You would have thought I just 0:18:07.119 --> 0:18:12.320 committed a major crime. She practically screamed in my ear, Sir, 0:18:13.000 --> 0:18:16.480 I am not ready for your phone number, and when 0:18:16.480 --> 0:18:19.800 I am ready, I will ask you for your phone number. 0:18:20.760 --> 0:18:23.359 I thought, lady, I'll give you my phone number. Whenever 0:18:23.440 --> 0:18:26.320 I feel like giving you my phone number. I thought, 0:18:26.359 --> 0:18:28.600 I'll call you two o'clock in the morning, give you 0:18:28.640 --> 0:18:32.720 my phone number. Forty seven different times I could feel 0:18:32.760 --> 0:18:37.600 myself tempted to be aggravated, upset, irritated. I had to 0:18:37.640 --> 0:18:41.880 ask myself, am I going to give her my joy? 0:18:41.920 --> 0:18:44.080 Was I going to let this young lady that I'd 0:18:44.119 --> 0:18:48.679 never seen, never met, didn't want to me cause me 0:18:49.119 --> 0:18:52.720 to get sour ruined the rest of my evening? Or 0:18:52.840 --> 0:18:55.760 was I going to say no, thanks, I need my joy. 0:18:56.280 --> 0:18:59.080 I've already decided I'm not going to get upset. I 0:18:59.160 --> 0:19:02.399 know I have the power to stay calm in a 0:19:02.440 --> 0:19:06.080 time of adversity. I kept my joy. I saw it 0:19:06.119 --> 0:19:09.520 as a challenge. As mean and rude as she was 0:19:09.600 --> 0:19:13.480 to me, I was going to be that kind and friendly. 0:19:13.160 --> 0:19:13.640 Back to her. 0:19:14.520 --> 0:19:19.359 The scripture says we overcome evil with good. When somebody's 0:19:19.480 --> 0:19:23.200 rude inconsiderate, too often we sink down to their level. 0:19:23.480 --> 0:19:26.560 We're rude, inconsiderate, back to them. But the way to 0:19:26.600 --> 0:19:30.200 really overcome is to do just the opposite. You've heard 0:19:30.240 --> 0:19:34.200 the phrase kill them with kindness. That's what I tried 0:19:34.200 --> 0:19:37.679 to do. I thought of anything that I could possibly 0:19:38.040 --> 0:19:41.080 compliment her on, and I had to use my imagination. 0:19:41.880 --> 0:19:44.480 I said, I sure appreciate you entering the phone so 0:19:44.640 --> 0:19:48.959 quickly and taking my order being so efficient. And you 0:19:48.960 --> 0:19:51.639 guys make the best pizzays. You're always on time. On 0:19:51.840 --> 0:19:53.760 and on I went. By the time I was done, 0:19:53.840 --> 0:19:56.840 she is my best friend. She was throwing in hot 0:19:56.880 --> 0:20:02.160 wings and Dr Pepper's and give away your joy, Paul 0:20:02.240 --> 0:20:07.640 told Timothy in the scripture, Stay calm, cool and steady. 0:20:07.720 --> 0:20:09.879 Some of you are letting things up set you way 0:20:09.920 --> 0:20:17.320 too easily. Traffic weather, grumpy salesperson, inconsiderate receptionist, family member 0:20:17.359 --> 0:20:20.000 that talks down to you. Draw the line in the 0:20:20.080 --> 0:20:22.920 sand and say that's it. This is a new day. 0:20:23.200 --> 0:20:27.000 I'm not giving away my joy anymore. I almost stay calm, 0:20:27.280 --> 0:20:31.280 cool and steady. A friend of mine is a man 0:20:31.359 --> 0:20:34.320 named David Polly. It's written a book called the Law 0:20:34.480 --> 0:20:38.040 of the Garbage Truck. He told how he was in 0:20:38.040 --> 0:20:40.919 New York City in a taxi cab headed toward a 0:20:40.960 --> 0:20:44.000 meeting when a car pulled out in front of them. 0:20:44.560 --> 0:20:47.720 The taxi driver had to slam on his brakes swerve 0:20:47.800 --> 0:20:50.640 to the left, missed the other car only by inches. 0:20:51.280 --> 0:20:52.880 The driver of the other car. 0:20:52.680 --> 0:20:55.000 It was his fault, but he put his head out 0:20:55.040 --> 0:20:58.919 the window and started screaming, yelling, had his fist in 0:20:58.960 --> 0:21:04.280 the air, so angry, so upset, frustrated this taxi cab driver. 0:21:04.480 --> 0:21:07.359 He just smiled, waved at him real big, and drove on. 0:21:07.640 --> 0:21:10.760 Didn't give it the time of day. David, sitting in 0:21:10.760 --> 0:21:14.440 the back seat, was so impressed. He said, Wow, that 0:21:14.560 --> 0:21:18.399 man almost totaled your car, sent us both to the hospital. 0:21:18.920 --> 0:21:21.680 I can't believe you didn't yell back at him. How 0:21:21.760 --> 0:21:25.399 could you stay so calm? The taxi driver had a 0:21:25.560 --> 0:21:30.360 very insightful answer. He said, I found most people are 0:21:30.440 --> 0:21:35.560 like garbage trucks. They go around full of frustration, full 0:21:35.600 --> 0:21:40.080 of resentment, full of anger. As their garbage piles up, 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:44.639 they need someplace to dump it. Sometimes they'll dump it 0:21:44.680 --> 0:21:48.399 on you. You can't take it personally, doesn't have anything to 0:21:48.440 --> 0:21:51.800 do with you. Just smile, wave and wish them well. 0:21:52.640 --> 0:21:53.320 Here's the key. 0:21:53.720 --> 0:21:59.440 Successful people don't let garbage trucks ruin their day. Somebody 0:21:59.480 --> 0:22:02.720 dumps a lot on you. Don't get upset if you 0:22:02.840 --> 0:22:06.840 make that mistake, you'll take their garbage and most likely 0:22:07.280 --> 0:22:11.920 dumping on somebody else. Now keep your lid on. These 0:22:12.040 --> 0:22:13.760 days we need to have a steel lid. 0:22:14.440 --> 0:22:15.440 A lot of people. 0:22:15.280 --> 0:22:20.119 Dumping poison, anger, resentment, criticism. We can't stop them from 0:22:20.240 --> 0:22:23.080 dumping it. But if we'll keep our lid on tight, 0:22:23.400 --> 0:22:26.879 it doesn't have to affect us. Years ago, I was 0:22:26.920 --> 0:22:30.000 at an electronics store to buy some parts for our 0:22:30.040 --> 0:22:33.280 television cameras. The parts were in the back and the 0:22:33.320 --> 0:22:35.800 staff members had to go get them for you. I 0:22:35.880 --> 0:22:38.520 was standing at the counter. There was a man behind 0:22:38.560 --> 0:22:42.200 it on the telephone. Nobody else was there to wait 0:22:42.240 --> 0:22:43.919 on me, so I just stood there. 0:22:43.800 --> 0:22:45.360 And waited and waited. 0:22:46.119 --> 0:22:48.400 This man could see that I needed help, but he 0:22:48.520 --> 0:22:53.080 wasn't the least bit interested in hurrying. After about fifteen minutes, 0:22:53.080 --> 0:22:55.280 he hung up the phone. I was standing right in 0:22:55.280 --> 0:22:58.160 front of him, not three feet away, but he never 0:22:58.200 --> 0:22:58.760 looked up. 0:22:59.200 --> 0:23:00.560 He started reading something. 0:23:01.160 --> 0:23:05.480 I waited patiently another four, five, six minutes. Finally I said, 0:23:05.600 --> 0:23:09.399 very politely, excuse me, sir, would you mind getting this 0:23:09.520 --> 0:23:13.040 part for me. He looked up like I had totally 0:23:13.080 --> 0:23:16.119 offended him. I gave him the piece of paper with 0:23:16.119 --> 0:23:18.119 the part number on it, and he looked at it 0:23:18.119 --> 0:23:22.160 for maybe three seconds and basically threw it back at me, said, 0:23:22.160 --> 0:23:25.199 as rude as can be, we don't even carry that 0:23:25.280 --> 0:23:29.040 part here. Well, I'd bought that part there many times before. 0:23:29.080 --> 0:23:31.879 And again, I said, very kindly, sir, I believe I 0:23:32.040 --> 0:23:35.280 purchased it here before. Would you mind at least taking 0:23:35.320 --> 0:23:39.119 a look. His face got real red, looked like he 0:23:39.200 --> 0:23:42.600 was about to explode. He used several curse words. He says, son, 0:23:42.920 --> 0:23:45.480 I'm telling you we don't sell it here. Now, don't 0:23:45.560 --> 0:23:49.000 ever ask me for it again. I smiled and said, 0:23:49.240 --> 0:23:50.160 have a nice day. 0:23:50.840 --> 0:23:51.600 Didn't mean it, but. 0:23:51.560 --> 0:23:55.439 At least I said it. He dumped his garbage, but 0:23:55.520 --> 0:23:57.880 I thought, I'm not gonna let that ruin my day. 0:23:58.359 --> 0:24:01.359 I know the secret. I've got my lid on, not 0:24:01.400 --> 0:24:04.479 gonna let it affect me. I've already decided I'm not 0:24:04.520 --> 0:24:08.040 going to get upset. You have to be aware of 0:24:08.080 --> 0:24:11.760 the garbage trucks in life. When somebody dumps a load 0:24:11.800 --> 0:24:15.240 on you, don't take it personally. It's not about you. 0:24:15.560 --> 0:24:19.280 It's about all the trash they've accumulated, all the issues 0:24:19.320 --> 0:24:21.760 they're not dealing with. You just happen to be the 0:24:21.760 --> 0:24:24.720 one they dump it on the key. Keep your lid 0:24:24.760 --> 0:24:28.199 on tight, don't let it bother you. Jesus put it 0:24:28.240 --> 0:24:32.399 this way. Happy are the meek, they will inherit the 0:24:32.480 --> 0:24:35.440 kingdom of God. We hear that word meek, and a 0:24:35.480 --> 0:24:38.520 lot of times we think it means weak. We're supposed 0:24:38.520 --> 0:24:42.639 to let people run all over us, insecure, timid. No, 0:24:43.320 --> 0:24:48.879 meekness is not weakness. It's strength under control. It's like 0:24:48.960 --> 0:24:52.639 a wild horse that's been tamed. The horse is just 0:24:52.680 --> 0:24:56.359 as strong, just as powerful. He can run just as fast. 0:24:56.800 --> 0:24:59.359 The only difference is now you can go up and 0:24:59.560 --> 0:25:01.560 pet him, you can ride him. 0:25:01.800 --> 0:25:03.480 His strength is under control. 0:25:04.560 --> 0:25:07.600 When you're a meek person, you don't try to argue 0:25:07.680 --> 0:25:11.440 with people. Prove to them who you are. If somebody 0:25:11.560 --> 0:25:14.320 is rude to you, sure you could be rude back 0:25:14.359 --> 0:25:18.120 to them, but your strength is under control. I could 0:25:18.119 --> 0:25:20.919 have told that man what I thought of him, what 0:25:21.040 --> 0:25:24.960 he should do, and where he should go. But you're 0:25:25.000 --> 0:25:27.680 not going to be happy if you're trying to straighten 0:25:27.720 --> 0:25:32.320 everybody out. Paying back an insult with another insult thinking, 0:25:32.400 --> 0:25:33.520 I'm not going to let you get. 0:25:33.359 --> 0:25:33.960 The best of me. 0:25:34.440 --> 0:25:37.560 No, when you're meek, you don't let things bother you. 0:25:37.560 --> 0:25:40.760 You don't respond to every critic, you don't get drawn 0:25:40.800 --> 0:25:45.600 into battles that don't matter. You have the power, the ability, 0:25:45.800 --> 0:25:48.440 You could easily show them what you're made of, but 0:25:48.480 --> 0:25:51.920 your strength is under control. When you live like that, 0:25:52.359 --> 0:25:55.439 God says you'll be happy. It's like this man I 0:25:55.480 --> 0:25:59.159 heard about. He was at a small country diner eating 0:25:59.200 --> 0:26:04.960 a hamburger. This motorcycle gang walked in. These guys were big, tough, mean. 0:26:05.760 --> 0:26:08.600 One of the bikers, just to show who was in charge, 0:26:09.119 --> 0:26:12.399 walked over and knocked the man's hamburger on the ground, 0:26:12.960 --> 0:26:15.040 picked up his water, poured it on top of the 0:26:15.040 --> 0:26:18.920 man's head, said very sarcastically, I'm so sorry. 0:26:19.160 --> 0:26:20.440 It was just an accident. 0:26:21.160 --> 0:26:24.480 The man calmly picked up his napkin, wiped the water 0:26:24.560 --> 0:26:28.040 off of his face, walked out of the restaurant. The 0:26:28.080 --> 0:26:31.119 biker looked at the waiter, shook his head, said not 0:26:31.320 --> 0:26:34.520 much of a man, izzy. The waiter said no, and 0:26:34.600 --> 0:26:37.120 he's not much of a driver either. He just ran 0:26:37.200 --> 0:26:39.160 over a dozen choppers. 0:26:38.720 --> 0:26:39.520 Driving out of here. 0:26:41.240 --> 0:26:46.840 That strength under control. But throughout life there will always 0:26:46.920 --> 0:26:50.320 be something that will try to take our joy. If 0:26:50.320 --> 0:26:54.680 it's not a grumpy salesperson, it's a family member aggravating you. 0:26:54.960 --> 0:26:58.520 Traffic's backed up, your flight got delayed, your spouse is 0:26:58.560 --> 0:27:02.000 taken too long. I won't go the next twenty years 0:27:02.359 --> 0:27:06.640 allowing the same people and same circumstances to frustrate you. 0:27:07.080 --> 0:27:08.120 Change your approach. 0:27:08.640 --> 0:27:12.000 What's upsetting you now doesn't have to upset you anymore. 0:27:12.600 --> 0:27:16.680 Keep your lid on, stay calm, cool and steady. A 0:27:16.800 --> 0:27:20.240 relaxed attitude is going to lengthen your life. And the 0:27:20.280 --> 0:27:23.879 next time you're tempted to be upset, ask yourself, is 0:27:23.960 --> 0:27:26.640 this really worth me giving up my joy over? 0:27:27.359 --> 0:27:29.359 If you'll make this decision. 0:27:29.119 --> 0:27:32.400 To not give away your joy to live each day happy, 0:27:32.680 --> 0:27:37.480 God promises you'll be strong, you'll have better relationships, you'll 0:27:37.520 --> 0:27:41.720 accomplish more. I believe and declare you will enjoy the 0:27:41.800 --> 0:27:44.919 abundant life God has in story. Amen, do you receive 0:27:44.920 --> 0:27:49.040 it today? Well? We never like to close our broadcast 0:27:49.400 --> 0:27:52.280 without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 0:27:52.320 --> 0:27:55.320 of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say 0:27:55.359 --> 0:28:01.240 Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. 0:28:02.160 --> 0:28:03.800 I make you my Lord and save you. 0:28:05.320 --> 0:28:07.600 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:28:07.640 --> 0:28:10.440 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 0:28:10.760 --> 0:28:11.960 Keep God first place. 0:28:12.280 --> 0:28:14.760 He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed of. 0:28:15.520 --> 0:28:18.960 Thank you for listening to the Joel Loustine podcast. Help 0:28:19.040 --> 0:28:21.800 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:28:21.880 --> 0:28:22.840 all over the world. 0:28:23.160 --> 0:28:26.800 Visit Joeloustein dot com slash give Hope to give a 0:28:26.840 --> 0:28:27.560 gift today. 0:28:28.840 --> 0:28:31.760 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:28:31.760 --> 0:28:35.119 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:28:35.200 --> 0:28:38.400 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:28:38.600 --> 0:28:40.320 I know God's best is still ahead. 0:28:40.560 --> 0:28:41.680 We'll see you next time. 0:28:48.600 --> 0:28:51.120 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:28:51.160 --> 0:28:54.880 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:28:54.960 --> 0:28:58.200 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:28:58.280 --> 0:29:01.360 yourly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:01.360 --> 0:29:04.520 the Mental Health Coach Training program and become equipped to 0:29:04.600 --> 0:29:07.479 health for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 0:29:07.560 --> 0:29:10.040 scholarship and only pay a one time tech fee of 0:29:10.080 --> 0:29:14.120 fifty four dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealth coach 0:29:14.200 --> 0:29:17.600 dot org. Again, that's mentalhealth coach dot org.