| TheStripLIVE.com | LAS VEGAS | Media Showcase | Media interview with show guest Joel Osteen (American preacher, televangelist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author) on THE STRIP LIVE — a success-themed celebrity talk show for VIPN / VIPNetMedia.com | Director’s cut |

Join new media producers and celebrity positioning specialists Maria Ngo and Ray DuGray as they hangout and showcase Joel Osteen (minister, senior pastor of Lakewood Church) on location at A Night of Hope event inside T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas.

In this interview, Joel Osteen shares his insights about the meaning and purpose of God and/or the enemy at work in the midst of challenges on the way to pursuing our dreams. This message is deep and will get you thinking.

To watch more interviews showcasing success stories from top celebrities entrepreneurs, and industry experts live from Las Vegas, visit TheStripLIVE.com.

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[BEGINNING OF TRANSCRIPT] [Maria Ngo] Alright, we’re here at the T Mobile Arena and with me is the one and only, Mr. Joel Osteen. Thank you so much for having us out.

[Joel Osteen] Hey, I’m great to be here with you guys. Thanks for having me.

[Maria Ngo] Well I’d like to start with something funny.

[Maria Ngo] and [Joel Osteen] [laughs] [Maria Ngo] So every night, I don’t know how if Victoria’s gonna like this but we go to bed with you every night.

[Joel Osteen] Oh, I love that!

[Maria Ngo] [laughs] We watch your messages. We read your books. So thank you for all that you do. We really appreciate that.

[Joel Osteen] Thank you.

[Maria Ngo] So this was a huge event. You’re here in Las Vegas and I know that you do these and these events quite often. What is the preparation? Like how do you prepare to come here? Like are you here on the same day or do you come in the night before?

[Joel Osteen] Usually we come in the same day and fly out sometimes the same night. We came a little early to enjoy the city but we have a big team that comes in and set it all up. We do about 12 of these a year and then we’ll go back home and be in our services this weekend but excited to be back in Las Vegas.

[Maria Ngo] Well I have something I think a little deep. If you don’t mind. Can you get a little deep with me?

[Joel Osteen] Okay.

[Maria Ngo] Are you okay? Alright. So we’re reading your books and you know I had this huge vision. I think most of us have something big in our hearts and I call myself as ‘The Oprah of Las Vegas.’ So you know, sometimes you have that dream in your heart and you encounter challenges, obstacles. So my question to you is: How do I know that is God preparing me, preparing somebody for that or is it the enemy keeping me from my destiny or is it not supposed to be my destiny?

[Joel Osteen] You know, it’s a hard question. But I would say this: That if something’s in you, that doesn’t go away, I believe that some seeds that God has put in you and you have to at some point turn it over to God. Say, ‘God, I wanna be my best. I believe this is your dream for my life but in the meantime, I wanna be my best where I am and trust you to open the right doors.’ Think sometimes it is for us but maybe it’s not the right time yet or maybe we have to go through some preparation and just you know, learn and grow and things like that. So I don’t know. I think when it’s in you and I believe it’s got to line up with your destiny with what the scripture says but I believe that’s how God leads you about the desires of your heart. Like when I grew up, I love television production. I love editing and you know, producing and all that. So that’s what I did for 17 years and you know, I just felt like that. You know I felt that in me. I just followed that desire.

[Maria Ngo] So, what is your advice then to people who do have something big in their hearts and they are encountering those challenges? And you say, you know, speak faith. Speak to your… I assume my husband just messaged me one day, ‘So speak to your mountain’, eh? your cordial Osteen, right? So what do you say to them and you know, in those moments where it’s very difficult to pick yourself up?

[Joel Osteen] You know, you just have to just dig down deep and say, ‘God I know you’ve got me in the palm of your hand. I believe I’m your child.’ And just you know, you got to talk to yourself the right way. When I first started administering, I’ve never done this before. You know when my dad died and every thought said, ‘Nobody’s gonna listen to you.’ You don’t know what to say and you can talk yourself out of your dreams. You can talk yourself into your dreams. And so I would reprogram my mind. I get rid of those thoughts because they’ll keep you from your destiny. So you know what? Say ‘You know what? I’m willing. I’m equipped. I’m empowered. I’m anointed.’ And just you know, it’s not just you know talking yourself into it but I believe that’s your faith being released. It’s saying, ‘You know what? I’m not going to give up. I’m not gonna let people talk me out of a muckle at my insecurity. My fear talks me out of it. I’m just gonna keep moving forward and you know, you have to go through closed doors before you get to open doors. So you just have to keep being faithful. Even some of the great people in the Bible. You know, you think they went through these great events all the time? But sometimes there’s 20 years in between the events and they were faithful in those times and then a big door open. So I just encourage you to keep being your best right where you are and go get you to where you’re supposed to be.

[Maria Ngo] Well it’s… I’m trying to keep from tearing up because I’ve interviewed so many people and I was looking so forward to you tonight. So thank you so much for being here in Las Vegas and I know that you have great messages to spread out there and I believe in positive messages and I believe in you. So thank you so much.

[Joel Osteen] Thank you. Great to be with you. Great to meet you guys.

[END OF TRANSCRIPT]

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