1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,560 Thank you for listening to this message from Lifehouse Church. 2 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:20,360 Wow, I love hearing all the chatter out there. 3 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,920 You guys are really connecting. 4 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,800 Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there. 5 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,140 We're so excited and honored that we get to 6 00:00:29,140 --> 00:00:32,960 celebrate with you and that you joined us to celebrate today. 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,440 I'm a mom of three and a Mimi of four, 8 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,840 soon to be five, so I love this day. 9 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,320 I like to be honored. Who doesn't like gifts and presents and all that good stuff, right? 10 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,920 Moms, we have a gift for you. 11 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:50,800 We actually have two gifts for you today and we have 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,880 some lovely helpers that are going to come around and hand those gifts to you. 13 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,000 We have a facial face mask for you. 14 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:59,560 At some point today, 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:03,320 if you get 30 minutes to just relax, guys, 16 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,000 this is a hint for you, take the kids, 17 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,720 do whatever it takes for mom to have. 18 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,120 While you have that face mask on, 19 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:15,840 we have got some amazing Mammert's chocolate covered pretzels for you to partake of. 20 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,080 If you've not had Mammert's chocolate, 21 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,960 this is a shameless plug for them. 22 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:21,240 We don't know them, 23 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:22,440 we're not invested in them, 24 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,000 but they have some amazing chocolate here in town. 25 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,320 They're just a little local chocolate shop. 26 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:29,560 We have that gift for you today. 27 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,320 While the girls are passing this out, 28 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:34,640 I just want you guys to turn your attentions to the screen. 29 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,840 If you're a mom, wave your hand at them. 30 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:59,840 Let us know. 31 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,560 I wanna stop, stop, and thank you mama 32 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:16,280 I wanna stop, stop, and thank you mama 33 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,880 How sweet it is to be loved by you 34 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,040 Feels so fine, yeah 35 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:31,840 How sweet it is to be loved by you 36 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:38,600 Eee, I close my eyes at night 37 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,800 Wondering where would I be without you in my life 38 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,600 Everything I do reminds me of you 39 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,800 Everywhere I go I wish you were there too 40 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:56,280 You brighten up for me all of my days 41 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,000 Love's so sweet in so many ways 42 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,880 I wanna stop, stop, and thank you mama 43 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:09,240 I just wanna stop, stop, and thank you mama, oh yeah 44 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:14,880 How sweet it is to be loved by you 45 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:23,880 Oh, how sweet it is to be loved by you 46 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:31,880 Yeah, how sweet it is to be loved by you 47 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:58,880 Love's so sweet in so many ways 48 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:26,880 Love's so sweet in so many ways 49 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,880 I couldn't help but think of the words to this song that we just played 50 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,880 I know we played that as a tribute to moms 51 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,880 But how sweet it is to be loved by you 52 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:44,880 I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were 53 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,880 I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were 54 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,880 With sweet love and devotion deeply touching my emotion 55 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,880 Wondering where I would be without you in my life 56 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,880 I just wanna stop and thank you, they said mama 57 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:04,880 But when I was thinking of those words I thought that could almost be Jesus 58 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,880 You know, when we needed the shelter of someone's arms 59 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,880 And we needed our emotions, ups and downs and the ups and downs of life 60 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,880 And I just think that could be Jesus 61 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,880 So I was thinking moments earlier I said that 62 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,880 There's nothing sweeter than being loved by your mama 63 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:23,880 But actually I think there's something way better 64 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,880 I think there's something way sweeter than being loved by your mama 65 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,880 And that's being loved by God, by your creator 66 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,880 By the one who knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb 67 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,880 God's love for us is so incredible that it's almost indescribable 68 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,880 And before we dig into the word I just wanna pray over it 69 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,880 And ask just for God's will to be done 70 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:47,880 So if you'd bow your heads with me 71 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,880 Father, Lord we thank you for this day 72 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,880 We thank you for each one that's here this morning 73 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,880 God it's always our prayer when we come in through the doors of Lighthouse 74 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:57,880 And for all the people that come in 75 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:59,880 That they don't leave here the same way they came 76 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:01,880 But they will be changed because they've been in your presence 77 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:03,880 And because they've heard your word 78 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:05,880 And Father I pray over your word this morning 79 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,880 God I pray that you edit my words 80 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,880 And only have me share what you would have them to hear today 81 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,880 God we give you praise, we give you thanks in all things 82 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,880 In Jesus' name we pray, amen and amen 83 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:19,880 Amen and amen 84 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,880 So I wanna talk about God's love today 85 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:24,880 I wanna give you some attributes of God's love 86 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,880 It's really, it's almost indescribable 87 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,880 Like we can't put a finger on God's love 88 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:31,880 We can't understand it 89 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,880 But I wanna give you some attributes of it 90 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,880 God's love is gentle 91 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,880 If you read in Matthew 11, 28 and 29 92 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,880 It says, then Jesus said, come to me 93 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,880 All of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens 94 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,880 And I will give you rest 95 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,880 Take my yoke upon you 96 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,880 Let me teach you because I am humble 97 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:57,880 And gentle at heart 98 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,880 And you will find rest for your souls 99 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:02,880 That's Jesus speaking to us, he is gentle 100 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:04,880 And when I thought about that 101 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,880 I couldn't help but thinking about the woman at the well 102 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,880 And if you're not familiar with the story of the woman at the well 103 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:16,880 The woman at the well didn't live exactly an exemplary Jesus following life 104 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,880 She came to the well in the heat of the day 105 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,880 Hoping nobody else would be there 106 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,880 Because she didn't want her critics to come 107 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,880 She didn't want those accusers to come against her 108 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:32,880 But Jesus gently met her at the well 109 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:34,880 He gently met her at the well 110 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,880 And he shared the living water with her 111 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,880 Where she would never thirst again 112 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,880 Did he speak truth to her? Absolutely 113 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,880 He told her kind of exactly where she was in a gentle way 114 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:51,880 But he met her at the well and was gentle with her 115 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:56,880 Another attribute of God's love is that he is faithful and he is merciful 116 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:01,880 In Lamentations 3, 22 and 23, it says 117 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,880 The faithful love of God never ends 118 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:09,880 His mercies never cease 119 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,880 Great is his faithfulness 120 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,880 His mercies begin afresh every morning 121 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,880 When I think about that, I think about his love that never ends 122 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:21,880 And his mercies never end 123 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,880 I kind of think a little bit about Jarius' daughter in the Bible 124 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:26,880 Jarius and his daughter 125 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:27,880 And if you're not familiar with that story 126 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,880 That's the story of a man whose daughter was very ill 127 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:32,880 She was very sick 128 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,880 And he'd heard about this man Jesus that was healing people 129 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,880 And so he left his very sick daughter 130 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,880 And he left and he went to find Jesus 131 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,880 But while he was gone, his daughter passed 132 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:49,880 But Jesus was faithful and merciful 133 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,880 And came with Jarius and healed his daughter and brought her back 134 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:55,880 His faithfulness never ends 135 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:57,880 His mercies are new 136 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,880 God's love is compassionate 137 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,880 Psalms 86 and 15 says 138 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,880 But you, O Lord, are a God of great compassion and mercy 139 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:14,880 Slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness 140 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,880 God's love is compassionate 141 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,880 And I was looking in God's Word and I was thinking about an example of that 142 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:24,880 And I couldn't help but think of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible 143 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:30,880 I couldn't help but think the prophet Hosea who was told by God to marry Gomer 144 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:32,880 And if you're not familiar with that story 145 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:34,880 Let's bring it to modern day times 146 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,880 It would be like God, Pastor Kip, is single 147 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,880 He's not, he's married ladies, he's been married for almost 33 years 148 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:46,880 But if Pastor Kip was single and he was the pastor of this church 149 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,880 It would be like God telling him to marry a local prostitute 150 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:55,880 That's hanging out there by the Turnpike entrance on Carlisle Pike 151 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,880 I'm not so sure Lifehouse would be very accepting of that 152 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,880 If we brought that down to come time 153 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,880 But God's love is so compassionate 154 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:11,880 So much love for Gomer and where she was that he told Hosea to redeem her 155 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:15,880 To bring her, to show her her love and to show her her worth 156 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,880 And we know that that's got a story with Israel 157 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:20,880 And I'm not going to go into all that detail this morning 158 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,880 But God's love is compassionate 159 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,880 God's love is unfathomable 160 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,880 In Ephesians 3, 18 and 19 it says 161 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:35,880 And you may have the power to understand as all God's people should 162 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:42,880 How wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is 163 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:48,880 May you experience the love of Christ that is too great to understand fully 164 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:52,880 You know, I think about that and it's really hard for us to understand that 165 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,880 But I think of someone in the Bible called Saul 166 00:10:55,880 --> 00:11:01,880 Who was a man who hated Christians, who persecuted Christians, who killed Christians 167 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,880 But God's love was so unfathomable, so love 168 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,880 The love that's so deep, so wide, so far that he took Saul where he was 169 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,880 And he met him and he became Paul 170 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:15,880 And we all know the stories of Paul in the Bible 171 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,880 If you don't read about him, he was a great follower of Christ in God's word 172 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,880 I think that if he can take someone like Saul who killed Christians 173 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:30,880 And bring him to Paul who became someone who was a follower of Christ 174 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:36,880 And shared that with so many, I just think God's love is unfathomable 175 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:41,880 Then I look at how God's love is forgiving and full of grace 176 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,880 In Nehemiah 17 it says 177 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,880 Even when God's people refused to obey his word 178 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,880 Even after he performed miracles on their behalf 179 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:57,880 God was a God of forgiveness, graciousness, and merciful 180 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,880 Slow to become angry and rich in his unfailing love 181 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:07,880 And I look at that and I can't help to think about David 182 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:11,880 If you think about David, the little shepherd boy 183 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,880 Who went and fought Goliath with five stones 184 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,880 Took out that giant, that's great, that's amazing, right? 185 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:21,880 Then David becomes King David 186 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,880 And then David messes up 187 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,880 Then David has an affair with a married woman 188 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:31,880 And gets the woman pregnant 189 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:36,880 Then tries to hide it by having the woman's husband killed at war 190 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:38,880 I mean you think about that, he went from there 191 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:43,880 From being the guy who slayed the giant to King to now he's in this mess 192 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:48,880 I think Pastor Kipp last week talked a little bit about lie after lie after lie after lie to cover up 193 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,880 And that's kind of the trouble that David got himself in 194 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,880 But I think about how God loved him 195 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:56,880 And how God was gracious to him 196 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,880 And how God was forgiving and full of grace in David's life 197 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,880 And I think of all these examples of how God is with us 198 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,880 And then I think about how God's love is always with us 199 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:13,880 Even in our pain and even in our suffering 200 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,880 You see Isaiah 43, 2 and 3 says 201 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,880 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you 202 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:26,880 When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown 203 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,880 When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up 204 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:38,880 The flames will not consume you for I am your Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior 205 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:42,880 God's love is always with us even in our pain and suffering 206 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,880 I can't help but think about Joseph in the Bible 207 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,880 Now think about this, Joseph's brothers hated him 208 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:55,880 I'm not talking about your typical sibling rivalry where you're pushing over your brother 209 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:57,880 Or he makes you mad and you punch him 210 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:59,880 His brothers hated him 211 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:04,880 His brothers put him in a pit, sold him into slavery, he was in prison 212 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,880 But then Joseph made it to the palace 213 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,880 And the entire time in Joseph's pain and his suffering 214 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:13,880 God was with him 215 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,880 God's love is always with us 216 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:21,880 Then I think about how God's love is eternal 217 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,880 Isaiah 54, 10 says 218 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,880 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear 219 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:33,880 But even then my faithful love for you will remain 220 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:38,880 My covenant of blessing will never be broken says the Lord who has mercy on you 221 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,880 God's love is eternal 222 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,880 And you know what, I can't help but think about us 223 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,880 When I think about God's eternal love 224 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,880 I can't understand it, I can't understand that no matter 225 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,880 How many times I mess up, how many mistakes I make 226 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,880 How much sin I get myself involved in 227 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,880 God's love for me never wavers 228 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:03,880 God never moves farther away from me, it's me moving farther away from him 229 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:05,880 God's love is eternal 230 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,880 From the moment I am formed in my mother's womb 231 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,880 Until I take my last breath 232 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:18,880 God's love is unconditional for me, eternal, he loves me 233 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:23,880 Then I think about how God's love is protective 234 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,880 I read in Psalms 5, 11 and 12 235 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,880 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice 236 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,880 Let them sing your joyful praises 237 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:34,880 Spread protection over them 238 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:38,880 That all who love your name may be filled with joy 239 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:40,880 For you bless the godly, O Lord 240 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,880 You surround them with your shield of love 241 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:46,880 God's love is protective 242 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,880 Can't help but think about Daniel in the lion's den 243 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:52,880 If you're not familiar with that story 244 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:55,880 Daniel got thrown in exactly what I said, a lion's den 245 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:59,880 And God shut the mouths of the lions and was protective 246 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,880 I think about Daniel, but I think about my own life 247 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:07,880 And I think about all the times that God's protection was on me 248 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,880 The things that he kept me from, the things that he brought me through 249 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,880 God's love is protective 250 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,880 And last but not least, and there's many other attributes 251 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:19,880 These are just the ones I'm talking about today 252 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,880 God's love is sacrificial 253 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:27,880 1 John 4, 9 and 10 says that God showed how much he loved us 254 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:31,880 By sending his one and only son into the world 255 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,880 So that we might have eternal life through him 256 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,880 This is real love, not that we loved God 257 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,880 But that he loved us 258 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:46,880 And sent his son as a sacrifice to take away our sins 259 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,880 What an example of love then for him to send his one 260 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,880 His only son to the cross 261 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,880 So that we could have forgiveness 262 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:58,880 So that our sins could be forgiven 263 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,880 And that we could live this life with Christ 264 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,880 I think about that today on Mother's Day 265 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,880 I have a son, I have one and only son 266 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,880 I have two daughters, one son 267 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,880 Not that I would give any of them their lives 268 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,880 But I have one son 269 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,880 I would not lay his life down, I love you all 270 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,880 But I would not lay his life down for any of you 271 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,880 Sorry, I'm just being honest 272 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,880 And I'm not so sure that there's anybody else out there 273 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,880 That would lay their child down for any of us 274 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,880 But God loved us so much 275 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,880 That's the impact, that's the gravity 276 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,880 Of what God did for us 277 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,880 He sent his one, his only son for us 278 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,880 And that is all really good stuff 279 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,880 God's love is amazing 280 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:45,880 But I'm not gonna stop there 281 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,880 Because how many know there's always a but? 282 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,880 But how many know that we're gonna have trouble in this life 283 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,880 And that God never said that when you become a follower of Christ 284 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,880 That it's all gonna be peaches and cream 285 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:00,880 That it's gonna be roses and sunshine 286 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,880 Rainbows and unicorns 287 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,880 I don't find that in God's word anywhere 288 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,880 God's love does not mean that we're not gonna have trouble in this life 289 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:11,880 In fact, he tells us that 290 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:12,880 He tells us truth 291 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,880 In John 16, 33, he says 292 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:16,880 I have told you these things 293 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,880 So that in me you may have peace 294 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,880 In this world you will have trouble 295 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,880 But take heart, I have overcome the world 296 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,880 Now notice in there it doesn't say 297 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,880 In this world you might have trouble 298 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:38,880 It doesn't say in this world there's a chance you could have trouble 299 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,880 It doesn't say in this world 300 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,880 It's iffy 50-50 you might have trouble 301 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,880 That is not what it says 302 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,880 It says he's straight up, he's straightforward, he tells you the truth 303 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:55,880 In this world you will have trouble 304 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,880 But take heart because I have overcome the world 305 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:06,880 God did not hide the fact that we have troubles, problems, trials, bad days, bad weeks, bad months, bad years 306 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,880 He just promised to love us and walk with us 307 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:13,880 And that we'd never be alone through that 308 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:15,880 See, I like what one writer said 309 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,880 He said life isn't a walk in the park 310 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,880 It's more like a trek through the mountains 311 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,880 On top of the world one minute, in the valley the next 312 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:30,880 But the same God who gives you that mountaintop view 313 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,880 Doesn't let you walk alone in the valley 314 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,880 It's the same God 315 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,880 See, but there's something that happens to us in our humanness 316 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,880 When the trials and the troubles come 317 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:49,880 We get super focused on the problem, on the trial 318 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,880 On whatever it is that we're going through 319 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,880 We get so focused on that 320 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:59,880 That we forget about all those things that I just talked about 321 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:03,880 All those attributes of God, his love 322 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:09,880 We forget because we get so focused on the problems 323 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:15,880 See, this glass of water represents our life, free of trouble 324 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,880 It's pure, it's clear, it looks really good 325 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,880 This is dirt 326 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,880 It represents the troubles in our life 327 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,880 Okay, little science experience here 328 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:32,880 They can always fail, so we're going to go to that in a minute 329 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,880 But this dirt represents the difficulties that we have in life 330 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:40,880 Those difficulties could be parenting your kids 331 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,880 How many moms out there think parenting kids is hard? 332 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:45,880 If you didn't raise your hand, you just lied 333 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:47,880 It's hard 334 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:49,880 I had three, I know 335 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,880 Parenting kids are hard, and it doesn't ever end 336 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,880 I don't care how old they are 337 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:56,880 Parenting kids are hard even when they're adults 338 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,880 Because you stop parenting, sort of, because they're adults 339 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:02,880 You got to kind of find a walk that line 340 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,880 But that could represent the dirt 341 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:11,880 Or it could be maybe your marriage isn't in the place that you thought it would be 342 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:15,880 You got married, you've been married five years, ten years, 15 years, 20 years 343 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,880 And your marriage is just in a rough place 344 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,880 And that could represent the dirt 345 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,880 Or maybe it's that diagnosis that you got 346 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,880 And you're so focused on that diagnosis 347 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:35,880 Or maybe it's that your son or your daughter came home with the news that you just didn't want to hear 348 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,880 That could be the dirt 349 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,880 It could be that your finances are a mess 350 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,880 And you're in over your head, and you're so focused on that mess 351 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,880 You just don't know what to do 352 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:55,880 It could be that it's a relationship with your mom or your dad that's broken 353 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,880 And you're so focused on that 354 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:01,880 It could be your job 355 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,880 Maybe your job is swallowing you up 356 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:08,880 Maybe your job is just so stressful, so much, it's just swallowing you up 357 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,880 And that's where all your focus is 358 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,880 Or maybe you lost your job 359 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:20,880 And now you don't know what you're going to do, and you've got that mess, that dirt 360 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,880 Maybe you've lost a child 361 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:26,880 Or maybe you've lost a parent 362 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,880 Or maybe you've lost a spouse 363 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:32,880 And maybe that's the dirt 364 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:39,880 And see what happens when that dirt, when those troubles come into our life 365 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,880 It gets all mixed up in there 366 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:46,880 And we get so focused of trying to make our water clear 367 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:51,880 And we're trying to get this dirt out 368 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:59,880 And we spend oodles and oodles of time 369 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:04,880 That's an awful sound actually, hearing that across that glass 370 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,880 We try to get that dirt out, we're so focused on that 371 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:13,880 And no matter how hard I try, how focused I get on this 372 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:18,880 I'm never going to be able to make that water less dirty with this spoon 373 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,880 And trying to get the trouble 374 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:29,880 If I try to do this on my own, and I keep trying to fix the problem, to fix the trial 375 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,880 I'm going to be doing this forever 376 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,880 I'm going to be so distracted, I'm going to be doing this forever, but you know what? 377 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,880 You know how we deal with this trouble, with this problem 378 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:45,880 See this picture of water, this represents God's love 379 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:49,880 That he has for us, and the goodness that's in our life 380 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:54,880 And you know how you get rid of this, or you make your life more clear 381 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:58,880 As you just start focusing on the love of God 382 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:03,880 And the more of the love of God, and the more of him you pour in 383 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,880 The water gets clear 384 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,880 Now it's never going to be as pure and clear as the day you were born 385 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,880 Before there was any trouble 386 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,880 But as you focus on the love of God 387 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,880 And I can keep going, there's still going to be a little bit in there, but I can keep going 388 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:23,880 Do you see how clear your water is? 389 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:28,880 Do you see if you focus on the love of God, and the goodness of God 390 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:32,880 And not on the problems that that is how you deal with things in your life 391 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,880 It's difficult when we have those things come in 392 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,880 You get consumed by trying to get that dirt out 393 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:40,880 We become fixated on it 394 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,880 We get so focused on the problem 395 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,880 We spend all our time trying to fix it 396 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:50,880 And listen, I had to preach this to me before I'm ever sharing it with you 397 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,880 I feel like this was a message that God laid on my heart months ago 398 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:56,880 Because he did this in my own life 399 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:00,880 There's been times that I have got so focused on the dirt 400 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:05,880 On the problem that I forget that the one who can bring peace 401 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,880 Who can bring all that, the goodness back in our life 402 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:12,880 Who can bring healing, whose grace and mercies are new every day 403 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:16,880 I forget because I'm so focused on the problem 404 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:22,880 You see, there's this funny thing that was invented a couple 405 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,880 I don't know how long ago it was, somebody out there with technology can tell me 406 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,880 It's this watch that I have on, this Apple watch 407 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:32,880 And you know, this Apple watch does funny things for me, it's really great 408 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,880 It will remind me of appointments that I have, it's right on there 409 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,880 I'll get warnings on that 410 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,880 But I've also, I guess you do this when you set it up 411 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:42,880 I don't really remember, it's been so long since I've had one 412 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:47,880 But you tell it how many movements you want to have for the day to be healthy 413 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:53,880 And it knows how many times you should stand a day for some strange reason in order to be healthy 414 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:59,880 So I'm at work and my watch will tell me, Dixie, you need to stand 415 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:02,880 I never knew I needed a watch to tell me to stand 416 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:03,880 But it'll say it's time to stand 417 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:07,880 But it reminds me that it would be healthy for me to stand up right now 418 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:12,880 So I tend to stand up and I go to the copier or go put something in the fouling cabinet 419 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,880 I know I work with Bishop Bill and his watch tells him that 420 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,880 He gets up and goes out and walks around the building 421 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,880 So our watch, this amazing invention is telling us that 422 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:26,880 Even at night, like at 10.45, my watch will tell me, Dixie 423 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:32,880 If you would go take a 15-minute brisk walk, you will meet your movements for the day 424 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,880 Those are the times I kind of just like want to smash the watch 425 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,880 Because I don't really want to go for a brisk walk at 10.45, you know 426 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:44,880 But wouldn't it be amazing if we had a Jesus watch? 427 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,880 You know, a Jesus watch that would just say 428 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,880 Hey, Dixie, you're really being focused on that problem right now 429 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:58,880 But if you just remember, if you just remember in Lamentations 3, 22 and 23 430 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:00,880 That the faithful love of the Lord never ends 431 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:02,880 That His mercies never cease 432 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,880 That great in His faithfulness, great are His mercies 433 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,880 That begin fresh and new every morning 434 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,880 And then I get that nudge from him 435 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,880 And then he says in Ephesians 3, 18 and 19 436 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,880 And may you have the power to understand, as all of God's people should 437 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:23,880 How wide, how long, how high, how deep His love is for you 438 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:25,880 May you experience the love of Christ 439 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,880 If I just had that Jesus watch that would remind me of that 440 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,880 Just like this Apple watch does when I need to stand up 441 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,880 Or even in Psalms 5, 11, 12, if that Jesus watch would say 442 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,880 But let all who take refuge in your rejoice 443 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,880 Let them sing joyful praises forever 444 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:45,880 Spread protection over them 445 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:50,880 That all who love your name are filled with joy 446 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,880 For God blesses the godly 447 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,880 Oh, the love that He has for us 448 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,880 If we would just have that Jesus watch, guess what? 449 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:02,880 You do. It's called the Holy Spirit 450 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:05,880 The Holy Spirit is your Jesus watch 451 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:07,880 It's that nudge to tell you 452 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,880 Hey, Dixie, you need to get in the Word 453 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:13,880 You need to be reading those scriptures 454 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:15,880 You need to be spending time with God 455 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,880 And you need to be focusing on His love for you 456 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,880 Not on the dirt, not on the problems 457 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:22,880 We're all gonna have the problems 458 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:23,880 He was honest with us 459 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:26,880 In this world you will have trouble 460 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:28,880 And you know what? 461 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,880 I have called these cheater sticky notes up here 462 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:33,880 That I had the scriptures on 463 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,880 You know what I do with these scriptures? 464 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,880 Because I don't always have them committed to memory 465 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,880 If I'm going through something and I need to be reminded of something 466 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,880 I just stick this on my mirror 467 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:47,880 So when I get up in the morning 468 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:49,880 I've got that Jesus watch 469 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,880 Reminding me that His mercies are new every morning 470 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:57,880 This is my cheater notes that if I don't have the time 471 00:28:57,880 --> 00:28:58,880 Or I don't make the time 472 00:28:58,880 --> 00:28:59,880 Let me put it that way, we all have the time 473 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:03,880 But if I don't make the time to get in God's Word in the morning before I go 474 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:05,880 I at least read the little sticky note 475 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,880 The little Jesus watch that I put on the mirror 476 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:14,880 To remind me that God's love is gentle 477 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:18,880 To remind me that God's love is faithful and merciful 478 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,880 To remind me that God's love is compassionate 479 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,880 To remind me that God's love is unfathomable 480 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,880 To remind me that His love is forgiving and full of grace 481 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:32,880 To remind me that His love is always with us 482 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:36,880 Even in our pain and in our suffering 483 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,880 To remind me that His love is eternal 484 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:46,880 To remind me that His love is protective and sacrificial 485 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:48,880 To remind me 486 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:52,880 I'm going to ask if you'd stand this morning if Zach and the worship team would come 487 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:56,880 You see if we focus on His love 488 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:01,880 It brings the clarity, the peace, the mercy, the grace, the healing 489 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:04,880 The compassion into our life 490 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:10,880 Our water gets clear even though we're still going to have dirt in our life 491 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:15,880 You see His life is eternal so no matter how muddy our water gets 492 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,880 With troubles, His love is enough 493 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:21,880 His love is always with us 494 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,880 We need to focus on Him and His goodness 495 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:27,880 And not the circumstances around us 496 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:32,880 So this morning, I don't really know if you're on the mountaintop 497 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:34,880 And your glass is pretty clear right now 498 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:37,880 And if it is, get ready because it's not going to stay there 499 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:39,880 Because it's where it says we're going to have trouble 500 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:42,880 Or if right now today you're in the valley 501 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:44,880 And you're going through something 502 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,880 And you feel like Jesus is so far away 503 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:48,880 And how could He love me right now? 504 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:51,880 Because if He did, I wouldn't be going through this 505 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:53,880 I wouldn't be walking down this path 506 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:54,880 I wouldn't be having this trouble 507 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:56,880 I wouldn't have lost my job 508 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:58,880 I wouldn't have missed that promotion 509 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,880 My kid wouldn't have come home and gave me that news 510 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,880 That's not true, that's the enemy telling you that 511 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:10,880 Because God loves you more than you will ever imagine 512 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,880 And it doesn't matter where you are 513 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:15,880 Because God's love is unconditional 514 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:17,880 His blessings are conditional 515 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:21,880 But His love for you is unconditional 516 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:25,880 So this morning I wanted to remind you of God's love 517 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,880 I wanted to remind you, I wanted you to get you a picture 518 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,880 Of what you need to focus on 519 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:34,880 When those troubles come because they're going to come 520 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:38,880 I want you to quit focusing on the dirt 521 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,880 And on the problems and retrain your mind 522 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:44,880 To focus on the goodness of God's love 523 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,880 On the goodness of God 524 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:51,880 So we're going to bow our heads this morning 525 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:53,880 And right where you are we're going to pray 526 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:57,880 And then the worship team is going to sing a song 527 00:31:57,880 --> 00:31:59,880 And then we're going to get ready to close 528 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:00,880 But I don't know where you are 529 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,880 But maybe you're even here this morning 530 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:04,880 And you've never experienced this love of God 531 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:06,880 You're not a follower of Jesus 532 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,880 You don't really understand anything I was talking about today 533 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,880 Except for we've got this God that loves you 534 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:13,880 You can know Him 535 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:17,880 Because even though you don't know Him, He knows you 536 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:22,880 And He wants to be in relationship with you 537 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:26,880 So Father, this morning I pray right where everyone is at 538 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:28,880 Right in their seats God I pray 539 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,880 That if they are in that valley this morning 540 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:34,880 That something that you said through me 541 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:38,880 One of the scriptures from your word this morning 542 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:40,880 God penetrated their hearts 543 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:44,880 And they were reminded of that need to have you in their life 544 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,880 That need to have your love cover whatever it is they're in 545 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:50,880 Whether they need protection 546 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,880 Whether they need mercy and grace 547 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:56,880 Whatever it is that they need 548 00:32:56,880 --> 00:33:00,880 Maybe they just need your gentle arms to come around them 549 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:02,880 And say hey it's going to be okay 550 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:04,880 Because I'm with you 551 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:06,880 God wherever they are this morning God 552 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:09,880 I pray that they just take a moment 553 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:14,880 And they ask you for what they need this morning 554 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:16,880 Where they're at 555 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:18,880 Right where they're at Jesus 556 00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:22,880 God that you will come in and you will show them 557 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:24,880 A love like no other 558 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:26,880 A love that is eternal 559 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:31,880 A love that is gentle and faithful and merciful 560 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:34,880 So God I pray that they lay that problem 561 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:36,880 Right at your feet 562 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,880 And they focus on you and your love 563 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:42,880 God I pray that you just touch them and meet them 564 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,880 Right where they're at this morning 565 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:48,880 In your precious name 566 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:18,880 Thank you for watching!