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<v Speaker 1>Now, what is an ambassador.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, an ambassador is a representative send out on a

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<v Speaker 2>mission to build relationships. That's usually what an ambassador is,

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<v Speaker 2>a representative sent out on a mission in order to

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<v Speaker 2>build relationships. Now, there are political ambassadors, there are economic

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<v Speaker 2>and business and ambassadors. There are cultural ambassadors, there are

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<v Speaker 2>goodwill ambassadors. And the Bible says there are spiritual ambassadors.

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<v Speaker 2>And we are Christ ambassadors. If you are a follower

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<v Speaker 2>of Christ, the Bible says you are an ambassador for

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<v Speaker 2>Him in the world. As an ambassador, you have three

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<v Speaker 2>responsibilities here on earth, and these are the things that

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<v Speaker 2>God wants you to do as an ambassador. Number one,

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<v Speaker 2>I must be an example. I must set an example

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<v Speaker 2>for other people. The first thing God wants you to

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<v Speaker 2>do is help other people know what God is like

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<v Speaker 2>by being example of his character qualities love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, meekness,

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<v Speaker 2>self control. Now, the Bible says this in one Peter

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<v Speaker 2>Chapter two. People who do not believe are living all

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<v Speaker 2>around you.

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<v Speaker 1>That's kind of obvious.

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<v Speaker 2>People who do not believe are living all around you,

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<v Speaker 2>and they might say you're doing wrong. So live such

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<v Speaker 2>good lives that they'll see the good things you do,

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<v Speaker 2>and we'll give glory to God. What's he saying there?

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<v Speaker 2>The first job of an ambassador, whether it's of a

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<v Speaker 2>country or of Jesus, is you set a good example.

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<v Speaker 2>What if you lived your life like that that you

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<v Speaker 2>realize that you're always on as a as an ambassador

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<v Speaker 2>of Jesus Christ, then no matter where you go, you

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<v Speaker 2>are the only Christians some people will ever know that

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<v Speaker 2>the people around you, you're the only Bible that they

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<v Speaker 2>will ever read. You are a living Bible. Second responsibility

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<v Speaker 2>of an ambassador, I must share the message.

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<v Speaker 1>I have a message that.

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<v Speaker 2>God has given me, and he wants me to share

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<v Speaker 2>it with other people. That's interesting that in politics or

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<v Speaker 2>in diplomacy, ambassadors are often used in history to end wars.

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<v Speaker 2>Ambassadors are sent to negotiate the peace. Ambassadors are sent

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<v Speaker 2>to sign the treaties. Ambassadors are sent to bring a

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<v Speaker 2>reconciliation between warring entities and conflicting groups. And it's not

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<v Speaker 2>an accident that God shows that term to refer to you.

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<v Speaker 2>Where to help people make peace with God? Where to

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<v Speaker 2>help people reconcile their relationship to God?

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<v Speaker 1>Where to help people.

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<v Speaker 2>Make their peace with him. The third responsibility of an ambassador,

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<v Speaker 2>I must show love. I must show love to everybody,

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<v Speaker 2>because if you're an ambassador, you've got to have a

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<v Speaker 2>big heart and you got to show love. Why must

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<v Speaker 2>an ambassador of Jesus Christ show love to everybody? Because

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<v Speaker 2>God is love and if you show anything but love

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<v Speaker 2>to other people, you're not representing Jesus. God is love. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>how do I show love to the people in my life?

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<v Speaker 2>The people I work with, my neighbors, my family, my coworkers,

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<v Speaker 2>my enemies, my boss.

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<v Speaker 1>How do I do it?

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<v Speaker 2>Three ways? It's the next three verses. The first way

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<v Speaker 2>I show love is by using my life to meet

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<v Speaker 2>others' needs. When you use your life to meet the

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<v Speaker 2>needs of other people in a practical way, whether it's

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<v Speaker 2>taking them a meal, or helping them with a project,

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<v Speaker 2>or offering them a ride, or praying for them, or

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<v Speaker 2>you know, picking up something at the grocery thing or

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<v Speaker 2>helping them with a plan or a deal. Every time

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<v Speaker 2>you do practical help to somebody else, you serve others.

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<v Speaker 2>You're ministering to them. You're showing love to meet their needs. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>this is what an ambassador does. The Bible says this

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<v Speaker 2>In First Essalonians two, Paul says, we loved you so much.

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<v Speaker 2>He's talking about the people in this town in Greece

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<v Speaker 2>called Thessalonika. He said, we loved you so much that

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<v Speaker 2>we gave you not only God's good news that's number two,

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<v Speaker 2>but number three our own lives as well. If you

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<v Speaker 2>spend all your whole Christian life is spent inside the

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<v Speaker 2>four walls of the church, you're not much of an ambassador.

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<v Speaker 2>You've got to get out where people are hurting, where

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<v Speaker 2>they're needed, where they're loved, need love and now, or

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<v Speaker 2>they need help and concern. So you've got to get

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<v Speaker 2>out out of the embassy and into the interior, using

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<v Speaker 2>my life to meet others need. Second way, you show

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<v Speaker 2>love by giving respect to everyone. By giving respect to everyone,

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<v Speaker 2>as an ambassador of Jesus Christ, you are not allowed

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<v Speaker 2>to be disrespectful to anyone. Why because God values every person.

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<v Speaker 2>Doesn't matter who they are, what they've done, who they've

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<v Speaker 2>done it with, or how long they've done it. They

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<v Speaker 2>have the dignity of being created in the image of God,

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<v Speaker 2>and the Bible says this on the screen one Peter

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<v Speaker 2>two seventeen. Treat everyone you like with dignity or doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>say that. Does it treat everyone you agree with politically

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<v Speaker 2>with dignity? No, it says treat everyone you meet with dignity,

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<v Speaker 2>love your spiritual family, revere God, and respect the government.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me ask you this is an ambassador dogmatic or

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<v Speaker 2>diplomatic diplomatic? They don't stay as ambassadors very long if

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<v Speaker 2>they're not diplomatic. When you find a dogmatic Christian, they

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<v Speaker 2>are not an ambassador of Jesus. They may be on

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<v Speaker 2>the radio, they may be on television, they may write

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<v Speaker 2>books or blogs or whatever. If they're dogmatic, they may

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<v Speaker 2>be right, but they're wrong because they're not being diplomatic.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible says we're to do everything in love. We're

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<v Speaker 2>to respect everyone, doesn't matter who they are, what they are,

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<v Speaker 2>what they've done. I don't know if you've noticed this

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<v Speaker 2>or not, but most of the time when I'm not

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<v Speaker 2>at Saddleback, I'm speaking to people who totally disagree with me,

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<v Speaker 2>almost all all of them. I'm speaking to group, and

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<v Speaker 2>that gets me in a lot of trouble.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay.

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<v Speaker 2>I speak to other religions, to atheists, to Muslims, to Jewish,

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<v Speaker 2>to Buddhist, to secularists, to gay groups. I speak most

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<v Speaker 2>of the time when I'm not saddled backed to groups

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<v Speaker 2>who totally disagree with me. Why because I am an ambassador.

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<v Speaker 2>That's my job, and you are an ambassador too. Ambassadors

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<v Speaker 2>don't speak to their own country. They speak to everybody

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<v Speaker 2>else who's not in their country. They even speak to

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<v Speaker 2>their enemies. And we are to show the message with

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<v Speaker 2>love and kindness. In fact, here's what the Bible says.

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<v Speaker 2>Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asked

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<v Speaker 2>you to explain the hope you have in you, but

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<v Speaker 2>do it with gentleness and respect. You and I are

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<v Speaker 2>called to be gentle with everybody, and to respect everybody.

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<v Speaker 2>It doesn't matter what they say to me, doesn't matter

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<v Speaker 2>how much they lie about me, doesn't matter how they

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<v Speaker 2>accuse me. I am forbidden to hate anybody. I am

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<v Speaker 2>forbidden to retaliate on anybody. I am forbidden to attack back.

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<v Speaker 2>Why because I represent Jesus, and Jesus said you turn

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<v Speaker 2>the other cheek. Jesus said you overcome evil with good.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible says you bless those who persecute you. I

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<v Speaker 2>am forbidden from using the same tactics that people use

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<v Speaker 2>against you or me.

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<v Speaker 1>Or anybody else. Why, Because I.

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<v Speaker 2>Am an ambassador of Jesus Christ, and we are to

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<v Speaker 2>be known by meeting others needs like in Haiti, by

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<v Speaker 2>loving respecting everybody. And here's the third thing we're to do.

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<v Speaker 2>I must show love by building bridges. I must show

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<v Speaker 2>love by building bridges. Ambassadors build bridges, not walls. Now

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<v Speaker 2>on First Corinthians, chapter nine, it tells us this. He's

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<v Speaker 2>talking about dealing with unbelievers. Whatever a person is like,

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<v Speaker 2>I try to find common ground with him. Okay, it

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<v Speaker 2>doesn't matter what he is. Okay, he may be another culture,

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<v Speaker 2>may be another race, another language, another political party, another religion,

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<v Speaker 2>another lifestyle. He said, whatever person's like, I try to

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<v Speaker 2>find common ground with him. Why to be popular, no here,

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<v Speaker 2>so that he will let me tell him about Christ

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<v Speaker 2>and let Christ save him. I'm an ambassador. I do

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<v Speaker 2>this why to get the good news to them and

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<v Speaker 2>also for the blessing I myself receive when I see

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<v Speaker 2>them come to Christ. Anytime you see your pastor speaking

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<v Speaker 2>to any group, whether I've spoken to intellectual groups in

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<v Speaker 2>the last couple of years, I've spoken at Harvard, at Oxford,

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<v Speaker 2>at Cambridge, at Jewish University, at intellectual things like the

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<v Speaker 2>Aspen Idea Center. I've spoken to groups like political groups

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<v Speaker 2>on every possible side. I've spoken to every possible religion.

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<v Speaker 2>You can imagine when you see that, you need to

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<v Speaker 2>understand I don't have any faith at all in politics'

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<v Speaker 2>ability to change human lives. Politics can't change a human heart.

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<v Speaker 2>If I believed it could, I'd go into government, but

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<v Speaker 2>I don't. You cannot force somebody to be good by law.

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<v Speaker 2>It has to be an internal change in their heart.

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<v Speaker 2>And you need to understand that. All these people I

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<v Speaker 2>speak to, why do I do it so I can

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<v Speaker 2>get the good news to them? I'm building bridges, not walls.

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<v Speaker 2>By the way, how do you know when you're building

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<v Speaker 2>a bridge, you get walked on?

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, count on it. You get walked on. That's what

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<v Speaker 1>bridges are for.

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<v Speaker 2>And so you know, if you're building a bridge, if

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<v Speaker 2>you get walked on. Now, if you never get walked on,

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<v Speaker 2>what are you doing. You're not building any bridges. You're

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<v Speaker 2>only building walls. Walls don't get walked on. Bridges get

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<v Speaker 2>walked on. And my goal and your goal as an

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<v Speaker 2>ambassador of Jesus is that we build a bridge of

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<v Speaker 2>respect and love to everybody, so that Jesus Christ can

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<v Speaker 2>walk across that's the goal. That's the reason we try

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<v Speaker 2>to find common ground, so we can do this.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, This Christmas, you can enjoy the beauty of

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<v Speaker 3>God's word with a brand new set of fifty two

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<v Speaker 3>stunning scripture cards, each featuring verses about the birth of

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<v Speaker 3>Christ and adorned with elegant Christmas artwork. These are perfect

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<v Speaker 3>for memorizing scripture, tucking into gifts, or placing on your

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<v Speaker 3>holiday table. These cards are a simple way to bring

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<v Speaker 3>meaning to the season and share God's love with those

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<v Speaker 3>around you. So whether you're starting a new tradition or

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<v Speaker 3>looking for a unique way to share the Gospel with

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<v Speaker 3>friends and family, well, these cards are a perfect fit.

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<v Speaker 1>Today.

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<v Speaker 3>When you give a gift to help Daily Hope take

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<v Speaker 3>the certain hope of Jesus to people worldwide, be sure

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<v Speaker 3>to request this very special collection of Christmas scripture cards.

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<v Speaker 3>It's our way of saying thanks for supporting Daily Hope.

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<v Speaker 1>Now what's the reward.

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<v Speaker 2>We've looked at the role of an ambassador, we looked

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<v Speaker 2>at the responsibilities. Now what's the rewards for being an ambassador?

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<v Speaker 1>Oh? It's good.

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<v Speaker 2>Colossians Chapter three whatever you do, always work at it

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<v Speaker 2>with all your heart. Now I want to circle whatever

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<v Speaker 2>you do and all your heart. Now, I don't care

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<v Speaker 2>what you do. The Bible says, no matter what you do,

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<v Speaker 2>you should be enthusiastic at it. If you work at

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<v Speaker 2>Taco Bell, you better be enthusiastic about it. If you

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<v Speaker 2>do gardening, you better be enthusiastic about it. If you

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<v Speaker 2>do daycare or hospice, or you close multimillion dollar deals,

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<v Speaker 2>or you drive a bus, or whatever you do, the

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<v Speaker 2>Bible says, whatever you do as a believer, you were

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<v Speaker 2>to do it with all your heart. You are to

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<v Speaker 2>do it with enthusiasm. Why, Because you represent Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>You're to do it with.

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<v Speaker 2>All your heart as though you were working for the Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>not for people.

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<v Speaker 1>Because you're worrying for the Lord.

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<v Speaker 2>Remember that the Lord will give you here. It is

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<v Speaker 2>as a reward, the inheritance he has kept for his people.

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<v Speaker 2>God has some big plans for you in heaven. He

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<v Speaker 2>has rewards. He has an inheritance for you in heaven,

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<v Speaker 2>and he's keeping it there. For Christ is the real

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<v Speaker 2>master you serve. Now, you don't have to like your boss,

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<v Speaker 2>but you do have to treat them with respect and dignity.

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<v Speaker 2>And the Bible says, regardless of who your boss is,

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<v Speaker 2>you're to just do your work as if you're working

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<v Speaker 2>for Jesus. And that's why you do what you do,

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<v Speaker 2>not because you want to please that person, but because

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<v Speaker 2>you want to please the Lord, and he says when

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<v Speaker 2>you do that, it will produce great reward in your life.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to do something this weekend I've never done before.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to read from a well known book, nice cover,

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<v Speaker 2>purpose driven life. Imagine if you were asked by your

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<v Speaker 2>country to be an ambassador to an enemy nation. You

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<v Speaker 2>probably would have to learn a new language. You have

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<v Speaker 2>to adopt to some customs and cultural differences in order

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<v Speaker 2>to be polite and accomplish your mission. As an ambassador.

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<v Speaker 2>You would not be able to isolate yourself from the enemy.

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<v Speaker 2>You couldn't stay in the embassy all the time. You'd

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<v Speaker 2>have to fulfill your mission. You'd have to make contact

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<v Speaker 2>with people and relate to them, the people who disagree

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<v Speaker 2>with you. But suppose you became so comfortable as an

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<v Speaker 2>ambassador with this foreign country you're in that you fell

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<v Speaker 2>in love with it and you started preferring it to

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<v Speaker 2>your own homeland. Your loyalty and commitment would change. Your

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<v Speaker 2>role as an ambassador would be compromised, and instead of

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<v Speaker 2>representing your home country, you would start acting like the enemy.

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<v Speaker 2>You would be a trader. The Bible says, we are

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<v Speaker 2>ambassadors for Christ. Sadly, many Christians have betrayed their king

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<v Speaker 2>and his kingdom. They have foolishly concluded that because they

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<v Speaker 2>live on earth, that earth is their home. It is not.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible is clear. Friend, this world is not your home.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible says, so don't make yourself cozy and it

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<v Speaker 2>don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.

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<v Speaker 2>God wants us to not get too attached to what's

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<v Speaker 2>around us, because it's all temporary. The Bible tells us

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<v Speaker 2>those in frequent contact with the things of this world

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<v Speaker 2>should make good use of them without becoming attached to them.

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<v Speaker 2>For this world and all it contains is going to

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<v Speaker 2>pass away. In order to keep us from becoming too

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<v Speaker 2>attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant

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<v Speaker 2>amount of discontent and satisfaction, dissatisfaction in life longings that

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<v Speaker 2>will never be fulfilled in your life on this side

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<v Speaker 2>of eternity. We're not completely happy here on earth because

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<v Speaker 2>we're not supposed to be. Earth is not our final home.

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<v Speaker 2>We were created for something much much better. A fish

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<v Speaker 2>would never be happy living on land because it was

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<v Speaker 2>made for water. An eagle could never feel satisfied if

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<v Speaker 2>it wasn't.

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<v Speaker 1>Allowed to fly.

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<v Speaker 2>You will never feel completely satisfied here on earth because

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<v Speaker 2>you were made for far more. You'll have happy moments here, yes,

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<v Speaker 2>but nothing compared to what God has planned for you

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<v Speaker 2>in heaven. Realizing that life on earth is just a

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<v Speaker 2>temporary assignment should radically alter your values. Eternal values, not

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<v Speaker 2>temporal ones, should become the deciding factors for all your decisions.

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<v Speaker 1>As C. S.

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<v Speaker 2>Lewis said, all that is not eternal is eternally useless.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible says we fix our eyes not on what

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<v Speaker 2>is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is

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<v Speaker 2>seen is temporary, but what we cannot see is eternal.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's a.

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<v Speaker 2>Fatal mistake to assume that God's goal for your life

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<v Speaker 2>is material prosperity, your popular success as the world defines it.

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<v Speaker 2>Abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance, and

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<v Speaker 2>faithfulness to God does not guarantee success in a career

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<v Speaker 2>or even in ministry. An old story is often repeated

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<v Speaker 2>of a retiring missionary coming back home to America on

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<v Speaker 2>the same boat as the President of the United States.

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<v Speaker 2>Cheering crowds and a military band and a red carpet

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<v Speaker 2>and banners and the media all welcomed the present home

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<v Speaker 2>with great fanfare, but the missionary slipped off the same

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<v Speaker 2>ship unnoticed. Feeling self pity and resentment, the missionary began

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<v Speaker 2>to complain to God. Then God gently reminded him, but

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<v Speaker 2>my son, you're not home yet. You will not be

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<v Speaker 2>in heaven two seconds before you cry out, Why did

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<v Speaker 2>I play so much importance on things that were temporary?

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<v Speaker 1>What was I thinking?

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<v Speaker 2>Why did I waste so much time and energy and

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<v Speaker 2>concern on what wasn't going to last. When life gets

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<v Speaker 2>tough and when you're overwhelmed with dell doubt, when you

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<v Speaker 2>wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, you

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<v Speaker 2>need to remember this isn't your home and you're not

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<v Speaker 2>home yet. You see it death. You won't leave home.

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<v Speaker 2>You'll go home. It's power heads. Did you pray this

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<v Speaker 2>prayer in your heart? Dear Jesus, I realize that to

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<v Speaker 2>follow you means to be your ambassador, that it means

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<v Speaker 2>to represent you in the world, and I ask you

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<v Speaker 2>to forgive me for failing in my mission. Forgive me

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<v Speaker 2>for the times that I have been silent and not

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<v Speaker 2>shared your message. Forgive me for the times that I

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<v Speaker 2>have not been a good example. Forgive me for the

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<v Speaker 2>times that I have been just as unloving as others.

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<v Speaker 2>And I have returned evil for evil rather than than

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<v Speaker 2>returning good for evil. I want my life to reflect you, Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>I want you to use my life to meet the

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<v Speaker 2>needs of other people. I want you to help me

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<v Speaker 2>to learn to respect and treat every person with dignity,

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<v Speaker 2>no matter who they are or what they say to me.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to be a bridge builder, not a wall builder.

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<v Speaker 2>And whatever I do, I want to do it with

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<v Speaker 2>all my heart, as You've commanded me to do because

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<v Speaker 2>I represent You. Help me to get out of the

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<v Speaker 2>embassy to reach one more person. For Jesus, God, I

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<v Speaker 2>ask you to give me the privilege of bringing one

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<v Speaker 2>person into your family this year.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to reach one more for you.

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<v Speaker 2>And Lord, I ask you that when times are tough

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<v Speaker 2>and I begin to focus on what I don't have

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<v Speaker 2>and what I need, to realize that this life here

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<v Speaker 2>is just temporary and the one day I will be

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<v Speaker 2>with you for eternity. And I want to hear you

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<v Speaker 2>say well done, good and faithful servant. If you've never

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<v Speaker 2>invited Christ into your life, say Jesus, Christ, come into

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<v Speaker 2>my heart right now. I want to be on your team.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to follow you. I want you to be

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<v Speaker 2>my God, my boss, my manager. I want to learn

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<v Speaker 2>to love you and trust you in this year and

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<v Speaker 2>be your representative.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for ending the war.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for offering the message of peace, Jesus, Thank

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<v Speaker 2>you for offering forgiveness. I ask you to give me

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<v Speaker 2>that forgiveness in your name, I pray.

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<v Speaker 1>Amen.

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<v Speaker 2>One of the greatest joys of my days reading letters

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<v Speaker 2>from our listeners. It truly is inspiring to see how

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<v Speaker 2>God is working in your lives, and it encourages me

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<v Speaker 2>just as much as I hope to encourage you. So

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<v Speaker 2>today I want to share a note from Heather, who

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<v Speaker 2>has been discovering the incredible benefits of studying God's word

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<v Speaker 2>every day. Heather wrote to me, she said, Hi, Pastor Rick,

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<v Speaker 2>a friend of mine recently sent me your podcast and

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<v Speaker 2>I've been feeling lost and helpless and I didn't I

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<v Speaker 2>wasn't sure what to pray, or how to pray, or

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<v Speaker 2>when to pray, and it's like I hit a wall

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<v Speaker 2>and I haven't.

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<v Speaker 1>Been sure how to get back on track.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, your message really spoke truth to me, and it

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<v Speaker 2>made me realize the missing pieces I had in my

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<v Speaker 2>life because I was not in God's Word daily. I

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<v Speaker 2>was basically living my life without God and I was

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<v Speaker 2>trying to do everything on my own. Well, Pastor Rick,

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<v Speaker 2>it goes without saying that doing life without God has

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<v Speaker 2>been miserable failure. So thank you for stirring the Holy

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<v Speaker 2>Spirit in my heart with the words that I needed

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<v Speaker 2>to hear. I have now made the commitment to read

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<v Speaker 2>God's Word every day and to pray daily, and I

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<v Speaker 2>even started praying in the cars I go about my day.

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<v Speaker 2>Just like you, it's hard for me to close my

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<v Speaker 2>eyes and not fall asleep. You were listening. Please keep

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<v Speaker 2>doing what you're doing and reaching people who really need

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<v Speaker 2>to hear about Jesus and God's love. Well, Heather, I

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<v Speaker 2>am so glad to hear that you're back in God's

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<v Speaker 2>Word and that you're making it a part of your

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<v Speaker 2>daily life. There really isn't anything more important than deepening

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<v Speaker 2>your relationship with Him, and I love the fact that

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<v Speaker 2>you are praying every day, especially keeping your eyes open

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<v Speaker 2>while you're driving. Do you or somebody know or even

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<v Speaker 2>feel lost yourself like Heather once did? Well, the best

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<v Speaker 2>way to find hope and strength is by staying connected

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<v Speaker 2>to God every day.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the purpose of Daily.

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<v Speaker 2>Hope, and that's why I started it, to help people

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<v Speaker 2>like Heather dive into God's Word and experiences encouragement on

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<v Speaker 2>a daily basis. Now, our Daily Hope devotionals and our

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<v Speaker 2>podcasts are completely free and they're delivered straight to your

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<v Speaker 2>inbox every morning. So if you're not getting these, sign

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<v Speaker 2>up today and start each day with biblical wisdom and

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<v Speaker 2>encouragement from God's word.

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<v Speaker 1>You know.

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<v Speaker 3>This Christmas, you can enjoy the beauty of God's Word

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<v Speaker 3>with a brand new set of fifty two stunning scripture cards,

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<v Speaker 3>each featuring verses about the birth of Christ and adorned

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<v Speaker 3>with elegant Christmas artwork. These are perfect for memorizing scripture,

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<v Speaker 3>tucking into gifts, or placing on your holiday table. These

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<v Speaker 3>cards are a simple way to bring meaning to the

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<v Speaker 3>season and share God's love with those around you. So

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<v Speaker 3>whether you're starting a new tradition, or looking for a

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<v Speaker 3>unique way to share the Gospel with friends and family, well,

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<v Speaker 3>these cards are a perfect fit.

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<v Speaker 1>Today.

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<v Speaker 3>When you give a gift to help Daily Hope take

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<v Speaker 3>the certain hope of Jesus to people worldwide, be sure

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<v Speaker 3>to request this very special collection of Christmas scripture cards.

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<v Speaker 3>It's our way of saying thanks for supporting Daily Hope.