ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, SELF-WORTH OR KNOWING THAT WE HAVE VALUE CAN
BE A STRUGGLE FOR ALL OF US AT TIMES.
AND IT AFFECTS EVERY AREA OF OUR LIFE.
WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO RECEIVE OUR SELF-WORTH THROUGH KNOWING
THAT GOD LOVES US IN WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST, RATHER THAN WHAT
OTHER PEOPLE THINK OF US.
TODAY, RUTH GRAHAM, THE DAUGHTER OF
REVEREND BILLY AND RUTH GRAHAM, JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT
HER JOURNEY OF DEVELOPING A HEALTHY SELF-WORTH.
BUT FIRST, WATCH THIS TEACHING ON GOD'S GRACE.
JOYCE: WHAT YOU CANNOT DO AND WHAT I CANNOT DO, GOD CAN DO.
WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.
LET'S JUST SOAK THAT IN FOR A MINUTE SO THAT DOESN'T JUST KIND
OF WHIZZ OVER OUR HEADS AND WE JUST RUN ON TO THE NEXT THING.
WHAT YOU CAN'T DO, GOD CAN DO.
MAYBE YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR CHILD, BUT GOD CAN.
YOU CANNOT MAKE SOMEBODY LOVE GOD THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE
HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BUT LET'S JUST GIVE GOD A CHANCE
TO WORK ON THEM FOR A WHILE.
I CAN'T CHANGE MY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT GOD CAN.
I CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY THAT I MINISTER TO LIKE ME, SO I'VE
TURNED THAT OVER TO GOD.
GOD CAN GIVE ME FAVOR.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE START PRAYING AND BELIEVING
FOR SUPERNATURAL FAVOR.
GRACE IS UNDESERVED FAVOR.
IT'S GOD GIVING YOU THINGS YOU DON'T DESERVE, OPENING DOORS FOR
YOU THAT YOU CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE COULD OPEN FOR YOU, GETTING YOU
A PROMOTION AT WORK THAT YOU'RE NOT EVEN QUALIFIED FOR.
I KNOW 'CAUSE I'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN TO ME.
BEFORE I WENT INTO MINISTRY, I HAD THAT HAPPEN.
I MEAN, I WOULD END UP WITH JOBS I NO MORE HAD ANY BUSINESS
HAVING, AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY--IN THE NATURAL HAVE ANY
BUSINESS DOING WHAT I'M DOING NOW.
BUT WHEN GOD GIVES YOU FAVOR, HE CAN PUT YOU SOMEWHERE.
AND WHEN GOD PUTS YOU, HE KEEPS YOU.
WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO REALLY TRUST GOD FOR FAVOR INSTEAD OF
STRUGGLING TRYING TO MAKE OUR OWN WAY ALL THE TIME.
LET'S BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN TRUSTING GOD FOR FAVOR.
WHEN YOU GO OUT TO SHOP, "GOD, I ASK YOU FOR A FAVOR.
GIVE ME DISCOUNTS I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WERE AVAILABLE."
AMEN?
WHEN YOU GO INTO A RESTAURANT, "GOD, I ASK YOU TO GIVE ME
FAVOR."
IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE.
IT'S JUST A WAY OF RELEASING YOUR FAITH TO SAY, "GOD, I'M
TRUSTING YOU TO DO FOR ME WHAT I CANNOT DO FOR MYSELF."
I REMEMBER A WOMAN THAT I WAS TALKING TO ONE TIME, AND THIS
WAS SO SAD TO ME.
SHE WORKED IN A DEPARTMENT STORE, AND SOMEHOW I STARTED
ASKING HER ABOUT, "DO YOU GUYS JUST GET A SALARY?
DO YOU WORK ON COMMISSION OR WHAT?"
AND SHE SAID, "NO, WE WORK ON SALARY."
BUT SHE SAID, "WE DO HAVE TO MEET A QUOTA, AND IF WE DON'T
DO THAT, THEN WE CAN LOSE OUR JOBS."
AND SHE SAID, "I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED 'CAUSE THINGS HAVEN'T
BEEN, YOU KNOW, GOING VERY GOOD FOR ME."
AND I SAID, "WELL, WHY DON'T YOU PRAY FOR GOD TO SEND YOU
CUSTOMERS?" AND SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN WOMAN,
HER AND I HAD ALREADY BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT, SO I SAID,
"WHY DON'T--YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T YOU PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE YOU
CUSTOMERS?" AND SHE LOOKED AT ME SO ODD,
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, WOULD IT BE OKAY TO PRAY ABOUT SOMETHING
LIKE THAT?" NOW, HERE THIS WOMAN HAD BEEN
A BELIEVER FOR SOMETHING LIKE 30 YEARS, AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW
THAT SHE COULD ASK GOD TO GIVE HER FAVOR.
I SAID, "WELL, THERE'S PEOPLE IN HERE BUYING STUFF.
WHY DON'T YOU PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE YOU FAVOR WITH THEM
AND SUPERNATURALLY GUIDE THEM OVER HERE TO YOU?"
YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU CAN ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING, AND IF
HE DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE IT, HE JUST WON'T GIVE IT TO YOU,
SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
NOW, I KIND OF GOT OVER, "WELL, GOD, IS THIS YOUR WILL?
IS IT YOUR WILL, GOD?
IF IT'S YOUR WILL."
YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS ME, BUT YOU KNOW,
I DON'T--THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I DON'T KNOW.
SO, WE HAVE FREEDOM AND LIBERTY TO ASK GOD RADICALLY
AND AGGRESSIVELY.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY
ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL THAT WE COULD EVER DARE TO HOPE, ASK,
OR THINK.
GOD WANTS US TO PROSPER, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT
ON OUR OWN.
WE NEED GOD'S HELP, FAVOR.
YOU CAN HAVE FAVOR.
WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH MAN IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.
LUKE 18, VERSE 18, "AND A CERTAIN RULER ASKED HIM,
'GOOD TEACHER [YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY
AND PERFECTLY AND MORALLY GOOD], WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT
ETERNAL LIFE?'" NOW, FIRST OF ALL
THE QUESTION IS A GOOFY QUESTION BECAUSE HE SAYS,
"WHAT CAN I DO TO INHERIT?" AND THE TWO ARE TOTALLY OPPOSITE
OF ONE ANOTHER.
FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU INHERIT, YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING,
YOU RECEIVE SOMETHING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHATEVER WE HAVE WHEN THE LORD CALLS US
HOME, OUR CHILDREN WILL INHERIT IT.
THEY DIDN'T WORK FOR IT, WE DID.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT.
WHATEVER I CAN'T MANAGE TO USE, THEY'RE GOING TO GET.
NOW, DO THEY DO ANYTHING TO GET THAT?
WELL, THEY'RE JUST MY KIDS.
COME ON, YOU CAN GET SOMETHING.
THEY'RE JUST MY KIDS.
AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY GET WILL NOT BE BASED ON THEIR
PERFECTION, IT'LL BE BASED ON ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY,
AND THAT IS BLOOD RELATIONSHIP, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
ONE ANOTHER.
ARE YOU WITH ME TODAY?
EVERYTHING THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM GOD IS BASED ON
BLOOD RELATIONSHIP.
YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
IT'S NOT BASED ON WHAT YOU DO, BUT IT'S BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT
WE ARE WILLING TO REALLY FULLY BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD.
IS ANYBODY HERE WILLING THIS MORNING TO STEP OUT OF YOUR
FLESH AND DECIDE TO BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD?
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF GOD CAN DO SOMETHING FOR
ANYBODY, GOD CAN DO SOMETHING FOR YOU.
"WELL, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ALL THE WRONG THINGS I'VE DONE."
YEAH, WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW ALL THE WRONG THINGS I'VE
DONE EITHER.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.
IF WE COULD BE PERFECT, WE WOULDN'T NEED JESUS.
WHAT CAN I DO TO INHERIT?
WRONG QUESTION.
JESUS SAID TO HIM, "WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD?
NO ONE'S GOOD BUT GOD."
VERSE 20, "YOU KNOW THE COMMANDMENTS, DON'T COMMIT
ADULTERY, DON'T KILL, DON'T STEAL, DON'T WITNESS FALSELY,
HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER."
AND HE REPLIED TO HIM, "ALL OF THESE I HAVE KEPT
FROM MY YOUTH."
NOW, HERE COMES THE KICKER.
"AND WHEN JESUS HEARD IT, HE SAID TO HIM,
'ONE THING YOU STILL LACK.'" NOW, THAT IS SO FRUSTRATING.
"WELL, I'VE DONE THIS GOOD, AND I'VE DONE THAT GOOD, AND I'VE
DONE THIS GOOD, AND I'VE DONE THAT GOOD, AND I'VE KEPT THIS
RULE, AND I'VE KEPT THAT RULE."
AND JESUS LOOKS AT US AND SAYS, "WELL, YEAH, BUT THERE'S STILL
SOMETHING YOU LACK."
YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTING THING IS NO MATTER HOW MANY RIGHT
THINGS WE DO, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG THAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO.
SO, IT'S SO FRUSTRATING UNLESS WE LEARN TO GET IN ON THE RIGHT
PLAN, WHICH IS JESUS DIED FOR US BECAUSE WE HAVE WEAKNESSES
IN OUR FLESH.
AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE CAN EVER POSSIBLY KEEP ALL OF THE
LAW AND DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AND BE PERFECTLY HOLY, BUT HE RIGHT
NOW THIS MOMENT IS INTERCEDING AT THE THRONE OF GOD FOR YOU
AND FOR I, AND KEEPING EVERYTHING RIGHT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I SAID THIS MORNING, "JESUS, PRAY FOR ME TODAY.
AND HOLY SPIRIT, PRAY THROUGH ME TODAY."
JUST THINK OF THAT.
HE'S CONSTANTLY AT THE THRONE, INTERCEDING FOR US.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD VIEWS US, HE CHOOSES TO SEE US
AS RIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE IN CHRIST.
HE CHOOSES TO SEE US AS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
CAN YOU--HE CHOOSES TO SEE US JUSTIFIED, JUST AS IF WE NEVER
SINNED, JUST BECAUSE WE BELIEVE.
WE BELIEVE, WE INHERIT.
WE'RE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST.
EVERYTHING THAT HE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR, WE GET.
EVERYTHING HE WORKED FOR, EVERYTHING HE DIED FOR, WE GET.
IT'S BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH,
BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
IT'S PROVIDED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
IT'S BOUGHT WITH THE GRACE OF GOD.
AND FAITH IS ONLY THE HAND THAT REACHES OUT AND SAYS,
"I'LL TAKE IT."
SEE, SOMETIMES WE CAN EVEN GET MIXED UP ABOUT FAITH AND WE CAN
THINK, "WELL, YOU KNOW, I GOT THAT BECAUSE OF MY FAITH.
WELL, ALL YOU GOT TO DO, BROTHER, IS JUST BELIEVE.
JUST BELIEVE."
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I READ SOMETHING MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND IT REALLY BLESSED
ME.
FAITH IS NOT THE PRICE THAT BUYS THE BLESSING OF GOD.
IT IS BOUGHT TOTALLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, TOTALLY BY
THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
FAITH IS ONLY THE HAND THAT REACHES OUT AND RECEIVES IT.
YOU KNOW, TO GET MEANS TO OBTAIN BY STRUGGLE AND EFFORT.
BUT TO RECEIVE MEANS TO JUST BE A RECEPTACLE AND TAKE IN
WHATEVER'S BEING OFFERED.
DID YOU GET SAVED? DID YOU GET YOUR BLESSING?
DID YOU GET HEALED? DID YOU GET YOUR BREAKTHROUGH?
WELL, TRUTHFULLY, IF WE GOT ANY OF THAT, IF WE HAVE ANY OF
THOSE, IT'S NOT 'CAUSE WE GOT IT.
IT'S BECAUSE GOD GAVE IT.
DID YOU GET A BREAKTHROUGH?
NO, I CAN NEVER GET A BREAKTHROUGH, BUT I'M PRAYERFUL
THAT GOD WILL GIVE ME ONE.
I'M PRAYERFUL HE'LL DOWNLOAD ONE ON ME.
ONE THING YOU STILL LACK.
FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE YOU CAN MEMORIZE THE WHOLE BIBLE
AND YOU PRAY 2 HOURS EVERY DAY, BUT YOU GOT A BAD TEMPER.
ONE THING YOU STILL LACK.
COME ON, IS ANYBODY WITH ME TODAY?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: MAYBE YOU ARE NOT JEALOUS AND ENVIOUS,
THAT IS JUST NOT A PROBLEM FOR YOU, BUT YOU'RE VERY IMPATIENT.
ONE THING YOU STILL LACK.
LET'S LOOK AT 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7 THROUGH 9.
BEFORE WE JUST GET TOO UPSET ABOUT OUR WEAKNESSES, LET'S JUST
TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE SHOULD VIEW THEM.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I GOT TIRED A LONG TIME AGO OF
BEING MAD AT MYSELF ALL THE TIME, AND I JUST DON'T MESS
WITH IT ANYMORE.
HOW MANY OF YOU DON'T GET ALONG WITH YOURSELF VERY WELL?
I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOU, YOU'RE IN FOR A HARD RIDE.
I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, YOU ARE EVERYWHERE YOU GO.
YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY JUST BECAME--I BECAME AWARE OF THAT
YEARS AGO, IT'S LIKE I CAN'T GET AWAY FROM ME.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T EVER GET AWAY FROM YOU FOR ONE SECOND.
YOU CAN'T GO TO THE BATHROOM WITHOUT YOU, YOU CAN'T TAKE
A SHOWER WITHOUT YOU, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOU.
AND SERIOUSLY, IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOURSELF, IF YOU'RE MAD AT
YOURSELF ALL THE TIME, HOW ABOUT IF SOMEBODY MAKES PEACE WITH
THEMSELVES TODAY?
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12, VERSE 7, THE APOSTLE PAUL, "AND
TO KEEP ME FROM BEING PUFFED UP AND TOO ELATED BECAUSE OF
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF THE REVELATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN
UNTO ME."
GOD WAS USING PAUL IN AN AMAZINGLY ASTOUNDING WAY.
AND SO, TO KEEP HIM FROM BEING PUFFED UP, "THERE WAS GIVEN UNTO
ME A THORN IN THE FLESH.
A MESSENGER OF SATAN, TO RACK, AND BUFFET, AND HARASS ME,
TO KEEP ME FROM BEING EXCESSIVELY EXALTED."
SO, SOMETHING WAS HARASSING HIM ALL THE TIME, BUGGING HIM ALL
THE TIME, WHETHER IT WAS A PERSON, OR A PERSONAL WEAKNESS,
OR SOMETHING IN HIS PHYSICAL BODY.
I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHAT IT WAS.
I THINK THE POINT IS IS IT WAS.
AND IT SEEMS THAT IT WAS A GIFT FROM GOD.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT GOD PERMITTED IN HIS LIFE.
GOD NEVER GIVES US ANYTHING BAD, BUT SOMETIMES HE WILL PERMIT
CERTAIN THINGS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE
TO US, IT IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE SPIRITUALLY BETTER FOR US.
SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE IF EVERY TIME I HAD A PROBLEM, THE MOMENT
THAT I PRAYED, GOD SUPERNATURALLY DELIVERED ME FROM
IT, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD JUST BE AMAZING.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT WOULDN'T BE THE BEST THING FOR ME SPIRITUALLY.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO EXERCISE MY FAITH.
I WOULD NEVER GROW IN PATIENCE.
I WOULD NEVER LEARN HOW TO HAVE ANY TENACITY.
I WOULD GIVE UP WAY TO EASY.
SO, GOD DOESN'T DELIVER ME RIGHT AWAY IN HIS WISDOM BECAUSE THERE
ARE DEEPER THINGS THAT HE WANTS US TO LEARN.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS ONLY INTERESTED IN OUR TEMPORAL, IMMEDIATE
COMFORT, BUT GOD IS MORE INTERESTED IN ETERNAL VALUES
THAT HE'S PLANTING ON THE INSIDE OF US.
SO, PAUL WANTED TO GET RID OF THIS AGGRAVATION, IRRITATION,
FRUSTRATION, WHATEVER IT WAS, AND WE'VE ALL GOT THEM.
AND GOD SAID, "NO."
NOW, WATCH.
"JOYCE, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GET RID OF
THIS THING THAT BUGS ME."
WELL, I'LL JUST LEAVE THAT WITH YOU AND GOD.
BUT HE SAID TO ME--WELL, FIRST VERSE 8, "THREE TIMES I CALLED
ON THE LORD AND BESOUGHT [HIM]
ABOUT THIS AND BEGGED THAT IT WOULD DEPART FROM ME."
OH, I CAN TELL YOU I PRAYED MORE THAN THREE TIMES ABOUT SOME
OF MY STUFF.
"AND HE SAID TO ME, 'MY GRACE (MY FAVOR, LOVING KINDNESS,
AND MERCY) IS ENOUGH FOR YOU.
IT IS SUFFICIENT AGAINST ANY DANGER,'" AND I LOVE THIS PART,
"AND ENABLES YOU TO BEAR THE TROUBLE MANFULLY."
IN OTHER WORDS, QUIT WHINING ABOUT IT.
STAND UP LIKE A MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD AND SAY, "I DON'T EXPECT
EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE TO BE PERFECT.
I HAVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IN MY LIFE TO ENABLE ME TO DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO,
AND TO DO IT WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE."
JOYCE: WELL, WE TRULY CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, AND
GOD'S GRACE REALLY IS SUFFICIENT FOR US IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.
MY GUEST TODAY IS RUTH GRAHAM, AND SHE'S HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW
SHE LEARNED TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY SELF-WORTH THROUGH HER IDENTITY
IN CHRIST.
WELL, RUTH, IT'S SO WONDERFUL OF YOU TO JOIN US AGAIN TO SHARE
WITH OUR PEOPLE.
THE DAUGHTER OF REVEREND BILLY AND RUTH GRAHAM
HAD LOTS OF EXPECTATIONS.
HOW DID YOUR DAD BEING GONE SO MUCH AFFECT YOU?
RUTH: WELL, JOYCE, IT HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON ME.
AND I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MY SIBLINGS.
BUT I KNOW FOR ME, WHEN MY FATHER WASN'T THERE,
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT AT THE TIME, BUT I READ IT THAT I HAD BEEN
ABANDONED.
HE WAS NOT THERE TO TUCK ME IN BED AT NIGHT, HE WAS NOT THERE
TO TEACH ME TO RIDE THE BICYCLE, HE WAS NOT THERE TO MEET ME WHEN
I GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL.
HE WAS ALWAYS FAR AWAY AND BUSY WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
SO, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT GOD WAS LIKE, HE'S FAR AWAY AND BUSY
WITH PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S OF COURSE NOT TRUE, BUT I REALLY FELT LIKE I HAD
BEEN ABANDONED, AND SO I WAS INSECURE AND I GRASPED
FOR OTHER THINGS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I GRASPED FOR MEN TO MAKE ME FEEL SECURE, AND
THAT OF COURSE NEVER MAKES YOU FEEL SECURE.
IF YOU WOULD ASKED ME, SAID, "OH RUTH, IS YOUR SECURITY
IN CHRIST?" I WOULD'VE SAID YES.
BUT THAT REALLY WASN'T TRUE DEEP DOWN INSIDE WHERE THE DARK
HIDDEN PLACES ARE.
AND SO, GOD REALLY HAD TO PEEL BACK ALL THE DIFFERENT LAYERS
TILL I GOT TO THAT DEEP, DARK PLACE AND I HAD TO ADMIT, "NO,
MY SELF-WORTH HAS TO COME FROM CHRIST, OTHERWISE I'M JUST GOING
TO FLAIL AND I'M JUST GOING TO BE A MESS."
AND WHEN I FINALLY CAME TO THAT REALIZATION, THEN THE SECURITY
WAS VERY REAL.
AND SECURITY IS BEDROCK SOLID, YOU KNOW?
AND GOD'S CHARACTER, I'D LOVE TO GO THROUGH THE ABC'S OF
GOD'S CHARACTER.
AND MY GRANDSON, MY DAUGHTER WAS PREGNANT AND SHE WAS A LITTLE
EARLY, BUT SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SAID, "I'M IN LABOR."
I SAID, "I'LL PRAY FOR YOU AND CALL ME WHEN YOU NEED ME."
SO, THE NEXT MORNING, THEY HADN'T CALLED ME, AND MY
DAUGHTER--MY OTHER DAUGHTER CALLED ME AND SHE SAID,
"HAVE YOU TALKED TO WINDSOR?" AND I SAID,
"YES, SHE'S STILL IN LABOR."
SHE SAID, "NO, MOM, THE BABY HAS COME AND YOU NEED TO CALL HER."
SO, I CALL HER AND SHE WAS SOBBING, SHE SAID,
"MOM, GET HERE RIGHT NOW."
SHE SAID, "THE BABY, THEY'VE TAKEN THE BABY FROM ME, AND I
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED."
SO, IT WAS A 4-HOUR DRIVE AND I THOUGHT, "OH MY GOODNESS."
YOU KNOW, I WAS PANICKED.
I CALLED MY PASTOR, I SAID, "PLEASE PRAY FOR ME."
I PUT ON PRAISE MUSIC AND IT DIDN'T GO--IN ONE EAR AND OUT
THE OTHER.
I PUT--TRIED MEMORY VERSES, AND I THOUGHT, "I CAN'T REMEMBER
A SINGLE MEMORY VERSE."
WHAT GOOD--SO I--BUT YEARS AGO I MADE A LIST OF GOD'S
CHARACTERISTICS USING ABC'S.
HE'S ALMIGHTY.
HE'S BIG.
HE IS COMPASSIONATE.
HE IS OUR DELIVERER.
HE IS OUR DELIGHT.
AND SO, BY THE TIME-- JOYCE: I JUST MIGHT DO THAT.
THAT'D MAKE A GOOD MESSAGE.
RUTH: THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, IT DOES.
BUT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO X, Y, AND Z, YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE
PROBLEM, AND YOU FOCUS ON GOD BECAUSE HE IS THE ZENITH OF IT
ALL AND HE'S ZEALOUS FOR US.
SO, IT'S JUST THRILLING.
AND I REALLY GOT TO MY DAUGHTER, AND I WAS--HAD PULLED MYSELF
TOGETHER, AND I WAS FOCUSING ON WHO GOD WAS AND THAT HE WAS
GOING TO SEE US THROUGH.
AND IT WASN'T EASY.
MY GRANDSON STILL HAS PROBLEMS, THEY JUST TOOK THE TRACH OUT
JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND HE'S 7 YEARS OLD.
AND HE STILL HAS A FEEDING TUBE, BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW THERE'S
ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIM, HE IS JUST GOING FULL TILT.
AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY WISE IN THE WAY THEY'VE RAISED HIM,
BUT GOD WAS THERE FOR US.
AND WHEN I GREETED MY DAUGHTER, I MEAN, WE BOTH CRIED, WE WERE
BOTH UPSET, BUT GOD WAS THERE, AND GOD HAS USED THIS STORY
AGAIN.
HE HAS USED THIS IN OUR LIVES 'CAUSE WE'VE--AGAIN, WE SPEAK
TOGETHER, WE TELL THAT STORY, AND SHE CHOSE LIFE.
WHEN SHE CARRIED HIM, SHE CHOSE LIFE WHEN THEY ASKED HER IF SHE
WANTED TO ABORT HIM.
SHE CHOSE LIFE WITH HER OTHER CHILDREN, SO SHE TALKS PRO-LIFE
ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO USE US.
OUR SELF-WORTH IS IN CHRIST AND IT'S WHAT WE--WHAT I'M
MINISTERING AND I'M TALKING ABOUT JESUS, AND WHEN I'M
READING THE WORD, AND WHEN I'M SHARING CHRIST, THERE'S NOTHING
MORE SATISFACTORY THAN THAT, YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO BE DOING ANYTHING ELSE.
I JUST LOVE WHAT I DO, AND I'M GLAD THAT I CAN SHARE MY STORY,
PAINFUL SOMETIMES, EMBARRASSING, YES.
I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL THIS, BUT GOD
IS THERE, AND HE MAKES US FEEL SECURE, AND HE GIVES US OUR
WORTH, AND HE'S REALLY THE ONLY SMILE I WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW?
AS LONG AS GOD'S HAPPY, I'M HAPPY.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING WHEN I THINK BACK TO WHEN YOU
STARTED, YOU SAID YOUR DAD WAS GONE ALL THE TIME.
WELL, HE HAD A CALL ON HIS LIFE AND HE HAD TO BE GONE, AND YET
THE ENEMY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT, MAYBE NOT WITH ALL OF YOUR
SIBLINGS, BUT HE USES DIFFERENT THINGS AGAINST DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND I THINK SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE EVEN A LITTLE BIT
INSECURE, THEN NOT HAVING ALL THE ATTENTION THAT WE FEEL LIKE
WE SHOULD HAVE IS JUST, LIKE, BLOWN WAY OUT
OF PROPORTION BY THE ENEMY.
I WISH MY DAD WOULD'VE BEEN GONE MORE, AND YOURS WAS GONE
TOO MUCH.
AND SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THAT POINT THAT IF YOU
HAVE A JOB THAT CAUSES YOU TO TRAVEL, OR YOU HAVE A CALL OF
GOD ON YOUR LIFE, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THERE'S AN ANOINTING
THAT COMES ON THE WHOLE FAMILY FOR THAT.
BUT BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DON'T LET THE ENEMY USE IT AGAINST YOU
TO BLOW THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION IN YOUR LIFE.
AND SO, YOU WEREN'T ABANDONED, GOD WAS THERE WITH YOU
THE WHOLE TIME.
AND JUST GIVE US A FEW WORDS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE ABOUT GRACE,
WHAT YOU SEE GRACE AS, AND HOW YOU FEEL LIKE THAT HAS JUST
BROUGHT SO MUCH HELP INTO YOUR LIFE.
RUTH: GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON'T DESERVE, YOU KNOW?
AND WE ARE SO BLESSED BY GOD'S PRESENCE AND GOD'S MERCY.
BUT HIS GRACE I THINK--I PICTURE IT IN MY MIND SORT OF LIKE BEING
WRAPPED IN BUBBLE WRAP., YOU KNOW, THAT GOD'S GRACE JUST
ENVELOPS ME AND ENABLES ME TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO, AND MAKES
ME--MAKES ME SECURE THAT I KNOW THAT GOD LOVES ME TOTALLY AND
COMPLETELY, HE DOESN'T LOVE ME ANY LESS.
JOYCE: AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD PROBLEMS DOESN'T MEAN GOD
DOESN'T LOVE YOU.
RUTH: NO, AND HE DOESN'T LOVE ME ANY MORE TODAY THAN HE DID
YESTERDAY, OR ANY LESS THAN HE DID YESTERDAY.
AND NOTHING I CAN DO OR SAY WILL MAKE HIM CHANGE HIS LOVE FOR ME.
IT'S CONSTANT AND IT'S ETERNAL.
AND I AM VERY SECURE IN GOD'S LOVE.
AND I LOVE TO THINK ABOUT MY FATHER, MY FATHER WHO I KNEW
LOVED ME.
HE MAY HAVE BEEN FAR AWAY AND BUSY WITH OTHER PEOPLE, BUT I
KNEW HE LOVED ME, I WAS SECURE IN HIS LOVE, I'M STILL SECURE IN
HIS LOVE.
EVEN NOW WHEN HE'S NOT ABLE TO COMMUNICATE MUCH, IF WE SAY,
"DADDY, I LOVE YOU," IF HE CAN, HE WILL SAY, "I LOVE YOU TOO,
DARLING."
AND THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO US, AND IT'S VERY PRECIOUS.
BUT GOD'S THE SAME WAY.
YOU KNOW, HE JUST IS ALWAYS SHOWING HIS LOVE TO US EVERY
DAY, AND WE JUST HAVE TO BE RECEIVERS.
JOYCE: SO OFTEN, WE CAN FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THINKING THAT
BECAUSE WE HAVE--PEOPLE GET THIS--AND I HAD THE SAME IDEA,
WE THINK, "WELL, A LIFE WITH GOD SHOULD BE, LIKE, TROUBLE-FREE."
AND THE BIBLE NEVER, EVER, EVER PROMISES US THAT.
ACTUALLY, IT TELLS US THE EXACT OPPOSITE, THAT WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE PROBLEMS IN OUR LIFE.
BUT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GOD AND HAVING A PROBLEM WITHOUT HIM
IS TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND SO, I TELL PEOPLE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
THIS TO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING TODAY, YOU MAY HAVE
SOME REAL PROBLEMS, BUT YOU HAVE HOPE, YOU HAVE HELP,
YOU HAVE GRACE.
YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO ASSIST YOU IN--AND TO LEAD YOU
AND TO GUIDE YOU.
AND SO, MAN, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS IN MY LIFE, BUT I'M--I'VE DONE
THEM WITHOUT GOD AND WITH GOD, AND I'D MUCH RATHER DO MY
PROBLEMS WITH GOD THAN WITHOUT HIM.
AND YOU KNOW, GRACE IS GETTING WHAT YOU DON'T DESERVE, BUT THE
OTHER THING THAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT GRACE IS IT'S THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US DO WHATEVER WE NEED
TO DO IN OUR LIFE.
AND YOU KNOW, I AM VERY SURE THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE
TOTALLY SHOCKED TO KNOW THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE OPENLY
SHARED WITH US.
NOW, ON TODAY'S PROGRAM YOU DIDN'T MENTION, BUT YOU DID
BEFORE THAT YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED AND DIVORCED FOUR TIMES.
YOU KNOW, YOU MARRIED OUT OF DESPERATION WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG,
LOOKING FOR THAT LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE AND SECURITY.
AND THEN 21 YEARS LATER, HE'S UNFAITHFUL, YOU HAD TO GET
A DIVORCE, YOU MARRY SOMEBODY REAL QUICK THAT'S NOT RIGHT
3 MONTHS LATER.
AND SO, NOBODY IS BEYOND GOD'S HELP OR BEYOND GOD GETTING VALUE
OUT OF THE MESSES IN OUR LIFE.
RUTH: WHEN WE GIVE IT TO HIM, HE CAN TURN IT FOR HIS GLORY.
AND SO, I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE HAS AND DOES.
JOYCE: WELL, RUTH, YOU'VE JUST BEEN A GREAT GUEST, AND WE
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
WELL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUCCEED AT BEING YOURSELF?
YOU KNOW, TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU FOUR TEACHINGS THAT I'VE
DONE ON "HOW TO SUCCEED AT BEING YOURSELF."
THEY'RE ON CD, AND TODAY THAT'S FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
OF ANY AMOUNT.
YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT GOD
HAD TO TEACH ME.
AND I EVEN WROTE A BOOK ON THAT QUITE A LONG TIME AGO, AND TODAY
WE'RE OFFERING CDS.
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T--YOU CAN BE YOURSELF, AND YOU CAN EVEN
RECOVER FROM BEING YOUR MESSED UP SELF.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO STAY MESSED UP ALL OF OUR LIFE, BUT
THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU IF YOU DON'T GIVE
UP ON HIM.
SO, ALL WE ASK YOU TO DO TODAY IS JUST DO YOUR BEST, GIVE THE
BEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN TO HELP US WITH OUR MINISTRY,
AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU GET THESE RESOURCES.
NOW, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE TIME, LET ME SAY IT, GOD IS NOT ASKING
YOU TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE.
HE WANTS YOU TO BE YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
ANNOUNCER: DISCOVER HOW TO LIVE FREE OF INSECURITY AND
SELF-DOUBT, AND LEARN HOW YOUR SELF-IMAGE SHAPES YOUR FUTURE
WITH JOYCE'S FOUR-CD SERIES, "HOW TO SUCCEED AT BEING
YOURSELF."
IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD.
LEARN TO SEE YOURSELF THE WAY GOD SEES YOU, AND EXPERIENCE
HEALING AND TRUE FREEDOM IN YOUR SOUL.
THIS SERIES IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT.
CALL US TOLL-FREE AT...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
GINGER: IT MAY SEEM A BIT EARLY TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS
GIFTS, BUT HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT FINDING A BEAUTIFUL GIFT
THAT THEY WILL APPRECIATE AND WILL HELP PEOPLE FOR
GENERATIONS?
AFTER ALL, IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START THINKING ABOUT HELPING
OTHERS.
AND YOU CAN CHECK SOME GIFTS OFF YOUR LIST AT THE SAME TIME WITH
THE HAND OF HOPE CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
YOU CAN GIVE A GIFT IN THEIR NAME TO HELP MAKE THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON A LITTLE BRIGHTER FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
FILL A HUNGRY BELLY THROUGH OUR FEEDING PROGRAMS.
REFRESH AN ENTIRE VILLAGE BY PROVIDING CLEAN WATER.
TRANSFORM A CHILD'S FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION.
SUPPORT GIRLS AND WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH PROJECT GIRL,
OR EASE PHYSICAL SUFFERING THROUGH OUR MEDICAL AND DENTAL
OUTREACHES.
GIVE A GIFT THAT WILL TOUCH THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE IN NEED
WITH THE HAND OF HOPE CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CHRISTMAS AND MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
ANNOUNCER: MAKE PLANS NOW TO SPEND YOUR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
WITH JOYCE.
THREE UNIQUE SESSIONS OF INSPIRING TEACHING, HEARTFELT
WORSHIP, AND ENCOURAGING BEHIND THE SCENES MOMENTS
AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE COMING TO INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
OCTOBER 13 AND 14, WITH WORSHIP BY JESUS CULTURE.
AND CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, NOVEMBER 10 AND 11, WITH WORSHIP
BY ELEVATION WORSHIP.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT US ONLINE AT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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