Peace With Your Scars

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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Download the uns stap and use the 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:20.840 code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.400 fifty dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.400 iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.320 for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.440 --> 0:01:32.920 UNEs dot co. Hi, this is Joel. Thanks so much 0:01:32.959 --> 0:01:36.759 for downloading the podcast. I believe you'll be inspired and challenged. 0:01:36.880 --> 0:01:50.000 I hope you enjoy the message. 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:53.520 Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:53.560 --> 0:01:56.320 your homes. And if you're ever in our area, please 0:01:56.360 --> 0:01:58.919 stop by and be a part of one of our services. 0:01:59.000 --> 0:02:01.559 These are the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, 0:02:01.680 --> 0:02:02.760 right here at Lakewood. 0:02:02.920 --> 0:02:04.320 We'd love to have you come out. 0:02:05.120 --> 0:02:07.560 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:02:07.600 --> 0:02:11.680 about this man. He got caught shoplifting at the grocery store. 0:02:12.240 --> 0:02:13.040 He was at court. 0:02:13.360 --> 0:02:16.639 The judge said, sir, I understand you stole a can 0:02:16.720 --> 0:02:20.200 of peaches. How many peaches were in that can? He 0:02:20.280 --> 0:02:22.720 said five, Your honor, He said, all right, I'm going 0:02:22.760 --> 0:02:25.200 to give you one week in jail for each peach 0:02:25.520 --> 0:02:28.200 you have five weeks. His wife stood up and said, 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:31.080 your honor, may I say something? He said, yes, what 0:02:31.240 --> 0:02:34.480 is it? She said, he stole a can of peas too. 0:02:36.200 --> 0:02:38.880 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:02:39.280 --> 0:02:40.680 I am what it says. I am. 0:02:41.160 --> 0:02:43.480 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:43.600 --> 0:02:46.200 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:46.280 --> 0:02:50.200 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:50.280 --> 0:02:53.560 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:53.639 --> 0:02:58.399 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:02:58.400 --> 0:03:01.680 to talk to you today about peace with your scars. 0:03:02.560 --> 0:03:06.120 You can't live very long without being injured, going through 0:03:06.200 --> 0:03:10.320 hurts and pains. Sometimes the wound heals up and there's 0:03:10.360 --> 0:03:13.360 no sign that had ever happened. But there are certain 0:03:13.400 --> 0:03:17.480 wounds that are so severe, a cut so deep, they 0:03:17.520 --> 0:03:21.040 heal up, the pain goes away, but they leave a scar. 0:03:21.960 --> 0:03:25.720 Scars from falling off a bike as a child, Scars 0:03:25.760 --> 0:03:29.760 from the surgery to remove the illness, Scars from the accident. 0:03:30.520 --> 0:03:34.320 There are physical scars, scars that we can see. But 0:03:34.360 --> 0:03:39.320 there are also invisible scars, scars that come from inner wounds, 0:03:39.920 --> 0:03:44.720 scarred by the divorce, scarred by what somebody said, scarred 0:03:44.760 --> 0:03:46.320 by mistakes that we made. 0:03:46.800 --> 0:03:49.760 So often we try to hide our scars. We don't 0:03:49.760 --> 0:03:51.440 see anything positive about. 0:03:51.480 --> 0:03:55.040 It reminds us of the hurt, the sickness, the betrayal. 0:03:55.200 --> 0:03:58.240 We wish they'd go away. But we need to see 0:03:58.280 --> 0:03:59.880 our scars in a new light. 0:04:00.800 --> 0:04:04.560 God did not allow that scar to discourage you. He 0:04:04.680 --> 0:04:08.320 allowed it to remind you of what He brought you through. 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:11.720 When you see the scar, don't think of the pain. 0:04:12.200 --> 0:04:15.720 Think of the grace of God. The scar means the 0:04:15.760 --> 0:04:19.200 wound is healed. The scar means the pain is over 0:04:19.520 --> 0:04:22.960 and you're moving forward. The scar means what kept you 0:04:23.000 --> 0:04:25.960 awake at night is now behind you. 0:04:26.000 --> 0:04:28.160 Don't get bitter and living regrets. 0:04:28.560 --> 0:04:32.560 That scar is a reminder of how faithful God has been. 0:04:33.440 --> 0:04:37.719 Without his mercy, that mistake could have stopped your purpose. 0:04:38.520 --> 0:04:42.159 Without his healing, that sickness could have been the end. 0:04:43.040 --> 0:04:46.320 When you're tempted to get discouraged, think an obstacle is 0:04:46.360 --> 0:04:50.279 too big, just look at that scar. God, you healed me. 0:04:50.360 --> 0:04:54.159 Back then, you restored my marriage. You helped me through 0:04:54.200 --> 0:04:57.320 the loss of my loved one. It wasn't easy. It 0:04:57.400 --> 0:05:00.880 left a scar, But this scar is a reminder of 0:05:00.920 --> 0:05:04.120 your goodness. You did it for me back then. I 0:05:04.200 --> 0:05:07.600 know you'll do it for me right now. If you'll see. 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:11.040 Your scars the right way, they'll be fuel for your faith. 0:05:11.480 --> 0:05:14.839 They'll remind you of the goodness of God. But you 0:05:14.960 --> 0:05:18.039 don't have to try to hide your scars. You don't 0:05:18.080 --> 0:05:20.719 have to be embarrassed by what you've been through. You 0:05:20.839 --> 0:05:24.599 can be at peace with your scars. No one in 0:05:24.680 --> 0:05:28.440 the Scripture fulfilled their destiny without scars. 0:05:29.160 --> 0:05:30.280 We all get wounded. 0:05:30.839 --> 0:05:34.200 Things happen in life that we didn't see coming, an 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:36.840 unexpected illness, a loss. 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:39.839 People come against us. We make mistakes. 0:05:40.640 --> 0:05:44.160 If you're going to fulfill your destiny, instead of being 0:05:44.200 --> 0:05:47.240 depressed by what you went through, instead of going around 0:05:47.320 --> 0:05:48.800 in self pity because. 0:05:48.480 --> 0:05:51.320 It wasn't fair, have a new perspective. 0:05:51.880 --> 0:05:55.360 The enemy tried to stop you, but God healed you. 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:58.200 How do you know you have a scar to prove it. 0:05:58.760 --> 0:06:01.760 You're not ashamed of it, you're not depressed over it. 0:06:02.120 --> 0:06:05.560 You're at peace with your scars. You know it was 0:06:05.600 --> 0:06:09.800 the hand of God protecting you, not letting that opposition 0:06:10.000 --> 0:06:10.560 defeat you. 0:06:11.640 --> 0:06:14.320 The scar doesn't have to remind you of the pain. 0:06:14.800 --> 0:06:18.359 It can remind you of the greatness of God. The 0:06:18.560 --> 0:06:21.440 enemy wasn't able to take you out. Sure you have 0:06:21.520 --> 0:06:27.880 a scar. Sure it was painful, but now you've come through, keeled, restored, vindicated, blessed, 0:06:28.160 --> 0:06:29.320 fulfilling your purpose. 0:06:30.040 --> 0:06:31.520 I read about a young lady. 0:06:31.880 --> 0:06:35.280 She'd been in Africa volunteering at an orphanage. 0:06:35.640 --> 0:06:36.520 Driving back to. 0:06:36.480 --> 0:06:39.839 The airport, she was in a head on collision, very 0:06:39.880 --> 0:06:43.520 serious accident. Her face was cut from the top of 0:06:43.560 --> 0:06:46.679 her forehead around her eye down to her chin. 0:06:47.279 --> 0:06:49.920 It took hundreds of stitches to sew it up. 0:06:50.560 --> 0:06:54.520 She's a beautiful young lady, looks like a model now. 0:06:54.560 --> 0:06:59.599 Her face was forever changed, permanently scarred. After it healed, 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:03.480 people were concerned about her self esteem and how she 0:07:03.560 --> 0:07:04.560 was going to handle it. 0:07:05.360 --> 0:07:06.239 Much to their. 0:07:06.080 --> 0:07:10.040 Surprise, she didn't get bitter, She wasn't depressed. 0:07:10.360 --> 0:07:15.160 She was extremely grateful. She knew she could have easily. 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:19.120 Lost her life, and this was several years ago. Sometimes 0:07:19.240 --> 0:07:23.520 she'll go out now without wearing any makeup. She doesn't 0:07:23.560 --> 0:07:26.600 even try to cover the scar up. She wears it 0:07:26.640 --> 0:07:30.120 with pride. She realized that she is blessed to be alive. 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:34.440 Your scars can remind you of the pain, or they 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:35.560 can remind. 0:07:35.160 --> 0:07:36.640 You of the grace of God. 0:07:37.680 --> 0:07:40.640 Are you at peace with your scars? Or are you 0:07:40.760 --> 0:07:43.040 trying to hide them? Living guilty? 0:07:43.560 --> 0:07:44.640 Mad it? Who hurts you? 0:07:45.240 --> 0:07:49.440 Bitter by what you've been through? Those scars are not 0:07:49.640 --> 0:07:51.120 there to depress you. 0:07:51.600 --> 0:07:53.160 They are there to encourage you. 0:07:53.760 --> 0:07:57.880 They are reminders of what God brought you through. It 0:07:57.920 --> 0:08:02.160 may have been painful, it wasn't. But without the goodness 0:08:02.200 --> 0:08:05.280 of God, you wouldn't be where you are. You'd still 0:08:05.320 --> 0:08:08.840 be wounded, you'd still be hurting. But look at you now, 0:08:09.000 --> 0:08:10.440 you're restored. 0:08:10.240 --> 0:08:12.280 You're healed, You're moving forward. 0:08:13.120 --> 0:08:16.720 My friend Dandra, one of our worship leaders, developed this 0:08:16.800 --> 0:08:20.720 huge goiter on her neck. It grew to the size 0:08:20.760 --> 0:08:24.040 of a man's fist. It was so large she was 0:08:24.040 --> 0:08:27.720 in danger of it blocking her windpipe. She'd been to 0:08:27.960 --> 0:08:31.120 several doctors, but they wouldn't touch it. It was too 0:08:31.160 --> 0:08:34.520 close to her vocal cords. They were concerned she might 0:08:34.600 --> 0:08:37.840 lose her voice. And Danger's an amazing singer. She's been 0:08:37.960 --> 0:08:41.600 leading worship since a little child. After going to several 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:45.360 doctors being told no time and time again, she was 0:08:45.440 --> 0:08:50.760 at home researching surgeons on the internet. This doctor from 0:08:50.880 --> 0:08:54.120 Nashville stood out something said he's the one. 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:55.800 She went to see him. 0:08:56.400 --> 0:08:59.320 He said he would do the surgery, but it was risky. 0:08:59.760 --> 0:09:02.520 He had to fly in another surgeon to assist him. 0:09:02.840 --> 0:09:05.360 So complicated it was going to take two of them. 0:09:05.920 --> 0:09:06.920 She had the surgery. 0:09:07.120 --> 0:09:08.760 It was completely successful. 0:09:09.520 --> 0:09:12.040 She was told that she could be out up to 0:09:12.120 --> 0:09:15.400 a year, but three months later she was back scene. 0:09:16.120 --> 0:09:20.079 Six months later she had her full range. A year later, 0:09:20.600 --> 0:09:25.199 she had more range than before the surgery. But when 0:09:25.280 --> 0:09:30.599 Danderus sings, there's this scar across her neck. It's interesting 0:09:30.679 --> 0:09:34.120 that she doesn't necessarily try to cover it up. She 0:09:34.160 --> 0:09:36.439 doesn't only where high necked blouses. 0:09:36.800 --> 0:09:38.600 She's at peace with that scar. 0:09:39.679 --> 0:09:43.400 At one time, it didn't look good. Month after month, 0:09:43.640 --> 0:09:46.440 she didn't know what she was going to do. But 0:09:46.559 --> 0:09:51.000 now when she sees that scar, she's not bitter. Look 0:09:51.080 --> 0:09:53.280 what I had to go through, Look at the pain 0:09:53.440 --> 0:09:58.240 I endured. That scar reminds her of the faithfulness of God. 0:09:58.640 --> 0:10:02.800 It reminds her that God is directing her steps, bringing 0:10:02.840 --> 0:10:06.480 the right people that God being for her is more 0:10:06.520 --> 0:10:10.240 than any force trying to stop her. Sometimes we have 0:10:10.360 --> 0:10:12.760 scars from self inflicted wounds. 0:10:13.240 --> 0:10:16.080 We made poor choices. We have no one to blame 0:10:16.200 --> 0:10:17.200 except ourselves. 0:10:18.000 --> 0:10:20.839 My freshman year of high school, I was running around 0:10:20.880 --> 0:10:24.239 the track with our basketball team. We were doing conditioning 0:10:24.360 --> 0:10:27.360 drills and had to run a couple of miles. I 0:10:27.400 --> 0:10:31.280 had been playing around and falling behind the team was 0:10:31.320 --> 0:10:34.240 about one hundred yards in front of me. They turned 0:10:34.240 --> 0:10:37.360 around and started teasing me, we're just having fun. 0:10:37.840 --> 0:10:39.880 Well, the coach went into the field house. 0:10:40.080 --> 0:10:43.920 He couldn't see, so I cut across the football field 0:10:44.240 --> 0:10:46.080 and was going to get way out in front of them. 0:10:46.800 --> 0:10:49.760 When they saw me take off, they started laughing. 0:10:50.200 --> 0:10:52.720 They knew if the coach saw me, I would be done. 0:10:53.440 --> 0:10:55.480 But just as I was about to make it to 0:10:55.520 --> 0:10:59.280 the other side, there was this metal drain cover on 0:10:59.360 --> 0:11:02.400 the ground, a big great I didn't want to step 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:06.040 on it, so I stepped right before it. What I 0:11:06.080 --> 0:11:10.080 couldn't see is the water had eroded the dirt and 0:11:10.120 --> 0:11:12.440 there was a hole about a foot and a half deep. 0:11:13.040 --> 0:11:15.320 The grass had grown up, and you couldn't tell. 0:11:15.640 --> 0:11:16.520 Well. I stepped in. 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:20.240 That hole with one leg fell and my knee hit 0:11:20.320 --> 0:11:21.400 the metal dream cover. 0:11:22.120 --> 0:11:25.640 I turned to somersault and kept running the team. They 0:11:25.679 --> 0:11:27.760 started laughing. They thought that was so funny. 0:11:27.880 --> 0:11:30.400 So did I until I looked down and I could 0:11:30.440 --> 0:11:35.240 see my kneecap outside my skin. I had broken my kneecap, 0:11:35.920 --> 0:11:39.240 had to have surgery. Missed the basketball season that year. 0:11:39.840 --> 0:11:42.120 I never told my coach what really happened. 0:11:42.520 --> 0:11:43.840 I hope he's not listening. 0:11:44.600 --> 0:11:48.960 But now I have this big scar on my knee. 0:11:49.160 --> 0:11:52.120 When I look at it, I could be reminded of 0:11:52.160 --> 0:11:56.520 my mistake, live in regrets. What was I thinking? Why 0:11:56.520 --> 0:11:59.560 didn't I just do what I was supposed to? But 0:11:59.640 --> 0:12:02.880 I have a different perspective when I see that scar. 0:12:03.360 --> 0:12:06.200 I thank God that I can still run. I thank 0:12:06.280 --> 0:12:09.520 him for his mercy that even though I made the mistake, 0:12:10.080 --> 0:12:12.400 even though it was my fault, he brought. 0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:13.800 Me through healthy and strong. 0:12:14.720 --> 0:12:18.520 The truth is all of us have scars from mistakes 0:12:18.559 --> 0:12:23.400 we made, maybe not physically, but invisible scars. We got 0:12:23.440 --> 0:12:27.720 off course, we gave into temptation, we hung around people 0:12:27.720 --> 0:12:28.640 that pulled us down. 0:12:28.920 --> 0:12:31.400 We didn't take care of our marriage. 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:35.000 We could let those scars remind us of our mistakes 0:12:35.679 --> 0:12:39.559 go around guilty, or we can let them remind us of. 0:12:39.520 --> 0:12:40.560 The grace of God. 0:12:41.440 --> 0:12:45.440 God didn't allow that scar so you can constantly think 0:12:45.480 --> 0:12:49.040 about your failures. He allowed it so you would think 0:12:49.080 --> 0:12:53.880 about his mercy, his forgiveness. Quit beating yourself up over 0:12:53.920 --> 0:12:58.400 the past. The enemy is called the accuser. He'd love 0:12:58.480 --> 0:13:02.160 for you to live in regrets, down on yourself, not 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:05.680 enjoying the grace of God, because you're so focused on 0:13:06.040 --> 0:13:09.720 mistakes you've made, what you did wrong, trying to hide 0:13:09.720 --> 0:13:14.400 the scars. Those scars weren't meant to be hidden. You 0:13:14.520 --> 0:13:18.080 have nothing to be ashamed of. You are forgiven, You 0:13:18.120 --> 0:13:22.160 are redeemed. That scar is a reminder of the mercy 0:13:22.320 --> 0:13:25.840 of God. Don't let it be turned into something that 0:13:26.000 --> 0:13:29.480 makes you feel guilty. God has done too much for us. 0:13:30.000 --> 0:13:32.800 He's paid too big a price. He has brought you 0:13:32.960 --> 0:13:36.560 too far for you to swink back in guilt. You 0:13:36.600 --> 0:13:40.720 can be at peace with your scars. Nothing you've done 0:13:41.040 --> 0:13:44.200 is a surprise to God. He knew every mistake we 0:13:44.200 --> 0:13:46.840 would make. He knew every time we would take a 0:13:46.880 --> 0:13:50.000 wrong turn. He wouldn't have allowed it if it was 0:13:50.040 --> 0:13:53.560 going to keep us from our purpose. My father was 0:13:53.640 --> 0:13:57.880 married at an early age. Unfortunately, the marriage. 0:13:57.480 --> 0:14:00.000 Didn't work out. He was embarrassed. 0:14:00.600 --> 0:14:04.520 Denominational leaders told him that he would never pastor again. 0:14:05.240 --> 0:14:09.360 When you're wounded, there will always be people that instead 0:14:09.360 --> 0:14:12.960 of being a healer pouring the oil on the wounds, 0:14:13.240 --> 0:14:16.160 help you get back on your feet. They'll judge you 0:14:16.240 --> 0:14:20.280 by your mistakes. They'll try to disqualify you. But people 0:14:20.360 --> 0:14:24.040 don't have the final say. They didn't call you, they 0:14:24.040 --> 0:14:28.160 didn't breathe life into you, they didn't know you before you. 0:14:28.120 --> 0:14:29.920 Were formed in your mother's wound. 0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:34.320 People may have written you off, but don't get discouraged. 0:14:34.560 --> 0:14:38.600 God has already written you on. He chose you before 0:14:38.640 --> 0:14:42.400 you could choose him. The scripture says God's calling on 0:14:42.480 --> 0:14:47.720 your life is irrevocable. That means God doesn't change his mind. 0:14:48.320 --> 0:14:52.440 He's already decided to show you ursy. He's already decided 0:14:52.480 --> 0:14:56.000 to heal the wound and give you another chance. Don't 0:14:56.040 --> 0:14:58.480 believe those lies that you blew it. 0:14:58.680 --> 0:14:59.640 You had your chance. 0:14:59.840 --> 0:15:03.200 Just sit on the sidelines, get back in the game. 0:15:03.960 --> 0:15:07.040 The scar doesn't mean you're finished. The scar is a 0:15:07.080 --> 0:15:10.520 sign that you've been healed. It's a sign that you're 0:15:10.560 --> 0:15:14.680 ready for action. If God was through with you, you 0:15:14.720 --> 0:15:18.360 wouldn't still be here. There's something for you to do. 0:15:19.080 --> 0:15:23.480 You have an assignment. Somebody needs what you have. Somebody 0:15:23.560 --> 0:15:27.880 needs your smile, somebody needs your love. Somebody needs your gifts. 0:15:28.560 --> 0:15:29.320 Not me, Joel. 0:15:29.880 --> 0:15:32.320 I have all these wounds, I have all these scars. 0:15:32.720 --> 0:15:37.440 Everybody has scars. The scars don't disqualify you. The scars 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:42.280 prepare you. You learn from every experience. You're gaining something 0:15:42.360 --> 0:15:45.600 you're going to need down the road. Nothing you've been 0:15:45.680 --> 0:15:49.000 through has been wasted. It's all a part of God's plan. 0:15:50.120 --> 0:15:53.600 Several years after my dad was divorced, he met my mother. 0:15:54.040 --> 0:15:57.720 They fell in love and were married for over forty years. 0:15:58.200 --> 0:16:01.880 My father went on to past your great churches and minister. 0:16:01.560 --> 0:16:04.560 To people around the world. But he could have let 0:16:04.600 --> 0:16:05.960 that scar stop him. 0:16:06.280 --> 0:16:08.080 Every time he looked at it. He could have thought, 0:16:08.320 --> 0:16:11.440 I'm not qualified. Look what I've been through, I can't 0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:14.960 minister to others. But he saw that scar in a 0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:20.000 different light. Instead of discouraging him, it reminded him of 0:16:20.040 --> 0:16:24.280 the mercy of God. Instead of living condemned is just 0:16:24.360 --> 0:16:27.880 the opposite. He would thank God that he was restored. 0:16:28.560 --> 0:16:31.400 Why he was at peace with his scars. 0:16:32.320 --> 0:16:33.320 Are you beating. 0:16:33.040 --> 0:16:37.800 Yourself up over the past, not pursuing dreams, not passionate 0:16:37.840 --> 0:16:38.520 about life? 0:16:39.160 --> 0:16:42.680 The enemy keeps reminding you of those self inflicted wounds. 0:16:43.040 --> 0:16:45.200 How you blew it? You had your chance. 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:49.280 Next time he comes showing you that scar, trying to 0:16:49.280 --> 0:16:51.520 make you feel guilty, Just turn it around. 0:16:52.040 --> 0:16:55.080 This scar reminds me of the mercy of God. It 0:16:55.200 --> 0:16:57.960 reminds me that I'm redeemed, that I'm forgiven. 0:16:59.520 --> 0:17:03.040 I've heard it said only God can take an ugly 0:17:03.160 --> 0:17:07.840 wound and turn it into a scar of beauty. Sounds 0:17:07.880 --> 0:17:12.080 like a contradiction. How can a scar be beautiful? We 0:17:12.119 --> 0:17:17.240 see scars as painful, ugly. We'd rather forget, we try 0:17:17.240 --> 0:17:20.240 to hide. But our God knows how to take an 0:17:20.359 --> 0:17:25.440 ugly wound, a bitter divorce, a painful loss, an unexpected illness, 0:17:25.760 --> 0:17:30.680 and somehow change it into something beautiful. We didn't deserve 0:17:30.720 --> 0:17:33.560 the mercy. We didn't see how it could work out. 0:17:34.119 --> 0:17:37.520 The odds were against us. But God not only brought 0:17:37.600 --> 0:17:41.080 us through, he turned it into a scar of beauty. 0:17:41.840 --> 0:17:42.880 Now when we look at. 0:17:42.800 --> 0:17:46.200 It, we're so blessed, we're so grateful. We don't remember 0:17:46.200 --> 0:17:49.719 the pain, we don't remember the heartache. We remember the 0:17:49.760 --> 0:17:53.560 goodness of God. My mother had polio when she was 0:17:53.600 --> 0:17:56.719 a child. One of her legs is much smaller than 0:17:56.760 --> 0:17:57.160 the other. 0:17:57.920 --> 0:17:59.200 She walks with a limp. 0:18:00.000 --> 0:18:03.640 I've never heard her complain about her limp, never seen 0:18:03.680 --> 0:18:07.600 her discouraged about her leg. When she looks at that scar, 0:18:08.200 --> 0:18:11.520 so to speak, she doesn't see it in a negative light. 0:18:11.880 --> 0:18:15.119 Oh look what happened to me. Her attitude is Lord, 0:18:15.200 --> 0:18:17.480 thank you that I can walk. Thank you for your 0:18:17.520 --> 0:18:19.639 goodness in my life. 0:18:19.720 --> 0:18:22.960 That scar is not a reminder of the pain. 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:27.040 It's a scar of beauty. It reminds her what God 0:18:27.080 --> 0:18:30.800 brought her through. In the scripture, Jacob had a lot 0:18:30.800 --> 0:18:36.000 of self inflicted wounds. He was dishonest, went around cheating people. 0:18:36.400 --> 0:18:39.560 He tricked his brother out of his birthright. Caused him 0:18:39.560 --> 0:18:43.199 a lot of heartache and pain. Later in life, he 0:18:43.320 --> 0:18:46.199 decided to make a change. He went down to the 0:18:46.240 --> 0:18:50.800 brook by himself to get alone with God. An angel 0:18:50.840 --> 0:18:54.520 appeared that looked like a man and wrestled with Jacob 0:18:54.760 --> 0:18:55.320 all night. 0:18:56.080 --> 0:18:57.600 The next morning, the angel was. 0:18:57.600 --> 0:19:00.720 About to leave, Jacob held on to it and said, 0:19:01.119 --> 0:19:03.880 I know who you are. I'm not going to let 0:19:03.920 --> 0:19:08.160 you go until you bless me. The angel gave him 0:19:08.440 --> 0:19:12.880 the blessing, and he left. In the struggle, Jacob hurt 0:19:12.920 --> 0:19:17.280 his hip. The scripture says he walked away with a limp, 0:19:17.920 --> 0:19:19.240 but he had his blessing. 0:19:20.160 --> 0:19:21.000 What am I saying? 0:19:21.600 --> 0:19:24.840 You can have a limp and still be blessed. You 0:19:24.920 --> 0:19:28.280 can have a scar and still be successful. You can 0:19:28.320 --> 0:19:31.199 go through a breakup like my father and still do 0:19:31.320 --> 0:19:36.160 great things. But too often we think our scars limit us. 0:19:36.760 --> 0:19:39.520 Some of them weren't even our fault. Scarred from a 0:19:39.560 --> 0:19:44.440 tough childhood, or scarred from a breakup, scarred from a illness, 0:19:44.800 --> 0:19:46.800 those scars don't. 0:19:46.520 --> 0:19:47.359 Have to stop you. 0:19:48.040 --> 0:19:51.520 The scars are your testimony, that's your story. 0:19:51.800 --> 0:19:55.639 You don't have to hide them. Everyone has scars. Well, Joel, 0:19:55.680 --> 0:19:56.840 I've been through so much. 0:19:57.240 --> 0:20:00.119 I have so many scars. I don't see how I 0:20:00.119 --> 0:20:04.560 could ever accomplish my dreams. I know someone that has 0:20:04.680 --> 0:20:08.040 more scars than you, and he fulfilled his purpose. 0:20:08.840 --> 0:20:11.160 He came two thousand years ago. 0:20:12.040 --> 0:20:17.240 He was betrayed by his friends, misunderstood by his family. 0:20:17.680 --> 0:20:19.960 He was forced aware a crown of thorns. 0:20:20.359 --> 0:20:23.800 His hands and feet were pierced where they nailed him 0:20:23.800 --> 0:20:26.439 to a cross, had a big gouge in his side 0:20:26.600 --> 0:20:27.359 from a spear. 0:20:27.920 --> 0:20:29.480 His back was last with. 0:20:29.760 --> 0:20:33.800 Thirty nine stripes. Who is more scarred than our Savior? 0:20:34.680 --> 0:20:37.960 And what amazes me is when Jesus rose from the dead, 0:20:38.400 --> 0:20:40.800 When he came up out of the grave, you would 0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:45.200 think he would be completely healed, everything restored back to normal. 0:20:45.840 --> 0:20:49.480 But even though resurrection power caused him to come back 0:20:49.520 --> 0:20:54.680 to life, he still had scars. This is significant because 0:20:54.720 --> 0:20:58.600 God could have taken them away. The scripture even talks 0:20:58.640 --> 0:21:01.080 about how when we get to heaven, we're going to 0:21:01.119 --> 0:21:03.040 have new bodies, no scars. 0:21:03.720 --> 0:21:04.399 God could have. 0:21:04.440 --> 0:21:08.440 Made his skin like new, but on purpose he left 0:21:08.440 --> 0:21:09.080 the scars. 0:21:10.040 --> 0:21:11.720 Maybe in part. 0:21:11.680 --> 0:21:15.160 It was to show us that it's okay to have scars. 0:21:15.800 --> 0:21:18.960 It's okay that you've made mistakes. It's okay that people 0:21:19.000 --> 0:21:21.520 betrayed you, it's okay that you lost. 0:21:21.280 --> 0:21:22.000 That loved one. 0:21:22.600 --> 0:21:26.199 You can be at peace with your scars knowing that 0:21:26.240 --> 0:21:27.400 we are worshiping a. 0:21:27.560 --> 0:21:29.320 Savior who has scars. 0:21:30.240 --> 0:21:34.400 God is saying, don't let the disappointments, what didn't work out, 0:21:34.920 --> 0:21:38.879 who hurt you, or even your own mistakes cause you 0:21:38.960 --> 0:21:44.200 to settle in life, lose your passion. Our Savior has scars, 0:21:44.480 --> 0:21:47.960 but he rose from the dead. Jesus has scars, but 0:21:48.040 --> 0:21:50.840 he's at the right hand of the Father. What makes 0:21:50.880 --> 0:21:53.600 you think your scars disqualify you. 0:21:54.760 --> 0:21:56.879 But we all want the scars to go away. 0:21:57.640 --> 0:22:00.720 We don't want any reminder of the hurt, the sickness, 0:22:00.840 --> 0:22:05.000 the betrayal. But I can't promise you the scars will 0:22:05.000 --> 0:22:08.840 go away. Some of them last a lifetime, but I 0:22:08.920 --> 0:22:12.120 can promise you they don't have to keep you from 0:22:12.200 --> 0:22:13.560 your destiny. 0:22:13.680 --> 0:22:16.280 You have to be at peace with your scars. 0:22:17.080 --> 0:22:19.679 There are a lot of things in life we don't understand, 0:22:20.320 --> 0:22:23.160 why we came down with an illness, why we lost 0:22:23.160 --> 0:22:23.800 the loved one. 0:22:24.240 --> 0:22:27.679 While we walk with the limb. Those scars are not 0:22:27.800 --> 0:22:31.120 there to hold you back. They are reminders of the 0:22:31.160 --> 0:22:33.720 grace of God, of what he's brought you through. 0:22:34.480 --> 0:22:38.000 It's very powerful when you can say, I worship a 0:22:38.119 --> 0:22:42.320 savior who has scars, since he has scars, you know what. 0:22:42.680 --> 0:22:44.120 I'm okay with my scars. 0:22:44.720 --> 0:22:48.400 I'm not gonna live bitter because of a disappointment. I'm 0:22:48.440 --> 0:22:51.720 not gonna go around in regrets, beating myself up over 0:22:51.840 --> 0:22:54.960 past mistakes. I'm not gonna be sour because I had 0:22:54.960 --> 0:22:55.960 this disappointment. 0:22:56.320 --> 0:22:58.320 I'm at peace with my scars. 0:22:59.160 --> 0:23:03.840 After the Resurrection, the disciples were in a room together afraid. 0:23:04.280 --> 0:23:08.840 They had the doors locked when Jesus suddenly appeared. John 0:23:08.880 --> 0:23:12.159 twenty says he held out his hands for them to 0:23:12.200 --> 0:23:17.160 see his scars. He showed them the wounds on his side. 0:23:17.200 --> 0:23:20.560 Thomas wasn't there that day, and when they told him 0:23:20.600 --> 0:23:23.560 that they had seen the Lord, he thought they were 0:23:23.680 --> 0:23:27.960 just distraught and probably saw him in their imagination. He said, 0:23:28.000 --> 0:23:30.720 I'm not going to believe until I feel the nail 0:23:30.800 --> 0:23:33.960 prints in his hands, until I touched the wound on 0:23:34.080 --> 0:23:39.000 his side. A week later, Jesus appeared again. This time 0:23:39.160 --> 0:23:42.800 Thomas was there. Jesus went over to him, held out 0:23:42.840 --> 0:23:47.159 his hands and said, Thomas, touch my scars, feel the 0:23:47.200 --> 0:23:48.960 wound on my side. 0:23:49.200 --> 0:23:50.120 Thomas fell down. 0:23:50.320 --> 0:23:55.719 Lord, I believe maybe someone needs to touch your scars 0:23:55.760 --> 0:23:59.440 to believe. Maybe they need to hear how God brought 0:23:59.520 --> 0:24:02.679 you through the difficulty, how God gave you your voice 0:24:02.720 --> 0:24:06.119 back like dadra, how God restored you and gave you 0:24:06.119 --> 0:24:08.000 a new beginning like my father. 0:24:08.960 --> 0:24:11.760 Don't hide your scars, show your scars. 0:24:12.400 --> 0:24:16.520 There's healing in your scars, there's restoration in your scars. 0:24:17.000 --> 0:24:22.560 Your scars can inspire someone to believe. People all around 0:24:22.640 --> 0:24:26.280 us are wounded, they're hurting, their discourage, their lonely. Like 0:24:26.320 --> 0:24:28.960 the disciples, they don't know how they're going to make it. 0:24:29.520 --> 0:24:32.720 But when they see your scars, when they hear how 0:24:33.000 --> 0:24:36.200 God healed you, restored you, blessed you. 0:24:36.359 --> 0:24:39.040 That will breathe new life back into their spirits. 0:24:39.840 --> 0:24:43.320 Are you hiding your scars, embarrassed by what you've been through, 0:24:43.800 --> 0:24:47.720 bitter over who hurt you. God didn't show you mercy 0:24:48.320 --> 0:24:52.000 just for your sake. Those scars are for somebody else. 0:24:52.440 --> 0:24:55.920 He turned that around because he knows he can. 0:24:55.800 --> 0:24:57.200 Trust you with scars. 0:24:58.160 --> 0:25:02.120 When Jesus first arose, he appeared to marry Magdalene at 0:25:02.119 --> 0:25:05.440 the Garden tomb. When she recognized him, she went to 0:25:05.520 --> 0:25:09.240 hug him, but Jesus says, stopped, don't touch me yet 0:25:10.080 --> 0:25:12.440 he had not yet ascended. 0:25:11.880 --> 0:25:15.040 To the Father to present the sacrifice. 0:25:15.280 --> 0:25:18.680 There are times when you're not ready for people to 0:25:18.680 --> 0:25:22.480 touch your scars. You're still going through the healing process. 0:25:23.240 --> 0:25:27.359 Scar doesn't happen overnight, takes time. You may be in 0:25:27.400 --> 0:25:31.520 a difficult situation. You're waiting to be healed, waiting to 0:25:31.520 --> 0:25:35.960 be restored, the wound is still painful. Like with Jesus, 0:25:36.359 --> 0:25:39.359 the time is coming when the pain is going to 0:25:39.400 --> 0:25:39.960 be gone. 0:25:40.400 --> 0:25:42.240 The wound is going to be healed. 0:25:42.440 --> 0:25:45.520 You'll have a scar, not to remind you of the pain, 0:25:45.920 --> 0:25:47.560 but to remind you of. 0:25:47.480 --> 0:25:48.920 The grace of God. 0:25:49.000 --> 0:25:51.720 Then you can tell people touch my scars, here's what 0:25:51.840 --> 0:25:56.520 God has done for me. John Chapter five, Jesus healed 0:25:56.560 --> 0:25:59.520 a man that had been crippled for thirty eight years. 0:26:00.040 --> 0:26:03.119 He said to him, stand up, pick up your mat, 0:26:03.560 --> 0:26:04.280 and go home. 0:26:04.640 --> 0:26:06.119 Instantly the man could walk. 0:26:06.720 --> 0:26:10.160 It's significant that Jesus told him to take his mat 0:26:10.240 --> 0:26:14.320 with him. I'm sure after all those years that mat 0:26:14.720 --> 0:26:18.480 was probably dirty, had holes in it, didn't smell too good. 0:26:19.080 --> 0:26:21.240 Why didn't Jesus tell him, Hey, throw the mat away, 0:26:21.480 --> 0:26:22.240 you can walk. 0:26:22.359 --> 0:26:25.600 You're not going to need it anymore. That mat was 0:26:25.720 --> 0:26:26.320 like a scar. 0:26:27.320 --> 0:26:30.119 It was a reminder of what God had done. It 0:26:30.240 --> 0:26:33.879 was a part of his story. I can imagine everywhere 0:26:33.920 --> 0:26:36.280 the man went people would ask, what are you doing 0:26:36.440 --> 0:26:40.360 still carrying this old mat? He would answer, it may 0:26:40.400 --> 0:26:43.119 look ugly to you, but to me, this is a 0:26:43.160 --> 0:26:46.160 beautiful mat. Every time he looked at it, it brought 0:26:46.160 --> 0:26:47.439 a smile to his face. 0:26:47.720 --> 0:26:50.840 Under his breath, he would whisper, Lord, thank you for 0:26:50.960 --> 0:26:51.480 healing me. 0:26:52.640 --> 0:26:56.119 God could tell us to leave our mats. He could 0:26:56.160 --> 0:26:59.600 take away the scars, says there's no sign of them anymore. 0:27:00.200 --> 0:27:03.600 But one reason he leaves them is not only so 0:27:03.760 --> 0:27:06.639 we'll remember what he's done, but so. 0:27:06.520 --> 0:27:10.480 We can tell others. Are you at peace with your scars? 0:27:11.080 --> 0:27:14.560 Are you looking back with gratitude, thanking God, Or are 0:27:14.560 --> 0:27:17.360 you looking back bitter, wondering why it happened? 0:27:17.920 --> 0:27:19.080 Have a new perspective. 0:27:19.560 --> 0:27:23.200 The scar means you're healed. The scar means you're forgiven. 0:27:23.720 --> 0:27:26.800 The scar means you can walk again. You may still 0:27:26.840 --> 0:27:30.159 have your mat. That's simply to remind you of the 0:27:30.200 --> 0:27:33.280 greatness of God. And when you see other people who 0:27:33.320 --> 0:27:37.400 are wounded, do like Jesus, tell them touch my scars. 0:27:38.000 --> 0:27:40.080 Let me tell you what God did for me, He 0:27:40.119 --> 0:27:42.240 can do for you if you'll do. 0:27:42.320 --> 0:27:44.520 This, I believe and declare. 0:27:44.960 --> 0:27:48.320 God is going to take those ugly wounds and turn 0:27:48.400 --> 0:27:52.240 them into scars of beauty. What was meant for your harm, 0:27:52.480 --> 0:27:55.479 He's about to turn for your good. Healing is coming, 0:27:55.640 --> 0:27:59.560 freedom is coming, breakthroughs are coming, Victory is coming in 0:27:59.680 --> 0:28:02.560 Jesus his name, and if you receive it, can you 0:28:02.600 --> 0:28:07.120 say amen? Today I'd like to give you an opportunity 0:28:07.240 --> 0:28:09.320 to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:09.840 --> 0:28:14.400 Would you pray with me? Just say Lord Jesus, I'll 0:28:14.440 --> 0:28:19.400 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll make 0:28:19.480 --> 0:28:20.920 you my Lord and savior. 0:28:22.160 --> 0:28:24.560 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:28:24.600 --> 0:28:27.639 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church, 0:28:28.040 --> 0:28:30.240 keep God first place, Victorian. 0:28:30.280 --> 0:28:32.760 I'll be right back to speak a blessing over you. 0:28:36.520 --> 0:28:40.160 Thank you for listening to the Joelustine podcast. Help us 0:28:40.200 --> 0:28:43.080 continue to share the message of hope with those all 0:28:43.080 --> 0:28:47.160 over the world. Visit joelustin dot com slash give Hope 0:28:47.320 --> 0:28:48.520 to give a gift today. 0:28:49.800 --> 0:28:52.240 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:28:52.360 --> 0:28:55.120 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:28:55.160 --> 0:28:58.200 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 0:28:58.440 --> 0:29:00.640 We're praying for you. I know God Odd's best is 0:29:00.680 --> 0:29:02.640 still ahead. We'll see you next time. 0:29:09.760 --> 0:29:15.000 Nice buns, soft, fluffy and ultralownetcarbs discover hero Bread the 0:29:15.040 --> 0:29:19.560 delicious ultralow net carbbread with incredible taste and texture. Hero 0:29:19.720 --> 0:29:22.240 Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under one 0:29:22.320 --> 0:29:25.120 hundred calories per serving, plus high end fiber and up 0:29:25.200 --> 0:29:28.480 to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on Amazon 0:29:28.560 --> 0:29:31.640 dot com, Walmart dot com, and Hero dot Co. 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