Taking Care Of Yourself

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. It's time, your time, not just to 0:00:48.560 --> 0:00:50.960 go back to school, but to come back and move 0:00:51.040 --> 0:00:55.840 forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 0:00:56.440 --> 0:00:59.920 Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.280 --> 0:01:02.240 He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 0:01:02.280 --> 0:01:02.840 his birthday. 0:01:03.160 --> 0:01:05.039 Wow, thanks Grandpa, But. 0:01:05.080 --> 0:01:07.280 He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:11.840 with the uns stapp. Wow, Thanks Grandpa. The units stap 0:01:11.840 --> 0:01:14.360 makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to give 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:17.160 funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:19.440 Download the uns stapp and use the code I heeart 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:21.720 fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 0:01:21.760 --> 0:01:24.280 when you find your account. 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. 0:01:32.920 --> 0:01:35.640 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:35.680 --> 0:01:38.480 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:38.560 --> 0:01:40.920 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:40.959 --> 0:01:42.480 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:42.800 --> 0:01:45.520 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:45.560 --> 0:01:49.400 your life. Well, God bless you. It's great to be 0:01:49.520 --> 0:01:52.240 with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with 0:01:52.320 --> 0:01:56.000 us during the week through our daily podcast, YouTube channel, 0:01:56.120 --> 0:01:59.360 social media and you can come visit us in person. 0:02:00.080 --> 0:02:01.560 Love to have you be a part of one of 0:02:01.640 --> 0:02:04.760 our services. I'd like to start with something funny and 0:02:05.080 --> 0:02:09.720 somebody sent me this prayer about food goes like this, Lord, 0:02:09.840 --> 0:02:12.680 grant me the strength that I may not fall into 0:02:12.720 --> 0:02:17.959 the clutches of cholesterol at polyonsatris. I'll never mutter, for 0:02:18.080 --> 0:02:21.880 the road to Hell is paved with butter. Cake is cursed, 0:02:22.200 --> 0:02:27.120 cream is awful, and Satan is hiding in every waffle bells. 0:02:27.160 --> 0:02:31.520 Above is a chocolate drop. Lucifer is a lollipop. Teach 0:02:31.560 --> 0:02:34.640 me the evils of fried chicken from the South. Lord, 0:02:34.639 --> 0:02:39.160 if you love me, shut my mouth, say it like 0:02:39.200 --> 0:02:42.960 you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 0:02:43.080 --> 0:02:45.600 it says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:02:46.200 --> 0:02:48.800 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:02:48.919 --> 0:02:52.280 I will be taught the word of God. I'll boldly confess. 0:02:52.720 --> 0:02:56.560 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I'll never 0:02:56.680 --> 0:03:00.280 be the same. In Jesus' name, God, bless you, Thank you. 0:03:01.960 --> 0:03:04.480 I want to talk to you today about take care 0:03:04.680 --> 0:03:08.440 of yourself. It's easy to get so caught up meeting 0:03:08.480 --> 0:03:12.800 other people's needs and measuring up to their expectations that 0:03:12.880 --> 0:03:16.760 we put ourself on the back burner. The demands of work. 0:03:17.280 --> 0:03:20.200 We have a boss to please, spouse to keep happy, 0:03:20.520 --> 0:03:23.960 pressures of raising children, got to get them to football, 0:03:24.560 --> 0:03:26.840 the other one to dance, need to run to the 0:03:26.880 --> 0:03:30.360 grocery store, Dinner has to be perfect, then off to 0:03:30.400 --> 0:03:33.959 the neighbor's birthday party. We can't let anyone down. They're 0:03:34.000 --> 0:03:38.960 counting on us. We have this hero mentality. We're always strong. 0:03:39.440 --> 0:03:42.560 We're always the one that comes through, that cheers them up, 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:46.440 fixes the problem that stays late. We're doing all these 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:51.040 good things, keeping everyone around us happy. The problem is 0:03:51.440 --> 0:03:56.160 we can become depleted, drained, worn out. We're making sure 0:03:56.280 --> 0:04:00.200 everyone else is a priority. You need to make yourself 0:04:00.240 --> 0:04:05.360 a priority. Your first mission is to keep yourself healthy. 0:04:05.400 --> 0:04:09.119 It's not selfish to take time for you. You need 0:04:09.200 --> 0:04:13.360 time to get refreshed, to be re energized. You shouldn't 0:04:13.400 --> 0:04:15.920 be so busy. You don't have time to be alone, 0:04:16.360 --> 0:04:21.160 time to laugh, time to exercise. You need recreation. You 0:04:21.240 --> 0:04:24.760 need these things that help you stay in balance. See 0:04:24.760 --> 0:04:27.680 when people are making a lot of withdrawals, you have 0:04:27.720 --> 0:04:30.600 to make sure you're putting in a lot of deposits. 0:04:31.480 --> 0:04:35.000 If you're giving all the time and never filling back up, 0:04:35.240 --> 0:04:38.880 you're going to be depleted. You're good to others, why 0:04:38.920 --> 0:04:41.960 don't you be good to you. You're kind to others, 0:04:42.120 --> 0:04:45.600 be kind to you. Be generous to you, be loving 0:04:45.640 --> 0:04:49.320 to you. Don't live with that hero mentality. Got to 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.440 be strong, got to be at every event, got to 0:04:52.480 --> 0:04:56.919 be super mom outperform, overachieved. I can't say no, What 0:04:57.000 --> 0:05:00.960 will they say? People will take as much you give them. 0:05:01.360 --> 0:05:03.600 They'll let you work twenty four hours a day if 0:05:03.640 --> 0:05:09.320 you will. When you run down, emotionally drained, physically worn out, 0:05:09.480 --> 0:05:12.560 that's not just doing you a disservice. It's doing your 0:05:12.600 --> 0:05:16.360 family and those around you a disservice. Not only that, 0:05:16.520 --> 0:05:20.200 it's not healthy, it's raising your blood pressure, causing you 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:25.840 to live stressed, overwhelmed. Nobody can make this change except you. 0:05:25.839 --> 0:05:28.200 You have to be the one to say, I'm gonna 0:05:28.200 --> 0:05:31.520 make some adjustments to my schedule, not gonna go run 0:05:31.520 --> 0:05:34.240 And every time this friend calls, not gonna live up 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:37.800 to the pressures and demands that are not reasonable. I'm 0:05:37.800 --> 0:05:41.720 gonna keep myself healthy. I'm gonna make sure my emotional 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:44.919 well being is good. And if you don't learn to 0:05:44.960 --> 0:05:48.560 say notice some things, then nothing will change. Because the 0:05:48.600 --> 0:05:52.040 people that are counting on you to perform, to always 0:05:52.080 --> 0:05:55.080 be there, They're not gonna say why don't you take 0:05:55.080 --> 0:05:57.880 a break, Why don't you spend the evening doing whatever 0:05:57.920 --> 0:06:01.200 you want. I'll cover for you. You have them trained, 0:06:01.760 --> 0:06:04.760 They're expecting you to be there for them. The moment 0:06:04.880 --> 0:06:08.120 you aren't, they'll say, what's going on? Where are you Superman? 0:06:09.080 --> 0:06:11.640 Tell them Superman went to the phone booth and turned 0:06:11.640 --> 0:06:16.320 back into Clark Kent. Superman was tired. Superman needed rest. 0:06:17.080 --> 0:06:20.400 Superman had to get back in balance. They may not 0:06:20.760 --> 0:06:24.760 like it, but your health, your emotional well being, is 0:06:24.800 --> 0:06:29.680 more important than keeping everyone happy when you make these adjustments. 0:06:29.960 --> 0:06:33.400 Don't be surprised if you feel guilty. I should be helping, 0:06:33.880 --> 0:06:36.480 I should be at my neighbors, I should be working late. 0:06:37.080 --> 0:06:40.080 Don't be guilted into doing things that are keeping you 0:06:40.160 --> 0:06:44.160 out of balance. There's nothing wrong with taking time for you. 0:06:45.040 --> 0:06:48.800 When you're tired, you need rest. When you're drained, you 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:52.360 need to be replenished. Now, I'm not saying don't work hard. 0:06:52.440 --> 0:06:56.760 I'm all for working, achieving, being responsible. What I'm saying 0:06:57.080 --> 0:07:00.599 is stay in balance. You can't work all the time, 0:07:01.120 --> 0:07:04.240 serve your family all the time, be strong for others 0:07:04.320 --> 0:07:07.479 all the time. Sometimes you have to say sorry, I 0:07:07.520 --> 0:07:11.040 need a break, I need a moment to recharge. There's 0:07:11.080 --> 0:07:13.520 been a lot of withdrawals. I need to make some 0:07:13.600 --> 0:07:17.600 deposits for me. It's easy to work all the time. 0:07:18.040 --> 0:07:20.800 It's easy to go ninety to nothing. I like to 0:07:20.840 --> 0:07:25.400 be productive, achieving, but I've learned I'm not as creative 0:07:25.680 --> 0:07:28.880 if I don't have time for recreation. I'm not as 0:07:28.920 --> 0:07:32.600 productive if I hadn't taken time to laugh with my family, 0:07:33.080 --> 0:07:37.240 have fun together. Exercise. That's how I get refreshed. Work out, 0:07:37.360 --> 0:07:41.680 play basketball. When Victoria needs to be refreshed, she goes shopping. 0:07:42.240 --> 0:07:45.160 She'll spend three hours at the mall. Never buy a thing. 0:07:46.120 --> 0:07:50.440 Me going shopping, I'm drained in five minutes. Everyone is different. 0:07:51.120 --> 0:07:54.560 Do what replenishes you, what brings you back in balance. 0:07:54.920 --> 0:08:00.200 I know my brother Paul gets refreshed by crocheting. When 0:08:00.280 --> 0:08:03.840 Jesus was on the earth, he went around healing people, 0:08:04.320 --> 0:08:08.240 teaching in the synagogues, lifting people up. Everywhere he went 0:08:08.480 --> 0:08:11.040 there was a need. People would come up. When you 0:08:11.040 --> 0:08:13.640 heal my child, when you come to our city, can 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:16.360 I touch the edge of your robe? He had all 0:08:16.360 --> 0:08:20.680 these demands. Imagine how he felt as the son of God. 0:08:20.880 --> 0:08:25.440 He had this incredible power, anointing, wisdom, so much to offer, 0:08:26.120 --> 0:08:29.520 Yet at times when he was tired. The scripture says 0:08:29.760 --> 0:08:32.520 he would go away from the crowds, up into the 0:08:32.559 --> 0:08:36.560 mountains and get alone so he could be refreshed. He 0:08:36.600 --> 0:08:40.040 could have felt guilty. There are so many needs, people 0:08:40.080 --> 0:08:43.560 to heal, lepers to cleanse. I can't take a break, 0:08:44.360 --> 0:08:47.439 But Jesus knew he had to take care of his temple. 0:08:48.160 --> 0:08:51.800 No matter how anointed you are, you get tired. No 0:08:51.840 --> 0:08:56.360 matter how strong, smart, gifted, you get depleted. You have 0:08:56.440 --> 0:09:00.000 to have these times, despite all the needs around you, 0:09:00.280 --> 0:09:04.080 despite what your children, spouse, boss, friends are counting on. 0:09:04.679 --> 0:09:08.360 You have to get alone and recharge your batteries. If 0:09:08.440 --> 0:09:11.160 Jesus had to do it, if he couldn't meet all 0:09:11.200 --> 0:09:14.320 the demands of people around him, and he's the son 0:09:14.360 --> 0:09:17.199 of God, Why do we think we can go all 0:09:17.240 --> 0:09:21.160 the time and be everything for everyone? Why can't let 0:09:21.160 --> 0:09:24.120 them down? They're counting on me. You know what I've learned. 0:09:24.400 --> 0:09:26.920 The sun will still come up if I don't get 0:09:26.920 --> 0:09:30.320 everything done. The sun will still rise. If I don't 0:09:30.400 --> 0:09:35.200 keep everyone happy, you're not doing yourself any favors living 0:09:35.240 --> 0:09:38.960 out of a depleted state. Sometimes we've been doing it 0:09:39.080 --> 0:09:43.200 so long we don't realize how far below our potential 0:09:43.280 --> 0:09:47.800 we're living. You won't be as good a parent, spouse, leader, 0:09:47.960 --> 0:09:51.800 friend if you're not taking time to get away. There 0:09:51.800 --> 0:09:55.840 will always be needs, always be something to do, someone 0:09:55.880 --> 0:09:58.680 that needs your attention. You have to make it a 0:09:58.720 --> 0:10:03.000 priority to stay in balance. And it's okay to be depleted, 0:10:03.360 --> 0:10:05.400 to work hard, to give it your best, to be 0:10:05.480 --> 0:10:09.120 there for people, but it's not okay to stay depleted. 0:10:09.760 --> 0:10:12.959 You have to get filled back up. Some people are 0:10:13.000 --> 0:10:16.800 living worn out, drained, no energy. They don't want to 0:10:16.880 --> 0:10:20.959 let anyone down. You've been there for everyone accept you. 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:24.520 Why don't you treat yourself as good as you treat others. 0:10:25.160 --> 0:10:28.479 You have to take care of your temples. You're not invincible. 0:10:29.200 --> 0:10:32.160 Jesus had all the power in the world, yet in 0:10:32.200 --> 0:10:36.000 his physical body, he knew his limits. He knew when 0:10:36.040 --> 0:10:38.040 he was at the point where he had to take 0:10:38.080 --> 0:10:41.360 time to get replenished. And the reason some people are 0:10:41.400 --> 0:10:46.360 not enjoying life is because their account is overdrawn. They're 0:10:46.400 --> 0:10:51.400 good at letting people make withdraws, they work hard, meet expectations, 0:10:51.640 --> 0:10:55.240 keep everyone happy, but they don't have a system to 0:10:55.280 --> 0:10:59.319 where they get filled back up. When you live drained depleted, 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:02.000 you want he is productive. You want to have the 0:11:02.080 --> 0:11:05.800 stamina to overcome challenges. You want to enjoy your family 0:11:05.920 --> 0:11:09.960 like you should. There'll be more stride, conflict, you'll be 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:13.080 amazed at what happens. If you'll get back in balance, 0:11:13.679 --> 0:11:16.920 if you'll make yourself a priority, let go of some 0:11:16.960 --> 0:11:20.400 of the pressures. Yes, you love your children, but you 0:11:20.440 --> 0:11:23.760 don't have to be superparent. Your children are going to 0:11:23.800 --> 0:11:26.880 be raised out of the house at some point. You 0:11:26.920 --> 0:11:29.040 don't want to look back and think, man, I didn't 0:11:29.120 --> 0:11:32.600 enjoy those years. I was so stressed, overwhelmed, tried to 0:11:32.640 --> 0:11:36.680 be everything, keep up with my neighbors. If Jesus knew 0:11:36.720 --> 0:11:40.160 his limits, we should know our limits. And yes we 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:44.440 can do everything. We can be superman, but that's not healthy. 0:11:44.840 --> 0:11:48.880 Take the cape off, get back in balance. Sometimes it's 0:11:48.920 --> 0:11:53.920 not other people's expectations, it's our own expectations. We feel 0:11:53.920 --> 0:11:57.720 guilty for not doing everything we think needs to be done, 0:11:57.920 --> 0:12:01.360 for not meeting all the needs withdrawal. We have the ability, 0:12:01.679 --> 0:12:05.840 the talent, the anointing, but you also have a physical body. 0:12:06.920 --> 0:12:09.920 Like with Jesus, there are limits. He had to get 0:12:09.960 --> 0:12:12.960 away to keep being his best. If he would have 0:12:13.000 --> 0:12:16.880 lived depleted, he would have shortchanged himself. The best thing 0:12:16.960 --> 0:12:21.160 he could do was to get recharged on a regular basis. 0:12:21.520 --> 0:12:24.479 You need to have these times where you get replenished. 0:12:25.520 --> 0:12:28.840 Life makes a lot of withdrawals things were not even 0:12:28.880 --> 0:12:34.760 aware of. Traffic, work, deadlines, delays, difficult people, negative news. 0:12:35.000 --> 0:12:39.199 That's all draining. That's all taking from your account. Now, 0:12:39.240 --> 0:12:42.720 don't make the mistake of living overdrawn. If you go 0:12:42.840 --> 0:12:46.360 into a new week at a deficit, those same things 0:12:46.440 --> 0:12:49.760 come to take from you, but there's nothing there. That's 0:12:49.800 --> 0:12:54.439 when you get overwhelmed, frustrated. You're not as productive, your 0:12:54.440 --> 0:12:57.559 gifts don't come out like they should. It's not difficult. 0:12:58.200 --> 0:13:02.560 Just get back in balance on a regular basis. Start 0:13:02.600 --> 0:13:06.320 taking time for you, for what replenishes you, for what 0:13:06.400 --> 0:13:09.880 fills you. Back up. This may mean you have to 0:13:09.920 --> 0:13:13.160 say no toe some things. You may have to disappoint 0:13:13.200 --> 0:13:16.400 a few friends. Hey, I can't be there every Monday night. 0:13:16.400 --> 0:13:19.360 It's a new season. You may have to tell your children, 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:22.800 we can't play on seventeen different soccer teams this fall. 0:13:22.960 --> 0:13:27.480 Let's just do twelve. When the pandemic hit, it forced 0:13:27.559 --> 0:13:30.280 us to slow down. Most people didn't go to work, 0:13:30.720 --> 0:13:35.160 didn't travel airlines. Some of them stopped running shopping centers, clothes, 0:13:35.480 --> 0:13:38.800 everything was put on palls. And although people lost their 0:13:38.840 --> 0:13:41.760 lives and our hearts go out to them, there was 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:45.560 some good that came out of the pandemic. It shifted 0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:49.360 our priorities. We realize there's more to life than just 0:13:49.400 --> 0:13:53.480 working all the time trying to achieve and outperform. We 0:13:53.559 --> 0:13:56.400 saw how much we missed spending time with our family, 0:13:57.160 --> 0:14:00.160 enjoying the people that we love. In a sense, it 0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:02.960 helped us bring us back into balance, to have a 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:07.200 new perspective of what's important. Since two thousand and four, 0:14:07.800 --> 0:14:11.040 we have done over two hundred Nights of Hope in 0:14:11.120 --> 0:14:14.720 different cities across America. Every month, we'd go to the 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:18.560 stadiums or basketball arenas. The event was normally on a 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:23.120 Friday night. We'd come home Saturday afternoon, do church Saturday night, 0:14:23.440 --> 0:14:26.840 two services on Sunday. I write two books a year, 0:14:27.240 --> 0:14:30.800 do my serious XM radio program each week. I loved 0:14:30.800 --> 0:14:34.160 doing it, but I didn't realize how much that was 0:14:34.200 --> 0:14:37.920 taken out of me when the pandemic hit changed everything. 0:14:38.560 --> 0:14:41.760 No more events on the road set of three services. 0:14:41.960 --> 0:14:45.560 We recorded one service on Friday afternoon. No people in 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:49.040 the auditorium. I'd come in do my message. Half hour later, 0:14:49.080 --> 0:14:53.440 I was done. In twenty three years since my father passed, 0:14:53.760 --> 0:14:57.320 I had never been so rested, never had so much energy. 0:14:58.120 --> 0:15:01.360 I noticed that my contact started to get blurry, couldn't 0:15:01.360 --> 0:15:03.680 read as well. I went to the eye doctor. He 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:06.560 ran the test. He said, Joel, this is very strange. 0:15:06.920 --> 0:15:10.000 But the reason your contacts are blurry is because your 0:15:10.080 --> 0:15:13.840 vision has improved. It hasn't gotten worse, it's gotten better. 0:15:14.360 --> 0:15:18.800 You need less correction. Who knows what will happen if 0:15:18.840 --> 0:15:22.720 you'll get back in balance. I didn't realize it, but 0:15:22.800 --> 0:15:25.880 when you have a lot of withdrawals taking place, you're 0:15:25.920 --> 0:15:29.960 spending a lot of emotional energy being productive, seeing your 0:15:30.000 --> 0:15:33.560 gifts come out, helping others. You have to make sure 0:15:33.920 --> 0:15:37.360 you're putting in a lot of deposits. You're taking time 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:42.760 to get filled back up emotionally, spiritually and physically. Working 0:15:42.800 --> 0:15:45.320 all the time is not hard. You have the drive, 0:15:45.600 --> 0:15:49.240 the passion, but when you do, you're running at a deficit. 0:15:49.760 --> 0:15:55.160 Your account is low. It starts affecting other things, your health, creativity, 0:15:55.240 --> 0:16:00.000 your attitude, relationships. Stay in balance, take time to get 0:16:00.160 --> 0:16:04.160 away every day. You need to have some time to yourself, 0:16:04.720 --> 0:16:08.320 some time to get refreshed. Then on a regular basis, 0:16:08.560 --> 0:16:11.800 put on the schedule. What fills you back up? Make 0:16:11.840 --> 0:16:15.480 it a priority to take care of you. The Apostle 0:16:15.520 --> 0:16:18.280 Paul was supposed to travel to the city of Corinth 0:16:18.680 --> 0:16:21.440 and visit with the people. He had told them earlier 0:16:21.480 --> 0:16:24.440 that in a while he would be coming. They were 0:16:24.480 --> 0:16:28.120 planning for his visit, eagerly waiting for him to show up. 0:16:28.800 --> 0:16:33.040 But Paul encountered great difficulties in Asia. He was dealing 0:16:33.040 --> 0:16:36.800 with problems and people coming against him. He wrote in 0:16:36.880 --> 0:16:41.280 Second Corinthians one, we were pressed beyond measure. We were 0:16:41.320 --> 0:16:46.280 so overwhelmed we despaired of life itself. This was the 0:16:46.360 --> 0:16:49.640 Apostle Paul, who wrote nearly half of the New Testament 0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:53.400 saying that he felt so overwhelmed he didn't think he 0:16:53.440 --> 0:16:56.840 could go on here. He had already told these people 0:16:56.880 --> 0:17:00.200 he would come. He had already made this commitment, and 0:17:00.280 --> 0:17:04.399 these unexpected challenges came up. He could have thought, I 0:17:04.440 --> 0:17:08.480 can't disappoint them. They're expecting me. What if they get upset? 0:17:08.920 --> 0:17:12.760 What if they don't understand? But Paul knew his limits. 0:17:13.200 --> 0:17:15.879 Yes he was powerful, Yes, he wrote, I can do 0:17:15.920 --> 0:17:19.080 all things through Christ. Yes, he prayed and prison doors 0:17:19.080 --> 0:17:23.200 flung open, but he understood this principle that it was 0:17:23.320 --> 0:17:26.320 up to him to take care of his physical and 0:17:26.359 --> 0:17:30.240 emotional well being. That he can't operate at his best 0:17:30.480 --> 0:17:34.360 if he's depleted, drained, and worn out. So he sent 0:17:34.400 --> 0:17:37.800 a letter telling them, in effect, sorry, I can't come. 0:17:38.840 --> 0:17:41.919 He could have had a hero mentality. They're counting on me. 0:17:42.560 --> 0:17:44.840 I'm the one they look up to. I can't let 0:17:44.880 --> 0:17:48.120 them down. But he took his cap off and said 0:17:48.160 --> 0:17:51.639 I can't do it. He was saying, you've seen the 0:17:51.680 --> 0:17:56.360 Superman Paul, now you're seeing the human Paul. I'm overwhelmed. 0:17:56.760 --> 0:18:01.680 I've got to get replenished. Once I get filled back up, healthy, whole, restored, 0:18:02.080 --> 0:18:05.600 then I'll come visit with you. There are times you 0:18:05.720 --> 0:18:08.439 have to be bold like Paul and say no, I 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:11.719 can't do it. I know it may hurt feelings. I 0:18:11.720 --> 0:18:13.480 know I've been there in the past. I know I 0:18:13.520 --> 0:18:16.359 told you I would, but I need a break. I 0:18:16.440 --> 0:18:20.639 have to get refreshed. Jesus did it, Paul did it. 0:18:20.640 --> 0:18:24.359 It's okay if you do it, don't try to be Superman. 0:18:24.880 --> 0:18:29.359 Superman is a fictitional character Superman in real life would 0:18:29.359 --> 0:18:32.320 have had a nervous breakdown. It's okay to say no. 0:18:32.800 --> 0:18:35.359 That's one of the most powerful words you can learn. 0:18:36.200 --> 0:18:38.800 Now I know yes is exciting. We want to do 0:18:38.840 --> 0:18:41.600 it all. Yes, all work late. Yes, I'll be there 0:18:41.640 --> 0:18:44.760 for you. Yes, I'll make sacrifices so you can go further. 0:18:45.480 --> 0:18:48.159 But there will be times you have to say sorry. 0:18:48.480 --> 0:18:50.679 I have to take care of me. I have to 0:18:50.720 --> 0:18:53.480 protect my health, I have to let my mind rest, 0:18:53.880 --> 0:18:58.399 I have to release this stress. Sometimes we're holding onto 0:18:58.440 --> 0:19:02.080 things that are overwhelming us. What you want say no 0:19:02.240 --> 0:19:05.679 to can end up killing you. You've been there for 0:19:05.760 --> 0:19:08.880 everyone else. Why don't you be there for you? Why 0:19:08.920 --> 0:19:12.679 don't you make yourself a priority? And no, I'm not 0:19:12.760 --> 0:19:19.119 talking about living selfishly. I'm talking about living balanced, recognizing 0:19:19.359 --> 0:19:22.639 that your physical and emotional well being is up to 0:19:22.680 --> 0:19:25.920 you and some of the people you bend over backwards 0:19:25.960 --> 0:19:29.919 for you make great sacrifices to help them when you 0:19:30.000 --> 0:19:35.640 need help. They're never around, they're busy, they have other opportunities. Yes, 0:19:35.760 --> 0:19:38.720 be good to others, be a blessing whenever you can, 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:42.879 but also know your limits. If you can't be a 0:19:42.920 --> 0:19:46.480 blessing every time, that's okay. If you can't come to 0:19:46.600 --> 0:19:50.840 Corinth like Paul, people may get upset, they may try 0:19:50.880 --> 0:19:54.040 to make you feel bad, but they're not responsible for 0:19:54.119 --> 0:19:56.919 your health. They're not going to give an account for 0:19:57.000 --> 0:20:01.120 your assignment. It's not heroic and try to meet everyone 0:20:01.160 --> 0:20:05.879 else's expectations and miss your own destiny. Friend of mine 0:20:06.359 --> 0:20:09.640 was a very successful pastor. We knew him growing up, 0:20:09.680 --> 0:20:13.080 and he traveled the world helping people and speaking at 0:20:13.119 --> 0:20:16.080 these large events. But he was so caught up in 0:20:16.160 --> 0:20:19.200 his calling and the doors that were opening that he 0:20:19.240 --> 0:20:22.400 didn't pay attention to his health. He knew he was 0:20:22.640 --> 0:20:27.760 doing too much, running depleted, mentally drained, physically run down, 0:20:28.480 --> 0:20:31.399 but he never took time to get replenished. He didn't 0:20:31.440 --> 0:20:33.920 have any kind of system where he'd get filled back up. 0:20:34.840 --> 0:20:40.080 You can't keep giving out, making withdraws and never making deposits, 0:20:40.320 --> 0:20:44.439 never putting anything in. He flew home from overseas. It 0:20:44.520 --> 0:20:48.920 was an eighteen hour flight. He was so tired, so exhausted. 0:20:49.480 --> 0:20:52.080 The problem is he had another trip to take the 0:20:52.119 --> 0:20:55.879 next afternoon. He told me, I knew there was no 0:20:55.920 --> 0:20:58.560 way I could physically do it, but I had this 0:20:58.640 --> 0:21:02.000 commitment I wanted to keep my word. He got on 0:21:02.040 --> 0:21:06.359 that flight and never ministered again, had a stroke, lost 0:21:06.400 --> 0:21:10.600 his speech, lost his motor skills. You're not doing yourself 0:21:10.600 --> 0:21:14.960 any favors, not taking care of yourself. If the apostle 0:21:15.000 --> 0:21:18.399 Paul can say no, then we can say no. Now 0:21:18.480 --> 0:21:22.600 here's a key. You make your own schedule. You decide 0:21:22.640 --> 0:21:25.800 what you're going to do. Don't make commitments that you 0:21:25.960 --> 0:21:29.080 know are not wise for your health. When I get 0:21:29.160 --> 0:21:31.879 up to speak each weekend, it takes a lot of 0:21:31.920 --> 0:21:37.000 emotional energy. Physically, I can run all day, but emotionally 0:21:37.240 --> 0:21:41.480 there's a limited supply. So Thursdays and Fridays I schedule 0:21:41.560 --> 0:21:44.639 no meetings, no calls. I know it's going to be 0:21:44.680 --> 0:21:47.520 a big withdrawal on Sunday, so I have to get 0:21:47.560 --> 0:21:51.199 filled back up. If I'm dealing with problems, trying to 0:21:51.200 --> 0:21:54.199 fix this situation, plan this event, need to visit with 0:21:54.280 --> 0:21:57.120 this person, I'm not going to be my best up here. 0:21:57.880 --> 0:22:00.280 I have to take time to get quiet so I 0:22:00.320 --> 0:22:03.520 can stay in balance. That's when you're the most creative, 0:22:03.720 --> 0:22:08.040 the most effective. These days, there are more demands for 0:22:08.119 --> 0:22:11.960 your time and attention than ever. Everyone wants a piece 0:22:12.000 --> 0:22:17.080 of you. Advertisers, TV, Internet, social media, school, work, friends. 0:22:17.480 --> 0:22:20.879 People are buying for your attention. You have to be 0:22:21.000 --> 0:22:25.240 selective about what you commit to. When you're at your limit. 0:22:25.600 --> 0:22:29.040 You can't keep adding to your schedule without taking something 0:22:29.040 --> 0:22:31.840 else away. We think, well, I can go do this too, 0:22:31.920 --> 0:22:34.240 and my friend wants me to come here, and I 0:22:34.280 --> 0:22:36.720 can write this extra proposal, and I can make my 0:22:36.840 --> 0:22:41.119 child's weekend tournament. We have good intentions, but it's too much. 0:22:41.960 --> 0:22:44.240 If you don't know how to say no, you're going 0:22:44.280 --> 0:22:47.679 to get over committed. It may be a good thing, 0:22:48.040 --> 0:22:51.160 but good things can wear you out. Good people can 0:22:51.200 --> 0:22:55.160 still deplete you. It's all about balance. Does it work 0:22:55.240 --> 0:22:58.240 with the season you're in right now? Does it fit 0:22:58.359 --> 0:23:01.760 with what you already have to do. Victoria and I 0:23:01.800 --> 0:23:05.200 have always loved real estate. Whenever we see an open 0:23:05.240 --> 0:23:07.800 house sign where a house is for self, if we 0:23:07.840 --> 0:23:10.239 have time, we go in to look around. It's just 0:23:10.240 --> 0:23:13.360 a hobby. And we win another state the other day 0:23:13.400 --> 0:23:16.320 and we saw this open house. We went all through it. 0:23:16.920 --> 0:23:20.080 As I was leaving the real estate agent, this young 0:23:20.160 --> 0:23:23.080 man thanked us for coming and asked for my phone 0:23:23.160 --> 0:23:26.240 number so he could send me information on other houses. 0:23:26.640 --> 0:23:29.960 I said, oh no, we're not interested. We're not serious buyers. 0:23:30.000 --> 0:23:33.080 We're just looking around. He said, okay, but can I 0:23:33.119 --> 0:23:35.600 get your email? I'd like to put you on our 0:23:35.600 --> 0:23:38.840 mailing of dress. I don't know about you, but I 0:23:38.840 --> 0:23:43.000 don't need another email, another text, another phone call. I 0:23:43.080 --> 0:23:46.400 have enough things to get my attentions to. And I said, 0:23:46.480 --> 0:23:48.879 very polite to no. Thanks. He said, okay, but at 0:23:49.000 --> 0:23:51.480 least give me your home address so I can stay 0:23:51.480 --> 0:23:55.639 in touch. He was very persistent. I understand he wants 0:23:55.680 --> 0:23:59.080 to sell. I'm very nice. I don't want to hurt 0:23:59.080 --> 0:24:02.159 people's feelings. Normally I would have just given in and 0:24:02.480 --> 0:24:07.359 given him my brother Paul's email, but this time I 0:24:07.400 --> 0:24:10.080 looked at him with a big smile and said, I'm sorry, 0:24:10.359 --> 0:24:13.600 but I don't want anyone to contact me. I walked 0:24:13.600 --> 0:24:15.880 out of there so proud of myself. I have never 0:24:15.960 --> 0:24:20.720 done that in my life before. I love to say yes, 0:24:21.440 --> 0:24:25.119 but sometimes to fulfill your destiny, you have to say no. 0:24:26.200 --> 0:24:28.800 Paul said no, I can't come to Korinth right now. 0:24:28.880 --> 0:24:32.080 I'm too tired. Jesus said no, I can't heal people 0:24:32.160 --> 0:24:35.359 right now. I have to rest. Are there some things 0:24:35.400 --> 0:24:38.520 you need to say no to? Maybe they're good things. 0:24:38.600 --> 0:24:42.159 But it's not the right season, swearing you down, taking 0:24:42.240 --> 0:24:45.200 time and energy from the main things you need to do. 0:24:46.160 --> 0:24:49.119 Solomon said in the scripture, they made me a keeper 0:24:49.119 --> 0:24:52.439 of vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept. 0:24:53.240 --> 0:24:56.080 He was saying, I kept everyone else happy, I met 0:24:56.119 --> 0:24:59.920 all their demands, worked over time, built the business, sat 0:25:00.000 --> 0:25:03.199 grifis for my children. But I didn't take time for me. 0:25:03.840 --> 0:25:07.679 I didn't keep myself healthy. You made others a priority. 0:25:08.000 --> 0:25:12.440 It's okay to make yourself a priority. Years ago, there 0:25:12.480 --> 0:25:16.720 was a lighthouse on a rocky stretch of coastline. The keeper, 0:25:16.960 --> 0:25:19.879 who was in charge of keeping the flame burning, was 0:25:19.920 --> 0:25:23.359 given a new supply of oil once a month. His 0:25:23.520 --> 0:25:27.440 main focus was to make sure the lighthouse shined brightly well. 0:25:27.440 --> 0:25:30.400 It was close to a neighborhood. One cold night, an 0:25:30.440 --> 0:25:33.800 elderly woman came said she needed oil for her heater. 0:25:34.320 --> 0:25:37.119 The keeper felt badly for her and gave her some oil. 0:25:37.720 --> 0:25:40.639 Another father came and said it was an emergency. He 0:25:40.680 --> 0:25:43.480 needed oil for his lamp so he could travel through 0:25:43.520 --> 0:25:46.600 the night to get medicine for his child. The keeper 0:25:46.600 --> 0:25:49.639 didn't think twice that's a good cause gave him the oil. 0:25:50.280 --> 0:25:54.080 Another man came passing through that was stranded needed oil 0:25:54.119 --> 0:25:57.320 to lublcate his will. Keeper felt sorry for him and 0:25:57.520 --> 0:26:00.600 gave him the oil. Toward the end of the month, 0:26:00.760 --> 0:26:04.160 the oil for the lighthouse was running low. He sent 0:26:04.240 --> 0:26:06.439 word to town to let them know he had to 0:26:06.480 --> 0:26:09.960 have more oil, But before the new oil arrived, the 0:26:10.040 --> 0:26:14.200 lighthouse went out. That night, a huge ship was disoriented 0:26:14.200 --> 0:26:18.040 and crashed into the rocks. The authorities came and the 0:26:18.160 --> 0:26:21.639 keeper was so apologetic. He told how he'd used the 0:26:21.680 --> 0:26:24.720 oil for all these people that needed it so badly. 0:26:25.560 --> 0:26:28.680 They said to him, very sternly. You were given oil 0:26:28.800 --> 0:26:33.080 for one purpose, to keep that lighthouse burning. And sometimes 0:26:33.160 --> 0:26:36.320 like this keeper, we're so good hearted. We want to 0:26:36.359 --> 0:26:40.200 help this person measure up to their expectation. Run here, 0:26:40.320 --> 0:26:44.959 keep them happy, all the while we're depleted. Our light's 0:26:45.000 --> 0:26:48.600 going out. You've been given oil for one purpose, to 0:26:48.680 --> 0:26:53.280 keep your light burning, to keep yourself healthy, whole and strong. 0:26:53.840 --> 0:26:57.520 If your fire goes out, you can't help all those others. 0:26:57.840 --> 0:27:02.240 If you're living depleted, a running on empty, you're not 0:27:02.400 --> 0:27:06.399 shining like you could. You're making it. But what could 0:27:06.440 --> 0:27:11.560 you be if you got back in balance, How much brighter, further, longer, 0:27:11.760 --> 0:27:15.760 happier could you be if you did, like Jesus on 0:27:15.800 --> 0:27:20.440 an irregular basis, took time to get refreshed, to be replenished. 0:27:21.040 --> 0:27:24.000 I'm not saying to live selfishly. I'm not saying to 0:27:24.040 --> 0:27:30.120 not work hard. I'm saying take care of your temple physically, spiritually, 0:27:30.280 --> 0:27:35.080 and emotionally. You're not invincible. People may think you're superman 0:27:35.440 --> 0:27:39.280 because you're so strong, so gifted, you're always up, but 0:27:39.440 --> 0:27:42.800 like all of us, you're human. You need to be refreshed. 0:27:43.680 --> 0:27:46.760 Too many people are burning out. You can go for 0:27:46.840 --> 0:27:49.840 a while out of balance, but eventually it will catch 0:27:49.880 --> 0:27:52.800 up to you. Now I heard this saying it's easier 0:27:52.840 --> 0:27:55.960 to maintain good health than it is to try to 0:27:56.040 --> 0:28:00.680 regain lost health. When you live depleted, it's you down, 0:28:01.200 --> 0:28:04.320 it's affecting your immune system. You need to get out 0:28:04.320 --> 0:28:07.960 from under that pressure. Learn to say no. You may 0:28:08.000 --> 0:28:12.200 have to eliminate some good things in order to stay healthy. Listen, 0:28:12.240 --> 0:28:15.040 we need you here for a long time. What you 0:28:15.160 --> 0:28:19.040 have to offer is amazing. Your gifts, your talents, your love, 0:28:19.760 --> 0:28:23.080 keep your light burning. Yes, be good to others, but 0:28:23.119 --> 0:28:26.560 don't forget to be good to you. If you'll do this, 0:28:26.880 --> 0:28:29.960 I believe and declare. You're going to feel weights lift 0:28:30.000 --> 0:28:33.520 off of you. You're going to live longer, freer, healthier, 0:28:33.840 --> 0:28:38.040 have better relationships, more energy, and become all you were 0:28:38.080 --> 0:28:41.840 created to be. In Jesus' name, if you receive it, 0:28:41.960 --> 0:28:46.320 can you say amen? Amen? I'd like to give you 0:28:46.400 --> 0:28:49.320 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:49.720 --> 0:28:53.880 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:28:54.040 --> 0:28:59.160 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:28:59.200 --> 0:29:03.760 you my lord. If you prayed that simple prayer, we 0:29:03.840 --> 0:29:06.640 believe you got born again. I want to encourage you 0:29:06.840 --> 0:29:09.840 to get into a good Bible based church and keep 0:29:09.880 --> 0:29:14.000 God first place. Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:14.120 --> 0:29:16.920 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:16.920 --> 0:29:20.400 podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:29:20.600 --> 0:29:22.800 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:22.800 --> 0:29:26.280 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:29:26.400 --> 0:29:29.000 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:29:29.080 --> 0:29:29.600 us today. 0:29:29.840 --> 0:29:32.280 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:32.400 --> 0:29:35.200 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:29:35.280 --> 0:29:38.360 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:29:38.400 --> 0:29:39.200 see you next time