ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: BUT THE BIBLE STILL SAYS, "DON'T LIVE BY WHAT YOU
WANT, WHAT YOU THINK, OR WHAT YOU FEEL.
LEARN TO DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO.
LIVE DEEPER, DON'T BE SO SHALLOW, AND YOU WILL NOT
HAVE TO CHASE BLESSINGS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CHASE YOU."
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: IF FRUIT DOESN'T EQUAL ROOT, THEN WE BECOME TOP HEAVY
AND WE BLOW OVER IN THE FIRST STORM.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT A GIGANTIC FRUIT TREE OUT IN AN ORCHARD,
HEAVILY LADEN WITH FRUIT, HUGE BRANCHES, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE
THEM, THERE ARE ROOTS, THEY SAY, THAT GO DOWN.
HOWEVER WIDE THOSE BRANCHES ARE, THERE ARE ROOTS THAT GO DOWN
THAT DEEP INTO THE GROUND.
SO, IT'S GOTTA BE DEEP AND WIDE, NOT WIDE AND NO DEEP.
BECAUSE WHEN THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE'RE JUST ALL CARNAL,
WE'RE ALL STUFF, WE'RE ALL JUST THINGS AND WE CAN'T HANDLE
THE DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE.
WE CAN'T HANDLE THE STORMS OF LIFE.
WE CAN'T HANDLE PEOPLE WHO COME AGAINST US BECAUSE WE'RE
ACCUSTOMED TO GETTING EVERYTHING WE WANT, THE WAY WE WANT IT,
WHEN WE WANT IT.
AND WHEN WE DON'T, WE ACT LIKE OPI DID ON THAT LITTLE VIDEO
DURING OUR CONFERENCE NEWS WHERE HE WASN'T GETTING TO DO WHAT HE
WANTED AND HE JUST LAID DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND HAD AN ABSOLUTE
SCREAMING FIT.
DO ANY OF YOU, AS CHRISTIANS, EVER HAVE FITS?
ONE LADY, I THINK NOT.
I THINK THERE'S A FEW MORE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AMEN.
I THINK SO.
YOU KNOW MY HUSBAND, CALM, WONDERFUL DAVE, HE HAD A LITTLE
MINOR FIT THE OTHER DAY.
HE ASKED ME TO TAKE THE CLIPPERS AND SHAVE THE BACK OF HIS NECK,
AND I DO THAT ALL THE TIME, SO I DID.
AND THEN I SAW THESE COUPLE OF WILD HAIRS AND I WENT IN PURSUIT
OF THOSE HAIRS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, I'M GONNA TELL THE RESULT OF
PURSUING THE WRONG THING RIGHT HERE.
SO, THE FIRST TIME I WAS REAL CAREFUL, AND I GOT ONE OF 'EM
BUT I DIDN'T GET THE OTHER ONE.
I THOUGHT, "OH, I MUST NEED TO GET CLOSER."
SO SEE, YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I TOOK A CHUNK OUT OF DAVE'S HAIR ABOUT THAT WIDE.
WELL, HE GOT UPSET.
I SAID, "I'M SORRY!
I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!"
IT WAS A LITTLE FUNNY,
BUT I SAID, "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "I'M SORRY!" AND THEN HE SAID, "IF I DID THAT
TO YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE A FIT!" AND SO SEE, THAT'S BIG FOR DAVE,
BECAUSE HE'S NORMALLY PRETTY CALM.
I HAD TO APOLOGIZE FIVE TIMES JUST TO GET HIM TO SAY
IT WAS OKAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST SO YOU KNOW, DAVE, YOU CAN RATTLE HIM IF YOU
PRESS LONG ENOUGH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT SERIOUSLY, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA WANT?
WHAT AM I GONNA WANT WHEN IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO?
NOW THINK WITH ME SERIOUSLY ABOUT THIS.
WHEN IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO, WHAT AM I GONNA WANT?
I'M GONNA WANNA KNOW THAT I'M RIGHT WITH GOD.
COME ON, NOW.
MORE THAN ANYTHING, I'M GONNA WANNA HAVE PEACE WITH GOD.
I WANNA KNOW THAT I'M RIGHT.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY FEAR OF FACING GOD.
WHEN IT COMES TO THAT POINT, I WANNA BE READY TO GO AND NOT
HAVE ANY FEAR.
AND I'M GONNA WANT PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT I KNOW LOVE ME.
THAT'S THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GONNA MATTER.
SO IF WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN THIS LIFE, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE
TO SPEND SOME TIME ON SUCCEEDING, AND WE NEED TO SPEND
SOME TIME ON MAKING MONEY, AND YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO SPEND
SOME TIME ON THOSE THINGS.
IT'S NOT WRONG TO WANT A NICE HOUSE.
IT'S NOT WRONG TO WANT A NICE CAR.
IT'S NOT WRONG TO WANT TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR KIDS.
BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN HAVING A DESIRE FOR THOSE THINGS
AND PURSUING THEM.
THE WORD "SEEK," S-E-E-K, IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG WORD.
AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I LOOKED UP THE WORD SEEK,
AND EVERY PLACE THAT IT'S USED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT,
IT REFERS TO SEEKING GOD.
EVERY SINGLE PLACE IT'S USED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IT REFERS TO
EITHER SEEKING GOD OR SOMETIMES GOD WAS SEEKING PEOPLE
FOR SOMETHING.
THE WORD MEANS TO CRAVE, TO PURSUE, TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO
GET, TO GO AFTER WITH ALL OF YOUR STRENGTH AND ALL
OF YOUR HEART.
SO YOU KNOW, WE CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT OURSELVES, AND YES, I'M
GONNA ASK YOU TO GO HOME AND DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK AND JUST HAVE
A LITTLE MEETING WITH YOURSELF.
JUST A LITTLE, SHORT, TINY MEETING WITH YOURSELF.
A LITTLE INVENTORY.
A LITTLE SOUL SEARCHING.
THIS IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US.
AND JUST ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT AM I PURSUING?
WHAT AM I SEEKING?" WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
YOU--WHAT DO YOU SPEND MOST OF YOU TIME ON?
WHAT DO YOU TALK ABOUT THE MOST?
WHAT ARE YOU PUTTING MOST OF YOUR ENERGIES INTO?
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE WOULD FIND THAT PROBABLY A GOOD
PORTION OF IT IS JUST WRONG.
IT'S JUST NOT--IT'S NOT WHAT GOD TELLS US TO SEEK.
THERE'S ONLY ACTUALLY A HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT I CAN FIND IN
THE BIBLE THAT IT SAYS TO SEEK.
WE'RE TO SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS.
WE'RE TO SEEK GOD.
WE'RE TO SEEK THE KINGDOM.
I THINK THERE'S FOUR OR FIVE OTHER THINGS.
SEEK TO WALK IN LOVE.
BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT A BIG, LONG LIST, AND NOWHERE EVER,
EVER ARE WE TOLD TO SEEK THINGS.
AND YOU MIGHT SAY, "WELL, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS
THAT MY CHILD GETS SAVED."
WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT--YES, PRAISE GOD, WE WANT THAT.
BUT EVEN THAT, WE'RE NOT TOLD TO SEEK.
DESIRE THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SEEK.
YOU'RE A LITTLE QUIET.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I'M TELLING YOU, I WANTED MORE THAN ANYTHING FOR
THIS MINISTRY TO GROW.
WELL YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT BAD, THERE'S SOME
WRONG MOTIVES INVOLVED.
AND I THINK ANYBODY WHO STARTS OUT, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO START OUT IN MINISTRY EVEN, THEY'RE BROKEN-HEARTED,
INSECURE PEOPLE.
NOT EVERYBODY, BUT IT'S AMAZING HOW GOD USES MESSES.
HE USES PEOPLE THAT ARE MESSED UP, AND YOUR MESS CAN BECOME
YOUR MESSAGE IF YOU'LL LET IT.
BUT WE START OUT, AND YOU KNOW, I HAD INSECURITIES, SO I WAS
GETTING A LOT OF MY WORTH AND VALUE OUT OF WHAT I WAS DOING.
WELL, WHEN YOU'RE GETTING YOUR WORTH AND VALUE OUT OF WHAT
YOU'RE DOING, YOU DON'T WANT TO DO A LITTLE OF ANYTHING.
YOU WANNA DO A LOT OF EVERYTHING BECAUSE THE BIGGER SOMETHING IS,
THE BETTER YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF.
AND LIKE IT OR NOT, IN OUR SOCIETY, THE BIGGER SOMETHING
IS, THE MORE PEOPLE ADMIRE YOU.
I WISH IT WASN'T THAT WAY, BUT IT IS.
THE FIRST THING EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW IS HOW MANY PEOPLE
WERE THERE.
HOW BIG IS YOUR CHURCH?
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT SEAT?
AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY--YOU KNOW, THERE'S
DIFFERENT ARTICLES THAT COME OUT, "WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
ONE OF THE FIVE FASTEST GROWING CHURCHES IN THE WORLD.
NOW THIS ONE'S ONE OF THE TEN FASTEST GROWING CHURCHES
IN THE WORLD."
I BET YOU GOD'S GOT THINGS HIDDEN THAT ARE SO BIG IT WOULD
JUST BLOW OUR MINDS, AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE--WE DON'T EVEN KNOW
ABOUT IT.
AMEN?
AND YES, WE WANT TO GROW.
IT'S NOT--I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISUNDERSTAND ME TONIGHT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S WRONG TO HAVE A DESIRE FOR
THOSE THINGS.
BUT THE BIBLE TEACHES US, "IF WE WILL DELIGHT OURSELVES
IN THE LORD," PSALM 37:4.
"DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES
AND THE SECRET PETITIONS OF YOUR HEART."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD.
LET HIM BE FIRST IN YOUR LIFE.
OR MATTHEW 6:33, "SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE GIVEN YOU
BESIDES."
THAT'S A MUCH BETTER WAY TO DO IT.
SEEK THE LORD, AND LET GOD GIVE YOU THE STUFF.
AMEN?
SAY, "SEEK THE LORD."
AUDIENCE: SEEK THE LORD.
JOYCE: "AND LET GOD GIVE ME THE STUFF."
AUDIENCE: AND LET GOD GIVE ME THE STUFF.
JOYCE: NOW, I BELIEVE, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE
SITTING THERE LOOKING EXTREMELY INNOCENT, I BELIEVE
THAT YOU NEED THIS MESSAGE TONIGHT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PART OF US THAT'S AFRAID IF WE
GIVE UP GOING AFTER WHAT WE WANT, THERE'S A PART OF US
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT AFRAID WE WON'T GET IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: LITTLE TINY BIT.
I SEE YOU GUYS UP THERE, LITTLE TINY BIT.
BUT YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT ALL THE BIBLE REALLY TELLS US TO DO
IS ASK, THEN LEAVE IT ALONE AND TEND TO GOD'S BUSINESS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CAMP ON TOP OF IT, WE DON'T HAVE TO HARP ON IT,
WE DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT THE SAME PHRASE 25 TIMES EVERY DAY.
WE JUST NEED TO ASK GOD, TELL HIM WHAT WE WANT, ASK
AND KEEP ON ASKING.
THE BIBLE SAYS, "KNOCK AND KEEP ON KNOCKING, SEEK AND KEEP
ON SEEKING."
NOT WRONG TO WANT SOMETHING AT ALL.
IT'S NEVER WRONG TO WANT SOMETHING.
YOU CAN ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING YOU WANT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE
SHOULD SEEK AND PURSUE.
WHAT I WANT AND WHAT I SEEK ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
NOW, I WORKED HARD AT THIS MINISTRY, BUT NOW I KNOW THAT MY
WORTH AND IDENTITY IS NOT TIED UP IN IT.
YES, IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME IF SOMETHING HAPPENED
AND I LOST IT.
NATURALLY, IT WOULD BE HARD, BUT I KNOW THAT I WOULD SURVIVE
BECAUSE EVEN IF I WASN'T JOYCE MEYER I WOULD STILL BE
JOYCE MEYER.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE THINGS,
OTHERWISE WHAT WE'RE DOING ALWAYS BECOMES--IT BECOMES
FEARFUL TO US THAT WE MIGHT LOSE IT.
AND MY GOODNESS, IF WE LOSE OUR POSITION AND IF WE LOSE OUR
STATUS, AND IF WE LOSE OUR FAVORITE FRIENDS, AND IF WE LOSE
OUR, YOU KNOW, POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IF WE'RE NO
LONGER IN LEADERSHIP AT THE CHURCH, AND WHATEVER IT IS,
YOU KNOW, THAT WE FEEL GIVES US STATUS, WE JUST THINK THAT WE'RE
NOT GONNA BE WORTH ANYTHING IF WE LOSE THAT.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE SECRET.
GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT IF THOSE THINGS MEAN TOO MUCH TO
YOU, HE WILL BE HAPPY TO RIP THEM OUT OF YOUR LIFE
AND STRIP YOU BEAR.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND IT WILL SEEM LIKE A VERY VIOLENT THING, AND YOU
WILL NOT KNOW WHAT IN THE WORLD GOD IS DOING, BUT WHEN IT'S ALL
OVER, YOU'LL BE FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE.
COME ON, GIVE GOD A PRAISE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO WALK IN HERE AND SAY,
"THIS WEEKEND, WE'RE GONNA DO A DEEPER LIFE CONFERENCE."
THAT'S ABOUT THE REACTION I THOUGHT I'D GET.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I DIDN'T DO IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALMOST CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE I DON'T
EVEN KNOW TODAY IF A LOT OF PEOPLE EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT
MEANS.
YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO--PASTOR TOM, DO YOU REMEMBER THIS?
THEY USED TO HAVE DEEPER LIFE CONFERENCES.
I MEAN, THERE WERE WHOLE--PEOPLE WOULD JUST GO ALL OVER THE PLACE
TO GO TO THESE DEEPER LIFE CONFERENCES, AND THEY'D SIT
THERE THE WHOLE WEEKEND, AND LISTEN TO PREACHING ALL DAY
LONG, DAY, AFTER DAY, AFTER DAY, ABOUT JUST WHAT I'M TRYING TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT TONIGHT.
THE DEEPER LIFE, ABOUT NOT BEING SHALLOW.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THEN WE NEED TO WANT MORE
OF THAT.
IF WE DON'T WANT MORE OF THAT, THEN WE NEED TO WANT MORE
OF THAT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE NEED THAT.
SO YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR A PRETTY LONG
TIME, AND I'VE HAD A DECENT SIZED MINISTRY.
NOT THE SIZE IT WAS NOW, BUT DECENT.
NO REAL MONEY PROBLEMS, ALL MY KIDS SAVED, HUSBAND SAVED,
GOT ALONG GOOD IN MY MARRIAGE, AND I WASN'T REALLY HAPPY.
I WAS STILL DISCONTENT, SOMETHING THAT JUST WASN'T RIGHT
ON THE INSIDE.
DO YOU EVER WONDER WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU AND WHAT IT'S GONNA
TAKE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY?
COME ON, DOES ANYBODY--I MEAN, DID YOU EVER THINK, "WELL, YOU
KNOW, IF I JUST CAN GET THIS, THEN I'LL BE HAPPY," AND NOW
YOU'VE GOT THAT AND YOU AIN'T ANY BETTER OFF THAN YOU
WERE BEFORE.
I MEAN, BE HONEST.
DON'T YOU EVER WONDER SOMETIMES, "WHAT IS IT REALLY GONNA TAKE TO
GET ME TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN JUST GET UP, AND BE HAPPY,
AND GO THROUGH THE DAY AND BE CONTENT, AND GO TO BED AT NIGHT
AND BE HAPPY, AND NOT ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR SOME NEW FIX TO
GIVE ME A NEW THRILL"?
AMEN?
SOME OF YOU ARE LOOKING LIKE A CALF A NEW GATE OUT THERE,
LIKE--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH THIS?"
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED CRYING--YOU KNOW HOW WE DO.
"GOD, WHAT IS WRONG IN MY LIFE?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG IN MY LIFE."
AND YOU KNOW, TRUTHFULLY WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S
WRONG IN OUR LIFE, BUT--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE IF GOD TELLS US, WE'RE GONNA FEEL WORSE THAN
WE DID BEFORE WE ASKED.
SO, YOU KNOW, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY LIFE?"
AND I MEAN, THE THING I HEARD IN MY HEART WAS, "YOU'RE SHALLOW."
WELL, WHAT'S THAT?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO IT WASN'T TOO LONG AFTER THAT, AND I FOUND MYSELF
IN LUKE CHAPTER 5, SO LET'S GO THERE.
SHALLOW CHRISTIANS, WANTING FRUIT BUT NOT CARING
ABOUT THE ROOTS.
THEY WANNA BE USED BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PREPARED.
YEAH, SOME OF THOSE ARE WORTH WRITING DOWN, FOLKS.
VERSE 1, "NOW IT OCCURRED THAT WHILE THE PEOPLE PRESSED UPON
JESUS TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF GOD, HE WAS STANDING BY
THE LAKE OF GENNESARET (AT THE SEA OF GALILEE]
AND HE SAW TWO BOATS DRAWN UP BY THE LAKE, BUT THE FISHERMEN HAD
GONE DOWN FROM THEM AND THEY WERE WASHING THEIR NETS.
AND GETTING INTO ONE OF THE BOATS, [THE ONE] THAT BELONGED
TO SIMON (PETER), HE REQUESTED HIM TO DRAW AWAY A LITTLE
FROM THE SHORE.
AND THEN HE SAT DOWN AND CONTINUED TO TEACH THE [PEOPLE]
FROM THE BOAT.
WHEN HE HAD STOPPED SPEAKING, HE SAID TO SIMON (PETER),
PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP [WATER]."
YOU KNOW, DEEP IS THE OPPOSITE OF SHALLOW.
JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION THAT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP [WATER], AND LOWER YOUR NETS
FOR A HAUL."
NOW A HAUL, WHAT IS A HAUL?
THAT'S LIKE BACK THE DUMP TRUCK UP, MAKE IT A BIG ONE,
AND UNLOAD IT IN MY DRIVEWAY.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO HAUL IT ALL IN.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN GOD'S TRYING TO DEAL WITH YOU ABOUT
SOMETHING, YOU DON'T NEED A LOT OF EXPLANATION.
AND SO REMEMBERING THAT GOD HAD TOLD ME THAT I WAS SHALLOW, AND
HERE I AM GOING AFTER ALL THIS STUFF THAT I WANT, AND NONE OF
IT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
AND YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT SOME THINGS BUT I'M STILL NOT HAPPY.
AND SO THEN GOD TELLS ME I'M SHALLOW, SO NOW I'M
READING THIS.
"COME ON OUT INTO THE DEEP, AND GET READY FOR A HAUL.
AND SIMON (PETER) ANSWERED."
NOW YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS NEXT VERSE OR YOU MISS
THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS.
"SIMON (PETER) ANSWERED, MASTER, WE TOILED ALL NIGHT [WE ARE
EXHAUSTED] WE CAUGHT NOTHING [IN OUR NETS]."
NOW JUST STOP RIGHT THERE AND DON'T KEEP READING.
YOU'VE GOTTA UNDERSTAND THIS.
WHEN JESUS SHOWED UP, THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN FISHING ALL NIGHT
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE ELECTRIC STUFF WE DO.
WHEN THEY FISHED, THEY WORKED.
THEY CAUGHT NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING.
I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'VE GOT LISTENING TO ME RIGHT NOW
THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE FISHED ALL NIGHT AND CAUGHT
NOTHING.
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
COME ON NOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "OH GOD, I'M DOING EVERYTHING THAT I THOUGHT YOU
TOLD ME TO DO, AND NOTHING'S WORKING, AND I JUST DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
OH, I KNOW I NEED TO REBUKE MORE DEVILS.
I NEED TO PRAY MORE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THEY WERE TIRED.
THEY HAD PULLED THE BOATS IN.
THEY HAD DRUGGED THESE BIG NETS OUT OF THE BOAT.
THEY HAD 'EM UP ON THE SHORE.
THEY WERE CLEANING THE NETS UP BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO
GET SOME SLEEP AND THEN GO BACK OUT AGAIN.
I GUESS THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BY STARBUCKS
AND GETTING A MUFFIN AND A CAPPUCCINO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: REALLY, AND GOING ON HOME, HUGGING THE WIFE
AND THE KIDS, AND CRAWLING UP UNDER THE FEATHER BLANKET.
I DON'T KNOW, THEY PROBABLY SLEPT ON A ROCK OR SOME GRAVEL
OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I'M SURE THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING HOME.
THEY WERE TIRED AND PROBABLY HUNGRY.
AND JESUS SAID, "GO BACK OUT."
COME ON NOW.
WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IT?
"GO BACK OUT, ONLY GO WAY OUT.
GO DEEPER AND LOWER YOUR NETS, AND YOU'LL CATCH MORE FISH THAN
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH."
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, THE SECRET TO ENJOYING EVERY DAY OF YOUR
LIFE IS PRETTY SIMPLE: JUST KEEP GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING THAT
YOU DO.
PURSUE HIM AND HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE.
ONE WAY WE CAN PURSUE WHAT GOD WANTS IS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
MANY OF YOU DO THAT BY GIVING TOWARD OUR MISSIONS OUTREACH,
AND I'M EXCITED TO SHOW YOU ONE OF THE PROJECTS YOU'RE FUNDING
IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
PLEASE WATCH THIS SEGMENT, AND THEN I'LL BE BACK WITH
A FINAL THOUGHT.
[MUSIC]
GINGER: WELCOME TO CENTRAL AMERICA.
WE ARE SO THRILLED THAT YOU HAVE SENT US HERE, AND WE HAVE SO
MUCH TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT'S TROPICAL AND LUSH.
THE BEACHES ARE FANTASTIC, AND THE PEOPLE'S SMILES WILL
JUST LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE.
BUT YOU'LL SOON DISCOVER THAT LIFE IN SOME PLACES IS
VERY DIFFICULT.
HERE IN EL SALVADOR, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE POVERTY IS VERY, VERY
OVERWHELMING.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IN MANY AROUND
SAN SALVADOR, GANG ACTIVITY IS RAMPANT.
SO MANY PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES, AND THEY ARE CONSTANTLY
DISRUPTED BY THE GANGS.
BUT ACROSS THIS DIRECTION, BEHIND THIS FENCE IS
AN INCREDIBLE RESPITE, A PLACE OF RESCUE AND HEALTH,
A PLACE THAT WE ARE THRILLED TO TELL YOU ABOUT.
THIS IS THE SAN JOSE VILLANUEVA CLINIC.
IT'S OPEN THREE DAYS A WEEK, OFFERING COMPASSIONATE
MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE.
THROUGH HAND OF HOPE, YOU ARE FULLY FUNDING THE DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS HERE.
GINGER: WE ALL KNOW THAT TO BE TRULY HEALTHY, WE CAN'T JUST
LOOK AT THE PHYSICAL.
THE SPIRITUAL AND THE EMOTIONAL ARE SO IMPORTANT, AND THAT IS
WHY AT THIS CLINIC, IN ASSOCIATION WITH
THE ABIGAIL ASSOCIATION, HAND OF HOPE IS
MEETING ALL OF THOSE NEEDS FOR AS MANY OF THESE PEOPLE AS WE
CAN.
WHILE THEY WAIT IN THE LOBBY, THEY ARE ABLE TO LISTEN TO
SERMONS FROM JOYCE, AND THEY ARE HEARING GOD'S WORD.
THE DOCTORS ARE ALL CHRISTIANS.
THEY PRAY FOR THEM.
THEY LOVE ON THEM.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK INSIDE.
GINGER: IT IS A TREMENDOUS BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE
TO OFFER MEDICAL CARE.
AND THIS IS A PERMANENT CLINIC.
THAT MEANS THESE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO COME ANY TIME THAT THEY NEED
AND RECEIVE THE CARE, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'VE
LEARNED THAT THE PEOPLE HERE ARE UNFORTUNATELY ACCUSTOMED TO
BEING DISAPPOINTED.
PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS KEEP THEIR WORD, AND THEY'RE AFRAID THAT
WHEN THEY GET THEIR HOPES UP THAT THOSE HOPES WILL BE DASHED.
WELL, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF SHARING HOPE, SO WE COME IN HERE
AND WE KEEP OUR WORD.
WE ARE HERE WHEN ALL OF THESE PEOPLE NEED IT.
AND YOU'LL SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES HERE, A LOT OF
CHILDREN WHO ARE SICK AND SUFFERING, BUT ONE THING THAT
YOU WON'T SEE IS A LOT OF YOUNG MEN, AND THAT IS
BECAUSE OF THE GANG ACTIVITY.
IN THIS AREA, YOUNG BOYS IN PARTICULARLY ARE RECRUITED AT
A VERY YOUNG AGE.
SO, ANY WAY THAT WE CAN COME IN HERE AND SHARE CHRIST WILL MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN THE LONG TERM FOR THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
JANIS: THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO LIVES IN THESE AREAS WHERE
THE GANGS ARE PROMINENT LIVE IN FEAR.
I MEAN, CAN YOU IMAGINE GOING HOME AT NIGHT AND NOT KNOWING IF
SOMEONE'S GONNA ENTER YOUR HOME?
OR IF YOU HAVE A SON OR DAUGHTER, IF THEY ARE GONNA BE
SHOT, OR IF THEY'RE GONNA BE RECRUITED.
OR CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE AND FIVE YEARS OF AGE ARE BEING
RECRUITED INTO GANGS INTO THIS COUNTRY.
THEY'RE STARTING EARLIER AND EARLIER.
AND ONCE YOU'RE INTO THAT GANG, YOU'RE COMMITTED FOR LIFE.
THE STRESS LEVEL THAT PEOPLE LIVE WITH IN THIS COUNTRY,
I CANNOT IMAGINE IT, BECAUSE TO EVEN TRY AND GO TO SLEEP WITH
THAT STRESS AND THAT FEAR, IT TAKES A TOLL ON YOU MENTALLY,
PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, IN EVERY WAY.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT THE MEDICINE IS A DRAW TO BRING THEM TO
THE FEET OF JESUS.
GINGER: WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT?
JANIS: I THINK I LEARNED THAT FROM HAND OF HOPE.
[LAUGHING]
YES, I DID, ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO,
SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO.
YEAH, AND IT'S HUGE.
IT REALLY IS HUGE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
GINGER: ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRAWS OF THIS CLINIC IS
THE DENTAL CARE.
MANY PEOPLE WHO COME HERE ARE SEEN AT DENTISTS FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES.
THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT IS CAVITIES.
DR. PATRICIA SAYS OTHER DENTISTS WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
THEY'LL JUST PULL THE TEETH.
BUT SHE DOES EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO SAVE AND RESTORE EACH SMILE.
JANIS: THE IMPACT THAT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
IS HAVING HERE IS TREMENDOUS.
ON A DAILY BASIS, SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND PHYSICALLY,
IT'S TREMENDOUS.
YOU KNOW, HAVING A YOUNG GIRL OF EIGHT YEARS OLD COME IN WITH
A HORRIBLE MOUTH FULL OF TEETH THAT ARE MISSING OR MISALIGNED
OR, YOU KNOW, TOTALLY ASKEW, AND OUR DENTISTS BEING ABLE TO WORK
ON THAT AND TO SEND HER OUT WITH A TOTALLY KNEW LOOK ON HER FACE,
THAT CHANGES HER WHOLE LIFE, CHANGED THIS YOUNG CHILD'S LIFE.
GINGER: THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS CLINIC
ARE SEEN FOR INFECTIONS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,
AND DIABETES, DISEASES THAT ARE EASILY TREATED
WITH MEDICATION.
BUT PRESCRIPTIONS ARE NOT SO EASY TO GET IN EL SALVADOR.
JANIS: SO, MEDICAL CARE IN EL SALVADOR IS FREE.
THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THE MEDICINES,
BUT THEY DO NOT.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO BUY THE MEDICINES.
AND SO YOUR PRESCRIPTION HAS NO VALUE.
[MUSIC]
JAQUELINA: SHE HAS HAD A FEVER SINCE LAST WEEK.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP HER COOL WITH A WET CLOTH ON HER
LITTLE HEAD.
SHE HAS BEEN COUGHING A LOT, AND SHE HAS NOT HAD ANY SLEEP
IN DAYS.
EVERY TIME I TOOK HER TO THE OTHER CLINIC, THEY WOULD NOT
GIVE HER ANY MEDICINE FOR THE COUGH.
SO, THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO BRING HER HERE.
I JUST FEEL SO TERRIBLE.
IT MAKES ME CRY WHEN I SEE HER SO HELPLESS AND I CANNOT
HELP HER.
DR. JOSE: I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HER BECAUSE SHE IS VERY SICK.
CHILDREN HAVE A PRIORITY IN OUR CLINIC BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE
TO SEE CHILDREN SUFFER.
AND SO I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS
LITTLE GIRL HAS.
JANIS: WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WHERE THAT WE
CAN HAVE MEDICINE.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THAT LOCAL HOSPITAL
WHO HAVE SEEN THE DOCTOR, AND THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR
PRESCRIPTION.
AND OUR DOCTORS WILL STILL, OF COURSE, REEXAMINE THE PATIENT,
BUT WE ARE ABLE TO FULFILL THAT AND TO GIVE THEM THE MEDICINE
THAT THEY NEED FOR FREE.
AND SO, IT'S HUGE.
IT'S A HUGE BLESSING FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT.
JOYCE: PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE MEDICAL CARE IN
EL SALVADOR IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY WAYS THAT YOU ARE
CHANGING LIVES.
YOU'RE ALSO FEEDING CHILDREN, RESCUING WOMEN FROM THE SEX
TRADE, AND DIGGING WATER WELLS FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO
CLEAN WATER.
PLEASE CONSIDER TODAY GIVING A VERY SPECIAL GIFT TO OUR
MISSIONS OUTREACHES, AND CHANGE A LIFE.
NOW, JUST THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE.
WHAT IF YOU WERE IN PAIN AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET AN ASPIRIN?
WHAT IF YOU BROKE A BONE AND YOU COULDN'T GET THAT BONE RESET?
WE'VE SEEN SOME TERRIBLE SITUATIONS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAD NO MEDICAL CARE.
BUT WE'RE BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT IN MANY PLACES THROUGH
YOUR HELP.
THINK ABOUT IF YOU WERE A LITTLE THREE OR FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND YOU
WERE HUNGRY, AND YOU HAD NO HOME, AND YOU WERE SLEEPING
IN A BOX ON THE STREET.
AND WE DO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY
HURTING, AND GOD WANTS US TO HELP THE POOR, THE DESTITUTE,
FEED THE HUNGRY, AND HE BASICALLY SAID, "IF YOU'VE DONE
IT TO THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU'VE DONE IT UNTO ME.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT UNTO THEM, THEN YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT
UNTO ME."
SO LET'S TAKE THIS REAL PERSONAL TODAY AND JUST GIVE TO THESE
PEOPLE LIKE YOU WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO GIVE TO YOU.
SEND IN THE BEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN, AND HELP US KEEP
CHANGING LIVES.
ANNOUNCER: TODAY, FOR YOUR DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT, WE'D
LIKE TO SEND YOU JOYCE'S BOOK, "FAITH THAT OVERCOMES."
CONTACT US NOW...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: EXPERIENCE GOD IN A WHOLE NEW WAY AT
THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
THREE UNIQUE SESSIONS WITH HEARTFELT WORSHIP AND PRACTICAL
TEACHING TO HELP YOU RELAX, REFRESH, AND RECHARGE YOUR LIFE.
COMING TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA FEBRUARY 15 AND 16 WITH WORSHIP
BY DREAM CITY WORSHIP AND WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
MARCH 15 AND 16 WITH WORSHIP BY MATT REDMAN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG OR CALL...
ANNOUNCER: SO THE BIBLE IS GOD'S MANUAL TO HELP US NAVIGATE
LIFE, BUT LIFE OFTEN GETS IN THE WAY OF KNOWING THE BIBLE,
FINDING THE TIME, KNOWING WHERE TO BEGIN, AND DISCOVERING WHAT
THIS ALL MEANS TO YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND, AND WE'D LIKE TO HELP.
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/STUDY, YOU'LL FIND FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
GET MORE OUT OF THE BIBLE, WHETHER YOU'RE A NEW CHRISTIAN
OR HAVE BEEN WALKING WITH CHRIST FOR YEARS.
SO, JUMP IN TODAY.
THE WORD, IT'S FREE, IT'S MOBILE, AND IT'S TAILORED
FOR YOU AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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