Sunday, July 30, 2017

God's Got This


Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

• It's easy to live uptight when you don't see anything changing. God can make things happen

• As long as we're trying to force things, God will step back. You may have a good reason to worry, but you should stay in faith and live out of a place of peace and trust.

• A plan was put in place to get rid of Daniel. When you're in difficult situations God has people praying for you who you don't know anything about. 

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Philippians 1:21 NLT

Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose.

• You'll praise God whether you live or die.

• God made Daniel unappetizing to the Lions. God knows how to make you unappetizing to the enemy. There's a blood line around me and my family.

When you see wild animals you're advised to carry yourself with a quiet confidence.

...and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:27 NIV

When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"  Daniel answered, "May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty."  The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel 6:20‭-‬23 NIV

• Daniel's faith didn't keep him out of the lion's den but it did make him lion-proof.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 NIV

The Lord will perfect that  which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord , endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Psalms 138:8 NKJV

Jonathan and Charlie
The Osteens were worried about Jonathan fitting in after being homeschooled. Victoria met a lady and text Jonathan about finding her son. There were several thousand kids in orientation and Jonathan couldn't figure out how he'd find Charlie but "randomly" sat right next to him.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29‭-‬31 NKJV

• Victories are there to fuel your faith.

• Battles are there to bring attention to God.

The Lord  is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord  is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will  be confident.
Psalms 27:1‭-‬3 NKJV

• My advantage is that God has placed me out of reach. 

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
Psalms 27:5 NKJV



Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church
Get Even Exposure


Victoria bought solar powered lights and wanted to surprise Joel with them but they weren't working. She was just about to return them she noticed the pull tab hadn't been pulled.
Solar Powered Lights

Check that there's not a pull tab on the battery

This will apply to newly purchased lights only. Sometimes there is a pull tab on the battery that needs to be removed before the light will function. If your new solar light doesn't work, definitely check on this.
You may need to remove something that's blocking the light.

Some trees don't grow straight because so many things are crowding out the light. It's struggling to grow toward the light.

What's stopping me from being fully exposed to the Son

Remember what it says: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled." And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn't it the people Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn't it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.
Hebrews 3:15‭-‬19 NLT

Read the word to get exposure to the son.
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalms 119:105 NLT

If you read the word God will bring it to life in you.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
John 8:12


Sunday, July 9, 2017

Prospering Under Pressure


Pastor Nick @ Lakewood Church

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
Matthew 11:28‭-‬30 NLT


Vacation Blues: Smashed Rental Car, Sick Daughter, stitched son, flu wife

The question is how are we carrying pressure? How can you live at peace in the midst of pressure.

None of us are accidents and we have been designed with a unique purposes. We were created with a need to carry pressure. Purpose and pressure go hand in hand. We need a healthy sense of pressure to operate at our best. You've been graced for your race. You've been equipped for your trip.

Self-imposed unnecessary pressure.

Basketball vs Football

Pressure will push you to act out of nature and/or compromise.


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 
Hebrews 12:1 NLT

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.
Hebrews 12:2 NLT

Cabin pressure constantly adjusts depending on where the airplane is and that's what we should do.

Cabin pressurization is a process in which conditioned air is pumped into the cabin of an aircraft or spacecraft, in order to create a safe and comfortable environment for passengers and crew flying at high altitudes.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11‭-‬13 NLT

• Find a promise
As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.
Psalms 119:143 NLT

• Fight to worship
But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
John 4:23 NLT

Adjust and choose to worship because your worship will fight for you. Allow you pressure to produce a sound.

It's hard to worry and worship at the same time.

You don't worship because all is good but because He is good.