Joyce Meyer for this week
Need to shift your mindset? Tune in to Enjoying Everyday Life this week! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
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WATCH NOW | |
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PARABLE OF THE TALENTS |
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MONDAY, MARCH 31 |
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God wants us to be truly content. Monday, Joyce discusses what it takes to stay happy, peaceful, and satisfied in life. | | |
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WHAT ABOUT ME? |
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TUESDAY, APRIL 1 - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 |
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Do you ever think, If I don¡¯t take care of myself, who will? This Tuesday and Wednesday, join Joyce as she shares how trusting God and serving others brings true joy and peace in your life. | | |
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GOD'S ANSWERS TO STRESS |
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THURSDAY, APRIL 3 - FRIDAY, APRIL 4 |
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What sets God¡¯s people apart from the world? Thursday, Joyce shares more enlightening truths from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 25. | | |
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DRESSED FOR BATTLE |
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TALK IT OUT EPISODE 168 - DRESSED FOR BATTLE?AVAILABLE TUESDAY
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Want to be better prepared for the challenges you¡¯ll face today? Join Joyce, Ginger, Erin, and Kim Poe for a conversation where you¡¯ll learn how to armor up with one of God¡¯s greatest gifts to you. | | |
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OUR STUDY OFFER |
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Ever feel like you¡¯re running on empty? On our own, we don¡¯t have the physical, emotional, or spiritual strength to deal with life as it comes.
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Love, Mercy And Forgiveness God's Way!
Today's Scripture:
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, ¡°This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.¡± So to them Jesus addressed this parable:?
¡°A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ¡®Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.¡¯ So the father divided the property between them.?
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.?
Coming to his senses he thought, ¡®How many of my father¡¯s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ¡°Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.¡±¡¯?
So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ¡®Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.¡¯?
But his father ordered his servants, ¡®Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.¡¯ Then the celebration began.?
Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ¡®Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.¡¯ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.?
He said to his father in reply, ¡®Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.¡¯ He said to him, ¡®My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.?
But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.¡¯¡±
--Luke 15:1-3;11-32
This is often referred to as the parable of the prodigal son but I prefer to refer to it as the parable of the two sons, or perhaps better yet the parable of the father and his two sons. All three are important to its meaning and understanding.
The father of course is meant to be God. God gives us the freedom to take the gifts He has given to us and use them as we will. He hopes--of course--that we will use those gifts lovingly and wisely, but He won't stand in our way if we choose otherwise. Even when we choose the wrong path, He hopes that we will come to our senses: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone...this is? right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1Timothy2:1ff)?
Also, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, __not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance__" (2Peter 3:9, emphasis mine).?
And, most tellingly: "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous?people who need no repentance!" (Luke 15:7).
Sadly, some think of God the Father as just waiting to "get" us (or those we dislike) and "whip (whomever) good" in righteous anger, but God's nature is just the opposite! God does not enjoy in the least having to condemn those who choose evil: "Say to them, 'As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?'" (Ezekiel 33:11)
To summarize: while allowing us our freedom, God is our biggest cheerleader--always hoping that we will turn to Him in loving righteous?repentance and rejoicing when we do so! God takes NO pleasure in sending those who have chosen evil to their fate.
The first son--who takes his inheritance and squanders it selfishly and wrongly--is usually the character we most identify with. In the parable he eventually comes to his senses. He makes no excuses for his actions. He has no expectations of the father who gave him the gifts that he squandered. He confesses his wrongdoing and intends only to ask to be treated as a servant or a slave.?
The Father, of course, runs to meet him while he is still "a long way off." God is more than happy to meet us more than halfway when we turn to Him honestly and sincerely! God has been waiting and hoping for this moment!? And--as in the story--God treats us ?extraordinarily generously in forgiveness and reconciliation when we do so! The son is allowed to confess his wrongdoing, but before he asks to be treated as a servant or a slave, the father--in lavish generosity--insists that he be given a ring and clothing worthy of being his son, signaling true forgiveness and reconciliation!? ?
Now on to the second son--the son who has remained faithful. I'll bet you've heard at least one sermon--perhaps many--that focus on this son's lack of forgiveness towards his brother. True, this is a good lesson. God tells us that we must forgive others if we wish to have our own sins forgiven. Still, the encounter between The Father and this son is so much more than that!?
An extraordinary scenario is presented to us: The Father goes out and PLEADS with this son! Have you ever noticed any other passage in Scripture where God is portrayed in this manner??Father/God certainly loves this other son as well and?wants his reconciliation just as much!
From the second son's perspective, a genuine injustice has occurred: The Father has thrown a more lavish party for the "prodigal" son than the "faithful" son has ever been allowed to have. God the Father is anxious for the faithful one to understand why.
We celebrate many things in life: birthdays, anniversaries, a new job, a new house, a graduation, a new position of some sort. The biggest celebrations we have often revolve around weddings. In fact, Jesus performed His first public miracle at a wedding feast in Cana, at the request of His mother, even though it was "before His time". Jesus--hence, God--is willing to change His plans for the sake of His faithful followers, as long as the repercussions?of doing so--something?we can never fully understand--still align with His wisdom and will.??
All these are important to us in one way or another.? But what God is telling us is the occasion that we ought to celebrate most is the occasion when one who is living in depravity turns away from evil and back to God! What could be more worth celebrating, after all, than one whose eternal destiny has been changed for the better?? As noted above, we are told that "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance." The loving, forgiving Father/God in this parable is shown to be doing so!
Of course in a worldly sense there will always be repercussions from whatever we choose to do, and unfortunately "the world" isn't necessarily loving and forgiving--and when we are loving and forgiving in our own attitude and actions they may not always be welcomed. At the same time, forgiving others and seeking reconciliation with others does not necessarily mean that they (or us) are to be trusted in the same tasks as before, especially failure that causes catastrophe.? But this is parable is about God and His love, mercy, and generosity in forgiveness, far more generous than "the world's" fallen perspective. Again, we must make a choice as to whom we will serve!
For our part, perhaps there is someone we might know that is in need of spiritual counseling, comfort and assistance to make "right" decisions. Perhaps we know someone who works in this field and needs our support as well. From God's standpoint, there is nothing more important than building His Kingdom and welcoming others into the start of an eternal, loving relationship with Him! All it takes is a little courage and commitment and a willingness to make ourselves vulnerable in God's service and in service to our fellow human beings.
Let us all be participants in--and partakers of--the great joy in heaven when sinners--not least of all ourselves--turn to God in sincere repentance and renewed dedication to loving and serving Him and loving and serving others in His name! May there be great rejoicing --and a great celebration, even if only in our hearts?now, in anticipation of that great rejoicing in heaven indeed!
Thanks be to God!!
AMEN!!
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A Baltimore Doctor's Patients Come To His Aid
For nearly 40 years, Dr. Michael Zollicoffer¡ªaffectionately known as Dr. Z¡ªhas been a beacon of kindness in his community in Baltimore, Maryland. The 66-year-old pediatrician never let money stand in the way of care, treating patients regardless of their ability to pay. Dr. Z has always put people first. ¡°Forget that dollar bill,¡±?he often told his patients.?¡°You walk in that door, you will be seen. You bring your grandma with you, I¡¯ll see her, too.¡± He dedicated his life to helping others, taking no real vacations and making himself available to patients 24/7.? But when he was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, a paperwork issue with his Medicare plan left him without insurance to cover his radiation treatments. That¡¯s when the community he served so selflessly decided it was their turn to take care of him. His patients launched a?
?campaign, raising more than $229,000 to ensure he gets the care he needs. ¡°Dr. Z will not give up on you, so we d*mn sure ain¡¯t giving up on him,¡±?said Ray Beverly, a longtime patient. Despite the hardship, Dr. Z remains overwhelmingly grateful. ¡°I¡¯m thankful that I got cancer because I am the happiest man on the planet, no matter what the outcome,¡±?he said, his voice filled with emotion.?¡°What we have shown¡ªand why we¡¯re sitting at this table right now¡ªis to show America that this is what we¡¯re about. We are about giving! I can¡¯t make it without them, nor can they make it without me.¡±
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Andrea