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!