Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church
• It's easy to live uptight when you don't see anything changing. God can make things happen
• As long as we're trying to force things, God will step back. You may have a good reason to worry, but you should stay in faith and live out of a place of peace and trust.
• A plan was put in place to get rid of Daniel. When you're in difficult situations God has people praying for you who you don't know anything about.
For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Philippians 1:21 NLT
Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose.
• You'll praise God whether you live or die.
• God made Daniel unappetizing to the Lions. God knows how to make you unappetizing to the enemy. There's a blood line around me and my family.
When you see wild animals you're advised to carry yourself with a quiet confidence.
...and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:27 NIV
When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" Daniel answered, "May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty." The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel 6:20-23 NIV
• Daniel's faith didn't keep him out of the lion's den but it did make him lion-proof.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 NIV
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord , endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Psalms 138:8 NKJV
Jonathan and Charlie
The Osteens were worried about Jonathan fitting in after being homeschooled. Victoria met a lady and text Jonathan about finding her son. There were several thousand kids in orientation and Jonathan couldn't figure out how he'd find Charlie but "randomly" sat right next to him.
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV
• Victories are there to fuel your faith.
• Battles are there to bring attention to God.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
Psalms 27:1-3 NKJV
• My advantage is that God has placed me out of reach.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
Psalms 27:5 NKJV
Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church
Get Even Exposure
Victoria bought solar powered lights and wanted to surprise Joel with them but they weren't working. She was just about to return them she noticed the pull tab hadn't been pulled.
Solar Powered Lights
Check that there's not a pull tab on the battery
This will apply to newly purchased lights only. Sometimes there is a pull tab on the battery that needs to be removed before the light will function. If your new solar light doesn't work, definitely check on this.
You may need to remove something that's blocking the light.
Some trees don't grow straight because so many things are crowding out the light. It's struggling to grow toward the light.
Remember what it says: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled." And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn't it the people Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn't it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.
Hebrews 3:15-19 NLT
Read the word to get exposure to the son.
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalms 119:105 NLT
If you read the word God will bring it to life in you.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
John 8:12
