Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast, we enjoy, spending this time with you. I hope you'll be then spot make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going enjoy the best. God bless, you always a joy to come into your homes and, if you're ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you will make you feel right at home, but thanks so much for tuning in. Thank you again for coming out. I like to start with something funny in I heard about this group of school. School children, they were in the cafeteria line at their Catholic Elementary school. At the first of the and there was a big bowl of apples and on written a note

Only one God is watching At the end of the line. There was a big bowl of chocolate chip cookies, one of the children I'd written a note. Take all you want, God is watching. Hold up your bible and say it like you mean it. This is my Bible, I am what it says. I am Yeah, it says I have. I can do it says I can do today we talked the word of God, I boldly confess my mind is alert by heart. Is receptive never be the same. In Jesus Name, God bless you. I want to talk. See you today about how you are not damaged goods in grocery store and down one of the isles. There was a whole section called damaged goods. It was most. Can products that had been marked down because of some kind of flaw the can was dead?

the label was torn, the color was off the store, couldn't sell it for the full price because they had an impression they were considered. Less valuable inferior damaged goods what's interesting is if you bought one of those cans you opened it up, can of corn canopies canopy teaches you and there's nothing wrong with the inside. The can may have been dented, but it didn't affect the content. The label may have been torn on the outside, it wasn't perfect, but The inside, where it matters there was no difference. The damaged goods peach is that were sold for half price tasted, just as good as the peach is that were sold for full price the corn, the peas may have been labeled inferior less than, but that's all. It was just a label the same principle in life. All of us in some way have been damaged. You can

live very long without making a mistake being hurt by someone going through a breakup damaged by divorce, damaged by an unhealthy childhood damaged by an addiction, too many people go around wearing the damaged goods label, feeling washed up less than focused on their mistakes, focused on what they've been through. You know. You've got to get out of that section. That's not where you belong. You may have been dented on the outside, but, like those cans, There's nothing wrong with the inside that set back did not affect your dna. That LOS that appointment. Didn't change, who you are that mistake, the failure, the weakness didn't, stop your you may have been bruised on the outside, but on the inside you still have the blood of a winner still have the dna of Almighty, God you

the clown with favor. You are full of potential talent creativity, wisdom. There is Nothing wrong with your contents. Listen people can't keep you from your destiny. Bad brakes, can't stop you weaknesses, can't stop. Are the only thing that can really stop. You is you, if you where the damaged goods label it can keep you from becoming. All God created you to be not I believe, in giving anyone the right to feel sorry for themselves. Life happens to us all. If you get knocked down, get back up and go again, do you have a Right, don't sit around in self pity, shake it off and move forward. If you make a mistake, don't go through. Beating yourself up, receive God's mercy and do better. Next time you may have failed, but you're, not a failure you may have lost, but you're, not a loser. You may have had

Unfair things happen, but you're, not a victim for now. Do yourself a favor. Take all the damaged goods label quit thinking about your mistakes, who hurt you? What didn't work out? God knows every person this done you wrong every disappointment, every struggle, every bad break and he's promised. If you will stay in faith, he will pay you back double for the unfair things that have happened. I've heard it said God, can bring great Nis out of a great miss. Some we focus on the mess, the dysfunction, the broken dreams, the weakness, but in all the mess God sees greatness. He knows how to take your troubles and turn them into trophies how to take the test and make it your testimony. This is what happened to a young boy named Ishmael. He was the child that Abraham had out of wedlock with

does Maid Hagar. Each wasn't the promise child he was. Worn out of Abraham and Sarah's impatience? They got tired of waiting year after year. They knew they had a promise, but it wasn't happening as fast as they were. So Sarah talked her husband, Abraham into sleep. With her maid Hagar and they This little baby boy named Ishmael Ishmael was born into a dysfunctional home. He was born into distrust, confusion. Chaos he would have been considered damaged goods on mistake, not the right one. The funny thing is it was Sarah's idea, but she not mad at Abraham. For having a baby, another woman. I turned on Hagar Gar once estimate made, and now she can't stand the woman. She told Abraham, you better get your mistress

song out of my life, really really fast. You talking about a messed up situation. They were in a love triangle and all living in the same house. You think there's drama in your home. You should have been in Abraham's home and he's called the father of our faith it gives me hope for my own family. It got so bad that SIRI, gave Abraham an ultimatum either your mistress and her son leaves or I'm out of here I ended up sending Hagar and his son dish mail out into the desert, now think about ishmail. He the innocent one in this whole ordeal he didn't get to choose who his parents would be. He didn't choose what family he would. Born into. He didn't do anything wrong. He just showed up in life, threw him out into the cold. Could I had a chip on his shoulder? Oh god! This is not.

Why was I born into this mess? Why is my mother, a mistress? Why could not be Isaac? The his child and stay here with my family, all these disadvantages. He could have seen. Himself is damaged goods and just faded off into the sunset, but here's the mercy God, God said in Genesis, twenty one. I will bring out Ishmel, a great nation. We know- God, Great things with Isaac. We don't always realize God did some in great with ishmail. God was saying this child. This been born into dysfunction, this child that's had bad breaks been put into advantage scene is damaged goods. I haven't written him off he's, not a mistake. I still have a plan I'm going to bring great Nis out of this great mass,

you may be in a situation now that feels dysfunctional seems like a Yes, in your family, your health, your finance, your career, you don't see how any good could ever come out of, but it is, Email were standing here today he would say: hey. Let me tell you first hand. God still has a plan it doesn't matter how you were raised, how many bad breaks you've had how insignificant you may feel, no dysfunction no injustice, no disappointment can keep you from your destiny. God can bring great Nis out of a great mess. Most of the time we see ishmail as a mistake, an accident and Abraham didn't wait for the promise child. But the truth is no baby is a mistake. All cannot be born without God. Breathing life into their lungs we hear parents say we weren't expecting this baby. They were a surprise.

And yes, they may have been a surprise to you, but they were not a surprise to giver of life in God's eyes, there's no such thing as an unwanted pregnancy. You didn't just happen to show up on planet earth. God had a plan. You long before you arrived God told Jeremiah before you formed in your mother's womb I knew you and called you to be a profit to the nations. God already had an assignment for him before he got here, I would say in Jeremiah you did start when your mother gave birth to you before you were formed. You were with me. In other words, our past didn't start with our family. It started with our God. Didn't come from my mother and I love and honor my mother, but I didn't come from her. I came through her. I came from

body God. That means your destiny, your assignment your purpose, cannot be messed up by who you came through. You came from the most high God he the ultimate say in nineteen. Forty three, a teenager here in Houston, became pregnant from a forced, violent act the young lady was distraught and confused. She planned on a boarding the child, but some friends talked her into having the baby and putting it up for a The little boy was born at the charity. Ward, at Saint Joseph's hospital. He grew up in extreme poverty. Father was an after pollock more than once he threatened to kill his mother. Like Kish Mail,

this little boy could have been seen as damaged goods, a mistake, no future to speak, but God doesn't give life to someone without giving them a divine destiny. With the help of some loving foster parents. This little boy grew up to become one of the greatest ministers of our time today the over seventy years later, our friend James Robison has made a difference in people's lives. Around the world. What I saying, what looked like a mistake was not a mistake at all. If you're breathing today if you alive, and I believe you are are not an accident. No matter functional or dysfunctional situation is, God has a destiny for you to fulfill. You may have had a negative past, but you don't have have a negative future. This is a new day.

And if you will take all the damaged goods label, get rid of the victim mentality and have a Victoria mentality, God will take. What's meant for harm in here, use it for your good. I love the fact that we Ishmail, God brought something significant out of a child that was considered insignificant. That tells me you don't have to come from the most influential family. You don't have to have a perfect upbringing. The truth is, there is dysfunction in every family. I would love to tell you that our family is perfect, but then my brother Paul came along, I heard somebody say our family put, the funk in dysfunction. But here's the key seriously. Don't let

your heredity. Stop your destiny, don't let how you were raised, what your parents did or didn't give you how somebody treated you set the limits for your life. They may have put you at a disadvantage, but you don't have to stay at a disadvantage. Now I know people sixty years old, still talking about what momma didn't give them daddy wasn't there not making light of that? cuz. Those can be real hard, but talking about it's not going to make it any better. Having a poor old me damaged, goods mentality is not going to help you gotta, take the hand you've been dealt and make the most of it your situation. Most likely is no worse than each mail. He had all kinds of disadvantages kicked out of his home, seen as a mistake, yet God brought in great nation out of him. And if you will remove the damaged goods label, shake off the self pity move forward in faith, God

make something significant out of your life? you will leave your mark on this generation. Read about a young lady, she was born to a dysfunctional home. She was neglected, abused, never had any kind of already, not so bad as a little girl. She asked the authorities at cool, to be removed from her home. The judge placed her in foster care Several months later she was adopted by a single parent mother. Living in a small community dedicated to helping foster care children, she began to thrive in school became an honor student, someone that the other young, ladies looked up to one day she was invited, along with the other people that ran the foster care community. To be again, on a national television talk, show the asked the young ladies, what their hopes and dreams were

she said my dream is to one day go to Harvard University, get a good education, so I can help other people like those that have help Few days later she received a phone call from out of state the lady, I I saw you on the talk. Show I have a question for you. Would you can Better, a scholarship to Yale university. Instead of Harvard she, and I think I would she went on to graduate from Yale and today is doing great things. Let your heredity stop your destiny, God can bring greatness out of a great man, I wonder how many of us would rise to a new level. If we quit blaming the past how we were raised? What some He said. If we take off the damaged this label, we would see God's favor in a new way I found

There's, always something to try to make us feel badly about ourselves. Isba cause the enemy is called. The accuser of the He'll remind you of every mistake. You may every unfair situation every negative comment about you? He would love for you to go through life feeling damaged guilty less than you gotta put your foot down and say: no, I'm not falling into that trap. I'm not big because of what happened, I'm not dwelling on their negative comments. I'm not beat myself up over past mistakes. I'm going keep that label off and move forward with my life when I was growing up I played baseball all through little league and junior high. I was a second baseman and I was pretty good always made the all star team like most little leagues, my dream was to one day play professional baseball, but when I

but in high school it was a whole new level of talent. I was very small. I grew six inches after high school. I tried out for the baseball team. Along with a hundred and fifty other young man for less than twenty spots. I gave it my best, the coach called us all into the GM to announce who made the team. My name was a call. I was so disappointed. The coach told me that afterwards, your I'd love to have you on the team you're just too little and he didn't mean anything bad cuz. I was small, but I took it the wrong way week after week, month after That phrase would play in my mind. You heard the coach joy, you too small, you don't measure up. Good enough there's something wrong with you negative voices will always play the loudest. If you don't control of your thought. Life every hurt every every derogatory comment will play again and again now I was tempted to let the damage goods label.

Stick feel inferior insecure to keep reminding myself. People may have said but I'm too small, but God says I'm fear only in wonderfully made people may have said: I'm not good enough, but dogs, I'm a masterpiece, people may have projected Maine, but I know God accepts me first Peter two. There's you have been chosen by God himself translation says he has hand picked you. That means you, weren't randomly selected God on purpose said I choose him, I choose her, that's who I want to be on my team and people may tell you you don't measure up you're, not tall enough smart enough, talented enough, creative enough, let it in one ear and out the other. You are not who People say you are, you are who God says you are? God says you're, just the right size.

You're, one of a kind equipped, empowered, valuable. Our attitude I may not have been chosen by the coach. The teacher with a friend the supervisor, the boss, but that's ok. I know the one who matters most the who controls the universe, the one who spoke worlds into existence has hand picked I've been chosen by the most high God, friends, God has the final say: you'll stay in faith Hill, get you to where he wants you to be my dream of playing professional. It may not have worked out, but do you know thirty years later, I stood at second base at Yankee State. One playing baseball? We were having an Idaho, but I still like that too. It would have never happened if I would have worn the damaged goods label long, we feel less than inferior washed up. It will keep you from the amazing things God has in store in some

and we feel damaged because how we were raised or what somebody said, but Becaus of our own mistakes, our own weaknesses, our shortcomings. We think our jaw again expect anything good God would never use main. You don't know what I've done. But if that were the case, if God could only use you, if you didn't have any negative baggage, then none of us would had a chance think about Peter one of the disciples. He was hot tempered. He use bad language he denied. He knew Christ three times when this is needed him the most. He turned his back and said: no, I don't even know the man Surely Jesus would say fine Peter! You turn back on me and I'm done with you. You had your you're damaged goods. No God never writes anybody off. Jesus when he arose from the grave. An angel appeared to Mary at the tomb

and said Mary Jesus is risen. Now go tell his disciples and Mary make sure that you tell The only one God specifically called out at that historic time was Peter. Why our new, the accuser would work overtime, trying to stick that damaged goods label on Peter if he had a worn, it hit a never fulfilled his destiny, so God specifically called his name like Peter. You may have made mistakes blown it well you're, not expecting anything good. Imagine right now! God is specific, really calling your name saying, tell Jane Tell Susan tell Maria I've already, given you, my mercy is bigger mistake: I've got a destiny for you to fulfill now. You gotta shake off the guild. Quit We condemn take off the damaged goods. People, you wouldn't be alive and less God had something amazing in your future. If

are truly damaged goods unusable God would have taken you on home. God has a purpose, for your assignment is too important your destiny Two great! You I'm too valuable to live another moment, thinking that you're damaged goods shake it off and move forward into the bright future. God hasn't This is what my father had to do, that he was married very early age. It wasn't a good choice, the marriage didn't last, he was devastated He thought his ministry was over, didn't think it ever have a family and unfortunately, some of the people in his life weren't very merciful. They told him you're, not welcome in our church. You had your chance, but you blew it. They stuck the damaged goods label on my father, washed up, unusable, daddy, didn't know any better. He ended up resigning from the church and started

and insurance, and sometimes your own thoughts will accused you other times enemy will use people to accused you they'll All the reasons you could never become what you were created to be don't believe. Those God knew every mistake. You'd ever make and he's already arranged a comeback, and when tempted and we all are to look down on people finding fault the critic. You need to realize where that's coming from that's the accusers influence Jesus always lifted the falling restored, the broke showed mercy to those that have failed. For several years, my father lived depressed, defeated, no passion. One day. He realized what I'm telling you you. Don't have to wear the damaged goods label. You may have made poor choices gone. Two failures, but our God is the God of another chance. His

she is from everlasting to everlasting his call will never leave your life now quit listening to the accusing voices quit letting people make you feel washed up. They don't determine your destiny, God does my father got back in the ministry. He went on the pastor churches for over fifty years. Was married to my mother for forty four years. He saw God restore him and do amazing things. God can do the same thing for each one of us. This script talks about how Jeremiah went down to the potter's house. He was watching potter working at the wheel, spinning around this clay pot, this vessel again and again. At one point it says the vessel became marred in the potter's hands. That means it was broken, had flaws defects, but the potter didn't throw it into the damaged goods pile

too bad I've got to get something better to work with. This is not usable. No, it says the pod or begin to remake the vessel. Once again, when it was I said and done it came out stronger, more beautiful than it was before. The potter, of course, represents God. We are the clay. All of us have flaws and weaknesses. We go through failures, disappointments, unfair situations. At times like we end up, hurt disappointed, but that is not the end of your story. If you will stay in faith and not get better don't get down on yourself. God will take your broken pieces. You hurts the This is the unfair situations He will use them to not just put you back together, but he'll make you into something better, stronger, more beautiful than if it did not happen.

I've heard it said like this: any chef can cook so looking good when, have good ingredients, a good, oven, good recipe. These good tools. That's easy, but takes a master chef to take in instead? Are not perfect in Greek, in bitter sour and still make nothing good out of it. That's the way. God is, not just a chef, he's a master chef. He can take any ingredient that you give him anything you've been through. Your hurts. The disappointments, the unfair situation and mix them together and still make something out of your life more than you ever dreamed up. Why don't you take off the damaged goods label? you're, not working with an ordinary share if working with the master, the creator of the universe at times the times in life you may get dented, but you got to remember just like those cans. There's nothing wrong on the inside. You are still

a child of the most high God filled with possibility. Now do your part shake off the guilt listening to the accusing voices and move forward with your life, If you do this, I believe and declare God will bring greatness out of a great mess like which male he will make something significant out of your life, like with my father, God will not only restore you but he'll bring you out better off than you were before, or in Jesus name. If you receive it, can you say in in today we never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me just say Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins come into my I'll make you my Lord and Savior friends. If you

that simple prayer. We believe you got born again. Getting a good Bible based church, keep God first place. He'll. Take you places that you've never dreamed. Thank you for listening to the Jones team. Podcast help us continue to share the message of hope with those all over the world Joelosteen dot com, slash, give hope to give a gift. Today, thanks much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe, so you can receive the latest podcast to keep the inspired all through the week. The employer, and I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time.