en-us Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:13:19 -0500 Pastor Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:44 -0400185161 You and God are a majority! Instead of looking at what you cannot do, begin to look at what God can do. All Moses had was a rod and God used it to part the Red Sea. All David had was a slingshot and God used it to defeat Goliath. All one little boy had was a fish and a few loaves of bread and God used it to feed thousands. When we come to the end of our natural ability, that's when God's supernatural ability kicks in. Take your eyes of your circumstances and focus on the One that can turn everything around. If you want to see God take you to places you've never dreamed of and if you want to see him work supernaturally in your life, then you need to step out of your comfort zone. Dare to take a step of faith and follow God where He is leading you. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:43 -0400 199459 2006-09-08 06:00:00 Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:42 -0400 216310 God has a bright future for you! If the curtain were pulled back today so that you could look into His plans and desires for your life, you would see God opening doors to bring new opportunities across your path and His preparations for clearing away any obstacles that might hold you back. Jeremiah 29:11 is clear that God has a plan and a future for you, so let me encourage you today to turn your desires and plans over to God and say, \"I'm trusting You. I believe that You're in control and even though I may not see anything happening today, I believe You're working in my life.\" When you put your trust in God and allow Him to be in complete control, you'll have a life filled with greater peace, hope and the confidence that everything is going to be all right. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:40 -0400 248407 Too many people go around feeling bad because they are listening to the wrong voices. The enemy is called the accuser of the brethren and there is nothing he would like more than for you to live your life feeling guilty and condemned. Don't make the mistake of receiving these accusations. The Apostle Paul said, "The things I know I should do, I don't. The things I know I shouldn't do, I end up doing." Even he struggled in this area and he wrote more than half of the New Testament! God is not displeased with you just because you don't perform perfectly one hundred percent of the time. When you go through setbacks in life, choose to receive God's mercy. Let go of the past and press forward with joy, confidence, and purpose. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:38 -0400 228578 A Leadership Moment with Marcos Witt was taught at the 2006 Lakewood Church Leaders in Ministry Conference. Lakewood Church Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:37 -0400 274800 Ephesians 5:18 says to God is interested in every area of your life. Not just the big things, but the smaller things as well. God wants to help you be more productive at the office, help you raise your children, give you favor with your clients and protect you on the freeway. The key is that God will only be involved in as much of your life as you allow Him to be involved in. Proverbs 3:6 says to "...acknowledge God in all your ways." If you do this, then He will guide and direct your path. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:34 -0400 274802 If you knew God was preparing to turn around a situation you're worrying about right now, then you would probably let out a big sigh of relief. You would relax and let go of all the pressure. Why don't you go ahead and do that now? Turn it completely over to God and stop trying to figure it all out. David said, \"I was young and now I'm old and I have never seen the righteous forsaken.\" Let God take care of it His way and He'll not only bring you out, but He'll bring you out better than you were before! Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:33 -0400 274801 Too often, when we have a need, we focus on it. It's all we talk about, all we think about. My problems, my bills, my health, my hurt, my pains. Rather than turning inward, we need to turn outward. If you're in tough times today, don't sit around depressed, go help somebody else. If you want God to solve your problems, go help solve somebody else's problems. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:31 -0400 381350 Everybody wants to make good choices. Should you take that new job? Should you go further in this relationship? How should you deal with a particular problem? But to make the best choices we need God's wisdom. Someone once said, \"You make your decisions and then your decisions make you.\" If you allow your choices to be guided by the wisdom of God, the direction you get from reading His Word and spending time in prayer, then you're going to experience true success. I have good news for you today! God wants to give you wisdom. Proverbs says that He will help you find the right course of action every time. Not some of the time; all of the time. Take time each day to listen to what God is saying to you. As you do, you'll make better decisions and you'll live the life of victory that God has in-store for you. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:30 -0400 381351 God has placed dreams and desires in your heart. You may have promises that you're standing on, things that you believe will come to pass, and you're waiting for your dreams to be fulfilled. James 5:7 says, \"Be patient as you wait see how the farmer waits expectantly.\" Maybe you're waiting for a relationship to improve, waiting to get married or waiting for a promotion. As you do so, wait with expectancy. Instead of becoming discouraged or negative while you wait, begin expecting for God straighten out your path for your dream to come true. Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:29 -0400 400787 Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:28 -0400 434791 We all have dreams and desires that we believe God will help to come to pass. These dreams are like seeds planted in the soil of our hearts and most of the time, they do not bloom overnight. Often, there is a period of waiting involved and this is when it is so easy to give up, become discouraged and to settle for mediocrity. But God never gives up on a dream. Once the seed is planted and the promise takes root, we may give up, but the seed is still in us. If you'll stir your faith up and start believing once again, then God can begin bring it to pass. Every time you give God praise, keep pressing on or have a smile on your face, you will water that seed. And if you do this, you'll allow God to give birth to your dreams and you'll live the life of victory He has in store. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:26 -0400 439725 We all have good intentions. We may want to give up an addiction, a bad attitude or being impatient and do what we know is right. But, it's not enough to simply have the desire to do something. Matthew 26:41 says, \"The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Pray that you don't come into the temptation.\" One of the keys to controlling your weaknesses and overcoming temptations is to learn to pray so that you will become strong in your weakest areas. Ask God to help you with your temper, your thought life and your relationships with others. If you do, God will give you the strength you need to overcome any obstacle! Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:25 -0400 479942 It’s important to develop good habits in life. A habit is something that you do without thinking about it and you may do it for so long that it almost becomes involuntary. Studies say that ninety percent of your normal behavior is based on your habits. For example, you have habits that determine how you treat people, how you spend money, what you watch and what you listen to. Some people have developed habits that are keeping them from God’s best. But, you can learn how to develop God honoring habits that will help you live the kind of life that God intended. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:24 -0400 478945 How you begin your day usually determines the kind of day you experience. If you begin your day in a hurry, rushing from one task to another or stressed out, often you will become uptight and stay on the edge the rest of the day. In the Bible, David says, \"Early in the morning, my song will rise to You.\" If you're going to be your best and live life to the full, then God needs to receive the first part of your day. Before the stress and busyness comes, before you read the newspaper and before you think about all you have to do, take time to thank God for His goodness. Read the Scriptures, meditate on His promises and speak words of victory over your life. When you do this, you're giving God your first fruits and he'll walk with you the rest of the day! Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:22 -0400 497021 http://www.joelosteen.com Everyone has times in life when they receive criticism from others. Someone may be talking about you, trying to make you look bad or blowing things out of proportion. Don’t sink down to their level, become defensive and try to prove that you are right and they are wrong. When you encounter criticism, shake it off and let it go. This is what Jesus told his disciples. He sent them out to different towns to teach people and care for their needs, but Jesus knew they would suffer rejection. In Matthew 10:14, Jesus said, “When you go into a town, whoever will not receive and welcome your message, when you leave that place, shake the dust off of your feet.” In other words, let God be your vindicator. Everyone will not understand you or accept you so just run your race and stay focused on what God has called you to do. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:21 -0400 520582 Too often we expect the people in our lives to perform perfectly, to never disappoint us and to always be there for us. But no one is perfect and those are unrealistic expectations. There is no such thing as the perfect spouse, boss or friend. No matter how much others love you or how good they are, at some point, they are going to disappoint you or hurt your feelings. Instead of becoming resentful or bitter when others do not measure up, give them grace and understand that it is simply a part of life. Romans 12:16 says that we need to \"adapt and adjust in order to keep the peace.\" If you'll have the right expectations in your relationships and give others mercy, your relationships will begin to grow and God will honor you for doing your part. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:19 -0400 533503 http://www.joelosteen.com When God places dreams and desires in your heart, He also begins lining up the people you need to help bring those dreams to pass. In Acts 9, God supernaturally turned the apostle Paul’s life around and gave him a message to share with others. But, because of his past, nobody would have anything to do with him. God brought Barnabas across Paul’s path and they developed a friendship. When Barnabas spread the news that Paul should be trusted, people began to accept him and listen to his message. Paul went on to spread the Good News of the Gospel throughout the world and He wrote half the New Testament. God knows who you need to know. Begin to believe that He is in control. He will place the right people in your life at the right time. He will give you divine connections. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:18 -0400 539833 God has a certain place where you are going to thrive under His blessings. He has a company picked out for you, a special neighborhood for you to live in and specific friends for you to be around. In the book of Acts, Jesus instructed five hundred people to go to the upper room to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit, but only one hundred and twenty showed up. Although many had the opportunity, only a small group was in the right location. Don't miss out on you're opportunity for a blessing. Pay close attention to where you are, who your with and the places you are going. Ask yourself, \"Is this where God is guiding me to be?\" Then, move where the Holy Spirit leads you and you'll find God's best in your life. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:17 -0400 561938 http://www.lakewood.cc Too many people are sitting on the sidelines of life with no enthusiasm towards their future because they have made mistakes and experienced some setbacks. But, God is not looking for perfect people. If He were, we would all be disqualified. God is looking for people that have a heart that's right toward Him. If you have a heart that is seeking God and you wake up each day striving to do your best, then you do not have to live guilty and condemned. When those old thoughts come to mind saying, \"You don't deserve God's blessings,\" just respond with, \"You're exactly right. I know I don't deserve it, but that's what God's mercy is all about.\" The goodness of God will make miracles out of all your mistakes. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:15 -0400 587789 http://www.lakewood.cc God wants you to burn up without burning out through supernatural living. Acts 1:8 says, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses." When you begin to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, you're character will become more like Jesus' character. You'll talk like Him, think like Him, and act like Him. Let your life be changed by His consuming fire and live the life God always intended for you to live. Marcos Witt Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:14 -0400 587790 No matter what challenges you are facing today, know that God has armed you with strength for the battle. Philippians 4:13 says, \"I have strength for all things through Christ who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me.\" You may have received bad news concerning your health, having difficulties in your marriage or it may look like one of your dreams has died, but don't give up and settle for mediocrity. Take hold of God's strength. Shake off that weakness mentality and put on a warrior mentality because God has already infused you with His can do power. If you'll rise up in faith and start acting on it, God will not only fight your battles for you, but He's promised He'll defeat your enemies. Joel Osteen Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:57:10 -0400 598338