Hi, this is Joel in Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry.

If you enjoyed today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend.

We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life.

Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come into your homes. We know God has great things in store for each one of you. If you're ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you, we'll make you feel right at home.

But thanks so much for tuning in and thank you again for coming out today. I like to start with something funny.

I heard about this elderly couple. They were having a terrible time with their memory. They went to the doctor and he instructed them to start writing down everything they'd been forgetting.

The next night they were watching television. The wife said, I sure would like a bowl of ice cream. The husband said, I'll go get it for you.

She said, honey, you remember what the doctor said? You better write it down. He said, I'm just going to the kitchen. I'm not going to forget it.

He came back a few minutes later and handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She shook her head and said, I should have known it. You forgot my toast.

Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do.

Today I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same in Jesus' name. God bless you.

I want to talk to you today about blessing people with your words. Our words have the power to lift people up or to push people down.

We can say something to make them feel better about themselves or to make them feel worse. It's amazing what a simple compliment will do.

When you tell someone you look nice today or great job on that presentation at the office or I really enjoy working with you, those simple words will put a spring in their step. It will brighten their day.

It didn't take much time. It didn't cost you anything. Yet with your words you just blessed their life. That's the power God has given each one of us.

Every day we should have a goal of finding at least one person that we can encourage. Be free with your compliments.

Point out what somebody is doing right, not what they are doing wrong. There's already enough pushing people down. Let's make it our business to lift people up, to brighten their day, to make them feel better about themselves.

I met a young lady in Nashville. She used to attend church when she lived here. She told how she was going through a very difficult time. Her marriage was breaking apart. She was very depressed.

She felt so unattractive. At one of her lowest moments, she was leaving church on a Sunday, walking down the corridor with hundreds of other people.

It just so happened, Victoria came walking the other direction. Victoria had never seen her, never met her before. But as she passed by, Victoria stopped her, looked her in the eyes and said, you are so beautiful.

Just five seconds, she moved on. To Victoria, it was no big deal. She was just being friendly, being free with her compliments. But that young lady told me, Victoria will never know what she did for me that day.

When I felt the most unattractive, the most unwanted, she breathed new life back into my spirit.

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