ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: HAS ANYBODY NOTICED THAT PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY
EVERYWHERE?
AND YOU CAN EITHER LET THEM DRIVE YOU CRAZY OR YOU CAN LEARN
HOW TO ENJOY THEM AND IT BASICALLY DEPENDS ON HOW WE
DECIDE TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT PEOPLE.
WE HAVE THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ABOUT PEOPLE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW.
"WHY YOU WEARING YOUR HAIR THAT WAY?
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT FOR?"
JUST SILLY STUFF.
DAVE AND I GOT IN THIS HUGE CONVERSATION ONE DAY OVER HOW
THE MAN NEXT DOOR TO US SHOULD BE INVESTING HIS MONEY AND WE
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THAT'S HOW SILLY WE ARE.
HE WAS A SINGLE MAN LIVING IN THIS BIG HOUSE AND I WAS LIKE,
"WHY YOU SUPPOSE THAT GUY WANTS TO LIVE IN THAT BIG HOUSE BY
HIMSELF?" AND DAVE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW,
MAYBE IT'S AN INVESTMENT."
AND I SAID, "WELL, I DON'T THINK I'D INVEST IT IN A HOUSE.
I THINK I'D TAKE IT AND--" AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED WE'RE
DRIVING DOWN THE STREET PLANNING THIS GUY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE
AND WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE KNOWN HOW TO SAY, "HI FRED," OR SAM
OR WHATEVER.
WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE MAN'S NAME.
YOU WITH ME?
ALL RIGHT, AND SO WE ARE GONNA THINK ABOUT PEOPLE AND WE NEED
TO LEARN HOW TO THINK ABOUT THEM RIGHT.
WOULD YOU WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT GIGGLING.
THAT'S LIKE, "WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT."
BECAUSE THE KIND OF FRIEND THAT YOU ARE WILL DETERMINE HOW MANY
REALLY GOOD FRIENDS THAT YOU HAVE IN LIFE.
AMEN?
SO, OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND ATTITUDES AFFECT OUR FRIENDSHIPS
IN MANY WAYS.
TO BE HONEST, NOBODY HAS TO BE LONELY.
IF YOU'RE LONELY, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING BACK
AND WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME AND BEFRIEND YOU.
WELL, MAYBE YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND SOW A FEW SEEDS AND THEN
THAT WILL BEGIN TO COME BACK TO YOU.
I WILL TELL YOU A LANGUAGE THAT IS UNIVERSAL AND I'VE LEARNED TO
PRACTICE THIS LANGUAGE, IT'S THE LANGUAGE OF A SMILE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT LANGUAGE PEOPLE SPEAK, YOU SMILE AT THEM,
THERE ARE ALMOST NO PEOPLE THAT WON'T SMILE BACK.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I'LL RUN INTO SOMEBODY THAT YOU SMILE AT
THEM, THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU'RE CRAZY, BUT HONESTLY AND
TRULY--AND I WAS NOT NORMALLY AND NATURALLY THAT KIND OF
PERSON.
I'VE ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING ON MY MIND.
I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING.
AND BELIEVE ME, I CAN GET OUT IN PUBLIC AND TOTALLY IGNORE
EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS LIKE
IN CHINA, OR PARIS, OR WHATEVER'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT.
BUT I HAVE LEARNED TO TAKE THE TIME TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE
AND SMILE AT PEOPLE AND I ALMOST NEVER HAVE PEOPLE NOT SMILE
BACK.
SO, THAT'S A LANGUAGE THAT YOU CAN USE EVERYWHERE AND I THINK
IT'S THE LANGUAGE OF GOD.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SMILING OVER US RIGHT NOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, WE'RE GONNA START BY EXERCISING OUR FACE.
WE'RE GONNA FORM A HABIT.
I MEAN NOT GOING OUT AND LOOKING LIKE A CLOWN.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO...BUT JUST A NICE,
PLEASANT LITTLE SMILE.
IT'S AMAZING.
I MEAN YOU GET IN AN ELEVATOR AND YOU SAY, "GOOD MORNING,"
EVERYBODY WILL SAY GOOD MORNING BACK.
THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT AREN'T GONNA SAY SOMETHING BACK.
SO, WE NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE INITIATIVE, COME ON.
WELL, YOU SAY, "I DON'T WANT ANY FRIENDS.
I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE."
NO, YOU DON'T.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND IF THAT'S YOUR ATTITUDE, THEN THERE'S SOMETHING
WRONG INSIDE THAT YOU NEED TO GET IN THERE AND GET FIXED.
MAYBE YOU GOT HURT SOMEWHERE SOMETIME AND SO NOW YOU JUST
THINK YOU'RE NOT GONNA MESS WITH ANYBODY AT ALL, BUT THAT IS NOT
THE WAY THAT GOD CREATED US TO BE.
WE ALL ARE CONNECTED WHETHER WE WANT TO BE OR NOT.
AMEN?
GOOD, I GOT ONE PERSON WHO LIKES THIS.
I'M HAPPY FOR THAT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY THIS, A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
ATTRACTS PEOPLE.
A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE USUALLY DOESN'T WIN YOU VERY MANY
FRIENDS.
NOW, I DON'T WANT TO HURT ANYBODY'S FEELINGS, BUT I JUST
WANT TO THROW THIS OUT FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT, EVERYBODY DOES
NOT WANT TO JUST HEAR YOUR PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A GOOD FRIEND THAT YOU CAN
SHARE WITH BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE,
AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE,
AND SHARE.
AND THEN WHEN YOU WEAR THAT ONE OUT, GO FIND ANOTHER ONE
AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE, AND SHARE.
SO, IF YOU HAVE A HABIT OF JUST TALKING ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS ALL
THE TIME, IT'S TIME TO MAKE A NEW HABIT AND THAT IS TO FIND
SOMETHING GOOD TO TALK ABOUT.
AND I'LL JUST THROW THIS OUT FOR GOOD MEASURE TOO, YOUR FRIENDS
DON'T WANT TO JUST HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT YOURSELF ALL THE TIME.
NOW, I KNOW NONE OF YOU DO THIS.
YOU'RE GONNA BUY THIS TEACHING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE YOU KNOW
THAT'S LIKE THIS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I TOLD DAVE THIS MORNING I SAID,
"BOY, YOU ARE GONNA LEARN A LOT TODAY ABOUT HOW TO BE
A FRIENDLIER PERSON."
ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T WANT THIS, I'LL PREACH TO MYSELF.
PEOPLE USED TO SAY TO ME, "YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST MET YOU,
I DIDN'T LIKE YOU AT ALL."
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.
WELL, I WASN'T VERY LIKABLE.
I TALKED ABOUT MY PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME, I WAS SELFISH
AND SELF-CENTERED.
IF I TALKED ABOUT ANYTHING, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF.
AND PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS RESPOND TO YOU IF YOU ASK THEM ABOUT
THEM.
"WELL, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LIFE."
YOU LEARN HOW TO SAY THAT, "TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LIFE," YOU
PROBABLY WON'T HAVE TO SAY MUCH ELSE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN?
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO?" ACT INTERESTED IN PEOPLE BUT
THEN THAT'S GIVING, ISN'T IT?
TO GIVE OUR TIME TO REALLY LISTEN TO PEOPLE THAT MAYBE WE
DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, I WAS AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE ONE DAY MANY YEARS AGO.
I'M ALWAYS GLAD WHEN I TELL THESE BAD STORIES ABOUT ME TO BE
ABLE TO SAY IT WAS MANY YEARS AGO.
SO, THIS IS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AND I WAS JUST REALLY GETTING
STARTED IN MINISTRY, AND I'M SITTING IN THIS DOCTOR'S OFFICE
AND LITTLE OLD MAN WHO'D BROKE HIS LEG ON THE SNOW, HE KEPT
WANTING TO TELL ME ABOUT HIS LEG.
WELL, I WASN'T--I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT HIS LEG.
I HAD MY BIBLE AND I WANTED TO BE SPIRITUAL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE NICE TO THAT MAN.
I WANTED TO BE SPIRITUAL.
IS ANYBODY OUT THERE TODAY?
COME ON, I SAID, I DID NOT WANT TO BE NICE TO THE LITTLE, OLD,
LONELY MAN WHO HAD BROKE HIS LEG.
I WANTED TO SIT THERE AND PRAY UNDER MY BREATH AND READ MY
BIBLE AND THINK HOW PLEASED GOD WAS WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS
STUDYING AND PRAYING IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
COME ON, WHAT IS TRUE SPIRITUALITY?
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR WHOLE BIBLE UNDERLINED BUT IF YOU'RE NOT
NICE TO PEOPLE, THEN THE BIBLE SAYS, "NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IF
YOU HAVE NOT LOVE, ALL YOU ARE IS A BIG NOISE AND A LOUD
CLANGING CYMBAL.
ONE NEW COMMAND I GIVE UNTO YOU THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER JUST
AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE
MY DISCIPLES."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
YOU IS IN MINISTRY.
DON'T SIT AND SAY, "WELL, I WISH I WAS IN MINISTRY."
YOU ARE IN MINISTRY.
EVERYWHERE YOU GO, YOU'RE IN MINISTRY.
WE ARE WHAT?
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
AND IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, IT'S PRETTY DARK OUT THERE SO
EVERYWHERE YOU GO, YOU NEED TO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO PREACH
A THREE-PART SERIES TO EVERYBODY YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH.
WE CAN START BY JUST BEING NICE.
LOVE IS NOT RUDE.
THIS IS GONNA BE A BETTER DAY THAN I THOUGHT IT MIGHT.
SO ANYWAY, I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO LISTEN TO THAT GUY AND
BECAUSE, YOU SEE, LOVE IS ALL ABOUT GIVING, IT'S NOT ABOUT
GETTING, IT'S ABOUT GIVING.
AND THEN THIS THOUGHT CAME TO MY HEART AND I MUST ASSUME THAT IT
WAS GOD BECAUSE I DOUBT THAT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS IN
THE MIDDLE OF MY PLAN THERE.
AND THIS WAS WHAT CAME TO MY HEART, IF THAT WAS BILLY GRAHAM
SITTING THERE, WOULD YOU BE HAPPY TO TALK TO HIM?
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT, IF BILLY GRAHAM
WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, HE COULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS
LEG, EVERY FOLLICLE OF HIS HAIR, HIS FINGERNAILS.
I MEAN I WOULDN'T OF--I'D HAVE BEEN LIKE...
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH.
BECAUSE IF BILLY GRAHAM WOULD HAVE TALKED TO ME, IT WOULD HAVE
MADE ME FEEL IMPORTANT BUT THAT LITTLE, OLD GUY WASN'T DOING
ANYTHING FOR ME, GOD HAS OPENED UP A DOOR FOR ME TO DO
SOMETHING FOR HIM.
HOW DO WE THINK BEFORE WE GO OUT EVERY DAY?
WE NEED TO PREPARE OURSELVES TO BE USED BY GOD EVERY TIME WE GO
OUT OUR DOOR AND PART OF YOUR PRAYER LIFE AND PART OF YOUR
TIME WITH GOD THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH CAN BE
ACTUALLY MENTAL PREPARATION, THINKING THOUGHTS ON PURPOSE
THAT WILL PREPARE YOU TO GO OUT AND BE READY TO PAY ATTENTION
TO WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU AND BE USED BY GOD ANYTIME THAT
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU.
AMEN?
DO YOU HAVE A JOY-DRAINING EFFECT ON OTHER PEOPLE?
ARE THEY GLAD WHEN YOU LEAVE?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OR ARE THEY SAD WHEN YOU LEAVE?
WHEN THEY SEE YOU COMING, DO THEY THINK, "OH BOY, HERE COMES
JOHN!" OR DO THEY THINK, "OH NO, HERE
COMES JOHN."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, DAVE IS VERY POSITIVE AND IN GENERAL
EVERYBODY LIKES DAVE AND DAVE LIKES EVERYBODY.
NOW, THIS IS GONNA SOUND LIKE IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE TRUE BUT
I'M TELLING YOU THAT IT IS.
IN THE WHOLE 40 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN--48 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN
MARRIED TO DAVE, IN 48 YEARS MAYBE I CAN REMEMBER 2 TIMES IN
48 YEARS WHEN HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T LIKE SOMEBODY, TWICE IN
48 YEARS HE DIDN'T LIKE SOMEBODY.
OH, I'M GLAD I'M TALKING ABOUT DAVE AND NOT ME 'CAUSE OH BUDDY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HIS THOUGHTS TOWARD PEOPLE ARE POSITIVE.
HE SEES THE GOOD IN PEOPLE.
EVERY CHRISTIAN'S A GOOD CHRISTIAN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "THAT GUY'S A GOOD CHRISTIAN."
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT BOTHERS ME BUT I'M LIKE, "YOU DON'T KNOW IF
THEY'RE GOOD.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS."
AND NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN SOMEBODY CALLED JESUS GOOD HE SAID,
"WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD?
THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT GOD."
SO, THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF ANY GOODNESS WE HAVE IS ONLY IN
CHRIST, IT'S NOT IN OURSELVES.
SO, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING, BUT THERE IT IS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4, VERSE 8.
ISN'T JESUS SO MUCH FUN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "FOR THE REST, BRETHREN, WHATEVER IS TRUE,
WHATEVER IS WORTHY OF REVERENCE, WHATEVER IS
HONORABLE AND SEEMLY, WHATEVER IS JUST, WHATEVER IS
PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY AND LOVABLE, WHATEVER IS KIND AND
WINSOME AND GRACIOUS, IF THERE IS ANY VIRTUE AND EXCELLENCE, IF
THERE IS ANYTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE, THINK ON AND WEIGH AND
TAKE ACCOUNT OF THESE THINGS [FIX YOUR MINDS ON THEM]."
SO, WE ONLY GET TO THINK PRETTY THOUGHTS.
WE DON'T GET TO THINK UGLY STUFF.
HOW DOES LOVE BEHAVE TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE?
WELL, HONESTLY I BELIEVE THAT ALL LOVING ACTION BEGINS IN OUR
THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA SEE PEOPLE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO
DETERMINE THE WORTH OF PEOPLE.
JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY OUT THERE IS NOT LIKE ME, THAT DOESN'T
MEAN THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM BUT I SPENT A LOT OF
MY YEARS THINKING THAT.
AND SOME OF YOU ARE PROBABLY STILL STUCK THERE.
"WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?
HOW COULD YOU THINK THAT?
HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT TO WEAR THAT?
HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY THINK YOUR HAIR LOOKS GOOD?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SEE, JUST BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, THAT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT.
WE ARE NOT THE STANDARD.
COME ON, THIS IS BETTER THAN YOU'RE ACTING.
WE ARE NOT THE STANDARD FOR EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE HAVE RIGHTS AND THEY HAVE RIGHTS.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:7 SAYS, "LOVE BEARS UP UNDER ANYTHING AND
EVERYTHING THAT COMES," NOW HERE WE GO, "IT IS EVER READY TO
BELIEVE THE BEST OF EVERY PERSON."
LOVE THINKS GOOD THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE AND LOVE BELIEVES
THE BEST.
NOW, IF WE CAN GET THIS LOVE BELIEVES THE BEST THING.
SEE, I THINK THAT'S THE WAY DAVE IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE I STARTED
OUT MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AS A JUDGMENTAL, CRITICAL
FAULT FINDER.
DO I HAVE ANY RELATIVES IN HERE TODAY?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LET ME ADD ONE, A SUSPICIOUS, CRITICAL,
FAULT-FINDING, JUDGMENTAL PERSON.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE THE BEST, I BELIEVED THE WORST AND THAT WAS
BECAUSE I'D HAD A LOT OF BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO ME AND I HAD
SEEN A LOT OF SOME OF THE WORST OF PEOPLE.
BUT JUST BECAUSE I HAD A REASON TO BE THAT WAY, I DIDN'T HAVE
A RIGHT TO STAY THAT WAY.
NOW, I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A REASON TO BE NEGATIVE BECAUSE OF THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST, ONCE WE KNOW THE TRUTH, THEN WE
HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY THAT WAY BECAUSE GOD IS OFFERING US
A BETTER LIFE BUT IT'S GOTTA BE ACCORDING TO HIS WAY OF GETTING
THERE, NOT OUR OWN WAY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THE MORE WE LOVE PEOPLE, THE MORE WE GET
OURSELVES OFF OF OUR MINDS, THE MORE WE SMILE, THE MORE WE TAKE
TIME TO LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE'D REALLY RATHER NOT EVEN
MESS WITH, THE HAPPIER WE'RE GONNA BE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WELL, I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE."
WELL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET LEFT ALONE.
THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: EVERYWHERE.
I GET UP REALLY EARLY IN THE MORNING JUST SO I CAN HAVE LIKE
AN HOUR IN THE HOUSE BEFORE DAVE GETS UP.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND DAVE IS ONE OF THE GOOD ONES BUT I'M TELLING YOU,
WHEN I GET UP, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NOTHING FOR A WHILE.
IT'S LIKE, GIVE ME MY COFFEE AND LEAVE ME ALONE.
AND HE GETS UP AND STARTS SINGING.
I'M LIKE, OH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: REALLY?
THE OTHER DAY I TOLD YOU THE LITTLE STORY BEFORE ABOUT HOW
HE DRIBBLES THE SOAP ON ALL THE DISHES AT NIGHT, AND I
ACCIDENTALLY PUT MY SHAKE IN SOMETHING THAT HAD DAWN DISH
WASHING LIQUID IN IT AND I DRANK THE SOAP.
WELL, DAVE IS GOING AROUND THEN THE REST OF THE DAY SINGING THAT
OLD SONG, "I'M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH YEAH, IT'S QUITE HUMOROUS AT OUR HOUSE.
WE HAVE OUR OWN BRAND OF ENTERTAINMENT AT THIS STAGE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SEE, WHEN WE DECIDE TO BELIEVE THE BEST--AND IT DOES
START WITH A DECISION.
YOU COULD MAKE A BIG CHANGE TODAY IF YOU'RE NEGATIVE JUST BY
SAYING, "YOU KNOW, GOD, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE NEGATIVE
ANYMORE.
I'M SORRY THAT I'VE BEEN NEGATIVE, AND I WANT YOU TO
START CONVICTING ME EVERY TIME THAT I'M NEGATIVE AND HELP ME
CHANGE."
YOU KNOW WHEN WE HAVE BAD HABITS, HABITS ARE THINGS THAT
WE DO WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING THAT WE'RE DOING THEM.
AND SO THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS ASK GOD TO START MAKING
US AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING SO WE CAN ASK HIM THEN TO HELP US
DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
YOU CAN TRAIN YOURSELF TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF PEOPLE
BECAUSE IT ONLY HURTS YOU WHEN YOU DON'T.
WHAT WE BELIEVE HELPS US OR HURTS US, DOESN'T HURT THE OTHER
PERSON, IT HURTS US.
MANY TIMES THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, THEY MAY
FEEL THE WEIGHT OF YOUR THOUGHTS IF THEY'RE NEGATIVE BUT THEY
DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THEM BUT YOU KNOW
AND GOD KNOWS AND IT AFFECTS US.
WHEN WE BELIEVE THE BEST OF PEOPLE, IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO
FORGIVE PEOPLE WHEN THEY HURT OUR FEELINGS.
OH, MY GOSH.
YOU CAN EITHER SAY, "WELL, YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE AND I'M NOT
GONNA PUT UP WITH IT ANYMORE," OR YOU CAN SAY TO YOURSELF,
"I'M GONNA BELIEVE THE BEST.
I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY KNEW THAT THEY WERE HURTING ME," OR,
"I BET THEY'RE HAVING A BAD DAY TODAY AND SOMETHING'S
HURTING THEM."
YOU KNOW, HURTING PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET UP EVERY DAY JUST TO GO SEE HOW MEAN
THEY CAN BE TO EVERYBODY.
THEY'VE JUST GOT PROBLEMS IN THEIR OWN LIFE AND WHEN WE SEE
PEOPLE ACTING THAT WAY, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS A BELIEVER
TO PRAY FOR THEM.
1 PETER 4:8 SAYS, "ABOVE ALL THINGS, ALL THINGS, HAVE INTENSE
AND UNFAILING LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE COVERS
A MULTITUDE OF SINS [FORGIVES AND DISREGARDS THE OFFENSES OF
OTHERS]."
WHEN YOU BELIEVE THE BEST OF PEOPLE, IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO
DO THIS.
I LOVE THIS PART ABOUT LOVE COVERS FAULTS.
ARE YOU THE KIND OF PERSON THAT TELLS EVERYBODY'S SECRETS OR ARE
YOU THE KIND OF PERSON THAT KEEPS PEOPLE'S SECRETS?
IF YOU HAD A SECRET, WOULD YOU FEEL SAFE TELLING IT TO YOU?
MMM.
LOVE GOES OUT OF THE HOUSE MENTALLY PREPARED TO HELP
PEOPLE.
THINK ABOUT IT, I HAVE TRAINED MYSELF TO DO THIS AND IF I CAN
TRAIN MYSELF TO DO IT, ANYBODY CAN TRAIN THEMSELVES TO DO IT.
THIS MORNING AS PART OF MY TIME WITH GOD, AS WELL AS STUDYING TO
GET READY TO COME OVER HERE, I SAT AND I PURPOSELY THOUGHT.
YOU CAN THINK ON PURPOSE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO JUST SEE WHAT FALLS IN YOUR HEAD.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR THINKING AND THINK ACCORDING TO THE WAY
YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO BE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT AND JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE GOT, AND
THE WAY THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, AND HOW MEAN PEOPLE ARE, AND
HOW--SO, I SAT THIS MORNING AND THOUGHT, NOW TODAY WHEN I GO
OUT, GOD, I WANT TO BE USABLE FOR YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST BE USED HERE.
I WANT TO BE USED IN MY NORMAL LIFE, MY OTHER JOYCE LIFE,
NOT THIS JOYCE LIFE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH JUST FOR ME TO DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED
TO IN THIS PULPIT.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, I THINK GOD IS MUCH MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT MY PRIVATE LIFE THAN HE IS MY PUBLIC LIFE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA HAVE ANY POWER IN THIS
PULPIT IF I DON'T KEEP MY PRIVATE LIFE, THE ONE I LIVE
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, STRAIGHT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
I MEAN IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BUMPER STICKER, THEN BE
THE REAL DEAL.
AMEN?
SO, I SAT AND THOUGHT THIS MORNING, I'M GONNA ENCOUNTER
A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE TODAY.
I WANT TO SMILE.
I WANT TO BE FRIENDLY.
HELP ME REMEMBER, GOD, TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON
AROUND ME.
I DON'T WANT TO IGNORE ANY NEEDS THAT I COME ACROSS.
NOW, WATCH THIS, LET'S SEE HOW JESUS WAS.
JOHN 5:5 AND 6, ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES BUT I'M NOT
GONNA TELL THE WHOLE THING.
I'M JUST GONNA DRAW AN EXAMPLE.
"THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN WHO HAD SUFFERED WITH
A DEEP-SEATED AND LINGERING DISORDER FOR
THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS."
YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU RUN INTO EVERY DAY?
NOT ANYBODY YOU KNOW, JUST A CERTAIN PERSON, JUST A PERSON
AND THEY'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM ALL THEIR LIFE.
WHEN JESUS NOTICED HIM--I LOVE THE FACT THAT JESUS NOTICED
THINGS.
HE DIDN'T GO OUT JUST WITH HIS OWN DEAL ON HIS MIND AND IS SO
FOCUSED ON HIS OWN PLAN.
"I DON'T HAVE ANYTIME TO MESS WITH THAT CRIPPLED MAN.
I'M ON MY WAY TO JERUSALEM TO PREACH."
LET'S PRAY THAT GOD WILL HELP US TO BEGIN TO NOTICE WHAT'S GOING
ON AROUND US.
LET'S NOTICE THE PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCHES THAT ARE LONELY,
AND HURTING, AND BY THEMSELVES.
LET'S NOTICE THE PERSON AT WORK THAT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE
DEPRESSED.
LET'S PAY ATTENTION WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, "THE MOTOR WENT
OUT ON MY CAR AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO FIX IT."
WELL, WE DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO THAT BECAUSE GOD MIGHT ASK US
TO HELP 'EM.
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT."
SO, SOMETIMES WE'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING, THE DEVIL WILL MAKE
A SUGGESTION LIKE, "WELL, OF COURSE THE ENGINE WENT OUT ON
THEIR CAR, THEY'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF SIN IN THEIR LIFE."
LIKE THAT'S AN EXCUSE FOR US NOT TO HELP THEM.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE PERSON THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HELP BECAUSE
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE NEVER SEEN OR FELT REAL LOVE
IN THEIR WHOLE LIFE.
COME ON.
JOYCE: NOW REMEMBER, OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND ATTITUDES
AFFECT OUR RELATIONSHIPS IN MANY WAYS AND ONE WAY TO EXAMINE OUR
ACTIONS IS TO ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION, WOULD YOU WANT TO BE
FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF?
I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU "THE MIND CONNECTION" BOOK.
I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL BOOK THAT'S REALLY GONNA BE
A BLESSING TO YOU AND IT'S FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY TODAY
OF ANY AMOUNT.
THIS WEEK, WHAT YOU GIVE GOES TO OUR TELEVISION BROADCAST, THAT'S
RIGHT, YOU CAN HELP US PAY FOR THE TELEVISION PROGRAM YOU'RE
WATCHING AND ALSO YOU CAN HELP US REACH OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE
ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT YOU WOULD SEND IN GIFTS ON A REGULAR
BASIS TO HELP US PAY FOR THE TV PROGRAM BUT TODAY YOU CAN DO SO
AND GET A BOOK IN THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GIVING.
IT ALLOWS US TO SHARE WHAT GOD'S DONE IN MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES AND
WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IN YOURS.
GOD BLESS YOU.
FEMALE: MY THOUGHTS USED TO RUIN MY DAY BEFORE IT EVEN
STARTED.
MALE: A CONSTANT BATTLE.
MALE: THEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE MIND CONNECTION.
FEMALE: MY MIND, MOUTH, MOODS, ATTITUDES,
IT'S ALL CONNECTED.
MALE: NOW I HAVE THE TOOLS TO THINK DIFFERENTLY.
MALE: HOW TO THINK WHEN SOMETHING THROWS ME.
FEMALE: AND IT'S STARTING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.
ANNOUNCER: TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING "THE MIND CONNECTION"
FOR YOUR DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT.
CALL US RIGHT NOW...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: TRUST HIM ALL THE TIME.
YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS NOT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU WANNA MAKE THE DEVIL MAD, GET HAPPY.
HE HAS TO GET THE CREDIT.
HE HAS TO GET THE GLORY.
JOYCE: WELL, YOU'VE SPOKEN AND PICKED YOUR FAVORITE
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE" SHOWS FROM 2017, AND NOW WE'RE GOING
TO REVEAL THE WINNERS.
SO WATCH EVERY DAY TO SEE YOUR WINNERS.
JOYCE: IF I WERE TO ASK YOU IF YOU LOVE YOUR LIFE, WHAT
WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE?
I BELIEVE THAT JESUS WANTS US TO LOVE OUR LIVES.
BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'VE GOT, CONTINUING TO DO THE
SAME THING IS NOT GONNA GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT OUTCOME, AND I WANNA
ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO GET MY NEW BOOK CALLED
"LIVING A LIFE THAT YOU LOVE," AND SEE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE
THAT YOU CAN MAKE THAT WILL START TO GIVE YOU
WONDERFUL RESULTS IN YOUR LIFE.
WHY NOT GET YOUR COPY TODAY?
GINGER: YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST BEEN WONDERING LATELY, WHAT IS
IT THAT MAKES A PERSON WANT TO LEAVE THE COMFORT AND MONOTONY
OF HOME TO COME SOMEPLACE CRAZY LIKE THIS AND DO
A MEDICAL CLINIC?
WELL, LET'S ASK THE VOLUNTEER DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO DO IT
ALL THE TIME.
MALE: SEEING THE WORLD IS AWESOME.
IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT ADVENTURE.
FEMALE: BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE SO AMAZING.
FEMALE: I DO THIS BECAUSE GOD PUT IT IN MY HEART
TO HELP OTHERS.
FEMALE: BECAUSE IT'S LIFE CHANGING.
MALE: WE LOVE IT, IT'S AWESOME.
FEMALE: 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY FUN.
GINGER: SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IT CAN'T HURT TO AT LEAST CHECK IT OUT, RIGHT?
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE, JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE FOR YOU, AND JUST THINK, YOUR
ADVENTURE MAY BEGIN TODAY.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BE RELENTLESS,
TO BE DETERMINED, AND TO REFUSE TO GIVE UP.
PHILIPPIANS 3:13 SAY: "I DO NOT CONSIDER, BRETHREN, THAT I HAVE
CAPTURED AND MADE IT MY OWN YET, BUT ONE THING I DO, IT IS MY
ONE ASPIRATION, FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND AND STRAINING
FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD."
YOU KNOW WHAT?
PAUL'S TALKIN' ABOUT PRESSING IN AND PRESSING ON, BEING
RELENTLESS, AND NOT GIVING UP.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
"GOD IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY AND RELENTLESSLY
SEEK HIM."
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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