The Power of the Soil

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

A good seed planted in bad soil will not thrive. Soil can be a limited environment or even bad company and if you stay there those weeds and rocks will choke the life out of your seed.

He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.  Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.  But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.  Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.  Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

Matthew 13:3‭-‬8 NLT

Thorns: Toxic Friends

Weeds: Messy Coworkers 

Rocks: Negative Family members

People are contagious. Don't spend a lot of time with people who have things that you don't want to catch. 

It's not enough to focus on self-development, you have to focus on soil development.

God will never ask you to give something up without giving you something else in return.

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Genesis 12:1‭, ‬4 NLT

God told Abraham to leave with ONLY his immediate family but he took his nephew Lot.

Lot means veil or covering.

Are you holding on to what God asked you let go of?

Be selective about  what you can. 

When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. "Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!

Matthew 9:23‭-‬25 NLT

In 1896, Henry Ford attended a convention in Manhattan Beach, New York, where the honorary guest of honor was no other than the renowned Thomas Edison. During the night, a friend pointed out Ford to Edison telling him, "There's a young fellow who has made a gas car." The defining moment of the evening came after Edison asked young Ford poignant questions and showed his satisfaction by banging his fist down on the table. "Young man," he said, "that's the thing! You have it! Your car is self contained and carries its own power plant."

Nay sayers are a dime a dozen. You have to find the 20% of positive people.

Find a mentor.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!" Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Acts of the Apostles 3:4‭-‬8 NLT

You need friends who won't just pray but they will also lift you up. 

Sometimes you can't go to the next level without someone pulling you up. Adicted people can't help adicted people. Maybe you need to change who you're spending time with. Stay away from people who are enabling the dysfunction.

Seasons of Silence

Nothing may be changing on the outside but things are happening on the inside. Don't complain about the silence. There are things that you will learn in anonymity that you can't learn otherwise. God does his greatest work in isolation.

Don't compare your life to the lives of others.

Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who will betray you?" Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."

John 21:20‭-‬22 NLT

If you look around long enough then you'll always find someone who has it better than you in a certain area.

Like David, you may have big dreams but are alone in the shepherd's field with very little responsibility.

People usually hide valuable jewelry until a special occasion, not wearing it for day to day tasks.

Some trees look dead during some seasons. What, we can't see is that while everything looks stagnant on the outside, it is gathering sap and nutrients so that it can bloom in it's season.

God can see things that we can't see so he takes us through routes that will prepare us for our season.

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

Exodus 13:17‭-‬18 NLT

My time is too valuable to waste on insignificant things. 

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV

God is not preparing blessings  for  me,  he's preparing me for the blessings.

When you're isolated, you don't have things to take your attention away from God.

Tyler Perry was hidden for 7 years

Mistreated by his father he would hide and come up with stories.

You may be hidden but God will always have the right people there.

Joseph was hidden for 13 years

Nothing that's happened to me hasn't been a surprise for God. We go through seasons of silence...not a lifetine

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 16:20 KJV

Jesus trusted his Father's timing.

Instead of fighting the silence, embrace it. 

Elijah was hidden for 3 years. 

"Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.

1 Kings 17:3 NLT

Victoria's Exhortation

God doesn't want you to ever get stuck he wants you to live in expectancy of what he can do. 

Don't wait for things to change in hopes of being happy we need to be happy now with a joyful expectancy.

They That Wait Upon The Lord, Shall Renew Their Strength, They Shall Mount Up With Wings of Eagles, They Shall Run and Not Be Weary Walk Faint

Isaiah 40:31

There is a joy in you that Jesus gave you. The righteous get brighter and brighter until the full day.

Let the SON in every day.

Ask yourself if you're shining every day.l? Make sure you're not focused on the mountain but on where the help comes from. 

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the.

Isaiah 43:18-19

You can lose time focusing on the wrong thing. A situation  doesnt have to change for you to live,  your life is happening now.

Don't make life plans that depend on a prayer being answered. 

Eye-strain: Eye strain, also known as asthenopia, is an eye condition that manifests through nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, pain in or around the eyes, blurred vision, headache, and occasional double vision. Symptoms often occur after reading, computer work, or other close activities that involve tedious visual tasks.

Cast your eyes at a distance and take in all of the life around you. It relaxes your eye lense and causes it to be more flexible.

When we focus on a specific area for a long time we take on stress but we need to look beyond that area...into the future.

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isiah 30:18

The God Who Crosses His Arms

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

God has things in store for me that I don't see coming.

For many years Jacob thought that his favorite son was dead. 13 years later he found out that not only was he alive but he was in a position of power and he had 2 grandsons. Things were way better than he thought.

And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

Genesis 48:5‭-‬6 NKJV

God doesn't disqualify you because of the way that you were raised. Ephraim and Manasseh were not raised in the faith and insteas of waiting another generation they received an inheritance in their youth and were thrust 40 years down the road.

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:5 NKJV

"So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant— when you have eaten and are full—

Deuteronomy 6:10‭-‬11 NKJV

God is not holding my background against me. God's going to do a quick work in my life.

Don't waste your time on people who won't celebrate you. Where your blessings well.

God crossed his arms.

Jacob was about to bless Josephs son and Ephraim (the oldest) was seated at his right hand while Manasseh (the youngest) was seated to the left. Traditionally the oldest received a double portion but Jacob crossed his arms and layed his righth and on the younger son.

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one  is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."

Genesis 48:18‭-‬19 NKJV

So the youngest grandson receiving this blessing shows that God can take someone who is in the back, at a far disadvantage and thrust them forward.

God can reach you no matter where you are.

And the Lord said to Moses, "Has the Lord 's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not."

Numbers 11:23 NKJV

God chooses to bless us, it's not about earning anything.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Luke 1:30 NKJV

Pastor John Osteen

No one in his family believed in God and he didn't grow up in church.

David was a shepherd with no millitary experience and Samuel came looking for him and annointed him, the youngest son in Jesse's house, as the next King

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord ; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord God ? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

II Samuel 7:18 NKJV

Victoria Osteen's Exhortation

Don't allow busyness to overwhelm our lives. If we're going to see our dreams come to pass then we're going to have to make room for them.

You have to set priorities because if we let everything take our tine we can get off course.

Sometimes multitasking is not productive. Hurry and do this so I can hurry and do that and then other people had to hurry. Activity doesn't necessarily equal productivity.

MOSES

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 90:12 NKJV

He was the one who heard from God and who everyone came to him for answers. So that was his prayer and the wise counsel from his father-in-law Jethro may have been his answer.

So Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to  be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Exodus 18:17‭-‬18‭, ‬21‭, ‬24‭-‬25 NKJV

God should be the first thing on the list. So put the God rock first and he will help us to prioritize. 

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

The God Who Exceeds Expectations

[He] is able to do exceedingly more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Ephesians 3:20 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. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Acts 3:2‭-‬8 NIV

He expected the same thing,  a few coins, but he was healed. Jesus showed up and exceeded his expectations.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:20 NIV

Pastor Joel went to a jewelry store for a watch battery and that's where he met Victoria, his wife.

Lakewood Church is an exceeded expectation.

and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Ephesians 1:19 NKJV

Street ministry pastor met 2 of the wealthiest men by chance.

God will override your doubt.

A lady in the Bible was passed childbearing years and refused to accept payment from Elisha...So he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my Lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!" But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.

II Kings 4:15‭-‬17 NKJV

Hannah couldn't bear children, so she promised that if God gave her a son then she'd bring him back. 

God was most especially kind to Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters! The boy Samuel stayed at the sanctuary and grew up with God .

1 Samuel 2:21 MSG

Then Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit of God to speak from the midst of the congregation. (Jahaziel was the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah the Levite of the Asaph clan.) He said, "Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat— God 's word: Don't be afraid; don't pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God's war, not yours. Tomorrow you'll go after them; see, they're already on their way up the slopes of Ziz; you'll meet them at the end of the ravine near the wilderness of Jeruel. You won't have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, Judah and Jerusalem, and watch God 's saving work for you take shape. Don't be afraid, don't waver. March out boldly tomorrow— God is with you."

2 Chronicles 20:14‭-‬17 MSG

King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!

2 Chronicles 20:25 NLT

Jehoshaphat asked to be delivered from his enemies. He didn't even have to fight AND he left with more supplies than him and his men could carry.

Desperate Housewife of Houston: No Kids + Self-Employed

When I moved back to Houston, I thought I'd be spending more time with friends. It's funny how bi-polar friendship advice seems to be. On the one hand you see the obligatory suicide prevention posts that say "if you need to talk I'm here" then on the other hand you see "people grow out of friendships" "some people are in your life for a season", and etc...Which one is it? Are people supposed to ever be there for you or are we really just all on our own?

None of my friends have/had time for me even when I offered to meet then when or wherever they were...so now I don't try and I'm sure that none of them have noticed. Most days, I'm fine with that...other days it's discouraging because I feel like something must be wrong with me.

I thought by this stage in my life that I'd have a core group of friends but I don't. Well...my best friends are my husband, my mom, and my grandfather. I love spending time with them...but you know what I mean. I feel like I've been a good friend. I kept in contact, I remember/recognize special occasions, I show up when invited, etc...I don't have any kids so it's not like I can make "parent friends". I'm self employed so I don't have co-workers.

IDK