(John) ABSOLUTELY! WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE OUR AGENDA; I’VE GOT ONE, I’VE GOT TWO, I’VE GOT THREE AND OH MY GOODNESS, I HAVE TO GET FOUR AND FIVE BEFORE NOON. WE GET SO CONSUMED WITH ALL THE STUFF WE HAVE TO DO OR THE PLACES WE HAVE TO GO THAT WE DON’T WALK SLOWLY THROUGH THE CROWD. ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE GOSPELS THAT’S AMAZING ABOUT JESUS IS HOW HE COULD STOP.
(Joyce) I STARTED TO SAY I’VE STUDIED THE STOPS OF JESUS AND IT’S AMAZING.
(John) AND THE DISCIPLES ARE TRYING TO HURRY HIM UP. HERE COME THE CHILDREN. THEY’RE TRYING TO SHOO THE CHILDREN AWAY. “HEY, WE HAVE TO GET GOING! AREN’T WE GOING TO THE SEA? AREN’T WE GOING TO DO THESE THINGS?” AND JESUS ALWAYS HAD TIME TO LISTEN, ALWAYS HAD TIME TO SEE, ALWAYS HAD TIME TO HELP AND REACH OUT AND CARE.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE CRAM OUR LIFE FULL OF STUFF, WE NOT ONLY DON’T HEAR, I THINK WE PUT OURSELVES IN A WAY OF INTENTIONALLY
NOT WANTING TO HEAR BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS AN INCONVENIENCE, EVERYTHING IS KEEPING US FROM WHERE WE WANT TO REALLY GO.
(Joyce) YOU KNOW WHAT, JOHN? I HAD TO REALLY FACE THE FACT THAT “I’M BUSY” WAS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE TO GOD FOR BEING RUDE AND HAVING BAD BEHAVIOR BECAUSE HE NEVER CALLED US TO BE BUSY. YOU CANNOT FIND A SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS WE’RE CALLED TO BE BUSY. WE’RE CALLED TO BE FRUITFUL AND JUST BECAUSE WE’RE BUSY, THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE’RE BEARING GOOD FRUIT OR THAT WE’RE PURSUING THE WILL OF GOD BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT’S WRAPPED UP IN GOD’S WILL IS THIS WHOLE LOVE WALK THING AND LOVE IS VERY SIMPLY HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE, SO IF YOU’RE MISTREATING ME IN YOUR PURSUIT OF SUCCESS, THEN YOU’RE NOT OBEYING GOD.
(John) THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BUSYNESS BUT THAT’S WHAT CHANGES LIVES. WHAT TOUCHES PEOPLE IS THE STOP, IS THE EXTRA CARE, IS THE SMILE, AND AGAIN, JOYCE, THIS IS NOT BEYOND ANY PERSON’S CAPACITY. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT LIVES THAT CAN BE CHANGED AND CAN CHANGE OTHER LIVES IS IT’S NOTHING COMPLEX THAT IS BEYOND A PERSON’S ABILITY TO REACH. EVERY ONE OF THE VIEWERS TODAY CAN BE THIS KIND OF PERSON BUT IT HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL.
