Houston We Have A Promise

John Gray @ Lakewood Church
2012 Was the Launch Pad

2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT
For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.

2 Corinthians 1:22 MSG
Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

Isaiah 43:19 KJV
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

God is so concerned about launch that he is deeply concerned about the preparation.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Launch window is a term used in spaceflight to describe a time period in which a particular launch vehicle (rocket, Space Shuttle, etc.) must be launched. If the rocket does not launch within the "window", it has to wait for the next window.

WEIGHT CHECK
Hebrews 12:1 KJV
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Anything not on board wasn't supposed to be there.

There is a perimeter around the rocket. The devil can talk but he can't touch.

I'm a unique representation of God's creative genius and if there is a problem I can check the training manual.

WAIT CHECK

Sent from my Galaxy S®III because Jeniro is on the go!

Remembering the Good

Negative memories take up more space and that's why we gravitate toward those.  That means that I need to be proactive.  Just because the memory comes up doesn't b mean that I can't change the channel.

Quit dwelling on the negative.

Stay on your victory channel.

****Victoria Osteen at Lakewood****

God's love isn't based on performance. So all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and then receive it.  The goodness of God leads you to repentance. God isn't holding my past against me. 

Not Giving Away Your Joy

Joel Osteen@  Lakewood Church

• There will always be something that interrupts your day.

• Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.

• You have to decide ahead of time that you will keep your peace because this is the day that the Lord has made and you will rejoice and be glad in it.

• John 16:22 NIV

• So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

• Identify what is making you unhappy and choose to react to it differently.

• Proverbs 14:30 NIV

• A heart at peace gives life to the body,

• but envy rots the bones.

• John 14:27 NLT

• "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

• Psalm 94:13 NIV

• you grant them relief from days of trouble,

• till a pit is dug for the wicked.

• 2 Timothy 4:5 GNT

• But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.

• When we get upset about someone else's bad attitude we just may take their garbage and dump it on someone else.

• Be aware of the garbage trucks in life.

• Matthew 5:5

********Victoria Osteen*********

Be more of a problem solver than a complainer. Rejoicing in the lord is a good way to guard against complaints.

40 years to take an 11 day journey.

Philippians 4:4 NIV
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

When you complain you distort the beauty of the moment.

When you complain you remain but when you rejoice you hear his voice.

Change the World

· World Vision: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Vision_International

· Robert (Bob) Pierce (1914–1978) is best known as the founder of the international charity organization World Vision (now one of the largest Christian relief and development organizations in the world) in 1950. He is also the founder of Samaritan's Purse (1970), another international charity organization, currently headed by Franklin Graham.

· Most people don't wake up thinking that we will change the world but that is exactly what God wants us to do.

· Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.

· If you didn't have direct access to clean water that would dictate your day. Forget going to church or even going to work. Every day women and children walk for miles to get water that will keep them alive for a while but make them sick.

· 75% of the people in the world live on $10 a day.

· Believing that you have nothing to offer is a mistake.

· God doesn't want me standing on the sideline.

“We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”
 Mother Teresa of Calcutta

· The Kinetic King: http://agt.wikia.com/wiki/The_Kinetic_King One domino can set off spectacular effects...you can be that 1 domino. It only takes 1 domino to fail to mess up the chain reaction.

· Philippians 2:13 NIV...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

· “I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”
― Mother Teresa

Having an Excellent Spirit

Joel @ Lakewood Church

God blesses excellence so go the extra mile no matter who is watching. God wants us to set the highest example. When you are excellent your life is a testament of God. Some people will never read the Bible. (People are always watching)
Matthew 5:41 NIV
If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Genesis 24:14 NIV
May it be that when I say to a young woman, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
Take steps to grow.
Make it the best that it can possibly be.
Favor and excellence go hand and hand.
If you don't take care of what you have then you won't be blessed with more.
It's scriptural to take care of yourself.
Daniel 6:3 NIV
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

*********Victoria Osteen**********
Thanksgiving Makes You Whole
Our nation celebrates thankfulness. Everyone is reminded to be thankful. Thankfulness brings all the pieces together.
Thankfulness is a easy way to encourage ourselves and make us whole.
Luke 17: 11-18
Jesus took notice of the one who came back and said thank you.
Have grateful in spite of our circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Be Positive or Be Quiet.

Joel @ Lakewood Church

Proverbs 6:2 KJV

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

You can't talk defeat and expect victory.

Jeremiah 1:7 KJV

But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

You may not see a way, but God has a way. You may not think that it's possible but God can do the impossible.

If you aren't careful, you can talk yourself out of a blessing.

Luke 1:18-20 KJV

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

IF HE COULD SPEAK HE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY SAID STUFF LIKE "GOD MUST HAVE GOTTEN IT WRONG....I'M TOO OLD, ETC....

Psalm 141:3 KJV

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

You can't stop the thoughts but you can make sure it's still born. When you speak a negative thought you are sending invitations for negativity. Change the invitation.

Romans 4:17 NIV

As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

YOU MAY FEEL INADEQUATE BUT CALL YOURSELF EQUIPPED. YOU MAY FEEL SICK BUT CALL YOURSELF HEALED. ETC...

Joshua 6:10 NIV

But Joshua had commanded the army, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!"

2 Kings 4 Even though her only son was dead this was her response.

"...Run to meet her and ask her, 'Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?'" "Everything is all right," she said." She spoke in faith.

*****Victoria Osteen*****

Don't Take Things Personal

When we put immovable expectations on people then we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.

Don't take things personal. Look to God for your value.

Release people from the responsibility of making us happy.

Realize that all you can do is encourage others and do the best that you can.

If you can't encourage the people in your life and accept them for where they are right now, then they will never get to where they need to be.

Jeniro is on the go 

Seeing Yourself as a Masterpiece

Joel @ Lakewood Church

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God made me who I am on purpose and I'm his most prized possession.

Sometimes we see abstract paintings that cost millions of dollars. Its because the painting gets it's value from the painter.

Psalm 139:14 KJV

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

There was a man who lived a bulk of his life in poverty and after he died they found out that his estate was worth millions of dollars. In the same way a lot of us don't know what we have and we are living a life far beyond the one that we have chosen.

Mark 12:31 NLT

The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

SOME PEOPLE HAVE RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN SELF-ESTEEM. YOU CAN'T LOVE OTHERS IF YOU DON'T LOVE YOURSELF

Numbers 13:33 NIV

We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.

THEY DIDN'T SAY THAT ANYONE INSULTED THEM, THEY SAID PEOPLE SAW THEM THE WAY THAT THEY SAW THEMSELVES

Revelation 1:6 NIV

and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

THIS IS HOW I SHOULD CARRY MYSELF.

Mark 1:11 NIV

And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

MY VALUE IS NOT BASED ON MY PERFORMANCE

WHEN I'M AGAINST MYSELF, IT MAKES ME DO WORSE.

Genesis 1:31 AMP

And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Be bold enough to celebrate yourself.

We need to change the recording!

*****Victoria Osteen******

We are blessed to be a blessing.

Psalm 84:11 NLT

For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.

The LORD will withhold no good thing

from those who do what is right.

Jesus always blessed people who don't seem to deserve it.

John 8:7, 10-11 NLT

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" .... Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" "No, Lord," she said.

And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

Simon Peter means "pebble" but Jesus called him a rock.

Jesus loves the sound of me blessing others.

JENIRO IS ON THE GO.

No-Stick Anointing

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

No matter how good you are people will always treat you bad and you can choose to carry it around with you and let it ruin your day or you can choose to not let it stick!

Psalm 45:7 NLT

You love justice and hate evil.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

You're never going to please everyone so you might as well be the person that God made you to be.

2 Kings 2:23-24 NLT

Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. "Go away, baldy!" they chanted. "Go away, baldy!" Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.

That teaches you that God will fight your battles!

In 1Samuel 16, Jesse brought all of his sons except David, but he is the one who turned out to be anointed.

In 1 Samuel 17 David brought his brothers lunch and

Don't get caught up in battles that don't matter. Don't be critical of someone who is being critical of me.

People who criticize you are distractions. Go where you are celebrated, not where you are tolerated.

2 Samuel 16:5, 12 NLT

As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul's family...perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today."

John 7:5 NLT

For even [Jesus'] brothers didn't believe in him.

Romans 12:18 NLT

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

I'm not responsible for anyone's happiness except my own.

Matthew 10:14 NLT

If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.

Esther 3:5 NLT

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had the respect of everyone but because so consumed with one man that he got into a battle he should have never been involved in...Esther 8:7 NLT...Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews.

***********Victoria Osteen************

God is love and when you walk with him for a while you realize that love is everything. If we are going to grow, we have to grow in love.

-Philippians 1:9 NIV

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

There are so many facets of love which means that there are so many areas to grow in.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

-Most days love is a decision.

-You have to discern the situation to decide which facet of love is appropriate.

-Ephesians 4:15 NIV

...speak the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Sent from the Elders.

Staying In The Game

Joel @ Lakewood Church

· It's easy to lose your passion when things don't work out, but you have to shake off the pity. You can't let the hurt cause you to sit on the sidelines.

· Don't let the bad break make you bitter. You have to have a made up mind that you are going to be faithful.

· Momma Dodie: diagnosed with terminal cancer but she still drove mIles to pray for others. She was injured but still in the game.

· God will take your scars and turn them into stars for His glory.

Isaiah 61:3 NIV

and provide for those...beauty instead of ashes...

Isaiah 60:1 AMP

ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

· God has an after this planned for me!

Job 42:16-17 NIV

After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

· NFL Player Torrey Smith Honors Brother Who Died In Motorbike Crash Hours Before Game Time

· People would understand if you sat on the sidelines "nursing your wounds" but when you get in the game in spite of the circumstances you give the enemy a nervous breakdown.

· God understands

Hebrews 4:15 NIV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

· Ruth (example)

Ruth stayed in the game after losing her husband and was given a husband who was the richest in the land and ended up in royal lineage.

Ruth 4:21-22 NLT

Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David.

· The rest of my days will be the best of my days!

********Victoria Osteen*********

Turn Your Worrying into Worship

· God cares about what I care about.

Psalm 55:22 NIV

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

· Don't worry.

Matthew 6:25 NIV

...do not worry about your life....

Matthew 6:27, 33 NIV

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

·Look up and not down.

Luke 21:28-29 NIV

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

· You can tell worrying from planning because you are frustrated and not displaying the fruit if the spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

· Sarah (example)

Hebrews 11:11 NIV

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Standing on the promises of Christ!

It's Not Over

John Gray @ Lakewood Church

There are times when you pray thinking you need it immediately, but God's timing doesn't lineup with your expectations. What makes it worse is that peopledown the street who don't seem to be living for God are doing great. Lazarus was in such a situation. JOHN 11

John 11:3 KJV

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

♥ Your right now is no match for the eternity that is within God.

♥ There is a promise in the midst of the process.

♥ You have creative power in your mouth.

♥ Your situation is not proof that God is not mad at you.

John 11:4 KJV

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

John 11:11 KJV

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Hebrews 12:2 KJV

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

♥ If God made you a promise that's what's going to happen.

♥ But we never imagine that death will meet you in the middle.

John 11:20 KJV

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

♥ Mary had an attitude!

John 11:25-27 KJV

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

John 11:35 KJV Jesus wept.

John 11:43 KJV

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

♥ he had to call Lazarus by name because if he said come forth everything dead woulda got up!

The seed of God's word is a deposit until the promise arrives.

Jeniro is on the go!

There Is Another Ingredient Coming

Pastor Joel at Lakewood Church

Life is not always fair, but God is always fair. You can't isolate one bad break because it is only 1 ingredient.

Romans 8:28 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

The Osteens used to make cookies, one time they did not have any baking soda and figured that it was such a small portion that it wouldn't make any difference but the cookies came out flat.

Some people are bitter on life but all the ingredients haven't come.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Stop being discouraged. God always ends with it's good so if its not good, then it's not over.

Using the cookie analogy, vanilla extract doesn't taste good until you add all the ingredients.

Joel had an unfair tax problem which lead him to becoming friends with an atorney who helped him negotiate a contract for a television station which he sold to renovate the Compaq Center!

NAOMI let a season of mourning turn into a lifetime of mourning. Don't become known as what you went through. No matter what know that you are in it to win it.

Exodus 15: 22...bitter water becomes sweet.

Stop listening to the condemning voices and forgive yourself. God wouldn't allow something if it wasn't for your good.

***********Victoria Osteen***********

DEFINING MOMENTS

John 21:6 NLT

Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

They were professional fisherman and they had to ignore history: they hadn't captured any fish all night. They had to be obedient. That was a God moment.

Maintain GOD moments to take hold of destiny moments. The God moments always require a obedIence AND sacrifice.

My actions and words make a difference. Look for the best and let other people win.

Sent from the Elders.

Trusting God's Timing

**********PASTOR JOEL*************

~There is a set time for my blessing and when you realize that, it takes the pressure off.

~It takes faith because God does tell us that there are set times.

Hebrews 4:3 NKJV

For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

~Quit worrying about who is getting ahead of you and run your own race.

~Israelites into the promised land.

~Think about how precise God's timing is. It is down to the split second. If it hasn't happened yet, then it is not time.

~The appointed time is the best time because God sees the big picture.

Hebrews 6:12 NLT

Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.

~Promises are like babies if God lets us have them too early then it may not be healthy for anyone involved.

Psalm 31:15 NLT

My future is in your hands.

Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.

~Abraham and Sarah

~If you let go of Ishmael then Isaac will show up.

~Rest in God's Timing

Psalm 37:1, 4 NLT

Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.

Psalm 46:10 NLT

"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

Exodus 14:13-14 NLT

But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."

~Moses and Pharoah

*********VICTORIA OSTEEN***********

♥ READ GOD'S WORD AND FIND OUT WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT YOU.

Romans 10:17 NLT

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Romans 12:3 NKJV

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

♥GOD'S POWER COLLIDES WITH MY FAITH AND WHAT I SAY FRAMES MY WORLD.

Matthew 17:20 NKJV

So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

♥ ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS PUSH THROUGH.

Mark 5:25-34 NKJV

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' " And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

Sent from the Elders.

Thanking God in Advance

Pastor Joel!

¤ There is always a waiting period, there is a trial of our faith. When it is hard, the seed lies dormant.

¤ When you give God praise, you are strengthened. Praise makes you strong and moves you forward.

¤ Romans 4:20 NLT

Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

¤ Temptations to worry should be a reminder to praise God.

¤ You only need to pray for something once, after that you should switch over to praise.

¤ Matthew 15:21-28 NLT

After beggIng in verse 23 Jesus ignored her but in verse 25 she came and worshiped him, pleading again, "Lord, help me!" She then spoke the truth to him in verse 27 and he rewarded her for her faith.

¤ Daniel 10:12-13 NLT

Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.

¤ Anyone can quit, but I'm better that that. The battle may be rough but as long

¤ Jeremiah 33:10-11 NLT

"This is what the LORD says: You have said, 'This is a desolate land where people and animals have all disappeared.' Yet in the empty streets of Jerusalem and Judah's other towns, there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing, 'Give thanks to the LORD of Heaven's Armies, for the LORD is good. His faithful love endures forever!' For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD.

1 Samuel 17

Me and God are a majority.

1 Kings 18:41 KJV

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

**********Victoria Osteen************

Hold Fast Your Profession of Faith

Hebrews 10:23 NLT

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

If you have to hold tightly to something, then that means that something is going to try to take it away.

Things will come against you but it is not greater than what is for you.

Ephesians 5:16 NLT

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

We should redeem the time and glean from the experience.

Your words can help you hold tightly.

Jeniro is on the go!

It's Only a Test

Tests show us weaknesses in our character and when we pass the tests we get promoted.

1 Peter 4:12 AMP

Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you.

Instead of being discouraged or going through self-pity we can choose to keep our joy. God uses people to rub off our rough edges sometimes.

When you start to rule over your emotions then certain buttons won't work. God is more interested in changing me than he is in changing my circumstances.

When you sow a radical seed of obedience you will reap a radical reward. Pressure can bring impurities to light.

As long as you're a child then you won't receive the inheritance. The more we mature, the less we depend on others.

James 1:12 NLT

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Don't fight against everything that's hard.

**********Victoria Osteen************

PRESS IN & PRESS ON

Lamentations 3:23 NLT

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

· We know that we can start over but we don't know how to receive it.

Philippians 3:13 NLT

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

· There is nothing that we can do about the past and it doesnt represent your future.

Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

· We have to do some forgetting.

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Jeniro is on the go!

You've Been Framed

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

Hebrews 11:3 KJV

Through faith we understand that the worlds were FRAMED by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

· God won't let you get so far off course that you ruin your destiny.

· God knows how to protect you from everything, even yourself.

· David experienced the frame in 1Samuel 25. He was going to go confront Nabal but Abigail met him on the road and talked him out of it.

· Jonah experienced the frame through a whale that swallowed him and spit him out on dry land. (Jonah 2:10 KJVAnd the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.)

· The more you pray the tighter the frame gets.

· Acts 9:4-6 KJV

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

· Notice that Jesus said "I am Jesus whom you persecute" God takes it personal when people kick against your frame.

· Psalm 91:7 KJV

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

· 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 KJV

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

VICTORIA OSTEEN

Develop a mindset of praise because when you praise you can't explain.

When you harbor resentment it overshadows the desire to do right.

Sometimes it's more important to do right than to be right.

James 1:19-20 NLT

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

In marriage instead of becoming one someone wants the other to become like them. Sometimes you have to study and adapt.

Disappointment and frustration are temporary; your relationship is forever. Family is a gift from God.

You can create what you want with the words that you speak.

Jeniro is on the go!

Resisting Temptation: There's An App For That

Every week, I serve some awesome pre-teens at Lakewood Church through Level 56.

Level 56 is our exciting, high impact service designed exclusively for 5th and 6th graders. Our tweens discover an exciting new world where they can hang out with friends, enjoy games and fun activities and learn leadership and social skills through biblical principles that will prepare them for the future.

This month we are ministering on the topic Resisting Temptation: There's an App for That

Bottom line

There’s no better way to escape temptation than to run from it, and the best way to flee temptation is to be prepared for it.

Key Passages

• Genesis 19:10-17

Two men reached out and pulled Lot inside the house, locking the door. Then they struck blind the men who were trying to break down the door, both leaders and followers, leaving them groping in the dark. The two men said to Lot, "Do you have any other family here? Sons, daughters—anybody in the city? Get them out of here, and now! We're going to destroy this place. The outcries of victims here to God are deafening; we've been sent to blast this place into oblivion."   Lot went out and warned the fiancés of his daughters, "Evacuate this place; God is about to destroy this city!" But his daughters' would-be husbands treated it as a joke. At break of day, the angels pushed Lot to get going, "Hurry. Get your wife and two daughters out of here before it's too late and you're caught in the punishment of the city."   Lot was dragging his feet. The men grabbed Lot's arm, and the arms of his wife and daughters—God was so merciful to them!—and dragged them to safety outside the city. When they had them outside, Lot was told, "Now run for your life! Don't look back! Don't stop anywhere on the plain—run for the hills or you'll be swept away."

• Genesis 19:23-26

...The sun was high in the sky when Lot arrived at Zoar. Then God rained brimstone and fire down on Sodom and Gomorrah— a river of lava from God out of the sky!—and destroyed these cities and the entire plain and everyone who lived in the cities and everything that grew from the ground.   But Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.

Memory Verse

• James 4:7 

Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Objectives

For students: -To discover the story of Lot -To identify temptation -To develop tools to fight temptation

Summary

There’s no better way to escape temptation than to run from it. But temptation isn’t like a pack of wild animals pursuing us. It comes at us when we least it expect it, and it’s hard to see the danger. We need to prepare ourselves for tempting situations, be ready to give an answer when we are tempted, and be ready to run when there’s no other choice.

*******************My Personal Notes*******************

I think that this is an excellent lesson for our preteens. They are getting to an age where there are a lot of temptations that they have been warned about! This story teaches them to listen, obey without hesitation, keep moving forward, and to love others.

Listen, Obey, Move Forward

Lot hesitated and had to be lead out of the city. Another lesson is to keep moving forward. Sometimes we make the right decision and flee temptation but we keep looking back instead of moving forward. We wonder "what if" and question ourselves right out of doing the right thing. Lot’s wife looked back at the city after the men told her not to do this. She had to pay the price. 

Love Others

Another lesson is that God wants us to help those who love Him. When Abraham found out that the cities would be destroyed he pleaded with God to save his nephew. Many times we know that someone else's decision may lead them to a bad outcome and our love should compel us to help that person flee the temptation to do the wrong thing

Unshakeable Faith

Instead of being discouraged you have confidence. Because before I had a problem God already set the miracle in motion.

• God is faithful even if it isn't happening on my time table.
• God promised Abraham and Sarah a baby

Romans 4:20 NIV

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

• Don't consider your circumstances, consider your God.

Romans 4:19 NIV

Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead.

• Even if you are believing for something that seems small, like a scholarship, know that God has you in the palm of his hands.
• When you magnify God your problems become smaller.
• It takes the same amount of time to be positive as it takes to be negative.

The disciples were on the way to heal a sick girl but a report came in that she had died. Sometimes you have to ignore the report.

Mark 5:36 NIV

Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

• It's good to have information but sometimes you can know too much. If you listen to the experts long enough they will talk you out of God's best.

Matthew 19:26 NIV

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

God's ways may not seem logical like with Mary or the Fisherman

Luke 1:38 NIV

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.

• Mary was promised to have a child before she knew a man. Mary did not question the promise.

John 21

• Caught a miraculous number of fish on the advice of a "non-fisherman"

Victoria Osteen

When you are prepared you do a better job. There are some ways to prepare to follow God.

Psalm 100:4 NIV

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

• enter his presence in faith and good spirits.

Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

• Put on the armor of God.

• Read the Bible and see what God says about you.

Jeniro is on the go!

MAKING ROOM FOR INCREASE

You can't get increase on the outside without making room for it on the inside. You make room for increase on the inside by changing your thinking.

· e.g. if you don't think you will get out of debt then you probably never will.

· Mark 2:22 NIV

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins."

God has unlimited supplies what decreases is our ability to receive it.

·if I have thousands of gallons of water but all you have is a gallon jug then it's obvious that supply is not the issue.

·Matthew 9:29 NIV

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you";

2 Kings 4:1-7 NIV

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord . But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"

"Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil." Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."

But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

· If she had more jars then she could have gotten more oil

Psalm 35:27 NIV

May those who delight in my vindication

shout for joy and gladness;

may they always say, "The Lord be exalted,

who delights in the well-being of his servant."

· It's ok to want more for yourself.

· There was a man fishing. Everytime that man caught a big fish he would throw out back but he would keep the small fish. Someone finally asked him why he was throwing the big fish back. He said that it was because he only had a ten-inch frying pan. Some people need to buy a new frying pan.

· Some people have a ten-inch frying pan mentality...e.g. well this was my mom's frying pan...we''re just a ten-inch frying pan family.

· Proverbs 13:22 NIV

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Isaiah 60:1 NIV

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

· Glory indicates weight.

Psalm 150:2 NIV

Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Jeniro is on the go!

Ups & Downs: The Great Adventure

I usually serve with the Kidslife team in Level 56 on Saturdays, but tonight I served with the Lakewood P layers (Drama Ministry) to help the 1st-4th graders learn about love. I did however get the notes for this weekend and decided to do a devotional about what this particular topic means to me. The Level 56 Summer Break Focus Topic has been "Ups & Downs: God's Faithfulness. This weekend we are focusing on the "The Great Adventure" and I'm sure Jonathan did an amazing job teaching this message to the kids! The large bolded italicized text is part of the message that was shared.  The scriptures that I share below ARE NOT NECESSARILY the scriptures the kids heard at service; this is my personal devotional on the topic! 

God has a great big plan for all of us. He has the most amazing adventure already planned out for us! All we have to do is get ready, trust him and and go on this adventure.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When we plan to do something EVERYTHING in the plan is included to lead us to that desired destination even the things that we see as insignificant. Like David; his work as a shepherd prepared him to defeat Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:34-37But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

In this story, I see Saul as Carl and David as Ellie: some people see the vision and some people don't. David didn't get an attitude, he just explained his case like the next video. David was more than ready to go on a BIG adventure.

The couple in this video was more than ready to go on a BIG adventure.




Point #1


Don't be afraid to dream BIG! 
Now, let's take a look at Carl after he has lost all of his dreams. 


Point #2


God always has good things in store for us.
Level 56 is the Lakewood Church exciting, high impact service designed exclusively for 5th and 6th graders. Tweens discover an exciting new world where they can hang out with friends, enjoy games and fun activities and learn leadership and social skills through biblical principles that will prepare them for the future.

Matthew 19:26 ...with God all things are possible.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  

Ephesians 3:20 [God] is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

God created the entire universe; the things I want are nowhere close to the universe. Thinking about God as the awesome creator and that he is empowers me to dream big. If he can speak the sun into existence then my dreams are no match for God. I just have to believe.

Sometimes things don't happen the way we think that they should but our ways are not God's ways.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”  declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Sometimes the people who we thought would share in a dream leave but it doesn't mean that God won't give me the desires of my heart. Furthermore, even though certain people didn't make it to our dream physically they still helped us get there and we should honor their memory without letting their memory impede our future.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2 corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” [are] the things God has prepared for those who love him.

It's hard to lose sight of the fact that God has good things in store for us but we have to always remember that he does. I think Psalm 27 is a good representation of this fact. I'm sorry that I missed serving with the Level 56 team this week but I know the kids will be blessed by this message and I hope that you were too.

Psalm 27