ALBANY, N.Y. (WordNews.org) March 17 — Pastor Joel Osteen told a sold out crowd in Albany, New York, that the time to make changes is now.

“‘One day‘ never comes,” he told the 14,000 in attendances at the Times Union Center. “Good intentions don’t equal obedience.”

Osteen is the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston (the former home of the Houston Rockets basketball team which seats 16,000) and the author the New York Times bestseller “Your Best Life Now” and the current “Every Day a Friday.”

Lakewood’s broadcasts reach 100 countries

Osteen noted that he is sometimes criticized for being too positive. But he questioned whether some youth are not attending church because they are not hearing the positive message of the gospel.

“One reason young people don’t go to church is we don’t preach the victory,” he said.

On Friday, he spoke of trials in the Christian life.

“Having faith doesn’t mean we’re not going to have problems,” he said.

Making reference to the Biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three Israelites who were thrown into a fiery furnace for not bowing to an idol, Osteen said:  “Sometimes God will deliver you from the fire. Other times, He’ll make you fireproof.”

He discussed “believing faith” and “sustaining faith.”

Osteen told the crowd they need to remind each other: “Your book ends in victory.”

“It’s easy to be talked into having a down year. We’re going to talk about having a blessed year,” he said.

The event was peppered with declarations pronounced by area pastors, a testimony of healing by his mother, Dodie, who said she “cursed the cancer right at the roots.”

Dodie Osteen said she’d asked God in 1981 for another 25-30 years. But when that deadline was near, she said: “Jesus, can we renegotiate?”

Victoria Osteen gave several short encouraging talks as well.

“I know some people are here with big challenges. Incline your ear toward God,” Victoria said. “He will show you how to do things you didn’t know how to do before.”

The Osteen’s children are also involved in the ministry: their 13-year-old daughter Alexandra sang; their son Jonathan, 16, played guitar in the worship band.

Osteen believes it is a family ministry. They travel to arenas about once a month.

Osteen said some people say he smiles too much.

“It beats the alternative,” he said.

As for being too upbeat, Osteen said: “I don’t wake up like this all the time.”

But he said he does start each day thanking God for His blessings.

“Don’t magnify your problems, magnify God,” he said. “Draw a line in the sand. It’s March 16, 2012. It’s going to be a new beginning in my heart.”

It was clear on Friday that Osteen just can’t help himself but be upbeat.

Here’s a sample of Osteen’s message:

* “No dream is too big. No problem is a surprise” for God.”

* “God meets us at the level of our expectations.”

* “God is longing to be good to the people who are longing for His goodness.”

* “God never asks us to figure out how it’s going to happen.”

* “Have a grateful attitude.”

* “Don’t get stuck in a rut. You’ve got to have a big vision for your life. God doesn’t want us to be in the same place next year where we are now.”

* The paradox of faith is God believes in us more than we believe in Him.”

* He’s not mad at you. He’s madly in love with you.”

* What is now a test will soon become a testimony.”

* “God’s plan is so much bigger than your own.”

* “Praise precedes the victory.”

He urged people to strip off negative sentiments that they may heard over the years. Quoting his father, the late John Osteen, who started Lakewood Church on Mother’s Day in 1959: “You will never rise higher than you see yourself.”

Osteen said many people have a negative recording playing over and over in their heads. He said it’s time to change the recording to repeat how God sees His children.

“When you criticize yourself, you’re criticizing God’s creation,” Osteen said. “If God didn’t have something amazing in the future for you, you wouldn’t be alive right now.”

A ram’s horn sounded, piercing the large arena. Osteen declared: “Friends, this is your year or jubilee.”

For doubters, who may say “Nothing is going to happen,” Osteen chastised: “Then this is not for you. This is for believers.”

And believers came expectant. Like George Wells of Oneonta.

“We’re expecting the message of hope, love, joy,” he said. “It’s a very aptly named night.”