Better Together

Called to Surrender - Episode 1085

August 8, 2025 | S7 E1085 | 52:34

The calling to change the world begins with a surrendered heart. Throughout Biblical history, we find women who audaciously asked God for big things—and He answered! Today, our lives should be marked by using the gifts He has given us to answer His call. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#Obedience #Surrender #Faith #Women #Leadership #TrustGod #Truth #Calling #KingdomofGod #Boldness #Grace #Bible #PersonalStory #Encouragement #Confidence #Fear #Loneliness #Unity

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Better Together | Called to Surrender - Episode 1085 | August 8, 2025

Our success as women in leadership and ministry is not
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About a man giving us a free pass to stand on the stage.
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Our success,
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It comes from surrender to the god that gave it to us in the
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First place.
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I grew up catholic.
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It was a tiny black catholic church in houston, texas.
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And, you know, i said this when kristi, you asked us about
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Just what men in our lives have
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Just kind of like influenced us.
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And for me, it's been my dad.
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You know, i mean, he just if there were any glass ceilings,
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I didn't see him because he just was going through that
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Thing, like bop, bop, bop.
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My daughter's coming through, and she's going to be an altar
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Girl in the catholic church,
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And she's going to do the readings.
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And i remember, um, getting up on the altar, as, i mean, i
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Think it was like an elementary middle school literally reading
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Scripture in church, just completely unaware of what the
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Lord was doing in my life.
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And i remember every morning i
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Used to say, good morning, church.
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And in the little miv and the little
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Church. like, i can just remember it.
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And everyone's like, good morning.
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What is even happening?
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Because in, you know, in
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Catholicism there's a lot of rules.
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Sure. and, um, after that service, the
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Priest came up to me and said, hey, i think you're doing a
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Great job.
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You can't say good morning, you can't address the people.
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This is about god's word.
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It's not about you.
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And, um, i so i told my parents, i was like, i can't
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Say good morning anymore.
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I have to be very straightforward.
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And i remember my daddy,
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He literally, after church walked up the altar all through
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The priest area, went to the back.
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I'm not really sure what the conversation was like.
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I'm assuming a glass ceiling
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Was broken and he comes back out.
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We get in the car and he said, you can say good morning
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Whenever you want to.
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And i was like, okay.
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And i was like, are you sure?
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But they said, no, but--
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And my dad said, no.
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You address the people.
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These are god's people.
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You talk to them, you honor them and you honor the lord.
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And it is what it is.
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And my dad was that way for me for years, and it didn't dawn
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On me what my dad was doing that he quite literally was
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Breaking glass ceilings that he didn't even want me to see
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Until i went to an event called the women's speaker collective
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With danielle strickland.
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And she's an amazing leader in canada, and she has so many
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Great initiatives, but she's got this one organization
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Called the women's speaker collective, and i was so
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Excited about it because i'm
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Like, i've been speaking for a while.
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I was a youth pastor.
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All the things i'm like, i'm
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Going to be in this room of women.
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We're going to be empowered.
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It's going to be awesome.
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And the first activity that they do is this little survey.
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And on the survey i'm like, okay, let me see.
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It's just yes or no columns.
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And the questions are like, if you've ever been discriminated
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Against because you're a woman in the church, check yes or no.
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If you've ever not gotten a position in ministry or in
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Leadership because you're a woman, yes or no.
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If you've ever felt like the lord does not support the
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Calling that you believe he gave you in the first place,
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Yes or no?
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And i'm sitting on my little table like, this is crazy.
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What are they even talking about?
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And i'm like, no, no, no, no.
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I feel fully supported.
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My dad has always supported my voice.
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I've never known any oppression, discrimination.
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I don't know what y'all are talking about.
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And we fold up our little cards, and we put them in this
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Bucket in the middle of our table.
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And you're supposed to grab one that's not yours.
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And we open them up.
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And danielle leads us in this moment where she's like, when i
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Asked the question, if your
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Card says yes, i want you to stand.
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And one by one, i mean the first question.
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If you've ever been discriminated against or
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Oppressed because you're a woman in the church and this
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Checkbox says, yes, stand up, everyone stands up in the room
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Except for one human being.
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And it's the woman that got my card.
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Yeah.
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And i literally am sitting on this table looking around at
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These women, and they're broken.
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Um, and i'm a little embarrassed because i'm like,
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Well, i feel sorry for the woman that got my card because
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I haven't experienced this type of pain.
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I don't even know what's going on.
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And i just feel so embarrassed that i'm so ignorant that i, i
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Really couldn't have empathy for that pain because i
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Didn't know it.
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I couldn't feel--
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And i mean, women are crying.
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They're being set free.
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And it's just this beautiful experience.
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And i remember from that day forward, i made it my point, my
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Mission to understand that pain.
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Yeah. because just because i haven't experienced oppression,
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Because of the gender that the lord gave me, doesn't mean that
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It isn't true and real.
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It means that i'm ignorant to it.
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And i need to fix that so i can fully understand it.
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Because here i am, bopping on stages, and there may be
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Conversations about me that i am completely unaware of
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Because i just don't know.
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And i had a couple of friends in the room, and one of the
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Women say to me, i just want you to know that i left that
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Collective, that retreat, like feeling like no human on this
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Entire earth gets to have my calling.
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She was like, toni, like, i know you probably feel so sorry
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For all the women in that room, but i just need you to know
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That that set us free to know
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That no one gets to have my calling.
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Not the one that the lord gave me.
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Feminine boldness and courage, i think, is necessary for us to
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Just wake up each and every
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Morning and agree to get in the game.
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You know, i pray that we would wake up in the mornings and our
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Feminine voices would be like, lord, put us out there.
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Let us take you by the hand.
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Let us trust you.
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And it's kind of like anything else.
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If only our brothers are out there and we're lagging back,
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The fullness of the family of god is not made known.
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But it's when men are fully alive and fully awake, and
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Women are fully alive and fully awake together, living, moving,
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And have our being in the world is the family of god that we
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Truly do see the kingdom of god moving and flowing like a
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Beautiful river.
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Now, i am fully aware that our success as women and leadership
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And ministry is not about a man giving us a free pass to stand
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On a stage.
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Our success truly and genuinely
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Does not come from an invitation.
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It comes from surrender to the god that gave it to us in the
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First place.
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Today is going to be not us proving anything right, but us
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Maybe empowering and encouraging women that actually
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We get to stand in the full power of our calling.
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And because we're no longer orphans, we can surrender it
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Freely to the god who's in charge.
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Yeah, right.
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I just wonder, maybe in your stories, when you had the
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Moment where something clicked to you like, oh no, no, the
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Lord has called me and now i
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Don't have to hold on to my calling.
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I can surrender it.
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I think my moment was, um, i've done a couple of things right,
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Like gospel recording artist, teacher, preacher, and then
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Right around the end of 2020, heading into 2021.
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And i felt like the lord was asking me to come on board with
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This nonprofit called porter's call in nashville.
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It's a counseling center for
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Recording artists, which is fantastic.
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And i thought you.
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You want me to do that, lord?
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Like one.
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I'm terrible.
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I believe in counseling, and it has been very beneficial in my
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Life, so i don't want to mess anybody up.
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And so i started to ask god, like, what does this have to do
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With what i thought you asked me to do kind of thing?
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And how do i own that?
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Because i'm clear that you're asking me to do this, but i
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Never would have planned it for myself.
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And i don't know how it ties into other things.
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And it was through that experience that i started to
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Realize in the room, one on one with people, it felt just as
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Good to see the light of healing come on in one person's
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Eyes as it did standing and singing--
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Amen.
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In a whole room with however many people.
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And the lord really started to illuminate for me that it's
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Because i've asked you to heal.
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And whether that's through singing or walking people
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Through scripture so that they understand that i care enough
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About them to heal them, or listening to somebody's story
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One on one and giving, asking the right questions at the
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Right time that i give you so that then i can move in and
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Bring healing to them.
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I've asked you to heal.
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And so it it's that was the first time i took ownership of
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That moment.
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And i realized it's not an activity.
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So if the lord--
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When i was a seventh grade math teacher in the bronx, it was
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The same thing.
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I was singing to those kids on fridays and it's doing
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Something in them, and i'm
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Still in contact with those kids.
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So it's like-- wow.
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That's when he said it's because of what i've, what i've
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Really purposed you to do.
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That's it is less about an activity and more about a
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Gifting that i've put inside of you.
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I think also as i live into my calling and gain confidence, it
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Happens because others around me observe.
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Yeah, you can do this.
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And they encourage me and support me.
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So likewise, i try to do that with others that as they are
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Stepping out and taking risks, i want to stand beside them.
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I want to encourage them as well.
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We can't do this on our own.
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Uh, the lord brings others into our world that support us as
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We, each of us step out to see what, uh, what new adventure
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Sure god has for his honor and
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Glory that he might be lifted up.
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Calling is if you have put your hope in jesus christ and you
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Are leaning into the unconditional love of jesus
00:10:24.013 --> 00:10:27.283
Christ, then your life is your calling.
00:10:27.283 --> 00:10:30.019
That's right.
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All of us are ambassadors in new covenant.
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I so resonate with janice.
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I because i feel like i get recalled.
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Yes. right.
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Yes. i was i was at a conference, small event a
00:10:38.027 --> 00:10:43.432
Couple of months ago, and and i didn't want to be there.
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I was just worn out.
00:10:47.069 --> 00:10:48.404
Yeah. well, at the end of the event, we were--
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It was kind of a team teaching thing.
00:10:50.439 --> 00:10:51.941
At the end of the event, it was right before christmas,
00:10:51.941 --> 00:10:54.610
Um, maybe 500 women there, she said, you know, instead of just
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Saying we're going to pray for each other,
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Um, we're going to practice intercessory prayer now.
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And she said, we're going in the christmas season.
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She framed that.
00:11:05.187 --> 00:11:05.888
She said, if you're lonely--
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Mhm.
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Would you stand and and i love it when we do that.
00:11:08.657 --> 00:11:12.728
I love it when we don't wear spanx with god or each other.
00:11:12.728 --> 00:11:15.831
And but, you know, sometimes in when you've got a bunch of
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Women in a room together and they look like they have it all
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Together, sometimes it takes a while to, to be authentic.
00:11:21.170 --> 00:11:25.407
And so many women started standing up and there was a
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Woman about from me to doctor cohick.
00:11:28.377 --> 00:11:31.147
And i mean, the moment she stood up, it's like the dam
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Broke and she just began to sob.
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And i thought, well, i don't
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Have much, but i can hug like a boss.
00:11:39.955 --> 00:11:43.025
That's right.
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And so i thought, she doesn't
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Need to be standing up by herself.
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And so i just grabbed this woman in this bear hug, and, i
00:11:46.529 --> 00:11:49.498
Mean, she just falls apart in my arms.
00:11:49.498 --> 00:11:53.536
Well, i know the girl who's praying.
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Christy nockels.
00:11:55.671 --> 00:11:56.672
Y'all know christy and christy's just--
00:11:56.672 --> 00:11:58.440
Oh, she's just so sweet and so
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Kind, but she's she's kind of contemplative.
00:12:00.075 --> 00:12:02.645
She's not that long a prayer.
00:12:02.645 --> 00:12:05.014
So i'm thinking, you know, be 3 or 4 minute prayer.
00:12:05.014 --> 00:12:07.917
Well, christy prays.
00:12:07.917 --> 00:12:08.918
37 seconds later.
00:12:08.918 --> 00:12:10.419
17 minutes, you know.
00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:12.254
And after, like, three minutes, it's gotten a little awkward
00:12:12.254 --> 00:12:15.024
Because this woman and i are now swapping sweat because the
00:12:15.024 --> 00:12:19.728
Event was packed.
00:12:19.728 --> 00:12:20.896
I'm against the riser where the stage is.
00:12:20.896 --> 00:12:24.033
And she's on the first row, and we literally can't extricate
00:12:24.033 --> 00:12:27.837
Ourselves from each other.
00:12:27.837 --> 00:12:28.938
And it's almost funny, you
00:12:28.938 --> 00:12:31.140
Know, because you're like, we are--
00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:32.908
We are chest to chest.
00:12:32.908 --> 00:12:34.577
I mean, we are just sealed top to bottom.
00:12:34.577 --> 00:12:37.580
So i kind of lean my head back because i want to just-- i mean,
00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:40.683
I love hugging, but i thought this poor woman's like, is this
00:12:40.683 --> 00:12:43.552
Lady ever going to let me go?
00:12:43.552 --> 00:12:45.688
But she was still crying, so i kind of leaned my head back
00:12:45.688 --> 00:12:48.390
Just to inject a little levity, and she went, i'm so sorry.
00:12:48.390 --> 00:12:53.229
And i said, oh no, no, no, no, this is the body of christ.
00:12:53.229 --> 00:12:55.698
No, we're supposed to cry with each other.
00:12:55.698 --> 00:12:58.133
I said, no, that she goes, no, i'm sorry.
00:12:58.133 --> 00:13:00.736
And i said, no.
00:13:00.736 --> 00:13:02.104
It's been my-- i think she's
00:13:02.104 --> 00:13:04.073
She's apologizing because she's crying.
00:13:04.073 --> 00:13:05.507
And she goes, no, i got snot in your hair.
00:13:05.507 --> 00:13:09.979
Yeah. and i kind of was like, oh, and it was a--
00:13:09.979 --> 00:13:14.650
It was like,
00:13:14.650 --> 00:13:15.384
It was a lot.
00:13:15.384 --> 00:13:16.318
And then i had to go up to pray with--
00:13:16.318 --> 00:13:18.020
Snot right there.
00:13:18.020 --> 00:13:18.988
The residue of her heartache in my hair.
00:13:18.988 --> 00:13:21.023
And that night i was washing my hair and i thought, you know, i
00:13:21.023 --> 00:13:25.761
Thought i travel--
00:13:25.761 --> 00:13:27.196
Yeah.
00:13:27.196 --> 00:13:28.397
150 days a year, and i'm at 50, 60 conferences a year.
00:13:28.397 --> 00:13:34.103
And i thought the holiest thing i've done in years.
00:13:34.103 --> 00:13:37.306
Right. that woman is to be close enough to another image
00:13:37.306 --> 00:13:41.210
Bearer that the residue of her heartache got in my hair.
00:13:41.210 --> 00:13:44.480
Do you know the coolest thing?
00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.582
I'm part of this neighborhood bible study.
00:13:46.582 --> 00:13:49.551
That precious saint and i are in bible study now together.
00:13:49.551 --> 00:13:53.322
Oh my word.
00:13:53.322 --> 00:13:54.223
I'd never met her before.
00:13:54.223 --> 00:13:55.658
And you know, i sit with her every tuesday, and both of us
00:13:55.658 --> 00:13:58.560
Every tuesday get teary when we see each other because we're
00:13:58.560 --> 00:14:01.096
Like, how good is our god? yeah.
00:14:01.096 --> 00:14:04.500
My that he he weaves us into real relationships.
00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:08.003
The body of christ is not a metaphor.
00:14:08.003 --> 00:14:10.606
And any time you've got a stage and you've got a microphone,
00:14:10.606 --> 00:14:13.742
You've got lights, somebody put eyelashes on me,
00:14:13.742 --> 00:14:16.145
There's a level of performative to that.
00:14:16.145 --> 00:14:19.381
But you strip that away and all of us, we just want to be
00:14:19.381 --> 00:14:26.021
In a family.
00:14:26.021 --> 00:14:27.156
He puts the-- we want to be--
00:14:27.156 --> 00:14:28.524
He puts the lonely families.
00:14:28.524 --> 00:14:29.458
We want to be loved by god who
00:14:29.458 --> 00:14:31.126
Knows everything and loves us anyway.
00:14:31.126 --> 00:14:33.829
Jesus, if there's not a white chalk mark around my body, as
00:14:33.829 --> 00:14:37.499
Chris caine always says, i hope i'm shaped enough like you
00:14:37.499 --> 00:14:41.904
Today, that people can get the residue of their heartache in
00:14:41.904 --> 00:14:45.574
My hair and me in them, and we can wobble toward him together.
00:14:45.574 --> 00:14:50.045
And so i just-- let's not make calling elitist.
00:14:50.045 --> 00:14:54.016
Let's make calling,
00:14:54.016 --> 00:14:56.051
Are you okay?
00:14:56.051 --> 00:14:57.486
If not, can i grab a corner of your mat and carry you to the roof
00:14:57.486 --> 00:15:00.055
And lower you to jesus? and i'm not.
00:15:00.055 --> 00:15:01.523
Okay. will you carry mine?
00:15:01.523 --> 00:15:02.958
It's-- and even that gets back to men and women.
00:15:02.958 --> 00:15:05.961
Yeah. brothers and sisters, let's-- man,
00:15:05.961 --> 00:15:08.864
Let's lean more fully into jesus together.
00:15:08.864 --> 00:15:12.001
I think women and men can support each other in walking
00:15:12.001 --> 00:15:14.903
Out their god-given callings, by
00:15:14.903 --> 00:15:19.008
Seeing one another, by seeing one another, and also being
00:15:19.008 --> 00:15:24.380
Confident in who god has made each of them.
00:15:24.380 --> 00:15:27.483
I find that when i am most confident, i'm able to see
00:15:27.483 --> 00:15:31.387
Other people more clearly.
00:15:31.387 --> 00:15:33.088
You know, when i'm focused on my own insecurities, then you
00:15:33.088 --> 00:15:37.526
Know what i see out there is more of a projection.
00:15:37.526 --> 00:15:40.195
But when i'm confident in who god has called me to be, made
00:15:40.195 --> 00:15:43.932
Me to be, then i see other people and all of a sudden i
00:15:43.932 --> 00:15:48.303
Can walk with and support other people.
00:15:48.303 --> 00:15:50.939
So i think it's about being confident that i am who god
00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:54.209
Says i am.
00:15:54.209 --> 00:15:56.779
Connect with us on social media to ask a question or share a
00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:59.782
Prayer request.
00:15:59.782 --> 00:16:01.050
Let's build up one another and get better together, y'all.
00:16:01.050 --> 00:16:05.888
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:16:05.888 --> 00:16:08.090
You can find the better together podcast on your
00:16:08.090 --> 00:16:10.459
Favorite listening platform.
00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:12.261
Subscribe today!
00:16:12.261 --> 00:16:17.001
Subscribe today!
00:16:17.001 --> 00:16:18.668
You know, if fear is holding you back from your calling,
00:16:22.238 --> 00:16:26.009
From surrendering it to the lord, i just want to tell you
00:16:26.009 --> 00:16:29.112
That he is enough.
00:16:29.112 --> 00:16:32.449
That maybe if you didn't get another opportunity, if they
00:16:32.449 --> 00:16:36.352
Didn't call you for the job, that god is still enough, that
00:16:36.352 --> 00:16:40.657
His presence alone is enough.
00:16:40.657 --> 00:16:44.561
And i think when we believe that with every fiber of our
00:16:44.561 --> 00:16:47.664
Being, any opportunity that he gives to us, any little thing
00:16:47.664 --> 00:16:53.303
Will be a privilege to you instead of a promise.
00:16:53.303 --> 00:16:57.774
It'll just be a privilege that we get to do the little things
00:16:57.774 --> 00:17:00.610
That god gives us.
00:17:00.610 --> 00:17:01.811
And i think that only comes when us being obedient and
00:17:01.811 --> 00:17:04.514
Surrendering our calling to him.
00:17:04.514 --> 00:17:06.850
When i think of calling, i think in a way every follower
00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:13.990
Of jesus is calling is the same.
00:17:13.990 --> 00:17:16.226
It's to wake up every morning and say yes to him again.
00:17:16.226 --> 00:17:18.862
That's it.
00:17:18.862 --> 00:17:19.596
I want to get in the river with
00:17:19.596 --> 00:17:20.530
You again today and and walk it out.
00:17:20.530 --> 00:17:24.067
And for me, i'll just say, toni, you're asking about,
00:17:24.067 --> 00:17:27.737
Like, a moment.
00:17:27.737 --> 00:17:28.972
Yeah, i think for me, because fear is my achilles heel.
00:17:28.972 --> 00:17:32.675
Okay.
00:17:32.675 --> 00:17:33.943
Fear will be the thing that will cause me to miss some of
00:17:33.943 --> 00:17:37.814
The god adventures that he has for me.
00:17:37.814 --> 00:17:40.016
I have missed some god adventures out of fear.
00:17:40.016 --> 00:17:43.553
So i am always a no at the beginning.
00:17:43.553 --> 00:17:48.024
It doesn't matter.
00:17:48.024 --> 00:17:48.992
Can you go here?
00:17:48.992 --> 00:17:49.926
Can you do this?
00:17:49.926 --> 00:17:50.827
Can you-- like your neighbor? i mean--
00:17:50.827 --> 00:17:52.996
Probably not, no.
00:17:52.996 --> 00:17:54.831
And but--
00:17:54.831 --> 00:17:55.798
Let me pray about it.
00:17:55.798 --> 00:17:56.666
But it's not--
00:17:56.666 --> 00:17:57.934
It's not anchored in arrogance.
00:17:57.934 --> 00:17:59.702
And that's not to say i never have pride.
00:17:59.702 --> 00:18:01.504
It's fear.
00:18:01.504 --> 00:18:02.572
Yes, it's insecurity in me.
00:18:02.572 --> 00:18:04.774
That's me learning my story.
00:18:04.774 --> 00:18:07.577
And so, man, the way when i, when i say the bible is the
00:18:07.577 --> 00:18:10.613
Best and truest story that's ever told, it makes me go,
00:18:10.613 --> 00:18:14.617
Okay, god, who do you call?
00:18:14.617 --> 00:18:16.619
Do you see what i'm saying?
00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.854
So because it fits the fastest, smartest, most beautiful,
00:18:17.854 --> 00:18:21.724
Whatever, you know--
00:18:21.724 --> 00:18:23.526
And so then i go to this best and truest story that's
00:18:23.526 --> 00:18:26.362
Ever been told.
00:18:26.362 --> 00:18:27.630
And from the beginning, in a world where firstborn sons are
00:18:27.630 --> 00:18:30.900
Everything right, they get a
00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:32.535
Double portion of the inheritance,
00:18:32.535 --> 00:18:35.104
God keeps picking second born sons.
00:18:35.104 --> 00:18:37.640
That's right.
00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.641
It's not cain, it's abel.
00:18:38.641 --> 00:18:41.110
It's not ishmael, it's isaac.
00:18:41.110 --> 00:18:42.979
Right? it's not esau, it's jacob.
00:18:42.979 --> 00:18:45.014
That's right.
00:18:45.014 --> 00:18:45.748
And then to blow my mind even
00:18:45.748 --> 00:18:47.817
More, he pairs them with barren women.
00:18:47.817 --> 00:18:51.287
Right.
00:18:51.287 --> 00:18:52.021
In a world where having babies
00:18:52.021 --> 00:18:53.923
Is like feminine worth and value.
00:18:53.923 --> 00:18:55.825
So i'm like, time out.
00:18:55.825 --> 00:18:56.926
From the beginning of this best and truest story,
00:18:56.926 --> 00:18:59.963
You are out here in the world calling second born sons.
00:18:59.963 --> 00:19:04.300
That's right. and barren women.
00:19:04.300 --> 00:19:06.469
Yes.
00:19:06.469 --> 00:19:07.770
And i'm like, okay, you know, my mom, who was, you know, took
00:19:07.770 --> 00:19:10.773
My parents 18 years to have me,
00:19:10.773 --> 00:19:14.477
I mean, just this sense of like, courage to say yes to the
00:19:14.477 --> 00:19:17.880
Daily calling to just, to just the courage to get up again
00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:21.251
Tomorrow morning and say yes to god.
00:19:21.251 --> 00:19:22.785
Yes to the world, yes to each other as the family of god.
00:19:22.785 --> 00:19:25.154
But i love matthew 10 when the 12 are listed.
00:19:25.154 --> 00:19:28.858
And what's so interesting is in matthew chapter 10, matthew
00:19:28.858 --> 00:19:33.796
Writes under the inspiration of the holy spirit when he's
00:19:33.796 --> 00:19:36.799
Listing the 12, matthew the tax
00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:40.103
Collector, and simon the zealot.
00:19:40.103 --> 00:19:43.773
That's right.
00:19:43.773 --> 00:19:44.807
And in that world you're talking, you're talking
00:19:44.807 --> 00:19:48.278
Opposite ends of the spectrum.
00:19:48.278 --> 00:19:49.879
Tax collector, collaborator with rome, perpetually dirty
00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:52.682
Because you're handling pagan good money, then you're over
00:19:52.682 --> 00:19:55.285
Here, you know,
00:19:55.285 --> 00:19:56.586
Zealots, they think the kingdom is going to come with a sword,
00:19:56.586 --> 00:19:58.655
So they will beat you down. that's right.
00:19:58.655 --> 00:20:01.724
And it's like, if you want to know who jesus will call, he
00:20:01.724 --> 00:20:05.928
Will call tax collectors and zealots.
00:20:05.928 --> 00:20:09.832
And i'll start crying even saying this. in another gospel,
00:20:09.832 --> 00:20:13.903
And man, i remember the first time i really saw this,
00:20:13.903 --> 00:20:15.838
It broke me.
00:20:15.838 --> 00:20:17.040
And it's what has answered my fear and some really key
00:20:17.040 --> 00:20:19.676
Moments in my life.
00:20:19.676 --> 00:20:21.511
The bible says that matthew was
00:20:21.511 --> 00:20:24.681
Sitting at the tax collector's booth.
00:20:24.681 --> 00:20:28.685
He is doing the thing.
00:20:28.685 --> 00:20:31.321
He is doing the shameful sort of thing, the lowly
00:20:31.321 --> 00:20:35.558
Marginalized thing.
00:20:35.558 --> 00:20:36.793
And jesus walks up to him. yeah.
00:20:36.793 --> 00:20:39.595
At the table and says, come, follow me.
00:20:39.595 --> 00:20:43.132
Yeah. like, i feel that in my body.
00:20:43.132 --> 00:20:45.935
Yes. sitting here right now.
00:20:45.935 --> 00:20:48.404
And i'm like, what's that like for matthew?
00:20:48.404 --> 00:20:50.973
For like a sage of israel to
00:20:50.973 --> 00:20:52.742
Come up and say, come, follow me.
00:20:52.742 --> 00:20:55.311
And he gets up, and you read the rest of that passage,
00:20:55.311 --> 00:20:58.147
The next thing matthew the tax
00:20:58.147 --> 00:21:00.483
Collector does is he hosts a banquet.
00:21:00.483 --> 00:21:02.819
That's right.
00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.853
He invites all of his tax collector friends.
00:21:03.853 --> 00:21:06.189
He invites jesus to it.
00:21:06.189 --> 00:21:08.291
And here's jesus in, what, matthew 11, jesus is known as
00:21:08.291 --> 00:21:11.994
A friend of tax collectors and sinners.
00:21:11.994 --> 00:21:15.198
You see what i'm saying?
00:21:15.198 --> 00:21:16.566
So i'm like, okay, maybe i have a shot at this.
00:21:16.566 --> 00:21:20.570
Do you see what i'm saying?
00:21:20.570 --> 00:21:21.738
If you're out in the world choosing second born sons,
00:21:21.738 --> 00:21:24.207
Barren women, tax collectors, zealots.
00:21:24.207 --> 00:21:27.410
And then i just want to read this.
00:21:27.410 --> 00:21:28.711
I just want to read a portion of scripture because i've had
00:21:28.711 --> 00:21:31.781
This on my mirror, my
00:21:31.781 --> 00:21:33.149
Refrigerator at different times.
00:21:33.149 --> 00:21:34.684
But going from the old testament,
00:21:34.684 --> 00:21:37.387
Jesus, now to paul.
00:21:37.387 --> 00:21:39.155
Yeah. this is paul.
00:21:39.155 --> 00:21:40.323
First corinthians 1:26... [reading scripture]
00:21:40.323 --> 00:21:43.426
Brothers and sisters.
00:21:43.426 --> 00:21:45.027
We've talked about that.
00:21:45.027 --> 00:21:46.229
Brothers and sisters, think of
00:21:46.229 --> 00:21:47.697
What you were when you were called.
00:21:47.697 --> 00:21:49.866
That's right.
00:21:49.866 --> 00:21:50.867
Not many of you were wise by human standards.
00:21:50.867 --> 00:21:53.202
Not many were influential.
00:21:53.202 --> 00:21:54.604
Not many were of noble birth.
00:21:54.604 --> 00:21:56.806
But god chose the foolish things of the world to
00:21:56.806 --> 00:22:00.109
Shame the wise.
00:22:00.109 --> 00:22:01.544
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
00:22:01.544 --> 00:22:05.481
God chose the lowly things of this world, and the despised
00:22:05.481 --> 00:22:09.118
Things and the things that are not, to nullify the things that
00:22:09.118 --> 00:22:12.822
Are, so that no one may boast before him.
00:22:12.822 --> 00:22:15.758
It is because of him that you are in christ jesus, who has
00:22:15.758 --> 00:22:19.729
Become for us wisdom from god, that is, our righteousness,
00:22:19.729 --> 00:22:24.100
Holiness, and redemption.
00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:25.935
Therefore, as it is written, let the one who boasts,
00:22:25.935 --> 00:22:29.505
Boast in the lord.
00:22:29.505 --> 00:22:33.309
Here's what i know.
00:22:33.309 --> 00:22:34.477
I basically came out of the womb talking.
00:22:34.477 --> 00:22:36.212
That's what my mom told me.
00:22:36.212 --> 00:22:38.381
Um, and i love telling stories.
00:22:38.381 --> 00:22:41.651
And so when i realized, oh my goodness, i can tell stories
00:22:41.651 --> 00:22:47.523
About jesus.
00:22:47.523 --> 00:22:49.592
And maybe, just maybe, somebody else will hear one of those
00:22:49.592 --> 00:22:52.495
Stories and they'll move just incrementally closer to the
00:22:52.495 --> 00:22:57.967
Unconditional love of god.
00:22:57.967 --> 00:22:59.469
Oh my goodness, i get to do that.
00:22:59.469 --> 00:23:01.871
When i was growing up, i'm 61,
00:23:01.871 --> 00:23:04.073
There was no template for women in vocational ministry.
00:23:04.073 --> 00:23:06.809
I had no idea this could be a job.
00:23:06.809 --> 00:23:09.745
This was just i could not do this because the way he wired
00:23:09.745 --> 00:23:14.450
Me is i'm a storyteller, and the best stories i can tell are
00:23:14.450 --> 00:23:18.921
About this glorious god who loves even yahoos like me.
00:23:18.921 --> 00:23:24.427
How can you not tell that story if you've experienced it?
00:23:24.427 --> 00:23:29.665
This is my favorite thing about the lord,
00:23:29.665 --> 00:23:31.133
Man, in the black community, we call it the old okey doke.
00:23:31.133 --> 00:23:34.570
You know-- what the?
00:23:34.570 --> 00:23:36.138
Okie dokie. okie dokie.
00:23:36.138 --> 00:23:37.473
Okie doke. okie doke.
00:23:37.473 --> 00:23:38.674
It's like the okie dokie.
00:23:38.674 --> 00:23:40.309
It's like you thought he was going to do it this way.
00:23:40.309 --> 00:23:43.679
Yes. and then he just-- yes.
00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:45.748
And he pulls a okie doke.
00:23:45.748 --> 00:23:47.283
Jesus juke. jesus juke.
00:23:47.283 --> 00:23:49.218
That is literally it.
00:23:49.218 --> 00:23:50.319
And i love it because it makes him bigger.
00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:53.689
If you know that me, toni
00:23:53.689 --> 00:23:55.858
Collier is not qualified to do this--
00:23:55.858 --> 00:23:58.728
That's right. and the lord still is using me,
00:23:58.728 --> 00:24:00.730
Then you know it has to be him. yes.
00:24:00.730 --> 00:24:02.765
And i love that we we get these truths in the word.
00:24:02.765 --> 00:24:06.135
That's right.
00:24:06.135 --> 00:24:07.236
No, god is not doing what you thought he would do.
00:24:07.236 --> 00:24:08.804
Yeah. he is pulling the jesus juke.
00:24:08.804 --> 00:24:10.973
It's always a miracle. yeah.
00:24:10.973 --> 00:24:12.408
It's these tiny little miracles that he's doing to
00:24:12.408 --> 00:24:14.777
Show that it's always going to be him.
00:24:14.777 --> 00:24:16.546
That's right. always going to be him.
00:24:16.546 --> 00:24:17.780
Now, lisa, we were talking about this a little bit before
00:24:17.780 --> 00:24:19.882
We got on camera.
00:24:19.882 --> 00:24:21.150
And i would love for you to unpack a jesus juke in the old
00:24:21.150 --> 00:24:23.653
Testament in numbers.
00:24:23.653 --> 00:24:25.555
I love this passage. okay.
00:24:25.555 --> 00:24:28.057
And this would be, wouldn't you say, doctor cohick,
00:24:28.057 --> 00:24:30.459
This would be a really almost a seminal passage when it comes
00:24:30.459 --> 00:24:34.897
To god's love for women.
00:24:34.897 --> 00:24:36.566
Oh, absolutely. absolutely.
00:24:36.566 --> 00:24:37.934
He loves his sons. he loves his daughters.
00:24:37.934 --> 00:24:40.836
But we tend to see the god of the old testament, even though
00:24:40.836 --> 00:24:44.206
He's a trinitarian god,
00:24:44.206 --> 00:24:45.841
Jesus, holy spirit are there too, but we tend to see him as
00:24:45.841 --> 00:24:48.778
Patriarchal and and anti-female.
00:24:48.778 --> 00:24:52.048
And it's like those aren't just all the paul passages from the
00:24:52.048 --> 00:24:55.685
Very beginning of, of this love story we call the bible.
00:24:55.685 --> 00:24:58.588
And this is, this is just a pinnacle.
00:24:58.588 --> 00:25:02.358
Take off your shoes, throw your
00:25:02.358 --> 00:25:03.993
Shoes, bang a tambourine passage.
00:25:03.993 --> 00:25:06.095
It's called the daughters of zelophehad.
00:25:06.095 --> 00:25:08.898
Oh. mhm.
00:25:08.898 --> 00:25:10.800
Then drew near the daughters of zelophehad.
00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:12.902
The son of hepher, son of
00:25:12.902 --> 00:25:13.803
Gilead, son of maker, son of manasseh.
00:25:13.803 --> 00:25:16.472
From the clans of manasseh.
00:25:16.472 --> 00:25:17.640
The sons of joseph.
00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:18.941
The names of his daughters were mahlah, noah, hoglah, milcah,
00:25:18.941 --> 00:25:21.978
And tirzah.
00:25:21.978 --> 00:25:23.045
Their names get redeemed.
00:25:23.045 --> 00:25:24.013
But right now you hear hoglin, you go
00:25:24.013 --> 00:25:25.648
You're not going to find that on one of those little license
00:25:25.648 --> 00:25:27.650
Plates at gatlinburg.
00:25:27.650 --> 00:25:28.918
That's rough.
00:25:28.918 --> 00:25:30.553
And these five girls stood before moses and eliezer.
00:25:30.553 --> 00:25:33.556
He's the high priest. and before the chiefs and all the
00:25:33.556 --> 00:25:35.191
Congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting saying, our
00:25:35.191 --> 00:25:38.628
Dad died in the wilderness.
00:25:38.628 --> 00:25:39.929
He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves
00:25:39.929 --> 00:25:42.031
Together against the lord in the company of korah,
00:25:42.031 --> 00:25:44.367
But died for his own sin and he had no sons.
00:25:44.367 --> 00:25:46.535
Why should the name of our
00:25:46.535 --> 00:25:47.403
Daddy be taken away from his clan
00:25:47.403 --> 00:25:48.838
Because he had no son?
00:25:48.838 --> 00:25:50.206
Give to us a possession among our brothers.
00:25:50.206 --> 00:25:53.309
That is just an audacious no, no
00:25:53.309 --> 00:25:56.212
In this era,
00:25:56.212 --> 00:25:57.146
In this ancient era, they lived under.
00:25:57.146 --> 00:25:59.515
Correct me if i mispronounce this, doctor cohick, but it's
00:25:59.515 --> 00:26:01.884
The law of primogeniture.
00:26:01.884 --> 00:26:03.352
Yeah. so--
00:26:03.352 --> 00:26:05.254
Wow. kristi already said this.
00:26:05.254 --> 00:26:06.589
Only the firstborn son gets the inheritance.
00:26:06.589 --> 00:26:09.892
And these five girls evidently have been drinking double shots
00:26:09.892 --> 00:26:14.163
Of caffeine because they have the chutzpah to go before moses
00:26:14.163 --> 00:26:17.900
And the high priest and go, yeah, go,
00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:20.636
We-- we want a piece of the inheritance.
00:26:20.636 --> 00:26:22.805
This is 3400 years before women marched for suffrage.
00:26:22.805 --> 00:26:29.478
Women have less stature than a good milk cow in this era.
00:26:29.478 --> 00:26:33.816
And so compared to a lot of other old testament narratives,
00:26:33.816 --> 00:26:37.520
You'd think they'd get fried into a grease spot of oblivion
00:26:37.520 --> 00:26:40.656
For just having the chutzpah to make this request,
00:26:40.656 --> 00:26:43.826
And instead the very next verse numbers 27, verse five,
00:26:43.826 --> 00:26:47.530
Moses brought their case before the lord.
00:26:47.530 --> 00:26:50.499
That's going to bless somebody.
00:26:50.499 --> 00:26:53.035
Some gentlemen, you wonder, what can i do for the women
00:26:53.035 --> 00:26:56.105
Around me, for my wife, for my
00:26:56.105 --> 00:26:57.540
Daughters, for my daughter in laws?
00:26:57.540 --> 00:27:00.076
He didn't say, what have y'all been smoking?
00:27:00.076 --> 00:27:03.245
You know.
00:27:03.245 --> 00:27:04.013
Right.
00:27:04.013 --> 00:27:04.747
And i wonder if in part it's--
00:27:04.747 --> 00:27:06.248
We had talked earlier about his
00:27:06.248 --> 00:27:08.784
Relationship with miriam, his sister.
00:27:08.784 --> 00:27:11.153
That's right.
00:27:11.153 --> 00:27:12.388
And so, you know, yes, there is patriarchy at this time.
00:27:12.388 --> 00:27:16.692
But he knows his own story. that's right.
00:27:16.692 --> 00:27:19.528
Yep. that's right.
00:27:19.528 --> 00:27:20.796
He knows.
00:27:20.796 --> 00:27:21.697
Full of the five women. that's right.
00:27:21.697 --> 00:27:23.499
He knows the songs his sister sang.
00:27:23.499 --> 00:27:25.801
Yes. man, i'd never thought about that.
00:27:25.801 --> 00:27:27.503
Wow.
00:27:27.503 --> 00:27:28.871
So moses brings the case of these--
00:27:28.871 --> 00:27:32.274
Yeah. story slays me.
00:27:32.274 --> 00:27:34.810
She's-- these five daughters who are effectively orphaned.
00:27:34.810 --> 00:27:39.648
Yes. they got nothing.
00:27:39.648 --> 00:27:41.250
They got no husbands, they have no status in their culture.
00:27:41.250 --> 00:27:45.087
He brings this case before the lord, and the lord says,
00:27:45.087 --> 00:27:49.358
That's out of order!
00:27:49.358 --> 00:27:52.194
And the lord says, kick him to the curb!
00:27:52.194 --> 00:27:55.064
No, no, the lord says--
00:27:55.064 --> 00:27:57.166
And the lord says to moses,
00:27:57.166 --> 00:27:59.135
The daughters are right.
00:27:59.135 --> 00:28:01.337
Daughters of zelophehad are right.
00:28:01.337 --> 00:28:03.773
It's my favorite,
00:28:03.773 --> 00:28:04.607
One of my favorite lines.
00:28:04.607 --> 00:28:06.675
Right there in numbers 27.
00:28:06.675 --> 00:28:10.479
We don't have the incarnation of jesus yet.
00:28:10.479 --> 00:28:12.615
We don't have paul yet.
00:28:12.615 --> 00:28:14.650
We don't have--
00:28:14.650 --> 00:28:15.684
I mean, culture is so patriarchal and god says
00:28:15.684 --> 00:28:19.522
They're right.
00:28:19.522 --> 00:28:20.089
Our girls are right.
00:28:20.089 --> 00:28:21.791
And right there he changes inheritance law.
00:28:21.791 --> 00:28:26.529
God has never been a misogynist.
00:28:26.529 --> 00:28:30.232
Culture can be.
00:28:30.232 --> 00:28:32.001
Power structures can be.
00:28:32.001 --> 00:28:33.736
Our god has always loved his daughters as much as his sons.
00:28:33.736 --> 00:28:37.006
So right there, he gives them an inheritance.
00:28:37.006 --> 00:28:39.809
Not only them, though, it says.
00:28:39.809 --> 00:28:41.744
Everybody.
00:28:41.744 --> 00:28:42.978
And you shall speak to the people of israel, saying, if a
00:28:42.978 --> 00:28:45.614
Man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his
00:28:45.614 --> 00:28:48.651
Inheritance to his daughter.
00:28:48.651 --> 00:28:50.186
I just want you to-- write the law.
00:28:50.186 --> 00:28:52.254
Here. he writes the law.
00:28:52.254 --> 00:28:53.489
The law changing.
00:28:53.489 --> 00:28:55.658
All of inheritance law is changed forevermore.
00:28:55.658 --> 00:28:59.495
Do you actually believe what he tells us in this love story?
00:28:59.495 --> 00:29:02.932
He says i am for you, not against you.
00:29:02.932 --> 00:29:06.302
Um. if you believe that he's for us, if you believe the
00:29:06.302 --> 00:29:09.071
Boundary lines he has for us fall in pleasant places,
00:29:09.071 --> 00:29:13.142
Um, then you'll come before him and you'll ask, because he
00:29:13.142 --> 00:29:17.313
Loves us unconditionally.
00:29:17.313 --> 00:29:19.982
And when he has said no to me, and he has said no a lot,
00:29:19.982 --> 00:29:24.353
His yes is better than than what i was asking for.
00:29:24.353 --> 00:29:27.623
I mean, that's what i found to be true of god.
00:29:27.623 --> 00:29:30.259
I, i haven't had an easy life.
00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:33.362
Um, there have been a lot of valleys in my life.
00:29:33.362 --> 00:29:36.532
And the presence of god in some of those places, y'all,
00:29:36.532 --> 00:29:41.270
It's been so extraordinary.
00:29:41.270 --> 00:29:43.539
I go back to that valley a million times over because my
00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:47.243
Dad helped me.
00:29:47.243 --> 00:29:48.544
He whispered to me in the dark.
00:29:48.544 --> 00:29:51.013
And so his yes is infinitely better than the dinky little
00:29:51.013 --> 00:29:56.118
Things i'm asking him for.
00:29:56.118 --> 00:29:57.753
What i'm learning is that i don't ask enough.
00:29:57.753 --> 00:30:01.123
My request of the lord aren't audacious enough,
00:30:01.123 --> 00:30:05.828
Because his love for me is infinitely better than my
00:30:05.828 --> 00:30:10.065
Understanding of that love.
00:30:10.065 --> 00:30:12.668
Ask him for everything.
00:30:12.668 --> 00:30:15.204
Come to him with everything. don't curate your emotions.
00:30:15.204 --> 00:30:18.841
And if he says no or he says wait,
00:30:18.841 --> 00:30:22.278
Trust that god's will for us is good.
00:30:22.278 --> 00:30:25.547
He's a good god. he's a good god.
00:30:25.547 --> 00:30:28.550
And at the end of numbers, these girls come back.
00:30:28.550 --> 00:30:32.321
These daughters come back because they're supposed to
00:30:32.321 --> 00:30:35.324
Marry in an arranged marriage.
00:30:35.324 --> 00:30:37.326
And if they if they went with the marriages they were
00:30:37.326 --> 00:30:40.329
Supposed to to take and submit
00:30:40.329 --> 00:30:42.598
To, they would have lost their land.
00:30:42.598 --> 00:30:44.600
Yeah, they come before moses a second time, and it brings
00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:48.804
Their second request before the lord.
00:30:48.804 --> 00:30:51.240
And he says, let them marry who they want to marry.
00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:53.142
They don't have to lose their land.
00:30:53.142 --> 00:30:54.877
Yeah. and you go the land they're talking about is a
00:30:54.877 --> 00:30:56.712
Promised land.
00:30:56.712 --> 00:30:57.846
This is bigger than just this one chapter of history.
00:30:57.846 --> 00:31:00.015
That's right.
00:31:00.015 --> 00:31:00.849
Their daddy had a piece of canaan.
00:31:00.849 --> 00:31:03.018
Yeah. and they were going to lose it.
00:31:03.018 --> 00:31:04.520
And god said, no.
00:31:04.520 --> 00:31:05.621
My daughters get the promise, too.
00:31:05.621 --> 00:31:07.923
To me, this speaks to people in
00:31:07.923 --> 00:31:10.492
Position, in the power structure.
00:31:10.492 --> 00:31:12.528
You may not be able to change the law yourself.
00:31:12.528 --> 00:31:16.699
You may-- but there are little things that we can do along the
00:31:16.699 --> 00:31:19.835
Way, whether it's have courage to ask in the first place, or
00:31:19.835 --> 00:31:24.273
Whether it's having the courage to pray and not just decide, or
00:31:24.273 --> 00:31:29.278
How to advocate for--
00:31:29.278 --> 00:31:30.479
Some to advocate.
00:31:30.479 --> 00:31:31.780
But it is this idea that god is always inviting us to obedience
00:31:31.780 --> 00:31:37.286
Into the culture of his kingdom.
00:31:37.286 --> 00:31:39.321
Surrender. it's a surrender.
00:31:39.321 --> 00:31:41.790
You know, i think all throughout the bible, in god's
00:31:41.790 --> 00:31:44.393
Word, we see that he really does value women, and not just
00:31:44.393 --> 00:31:47.329
In the new testament.
00:31:47.329 --> 00:31:48.564
When jesus is life and death and burial and resurrection
00:31:48.564 --> 00:31:52.167
Fulfilled the law,
00:31:52.167 --> 00:31:52.901
But in the old testament too.
00:31:52.901 --> 00:31:54.403
One of my favorite stories in women in the bible is deborah
00:31:54.403 --> 00:31:57.439
The judge.
00:31:57.439 --> 00:31:58.741
She was called to judge israel, to lead over israel, to use her
00:31:58.741 --> 00:32:02.978
Prophetic gifting to hear from
00:32:02.978 --> 00:32:04.747
The lord and give their next steps.
00:32:04.747 --> 00:32:06.782
And i just love her character because she was inclusive.
00:32:06.782 --> 00:32:10.552
She wanted to share this beautiful prophetic word that
00:32:10.552 --> 00:32:14.123
The lord had given her with men and with other women too.
00:32:14.123 --> 00:32:17.493
And i think that story is highlighted for us in the
00:32:17.493 --> 00:32:19.628
Bible, because it is showing us that from the beginning of
00:32:19.628 --> 00:32:23.399
Time, god valued women not just in the homes, but also leading
00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:29.571
Over an entire nation.
00:32:29.571 --> 00:32:32.408
Those daughters have literally been orphaned.
00:32:32.408 --> 00:32:36.145
They have lost their father, which in this culture is their
00:32:36.145 --> 00:32:39.748
Only liaison to any kind of
00:32:39.748 --> 00:32:42.751
Not just wealth, to their daily bread.
00:32:42.751 --> 00:32:45.320
Yeah. yeah.
00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:46.155
In fact, god is their father.
00:32:46.155 --> 00:32:48.757
You know, my-- i became a mom at the age of 50 through the
00:32:48.757 --> 00:32:52.161
Miracle of adoption.
00:32:52.161 --> 00:32:53.695
And over and over and over again, he's taught me, missy,
00:32:53.695 --> 00:32:58.333
My little girl who lost her first mom in haiti, who was
00:32:58.333 --> 00:33:00.903
Really sick, who almost died, who lived in an unbelievable,
00:33:00.903 --> 00:33:06.542
Impoverished situation,
00:33:06.542 --> 00:33:08.610
Missy has never had an orphan spirit.
00:33:08.610 --> 00:33:12.281
Missy has this real secure little sense of self.
00:33:12.281 --> 00:33:15.918
I grew up in america.
00:33:15.918 --> 00:33:17.619
I've always known where my next meal was.
00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:19.755
These leather pants are squeaking.
00:33:19.755 --> 00:33:22.491
But i had an orphan spirit.
00:33:22.491 --> 00:33:24.126
Yeah. for a long, long time as a christ follower, i tried to
00:33:24.126 --> 00:33:28.564
Make myself smaller so that people wouldn't resent me.
00:33:28.564 --> 00:33:35.037
So that people would like me.
00:33:35.037 --> 00:33:36.305
I tried to make myself smaller so i would fit into what the
00:33:36.305 --> 00:33:40.476
Culture, the stream i was
00:33:40.476 --> 00:33:41.944
Swimming in said i should fit in.
00:33:41.944 --> 00:33:44.113
And these girls trust their heavenly father enough to go,
00:33:44.113 --> 00:33:47.950
He doesn't want us to live as orphans.
00:33:47.950 --> 00:33:50.319
That's right.
00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.286
And no one fought that.
00:33:51.286 --> 00:33:54.056
What they were asking when moses received the answer,
00:33:54.056 --> 00:33:58.160
It's like the rest of the israelites were like, okay,
00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:01.430
Caleb does the same thing then with his daughter, you know.
00:34:01.430 --> 00:34:04.800
And there's this thread that comes out.
00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:07.603
Sin still comes in.
00:34:07.603 --> 00:34:08.537
Wickedness still happens.
00:34:08.537 --> 00:34:10.038
Sure. but there's also this
00:34:10.038 --> 00:34:11.273
Recognition of the goodness of god.
00:34:11.273 --> 00:34:16.278
There's so many women in my life that have modeled
00:34:16.278 --> 00:34:18.514
Obedience to christ.
00:34:18.514 --> 00:34:19.915
And one of them is my friend jennie allen.
00:34:19.915 --> 00:34:22.184
Um, this past year, i have seen her do some of the craziest big
00:34:22.184 --> 00:34:26.455
God dreams that she did not have, but the lord had for her.
00:34:26.455 --> 00:34:30.259
And while they were scary and big and seemed impossible, she
00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:33.128
Was completely submitted to the lord.
00:34:33.128 --> 00:34:35.030
And she always used to say, like, if the lord gave it to
00:34:35.030 --> 00:34:37.766
Me, then he's going to see me through it.
00:34:37.766 --> 00:34:40.002
And that's just been so empowering for me and so
00:34:40.002 --> 00:34:42.738
Inspiring because obedience is sometimes really scary.
00:34:42.738 --> 00:34:46.742
It's like jumping off a cliff, swan diving and hoping that the
00:34:46.742 --> 00:34:49.845
Lord catches you.
00:34:49.845 --> 00:34:51.113
But jennie has proven to us all by doing what the lord has
00:34:51.113 --> 00:34:54.683
Called her to do.
00:34:54.683 --> 00:34:55.984
No matter how big and scary and weird and robust it is, it is
00:34:55.984 --> 00:34:59.254
Going to happen and he's going to equip you for it.
00:34:59.254 --> 00:35:02.958
I would encourage someone to give god their yes by actually
00:35:02.958 --> 00:35:07.462
Going in and counting the cost of that
00:35:07.462 --> 00:35:10.332
Yes. processing all of that and conversation with the lord and
00:35:10.332 --> 00:35:14.436
Then saying, yes. i think ultimately we are all saying
00:35:14.436 --> 00:35:18.273
Yes to something or someone.
00:35:18.273 --> 00:35:20.976
We are all having faith in something or someone, and i
00:35:20.976 --> 00:35:24.913
Have found that man,
00:35:24.913 --> 00:35:27.182
If i'm not saying yes to the lord, i'm actually saying yes
00:35:27.182 --> 00:35:30.118
To my own understanding or my own will.
00:35:30.118 --> 00:35:34.122
And i know how limited my own understanding is.
00:35:34.122 --> 00:35:37.726
I know how shortsighted my will is.
00:35:37.726 --> 00:35:41.630
And so i have learned that it's better to do things god's way
00:35:41.630 --> 00:35:44.900
Because he is sovereign and all powerful and all knowing.
00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:48.904
But ultimately, he also loves me, and he loves you.
00:35:48.904 --> 00:35:53.008
And so that all powerful, all knowing god loving you really
00:35:53.008 --> 00:35:59.715
Brings things into perspective about how much we can trust him
00:35:59.715 --> 00:36:03.352
And give him our yes.
00:36:03.352 --> 00:36:06.722
Join the conversation on our
00:36:06.722 --> 00:36:08.223
Better together youtube channel.
00:36:08.223 --> 00:36:10.259
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00:36:14.010 --> 00:36:15.376
I think the church has used the word accountability in a really
00:36:19.013 --> 00:36:22.383
Anemic way, because usually when we talk about
00:36:22.383 --> 00:36:25.919
Accountability, we're talking about accountability in sin
00:36:25.919 --> 00:36:28.989
Areas or in sin issues.
00:36:28.989 --> 00:36:31.725
But i think the other side of that coin of accountability is
00:36:31.725 --> 00:36:34.895
Who's holding you accountable to your giftings and to the
00:36:34.895 --> 00:36:38.132
Glory of god in you?
00:36:38.132 --> 00:36:40.067
Who is it that's holding you accountable to,
00:36:40.067 --> 00:36:42.202
Hey, you're gifted here.
00:36:42.202 --> 00:36:44.305
Are you stewarding that gift?
00:36:44.305 --> 00:36:46.273
Hey, this is part of how god has made known through you.
00:36:46.273 --> 00:36:49.410
How are you doing with cultivating that gift?
00:36:49.410 --> 00:36:53.013
So i want to be a sister in the family of god.
00:36:53.013 --> 00:36:57.217
Yes, i can walk with you, holding you accountable in your
00:36:57.217 --> 00:37:00.054
Temptations and sin areas, but i also want to lovingly hold
00:37:00.054 --> 00:37:03.791
You accountable, fanning the flame the gifts of god in you,
00:37:03.791 --> 00:37:07.761
And to hold you accountable to the glories as well.
00:37:07.761 --> 00:37:11.999
When culture was was shockingly misogynistic and anti-female
00:37:15.602 --> 00:37:22.376
Over and over and over again, you see god erecting fences to
00:37:22.376 --> 00:37:25.612
Protect his daughters.
00:37:25.612 --> 00:37:27.081
It's never been god.
00:37:27.081 --> 00:37:28.248
It grieves me when i hear people nowadays.
00:37:28.248 --> 00:37:30.918
I heard a woman recently on a podcast advocate for young
00:37:30.918 --> 00:37:35.756
Women to not read the bible because she said it's a
00:37:35.756 --> 00:37:39.093
Misogynistic text.
00:37:39.093 --> 00:37:40.461
And i thought, honey, you haven't read it.
00:37:40.461 --> 00:37:42.296
There's patriarchy in there because that's the culture and
00:37:42.296 --> 00:37:45.399
It's written to real people in real situations, but you've got
00:37:45.399 --> 00:37:49.269
To read it with theological sensitivity.
00:37:49.269 --> 00:37:51.839
And that's what, like you just did there, right?
00:37:51.839 --> 00:37:55.008
And then you see, no, god is absolutely there.
00:37:55.008 --> 00:37:58.045
Yeah. and our culture's not perfect either.
00:37:58.045 --> 00:38:00.414
Yeah. i was just going to ask, like, we're kind of living in
00:38:00.414 --> 00:38:03.884
That same-- echoes of it.
00:38:03.884 --> 00:38:05.519
Yeah, echoes of it in so many ways.
00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:07.221
And i think the message is the same.
00:38:07.221 --> 00:38:10.090
You go to god.
00:38:10.090 --> 00:38:11.358
Yeah. like, we just have to keep redirecting our daughters,
00:38:11.358 --> 00:38:14.728
Our sisters.
00:38:14.728 --> 00:38:15.729
Yeah. like, i know that they're saying this.
00:38:15.729 --> 00:38:17.898
I know that you're in this environment.
00:38:17.898 --> 00:38:19.466
I know it feels impossible.
00:38:19.466 --> 00:38:21.535
And this is when we see god do his best work in the valley
00:38:21.535 --> 00:38:25.539
Places, in the opposition, in the tension.
00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:27.741
It's when we get to see the bigness of god.
00:38:27.741 --> 00:38:31.145
So daughters, sisters in christ, in the kingdom, in this
00:38:31.145 --> 00:38:34.915
Work, don't settle.
00:38:34.915 --> 00:38:37.184
But teach the sons also that you can hear god in the octave
00:38:37.184 --> 00:38:42.256
That i'm speaking in.
00:38:42.256 --> 00:38:43.757
You know, that--
00:38:43.757 --> 00:38:44.458
And that's okay.
00:38:44.458 --> 00:38:45.459
Like that, jesus learned by hearing his mom.
00:38:45.459 --> 00:38:49.830
Yeah, sing the psalms,
00:38:49.830 --> 00:38:52.099
Teach the word to him, taking him to church.
00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:55.836
Joseph was also there, too.
00:38:55.836 --> 00:38:57.237
And but it's a both, and with jesus.
00:38:57.237 --> 00:39:00.307
Like, yeah.
00:39:00.307 --> 00:39:01.575
Like you said, moses probably could hear marion's voice in
00:39:01.575 --> 00:39:04.611
The back of his head. yes.
00:39:04.611 --> 00:39:06.146
Isn't that one of our human jobs, though?
00:39:06.146 --> 00:39:08.148
Like to this day, my two boys, eight and five,
00:39:08.148 --> 00:39:11.585
If they have a question about god, they're asking me.
00:39:11.585 --> 00:39:15.022
It doesn't matter if ej's right there and has the answer.
00:39:15.022 --> 00:39:18.525
They're coming to me because
00:39:18.525 --> 00:39:20.260
I'm the one singing them the songs.
00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:22.362
Reading them--
00:39:22.362 --> 00:39:23.630
And even if i'm out of town one night and ej tries to read,
00:39:23.630 --> 00:39:26.867
They're like, you didn't do it right.
00:39:26.867 --> 00:39:29.069
Mommy doesn't like-- you know what i mean?
00:39:29.069 --> 00:39:30.337
It was animated.
00:39:30.337 --> 00:39:31.538
You know? because the
00:39:31.538 --> 00:39:32.539
Voices like mom does. yes, exactly.
00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:34.641
It's like you're supposed to sing that part.
00:39:34.641 --> 00:39:36.743
You're not reading it.
00:39:36.743 --> 00:39:37.911
And so it's just this idea of,
00:39:37.911 --> 00:39:39.880
Well, because i've been doing it since i've been nursing and
00:39:39.880 --> 00:39:42.516
Rocking them.
00:39:42.516 --> 00:39:43.784
Right. like, this is not a, okay, sit down for your reading.
00:39:43.784 --> 00:39:46.386
This is while we sit here,
00:39:46.386 --> 00:39:48.021
Let me pray over you or let me
00:39:48.021 --> 00:39:49.556
Read or let's have a conversation.
00:39:49.556 --> 00:39:51.825
And that just continues.
00:39:51.825 --> 00:39:53.560
That is a privilege of being a woman.
00:39:53.560 --> 00:39:57.197
Um, me and my daughter were watching a movie.
00:39:57.197 --> 00:39:59.833
Uh, we went on spring break, and i got so convicted about
00:39:59.833 --> 00:40:04.304
This little movie, and the whole idea was that there was,
00:40:04.304 --> 00:40:07.574
Like, this male king and he was corrupt, but he came off as,
00:40:07.574 --> 00:40:12.379
Like, really amazing.
00:40:12.379 --> 00:40:13.380
But he wasn't.
00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.615
He was like, protecting people. when they figured out his
00:40:14.615 --> 00:40:16.650
Corruption, they like, totally took him out of the position.
00:40:16.650 --> 00:40:20.787
And his wife and this other girl, like, went into power and
00:40:20.787 --> 00:40:24.591
They're celebrating them at the end.
00:40:24.591 --> 00:40:25.959
And my daughter, who is-- she is like all girl, okay?
00:40:25.959 --> 00:40:29.296
She's like girly pop, all the things pop, pop, pop, slay the
00:40:29.296 --> 00:40:32.165
Day queen. like this is her--
00:40:32.165 --> 00:40:34.067
She's like, yeah, give it up for the women.
00:40:34.067 --> 00:40:36.970
And that man need to sit down.
00:40:36.970 --> 00:40:39.506
Da da da da da.
00:40:39.506 --> 00:40:40.507
And i'm sitting there, y'all.
00:40:40.507 --> 00:40:42.142
And i'm like, i just feel like my mama.
00:40:42.142 --> 00:40:43.810
I'm like, lord, everything is a sermon.
00:40:43.810 --> 00:40:45.779
Everything is holier than thou.
00:40:45.779 --> 00:40:47.180
But i felt the strongest conviction around our sons.
00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:51.985
Yes. i even i posted about it.
00:40:51.985 --> 00:40:54.621
People were like going back and forth a little bit.
00:40:54.621 --> 00:40:56.256
I was like, i'm gonna let him.
00:40:56.256 --> 00:40:57.658
But what i felt was
00:40:57.658 --> 00:41:00.294
That we have to leave space for sons as well.
00:41:00.294 --> 00:41:05.265
There is this difference between empowerment and
00:41:05.265 --> 00:41:07.568
Enragement, and if we allow our pain to have us exclude men, we
00:41:07.568 --> 00:41:13.574
Are doing the same thing.
00:41:13.574 --> 00:41:15.075
We're going back to amazon.
00:41:15.075 --> 00:41:16.410
Flipping the power structure.
00:41:16.410 --> 00:41:17.911
Yeah.
00:41:17.911 --> 00:41:19.046
And i think about how beautiful it is to teach our
00:41:19.046 --> 00:41:21.748
Sons that we all get a seat at the table.
00:41:21.748 --> 00:41:24.184
Yes.
00:41:24.184 --> 00:41:25.485
Because then we would raise up the next generation that would
00:41:25.485 --> 00:41:27.287
Say, oh, everyone gets a seat at the table.
00:41:27.287 --> 00:41:31.224
I think when women and men pursue jesus together in unity,
00:41:31.224 --> 00:41:35.529
I mean, it's like exponential power breaks out.
00:41:35.529 --> 00:41:40.300
I think that's what-- i think
00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:41.501
That's what we were intended to do,
00:41:41.501 --> 00:41:43.337
Right. that's what god was doing with adam and eve.
00:41:43.337 --> 00:41:47.608
They were pursuing god in unity,
00:41:47.608 --> 00:41:49.610
Right, before sin came in.
00:41:49.610 --> 00:41:51.678
When we get into that place, i think we're in our lane.
00:41:51.678 --> 00:41:55.949
And that's when god moves in and he does miraculous things
00:41:55.949 --> 00:42:00.187
That we could not have possibly done ourselves, we could not
00:42:00.187 --> 00:42:03.290
Have crafted.
00:42:03.290 --> 00:42:04.658
It is just god moving.
00:42:04.658 --> 00:42:07.027
It's like a clean vessel or a tube that's not bent.
00:42:07.027 --> 00:42:12.165
Right? it's like, oh, now the real power can flow through
00:42:12.165 --> 00:42:16.303
Because we've not inhibited it in any way.
00:42:16.303 --> 00:42:20.574
I'm always at women's conferences. right.
00:42:20.574 --> 00:42:23.076
But i was i was at a conference in georgia and whole bunch of
00:42:23.076 --> 00:42:27.147
Women, estrogen festival, and a man was there and several women
00:42:27.147 --> 00:42:31.785
Came up to me and went,
00:42:31.785 --> 00:42:32.953
I can't believe-- why is he here?
00:42:32.953 --> 00:42:34.588
And i said, oh, i love that he's here.
00:42:34.588 --> 00:42:37.691
I said, i love that that man came in with his wife.
00:42:37.691 --> 00:42:41.061
Well, wouldn't you know it--
00:42:41.061 --> 00:42:42.162
I always pray because i get easily distracted,
00:42:42.162 --> 00:42:44.865
For psalm 34:5 faces, ready is in the face of those who put
00:42:44.865 --> 00:42:47.868
Their hope in the lord, their faces not be covered
00:42:47.868 --> 00:42:49.403
With shame, and they become kind of anchors
00:42:49.403 --> 00:42:51.405
So i don't get too much in the weeds when i'm teaching.
00:42:51.405 --> 00:42:54.074
And y'all, every time i'd scan this room of 2000 women, he had
00:42:54.074 --> 00:42:58.245
The kindest,
00:42:58.245 --> 00:43:00.814
He was such a generous listener.
00:43:00.814 --> 00:43:03.350
Well, so this got-- one guy, 2000 women.
00:43:03.350 --> 00:43:06.086
He comes up to me at the end of the event.
00:43:06.086 --> 00:43:08.822
He was so nice with his wife,
00:43:08.822 --> 00:43:11.458
But he said something about something.
00:43:11.458 --> 00:43:13.193
And i thought, man, this guy is really astute on this passage.
00:43:13.193 --> 00:43:16.296
You said something very kind, and i said, you a preacher?
00:43:16.296 --> 00:43:20.934
And he went, i was. well, then he tells me a little bit of his
00:43:20.934 --> 00:43:26.206
Story, and he, because of moral failure years and years ago in
00:43:26.206 --> 00:43:29.576
Another country, he lost his church.
00:43:29.576 --> 00:43:32.212
God has redeemed his story.
00:43:32.212 --> 00:43:33.580
He's married to a boaz.
00:43:33.580 --> 00:43:36.683
And he was so kind.
00:43:36.683 --> 00:43:37.984
And i thought, oh jesus, i want to honor my brothers. as much as
00:43:37.984 --> 00:43:43.657
We long to have a seat at the table,
00:43:43.657 --> 00:43:45.692
I also want to say thanks for letting me sit next to you.
00:43:45.692 --> 00:43:49.296
Let's not be segregated because, again, as you pointed
00:43:49.296 --> 00:43:52.799
Out so beautifully, doctor cohick, it's brothers and
00:43:52.799 --> 00:43:55.168
Sisters, brothers and sisters.
00:43:55.168 --> 00:43:56.803
Let's not make it all about the sisters.
00:43:56.803 --> 00:43:59.172
Let's make it about the sons and the daughters.
00:43:59.172 --> 00:44:02.509
I believe god uses family language because what came with
00:44:02.509 --> 00:44:08.482
The fall is loneliness.
00:44:08.482 --> 00:44:11.551
There was no loneliness in eden.
00:44:11.551 --> 00:44:14.287
Adam and eve had a perfect
00:44:14.287 --> 00:44:16.256
Communion with with our creator redeemer.
00:44:16.256 --> 00:44:19.126
But with the fall came loneliness.
00:44:19.126 --> 00:44:22.028
That's the first time they they felt shame.
00:44:22.028 --> 00:44:25.265
And so one of the first things god tells his people when he's
00:44:25.265 --> 00:44:29.402
Reframing their identity is you're not slaves.
00:44:29.402 --> 00:44:32.272
Your children, you're not slaves your children.
00:44:32.272 --> 00:44:34.775
From the very beginning of scripture to the very end of
00:44:34.775 --> 00:44:37.577
Scripture, you see the language of family because god is
00:44:37.577 --> 00:44:42.149
Speaking to the loneliness in our hearts where we think,
00:44:42.149 --> 00:44:45.051
Will i fit?
00:44:45.051 --> 00:44:46.586
Will they love me if they actually know me?
00:44:46.586 --> 00:44:50.223
If they look under the hood of my life, will they stay or will
00:44:50.223 --> 00:44:53.326
They leave?
00:44:53.326 --> 00:44:54.694
And so over and over and over again he says, you're my
00:44:54.694 --> 00:44:57.731
Children, and you will always have a home with me.
00:44:57.731 --> 00:45:01.635
As a matter of fact, if you understand adoption, he calls
00:45:01.635 --> 00:45:05.505
Us his adopted children.
00:45:05.505 --> 00:45:07.073
In the jewish context, uh, parents can disinherit
00:45:07.073 --> 00:45:11.444
Biological child, they cannot disinherit an adopted child.
00:45:11.444 --> 00:45:16.283
Legally, jewish parents cannot disinherit an adopted child.
00:45:16.283 --> 00:45:19.886
And that's what god's telling us.
00:45:19.886 --> 00:45:21.621
You will never see my back.
00:45:21.621 --> 00:45:23.824
I will always be your father.
00:45:23.824 --> 00:45:26.393
I'm for you.
00:45:26.393 --> 00:45:27.828
I'm not leaving.
00:45:27.828 --> 00:45:29.629
Well, because that's the way that jesus would have it.
00:45:29.629 --> 00:45:32.299
Amen. that's right.
00:45:32.299 --> 00:45:33.567
And we are not trying to get so caught up in our calling and
00:45:33.567 --> 00:45:36.570
The way that the lord has called us and these platforms
00:45:36.570 --> 00:45:39.105
And, oh, i finally got my break, and i got my voice as a
00:45:39.105 --> 00:45:41.641
Woman that we forget who we serve.
00:45:41.641 --> 00:45:45.312
Yeah. if i, if i carry that chip on my shoulder, then i
00:45:45.312 --> 00:45:47.647
Pass it to my boys.
00:45:47.647 --> 00:45:48.682
Yes, yes.
00:45:48.682 --> 00:45:49.783
And i don't want to pass that burden to my boys.
00:45:49.783 --> 00:45:51.952
I want, i want them to feel free in the lord too.
00:45:51.952 --> 00:45:55.121
You know, i don't want to pass
00:45:55.121 --> 00:45:57.023
Any of the things that could be offensive.
00:45:57.023 --> 00:45:59.226
Like, i want to educate my children and as they will be
00:45:59.226 --> 00:46:02.963
Black men as to, okay, this is how the world has been for the
00:46:02.963 --> 00:46:07.801
Last however many years.
00:46:07.801 --> 00:46:09.803
And so here are some things to look out for that might come
00:46:09.803 --> 00:46:12.239
Against who we've told you are and who god says that you are.
00:46:12.239 --> 00:46:16.243
And so i want to educate you, but i dare not pass on burdens.
00:46:16.243 --> 00:46:20.013
Right? i dare not pass on baggage that they then have to
00:46:20.013 --> 00:46:23.016
Carry for their lives and for their wives and children.
00:46:23.016 --> 00:46:26.353
You know? really good.
00:46:26.353 --> 00:46:27.654
Okay. so one of the things that's been stirring in my
00:46:27.654 --> 00:46:30.824
Heart is this sense of unity.
00:46:30.824 --> 00:46:32.759
You know, i want to do my best to balance this,
00:46:32.759 --> 00:46:38.198
The idea that there is grief.
00:46:38.198 --> 00:46:40.000
There's so much grief in the hearts of god's daughters.
00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:42.936
And there is this gratitude that we can walk in, that we
00:46:42.936 --> 00:46:47.040
All get to do this. yes.
00:46:47.040 --> 00:46:49.009
And i think that the surrender piece that we're talking about
00:46:49.009 --> 00:46:52.846
Today leads us to a place of unity.
00:46:52.846 --> 00:46:57.217
I think that's what like surrender prompts.
00:46:57.217 --> 00:46:59.519
It's like, lord, however you would have it, and if it is
00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:01.955
God's way, it is going to be unified.
00:47:01.955 --> 00:47:05.358
And so, lisa, i would love for you to pray for unity.
00:47:05.358 --> 00:47:11.731
Yeah, i just, i just feel like that's what we need--
00:47:11.731 --> 00:47:16.102
Yeah.
00:47:16.102 --> 00:47:17.337
Yeah. is to unify sons and daughters, unify denominations,
00:47:17.337 --> 00:47:22.108
Unify churches.
00:47:22.108 --> 00:47:24.010
I mean, the days are short.
00:47:24.010 --> 00:47:25.712
We know it.
00:47:25.712 --> 00:47:26.546
Yeah. and i just really--
00:47:26.546 --> 00:47:28.548
I have this deep longing.
00:47:28.548 --> 00:47:29.816
And maybe it's because i'm a teletubby inside, but to just--
00:47:29.816 --> 00:47:34.287
I know that we're going to heaven as individuals.
00:47:34.287 --> 00:47:37.524
But i just wonder if we can carry the same essence of unity
00:47:37.524 --> 00:47:40.760
As we go.
00:47:40.760 --> 00:47:41.828
Yeah.
00:47:41.828 --> 00:47:42.562
You know, that it would be like
00:47:42.562 --> 00:47:43.396
Locking spiritual arms when we go.
00:47:43.396 --> 00:47:45.832
Body of christ. yeah.
00:47:45.832 --> 00:47:47.200
You know, it's the body of christ.
00:47:47.200 --> 00:47:48.935
This may seem cheesy, but sometimes i think what we model
00:47:48.935 --> 00:47:51.571
Is much more important than what comes out of our mouths.
00:47:51.571 --> 00:47:54.541
Absolutely. oh, jesus.
00:47:54.541 --> 00:47:58.511
Jesus. jesus, king jesus, lord.
00:47:58.511 --> 00:48:00.714
Jesus the christ, the rose of sharon, the lily of the valley.
00:48:00.714 --> 00:48:03.984
The one who sticks closer than a brother.
00:48:03.984 --> 00:48:06.252
Our mediator. one who models unity for us.
00:48:06.252 --> 00:48:10.890
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this time and space
00:48:10.890 --> 00:48:13.460
We've gotten to just lean into you through this love letter
00:48:13.460 --> 00:48:17.163
Called the bible, as kristi calls it, the truest, best
00:48:17.163 --> 00:48:20.266
Story that was ever told.
00:48:20.266 --> 00:48:21.901
And lord, over and over and over again in this story,
00:48:21.901 --> 00:48:24.371
You've given us these promises, these parameters.
00:48:24.371 --> 00:48:27.173
You just underscore unity first
00:48:27.173 --> 00:48:31.077
With you, father, son, and holy spirit.
00:48:31.077 --> 00:48:33.880
Let us let us make them in our image.
00:48:33.880 --> 00:48:39.085
So, father, thank you for modeling community and
00:48:39.085 --> 00:48:43.723
Unity for us.
00:48:43.723 --> 00:48:45.025
Thank you, jesus that you said right before the cross, i didn't
00:48:45.025 --> 00:48:49.295
Come to be served.
00:48:49.295 --> 00:48:51.398
I came to serve.
00:48:51.398 --> 00:48:53.833
Give my life as a ransom for many.
00:48:53.833 --> 00:48:56.002
Lord, we we don't know what it is to consider others as more
00:48:56.002 --> 00:48:59.239
Highly than ourselves apart from you.
00:48:59.239 --> 00:49:01.674
So, jesus, we audaciously ask, like those daughters of
00:49:01.674 --> 00:49:05.612
Zelophehad, we want to see you more clearly, jesus.
00:49:05.612 --> 00:49:10.450
We want to be more cognizant of our dependance on you.
00:49:10.450 --> 00:49:15.121
And lord, as we lean toward you, we know that you'll, you'll
00:49:15.121 --> 00:49:19.993
Just tip us toward each other because that's your word.
00:49:19.993 --> 00:49:23.997
Love one another.
00:49:23.997 --> 00:49:25.965
Carry one another's burdens.
00:49:25.965 --> 00:49:28.802
Be kind to one another.
00:49:28.802 --> 00:49:31.805
So, lord jesus, we pray that you would break our hearts in
00:49:31.805 --> 00:49:34.808
All the places yours was broken when you were incarnate, lord,
00:49:34.808 --> 00:49:38.011
That we would prefer one another, that we would see past
00:49:38.011 --> 00:49:41.815
These tiny, tiny, tiny skin
00:49:41.815 --> 00:49:44.250
Deep barriers of of gender and ethnicity.
00:49:44.250 --> 00:49:47.120
And we would see each other truly as brothers and sisters,
00:49:47.120 --> 00:49:52.559
Lord, that that we would be able to live that that greatest
00:49:52.559 --> 00:49:56.129
Last command you gave us, love one another.
00:49:56.129 --> 00:50:00.834
The world will know that you're
00:50:00.834 --> 00:50:02.569
Mine by how well you love one another.
00:50:02.569 --> 00:50:05.505
And jesus, we can't do that
00:50:05.505 --> 00:50:06.773
Apart from you and your holy spirit.
00:50:06.773 --> 00:50:09.943
So we ask these things by the power and the authority of your
00:50:09.943 --> 00:50:14.280
Name, king jesus, the name that one day every knee will bow
00:50:14.280 --> 00:50:18.852
Before and be unified by.
00:50:18.852 --> 00:50:21.020
We love you, jesus.
00:50:21.020 --> 00:50:22.122
We can't make it by ourselves.
00:50:22.122 --> 00:50:24.057
Help us to love you more and to love one another well.
00:50:24.057 --> 00:50:28.061
We ask all these things by your name and for your glory.
00:50:28.061 --> 00:50:31.798
Amen. amen.
00:50:31.798 --> 00:50:34.701
Connect with us on social media and let us know how our team
00:50:34.701 --> 00:50:37.604
Can pray for you.
00:50:37.604 --> 00:50:40.940
Stream full episodes of better together on demand.
00:50:40.940 --> 00:50:44.611
Go to bettertogether.tv to stream all
00:50:44.611 --> 00:50:47.413
Of our latest conversations.
00:50:47.413 --> 00:50:47.413

Called to Surrender - Episode 1085

August 8, 2025 | S7 E1085 | 52:34

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