WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:21.440 Well, good morning, Awakening. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:22.719 How are we doing? 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:24.879 Oh, I love that. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:25.760 I love that. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:26.480 Hey. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:29.039 Great to be with you. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:33.119 We're in a series uh called Marriage Material, and we're simply asking this question. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:38.719 How do you experience a strong, vibrant marriage that lasts for a lifetime? 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:46.960 And here's what we said last week that a strong, vibrant marriage doesn't just happen, it's built. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:50.079 It's not left up to chance or luck. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:52.079 You just don't hope for it. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:57.920 Maybe you, you know, just like oh, it go into autopilot and it just works out. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:00.240 It's actually built. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.200 Um last week I gave you this illustration. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:06.000 We talked about Surf City, Florida. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:22.239 And Surf City, Florida, famous for, you know, a retreat in OASIS for the rich and famous just outside of Miami in 2021, became famous for the sudden overnight collapse of a condominium that tragically killed uh 98 people. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:32.480 And uh the National Institute for Standards and Technology uh spent$30 million to investigate what happened so it doesn't happen again. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:34.719 And they came away with four key findings. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:40.959 First, there was significant foundational issues that was the main error in the collapse. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:51.519 The second was that there was quality of building materials, though it passed inspections, it did, they took shortcuts in the building materials that led to the collapse. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:02:02.239 Third, uh, there was um added stress to the structure that was not planned on, that just created more and more strain that eventually collapsed it. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:05.439 And fourth, finally, it was deferred maintenance. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:19.199 Uh actually, the HOA two years before uh did a whole um research and approved$15 million in deferred maintenance that were critical, and they never got around to it. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:30.879 Now, here's what we've doing, what we are doing is we're using these four key findings uh as our outline for this series and how do you build a great, strong, vibrant marriage. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:33.120 Last week we talked about it's foundational. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:35.280 Today we're gonna talk about quality of materials. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:39.919 Next week, Father's Day, we're gonna talk about added stress to the structure. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:52.080 Uh, and then deferred maintenance will close that out with all the things we know are important, but we put off because they're not quite urgent until it's too late. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:59.919 And one of the things I'm hoping to do, we're gonna do, is that you don't just get a hear from me throughout this, is that you actually get a hear from my wife as well. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:05.520 I've been married for 21 years, have three incredible kids, uh, Ella, Ryder, and Miles. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:13.120 You know, we're in that launching phase where our first just came back from their first year of college, and then you know, that whole season. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:15.840 And so I thought it'd be great if you got to hear a little bit. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:21.439 So I we have these interviews that we did that are just kind of each week gonna kick off our time together. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:22.960 Why don't you check it out? 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:37.280 All right, you ready, Glenn? 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:37.919 We're rolling. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:38.719 We're rolling. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:04:00.479 Um, one of the things that we've done over the course of our marriage, you led the charge on this uh in so many ways, was just get around couples that um are further ahead, that we admire, that we see the way their marriage is, their family is, that we just want to be like them. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:03.840 Um, why is that so important to us? 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:08.479 Uh what were those qualities that we saw in those couples and families? 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:11.520 And then how how do you find those types of couples? 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:12.319 I think that's hard. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:16.800 It's like, how do you actually find these types of people to get around and to learn from? 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:18.800 Alright, so I asked you a bunch of questions. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.120 Um let's start just at the top. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:24.079 Like, why is that so important for us? 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:44.959 Um specifically thinking of like the little years and middle school years and having times where we felt either we were stuck in our marriage or we were overwhelmed with something with the kids. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:59.680 And we just we felt stuck and we didn't have the money to do counseling, and we actually every once in a while we'd meet someone where it'd be like, they are they're pretty amazing. 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:00.480 Yeah, yeah. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:10.240 Every time we had that kind of inkling of I want to get to know them more, like there's kind of a settledness to them, like a grounding. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:17.920 Um I think we would try and just take them out to dinner or have them over do something. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:24.639 And was such an important thing for us to be able to process some things. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.439 And a lot of times, see, we were just talking about this the other day. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:40.240 Some of our friends that are still good friends of ours, almost always I would have this um reminder of it's not the end of the world, you know. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:41.680 Yeah, we after you talked with them. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:46.879 Yeah, yeah, because everything feels so big, like you're gonna screw your kids up, well, you make it through. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:47.519 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:53.439 Yes, yeah, and they would help us zoom out, be like, your kids are gonna be fine. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:55.759 Yeah, it's not, you know. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:59.680 Um that we uh weren't the only ones going through this. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.240 They've walked through it, they've already experienced something similar. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:19.439 And so I think when we would kind of have things that we would spin out on, it was really helpful to be with people that could see further and um had already walked that path before, and could just kind of say, You're gonna be okay. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:20.319 Yeah. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:30.240 You ask everyone, if anyone who's had kids that are further ahead the other day, it's like a little much out to eat, and our waitress had, you know. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:31.680 She had five kids. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:35.360 Yeah, and three of them are grown, and so then you're asking her advice. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:44.959 There's just this voraciousness of learning uh from anyone, not necessarily uh I have to, you know, have this certain list. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:52.319 So but what are some of the qualities that you that or I guess we look for in people that we're wanting to learn from? 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:53.360 Yeah. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:02.079 I think actually one thing that is important is that they are honoring people. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:12.160 We've all been around couples that kind of can bash their spouse or bash other people. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:15.680 Um just comes out in the little comments, it can see that. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:23.759 And you just know that if they're doing that with other people, they're probably doing it with you too. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:39.120 And um, and then that rubs off to where, oh, well then if they're bashing their spouse, then I can do it then, and that kind of becomes a way that you connect in a super unhealthy, destructive way. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:39.839 Yeah. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:46.399 Um, so being around people that you can still be honest and say, this is I think that's very important. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:08:01.279 It is a dance, like with your selective few that you know are gonna hold you to prayer, and they're going to, you know, be sure that you're also being loving in return and and hold you to that, but also be empathetic. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:22.079 I mean, it's a whole it's a whole thing that we're always growing in of how to be friends, but but being around people that are really honoring to their spouse, um, they have good relationships with their kids, it doesn't mean their kids are perfect, it means that they really love their kids well. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:22.639 Yeah. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:29.040 Well, how did how do we go about finding we're talking about these more miniature couples? 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:33.279 Yeah, I mean there's no app for it. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:47.519 It's just you meet somebody and it can feel awkward like you're asking them on a date or something, but it's just you know, it's just pursuing it and just asking somebody to hang out. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.879 You just never know when you're gonna meet them, and then you don't know if you'll see them again sometimes. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:53.440 Right. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:09:01.200 So, and then even I mean, I've even done like someone I've heard speaking somewhere and then reach out to them. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:09.519 It doesn't even mean you've met them personally, but I do think being across the table with people is really powerful. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:20.559 I can't tell you how helpful and powerful a practice that is. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:26.879 I hope that you'll incorporate that into your life regardless of whether you're married or single. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:30.080 Uh, today the sermon titles Building Materials. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.840 Go ahead and say that to your neighbor. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.039 Building materials. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:44.399 And here's what we know the quality of material directly impacts uh the beauty and longevity of what you're building. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:53.600 The quality of material, like it directly impacts the beauty and the longevity of what you're building. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.879 And and we even say something like this today, don't we? 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:01.360 Because when you see something that's well crafted, don't we say it? 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.639 Well, they don't build them like they used to. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:16.399 Because you used to build things to last, and now we just build things to build things so that you buy new things over and over again. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:24.240 Uh, you know, the other day I just I was going through my my garage and my shed, and I I just brought some building materials that I had. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:25.759 I have a two by six right here. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:27.200 This is really fun. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:29.279 Um, I have this. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:32.480 I don't really know um what that is. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:36.480 This is this is just like a composite, it's like so flimsy, yeah. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:37.600 You can just break it. 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:38.879 You don't want to build with that. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:40.240 There's a certain use for that. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:46.240 But then I have a two by four, which you just kind of think all two by fours are the same, right? 00:10:46.480 --> 00:11:02.720 And I remember the first time uh we're doing a building project, uh, had an older gentleman kind of taking me under his wing, and he said, every time you go to purchase at whatever your hardware uh store is, the first thing you need to do is you grab the two by four and then you're gonna look down the line. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:06.480 I literally grabbed this out of my shed, and I don't know if you can see it. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.679 Can you see? 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:09.840 Yeah, you see that? 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.399 You see how I paid for that. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:17.919 And you know what this is? 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.759 A waste of space. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.320 That's right. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.600 It is a waste of space. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:26.399 It's gotta crack, it's got a bend on it. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:29.360 And here's the thing that I just want to say. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:43.360 When it comes to our relationships, when it comes to the building materials that we're building our marriages upon, universally it is agreed that we just can say the primary building material for a great marriage is love. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:45.759 It's love. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:54.399 But what I would like to suggest is that all love is not equal to the same quality. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:08.159 And in fact, the big idea today is simply this building a strong, vibrant marriage is less about falling in love and more about growing in love. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:13.919 In our day, we put such an emphasis on falling in love and all the movies. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:21.840 I'm in love, I'm in love, you know, and it's like it's incredible, it's amazing, it feels fantastic. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:32.240 And yet that feeling of love lasts anywhere from six months to about two years, uh, according to research. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:35.120 And then what's holding you together? 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:46.000 And I'd like to suggest that we put so much emphasis on falling in love, we are unable to build a strong, vibrant marriage. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.000 Let us grow in love. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.600 That's the invitation. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:54.639 How do we grow in love to build a strong, vibrant marriage? 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:56.799 I just want to give you just two thoughts on how to do that. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:00.320 The first is you gotta upgrade your definition of love. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.039 You gotta upgrade your definition of love. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.360 What do we mean when we say I love you? 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:09.679 And here's part of the problem when we say I love you, we use love in all sorts of different ways. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.360 Um, I love tacos. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.039 I do. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.120 I love the Dallas Cowboys. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.039 I'm sorry, it's true. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:20.960 Um, you know, and then I love my kids and I love my spouse. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:25.279 We use this word in such a like multiplicity of ways. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:35.279 And yet we know when we're talking about another person what we mean, but culturally, uh actually, Webster does a good job summing up kind of what we mean when we say I love you. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:42.000 And Webster says love is a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:46.480 I just I have this feeling towards you, and it's beautiful and it's wonderful. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:57.840 It's an attraction that includes sexual desire, the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship, a person you love in a romantic way. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:04.879 And all of our movies and our books all do this, and it's all about falling in love. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:10.559 Isn't it interesting the way we use that word, falling in love? 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.679 And then we do what? 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:16.480 We fall out of love. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:20.879 Why isn't love more resilient, more strong? 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.879 And why do we use the word fall in love, by the way? 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:26.480 Did you ever think about that? 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:30.879 I don't know of any other time we use the word fall in a positive. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.200 Right? 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.519 Like, think about this. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:38.240 He fell off the wagon. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:41.519 Like you, you, you caved to your addiction. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:44.000 Uh she fell for it. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.799 You're gullible, and then you fell in love, right? 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.559 I mean, what in the world? 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.480 We have to upgrade our definition. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.320 And here's what I want you to hear. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:15:04.639 This definition is good and it's helpful, and it's wonderful, but it will not build a strong and vibrant marriage that lasts for a lifetime. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:12.720 Because the ebbs and flow of marriage are there times when you feel in love, and there's times where you do not feel in love. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:21.360 In fact, you may not really want to love them, you might even loathe them, and you need a better building material. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:25.919 We need a better building material than just our feelings. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.399 And the Apostle Paul, as you know, as I know, defined love. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:34.399 You know, in what we call the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:40.639 By the way, it's sandwiched between how the gifts of the Spirit are to be used in the body of Christ. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:44.480 This is not a marriage chapter, this is a church chapter. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:53.519 And yet we only hear it at weddings, and so we think of it as this kind of lovey-dovey thing that's read at a wedding, and it's like, oh, isn't that nice? 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.600 And those wonderful sentiments. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:58.799 This was never intended to be a sentiment. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:13.840 It's powerful, it's profound, it's the sturdiness to build a strong and vibrant marriage. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:18.480 It's the upgrade that you need, that we need. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:23.200 He begins in 1 Corinthians 13 this way, in redefining love. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:36.799 The apostle Paul says it this way: love is, and by the way, he's gonna tell us two things that love is, eight things love doesn't do, and four things love always does. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.759 And I love this. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.799 When he defines love, he brings it to its simplicity. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:48.159 He says, love is, it's, and so instead of it being a feeling, he says, no, it's a noun, or a verb, rather. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:50.720 It's a verb, it's a choice. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.759 I am choosing this activity. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:57.120 That's the reason the Bible actually commands us to love. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:01.679 You can't command a feeling, but you can command an action. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:06.799 The Apostle Paul says, love is patient, love is kind. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:18.799 Patience is to be even-tempered while enduring trying circumstances, to bear up under provocation without complaint, the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:23.839 Synonym, long suffering, forbearance. 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:29.519 See, when you first are married or dating, opposites attract, don't they? 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:32.319 I love that he's so spontaneous. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.799 I love that she's so organized. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.559 I love that. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:44.640 And then as you're married a little bit longer, their differences seem to irritate you more and more, don't they? 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:53.200 And he says, no, no, no, there's a patience that needs the capacity to be wrong and not retaliate. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:55.759 That I would have this long suffering. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.799 And then he goes on and says, Love is kind. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:09.279 Kindness is to be warm-hearted, merciful, gentle, considerate, sympathetic, to provide something beneficial for someone. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:09.920 And I love this. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:12.160 I think this is the best definition for kindness. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:14.480 Kindness is to choose the best. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:19.440 And we confuse kindness and niceness all the time, don't we? 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:24.880 Where we want to we want to be kind, but honestly, we're just nice. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.920 Like, so nice is simply this. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.119 Let's say we're having a conversation, you see something in my teeth. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:34.960 I'm about to get up to speak, and you talk and smile and say, Hey, go get them. 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.480 I'm like, wow, that's fantastic. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:36.880 Thank you. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:41.279 And I get up in front and I have like a big old piece of green lettuce in my teeth. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:44.240 You were nice to me, but you were not kind to me, right? 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:47.680 The kind person goes, Oh my gosh, Ryan, hang on just a second. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:50.079 I know it might be a little embarrassing, but you got a little something right here. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.279 Oh, thank you very much. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:56.400 And then I'm not going up on stage with a whole, you know, salad in my grill. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.319 That's kind. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:04.079 In fact, I remember uh years ago, my wife was as deeply kind to me. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.000 And it was actually hard to hear. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.519 We were hanging out with some of our dear friends over in Santa Cruz. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:17.759 One of them's a pastor, too, and there was this notable pastor that makes some big decisions and changes uh just in direction of what he was doing. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:22.319 And around that table, I became very critical of him. 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:31.519 I don't know him, never met him, don't know the reasons why, but apparently in that moment, I was the expert on what is right and what he should be doing with his life. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:34.319 We're driving home. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:38.640 And Jenny was the most kind person she could be. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.880 She said, you know, I just felt uneasy about that conversation. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:49.839 And we don't know him and his circumstance, and I don't think we should be really talking about people that way. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.240 Oh my gosh, you're right. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.359 We emailed our friends and apologized. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.720 See, kindness chooses the very best. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:06.240 Love is patient, love is kind. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.920 Then he goes on to say, this is what love doesn't do. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:19.759 Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrong. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:23.519 Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.880 It doesn't envy. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:36.559 Envy is to set one's heart on something that belongs to someone else, become painfully desirous of another's advantage, have intense negative feelings over another's achievement or success or jealousy. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:39.599 We can envy our spouse, the personality they have. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:42.079 Oh, I wish I just was more like them. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:47.200 The freedom that they have, I wish I could do things guilt-free the way they do things guilt-free. 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:57.759 We can envy other people's marriages, and we compare other people's highlight reels to our real life of marriages, and I just wish we were more like them. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:21:01.839 We can compare the singles and go, like, oh man, wasn't it good in the single days? 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:04.319 We could travel, do whatever we want, I could sleep in. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:10.880 And we compare to TV and Instagram and books. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:13.359 Where are you tempted to compare? 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:15.359 It says, love does not envy. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.240 There's a contentment. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:21.119 Love does not boast, it does not heap praise on oneself, exhibiting self-importance, bragging. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.960 You're not at the center of the universe. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:25.519 Do you bring conversations back to yourself? 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:27.279 Are you constantly bringing it back to you? 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:30.160 Well, I have this, well, I have this, well, I have this. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.680 Are you a one-upper? 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:32.720 Yeah? 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:38.000 Like, I mean, someone's telling a story and like, well, let me tell you what happened to me. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:44.720 That, yeah, I I I get it that both your legs are broken that accident, but let me tell you what happened to me. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:47.200 You know, you just have to one up someone. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.319 I had a sprained ankle. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:50.000 It was, it was, it was awful. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:54.880 Um does not envy, does not boast, is not proud. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:59.759 Proud is to be arrogant, conceived of as being puffed up with air, and then literally the word. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:06.480 Means to inflate oneself, to have an exaggerated self-conception, conceitedness. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:16.160 And pride, friends, is almost impossible to see in the mirror, and yet we're so good at seeing it in other people. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.880 Pride, what is proud response? 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:23.200 Well, it's an unwillingness to apologize, to admit your wrongs, is to be argumentative. 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.079 I do that a lot. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:29.200 I always have to be right, and then I'm like, oh, I'll Google it to show you that I'm right. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.240 It's pride. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:33.920 Self-absorbed, having either too high or too low of a view. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.440 You're playing the victim. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.960 It's all about you. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:45.440 It does not dishonor to act unbecomingly, to shame, to behave indexently, disgracefully, or to be rude. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.279 It does not dishonor another. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:49.440 Jenny was talking about honor. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.200 It's so powerful. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.920 And we can dishonor with our words. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:01.839 When we are critical, putting down those passive-aggressive comments, those little cutting things, you can even say it with a smile. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:05.440 You can even say it jokingly, and then it just seeps down in. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:09.920 We can do it with our actions and how we respond to one another. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:18.000 Let me tell you one of the ways that I've just chosen, and we have chosen just to honor each other, you know, physically. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:23.759 I've chosen just as a pastor to adopt what kind of is called the Billy Graham rule. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:30.000 Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't, but Billy Graham, uh, incredible evangelist, passed away several years ago. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:34.720 Uh what's great about him, he lived a life not only godly but with no scandals. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.000 He finished well. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:46.319 And he just had a rule that he was never gonna be in a car alone with another female, you know, that wasn't his wife or kids, uh, family member. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.759 And you may not like that rule. 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:49.359 I don't care if you like that rule. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:52.319 I want to finish well and honor my spouse. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:58.720 And so I just know there's ways that I interact that I could in my single days that I cannot in my married days. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:06.160 There's ways that I'm gonna interact when it comes to texting or emailing or online that is honoring to you. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.400 Love does not dishonor. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:16.880 Uh I've shared this many times, but high school I got addicted to pornography. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:20.880 It followed me into college, and then it followed into my marriage. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:23.519 Oh, the pain that it brought my wife. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:25.200 I'm just so sorry. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:31.920 And I know this isn't just a male thing, females struggle with this. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:39.839 Uh uh Job would say it this way: I've made a covenant with my eyes, not to look lustfully upon a woman. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:44.400 And where we go with our eyes, how are we going to honor our spouse? 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:47.039 With our words, how are we going to honor our spouse? 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:50.160 And where we actually take it seriously. 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:53.119 Love does not dishonor. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:25:01.200 Love is not self-seeking, does not insist on one's own way or demand their way, doesn't make sure it always works out for themselves. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:04.559 Love is not easily angered or irritable. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:06.240 Oh, this one hurts. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:16.400 Because I can be easily angered to provoked, a state of irritation, expressed into arguments. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:34.880 Um we interpret the other person's actions and give them the worst case for why they did what they did. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.480 Let me explain. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:39.039 When and I've used this illustration quite a few times. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.440 Jenny says, I need a new one, I'll work on it. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.839 Um, she's right, she's right. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:54.240 When we're in our early day married, uh Jenny would take my things and put them on a pile on my side table. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:56.240 Now I hate piles. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:58.559 Piles are of the devil. 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:05.680 And I gotta tell you that the minute I see a pile, I get overwhelmed, and I'd rather throw the pile away than go through it. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.680 That's just my first- I hate it. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:15.519 And I would come home and I would I I consider myself a free organizer, and so I freely organize my stuff around the house. 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:21.519 I would drop off my wallet over here, my work stuff over here, uh, everything, and I know where it's at because I put it down. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:23.039 I know exactly where it's at. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:26.960 And then she would pick those things up from my free organization. 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.319 How could she do that? 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:31.440 And then put it on a pile by my bedside table. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:34.960 I can't tell you how often we got an argument over this. 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:43.440 I literally, as I'm telling you this, I have a flashback of a moment where I came home and I was so frustrated, I slammed the door. 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:46.640 I'm like angry about I'm angry about a pile. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:54.160 And we've asked this question so many times, but it bears repeating. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:27:00.480 See, love asks, what is the most generous explanation for their behavior? 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:03.839 What is the most generous explanation for the behavior? 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:07.599 Instead of assuming the worst, what is the most generous? 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:11.359 Like free organization is not organization at all, I've later learned. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:20.720 Um it can be quite irritating when you're trying to create a beautiful, wonderful home that other people want to enjoy, not just selfish me. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:24.400 What is the most generous explanation? 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:26.000 Love is not easily angered. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.799 Love keeps no record of wrong. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.759 This is an accounting term. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.400 You're not keeping score. 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:36.160 It's not resentful or bitter. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:41.359 It doesn't keep score in order to hold over the other person's head. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.799 You know, I used to kind of keep score. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:47.839 I'm just gonna confess it all because I think it'll help us. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:51.599 And I don't have it figured out, I'm in the process growing and learning with you, too. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:55.119 And I'd keep score, by the way, I'd write it down in my journal. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.559 Uh, and here's the reason why. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:58.319 And I know it's terrible, it's awful. 00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:02.240 Um here's the reason why. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:10.240 I'd write it down in my journal because I'm a terrible arguer, because I forget all the things that I wanted to bring up in the moment. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:16.480 And love keeps no record of wrong. 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:22.319 Love does not delight in evil, wrongdoing, doing what's unjust, violating God's moral law. 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:35.920 I'm not gonna go down that path with you if it's against what God wants, designed for human flourishing, but rejoices with the truth, that which conforms to reality, integrity, righteousness, holiness. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:39.279 Love does not, and then it says, love always. 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:41.599 It's consistent, unconditional. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:46.000 I was talking to a friend right before the first service, and we're talking about our tattoos. 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:50.799 He's asking what these meant, and he's like, Oh, I got one for my daughter. 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:55.839 And in the name of mine, uh I had them write. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:58.960 It's actually in the lettering, it's pretty amazing, quite beautiful. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:08.880 He's like, This was before I knew Jesus, but I had the most profound spiritual experience and closeness with God of holding my daughter for the very first time. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:12.079 And I made a promise to her, I will always love you. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.599 I will always be there. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:19.680 And so in the uh in his tattoo is in his daughter's name, is I will always. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:22.000 Because there's this reality, isn't it? 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:27.200 That there's something in us as the like it's part of God in us. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:30.160 We know that there needs to be a permanence to love. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:35.519 We need that, we long for that. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:40.799 This consistency and unconditionalness. 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:49.200 And Paul says four things: love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:54.720 It always protects to bear up and against difficulties, to keep confidence safe and consistent. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:59.119 When I say I love you, I'm saying you will always be safe with me. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:01.440 Your heart is safe with me. 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:05.119 Always trust, to believe, to put faith in in relation to God. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.680 It is taking him at his word in relation to people. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:11.119 It's not being gullible, but believing the best. 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:15.440 We're gonna hear that a lot, and giving the most generous explanation. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:36.880 It always hopes, it longs for the very best, believes no one is beyond hope, has a confident expectation that a better tomorrow awaits, and it always perseveres, endures to wait with persistence, to face and withstand with courage, maintain a belief of course of action in the face of opposition. 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:39.680 Love never gives up. 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:50.799 If we're gonna build a strong and vibrant marriage that lasts for a lifetime, we have to upgrade our definition of love from a feeling to what the Apostle Paul says. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:31:01.039 This is agape love, and this is the love that God in Christ has shown every single one of us. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:04.799 And so, how do we do this? 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:13.039 And I think there's two equal and opposite errors when we hear a sermon like this. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:16.720 The first is to feel defeated, isn't it? 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:23.680 You look at that list and go, I I mean, I can raise my hand on some, yeah, I I have to grow there. 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.920 I don't know that I could ever do that. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:33.279 The other is to go, okay, I'm in. 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:35.359 Let's go, let's get after it. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:38.880 I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna work as hard as I can. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:43.039 And then eventually you'll feel like, oh. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:49.680 I just feel like I just can't quite live up to that. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:58.079 And so not only do we need to upgrade our definition of love, we actually need to become a learner of love. 00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:01.119 God actually tells us how to do this. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:14.799 In Ephesians chapter 5, verse 1 and 2, uh, he actually teaches us, there's a process for us to grow and learn, to make this uh definition of love become a reality in our lives. 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:29.119 He says this be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:35.680 First, I want you to notice dearly loved, and then live a life of love, and then Christ loved us. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:39.200 These are three different words, cognates of the Greek word agape. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:48.319 And in these three words, agapeos, uh dearly loved, agape, live a life of love, and then agapato and Christ's love. 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:52.160 We actually see how do we live this out practically? 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:59.119 And the first thing I want you to notice is what uh the Apostle Paul invites us to is to embrace that you're dearly loved. 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:01.519 Embrace that you're dearly loved. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:10.880 Agapatos means the object of one's affection, having a very special relationship, beloved. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:17.359 See, one of the challenges that we face is we have a love deficit. 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:26.240 And until we receive and understand that we are beloved, we will never be able to give love. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:38.000 And there's some truth to the healthy self-care and self-love. 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:44.480 But so many people are looking internally to somehow generate love instead of going, you know what? 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:51.279 All the love I ever need, all the love that will fulfill me, actually is already given to me by my heavenly Father. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:59.119 Your standing with God right now as a follower of Jesus is beloved, son, daughter. 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:06.079 Everything that the apostle Paul just said in 1 Corinthians 13 is true about how God loves you. 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:18.719 He's patient, he is kind, he is not rude, he will not dishonor you, he will always protect, he will always be trustful, he will persevere, he has given his very life for you. 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:25.920 Your standing is not how do you achieve God's love? 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:35.119 And so many of us grew up trying to achieve and trying to earn and somehow work our way to God or work our way to get love from our parents. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:44.079 And it's again that picture, and for those of us that held a little baby that's our kid, I mean, if you held someone else's kid, it's probably not the same. 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:47.599 Your heart explodes. 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:55.760 Your heart explodes with love, and they haven't done anything. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.239 They're just yours. 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:06.239 God's heart explodes with love for you, and you don't need to do anything and can't do anything. 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:08.480 You're just his. 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:15.519 And if God loves you, there's something in you that's worthy of love. 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:29.039 And until we embrace we're dearly loved, we'll be in a deficit, and everything else will be searching to get love from the other person that we can only get from our Heavenly Father. 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:34.000 And so embrace that you're dearly loved, and then commit to living a life of love. 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:34.719 It's a choice. 00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:36.000 Remember, love is a choice. 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:36.800 Agape. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:40.960 Agape is the object of one's own affection, having this very special. 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:49.840 No, that's agape is the self-giving, sacrificial love that gives the other what they need the most when they deserve it the least. 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:51.360 I'm gonna commit. 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:56.400 In fact, this is what I ask couples to do when they're doing premarital counseling. 00:35:56.639 --> 00:36:01.599 Take 1 Corinthians 13, because when you're saying I love you, this is what you're saying. 00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:03.440 And would you personalize it? 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:06.880 I will be patient with you, I will be kind to you. 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:18.079 And if you've been uh married for a long time, there's some more specifics under there that will really show you what you need to do, like, and how to honor. 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:23.760 And where maybe where your natural tendency, mine, I can get easily angered. 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:25.840 And where you just write that out. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:30.239 I'm gonna commit to living a life of love. 00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:35.360 And then finally, rely on Christ's love to empower you. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:47.280 Agapeos, I am loved, I am the beloved, and in that reality, I choose to agape you. 00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:51.280 I choose to 1 Corinthians 13 you. 00:36:52.000 --> 00:37:06.320 And I know that I cannot do that in my strength, in my own power, and so I am making a choice, trusting that as I step to do the thing that I may not even feel like doing, Christ, your love will empower me. 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:10.000 Agapau, I love how Ephraim Smith defines Agapau. 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:17.440 He says, the unconditional love of Jesus in us that is flowing through us to be a force of transformation around us. 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:19.920 This is how it works. 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:23.679 It's all about your identity, whose you are. 00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:31.440 And I'm getting my love and understanding of who I am, that I'm already loved. 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:37.440 And so in this moment, I'm gonna choose to love you. 00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:38.800 I don't feel like it. 00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:40.639 I don't even feel like I have the power to do it. 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:43.840 And what a lot of us do is we're waiting to feel like it. 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:56.159 And you make a choice, okay, I'm gonna step in and I'm gonna love you, trusting that as I take that step of obedience, as I take that step, Christ, you are gonna empower me to love my spouse. 00:37:56.320 --> 00:38:00.960 You're gonna empower me to love my kids, you're gonna empower me to love, and you can fill in the blank. 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:06.559 And a lot of us don't experience Christ's empowerment because we don't step in love. 00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:07.119 We're waiting. 00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:08.239 Empower me, empower me. 00:38:08.320 --> 00:38:09.599 He says, Yeah, step. 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:12.480 What's the thing? 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:19.519 Come on, what's the thing that you've been holding back, that you've been holding on to, that you say I will not do until they do? 00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:21.440 And would you today make a decision? 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:30.800 I'm gonna start doing it, not because they deserve it, but because I'm beloved, and so I choose to love, and I'm trusting that Christ will empower me as I take that step forward. 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:33.039 What is it for you? 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:38.559 See, here's what love's asked. 00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:45.039 What is the highest and best for the other person? 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:52.559 What is the highest and best for your spouse? 00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:55.760 And here's the beautiful of the truth. 00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:59.679 Jesus has already answered that for you. 00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:06.480 He said, What is the highest and best for you? 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:19.519 See, we love not because we really know what love is, because he first loved us and gave himself as an offering, laying down his life for us. 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:26.320 Jesus, who left eternity, God, stepped into humanity vulnerable, looking to us. 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:37.280 When we wanted nothing to do with him, when we were still enemies of him, he said, I want to draw you in and invite you into my family. 00:39:39.840 --> 00:39:43.920 When you were running away from me, I was running towards you. 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:50.639 When you chose everything else, I still choose you. 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:58.079 I love you to the cross. 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:06.000 You know, Dave gave an invitation earlier as we're praying. 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:17.360 If you've never experienced that kind of love, today's the day. 00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:20.800 This moment's the moment. 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.760 Don't run past that. 00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:37.360 There's so many of us spinning out our busy lives, just trying to eek by, try to find purpose and meaning in everything else, and the hungering and the desire of your heart is just like, gosh, I hope somebody will love me. 00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:45.199 And yet, the God of the universe, his love for you. 00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:48.079 Oh. 00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:53.199 It never varies, it never changes, it's constant. 00:40:53.840 --> 00:40:56.400 On your good days, he doesn't love you anymore. 00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:58.960 On your bad days, he doesn't love you any less. 00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:02.559 And he asked that question. 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:07.920 And he answered it in the person of Jesus for you. 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:10.960 And so as we close, would you pray with me? 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:16.400 And if you're here and you've yet to say yes to the love of Jesus, would you just pray after me? 00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:23.440 Oh heavenly Father. 00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:27.199 I want to be a part of your family. 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:33.360 I want to experience your belovedness. 00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:42.159 Today, I confess I can't do it on my own. 00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:46.559 And I'm tired of trying to do it on my own. 00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:53.679 But I believe that you, you are my best. 00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:56.320 That you do love me. 00:41:57.280 --> 00:41:59.679 That you sent Jesus for me. 00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:07.519 Jesus, would you come into my life and make me new? 00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:14.400 Fill my heart with your love by the power of your Holy Spirit. 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:21.039 That I might know you and walk in your love. 00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:28.719 And if you're here and you prayed that prayer, if we'd just keep our eyes closed for a minute, could you just raise your hand so I know? 00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:31.119 I just would love to amen. 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:33.440 Yeah, raise them high. 00:42:33.760 --> 00:42:34.400 Amen. 00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:35.440 Amen. 00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:36.800 Amen. 00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:44.320 Jesus, I pray for my friends today who have said yes to your love invitation. 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:50.960 That you would awaken them to the wonder of your grace and your kindness and your love. 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:53.039 Overwhelm them with your love. 00:42:57.039 --> 00:43:02.559 Thank you for making us a part of your family, a part of your belovedness. 00:43:03.039 --> 00:43:04.159 In Jesus' name. 00:43:05.199 --> 00:43:05.840 Amen. 00:43:08.880 --> 00:43:11.119 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:15.760 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:18.000 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:24.079 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.