August 1, 2023 • 34 mins
Have you ever felt daunted by your dreams, as though they were towering over you like an unconquerable giant? Grab your slingshot and join me as I share my journey of tackling countless obstacles along the way to conquering the giants in the path of my dreams.
Like David facing Goliath, I recount my personal battles, including my struggle with ADD while writing a book, depression and sickness, and how I developed the courage to face these challenges head on.
Listen as I connect the dots between my journey and the biblical tale of David and Goliath, reminding you that you are not alone in your battles. This episode is all about resilience, hope, and the relentless pursuit of dreams – yours and mine.
So, come along, and let's face our Goliaths together. It's not just an episode; it's a call to action because believing in yourself is the first step towards conquering your giants.
-------
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Sponsor a Child: https://give.familylegacy.com/sponsorachild/legacy-academy
Volunteer: https://familylegacy.com/getinvolved/go-to-zambia/camp-life/
To receive your free book after sponsorship, or to receive more information about Family Legacy, please email me at: info@andyhoward.com
Follow on Instagram & Facebook: @AndyBHoward
Buy the book on Amazon: www.amazon.com/When-Words-Dont-Come-Easy/dp/1955362084
Listen to the first chapter: soundcloud.com/andy-howard-788712319
Learn more at AndyHoward.com!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, what's up my friends?
Hey, before we get started ontoday's episode, I do want to
chime in here one more time.
We've been doing this the lastcouple weeks, so you know it's
coming, but I had the honor toGo to Zambia.
Zambia is a country in Africaand I saw some of the coolest,
most amazing kids who grabbed myheart, and my goal is to find a
(00:23):
hundred Kids to get sponsored.
They need a hundred sponsors.
This will help them go toschool.
This will help them get to eat.
Many kids will not eat at allIf they don't get to go to the
school.
That that feeds the kids.
It teaches them about.
Jesus Provides everything theyneed.
So cool.
(00:44):
So if you'd like more info onthat, please email me at info at
Andy Howard Dot-com.
I would love to have youpartner with me.
Help these kiddos.
I'm telling you, I've seen themfirst and Some of the best kids
that you were ever running toanywhere.
Just the sweetest of kids.
(01:05):
They really are just a Total.
If I didn't know what to expectwhen I went there, I guess I
expected to walk into Kind of adepressed war zone, kind of this
just depression Hanging oneveryone, and it was the
complete opposite, they werefull of joy, they were just so
(01:26):
happy.
It was one of those thingswhere they did not know what
they didn't have and they didn'tcare.
But yet some of these needsthey can't live without, like
food, like running water meaningof them don't even have running
water at their homes, but theywould have that at school.
So Please, if God lays them onyour heart, please get asked for
(01:51):
more info.
At least find out what you'reCommitting or not committing to
Info at Andy Howardcom.
I'd love to share that with you.
On today's podcast, today'sepisode, we're gonna talk about
collie and in this little kidnamed David, and and how that,
how that affects you.
Well, I want to talk aboutdreams for a little bit.
(02:13):
Maybe you've had some dreams inyour life that you forgot about
.
Stick to the very end, becausenot only am I gonna pray for you
, but I want to give you some,some real advice on how to
pursue those dreams.
All that more happens rightafter this.
You're welcome to the winwordsdon't come easy.
(02:58):
Podcast.
My name is Andy Howard and I amso excited you're here.
I mean that that means.
That means a couple of things.
One you stumbled on thispodcast by absolute accident,
but God had a plan for you to behere, or Somebody loved you
enough to invite you to thispodcast, or maybe they sent you
(03:21):
this episode Because they caredenough about you, and so, either
way, that's two pretty coolreasons you're here so, so
excited you are here.
This podcast is a podcast aboutabout hope.
Really, if I could sum it up inone word, it's about hope it's.
(03:42):
It's a podcast that that I donot Don't make any money off of
it, believe it or not, make nomoney off of it.
I do it simply because I careabout people and and in my
life's been changed and I hopeif I can change one life for the
(04:02):
better, the way mine wasimpacted or touched, then it's
worth it.
But I wrote a book called whenwords don't come easy.
It's almost been out a full year, you guys.
Isn't that crazy how fast timeflies.
In fact, this podcast startedsame time, in September of last
(04:22):
year, so it's almost a full year.
We're fastly approaching it,and I'm so excited to just tell
you one that I have a book thatI did.
I Did complete it.
I had a goal and I completed it, and I thought today I we would
(04:48):
just reminisce a little bitabout some of that, because I
want to talk about Goliath and Iwant to talk about some giants
that may be standing in betweenyou and your destiny and what
God has called you to do.
And I believe with all my heartthat you were created for a
reason.
You were created with a purposeand that's what we're gonna
(05:12):
dive into today.
A lot of this will come from aChapter six in the book called
bring on Goliath.
It's one of my favoritechapters.
They're kind of like kind oflike your babies.
If you've ever written a book,it's hard to pick your favorite
chapter because they're allspecial to you.
It really and I mean that inthe most flattering way I poured
(05:39):
my heart and my soul andeverything I had into this book
and and with with so manyobstacles that I contend with on
I'm sorry Siri excuse me as shetells me the time I'm With so
many obstacles I contend with,including ADD, and I am
(06:01):
self-diagnosed, but I've hadenough people confirm it for me.
That is true.
I get distracted easily With somany obstacles I do contend
with.
If I can do this, if I can pressthrough, if I can write a book,
then you can do whatever you'recalled to do, and I mean that
(06:23):
and God has a calling on yourlife.
God has a Sense of purpose onyour life.
You're not a mistake.
Have you ever felt that way?
Just being honest, I felt likelike life was like this giant
roller coaster and I nevermeasured up.
Man, I was never tall enough toride the ride, if that makes
(06:47):
sense to you, if you've everbeen that guy now and those who
know me, I'm I'm like seven two,not really six three is I'm
really six foot three.
So most people will laugh andsay you've always been tall
enough to ride the ride, whichis true.
But even for my girls, like wehave twins and I I remember so
(07:08):
bad.
Now, parker is just like hermama.
She looks just like her mama,but she and she acts just like
her mama.
As far as like daredevil typestuff, I would say she's sweet
like her daddy, but Presley, onthe other hand, it's tall like
(07:28):
her daddy, looks just like me,but she's got her mama's
attitude, which is special.
Now, remember press, if you'relistening to this, I married
your mama because I love her, soI watch it.
But here's the irony of thosetwo, right, so press was always
a little bit taller and when wewould go to Disney, parker would
want to ride everything.
(07:49):
She would want to rideeverything, but some of the
rides she wasn't tall enough foryet and Presley, on the other
hand, was tall enough where shecould ride anything she wanted,
yet only thing she really wantedto ride was like it's a small
world and stuff like that, butyou don't even have to be tall
enough for, and it drove Parkernuts.
(08:12):
So, anyways, I say all that tosay man, life, life can be like
that.
It can feel like there's oneobstacle after another in front
of you, like I could just don'tmeasure up so to where you're
supposed to be to do whatever itis you want to do, like you
(08:33):
have this.
Let me go ahead and stop youright now, whatever you're
thinking right now, and justpour some life into you.
You have these thoughts right.
You have these dreams for areason.
God place them there Not byaccident, because he cares for
you and he loves you.
He loves your desires of yourheart and he cares for the
(08:57):
people that these desires aregoing to affect.
It's not about you.
And the best, the best advice Iever got, dear friend of mine,
jm, I'll just put it that way,off your shares initials.
Those who know JM love JM.
He gave me some advice one time.
(09:19):
I was getting ready to go speakIn South Africa, in Cape Town,
south Africa.
Very, very big deal for me.
I was honored to get invited Togo.
Many of you know Pat Shattsline.
He's been on on the programhere before, dear friend of mine
, big deal.
(09:40):
He's been in ministry for likeI don't know 25 plus years,
travels the world and he waseven a vital part in Me bouncing
back from my depression.
His book I've shared it.
I shared almost every time Iget to speak the story of how we
even came to know each other.
It's just wild, but I wasinvited to go to South Cape,
(10:01):
cape Town, south Africa, tospeak with him at a church and I
did not want to screw it up.
I thought so highly of myselfthat I could go in there, me by
myself and single-handedly pulldown 25 plus years of ministry
(10:22):
with one service.
Have you ever been there?
Have you ever felt that way?
But I'm serious, I wasparalyzed.
I have spoke.
I don't know how many times.
I was gonna say thousands oftimes.
That may not be accurate, buthundreds of times I've spoke,
did 20 years of ministry.
We would speak every week andthen I've Done the podcast.
(10:42):
I I've traveled a lot but forsome reason I could not Get out
of my own way to get this, thesermon, together.
Man, I was so paralyzed by fearand I was talking to my buddy,
jm.
I'll never forget that Alabama,love Alabama, is very similar
(11:05):
to Texas, but Alabama accenthe's like bro, bro, it's not
about you, not about you anyways.
So that takes all the pressureoff right, and that's when it
hit me like a ton of bricks, man, it's not about me, it's about
the people.
So, whatever God's laid on yourheart, that that you have been
(11:27):
supposed to do, for I don't careif you're 90 Years old, uh,
maybe you're 50 years old, dude,I just released a book at 44
years old.
Maybe many people would havesaid you are you, mr Calling,
(11:51):
you're a little late.
You're a little late to theparty, howard.
But but I did.
I followed my dream and I wentfor it.
You have a 20 minute service,thanks, ya, anything is possible
.
I want to share with you thislittle nugget right here.
So for those watching this onYouTube or maybe you caught some
(12:15):
of the advertisements, thesnippets on my Instagram page or
wherever.
This right here is an actualrock.
This, in fact, we have notconfirmed or denied yet.
This could be the actual rockthat took out Goliath the Valley
(12:36):
of Ela.
If I'm saying that, right,e-l-a-h, I never I don't want to
ever pretend to be the smartestguy in the room, so I may have
just eliminated all doubts rightthere, but this could be the
actual rock.
We're not sure.
There's no confirmation ordenial that it is or it isn't,
(12:59):
but I did find this rock in theValley of E-L-A-H and I'm just
going to stick with that.
If I'm wrong, just email me atinfo at AndyHowardcom.
Somebody would gladly read itand let me know that I was wrong
.
So send all the correctpronunciations there.
But this rock was found in thatvalley and it's just
(13:20):
significant for me.
I keep it here on my deskAnytime for those listening at
home and you're not watching.
Solid baby, this is solid.
So anytime, anytime I get in myown way, I just like to pick it
up and hold it and justremember David dude.
(13:44):
David was a beast, he's a beast.
Let me tell you why.
He's a beast.
Again, not the smartest guy inthe room.
But by all accounts, we knowDavid was a boy when he was like
maybe many say he might havebeen 17.
Might have been younger thanthat, but he was a boy finding a
(14:06):
man, finding not just a man,but a giant, freaking giant,
nine foot six man.
I could go in and find all thedetails, but he was like nine
six and I think his armor aloneweighed like 500 pounds.
500 pounds, bro.
That was worthy of a bro, bigdude, big guy.
(14:29):
And he came out for like 40days straight saying fee five,
full full.
I'm not sure if that's accurateor not, but he came out
challenging these people, theseChristians, right, these godly
(14:49):
men.
Forgive me, so let me back up.
My ADD is so distracted here.
So David obviously was Jewish.
This is before Christ had evencome, before he'd come as a man,
as the Son of God.
So please forgive me, buthere's David in fighting for
(15:14):
Israel, fighting for thesepeople.
David shows up.
He's the first.
He's the first Uber mentionedin the Bible.
It's my understanding there mayhave been more, but he showed
up just to deliver the food forhis brothers, like his dad's,
like here.
Take this food to your brothers.
(15:36):
So this is your first Uber eatsor your first door dash guy,
david, again young boy.
He shows up and Goliath is heresaying you know, give me a man
that we can fight.
He just liked fighting.
Right, when you're big andyou're a bully, you just like to
(15:57):
fight.
You ever know one of those bigpolice that just likes, let's
just fight.
That's what Goliath is doingwhen he's nine, six, and he
always like I don't know howmany thousands of pounds, I
don't know.
He's a big boy, right, big boy.
He's ready to fight.
He's the only thing standing intheir way.
And he must have been bigbecause David's brother.
(16:20):
So David had what was it?
Seven brothers.
Right, david was number eight.
I believe I could go check this, but anyways, he's either
number seven or number eight.
He's getting from a long lineof brothers.
They were all fighters, theyall knew how to fight.
I mean all of them.
(16:42):
Many of those men had fought,many of ours.
But yet this dude is is isstopped, everybody in their
tracks for 40 days.
40 days, nobody will movebecause Goliath is holding court
.
He's standing there saying comeon, let's fight, let's go.
(17:04):
And David shows up.
It's like one.
I think he's caught off guardbecause he shows up right when,
when Goliath is starting hisspill and he is like, oh man, oh
, he does not know who he'smessing with.
(17:26):
And in all these guys I want tosay is that one of my brothers,
who's going to jump up first,who's going to be the first to
take out this giant?
Because he does not know theGod he is calling on and the God
of Israel, the God of ourpeople, he's going to take this
sucker out.
He is waiting for someone tostep up and then, all of a
(17:47):
sudden, he starts getting alittle ticked off because he's
like wait a second, nobody'smoving, nobody's moving, I'll
take on this chump.
And his brothers are liketicked off at him.
They're like shut up, dude,you're just the run, you're the
baby, you're the small town kid.
(18:07):
You're supposed to be watchingthe sheep.
What are you doing here?
And then David is ready to justpounce us, dude, and King Saul,
who was a mighty man himself andhad wiped out many armies and
(18:30):
nations under his leadership andguidance, still was doing
nothing.
And David's like I will takeout this chump.
Who comes after and speaks likethis to our God, why is no one
standing up for themselves?
Why is no one defending our God.
And King Saul is like yo, ok,ok, I love your passion.
(18:57):
We have no one else standing up, I'll let you fight him, but
only if only, if you at leastwear my armor Right.
And so here's David gettingsuited up in King Saul's armor.
It's like have you ever, even asa kid, like put on either your
big brother's clothes becauseyou wanted to look like them or
(19:18):
your parents' clothes becauseyou honored them so much and you
just wanted to wear it andyou're not quite big enough to
fill it out?
That's what I envision.
I remember one time the twinscame running into me in Tiff's
room and they both one of themdressed up like me and one
dressed up like Tiff for thisplay they were doing and of
(19:40):
course, our clothes were likeburying them.
It's like one of the cutestpictures ever.
I still have it.
That's what it looked like.
Here's David he's like I can'twear this.
This is unproved, it's untested.
What he knew is he had takenout a bear before, because he
(20:04):
was just the shepherd boy, right, but he had taken out a bear.
He also had taken out a liontrying to get his sheep Again,
just a shepherd boy, but he hadtaken out a lion.
He was tested, he was proven.
So this giant would be nothing.
All he needed was one of these.
(20:24):
And again, if you're watching Imean, if you're not watching
it's the rock.
He only needed five.
Why did he need five?
Well, we find out later thatGoliath had four brothers, so he
went ahead and grabbed five,just in case.
It's not that he thought he wasgoing to miss, because as soon
as he grabbed it, he took off.
(20:45):
Bam released the sling rock,hit the dude right upside them,
mug this is the Andy Howardversion and Goliath fell.
He was dead, just like that.
What challenge for you today,man.
What's holding you back?
(21:07):
What's holding you back?
What is it that's keeping youfrom living in your full destiny
?
You know what it is right now.
You've had a dream and, yes,I'm speaking to you right now.
You've had a dream your wholelife.
It's a dream that only God canplace, and he placed it there.
(21:29):
And for whatever reason, youhave let Goliath mock you, and
I'm here to say enough, enough.
You've had all these fears comeover you, that what if I?
I don't have the finances tostep out and do this?
(21:51):
What if I don't know what to?
I don't know, say you don'thave.
Maybe you don't feel talentedenough, or you don't feel like
you have the people surroundingyou, the right people in your
life, to help you with whateveryou need to fulfill the dream.
You have a dream that's beenplaced inside of you, and one of
(22:16):
my favorite quotes and I'veheard it all my life is God
doesn't call the qualified, hequalifies the card.
And if God called you to do it,then get ready.
It's time to do it.
So my, my challenge for youtoday let's go ahead and go find
(22:40):
you a rock.
It wasn't the rock.
We all know that Rocks great.
The slang is awesome.
David, that dude, it's hard.
You'd be hard pressed to findanother man more important in
(23:00):
the Bible.
The Bible describes David as aman at your God's own heart.
Right, that's pretty awesome.
I want David who's God.
God can do anything with anyonewho's available to be used.
We can.
(23:22):
All you have to do is say hereI am.
I love the quote by a reformist,martin Luther.
It says in the beginning Godmade something out of nothing,
so as long as I remain nothing,he will make me something.
I'm paraphrasing it's been along time, so I used to quote
(23:46):
that all the time before Googlewas around.
So for all you checking Googleright now, please forgive me if
I missed it a few words, but youget the point.
And God wants to use you somuch.
What's holding you back?
What's keeping you from doingwhat you were called to do?
If it's just money, dude, myGod is rich in finances.
(24:16):
He owns it all.
He can take care of money.
Money is just a thing.
Money is just a thing.
So don't let money keep youfrom doing it.
Obviously, you have to be wise,but start planning the dreams.
I'm telling you, if God put adream in your heart, he's going
(24:36):
to be faithful to see it done.
So I want you to start planningon what you need.
How do you know how much youneed if you hadn't even looked
it up, right, if you hadn't evenlooked?
Whatever it is for the streamto happen, I want you to start
planning it.
I want you to start trying tofind how much it's going to cost
to get this done.
What are you going to need?
Are you going to need people towork for you?
(24:57):
How much would their salary be?
You need to know how much youneed before you can start
praying for it Before you canstart asking God.
Okay, god, here it is.
I've done my part, this is whatI need for it to happen.
So start planning it, start, uh,start really really putting all
(25:18):
of it together.
What would it take?
How many hours a week would ittake?
Do you have that kind of timeavailable?
Like you know, if you'reworking a full-time job already
and being wise, it may not bewise to just quit a job and
chase a dream, yet Every guywill work it out to be full-time
one day.
But how much time do you haveavailable to put towards that
(25:42):
dream?
What sacrifices are you willingto make towards the dream?
See, many times with the dreamtakes a lot of sacrifices you
have to be willing to do withoutfor for a season, for a while,
sometimes for a long time.
But I know this.
I know God has always beenfaithful to provide every single
(26:05):
need, every single need.
He's been beyond faithful, andI know this as well.
The things that, uh, thingsthat almost killed me, are the
very things God is using tosustain me.
It really is a modern miraclewhen you think about it.
(26:30):
How, at 345 pounds at one timein my life and my wife was 317
pounds how God would use us tostart this crazy, wild journey
where thousands and thousands ofpeople would get their health
in order.
It's amazing.
(26:51):
It's amazing the thing thatalmost killed me, man.
I was so sick.
We have no idea how sick I wasHigh blood pressure, high
cholesterol, all the things andI went and had a sleep study
done to find out if I had sleepapnea and they stopped me like
two hours in.
It's a problem.
You got to get out of here.
You're by far our sickestpatient.
We're scared you're going todie on us.
(27:13):
In other words, we don't havethe equipment here to keep you
alive.
You got to go home.
They sent me home with anemergency buy-up To take this
with you start tonight.
You know the old gosh.
It sounded like Darth Vadermask.
It was the worst.
I was sick man, yet God usedthat to help me lead people.
(27:37):
Man, my finances we were broke.
We were so broke you don't.
You won't even believe me if Itold you how broke we were.
God is using us to minister topeople, to bless people with
their finances and finance manythings.
He's turned our life around.
So many things, man, so manythings.
(27:57):
With my mental health.
There was a time where I didn'twant to live anymore.
I wish the 10 years ago guycould see where I'm at today.
I wish so badly the 10 yearsago Andy Howard could see me
today, and maybe he did.
Maybe God saw it and I justdidn't.
No ideal, this life that'sahead for me.
(28:20):
It's the same for you.
Again, I'm speaking right toyou.
Yes, you, god loves you.
He's got you right where hewanted you.
He cares for you, not only you,but he cares for all the people
that your dream is going toaffect.
(28:43):
Once you get past your life,once you get on the other side
of that sucker huh, it's alllike donkey come.
So, anyways, I hope this hasmade somewhat of sense to you.
I do want to say a small prayerbefore we leave today, because
(29:03):
I just felt led to, and ThenI'll come back with it With some
closing thoughts.
But, lord, I love these peopleso much I do.
I love everyone who takes Hmm,he was taking time to to hear me
rant, father and I prayed.
Some of this has made sensetoday Because, god, I remember
(29:26):
when it was like when you'regetting mocked, when you're
getting made fun of many timesby by my own voice inside my
head and nobody will read a bookif you wrote it.
Who's gonna?
Who's gonna listen to a podcastif you do it?
Nobody will show up if you'respeaking here or there, it was
(29:49):
just all just a big mockery.
And, father, I remember, IRemember JM Was a word.
So well, father, it's not aboutyou, bro, it's not about you
that has helped me so much.
And, father, I asked in the samemanner that you will help my
(30:09):
friends today, whatever they'refacing, whatever challenges
they're facing.
If it's financial, god providethe finances.
If it's if people to help themwith the dream.
If it's a building, whateverthe need is Transportation, god
you provide it.
Whatever the need is, it's justa need, and you're the God of
(30:31):
Miracles, you're the king ofkings.
You're not scared by finances.
You own everything.
You can take care of anything.
So I ask right now that you justStir up that dream in their
heart.
Maybe this dream has beendusted up in their heart for
over 20 years.
It's time to blow the dust offthis sucker and get them chasing
(30:54):
after this dream for your glory.
I thank you for it.
In Jesus name, we pray amen.
Thank you, guys.
Wow, I hope you enjoyed thatman.
That was straight from theheart and it's true.
And the only thing keeping youfrom your dreams right now is
you.
Have you ever thought aboutthat?
(31:14):
Maybe you are.
Maybe you're the Goliath inyour way.
Next time you see that bigsucker make eye contact with him
, maybe it's your face on theGoliath.
You're the one, you're the onlyone keeping you from doing
whatever you've been called todo.
It's you.
So my challenge for you is todust off those dreams.
(31:37):
Strap up your boots.
If it takes hard work, thenlet's do some hard work.
Let's get after those dreams.
Let's get after it.
Let's let's get started Doing.
Who are the people who lose Ifyou do not do what you were
called to do?
Think about those people andlet's get after it.
(31:58):
I thank you guys so much forbeing a part of this.
If this is your first timeagain Joining the when words
don't come easy podcast, man,it's an honor having you here.
Hope it won't be your last.
This, this is a podcast abouthope.
Most times, I interviewsomebody who's here to project
some hope and to share how Godis using their stories to
inspire others.
But this week I flew solo andit's so glad.
(32:21):
I'm so glad you're here.
This has been a blessing to you.
Will you please share thispodcast episode with somebody?
Maybe God laid someone on yourheart as I was talking about
dreams today and we share thispodcast with them and just
telling me love them and forsome reason, you felt led to
share this episode with them.
I'm so honored to get to be onthis journey with you and I hope
(32:45):
you'll come back again.
I hope you'll come back if youhaven't got the book yet and you
, in something I said, intriguedyou about today's podcast.
This, this a lot of the storycomes from chapter 6 bring on
Goliath but it's in the bookwhen words don't come easy.
That came out last Septemberand Now you can get it at Andy
(33:07):
Howard calm.
Now you can get on Amazon.
It's even on audible, where Iwill read it for you, so no more
excuses there.
Or you can get it on Kendo aswell.
I pray it's been a blessing.
Please, if you will.
Here's my big ask for you ifyou would go, give me five stars
(33:27):
on wherever you're listening tothis podcast.
A Five-star review would helpme so much.
It's gonna help more listeners.
I hear about the podcast andmore people find the podcast,
which in turn means more peoplewill find hope.
So thank you for that.
It's an honor being here withyou.
Love you so much, god bless.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
(33:49):
If this episode helped you inany way, it would mean the world
to me if you would leave areview and share it with
somebody else.
Thanks so much.
I'll catch you next time.
Hey, what's up my friends?
Hey, before we get started ontoday's episode, I do want to
chime in here one more time.
We've been doing this the lastcouple weeks, so you know it's
coming, but I had the honor toGo to Zambia.
Zambia is a country in Africaand I saw some of the coolest,
most amazing kids who grabbed myheart, and my goal is to find a
(00:23):
hundred Kids to get sponsored.
They need a hundred sponsors.
This will help them go toschool.
This will help them get to eat.
Many kids will not eat at allIf they don't get to go to the
school.
That that feeds the kids.
It teaches them about.
Jesus Provides everything theyneed.
So cool.
(00:44):
So if you'd like more info onthat, please email me at info at
Andy Howard Dot-com.
I would love to have youpartner with me.
Help these kiddos.
I'm telling you, I've seen themfirst and Some of the best kids
that you were ever running toanywhere.
Just the sweetest of kids.
(01:05):
They really are just a Total.
If I didn't know what to expectwhen I went there, I guess I
expected to walk into Kind of adepressed war zone, kind of this
just depression Hanging oneveryone, and it was the
complete opposite, they werefull of joy, they were just so
(01:26):
happy.
It was one of those thingswhere they did not know what
they didn't have and they didn'tcare.
But yet some of these needsthey can't live without, like
food, like running water meaningof them don't even have running
water at their homes, but theywould have that at school.
So Please, if God lays them onyour heart, please get asked for
(01:51):
more info.
At least find out what you'reCommitting or not committing to
Info at Andy Howardcom.
I'd love to share that with you.
On today's podcast, today'sepisode, we're gonna talk about
collie and in this little kidnamed David, and and how that,
how that affects you.
Well, I want to talk aboutdreams for a little bit.
(02:13):
Maybe you've had some dreams inyour life that you forgot about
.
Stick to the very end, becausenot only am I gonna pray for you
, but I want to give you some,some real advice on how to
pursue those dreams.
All that more happens rightafter this.
You're welcome to the winwordsdon't come easy.
(02:58):
Podcast.
My name is Andy Howard and I amso excited you're here.
I mean that that means.
That means a couple of things.
One you stumbled on thispodcast by absolute accident,
but God had a plan for you to behere, or Somebody loved you
enough to invite you to thispodcast, or maybe they sent you
(03:21):
this episode Because they caredenough about you, and so, either
way, that's two pretty coolreasons you're here so, so
excited you are here.
This podcast is a podcast aboutabout hope.
Really, if I could sum it up inone word, it's about hope it's.
(03:42):
It's a podcast that that I donot Don't make any money off of
it, believe it or not, make nomoney off of it.
I do it simply because I careabout people and and in my
life's been changed and I hopeif I can change one life for the
(04:02):
better, the way mine wasimpacted or touched, then it's
worth it.
But I wrote a book called whenwords don't come easy.
It's almost been out a full year, you guys.
Isn't that crazy how fast timeflies.
In fact, this podcast startedsame time, in September of last
(04:22):
year, so it's almost a full year.
We're fastly approaching it,and I'm so excited to just tell
you one that I have a book thatI did.
I Did complete it.
I had a goal and I completed it, and I thought today I we would
(04:48):
just reminisce a little bitabout some of that, because I
want to talk about Goliath and Iwant to talk about some giants
that may be standing in betweenyou and your destiny and what
God has called you to do.
And I believe with all my heartthat you were created for a
reason.
You were created with a purposeand that's what we're gonna
(05:12):
dive into today.
A lot of this will come from aChapter six in the book called
bring on Goliath.
It's one of my favoritechapters.
They're kind of like kind oflike your babies.
If you've ever written a book,it's hard to pick your favorite
chapter because they're allspecial to you.
It really and I mean that inthe most flattering way I poured
(05:39):
my heart and my soul andeverything I had into this book
and and with with so manyobstacles that I contend with on
I'm sorry Siri excuse me as shetells me the time I'm With so
many obstacles I contend with,including ADD, and I am
(06:01):
self-diagnosed, but I've hadenough people confirm it for me.
That is true.
I get distracted easily With somany obstacles I do contend
with.
If I can do this, if I can pressthrough, if I can write a book,
then you can do whatever you'recalled to do, and I mean that
(06:23):
and God has a calling on yourlife.
God has a Sense of purpose onyour life.
You're not a mistake.
Have you ever felt that way?
Just being honest, I felt likelike life was like this giant
roller coaster and I nevermeasured up.
Man, I was never tall enough toride the ride, if that makes
(06:47):
sense to you, if you've everbeen that guy now and those who
know me, I'm I'm like seven two,not really six three is I'm
really six foot three.
So most people will laugh andsay you've always been tall
enough to ride the ride, whichis true.
But even for my girls, like wehave twins and I I remember so
(07:08):
bad.
Now, parker is just like hermama.
She looks just like her mama,but she and she acts just like
her mama.
As far as like daredevil typestuff, I would say she's sweet
like her daddy, but Presley, onthe other hand, it's tall like
(07:28):
her daddy, looks just like me,but she's got her mama's
attitude, which is special.
Now, remember press, if you'relistening to this, I married
your mama because I love her, soI watch it.
But here's the irony of thosetwo, right, so press was always
a little bit taller and when wewould go to Disney, parker would
want to ride everything.
(07:49):
She would want to rideeverything, but some of the
rides she wasn't tall enough foryet and Presley, on the other
hand, was tall enough where shecould ride anything she wanted,
yet only thing she really wantedto ride was like it's a small
world and stuff like that, butyou don't even have to be tall
enough for, and it drove Parkernuts.
(08:12):
So, anyways, I say all that tosay man, life, life can be like
that.
It can feel like there's oneobstacle after another in front
of you, like I could just don'tmeasure up so to where you're
supposed to be to do whatever itis you want to do, like you
(08:33):
have this.
Let me go ahead and stop youright now, whatever you're
thinking right now, and justpour some life into you.
You have these thoughts right.
You have these dreams for areason.
God place them there Not byaccident, because he cares for
you and he loves you.
He loves your desires of yourheart and he cares for the
(08:57):
people that these desires aregoing to affect.
It's not about you.
And the best, the best advice Iever got, dear friend of mine,
jm, I'll just put it that way,off your shares initials.
Those who know JM love JM.
He gave me some advice one time.
(09:19):
I was getting ready to go speakIn South Africa, in Cape Town,
south Africa.
Very, very big deal for me.
I was honored to get invited Togo.
Many of you know Pat Shattsline.
He's been on on the programhere before, dear friend of mine
, big deal.
(09:40):
He's been in ministry for likeI don't know 25 plus years,
travels the world and he waseven a vital part in Me bouncing
back from my depression.
His book I've shared it.
I shared almost every time Iget to speak the story of how we
even came to know each other.
It's just wild, but I wasinvited to go to South Cape,
(10:01):
cape Town, south Africa, tospeak with him at a church and I
did not want to screw it up.
I thought so highly of myselfthat I could go in there, me by
myself and single-handedly pulldown 25 plus years of ministry
(10:22):
with one service.
Have you ever been there?
Have you ever felt that way?
But I'm serious, I wasparalyzed.
I have spoke.
I don't know how many times.
I was gonna say thousands oftimes.
That may not be accurate, buthundreds of times I've spoke,
did 20 years of ministry.
We would speak every week andthen I've Done the podcast.
(10:42):
I I've traveled a lot but forsome reason I could not Get out
of my own way to get this, thesermon, together.
Man, I was so paralyzed by fearand I was talking to my buddy,
jm.
I'll never forget that Alabama,love Alabama, is very similar
(11:05):
to Texas, but Alabama accenthe's like bro, bro, it's not
about you, not about you anyways.
So that takes all the pressureoff right, and that's when it
hit me like a ton of bricks, man, it's not about me, it's about
the people.
So, whatever God's laid on yourheart, that that you have been
(11:27):
supposed to do, for I don't careif you're 90 Years old, uh,
maybe you're 50 years old, dude,I just released a book at 44
years old.
Maybe many people would havesaid you are you, mr Calling,
(11:51):
you're a little late.
You're a little late to theparty, howard.
But but I did.
I followed my dream and I wentfor it.
You have a 20 minute service,thanks, ya, anything is possible
.
I want to share with you thislittle nugget right here.
So for those watching this onYouTube or maybe you caught some
(12:15):
of the advertisements, thesnippets on my Instagram page or
wherever.
This right here is an actualrock.
This, in fact, we have notconfirmed or denied yet.
This could be the actual rockthat took out Goliath the Valley
(12:36):
of Ela.
If I'm saying that, right,e-l-a-h, I never I don't want to
ever pretend to be the smartestguy in the room, so I may have
just eliminated all doubts rightthere, but this could be the
actual rock.
We're not sure.
There's no confirmation ordenial that it is or it isn't,
(12:59):
but I did find this rock in theValley of E-L-A-H and I'm just
going to stick with that.
If I'm wrong, just email me atinfo at AndyHowardcom.
Somebody would gladly read itand let me know that I was wrong
.
So send all the correctpronunciations there.
But this rock was found in thatvalley and it's just
(13:20):
significant for me.
I keep it here on my deskAnytime for those listening at
home and you're not watching.
Solid baby, this is solid.
So anytime, anytime I get in myown way, I just like to pick it
up and hold it and justremember David dude.
(13:44):
David was a beast, he's a beast.
Let me tell you why.
He's a beast.
Again, not the smartest guy inthe room.
But by all accounts, we knowDavid was a boy when he was like
maybe many say he might havebeen 17.
Might have been younger thanthat, but he was a boy finding a
(14:06):
man, finding not just a man,but a giant, freaking giant,
nine foot six man.
I could go in and find all thedetails, but he was like nine
six and I think his armor aloneweighed like 500 pounds.
500 pounds, bro.
That was worthy of a bro, bigdude, big guy.
(14:29):
And he came out for like 40days straight saying fee five,
full full.
I'm not sure if that's accurateor not, but he came out
challenging these people, theseChristians, right, these godly
(14:49):
men.
Forgive me, so let me back up.
My ADD is so distracted here.
So David obviously was Jewish.
This is before Christ had evencome, before he'd come as a man,
as the Son of God.
So please forgive me, buthere's David in fighting for
(15:14):
Israel, fighting for thesepeople.
David shows up.
He's the first.
He's the first Uber mentionedin the Bible.
It's my understanding there mayhave been more, but he showed
up just to deliver the food forhis brothers, like his dad's,
like here.
Take this food to your brothers.
(15:36):
So this is your first Uber eatsor your first door dash guy,
david, again young boy.
He shows up and Goliath is heresaying you know, give me a man
that we can fight.
He just liked fighting.
Right, when you're big andyou're a bully, you just like to
(15:57):
fight.
You ever know one of those bigpolice that just likes, let's
just fight.
That's what Goliath is doingwhen he's nine, six, and he
always like I don't know howmany thousands of pounds, I
don't know.
He's a big boy, right, big boy.
He's ready to fight.
He's the only thing standing intheir way.
And he must have been bigbecause David's brother.
(16:20):
So David had what was it?
Seven brothers.
Right, david was number eight.
I believe I could go check this, but anyways, he's either
number seven or number eight.
He's getting from a long lineof brothers.
They were all fighters, theyall knew how to fight.
I mean all of them.
(16:42):
Many of those men had fought,many of ours.
But yet this dude is is isstopped, everybody in their
tracks for 40 days.
40 days, nobody will movebecause Goliath is holding court
.
He's standing there saying comeon, let's fight, let's go.
(17:04):
And David shows up.
It's like one.
I think he's caught off guardbecause he shows up right when,
when Goliath is starting hisspill and he is like, oh man, oh
, he does not know who he'smessing with.
(17:26):
And in all these guys I want tosay is that one of my brothers,
who's going to jump up first,who's going to be the first to
take out this giant?
Because he does not know theGod he is calling on and the God
of Israel, the God of ourpeople, he's going to take this
sucker out.
He is waiting for someone tostep up and then, all of a
(17:47):
sudden, he starts getting alittle ticked off because he's
like wait a second, nobody'smoving, nobody's moving, I'll
take on this chump.
And his brothers are liketicked off at him.
They're like shut up, dude,you're just the run, you're the
baby, you're the small town kid.
(18:07):
You're supposed to be watchingthe sheep.
What are you doing here?
And then David is ready to justpounce us, dude, and King Saul,
who was a mighty man himself andhad wiped out many armies and
(18:30):
nations under his leadership andguidance, still was doing
nothing.
And David's like I will takeout this chump.
Who comes after and speaks likethis to our God, why is no one
standing up for themselves?
Why is no one defending our God.
And King Saul is like yo, ok,ok, I love your passion.
(18:57):
We have no one else standing up, I'll let you fight him, but
only if only, if you at leastwear my armor Right.
And so here's David gettingsuited up in King Saul's armor.
It's like have you ever, even asa kid, like put on either your
big brother's clothes becauseyou wanted to look like them or
(19:18):
your parents' clothes becauseyou honored them so much and you
just wanted to wear it andyou're not quite big enough to
fill it out?
That's what I envision.
I remember one time the twinscame running into me in Tiff's
room and they both one of themdressed up like me and one
dressed up like Tiff for thisplay they were doing and of
(19:40):
course, our clothes were likeburying them.
It's like one of the cutestpictures ever.
I still have it.
That's what it looked like.
Here's David he's like I can'twear this.
This is unproved, it's untested.
What he knew is he had takenout a bear before, because he
(20:04):
was just the shepherd boy, right, but he had taken out a bear.
He also had taken out a liontrying to get his sheep Again,
just a shepherd boy, but he hadtaken out a lion.
He was tested, he was proven.
So this giant would be nothing.
All he needed was one of these.
(20:24):
And again, if you're watching Imean, if you're not watching
it's the rock.
He only needed five.
Why did he need five?
Well, we find out later thatGoliath had four brothers, so he
went ahead and grabbed five,just in case.
It's not that he thought he wasgoing to miss, because as soon
as he grabbed it, he took off.
(20:45):
Bam released the sling rock,hit the dude right upside them,
mug this is the Andy Howardversion and Goliath fell.
He was dead, just like that.
What challenge for you today,man.
What's holding you back?
(21:07):
What's holding you back?
What is it that's keeping youfrom living in your full destiny
?
You know what it is right now.
You've had a dream and, yes,I'm speaking to you right now.
You've had a dream your wholelife.
It's a dream that only God canplace, and he placed it there.
(21:29):
And for whatever reason, youhave let Goliath mock you, and
I'm here to say enough, enough.
You've had all these fears comeover you, that what if I?
I don't have the finances tostep out and do this?
(21:51):
What if I don't know what to?
I don't know, say you don'thave.
Maybe you don't feel talentedenough, or you don't feel like
you have the people surroundingyou, the right people in your
life, to help you with whateveryou need to fulfill the dream.
You have a dream that's beenplaced inside of you, and one of
(22:16):
my favorite quotes and I'veheard it all my life is God
doesn't call the qualified, hequalifies the card.
And if God called you to do it,then get ready.
It's time to do it.
So my, my challenge for youtoday let's go ahead and go find
(22:40):
you a rock.
It wasn't the rock.
We all know that Rocks great.
The slang is awesome.
David, that dude, it's hard.
You'd be hard pressed to findanother man more important in
(23:00):
the Bible.
The Bible describes David as aman at your God's own heart.
Right, that's pretty awesome.
I want David who's God.
God can do anything with anyonewho's available to be used.
We can.
(23:22):
All you have to do is say hereI am.
I love the quote by a reformist,martin Luther.
It says in the beginning Godmade something out of nothing,
so as long as I remain nothing,he will make me something.
I'm paraphrasing it's been along time, so I used to quote
(23:46):
that all the time before Googlewas around.
So for all you checking Googleright now, please forgive me if
I missed it a few words, but youget the point.
And God wants to use you somuch.
What's holding you back?
What's keeping you from doingwhat you were called to do?
If it's just money, dude, myGod is rich in finances.
(24:16):
He owns it all.
He can take care of money.
Money is just a thing.
Money is just a thing.
So don't let money keep youfrom doing it.
Obviously, you have to be wise,but start planning the dreams.
I'm telling you, if God put adream in your heart, he's going
(24:36):
to be faithful to see it done.
So I want you to start planningon what you need.
How do you know how much youneed if you hadn't even looked
it up, right, if you hadn't evenlooked?
Whatever it is for the streamto happen, I want you to start
planning it.
I want you to start trying tofind how much it's going to cost
to get this done.
What are you going to need?
Are you going to need people towork for you?
(24:57):
How much would their salary be?
You need to know how much youneed before you can start
praying for it Before you canstart asking God.
Okay, god, here it is.
I've done my part, this is whatI need for it to happen.
So start planning it, start, uh,start really really putting all
(25:18):
of it together.
What would it take?
How many hours a week would ittake?
Do you have that kind of timeavailable?
Like you know, if you'reworking a full-time job already
and being wise, it may not bewise to just quit a job and
chase a dream, yet Every guywill work it out to be full-time
one day.
But how much time do you haveavailable to put towards that
(25:42):
dream?
What sacrifices are you willingto make towards the dream?
See, many times with the dreamtakes a lot of sacrifices you
have to be willing to do withoutfor for a season, for a while,
sometimes for a long time.
But I know this.
I know God has always beenfaithful to provide every single
(26:05):
need, every single need.
He's been beyond faithful, andI know this as well.
The things that, uh, thingsthat almost killed me, are the
very things God is using tosustain me.
It really is a modern miraclewhen you think about it.
(26:30):
How, at 345 pounds at one timein my life and my wife was 317
pounds how God would use us tostart this crazy, wild journey
where thousands and thousands ofpeople would get their health
in order.
It's amazing.
(26:51):
It's amazing the thing thatalmost killed me, man.
I was so sick.
We have no idea how sick I wasHigh blood pressure, high
cholesterol, all the things andI went and had a sleep study
done to find out if I had sleepapnea and they stopped me like
two hours in.
It's a problem.
You got to get out of here.
You're by far our sickestpatient.
We're scared you're going todie on us.
(27:13):
In other words, we don't havethe equipment here to keep you
alive.
You got to go home.
They sent me home with anemergency buy-up To take this
with you start tonight.
You know the old gosh.
It sounded like Darth Vadermask.
It was the worst.
I was sick man, yet God usedthat to help me lead people.
(27:37):
Man, my finances we were broke.
We were so broke you don't.
You won't even believe me if Itold you how broke we were.
God is using us to minister topeople, to bless people with
their finances and finance manythings.
He's turned our life around.
So many things, man, so manythings.
(27:57):
With my mental health.
There was a time where I didn'twant to live anymore.
I wish the 10 years ago guycould see where I'm at today.
I wish so badly the 10 yearsago Andy Howard could see me
today, and maybe he did.
Maybe God saw it and I justdidn't.
No ideal, this life that'sahead for me.
(28:20):
It's the same for you.
Again, I'm speaking right toyou.
Yes, you, god loves you.
He's got you right where hewanted you.
He cares for you, not only you,but he cares for all the people
that your dream is going toaffect.
(28:43):
Once you get past your life,once you get on the other side
of that sucker huh, it's alllike donkey come.
So, anyways, I hope this hasmade somewhat of sense to you.
I do want to say a small prayerbefore we leave today, because
(29:03):
I just felt led to, and ThenI'll come back with it With some
closing thoughts.
But, lord, I love these peopleso much I do.
I love everyone who takes Hmm,he was taking time to to hear me
rant, father and I prayed.
Some of this has made sensetoday Because, god, I remember
(29:26):
when it was like when you'regetting mocked, when you're
getting made fun of many timesby by my own voice inside my
head and nobody will read a bookif you wrote it.
Who's gonna?
Who's gonna listen to a podcastif you do it?
Nobody will show up if you'respeaking here or there, it was
(29:49):
just all just a big mockery.
And, father, I remember, IRemember JM Was a word.
So well, father, it's not aboutyou, bro, it's not about you
that has helped me so much.
And, father, I asked in the samemanner that you will help my
(30:09):
friends today, whatever they'refacing, whatever challenges
they're facing.
If it's financial, god providethe finances.
If it's if people to help themwith the dream.
If it's a building, whateverthe need is Transportation, god
you provide it.
Whatever the need is, it's justa need, and you're the God of
(30:31):
Miracles, you're the king ofkings.
You're not scared by finances.
You own everything.
You can take care of anything.
So I ask right now that you justStir up that dream in their
heart.
Maybe this dream has beendusted up in their heart for
over 20 years.
It's time to blow the dust offthis sucker and get them chasing
(30:54):
after this dream for your glory.
I thank you for it.
In Jesus name, we pray amen.
Thank you, guys.
Wow, I hope you enjoyed thatman.
That was straight from theheart and it's true.
And the only thing keeping youfrom your dreams right now is
you.
Have you ever thought aboutthat?
(31:14):
Maybe you are.
Maybe you're the Goliath inyour way.
Next time you see that bigsucker make eye contact with him
, maybe it's your face on theGoliath.
You're the one, you're the onlyone keeping you from doing
whatever you've been called todo.
It's you.
So my challenge for you is todust off those dreams.
(31:37):
Strap up your boots.
If it takes hard work, thenlet's do some hard work.
Let's get after those dreams.
Let's get after it.
Let's let's get started Doing.
Who are the people who lose Ifyou do not do what you were
called to do?
Think about those people andlet's get after it.
(31:58):
I thank you guys so much forbeing a part of this.
If this is your first timeagain Joining the when words
don't come easy podcast, man,it's an honor having you here.
Hope it won't be your last.
This, this is a podcast abouthope.
Most times, I interviewsomebody who's here to project
some hope and to share how Godis using their stories to
inspire others.
But this week I flew solo andit's so glad.
(32:21):
I'm so glad you're here.
This has been a blessing to you.
Will you please share thispodcast episode with somebody?
Maybe God laid someone on yourheart as I was talking about
dreams today and we share thispodcast with them and just
telling me love them and forsome reason, you felt led to
share this episode with them.
I'm so honored to get to be onthis journey with you and I hope
(32:45):
you'll come back again.
I hope you'll come back if youhaven't got the book yet and you
, in something I said, intriguedyou about today's podcast.
This, this a lot of the storycomes from chapter 6 bring on
Goliath but it's in the bookwhen words don't come easy.
That came out last Septemberand Now you can get it at Andy
(33:07):
Howard calm.
Now you can get on Amazon.
It's even on audible, where Iwill read it for you, so no more
excuses there.
Or you can get it on Kendo aswell.
I pray it's been a blessing.
Please, if you will.
Here's my big ask for you ifyou would go, give me five stars
(33:27):
on wherever you're listening tothis podcast.
A Five-star review would helpme so much.
It's gonna help more listeners.
I hear about the podcast andmore people find the podcast,
which in turn means more peoplewill find hope.
So thank you for that.
It's an honor being here withyou.
Love you so much, god bless.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
(33:49):
If this episode helped you inany way, it would mean the world
to me if you would leave areview and share it with
somebody else.
Thanks so much.
I'll catch you next time.
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