The Right Perspective

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Is it investment legal or 0:01:00.080 --> 0:01:00.600 types of bikes? 0:01:01.080 --> 0:01:03.800 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:03.880 --> 0:01:06.960 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:01:07.080 --> 0:01:09.640 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:01:09.760 --> 0:01:12.360 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:01:12.440 --> 0:01:26.680 for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 0:01:27.240 --> 0:01:29.920 It's a joy to come into your homes. We love 0:01:30.040 --> 0:01:32.240 you and we know God has great things in store 0:01:32.319 --> 0:01:34.400 for each one of you. And if you're ever in 0:01:34.560 --> 0:01:37.080 the Houston area, I hope you'll stop by and be 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:39.280 a part of one of our services. I promise you 0:01:39.400 --> 0:01:41.680 we'll make you feel right at home. Thanks for tuning 0:01:41.760 --> 0:01:44.280 in today and thank you again for coming out. I 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:46.560 like to start with something funny each week, and I 0:01:46.680 --> 0:01:50.360 heard about this Southern Baptist man named Bill. He liked 0:01:50.400 --> 0:01:53.760 to sneak off to the horse races and bet. One day, 0:01:53.880 --> 0:01:57.080 after spending almost all of his money, he saw a 0:01:57.320 --> 0:01:59.960 frieze step out onto the tracks and bless a horse. 0:02:00.600 --> 0:02:02.880 He watched very closely, and sure enough the horse won 0:02:03.000 --> 0:02:06.920 first place. Next race, the priest blessed another horse again 0:02:07.080 --> 0:02:10.200 that horse won, so Bill went to the ATM machine 0:02:10.280 --> 0:02:13.440 got out all of his money. This time, the priest 0:02:13.600 --> 0:02:17.079 not only touched the horse's forehead, but he touched his eyes, 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:20.919 his ears, and all of his hoofs. Feeling confident, Bill 0:02:21.040 --> 0:02:23.400 bent all of his money. But right in the middle 0:02:23.400 --> 0:02:26.239 of the race, the horse fell over and died. He 0:02:26.320 --> 0:02:28.320 couldn't believe it. He went to the priest and said, 0:02:28.360 --> 0:02:30.919 what in the world happened. The priest said, that's the 0:02:31.000 --> 0:02:34.000 problem with you Protestants. You don't know the difference between 0:02:34.040 --> 0:02:39.440 a blessing and the last rites. All right, hold up 0:02:39.480 --> 0:02:42.200 your Bible, say it like you mean it. This is 0:02:42.320 --> 0:02:45.320 my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 0:02:45.480 --> 0:02:47.840 have what it says I have. I can do what 0:02:47.960 --> 0:02:50.680 it says I can do. Today I will be taught 0:02:50.760 --> 0:02:54.880 the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 0:02:55.320 --> 0:02:58.280 my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 0:02:58.760 --> 0:03:02.600 In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 0:03:02.639 --> 0:03:06.880 to you today about having the right perspective. It's easy 0:03:06.960 --> 0:03:09.440 to get focused on what's wrong in life and what 0:03:09.560 --> 0:03:13.000 we don't have and how big our obstacles are. If 0:03:13.000 --> 0:03:16.079 we're not careful, we'll lose sight of all the good 0:03:16.200 --> 0:03:19.840 things God has done. Will take for granted our family, 0:03:20.280 --> 0:03:24.280 our friends, our health, the opportunity God blessed us with. 0:03:25.080 --> 0:03:27.919 We'll get so busy and so stressed out that we 0:03:28.000 --> 0:03:33.040 don't appreciate the gift of today. What's happened. Our perspective 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:37.240 has gotten off. Perspective is all about how we see 0:03:37.320 --> 0:03:41.920 a situation. Business may be slow, the economy may be down. 0:03:42.360 --> 0:03:45.320 The wrong perspective is I'll never make it, it's just 0:03:45.400 --> 0:03:49.200 too much. The right perspective is God is supplying all 0:03:49.280 --> 0:03:51.880 of my needs. He said he had prosper me even 0:03:51.960 --> 0:03:55.480 in a desert. You go through a disappointment. The wrong 0:03:55.600 --> 0:03:58.080 perspective is I should have known this was going to happen. 0:03:58.440 --> 0:04:01.680 I never get any good breaks my luck. The right 0:04:01.840 --> 0:04:05.280 perspective is when one door closes, I know God's going 0:04:05.320 --> 0:04:08.160 to open up another door. What was meant for my harm? 0:04:08.320 --> 0:04:11.360 I know God will use to my advantage. You can 0:04:11.440 --> 0:04:15.160 take two people and put them in the exact same circumstances. 0:04:15.720 --> 0:04:20.440 One will be negative, complaining, enduring life. The other will 0:04:20.480 --> 0:04:25.880 be happy, grateful, enjoying life. What's the difference their perspective? 0:04:26.400 --> 0:04:29.640 It's in how they're choosing to see the situation. And 0:04:29.760 --> 0:04:32.720 we all have things. If we focus on them, they 0:04:32.800 --> 0:04:35.480 can steal our joy and cause us to be sour. 0:04:36.120 --> 0:04:39.120 But if we're going to live life happy, the foundation 0:04:39.600 --> 0:04:44.640 is having a grateful spirit. I've learned seeds of discouragement 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:48.280 cannot take root in a grateful heart. If you're not 0:04:48.440 --> 0:04:52.360 happy today, you've lost your enthusiasm for life. One of 0:04:52.400 --> 0:04:55.200 the quickest ways to see that turn around is to 0:04:55.279 --> 0:04:58.799 start being more grateful. Instead of looking at what's wrong, 0:04:59.160 --> 0:05:02.559 start thinking God for what's right. Instead of complaining about 0:05:02.600 --> 0:05:05.000 what you don't have, start thanking God for what you 0:05:05.120 --> 0:05:08.040 do have. Instead of dwelling on how far you've got 0:05:08.120 --> 0:05:10.720 to go, take a look back and thank God for 0:05:10.839 --> 0:05:13.720 how far he's already brought you now. I've talked to 0:05:13.760 --> 0:05:16.880 people that have gone through disappointments. They lost a job, 0:05:17.600 --> 0:05:20.400 maybe a relationship didn't work out, or they're dealing with 0:05:20.480 --> 0:05:23.320 the health issue. They don't think they have any reason 0:05:23.440 --> 0:05:27.039 to be grateful, but really it's all a matter of perspective. 0:05:27.880 --> 0:05:30.440 I heard about a man He complained that he didn't 0:05:30.480 --> 0:05:33.440 have any shoes until he met a man that didn't 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:38.039 have any feet. What happened his perspective changed. He thought, 0:05:38.240 --> 0:05:40.719 you know what, maybe I don't have it so bad. 0:05:41.600 --> 0:05:45.040 The truth is, somebody would love to have your life. 0:05:45.680 --> 0:05:49.520 Somebody would gladly trade places with you. Some people would 0:05:49.600 --> 0:05:52.640 love to be able to breathe freely like you can breathe, 0:05:52.960 --> 0:05:55.680 to walk like you can walk. Some people would give 0:05:55.760 --> 0:05:59.680 anything to be sitting in an air conditioning building surrounded 0:05:59.720 --> 0:06:03.640 by leavers. Have you thank God lately for your family, 0:06:03.920 --> 0:06:07.240 for your friends, for your health, for the opportunities God's 0:06:07.279 --> 0:06:13.000 blessed you with. Here's the key. If we complain about 0:06:13.040 --> 0:06:15.480 where we are, we will never get to where we 0:06:15.560 --> 0:06:17.920 want to be. Well, hey, you say, Joel, if you 0:06:18.000 --> 0:06:20.000 were driving this old rattle trap of a car like 0:06:20.120 --> 0:06:23.440 I'm driving, doesn't even have any air conditioning, I'm burning up. 0:06:23.480 --> 0:06:27.400 You'd complain too. If you lived in this small apartment, Joel. 0:06:27.839 --> 0:06:30.200 Or how about this, if you were married to my spouse, 0:06:30.279 --> 0:06:35.719 I guarantee you'd complain. Now, remember this phrase. If you complain, 0:06:36.240 --> 0:06:39.960 you're going to remain. But if your praise, you'll be raised. 0:06:43.640 --> 0:06:46.440 One thing I found that will help keep the right 0:06:46.600 --> 0:06:50.120 perspective is to make a list of all the things 0:06:50.160 --> 0:06:53.279 you have to be grateful for. Write down a dozen 0:06:53.400 --> 0:06:55.920 things God has blessed you with and put it up 0:06:56.400 --> 0:06:59.400 on your mirror in your bathroom. Every day before you 0:06:59.480 --> 0:07:01.360 leave the house, go over it two or three times 0:07:01.680 --> 0:07:04.360 before you go to bed, do the same thing. Get 0:07:04.400 --> 0:07:07.520 that down in your spirit. Meditate on the good things 0:07:07.600 --> 0:07:10.200 God has done. Why don't you write down the time 0:07:10.520 --> 0:07:13.080 God showed up and made a way when it looked 0:07:13.120 --> 0:07:15.880 like there was no way. Write down the time that 0:07:16.400 --> 0:07:19.120 God had you at the right place and you got promoted, 0:07:19.640 --> 0:07:22.760 The time God protected you from the accident, The time 0:07:22.880 --> 0:07:25.080 the medical report said you weren't going to make it, 0:07:25.400 --> 0:07:30.520 but unexpectedly your health turned around. Why don't you write 0:07:30.560 --> 0:07:33.320 down the fact that you have healthy children, you have 0:07:33.440 --> 0:07:36.800 a roof over your head, you have loving parents. When 0:07:36.840 --> 0:07:40.040 you meditate on the goodness of God, it'll not only 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:43.280 help you have the right perspective, but that's your faith 0:07:43.400 --> 0:07:47.280 being released. When your faith is released, it activates the 0:07:47.480 --> 0:07:50.400 power of the most High God. You will see God 0:07:50.520 --> 0:07:52.600 show up and give you something else to put on 0:07:52.680 --> 0:07:56.000 your list. I read about this man. He was very 0:07:56.120 --> 0:07:59.720 down and discouraged. He went to his minister said nothing 0:07:59.840 --> 0:08:02.680 is and write in my life, have no reason to 0:08:02.760 --> 0:08:05.760 be happy, no reason to be thankful. The minister said, 0:08:05.760 --> 0:08:08.800 all right, let's do a little exam. He got out 0:08:08.840 --> 0:08:11.360 a legal pad and drew a line right down the center. 0:08:11.800 --> 0:08:14.080 He said, I'm on write down all of your assets 0:08:14.160 --> 0:08:17.000 on this side, all of the things right in your life. 0:08:17.360 --> 0:08:19.760 On the other side, I'm on write down all your challenges, 0:08:20.040 --> 0:08:23.400 all these problems that are bothering you. The man laughed 0:08:23.440 --> 0:08:25.120 and said, I'm not going to have anything to put 0:08:25.160 --> 0:08:28.000 on the asset side. The minister said that's fine, let's 0:08:28.040 --> 0:08:30.480 just go through the exercise, and the men kind of 0:08:30.800 --> 0:08:34.640 hung his head down. The minister said, I'm so sorry 0:08:34.760 --> 0:08:37.840 to hear that your wife passed away. He looked up 0:08:37.880 --> 0:08:40.800 abruptly said, what are you talking about. My wife didn't 0:08:40.840 --> 0:08:43.959 pass away. She's alive. She's healthy. He said, oh, he 0:08:44.040 --> 0:08:48.120 wrote down, has a healthy wife that's alive. He said, well, 0:08:48.160 --> 0:08:50.560 I'm really sorry to hear that your house burned down. 0:08:51.160 --> 0:08:53.000 He said, my house didn't burn down. I've got a 0:08:53.160 --> 0:08:55.920 nice house. He said, all wrote it down, has a 0:08:56.040 --> 0:08:59.000 nice house. He then said, I'm very sorry to hear 0:08:59.160 --> 0:09:02.199 that you got laid off, you lost your job. The 0:09:02.320 --> 0:09:05.080 men said, where are you getting all this nonsense? Didn't 0:09:05.120 --> 0:09:07.040 lose my job. I've got a good job, he said, Oh, 0:09:07.160 --> 0:09:09.240 wrote it down, He's got a good job. The man 0:09:09.360 --> 0:09:11.640 finally caught on. He said, give me that list. He 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:15.080 wrote down another dozen good things before he got finished. 0:09:15.080 --> 0:09:17.120 He walked out of there with a whole new attitude. 0:09:17.520 --> 0:09:21.760 What happened His perspective was off. When he began to 0:09:21.840 --> 0:09:25.959 focus on the good he got his enthusiasm back. And 0:09:26.040 --> 0:09:29.719 if you struggle with staying in courage, you struggle with 0:09:29.800 --> 0:09:32.800 staying grateful, you too, need to make a list of 0:09:32.880 --> 0:09:35.600 all the things that God has blessed you with. If 0:09:35.640 --> 0:09:38.400 you have your health, write it down, I'm healthy. If 0:09:38.440 --> 0:09:40.840 you can see, write it down, I can see. If 0:09:40.840 --> 0:09:44.320 you're good looking like me, write it down, I'm good looking. 0:09:46.200 --> 0:09:48.280 It's your list as long as you think so, that's 0:09:48.280 --> 0:09:52.280 all that matters. I've got a job, I've got health, 0:09:52.320 --> 0:09:55.760 I've got family, I've got friends. Made that list, then, 0:09:55.880 --> 0:09:58.959 all through the day in your mind, go over it 0:09:59.120 --> 0:10:02.280 again and again and again. You've got to get your 0:10:02.400 --> 0:10:05.880 mind going in the right direction. Your life is going 0:10:05.960 --> 0:10:10.000 to follow your thoughts. If you're constantly meditating on God's 0:10:10.080 --> 0:10:13.679 goodness and thinking about what He's done and talking about 0:10:13.720 --> 0:10:16.400 how He's blessed you. Then you're going to see God's 0:10:16.480 --> 0:10:20.079 favor in amazing ways. And we have to realize that 0:10:20.679 --> 0:10:24.319 every day is a gift from God. We're not always 0:10:24.400 --> 0:10:27.120 going to be here. What a shame to live this 0:10:27.400 --> 0:10:33.199 day or any other day, negative, complaining, no enthusiasm. I 0:10:33.320 --> 0:10:37.080 realize we all have obstacles, we all have things to overcome, 0:10:37.760 --> 0:10:40.880 but our attitudes should be I know God is still 0:10:40.920 --> 0:10:44.240 on the throne. He's been complete control of my life. 0:10:44.600 --> 0:10:47.040 He said his plans for me are for good and 0:10:47.160 --> 0:10:49.679 not evil. So I'm not going to drag through this 0:10:49.920 --> 0:10:54.640 day defeated, complaining, focused on what's wrong, or I'm gonna 0:10:54.720 --> 0:10:57.960 change my perspective and thank God I'm alive and thank 0:10:58.040 --> 0:11:00.840 god I'm healthy, and thank God I have faith, Thank 0:11:00.880 --> 0:11:03.640 God I have opportunity. I'm gonna make the most of 0:11:03.679 --> 0:11:06.480 this day. I'm gonna live it to the full. Well, 0:11:06.559 --> 0:11:08.679 you say, Joel, I would do that, but I just 0:11:08.800 --> 0:11:12.079 found out I have to work late this week, I 0:11:12.200 --> 0:11:14.599 have to mow the lawn later, I have to go 0:11:14.720 --> 0:11:17.000 to the grocery store, or I have to take care 0:11:17.000 --> 0:11:19.920 of these children, clean up after their mess. Let me 0:11:19.960 --> 0:11:22.920 tell you you don't have to do anything. You get 0:11:23.000 --> 0:11:25.319 to do it. God is the one that's given you 0:11:25.480 --> 0:11:28.880 breath to breathe. You couldn't mow the lawn if God 0:11:28.920 --> 0:11:32.680 didn't give you strength. You wouldn't have to work late, 0:11:32.840 --> 0:11:36.840 if God didn't provide the opportunity change your perspective. Our 0:11:36.880 --> 0:11:39.280 attitude should be I don't have to go to work 0:11:39.320 --> 0:11:41.760 this week. I get to go to work. I don't 0:11:41.840 --> 0:11:43.719 have to take care of these children. I get to 0:11:43.760 --> 0:11:46.480 take care of these children. Do you know how many 0:11:46.559 --> 0:11:49.880 people would love to have children. Some people have spent 0:11:50.040 --> 0:11:53.880 thousands of dollars and gone through all kinds of medical procedures. 0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:56.679 They would do anything to be able to take care 0:11:56.679 --> 0:12:00.079 of those children. Every day we should thank God that 0:12:00.120 --> 0:12:03.240 He's blessed us with children. They are a gift from God. 0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:07.760 When you're on your way to work, instead of complaining 0:12:07.840 --> 0:12:10.480 about the traffic, why not say Father, thank you that 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:13.720 I have a job. When it's time to come to church, 0:12:14.280 --> 0:12:17.520 instead of complaining, is too far, it's too crowded, why 0:12:17.600 --> 0:12:19.360 not say Father, thank you that I have a great 0:12:19.440 --> 0:12:22.120 church to go to. Thank you that I live in 0:12:22.240 --> 0:12:27.800 a great country where we have the freedom to worship. Well, Joe, 0:12:27.920 --> 0:12:30.599 business is really slow. That may be true, but the 0:12:30.720 --> 0:12:34.160 right perspective is this too shall pass. A new season 0:12:34.320 --> 0:12:37.800 is coming. Well, I wrecked my car last week. It 0:12:37.920 --> 0:12:40.840 may be total. That's not good, but the right perspective 0:12:40.960 --> 0:12:44.199 is at least I'm still alive. Well, I'm living in 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:47.680 this small apartment. If I just had a bigger house, 0:12:48.120 --> 0:12:51.520 if I just had more money, then I'd be happy. No, 0:12:51.679 --> 0:12:53.920 you may not have all the money you would like, 0:12:54.440 --> 0:12:56.920 but if you have your health, can I tell you 0:12:57.360 --> 0:12:59.800 you are very well off. That's worth a whole lot. 0:13:00.400 --> 0:13:03.120 I was reading about a gentleman. He's one of the 0:13:03.240 --> 0:13:08.079 wealthiest men in the world, worth billions and billions of dollars, 0:13:08.400 --> 0:13:11.120 but he doesn't have his health. He has a rare 0:13:11.280 --> 0:13:15.160 disease where for years he has gone from hospital to hospital, 0:13:15.360 --> 0:13:18.360 trying all different kinds of treatments. Do you know how 0:13:18.440 --> 0:13:20.920 much he would give to have his health back. He 0:13:20.960 --> 0:13:23.920 would give it all. You may not have as much 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:26.880 as you would like, but keep it in perspective. If 0:13:26.960 --> 0:13:30.839 you have your health, you're extremely rich. If you can walk, 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:33.319 you can talk, you can hear, you can think. You 0:13:33.520 --> 0:13:37.920 have something that billions of dollars cannot purchase. Don't take 0:13:38.040 --> 0:13:40.520 for granted the fact that you were able to get 0:13:40.559 --> 0:13:43.680 out of bed this morning by yourself without any health. 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:47.439 When you opened your eyes, you could see when you 0:13:47.600 --> 0:13:51.400 told your legs to walk, they obeyed. When your spouse 0:13:51.480 --> 0:13:54.520 said I love you, you could hear it. When your 0:13:54.600 --> 0:13:57.400 child hold you, you could fill their embrace. When you 0:13:57.480 --> 0:14:00.200 went to the kitchen, you could taste the food. If 0:14:00.240 --> 0:14:02.800 we're going to have the right perspective, we got to 0:14:02.840 --> 0:14:09.319 appreciate the simple things that God's blessed us with. I 0:14:09.440 --> 0:14:11.679 talked to a gentleman a few years ago. He was 0:14:11.720 --> 0:14:14.559 a very famous singer. He had a sister that was 0:14:14.640 --> 0:14:19.240 mentally and physically challenged. She couldn't walk, talk, feed herself. 0:14:19.640 --> 0:14:23.560 She needed twenty four hour constant attention. Growing up, he 0:14:23.760 --> 0:14:26.600 and his other family members took care of her. He 0:14:26.760 --> 0:14:31.120 explained how there were different cries that they understood. That's 0:14:31.160 --> 0:14:34.240 how she communicated with them. There was a certain cry 0:14:34.360 --> 0:14:36.800 for when she was hungry, a cry for when she 0:14:36.960 --> 0:14:39.200 was thirsty, a cry for when she wanted to go 0:14:39.280 --> 0:14:42.640 to bed. But he said the most difficult cry was 0:14:42.760 --> 0:14:45.960 the cry for when she had an itch. See, she 0:14:46.080 --> 0:14:49.120 could not tell them where the itch was, so they'd 0:14:49.160 --> 0:14:52.800 have to scratch and scratch all over her body trying 0:14:52.840 --> 0:14:55.080 to get rid of that itch. He said, Joel. That 0:14:55.280 --> 0:14:58.880 helped me to appreciate the simple things that so many 0:14:58.960 --> 0:15:01.880 of us take for granted. We think scratching an itch, 0:15:02.240 --> 0:15:04.720 that's no big deal, But really it is a big deal. 0:15:05.440 --> 0:15:07.360 It's a big deal that we tell our arms to 0:15:07.480 --> 0:15:09.960 work and they work. It's a big deal that we 0:15:10.080 --> 0:15:12.960 open our eyes and we can see. When you get 0:15:13.040 --> 0:15:15.200 up in the morning and you're tempted to focus on 0:15:15.280 --> 0:15:18.520 your problems and how bad life is treating you, why 0:15:18.560 --> 0:15:21.280 don't you turn it around and thank God that you 0:15:21.400 --> 0:15:24.040 can scratch your own itch. Why don't you thank God 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:27.160 that when you got up this morning you didn't have 0:15:27.240 --> 0:15:30.160 any problem breathing. Why don't you thank God that when 0:15:30.200 --> 0:15:32.720 you looked out the window you could see the sunrise? 0:15:33.200 --> 0:15:38.040 Learn to appreciate the simple things. Sometimes we lose perspective 0:15:38.120 --> 0:15:41.880 because life can be routine. We think, Man, I'm just 0:15:42.000 --> 0:15:45.960 getting up and going to work, coming home. Nothing exciting 0:15:46.080 --> 0:15:48.480 is happening. I'm doing the same thing again and again. 0:15:49.160 --> 0:15:53.800 But understand, there's nothing ordinary about getting up and going 0:15:53.880 --> 0:15:57.320 to work. There's nothing ordinary about being able to breathe, 0:15:57.480 --> 0:16:00.600 being able to see, being able to think, those are 0:16:00.760 --> 0:16:05.120 gifts from Almighty God. But too often we don't realize 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:08.200 how great we have it until something is taken away. 0:16:09.000 --> 0:16:11.000 I have a friend that used to play basketball with 0:16:11.120 --> 0:16:14.080 the lot and he started having problems with his eyes. 0:16:14.680 --> 0:16:18.760 It was always very strong, healthy, active, a good ball player. 0:16:18.960 --> 0:16:21.680 But this went on month after month. Finally he went 0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:25.400 to the doctors and after many tests, they diagnosed him 0:16:25.520 --> 0:16:28.320 with cancer of the eye. Looked like he was going 0:16:28.360 --> 0:16:32.640 to lose his vision. It's very distraught, very upset. He 0:16:32.720 --> 0:16:36.360 went in for the big operation. The problem was behind 0:16:36.520 --> 0:16:41.000 his eyes. Much to the doctor's surprise, they realized it 0:16:41.240 --> 0:16:44.920 was not cancer after all. It was an unusual fungus 0:16:45.320 --> 0:16:47.680 and they were able to remove it and save his vision. 0:16:48.280 --> 0:16:50.920 When he woke up from the operation and he got 0:16:51.000 --> 0:16:54.560 the good news, he said, that was the greatest day 0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:57.520 of my life. Think about it. He didn't just win 0:16:57.600 --> 0:17:01.000 the lottery, he didn't just buy a new house, he 0:17:01.080 --> 0:17:04.440 didn't just get a big promotion. He simply got the 0:17:04.600 --> 0:17:07.520 news that he was going to be able to continue 0:17:07.680 --> 0:17:11.200 to see. He said, Joel. Now every morning I get 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:14.800 up and I look at things on purpose. I stare 0:17:14.880 --> 0:17:17.399 at my children, I stare at my wife, I'll go 0:17:17.480 --> 0:17:19.600 out and look up at the trees. I'll pick up 0:17:19.600 --> 0:17:22.240 an acorn and just stare at it. Why is that 0:17:23.040 --> 0:17:26.920 because he almost lost his vision, Now being able to 0:17:27.000 --> 0:17:30.720 see has taken on a totally different meaning. Now, I 0:17:30.840 --> 0:17:33.600 dare say that most of us would never say the 0:17:33.680 --> 0:17:36.359 greatest day of our life was to wake up and 0:17:36.480 --> 0:17:40.040 be able to see. But how things change when we 0:17:40.160 --> 0:17:43.520 find out we may not have it anymore. I'm asking 0:17:43.640 --> 0:17:47.199 us today to not take for granted the good things 0:17:47.320 --> 0:17:50.240 that God has already blessed us with. If you can see, 0:17:50.440 --> 0:17:54.400 you can talk, you can walk. If you have friends, family, opportunity, 0:17:55.240 --> 0:17:59.320 learn to appreciate that. Don't go around complaining about what's wrong. 0:17:59.680 --> 0:18:02.600 Change your focus. If you have a hard time getting 0:18:02.600 --> 0:18:06.119 to sleep tonight, instead of lying there and complaining about it, 0:18:06.440 --> 0:18:08.600 why don't you think about all the people that don't 0:18:08.640 --> 0:18:11.840 even have a bed. That'll keep you from being frustrated. 0:18:12.600 --> 0:18:15.080 If you get stuck in traffic, instead of being upset, 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:17.480 think about all the people that don't have a car. 0:18:18.280 --> 0:18:20.480 If you have a tough day at the office this week, 0:18:20.960 --> 0:18:23.120 instead of letting that ruin the rest of the week, 0:18:23.720 --> 0:18:27.320 think about all the people that don't have a job well, Joel. 0:18:27.400 --> 0:18:29.920 I had to park three blocks away to get to 0:18:30.040 --> 0:18:33.200 church today. I prayed for favor. I prayed for a 0:18:33.240 --> 0:18:36.119 good parking spot. It just never works. No, Instead of 0:18:36.200 --> 0:18:39.080 complaining with every step you take, you should say, Father, 0:18:39.200 --> 0:18:41.600 thank you that I'm strong, Think you that I'm healthy, 0:18:41.800 --> 0:18:46.240 Think you that I'm able to walk? How about this? 0:18:46.840 --> 0:18:49.680 Instead of complaining that your hair is turning gray, be 0:18:49.800 --> 0:18:55.480 grateful that it's not turning loose. Some of it's too late, 0:18:58.080 --> 0:19:01.919 but staying grateful is a key to living life happy. 0:19:02.880 --> 0:19:06.160 That's why David said in Psalm thirty four, I will 0:19:06.240 --> 0:19:10.920 bless the Lord at all times. His praise will continually 0:19:11.119 --> 0:19:15.120 be in my mouth. Notice how long? Continually all the time? 0:19:15.840 --> 0:19:20.320 David knew a secret. You can't praise and complain at 0:19:20.359 --> 0:19:24.680 the same time. If you're constantly thanking God for his goodness, 0:19:25.359 --> 0:19:29.560 meditating on what he's done, thinking about how he's blessed you, 0:19:29.920 --> 0:19:32.359 then you won't have any time to go around complaining 0:19:32.680 --> 0:19:35.680 about what's wrong in your life. And every day we're 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:39.000 going to be tested in these areas. Somebody's rude to 0:19:39.119 --> 0:19:42.639 you at the office, you go through a disappointment, your 0:19:42.680 --> 0:19:45.640 plans don't work out, you get a negative medical report. 0:19:46.280 --> 0:19:49.680 In those difficult times, we're either going to be saying, poor, 0:19:49.840 --> 0:19:53.000 oh me, I can't believe it's happening, or we're gonna 0:19:53.000 --> 0:19:55.040 be saying, Father, I want to thank you that I 0:19:55.119 --> 0:19:58.280 am more than a conquer You said you always caused 0:19:58.320 --> 0:20:01.000 me to triumph. You said, no up and formed against 0:20:01.040 --> 0:20:03.240 me is going to prosper. So Father, I want to 0:20:03.280 --> 0:20:06.000 thank you in advance that I'm not only coming out, 0:20:06.240 --> 0:20:08.520 I'm gonna come out better off than I was before. 0:20:09.160 --> 0:20:13.080 We can either complain or praise. I'm asking you to 0:20:13.200 --> 0:20:19.520 choose to praise first. Thessalonians five eighteen says in everything 0:20:19.840 --> 0:20:24.760 give thanks. Doesn't say to give thanks for everything, says 0:20:24.800 --> 0:20:28.080 to give thanks in everything. In other words, we don't 0:20:28.119 --> 0:20:31.920 thank God for the trouble, thank him for the sickness, 0:20:32.160 --> 0:20:35.720 thank him for the accident. No, in the trouble, we 0:20:35.840 --> 0:20:38.639 thank him that we're coming out in the difficulty. We 0:20:38.760 --> 0:20:41.760 think him that he's turning it around in the slow economy. 0:20:42.040 --> 0:20:46.200 We thank him that he's bringing favor, increase, promotion. And 0:20:46.359 --> 0:20:50.080 anytime you have an opportunity to complain, let that be 0:20:50.200 --> 0:20:53.760 a reminder to give God praise. Just turn it around 0:20:53.840 --> 0:20:56.520 and thank him that he's working in your life. What 0:20:56.640 --> 0:20:59.360 do we have to be grateful for? I read where 0:20:59.640 --> 0:21:03.639 over a million people a week die. You can be 0:21:03.760 --> 0:21:07.320 grateful that you made it another week. This article talked 0:21:07.359 --> 0:21:09.960 about that if you have a roof over your head, 0:21:10.640 --> 0:21:13.280 you are better off than seventy five percent of the 0:21:13.320 --> 0:21:17.520 world's population. If you have fifteen dollars to your name, 0:21:17.960 --> 0:21:20.840 you are in the top eight percent of the world's 0:21:20.880 --> 0:21:24.879 wealthiest people. Fifteen dollars I know today I am looking 0:21:25.040 --> 0:21:29.720 at wealthy people right now. Keep the right perspective. I 0:21:29.840 --> 0:21:33.200 heard a poem that said, I am thankful for the 0:21:33.359 --> 0:21:36.720 taxes I have to pay each year because that means 0:21:36.760 --> 0:21:40.040 I have a job. I am thankful for the mess 0:21:40.280 --> 0:21:43.000 I have to clean up after the party, because that 0:21:43.240 --> 0:21:47.080 means I've been surrounded by friends. I am thankful for 0:21:47.200 --> 0:21:49.960 the law that needs to be mode, the gutters that 0:21:50.080 --> 0:21:53.600 need repair, the windows that need to be cleaned, because 0:21:53.680 --> 0:21:57.040 that means I have a home. I am thankful for 0:21:57.240 --> 0:22:00.000 sore muscles and weariness at the end of the day 0:22:00.119 --> 0:22:03.359 day because that means I was able to work hard. 0:22:04.200 --> 0:22:07.000 I am thankful for the lady behind me at church 0:22:07.280 --> 0:22:10.920 that sings off key because that means I'm able to hear. 0:22:12.400 --> 0:22:15.080 I am thankful for the alarm that goes off early 0:22:15.200 --> 0:22:18.800 in the morning, because that means I'm still alive. Friends, 0:22:18.840 --> 0:22:21.240 it's all a matter of perspective, how we choose to 0:22:21.320 --> 0:22:25.680 see it. My brother Paul, as you know, is a 0:22:25.760 --> 0:22:28.960 medical doctor. He spent seventeen years as the chief of 0:22:29.119 --> 0:22:32.600 surgery at a hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, and at 0:22:32.640 --> 0:22:36.000 one point he and his wife Jennifer, had three children 0:22:36.200 --> 0:22:39.520 under the age of six. Paul was working eighty hours 0:22:39.520 --> 0:22:41.800 a week at the hospital. Then he would come home 0:22:41.840 --> 0:22:45.280 and have babies to deal with, diapers, to change, children 0:22:45.320 --> 0:22:47.440 waking up in the middle of the night. And of 0:22:47.520 --> 0:22:50.399 course Paul loved his family, but he was living very 0:22:50.480 --> 0:22:56.520 stressed out, frustrated, not enjoying life, but enduring life. One day, 0:22:56.640 --> 0:23:00.600 something happened that changed his perspective. One of his patience, 0:23:00.920 --> 0:23:04.040 an elderly woman named Ella, came in for a checkup. 0:23:04.480 --> 0:23:07.880 She'd had a minor operation. Paul had known Ella for many, 0:23:07.920 --> 0:23:11.360 many years. In fact, just a few months earlier, Ella's 0:23:11.440 --> 0:23:14.040 husband of over fifty years had gone to be with 0:23:14.119 --> 0:23:17.639 the Lord. Now, as usual, Paul was in a big hurry. 0:23:18.160 --> 0:23:20.520 He was late for an operation, Plus he had another 0:23:21.240 --> 0:23:25.520 patient to see now, he found himself rushing through Ella's exam. 0:23:26.320 --> 0:23:29.160 As he finished up, Ella asked if she could talk 0:23:29.240 --> 0:23:32.200 to Paul about something for just a moment. Paul thought 0:23:32.240 --> 0:23:34.840 for sure it'd be a medical question, a health concern, 0:23:35.480 --> 0:23:37.800 but she looked him in the eyes and said, doctor Paul, 0:23:38.480 --> 0:23:42.000 you're so stressed out. I just want to know how 0:23:42.080 --> 0:23:45.280 are you doing. Paul was kind of taken back. He 0:23:45.400 --> 0:23:48.399 apologized for being in such a hurry. He began to 0:23:48.480 --> 0:23:52.040 explain how hectic things were, busy at home with the babies, 0:23:52.119 --> 0:23:55.160 swamped at the office. He said, Ella, I'm just kind 0:23:55.160 --> 0:23:59.119 of frustrated right now. It's a very difficult season. I 0:23:59.200 --> 0:24:01.320 wish I had more time. I just can't wait to 0:24:01.400 --> 0:24:04.080 get through it. To be polite, he said, oh, Ella, 0:24:04.160 --> 0:24:06.760 you're the one that lost your husband. How are you doing? 0:24:07.320 --> 0:24:10.919 Is there anything you wish for? Her eyes lit up. 0:24:11.480 --> 0:24:14.760 She said, doctor Paul, I would give anything to be 0:24:14.920 --> 0:24:18.000 where you are as a young parent. I would give 0:24:18.040 --> 0:24:21.200 anything to hear the pitter pattern of my children's feet 0:24:21.400 --> 0:24:24.440 running through the house. I would give anything to change 0:24:24.480 --> 0:24:27.800 a diaper, to make formula, to rock my children back 0:24:27.840 --> 0:24:31.679 to sleep. How I long for those days. Tears started 0:24:31.680 --> 0:24:35.159 coming down her cheeks. She said, Paul, one day, you 0:24:35.280 --> 0:24:38.560 are going to look back and miss the very season 0:24:38.960 --> 0:24:42.280 that you're trying to hurry through. Paul left that day 0:24:42.560 --> 0:24:45.560 with a different perspective. He couldn't wait to get home 0:24:45.880 --> 0:24:49.200 to change his children's diapers. Jennifer thought he had lost 0:24:49.280 --> 0:24:53.399 his mind. He looked forward to his children waking up 0:24:53.400 --> 0:24:55.440 in the middle of the night so he could spend 0:24:55.520 --> 0:24:59.199 time putting them back to sleep. With a simple shift 0:24:59.359 --> 0:25:03.800 in perspective, Paul went from enduring his life to enjoying 0:25:03.960 --> 0:25:07.280 his life. Could it be that you're missing out on 0:25:07.400 --> 0:25:11.000 the best of life because your perspective is all You're 0:25:11.040 --> 0:25:15.159 focused on? What's wrong? So busy, so stressed. You're missing 0:25:15.600 --> 0:25:20.200 the good things God's given you taken for granted. Family, friends, health, 0:25:20.320 --> 0:25:24.320 opportunity friends. We are living in the good old days. 0:25:25.000 --> 0:25:27.440 Twenty years from now, we're going to look back and say, you, 0:25:27.600 --> 0:25:30.639 remember when our children were small, Remember when mother and 0:25:30.760 --> 0:25:33.040 Daddy were here, Remember when we first moved into the 0:25:33.119 --> 0:25:37.240 compact center. These are the good old days. Let me 0:25:37.400 --> 0:25:43.440 challenge you, ignite the moment, make memories together, Appreciate what 0:25:43.600 --> 0:25:45.800 God's put in your life. Look around at all the 0:25:45.920 --> 0:25:50.439 incredible blessings God has given you. David said in Psalm ninety, 0:25:50.800 --> 0:25:54.600 God teach us to number our days. He was saying, God, 0:25:54.960 --> 0:25:57.960 help us to realize that every day is a gift. 0:25:58.640 --> 0:26:00.960 Help us to not get so folocused on what's wrong, 0:26:01.119 --> 0:26:04.480 and so stressed and so hectic that we don't appreciate 0:26:04.600 --> 0:26:08.359 the gift of today. I read a question. I'll ask you, 0:26:09.160 --> 0:26:12.240 if you only had an hour to live, who would 0:26:12.280 --> 0:26:15.520 you call? What would you say? And what are you 0:26:15.640 --> 0:26:20.440 waiting for? Sometimes we live and act as if we're invincible, 0:26:20.840 --> 0:26:23.520 like we're always going to be here. But the scripture 0:26:23.600 --> 0:26:26.720 says our life is like a vapor. We're here one moment, 0:26:26.920 --> 0:26:30.600 then we're gone. Heard somebody put it like this. We 0:26:30.840 --> 0:26:35.480 forget how fragile life really is. We wait for Thanksgiving 0:26:35.680 --> 0:26:38.959 to give thanks, We wait for Christmas to give gifts. 0:26:39.520 --> 0:26:42.800 We wait for Valentine's Day to show love to those 0:26:42.880 --> 0:26:46.440 that we hold dear. We say to ourselves, today is 0:26:46.600 --> 0:26:50.280 just an ordinary day, and so we wait, and while 0:26:50.320 --> 0:26:55.000 we wait, the clock ticks, precious moments pass by. But 0:26:55.160 --> 0:26:58.600 in reality, there's no such thing as an ordinary day. 0:26:59.320 --> 0:27:04.120 Every day is a gift, unique and irreplaceable. It's ours 0:27:04.200 --> 0:27:09.440 can be used or misused, invested or wasted. God teach 0:27:09.560 --> 0:27:13.120 us to number our days. Friends. My prayer for each 0:27:13.200 --> 0:27:15.359 of us is that we will go out with the 0:27:15.480 --> 0:27:20.440 right perspective, focused on the good, not taking things for granted, 0:27:21.000 --> 0:27:27.240 recognizing that every day is unique and irreplaceable. Remember, life 0:27:27.440 --> 0:27:32.800 is extremely fragile. Slow down and appreciate what God's given 0:27:32.840 --> 0:27:36.159 you every day. Hug your children, take time for the 0:27:36.240 --> 0:27:39.159 people that God's put in your life, and learn to 0:27:39.280 --> 0:27:42.200 be thankful for the simple things, even the fact that 0:27:42.320 --> 0:27:46.920 you can scratch your own edge. Remember, seeds of discouragement 0:27:47.240 --> 0:27:50.159 can't take root in a grateful heart. Why don't you 0:27:50.280 --> 0:27:53.320 make that list of all the things God's blessed you with, 0:27:53.840 --> 0:27:55.600 keep it in front of you, and go over it 0:27:55.640 --> 0:27:59.000 again and again. Meditate on God's goodness. If you will 0:27:59.080 --> 0:28:03.440 keep the right like David, let his praise continually be 0:28:03.560 --> 0:28:06.480 in your mouth, then God says, when you praise, you're 0:28:06.520 --> 0:28:09.040 going to be raised. That means God will pour out 0:28:09.119 --> 0:28:13.440 his blessings in favor. You'll accomplish dreams, overcome obstacles, and 0:28:13.520 --> 0:28:16.359 you'll live that life of victory he has in story. Amen, 0:28:16.680 --> 0:28:20.880 do you receive it today. We never like to close 0:28:20.960 --> 0:28:24.359 our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:24.480 --> 0:28:26.760 the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:27.359 --> 0:28:32.040 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:28:32.119 --> 0:28:36.960 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 0:28:37.000 --> 0:28:39.120 if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:39.200 --> 0:28:42.240 born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 0:28:42.280 --> 0:28:44.760 God first place. He's going to take your places that 0:28:44.880 --> 0:28:45.720 you've never dreamed of. 0:28:46.000 --> 0:28:49.400 Thank you for listening to the juelos Den podcast. Help 0:28:49.480 --> 0:28:52.200 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:28:52.320 --> 0:28:56.200 all over the world. Visit Jolosdean dot com slash give 0:28:56.320 --> 0:28:57.960 Hope to give a gift today. 0:28:59.280 --> 0:29:02.200 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:02.200 --> 0:29:05.560 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:05.680 --> 0:29:08.840 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:29:09.040 --> 0:29:11.440 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:11.560 --> 0:29:12.040 next time. 0:29:23.440 --> 0:29:26.160 With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 0:29:26.240 --> 0:29:30.560 for everyone. 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