Chapter 13, "Rejoicing in the Lord." 00:00:33.04\00:00:36.08 Hello and Welcome to "Steps to Christ in Song." 00:00:37.94\00:00:40.01 Today, we're gonna be looking at "Rejoicing in 00:00:40.41\00:00:42.66 the Lord." You know the Lord came to give us the 00:00:42.69\00:00:45.27 fullness of joy and it is Jesus whole purpose for 00:00:45.30\00:00:49.39 us to be happy. Before we look at this topic, 00:00:49.42\00:00:52.12 I'm gonna ask Jonathan to lead us in a word of prayer. 00:00:52.15\00:00:54.51 Let's bow our heads. Dear Jesus, teach us how to 00:00:55.43\00:00:59.71 truly rejoice in the Lord and help us not to be 00:00:59.74\00:01:04.22 burden down with the cares of this world, but 00:01:04.25\00:01:08.15 instead fill us with your joy. And Jesus thanks so 00:01:08.18\00:01:12.88 much for all the, the blessings that you lavish 00:01:12.91\00:01:16.15 upon each one of us, and help us to notice those 00:01:16.18\00:01:20.70 blessings each day, Amen. Amen 00:01:20.73\00:01:23.60 Whether we like it or not, when we profess to be 00:01:27.61\00:01:29.99 Christ followers, we become God's 00:01:30.02\00:01:31.74 representatives to those around us. 00:01:31.77\00:01:33.48 When speaking to His father, Jesus said in John 00:01:34.24\00:01:36.73 17:18, as he sent me into the world, I've also sent 00:01:36.76\00:01:40.93 them into the world. That's a big responsibility, 00:01:40.96\00:01:44.16 but it's also a great privilege. Just think, you 00:01:44.69\00:01:48.31 could be responsible for leading someone else into 00:01:48.34\00:01:50.82 a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:01:50.85\00:01:52.65 If they are like a Christian, he has done for 00:01:53.55\00:01:54.79 you they'll want what you have, you just need to make 00:01:54.82\00:01:58.41 sure that your relationship with Christ is something 00:01:58.44\00:02:00.71 worth wanting. The Christian life should 00:02:00.74\00:02:04.20 be one of joy and peace, but for some of us it 00:02:04.23\00:02:06.49 become one of sadness and gloom, this may 00:02:06.52\00:02:09.06 made God's enemies Satan happy, but it's now 00:02:09.09\00:02:11.57 will God wants for his children. Life isn't always 00:02:11.60\00:02:14.45 easy, but the Bible says in Roman's 8:28, that all 00:02:14.48\00:02:17.89 things work together for good to those who love God. 00:02:17.92\00:02:20.26 That means that God will never let anything bad 00:02:21.43\00:02:23.60 happen to us, unless there is some greater good 00:02:23.63\00:02:25.84 to come out of it. So, other than complaining 00:02:25.87\00:02:29.46 about the difficulties in life, let's count the 00:02:29.49\00:02:32.05 unnumbered blessings that God gives us each day. 00:02:32.08\00:02:34.15 Think of it, God loves you so much that he 00:02:34.81\00:02:37.51 poured out all heaven and he gives of Jesus Christ, 00:02:37.54\00:02:40.51 so that you could be in Heaven with him for 00:02:40.92\00:02:43.03 eternity. This fact alone should be a constant 00:02:43.06\00:02:45.97 source of joy and peace; you are someone very 00:02:46.00\00:02:48.59 special to God. So lift your head up and praise 00:02:48.62\00:02:51.35 Him for us wonderful love. 00:02:51.38\00:02:52.56 When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, 00:03:05.58\00:03:09.83 When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, 00:03:10.06\00:03:14.19 Count your many blessings, name them one by one, 00:03:14.67\00:03:18.65 And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. 00:03:19.17\00:03:22.98 Count your blessings, name them one by one, 00:03:23.68\00:03:27.78 Count your blessings, see what God hath done! 00:03:28.26\00:03:32.21 Count your blessings, name them one by one, 00:03:32.73\00:03:36.67 Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. 00:03:37.20\00:03:42.45 Are you ever burdened with a load of care? 00:03:43.52\00:03:52.99 Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? 00:03:53.86\00:04:03.01 Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, 00:04:03.85\00:04:13.36 And you will be singing as the days go by. 00:04:14.14\00:04:18.46 When you look at others with their lands and gold, 00:04:19.23\00:04:23.42 Think that Christ has promised you 00:04:23.73\00:04:25.59 His wealth untold; Count your many 00:04:25.62\00:04:29.14 blessings wealth can never buy 00:04:29.17\00:04:32.40 Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. 00:04:32.85\00:04:36.90 Count your many blessings, name them one by one, 00:04:37.41\00:04:41.43 Count your blessings, see what God hath done! 00:04:41.46\00:04:45.90 Count your many blessings, name them one by one, 00:04:46.32\00:04:50.30 Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. 00:04:50.84\00:04:56.02 So, amid the conflict whether great or small, 00:04:56.89\00:05:00.95 Do not be discouraged, God is over all; 00:05:01.39\00:05:05.63 Count your many blessings, angels will attend, 00:05:06.03\00:05:09.88 Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. 00:05:10.48\00:05:14.54 Count your many blessings, name them one by one, 00:05:14.92\00:05:19.00 Count your blessings, see what God hath done! 00:05:19.33\00:05:23.53 Count your many blessings, name them one by one, 00:05:24.03\00:05:27.81 Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. 00:05:28.30\00:05:32.66 Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. 00:05:32.92\00:05:42.93 Happiness is a choice and when I look at, 00:05:46.32\00:05:49.96 everything that God is doing in my life, 00:05:50.61\00:05:52.33 all the blessings He has given me, it's hard to be 00:05:52.55\00:05:54.91 gloomy or to complain. It's true that life is often 00:05:54.94\00:05:58.65 difficult in trying, but why make my life 00:05:58.68\00:06:02.18 miserable by dwelling in all the bad things that 00:06:02.21\00:06:04.31 happened or that are going to happen. 00:06:04.34\00:06:06.18 When, I can find so many other things in my life 00:06:07.25\00:06:10.44 to be cheerful about. You know that idea that 00:06:10.47\00:06:13.66 happiness is a choice is such an important truth 00:06:13.69\00:06:17.66 Caitlin that you talked about. If I think if 00:06:18.24\00:06:21.29 someone who is really happy and makes a choice 00:06:21.32\00:06:23.54 to be happy as Sharon. Sharon, can you suggest 00:06:23.57\00:06:27.01 to us strategies of how you remain happy? 00:06:27.04\00:06:30.46 Well, Mr. Lemon the experience that I had last 00:06:31.47\00:06:34.07 summer really changed my perspective a lot. 00:06:34.10\00:06:36.63 That summer, I was feeling so discouraged 00:06:38.44\00:06:41.12 is at least this one specific moment, 00:06:41.20\00:06:43.49 I was feeling very discouraged and away 00:06:43.52\00:06:46.60 from counselors and my friends in Fountain view 00:06:46.63\00:06:49.51 or anybody like that. I was feeling very 00:06:49.54\00:06:52.30 discouraged and I was feeling like I was in the 00:06:52.33\00:06:53.98 very dark pit. And I didn't know what to 00:06:54.43\00:06:57.28 do and even know, where to start and I pray to God 00:06:57.31\00:07:02.43 and that's the always the good thing to do. 00:07:03.43\00:07:04.74 It's always good thing. And, I prayed to God to 00:07:04.77\00:07:06.73 help me and he lead me to this little book that 00:07:06.76\00:07:10.07 I always wrote down. It's just a little tiny book 00:07:10.10\00:07:12.86 of notes and stuff. And I wrote down things 00:07:12.89\00:07:15.97 how he has helped me in the past and I wrote down 00:07:16.00\00:07:19.41 answer prayer requests or lessons that he taught me 00:07:19.44\00:07:22.83 and that I was reading this book. It dawned on me 00:07:22.86\00:07:26.96 that, even though then I realize it, but now it 00:07:26.99\00:07:31.67 helped me so much to realize that God was 00:07:31.70\00:07:36.99 telling me you know Sharon it doesn't matter, 00:07:37.02\00:07:40.46 where you are, whatever circumstances you are in, 00:07:40.92\00:07:43.16 how discouraged you are, I'm going to help you and 00:07:43.74\00:07:46.17 as I've helped you in the past I'm helping you now 00:07:46.20\00:07:49.01 and I'm with you right now. It's very comforting. 00:07:49.04\00:07:51.34 And you know the Israelites, they forgot how God 00:07:51.68\00:07:54.69 has let them, that's why they had all these doubts 00:07:54.72\00:07:57.98 and not in a faith in God. Yeah. 00:07:58.01\00:07:59.35 And, there is times when Satan hurls at us with 00:07:59.66\00:08:02.86 doubts and discouragement, but it's so important to 00:08:03.38\00:08:07.47 remember how he has helped us. And I want to 00:08:07.50\00:08:10.14 share a quote in "Rejoicing in the Lord" 00:08:10.17\00:08:11.95 chapter and it says when you look back into the 00:08:11.98\00:08:14.98 chapters of your life experience, do you not 00:08:15.01\00:08:17.71 find some pleasant pages, and we have to remember 00:08:17.74\00:08:21.29 the times when he has helped us. If we forget 00:08:21.32\00:08:24.82 then we'll just go into the dark pit as I have. 00:08:25.50\00:08:27.82 That's excellent and it fits perfectly with what 00:08:28.59\00:08:30.69 you have experienced. Yeah. 00:08:30.72\00:08:32.35 Thanks for sharing that. 00:08:32.44\00:08:33.47 It's a truth that our complaining not only 00:08:37.05\00:08:39.60 hurts our own Christian experience, but it also 00:08:39.63\00:08:43.05 makes Christianity unattractive to those who 00:08:43.08\00:08:46.22 don't know Christ. But, on the other hand, 00:08:46.25\00:08:48.84 when we praise God during the good times and 00:08:49.22\00:08:52.49 the bad it helps us to fend of discouragement and to 00:08:52.52\00:08:56.46 make the Christian walk an attractive option for 00:08:56.49\00:08:59.69 those who are trying to cope with the difficulties 00:08:59.72\00:09:02.55 of a life without Christ. Psalm 37 verses 4 and 5 00:09:02.90\00:09:08.36 instructs us, Delight yourself also in the 00:09:08.39\00:09:11.23 LORD and he shall give you the desires of your heart. 00:09:11.26\00:09:14.91 Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in Him 00:09:15.48\00:09:18.94 and He shall bring it to pass. When we trust in 00:09:19.14\00:09:23.10 God, and rejoice in His care even before, 00:09:23.13\00:09:26.39 we realize His fulfillment. We bear witness to 00:09:27.18\00:09:31.09 ourselves to those around us, and to the whole 00:09:31.12\00:09:34.07 Universe, that God is trustworthy and true. 00:09:34.10\00:09:38.54 Let our hearts be always cheerful, 00:09:41.38\00:09:45.17 Why should murmuring enter there, 00:09:45.20\00:09:49.21 When our kind and loving Father, 00:09:49.57\00:09:53.37 Makes us children of His care? 00:09:53.72\00:09:57.82 Always cheerful, always cheerful, 00:09:58.24\00:10:01.84 Sunshine all around we see; 00:10:02.21\00:10:05.99 Full of beauty is the path of duty, 00:10:06.41\00:10:10.11 cheerful we may always be. 00:10:10.53\00:10:14.44 With His gentle hand to lead us, 00:10:15.36\00:10:19.29 Should the powers of sin assail, 00:10:19.54\00:10:23.52 He has promised grace to help us; 00:10:23.91\00:10:27.90 Never can His promise fail. 00:10:27.93\00:10:31.80 Always cheerful, always cheerful, 00:10:32.61\00:10:36.11 sunshine all around we see, 00:10:36.54\00:10:40.33 full of beauty is the path of duty, 00:10:40.81\00:10:44.63 cheerful we may always be. 00:10:44.66\00:10:48.78 When we turn aside from duty, 00:10:49.60\00:10:53.44 comes the pain of doing wrong, 00:10:53.85\00:10:57.92 and the shadow creeping o'er us, 00:10:58.16\00:11:02.37 Checks the rapture of our song. 00:11:02.50\00:11:06.09 Always cheerful, always cheerful, 00:11:06.82\00:11:10.51 sunshine all around we see, 00:11:10.64\00:11:14.56 full of beauty is the path of duty, 00:11:15.02\00:11:18.83 cheerful we may always be. 00:11:18.86\00:11:23.33 Oh! the good are always happy, 00:11:24.13\00:11:27.59 And their path is ever bright; 00:11:28.04\00:11:31.77 Let us heed the blessed counsel, 00:11:32.19\00:11:35.96 Shun the wrong and love the right. 00:11:35.99\00:11:40.10 Always cheerful, always cheerful, 00:11:40.92\00:11:44.56 sunshine all around we see, 00:11:45.04\00:11:48.60 full of beauty is the path of duty, 00:11:49.21\00:11:52.87 cheerful we may always be. 00:11:53.35\00:11:57.66 Cheerful we may always, 00:11:57.84\00:12:01.94 Cheerful we may always be. 00:12:02.17\00:12:08.48 This is one of my favorite songs because 00:12:11.86\00:12:14.10 it shows how Christian should act. 00:12:14.13\00:12:15.46 Now lot of people think that 00:12:16.22\00:12:17.29 when you become a Christian everything is just 00:12:17.32\00:12:19.51 perfect and everything just goes well. 00:12:19.54\00:12:22.72 But, that's not true because it's not the 00:12:23.11\00:12:25.17 circumstance that changes but it's the attitude. 00:12:25.20\00:12:28.56 It changes from how can I handle this to asking God 00:12:28.94\00:12:34.03 Jesus you need to help me to do this 00:12:34.31\00:12:36.17 because I can't do it on my own. And that's how 00:12:36.31\00:12:38.67 Christians should act always asking God to help them. 00:12:38.70\00:12:41.37 So, that, even things like being cheerful 00:12:41.65\00:12:44.63 it can come with God's help. 00:12:45.52\00:12:47.11 Such an important truth you know Caitlin to realize 00:12:48.38\00:12:52.63 you're gonna have things that are unexpected that 00:12:52.66\00:12:54.28 will happen to you and to just trust in Jesus. 00:12:54.31\00:12:57.22 You know it's funny because about nine months ago 00:12:58.56\00:13:00.99 I had something very unexpected happen to me 00:13:01.02\00:13:03.10 actually Sharon and you were there too Mr. Lemon 00:13:03.24\00:13:05.73 Our school went on a backpacking trip 00:13:07.57\00:13:09.50 up to this remote lake that was surrounded by 00:13:09.97\00:13:12.17 mountains and we had a great weekend, but the night 00:13:12.65\00:13:17.82 before we had to leave it started to rain and it was 00:13:17.85\00:13:20.76 raining upon these mountains too. So the next morning 00:13:20.83\00:13:22.71 we woke up and it was still raining, but now we could 00:13:22.74\00:13:26.45 see that they were snow that gathered on top 00:13:26.48\00:13:28.33 of these mountains. So, I remember I was with 00:13:28.36\00:13:31.48 both of you we decided that we're gonna to head on 00:13:31.51\00:13:33.54 early, so that we can get a head start 00:13:33.57\00:13:35.65 on rest of everyone else but as we went up the 00:13:35.68\00:13:39.41 mountain, we just realized the fog was so thick and 00:13:39.44\00:13:44.39 the further we got up on the mountain the more 00:13:45.14\00:13:46.92 the rain started turning from just rain to snow and 00:13:46.95\00:13:52.14 after a couple of hours of hiking, 00:13:52.17\00:13:53.56 we realized we were dreadfully lost, and I remember 00:13:54.08\00:13:57.88 at that point thinking you know negativity 00:13:57.91\00:14:02.05 one negative word that I speak doesn't only react 00:14:02.57\00:14:05.48 upon myself, but it will bear through in 00:14:05.51\00:14:08.51 your actions as well. Yeah. 00:14:08.54\00:14:10.02 And so right then we made a rule that no negativity 00:14:10.33\00:14:13.65 allowed like you could not say one word 00:14:13.68\00:14:15.53 doubt or discouragement because it was crucial 00:14:15.56\00:14:18.66 that we kept our spirits up that we were lost, Cold, 00:14:18.69\00:14:21.61 wet, hungry. We had no idea, where we were and we are 00:14:21.64\00:14:24.86 on top of this mountain in the snow. 00:14:24.89\00:14:26.22 Yeah actually takes discipline to remain cheerful 00:14:26.42\00:14:28.81 in those kind of circumstances and just say 00:14:28.84\00:14:30.71 I'm not gonna think about anything negative 00:14:30.74\00:14:32.82 because we are panicky. 00:14:32.93\00:14:33.96 Yeah, I mean it was very easy to become discouraged. 00:14:34.22\00:14:36.88 I mean, you don't even know what's gonna 00:14:36.91\00:14:39.19 happen to you. You are completely lost 00:14:39.22\00:14:41.08 you can't see, where you are going or anything. 00:14:41.11\00:14:42.76 One thing I know that I remember really helped was 00:14:43.60\00:14:45.61 singing, I remember when we started singing 00:14:46.26\00:14:49.18 about half way through and we just started singing 00:14:49.21\00:14:51.84 all these hymns and praise song, any song 00:14:51.87\00:14:53.62 that came to our mind and I remember we would 00:14:53.65\00:14:55.91 sometimes altar the words 00:14:55.94\00:14:57.31 to fit the circumstances that we were in. 00:14:57.61\00:14:59.53 And for like 4 hours straight non-stop we would 00:15:01.56\00:15:03.84 be singing as we followed this stream that we hoped 00:15:04.06\00:15:07.53 would terrain into the Frazier River 00:15:08.12\00:15:10.12 behind our school. And, you know I think that singing 00:15:10.35\00:15:14.04 was really key and uplifting our hearts to God 00:15:14.07\00:15:17.36 and giving us peace to be able to trust in Him. 00:15:17.39\00:15:19.80 Yeah. In Isaiah 26:3 it says, that will keep him 00:15:20.07\00:15:24.91 in perfect peace, whose mind is stay on thee, 00:15:25.21\00:15:27.98 because he trusted in thee. And you know that night 00:15:28.57\00:15:32.21 after hiking for eight hours in rain and snow and 00:15:32.24\00:15:35.15 shale and brush and just being cold, wet, and hungry 00:15:35.57\00:15:39.00 we finally made our camp and we were met with the lot 00:15:39.03\00:15:42.45 more difficulties and actually the next day we were 00:15:42.48\00:15:46.55 found by a helicopter and lifted out of there, 00:15:47.25\00:15:49.28 but I just praised God because the whole experience 00:15:50.44\00:15:53.26 was a miracle and just for the promises that 00:15:53.29\00:15:57.65 he gave us in His word and through those songs 00:15:57.68\00:16:00.22 that we were able to sing, it really kept our 00:16:00.25\00:16:02.70 mind focused on Him. Yes. 00:16:02.73\00:16:04.66 And, was able to bring us peace so that we could 00:16:04.69\00:16:07.44 stay calm and trusting in Him throughout that 00:16:07.47\00:16:09.86 situation. Yeah, it certainly did, 00:16:10.14\00:16:12.39 especially the singing for me. 00:16:13.25\00:16:14.60 Thanks for sharing that. 00:16:16.21\00:16:17.24 Bad things happened to everyone 00:16:19.22\00:16:21.02 and this often makes us insecure as we worry about 00:16:21.67\00:16:24.54 what might happen to us. 00:16:24.57\00:16:25.66 But, it's often the anticipation of these things 00:16:26.42\00:16:28.62 that causes us to worry and grieve 00:16:28.68\00:16:30.55 even more so then the avenge itself. 00:16:30.94\00:16:33.14 I would like to share a secret 00:16:34.34\00:16:35.51 that will help you get rid of that uneasy feeling, 00:16:35.54\00:16:37.73 do everything you can to avoid negative experiences 00:16:38.95\00:16:41.62 you can sit back and relax in God's arms. 00:16:42.16\00:16:44.40 He loves you and he'll honor your efforts, 00:16:45.19\00:16:47.22 so you have no need to be afraid or be distressed. 00:16:47.38\00:16:50.49 365 times in the Bible, we are commanded not to fear, 00:16:51.61\00:16:56.04 365 times that's once for every day of the year 00:16:56.48\00:17:00.47 that God tells us not to fear. 00:17:00.82\00:17:02.75 Jesus says in John 16:33, these things 00:17:03.28\00:17:07.09 I've spoken to you that in me you may have peace. 00:17:07.20\00:17:09.92 In the world you will have tribulation. 00:17:10.64\00:17:12.36 But, be of good cheer! I have overcome the world. 00:17:12.80\00:17:16.15 Life may be difficult at times, but we can be assured 00:17:16.88\00:17:20.11 that God will see us through. 00:17:20.14\00:17:22.04 If you're looking for a happy fulfilling life, 00:17:23.59\00:17:25.87 you're not going to find it in the self centered 00:17:26.36\00:17:28.27 activities of this world has to offer, but there Joy 00:17:28.30\00:17:32.26 and satisfaction in the service of God. 00:17:32.29\00:17:34.54 And when this life is over, those who 00:17:35.28\00:17:37.51 have followed Christ in the life of service 00:17:37.54\00:17:39.53 and self sacrifice will continue that life for all 00:17:39.56\00:17:42.89 eternity with sinless angels and with God Himself. 00:17:42.92\00:17:46.50 I can't wait to hear the words from Jesus, 00:17:47.41\00:17:49.55 come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom 00:17:50.13\00:17:53.69 prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 00:17:53.72\00:17:56.53 Now that's something worth rejoicing about. 00:17:56.95\00:17:59.59 The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away. 00:18:23.34\00:18:32.25 It's not a dream, God will make all things new 00:18:32.88\00:18:40.34 that day. Gone is the curse from which I stumbled 00:18:40.37\00:18:49.48 and fell. Evil is banished to eternal hell. 00:18:49.56\00:19:03.50 No more night. No more pain. No more tears. 00:19:04.39\00:19:18.15 Never crying again. And praises to the great 00:19:18.20\00:19:29.65 I Am We will live in the light of the risen Lamb. 00:19:29.78\00:19:42.36 See all around, now the nations bow down to sing. 00:19:43.66\00:19:52.74 The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King. 00:19:52.99\00:20:02.28 Slowly the names from the book are read. 00:20:02.76\00:20:11.58 I know the King, so there's no need to dread. 00:20:12.31\00:20:23.28 No more night. No more pain. No more tears. 00:20:23.73\00:20:36.51 Never crying again. And praises to the great 00:20:36.79\00:20:47.97 I Am We will live in the light of the risen Lamb. 00:20:48.00\00:20:58.95 See over there, there's a mansion 00:20:59.26\00:21:03.15 oh, that's prepared just for me, Where I will live 00:21:03.18\00:21:09.27 with my savior eternally. There will be, 00:21:10.01\00:21:19.45 No more night. No more pain. No more tears. 00:21:19.48\00:21:31.38 Never crying again. And praises to the great 00:21:31.41\00:21:41.79 I Am. We will live in the light of the risen Lamb. 00:21:41.82\00:21:52.18 We will live in the light of the risen Lamb. 00:21:52.21\00:22:12.70 No more night, no more pain, no more tears. 00:22:17.23\00:22:20.40 What a day that would be, but until then 00:22:20.82\00:22:24.06 instead of focusing on the world with all of its 00:22:24.56\00:22:26.86 problems and fears, let's keep our eyes on Jesus. 00:22:26.89\00:22:30.54 His love and wonderful things 00:22:30.95\00:22:33.10 he has in store for each one of us. 00:22:33.33\00:22:35.03 You know David when it comes to rejoicing 00:22:36.14\00:22:37.79 in the Lord what Jonathan said is so true, 00:22:37.95\00:22:39.98 it's about focus. But what about those days 00:22:40.01\00:22:42.21 when you're feeling really stressed out 00:22:42.24\00:22:44.00 and you find it hard to rejoice in the Lord? 00:22:44.03\00:22:46.49 Well, a couple of months ago, I think it was 00:22:47.52\00:22:49.73 back in March, I had a really rough day. 00:22:49.76\00:22:52.76 Work was really bad and school was even worse, 00:22:53.19\00:22:56.81 and I was just really stressed out and it was 00:22:57.95\00:22:59.71 supper time and I was talking to 00:22:59.74\00:23:01.50 Caitlin and Sharon and they were telling me well 00:23:01.67\00:23:04.61 you know if you do something nice for someone 00:23:04.64\00:23:06.44 else that will help you know. So you can be 00:23:06.47\00:23:08.54 more joyful and even though you 00:23:08.57\00:23:10.36 might be stressed out. So in my frustration 00:23:10.39\00:23:12.79 and in my stress, I dismissed their remark, 00:23:12.82\00:23:15.60 I was like yeah whatever and a couple of minutes 00:23:15.63\00:23:18.63 later, I went to check the mail for the guys 00:23:18.66\00:23:21.66 dorm and I found this package that was for Luke 00:23:21.69\00:23:24.50 and it was from the Journal of the 00:23:24.76\00:23:26.87 Adventist Theological Society and so he had 00:23:26.90\00:23:29.92 been expecting this package for so long 00:23:29.95\00:23:32.76 and I was like yeah I guess like I can give it 00:23:33.35\00:23:35.59 to him you know I was something get like anything 00:23:35.62\00:23:37.16 special about it so I just, I just go by all 00:23:37.19\00:23:40.36 the way backup to the dorm and I mean 00:23:40.39\00:23:42.64 he is in the lobby and I have the package behind 00:23:42.67\00:23:45.13 my back and I'm like hey look I have something 00:23:45.16\00:23:48.28 for you and he is like what and then like 00:23:48.31\00:23:49.67 I show him the package and he is like dude awesome 00:23:49.70\00:23:52.35 he like comes to me and gives me a hug 00:23:52.38\00:23:54.02 and he like rips it open, it is just like watching 00:23:54.05\00:23:56.68 the little kid on Christmas time and all that, 00:23:56.71\00:23:58.53 but those kind of cute. And so, been like that event 00:23:58.89\00:24:03.13 that was definitely made my day not because 00:24:03.48\00:24:06.36 he gave me a hug or like or because I was seen 00:24:06.89\00:24:09.64 as the hero basically, but you know because 00:24:09.67\00:24:12.71 he was joyful, he was happy you know and for some reason 00:24:12.74\00:24:16.39 I just felt that my heart was getting 00:24:16.42\00:24:18.56 warm by his happiness and he was exactly 00:24:18.59\00:24:21.34 what Caitlin and Sharon was telling me, but I 00:24:21.56\00:24:23.44 just was to. You weren't listening. Yeah, to dense to, 00:24:23.47\00:24:27.07 actually very accepting and then a couple of days 00:24:27.10\00:24:30.36 later I was written Steps to Christ and it says, 00:24:30.39\00:24:32.48 our not God's promises like to fragrant flowers 00:24:33.25\00:24:36.14 growing beside your path on every hand where you 00:24:36.17\00:24:39.27 now led their beauty and sweetness filled your heart 00:24:39.30\00:24:41.48 with joy, and so what I was thinking is that, 00:24:41.51\00:24:44.56 that day I was looking so much of the thorns, 00:24:44.59\00:24:46.36 so much of the thistles, I wasn't looking at the 00:24:46.76\00:24:48.81 flowers, but then that moment God showed me 00:24:48.84\00:24:53.61 this like beautiful flower you know and he showed me 00:24:53.64\00:24:56.49 the big picture and so it was so amazing you know 00:24:56.52\00:24:59.63 like how you can be so joyful when you do something 00:24:59.66\00:25:02.65 good for others and they're like really happy. 00:25:02.68\00:25:04.64 Amen, amen that's a great illustration. 00:25:05.05\00:25:07.55 You know some people's lives are a clear 00:25:08.10\00:25:10.35 picture of Jesus, and whenever 00:25:10.38\00:25:12.21 I think of that I think of Alice. 00:25:12.24\00:25:14.12 Who was she? She was a member of my church 00:25:14.45\00:25:16.99 when I worked in South Africa and she was also 00:25:17.07\00:25:20.02 a good friend of mine, there were something about 00:25:20.05\00:25:22.36 Alice's smile that was contagious, also about 00:25:22.39\00:25:27.44 the joy you know you could see in her eyes 00:25:27.96\00:25:29.91 and you could hear it in her voice. The day when Alice 00:25:29.94\00:25:34.99 was very sick, she was actually dying, 00:25:35.02\00:25:37.02 she was in the hospital and I went to visit her 00:25:37.05\00:25:39.41 and she was lying contemplatively, her eyes 00:25:39.44\00:25:41.97 were closed in bed, she wasn't asleep and I just 00:25:42.00\00:25:44.78 went to her and I put my hand on her hand and I said 00:25:44.81\00:25:46.90 Alice how are you and she looked up and she 00:25:46.93\00:25:48.81 said isn't a beautiful day, and she said 00:25:48.84\00:25:53.16 Jesus is so good to me and I said yes 00:25:53.19\00:25:56.22 it's a beautiful day and Jesus has given us 00:25:56.25\00:25:58.38 a beautiful day. But you realize Alice that 00:25:58.41\00:26:01.03 the doctor said you are not doing very well, 00:26:01.06\00:26:02.78 and she said well you know I'm gonna be very well 00:26:03.75\00:26:07.20 as long as I have Jesus, but she said, I realize 00:26:07.23\00:26:13.16 I'm very sick and I understand that I'm dying 00:26:13.19\00:26:15.59 and I would like you and the elders 00:26:16.07\00:26:18.58 to anoint me with oil, the way that it 00:26:18.61\00:26:21.08 says in James chapter 5 and maybe the Lord 00:26:21.11\00:26:23.36 will heal me, but if he doesn't, if he allows me 00:26:23.39\00:26:26.71 to go to sleep then when I'm resurrected, 00:26:26.75\00:26:30.00 I will see the beautiful face of Jesus on that day. 00:26:30.30\00:26:33.58 And so we anointed her and we prayed for her. 00:26:34.84\00:26:37.04 And, it was like Jesus had healed her 00:26:37.56\00:26:41.91 completely at least that I thought He had, 00:26:41.94\00:26:44.09 but that was not God's plan. She got two more days 00:26:44.90\00:26:48.32 of extra energy and strength and it was a pain 00:26:48.95\00:26:51.63 free two days. And, it was a time when 00:26:51.66\00:26:55.14 she could witness, she witnessed to her friends 00:26:55.17\00:26:57.02 and family who came faraway to the hospital 00:26:57.05\00:26:59.14 to see her, and she witnessed to her church members 00:26:59.17\00:27:02.69 and the doctors, the nurses and the others patients 00:27:02.72\00:27:05.12 that were in the hospital, but she did die 00:27:05.15\00:27:07.68 she entered peacefully into her sleep in Jesus 00:27:07.71\00:27:09.68 and I conducted her funeral. And I remembered 00:27:09.71\00:27:12.46 being by that graveside and thinking 00:27:12.49\00:27:16.68 Jesus is going to come back and call her 00:27:16.71\00:27:18.93 from the grave. You know I would like to make 00:27:18.96\00:27:22.51 an appeal not only to us, but also to our viewers 00:27:22.54\00:27:25.64 this is the last of our program to Steps to Christ, 00:27:25.67\00:27:28.30 that we give our hearts each one of us to Jesus, 00:27:28.90\00:27:31.99 and to signify our acceptance of his 00:27:32.47\00:27:35.44 ability to live that kind of life. Let's pray to Him 00:27:35.47\00:27:38.88 for that power. Heavenly Father, we pray 00:27:39.13\00:27:43.76 for the life of Jesus to be our life 00:27:43.79\00:27:47.11 that we will dedicate ourselves fully to you 00:27:47.52\00:27:49.93 and that we will be filled with your joy. 00:27:50.55\00:27:52.80 We pray this and thank you in Jesus name, amen. Amen. 00:27:53.20\00:27:56.61 Steps to Christ in Song is a 13 part series 00:28:00.34\00:28:03.16 from Fountain View Productions designed to be an easy 00:28:03.77\00:28:05.97 non-threatening way to share the good news about Jesus Christ 00:28:06.00\00:28:09.43 with friends, relatives and co-workers. 00:28:09.46\00:28:12.07 Order your copies now 00:28:12.10\00:28:15.45 by calling 1-877-490-4141 00:28:15.48\00:28:18.75 or visit us online at www.fountainviewproductions.com. 00:28:18.79\00:28:24.54 Steps to Christ in Song is also available at your local 00:28:24.57\00:28:29.17 ABC Christian Book Store. 00:28:29.20\00:28:30.86