Lakewood Church Service | Joel Osteen Live | Sunday 11am

((music playing)) You fight the battle. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Good morning, church. Who's excited to worship Jesus this morning? Come on, we sing. This is the day you made. So I'll rejoice and be glad. Rejoice and be glad in it. Yep. This is where I believe that you are more than enough. More than enough for me.

You are faithful to your promise. You are strong when I am weak. Without standing in your presence, I have everything I need. Let's go. The joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my strength ((music playing)) soul. Oh my soul. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Hey, good morning Lakewood. Welcome everyone. Thanks for coming out.

How many of you ready to worship the Lord today? Glad to be in the house of the Lord. Aren't we glad to have Joyce Meyer with us this morning? worship, ministering, worshiping with us. But um honored to have you all here. Thanks for coming out today. We love you guys.

We're praying for you. Just declaring over each one of one of you that 2026 is going to be a blessed year in your life. A productive year. How about a favor year when you see God do some things that that we couldn't do on our own? I like to remind myself, God, you're a supernatural God.

You know, we look in the natural and hey Joel, I don't see how this can work out or how my finances, how my health, how this this dream could come to pass. But, you know, the beauty is we don't have to figure it out. All we have to do is believe, God.

Our trust is in you. Our eyes are upon you. I mean, that's how we're in this building today. The former compact center. How could that happen? It was the hand of God making ways where we didn't see a way. So, I'd like to remind you where I remind myself is let's let's get our hopes up.

Let's release our faith today. And part of that is letting go of anything that's trying to weigh you down. There there could be worry or you know what somebody said or you you got a challenge this week you have to deal with. Let me tell you, God knows exactly what you need.

If you'll empty out all the negative, what'll happen is God will fill you with fresh joy and fresh peace and fresh vision. That's our prayer every time that we come together that not one of us are going to leave here the same way we came in. We're going to go out of here with more joy, more faith, and more victory.

So, let's stir our faith up. Let's get ready to receive by thanking God for what he's done. And we just uh are blessed to have you here today. Thanks for being a part of online family listening live on SiriusXM. Always an honor to have you here at Lakewood.

Yes, it is. You know, I love what you said, Joel. You said, "I'm going to receive." I think the key to believing is you must receive it first. What are you receiving in your spirit that you're believing? It's so easy to receive the negative things or the impossible things, but we got to receive those things that are that are only possible with God.

They may be outlandish to us, but they're possible with God. Sometimes we push away the possibilities because we can't see it happening, but that's the key to receiving is just say, "God, let it happen." I think about Mary and what she said. She said, "God, just let it happen."

If you said, "I'm gonna have a child without knowing a man," just let it happen. You know, so we need to have that mentality that God, if it's from you, just let it happen. My mind will catch up with your works, but just let it happen. So this morning, maybe there's some impossible situations in your life, and you think, "This couldn't happen for me.

I could never get that breakthrough. I could never go to those places. God could never do that for me." Just say, "God, let it happen this morning. I am here to receive cuz I want to receive and I am going to believe. Amen. We love you so much.

Let's enter into his presence with praise in our heart and thanksgiving. Father, we thank you this morning that Father, we will unclutter our hearts. That God, right now, we're going to focus on you as we sing these songs of praise. And Father, we want to open wide our heart to you to receive whatever you have for us.

So, Father, what we hear today, there is a there is a truth for us to hear today. And so, Father, we want to take it from you because, God, we can hear a message, but we want to hear from you. So, Father, thank you that we are open to you this morning.

We want to receive your goodness. We want to receive your vision. And we want you to know how much we love you this morning. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. And everyone said, "Amen". Jesus come what may. You are worthy of all. Worthy of all our praise.

You are faithful to your promise. You are strong when I am weak. When I'm standing in your presence, I have everything I need. The joy of the joy of the is my strength. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) We say let it rise up like a river overflowing. Holy Spirit. So let it pour out with no limits.

Overflowing Holy Spirit. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Holy Spirit. Put your hands up. ((music playing)) One more time. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) is my strength. ((music playing)) Come on. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in. Amen. Church, come on. Let's sing this out together. Enter his gate. Here we go. Enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Enter his enter his voice with praise. This is a house of worship. We bless his holy name. Come and rejoice in his presence. Oh we won't leave the same. This is a house of worship. We bless. We bless his holy name. ((music playing)) joy in the house of the Lord.

A home where your soul is restored. Come on through the open door. Come on through the open door. There's grace that abounds here and now. A place where mercies are found. All are welcome in his house. All are welcome in this house. Come on church, we declare! Enter his gates with thanksgiving.

Enter his voice with praise. This is a house of worship. We bless his holy name. Come and rejoice in his presence. Oh we won't leave the same, cuz this is a house of worship. We bless his holy name. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Bless the Lord. Oh my soul, and all that is within me.

Bless his holy—for every battle he's won. For every chain he's undone ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Rejoice rejoice again. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) worship. We bless his holy name Come and rejoice in his presence. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Rejoice, rejoice again. Rejoice, rejoice again. Can you lift up a shout of praise? We're rejoicing in the house of the Lord. He is good, amen?

((music playing)) What was lost is not gone. What was dead is not done. Take heart, have faith, hold on. Cuz what was lost is not gone. he'll restore the years that were sown in tears. Nothing is over. Nothing is over. Watch him make a way. Have the final say. Nothing is over.

Nothing is over. Do you believe that church? What was ((music playing)) He's going to change it ((music playing)) not done. He's going to raise it. Take heart, have faith, hold on. Somebody praise him. What was lost is not gone. Come on, we sing. He'll restore the years that were sown in tears.

Nothing is over. Nothing is over. Watch him make a way. Have the final say. Nothing is over. Nothing is over. Nothing is over. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Nothing is over. Nothing is over. ((music playing)) What was lost is not gone. What was dead is not done. The redeemer's in the room, Amen! We sing, it's coming back.

It's coming back better. It's coming back. It's coming back better. It's coming back. It's coming back better than ever. Everything the enemy stole. It's coming back. It's coming back better. It's coming back. It's coming back better. It's coming back. It's coming back better than ever, better than ever before.

It's coming back. It's coming back better. It's coming back. It's coming back better. ((music playing)) coming back. It's coming back better. It's coming back. It's coming back better than ever. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Everything the enemy stole is coming back. It's coming back better. It's coming back. It's coming back better. It's coming back.

It's coming back better than ever. He'll restore the years that were sown in tears. Nothing is over. Nothing is over. Watch him make a way. Have the final say. Nothing is over. Nothing is over. ((music playing)) Great is thy faithfulness, oh God, my father. There is no shadow of turning with thee.

Thou changes not thy compassions they fail not. As thou house been, thou forever will be. Can we sing together, church? Great is thy faithfulness. Yeah. Great is thy faithfulness. Oh, ((music playing)) new mercies I see. Oh, all I have ((music playing)) great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

((music playing)) All my life you've been faithful. All my life you've been faithful. ((music playing)) You give life. You are love. You bring light to the darkness. You give hope. You restore every heart that is broken. Great are you, Lord. Let's sing. It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise.

We pour out our praise. It's your breath ((music playing)) You are love. You bring light to the darkness. ((music playing)) You restore every heart that is broken. ((music playing)) Great are you Lord. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) pour out our praise. You deserve it all. ((music playing)) Let's declare together church. Let's sing it. Oh, all the earth will shout your praise.

Our hearts will cry these bones will sing ((music playing)) All the earth. Oh all the earth will shout your praise. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Father, we believe that as we release our faith, we believe that you're doing great things in our midst. Lord, you're healing sick bodies. You're restoring those who've lost hope. Father, I thank you that you're bringing peace to those who are going through difficult circumstances and situations.

Father, peace that surpasses understanding. Lord, we can be confident today. Though it may not look good in our life, you have this unique ability according to Romans 8 to work all things out for good. So, we thank you that you're working right now, that you're watching over your word, anxious to perform it.

Lord, you're anxious to heal today. You're anxious to give strength. You're anxious to bring joy. You're anxious to usher in comfort. And so, Lord, today we just posture ourselves in a position to receive because we're in your presence. We can receive everything that we need today. Church, let me encourage you as we pray that God is in our midst and his presence is here.

And when his presence is here, so is victory. So is strength. So is comfort. So is grace. So is power. Come on. The King of Kings is here. His presence is here. Anything we need. Everything we need is here. Lord, I thank you that your word says that you will provide all that we need according to your riches and glory.

So we're grateful that we're not limited to our contact book. We're not limited to our place of employment, but we are connected to you, Jehovah Gyra. You are our provider. So thank you that you are providing. You are making a way where there seems like there is no way.

Lord, we believe that no weapon formed against us will prosper. Weapons may be forming all around us, but we can stand in confidence today knowing that your will will transpire in our life. You are the author and you're the finisher of our faith. So Jesus, we look to you today and we believe that you are going to continue to construct us as necessary.

That you're going to bring in what we need and you're going to get rid of what we don't need. You're going to bring in the right people and you're going to weed out the wrong people. Father, thank you that our steps are ordered by the Lord. So I just pray Lord, right now, open the right doors and close the wrong ones.

Lord, we ask and we declare your best. Let your best prevail this week. Give us wisdom to make right decisions. Give us insight and divine counsel to make correct decisions that will lead us into our purpose, that will take us into that path that will help us become the person you've called us to be.

And Lord, I know there are many under the sound of my voice that are walking through difficult circumstance, especially maybe in their health, sickness, battling disease. Father, I thank you that your word says by your stripes, we are healed. So we declare healing over every cell, bone, ligament, tissue, muscle that everything in our body would operate exactly how it's been designed to operate.

In Jesus' name, I declare health and healing from the top of our head to the soles of our feet. Father, thank you because of your word. We are never victims, but we are always victors in Christ Jesus. Thank you that victory is stored up for the righteous. I declare in 2026, what has your name on it will be unlocked.

I'm declaring that over every person who has faith to receive. What is in storage for you is getting unlocked. I unlock victory. I unlock blessings. I unlock strength. I unlock promotion. I unlock new levels of growth. Church, are you thankful that God is unlocking? He has some things in storage for you that he wants to bring into your life.

Father, thank you that what has our name on it will come to us. And the enemy cannot stop your plan from prevailing. You are still on the throne. You are king of kings. You are Lord of Lords and we stand here in a position of surrender thanking you for what you've done and thanking you for what you're going to do.

Oh church, if you have a little bit of faith today, come on, can you lift your voice and give Jesus a big shout of praise today? Cuz he's good and he's faithful. He's good and he's faithful. He never changes. When we're inconsistent, he remains consistent. Aren't you grateful for that? when we miss the mark.

The Bible says the righteous fall seven times but they get back up. So you fulfilling your destiny, it's not about being perfect. It's about getting really good at getting up in his grace, turning your mistake and going towards Jesus. So I got good news. The fact that you're here today says you're good at getting up.

You're here in faith. You're here to pursue Jesus. You're here to encounter him and leave different. Anyone here excited that we can leave different because we're releasing faith. We're encountering Jesus and he's doing some transformative work. Not talking about behavior modification. I'm talking about heart transformation that then leads to sustained behavior change.

And the fact that you're here today, like I said, you're postured to receive from Christ and be changed. And I believe he's already begun to work. If you're watching or you're tuning in, we just want to just greet you and thank you again. know that God's meeting you right where you're at as well.

Well, I love this time of the service because really, we get reminded of who we are. We're going to we're going to say who God says we are. Circumstance, people can label us what we're not. And so, this is our opportunity to line our faith back up with who God says we are.

Are you ready? Can we declare this with boldness and conviction? Come on. I am blessed, prosperous, redeemed, forgiven, healthy, whole, talented, creative, confident, secure, disciplined, focused, prepared, qualified, motivated, valuable, free, determined, equipped, empowered, anointed, accepted, and approved. Not average, not mediocre. I am a child of the most high God.

I will become all I was created to be in Jesus' name. You sound good, full of faith. Listen, we want to take a moment to pray for your needs individually. You don't have to be a member of Lakewood Church to pray. We want to encourage anyone if you are carrying anything and you have a need today.

We believe that as we stand in faith together, God's going to move on your behalf. Listen, God says he he takes care of the birds of the air. How much more will he take care of his kids? There is not a detail in your life that God isn't concerned about.

There's anything weighing you down today. Join one of our prayer partners in front of every section and we're going to believe that God's going to meet you right where you're at. The rest of us, we can continue to worship as we pray. God bless you this morning. What an honor to be with our beautiful online family listening live on SiriusXM.

Thanks for joining with us. We love you guys. We pray for you every day, not just on Sundays, but all during the week. And we know God has you in the palm of his hand. Like Pastor Nick just said, if if God knows about the birds of the air when a little sparrow falls to the ground, how much more is God concerned about you?

I know we all go through things in life and you know, life just happens. You can you can be in a good place, a high place, you can be in a difficult place. But wherever you are, God God knew you would be there. He's armed you with strength for every battle.

I like this thought that God has solutions to problems we haven't even had. I say all that to say if we can come back to a place of peace and trust because the enemy loved for us to live worried and upset. Yeah, but Joel, I got this situation that just came up, my health, my finances.

But let me tell you, God knows exactly where you are, and he sees you tuning in today. You could be doing anything, but you chose to put him first place. So, you got to know first off, God's pleased with you. I believe his face is shining on you, smiling on you right now.

And just believe you're in the process of seeing things turn around. So, stay in faith and know that that God is working even behind the scenes when you can't see it. And so we're going to pray for you right now. But I just want to always encourage you because faith is what causes God to work in our lives.

And I I believe and I know you guys have faith. And not just for problems, but how about for your dreams? And how about for God to take you higher and that 2026 can be an amazing, bountiful, productive uh favorfilled year in your life for you and your family.

That's what we're believing for each one of you. But you want to send your prayer requests in. We'd love to give them to our prayer team. Send your what you if you haven't written on the vision walls. even uh electronically, we can put it up there for you.

Just I don't know if you can see them, but it's just what you're believing for in 2026. And we'd love to stand in faith with you. Well, I've already got some praise reports. Judy, her medical situation has been taken care of financially and it's awesome thing. Uh even Drew just he needed peace and victory.

That's what he said he felt this morning. And a lot of other requests here, healing and someone's career and their family, whatever it is. I I know God knows, but I want to take a moment to pray. Lord, you know these requests and all the requests to those watching and listening.

Lord, we're calling out to you in faith. Lord, there are certain things that we can't do on our own and we may not see how it's going to turn around. But Lord, we know you're in control and you've done it in the past that you'll do it again in the future.

Lord, just like you did for all so many in the Bible, even David when he faced those giants. Lord, I know some are facing giants today in their health, their education, their relationships. Lord, I thank you just for those stones that that ability to bring down giants through your supernatural power, your supernatural favor.

So Lord, I just speak healing over your people today physically, Lord, those that are fighting battles in their health, let it be a new day of victory. I thank you that even today the tide would begin to turn Lord that you would give them strength and vitality even doing what medicine cannot do.

Lord I know it's not just physically but some have gone through loss that are in tough times. Lord you said you're close to the brokenhearted. Lord, I ask that they feel your presence even now and that you are filling the room, filling the car with peace and joy and fresh vision and fresh anointing, new beginnings.

Lord, you said weeping endures for a night, but joy is coming. Lord, I thank you that joy is coming sooner than later. That healing is coming. That freedom from addictions, depression, anxiety, Lord, that forces of darkness are broken off of your people even right now. not in my name, but in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I thank you that you're doing what only you can do. So, Lord, our eyes are upon you today. We're going to keep believing and trusting. And Lord, I pray also for the dreams that you put in your people's hearts. Just thank you for the new doors of opportunity, Lord, like you did for us here at the compact center.

Who would have ever thought we would be here? But it's your hand of favor, Lord. You said we haven't seen, heard, or imagined what you have in store. Lord, I thank you. We'll step into these explosive blessings where you take us where we can't go on our own.

Lord, our eyes are upon you today. Thank you for your wisdom to make great decisions this week that will continue to walk in your ways. Let everything we do bring honor to your name. And Lord, I just thank you today is a breakthrough day for your people in Jesus' name.

Amen. We believe it. We declare it. Stay in faith. Remember, just because you don't see anything happening, doesn't mean God's not working. God is working behind the scenes in your life right now. And just believe and declare, not in the sweet by and by, but how about in 2026, you're going to step into one of these suddenly, one of these explosive blessings where God turns things around and pushes you forward into your destiny.

Stay in faith. Keep believing. We're going to believe with you. Hey, if you've never been to Lakewood, we have a once a year we have something called homecoming weekend. Victoria and I'd love to meet you. It's coming up in March and you know, you can come on a Saturday.

We'll be down here. Love to say hello. Stay over for the Sunday service. But uh know that we love you and we're going to keep praying for you. Thanks for tuning in. I'm going to go back out in the main service here. But Joyce has got a great word.

What a what a great friend and a great um minister she is. But thanks again for being with you. We'll see you out in the service. Do anything anything that you want to. Anything ((music playing)) to. I am yours forever. ((music playing)) I am yours forever. ((music playing)) I am your ((music playing)) With my ((music playing)) and all my heart ((music playing)) Jesus ((music playing)) in me.

You're worthy ((music playing)) No matter what it cost me, Jesus ((music playing)) everything, everything belongs to you. Do anything, anything that you want to. Let it be, let it be all unto you. ((music playing)) anything that you want to. Let it be, ((music playing)) I am yours forever. ((music playing)) Good morning, Lakewood family. You may be seated.

Black History Month is a time set aside to recognize and honor the extraordinary men and women whose contributions have helped to shape our country and move us forward toward the nation God created us to be. Many of their names have never made it to the history books or the national spotlight.

Yet they are the courageous men and women who triumph through tremendous trials to accomplish remarkable feats. They are the mothers, fathers, architects, inventors, educators, and warriors for justice upon whose shoulders we're now standing. In addition to recognizing the stories of these great men and women from the past, Lakewood continues our commitment to invest in the futures of some of the young dreamers here in our midst.

And today I am again elated to present the Dr. Vanessa Anne Holland Scholarship and Service Award. Dr. Holland was a leading and highly regarded pulmonologist. She was also a faithful member of Lakewood and the ministry leader of our volunteer medical team for over 15 years prior to her passing in 2019.

The characteristics that most marked Dr. Holland's life were a relentless determination to achieve her dreams in spite of tremendous health challenges and a deep commitment to serving God and others. This year's scholarship recipient, Oreo Adabanjo, exemplifies these characteristics. To say that Oreo is an extraordinary young man is an understatement.

Star athlete, talented musician, mentor, leader, man of God, and one to watch are a few of the accolades that are used to describe Oreo. He recently graduated Kum Ladi from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. While at TCU, he excelled academically and socially while remaining committed to his spiritual growth and development and community service.

He was voted outstanding senior at TCU and he received the school's character award. He was also a leader in TCU's Exodus Retreat, a program designed to connect firstear students to long-term communities through Christc centered local churches. He continues to serve faithfully here at Lakewood with our youth and young adult ministries, seating host, and most recently our Lakewood intern program.

Oreo is looking forward to beginning law school in the fall to study criminal justice with criminal law and the dream of ultimately becoming a judge. That's true. When asked about his legacy, he said this. He wants to be remembered as someone who lived his life sold out for Christ.

And that journey has begun. His staff pastors referred to him as a legend. One said, "On each of Oreo's spring breaks and summer breaks, he would always come back to serve in youth and young adults." Said, "Our summer camps, our conferences, our services, and our life groups are all better because he has been a part of them."

Congratulations, Oreo. I am pleased to present you with the Dr. Vanessa Anne Holland Scholarship and Service Award in the amount of $10,000. We pray that this scholarship will help you to achieve your dreams. We want to also thank his parents and family for sharing Oreo with us. We know you all are as proud of him as we are.

Oreo, would you like to say a few words? Yes, ma'am. Good morning, Lakewood family. Uh, thank you so much. Um, you know, first and foremost, just want to say just all glory to God. Um, so thankful. So thankful just to be able to receive this award. So honored.

Uh, thank you to Pastor Barbara. Thank you to, you know, the the selection committee, the Lakewood Church, just, you know, for choosing me, for believing in me. Um, and of course, I want to say a big thank you to my parents just for the sacrifices that they've made throughout my life. this, you know, Proverbs 16:9, it says, you know, people plan, people like to plan, you know, their own course, but it's really God, the Lord, who establishes our steps.

So, I know that, yes, I've done good work to get to this point, um, by serving in his house, both in the church and outside of the church. But I also understand that there's still plenty of work left to be done. Um, you know, I I understand that my steps are ordered of the Lord and that this is a big investment into my future, into my life, and so I don't take this lightly and I'm very honored.

You know, I continue to serve God. I continue to plan to honor God with my life um by following the plan that he's set out for me. Um my goal is to go to law school this fall to study criminal law um and eventually become a criminal attorney.

And you know, I I want to do that because I feel like I want to be some I want God to use me to bring about change in the system that helps to protect the people it's supposed to protect and to be a voice for those who can't speak for themselves.

Um, I'm just so honored once again to receive this award. Uh, thank you Lakewood. Thank you family. Love y'all. Amen. Lakewood family, I encourage you today to live out the greatness God has placed in each of us. The world needs your voice. The world needs your gifts. And the world needs your talents.

The world needs to hear the good news about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?" In that vein, an interesting fact about Oreo which my inquiring mind wanted to know.

Oreo, what is your full first name? My full first name is Oreoluwayimika. Amen. Which means the favor of God surrounds me. Good job, parents. Today we celebrate this emerging change maker who understands that favor is not for our benefit alone but so that we can be a blessing to others.

Thank you Oreo and congratulations. So good Oreo. Congratulations my friend. Thank you. Proud of you Barbara. Thank you so much. I told the first service to say Oreo's first name. You have to speak in tongues. That's the Lakewood. That's who we're raising up here at Lakewood. M mighty men and women of God, young people.

They're going to change the world. You know, really, that's what happens when you get planted in the house of the Lord and you, you know, you get your roots down deep. God opens doors you never dreamed it could open. But Lakewood, this all happens because of your generosity and your support.

We're able to impact people here in the community and all over the world. So, we take a moment each service to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offering. So, we're going to do that right now. And I always want to encourage you with these stories that you're sewing into good soil here at Lakewood.

We're going to do our best to empower the next generation, reach people through the media, and then our humanitarian efforts as well. But I was reading in the scripture in Proverbs this week, Proverbs 3 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and the best part of what your land produces, and God will fill your barns, and you will overflow with his goodness."

I think about that's the Lakewood people. You honor God with your time, your energy, giving, supporting, and you know, you put God first place like that. And you know what? You you you can't contain. God says he'll open the windows of heaven where you can't contain what he wants to do in your life.

I just can I just uh encourage you to stay consistent, stay faithful, and know this. God sees you giving. He sees you taking time to be in services and to put in first place. And there there are blessings that come because you honor God and you you you give him the best part of your life.

And so we're standing in agreement with you that 2026 not going to be just a get by year, but how about a bountiful year, a prosperous year, a a year where like, you know, like we were able to do with Oreo, where God opens some doors you couldn't open and God brings you some income, God gives you some bonuses, God turns a child around as you continue to be a blessing.

We believe and know those blessings are going to come back to you in Jesus name. But thanks for for your support. That is so good. I love that. And you know, I love Oreo's perspective. When I do my part, God will do his part. You know, in Acts, it says that Jesus went about doing good, healing those who are sick.

And you know what? He's not walking the earth anymore. He gave us that challenge. See, he's working through us. And your giving is living. And so when you have a perspective of I'm not just giving to get something or I'm not just giving as a habit or a ritual.

I'm giving because I believe it's living. I believe it's an extension of what Jesus did on the earth and I am his extension. And I love to try to put meaning behind everything. Joel says, "You just too deep, girl. Like I watch a movie and I'm figuring it all out."

But you know what it it's the perspective of things. It gives me motivation. It gives me drive. It makes me understand and it helps me not only be have it but to be compelled to do it. And so when we give, I want you to realize you're you're going about doing good.

People are being healed. People are being set free. They're being ministered to. You are the hands and feet of Jesus. So be encouraged today that God is going to open up the windows of heaven. He does see you like Joel said. But man, when you have a heart to say, Jesus, I'm going after you more than I'm going after the provision because he said, you know, seek first the kingdom, all this other stuff, it's going to be added to you.

That's what Oreo was basically saying. I'm going after God and God is coming after me. So, we love you guys. You're the best givers ever. But, you know, sometimes I just have to re reshape my perspective and really stir up what's inside of me. And so, I just thank you for being who you are.

We are making a difference in the world. Thank you so much, Lord. Thank you for our amazing givers here at Lakewood online listening live. Lord, we don't give because we have to. We give because we want to to honor you with the best part of what you've given us, the first part.

And Lord, as we do our part, I thank you that you'll do your part. That you're a supernatural God. And Father, that you have supernatural provision that you will get us to where we're supposed to be. And Lord, I thank you that you'll let our gifts and talents come out to the full.

I thank you for ideas and creativity and wisdom. And Lord, draw in the right people to us, the the contracts, the businesses, the opportunities. Lord, I just thank you for a flourishing 2026 for your glory to to do what you called us to do in our families. And Lord, to build your kingdom, to be a bigger blessing wherever we go.

Lord, you've done great things in the past, but we believe the best is still yet to come that we will be great stewards of what you entrust us with. We pray it all in the name of Jesus. Amen. And amen. God bless you as you give. Here are some ways you can give.

Using your smartphone, scan the QR code located on the screen. Then select the online giving option that is the most convenient for you. Go to lakewoodurch.com/give. Text give hope to 77977 or mail a check to P. Box27450, Houston, Texas 77227 or call us toll-free at 888-567 Joel. If you're visiting with us today, very honored to have you.

Hope you come back as often as you can. But we love you guys. One quick thing, my brother Paul and his wife Jennifer have a conference every year on a Friday night and Saturday. It's called Mobilizing Medical Missions. If you want to use your gifts and talents to bless people in different parts of the world, here in the city and all over the world, it'd be a great conference to be a part of.

You don't have to be a doctor or in the medical field in any area. They need they need people and they'll help you connect with some great people that'll help us all to build the kingdom. It's always a great conference. But again, honored to have you here today.

And how honored are we at Lakewood twice a year to have the one and only Joyce Meyer to come visit with us. Come on, Lakewood. You got to stand up for me. Let's stand up. Let's Joyce is a friend of our ministry, a friend of our family. She could be anywhere, but she's in Lakewood.

So, come on, Lakewood. Make her feel at home today. Thank you. Good morning. Thank you for letting me come back again. This is my 27th year in a row to be here. You can be seated. I said I feel like after 27 years I have a right to be a mother in this house.

Well, this is the first time I've ever been here that Dodie hasn't been down there watching me. And I miss her. So, but I know she'll keep me straight today. We love this church. It's a great church. If I lived in Houston, which I wouldn't because of the traffic, but I think Houston's a great city, but boy, it's getting crowded here.

It's like takes you a long time to go anywhere. And uh but this is the church I would come to, right? And I know there's a lot of people watching online and we're grateful for you. But you know, if you've quit coming to church since the pandemic because you got used to sitting home doing it, we'd love to have you come back.

They miss you. We like to see your face. Amen. All right. God spoke to me this year, the beginning of the year, and he said, "I want you to release your faith and believe for miracles." And releasing your faith, we all have faith. And I think sometimes we just assume, well, I'm in faith.

But, you know, re faith is a real thing. It's a real force and a power within you. And I think we need to be a little more purposeful about releasing our faith. And the Bible says in Romans 10:9 that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you will be saved.

So faith is believing plus action. Amen. See, you and and I think that there's three ways you can release your faith. I'm sure there's more than three, but there's three that I think about. You can pray and release your faith. You can say and release your faith. And you can do and release your faith.

James said that faith without works is dead. He said, "You cannot show me just by your faith that you're actually doing anything, but by my works I can show you that I have faith." So be more purposeful even in prayer that think about what you're doing. You're coming before God in Jesus' name and you're making a request of him.

And don't pray for one thing and then say the opposite. You know, don't pray for your son to be delivered from drugs and then go to lunch with your sister and tell her how you're afraid he'll never get changed. We do that sometimes. We pray for one thing and then we say something else.

So as far as miracles are concerned, I think that sometimes we think the only miracles are healing miracles. But to be honest, there are miracles all around us all the time. And if you think you've never seen a miracle, just go home and look in the mirror. Honestly, every morning when you wake up, it's a miracle.

We We take 20,000 breaths a day and don't even know we're doing it. And our blood circulates through our body three times every minute. We are really amazing. It is amazing how God has put us together. And there's there really are you experience miracles every day, but I think we only we look at them as something that God does with no help from anybody.

It's just all God. But I'll tell you what, God works through people. And a lot of times I've found out that when I pray God gives me something to do. He shows me what I can do to answer that prayer. One time I was praying for somebody that needed something and God said, "Why don't you stop asking me to do things that you could do yourself and just don't want to?

Well, you don't know if you like that or not. Cuz you're thinking about what you've been praying for and think. Give you an example. One of the girls in our office has been a long time ago. She said so and so had moved there to go to work for us and she was still sleeping on a mattress because she hadn't had the money to buy a bed.

And she said, "So, we're all we're believing for her to for God to give her a bed." And I thought, "Well, you know, that's just dumb. As many people as work here, you could get a dollar from everybody and buy her a bed." Sometimes we just get lazy, you know, and I think we I think we need to get activated again.

I think we need to realize that God wants to do things through us, not just for us. We're a little bit spoiled. We want God to do everything for us. But I mean, here again, I can't tell you how many times I'll pray for God to give me the answer to something or to do something or and he'll show me what to do.

God works through people. Now, yes, there are those miracles that God does that there's no human intervention and that nobody can do. But don't think those are the only kind of miracles that are out there. We live in the midst of miracles all the time. And I think we need to get really excited about being Christians.

Amen. You know, maybe you've got some trouble in your life, but let me ask you a question. Would you rather be a believer with trouble or an unbeliever with trouble? Cuz either way, you're going to have some problems. They come to everybody. How many of you going through something right now?

I am too. See, it kind of seems like life's story. We go through, we get a victory, we rest a little bit, and then we got to go through again. And you'll know why by the end of this day. But that's not what I'm preaching on today. I'm preaching on looking forward.

Last year, we had a kind of a pretty rough year at the ministry. You know, giving charitable giving since the pandemic in 21 has gone down $65 billion and that's that can't continue. I don't I don't know if people just got lazy. You know, there aren't as people aren't going to church as much as they used to.

I think sometimes when big ministries that are well known fail or fall or have a lot of rumors spread about them, it it affects everybody. You know, people start thinking that they can't trust people, so they don't know whether to give or not. But you know what? You don't give your money to people.

You give it to God. Now, yes, you should be diligent about making sure that you're giving it through someone that's going to use it properly, but I remember my brother one time, this was still back when Dave and I were in the Lutheran church, and we've always been tithers, and I'm grateful that God taught us that.

And my brother said, "Why do you give so much money to the church?" I I just it kind of took me back and I said, "Well, I'm not giving it to the church. I'm giving it to God. It never occurred to me that I was giving it to a church.

And so God's the one that gives us everything we have. And he only asks for a little bit of it back just to show faith that we trust him and to get the work of the kingdom done. So if you've never tried it, you should try it. Really works.

But anyway, last year was a pretty rough year. It was a kind of a rough year personally and and and ministry-wise and but you know what? We're still here now. Isn't that good? And you know what? That can be your greatest testimony. I've been through this and this and this and this and this, but I'm still here.

I still love God. I still believe. My faith is still strong. You do not have to let trials and tribulations steal your faith or your expectation of good. We don't look behind us. We look forward. And we're going to use Paul in Philippians 3. Several things out of there that I want to share with you. one I just saw sitting down there while I was kind of looking at my message.

You you just you're always getting revelation in the word, aren't you? Okay. Philippians chapter 3 verse 10. for my determined purpose is that I may know him. Now, I want you to listen what Paul's purpose was compared to what ours is. Sometimes his first purpose was to know God. that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of his person more strongly and clearly.

And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from his resurrection which it exerts over believers. Now listen to this. that I may so share his sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into his likeness. Now, that's why I've read this thousands of times and I never saw suffering connected with transformation in spirit.

But that's proof of what I spoke in the first service that the place where we grow is in our trials and tribulations. Amen. The place where we grow is in our tough times. In our good times, we enjoy the growth we've already got. But when you have a problem that you can't solve, you're forced to trust God.

Amen. Amen. And as we do that over and over and over, we start to realize that's the way we should live. Paul said, "I live by faith." He didn't say he just exercised his faith when he had a need. He said he lived by faith. I think that's so good.

I love to find something new. Yes, I found that on your front row. That I may show so share his sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit. In other words, he's saying, I might as well embrace this because I'm going to have it. But there's a purpose in it.

There's a purpose in it. God loves us too much to leave us the way we are. Isn't that good? How many of you need a little change in your life? Okay. Well, stop praying for everybody else you know to change and start praying for yourself. One person got that.

Okay. Not that I have now attained this ideal or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of and grasp and make my own that for which Christ Jesus the Messiah has laid hold of me and made me his own. There's two beautiful things there.

First of all, he said, 'I press on, which our staff pastor Mike, he knows some Greek. And he said that word press means to what? Seize violently. So when if you're going to press on to be like Christ, you're going to have to seize it violently. Amen. And not let it go.

You certainly don't let it go when you're having trouble. Do you know the only time you meet your real self is during trouble. I'm I'm letting it soak. I met myself three months ago. Had something familywise, not me and Dave, but we've got 40 people in our family now.

So, you could have a people problem every day. And um you know, my faith just was wasn't quite as strong as I thought it was. Sometimes we can think we think a lot of things about oursel but it's in trouble. It's in trouble that we meet our real selves.

Amen. You're going to get it. See, you you can't do anything about what you won't admit. That's why we need revelation about us. You know why? I'm not going to answer for anybody else when I stand before God. He's not going to ask me about Dave. He's not going to ask me about Joel.

He's not going to ask He's only going to ask me about me. That's why the devil loves for us to keep our mind on everybody else's what's wrong with them. judge people and criticize and if you'd change I'd be happy. Well, you know, God finally told me, Dave, it's not Dave's responsibility to keep you happy.

Your joy is your own responsibility. That could change a few marriages right there cuz see, I was always blamed on him. Well, if if you'd stay home more or if you'd do this, if you wouldn't play as much golf and have and now my my joy is my responsibility.

Amen. That's something I work out between me and God. It's nobody else's responsibility. And do you know most people that get divorces get divorced because the other person's not making them happy? I don't care how quiet you are. I'm preaching my message. Cuz whatever I say today, you got six months to get over it till I come back.

I said Joel gives me the the best two weeks out of the year, July the 4th and Super Bowl Sunday. He told me at the break I could have a I could have another, you know, a different time if I wanted to. I said I was just teasing.

This works out fine. And then Dr. Paul came and said, "You don't get the worst Sunday. The worst Sunday is time change." He said, "We could give you that one. See what you can do with it." Do you feel the heart of what Paul's saying? He's like, "Look, I want to grow up.

I want to," he says, "not that I've obtained this ideal or I've already made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus died to take hold of me." I really may never get out of Philippians 3 this morning. I don't know. He said, "To me, it's like Paul's saying, I want to grow up and be mature and be what God wants me to be for him.

He died for me to be like him." And it's not even something I'm doing for myself. I want to be like him because that's what he's destined me to be. And so, I got to seize that violently and not let it go. That's why somebody somebody at the break asked me what these were in my Bible and I said that's places I'm studying at home.

I guess I could have taken them out but you know I get up early every morning so I can have time with God. I just don't feel full until I have time with God. And I don't set any time limit on what I spend with God. I can tell when I'm full.

Amen. You're either hungry or you're full. And every morning I wake up hungry for God. And I've got to have some prayer. Pray in the spirit, pray in English, read my Bible, read the Psalms, read the Proverbs, talk to God, have my coffee. Thank God for caffeine till the anointing kicks in.

Now, I've been doing this. I didn't know wasn't smart enough to do it in the beginning, but I've been doing it for at least 35 maybe 40 years. And I if you want to learn, if you want to grow, if you want to really be what God wants you to be, it's going to take more than you just coming to this church and sitting here on Sunday morning to see what Joel can do for you.

And by the way, if you came here this Sunday because you wanted to see Joe, I'm sorry. But he likes me, so you can like me. And he'll be back next Sunday. I don't smile as much as Joel. I'm a little rougher than he is. Y, you should smile more.

I just read yesterday that oh, it takes so so many more muscles to frown than it does to smile. And that and I even do this in the morning. Sometimes I'll just sit because I it releases endorphins that make you happy. When you smile, you actually release endorphins that make you happy.

So, I'm out in the kitchen by myself. Well, you know me, I tell it all. I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has died to take hold of me and make me his own. I don't consider, brethren, that I've captured and made it my own, but one thing I do.

Wow. The Apostle Paul says, now look, what I'm getting ready to tell you is the most important thing to me. So, what I'm getting ready to tell you is very important. He said, "One thing I do, it is my one aspiration, forgetting what lies behind and pressing on to the good things that are ahead."

Amen. So, I I had a rough year last year, but you know what? This year's going to be better. This year's going to be different. This year is going to be good. I'm expecting. I'm planning. you know, I'm going to be 83 in June. And um, but I have plans and I'm not planning for the grave.

I'm I know I'll die someday, but whatever energy I've got until I die, God's going to get it. I have nothing better to do than just what I'm doing right now. They they put this chair up here because because I'm old, you know. No, for a while I was having back problems, so I started putting a chair up here.

But I don't I'm my back doesn't hurt today. So, um I'll stand. Thank you. But we just bought, well, not just about a year and a half ago, we bought an 800 acre ranch in Utah and we're going to put women's homes on it and use them for rescuing victims of sex trafficking.

Now, I'm so glad you're happy cuz we're going to need support. It's going to take a lot of money to do this. I look at that and I think, am I crazy? Well, our son Daniel and his wife are going to be taking over the ministry. He's already taken over the day-to-day stuff.

And this actually was was his vision, but it's going to be my legacy because that's what I I want to leave knowing that women are going to be snatched out of the mouth of hell, who have been hurt. I know what it's like to be hurt like that.

But the thing that's really kind of interesting about this, how many of you know who Warren Jeffs was? Not many. Well, he was a a spin-off of the Mormon church. The Mormon church outlawed polygamy years ago, but this guy still believed in it. So, he had 79 wives. lived in a place called Short Creek, which is about an hour and a half from the ranch that we bought.

And long story short, he's in jail for life. Um, and that little town is still there, Shark Creek. And his 65th wife went to court and won that house. and she gave that house to Tommy Barnett and the Dream Centers. And so we partnered with them in getting it all prepared for recovery for these women, all the beds and blah blah blah blah blah.

Well, it's packed level full and more people wanting to get in. But that that whole town was so messed up from his manipulation and control. And so within a 150 milei radius with what they've got and what we're going to have, I just think it's funny that God chose Utah.

Where redemption is needed, God brings redemption. Amen. Amen. And so you you need to be you need to be doing something. Have a purpose. You know Dick Van Dyk is a hundred or Yeah. Is he still with us? Yeah. He's 100. And he said that there's two things you have to have in life and that's a purpose and somebody to love.

Amen. And that go that goes right along. You know, don't don't just live to make yourself happy. Amen. Amen. I'll be very honest with you, God has created us to where our main goal should be loving others. And I wonder how many people even who go to church, we get in such a habit of going to get our blessing, but after you've matured to a certain point, you should be going to be a blessing.

I mean, you could you could start by just pray for Joel every Sunday morning and you'll get the best out of him that he has to give. But most people just go to get. They don't even think about what the people up here have to go through to do this.

Do you know how many hours I studied to come and do this? And I probably wouldn't have to because I've taught for so long, but I will never get up here without studying. Never. Not ever. See, I was studying there on the front row and got a new revelation.

Isn't that an awesome part of that. We need to grow up. I don't care if you smile or not. Isn't that just How many of you think we're too selfish? How about a little spoiled? Do you know that somebody in Africa in a hut made out of mud would have a hard time feeling sorry for you when your air conditioning goes out for an hour? a year of gratitude.

Every morning if you wake up, thank God. Thank God that he's given you another day. And it should be a day where you're happy. I I have made my mind up. The joy of the Lord is my strength. It's not just a song we sing. God said the joy of the Lord is your strength.

The devil's not after your stuff. He's after your joy. Because if you don't have any joy, then you don't have any strength. We should enjoy every single day of our life. I'm not just talking about enjoying vacation. I'm not just talking about enjoying the day you're going to go to a party.

When I say enjoy life, I'm talking about enjoying Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Come on. You know what? It it gets mundane. But one thing that'll keep you alive is if you keep your mind on what you can do for other people. Don't wait for God to come and beat you over the head.

Don't wait to have to have three prophecies and 10 confirmations before you'll do a little something for somebody. You should be asking God what you can do for people. Show me something I can do for somebody today. I like to give away something every day. Supposed to turn that sound off when I blow my nose.

I got my guys trained when I pick up the Kleenex. They get ready. So I read this for yourself, Mort. Just take it home and read it and read it and read it and read it. There's so much in those few verses. And then I love Psalm 27:13 and 14.

What what would have become of me had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living? Not when I die and go to heaven. We're going to have rewards waiting for us there. But he says, "What would become of me? What what would happen to me if I didn't believe that I would see the Lord's goodness?

So, if you're just down all the time and negative and depressed and sad and never satisfied, never content, make a decision to get over it and just be happy. Now, I'm sounding like Joel. I've been here so much it's rubbing off on me. You know, I had dozens of reasons why I could be unhappy for a lot of years.

And it's taken God all these years to work all that junk out of me. I grew up in a very negative atmosphere. My father was negative. He never liked anybody. And he taught me to not trust people. You can't trust anybody. Don't trust anybody. And he was sexually abusing me for 15 years.

And I mean like all the time. And I didn't come out of that with a very good attitude. I was like, I don't need you. I don't need anybody. I'm never going to need anybody. You can't trust anybody. Everybody's out to get you. And so I mean I I know if you got a bad attitude, I know what it takes to change it.

But God, so I never enjoyed my life. And Jesus said, "I came that you might have and enjoy your life and have it in abundance to the full until it overflows." And if you think you think you can't have a problem and enjoy life at the same time, oh yes, you can.

And boy does it make the devil mad if he's doing everything he can. If he's doing everything he can to ruin your day and you decide, I'm going to be happy anyway. I got a problem, but it's changing me. It's bringing me closer to God. God God does work good out of everything that happens.

I believe that with all my heart. No matter what happens, if you handle it right, God will work it out for good. Wait and hope for and expect the Lord. What does it mean to wait on God? It means to expect. If you were waiting on me to come to lunch, you would be expecting me to show up.

But when we're waiting on God, we need to wait with expectation. Not just passivity, but with expectation. Expecting God. Something good is going to happen to me today. Amen. Something good is going to happen to me today. You say, "Well, what if it don't?" Well, then get up tomorrow and say, "Something good is going to happen to me today."

You say, "Well, what if it doesn't?" Well, keep it up until it does. sees it violently and say, "I I'm going to have a good life. I am going to have a good life. I don't guess I got a bad start, but I'm having a good finish." Amen.

I want Christians to be happy. There's so many unhappy Christians and we're the light of the world. Jesus is depending on you not just to be sad but to be an example that people can follow to be strong even in the midst of trials so people will say how can you have a the problems you got and stay happy cuz I've got Jesus and I know that he'll bring me through and that he'll even take it and work it out for good.

Don't you agree there's too many unhappy Christians? And you know why a lot of that unhappiness comes from? We're always wanting something we don't have. Are we're jealous of somebody who's got what we want. You know, if you're jealous of somebody who has what you want, you'll never get yours.

That's a word. Amen. Listen, I've learned this stuff at a great expense and I'm just kind of downloading it on you. though. Oh, you ought to be happy that I've been through what I've been through. Because I couldn't give you what I give you if I had not been through what I've been through.

And you will not be able to give anybody anything if you don't go through the things that God's wanting you to go through. You can keep avoiding them and avoiding them, but they're just going to be waiting around the next corner. Come on. Who are you mad at today?

If I were to guess, probably 70% of the people here this morning are mad at somebody. You say, "Oh, no. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I've been doing this too long. I I've never I have never ever ever ever preached a sermon on strife and not had at least 80% of the people stand up for prayer at the end because they were in strife with somebody.

Families full of strife, can't get along. No, we're called to peace. And let me tell you something. If you're mad at anybody, forgive them. Leave it. Drop it. Let it go. And And you say, "Well, you you don't know what they did to you." But here's what I say to you.

You don't know what you're continuing to do to you by hanging on to it. They don't care that you're mad. They're having a good time. I mean, you're sitting around being miserable because of something they don't they may not even know they hurt your feelings. Well, it's time to get to work, isn't it?

Two people over there like it. Hope keeps you happy while you wait. Jeremiah 29:11. I know the thoughts and the plans that I have for you, says the Lord. thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil to give you hope in your final outcome. Amen.

Romans 12:12, "Rejoice and exalt in hope. Be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation. Be constant in prayer." You know, James 1 says, "Be wholly joyful, wholly joyful when you fall into all kinds of trials and tribulations, knowing that the trying of your faith workketh patience." My Bible says, "Brings out patience."

I said, "Yeah, well, they brought a lot of things out of me before we ever got to patience." See, that's why I say it's in trials and tribulations that you really get to know yourself. Every time I hear myself complain, I have to repent. Because let me tell you something.

Not one of us in this building, if you're saved, has a right to complain about anything else in your life. I mean, let let's just let's read that last scripture and act like we heard it. Rejoice and exalt in hope. Be steadfast and patient in suffering, knowing. No, it doesn't say knowing.

Never mind. Be patient in suffering and tribulation. Be constant in prayer. 2 Timothy 2 3-7. Take with me. Well, just you know 2-4. Take with me your share of the hardships and suffering which you are called to endure. We're not called to try to get away from everything.

We're actually called to just say, "Okay, here it comes. God, help me do this right. Help me do this right." Cuz you know what? Being upset is not going to get rid of the problem. You You might get rid of it quicker if you did more praising and thanking God for what you already have.

Hey. Hey, if you're more thanksgiving will add more joy to your life. Oh, I thank God every day for hot water. When I when I I love to take hot baths and when I get home today, you know, I'll be tired after preaching twice because I am 82 almost 83 and I get tiredder than I used to.

I'm giving you guys my energy. Thank you. And you'll leave and be happy and I'll leave and be tired. But that's okay. That's okay. I don't mind that. I'll go get a good meal and then I'll go home and get in a hot bathtub and I will Thank you, God, for hot water.

See, how many things do you have that you could be thanking God for? He never gets tired of hearing it. You can say it a hundred times a day. Every time you thank God, it makes you stronger. Every time you complain, it makes you weaker. Do you know that complaining is a sin?

What? I'm not sinning. I'm just complaining. Well, I don't have time to go there, but you know, the Israelites, they complained and complained and God lets fiery burning serpents into the camp and 23,000 of them fell dead in one day just because of complaining. And that story is repeated in Corinthians for our benefit that we don't do the same thing that they did.

Complaining. I mean, if you think about it, what do you have to complain about? Well, my car is old. Well, you ain't walking. Amen. I still live in an apartment. I want to own my own house. Well, thank God you've got an apartment. You're not on the street.

Amen. And listen, I'm preaching to myself as well as preaching to you. It is so easy to complain. I honestly think if we could get through a whole day without complaining about anything, it would be a major miracle. Seriously, because that's just that's the nature of the human flesh.

If it gets the least bit uncomfortable, I'm cold. I'm hot. I'm hungry. I'm tired. Timothy says that we are called to endure trouble. I wish that wasn't there. I really do. I'd much rather sit down here and say you guys are never going to have any trouble. Life is just going to be easy and a piece of cake.

But that's not what it says. We are called. We're called to this. Well, thank you, Jesus. But you know what? I'd rather be a Christian with trouble than an unbeliever with trouble. At least when you have trouble, you've got Jesus to help you. Amen. And I do, too.

I've got an immediate source that I can go to. Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord." And again, I say, "Rejoice." And he was in prison when he said that. He wrote the whole book of Philippians while he was under house arrest. And that might not sound too bad, but the conditions were very pitiful.

And he was chained to a guard the whole time. Now he, oddly enough, they let him have company. He could still mentor people and teach them and they gave him writing materials and he wrote the whole letter to the Philippians while he was in jail. Rejoice in the Lord.

And again, I say rejoice. Philippians is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It has so much rich stuff in it. Read it over and over and over and over and over. Amen. How many of you need to make your mind up to be happier? That's almost the whole church.

How many of you need to forgive somebody? 70%. I told you. Now think about that. Just just think about that seriously for a minute. If 70% of this church is angry at somebody, that's dimming your light. And the Bible says if we hold unforgiveness against someone that we won't even get our prayers answered.

So, if I could just get get you down to 50%, maybe I'd feel like it was a job well done. Don't Don't stay mad. Leave it here today and they'll clean the church after you go. Amen. Just Just leave it. Don't take it with you anymore because all you're doing is letting what they did to you continue to hurt you.

You're not helping yourself. I've decided maybe it's because I'm getting older. I don't know. I don't know how I don't know how much time I got left. I mean, 83 is pretty old. Thank you. Yes. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I work out. I just love it. Sometimes I'm like, but God told me I have to do it if I want to be strong to keep doing what I'm doing.

And I'm going to seize it violently. Amen. And I I I guess what I'm trying to say to you today is just be happy all the time. Amen. Just just enjoy every day that God gives you. Don't be mad at people. Don't judge and criticize people. You know, Paul uses a lot of examples about athletes and he talks about how hard they trained.

But do you know, and that was a big thing in the Roman days, all the, you know, the fighting they did in the arenas and the But do you know that they train naked? You're thinking, "Where's she going with this?" And no, I'm not suggesting you go naked.

But they trained naked so nothing, now get this, so nothing could get in their way because they wore longer clothes then and they didn't want to get entangled in anything. And God says that the Bible says that no soldier when in service gets entangled in the affairs of daily life, secular life.

They're full-time soldiers and they train hard. And so training naked really means get rid of the things in your life that are entangling you. You know what? You can you can get entangled up in other people's problems. Oh, yes. Yeah. Somebody comes to you for adi advice and at first that feels good.

Then they keep coming and keep coming and now all of a sudden all you ever hear about is our problems. and you'd like them not to come anymore, but they keep coming and they become the joy suckers in your life and you just let them. No, you need to get unentangled from those things.

Amen. Amen. Last thing I want to say because I notice I preached overtime and don't know what time it is now. So, the last thing I'll say is keep things simple. Are there any of you that just have a knack for complicating things? I mean, I used to could complicate a simple barbecue.

I'd say at church on Sunday, "Why don't you guys come over next Sunday and we'll just throw some hot dogs on the grill, play what's that game you play where you knock the thing around on the croquet?" Croquet. Croquet. Thank you. We'll play some croquet in the backyard.

Well, by the time next Sunday came around, the hot dogs had turned into steaks. I had to clean the whole house, cut the grass, plant some flowers. By the time the people got there, I didn't even like them. I didn't want them there anymore. That true? You think?

And I did it. Dave laughs at me still because when we have company, if they set anything down, I pick it up and wipe the table, go away with it. I'm so busy cleaning, I don't even enjoy the people that are there. And it simplicity just makes life so much easier, doesn't it?

Amen. I don't know what else to say. I'm trying to find a good landing place and I'm not finding one. So, God bless you. I hope you got something out of this today. I was all over the place today. I love you. God bless you. So good. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. One more time, can we give Joyce Meer a round of applause? Honor her. She phenomenal message. No, if you can just hang with me for one minute, I I do want to draw our attention to something. Something she mentioned at 8:30 and 11 is she talked about contentment.

And we never like to close our service without giving people the opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of their life. And this may be your first time. You may be watching or listening, but can we all just simply repeat this prayer of faith after me? Say, "Dear Jesus, Dear Jesus, I come before you today.

I come before and I ask you to forgive me of all my sins and all my mistakes. Come into my heart. Come into my life and wash me clean. Today I choose to live for you and only you in Jesus name. Amen. Can we celebrate those who may have prayed that prayer for the first time.

You never know in a room this size what Jesus could be doing in the hearts of so many people. We want to encourage you if you did pray that prayer. We have a area up on the second floor lobby where we've designed some resources that can help you in your journey of faith.

And our pastor always challenges us every week. Give one year of your life. Plant yourself in this house and choose to commit to following Jesus. And a year from now, you'll see your life will be forever better cuz you did so. Can anyone testify to that promise? I know I can.

My life has been better. Not easier, but better because of Jesus and what he's done in my life. Well, we want to leave you with a blessing. Thank you for coming to church this morning. Numbers chapter 6, it says, "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and have mercy on you.

And may the Lord watch over you and give you his peace." We love you. God bless you. Has a have a fantastic Sunday. And we'll see you very, very soon.