The Break Out

John Gray @ Lakewood Church

• Sometimes you are in prison and then it gets worse because then it gets dark.
• IF I have to knock then its not my door
• God IS opening my doors and IM about to walk right through
• My blessing is going to be freedom for those around me.

• BACKGROUND
• Acts 16:16-21 KJV
  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
• The "demon-possessed woman" is the last person Paul wanted agreeing with him!
• The woman was how her "pimps" made their money so when the spirit came out of her they were upset so they lied and said the men were "troubling" their city
• Draw your own conclusions!

• The Break Out
• Acts 16:25-28 KJV
  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

• At midnight, when things could not get worse they sang praise and prayed.
• Praise can shift the ground under me
• All I need is one person to get in agreement with me and that person can be me! l can encourage my self
• 1 Samuel 30:6-8 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
• When I don't know whether or not my praise is getting through l can rest assure that God inhabits the praises of His people
• Psalms 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel
• At midnight my eyes see darkness but my faith sees morning.
• You cant be a prison keeper without beIng in The prison yourself

Victoria Osteen

• Be a Thermostat
• Set the tone
• I am not to read the temperature then adjust
• I am supposed to set the temperature and change the atmosphere
• A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.
• The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying'--or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his
  back...a thought struck him.It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow."Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself.No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL!What seemed like would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
• THAT'S LIFE!

• If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!
• IF I feel like I AM In a pit
• Shake off deception and step up to a new level.

I Serve a Big God!!!

Louis Giglio @ Lakewood Church

Psalm 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
The sky is a billboard for the greatness of God.

*I LIKE THE MSG VERSION

Psalm 19:1-2 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.

• God spoke the UNIVERSE into existence so I need to upsize my prayers.

• Isaiah 40:25-26 To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

• 1 light year=9.4605284x10^15 meters.

• God spoke light into existence 299792458 m/s…that's fast.

• It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye and my thumb blotted out the planet earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, ery small.
-Neil Armstrong

…sin makes you feel bigger than you are but when you realize how small you are you see how big God is.

• Psalm 8:4-5 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

• Psalm 103:8-12 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.



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Victoria Osteen's Talk

Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Choose this day what my attitude is going to be, choose what I'm going do, choose what I'm going to say...Jesus already did the work for us.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm

Let It (Unforgiveness) Go

Bishop T.D. Jakes @ Lakewood Church

If you don't give forgiveness well then you can't receive forgiveness well.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore bretheren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not comformed to the ways of this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove that good acceptable and perfect will of God!

• Unforgiveness is when you get stuck in a place of pain.

• We have no provision for offense because we have developed a methodology for dealing with it.

• If you do well vertically but don't do well horizontally then are you really living a crucified life?

• If you don't think you are a good person then you won't like "me" thinking you are a good person, so you will find someone who sees you the way that you see yourself (i.e. Abusive relationships)

• Unforgiveness is not natural, it's a learned behavior (methodology) and if you can learn it then you can unlearn it. I NEED TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF MY MIND.

• When you hold yourself back people aren't meeting the real you. And you hold yourself back because of unforgiveness (i.e. remember what happened last time...)

• Unforgiveness is not attacking the other person, it's attacking you. (high blood pressure, sleepless nights, etc...) It's like drinking poison hoping the enemy dies.

• I'm commanded to forgive, I'm not commanded to trust. If someone has betrayed trust they have the responsibility to get it back.

• God is giving me time to unlearn destructive behavior.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

Let It (The Silent Frustration) Go

T.D. Jakes @ Lakewood Church

Luke 15:11-32

25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

• Imagine looking at this family from the neighbor's perspective.

They were obviously doing well. Even though everything looks good you don't know know what's going on in the inside.

• We've lost a little of that facade and the "last frontier" is what's going on in our head.

• The prodigal son gets all the attention and no one says anything about the son who is doing good.

• v.26 You can tell there hadn't been a party in a while because the "good son" said, "what's going on."

• v.28 The older brother became angry but he was already frustrated. He probably had to work harder. The dad was probably always saying "I wonder when brother is coming home" and etc...All the while he's thinking I'm here being faithful and working hard, can you be happy that I'm here.

• Sometimes it's hard to determine the makeup from the man.

• v.28 when the brother went out, the father went after him...he same father who celebrated the one who came home. The Lord says, "Before you miss my party, I'm coming out to get you."

• God is too wise to allow my happiness be predicated on someone else's behavior.

• It's time to let go of the silent frustration.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

Earlier last year my husband and I adopted a dog from the animal shelter. Our hearts set on a cocker spaniel, Gregory logged on to petfinder.com and behold a cocker resided in our area. We drove over to the animal shelter to meet “Brownie”. The shelter was full of dogs 3 and 4 to a cage. It smelled and the short staff made it difficult to for dogs to get adequate exercise; the cage served as their eating, sleeping, and pooping facilities [so it smelled]. Initially the pet counselor told us that “Brownie” was not on the list. We walked around the shelter just to check the other dogs out when out from around the corner walks the pet counselor with “Brownie”. The stay or his past life had definitely taken a toll on him. He fought each step as the counselor pulled him in our direction. We looked at each other with a worried glare. So we sat with the dog for a while; despondent with fleas crawling through his fur, brownie sat in the cage with us. The counselor kept insisting that “Brownie” would make an excellent addition to our family; his assistant assured us that if “Brownie” didn’t work out, we could return him in exchange for a voucher for a new dog. For some reason, we decided to try him out. We filled out the paperwork and set an appointment to pick him up after his surgery.

A few days later, we arrived to pick up our new family member. We changed his name to Canon; not only did we not like the name Brownie, but he didn’t respond to it and we read that it’s pretty easy to teach a dog to answer to a new name. They could not tell us whether or not Canon was house trained, but turns out he is! To make a long story short, Canon has transformed into the perfect family member. Had we let his first impression skew our decision we would have missed out on a great experience. Canon loves people, but he loves us the most! He is not destructive, plays well with other animals [even cats], and is a fast learner. If you are looking to purchase a new pet, skip the pet store. Head over to the local animal shelter and your new family member maybe locked up in doggie jail like our Canon was. When you walk into the shelter you may be scared or even grossed out, but persevere!

The fees differ but pet adoption usually cost $100 or less up front. 

Deal With It

Lakewood Church

Deal With It
Pastor Joel!

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

1. Suffer through being uncomfortable and/or not getting your way so you can strengthen your character.

• Starve the flesh and feed the spirit.

• The pain of discipline is temporary, the pain of compromise is permanent. (my destiny is worth that much)

2. Be sensitive to God's voice.

• Genesis 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the INTEGRITY OF THINE HEART; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

3. Do what you can in the natural so God can do the supernatural.

• With every step of obedience a blessing comes.

• Abraham and Isaac: It isn't natural for rams to climb that high.

4. When you don't deal with it, you may not reach your destiny.

• Sampson

• Saul

• Gehazi: 2 Kings 5:20-27 He was in line to receive a double portion and ended with Leprosy

• Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

5. Humble yourself and don't settle for partial victory.

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Hitting the Delete Button

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel!

• Just like a virus can slow down a perfectly good computer so can negative thoughts slow down a perfectly good believer.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Words are like seeds, if we dwell on them too long they will take root and develop a stronghold.

• Take inventory on my thought life and determine whether or not it lines up with God's word.

Genesis 3:11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

• God wanted to know who told them that something was wrong with them.

• No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me,the lord will receive me.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart."

• Sometimes God will drop something in your spirit that doesn't seem "logical".

• People who knew how to hit the delete button:
Emmitt Smith, Dr. Seuss, Pastor Joel, Fred Smith, Dannel Malloy

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Bold Prayers

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel!


Matthew 9:29 ..."According to your faith let it be done to you"...

Psalm 81:10 ...Open wide your mouth and I will fill it...
• How wide is my mouth open?

Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Matthew 20:32-34 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
• They could have asked for "help around the house", "a seeing eye dog", etc...But when you've been blind your entire life it takes a lot of boldness to ask for your sight.

Psalm 2:8 Ask me,and I will make the nations your inheritance,the ends of the earth your possession.

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Increasing in Favor

Keith Craft @ Lakewod Church
New Years Eve 2011/*New Years Day Service

*It's not just about family of origin, but family of choice.

Favor: divine assigned advantage!

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in FAVOR with God and man.

• Jesus was the Lord and he had to increase in FAVOR.

• That means I should and need to too!

*msg: Love and Loyalty kjv: Mercy and Truth

Proverbs 3:3-6 Let love and FAITHFULNESS never leave you;bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win FAVOR and a good namein the sight of God and man. Trust in the lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.

1. Discover the secret.

• There is a secret to increasing in favor, you don't

Deuteronomy 29:29 The SECRET things belong to the lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Psalms 25:14 The SECRET of the Lord is with them that HONOR him; and he will shew them his covenant.

* Get Motivated Seminar

Enthusiasm: Overflowing with eager enjoyment or approval.

•This place was called a church before it was. It had been devalued and now it has been resurrected for God's glory.
* Inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of God.


2. Develop your mercy quotient: choose to see the best in others.
* The pathway of favor is found through the gateway of mercy.
* Extend a latter past a person's sin into the pit their sin got them in so they can climb their way out of it.
* Some people find fault as if there's a reward for it. -Zig Zigler

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

• Ignore the worse.

Genesis 39:1-6 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found FAVOR in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

• People are blessed because they are in your presence when you have favor, and you're okay with that!
* We give honor because we are honorable.
* Mercy empowers me to give honor.
*Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
*2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

• Mercy breeds honor and honor breed favor.

• God doesn't curse, we curse ourselves. Judgementalism breeds dishonor and dishonor breeds a curse.

*You bring on yourself a curse of disobedience


3. Deploy your greatness: Do more than you're asked to do.
* I can leave an imprint that no one else can.
* John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY BEYOND all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

•Favor is reserved for those who honor Him!

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

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What’s In a Name?

Jeanicia Rochelle Elder’s business gained its inception in 1997 when she declared herlove for all things media. Since then she has moonlighted for several companies including:Acadiana Open Channel, The Bridge Ministry of Acadiana, and several Houston area churches. Only this year did she did she take the plunge to enter the business world.

ByJRochelle is a multi-media creation company specializingin graphics, video production [for web, television, and mass presentation]. ByJRochelle uses creativity to get your message across while remaining sensitive to the image of your company. You can visit our temporary website to view work samples. Before I introduce you the work, let me answer a question fan, Derix Dugan: Why ByJRochelle?

9 years ago when I met the man who I eventually married you always found me creating something. At the time we met, it was clothes. My grandmother taught me to sew; I eventually acquired a sewing machine with which I would make gifts for friends and family. Gregory randomly suggested that I create my own line of clothing called, yep you guessed it, J Rochelle. When Gregory and I rekindled our friendship, he began to encourage me to harness my talents. Although people continually told me all along that I did excellent work and recommended me to other people, I never thought that I could be a business. Gregory motivated me to not wait for someone to hire me, and hire myself. It reminded me of “J Rochelle”. As our relationship grew I started to seek alternate outlets for my creative talents and created an online portfolio, aptly titled JRochelle Media Productions.

A few months ago, I created aFacebook page to generate fans and create a temporary place to display my work. Once you get so many fans, you have the option of creating an official name. With the help of my husband I started to brainstorm possible ideas. He thought the title of my temporary portfolio , “J. Rochelle Media Productions” and even the title of my photography division, “Captured By J. Rochelle” were too long. I wanted to pick a name that communicated the vastness of my work. Finally, Gregory said, “ByJRochelle”! It was perfect. I like the idea that the name does not limit my business, because when you see “ByJRochelle” you never know exactly what it will be: a video, graphics, pictures, a resume. The possibilities are endless.

I am anxious to begin this leg of my journey and I hope that I get a chance to help you get your message across. Please visit my facebook page and my temporary portfolio. Don’t forget to click like and let me know you stopped by.