Living In The Present

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This is not an 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:29.759 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment 0:01:29.840 --> 0:01:30.720 legal or tax advice. 0:01:30.840 --> 0:01:33.600 Don't take for granted all the good things in your 0:01:33.640 --> 0:01:38.120 life right now you're present. I'm asking you to get connected, 0:01:38.920 --> 0:01:42.360 enjoy where you are, take time for the people God's 0:01:42.400 --> 0:01:46.120 given you. The dreams will come to pass in due season. 0:01:46.680 --> 0:01:51.000 The problems will resolve in God's timing. Worrying about them 0:01:51.200 --> 0:01:54.560 does it make it work out any sooner? Constantly thinking 0:01:54.600 --> 0:01:57.760 about your goals does it make them happen any faster? 0:01:58.160 --> 0:02:01.559 Stay in the moment, Hi, this is in Victoria. Thanks 0:02:01.560 --> 0:02:04.960 for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:02:05.080 --> 0:02:07.440 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:02:07.480 --> 0:02:10.240 blessing and share it with a friend. We appreciate you 0:02:10.360 --> 0:02:17.360 and pray for God's very best in your life. God 0:02:17.400 --> 0:02:20.280 bless you. It's great to be with you today. And 0:02:20.720 --> 0:02:23.640 if you're ever in our area, please stop buying. Be 0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:26.120 a part of one of our services. I'll promise you 0:02:26.200 --> 0:02:28.520 we'll make you feel right at home. Find ut people 0:02:28.520 --> 0:02:31.639 in all of Houston, Texas right here at Lakewood. One 0:02:31.680 --> 0:02:35.120 more thing, I hope you'll stay connected with us during 0:02:35.200 --> 0:02:38.320 the week of a daily podcast. You can download her 0:02:38.440 --> 0:02:41.280 You can go to our YouTube channel, watch the messages anytime, 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:45.000 follow us on social media. We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. 0:02:45.600 --> 0:02:48.119 I'd like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:02:48.120 --> 0:02:51.640 about this lady. She's surprised a burglar in her house 0:02:51.840 --> 0:02:54.760 late one night, and she was home alone, didn't have 0:02:54.760 --> 0:02:57.920 a weapon. She didn't know what to do. Finally, she thought, 0:02:58.040 --> 0:03:01.960 I'll quote a scripture verse outed out acts two thirty eight. 0:03:02.520 --> 0:03:06.640 The burglar suddenly froze in his tracks, wouldn't move. Soon 0:03:06.680 --> 0:03:09.680 the police arrived. They were amazed at how a woman 0:03:09.760 --> 0:03:12.480 with no weapon could do this. They asked the burglar, 0:03:12.639 --> 0:03:15.040 what was it about that scripture that had such an 0:03:15.040 --> 0:03:18.920 effect on you? He said, scripture? What scripture? I thought? 0:03:18.960 --> 0:03:21.600 She said, she had an axe and two thirty eight. 0:03:22.800 --> 0:03:25.720 Here we go. Ready, this is my Bible. I am 0:03:25.800 --> 0:03:26.400 what it says. 0:03:26.400 --> 0:03:26.760 I am. 0:03:27.200 --> 0:03:29.520 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:03:29.600 --> 0:03:32.160 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:03:32.200 --> 0:03:35.880 talked to word of God. I boldly confess my mind 0:03:35.960 --> 0:03:39.160 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:03:39.240 --> 0:03:44.119 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:03:44.120 --> 0:03:46.920 to talk to you today about living in the present. 0:03:47.800 --> 0:03:51.400 So often our mind is either in the past, focused 0:03:51.400 --> 0:03:54.800 on what didn't work out, who did us wrong, mistakes 0:03:54.840 --> 0:03:58.520 we've made, or is in the future thinking about our goals, 0:03:58.840 --> 0:04:02.120 worried about our finance, what if my health doesn't improve. 0:04:02.880 --> 0:04:05.640 The problem with being in the past or being in 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:09.480 the future is you will miss the present. David said, 0:04:09.720 --> 0:04:13.280 this is the day the Lord has made. Today is 0:04:13.320 --> 0:04:17.320 a gift from God. Are you fully engaged making the 0:04:17.320 --> 0:04:21.400 most of each moment, loving your family, appreciating the simple 0:04:21.440 --> 0:04:24.880 things in life? Or are you in yesterday? Are you 0:04:24.960 --> 0:04:29.279 in tomorrow? The reason some relationships are not healthy is 0:04:29.320 --> 0:04:32.240 you came home from work, but you didn't really show up. 0:04:32.839 --> 0:04:36.160 Your mind was somewhere else. You played with your child, 0:04:36.440 --> 0:04:39.440 but you were in tomorrow thinking about how you were 0:04:39.440 --> 0:04:42.680 going to accomplish that goal. Or you went to the office. 0:04:42.839 --> 0:04:45.800 Your body was there, but your mind was in yesterday 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:49.280 thinking about what you should have done better. If you're 0:04:49.320 --> 0:04:52.520 going to be fulfilled, you have to show up for life. 0:04:53.160 --> 0:04:56.120 You have to be there when you get there. Not 0:04:56.279 --> 0:04:59.160 show up and be in the future worried about how 0:04:59.160 --> 0:05:02.040 it's going to work. Not show up and be in 0:05:02.040 --> 0:05:09.160 the past, living regrets, dwelling on your disappointments, come into today. Yes, 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:12.280 it's good to have goals. I'm all for having vision, 0:05:12.720 --> 0:05:15.760 but you can't be so focused on what's next that 0:05:15.839 --> 0:05:19.080 you miss what you have right now. I know people 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:22.440 that lost what they had going after what they wanted. 0:05:23.040 --> 0:05:26.200 They were so intent on reaching their goal, doing great 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:29.960 things that they took their family for granted. They came home, 0:05:30.120 --> 0:05:33.680 but they weren't there. They were distracted thinking about what 0:05:33.880 --> 0:05:37.600 was next, planning for the future. They never came into 0:05:37.640 --> 0:05:41.200 the present. Victoria and I used to travel to India 0:05:41.320 --> 0:05:43.640 with my father and we had been married for a 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:46.680 couple of years, and on this particular trip on the 0:05:46.720 --> 0:05:49.640 way home, we were going to stop in Paris. My 0:05:49.720 --> 0:05:52.400 father was going to minister there for a few days, 0:05:52.400 --> 0:05:55.920 and we were so excited our first time being in 0:05:55.960 --> 0:05:59.880 Paris together. Before we left home, we put an offer 0:05:59.920 --> 0:06:02.599 in for a house that we really wanted to buy. 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:05.560 We had sold our town home and we found this 0:06:05.600 --> 0:06:09.159 place that we loved. Had a nice yard and big trees, 0:06:09.240 --> 0:06:12.440 and the house was so light and open. It was perfect. 0:06:12.960 --> 0:06:15.760 When we arrived in Paris, the first thing we did 0:06:16.080 --> 0:06:18.839 was called our realtor and asked if she had heard anything. 0:06:19.279 --> 0:06:22.640 She said nothing. The next morning we woke up, called 0:06:22.680 --> 0:06:26.719 the realtor any news. Still nothing. During the day, we 0:06:26.760 --> 0:06:29.679 would go out and look at sites. The whole time 0:06:29.880 --> 0:06:32.680 we were talking about that house, believing we were going 0:06:32.720 --> 0:06:35.560 to get it. As we walked the streets of Paris, 0:06:35.960 --> 0:06:38.560 we took pictures of things that we'd like to do 0:06:38.680 --> 0:06:41.240 to our new house. Here's the front we could put 0:06:41.240 --> 0:06:44.520 on it. Here's how we could do the landscaping. We 0:06:44.520 --> 0:06:48.240 were in Paris, but we weren't really there. Our mind 0:06:48.360 --> 0:06:51.479 was somewhere else. We were in the future, all the 0:06:51.560 --> 0:06:54.680 while missing the present. We could have been making the 0:06:54.720 --> 0:06:58.320 most of that moment, enjoyed the sites, taking in that 0:06:58.360 --> 0:07:01.880 beautiful city. But because we were so focused on what 0:07:01.960 --> 0:07:05.279 we wanted, we missed what we had. If I could 0:07:05.360 --> 0:07:08.120 go back now, I say, Joel, enjoy where you are. 0:07:08.880 --> 0:07:12.000 Be present at the right time. The doors will open, 0:07:12.480 --> 0:07:16.240 the opportunities will come. But while you're waiting, stay in 0:07:16.240 --> 0:07:19.920 the now. What's funny is when we arrived home, the 0:07:20.000 --> 0:07:22.400 agent called and said they had sold the house to 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:25.720 someone else. I thought, you mean I wasted my whole 0:07:25.800 --> 0:07:30.360 trip focused on that house, dreaming about that house, decorating 0:07:30.400 --> 0:07:33.640 that house, landscaping that house, and we didn't even get it. 0:07:34.640 --> 0:07:38.720 Don't lose what you have going after what you want now. 0:07:38.760 --> 0:07:41.440 You don't have to go to Paris to miss something great. 0:07:42.200 --> 0:07:45.000 You can miss your child growing up going after what 0:07:45.040 --> 0:07:48.640 you want. You can miss who your spouse is, all 0:07:48.680 --> 0:07:51.800 the great things about them because you're so consumed with 0:07:51.880 --> 0:07:54.880 your business, with your hobby, with how you're going to 0:07:54.920 --> 0:07:58.280 fix that problem. But the people in your life are 0:07:58.320 --> 0:08:01.560 not always going to be there. Don't take them for granted. 0:08:02.080 --> 0:08:05.480 There will always be plenty of work, plenty of challenges, 0:08:05.640 --> 0:08:09.120 plenty of problems to solve those things. Will never go away. 0:08:09.800 --> 0:08:13.600 When you're with your family, give them your time, your attention. 0:08:14.400 --> 0:08:17.960 Life goes so fast. You look at your little children today, 0:08:18.200 --> 0:08:21.520 the next thing you know, they're teenagers tormenting you, I 0:08:21.560 --> 0:08:25.240 mean blessing you. When you come home. You need to 0:08:25.280 --> 0:08:28.560 show up. I charge my cell phone by my bed 0:08:28.600 --> 0:08:31.320 each night, and the other morning I woke up and 0:08:31.400 --> 0:08:34.280 my phone was dead. I had forgotten to plug it in. 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:39.360 It was present, but not connected. Sometimes that's the way 0:08:39.360 --> 0:08:43.120 we are. Victoria and I were in Paris. We were present, 0:08:43.520 --> 0:08:46.880 but we weren't connected. You can be at work, you 0:08:47.000 --> 0:08:50.439 showed up, you're present, but you're not plugged in. Your 0:08:50.480 --> 0:08:54.559 mind is somewhere else. At home, you're present, you eat 0:08:54.600 --> 0:08:59.000 dinner with the family, but are you connected? Are you engaged? 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:01.840 Are you making them most of that moment? Are you 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:06.240 in tomorrow hoping you'll get to contract, worried about your business, 0:09:06.640 --> 0:09:09.880 wondering how the finances are going to work out? Are 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:14.080 you in yesterday upset over the disappointment, bit or over 0:09:14.080 --> 0:09:17.880 who hurts you? Thinking about what they said. You're missing 0:09:17.920 --> 0:09:21.440 the beauty of this day. Once we live this day, 0:09:21.600 --> 0:09:24.839 we can't get it back. Don't take for granted all 0:09:24.920 --> 0:09:28.360 the good things in your life. Right now you're present. 0:09:28.640 --> 0:09:32.520 I'm asking you to get connected, enjoy where you are, 0:09:33.200 --> 0:09:36.600 take time for the people God's given you. The dreams 0:09:36.640 --> 0:09:40.079 will come to pass in due season. The problems will 0:09:40.120 --> 0:09:44.400 resolve in God's timing. Worrying about them doesn't make it 0:09:44.440 --> 0:09:48.640 work out any sooner. Constantly thinking about your goals does 0:09:48.679 --> 0:09:51.600 it make them happen any faster. Stay in the moment. 0:09:52.120 --> 0:09:53.840 I don't want to just live in the house with 0:09:53.960 --> 0:09:57.520 my family. I want to be connected, and it's easy 0:09:57.559 --> 0:10:01.720 to go on autopilot on each other for years. We're 0:10:01.760 --> 0:10:05.160 not really engaged anymore. We're just going through the motions. 0:10:05.559 --> 0:10:08.560 How was work fine? What did you do today? Nothing? 0:10:09.120 --> 0:10:12.440 We used to be connected, but we've been through challenges. 0:10:13.000 --> 0:10:17.680 We've had disagreements, the pressures of raising children, paying bills. 0:10:18.040 --> 0:10:21.439 Now we're showing up, but we're not really there. Why 0:10:21.440 --> 0:10:24.679 don't you get plugged back in? The people in your 0:10:24.720 --> 0:10:28.719 life can bring you great joy, grate fulfillment. When your 0:10:28.800 --> 0:10:33.360 present and connected life is very rewarding, you have to 0:10:33.440 --> 0:10:38.080 keep sewing into your relationships. It's not a one time thing. 0:10:38.720 --> 0:10:41.120 When we got married and now we're a couple. The 0:10:41.160 --> 0:10:45.280 scripture says the two will become one. When you said 0:10:45.400 --> 0:10:49.520 I do. It didn't happen instantly. It takes a lifetime 0:10:49.760 --> 0:10:53.200 to become one. Victoria and I were talking with some 0:10:53.280 --> 0:10:57.040 frenzy other day, kind of playing around. Victoria was laughing. 0:10:57.120 --> 0:11:00.320 She said, Joel, you don't even know me. I thought, 0:11:00.360 --> 0:11:02.640 after thirty four years of marriage, I don't know you. 0:11:02.960 --> 0:11:06.800 I didn't know whether to be excited or afraid. What 0:11:06.840 --> 0:11:11.960 she was saying was in relationships, we change. The person 0:11:12.000 --> 0:11:15.040 you married at twenty is not the same person at thirty. 0:11:15.600 --> 0:11:19.479 You can't treat them the same way. You have to adapt, adjust, 0:11:19.760 --> 0:11:23.640 recognize what they need at this age and this stage. 0:11:23.720 --> 0:11:26.760 The thirty year old is not the same person at fifty. 0:11:27.280 --> 0:11:31.679 They've grown, they've matured, they've developed new interests, they have 0:11:31.760 --> 0:11:35.920 different needs at different stages. You can't put your love 0:11:35.960 --> 0:11:39.360 on autopilot and treat them the same way. And that's 0:11:39.400 --> 0:11:42.880 why some people break up. They're not bad people, they've 0:11:42.920 --> 0:11:46.640 just grown apart. They didn't change. They were present, but 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:51.240 they didn't stay connected. You haven't discovered all the treasures 0:11:51.440 --> 0:11:54.480 in that person God gave you to love. You've seen 0:11:54.559 --> 0:11:57.760 one stage, but they're going to blossom into new stages. 0:11:58.280 --> 0:12:01.600 Are you taking time to laugh together, to go on dates, 0:12:01.760 --> 0:12:04.680 to do new things. How many people are in the 0:12:04.800 --> 0:12:07.920 house but they're really not home. They sleep in the 0:12:07.960 --> 0:12:12.640 same bed, but they're not there. Sometimes the reason we're 0:12:12.640 --> 0:12:16.400 not connected. I realize it is the past. Its past hurts, 0:12:17.000 --> 0:12:21.160 past failures, what they said, how they treated us. As 0:12:21.240 --> 0:12:24.880 long as you're in the past, you'll stay disconnected. You 0:12:25.000 --> 0:12:27.600 have to let it go. This is a new day. 0:12:28.240 --> 0:12:31.520 God's mercy is fresh every morning. Come into the present. 0:12:32.200 --> 0:12:35.880 Life is too short to hold on too hurts, live upset. 0:12:36.320 --> 0:12:39.560 Focus on what they did wrong. Give that person room 0:12:39.640 --> 0:12:43.560 to be human, show them some mercy. No matter who 0:12:43.559 --> 0:12:46.520 you're in relationship with, no matter how good of a 0:12:46.559 --> 0:12:49.600 person they are, at times, they're going to disappoint you. 0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:53.560 They're going to let you down. Focus on their good qualities. 0:12:54.000 --> 0:12:56.760 Focus on the reasons you fell in love, how you 0:12:56.760 --> 0:13:00.560 couldn't live without them. When you were dating, that person 0:13:00.559 --> 0:13:03.040 could do no wrong. You would talk on the phone 0:13:03.040 --> 0:13:06.520 for three hours with them, spend fifteen minutes trying to 0:13:06.520 --> 0:13:09.200 figure out who was going to hang up first. You 0:13:09.240 --> 0:13:12.960 would laugh, have fun, do things together. I mean, when 0:13:13.040 --> 0:13:15.400 Victoria and I were dating, I would go anywhere with her. 0:13:15.920 --> 0:13:18.520 I go shopping all day. We go to the grocery 0:13:18.559 --> 0:13:20.800 store together. She could have said, let's go see this 0:13:20.880 --> 0:13:24.920 electrical plant. I would have gone. It's not what we 0:13:24.920 --> 0:13:27.880 were doing, it's who I was doing it with. I 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:31.760 love being with her, still do. I was present and connected, 0:13:32.240 --> 0:13:36.320 she had my full attention. Over time, life can happen. 0:13:36.880 --> 0:13:41.559 We face challenges, pressures at work, family members that are difficult. 0:13:42.200 --> 0:13:45.800 It's easy to let that press us down. We become sour. 0:13:46.440 --> 0:13:49.360 We don't enjoy our spouse anymore. We don't want to 0:13:49.400 --> 0:13:52.160 spend time together. We have a list of all the 0:13:52.200 --> 0:13:56.400 things they've done wrong. The easy way out is to disconnect. 0:13:57.000 --> 0:14:00.600 They're not performing up to par, They're not meeting my standards. 0:14:00.640 --> 0:14:03.360 So I'll check out. I'll go do my own thing, 0:14:03.920 --> 0:14:07.960 watch TV, hang out with my friends. God didn't put 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:11.360 that person in your life by accident. He's given them 0:14:11.440 --> 0:14:14.240 to you as a gift. Don't wait till they're gone, 0:14:14.600 --> 0:14:18.800 till you recognize what you had. Get plugged in. Be kind, 0:14:19.320 --> 0:14:23.240 be generous, treat them like a gift, Show them mercy 0:14:23.680 --> 0:14:27.640 when they make mistakes. Go hold grudges. You're a team. 0:14:27.880 --> 0:14:32.480 God puts you together. Make your partner better, encourage them, 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:35.760 help them to reach their dreams. You need to start 0:14:35.840 --> 0:14:40.520 laughing again, start having fun together. Don't lose the child 0:14:40.720 --> 0:14:44.160 on the inside. You should never get too old and 0:14:44.280 --> 0:14:48.080 too uptight that you can't laugh together. Laughter is like 0:14:48.120 --> 0:14:52.040 a medicine. With all the pressures of life, all the 0:14:52.080 --> 0:14:55.000 negative things in the news, it's easy to become sour 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:59.280 and heavy where everything's a burden. Keep that tension out 0:14:59.320 --> 0:15:02.680 of your home. Your home should be a place of peace, 0:15:03.200 --> 0:15:06.560 a place of joy. One thing about Victoria is she 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:10.000 loves to laugh, She loves to have fun. She keeps 0:15:10.040 --> 0:15:14.080 the atmosphere of our home joyful. Like all of us, 0:15:14.200 --> 0:15:17.520 we have challenges. There are things we could be worried about. 0:15:18.160 --> 0:15:20.920 Our mind could be in the future, trying to figure 0:15:20.920 --> 0:15:23.600 out a thousand things. It could be in the past, 0:15:23.920 --> 0:15:27.400 focus on setbacks, things we should have done better. But 0:15:27.440 --> 0:15:30.000 we do our best to stay in the now, to 0:15:30.200 --> 0:15:33.480 enjoy each day, to not just be present, but to 0:15:33.520 --> 0:15:36.240 be connected. One time, when I was a little boy, 0:15:36.720 --> 0:15:39.800 my father and mother had a disagreement. They didn't see 0:15:39.840 --> 0:15:42.120 eye to eye, and my father was put out with 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:44.800 my mother. He felt like she had done him wrong. 0:15:45.440 --> 0:15:48.480 Wasn't anything big, it's just life. But my father decided 0:15:48.720 --> 0:15:51.000 he was going to give my mother the silent treatment 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:54.720 that she wasn't worthy of his time or attention. He 0:15:54.760 --> 0:15:57.560 came into the kitchen. My mother politely asked, can I 0:15:57.560 --> 0:15:59.840 help you get something to eat? He said, very curtly, 0:16:00.600 --> 0:16:03.400 turned and walked away. When she came through the house, 0:16:03.480 --> 0:16:06.080 he would look the other way, go into another room. 0:16:06.400 --> 0:16:09.240 This went on all afternoon. He wouldn't give her the 0:16:09.280 --> 0:16:12.680 time of day. When your mind is in the past, 0:16:13.000 --> 0:16:16.440 you can't enjoy the present. When you focus on the hurts, 0:16:16.760 --> 0:16:19.440 the wrongs, what they said, it's going to keep you 0:16:19.480 --> 0:16:21.440 from the beauty of this day. 0:16:21.560 --> 0:16:21.640 Now. 0:16:21.680 --> 0:16:24.520 I'm not saying that people didn't hurt you. Someone may 0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:27.520 have done you wrong. But you can't stay in yesterday 0:16:27.840 --> 0:16:31.600 and enjoy today. You have to forgive, show mercy and 0:16:31.680 --> 0:16:35.240 move forward. My mother decided that she was going to 0:16:35.280 --> 0:16:38.720 play at his game. She went and hid behind one 0:16:38.720 --> 0:16:41.720 of the doors. My father came through the house looking 0:16:41.800 --> 0:16:46.480 for so he could ignore her. He couldn't find her anywhere. 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:49.120 He said, it's hard to ignore someone that you can't find. 0:16:49.680 --> 0:16:53.800 He started looking and looking everywhere, in the bathroom, the closet, 0:16:53.840 --> 0:16:56.360 the utility room. He went out in the garage. He 0:16:56.480 --> 0:16:59.800 checked the backyard. He started to get worried, thinking what 0:16:59.840 --> 0:17:03.040 if the rapture came and I got left behind. At 0:17:03.040 --> 0:17:05.400 one point, he walked past the door where my mother 0:17:05.520 --> 0:17:09.200 was hiding. She timed it perfectly. She jumped on his back, 0:17:09.720 --> 0:17:12.199 wrapped her legs around his waist, and said, I'm not 0:17:12.280 --> 0:17:15.639 getting off until you start talking to me again. My 0:17:15.760 --> 0:17:18.560 father started laughing so hard they both fell to the ground. 0:17:19.240 --> 0:17:22.879 That was the end of his silent treatment. Keep joy 0:17:22.920 --> 0:17:26.720 in your home, keep laughter in your relationships. I know 0:17:26.760 --> 0:17:30.879 there are real issues, but living in strife, holding grudges, 0:17:31.080 --> 0:17:34.359 not forgiving, that's keeping you from the new things God 0:17:34.400 --> 0:17:37.920 has in store. This is what Joseph did in the scripture. 0:17:38.240 --> 0:17:41.280 At seventeen years old, God gave him a dream that 0:17:41.359 --> 0:17:44.080 he was going to lead a nation. His brothers were 0:17:44.160 --> 0:17:47.199 jealous and threw him into a pit. He ended up 0:17:47.240 --> 0:17:50.600 selling him as a slave. Joseph worked in Egypt for 0:17:50.640 --> 0:17:55.359 a high ranking military officer. He was lied about, falsely accused, 0:17:55.359 --> 0:17:59.159 and put in prison. He had plenty of opportunities to 0:17:59.200 --> 0:18:01.840 live in the past. How could my brothers treat me 0:18:01.880 --> 0:18:04.719 this way? I'm gonna get revenge. You just wait. He 0:18:04.720 --> 0:18:07.199 could have lived in the future. God, you said I 0:18:07.240 --> 0:18:10.560 was gonna lead a nation. What happened? But you never 0:18:10.640 --> 0:18:15.119 read where Joseph complained As a slave, he excelled, the 0:18:15.160 --> 0:18:18.560 owner put him in charge of his whole house. In prison, 0:18:18.640 --> 0:18:22.800 he wasn't bitter. He helped another inmate interpreted his dream. 0:18:23.480 --> 0:18:26.320 How could he keep such a good attitude after all 0:18:26.359 --> 0:18:29.359 he had been through? He stayed in the present. He 0:18:29.400 --> 0:18:32.720 didn't focus on looking back. This is not fair, And 0:18:32.760 --> 0:18:36.359 he didn't only focus on looking ahead. God, I'm in prison, 0:18:36.400 --> 0:18:38.800 When am I gonna lead this nation? He made this 0:18:39.000 --> 0:18:42.760 choice to live in the present. His attitude was this 0:18:42.800 --> 0:18:45.879 is where God has me. Now, I know he's ordering 0:18:45.920 --> 0:18:49.600 my steps. I'm not gonna live upset about the bad breaks. 0:18:49.920 --> 0:18:52.800 I'm not gonna live worried about my future. I'm gonna 0:18:52.800 --> 0:18:56.680 make the most of this day. See, we're always focused 0:18:56.720 --> 0:19:00.560 on the destination, the dream coming to pass, the problem 0:19:00.600 --> 0:19:04.000 turning around. You have to do like Joseph and learn 0:19:04.040 --> 0:19:07.240 to enjoy where you are while you're on the way 0:19:07.359 --> 0:19:10.879 to where you're going. Life is not about the destination. 0:19:11.200 --> 0:19:14.600 Is about the journey. That's where you'll grow. That's where 0:19:14.600 --> 0:19:18.399 you'll see fulfillment the favor of God. Because after you 0:19:18.480 --> 0:19:22.280 reach this goal, there'll be another goal, there'll be another challenge. 0:19:22.800 --> 0:19:25.960 If we're not careful, we'll rush through the day trying 0:19:25.960 --> 0:19:31.320 to get to the destination. Slow down and enjoy the journey. Yes, 0:19:31.440 --> 0:19:34.919 there will be bumps in the road, disappointments, things you 0:19:34.960 --> 0:19:38.359 don't understand. That's where you have to say, I'm not 0:19:38.480 --> 0:19:41.680 looking back. I'm not getting bitter and letting that sour 0:19:41.800 --> 0:19:45.520 my life. I'm not going to live worried wondering how 0:19:45.520 --> 0:19:47.760 it's going to work out. I'm going to stay in 0:19:47.840 --> 0:19:51.040 the present. I'm going to enjoy where God has me 0:19:51.200 --> 0:19:54.040 right now, knowing that He will get me to where 0:19:54.080 --> 0:19:58.720 I'm supposed to be. Takes maturity to enjoy where you are, 0:19:59.160 --> 0:20:02.080 even though you have challenges, even though there are things 0:20:02.160 --> 0:20:06.960 that you don't understand. Thirteen years after Joseph was thrown 0:20:07.040 --> 0:20:10.280 into that pit, he was made the prime Minister of Egypt. 0:20:10.760 --> 0:20:15.919 He saw vindication, promotion, influence greater than he had ever imagined. 0:20:16.560 --> 0:20:19.400 But what a shame if Joseph would have spent those 0:20:19.480 --> 0:20:25.480 years discouraged, worried, frustrated. What God promised you is going 0:20:25.560 --> 0:20:28.000 to come to pass. The dream he put in your 0:20:28.000 --> 0:20:32.320 heart is already on the schedule. The question is how 0:20:32.359 --> 0:20:35.000 are you going to spend the time while you're waiting 0:20:35.920 --> 0:20:40.840 looking back in regrets, upset, looking forward, wondering why it's 0:20:40.880 --> 0:20:44.520 not happening. No, stay in the present. Take it one 0:20:44.640 --> 0:20:47.920 day at a time. You don't have grace for tomorrow. 0:20:48.480 --> 0:20:50.840 If you're trying to figure out the next twenty years, 0:20:51.080 --> 0:20:54.800 you're going to be frustrated. You have grace for this day. 0:20:55.359 --> 0:20:58.200 When you get to tomorrow, there'll be grace for that day. 0:20:58.960 --> 0:21:01.840 But Joel, I'm worried. I don't see how my situation 0:21:01.960 --> 0:21:05.520 could ever work out. You're not supposed to. This is 0:21:05.560 --> 0:21:08.520 what faith is all about. You have to trust that 0:21:08.640 --> 0:21:11.399 God is in control, that He's planned out all of 0:21:11.440 --> 0:21:15.359 your days, that he knows what's best for you. Instead 0:21:15.400 --> 0:21:19.200 of fighting where you are, learn to embrace where you are. 0:21:19.760 --> 0:21:23.720 That's what Joseph did. It wasn't comfortable, he didn't like it, 0:21:23.920 --> 0:21:27.560 but he embraced it, believing that God was ordering his steps. 0:21:28.200 --> 0:21:30.280 I don't want you to get ten years down the road. 0:21:30.720 --> 0:21:32.960 I think. Man, if I'd known He's going to turn 0:21:33.000 --> 0:21:35.840 out this good, I would have enjoyed my life. I 0:21:35.840 --> 0:21:38.320 would have spent more time with my family. I would 0:21:38.359 --> 0:21:41.919 have enjoyed raising my children. I talked to a lady. 0:21:42.480 --> 0:21:46.199 She had worked as an executive, very successful for this 0:21:46.359 --> 0:21:49.800 large company. She had been there nineteen years when she 0:21:49.880 --> 0:21:53.760 was unexpectedly let go. It wasn't any kind of wrongdoing. 0:21:53.880 --> 0:21:57.199 The company was just restructuring and didn't need her. She 0:21:57.359 --> 0:22:00.520 was disappointed, but she knew something else would owe up. 0:22:00.960 --> 0:22:05.560 She has two master's degrees. She's very experienced, very personable, 0:22:05.800 --> 0:22:09.960 a leader in her field. She applied to company after company, 0:22:10.440 --> 0:22:13.920 even in different states, but no response and no one 0:22:14.040 --> 0:22:17.840 was interested. She couldn't understand it. A couple of months 0:22:18.040 --> 0:22:21.359 after she lost her job, her mother became ill and 0:22:21.680 --> 0:22:24.800 needed someone to take care of her. She decided that 0:22:24.920 --> 0:22:27.119 she would do it while she was looking for a job. 0:22:27.680 --> 0:22:30.320 Every day she would go to her mother's house. They 0:22:30.359 --> 0:22:33.440 would visit and run errands. Her mother came to her 0:22:33.480 --> 0:22:35.879 house and helped her fix it up. She had so 0:22:36.000 --> 0:22:39.320 much fun with her mother and made so many great memories. 0:22:39.800 --> 0:22:44.040 Ten months later, her mother passed. Three days after she 0:22:44.160 --> 0:22:47.240 laid her mother to rest, she started getting one phone 0:22:47.280 --> 0:22:51.240 call after another from companies she had applied to months 0:22:51.280 --> 0:22:55.400 and months before not one offer, but four great offers 0:22:55.440 --> 0:23:00.680 came in. She accepted a position with more responsibility, income, 0:23:00.760 --> 0:23:04.480 better environment. She said, it's a position that I enjoyed 0:23:04.680 --> 0:23:08.600 much more than my previous job. Look at how God works. 0:23:09.040 --> 0:23:13.480 That closed door, the company unexpecting Lee letting her go 0:23:13.760 --> 0:23:17.600 seem like a bad break. That wasn't fair. Another position 0:23:17.680 --> 0:23:20.720 not opening up with all of her credentials, all of 0:23:20.760 --> 0:23:25.119 her experience, education, That doesn't make sense. She could have 0:23:25.200 --> 0:23:29.439 been sour, lived upset. Why is this happening? But she 0:23:29.600 --> 0:23:32.639 made this choice to not live in the past, not 0:23:32.800 --> 0:23:35.840 let the disappointment steal her joy, to not live in 0:23:35.880 --> 0:23:38.919 the future. Why won't anything open up? What if I 0:23:38.920 --> 0:23:42.919 can't find a job? Instead, she took that time to 0:23:43.160 --> 0:23:46.159 enjoy where God had her. She made the most of 0:23:46.280 --> 0:23:50.680 each day. She embraced where she was, believing that God 0:23:50.800 --> 0:23:54.600 was directing her steps. Had she not done that, she 0:23:54.640 --> 0:23:57.399 would have missed that time with her mother. Had she 0:23:57.480 --> 0:24:00.760 lived stressed out, she wouldn't have those men memories that 0:24:00.840 --> 0:24:05.440 she'll forever cherish. Don't fight where you are, Embrace where 0:24:05.480 --> 0:24:09.280 you are. Make the most of each day. Yes, she 0:24:09.400 --> 0:24:12.159 needed a job, but don't get so focused on the 0:24:12.200 --> 0:24:15.800 future that you missed the beauty of this day. Yes, 0:24:15.880 --> 0:24:19.080 she was disappointed that she was let go, but don't 0:24:19.160 --> 0:24:21.960 let the past keep you from seeing the good things 0:24:22.040 --> 0:24:25.960 in your life. Right now, God is ordering your steps. 0:24:26.400 --> 0:24:30.080 Sometimes we don't understand it. It's not comfortable. But like 0:24:30.200 --> 0:24:35.720 with Joseph, all the disappointments, delays, betrayals, they were a 0:24:35.800 --> 0:24:38.520 part of God's plan to get him to the throne. 0:24:39.160 --> 0:24:42.040 God is going to get you to your destiny. He's 0:24:42.040 --> 0:24:45.040 going to work out all things for your good. And 0:24:45.119 --> 0:24:48.879 while you're waiting, when you don't see anything happening, things 0:24:48.880 --> 0:24:52.760 aren't turning around, trust Him enough to enjoy your life. 0:24:53.560 --> 0:24:56.719 See the good in each day. Be grateful for what 0:24:56.800 --> 0:25:00.680 you have. The song says, it's a beautiful day. Don't 0:25:00.760 --> 0:25:03.800 let it get away. Once we live this day, we 0:25:03.920 --> 0:25:07.080 can't get it back. Are you living it in tomorrow 0:25:07.680 --> 0:25:10.600 focused only on your dreams? Are you living it in 0:25:10.720 --> 0:25:14.399 yesterday focused on what didn't work out? When all the 0:25:14.480 --> 0:25:17.560 while God has you at this place for a reason. 0:25:18.200 --> 0:25:21.840 There's a blessing in disguise. There's someone you can connect with. 0:25:22.320 --> 0:25:25.720 There's a test that you can pass. If Joseph would 0:25:25.720 --> 0:25:28.360 have been bitter he would have never helped the butler. 0:25:28.640 --> 0:25:31.240 The butler is the one that helped open that door 0:25:31.280 --> 0:25:34.680 for him. And the scripture says to make the most 0:25:34.720 --> 0:25:38.359 of this day, doesn't say make the most of yesterday, 0:25:38.920 --> 0:25:43.200 make the most of tomorrow. What are you doing with today? 0:25:43.400 --> 0:25:46.560 Are you embracing where you are? Or are you fighting 0:25:46.600 --> 0:25:50.320 where you are? Are you present and connected? Are you 0:25:50.440 --> 0:25:55.280 present and disengaged? When life called the role today? Did 0:25:55.320 --> 0:25:59.800 you show up passionate, enjoying your family, looking forward to 0:25:59.800 --> 0:26:03.840 another great day? Joel? I would, But man, I've had disappointments. 0:26:04.160 --> 0:26:07.560 These people did me wrong. My dream hasn't worked out. 0:26:08.200 --> 0:26:11.640 How do you know that's not leading you to your destiny. 0:26:11.840 --> 0:26:14.879 God is ordering your steps. It may not be good, 0:26:15.160 --> 0:26:17.199 but he wouldn't have allowed it if it was going 0:26:17.240 --> 0:26:20.520 to stop your purpose. Don't get twenty years down the 0:26:20.640 --> 0:26:24.000 road and see it all come together and have to say, wow, 0:26:24.560 --> 0:26:27.720 I spent so much of my life worried, not enjoying 0:26:27.720 --> 0:26:30.719 my family, mad at the people that did me wrong. 0:26:31.280 --> 0:26:34.320 Let it go. It's all a part of the process. 0:26:34.920 --> 0:26:38.200 These are tests we have to pass. We can get 0:26:38.200 --> 0:26:42.880 to our destination enjoying the journey, seeing God's favor despite 0:26:42.920 --> 0:26:47.960 the opposition, or we can get their worried, sour upset. 0:26:48.720 --> 0:26:52.040 I'm asking you to live in the present, one day 0:26:52.040 --> 0:26:55.320 at a time. Yes, it's good to have goals, keep 0:26:55.320 --> 0:26:58.199 your vision in front of you, but don't let what 0:26:58.400 --> 0:27:02.240 hasn't happened frustrates you. Make up your mind. You're going 0:27:02.280 --> 0:27:06.679 to enjoy each day. Enjoy your family, Enjoy the people 0:27:06.720 --> 0:27:10.800 you work with, Enjoy the beauty of creation. Take time 0:27:10.840 --> 0:27:14.080 to smell the roses all through the day. It's good 0:27:14.119 --> 0:27:16.600 to take a few deep breaths and just breathe in 0:27:16.640 --> 0:27:20.320 God's goodness. Breathe in where you are. Not trying to 0:27:20.400 --> 0:27:22.520 rush through this part of the day and get to 0:27:22.600 --> 0:27:26.800 the next, but take time to enjoy the present. One 0:27:26.840 --> 0:27:29.760 thing this pandemic has done is helped us to have 0:27:29.800 --> 0:27:33.960 a new perspective. Sometimes we would complain about normal. I 0:27:34.000 --> 0:27:36.720 don't want to go to work, get these kids ready 0:27:36.760 --> 0:27:40.159 for school, drive in the traffic, cook dinner, have to 0:27:40.200 --> 0:27:44.200 clean up. But when the pandemic shut everything down month 0:27:44.240 --> 0:27:47.440 after month and we couldn't go to work, couldn't send 0:27:47.480 --> 0:27:50.960 our kids to school, couldn't leave the house. Now normal 0:27:51.160 --> 0:27:55.439 looks pretty good. Sometimes when something is taken away and 0:27:55.520 --> 0:27:58.120 you get it back, you tend to appreciate it more. 0:27:59.240 --> 0:28:02.760 Maybe that job we didn't like wasn't so bad. Maybe 0:28:02.800 --> 0:28:06.320 the traffic doesn't have to frustrate us. Maybe that person 0:28:06.320 --> 0:28:08.840 at work that used to get on our nerves. Believe 0:28:08.880 --> 0:28:11.560 it or not, we're looking forward to seeing the jerk, 0:28:11.640 --> 0:28:15.400 I mean, the man. We have a new perspective. We're alive, 0:28:16.000 --> 0:28:18.560 we have breath to breathe. We had strength to get 0:28:18.600 --> 0:28:21.359 out of bed. We have family to love, we have 0:28:21.440 --> 0:28:24.200 a place to live, we have peace in our mind. 0:28:24.680 --> 0:28:28.120 We have the favor of God. When you realize this 0:28:28.200 --> 0:28:30.600 day is a gift, then you'll live it to the full. 0:28:31.320 --> 0:28:34.440 Not depending on your past, not based on your future. 0:28:34.680 --> 0:28:37.280 But you will say, like David, this is the day 0:28:37.359 --> 0:28:40.280 the Lord has made. I'm not gonna just drag through it. 0:28:40.400 --> 0:28:43.640 I'm gonna be glad in it now, just gonna be present. 0:28:44.000 --> 0:28:46.959 I'm gonna be connected. I'm gonna make the most of it. 0:28:47.560 --> 0:28:51.040 If you'll do this, I believe and declare, you're going 0:28:51.080 --> 0:28:54.480 to have better relationships. You're going to have more joy 0:28:54.600 --> 0:28:59.080 and fulfillment. Like with Joseph, negative situations are about to 0:28:59.120 --> 0:29:05.640 turn around. Promotion is coming, Vindication, healing, breakthroughs the fullness 0:29:05.680 --> 0:29:09.520 of your destiny in Jesus's name, and if you receive it, 0:29:09.680 --> 0:29:13.800 can you say him in Today I'd like to give 0:29:13.840 --> 0:29:17.040 you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:29:17.480 --> 0:29:21.760 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:29:21.920 --> 0:29:26.800 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll make 0:29:26.880 --> 0:29:31.000 you my Lord and savior. If you've prayed that simple prayer, 0:29:31.120 --> 0:29:34.120 we believe you got born again. We'd love to send 0:29:34.200 --> 0:29:36.400 you some new information on your walk with the Lord. 0:29:36.480 --> 0:29:38.640 Just text the number on the screen, or you can 0:29:38.680 --> 0:29:41.160 go to the website. I hope you'll get into a 0:29:41.240 --> 0:29:45.720 good Bible based church and keep God first place. Thanks 0:29:45.760 --> 0:29:48.600 so much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll 0:29:48.640 --> 0:29:52.080 subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep 0:29:52.080 --> 0:29:54.400 you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:29:54.560 --> 0:29:56.760 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:56.800 --> 0:29:58.280 with those all around the world. 0:29:58.600 --> 0:30:01.920 Visit Joelosting dot or click the link in the description 0:30:02.240 --> 0:30:03.600 to partner with us today. 0:30:03.840 --> 0:30:06.280 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:30:06.360 --> 0:30:09.160 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:30:09.240 --> 0:30:12.360 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:30:12.360 --> 0:30:13.240 see you next time. 0:30:15.160 --> 0:30:17.920 With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 0:30:17.960 --> 0:30:22.320 for everyone. 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