Better Together

Confessions from a Grateful Heart - Episode 1120

November 21, 2025 | S7 E1120 | 52:34

Abortion. Attempted suicide. Mental illness. Our God is faithful to redeem any story! Our scars represent God's healing. Our stories tell of His mercy. Being grateful for all He has done in our lives paves the way for others to experience His grace. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

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Better Together | Confessions from a Grateful Heart - Episode 1120 | November 21, 2025

Abortion, attempted suicide, mental illness,
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God can redeem any of our stories today.
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We thank him for his unconditional love and his
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Mercy and his grace.
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Come on, join us.
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♪♪
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This week on gratitude
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We were just talking about
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It's just challenged each of our hearts.
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Yeah. like, if there's a moment where you're listening to this
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And you just peek in and you think, oh, these are ladies
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That have it all together
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On gratitude,
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Just know that we were just sitting here, like, all
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Thinking about, i want to move and grow in this.
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I want it to be like a
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Heartbeat for me, that i remain grateful.
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Not just when i've seen the end of something, but even in the
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Middle of it, even before it starts,
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Because it's one of those places of if you're not in the
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Middle of something, just wait.
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Just wait.
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Life is there.
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And when i was sitting back and listening to this, um, one of
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The things that it made me think about, which so often we
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Go back and we can reflect to, you know, well before i knew
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The lord, you know, we have these beautiful testimonies.
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And then there are also those
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Testimonies, as you knew the lord.
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And i had very much felt called into ministry when i was in
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Eighth grade and just walked that out.
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It was so different for my family and just trying to
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Wrestle through that.
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And they were so faithful to wrestle through it.
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It's been such a beautiful
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Journey to see it on the back end.
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But in the midst of it, what it brought was a lot
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Of insecurity for me.
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And so i left and i went away
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To school at a christian university.
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I was a double major in christian ministries and
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Business, so it's not like the before i met jesus, y'all.
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I absolutely loved jesus,
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Yet i still struggled with a ton of insecurity.
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And so the very first time that i ever had sex, i got pregnant
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And i came home and i had an abortion and felt like i just
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Needed to lay everything--
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I was like, that's it. everything is over.
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It's done.
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There's nothing that can be recovered from this.
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And i remember i had a pastor that i encountered, he and his
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Wife, and they were such the tangible evidence
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Of grace in my life.
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And they said, ireni, i know that your choices--
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And it was. it was my choices.
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It wasn't a circumstance that happened to me.
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These were my choices.
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Um, they were like, but you're not--
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God isn't done with you.
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And just walked me through just
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A season of healing and wholeness.
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And it wasn't so that i would become something or so that i
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Would step back into ministry.
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It just brought me into wholeness.
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And it was that tangible, like encounter with grace that i--
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I'm so grateful for. yes.
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That sometimes you can read about grace,
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But if we aren't the tangible evidence of it or can
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Encounter it, we can miss the experience with it.
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And so it would behoove us to talk about gratitude,
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And it never affect anybody in our life.
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Yes. or that it only stopped here.
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Like thank you, i'm glad you told me about that.
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Now i'll work on me and it'll make it better for me, but it
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Wouldn't flow through us to actually reach others.
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I think when we're grateful, it reminds us of how far we've
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Come, how god has graced our lives.
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Um, and it takes away a lot of the judgmental attitude
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Towards others, that god has graced for all of us.
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And i am so thankful for his grace on my life and his mercy
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And his love towards all of us, and man,
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If you don't think you have anything to be grateful for
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Today, you can thank god for loving you today.
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Thank you, jesus, that you love me.
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Thank you that you care for me even if you don't feel it.
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I promise that when you start speaking those words of
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Gratitude and thankfulness to an almighty god, it's going to
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Open your heart up.
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This is in the psalms, which it's always a good
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Place to live, right?
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It's just right. just right.
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It's just right. this is in psalm 91.
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I will give thanks to the lord with all my heart, which means
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In the bumpy places.
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Yeah. the smooth.
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Yeah. i will tell--
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Now, this is so here's that personal side.
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We keep it just me and my locked closet with jesus.
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But i will tell of your wonders.
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I will tell of them.
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I'm not going to just,
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Oh, you need to read about the wonders. i will tell of them and
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How that shifts things for other people.
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Where have you guys encountered that?
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Maybe it's with someone else.
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A story of watching their life, or someone who told of god's
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Wonder in their life and how it impacted yours.
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I think better together is a testimony in itself, you know,
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Of healing, i think for all of us in different ways that have
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Told our stories with the scripture. you're healed by the
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Blood of the lamb and by the word of your testimony.
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And i think the more we do tell and share the goodness of god
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And the wonders and the what we're thankful for-- you know,
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There's not a lot of gratitude out in the world right now.
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We see rage. we see hate.
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We see vitriol. we see all kinds of stuff.
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And that's from ingratitude and and people not probably
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Giving thanks for anything.
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Right. and it's one thing it's in the world.
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It's also in the church.
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Let's speak about that right.
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Being grateful for where you see something different.
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So let me engage in with you.
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Or grateful for the offense?
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That would be very strange of us to be grateful for it.
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Yeah. instead, i'm just going
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To attack you and make you wrong.
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I think of naaman, who threw truly a gift of offense
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Found healing. yes. so true.
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I mean, it just it really becomes this place that
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We're so offended.
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Yeah. our social media.
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If you don't recognize there's
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An algorithm that is your echo chamber.
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It's even just taking snippets.
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And now it's forming these thoughts.
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And now that's what i'm abiding in.
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That's what i'm-- strongholds and principalities.
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And i'm making it in my likes.
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And my, my attention is making
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Agreement with it and therefore i--
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So when i come across someone else and they have a difference
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Of opinion, i'm not thinking about how i could tell you
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Of the wonders.
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No. no. no. i'm literally-- you're evil and wicked.
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I'm even listening--
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I listen to people for what i disagree with.
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Yeah. like, either in a moment's notice,
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I either agree with you or don't agree with you.
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Like so now i've, you know, and we've just kind of hit judgment
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Underneath the cloak of the gift of discernment.
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Right.
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Well, and i-- so you talk about judgment.
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So first of all, going back to, to how you even started this,
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This episode, i just want to
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Thank you for sharing your story.
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I think that was so powerful.
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And, um, it's amazing how grace restores.
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Grace heals.
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I have also found that people who tend to be the most
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Judgmental, um, are the ones who have the most to hide.
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I think that's why the lord is constantly, like, expose
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The evil deeds.
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Like, don't hide it.
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The hidden works of
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Shame, all of that stuff, expose it.
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Um, i remember some years ago, i invited a woman to come
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Preach at our church, and she's amazing.
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Um, her husband and her were the people that i actually
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Grew up in their church.
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I became a minister in their
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Church when i was in high school.
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Her and her husband had been married for like
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30 something years by that point.
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And i had her come preach at our church.
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And after she preached, an older woman at the church
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Called me. and she did an amazing job.
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Amazing. older woman at the church called me and she said,
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Uh, yeah, i did some research on that jezebel that you had
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Speak at church today.
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And i was like, huh?
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And she was like, yeah, i found out she's been married three
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Times and this, this whole thing, right. now, because i
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Knew the woman's story,
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I knew that her first two husbands, there was significant
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Domestic violence.
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Like, it was not a pleasant situation.
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And she didn't even know the lord.
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But this woman was just so ready to cling on to whatever
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Rocks she could throw, not knowing that i knew about the
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Woman who called me, that she
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Had her first child out of wedlock.
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Her son was two years older than her marriage, but she
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Didn't talk about that.
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Never told anybody about that, made it seem like, oh, i was a
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Virgin until we got married and all of this.
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And i'm just like, so you're basically taking out on her
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The shame that you feel for yourself.
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Mhm. which is why i'm like, man, you need to experience
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The grace of god.
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You need to experience the love of god.
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Because once you experience the grace of god, it's hard to to
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Be judgmental of other people
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Because you want to restore them.
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And i think it's in galatians, if someone is caught in a
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Trespass, it says, you who are spiritual restore such a one.
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And i always thought it was interesting because it says,
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You who are spiritual restore such a one.
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I think the reason why we have such a lack of restoration is
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Because we have a lack of spirituality.
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It's like, i just want to throw the stone.
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I want to prove that i'm better than you.
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Based on what you've done and what i haven't done.
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Forget the fact that i've done a whole lot.
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It just isn't the same flavor as what you've done.
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But i do think that when you know just how good god's grace
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Has been, how deep it is, you can't help but be grateful.
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There are a lot of things that we've all done that we wish
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We never did.
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You know, like that
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It feels shameful.
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It's like, i didn't--
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I wish i hadn't made that
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Choice. i wish i hadn't done that.
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And then here's the crazy thing is that the lord
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Set you free from it.
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And then, you know, you struggle--
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I mean, i struggle with judgment, and it's my way of
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Protecting myself.
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It's like if i can, you know, keep you at a distance and kind
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Of say who you are, then maybe
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It keeps me safe, or whatever reason it is.
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Gratitude, it literally reminds you
00:10:20.665 --> 00:10:23.835
Of the places that he redeemed you
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From, the shame that you were in.
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And then it helps you wake up.
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Why are you judging?
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What kind of insecurity are you hiding or are you
00:10:33.011 --> 00:10:36.114
Trying to mask?
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And when i see those places first, here's the reality is
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There's an exchange of that
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Shame and judgment for compassion.
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First, you'll feel it for yourself.
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And because if you won't receive his compassion for you,
00:10:48.026 --> 00:10:50.528
You will never give it away to other people.
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And so he says, you know what?
00:10:53.164 --> 00:10:54.733
I want you to encounter it because there is nothing like
00:10:54.733 --> 00:10:58.136
The testimony of someone who has experienced the exchange of
00:10:58.136 --> 00:11:01.973
Shame for compassion or judgment for compassion.
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I'll start seeing people differently because i'll see
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Myself differently.
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I think that's why right now we're struggling.
00:11:10.515 --> 00:11:12.917
Well, one of the buzzwords is narcissism.
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Okay. you're a narcissist.
00:11:16.187 --> 00:11:17.422
Yeah, she's a narcissist.
00:11:17.422 --> 00:11:18.656
And if you're not aware of it enough, actually, anybody
00:11:18.656 --> 00:11:21.793
Can be a narcissist.
00:11:21.793 --> 00:11:23.027
So even when i, when i take-- when we talk about, um,
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Holly, you said navel gazing.
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You know, it's really it is that.
00:11:28.566 --> 00:11:30.368
But it's also narcissism occurs,
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Um, because who i am, who i really am, i can't show you.
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So i create something separated.
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Right? and the more that this
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Gets praised, the larger it gets.
00:11:41.412 --> 00:11:43.414
And this is just shrunk.
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Like, you could never see this.
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You can never know this.
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I literally live in two different places.
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And so this is all you can see.
00:11:50.221 --> 00:11:52.791
And i think that's when we're looking at kind of the
00:11:52.791 --> 00:11:55.226
Antithesis of gratitude.
00:11:55.226 --> 00:11:57.695
There's the ungratefulness.
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Yes. but there is this pride.
00:11:59.030 --> 00:12:01.332
There is this self-absorption.
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There is this, you know, i'm only looking inwards
00:12:03.368 --> 00:12:06.070
And all i'm seeing is,
00:12:06.070 --> 00:12:07.272
Even i'm reading this only for what i get.
00:12:07.272 --> 00:12:09.340
I'm hearing this only for what i can get.
00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:11.643
And the lord's like,
00:12:11.643 --> 00:12:12.811
You don't understand how free
00:12:12.811 --> 00:12:14.345
You get when it flows through you.
00:12:14.345 --> 00:12:16.347
When it stays just to you, you're a swamp.
00:12:16.347 --> 00:12:19.551
When it flows through, you it's fresh water.
00:12:19.551 --> 00:12:22.120
And now it can continue to cleanse me,
00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:24.255
Because you know you'll hear it.
00:12:24.255 --> 00:12:25.924
And then you say to someone and you'll hear it a totally
00:12:25.924 --> 00:12:28.393
Different way, and you're like, oh, that was good again, lord.
00:12:28.393 --> 00:12:30.562
Like holy spirit just added something to that one, and
00:12:30.562 --> 00:12:33.531
It flows through you.
00:12:33.531 --> 00:12:34.899
It's meant to do that.
00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:36.267
But the very problem that you're seeing, the very thing
00:12:36.267 --> 00:12:38.570
That you're judging or you have a you have an issue with, is
00:12:38.570 --> 00:12:41.539
Because god revealed it for you to see, and he wants you to do
00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:44.209
Something about it.
00:12:44.209 --> 00:12:45.009
Yes. that's the part we're not
00:12:45.009 --> 00:12:46.277
Getting to is being grateful to go,
00:12:46.277 --> 00:12:48.713
God, thank you that i could see that.
00:12:48.713 --> 00:12:50.682
Now that's where i got stuck
00:12:50.682 --> 00:12:51.916
Because it was my coping mechanism.
00:12:51.916 --> 00:12:53.585
If i could keep it at a distance,
00:12:53.585 --> 00:12:54.853
It could keep me safe.
00:12:54.853 --> 00:12:56.487
And god's like i want,
00:12:56.487 --> 00:12:57.922
I want to show you how to steward what you see, and
00:12:57.922 --> 00:13:00.792
That's that gratitude.
00:13:00.792 --> 00:13:01.860
It's like, thank you for letting me see this.
00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:04.262
Now, god, what do you want me to do?
00:13:04.262 --> 00:13:06.497
What are you saying about this?
00:13:06.497 --> 00:13:09.467
Gratitude is a choice, and expressing gratitude
00:13:09.467 --> 00:13:12.270
Is always a choice.
00:13:12.270 --> 00:13:13.605
It's what god asks of us, and it's always a choice.
00:13:13.605 --> 00:13:16.174
And it opens the door for so many things.
00:13:16.174 --> 00:13:18.176
So if we're going to change the culture and
00:13:18.176 --> 00:13:22.013
Our families-- and i want to change, you know, some of it
00:13:22.013 --> 00:13:25.116
In my families and, and extended families, then it's
00:13:25.116 --> 00:13:28.653
Not going to come by complaining about them.
00:13:28.653 --> 00:13:30.989
It's not going to come by wishing they were different,
00:13:30.989 --> 00:13:33.725
By judging it.
00:13:33.725 --> 00:13:35.526
I think it starts with being grateful. you know, he also
00:13:35.526 --> 00:13:39.831
Says, the apostle paul says that is the will of god,
00:13:39.831 --> 00:13:41.900
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this
00:13:41.900 --> 00:13:43.568
Is god's will for you.
00:13:43.568 --> 00:13:45.203
So if we want to be working and operating in god's will, we
00:13:45.203 --> 00:13:48.573
Have to be grateful, and that will shift culture.
00:13:48.573 --> 00:13:52.043
And i think if the church could get a picture of the power of
00:13:52.043 --> 00:13:55.580
Gratitude, the power of
00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:57.782
Gratitude, it would change everything.
00:13:57.782 --> 00:14:00.151
It would change our families and our churches and our cities
00:14:00.151 --> 00:14:03.254
And our countries and our world.
00:14:03.254 --> 00:14:05.156
It would change everything.
00:14:05.156 --> 00:14:07.792
We are thankful.
00:14:07.792 --> 00:14:08.993
For a community that loves and encourages one another.
00:14:08.993 --> 00:14:11.796
Follow us on social media and let us know what you're most
00:14:11.796 --> 00:14:14.532
Thankful for this year.
00:14:14.532 --> 00:14:17.001
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:14:17.001 --> 00:14:19.337
You can find the better together podcast on your
00:14:19.337 --> 00:14:21.639
Favorite listening platform.
00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:23.508
Subscribe today!
00:14:23.508 --> 00:14:27.992
Subscribe today!
00:14:27.992 --> 00:14:30.683
I think sometimes we think of our health as a small thing
00:14:34.286 --> 00:14:38.557
Because it's something we take for granted.
00:14:38.557 --> 00:14:41.126
And so one of the things that i've become incredibly
00:14:41.126 --> 00:14:43.929
Intentional about thanking god for this year is taking like a
00:14:43.929 --> 00:14:48.400
Literal inventory of the
00:14:48.400 --> 00:14:50.002
Different components of my health.
00:14:50.002 --> 00:14:51.770
And so thinking about the different organ systems and
00:14:51.770 --> 00:14:55.474
Organs in my body, thinking about how my heart pumps blood
00:14:55.474 --> 00:14:59.278
To all the different parts of my body, and thinking about how
00:14:59.278 --> 00:15:02.381
I'm able to breathe in air through my nostrils
00:15:02.381 --> 00:15:05.250
And all those things.
00:15:05.250 --> 00:15:06.418
Just trying to be really intentional about the details
00:15:06.418 --> 00:15:09.154
Of my health has helped me
00:15:09.154 --> 00:15:10.756
To realize just how miraculous it is.
00:15:10.756 --> 00:15:13.659
If i could remove one word from our vocabulary, it would be
00:15:17.262 --> 00:15:20.232
The word deserve.
00:15:20.232 --> 00:15:21.734
I don't know if you've ever done a study on if you watch
00:15:21.734 --> 00:15:24.003
Commercials, how many times that word comes up.
00:15:24.003 --> 00:15:26.638
You deserve this. you're worth this.
00:15:26.638 --> 00:15:28.374
You deserve that.
00:15:28.374 --> 00:15:29.842
And i think we live in such an entitled society where when you
00:15:29.842 --> 00:15:33.612
Become a follower of christ, you realize, no, i don't--
00:15:33.612 --> 00:15:36.915
The things i deserve i'm grateful
00:15:36.915 --> 00:15:39.284
We are going to be spared of
00:15:39.284 --> 00:15:40.753
Because of jesus. yeah, because of his mercy.
00:15:40.753 --> 00:15:43.188
But i think that's where gratitude shifts everything.
00:15:43.188 --> 00:15:46.792
Yes.
00:15:46.792 --> 00:15:48.060
I often think-- you remember the guy that was blind and jesus
00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:51.130
Spat some mud and put it in his eyes and washed up,
00:15:51.130 --> 00:15:53.365
And he said, do you see?
00:15:53.365 --> 00:15:54.533
And he said, well, yeah, i do see people, but they're
00:15:54.533 --> 00:15:56.668
Kind of like trees.
00:15:56.668 --> 00:15:57.903
So he did it again. that's how i feel
00:15:57.903 --> 00:16:00.305
God did in my life.
00:16:00.305 --> 00:16:02.074
I feel like up until my life crashed and i ended up in the
00:16:02.074 --> 00:16:04.977
Hospital, i would have a verse for you.
00:16:04.977 --> 00:16:07.346
If you share something, it's like, oh yeah, i know what to
00:16:07.346 --> 00:16:09.681
Say, i know how to--
00:16:09.681 --> 00:16:10.949
And suddenly when your life falls apart and in the midst of
00:16:10.949 --> 00:16:13.452
The ashes, you discover what
00:16:13.452 --> 00:16:15.154
You've longed for all your life,
00:16:15.154 --> 00:16:17.056
A relationship with jesus based
00:16:17.056 --> 00:16:18.490
On nothing you bring to the table.
00:16:18.490 --> 00:16:20.859
He washes your eyes again
00:16:20.859 --> 00:16:21.894
And suddenly you see people differently.
00:16:21.894 --> 00:16:23.896
It's just a totally different thing.
00:16:23.896 --> 00:16:25.864
You know, when you started talking about that story, it
00:16:25.864 --> 00:16:27.900
Made me think of when jesus cleansed the ten lepers
00:16:27.900 --> 00:16:32.805
And they all went away, and one came back.
00:16:32.805 --> 00:16:36.275
One came back and said, thank you.
00:16:36.275 --> 00:16:37.342
And he said, thank you.
00:16:37.342 --> 00:16:38.277
And jesus said, where are the others?
00:16:38.277 --> 00:16:41.013
Where are the other grateful hearts around here?
00:16:41.013 --> 00:16:43.515
Actually, that was
00:16:43.515 --> 00:16:44.817
Very good right there.
00:16:44.817 --> 00:16:46.752
Say it again for the people in the back.
00:16:46.752 --> 00:16:48.620
In the back.
00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.755
It's very good.
00:16:49.755 --> 00:16:50.789
Where are the others? where are the others?
00:16:50.789 --> 00:16:52.291
He is crying that out to our generation today.
00:16:52.291 --> 00:16:55.561
That's what i'm-- i'm seeing it.
00:16:55.561 --> 00:16:56.695
Like one returned.
00:16:56.695 --> 00:16:57.830
Is he saying that to everybody?
00:16:57.830 --> 00:16:59.932
Where are you? yeah.
00:16:59.932 --> 00:17:02.034
What are you thankful for?
00:17:02.034 --> 00:17:02.935
I'm thankful for my salvation.
00:17:02.935 --> 00:17:04.470
I'm thankful for healing.
00:17:04.470 --> 00:17:05.437
I'm thankful that i woke up today.
00:17:05.437 --> 00:17:07.039
It's like i'm thankful.
00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.973
Where is that?
00:17:07.973 --> 00:17:08.974
Yeah, right. ooh.
00:17:08.974 --> 00:17:10.442
Where are the others?
00:17:10.442 --> 00:17:11.677
Yeah. that's who i want to be.
00:17:11.677 --> 00:17:13.412
Because what that, what that does and how that shifts what
00:17:13.412 --> 00:17:16.982
We're seeing, the problems, the chaos,
00:17:16.982 --> 00:17:20.052
We act like we're not the answer that god wants
00:17:20.052 --> 00:17:23.322
To partner, to bring.
00:17:23.322 --> 00:17:24.356
Right, right.
00:17:24.356 --> 00:17:25.324
And i'm not saying that we're the answer.
00:17:25.324 --> 00:17:26.525
But partnership is the answer.
00:17:26.525 --> 00:17:28.260
That's his plan a. he said, i want to do it in
00:17:28.260 --> 00:17:31.530
Partnership with you.
00:17:31.530 --> 00:17:33.365
And i think that we've kind of, we've abdicated our thrones in
00:17:33.365 --> 00:17:36.969
That we've walked away and we're just we're
00:17:36.969 --> 00:17:39.238
Putting it on god.
00:17:39.238 --> 00:17:40.405
God, if you want it to happen, you, you should show up
00:17:40.405 --> 00:17:42.474
And fix this. and he's like, i'm trying.
00:17:42.474 --> 00:17:44.676
Yeah, but it's through us. exactly.
00:17:44.676 --> 00:17:47.179
God wants to use us. yes.
00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:49.381
God wants to use you to heal other people.
00:17:49.381 --> 00:17:52.885
He wants it to flow like a river,
00:17:52.885 --> 00:17:55.654
The river of life
00:17:55.654 --> 00:17:56.955
Flowing through all our cups, running over with the goodness
00:17:56.955 --> 00:18:00.592
And the love of god to heal people around us.
00:18:00.592 --> 00:18:03.862
And that only comes with gratitude because it takes our
00:18:03.862 --> 00:18:07.399
Eyes off of ourself, puts our eyes on the greatness of god.
00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:12.337
One of the greatest things about when god touches and
00:18:12.337 --> 00:18:14.973
Brings healing, it's not just for us.
00:18:14.973 --> 00:18:17.442
It's like he wastes nothing.
00:18:17.442 --> 00:18:20.112
You know, you've probably been through things in life and you
00:18:20.112 --> 00:18:22.080
Think, lord, i would not have signed up for that.
00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:24.583
But when god brings you through, you're able to turn
00:18:24.583 --> 00:18:27.219
Around and say to a sister or brother coming behind you, i
00:18:27.219 --> 00:18:30.355
Have been there and god is
00:18:30.355 --> 00:18:31.990
Good, and you're going to make it.
00:18:31.990 --> 00:18:33.892
Our lives are meant to be shared.
00:18:33.892 --> 00:18:35.594
We're not meant to do life by ourself, and all the goodness
00:18:35.594 --> 00:18:39.164
That god has poured into your life, all the goodness that god
00:18:39.164 --> 00:18:41.633
Has poured into mine is so that that can spill over into the
00:18:41.633 --> 00:18:45.270
Lives of other people.
00:18:45.270 --> 00:18:46.872
I love one of my friends, sammy rodriguez, says this that as a
00:18:46.872 --> 00:18:50.809
Believer, whenever you walk into a room, the atmosphere
00:18:50.809 --> 00:18:53.979
Should shift because of who lives in you.
00:18:53.979 --> 00:18:56.782
We get to be the fragrance of christ in a world that's
00:18:56.782 --> 00:18:59.551
Lost its fragrance.
00:18:59.551 --> 00:19:01.653
And that's why each one of us has a story.
00:19:01.653 --> 00:19:03.855
I mean, everybody listening into this has a story.
00:19:03.855 --> 00:19:06.124
And when god redeems your story, or when you meet him
00:19:06.124 --> 00:19:09.061
There in the midst of what's devastating--
00:19:09.061 --> 00:19:11.863
Share that story.
00:19:11.863 --> 00:19:13.031
Absolutely about turning around and saying to somebody
00:19:13.031 --> 00:19:15.133
Who's coming behind you, listen, this is what it looks
00:19:15.133 --> 00:19:17.703
Like 12 years down the line, to say that as a cancer survivor
00:19:17.703 --> 00:19:20.772
To somebody who was in the middle of it.
00:19:20.772 --> 00:19:22.407
Right. this is what it looks like, you know.
00:19:22.407 --> 00:19:24.476
But there's an authority with it, too.
00:19:24.476 --> 00:19:26.211
Yeah. where your wounds are,
00:19:26.211 --> 00:19:27.246
There lies your authority, right?
00:19:27.246 --> 00:19:29.147
Absolutely. and right, right in that place.
00:19:29.147 --> 00:19:31.350
I believe your pain and your
00:19:31.350 --> 00:19:32.584
Burden sit so close to each other.
00:19:32.584 --> 00:19:34.686
Absolutely. and the more that i feed my pain, it just--
00:19:34.686 --> 00:19:37.522
The pain just will grow larger.
00:19:37.522 --> 00:19:39.358
But the more i let him heal it, it increases my burden.
00:19:39.358 --> 00:19:43.061
Yeah. i think a lot of what we're seeing that turns
00:19:43.061 --> 00:19:46.798
Judgment is our burden.
00:19:46.798 --> 00:19:49.501
It's what you're--
00:19:49.501 --> 00:19:50.602
So whatever you get passionate about, it's like,
00:19:50.602 --> 00:19:53.105
What lights you up?
00:19:53.105 --> 00:19:54.373
It's like, okay.
00:19:54.373 --> 00:19:56.074
And then what should you-- what does the lord want
00:19:56.074 --> 00:19:57.609
You to do about it? you don't have to--
00:19:57.609 --> 00:19:59.611
You're not helpless in this.
00:19:59.611 --> 00:20:01.813
It's like, what do you want to do?
00:20:01.813 --> 00:20:03.282
How can you pray into that?
00:20:03.282 --> 00:20:04.716
How can you be thankful that god showed it to you and
00:20:04.716 --> 00:20:07.919
That there is there's a god who wants to do something about it?
00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:12.257
Pay attention to the thing that annoys you.
00:20:12.257 --> 00:20:14.726
Pay attention to the person that annoys you.
00:20:14.726 --> 00:20:16.762
The words that annoy you.
00:20:16.762 --> 00:20:18.630
There's something that-- the triggers are a gift.
00:20:18.630 --> 00:20:21.500
They're alerting you to something that hasn't been
00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:23.902
Healed in your heart.
00:20:23.902 --> 00:20:25.304
Now, if we're not careful, we may immediately, you know,
00:20:25.304 --> 00:20:28.573
Encounter these triggers with other people and we make it
00:20:28.573 --> 00:20:30.676
About them like, you're my trigger.
00:20:30.676 --> 00:20:32.711
You've got a problem, you've got issues.
00:20:32.711 --> 00:20:34.579
I wish you'd fix this.
00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:38.050
But the longer you walk with the lord, the more you
00:20:38.050 --> 00:20:41.286
Recognize the lord saying, hey, i want you to see this because
00:20:41.286 --> 00:20:44.323
I don't want you to live in this unhealed place.
00:20:44.323 --> 00:20:47.392
And i think sometimes when those places start bubbling up,
00:20:47.392 --> 00:20:50.329
We can get really scared if we're honest.
00:20:50.329 --> 00:20:52.564
Like, god, i don't want to deal with that.
00:20:52.564 --> 00:20:53.965
I don't want to deal with that. i'm going to push that down.
00:20:53.965 --> 00:20:56.435
And i just want you to know that what i've encountered of
00:20:56.435 --> 00:20:58.870
The lord is that he only reveals to heal.
00:20:58.870 --> 00:21:02.107
And so if you keep getting triggered about the same thing
00:21:02.107 --> 00:21:05.243
Or about the same issue, or something's coming up from
00:21:05.243 --> 00:21:08.246
Your childhood or from a relationship, it's god saying,
00:21:08.246 --> 00:21:11.249
Let's deal with it, let's deal with it.
00:21:11.249 --> 00:21:14.186
And he wants you to come to him with it,
00:21:14.186 --> 00:21:16.655
And he'll guide you in that.
00:21:16.655 --> 00:21:18.523
He'll bring people alongside you.
00:21:18.523 --> 00:21:20.726
Maybe he'll have to go get counseling because that's
00:21:20.726 --> 00:21:22.828
Normal, because we all need to work things out.
00:21:22.828 --> 00:21:26.131
There's so many different ways that god wants to walk through
00:21:26.131 --> 00:21:29.301
These places to heal you, and it's not to hurt you.
00:21:29.301 --> 00:21:33.572
What do you think about this thought?
00:21:33.572 --> 00:21:34.873
I just wonder so many times, if we don't like, teach or share
00:21:34.873 --> 00:21:41.847
Out of wounds that are still bleeding, in which case then we
00:21:41.847 --> 00:21:45.784
Bleed on people who didn't cut us?
00:21:45.784 --> 00:21:47.953
Yeah, but maybe that's when we should be before the father,
00:21:47.953 --> 00:21:54.159
And instead we teach and share out of scars.
00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:57.195
Yes.
00:21:57.195 --> 00:21:58.063
Yeah. not open wounds. open wounds.
00:21:58.063 --> 00:22:00.065
Right? absolutely.
00:22:00.065 --> 00:22:01.533
Now, this is hard because i've also seen where people weren't
00:22:01.533 --> 00:22:05.537
Transparent and they weren't vulnerable, and they waited
00:22:05.537 --> 00:22:09.541
Until they got it together in a sense.
00:22:09.541 --> 00:22:12.511
And so it's i think there is a tension of that for me
00:22:12.511 --> 00:22:15.914
Because i definitely never want to walk and preach on something
00:22:15.914 --> 00:22:19.918
That it's like, god,
00:22:19.918 --> 00:22:21.219
I mean, typically they're out of the overflow. like the i did
00:22:21.219 --> 00:22:24.189
A message on confessions of a judgmental woman.
00:22:24.189 --> 00:22:26.625
There were two people,
00:22:26.625 --> 00:22:27.626
The lord was like, you better make a visit.
00:22:27.626 --> 00:22:28.927
I said, can it be a phone call?
00:22:28.927 --> 00:22:30.162
He's like, no, no, no, like
00:22:30.162 --> 00:22:31.296
You're going to have to go. a text?
00:22:31.296 --> 00:22:32.597
I was like visiting because it was like, no, you're going to
00:22:32.597 --> 00:22:35.133
Have to, you're going to need to confess some things and get
00:22:35.133 --> 00:22:37.135
This out because you're-- to work that out.
00:22:37.135 --> 00:22:39.004
So i guess there's a tension in that for me because it has
00:22:39.004 --> 00:22:42.707
Taught me like in a false way, like, no, no, no, no, no, until
00:22:42.707 --> 00:22:46.578
You get it together, don't even say something about it.
00:22:46.578 --> 00:22:48.547
I think we're actually ever together, by the way.
00:22:48.547 --> 00:22:50.282
So it's more like blame. yeah.
00:22:50.282 --> 00:22:52.684
Because i feel when you're bleeding something, like
00:22:52.684 --> 00:22:55.120
When i was dealing with that betrayal, i was bleeding.
00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:59.124
Sure. so then i had a perspective about people,
00:22:59.124 --> 00:23:01.726
And so i had to be mindful of that.
00:23:01.726 --> 00:23:03.628
I think you're making a good point.
00:23:03.628 --> 00:23:04.996
And i think the motivation really matters.
00:23:04.996 --> 00:23:07.999
The heart posture matters.
00:23:07.999 --> 00:23:09.401
I think if you are ministering out of an open wound while
00:23:09.401 --> 00:23:14.806
Being honest about that, that can actually become healing
00:23:14.806 --> 00:23:19.077
Because people understand, listen, i'm walking through
00:23:19.077 --> 00:23:21.713
This in real time with--
00:23:21.713 --> 00:23:23.081
And i will use that phrase, in real time.
00:23:23.081 --> 00:23:25.183
Yes, in real time with you.
00:23:25.183 --> 00:23:26.818
And i think sometimes people do need to see the humanity.
00:23:26.818 --> 00:23:29.187
Like we love to show people the finished package and it's
00:23:29.187 --> 00:23:31.923
Perfectly, you know, wrapped.
00:23:31.923 --> 00:23:33.492
And there's the bow on top and it's like, and the lord
00:23:33.492 --> 00:23:35.760
Delivered me from that, and now it's over.
00:23:35.760 --> 00:23:37.762
And here's the three points that you need to apply to your
00:23:37.762 --> 00:23:40.131
Life and all that,
00:23:40.131 --> 00:23:41.433
But sometimes it is as simple as being like, listen, i need
00:23:41.433 --> 00:23:45.537
To hear from the lord too.
00:23:45.537 --> 00:23:46.938
I'm just, i'm sharing this with you because i'd love
00:23:46.938 --> 00:23:48.406
For you to pray with me in this.
00:23:48.406 --> 00:23:50.208
But the other side of it is when you're basically taking
00:23:50.208 --> 00:23:53.211
Your pain out on the people.
00:23:53.211 --> 00:23:54.412
And i think that might be what you're saying.
00:23:54.412 --> 00:23:56.414
What i'm saying is, because i remember hearing this woman
00:23:56.414 --> 00:23:58.583
Talk about her marriage, and there was some stuff there, and
00:23:58.583 --> 00:24:02.487
She was still so angry. oh, see?
00:24:02.487 --> 00:24:04.990
And so i'm like, this is you're not helping us here.
00:24:04.990 --> 00:24:08.260
Now, you-- see, that's the key.
00:24:08.260 --> 00:24:09.327
Right? so that's where--
00:24:09.327 --> 00:24:10.462
There needs to be a level of healing to be able to
00:24:10.462 --> 00:24:12.731
Minister healing. you'll know them by their fruit.
00:24:12.731 --> 00:24:15.267
And sometimes the fruit has gotten bitter.
00:24:15.267 --> 00:24:17.903
I think the balance of the two is huge, because we've also
00:24:17.903 --> 00:24:21.172
Missed seeing the humanity of leaders.
00:24:21.172 --> 00:24:24.476
And we have an epidemic of seeing, you know, the fall,
00:24:24.476 --> 00:24:28.079
Because we haven't given any place for that to work out.
00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:31.616
Um, but knowing as a leader when you're bleeding--
00:24:31.616 --> 00:24:34.286
Yeah.
00:24:34.286 --> 00:24:35.520
Just as a person to go, i really don't-- you know, like,
00:24:35.520 --> 00:24:38.189
Hey, i would love to share this, but i know that,
00:24:38.189 --> 00:24:40.992
Wow, what a testimony that would speak and how grateful i
00:24:40.992 --> 00:24:43.662
Would be for a person who said, i'm walking through that, and i
00:24:43.662 --> 00:24:46.097
Think i would hurt you with my conclusions right now.
00:24:46.097 --> 00:24:48.366
Yeah, i think there's also, as i'm listening to you all
00:24:48.366 --> 00:24:51.002
Because, i mean, we all have have platforms and we all have
00:24:51.002 --> 00:24:53.305
Different realms of influence,
00:24:53.305 --> 00:24:54.940
I do think there is something powerful about being able to
00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:58.810
Witness someone who has a platform and who has influence,
00:24:58.810 --> 00:25:02.581
Who is continuing to serve in their gift while also
00:25:02.581 --> 00:25:06.952
Navigating that, like just being able to--
00:25:06.952 --> 00:25:09.220
Who is honest about it.
00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.956
So my next book i'm writing right now is dealing
00:25:10.956 --> 00:25:12.791
With the issue of--
00:25:12.791 --> 00:25:14.159
So my last book was about rejection, and so many
00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:17.062
People wrote me, they said, i love this book.
00:25:17.062 --> 00:25:18.897
It really helped me.
00:25:18.897 --> 00:25:20.131
But then many people were like, i now see how to process
00:25:20.131 --> 00:25:22.534
The rejection, but i'm still angry about it.
00:25:22.534 --> 00:25:26.371
And that's the part i didn't really deal with.
00:25:26.371 --> 00:25:27.739
And so my whole next book is about how to process anger.
00:25:27.739 --> 00:25:30.475
And as i got to a chapter of the book where i was literally
00:25:30.475 --> 00:25:33.378
About to lay out the framework for how to process anger, i had
00:25:33.378 --> 00:25:36.381
A situation happen. and you got angry.
00:25:36.381 --> 00:25:38.650
That day, like i literally was writing the introduction to the
00:25:38.650 --> 00:25:44.356
Section on how to process anger.
00:25:44.356 --> 00:25:46.625
But then as i sat down to write it, i realized, oh, the lord is
00:25:46.625 --> 00:25:51.830
Going to have me walk out what i am writing.
00:25:51.830 --> 00:25:55.767
Exactly. to tell the people,
00:25:55.767 --> 00:25:57.669
Like, literally tell them in this introduction,
00:25:57.669 --> 00:25:59.838
Like, just so y'all know, i'm walking this out in real time.
00:25:59.838 --> 00:26:04.009
I'm not sharing this as some theory, something that
00:26:04.009 --> 00:26:06.144
Just sounds nice.
00:26:06.144 --> 00:26:07.379
It's like, no, i have walked through this and i'm walking
00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:10.081
Through it again as i'm writing this.
00:26:10.081 --> 00:26:12.484
And in many ways that provides a level of credibility because
00:26:12.484 --> 00:26:15.353
You can, like i think in these roles, you can just get to a
00:26:15.353 --> 00:26:18.089
Place where it's like we're kind of divorced from the
00:26:18.089 --> 00:26:20.959
Practical side of the hard work. i never want to be that person.
00:26:20.959 --> 00:26:24.262
But man, when-- god just has a way.
00:26:24.262 --> 00:26:27.432
Of being-- he has a way.
00:26:27.432 --> 00:26:29.534
God has a way. he has a way.
00:26:29.534 --> 00:26:30.902
Aren't we grateful he's got a way?
00:26:30.902 --> 00:26:33.271
We're grateful for the way that god has, where he will make you
00:26:33.271 --> 00:26:36.775
Walk it out in real time?
00:26:36.775 --> 00:26:38.810
Because it does produce character.
00:26:38.810 --> 00:26:41.913
It produces the fruit of the spirit.
00:26:41.913 --> 00:26:43.381
So i think there is something, something to that.
00:26:43.381 --> 00:26:46.084
That's why i get super passionate about some of the
00:26:46.084 --> 00:26:48.453
Things, because i've walked it.
00:26:48.453 --> 00:26:50.288
Yeah. i can't talk about anything that i haven't
00:26:50.288 --> 00:26:52.557
Experienced, you know.
00:26:52.557 --> 00:26:54.459
And so we have an opportunity to live what we preach
00:26:54.459 --> 00:26:57.929
Every single day.
00:26:57.929 --> 00:27:00.598
Gratitude produces fruit because it's our way of saying
00:27:00.598 --> 00:27:05.070
To god that you're god and i'm not.
00:27:05.070 --> 00:27:07.839
You know, the fruit that we want in our life it's talked
00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:10.709
About in scripture, patience,
00:27:10.709 --> 00:27:12.043
Kindness, goodness, long suffering.
00:27:12.043 --> 00:27:14.713
So all of those things are produced the more we
00:27:14.713 --> 00:27:19.150
Walk with the lord.
00:27:19.150 --> 00:27:20.418
I don't know how long you've been a believer, or if you've
00:27:20.418 --> 00:27:22.520
Even given your heart to jesus.
00:27:22.520 --> 00:27:23.788
And if you haven't, it's not too late.
00:27:23.788 --> 00:27:25.724
All you have to say is, lord, i am here and i want to know you,
00:27:25.724 --> 00:27:29.094
And i want you to to be my savior.
00:27:29.094 --> 00:27:31.096
And he will answer that prayer right away.
00:27:31.096 --> 00:27:33.798
But the more you walk with the lord-- maybe you've known
00:27:33.798 --> 00:27:35.800
The lord for a year--
00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:37.335
The more that you understand his character, and the more
00:27:37.335 --> 00:27:40.872
That you rest in who he says he is,
00:27:40.872 --> 00:27:43.808
Then the fruit is produced.
00:27:43.808 --> 00:27:46.111
Um, whenever we get close to to christmas every year, i
00:27:46.111 --> 00:27:49.447
Remember that mistletoe is an interesting plant.
00:27:49.447 --> 00:27:52.684
Do you know that mistletoe cannot survive on its own?
00:27:52.684 --> 00:27:55.253
It has to attach itself to a tree, and it gets all its
00:27:55.253 --> 00:27:58.990
Life from the tree.
00:27:58.990 --> 00:28:00.558
You and i are the same.
00:28:00.558 --> 00:28:01.860
We attach ourselves to jesus,
00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:03.762
And that's where we get our nourishment.
00:28:03.762 --> 00:28:05.764
And that's where the fruit comes from.
00:28:05.764 --> 00:28:08.433
What do you say to those that are listening, that are
00:28:08.433 --> 00:28:11.569
Thinking, i can't share this yet?
00:28:11.569 --> 00:28:13.738
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:13.738 --> 00:28:14.873
Like i can't say that it doesn't sound, you know, all
00:28:14.873 --> 00:28:18.009
Together, or i don't have a, you know, i didn't, you know, think
00:28:18.009 --> 00:28:21.412
Of the verse that went with it
00:28:21.412 --> 00:28:22.781
Or, you know, we, we have different--
00:28:22.781 --> 00:28:24.949
They're thinking, oh, that's what you do there.
00:28:24.949 --> 00:28:27.152
You have platforms, just everyday life.
00:28:27.152 --> 00:28:30.488
How do we really speak
00:28:30.488 --> 00:28:31.990
Encouragement? what would you say to someone
00:28:31.990 --> 00:28:34.893
You were sitting over a cup of coffee that was like,
00:28:34.893 --> 00:28:37.061
I'm in the middle of this?
00:28:37.061 --> 00:28:38.163
That verse that we've quoted a couple of times,
00:28:38.163 --> 00:28:39.464
We haven't gotten to the third part, but it was like we
00:28:39.464 --> 00:28:41.599
Overcome by the blood of the
00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:43.168
Lamb, the word of our testimony.
00:28:43.168 --> 00:28:44.169
And we love not our life unto death to death.
00:28:44.169 --> 00:28:46.638
That's the third part.
00:28:46.638 --> 00:28:47.939
So the third part means i don't let the shame of my past keep
00:28:47.939 --> 00:28:51.342
Me from opening my mouth. yeah.
00:28:51.342 --> 00:28:53.378
Right? and so i feel like our friend nancy alcorn,
00:28:53.378 --> 00:28:55.880
She would say this,
00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.815
She would say, your past can be
00:28:56.815 --> 00:28:58.449
Used to give someone else a future.
00:28:58.449 --> 00:29:00.051
That's it. and i'm adding
00:29:00.051 --> 00:29:00.952
But only if you open your mouth.
00:29:00.952 --> 00:29:02.387
Yeah. right?
00:29:02.387 --> 00:29:03.087
So we have to be willing to
00:29:03.087 --> 00:29:04.489
Share the stuff that we've been through.
00:29:04.489 --> 00:29:07.759
And i think if we're honest, i'm not going to say everybody,
00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:10.562
But many times when we feel that we're not equipped to
00:29:10.562 --> 00:29:13.731
Share it, it's not necessarily because we don't
00:29:13.731 --> 00:29:16.835
Have the words for it.
00:29:16.835 --> 00:29:18.102
It's because we're afraid of how it's going to make us look.
00:29:18.102 --> 00:29:20.071
Right. right?
00:29:20.071 --> 00:29:21.105
Like, if people only knew this--
00:29:21.105 --> 00:29:23.007
How they'll perceive us.
00:29:23.007 --> 00:29:24.042
How are they going to look at me?
00:29:24.042 --> 00:29:26.211
And i think we have to get to a place,
00:29:26.211 --> 00:29:28.146
This is what the lord broke me out of years ago,
00:29:28.146 --> 00:29:29.614
We have to get to a place where
00:29:29.614 --> 00:29:32.083
We are divorced from our own reputation.
00:29:32.083 --> 00:29:34.686
Yes. because it isn't about us.
00:29:34.686 --> 00:29:36.788
It really isn't.
00:29:36.788 --> 00:29:38.223
It wasn't their response that you were being obedient or--
00:29:38.223 --> 00:29:42.160
That's not why you're doing it
00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:43.862
Isn't their response.
00:29:43.862 --> 00:29:45.029
It's like, god, i'm just going to be obedient to this.
00:29:45.029 --> 00:29:47.365
I'm going to speak what you put on my heart.
00:29:47.365 --> 00:29:49.434
And we just even bring this back to gratitude.
00:29:49.434 --> 00:29:51.803
It's just like being grateful that we can have the courage
00:29:51.803 --> 00:29:54.772
To actually live like this. yeah.
00:29:54.772 --> 00:29:56.908
Live like where we are
00:29:56.908 --> 00:29:58.109
Unafraid, unashamed. open hands. open handed.
00:29:58.109 --> 00:30:02.247
Like i'm grateful that i only serve one god and
00:30:02.247 --> 00:30:05.116
I don't serve people.
00:30:05.116 --> 00:30:06.718
Right. so grateful.
00:30:06.718 --> 00:30:08.052
It's so freeing.
00:30:08.052 --> 00:30:09.520
There's so much pressure.
00:30:09.520 --> 00:30:10.722
There's so much pressure
00:30:10.722 --> 00:30:11.656
Trying to live up to a curated image.
00:30:11.656 --> 00:30:15.393
The freedom and the peace is
00:30:15.393 --> 00:30:18.563
When i don't have anything to hide.
00:30:18.563 --> 00:30:21.532
I think when we become thankful for,
00:30:21.532 --> 00:30:23.835
For looking back and seeing where god has brought us from
00:30:23.835 --> 00:30:27.839
Out of the miry clay, out of sin and death.
00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:32.310
God has saved us.
00:30:32.310 --> 00:30:34.312
God has redeemed us.
00:30:34.312 --> 00:30:35.847
God has redeemed our stories.
00:30:35.847 --> 00:30:38.216
That's why it's so powerful to
00:30:38.216 --> 00:30:40.018
Share your testimony with people.
00:30:40.018 --> 00:30:42.053
Man, i once was blind, but now i can see.
00:30:42.053 --> 00:30:45.056
I once was in death and god rescued me.
00:30:45.056 --> 00:30:50.128
When you start shining the light, maybe on the dark places
00:30:50.128 --> 00:30:53.932
Of your life and sharing what god has done for you, you'll
00:30:53.932 --> 00:30:57.302
See changes in people around you.
00:30:57.302 --> 00:30:58.870
Because you know what?
00:30:58.870 --> 00:30:59.704
Everybody has fallen short.
00:30:59.704 --> 00:31:01.806
Everybody has been saved out of the pit of despair.
00:31:01.806 --> 00:31:05.243
It's all of our stories.
00:31:05.243 --> 00:31:06.878
God has rescued us.
00:31:06.878 --> 00:31:08.546
God has redeemed us.
00:31:08.546 --> 00:31:10.114
And it's so good to share your testimony.
00:31:10.114 --> 00:31:13.451
There's something too about understanding that when you're
00:31:13.451 --> 00:31:16.821
Free, that not everybody's going to get it.
00:31:16.821 --> 00:31:18.990
I mean, i have a remembrance of this one day when i was still
00:31:18.990 --> 00:31:23.094
Actually in the psychiatric hospital and a letter arrived
00:31:23.094 --> 00:31:26.130
In the mail, and it was from somebody that was really dear
00:31:26.130 --> 00:31:29.267
Friend, somebody i loved so much.
00:31:29.267 --> 00:31:31.402
And the letter basically said, i'm done with you.
00:31:31.402 --> 00:31:34.038
You know, i cannot believe you've done this.
00:31:34.038 --> 00:31:36.574
I can't believe you're in this place.
00:31:36.574 --> 00:31:38.009
I can't believe you're taking medication.
00:31:38.009 --> 00:31:39.310
I used to look up to you.
00:31:39.310 --> 00:31:40.411
And basically,
00:31:40.411 --> 00:31:41.612
I mean, the bottom line was we are no longer friends,
00:31:41.612 --> 00:31:44.415
But at the same--
00:31:44.415 --> 00:31:45.650
And i'm reading it and i'm weeping.
00:31:45.650 --> 00:31:48.052
But at the same time, i'm looking down at the
00:31:48.052 --> 00:31:50.154
Registration desk and there's a family that are checking in,
00:31:50.154 --> 00:31:53.024
And it's two older daughters with their mother.
00:31:53.024 --> 00:31:55.693
She had been in a very abusive marriage for years.
00:31:55.693 --> 00:31:58.563
I mean, she had a broken shoulder.
00:31:58.563 --> 00:31:59.964
She had all sorts of stuff.
00:31:59.964 --> 00:32:01.466
And the daughter said, mom, you need to get some help.
00:32:01.466 --> 00:32:03.968
And they brought her to this, this hospital.
00:32:03.968 --> 00:32:06.537
And i didn't know this, but they all used to watch the
00:32:06.537 --> 00:32:09.474
700 club when i was on it.
00:32:09.474 --> 00:32:10.541
And the two girls laughed,
00:32:10.541 --> 00:32:11.876
I was like the third daughter.
00:32:11.876 --> 00:32:13.378
And in the car park, they had prayed, lord, when our mom
00:32:13.378 --> 00:32:16.614
Walks through these doors, would you just give her a
00:32:16.614 --> 00:32:18.916
Sign straight away that she's in a safe place?
00:32:18.916 --> 00:32:21.552
And i'm walking down the corridor, and when i see them
00:32:21.552 --> 00:32:23.921
And they're crying, i think, oh, i should back off.
00:32:23.921 --> 00:32:26.357
But one of the daughters turns
00:32:26.357 --> 00:32:27.358
Around and she said, mom, turn around.
00:32:27.358 --> 00:32:30.561
And so she turns around.
00:32:30.561 --> 00:32:31.796
The mom ran into my arms and i was able to say,
00:32:31.796 --> 00:32:34.565
You're in a safe place.
00:32:34.565 --> 00:32:36.200
You know, we can walk this out together at the same-- on one
00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:39.037
Hand, i'm done with you.
00:32:39.037 --> 00:32:40.004
On the other hand, you know what?
00:32:40.004 --> 00:32:41.105
I'm walking with you.
00:32:41.105 --> 00:32:42.273
Wow. that's just when you learn--
00:32:42.273 --> 00:32:43.908
When you learn how loved you are by god, then you don't get
00:32:43.908 --> 00:32:48.312
Mad with all those people.
00:32:48.312 --> 00:32:49.747
I mean, you know, it's hard to
00:32:49.747 --> 00:32:50.948
Say goodbye to certain people,
00:32:50.948 --> 00:32:53.217
But you let them take their journey.
00:32:53.217 --> 00:32:54.952
Yeah. but you think you know what?
00:32:54.952 --> 00:32:56.220
You've entrusted me with this level of healing.
00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:58.856
And i'm going to tell about
00:32:58.856 --> 00:32:59.957
Your goodness until the day i'm home.
00:32:59.957 --> 00:33:02.093
My ministry is here now.
00:33:02.093 --> 00:33:03.961
It just occurred to me so that on the one hand, that one
00:33:03.961 --> 00:33:07.265
Person said, i'm done with you.
00:33:07.265 --> 00:33:09.067
And it's like, on the other hand, god said, i'm just
00:33:09.067 --> 00:33:11.002
Getting started with you.
00:33:11.002 --> 00:33:12.437
Yeah. so it's like a like a baton pass right where the lord
00:33:12.437 --> 00:33:16.274
Now opens up a whole new level of ministry.
00:33:16.274 --> 00:33:20.044
Yeah, that's like god. he's so good.
00:33:20.044 --> 00:33:22.914
So we've been talking this week about gratitude.
00:33:22.914 --> 00:33:25.349
How has this ignited your faith?
00:33:25.349 --> 00:33:27.718
Like, where has it gotten you excited to--
00:33:27.718 --> 00:33:30.154
It could be the things that you're excited about, but even
00:33:30.154 --> 00:33:32.557
The things you're ready to face.
00:33:32.557 --> 00:33:34.392
The conversations that you know you need to have.
00:33:34.392 --> 00:33:37.662
Um, there's so many different
00:33:37.662 --> 00:33:39.030
Outlets for igniting your faith.
00:33:39.030 --> 00:33:40.932
I always think about the ones i'm excited for, but,
00:33:40.932 --> 00:33:44.569
You know, the ways that i've just been inspired by you guys,
00:33:44.569 --> 00:33:47.839
The gratitude jar and just, you
00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:49.907
Know, set something on my phone.
00:33:49.907 --> 00:33:51.209
Just an active way to really grow in my faith in that.
00:33:51.209 --> 00:33:54.946
Well, and even what if we're intentional, like, with people
00:33:54.946 --> 00:33:59.217
That, you know, so it's like, you know, just like we're just
00:33:59.217 --> 00:34:03.254
Walking up to somebody go, i am so grateful that you have been
00:34:03.254 --> 00:34:05.990
Faithful to the call of god on your life, because i know some
00:34:05.990 --> 00:34:08.693
Of the nonsense that you've had to walk through, some of the
00:34:08.693 --> 00:34:10.728
Pain and the heartbreak.
00:34:10.728 --> 00:34:11.996
And laurie crouch, i am so
00:34:11.996 --> 00:34:13.431
Grateful that you stayed the course.
00:34:13.431 --> 00:34:15.666
And sheila, i am so grateful that you got the help that you
00:34:15.666 --> 00:34:18.102
Needed when you got it, because who you are today, i can't
00:34:18.102 --> 00:34:21.739
Imagine what your life would have looked like if you had
00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:23.908
Stayed hidden in there.
00:34:23.908 --> 00:34:25.143
I'm so grateful that you did, and i'm grateful that god
00:34:25.143 --> 00:34:27.545
Trusts you with these-- the big things he trusts you with.
00:34:27.545 --> 00:34:30.114
I mean, i've watched you on big television platforms, and the
00:34:30.114 --> 00:34:32.884
Words that come out of your mouth are just like, so
00:34:32.884 --> 00:34:34.986
Anointed and so present.
00:34:34.986 --> 00:34:36.888
And you wouldn't be that way
00:34:36.888 --> 00:34:38.289
Had you not gone through that.
00:34:38.289 --> 00:34:39.423
Yes. so true.
00:34:39.423 --> 00:34:40.625
I'm so grateful that you let him start and continue to
00:34:40.625 --> 00:34:43.261
Refine the work in you.
00:34:43.261 --> 00:34:46.564
So romans 8:28 says...
00:34:46.564 --> 00:34:54.005
This verse for me is such a beacon of hope and beacon of
00:34:57.575 --> 00:35:03.080
Light, because it's making a promise.
00:35:03.080 --> 00:35:05.416
It says all things, not some things.
00:35:05.416 --> 00:35:08.319
Not the things we did right.
00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:10.254
Uh, not when we were perfect.
00:35:10.254 --> 00:35:12.223
It says, in all things god works
00:35:12.223 --> 00:35:13.791
For the good of those who love him
00:35:13.791 --> 00:35:14.992
Which means if i make a mistake, god is going to work
00:35:14.992 --> 00:35:18.796
It together for my good.
00:35:18.796 --> 00:35:20.097
It means if somebody else harms me or betrays me, god's going
00:35:20.097 --> 00:35:23.801
To work it together for my good.
00:35:23.801 --> 00:35:25.169
Just because it doesn't feel good doesn't invalidate
00:35:25.169 --> 00:35:27.338
The promise of god. so this gives me so much hope.
00:35:27.338 --> 00:35:32.977
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00:35:32.977 --> 00:35:36.647
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00:35:36.647 --> 00:35:40.351
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00:35:40.351 --> 00:35:43.991
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00:35:43.991 --> 00:35:46.257
I think our default can be to complain, or to just get angry
00:35:49.894 --> 00:35:54.765
About something or bitter about something.
00:35:54.765 --> 00:35:56.434
And honestly, everyone wants to be grateful.
00:35:56.434 --> 00:35:58.402
I mean, who wants to be ungrateful?
00:35:58.402 --> 00:36:00.004
The problem is, what's your plan?
00:36:00.004 --> 00:36:01.772
What's your plan to become a more grateful person?
00:36:01.772 --> 00:36:05.309
Because i think we have this
00:36:05.309 --> 00:36:06.177
Problem when it comes to gratitude.
00:36:06.177 --> 00:36:07.445
I think that we think the more good things we receive or or
00:36:07.445 --> 00:36:10.748
The more good things we get
00:36:10.748 --> 00:36:11.649
Than the more grateful we'll become.
00:36:11.649 --> 00:36:12.984
And as you've heard us talk about, gratitude is not a
00:36:12.984 --> 00:36:15.353
Result of either of those.
00:36:15.353 --> 00:36:16.387
Gratitude is always a decision of the will.
00:36:16.387 --> 00:36:18.422
It's finding something to be grateful for.
00:36:18.422 --> 00:36:21.359
And when we do, it shifts the focus.
00:36:21.359 --> 00:36:23.261
It shifts the focus from what we don't have or what we're
00:36:23.261 --> 00:36:26.631
Lacking, or it shifts the focus from circumstances might be in
00:36:26.631 --> 00:36:30.701
The low or the circumstances around us, and it shifts the
00:36:30.701 --> 00:36:33.337
Focus to who he is.
00:36:33.337 --> 00:36:34.805
That's what gratitude does, is it shifts the focus from what
00:36:34.805 --> 00:36:37.642
We don't have to who he is and what he's done.
00:36:37.642 --> 00:36:41.078
So i'm just encouraging you today to make that choice.
00:36:41.078 --> 00:36:44.749
It's a daily decision for me.
00:36:44.749 --> 00:36:47.885
I love that no matter where we find ourselves in our
00:36:51.355 --> 00:36:54.925
Circumstances, no matter the worst of the worst, there is
00:36:54.925 --> 00:36:59.697
Always a moment coming that you will look back and say, had it
00:36:59.697 --> 00:37:04.602
Not been for that. absolutely.
00:37:04.602 --> 00:37:07.672
Had it not been for that,
00:37:07.672 --> 00:37:10.241
Because i put my my trust in god.
00:37:10.241 --> 00:37:13.077
Because i believed and i declared the word, because his
00:37:13.077 --> 00:37:16.147
Promises are still true over me
00:37:16.147 --> 00:37:17.782
No matter what i'm going through.
00:37:17.782 --> 00:37:19.116
Yeah. right?
00:37:19.116 --> 00:37:20.151
So had it not been for that that happened,
00:37:20.151 --> 00:37:22.887
That looked like complete failure, that looked like
00:37:22.887 --> 00:37:26.324
Complete mess that i could not have done anything about it,
00:37:26.324 --> 00:37:30.528
Yeah, i would not be at the
00:37:30.528 --> 00:37:32.263
Place that i stand now without that.
00:37:32.263 --> 00:37:34.899
And that is always coming after a trial, after those moments
00:37:34.899 --> 00:37:40.371
Where i can't make it without god, i promise you you'll look
00:37:40.371 --> 00:37:45.176
Back and say, had it not been for that heartache and that
00:37:45.176 --> 00:37:49.480
Pain that i am here breathing today and breathing
00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:53.617
The life that i have now.
00:37:53.617 --> 00:37:55.920
Sometimes people don't know
00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:57.555
Exactly what to be grateful for.
00:37:57.555 --> 00:37:59.023
I will tell you the thing that i am most grateful for about
00:37:59.023 --> 00:38:02.360
Everything i have, everything i've experienced is that god
00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:05.696
Did not let me die in my sin.
00:38:05.696 --> 00:38:07.665
There you go, baby.
00:38:07.665 --> 00:38:09.200
He didn't let me die in my sin.
00:38:09.200 --> 00:38:11.869
I look back on my choice at a
00:38:11.869 --> 00:38:14.338
Young age to try to end my life.
00:38:14.338 --> 00:38:17.341
I'm like, man, thank you.
00:38:17.341 --> 00:38:20.077
Yeah. thank you for
00:38:20.077 --> 00:38:21.712
For preserving my life, so that i think it was two weeks after
00:38:21.712 --> 00:38:28.586
My second attempt at 11 years old, that my classmate in the
00:38:28.586 --> 00:38:32.957
Sixth grade invited me to church.
00:38:32.957 --> 00:38:35.326
Two weeks later. i had never been
00:38:35.326 --> 00:38:37.361
To church, never heard of jesus.
00:38:37.361 --> 00:38:38.729
Never heard of a bible, none of that.
00:38:38.729 --> 00:38:40.798
And it was a few months after that, at the age of 11, that i
00:38:40.798 --> 00:38:44.268
Accepted jesus as lord of my life.
00:38:44.268 --> 00:38:47.004
And i thank god because even from then until now, i've made
00:38:47.004 --> 00:38:52.376
So many mistakes, failed him in so many ways, and he didn't let
00:38:52.376 --> 00:38:56.113
Me die in my sin.
00:38:56.113 --> 00:38:57.648
So i don't need to be grateful for anything
00:38:57.648 --> 00:39:00.684
Tangible here on earth.
00:39:00.684 --> 00:39:02.319
I know where i'm going, and i know who i'm going to
00:39:02.319 --> 00:39:04.488
Be with for eternity.
00:39:04.488 --> 00:39:06.590
So i accepted jesus as lord of my life when i was
00:39:06.590 --> 00:39:09.860
About 11 years old.
00:39:09.860 --> 00:39:11.095
I did not grow up in a church going family, didn't know
00:39:11.095 --> 00:39:13.197
Anything about jesus, god, the bible, none of those things.
00:39:13.197 --> 00:39:17.134
Um, but after making that decision at that young age, i
00:39:17.134 --> 00:39:21.439
Can say that the trajectory of my life changed, number one,
00:39:21.439 --> 00:39:25.709
Because i learned at such a young age that god loved me.
00:39:25.709 --> 00:39:28.679
I learned that i was special in his sight, which is not what i
00:39:28.679 --> 00:39:31.081
Was told in my household growing up.
00:39:31.081 --> 00:39:33.150
But over the years, as i look back, i realize that now i'm in
00:39:33.150 --> 00:39:36.887
A position where i don't just know that god loves me, but i
00:39:36.887 --> 00:39:39.957
Know that i love him because he's been so faithful, so kind,
00:39:39.957 --> 00:39:43.494
So merciful, so good.
00:39:43.494 --> 00:39:45.429
All the mistakes i've made, the ways that i have failed him,
00:39:45.429 --> 00:39:47.998
He has never left me.
00:39:47.998 --> 00:39:50.100
Even when i left him.
00:39:50.100 --> 00:39:51.635
And so, as i've matured over the years, i believe i've come
00:39:51.635 --> 00:39:53.971
Into a place where i can say that i finally know what it
00:39:53.971 --> 00:39:56.974
Means to truly love god.
00:39:56.974 --> 00:40:00.544
I was thinking about what you were saying, holly, and just
00:40:00.544 --> 00:40:02.613
How much more intentional we could be with just our words
00:40:02.613 --> 00:40:05.883
That we casually pass by with in who in our life that we need
00:40:05.883 --> 00:40:11.755
To be more intentional with.
00:40:11.755 --> 00:40:13.190
And a lot of times it starts even from home base--
00:40:13.190 --> 00:40:15.526
Yeah. of, you know, maybe it's a spouse, maybe it's a child,
00:40:15.526 --> 00:40:18.929
Maybe it's--
00:40:18.929 --> 00:40:20.231
And a lot of times we tell them things that we're grateful for.
00:40:20.231 --> 00:40:22.466
And if we're not careful, they're connected to
00:40:22.466 --> 00:40:24.368
Things they do as opposed to who they are.
00:40:24.368 --> 00:40:27.037
As opposed to who they are.
00:40:27.037 --> 00:40:28.038
Not their being. yes, 100%.
00:40:28.038 --> 00:40:30.474
Oh, i'm so thankful that you you know, maybe it's the kids
00:40:30.474 --> 00:40:33.477
And the chores and the--
00:40:33.477 --> 00:40:34.411
You know, it's like, just who you are.
00:40:34.411 --> 00:40:36.547
It's not because of what you're doing
00:40:36.547 --> 00:40:38.482
Because i don't want you to weave the two together.
00:40:38.482 --> 00:40:41.051
Like, i don't want you to miss that.
00:40:41.051 --> 00:40:42.586
And i think that happens in friendships.
00:40:42.586 --> 00:40:44.955
It happens in coworkers, that we talked about our two cubicles.
00:40:44.955 --> 00:40:49.426
And you want to talk about
00:40:49.426 --> 00:40:51.295
Being able to share his wonders.
00:40:51.295 --> 00:40:52.796
It is amazing what that does and how it softens the heart of
00:40:52.796 --> 00:40:57.067
People to say, i'm just so grateful for you that i get to
00:40:57.067 --> 00:41:00.671
Sit next to you, that you can make me laugh, that i don't go
00:41:00.671 --> 00:41:04.642
Through this by myself, that you know, and so just what it
00:41:04.642 --> 00:41:08.646
Can do and how we can impact others through the gratefulness
00:41:08.646 --> 00:41:13.183
That we have for the lord, and then for him to give us eyes to
00:41:13.183 --> 00:41:16.554
Be grateful for what's around us.
00:41:16.554 --> 00:41:19.390
Are there any things-- just this is last thoughts
00:41:19.390 --> 00:41:22.626
So you're like, i pray this is something, that there's someone
00:41:22.626 --> 00:41:27.131
At home that you feel like needs to hear it, that you're
00:41:27.131 --> 00:41:30.200
Like, i don't want to leave unless i say this to a woman
00:41:30.200 --> 00:41:32.570
Sitting there that is listening to this today?
00:41:32.570 --> 00:41:34.838
The one thing i would say, something i started doing a
00:41:34.838 --> 00:41:37.308
While ago, and i do it every day from the moment that i'm
00:41:37.308 --> 00:41:39.577
Aware of being awake,
00:41:39.577 --> 00:41:41.078
You know, i'm not getting out of bed yet, but i'm just aware,
00:41:41.078 --> 00:41:43.213
Oh, i'm awake,
00:41:43.213 --> 00:41:44.648
I begin by thanking god, and it's just a simple thing, but
00:41:44.648 --> 00:41:47.851
It's just like, lord, thank you for this.
00:41:47.851 --> 00:41:49.286
Thank you for a new day.
00:41:49.286 --> 00:41:50.588
Thank you that i don't know
00:41:50.588 --> 00:41:51.522
What this day holds, but thank you
00:41:51.522 --> 00:41:52.856
You're going to be in it with me.
00:41:52.856 --> 00:41:54.425
There's something about letting the first words out of my
00:41:54.425 --> 00:41:57.561
Mouth, because i used to up and put on the television and
00:41:57.561 --> 00:41:59.363
Listen to the news, and then it'd be like, oh, you view
00:41:59.363 --> 00:42:02.466
Everything through that window.
00:42:02.466 --> 00:42:04.268
But when, when your very first words out of your mouth in the
00:42:04.268 --> 00:42:07.271
Morning are to the lord and their gratitude and praise,
00:42:07.271 --> 00:42:11.008
Then you look at the world through that window.
00:42:11.008 --> 00:42:13.611
I just hope that for everyone watching this that you just
00:42:13.611 --> 00:42:17.281
Know that god won't throw you away.
00:42:17.281 --> 00:42:20.017
Look, i just, i just sense that in my spirit that there are
00:42:20.017 --> 00:42:23.387
People watching this who are
00:42:23.387 --> 00:42:24.555
Like, you don't know what i've done.
00:42:24.555 --> 00:42:26.557
You don't know the mistakes i've made.
00:42:26.557 --> 00:42:27.891
You don't know.
00:42:27.891 --> 00:42:28.892
And it's like god will not throw you away.
00:42:28.892 --> 00:42:31.061
We forget that god is not surprised by our choices.
00:42:31.061 --> 00:42:34.665
Yeah, he's not surprised.
00:42:34.665 --> 00:42:36.934
I just hope everyone knows that.
00:42:36.934 --> 00:42:38.402
It's like if you can't think of anything else to be grateful
00:42:38.402 --> 00:42:41.271
For, because the season is really hard,
00:42:41.271 --> 00:42:43.207
The season is challenging,
00:42:43.207 --> 00:42:45.009
Be grateful that god will never throw you away.
00:42:45.009 --> 00:42:48.679
Yeah. and the divine exchange is open.
00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:51.048
Matthew 11,
00:42:51.048 --> 00:42:52.249
Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and i
00:42:52.249 --> 00:42:56.053
Will give you rest.
00:42:56.053 --> 00:42:57.688
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because my yoke is
00:42:57.688 --> 00:43:00.791
Easy and my burden is light.
00:43:00.791 --> 00:43:02.593
Every jew that listened that day to jesus woke up every day
00:43:02.593 --> 00:43:05.996
Under the burden of the law.
00:43:05.996 --> 00:43:07.731
610 things they had to do or not do,
00:43:07.731 --> 00:43:11.535
And jesus said, no. come on.
00:43:11.535 --> 00:43:13.804
Come to me. yeah.
00:43:13.804 --> 00:43:15.372
Watch how i do it.
00:43:15.372 --> 00:43:17.541
One of the beautiful things about being a part of a
00:43:17.541 --> 00:43:21.111
Church community, whether it's a little one or a big one,
00:43:21.111 --> 00:43:23.881
One of the beautiful things is that we get to see people at
00:43:23.881 --> 00:43:27.518
All stages on their journey with jesus.
00:43:27.518 --> 00:43:31.989
And it's so-- it was one of my favorite things about pastoring
00:43:31.989 --> 00:43:36.193
A church was just seeing people come in who are broken and
00:43:36.193 --> 00:43:40.564
Hurting and addicted to so many things, or working in the sex
00:43:40.564 --> 00:43:44.568
Industry, whatever it was coming in, and then seeing what
00:43:44.568 --> 00:43:49.106
Happens when they immerse themselves in a community of
00:43:49.106 --> 00:43:52.309
Faith and they begin the journey of walking with jesus,
00:43:52.309 --> 00:43:56.213
And there's nothing like it.
00:43:56.213 --> 00:43:58.949
There's nothing like it.
00:43:58.949 --> 00:44:00.117
And i think as a as followers of jesus, we have this
00:44:00.117 --> 00:44:03.520
Responsibility to be living our lives in such a way that others
00:44:03.520 --> 00:44:07.891
Actually are drawn to the life of christ.
00:44:07.891 --> 00:44:12.329
You know, i think around thanksgiving time we become
00:44:12.329 --> 00:44:14.732
Very thankful for family and the blessings and the
00:44:14.732 --> 00:44:17.468
Relationships that we have.
00:44:17.468 --> 00:44:19.503
But to remember that god is always with us.
00:44:19.503 --> 00:44:22.806
Mhm. he is emmanuel.
00:44:22.806 --> 00:44:24.808
We're heading into the christmas season too.
00:44:24.808 --> 00:44:26.910
And the great counselor, the mighty god, the everlasting
00:44:26.910 --> 00:44:32.549
Father emmanuel, he is with us.
00:44:32.549 --> 00:44:36.120
And i think if you don't have, can't think of anything to
00:44:36.120 --> 00:44:39.089
Be thankful for today,
00:44:39.089 --> 00:44:40.290
You can thank him that he is with you now.
00:44:40.290 --> 00:44:43.193
Yeah. you are emmanuel.
00:44:43.193 --> 00:44:45.028
You are god with me.
00:44:45.028 --> 00:44:47.030
David said, where can i go from the presence of the lord?
00:44:47.030 --> 00:44:50.934
Where can i-- if i go to the uttermost parts of the earth,
00:44:50.934 --> 00:44:54.404
There you are.
00:44:54.404 --> 00:44:55.539
If i make my bed in hell, there you are.
00:44:55.539 --> 00:44:57.941
But i'm telling you that god is with you.
00:44:57.941 --> 00:44:59.710
And you can start by saying thank you, god, that you will
00:44:59.710 --> 00:45:03.347
Never leave me or forsake me, that you're closer than my
00:45:03.347 --> 00:45:07.151
Breath, that you are my breath and that you're with me.
00:45:07.151 --> 00:45:11.255
God is with me.
00:45:11.255 --> 00:45:12.856
God is for me.
00:45:12.856 --> 00:45:14.625
If he's for me, who can be against me?
00:45:14.625 --> 00:45:17.060
Start just getting into the word of god and finding out who
00:45:17.060 --> 00:45:20.164
He is in your life, who he says he is.
00:45:20.164 --> 00:45:22.633
He says, i am the great i am.
00:45:22.633 --> 00:45:24.635
I am in control of all things.
00:45:24.635 --> 00:45:26.370
I made everything and it is good.
00:45:26.370 --> 00:45:29.406
That's it. everything is good.
00:45:29.406 --> 00:45:31.375
Everything that god has made is good.
00:45:31.375 --> 00:45:33.977
Every good and perfect gift comes from him.
00:45:33.977 --> 00:45:37.481
And i think when you just start declaring and thanking god for
00:45:37.481 --> 00:45:40.551
Those things, your life will change. your circumstances will
00:45:40.551 --> 00:45:46.023
Change. the people around you will change because all of a
00:45:46.023 --> 00:45:49.760
Sudden you're a different person, and that is that choice.
00:45:49.760 --> 00:45:53.497
No one can tell you what to think and no one can
00:45:53.497 --> 00:45:56.133
Tell you what to say.
00:45:56.133 --> 00:45:57.634
You have the choice today to change that in your life by
00:45:57.634 --> 00:46:01.772
Just thankfulness, gratitude from your heart.
00:46:01.772 --> 00:46:05.776
And he says, you call on me and i'll answer you.
00:46:05.776 --> 00:46:09.847
So, god, i'm calling on you
00:46:09.847 --> 00:46:11.715
Today to help me, to be near to me.
00:46:11.715 --> 00:46:15.152
Let me feel your presence around me and i promise
00:46:15.152 --> 00:46:18.055
Your life will change.
00:46:18.055 --> 00:46:19.523
So good. beautiful.
00:46:19.523 --> 00:46:20.991
And remembering he inhabits the praises of his people.
00:46:20.991 --> 00:46:23.427
That's right.
00:46:23.427 --> 00:46:24.394
He is as near or as far as your praise.
00:46:24.394 --> 00:46:26.964
It makes sense of how the beginning of getting to a
00:46:26.964 --> 00:46:29.733
Thanksgiving offering is fellowship.
00:46:29.733 --> 00:46:31.969
So good. is getting around some other people that can be honest
00:46:31.969 --> 00:46:35.105
And say things can be hard.
00:46:35.105 --> 00:46:36.773
Like the naaman's servant said, if it was a hard thing, you
00:46:36.773 --> 00:46:40.110
Would have done it.
00:46:40.110 --> 00:46:41.378
And when you were just talking, i was like, it's so simple.
00:46:41.378 --> 00:46:44.448
Walk by faith and not by sight.
00:46:44.448 --> 00:46:46.416
Like literally just go, i can't see it.
00:46:46.416 --> 00:46:48.719
But i love you and i know you're good and i may be
00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:52.022
Struggling, but thank you. yeah.
00:46:52.022 --> 00:46:54.024
Even if all you can get out today is thank you--
00:46:54.024 --> 00:46:56.994
Thank you.
00:46:56.994 --> 00:46:58.295
What it will do in that spirit of gratitude, that you'll come
00:46:58.295 --> 00:47:01.331
In agreement with, the power of that to shift your atmosphere,
00:47:01.331 --> 00:47:05.936
That spirit of gratitude shifts the environment
00:47:05.936 --> 00:47:09.339
Because it doesn't matter what i do anyway.
00:47:09.339 --> 00:47:11.441
It's all what god has done. absolutely.
00:47:11.441 --> 00:47:13.143
His strength is made perfect in our weakness
00:47:13.143 --> 00:47:15.779
And i love that.
00:47:15.779 --> 00:47:17.014
We're going to see people gathered around tables, but i,
00:47:17.014 --> 00:47:20.617
I pray that it won't stop there.
00:47:20.617 --> 00:47:23.153
I pray that we'll invite conversations.
00:47:23.153 --> 00:47:25.222
We'll be intentional with women in our lives, with the people
00:47:25.222 --> 00:47:28.258
In our lives, of when the
00:47:28.258 --> 00:47:29.893
Holy spirit puts something in your heart,
00:47:29.893 --> 00:47:32.162
If you're in a grocery store, it'd be like, you know what?
00:47:32.162 --> 00:47:34.898
I just, i just want to encourage you.
00:47:34.898 --> 00:47:38.101
I just want to show you the other side of
00:47:38.101 --> 00:47:40.470
What gratitude can bring.
00:47:40.470 --> 00:47:41.772
Just like simple things like, thank you for doing such a good
00:47:41.772 --> 00:47:44.007
Job checking me out today.
00:47:44.007 --> 00:47:45.042
Thank you for putting my groceries in a bag.
00:47:45.042 --> 00:47:46.610
Just like, just thank you.
00:47:46.610 --> 00:47:49.079
Getting in the habit.
00:47:49.079 --> 00:47:50.180
Something so small that can change somebody's day.
00:47:50.180 --> 00:47:53.717
It's so good.
00:47:53.717 --> 00:47:55.485
The best place to start in sharing your faith is what
00:47:55.485 --> 00:47:58.088
Jesus has done for you.
00:47:58.088 --> 00:47:59.589
It doesn't have to be this big, deep bible study.
00:47:59.589 --> 00:48:02.592
But what has he done for you?
00:48:02.592 --> 00:48:04.494
Has he brought peace where you have been confused?
00:48:04.494 --> 00:48:07.664
Has he brought healing in your life?
00:48:07.664 --> 00:48:09.032
Has he brought friends to you?
00:48:09.032 --> 00:48:11.101
Has he helped you get free from addictions?
00:48:11.101 --> 00:48:13.770
What has jesus done for you?
00:48:13.770 --> 00:48:15.405
That's the best place and the best way to share your faith.
00:48:15.405 --> 00:48:19.343
Well, i want to pray for those that are going to hear this,
00:48:19.343 --> 00:48:21.778
But also for each of our hearts and what god's deposited in our
00:48:21.778 --> 00:48:25.048
Hearts that it would continue to produce good fruit.
00:48:25.048 --> 00:48:27.684
Amen. amen.
00:48:27.684 --> 00:48:28.618
Jesus, you're amazing.
00:48:28.618 --> 00:48:30.887
Yes you are.
00:48:30.887 --> 00:48:32.155
Thank you, father. thank you.
00:48:32.155 --> 00:48:33.790
Thank you that you stripped off your heavenly garbs.
00:48:33.790 --> 00:48:38.228
And you came.
00:48:38.228 --> 00:48:39.796
You humbled yourself and came to be amongst us, to be with us.
00:48:39.796 --> 00:48:47.270
Thank you, lord, to say i get what it feels like.
00:48:47.270 --> 00:48:49.973
Let me show you how to do it. yes.
00:48:49.973 --> 00:48:52.175
Let me show you that it can be done.
00:48:52.175 --> 00:48:54.378
And one of the tools you give us is gratitude.
00:48:54.378 --> 00:48:57.381
It's a gift. yeah.
00:48:57.381 --> 00:48:59.349
Gratitude is a gift. thank you.
00:48:59.349 --> 00:49:01.752
And it's something only we can give.
00:49:01.752 --> 00:49:03.954
There's a unique gift of gratitude that each of us carry.
00:49:03.954 --> 00:49:07.858
And i just pray, father god, that you would help us to give
00:49:07.858 --> 00:49:11.428
That to you daily, that we would be a living sacrifice to
00:49:11.428 --> 00:49:15.732
You, and that through thanksgiving and through
00:49:15.732 --> 00:49:18.335
Gratitude, that we will see the atmospheres change.
00:49:18.335 --> 00:49:21.571
Thank you, lord.
00:49:21.571 --> 00:49:22.773
That we will see this world shift, that we will not be
00:49:22.773 --> 00:49:25.509
Victims of this world, but victors that you've already
00:49:25.509 --> 00:49:28.412
Asked us to operate from.
00:49:28.412 --> 00:49:30.313
And so i thank you for each and every woman here.
00:49:30.313 --> 00:49:32.983
I thank you for each and every person that hears the truths
00:49:32.983 --> 00:49:36.219
That you speak today.
00:49:36.219 --> 00:49:38.588
In your precious name, amen.
00:49:38.588 --> 00:49:40.524
Amen. amen.
00:49:40.524 --> 00:49:43.360
Connect with us on social media and let us know how
00:49:43.360 --> 00:49:45.695
Our team can pray for you.
00:49:45.695 --> 00:49:51.635
You might be in a season
00:49:54.604 --> 00:49:55.639
Where you're thinking, well, how am i
00:49:55.639 --> 00:49:56.640
Supposed to be thankful for this?
00:49:56.640 --> 00:49:58.341
Because this is hard.
00:49:58.341 --> 00:49:59.810
I don't think god ever asks us to be grateful for hard things.
00:49:59.810 --> 00:50:04.014
I think what he asks us to be thankful for is that we're
00:50:04.014 --> 00:50:07.184
Never alone in them,
00:50:07.184 --> 00:50:08.552
That he promises us his presence no matter what
00:50:08.552 --> 00:50:11.188
We're going through.
00:50:11.188 --> 00:50:12.589
And i have to tell you, some of the best days of my life
00:50:12.589 --> 00:50:15.125
And someone was challenging days of my life,
00:50:15.125 --> 00:50:17.894
The thing that i've been most thankful for is the fact that
00:50:17.894 --> 00:50:20.897
God is with me and somehow developing.
00:50:20.897 --> 00:50:24.000
It's almost like brushing your teeth.
00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:26.103
You just get into this place of saying, this is something i do
00:50:26.103 --> 00:50:29.272
Every day.
00:50:29.272 --> 00:50:30.540
Every day when i wake up, i thank god that he is with me.
00:50:30.540 --> 00:50:33.143
And i'll always say when i'm heading off on a trip, i have
00:50:33.143 --> 00:50:35.312
No idea where this trip is going to be
00:50:35.312 --> 00:50:37.214
Like, lord, but thank you that you're with me.
00:50:37.214 --> 00:50:39.382
He's always with you.
00:50:39.382 --> 00:50:42.119
Stream full episodes of better together on demand.
00:50:42.119 --> 00:50:45.789
Go to bettertogether.tv
00:50:45.789 --> 00:50:47.290
To stream all of our latest conversations.
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Confessions from a Grateful Heart - Episode 1120

November 21, 2025 | S7 E1120 | 52:34

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