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0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.400 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:33.960 You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 0:00:34.000 --> 0:00:37.200 can do more than take classes. You can take charge 0:00:37.520 --> 0:00:41.520 of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:43.559 a degree you can be proud of, and get an 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:48.559 education employer's respect. 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That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:27.280 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.120 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.120 --> 0:01:34.880 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:01:35.120 --> 0:01:37.920 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:41.360 leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:44.440 every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:45.280 ministry going. 0:01:45.720 --> 0:02:00.120 Enjoy the message. 0:02:00.320 --> 0:02:03.120 Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come 0:02:03.120 --> 0:02:05.840 into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, 0:02:05.880 --> 0:02:08.560 please stop buying. Be a part of one of our services. 0:02:08.800 --> 0:02:11.120 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:11.360 --> 0:02:13.560 But thanks so much for tuning in, and thank you 0:02:13.600 --> 0:02:16.400 again for coming out. I like to start with something 0:02:16.440 --> 0:02:19.840 funny and I heard about this pastor he decided to 0:02:19.840 --> 0:02:23.720 skip church one Sunday morning and go play golf. He 0:02:23.800 --> 0:02:26.640 told his assistant that he wasn't feeling well, and he 0:02:26.760 --> 0:02:29.200 drove to a golf course in another city so nobody 0:02:29.240 --> 0:02:32.000 would know him. He teed off. On the first hole, 0:02:32.480 --> 0:02:36.000 a huge gust of wind caught his ball, carried it 0:02:36.080 --> 0:02:39.160 an extra one hundred yards, and dropped it right in 0:02:39.240 --> 0:02:42.400 the hole for a four hundred and fifty yard hole 0:02:42.600 --> 0:02:45.839 in one. An angel looked at God and said, what'd 0:02:45.880 --> 0:02:48.720 you do that for? God smiled and said, who's he 0:02:48.760 --> 0:02:52.920 going to tell? Hold up your bible, say it like 0:02:53.000 --> 0:02:55.880 you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 0:02:55.960 --> 0:02:58.360 it says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:02:58.919 --> 0:03:01.400 I can do what it says I could do. Today 0:03:01.560 --> 0:03:04.760 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:03:05.200 --> 0:03:08.560 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:03:08.600 --> 0:03:12.440 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:03:13.800 --> 0:03:16.760 I want to talk to you today about living content. 0:03:17.680 --> 0:03:20.840 It's good to have dreams and goals. We should be 0:03:20.960 --> 0:03:24.960 stretching our faith, believing for something bigger. But here's the key. 0:03:25.560 --> 0:03:29.280 While we're waiting for things to change, waiting for promises, 0:03:29.280 --> 0:03:33.000 to come to pass. We shouldn't be discontent where we are. 0:03:34.160 --> 0:03:37.040 Maybe you're believing to have a baby, believing for a 0:03:37.080 --> 0:03:41.520 new house, believing to get married. That's great, but don't 0:03:41.560 --> 0:03:46.320 go the next five years discontent being single, discontent with 0:03:46.360 --> 0:03:50.360 the house you have, discontent not having a child. Learn 0:03:50.480 --> 0:03:56.040 to enjoy the season that you're in. Being unhappy, frustrated, 0:03:56.320 --> 0:03:59.120 wondering if it's ever going to change is not going 0:03:59.120 --> 0:04:03.440 to make it happen any sooner. When we're discontent, we're 0:04:03.480 --> 0:04:07.680 dishonoring God. We're so focused on what we want, we're 0:04:07.680 --> 0:04:11.400 taking for granted what we have. The right attitude is, 0:04:12.000 --> 0:04:15.000 I'm believing for a new house, but in the meantime, 0:04:15.200 --> 0:04:18.120 I'm happy with the house I have. I'm believing to 0:04:18.160 --> 0:04:21.279 get married, but in the meantime, I'm content being single. 0:04:21.800 --> 0:04:24.480 Believing for a better job, but I'm happy with the 0:04:24.600 --> 0:04:28.400 job I have right now. The apostle Paul said, I 0:04:28.520 --> 0:04:32.600 have learned how to be content, whether I'm abased or 0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:37.200 a bounding, whether I have plenty or whether I'm in need. Notice, 0:04:37.240 --> 0:04:41.320 he had to learn to be content doesn't happen automatically. 0:04:41.520 --> 0:04:45.440 It's a choice we have to make being content, Does 0:04:45.480 --> 0:04:48.040 it mean that we don't want change, we give up 0:04:48.040 --> 0:04:50.520 on our dreams, we settle where we are. Oh, it 0:04:50.640 --> 0:04:56.120 means we're not fighting everything, We're not frustrated. We're trusting 0:04:56.200 --> 0:05:00.360 God's timing. We know he's working behind the scenes and 0:05:00.400 --> 0:05:02.560 at the right time, he'll get us to where we're 0:05:02.560 --> 0:05:06.919 supposed to be. Now, I found some situations will not 0:05:07.160 --> 0:05:12.440 change until we change as long as we're frustrated, stressed out, 0:05:12.640 --> 0:05:15.240 thinking why is it taking so long? Why am I 0:05:15.279 --> 0:05:18.080 still dealing with this problem? Why is my husband still 0:05:18.120 --> 0:05:21.719 aggravating me? No, if God has us there, we must 0:05:21.760 --> 0:05:24.320 need it. He's going to use it to do a 0:05:24.400 --> 0:05:30.039 work in us. When we're content, we're growing, we're developing character, 0:05:30.480 --> 0:05:34.120 our faith is being strengthened. You don't grow in the 0:05:34.200 --> 0:05:38.120 good times when everything's going your way. You grow when 0:05:38.120 --> 0:05:42.320 there's pressure. You feel like being sour, but you choose 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:46.200 to be happy. You could easily complain, but you say, Lord, 0:05:46.440 --> 0:05:50.080 thank you for another great day. All your dreams haven't 0:05:50.080 --> 0:05:53.760 come to pass, but you choose to enjoy the season 0:05:53.880 --> 0:05:57.600 that you're in. That's passing the test. That's what allows 0:05:57.640 --> 0:06:00.960 God to go to work. Instead of trying to change 0:06:01.000 --> 0:06:05.320 the situation, Let it change you. There's something wrong if 0:06:05.320 --> 0:06:09.279 we're always discontented. I don't like my job, tired of 0:06:09.279 --> 0:06:12.440 this small apartment. These kids get on my nerves. When 0:06:12.560 --> 0:06:15.160 is my business ever gonna grow? That's going to keep 0:06:15.200 --> 0:06:19.360 you where you are. God's plan for our life is 0:06:19.400 --> 0:06:22.520 not to just make us comfortable, but to grow us up, 0:06:23.000 --> 0:06:25.960 to mature us so he can release more of his favor. 0:06:26.880 --> 0:06:29.560 You may not like where you are, but you wouldn't 0:06:29.560 --> 0:06:32.680 be there unless God had a purpose for it. Make 0:06:32.760 --> 0:06:36.480 sure you pass the test. This is what David did. 0:06:36.800 --> 0:06:40.599 He spent years in the lonely shepherd's fields, taking care 0:06:40.680 --> 0:06:44.200 of his father's sheep. And what's interesting is he had 0:06:44.240 --> 0:06:47.160 already been chosen to be the next king of Israel. 0:06:47.680 --> 0:06:52.400 The prophet Samuel had already anointed him. David could have thought, God, 0:06:52.480 --> 0:06:56.279 this isn't right. I've got big dreams. You promised me 0:06:56.400 --> 0:06:59.279 great things. What am I doing stuck out here with 0:06:59.360 --> 0:07:03.760 a bunch of shep No. David understood this principle. He 0:07:03.800 --> 0:07:08.480 didn't live stressed, frustrated, He bloomed where he was planted. 0:07:09.080 --> 0:07:11.880 He knew God was in control, so he just kept 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:14.880 being his best, going to work with a good attitude, 0:07:15.480 --> 0:07:19.600 grateful for where he was because he was content in 0:07:19.680 --> 0:07:23.360 the shepherd's fields. He made it to the throne, to 0:07:23.400 --> 0:07:26.800 the palace. He passed that test. But if you're not 0:07:26.960 --> 0:07:30.640 content in the season you're in, while you're waiting for 0:07:30.720 --> 0:07:34.400 things to change, then even if you do somehow make 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:36.560 it to your throne, so to speak, your dreams do 0:07:36.640 --> 0:07:39.760 come to pass, you're still not going to be satisfied. 0:07:40.400 --> 0:07:42.920 You may be happy for a little while, but here's 0:07:42.960 --> 0:07:48.480 the problem. Discontentment will follow you everywhere you go. A 0:07:48.520 --> 0:07:51.240 few years ago, I came home one evening and I 0:07:51.280 --> 0:07:54.600 heard this high pitched sound in the house, like a 0:07:54.720 --> 0:07:57.720 tone you hear from a television broadcast. I could just 0:07:57.800 --> 0:08:00.400 faintly hear it, and I thought maybe a smoke hector 0:08:00.680 --> 0:08:04.080 battery was low where alarm was going off upstairs. So 0:08:04.160 --> 0:08:06.840 I started going around everywhere trying to figure out where 0:08:06.880 --> 0:08:10.960 it was. But it seemed like everywhere I went it 0:08:11.120 --> 0:08:14.880 sounded exactly the same. I couldn't get any closer to it. 0:08:14.880 --> 0:08:18.400 It was very puzzling. I went upstairs and checked rooms 0:08:18.440 --> 0:08:21.800 and drawers, checked the pantry. Finally I went up in 0:08:21.840 --> 0:08:24.760 the attic. I thought maybe a hot water heater or 0:08:24.800 --> 0:08:27.000 an air conditioner had a part that was going bad. 0:08:27.600 --> 0:08:29.640 I got way up in the attic and it still 0:08:29.720 --> 0:08:33.679 sounded exactly the same. After about twenty minutes, I went 0:08:33.720 --> 0:08:36.680 down to my room to change clothes. I took off 0:08:36.760 --> 0:08:40.160 my cell phone from my belt where it was clip, 0:08:40.400 --> 0:08:42.720 and I put it on my counter. When I did, 0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:47.120 I could tell the tone was coming from my cell phone. 0:08:47.400 --> 0:08:50.880 That's why it sounded the same everywhere I went. It 0:08:50.920 --> 0:08:53.000 was clip to me. I couldn't get away from it. 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:58.240 That's the way it is with discontentment. It follows us around. 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:02.600 God blesses us with promotion. We're happy for a little while. 0:09:03.080 --> 0:09:06.320 Then the discontentment comes. We don't want to work so hard, 0:09:06.360 --> 0:09:09.720 we don't want the responsibility. It's not our circumstances. It's 0:09:09.760 --> 0:09:14.040 the spirit of discontentment, seeing the wrong, complaining about what 0:09:14.200 --> 0:09:18.040 we don't like, never having enough. That's why Paul said, 0:09:18.240 --> 0:09:21.360 I've learned how to be content. You've got to train 0:09:21.440 --> 0:09:24.599 your mind to see the good, to be grateful for 0:09:24.679 --> 0:09:28.280 what you have. Life will go so much better if 0:09:28.320 --> 0:09:32.680 you will be content in each season. Content when you 0:09:32.760 --> 0:09:35.600 have a lot, and content when you don't have a lot. 0:09:36.040 --> 0:09:39.560 Content whether your children are in diapers, or whether they're 0:09:39.600 --> 0:09:43.920 in college, whether you're in maintenance or management. You have 0:09:44.360 --> 0:09:48.320 the grace you need to enjoy each season. If your 0:09:48.440 --> 0:09:52.280 dreams are not coming to pass, that's a test. Will 0:09:52.320 --> 0:09:56.240 you do like David and Bloom where you're planted, will 0:09:56.240 --> 0:10:01.400 you choose to enjoy that season and not just endure? Thinking, God, 0:10:01.559 --> 0:10:04.280 when is this ever going to change? I've been praying 0:10:04.320 --> 0:10:08.400 for two years. No, maybe it's going to change. When 0:10:08.440 --> 0:10:12.480 you change, You've got to be satisfied with where God 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:16.280 has you right now. Again. It doesn't mean you settle there, 0:10:16.800 --> 0:10:20.559 never expect anything good. It means you don't live frustrated, 0:10:21.280 --> 0:10:24.840 always wanting something more. God, I need more money, then 0:10:24.880 --> 0:10:28.000 I'll be happy. I need a better job, need a 0:10:28.000 --> 0:10:31.280 bigger house, need to lose twenty pounds, I need my 0:10:31.400 --> 0:10:34.280 kids to make better grades. Then I enjoy life. Or 0:10:34.320 --> 0:10:37.480 if you get all that corrected, if you accomplish your 0:10:37.520 --> 0:10:41.640 wish list, something else will come up to make you discontented. 0:10:41.880 --> 0:10:44.400 You got to put your foot down and say that's it. 0:10:45.120 --> 0:10:48.280 Everything may not be perfect in my life, all my 0:10:48.400 --> 0:10:50.800 dreams may not have come to pass yet, but I'm 0:10:50.800 --> 0:10:54.760 not living frustrated, stressed out. I'm gonna bloom right where 0:10:54.800 --> 0:11:00.240 I'm planning. In other words, I'm content whether I'm having 0:11:00.320 --> 0:11:03.880 a twenty year old Volkswagen or a brand new Mercedes Benz. 0:11:04.520 --> 0:11:07.480 I'm content whether I'm living in a small apartment or 0:11:07.520 --> 0:11:11.200 a beautiful dream house. I'm content whether my business is 0:11:11.240 --> 0:11:15.000 booming or whether it's a little slow. You cannot let 0:11:15.040 --> 0:11:17.959 your contentment be based on what you have or don't have, 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:20.959 on who likes you or who doesn't like you. Learn 0:11:21.080 --> 0:11:25.160 to be content in every season. Content when God blesses 0:11:25.200 --> 0:11:27.679 you with a lot, and content when you have a little, 0:11:28.240 --> 0:11:31.240 content when the dreams are coming to pass, and content 0:11:31.280 --> 0:11:35.160 while you're waiting. Content in the shepherd's fields, and content 0:11:35.200 --> 0:11:40.120 in the palace. The Scripture says godliness with contentment is 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:44.680 great gain. Life is very free when you can say 0:11:45.400 --> 0:11:48.760 I'm content with who God made me to be. I'm 0:11:48.800 --> 0:11:52.040 content with my personality, content with my looks, content with 0:11:52.120 --> 0:11:55.680 my gifts. I'm content with where I am in life, 0:11:56.080 --> 0:12:00.280 my position, my career, my relationships, my house. This is 0:12:00.320 --> 0:12:04.800 the reason many people are unhappy. They're always wishing for 0:12:04.920 --> 0:12:08.680 something different. Some single people are not going to be 0:12:08.760 --> 0:12:12.560 content until they get married. No, you need to enjoy 0:12:12.720 --> 0:12:17.080 being single, because when you get married, you'll enjoy it more. 0:12:19.840 --> 0:12:24.360 I'm smarter than I look. There are married people that 0:12:24.559 --> 0:12:28.559 wish they weren't married, wish they were married to somebody else. 0:12:29.280 --> 0:12:32.120 White people sit in tanning booths trying to get darker. 0:12:33.320 --> 0:12:36.080 Dark people put cream on their skin trying to get lighter. 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:40.120 Ladies with curly hair go to the salon to get 0:12:40.160 --> 0:12:43.200 it straightened. People with straight hair go to the salon 0:12:43.280 --> 0:12:46.000 to get it purmed. People with no hair go to 0:12:46.040 --> 0:12:51.400 the salon to buy some hair. But really, there's nothing 0:12:51.440 --> 0:12:54.880 wrong with improving, being your best, showing your style. But 0:12:55.000 --> 0:12:59.960 you shouldn't always be wishing you were something different, can 0:13:00.800 --> 0:13:05.439 with who God made you to be. It's a tragedy 0:13:05.559 --> 0:13:11.240 to go through life always dissatisfied, wishing you had more, 0:13:11.559 --> 0:13:14.480 wanting to look like somebody else, waiting to be happy. 0:13:14.720 --> 0:13:17.560 I'm asking you to be content right where you are. 0:13:18.520 --> 0:13:21.640 Think about Mary, the Mother of Christ, when she was 0:13:21.720 --> 0:13:26.920 pregnant with Jesus, she had to ride a donkey to Bethlehem. Now, 0:13:26.920 --> 0:13:32.520 I've lived with a pregnant woman twice, the same one. 0:13:32.559 --> 0:13:35.520 If I would have suggested Victoria getting on a donkey 0:13:35.679 --> 0:13:39.640 at nine months pregnant, I probably wouldn't be here today. 0:13:40.559 --> 0:13:43.880 Mary could have complained, Joseph, why don't you get me 0:13:43.920 --> 0:13:48.120 something smoother? This is hard? When she got to Bethlahem, Joseph, 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:51.560 why didn't you make us a hotel reservation? Why didn't 0:13:51.600 --> 0:13:54.079 you get me a hospital room? You knew I was 0:13:54.120 --> 0:13:57.720 gonna have this baby. Been all over the news when 0:13:57.760 --> 0:14:00.199 the baby was born, Joseph, why didn't you buy the 0:14:00.240 --> 0:14:03.319 baby a new outfit? I've got to wrap my beautiful 0:14:03.400 --> 0:14:08.120 baby in swaddling clothes that was strips of cloth. Mary 0:14:08.160 --> 0:14:12.559 didn't have designer jeans, fancy purse, a latte from Starbucks. 0:14:13.280 --> 0:14:16.840 But she never complained. She never found fault with Joseph. 0:14:17.240 --> 0:14:19.800 She didn't say, God, if I'm going to have this 0:14:19.920 --> 0:14:23.960 baby for you, at least you could make it more 0:14:24.000 --> 0:14:24.840 comfortable on me. 0:14:25.680 --> 0:14:25.720 No. 0:14:25.920 --> 0:14:30.240 She was content in the season. She was in content 0:14:30.880 --> 0:14:34.560 when the angel said you've been highly favored, and content 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:39.320 writing a donkey, pregnant, content giving birth in a barn 0:14:39.400 --> 0:14:42.680 with a bunch of animals, and content when the wise 0:14:42.720 --> 0:14:46.120 men said, your son is the Messiah. It takes a 0:14:46.200 --> 0:14:50.240 mature person to be content on the mountaintop and content 0:14:50.280 --> 0:14:53.240 in the valley. A couple of years after Victoria and 0:14:53.280 --> 0:14:56.000 I were married, we found this piece of property that 0:14:56.040 --> 0:14:59.240 we really liked. Was close into the city in a 0:14:59.320 --> 0:15:02.720 nice neighborhoo hood, but it had a very old rundown 0:15:02.880 --> 0:15:06.760 house on it that had made your foundation problems. Most 0:15:06.800 --> 0:15:09.360 people would have torn it down, but we decided to 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:12.360 fix it up and live in it. The floors in 0:15:12.400 --> 0:15:15.360 the den were so slanted that I had to put 0:15:15.400 --> 0:15:18.240 little blocks of wood under the front legs of the 0:15:18.280 --> 0:15:20.760 couch so it would match up with the back legs. 0:15:21.520 --> 0:15:24.720 Most of the interior doors would not close properly. It 0:15:24.800 --> 0:15:28.240 didn't bother us. We were happy. My mother would come over, Joel, 0:15:28.280 --> 0:15:31.120 how do you live in this house with these crooked floors? 0:15:31.760 --> 0:15:35.600 God gives you the grace for each season. Today we 0:15:35.680 --> 0:15:38.720 have a nice house with even floors. But I don't 0:15:38.760 --> 0:15:41.720 believe we would be where we are if we had 0:15:41.760 --> 0:15:45.080 not been content in that older home. It would have 0:15:45.080 --> 0:15:48.840 been easy to complain. This is a piece of jump God. 0:15:48.880 --> 0:15:51.520 We wanted something new. When is it ever going to change? 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:56.560 No pass the test, whether you're abased or abounding, whether 0:15:56.600 --> 0:16:00.320 you're in your dream house or a crooked floorhouse, make 0:16:00.360 --> 0:16:03.320 the decision. I'm going to be content. I'm going to 0:16:03.480 --> 0:16:06.160 enjoy my life. I'm going to be grateful for what 0:16:06.200 --> 0:16:08.360 God's given me. I'm going to be the best I 0:16:08.400 --> 0:16:12.000 can be right where I am. The Apostle Paul, who 0:16:12.080 --> 0:16:15.960 said I've learned how to be content wrote much of 0:16:16.000 --> 0:16:19.760 the New Testament from a prison cell. When you've made 0:16:19.840 --> 0:16:23.280 up your mind to be content, prisons can't stop you, 0:16:23.600 --> 0:16:27.280 Crooked floors can't stop you. Donkeys can't stop you. Lonely 0:16:27.360 --> 0:16:30.840 shepherds fiels can't stop you. God forgets you to where 0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:34.920 you're supposed to be. A gentleman recently was telling me 0:16:35.160 --> 0:16:38.040 about all of his problems and everything that was wrong 0:16:38.160 --> 0:16:41.000 in his life, and went on and on as long story. 0:16:41.200 --> 0:16:44.960 He ended by saying, Joel, I just don't like my life. 0:16:45.040 --> 0:16:48.520 Here's the problem. It's the only life you have. You 0:16:48.600 --> 0:16:51.760 can't trade it in. You can't become someone else. You 0:16:51.840 --> 0:16:55.360 may have a thousand reasons to live unhappy, but you've 0:16:55.360 --> 0:16:58.480 got to make this choice that you're going to be content. 0:16:59.080 --> 0:17:01.920 If you're sour, when is it ever going to change? 0:17:02.160 --> 0:17:07.280 You'll get stuck. God does not promote discontentment. Shake it 0:17:07.320 --> 0:17:11.360 off and focus on what's right in your life. Focus 0:17:11.560 --> 0:17:14.720 on what you do have. Most of us. When we 0:17:14.800 --> 0:17:18.159 woke up this morning, we could see the sunlight, our 0:17:18.240 --> 0:17:21.320 eyes worked, most of you could hear the bird singing. 0:17:21.880 --> 0:17:25.080 You had a roof over your head. You have opportunity 0:17:25.320 --> 0:17:28.680 people to love in your life. There's a lot right 0:17:28.880 --> 0:17:32.080 in your life. Don't take it for granted. Don't get 0:17:32.160 --> 0:17:36.040 so focused on the crooked floors, the donkeys, the struggles 0:17:36.240 --> 0:17:40.399 that you miss the gift of this day. See, every 0:17:40.520 --> 0:17:48.120 season is not springtime with the flowers, beautiful blooming, nice sunshine, 0:17:48.240 --> 0:17:52.040 cool weather. That's a great season. But you're not going 0:17:52.119 --> 0:17:55.800 to grow if you stay in harvest. There's got to 0:17:55.800 --> 0:18:01.679 be planting seasons, watering seasons, maintain seasons where you're pulling 0:18:01.680 --> 0:18:06.720 the weeds, tilling the soil. Those are important seasons. Without 0:18:06.800 --> 0:18:09.640 going through that process, then you're not going to come 0:18:09.640 --> 0:18:13.840 into a new season of harvest. Instead of being frustrated 0:18:13.880 --> 0:18:18.000 by the difficulties, have a new perspective. That season is 0:18:18.080 --> 0:18:22.199 getting you prepared for promotion. It may look like you're stuck, 0:18:22.720 --> 0:18:26.040 you don't see anything happening, but God is at work 0:18:26.359 --> 0:18:30.479 and at the right time, the season will change. Winter 0:18:30.840 --> 0:18:35.400 always gives way to spring. It takes a mature person 0:18:35.480 --> 0:18:38.840 to be content not only in the harvest season, but 0:18:39.000 --> 0:18:43.440 content in planning season, content in the watering season, content 0:18:43.720 --> 0:18:46.399 in the pulling up the weed season. You may be 0:18:46.600 --> 0:18:50.040 in one of those difficult seasons right now, raising a 0:18:50.080 --> 0:18:53.600 small child, or taking care of an elderly loved one, 0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:57.119 perhaps dealing with an illness. You feel like you're riding 0:18:57.160 --> 0:19:00.400 that donkey. It's easy to think, as as soon as 0:19:00.400 --> 0:19:03.080 I get through this tough time, then I'll get my 0:19:03.200 --> 0:19:06.720 joy back. Soon as my kids get out of diapers, 0:19:06.720 --> 0:19:08.960 soon as I make it through the busy season at work, 0:19:09.480 --> 0:19:12.440 as soon as I lose this twenty pounds. No, this 0:19:12.920 --> 0:19:15.639 is the day the Lord has made. You got to 0:19:15.720 --> 0:19:20.199 choose to rejoice today. God has given you the grace 0:19:20.280 --> 0:19:23.840 you need not to endure the season that doesn't take 0:19:23.840 --> 0:19:28.199 any faith, but to enjoy the season. When you'll content, 0:19:29.000 --> 0:19:32.320 You see each day as a gift. You appreciate the 0:19:32.400 --> 0:19:35.520 people in your life. You're grateful for what God has 0:19:35.520 --> 0:19:39.879 given you. That not only is making you stronger, developing 0:19:39.920 --> 0:19:43.120 your character, but you're passing the test. You will come 0:19:43.160 --> 0:19:45.680 out of fall, out of winter, and you will come 0:19:45.720 --> 0:19:49.280 into your springtime. Things will begin to bloom and blossom 0:19:49.440 --> 0:19:52.840 once again. When I was growing up, there were five 0:19:52.880 --> 0:19:55.560 of us kids in the house. Of course, my parents 0:19:55.560 --> 0:19:59.520 were pastors and we didn't have necessarily a lot of money, 0:19:59.600 --> 0:20:01.800 but as a little boy always felt like we were 0:20:01.920 --> 0:20:05.199 well off. We had fun. We played hide and go 0:20:05.280 --> 0:20:07.440 seek in the house. We'd go out in the front 0:20:07.480 --> 0:20:11.399 yard and have big races. Life was good. But my 0:20:11.520 --> 0:20:14.119 parents couldn't afford to take us on a big family 0:20:14.200 --> 0:20:18.359 vacation every year, so every couple of months, my father 0:20:18.359 --> 0:20:21.200 would load us kids up in the car and take 0:20:21.320 --> 0:20:24.720 us up to the airport to ride the tram from 0:20:24.800 --> 0:20:29.159 Terminal A to Terminal B. There were just two terminals 0:20:29.160 --> 0:20:31.879 back then, and the tram was free. We thought that 0:20:32.080 --> 0:20:35.119 was so great. We would ride it over and over 0:20:35.200 --> 0:20:37.840 and over. People would look at us like we were 0:20:37.880 --> 0:20:43.679 so confused. We weren't lost. We were having fun. My 0:20:43.920 --> 0:20:48.960 father learned to be content in each season. Instead of 0:20:48.960 --> 0:20:52.000 complaining that he didn't have enough, he chose to bloom 0:20:52.359 --> 0:20:55.480 where he was planning. It's funny when some of my 0:20:55.760 --> 0:20:57.680 friends as a little boy would tell me they were 0:20:57.720 --> 0:21:00.720 going to Disneyland. I always thought that meant they were 0:21:00.720 --> 0:21:04.040 going up to the airport to ride the trams. I say, yeah, 0:21:04.040 --> 0:21:08.119 we've been there before. When I got old enough to 0:21:08.200 --> 0:21:15.119 realize what Disneyland really was, I needed counseling. But don't 0:21:15.359 --> 0:21:20.040 miss a great season in your life wishing you had more, 0:21:20.720 --> 0:21:24.240 complaining about what you don't have. Listen, the real joy 0:21:24.320 --> 0:21:27.480 in life is in the simple things. Making memories with 0:21:27.520 --> 0:21:31.040 your family, riding the trains together at the airport, playing 0:21:31.080 --> 0:21:33.840 hide and go seeking the house, watching the sunset with 0:21:33.920 --> 0:21:37.159 your spouse, looking at the stars at night. Simple things. 0:21:37.840 --> 0:21:41.720 When our children were younger, Jonathan about five and Alexander 0:21:41.760 --> 0:21:45.400 would have been two, we planned a big vacation to Disneyland. 0:21:45.920 --> 0:21:48.320 They were going to get to eat breakfast with Mickey 0:21:48.359 --> 0:21:51.040 Mouse and take pictures with the other characters. It's a 0:21:51.040 --> 0:21:54.400 big deal, you know, getting two small children out to California, 0:21:54.800 --> 0:21:57.800 Booking the hotel, getting the rental car, the flights. Spend 0:21:57.800 --> 0:22:01.159 half of my retirement to get there. When we arrived, 0:22:01.160 --> 0:22:03.320 we checked into the hotel and we went straight to 0:22:03.400 --> 0:22:06.920 the park. I was so excited for my children. We 0:22:06.920 --> 0:22:10.800 weren't there fifteen minutes. Jonathan said, Dad, I want to 0:22:10.840 --> 0:22:14.359 go back to the hotel and go swimming. I didn't 0:22:14.359 --> 0:22:15.680 think I heard him ride. I said, you want to 0:22:15.720 --> 0:22:18.399 do what. He said, I want to go back and 0:22:18.440 --> 0:22:20.560 go swimming. I said, no, no, no, Jonathan, We're at 0:22:20.600 --> 0:22:23.600 disney Land. We came a long way. Look at all 0:22:23.680 --> 0:22:26.919 these rides. This is going to be fun. He said, no, Daddy, 0:22:27.160 --> 0:22:30.080 I want to go back and go swimming. I said, Jonathan, 0:22:30.119 --> 0:22:33.000 we can swim any time at home at the neighborhood pool. 0:22:33.119 --> 0:22:37.399 We're at Disneyland. He sat down on the pavement, crossed 0:22:37.400 --> 0:22:39.600 his arms and said, I don't want to be at Disneyland. 0:22:39.600 --> 0:22:42.640 I want to go swimming. I said, Jonathan. I spent 0:22:42.680 --> 0:22:44.880 fifty bucks on your ticket. You're gonna have fun whether 0:22:44.920 --> 0:22:48.359 you like it or not. I thought later I should 0:22:48.400 --> 0:22:49.920 have done like my dad and taken them to the 0:22:49.960 --> 0:22:53.280 airport to ride the trams. Could have saved me a 0:22:53.280 --> 0:22:56.199 lot of money. So you don't have to have a 0:22:56.200 --> 0:22:59.960 big vacation to have fun. Learn to enjoy the simple 0:23:00.119 --> 0:23:03.800 things in life. A mistake we make too often is 0:23:03.840 --> 0:23:07.120 we think, when we reach a certain goal, then we'll 0:23:07.119 --> 0:23:10.080 be happy. As soon as I finish college, Joel, as 0:23:10.119 --> 0:23:12.040 soon as I get the promotion, soon as I move 0:23:12.040 --> 0:23:14.400 into the new house, as soon as I have this baby, 0:23:14.560 --> 0:23:18.560 then I'll enjoy my life. Yes, you'll be happy when 0:23:18.600 --> 0:23:22.200 you accomplish your goals, but there are challenges that come 0:23:22.240 --> 0:23:26.280 along with it. I've heard it said with every blessing 0:23:26.800 --> 0:23:30.480 comes a burden. You'll never come to a place where 0:23:30.520 --> 0:23:34.480 you're problem free, no conflict, no bills to pay, everybody 0:23:34.560 --> 0:23:38.080 celebrating you. That's not reality. If you don't learn to 0:23:38.119 --> 0:23:40.879 be content where you are, you won't be content when 0:23:40.960 --> 0:23:44.119 dreams come to pass. When God blesses you with that 0:23:44.200 --> 0:23:46.800 new house, what comes with it is a bigger yard 0:23:46.840 --> 0:23:50.400 tom more rooms to clean, more to maintain. When you're 0:23:50.400 --> 0:23:53.960 blessed with that promotion, what comes with it is more responsibility. 0:23:54.440 --> 0:23:57.320 When you have that beautiful baby, nothing like it in 0:23:57.440 --> 0:23:59.960 all the world, But at three o'clock in the morning, 0:24:00.160 --> 0:24:02.600 that baby wants to eat. They don't do things on 0:24:02.640 --> 0:24:07.199 our timetable. Now, don't pray for a bigger blessing if 0:24:07.240 --> 0:24:10.920 you're going to complain about a bigger burden. We love 0:24:10.960 --> 0:24:14.680 our new facility. This is a dream come true. God 0:24:14.720 --> 0:24:17.359 did more than we can ask or think. But with 0:24:17.480 --> 0:24:23.040 this amazing blessing came an amazing utility bill. First time 0:24:23.080 --> 0:24:25.119 I saw it, I thought, God, I sure liked our 0:24:25.160 --> 0:24:29.679 old facility. The good news is. God wouldn't give you 0:24:29.760 --> 0:24:33.080 the blessing if you couldn't handle the burden. You have 0:24:33.200 --> 0:24:37.240 the grace you need for each season. Now do your 0:24:37.320 --> 0:24:42.239 part and choose to be content. You could be in 0:24:42.280 --> 0:24:45.040 one of the best seasons of your life right now, 0:24:45.440 --> 0:24:48.560 but you're not enjoying it because you're focused on the burden, 0:24:49.080 --> 0:24:51.639 on what you don't have, on how difficult it is, 0:24:52.359 --> 0:24:55.719 because you're waiting for things to change. You're missing the 0:24:55.760 --> 0:25:00.720 beauty of this moment, the joy of today. Through life, 0:25:01.119 --> 0:25:05.080 always wanting something else. See the gift in what you 0:25:05.200 --> 0:25:08.280 have right now. Can I tell you we are living 0:25:08.520 --> 0:25:11.840 in the good old days. Twenty years from now, you'll 0:25:11.840 --> 0:25:14.720 look back and say, Wow, twenty fourteen was one of 0:25:14.800 --> 0:25:20.280 the best times of my life. Don't miss it living discontent, gentlemen, 0:25:20.359 --> 0:25:22.879 I know by the name of Mitch Album wrote a 0:25:22.880 --> 0:25:25.760 great book called The Five People You Meet in Heaven. 0:25:26.359 --> 0:25:30.000 They turned it into a movie now. Although it's not scriptural, 0:25:30.160 --> 0:25:33.120 it makes a very good point. It's about a man 0:25:33.240 --> 0:25:36.040 in his sixties that had worked at an amusement park 0:25:36.080 --> 0:25:39.040 his whole life. His parents owned it and that's all 0:25:39.080 --> 0:25:42.919 he knew. He never really wanted to be there. He 0:25:42.960 --> 0:25:46.000 had dreams to do something bigger with his life, but 0:25:46.160 --> 0:25:49.639 unfortunate things kept happening. He found himself back at the 0:25:49.680 --> 0:25:54.720 amusement park. He was discontented, unfulfilled, never felt like that's 0:25:54.720 --> 0:25:57.480 where he was supposed to be, dreaded going to work 0:25:57.520 --> 0:26:02.879 each day. On the outside, he was good to people, kind, generous, 0:26:03.000 --> 0:26:05.280 he'd go out of his way to help others. But 0:26:05.320 --> 0:26:09.160 on the inside he was unhappy, felt like a failure 0:26:09.240 --> 0:26:12.320 in life. At one point, this little girl was in 0:26:12.400 --> 0:26:15.439 danger on a ride, about to be harmed, and he 0:26:15.520 --> 0:26:18.760 rushed over to helper. He saved the little girl's life, 0:26:19.200 --> 0:26:22.320 but in the process he lost his own life. He 0:26:22.400 --> 0:26:25.639 was killed. He went to heaven and was told that 0:26:25.720 --> 0:26:29.840 he would meet five people. These people would be instrumental 0:26:30.359 --> 0:26:33.800 in helping him to choose what kind of heaven he 0:26:33.840 --> 0:26:37.800 would have. Again, it's not doctrinely correct, but in this book, 0:26:38.000 --> 0:26:40.399 you could choose what your heaven would be. If you 0:26:40.440 --> 0:26:42.800 wanted to live on a beach, in a palace in 0:26:42.840 --> 0:26:46.159 the mountains, it was your choice. The first man he 0:26:46.240 --> 0:26:49.120 met he had helped during the war. The man told 0:26:49.160 --> 0:26:51.760 him how much he meant to him. He then met 0:26:51.840 --> 0:26:54.720 three other people that he had been good to. They 0:26:54.760 --> 0:26:58.880 expressed their heartfelt love and appreciation for what he had done. 0:26:58.920 --> 0:27:01.560 The last one he met was the little girl whose 0:27:01.600 --> 0:27:05.480 life he had saved. He began to realize all of 0:27:05.520 --> 0:27:08.639 his time on earth that he felt like he was 0:27:08.680 --> 0:27:12.080 at the wrong place, the wrong job. He didn't like 0:27:12.160 --> 0:27:15.600 his life, But actually he was at the right place. 0:27:16.200 --> 0:27:19.240 God had been directing his steps. He made a difference 0:27:19.280 --> 0:27:22.840 with his life when he stepped back and saw it 0:27:22.880 --> 0:27:26.359 from a new perspective. He chose his heaven to be 0:27:26.760 --> 0:27:29.760 the amusement park, the place that he had dreaded all 0:27:29.800 --> 0:27:33.680 those years. Could it be that you're at the right 0:27:33.760 --> 0:27:36.960 place for the season that you're in, but you're not 0:27:37.160 --> 0:27:41.040 enjoying it. Maybe, like him, if you would step back 0:27:41.119 --> 0:27:44.240 and see it from a new perspective, you would realize 0:27:44.480 --> 0:27:47.359 God has you in the palm of his hand. He's 0:27:47.400 --> 0:27:51.240 directing your steps. He knows where you are, what you like, 0:27:51.560 --> 0:27:56.120 what you don't like. And instead of living discontented, frustrated, 0:27:56.680 --> 0:28:00.840 always wishing you were somewhere else, embrace the place where 0:28:00.880 --> 0:28:04.600 you are. See the good, Be grateful for what you have. 0:28:05.400 --> 0:28:09.400 Remember there's a blessing and a burden for every season. 0:28:09.760 --> 0:28:12.639 Don't focus on the burden, you have the grace to 0:28:12.840 --> 0:28:16.320 enjoy the blessing. If you will make this choice that 0:28:16.400 --> 0:28:19.680 you're going to live content through every season, blooming where 0:28:19.680 --> 0:28:23.760 you're planning, not always wishing for something else, then I 0:28:23.840 --> 0:28:27.160 believe and declare you're going to enjoy your life more. 0:28:27.440 --> 0:28:31.200 You will rise higher, overcome every obstacle, and you will 0:28:31.240 --> 0:28:38.720 become everything God's created you to be. In Jesus' name. Well, 0:28:38.720 --> 0:28:41.600 we never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:41.640 --> 0:28:44.680 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:44.960 --> 0:28:49.280 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:28:49.440 --> 0:28:54.960 repent of my sins, Come into my heart, wash me clean. 0:28:55.960 --> 0:28:59.720 I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you 0:28:59.720 --> 0:29:02.480 pray that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 0:29:02.920 --> 0:29:06.160 Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 0:29:06.400 --> 0:29:08.840 He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 0:29:11.120 --> 0:29:14.560 Thank you for listening to the Joel Loustine podcast. Help 0:29:14.640 --> 0:29:17.360 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:17.480 --> 0:29:21.360 all over the world. Visit Joeloustein dot com slash give 0:29:21.440 --> 0:29:23.120 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:24.400 --> 0:29:27.320 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:27.360 --> 0:29:30.720 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:30.800 --> 0:29:32.360 keep you inspired. 0:29:31.920 --> 0:29:32.840 All through the week. 0:29:33.040 --> 0:29:35.920 We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:36.120 --> 0:29:37.160 We'll see you next time. 0:29:44.200 --> 0:29:46.720 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:46.760 --> 0:29:50.480 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:50.560 --> 0:29:53.800 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:29:53.880 --> 0:29:56.920 yourly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:56.960 --> 0:30:00.200 the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 0:30:00.240 --> 0:30:03.040 health for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 0:30:03.160 --> 0:30:05.520 scholarship and you only pay a one time tech fee 0:30:05.560 --> 0:30:09.440 of fifty four dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealth 0:30:09.480 --> 0:30:13.200 coach dot org. 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