JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU. IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY. I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED WITH US DURING
THE WEEK, THROUGH OUR DAILY PODCAST, OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL, SOCIAL MEDIA. AND YOU CAN COME VISIT
US IN PERSON. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BE A PART
OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES. I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY. SOMEBODY SENT ME THIS
PRAYER ABOUT FOOD. IT GOES LIKE THIS.
"LORD, GRANT ME THE STRENGTH THAT I MAY NOT
FALL INTO THE CLUTCHES OF CHOLESTEROL.
AT POLYUNSATURATES I'LL NEVER MUTTER, FOR THE
ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH BUTTER. CAKE IS
CURSED, CREAM IS AWFUL, AND SATAN IS HIDING IN
EVERY WAFFLE. BEELZEBUB IS A CHOCOLATE DROP,
LUCIFER IS A LOLLYPOP. TEACH ME THE EVILS OF FRIED
CHICKEN FROM THE SOUTH. LORD, IF YOU LOVE ME,
SHUT MY MOUTH." SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
THIS IS MY BIBLE. I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE. I CAN DO WHAT
IT SAYS I CAN DO. TODAY, I WILL BE TAUGHT
THE WORD OF GOD. I BOLDLY CONFESS: MY MIND
IS ALERT. MY HEART IS RECEPTIVE. I WILL NEVER
BE THE SAME IN JESUS' NAME. GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
IT'S EASY TO GET SO CAUGHT UP MEETING OTHER PEOPLE'S
NEEDS, MEASURING UP TO THEIR EXPECTATIONS, THAT WE
PUT OURSELVES ON THE BACK BURNER.
THE DEMANDS OF WORK, WE HAVE A BOSS TO PLEASE, A
SPOUSE TO KEEP HAPPY, THE PRESSURES OF RAISING
CHILDREN. GOT TO GET THEM TO
FOOTBALL, THE OTHER ONE TO DANCE, NEED TO RUN TO THE
GROCERY STORE, DINNER HAS TO BE PERFECT.
THEN OFF TO THE NEIGHBOR'S BIRTHDAY PARTY.
WE CAN'T LET ANYONE DOWN. THEY'RE COUNTING ON US.
WE HAVE THIS HERO MENTALITY. WE'RE ALWAYS STRONG.
WE'RE ALWAYS THE ONE THAT COMES THROUGH, THAT CHEERS
THEM UP, FIXES THE PROBLEM, THAT STAYS LATE.
WE'RE DOING ALL THESE GOOD THINGS KEEPING EVERYONE
AROUND US HAPPY. THE PROBLEM IS WE CAN
BECOME DEPLETED, DRAINED, WORN OUT.
WE'RE MAKING SURE EVERYONE ELSE IS A PRIORITY, YOU
NEED TO MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY.
YOUR FIRST MISSION IS TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY.
IT'S NOT SELFISH TO TAKE TIME FOR YOU.
YOU NEED TIME TO GET REFRESHED, TO BE
REENERGIZED. YOU SHOULDN'T BE SO BUSY,
YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE ALONE, TIME TO LAUGH, TIME
TO EXERCISE. YOU NEED RECREATION.
YOU NEED THESE THINGS THAT HELP YOU STAY IN BALANCE.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE MAKING A LOT OF WITHDRAWALS, YOU
HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PUTTING IN A LOT OF
DEPOSITS. IF YOU'RE GIVING ALL THE
TIME AND NEVER FILLING BACK UP, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
DEPLETED. YOU'RE GOOD TO OTHERS, WHY
DON'T YOU BE GOOD TO YOU? YOU'RE KIND TO OTHERS, BE
KIND TO YOU. BE GENEROUS TO YOU, BE
LOVING TO YOU. DON'T LIVE WITH THAT HERO
MENTALITY. "I'VE GOT TO BE STRONG.
I'VE GOT TO BE AT EVERY EVENT, I'VE GOT TO BE
SUPERMOM, OUTPERFORM, OVERACHIEVE.
I CAN'T SAY NO. WHAT WILL THEY SAY?"
PEOPLE WILL TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU GIVE THEM. THEY'LL LET
YOU WORK TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY IF YOU WILL.
WHEN YOU'RE RUN DOWN, EMOTIONALLY DRAINED,
PHYSICALLY WORN OUT, THAT'S NOT JUST DOING YOU A
DISSERVICE, IT'S DOING YOUR FAMILY AND THOSE AROUND YOU
A DISSERVICE. NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S NOT
HEALTHY. IT'S RAISING YOUR BLOOD
PRESSURE, CAUSING YOU TO LIVE STRESSED, OVERWHELMED.
NOBODY CAN MAKE THIS CHANGE EXCEPT YOU.
YOU HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO SAY, "I'M GOING TO MAKE
SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO MY SCHEDULE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO RUNNING EVERY TIME THIS FRIEND
CALLS, NOT GOING TO LIVE UP TO THE PRESSURES AND
DEMANDS THAT ARE NOT REASONABLE.
I'M GOING TO KEEP MYSELF HEALTHY, I'M GOING TO MAKE
SURE MY EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IS GOOD."
IF YOU DON'T LEARN TO SAY NO TO SOME THINGS, THEN
NOTHING WILL CHANGE. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
COUNTING ON YOU TO PERFORM, TO ALWAYS BE THERE, THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO SAY, "WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A BREAK?
WHY DON'T YOU GO SPEND THE EVENING DOING WHAT YOU
WANT, I'LL COVER FOR YOU." NO, YOU HAVE THEM TRAINED.
THEY'RE EXPECTING YOU TO BE THERE FOR THEM. THE MOMENT
YOU AREN'T, THEY'LL SAY, "WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHERE ARE YOU SUPERMAN?" TELL THEM SUPERMAN WENT TO
THE PHONE BOOTH AND TURNED BACK INTO CLARK KENT."
SUPERMAN WAS TIRED. SUPERMAN NEEDED REST.
SUPERMAN HAD TO GET BACK IN BALANCE.
THEY MAY NOT LIKE IT BUT YOUR HEALTH, YOUR EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KEEPING
EVERYONE HAPPY. WHEN YOU MAKE THESE
ADJUSTMENTS, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU FEEL
GUILTY. "I SHOULD BE HELPING.
I SHOULD BE AT MY NEIGHBORS. I SHOULD BE WORKING LATE."
DON'T BE GUILTED IN TO DOING THINGS THAT ARE
KEEPING YOU OUT OF BALANCE. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
TAKING TIME FOR YOU. WHEN YOU'RE TIRED, YOU NEED
REST. WHEN YOU'RE DRAINED, YOU NEED TO BE REPLENISHED.
I'M NOT SAYING DON'T WORK HARD. I'M ALL FOR WORKING,
ACHIEVING, BEING RESPONSIBLE.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS STAY IN BALANCE.
YOU CAN'T WORK ALL THE TIME, SERVE YOUR FAMILY ALL
THE TIME, BE STRONG FOR OTHERS ALL THE TIME.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SAY, "SORRY, I NEED A BREAK.
I NEED A MOMENT TO RECHARGE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
WITHDRAWALS, I NEED TO MAKE SOME DEPOSITS."
FOR ME, IT'S EASY TO WORK ALL THE TIME, IT'S EASY TO
GO NINETY TO NOTHING. I LIKE TO BE PRODUCTIVE,
ACHIEVING, BUT I'VE LEARNED I'M NOT AS CREATIVE IF I
DON'T HAVE TIME FOR RECREATION, I'M NOT AS
PRODUCTIVE, IF I HAVEN'T TAKEN TIME TO LAUGH WITH MY
FAMILY, HAVE FUN TOGETHER, EXERCISE.
THAT'S HOW I GET REFRESHED. WORK OUT, PLAY BASKETBALL.
WHEN VICTORIA NEEDS TO BE REFRESHED, SHE GOES
SHOPPING. SHE'LL SPEND THREE HOURS AT
THE MALL, NEVER BUY A THING. ME GOING SHOPPING, I'M
DRAINED IN FIVE MINUTES. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.
DO WHAT REPLENISHES YOU, WHAT BRINGS YOU BACK IN
BALANCE. I KNOW MY BROTHER PAUL GETS
REFRESHED BY CROCHETING. WHEN JESUS WAS ON THE
EARTH, HE WENT AROUND HEALING PEOPLE, TEACHING IN
THE SYNAGOGUES, LIFTING PEOPLE UP.
EVERYWHERE HE WENT THERE WAS A NEED.
PEOPLE WOULD COME UP, "WILL YOU HEAL MY CHILD, WILL YOU
COME TO OUR CITY, CAN I TOUCH THE EDGE OF YOUR
ROBE." HE HAD ALL THESE DEMANDS.
IMAGINE HOW HE FELT. AS THE SON OF GOD, HE HAD THIS
INCREDIBLE POWER, ANOINTING, WISDOM, SO MUCH
TO OFFER. YET AT TIMES, WHEN HE WAS
TIRED, THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, HE WOULD GO AWAY FROM THE
CROWDS UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND GET ALONE SO
HE COULD BE REFRESHED. HE COULD HAVE FELT GUILTY.
"THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS. PEOPLE TO HEAL, LEPERS TO
CLEANSE, I CAN'T TAKE A BREAK."
BUT JESUS KNEW HE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HIS TEMPLE.
NO MATTER HOW ANOINTED YOU ARE, YOU GET TIRED.
NO MATTER HOW STRONG, SMART, GIFTED, YOU GET
DEPLETED. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THESE
TIMES, DESPITE ALL THE NEEDS AROUND YOU, DESPITE
WHAT YOUR CHILDREN, SPOUSE, BOSS, FRIENDS ARE COUNTING
ON, YOU HAVE TO GET ALONE, AND RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES.
IF JESUS HAD TO DO IT, IF HE COULDN'T MEET ALL THE
DEMANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM, AND HE'S THE SON OF
GOD, WHY DO WE THINK WE CAN GO ALL THE TIME AND BE
EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE. "I CAN'T LET THEM DOWN.
THEY'RE COUNTING ON ME." YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE LEARNED,
THE SUN WILL STILL COME UP IF I DON'T GET EVERYTHING
DONE. THE SUN WILL STILL RISE IF
I DON'T KEEP EVERYONE HAPPY. YOU'RE NOT DOING YOURSELF
ANY FAVORS LIVING OUT OF A DEPLETED STATE.
SOMETIMES WE'VE BEEN DOING IT SO LONG, WE DON'T
REALIZE HOW FAR BELOW OUR POTENTIAL WE'RE LIVING.
YOU WON'T BE AS GOOD A PARENT, SPOUSE, LEADER,
FRIEND IF YOU'RE NOT TAKING TIME TO GET AWAY.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE NEEDS. ALWAYS BE SOMETHING TO DO,
SOMEONE THAT NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO STAY IN BALANCE.
IT'S OKAY TO BE DEPLETED, TO WORK HARD, TO GIVE IT
YOUR BEST, TO BE THERE FOR PEOPLE, BUT IT'S NOT OKAY
TO STAY DEPLETED. YOU HAVE TO GET FILLED BACK
UP. SOME PEOPLE ARE LIVING WORN
OUT, DRAINED, NO ENERGY. THEY DON'T WANT TO LET
ANYONE DOWN. YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR
EVERYONE, EXCEPT YOU. WHY DON'T YOU TREAT
YOURSELF AS GOOD AS YOU TREAT OTHERS?
YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEMPLE.
YOU'RE NOT INVINCIBLE. JESUS HAD ALL THE POWER IN
THE WORLD, YET IN HIS PHYSICAL BODY, HE KNEW HIS
LIMITS. HE KNEW WHEN HE WAS AT THE
POINT WHERE HE HAD TO TAKE TIME TO GET REPLENISHED.
THE REASON SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT ENJOYING LIFE IS
BECAUSE THEIR ACCOUNT IS OVERDRAWN.
THEY'RE GOOD AT LETTING PEOPLE MAKE WITHDRAWALS.
THEY WORK HARD, MEET EXPECTATIONS, KEEP EVERYONE
HAPPY BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM TO WHERE THEY GET
FILLED BACK UP. WHEN YOU LIVE DRAINED,
DEPLETED, YOU WON'T BE AS PRODUCTIVE.
YOU WON'T HAVE THE STAMINA TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES.
YOU WON'T ENJOY YOUR FAMILY LIKE YOU SHOULD.
THERE WILL BE MORE STRIFE, CONFLICT.
YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'LL GET BACK
IN BALANCE IF YOU'LL MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY.
LET GO OF SOME OF THE PRESSURES.
YES, YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, BUT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE SUPER PARENT. YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO
BE RAISED AND OUT OF THE HOUSE AT SOME POINT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK AND THINK, "I DIDN'T ENJOY
THOSE YEARS. I WAS SO STRESSED,
OVERWHELMED, TRIED TO BE EVERYTHING, KEEP UP WITH MY
NEIGHBORS." IF JESUS KNEW HIS LIMITS,
WE SHOULD KNOW OUR LIMITS. YES, WE CAN DO EVERYTHING.
WE CAN BE SUPERMAN, BUT THAT'S NOT HEALTHY.
TAKE THE CAPE OFF. GET BACK IN BALANCE.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS, IT'S
OUR OWN EXPECTATIONS. WE FEEL GUILTY IF WE'RE NOT
DOING EVERYTHING WE THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE, IF WE'RE
NOT MEETING ALL THE NEEDS. AFTER ALL, WE HAVE THE
ABILITY, THE TALENT, THE ANOINTING, BUT YOU ALSO
HAVE A PHYSICAL BODY. LIKE WITH JESUS, THERE ARE
LIMITS. HE HAD TO GET AWAY TO KEEP
BEING HIS BEST. IF HE WOULD HAVE LIVED DEPLETED, HE
WOULD HAVE SHORTCHANGED HIMSELF.
THE BEST THING HE COULD DO WAS TO GET RECHARGED.
ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU NEED TO HAVE THESE TIMES
WHERE YOU GET REPLENISHED. LIFE MAKES A LOT OF
WITHDRAWALS. THINGS WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE
OF, TRAFFIC, WORK, DEADLINES, DELAYS,
DIFFICULT PEOPLE, NEGATIVE NEWS, THAT'S ALL DRAINING,
THAT'S ALL TAKING FROM YOUR ACCOUNT.
NOW DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF LIVING OVERDRAWN.
IF YOU GO INTO A NEW WEEK AT A DEFICIT, THOSE SAME
THINGS COME TO TAKE FROM YOU BUT THERE'S NOTHING
THERE. THAT'S WHEN YOU GET
OVERWHELMED, FRUSTRATED. YOU'RE NOT AS PRODUCTIVE,
YOUR GIFTS DON'T COMING OUT LIKE THEY SHOULD.
IT'S NOT DIFFICULT, JUST GET BACK IN BALANCE.
ON A REGULAR BASIS, START TAKING TIME FOR YOU, FOR
WHAT REPLENISHES YOU, FOR WHAT FILLS YOU BACK UP.
THIS MAY MEAN YOU HAVE TO SAY NO TO SOME THINGS.
YOU MAY HAVE TO DISAPPOINT A FEW FRIENDS, "I CAN'T BE
THERE EVERY MONDAY NIGHT. IT'S A NEW SEASON."
YOU MAY HAVE TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN, "WE CAN'T PLAY ON
SEVENTEEN DIFFERENT SOCCER TEAMS THIS FALL.
LET'S JUST DO TWELVE." WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT
FORCED US TO SLOW DOWN. MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T GO TO
WORK, DIDN'T TRAVEL. AIRLINES, SOME OF THEM
STOPPED RUNNING. SHOPPING CENTERS CLOSED.
EVERYTHING WAS PUT ON PAUSE. ALTHOUGH PEOPLE LOST THEIR
LIVES, OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THEM, THERE WAS SOME GOOD
THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
IT SHIFTED OUR PRIORITIES. WE REALIZED THERE'S MORE TO
LIFE THAN JUST WORKING ALL THE TIME, TRYING TO ACHIEVE
AND OUTPERFORM. WE SAW HOW MUCH WE MISSED SPENDING
TIME WITH OUR FAMILY, ENJOYING THE PEOPLE THAT WE
LOVE. IN A SENSE, IT HELPED BRING
US BACK INTO BALANCE, TO HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF
WHAT'S IMPORTANT. SINCE 2004, WE HAVE DONE
OVER TWO HUNDRED NIGHTS OF HOPE IN CITIES ACROSS
AMERICA. EVERY MONTH WE'D GO TO THE
STADIUMS AND BASKETBALL ARENAS.
THE EVENT WAS NORMALLY ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, WE'D COME
HOME SATURDAY AFTERNOON, DO CHURCH SATURDAY NIGHT, TWO
SERVICES ON SUNDAY. I WRITE TWO BOOKS A YEAR,
DO MY SIRIUSXM RADIO PROGRAM EACH WEEK.
I LOVE DOING, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH THAT WAS
TAKING OUT OF ME. WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT
CHANGED EVERYTHING. NO MORE EVENTS ON THE ROAD.
INSTEAD OF THREE SERVICES, WE RECORDED ONE SERVICE ON
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WITH NO PEOPLE IN THE AUDITORIUM. I
WOULD COME IN AND DO MY MESSAGE, HALF HOUR LATER I
WAS DONE. IN TWENTY-THREE YEARS SINCE
MY FATHER PASSED, I HAD NEVER BEEN SO RESTED, NEVER
HAD SO MUCH ENERGY. I NOTICED THAT MY CONTACTS
STARTED TO GET BLURRY. I COULDN'T READ AS WELL.
I WENT TO THE EYE DOCTOR; HE RAN THE TEST. HE SAID,
"JOEL, THIS IS VERY STRANGE, BUT THE REASON
YOUR CONTACTS ARE BLURRY IS BECAUSE YOUR VISION HAS
IMPROVED. IT HASN'T GOTTEN WORSE,
IT'S GOTTEN BETTER. YOU NEED LESS CORRECTION."
WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU'LL GET BACK IN
BALANCE. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT, BUT
WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF WITHDRAWALS TAKING PLACE,
YOU'RE SPENDING A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ENERGY, BEING
PRODUCTIVE, SEEING YOUR GIFTS COME OUT, HELPING
OTHERS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PUTTING IN A
LOT OF DEPOSITS, YOU'RE TAKING TIME TO GET FILLED
BACK UP EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
WORKING ALL THE TIME IS NOT HARD. YOU HAVE THE DRIVE,
THE PASSION, BUT WHEN YOU DO, YOU'RE RUNNING AT A
DEFICIT. YOUR ACCOUNT IS LOW.
IT STARTS AFFECTING OTHER THINGS, YOUR HEALTH, YOUR
CREATIVITY, YOUR ATTITUDE, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.
STAY IN BALANCE. TAKE TIME TO GET AWAY.
EVERY DAY YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME TIME TO YOURSELF.
SOME TIME TO GET REFRESHED. THEN ON A REGULAR BASIS PUT
ON THE SCHEDULE WHAT FILLS YOU BACK UP.
MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS SUPPOSED TO TRAVEL TO THE
CITY OF CORINTH AND VISIT WITH THE PEOPLE.
HE HAD TOLD THEM EARLIER THAT IN A WHILE HE WOULD BE
COMING. THEY WERE PLANNING FOR HIS
VISIT, EAGERLY AWAITING FOR HIM TO SHOW UP.
BUT PAUL ENCOUNTERED GREAT DIFFICULTIES IN ASIA.
HE WAS DEALING WITH PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE COMING
AGAINST HIM. HE WROTE IN 2 CORINTHIANS 1, "WE WERE
PRESSED BEYOND MEASURE. WE WERE SO OVERWHELMED, WE
DESPAIRED OF LIFE ITSELF." THIS WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL,
WHO WROTE NEARLY HALF OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, SAYING
HE FELT SO OVERWHELMED HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD GO ON.
HERE HE HAD ALREADY TOLD THESE PEOPLE HE WOULD COME.
HE HAD ALREADY MADE THIS COMMITMENT AND THESE
UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES CAME UP.
HE COULD HAVE THOUGHT, "I CAN'T DISAPPOINT THEM.
THEY'RE EXPECTING ME. WHAT IF THEY GET UPSET,
WHAT IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND."
BUT PAUL KNEW HIS LIMITS. YES, HE WAS POWERFUL, YES,
HE WROTE I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, YES,
HE PRAYED AND PRISON DOORS FLUNG OPEN, BUT HE
UNDERSTOOD THIS PRINCIPLE. THAT IT WAS UP TO HIM TO
TAKE CARE OF HIS PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.
THAT HE CAN'T OPERATE AT HIS BEST IF HE'S DEPLETED,
DRAINED, WORN OUT. SO, HE SENT A LETTER
TELLING THEM IN EFFECT, "I'M SORRY I CAN'T COME."
HE COULD HAVE HAD A HERO MENTALITY, "THEY'RE
COUNTING ON ME, I'M THE ONE THEY LOOK UP TO.
I CAN'T LET THEM DOWN." BUT HE TOOK HIS CAPE OFF
AND SAID, "I CAN'T DO IT." HE WAS SAYING, "YOU'VE SEEN
THE SUPERMAN PAUL, NOW YOU'RE SEEING THE HUMAN
PAUL. I'M OVERWHELMED.
I'VE GOT TO GET REPLENISHED, ONCE I GET
FILLED BACK UP, HEALTHY, WHOLE, RESTORED, THEN I'LL
COME VISIT WITH YOU." THERE ARE TIMES YOU HAVE TO
BE BOLD LIKE PAUL AND SAY, "NO, I CAN'T DO IT.
I KNOW IT MAY HURT FEELINGS, I KNOW I'VE BEEN
THERE IN THE PAST, I KNOW I TOLD YOU I WOULD, BUT I
NEED A BREAK, I HAVE TO GET REFRESHED."
JESUS DID IT, PAUL DID IT. IT'S OKAY IF YOU DO IT.
DON'T TRY TO BE SUPERMAN. SUPERMAN IS A FICTIONAL
CHARACTER. SUPERMAN IN REAL LIFE WOULD
HAVE HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
IT'S OKAY TO SAY NO. THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL WORDS YOU CAN LEARN.
I KNOW YES IS EXCITING. WE WANT TO DO IT ALL.
"YES, I'LL WORK LATE, YES I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU, YES
I'LL MAKE SACRIFICES SO YOU CAN GO FURTHER."
BUT THERE WILL BE TIMES YOU HAVE TO SAY, "SORRY, I HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF ME. I HAVE TO PROTECT MY HEALTH.
I HAVE TO LET MY MIND REST. I HAVE TO RELEASE THIS
STRESS." SOMETIMES, WE'RE HOLDING ON
TO THINGS THAT ARE OVERWHELMING US.
WHAT YOU WON'T SAY NO TO CAN END UP KILLING YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR EVERYONE ELSE, WHY DON'T
YOU BE THERE FOR YOU. WHY DON'T YOU MAKE YOURSELF
A PRIORITY? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
LIVING SELFISHLY, I'M TALKING ABOUT LIVING
BALANCED, RECOGNIZING THAT YOUR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING IS UP TO YOU. SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU BEND
OVER BACKWARDS FOR, YOU MAKE GREAT SACRIFICES TO
HELP THEM, WHEN YOU NEED HELP, THEY'RE NEVER AROUND.
THEY'RE BUSY, THEY HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
YES, BE GOOD TO OTHERS, BE A BLESSING WHENEVER YOU
CAN, BUT ALSO KNOW YOUR LIMITS.
IF YOU CAN'T BE A BLESSING EVERY TIME, THAT'S OKAY.
IF YOU CAN'T COME TO CORINTH, LIKE PAUL, PEOPLE
MAY GET UPSET. THEY MAY TRY TO MAKE YOU
FEEL BAD, BUT THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR YOUR
ASSIGNMENT. IT'S NOT HEROIC TO TRY TO
MEET EVERYONE ELSE'S EXPECTATIONS AND MISS YOUR
OWN DESTINY. A FRIEND OF MINE WAS A VERY
SUCCESSFUL PASTOR. WE KNEW HIM GROWING UP.
HE TRAVELLED THE WORLD HELPING PEOPLE, SPEAKING AT
THESE LARGE EVENTS. BUT HE WAS SO CAUGHT UP IN
HIS CALLING AND THE DOORS THAT WERE OPENING THAT HE
DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO HIS HEALTH.
HE KNEW HE WAS DOING TOO MUCH, RUNNING DEPLETED,
MENTALLY DRAINED, PHYSICAL RUN DOWN BUT HE NEVER TOOK
TIME TO GET REPLENISHED. HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY KIND OF
SYSTEM WHERE HE WOULD GET FILLED BACK UP.
YOU CAN'T KEEP GIVING OUT, MAKING WITHDRAWALS, AND
NEVER MAKING DEPOSITS, NEVER PUTTING ANYTHING IN.
HE FLEW HOME FROM OVERSEAS, IT WAS AN EIGHTEEN-HOUR
FLIGHT, HE WAS SO TIRED, SO EXHAUSTED.
THE PROBLEM IS HE HAD ANOTHER TRIP TO TAKE THE
NEXT AFTERNOON. HE TOLD ME, "I KNEW THERE
WAS NO WAY I COULD PHYSICALLY DO IT, BUT I HAD
THIS COMMITMENT, I WANTED TO KEEP MY WORD."
HE GOT ON THAT FLIGHT AND NEVER MINISTERED AGAIN. HE
HAD A STROKE, LOST HIS SPEECH, LOST HIS MOTOR
SKILLS. YOU'RE NOT DOING YOURSELF
ANY FAVORS NOT TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF.
IF THE APOSTLE PAUL CAN SAY NO, THEN WE CAN SAY NO.
HERE'S A KEY, YOU MAKE YOUR OWN SCHEDULE.
YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
DON'T MAKE COMMITMENTS THAT YOU KNOW ARE NOT WISE FOR
YOUR HEALTH. WHEN I GET UP TO SPEAK EACH
WEEKEND, IT TAKES A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ENERGY.
PHYSICALLY I CAN RUN ALL DAY.
BUT EMOTIONALLY, THERE'S A LIMITED SUPPLY.
SO, THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS, I SCHEDULE NO MEETINGS, NO
CALLS. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A
BIG WITHDRAWAL ON SUNDAY, SO I HAVE TO GET FILLED
BACK UP. IF I'M DEALING WITH
PROBLEMS, TRYING TO FIX THIS SITUATION, PLAN THIS
EVENT, NEED TO VISIT WITH THIS PERSON, I'M NOT GOING
TO BE MY BEST UP HERE. I HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO GET
QUIET SO I CAN STAY IN BALANCE.
THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE THE MOST CREATIVE, THE MOST
EFFECTIVE. THESE DAYS THERE ARE MORE
DEMANDS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION THAN EVER.
EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF YOU, ADVERTISERS, TV,
INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, SCHOOL, WORK, FRIENDS.
PEOPLE ARE VYING FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
YOU HAVE TO BE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHAT YOU COMMIT TO.
WHEN YOU'RE AT YOUR LIMIT, YOU CAN'T KEEP ADDING TO
YOUR SCHEDULE WITHOUT TAKING SOMETHING ELSE AWAY.
WE THINK, "I CAN GO DO THIS TOO; MY FRIEND WANTS ME TO
COME HERE, I CAN WRITE TIS EXTRA PROPOSAL, I CAN MAKE
MY CHILD'S TOURNAMENT." WE HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS BUT
IT'S TOO MUCH. IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO
SAY NO, YOU'RE GOING TO GET OVERCOMMITTED.
IT MAY BE A GOOD THING, BUT GOOD THINGS CAN WEAR YOU
OUT. GOOD PEOPLE CAN DEPLETE YOU.
IT'S ALL ABOUT BALANCE. DOES IT WORK WITH THE
SEASON YOU'RE IN RIGHT NOW? DOES IT FIT WITH WHAT YOU
ALREADY HAVE TO DO? VICTORIA AND I HAVE ALWAYS
LOVED REAL ESTATE. WHENEVER WE SEE AN OPEN
HOUSE SIGN, WHERE A HOUSE IS FOR SALE, IF WE HAVE
TIME, WE GO IN TO LOOK AROUND.
IT'S JUST A HOBBY. WE WERE IN ANOTHER STATE,
WE SAW THIS OPEN HOUSE. WE WENT ALL THROUGH IT.
AS I WAS LEAVING THE REAL ESTATE AGENT, THIS YOUNG
MAN, THANKED US FOR COMING AND ASKED FOR ME FOR MY
NUMBER SO HE COULD SEND ME INFORMATION ON OTHER HOUSES.
I SAID, "WE'RE NOT INTERESTED, WE'RE NOT
SERIOUS BUYERS, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AROUND."
HE SAID, "OKAY, BUT CAN I GET YOUR EMAIL.
I'D LIKE TO PUT YOU ON OUR MAILING ADDRESS."
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON'T NEED ANOTHER EMAIL,
ANOTHER TEXT, ANOTHER PHONE CALL.
I HAVE ENOUGH THINGS TO GIVE MY ATTENTION TO.
I SAID VERY POLITELY, "NO THANKS."
HE SAID, "OKAY BUT AT LEAST GIVE ME YOUR HOME ADDRESS
SO I CAN STAY IN TOUCH." HE WAS VERY PERSISTENT.
I UNDERSTAND, HE WANTS TO SELL.
I'M VERY NICE, I DON'T WANT TO HURT PEOPLE'S FEELINGS.
NORMALLY, I WOULD HAVE JUST GIVEN IN, AND GIVEN HIM MY
BROTHER PAUL'S EMAIL. BUT THIS TIME I LOOKED AT
HIM WITH A BIG SMILE AND SAID, "I'M SORRY, BUT I
DON'T WANT ANYONE TO CONTACT ME."
I WALKED OUT OF THERE SO PROUD OF MYSELF.
I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT IN MY LIFE BEFORE.
I LOVE TO SAY YES, BUT SOMETIMES TO FULFILL YOUR
DESTINY, YOU HAVE TO SAY NO. PAUL SAID, "NO, I CAN'T
COME TO CORINTH RIGHT NOW. I'M TOO TIRED."
JESUS SAID, "NO, I CAN'T HEAL PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE TO REST." ARE THERE SOME THINGS YOU
NEED TO SAY NO TO? MAYBE THEY'RE GOOD THINGS
BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT SEASON.
IT'S WEARING YOU DOWN, TAKING TIME AND ENERGY FROM
THE MAIN THINGS YOU NEED TO DO.
SOLOMON SAID IN THE SCRIPTURE, "THEY MADE ME A
KEEPER OF VINEYARDS BUT MY OWN VINEYARD I HAVE NOT
KEPT." HE WAS SAYING, "I'VE KEPT
EVERYONE ELSE HAPPY. I'VE MET ALL THEIR DEMANDS,
WORKED OVERTIME, BUILT THE BUSINESS, SACRIFICED FOR MY
CHILDREN, BUT I DIDN'T TAKE TIME FOR ME.
I DIDN'T KEEP MYSELF HEALTHY."
YOU'VE MADE OTHERS A PRIORITY, IT'S OKAY TO MAKE
YOURSELF A PRIORITY. YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A
LIGHTHOUSE ON A ROCKY STRETCH OF COASTLINE.
THE KEEPER, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF KEEPING THE FLAME
BURNING, WAS GIVEN A NEW SUPPLY OF OIL ONCE A MONTH.
HIS MAIN FOCUS WAS TO MAKE SURE THE LIGHTHOUSE SHINED
BRIGHTLY. IT WAS CLOSE TO A
NEIGHBORHOOD. ONE COLD NIGHT, AN ELDERLY
WOMAN CAME AND SAID SHE NEEDED OIL FOR HER HEATER.
THE KEEPER FELT BADLY FOR HER AND GAVE HER SOME OIL.
ANOTHER FATHER CAME AND SAID IT WAS AN EMERGENCY.
HE NEEDED OIL FOR HIS LAMP SO HE COULD TRAVEL THROUGH
THE NIGHT TO GET MEDICINE FOR HIS CHILD.
THE KEEPER DIDN'T THINK TWICE, THAT'S A GOOD CAUSE,
GAVE HIM THE OIL. ANOTHER MAN CAME PASSING
THROUGH THAT WAS STRANDED AND NEEDED OIL TO LUBRICATE
HIS WHEEL. THE KEEPER FELT SORRY FOR
HIM AND GAVE HIM THE OIL. TOWARD THE END OF THE
MONTH, THE OIL FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE WAS RUNNING LOW.
HE SENT WORD TO TOWN TO LET THEM KNOW HE HAD TO HAVE
MORE OIL. BUT BEFORE THE NEW OIL
ARRIVED, THE LIGHTHOUSE WENT OUT.
THAT NIGHT A HUGE SHIP WAS DISORIENTED AND CRASHED
INTO THE ROCKS. THE AUTHORITIES CAME, THE
KEEPER WAS SO APOLOGETIC. HE TOLD HOW HE'D USED THE
OIL FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED IT SO BADLY.
THEY SAID TO HIM VERY STERNLY, "YOU WERE GIVEN
OIL FOR ONE PURPOSE, TO KEEP THAT LIGHTHOUSE
BURNING." SOMETIMES LIKE THIS KEEPER,
WE'RE SO GOOD HEARTED. WE WANT TO HELP THIS
PERSON, MEASURE UP TO THEIR EXPECTATION, RUN HERE AND
KEEP THEM HAPPY. ALL THE WHILE, WE'RE
DEPLETED. OUR LIGHT'S GOING OUT.
YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN OIL FOR ONE PURPOSE, TO KEEP YOUR
LIGHT BURNING, TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY, WHOLE,
AND STRONG. IF YOUR FIRE GOES OUT, YOU
CAN'T HELP ALL THOSE OTHERS. IF YOU'RE LIVING DEPLETED,
DRAINED, RUNNING ON EMPTY, YOU'RE NOT SHINING LIKE YOU
COULD. YOU'RE MAKING IT, BUT WHAT
COULD YOU BE IF YOU GOT BACK IN BALANCE.
HOW MUCH BRIGHTER, FURTHER, LONGER, HAPPIER COULD YOU
BE IF YOU DID LIKE JESUS AND ON A REGULAR BASIS TOOK
TIME TO GET REFRESHED, TO BE REPLENISHED.
I'M NOT SAYING TO LIVE SELFISHLY.
I'M NOT SAYING TO NOT WORK HARD. I'M SAYING TAKE CARE
OF YOUR TEMPLE, PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
YOU'RE NOT INVINCIBLE. PEOPLE MAY THINK YOU'RE
SUPERMAN. YOU'RE SO STRONG, SO GIFTED.
YOU'RE ALWAYS UP, BUT LIKE ALL OF US, YOU'RE HUMAN.
YOU NEED TO BE REFRESHED. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE BURNING
OUT. YOU CAN GO FOR A WHILE OUT
OF BALANCE, BUT EVENTUALLY, IT WILL CATCH UP TO YOU.
I HEARD THIS SAYING, IT'S EASIER TO MAINTAIN GOOD
HEALTH THAN IT IS TO TRY TO REGAIN LOST HEALTH.
WHEN YOU LIVE DEPLETED, IT'S WEARING YOU DOWN.
IT'S AFFECTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. YOU NEED TO GET OUT
FROM UNDER THAT PRESSURE. LEARN TO SAY NO.
YOU MAY HAVE TO ELIMINATE SOME GOOD THINGS IN ORDER
TO STAY HEALTHY. WE NEED YOU HERE FOR A LONG
TIME. WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER IS
AMAZING, YOUR GIFTS, YOUR TALENTS, YOUR LOVE.
KEEP YOUR LIGHT BURNING. YES, BE GOOD TO OTHERS, BUT
DON'T FORGET TO BE GOOD TO YOU.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS I BELIEVE AND DECLARE, YOU'RE GOING
TO FEEL WEIGHTS LIFT OFF OF YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE LONGER, FREER, HEALTHIER,
HAVE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS, MORE ENERGY AND BECOME ALL
YOU WERE CREATED TO BE, IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT CAN YOU SAY AMEN?
AMEN. I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME? JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS, I
REPENT OF MY SINS. COME INTO MY HEART. I MAKE
YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOR." IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT BORN AGAIN. I WANT TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INTO A GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE. VICTORIA AND I WILL BE
RIGHT BACK TO SPEAK A BLESSING OVER YOU.
