1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,200 Good morning. 2 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:02,400 Good morning. 3 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:03,400 Good morning. 4 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,640 I am so delighted to be able to share with you guys today 5 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,560 a message on joy. 6 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,920 When Pastor Greg asked if I would give the message, 7 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:12,840 I prayed about it. 8 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,360 And I just thought, well, I can't do this by myself. 9 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:18,720 I need my people, my kids in Treehouse, 10 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,760 to come up and share this message with me today. 11 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:24,420 And before I invite them to come up, 12 00:00:24,420 --> 00:00:27,200 I just would like to begin with scripture. 13 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,960 In Luke chapter 1, starting in verse 26, 14 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:35,200 God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 15 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,600 to a virgin pledge to be married to a man named Joseph, 16 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,760 a descendant of David. 17 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:42,880 The virgin's name was Mary. 18 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,640 The angel went to her and said, greetings, 19 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,120 you who are highly favored. 20 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,200 The Lord is with you. 21 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,200 Do not be afraid, Mary. 22 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,800 You have found favor with God. 23 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,360 You will conceive and give birth to a son, 24 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,640 and you are to call him Jesus. 25 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:05,040 He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. 26 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,760 In verse 34, Mary says, how will this be, 27 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,720 since I am a virgin? 28 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,360 And the angel answered, the Holy Spirit will come on you, 29 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,760 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 30 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,560 So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 31 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,200 Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have her child 32 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,640 in her old age, and she who was said to be unable 33 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,400 to conceive is in her sixth month, 34 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,000 for no word from God will ever fail. 35 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:37,720 And with that, treehouse kiddos, 36 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,280 why don't we take our places? 37 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:42,760 Come join me, come join me. 38 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,760 All right, so yeah, it's really my pleasure 39 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:48,920 to work with these guys. 40 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,720 What a joy they are. 41 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:55,720 There is Adley, there is Quinn. 42 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:01,120 So I mean, kids are such a sense of true joy 43 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,640 that I just thought it would be nice 44 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,520 to get their perspective on joy. 45 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,680 We can all learn different things from different people, 46 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,400 so let's hear what the young ones of the church 47 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,080 have to say about joy. 48 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,160 Adley, we're gonna start with you, 49 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,120 and can you describe for us what you think joy is? 50 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,640 Joy is something that makes you want to smile 51 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:26,280 and gives you kind of a shiver all over your body. 52 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:28,640 Yes. 53 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:31,360 Joanna, how would you describe joy? 54 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,200 Happiness. 55 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,240 Yes, you wanna hand it over to Quinn? 56 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,360 What do you think about joy? 57 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,920 Laughing, you're happy being with family. 58 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:45,960 Yes, so go ahead and keep that microphone. 59 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,160 So what brings you joy, Quinn? 60 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:50,240 Family. 61 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:51,400 Your family. 62 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,360 Joanna, what brings you joy? 63 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,520 Being together with my friends. 64 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:00,360 Yeah. 65 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,600 Something that brings me joy is art and my best friend, Sky. 66 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,760 Yeah, that's awesome. 67 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,320 Adley, what does the Bible have to say about joy? 68 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,440 Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit. 69 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,320 The Bible also says that the joy of the Lord 70 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,600 can't be taken away like happiness 71 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,360 and that joy is our strength. 72 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:24,240 Very good. 73 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,040 Quinn, what do you think the Bible says about joy? 74 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:33,040 Angels said, do not be afraid to the shepherds. 75 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:37,320 I bring you good news that will bring joy to all people. 76 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,880 Yes, okay, we got one final question here. 77 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,960 Can you share a time that you felt the most joy? 78 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,440 Mostly Christmas, we see family, we give presents 79 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,720 and watch them open them. 80 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,440 Yeah, do you think it's better, Quinn, 81 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,760 to give a present or receive a present? 82 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:55,680 Both. 83 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:56,500 Both. 84 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:57,340 Laughing. 85 00:03:57,340 --> 00:04:00,640 That's a good answer, that's a good answer. 86 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,040 Joanna, do you have a time that you felt really joyful 87 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:05,640 that you could share with us? 88 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,120 Got a new Barbie house. 89 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,720 Mm, yes, something that you were waiting for 90 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:16,760 and then it arrived. 91 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:17,960 How about you, Adley? 92 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,040 I was practicing my flute 93 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,520 and then my mom told me to come to her 94 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,320 and she told me that I was Tessie and Annie 95 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,760 and I was jumping up and down full of joy 96 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,360 and today, December 15th, is our last show. 97 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,240 Yes, you've been working on that show 98 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:34,840 and then you got to perform that show 99 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:37,160 and so it's kind of bittersweet today, huh? 100 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,000 Yeah, she told me this morning that she cried a little bit 101 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,840 because today's her last day to perform it 102 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,400 and she was so looking forward to it and now it's over. 103 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,220 Yes, thank you so much, ladies. 104 00:04:47,220 --> 00:04:49,680 Round of applause for their bravery 105 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:50,820 coming up and talking. 106 00:04:50,820 --> 00:04:52,080 You guys can have a seat. 107 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:53,120 Thank you, thank you. 108 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,200 Take it, keep it, either way, either way. 109 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:58,960 We could just kind of stop there 110 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:03,280 because, boy, kids are a great example of joy, right? 111 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:05,480 They welcome it, they exude it, 112 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,020 and they freely share it with everybody that's around them. 113 00:05:09,020 --> 00:05:11,180 So what better way to kick off the conversation 114 00:05:11,180 --> 00:05:13,720 than to just see an example of it? 115 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,040 It is my privilege to serve as a teacher 116 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,400 and the Children's Ministry Director here at the house. 117 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,360 To those parents that are in here, 118 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,560 thank you for bringing your children to church. 119 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,040 I think you guys are doing an incredible job. 120 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:33,040 We have amazing kids and keep up the good work. 121 00:05:33,740 --> 00:05:36,360 It's my mission as the director 122 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,120 to remind them every week that God loves them 123 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,200 and cares for them and to give them the tools to use 124 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,800 to seek after God and to build up their faith. 125 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,360 One thing that we've been really working on this year 126 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,640 is learning memory verses each week, 127 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,200 and it is so cool to see these kids 128 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,500 developing the tool of reciting scripture. 129 00:05:57,500 --> 00:05:59,360 And that's what I have to say to us today. 130 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,360 We need to hold the word of the Lord 131 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,560 in our hearts and in our minds. 132 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,000 We need to be ready for when the distractions 133 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,960 of the world attack us and try to steal our joy. 134 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,280 And memorizing God's word and holding it 135 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:15,180 in our hearts is essential. 136 00:06:15,180 --> 00:06:17,440 I recite them when I start my day. 137 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,760 I recite them when I'm confused or I'm lost. 138 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,000 I recite them when I'm joyful 139 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,400 and when I need to be comforted. 140 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,240 So this morning, I just wanted to share with you 141 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,280 some truths about joy that I have learned from the Bible. 142 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:36,280 In Psalm 16, I say to the Lord, you are my Lord. 143 00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:39,920 Apart from you, I have no good thing. 144 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,040 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup. 145 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,240 You make my lot secure. 146 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,440 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. 147 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,680 With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 148 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,480 Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. 149 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,640 My body will also rest secure 150 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,020 because you will not abandon me. 151 00:07:00,020 --> 00:07:03,040 You make known to me the path of life 152 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,280 and you fill me with joy in your presence 153 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:10,120 with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 154 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,080 I was lucky enough that I grew up going to church, 155 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,940 going to Sunday school and being involved 156 00:07:16,940 --> 00:07:20,280 in all of the youth group events. 157 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,100 It was right out of high school 158 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:24,700 when I really gave my life to Jesus 159 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:26,760 and wanted to follow him fully 160 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,260 and bought my first study Bible, 161 00:07:29,260 --> 00:07:31,700 which was so cool because in the back, 162 00:07:31,700 --> 00:07:35,020 it has words where I can look up joy 163 00:07:35,020 --> 00:07:37,680 and then it's gonna give me verses and it was so cool. 164 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,800 And I still have, when I first got this, 165 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,860 I had a sticky note and I wrote a prayer on the inside 166 00:07:43,860 --> 00:07:45,120 and it's still there. 167 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,240 Jesus, as it would please you, 168 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,860 bring me someone today whom I can serve. 169 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,840 And that is still a prayer of mine today. 170 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,320 I know that my purpose in life 171 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,440 is to share the light and love of Jesus 172 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,200 with those who are around me. 173 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,240 And I find abundant joy 174 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,700 when I just simply live out that purpose. 175 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,760 In Matthew five, Jesus says, 176 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,280 you are the light of the world. 177 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,360 A town that's built on a hill cannot be hidden 178 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,760 and neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 179 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,600 Instead, they put it on its stand 180 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,600 and it gives light to everyone in the house. 181 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,320 So in the same way, let your light shine before others 182 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:25,720 that they may see your good deeds 183 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,660 and glorify your Father in heaven. 184 00:08:29,660 --> 00:08:32,840 So earlier this year, I was fortunate enough 185 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,540 to go to an entrepreneurial boot camp. 186 00:08:35,540 --> 00:08:38,080 I started a business, but I didn't know what I was doing. 187 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,280 I was just kind of following what God told me to do. 188 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,080 So I had a resource to go and to learn 189 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,320 and it was 80 other entrepreneurs. 190 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,960 And so there was some imposter syndrome 191 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,960 because I really wasn't sure what I was gonna do. 192 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,600 And I walked into that place with just that prayer 193 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,920 of Lord, I just want your light and your love to shine. 194 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,500 Whoever these people are, let your light and your love shine. 195 00:09:01,500 --> 00:09:03,600 And that was my prayer walking into it. 196 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,920 That was my prayer every day. 197 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,120 And it was so cool because people could actually see it. 198 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,480 People said to me, well, you have such a light about you 199 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,480 or wow, thank you for encouraging me with your smile. 200 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,120 And it was undeniable. 201 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:21,400 And it wasn't me. 202 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,480 It wasn't for my glory. 203 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:28,040 It was God, it was him and it was all his glory. 204 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,640 I find that my best days are the ones that start 205 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,560 with a conversation between me and my maker. 206 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:36,200 So then regardless of how my day unfolds, 207 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,040 when I walk it with Jesus, 208 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,760 I can smile without fear of the future. 209 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,480 And I love to smile to God. 210 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,920 I love to just close my eyes and just give him my smile. 211 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:50,120 It's simple. 212 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,000 It doesn't require words of eloquence. 213 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,800 I just offer him up my smile. 214 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:00,000 The Bible repeats one truth over and over again. 215 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,720 Do not worry. 216 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:02,680 We don't wanna worry 217 00:10:02,680 --> 00:10:05,040 because it will diminish the joyous light. 218 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:07,760 And we have a lot of doubts and worries 219 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,320 that race through our minds, right? 220 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:14,200 Ever thought that your prayer was not going to be answered? 221 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:18,040 The parents of John the Baptist, Elizabeth and Zachariah, 222 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,420 were losing hope that they wouldn't have a child 223 00:10:20,420 --> 00:10:22,960 because they were both very old. 224 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:24,840 Zachariah questioned the angel 225 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:26,160 when he brought the good news 226 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,240 that they would not only have a child, 227 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:29,080 but the angel said, 228 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,840 "'He will be a joy and a delight to you, 229 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,040 and many will rejoice because of his birth, 230 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,880 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.' 231 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,720 Faith is trusting in what we cannot see, 232 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,120 trusting that he is there. 233 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:43,960 And God said, 234 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,720 "'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" 235 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,000 It means we're never alone. 236 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,560 We can trust his words 237 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:53,120 because as the angel Gabriel said, 238 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,680 "'No word from God will ever fail.'" 239 00:10:56,680 --> 00:10:59,640 So what if, what if instead of feeling down 240 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,240 and stuck in the muck, 241 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,880 we look forward with anticipation 242 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:08,540 the reward that is waiting us on the other side? 243 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:11,900 Book of James chapter one, it says, 244 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:15,960 "'Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 245 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,680 whenever you face trials of many kinds, 246 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:20,960 because you know that the testing of your faith 247 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,480 produces perseverance. 248 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,080 Let perseverance finish its work 249 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,540 so that you may be mature and complete, 250 00:11:28,540 --> 00:11:30,440 not lacking anything. 251 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,200 If any of you lacks wisdom, 252 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:36,120 you should ask God who gives generously to all 253 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,000 without finding faults, 254 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,160 and it will be given to you.'" 255 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,160 I've learned that when we walk through those valleys, 256 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:46,600 those difficult times, 257 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,160 and we keep our eyes fixed on him, 258 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,520 we remember his truths, we recite them, 259 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,320 we put our faith over our fear, 260 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,880 that's when we find hope, peace, and joy 261 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:02,680 in new, refreshing, and tangible ways. 262 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:05,560 Now, instead of having to open my Bible 263 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:09,560 to remind myself of God's everlasting faithfulness, 264 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:12,960 I actually have a story of my own that I can tell. 265 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,640 I can share how I was sick and he carried me through it. 266 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,920 Not only did he carry me, he revealed new truths to me, 267 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:24,120 he deepened my faith, he was closer to me 268 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,840 than I ever thought was possible, 269 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,040 and now I can feel it in my heart. 270 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,480 I feel where he touched me in my hour of need. 271 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,760 My faith is stronger, and my tears of joy pour out of me, 272 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:41,760 and I'm full of prayer and praise and thanks to my God. 273 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,720 Psalm 28, praise be to the Lord, 274 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,720 for he has heard my cry for mercy. 275 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,200 The Lord is my strength, the Lord is my shield, 276 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,280 my heart trusts in him and he helps me. 277 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,320 My heart leaps for joy with my song I praise him. 278 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,200 The Lord is the strength of his people, 279 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,080 a fortress of salvation. 280 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:10,080 I do live a richly blessed life. 281 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,480 Could I find things to complain about? 282 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:14,960 Absolutely, every day I could find something 283 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:16,880 I wanted to complain about. 284 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,340 But what benefit is there really to dwelling 285 00:13:19,340 --> 00:13:23,320 on the negativity, the what ifs, the fear? 286 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,920 There is tremendous benefit when we fix our eyes 287 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:32,040 on the things above and not on the things of this world. 288 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,560 The waiting often feels overwhelming when we forget 289 00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:38,800 that the Bible tells us, for my ways are not your ways. 290 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,940 We can lose sight of God and his purpose 291 00:13:40,940 --> 00:13:42,360 in our lives sometimes. 292 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,720 We've all faced that time, and if you haven't yet, 293 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,240 you will, or you wonder, is God here? 294 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,520 Doesn't he hear my cries? 295 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,360 But when you read the stories in the Bible, 296 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,040 this appears to be standard human behavior. 297 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,700 Our minds cannot know all that God knows, 298 00:14:01,700 --> 00:14:04,400 and our concept of time is so limited. 299 00:14:05,260 --> 00:14:08,260 So the conclusion is that he's always there. 300 00:14:08,260 --> 00:14:12,800 Love is there, acceptance is there, hope is there, 301 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,420 because God is all these things. 302 00:14:15,420 --> 00:14:18,720 And listen, if you're stuck in your muck of negativity, 303 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,220 you can train your brain. 304 00:14:21,220 --> 00:14:23,640 Second Corinthians, chapter 10, it says, 305 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,320 for though we live in the world, 306 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,100 we do not wage war as the world does. 307 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:32,200 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. 308 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,400 Verse five, we take captive every thought 309 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,640 and make it obedient to Christ. 310 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,520 I don't know about you guys, I love reading my Bible. 311 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,400 I always have, ever since I was in college, 312 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,920 it's just something that I found helpful, right? 313 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:50,120 It helps me. 314 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:51,740 Knowing all of this scripture, 315 00:14:51,740 --> 00:14:53,320 I don't always know where it's from, 316 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,720 but it's all in my brain because I just keep feeding it. 317 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:57,960 I just keep feeding it. 318 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,680 So there's always a reason to be thankful. 319 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,800 Lifting up our thankfulness to God in praise and in prayer 320 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,080 reminds us of him and it refocuses our minds 321 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,440 off our worldly problems and hardships 322 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,560 and puts it into focus with our Lord God, 323 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:19,220 our creator and our King, who loves us beyond measure. 324 00:15:19,220 --> 00:15:22,120 Being reminded of him brings peace, 325 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,880 which leads to joy, which leads to freedom 326 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:26,820 from the cares that bind us 327 00:15:26,820 --> 00:15:29,020 because we know we can trust in him. 328 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,360 There is joy in surrender, 329 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,200 and if you don't believe that yet, 330 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,720 hear me when I say there is joy in surrender. 331 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,000 There is a weight that is lifted off from us 332 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,840 when we lay our burdens down 333 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,960 and simply just let God take control. 334 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,840 Jesus came to earth and he died to set us free, 335 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,880 so the job's already been done. 336 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:55,180 There's no reason to delay in receiving his goodness. 337 00:15:55,180 --> 00:15:58,160 Joy is Jesus. 338 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,680 Jesus is the word who became flesh. 339 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:02,360 He made his dwelling among us 340 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,620 so that we may have all the fruits of the spirit, 341 00:16:05,620 --> 00:16:08,440 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 342 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,800 faithfulness and self-control. 343 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:14,400 He wants our joy to be made complete in him. 344 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:17,560 And I just wanna finish by saying 345 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:21,120 what a blessed group of people we are. 346 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,660 I have learned all these things by being a part of the house. 347 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,580 The last 10 years being here 348 00:16:28,580 --> 00:16:33,580 has been immensely full of growth and strength for me. 349 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,560 The people that come up and share God's message with us, 350 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:41,260 Pastor Greg, Pastor Jen, Cindy, 351 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:44,040 excuse me, 352 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:48,840 Eric and Scott and Marissa and Tony, 353 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,800 I just want to thank you for faithfully serving us, 354 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,880 giving us the tools to move forward, 355 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,920 whether we find ourselves on top of the mountain 356 00:16:57,920 --> 00:16:59,780 or down in the valley. 357 00:16:59,780 --> 00:17:03,500 And thank you for giving me an opportunity to share as well. 358 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:06,420 I would just like to end with a prayer. 359 00:17:06,420 --> 00:17:08,840 May you, the people of the house, 360 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:13,600 be strengthened by the joy of the Lord today and every day. 361 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:14,440 Amen. 362 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:43,280 Amen.