Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. We enjoy spending this time with you.

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But thanks so much for tuning in today. Thank you again for coming out. I like to start with something funny. I heard about this burglar that broke into a house one night.

As he was stealing the stereo, he heard a voice saying, Jesus is watching you. He froze in his tracks, shined his flashlight, and saw a parrot over in the corner.

He said, did you say that to me? The parrot said, yes, I'm just trying to warn you. He said, warn me. What are you talking about? Who are you? The parrot said, my name is Moses. The burglar laughed. He said, what kind of crazy people would name a parrot Moses? The parrot said the same kind of people that would name a 150-pound rot-wiler Jesus.

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 counted by the Creator. It's easy to go through life feeling disqualified because of the mistakes we've made or negative things people have spoken over us or even our own thoughts telling us what we can't become.

If we're not careful, we'll come up with excuses as to why we can't accomplish our dreams, why we can't rise any higher, in effect we're counting ourselves out.

In the scripture, the prophet Samuel came to Jesse's house to choose one of his sons as the next king. Jesse had seven of his eight sons lined up. He was so proud of them. They were strong, talented, good-looking young men.

In Samuel was about to choose the oldest son, Eliab. He was big, muscular, looked like he just stepped out of a movie. But God said to Samuel, don't judge by his appearance or height for he is not the one.

The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by the outside, but God looks on the inside. When Samuel heard this, he changed his mind.

He told Jesse that it wasn't any of those sons. Well, Jesse had another son named David. He was out in the shepherd's fields, taking care of the sheep. But in Jesse's mind, David didn't count.

He was the youngest. David was small, not as strong, didn't have the experience. Jesse thought, no, you see even bringing him in. He'll never amount to much.

But the moment Samuel saw David, he said, that's the one. He's the next king. I'm sure Jesse and the other brothers nearly passed out.

Think it. Are you kidding? You mean it's David? They didn't count him. But the good news is David was counted by the Creator. God doesn't judge the way people judge.

You may not have the most talent. The best looks. Come from the most influential family. That's okay. You've been counted by the one who matters most.

Now, my challenge is don't count yourself out. I hear people say, I'm too small. I don't have a good personality. I come from the wrong family. No, when God created you, he put in you everything you need to fulfill your destiny.

That means if you don't have it, you don't need it. If you needed to be taller, you would be taller. If you needed more talent, you would have more talent.

If you needed to be a different nationality, you would be one. You're not lacking. You didn't get short-changed. You've been fearfully and wonderfully made.

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