WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:00.800 Morning. 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:04.000 Everybody doing well today? 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:04.879 We doing good? 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:05.919 Good, good. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.119 Everyone you just saw in that video works with our elementary school kids. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:12.640 A few weeks ago, we showed some volunteers from our hospitality teams. 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:14.480 We showed volunteers from our nursery. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:19.600 Uh, but the grove and the treehouse, that's where our kindergartners through fifth graders are every Sunday. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:25.600 And man, can we just take a second and give a big round of applause for everyone that works in those areas and helps out? 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:35.119 I uh I worked with our kids here for years, and nothing in life will prepare you for being in a room with 120 first through fifth graders. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:42.719 There's nothing in there's no boot camp you can go through uh that teaches you what to do when you look out and you see kids with their shirts above their heads and like all it's just craziness. 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:44.719 Um but everything they said was so true. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:48.320 Every single week we have kids that are that are connecting with God. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:57.359 They're having the time of their lives, they're they're they're having a blast, they're playing games, but they are learning about Jesus and they are connecting with him every week, and all those volunteers make it possible. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:04.239 This whole month, we're we're talking about all of our volunteer areas, we're celebrating our volunteers because you all deserve to be celebrated. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:13.840 And if this is your home, if his hands is your church and you've never joined a team, I want to encourage you to go to the connect desk in the main lobby uh this week, next week, anytime, and just join one. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:16.239 We're not gonna put you on a team that you're gonna hate. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:18.400 And if you hate it, you can choose a different team. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:28.640 Uh, all we want to do is help you find your fit because we believe that God has gifted you and that you're talented, and that there's there's an area here that you can serve and you can use who you are to bless other people. 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:32.400 So head to the Connect Desk and we will help you get connected. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.359 Um, if you're new to his hands, if this is your first time, welcome. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:36.959 Uh, this is what we're all about as a church. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:37.599 It's really simple. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:42.719 Those of us who have been here for a while can probably say this in our sleep, but we exist to love people to Jesus. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:47.280 And so everything we do is to help people get God's love, grow in his love, and give it away. 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:51.359 An example of getting some of his love this Friday night, we've got one of those opportunities. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:55.599 We have a parents' night out this Friday night from six o'clock to nine. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:58.560 Last time it was seven to ten, and we learned something. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:00.400 We're always learning, we're always changing. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:02.719 Babies from 9 to 10 p.m. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:06.000 are insane without their parents. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:11.439 I mean, it was a great night, but from 9 to 10, if you walked into the baby's room, you'd have been like, no, no, I'm leaving. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:13.360 This is, it was just, it was mass hysteria. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.360 So we're going 6 to 9 this time. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:16.479 But this is the way this works. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.800 If you've never taken advantage of one of these, um, we believe as a church, we're a family. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:22.240 And families serve one another. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:23.919 We want to help one another. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:25.840 And so Parents Night Out is really simple. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:27.280 You register your kids online. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:31.919 That's so we can know how many kids to expect and know what their ages are so we can plan appropriately. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:36.319 Go to HitSandschurch.com, go to the calendar, you'll see Parents Night Out this Friday. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.800 It'll give you all the details there once you click on that link. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:42.080 And then you bring your kids here at six o'clock and you go out and have a night out. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:44.080 You, if you're married, have a date with your spouse. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:53.360 If you're single, have a night off, enjoy yourself, no cost, and then just come back at nine, please, and have a great, have a great weekend. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:55.439 That's that's what Parents Night Out's all about. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:59.919 And we're excited, and our our team, our staff, that's who's gonna work the whole thing. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:07.759 And and I don't know what room I'll be in yet, but I'm excited about it because I know that you all deserve a night off from time to time, and we're glad to give that for you. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:09.120 Uh growing in God's love. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:10.560 We have so many ways that you can grow. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:11.120 Volunteering. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:11.919 We just talked about. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:12.960 That's one of those. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:15.280 Um, another way to grow is to join a home group. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:17.039 Join a group here at His Hands. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:21.439 We have groups that uh meet in people's homes for married couples, we have groups for singles. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:23.919 Uh in fact, we have a new group that's just starting this week. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:25.360 They're getting started really soon. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:27.199 It's for singles 40 and up. 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:31.520 And so if that's something that would fit your life where you're at, go to the Connect Desk. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:36.240 Uh, Cicely's gonna be there, and you can talk to her about our 40s and up group that's getting started really soon. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:37.120 It's it's exciting. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:44.080 But no matter what, there is definitely a group that that meets you where you are, uh, your schedule, and your stage of life. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:47.439 And we'd love for you to get connected and to know other people. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.280 As far as giving his love away goes, you guys are good at that. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:58.800 And uh, and man, I wanna I want to let you know, I will stand here every single Sunday and thank you for how good you are at giving God's love away. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:00.879 You pray, you serve, and you give. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.400 Those of you who give financially, I just want to say thank you. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:07.199 You you do so much, and you do a few things that are really big. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:09.919 Number one, you just you walk in obedience to God. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:29.680 That's one of the things that's really clear in Scripture is that God asks us to trust Him, which is hard sometimes, and He asks us to trust Him financially, and so we we give and we trust that God is going to not just make it work, but to bless us and to use what we have to bless others and make sure that we're blessed as well. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:32.319 I want you to know as a church, we do that as well. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:37.600 You know, as a church, we believe in practicing what we preach, for lack of a better phrase. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:41.839 And so we give 10% of everything that comes in back every single week. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:42.720 We give it away. 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:43.920 And we're gonna continue doing that. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:49.279 And just like all of us in our personal lives, I can think of a lot of things that 10% would would be helpful for. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:50.160 A lot. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:55.519 But I have faith and I believe that God is going to honor us as we honor Him. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:59.120 And so those of you who give and you give consistently, that's what you're doing. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:07.279 You also recognize that life is bigger than you, and I want to thank you for that, because there's nothing that I desire more in my life than to be part of something bigger than myself. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:16.319 And when you give, you're acknowledging that God, you have bigger plans for my life than just me, and I believe you've blessed me with what I have for more than just me. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.399 That's a huge thing to do, and so thank you. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:22.560 Uh, there's four columns at the back of the room where you can give, or you can give at his handschurch.com. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:25.040 One more thing before we we jump into the message. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:28.160 Uh, we start a new series next week, and I'm so excited about this. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:29.600 It's called Defined. 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:30.879 And here's kind of the gist of it. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:33.519 I'm sharing this with you because I really want to encourage you to invite people. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:39.360 We talked about this last week: the power of an invitation, how we have Jesus, but we don't have him to ourselves. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:44.319 We are called by God to share him, and this church is just a great opportunity to do that. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:47.279 Um, we often think that life defines us. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:50.240 That's the way the world talks about the moments we have in life. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:56.480 You know, big things happen, and these these events they shape us, but that's actually not the way God says it is. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:06.480 God says that we define life, he actually gives us the power to shape our lives and to help shape the lives of those around us. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:07.199 Jesus did that. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:08.160 He lived life. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:11.120 He was not pretending to live life, he actually lived life. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:17.759 And Jesus faced decisions that he made that shaped his life, that shaped who he was, who we see him to be. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:24.319 All of us, every single day, are given opportunities by God to define what our life is going to be. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:26.800 What our life is going to be about. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:29.360 And so we're going to study the life of Jesus. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:37.759 And we're going to study these key decisions that he made in his life that defined him, that defined his ministry, because we can make the same decisions in our lives. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:39.519 I am so excited about this series. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:48.319 I've been excited about it for over a year, and I'm excited about it because I think it's going to be the most practical and applicable series we've done in a really long, long time. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:54.639 It's one of those series where you could come here not even believing God and still go, you know what, that works. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:55.759 That is true. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:57.439 That will work in my life. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:06.240 And so I say that encouraging you to think about who you want to invite, to pray about who you want to invite this week, because I really think this series is so perfect for that. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:07.920 So take advantage of that. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:09.199 All right. 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:15.519 Now that all that's out, um, Elon is given the message this morning, and I'm really excited about that. 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:17.120 Some of you might know Elon. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:21.439 If you don't, uh, she is an incredibly gifted speaker who's part of our teaching team. 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:29.839 If you have a high school student or a junior high student, then you need to be very thankful for Elon, even if you've never met her, because she teaches our high school kids every single Wednesday. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.319 She teaches our junior high kids most Sunday mornings. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:41.519 And so, here in just a moment, if you've never been here when she's spoken, you're gonna see how absolutely blessed we are to have someone as talented and as gifted as her teaching our kids every week. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:42.720 I mean, it's really awesome. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.079 And I know she's so excited about what God has given her to share. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.079 So let's pray and let's invite Elon out. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.160 Jesus, thank you so much for your love. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:52.000 Thank you for this church. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:54.959 I mean, what an amazing, amazing group of people. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.240 And God, we want our lives to be what you want them to be. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.160 We want our lives to have purpose, to have meaning. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.600 We want to live lives that matter. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.600 We want to live lives that affect the world around us in an incredible way. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:15.839 And so we are opening our hearts and our minds to you right now, God, and we're asking you to speak into our lives through your word and through the message that you've given to Elan. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:17.439 And we pray all this in your name, Jesus. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:18.240 Amen. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:19.040 Amen. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.079 Good morning. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:21.680 Good morning, good morning. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:23.279 Thank you, thank you. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:24.639 I'm so glad to be here. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:25.920 I hope you're having a great morning. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.240 Um, okay, so I'm just gonna cut to the chase. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.439 I have a problem. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:32.320 My hair is turning gray. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:44.799 And and listen, over the last couple of years, I've had a couple of little hairs kind of sprout up that are gray, but honestly, I call them my wisdom hairs, and I felt like I was kind of becoming an adult, so it was, you know, it was kind of cool. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:58.480 But but recently, just recently, the gray hair has been kind of overtaking my head, and I I've got gray hair popping up on my part and on my hairline and underneath all sections of my hair, and and I kind of don't know what to do about it. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:03.840 And listen, if you are ahead of me in years and you have gray hair, this is no slight to you. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.240 There is nothing wrong with gray hair. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:12.480 But people, please remember what it felt like when you first found your first amount of gray hair. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:21.919 And then for those of you who who may be younger than I am, which I'm starting to realize is happening a whole lot more often, your day is coming. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:27.200 So just you wait, just you wait, then you're gonna know how I feel. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:33.120 And then there's a group of you out there, and you have no idea what color your hair really is. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:40.720 And to you, to you, I say bravo. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:46.559 Bravo, live in denial, live in denial. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:51.919 I think that this is one of the times in our life where ignorance truly is bliss, and I actually want to be like you. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:10:00.720 I mean it, I want to be like you, but this whole thing with the hair color and everything is all new for me, and I'm a rookie, and it's a little intimidating and a little overwhelming. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:04.320 And and just real quick, let's just be honest for one moment. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:08.799 We all know I'm only talking to the ladies. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:14.480 Because for you guys out there, gray hair, gray hair is where it's at. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:20.080 Gray hair is like distinguished, and you're you're handsome. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.480 Gray hair gives off this appearance for men that's like, yeah, I'm a man. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.200 And your woman, she thinks you're hot. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.120 I am so happy for you. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.000 Congratulations that your gray hair looks awesome on you. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.600 But for us women, when we start going gray, I mean we freak out. 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:40.960 At least that's what I did. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:45.840 Is I went to bed one night with a few gray wisdom hairs. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:52.080 And the next morning I woke up, and I am not even kidding you, I had this huge patch of gray hair sitting right here on my forehead. 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.759 Right here on my forehead. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:57.039 And I you might think that I'm making this up and I'm not, and I'm not even being dramatic. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:02.960 And I know this is how it happened because on this particular day I had a really important meeting that I had to attend. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:09.360 And so I get up and I get showered and I put my makeup on and I blow dry my hair and I look in the mirror, and that's when I saw the patch. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:16.879 And it was just odd, and I felt really self-conscious, and and I had to make a good impression, and so I was almost out of time. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.200 I was like, I'm gonna get ready, I'm gonna go to the drugstore. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:28.240 On my way to the meeting, I stop by the drugstore and I walk in, and there's all sorts of products, and I didn't have time for all the gloves and the mixing and the whatever and the washing. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:29.360 I didn't have time for all that. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:38.399 So I'm walking up and down the aisle, and I find all the way in the top left-hand corner, there was one box, one box, and it said, gray root touch-up. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:40.879 Yes, that's exactly what I needed. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.480 And it was for black hair. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:47.759 My hair's brown, but you know, when you're in a desperate situation, I figured that I could just I could make it work. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:53.279 So I get back in the car and I'm looking in the mirror and I have the little wand and and I'm painting it on my patch. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:59.039 No, no, my my my my gray patch was now black. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:01.360 It did not look okay. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.600 And so I was like, well, what am I gonna do? 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:06.720 Okay, well, I'll just paint more of my hair black. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:11.840 So so I just kind of go a little bit more down my part, and then that doesn't look quite right. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:18.320 So I go a little bit further and a little bit further and a little bit further, and I'm telling you, I painted my entire part black. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:29.840 And and I thought to myself, well, you know what, the meeting is not outside, so it's not like the sun's gonna be shining on my head, and and and they're gonna be able to tell the big stark difference between my hair and the painted hair. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.320 And and I didn't have any time left, so I had to go. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:37.279 So I drive to my meeting, I get out of the car, and I walk to the building where the meeting's taking place. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:42.879 And as I do, this huge gust of wind comes and just pulls my hair up and tosses it everywhere, and it's a big old mess. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:49.360 And so I walk into the building and I'm in the elevator, and I'm like, oh gosh, I gotta get my hair back in order. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:52.799 Okay, smooth it out, gotta get any extra shine out of my face. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:57.600 You gentlemen have no idea what I'm talking about right now because you don't have to do this, you know. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:02.720 And so the door is open, and I and I step out and I take a left and I go to my meeting. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:14.000 I should have stepped out and taken a right and taken the extra 30 seconds to go step in the bathroom and look in the mirror. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:20.879 Why didn't I take the extra 30 seconds and go and step and look in front of the mirror? 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:26.639 After the one hour and 30-minute meeting, I get into the car and I glance into the mirror. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:32.080 And I had black streaks all over my face. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:41.759 It looked like I had war paint on my face, like my kids had done some kind of art project on my face, like I was, like I was some fanatical football freak. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:48.639 Oh my goodness gracious, it was it was humiliating. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:14:00.080 I I sat there and I and I and I looked at the box and I I held it up and I looked at the the small fine print, you know, and it said, temporary, do not touch, will rub off. 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:04.639 I'm sure the guy that I was meeting with must have thought, wow, she's aggressive. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:11.759 You know, I think back to that story, and I and I think, you know, gosh, so frustrating. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.559 And you know, you know what frustrated me the most? 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:18.240 It wasn't the fine print, you know, that I that I that I overlooked. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:22.720 And it wasn't the fact that the product did not do exactly what I was hoping that it would do. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:30.960 It wasn't the fact, although it would have been nice if the guy would have just been like, hey, uh, you got a little something right all over your face. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:37.679 You know, I mean, yeah, it would have been a little embarrassing at the moment, but I mean I could have gotten a towel and wiped it off and moved on, I would have been fine. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.120 No, you know what? 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:46.000 The most frustrating part for me was is that I couldn't control the fact that my hair was turning gray. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:50.080 And and see, the thing about me is I'm a bit of a control freak. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.000 I like to have control. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.039 Anyone else out there like to have control? 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.120 Okay, just about three honest people. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.000 Good. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:00.480 Very nice, awesome. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.840 Listen, you know what? 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:04.960 I know we all have different levels of control that we like to have. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:05.679 I get that. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:11.039 But the truth is, because we're human beings, we all like to have a certain measure of control. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.519 I mean, it's not our faults. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:18.399 The world tells us, society tells us that if you want to be happy, then have control. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:22.559 The more control you have, the happier you're gonna be. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:29.200 If you want your golden years to be worry-free, then control how much money you put aside for retirement. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:34.720 If you want a successful marriage, then control how much time you and your spouse spend together. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:43.519 If you want your children to avoid going down the path of drugs and alcohol and all the stuff that comes along with it, then control what shows they watch and who they hang around. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:47.919 If you want people to like you, then control what they know about you. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:52.639 If you want to have a successful career, then work hard. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:16:00.559 If you want to have a healthy life, then control what you eat, control how much you exercise, and go to the doctor every year. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:04.399 If you want to have financial freedom, control where your investments go. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:09.600 By all means, if you want to look youthful, then make sure you get the right hair color product. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:16.399 If you want to be happy, then control everything you can. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:18.879 That's what the world tells us. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:26.159 And by the way, there is nothing wrong with doing everything we can to secure the best possible future for us for ourselves. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:32.559 I mean, we do have a level of responsibility to be good stewards of our resources and to make wise decisions. 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:38.639 But the world tells us that our level of happiness is in direct connection with our level of control. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:42.559 So if you and I want to be happy, well then we better have more control. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:17:00.879 But if we believe that to be true, if we believe that everything that we have is is because of our own strength and our own power and our own control, what are we gonna do when it doesn't go as planned? 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.120 Not if, but when? 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.720 What are we gonna do? 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.599 What hope will we have then? 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.880 What if you did save everything you were supposed to save for your retirement? 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:19.039 And just as about as you're about to retire, a crisis happens and you deplete your savings? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:33.039 What if you did monitor every show your child watched and made sure they had good influence in their life, but they still made their own choices and and it took them down a path that just brought your family to a place that you still aren't recovered from? 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:43.119 What if you were a hundred percent devoted to your spouse, but they had other plans and it didn't work out for you and your marriage? 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:49.279 What if what if you went to every single doctor's appointment? 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:53.599 What if you exercised and you ate right and you got enough sleep and everything? 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:56.319 And you still ended up with cancer? 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:02.240 What if you have worked hard every single day of your life? 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.400 Every single day. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:13.440 Life just keeps throwing you curveball after curveball after curveball, and you just can't seem to get your head above water. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.559 What then? 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.480 What are we supposed to do then? 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:20.000 What are we supposed to do when it doesn't turn out the way we had planned? 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.160 When it doesn't turn out the way we had planned? 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:26.799 What do we do when life throws us things that are completely out of our control? 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:30.400 How are we supposed to be happy in those moments? 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:35.839 When I was 19, I had one of those moments, and it was a big one. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:43.200 My dad died suddenly and tragically in a car accident, and it rocked my world. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:48.160 And it and it devastated my family, my mom and my older brother and me. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:51.119 But I think that it was particularly hard for me, you know. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:54.880 I mean, my dad and I, daughter, you know, father-daughter, we had that unique relationship. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:59.119 But but, you know, I was also 19, and 19 is such a delicate time. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:01.920 You you have, you know, one leg over one side of the fence. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:12.880 You know, you're looking to your parents, and your parents, you know, you look to them for their opinion on things and their direction and their guidance and their encouragement and and their and their wisdom and their approval and their money. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:22.640 And then and then you have your other leg and it's on the other side of the fence, and it's like, well, I'm becoming an adult now, and and what do I think about the world and who am I and how do I fit and everything? 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:28.960 And so I was just kind of teetering over this fence, and the leader of my family, you know, he died. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:39.599 You know, that's who I went to for those that kind of guidance, him and my mom, but but he was the leader, you know, and as if that wasn't enough to make me feel out of control. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:45.839 The guy who I'd been dating for quite a while, he breaks up with me like two weeks later, one week after I bury my dad. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.519 And listen, that's a story for another time. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:49.359 I don't have time for that right now. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:58.640 And then my older brother, he goes back, he goes back to school, to college, and my my my grandparents were aging and they had some health issues. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:02.480 So my mom moved out to Washington State to take care of them. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:05.759 And I was left here and I was all alone. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:08.079 And and I didn't know God. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:12.559 I didn't know God, so so I was really alone. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:15.440 And I started freaking out. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:22.960 Oh my gosh, how am I going to how am I going to provide you know a home for myself? 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:25.759 How am I gonna how am I gonna have enough money to pay for school? 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:29.359 How how am I gonna how am I gonna have money for food and for a car? 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.000 And how am I ever gonna smile again? 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.559 How? 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.359 I don't understand. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.720 How am I supposed to survive? 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.079 And you know the answer I got? 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:38.079 The answer I got because I didn't know God. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:42.000 The answer I got was control everything you can, Elon. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:50.480 Everything you can, grab onto everything because you know what, if you're in control, then none of this bad stuff's gonna happen because you're the one calling the shots. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:55.920 That's just the light of the world tells us, and I believed it. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:58.079 But I but I struggled. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.440 And then and then at 23. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:06.160 At 23, I met Jesus, and that was awesome. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:11.680 That was awesome, changed my life overnight, truly reborn again. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:16.319 I understood what everybody had always talked about about how you feel, it was awesome. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:23.279 But you know, I did something that I think that that a lot of people who love Jesus do. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:29.519 I entered into this relationship with him, and I brought my baggage with me. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:32.240 Because I wasn't gonna leave that behind. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:34.240 I couldn't leave that behind. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:40.000 And I carried it with me, and I and I wasn't willing to give him everything. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:43.359 Well, I started getting older and older. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:49.599 I got married and had children, and by this point, my struggle with control, I was an expert. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.680 I was really good at controlling everything. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.680 Now I had a lot more to control. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.759 Now I'm controlling everything in my house, the way it looks, how clean it is, what people think when they come over. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.839 And oh, my children, are they gonna behave? 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:14.880 Oh my gosh, I gotta control them, and I gotta control the time and how we do this and where we go and our schedules and finances, and oh, when my husband and I get in an argument, I need to make sure that I say this just right so I can control the way he's gonna react and how he's gonna think. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:20.480 It's really not funny in the moment, I'm telling you. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:27.599 And then and then I started trying to control what people thought of me. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:33.839 You know, they would say something, I'd respond in a way just because I thought I should, so that so that they would, I would get their approval. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:40.880 And gosh, just control and and control and control, and it's exhausting. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:44.880 I'll tell you, on the outside, I look like I had it all together. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:47.359 I look like I had everything together. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:50.400 It was like, you know, a duck that goes across a pond. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:54.079 It's all nice and still, and he just looks so peaceful. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:02.319 But underneath, just beneath the surface, his little feet are just kicking, they're kicking, they're kicking, and that was me. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:04.160 That was me. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.519 I was just kicking away, trying to keep my head above water. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.440 And honestly, I'll be real with you. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:12.319 It's a daily thing, it's a daily struggle. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:16.079 I'm still walking in it every day trying to hand over that control. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:19.200 But it's exhausting. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.359 Jesus doesn't want me to be exhausted. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:27.920 Jesus doesn't want you to be exhausted. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.720 He doesn't want us to be exhausted. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:36.640 See, see, we think that by controlling more, that we're protecting ourselves. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:43.759 We believe the lie that the world tells us that the more control you have, the more fulfillment you're going to experience. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:52.480 When honestly, the truth is the less control we have, the more fulfilled that we will feel. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:24:01.839 Jesus didn't just die on the cross for you and me just to survive, for you and me to be exhausted. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:05.119 He wants so much more than that for us. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:10.559 And I love what he says to us in Matthew 11, verses 28 through 30. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:12.559 I'm gonna read to you from the message. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.640 I love the way it's worded here. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:21.039 Jesus says, Are you tired, worn out, burned out on religion? 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:25.680 Come to me, get away with me, and you'll recover your life. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:28.160 I'll show you how to take a real rest. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.880 Walk with me and work with me. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:32.880 Watch how I do it. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:37.200 Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:41.119 I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:46.079 Keep company with me, and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:54.799 And I love how the New Living Translation Translation puts it, and I want to read that to you now because I think many of us are more familiar with that, and it brings us comfort. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:25:02.079 Jesus says, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:17.119 Take my yoke upon you, let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:21.039 I love the imagery that we get from this, from this piece of scripture. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.000 See, a yoke. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:27.440 A yoke is a wooden contraption that goes over the necks of oxen when they plow a field. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:38.319 And when there's a young ox who is training, he has his yoke and it's harnessed to a larger, stronger, um, more powerful, more experienced ox. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:48.400 And so they walk and they plow this field, and all the while that they're walking, actually, the larger ox is carrying all of the brunt, all of the weight, everything, all of the burden. 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:52.240 But see, the younger one, he has no idea because he's just walking along. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:54.319 He thinks he's carrying his weight. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:26:02.880 And what this means for you and me is that Jesus wants to be that larger, stronger ox, and he does it joyfully. 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:08.799 He wants to carry our burden, all of our burden, everything. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:11.920 We don't need to have any of it. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:15.599 Do you know what I'm learning about control? 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:25.440 I am learning that the more I try to control, it's almost as if I am saying, God, I don't trust you. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:28.319 It's like I'm saying, God, you know what? 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:31.440 I'm gonna handle this thing because I'm not really sure. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:33.839 I'm not really sure you've got it. 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:38.400 But when am I gonna start believing? 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:42.960 When am I gonna start believing that God is who he says he is? 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:48.240 When am I going to start believing what I stand up here on Sunday and in front of the kids? 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.599 What I tell them every week. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:51.039 When am I gonna start believing that? 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:55.359 When am I gonna start believing the words that I sing when I worship the Lord? 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:59.279 What am when am I going to start believing? 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:06.319 That Jesus did not just die on the cross for my eternity, which by the way would be enough, but he's far greater than that. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:11.759 He died so that he could be enough for me today, right now. 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:17.119 And the truth is, it's true for all of us. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:19.359 We can trust. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:24.160 We can trust, we can trust him. 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:31.759 We can let go of everything and just fall and be held. 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:37.599 I love what Jesus says in John 10, verses 27 through 30. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:40.640 He says, My sheep listen to my voice. 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:43.359 I know them and they follow me. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:47.039 I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:49.920 No one can snatch them out of my hand. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:54.720 My father who has given them to me is greater than all. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:58.799 No one can snatch them out of my father's hand. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:02.480 I and the Father are one. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:05.359 Okay, this is what this means for you and me. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.000 Okay. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:11.680 If you and I believe in Jesus, okay, he holds us in his hand. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:14.960 And God holds him in his hand. 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:17.599 So that means that we're doubly secure. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:24.799 We're doubly secure with the power and the strength of the Savior of the world and our heavenly Father. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:27.519 That means we ain't going nowhere. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:30.640 That means God's got us. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:33.519 He's never going to leave our side. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:36.400 He's always going to give us enough. 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.920 Always. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.440 Always. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:49.279 And maybe you're sitting here today and you're like, okay, Elon, I am a you know, self-proclaimed, self-proclaimed control freak. 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:50.720 Maybe that's you. 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:54.400 And maybe, maybe you're one who's like, yeah, I have a couple things I like to control. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:57.039 I wouldn't call myself a control freak, but yeah, I like some things. 00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:58.000 I like some control. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:58.720 That's great. 00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:01.279 Okay, well, I believe what you're saying. 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.319 I know that. 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.680 God is enough. 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.039 You know, I know why he died. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.920 I get it. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:09.440 But I mean, how is that gonna help me in three days from now? 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:14.720