Joel Osteen is the Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX.  His Television Ministry reaches around the world touching all corners of the globe.  Joel’s teachings are Bible based and come straight from his heart.

I’ve been Blessed to be with Joel a number of times now, and every time, I am impressed by how real he is.  If you ever wanted to pattern your life after a person that truly walks his talk…it’s Joel.

The first time we met was at Lakewood one beautiful Sunday morning in May after the 11:00am service.  If you ever want to know why his ministry is what it is…all you have to do is visit Lakewood one time for the 11:00am service.

The church (the former Compaq Center where the Houston Rockets used to play) seats 16,800 and Joel draws an average of 43,500 people each weekend…amazing!

They are:

• Have FAITH…and live it every day. FAITH by definition is “Belief in the unseen and assurance of the unknown”.  If you think about it, it’s not possible to have a business without Faith.  There are no guarantees you’ll ever have a customer…sell the products you are offering…or have any level of success.  It is only through FAITH that you carry forward!

Story after story…example after example…Joel share’s the evidence of God rewarding him, his family, his church, you name it for being Faithful and waiting on the Lord to deliver.  Each of us can experience that same through FAITH.

• Be optimistic…the glass is not just half full but actually running over! Joel ALWAYS has a positive expectation that God will deliver…in HIS time and in HIS way.  He consistently relates that everything does not always comes easy…but that it comes…or something better!

There are so many benefits we derive personally when we’re optimist.  At the very least, I’ve found you’re just plain happier.  At a recent Brian Tracy event, Brian stated that our real goal in life is ultimately to be happy.  Joel has demonstrated consistently that being optimistic leads towards far more positive and happy outcomes.  Optimism brings hope…and hope brings peace…another fabulous byproduct!

• “Talk the Talk and more importantly…Walk the Walk!” Observing Joel for many years, both in person and from afar, I have a deep respect for the fact that the person you see is the person you get.  He is congruent in word, deed and action.

It is a great lesson in BE-ing who you are…and who you are aspiring to become ahead of becoming that person.  Many trainers often share the concept of “Fake it until you Make it!”  Personally…I don’t subscribe to that theory…people are very discerning these days…they can smell fake a mile away.

I prefer to “Faith it until you Make it!”  Have Faith that God’s plan and timing are perfect…when you are to be delivered from lesser circumstances you will be…and until that time, BE the best representation of who you are and who you are working to become…and who you possibly can BE.

Reminds me of the great Joyce Meyers quote: “I’m not where I’m going to be and Thank God I’m not where I used to be!”

Thank you Joel for the time we have spent together in person…and virtually.  You have made a tremendous impact in my life…and the lives of so many others…BE Blessed and keep it up my friend!