It’s not going to do you any good to wish you knew the word; the only way you’re going to know it is to study it. But be doers of the word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the truth]. v. 23: for if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror. v.24: for he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. v.25: But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], — now here it comes — he shall be blessed in his doing his life of obedience:. To be honest with you, it really would be inaccurate to say that you’ll be blessed if you read the word of god.

We might enjoy it. It might edify us. But the truth of the matter is if you read it and don’t do what it says… I almost think that there has come like a spiritual pride in the body of Christ, especially among so-called word and faith people or maybe the people who consider themselves a little more charismatic. I think that we have gotten so caught up in going to the conference and getting the cd, getting the dvd and getting all the books, we just think we know so much, but what are you doing? There is not one of you if you’ve been around the word of God very long that doesn’t know that the primary message in the bible is love one another. Amen.: Yet I had to rebuke people last night for almost beating other people up to get a seat in this conference. Thank God, that changed.

Joyce Meyer Ministries – We need to love people where they’re at; not compromise with them and get into their lifestyle. But at the same time we need to find a way to come ye out and be separate without making them feel we think that we’re better than they are.

Ginger: Let me ask you this quickly because I know we’re about out of time, but there are a lot of people out there who don’t realize that they’re walking around with a wounded spirit and don’t realize that God really does need to reach in and will help them through some of these areas, so what does it mean to have a wounded spirit?

Joyce: I think it can create a lot of sadness, a lot of insecurities in your life, a lot of feelings of having no worth and value. I know for me, when I walked away from my father’s house at age 18, I thought that problem is over but little did I know that I had the problem in me — in my soul, in my mind, in my emotions, in my memories, so until I dealt with it — which walking away from it is not dealing with it — until I dealt with it, it was affecting every relationship because it affected my self- image. And I had to learn who I was in Christ and find out what the bible says about how we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and how God created us in our mother’s womb with his own hand, and he wrote down every day of our life before ever yet one of them existed. I have to believe that if God in his all-inclusive wisdom didn’t stop something in my life, I don’t even need to try to figure that out because god is too great for us to figure out. What I need to do is say: you know what, God?  I don’t understand it but I’m asking you to work it for good and I believe that you’ll do that.

Ginger: Wherever that wound comes from.

Joyce Meyer – Jesus said, “father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” So we really need as Christians to not be so quick to condemn, judge and criticize.

Happiness is everywhere. It’s in a photo from yesterday; it’s in hopes and dreams about tomorrow. But what about today — right now? So many people live for the future at the expense of missing out on today. Joyce Meyer online embrace the life you have. Learn how to enjoy every day and discover the happiness hiding in your life right now with “the secret to true happiness” from New York times bestselling author, Joyce Meyer. It’s coming soon, so look for it at Joyce Meyer  ministries and wherever book are sold.

Joyce Meyer touches the world through books, television, radio and humanitarian outreaches and now Joyce wants to focus on you. (woman) it touches your heart, it changes your life. (man) to all the guys — come. (woman) it was more than i could ever expect. (announcer) if you’re looking to really experience God in your life, this is your time. (man) and now it’s our second time here; we loved it so much the first time, we had to get some more of it.

For three days, Joyce Meyer speaks from her heart and her life. Be part of amazing worship and begin to live a life you actually enjoy. The Joyce Meyer ministries 2008 conference tour. Admission is free, so bring a friend, bring your family and we’ll see you at a conference near you. Phoenix first assembly, Phoenix, Arizona, February 28 – March 1, 2008. Then, Winston-Salem, NC, Lawrence Joel veterans memorial coliseum, March 13 – 15, 2008, with worship by delirious? At both conferences.

Joyce: You are going to have a great time and I can’t wait to see you there!

Coming back by popular demand: viewers’ choice, your favorite episodes of “enjoying everyday life.” voting begins Friday February 1. Visit joycemeyer.org now through February 17 to cast your votes, then tune in starting June 23 as we count down to the most- requested episode right here on “enjoying everyday life.”

Joyce Meyer: Welcome to “Enjoying Everyday Life.” I’m glad you’ve joined us today because i think we have an excellent program that’s really going to help you in all your relationships with people. Frequently on our program we do things about relationships because, to be honest, the bible talks a lot about relationships. It’s about our relationship with god, our relationship with ourselves, and our relationship with other people. Today we’re talking with Dr. Gary Chapman who has written an awesome book on “the five love languages.” he actually discovered in his counseling ministry that people give and receive love in different ways and if you never learn what that is, you may spend your life trying to give somebody something that they don’t really want or never receiving yourself what you really need.

So, Dr. Chapman, good to have you back with us again today and we’re going to wrap some of this teaching up today so any good stuff that you want to give us today, we’ll be glad to have it. Yesterday we were talking about the giving of gifts. Once again, just to get us started, what are the five love languages?

Dr. Gary Chapman: one is words of affirmation: affirming the person verbally. One is gifts. That’s universal, giving gifts. One is quality time: give them your undivided attention. One is acts of service in which you’re doing something for the person.  And then there’s physical touch which is a deep emotional communicator that I love you.

Joyce Meyer: today we’re going to talk a little bit more about this giving of gifts because I think all too often we may give a gift out of obligation but it doesn’t really minister to the person because we have not taken the trouble to even find out what kind of gift they would want. An example that I’m thinking about is I ministered at a church here in my city sometime last year and I was so blessed with what the pastor gave us when we left because he had heard that we were moving into a new house and he took the trouble to go to a local store and get us a gift certificate where we could get things for our new house.  So often, people give you things but you can tell it’s just kind of a routine; this is what we give every speaker that comes in. It really meant a lot to me that he took the trouble. He had to call somebody and say, “what would Joyce like? What’s going on in her life right now?  How can we minister to her?” and he also found out what kind of coffee I drink and he gave me a gift certificate for that.  So, I just think that if we would really take the trouble to find out what people need and like or even want… I found out if you listen to people, it doesn’t take very long and they tell you something they want.

Gary Chapman: that’s right, especially if gifts is their primary love language. If gifts is number five for them, that is it doesn’t really mean much to them, you’re kind of wasting your time to do all that because it really doesn’t mean that much to them anyway. Joyce Meyer but if gifts is their primary love language, then the more attention you give to understanding the kind of things that would be meaningful to them. That’s why I sometimes say to husbands who say to me, “her love language is gifts and I don’t know how to buy gifts.” I say, “go talk to her sister. Talk to some family member who knows her, maybe even get them to go with you and kind of teach you how to buy gifts for her because they know her well, they know what she likes. So, if this is her language, you have to get on with the learning process and get somebody to help you.” normally a family member can help you do that.

Joyce Meyer: I remember one relationship in particular I was in where this person said, “I just really don’t feel like you care anything about me at all.”  I’m like, “how could you say that? I’ve given you this and I’ve given you that, I’ve given you this and I’ve given you that. I’ve given you clothes out of my closet. Na-na-na-na-na-na-na.” but what she needed was words of affirmation. So often our heart is right. We’re giving somebody what to us is like a big sacrifice but it’s still not what they need. Obviously I think this is a two-way street.  We need to find out what people need and give it to them but I think on the other end people need to also learn to appreciate whatever we’re giving them because if we’re making any effort to show them love, at least they can understand that’s the way you show love.

Gary Chapman: I had a good illustration of that recently. I was in Angola prison — I know you’ve been there — and I shared this love language concept with the prisoners primarily with the view to help them understand their parents. When I got through, one young man stood up — he was probably in his early 30’s.  He said, “dr. Chapman, for the first time in my life sitting here this afternoon I understand my mother loved me.”  he said, “my language is physical touch. I understand that now, and my mother never touched me. In fact, the only time I ever remember her hugging me was the day I left to go to prison. But as I heard you share those other love languages, I realized my mother spoke some of those to me.

I didn’t get it because it wasn’t my language but now I’m getting it. I’m understanding she loved me.” so you see it helps in both ways. Joyce Meyer ministries obviously the ideal thing is that we learn how to speak each other’s language but if the other person didn’t speak your language, if you see them speaking some of the other languages, you can understand intellectually “they did love me” and emotionally that begins to help you because now you understand they were loving you; it’s just they weren’t speaking your love language.

According to Joyce Meyer ministries to be honest, I think in a good relationship you have to do that. I’ve been married to my husband forty years and for me to sit here and tell you that he meets every need I have would be foolish because he still doesn’t. But I’ve learned that to be honest, I do like gifts and that’s not something my husband likes to go do. It’s not because he doesn’t love me; it’s just not him. But I also like acts of service and he does a lot of that. If I said to Dave at ten o’clock at night, “I really would like a bowl of frozen cherries.

Would you go to the store and get me frozen cherries?” he might look at me a little strange but he’d probably get dressed and go get the cherries. Joyce Meyer not very many people are going to do that. If I harped on it, he’d go out and run around and get me gifts all the time but he’ll buy me anything I want and if I’m out with him, he’ll say, “is there anything you want?” he just doesn’t do that, so I’ve learned to receive love from him the way he gives it to me, which is still one of my top love languages; it might just not be what I would always like him to do, but I don’t think in any relationship…

I’m sure I don’t always give him everything he would like, either. So we have to make allowances and look at what people do and not just always look at what they don’t do. I think most people really need some variety of all of these.

Gary: Yeah, I think if you give a person their primary love language in heavy doses, then the other four can be sprinkled in and they’re kind of like icing on the cake. We can receive love in all five languages but the primary is the one that really makes us feel loved. Once we feel loved, then the others can be meaningful as well, but if we don’t get the primary, the others won’t necessarily fill the bill.

Can I help you with that? Could I do that for you? Could I give you a ride there? You don’t have one of these. I have two.  Can I give you one? John 13:1 says:  before the Passover feast began, Jesus knew and was fully aware that the time had come for him to leave this world and return to the father.  And as he had loved those who were his own in the world, he now loved them to the last and to the highest degree. Wow! If I’m understanding this right, he’s saying that loving people to the highest degree you can love them is all about serving them. (v. 2)

So it was during supper, satan already having put the thought of betraying Jesus in the heart of Judas, (v. 3) that Jesus, knowing (fully aware) that the father had put everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was now returning to God — verse 3 is very important because it’s telling us that he is able to wash feet because he knew who he was. If you’re trying to impress people so you can impress yourself, then you won’t be able to serve people, you’ll only be able to do things that seem to be important because you will think that you get your worth and value out of the important things that you do.

I’ll tell you the truth and I mean this with all my heart, I think some of the most important people in the world and some of the most important people to God are the ones who do the little things behind the scenes.  (amen!) (applause) I really do!  I believe that. Even Billy graham has said publicly:  I’m getting a lot of my reward right here right now. You may not have somebody clapping for you every time you stand up like I do, but let me tell you something: if you’re doing behind the scenes simple little things that God has told you to do, you have an equal reward to anybody else.

If you’re praying for me, that’s one of the most important things I need.  One of the most important people in my life is my housekeeper. She’s the one who packs me for these trips and unpacks it all when I get home. She’s the one who helps take care of all these clothes that you like to look at. She’s the one who just makes sure that all the details are covered and she’s a very important person to me. Another young woman who works for me is like a personal assistant and she does a lot of things for me. I have an elderly mom and dad and an aunt, all of whom I’m responsible to take care of and just in doctor appointments alone, it takes up sometimes 3 and 4 and 5 days a month. This girl works for me. I pay her personally.

The ministry doesn’t pay her. She helps me with them and she has a gift with the elderly. They’ve known her for years. She takes care of their hair. She takes them to the doctor appointments and helps get groceries and does different things like that. She is extremely valuable to me. Can you imagine what kind of pressure that would put on me if I had to try to do all that? So, i help with the financial part of that and she helps with the labor part of that.

Don’t ever think if you’re doing things like that — just things that would come under the category of washing feet — that it makes you not a valuable person.  You are so valuable! Most people won’t do anything unless they’re getting a lot of credit and unless somebody’s making a lot of noise about it because to be honest with you, most of us still are learning how to do what we do unto the lord and not to be admired and appreciated. The people you’re doing things for should appreciate you but even if they don’t, you should still do what God has asked you to do and do it unto him. Loving people to the highest degree is serving them. Jesus was able to do it because he knew who he was.

So, where’s the joy in the church?  Why do we have so many unhappy Christians? (preach it!) It’s right there. You don’t need to wonder anymore why you’re not happy. It’s not your little house and your old car, it’s not because you didn’t get the promotion at work and it’s not all the other people in your life that you wish were spiritual giants and they’re not. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. (hallelujah!) (yes!) One more time:  if you know these things — and after today you cannot say you don’t know. (amen!) (applause) sorry, you lost all your excuses. “I’ve got problems of my own.

I need to get myself straightened out first.” no-no-no-no-no-no-no. You don’t have any ability to straighten yourself out. Forget that. What you need to do is deposit yourself with god, ask him to straighten you out, and you need to get busy sowing seeds into somebody else’s life so God can bring a harvest in your own. (applause)  can I give you a secret? The less you think about yourself, the happier you’re going to be. (applause) now, I don’t mean not to do things for yourself. I don’t mean not to take care of yourself. There’s a balance in everything.

You don’t need to go around all day long like that little robot I do for you on TV, just saying all day: what about me?  What about me? What about me?  What about me? What about me?  Beep-beep. What about me?  What about me? What about me?  (applause) get yourself off your mind! (amen!) Start washing some feet. Well, what if they stink? (laughing) some of the things that God asks you to do may not be the prettiest things in the world and they may not be the most pleasant things in the world but do them.  You’d be amazed how many divine appointments you’re missing because you don’t know what might be waiting for you, what miracle may be waiting for you at that little unpleasant foot-washing task.

John 13:4: He got up from supper, took off his garments, took a servant’s towel, fastened it around his waist. (v. 5) poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wiped them with the servant’s towel with which he was girded. (v. 6) when he came to Simon peter, peter said to him, lord, are my feet to be washed by you? [is it for you to wash my feet?] (v. 7 ) and Jesus said to him, you do not understand now what I’m doing, but you will understand later. (v. 8 ) peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet! Jesus answered him, unless I wash you, you have no part with me [you have no share in companionship with me].

Do you realize what that’s saying?  If we don’t do things for one another and there are two sides to this: people need to do things for others and others need to learn how to receive. Some people don’t know how to receive when you’re trying to do something for them and that’s equally bad.  Oh, no!  Oh, no! You just say:  wow!  Thank you! I appreciate that! I tell people all the time I’ve learned how to receive. Don’t come around offering me something, hoping I won’t take it because I will. (laughing)

Get rid of that holy, phony, religious act. You know you want it.  Take it. (laughing) don’t sit there and act like you don’t and make somebody try to talk you into it. Just say:  wow!  Praise god! I’ve been believing for that. Thank you! (laughing) I’m telling the truth and you know it. Get rid of that false humility. Some of you are disappointed if the person doesn’t try to talk you into it, just like:  okay. Well! (laughing) we don’t have any part in each other if we don’t serve each other.

How can I say Jacque and I have fellowship if she just works for me and I know she has a need and won’t get involved in the need? We need to be serving one another. Then he goes on and says: I’ve done this as an example to you, that you might do in your turn what I’ve done to others. I love verse 17: (John 13:17) if you know these things… How many of you know that you should be serving others? How man

y of you know that? You know that being a servant is the high call on our life? That’s what the word “minister” means, by the way. Minister doesn’t mean I’m a big shot, it means I’m a servant. A big shot is just a little shot away from home anyway. (laughing) it’s amazing how unimpressed the folks at home are with me. People come to my kids: what’s it like to have Joyce Meyer for your mother? She’s just my mother. (laughing) you know, just mom. (Joyce chuckles) (laughing) (John 13:17) if you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them.