Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

Keep Your Seat

1. In the old testament the priest had to go into the temple to offer sacrifices for people's sins at a certain time. When Jesus was crucified he said "it was finished"
1. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, Hebrews 10:12
2. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6
2. When you live seated you keep your peace.
1. Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. Psalm 138:7
1. You can work hard and dream from a place of rest knowing that God's favor is on your life.
1. Inner rest is just as important as physical rest.
2. Live from a place of Trust.
2. …28 After this, Jesus, knowing[a] that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
3. It Is Finished
1. John 19:28-30 New King James Version (NKJV)When Pastor Joel first started ministering from the pulpit he's worry about whether or not he'd be successful. After every sermon he'd be relieved for a few hours then he'd 
4. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10
3. It's easy to LET your mind play all of the "what ifs". 
1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
4. The first thing you should do when you're under attack is put your feet up.
1. The Lord says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." Psalm 110:1
2. It takes work to stay seated
1. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11
5. Living guilty is NOT resting
1. The priest had to make a sacrifice every day
2. WE HAVE new grace and mercy that is available for every day.
6. You are working FROM victory not for victory.
1. Be faithful when nothing is changing.
2. Sometimes we are frustrated because we are trying to change something that we can't change.
7. Don't focus on pleasing others
1. Some people aren't being disciplined to manage their own lives
1. When you run to help others you are enabling their dysfunction
2. You can't fulfill your own destiny if you are allowing others to pull you out of rest
3. Co-dependent relationships
1. Be nice but be firm
2. It may be uncomfortable at times
3. Sometimes you have to ignore some text messages and phone calls
8. VIII.Don't give away your joy to someone who you don't even know'
9. Be an eagle not a crow
1. The crow is a smaller bird with significant maneuverability. The eagle is a large bird with great physical strength.
1. Due to physical strength, eagles have been spotted flying much higher in the air than a crow. Rising above the conflict, to an altitude where the crow cannot fly is an interesting method of dealing with the conflict. And it communicates a different demeanor than the direct aggressive frontal attack.
2. Rise Higher

Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church

Staying Strong in God Through Joy

I Life tries to show us difficulties and heartaches but Jesus wants to show us that we have what it takes to handle those difficulties.

A Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

II The joy that Jesus gives doesn't have anything to do with what is going on around us.

A I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

B God's  blessings start on the inside but then they show up on the outside.

III When Victoria got a lemon tree it didn't have any lemons on it. Victoria cultivated and developed it so now it has produced fruit.

A Victoria didn't put her lemon tree in the ground when she needed lemons because it would take time to grow those lemons.

B Store up the word on the inside for use when needed.

IV Rejoice means to brighten.

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

B You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

V Facial Feedback Theory

A Your brain is constantly monitoring what's happening in your body. It analyzes things like muscle tension, posture, heart rate, breathing, and, yes, facial expressions, to judge how you are feeling.  Put yourself in a happier position, and you can boost your mood. Practice a depressed face and slumped posture, and watch the gloom set in.

B The pencil trick

1 Put a pencil between your lips in just the right way, and you'll feel happier

2 Forces your face to mimic a genuine smile, recruiting just the muscles of the mouth, cheeks, and eyes that come to life when you are happy.

C Don't let life's difficulties push your joy down

1 Joy signals victory

1. 

--

#ElderPartyMonth

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude, don't complain.
Maya Angelou

Vision without action is a daydream.
Action without vision is a nightmare.
(which one is worse?)

Do you tweet? Me too, find me here. Also, find me on Facebook.

TheJRochelle about.me/jeanicia.elder

The Power of the Soil

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

A good seed planted in bad soil will not thrive. Soil can be a limited environment or even bad company and if you stay there those weeds and rocks will choke the life out of your seed.

He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.  Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.  But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.  Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.  Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

Matthew 13:3‭-‬8 NLT

Thorns: Toxic Friends

Weeds: Messy Coworkers 

Rocks: Negative Family members

People are contagious. Don't spend a lot of time with people who have things that you don't want to catch. 

It's not enough to focus on self-development, you have to focus on soil development.

God will never ask you to give something up without giving you something else in return.

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Genesis 12:1‭, ‬4 NLT

God told Abraham to leave with ONLY his immediate family but he took his nephew Lot.

Lot means veil or covering.

Are you holding on to what God asked you let go of?

Be selective about  what you can. 

When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. "Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!

Matthew 9:23‭-‬25 NLT

In 1896, Henry Ford attended a convention in Manhattan Beach, New York, where the honorary guest of honor was no other than the renowned Thomas Edison. During the night, a friend pointed out Ford to Edison telling him, "There's a young fellow who has made a gas car." The defining moment of the evening came after Edison asked young Ford poignant questions and showed his satisfaction by banging his fist down on the table. "Young man," he said, "that's the thing! You have it! Your car is self contained and carries its own power plant."

Nay sayers are a dime a dozen. You have to find the 20% of positive people.

Find a mentor.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!" Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Acts of the Apostles 3:4‭-‬8 NLT

You need friends who won't just pray but they will also lift you up. 

Sometimes you can't go to the next level without someone pulling you up. Adicted people can't help adicted people. Maybe you need to change who you're spending time with. Stay away from people who are enabling the dysfunction.

The God Who Crosses His Arms

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

God has things in store for me that I don't see coming.

For many years Jacob thought that his favorite son was dead. 13 years later he found out that not only was he alive but he was in a position of power and he had 2 grandsons. Things were way better than he thought.

And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

Genesis 48:5‭-‬6 NKJV

God doesn't disqualify you because of the way that you were raised. Ephraim and Manasseh were not raised in the faith and insteas of waiting another generation they received an inheritance in their youth and were thrust 40 years down the road.

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:5 NKJV

"So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant— when you have eaten and are full—

Deuteronomy 6:10‭-‬11 NKJV

God is not holding my background against me. God's going to do a quick work in my life.

Don't waste your time on people who won't celebrate you. Where your blessings well.

God crossed his arms.

Jacob was about to bless Josephs son and Ephraim (the oldest) was seated at his right hand while Manasseh (the youngest) was seated to the left. Traditionally the oldest received a double portion but Jacob crossed his arms and layed his righth and on the younger son.

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one  is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."

Genesis 48:18‭-‬19 NKJV

So the youngest grandson receiving this blessing shows that God can take someone who is in the back, at a far disadvantage and thrust them forward.

God can reach you no matter where you are.

And the Lord said to Moses, "Has the Lord 's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not."

Numbers 11:23 NKJV

God chooses to bless us, it's not about earning anything.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Luke 1:30 NKJV

Pastor John Osteen

No one in his family believed in God and he didn't grow up in church.

David was a shepherd with no millitary experience and Samuel came looking for him and annointed him, the youngest son in Jesse's house, as the next King

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord ; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord God ? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

II Samuel 7:18 NKJV

Victoria Osteen's Exhortation

Don't allow busyness to overwhelm our lives. If we're going to see our dreams come to pass then we're going to have to make room for them.

You have to set priorities because if we let everything take our tine we can get off course.

Sometimes multitasking is not productive. Hurry and do this so I can hurry and do that and then other people had to hurry. Activity doesn't necessarily equal productivity.

MOSES

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 90:12 NKJV

He was the one who heard from God and who everyone came to him for answers. So that was his prayer and the wise counsel from his father-in-law Jethro may have been his answer.

So Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to  be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Exodus 18:17‭-‬18‭, ‬21‭, ‬24‭-‬25 NKJV

God should be the first thing on the list. So put the God rock first and he will help us to prioritize. 

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

TheJRochelle: Your Girl Friday

Allow me to reintroduce myself! My name is Jeanicia Elder I am Jeniro (on the go) The J Rochelle! Born and raised in Houston, TX I'm a media producer, a photographer, a graphic designer, an event planner, a fitness professional, a PoundPro, and so much more. I'm basically your Girl Friday mostly because I've never been able to find a home and I just can't sit still.

Right now my life is pretty mellow but there was a time in my life when I was going to school, working in 2 cities, volunteering, and traveling. How did I do it all? God multiplied my time or something because these days it seems like the hours get away from me.

These days I'm people watching with both of my Canons and leading Pound Classes in Houston.

Tis' The Season

Robert Madu @ Lakewood Church

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.

Genesis 1:14‭-‬15 NKJV

Received an invitation to preach to a group of preachers and they even gave in the topic "the art of effective communication".

How you start something is very significant. Even in cinema, they start with car chases, explosions, and etc.

Estimated Relationship Potential

He who starts behind in the great race of life must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.

Benjamin E. Mays

God created the world with Word power. God's Word is a transforming agent.

A lot of time it seems like nothing is happening and that's the time to praise God because he can create something out of nothing because when God speaks something it has to come to pass.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it  was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Genesis 1:3‭-‬5 NKJV

Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He  made  the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it  was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Genesis 1:16‭-‬19 NKJV

Light was created on the first day but light giving entities didn't show up until the fourth day. What was shining for 3 days? It just had to be God's power.

Life is made up the years that God gives you and we have to find value in each day no matter what season you're in.

Every season has its beauty and its burden and you get to choose what you focus on.

Don't let your season dictate your faith or your worship.

Surrounded by the Most High

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

We always feel like we're surrounded by bad things. 

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh no, my Lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked.  "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord , so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:15‭-‬17 NIV

The most high God is surrounding our enemy.

Don't get discouraged by what you see with your physical eye.

I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.  Arise, Lord ! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.  From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

Psalm 3:6‭-‬8 NIV

Open your eyes of faith.

The one who controls the fire is with us. 

and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.  Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, Your Majesty."  He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Daniel 3:23‭-‬25 NIV

Sometimes God will allow the fire to show you as an example.

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,

Daniel 3:26, 28 NIV

God will use the fire to establish you,  give you more credibility, and take you to the next level.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Daniel 3:28 NIV

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

Psalm 34:19 NIV

When the teenagers were in the fire only the cords (the things that were holding them back). They weren't burned and their clothes weren't burned (nothing they needed) 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 34:7 NIV

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.

Job 13:15 NIV

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

Psalm 91:11 NIV

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

Exodus 14:13 NIV

Tauren Wells @ Lakewood Church

Lawson at 18 months does not like to hear the word no and he is just learning to communicate because there is something in the human condition that sees no as a deadend. With God every no is attached to a better yes.

After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing." The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night [no]. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him. Jesus spoke to them: "Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?" They answered, "No." He said, "Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens." They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in.

John 21:3‭-‬6 MSG

A lot of us look at the present problem as the greatest miracle opportunity.

Joshua was up early and on his way from Shittim with all the People of Israel with him. He arrived at the Jordan and camped before crossing over. After three days, leaders went through the camp and gave out orders to the people: "When you see the Covenant-Chest of God , your God, carried by the Levitical priests, start moving. Follow it. Make sure you keep a proper distance between you and it, about half a mile—be sure now to keep your distance!—and you'll see clearly the route to take. You've never been on this road before."

Joshua 3:1‭-‬4 MSG

https://bible.com/bible/97/jos.3.1-4.MSG

Sowing Generously

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;  then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Proverbs 3:9‭-‬10 NIV

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6‭-‬8 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.9.6-8.NIV

Pit Praisers

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

We all have times when we feel like we're in the pits (bad medical report, debt, etc...) Praise turns things around and we need to praise before things turn around.

Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and threw him into a pit planning to fake his death.

People don't have the final say when life takes an unexpected path God is still working.

Judah means praise.

So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is  there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is  our brother and  our flesh." And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the  brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Genesis 37:26‭-‬28 NKJV

Praise can get you out of the pit.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Hebrews 13:15 NKJV

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

Psalms 40:2 NKJV

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalms 34:1 NKJV

Paul and Silas

They were working for God and got thrown into prison.

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.

Acts 16:25‭-‬26 NKJV

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

When we're in the pits it's easy to have a pity party instead, thank God that he is bringing you out.

Sometimes the pit is on the road to your destiny. God will not mismanage your life, he's planed the beginning to the end but he didn't promise that it would always make sense.

In Joseph's dream his brothers were bowing down to him, but when he ended up in the pit it seemed backwards.

Praise can be an attitude.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Pitstop

In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tyres, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, as a penalty, or any combination of the above

The pitstops are not the end. It's a time to refuel and get prepared for the next leg of the race.

This pit is not my final destination.

Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 15:21‭-‬28 NKJV

God will break protocol and turn your situation around when you praise even if you don't deserve it. 

But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

Psalms 22:3 WEB

the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the Lord of hosts, For the Lord  is good, For His mercy endures forever"— and of those who  will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord . For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the Lord .

Jeremiah 33:11 NKJV

Walls of Jericho (Joshua 6)

It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the city wall shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight in front of him."

Joshua 6:5 WEB

Do you trust God enough to praise him in front of a wall that's not moving?

Exhortation

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.

Psalms 89:1 NKJV

The Trevinos

Affected by generational curse that led them to divorce but remarried his SAME wife after a God coincidence at Lakewood when he ran into his wife again. While allowing God to work on them through faithfulness, getting plugged in, and through classes.

The Villareals

From a rough background but sought God and were able to overcome that. When they first started coming to Lakewood he looked at offering as God wanting to take something from him. The funny thing was that he had nothing to give but God didn't hold that against him. He now has 3 glass companies and is prodpering.

Neither family had Godly examples but they planted themselves at Lakewood and were able to raise their children in a Godly way.

God wants to meet us right where we are and he is not holding anything against me.  His plans for me have not changed.

But this I  say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So  let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

II Corinthians 9:6‭-‬8 NKJV

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 NKJV

We are all supposed to grow in our measure of giving.