Jentzen Franklin @ Lakewood Church

The Gates

• Acts 3:2 NIV
• Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 
• http://bible.com/111/act.3.2.NIV
• The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. 
• Psalm 87:2 NIV 
• http://bible.com/111/psa.87.2.NIV 
• A wall keeps people out but a gate is on henges to let people in.
• The henges represent a choice.
• Joshua 24:15
• But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord ." 
• The Tree of Life
• Genesis 2:9
• The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
• The tree of life could have been put outside because he wanted them to decide for themselves.
• God will always provide a place of refuge.
• Numbers 35
• City of Refuge
• v 6. "Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 
• v.9-15 When you cross the River Jordan into the country of Canaan, designate your asylum-cities, towns to which a person who accidentally kills someone can flee for asylum.
• Psalm 91:1-2
• Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord , "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 
• Psalm 37:7
• Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
• Don't let someone talk you out of the King's protection
• 2 Samuel 3:6-38
• Abner had crossed the River Jordan into the city of refuge
• David negotiated a treaty with Abner via messenger.
• Even when negotiating, Abner did not leave Asylum until an agreement was reached.
• David sent Abner safely on his way
• v. 22-26 But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid and found out about the treaty
• v. 27 When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.
• v. 33 Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? 34 Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered— the victim of a wicked plot.”
• All Abner had to do was stay in the city of refuge and he could have lived.
• He removed himself from the King's protection
• Don't be lured through the gate away from God's protection.
• Cecil the Lion
• He was lured out of refuge with a dead deer.
• He took the bait.
• Cecil's brother, Jericho went looking for Cecil.
• This speaks to the phenomenon of influence.
• It doesn't take long to mess your life up.
• Heaven, Hell, and God's Presence all have gaits.
• Psalm 100:4-5
• Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
• Revelations 21:21
• The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
• Matthew 16:17-19
• ...“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
• The praise that costs the most counts the most.
• You have to get victory over your personal enemies before you can fight God's enemies. David fought the lion and the bear before he defeated Goliath
• Whatever it is that gives you entrance into the place that God has delivered you from is a gate that needs to be removed. The music, the internet, alcohol, etc. There's no joy with one foot in the city of refuge and one foot out. Quit explaining it and get rid of it.
• Judges 16:3
• But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. 
• You make your choices and your choices make you.

Be Real

Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church

• The moment you pray, the tide of the battle begins to turn.
• Put a date on your prayer to remind yourself that God is working in your life.
• The work of a believer is to believe.
• Part of believing is trusting God.
• Doubt takes your emotions all over the place and causes you to be all over the place.
• James 1:6
• ...when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind;
• Feed your faith.
• What ever you feed is going to grow. If you feed your faith, your faith is going to grow. Doubt wants to take over and if you continue to feed it.
• The word is your food.
• Hebrews 4:12
• For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

• It's easy to go through life wearing a mask.
• Some people have a mask for every situation: work, church, this friend, etc...
• In order to get well, you have to get real. Take that mask off and get honest with yourself.
• When you're honest, you open the door for God to come in.
• Your inner life is more important that your outer life.
• Matthew 6:5-15
• 5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
• Matthew 5:8
• Blessed are the pure at heart.
• Facing truth can be uncomfortable.
• Look inside and get honest so that you can overcome the things that are holding you back.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2
• We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
• Prodigal Son
• Luke 15:17 When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
• He came to his senses and went back home.
• Luke 15: 18-20
• I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
• His father was looking for him.
• His father came running to him.
• His father restored him.
• David & Bathsheba
• For a year David was miserable. Until he finally took off the mask.
• Psalm 51:5-10
• Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
• The first step of recovery is to admit it.
• You can't pretend and have God's provision at the same time.
• God isn't holding any mistakes against you.
• The price has already been paid.
• Sometimes we're more concerned about what people are going to think than what God thinks.
• Everyone is struggling with something, there are no perfect people.
• James 5:16
• Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
• You can't see God if you don't take off the mask
• God doesn't change you from shame to glory, but from glory to glory.
• Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
• Luke 19:1-10
• Tax collectors were notorious sinners.
• He climbed a tree to make up for his weakness, being short.
• Jesus called him by name.
• God knows who you really are.
• Zacchaeus had to come down from the tree to let Jesus into his house.
• The people who get the help are the people who are real.

The Secret Place

• The holy of holies....
• Leviticus 16:2-34 describes a place that had strict rules of entry.
• There should be a place like that in us.
• Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
• Proverbs 4:23 NIV
• Peace is a position of power.
• "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
• Ephesians 4:26 NIV
• Ships don't sink because of the water around ships sink because of water within.
• Acts 20:24 KJV
• But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
• Philippians 4:8 KJV
• Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
• Job 8:22 KJV
• They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
• John 14:1 NIV
• "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God   ; believe also in me.
• Don't put your circumstances on the thrown.
• Psalm 68:1 NIV
• May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.

Lavish Love

Ed Newton @ CBC

• John 21:14-19
• 1. Love chases.
• This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
• John 21:14 NIV
• 2. Love comfronts.
• When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"  "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
• * What are the "these" in my life?

• John 21:15 NIV
• 3. Love Convicts
• The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
• John 21:17 NIV
• 4. Love Calls
• Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
• John 21:18-19 NIV
• Forgiveness is the only thing that can motivate a man to live with conviction.
• If You Could See What I See

It's Your Heart That Matters

• We don't have to have be perfect for God to use us.
• For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."
• 2 Chronicles 16:9
• You may make mistakes but God is looking on the inside.
• Eg. Pharisees
• "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
• Matthew 23:27
• Even if I don't feel like I'm measuring up,  I'm in a state of glory!
• But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• God doesn't expect us to be perfect but he does expect us to keep trying.,
• Stop taking inventory of all of your faults.
• Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Ephesians 6:14
• God can approve you without approving of your behavior.
• Your value comes from your who not your do. Your do has been set by the creator of the universe.
• "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."Jeremiah 1:5
• Don't let guilt and condemnation keep you from your destiny. God is not focused on my mistakes.
• If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you James 1:5
• Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." Luke 7:47
• Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

28-Day Water Challenge...5 months later.

At then end of 2014 Joy Sewing, fashion & beauty editor for the Houston Chronicle, challenged her world to drink more water. She said, "most of us don't drink enough water, but its health benefits are tremendous. So, let's do this. A gallon of water a day for 28 days..."

I was in that group of "most of us". Not only would I not drink enough water, I'd not drink anything except maybe a cup of coffee ALL DAY.5 months later, I can't say that I consistently drink a gallon of water a day, but I'm definitely better. I also feel better when I drink more water. I don't know the science behind it but it's motivated me to  find ways of enticing myself into drinking water.

I participated in countless events, groups, and etc over the years and have amassed dozens of water bottles. I've been putting those bottles to use, infusing water, filling the bottles, and sticking them in the refrigerator. By doing this, all I have to do is grab a bottle from the refrigerator as soon as I think about it.

You heard me say infuse, right? I purchase my favorite fruit and herbs then create my own infused water. My favorite combo to use is Pineapple, Mint, Sage, and Rosemary. I've used apples, cinnamon, ginger, oranges, lemons, cucumbers, limes, blackberries, raspberries, the list goes on and on.

I also drink water when I'm in limbo. I edit video and the thing that seems to take the longest is rendering and/or burning digital copies. As soon as I start a video to rendering, I go grab myself a cup of water. I used to fill a large 28oz container of water to keep with me while photographing clients but it doesn't fit in my cup holder and I've spilled it in the car more than once so now I just stick to normal sized water bottles! I have a 20oz sports bottle but it's a little awkward to carry since it has no handle.I'm so glad that I took this challenge!

Don't Waste Your Pain

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

• God sees the big picture of your life. Like a puzzle, each peace has a perfect place. 
• Some puzzle  pieces look strange alone but have an important place in our lives.
• Romans 8:28: (King James Version)And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
• God promised that each peace will work out for our Good.
• Pain changes you, but how the pain changes you is your decision.
• You can come out bitter or better.
• Don't just go through it, grow through it. 
• Satan may turn on the heat but God has his hand on the thermostat.
• Satan had to ask God to test Job.
• If it was too much then God would turn it down.In order to not waste the pain, you have to learn the lesson. 

• God will turn your mess into a message
• Rain falls on the just and the unjust.
• Matthew 5:45 …that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

• Remember the lesson and then let go of the negative event.
• Mrs. Dodie was diagnosed with terminal cancer. 30+ years later she’s been cured and holds a prayer service in the Chapel where se received that deadly prognosis.
• God ķnows how to turn your mess into your message

• We were created to be conquerors.
• NASA wanted to study the bee’s behavior in outer space and the bees quickly realized that they didn’t need to use all of their energy to fly so they stopped flapping their wings. Those bees eventually died. Researchers said that though the bees seemed happy, they died.
  
• We weren’t created to have it easy.

• 2co.1.4.niv who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
• Candace Lynne "Candy" Lightner 
  
• American organizer and founding president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). On May 3, 1980, Lightner’s 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver at Sunset and New York Avenues in Fair Oaks, California.
• The sentence given to the repeat offender of driving while intoxicated (DWI) outraged Lightner who then organized Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. The name was later changed to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.Some cancer survivors volunteer at hospitals.
• The mess of the death of Candy’s daughter was turned into the message of MADD

• LoLo Jones
  
• Favored to win the 100 m hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but tripped on the penultimate hurdle, finishing in seventh place.
• She went on to win silver at the 2008 World Athletics Final.
• Jones is the American record holder in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.72.
• Jones Refuses to Let Life's Hurdles Deter Her.
• She knows that she can help others who have fallen.

• Pain makes you uniquely qualified to help someone else in your position.It's not all about you. 
• Pain isn’t all about you. God may allow something so that you can be instrumental in someone else’s life down the road.
• Sometimes we're pregnant and we don't know it. 
• A heavy set woman had always been healthy but she started to get sick. She went to the doctor and they though it was a virus. She was nauseous, swollen, and etc…
• She finally decided to go to the doctor again and the doctor determined what was wrong, she was pregnant and 90 minutes later he handed her a healthy baby boy.
• When it's painful, don't get discouraged, you're about to give birth.
• Hebrews 12:2 (New Living Translation) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
• Craig and Samantha Johnson

• Their son was diagnosed with autism. and he thought about the fact that many families can’t go to church because their isn’t a place for their kids to go during service. So he birthed the Champion’s Club.
• Champions Club is a specially designed developmental area for kids, youth, and adults with special needs. Our goal was to develop a program that would meet the developmental needs of children in four important ways, SPIRITUALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, MENTALLY, and PHYSICALLY.
• After the launch 300+ new families joined the church.

• When it’s painful don’t get discouraged, get ready because you’re in labor!

Joel and Victoria Osteen’s nuggets @ Lakewood Church

• Put God's word into to you when you don't need it and you'll have it when you do need it. 
• Don't put a question where God put a period.
• Your condition doesn’t determine your position. -Victoria Osteen
• Luke 13:10-17 (Jesus Heals on the Sabbath) 
• God sees you.
• One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.
• And when you answer His call, you will see His face.
• When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God! 
• Your condition doesn’t determine your position.
• This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

Take A Closer Look

I'm upset and I'm sure that there will be those who read my post and judge me as irresponsible and cruel

just like my accuser did. Nevertheless I am going to share my experience here because it bothers me that society condones so many knee-jerk uninformed decisions. In condoning those decisions we have strengthened the everyone's confidence in taking uniformed actions. Though this situation upset me, I'm glad that when others were in my situation I sided with them and approached the situation with an open mind. I hope that in sharing this experience,

you will be motivated to take a closer look before you react.

In the next few paragraphs I will describe an incident that took place

as well as some of my subsequent research.

 

I took my dog to the park and it started to rain, so I headed home but then decided to stop at Wal-Mart to pick up 3 items. Obviously, I left Canon, my dog, in the car. Literally just as I headed to the register I heard a page on the loud speaker, "will the owner of a Black Mercedes..." with my license plate number please go to your car.  I already knew what happened so I placed my items at the register and went outside where my suspicion was confirmed. An irate man stood in front of my car and proceeded to yell at me about how irresponsible he deemed me and informed me that if he saw my dog in the car again that he planned to break my window. At which point I told him that the police would arrest him for vandalism. Even after showing him that my sunroof vent was open, he said that if I went back in the store without opening my windows that he planned to break my window. I am adverse to conflict so I just left. I tried to end the exchange positively, thanking him for his concern but he was still yelling so I just closed my door and drove away; I didn't even go back in to purchase my items.

 

Canon had been in the car less than 10 minutes at near room temperature conditions. Let me give you a few facts about the day. Like I said, it had started raining so it was overcast. According to the national weather service the day's high would be 83 and the temperature gauge in my car read 80° at the time. (To put things in perspective, the current temperature in my house is 78°.) I recently purchased a camera to clip on Canon onto Canon's collar when we go on walks. I had taken it off of his collar and clipped on the back seat. It was set to take a picture every minute. When I got home I downloaded the pictures to my computer and between the time that I left the car and the time that the man approached my car only 8 pictures had been taken. That means that he had been in the car alone for 8 minutes. If I had a chance to check out, then that would have been about 2 more minutes.

 

First picture of  "good Samaritan".

Even with the news of "good Samaritans" breaking windows to "free" animals I never thought twice about leaving Canon in the car while I grab a few items. But I've been stewing over this situation since it happened and decided to research Texas Animal laws.

 

According to a post written by Ben, J.D. on JustAnswer.Com, it is not unlawful to leave a dog alone in a parked car with the windows rolled down slightly for any amount of time no matter what the temperature is outside in the state of Texas. He says that none of the aforementioned conduct "is unlawful per se". He goes on to explain that Texas has no statute addressing leaving animals in a vehicle. There is a general "animal cruelty" law.

 

There was a case,  Leonard Lopez, Appellant, v. The State of Texas, where the court convicted the defendant of cruelty to animals where the defendant left his dog in the car on a hot, sunny, dry day with the windows only cracked an inch and a half while he watched a movie at a theater. His action was deemed "transporting or confining animal in a cruel manner." That day the high was 93 and the low was 75. I was unable to find anymore details but I'm pretty sure that my actions today don't even come close to that standard.

 

I decided to share this experience as a cautionary tale for dog owners and "Good Samaritans".

 

"Good Samaritans", should you happen to notice a dog in a parked car don't let your emotions get the best of you. You don't know the background of this situation. The "good Samaritan" went on about how irresponsible he deemed me and directed me to take better care of my dog based on less than 15 minutes observing my life and less than 2 minutes of interacting with me. Now, I believe that everyone can do better in any situation but anyone who knows Canon knows that we spoil him rotten and that he visits the doctor more than we do. (Please follow Canon on Instagram). Take a closer look at the situation and recognize that you just met this person and this dog. You know very little about the situation, even less about the dog, and nothing about the person. Not everyone is a monster.

 

Dog owners, there are people who are being empowered by society to act on dangerous impulses. If you get into a confrontation with one of these "good Samaritans" remove yourself from the situation. I know that if your dog is in your car then you love that animal. Remember to open the vent just so air is flowing and if you plan to be away from the car for long leave a cup of water. Try to park in an area out of director sunlight but in plain view. I parked in the front so had he done anything or had he called the police there were several witnesses and security cameras; the witnesses would have been able to verify what actually happened and there would have been camera evidence. You've taken care of your dog for years and were only stopping by the store to grab a few items. Not everyone will understand.

 

Well that's all for now!