ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
GINGER: TODAY JOYCE TACKLES SOME OF LIFE'S
BIGGEST QUESTIONS.
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH ALL OF THE HURT IN THE WORLD?
HOW CAN GOD USE MY PAIN FOR MY GOOD AND HOW CAN I APPRECIATE
WHAT I HAVE?
STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
GINGER: AS WE WALK THROUGH EACH NEW DAY, WE ALL HAVE
QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE JUST PART OF LIFE.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE ANSWERS FOR YOU?
GOD SAYS WHEN WE LOOK, WE'LL FIND HIM.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
SO TOGETHER, WE ARE DISCOVERING LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS.
GINGER: YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE REALLY WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE IN
THE BIBLE ARE JUST AS MUCH KNOWN FOR THEIR STRUGGLES AS THEY ARE
THEIR VICTORIES: PEOPLE LIKE KING DAVID AND JOSEPH AND PAUL.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW KNOW YOU'RE
NOT ALONE, WE ALL FACE THEM, AND THAT THERE IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO BRING VICTORY IN YOUR LIFE.
SO KNOW THAT THOSE STRUGGLES ARE TEMPORARY.
GOD HAS SOMETHING GOOD AHEAD FOR YOU.
WE HAVE A QUESTION THAT COMES FROM LAURA TODAY AND SHE ASKS
THIS: "I KNOW THAT GOD WILL GET ME THROUGH ALL MY DIFFICULTIES
AND TRIALS.
BUT WHY DOESN'T HIS GRACE MAKE IT ANY EASIER?"
WELL, WE'RE GETTING REAL NOW.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, LAURA, AND HERE IS JOYCE'S ANSWER
TO "HOW CAN MY PAIN HELP ME?" JOYCE: I THINK ONE OF THE
MOST AMAZING THINGS ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS THAT IF
YOU LOVE HIM AND YOU TRUST HIM, NOW I DIDN'T SAY IF YOU BEHAVE
PERFECTLY, I DIDN'T SAY IF YOU NEVER MAKE MISTAKES, I DIDN'T
SAY IF YOU GO TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY AND NEVER MISS ONE,
IF YOU READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THREE TIMES A YEAR.
I SAID IF YOU TRUST GOD AND YOU LOVE HIM.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HAS HAPPENED OR WHAT DOES HAPPEN, GOD WILL
TAKE IT AND MAKE IT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER WORK OUT FOR YOUR GOOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, BOY, TO ME, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING
THINGS ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GONNA FEEL GOOD.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GONNA LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT.
BUT I--AND I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DOES IT.
GOD CAN TAKE A BAD THING AND WE MAY NEVER WANNA SAY THE THING
WAS GOOD BUT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER GOD CAN MIRACULOUSLY WORK IN
THAT THING AND HE CAN MAKE US A BETTER PERSON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF A
PROBLEM, YOU GET MORE COMPASSION AND YOU BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY WHEN
SOMEBODY ELSE TELLS YOU THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM
THAT IS--DOESN'T HAVE ANY?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH MAN, THEY'RE QUICK TO TELL YOU, "WELL, I DO THIS
AND I DO THAT," AND IT SOUNDS SO SIMPLE FOR THEM.
AND YOU JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO SAY, "OH, MY GOSH, I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS."
AND THEN IT'S FINE TO TELL THEM WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR THEM BUT
THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN SOMEBODY WHO HAS NO COMPASSION.
ALL THEY CAN EVER GIVE YOU IS A SCRIPTURE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DON'T BE THAT KIND OF A CHRISTIAN.
SOMETIMES, SOMEBODY JUST NEEDS YOU TO CRY WITH THEM.
SOMETIMES, THEY NEED YOU JUST TO UNDERSTAND.
EVERYBODY WHO COMES TO YOU FOR HELP DOESN'T ALWAYS WANT
AN ANSWER.
SOMETIMES, THEY JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?
EVERYBODY WHO COMES DOESN'T WANT AN ANSWER.
THEY DON'T WANT A SERMON.
THEY JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH.
AND THE BEST WAY I KNOW TO GET A BOATLOAD OF COMPASSION IS
TO GO THROUGH STUFF YOURSELF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE USED BY GOD VERY MUCH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
HAVE SOME COMPASSION AND THAT MEANS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE
SOME EXPERIENCE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL SMILING.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND I KNOW THERE ARE TRAGIC THINGS HAVE HAPPENED
TO PEOPLE.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING, "WELL, YOU KNOW,
THIS HAPPENED OR THAT HAPPENED AND HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY TELL ME
GOD CAN WORK GOOD OUT OF THAT?" I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DOES IT BUT
I KNOW IF WE LOVE HIM AND IF WE TRUST HIM AND OBVIOUSLY THAT
INCLUDES HAVING A DECENT ATTITUDE BUT, YOU KNOW, "I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THIS, GOD, BUT I TRUST YOU AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU
CAN WORK IT OUT FOR MY GOOD."
WHATEVER YOU MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW OR WHATEVER
YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THE PAST, IF YOU'VE NEVER DONE
THIS BEFORE I WANT YOU TO START BELIEVING TODAY THAT GOD CAN
TAKE THAT THING AND HE CAN MAKE IT WORK OUT FOR GOOD
IN YOUR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: THIS IS A HAPPY DAY, AMEN?
ALL RIGHT, NOW, GENESIS 50:20.
I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY OF JOSEPH.
MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW IT.
LET'S JUST SAY THAT HE WAS CRUELLY TREATED BY HIS BROTHERS.
THEY HATED HIM, THEY SOLD HIM TO SLAVE-TRADERS.
WHOLE BUNCH, A SERIES, OF BAD THINGS HAPPENED AS A RESULT
OF THAT.
HE ENDED UP IN PRISON FOR MANY YEARS FOR SOMETHING
HE DIDN'T DO.
ALL THAT TIME, HE KEPT TRUSTING GOD.
THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND.
HE WAS NOW IN CHARGE OF ALL THE FOOD.
IT'S AMAZING HOW THIS PERSON OVER HERE CAN MISTREAT YOU BUT
IF YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD HE CAN ACTUALLY PROMOTE YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HE IS A GOD OF JUSTICE.
AND SO THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND AND SO THE BROTHERS
CAME TO GET FOOD AND THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH JOSEPH TO GET IT.
BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS JOSEPH.
YOU KNOW, GOD CHANGED HIM SO MUCH HIS BROTHERS DIDN'T
RECOGNIZE HIM.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, PROBABLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ABUSED
ME WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE ME TODAY EITHER, AMEN?
AND GOD'S DOING THE SAME THING IN YOUR LIFE.
AND SO WHEN THEY DID REALIZE IT WAS JOSEPH, THEN THEY WERE
AFRAID AND THEY THOUGHT, "WELL, THERE'S NO TELLINGS WHAT HE'S
GONNA DO TO US NOW HE'S GOT A CHANCE TO GET US BACK."
AND THIS IS WHAT JOSEPH SAID TO THEM, GENESIS 50:20: "AS FOR
YOU, YOU THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST ME, BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD,
TO BRING ABOUT THAT MANY PEOPLE SHOULD BE KEPT ALIVE,
AS THEY ARE THIS DAY."
IN OTHER WORDS, GOD USED THAT SITUATION, THAT CRUEL SITUATION,
TO GET JOSEPH INTO A PLACE WHERE HE COULD ACTUALLY USE HIM THEN
TO HELP THE WHOLE NATION WHEN THE TIME CAME AROUND
AND WAS RIGHT.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
YOU MAY BE HEADED SOMEWHERE AND RIGHT NOW YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
HEADED IN THE TOTALLY WRONG DIRECTION IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU MAY HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS IS THE EXACT ROUTE THAT YOU NEED
TO GET WHERE YOU WANNA BE AND JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW
YOU'RE GOING THIS WAY, C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ACTS CHAPTER 7, VERSE 9.
I LOVE THIS.
"AND THE PATRIARCHS [JACOB'S SONS], BOILING WITH ENVY
AND HATRED AND ANGER, SOLD JOSEPH INTO SLAVERY IN EGYPT;
BUT GOD--" THOSE ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE
WORDS IN THE BIBLE.
"BUT GOD."
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ANYBODY ELSE DOES.
IF GOD BE FOR ME, WHO CAN BE AGAINST ME?
IF GOD IS ON MY SIDE, WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: THEY DID ALL THIS STUFF TO HIM "BUT GOD WAS
WITH HIM."
AND I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO KNOW WHAT GOD'S GONNA DO AS LONG
AS YOU KNOW THAT HE'S WITH YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROUTE YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE TO GET WHERE GOD
WANTS YOU TO BE BUT IF YOU KEEP LOVING HIM AND YOU KEEP TRUSTING
HIM, HE IS GONNA GET YOU INTO A PLACE THAT IS GONNA JUST LEAVE
YOU WITH JAW-DROPPING AWE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: SEE, I'VE DONE THIS JOURNEY.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 40 YEARS.
I'M NOT MAKING STUFF UP HERE.
I KNOW WHERE I WAS AT WHEN I STARTED.
I KNOW WHAT I WAS LIKE WHEN I STARTED.
AND I'M NOT ONLY SHARING THE WORD OF GOD WITH YOU.
I'M SHARING EXPERIENCE WITH YOU TO SAY I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT
I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN DESTROY YOU IF
YOU PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD AND YOU BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS
GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: C'MON, NOTHING.
THERE'S NOTHING.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, ROMANS 8:28 WOULD GO ALONG WITH THIS: "WE
ARE ASSURED AND KNOW THAT [GOD BEING A PARTNER IN THEIR LABOR]
ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER AND ARE [FITTING INTO A PLAN] FOR GOOD
TO AND FOR THOSE WHO," WHAT?
"LOVE GOD AND WANT HIS WILL."
SIMPLE.
LOVE GOD.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS, PROBABLY THE FIRST THING THAT I
SAY EVERY MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP IS, "I LOVE YOU, LORD."
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU JUST LOVE JESUS, IT GOES A LONG,
LONG, LONG, LONG WAY INTO TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING ELSE.
I LOVE YOU, LORD.
I LOVE YOU.
TELL HIM THAT A HUNDRED TIMES A DAY, "I LOVE YOU, LORD.
I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU."
THAT PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL.
GINGER: LOVING GOD AND TRUSTING HIM WILL GUIDE YOU.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE WALKING THROUGH A DARK WOODS WHERE YOU
CAN'T REALLY SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND YOU BUT
YOU'VE GOT THIS REALLY BRIGHT BEACON THAT IS JUST SHINING
A PATH AND HELPING YOU THROUGH THE THINGS.
YOU DON'T SEE EVERYTHING BUT YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE
ONE WHO IS GIVING YOU THE LIGHT TO MAKE YOU WALK THROUGH IT
IN CONFIDENCE.
AND WITH THAT HELP, YOU'LL SEE HOW HE MAKES SOMETHING GOOD OUT
OF REALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
TODAY'S MESSAGE, WHAT YOU JUST SAW, THAT ANSWER, IS FROM
JOYCE'S TEACHING SERIES CALLED "MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES."
NOW, YOU CAN GET THIS AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OR ON CD
AND I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO LOVE IT.
IT'S 24 SCRIPTURES THAT CHANGED JOYCE'S LIFE.
AND IT ALSO COMES WITH THOSE SCRIPTURES PRINTED IN A BOOKLET
SO YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE THEM HANDY WITH YOU TOO.
SO PICK THIS UP TODAY.
DON'T WAIT AROUND.
CALL US OR GO TO THE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW AND LET THAT
CHANGE BEGIN.
SHINE THAT BEACON WHERE YOU NEED IT.
HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT WEEK ON
"EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
JOYCE: GOD ALWAYS WORKS THROUGH PEOPLE.
GET THAT IN YOUR HEAD.
GOD ALWAYS WORKS THROUGH PEOPLE.
IF YOU ASK GOD FOR A MIRACLE HE MAY SHOW YOU SOMETHING
YOU NEED TO DO.
GINGER: ARE YOU DISSATISFIED WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE?
ARE YOU NOT ENJOYING THINGS THE WAY THAT YOU USED TO?
WELL, THERE'S PROBABLY A VERY GOOD REASON FOR THAT AND IT MAY
NOT BE EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK.
LISTEN AS JOYCE SHARES THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: "HOW
DO I APPRECIATE WHAT I HAVE?" JOYCE: I HAVE A SCRIPTURE ON
MY HEART THAT I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU AND WHAT I'M GONNA SHARE
WITH YOU IN A MINUTE COULD BE THE ONE THING THAT GOD SENT YOU
HERE TO GET.
ECCLESIASTES 6:9: "BETTER IS THE SIGHT OF THE EYE--BETTER IS THE
SIGHT OF THE EYES [THE ENJOYMENT OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO ONE]
THAN THE CRAVINGS OF WANDERING DESIRE."
SO WHAT'S HE SAYING?
IT'S BETTER TO ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE THAN TO ALWAYS BE WANTING
SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE.
NOW, C'MON, SOME OF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE BUT
THE TRUTH IS MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN SO UNHAPPY WITH WHAT YOU DON'T
HAVE THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU DO HAVE.
WE'LL JUST LET THAT KIND OF DRIFT ACROSS THE ROOM HERE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: MAYBE YOU'RE MARRIED TO SOMEBODY OR YOU'RE IN
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY AND YOU HAVE FOCUSED ON WHAT'S
WRONG WITH THEM FOR SO LONG THAT YOU'VE COMPLETELY
FORGOTTEN WHY YOU EVER LIKED 'EM TO START WITH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THERE THAT YOU
LIKED AT SOME POINT--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IN THE RELATIONSHIP.
YOU KNOW, I USED TO NOT BE VERY BRIGHT.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO APPLY ALL THIS TO MY LIFE AND I HAD PLENTY
OF THINGS ON MY LIST THAT I THOUGHT WAS WRONG WITH DAVE.
OF COURSE, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME.
IT WAS JUST ALL--HOW MANY OF YOU GET ME WITH THAT?
IT'S ALL THE OTHER PERSON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I CAN ACTUALLY REMEMBER MAKING A LIST OF
ALL THE THINGS THAT WAS WRONG WITH DAVE THAT I WANTED GOD
TO CHANGE.
IT NEVER HELPED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL.
IT JUST KEPT MAKING ME MORE UNHAPPY AND MORE UNHAPPY.
YOU KNOW WHY?
WHAT YOU FOCUS ON BECOMES LARGER IN YOUR LIFE.
THE MORE YOU FOCUS ON WHAT'S WRONG, THE MORE MISERABLE
YOU'RE GONNA BE AND THE BIGGER IT'S GONNA SEEM.
AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE FOUND OUT BY NOW THAT WE ARE CAPABLE
OF BLOWING THINGS COMPLETELY OUT OF PROPORTION.
SO SOMETIMES WHAT WE NEED IS A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE.
I HAVE A STORY THAT I READ SOMETIMES AND I PROBABLY WON'T
GET ALL THE DETAILS RIGHT BUT THIS GIRL WAS IN COLLEGE AND SHE
SENT HER PARENTS THIS LETTER AND JUST WENT ON AND ON ABOUT "I'M
SORRY I HAVEN'T WRITTEN BUT, YOU KNOW, MY APARTMENT CAUGHT
ON FIRE AND I LOST EVERYTHING THAT I HAD.
AND I HAD TO JUMP OUT THE WINDOW AND, YOU KNOW, I DID BREAK
MY LEG.
AND THEN I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND, YOU KNOW,
THE GUY WHO TOOK CARE OF ME IN THE HOSPITAL FELT SORRY FOR ME
'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
HE TOOK ME IN AND WE BECAME CLOSE AND, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.
AND I DO NEED TO TELL YOU, MOM AND DAD, THAT I AM PREGNANT NOW
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO BE GRANDPARENTS AND, YOU
KNOW, HE'S NOT MY RACE, HE'S NOT MY RELIGION, BUT I KNOW YOU'LL
RECEIVE HIM WITH OPEN ARMS AND HE DOES HAVE A SLIGHT
DISORDER BUT I KNOW YOU'LL LOOK BEYOND THAT."
AND THEN SHE SAID ALL THAT AND SHE SAID,
"NOW ACTUALLY, MOM AND DAD, NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED
BUT I HAVE FAILED HISTORY."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY WERE, LIKE, "OH, THANK GOD
YOU JUST FAILED HISTORY."
BUT IF SHE WOULD HAVE WRITTEN HOME AND SAID, "I FAILED
HISTORY," THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HAVING A FIT ABOUT THAT.
SO WHAT ARE YOU UPSET ABOUT THAT MAYBE YOU COULD JUST CALM DOWN
A WHOLE LOT THIS MORNING IF YOU'D ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, AMEN?
HOW MANY OF YOU WALKED IN HERE THIS MORNING?
SEE, WELL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU CAN SEE, RIGHT?
AMEN.
WE'VE GOT SO MANY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR AND I ACTUALLY HAVE
COME A LONG WAY, THANK GOD, BY HIS GRACE AND MERCY.
AND NOT TOO LONG AGO, I SAT DOWN AND WROTE A LIST OF EVERYTHING
THAT I LIKE ABOUT MY HUSBAND.
AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF, YOU KNOW?
HE'S GOOD LOOKING, HE TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF,
HE'S JUST SO EASY-GOING.
HE KIND OF JUST LETS ME DO WHATEVER I WANT TO UNLESS I JUST
GET KIND OF REALLY TOO FEISTY AND THEN HE'LL STOP ME.
HE ACTUALLY LOVES ME JUST THE WAY I AM.
DOES THIS APPLY TO ANYBODY IN THE ROOM TODAY?
MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN FOCUSING--C'MON, HAS ANYBODY
MAYBE BEEN FOCUSING A LITTLE TOO MUCH ON WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE,
WHAT GOD HAS NOT DONE FOR YOU, AND NOT FOCUSING ENOUGH ON,
"HEY, I'M SAVED.
I'M NOT GOING TO HELL, WOW."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: THAT'S GONNA BE PRETTY EXCITING.
LET'S LEARN HOW TO LOVE PEOPLE AND VALUE THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT,
NOT WHERE WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE.
AND IF WE DO THAT, THEN GOD CAN WORK IN OUR HEARTS AND CHANGE US
AND, OOPS, MAYBE HE'LL JUST CHANGE THE OTHER PERSON TOO
AND WE CAN STILL ENJOY OUR LIFE WHILE HE'S DOING IT, AMEN?
ALL RIGHT, LIKEWISE, I THINK THAT MANY TIMES WE LOOK AT WHAT
WE DON'T HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE INSTEAD
OF LOOKING AT WHAT WE DO HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN DO.
YOU KNOW, WHEN JESUS WAS READY TO FEED THE 5,000,
HE SAID TO THE DISCIPLES, "WHAT DO YOU HAVE?"
AND THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL HIM HOW LITTLE THEY HAD.
BUT ALL GOD REALLY WANTS US TO DO IS TO BE WILLING TO GIVE HIM
WHAT WE DO HAVE AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH,
HE CAN THEN MULTIPLY IT AND MAKE IT WORK OUT, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE SINCE
I'M INTO THIS.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY NEVER GET AROUND TO DOING THE
THINGS THEY'D REALLY LIKE TO DO BECAUSE THEY KIND OF THINK THEY
COULDN'T DO ENOUGH TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AND, YOU KNOW,
MY HUSBAND'S BEEN WORKING OUT AND EXERCISING FOR 55 YEARS,
THUS THAT'S WHY HE LOOKS AS GOOD AS HE DOES.
AND FOR YEARS AND YEARS HE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE ME TO WORK OUT BUT
I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS TOO BUSY, THERE'S NO WAY I CAN DO IT.
HOW CAN I DO THAT WITH ALL THE TRAVELING WE DO?
JUST ABOUT THE TIME I GET STARTED, THEN I WON'T BE ABLE TO
DO IT ANYMORE.
AND SO, LONG STORY SHORT, GOD DEALT WITH ME ABOUT IT AND I
FINALLY MADE THIS DECISION.
NOW, C'MON, THIS IS GONNA HELP SOMEBODY.
I DECIDED THAT I WAS GONNA DO WHAT I COULD DO INSTEAD OF BEING
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I COULD NOT DO.
I MEAN, I DECIDED IF I COULD ONLY WORK OUT AND EXERCISE
10 MINUTES A WEEK THEN DOING SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN DOING
NOTHING, C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DOING SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN DOING NOTHING.
MAYBE YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE GOT SUCH DEEP DEBT THAT
THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD EVER GET OUT OF DEBT SO NOW YOU JUST
DON'T BOTHER TO PAY YOUR BILLS AT ALL.
YOU JUST KEEP GOING OUT AND SPENDING MORE AND MORE MONEY.
WELL, I DON'T CARE IF YOU PAY $1 ON YOUR DEBT A WEEK, IT'S ALWAYS
BETTER TO BE GOING SOMEWHERE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN LIFE
BUT ONE THING WE MUST NEVER DO IS NOTHING.
BECAUSE THE MORE WE DO NOTHING, THE MORE WE'RE GONNA HAVE
NOTHING GOOD HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES.
AND SO AS A RESULT OF MAKING THAT DECISION 12 YEARS AGO,
I NOW WORK OUT WITH A TRAINER 3 TIMES A WEEK AND I WALK
5 MILES EVERY MORNING.
ALL BECAUSE I DECIDED I WAS GONNA DO WHAT I COULD DO INSTEAD
OF BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I COULD NOT DO.
HOW MANY OF YOU NEED TO START DOING SOMETHING,
LEST YOU DO NOTHING, AMEN?
GINGER: SO YOU CAN LEARN TO ENJOY THE THINGS YOU HAVE IN
YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW AND STILL STRIVE TO IMPROVE YOUR SITUATION
WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WE LIVE, ALL OF US AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES,
WE'RE LOCATED IN MISSOURI AND IT'S HILLY AND BEAUTIFUL BUT
THIS MORNING WHEN I WOKE UP I WAS LISTENING TO THE RADIO AND I
HEARD THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF FOG OUTSIDE.
AND WITH THAT SITUATION, THE FIRST THING YOU THINK IS, "OH,
I'M GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE EARLIER, THE TRAFFIC'S GONNA BE BAD.
I'LL HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL AND GO SLOW."
AND, YOU KNOW, NO ONE WANTS FOG BUT WHEN I STARTED DRIVING,
IT WAS SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE UP HIGHER YOU COULD SEE
THE FOG DOWN LOW IN THE VALLEYS AND THE SUN WAS SHINING
THROUGH IT.
IT WAS GORGEOUS.
BUT I HAD TO CHOOSE TO LOOK UP FROM THE FOG TO SEE THAT BEAUTY.
THE CHOICE IS OURS.
TAKE THE TIME TO SEE THE BEAUTY THAT GOD PUTS IN OUR DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE HAVE TO CHOOSE.
YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO SHARE YOUR VOICE WITH US.
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
LET'S CHECK IT OUT NOW.
[MUSIC]
GINGER: THIS IS SOME GREAT STUFF THAT WE ALL NEED TO LISTEN
TO BECAUSE WE ASKED YOU TO SHARE HOW YOU LOVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
DIFFICULT TO LOVE AND HERE ARE SOME OF YOUR RESPONSES.
ELUNY FROM SOUTH AFRICA SAYS, "I USED TO FOCUS ON WHAT THE PERSON
DID THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO LOVE THEM.
IT CAN BE SO FRUSTRATING BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PRAY, PRAY,
AND PRAY.
ASK GOD FOR HIS GUIDANCE TO SEE THAT PERSON THROUGH
THE EYES OF JESUS.
I STOPPED FOCUSING ON THEIR FAILURES AND I APPRECIATE THEIR
VICTORIES.
I ASK GOD TO HELP ME DEAL WITH NEGATIVE FEELINGS SO I AM AT
A PLACE WHERE I CAN LOVE THEM."
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU, ELUNY.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS AT OUR WOMEN'S CONFERENCE SO I HAD A CHANCE,
YOU KNOW, TO TALK BACK AND FORTH WITH HER A LITTLE BIT SO THAT
WAS EXCITING.
HERE'S ANOTHER FRIEND, JANEE FROM ARKANSAS.
SHE SAYS, "I CAME FROM A FAMILY WHERE LOVE WAS ABSENT.
MY PARENTS, EXTENDED FAMILY, AND EVEN THE CHURCH I GREW UP
IN OFFERED NO LOVE.
I GREW UP THINKING I WAS WORTHLESS AND UNLOVABLE.
GOD IS REPLACING THOSE LIES SOWN IN MY HEART FROM YEARS OF
EMOTIONAL NEGLECT AND ABUSE WITH HIS TRUTH THAT HE LOVES ME.
HE'S TEACHING ME TO LOVE HIS PEOPLE THAT WAY, HIS WAY.
I'VE LEARNED TO LOVE MY FAMILY EVEN THOUGH THEY CANNOT LOVE.
SOMETIMES I MUST LOVE FROM A DISTANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE TOXIC
AND HARMFUL TO BE AROUND BUT I STILL LOVE AND PRAY FOR THEM."
JANEE, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL AND A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MANY
PEOPLE WHO, I'M SURE, HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF HARD-TO-LOVE PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD BUT GOD CALLS US TO LOVE THEM.
AND THE GREAT THING IS HE DOESN'T JUST TELL US TO DO IT.
HE HELPS US DO IT.
TODAY, WE WANT YOU TO TAKE SOME TIME TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
WHO FEEL THAT THEY ARE ALONE AND UNLOVED.
WRITE WHATEVER YOU WANT, A SCRIPTURE THAT'S HELPED YOU,
AN ENCOURAGING NOTE, WHATEVER GOD PUTS ON YOUR HEART.
USE THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND DON'T FORGET TO PUT #EA AND
JUST ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TODAY.
WHETHER YOU'RE A BELIEVER OR A NON-BELIEVER, A NEW CHRISTIAN
OR EXPERIENCED, THE ANSWER TO TODAY'S "HELP ME" QUESTION MAY
HELP RELIEVE SOME PRESSURE YOU'RE EXPERIENCING.
GINGER: THIS IS FROM STEPHANIA: "HOW SHOULD I DEAL
WITH ALL THE HURT IN THE WORLD?
I CAN'T FIND PEACE OF MIND--IN MY MIND ABOUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE
THAT I CAN'T REACH."
JOYCE: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS TO SOUND
CRUDE AT ALL, BUT GOD HAD TO TEACH ME A LONG TIME AGO,
YOU KNOW, JOYCE, YOU'RE NOT THE SAVIOR.
GINGER: WE DO ALL NEED TO TELL OURSELVES THAT.
JUST REMIND OURSELVES.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, THAT HE IS AND SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT
KIND OF COMPASSION IN YOUR HEART BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, FIRST OF
ALL, THERE'S NO ONE OF US THAT CAN DO IT ALL.
NOT ONE OF US CAN DO IT ALL.
AND I HAD TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THAT BECAUSE, TO BE VERY HONEST,
I'D LIKE TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM ON THE PLANET.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO KIND OF OUTREACH THAT I WOULD NOT LIKE
TO BE INVOLVED IN.
AND EVEN HERE AT THE MINISTRY, WE'VE HAD TO COME TO GRIPS WITH
THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T DO IT ALL, YOU KNOW?
AND SO NO ONE PERSON CAN SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD.
ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT.
BUT EVEN HE IS GONNA RESPECT PEOPLE'S FREE WILL.
SO PEOPLE WHO WON'T LET GOD INTO THEIR LIFE, NOT EVEN GOD CAN DO
ANYTHING FOR THEM SO CERTAINLY WE CAN'T.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALM 37 THAT WE'RE NOT TO FRET OVER
THE WICKEDNESS IN THE WORLD.
SO YES, THERE'S TERRIBLE THINGS GOING ON, THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT ARE LOST AND THEY ARE WITHOUT CHRIST, BUT INSTEAD
OF FOCUSING ON THAT, LET'S FOCUS ON THE GOOD AND HELPING AS MANY
PEOPLE AS WE CAN WITHOUT GETTING DEPRESSED AND DOWNTRODDEN ABOUT
THE ONES THAT WE CAN'T HELP.
GINGER: WELL, THE WRONG THOUGHTS CAN BE PARALYZING.
JOYCE: OH, ABSOLUTELY.
GINGER: I MEAN, IF WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON WHAT WE CAN'T
DO RATHER THAN THE PART THAT GOD ASKS US TO PLAY, THAT WILL
CHANGE EVERYTHING.
JOYCE: HE WANTS US TO BE POSITIVE ABOUT EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, I CAN FOCUS ON ALL THE WICKEDNESS IN THE WORLD OR I CAN
BE AWARE IT'S THERE AND PRAY ABOUT IT AND DO WHAT I CAN BUT
FOCUS ON GOD AND THE GOOD.
GINGER: MAKE SURE YOU SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS WITH US.
DO IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
USE THE HASHTAG "ASK JOYCE" OR ON OUR "EVERYDAY ANSWERS" PAGE
ON OUR WEBSITE, AND ALSO CONTACT US FOR TODAY'S RESOURCE OFFER.
I LOVE THIS.
THIS IS JOYCE'S TEACHING CALLED "MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES."
AND THIS IS JOYCE WALKING US THROUGH THOSE SCRIPTURES THAT
REALLY CHANGED HER LIFE.
SO THERE IS GREAT STUFF IN HERE THAT WILL APPLY TO YOU.
IT APPLIES TO ME.
IT WOULD APPLY TO ANY LIFE.
IN FACT, SHE TALKS ABOUT 24 DIFFERENT SCRIPTURES IN HERE,
IN DEPTH, AND IT REALLY IS ENCOURAGING AND IT'S INSPIRING
AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
YOU CAN GET THIS AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OR ON CD AND IT COMES
WITH A LITTLE BOOKLET INSIDE THAT PRINTS OUT ALL THOSE
SCRIPTURES FOR YOU TOO.
SO THIS IS REALLY GREAT.
THESE ARE THOSE SCRIPTURES THAT CHANGED HER LIFE AND YOU KNOW
WHAT SHE'S BEEN THROUGH, AN ABUSIVE CHILDHOOD, AND CHANGED
HER INTO THE WOMAN SHE IS TODAY.
BECAUSE GOD IS SO GOOD AND HE LOVES YOU THAT VERY SAME WAY.
GOD BLESS YOU SO MUCH.
ENJOY YOUR DAY.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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