Live a No-Excuse Life

0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:01.960 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:00:02.240 --> 0:00:05.279 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:00:05.280 --> 0:00:08.240 the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 0:00:08.280 --> 0:00:11.039 be a blessing and share it with a friend. Reappreciate 0:00:11.119 --> 0:00:13.800 you and pray for God's very best in your life. 0:00:14.000 --> 0:00:16.759 Will God bless you? It is always a joy to 0:00:16.920 --> 0:00:20.040 come into your homes. We love you and we're believing 0:00:20.079 --> 0:00:21.720 this is going to be your best year so far. 0:00:22.239 --> 0:00:24.560 If you're ever in our area, stop buy and see us. 0:00:24.680 --> 0:00:26.759 I promise you will make you feel right at home. 0:00:27.040 --> 0:00:29.280 But thanks for tuning in. Thank you again for coming 0:00:29.280 --> 0:00:31.920 out today. I'd like to start with something funny and 0:00:32.200 --> 0:00:35.000 I heard about this husband. He was quietly reading the 0:00:35.040 --> 0:00:37.959 newspaper when his wife walked up behind him and hit 0:00:38.040 --> 0:00:39.680 him on the head with a frying pan. 0:00:40.440 --> 0:00:41.640 He said, what was that for? 0:00:42.320 --> 0:00:44.320 She said, that was for the piece of paper I 0:00:44.360 --> 0:00:47.080 found in your pocket with the name Mary Lou on it. 0:00:47.520 --> 0:00:49.720 He said, oh, honey, that's just one of the horses 0:00:49.760 --> 0:00:52.600 that I bet on at the racetrack last week. She 0:00:52.720 --> 0:00:56.200 apologized and went about her business. Three days later, she 0:00:56.240 --> 0:00:58.400 walked up and hit him with a bigger frying pan. 0:00:59.120 --> 0:01:00.920 When he came to He said, what in the world 0:01:01.000 --> 0:01:06.520 was that for? She said, your horse just called. All right, 0:01:07.200 --> 0:01:09.320 hold up your bible. Say it like you mean it. 0:01:09.840 --> 0:01:12.800 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:13.480 --> 0:01:15.959 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:18.640 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:18.720 --> 0:01:22.920 taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind 0:01:23.000 --> 0:01:26.560 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:26.680 --> 0:01:31.800 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:01:31.800 --> 0:01:35.759 to talk to you today about living a no excuses life. 0:01:36.480 --> 0:01:38.720 It's easy to come up with the reason why we 0:01:38.760 --> 0:01:42.360 can't be our best now. I found most people have 0:01:42.600 --> 0:01:46.240 what they think is some kind of handicap, something that's 0:01:46.280 --> 0:01:50.240 holding them back. It may be something about their personality, 0:01:50.360 --> 0:01:53.360 or something about their looks that they don't like, or 0:01:53.400 --> 0:01:57.480 maybe they've been through an unfair situation, a divorce, a 0:01:57.520 --> 0:02:01.240 business partner cheated them, they got a bad break. I've 0:02:01.240 --> 0:02:04.640 had people tell me, Joel, I'm just the wrong nationality, 0:02:04.960 --> 0:02:08.240 I come from the wrong family. We all have things 0:02:08.280 --> 0:02:11.840 that we feel like could be a disadvantage, things that 0:02:11.919 --> 0:02:14.840 make it harder on us. It may even be a 0:02:14.880 --> 0:02:18.560 physical handicap where you can't get around like you used to, 0:02:19.080 --> 0:02:23.000 you can't see as well, you're physically challenged in some area. 0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:28.080 But just because you have a quote disadvantage, just because 0:02:28.120 --> 0:02:31.120 you've been through a tough time, that doesn't mean you're 0:02:31.160 --> 0:02:34.840 supposed to sit back and settle where you are. God 0:02:34.919 --> 0:02:38.519 still has something great for you to do. You may 0:02:38.520 --> 0:02:41.799 not look like everyone else, you may not be able to. 0:02:41.760 --> 0:02:42.960 Do what others can do. 0:02:43.560 --> 0:02:46.520 But if you will stay in faith and not get 0:02:46.600 --> 0:02:51.480 negative toward yourself or negative towards your future, then what 0:02:51.560 --> 0:02:55.079 you think is a liability is going to turn out 0:02:55.120 --> 0:02:58.919 to be an asset. What you think is a disadvantage 0:02:59.120 --> 0:03:02.720 God is going to turn to be an advantage. Many 0:03:02.760 --> 0:03:06.160 of you know who Joyce Meyer is. She's a great minister, 0:03:06.320 --> 0:03:10.000 a good friend. She told how in her early days 0:03:10.400 --> 0:03:12.800 she couldn't stand the sound of her voice. 0:03:13.360 --> 0:03:14.800 Her voice is very deep. 0:03:15.520 --> 0:03:18.040 In fact, when people used to hear her on the radio, 0:03:18.440 --> 0:03:21.919 they thought she was a man. She gets so discouraged 0:03:22.240 --> 0:03:26.000 and say, God, why do I have such an odd voice? God, 0:03:26.040 --> 0:03:29.639 why can't I just have a nice, polite, feminine voice. 0:03:30.120 --> 0:03:33.560 But over the years she begin to realize that her 0:03:33.680 --> 0:03:37.880 voice is so distinct it makes her stand out. When 0:03:37.960 --> 0:03:41.880 people hear it, it draws their attention. What she thought 0:03:42.040 --> 0:03:46.200 was a liability ended up being an asset. You need 0:03:46.200 --> 0:03:49.760 to quit looking at yourself as being odd and start 0:03:49.800 --> 0:03:52.800 seeing yourself as being unique. 0:03:53.000 --> 0:03:56.480 You are not too tall or too short. You are 0:03:56.600 --> 0:03:57.600 just the right size. 0:03:58.120 --> 0:04:01.560 You have just the right personality, just the right looks, 0:04:01.960 --> 0:04:05.800 just the right talents. When God made you, he wasn't 0:04:05.800 --> 0:04:09.680 having a bad day. He made you like you are 0:04:10.000 --> 0:04:13.560 on purpose. When God got finished creating you, he stepped 0:04:13.640 --> 0:04:17.480 back and said that was good. I like that another masterpiece. 0:04:18.200 --> 0:04:21.200 And sure there are things about us that we may 0:04:21.200 --> 0:04:24.440 not like, things that we wish were different, But you 0:04:24.520 --> 0:04:27.400 can't allow that to cause you to get sour and 0:04:27.520 --> 0:04:31.160 keep you from pursuing your dreams. I think about my mother. 0:04:31.640 --> 0:04:34.560 She had polio as a child. She had to wear 0:04:34.600 --> 0:04:37.680 braces on her legs. Today, one of her legs is 0:04:37.760 --> 0:04:40.599 much smaller than the other one. When she goes to 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:44.120 buy shoes, she has to buy two pairs because her 0:04:44.160 --> 0:04:47.680 feet are two different sizes. But one thing I've always 0:04:47.760 --> 0:04:51.680 loved about my mother is she has never let that stop. 0:04:51.400 --> 0:04:53.040 Her from pressing forward. 0:04:53.800 --> 0:04:56.760 She could have easily been kind of embarrassed by it. 0:04:57.400 --> 0:04:59.960 She could have shrunk back and tried to hide it, 0:05:00.600 --> 0:05:03.400 let it cause her to feel less than, but she 0:05:03.440 --> 0:05:08.839 never did that. She has this no excuses mentality. She 0:05:09.040 --> 0:05:10.839 knows she's been made. 0:05:10.960 --> 0:05:14.240 In the image of Almighty God. Growing up. 0:05:14.400 --> 0:05:17.719 That never stopped her from wearing shorts, never stopped her 0:05:17.760 --> 0:05:21.880 from wearing dresses. She still wears dresses today, seventy five 0:05:21.960 --> 0:05:23.840 years old, still showing off her legs. 0:05:26.360 --> 0:05:30.120 That don't let her fool you. She loves it. 0:05:32.279 --> 0:05:34.719 That never stopped her from doing things like working in 0:05:34.760 --> 0:05:38.600 the yard. It never stopped her from praying for other 0:05:38.680 --> 0:05:41.880 people that needed healing. She could have thought, I can't 0:05:41.880 --> 0:05:45.360 pray for them to get well, my legs are not well. No, 0:05:45.520 --> 0:05:48.479 you don't have to be perfect for God to use you. 0:05:48.480 --> 0:05:50.960 You've got to take the hand that you've been dealt 0:05:51.120 --> 0:05:54.000 and make the very most of it. Believe that God 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:57.799 turns it around, Believe that he'll bring healing. But even 0:05:57.920 --> 0:06:01.839 if it doesn't happen, you can still honor God by 0:06:01.880 --> 0:06:04.880 being the best that you can be right where you are. 0:06:05.960 --> 0:06:09.200 My sister Lisa was born with something like cerebral palsy. 0:06:09.800 --> 0:06:12.640 The doctors told my parents that she'd never be able 0:06:12.680 --> 0:06:16.360 to walk, never be able to feed herself. They said, 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:19.160 you might as well get prepared to take care of 0:06:19.200 --> 0:06:20.400 a disabled child. 0:06:21.080 --> 0:06:22.880 Of course, my parents were devastated. 0:06:23.320 --> 0:06:27.080 They prayed, they believed, they stood in faith, and little 0:06:27.120 --> 0:06:31.560 by little, Lisa got better and better. Today she's perfectly normal. 0:06:31.880 --> 0:06:36.000 She's on staff with us here, ministers for us many times. Now. 0:06:36.040 --> 0:06:39.279 I have another friend by the name of David Ring. 0:06:39.880 --> 0:06:43.760 You may know him. He's a minister like Lisa. He 0:06:43.880 --> 0:06:47.839 too was born with cerebral palsy, but God's plan for 0:06:47.920 --> 0:06:49.239 his life was different. 0:06:49.839 --> 0:06:51.640 David Ring didn't get healed. 0:06:52.279 --> 0:06:55.279 When he talks, it takes him three or four times 0:06:55.320 --> 0:06:58.400 as long to get the words out. When he walks. 0:06:58.720 --> 0:07:01.920 His legs and arms don't function like most of ours. 0:07:02.560 --> 0:07:05.159 He could have easily sat at home and thought, too 0:07:05.200 --> 0:07:09.279 bad for me. I've got this disability. My speech is slow. 0:07:09.480 --> 0:07:12.280 I can't get around God. I thought you wanted me 0:07:12.320 --> 0:07:14.880 to do something great. I thought you wanted me to 0:07:14.880 --> 0:07:17.640 be a minister. I must have been wrong. I've got 0:07:17.640 --> 0:07:21.240 this handicap. Now you've got to know David Ring. There's 0:07:21.280 --> 0:07:24.480 nothing that slows him down. He goes all over the 0:07:24.520 --> 0:07:28.720 world speaking to thousands of people, telling them about the 0:07:28.760 --> 0:07:32.480 goodness of God and about how they too can overcome 0:07:32.600 --> 0:07:33.520 any obstacle. 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:36.520 When he gets up to speak, it's. 0:07:36.400 --> 0:07:40.240 Very difficult to understand. As I said, he speaks very slowly, 0:07:40.880 --> 0:07:43.560 but I love the way he always starts. He says, 0:07:44.040 --> 0:07:49.640 my name is David Ring. What's your excuse think about this? 0:07:50.240 --> 0:07:54.440 Lisa was healed from cerebral palsy and she's honoring God 0:07:54.560 --> 0:07:55.880 with her life. 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:57.280 David Ring is. 0:07:57.240 --> 0:08:01.240 Living with cerebral palsy and he's honoring God with his life. 0:08:01.800 --> 0:08:02.640 What am I saying? 0:08:03.480 --> 0:08:06.200 You've got to take what God's given you and make 0:08:06.240 --> 0:08:09.720 the very most of it. You cannot sit around thinking 0:08:10.080 --> 0:08:12.800 why did this happen to me? Why did she get 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:15.679 healed and I didn't get healed? Why did my marriage 0:08:15.720 --> 0:08:18.600 not work out? Why do my neighbors have power? And 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:24.160 I still don't quit focusing on all the wise. Faith 0:08:24.360 --> 0:08:27.600 is all about trusting God even when you don't understand it. 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:31.720 And the fact is God could have healed David just 0:08:31.840 --> 0:08:35.120 like he healed my sister Lisa. But God is a 0:08:35.160 --> 0:08:38.800 sovereign God. I don't claim to understand it all, but 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:42.000 I do know this. God is a good God. He 0:08:42.080 --> 0:08:45.240 has a great plan for your life a destiny for 0:08:45.320 --> 0:08:48.959 you to fulfill. And no matter how many disadvantages come 0:08:49.000 --> 0:08:51.920 your way, no matter how many setbacks try to pull 0:08:51.960 --> 0:08:53.400 you down, if. 0:08:53.280 --> 0:08:56.120 You'll shake off the self pity, shake off. 0:08:55.960 --> 0:08:59.440 The blame, dig your heels in, and keep pressing forward, 0:09:00.080 --> 0:09:04.280 then no setback, no disadvantage, no handicap can keep you 0:09:04.520 --> 0:09:09.320 from becoming everything that God's created you to be. Now 0:09:09.360 --> 0:09:13.280 I'm asking you today to get rid of the excuses. 0:09:14.040 --> 0:09:18.760 Quit dwelling on your disappointments and how unfair it was and. 0:09:18.679 --> 0:09:20.240 Who hurt you. 0:09:20.240 --> 0:09:24.000 No. God has something great right where you are. There 0:09:24.000 --> 0:09:28.040 are no handicaps except in our mind. But too many 0:09:28.080 --> 0:09:31.640 people are waiting for God to remove everything and make 0:09:31.679 --> 0:09:34.839 them perfect. Then they're going to pursue their dreams. Then 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:37.640 they're going to go after their destiny. Now you need 0:09:37.679 --> 0:09:41.120 to go after your destiny right now. Honor God with 0:09:41.160 --> 0:09:44.840 what you have. He wants to take that liability and 0:09:44.920 --> 0:09:47.600 turn it into an asset. But here's what you have 0:09:47.720 --> 0:09:51.760 to accept. God may not remove it, but he will 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:55.679 use it to your advantage. In the scripture, there was 0:09:55.720 --> 0:09:59.079 a man that was born blind. Some people were asking 0:09:59.200 --> 0:10:03.080 Jesus why was he born this way? Whose fault was 0:10:03.120 --> 0:10:06.319 it his or his parents. They were trying to find 0:10:06.520 --> 0:10:10.720 somebody to blame, some reason, some excuse. We tend to 0:10:10.760 --> 0:10:13.319 do the same type of things today. But I love 0:10:13.400 --> 0:10:16.880 the way Jesus answered. It's found in John nine, verse three. 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:21.480 He said, it's not anybody's fault, not his nor his parents. 0:10:22.080 --> 0:10:25.400 The reason he was born this way was so that 0:10:25.440 --> 0:10:26.760 the goodness. 0:10:26.320 --> 0:10:28.160 Of God could be displayed. 0:10:29.240 --> 0:10:33.240 Jesus is saying, when you have a setback, when life 0:10:33.280 --> 0:10:36.080 deals you a tough blow, don't get. 0:10:35.840 --> 0:10:37.680 Better, don't settle there. 0:10:38.200 --> 0:10:42.120 Recognize you are a prime candidate for God to show 0:10:42.160 --> 0:10:45.439 his favor and goodness through. In other words, if you 0:10:45.520 --> 0:10:48.160 feel like you have a disadvantage, if you feel like 0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:52.200 you have a disability, a handicap, instead of saying, oh man, 0:10:52.240 --> 0:10:55.560 it's not fair God, No, your attitude should be God. 0:10:55.559 --> 0:10:56.120 I'm ready. 0:10:56.559 --> 0:10:59.240 I know you have something great in store, and I 0:10:59.360 --> 0:11:04.000 refused to live defeated and depressed. I know this disadvantage 0:11:04.360 --> 0:11:08.000 is simply another opportunity for you to show up and 0:11:08.120 --> 0:11:11.600 show out. That's exactly what a young man did by 0:11:11.600 --> 0:11:16.120 the name of Tony Melendez. He was born without any arms. 0:11:16.760 --> 0:11:19.520 As a little boy, he had a desire to play 0:11:19.520 --> 0:11:23.360 the guitar. Something on the inside said you're supposed to 0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:25.160 sing and write music. 0:11:25.800 --> 0:11:27.160 Tony didn't know any better. 0:11:27.679 --> 0:11:30.599 Instead of saying, too bad for me, I'd love to 0:11:30.600 --> 0:11:33.520 play the guitar, but I don't have any arms. No, 0:11:33.640 --> 0:11:36.880 his attitude was, I may not have any arms, but 0:11:36.920 --> 0:11:39.760 I do have feet. I may not have any fingers, 0:11:40.040 --> 0:11:43.400 but I do have ten toes. Tony learned to play 0:11:43.400 --> 0:11:45.240 the guitar with his feet. 0:11:45.679 --> 0:11:46.600 You may have seen him. 0:11:46.800 --> 0:11:49.160 He can play better with his feet than most of 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:50.439 us can play with our hands. 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:51.680 What am I saying? 0:11:52.280 --> 0:11:55.400 When God puts a dream in your heart, when he 0:11:55.440 --> 0:11:59.480 puts a promise on the inside, he deposits in you 0:12:00.080 --> 0:12:00.719 everything you. 0:12:00.720 --> 0:12:02.480 Need to accomplish that dream. 0:12:03.160 --> 0:12:06.880 God wouldn't have given Tony the desire without giving him 0:12:06.920 --> 0:12:11.120 the ability. It just wasn't the quote normal way, the 0:12:11.160 --> 0:12:14.439 way most of us would be used to. Tony had 0:12:14.440 --> 0:12:17.200 to be bold enough to say, I am living a 0:12:17.280 --> 0:12:18.520 no excuse his life. 0:12:19.240 --> 0:12:21.079 Yes, this may look like a handicap. 0:12:21.400 --> 0:12:24.760 Yes, in the natural I may have a disadvantage, but 0:12:24.880 --> 0:12:28.320 I know with God there are no handicaps. I know 0:12:28.400 --> 0:12:31.360 when God made me, he wasn't having a bad day. 0:12:31.800 --> 0:12:35.200 He made me with a purpose with a destiny to fulfill, 0:12:35.559 --> 0:12:38.160 and I'm gonna do my best to bring honor to him. 0:12:38.640 --> 0:12:42.120 He has that can do mentality. For some of you 0:12:42.160 --> 0:12:43.080 today are. 0:12:43.000 --> 0:12:47.120 Sitting there thinking of all the reasons why you can't 0:12:47.200 --> 0:12:50.719 become everything God's created you to be. Well, Johold, I'm 0:12:50.760 --> 0:12:53.120 not tall enough, I'm not that talented. 0:12:53.200 --> 0:12:55.280 My voice is odd. Know. 0:12:55.440 --> 0:12:59.760 All those things that you think or disadvantages are really 0:13:00.080 --> 0:13:03.280 advantages just waiting to come to life. 0:13:03.400 --> 0:13:03.800 Today. 0:13:03.880 --> 0:13:08.360 Tony has unprecedented favor. There's all kinds of opportunity to 0:13:08.480 --> 0:13:12.960 sing and share his story of faith. What's happening because 0:13:13.000 --> 0:13:16.880 he had this no excuses mentality, because he didn't see 0:13:16.960 --> 0:13:18.200 himself as handicap. 0:13:18.760 --> 0:13:21.359 God's using him to do great things. 0:13:21.920 --> 0:13:24.760 And the truth is none of us will ever have 0:13:24.880 --> 0:13:29.559 to face, most likely anything that dramatic. Our biggest issue 0:13:29.920 --> 0:13:32.400 is we think our nose is too big, or we're 0:13:32.440 --> 0:13:35.240 too short, or I went through a divorced Joel, that's 0:13:35.280 --> 0:13:38.319 my handicap. That's why I'm coasting. No, you've got to 0:13:38.360 --> 0:13:42.080 shake that off. If you will have this no excuses 0:13:42.200 --> 0:13:47.920 mentality and keep pressing forward, God will take every liability 0:13:48.280 --> 0:13:51.960 and he'll turn it into an asset. I remember, even 0:13:52.040 --> 0:13:55.520 when I first started ministering, I didn't think that I 0:13:55.559 --> 0:13:57.720 had the right personality to do this. 0:13:58.480 --> 0:14:00.840 I'm really laid back, easy going. 0:14:01.800 --> 0:14:05.320 My mother has said she has never seen me angry 0:14:05.480 --> 0:14:08.120 a day in my life. And in my mind, to 0:14:08.160 --> 0:14:10.600 be a good minister, you needed to get mad every 0:14:10.640 --> 0:14:13.640 once in a while. You needed to have that dynamic, 0:14:13.720 --> 0:14:17.800 outgoing personality. I said, God, you're going to have to 0:14:17.920 --> 0:14:22.680 change me. I have a disadvantage. I'm quiet, I'm soft spoken, 0:14:22.840 --> 0:14:26.440 I'm more reserved. Even my father, he was more of 0:14:26.480 --> 0:14:29.400 a fireball, and he could get the crowd worked up. 0:14:30.000 --> 0:14:33.360 I've seen these other ministers and they have great voices. 0:14:34.160 --> 0:14:38.400 They preach these deep theological messages that are so eloquent. 0:14:38.880 --> 0:14:39.920 They can move. 0:14:39.720 --> 0:14:43.680 The whole congregation just the way they enunciate the words, 0:14:43.720 --> 0:14:46.840 and they're so dramatic. And I think, here, I've got 0:14:46.880 --> 0:14:49.400 this Southern draw and I just get up here and 0:14:49.480 --> 0:14:52.400 talk so normally. And when my father went to be 0:14:52.520 --> 0:14:54.720 with the Lord, I said, God, I don't know. 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:56.920 I'll try. I'll see what happens. 0:14:57.600 --> 0:15:00.880 But what I thought would be a liability turned out 0:15:00.880 --> 0:15:01.680 to be an asset. 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:03.960 I realize that God made me. 0:15:07.040 --> 0:15:11.280 I begin to realize that God made me like this 0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:15.400 on purpose. No, I don't have the booming voice. No 0:15:15.560 --> 0:15:18.600 I don't have the dynamic personality. No I don't preach 0:15:18.640 --> 0:15:21.480 the fancy sermons. But one thing I do have is 0:15:21.480 --> 0:15:29.520 the good looks. All right, I couldn't resist. Oh boy, 0:15:30.040 --> 0:15:35.320 I hope you know I'm kidding. But listen, God uses 0:15:35.600 --> 0:15:38.560 what we think are weaknesses. Do you know how many 0:15:38.560 --> 0:15:40.920 people write and say, Joel, the reason we like to 0:15:41.000 --> 0:15:44.280 listen is because your messages are so easy to understand, 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:47.960 because you're calm, because your voice is so soothing. Well, 0:15:48.040 --> 0:15:51.360 let me ask you, what is it that you think 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:54.760 is your handicap? What is it that's keeping you from 0:15:54.840 --> 0:16:00.320 really believing in yourself, really pressing in to your divine destiny. Hell, 0:16:00.400 --> 0:16:04.440 I'm not tall enough, I'm not that attractive, or Joel, 0:16:04.680 --> 0:16:07.480 I've made a lot of mistakes. Or I wasn't raised 0:16:07.520 --> 0:16:09.280 in a good environment like you were. 0:16:09.520 --> 0:16:09.880 Listen. 0:16:10.120 --> 0:16:12.880 God knew the way you would be raised. He knew 0:16:12.920 --> 0:16:16.040 the mistakes that you would make. God knew all the 0:16:16.120 --> 0:16:19.920 issues we would have to face, our struggles, our weaknesses, 0:16:20.200 --> 0:16:21.480 our inadequacies. 0:16:21.720 --> 0:16:23.440 We are no surprise to God. 0:16:24.200 --> 0:16:28.080 And many times, what you think is a handicap is 0:16:28.120 --> 0:16:31.040 the very thing God will use to get you into 0:16:31.080 --> 0:16:34.880 your divine destiny. In the Scripture, there was a man 0:16:34.920 --> 0:16:38.120 by the name of zach Kius. He had a liability, 0:16:38.200 --> 0:16:41.640 he had a disadvantage. Something was holding him back. You 0:16:41.680 --> 0:16:44.800 know what it was. He was too short. He didn't 0:16:44.840 --> 0:16:47.880 measure up to everyone else. This is something that he 0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:49.040 had to deal with. 0:16:48.960 --> 0:16:51.120 His whole life, no doubt. 0:16:51.160 --> 0:16:54.360 Growing up in school, the other children kind of teased 0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:57.680 and made fun of him. Hey, shorty, hay, peanut, how's 0:16:57.720 --> 0:17:01.640 the weather down there? Imagine year after year he goes 0:17:01.680 --> 0:17:05.439 around kind of feeling like on the inside something's wrong 0:17:05.520 --> 0:17:08.880 with him, a little bit insecure, thinking God, why can 0:17:08.960 --> 0:17:12.000 I be normal? Why can I be like everyone else? 0:17:12.359 --> 0:17:16.000 But understand, God makes us like we are on purpose. 0:17:16.600 --> 0:17:19.679 Many of you know who Cindy Crawford is. She's a 0:17:19.720 --> 0:17:22.920 famous model. She's the one that has that very distinct 0:17:23.040 --> 0:17:25.960 mole on her face. Now I read where when she 0:17:26.040 --> 0:17:30.800 first started modeling, some of the advisers, different makeup artists, 0:17:31.160 --> 0:17:34.120 they tried to get her to remove the mole. They 0:17:34.160 --> 0:17:37.560 saw it as a blemish, as a distraction, as something 0:17:37.600 --> 0:17:39.440 that made her less than perfect. 0:17:39.800 --> 0:17:42.200 They even showed her how easy it would be. 0:17:42.160 --> 0:17:45.800 To remove it electronically, but she would never allow them 0:17:45.840 --> 0:17:48.640 to do it. She said, if you take away this mole, 0:17:49.119 --> 0:17:51.240 I'll just look like every other pretty girl. 0:17:52.040 --> 0:17:55.560 I love the fact that she liked her mole. Other 0:17:55.640 --> 0:17:58.560 people saw it as odd, but she saw it as unique. 0:17:58.920 --> 0:18:01.600 She saw it as some then God gave her that 0:18:01.760 --> 0:18:05.240 made her distinct. Instead of looking at what you think 0:18:05.359 --> 0:18:08.000 is a liability, you need to get a new perspective 0:18:08.320 --> 0:18:11.720 and start seeing how it could be an advantage. I 0:18:11.840 --> 0:18:16.239 realize now my personality of being laid back, easygo and 0:18:16.280 --> 0:18:18.560 soft spoken, that's not a liability. 0:18:18.920 --> 0:18:19.800 That's an asset. 0:18:20.359 --> 0:18:22.800 And for me to change and try to be something 0:18:22.880 --> 0:18:27.280 else that would end up being a disadvantage. Your personality 0:18:27.359 --> 0:18:29.760 may be just the opposite. And you think, man, why 0:18:29.800 --> 0:18:32.320 am I so bold? Why am I straightforward? And to 0:18:32.359 --> 0:18:36.200 the point, listen, you have what you need to succeed. 0:18:36.920 --> 0:18:38.760 You have the looks you need. 0:18:39.280 --> 0:18:42.000 Quit looking at that birthmark and thinking, oh, man, if 0:18:42.040 --> 0:18:44.920 I just didn't have this birthmark, and of all places 0:18:44.960 --> 0:18:48.320 on my face, now that makes you distinct. Well, if 0:18:48.320 --> 0:18:51.480 I just wasn't so short, No, I read we're short. 0:18:51.520 --> 0:18:54.280 People live an average of ten years longer than tall. 0:18:54.280 --> 0:18:58.440 People quit complaining, if you're tall, that just. 0:18:58.359 --> 0:19:00.439 Means you're going to go to heaven ten years for us. 0:19:00.520 --> 0:19:01.240 Quit complaining. 0:19:03.160 --> 0:19:07.560 What I'm saying is there are no disadvantages with our God. 0:19:08.600 --> 0:19:11.880 One day, Zaki has heard that Jesus was coming through 0:19:11.920 --> 0:19:14.600 his town. All the people were lined up on the 0:19:14.600 --> 0:19:16.560 streets trying to get a glimpse of him. 0:19:17.119 --> 0:19:20.680 Here Zakias didn't have a chance. He's standing at the back. 0:19:21.080 --> 0:19:22.560 He can't see over anyone. 0:19:23.200 --> 0:19:26.080 He could have easily thought, just my luck, God, I 0:19:26.119 --> 0:19:29.840 can't stand being short. Why'd you make me this way? No, 0:19:30.040 --> 0:19:33.080 Zakia simply did what he had done his whole life. 0:19:33.640 --> 0:19:36.280 When he couldn't reach what others could reach, he'd get 0:19:36.280 --> 0:19:39.520 a ladder. When he couldn't see over others, he would 0:19:39.720 --> 0:19:43.000 find a stool. It's a pain, It was a disadvantage, 0:19:43.359 --> 0:19:44.720 but watch how God works. 0:19:45.080 --> 0:19:46.400 There wasn't a ladder out there. 0:19:46.440 --> 0:19:49.680 Obviously, he couldn't find a stool, so he climbed up 0:19:49.720 --> 0:19:53.480 in a tree. Now he's got the prime view. He's 0:19:53.480 --> 0:19:57.680 sitting at the fifty yard line. Isn't it interesting? Any 0:19:57.760 --> 0:20:00.000 of those other people could have climbed up in a tree. 0:20:00.480 --> 0:20:02.280 Matter of fact, they probably could have got up there 0:20:02.320 --> 0:20:06.720 easier than he did. They didn't need to. His disadvantage 0:20:07.119 --> 0:20:10.960 was turned into an advantage. When Jesus came walking down 0:20:11.040 --> 0:20:14.280 the street, he saw hundreds of people, but when he 0:20:14.320 --> 0:20:17.280 looked up and saw Zachias in the tree, that got 0:20:17.280 --> 0:20:20.000 his attention. He said, Hey, zach Kis, come on down. 0:20:20.040 --> 0:20:22.800 I'm gonna go to your house and have dinner. Here's 0:20:22.840 --> 0:20:27.000 my point. If Zachias would have been a quote normal size, 0:20:27.359 --> 0:20:32.160 he wouldn't have been noticed. Jesus passed by hundreds, possibly thousands, 0:20:32.560 --> 0:20:36.679 But because Zacheus had what he thought was a handicap, 0:20:37.000 --> 0:20:40.160 it caused him to do something differently, and it ended 0:20:40.200 --> 0:20:43.960 up not being a liability but an asset. I read 0:20:44.000 --> 0:20:47.840 about this young boy. His dream was to play professional baseball. 0:20:48.240 --> 0:20:49.840 He was extremely gifted. 0:20:50.359 --> 0:20:51.560 All through junior. 0:20:51.280 --> 0:20:54.080 High and high school, he was by far the most 0:20:54.119 --> 0:20:58.280 talented player in his league. Professional scouts were regularly at 0:20:58.280 --> 0:21:01.760 his games. But one day he had a farming accident 0:21:02.160 --> 0:21:05.199 and he lost his whole four finger in most of 0:21:05.240 --> 0:21:06.080 his middle finger. 0:21:06.680 --> 0:21:08.720 It was on the hand that he threw the ball with. 0:21:09.280 --> 0:21:12.439 It looked like his baseball days were over, but this 0:21:12.600 --> 0:21:15.960 young man had this no excuse his mentality. 0:21:16.440 --> 0:21:19.240 He learned how to throw the ball without these two fingers. 0:21:19.800 --> 0:21:22.080 If you know anything about baseball, those are your two 0:21:22.359 --> 0:21:26.800 main throwing fingers. He'd always been a third baseman, but 0:21:26.840 --> 0:21:30.480 one afternoon during practice, the coach was standing behind him, 0:21:30.800 --> 0:21:33.240 and as he threw the ball from third to first base, 0:21:33.600 --> 0:21:36.840 the coach noticed how much movement there was on the ball, 0:21:37.359 --> 0:21:40.240 and he thought, if the ball moves that much, how 0:21:40.280 --> 0:21:43.320 could a batter possibly hit it? So he moved him 0:21:43.359 --> 0:21:47.359 from the third base to the pitcher's position. Mordecai Brown 0:21:47.480 --> 0:21:50.280 went on to become one of the great pitchers in 0:21:50.400 --> 0:21:51.800 all of Major League baseball. 0:21:52.480 --> 0:21:53.120 Think about it. 0:21:53.440 --> 0:21:56.840 What he thought was a liability turned out to be 0:21:56.880 --> 0:22:00.240 an asset. The way he threw the ball without these 0:22:00.280 --> 0:22:05.000 two fingers gave him an edge. Only God knows how 0:22:05.040 --> 0:22:08.080 to take what should be a disadvantage and turn it 0:22:08.080 --> 0:22:11.120 into an advantage. There are things in all of our 0:22:11.160 --> 0:22:14.639 lives that we feel like are liabilities. It may not 0:22:14.800 --> 0:22:18.160 be something physical, but even the way we were raised, 0:22:18.720 --> 0:22:22.800 a disappointment, we went through a setback. We think, if 0:22:22.840 --> 0:22:25.919 only that had enough happened, if only I could do 0:22:25.960 --> 0:22:30.600 it again. No, if you'll stay in faith, nothing in 0:22:30.680 --> 0:22:34.600 life will happen to you. It'll happen for you. We 0:22:34.680 --> 0:22:37.200 need to get rid of all the if only thoughts. 0:22:37.520 --> 0:22:40.240 If only I didn't have that accident, then I could 0:22:40.240 --> 0:22:43.719 pursue my dreams. If only I were taller, Joel, then 0:22:43.720 --> 0:22:46.439 I'd feel good about myself. If only I were a 0:22:46.480 --> 0:22:51.200 different nationality. No, those thoughts will keep you from your destiny. 0:22:52.000 --> 0:22:55.439 Tony Melendez could be sitting at home right now, thinking, 0:22:55.520 --> 0:22:59.080 if only I had arms, if only I was quote normal, 0:22:59.480 --> 0:23:00.679 then I could lay the guitar. 0:23:01.080 --> 0:23:02.480 Then I could touch a lot of people. 0:23:03.200 --> 0:23:06.600 David Ring could be thinking, if only I didn't have 0:23:06.640 --> 0:23:10.359 this cerebral palsy, if only my speech wasn't so slow, 0:23:10.920 --> 0:23:14.880 then I bet I'd make a great minister. Now let's recognize, 0:23:15.359 --> 0:23:19.280 as far as God is concerned, there are no handicaps. 0:23:19.960 --> 0:23:21.560 What you think is trying. 0:23:21.280 --> 0:23:24.200 To pull you down may very well be the thing 0:23:24.359 --> 0:23:26.200 that God uses to lift you up. 0:23:26.840 --> 0:23:29.000 This is just what happened to Joseph. 0:23:29.320 --> 0:23:32.560 He spent thirteen years in prison for something that he 0:23:32.600 --> 0:23:37.119 did not do. It was a terrible disadvantage, a terrible injustice. 0:23:37.520 --> 0:23:41.320 But do you realize that's what God used to promote him. 0:23:41.680 --> 0:23:44.520 It may look like a handicap in our eyes, but 0:23:44.760 --> 0:23:47.119 with God, there are no handicaps. 0:23:47.440 --> 0:23:49.919 That is not going to keep you from your destiny. 0:23:50.200 --> 0:23:52.440 If you'll stay in faith, it's going to launch you 0:23:52.560 --> 0:23:53.639 into your destiny. 0:23:54.400 --> 0:23:57.040 I have people write me from other countries a lot. 0:23:57.560 --> 0:24:01.120 They say things like, Joel, if only I lived in America, 0:24:01.800 --> 0:24:05.480 if only I had that kind of opportunity. And I 0:24:05.600 --> 0:24:08.119 understand what they're saying, because this is a great place 0:24:08.160 --> 0:24:11.840 to live. But you have to realize God has given 0:24:11.920 --> 0:24:15.080 you what you need to succeed right where you are. 0:24:15.840 --> 0:24:18.840 God knew where you would be born, He knew what 0:24:19.040 --> 0:24:22.600 nationality you would be. He knew the obstacles you would 0:24:22.600 --> 0:24:26.040 have to overcome. And the good news is God has 0:24:26.119 --> 0:24:31.040 already equipped you. He has already empowered you. You are anointed, 0:24:31.119 --> 0:24:34.960 you are strong, You have the favor of God surrounding you. 0:24:35.040 --> 0:24:35.600 Right now. 0:24:37.160 --> 0:24:40.560 Don't make a mistake of waiting till you get to 0:24:40.600 --> 0:24:45.080 another location before you decide to become everything God's created 0:24:45.119 --> 0:24:48.359 you to be. If you'll shake off the self pity 0:24:49.000 --> 0:24:52.760 and believe that God's directing your steps, believe that you 0:24:52.880 --> 0:24:56.240 have what it takes, Believe that the most powerful force 0:24:56.280 --> 0:24:59.479 in the universe is on the inside. When you do that, 0:25:00.040 --> 0:25:04.040 every reliability will be turned to an asset. I heard 0:25:04.080 --> 0:25:07.960 about this young man. He was born without a right hand. 0:25:08.600 --> 0:25:11.040 One day he was at the doctor's office having a 0:25:11.040 --> 0:25:14.280 physical so he could play football. The doctor asked him 0:25:14.359 --> 0:25:17.679 what his handicap was. He said, sir, I don't have 0:25:17.720 --> 0:25:21.040 a handicap. I just don't have a right hand. I 0:25:21.080 --> 0:25:24.080 love that attitude. I don't have a handicap. I just 0:25:24.119 --> 0:25:27.320 played the guitar with my feet. I don't have a handicap. 0:25:27.440 --> 0:25:30.200 I just speak a little slower. I don't have a handicap. 0:25:30.240 --> 0:25:33.600 I'm just not as tall as somebody else. Friends, I'm 0:25:33.640 --> 0:25:37.480 asking you to live this no excuse his life. That 0:25:37.600 --> 0:25:40.399 means you are not going to go around dwelling on 0:25:40.480 --> 0:25:43.399 what's wrong with you and all the reasons why you 0:25:43.480 --> 0:25:47.239 can't be happy. Well, jo all my personalities odd. I 0:25:47.280 --> 0:25:51.280 went through this breakup in a relationship. No, your destiny 0:25:51.680 --> 0:25:54.320 didn't get thrown out because you had a set back. 0:25:54.960 --> 0:25:58.080 You didn't get disqualified because you're to this or to that. 0:25:58.960 --> 0:26:01.679 God knew you would be where you are before the 0:26:01.720 --> 0:26:04.920 foundation of time. You need to get a new perspective, 0:26:05.160 --> 0:26:09.760 have the attitude. I refuse to live with a handicap mentality. 0:26:09.840 --> 0:26:12.600 This may not be fair, it may look like a disadvantage, 0:26:12.640 --> 0:26:15.560 but I'm not going around feeling sorry for myself. I'm 0:26:15.600 --> 0:26:19.080 shaking off self pity. I'm shaking off every disappointment and 0:26:19.160 --> 0:26:22.080 I will become everything God has created. 0:26:21.680 --> 0:26:22.000 Me to be. 0:26:22.960 --> 0:26:25.879 If you'll live a no excuse his life, then no 0:26:25.960 --> 0:26:28.800 matter what comes your way, God will turn it around 0:26:28.880 --> 0:26:32.199 for your good. He will take every stumbling block and 0:26:32.240 --> 0:26:35.000 turn it into a stepping stone. It may look like 0:26:35.040 --> 0:26:38.280 a liability, but just like Zach he is in the end, 0:26:38.520 --> 0:26:41.199 it'll turn out to be an asset. Some of you 0:26:41.280 --> 0:26:44.840 today you've lost your fire, You've lost your enthusiasm. You 0:26:44.920 --> 0:26:47.440 need to stir up what God's put on the inside. 0:26:48.080 --> 0:26:52.440 Remember there are no disadvantages with our God. You have 0:26:52.840 --> 0:26:56.760 everything you need to succeed. No weapon formed against you 0:26:56.920 --> 0:26:59.439 is ever going to prosper. And as you rise up 0:26:59.480 --> 0:27:03.120 with this no excuses mentality, let me just declare over 0:27:03.160 --> 0:27:04.080 you what's gonna happen. 0:27:04.359 --> 0:27:06.560 You're gonna see God's favor in a greater way. 0:27:07.240 --> 0:27:11.200 New doors are gonna begin to open, Supernatural opportunities are 0:27:11.200 --> 0:27:14.639 come in your way. Divine connections. You're gonna be at 0:27:14.640 --> 0:27:17.600 the right place at the right time. What was meant 0:27:17.680 --> 0:27:20.960 for your harm, God's gonna use to your advantage. You're 0:27:21.000 --> 0:27:24.800 gonna overcome every obstacle. You're gonna defeat every enemy. You're 0:27:24.840 --> 0:27:28.200 gonna see every dream, every desire God's put in your heart. 0:27:28.480 --> 0:27:30.880 I declare it in the name of Jesus. It will 0:27:30.920 --> 0:27:32.960 come to pass. Do you receive it today? 0:27:33.840 --> 0:27:39.080 Life throws so much at us disappointments, failures, challenges. We 0:27:39.160 --> 0:27:41.800 can feel so out of touch that we no longer 0:27:41.920 --> 0:27:43.080 recognize ourselves. 0:27:43.840 --> 0:27:46.400 Life has a way of changing us. At one time 0:27:46.400 --> 0:27:49.720 we were outgoing and excited about our dreams. But when 0:27:49.760 --> 0:27:52.840 we go through disappointments and people do us wrong, it's 0:27:52.920 --> 0:27:53.920 easy to lose that. 0:27:54.000 --> 0:27:56.600 Positive, passionate person that we used to be. 0:27:57.359 --> 0:28:00.960 In my new book, Rediscovering the Forgotten Youth, I'll help 0:28:01.000 --> 0:28:03.800 you get back to who you really are, the joyful you, 0:28:04.040 --> 0:28:07.480 the confident you, that talented you. It's not too late. 0:28:07.840 --> 0:28:10.440 You haven't been through too much. You may have lost 0:28:10.480 --> 0:28:12.960 part of yourself, but you can find yourself. 0:28:13.359 --> 0:28:16.240 God is in the business of restoring what was lost, 0:28:16.560 --> 0:28:17.760 healing what was broken. 0:28:18.040 --> 0:28:21.160 You haven't seen the best version of you, yet it's 0:28:21.240 --> 0:28:22.440 still in front of you. 0:28:23.040 --> 0:28:25.320 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:25.359 --> 0:28:27.639 of any amount, we would like to send you a 0:28:27.680 --> 0:28:31.639 copy of Joel's brand new book, Rediscovering the Forgotten. You 0:28:32.320 --> 0:28:36.040 take back your passion, reignite your dreams, and embrace the 0:28:36.080 --> 0:28:40.040 life you were created to live. This book shares uplifting 0:28:40.040 --> 0:28:44.640 scripture and personal stories that will help you release bitterness, silence, 0:28:44.680 --> 0:28:48.400 self defeating thoughts, and embrace by faith the vision of 0:28:48.440 --> 0:28:52.080 the life God designed for you. Life's challenges might have 0:28:52.160 --> 0:28:56.480 distorted the true you, but now you can reclaim, revitalize, 0:28:56.520 --> 0:28:59.640 and restore the version of yourself that you once knew, 0:29:00.200 --> 0:29:02.520 a version that you know God has made you to 0:29:02.560 --> 0:29:07.440 be filled with hopes and dreams, optimism, and confidence. Request 0:29:07.520 --> 0:29:10.960 your copy today and discovery the best version of you yet. 0:29:11.720 --> 0:29:15.120 God is about to breathe new life, new passion, new 0:29:15.200 --> 0:29:16.520 dreams into your heart. 0:29:16.720 --> 0:29:19.800 What he started, He's going to finish. Thanks so much 0:29:19.800 --> 0:29:20.920 for being with us today. 0:29:21.280 --> 0:29:23.560 Victoria and I are praying for you and your family 0:29:23.760 --> 0:29:26.800 for God's very best. Thank you so much for your 0:29:26.880 --> 0:29:31.120 prayer and support. Your generosity helps people all over the world. 0:29:31.440 --> 0:29:34.160 The special thank you to our champion of Hope, partners 0:29:34.480 --> 0:29:35.200 for all you. 0:29:35.160 --> 0:29:36.920 Do to make the ministry possible. 0:29:37.160 --> 0:29:40.200 If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:29:40.400 --> 0:29:43.040 Until we meet again, May the Lord bless you and 0:29:43.200 --> 0:29:43.680 keep you. 0:29:44.720 --> 0:29:48.040 Be sure to request your copy of Rediscovering the Forgotten 0:29:48.080 --> 0:29:52.200 You available this month by simply visiting us at Joelostein 0:29:52.280 --> 0:29:56.000 dot com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 0:29:56.440 --> 0:29:59.920 You can also receive the God's Got You Rediscovery duo. 0:30:00.440 --> 0:30:04.640 You'll receive Rediscovering the Forgotten You and God's Got You 0:30:05.000 --> 0:30:09.280 Promises for Overcoming Fear. It's the perfect combination to help 0:30:09.320 --> 0:30:13.320 you rekindle your purpose while standing firm in God's promises. 0:30:13.640 --> 0:30:16.920 In addition to these two inspiration books, you can also 0:30:17.040 --> 0:30:21.200 receive the beautifully crafted CSB Thin Line Study Bible in 0:30:21.280 --> 0:30:25.200 camel Swedes soft leather touch, an elegant Bible that offers 0:30:25.200 --> 0:30:29.640 a rich, immersive study experience and brings God's Word beautifully 0:30:29.640 --> 0:30:33.840 into your everyday life. This collection is more than encouragement. 0:30:34.160 --> 0:30:38.080 It is a foundation for lasting renewal, rooted in God's Word, 0:30:38.400 --> 0:30:42.520 strengthened by faith, and anchored in his promises. You can 0:30:42.560 --> 0:30:46.720 request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight five 0:30:46.840 --> 0:30:50.760 six seven Joel, or logging on to joelostein dot com 0:30:50.800 --> 0:31:02.320 today