JOE: What a beautiful day here, downtown Los Angeles Skid Row,
Fred Jordan Missions. I'm Joe Jordan. Today I wanted to share
with you about something that has been a challenge for me to
learn in my life, but I want to encourage you through God's Word
and also through how I've kind of battled and also worked
through some of this, and it's giving thanks in all things. You
say, boy, Joe, that's not an easy thing. I understand. We
live in a very challenging and hard world at times, and there's
pain and there's loss, there's heartache, there's broken
relationships, and there's just chaos in mayhem sometime. But I
want you to know from God's Word and through personally just
trying to be disciplined in this, that we can give thanks,
in all things to God. We can thank God in all circumstances.
And I want to share with you from one Thessalonians 5:16
through 18. It says this, be joyful, always pray continually
give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you
in Christ Jesus. It's not easy though to give thanks in all
things. It's not easy when we're struggling through things in all
circumstances to give thanks. But The Word here says these
three things that are so key. It says, be joyful, always pray
continually and give thanks in all circumstances, all
situations. The way that I've learned how to be joyful in all
things is just knowing that I know, that I know, that I know
that Jesus is my Lord and savior. I know that God is
always with me. He said to His disciples when He gave them the
great command of go and win all of those to Jesus, when He gave
the great commission to go into all the world and preach the
gospel. He said at the end of that passage, He said, and I
will be with you till the very end of this age. Jesus also
said, I'll never leave you and forsake you. So for me, it's
easy to be joyful always. It doesn't always mean happiness,
doesn't mean like, ah, my best day ever because times and days
are hard. But I have joy, a peace in my heart, a joy at all
times knowing that no matter what happens to me that day, no
matter what the circumstance, no matter what the situation, I
know that the peace of is in me. That God is with me and that
Jesus is with me always, and that He'll never leave me. He'll
be with me to the very end of this world, of this life. I take
comfort in that. Then it talks about praying continually. It's
really hard at times to pray continually. Some people think,
and I used to think as a kid, you got to get on your knees
until your knees bleed. You have to get in a prayer closet and
pray for hours and hours and days. But that's not what the
Bible's talking about, praying continually. We'll talk about
that a little bit more as we go on. And then the other thing is
give thanks in all circumstances. It's not always
easy to give thanks in all circumstances because at times
it's very challenging to give thanks in all circumstances. In
fact, here comes an ambulance right now on Skid Row, and we're
right in the middle of this, so it might get a little loud, but
you know what? I'm thankful that God gave us paramedics and
ambulances and the police officer that just walked by,
because someone is going to be rescued right now. And so real
life, real time, that's real sound. And you say, wow, isn't
that distracting? Well, no, because I've been doing this so
long, I'm so used to on Skid Row seeing crazy stuff just happen
all the time. But again, I give thanks. Why? Because right now
that ambulance who passed us is going right down the street to
rescue or save somebody, and our prayers are with them that the
Lord Jesus would touch whoever that person is. And if they
don't know Jesus, my prayer is that God would touch them and
save them, before they happen to pass away if that happens. But
to give thanks in all circumstances, I could have got
frustrated and irritated and just stopped. We could have
stopped the filming and taken a break. But again, I've just
learned in my life that no matter what comes our way,
whether it's an ambulance or a siren, whether it's whatever,
that we just keep going and we just keep saying, you know what,
Lord, I don't know how I'm going to get through this. I don't
know how I'm going to battle through this, but I know you're
with me through it to help me battle through it and you'll be
with me until I get through it. And so I can give thanks in all
circumstances. But again, it's not always easy. But I can tell
you this from God's word, if we will be thankful in all things,
if we will be joyful in all things, and pray continually, it
will help us move into a deeper relationship and commitment, a
deeper faith with God, a deeper trust in Jesus, and it'll give
us a greater love for our family, for our city, for our
community, and for our country. Paul's not teaching here that we
should just give thanks for everything that happens to us as
far as the evil that comes our way. That's from the enemy. We
know that when evil comes, when evil things happen, that's not
of God. The Bible says that all good things come from God above.
So when evil comes, Paul's not saying, oh, rejoice in that and
give thanks to God for the evil that comes into our life. But
what he is saying is, but in everything and everything, be
thankful because God wants to take what the enemy means and
meant for evil and He wants to turn it around for his glory. In
fact, the Bible talks about that how what was meant for evil. God
can turn around and make something great out of it. He
can take a mess in our life and make a miracle if we'll just
trust Him and believe in Him. We know that evil doesn't come from
God, but when it comes into our life, give thanks that God is
with us through it all, in the midst of the evil, in the midst
of the battle, in the midst of the struggles, we can still give
thanks and be thankful to God. Because God can take that bad
situation and He can teach us and we can learn and we can grow
through it all. Our joy, our prayers, and our thankfulness
shouldn't fluctuate depending on what's happening in our life. We
need to be steadfast. We need to be steady. We need to just keep
going, keep moving on. One foot in front of the other. If we
fall down, ask God to help us get up. Just don't go in
reverse. Don't be in neutral, but somehow, even if it's in the
lowest low gear of life, just keep moving forward, closer to
Jesus, asking Him to help you in all things. Decide that no
matter what happens, I'm going to follow Him. I understand
that's not our natural tendency. I understand that's not the
natural way of life. When things come at us, sometimes we want to
retreat. We want to hide. We want to crawl into a hole covers
over our head or run from it. But if we will just keep running
to God, trusting God, looking to Jesus to get us through the
situations that we're in, He will. It's His promise. When we
decide to follow these principles, we will begin to see
people in a new way. And we'll know that when we do God's will
and continue to do God's will and have that as our life's
mission to do God's will and follow His plan, we will be more
joyful and we will become more thankful. And in just
a couple minutes, I want to share with you a
little bit more about how we can be thankful in
everything because God is with us. Stay tuned.
ANNOUNCER: Tis the season to be jolly. Sure. That is a cute
saying. Jesus is the reason for this season. Now, that's a great
bumper sticker, but giving is the heart of Christmas. For over
80 years, Fred Jordan Mission has been giving to those on Skid
Row, the addict, the failed businessman, the distraught
mother, the abandoned sister, the lonely child. And what they
all have in common is not living in poverty. They all need help.
They all need hope, and they all need love. Jesus was born in a
manger on Christmas Day and at Fred Jordan Mission, we
celebrate the Christ child, the greatest gift to the world.
Again, this year, Fred Jordan Missions celebrating Christmas
with those on Skid Row. And we need your help to share with our
friends family, food boxes, new clothes, new shoes, baby
necessities, and for the kids new bikes. Will you help us
right now? You can give online with confidence at fjm.org.
That's fjm.org or please send a check to FJM Box 12345, Covina,
California 91722. However you choose to give, will
you please give a generous gift today?
And Merry Christmas to you and yours.
GINA: Well, Priscilla I'm so glad that you joined me today.
And where would you be without the legacy that your mother laid
for you growing up here on Skid Row? And tell us a little bit
about your story and what Fred Jordan Mission means to you.
PRISCILLA: Well, I was born and raised in Skid Row, and our
Christmases every year because my mom was a single mother, who
was a janitor and cleaned buildings here in downtown LA.
And our Christmases every year was coming to the Fred Jordan
Mission. And I remember all the kids from the apartment
buildings were so excited. We were so excited. And we would
wait till 4:00 in the morning to walk two blocks down, and just
wait for the blessing and the toys. And I remember one
particular Christmas when Mr. Fred and his wife pulled us out
from the crowd and they took us into this room and they gave us
blankets and a Christmas tree, and clothes. To me, that's been
one of the best Christmas that I ever had. And I remember my mom
always telling me to hold onto God, that I would be one of the
most richest women in this world if I just hold on to God.
Because our life wasn't really, it wasn't easy. She was a single
mom. She wasn't an abusive relationship in and out. I was
abused when I was young, but I remember her always being on her
knees, praying. Praying to God, and without him I wouldn't be
alive. I wouldn't be alive. And I just remember the blessings
and I can close my eyes and remember coming here for
Christmas during the December days, and just feel the love. We
didn't feel that love all year round, but when we came here, we
felt the love. We felt the love, and I was a little girl in need
of love, because I didn't have my father. And when I came here,
I felt that love. And I always said to myself, when I get
older, I want to do the same thing my mom did for me, for my
children. And I got hired. I went to school and I graduated
and I got my degree in social work and I got hired for
Retirement Housing Foundation, a beautiful
agency who offers low income housing for seniors.
GINA: Just the beautiful story of your story coming full circle
of when you've been given, now you've come back to
serve and to give those, how did that feel?
PRISCILLA: God is good. He's good. There's no words to
describe what He has done in my life, and I try to input that
every day when I go to work and I talk to my seniors and I see
my families who are in need and, God is good.
GINA: God is good, God is good, God is good, is good. Thank you
for sharing that. And where would we be without Him? And so
we are so blessed and thank you so much, Priscilla for
sharing. We'll see you again down here on the streets
of Skid Row giving back next year. Thank you.
JOE: Today on Skid Row at Fred Jordan Mission, I was talking
about thankfulness and how we give thanks and all things, but
I want to make it clear Paul wasn't teaching that we should
give thanks for everything that happens to us because sometimes
there's evil things that happen to us and those things don't
come from God. But what Paul is saying is in everything give
thanks. Why? Because Jesus is always with us. God is always
with us, even in those hard times, those times where evil
comes at you or the enemy's out to try to steal, rob. and
destroy our lives, God is with us always. Our joy, prayers and
thankfulness, we can't fluctuate depending on the circumstances
around us. I get to share all the time with all of our friends
that live here on Skid Row that no matter what the circumstance,
no matter how bad it gets, and it gets really bad here, that
God is always with them. That God loves them all so much and
that Jesus is there every single moment, and just reach out in
every circumstance to get His help, to make sure that you
know, that you know, that you know, that He is there for you.
Because He's right there always with us. And so it's so
important to just follow those principles of having joy because
Jesus saves us, and we have eternal life and hope because of
Him. Being prayerful, that God always knows that we're thinking
about Him and we want to be more like Him and also thankful in
everything that comes because we know that God can take a mess
and make a miracle. God can take a messy situation, and turn it
right side up. Because He is capable. Iin the end, being
thankful and having joy. It's so important because it gives us a
whole different mindset and attitude. I know that when I'm
grateful to the Lord for everything, when I give Him
thanks for everything, I have a peace and a joy that is beyond
understanding. It's beyond just my comprehension. He gives me
this comfort, peace, joy, knowing that I know that I know
that He's always there for me, that He'll always be there for
me. And He will take me through whatever situation comes up. And
so I'm thankful for that and with that thankful heart, it
helps me to love people more, to love my family better, to love
those on Skid Row and those who we serve better. As we have a
heart for Jesus that continues to be joyful and thankful. It
makes our whole life and outlook different, and I've seen it in
my own life. We become more dependent on God when we allow
Him to be the one to lead us in everything, to be the one that
helps us through everything. And as we depend on God, we learn
that God is always there to never leave us, to never forsake
us. When the enemy, when Satan, when the devil tries to throw
things at us to try to bring us down, I was sharing this in the
chapel earlier with all of our guests that came to our service.
When the enemy tries to come in and rob us of something or throw
evil at us or hurt us, and we give thanks and we know that God
and His power is greater and get to take us through it even
though we have to face hard times and we do. Everybody on
the street here faces hard times, but Jesus is still there
with us and He will take us through it. And when we do that,
instead of getting discouraged, depressed, despair, and just
falling apart, giving up, hiding under the covers or just
crawling in our tents, if you live on the streets, and saying,
ah, I'm not going to deal with this. I can't deal with this,
and you just kind of go into your shell. When we acknowledge
God, and that we love God, that we trust God and that we're
reliant and dependent on God, He gives us an attitude of victory,
and the devil hates it. And it gives us victory over those
situations so that the enemy doesn't win those battles, but
Jesus helps us to win those battles. In spite of the hurt,
the pain, the tragedy. It brings pleasure to God's heart when we
give Him thanks through all our situations. God isn't looking
for perfect Christians. He's not looking for perfect followers.
He's just looking for followers who want to be more like Him,
give him praise in all the circumstances, and that no
matter what, stop allowing the enemy to win battles in our
life. Walk in the victory that Jesus provided on the cross of
Calvary. When Jesus came, this earth gave His life and died for
our sins. He did everything that was necessary. He gave it all.
And if we place our faith, our trust, and our dependence in
Him, He will take us through any circumstance, any situation, and
He will give us victory. In Psalm 71:5, it says this for
you, oh Lord, are my hope, my trust from my youth, my prayer
to you is that Jesus would be your hope, and that you would
place your trust in Him. The devil is defeated when we have a
thankful heart, because during the times of difficulty in
trials, when we give thanks to God, it's a sacrifice that
brings praise and it pleases God. Are you thankful today for
something? Are you grateful today for something? I know that
as I talk to, I meet, I share with, I shake hands with, I talk
to those who live on the streets all around us. I know that
there's a lot to be discouraged about for those we serve. But
when you boil it all down, to knowing that you know, that you
know, that God is with you, that Jesus has died for you, and that
no matter what happens on these streets or on this earth, the
battle has already been won, the war has already been won, and
that your eternal hope, if you've placed your faith in
Jesus is heaven, then it makes everything else worthwhile
persevering to get through it all. That's what we need to do.
And we see that in James chapter 1. I've shared it before.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face
trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of
your faith produces perseverance, and James isn't
telling us that we should be thrilled and celebrate every
rotten thing that happens in our life, every pain, every sorrow.
We shouldn't be fake and false and put on a false smile. Hey,
this is my best day. If it's just been your worst day, but
what he is encouraging us to do is to persevere, to press on, to
never give up, to keep our trust and dependence in Jesus, and He
will make us more like Him. I've learned through The Word and
through just walking with Jesus for all of these years now,
almost 35 years, that if we will just continue to press on and
trust the Lord with all of our heart, all of our strength, all
of our mind, all of our soul. That God every day will make us
a little bit more like Jesus, and isn't that what it's all
about? Becoming more like Jesus? That's my heart and my prayer
for all of those that we serve. That's my heart and prayer for
you, our viewers, and my prayer for myself also. When we face
hardships and loss, pain and suffering, don't lose hope.
Don't give up no matter what the circumstance, trust God, trust
His word, and let Jesus have the victory through your life
because He is able. Through everything, start thanking God
in every circumstance, in every situation, not for everything
that comes at you, but in everything so that He can help
you walk through that with a better attitude, with victory,
and with a heart that says, God, I will trust you through it all.
No matter what happens to me, I will love you. I will honor you,
and I will serve you, because you are worthy. Today, if you
don't know Jesus, I just want to encourage you. All you have to
do the Bible says is believe and receive, and you can be saved.
Trust God with your heart and your life and you can be saved.
I just want to encourage you with that, because in this
ever-changing world, we serve an unchanging God. So today, if you
don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, all you have to
do is pray of prayer. Jesus, I'm a sinner. I need a savior.
Forgive me of my sins. Thank you for dying on the cross, for my
sins, come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior, in Jesus'
name. It's that simple, and you can be saved. You can know
Jesus, and you become a Christian, and then you have the
hope of eternal life in heaven. The greatest thing that you can
do is accept that free gift, that free sacrifice, so that you
can live in this life with God and Jesus in your life, and then
live eternity with Him in heaven. Be thankful in all
things because God is always with you. God bless you.
In just a few days, Towne avenue is going to be filled, filled
with what you say, bikes. Yes, literally hundreds of bikes have
been donated. Thousands of toys have been donated, and of
course, we can't forget the massive food boxes for Christmas
dinner that's been provided. But you say, well, why are you
telling me all this? Because I want you to know that this
street, this lonely street here on Skid Row and downtown Los
Angeles in front of Fred Jordan Mission will have thousands of
cars and people as we declare and demonstrate the love of
Jesus for Christmas. A few short days. It's going to be amazing
here, seeing the joy on the children's faces, seeing the
excitement on their faces, but we still need your help. We need
your prayers. We need your support. Would you stand with us
this Christmas, as there is so much more month at the end of
the money for most people in our country. These children and
families need us to step in to bring a hope and a brightness to
this Christmas. Of course, we're going to share Jesus, but we
also want to demonstrate His love by meeting people's needs
and blessing children with toys. Without us here and you as our
partners, it wouldn't happen. But with your best gift,
we will see an amazing day as Jesus touches
the lives of boys and girls, moms and
dads, men and women here on Skid Row.
ANNOUNCER: Join the conversation by connecting with
us on social media. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
and More. Visit us at social.FJM.org.
SINGING: We will overcome the sorrow, we
will see the dawn tomorrow. We will soilder on down this
road. As we reach for home. Reach for home.
ANNOUNCER: Please will you join us by feeding hungry
children and their families by phoning today 844-FJM-FOOD,
or donating online FJM.org that's
FJM.org or mail your check to Fred Jordan Mission 12345
Covina California 91722. Please will you help?
SINGING: Reach for home.
ANNOUNCER: The proceeding program was
sponsored by generous friends and partners
of Fred Jordan Missions