WEBVTT

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 Good morning again, and I'd love you to turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 126.

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 Psalm 126, if you're using one of the Red Church Bibles, it's on 623.

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 So Psalm 126 on page 623.

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 So Psalm 126, page 623 of the Red Church Bible.

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 It reads,

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 I've been reading a book recently.

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 The main character in the book is a man by the name of John.

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 John is in his 70s and is reflecting on his life and much of what has happened during the course of his life.

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 Now, John in his life has had more than his fair share of grief.

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 He had lost a wife and a child at a relatively young age.

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 And on one occasion, as he's looking back on his life, he remembers an occasion when his friend who loved John had a newborn baby son.

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 And so the friend thought, wouldn't it be a lovely way to honor John and even to console John a little bit, to name the son after him?

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 Now, the friend doesn't tell John in advance that this is what he's going to do.

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 And so on the first occasion, when John meets this new little baby and is holding him in his arms,

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 the friend tells him, I'm going to name him John after you.

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 Now, it's church on a Sunday morning that he does this.

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 And so it's a very public occasion.

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 And John is pretty taken aback by the friend doing this.

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 And he doesn't really know how to react or respond.

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 He doesn't have a chance to gather himself at this news.

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 And so what should have been a wonderful moment where he feels honored and happy and joyful becomes a moment of real regret.

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 Because he's like, how do I respond to this?

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 How do I react with all these people looking at me?

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 And he wonders in years after that how his response shaped the relationship with the son who came to be known as Jack.

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 What should have been a moment of joy and happiness becomes one of sadness and regret.

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 And as he reflects on it, he thinks to himself, this wasn't the way it should have been.

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 This wasn't the way it should have been.

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 And if you are like me living in this world where we can hardly get through a week where we think sooner or later,

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 this isn't the way it was meant to be,

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 then we can resonate with what the author of this psalm writes in verse 4 where he says,

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 restore our fortunes, Lord.

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 And essentially what the psalmist is asking God to do is to make things right.

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 Make life the way it was supposed to be.

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 When we feel that in our health, in our work, in our friendships, in our relationships,

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 when we think this isn't the way it was meant to be,

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 what we long for is that it would be the way it was meant to be,

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 that it would be the way God has made it to be or intended it to be.

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 And so as we reflect on this psalm, there are two thoughts that move the author to pray this prayer,

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 to pray, restore our fortunes, Lord.

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 And the first thought that the psalmist has that moves him to pray this is this.

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 The Lord has done great things for you.

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 The Lord has done great things for you.

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 You see, verse 4, restore our fortunes, Lord, is based on the knowledge of verse 1,

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 when the Lord restored the fortunes, thinking back to the past,

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 when God had restored their fortunes before.

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 And when the author is asking for the psalmist to restore their fortunes,

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 he's not asking God to make them financially wealthy.

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 It's not financial fortunes he wants.

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 What he wants is that, in verse 2, that the Lord would do great things.

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 We see that phrase at the end of verse 2, the Lord has done great things for them.

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 Verse 3, the Lord has done great things for us.

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 That is God restoring our fortunes when God does great things for us.

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 And the psalmist recognizes that God has done great things for them in the past.

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 That in a very substantial way that God has brought about healing or restoration.

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 That life, to a large degree, for a time, has been the way it was meant to be,

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 living for him in his world, flourishing under his kind rule and reign.

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 And when God does great things in our lives, sometimes they are in very normal ways.

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 So you see that in verse 5 and 6, this idea of sowing and reaping or planting and harvesting,

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 this normal rhythm that we're so accustomed to.

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 But you realize that these normal things are actually great things when you lack them.

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 And so the farmer who has been through a time of famine will recognize how great it is when the crops grow again,

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 when the rains come again, when he enjoys these rhythms that sustain life.

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 There's lots of secondary reasons why a harvest happens,

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 but the author of this psalm recognizes that the primary reason that the harvest happens

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 is because God has done something great.

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 That's the primary reason that God has restored our fortunes.

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 And so sometimes these great things that God does happen in normal ways.

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 Sometimes they happen in more unusual ways.

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 So some people would see that in this psalm,

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 that the people have been brought back from exile into the land of Israel,

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 into their spiritual homeland, back from captivity,

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 which is reflected in this word Zion in verse 1.

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 They've been brought back to Zion, back to Jerusalem, back to Israel.

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 And this is a remarkable great thing that God has done in their life,

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 that he has restored their fortunes in a remarkable way.

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 And so the psalmist recognizes that God in the past has done great things.

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 These great things bring great joy.

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 In verse 1, we were like those who dreamed.

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 This is too good to be true.

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 You have to pinch yourself because it feels like a dream.

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 What you'd love to happen has happened.

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 What you never thought possible in this life has come to pass.

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 It is a joy that is too great for words.

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 In verse 2, our mouths were filled with laughter,

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 our tongues with songs of joy.

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 We laugh at jokes,

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 but it's more rare that we laugh with joy,

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 where something has happened in our life that is so great,

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 that God has done something so wonderful,

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 that all we can do is laugh and shout with joy.

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 You've seen it in the Olympics over the last little while.

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 Mondo Duplantis,

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 if you saw Mondo Duplantis breaking the world record for the pole vault,

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 and the commentator is talking, talking, talking,

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 filling the airtime about how wonderful it is and how great it is,

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 what's Mondo Duplantis doing?

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 He's just laughing, and his friends and his family are just shouting with joy

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 at what has happened.

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 And of course, as God's people,

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 we recognize that God has done great things

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 that bring great joy in our lives.

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 There's a story in the Bible of a husband and wife.

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 The man is called Abraham,

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 and the wife is called Sarah.

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 They're both well into their 90s,

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 and God promises them that they will have a son.

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 And Sarah's response to that is to laugh.

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 And the reason she laughs is because she thinks it's a joke.

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 Are you joking me, God?

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 Don't you realize our age, God?

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 Well, God goes ahead and keeps his promise to them

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 and does this great thing in their lives.

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 Sarah has a baby, and after she has the baby,

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 she laughs again, but this time it's not because it's a joke.

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 This time it's with joy.

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 Listen to what she says in chapter 21 of Genesis.

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 God has made laughter for me.

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 Everyone who hears will laugh over me.

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 And she said,

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 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?

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 Yet I have born him a son in his old age.

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 And so she laughed with joy because God had done great things.

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 Because God has done great things that gives this joy

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 that is too great for words.

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 And it is a joy that is undeniable.

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 In verse 2, in the second half of the verse,

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 then it was said among the nations,

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 The Lord has done great things for them.

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 The nations around Israel would have had their own so-called gods,

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 and they would have at least have acknowledged

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 that Israel had their own God as they sought, Yahweh.

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 They would have said something like,

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 well, you have your God, and we have our God,

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 and that's fine, and we'll respect each other,

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 but they're separate,

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 and so that's the way it is meant to be.

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 And yet even in that confused worldview,

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 they cannot help but recognize

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 the joy that God's people have

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 at the great things that he has done.

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 The nations say of them,

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 God has done great things

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 because they see the joy that they have.

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 And you know, on more than one occasion,

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 when somebody has come along to a church gathering,

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 and I've chatted to them afterwards,

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 and they will say to me,

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 well, I don't have the same faith as you,

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 I don't have the same belief as you,

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 they're essentially saying,

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 I don't have the same God as you,

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 they will often say,

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 that singing was amazing.

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 There was such joy there

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 because they recognize,

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 even though they disagree,

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 that God has done great things,

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 that there's such joy among these people.

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 One commentator writes about this psalm,

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 this is John Calvin,

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 he says,

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 the writer's intention was to encourage

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 extravagant rejoicing,

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 lest forgetfulness should bury

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 the remembrance of God's grace.

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 Indulgence in such celebration

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 was entirely appropriate.

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 Today, similar joy should characterize

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 the assembly of the Lord's people

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 whom he has gathered.

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 God has done great things for us.

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 For you.

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 And that is what moves us

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 to ask him to do it again.

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 Restore our fortunes, Lord.

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 Well, I mentioned that we had baptized

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 a couple of people in the River Lee in July.

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 Yatzec and Christian,

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 both guys, I think in their 40s or 50s,

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 who had come to faith in recent times.

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 Yatzec shared with me his story

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 beforehand,

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 and I asked him,

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 was it okay for me to share this?

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 And he says it was.

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 Yatzec lost his father and his mother

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 at a young age.

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 And this, as you can imagine,

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 had a profound impact on his life.

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 Yatzec said this,

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 I felt completely abandoned

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 by everyone,

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 including God.

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 I felt useless

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 and unwanted.

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 No one cared about me

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 or what I did.

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 In my heart,

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 there was only emptiness,

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 as if I had died

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 while still alive.

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 There wasn't a week that went by

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 without me drinking

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 to the point of unconsciousness.

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 I was 16 or 17 years old then.

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 I never sought a return to God.

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 About two years ago,

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 and now we're talking about 2022,

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 after another downfall,

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 I lost the will to live.

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 I had a plan

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 to swim far out to sea,

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 to go under,

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 and never to return.

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 I don't remember

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 if it was exactly the next day

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 or shortly after

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 I had planned everything.

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 I met a man

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 whom I'd known

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 for a few months.

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 He had never mentioned God

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 or anything

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 about such topics,

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 and suddenly

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 he handed me a card

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 advertising a course

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 in Cork Baptist Church.

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 I looked at it

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 and thought,

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 is this a joke?

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 Are you kidding me?

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 God,

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 why are you doing this?

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 Why now?

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 Where were you all my life?

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 I didn't want to read it.

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 I didn't want to acknowledge

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 that card's existence.

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 When I started reading it,

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 what I remember

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 is not the exact words,

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 but to me,

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 it sounded like God saying,

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.340
 I know you,

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 and I know what you're planning.

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 I have something different for you.

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 Just come back to me.

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 Since then,

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:53.460
 almost a year and a half

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 have passed.

00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:55.579
 In the church,

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 I met many wonderful people,

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 my new family.

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 For the first time,

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 I read the Bible

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 and realized how little

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 I knew about Jesus.

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 The problem is,

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 we can't control life.

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 It will always be difficult

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 on earth.

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 I never was

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 and never will be perfect.

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.960
 Through this journey,

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 I understood that

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 even when I want to escape

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 from life's challenges,

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 God is reliable

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 and gives me hope

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 to endure

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 until I am with him

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 in heaven

00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:23.100
 in perfect peace

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 and security.

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 There's less and less

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 pessimism in me

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 and more and more hope

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 and only Jesus Christ

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:32.060
 can give freedom.

00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:33.780
 The same yesterday,

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 today,

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 and forever.

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 And as we baptized Jacek,

00:16:39.660 --> 00:16:40.520
 I couldn't help

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 but thinking

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 he had planned

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 to swim out to sea,

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:46.320
 to go under the waters

00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.720
 and never to come up.

00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.480
 We brought him

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.560
 under the waters,

00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:53.020
 symbolizing his death

00:16:53.020 --> 00:16:54.220
 with Jesus,

00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.639
 but we brought him

00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.960
 back out of the water,

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:59.920
 symbolizing his resurrection life

00:16:59.920 --> 00:17:01.040
 with Jesus.

00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:02.740
 I couldn't help but thinking

00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:04.079
 God has done

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.660
 great things

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.960
 for Jacek

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.200
 and he has done

00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:09.380
 great things

00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:10.319
 for you.

00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:12.380
 And as you reflect

00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:13.539
 on the last week,

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.880
 it is worth thinking

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.460
 what are some of the great things

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.860
 that God has done?

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.640
 And they may be

00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:22.299
 just normal things

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.640
 that we take for granted

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.480
 the day-in,

00:17:24.540 --> 00:17:26.040
 day-out rhythms of life

00:17:26.040 --> 00:17:28.259
 where he sustains us,

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.140
 sowing and reaping,

00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:32.540
 planting and harvesting,

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.240
 sleep and rest,

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.440
 work,

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:36.600
 family,

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.380
 friendships,

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.220
 relationships,

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.140
 creativity.

00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:42.500
 And you recognize

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.440
 that there are many

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.980
 secondary reasons

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.000
 for us enjoying

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.620
 these things,

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.920
 but the primary reason

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.780
 is that God

00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:50.940
 has given us

00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.520
 these things.

00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.140
 He has done

00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:52.960
 great things.

00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.620
 And sometimes

00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.480
 we will have

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.240
 more unusual moments

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.720
 where God

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.740
 has done great things

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.340
 that are truly remarkable.

00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:03.259
 Maybe not delivery

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.220
 from captivity

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.920
 in Babylon,

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.800
 but something

00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:08.720
 like for Jacek

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.259
 that is

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.040
 truly

00:18:10.040 --> 00:18:11.140
 remarkable.

00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:13.460
 And we need

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.140
 to hear this,

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.680
 don't we,

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.700
 this morning,

00:18:15.800 --> 00:18:16.740
 that God has done

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:18.000
 great things for us.

00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.440
 Because sometimes

00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.360
 we forget.

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.639
 sometimes

00:18:21.639 --> 00:18:23.099
 in life

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:24.339
 it just gets busy.

00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.039
 But it is good

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:26.599
 to remember

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.019
 that God

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.399
 has done

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.319
 great things

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.879
 and it moves

00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:30.799
 us to plead

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.419
 with him

00:18:31.419 --> 00:18:32.519
 to restore

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.339
 our fortunes

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:33.740
 again.

00:18:33.959 --> 00:18:34.539
 That's the first

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.019
 thought.

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.500
 God has done

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.019
 great things

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.539
 and here's the

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.159
 second one.

00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:39.899
 God will do

00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.679
 great things

00:18:40.679 --> 00:18:41.939
 for you.

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:43.919
 He's done

00:18:43.919 --> 00:18:44.519
 it before.

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.500
 he will

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.539
 do it

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.559
 again.

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:50.940
 Verse 4,

00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:52.180
 restore our

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.200
 fortunes,

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:53.960
 Lord,

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:55.139
 like streams

00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:56.160
 in the Negev.

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.519
 Now the Negev

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.680
 is a barren,

00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.799
 dry,

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:00.879
 desert,

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.079
 arid,

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.220
 parched

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.119
 land

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:05.960
 where nothing

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.019
 seems to be

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:07.500
 happening

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.460
 and there seems

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.259
 to be no

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.240
 life.

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.359
 But then

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:13.160
 the rains

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.040
 come and

00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:15.640
 the river

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:16.220
 beds are

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.100
 suddenly filled

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:18.000
 with torrents

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.660
 of water

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:20.480
 and the

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.040
 flowers

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:22.440
 flourish

00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.200
 as if from

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.680
 nowhere

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.180
 and the

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.920
 plants grow

00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.360
 and the

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.259
 animals return

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.860
 and suddenly

00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:27.360
 what was

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:27.940
 barren

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.940
 and lifeless

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:30.120
 and seemingly

00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:30.740
 dead

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.580
 is again

00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:32.720
 thriving

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:34.000
 and it

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.860
 is virtually

00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.720
 overnight

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.860
 that God

00:19:36.860 --> 00:19:37.759
 has done

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.500
 this and

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.540
 the author

00:19:39.540 --> 00:19:39.940
 of the

00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:40.340
 psalm

00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:41.040
 wants God

00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:41.740
 to restore

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.620
 their fortunes

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.159
 in this

00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:43.479
 way

00:19:43.479 --> 00:19:44.139
 quickly.

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.599
 Do something

00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.279
 quickly,

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:46.759
 Lord.

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.519
 And that

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:48.819
 is what

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:49.399
 we long

00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:49.939
 for.

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.439
 If we

00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:52.399
 are in

00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:53.539
 a time

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:53.919
 where it

00:19:53.919 --> 00:19:54.439
 just feels

00:19:54.439 --> 00:19:54.939
 like our

00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:55.639
 relationships

00:19:55.639 --> 00:19:56.359
 or our

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:57.059
 work

00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.000
 or our

00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.379
 family life

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:00.779
 is just

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.679
 tough going

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.139
 like the

00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:02.619
 Negev,

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.379
 we want

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:03.639
 him to

00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.219
 do something

00:20:04.219 --> 00:20:04.779
 quickly.

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.039
 And sometimes

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.679
 he does

00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:08.819
 do this

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.619
 quickly.

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.059
 Sometimes

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.879
 he will

00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.599
 restore

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:11.899
 our

00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:12.459
 fortunes

00:20:12.459 --> 00:20:12.839
 quickly.

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.239
 I was

00:20:13.239 --> 00:20:13.559
 chatting

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.059
 with another

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.539
 man in

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:14.699
 our

00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:15.339
 congregation.

00:20:16.699 --> 00:20:17.459
 David is

00:20:17.459 --> 00:20:17.939
 his name.

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.639
 He was

00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:19.199
 happy as

00:20:19.199 --> 00:20:19.539
 well for

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:19.799
 me to

00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.419
 share this.

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.219
 David told

00:20:21.219 --> 00:20:21.779
 me that

00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:22.639
 he had

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:22.979
 been living

00:20:22.979 --> 00:20:23.500
 in Dublin

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:23.939
 for a

00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:24.299
 time.

00:20:24.939 --> 00:20:25.479
 He was

00:20:25.479 --> 00:20:25.759
 in a

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.339
 new city,

00:20:26.459 --> 00:20:27.159
 new job,

00:20:27.699 --> 00:20:28.559
 and on

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.279
 one particular

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.279
 occasion there

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:30.679
 was just

00:20:30.679 --> 00:20:31.479
 stress on

00:20:31.479 --> 00:20:33.019
 every area

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.439
 of his

00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:33.859
 life.

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.379
 so he

00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:34.899
 hadn't

00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:35.459
 yet

00:20:35.459 --> 00:20:36.019
 connected

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.259
 with

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.639
 people,

00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.119
 so very

00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:37.500
 little

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.539
 friendship.

00:20:39.159 --> 00:20:39.539
 I hadn't

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.179
 yet connected

00:20:40.179 --> 00:20:40.619
 with the

00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.079
 church.

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:41.979
 He was

00:20:41.979 --> 00:20:42.919
 in this

00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:43.719
 new city.

00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:45.019
 He was

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.579
 two days

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.099
 from being

00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:46.599
 homeless

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.219
 because of

00:20:47.219 --> 00:20:48.219
 his landlord

00:20:48.219 --> 00:20:48.919
 wanting him

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.419
 out of the

00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:49.799
 house.

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.439
 His team

00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:51.879
 at work

00:20:51.879 --> 00:20:52.259
 was in

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.139
 open rebellion

00:20:53.139 --> 00:20:53.839
 against his

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.399
 boss,

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.179
 and so in

00:20:55.179 --> 00:20:55.799
 every area

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.399
 of life he

00:20:56.399 --> 00:20:56.919
 was just

00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:57.659
 under this

00:20:57.659 --> 00:20:58.199
 stress,

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.039
 so stressed

00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.419
 that he

00:20:59.419 --> 00:21:00.419
 got physically

00:21:00.419 --> 00:21:01.279
 ill on the

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.599
 way to

00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.139
 work one

00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:02.579
 morning.

00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:05.399
 And David

00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:06.319
 said to

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.279
 me that

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.179
 he loves

00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:08.959
 sharing this

00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:09.939
 story because

00:21:09.939 --> 00:21:10.719
 by one

00:21:10.719 --> 00:21:12.099
 o'clock that

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:13.399
 day everything

00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:14.619
 had been

00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.579
 changed by

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.039
 God.

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.219
 Work,

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.319
 relationships,

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:20.819
 accommodation,

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.519
 everything had

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.119
 been changed.

00:21:23.199 --> 00:21:23.559
 It was like

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.240
 streams in

00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.919
 the Negev,

00:21:25.199 --> 00:21:26.159
 and he

00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:26.859
 acknowledges

00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.259
 that that

00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.899
 was God.

00:21:28.399 --> 00:21:28.679
 There was

00:21:28.679 --> 00:21:29.039
 lots of

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.399
 secondary

00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:29.899
 reasons,

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.299
 but the

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.079
 primary reason

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.519
 was that

00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.359
 God did

00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.779
 great things.

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:36.399
 And you

00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:36.539
 know,

00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:37.339
 sometimes God

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:37.659
 will do

00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:38.179
 great things

00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:38.399
 in our

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:39.279
 lives very

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.740
 quickly,

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:42.959
 but sometimes

00:21:42.959 --> 00:21:43.339
 it's a

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:43.579
 longer

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.240
 process.

00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:46.500
 In

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.259
 verse 5,

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:47.979
 those who

00:21:47.979 --> 00:21:49.179
 sow with

00:21:49.179 --> 00:21:50.419
 tears will

00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:51.599
 reap with

00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.240
 songs of

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.699
 joy.

00:21:55.199 --> 00:21:56.319
 The image

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.079
 here is of

00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.579
 sowing and

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.319
 reaping,

00:22:00.439 --> 00:22:01.459
 planting and

00:22:01.459 --> 00:22:02.079
 harvesting.

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.699
 this isn't

00:22:02.699 --> 00:22:03.319
 a flash

00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.559
 flood that

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:04.859
 brings

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.480
 restored

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.199
 life.

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.099
 Planting and

00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:09.259
 harvesting takes

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:11.399
 time and

00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:13.099
 effort and

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:15.099
 patience, and

00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.159
 it is hard

00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:17.379
 work, it is

00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:18.619
 intense, and it

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:19.699
 can be sad at

00:22:19.699 --> 00:22:20.299
 times.

00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:22.699
 Particularly so

00:22:22.699 --> 00:22:23.480
 if you are a

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.659
 farmer who has

00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:25.759
 been through a

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.039
 year or two or

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.240
 more of famine,

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.240
 seed, and

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:32.779
 you are going

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:36.019
 to plant, and

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.299
 you are

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.539
 literally throwing

00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:40.279
 it away, and

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:40.740
 you are thinking

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.779
 to yourself, this is

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.980
 all or nothing, I

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.019
 have nothing left.

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.640
 If the rains don't

00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.279
 come, if the

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.059
 harvest doesn't

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.759
 come, this is it.

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:51.180
 And so you

00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.039
 can understand

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.339
 in verse 5 why

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.539
 some will sow

00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:56.960
 with tears, and

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.879
 then you have to

00:22:57.879 --> 00:23:01.519
 wait, and

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.599
 wait, and

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:05.119
 wait, not

00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:07.059
 just days or

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.259
 weeks, but

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.920
 months.

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.460
 And

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.160
 eventually,

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.940
 something starts

00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.559
 to happen.

00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:16.180
 Eventually, there

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.420
 are little green

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.039
 shoots,

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:19.200
 breaking up

00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.680
 through the

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.240
 soil, leaves,

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.440
 crop, harvest,

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.940
 and it has

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.680
 felt like an

00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:28.200
 eternity, but

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.980
 the remarkable

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.039
 thing is that if

00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.759
 you've taken a

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.839
 snapshot of the

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.240
 field before

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:35.720
 and after, the

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.059
 transformation is

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:38.460
 just as dramatic

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.619
 as streams in

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.399
 the Negev.

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:41.899
 Now, it has

00:23:41.899 --> 00:23:44.240
 taken time, but

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.259
 it is just as

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.879
 dramatic to see

00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.859
 this field now

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.799
 flourishing.

00:23:49.459 --> 00:23:50.419
 It has taken

00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:51.500
 time and

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.359
 tears, and it

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:53.199
 has been tough,

00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:54.439
 but the promise

00:23:54.439 --> 00:23:55.419
 is that God

00:23:55.419 --> 00:23:57.039
 will do great

00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.139
 things, even

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.859
 when it is

00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:00.479
 slower than

00:24:00.479 --> 00:24:00.839
 we would

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:03.099
 want, slower

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.199
 than we would

00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:04.879
 like, and when

00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:06.039
 we're waiting, it

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.879
 can feel like an

00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.839
 eternity as we

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.539
 cry out to

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:09.839
 him.

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:14.379
 what's striking

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.240
 though is that

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:17.599
 God does great

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.299
 things, not

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.279
 just in our

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.599
 circumstances, but

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.240
 he does great

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.559
 things in us.

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.259
 It's interesting

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.220
 that verse 6

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.819
 seems to repeat

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.799
 verse 5.

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.679
 So verse 6,

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.480
 those who go out

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:33.059
 weeping, carrying

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:35.000
 seed to sow, will

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.359
 return with songs

00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:38.399
 of joy, carrying

00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:39.879
 sheaves with

00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.240
 them.

00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:41.579
 Now, at first

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.500
 glance, that just

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.219
 seems to be a

00:24:43.219 --> 00:24:44.659
 repetition of

00:24:44.659 --> 00:24:45.979
 verse 5, maybe

00:24:45.979 --> 00:24:46.899
 to underline it,

00:24:46.959 --> 00:24:47.740
 maybe to amplify

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:50.179
 it, but you

00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.099
 notice that the

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:51.839
 focus has

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:53.579
 shifted in

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.319
 verse 6.

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:58.819
 So in verse

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.839
 5, the focus

00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:01.139
 is on the

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:02.519
 sowing and

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:04.359
 the reaping, and

00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:05.159
 it's kind of a

00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:06.379
 secondary thought,

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.700
 the way in which

00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.399
 the sowing and

00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:09.059
 the reaping is

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:09.599
 happening.

00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:12.200
 But in verse

00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:14.319
 6, the focus

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.779
 is on those

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.439
 who go out

00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:17.039
 weeping,

00:25:18.179 --> 00:25:18.960
 returning with

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.019
 songs of joy,

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.460
 and the

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:24.039
 sowing and

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.920
 the reaping

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.940
 are kind of

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.519
 the secondary

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.119
 thought.

00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.839
 And so what

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.879
 you realize is

00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:31.559
 that there has

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.420
 been more than

00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.259
 one transformation

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:35.259
 here, that

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.359
 God has been

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:36.980
 doing something

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.740
 great, not

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.440
 just in the

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.740
 land, bringing

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.599
 a harvest, but

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.940
 in the one

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.079
 going out,

00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:46.039
 sowing with

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.720
 tears.

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:48.980
 And what you

00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.839
 realize is that

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.559
 yes, God

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.399
 cares about

00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:53.000
 crops and

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.720
 about land

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.259
 and about

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.079
 his creation,

00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:57.079
 but actually

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.819
 he cares

00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.700
 even more

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.500
 about the

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.779
 one weeping.

00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:04.140
 And so

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.940
 he promises

00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:06.440
 us that

00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.299
 he will do

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.259
 great things

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.839
 in you,

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.440
 in his

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.039
 people,

00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.600
 where those

00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.579
 tears being

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.700
 sown now

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.620
 will be

00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.240
 transformed

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.339
 into joy.

00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:18.439
 many.

00:26:19.439 --> 00:26:20.359
 And sometimes

00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:20.740
 it'll be

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.859
 quickly, and

00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:23.599
 sometimes it'll

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.220
 feel like an

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.959
 eternity, but

00:26:25.959 --> 00:26:26.619
 we can be

00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.759
 sure that

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.259
 he will do

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.659
 great things

00:26:30.659 --> 00:26:31.500
 again.

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.819
 And that

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:34.279
 moves us to

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.059
 plead with

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.599
 him to do

00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.079
 this.

00:26:38.199 --> 00:26:39.439
 In that story

00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.119
 that I mentioned

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:40.720
 back at the

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.419
 start of the

00:26:41.419 --> 00:26:42.279
 man whose

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.419
 friend named

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.900
 the boy

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.860
 after him,

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:45.880
 and he

00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:46.259
 had this

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.880
 moment of

00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.600
 regret and

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.300
 sadness that

00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:48.740
 he hadn't

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.940
 responded better.

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.340
 Forty years

00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:53.660
 pass and the

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.880
 boy grows up.

00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.019
 He goes by

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:56.660
 the name of

00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.360
 Jack, and

00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.120
 the relationship

00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:59.420
 between the

00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.460
 friend John

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.340
 and the

00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.240
 son Jack

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.720
 are not

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.180
 easy.

00:27:04.300 --> 00:27:06.019
 So it's

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.680
 difficult at

00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.180
 times, it's

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.700
 awkward at

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.259
 times, there's

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.340
 misunderstanding at

00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:09.820
 times, there's

00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.519
 conflict at

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.000
 times.

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.480
 And John

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.240
 regrets his

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:14.099
 own words and

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.619
 thoughts and

00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.059
 actions.

00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.440
 But at the

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.940
 end of the

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:19.660
 book, John

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.359
 and Jack are

00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:21.119
 sitting at a

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:22.720
 bus stop, and

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.160
 John asks

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.000
 Jack, the

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.099
 friend's son,

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.839
 if he can

00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.660
 pray a

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.559
 blessing for

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:28.880
 him.

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.200
 And this is

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.940
 what he says.

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.339
 Jack took

00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.079
 his hat off

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:35.640
 and set it

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.259
 on his knee

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.859
 and closed

00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.359
 his eyes

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:37.859
 and lowered

00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.519
 his head,

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.319
 almost rested

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.859
 it against

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.699
 my hand.

00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.279
 And I did

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.019
 bless him to

00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.639
 the limit of

00:27:44.639 --> 00:27:45.559
 my powers,

00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:46.279
 whatever they

00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:47.740
 are, repeating

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.579
 the benediction

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.399
 from numbers,

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.079
 of course.

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.319
 The Lord

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.240
 make his face

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.740
 to shine

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.459
 upon thee

00:27:53.459 --> 00:27:54.639
 and be

00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.139
 gracious

00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:56.000
 unto thee.

00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:57.019
 The Lord

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.699
 lift up his

00:27:57.699 --> 00:27:58.419
 countenance

00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:59.159
 upon thee

00:27:59.159 --> 00:27:59.619
 and give

00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:00.459
 thee peace.

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.319
 Nothing

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.699
 could be

00:28:02.699 --> 00:28:03.279
 more beautiful

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.339
 than that

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:04.779
 or more

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.419
 expressive

00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:06.439
 of my

00:28:06.439 --> 00:28:07.019
 feelings,

00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:07.639
 certainly,

00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.199
 or more

00:28:08.199 --> 00:28:09.439
 sufficient for

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.059
 that matter.

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.180
 Then when

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.640
 he didn't

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.140
 open his

00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:12.600
 eyes or

00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:13.000
 lift up

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.460
 his head,

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.039
 I said,

00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.000
 Lord,

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.779
 bless John

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.340
 Ames

00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:17.920
 Boughton,

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.160
 that's Jack,

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.700
 this beloved

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.200
 son and

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:23.320
 brother and

00:28:23.320 --> 00:28:24.640
 husband and

00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.180
 father.

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.440
 Then he sat

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:26.960
 back and

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.539
 looked at me

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:27.960
 as if he

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.500
 were waking

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.220
 out of a

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.720
 dream.

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.960
 Thank you,

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.019
 he said.

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:34.500
 And what's

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.980
 remarkable

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.559
 about that

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.460
 moment is

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.240
 not just

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:37.740
 that it

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.119
 has been

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:39.680
 40 years

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.900
 to get

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.319
 to this

00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.839
 point,

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.960
 and you

00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.379
 can see

00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:43.980
 how God

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.279
 had been

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.680
 at work

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:44.940
 in the

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.599
 relationship,

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.700
 but it's

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.740
 also remarkable

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:50.480
 that John

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.180
 was able

00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.799
 to pray

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.480
 like this

00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.240
 for Jack,

00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:53.940
 who had

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.220
 brought

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.680
 such

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.379
 heartache

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.539
 and such

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.180
 turmoil,

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:57.839
 not only

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.339
 into his

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.619
 life,

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.000
 but into

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.500
 the lives

00:28:59.500 --> 00:28:59.839
 of his

00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.440
 own dad

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:01.279
 and many

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.880
 others as

00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.220
 well.

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.600
 And you

00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:05.160
 realize that

00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.620
 God had

00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.240
 done great

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.059
 things in

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.440
 his own

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.000
 heart.

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.100
 And you

00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:10.200
 know,

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.600
 it's a good

00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.380
 question for

00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:11.700
 us to

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:13.220
 ponder as

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.779
 we wait

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.380
 for God

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.740
 to do

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.100
 great

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:16.220
 things in

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.000
 our lives

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.580
 and in

00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.240
 those around

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.779
 us.

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:19.680
 What's he

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.960
 doing in

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.840
 my heart

00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.680
 as I

00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.140
 wait on

00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:23.539
 that?

00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.660
 What's he

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.140
 doing in

00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:25.559
 me?

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:26.779
 And

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.500
 remarkably,

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.500
 what this

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.299
 psalm promises

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.640
 us,

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.420
 that slowly

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.759
 but surely

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.900
 God is

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.500
 bringing about

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.240
 transformation,

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.420
 moving us

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.279
 from tears

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.920
 to joy.

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.840
 God will

00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:41.940
 do great

00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.759
 things for

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.180
 you.

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.000
 And that

00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.580
 moves us

00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:47.080
 to plead

00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:47.400
 with him

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:47.740
 to do

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:47.980
 it.

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:48.900
 How can

00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.259
 we be

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.740
 sure of

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.060
 this?

00:29:51.300 --> 00:29:51.720
 How can

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.060
 we be

00:29:52.060 --> 00:29:52.500
 sure that

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:52.940
 God will

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.420
 do great

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.039
 things for

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.420
 us?

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.560
 Here's the

00:29:55.560 --> 00:29:56.000
 reason we

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.340
 can be

00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:56.800
 sure of

00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:57.019
 it.

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.820
 The

00:29:58.820 --> 00:29:59.300
 Apostle

00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.119
 Paul writing

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.940
 to the

00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.440
 church in

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.159
 Rome says

00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:02.740
 this,

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:05.039
 he who

00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.619
 did not

00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:06.399
 spare his

00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.139
 own son

00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:07.779
 but gave

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.599
 him up

00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.159
 for us

00:30:09.159 --> 00:30:09.500
 all,

00:30:09.639 --> 00:30:10.079
 how will

00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:10.559
 he not

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.779
 also along

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.619
 with him

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.619
 graciously

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:14.339
 give us

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.460
 all things?

00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.279
 There's the

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.639
 anchor for

00:30:18.639 --> 00:30:19.460
 the promise

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.460
 that God

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.579
 will do

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.720
 great things

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.779
 for us.

00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:25.279
 Paul says

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.660
 that if

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.180
 God has

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:27.099
 given his

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.899
 son over

00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:28.740
 to death

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.700
 for his

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.220
 people,

00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:31.599
 he is not

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:31.960
 going to

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.319
 spare

00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.559
 anything

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:36.099
 necessary,

00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:36.740
 anything

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.639
 good for

00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.160
 us.

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.319
 He will

00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.240
 do great

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.619
 things for

00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:42.980
 you.

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:46.480
 I was

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:46.779
 at a

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.099
 funeral

00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.460
 on

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.160
 Friday

00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:48.599
 up in

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:48.960
 Dublin,

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.880
 a man

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:51.279
 who had

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.740
 been part

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.000
 of the

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.319
 church

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:52.900
 up there,

00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:53.839
 baptized

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.299
 when he

00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:55.200
 was 14

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.860
 in the

00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.240
 church,

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.099
 started

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.460
 playing

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:57.880
 music

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.180
 when he

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.960
 was 16,

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.120
 he'd

00:31:00.120 --> 00:31:00.259
 been

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.680
 playing

00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:01.579
 piano

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.120
 and organ

00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:02.860
 up until

00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.880
 last month,

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.579
 he was

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.720
 80 when

00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.240
 he passed

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.740
 away.

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.000
 And

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.220
 this man

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.559
 is with

00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:09.920
 the Lord

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.279
 now,

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.180
 Derek

00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:11.640
 is his

00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:12.019
 name,

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.420
 and Derek

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:14.079
 would tell

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.680
 us if he

00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.039
 was here

00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.879
 this morning,

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.619
 you know,

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.440
 one day

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:20.279
 God will

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.019
 do

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.920
 something

00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.680
 great.

00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:23.639
 Derek

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.160
 is with

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.839
 the Lord

00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.619
 in glory

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:26.099
 now,

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.799
 the tears

00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.099
 have been

00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:27.839
 wiped away,

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:28.639
 the pain

00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:28.940
 and the

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.299
 suffering

00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:29.900
 is gone,

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:30.859
 and it's

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.420
 hard for us

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.059
 to fathom

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.920
 what that

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.240
 will be

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.680
 like,

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.660
 but we're

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.319
 assured,

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.039
 we're assured

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.539
 that God

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:37.879
 will do

00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:38.680
 great things,

00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.460
 and so we

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.099
 plead with him

00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.379
 that he

00:31:41.379 --> 00:31:41.660
 would.

00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:43.339
 Let's

00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:43.619
 take a

00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.000
 moment to

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:44.519
 ask God

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:44.859
 to do

00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:45.559
 just that.

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.740
 Heavenly

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.180
 Father,

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.319
 we know

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.200
 that life

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:49.599
 in this

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.059
 world,

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.599
 we will

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.559
 never have

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.579
 it the

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:53.980
 way we

00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:55.259
 would want

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.559
 it to

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.039
 be in

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.920
 a perfect

00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.599
 sense.

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.259
 Lord,

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.059
 we recognize

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.559
 that you

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.139
 have done

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:01.839
 great things

00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.180
 in the

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.740
 past in

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.420
 our lives

00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.720
 where you

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.119
 have brought

00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:05.119
 substantial

00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.619
 restoration of

00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:07.460
 our fortunes,

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:07.900
 where you

00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:09.000
 have worked

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.559
 in ways

00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:09.980
 that are

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.500
 sometimes

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.279
 quite

00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.880
 normal,

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.420
 it seems,

00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.079
 and sometimes

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.420
 quite

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.099
 remarkable.

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:15.839
 Lord,

00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.039
 many of

00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.559
 us here

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.559
 recognize

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.539
 that and

00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.259
 can testify

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.960
 to that.

00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.220
 Lord,

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.900
 help us to

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.700
 remember that

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.460
 so that it

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.059
 would move

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.559
 us,

00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:26.400
 Lord,

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:28.200
 to call on

00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.740
 you to do

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.420
 great things

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:29.859
 again,

00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.059
 things that

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:33.240
 are far

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.640
 bigger and

00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:35.240
 greater than

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.539
 we could

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.079
 ever ask

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.679
 or imagine.

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.339
 Father,

00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:39.819
 we want to

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.339
 praise you

00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:40.659
 that we

00:32:40.659 --> 00:32:41.179
 have this

00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:42.759
 promise that

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.759
 you will do

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.639
 great things,

00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:46.460
 and we

00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:47.119
 know that,

00:32:47.199 --> 00:32:47.619
 not because

00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.720
 we deserve

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:50.740
 it, but

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:52.480
 because this

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.179
 is what Jesus

00:32:53.179 --> 00:32:55.179
 has assured

00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:55.819
 us of,

00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:57.359
 that in him

00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:57.919
 being given

00:32:57.919 --> 00:32:58.519
 over to

00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.000
 death,

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.539
 how will you

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.159
 not freely

00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:01.799
 give us all

00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.279
 things?

00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:02.720
 God,

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.619
 we long

00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:05.680
 for you to

00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.160
 do great

00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:06.859
 things again,

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.299
 and Lord,

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:08.960
 we draw to

00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.399
 mind areas

00:33:10.399 --> 00:33:11.119
 of our life

00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:11.599
 where we

00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:12.619
 feel that

00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:14.099
 need deeply,

00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:16.859
 and we

00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:17.980
 commit these

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:19.259
 relationships

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.240
 and friendships

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:22.220
 and other

00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:23.000
 areas to

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.539
 you, and

00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.279
 we ask that

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.559
 you would

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.259
 do great

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.799
 things.

00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.319
 And Father,

00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.000
 we praise

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.299
 you that

00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:30.599
 there is

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.119
 coming a

00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.480
 day

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.819
 when you

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.140
 will make

00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.799
 all things

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:35.740
 new, and

00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.160
 Lord, that

00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:36.839
 we believe

00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.360
 it, we

00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:37.980
 can hardly

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.360
 get our

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:38.880
 heads around

00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.200
 it.

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.559
 But Father,

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:41.880
 we look

00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:42.319
 forward to

00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:42.860
 that day,

00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:43.799
 in Jesus'

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:44.259
 name,

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:44.720
 amen.

00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.059
 We're

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.360
 going to

00:33:48.360 --> 00:33:49.579
 sing to

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.759
 respond to

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.480
 something of

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:51.860
 what we've

00:33:51.860 --> 00:33:52.460
 been thinking

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.000
 about, just

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.900
 reflecting on

00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.460
 God's

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.759
 goodness, his

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.660
 faithfulness, and

00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.240
 so on, and

00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:57.700
 so let's

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:58.299
 stand and

00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:59.819
 sing praise

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.299
 to God

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:00.660
 now.

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.259
 Thank you.

00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:19.880
 Thank you.

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:22.280
 Thank you.

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:22.860
 It's

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:22.900
 been

00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:26.400
��act

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:26.800
 2