I think sometimes the critics want me to beat people down, and that's not in me. I want to lift people up.

My dad had a church of 90 people when I was born. It was just, over the years it continued to grow.

I'm trying to throw a big broad net to try to get people interested in God and believe that He's for them and has a purpose.

See, people are watching you. Especially your children. They're taking in every single thing you do. They are like video cameras with legs. And they are always in the record mode. They learn more from what you do than from what you say.

So many people are looking at what's wrong, and I try to encourage them to look at what's right in their life. A lot of people have it a lot worse than you do.

I'm not a big believer in trying to jam stuff down somebody's throat: 'You're going to do it my way.' I'd rather show by example and live my life and have people say, 'You know what, I want to live like Joel has. He's got peace and joy, and he seems content.'

I think, for years, people have been pushed down by religion, and I don't say that disrespectfully, but they've been shown a God that you can't measure up to.

We live in a day that nobody's lived in before: where you can touch more people. The message I'll speak tonight and the message that I speak at home, people in India will hear. It's just an amazing day.

I feel like my message is to let people know that God is a good God, that He's on their side, and no matter what happens, He has a great plan for them.

I don't know what can be so dangerous about giving people hope. Causing people to have better relationships. I'm not leading them to some false God or something like that.

A lot of people have it a lot worse than you do.

For a while... to be an evangelical meant you were a white Republican, and you were against this and against that. I don't want to be put into that mold, because then people judge you before they even listen... I don't want to divide the very people I am trying to reach.

I try to teach people that I believe God wants us to be positive toward ourselves, meaning that, you know what, I like the way I look, I like the way I sound, I'm happy with what I'm doing in my career - and not always be beating ourselves down.

So many people talk about themselves: "I'm unattractive, my mind's so slow, and I can't do this." And you know what I tell them? "God didn't make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you."

There's a lot of negative things trying to pull people down, and I think people respond when you tell them that hey, there are good things up ahead.

I see people - they won't be negative toward other people, but inside they're negative toward themselves, and I think that holds us back.

I'm not beating people over the head, and I'm saying that there are good things in store - you can make it in life. Most of the stuff that I minister [is] not real complicated deep things.

I feel like when I stay focused on encouraging people, and giving them hope, and helping them live their everyday life, I think that's where I can have the most impact.

I'm trying to teach people how to live their everyday lives, and so I do focus on it, probably not as much as some people would like.

I encourage people in a lot of my messages that you've got to make the most of every day.

I feel like what's come out of me is the gift God has given me just to encourage people, to help them know that there's a better life.

Jesus didn't go around condemning people. The Bible says it's the goodness of God that leads people to repentance.

I just wanted to get the message that God had put into my heart into another form, because I knew the print media would reach a different group of people.

Let's be the kind of people that do good for others whether we get paid back or not, whether they say thank you or not.

If you will focus on meeting other people’s needs, God will always make sure your needs are supplied. God will take care of your problems for you.

One study says that 90 percent of our everyday behavior is based on our habits. . . That means how we treat people, how we spend our money, what we watch, what we listen to - 90 percent of the time, we're on autopilot. We do what we've always done.

When you center life around yourself, not only do you miss out on God's best, but you rob other people of the joy and blessings that God wants to give them through you.

Never let discouraging people and discouraging situations talk you out of your dream.

Slow down and enjoy the journey right now. Take time for the people in your life. They won't always be there.

God wants to use you in spite of your weaknesses. Of God chose to use perfect people only, He’d have no one to use

Today, use your words to lift up and bless the people around you.

The prerequisite to loving others is to love yourself. If you don't have a healthy respect for who you are, and if you don't learn to accept yourself faults and all, you will never be able to properly love other people.

Most of the criticism I get is that I am too positive and too hopeful... in my words, I don't beat people down enough.

People have the right to their opinion and you have the right to ignore it.

God has put people in your life on purpose, Don't live to get, live to give.

Other people's opinions do not determine your potential.

If you cannot get along with yourself, you'll never be able to get along with other people.

People can call you many different things, but you are not what people call you. You are what you answer to.

The people God put in your life are not there by accident. Don’t get so busy that you just give them your leftover time.

That's what I feel like I'm called to do - to plant a seed of hope in people's hearts.

You can have average talent, but when God breathes on your life, you will go further than people that have great talent. Don't talk yourself out of it.

When you smile and project an aura of warmth, kindness, and friendliness, you will attract warms, kindness, and friendliness. Happy people will be drawn to you.

Sometimes, God uses difficult people, like sandpaper, to rub the rough edges off us.

Our whole message is it's easy to just keep preaching to the church and people that already come.

Associate with people of vision. Be around those who inspire you and motivate you to reach your dreams.

It's amazing what people will do when you see the best in them, when you honor them, when you respect them. It not only strengthens the relationship, but it will help that other person rise higher.

Life is short. Don't miss opportunities to spend time with the people that you love.

God has already lined up the right people for you, people that will inspire you, challenge you and motivate you. If you’ll let go of the wrong people, then the right people will show up.

We’ve got to give people room to have a bad day.

I'm not. I don't – I don't dislike anybody. Gays are some of the nicest, kindest, most loving people in the world. But my faith is based on what I believe the scripture says, and that's the way I read the Scripture.