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>> Good morning,
everyone. Happy Sabbath.
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We are so glad to
be here with you today.
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We just want to begin
with a word of prayer.
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Please bow your heads
with me. Heavenly Father,
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The King of the Universe, God,
we just want to celebrate today
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what You did for us when
You came to this earth, Lord.
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We can't celebrate it enough.
When we weren't able to save
ourselves, You came for us,
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Lord. We just want to celebrate
You today, God, and we ask that
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You would help us to have a
heart open to You so we can give
You the glory and the honor and
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the praise.
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In your name we pray. Amen.
[ "Away in a Manger" begins ]
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¤¤ >> Amen.
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I love that song
because it reminds us
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that even though we face
all kinds of different troubles
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and stresses and trials
and worries that we can have
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that underlying joy
that the king of the universe
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came to this earth for us
and showed us the greatest
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example of love and humility.
So we want to celebrate this.
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We have all the instruments
here like it says in Psalms
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that we should worship
God with all the instruments.
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And we're going to sing a
beautiful hymn cycle here,
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and I just want to
invite you when we start to sing
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"O Come, All Ye Faithful,"
we're talking about you,
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so that's your
chance to come forward
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for the altar call, come forward
if you would like to pray here
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at the altar. If you'd
like to bring something
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forward, your time is when we
sing "O Come, All Ye Faithful."
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[ "O Come, O
Come, Emmanuel" begins ]
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[ Congregation singing ] ¤¤
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[ "Angels We Have
Heard On High" begins ]
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[ Congregation singing ] ¤¤
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[ "What Child Is
This" begins ] ¤¤
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¤¤ [ Congregation singing ]
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¤¤ [ "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
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begins ] ¤¤
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¤¤ [ Congregation singing ]
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ >> Amen.
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>> Amen.
00:15:03.23\00:15:04.13
>> Thank you, Deacon
Jones. Nice to see all of you
00:15:10.54\00:15:16.58
on this first Sabbath of Advent,
first Sabbath of December.
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When our boy, Kirk -- our
son Kirk was 5 years old --
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I got to find out, are there any
5-year-olds here? 5 years old.
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5, 5, there, there,
there, there, there. Good good.
00:15:30.19\00:15:34.03
Yeah. 5 years old. When Kirk
was 5 years old -- by the way,
00:15:34.03\00:15:37.13
today's his birthday. He's 40.
Turning 40 today. Yeah, not 3
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but 5. When he was 5, he just
kind of knew that Christmas was
coming. And there was one thing
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he was always looking for --
anything that could get him into
his favorite store in the world.
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And now we'll get the slide
in the right place. Anything --
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Let's put it on the screen here.
His favorite store is... Oh, we
don't even have it on the
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screen. There it is -- Toys "R"
Us. Oh, and back then when we
00:16:01.96\00:16:08.56
had newspapers, Toys "R" Us,
every week before Christmas we
put a little advertisement
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in the newspaper with lots of
pages and pictures. And, oh, I'd
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sit down with the Sunday paper,
so here comes my little boy,
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Kirk. So I'm sitting down
reading the Sunday newspaper,
and all of a sudden, I hear
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footsteps coming from his
bedroom. Tap, tap, tap, tap,
tap, tap. Soon, a finger's
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tapping the newspaper. I put
the newspaper down. "Hey, Kirk."
00:16:29.62\00:16:32.32
"Yeah, Dad, Dad, I see you have
the Toys "R" Us catalogs they
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put in the paper. Could I look
at that, please?" I said, "Sure,
Kirk. Help yourself."
00:16:37.76\00:16:41.16
So he'd grab it. He'd race
back to his room. And I'd keep
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reading. About four minutes
later, I hear the same little
steps. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap,
00:16:46.60\00:16:51.07
tap. Tap, tap, tap, on my
newspaper. I put it -- "Hey,
Kirk. It's you again."
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"Yeah, Dad. Look, look, look.
I've just been looking in this
Toys "R" Us catalog.
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Do you see this? This is
just what I want for Christmas.
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Yeah, that's what I
said -- "What?" "What?
00:17:02.48\00:17:06.15
I never heard about this
one before. Okay, Kirk, that's a
00:17:06.15\00:17:09.16
great idea. Thank you for
sharing that with me." And he'd
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be gone. The next week, come
back from running Sunday
morning, another newspaper and
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Kirk comes. He just had a nose
for it. "Oh, Dad, can I have the
Toys "R" Us catalog?"
00:17:16.43\00:17:22.04
"Yeah, you can take it back
to your bedroom." "Great." He's
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gone. I'm reading the newspaper.
About four minutes later, guess
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what? He comes, he says, "Dad,
you see this? This is so cool.
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I got to have it." Well, it
wasn't what it was last week.
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Hey, this went on for week after
week. And every time, it's a new
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gift. Until one day, I'll never
forget this as long as I live,
one day 5-year-old Kirk, he took
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the Toys "R" Us, 'cause they put
it in for about six months in
00:17:47.23\00:17:50.97
the newspaper. So, he comes
back. He comes back. He's been
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looking at it. And this time
when he's coming, I can hear him
coming, not because he's going
00:17:54.37\00:17:57.67
tap, tap, tap, tap. He's
breathing heavy. He's what we
00:17:57.67\00:18:00.28
call hyperventilating. [
Breathing heavily ] He said,
00:18:00.28\00:18:05.68
"Dad, Dad, you got see this."
And I put the newspaper down. I
looked, and he said, "Dad,
00:18:05.68\00:18:09.35
see this? Do you see
this? I've been wanting this
00:18:09.35\00:18:11.92
my whole life." [
Laughter ] "You have?
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Kirk, I'm just hearing about
it today." Oh, boys and girls,
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listen. I want to give you a
little secret. Don't tell your
00:18:20.23\00:18:23.77
parents I'm telling you this.
But here's what you got to do.
If you want something special,
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you can't keep changing it every
week. You've got to let your mom
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and dad know that you really
want this. If you keep asking
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for the same thing -- the same
thing. Because when they hear it
over and over, they say, "She,
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he really wants this." "Oh,
thanks for sharing that." You're
00:18:47.89\00:18:52.19
welcome. Jesus says -- Jesus
says -- Hey, Jesus says, "it's
the same way with me.
00:18:52.19\00:18:58.37
I really love it. I have some
gifts that are so special that I
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need you to ask over and over
and over again, not because
you're talking." No, no, no, no.
00:19:03.20\00:19:07.08
Not because you're convincing
Daddy or Mommy just because we
want to know do you really want
00:19:07.08\00:19:12.31
this. Jesus has some gifts
that are so special, He says,
00:19:12.31\00:19:16.18
"Ask me every day, and I'll
get that gift for you." Wow.
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Can you imagine that for Jesus?
Oh, my. Here we are celebrating
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giving gifts and Christmas and
all, but there is one gift
that's the best gift of all.
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Anybody know what the best gift
of all would be? Come on. Tell
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it to me. Call it out. What's
the best gift of all? Jesus.
God. You got it right.
00:19:36.54\00:19:42.51
Holy Spirit. That's the
best gift of all. Every day.
00:19:42.51\00:19:47.92
He says, "You asked me. I'll
give it to you." Who wants to
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thank Jesus for giving us only
good gifts and invites us to ask
00:19:50.65\00:19:56.93
Him every day? Well, little
girl, how are you? You're
standing up. What's your name?
00:19:56.93\00:20:01.43
>> Lily. >> Lily?
She's your cousin?
00:20:01.43\00:20:04.70
Well, I'm glad you brought your
cousin today. Hey, Lily. Nice to
00:20:04.70\00:20:08.54
have you. Would you mind
thanking Jesus for being the
wonderful savior? You're ready
00:20:08.54\00:20:12.84
for this, aren't you? >> Dear
Jesus, thank you -- >> Hold it,
00:20:12.84\00:20:16.31
Lily. They're waiting to turn
this on. Okay, now we go, Lily.
>> Dear Jesus, thank you for
00:20:16.31\00:20:21.85
this day. Please help
us to drive safely home.
00:20:21.85\00:20:26.79
And thank you for that God sent
His own son to die on the cross
for us and remove our sins.
00:20:26.79\00:20:37.13
It's kind of sad that He died
on the cross for us. Dear Jesus,
00:20:37.13\00:20:44.84
thank you for this day.
Please help -- >> "Amen."
00:20:44.84\00:20:47.41
>> Amen. >> Amen. [ Laughter ]
00:20:47.41\00:20:50.28
Alright, girl. That was
a beautiful prayer, Lily.
00:20:50.28\00:20:54.18
That was a beautiful prayer.
Thank you, Lily. Thank you, boys
00:20:54.18\00:21:00.69
and girls. As you go back to
your seats, you can say "Amen,
Jesus. You're the best gift of
00:21:00.69\00:21:05.89
all." Where are
you visiting from?
00:21:05.89\00:21:07.30
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
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¤¤ ¤¤
00:24:51.25\00:25:11.11
¤¤ ¤¤
00:25:11.11\00:25:30.83
>> Let's pray. Oh, God, how do
those words go? Be near me, Lord
00:25:37.23\00:25:42.97
Jesus. I ask thee to stay close
by me forever and watch me I
00:25:42.97\00:25:54.35
pray. In this season, that's
our prayer. Just stay with us,
00:25:54.35\00:25:57.39
please. Just stay with us. It's
a crazy world out there. But
You're on the throne.
00:25:57.39\00:26:04.13
Make it clear what we're about
to hear together in the word of
00:26:04.13\00:26:08.10
God we pray, in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:26:08.10\00:26:10.60
So, the title of the homily
as we wrap up this DIY series --
00:26:10.63\00:26:15.10
What's DIY stand
for? Do it yourself.
00:26:15.10\00:26:17.61
So we're doing this kind of a
Gen Z do-it-yourself series this
00:26:17.61\00:26:21.41
fall. And the last title here
00:26:21.41\00:26:24.18
you see it on the
screen, "A DIY Guide
00:26:24.18\00:26:27.02
for the Perfect Gift:
No More Blue Christmas."
00:26:27.02\00:26:30.95
You ever hear the
Christmas carol...
00:26:30.95\00:26:32.49
¤ I'll have a blue
I sang it to my senior
00:26:32.49\00:26:36.93
engineering student
here at Andrews University,
00:26:36.93\00:26:39.96
PowerPoint producer, yesterday.
He said "I have never heard that
00:26:39.96\00:26:42.83
carol at all." So most
of you haven't heard it,
00:26:42.83\00:26:45.70
probably. But
anyway, it turns out --
00:26:45.70\00:26:49.24
So here's the deal.
Turns out these blue
00:26:49.24\00:26:51.24
Christmases, they're
not an anomaly at all.
00:26:51.24\00:26:56.48
Guess what? I want you to read
the words of a mental health
00:26:56.51\00:27:00.62
specialist who works at Fresno
Pacific University. Her name is
00:27:00.62\00:27:04.09
Lisa Keith. She wrote these
words just a few days ago. Put
them on the screen for you.
00:27:04.09\00:27:07.69
There you see it. "'Blue
Christmas' is more than a
00:27:07.69\00:27:13.13
holiday song. Blue Christmas,
sometimes also called the
Longest Night." Now, I never
00:27:13.13\00:27:17.67
knew that. So that was new.
"'Blue Christmas,' also called
the Longest Night, is a day in
00:27:17.67\00:27:21.20
the Advent season" -- alright,
the season of Christmas --
"usually December 21 or 22."
00:27:21.20\00:27:25.51
Well, we remember those dates
because it's the beginning of
00:27:25.51\00:27:28.18
what? It's the beginning of
winter. But it's the longest
darkness in the entire calendar
00:27:28.18\00:27:33.18
of the human race. "Marking the
lengthiest night of the year."
00:27:33.18\00:27:38.39
"On this day, some churches
hold a service that recognizes
00:27:38.42\00:27:41.82
that the holidays are
sometimes 'blue' or sad."
00:27:41.82\00:27:44.46
We're not holding a service, but
we are spending a moment in this
00:27:44.46\00:27:47.83
homily considering that.
Now, she goes on. Watch this.
00:27:47.83\00:27:50.53
"You might be having a 'blue'
Christmas because you are away
00:27:50.53\00:27:52.87
from family," and in
Andrews University, there are
00:27:52.87\00:27:55.70
people, lots of people
who are away from family.
00:27:55.70\00:27:58.47
You may be away from
them all through this holiday.
00:27:58.47\00:28:02.21
Now, you might be having a
blue Christmas because you're --
00:28:02.21\00:28:04.18
Look at the next
one. You are alone.
00:28:04.18\00:28:06.41
Or you may be having a
blue Christmas this year
00:28:06.41\00:28:09.28
because you're
dealing with illness or death.
00:28:09.28\00:28:13.99
Or you may be having a
blue Christmas this year
00:28:13.99\00:28:15.76
because you are filled
with thoughts of happier times,
00:28:15.76\00:28:17.83
Christmases long ago.
00:28:17.83\00:28:19.23
What she has just recognized are
the universal mental health
triggers that produce this blue
00:28:19.26\00:28:27.74
funk we know as depression. And
she's right. You may never have
00:28:27.74\00:28:34.38
experienced depression in your
life. And some of you might say,
"Man, this mental health
00:28:34.38\00:28:38.31
emphasis, we're sure not into
that. I'm doing just fine." I'm
telling you what, out of the
00:28:38.31\00:28:41.92
blue -- Pardon the pun. Out of
the blue, it can come, and
Christmas can be that
00:28:41.92\00:28:46.86
trigger for that despair, that
sense of anxiety, that sense of
00:28:46.86\00:28:51.83
fear. Depression.
Listen, Gen Z-ers, you know this
00:28:51.83\00:28:56.03
statistically. Everybody is
telling us about you, that
you've got it. But the truth of
00:28:56.03\00:29:01.74
the matter is we all struggle
with this. I'm read a book right
now written by a rabbi.
00:29:01.74\00:29:06.01
His name is Joshua Liebman.
It's a best-seller. It was a
00:29:06.01\00:29:09.94
best-seller. Title of the book,
"Peace of Mind." It was number
00:29:09.94\00:29:12.91
-- Listen to this. It was number
one on the New York Times
best-seller list for 58 weeks.
00:29:12.91\00:29:17.35
Wow. In 1946. Yeah.
00:29:17.35\00:29:22.96
I'm just getting caught up
on some books. Actually, I read
00:29:22.96\00:29:26.49
this book a long time ago, and
then somebody mentioned it. I
went online and found a PDF,
00:29:26.49\00:29:29.50
and so I have the book on my
phone and I read it in my spare
00:29:29.50\00:29:32.47
time. This rabbi is bright. I'll
put some words on the screen
from Joshua Liebman.
00:29:32.47\00:29:37.47
You see them there.
No study guide today.
00:29:37.51\00:29:39.21
So there are the words.
"Our susceptibility to anxiety
00:29:39.21\00:29:42.38
is the soul of our human growth,
our human dream, and vision."
00:29:42.38\00:29:45.81
Guess what -- we are
all susceptible to anxiety.
00:29:45.81\00:29:48.05
That's the point
he's making. Keep reading.
00:29:48.05\00:29:50.15
"It is merely the conspiracy
of silence about our deepest
00:29:50.15\00:29:53.66
inner feelings" -- "I'm
not telling anybody what
00:29:53.66\00:29:56.09
I'm going through.
That's the problem with us.
00:29:56.09\00:29:58.29
By the way, Gen Z-ers have
found the solution to that.
00:29:58.29\00:30:01.73
The rest of us are
just keeping it bottled in.
00:30:01.73\00:30:04.53
"It is merely the conspiracy of
silence about our deepest inner
00:30:04.53\00:30:07.44
feelings, our habit of
hiding behind the masks of
00:30:07.44\00:30:09.77
convention" --
"Hey, how you doing?"
00:30:09.77\00:30:11.61
"Fine, thank you. And
you? And you? How are you?"
00:30:11.61\00:30:14.21
"Fine, thank you.
Couldn't be better."
00:30:14.21\00:30:16.44
Mask, mask, mask. Not
true, not true, not true.
00:30:16.44\00:30:20.02
He says "That's what
prevents --" Keep reading
00:30:20.02\00:30:22.68
"What prevents us from
recognizing --" I thought this
00:30:22.68\00:30:24.92
was insightful. "The
universal brotherhood of
00:30:24.92\00:30:27.19
anxiety which binds the
whole human race together."
00:30:27.19\00:30:29.99
The universal sisterhood
binds us all together.
00:30:29.99\00:30:32.73
There's no way Gen Z-ers have a
corner on this. Every one of us
00:30:32.76\00:30:36.20
experiences anxiety. Every one
of us knows fear. And every one
00:30:36.20\00:30:40.20
of us has tasted of that
depressive spirit. The universal
brotherhood or sisterhood of
00:30:40.20\00:30:46.27
anxiety with the human race.
Guess what -- We're all in this
00:30:46.27\00:30:49.78
thing together. So what's this
business, right, about no more
blue Christmas? Is there any way
00:30:49.78\00:30:54.18
to take it away? Oh, great
question. Truth of the matter is
00:30:54.18\00:30:59.85
I want to suggest to you that
there is a gift that you can get
this Christmas -- I'm serious.
00:30:59.85\00:31:03.43
There's a gift that you can get
that can take away -- take away
-- put mileage, let's put
00:31:03.43\00:31:10.00
it that way. It'll put mileage
between you and your mental
00:31:10.00\00:31:15.70
health distress, miles between
my mental health distress and
me. The gift is clued big time
00:31:15.70\00:31:21.54
in the Christmas story. I want
you to open your Bible, please,
00:31:21.54\00:31:24.78
with me to Luke chapter 1. Luke
has the most detailed pre and
Christmas and post story
00:31:24.78\00:31:30.05
in all the New Testament. So, go
to Luke chapter 1, because the
clue is right here,
00:31:30.05\00:31:33.86
and you need to know this. She
is a Gen Z-er. I'm just telling
00:31:33.86\00:31:38.96
you, she -- if she were alive
today, she would be a Gen Z-er.
Why? Because Gen Z is between
00:31:38.96\00:31:42.90
the age of 13 and 24. She's
right there. In fact, Karen and
00:31:42.90\00:31:49.04
I were reading a book last
night for worship. One author
00:31:49.04\00:31:51.77
suggesting she was either 12,
13, or 14 -- right there. "Who
you talking about, Dwight?"
00:31:51.77\00:31:55.11
I'm talking about this little
Gen Z-er who ends up being the
star of the Christmas story,
00:31:55.11\00:32:00.85
almost. There was a
bigger star. >> Take a look at
00:32:00.85\00:32:05.45
Luke chapter 1. Let's check this
one out. Verse 26. I'm in the
00:32:05.45\00:32:09.89
NIV. "In the sixth month of
Elizabeth's pregnancy --" so,
that's John the Baptist's
00:32:09.89\00:32:13.40
mother, alright? -- in the sixth
month of her pregnancy, "God
sent the angel Gabriel to
00:32:13.40\00:32:17.47
Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to
a virgin pledged to be married
to a man named Joseph,
00:32:17.47\00:32:23.54
a descendant of David. The
virgin's name was Mary." here's
00:32:23.54\00:32:28.44
that little teen. "The Angel
went to her and said,
'Greetings, you who are highly
00:32:28.44\00:32:32.98
favored! The Lord is with you.'"
Wow. Isn't that incredible? I
mean, can you believe this?
00:32:32.98\00:32:38.29
Somehow, you can be between the
ages of 13 and 24, and you can
be a teen and it could be said
00:32:38.29\00:32:43.39
of you, "You are highly favored,
and the Lord is with you."
00:32:43.39\00:32:46.26
I'm telling you, if you fall
into that age bracket, don't you
00:32:46.26\00:32:50.13
ever back off the thought that
God has something big for you to
do. Come on, look what he did
00:32:50.13\00:32:54.30
with that little girl. She had
no clue this was going to be her
00:32:54.30\00:32:59.31
lot in life. Alright, got to
keep reading. Read verse 29. And
Mary -- okay, this little
00:32:59.31\00:33:04.28
teen -- and, "Mary was greatly
troubled at his words and
wondered what kind of greeting
00:33:04.28\00:33:09.65
this might be." I mean,
why wouldn't she be troubled?
00:33:09.65\00:33:12.55
Come on. Number one, the
angel has just showed up in your
00:33:12.55\00:33:15.32
bedroom. [ Light laughter ] That
would scare you. And number two,
00:33:15.32\00:33:18.73
teens are used to be called --
used to being called everything
by family and friends,
00:33:18.73\00:33:22.50
but nobody's ever come along
and called me "highly favored of
00:33:22.50\00:33:27.24
God." [ Sighs ] I'm telling you.
Don't you sell yourself short.
00:33:27.24\00:33:33.24
God has something big for you.
You just wait and see. Okay,
pick it up, verse 30.
00:33:33.24\00:33:38.78
"But the angel said to her,
'Do not be afraid.'" I love that
00:33:38.78\00:33:42.62
Gabriel. Wherever he shows up in
the New Testament, his opening
words are, "Do not be afraid."
00:33:42.62\00:33:45.92
It must have been -- Hey, we got
a Gabriel right here. [ Light
00:33:45.92\00:33:49.59
laughter ] It must have been,
Gabe -- It must have been, there
was something about Gabriel's
00:33:49.59\00:33:55.36
[Sighs] person. Pshhh! You
know, and there's light, and
00:33:55.36\00:34:00.44
everybody's petrified. Yeah,
"Don't -- Hey -- Hey, girl --
00:34:00.44\00:34:04.67
teen, don't be afraid." "Don't
be afraid, Mary. You have found
00:34:04.67\00:34:08.84
favor with God. You will
conceive and give birth to a
son, and you are to call Him
00:34:08.84\00:34:12.15
Jesus. He will be great and will
be called the Son of the Most
High. The Lord God will give Him
00:34:12.15\00:34:17.02
the throne of His father David,
and He will reign over Jacob's
descendants forever; and His
00:34:17.02\00:34:21.12
kingdom will never end.'" "My
Lord, you are talking about the
00:34:21.12\00:34:25.73
Messiah. I am going to give
birth to Him? That's impossible.
I've never had sex with
00:34:25.73\00:34:34.70
anybody." Now, I need to hit
the "pause" button right here,
00:34:34.70\00:34:38.74
because you and I live in such a
crazy culture, with upside-down
00:34:38.74\00:34:42.94
morals that there are actually
-- get this -- there are
actually some young men --
00:34:42.94\00:34:46.61
there are some teens -- there
are some women -- young women --
who because all their friends
00:34:46.61\00:34:54.22
are having sex, feel like
they're weird. And the friends
00:34:54.22\00:35:00.90
who know that they're still
virgins kind of titter and
taunt. Unbelievable.
00:35:00.90\00:35:08.37
I'm telling you what,
girl. Don't you give in that
00:35:08.37\00:35:12.81
sweet-talking. I'm telling you
what, boy. Those false eyelashes
-- don't you let them get your
00:35:12.81\00:35:17.15
heart. [ Laughter ] Don't
believe it. Don't believe it,
00:35:17.15\00:35:23.32
because you know what? Listen,
listen, listen. God can do
00:35:23.32\00:35:29.09
business -- big business -- with
people who are walking down his
designated pathway.
00:35:29.09\00:35:37.37
Don't you ever let -- Now, how
does that song go? "Don't you
00:35:37.37\00:35:40.60
let nobody turn you 'round."
Hold that ground, girl. Hold
00:35:40.60\00:35:45.11
their ground. God has something
big for you. He'll honor you.
Yeah, you'll get the last laugh.
00:35:45.11\00:35:50.68
Verse 34.
00:35:50.68\00:35:52.55
And Mary said -- "'How will this
be,' she asked the angel, 'since
00:35:52.58\00:35:56.92
I am a virgin?'" And
the angel answered, 'The
00:35:56.92\00:36:00.52
Holy Spirit will come on you,
and the power of the Most High
00:36:00.52\00:36:03.02
will overshadow you. So
the holy one to be born will
00:36:03.02\00:36:05.33
be called the Son of God.'"
00:36:05.33\00:36:08.00
Wow. Did you catch that? "The
Holy Spirit will come into you,
and your life is going to
00:36:08.03\00:36:12.03
forever be changed infinitely
for the better." It was that way
00:36:12.03\00:36:15.90
for Mary. And guess what. It's
going to be that way for you.
00:36:15.90\00:36:17.91
Same Holy Spirit. You're not
going to believe how he
rearranges the landscape
00:36:17.91\00:36:24.11
if you'll just let him. So, that
gift we're talking about, that
can chase the blues,
00:36:24.11\00:36:29.58
I'm going to suggest to you that
that gift is the Holy Spirit
00:36:29.58\00:36:33.66
Himself. I want you to think
about that gift for a moment. I
00:36:33.66\00:36:36.02
want you to think about the Holy
Spirit. We need to go to one of
the great Christmas shopping
00:36:36.02\00:36:39.43
stores on the planet. Put Macy's
on the screen. Okay, there's
00:36:39.43\00:36:44.60
Macy's. This is the big -- This
is -- This is the -- the mother
00:36:44.60\00:36:48.30
of Macy's stores. We have one
down in South Bend, but this is
Macy's. You and I are going into
00:36:48.30\00:36:52.61
Macy's tonight together, you and
me. Okay, so, we go into the
door. We go into the door.
00:36:52.61\00:36:56.81
And as soon as you get in, you
know, Macy's, they always put
the perfume counter
00:36:56.81\00:36:59.18
right there. So there's this
-- this lovely young attendant,
00:36:59.18\00:37:02.95
she's standing by a little table
off to the side a little bit.
There are two gifts, nicely
00:37:02.95\00:37:06.32
wrapped, on her table. She sees
us coming in, and she says,
"Hey, yo, come over here.
00:37:06.32\00:37:11.46
we've got something for you."
"Oh, really?" So, we walk over,
00:37:11.46\00:37:15.26
you and I, and we look at that.
She says, "Listen, this is the
Christmas season, and we have
00:37:15.26\00:37:19.57
a gift for you. You may have
this gift." And she points at
00:37:19.57\00:37:24.01
one box. "Or you may have this
gift. Now, to make it easy, I'm
going to show you what's inside
00:37:24.01\00:37:29.28
both boxes." And I look at
you and I wink, and I say, "Man,
00:37:29.28\00:37:33.95
that's the way I like it, when
you know what you're asking for,
00:37:33.95\00:37:37.75
before you ask." So she opens
the first box. "[ Gasps ] Whoo!
I'm telling you what.
00:37:37.75\00:37:42.12
I have seen these. I have seen
these advertised in those flight
00:37:42.12\00:37:46.13
magazines that are targeting
rich readers. I have seen these
handcrafted, European with every
00:37:46.13\00:37:53.74
gadget on them -- wristwatches.
Thousands of bucks. Just saw one
last week in Prague
00:37:53.74\00:38:03.18
for like -- for $8,000.
Wow. And I'd love to own
00:38:03.18\00:38:09.12
one of those." Said, "Or --
Listen, you can have this box,
00:38:09.12\00:38:13.49
or you can have this box." And
so she opens the other box, and
inside the other box
00:38:13.49\00:38:16.86
is a little card that's been
engraved. And inscribed on the
00:38:16.86\00:38:20.53
card are these words. "The
bearer of this card is entitled
to the entire inventory
00:38:20.53\00:38:30.27
of this Macy's department store.
Signed by the chairman of the
board for macys.inc."
00:38:30.27\00:38:39.65
So, she asks -- She asks you and
me -- she says, "Hey, listen,
00:38:39.65\00:38:43.89
which one --
which one do you want?"
00:38:43.89\00:38:45.42
Now, I'm with you, and I can
tell by looking at you, you are
00:38:45.45\00:38:47.79
a lot faster than me.
And I'm having a hard time
00:38:47.79\00:38:50.36
with this one. So I
drop my voice, because
00:38:50.36\00:38:52.46
I don't want this woman to think
I'm making a fool out of myself.
00:38:52.46\00:38:54.76
And I say, "Listen,
psst-psst-psst-psst psst-psst.
00:38:54.76\00:38:56.63
Did I hear this right? I
can have that beautifully
00:38:56.63\00:39:00.27
exquisite European
wristwatch right now?"
00:39:00.27\00:39:04.84
And you nod at me. "Oh."
00:39:04.84\00:39:07.61
But I can also have, if I wish,
the entire store of goods and
00:39:07.61\00:39:14.15
goodies, which, of course, would
include the European wristwatch,
00:39:14.15\00:39:17.19
right now?"
00:39:17.19\00:39:19.35
You nod again. I say,
"Man, this is a tough choice.
00:39:19.39\00:39:23.19
What am I going to do?" You're
looking at me and saying, "You
00:39:23.19\00:39:29.23
nincompoop." [ Laughter ] Take
the one gift that brings every
other gift with it."
00:39:29.23\00:39:35.64
>> No. >> Ah, good counsel.
A century ago, in a little book
00:39:35.64\00:39:43.61
called "My Life Today," these
words were written. I put them
00:39:43.61\00:39:46.25
on the screen for you.
Dyn-o-mite. On the screen, "With
00:39:46.25\00:39:49.48
the reception of this gift --"
the author has just been talking
about the Holy Spirit.
00:39:49.48\00:39:53.22
"With the reception of this
gift, all other gifts would be
00:39:53.22\00:39:59.26
ours." Mercy. Keep reading.
00:39:59.26\00:40:01.23
"For we are to have this gift
according to the plenitude of
00:40:01.26\00:40:03.63
the riches of
the grace of Christ."
00:40:03.63\00:40:05.83
Mercy. Keep reading. "And
he is ready to supply every
00:40:05.83\00:40:09.17
soul --" your soul and
my soul -- "according to our
00:40:09.17\00:40:11.77
capacity to receive."
00:40:11.77\00:40:13.41
Listen, folks, whatever is --
whatever is wrapped up in this
capital-G gift called the
00:40:13.44\00:40:17.98
Holy Spirit, this much we know
right now, from what we have
00:40:17.98\00:40:22.35
just read. When you receive this
gift -- the gift of the Holy
Spirit -- when you receive this
00:40:22.35\00:40:27.36
gift, you get every other gift,
from the rich storehouse of
Christ Jesus, in the universe.
00:40:27.36\00:40:31.56
It's all yours. You have it all.
So, the big question is, "Do you
00:40:31.56\00:40:40.57
want the watch, or do you want
the whole store, including the
watch?" That is, like, not even
00:40:40.57\00:40:46.84
a question. Now, now that
you've agreed with me, hold on.
00:40:46.84\00:40:50.01
Don't go anywhere now, because,
come on, that means that if we
will ask for this capital-G gift
00:40:50.01\00:40:56.99
of Christmas, called the Holy
Spirit -- the gifts of the
Spirit, which includes
00:40:56.99\00:41:00.76
all of the gifts, wouldn't it
follow that some of those other
gifts could be God's gift to me
00:41:00.76\00:41:08.70
to deal with my mental-health
despair right now? Surely, if he
00:41:08.70\00:41:17.37
says, "Every gift you have, is
you have the gift of the Holy
Spirit, surely there's a gift
00:41:17.37\00:41:20.71
somewhere in there that will
help me, what I'm going through
00:41:20.71\00:41:24.78
right now. Right? You say,
"Well, Dwight, I don't know.
00:41:24.78\00:41:30.12
I'm not sure. Oh, come on."
Think of -- I'm going to give
00:41:30.12\00:41:34.16
you 10 of the gifts -- 10 of the
gifts in that storehouse. These
00:41:34.16\00:41:37.06
are 10 of them. There'll be a
hundred more where these came
from, okay? I'm going to put
00:41:37.06\00:41:39.16
them on the screen for you, so
you can just see them in and
register them in your brain.
00:41:39.16\00:41:42.80
Here they go. Gift number 1. Not
in any particular order. The
gift of peace. For what?
00:41:42.80\00:41:46.37
For our fear. Well, that's a
good one. I'll take that one.
00:41:46.37\00:41:49.40
The gift of hope for our
anxiety. Well, I don't mind that
00:41:49.40\00:41:53.04
one either.
00:41:53.04\00:41:54.11
Number 3, the gift of trust
and faith for our depression.
00:41:54.14\00:41:57.35
Ooh, I could use
that. Number 4, the gift of
00:41:57.35\00:42:00.72
forgiveness for our guilt.
There are people all over the --
00:42:00.72\00:42:03.55
all over this planet that are
dying physically and mentally
00:42:03.55\00:42:07.06
because they don't have
forgiveness setting them free.
00:42:07.06\00:42:10.29
Huh. Number 5,
the gift of purity and
00:42:10.29\00:42:13.19
cleansing for our
impurity. Number 6, the gift of
00:42:13.19\00:42:16.13
self-control for
our runaway appetite.
00:42:16.13\00:42:18.70
Number 7, the gift of
humility for our oversized ego.
00:42:18.70\00:42:21.90
Number 8, the gift of
courage for our timidity.
00:42:21.90\00:42:24.24
Number 9, the gift of
power for our weakness.
00:42:24.24\00:42:26.94
Number 10, the gift of
discernment for our uncertainty.
00:42:26.94\00:42:30.08
And guess what. There are a
hundred more where those 10 just
00:42:30.11\00:42:34.42
came from. Surely, one of those
gifts would bless my life, your
00:42:34.42\00:42:39.12
life in the midst of this
mental-health despair that we
are experiencing. Surely there's
00:42:39.12\00:42:45.26
a gift for me and a gift for
you. Only if you ask for the one
00:42:45.26\00:42:53.30
gift. Ask for the one, you get
them all. I know what some of
00:42:53.30\00:42:56.30
you are thinking. "This is
really preposterous. I mean,
00:42:56.30\00:42:59.04
come on. One gift gives all the
other gifts? Who came up with
00:42:59.04\00:43:01.71
that little fairy tale?" Oh!
I don't think it's a fairy tale
00:43:01.71\00:43:05.31
at all. Once upon a time,
the Almighty God looked down,
00:43:05.31\00:43:08.08
and there was a young, young
brand-newly crowned king, and
God showed up to this king
00:43:08.08\00:43:16.26
in a dream. He said, "Hey, boy.
Yo, Solomon. Ask me for a gift,
00:43:16.26\00:43:23.93
I'll give it to you." And
Solomon, in that dream, he
00:43:23.93\00:43:29.64
thinks, And he looks up into the
Almighty's space, and he says,
00:43:29.64\00:43:36.54
"I want the gift of your wisdom,
so that I might, as a child,
00:43:36.54\00:43:43.62
lead your people." And the
Almighty God smiles down on that
slumbering young boy, and He
00:43:43.62\00:43:52.56
says, "You know what? I love
you. Because you've asked for
the one gift of wisdom, I'm
00:43:52.56\00:44:00.74
going to give you the riches,
I'm going to give you the fame,
I'm going to give you the power,
00:44:00.74\00:44:05.97
I'm going to give you the
dominion you didn't ask for,
just because you asked
00:44:05.97\00:44:12.81
for the right gift." Was it
preposterous for God to make one
00:44:12.81\00:44:17.55
gift the giving of all other
gifts? Apparently, it's not
preposterous to God.
00:44:17.55\00:44:20.92
He can do whatever he wants
to do. One gift -- capital-G --
00:44:20.92\00:44:24.96
brings every other gift with it.
Gifts to deal with my
mental-health issues right now.
00:44:24.96\00:44:28.06
Gifts to deal with your
mental-health issues right now
00:44:28.06\00:44:32.43
as we're speaking.
Man, read it again.
00:44:32.43\00:44:33.84
Verse 35. Isn't that something?
00:44:33.87\00:44:35.80
The angel said to little Mary,
"The Holy Spirit will come on
00:44:35.80\00:44:39.91
you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you.
00:44:39.91\00:44:43.55
So the holy one to be born
will be called the Son of God."
00:44:43.55\00:44:48.15
Isn't that amazing? When the
Holy Spirit comes into you, what
grows inside of you is
00:44:48.18\00:44:56.19
Jesus Himself. Quite literally,
with Mary, when the Holy Spirit
00:44:56.19\00:45:01.13
came into her, what began to
grow inside of her was the Lord
Jesus Himself. Quite personally,
00:45:01.13\00:45:07.74
with you and me, when the Holy
Spirit comes -- comes into you
and me, what grows inside of you
00:45:07.74\00:45:15.01
and me is Jesus Himself. Until
-- Until -- Until -- Listen to
00:45:15.01\00:45:20.15
this -- Until you are -- you are
so filled with Jesus that you're
going to birth Jesus in your
00:45:20.15\00:45:26.15
social circles where you hang
out. "What do you mean, 'birth
00:45:26.15\00:45:29.39
Jesus'?" Well, he's just going
to come out of you. [ Chuckling
00:45:29.39\00:45:33.13
] He's coming out of you.
Because you got filled. You're
going to birth Jesus
00:45:33.13\00:45:37.27
in those executive -- in those
executive suites where you work.
00:45:37.27\00:45:42.50
You're going to birth Jesus
there, and he's -- Jesus is
00:45:42.50\00:45:46.41
going to come out, and he's
going to be what they need, too.
When the Holy Spirit comes into
00:45:46.41\00:45:50.71
you, Jesus grows inside of you
until you birth Him in a dark
world that desperately needs Him
00:45:50.71\00:45:59.45
right now. It's not an anomaly.
It's not some little fake
00:45:59.45\00:46:03.83
Christmas fairy tale. The daily
gift of the Holy Spirit, that's
00:46:03.83\00:46:11.20
why it is so critical. Now,
look, some of us are struggling.
00:46:11.20\00:46:15.34
"Come on, get back to this 'Blue
Christmas' stuff, Dwight." Some
of us here are struggling.
00:46:15.34\00:46:19.57
Some of us watching right now
on livestream, wherever you are,
00:46:19.57\00:46:25.48
some of us are struggling right
now with mental-health issues
00:46:25.48\00:46:31.62
big-time. There's a generation
that is struggling right now.
Yeah, listen, I understand that.
00:46:31.62\00:46:39.83
This Jesus -- you know, this
Jesus that you birth -- isn't He
00:46:39.83\00:46:43.93
the one that speaks to our
anxieties? What did He say in
the Sermon on the Mount?
00:46:43.93\00:46:47.97
Come on, put the Sermon on
the Mount -- Matthew chapter 6.
00:46:47.97\00:46:50.11
What did Jesus say about our
anxieties, please? "Do not
worry, or be anxious,
00:46:50.11\00:46:54.38
about your life." "But seek
first My kingdom. I'll take care
00:46:54.38\00:46:56.98
of you. I'll give everything
else to you. You just seek. Seek
00:46:56.98\00:47:00.68
me." So, He says, I can deal
with your anxieties. How about
00:47:00.68\00:47:03.49
our fears? Just before He is
executed, what is Jesus saying?
Put that on the screen.
00:47:03.49\00:47:06.99
"Let not your heart be troubled.
Neither let it be afraid."
00:47:06.99\00:47:10.89
"Trust in me. I'll take care of
you. You don't have to be
afraid. Those fears do not
00:47:10.89\00:47:15.26
paralyze you. Do you understand?
I've already conquered those
00:47:15.26\00:47:18.73
fears." "Well, yeah, but what
about my depression, Lord? What
00:47:18.73\00:47:21.70
about..." The same night. Put
these words on the screen.
"Peace I leave with you, My
00:47:21.70\00:47:25.74
peace I give you." Every other
gift comes with this, asking for
00:47:25.74\00:47:31.78
the Holy Spirit. The one big
gift. Which is why we don't need
00:47:31.78\00:47:38.02
a DIY. Come on, we don't
need a DIY list today, no.
00:47:38.02\00:47:41.39
You know what we need? We
need a DIY prayer. You pray this
00:47:41.39\00:47:45.49
prayer. Here's the deal. You
pray this prayer every morning.
00:47:45.49\00:47:48.30
You mean every word, and you've
got it every day for the New
00:47:48.30\00:47:53.37
Year. I promise you. I'm
going to give you a prayer now.
00:47:53.37\00:47:56.24
I'm going to ask you please to
memorize it. There is no study
00:47:56.24\00:47:59.27
guide. Just lock this in your
brain. You got a bright mind.
You'll hang on to this.
00:47:59.27\00:48:03.88
Let's put the prayer on
the screen, please. Here's the
00:48:03.88\00:48:08.62
prayer. So simple. "Dear Jesus,
please fill me with Your healing
00:48:08.62\00:48:16.42
Holy Spirit today. Amen."
Now, look, I understand about
00:48:16.42\00:48:24.37
depression. Some depressions
are chemically induced. They're
00:48:24.37\00:48:29.27
caused by chemical imbalances,
and the only way they can be
dealt with is by dealing with a
00:48:29.27\00:48:36.08
chemical imbalance. The chemical
imbalance can be dealt with
00:48:36.08\00:48:40.72
sometimes as simply as through
sunlight, as we're now learning.
It can be dealt with through
00:48:40.72\00:48:45.55
drugs, as we well know. It can
even be dealt with through diet.
00:48:45.55\00:48:51.09
I had a young woman who might
be sitting in this service right
00:48:51.09\00:48:54.13
here. I don't know. But she came
up to me. She came up to me and
00:48:54.13\00:48:57.53
she said, "You know what? I
have gone through major, major
00:48:57.53\00:49:02.17
depression. And they tried
everything -- counseling this,
medicine this, everything,
00:49:02.17\00:49:06.14
everything. And then somebody
came along to me one day and
said, 'Have you tried chia
00:49:06.14\00:49:10.38
seeds?'" Chia seeds. Yeah,
omega-3. She said, "I took chia
seeds, and the depression
00:49:10.38\00:49:16.55
has never returned." I can't
verify the veracity of that.
00:49:16.55\00:49:22.92
I'm not a doctor. Listen,
the whole point right here
00:49:22.92\00:49:28.36
is, pray the prayer and then
swallow the pills. It's okay.
00:49:28.36\00:49:36.81
That's the point. It's okay to
have pills. It is not a denial
of faith. Do you know who
00:49:36.81\00:49:40.11
invented those pills? Do you
know invented medical science?
00:49:40.11\00:49:42.28
Guess what. Jesus invented it.
The Great Physician. He said,
"Swallow these pills.
00:49:42.28\00:49:45.81
Keep praying to me.
But swallow. It's okay."
00:49:45.81\00:49:51.95
Somebody will say, "Well, I
really shouldn't." No, here's
what I'm telling you.
00:49:51.95\00:49:56.12
The Holy Spirit --
The Holy Spirit Himself
00:49:56.16\00:50:02.56
is absolutely
brilliant. He knows exactly
00:50:02.56\00:50:05.13
how you're wired.
00:50:05.13\00:50:06.33
He knows exactly how to lead you
down a path that will bring you
what your heart wants
00:50:06.37\00:50:10.91
from Him most. He's brilliant.
Jesus is all-powerful.
00:50:10.91\00:50:14.31
Now, here's what happens. These
two team up, and they have
people working for them.
00:50:14.31\00:50:18.51
And if you go and talk
to those people that work
00:50:18.55\00:50:20.28
for them, those people --
because sometimes the truth
00:50:20.28\00:50:23.28
of the matter is, it's not drugs
you need, it's not diet you
00:50:23.28\00:50:25.39
need, it's just the -- the
thought processes mentally and
00:50:25.39\00:50:28.62
emotionally need
to get readjusted.
00:50:28.62\00:50:30.19
And somebody listening in can
say, "That's it, right there."
00:50:30.19\00:50:35.63
But no matter what avenue
is chosen, the Great Physician
00:50:35.66\00:50:44.01
and the Holy Spirit. Wow.
Let's -- Let's look at that
00:50:44.01\00:50:49.38
prayer again, in closing here.
Please put the prayer up one
00:50:49.38\00:50:53.05
more time. "Dear Jesus, please
fill me with Your healing Holy
00:50:53.05\00:51:02.32
Spirit today. Amen." Okay, let's
repeat it out loud together.
00:51:02.32\00:51:05.53
Come on, let's just pray
this prayer right now, out loud
00:51:05.53\00:51:08.63
together. "Dear Jesus, please
fill me with Your healing Holy
Spirit today. Amen."
00:51:08.63\00:51:16.07
Please take that off the screen.
What's that prayer?" >> "Dear
Jesus, please fill me
00:51:16.07\00:51:22.71
with Your healing
Holy Spirit today. Amen."
00:51:22.71\00:51:26.75
>> You go! You got it. You'll
never forget that prayer. [
Chuckling ] It's so simple.
00:51:26.75\00:51:33.25
But with that capital-G gift,
you get every other gift that
00:51:33.25\00:51:42.66
you're needing. But you got to
ask. You got to pray. And he's
00:51:42.66\00:51:49.47
ready. And that mental-health
despair? That mental-health
despair starts getting dealt
00:51:49.47\00:51:55.04
with right now and right here.
[ "Joy to the World" begins ] ¤¤
00:51:55.04\00:52:12.39
¤¤ ¤¤ [ Congregation sings ]
00:52:12.39\00:52:29.91
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:52:29.91\00:52:59.91
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:52:59.91\00:53:29.97
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:53:29.97\00:54:00.04
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:00.04\00:54:25.56
Oh, God, we sing that because
that's the answer, right there.
The wonders of your love
00:54:25.56\00:54:33.10
for every man, woman, and child
in this space, on this planet
00:54:33.10\00:54:39.81
right now. "Blue Christmas" --
we know the meaning. But here's
00:54:39.81\00:54:47.68
the deal. What we're humbly
asking is, if you give us that
capital-G gift, we're going to
00:54:47.68\00:54:54.66
surrender to you our
mental-health needs. And you'll
meet them, please, so that the
00:54:54.66\00:55:04.57
peace of Christ will abide in
our hearts, and we will face the
new year with absolute
00:55:04.57\00:55:13.44
confidence. In Jesus'
name. Amen. [ "Joy to the World"
00:55:13.44\00:55:20.95
begins ] ¤¤ [ Music stops
] [ "The First Noel" begins ]
00:55:20.95\00:55:37.33
What is it about the holiday
season that has given you the
00:55:37.33\00:55:41.34
greatest joy? Is it the time
spent cutting down the family
Christmas tree at the local
00:55:41.34\00:55:45.34
farm? Or maybe a special
ornament placed on that lighted
bough? Or do you find joy
00:55:45.34\00:55:49.74
in contemplating the profound
meaning of the carols we sing?
Maybe Christmas joy is found in
00:55:49.74\00:55:55.05
the memories you make together
with friends and family, and the
00:55:55.05\00:55:58.82
spirit of giving that surrounds
this season. As we reflect on
these joys, let's always
00:55:58.82\00:56:04.39
remember the great light who
guides us, the one who brings
joy and meaning to life, a
00:56:04.39\00:56:09.53
loving Father who is at the
heart of all treasured
relationships, and the wonderful
00:56:09.53\00:56:13.77
God who gave the ultimate
gift in a newborn child.
00:56:13.77\00:56:17.71
Some of my joy this season
comes in part from your letters,
00:56:17.74\00:56:20.91
your prayers, and your
faithful giving of support
00:56:20.91\00:56:23.45
to this ministry which reaches
literally around the world.
00:56:23.45\00:56:26.85
If you've been blessed
this year, I'd like to ask you
00:56:26.85\00:56:29.35
to join the many people
who financially support this
00:56:29.35\00:56:31.65
global New Perceptions
ministry. It's simple to do.
00:56:31.65\00:56:35.69
Just call our toll-free number,
877-- two words -- HIS-WILL.
00:56:35.69\00:56:40.26
Our friendly operators
will be happy to help you.
00:56:40.26\00:56:43.57
You can also click the "donate"
link at the top of our website.
00:56:43.57\00:56:46.47
Trust me, no gift is too
small for God to use to spread
00:56:46.47\00:56:50.27
the good news of
His love, His sacrifice,
00:56:50.27\00:56:53.04
and His future
plans for our happiness.
00:56:53.04\00:56:55.68
Every gift, by the way, is
entirely invested in our mission
00:56:55.68\00:56:59.75
to communicate God's good
news to a generation who needs
00:56:59.75\00:57:03.15
the hope found in
Jesus, which will bring them
00:57:03.15\00:57:05.79
to joy in life. So,
once again, the number to
00:57:05.79\00:57:08.66
call is 877-HIS-WILL.
This season, my wish for you
00:57:08.66\00:57:13.50
is that the Mighty
God, the Everlasting Father,
00:57:13.50\00:57:16.70
the Prince of Peace will be
at the heart of the very best
00:57:16.70\00:57:20.07
memories made together
with your family and friends.
00:57:20.07\00:57:23.97
¤¤ ¤¤
00:57:23.97\00:57:43.49
[ Piano plays ] ¤¤
00:57:53.37\00:58:06.45
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:06.45\00:58:22.60
¤¤
00:58:22.60\00:58:28.97