>> JOYCE: DOES ANYBODY WANT
THEIR LIFE TO CHANGE? >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: YOU CAN LITERALLY RIP THE DEVIL TO SHREDS,
JUST THROUGH THE POWER OF BEING THANKFUL.
>> GINGER: AS WE WALK THROUGH EACH NEW DAY,
WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS. THEY'RE JUST PART OF LIFE.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE ANSWERS FOR YOU?
GOD SAYS WHEN WE LOOK, WE'LL FIND HIM.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
SO, TOGETHER WE ARE DISCOVERING LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS.
[MUSIC] >> GINGER: ONE OF THE VERY FIRST
LESSONS WE'RE TAUGHT AS A CHILD IS TO SAY, "THANK YOU."
WE EVEN HAVE AN ENTIRE HOLIDAY SET ASIDE TO REMIND US TO BE
THANKFUL. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES, IT'S STILL
EASY TO FORGET. AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE TIMES
THAT WE FRANKLY DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
BUT USUALLY WHEN YOU SEARCH DEEP, YOU'LL FIND IT.
[MUSIC] >> FEMALE: I THANK GOD THAT
I HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD. I THANK GOD I HAVE FOOD
IN MY STOMACH. BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I
SEE PEOPLE WALKING WITH SHOPPING CARTS AND STUFF, THAT USED TO BE
MY HUSBAND AND I. WE USED TO SLEEP OUTSIDE.
WE USED TO SLEEP IN SLEEPING BAGS.
AND WE'RE BOTH VETERANS. SO, I'M THANKFUL TRULY THAT GOD
HAS BROUGHT ME THIS FAR. >> GINGER: WHEN WE OVERCOME
THOSE HARD CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR LIVES, LIKE SARAH'S IT'S EASY TO
RECOGNIZE WHY WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE.
BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS QUITE THAT SIMPLE.
MAYBE YOU'RE STILL IN THE MIDST OF THAT TRIAL.
TODAY, JOYCE IS TALKING ABOUT THE POWER THAT'S IN
THANKFULNESS, TO HELP US IN THE MIDST OF OUR
PROBLEMS. HERE'S OUR ANSWER TO
THANKFUL...FOR WHAT? >> JOYCE: I BELIEVE THAT WHAT
YOU HEAR TONIGHT IF YOU REALLY TAKE IT INTO YOUR LIFE AND YOU
PUT IT TO WORK IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE, I BELIEVE IT HAS THE POWER
TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE. >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: THE ISRAELITES SPENT 40 YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS
TRYING TO MAKE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS WAS AN 11 DAY JOURNEY.
NOW THAT'S REALLY PRETTY DUMB. BUT WHICH ONE OF US CAN'T SAY,
"BEEN THERE, DONE THAT"? AND ONE OF THEIR BIG PROBLEMS
WAS THEY KEPT MURMURING AND COMPLAINING.
INSTEAD OF BEING THANKFUL, THEY COMPLAINED A LOT.
AND IF WE CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL WHEN WE GOT EVERYTHING WE WANT,
THEN WE DON'T EVEN BEGIN TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HAVING
CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER. ANYBODY, EVEN A SINNER THAT
DOESN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT GOD CAN BE THANKFUL WHEN
EVERYTHING'S GOING THEIR WAY. SO THE BIG THING FOR US IS TO
LEARN HOW TO BE JUST AS THANKFUL WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING GOOD AS
WE ARE WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GOOD BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THINGS
ARE NOT GOING GOOD IN OUR LIFE WE STILL HAVE HOPE AND WE KNOW
THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT GOD CAN'T FIX.
SO WE DON'T WAIT TILL IT'S FIXED TO START BEING THANKFUL,
WE START THANKING GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR MESS.
WE FIND SOMETHING ELSE IN OUR LIFE THAT IS WORKING.
WE FIND SOME BODY PART THAT DOES FEEL OKAY.
WE FIND SOMETHING OUR SPOUSE IS DOING RIGHT.
WE FIND SOMETHING ABOUT OUR JOB THAT WE CAN ENDURE AND BE HAPPY
ABOUT. AMEN?
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT.
I SAID THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING. >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 AND 19.
I GOT SO MANY NOTES UP HERE TONIGHT I'M--
"THANK [GOD] IN EVERYTHING." IN EVERYTHING.
SO LET ME JUST STOP AND ASK WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN MURMURING ABOUT AND YOU HAVEN'T ONCE TAKEN
THE TIME IN THAT SITUATION TO SAY, "WELL, GOD THIS IS
HAPPENING AND THIS IS NOT FUN AND THIS HURTS BUT HERE'S
TEN THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR." NOBODY NEEDED THAT?
OKAY. >> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: "THANK [GOD] IN EVERYTHING [NO MATTER WHAT
THE CIRCUMSTANCE MIGHT BE, BE THANKFUL AND GIVE THANKS]."
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO PRESS TONIGHT IS
THE GIVING OF THANKS. I THINK IF I SAID, "HOW MANY OF
YOU ARE THANKFUL?" YOU'D ALL PUT YOUR HAND UP.
I'M THANKFUL. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M LEARNING?
BEING THANKFUL AND GIVING THANKS IS TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
THINGS. AND WE NOT ONLY NEED TO GIVE
THANKS TO GOD BUT WE NEED TO THANK PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR
LIVES THAT ARE A BLESSING TO US. DON'T TAKE PEOPLE FOR GRANTED.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DIVORCES COULD BE ELIMINATED IF PEOPLE IN
THEIR HOMES WERE JUST USING GOOD MANNERS WITHIN THE FAMILY?
JUST BEING THANKFUL. SEVENTY SIX TIMES IN THE BIBLE
IT SAYS, "GIVE THANKS." SO BE THANKFUL AND GIVE THANKS.
FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.
EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABUSED AS A CHILD AND HAD A VERY
LOUSY START IN LIFE. NEVER GOT TO REALLY BE A CHILD.
DON'T EVER REMEMBER BEING HAPPY UNTIL I WAS IN MY 20s.
DID NOT EVER GET TO HAVE ANY FUN.
GOT IN TROUBLE FOR LAUGHING AS A CHILD.
I MEAN, I HAD A REALLY BAD BEGINNING AND I WAS GETTING
NOWHERE AS LONG AS I WAS GRUMBLING AND MURMURING AND
COMPLAINING AND FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, AND BEING MAD AT
EVERYBODY WHO HAD A GOOD LIFE. IT WAS ONLY WHEN
I STARTED FINDING THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN GOD ASKED ME TO START TAKING CARE OF MY MOM
AND DAD AS THEY GOT OLDER, I MEAN, I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST
ABOUT THE MOST UNFAIR THING THAT GOD COULD POSSIBLY ASK ME TO DO.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING. AND THIS IS WHAT I SAID,
"WHAT DID THEY EVER DO FOR ME?" AND YOU KNOW WHAT I HEARD
IN MY SPIRIT? YOU'RE BREATHING, AREN'T YOU?
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] >> JOYCE: I MEAN, THEY HAD ME.
AND SO HERE I AM, YOU KNOW. I DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD BEGINNING
BUT I'M HAVING A GOOD FINISH. AND SO CAN YOU!
[MUSIC] >> FEMALE: I'M THANKFUL FOR
A PEACEFUL MIND AND A SOUL THAT'S AT REST.
AND FOR THE TRUTH THAT'S HEALED MY HEART.
I'M THANKFUL FOR WHEN I GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND I PLAY WITH MY
KIDS AND THEY'RE HAPPY. AND THEY'RE INNOCENT AND THEY
KNOW WHAT CHILDHOOD IS. I'M THANKFUL FOR A MAN THAT
LOVED ME WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING LOVELY IN ME.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THINGS I CAN'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON.
THE LORD HIMSELF AND THOSE THREE PEOPLE, I JUST MEAN, THEY'RE MY
TREASURES AND THAT IS WHAT I'M SO THANKFUL FOR.
AND THE COMPLETE TURN AROUND OF MY LIFE AND WHAT GOD HAS
REDEEMED AND RESTORED AND MADE IT BEAUTIFUL.
>> GINGER: MELISSA GETS IT. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH THOSE REALLY
DARK TIMES SO SHE UNDERSTANDS ALL THAT THERE IS TO BE THANKFUL
FOR. AND JOYCE DOES AS WELL AND WE'LL
GET BACK TO MORE OF JOYCE'S TEACHING IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST WE ASKED YOU TO TELL US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE HOW
BEING THANKFUL HELPS YOU. SO THIS COMES FROM SUSAN FROM
VIRGINIA. SHE SAYS, "BEING THANKFUL FOR
WHAT GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH, BIG AND SMALL, HAS HELPED ME TO
HAVE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS AND HELP THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED.
I WORK AS A NURSE, SO IT CAN BE SIMPLE SUCH AS A HUG AND GOOD
NEWS, FLOWERS TO AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO HAS NO FAMILY,
AND CLOTHES FOR THE NEEDY." SUSAN'S RIGHT, SOMETIMES IT IS
THOSE VERY SMALL THINGS THAT NOT ONLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
SOMEONE ELSE BUT MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU TOO.
TO REALLY LET THANKFULNESS TAKE ROOT IN YOUR LIFE.
SO WHAT STEPS ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE TODAY TO DEVELOP A THANKFUL
ATTITUDE? LET US KNOW.
MAKE A DECISION. WRITE IT DOWN, MAKE IT PUBLIC,
YOU'LL HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY. LET US KNOW ON FACEBOOK
OR ON TWITTER. >> JOYCE: IT'S NOT TOO LATE
FOR YOU. NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF A LOUSY
BEGINNING YOU HAD OR HOW LOUSY LIFE IS RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN STILL
HAVE A GREAT FINISH AND THERE'S MORE THAN ONE THING THAT GOD
WILL LEAD YOU TO DO BUT I AM TELLING YOU, IF YOU DON'T START
BEING THANKFUL, I MEAN, ON PURPOSE, AGGRESSIVELY THANKFUL
FOR THE THINGS THAT GOD IS DOING FOR YOU AND GOD IS DOING GOOD
THINGS FOR EVERYBODY. EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HIM.
THE SUN SHINES ON THE WICKED AND THE GOOD.
ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST. THIS IS THE PART OF THIS I'M
WANTING SOMEBODY TO GET. I'M FEELING IN MY SPIRIT THAT IF
SOMEBODY CAN JUST GET THIS. YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF BAD STUFF
HAPPEN TO YOU. YOU'VE BEEN NEGATIVE, YOU'RE
ALMOST AFRAID TO BELIEVE GOOD THINGS ARE GOING TO
HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I WAS AT. IF THAT'S YOUR ATTITUDE,
I GET IT. I UNDERSTAND BUT I'M ALSO
TELLING YOU, IF YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO CHANGE, DOES ANYBODY
WANT THEIR LIFE TO CHANGE? >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: YOU CAN LITERALLY RIP THE DEVIL TO SHREDS.
JUST THROUGH THE POWER OF BEING THANKFUL.
DANIEL, IN DANIEL CHAPTER 6 VERSE 10,
THREE TIMES A DAY HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND PRAYED
AND GAVE THANKS TO GOD. AND EVEN WHEN THE LAW CAME OUT
THAT IF ANYBODY BOWED DOWN TO ANY GOD EXCEPT THE KING THEY
WERE GOING TO BE PUT IN THE LION'S DEN, HE STILL--AND I LOVE
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS--HE STILL, AS WAS HIS CUSTOM--SEE THAT'S
WHY I'M SAYING MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO FORM SOME NEW HABITS.
AND MAYBE IT WOULDN'T BE A BAD IDEA TO SET AN ALARM AND EVERY
HOUR STOP AND GIVE THANKS. OR THREE TIMES A DAY,
STOP AND GIVE THANKS. YOU KNOW, WE CAN FORM GOOD
HABITS AND IT'S AMAZING HOW THE BAD HABITS HAVE NO ROOM TO WORK
IN OUR LIFE, JUST BY FORMING GOOD HABITS.
INSTEAD OF TRYING NOT TO COMPLAIN, WHY DON'T YOU JUST
INCREASE YOUR GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING?
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] >> JOYCE: AND I LOVE WHAT IT
SAYS IN DANIEL 6:10. THREE TIMES A DAY DANIEL BOWED
DOWN AS WAS HIS CUSTOM WITH HIS WINDOWS OPEN.
HE DIDN'T EVEN BECOME A SNEAKY GRATEFUL GIVER BECAUSE HE WAS
AFRAID OF THE KING. HE KNEW THE POWER OF GRATITUDE.
AND SURE ENOUGH HE SLEPT ALL NIGHT IN THE LION'S DEN,
CAME OUT THE NEXT DAY UNHARMED. WE HAVE ADDED POWER TO OUR LIVES
AS WE BECOME GRATEFUL. IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE
THE ANOINTING ON YOUR LIFE, BE THANKFUL.
IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE THE ANOINTING ON YOUR CHURCH,
JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY IN IT TO GET THANKFUL.
BECAUSE GRATITUDE ADDS POWER AND COMPLAINING ADDS WEAKNESS
TO OUR LIVES. AMEN?
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] >> JOYCE: PSALM 34,
THE FIRST 3 VERSES. "I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL
TIMES; HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH.
MY LIFE MAKES IT'S BOAST IN THE LORD; LET THE HUMBLE AND
AFFLICTED HEAR AND BE GLAD. O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME,"
WHO SHOULD BE GLAD? THE AFFLICTED.
COME ON, WE DON'T WANT TO MISS THAT.
"LET THE HUMBLE AND THE AFFLICTED BE GLAD."
LET THE AFFLICTED BE GLAD. LET THE MISTREATED BE GLAD.
"O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME AND LET US EXALT
HIS NAME TOGETHER." >> FEMALE: SHE WAS FEEDING ME,
LIKE, THINGS THAT I'M READY TO HEAR.
IT WAS A FITFUL WORD AND IT ALWAYS IS.
WHEN I WAS COUNTY JAIL, WHEN I FIRST STARTED GETTING SOBER
I GOT AHOLD OF ONE OF JOYCE MEYER'S BOOKS,
"BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND." AND MY MOM ALWAYS SPOKE ABOUT
HER BECAUSE SHE'S ENDURED SEXUAL ABUSE AND SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT I'VE WENT THROUGH AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO BE SAVED TODAY.
GOD IS GOOD TO ME. HE SAVED ME, HE SET ME FREE
AND HE'S HEALED ME FROM MY SHAME AND HE'S WORKING ON IT.
I'M WORKING ON IT AND SOMEDAY HOPE TO BE, I WILL BE, WHERE HE
DESIRES FOR ME TO BE. WHERE HE'S PLANNING
FOR ME TO BE. >> GINGER: THAT IS OUR PRAYER
FOR ALL OF YOU. I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE
MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR AND FOR SOME OF YOU LIFE IS PRETTY HARD
RIGHT NOW. BUT A HEART OF THANKFULNESS,
LOOKING FOR THOSE REASONS TO PRAISE GOD WILL REALLY MAKE
A DIFFERENCE. HERE'S WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID ON
SOCIAL MEDIA. THIS IS JEN AND SHE SAYS,
"I WAS UNDER EXTREME STRESS, WHICH CAUSED ME TO BECOME
REALLY ILL. I LIVE IN A REMOTE DESERT TOWN
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND HAVE NEVER FELT SO ALONE.
I LOST MY JOB, FRIENDS, AND NOTHING MADE SENSE.
IN THE MIDST OF THIS I BEGAN THANKING GOD THAT HE RAISED ME
OUT OF THE PIT I WAS IN. I'VE DONE THIS EVERY DAY FOR
4 MONTHS. NOW I HAVE HEALING, RESTORATION,
AND PEACE. GOD IS SO GOOD AND JESUS IS
ALL WE NEED." NOW AS JOYCE CONCLUDES HER
TEACHING ON THANKFULNESS SHE EXPLAINS HOW COMPLAINING
CAN BE DANGEROUS. >> JOYCE: I CAN GO ON AND ON AND
SHOW YOU A LOT MORE SCRIPTURES ABOUT THANKSGIVING BUT I THINK I
BETTER TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND JUST CHAT AT YOU FOR A FEW
MINUTES ABOUT COMPLAINING. OH!
WELL, WE'LL END UP IN A GOOD PLACE.
DON'T GET SAD. ALRIGHT NOW,
1 CORINTHIANS 10:9-11, "WE SHOULD NOT TEMPT
THE LORD [TRY HIS PATIENCE, BECOME A TRIAL TO HIM,
CRITICALLY APPRAISING HIM, AND EXPLOITING HIS GOODNESS]."
SEE, GOD IS BASICALLY SAYING, "I AM SO GOOD TO YOU, SO WHEN
YOU COMPLAIN, YOU'RE EXPLOITING MY GOODNESS.
AS SOME OF THEM DID AND WERE KILLED BY POISONOUS SERPENTS."
HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE ISRAELITES WHEN THEY WERE
GOING THROUGH THE DESERT. "NOR SHOULD YOU DISCONTENTEDLY
COMPLAIN AS SOME OF THEM DID-- AND THEY WERE PUT ENTIRELY OUT
OF WAY BY THE DESTROYER, WHICH IS (DEATH)."
23,000 OF THEM FELL DEAD IN ONE DAY.
SERPENTS GOT INTO THE CAMP THROUGH MURMURING,
GRUMBLING, AND COMPLAINING. NOW, THANK GOD WE LIVE IN
THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO DROP
DEAD IF WE COMPLAIN BUT I DO THINK THAT WE BLOCK OUR
BLESSINGS. AT LEAST TO SOME DEGREE.
THANK GOD FOR HIS MERCY, AND THERE, YOU KNOW, HIS GOODNESS IS
NOT BASED ON MY ABILITY TO NEVER COMPLAIN.
BUT I THINK IT'S A PRINCIPLE IF WE DON'T LEARN TO LIVE WITH
A GRATEFUL HEART AND ESPECIALLY BEING GRATEFUL WHEN THINGS ARE
NOT GOING OUR WAY AND TO GIVE THANKS, NOT ONLY TO GOD BUT
TO PEOPLE. I'M TELLING YOU, I THINK YOU CAN
CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE WHERE YOU WORK.
YOU CAN CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE IN YOUR HOME.
YOU CAN CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE IN A CHURCH, PERHAPS IN A CITY,
PERHAPS EVEN IN A NATION. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF JUST
THE CHRISTIANS GOT THANKFUL? >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: WE SHOULD BE THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE
ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HELL.
I MEAN THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
WE'RE GOING TO MISS THE WHOLE BRIMSTONE AND FIRE THING.
YEAH, THANK YOU, AMEN. IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY NOW,
YOU'LL GET HAPPY. >> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: SO, 23,000 OF THEM DIED AND THEN THEY GOT
A REVELATION. >> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: "MOSES, PRAY FOR US FOR WE HAVE SINNED."
REALLY? I WONDER WHAT GAVE YOU
THAT CLUE? I THINK IF NOTHING ELSE WE CAN
AT LEAST GO TO BED AT NIGHT AND ASK GOD TO FORGIVE US FOR
ANYTIME WE COMPLAINED AND MURMURED DURING THE DAY.
AMEN? >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: NOW, NUMBERS CHAPTER 14, VERSES 1-6.
"AND ALL THE CONGREGATION CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE AND [THEY]
WEPT ALL NIGHT. AND ALL THE ISRAELITES GRUMBLED
AND THEY HATED THEIR SITUATION AND THEY ACCUSED MOSES AND AARON
TO WHOM THE WHOLE CONGREGATION SAID WE JUST WISHED WE WOULD
HAVE DIED IN EGYPT OR THAT WE WOULD HAVE DIED IN
THE WILDERNESS." SEE, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT
WERE BEGGING GOD TO GET THEM OUT OF BONDAGE IN EGYPT.
WONDER HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE BEGGED GOD TO CHANGE OUR
SITUATION AND HE DOESN'T TAKE US THE ROUTE THAT WE
PLANNED--HELLO? YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DON'T WANT
TO BE TRANSFORMED. WE WANT TO BE TRANSLATED.
SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF THOSE TWO WORDS,
OKAY. >> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: TO GET TRANSLATED MEANS, "I'M HERE AND THEN ALL OF
A SUDDEN I'M THERE." I GET TO SKIP ALL THE GOING
THROUGH PART. BUT WHEN YOU'RE TRANSFORMED,
GOD ARRANGES CIRCUMSTANCES THAT FORCE YOU TO TRUST HIM AND TO
STOP BEING INDEPENDENT AND STUBBORN AND BULL-HEADED AND
THERE'S A BROKENNESS THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR LIFE AND ONLY
GOD KNOWS HOW TO BREAK US IN THE RIGHT PLACES WHERE WE'RE NOT
DESTROYED. HE BREAKS OUR PRIDE.
HE BREAKS OUR STUBBORNNESS. COME ON.
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] >> JOYCE: THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
THERE WAS A SHORTER ROUTE THAT GOD COULD HAVE TAKEN THEM TO THE
PROMISED LAND BUT HE TOOK THEM THE LONG, HARD WAY ON PURPOSE
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT READY FOR WAR.
SEE, YOU THINK WHEN YOU GET INTO THE PROMISED LAND, WHERE YOU'RE
GETTING EVERYTHING YOU WANT, THERE'S GOING TO BE NO MORE
TROUBLE FROM THE DEVIL? HA!
WELL, HA, HA, HA, HA. HA, HA, HA, HA.
HARDY, HARDY HA HA. NO, EVERY NEW LEVEL IS
A NEW DEVIL. SO WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO
WAR AND HOW TO FACE OUR ENEMIES WHILE WE'RE STILL IN THE
WILDERNESS BECAUSE EVERY LEVEL OF NEW RESPONSIBILITY MEANS
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NEW THINGS COMING AGAINST YOU.
NOW, I CAN TELL YOU MOST OF IT JUST DON'T EVEN BOTHER ME
ANYMORE. IT'S JUST, LIKE, BEEN THERE,
DONE THAT, KNOW WHERE THIS IS HEADED.
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] >> JOYCE: NUMBERS 14, VERSE 3,
"WHY DOES THE LORD BRING US TO THIS LAND TO FALL BY THE SWORD?
OUR WIVES AND OUR LITTLE ONES ARE GOING TO BE A PREY.
IT JUST BE BETTER FOR US TO RETURN TO EGYPT.
THEN THEY SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, 'LET US CHOOSE A CAPTAIN
AND RETURN TO EGYPT.'" AND THERE'S THOUSANDS
OF THESE PEOPLE. [CHATTERING NOISES]
AND WATCH THIS, THE RESPONSE OF THE MEN
WHO BECAME THE LEADERS--NOW, COME ON, THERE'S A MESSAGE HERE.
"THEN MOSES AND AARON FELL ON THEIR FACES BEFORE ALL THE
ASSEMBLY OF THE ISRAELITES." WHEN THEY HEARD THE COMPLAINING,
IT GRIEVED THEM SO MUCH BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE DANGER OF
WHAT THEY WERE DOING THAT THEY JUST FELL DOWN FLAT ON THEIR
FACES BEFORE GOD AND I'M SURE STARTED PRAYING FOR GOD TO
FORGIVE THEM. "AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN AND
CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH, WHO WERE AMONG THE SCOUTS WHO HAD
SEARCHED OUT THE LAND, THEY RENT THEIR CLOTHES."
THEY WERE SO GRIEVED THAT THEY TORE THEIR CLOTHES.
BACK THEN THAT WAS A SIGN OF GREAT GRIEF, WHEN SOMEBODY
WOULD DIE THEY WOULD RIP THEIR CLOTHES.
AND SO, THESE ARE FOUR MEN THAT GET TALKED ABOUT IN THE BIBLE
AS BEING HEROES. THE REST OF THEM YOU NEVER HEAR
ANYTHING ABOUT AGAIN. I WANT TO ASK YOU, DO YOU WANT
TO BE TALKED ABOUT AS A HERO FOR GOD?
OR DO YOU WANT TO JUST GET LOST SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE WILDERNESS
AND MAYBE, YES, END UP IN HEAVEN, BUT NEVER REALLY DO
ANYTHING HERE THAT'S GOING TO COUNT FOR ANYTHING?
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] >> JOYCE: SEE, I KNOW A LOT OF
TIMES WE THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME DEEP, COMPLICATED ANSWER
TO OUR INTENSE, COMPLICATED BURDENS.
GOD, WHAT IS WRONG? IF YOU'LL JUST SHOW ME
WHAT KIND OF HIERARCHY DEMON THIS IS.
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] >> JOYCE: AND GOD'S JUST TRYING
TO SAY TONIGHT, "WILL YOU JUST STOP COMPLAINING
AND BE THANKFUL?" >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: COME ON! THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN DO.
AMEN? OH, GOD, WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY
LIFE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WRONG
WITH MY LIFE, GOD. WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY LIFE?
MY LOUSY, STINKING, TERRIBLE, MISERABLE LIFE THAT I HATE.
I WISH I HAD SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE, GOD.
NO, THANK YOU FOR MY LIFE, LORD. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S
EVEN HAPPENED TO ME IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I TRUST YOU TO WORK IT
OUT FOR GOOD. >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU'RE BOLD ENOUGH, YOU CAN
EVEN THANK GOD FOR THE PAIN THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE HURTING, YOU
EITHER GO UNDER OR YOU GO OVER, BUT IF YOU GO OVER YOU GET TO
KNOW GOD IN A WAY THAT YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE KNOWN HIM
WITHOUT THAT PAIN IN YOUR LIFE. YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING IN GOD
THAT NOBODY CAN TAKE AWAY FROM YOU.
ARE YOU SEEING THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A LITTLE MESSAGE ON
BEING THANKFUL? IS ANYBODY SEEING
THE DIFFERENCE? I'M SAYING THIS CAN CHANGE YOUR
LIFE AND ADD POWER TO YOU THAT YOU MIGHT NOT EVER HAD
OTHERWISE. COME ON, GIVE GOD PRAISE.
BIG PRAISE! >> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: HALLELUJAH! THANK YOU, JESUS.
>> GINGER: OF COURSE, LIKE EVERY TIME WE TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVE
A QUESTION AND YOU WOULD LIKE JOYCE TO TACKLE THE ANSWER ALONG
WITH YOU, ASK IT ON TWITTER USING #ASKJOYCE.
YOU CAN ALSO ASK IT ON FACEBOOK. YOU CAN DROP US AN EMAIL.
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT. GIVE US A CALL.
BUT REMEMBER THAT HAVING A THANKFUL ATTITUDE IS SO GOOD
FOR YOU. JUST ASK GOD TO HELP YOU
RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU CAN BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY DAY.
START TODAY, JUST LOOK OUT AT THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS AROUND YOU.
LOOK INSIDE AT ALL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU AND TELL HIM
THANK YOU.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
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