How To Have Joy Today | Jason Strand

Praise You Anywhere >> WELL, HEY EVERYBODY WELCOME TO CHURCH. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH YOU WHETHER YOU ARE ONLINE OR IN THE ROOM. I'M MARK AND WE HAVE NOT MET BEFORE. I'M HERE WITH ERIN AND SARAH AND THE REST OF THE TEAM. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MOMENT WHERE WE GET TO BE TOGETHER EVERY WEEK. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE IN THIS PLACE. I HAVE BEEN REMINDED THIS WEEK THAT LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND LIFE IS SHORT. WOULD YOU STAND TO YOUR FEET WITH US? I WANT TO INVITE US TODAY TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. WE'RE GIVEN THIS MOMENT. LET'S NOT WASTE IT. LET'S GIVE GOD THANKS FOR WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE IS DOING IT. ALRIGHT. LET'S DO SOME SINGING. HERE WE GO. Christ Be Magnified >> HEY, EVERYONE IN A MOMENT WE'LL SHARE COMMUNION TOGETHER AND TAKE TIME TO REFLECT BEFORE GOING INTO OUR FINAL SONG. Communion WHAT'S SO SPECIAL IS WE HAVE ATTENDERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WE GET TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE'RE UNITED BY WHAT JESUS DID FOR US. YOU HAVE TIME TO GO AND GRAB THE ELEMENTS WHEREVER YOU ARE. EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRADITIONAL BREAD AND JUICE GRAB SOMETHING TO PARTICIPATE. I WANT TO REMIND YOU WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS. ON THE NIGHT JESUS WAS BETRAYED HE TOOK THE BREAD AND GAVE THANKS AND BROKE IT. HE SAID, THIS IS MY BODY BROKEN FOR YOU AND EVERY TIME YOU EAT IT REMEMBER ME. AND IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP AND GAVE THANKS FOR IT AND SAID, THIS IS MY BLOOD THAT ESTABLISHES A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE AND POURED OUT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND EVERY TIME YOU DRINK IT, REMEMBER ME. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING OF ALL THE THINGS THAT JESUS COULD HAVE SAID FOR US TO DO IN THIS MOMENT HE ASKS US TO SIMPLY REMEMBER HIM, AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE JESUS KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A HUMAN. HE KNEW HOW EASILY YOU WOULD BE DISTRACTED BY INSECURITIES LIKE AM I RAISING MY KIDS WELL? WHAT COLLEGE WILL I GO TO IN THE FALL? WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP I'M IN. NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT SEASON YOU FIND YOURSELVES IN, WHETHER EVERYTHING IS GOING YOUR WAY OR YOU FEEL LOST AND DISTANT FROM GOD. THROUGH COMMUNION JESUS SAYS THERE'S A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR YOU AND HE INVITES US TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER HIM AND JUST LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SING ABOUT IN A MOMENT, JESUS WE FIND FREEDOM, POWER AND FULLNESS OF LIFE SO WOULD YOU JOIN ME AS WE TAKE A MOMENT AND SHIFT OUR ATTENTION AND FOCUS ON JESUS. MAYBE CONFESS AND ADMIT YOUR SIN. THANK HIM FOR HIS FORGIVENESS AND REMEMBER HOW MUCH THAT HE LOVES YOU. THE BAND IS GOING TO PLAY SOFTLY AS WE TAKE COMMUNION AND AFTER TAKING TIME TO REFLECT, FEEL FREE TO JOIN US AND SING ALONG. I Speak Jesus >> YEAH, WOULD YOU STAND AND SING THIS WITH US? [MUSIC} [MUSIC} [MUSIC} [MUSIC} [MUSIC} [MUSIC} >> LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. JESUS, THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES, THE NAME THAT CONQUERED DEATH AND THE GRAVE. THE NAME THAT BRINGS HEALING AND RESTORATION AND TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGE. GOD, WITH KNOW YOUR PRESENCE IS HERE RIGHT NOW WITH US. WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALREADY CHANGING HEARTS, DRAWING HEARTS CLOSER TO YOU. HELP US TO LOOK TO YOU IN ALL THINGS NO MATTER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE WE BROUGHT WITH US TODAY, GOD, WE KNOW YOU ARE AT WORK. HELP OUR HEARTS TO TRUST IN YOU AND TRUST MANY YOUR UNFAILING LOVE AND TO TRUST IN THE NAME THAT NEVER CHANGES AND NEVER FAILS. WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR PRECIOUS AND POWERFUL NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANKS FOR SINGING EVERYBODY YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SEAT. Announcements >> HEY, I'M ANDREW HERMAN AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT GIVING. BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT HERE'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING. LIVING GENEROSITY IS A HUGE PART OF EVERY PERSON AT CHURCH. WHEN YOU GIVE REGULARLY YOU SAY GOD I LOVE YOU AND TRUST YOU. WHEN YOU GIVE YOU PRACTICE OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND ENGAGING IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. IF YOU FEEL GOD CALLING YOU TO GIVE AT EAGLE BROOK WE MADE IT SUPER EASY. IF YOU ARE GIVING A REGULAR TITHE AND GIVING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO THE EXPANSION FUND OR LEAVING A LEGACY GIFT YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CHURCH, YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. THERE'S SO MANY WAYS FOR YOU TOO ENGAGE IN GENEROSITY IN OUR CHURCH. GIVE OKAY SHRINE SIMPLE AND CONVENIENT AND WE HAVE STARTED TO USE A NEW ONLINE PLATFORM TO GIVE YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST YOUR GIVING. IF YOU HAD A REOCCURRING GIFT SET UP WE NEED YOU TO LOG INTO YOU'RE MY EAGLEBROOK.COM ACCOUNT AND MAKING THAT CHANGE RIGHT AWAY TO KEEP YOUR GIVING GOING. JUST NOTE YOU CAN STILL GIVE WITH CASH AND CHECKS BY USING OUR SECURED BOX OUT IN THE LOBBY, AS WELL. WE ALSO NOW ACCEPT APPLE PAY AND YOU CAN DOUBLE THE IMPACT OF YOUR PAYROLL GIVING GIFT YOU MATCH WITH YOUR EMPLOYER. ALL ASSET BASED GIVING CAN BE FOUND ON EAGLEBROOKCHURCH.COM/GIVE AND FINALLY WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY THAT EAGLE BROOK CAN CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO GOD'S CALL TO REACH PEOPLE TODAY, TOMORROW AND FAR INTO THE FUTURE. Intro Video [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] How To Have Joy Today >> WE ARE LAUNCHING AN OUR 13TH CAMPUS ON SEVENTH 8 TH THE BRAINARD AREA. THERE WAS A CHURCH IN BAXTER, MINNESOTA RIGHT IN THE BRAINARD CALLED THE JOURNEY NORTH AND THEY HAD SEARCHED FOR A NEW SENIOR PASTOR AND WERE NOT FINDING ONE SO THEY STARTED TO ASK THE QUESTION, GOD, MAYBE YOU HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR US? AND THERE'S A SIDE NOTE, I NOTICED SINCE COVID A LOT OF MID-SIZE CITY AND SMALL TOWNS ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND A PASTOR OR THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP MOMENTUM AND THEY ARE STARTING TO ASK THIS QUESTION, OKAY, GOD DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT? BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE A HEART TO REACH THEIR TOWN FOR CHRIST AND STILL WANT TO HAVE A GROWING AND THRIVING CHURCH AND SO IN THE JOURNEY NORTH CASE, THEY APPROACHED US AND SAID WOULD YOU CONSIDER PUTTING A CAMPUS IN THE BRAINARD LAKES AREA? WE HAD NEVER DONE THAT. PUT A CAMPUS IN A TOWN OR CITY LIKE THAT BUT WE PRAYED ABOUT THIS IS A LOT AND TALKED ABOUT IT, AND WE FELT GOD WAS BEHIND IT SO ON THE STREAM YOU WILL SEE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING WE'LL BE LAUNCHING A CAMPUS IN AND YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, BUT IT'S NOT THE BUILDING THAT AXIETIES US BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THAT BUILDING. IT IS THE LIVES THAT WILL BE CHANGED FOR CHRIST. IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE REACHED FOR CHRIST. THE BIBLE IS GOING TO BE TAUGHT AND OUR HOPE AND OUR PRAYER IS THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN THE BRAINARD LAKES AREA. LET ME SHOW YOU WHERE THIS IS LOCATED IN BRAINARD, AND IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, LIKE NONE OF THIS MAKINGS SENSE. OKAY THERE'S A 371 AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. BUT SOMEONE SAID THERE'S AN ARBY'S ON 371 AND I DON'T WANT TO PRONOUNCE THIS AND GET IT WRONG BUT YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE MAIN PART OF TAX TEAR AND SEE AN ARBY'S AND TAKE A LEFT AND RIGHT THERE IS WHERE THE CHURCH IS. HOPEFULLY ARBY'S STAYS IN BUSINESS OTHERWISE, I'M LOST BUT WE'RE LAUNCHING THIS ON SEPTEMBER 8TH ON SUNDAY WITH SERVICES AT 9:00 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M. SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT LIVES THERE WOULD YOU CONSIDER INVITING THEM OR LETTING THEM KNOW EAGLE BROOK IS LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 8TH 9:00 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY ATTEND CHURCH BECAUSE OPENING WEEKEND IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO COME AND TRY SOMETHING NEW AND CHECKING IT OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME. KIND OF COOL HOW I'VE SEEN GOD WORK THROUGH THIS WHOLE SITUATION. MONTHS AGO I GOT DONE SPEAKING AT LINO LAKES AND I HEARD A VOLUNTEER SAY HEY, GREAT MESSAGE. NORMALLY WHEN I AM DONE SPEAKING I'M LIKE THANK YOU BUT IN THIS INSTANCE I TURNED AROUND AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE THIS VOLUNTEER AND I SAY JASON, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? HE SAID I'M JACOB BUT YOU MIGHT KNOW ME FROM THE JOURNEY NORTH. THAT'S THE CHURCH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. HE SAID, I'M ON STAFF THERE. I SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? HE SAID, I VOLUNTEER. I VOLUNTEER ON SATURDAY NIGHTS IN THE PRODUCTION WORLD AND THEN I BRING WHAT I'VE LEARNED BACK TO MY CHURCH ON SUNDAY. AND I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THIS. HE DRIVES TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO COME TO OUR CHURCH ON SATURDAYS, VOLUNTEERS IN THE PRODUCTION WORLD AND THEN DRIVE TWO AND A HALF HOURS BACK TO HIS CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING AND GOD JUST USED THIS MOMENT TO GET MY ATTENTION BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TALKING AND PRAYING ABOUT THIS AND I THOUGHT WELL, WE HAVE A CHURCH THAT SORT OF KNOWS HOW WE DO THINGS AND WE ALREADY HAVE A STAFF PERSON ON STAFF THERE. WE DID END UP HIRING THIS PERSON SO IT IS A COOL MOMENT OF HOW GOD CAN SPEAKING INTO OUR LIVES BUT SEPTEMBER 8TH, 9 AND 11:00 A.M. TODAY WE'RE WRAPPING UP SHORT TWO WEEK SERIES CALLED "GET READY WITH ME" AND THE PREMISE OF THIS SERIES IS HOW YOU START YOUR DAY MATTERS. IN FACT, HOW YOU START YOUR DAY SETS THE TONE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. ON MAY 25TH, 1979 THERE WAS A MAN NAMED DENNIS WAITLEY THAT WAS TRYING TO CATCH A FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO TO LOS ANGELES AND HE GOT TO THE GATE AND IT WAS CLOSED. THE JET WAY WAS CLOSED AND HE BEGGED TO BE ALLOWED ON THE PLANE BUT THEY SAID SIR, YOU ARE TOO LATE IT STARTED DOWN THE RUNWAY. OUT OF BREATH AND PATIENCE, HE WENT AND STOOD IN THE TICKET LINE. HE WAS GOING TO TURN HIS TICKET AND GET A NEW TICKET AND TRY TO FIND SOME FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO TO LAS ANGELES. STANDING IN LINE IF A RATHER LONG TIME AND AS HE WAS STANDING THERE AN ANNOUNCEMENT CAME OVER THE INTERCOM AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE WOULD EVEN DO THIS DAY BUT AT THE TIME THE ANNOUNCEMENT OVER THE INTERCOM SAID THAT FLIGHT 191 FROM CHICAGO TO LOS ANGELES HAD CRASHED UPON TAKE OFF. AND ALL 258 PASSENGERS HAD DIED. MR. WAITLEY LOOKED DOWN AT HIS TICKET AND IT SAID FLIGHT 191 FROM CHICAGO TO LOS ANGELES. AND HE REALIZED THAT IF HE HAD BEEN ON TIME FOR HIS FLIGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH. STUNNED HE JUST WALKED OUT OF LINE AND LEFT THE AIRPORT AND DROVE HOME AND PLACED THE TICKET ON HIS DESK. A PLACE WHERE HE WOULD SEE IT EVERY DAY AS A REMINDER THAT EACH DAY THAT WE HAVE IS A GIFT. SEE, WE TEND TO THINK I'LL BE HAPPY WHEN, I'LL BE JOYFUL WHEN, WHEN I GRADUATE, WHEN I RETIRE, WHEN IT'S THE WEEKEND, WHEN I HAVE A VACATION, YOU KNOW WHEN I'M ON THE GOLF COURSE ON FRIDAY MORNING, WELL THEN I'LL BE HAPPY. I CALL THIS WHEN/THEN THINKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENING THEN I'LL BE JOYFUL BUT RIGHT NOW I JUST HAVE TO GET THROUGH THIS NEXT, MONTH OR SEASON OF LIFE. THEN WHEN I DO I WILL BE JOYFUL. THERE'S PROBLEM WITH THAT KIND OF THINKING. IF YOU DON'T ENJOY LIFE NOW, YOU WON'T ENJOY IT THEN. IF YOU DON'T ENJOY LIFE HERE, YOU WON'T ENJOY IT THERE. PSALM 118 SAYS TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. NOTICE THAT HE DOESN'T SAY LET US REJOICE IN THIS WEEK OR THIS MONTH OR THIS DECADE OR THIS SEASON OF LIFE, HE SIMPLY SAYS TODAY. TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE AND WE GET TODAY. SO THE NEXT 20 MINUTES OR SO I WANT TO URGE YOU TO HAVE JOY TODAY. AND NOT TO BE THINKING HOW YOU WILL HAVE JOY THIS WEEKEND OR WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION OR GET THROUGH THIS SEASON OF LIFE, BUT THAT YOU WOULD FIND JOY RIGHT NOW IN TODAY BECAUSE WE GET TODAY. THERE'S FIRST WAY TO HAVE JOY TODAY AND IT THIS. NUMBER YOUR DAYS. NUMBER YOUR DAYS. I'M GETTING THIS RIGHT OUT OF THE BIBLE. PSALM 90:12 SAYS, TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS THAT WE MAY GAIN A HEART OF WISDOM. NOTICE THAT WE HAVE TO BE TAUGHT THIS. SO HERE'S THE NATURAL DEFAULT FOR YOU AND FOR ME. OUR NATURAL DEFAULT IS GOOD. WHAT DAY IS IT? WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY? I CAN'T REMEMBER. WAIT. WHAT DAY IS TODAY? THE 16TH, OH IT'S THE 18TH. THAT'S OUR NATURAL DEFAULT. OUR NATURAL DEFAULT IS TO DRIFT THROUGH LIFE DAY AFTER DAY AND IT COMES AND THEN IT GOES. HE SAYS WE HAVE TO BE TAUGHT TO NUMBER EACH DAY. YEARS AGO I HAD THIS LITTLE KIND OF WAY OF PUTTING THIS VERSE INTO PRACTICE AND I HAD A PRAYER JOURNAL AND IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER I WOULD WRITE A NUMBER, AND IT WAS NUMBER OF DAYS THAT I HAVE BEEN ALIVE. IF I WERE TO BE WRITING THIS WEEKEND I WOULD WRITE 16715, 16716. I WILL NEVER WRITE THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN. WE GET TODAY. I'M GOING TO DIE ON AUGUST 16TH, 2052. [LAUGHTER] ACCORDING TO DEATHCLOCK.COM. IT'S A WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN GO ON THE. YOU ADD LIKE YOUR HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND AGE AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU SMOKE AND A BUNCH OF FACTORS AND IT WILL TELL YOU WHEN YOU WILL DIE. IT'S HELPFUL INFORMATION TO KNOW. NOW THEY ASSUME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE A LONG LIFE. THAT YOU WILL LIVE A FULL LIFE BUT THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT PEOPLE DIE, IN FACT EVERY YEAR ABOUT TWO PEOPLE DIE FROM VENDING MACHINES. LIKE LET GO OF THE DORITO'S BAG, JUST LET GO OF THE DORITO'S BAG. IN 1814 THERE WAS A VAT OF BEER THAT EXPLODED IN LONDON, ENGLAND AND IT WAS SAID 135 THOUSAND GALLONS OF ALE SPILLED INTO THE STREET AND EIGHT PEOPLE DROWNED. SOME OF YOU ARE LIKE, THERE'S WORSE WAYS TO GO. EACH OF US A HAS A BIRTHDAY AND YOU KNOW THAT. EACH OF US HAS A DEATH DAY. THE QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO LIVE THE DASH IN BETWEEN THESE. YEARS AGO MY WIFE TOOK OUR KIDS TO WISCONSIN AND THERE WAS A WEDDING IN HER FAMILY AND I HAD TO SPEAKING ON THE WEEKEND SO I HAD THE HOUSE TO MYSELF AND THAT'S ABNORMAL. I DECIDE I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH GOD. SO I WENT OUT TO OUR PORCH AND I WAS KIND OF PRAYING AND I HAD THIS PICTURE AND I DON'T KNOW WHY REALLY I HAD THIS PARTICULAR PICTURE BUT THE PICTURE I HAD WAS ME ON MY DEATH BED AND MY WIFE AND MY KIDS WERE KIND OF SURROUNDING ME IN THAT MOMENT. AND I STARTED TO ASK MYSELF, WHEN THAT TIME COMES, WHAT WILL I HOPE TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE? WHAT WILL I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK OR SAY ABOUT ME? WHAT DO I WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ME? WHAT DO I WANT TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE? I GRABBED A PIECE OF PAPER AND GRABBED A NOTEBOOK AND STARTED TO WRITE THINGS DOWN AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WROTE DOWN WAS I WOULD HAVE A FAITH THAT IS READY TO DIE. I GREW UP AFRAID OF DYING AND DEATH BUT THE BIBLE SAYS TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN. THAT DEATH IS AN UPGRADE. SO I SAID GOD I WANT TO GET TO A POINT IN MY FAITH AND LIFE WHERE I KNOW YOU AND HAVE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN YOU THAT I'M READY FOR THAT MOMENT AND I JUST WANT TO SEE YOU FACE-TO-FACE. AND THEN I WROTE DOWN THAT WE CAN PUT AN EAGLE BROOK CAMPUS IN THE WEST METRO AND WE DO. WE HAVE A CAMPUS AT WAYZATA AND ANOTHER ONE COMING. I WROTE DOWN 12 THINGS IN THAT NOTEBOOK THAT DAY AND THAT ONE AFTERNOON HAS SHAPED THE LAST DECADE OF MY LIFE ALMOST MORE THAN ANY OTHER. SOME CALL THIS "REVERSE ENGINEERING" WHERE YOU TAKE THE END YOU HAVE IN MIND AND WORK BACKWARDS AND SAY, IF I'M GOING TO GET TO THAT POINT, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TODAY? I BELIEVE THIS IDEA OF "REVERSE ENGINEERING" IS CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO NUMBERING OUR DAYS. I MENTIONED MOST OF US WAKE UP AND SCROLL LITTLE BIT, I GOT TO GO TO WORK. I GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL, YOU KNOW YOU KIND OF GET DONE DOING THOSE THINGS AND YOU HAVE THINGS AT HOME YOU HAVE ERRANDS AND PRACTICE AND YOU ARE LIKE WHAT'S ON T.V. AND YOU KIND OF DO IT THE NEXT DAY. SO WHEN YOU TAKE A STEP OUT OF THAT DAY TODAY LIFE AND YOU START TO ASK GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH MY LIFE AT THE END? WHAT DO I DO TODAY TO GET ME THROUGH THAT MOMENT, YOU ARE STARTING TO NUMBER EACH DAY AND MAKING EACH DAY MATTER AND EACH DAY COUNT. AUTHOR MARK BATTERSON HAS GOOD CAUTION IN THIS. HE SAYS PRAYING WITHOUT PLANNING IS A WAIST OF TIME AND PLANNING WITHOUT PRAYING IS A WASTE OF ENERGY. HE'S SAYING WE DO THIS WITH GOD. SO WE'RE NOT LIKE, GOD HERE'S WHAT I'LL DO WITH MY LIFE. I'LL CHANGE THE WORLD AND BE FAMOUS. IF GOD IS NOT BEHIND IT, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN SO WE DO THIS PRAYERFULLY AND SAY, GOD WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH MY LIFE? WOULD YOU LEAD ME IN THAT DIRECTION? BUT THEN WE PRAY, LORD TEACH ME TO NUMBER TODAY. THERE'S SECOND WAY TO HAVE JOY IN THE DAY THAT YOU ARE IN AND IT THIS. WIN THE DAY. SO NUMBER THE DAY AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WIN THE DAY. WE LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT I WOULD SAY IS AN INSTANT CULTURE. WE HAVE INSTA-GRAM, INSTA-COFFEE, INSTA-POT. IF YOU WANT TO SALE PRODUCT YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT LONG TO SEE RESULTS. I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH YOUTUBE RECENT AND I WILL I SAW A VIDEO THAT WAS FIVE EXERCISES FOR INSTANT ABS. AND I THOUGHT, IF YOU ENTITLED THE VIDEO FIVE GRUELLING EXERCISES THAT YOU HAVE TO DO FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS FOR 40 MINUTES A DAY AND EVEN THEN, YOU MIGHT NOT GET ABS. I'M NOT CLICKING ON IT. I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S TOO MUCH WORK. THAT WILL TAKE TOO LONG BUT FIVE EXERCISES FOR INSTANT ABS? I MIGHT ACTUALLY WANT TO CLICK ON THAT. WE WANT WHAT WE WANT AND WE WANT IT NOW. THE PROBLEM IS THAT'S NOT HOW YOU WIN THE DAY. DAILY HABITS WIN THE DAY. SIMPLE HABITS. THE KIND OF THING THAT DOESN'T EVEN SEEM THAT BIG OF A DEAL WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT. LOOK WHAT JESUS SAYS IN JON 15. HE SAYS REMAIN IN ME AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU. JESUS GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE EXAMPLE OF A BRANCH AND A VINE AND HE SAYS IF A BRANCH SOMETHING GOING TO PRODUCE FRUIT IT HAS TO BE CONNECTED THE VINE BUT IF YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH A OR CHARD OR VINEYARD AND YOU SAW A BRANCH CONNECTED THE VINE I DON'T THINK YOU'LL CALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND BE LIKE, LOOK THIS BRANCH SOMETHING CONNECTED THE VINE. NOT THAT TYPE OF THING THAT YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT BUT IF THE BRANCH SOMETHING NOT CONNECTED THE VINE IT DOES NOT PRODUCE FRUIT. JESUS GOES ON IN THE NEXT VERSE AND SAYS, REMAIN IN MY LIFE. IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDS, YOU WILL REMAIN IN MY LOVE. JESUS IS SAYING THAT WHEN WE OBEY GOD THAT'S WHEN WE EXPERIENCE HIS LOVE IN OUR LIFE. THAT'S WHEN WE SENSE THE CONNECTION TO GOD IN OUR LIFE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY DON'T WANT TO DO CHRISTIANITY BECAUSE THEY ARE LIKES OR IT'S JUST RULES AND OPPRESSIVE AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. GOD SAYS OBEY MY COMMANDS BECAUSE HE WANTS YOU TO REMAIN AND HAVE A SENSE OF HIS LOVE IN YOUR LIFE. HE SAYS TO OBEY BECAUSE HE WANTS US TO BE FILLED WITH JOY. >> AND IF YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION YOU ARE LIKE, WAIT A SECOND, I DON'T SEE JOY IN THESE VERSES? WHERE YOU GET THIS JOY THING FROM? IN THE NEXT VERSE JESUS SAID, I HAVE TOLD YOU THESE THINGS. WHY AM I TELLING YOU TOO REMAIN IN ME AND OBEY ME? I HAVE TOLD YOU THESE THINGS SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND YOUR JOY MAY BE COMPLETE. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE JOY IN YOUR DAY OBEY GOD. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE JOY IN YOUR DAY REMAIN IN HIM. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE JOY IN YOUR DAY STAY CONNECTED TO HIM LIKE A BRANCH SOMETHING CONNECTED A VINE. SEE WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT'S KIND OF OBSESSED WITH BEING CONNECTED. A RECENT STUDY CAME OUT AND 80 PERCENT OF US FIRST THING WE DO IN THE MORNING CHECK OUR PHONE. HIGHER THAN BRUSH YOUR TEETH, ANYTHING. CHECK OUR PHONE. I REMEMBER YEARS AGO I WAS ON THE TREADMILL AND MY PHONE DIED AS I WAS RUNNING AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RUN? I DON'T HAVE MUSIC OR A PODCAST TO LISTEN TO. I GOT OFF THE TREADMILL. THERE'S NO WAY. YOU CAN'T DO IT. IT'S TOO PAINFUL. I BROKE IT OFF AND WENT TO THE CAR AND PLUGGED MY PHONE AND IN EVERY FIVE SECONDS I'M LIKE, COME ON, TURN ON, TURN ON. WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE NOT CONNECTED. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE MAKING A BIG DEAL OF SORRY I WAS DISCONNECTED OR OFF THE GRID. WE MAKING A BIG DEAL OF IT BECAUSE WE CAN FEEL WHEN WE ARE NOT CONNECTED. HERE IS MY QUESTION FOR YOU. DO YOU FEEL IT WHEN YOU ARE NOT CONNECTED TO GOD? BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE AND THEY DISOBEY GOD AND SIN AGAINST GOD AND IT DOESN'T EVEN LIKE REGISTER. IT'S NOT EVEN A BLIP ON THE RADAR. IT IS A NORMAL LIFE. THEY HAVE BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM GOD AND PEOPLE ARE NOT SEEKING GOD OR SPENDING TIME WITH GOD AND THEY DON'T KNOW THIS THAT THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED THEIR CREATOR AND CONNECTED TO HIS LOVE. IF YOU WEREN'T CONNECTED TO GOD, WOULD YOU NOTICE? PSALM 23 IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PSALM WRITTEN AND THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. SHEPHERD GUIDES AND LEADS AND IT SAYS, HE LEADS ME BESIDE STILL WATERS. HE RESTORES MY SOUL. AUTHOR AND PASTOR VINCE STEWART COMMENTING ON THIS VERSE SAYS, IF YOUR RHYTHMS IN LIFE, MEANING YOUR HABITS AND DAILY ROUTINES, JUST THINGS YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS IF YOUR RHYTHMS IN LIFE NEVER INVOLVE REST THAT RESTORES YOUR SOUL, SO NOT JUST I TOOK A NAP, BUT IT RESTORES YOUR SOUL. HE SAYS, THEN YOU NEED TO BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF THAT GOD IS NOT SHEPHERDING YOUR LIFE. YOU ARE BEING LED BY SOMETHING ELSE. YOUR FEAR, EGO, AMBITIOUSS OR LUSTS, BUT NOT GOD. IN MARK'S GOSPEL HE LAYS OUT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JESUS. THIS WAS AN ACTUAL DAY THAT JESUS LIVED. HE CAST A DEMON FROM SOMEONE, HEALED PEOPLE, HE TAUGHT AND HE WAS LIKE THAT. YOU ARE LIKE, WOW THAT'S A REALLY FULL DAY AND MARK PRETTY FAST PACED THAT'S WHY IT IS THE SHORTEST OF ALL GOSPELS HE THEN SAYS THIS. RISING VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, JESUS DEPARTED AND WENT TO A DESOLATE PLACE AND THERE HE PRAYED. YOU WANT TO WIN THE DAY? THAT'S HOW YOU WIN THE DAY. YOU WIN THE DAY WHEN YOU SAY GOD I WANT TO BE CONNECTED YOU AND REMAIN IN YOU LIKE A BRANCH IS CONNECTED A VINE. GOD I NEED YOU TO FILL ME WITH YOUR LOVE AND WITH YOUR JOY TODAY. BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER WAY FOR ME TO GET THAT, GOD. THAT'S HOW YOU START YOUR DAY AND HOW YOU WIN THE DAY. THERE'S THIRD WAY TO HAVE JOY AND IT THIS. DEPEND ON GOD. NUMBER YOUR DAYS, WIN YOUR DAY AND THEN DEPEND ON GOD. THE DISCIPLES ONCE ASKED JESUS, HOW SHOULD WE PRAY AND JESUS GAVE THEM THE LORD'S PRAYER. THE PART OF THAT, GIVE US THIS DAY OUR BILLY BREAD. HE DOESN'T SAY GIVE US OUR WEEKLY OR YEARLY BREAD. HE SAYS GIVE US OUR DAILY BREAD. I WOULD LIKE IT IF HE SAID YEARLY. I COULD SHOW UP ON EASTER OR CHRISTMAS AND JUST SAY, HERE I AM. FILL ME UP. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. GREAT I GOT WHAT I NEEDED AND I'LL SEE YOU. BUT HE DOESN'T SAY THAT BECAUSE JESUS WANTS US TO LEARN TO DEPEND ON GOD EVERY DAY. THE BIBLE TALKS A LOT ABOUT TODAY. REMEMBER THE ISRAELITES ARE WONDERING THROUGH THE WILDERNESS TRYING TO GET TO THE PROMISE LAND AND GOD IS PROVIDED BREAD, MANNA FROM HEAVEN. WHAT'S THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE MANNA? ONE DAY. AFTER ONE DAY IT SPOILED AND GOT ROTTEN AND YOU COULDN'T EAT IT ANYMORE AND THEY HAD TO DEPEND ON GOD AGAIN THE NEXT DAY TO PROVIDE FOR THEM. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD'S MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING. IT SAYS THAT TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE. THIS IS KIND OF AN OBVIOUS QUESTION BUT WHO'S THE ONE PROVIDING THE BREAD? WHO IS THE ONE WHO'S MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING? WHO'S THE ONE WHO MADE TODAY? IT'S GOD. IT SEEMS LIKE AN OBVIOUS QUESTION AND ANSWER, BUT HERE'S WHY I BRING IT UP. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO MANUFACTURE JOY ON YOUR OWN, IF YOU ARE WAKING UP IN THE MORNING, GET MY CIRCUMSTANCES JUST RIGHT AND MAKING SURE OTHER PEOPLE TREAT ME THE RIGHT WAY AND GET EVERYTHING THEN I'LL BE HAPPY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE JOY. YOU ARE GOING TO BE FRUSTRATED AND DISCOURAGED AND DISAPPOINTED. HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS, GOD DOESN'T SAY REJOICE, GOOD LUCK. HE SAYS REJOICE AND THEN HE PROVIDES US WITH OUR DAILY BREAD. I WAS READING A STORY ABOUT A WOMAN NAMED MARIE AND SHE'S 90. SHE DECIDED CHRISTMAS IS TOO MUCH FOR ME. SHE IS LIKE I GOT ALL THESE KIDS AND GRAND KIDS AND I'M NOT BUYING PRESENT, SO I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE THEM MONEY. SO SHE WROTE OUT A BUNCH OF CHECKS AND THEN SHE WROTE IN THE CARD, BUY YOUR OWN PRESENT. AND THEN SHE SENT OUT THE CARD AND SAT DOWN TO ENJOY HER CHRISTMAS. BUT THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, SHE WAS KIND OF CLEANING OFF HER DESK AND SHE MOVED SOME PAPERS AND MUCH TO HER SHOCK, THERE IT WAS STACK OF CHECKS. SHE HAD FORGOT TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE CARD. SO SHE JUST SENT HER KIDS AND GRAND KID AS CARD THAT SAID, BUY YOUR OWN PRESENT. WELL OKAY. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] NO MONEY BUT I GUESS I'LL GO GET SOMETHING, I GUESS. SEE, GOD DOESN'T DO THAT. GOD DOESN'T SAY REJOICE, GOOD LUCK AND FIGURE THAT OUT ON A YOUR OWN. GOD SAYS REJOICE AND THEN HE PROVIDES US WITH A DAILY BREAD THAT WE NEED. I MENTIONED THE WORD LAUNCHING A CAMPUS IN BRAINARD LAKES AREA AND WE'RE ALSO LAUNCHING ONE IN RED WING, MINNESOTA ON OWN 6TH AND ONE OF OUR PASTORS AT APPLE VALLEY WILL BE THE CAMPUS PASTOR AT RED FLAG WING BUT WHEN BRUCE AND HIS WIFE ATHENA DECIDING TO ACCEPT THE POSITION OR NOT BROUGHT THEIR KIDS AND START NOT PRAY WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS. OUR BUILDING IS UNIQUE AND LIKE A STOREFRONT AND THEY WERE WALKING PAST AND PRAYING OUTSIDE AND HAD THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD SON JUDEA. HE'S A BI-LATERAL AMPUTEE WHICH MEANS HE HAS TWO PROSTHETIC LEGS. HE WAS ADOPTED FROM CHINA AT 26 WEEKS AND HIS FEET WERE SO DEFORMED THE DOCTORS SAID HIS BEST BET WAS TO AMPUTATE AND GIVE HIM PROSTHETIC LIMBS. THIS LITTLE BOY LEARNING HOW TO WALK, HE DIDN'T WANT TO USE THE PROSTHETIC LEGS. HE WANTED TO SCOOT AROUND LIKE HE DID. HE DIDN'T WANT SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT. HE DIDN'T WANT TO TRANSITION. BUT NOW AT THE AGE OF 13 HE'S WALKING THROUGH DOWNTOWN RED WING, MINNESOTA AND WHAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE PRAYING IN THAT BUILDING AND THEY WERE PEOPLE FROM CHURCH THAT'S BECOMING AN EAGLE BROOK CAMPUS. A THEY WERE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THEIR CHURCH AND GRIEVING THE TRANSITION AND THESE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND HAVING A HARD TIME STEPPING INTO SOMETHING NEW ONE OF THE GUYS IN THE PRAYER GROUP POINTED TO JUDAH OUT ON THE STREET. NO IDEA WHO HE WAS. LOOK AT THAT KID OUT THERE. IF THAT KID CAN OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES HE'S HAD TO FACE IN HIS LIFE WE CAN OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES, AS WELL. THREE WEEKS LATER, BRUCE AND JUDAH WALKED INTO THAT SAME BUILDING AND BRUCE WAS INTRODUCED AS THE NEW CAMPUS PASTOR. AND THIS MAN WALKED UP TO HIM AND TOLD THEM STORY AND WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES, HE SAID, GOD IS GOING TO PROVIDE. HE'S RIGHT. GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR JUDAH AND HERE AS PICTURE OF HIM AT HIS SISTER'S WEDDING YEARS AGO. WHEN HE GOT THOSE PROSTHETIC LEGS HE WAS MOVING. COME ON. WE GOT TO GO FASTER HERE, LADY, COME ON. GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR HIM AND NOW GOD IS USING OBSTACLES HE'S HAD TO OVERCOME TO INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE. GOD IS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT CHURCH IN RED WING AS THEY TRANSITION INTO SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW TODAY THAT GOD IS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR YOU, AS WELL. LORD, GIVE US TODAY, OUR DAILY BREAD. OUR FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH A BIT OF A TRANSITION RIGHT NOW. MY OLDEST SON IS HEADED OFF TO COLLEGE AS A FRESHMAN IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND AT THE SAME TIME MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS DOING KINDERGARTEN THIS YEAR. MY WIFE HAS CRIED NINE TIMES. [LAUGHTER] A COUPLE OF TIMES SHE WAS CRYING AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHY SO THERE MIGHT BE MORE. WE WOULD LOVE FOR GOD TO GIVE US WHAT WE NEED FOR THE YEAR. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF TRANSITION, JUST GIVE US WHAT WE NEED. BUT GOD DOESN'T OFTEN DO THAT. OFTEN GOD GIVES US WHAT WE NEED TODAY. AND THEN HE GIVES US WHAT WE NEED TOMORROW. YOU MIGHT BE IN A TRANSITION RIGHT NOW. MAYBE YOU ARE STARTING A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL OR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL, HEADING OFF TO COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSITION. THERE'S A LOT OF NEW. AND IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. MAYBE YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A BREAK UP. GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE. MAYBE THINGS AT YOUR WORK PLACE ARE GETTING ALL MOVED AROUND AND CHANGED AND IT FEELS LIKE A LOT. MAYBE YOU ARE JUST STRUGGLING WITH YOUR MOOD RIGHT NOW AND FIND YOURSELF GOING, I WISH I HAD MORE JOY IN MY LIFE AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT IT IS. I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO PRAY THREE PRAYERS WITH ME THIS WEEK JUST TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING EVERY DAY AND PRAY THESE THREE PRAYERS AND THE FIRST ONE IS TEACH ME TO NUMBER THIS DAY. WOULD YOU JUST TEACH ME TO MAKING TODAY COUNT AND MATTER. TEACH ME GOD TO NUMBER THIS DAY. AND THE SECOND ONE IS, LORD, GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD. WOULD YOU GIVE ME WHAT I NEED, GOD, TODAY? GIVE ME EVERYTHING I NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE CALLED ME TO DO? THE THIRD PRAYER IS, GOD, TODAY IS THE DAY THAT LORD HAS MADE. TODAY IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND I WILL REJOICE AND I WILL BE GLAD. TODAY THIS WEEK I WOKE UP AND I STARTED TO PRAY THAT PRAYER. TODAY IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE AND I WILL - I THOUGHT I WILL TRY TO REJOICE AND TRY TO BE GLAD AND I REALIZED IT'S NOT ABOUT TRYING BUT TRUSTING. GOD MOVE THROUGH MY LIFE AND GIVE ME WHAT I NEED TODAY. SO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS AS YOU WANT TO AS YOU ARE LEAVING BUT I WANT YOU TO PLAY BE PRAYING THESE THREE PRAYERS. LORD TODAY IS THE DAY YOU HAVE MADE. LET'S PRAY TOGETHER AS WE CLOSE. LORD, THERE ARE SOME OF US HERE WHO ARE JUST STRUGGLING WITH JOY. EVERY DAY JUST KIND OF FLOATS INTO THE NEXT DAY AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, OUR MOOD IS JUST DOWN. GIVE US TODAY, GOD, OUR DAILY BREAD. FILL US GOD WITH YOUR LOVE AND WITH YOUR PRESENCE. GOD, AS WE REMAIN IN YOU, I PRAY THAT OUR JOY WOULD BE MADE COMPLETE. LORD, IF THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE GOING THROUGH A SEASON OR A TRANSITION OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY ARE JUST LIKE, GOD, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO DO THIS, LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE. THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED, GOD, TODAY AND THEN THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEED TOMORROW. I THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE GENEROUS GOD A BIG GOD AND I THANK YOU THAT YOUR LOVE OVER FLOWS TOWARDS YOUR CHILDREN. WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS' NAME AMEN. HEY, NEXT WEEK WE'RE STARTING A SERIES, HOW TO READ THE BIBLE AND NOT BE BOARD. [LAUGHTER] IF YOU EVER TRIED TO READ IT BEFORE JOIN US FOR THIS TWO WEEK SERIES, WE'LL SEE YOU THEN. >> THANKS FOR JOINING US AND REAL QUICK. IF YOU ARE A CHURCH THAT IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US OR MAYBE YOU ARE AN ATTENDER AND CURIOUS TO START A VIEWING GROUP IN YOUR AREA, WE'D LOVE TO HELP. HEAD TO EAGLE CHURCH.COM AND CLICK ON THE VIEWING GROUP TILE. WITH THAT HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.