1 00:00:01,201 --> 00:00:02,569 Been. 2 00:00:02,569 --> 00:00:05,305 I just want to tell you, David and his family spent Christmas 3 00:00:05,305 --> 00:00:07,374 up in the mountains with a bunch of their fam, 4 00:00:07,374 --> 00:00:10,410 with a bunch of their family members, and one of the 5 00:00:10,410 --> 00:00:14,581 the men amongst them accepted Jesus while they were there, which is awesome. 6 00:00:15,081 --> 00:00:17,484 And part of their question was, well, what's next? 7 00:00:17,484 --> 00:00:19,953 They said, well, let's give. Once you get baptized. 8 00:00:19,953 --> 00:00:23,890 And so they went out to the river was 30 something degree water. 9 00:00:24,591 --> 00:00:27,594 And, baptized David baptized the guy. 10 00:00:27,861 --> 00:00:29,329 He sent me a picture. 11 00:00:29,329 --> 00:00:31,598 David's got this big smile, so it's like. Yeah. 12 00:00:31,598 --> 00:00:34,601 And the guy came in for, like, 13 00:00:34,968 --> 00:00:36,603 I got frostbite. 14 00:00:36,603 --> 00:00:39,439 It was so awesome, though, at Christmas time. 15 00:00:39,439 --> 00:00:42,842 David, thank you for taking the initiative and leading someone to Jesus 16 00:00:42,842 --> 00:00:43,743 and baptizing them. 17 00:00:43,743 --> 00:00:47,313 And now I know you and Sarah are trying to help walk them up north, 18 00:00:47,313 --> 00:00:50,350 walk them through, what it means to be a part of a community. 19 00:00:50,350 --> 00:00:51,885 I appreciate you being part of this community. 20 00:00:53,219 --> 00:00:56,623 Thank you guys for this last Sunday of 2025. 21 00:00:57,390 --> 00:00:59,325 Thank you for being at church. 22 00:00:59,325 --> 00:01:00,693 It's, Thank you. 23 00:01:00,693 --> 00:01:04,364 I'm so proud that, we're not one of those that has a found in a coffee shop 24 00:01:04,364 --> 00:01:06,699 that cancels church on Sunday morning. Today. 25 00:01:06,699 --> 00:01:09,369 So thank you for being here. Good on you, man. I'm proud of you. 26 00:01:09,369 --> 00:01:10,904 That was my little thing, right? 27 00:01:10,904 --> 00:01:13,907 Whatever, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care. 28 00:01:13,907 --> 00:01:15,275 So what? 29 00:01:15,275 --> 00:01:18,278 We started this tradition years ago 30 00:01:18,278 --> 00:01:21,181 that on the last Sunday of the year 31 00:01:21,181 --> 00:01:24,150 that we would do what we call five good minutes. 32 00:01:24,417 --> 00:01:27,120 And so here's what happens. 33 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,123 Typically in a church. 34 00:01:30,824 --> 00:01:33,293 Unless you're on staff, 35 00:01:33,293 --> 00:01:37,764 what you see of the staff is when we're on, 36 00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:40,934 when we're doing our jobs. 37 00:01:40,934 --> 00:01:45,105 Most of you only see that on a Sunday morning. 38 00:01:46,072 --> 00:01:46,473 So the 39 00:01:46,473 --> 00:01:50,610 glimpses you get of us is our doing our jobs. 40 00:01:50,610 --> 00:01:51,277 On a Sunday. 41 00:01:51,277 --> 00:01:54,147 You come and see us go out, 42 00:01:54,147 --> 00:01:56,216 there's 43 00:01:56,216 --> 00:01:59,219 there's a lot that goes on behind the curtain. 44 00:01:59,586 --> 00:02:02,655 A few of you have a relationship with some of us 45 00:02:02,655 --> 00:02:05,658 where you get glimpses behind the curtain. 46 00:02:07,861 --> 00:02:09,829 But most don't. 47 00:02:09,829 --> 00:02:13,433 And so five good minutes is when we take as a step just kind of. 48 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:16,503 Let's just pull the curtain back a little bit. 49 00:02:17,804 --> 00:02:20,507 It almost feels a little bit self-indulgent. 50 00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:23,510 And I don't want to be that way, 51 00:02:23,843 --> 00:02:26,713 because I don't want you to hear, 52 00:02:26,713 --> 00:02:29,716 well, this is how the Lord has spoken to me and work through me. 53 00:02:30,383 --> 00:02:31,251 Do you know what I'm saying? 54 00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:33,353 Like, 55 00:02:33,353 --> 00:02:35,021 I want to be one of those things 56 00:02:35,021 --> 00:02:38,525 where we say, look, this is this was part of my struggle. 57 00:02:39,826 --> 00:02:42,829 This is where I saw God show up. 58 00:02:43,396 --> 00:02:46,399 Those are part of my questions. 59 00:02:47,233 --> 00:02:50,236 Because we know that's where we all live. 60 00:02:50,537 --> 00:02:51,971 And this is how we responded. 61 00:02:51,971 --> 00:02:54,974 Sometimes really well and sometimes not well at all. 62 00:02:56,042 --> 00:02:58,278 And so we just want to be able to take five good minutes 63 00:02:58,278 --> 00:03:02,015 and say from each one of us, this is this has been my story in 2025. 64 00:03:04,017 --> 00:03:07,020 And I pray that it resonates in some way. 65 00:03:07,687 --> 00:03:10,190 And I pray that you start thinking through and contemplating. 66 00:03:10,190 --> 00:03:12,158 What did I learn from God this year? Go to God. 67 00:03:12,158 --> 00:03:12,992 Speak to me. 68 00:03:12,992 --> 00:03:15,862 What did I follow? Well, where didn't I? 69 00:03:15,862 --> 00:03:17,997 What's my next step? 70 00:03:17,997 --> 00:03:21,000 And so I've directed the staff, as we've done for years and years and years, 71 00:03:21,167 --> 00:03:24,170 five good minutes. 72 00:03:24,771 --> 00:03:26,005 And so I have my timer 73 00:03:27,407 --> 00:03:29,442 and, and two of you did great. 74 00:03:29,442 --> 00:03:32,145 Trish and Michael. Oh. 75 00:03:32,145 --> 00:03:34,414 And so, 76 00:03:34,414 --> 00:03:37,250 and so, if I'm cutting me off, 77 00:03:37,250 --> 00:03:40,253 it was just like, maybe I'm cutting you off at five, 78 00:03:41,321 --> 00:03:43,823 and it has to be good minutes. 79 00:03:43,823 --> 00:03:45,458 Five good minutes. 80 00:03:45,458 --> 00:03:49,696 So don't give me four mediocre like, 81 00:03:52,232 --> 00:03:54,601 You got it. 82 00:03:54,601 --> 00:03:56,035 Trish. Trish is first up. 83 00:03:56,035 --> 00:03:58,972 Trish. Jester. Thank you so much for your ministry. Trish. 84 00:03:58,972 --> 00:03:59,839 I love you. 85 00:03:59,839 --> 00:04:02,208 We love your family. 86 00:04:02,208 --> 00:04:02,475 True. 87 00:04:02,475 --> 00:04:04,911 Started serving in our church a few years ago. 88 00:04:04,911 --> 00:04:06,913 And very slowly. 89 00:04:06,913 --> 00:04:09,782 Little more little more little more. 90 00:04:09,782 --> 00:04:12,418 We think I think you're capable of much more of what 91 00:04:12,418 --> 00:04:15,421 you think you're capable of, and you're leaning into that. 92 00:04:15,455 --> 00:04:19,959 And I love the fact that it's not just you, your whole family is serving 93 00:04:20,593 --> 00:04:22,528 faithfully. Not because you're forcing them, 94 00:04:22,528 --> 00:04:24,631 but because there's a joy in their heart in that. 95 00:04:24,631 --> 00:04:28,534 So Trish, she oversees our children's ministry, does a great job. 96 00:04:28,801 --> 00:04:30,203 You're doing a great job. 97 00:04:30,203 --> 00:04:33,206 And so Trish you got five good minutes. 98 00:04:33,473 --> 00:04:35,041 Thank you Carl. 99 00:04:35,041 --> 00:04:35,275 Yeah. 100 00:04:35,275 --> 00:04:37,277 So I'm going to just title. 101 00:04:37,277 --> 00:04:39,746 Mine is trusting God and saying yes. 102 00:04:40,980 --> 00:04:42,649 I've been a part of flip side staff 103 00:04:42,649 --> 00:04:45,652 for the last three years and helping with children's. 104 00:04:46,953 --> 00:04:49,922 And so for me, it was back in June after VBS. 105 00:04:50,690 --> 00:04:54,527 I felt God telling me to say yes to Children's ministry full time 106 00:04:54,794 --> 00:04:58,298 after praying over it, talking about it with, the staff. 107 00:05:00,667 --> 00:05:02,802 I felt that I need to be a part of something 108 00:05:02,802 --> 00:05:06,339 greater and bigger than myself, and I think that was VBS. 109 00:05:06,339 --> 00:05:10,443 That really showed me that I'm capable of handling big things. 110 00:05:12,011 --> 00:05:15,014 And so that's where I decided I remember that moment for VBS. 111 00:05:15,281 --> 00:05:18,284 Emotional like teary eyed, like I can do this. 112 00:05:19,452 --> 00:05:23,056 So by saying yes, I really felt that this last year, 113 00:05:24,023 --> 00:05:27,026 I become bolder in my faith. 114 00:05:27,794 --> 00:05:29,629 Bolder than I have in a long time. 115 00:05:29,629 --> 00:05:31,364 I'm still constantly growing and learning. 116 00:05:33,266 --> 00:05:35,702 I always let fear hold me back. 117 00:05:35,702 --> 00:05:37,770 I was worried about not being good enough. 118 00:05:37,770 --> 00:05:40,640 Having the pressure of children's ministry 119 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,643 always just kind of put a damper on my thoughts. 120 00:05:43,976 --> 00:05:46,846 And a Bible verse that, keeps coming to my mind 121 00:05:46,846 --> 00:05:48,081 since I've done a Bible study on 122 00:05:48,081 --> 00:05:52,151 it is Second Corinthians ten five and it says takes all thoughts, captives, 123 00:05:52,385 --> 00:05:55,288 and all those negative thoughts that I've had that I'm not good enough. 124 00:05:55,288 --> 00:05:58,191 I can't oversee something so big. 125 00:05:58,191 --> 00:05:59,559 Those were not of God. 126 00:05:59,559 --> 00:06:00,727 Those were of the devil. 127 00:06:00,727 --> 00:06:05,031 And so once I fully committed and surrendered and said, God, I trust you. 128 00:06:05,465 --> 00:06:06,966 Do what I am. 129 00:06:06,966 --> 00:06:08,634 Help me to do what I'm supposed to do. 130 00:06:08,634 --> 00:06:10,903 And since then, 131 00:06:10,903 --> 00:06:14,607 I've completely submitted, and I'm choosing to say yes to a lot more things. 132 00:06:14,607 --> 00:06:17,977 And stepping out of my comfort zone with the events of children's, 133 00:06:19,846 --> 00:06:22,849 and just seeing how God is working in my life. 134 00:06:23,182 --> 00:06:26,185 Just shows that by saying, yes, I can do it. 135 00:06:26,452 --> 00:06:28,287 So that with that, this last year, 136 00:06:28,287 --> 00:06:31,290 I've seen my family become more bolder in their faith. 137 00:06:31,524 --> 00:06:34,527 That's where I got emotional earlier, too. 138 00:06:34,794 --> 00:06:37,597 Getting to serve alongside my family, Carl said. 139 00:06:37,597 --> 00:06:40,833 As a mom, watching your kids in high school 140 00:06:41,033 --> 00:06:44,036 and elementary school want to be at church. 141 00:06:44,370 --> 00:06:47,373 Want to step out in their faith? 142 00:06:48,207 --> 00:06:50,076 It's the best moment 143 00:06:50,076 --> 00:06:53,079 as a mom, seeing your kids love God 144 00:06:53,112 --> 00:06:56,682 and being a part of the youth and watching them with their friends 145 00:06:56,682 --> 00:07:00,353 become bolder in their faith and praying with each other at school 146 00:07:00,353 --> 00:07:04,657 and going through hard times and not being afraid to stand up for their faith. 147 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:08,361 They're serving alongside me, 148 00:07:08,361 --> 00:07:11,764 and that's just the biggest joy that I've gotten out of this 149 00:07:11,764 --> 00:07:14,767 last year is it's not only me, it's been a family event. 150 00:07:15,902 --> 00:07:17,236 So I'm really grateful for God. 151 00:07:17,236 --> 00:07:21,607 And the Bible verse that I had written down is, do not fear, I am with you. 152 00:07:21,607 --> 00:07:24,644 Do not be dismayed, for I am your God, and I will strengthen 153 00:07:24,644 --> 00:07:27,580 and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand. 154 00:07:27,580 --> 00:07:29,582 And that's Isaiah 4110. 155 00:07:29,582 --> 00:07:30,983 And that's just been it. 156 00:07:30,983 --> 00:07:33,986 Not be afraid. Trust him. Say yes. 157 00:07:34,220 --> 00:07:37,256 So I would just say, like, if you're doubting yourself, 158 00:07:37,256 --> 00:07:39,592 thinking ministry isn't for you. 159 00:07:39,592 --> 00:07:42,595 I would encourage you to do it for your kids. 160 00:07:43,529 --> 00:07:44,564 Your children are watching. 161 00:07:44,564 --> 00:07:47,567 Your grandchildren are watching. 162 00:07:47,834 --> 00:07:50,770 One thing I had written down is 163 00:07:50,770 --> 00:07:55,107 we get to help shape the next generation, and we get to do in a church. 164 00:07:55,308 --> 00:07:57,610 And this church is like a family. 165 00:07:57,610 --> 00:08:00,379 And the fact that my family wants to be here 166 00:08:00,379 --> 00:08:02,348 and we want to continue to serve together. 167 00:08:03,683 --> 00:08:05,751 That's a very good and gracious God. 168 00:08:05,751 --> 00:08:06,552 So that's what I have. 169 00:08:06,552 --> 00:08:09,555 I also wanted to say thank you to the staff for, 170 00:08:12,124 --> 00:08:14,494 the last three years I've had a lot of the staff, Heather, 171 00:08:14,494 --> 00:08:17,497 for one, when I said, yeah, she's like, I knew you could do it. 172 00:08:18,664 --> 00:08:21,767 And just having the support has been amazing. 173 00:08:21,767 --> 00:08:23,336 So thank you. 174 00:08:23,336 --> 00:08:26,339 Well done Trish. 175 00:08:26,672 --> 00:08:27,907 Thank you. 176 00:08:27,907 --> 00:08:30,910 You got one minute. You're done. Yes. 177 00:08:31,077 --> 00:08:32,512 Okay. All right. 178 00:08:32,512 --> 00:08:33,412 Yeah. Heather. 179 00:08:33,412 --> 00:08:35,248 Well, Carl, you took like, 15 first. 180 00:08:35,248 --> 00:08:37,083 I want to give you a, you know. 181 00:08:37,083 --> 00:08:38,551 A I got the cheek mic. 182 00:08:38,551 --> 00:08:41,420 That means authority. 183 00:08:41,420 --> 00:08:42,455 Trish, I love you. 184 00:08:42,455 --> 00:08:44,590 I'm proud of you. You've done a great job. 185 00:08:44,590 --> 00:08:47,593 You took a huge risk this year in your mind 186 00:08:47,593 --> 00:08:49,428 of changing up the harvest party. 187 00:08:49,428 --> 00:08:50,763 It was a huge win. 188 00:08:50,763 --> 00:08:51,464 You let it. 189 00:08:51,464 --> 00:08:53,432 Well, you led the team. 190 00:08:53,432 --> 00:08:56,369 Well, people enjoy serving with you. 191 00:08:56,369 --> 00:09:00,673 It's great seeing Eric and your kids willingly be here all the time. 192 00:09:00,873 --> 00:09:02,341 Love what God is doing in your life. 193 00:09:02,341 --> 00:09:03,709 Thank you for being a part of this staff. 194 00:09:05,111 --> 00:09:06,779 This is Michael Rondon, and 195 00:09:06,779 --> 00:09:10,683 he oversees the next gen ministries of our church. 196 00:09:11,284 --> 00:09:14,287 When Jeff knows we were back, 197 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,957 a year and a half ago and summertime and Jeff 198 00:09:17,957 --> 00:09:23,095 and I had been leading the youth ministry junior high and high school for a while. 199 00:09:23,462 --> 00:09:25,231 It was it was it was great. 200 00:09:25,231 --> 00:09:26,299 It was fantastic. 201 00:09:26,299 --> 00:09:28,100 But it was rough, man. 202 00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:30,069 It was exhausting. 203 00:09:30,069 --> 00:09:32,338 And and we were talking in June 204 00:09:32,338 --> 00:09:35,374 and I just said, Jeff, we gotta get a youth guy, man. 205 00:09:35,374 --> 00:09:38,210 We just have to get a youth guy. 206 00:09:38,210 --> 00:09:39,545 And I said, we need one by Oxford. 207 00:09:39,545 --> 00:09:43,683 But there's no way that we're going to get a youth guy in two. 208 00:09:43,716 --> 00:09:46,419 We got a month and a half to find somebody and get him in and get them hired. 209 00:09:46,419 --> 00:09:48,254 And there's no way. 210 00:09:48,254 --> 00:09:51,057 Don't ever tell God. There's no way. 211 00:09:51,057 --> 00:09:52,892 Unless you really want it to happen. 212 00:09:54,226 --> 00:09:55,127 All of a sudden, we got 213 00:09:55,127 --> 00:09:58,197 Ahold of Michael and we met with him, and he's like, yeah, I'll just. 214 00:09:58,197 --> 00:10:00,299 I'll say, yeah, I'll jump in. 215 00:10:00,299 --> 00:10:03,703 And Michael, you have been an answer to our prayers. 216 00:10:04,003 --> 00:10:06,439 Been an answer to this church's prayers. 217 00:10:06,439 --> 00:10:09,909 You've been an answer to a bunch of parents prayers on behalf of their kids. 218 00:10:10,443 --> 00:10:15,781 You've added such quality to our ministry and our staff as a whole. 219 00:10:16,682 --> 00:10:19,552 Michael and his wife, Jess, and their three kids 220 00:10:19,552 --> 00:10:23,222 now drive up every time they come here from Visalia. 221 00:10:23,723 --> 00:10:25,891 It is a commitment. 222 00:10:25,891 --> 00:10:29,228 It's taxing, and you've done a great job with it. 223 00:10:29,562 --> 00:10:32,565 And so, Michael, you got five good minutes. 224 00:10:32,898 --> 00:10:35,201 I appreciate that, girl. 225 00:10:35,201 --> 00:10:37,503 Yeah. 2025 was a good year. 226 00:10:37,503 --> 00:10:38,237 It was challenging. 227 00:10:38,237 --> 00:10:40,172 It was exhausting. It was fun. 228 00:10:41,407 --> 00:10:42,241 One one 229 00:10:42,241 --> 00:10:45,211 way in which I processed is just a year of change. 230 00:10:45,211 --> 00:10:47,413 And so I know many of you have had a year of change. 231 00:10:47,413 --> 00:10:50,216 Or maybe, you know, a year of changes coming in 2026. 232 00:10:50,216 --> 00:10:53,219 And so, yeah, we added our third son, Levi, back in May. 233 00:10:53,819 --> 00:10:57,423 My role here has shifted right from from just youth to helping with kids. 234 00:10:57,423 --> 00:11:01,327 And then Ali and I jumping in and kicking off a young adult ministry. 235 00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:04,830 And so it's been a good year, but a year of change. 236 00:11:05,431 --> 00:11:07,933 And so I'm kind of going to piggyback off of what 237 00:11:07,933 --> 00:11:10,936 Tricia said as I was looking back on the year. 238 00:11:11,170 --> 00:11:14,006 I actually went back a little further, went back to the, you know, this service 239 00:11:14,006 --> 00:11:17,243 last year and I my word was I just want to be available. 240 00:11:17,376 --> 00:11:19,011 I just want to be available. 241 00:11:19,011 --> 00:11:24,150 I, I wanted a genuine like heart of like, all right, God, if you say yes, okay. 242 00:11:24,183 --> 00:11:24,984 I'm available. 243 00:11:24,984 --> 00:11:27,286 And so what it really did was I had to cut things in my life. 244 00:11:27,286 --> 00:11:28,054 I had to create margin. 245 00:11:28,054 --> 00:11:29,955 I had to create space where I had the opportunity 246 00:11:29,955 --> 00:11:32,391 to say yes or something, because if I didn't have the time 247 00:11:32,391 --> 00:11:34,493 and the opportunity, then it just couldn't happen. 248 00:11:34,493 --> 00:11:35,995 And so that was last year. 249 00:11:35,995 --> 00:11:38,130 And so I was I look back on this year. 250 00:11:38,130 --> 00:11:39,365 The answer is yes. 251 00:11:39,365 --> 00:11:42,368 I just over and over again, whether it was, 252 00:11:42,635 --> 00:11:46,072 with a roll shift here or something at home or with friends 253 00:11:46,072 --> 00:11:49,775 or family, it was just I'm going to say yes upfront and we'll figure things out. 254 00:11:50,276 --> 00:11:51,577 And so it's been a really, 255 00:11:53,112 --> 00:11:55,014 trying year in that way because sometimes there's 256 00:11:55,014 --> 00:11:58,084 uncertainty when you say yes, or maybe you still want to say yes. 257 00:11:58,117 --> 00:12:00,152 And so that's been a lot of my years, actually. 258 00:12:00,152 --> 00:12:03,155 I just didn't want to say yes fully because, 259 00:12:03,689 --> 00:12:07,059 maybe I didn't feel qualified, or maybe I was just unsure or just overwhelmed. 260 00:12:07,126 --> 00:12:11,063 And so it's been a good year where I could sit in uncomfortableness 261 00:12:11,297 --> 00:12:14,300 and sit in, just, something new. 262 00:12:14,667 --> 00:12:17,503 And so, one way in which this happened, it was really cool. 263 00:12:17,503 --> 00:12:20,506 I was asked a few months ago to coach soccer. 264 00:12:20,673 --> 00:12:23,209 I coached my son a little bit. He's eight. 265 00:12:23,209 --> 00:12:26,212 But I didn't really like that, so I walked away from that. 266 00:12:27,012 --> 00:12:27,213 Yeah. 267 00:12:27,213 --> 00:12:29,048 Not the little term for me in that way, but. 268 00:12:29,048 --> 00:12:30,049 But then I was approached 269 00:12:30,049 --> 00:12:33,886 to coach high school to be an assistant for a varsity program in Visalia. 270 00:12:33,919 --> 00:12:35,154 And so I was putting this guy off of 271 00:12:35,154 --> 00:12:37,690 saying, you know, talk to my wife like my wife, like my wife. 272 00:12:37,690 --> 00:12:38,858 I just did not want to do it. 273 00:12:38,858 --> 00:12:41,127 I was like, I don't have the time. I love the game. 274 00:12:41,127 --> 00:12:43,295 I don't want to do this. I don't want another evening commitment. 275 00:12:43,295 --> 00:12:44,396 And this is every evening, right? 276 00:12:44,396 --> 00:12:47,399 We're coaching five days a week and games in and out of town. 277 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:50,669 And so I finally got to the point where I couldn't put him off any longer. 278 00:12:50,669 --> 00:12:53,506 And I said, you know what? I'll do it. Sure. Why not? Let's coach. 279 00:12:53,506 --> 00:12:56,475 And so I get out there in early October, 280 00:12:56,475 --> 00:13:00,713 and the first, one of the first young men I see is a guy named Lincoln. 281 00:13:00,813 --> 00:13:03,182 When I was the youth pastor in Visalia, he was in my youth ministry. 282 00:13:03,182 --> 00:13:04,917 He was in my junior high ministry. 283 00:13:04,917 --> 00:13:06,886 And so I was so good to reconnect with him. 284 00:13:06,886 --> 00:13:08,954 I introduced myself to the team. 285 00:13:08,954 --> 00:13:12,291 And the cool thing about Lincoln is he is an awful soccer player, 286 00:13:12,792 --> 00:13:14,627 but he is an amazing individual. 287 00:13:14,627 --> 00:13:18,397 Like, he's not playing much at all, but he is the glue for our team. 288 00:13:18,664 --> 00:13:20,733 He is just the personality. 289 00:13:20,733 --> 00:13:22,501 He has the demeanor. He's the attitude. 290 00:13:22,501 --> 00:13:25,938 He is everything that you would want in a young high school guy like he is. 291 00:13:25,971 --> 00:13:27,072 Awesome awesome awesome. 292 00:13:27,072 --> 00:13:29,041 Young, cool. Man of faith. 293 00:13:29,041 --> 00:13:30,576 But later that evening, I get home. 294 00:13:30,576 --> 00:13:35,014 We're watching the World Series, having dinner, and I get a long voice text. 295 00:13:35,014 --> 00:13:36,081 And I never get voice text 296 00:13:36,081 --> 00:13:39,084 except for from one individual named one, which was Lincoln's dad. 297 00:13:39,185 --> 00:13:40,619 So Lincoln's dad reached out that night. 298 00:13:40,619 --> 00:13:42,922 Hey, Mike Lincoln told me you were going to coach. 299 00:13:42,922 --> 00:13:44,557 He got in the car. He was so excited. 300 00:13:44,557 --> 00:13:47,126 And he kind of unpacked for me that Lincoln didn't want to play this year. 301 00:13:47,126 --> 00:13:48,794 He was really bummed because he's not very good. 302 00:13:49,795 --> 00:13:51,263 But he also is. 303 00:13:51,263 --> 00:13:52,531 He's great at track. 304 00:13:52,531 --> 00:13:55,434 And so he uses soccer as like launching pad for track, 305 00:13:55,434 --> 00:13:56,602 where he's like going to get in shape. 306 00:13:56,602 --> 00:13:59,972 And again, just the camaraderie, the friendships, the fun, the competition. 307 00:13:59,972 --> 00:14:01,807 He loved those things, but he didn't want to go back out. 308 00:14:01,807 --> 00:14:04,710 And and his father was saying, hey, I'm kind of an inadequate, 309 00:14:04,710 --> 00:14:07,446 I don't know, soccer. I can't help him in this way. 310 00:14:07,446 --> 00:14:08,881 But he does trust you, right? 311 00:14:08,881 --> 00:14:10,282 Because you were his youth pastor. 312 00:14:10,282 --> 00:14:11,951 And so it was really cool. 313 00:14:11,951 --> 00:14:14,553 And it got me to process really this last half of the year 314 00:14:14,553 --> 00:14:18,190 or last quarter of the year, where I said yes 315 00:14:18,190 --> 00:14:21,193 to Paul to coach because I'll just like, whatever, I'll just do it. 316 00:14:21,527 --> 00:14:23,362 And what I realized was it was actually an answer 317 00:14:23,362 --> 00:14:28,000 to Lincoln's dad's prayer for his son to find connection, and for his son 318 00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:31,136 to be excited about soccer, for his son to be, to be, 319 00:14:31,170 --> 00:14:32,838 joyful going out there and kind of grinding 320 00:14:32,838 --> 00:14:34,807 and really having to work hard and again, not playing much. 321 00:14:34,807 --> 00:14:37,843 It's not easy to to go through practice all week and not play. 322 00:14:38,477 --> 00:14:41,914 And so it just got me to process in what ways, God, if I said no 323 00:14:41,914 --> 00:14:44,917 to an opportunity and it would have been an answer to someone else's prayer, 324 00:14:45,184 --> 00:14:47,686 and I know that that's the case for everyone in this room. 325 00:14:47,686 --> 00:14:50,256 And it's not it's not doesn't always have to be a yes. 326 00:14:50,256 --> 00:14:52,591 Sometimes a no is still an answer to a prayer. 327 00:14:52,591 --> 00:14:55,761 But maybe, just maybe, there is a yes that you should lean into, 328 00:14:56,095 --> 00:14:58,464 an invitation that has been extended to you 329 00:14:58,464 --> 00:15:01,467 that you're kind of on the fence with, and you're still processing 330 00:15:01,734 --> 00:15:03,802 where it's going to be an answer not only to 331 00:15:03,802 --> 00:15:04,970 what God's going to do in your life 332 00:15:04,970 --> 00:15:07,439 and how he's going to redeem you and work on your heart. 333 00:15:07,439 --> 00:15:08,507 But it's an answer to some 334 00:15:08,507 --> 00:15:11,810 another dad's prayer or a mother's part, a neighbor's prayer to someone's prayer. 335 00:15:12,344 --> 00:15:14,046 And so really process that for yourself. 336 00:15:14,046 --> 00:15:15,447 Lean into that. 337 00:15:15,447 --> 00:15:19,051 And it really just kind of was full circle, that moment with Lincoln 338 00:15:19,051 --> 00:15:22,855 and Juan and saying yes to God all year when our junior high high 339 00:15:22,855 --> 00:15:25,891 school students were in the gospel, John and John two, verse five, 340 00:15:26,625 --> 00:15:29,929 Mary and Jesus were talking about a wedding, and we need more wine. 341 00:15:29,929 --> 00:15:30,596 We need more wine. 342 00:15:30,596 --> 00:15:33,599 And Jesus like, okay, you know, it's not my time, but we'll figure it out. 343 00:15:33,699 --> 00:15:35,634 And then Mary turned to the servant and he said, hey, 344 00:15:35,634 --> 00:15:38,504 whatever Jesus says, you do whatever he says you do. 345 00:15:38,504 --> 00:15:40,873 And so that's my charge for you and for me this next year. 346 00:15:40,873 --> 00:15:43,542 Whatever Jesus has to do, don't say no. 347 00:15:43,542 --> 00:15:46,345 Just do do it. Thank you. 348 00:15:46,345 --> 00:15:48,814 Well done. Michael. Well done. 349 00:15:51,250 --> 00:15:54,320 The last service, he had like, a minute left and he was done. 350 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,488 This service, you're getting more comfortable and. 351 00:15:56,488 --> 00:15:59,491 Yeah, pushing the boundaries a little bit. 352 00:15:59,692 --> 00:16:01,560 Michael, I love you. I'm proud of you. 353 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,495 You added so much to this staff, man. 354 00:16:03,495 --> 00:16:06,498 Thank you very much, man. Super proud. 355 00:16:06,565 --> 00:16:10,602 Ali Stemple, it has been a joy, 356 00:16:11,136 --> 00:16:14,139 as your pastor, to watch you grow up in this church. 357 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,243 And to watch what God is doing 358 00:16:18,344 --> 00:16:21,947 in your life and with you and through your life, 359 00:16:23,682 --> 00:16:26,752 is, is a real honor to get to watch that. 360 00:16:27,453 --> 00:16:30,756 From my perspective, your beautiful spirit, 361 00:16:30,756 --> 00:16:34,560 a beautiful faith, a beautiful submission to God. 362 00:16:35,461 --> 00:16:38,464 And you are a an incredible 363 00:16:38,497 --> 00:16:42,634 a model for so many of these young ones that are, that are watching you 364 00:16:43,635 --> 00:16:45,404 and coming up in your shadow. 365 00:16:45,404 --> 00:16:48,040 I'm so excited for what God is doing already 366 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,143 in your life and for the future that he has planned for you. 367 00:16:51,944 --> 00:16:55,247 And it is it's it's beautiful to get to see 368 00:16:55,581 --> 00:16:58,650 you and your dad do ministry together. 369 00:16:59,151 --> 00:17:01,086 So, Ali, you got five good minutes. 370 00:17:01,086 --> 00:17:03,322 Thank you. Okay. 371 00:17:03,322 --> 00:17:06,325 I went over last service, so hopefully that doesn't happen again. 372 00:17:06,925 --> 00:17:07,826 When I was thinking about what 373 00:17:07,826 --> 00:17:11,697 to talk about this morning, I came up with two things. 374 00:17:11,697 --> 00:17:15,300 I came up with joy, choosing joy, and then the providential will of God. 375 00:17:15,501 --> 00:17:18,137 So I'm gonna talk about joy first. And that's just kind of 376 00:17:18,137 --> 00:17:21,774 an overarching thing that was present all this year for me. 377 00:17:22,541 --> 00:17:26,345 The Earth kind of split up into different sections, different seasons. 378 00:17:26,345 --> 00:17:28,747 I finished my bachelor's degree in May, 379 00:17:28,747 --> 00:17:31,884 and then summer was like this waiting period and then fall. 380 00:17:31,884 --> 00:17:34,887 It was the start of my post-grad credential program. 381 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,725 And so through all of that, I found myself just needing to choose joy. 382 00:17:39,725 --> 00:17:41,460 And then Pastor Carl talked about it 383 00:17:41,460 --> 00:17:44,596 when we went through this Christmas series and he preached on Joy. 384 00:17:45,497 --> 00:17:50,669 He talked about Mary finding her joy from not a perfect situation, 385 00:17:50,936 --> 00:17:53,939 but the trust that she has in our perfect Savior. 386 00:17:54,239 --> 00:17:57,910 And I feel like looking back on this year, that was what I did, 387 00:17:57,910 --> 00:18:01,914 because a lot of the times, there is no nothing in your situation 388 00:18:01,914 --> 00:18:02,881 to take joy from. 389 00:18:02,881 --> 00:18:07,052 And it has to be the fact that God is good and he's present 390 00:18:07,052 --> 00:18:10,022 in your situation no matter what's going on. 391 00:18:10,155 --> 00:18:12,991 And so I think choosing joy was a big one. 392 00:18:12,991 --> 00:18:16,929 So John 1511 was a verse that I went back to a lot says, 393 00:18:16,929 --> 00:18:20,165 I told you, I've told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. 394 00:18:20,199 --> 00:18:22,634 Yes, your joy will overflow. 395 00:18:22,634 --> 00:18:26,805 And he mentioned in his message, like the different stages of life 396 00:18:26,805 --> 00:18:32,644 and why joy is so, necessary and in your early 20s, there's so much 397 00:18:32,644 --> 00:18:35,948 that's unknown because, like, you may be graduating. 398 00:18:36,715 --> 00:18:39,952 I was graduating with no, like, job lined up. 399 00:18:39,952 --> 00:18:42,955 I didn't know what my credential program was going to hold. 400 00:18:42,955 --> 00:18:46,125 There's so much that's unknown and so much, so much that's changing. 401 00:18:47,092 --> 00:18:49,928 That that's all you can do, really, is to joy. 402 00:18:49,928 --> 00:18:52,664 And so to find that in there. 403 00:18:52,664 --> 00:18:54,566 And so that passage was 404 00:18:54,566 --> 00:18:57,603 when Jesus talked about being the vine in the branches. 405 00:18:58,203 --> 00:18:59,771 And so that was when I went back to a lot. 406 00:18:59,771 --> 00:19:01,874 And then so the providential will of God, 407 00:19:01,874 --> 00:19:04,877 I'm going to try to make this quick, and I'm going to try to summarize it. 408 00:19:05,210 --> 00:19:08,814 But so I graduated in May and then summer, 409 00:19:08,814 --> 00:19:10,816 like I had gone into the credential program, 410 00:19:10,816 --> 00:19:12,951 but I didn't know where I was going to be place. 411 00:19:12,951 --> 00:19:15,954 And so an opportunity came about during the summer 412 00:19:16,121 --> 00:19:18,957 that I was super excited for. 413 00:19:18,957 --> 00:19:22,594 I thought, I'm going to be in my home district that I grew up in. 414 00:19:22,594 --> 00:19:25,597 I'm going to be able to work with these kids that I know. 415 00:19:25,731 --> 00:19:29,568 And then that ended up falling through, and I ended up being place in Clovis. 416 00:19:29,935 --> 00:19:33,038 So I was like praying and asking God, like, why? 417 00:19:33,038 --> 00:19:34,039 I was devastated. 418 00:19:34,039 --> 00:19:36,542 I didn't get that opportunity. 419 00:19:36,542 --> 00:19:38,043 I just remember asking like, why? 420 00:19:38,043 --> 00:19:41,079 Like, this is it makes sense in this moment, like it's meant to be. 421 00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:42,981 This is why I'm meant to be. 422 00:19:42,981 --> 00:19:46,652 And so then to be placed in Clovis, which going from Liberty 423 00:19:46,652 --> 00:19:50,055 to a Clovis school was such a change. 424 00:19:50,055 --> 00:19:51,790 There's like 8000 kids at that school. 425 00:19:52,925 --> 00:19:55,594 But then just seeing the way everything lined up. 426 00:19:55,594 --> 00:19:58,630 So I was I didn't get that opportunity during the summer. 427 00:19:58,897 --> 00:20:02,701 Ended up in Clovis in this amazing, like atmosphere. 428 00:20:02,701 --> 00:20:04,336 The kids were so great. 429 00:20:04,336 --> 00:20:07,339 I ended up getting to teach like a Bible lit class, 430 00:20:07,673 --> 00:20:10,409 which was something I never thought I'd be able to do. 431 00:20:10,409 --> 00:20:13,879 And so then to see like where this opportunity 432 00:20:13,879 --> 00:20:16,882 that I have for this next semester to finish out my credential, 433 00:20:17,015 --> 00:20:21,687 just to see the way everything lined up and how there was rejection. 434 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:23,589 And I thought that it was the end of the world, 435 00:20:23,589 --> 00:20:26,592 and I didn't know or see what God was doing. 436 00:20:26,692 --> 00:20:29,795 But then to see, like, I was trying to put it into words, 437 00:20:29,795 --> 00:20:32,798 I put it in first service and I really can't now. 438 00:20:32,965 --> 00:20:33,932 It's just crazy. 439 00:20:33,932 --> 00:20:38,470 Just every little thing that fell right, exactly the way it was supposed to, 440 00:20:38,937 --> 00:20:44,643 and to see, like where I am now and how it's led up to this is so insane. 441 00:20:44,643 --> 00:20:46,712 But like, obviously it's going to be perfect. 442 00:20:46,712 --> 00:20:49,047 Like it's his plan. It's not mine. 443 00:20:49,047 --> 00:20:52,951 And so but I think just realizing that and that's why reflection 444 00:20:52,951 --> 00:20:55,921 and what we're doing is so important, I feel because 445 00:20:55,988 --> 00:20:58,991 when you're able to look back and say, okay, 446 00:20:59,124 --> 00:21:03,362 like he did that for me, I was feeling this way in this situation. 447 00:21:03,362 --> 00:21:05,130 I got rejected, whatever. 448 00:21:05,130 --> 00:21:09,568 And then to see how faithful and how his will has played out in my life 449 00:21:10,369 --> 00:21:13,538 and in our lives, I think it's easier to then when you are 450 00:21:13,538 --> 00:21:17,476 in those situations in the future, because there's going to be hard times. 451 00:21:17,476 --> 00:21:19,811 Obviously, when you are in those situations. 452 00:21:19,811 --> 00:21:25,350 Again, you're trained like your mind is trained to say, okay, this may be wrong. 453 00:21:25,350 --> 00:21:28,220 I may think it's wrong, right now. I may not be comfortable. 454 00:21:28,220 --> 00:21:32,257 This is not what I want, but I'm able to look back at this situation 455 00:21:32,257 --> 00:21:36,662 and see how everything fell into place so that you could be aware you're on now. 456 00:21:36,828 --> 00:21:39,931 And I'm not saying it's going to take like exactly a year like it did 457 00:21:40,198 --> 00:21:45,070 in my situation, but just being able to look back and reflect and thank him. 458 00:21:45,070 --> 00:21:48,640 I find myself constantly this year like I just wake up 459 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,410 and my first thought is like, thank you for all of these opportunities 460 00:21:51,410 --> 00:21:54,413 that I'm getting, like serving with the youth program. 461 00:21:54,746 --> 00:21:56,448 Young adult ministry. 462 00:21:56,448 --> 00:21:59,284 Just, yeah, look for opportunity 463 00:21:59,284 --> 00:22:02,287 and look for ways to thank him and just remember that. 464 00:22:02,621 --> 00:22:05,424 So remember that, he's working. 465 00:22:05,424 --> 00:22:06,525 He's always working. 466 00:22:06,525 --> 00:22:09,661 He's never not working in your life, and it's leading up to something. 467 00:22:10,262 --> 00:22:13,131 Well done. Ali. Thank you. Good job. 468 00:22:14,766 --> 00:22:15,033 You know, 469 00:22:15,033 --> 00:22:18,570 Ali, it's one of the things I've been so impressed about 470 00:22:19,471 --> 00:22:22,374 with you about is, 471 00:22:22,374 --> 00:22:25,377 especially for young people who grow up in church 472 00:22:26,244 --> 00:22:30,282 when they come into these seasons where stuff just falls apart. 473 00:22:30,982 --> 00:22:33,985 It's so easy and typical 474 00:22:35,020 --> 00:22:38,023 for the reaction to be, God, I've. 475 00:22:38,056 --> 00:22:40,025 I believed in you my whole life. 476 00:22:40,025 --> 00:22:41,526 I've served you faithfully. 477 00:22:41,526 --> 00:22:44,529 And then this is how you repay me? 478 00:22:45,030 --> 00:22:48,633 It almost to feel like a rejection from God and then to push that away. 479 00:22:49,234 --> 00:22:50,369 And so fine, I'll just go on. 480 00:22:50,369 --> 00:22:51,870 I'll do my own thing then. 481 00:22:51,870 --> 00:22:55,907 You didn't do that when so many young people do 482 00:22:55,974 --> 00:22:59,811 who are in this stage of life where it's there's just so much I know you 483 00:22:59,811 --> 00:23:03,749 pressed in rather than running away and I'm so proud of you for that. 484 00:23:03,749 --> 00:23:05,884 You told me after the job, didn't, 485 00:23:07,352 --> 00:23:09,020 come to fruition. 486 00:23:09,020 --> 00:23:10,389 It's okay. 487 00:23:10,389 --> 00:23:12,491 It's all part of God's plan. 488 00:23:12,491 --> 00:23:13,425 Those are your words. 489 00:23:13,425 --> 00:23:15,460 Like he's got it. 490 00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:17,262 And I don't know if you're saying that just because I, as your pastor, 491 00:23:17,262 --> 00:23:18,864 you're supposed to. 492 00:23:18,864 --> 00:23:21,099 But you said it because you believed it. 493 00:23:21,099 --> 00:23:25,103 And now to watch God get you back to where you wanted to be 494 00:23:26,238 --> 00:23:28,707 in a lot better scenario 495 00:23:28,707 --> 00:23:31,877 is, is proof of his mercy and his grace and your faithfulness. 496 00:23:31,877 --> 00:23:34,546 So thank you for everything that you are. 497 00:23:34,546 --> 00:23:40,786 Jeff Stemple, you've been working with, me on staff for coming up on ten years now. 498 00:23:40,786 --> 00:23:42,687 Yeah. Ten years. Yeah. That's awesome. 499 00:23:42,687 --> 00:23:44,623 They've been a part of the church for longer than that. Yep. 500 00:23:44,623 --> 00:23:47,759 But but, Jeff has played a lot of different roles. 501 00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:49,261 He served as our youth pastor. 502 00:23:49,261 --> 00:23:52,364 He served as a just helping in the worship ministry. 503 00:23:52,364 --> 00:23:55,801 He's leading is our worship leader now, worship pastor 504 00:23:55,801 --> 00:23:57,669 in charge of tech and media. 505 00:23:57,669 --> 00:24:00,672 And it, he's my executive pastor. 506 00:24:00,872 --> 00:24:03,275 The longer you work with me, the more hats that you end up. 507 00:24:03,275 --> 00:24:04,943 Essentially just hearing that, 508 00:24:05,944 --> 00:24:08,013 Off and on at different points. 509 00:24:08,013 --> 00:24:11,383 But, Jeff, you are my right hand guy, man, I love you, I trust you, 510 00:24:11,383 --> 00:24:14,886 you are more capable than what you you realize that you are, 511 00:24:16,121 --> 00:24:20,325 and, worthy and deserving of every bit of honor this church can give you. 512 00:24:20,325 --> 00:24:21,993 So you got five good minutes. 513 00:24:21,993 --> 00:24:22,494 I appreciate. 514 00:24:22,494 --> 00:24:25,030 That, 2025. Wow. 515 00:24:25,030 --> 00:24:27,098 It's it's done. 516 00:24:27,098 --> 00:24:30,001 I'm. I finished off last week. 517 00:24:30,001 --> 00:24:34,172 Going back to a devotional that I started the first week of this year, and, 518 00:24:35,106 --> 00:24:37,309 I just, I came back to it because I really liked it, 519 00:24:37,309 --> 00:24:40,312 and it really kind of exemplified the way the year went. 520 00:24:40,612 --> 00:24:41,746 And I think we have a slide. 521 00:24:41,746 --> 00:24:44,749 It was called, the Importance of understanding your assignment, 522 00:24:45,951 --> 00:24:48,720 and that's a phrase that's gotten a lot of publicity over the last couple of years. 523 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:50,856 It's like, I'm sure I've used it with Heather before, 524 00:24:50,856 --> 00:24:53,191 you know, you walk into the room and the coffee is where it needs to be. 525 00:24:53,191 --> 00:24:54,993 The music's just right. The light is just right. 526 00:24:54,993 --> 00:24:56,228 Heather understood the assignment. 527 00:24:57,195 --> 00:24:59,064 And then I'm sure you've been in areas before. 528 00:24:59,064 --> 00:25:00,332 Where you walk. Into the room and you're like, 529 00:25:00,332 --> 00:25:03,335 I don't think they understood the assignment. 530 00:25:03,335 --> 00:25:04,803 They just didn't get it. 531 00:25:04,803 --> 00:25:06,538 Or, you know, if you think back to grade school, 532 00:25:06,538 --> 00:25:09,541 it's like, you know, the projects do and you show up and you're like, 533 00:25:09,941 --> 00:25:12,477 why does might have stairs and nobody else's does. 534 00:25:12,477 --> 00:25:14,646 I didn't didn't understand the assignment. 535 00:25:14,646 --> 00:25:18,750 And what what hit me as I, as I came back to that was how 536 00:25:19,951 --> 00:25:23,522 there's nobody in this room who would reject the favor of God. 537 00:25:23,522 --> 00:25:26,992 If I came up to you and I said, hey, would you like the favor of God 538 00:25:26,992 --> 00:25:30,161 on your on your on your finances, on your family, on your career? 539 00:25:30,161 --> 00:25:32,964 You be like, yeah, sign me up for a double dose. 540 00:25:32,964 --> 00:25:34,366 I want the favor of God. 541 00:25:35,534 --> 00:25:38,537 Well, if we look at that idea biblically, 542 00:25:38,637 --> 00:25:41,940 the favor of God never goes to the individual. 543 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,043 The favor of God goes to the assignment. 544 00:25:45,443 --> 00:25:48,880 No, it didn't get the favor of God because he was Noah. 545 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,483 He got the favor of God because there was a flood coming. 546 00:25:51,483 --> 00:25:54,319 And the assignment was build a boat. 547 00:25:54,319 --> 00:25:57,122 Joseph didn't get the favor of God because he was jealous. 548 00:25:57,122 --> 00:26:00,158 If you got the favor of God because there's a, there's a famine coming 549 00:26:00,292 --> 00:26:04,629 and God said I gave you these gifts, dream interpretation, leadership 550 00:26:04,829 --> 00:26:07,832 so that you could step into my assignment. 551 00:26:08,233 --> 00:26:11,236 There's a story in the Bible about a girl named Esther. 552 00:26:11,469 --> 00:26:15,607 There was a genocide coming, and God said, I have an assignment for you. 553 00:26:15,607 --> 00:26:19,010 And actually that story, he even says, God's going to get the job done. 554 00:26:19,010 --> 00:26:20,979 You can choose whether you want to be part of it or not. 555 00:26:20,979 --> 00:26:25,016 And so I kept coming back to this idea of the favor of God 556 00:26:25,016 --> 00:26:26,851 does not go with the individual. 557 00:26:26,851 --> 00:26:29,688 The favor of God goes with the assignment. 558 00:26:29,688 --> 00:26:30,522 Good. 559 00:26:30,522 --> 00:26:33,158 And so as I started to reflect 560 00:26:33,158 --> 00:26:36,995 and ask myself the question, you know, what is your assignment? 561 00:26:36,995 --> 00:26:38,563 I've realized my assignment. 562 00:26:38,563 --> 00:26:42,500 Now as my kids are getting older, I've got one teenager left and boy, she's on. 563 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:44,002 She's she's almost done. 564 00:26:44,970 --> 00:26:47,138 Is my assignment has changed. 565 00:26:47,138 --> 00:26:50,675 And I actually kind of liked the assignment that I'm. 566 00:26:50,942 --> 00:26:53,511 I like the assignment that I have right now. 567 00:26:53,511 --> 00:26:56,481 I'm more of, 568 00:26:56,481 --> 00:26:59,417 an advisor, an influencer. 569 00:26:59,417 --> 00:27:04,389 And so for for kids in the if you're under the age of 25, 570 00:27:04,389 --> 00:27:09,294 in the room, figure out what God's assignment is for you and step into that. 571 00:27:09,494 --> 00:27:12,497 If you're over the age of 25, maybe you have kids. 572 00:27:13,565 --> 00:27:16,568 Understand that your assignment when they're little, 573 00:27:17,135 --> 00:27:20,305 you're you basically whether whether or not you like it, 574 00:27:20,305 --> 00:27:25,110 you've opened up an influence account like a checking account or a savings account. 575 00:27:25,110 --> 00:27:28,213 You've opened up an influence account just by the fact that you're a parent. 576 00:27:28,213 --> 00:27:31,216 And when they're little, it's all deposits. 577 00:27:31,282 --> 00:27:32,851 There's no withdrawals. 578 00:27:32,851 --> 00:27:36,287 And when they get to be teenagers, you're like, everything's down into the right. 579 00:27:36,921 --> 00:27:40,492 Like, IRA, is there ever going to be an ROI on this investment? 580 00:27:41,226 --> 00:27:44,396 And then as they get older, you realize you start to make withdrawals 581 00:27:44,396 --> 00:27:45,797 from that influence account. 582 00:27:45,797 --> 00:27:50,068 And I've realized that my assignment has changed now that I've become 583 00:27:50,068 --> 00:27:53,972 this person who can give instead of when they were little direction. 584 00:27:53,972 --> 00:27:56,675 Sometimes it's like, no, go here. 585 00:27:56,675 --> 00:27:57,709 Now it's like, you know what? 586 00:27:57,709 --> 00:27:59,244 Let's let's talk about this. 587 00:27:59,244 --> 00:28:02,247 We've we've we have this we have this account. 588 00:28:02,380 --> 00:28:04,115 And I want to I want to coach you through this, 589 00:28:04,115 --> 00:28:07,118 I want to I want to advise you and influence you through this. 590 00:28:07,886 --> 00:28:10,522 And that was just that really 591 00:28:10,522 --> 00:28:14,159 brought me back to how fundamental it is of the favor of God 592 00:28:14,259 --> 00:28:17,195 falling on the assignment, not necessarily the individual. 593 00:28:17,195 --> 00:28:20,165 And I think our culture gets that backwards sometimes we're like, 594 00:28:20,165 --> 00:28:21,700 I got a great assignment. 595 00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:24,703 God favor bring it. 596 00:28:25,103 --> 00:28:27,305 And God's like. I don't work that way. 597 00:28:27,305 --> 00:28:29,541 I've got an assignment that I've called you to step into. 598 00:28:29,541 --> 00:28:32,010 As a matter of fact, I think there's a verse up there. 599 00:28:32,010 --> 00:28:34,446 If you spend any amount of time in church, you probably heard this verse. 600 00:28:34,446 --> 00:28:37,315 We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do 601 00:28:37,315 --> 00:28:40,351 good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 602 00:28:40,351 --> 00:28:42,087 We then prepare the assignment. 603 00:28:42,087 --> 00:28:45,056 God did, find out what that assignment is. 604 00:28:45,056 --> 00:28:46,224 Step into it. 605 00:28:46,224 --> 00:28:47,592 That was 2025. 606 00:28:47,592 --> 00:28:50,729 Jeff. Awesome, awesome. 607 00:28:51,730 --> 00:28:52,130 Yeah. 608 00:28:52,130 --> 00:28:54,399 You have 30s left, man. 609 00:28:54,399 --> 00:28:58,203 Oh my God, do you do you see why he's so good to have on staff? 610 00:28:58,203 --> 00:28:59,704 Wasn't that good stuff 611 00:28:59,704 --> 00:29:02,640 like God doesn't put his favor on you but to favor on the assignment. 612 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:04,609 So find out what it is and step into it. 613 00:29:04,609 --> 00:29:06,578 That's Henry Black Abby stuff right there. 614 00:29:06,578 --> 00:29:09,047 That's like good old school stuff. 615 00:29:09,047 --> 00:29:12,016 I love it. Good for you, man. Good for you. 616 00:29:12,016 --> 00:29:17,422 Hey, Heather, you have been on staff with me since 2013, 2012. 617 00:29:17,655 --> 00:29:19,624 2012. 2012. 618 00:29:19,624 --> 00:29:21,259 Heather's the one who's been fired. 619 00:29:21,259 --> 00:29:24,562 The most of it is staff member, and I keep turning 620 00:29:24,729 --> 00:29:28,366 right back as soon as I fired her, but, Heather, 621 00:29:28,700 --> 00:29:31,703 Heather plays a lot of wears a lot of hats as well. She. 622 00:29:32,203 --> 00:29:35,573 I called the the executive administrator, just of all things 623 00:29:35,573 --> 00:29:38,777 flip side from bills to scheduling to just, 624 00:29:39,544 --> 00:29:41,846 all things Maywood with all the leases 625 00:29:41,846 --> 00:29:44,849 and our tenants and the problems that come up with that, 626 00:29:45,183 --> 00:29:50,088 the lawyers that come up with that and a lot of my stuff that I do with Excel 627 00:29:50,255 --> 00:29:54,993 around the globe, travel stuff and detail stuff you do a lot, 628 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:59,397 and, and kind of hold the whole administrative stuff together. 629 00:29:59,397 --> 00:30:00,265 I'm really proud of you. 630 00:30:00,265 --> 00:30:03,067 It's been great working with you for so long. 631 00:30:03,067 --> 00:30:04,235 And watching you grow. 632 00:30:05,203 --> 00:30:06,504 So thank you, Heather. 633 00:30:06,504 --> 00:30:08,840 Love you and your family dearly. 634 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:10,341 You got five good minutes. Heather. 635 00:30:10,341 --> 00:30:10,775 Okay. 636 00:30:10,775 --> 00:30:13,011 Last year, I accidentally deleted my note, 637 00:30:13,011 --> 00:30:16,014 so I printed it this year, so that couldn't end. 638 00:30:16,614 --> 00:30:18,049 And I am going to try not cry. 639 00:30:18,049 --> 00:30:20,919 I cried last time, so I'm Heather. I'm a crier. 640 00:30:20,919 --> 00:30:23,755 So this past year really wasn't one that I would have planned. 641 00:30:23,755 --> 00:30:26,024 It was at times really scary, difficult. 642 00:30:26,024 --> 00:30:29,727 And if I'm being honest, it was very, very overwhelming. 643 00:30:30,962 --> 00:30:32,997 In a relatively short time span, 644 00:30:32,997 --> 00:30:36,000 my husband had to have unexpected triple bypass surgery. 645 00:30:36,401 --> 00:30:39,604 I had two discs replaced in my neck, and our daughter 646 00:30:39,604 --> 00:30:42,607 got injured at work and is still awaiting surgery. 647 00:30:42,807 --> 00:30:46,010 It felt like as soon as we caught our breath, the next wave would hit. 648 00:30:47,412 --> 00:30:47,779 There were 649 00:30:47,779 --> 00:30:51,449 moments when I felt fragile, uncertain, and completely out of our control. 650 00:30:51,783 --> 00:30:54,619 And if you've spent any length of time with me, I really, 651 00:30:54,619 --> 00:30:57,622 really, really like control. 652 00:30:58,323 --> 00:30:59,424 So. But I wanted to share. 653 00:30:59,424 --> 00:31:02,126 Today is just it's not just about what happened to us. 654 00:31:02,126 --> 00:31:06,197 It's what God did with us through it all, in every hospital room, 655 00:31:06,631 --> 00:31:09,500 every recovery day, every unknown outcome. 656 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:12,036 We were never alone. God was present. 657 00:31:12,036 --> 00:31:15,039 Not distant, not silent, present. 658 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:19,711 Isaiah 4110 says, so do not fear, for I am with you. 659 00:31:19,811 --> 00:31:22,313 Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 660 00:31:22,313 --> 00:31:24,015 I will strengthen you and help you. 661 00:31:24,015 --> 00:31:26,417 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 662 00:31:26,417 --> 00:31:29,420 And he truly did very often it was through his people, 663 00:31:30,722 --> 00:31:33,758 friends and family showed up for us in ways we will never forget. 664 00:31:34,425 --> 00:31:37,595 People brought us coffee to the hospital, sat with us 665 00:31:37,896 --> 00:31:42,033 sometimes quietly, sometimes praying, sometimes just being there. 666 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:45,870 Or in Carl, in Chili's case, picking up mackey, buying her a new phone 667 00:31:45,870 --> 00:31:47,272 and take her to never to get to Phoenix 668 00:31:49,207 --> 00:31:52,210 is what what's best is when these, 669 00:31:52,410 --> 00:31:55,413 And she made an order in that way too. 670 00:31:56,781 --> 00:31:57,048 Okay. 671 00:31:57,048 --> 00:31:59,117 So sometimes, I'm sorry. 672 00:31:59,117 --> 00:32:01,452 Our family really, really rallied around us. 673 00:32:01,452 --> 00:32:04,455 Our family is this huge, messed up family tree that nobody understands. 674 00:32:04,455 --> 00:32:05,790 But it's the best family out there. 675 00:32:05,790 --> 00:32:08,192 So shout out to them. 676 00:32:08,192 --> 00:32:09,627 They showed up big time people. 677 00:32:09,627 --> 00:32:14,165 We visited John where it may not have been comfortable to see him in that way. 678 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:17,402 Those moments spoke volumes. 679 00:32:17,402 --> 00:32:20,371 They reminded us that love doesn't disappear when things get hard. 680 00:32:20,438 --> 00:32:23,441 It leans in our church. 681 00:32:23,474 --> 00:32:26,477 You guys were incredibly gracious and supportive during this season. 682 00:32:26,844 --> 00:32:30,048 From prayers and checking in to flexibility 683 00:32:30,415 --> 00:32:33,785 and understanding, we felt genuinely cared for. 684 00:32:35,286 --> 00:32:38,189 There were so many people 685 00:32:38,189 --> 00:32:42,060 who were just a beautiful reminder of, to us that the church isn't just something 686 00:32:42,060 --> 00:32:45,363 we attend, it's a family that walks with you through the hardest times. 687 00:32:46,898 --> 00:32:47,966 One of the biggest lessons we 688 00:32:47,966 --> 00:32:50,969 learned was to let go of pride. 689 00:32:51,703 --> 00:32:53,905 I have a really bad habit of saying and Carl gets on. 690 00:32:53,905 --> 00:32:56,808 To me. It's just easier if I do it myself. 691 00:32:56,808 --> 00:32:59,811 So we had to learn to say we need help. 692 00:33:00,478 --> 00:33:02,213 We can't do everything right now. 693 00:33:02,213 --> 00:33:05,216 And instead of weakness, we found grace. 694 00:33:05,683 --> 00:33:08,619 God met us there, and so did his people. 695 00:33:08,619 --> 00:33:11,189 So many people showed us so much grace here at Flip Side. 696 00:33:11,189 --> 00:33:14,192 And I'm so thankful for this church family. 697 00:33:14,859 --> 00:33:17,095 What surprised me most was 698 00:33:17,095 --> 00:33:20,531 how God used such a difficult season to draw my family even closer. 699 00:33:21,232 --> 00:33:22,433 We slowed down. 700 00:33:22,433 --> 00:33:24,302 We leaned on one another. 701 00:33:24,302 --> 00:33:26,871 We prayed way more honestly, 702 00:33:26,871 --> 00:33:30,074 and we laughed when we could, which is usually not at the most appropriate time. 703 00:33:31,476 --> 00:33:33,011 And we learned again that 704 00:33:33,011 --> 00:33:36,047 God's presence is not dependent on things going smoothly. 705 00:33:37,181 --> 00:33:39,951 I also wanted to share how encouraged I've been by the resilience 706 00:33:39,951 --> 00:33:40,952 we've seen in Madison. 707 00:33:40,952 --> 00:33:42,720 Our daughter, our Machias. 708 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,523 Most of you know that's actually her given name. 709 00:33:45,523 --> 00:33:46,591 She had a rough year 710 00:33:46,591 --> 00:33:49,560 watching both of her parents go through some really rough recoveries. 711 00:33:50,328 --> 00:33:53,431 And through it all, she drew our focus back to God 712 00:33:53,664 --> 00:33:56,667 being in control of all of it, 713 00:33:56,667 --> 00:33:59,237 even while waiting for surgery and living in the unknown herself, 714 00:33:59,237 --> 00:34:02,774 she's continued to trust that God has a plan, that he is ultimately in control. 715 00:34:03,775 --> 00:34:06,644 Her faith has been quiet but powerful reminder to us 716 00:34:06,644 --> 00:34:10,248 that God is still at work, even when the answers haven't come yet. 717 00:34:11,482 --> 00:34:15,453 Romans 828 reminds us, and we know that in all things 718 00:34:15,753 --> 00:34:17,889 God works for the good of those who love him 719 00:34:17,889 --> 00:34:20,625 and who have been called according to his purpose. 720 00:34:20,625 --> 00:34:21,759 Not some things. 721 00:34:22,727 --> 00:34:25,129 All things. 722 00:34:25,129 --> 00:34:27,532 Another verse that carried me through this year was my life verse, 723 00:34:27,532 --> 00:34:29,400 which is Joshua one nine. 724 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:30,935 Have I not commanded you? 725 00:34:30,935 --> 00:34:33,571 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. 726 00:34:33,571 --> 00:34:37,141 Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 727 00:34:38,176 --> 00:34:41,079 That promise that God goes with us wherever we go, 728 00:34:41,079 --> 00:34:46,084 that's into our hospital rooms, into waiting rooms, into waiting seasons 729 00:34:46,317 --> 00:34:49,320 and hard conversations has meant everything to us. 730 00:34:49,854 --> 00:34:52,857 Looking back, I would definitely not call this year easy, 731 00:34:52,990 --> 00:34:55,026 but I would call it faithful. 732 00:34:55,026 --> 00:34:58,329 God was with us every step of the way and he showed his love 733 00:34:58,329 --> 00:35:01,332 not only through his presence, but again through his people. 734 00:35:02,133 --> 00:35:04,402 And if there's one thing I've learned, it's this that God 735 00:35:04,402 --> 00:35:08,439 never wastes a season and he never leaves his people. 736 00:35:10,174 --> 00:35:10,641 That's it. 737 00:35:10,641 --> 00:35:13,644 Well done. 738 00:35:13,978 --> 00:35:15,713 With two seconds to spare. 739 00:35:15,713 --> 00:35:17,148 How much? Two seconds. 740 00:35:17,148 --> 00:35:18,249 Two seconds. 741 00:35:18,249 --> 00:35:21,119 Good job. So you're saying I do the best? 742 00:35:21,119 --> 00:35:22,854 I know 743 00:35:22,854 --> 00:35:27,125 how there's been great watching you and your family, navigate difficult seasons. 744 00:35:27,125 --> 00:35:30,428 Not that the difficult season has been great to watch you have, but 745 00:35:31,062 --> 00:35:35,099 how you guys have navigated that well, because you get through one 746 00:35:35,099 --> 00:35:36,767 and you think, oh, finally. 747 00:35:36,767 --> 00:35:39,770 And then here comes the next hit, right? 748 00:35:41,305 --> 00:35:42,173 And so, yeah. 749 00:35:42,173 --> 00:35:43,941 Thank you guys for your faithfulness. 750 00:35:43,941 --> 00:35:46,944 Yeah. 751 00:35:47,612 --> 00:35:48,980 Here's what I want to do. 752 00:35:48,980 --> 00:35:50,681 I want to hear from you. 753 00:35:50,681 --> 00:35:53,851 What what's resonated and what you've heard. 754 00:35:57,889 --> 00:36:00,892 Patients that story. 755 00:36:00,992 --> 00:36:03,995 Oh, good. 756 00:36:04,061 --> 00:36:05,263 Yeah. 757 00:36:05,263 --> 00:36:05,863 God's in everything. 758 00:36:05,863 --> 00:36:08,699 All the time. Good and everything. 759 00:36:08,699 --> 00:36:10,401 He's never not working. 760 00:36:10,401 --> 00:36:12,503 To truth. It's truth. 761 00:36:14,705 --> 00:36:16,741 Keeping the faith more. 762 00:36:16,741 --> 00:36:18,242 Keep in faith during the hard times. 763 00:36:18,242 --> 00:36:20,978 Yeah. When it's easier to walk away, maybe. 764 00:36:20,978 --> 00:36:21,512 Yeah. 765 00:36:21,512 --> 00:36:24,482 Good. 766 00:36:24,515 --> 00:36:27,518 Decisions. Us. 767 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:29,720 I love that idea. 768 00:36:29,720 --> 00:36:32,723 Remove yourself from the equation because it's God in his mouth, not. 769 00:36:33,691 --> 00:36:35,793 Yeah. That's good. 770 00:36:35,793 --> 00:36:36,994 Saying is one thing. 771 00:36:36,994 --> 00:36:39,697 You know. It's not. 772 00:36:39,697 --> 00:36:41,299 It wasn't that good. 773 00:36:41,299 --> 00:36:43,634 Like my yes might be an answer to someone else's prayer. 774 00:36:43,634 --> 00:36:45,169 Yeah that's powerful stuff. 775 00:36:45,169 --> 00:36:48,172 Good. 776 00:36:48,272 --> 00:36:49,874 Choosing joy. 777 00:36:49,874 --> 00:36:50,975 Yeah. 778 00:36:50,975 --> 00:36:53,978 Yeah. 779 00:36:54,345 --> 00:36:57,348 What else is good all the time. 780 00:36:58,382 --> 00:36:59,650 Yeah. 781 00:36:59,650 --> 00:37:01,652 But the flavor is on the side. 782 00:37:01,652 --> 00:37:03,487 But isn't that powerful? 783 00:37:03,487 --> 00:37:05,423 Yeah. Favors on this island, off the person. 784 00:37:05,423 --> 00:37:07,325 So just say yes. 785 00:37:07,325 --> 00:37:10,094 Yeah. 786 00:37:10,094 --> 00:37:13,097 I do better at utilizing our hindsight. 787 00:37:15,032 --> 00:37:16,867 Yeah. 788 00:37:16,867 --> 00:37:18,903 Yeah. I use the hindsight. 789 00:37:18,903 --> 00:37:19,103 Yeah. 790 00:37:19,103 --> 00:37:22,373 And that's a lot of what, what thankfulness comes from 791 00:37:23,107 --> 00:37:25,977 is looking back and being thankful. Yeah, 792 00:37:26,944 --> 00:37:27,211 right. 793 00:37:27,211 --> 00:37:30,181 There is no bigger surrender. 794 00:37:30,181 --> 00:37:31,015 Let his will be done. 795 00:37:31,015 --> 00:37:31,215 All right. 796 00:37:31,215 --> 00:37:32,283 Wasn't that the great prayer? 797 00:37:32,283 --> 00:37:35,253 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 798 00:37:35,353 --> 00:37:37,622 Surrendering to that. 799 00:37:37,622 --> 00:37:39,257 Yeah. 800 00:37:39,257 --> 00:37:39,690 It is. 801 00:37:39,690 --> 00:37:41,826 It's a privilege, 802 00:37:41,826 --> 00:37:43,427 to serve alongside these staff. 803 00:37:43,427 --> 00:37:46,530 It's a privilege to serve you as a as our church. 804 00:37:46,530 --> 00:37:49,500 So thank you for that honor. 805 00:37:49,900 --> 00:37:53,504 God continues to, to to to work on us. 806 00:37:56,073 --> 00:37:58,209 You've heard some of those stories I want to share with you 807 00:37:58,209 --> 00:38:01,212 some things that God has impressed upon me again, 808 00:38:01,812 --> 00:38:05,283 looking back on this year, these things that God has said, Carl, this little 809 00:38:05,283 --> 00:38:06,417 I don't want you to lean into. 810 00:38:06,417 --> 00:38:09,420 And then I've been leaning into, 811 00:38:10,788 --> 00:38:14,792 scripture, for second Timothy three, 16 812 00:38:15,259 --> 00:38:18,296 all Scripture is breathed out by God 813 00:38:18,696 --> 00:38:22,667 and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correcting, and training for 814 00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:26,971 righteousness, that the man of God may be a complete equipped for every good work. 815 00:38:27,138 --> 00:38:29,106 One of the things that God has impressed upon me 816 00:38:30,174 --> 00:38:31,475 is a priority the 817 00:38:31,475 --> 00:38:34,979 foundation, the bedrock of His Word. 818 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:39,183 It is the breath of God, his words that he's breathed out. 819 00:38:39,750 --> 00:38:42,153 And it does four things. 820 00:38:42,153 --> 00:38:45,056 It teaches us truth. 821 00:38:45,056 --> 00:38:49,627 And in the teaching of truth it reproved us, which means it. 822 00:38:49,627 --> 00:38:52,430 It illuminates error. 823 00:38:52,430 --> 00:38:55,533 And it doesn't just call out error, it corrects, 824 00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:58,569 so it corrects error. 825 00:38:58,569 --> 00:39:02,373 And then it trains into truth and righteousness. 826 00:39:03,074 --> 00:39:07,778 And I've been reminded of that again, that when the God's Word 827 00:39:07,778 --> 00:39:10,881 isn't given to me, to inform me, it's 828 00:39:10,881 --> 00:39:13,884 given to me, to transform me. 829 00:39:14,585 --> 00:39:17,988 And it teaches me, reproof me, corrects me and trains me. 830 00:39:18,489 --> 00:39:22,259 And I've been driven back to the foundation of the word 831 00:39:23,194 --> 00:39:25,296 Scripture above all things, 832 00:39:25,296 --> 00:39:28,299 that when life is chaotic, God's Word is the verdict. 833 00:39:29,100 --> 00:39:32,036 It has the final say, has the only say. 834 00:39:32,036 --> 00:39:34,338 God's drawn me back to this a time and time and time again 835 00:39:34,338 --> 00:39:36,374 that so for the foundation of my life, 836 00:39:36,374 --> 00:39:39,377 if you ask me what I think, I'm going to try to tell you what the Bible says. 837 00:39:40,177 --> 00:39:42,680 If you ask for my pin, I'm gonna try to tell you what the Bible says 838 00:39:44,181 --> 00:39:45,182 it must be. 839 00:39:45,182 --> 00:39:48,452 And it is the foundation for my life and the foundation for this church. 840 00:39:48,452 --> 00:39:50,988 It's the Scripture, 841 00:39:50,988 --> 00:39:54,658 and I'm drawn back to it because it tells me what my job is. 842 00:39:54,658 --> 00:39:57,061 And God's reminded me of this a lot this year. 843 00:39:57,061 --> 00:39:57,895 Acts six. 844 00:39:57,895 --> 00:40:01,365 For this whole little passage in the first part of acts chapter six, 845 00:40:01,866 --> 00:40:03,300 when the church is just beginning 846 00:40:03,300 --> 00:40:07,204 and there's all kinds of activity and momentum and, and stuff 847 00:40:07,204 --> 00:40:09,340 to do and everybody, well, why don't we do this ministry? 848 00:40:09,340 --> 00:40:11,041 What did this man write in this ministry? 849 00:40:11,041 --> 00:40:16,080 And the apostle got together, said, listen, it's not wise for us 850 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:21,018 to give ourselves to all these areas of ministry and neglect our job. 851 00:40:21,018 --> 00:40:24,822 Our job is the ministry of the word and prayer. 852 00:40:26,624 --> 00:40:29,994 Will you all do the work of the church? 853 00:40:30,828 --> 00:40:36,233 My job is the ministry of the Word of God and prayer. 854 00:40:36,801 --> 00:40:40,604 And God reminded me of that again this year, and I'm trying to press into that. 855 00:40:40,604 --> 00:40:43,774 Listen, there's a lot of stuff the church should be doing. 856 00:40:44,608 --> 00:40:46,710 That's your job. 857 00:40:46,710 --> 00:40:49,680 My job is the foundation of this, 858 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:52,683 and you need every day 859 00:40:53,117 --> 00:40:56,287 I'm on my knees praying over this church, 860 00:40:56,287 --> 00:41:00,391 our present, our future, many of you by name. 861 00:41:00,691 --> 00:41:02,827 Every morning 862 00:41:02,827 --> 00:41:06,597 and given myself to the study, the and the diligent, 863 00:41:06,764 --> 00:41:09,767 intense study of the Word of God. 864 00:41:09,900 --> 00:41:11,702 Because that's my job. 865 00:41:11,702 --> 00:41:14,872 It's the foundation and God's bringing me back to this more and more 866 00:41:14,872 --> 00:41:16,807 and more and more powerfully. 867 00:41:16,807 --> 00:41:19,143 There is a lot that this church has to do. 868 00:41:19,143 --> 00:41:20,010 It's not my job. 869 00:41:21,178 --> 00:41:23,848 I'm pressing into my job, 870 00:41:23,848 --> 00:41:26,851 and he's reminded me of this over and over and over. 871 00:41:27,618 --> 00:41:28,986 This is the foundation of everything. 872 00:41:28,986 --> 00:41:31,989 Psalm 119 105 Your word. 873 00:41:32,256 --> 00:41:34,425 So lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 874 00:41:34,425 --> 00:41:37,428 Here's what I know that a lit path beats 875 00:41:37,428 --> 00:41:40,431 a lucky guess every time. 876 00:41:41,532 --> 00:41:44,268 And I don't want to live my life by lucky guesses. 877 00:41:44,268 --> 00:41:46,770 Happened to get that one right. 878 00:41:46,770 --> 00:41:49,740 It's the Word of God. 879 00:41:49,740 --> 00:41:52,743 And he said, impressing this upon me this year. 880 00:41:52,843 --> 00:41:54,678 This is the foundation of all that we do. 881 00:41:54,678 --> 00:41:57,681 And my job is this teaching and preaching this 882 00:41:58,182 --> 00:42:01,185 and going to God on our behalf. 883 00:42:01,785 --> 00:42:04,255 And I'm going to do my job. 884 00:42:04,255 --> 00:42:08,325 And I've leaned in, not just that, but Romans 828, I think. 885 00:42:08,325 --> 00:42:11,762 Ali, did you talk about Romans eight who had your way? 886 00:42:11,896 --> 00:42:14,899 Romans 828 A soft pillow for a weary heart, 887 00:42:15,199 --> 00:42:17,167 for we know we don't guess, we don't hope. 888 00:42:17,167 --> 00:42:19,103 We know that God works all things together 889 00:42:19,103 --> 00:42:21,238 for the good of those who love him, called according to his purpose. 890 00:42:21,238 --> 00:42:23,541 It's the sovereignty and the providence of God. 891 00:42:23,541 --> 00:42:24,575 The sovereignty of God 892 00:42:24,575 --> 00:42:28,612 says he orchestrates all things the globe like it's his plan. 893 00:42:28,913 --> 00:42:31,015 And within the sovereignty is the providence. 894 00:42:31,015 --> 00:42:34,885 All the little details, all the interruptions, all the nos, all the yeses, 895 00:42:35,219 --> 00:42:40,090 all the ups and all the downs, the providence of God leaning into that. 896 00:42:40,891 --> 00:42:44,028 Listen, nothing is random when God is reigning. 897 00:42:45,396 --> 00:42:46,931 And I've got to remember that 898 00:42:46,931 --> 00:42:49,934 in the life of a church, after 20 years of doing this, 899 00:42:51,402 --> 00:42:54,338 this is the the sovereignty and providence of God. 900 00:42:54,338 --> 00:42:57,341 And when I can lean into that, listen, this is what I'm learning. 901 00:42:57,341 --> 00:43:00,344 When I can lean into that, there's no stress, 902 00:43:00,377 --> 00:43:03,380 there's no worry, there's no revenge, and there's no payback 903 00:43:04,949 --> 00:43:06,784 if he's orchestrating it 904 00:43:06,784 --> 00:43:09,787 and he worship together. 905 00:43:10,688 --> 00:43:13,757 The final thing that God is pressing into and leaning into 906 00:43:13,991 --> 00:43:17,728 the asking me to lean into is Matthew 1618. 907 00:43:19,063 --> 00:43:22,900 When Jesus is talking to the disciples and he says these little words, 908 00:43:23,867 --> 00:43:26,870 I will build my church. 909 00:43:28,172 --> 00:43:29,940 And what God is impressing upon me 910 00:43:29,940 --> 00:43:32,910 is this it's not my church. 911 00:43:33,777 --> 00:43:35,212 This is not my work. 912 00:43:35,212 --> 00:43:37,615 It's not my church. It's God's. 913 00:43:39,216 --> 00:43:41,318 And I'm learning to be content to let 914 00:43:41,318 --> 00:43:44,321 God do what God wants to do. 915 00:43:46,023 --> 00:43:48,993 That he's ultimate responsible. 916 00:43:49,126 --> 00:43:50,060 Alabama football. 917 00:43:50,060 --> 00:43:53,597 In their team facility, they have one sign in the entire facility. 918 00:43:53,964 --> 00:43:56,634 And the one sign for Alabama football 919 00:43:56,634 --> 00:43:59,637 is this do your job. 920 00:43:59,837 --> 00:44:00,204 That's it. 921 00:44:00,204 --> 00:44:02,806 Just do your job. 922 00:44:02,806 --> 00:44:04,608 And so one thing that God has been impressed 923 00:44:04,608 --> 00:44:08,746 upon me this year, he's sovereign and he's providential and I can trust him. 924 00:44:08,912 --> 00:44:11,915 And that's so important when you watch when you're in the season, like Jeff 925 00:44:11,915 --> 00:44:14,918 and I, where you're watching your kids now do their thing, 926 00:44:16,353 --> 00:44:19,356 where it's no more directive and now it's influence, 927 00:44:19,890 --> 00:44:22,059 and you have to trust 928 00:44:22,059 --> 00:44:25,062 the influence that you've laid when they were little, 929 00:44:25,362 --> 00:44:28,565 that they'll come back to you and seek that advice and influence 930 00:44:28,832 --> 00:44:32,670 and then trust the the providence of God in their life. 931 00:44:32,670 --> 00:44:33,437 Boy, that's tough. 932 00:44:37,374 --> 00:44:38,642 And God's impressing upon me. 933 00:44:38,642 --> 00:44:41,645 Listen, trust me and do your job. 934 00:44:42,079 --> 00:44:44,682 And so, my dear friends, I'm going to tell you this. 935 00:44:44,682 --> 00:44:46,183 He's impressed upon me this year. 936 00:44:46,183 --> 00:44:47,551 I'm going into this next year. 937 00:44:47,551 --> 00:44:50,554 I'm going to work my tail off, doing my job. 938 00:44:50,821 --> 00:44:53,490 But I'm not going to do your job. 939 00:44:53,490 --> 00:44:56,060 You do your job, 940 00:44:56,060 --> 00:44:58,295 and we'll trust God 941 00:44:58,295 --> 00:45:00,130 for his church. 942 00:45:00,130 --> 00:45:03,767 And so as a pastor, as I look back, and that's what God told me. 943 00:45:04,234 --> 00:45:06,336 But as a pastor 944 00:45:06,336 --> 00:45:10,207 and as the pastor of this church, there's always a challenge that I bring. 945 00:45:11,075 --> 00:45:11,642 Because why? 946 00:45:11,642 --> 00:45:14,912 Because Scripture is profitable for teaching and reproof 947 00:45:15,579 --> 00:45:17,481 and correcting and training. 948 00:45:17,481 --> 00:45:19,149 And so here's the question. 949 00:45:19,149 --> 00:45:22,152 You look back now over 2025 for yourself. 950 00:45:23,487 --> 00:45:24,988 You look back for yourself. 951 00:45:26,023 --> 00:45:28,559 Ask yourself the question, 952 00:45:28,559 --> 00:45:31,562 did you do your job? 953 00:45:32,596 --> 00:45:36,400 As far as the kingdom of God is concerned, as far as the ministry of the Kingdom 954 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:39,837 is concerned through the your church, did you do your job? 955 00:45:41,238 --> 00:45:43,440 Many of you have, and it is a joy to say. 956 00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:47,678 It's a joy for us to serve alongside of those of you who understand the assignment 957 00:45:48,545 --> 00:45:51,548 and are doing your job, thank you. 958 00:45:51,949 --> 00:45:54,752 You make it a joy 959 00:45:54,752 --> 00:45:57,721 to serve alongside you because you've understood your assignment 960 00:45:57,721 --> 00:45:59,356 and you've done your job this year. 961 00:45:59,356 --> 00:46:01,592 Thank you. 962 00:46:01,592 --> 00:46:04,595 But the challenges. 963 00:46:04,928 --> 00:46:07,297 Do you know your assignment and have 964 00:46:07,297 --> 00:46:10,300 did you do your job in 2025? 965 00:46:12,069 --> 00:46:15,072 As we look forward to 2026, 966 00:46:15,539 --> 00:46:18,075 the mantra is this 967 00:46:18,075 --> 00:46:21,078 do your job. 968 00:46:21,178 --> 00:46:22,412 Say yes on the front. It 969 00:46:24,248 --> 00:46:25,215 let God worry about the 970 00:46:25,215 --> 00:46:28,218 details be available and say yes. 971 00:46:29,419 --> 00:46:32,089 Trust him in the ups and downs 972 00:46:32,089 --> 00:46:35,092 that is, Providence is going to. 973 00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:39,763 Understand your assignment. 974 00:46:39,830 --> 00:46:42,332 There's going to come things you don't see and aren't ready for. 975 00:46:42,332 --> 00:46:45,335 But God's there. 976 00:46:45,936 --> 00:46:48,772 So do your job. 977 00:46:48,772 --> 00:46:49,540 Isn't it? 978 00:46:49,540 --> 00:46:51,875 Isn't it so wonderful how you like? 979 00:46:51,875 --> 00:46:55,712 We didn't talk about any of this stuff, but like how the common theme 980 00:46:55,712 --> 00:46:58,715 kind of runs through all of it. 981 00:47:01,185 --> 00:47:02,619 Because we share the same God, listen, 982 00:47:02,619 --> 00:47:05,622 same spirit. 983 00:47:05,722 --> 00:47:08,292 And so, church, thank you. 984 00:47:08,292 --> 00:47:12,062 Thank you for the honor of serving our God by serving you. 985 00:47:12,796 --> 00:47:15,666 Thank you for partnering with us 986 00:47:15,666 --> 00:47:18,669 and each other and doing your job. 987 00:47:19,269 --> 00:47:21,338 God is doing great things. 988 00:47:21,338 --> 00:47:23,540 You're such a generous church and such a giving church. 989 00:47:23,540 --> 00:47:24,341 Let me tell you this. 990 00:47:24,341 --> 00:47:27,878 I asked you at the beginning of at the end of November for $20,000 991 00:47:27,878 --> 00:47:28,846 for our church planters. 992 00:47:30,581 --> 00:47:33,550 Someone asked me, you really think we'll get that? 993 00:47:33,550 --> 00:47:35,652 I said, no, I think 994 00:47:35,652 --> 00:47:38,655 we're going to go far beyond it. 995 00:47:38,722 --> 00:47:39,857 $40,000. 996 00:47:39,857 --> 00:47:42,860 Thank you. 997 00:47:45,195 --> 00:47:47,331 And and like I said, it 998 00:47:47,331 --> 00:47:50,467 all goes to our church planters and church plant leaders. 999 00:47:51,134 --> 00:47:53,070 You're an amazing church. 1000 00:47:53,070 --> 00:47:55,505 Your generosity and your faithfulness 1001 00:47:55,505 --> 00:47:59,276 to serve every so consistently. 1002 00:48:01,311 --> 00:48:03,580 Let's just keep doing our job. 1003 00:48:03,580 --> 00:48:06,583 My prayer every day for us 1004 00:48:07,885 --> 00:48:10,888 is that God will bless the work of our hands 1005 00:48:11,822 --> 00:48:15,058 and the growth of our church for the expansion of His Kingdom, 1006 00:48:16,059 --> 00:48:19,663 that we would reach the Ranchos and Riverstone. 1007 00:48:20,097 --> 00:48:22,666 And to serve you. 1008 00:48:22,666 --> 00:48:25,202 It's his church 1009 00:48:25,202 --> 00:48:28,205 and we trust him to do it however he wants to do it. 1010 00:48:28,405 --> 00:48:31,408 Our prayer, my prayer every day, 1011 00:48:31,675 --> 00:48:33,810 bless the work of our hands 1012 00:48:33,810 --> 00:48:37,114 and the growth of our church for the expansion of your kingdom, not us. 1013 00:48:38,015 --> 00:48:42,552 That we will reach all of the Ranchos and Riverstone into Cerro Viejo. 1014 00:48:44,688 --> 00:48:47,691 He'll do his job. 1015 00:48:48,191 --> 00:48:51,194 I'm going press into my job. 1016 00:48:52,429 --> 00:48:55,165 You do your job. 1017 00:48:55,165 --> 00:48:56,934 You got it. 1018 00:48:56,934 --> 00:48:58,802 Let's not love you. 1019 00:48:58,802 --> 00:49:00,437 I'm proud of you. 1020 00:49:00,437 --> 00:49:03,440 It's been great to serve alongside you. 1021 00:49:03,573 --> 00:49:05,142 We got a lot of work to do. 1022 00:49:05,142 --> 00:49:09,246 You have a lot of work to do into 2026. 1023 00:49:09,680 --> 00:49:11,615 You understand? 1024 00:49:11,615 --> 00:49:14,117 Father, thank you for 1025 00:49:14,117 --> 00:49:14,851 what you're doing. 1026 00:49:14,851 --> 00:49:16,753 Thank you for your sovereignty. 1027 00:49:16,753 --> 00:49:18,422 Thank you for your providence. 1028 00:49:18,422 --> 00:49:21,525 Thank you for the truth of your word, that you work all things together 1029 00:49:21,525 --> 00:49:24,361 for the good of those who love you, or the called according to your purpose. 1030 00:49:24,361 --> 00:49:28,065 Thank you that your word is a light to our path, a lamp to our feet. 1031 00:49:28,065 --> 00:49:29,900 Thank you that it is trustworthy. 1032 00:49:29,900 --> 00:49:32,769 Thank you that you are sovereign. 1033 00:49:32,769 --> 00:49:36,606 Thank you, thank you, thank you for this church. 1034 00:49:36,606 --> 00:49:37,941 Thank you for their generosity. 1035 00:49:37,941 --> 00:49:39,009 Thank you for those who have 1036 00:49:39,009 --> 00:49:43,046 understood their assignment, who have said yes to you, who are doing their job. 1037 00:49:43,046 --> 00:49:47,250 Thank you that you're calling others of us to hear from you. 1038 00:49:47,250 --> 00:49:51,288 Your assignment to commit to doing our job that you've given us. 1039 00:49:52,022 --> 00:49:53,323 Thank you for the honor. 1040 00:49:53,323 --> 00:49:56,393 It is to know you and to serve you. 1041 00:49:56,393 --> 00:49:58,562 Help us to love you more. 1042 00:49:58,562 --> 00:50:02,866 Father, I ask in the strong name of Jesus because this is your church, 1043 00:50:04,201 --> 00:50:07,170 that you bless the work of our hands, 1044 00:50:07,504 --> 00:50:12,042 that you bless the growth of this church and these services 1045 00:50:12,342 --> 00:50:15,345 for the expansion of your Kingdom, 1046 00:50:16,079 --> 00:50:19,082 that through us you would reach the ranchos 1047 00:50:19,583 --> 00:50:22,586 and Riverstone, and to sorrow 1048 00:50:23,487 --> 00:50:25,856 and anywhere else in the world 1049 00:50:25,856 --> 00:50:28,859 you want us to be a part of building your Kingdom. 1050 00:50:28,892 --> 00:50:30,627 We love you. 1051 00:50:30,627 --> 00:50:32,662 Thank you for this church. 1052 00:50:32,662 --> 00:50:34,231 In your name I pray. Amen. 1053 00:50:34,231 --> 00:50:34,998 Let's sing one more.