Welcome to another
edition of "Issues and Answers."
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What are you doing
for the rest of your life?
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You know, that
was the very question
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that my husband
asked me when he proposed.
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And at the time, I was not sure.
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That's what we're
gonna talk about today
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with our special guest,
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Pastor Stanley
Dixon of Tucson, Arizona.
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Let me tell you a
little bit about Pastor Dixon.
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He is a graduate of
Los Angeles City College,
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Oakwood College
and Andrews University,
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Theological Seminary in
Berrien Springs, Michigan.
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He is a former military man,
servicing in the US Navy Ships
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servicemen in
Armoured Guard Division.
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He is currently the pastor
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of the Sharon's
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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in Tucson, Arizona.
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Welcome, Pastor
Dixon, to the program.
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It's good to be
here. So tell us.
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"God has a plan for our life"
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is the topic I
understand we're talking about.
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Yes, and He has a perfect plan.
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And if we find
out what that plan is
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then our lives will be
more rewarding and fulfill,
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but the text that I
wanted to start out with
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which explains this
even better than I can.
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It's a Jeremiah 29:11. Okay.
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And the text says,
"For I know the thoughts
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that I think toward
you, saith the Lord,
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thoughts of
peace, and not of evil,
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to give you an expected end."
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And I'd like to read that
in another translation. Okay.
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"For I know the
plans, I have for you,
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plans to prosper
and not to harm you,
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but to give you a
hope and a future."
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So God is saying that,
"I don't want to harm you,
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if you follow Me and
you yield your life to Me,
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I will not harm you.
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In fact, it will be hope
and I'll give you a future.
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I know the plans, you may
not be aware of those plans.
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But if you trust Me, I'll make
those plans obvious to you."
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And I think the text
is so important to me,
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because as I
look back on my life,
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I have always tried
since becoming a Christian
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to make sure
that I'm in His plans.
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It doesn't matter whether it's,
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you know, marrying
someone or choosing a job
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or location for a house,
choosing a church to minister
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although God doesn't
leave it up to us what,
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you know, to choose,
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but sometimes we
may have a choice
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between several congregations.
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But God has a perfect plan.
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And recently I received the call
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to go outside of the conferences
where I'm pastoring now.
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And it seemed like
a right thing to do.
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And, you know,
I prayed about it.
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And, but it was
like the Lord was saying,
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okay, go ahead, you know.
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So I went just to
kind of check things out,
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check out the lands,
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see if we can do
some to my children
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and everything was excellent.
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I mean, they had a nice house,
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the kind of
living that we look for.
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We wanted to
get out of the city.
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Tucson is a large city
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and more opportunities for
children in terms of education
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in this area that
we were moving to,
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but when I got there, I decided,
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you know, I've got to
really pray and fast about this.
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And so while I was there,
the Lord began to impress me
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that I don't wanted
to leave my perfect will.
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Now you can leave
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and you'll be a
blessing to that conversation,
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but my perfect will for
you is to remain where you are.
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And I said,
"Lord, I can't do that.
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I already told the
people I'm leaving."
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And I've already said,
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"God has told me
to leave, right?"
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And I couldn't
do that, you know.
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But the Lord said,
"Just put down your pride
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and go back and
tell the people."
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And so I went back
the following Sabbath
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and told them
that I changed my mind.
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And that upon praying
and further reflection,
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I discovered that God's perfect
will for me was to remain
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and applause broke
out in the congregation.
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200 or 300 families
who were visiting said,
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"We want to transfer our
membership to this church
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because you listen
to the Lord, you know."
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Yes, I was
thinking the same thing.
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That would the
reason to applause.
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And also the
reason why I was leaving
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was to develop a kind of
a cross cultural ministry,
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where-- you know,
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where I was going
and I didn't know it,
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but I had that there at
the congregation where I was.
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And the Lord just, I
mean, He's just been blessing,
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He's just been blessing,
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and I think it's
because I wanted to find out
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what His perfect will is--
will was for me at that time.
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And I believe
that God, like He says,
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"I know the
plans I have for you.
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I know them.
You're not aware of them."
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And it maybe a time
when it's time to leave,
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but I want to make sure
that I'm in His will, you see,
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because there are choices,
we have choices in life.
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Who we're gonna marry, Bob, Joe?
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Or what college to go
to, La Sierra, Pacific Union?
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But God has a perfect will.
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And I think as we seek Him,
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He'll make it
plain to us, you see.
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And something happened to
me before I became a Christian.
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When I was embarking on a career
as a night club comedy performer
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I remember
going up on the stage.
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And before we went up on stage,
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a friend of mine
who is also a comedian,
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we both, we didn't
know God, but we said,
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"Let's pray that God will
bless our routines tonight
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because Mitzi Shore,
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the owner of the comedy
store is gonna be there.
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So let's pray." Now
we're not serving God.
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We're just gonna
use God to bless us.
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So we knelt down and we prayed.
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"Lord, give us
skill, give us the ability
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to make those folks
laugh and, Lord, help us."
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And so we got up on the stage.
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It was like,
everything went wrong.
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The timing was off,
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the punch lines
weren't punching.
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It was terrible, it was awful.
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And the Bible says in Romans 8.
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It says, 26,
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"For likewise the Spirit
helps us in our infirmities,
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for we don't always know
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what we should
pray for as we ought.
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But the Spirit itself
maketh intercession with--
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for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered."
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So I thank God.
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Even though I didn't know Him
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and even though I had
the nerve to just pray
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that the Lord
intercepted my prayer
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and prayed according to His will
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which eventually let me
out of the stand up comedy.
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And so now I believe
I'm more in the center,
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well, I am in the
center of His will
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because that wasn't
His purpose for my life.
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Do you think that God reads
our hearts and our character,
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and when you prayed
that prayer even though
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it was not what you
had actually prayed for?
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Or you prayed
for God to bless you?
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Yes. Okay.
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Then you did get the blessing.
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Yeah, I did. Yes.
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Yeah. He did
bless absolutely and--
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Just along the ways that
you have thought originally.
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And often times, you know,
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God does bless
us in ways that we--
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'cause we're shortsighted.
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We can't see the consequences
of this or that action.
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Although it may
appear to be good for us,
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even things that are
illegitimate, you see.
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And that's why
we should, you know,
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with prayer and supplication
make our request known to God,
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pray about everything, you see.
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I may even
accuse of buying shoes.
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You know, Lord,
which shoe to buy?
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You know, maybe that's
a little bit fanatical,
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but I take that as--
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No, I think praying for good
bargains is a good thing. Yeah.
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It's good use of
stewardship of money.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So as far as trust, but
we have choices to make.
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And the point is you
don't need a horoscope,
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you don't need
the physic hotline,
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and you don't need, you know,
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some counselor to tell
you what choice to make.
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You know, God will
make His will plain.
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In Proverbs 3:5, it says,
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"Trust in the Lord
with all your heart.
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Lean not on your
own understanding,
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but in all your
ways acknowledge Him
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and He will direct your paths."
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You know, my husband and
I were having a conversation
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about this very
thing not too long ago.
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And we were saying that
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that people who really
want to have a life with God,
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they are the ones
who don't really have
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a lot of plans, set and plans.
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But if we really
want to have plans,
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those who wish to stay here
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or those who wish not
to have eternity with God,
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their plans can be executed
because they're for this earth.
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Absolutely, absolutely.
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I think as Christians
we need to be a neutral,
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so that God can further reveal.
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You know, this
life for us is a pilgrim
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and it takes the pressure
of, you know, making plans,
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where you're gonna sleep,
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where you're
gonna live, you know.
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Jesus said,
"These are the things
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that Gentiles worry about,
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but take no
thought for your life."
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And because our
Father knows that you need,
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you know, need these things.
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"But seek ye first
the kingdom of God,
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and all of His righteousness,
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and all of the rest
will be added." Amen.
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So God, you know,
it's a wonderful life.
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It's a blessing
to be a Christian,
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to be called into
His body at this time,
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and to be in the
center of His will.
00:10:01.16\00:10:03.46
But some of our
viewers maybe asking,
00:10:03.49\00:10:05.99
"You know, what is God's
plan for my life," you see?
00:10:06.02\00:10:09.81
What is-- But first
you need to understand
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that there is a primary plan
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and His ultimate
will for your life
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is found in 1 Timothy 2:4. Okay.
00:10:17.73\00:10:23.47
Shall we turn there? Yes.
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1 Timothy-- 1 Timothy 2:4.
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New Testament, 1 Timothy 2:4.
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Okay. "Who--"
00:10:39.53\00:10:42.67
Oh, go right
ahead. No, you go ahead.
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1 Timothy 2:4, "Who will
have all men to be saved,
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and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth."
00:10:48.94\00:10:52.35
Amen. So that's
His ultimate will.
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Is that for everyone
first and foremost to be saved?
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So when we pray, God's
will be done in our lives.
00:10:59.88\00:11:03.22
We're asking, we're
giving God permission
00:11:03.25\00:11:05.21
to further any plan
00:11:05.24\00:11:07.68
that will facilitate
our being saved. Amen.
00:11:07.71\00:11:11.45
Closing doors that would
prevent that from happening
00:11:11.48\00:11:15.32
or opening doors, you see.
00:11:15.35\00:11:18.55
So that's His ultimate will.
00:11:18.58\00:11:20.19
So whether the things,
whether things good or bad
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happened to us in our
journey and through life?
00:11:22.58\00:11:26.30
His ultimate plan for us
is to be saved in His kingdom
00:11:26.33\00:11:29.66
which is far
greater than any plan
00:11:29.69\00:11:32.54
that we could
have here on earth.
00:11:32.57\00:11:34.60
You see, but even
while we're on earth,
00:11:34.63\00:11:36.00
God still has a secondary plan,
00:11:36.03\00:11:37.65
and that secondary plan
is found in Colossians 1:28.
00:11:37.68\00:11:43.58
Okay. Colossians 1:28.
00:11:43.61\00:11:46.25
You have it? Yes, I do.
00:11:46.28\00:11:47.86
Okay, go ahead and read it.
00:11:47.89\00:11:49.34
"Whom we preach,
warning every man,
00:11:49.37\00:11:51.86
and teaching
every man in all wisdom
00:11:51.89\00:11:54.35
that we may present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus. Yes.
00:11:54.38\00:11:58.73
So God's secondary
will for us is that
00:11:58.76\00:12:01.90
we become
mature in Christ. Okay.
00:12:01.93\00:12:04.84
So after being
saved, He wants to--
00:12:04.87\00:12:08.55
for us to produce more fruit
as John 15 tells us, you know.
00:12:08.58\00:12:13.91
More fruit, so that we can bring
glory and honor to the Father.
00:12:13.94\00:12:17.66
He wants us to
mature to the place
00:12:17.70\00:12:19.55
where we're not
affected by circumstances
00:12:19.58\00:12:21.94
that we grow into the
knowledge of Christ Jesus,
00:12:21.97\00:12:26.92
so that we're
not tossed to and fro
00:12:26.95\00:12:29.07
by every wind
or every situation,
00:12:29.10\00:12:31.10
according to the Ephesians 4.
00:12:31.13\00:12:32.73
So God wants to save us.
00:12:32.76\00:12:34.32
He wants us to
develop and to mature to grow
00:12:34.35\00:12:37.17
as the trees of righteousness,
according to Isaiah.
00:12:37.21\00:12:40.44
And finally He wants us to--
00:12:40.47\00:12:44.15
His purpose and will
for us is for us to witness,
00:12:44.18\00:12:48.87
so that we can
reveal to other people
00:12:48.90\00:12:52.02
the glory of God, you know.
00:12:52.05\00:12:54.21
And in this process,
in this journey we may--
00:12:54.24\00:12:56.82
the things may happen to
us that we can't explain.
00:12:56.85\00:12:59.96
For example, Joseph, you
know, was sold by his brothers
00:12:59.99\00:13:03.07
and here he was the
most favorite child,
00:13:03.10\00:13:05.76
the one who was
most spiritually adept
00:13:05.79\00:13:08.25
and yet his
brothers plot against him,
00:13:08.28\00:13:10.37
throw him in a pit,
00:13:10.40\00:13:11.77
and now he is in the being sold
as a slave and he's wondering.
00:13:11.80\00:13:14.91
What's gonna happen to my life?
00:13:14.94\00:13:16.31
I thought God had
a plan for my life.
00:13:16.34\00:13:17.94
I had dreams about people
bowing down to me, you know.
00:13:17.97\00:13:20.83
What's gonna happen?
Now I'm sold in slavery.
00:13:20.86\00:13:22.75
And so he sold as into slavery,
00:13:22.78\00:13:25.15
and then He run
into temptation, okay?
00:13:25.18\00:13:28.64
And then he does
what God tells him to do,
00:13:28.67\00:13:30.89
and now he is in
jail, he is in prison.
00:13:30.92\00:13:32.93
He could again say, "Lord,
what is Your plan for my life?
00:13:32.96\00:13:35.84
I'm in prison, you know,
00:13:35.87\00:13:37.24
and I don't know how
long I'm gonna be here.
00:13:37.27\00:13:38.64
That must have been awful.
00:13:38.67\00:13:40.04
Yeah, must have been awful,
00:13:40.07\00:13:41.44
but he resolved that he
would be faithful to God.
00:13:41.47\00:13:43.11
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart
00:13:43.14\00:13:44.51
and that's what he did.
00:13:44.54\00:13:45.91
And eventually we
know the end of the story,
00:13:45.94\00:13:48.83
God used those bad
things 'cause the text says,
00:13:48.86\00:13:52.07
"All things work
together for good
00:13:52.10\00:13:54.51
to them that loved God."
00:13:54.54\00:13:55.91
In the original it means
that He causes all things
00:13:55.94\00:13:59.13
to work together for
good, to them that loved God.
00:13:59.16\00:14:01.83
So ultimately what
was given to him as--
00:14:01.86\00:14:06.72
to cause Him to be
defeated and to be discourage,
00:14:06.75\00:14:12.12
ultimately turned out not only
on a God, but to bless Joseph,
00:14:12.15\00:14:16.78
because he
became the second ruler
00:14:16.81\00:14:18.92
in the kingdom of Egypt.
00:14:18.95\00:14:20.32
And not only was he
able to help his family,
00:14:20.35\00:14:22.11
but the entire peoples
of the world were blessed
00:14:22.14\00:14:25.03
because of Joseph's commitment.
00:14:25.06\00:14:27.20
So the text is clear.
00:14:27.23\00:14:28.60
All things work
together for good.
00:14:28.63\00:14:30.68
Good things and bad things
will work together for God's--
00:14:30.71\00:14:34.22
according to His purpose
and they work together for good.
00:14:34.25\00:14:38.17
So it's wonderful to--
00:14:38.20\00:14:42.39
for God to give this promise
00:14:42.42\00:14:43.79
that I know the
plans I have for you.
00:14:43.82\00:14:45.74
So now what happens if
we breakdown on a freeway
00:14:45.77\00:14:48.52
or something tragic
happens in our life.
00:14:48.55\00:14:50.32
Is that a part of God's plan
00:14:50.35\00:14:52.08
or does He workout His
plans from those incidences?
00:14:52.11\00:14:54.78
Yeah, I think in the text says,
00:14:54.81\00:14:56.54
"He causes all things
to work together for good."
00:14:56.57\00:14:59.39
So even those
things that are bad
00:14:59.42\00:15:01.81
we can still learn
something from them
00:15:01.84\00:15:03.82
even if we've brought the
consequences on ourselves.
00:15:03.85\00:15:06.88
Maybe we forgot to
put gas in the car.
00:15:06.91\00:15:09.33
So we'll learn, you
know, from that point forward
00:15:09.36\00:15:12.08
to make sure that
we have enough gas.
00:15:12.11\00:15:16.10
But even in things
with simple things,
00:15:16.13\00:15:19.83
we need to consult God's plans
00:15:19.86\00:15:21.23
especially with
the major things.
00:15:21.26\00:15:23.51
Now, it was my last
year in the seminary.
00:15:23.54\00:15:26.75
And you know,
usually around that time
00:15:26.78\00:15:32.41
seminarians are
either married or at least,
00:15:32.44\00:15:36.27
you know, pursuing
that or dating someone,
00:15:36.30\00:15:38.81
but at that
time I was not dating
00:15:38.84\00:15:40.94
any one person in particular.
00:15:40.97\00:15:43.90
But for 7 years I have prayed,
00:15:43.93\00:15:45.82
Lord, what is your will
00:15:45.85\00:15:49.17
for my life in terms
of marriage, who is it?
00:15:49.20\00:15:51.41
You know, I have
friends, several, they are all--
00:15:51.44\00:15:53.84
you know, nice young ladies.
00:15:53.87\00:15:56.02
But so I prayed for 7
years and nothing happened.
00:15:56.05\00:16:01.67
And my mother
was dying from cancer
00:16:01.70\00:16:03.66
at the end of that 7 years.
00:16:03.69\00:16:05.57
And I remember one night I
was living on the fourth floor
00:16:05.60\00:16:09.26
of Burman Hall at
Andrews University.
00:16:09.29\00:16:12.58
I was a head already.
00:16:12.61\00:16:13.98
So I could see the
entire campus from my window.
00:16:14.01\00:16:19.30
And it was somewhere maybe
5:00 or 4:00 in the morning
00:16:19.33\00:16:23.30
and you know, I was just
impressed to pray for my mother.
00:16:23.33\00:16:25.42
And as I was
praying and pleading,
00:16:25.45\00:16:27.93
I felt the
spirit of intercession.
00:16:27.96\00:16:30.00
I even felt her
pain in me, you know.
00:16:30.03\00:16:33.93
And at the end of that prayer,
00:16:33.96\00:16:35.33
the Lord impressed me
to pray again for a wife.
00:16:35.36\00:16:41.57
And I resolved
in my mind that now
00:16:41.60\00:16:46.90
and I didn't know it but I
was had not up until that time,
00:16:46.93\00:16:51.73
submitted my dating
life completely to God.
00:16:51.76\00:16:54.79
You know, I always
wanted a little bit what I want,
00:16:54.82\00:16:56.62
a little bit you
know, I had my own criteria.
00:16:56.65\00:17:00.83
And they were all
nice young ladies.
00:17:00.86\00:17:04.28
But at this time I
was willing to say,
00:17:04.31\00:17:06.09
Lord, I'm leaving it all to you.
00:17:06.12\00:17:08.11
And the Lord said,
you really mean that.
00:17:10.19\00:17:12.50
And I said, "Lord,
I'm willing to wait,
00:17:12.53\00:17:14.66
I can go another 10 years."
00:17:14.69\00:17:16.31
You know, because I just felt
this incredible love for God
00:17:16.34\00:17:19.38
and I wanted to be in
so submission to His will
00:17:19.41\00:17:21.50
even if it meant
being single for a while.
00:17:21.53\00:17:24.56
And I didn't care
where she came from.
00:17:24.59\00:17:26.17
I didn't care if she came
from China, it didn't matter.
00:17:26.20\00:17:29.91
It was just the
Lord's will, be done.
00:17:29.94\00:17:32.88
And then the Lord said,
00:17:32.91\00:17:35.50
well, if you really want
my will turn to Proverbs 31.
00:17:35.53\00:17:39.68
So I read Proverbs 31
00:17:39.71\00:17:41.50
and it talked
about virtuous woman.
00:17:41.53\00:17:43.80
And all of the
quality she possessed,
00:17:43.83\00:17:45.58
she was kind, she smug
with the law of kindness,
00:17:45.61\00:17:48.19
she gets up early.
00:17:48.22\00:17:50.33
She is a good manager of
resources and all of this things
00:17:50.36\00:17:56.08
and I said,
"Lord, I'd never really
00:17:56.11\00:17:59.25
considered that, you know.
00:17:59.28\00:18:01.26
But the Lord said, "Well,
this is what I want for you.
00:18:01.29\00:18:05.26
Is that okay with you?"
00:18:05.29\00:18:06.66
Yes, Lord, I'm okay with it.
00:18:06.69\00:18:10.44
And at the end of that prayer,
00:18:10.47\00:18:13.42
I got up off my
knees, already its morning.
00:18:13.45\00:18:16.89
And Mark Finley was conducting
an early Morning Prayer service
00:18:16.92\00:18:20.35
because he was holding a meeting
there underneath Burman Hall.
00:18:20.38\00:18:24.64
And when I got
up off of my knees
00:18:24.67\00:18:28.04
and stood up and
looked out of the window,
00:18:28.07\00:18:30.78
I saw walking towards that
the lower auditorium, Sheena.
00:18:30.81\00:18:38.70
And it hit me.
00:18:39.86\00:18:41.23
And you know, and it
wasn't a coincidence,
00:18:41.26\00:18:42.71
I mean, just
felt that's the one.
00:18:42.74\00:18:45.32
Did you know her? I had met her.
00:18:45.35\00:18:47.21
I had even try to
date her, you know,
00:18:47.24\00:18:48.82
I've call her up and I said,
00:18:48.85\00:18:50.22
"would you like to
go to prayer meeting?"
00:18:50.25\00:18:51.62
She would say, "what time is
it and where is it gonna be?"
00:18:51.65\00:18:53.14
I said, "Well it's at Casa
Felix it's about 30 miles."
00:18:53.17\00:18:54.91
And she said,
"okay that's enough
00:18:54.94\00:18:56.60
I've got a lot of
homework to do I'm sorry."
00:18:56.63\00:18:58.00
You know, so--
00:18:58.03\00:18:59.40
What a beautiful
name even, Sheena.
00:18:59.43\00:19:00.80
Yeah, yeah, so she knew me
and we had try to cross paths
00:19:00.83\00:19:04.94
and I had even
been introduced to her.
00:19:04.97\00:19:07.57
And I even tried to set up
the introduction they'd occur.
00:19:07.60\00:19:11.29
But I didn't know, you
know, I didn't think seriously.
00:19:11.32\00:19:14.54
When I saw her I knew that.
00:19:14.57\00:19:15.94
That was the one I just knew if.
00:19:15.97\00:19:17.89
And so later on after
the program was over--
00:19:17.92\00:19:20.95
I went down stairs where
the meeting was taken place
00:19:20.98\00:19:22.97
then I went back
to my room afterward
00:19:23.00\00:19:24.68
and I'm still
trying to figure out,
00:19:24.71\00:19:26.08
what's going on here?
00:19:26.11\00:19:27.75
So PMC was
having church at 11:00.
00:19:27.78\00:19:30.90
Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:19:30.93\00:19:32.30
Yeah the Pioneer Memorial
Church and it was a special day.
00:19:32.33\00:19:35.63
And so I'm
walking out of the door.
00:19:35.66\00:19:38.06
I'm across student center
and I passed the cafeteria.
00:19:38.09\00:19:42.35
And passed the girls auditorium.
00:19:42.38\00:19:43.75
And just as I'm
walking by here she is again.
00:19:43.78\00:19:48.78
And we bumped, hit
in to each together.
00:19:48.81\00:19:51.75
And I say to her,
"How are you, today?
00:19:51.78\00:19:56.10
Would you like to
go with me to church?"
00:19:56.13\00:19:57.80
And that was our
first date. Going to church.
00:19:57.83\00:20:01.26
And then text says,
"Trust in me with all your heart
00:20:01.29\00:20:03.82
lean not into
your own understanding
00:20:03.85\00:20:05.70
and acknowledge me in your ways.
00:20:05.73\00:20:07.10
And I will direct your path."
00:20:07.13\00:20:08.64
So here we are
meeting at an intersection.
00:20:08.67\00:20:12.32
So we go into the
church and we sit down.
00:20:12.35\00:20:14.69
And the Dwight
Nelson is preaching.
00:20:14.72\00:20:17.16
And he gives an illustration
00:20:17.19\00:20:18.56
of how he met his
wife walking on campus.
00:20:18.59\00:20:22.89
And his sermon was entitled
00:20:22.92\00:20:24.35
"Can two walk together,
except they be agreed."
00:20:24.38\00:20:27.73
And I'm just I'm
paralyzed, what is going on?
00:20:27.76\00:20:32.54
The Lord has answered prayer
00:20:32.57\00:20:34.21
and he has made
it so plain to me,
00:20:34.24\00:20:36.67
that I would have to
be either drugged out
00:20:36.70\00:20:39.95
or comatose not to
really miss it, you know.
00:20:39.98\00:20:44.77
And so we eventually you know,
00:20:44.80\00:20:48.00
we got married and
the Lord has blessed.
00:20:48.03\00:20:50.99
And I know He chose.
00:20:51.02\00:20:53.05
It was not something then I did.
00:20:53.08\00:20:55.42
But when I got to the
place where I was ready
00:20:55.45\00:20:57.28
to surrender
that part of my life,
00:20:57.31\00:21:00.08
God wasted no time.
00:21:00.11\00:21:01.48
It didn't take
another three years,
00:21:01.51\00:21:03.10
it only took a matter of seconds
00:21:03.13\00:21:05.47
after the prayer
before He answered it.
00:21:05.50\00:21:07.38
Praise the Lord.
00:21:07.41\00:21:08.78
So I was sitting
with my mouth wide opened.
00:21:08.81\00:21:10.72
You know, trying to figure it.
00:21:10.75\00:21:12.12
The Lord, how can you could
answer Prayer, it scared me.
00:21:12.15\00:21:14.76
It was, he answered so quickly.
00:21:14.79\00:21:17.24
And--but the Lord
promises that I know the plan.
00:21:17.27\00:21:23.42
So He had this in
mind all the time.
00:21:23.45\00:21:24.98
Isn't that amazing how--
00:21:25.01\00:21:26.38
So He orchestrated the events,
00:21:26.41\00:21:27.78
He orchestrated
when she would get up,
00:21:27.81\00:21:29.54
when should leave the auditorium
00:21:29.57\00:21:32.83
and walk towards
the student's centre.
00:21:32.86\00:21:34.86
He orchestrated me.
00:21:34.89\00:21:36.79
You know,
coming down the stairs,
00:21:36.83\00:21:39.14
walking past the student centre.
00:21:39.17\00:21:41.13
He'd made everything just right.
00:21:41.16\00:21:43.86
So it will be clear to me
and He spoke in my own language.
00:21:43.89\00:21:46.35
You see, because I
understand stuff like that.
00:21:46.38\00:21:49.73
God is so good. Yes, yes.
00:21:49.76\00:21:51.81
And the ideas is that--
00:21:51.84\00:21:53.53
He really does
have plans for us.
00:21:53.56\00:21:55.23
He has plans. Yes.
00:21:55.26\00:21:56.63
You know, a lot of
times the old people say
00:21:56.66\00:21:58.62
and also the Bible says,
00:21:58.65\00:22:00.56
"Well, before you
call I'll answer."
00:22:00.59\00:22:02.50
That's what God says. Yes.
00:22:02.53\00:22:03.90
Right. Yes.
00:22:03.93\00:22:05.30
So sometimes we
wonder how things are gonna
00:22:05.33\00:22:07.50
actually turn out when
we're faced with a dilemma. Yes.
00:22:07.53\00:22:12.23
But clearly from what
your personal testimony is that
00:22:12.26\00:22:14.84
God does answer prayer
00:22:14.87\00:22:16.24
and God has a sequence
that He puts in events. Yes.
00:22:16.27\00:22:19.25
And we'll just follow
that sequence in order
00:22:19.28\00:22:22.26
we will be much better
off before we even go further.
00:22:22.29\00:22:24.62
I want to have time
to share your address
00:22:24.65\00:22:27.24
with our viewing audience.
00:22:27.27\00:22:28.64
Sure. Sure.
00:22:28.67\00:22:30.04
If you'd like to talk
to Pastor Stanley Dixon
00:22:30.07\00:22:31.73
about plans for your life
or if you'd like to reach him
00:22:31.76\00:22:35.27
to come your church
for a speaking appointment.
00:22:35.30\00:22:37.79
You may contact
Pastor Stanley K. Dixon
00:22:37.82\00:22:40.48
at 5133 West Condor
Drive, Tucson, AZ 85742.
00:22:40.51\00:22:48.48
The telephone
number is 520-622-2218.
00:22:48.51\00:22:54.37
And the email address
is 3angelsmsg@juno.com.
00:22:54.40\00:23:01.85
If you're
interested in having someone
00:23:01.88\00:23:04.06
praying with you right now.
00:23:04.09\00:23:05.46
If you are not certain what
God's plans are for your life
00:23:05.49\00:23:09.31
please dial that 800
number that you're see
00:23:09.34\00:23:11.68
in front of your
screen right now. Amen.
00:23:11.71\00:23:13.47
And there'll someone
00:23:13.50\00:23:14.87
who will be more than
happy to pray with you.
00:23:14.90\00:23:17.09
If you'd like to have materials
00:23:17.12\00:23:18.65
on how to have
peace in your life
00:23:18.68\00:23:20.56
there is a great book
called 'Finding Peace Within'
00:23:20.59\00:23:23.18
that you can obtain
via that 800 number.
00:23:23.21\00:23:25.39
Amen. Amen.
00:23:25.42\00:23:28.15
And I appreciate
the emphasis on prayer
00:23:28.19\00:23:31.64
especially with this
program because it really--
00:23:31.67\00:23:34.11
"prayer is the key that unlocks
heaven storehouse" someone says.
00:23:34.14\00:23:38.52
And you know,
00:23:38.55\00:23:39.96
we have difficult
choices to make in life.
00:23:39.99\00:23:42.72
Sometimes it may be a
matter of life and death.
00:23:42.75\00:23:46.49
About nine years ago my wife
and I had a serious challenge.
00:23:46.52\00:23:54.15
She was about
six-and-half months pregnant
00:23:54.18\00:23:59.83
and she went to
the doctors office
00:23:59.86\00:24:01.47
and I won't
mention the hospital but--
00:24:01.50\00:24:05.01
and they said that we have
to have an emergency c-section
00:24:05.04\00:24:08.70
because your child is not
getting enough nourishment.
00:24:08.73\00:24:13.83
He's a little small and so forth
00:24:13.86\00:24:16.53
and that early, that morning
in my prayer that the Lord said,
00:24:16.56\00:24:20.52
"that when the enemy
comes in like a flood
00:24:20.55\00:24:23.27
the Lord will raise up
a standard against him."
00:24:23.30\00:24:25.29
Amen. Well how does it fit?
00:24:25.32\00:24:27.20
Well, prior to that
we had made some changes
00:24:27.23\00:24:29.41
and we talked about diet.
00:24:29.44\00:24:31.73
And I believed what I learn
00:24:31.76\00:24:33.70
and we immediately began to
put those things in the practice
00:24:33.73\00:24:36.67
and it just seemed
difficult for me to understand
00:24:36.70\00:24:40.12
that that was--
what was happening
00:24:40.15\00:24:42.78
that they needed an
emergency c-section.
00:24:42.81\00:24:45.13
In spite, of the fact that
we were putting into practice,
00:24:47.50\00:24:51.25
you know, those superior
principles that will assure,
00:24:51.28\00:24:55.39
you know, healthy
delivery and a healthy child.
00:24:55.42\00:24:57.98
And it was just a
gut feeling inside
00:24:58.01\00:25:00.43
and so to make a
long story short,
00:25:00.46\00:25:03.03
we'd signed a paper said,
no, we won't have the operation.
00:25:03.06\00:25:06.18
And 2 months
later the child was born
00:25:06.21\00:25:09.12
with Apgar score
and perfect timing.
00:25:09.15\00:25:12.59
I mean, he's healthy today.
00:25:12.62\00:25:13.99
I mean, he's
wonderful. Praise the Lord.
00:25:14.02\00:25:15.39
And I'm glad I
listened to the Lord
00:25:15.42\00:25:16.79
because the temptation was
00:25:16.82\00:25:18.19
okay, go ahead
and have the surgery
00:25:18.22\00:25:19.59
would had more
bills, more complications.
00:25:19.62\00:25:22.20
But when we seek
God's perfect will,
00:25:22.23\00:25:24.29
He will lead us and
guide us and direct us.
00:25:24.32\00:25:27.46
Well, I'm very happy
that you're able to come
00:25:27.49\00:25:30.26
and talk with us about the fact
00:25:30.29\00:25:33.08
that God does have
a plan for our lives.
00:25:33.11\00:25:36.44
And again we're gonna invite
those at home with us as we--
00:25:36.47\00:25:39.59
as our custom to
come into Prayer time
00:25:39.62\00:25:43.34
into spiritual
agreement for God to direct
00:25:43.37\00:25:46.66
every single
aspect of our lives.
00:25:46.69\00:25:49.42
And if we are not sure,
00:25:49.45\00:25:51.11
if we have some
very specific plans
00:25:51.14\00:25:53.22
we want to pray God's blessings
00:25:53.25\00:25:55.59
so that we're in
the center of His will.
00:25:55.62\00:25:57.92
Will you please pray
for us, Pastor Dixon? Yes.
00:25:57.95\00:26:00.66
Our Father Lord, we're delighted
that You have plans for us.
00:26:00.69\00:26:04.44
We thank You, God that
ultimate plan is salvation.
00:26:04.47\00:26:09.34
But even here Lord, we
see evidences of Your love
00:26:09.37\00:26:12.14
as You direct us in the
daily choices that we make.
00:26:12.17\00:26:15.74
Some of us or
some of our viewers
00:26:15.77\00:26:17.72
may have
challenge us today, O God,
00:26:17.75\00:26:19.38
and I pray that
You will guide them.
00:26:19.41\00:26:20.97
Praise Lord.
00:26:21.00\00:26:22.39
And understanding
of Your perfect will.
00:26:22.42\00:26:24.71
You're specific
will for their lives,
00:26:24.74\00:26:27.04
bless their choices, O Lord.
00:26:27.07\00:26:29.19
And let them here that
still quiet small voice
00:26:29.22\00:26:31.50
that says, "This is
the way walkie in it."
00:26:31.53\00:26:34.88
We ask these blessings
in Jesus name, amen. Amen.
00:26:34.91\00:26:39.02
Thank you again for
coming to our program.
00:26:39.05\00:26:40.61
It's been a
pleasure being here, yes.
00:26:40.64\00:26:42.01
It's been great.
00:26:42.04\00:26:43.41
So what you're
planning now for the future.
00:26:43.44\00:26:45.75
I have no idea, I
am waiting on God.
00:26:45.78\00:26:48.44
I like that
answer that you gave.
00:26:48.47\00:26:50.03
Yeah, I have no idea.
00:26:50.06\00:26:51.43
I don't even know how
I got here but I'm here.
00:26:51.46\00:26:55.16
I'm talking about the
transportation problems
00:26:55.19\00:26:57.71
there was no way
logically why I should be here.
00:26:57.74\00:27:00.33
But the Lord worked it out.
00:27:00.36\00:27:02.20
And from here we'll
just let the Lord leave.
00:27:02.23\00:27:04.86
I got to go back to
Tucson, I know that.
00:27:04.89\00:27:06.44
I'll be in trouble if I don't.
00:27:06.47\00:27:07.90
Yes, you've got a
wonderful group of people
00:27:07.93\00:27:10.49
that are waiting
for your return. Yes.
00:27:10.52\00:27:13.16
And we're
looking forward to that.
00:27:13.19\00:27:15.06
Well, I tell you
thank you so much
00:27:15.09\00:27:16.51
for traveling so far
to come to this program.
00:27:16.54\00:27:19.13
Yeah, it's been a blessing.
00:27:19.16\00:27:20.53
And for those of you at home
00:27:20.56\00:27:22.10
again we invite you
to dial at 800 number.
00:27:22.13\00:27:25.18
It's so wonderful to
be able to take our plans,
00:27:25.21\00:27:29.17
our concerns, our
petitions, and our request
00:27:29.20\00:27:31.53
directly to the throne of grace.
00:27:31.56\00:27:33.66
Because when we go there,
we know we can have answers.
00:27:33.69\00:27:36.25
And it is true,
00:27:36.28\00:27:37.65
we've heard the testimony
that Pastor Dixon has given.
00:27:37.68\00:27:40.22
Before we call
the Lord we'll answer
00:27:40.25\00:27:43.00
even in the case of
being able to the very second
00:27:43.03\00:27:46.45
knowing when the best time is.
00:27:46.48\00:27:48.74
God will answer our prayers.
00:27:48.77\00:27:51.73
God does have a
specific plan for our lives.
00:27:51.76\00:27:54.92
And until next
time, may God bless you.
00:27:54.95\00:27:57.72
And we look forward to see you
00:27:57.75\00:27:59.12
in another edition
of Issues and Answers.
00:27:59.15\00:28:01.14