ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE MEYER: WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT SHARING GOD'S WORD WITH YOU.
TODAY, I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF LOVE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LOVE, WE HAVE TO SETTLE
DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THINK ABOUT WHAT LOVE REALLY IS,
BECAUSE HONESTLY, IT'S A WORD THAT WE THROW AROUND A LOT.
WE LOVE OUR DOGS, WE LOVE ICE CREAM, WE LOVE GOD,
BUT THEY ALL SHOULD REALLY--WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S
VERY DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE.
THERE'S A LOVE YOU HAVE FOR A FRIEND.
YOU KNOW, JESUS ASKED PETER THREE TIMES, AND IT'S
SIGNIFICANT THAT HE ASK HIM THREE TIMES,
"PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?
PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?
PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?" AND EACH TIME,
WHEN PETER SAID YES, JESUS SAID, "THEN FEED MY SHEEP,
FEED MY LAMBS, FEED MY SHEEP."
WELL, OVER MY YEARS OF STUDY, I'VE COME TO BELIEVE THAT, IN
ESSENCE, HE WAS SIMPLY SAYING, "HELP SOMEBODY.
TELL PEOPLE ABOUT ME."
AND I THINK IF WE REALLY LOVE GOD, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT OUR
TEACHING HERE IS ALL ABOUT, IF WE REALLY LOVE GOD THEN WE ARE
GONNA WANT TO HELP SOMEBODY.
SO, LOVE IS NOT JUST A THEORY.
IT'S NOT JUST A MESSAGE.
IT'S NOT A WORD THAT WE JUST THROW AROUND.
LOVE ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SEEN AND CAN BE FELT.
IT CAN BE GIVEN, IT CAN BE WITHHELD.
AND IF YOU REALLY STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT,
WHAT DOES EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WANT EXCEPT TO BE LOVED
AND ACCEPTED?
EVEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
BUY, OR THEY TRY TO DO, OR CLIMBING THE LADDER OF SUCCESS,
SO MUCH OF IT IS ABOUT FEELING LIKE THAT YOU HAVE WORTH AND
VALUE, AND WANTING TO BE LOVED, WANTING TO BE ACCEPTED.
AND OFTEN, WE TRY TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE THROUGH WHAT WE DO,
BUT GOD GIVES US HIS ACCEPTANCE AS A FREE GIFT BY HIS GRACE.
HE LOVES US AND HE WANTS TO GIVE US MUCH BETTER LIVES THAN WHAT
WE HAVE, AND HE WANTS TO COME AND LIVE INSIDE OF HIS PEOPLE
AND THEN WORK THROUGH THEM TO BRING THAT SAME KIND OF LOVE
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
SO, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT SEVERAL SCRIPTURES TODAY,
BUT 1 CORINTHIANS 13, GONNA BE READING THROUGH
THIS AND MAKING COMMENTS, AND JUST SEE WHAT WE CAN
LEARN TODAY ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF LOVE.
"IF I [CAN] SPEAK IN THE TONGUES OF MEN AND [EVEN] ANGELS, BUT
HAVE NOT LOVE (THAT REASONING, INTENTIONAL, SPIRITUAL DEVOTION
SUCH AS IS INSPIRED BY GOD'S LOVE FOR AND IN US), I'M ONLY
A NOISY GONG OR A CLANGING CYMBAL."
NOW, FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE WHAT THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE BRINGS OUT
HERE, THAT LOVE, THE KIND OF LOVE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,
IS GOD'S LOVE IN AND FOR US.
SO, IT'S NOT, LIKE, JUST THE KIND OF LOVE THAT THE WORLD
MIGHT THINK IS LOVE.
IT'S NOT, "OH, I LOVE MY ICE CREAM, I LOVE MY DOG,
AND I LOVE YOU TOO."
THIS IS GOD'S LOVE IN AND FOR US.
AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED IN MY LIFE IS GOD
NEVER EXPECTS US TO GIVE AWAY WHAT WE DON'T HAVE.
IT WOULD JUST BE RIDICULOUS FOR ME TO REQUIRE YOU TO GIVE ME
SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE AND HAD NO WAY OF GETTING.
SO, HE FIRST LOVES US, WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US,
HE LOVES US FREELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, FOREVER.
THINK ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN ONE MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN GOD DIDN'T
LOVE YOU.
HE HAS NEVER HAD ONE BAD THOUGHT ABOUT YOU, NOT EVER.
NOT EVER.
HE'S NEVER HAD ONE BAD THOUGHT ABOUT YOU.
WHY? BECAUSE YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT LATER,
LOVE ALWAYS BELIEVES THE BEST.
AND YOU SEE, LOVE IS NOT JUST SOMETHING GOD DOES,
AND THEN DOESN'T DO, AND THEN DOES, AND DOESN'T DO.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HE TURNS ON AND OFF BASED ON OUR BEHAVIOR
LIKE WE EXPERIENCE IN HUMAN LOVE.
BUT GOD ACTUALLY IS LOVE.
WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL IF OUR GOAL WAS TO BE JUST A BODY FULL
OF LOVE, WALKING AROUND, JUST BEING A BLESSING EVERY
SINGLE WHERE THAT WE GO?
AND I'M A LITTLE BIT SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT, AS BELIEVERS,
PEOPLE DON'T STUDY THE SUBJECT OF LOVE NEARLY AS MUCH
AS THEY SHOULD.
BUT TODAY, WE'RE STUDYING LOVE AND TODAY WE'RE GONNA LEARN
SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HELP US AND BENEFIT US.
SO, HE'S TALKING ABOUT SOME SPIRITUAL GIFTS HERE.
"IF I SPEAK IN THE TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS, BUT IF I HAVE
NOT LOVE," THAT LOVE THAT COMES FIRST OF ALL FROM GOD LOVING ME,
THEN ALL I AM IS A BIG NOISE.
WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
ALL I AM IS A BIG NOISE.
"AND IF I HAVE PROPHETIC POWERS (THE GIFT OF INTERPRETING THE
DIVINE WILL AND PURPOSE), AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE SECRET
TRUTHS AND MYSTERIES AND POSSESS ALL KNOWLEDGE."
YOU SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF EMPHASIS PLACED ON KNOWLEDGE
AND WHAT WE KNOW.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.
AND WE THINK THAT, BOY, THAT'S BIG, YOU KNOW?
IF I KNOW MORE THAN YOU, THEN I'M REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT HE'S SAYING HERE, SO, YOU CAN KNOW EVERYTHING,
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES
AND ALL SECRETS, "AND IF YOU HAVE [SO MUCH]
FAITH THAT YOU CAN MOVE A MOUNTAIN, BUT YOU HAVE NOT
LOVE," THEN YOU'RE JUST, I LOVE THE AMPLIFIED,
"A USELESS NOBODY."
WOW.
SO, WE MIGHT HAVE STARTED OUT FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT
OURSELVES, BUT NOW WE GOTTA GET DOWN TO, WELL, HOW MUCH DO
I ACTUALLY REALLY LOVE PEOPLE?
HOW SELFISH AM I?
HOW MUCH HAVE I SAID BYE BYE TO MYSELF AND HOW MUCH AM I REALLY
LIVING FOR GOD AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE?
"IF I DOLE OUT EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE [TO THE POOR IN PROVIDING]
FOOD, AND EVEN IF I SURRENDER MY BODY TO BE BURNED IN ORDER
THAT I MAY GLORY, BUT I HAVE NOT LOVE, I GAIN ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING."
SO, WE SEE THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN REALLY SAY THAT SOMEBODY LOVES
YOU JUST BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU SOMETHING OR DO SOMETHING
FOR YOU.
OR WE COULD GO AND FEED THE HUNGRY IN A WHOLE NATION, THAT
WOULDN'T MEAN THAT WE WERE DOING IT IN LOVE, BECAUSE WE CAN, AND
OFTEN DO, DO GOOD THINGS TO BE WELL THOUGHT OF, OR TO BE SEEN,
OR TO BE NOTICED.
AND I THINK THAT SOMETIME WE EVEN DO GOOD THINGS JUST SO WE
CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES.
I MEAN, I KNOW OF INSTANCES, YOU KNOW, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NOT DONE
WHAT'S RIGHT IN EARLIER YEARS OF THEIR LIFE, AND THEN THEY
ACTUALLY BECAME, LIKE, THESE BIG CARETAKERS AND WANTING TO ALWAYS
DO THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS REALLY SO THEY COULD
FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A WAY OF MAKING UP FOR THE PAST LIFE.
AND YOU SEE, THAT'S NOT REALLY LOVE.
BECAUSE TRUE LOVE--AND THIS IS THE HARD PART TO GET.
TRUE LOVE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GETTING, IT ONLY HAS TO DO
WITH GIVING.
NOW, LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
TRUE LOVE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GETTING, IT ONLY HAS TO DO
WITH GIVING.
"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON."
SO, HE GAVE HIS ONLY AND HIS VERY BEST GIFT OUT OF LOVE.
AND HE CERTAINLY DIDN'T DO IT FOR HIMSELF, HE DID IT FOR US.
HE DID IT FOR PEOPLE THAT HAD NO HOPE OF EVER HAVING
ANY KIND OF A LIFE OR SPENDING ETERNITY WITH HIM
IF HE DID NOT GIVE THE VERY BEST THAT HE HAS.
AND THEN WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL, WHAT I CALL, THE FACETS OF LOVE.
AND SOMETIMES, I'LL USE AN EXAMPLE OF, LIKE,
A DIAMOND RING.
IF YOU TAKE A DIAMOND AND YOU TURN IT DIFFERENT WAYS,
YOU SEE DIFFERENT, THEY CALL THEM FACETS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY'LL EVEN TALK ABOUT
HOW MANY FACETS IS IN A DIAMOND.
AND SO, IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE SEEING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
ABOUT IT, BUT EACH ONE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.
AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT LOVE.
IT'S LIKE IT CAN BE SEEN AND IT CAN BE FELT IN MANY, MANY, MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS.
NOW, LET ME JUST STOP AND SAY THAT IF YOU WANT TO PUT A SMILE
ON GOD'S FACE, THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS, EVERY DAY BEFORE YOU
GO OUT TO BE WITH ANY OTHER PART OF HUMANITY, WHETHER THAT'S YOUR
FAMILY, OR YOUR COWORKERS, OR YOUR NEIGHBORS, OR WHATEVER,
BEFORE YOU GO OUT TO BE WITH ANY OTHER KIND OF HUMANITY, THE BEST
THING TO DO IS SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LETTING GOD
LOVE YOU.
I RECEIVE YOUR LOVE BY FAITH, GOD.
I KNOW THAT IN THE NATURAL I'M NOT LOVABLE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU LOVE ME AND I LOVE YOU IN RETURN.
AND BECAUSE OF YOU, I CAN EVEN LOVE MYSELF, NOT IN A SELFISH,
SELF-CENTERED WAY, BUT IN A BALANCED, HEALTHY WAY.
AND MY GOAL WHEN I GO OUT TODAY, GOD, IF YOU WILL HELP ME
AND GIVE ME GRACE, IS TO LOVE EVERYBODY THAT I SEE.
WHETHER THEY DESERVE IT OR NOT, I WANNA BE LIKE YOU, AND
EVERYBODY THAT I COME NEAR, I WANNA MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER
ABOUT THEMSELVES.
I WANNA LIFT THEM UP AND NOT TEAR THEM DOWN.
DOES ANYBODY THINK THAT'S GOOD?
ALL RIGHT.
AND SO, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THAT, THEN WE CAN'T JUST GO OUT
AND SAY, "I LOVE YOU."
IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO HANG A CROSS AROUND OUR NECK OR HAVE
A NICE, NIFTY BUMPER STICKER ON OUR CAR THAT SAYS,
"JESUS LOVES YOU."
WE COULD ACTUALLY NEVER USE THE WORD LOVE AND STILL SHOW LOVE
TO EVERYBODY THAT WE GET NEAR, BECAUSE THERE'S FACETS OF IT.
SO, "LOVE ENDURES LONG AND IS PATIENT AND KIND."
SO NOW, IF WE'RE JUST GONNA TAKE THE LOVE TEST THIS MORNING,
LET'S JUST BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES.
AND WE INVITE THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, YOU'RE NOT JUST
WATCHING WHILE I SHARE THE WORD WITH THESE PEOPLE HERE
IN THE STUDIO.
WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL HERE FOR YOU TODAY, BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO
GET THIS MESSAGE AND HELP SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE THAT YOU GO.
SO, THEN I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH MYSELF.
YOU KNOW, I'M BIG ON HAVING MEETINGS WITH MYSELF.
I THINK WE SET APPOINTMENTS WITH EVERYBODY, BUT SOMETIMES
IT'S GOOD TO JUST SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOURSELF
AND JUST GET REAL HONEST.
SO, I SAY TO MYSELF, "OKAY JOYCE, HOW PATIENT ARE YOU?"
WELL, I'VE COME A LONG WAY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THAT'S BEEN
PROBABLY ONE OF MY GREATER WEAKNESSES BECAUSE MY
PERSONALITY IS GET IT, GET IT DONE, UNDERSTAND IT NOW,
DON'T MAKE ME TELL YOU TWICE.
SEE, BUT THANK GOD, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT WHERE I NEED TO BE,
I'M NOT WHERE I USED TO BE.
AND THAT'S THE THING THAT'S GOOD.
BUT I LOVE TO HEAR THIS MYSELF TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO BE MORE
PATIENT WITH PEOPLE AND LONGSUFFERING.
LOVE ENDURES LONG.
AND I SAY ALL THE TIME, LONGSUFFERING SHOULD NOT
BE SAID AS A QUICK WORD LIKE, "LONGSUFFERING."
IT NEEDS TO BE SAID LIKE, "LOOOOOOOOONGSUFFEERRIIIIING."
SEE, TO REALLY GET IT, WE'VE GOTTA KIND OF PLAY IT OUT.
IT MEANS THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SOMETHING A LOT
LONGER THAN I WOULD WANT TO, OR MAYBE I'M TRYING TO TEACH YOU
SOMETHING BUT YOU DON'T GET IT AS QUICK AS I WANT YOU TO, AND
I HAVE TO TELL YOU TWICE, AND THREE TIMES, AND MAYBE 20 TIMES.
BUT IF I'M PATIENT WITH YOU, BOY, WHEN YOU GET IT,
YOU'RE GONNA BE, LIKE, SO VALUABLE.
HOW MANY OF US ARE GLAD TODAY THAT GOD DIDN'T GIVE UP ON US
AND THAT HE WAS PATIENT AND SAID,
"WELL, WE'LL DO THAT AGAIN.
WELL, WE'LL DO THAT AGAIN"?
AND WE'LL JUST DO THAT AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN.
AND WHAT'S OUR ATTITUDE?
"SURELY, I DO NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT AGAIN."
AND SO, EVEN, LIKE, IN PRACTICAL WAYS, LIKE,
IF YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO TEACH SOMEBODY SOMETHING,
WHETHER YOU'RE TEACHING YOUR CHILD, OR YOU'RE TEACHING
SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU'RE IN AUTHORITY AT YOUR PLACE
OF BUSINESS, AND EVEN IF YOU LEARN REALLY, REALLY FAST, THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERYBODY'S LIKE YOU.
AND IF YOU LEARN REALLY FAST, THAT'S A GIFT THAT GOD
HAS GIVEN YOU.
AND SO, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IF WE'RE REALLY WALKING IN LOVE,
WE'RE NOT GONNA THINK MORE HIGHLY OF OURSELVES THAN WE
OUGHT TO AND THEN LOOK DOWN ON OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING
THAT I CAN DO GOOD, I CAN ONLY DO IT BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
AND EVERY WEAKNESS THAT I HAVE, I ALWAYS WANT PEOPLE TO BE
REALLY PATIENT WITH ME IN THOSE AREAS.
AND SO, I'VE JUST BEEN THINKING A LOT THIS YEAR, A COUPLE
SCRIPTURES, ONE JUST KINDA GOT FRESH ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
BUT THE FIRST ONE, "DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE
THEM DO UNTO YOU."
WHAT IN THE WORLD WOULD HAPPEN IN OUR SOCIETY IF EVERYBODY
WOULD GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND TREAT OTHER PEOPLE THE WAY
THEY WANTED TO BE TREATED?
MY GOODNESS.
WHAT A HUGE CHANGE THAT WOULD MAKE.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, SINCE YOU ALL WORK FOR US,
WE COULD START RIGHT HERE AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES,
AND I THINK THAT WOULD JUST BE AMAZING.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE ANOINTING.
YOU SEE, THE BETTER WE ARE TO PEOPLE, THE MORE GOD'S ANOINTING
IS INCREASED ON OUR LIFE.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, THAT'S GOD'S PRESENCE
IN YOUR LIFE.
AND WHERE GOD IS AT, EVERYTHING GETS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
AMEN?
AND THEN, I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT, JUST REALLY FOR ABOUT
3 OR 4 DAYS, ABOUT, "IF YOU'VE DONE UNTO THE LEAST
OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU'VE DONE IT UNTO ME."
AND I WAS JUST PRAYING ABOUT SOME THINGS THE OTHER DAY, AND
GOD JUST BROUGHT SOME DIFFERENT INSTANCES TO MY MIND OF THINGS
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR PEOPLE.
AND HE JUST MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME, "YOU SEE THAT YOU'VE DONE
THAT FOR THEM, BUT I LOOK AT IT LIKE YOU'VE DONE IT FOR ME."
"IF YOU'VE DONE THAT TO THE LEASE OF THESE MY BRETHREN,
YOU'VE DONE IT UNTO ME."
AND OF COURSE, THE OTHER SIDE IS, "IF YOU'VE NOT DONE IT TO
THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, THEN YOU'VE NOT DONE IT
UNTO ME."
SO, "LOVE ENDURES LONG, IS PATIENT AND KIND."
WELL, THE WORLD SURE NEEDS KINDNESS, DOESN'T IT?
JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS,
IT JUST MEANS BE NICE.
WE UNDERSTAND NICE BETTER THAN KIND, YOU KNOW?
AND KINDNESS IS ALWAYS GIVING SOMETHING THAT'S UNDESERVED.
SEE, LIKE, YOU CAN'T DESERVE MERCY.
IF YOU DESERVE MERCY, THEN IT'S NOT MERCY.
AND IF YOU DESERVE OR IF I DESERVE THE GOOD ACT
THAT SOMEBODY DOES FOR ME, THEN IT'S NOT KINDNESS.
THEN IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
I MEAN, IT MAY BE A GIFT, IT MAY BE NICE,
BUT IF I'VE EARNED IT AND DESERVED IT, THEN WE DON'T
CALL IT KINDNESS.
WE DON'T CALL IT MERCY.
SO, WE CAN ONLY GIVE THESE ATTRIBUTES, REALLY,
TO PEOPLE WHO, IN THE NATURAL, SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM.
"LOVE IS NEVER ENVIOUS NOR BOILS OVER WITH JEALOUSY."
YOU KNOW, THAT'S TOUGH, ISN'T IT?
IT'S REALLY--IT'S DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT ANYBODY THAT'S GOT A LOT
MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE, OR SOMEBODY WHO HAS WHAT YOU
WANT AND YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET IT.
ESPECIALLY HARD IF YOU THINK YOU DESERVE IT MUCH MORE
THAN THEY DO.
AND THEN THAT IN ITSELF TELLS US WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING IT,
BECAUSE IF WE THINK WE DESERVE IT AND THEY DON'T,
THEN NOW WE'VE ADDED JUDGMENT TO OUR SIN OF JEALOUSY.
ANYBODY UNDERSTANDING WHAT I'M SAYING?
YOU KNOW, WE CAN GO AS DEEP AS YOU WANT TO DO TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW DEEP WE CAN GO HERE IN 30 MINUTES.
BUT I MEAN, I'VE HAD TO FACE THESE SAME ISSUES
IN MY OWN LIFE.
AND HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE, IT REALLY, TRULY IS NONE
OF OUR BUSINESS WHAT GOD DOES WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT.
AND IT'S NOT GONNA DO US ANY GOOD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT
WHETHER THEY DESERVE IT OR WHETHER THEY DON'T BECAUSE
ONLY GOD KNOWS PEOPLE'S HEARTS.
AND SO, WE JUST NEED TO REJOICE WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY REJOICE.
AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO OWN UP TO THINGS.
"WELL GOD, I FEEL JEALOUS, BUT I REFUSE TO BE JEALOUS.
I FEEL IMPATIENT, BUT I REFUSE TO BE IMPATIENT."
WHAT I'M TALKING TO YOU ABOUT TODAY IS NOT WHETHER YOU FEEL IT
OR NOT, BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT LOVE IS NOT,
LOVE IS NOT A FEELING.
ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE FELT, I DON'T HAVE TO FEEL IT TO GIVE IT AWAY.
WHEN I GIVE IT AWAY, SOMEBODY ELSE IS ALWAYS GONNA FEEL IT,
AND IF I DON'T GIVE IT AWAY, THEY WILL ALWAYS FEEL IT.
BUT I DON'T HAVE TO FEEL IT TO GIVE IT.
AND AS LONG AS I KEEP THINKING THAT I HAVE TO FEEL LIKE
FORGIVING SOMEBODY TO FORGIVE THEM, THEN I'M NOT LIKELY TO
EVER DO IT IF THEY'VE HURT ME.
SO, WE, BY AN ACT OF OUR FREE WILL, CHOOSE TO DO GOD'S WILL,
AND THEN GOD PROVIDES THE STRENGTH, THE ABILITY,
AND ULTIMATELY, THE FEELINGS.
AND NOTICE THAT I SAID ULTIMATELY, BECAUSE HE MAY EVEN
TEST US FOR AWHILE TO SEE IF WE'RE SINCERE, TO NOT LET US
HAVE THE FEELINGS RIGHT AWAY.
I OFTEN SAY SOMETIMES, YOU MAY HAVE TO TREAT SOMEBODY RIGHT
A LONG, LONG TIME BEFORE THEY EVER GET AROUND TO TREATING YOU
RIGHT.
YOU LIKE THAT, DON'T YOU?
I THINK I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN, JUST ESPECIALLY TO THOSE
OF YOU WATCHING BY TV.
YOU MAY HAVE TO, AS SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST DO FOR GOD
TO PLEASE HIM, YOU MAY HAVE TO TREAT SOMEBODY RIGHT A LONG TIME
BEFORE THEY EVER GET AROUND TO TREATING YOU RIGHT.
AND EVEN IF THEY NEVER TREAT YOU RIGHT, YOU'RE STILL DOING
WHAT'S RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT.
'CAUSE REMEMBER, LOVE IS NEVER TRYING TO GET ANYTHING.
SO, EVEN IF I TREAT SOMEBODY RIGHT BECAUSE I'M DOING IT
TO GET THEM TO TREAT ME RIGHT, THEN I'M STILL NOT REALLY
DOING IT IN LOVE.
I'M STILL REALLY JUST DOING IT TO GET SOMETHING.
SO, THIS IS HARD, I KNOW.
"LOVE IS NOT BOASTFUL OR VAINGLORIOUS, LOVE DOES NOT
DISPLAY ITSELF HAUGHTILY."
IN OTHER WORDS, LOVE NEVER REALLY DOES ANYTHING THAT,
IN PRIDE OR GIVING MY GLOWING REPORT OF SUCCESS, IS GOING TO
BE GIVEN TO THE WRONG PERSON AT THE WRONG TIME THAT'S GOING
TO MAKE THEM FEEL BAD.
YOU KNOW, JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT COME TO MIND.
IF I MEET SOMEBODY THAT FEELS BAD ABOUT THEMSELF BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T GET TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, I DON'T NEED TO
TELL 'EM THAT I HAVE THREE COLLEGE DEGREES.
I COULD JUST LOVE THEM ENOUGH TO JUST TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE
GREAT AND AWESOME, AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL 'EM HOW GOOD I AM.
IF I MEET SOMEBODY THAT'S OBVIOUSLY JUST REALLY SICK WITH
THE FLU, THEY'RE COUGHING, AND HACKING, AND LOOK LIKE THEY'RE
ABOUT TO FALL OVER ANY MINUTE, IT'S PROBABLY REALLY NOT
THE BEST TO SAY RIGHT THEN, "YOU KNOW, I STARTED TO GET
THAT LAST WEEK, AND I JUST PRAYED AND GOD HEALED ME."
NOW, IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, "WELL,
LET'S PRAY AND LET'S TRUST GOD FOR YOUR HEALING."
BUT EVEN AS CHRISTIANS GIVING A TESTIMONY, I THINK A LOT
OF TIMES WE THINK WE'VE GOT IT WORKED OUT IN OUR MIND THAT
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HELP THEM, BUT I WONDER SOMETIMES HOW MUCH
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO HELP 'EM AND HOW MUCH WE'RE JUST
TAKING IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF BRAGGING.
OKAY, I'LL MOVE ON.
"LOVE IS NOT CONCEITED (ARROGANT AND INFLATED WITH PRIDE);"
AND I LOVE THIS ONE, "LOVE IS NOT RUDE (AND UNMANNERLY)
DOES NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY."
THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
THE WORLD IS JUST FULL OF RUDE PEOPLE.
AND YES, SOME OF 'EM GO TO CHURCH, AND HAVE BUMPER
STICKERS, AND MAYBE EVEN WORK HERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
ONE OF THE GREATEST WEAKNESSES OF A PERSON WITH A STRONG
PERSONALITY IS THEY ARE SO FOCUSED AND SO GOAL-ORIENTED
THAT SOMETIMES THEY CAN JUST RUN ALL OVER EVERYBODY ELSE
AND NOT EVEN KNOW THEY'RE DOING IT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE
SO FOCUSED ON GETTING DONE WHAT THEY WANNA GET DONE.
AND SO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE HAD TO WORK WITH GOD ON
IN MY LIFE.
"LOVE (THAT IS, GOD'S LOVE IN US) DOES NOT INSIST
ON ITS OWN RIGHTS OR," UH OH, "ITS OWN WAY."
I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS I CAN TELL HOW MUCH LOVE I'M
WALKING IN IS HOW DO I BEHAVE WHEN I DON'T GET MY WAY?
CAN I NOT GET MY WAY AND STILL TRUST GOD AND BE JUST AS HAPPY
AS IF I GOT MY WAY?
ISN'T IT SO MUCH FUN TO BE ABLE TO SIT IN HERE AND SAY, "AMEN!
OH, THIS IS GOOD.
AMEN, SISTER, AMEN"?
OR EVEN DEMANDING TO BE RIGHT.
I MEAN, I'VE HAD SOME OF THE MOST FOOLISH ARGUMENTS WITH
MY HUSBAND JUST TRYING TO PROVE WHO WAS RIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT REALLY DIDN'T EVEN MATTER AT ALL.
IT'S JUST THAT IN OUR OWN BRAND OF INSECURITY, WE FEEL BETTER
ABOUT OURSELVES IF WE'RE RIGHT, IF EVERYBODY THINKS WE'RE RIGHT.
SO, THERE'S A TIME TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT, BUT
A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE MAKE BIG ISSUES OVER, WE ALL KNOW
REALLY ARE NOT VERY IMPORTANT AT ALL.
"LOVE IS NOT SELF-SEEKING."
I'M SURE I'LL BE WORKING WITH GOD ON THAT ONE UNTIL THE DAY
JESUS COMES TO GET ME.
"LOVE THIS WHEN IT IS NOT TOUCHY."
WELL, YOU HURT MY FEELINGS.
WELL, YOU HURT MY FEELINGS.
WELL, YOU HURT MY FEELINGS.
WELL, IS THAT MY PROBLEM OR IS THE PROBLEM REALLY
THAT YOU'RE JUST TOUCHY?
"IT IS NOT FRETFUL OR RESENTFUL;" AND BOY, THIS
ONE'S GOOD, "IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE EVIL DONE TO IT."
YOU KNOW, I CAN REMEMBER THE FIRST FEW YEARS
DAVE AND I WERE MARRIED, WE'D GET INTO A SPAT OVER
SOMETHING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I'D BE BRINGING UP EVERYTHING
FROM THE FIRST DAY WE GOT MARRIED.
AND HE'S LIKE, "WHERE DO YOU KEEP ALL THAT STUFF?"
AND SEE, PART OF FORGIVENESS IS, LET IT GO.
JUST DROP IT, LEAVE IT, LET IT GO.
AND SEE, CAN I JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING?
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE HANGING ONTO THAT ARE MAKING
YOU MISERABLE, IT'S NOT CHANGING THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE MAD AT AT
ALL, AND IF YOU'LL JUST LET IT GO, THEN GOD CAN WORK WITH THEM,
BUT YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO BE SO, SO, SO MUCH BETTER.
AMEN?
"IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF EVIL DONE TO IT.
IT DOES NOT REJOICE AT INJUSTICE AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS,
BUT REJOICES WHEN RIGHT AND TRUTH PREVAIL.
LOVE BEARS UP--" AND THIS IS GOOD.
"LOVE BEARS UP UNDER ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES,
IT IS EVER READY TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF EVERY PERSON,
ITS HOPES ARE FADELESS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT ENDURES
EVERYTHING [WITHOUT WEAKENING]
LOVE NEVER FAILS."
SO, HERE'S THE THING.
LOVE NEVER GIVES UP ON PEOPLE.
THE WORST THING THAT WE CAN DO TO ANYBODY IS LOOK AT THEM
AND SAY, OR EVEN THINK, "YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE."
'CAUSE I'M SURE THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT THAT
ABOUT ME, AND GOD CHANGED ME.
AND THERE'S NOBODY THAT GOD CAN'T CHANGE,
BUT HE DOES NEED OUR FAITH.
AND I COULD USE MY FATHER AS A CASE IN POINT.
MAN, WHOO, HE WAS THE MEANEST MAN THAT I EVER MET, ABUSIVE,
HATEFUL.
AND EVEN THOUGH I CAME TO A TIME IN MY LIFE WHERE I HAD TO
DISTANCE MYSELF FROM HIM JUST FOR SAFETY, I NEVER GAVE UP ON
THE FACT THAT HE COULD BE SAVED AND CHANGED BY GOD,
AND HE WAS 83, BUT HE GOT SAVED.
AND SO, LET'S DON'T GIVE UP ON PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY,
NOBODY THAT GOD CAN'T CHANGE.
GUESS WHAT?
GOD IS NEVER GONNA GIVE UP ON YOU AND WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP
ON EACH OTHER, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE MAY HAVE PROBLEMS,
WE'VE ALL GOT GOOD POINTS TOO.
NOW, TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU A DEVOTIONAL CALLED,
"LOVE OUT LOUD," AND I LOVE THAT WHOLE PRINCIPLE OF ACTUALLY
LOVING LOUD ENOUGH THAT THE WORLD NOTICES IT.
AND SO, IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR PEOPLE.
AND WE'RE OFFERING THAT TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT OF
ANY AMOUNT, AND GUESS WHAT?
THAT GIFT IS GONNA HELP US PAY FOR TELEVISION AIR TIME,
FOR THE PROGRAM THAT YOU SEE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU REALLY ENJOY.
IT'S GONNA HELP US FEED PEOPLE IN FOREIGN PLACES.
IT'S GONNA HELP US FEED PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
IN THE INNER CITIES.
IT'S GONNA HELP US EDUCATE.
IT'S GONNA HELP WITH ORPHANAGES.
IT'S GONNA HELP WITH PROVIDING WATER FOR PEOPLE IN PLACES
WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
AND YOU'RE GONNA GET THIS WONDERFUL 365 DEVOTIONS,
EACH ONE ABOUT A WAY THAT WE CAN SHOW LOVE TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU.
ANNOUNCER: DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE ANSWERS TO LIFE'S PAIN
AND PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE COMPLEX?
PERHAPS THE ANSWER IS MORE SIMPLE THAN YOU REALIZE.
IN JOYCE MEYER'S DEVOTIONAL, "LOVE OUT LOUD,"
YOU'LL LEARN THAT THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL LIVING
IS AS BASIC AS LOVING GOD, LOVING OURSELVES IN A BALANCED
WAY, AND IN TURN SHARING THAT LOVE WITH OTHERS.
FOR A LIMITED TIME, WE'RE OFFERING "LOVE OUT LOUD"
DEVOTIONAL FOR A DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT.
CONTACT US RIGHT NOW...
OR VISIT US ONLINE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: MAKE PLANS NOW TO SPEND YOUR FRIDAY
AND SATURDAY WITH JOYCE.
JOYCE: I'M NOT GOING TO BE DOWN.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE DISCOURAGED.
I'M GOING TO PUT MY HOPE IN GOD AND I'M GOING TO BELIEVE
THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN MY LIFE.
GOD IS GOOD AND HE'S GOING TO BE GOOD TO ME.
ANNOUNCER: THREE UNIQUE SESSIONS OF INSPIRING TEACHING,
HEARTFELT WORSHIP, AND ENCOURAGING
BEHIND THE SCENES MOMENTS AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
COMING TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA FEBRUARY 17TH AND 18TH WITH
WORSHIP BY DREAM CITY WORSHIP.
AND HAMPTON, VIRGINIA MARCH 24TH AND 25TH
WITH WORSHIP BY PHIL WICKHAM.
MALE: SO REFRESHING.
FEMALE: IT'S, LIKE, THERE IT IS,
SHE'S TALKING TO ME.
IT'S JUST A LOT OF FUN BEING HERE.
ANNOUNCER: THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU SEE ON TV
AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
JOYCE: IF YOU WANT TO GET HAPPY, GET YOURSELF
OFF YOUR MIND!
ANNOUNCER: FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A COMPLETE
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
ROY: WE VISIT, ON AVERAGE, 150,000 TO 200,000 INCARCERATED
EACH YEAR, AND OF COURSE WE'RE OVER 2.7 MILLION INMATES THAT
WE'VE VISITED AND GIVEN THE CARE PACKAGES TO AT THIS POINT.
MALE: NOT TOO MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS COMES IN,
YOU KNOW?
AND MOST OF THE TIME, WHEN THE PEOPLE COME IN, MOST OF THE TIME
THEY ARE CHRISTIANS.
THEY GAVE ME THE BOOK-- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT.
I THINK--NO, YES, IT WAS, "WHY, GOD, WHY?"
I HAVEN'T READ IT YET, BUT, I MEAN, I'VE READ
SOME OF HER STUFF BEFORE, AND SHE'S A GOOD LADY
AND I LIKE IT.
ROY: I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO THESE GUYS,
MAN.
I MEAN, TO SEE THEIR SMILES, TO SEE THE SHOCK ON THEIR FACES,
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WALKING IN THE LOCK-UP AREA WHERE THEY
DON'T HAVE VISITS, YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN'T GET OUT FOR MAYBE
AN HOUR A DAY FROM THEIR CELL, AND TO HAVE SOMEBODY NEW LIKE US
WALK IN AND GIVE THEM A BOOK, IT'S LIKE, HERE A WHILE BACK,
A QUESTION WAS ASKED, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT FOR ME?"
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT JESUS WOULD DO.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
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.
For more infomation >> Is het de moeite om over te schakelen van witte naar bruine rijst? - Duration: 4:21. 
For more infomation >> Te Hoka ki Te Matatini: Whānau is the kaupapa for Te Matapihi Moemoeā - Duration: 4:30. 
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