Walk It Out Wednesday: Gratitude and Thanksgiving | Pastoral Panel

Summary

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The Potter’s House Podcast

Episode: Walk It Out Wednesday: Gratitude and Thanksgiving | Pastoral Panel
Date: December 2, 2025
Host: The Potter’s House | Panel: Pastor Don, Pastor Cora, Dr. Val, Dr. Oscar Williams, Pastor Gorgeous, Sister April

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Episode Overview

In this special Thanksgiving Eve episode, the pastoral panel from The Potter's House of Dallas gathers to discuss the concepts of gratitude and thanksgiving. With honesty, warmth, and biblical wisdom, they explore how gratitude and thankfulness serve as both a mindset and an action—especially relevant during seasons of loss, hardship, and transition. Through personal testimonies, scriptural insights, and real talk about family pain and healing, this conversation encourages listeners to transform their spiritual posture as they head into the holiday season.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Difference Between Gratitude and Thanksgiving

[03:15] Dr. Val:

• Gratitude is the inward feeling or state of joy and appreciation; a posture of the heart.
• Thanksgiving is the outward expression—what you say or do to display your gratitude.

“Gratitude is that inward feeling… it’s a state of being. But thanksgiving is the expression, the outward expression of that gratitude. It's when you open your mouth and say, 'Lord, I thank you.'” (Dr. Val, 03:15)

[05:00] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Thankfulness is often transactional—responding to a specific moment or blessing.
• Gratitude is about relationship and remains even when specific transactions or blessings are absent.

“Thankfulness is transactional. … Gratitude encompasses all of your thank you’s into one… I am grateful not because of the transaction, but because of the relationship.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 05:00)

[07:59] Pastor Gorgeous:

• Thankfulness is a reaction; gratefulness is a cultivated mindset that lasts beyond single moments.

“So thankfulness is a reaction. Gratefulness is a posture... Gratefulness is a cultivated mindset that lives beyond the moment.” (Pastor Gorgeous, 07:59)

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2. Living Gratitude During Seasons of Pain and Loss

[09:11] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Expressing gratitude in all things, not just the good, is a spiritual command (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
• The challenge: finding thanks in seasons of grief and loss (personal testimony of losing his mother after Thanksgiving).

“It’s easy when it’s a good thing to give thanks. But if it’s a bad thing… you have to find a way to give thanks, because this is God’s will for your life as a believer.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 09:11)

• Mindset Shift: Focus on what was gained rather than what was lost.

“If I focus on the loss, I’ll dismiss the gain. … I choose to look at the things that I gained and not the things that I lost.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 11:30)

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3. Trusting and Challenging the Word in Difficult Times

[15:41] Dr. Val:

• Psalms 107:21-22 speaks of the “sacrifice of thanksgiving”—sometimes you must praise despite circumstances.
• Thankfulness is a conscious choice to trust that God will “lift the burden.”

[15:49] Pastor Cora:

• When facing emptiness (e.g., loss after divorce), challenge God’s Word to manifest:
  “If your word says your love never fails, show up for me.”

“Challenge the word to be for you what it's called to be.” (Pastor Cora, 17:41)

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4. Power of Gratitude & Praise in Spiritual Warfare

[19:26] Pastor Gorgeous:

• Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving go together (Philippians 4:6-7); the “with” in “with thanksgiving” is crucial—thanksgiving unlocks peace.
• Gratitude and thanksgiving are weapons for warfare that surprise and confound the enemy.

“When you respond with thank you instead of fear... it surprises the agenda of the enemy.” (Pastor Cora, 21:20)

[23:02] Pastor Gorgeous:

• Sometimes God’s presence is in the fire or pain, not outside of it. Avoidance leads to family conflict and internal tension.

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5. Gratitude and Neuroscience: The Power of Spoken Words

[24:43] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Affirming language releases dopamine and serotonin, scientifically supporting the scriptural truth that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
• Using affirming words can rewire negative thought patterns and reinforce faith.

“When you speak affirming language… you help reverse the language of the enemy.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 24:43)

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6. Transformation, Light, and the Butterfly Analogy

[27:15] Pastor Don:

• Transformation—like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly—is painful and often happens in dark, cocoon seasons.
• “You are the light” in darkness, placed by God to be the answer, not just to endure.

“You do not have to be afraid of the darkness because you’re the answer to the darkness. That’s why he put you there.” (Pastor Cora, 29:46)

• The butterfly, once transformed, should not return to “crawl” where it once struggled—don’t stay in places meant only to be passed through.

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7. Testimony of God’s Protection and Healing

[36:02] Sister April: (Testimony)

• Survived emergency surgery during pregnancy—told she might never have more children, but God provided.
• Encourages trusting God, even when unseen.

“Even though you can’t see what’s going on in your body, He can, and he will revive you and put you at the right place at the right time.” (Sister April, 37:14)

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8. The Trap of Staying Stuck: Mindsets and Emotional Health

[38:33] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Don’t stay in a mental prison of grief, hurt, or attention-seeking. You hold the keys to unlock your own freedom by choosing where to dwell.
• Manipulation can result from addiction to attention—seek authentic healing, not just sympathy.

“You are keeping yourself jailed because you have found a home where you should have been released from.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 39:45)

[41:01] Pastor Cora:

• Dysfunctional behavior and the quest for attention can masquerade as grief—acknowledge and break free from unhealthy cycles.

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9. Return to the Table: Community and Family Healing

[43:02] Dr. Val:

• The physical and spiritual act of gathering at the table is a key to emotional healing, communication, and family wholeness.

“If we could get back to the table... we can eradicate some of this unattention... get rid of some of these suicidal mindsets... clear up some of this stuff that’s going on in our conditions.” (Dr. Val, 45:02)

• The table is a place where all, even the broken, are invited and valued.

“Invite people back to the table in their broken state... Don’t judge me based off my past.” (Pastor Gorgeous, 46:07)

10. Gratefulness for Leadership: Honoring Bishop T.D. Jakes and Family

[48:23] Pastor Don, Pastor Cora, Dr. Val, Pastor Gorgeous, Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Deep gratitude for Bishop T.D. Jakes’ survival after a life-threatening heart attack and his continued ministry.
• Personal testimonies about Bishop’s personal care, prayer, and willingness to serve.
• Shout out to First Lady Serita Jakes and the entire Jakes family for their sacrifices and example.

“He is called to this. He has served this nation... faithfully and with a humble heart. We are grateful beyond thankful, grateful beyond.” (Pastor Cora, 51:21)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Outlasting Hardship:

  “Don’t change the turbulence, change me.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 27:10)

• On the Table as a Place of Healing:

  “Go back to the table. That’s the prophetic word.” (Pastor Don & Dr. Val, 44:59)

• On Shifting Focus in Loss:

  “If I focus on the loss, I’ll dismiss the gain… I look at the things that I gained and not the things that I lost.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 11:30)

• On Gratitude as Warfare:

  “When you respond with thank you… it surprises the agenda of the enemy.” (Pastor Cora, 21:20)

• On Growth and Transformation:

  “The butterfly… once it becomes a butterfly, it can never be a caterpillar again.” (Pastor Gorgeous, 32:00)

• On Bishop Jakes’ Impact:

  “We serve a God that knows how to give us a living witness.” (Dr. Val, 54:34)
  “Thankful for a house where you can come in broken and get healed.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 65:28)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Topic/Quote | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 03:15 | Difference between gratitude & thanksgiving | | 07:59 | Posture of gratitude vs. reaction of thankfulness | | 09:11 | Giving thanks in everything, even loss | | 15:41 | Sacrifice of thanksgiving in grief (Psalms 107) | | 19:26 | Prayer and gratitude together unlock God’s peace | | 24:43 | Neuroscience & the power of affirming language | | 29:46 | Light in darkness: you are the answer | | 36:02 | Sister April’s testimony of God's protection | | 38:33 | Breaking free from mental and emotional prison | | 43:02 | Healing by returning to the table | | 48:23 | Gratitude for Bishop T.D. Jakes & family | | 54:34 | Care in ministry: Bishop’s prayer and personal example | | 65:28 | Gratefulness for a “safe house” at The Potter’s House | | 73:07 | Pastor Cora’s closing prayer of gratitude |

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Closing Prayer & Final Reflections

[73:07] Pastor Cora closes:
A powerful, comprehensive prayer covering gratitude for blessings seen and unseen, for the strength to walk through valleys as light, for hearts to heal and minds to be renewed, and for all God has done, will do, and continues to hold back in protection.

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Takeaways

• Gratitude is a heart posture; thanksgiving is our outward response.
• Struggles, loss, and family pain are real—use gratitude both as a weapon and healing balm.
• Grace, transformation, and support are found in community—gather at “the table.”
• Do not let your past, pain, or the need for attention imprison you—you have the keys to move forward.
• Honor and nurture your spiritual and family roots—be grateful for those who serve, lead, and inspire.

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Subscribe for more soul-stirring discussions and remember: keep your fire lit and your faith immovable.

Transcript

[Paige]

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[Dr. Val]

The holidays are coming and I've got.

[Verizon Announcer]

A Boost Mobile gift just for you. Aww, for me? Anna? Yes, Anna, you deserve a gift. The Boost Mobile unlimited plan is just.

[Sister April]

$10 a month for the first two months.

[Verizon Announcer]

Then 25amonth forever with unlimited data, talk and text.

[Pastor Cora]

It's a gift.

[Sister April]

Thanks, Anna.

[Verizon Announcer]

Anytime, Anna.

[Pastor Don]

The holidays are here and the best gift is for you. Offer [e-mail] after your first two months, you'll pay $25 a month unless you go online or call to cancel. Requires autopay.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Oh, the car from Carvana's here. Wow, will you look at that? It's exactly what I ordered.

[Pastor Don]

Like precisely. It would be crazy if there were any catches.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

But there aren't, right?

[Pastor Cora]

Right. Because that's how car buying should be with Carvana.

[Verizon Announcer]

You get the car you want, choose delivery or pickup and a week to love it or return it.

[Pastor Don]

Buy your car today with Carvana.

[Verizon Announcer]

Delivery or pickup fees may apply. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven day return policy at Carvana.com.

[Pastor Cora]

You're tuned into the Potter's House podcast where we are encouraged by powerful testimonies. Life changing truth. Let's go.

[Pastor Don]

If you tapped in online, listen. Welcome to the Potter's House of Dallas, Texas. Anything, anything is subject to happen. Praise, worship, deliverance. Your marriage could get healed tonight. You could meet your husband or your wife right here in the sanctuary. Somebody could be DMing you online now. Now. Just check them out though. But I'm just. I'm just. Dr. Corey. What? What is your saying?

[Pastor Cora]

Is it money? Chase me, husband finds me still standing firm on it.

[Pastor Don]

It's going to happen. Listen, y', all. On this eve of Thanksgiving, as we push over. Over our gratitude into gratefulness, we thought we'd start by dialoguing. First of all, Dr. Val, we were talking in a meeting yesterday or the other day, and she was saying there's a difference between Thanksgiving and gratitude because many people thank God, but many people aren't grateful for their situations. Dr. Val, can you unpack some of that?

[Pastor Cora]

Yeah.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah. As we talked about tonight's topic and theme, gratitude and Thanksgiving, I realize that a lot of people don't really know the difference, and I think just for the next couple minutes, we'll just talk about it. But gratitude is that inward feeling of joy. It's a state of being. It's what you feel on the inside. You're happy, you're joyous, you're thankful. But thanksgiving is the expression, the outward expression of that gratitude. It's when you open your mouth and say, lord, I thank you, Lord, I bless you. Lord, I give you the praise. It's when you open your mouth and declare who he is, or it's when you perform acts of kindness towards somebody that shows your level of gratitude. So gratitude is that inward feeling, and thankfulness is that outward expression of that inward feeling.

[Pastor Don]

Dr. Williams, do you agree?

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I'm still somewhere back in. In the worship somewhere. I'm trying to. I'm trying to catch up with y'.

[Pastor Cora]

All.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I'm staying.

[Meundies Announcer]

Dr.

[Pastor Cora]

Glory, give him a time out.

[Pastor Don]

Dr. Williams, can you come back down?

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I'm. I am doing my best, but I'm somewhere between. He always provides over and over again. Late in the midnight hour.

[Meundies Announcer]

Good.

[Verizon Announcer]

Good.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Father, I'm just. All of these are running. You ever had a testimony in a song and just ran over over and over? I'm telling you, I appreciate Dr. Val's expression of gratitude and thankfulness and nothing more to add than I think of them as. Thankfulness is transactional. It is something we say or feel in the moment. Someone opens a door for you, you say, thank you. Someone gives you something, you say, thank you. Thank you usually comes right in the moment as there is a transaction that's happening. Thankful to God. God, you woke me up this morning. Thank you, God. You put food on my table. Thank you, God. The doctor's report reversed thank you. Gratitude, as she said, is more of a state of being. Gratitude encompasses all of your thank yous into one that I am so grateful for all the thank yous that he's allowed me to have that that even if I don't get another thank you, I can still stay in a state of gratitude because it's, it's a state of being. I am grateful not because of the transaction, but because of the relationship. I am grateful that I have access to the transaction.

[Pastor Don]

One of my favorite scriptures is, if you, if you like, where are they going? Psalm 105 is one of my favorite scriptures. It mirrors one of her favorite scriptures that she put in our group text, which is Psalm 107. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord. Why is that important to you, Dr. Cora?

[Pastor Cora]

Well, for me, I think when, when you talk about thankfulness and gratitude, gratitude is a posture, the posture of your heart, the posture of your mind, how you respond is your thankfulness. So thankfulness is your response. Gratitude is your posture, how you are able to, like he said, if you don't do anything else, if you don't say, yes, thank you, that's a gratitude in your heart. And so when I think about being thankful, you think of all of the things that God has done that makes you thankful. But when I think about being grateful, I think about all of the things he did not have to do, that he did, that I am thankful for. Because a lot of things he does not have to do.

[Dr. Val]

That's right.

[Pastor Cora]

He just does it. You can see. He doesn't have to do that. You just can see. You can hear. He doesn't have to do that. You can hear. And, and so there are things that make my heart posture, a heart posture of gratitude because there are things God has done in my life, for my life that he did not have to do. That brings me to a place of gratitude.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

That is so good to piggyback on what everyone has said. So thankful is a reaction. Grateful is a posture.

[Pastor Cora]

Boom, boppity, bop.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So thankful has to have something to point to. It has to have a moment to point to.

[Dr. Val]

Come on here.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Gratefulness is a cultivated mindset that lives beyond the moment of what thankfulness pointed to.

[Pastor Cora]

It lives beyond the moment.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

It lives beyond the moment. So I'm, I'm, I'm thankful for this moment, but Dr. Oscar was grateful that he still had a cultivated mindset beyond the moment. So where thankfulness is an opening of your mouth, where gratitude is opening of your mind.

[Pastor Cora]

That's pretty, Don. That's pretty.

[Pastor Don]

So that's how we're doing tonight.

[Pastor Cora]

I like it. That's pretty.

[Pastor Don]

Dr. Williams, what are you most grateful for? Because you really could have just. We all could have just stayed in that moment. What are you Grateful for in this season.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I take my time to answer that in a. In a way that is representative of this season, which is kind of one of the scriptures that I anchor. There's a scripture in Thessalonians First, Thessalonians, chapter 5, I think 16, 18, it says, Rejoice, always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. And it's that in everything. And so the everything sometimes is not good thing. The everything could be a bad thing. And it's easy when it's a good thing to give thanks. But if it's a bad thing or trying thing or a traumatic thing or a grieving thing or a lost thing, I have to find a way to give thanks, because this is God's will for my life as a believer. And so this season, as many, you know, we know, holiday season seasons can be challenging. My mother passed two days after Thanksgiving, so Thanksgiving is always a reminder of a loss. And yet, and still I search to find a way to be thankful in everything. And as a believer, and that's why I wanted to pause and say it, because I didn't want to just go to the happy end. I want to go to the real end that as a believer, some of us are searching for something to be thankful for. It's not what we shout about. It's not what we wait. And when the music dies down and when. When we sit down and when we sit in, whatever it is that we're dealing with, we're searching for a way past the grief and past the pain to be thankful for. And I want to say this to that, that the way I found in my seasons to be grateful and to be thankful is to remember all that God deposited and not look at all that God took.

[Pastor Cora]

Whoa, that's nice.

[Pastor Don]

So you reverse it because.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Because it's a mind thing. Because if I focus on the loss, I'll dismiss the gain. And it's the enemy's job in anything to keep me looking at what I lost. Lost a job, lost money, lost this, lost a house, and forget all that I gained. Gain knowledge, gain peace, gain trust, gain stability. What did I gain? And so I choose when I'm finding that in everything, I look at the things that I gained and not the things that I lost.

[Dr. Val]

That's good.

[Pastor Don]

It's tough to even come in and follow that. Any, Anyone can jump in. Because what I'm thinking about, if you're honest, you're watching us online. If you're honest, in the audience. There will be empty seats at the Thanksgiving table tomorrow. And your perception on how you see the empty seat often dictates how you communicate with your family member. They say that in the month of November, depression and suicide tends to be the highest because of the loss of loved ones and. And the powder keg of lost jobs, finances, family breakups, and so on and so forth. How do we deal with that properly? Anyone can jump in here because what I often see are family fights and family feuds. At the table are a bunch of people who don't know what to do with the pain they feel.

[Dr. Val]

So if I could jump in right here, the scripture that is my default is Psalms 107. Pastor Corey, I didn't know that was going to be part of yours. Psalms 107, verses 21 and 22. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and his wonderful works unto the children of men and let them sacrifice the sacrifice vices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing. So the reason that's real, that's my default, is because that 22nd verse says, Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving. So what that means is you have to make a concerted effort, a conscious choice to praise him even when the circumstances and your feelings suggest otherwise. It means I don't care what's going on right now. I make a conscious decision to praise the Lord and into everything God give thanks. Thank him for the good, thank him for the bad, thank him for the ugly, thank him for the pretty. Because all things are working together for my good. Cuz I love him and I've been called according to his purpose. So when you see the empty seat at the table, think about the good things that happened when that person was here. No, I'm not telling you not to cry because you're going to cry. I was crying because of the loss of my sister. I still cry. She's been gone three years. I was close to her, very close to this sister. But when I think about the times we spent together in the midst of my pain, in the midst of my tears, if I thank him, he'll lift the burden. If I thank him, he'll lift my heavy head. If I thank Him. And this is where the people of God kind of take a seat back is when they don't trust the word. If you trust it, thank him and trust that he's going to lift it. Trust that if you thank him, he will make you feel better. Trust that if you thank him, you'll come up out of this depression and this dilemma.

[Pastor Don]

Come on.

[Dr. Val]

If you thank him, trust that thankfulness will work for you, that it's going to work in your favor.

[Pastor Cora]

I think even on top of the trust, I tend to challenge the word when I'm going through a hard time. This will, it'll be. This will be my third Thanksgiving since my divorce. And it was very, very traumatic and ridiculous for me going through that Thanksgiving. I had to remember that God's love never fails. And even when the love that you thought was going to be forever happens to fail, God's love never fails. And so when I was devastated and down that first Thanksgiving looked, thinking of the empty seat, having to walk into the Thanksgivings by yourself, and so on and so forth. I challenge the word that if God's love never fails, show up for me. I challenge the word that if he can give me a peace that surpasses all understanding, show me what that looks like. I challenge the word that if he is a comforter to those who need comfort, show me what that comfort looks like. And so sometimes when you're looking at the empty chair and you want to get angry, you want to be upset, you need to grab the word and begin to challenge the word. God, be that peace for me that surpasses all understanding. Be that comfort for me that I need in this moment. Show me that your love never fails. Because right now I'm feeling down, I'm feeling heavy, I'm feeling broken. And God will show up to the challenge because. Because his word cannot come back void. That's why I challenge it. You can challenge. You can't challenge your word. Your word is raggedy. Your word is going to come back void. It's going to fall to the ground. But God's word from your mouth cannot come back void. So when the heaviness comes, when the weight of heaviness comes, when the weight of grief comes, when the weight of that pain comes, challenge the word to be for you what it's called to be.

[Dr. Val]

You said it better than I could. Go ahead.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

It's funny. It's funny you say that. That's. That's truly why you. My sister, when the scripture says greater is he that is in me than he that's in the world. And then we take that parallel. He says his word will not return to him void. If he is in me and I speak what he said, what he said in me going to come back to me.

[Dr. Val]

Exactly.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So I am going to benefit from what he is in me. Told me to say, uhhuh. So then your mouth is a result of your mind.

[Dr. Val]

Hello.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So? So you have to have the gratitude to say listen, what I speak is of God in bad times. So now I say that because you went to my default scripture. Cuz we always say I want the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Wait a minute. Before you go to verse seven, you got to back up to verse number six. Go back up Cuz verse number six says be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Here's the problem. We go to prayer, we go to supplication, we talk about be anxious. But there's one word that's in. It's called with. It has to be accompanied with thanksgiving. Your prayer has to be accompanied with thanksgiving. Your supplication has to be accompanied with thanksgiving.

[Dr. Val]

So.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So you're praying, but you're leaving the main ingredients out. You're hurting, but you're leaving the main ingredients out. So to study the word thanksgiving is not the mindset here. It's a Greek word called yokosia. Yokosia is a grateful language that you open your mouth and you say something. No matter how, how I feel, I open my mouth because how I see God is different. How I feel about my situation. So I'm challenging the word. So I'm not brought down by how I feel because I know who I lean on. Then here's the result of it now. The peace of God because my praise ignited his peace which surpasses all understanding. In verse number seven it says he's guard. He guards your heart and your mind.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Yeah.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Wait a minute. The word guard lit means to dig a trench around, which means he will make sure the enemy can't reach you. That's good even in this season of your life. So why are you saying what about me? God. God says look at the trench that's around you. Look at the fence I put around you. That's the peace. Everyone cannot understand it.

[Pastor Don]

Why?

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Because you're not in this fortress. Okay, Okay. I said I wasn't gonna do that. So you can't. So. And I'm trying not to do that. Here's what happens. So when he says be anxious for nothing, that word anxious is not talking about be concerned. The word anxious literally means to divide apart. He said don't be divided. Right now I need you single minded. Pray and thank me for whatever you're dealing with.

[Pastor Cora]

Thank.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Because what will happen is my feelings will not outweigh my faith. Okay, I'm. I'm. I'm sorry.

[Pastor Cora]

Your faith.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

I'm, I'm. I'm. Because we're not challenging the word. We're not being thankful in everything. In submerged in it. I'm going through God, be thankful.

[Pastor Don]

Why?

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Because you can tell him you're going through it.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Pastor Cora]

And it surprises the enemy.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

What?

[Pastor Cora]

When you respond with thank you. Instead of fear and anxiousness and worry, it surprises the agenda of the enemy. The agenda of the enemy was for you to be in despair, for you to be broken down, for you to see this situation and say that God does not provide and he will not provide. But when you begin to say, I'll praise you with half a turkey, I'll praise you with no turkey, I'll praise you. If I got to take my kids to the McDonald's line, I'll praise you. If all we're eating is bread and some sugar, I do not care. I'm going to praise you. No matter the circumstance, if only to surprise the enemy, it will surprise him. And when you begin to surprise the enemy, you sharpen your weapon for warfare. And when your weapons for warfare begin to get strengthened, you begin to get battle ready. And when you are battle ready, no matter what is thrown at you, it's like, let's go, let's go, let's go. I'm grateful for the fact that you.

[Dr. Val]

Can roll up because the weapons of.

[Pastor Cora]

That, you get knocked down, come on in.

[Pastor Don]

But what are they?

[Dr. Val]

They're mighty.

[Pastor Cora]

Mighty. I say to the pulling down of strongholds, any stronghold.

[Dr. Val]

Wait a minute, can those weapons are gratitude and thanksgiving.

[Pastor Don]

Break down the weapons.

[Pastor Cora]

I tell you, we have.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Some of us don't want to get in. They don't want to.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Pastor.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

I don't want to be in anything. However, there's a problem if you don't get in. For Hebrew boys, God is not outside the fire. God is in the fire. So sometime to get his presence, you got to get in the fire. You got to get in the mud.

[Pastor Cora]

I told you, they still don't want to get. Well, what's interesting, they don't want to.

[Dr. Val]

Get in the fire.

[Pastor Don]

We often run from fire. But then Jeremiah tried to run and backside. He says, it's like fire. Shut up in my bones. The very thing that you're trying to run from is actually in you.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

It's in you.

[Pastor Cora]

Come on, come on, come on.

[Pastor Don]

So I think we must deal with the spirit of avoidance. I think what happens at most family reunions and most Thanksgiving Christmas occasions is that it's avoidance being cataclysmic. It's this cow to keg of explosion. So now we're fussing, cussing. Can I say it at each other? Because we have all been avoiding the same thing, which is the trouble in the middle. And you said something, you said something and it sparked in my mind that could it be possible that your pain is. Is the commercial for the power of the movie that's about to come in your life?

[Pastor Cora]

It was for the woman with the issue of blood.

[Pastor Don]

If we don't acknowledge the pain, we can't transform it.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Why do we run from pain?

[Pastor Cora]

Cuz it hurts.

[Dr. Val]

It hurts.

[Pastor Cora]

What do you mean?

[Pastor Gorgeous]

But hurt makes you better question.

[Pastor Cora]

Ask a better question.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

You're running from what makes you better.

[Pastor Cora]

Ask a better question.

[Pastor Don]

Hurt.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

It makes me better, duh.

[Pastor Cora]

But it hurts.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

But I'm still gonna get better. But I'm challenging the word.

[Pastor Don]

But it's. It's the worm. Go ahead.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Yeah, I, I totally get it. I want to add to something that we said about language. Because what I've started to think about is neuroscience teaches us that when you speak affirming language there are things that are released in your mind. Dopamine, serotonin that help almost reverse or reroute that those negative. Or override those negative thoughts. So it's not just being spiritual and, and saying things of thank you and, and, and saying good things. But death and life lie in the power of your tongue. So says proverbs. And scientifically, when you equip your language with affirmations that speak back to you the word you help reverse the language of the enemy that's coming in your ear gates when you come back. Because, because all of that we said, and I get what you're saying. When we trust the word, which is what I hear, when we really trust the word and take the word for what it is, we, we will use it and be surprised. Not, not just the enemy is surprised, but you'll surprise yourself that the word really works. Yeah, I remember I was on the flight and it was turbulent and I said I'm going to try this thing called tongues. I'm going to see, I'm going to see. I'm going try this thing called tongue.

[Pastor Don]

Is trying Jesus, he said, let me. Well, Jesus is.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I mean that's the embodiment of Holy Spirit.

[Pastor Don]

Come on, try, try.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I mean, that's what I mean. If you were confused by it. Tongue speaking in tongue. My prayer language, my heavenly language. Because I said if they say to me, and this is what you were saying. If you say that speaking in this language that only the Holy Spirit can interpret to God. You better teach something. If this really works, let me put it to work.

[Pastor Don]

Come on.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I started when. When the turbulence started on the plane, I started to go into a heavenly language. It did not stop the turbulence, but it calmed my nerves.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I was looking for the turbulence to stop, but it was an internal thing that happened that made me no longer afraid of the turbulence. But I could ride through the turbulence because my spirit grabbed hold to the Word. I put the Word to test. I said, prove me now. This is what the Word says. Prove me now and see. I said, God, if this works, don't change the turbulence, change me.

[Pastor Cora]

Don't change the turbulence, change me. That's dirty work.

[Pastor Don]

If I wore a referee earlier, I would have. I would have sat in the middle like a caterpillar. The caterpillar does not know the manifestation of the butterfly. And it hurts to be transformed. How in the world do we deal with our transformation in dark places? That's my question. Because all of us are in this cocoon of being transformed into the spirit of thanksgiving. And in the cocoon there is darkness. We lose who we are. Our shape changes, our mind changes. How do we deal with that stage?

[Dr. Val]

I think it's when all of you were talking, this is what came to me. Because when you're in dark places, it's about your state of mind. And the scripture says, think on these things, things that are lovely, true, just, honest, of a good report. If there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think. If there be any praise, think on these things. So the way you think is the way you talk out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth is going to speak. So if you put in your thoughts the things that are lovely, true, just honest, and of a good report, what comes out of your mouth will be true, just love, lovely and of a good report.

[Pastor Cora]

I think for me, you have to remember that you are the light. You know, if you're in a dark place, it's less scary if you got a flashlight. When God puts you in a dark place, he puts you in the dark place because he knows that you are the flashlight. David is walking through the valley of the shadow of death. He's not fearful, fearing any evil. Not that there isn't any evil present. He is not fearing any evil. Why light is with him. So when you are in a dark space, in a dark situation, the best thing for you to remember is that God is with you. God is in you. So light is with you. Light is in you light is you. You do not have to be afraid of the darkness because you're the answer to the darkness. That's why he put you there. So when you are made aware that I'm here to be an answer, not an attack, then I'm able to adjust myself into the alignment of the anointing that is created in this dark space.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah, that's good.

[Pastor Don]

I love that.

[Pastor Cora]

Is.

[Pastor Don]

I love it. An answer, not an attack. Because we're so busy trying to do things in our own strength.

[Pastor Cora]

Oh yeah.

[Pastor Don]

Am I the only one? Am I the only one? Can y' all back me up online in the audience? But then the text says, not by might nor by power, but by my.

[Dr. Val]

Spirit, sayeth the Lord.

[Pastor Don]

Says the Lord in the big book.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

It's funny.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Did you give us your anchor scripture?

[Pastor Don]

It was tag team with Psalm 107. It's also Psalm 105. They're the same thing. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord. And I often found out that Psalm repeats particular scriptures, whether it's ASAP or David writing because God wants to cement this in our spirit to be thankful.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

It's funny you make that bold statement.

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[Pastor Gorgeous]

The butterfly is in the caterpillar. But the only way it becomes the butterfly is it has to be light in a dark place.

[Pastor Don]

Come on here. Come on here.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

And sometime for God to get that out of us, John, he has to put us in a place of uncomfortability to say, I'm going get that butterfly out of you. But the greatest thing about the butterfly, once it becomes a butterfly, it can never be a caterpillar again. Telling you can.

[Pastor Cora]

I'm tired.

[Pastor Don]

No, no, I love it because you just gave me a whole another sermon. The problem is we've been thinking of ourselves too low. The caterpillar was on the ground, but the butterfly has a choice to visit the ground. And the problem is you're visiting. Oh God. Some of. Sometimes we stay in places that we should only be visiting.

[Pastor Cora]

Oh my.

[Pastor Don]

Paul. We stay in jobs, we should be visiting. We say in relationships that we should be visiting. We say financial income that we should be living.

[Pastor Cora]

How dare you?

[Pastor Gorgeous]

That's so good.

[Pastor Cora]

How dare you. The audacity. Honestly.

[Pastor Don]

I'm trying not. I'm trying. See, see, when Dr. Crumder started singing the song, I. I felt my hoop coming on. But the problem is we live in places too long. And we wonder why the thing that was in the place starts getting. Getting on us when it was never meant for us to stay in the.

[Pastor Cora]

Place to walk through.

[Pastor Don]

David says, though I'll walk through through the valley of the shadow of death. Which blew my mind. I just got to throw this in real quick. I. Give me 10 seconds on this take. Take 20. Okay. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It's just interesting me to me, Justin, because David is walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Yes, with confidence. But When I read 1st Samuel, chapter number 17, I found out that David ran to Goliath. I had it confused, Pastor.

[Pastor Cora]

Yeah, yeah, that's my favorite part about it.

[Pastor Don]

He ran through the valley to sling. To throw the slingshot at Goliath. I thought that the valley of the shadow of death was when he was fighting Goliath. When he's walking through, he's dealing with the issues of his own life. Yeah. And sometimes you think it's about the battle of the giants on the outside, but it's really about the enemy. Enemy that God's Trying to teach you how to conquer. Somebody help me get out of this, because it's gonna turn into a whole series.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

What's so true is that because I want to kind of elaborate what you're saying. When David walks through the valley of the shadow. You can't have shadow if there's no light.

[Pastor Cora]

Right? Right. Because that's kind of like what I had said.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So.

[Pastor Don]

So.

[Dr. Val]

Right.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So. So.

[Pastor Cora]

A little bit.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

So the light.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So the light has to be present.

[Paige]

It does.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So God has to be with David. So that's why he cannot fear. So what he's seeing is a shadow of what appears to be substance. But only thing is doing is a reflection because the light causes the shadow.

[Pastor Don]

Okay, I. I could talk to these brilliant minds all day, because now I'm going over into Genesis. He says, let. Let there be light on day number one. But he doesn't create the sun until day number four.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Come on.

[Pastor Don]

This actually means that God is the light. This is why when you get to the book of Revelation, there is no sun and moon because the glory is just shining. And I think we depend on other people for too much light rather than the light of God.

[Pastor Cora]

Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. What do you mean, oh, my? What do you mean? What are you saying? What do you mean, oh, my?

[Pastor Don]

I really want to get some of you all's individual thoughts, but because we talked about having a good report, we talked about testifying of the glory of God and the goodness, whether it was our light in dark places or us just walking through various times. We have a sister in our audience with a testimony. Sister April, would you begin to make your way down? She's got her family with us. She's got her boys with us. It's not just about the stage. It's all also about what God is bringing to the stage. Let me let you know that your voice matters here at the Potter's House of Dallas, Texas. Can you give it up for our sister, Sister April?

[Pastor Cora]

Hi, April. So tell us. Tell us what the Lord hath done for thee.

[Sister April]

So much. But I'll just give one testimony for the time. But I wanted to give a testimony of a time where I was pregnant and I thought everything was fine. And I had pain, like a lot of pain. And I was like, something's wrong. So I went to the doctor and the doctor was like, something's going on with your pregnancy and we have to do emergency surgery on you. They did a lot of tests on me, and I realized I was bleeding on the entire inside. Of my body. And if I didn't go, they were like, you would have not made it through the night. And so I did the surgery. I was extremely scared because I never had surgery before. So then I did the surgery, and I had a part of me that changed so drastically that I was like, well, Lord, am I ever gonna have kids after this? Cause I already had one kid at that point. And the doctor came in and was like, you will have many kids. And I was just like, okay, you know, many. And then I have two more kids after that. So God is real. Even though that you can't see what's going on in your body, he can, and he will revive you and put you at the right place at the right time and have the right doctors to perform that emergency surgery. And I just say that every time, single time, that God has a plan for you, and you just have to know that it's nothing by accident and you have a good future ahead of you. Just keep trusting God.

[Pastor Don]

Come on, y' all better take the roof off this place.

[Pastor Cora]

We like it. We like it. This one of her little babies right here.

[Pastor Don]

Wow. Wow to me. And. And we're. What I'd like to do as pastor's cor is coming back. I'd like to have a follow up here because I'd like. Before we get our closing thoughts, what I thought about is that there are many of you watching online and in the audience that God is trying to birth something in you and through you. And the enemy is trying to stop your mindset from thinking that you can. She was able to not just have. Listen, I saw her kids. They are three growing boys. Can we give God praise, honor, and glory. As we try and wrap this Thanksgiving eve up at the table of Thanksgiving? I think we broke down Thanksgiving.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Can I say something, please? It's just a point that kind of reverberated in my head. Before we wrap it up, something was said in terms of staying in something too long. And we were talking backstage about, you know, testimony Pastor Cora has about being stuck in mud, but it was something that was said on the panel that just prompted a thought. And I just want to speak this. This might not be for everybody, but somebody looking that. Don't allow yourself to stay in that state, that mental state that robs you of the joy of the moment. Because sometimes. And I get it, I get it, whether it is grief or anger or some stuff we're just holding on to, that we go back into and it pulls up those things we refuse to release it Maybe it's hurt. Maybe it's something a family member did. And you keep going back to it because you've now found solace in those feelings. And when we were talking, it just impressed upon me to remind you don't have to stay in that state. You don't have to go. You can make a choice not to revisit that place that hurts you. You don't have to do it. You don't have to be afraid of going around your family members. You don't have to be afraid to go there. You can make a choice that I am not going to allow my mind to encapsulate me once again in this prison. And now you sitting around, you don't want to eat, you're sitting around people, you don't want to talk, what's wrong? And everybody else is having a good time but you, because you have left locked yourself in the prison, because you keep going back to that place that you haven't released, you have the keys to unlock that prison door. You are waiting on God to bring you out. And God has said, I've already given you the keys. In my word, I've given you all this word. You're impacted. With all this word, I deposit all this. You are keeping yourself jailed because you have found a home where you should have been released from. And when you go into this season, this is not just about Thanksgiving, but even about the end of the year. Some of us are traumatized by beginning of the year because of what Covid did. And every time that we used to get excited about a new year, new me, and now it's like, oh, Lord, what's going to happen this year? Don't you go back into that prison. Don't allow the enemy to take you back and rob from you the joy of the Lord that is present for you.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

I just.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

I just had to release that. I felt that in my spirit.

[Pastor Cora]

I think that's really good because we can get addicted to attention as well. And so it may not even be that, well, let's address it, that you are bitter or angry. You are just seeking attention. So not allowing yourself to be a manipulator instead of moving in freedom. Because you have gotten really comfortable with the attention that you get because you're struggling, the attention that you get because you're suffering, the attention that you get because you're grieving. And so now you're manipulating everybody with your emotions and your grief when you really need to come up out of that place of seeking attention, we can get addicted to dysfunctional behavior. And we choose try to justify it. Like, I'm just grieving. But it's really not you grieving, it's you manipulating. So let's, let's. Let's try not to do that as well in this happy holiday season.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

And part. And, and, but to that. Because some of that is because the enemy has made us think that that's the only way you're going to feel seen.

[Pastor Cora]

Exactly.

[Pastor Don]

Wow.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

You, you, you, you play you. And I don't want to say play a role, but you go back to this default.

[Pastor Cora]

Yeah.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Because in your mind, if I don't do this, I won't feel seen. Nobody will speak to me. Nobody will give me attention. And part of that breaking that addiction is because that's unhealthy manipulation like that is unhealthy. And what. And in order for God to heal us completely, you gotta expose even the stuff that you've gotten comfortable with. We like to point out what other people have done to us. But what have you done to yourself?

[Pastor Cora]

Yeah.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

That has caused you to stay in a state that you should have been released from.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah.

[Pastor Don]

Then I got to jump in and ask Dr. Val and Pastor Don to jump in this. Because I need the answer to helping us be delivered from the addiction of our pain.

[Dr. Val]

So if I could talk about the table, because it was at the table that the family would gather and each person in the family would have a voice. So since the enemy has broken up the table, meaning we don't eat together anymore, we don't sit down together anymore. We don't talk together as a family. So we come out into the world looking for this attention because we don't get the opportunity to get it at home. Old Testament, they called around the table table fellowship. And when they would come together at table fellowship, it wasn't just for eating. It was for discussions. It was for gathering their thoughts and sharing those thoughts with one another. And so that has been broken up, taken away, destroyed, and it has destroyed the family. But if we could get back to the table, ironically, I don't know if it was ironic or prophetic. As long as we've been having these walkout Wednesdays, we've been sitting at a table and at these tables, we've been having these discussions that were being had in the Old Testament around the table fellowship. And it is a place of community. It's a place where we commune together, where we have communication. It happened at the table. Jesus brought them to a table.

[Pastor Cora]

Right.

[Dr. Val]

And so it happened at the table. And so here we sit at a table, and I think what God is trying to tell the people of God to do is to go back to the table.

[Pastor Don]

That's the prophetic word. Get back to the table.

[Dr. Val]

The table at home so that we can eradicate some of this unattention or. Or this needing attention. Get back to the table at home so we can get rid of some of these suicidal mindsets. Get back to the table at home so that we can clear up some of this stuff that's going on in our conditions.

[Pastor Cora]

Get back to the day, Prepare one.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

So that is the main reason why he said, I'mma prepare a table.

[Pastor Cora]

Yeah.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

But I. I would add to this what Dr. Compton and Pastor Gorgeous said is the first thing I would say is stop worshiping your opinion.

[Pastor Cora]

He said, stop worshiping your opinion.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Your own opinion. This is what I think. This is what I think that. Stop worshiping what you. You think there's a man in the Bible by the name of Mephibosheth, he gets the opportunity to call to the table. He says, what do you want to do with a dog like me? Catch this. So let's not just come back to the table. Let's be like that man did, like David did. Invite people back to the table in their broken state.

[Pastor Cora]

Oh, my.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

In the. I know that your family ain't messed up, but invite them back to the table. I know, because it's really, really important that we don't just lean on, go back to the table. We got to make sure the table we going back to invites us back to the table. And don't judge me based off my past. Invite me back to the table so we can have those discussions. Give me word to fight the fact I don't have to worship my opinion no more.

[Dr. Val]

And I can't think of the scripture. But it said when they said, come to the table, he invited all of them to the table, right? And everybody had an excuse why they wouldn't come to the table. He said, okay, they'll go to the.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Highway, go to the highways.

[Dr. Val]

Get anybody and get anybody to come to the table. If you get them all come to the table, they'll all have a voice at the table, and they don't have to. So what, you don't want to come? Let me go get somebody that will replace you.

[Pastor Don]

They will replace you and come to.

[Dr. Val]

The table, and let's talk.

[Pastor Don]

So this is piercing to my heart, and I'm trying not to burst in tears. I got allergies on this stage because I thought about all the people. First of all, I thought about the times that I thought I was like a dead dog. And I don't know who this is for. You might be watching online. Sometimes people don't come around at Thanksgiving because they don't think they're worth anything. They don't think you will accept them. They think they've had too many divorces, too many kids, drank too much alcohol, their record is too long, smoked too much, whatever. And I. I just need everybody to make a commitment to bring people back to the table.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah.

[Pastor Don]

We started by talking about Thanksgiving. And I want us to, as we're trying to wrap it up, to talk about what we are thankful for. But I'm thankful for a table of love. This is one thing that I love. This is a million things that I love about your father. First of all, I am grateful that Bishop Jakes has survived a year plus one year from November 24th. No, no, you don't understand. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Little minute.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Go get.

[Pastor Cora]

Maybe they didn't hear you.

[Pastor Don]

Come on, Come on.

[Pastor Cora]

It has been over a year since my father survived a massive heart attack. My father could have died on this very stage over a year ago.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah.

[Pastor Cora]

Our God, the father of this house who has preached us, saved us, helped us.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Come on.

[Pastor Cora]

Been to hospitals, buried people, married people, raised people, helped the babies, kissed the babies, baptized the two babies, made the fish dinners and the chicken sandwiches.

[Dr. Val]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Pastor Don]

Come on, come on.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Absolutely.

[Pastor Don]

See, I asked Pastor Corey and, I mean, I said, is it okay if I bring the. This up? I said, because first of all, give deference to you because that's your natural father. But we love him as our spiritual father.

[Dr. Val]

Yes.

[Pastor Don]

Let me give you my version. I'm. I'm over baptizing the children in the youth at that time. I'm next door in the chapel. I see one, my former armor bearer, Elder Deontay Forest, run over. I'm watching him, how he's talking to my wife. I'm like, something is wrong. They're trying to come to me to let me, to let me know something is wrong, but something in my spirit. Before they could even get it out, I say, what's wrong with Bishop? My wife begins to ball and. And break down crying. Deontay whispers in my ear. He says, like, they passed out, but they got him a pass. He's going to be okay. I'm at number 42, going into number 43 of baptizing youth next door. We end up baptizing almost 90 children. I could not move because I did not want anybody to panic. And the moment I got, the moment it was over, I did. Let me tell you something. I'm confessing. I was driving 120, 130, went to the wrong hospital, went to the right hospital. I got there and. Listen, let me, Let me explain something. And as you know, I said it in the cut. I said it in the cut. Praying and I'm just trying to articulate to you that I am thankful for our father.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Come on, td.

[Pastor Don]

Jake's to be living, breathing, moving, still preaching, thinking, conducting. That's what I'm thankful for. I asked for chat. I'm thankful. I am so grateful. Come on, light up the chat that you are grateful for. Bishop, I need you to DM him.

[Pastor Cora]

Listen, he has served faithfully. I have watched him serve with a broken back. He preached in a chair. He made sure to be here every Sunday. Yes, in back surgery. He's trying to stand up right after back surgery so that he can get here to you all this isn't just a job to him. He is called.

[Pastor Don]

Come on.

[Pastor Cora]

To this. He is called to this.

[Pastor Don]

Come on.

[Pastor Cora]

He has served this nation, presidents. He has served faithfully and with a humble heart. And it is with out saying that we are grateful more than thankful, grateful beyond. Because he could have died doing what he loved. Yeah, but God said not yet. I'm grateful for the every time. We don't even know about. Yeah, in 2025, God said not yet.

[Pastor Don]

My God, I'm thankful for.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Can we pray for the not yet.

[Pastor Cora]

Not yet. Come on. Even know about.

[Pastor Don]

Come on.

[Pastor Cora]

The not yets. I don't even know that's what you.

[Pastor Don]

Were talking about earlier.

[Pastor Cora]

The ones that I didn't even pray about the not yet. That he just stopped and I wasn't even aware that it was coming after me. That not yet. I'm thankful for the not yet.

[Pastor Don]

Danger seen and unseen. That's what you were talking about earlier. I could feel your spirit leaping earlier. Maybe I. Maybe we need to talk about what we're thankful for regarding our Bishop.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

I'll start crying some.

[Pastor Don]

Somebody needs to hear.

[Dr. Val]

So can I say this because Bishop has been a living witness for us all these years. Everything he has preached about, he has lived through it. He's not just taking the word and preaching a sermon. His sermons are life. And what that tells us is, is if God did it for him, he will do it for me. And I'm thankful that God left him here as a witness to us that he is still performing Miracles in the earth. And I'm thankful because he could have taken our bishop out of here, but he left him here so that we could continue to have a wisdom witness in every stage and season of our lives. We got a witness under the name of Bishop T.D. jakes. And I'm so grateful. Grateful for when my daughter was burning. And I'm going to tell this, and I'm through. My daughter was burning from the inside out. And the hospital told us how she was going to burn and that her throat would burn and then it would go to the outside of her body. And we would see it take her mouth, we would see it take her skin. And I called Bishop and he wasn't even supposed to be in town that week. And he happened to be in town and he came to the hospital and he got down on his knees and he prayed over my child. And it wasn't two days later, whatever was happening in her body, the Lord reversed it. And guess what? He sent my daughter an RN that is a member of this church. She watched over her the whole time and made sure she got all of the prep that she needed to heal. I'm so thankful because we serve a God that knows how to give us a living witness.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

There is.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

There. There is a God. There is a spiritual side which is so great. But my father did what he could as he raised me. But I was a grown man and I didn't know how to tie a tie. Laughing, playing toe Bishop, I said, I don't know how to tie that tie. He called me and said I was a grown man. Then he said, get in the mirror. I'm going to teach you how to tie a tie as a grown man. See, it's not I'm so for the prayers, but I'm thankful that God saw fit to bring a man into my life. And I love my father and there's certain things he couldn't do, which that's fine, but for him to stop to teach me how to tie a tie as a grown man, and I said that. He says, I'm not teaching a grown man how to tie a tie. I'm teaching a little boy that nobody spoke to. That's the little boy. So I am thankful for that man more. I got so many testimony. But for the Bishop of the world to teach you how to tie a tie, that meant everything to me.

[Dr. Val]

The Bishop of the world came to the hospital to see about my daughter. The Bishop of the world cares about each and every one of us individual. He may not be able to get to each of us. But he prays for each and every. I remember when he used to peer up into the balconies and he could see somebody sitting way back in the back, and he would point them out because he cares about each and every one of us. Thank God for our bishop and our first Lady. I love her. We gotta go. I know. It's time. Time out, time out. Time out. But first lady is one of the classiest, absolute women of God that I have ever met.

[Pastor Don]

Mama J.

[Dr. Val]

My mom was classy. My mom was a first lady. But First Lady Serita Jakes is a level of class all by herself. And I am so grateful and thankful that my mama and my daddy taught me how to respect First Ladies.

[Pastor Don]

As we're preparing because Dr. Oscar thinks he's going to get out of this, but I'm gonna pass the baton to him here shortly. I. It's a privilege to be here. I've probably served in every area, parking lot, pool, pulpit, prison, ministry, you name it. But if. If I had a favorite part, Pastor Corn, it would be picking bishop up. Being an adjutant or armor bearer. It's not about titles. It's about relationships. Because you said something. I would pull the car up, stand to the side, and I would watch. First of all, all in the morning, I would watch. First lady said, I want to make sure my hubby has his breakfast. She sits. I mean, and. And sometimes she wouldn't let me take it. Sometimes she just placing it in the car so that he'll have it. I'm like, man, this is tearing my stomach up. I want to just stop and eat. I've been fasting and praying because I'm with the bishop, but it was cooked with love. And then after church, to be able to drive him home and watch them talk in the kitchen, they'd be like, come on over here. I'm like, no. That's like, come on. Just to hear the conversation of family and love, you must understand that I never saw my father sleep in the house with my mother. You talk about the little boy. I know exactly what you're saying.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Bishop.

[Pastor Don]

If you're watching, he watching. You know, I've been trying to blow you up. I sent you a voice. Listen. He just deserved to relax. I listen. At 12:04, I was hyped November 24th because I'm like a little kid seeing his father live.

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[Pastor Don]

I'm grateful.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

I'm grateful.

[Pastor Don]

I'm grateful. I'm grateful for Pastor Cora, her gift of intercession. I am so. Let me tell you, you have no idea. They probably heard it anyway. I was like, do you have. No. You don't understand how proud I am of you, everything you've gone through. And then you stand there with the power. And the authority said that the enemy could not have my mind. And you're still an amazing mother. And you're still an amazing mother, pastor. And you're still digging into God's word, inspiring people. I'm thankful for this big guy right here. Let me tell you something. This big teddy bear, Phaedra, you're gonna have to share him in a certain sense. First of all, he plugs holes. He's brilliant. He's Bright from market. I love his sons. I love his character. I love the way he came and just started. Bright, blending in with the ministry, took on himself, of no reputation, even though he was a senior pastor. I'm grateful for Dr. Oscar Williams. No, no, no. You. You don't understand. Even though I Get calluses sometimes when I grab right here because, you know, he's just so strong, you know? But his gift of creativity. He can play. Listen, I think he can play 89 keys. He's gifted to sing and to preach and administrate. And I'll never forget when I was sitting on that row about 15 years ago, I saw a glimpse of him being capacity. He said, no, no, that's for you. Boom, it happened. And something else is getting ready to happen, too. But I'm gonna hold that part. God's not through with your call. Always willing to serve. Always willing to help. And then Dr. Valley Hoop. Listen, when she started flowing earlier, talk about trust me. And Pastor Cor was like, come on, Auntie. She has mothered us. She has pioneered from. Come on. I. I know my ministers and elders ought to be going crazy. She put up with all my crazy ideas. And, you know, you must. We ran the marathon. Marathon was like. And we'll. We'll raise money for children's sanctuary. I just like to run and have fun. But this is a leader for excellence.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

Dobbins. We're thankful for Pastor Dobbins.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Let me tell you something.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

We're thankful, Pastor. Part of, part of, and part of our thankfulness is because the greatness that's in him I don't think the world has even seen. I don't think he has seen it yet. And sometimes people spend so much time encouraging others.

[Pastor Don]

Yeah.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

That we forget to encourage them. So let's turn this back on you. Thank you. Thank you for being selfless with your love. Thank you for going over and beyond. And it's one of the things when you ask the question in being thankful for. For Bishop. I put it like this. The Bible says, the harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. And I'm thankful for not just the man, but I'm thankful that God gave us a shepherd. In a day and age where people don't want a shepherd. They don't care about the sheep. I am thankful for someone who has stayed on the wall. And because he stayed on the wall, it has produced people like Pastor Cora, Pastor Don, Pastor Dobbins, myself, Dr. Crumpton. You. You.

[Pastor Cora]

You.

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

You watching. Because there was somebody who refused to come down off the wall. We saw what it looked like to build, to be relentless, to go after something, to not give up, to come in tired and still stand tall because God gave us a model. Our lives have become better now. Now as sheep, we go out and we begin other sheep. And that's how the Body grows. I'm grateful for this place called the Potter's House. I'm grateful for a safe house. Oh, y' all don't hear me? I'm grateful for a safe house. House. I'm grateful for a house you can bring your children, you can bring your family. You don't have to be ashamed of coming here. I'm grateful for every pmt, every deacon, every musician, every pew member, everybody in the. On the parking lot, the people in production. I'm grateful for a safe house. A house where you can come in broken and get healed. Well, we're not afraid of what you come. We're not afraid of what you're bleeding with. You can come in bruised and there's somebody that will help put you back together again. I'm grateful.

[Dr. Val]

Dobbins, can we, you know, have everybody stand?

[Pastor Don]

Absolutely.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

And I got one thing I want to do before we pray.

[Pastor Don]

We got to be grateful for our.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

I want to be great. No, we're gonna do that, but I want to be thankful to.

[Pastor Don]

For the Jake siblings, you know, that's where I'm going.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Every single one of them that has lent their mother and father to us.

[Pastor Don]

Jamar, Jermaine.

[Pastor Gorgeous]

Yes, Cora.

[Pastor Don]

Can we give it up for our co. Senior pastor, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts?

[Dr. Oscar Williams]

All five.

[Pastor Don]

I am grateful for her uncanny sermons to challenge woman evolved. I am grateful for pt. Come on, Pastor Ture. Can we give it up?

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[Pastor Don]

Who is pushing us from not just religion, but our relationship with our money and business and so much more. Oh, God, yes. We can have everybody say, if you're grateful for something, just run down to this altar.

[Pastor Cora]

Yeah.

[Pastor Don]

Come on.

[Dr. Val]

And even if you're having a hard time, run down to this altar.

[Pastor Don]

Come on.

[Dr. Val]

If you will just come down. Let's end this together.

[Pastor Don]

You might be watching online and you might say, man, thank. This gave me the spirit of joy and love and peace and patience. There was so much counseling that happened on this stage. We tried to give you uncanny ways to deal with your own frustration and your pain. And we'll do two things at one time, and we're going to pray out. You might be willing to sew a seed. Seed right here at the Potter's house of Dallas. Come on. Can we prepare to give into this moment as well? Because I am grateful to give to a grateful house. Can we give God glory? Let me thank you for your giving. You are a giving church. You are a supportive church. Our PMTs will be flowing throughout this altar to make sure that you have an envelope. If you have cash. Old school, Holy Ghost cash. We've got envelopes. Listen, one day, listen, it's going to be cryptocurrency here pretty soon. We just never know. Also, we have the giving information on the screen. If you're like me, you like to text to give, you'll see that information right there on the video. This church is an amazing church. I have been going to this church since 1998. Listen, fresh out of college, I landed here and this is home. Can we give God praise for the Potter's House of Dallas, Texas? Come on. You saw all the people that we affected. Come on. The thousands and thousands that we affected that were furloughed. What? That were affected by the government shutdown, that were affected by snap. We've helped Jamaica and Cuba and the Philippines and around the world, we help. From Hurricane Katrina to the tornadoes and the storms here in Texas. Can we give God praise for this amazing church? If you're ready to give, shout hallelujah. Glory to God. God gave his very own son and he reaped you. What would happen if you sold your very best seed tonight? A seat of thanksgiving, but a seed of gratitude as well. Glory to God. Some of you are going to sow your way into your harvest. I don't know who that's for. Some of you are going to sow your way into overflow. Some of you gonna be looking at your cash app and your Zel. You're going to be looking at your PayPal and your Vimbo, and it's going to be overflowing because of your faithfulness to give to the house of God. Dr. Val, would you please pray over our seeds?

[Dr. Val]

Gracious Father, we thank you. In fact, we can't thank you enough for all that you've done, all you're doing in this moment. As Pastor Cora said, thanking you for things we didn't know could have taken us out. Those things we cannot see, we thank you. And this giving is for thanking you for the things we cannot see. We give tonight, God, in gratitude, with thankfulness of heart and knowing that you love us enough to keep taking care of us, we give back to the one that gave to us tonight. Bless every home, bless every heart, bless every need. God, meet your people right where they are and we'll be carrying careful to praise you for the testimonies that will come out of this giving and this Thanksgiving in Jesus name. Somebody say amen.

[Pastor Don]

Come on, y', all, shout amen. So with the praise, so with the praise.

[Dr. Val]

Thank you, Lord.

[Pastor Don]

Our PMTs are moving throughout the crowd with the bucket as we prepare to close. Get as close to the altar as you can. Can you hug the person next to you? Glory to God. Glory to God. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior directly after this prayer, stay at the altar. We've got elders and ministers who will minister to you. If you would like to be a part of this amazing church, you can join tonight. We will stay to shake your hand and give you the right hand of fellowship. We just want to hug on you. We just want to love on you. We're going to put you to work. We're going to challenge you. But your dreams can come true right here at the Potter's House of Dallas, Texas. Glory to God. I don't trust myself to do the closing prayer. I'm going to ask Pastor Cora if she would come. And as she's coming to do the closing prayer, I just want to let you know that there's a special blessing coming to you. It's a special blessing. You pressed your way through the crowd or you cut out time to make sure that you tapped in to the Potter's House of Dallas, Texas. This is family. This is home. I know some of your spouses are cooking. Some of you left your food on low. Everything's gonna be all right. Remember what Dr. Val taught us at the table we're seeing. At the table we're heard. Remember some of the things that Pastor Dunn and Dr. Oscar and Pastor Cora taught us, that your light even shines in dark places. Remember who you are before the argument tries to start to tomorrow. Remember who you are before the enemy tries to kick up his head. I don't care what's going on with your relatives. Love on them. They may come in smelling like smoke. Love on them they could. They may come in drunk or high, whatever it is, Love on them. And show the love of Jesus Christ. And before we do a closing prayer, can we give it up to our amazing, amazing band that rock with us tonight? Come on. Come on. Pastor Cora, would you take it away?

[Pastor Cora]

Let's pray. God, we thank you. But even more so, God, we are grateful. We're grateful, God, for all that you have done, all that you're going to do and everything that you have held back. God, we're grateful for your peace. We're grateful for your love. We're grateful for your joy and your comfort. We're grateful for our ability to see, to hear, to know, to live, to breathe, to fight another day. We're grateful, God, for every door that you're opening and every door that you're closing. We're grateful, God, for every love that we're going to receive and all of the love that is moving away. God, we're grateful for the time that we got our loved ones. We we're grateful for the time we got to see them, the times we got to hug them, the times we got to feel their love and know their love and they know that we love them as well. God, we thank you for the table that you are setting for us, preparing for us. We thank you, God, for the ability to learn how to sit effectively at the table. God, teach us how to walk through the valley and be the light. Teach us how to not set up in a place of dysfunction. Teach us, God, how to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. God, I pray in the name of Jesus, that you touch every broken heart, every grieving heart, every sad and sorrowful heart. Touch them in a supernatural way. God, give them a reason to be grateful. We thank you for all that you are, are all that you'll continue to be. And we say thank you, thank you, thank you again. We are grateful for the things you have done, grateful for the battles you have won. We could go on and on and on and on about your love, but God, we just want to say we're grateful for who you are and we give you praise for we believe it is so. And so it is. In Jesus name, amen. And amen again. That's a wrap for today's episode of the Potter's House Podcast. Subscribe for more. Keep your fire lit and your faith immovable.

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[Paige]

Hey guys, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. And if you're anything like me, holiday shopping has officially started. And you know where I'm going. Ulta Beauty. They have the cutest gift sets right now like the Sol de Janeiro, Shea Rosa and Cheer Perfume Mist Trio it smells so good. I've been misting it everywhere. On me, on the street, on my pillow. It's a whole vibe. I'm obsessed with the Tarte Kindness Cafe collector set. It's packed with everyday makeup must haves and it's honestly too cute to wrap. And if you need a cozy little self care moment, the Moroccan Oil Hand Care Essentials Care kit is luxe, hydrating and smells delicious. Don't worry if you can't decide right now. An Ulta Beauty Gift card is the perfect gift for everyone. So whether you're gifting your bestie or yourself, make the season yours and head to Ulta Beauty today. Ulta Beauty gifting happens here.

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