The Four F's of Freedom | Dr. Janice Sjostrand

Hallelujah. Bless. Bless, bless, bless, bless, everybody. Bless, Blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed oh, yeah. We're blessed in the city we're blessed in the field we're blessed when we come and when we go we cast down every stronghold Sickness and poverty must cease for the devil is defeated we are blessed everybody. Blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed oh, we are blessed Blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed Sing it with me. We're blessed in the city we're blessed in the feel we're blessed when we come and when we go we cast down every stronghold Sickness and poverty must cease for the devil is defeated we are bless.

Oh, my word. You may be seated. This is like eating candy up here. Oh, my Lord. I could just shut y' all out and say, boys, let's do something. What a joy to be here with my beloved Hope Carpenter. She is so precious to me. I would have gotten a whippin every Sunday if she had been sitting next to me in church. She is 11 years younger than I am, and she would have led me astray every week of our lives, and I would have willingly followed her. The first time I met her, I was a little bit shy because I didn't know who she was, and. And she invited me to come to Redemption. And I don't even think they'd been there 10 years. She had little bitty children, and they were just a beautiful couple. And the first thing she did was. Well, let's just put it like this. She had me laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe. And she didn't even know me, and I was just blown away. And then I had myself a time at their church. I see Carol and Travis and other people to me. To be with you, to know you, to see you and many of you that have been with them from way back, that means a lot to me because I'm kind of a stay around, don't play around. You know what I'm saying? Family. I love God's people. And to see so many of you that have been with them through thick and thin and to be with his mama and then to meet new friends. Heather, just adorable. And Agatha and Tamra and Cheryl and Ashley and. I don't know. And to meet Jaslyn again and all and then. And people who know, people that I know, just. I don't know what to say. I'm overwhelmed. So now I'm going to have to go a completely different direction. Are you with me? I got so much on my mind right now that I feel like a Chihuahua on a Short leash. So I'm going to dedicate this song to Hope, who has. Who wrote the most beautiful disaster. And I remember before, during and after. And I remember driving in my car by myself after she called me and just saying, God, I love that girl. Give her strength to go through. Because you are greater than suffering and sorrow. And if anybody. If anybody can experience love and redemption, then she surely can, too. And from one work of redemption to another, this is what I. I want to sing this to you. You are so beautiful to me.

You are so very beautiful.

To me.

Can't you see? You're everything I hoped for, everything I knew you'd be.

You are so beautiful to me. Such joy and happiness you still make me laugh.

You bring such joy and happiness you bring. You're not a dream you like a bright and shining light in the darkest night heaven sent to me. I'll still be your big sister. A little bit shy, but you still make me laugh. Here's to happy ever after. You are.

So beautiful.

You are.

So precious.

You are.

So beautiful to me.

Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love my sweet Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus.

Because.

He first loved me to me he is so wonderful to me. Oh, he is so wonderful.

To me.

Oh, he is so wonderful.

Because.

He first loved me.

When I get around you, my 1% comes out. Do you know what that is? 1% Nigerian. Look at this face. According to ancestry.com. don't be dissing your sister.

Oh, I love him.

My earliest memories, Sister Willie Johnson, who at that time was called a mulatta lady. She would come to our church and she had waves that she crimped, my mama told me with wave clamps. You don't even know what that is, but I'm going to say it anyway. She used to wear a cape and she had a traveling companion. She came from abusive marriage. I didn't know that. I just remember that something Sister Willie said stayed with me all my life. And this is the verse she sang to that song. And I'm going to sing it for you. I'm remembering when I should.

Feel lonely.

When I should feel sad.

I'm so contented and my heart.

Is glad.

Joy bells are ringing and my heart just keeps singing. Oh, it's wonderful to know that he is mine. He is so wonderful. A little mahalia to me. He is so wonderful.

To me.

Oh, he is so wonderful.

To know.

He first love me.

I know.

He fell love me.

Many of you know my story. You may be seated. From a little girl growing up In a little Pentecostal church in Bellflower, California, where everybody played something whether you could play or not. And I learned how to play a little accordion. Please don't go anywhere. Thank you so much. Thank you. And I learned in church. So I learned. I picked up everything. And Kenny and Margie, my mom and dad did not realize that I was trying to absorb every kind of music I could in the world. And I remember the first time I got in trouble for listening to something because Daddy heard that and he didn't hear nothing else. So I'd been taught to be saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. From the time I was very little, I've not deviated much from that. But flesh is flesh, whether it's in a bun or a butch. Do you know what I'm saying? I understood that it was going to take more than Kenny and Margie to help me. When I was nine, I repented of my sins and the Lord filled me with the Holy Ghost. I went to the altar the first time and cried and cried. And then the second time I went, the week afterward, I prayed through. That's what old timers call it, you prayed through. Till the Holy Ghost began to speak in another language. And then I baptized. And then the fire hit me. Yeah, I came out of that water, I shot up. Nine years old. Two little pigtails shot out of that water, leaping and dancing. Shamed. My brother got water everywhere. He said, janice, seven years old, you looked like a duck. He didn't know what to say, because he didn't. I mean, nobody acts like that, right? And I was from 9 to 14, just a quiet little girl trying to obey Kenny and Margie and listening to everything I could. The one time I got in trouble, we were still in California. Daddy had a camper over his truck, and I had a transistor radio. He was fiddling in the driver's seat, and I was in the bunk over the. You know. And the radio was playing It's Been a Hard Day's Night. And I was singing with those Beatles, and I've been working like a dog. It's been a hard day's night. And I've been sleeping like a log. No comment. But when I get home, you. I love the things. And I heard after the word do came out my mouth, Janice Lynn, turn that off.

Now.

I did not know what those lyrics meant, but they clearly meant something to my daddy that I was not supposed to know about. But he missed Carlos Santana, and he missed Three Dog Night. And I took all that into church with me, which meant I tried to do every lick. And I will never forget when I discovered this group. And to while away the time we didn't have television, I spent hours perfecting my left hand. Now these guys can play me under the table. But when you're just a little kid and you're trying to figure it out, and no teaching or training, but I. In my mind's eye, I was there with them when they did this. Oh, yeah, I was there. Mama was cooking beans or something and Daddy was out. They never even knew. They just thought the kids were jamming. And I never told them any different I was singing them. It was the 3rd of September. That day I'll always remember.

Yes, I will.

But that was the day that my daddy died.

Never had a chance to see him.

Never knew nothing but bad things about him. Mama, I'm dependent on you to tell me the truth. Your papa was a rolling stone.

Wherever he laid his hat was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone. But Jesus said, girl, you're not a rolling stone. I'm gonna fill you with the Holy Ghost and then take you home. Your name is written down. Don't be afraid, don't be dismayed. I'm with you now and I'll wait. Hey. You wrote my name in the book of life. Change my walk and made me right. I'm on my way to a brand new day. I got a new. I got a new name.

Hush.

Shame on you. Nigeria has taken over.

I told you. I told you. You just stay there and hold that thought. Now, how am I supposed to do alabaster box after that? So let me tell you something. I've been with you from Creedence Clearwater to Sting. I've heard it. I didn't do any of it. I just took it to church and danced on it. This has been my entire life. I've never been drunk a day in my life, but I've been drunk in the Holy Ghost. I've rolled in the floor. I've never been to a disco. I have danced till I'm a rag and ripped my hair down while I've been praising and worshiping my king.

The music has changed, but the message has not. Oh, I want to see him. Look on his face. Governments come and they go. He is still the Alpha, the omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I began with him. I'm gonna end with him. Somebody shout halleluj. Just shout Hallelujah. Praise the name of Jesus.

Okay, now you have got to quit. I've already gone over my time. I'm going to give you the four Fs of freedom. Every time I got an F, it wasn't a good thing. The first time Ms. Brickhouse flunked me was on the times tables for the threes. I was shaking like a leaf. I could always learn from somebody who loved me. But that woman didn't love me. She affected my math learning for the rest of my life. But these four Fs that I'm going to give you, I hope will take you through whatever you're about to endure. I have seen a lot of life in my beloved United States. We have all observed the things that happened to us last year. As a people. It has been difficult to endure. Even now in this room, I'm intelligent enough to know that there are stories behind those facades. Many of you have suffered loss. And there are empty seats here today because there are people who are fearful. They are at home, isolated, in fear, just waiting for whatever this is to come and get them. But I want to tell you what the Bible says. I want to tell you what the Bible says and this is what I want to say to you. The Bible said the just shall live by faith. So by faith some of us are going to never take the vaccine. And by faith, some of us will do it. Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. We don't have to live our lives in fear. I'm not asking you to do something ill advised or irrational. But I want you to know that Jesus said through his holy word you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And power trumps fear any day of the week. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Clap your hands to the Lord right now. Yes, now. I want to take you to Isaiah 43:1. The first F is fear not. Everybody say fear not. It's going to take faith not to fear. They're in direct opposition to each other and my faith. Although I know my government's trying very hard, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. And the CDC and the WHO and all these well meaning groups of people that want to manage my life for me. I'm going to tell you something. They do not inspire my faith or confidence. I recognize now medicine is not my security. Finances are not my security. Institutions are not my security. My security is this.

I'm standing on Christ a solid rock. On Christ a solid rock I stand. All other Ground is sinking sand.

Isaiah 43:1 says this, but now everybody say, now. That means in this present moment. Although it was written 4,000 years ago, in this moment. Thus saith the Lord that created the O Jacob. I want you to stop there. That name, O Jacob, is what his mama and daddy gave him at his birth. He said, you parents named you, but I created you. Pastor Hope stated that very obvious truth last night. And he that formed thee, O Israel. Now, Israel is significant for two reasons. God named Jacob Israel, but he also made a nation. And by the time Isaiah wrote this, they were a nation. He said, I want you to know something. I knew you before your mom and daddy named you Jacob.

I knew you when I changed your name.

I made a nation of believers.

I did all that.

I got you here through your parents. I got you here through your conversion. You are here in a nation of believers that I created.

I know who you are.

And he said, fear not, because I.

Know who you are.

I created you, O Israel.

Fear not.

Why I have redeemed you. That means I brought you back from whatever pit you crawled out of, from whatever suffering you came from. I am the one who valued you.

Enough to hang on Calvary. When I hung there, I saw you.

And you and you and you and you.

It is a miracle that my DNA has all of these strands reaching back into time. It's no accident I was was created in the image and likeness for this hour, 2021, to bring glory to the name of Jesus in this body, in this form, in this time, in these circumstances, lift your hands. Fear not.

He said, I have called the by name. Now, why is that important? Because I'm in a group and I can't call any of you by name except the few that I know. But this word is reaching to the back row and the sides and the darkness and to your home. Those of you that are listening to this and you're not on site, he said, I called you by name. Not the people holding the mic, not the people who are saying the word I called you. And then he summed it up by saying, you are mine.

Hallelujah. And she explained last night what it means to be her child.

She said, I'll go to the floor for them. I know their weaknesses and failings, but I don't talk to you about it.

And the Lord said, I beheld no iniquity in Israel. I'm full of sins and faults. But he looked beyond my fault and saw my need. I have been blood washed and baptized in the blood of the Lamb, my name is written down.

I am his and he is mine. He said, you're mine, so that means he has a responsibility. There are some things I can't do on my own, and protecting myself from an invisible disease is one of them. I wash my hands, I wear a mask, I use hand sanitizer. But I'm going to tell you right now, I was not meant to inhabit this planet for eternity. I am mortal. I'm not going to rush it. But Paul said, whether I give glory to him by my death or by.

My life, I belong to Jesus Christ. That's who I belong to. It was he who redeemed me. So it's okay.

Everybody say, fear not, verse 2. He said, when, not if. 43 and 2. When thou passest through the waters, three kinds of obstacles. Two are water and one is fire. He said, I will be with you, whether it's by yourself, in a nursing home, a rehab, even on a ventilator, God forbid.

He made a promise.

Jesus picked it up again when he turned to the disciples, that he was about to leave and said, I will never leave nor forsake you.

I don't care if that means my.

Lot in life is an early death or a long drawn out trip down Alzheimer's.

Though you may not be able to contact me, he promised me that he's gonna walk me through it. I won't be alone. So I want to tell you something. Put your fear to the side and let your faith lift your hands, your voice and your heart.

When you pass through the rivers, they won't overflow. I've been up to my neck, but it hadn't gone over my head yet. He said, when you walk, not run, you pass through water and through river and you walk through fire. He said, you're going to feel the heat. You will feel the pressure. He said, but I promise you, I've given you my word. If you are Jacob and Israel and I've redeemed you, I call you by name. You're mine. I will be with you in these things. Everybody repeat after me. They are going to happen. We are not exempt, but we can praise him. And that's where he gets glory. You know why Paul and Silas took till midnight? Because I think they hurt. I think their backs were in pain. I think they maybe have been beaten unconscious. It took them till midnight to catch their breath. But suddenly at midnight, oh, how I love. And they heard it. Everybody else around him who'd been beaten, everybody else who was in there, those jailers made no distinction Between Paul and Silas and the murderers and the thieves and the liars and the cheats, he didn't make any distinction. They all got beat. But the difference in the other prisoners, in those two, was when they caught their breath. They weren't railing at the jailer and they weren't crying over what had happened. And they weren't blaming somebody else. They just lifted their hands and let praises rise. Holy, wonderful, glorious, exalted. And they began to sing and magnify the Lord and the Bible clearly says. And the prisoners heard them. I don't expect the Lord is going to shelter me from pain and suffering. But I hope that when I'm going through.

I love him.

I hope that's what they hear from me. I love him, do you know? Because.

He first loved me. Know this and purchase my salvation.

On Take me down to E flat. I've come to pour my praise on him like oil from Mary's alabaster box. Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears and dry them with my hair. You weren't there.

The night he found me. You did not feel what I felt when he wrapped his love.

How could I be afraid? You don't know the cost.

The oil.

In my alabaster bar. I can't forget the way my life used to be. I was a prisoner to the sin.

That had me bound.

I spent my days poured my life without measure into a little treasure box.

I thought I'd found Until the day.

When Jesus came to me and healed.

My soul with the wonder of his tongues. I'm giving back to him the praise he's worthy of. I've been forgiven and that's why I love him so much. I've come to pour my praise on him like oil from my eyes.

Alabaster.

Don't be angry. I don't want to embarrass you. If I unwind my hair.

And dry.

His feet from my tears. You don't know what I've been through to bring me to this place of praise he's brought me to.

You don't know the cause of the or you don't know the cost of my praise. Why I love him now and always from my alabaster box I am not a afraid.

He loves me.

Lift your hands.

I am not afraid. He love, loves me.

How he loves us so. Oh, how he loves us. How he loves us so. Every time my heart gets weak I hear him say, Janice, be still and know I am God. I am not a cow to be driven. I am a Sheep to be led. Kind of dumb, kind of simple. I don't eat just anywhere and I can't drink water that's troubled. And he makes me lie down.

In.

Green pastures and leads me beside still waters. Then he restores my soul. Oh, how precious he is. Would you lift your heads again? I feel his healing just for a moment. If you've been frightened and fearful, oh, Jesus doesn't want you to be stampede through your life. The sweet spirit of the Lord is here to comfort you, no matter what you've been through. I'm just going to give you a moment. We're just going to play. I want you to let him talk to you and wash over you.

Hallelujah. Oh, pass me not. O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry. While on others thou art calling. Do not pass, pass me by.

Reach out to him right now. He's going to heal you from what's been going on in your life.

Oh, Sa Savior, hear my humble cry. Lay down that fear.

I tell you, Jesus won't let a hair of your head perish. You can trust him.

Wow. On others.

Thou art cold.

Do not pass me.

Lord, we thank you for what we feel right now. We know you want to take our fears. Hallelujah. Thank you. Now, I'm going to let you sit down for a minute. Before the next wave comes, we're going to deal with the second F. Fret not. Psalms 37 says, don't worry about evildoers. You know what I have to do. I don't watch the news and I don't listen to it because seems to me like what gets the majority of attention in print is the bad stuff. And it makes me fretful. You know what fretful is? It's a baby that can't be still. You fed them, you've rocked them and they're fretting. They just can't get comfortable. And there's a fretful spirit in this world. It's one of two extremes. Either fear on one end or rage on the other. And in between are degrees of suffering, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, which then affects us physically. But my Bible tells me not to fret. And there's a reason it tells me not to fret. Philippians 4, 6, 7 said, Be careful for nothing. He said, if you can get past what you feel to what you need. He said in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. Let your requests not demand. Not a sha na na. I'm gonna speak it down. But come to God like you would your daddy. Daddy I am not peaceful. Daddy. I'm worried about Daddy. I'm afraid of. You've always been so good to me, Jesus. You've always directed my steps. I had no IDEA I'd be here. 63 but you have ordered my steps and I'm still with you. And you're still with me. I may have deviated sometimes by my attitude and my actions, but you've never left me. Now, Jesus, I'm in need now. He said, you come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. He said, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your request known to God in verse 7. I love and the peace of God. What kind of peace does God have? Do you think Coronta shook him up? Do you think the Spanish flu of 1918 shook him up? Do you think Pompeii shook him? Do you think Santorini shook him? When there's nothing left but a crater? Do you think that the cataclysm that took away the dinosaurs shook him?

He's the first and the last. And he wrote the history of the world before he ever spoke it into existence. He is not afraid of anything.

And he said, I have peace. He has peace in spite of people cussing him, blaspheming him, perverting his world, perverting the earth that he created and the people in it, perverting nature itself. He said, I have peace. And this scripture said, the peace of God. You know what that means? Nothing can touch me. He said, it will guard God's peace, will guard your heart, those emotions and your mind. He said, God's peace. He said, don't fret. And before Jesus left, knowing how he was going to go, knowing the agony he was going to suffer, he turned to them and said, peace. I give unto you my peace. I give unto you not as the world gives, which is temporary, conditional, circumstantial, consequential. He said, I give my peace to you. Let not. That means you're going to have to fight to hold it. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Lord, in this moment of silence and silent to render to you, let your peace calm us. And the anxieties that rise from fear. It may not be an all out panic attack, but there is a spirit of fretting that will fritter away time. Precious moments we could spend with our families, in relationships, doing productive things, just. Just being together, purposeful. That fretting in this hour will steal from us. And we only have Today, and we only have now. Let your peace descend on us, on the precious women and men who are hearing these words that come from your throne on high. For you still have wished peace on earth and goodwill toward men. It is your gift to us. In spite of the darkness, in spite of the gloom, in spite of all things that are encroaching, you stand radiant, filled with light and hope and beauty. And we claim your peace. Lay your hand on your heart right now, Jesus. We ask you to stretch out your healing hand for those of us that have suffered loss, that have unresolved conflict, for those of us that are carrying burdens that walked in here by faith. Let us feel what it feels like to have the peace of God surround what we feel and what we think. We trust you, Jesus. There is no other place to go. In Jesus name, everybody said Amen. Fear not, fret not. And then the third. Faint not. This one's a little bit harder for me because I was born and raised in church and I've been taught a life of service since I can remember. I'm 63 and I'm homeschooling 10 and 6. I have lost my mind. And Monday when I go back, there'll be no conference waiting for me. Just two little girls. Jana, did you bring me anything? Number one. Number two. Jana. I don't want to do this. Jana. I'm thirsty. Jana. I think I'm hungry. And you know what I do? Get up and run around that couch three times and then come back and sit down. Faint not now. It's especially hard not to faint when you yourself are suffering. Now I'm going to speak to you as a caregiver. My husband's parents are living with us. I cherish them. They cared for me many years when I was growing up and they were training me in ministry. And now the roles are reversed and it is my pleasure and privilege to serve. And then I have a husband and two grown daughters and a son in law. And then I have two little grandchildren. And you know how women are. Gentlemen, I'll let you in on a secret. We're relational. We worry about everybody. And those of us that are connected relationally and are concerned about people's feelings are always checking up to make sure everybody's alright. Listen to me. I did FaceTime before Apple created it. FaceTime is. Where are you and what are you doing? Talk to your mama. I need for my own peace of mind to touch base with all my family. I call my mom and dad. Can you believe all four of them? Are still alive. Their ages are 85, 87, 88 and 89. And they're all living and they're all sassy and they're all independent. And it's very difficult to give them directions. They have that in common with the two grandkids. I'm not succeeding with either end, actually. Yes. This scripture said Galatians 6, 9. Let us not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. I have felt pretty faint. I have felt confounded. I have felt overwhelmed. And I have to keep quoting those things, those scriptures. Because in addition to that, there is the church. And then, in addition to that, you are looking at Juanita, the men. I am la criada. I am the one. When I am the maid, I am Juanita. I have fired myself so many times. I do a pitiful job. It's pitiful.

Yes.

And so it's an aggravation. And when I'm in the kitchen cooking, I'm Olga, the cook. That's right. I have 500. She's pitiful. I am the staff of one. And people wonder why I experience psychosis. It's because I have to be 15 things at one time. So I get a little tired. And then I hear my shepherd, come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. For I am meek and lowly at heart. My burden is light, and you shall find rest for your souls. But he does not remove the circumstance. He'll rejoice over me with singing, surround me with songs of deliverance. But he won't take me out. I think he's waiting for me to sing back to him in the Corona. I remember so many nights waking up out of a dead sleep. 2 o' clock in the morning, 3 o', clock, wondering what the future is going to hold. I had to get up and go to my little private prayer place where nobody can hear me. And many nights I couldn't even say a word. I just moaned. And my Bible tells me in Romans 8 that when you don't know what to say, the Spirit will make intercession. I couldn't say anything. When I can't say a word. I just waved my hand. That's all I could do and believe that he could interpret those unearthly sounds. I need a Kleenex. Y' all make me cry. My British Isles is coming through right now. That's white Anglo Saxon, in case you didn't know. My Nigerian fights with My British Isles often. It's a race riot. It really is. I can't decide who I am in due season. And I shared with precious Heather. So beautiful and just. My heart is touched. I began this journey of faith for one reason. First of all, I needed healing. And then I fell in love with my physician and decided to stay in the clinic and be his nurse with a clipboard. The problem is I've only heard him through a loudspeaker. I am waiting for the time when he will open the door and let me see him. I mean face to face. Moses didn't ask to lead 600,000 people. And Jesus didn't ask to perform miracles. He just said, I want to please you, whatever you tell me to do. Oh, I get so far off track. And when I am in the middle of this whirlwind that my life is. I forget. I forget that he didn't call me to be a slave hand. He didn't call me to a farm. He could have created anything. He wants me to develop endurance because it is written, he that endures to the end. Now I keep trying to whittle my cross down and make toothpicks out of it. But the truth of the matter is a cross serves one purpose only. Crucifixion. So that I can deny myself with Jesus and hang til whatever it is he's trying to produce in me is done. If I can hold on in spite of the process for the joy that is set before me now. You are so beautiful. I wouldn't be. I can't spend more than five minutes on myself getting ready. My life has never afforded me the luxury of doing up. And I would look like I had fallen into my mother's makeup kit if I would. You don't want to see that. The point is, I recognize this is gone. But when I look in the mirror, you know what? I want to see him. That's what I want to see through my actions and my choices. So easy to say it up here. Much harder to live it when I go home, where I really live. This is like falling off a log right here. I could do this all day, every day. But to apply to be like Jesus, to withhold comment when words are not necessary, to just be meek and humble and follow this gentle shepherd. He said, my yoke is easy. He's not asking me to do something hard. He's asking me to do something harder than hard. Lay down my own desires and just follow him. Now that F I said all that to get to first. Peter 4:19 which is what he has given to me in this season of my life. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful creation. No shortcuts, he said. I know you're going through it. I'm not going to take you out of it. I want you to keep well doing until I say well done. No retirement plan. Just keep on keeping on. Remember this song? I do. I laughed when I sang it and I sing it and still laugh, but it kind of fits here.

One day at a time.

Sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you. Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.

Yesterday's gone.

Sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine. Lord, for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time. Would you lift your hands, Lord, in this room right now I feel weary. I feel the weariness of my sisters who have served and are still serving. I'm going to ask you, Lord, Lord, that you would stretch out your hand. I'm asking you, Jesus, from the throne of glory as you walk these aisles oh, I feel your sweet presence that yout are amazing Strength that supernatural stuff youf do. I know that yout're not going to give us superhuman. You're not going to do that. Nobody's going to leave here with a cape and tights. But in the weakness of our flesh, you can lift us all. Right? Here comes a third way. I want you to reach out for it. I love you, Lord.

You heard my cry and pitied every grow Long as I live and troubles rise I hasten to your throne. I'll hasten to your throne. I'll hasten to your throne. I hasten to your throne. I make this declaration that you are the source of my strength. You are the strength of my strength. Life. I lift my hands in total praise to you. You are the source of my. My strength. I'm telling you, you are the strength of my life. I live my. I live my hands in praise to you. Raise your hands right now. There's strength in the house. It's holy. Let the Holy Ghost speak through you. This is your strength and your rest and your healing. Yeah. Glory, glory, hallelujah.

Remain standing. The final f. Fear not, fret not, faint not. And the last thing that's going to be very important to you, you forget not especially. While we're going through, you're going to have to bring up whatever. Whatever helps you. I have to remind myself I sit Down. And I start thinking about what the Lord has already done for me. I'm in the middle of some things right now, but every time I come to you, I'm in the middle. I'm always in the middle of something. And I'm not like Hope. She should be in the middle. She's an instigator. And I love her. I will always love that girl right there. She's precious to me. But I am always in the middle of trouble. Trouble on the left, trouble on the right, Trouble above and trouble beneath. And always in the storm and the wind and the waves, I see somebody walking on the water with me.

Hallelujah.

And as long as I keep my eyes on him. And so this has become my Psalm, Psalm 103. I memorized because I. I need it. And when things get tough, I just start quoting.

Bless the Lord, O my soul and.

All that is within me. Bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul and my soul, not my body.

And forget not all his benefits.

So what has he done for you? He has forgiven all my iniquities. I'm full of iniquity.

He's forgiven it.

Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not his benefit. Who healeth all thy diseases.

I bet you didn't know your soul was diseased.

I know mine is. And David said, he's healed them all. I don't care how your mama raised you, how your daddy raised you. He said, I've healed all that. I've healed all your diseases.

And then before he can even go further, Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord, O my soul, who redeemeth my life from destruction. You know why? Because self destruction is in me. He said, first I've got to clean you up, then I've got to heal you up. And then I've got to pull you from the ledge. And every week, Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday, he's talking me off the ledge again. Janice, I can. I can do this through you. If you'll move out of the way, I can do this with you. I'm the hero. You just follow me. I'm your daddy. I got this. And I step back and watch him do his thing again. Bless the Lord, O my soul, who. Who has saved you from destruction, redeemeth thy life from destruction. And then finally, who crowneth thee? You know, some people are not lovable. They got too much stuff in the way. Jesus. Jesus had to get rid of my iniquities because I couldn't come close to him. Then he had to get rid of my diseases because I wouldn't get near him. You know, I'm dark and he's light. And then after that, Jesus had to redeem me from the ledge, and he pulled me back. And then finally I turned to him and said, anybody that can do that deserves my attention. And he said, I've been waiting to crown you for a long time. Could never be kind to you because you're just wild and scratching everything. But once he gentled me down, he said, I'm gonna crown you. Not with gems and diadems, but I'm gonna be so good to you, you'll never want to leave me. Loving kindness and tender mercy. And then he said, I know you're hungry. I'm gonna satisfy your mouth with good things. And then no matter how old you get, girl, when the music gets going, you and I are gonna go dancing. And this is the song. So I want you to come to your feet. Now. I gone way over, but I hope you got your money's worth. There you are. I didn't even put a tip jar up here. These musicians, look at them. They don't even need a tip jar. Oh, this song came to me and I said, lord, what you want these people to hear? And he said, just be your old school self, little girl. And I said, okay. And I love this song. And I've screamed so much, I can't even hit the highs. Maybe this team behind me can pick it up. I got joy in my soul God is in control I got Satan on my track but I'm never turning back he's attacking every day But I'm watching while I pray no matter the attack.

I won't turn back this means war this feet hard. I've been in storm and the rain.

But the blood still stays the same.

Whatever's going wrong, my war clothes are on.

I might be in a daze but you can't have my praise no matter.

The attack, I won't turn back. This means war. This means war. Good God, y', all, what is it good for? This means for.

There's my Nigerian.

Got a little Cherokee, did you know it? You can't have my family. You can't have my increase. You can't have my breakthrough. You can't have my. You can't have my. You can't, you can't, you can't. Oh, I'm gonna go out the way I came in, Healed and frightened. You know who I'm battling?

Me.

Trying to give Jesus control.

Every time I get in trouble, we've switched spots. I'm in the driver's seat again.

Excuse me, Lord.

Come on up here, y'.

All.

Come on up here.

You're so cute. I got joy in my soul why God has made me I'm never turning.

Back.

And I'm watching while I pray no matter the attack, I won't turn back this means what? This means what? You got your fight on. Fear not the speed, Won't fret not, Faint not, forget not. You can't have my family. You can't have my family. You can't have my increase. You can't have my increase. You can't have my breakthrough. You can't have my breakthrough. You can't have mine. You can't have my. You can't. You can't. You can't. You can't. You can't have my family. You can't have my family. You can't have my morning. You can't have my morning. You can't have my breakthrough. You can't have my breakthrough. You can't have mine. You can't have mine. You can't have that. You can't have my family. You can't have my family. You can't have my increase. You can't have my increase. You can't have my breakthrough. You can't have my breakthrough. You can't have my. You can't have my. You can't. You can't. You can't. Lord, this means get out your hanky or your hand. Here we go. You know where we're going. This. I plead, I plead the blood. I plead, I plead the blood. I like it. I plead, I plead the blood. I plead the blood of Jesus. I. I plead, I plead the blood. I plead the blood. I plead the blood. I plead, I plead the blood. I plead, I plead the blood. I plead, I plead the blood. I plead, I plead.