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<v Speaker 1>Hi, everybody.

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<v Speaker 2>Before we look at God's word today, I'd like to

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<v Speaker 2>speak to all of our Southern California saddle back campuses

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<v Speaker 2>about the COVID nineteen pandemic going on here. As you

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<v Speaker 2>all know, we'd hoped that in this new year it

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<v Speaker 2>would be over. Well it's not over. Instead, the fection

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<v Speaker 2>rate in America is the worst it's ever been, and

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<v Speaker 2>California is leading the list of having the most infections,

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<v Speaker 2>and our five Southern California counties are leading California with

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<v Speaker 2>the worst rates of infection. Now, of course, the big

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<v Speaker 2>question on everybody's mind is when are we going to

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<v Speaker 2>get to be able to have worship services in person again?

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<v Speaker 2>And the answer still is as soon as it is safe.

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<v Speaker 2>I really miss you, guys, and it is so frustrating

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<v Speaker 2>to me as I'm sure it is to you. But

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<v Speaker 2>let's just look at the facts, not how we feel,

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<v Speaker 2>but the facts. Although some people still deny that this

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<v Speaker 2>pandemic is serious, they need to talk to the families

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<v Speaker 2>of the three hundred and ninety three thousand Americans who've

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<v Speaker 2>died so far. That's almost four hundred thousand deaths. And

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<v Speaker 2>although we have the good news of vaccine arriving, tens

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<v Speaker 2>of thousands more will die before everybody can be vaccinated.

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<v Speaker 2>So let me put this in perspective. In all of

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<v Speaker 2>World War Two, four hundred and five thousand Americans died.

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<v Speaker 2>That's all in World War Two. That means we're only

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<v Speaker 2>twelve thousand deaths away from having more Americans die from

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<v Speaker 2>COVID nineteen than died in all of World War Two.

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<v Speaker 2>And we will pass that sad marker sometime this next week. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>this pandemic may not make you sick, but it's killing millions.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you remember when we first passed the rate of

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<v Speaker 2>one thousand deaths a day to COVID? I reminded you

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<v Speaker 2>that three thousand people died on nine to eleven crime

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<v Speaker 2>and that this past year we were having a nine

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<v Speaker 2>to eleven.

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<v Speaker 1>Every three days.

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<v Speaker 2>But then the rate jumped two thousand deaths to day,

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<v Speaker 2>and then to three thousand deaths to day in November

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<v Speaker 2>and now in January, COVID has been killing Americans at

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<v Speaker 2>a faster rate than any other time in twenty twenty.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, deaths are two hundred and seventeen percent higher

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<v Speaker 2>than they were in the fall. Now I haven't seen

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<v Speaker 2>today's report, but a couple of days ago. Four thousand,

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<v Speaker 2>three hundred and twenty seven Americans died of COVID on

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<v Speaker 2>a single day four thousand, three hundred.

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<v Speaker 1>And twenty nine.

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<v Speaker 2>Now I've said this before, but I think it's worth repeating.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not willing to gamble your health and the health

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<v Speaker 2>of our members simply because I'm frustrated and impatient. I

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<v Speaker 2>love you, and I love all of our members, and

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<v Speaker 2>I'm called by God to protect you and to protect

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<v Speaker 2>them as a good shepherd. I'm just not willing to

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<v Speaker 2>be responsible for the death of a single one of

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<v Speaker 2>our members. I'd rather resign than be responsible for the

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<v Speaker 2>death of a saddle back member. So if anybody is

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<v Speaker 2>upset or angry with me about my caution, I just

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<v Speaker 2>have a simple question for them. Are you willing to

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<v Speaker 2>be responsible before God for the death of any brothers

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<v Speaker 2>and sisters in our church family? Are you willing to

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<v Speaker 2>be responsible for it? I'm sure you're not. Now I'm

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<v Speaker 2>going to write you more about this next week, but

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<v Speaker 2>let's just pray that we all just keep loving and

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<v Speaker 2>keep being patient. Because God is in control. God's not

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<v Speaker 2>worried about his church. You don't need to worry about

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<v Speaker 2>it either now. I'd also like to thank all of

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<v Speaker 2>you for your wonderful letters and notes of support and encouragement, because.

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<v Speaker 1>They mean the world to me.

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<v Speaker 2>This past year was incredibly difficult, and you really are

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<v Speaker 2>an amazing group of people. I can't tell you enough

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<v Speaker 2>how much I love you, how much I pray for you,

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<v Speaker 2>and how much I thank God for you every day.

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<v Speaker 1>And of the thousands of you.

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<v Speaker 2>New Saddleback people who have joined us this past year,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, our Attendant's actually doubled in worship online those

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<v Speaker 2>thousands of you who've joined us while we've been gathering online.

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<v Speaker 2>We welcome you, and we thank God for you, and

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<v Speaker 2>we promised to love you in our family. We're not

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<v Speaker 2>a perfect church, but I will tell you this, I

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<v Speaker 2>seriously doubt that you'll ever find a more loving church,

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<v Speaker 2>a more flexible church, a church more willing to tackle

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<v Speaker 2>big problems in faith, or a more compassionate church. Thousands

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<v Speaker 2>of you are serving the community during COVID nineteen. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>one of the emails that passed on me last week,

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<v Speaker 2>I had a line in it at the end that

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<v Speaker 2>really caught my attention, and it's what I want to

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<v Speaker 2>talk about today. It ended by saying Pastor Rick, I

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<v Speaker 2>don't know how I would have made it through the

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<v Speaker 2>chaos this last year without our weekend services online. They

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<v Speaker 2>have been a lifesaver in this storm and anchor of hope.

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<v Speaker 2>So thanks to all of our leaders and elders for

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<v Speaker 2>protecting us and thinking of us first with all the

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<v Speaker 2>craziness out there. I'm grateful for solid Bible teaching that

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<v Speaker 2>calms my anxious heart. And then she said this, I'm

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<v Speaker 2>glad we made it through twenty twenty together, but I'm

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<v Speaker 2>hoping to get a fresh start this new year. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I've thought about that last phrase over and over in

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<v Speaker 2>my mind this week. I think it speaks for many

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<v Speaker 2>of us. I'm hoping to get a fresh start in

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<v Speaker 2>this new year. So today, as I share part two

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<v Speaker 2>of the series The Awesome Power of Vision, I want

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<v Speaker 2>us to look at what God tells us to do

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<v Speaker 2>whenever we need a fresh start. Now, both the Old

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<v Speaker 2>Testaments in the New Testament in the Bible are filled

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<v Speaker 2>with examples of God giving people fresh start. Because God

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<v Speaker 2>is the God of second chances, He's the God of

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<v Speaker 2>new beginnings, He's the God of starting over, He's the

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<v Speaker 2>God of beginning again.

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<v Speaker 1>He's the God.

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<v Speaker 2>Who specializes in giving people fresh starts. Now, when we

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<v Speaker 2>look at this theme in scripture, the theme of fresh starts,

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<v Speaker 2>I particularly like to use the Message translation of the

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<v Speaker 2>Bible because when other translations use the phrase made new,

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<v Speaker 2>the message always translate that as fresh start. It's the

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<v Speaker 2>same thing. So let me just show you a few examples.

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<v Speaker 2>Here's the first one, Zachariah ten six, from the Message.

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<v Speaker 2>God says, I'll save the people of Joseph. I know

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<v Speaker 2>their pain, and I'll make them as good as new.

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<v Speaker 2>They'll get a fresh start as if nothing ever happened.

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<v Speaker 2>Why Because I am their God and I'll do what

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<v Speaker 2>needs to.

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<v Speaker 1>Be done for them.

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<v Speaker 2>What an incredible promise. Aren't you glad that God knows

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<v Speaker 2>and cares about all the pain you go through? He

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<v Speaker 2>felt everything you went through this past year. And aren't

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<v Speaker 2>you glad that no matter what happens in your life,

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<v Speaker 2>he can make everything as good as new. And aren't

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<v Speaker 2>you glad that God says I'll do what needs to

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<v Speaker 2>be done to give you a fresh start. You almost

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<v Speaker 2>can't count the number of times on the Bible that

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<v Speaker 2>God gave his people Israel a fresh start after they

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<v Speaker 2>messed up. Let me show you another example Hoseiah fourteen

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<v Speaker 2>to five in the message, where God says I will

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<v Speaker 2>make a fresh start with Israel. They will burst into

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<v Speaker 2>bloom like a crocus in the spring after a season

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<v Speaker 2>of cold and darkness. He says, they're going to blossom

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<v Speaker 2>with new beauty, like spring flour. That's what I'm praying

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<v Speaker 2>for our church as we end in COVID nineteen. Now

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<v Speaker 2>you may be thinking, well, that's great for Israel, but

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<v Speaker 2>what about me? Well Saw one forty five fourteen says this.

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<v Speaker 2>In the message, it says God gives a hand to

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<v Speaker 2>those who are down on their luck, and he gives

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<v Speaker 2>a fresh start to those who are ready to quit.

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<v Speaker 2>Have you felt like giving up? Have you felt like quitting?

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<v Speaker 2>You felt like throwing in the towel? Then you picked

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<v Speaker 2>a good day to worship with saddleback, because that's what

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<v Speaker 2>we're going to talk about today.

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<v Speaker 1>It is always too soon to quit.

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<v Speaker 2>You know this, Coming Monday, we're gonna observe Martin Luther

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<v Speaker 2>King Day and doctor King is best remembered for his

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<v Speaker 2>famous I have a dream speech. But what made King

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<v Speaker 2>so great was that he couraged, courageously went after that dream.

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<v Speaker 2>You didn't just dream it, he started going after it.

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<v Speaker 2>What dream is God given you? When are you going

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<v Speaker 2>to get started on it? He said, Well one of

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<v Speaker 2>these days, one of these days is none of these days.

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<v Speaker 2>God's word gives us the simple steps for getting started

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<v Speaker 2>on a fresh start. So, just for fun, you know

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<v Speaker 2>what I did. I put these steps in a simple

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<v Speaker 2>cross stick S T A R T. You go, oh,

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<v Speaker 2>come on, Rick, Yeah, I did. I put him in

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<v Speaker 2>acrostic start. So let's get started on your fresh start.

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<v Speaker 2>Now here's the first step in a new year and

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<v Speaker 2>a fresh start. The first step is always this s.

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<v Speaker 2>Stop making excuses for not starting. Stop making excuses for

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<v Speaker 2>not starting. Have you ever been around somebody who makes

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<v Speaker 2>excuses for everything? You've probably noticed that people who are

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<v Speaker 2>good at making excuses are rarely good at anything else.

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<v Speaker 2>The biggest barrier to my success and your success are

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<v Speaker 2>my own excuses, your own excuses.

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<v Speaker 1>Write that down.

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<v Speaker 2>The biggest barriers to my success are my own excuses.

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<v Speaker 2>Now let me show you what God says about four

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<v Speaker 2>common excuses. You've heard these, you've probably given all four

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<v Speaker 2>of them. Excuse number one for not starting. I don't

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<v Speaker 2>have what it takes. I don't have what it takes

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<v Speaker 2>to go after the dream. You know, in the Bible,

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<v Speaker 2>Moses and Jeremiah and a lot of other people tried

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<v Speaker 2>to use this excuse.

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<v Speaker 1>On God when he had an assignment for them.

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<v Speaker 2>But my favorite example of it of I don't have

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<v Speaker 2>what it takes is Gideon. God told a young man

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<v Speaker 2>named Gideon, Gideon, I want to use you to liberate

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<v Speaker 2>my people from the enemy that's oppressing them. And Judges

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<v Speaker 2>chapter six, verse fifteen and sixteen tells us how Gideon responded.

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<v Speaker 2>It says this, Then Gideon started making excuses. God says,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going to use you. He said, MOI not me, Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>he said. Gideon started to make excuses. He said, but Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>how can I save the nation of Israel. I belong

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<v Speaker 2>to v Nasa, the smallest tribe, and my family is

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<v Speaker 2>the weakest and poorest family.

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<v Speaker 1>In that tribe.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'm the youngest and least important person in my family. Okay, God,

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<v Speaker 2>you got the wrong guy. But the Lord replied, I

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<v Speaker 2>will be with you.

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<v Speaker 1>Now.

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<v Speaker 2>Here's the answer to your insecurity. When you say I

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<v Speaker 2>don't have what it takes, You're not gonna do this

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<v Speaker 2>by yourself. God says, I'm going to be with you.

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<v Speaker 2>And if I'm with you, that means you can rely

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<v Speaker 2>on my power. You can rely on my presence, you

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<v Speaker 2>can rely on my promises, you can rely on my protection.

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<v Speaker 2>There's nothing to worry about. One plus, God is a majority.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me give you a second common excuse that a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of people use for not taking a fresh start,

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<v Speaker 2>and it's this, I have failed in the p Yeah, well,

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<v Speaker 2>welcome to the human race.

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<v Speaker 1>Everybody's failed. You are product. Listen to me.

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<v Speaker 2>You are a product of your past, but you're not

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<v Speaker 2>a prisoner of your past. Your product your shape by

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<v Speaker 2>your past, but you're not a prisoner of your past.

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<v Speaker 2>You have a choice. You're not a victim unless you

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<v Speaker 2>choose to be.

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<v Speaker 1>Now.

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<v Speaker 2>I know without a doubt that in your past other

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<v Speaker 2>people have hurt you, and other people have harmed you.

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<v Speaker 2>Maybe even other people have scarred you. But nobody can

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<v Speaker 2>ruin your life except you. Your past is past. It's over,

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<v Speaker 2>it's water under the bridge. It doesn't have to control

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<v Speaker 2>you anymore. And by the way, did you know that

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<v Speaker 2>God is far more interested in your future than your past.

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<v Speaker 2>In Isaiah forty three, eighteen and nineteen t ev version

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<v Speaker 2>says this, the Lord says this, Do not cling to

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<v Speaker 2>the events of the past, and he says, do not

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<v Speaker 2>dwell on what happened long ago. He says, Watch for

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<v Speaker 2>the new thing I'm gonna do. It's happening already, just

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<v Speaker 2>look and you can see it starting now. He say, well, okay,

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<v Speaker 2>but what about all my failures in my past? Well,

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<v Speaker 2>God just says, just admit your mistakes, confess your sins,

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<v Speaker 2>move on. Proverbs twenty eight thirteen says this, a man

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<v Speaker 2>who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful.

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<v Speaker 2>But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.

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<v Speaker 1>That's fresh start.

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<v Speaker 2>Now here's the third common excuse for not starting right

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<v Speaker 2>now on your dream. There are things I can't control. Well, duh,

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<v Speaker 2>of course, there are things you can't control. In fact,

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<v Speaker 2>most of the things in life are beyond your control.

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<v Speaker 2>You can't control the weather, you can't control the economy,

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<v Speaker 2>you can't control other people, you can't control how long

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<v Speaker 2>this pandemic will last, and a million other factors. And

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<v Speaker 2>what's worse, And I really hate to tell you this,

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<v Speaker 2>but you'll never be able to control them. You have

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<v Speaker 2>to live your life for God and do whatever he's

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<v Speaker 2>called you. To do in the middle of uncontrollable circumstances

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<v Speaker 2>and problems.

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<v Speaker 1>So what do you do? What do you do?

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<v Speaker 2>You control the controllables and trust God for the rest.

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<v Speaker 2>Control the controllables and trust God for the rest. I've

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<v Speaker 2>told you that before. So what can you control? You

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<v Speaker 2>can control your attitudes, you can control your reactions. You

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<v Speaker 2>can control how much you choose to trust God. That's

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<v Speaker 2>your choice. These are things that are your choice.

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<v Speaker 1>You know.

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<v Speaker 2>Over the past year, I've talked to a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>people who've put everything on hold in their life during

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<v Speaker 2>the pandemic. They act like they're in limbo, so they

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<v Speaker 2>do nothing. They're just waiting, and they're the ones getting

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<v Speaker 2>the most frustrated. Yes, of course, we can't do everything

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<v Speaker 2>we'd like to do right now, but that doesn't mean

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<v Speaker 2>we can't do something. It doesn't mean we just coast

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<v Speaker 2>passively and waste these days during the pandemic. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>while our church has been unable to meet for worship,

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<v Speaker 2>we've actually been more active and more effective and more

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<v Speaker 2>successful in our other four purposes of our church. Our

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<v Speaker 2>church has five purposes. If worship is curtailed right now,

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<v Speaker 2>we can do the other four and we have been.

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<v Speaker 2>We're not just sitting around. For instance, in just one

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<v Speaker 2>of our purposes ministry and feeding people. Over thirteen thousand

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<v Speaker 2>of you have been volunteering, feeding over a half a

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<v Speaker 2>million people. And yes, we couldn't have, for instance, sixty

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<v Speaker 2>thousand people at our normal Christmas services. So you know

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<v Speaker 2>what we did and said, we didn't do nothing. Instead,

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<v Speaker 2>we turned over one thousand volunteers into staffers of our

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<v Speaker 2>Light of the World through Christmas Drive Through, and we

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<v Speaker 2>impacted double the number of people. Over one hundred and

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<v Speaker 2>thirty thousand people came to Christmas at Saddleback this year

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<v Speaker 2>in a pandemic. Limitations are just opportunities for creativity.

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<v Speaker 1>You know what happened. It ended up being the twenty twenty.

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<v Speaker 2>Was our church's greatest year for starting small groups, for

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<v Speaker 2>launching ministries in the community, for reaching more non believers

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<v Speaker 2>than we've ever reached before last year, and for developing disciples.

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<v Speaker 2>Why because the church is far more than just a

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<v Speaker 2>worship service. It's family, and it goes all day, every

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<v Speaker 2>day of the week, and even our worship service attendants

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<v Speaker 2>doubled online. Proverbs twenty four, verse ten says this, don't

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<v Speaker 2>give up and act helpless in times of trouble. Don't

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<v Speaker 2>give up and act helpless in times. You need to

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<v Speaker 2>write that one down on the cart and put it

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<v Speaker 2>on your refrigerator. Now, during these times, have you stopped trying?

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<v Speaker 2>Have you stopped trying? You know, during trying times, you

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<v Speaker 2>got to keep trying. Yes, there's a lot of trouble

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<v Speaker 2>in the world right now, but you're not helpless.

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<v Speaker 1>You know what I've noticed.

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<v Speaker 2>I've noticed that the people during the pandemic who are

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<v Speaker 2>complaining the most of the ones not serving others. They're

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<v Speaker 2>just complaining because they're once aren't being met. Here's a

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<v Speaker 2>fourth common excuse for not starting now, not doing something now,

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<v Speaker 2>even though you can't do everything. I don't know what

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<v Speaker 2>the future holds. Well, of course you don't. Again, you're right,

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<v Speaker 2>but you're never gonna know what the future holds. An

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<v Speaker 2>Ecclesiastes eleven to four says this do living translation, if

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<v Speaker 2>you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done.

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<v Speaker 2>So the first thing you do, if you want a

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<v Speaker 2>fresh start in a new year, you stop making excuses

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<v Speaker 2>for not starting now. The next word is t take

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<v Speaker 2>stock of what I have. Take stock of what I have.

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<v Speaker 2>That's the second step.

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<v Speaker 1>In being.

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<v Speaker 2>Moving ahead and getting a fresh start take stock. And

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<v Speaker 2>what I mean is you list and you evaluate what

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<v Speaker 2>you've got to work with, do a personal inventory. So

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<v Speaker 2>how do I do that? Well, let me give you

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<v Speaker 2>three questions. Okay, you might write these down. Three questions

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<v Speaker 2>to ask yourself in making a fresh start this year

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<v Speaker 2>and taking stock by doing a personal inventory. Okay, here's

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<v Speaker 2>the three questions. Write these down. Number one, what are

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<v Speaker 2>my assets? What are my assets?

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<v Speaker 1>Now?

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<v Speaker 2>You look at your own God given shape. We talked

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<v Speaker 2>that in class three oh one, your spiritual gifts, your heart,

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<v Speaker 2>your abilities, your personality, your experiences. You look at your

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<v Speaker 2>physical assets, your educational assets, your financial assets, and of

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<v Speaker 2>course remember your spiritual assets. As a child of God.

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<v Speaker 2>Colossians two ten says this in the Living Bible. You

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<v Speaker 2>have everything when you have Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>That's a lot of assets.

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<v Speaker 2>You have everything when you have Christ and you're filled

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<v Speaker 2>with God through your union with Christ. He's the highest

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<v Speaker 2>ruler with authority over every other power.

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<v Speaker 1>Now that's an asset.

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<v Speaker 2>It means you don't have to know the key men

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<v Speaker 2>if you know the man who holds the keys, okay,

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<v Speaker 2>because he has authority over everything else. Say ask what

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<v Speaker 2>are my assets? Number two ask what have I learned?

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<v Speaker 1>Go back over? What have you learned from this last year?

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<v Speaker 2>Sit down and write down some lessons that you extracted

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<v Speaker 2>about life, about yourself, about family, about God, whatever about

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<v Speaker 2>your career. What write down the lessons that you extracted.

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<v Speaker 2>That's a thing to get you in the fresh start.

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<v Speaker 2>Galatians three four says this, you have experienced many things.

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<v Speaker 2>Were those all or were all those experiences wasted? I

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<v Speaker 2>hope not. Don't waste your experiences now. You want to

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<v Speaker 2>especially pay attention to your painful experiences, because God never

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<v Speaker 2>wants you to waste to hurt. It's gonna don't waste

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<v Speaker 2>the pain. Don't waste the hurt. Quit having a pity party.

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<v Speaker 1>Poor me.

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<v Speaker 2>Life is unfair. Things aren't going the way I want

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<v Speaker 2>them to go. And instead, learn from your pain. Write

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<v Speaker 2>down the lessons. Also, learn from your mistakes. Stop rehearsing them,

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<v Speaker 2>stop regretting them, start learning from them. Why Because innovation

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<v Speaker 2>is always built on failure. It's how we learn, It's

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<v Speaker 2>how we learn what doesn't work. So whenever you have

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<v Speaker 2>a mistake or you have a failure, don't call it

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<v Speaker 2>a failure, call it an education. Some of us are

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<v Speaker 2>highly educated. Now you also can review what you learn

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<v Speaker 2>through Bible teaching, like what I'm doing right now. Two

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<v Speaker 2>Timothy three fourteen says this, You should continue following the

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<v Speaker 2>teachings you learned. You know they're true because you trust

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<v Speaker 2>those who taught you. So what are my assets? What

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<v Speaker 2>have I learned? Here's a third question, asking in taking stock?

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<v Speaker 2>Who could help me? Who else could help me in

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<v Speaker 2>my fresh start? Proverbs fifteen twenty two. Get all the

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<v Speaker 2>advice you can, and you'll succeed. Without it, you're going

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<v Speaker 2>to fail. One of the most common reasons people fail

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<v Speaker 2>to reach their dream is ego, arrogance, hubris. They're too

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<v Speaker 2>proud to ask for advice. I think I can figure

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<v Speaker 2>this out by myself. I got a dream, I'll figure

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<v Speaker 2>it out myself. The Bible says pride leads to destruction.

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<v Speaker 2>It also says that God gives grace to the humble.

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<v Speaker 2>Why because the humble are teachable. You're never gonna get anywhere.

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<v Speaker 2>You're never gonna have a fresh start if you act

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<v Speaker 2>like you've already arrived. So I want to encourage you. You

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<v Speaker 2>might just near recruit a personal brain trust of advisers

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<v Speaker 2>to help you with your dream. Okay, stop making excuses,

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<v Speaker 2>take stock of your life. Number three, the a in

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<v Speaker 2>start is act in faith. I've told you before that

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<v Speaker 2>God has not moved by our complaints, but he is

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<v Speaker 2>moved by our faith. And in Matthew nine twenty nine

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<v Speaker 2>it says, according to your faith, it will be done

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<v Speaker 2>to you. So you say, Okay, Rick, how do I

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<v Speaker 2>know if I'm acting in faith? You know you're acting

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<v Speaker 2>in faith when you attempt to do something that you

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<v Speaker 2>know you couldn't do in your own power. You know

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<v Speaker 2>you're acting in faith when you're attempting to do something

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<v Speaker 2>that scares you. It will scare you, it will force

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<v Speaker 2>you to rely on God. Now, maybe you've never realized

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<v Speaker 2>that goal setting is actually an act of faith. When

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<v Speaker 2>you set a goal, it's saying, God, with your help,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm expecting to accomplish this specific task by this specific date.

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<v Speaker 2>And that kind of goal is a statement of faith,

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<v Speaker 2>and God honors faith. Most people never set goals for

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<v Speaker 2>their life. Less than one percent of people set goals

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<v Speaker 2>for their life. Why because of the fear of failure

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<v Speaker 2>and a lack of faith. That's the reason most people

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<v Speaker 2>never set any goals for their life. Now you may ask, Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>how can I set goals when I don't know how

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<v Speaker 2>long this pandemic is going to last. It's a legitimate question.

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<v Speaker 2>How can I set goals for this new year when

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know how long the pandemic's going to last. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>you can do two things. First, you can do what's

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<v Speaker 2>called scenario goal setting. Scenario goal setting and scenario planning

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<v Speaker 2>means that you set up multiple goals and plans depending

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<v Speaker 2>on what scenario happens. And it's like, Okay, I will

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<v Speaker 2>do this, and I will by this date if this happens.

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<v Speaker 2>But on the other hand, I will do that by

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<v Speaker 2>that date if that happens. That's called scenario planning. You

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<v Speaker 2>can do that. You can have different scenarios. If this happens,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll do this, and if that happens, I'll do that.

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<v Speaker 2>That scenario goal setting. Proverbs sixteen nine says this, we

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<v Speaker 2>should make our plans counting on God to direct us

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<v Speaker 2>in the living Bible. So that's one of the ways

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<v Speaker 2>you can do it not knowing when the pandemic is

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<v Speaker 2>going to end. Second, you can focus listen on character

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<v Speaker 2>goals rather than activity goals.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you can.

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<v Speaker 2>Focus on activity goals if you know the future, you don't,

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<v Speaker 2>But you can focus on character goals anytime. In other words,

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<v Speaker 2>you can set goals on what you want to be,

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<v Speaker 2>what you want to be goals instead of what you

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<v Speaker 2>want to do goals. You can ask yourself right now,

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<v Speaker 2>what kind of person do I want to be by

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<v Speaker 2>the end of this year? How do you want to

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00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:39.759
<v Speaker 2>be different? How do you want to be more like Christ?

422
00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:43.519
<v Speaker 2>What weakness is it that you want to work on

423
00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:45.799
<v Speaker 2>in your life? You've got complete control over that doesn't

424
00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:48.880
<v Speaker 2>matter how long the pandemic lasts. What kind of character

425
00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:51.400
<v Speaker 2>do you want to have? What are your character goals?

426
00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:56.799
<v Speaker 2>And by the way, God is more interested in what

427
00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:59.960
<v Speaker 2>you become than what you do. God is far more

428
00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:03.079
<v Speaker 2>or interested in your character then in your conduct. Why

429
00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:06.359
<v Speaker 2>because you're not taking your career to heaven, but you

430
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:11.200
<v Speaker 2>are taking your character. Hebrews eleven six says this, without faith,

431
00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:15.319
<v Speaker 2>it is impossible to please God. That's why the third

432
00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.640
<v Speaker 2>step and a fresh start is you have to act

433
00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:21.920
<v Speaker 2>in faith. My question to you is this, what faith

434
00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:27.079
<v Speaker 2>goals for this next year? Will you set this next week?

435
00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:30.680
<v Speaker 2>That's your homework. What faith goals will I set for

436
00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:34.519
<v Speaker 2>this next year this next week. Now we go to

437
00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:37.799
<v Speaker 2>the fourth Biblical step to a fresh start. That's the

438
00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:42.960
<v Speaker 2>r in start, and it's this refocus my mind. If

439
00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:45.319
<v Speaker 2>I want a fresh start in life, I have to

440
00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:47.119
<v Speaker 2>do the first three things, and then I have to

441
00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:50.759
<v Speaker 2>refocus my mind. If you want to change your life,

442
00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:55.319
<v Speaker 2>you got to change the way you think first. Changing

443
00:26:55.440 --> 00:27:00.440
<v Speaker 2>your thoughts is the key to a fresh start in

444
00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:04.240
<v Speaker 2>any area, in a hobby, in a career, in a relationship,

445
00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:09.680
<v Speaker 2>in a marriage, in parenting. Changing your thought is the

446
00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:12.240
<v Speaker 2>key to a fresh start in any area.

447
00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.359
<v Speaker 1>Let me show you some verses.

448
00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:17.920
<v Speaker 2>Phesians four twenty three in the Amplified says, this, be

449
00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:22.960
<v Speaker 2>constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind.

450
00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:26.160
<v Speaker 1>That's changing your mind. Change the way you think.

451
00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:29.200
<v Speaker 2>Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having

452
00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:35.640
<v Speaker 2>a fresh mental attitude and a fresh spiritual attitude. So

453
00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:38.319
<v Speaker 2>what is a renewed mind. A renewed mind means you

454
00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:42.240
<v Speaker 2>have fresh thoughts and you have fresh attitudes. Frankly, some

455
00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:45.400
<v Speaker 2>of your attitudes suck, so do mine. Some of your

456
00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:48.519
<v Speaker 2>thoughts are wrong, so do mine. So how do I

457
00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:54.160
<v Speaker 2>refocus my mind? Well, sorry, but that's an entire seminar

458
00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:58.000
<v Speaker 2>but let me give you a couple tips. Write these down.

459
00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:03.000
<v Speaker 2>Listen more to God's word than the world. That's one

460
00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:06.319
<v Speaker 2>of the ways you renew your mind. Listen more to

461
00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:10.960
<v Speaker 2>God's word than the world. Psalm one one to three

462
00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:14.720
<v Speaker 2>says this happier those who are always meditating on God's word.

463
00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:17.960
<v Speaker 2>They're like trees along the river that do not dry up.

464
00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:21.960
<v Speaker 2>They succeed in everything they do. Would you like that

465
00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:25.240
<v Speaker 2>to be true in your life this next year? Meditate

466
00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:28.799
<v Speaker 2>on God's word every day. Think about God's word. And

467
00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:33.200
<v Speaker 2>then here's a second tip. Think about what I think about?

468
00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:36.920
<v Speaker 2>You say, what do you mean by that? Think about

469
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:40.079
<v Speaker 2>what I think about I'm saying. When you think about

470
00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:44.680
<v Speaker 2>what you think about, you don't automatically thought. Except every

471
00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:49.880
<v Speaker 2>thought you have you challenge them. When you have a thought,

472
00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:53.519
<v Speaker 2>you challenge it. You think about what you're thinking about

473
00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:55.359
<v Speaker 2>and go, do I want to think about this?

474
00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.000
<v Speaker 1>You say?

475
00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:59.960
<v Speaker 2>Do I want this thought? When you have a thought,

476
00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:04.119
<v Speaker 2>you ask yourself first, is this really true? I can't

477
00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:06.839
<v Speaker 2>tell you how much that question will change your life.

478
00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:09.000
<v Speaker 2>When you get a thought, you need to ask yourself,

479
00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.559
<v Speaker 2>is this really true?

480
00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:10.920
<v Speaker 1>Well?

481
00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:13.720
<v Speaker 2>I am so this and that? And then you're playing

482
00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:17.359
<v Speaker 2>old tapes. If you'll just ask the question, is this

483
00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:22.160
<v Speaker 2>really true? It'll change your life? Is this helpful? That's

484
00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:25.240
<v Speaker 2>another question to ask, is this helpful? Is it true?

485
00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:29.039
<v Speaker 2>Is it helpful? Do I want this thought? In other words,

486
00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:31.680
<v Speaker 2>how does it make me feel? And do I want

487
00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:35.240
<v Speaker 2>to feel that way? All your feelings are caused by thoughts.

488
00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:37.759
<v Speaker 2>And if you don't like the way you feel, change

489
00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:40.400
<v Speaker 2>the way you think. And if you don't like the

490
00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:42.559
<v Speaker 2>thing you're thinking, will then just replace it with a

491
00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:46.240
<v Speaker 2>different thought. Let me tell you a little secret about

492
00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:50.319
<v Speaker 2>your mind. You don't have to believe every thought you have.

493
00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:55.839
<v Speaker 2>That's a choice, because not every thought you have is true.

494
00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:59.920
<v Speaker 2>Proverbs four twenty three says this, be careful how you think,

495
00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:05.559
<v Speaker 2>because your life is shaped by your thoughts. And finally

496
00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:10.279
<v Speaker 2>we come to the last step the tee in start trust,

497
00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:16.359
<v Speaker 2>write this down. Trust that God knows what he's doing.

498
00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:20.920
<v Speaker 2>That's the fifth step to a fresh start in life

499
00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:24.039
<v Speaker 2>and a fresh start in a new year. Trust that

500
00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:28.000
<v Speaker 2>God knows what he's doing. You don't know what he's doing,

501
00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:32.039
<v Speaker 2>but you can trust that God knows what he's doing.

502
00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:32.920
<v Speaker 1>He's a good God.

503
00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:37.680
<v Speaker 2>You see when God is working in your life and

504
00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:41.319
<v Speaker 2>when he's preparing you for a fresh start, you often

505
00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:46.839
<v Speaker 2>can't see it. Or if you can see it and

506
00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:49.200
<v Speaker 2>you can see what he's doing, you still may not

507
00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:53.359
<v Speaker 2>understand why he's doing it. You can see what he's

508
00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:55.119
<v Speaker 2>doing in your life, but you can't see why he's

509
00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:58.880
<v Speaker 2>doing it. But God's plan and God's intention for your

510
00:30:58.920 --> 00:31:03.440
<v Speaker 2>life are always good. You can trust him. Trust that

511
00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:06.519
<v Speaker 2>God knows what he's doing, even when you don't understand

512
00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:10.119
<v Speaker 2>why things are happening the way they are. I want

513
00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:15.440
<v Speaker 2>to close with the principal and a promise. Here's the

514
00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:19.799
<v Speaker 2>background of the principle. One day God told the prophet

515
00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:22.759
<v Speaker 2>named Jeremiah. You thought Jeremiah was a bullfrog, but actually

516
00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:26.039
<v Speaker 2>he was a prophet. One day God told a prophet

517
00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:30.759
<v Speaker 2>named Jeremiah to go to a potter's house and watch

518
00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:36.799
<v Speaker 2>that potter making clay potts on a pottery table, you know,

519
00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:39.799
<v Speaker 2>one of those turntables. And God says, I want you

520
00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:42.640
<v Speaker 2>to go to this potter's house and watch what's going on,

521
00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:46.920
<v Speaker 2>and I will give you a message there. So Jeremiah

522
00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:49.920
<v Speaker 2>did that, and he goes and finds the potter's house,

523
00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:52.400
<v Speaker 2>and sure enough, the guy's sitting at his potter's wheel

524
00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:54.400
<v Speaker 2>and it's turning, and he's taking a lump of clay

525
00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:56.119
<v Speaker 2>and he's molding it, fixing it.

526
00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:58.319
<v Speaker 1>And then he noticed something.

527
00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:01.920
<v Speaker 2>And this is in j Wheremiah eighteen, verse four. Jeremiah

528
00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:07.160
<v Speaker 2>eighteen fources this. When the clay pot that the potter

529
00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:11.319
<v Speaker 2>was forming on the wheel didn't turn out the way

530
00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:18.200
<v Speaker 2>he intended, he simply started over, using the same clay

531
00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:25.680
<v Speaker 2>to make a new pot. Jeremiah notices three things. Sometimes

532
00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:30.720
<v Speaker 2>things don't turn out the way you intended. That's true.

533
00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:35.759
<v Speaker 2>Number two. When that happens, the potter just starts all

534
00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:39.279
<v Speaker 2>over again. Number three, But.

535
00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:43.960
<v Speaker 1>He uses the same clay. He doesn't throw it out.

536
00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:47.240
<v Speaker 2>He just takes the same clay that he tried to

537
00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:49.240
<v Speaker 2>make something and didn't work out the way intended. He

538
00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:53.759
<v Speaker 2>takes that same clay and reshapes it. And after Jeremiah

539
00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:59.519
<v Speaker 2>saw this object lesson, God explained it in Jeremiah eighteen,

540
00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:04.759
<v Speaker 2>verse five, seven, six. Then God said to Jeremiah, Jeremiah,

541
00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:09.920
<v Speaker 2>cannot I do the same with you as the potter does,

542
00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:15.559
<v Speaker 2>Just as the potter works the clay in his hand,

543
00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:20.839
<v Speaker 2>so you are in my hand and I am working

544
00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:28.279
<v Speaker 2>on you. That's both the principle and the promise. Now,

545
00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:31.799
<v Speaker 2>I don't know, but this last year or even before that,

546
00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:36.400
<v Speaker 2>you may have really made a mess of your life.

547
00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.640
<v Speaker 1>And it may have been marred.

548
00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:41.079
<v Speaker 2>It was marred by the decisions of others and the

549
00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:44.160
<v Speaker 2>actions of others, or it had been marred by your

550
00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:49.279
<v Speaker 2>own decisions and actions. And your pot who you are,

551
00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:54.359
<v Speaker 2>is scarred from poor decisions that you made and things

552
00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:56.640
<v Speaker 2>that were done to you. And as a result, your

553
00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:59.920
<v Speaker 2>life has not intent turned out as you intended.

554
00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:07.000
<v Speaker 1>But you're not the potter. God's the potter. You're the clay.

555
00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:11.760
<v Speaker 2>And just like the potter, God doesn't throw out original

556
00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:18.559
<v Speaker 2>clay that's been misshapen by circumstances, scarred, misshapen, didn't turn

557
00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:23.039
<v Speaker 2>out the way intended. God doesn't waste all of the

558
00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:27.320
<v Speaker 2>pain that you've been through. No, And he doesn't throw

559
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:31.440
<v Speaker 2>out the unique personality and the essence of you that

560
00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:34.280
<v Speaker 2>he gave you, the clay, the stuff that made you

561
00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.239
<v Speaker 2>that he made you with.

562
00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:35.719
<v Speaker 1>No.

563
00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:39.559
<v Speaker 2>Instead, he takes every part of you, all of you

564
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:42.800
<v Speaker 2>that includes the good and the bad and the ugly,

565
00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:46.800
<v Speaker 2>all that in the clay and everything you've experienced up

566
00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:48.079
<v Speaker 2>in life up to this point.

567
00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:48.920
<v Speaker 1>You know what does.

568
00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:54.880
<v Speaker 2>He puts it in his gentle but strong hands. And

569
00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:59.679
<v Speaker 2>once you're in his hands, God starts over fresh start

570
00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:05.880
<v Speaker 2>on shaping your life. And he begins to work on

571
00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:11.599
<v Speaker 2>you lovingly but firmly, like a potter, and he begins

572
00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:17.000
<v Speaker 2>to reshape you, applying pressure at just the right places

573
00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:23.639
<v Speaker 2>to mold you and remake you into a beautiful, priceless

574
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:28.199
<v Speaker 2>piece of art. And that brings glory to Him, and

575
00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:32.880
<v Speaker 2>that brings glory to you. That's what happens when we

576
00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:36.840
<v Speaker 2>surrender ourselves completely to God's loving hands, and we trust

577
00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:43.800
<v Speaker 2>that God is the master potter who creates masterpieces. This

578
00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:47.000
<v Speaker 2>is what it means to get a fresh start. Jesus

579
00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:52.199
<v Speaker 2>called it being born again. Two Corinthians five point seventeen

580
00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:58.519
<v Speaker 2>says this, when anyone becomes united to Christ, he becomes

581
00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:02.840
<v Speaker 2>a new person in solfe. That's fresh start. He becomes

582
00:36:02.840 --> 00:36:05.920
<v Speaker 2>a new person inside. He's not the same anymore.

583
00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:07.079
<v Speaker 1>His old life.

584
00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:11.280
<v Speaker 2>The old life is gone and a fresh new life

585
00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:15.000
<v Speaker 2>has begun. I said it at the start, and I'll

586
00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:19.599
<v Speaker 2>say it at the end. God specializes in new beginnings

587
00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:24.480
<v Speaker 2>and fresh starts, and you can have one today if

588
00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:26.719
<v Speaker 2>you begin taking these steps.

589
00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:28.440
<v Speaker 1>Had he get started. Well.

590
00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:31.239
<v Speaker 2>You can start with the prayer that King David prayed Psal.

591
00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:35.039
<v Speaker 2>I'm fifty one, verse ten, and the message says this, God,

592
00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:40.599
<v Speaker 2>make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week

593
00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:46.000
<v Speaker 2>from the chaos in my life. I love that God

594
00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:48.480
<v Speaker 2>make a fresh start in me. Will you pray that today,

595
00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:51.159
<v Speaker 2>shape a Genesis week.

596
00:36:51.159 --> 00:36:52.440
<v Speaker 1>From the chaos in my life?

597
00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:55.119
<v Speaker 2>You know, earlier I said it's always too soon to quit,

598
00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:58.039
<v Speaker 2>but I also want to say it's never too late

599
00:36:58.039 --> 00:37:01.840
<v Speaker 2>to start over. Never too late. If your heart's still pumping,

600
00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:05.599
<v Speaker 2>it's never too late. Start over now. If you would

601
00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:09.000
<v Speaker 2>like that, it would be my privilege to introduce you

602
00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:12.559
<v Speaker 2>to Jesus Christ and lead you in a simple prayer

603
00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:17.360
<v Speaker 2>for salvation and a fresh start. Would you bow your

604
00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:20.039
<v Speaker 2>heads with me right now? Would you just pray with me?

605
00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:25.159
<v Speaker 2>Why don't you just say these words in your heart?

606
00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:27.039
<v Speaker 2>You know you can just say as I say the words.

607
00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:29.400
<v Speaker 2>You can say God me too. Just say something like this,

608
00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:36.519
<v Speaker 2>Dear God, Dear God, I want a fresh start. Dear God,

609
00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:41.920
<v Speaker 2>I need a fresh start, and today I've realized that

610
00:37:42.119 --> 00:37:47.760
<v Speaker 2>only you can make that happen. I want to stop

611
00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:55.559
<v Speaker 2>making excuses. I want to act in faith. So I

612
00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:59.559
<v Speaker 2>ask you, Jesus Christ, to put your spirit inside my

613
00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:01.599
<v Speaker 2>life and fill me with your love.

614
00:38:03.159 --> 00:38:04.000
<v Speaker 1>Just say that to God.

615
00:38:04.239 --> 00:38:07.400
<v Speaker 2>Put your spirit inside my life, Jesus, and fill me

616
00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:09.679
<v Speaker 2>with your love. I ask you to forgive everything I've

617
00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:13.320
<v Speaker 2>ever done, clean the slate with your mercy and grace,

618
00:38:15.320 --> 00:38:17.599
<v Speaker 2>and I ask you to make me a new person,

619
00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:24.480
<v Speaker 2>the person I was always intended to become. God, I

620
00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:28.719
<v Speaker 2>recognize that you're the potter and I'm the clay, and

621
00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:29.639
<v Speaker 2>I'm asking you.

622
00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:31.400
<v Speaker 1>Today to begin.

623
00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:40.559
<v Speaker 2>Reshaping my life. Thank you for loving me. And when

624
00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:43.960
<v Speaker 2>tough times come and I feel under pressure, help me

625
00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:48.159
<v Speaker 2>to trust you, knowing that you're a good and wise God.

626
00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:53.079
<v Speaker 2>And I humbly ask you to accept me into your

627
00:38:53.239 --> 00:38:56.159
<v Speaker 2>family because Jesus died for me.

628
00:38:58.280 --> 00:39:00.559
<v Speaker 1>Thank you, Amen,