Joy In The Journey

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See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:32.880 --> 0:01:35.600 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:35.640 --> 0:01:38.399 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:40.880 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:42.440 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:42.760 --> 0:01:45.480 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:45.520 --> 0:01:49.520 your life. Well, God bless you. It's great to be 0:01:49.600 --> 0:01:52.240 with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with 0:01:52.320 --> 0:01:55.880 us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, 0:01:56.000 --> 0:01:59.400 social media, and you can come visit us in person 0:02:00.120 --> 0:02:02.440 to have you be a part of one of our services. 0:02:02.720 --> 0:02:04.960 So I like to start with something funny, and I 0:02:05.000 --> 0:02:08.200 heard about this man named Bubba. He lived way out 0:02:08.240 --> 0:02:10.600 in the country and there was a stray dog that 0:02:10.720 --> 0:02:13.400 kept showing up at his house. His wife said, Bubba, 0:02:13.440 --> 0:02:15.440 you have to put the dog in your truck, take 0:02:15.480 --> 0:02:17.760 him out in the woods and drop him off. That's 0:02:17.800 --> 0:02:20.920 where he lives. Bubba drove him a mile down the road, 0:02:21.040 --> 0:02:23.679 dropped him off. When he came home, the dog was 0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:27.360 walking up the driveway practically beat him back. This happened 0:02:27.360 --> 0:02:29.880 again and again. His wife said, Bubba, you have to 0:02:29.919 --> 0:02:33.000 take him way out, drive him around in circles, get 0:02:33.080 --> 0:02:36.400 him mixed up. Bubba drove him an hour away, criss 0:02:36.400 --> 0:02:39.720 cross roads he's never driven before, dropped him off. Two 0:02:39.720 --> 0:02:42.640 hours later. He called his wife from the truck, said 0:02:42.639 --> 0:02:45.160 did the dog come back. She said, yeah, he's walking 0:02:45.240 --> 0:02:48.000 up the driveway. Now, Bubba said, do me a favor, 0:02:48.080 --> 0:02:51.959 put him on the line. I need directions. Say it 0:02:52.080 --> 0:02:54.960 like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 0:02:55.040 --> 0:02:57.520 what it says I am. I have what it says 0:02:57.520 --> 0:03:00.160 I have. I can do what it says I can do. 0:03:00.600 --> 0:03:03.519 Today I will be taught the word of God. I'll 0:03:03.560 --> 0:03:07.760 boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:08.160 --> 0:03:11.840 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:11.880 --> 0:03:15.239 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:03:15.400 --> 0:03:19.320 joy in the journey. Too often, we're going to enjoy 0:03:19.400 --> 0:03:23.119 life when we accomplish a goal, when the kids are raised, 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:26.880 when we get the promotion Joe, when I lose ten pounds, 0:03:27.320 --> 0:03:30.000 when I get through this problem, then I'll be happy. 0:03:30.760 --> 0:03:33.760 Our joy is always in the future, when we cross 0:03:33.800 --> 0:03:37.360 the finish line. The problem with this approach is there's 0:03:37.400 --> 0:03:41.120 always some reason we can't be happy. Something's going on 0:03:41.240 --> 0:03:44.960 that's causing us to be stressed uptight. But the key 0:03:45.240 --> 0:03:48.880 is to find joy in the journey. You're not there yet. 0:03:49.360 --> 0:03:52.560 You're still waiting for things to improve, still believing for 0:03:52.600 --> 0:03:56.520 the promise. But in the meantime, you're enjoying where you 0:03:56.640 --> 0:03:59.320 are while you're on the way to where you're going. 0:04:00.280 --> 0:04:03.400 If you're so focused on the finish line, what's not 0:04:03.520 --> 0:04:07.120 working out, this trouble at the office, then you'll miss 0:04:07.160 --> 0:04:10.640 the beauty of this day. You won't laugh at the 0:04:10.720 --> 0:04:14.240 funny thing your child does. You're too busy, got to 0:04:14.320 --> 0:04:17.480 get them dressed, feed them breakfast, get them to school. 0:04:18.200 --> 0:04:21.279 You want enjoy your spouse. You're too busy trying to 0:04:21.320 --> 0:04:25.320 fix them. Focused on their flaws. When they improve, then 0:04:25.360 --> 0:04:28.880 you'll have fun together. I know people that hurry through 0:04:28.880 --> 0:04:32.279 the week. They don't like going to work, dread driving 0:04:32.360 --> 0:04:35.440 in the traffic, have to put up with this cranky coworker. 0:04:35.760 --> 0:04:39.360 They can't wait till the weekend gets here. How much 0:04:39.480 --> 0:04:42.159 of your life are you missing trying to get to 0:04:42.240 --> 0:04:45.320 the next thing, what you think is better, then you 0:04:45.360 --> 0:04:49.200 can be happy. Try a different approach. Instead of rushing 0:04:49.279 --> 0:04:51.919 through what you don't like trying to get to the 0:04:51.960 --> 0:04:56.280 next goal, slow down and find the joy in the journey. 0:04:57.080 --> 0:04:59.760 Look at all the good things in your life right now. 0:05:00.440 --> 0:05:03.240 Don't take for granted the people God's given you the love. 0:05:04.000 --> 0:05:07.520 They may not be perfect, but neither are you. Joe, 0:05:07.640 --> 0:05:10.400 this husband, he gets on my nerves. I bet you 0:05:10.440 --> 0:05:13.919 get on his nerves too. Some people would love to 0:05:14.000 --> 0:05:17.200 have your husband. They'd give anything to have that man. 0:05:17.760 --> 0:05:20.080 I see a lady holding up her husband's phone number. 0:05:20.160 --> 0:05:24.440 That's how she's gonna get joined. But these children, there's 0:05:24.480 --> 0:05:28.200 so much work. All I do is cook, clean, run 0:05:28.240 --> 0:05:30.839 in places, do you know how many people are not 0:05:30.920 --> 0:05:34.800 able to have children. They do anything to have those kids. 0:05:35.480 --> 0:05:39.000 What you see is common is really uncommon. What we 0:05:39.080 --> 0:05:44.039 think is ordinary is really extraordinary. Well, it's Monday, I 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:46.839 have to go to work. Try a different approach. I 0:05:46.920 --> 0:05:49.360 get to go to work. I have a job, I 0:05:49.400 --> 0:05:53.120 have income, I have resources. I can't stand driving in 0:05:53.160 --> 0:05:56.640 this traffic. It's so stressful. How about I get to 0:05:56.760 --> 0:06:00.760 drive in traffic. I have a car, I have opportunity. Well, 0:06:00.800 --> 0:06:03.120 I got to clean the house again today. That's the 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:05.880 story of my life. Now I get to clean the house. 0:06:06.040 --> 0:06:09.599 God's blessed me with the place to live. If you'll 0:06:09.640 --> 0:06:13.160 have the right perspective, you'll find joy in the journey. 0:06:13.920 --> 0:06:16.640 Not in my dream house yet, but Lord, I'm grateful 0:06:16.640 --> 0:06:20.400 for this apartment. Haven't met the right person yet, but Lord, 0:06:20.440 --> 0:06:23.960 I'm grateful being single. This place i'm working is not 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:26.600 where I want to end up, but Lord, I'm grateful 0:06:26.640 --> 0:06:30.520 that I'm employed. See, the enemy would love to deceive 0:06:30.640 --> 0:06:36.159 us into enduring life, not enjoying life, having children, not 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:41.760 enjoying them, being married, but not enjoying it, having a house, job, opportunity, 0:06:42.000 --> 0:06:44.880 But always some reason we're not happy. We got to 0:06:44.920 --> 0:06:48.360 get to that next thing, then we'll enjoy life. Now 0:06:48.400 --> 0:06:51.400 you have to learn this principle. There is joy in 0:06:51.440 --> 0:06:54.960 your journey. There are things in your life right now 0:06:55.200 --> 0:06:58.240 that you can enjoy if you'll have the right perspective. 0:06:59.240 --> 0:07:05.480 Paul sitting Fulllypians, whatever things are wholesome, good, pure, if 0:07:05.520 --> 0:07:09.400 there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think 0:07:09.440 --> 0:07:13.360 on these things. It's significant that he used the word if, 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:17.360 if there be any virtue. He was saying, you have 0:07:17.440 --> 0:07:20.680 to look for the good in your family, look for 0:07:20.760 --> 0:07:24.360 the good in your spouse. Yes, you can point out 0:07:24.400 --> 0:07:28.200 twenty three flaws. How about looking for the good in 0:07:28.280 --> 0:07:31.760 that challenge. Maybe a lot's coming against you. Look for 0:07:31.840 --> 0:07:36.280 the good. God is sustaining you. People are encouraging you. 0:07:36.520 --> 0:07:39.640 This one area has improved. If you're going to find 0:07:39.720 --> 0:07:42.520 joy in the journey, you have to look past all 0:07:42.560 --> 0:07:46.480 the wrongs and see the rights. And sometimes it's just 0:07:46.520 --> 0:07:49.720 the fact that you shouldn't still be here. The opposition 0:07:49.800 --> 0:07:52.960 should have taken you out. The sickness should have defeated you, 0:07:53.560 --> 0:07:56.000 how you were raised, should have held you back. But 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:58.680 you can say, Lord, thank you that I'm still standing, 0:07:58.960 --> 0:08:01.400 thank you that I still have to breathe, thank you 0:08:01.440 --> 0:08:05.640 that you're still for me. Luke twenty four. Jesus had 0:08:05.680 --> 0:08:09.440 been crucified on a Friday. That Sunday, two of his 0:08:09.560 --> 0:08:14.280 disciples were walking from Jerusalem to a city called Imaus. 0:08:14.680 --> 0:08:18.080 You can imagine how discouraged they were. The man they 0:08:18.080 --> 0:08:21.680 had followed given their life to was now gone. And 0:08:21.760 --> 0:08:24.840 as they were on this journey talking about everything that 0:08:24.880 --> 0:08:29.400 had happened, the wrongs, the betrayals, the heartache, Jesus came 0:08:29.520 --> 0:08:33.160 up and started walking with them, but they didn't recognize 0:08:33.200 --> 0:08:36.840 who he was. He was in a different form. Jesus 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:40.040 asked what they were discussing and why they were so concerned. 0:08:40.760 --> 0:08:43.920 They said, in effect, where have you been? Haven't you 0:08:44.080 --> 0:08:48.400 heard they've taken our messiah and crucified him. How we're 0:08:48.400 --> 0:08:52.560 without a leader. Jesus began to talk to them about 0:08:52.559 --> 0:08:55.880 what the prophets had predicted, how he had to come 0:08:55.960 --> 0:08:59.400 and be crucified, that he'd be raised on the third day. 0:09:00.200 --> 0:09:03.600 Verse twenty seven says he explained what the scripture said 0:09:03.640 --> 0:09:08.160 about him. What an incredible moment this was. They're walking 0:09:08.240 --> 0:09:12.040 with Jesus, who's just risen from the dead, who's helping 0:09:12.080 --> 0:09:16.679 them to understand passages from the Old Testament that prophesied 0:09:16.720 --> 0:09:19.080 what would happen, how this was all a part of 0:09:19.120 --> 0:09:23.080 God's plan. Well, it was a seven mile walk from Jerusalem. 0:09:23.679 --> 0:09:26.480 They were about to arrive in Ammaeas. It was late 0:09:26.520 --> 0:09:30.439 at night. They asked Jesus to stay with them. As 0:09:30.480 --> 0:09:34.000 they were eating dinner, Jesus broke the bread and their 0:09:34.000 --> 0:09:39.120 eyes were open. They recognized who he was. Jesus suddenly disappeared. 0:09:40.120 --> 0:09:43.360 But think about that long walk with Jesus. They were 0:09:43.400 --> 0:09:47.280 so focused on what didn't work out, this great disappointment, 0:09:47.559 --> 0:09:51.800 their leader is gone, that they didn't recognize the miracle. 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:55.400 In the moment, all they knew was life was unfair, 0:09:55.960 --> 0:10:00.200 This wasn't right. They were discouraged, Yet that whole time, 0:10:00.520 --> 0:10:04.800 the risen Savior was in their midst. How many times 0:10:04.840 --> 0:10:08.520 on our journey are we not recognizing what God is doing. 0:10:09.360 --> 0:10:11.320 We're so caught up in the stress of the day 0:10:11.960 --> 0:10:14.719 dealing with this problem, had to set back in our 0:10:14.760 --> 0:10:18.559 finances that we don't see all the good things. How 0:10:18.600 --> 0:10:23.040 God is sustaining us, favoring us, guiding us. We've been 0:10:23.080 --> 0:10:26.959 through challenges, but in the midst our children are still healthy. 0:10:27.520 --> 0:10:30.880 We have opportunity. The right person showed up when we 0:10:30.960 --> 0:10:35.040 needed them. Don't get so focused on what's wrong that 0:10:35.080 --> 0:10:40.000 you don't recognize what's right. It's interesting that these disciples 0:10:40.040 --> 0:10:43.800 were on a journey with Jesus. One principle it shows 0:10:43.920 --> 0:10:47.559 us is there was joy in the journey, but they 0:10:47.559 --> 0:10:51.480 didn't recognize it. How many of us are seeing the 0:10:51.600 --> 0:10:55.640 joy in the journey. We see the traffic, we see 0:10:55.679 --> 0:10:58.880 the struggle. These children are a lot of work. But 0:10:58.960 --> 0:11:02.160 are you seeing the joy? Could it be like these 0:11:02.200 --> 0:11:06.080 disciples that God is doing great things in your midst 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:10.520 but you don't see it. The scripture says God opened 0:11:10.559 --> 0:11:15.880 their eyes and suddenly they recognize Jesus. My prayer is, God, 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:19.400 open our eyes, help us on the journey of life 0:11:19.600 --> 0:11:23.320 to not miss the miracles of the moment, to recognize 0:11:23.360 --> 0:11:27.040 your goodness, to be aware that you're at work. I 0:11:27.080 --> 0:11:30.040 don't want us to come to the end of life. Man. 0:11:30.200 --> 0:11:34.680 I didn't enjoy my twenties so stress raising kids. I 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:38.080 didn't enjoy my thirties. Pressures of work were so bad. 0:11:38.360 --> 0:11:42.319 Didn't enjoy my forties, had financial difficulties my fifties, I 0:11:42.360 --> 0:11:46.079 had that health issues. My sixties, we had inflation, the pandemic, 0:11:46.240 --> 0:11:50.240 the Texans couldn't win. We look up and our life 0:11:50.360 --> 0:11:54.079 is passed, but we didn't enjoy it. There's always something, 0:11:54.600 --> 0:11:58.320 some problem, some person, some delay. You could be in 0:11:58.360 --> 0:12:02.520 a great moment right now, but like these disciples, you're 0:12:02.559 --> 0:12:05.880 letting what went wrong, so focused on where you're trying 0:12:05.880 --> 0:12:09.679 to go that you're missing all the good things. They 0:12:09.760 --> 0:12:13.000 looked back and thought, Man Jesus was walking with us, 0:12:13.480 --> 0:12:16.560 he was explaining the scriptures. We were right there in 0:12:16.559 --> 0:12:19.839 his presence. We should have stopped, taken it all in 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:23.200 and enjoyed it. Instead, they're just trying to get to 0:12:23.240 --> 0:12:27.640 amais trying to get past the disappointment. I'm not saying 0:12:27.679 --> 0:12:31.160 that we don't have difficulties. There's pressure stress. What I'm 0:12:31.200 --> 0:12:35.200 saying is there is good in every season. You have 0:12:35.280 --> 0:12:39.400 to find joy in the journey. Sometimes, like these disciples, 0:12:39.640 --> 0:12:42.600 we don't see it till it's gone. In the moment, 0:12:42.679 --> 0:12:45.560 we don't recognize it, but later we look back and 0:12:45.600 --> 0:12:48.720 think that was a great time. We talk about the 0:12:48.760 --> 0:12:52.000 good old days. Can I tell you are living in 0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:55.960 the good old days. There are great things happening right now, 0:12:56.440 --> 0:13:00.880 great memories, great people, great opportunities. Don't do like them 0:13:00.960 --> 0:13:04.480 and miss it. A few years before my father passed, 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:08.360 three of my sisters, along with their spouses their husbands, 0:13:08.520 --> 0:13:11.320 they worked on staff with us here at Lakewood. That 0:13:11.520 --> 0:13:14.720 was four of the five children. My brother Paul hadn't 0:13:14.720 --> 0:13:18.200 come to join us yet. And on Sunday nights during church, 0:13:18.760 --> 0:13:20.920 I would look down the road and see Lisa and 0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:24.360 her husband, and Tamar and her husband, April and her husband, 0:13:24.800 --> 0:13:28.880 then Victoria and myself. I would tell Victoria often, we 0:13:28.920 --> 0:13:31.640 are living in the good old days. This is an 0:13:31.679 --> 0:13:36.000 amazing time where we're all here together. Somehow I knew 0:13:36.040 --> 0:13:38.960 not to take it for granted. It's just my family, 0:13:39.160 --> 0:13:43.439 no big deal. I recognized that it was unusual. We 0:13:43.480 --> 0:13:47.080 made the most of that time. Over the years, people 0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:52.360 moved on, started churches, fulfilling their calling. The people in 0:13:52.400 --> 0:13:55.840 your life are not always going to be there. Don't 0:13:55.840 --> 0:14:00.600 take them for granted. I like to accomplish dreams, goals, 0:14:00.679 --> 0:14:04.360 go fast. I have to remind myself what I'm telling you, 0:14:04.720 --> 0:14:10.640 slow down and enjoy the journey. It's easy to live busy, stressed, upset, 0:14:11.200 --> 0:14:15.120 but today is a gift from God. Don't just endure it, 0:14:15.520 --> 0:14:18.960 enjoy it. Twenty years from now, you're going to look 0:14:19.000 --> 0:14:22.760 back with fond memories of today. You're gonna think those 0:14:22.800 --> 0:14:26.760 were the good old days, raising my children, working for 0:14:26.840 --> 0:14:30.640 that company, go into Lakewood. But I wonder, if you're 0:14:30.640 --> 0:14:33.720 living in the good old days and you don't recognize it, 0:14:34.280 --> 0:14:39.680 you're uptight, focused on what's wrong trying to achieve those dreams. No, 0:14:39.840 --> 0:14:44.200 start finding joy in the journey. When our son Jonathan 0:14:44.440 --> 0:14:46.920 was seven years old, we were about to leave for 0:14:47.120 --> 0:14:49.920 church and I was in the garage putting things in 0:14:49.960 --> 0:14:52.560 the car, and I said, come on, Jonathan, let's go. 0:14:53.320 --> 0:14:55.680 And he had one of those label makers that we 0:14:55.840 --> 0:14:58.040 used to use. You hold it in your hand and 0:14:58.320 --> 0:15:00.800 you select the letter on the dial, you click it. 0:15:01.000 --> 0:15:03.960 You can make labels. He was so focused on what 0:15:04.040 --> 0:15:06.840 he was doing. I said, Jonathan, we're going to be late. 0:15:07.000 --> 0:15:09.480 We have to go. He said, okay, Dad, just give 0:15:09.480 --> 0:15:12.040 me another second. I said, we don't have a second. 0:15:12.640 --> 0:15:15.520 He kept working and working as fast as he could. 0:15:15.920 --> 0:15:19.080 I was getting more and more uptight. He finally finished, 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:21.880 pulled the label out, ran over and handed it to me. 0:15:22.200 --> 0:15:26.400 It read best Dad in the world. I thought, oh, 0:15:26.520 --> 0:15:28.440 we have a little more time. Let's make a few 0:15:28.480 --> 0:15:33.560 more of these. Somehow, I wasn't in a hurry anymore. 0:15:34.320 --> 0:15:37.480 Many times it's the small things in life that give 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:41.240 it real meaning. Yes, it's great to accomplish big gulls, 0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:44.320 get married, have a child, moving to the new house. 0:15:44.840 --> 0:15:49.200 Those are mountaintop moments. Some people live for them. That's 0:15:49.240 --> 0:15:51.480 when they're going to be happy. But those are few 0:15:51.560 --> 0:15:56.400 and far between. Even the heroes of faith, Moses parted 0:15:56.440 --> 0:16:00.520 the Red Sea, delivered the Israelites out of slavery. That 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:03.240 was amazing, But what was it a month of his life? 0:16:03.840 --> 0:16:06.920 What about the other one hundred and twenty years. You 0:16:07.040 --> 0:16:10.000 have to learn to enjoy the journey while the Red 0:16:10.040 --> 0:16:13.560 Seas aren't partying. While you're waiting for the next big things, 0:16:13.840 --> 0:16:17.560 you're enjoying the small things. You're finding the good in 0:16:17.600 --> 0:16:21.400 your everyday life. Taking time to laugh with your children, 0:16:21.920 --> 0:16:25.240 taking a walk with your spouse, seeing the sunrise in 0:16:25.280 --> 0:16:29.120 the morning, hearing the birds scene, not too busy, not 0:16:29.200 --> 0:16:33.160 too stressed, to enjoy the simple things in life. I 0:16:33.240 --> 0:16:36.120 learned a lot of this from Victoria's side of the family. 0:16:36.320 --> 0:16:39.800 They loved to laugh, They take time to enjoy each other. 0:16:40.480 --> 0:16:43.480 We were having lunch one Sunday a while back, after 0:16:43.600 --> 0:16:46.880 church at our house, and Victoria's mother was there, Georgian, 0:16:47.320 --> 0:16:49.920 Victoria's brother, and all their family, the whole bunch of us. 0:16:50.560 --> 0:16:54.280 We sat down together. Thirty minutes later, I was finished eating. 0:16:54.800 --> 0:16:56.520 I got up and went to the back to watch 0:16:56.560 --> 0:17:00.200 the ball game. Three hours later, I watched that's the 0:17:00.200 --> 0:17:03.440 whole game. I came back and they were still sitting 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:06.320 at the table in the same seats. I said, are 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:10.000 y'all eating dinner now? Victoria said, no, we're still sitting 0:17:10.040 --> 0:17:12.560 here from lunch. I looked at her, kind of puzzle. 0:17:12.720 --> 0:17:16.320 She said, Joel, we're just enjoying each other. Thought, man, 0:17:16.320 --> 0:17:18.399 I can enjoy my brother Paul in a couple minutes. 0:17:18.440 --> 0:17:22.359 But you know what they were doing finding joy in 0:17:22.400 --> 0:17:28.480 the journey wasn't a mountaintop moment. They weren't celebrating a birthday. Sure, 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:32.640 they had challenges difficulties, but they took time to see 0:17:32.680 --> 0:17:37.160 the good, to enjoy what God had given them. Sometimes 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:40.440 we're waiting for these big miracles, but there are miracles 0:17:40.520 --> 0:17:44.320 in the mundane. The fact that you're alive is a miracle. 0:17:44.720 --> 0:17:47.120 You have people in your life to love, that's a miracle. 0:17:47.400 --> 0:17:51.359 You have your health, sound mind, opportunity. Let's not be 0:17:51.480 --> 0:17:55.639 like those disciples and missed the moment because it looks common. 0:17:56.800 --> 0:17:59.920 It's just my family, Joel. We see it as just enough, 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:03.560 the ordinary day. But the fact is there are no 0:18:03.760 --> 0:18:07.919 ordinary days. Each day is a gift from God. He 0:18:07.960 --> 0:18:10.919 could have chosen anyone to be alive at this time, 0:18:11.040 --> 0:18:13.800 but he chose you and me. We can see all 0:18:13.840 --> 0:18:17.919 the wrong what we don't have, live pressured, stressed, or 0:18:18.000 --> 0:18:21.400 we can focus on the good. We can appreciate even 0:18:21.440 --> 0:18:25.160 the simple things in life. Some of my fondest memories 0:18:25.200 --> 0:18:28.720 growing up is when we were kids. My parents used 0:18:28.760 --> 0:18:31.719 to take us to the airport to ride the trains 0:18:31.960 --> 0:18:35.320 that went from Terminal A to Terminal B. This was 0:18:35.359 --> 0:18:37.760 before they had all the security. We'd go on and 0:18:37.800 --> 0:18:40.520 all ride for free. We thought we were at Disneyland, 0:18:41.359 --> 0:18:44.159 just a simple thing. Yet I talk about it today. 0:18:44.840 --> 0:18:48.680 They were finding joy in the journey. The scripture says 0:18:48.960 --> 0:18:52.600 God was in their midst, but they didn't recognize him. 0:18:53.160 --> 0:18:55.679 How many times has God been in our midst but 0:18:55.760 --> 0:18:58.240 we didn't know it. We were waiting for the Red 0:18:58.280 --> 0:19:01.800 Sea apart, we were waiting for Goliath to fall. We 0:19:01.880 --> 0:19:04.879 didn't know he'd be walking on the road to amaeis 0:19:05.440 --> 0:19:09.720 that it would seem ordinary common. Two thousand and seven, 0:19:10.119 --> 0:19:14.080 a major newspaper did an experiment to see how people 0:19:14.320 --> 0:19:19.320 perceived the uncommon in a common environment. Would they recognize 0:19:19.440 --> 0:19:23.320 talent out of context? Would they appreciate music not in 0:19:23.359 --> 0:19:28.000 a concert hall. They took this world renowned violinist, a 0:19:28.040 --> 0:19:32.120 former child prodigy, one of the most amazing violin players 0:19:32.160 --> 0:19:35.359 in the world. People had spent hundreds of dollars for 0:19:35.440 --> 0:19:38.159 a ticket to hear him play in some of the 0:19:38.160 --> 0:19:42.800 most distinguished venues. His violin was worth four million dollars, 0:19:43.280 --> 0:19:47.800 a seventeenth century start of various Early one Monday morning, 0:19:48.280 --> 0:19:52.000 he went to the subway station during rush hour, had 0:19:52.000 --> 0:19:55.200 a ball cap on, Jean's tennis shoes look very ordinary, 0:19:55.880 --> 0:19:59.080 stood over by the wall, and begin to play. He 0:19:59.119 --> 0:20:03.439 performed six of the most well known classical pieces in 0:20:03.480 --> 0:20:08.080 forty three minutes. Eleven hundred people passed by. Only seven 0:20:08.240 --> 0:20:13.680 paused to listen. Most just went about their day, busy, preoccupied. 0:20:14.160 --> 0:20:17.720 They heard the music, but it seemed common. People play 0:20:17.720 --> 0:20:22.080 out there all the time. The researchers came to different conclusions, 0:20:22.680 --> 0:20:27.520 one being when something uncommon is in a commonplace, we 0:20:27.600 --> 0:20:32.159 don't recognize it. Maybe the people were too busy in 0:20:32.200 --> 0:20:36.080 a hurry, focused on other things. But it begs the question, 0:20:36.920 --> 0:20:39.640 if we're in such a hurry that we don't recognize 0:20:39.960 --> 0:20:42.920 one of the best pieces of music ever written by 0:20:42.960 --> 0:20:45.479 one of the best players in the world on one 0:20:45.520 --> 0:20:49.640 of the finest instruments ever created, what else are we missing? 0:20:50.320 --> 0:20:54.040 What else are we rushing by not appreciating There are 0:20:54.080 --> 0:20:57.879 things in your life that may seem common. It's an 0:20:58.000 --> 0:21:03.920 ordinary environment. There's nothing ordinary about your children, nothing common 0:21:04.040 --> 0:21:07.040 about being able to breathe the gifts God's given you, 0:21:07.480 --> 0:21:11.400 the doors He's opened. When Jesus showed up and walked 0:21:11.400 --> 0:21:15.400 with the disciples, he seemed common, just another man joining us. 0:21:16.240 --> 0:21:19.520 Wasn't till later, they said, we knew there was something 0:21:19.560 --> 0:21:23.679 special about him. Don't wait till later to recognize the 0:21:23.800 --> 0:21:27.679 uncommon in your life. This is where the Israelites missed it. 0:21:28.000 --> 0:21:31.879 God brought them out of slavery, defeated Pharoh and his army. 0:21:32.280 --> 0:21:35.120 Now they were headed to the Promised Land. They were 0:21:35.160 --> 0:21:39.000 out in the desert on this journey. There were no hotels, 0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:44.280 no grocery stores, pharmacy, water towers, yet God provided for 0:21:44.359 --> 0:21:48.320 them day after day. The scripture says their clothes and 0:21:48.440 --> 0:21:52.200 shoes did not wear out for forty years. You would 0:21:52.200 --> 0:21:55.359 think they'd be grateful, they'd see the hand of God. 0:21:56.160 --> 0:21:59.000 All they saw was what was wrong. We're not in 0:21:59.080 --> 0:22:02.680 the promised land. Where are those huge clusters of grapes? 0:22:03.000 --> 0:22:05.440 Where are those houses that we didn't build that were 0:22:05.480 --> 0:22:09.400 promised us? If you don't find the joy in the journey, 0:22:09.560 --> 0:22:13.760 you'll find all the negative. You start complaining. They didn't 0:22:13.760 --> 0:22:17.480 recognize how God was sustaining them, how he was giving 0:22:17.520 --> 0:22:21.880 them provision seem common. We have this manner every day, 0:22:22.160 --> 0:22:25.680 no big deal. God was in their presence, but they 0:22:25.680 --> 0:22:29.520 didn't see him, and they complained so much that God 0:22:29.560 --> 0:22:31.960 finally told them that they were never going to make 0:22:32.000 --> 0:22:35.960 it in Only their children would go into the Promised Land. 0:22:37.000 --> 0:22:40.040 Like with them, much of our life is spent waiting, 0:22:40.680 --> 0:22:43.800 waiting for the promise, waiting for a health to improve, 0:22:44.160 --> 0:22:47.600 waiting to meet the right person. We see the destination. 0:22:48.400 --> 0:22:50.960 We know what God put in our heart. Now we're 0:22:51.000 --> 0:22:54.359 on the journey. The key is what are you seeing 0:22:54.480 --> 0:22:58.800 on the journey? What's wrong? How long it's taking? Why 0:22:58.800 --> 0:23:01.800 did they leave me? If you do like them and 0:23:01.840 --> 0:23:05.399 focus on all the negative doubt will come. You'll start 0:23:05.440 --> 0:23:09.960 complaining and miss God's best. What you may not recognize 0:23:10.520 --> 0:23:13.760 is God is on that journey with you all along 0:23:13.800 --> 0:23:18.480 the way. He's doing things, sustaining you, protecting you, providing 0:23:18.520 --> 0:23:22.159 for you, ordering your steps. Don't do like them and 0:23:22.200 --> 0:23:26.280 not recognize his goodness. Take time every day to thank 0:23:26.359 --> 0:23:29.080 him for what he's doing. Lord, Thank you that you 0:23:29.200 --> 0:23:31.800 brought me this far. Thank you that you're making my 0:23:31.880 --> 0:23:35.879 crooked places straight. Thank you for fighting my battles. You 0:23:35.960 --> 0:23:39.720 can complain or you can praise, but you can't do both. 0:23:40.440 --> 0:23:44.080 If you complain, you're going to remain. If you praise, 0:23:44.400 --> 0:23:49.000 you're going to be raised. This wealthy father wanted to 0:23:49.040 --> 0:23:52.480 show his seven year old son how the poor people lived. 0:23:53.160 --> 0:23:55.600 They left their big, fancy house and drove out in 0:23:55.680 --> 0:23:58.919 the country, spent the night on a farm. Just a 0:23:58.920 --> 0:24:03.159 little wood frame house, no TV, no fancy furniture, not 0:24:03.200 --> 0:24:07.120 even carpet, just a farmhouse. But at night this family 0:24:07.200 --> 0:24:10.800 would go out on the porch, tell stories, laugh and sing. 0:24:11.840 --> 0:24:13.879 After a day and a half on the farm, they 0:24:13.920 --> 0:24:17.240 headed back home. Father wanted to see if his son 0:24:17.280 --> 0:24:20.800 had learned his lesson. He asked him, very curiously how 0:24:20.800 --> 0:24:23.760 he enjoyed the trip. Son said, oh, Dad, I really 0:24:23.840 --> 0:24:26.840 loved it. He said, well, did you see how poor 0:24:26.920 --> 0:24:30.200 people can be? The son said, yes, Dad, I did. 0:24:30.760 --> 0:24:33.479 He said, well, tell me exactly what you mean what 0:24:33.560 --> 0:24:36.840 you learned. The little boy said, Dad, I learned that 0:24:36.960 --> 0:24:39.679 We have one dog at home and they have four. 0:24:40.600 --> 0:24:42.840 We have a pool that reaches to the middle of 0:24:42.880 --> 0:24:45.760 our backyard, but they have a stream with no end. 0:24:46.480 --> 0:24:49.080 We have fancy lanterns on the house, but they have 0:24:49.160 --> 0:24:52.879 the stars. We watched TV at night by ourselves, but 0:24:52.920 --> 0:24:56.040 they sit around and laugh and have fun together. The 0:24:56.119 --> 0:24:58.359 dad was shaking his head. He couldn't believe it. The 0:24:58.440 --> 0:25:01.320 son finished up by saying, Dad, thank you for showing 0:25:01.400 --> 0:25:06.280 me how poor we really are. Here's the point. It's 0:25:06.320 --> 0:25:09.600 the simple things in life that bring the most joy. 0:25:10.600 --> 0:25:13.120 You may not have a lot of resources, but if 0:25:13.119 --> 0:25:16.200 you have family, you're wealthy. If you have your health, 0:25:16.320 --> 0:25:18.760 you're wealthy. If you can look up at the stars 0:25:18.800 --> 0:25:23.080 at night, you're wealthy. It's not whether you have a 0:25:23.119 --> 0:25:26.520 lot or a little, it's or you're finding joy in 0:25:26.560 --> 0:25:31.320 the journey. Are you recognizing God's goodness, seeing the blessings 0:25:31.320 --> 0:25:35.000 along the way, or you focus on what's wrong, what 0:25:35.160 --> 0:25:38.359 you didn't get, what you don't have waiting to reach 0:25:38.400 --> 0:25:42.480 that destination, then you'll be happy you're missing the beauty 0:25:42.560 --> 0:25:46.479 of this day. Make the decision you're going to enjoy 0:25:46.600 --> 0:25:49.440 where you are while you're on the way to where 0:25:49.480 --> 0:25:52.840 you want to be. Not there yet, but I'm happy 0:25:52.840 --> 0:25:56.600 where I am. Not married yet, but I'm happy being single. 0:25:57.240 --> 0:26:01.040 Have some challenges, but I'm enjoying life while God's working 0:26:01.040 --> 0:26:04.600 it all out. Don't put your joy on hold, Paul 0:26:04.640 --> 0:26:07.719 said in Romans. Let us be full of joy now, 0:26:08.520 --> 0:26:11.840 not tomorrow, not when you reach the goal, not when 0:26:11.880 --> 0:26:14.960 the problem turns around. Now is the time to be 0:26:15.080 --> 0:26:18.720 full of joy. A young lady I know is one 0:26:18.720 --> 0:26:23.000 of the kindness most friendly people you'll ever meet. Anytime 0:26:23.040 --> 0:26:25.560 you're with her, she always brightens your day. But a 0:26:25.600 --> 0:26:29.640 few years back she was diagnosed with cancer. It's very serious. 0:26:30.119 --> 0:26:33.159 She began taking the treatment, going through all the tests, 0:26:33.240 --> 0:26:37.240 and there were major ups and major downs. Every time 0:26:37.280 --> 0:26:40.480 I would see her, she was the same. Visiting her 0:26:40.480 --> 0:26:43.199 in the hospital Victoria, and I'd walk in, she'd have 0:26:43.240 --> 0:26:47.439 that big smile, that joyful laugh. We'd leave there encouraged. 0:26:48.080 --> 0:26:51.240 There was an older woman that was a patient where 0:26:51.280 --> 0:26:55.760 they both took treatment every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. She 0:26:55.880 --> 0:26:58.879 asked the nurse to leave the door open so she 0:26:58.920 --> 0:27:03.080 could see out into the The nurse asked why. She said, 0:27:03.119 --> 0:27:05.560 because that young, pretty girl is going to come by 0:27:05.600 --> 0:27:09.240 and wave at me. Her smile is what keeps me going. 0:27:10.320 --> 0:27:13.560 Even in my friend's most challenging hour, she was still 0:27:13.680 --> 0:27:18.040 joyful being a blessing, recognizing each day is a gift. 0:27:18.640 --> 0:27:22.240 Sure she could have been bitter depressed. When I get well, 0:27:22.359 --> 0:27:25.840 then I'll be happy, But she found joy in the journey. 0:27:26.320 --> 0:27:28.919 She saw the goodness of God in the midst of 0:27:28.960 --> 0:27:32.560 the adversity. One hundred years from now, we're all going 0:27:32.600 --> 0:27:36.880 to be gone. Don't live another day defeated, discouraged, Get 0:27:36.920 --> 0:27:40.840 your joy back. I've heard it said, it's not that 0:27:40.880 --> 0:27:43.920 life is so short, it's that we wait so long 0:27:44.000 --> 0:27:47.880 to begin. We're waiting for this challenge to be over, 0:27:48.320 --> 0:27:51.320 waiting to raise the kids, waiting for the promotion, waiting 0:27:51.359 --> 0:27:55.840 for retirement. My prayer again, God opened her eyes. Help 0:27:55.920 --> 0:27:59.800 us to see the uncommon in everyday life, to appreciate 0:27:59.800 --> 0:28:03.080 the people You've given us, to value the simple things. 0:28:03.800 --> 0:28:07.160 It's very powerful when we can look back and say 0:28:07.200 --> 0:28:11.080 I enjoyed my twenties, I enjoyed my thirties, I enjoyed 0:28:11.119 --> 0:28:15.600 my forties. I didn't endure life. I enjoyed it. Let's 0:28:15.640 --> 0:28:18.280 not be like those disciples and have God in our 0:28:18.320 --> 0:28:22.640 midst and not recognize it. Right now, he's sustaining you, 0:28:23.160 --> 0:28:26.840 providing for you, giving your breath to breathe. Now do 0:28:26.960 --> 0:28:30.960 your part, find joy in the journey. If you'll do this, 0:28:31.280 --> 0:28:34.639 I believe and declare you're going to live happier, have 0:28:34.760 --> 0:28:39.600 better relationships, see more favor. Those negative situations will turn 0:28:39.640 --> 0:28:43.440 around and you'll reach the fullness of your destiny in 0:28:43.600 --> 0:28:46.960 Jesus's name. And if you receive it, can you say amen? 0:28:48.720 --> 0:28:51.560 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:51.600 --> 0:28:54.160 the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:54.840 --> 0:29:00.280 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:29:00.280 --> 0:29:04.280 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:05.840 --> 0:29:08.200 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:08.240 --> 0:29:11.280 born again. I encourage you to get into a good 0:29:11.400 --> 0:29:15.520 Bible based church and keep God first place. Thanks so 0:29:15.600 --> 0:29:18.960 much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe 0:29:19.120 --> 0:29:21.840 so you can receive the latest podcast to keep you 0:29:21.960 --> 0:29:24.080 encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:29:24.240 --> 0:29:26.480 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:26.480 --> 0:29:27.960 with those all around the world. 0:29:28.280 --> 0:29:31.040 Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 0:29:31.080 --> 0:29:33.240 description to partner with us today. 0:29:33.480 --> 0:29:35.960 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:36.040 --> 0:29:38.840 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:29:38.920 --> 0:29:42.000 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:29:42.040 --> 0:29:42.880 see you next time.