Participants: Jill Morikone
Series Code: HLFT
Program Code: HLFT000009B
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00:01 Welcome back. We're discussing sadness.
00:02 And today we talked about the first three keys, 00:05 the first three steps to experiencing peace and joy 00:10 again in your life. 00:11 Jay Hudson Taylor, he's the founder of the 00:15 China Inland Mission. 00:16 Perhaps you've heard of him. 00:17 He served 51 years of his life as a missionary 00:22 to the Chinese people; lived in China. 00:25 Because of the China Inland Mission there was 00:28 over 800 missionaries that went forth to China to witness 00:34 to the people there, and to teach them about Jesus. 00:39 They started 125 schools, and there were 18,000 people 00:44 that came to know Jesus as a result. 00:48 Now you may think in someone like Jay Hudson Taylor, 00:51 in his life, Wow, he had an easy life. 00:54 Wow, he did an incredible work for God. 00:57 But he had some times of intense pain, of intense loss. 01:02 The same type of loss that we've been talking about here today. 01:07 His son, who was five years old died, and just a few months 01:11 later his wife gave birth to a new baby, and the infant died. 01:18 And then just a couple days after that 01:21 his precious wife Mary died. 01:25 Now I don't know about you, but if I experienced the loss 01:28 of three very close family members to me, 01:31 in just the space of a couple of months, I have no idea, 01:35 I'm just being honest with you, I have no idea what I would do. 01:38 But he wrote in his journal, I'm so thankful that I get to 01:44 serve Jesus one more day. 01:48 To him having Jesus in his life, having the peace and the joy 01:55 that Jesus could bring made the difference for him. 01:59 And he wrote, you notice? he practiced praise. 02:01 Even though it hurt like crazy, he chose to practice praise. 02:07 My challenge to you this week for our application, 02:11 for your assignment for this week, is to begin 02:14 a gratitude journal. 02:15 You can pick a journal like the one I got here. 02:19 You can pick up any journal you want. 02:21 You can have paper. 02:22 It doesn't matter. 02:24 Stick it by your bed, and every night add at least one more 02:28 thing that you're thankful for. 02:31 I began a list here in my journal. 02:33 Maybe yours would look something like this. 02:36 God I think You for Your unconditional love, 02:38 Your forgiveness, my husband, family, the gift of salvation, 02:44 friends, and ministry. 02:47 I could add to this list, and I could put health. 02:51 Now maybe some of these things you don't have in your life, 02:54 so you say, Well, I couldn't list those. 02:55 That's okay. Put down whatever you can in your list. 03:00 And every day add to that list. 03:03 Add to your gratitude journal. 03:06 Are you alive? Give thanks! 03:10 Did you eat breakfast this morning? Give thanks. 03:13 Do you have a job? Give thanks. 03:16 Many people are out of work. 03:19 Can you drive? or can your walk? 03:21 Either say, give thanks. 03:24 Many people can't afford a car, and some people can't walk. 03:28 They don't have the use of their legs. 03:30 Can you feel? even though it might hurt? Give thanks. 03:35 Do you have a Bible? Give thanks. 03:38 Can you read it? Give thanks. 03:42 Many people can't read. 03:44 Do you have at least one friend? one person in your life 03:48 who loves you? Give thanks. 03:51 And most importantly of all, do you have Jesus as your friend? 03:57 Give thanks. Now you might say, I don't have Jesus as my friend, 04:02 but He wants to be your friend. 04:04 I know He does. Let Him in. 04:06 Give Him a chance. 04:08 Next program we're going to discuss the rest of the keys 04:12 to experiencing freedom from sadness. 04:16 In closing is our Scripture: Romans 15:13. 04:20 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in 04:24 believing, that you may abound in power by the Holy Spirit. |
Revised 2016-04-12