Better Together

God's Gift of Eternal Hope - Episode 1125

December 19, 2025 | S7 E1125 | 52:34

Salvation is God's greatest gift to us. The invitation to spend eternity in His arms of grace is beautiful, but only part of the story. He calls us to live with purpose and experience His kingdom here on Earth. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

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Better Together | God's Gift of Eternal Hope - Episode 1125 | December 19, 2025

(beeping sound)
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- christmas season reminds us
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Of god's greatest gift to us,
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Jesus.
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He made a way for us to repair our relationship with god
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And live in freedom forever.
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That is the eternal hope.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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(upbeat music)
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(upbeat music continues)
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- when i brought missy home the first year,
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I just was desperate to get a picture of her on santa's lap.
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You know, i didn't know i would get to be a mom
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And i'm like, "i know some christians think
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Santa's so naughty,"
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So here's my qualification on santa.
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Saint nicholas. - yes indeed.
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- of turkey in the fourth century
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Was actually a very wealthy christian man
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Who entered the priesthood.
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- [cece] okay. - and it was his habit
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To pay the dowry for young women
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Who couldn't afford a dowry.
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- [cece] wow. - that's where
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His generosity first showed.
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But here's the real kicker.
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Saint nicholas signed the nicene creed in 325.
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So the scaffolding of christianity
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That we got from 325 ad that proves
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That jesus and god the father, homos, same substance,
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All of our main walls of christian orthodox here
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Are based in the nicene creed.
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Saint nicholas signed it, so santa isn't all bad.
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But i just wanted one,
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Just one picture of missy with santa.
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And i did, you know, her english was,
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She didn't know much english.
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My creole's abysmal.
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So i tried to explain to her that of course,
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Christmas was all about jesus.
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Missy had never celebrated christmas in haiti
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Because where she was was just so impoverished.
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And so i just wanted her to have
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A christmas that's based in jesus,
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But i wanted that one santa picture.
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So i said, "baby, it's all about jesus,
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Everything about christmas,
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It's when jesus was born for us."
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And she just kind of nod thinking,
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This mama blah is so emotional.
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And i said, "so santa is,
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He's like a cartoon,
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And the reason we make a lot of santa
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Is he delivered most of the gifts
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Because he drove what we call a sleigh
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And that's kind of like a big suv."
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So basically i had her totally confused
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By the time we go to take this picture with santa
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And i spent like more money than i should have
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Because i was so excited,
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But i was going to actually have a daughter
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With a picture with santa at christmas.
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And i had this darling outfit on her.
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She was five years old, looked more like three.
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She was itty bitty because she'd been so malnourished.
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And it was the santa with a real beard,
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You know, where you go in- - the good one.
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- yeah, the good one with like, it was fake snow,
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But looked really good and the birch trees
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And the whole stuff.
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So he's like, "ho, ho, ho."
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Well of course, missy's like,
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"who is the big white guy in velvet?
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Like this does not seem safe to me."
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So i have to keep kind of scooching her
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To sit on santa's lap.
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She finally sits on his lap, but she arches away from him.
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And because she was so scared, they had me in the room
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With this professional photographer.
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She kind of-
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- stretches away and he says,
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"honey, what do you want for christmas?"
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And she says something and he can't understand her.
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And he looks at me and i thought,
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I don't know what she said.
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Well, then she says it again and he goes,
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"ma'am" like he's saying,
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"ma'am, i can't understand your daughter."
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She had such a strong creole accent.
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So i said, "baby, what are you asking santa?"
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And she said, "do you know jebus?"
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(panel laughs) - evangelizing.
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- she knew very little about christmas,
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But she'd gotten the part with jesus.
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- [cece] it's all about jebus.
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- jebus, it is all about jebus, baby.
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Jebus was the greatest gift-
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- that is the best. - of christmas.
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- but really the greatest gifts that any of us have
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Is the fact that we are seen and known
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And loved by god.
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He celebrates you.
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I dunno what this christmas season's gonna be like for you,
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But what i do pray is this,
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I pray you'll have some moments to just sit quietly
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In his presence
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And let him tell you how much he loves you
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And that he's with you.
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And even when it looks as if things around
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Are out of control,
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Just know that god is in control
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And he is good and he's for you.
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- this has been the sweetest week.
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- yeah. - yeah.
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- the promise of christmas. - yes.
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- we're landing on the greatest gift.
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- yeah.
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- on this last day of the week
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As we talk about the promise of christmas
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And it's one of my favorite christmas passages.
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Sometimes it's not read at christmas
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'cause it happened eight days after christmas.
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It happened when jesus was brought to temple
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Because according to jewish law,
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Mary and joseph brought jesus to temple
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To make a sacrifice on behalf of the firstborn son,
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As was dictated by mosaic law.
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So this is the passages.
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It's in luke chapter two.
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"and when the time came for their purification,
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According to the law of moses,
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They brought him up to jerusalem to present him to the lord
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As is written in the law of the lord,
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Every male who first opens the womb
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Shall be called holy to the lord.
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And to offer sacrifice according to what is said
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In the law of the lord.
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A pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.
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Now there was a man in jerusalem whose name was simeon.
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And this man was righteous
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And devout waiting for the consolation of israel.
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And the holy spirit was upon him.
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And it had been revealed to him by the holy spirit
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That he would not see death
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Before he had seen the lord's christ."
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So the messiah.
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"and he came in the spirit into the temple.
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And when the parents brought in the child jesus
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To do for him, according to the custom of the law,
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He took him up in his arms and blessed god and said"
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And that word could be sang 'cause the next few lines
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Simeon actually sang them.
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I'm not going to cece.
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Your people would be scarred.
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"lord, now you're letting your servant to part in peace,
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According to your word,
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For my eyes have seen your salvation.
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That you have prepared in presence,
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In the presence of all peoples,
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A light in revelation to the gentiles
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And for glory to your people israel.
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And his father
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And his mother marveled at what was said about him.
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And simeon blessed them and said to mary his mother,
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'behold, this child is appointed for the fall
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And rising of many in israel
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And for a sign that is opposed
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So that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.'
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And there was a prophetess, anna, the daughter of phanuel,
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Of the tribe of asher, the happy tribe.
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She was advanced in years
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Having lived with her husband seven years
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From when she was a virgin.
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And then as a widow until she was 84.
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She did not depart from the temple,
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Worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
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And coming up at that very hour,
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She began to give thanks to god
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And to speak of him to all who were waiting
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For the redemption of jerusalem."
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So we talked earlier in the week about how
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This isn't a rule book.
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Cece told us how the way we hang onto our peace
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Is to stay connected to this divine love story.
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And so when you think
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That there really was this old, old man named simeon,
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And god had told him,
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You're not gonna die of physical death
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Before you see the christ,
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The one you've been praying for,
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Yearning for, for centuries.
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And then there's this old, old woman, anna,
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Says, she was married probably at 14,
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It says when she was a virgin,
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Married for seven years, husband died.
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And then it's been 84 years since her husband died.
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So if you do the math, she's at least 104.
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So i so identify with her.
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I felt like it took me that long to become a mom.
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So you've got this old, old woman, this old, old man,
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So this is just my imagination, obviously,
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I'm taking a little bit of liberty with the greek,
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But i imagine they both lived across the street
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From the temple in halt,
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The hebrew old assisted living town homes.
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And they would come to the temple every day as volunteers
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Because they were volunteering in the temple.
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And so he would help.
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- getting everything ready for the levites
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Or for them to sacrifice the animals.
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As a woman, she wasn't able to do everything he did,
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So she's probably refilling the towel dispensers.
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And this couple comes in.
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And just imagine mary is carrying eight-day
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Old baby jesus,
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Who condescended,
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One of my favorite scholars
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Calls the incarnation the divine condescension,
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That he came to that messy barn the form of a baby.
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I love that he didn't come as a king.
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- mm. - because if you saw a king
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In all his royalty, we would be intimidated.
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You see a baby, what's the first thing you do?
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Can i hold it? - yeah, yeah.
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- just the kindness of god, the condescension of god.
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So, they walk into temple and they walk up to simeon
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And say, "excuse me, sir, could you tell us where to do
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The sacrifice for the firstborn?"
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And simeon goes,
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"may i hold?"
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Because immediately, holy spirit says,
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"that's the christ."
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- wow. - immediately, the consolation
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Of israel is that baby.
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And that old man takes that baby and begins to sing.
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This is what we've been praying for.
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He is who we have been hoping for.
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And anna's in the women's bathroom.
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And she hears her friend begin to warble
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And she thinks, "oh, no, he's broken his hip again."
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(kalley laughing)
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And she comes flying around the corner
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As fast as a 104-year-old woman can fly around a corner
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And she sees simeon holding baby jesus
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And it says she knows immediately,
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That's the christ.
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That's the christ.
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And this story, i think because,
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Partly because i waited so long for a child of my own,
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But mostly because to me,
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It depicts more than any of the other stories,
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Even though it's not the birth narrative.
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- right. - it's effectively what
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We would call, as in our era, the baptism narrative.
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It's not when he was baptized,
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But it's when he was... - right.
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- yeah. - he was acknowledged
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As the firstborn. - acknowledged.
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- just the fact that jesus is so the center of this story,
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That you've got these two old saints,
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And they know immediately,
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And then the word there is salvation.
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It's where we get our soteriology from as christians.
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It's the same word, listen to this, lori.
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It's the exact same word mary sang in the magnificat.
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- oh. - jesus
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Is our salvation.
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He knows we're not the sharpest tools in the shed.
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So, god tells the same story over and over and over again.
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And it's always jesus. - yeah.
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- always jesus. - jesus is always the hero
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Of the story.
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- i think when we live in light of eternity,
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The salvation that jesus was born, lived and died for,
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It begins to change everything.
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We lift our eyes from the immediacy
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Of the moment that we're in
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And we begin to look at the grand scope of the story
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That jesus has set before us, and we know the ending to it.
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So, if i know where i'm going,
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If i know what he has accomplished for me,
00:11:33.772 --> 00:11:36.107
I can face today with great courage, with great trust,
00:11:36.107 --> 00:11:40.545
Knowing he's got it all settled for me.
00:11:40.545 --> 00:11:43.548
That's not up to me.
00:11:43.548 --> 00:11:44.883
This isn't on my back.
00:11:44.883 --> 00:11:46.484
I just get to follow, listen and obey in great thanksgiving.
00:11:46.484 --> 00:11:52.157
- have y'all received a gift,
00:11:52.791 --> 00:11:55.527
Or is there a tradition, maybe your family,
00:11:55.527 --> 00:11:58.830
Maybe your parents were such godly parents,
00:11:58.830 --> 00:12:04.169
Is there a gift or tradition y'all have done
00:12:05.103 --> 00:12:06.437
That really practically helps you
00:12:06.437 --> 00:12:08.173
Keep jesus as the center of christmas?
00:12:08.173 --> 00:12:11.543
I mean, we all wear the t-shirts and we've all got the pins.
00:12:11.543 --> 00:12:14.512
You know, we testify to the fact
00:12:14.512 --> 00:12:17.649
That jesus is the reason for the season,
00:12:17.649 --> 00:12:19.751
That he is the greatest gift,
00:12:19.751 --> 00:12:21.586
That salvation is the greatest gift
00:12:21.586 --> 00:12:25.156
That god the father, god the son,
00:12:25.156 --> 00:12:27.192
God the spirit has given humanity.
00:12:27.192 --> 00:12:29.828
But what's something y'all practically do as imago dei that
00:12:29.828 --> 00:12:33.131
Helps you hang on to that miracle
00:12:33.131 --> 00:12:35.200
During the christmas season?
00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.801
Or maybe a gift?
00:12:36.801 --> 00:12:38.036
Has somebody ever given you something
00:12:38.036 --> 00:12:39.404
And you didn't expect it
00:12:39.404 --> 00:12:41.739
To just resonate so deeply with your heart and you went,
00:12:41.739 --> 00:12:44.776
"oh, jesus, jesus, jesus." - mm.
00:12:44.776 --> 00:12:48.746
- one of the greatest gifts that i ever was given
00:12:48.746 --> 00:12:51.816
Was i was 16 years old
00:12:51.816 --> 00:12:54.352
And we went to the same little baptist church
00:12:54.352 --> 00:12:56.721
On the west coast of scotland for generations.
00:12:56.721 --> 00:12:58.823
My great-great-great-grandfather carved the communion table.
00:12:58.823 --> 00:13:02.894
- oh. - oh, wow.
00:13:02.894 --> 00:13:04.362
- yeah. - yeah.
00:13:04.362 --> 00:13:05.597
So, i knew all the families, you know,
00:13:05.597 --> 00:13:07.065
We were all a small enough church to know everybody,
00:13:07.065 --> 00:13:09.067
Which i absolutely loved.
00:13:09.067 --> 00:13:10.335
And there was one family
00:13:10.335 --> 00:13:11.870
Where the son had this beautiful singing voice,
00:13:11.870 --> 00:13:15.306
But he also really, really struggled with alcohol.
00:13:15.306 --> 00:13:18.243
He'd kind of stepped away from his marriage for a while
00:13:18.243 --> 00:13:21.479
And he was just living rough.
00:13:21.479 --> 00:13:23.281
And i knew his mum and dad.
00:13:23.281 --> 00:13:24.482
I really liked his mum and dad.
00:13:24.482 --> 00:13:26.517
And it was christmas eve and my best friend, andrea and i,
00:13:26.517 --> 00:13:29.954
We were doing this thing before.
00:13:29.954 --> 00:13:31.556
- midnight service where we just were going out
00:13:31.556 --> 00:13:33.124
In the streets to see if anybody
00:13:33.124 --> 00:13:34.259
Maybe wanted to come in and listen.
00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:37.395
And we went down by the harbor
00:13:37.395 --> 00:13:39.130
To where they had a thing called the seamen's mission,
00:13:39.130 --> 00:13:41.833
And there was a gentleman laying rough
00:13:41.833 --> 00:13:45.436
On the street with a coat over him.
00:13:45.436 --> 00:13:47.372
And so i went up and i just tapped on his shoulder
00:13:47.372 --> 00:13:49.807
And said, "sir, would you like to come to our service?
00:13:49.807 --> 00:13:53.177
We have hot soup and we have minced pies."
00:13:53.177 --> 00:13:56.047
And i realized who it was, it was him.
00:13:56.047 --> 00:13:58.316
- oh. - oh.
00:13:58.316 --> 00:13:59.350
- and he knew me,
00:13:59.350 --> 00:14:02.520
And he just shook his head.
00:14:02.520 --> 00:14:03.688
And i was like, "listen, here's the deal.
00:14:03.688 --> 00:14:06.090
You and i will go in after the service starts
00:14:06.090 --> 00:14:09.127
And we'll sit in the back.
00:14:09.127 --> 00:14:10.495
We'll just sit in the back, and if you want,
00:14:10.495 --> 00:14:12.530
We will leave before anybody sees us,
00:14:12.530 --> 00:14:14.699
But just, let's go."
00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:17.402
And so he said, "okay."
00:14:17.402 --> 00:14:19.504
So i got him a cup of coffee
00:14:19.504 --> 00:14:21.072
And we waited till service started and everyone was in.
00:14:21.072 --> 00:14:24.642
And then we kind of slipped into the back row.
00:14:24.642 --> 00:14:27.278
And honestly, it was one of the greatest christmas gifts
00:14:28.413 --> 00:14:31.049
I've ever given because watching him sit there with tears
00:14:31.049 --> 00:14:34.652
Pouring down his face, listening to this is why jesus came.
00:14:34.652 --> 00:14:39.590
I didn't come to call the righteous. i
00:14:39.590 --> 00:14:41.893
Came to call sinners.
00:14:41.893 --> 00:14:43.194
To repent us. what he said about zacchaeus.
00:14:43.194 --> 00:14:46.130
Jesus came for the lost, the polimy,
00:14:46.130 --> 00:14:48.299
Broken, ruined beyond repair.
00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:50.969
And i think that's one of the,
00:14:50.969 --> 00:14:52.837
It was one of the most significant
00:14:52.837 --> 00:14:54.372
Christmases in my life
00:14:54.372 --> 00:14:55.940
Because it brought home to me, this is the gift.
00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:59.410
- this is the gift. - you know?
00:14:59.410 --> 00:15:00.712
And no matter how far you've walked away,
00:15:00.712 --> 00:15:03.081
No matter how far down you've fallen,
00:15:03.081 --> 00:15:05.883
The invitation is always come home.
00:15:05.883 --> 00:15:09.053
- yeah. - there's a place for you
00:15:09.053 --> 00:15:10.154
At the table.
00:15:10.154 --> 00:15:11.089
And the following christmas,
00:15:11.089 --> 00:15:12.623
He was singing the solo at the christmas eve service.
00:15:12.623 --> 00:15:14.993
- oh. - and it was beautiful.
00:15:14.993 --> 00:15:16.828
- wow. - and i just thought,
00:15:16.828 --> 00:15:18.062
"lord, this is the story."
00:15:18.062 --> 00:15:20.064
This is the story, you know?
00:15:20.064 --> 00:15:21.899
- yeah.
00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.468
You know, in this day and age, it might not be popular,
00:15:23.468 --> 00:15:26.437
But you know what the best gift
00:15:27.071 --> 00:15:29.607
That i've ever received from somebody
00:15:29.607 --> 00:15:32.610
Is when they have said, "i have prayed for you."
00:15:32.610 --> 00:15:35.680
And we say that to people because it means so much to us
00:15:36.781 --> 00:15:40.351
That you're in our thoughts and in our prayers.
00:15:40.351 --> 00:15:43.554
That's the greatest gift we can give someone
00:15:43.554 --> 00:15:45.990
Because that's priceless.
00:15:45.990 --> 00:15:47.592
How do i put on somebody's heart to pray for me?
00:15:47.592 --> 00:15:50.461
I don't do that, god does.
00:15:50.461 --> 00:15:52.563
God lays it on our hearts to pray for people,
00:15:52.563 --> 00:15:55.867
And so that's what we do as christians.
00:15:55.867 --> 00:15:59.170
When we can't do anything else,
00:15:59.170 --> 00:16:00.972
When anything else will not suffice,
00:16:00.972 --> 00:16:03.574
We have thoughts and prayers
00:16:03.574 --> 00:16:06.144
And the prayers of a righteous man avails much.
00:16:06.144 --> 00:16:09.313
And i think that is the greatest gift
00:16:09.313 --> 00:16:11.516
You could possibly give anyone in your life.
00:16:11.516 --> 00:16:15.386
- celebrate christmas with our community.
00:16:16.287 --> 00:16:18.823
- we want you to join the conversation
00:16:18.823 --> 00:16:21.225
And connect with us on social media.
00:16:21.225 --> 00:16:23.394
- ask a question, share a prayer request,
00:16:23.394 --> 00:16:25.763
And make friends with women all over the world
00:16:25.763 --> 00:16:27.932
Getting better together.
00:16:27.932 --> 00:16:29.700
- [narrator] watch better together on the go.
00:16:30.668 --> 00:16:32.737
You can find the "better together" podcast
00:16:32.737 --> 00:16:34.772
On your favorite listening platform.
00:16:34.772 --> 00:16:36.841
Subscribe today.
00:16:36.841 --> 00:16:38.994
Subscribe today.
00:16:38.994 --> 00:16:39.511
(gentle music)
00:16:39.878 --> 00:16:45.984
- christmas is a season for giving.
00:16:46.718 --> 00:16:50.255
I have discovered that giving my actions,
00:16:50.255 --> 00:16:54.560
No, it's not just wrapping up gifts and giving that away.
00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:59.498
It is giving of myself
00:16:59.498 --> 00:17:02.234
First with the awareness of other people
00:17:02.234 --> 00:17:04.903
And then with the act of giving.
00:17:04.903 --> 00:17:07.439
You know what, we're the most like god
00:17:07.439 --> 00:17:10.909
When we are giving and we are thankful.
00:17:10.909 --> 00:17:14.746
I encourage you this year to let christmas
00:17:14.746 --> 00:17:18.150
Be your giving season
00:17:18.150 --> 00:17:20.819
Because the world of the generous gets larger and larger
00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:25.491
And there's always something new to give.
00:17:25.491 --> 00:17:29.995
(gentle music)
00:17:30.362 --> 00:17:35.367
- my dad was such a good guy.
00:17:36.001 --> 00:17:39.538
He was kind of like a tootsie roll, you know,
00:17:39.538 --> 00:17:41.673
Hard on the outside, soft on the inside.
00:17:41.673 --> 00:17:44.309
And my mom was the second wife,
00:17:44.309 --> 00:17:45.944
He actually got a young girl pregnant in high school
00:17:45.944 --> 00:17:48.780
And had a lot of shame from that.
00:17:48.780 --> 00:17:50.916
Married my mom and then was not faithful to my mom,
00:17:50.916 --> 00:17:53.886
And then married another woman,
00:17:53.886 --> 00:17:56.155
And then they divorced.
00:17:56.155 --> 00:17:57.289
And so he was raised in a home
00:17:57.289 --> 00:18:00.692
Where the gospel was more about works than grace.
00:18:00.692 --> 00:18:05.063
And so he just was always ashamed
00:18:05.063 --> 00:18:08.200
At the places that he had fallen.
00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.002
And midway through his life,
00:18:10.002 --> 00:18:12.437
He had kind of a damascus road experience.
00:18:12.437 --> 00:18:15.440
Literally, there was a bright light,
00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:17.109
He had lost the property.
00:18:17.109 --> 00:18:18.277
He had wanted to have a ranch for us,
00:18:18.277 --> 00:18:20.546
And he ended up having to file for bankruptcy.
00:18:20.546 --> 00:18:22.648
And the last night when he knew he was losing the property,
00:18:22.648 --> 00:18:26.251
He was walking around the property.
00:18:26.251 --> 00:18:27.519
My dad didn't have, he didn't talk much.
00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.788
- very gruff, but, and very non demonstrative,
00:18:30.689 --> 00:18:35.260
Very kind of old school.
00:18:35.761 --> 00:18:38.030
But he said there was a bright light
00:18:38.030 --> 00:18:39.965
And it knocked him to his knees.
00:18:39.965 --> 00:18:41.833
And he had an encounter with god where god just told him,
00:18:41.833 --> 00:18:45.504
"everett, i love you.
00:18:45.504 --> 00:18:47.072
I've never stopped loving you."
00:18:47.072 --> 00:18:49.441
He was in his late forties when that happened.
00:18:49.441 --> 00:18:51.944
And so the last 40 years of my dad's life,
00:18:51.944 --> 00:18:54.580
He was gruff still on the outside,
00:18:54.580 --> 00:18:57.683
But loved jesus and did the best he could to live a life
00:18:57.683 --> 00:19:03.255
In light of that.
00:19:03.689 --> 00:19:04.990
But i wanted to honor him one christmas
00:19:04.990 --> 00:19:07.292
And i didn't have any money.
00:19:07.292 --> 00:19:08.627
You know, i was in youth ministry.
00:19:08.627 --> 00:19:10.529
Remember how we just hoped we'd have enough gas money
00:19:10.529 --> 00:19:12.497
To get to the next youth camp.
00:19:12.497 --> 00:19:14.633
- back home. - and so
00:19:14.633 --> 00:19:16.268
The only thing i could think to do was i lived in nashville.
00:19:16.268 --> 00:19:19.504
He, my father lived in central florida, where i'm from,
00:19:19.504 --> 00:19:22.841
And so i thought i'll just clean his house,
00:19:22.841 --> 00:19:24.710
Spick and span, typical bachelor house.
00:19:24.710 --> 00:19:27.379
And i'll clean his house as clean as i can get it.
00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:29.815
And i thought i might have enough money to get him new bed,
00:19:29.815 --> 00:19:33.018
You know, if i get it from like, you know,
00:19:33.018 --> 00:19:34.686
Someplace pretty inexpensive,
00:19:34.686 --> 00:19:36.021
I might be able to get him new bedsheet.
00:19:36.021 --> 00:19:37.556
'cause he always had, it was just a guy.
00:19:37.556 --> 00:19:40.259
- yeah. - so i could clean his house,
00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:42.561
Have kind of decent clean sheets
00:19:42.561 --> 00:19:44.496
And then i'm gonna get him one of those
00:19:44.496 --> 00:19:45.631
Little norfolk island pine trees.
00:19:45.631 --> 00:19:47.633
You know, not a real christmas tree, but they're like,
00:19:47.633 --> 00:19:49.835
I don't know, like 14.99 from home depot.
00:19:49.835 --> 00:19:52.804
And i got parchment paper
00:19:52.804 --> 00:19:55.607
And i used to think it was cool to
00:19:55.607 --> 00:19:56.775
Burn the edges of parchment paper
00:19:56.775 --> 00:19:58.343
And write with calligraphy pen.
00:19:58.343 --> 00:20:00.412
And so i got parchment paper and i just wrote out,
00:20:00.412 --> 00:20:04.216
I remember sitting on the floor in his living room,
00:20:04.216 --> 00:20:06.485
I wrote out every positive thing
00:20:06.485 --> 00:20:08.754
I could think he had done as a father.
00:20:08.754 --> 00:20:10.889
Because he had left us when i was little
00:20:10.889 --> 00:20:12.758
And i was devastated when my dad left us.
00:20:12.758 --> 00:20:15.060
And he had not always been a real,
00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:18.130
He loved us, but he was really gruff.
00:20:18.130 --> 00:20:20.499
And so i just thought,
00:20:20.499 --> 00:20:21.933
I've got to think of as many positive things as i can
00:20:21.933 --> 00:20:24.836
That my dad did to fill this tree up
00:20:24.836 --> 00:20:26.972
With all these little scrolls.
00:20:26.972 --> 00:20:28.874
And i tied 'em with red ribbons
00:20:28.874 --> 00:20:30.142
And they became the ornaments.
00:20:30.142 --> 00:20:31.843
And i knew it blessed him.
00:20:32.411 --> 00:20:33.478
I don't remember what he said,
00:20:33.478 --> 00:20:34.513
You know, he couldn't say much.
00:20:34.513 --> 00:20:35.614
He'd be like, "that was nice."
00:20:35.614 --> 00:20:37.249
You know- - i'll read it later.
00:20:37.249 --> 00:20:38.750
- my dad used to call me on my voicemail and he'd go,
00:20:38.750 --> 00:20:41.119
"lisa, this your daddy."
00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:43.955
Then there'd be this long,
00:20:43.955 --> 00:20:45.390
I think i had you listen to one one time.
00:20:45.390 --> 00:20:47.326
- i remember. - this long pause,
00:20:47.326 --> 00:20:48.727
Like two minutes 'cause
00:20:48.727 --> 00:20:50.095
He couldn't think of anything to say.
00:20:50.095 --> 00:20:51.797
And then it would just, the buzzer would go off,
00:20:51.797 --> 00:20:53.131
And i'd be like, okay, daddy called,
00:20:53.131 --> 00:20:54.933
Because he couldn't think of anything else to say.
00:20:54.933 --> 00:20:56.835
Obviously, i do not have the same issue.
00:20:56.835 --> 00:20:59.204
But i was probably 21 maybe when that happened.
00:21:00.205 --> 00:21:04.643
I was 50 years old when my dad died
00:21:04.643 --> 00:21:07.813
And i went to clean his house again.
00:21:07.813 --> 00:21:10.015
And i pulled out the top drawer of his dresser
00:21:10.949 --> 00:21:13.485
And all of those little scrolls he had saved,
00:21:13.485 --> 00:21:16.855
So it had been 30 years.
00:21:16.855 --> 00:21:18.523
He had kept all those little scrolls
00:21:18.523 --> 00:21:20.359
And you could tell by how worn out they were,
00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:23.195
He had opened it up and read 'em over and over again
00:21:23.195 --> 00:21:25.630
And then he put 'em back in the little red ribbons.
00:21:25.630 --> 00:21:27.699
I feel weird telling that story
00:21:27.699 --> 00:21:29.000
'cause it sounds like i was so sweet
00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:31.036
And i haven't always been sweet at christmas,
00:21:31.036 --> 00:21:34.072
But i think- - that was sweet, lisa.
00:21:34.072 --> 00:21:35.474
- point of the compassion of christ that he does
00:21:35.474 --> 00:21:39.911
Love the least of these.
00:21:39.911 --> 00:21:43.081
And it's not about us having to earn his affection.
00:21:43.081 --> 00:21:46.318
He came at christmas, not because we deserved it.
00:21:46.318 --> 00:21:51.556
- yeah.
00:21:51.790 --> 00:21:52.891
- but because he said i love them.
00:21:52.891 --> 00:21:54.126
- yeah. - and i will become like them.
00:21:54.126 --> 00:21:56.628
- yeah. - so as to save them.
00:21:56.628 --> 00:21:58.463
I think if we celebrate christmas
00:21:58.463 --> 00:22:01.733
Without considering easter,
00:22:01.733 --> 00:22:05.504
I think we miss the great miracle of christmas.
00:22:05.504 --> 00:22:08.073
- yeah, absolutely. - yes.
00:22:08.073 --> 00:22:09.841
- honestly, the greatest gift of christmas,
00:22:10.709 --> 00:22:12.711
Initially the greatest gift,
00:22:12.711 --> 00:22:14.413
Is that jesus came.
00:22:14.413 --> 00:22:16.481
God in flesh being born to live among us.
00:22:16.481 --> 00:22:20.185
But when we cast our eyes forward toward easter,
00:22:20.185 --> 00:22:23.155
Toward the cross,
00:22:23.155 --> 00:22:24.656
That helps us understand what the gift was all about.
00:22:24.656 --> 00:22:27.459
Because when jesus hung on the cross,
00:22:27.459 --> 00:22:29.928
He was saying to his father,
00:22:29.928 --> 00:22:32.030
Punish me now
00:22:32.030 --> 00:22:33.398
For everything that sheila walsh will ever do.
00:22:33.398 --> 00:22:35.600
And you can put your name in there.
00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:37.436
That really is the gift of christmas,
00:22:37.436 --> 00:22:39.471
That through christ's sacrifice on the cross,
00:22:39.471 --> 00:22:42.908
We get to come as we are and be loved because of jesus.
00:22:42.908 --> 00:22:46.778
You know, the beautiful thing about that story is
00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:51.349
That's something we could all do.
00:22:51.349 --> 00:22:52.951
- yeah. - yeah.
00:22:52.951 --> 00:22:53.785
- yes. - yeah.
00:22:53.785 --> 00:22:55.287
- i wanted her to tell it because it's such a great idea.
00:22:55.287 --> 00:22:57.622
And how important stuff like that is.
00:22:57.622 --> 00:22:59.624
- absolutely.
00:22:59.624 --> 00:23:00.692
- you know, to affirm our kids,
00:23:00.692 --> 00:23:02.594
To affirm your mom and dad.
00:23:02.594 --> 00:23:04.362
- yes. - yeah.
00:23:04.362 --> 00:23:05.864
- even if you have to think hard.
00:23:05.864 --> 00:23:07.299
- that's right. - hurt people hurt people.
00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:09.968
- yeah.
00:23:09.968 --> 00:23:11.470
- i remember reading where brendan manning wrote one time,
00:23:11.470 --> 00:23:13.104
"if we could see where our enemies weep,
00:23:13.104 --> 00:23:17.275
They would cease to be our enemies."
00:23:17.275 --> 00:23:18.844
- yes. - yeah.
00:23:18.844 --> 00:23:20.345
- and we're so quick to take offense instead of to go,
00:23:20.345 --> 00:23:22.747
What happened to you?
00:23:22.747 --> 00:23:24.416
- right. - to make you not love-
00:23:24.416 --> 00:23:26.485
- like this. - well, you know.
00:23:26.485 --> 00:23:29.020
Yeah, there's-
00:23:29.020 --> 00:23:30.055
- something about christmas that i think
00:23:30.055 --> 00:23:32.824
Christmas kind of underscores what's missing in our lives.
00:23:32.824 --> 00:23:36.061
- [cece] yeah.
00:23:36.061 --> 00:23:37.429
- and people that we have judged as being hard
00:23:37.429 --> 00:23:40.532
Or immune to the gospel, i'm like,
00:23:40.532 --> 00:23:42.701
"oh, the harder they seem, actually the more,
00:23:42.701 --> 00:23:46.071
They're fighting it."
00:23:46.071 --> 00:23:47.339
And i think if we would reach out and risk-
00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:49.641
- so good.
00:23:49.641 --> 00:23:50.842
- and love people well at christmas,
00:23:50.842 --> 00:23:52.310
I think we'd be surprised how many salvations we see
00:23:52.310 --> 00:23:54.546
At christmas. - amen.
00:23:54.546 --> 00:23:56.081
- i'm always so shocked
00:23:56.081 --> 00:23:58.850
At how many people say, "i was 21 years old
00:23:58.850 --> 00:24:02.487
Before someone told me that jesus loved me."
00:24:02.487 --> 00:24:04.623
- yeah. - yeah.
00:24:04.623 --> 00:24:05.824
- [laurie] you know? - absolutely.
00:24:05.824 --> 00:24:06.992
- i'm so shocked to hear that.
00:24:06.992 --> 00:24:09.160
I hear that so many times.
00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:11.329
- [cece] yeah.
00:24:11.329 --> 00:24:12.764
- "you know, you're the first one that i'd ever seen
00:24:12.764 --> 00:24:14.132
Tell me that jesus loved me."
00:24:14.132 --> 00:24:15.700
It's like, "what?"
00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:17.068
- yeah.
00:24:17.068 --> 00:24:18.236
- yeah. so don't assume people know.
00:24:18.236 --> 00:24:19.671
- [laurie] so don't assume. - no, don't assume.
00:24:19.671 --> 00:24:21.640
- every year,
00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:23.174
I've been in the same home bible study for about 15 years,
00:24:23.174 --> 00:24:27.445
And every year, all of us and a bunch of our kids,
00:24:27.445 --> 00:24:31.583
And there's very few of us that can sing very well,
00:24:31.583 --> 00:24:35.287
But we carol throughout the neighborhood.
00:24:35.287 --> 00:24:37.722
- yeah, i love it.
00:24:37.722 --> 00:24:39.090
- and it is the sweetest thing in the home where we
00:24:39.090 --> 00:24:42.327
Have this bible study just happens to be
00:24:42.327 --> 00:24:44.195
In a lovely neighborhood.
00:24:44.195 --> 00:24:45.964
So you can tell people are kind of taken aback.
00:24:45.964 --> 00:24:48.099
We talked earlier in the week about sanitizing
00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:51.069
Things at christmas,
00:24:51.069 --> 00:24:52.537
And here's this little motley crew
00:24:52.537 --> 00:24:54.439
That can barely carry a tune with all these kids,
00:24:54.439 --> 00:24:57.842
And people get flustered.
00:24:57.842 --> 00:24:59.477
- [cece] so blessed. - yeah.
00:24:59.477 --> 00:25:00.612
- and last year, this precious woman
00:25:00.612 --> 00:25:02.514
Kept trying to give us money.
00:25:02.514 --> 00:25:04.916
And we were like, "no, ma'am."
00:25:04.916 --> 00:25:06.284
She's like, "who are you raising money for?"
00:25:06.284 --> 00:25:07.652
And we were like, "no, ma'am.
00:25:07.652 --> 00:25:09.588
We just wanted to tell you that jesus loves you."
00:25:09.588 --> 00:25:12.490
And so i said, "you can give us a gift though."
00:25:12.490 --> 00:25:16.061
And she was like, "okay."
00:25:16.061 --> 00:25:18.129
And she thought i was going to ask for a credit card.
00:25:18.129 --> 00:25:20.298
And i said, "may we please pray for you?"
00:25:20.298 --> 00:25:23.501
And that woman couldn't speak.
00:25:23.501 --> 00:25:25.236
- wow.
00:25:25.236 --> 00:25:26.371
- and all the kids gathered around,
00:25:26.371 --> 00:25:27.505
We had all these teenagers,
00:25:27.505 --> 00:25:28.873
And we just laid hands on this very wealthy,
00:25:28.873 --> 00:25:31.543
Very lonely woman and prayed for her.
00:25:31.543 --> 00:25:35.013
And it was, i mean, it was,
00:25:35.013 --> 00:25:36.815
I think, my sweetest christmas gift
00:25:36.815 --> 00:25:38.650
Because i do think by the holy spirit-
00:25:38.650 --> 00:25:41.653
- [cece] that's so sweet.
00:25:41.653 --> 00:25:42.754
- some walls are down at christmas.
00:25:42.754 --> 00:25:44.823
- yeah, i think that's true.
00:25:44.823 --> 00:25:46.424
- i think this christmas is a lot more than what we thought.
00:25:46.424 --> 00:25:49.561
This is the time for harvest.
00:25:49.561 --> 00:25:51.029
- [cece] yeah. - [lisa] i think so too.
00:25:51.029 --> 00:25:52.330
- i really feel that. - [lisa] i think so too.
00:25:52.330 --> 00:25:54.366
- yeah. - wow.
00:25:54.366 --> 00:25:56.134
- this christmas season,
00:25:56.635 --> 00:25:57.902
You can just try some practical things
00:25:57.902 --> 00:26:00.839
To encourage people who have lost hope.
00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:02.707
People who need to put their eyes on jesus
00:26:02.707 --> 00:26:05.477
And realize that he is the hope
00:26:05.477 --> 00:26:08.313
Of our past, of our present and our future.
00:26:08.313 --> 00:26:12.117
And you can do that by praying for people,
00:26:12.117 --> 00:26:14.953
You can do that by giving people gifts,
00:26:15.787 --> 00:26:21.092
Intentional, thoughtful gifts
00:26:21.726 --> 00:26:23.662
That you know will minister to them.
00:26:23.662 --> 00:26:26.164
But i think the greatest gift is just loving them
00:26:26.164 --> 00:26:30.035
Like the father loves them.
00:26:30.035 --> 00:26:31.870
You know, if someone has hurt you, forgive them.
00:26:31.870 --> 00:26:35.407
Let them know, "i forgive you. i love you."
00:26:36.341 --> 00:26:38.576
And then point them to jesus.
00:26:38.576 --> 00:26:39.944
Remind them that jesus loves them.
00:26:39.944 --> 00:26:43.415
Remind them that he has a plan for their life.
00:26:43.415 --> 00:26:46.584
And if they look up,
00:26:46.584 --> 00:26:48.319
They will receive the hope
00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:50.955
That christ has brought into the world.
00:26:50.955 --> 00:26:53.458
My first grandbaby was born on christmas day.
00:26:54.392 --> 00:26:57.062
- oh wow.
00:26:57.062 --> 00:26:58.396
- he was, wasn't he?
00:26:58.863 --> 00:27:00.265
- yes, but it was during the time of covid.
00:27:00.265 --> 00:27:05.637
It was ashley's first baby.
00:27:06.237 --> 00:27:07.739
- what? i didn't know he was born on christmas day.
00:27:07.739 --> 00:27:09.708
- yes, and that year,
00:27:09.708 --> 00:27:12.711
Because it's been four years now, it'll be five,
00:27:12.711 --> 00:27:15.380
That year is when they had the bomb that went off downtown.
00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:18.817
- downtown nashville.
00:27:18.817 --> 00:27:20.051
- so i'm at home and it's like my child
00:27:20.051 --> 00:27:22.587
Having her first baby,
00:27:22.587 --> 00:27:23.955
I can't go to the hospital because of covid.
00:27:23.955 --> 00:27:26.458
- [lisa] wow.
00:27:26.458 --> 00:27:27.592
- the bomb thing happened downtown.
00:27:27.592 --> 00:27:29.227
- not too far from the hospital. yeah.
00:27:29.227 --> 00:27:30.895
- not too far from the hospital, so i'm just like,
00:27:30.895 --> 00:27:32.430
But praise god, everything was, you know,
00:27:32.430 --> 00:27:35.233
Kenny had texted me, her husband,
00:27:35.233 --> 00:27:37.235
And told me that they were fine at the moment
00:27:37.235 --> 00:27:40.805
And she was about to go into delivery.
00:27:40.805 --> 00:27:42.373
Then i didn't hear from them for like hours.
00:27:42.373 --> 00:27:44.476
I was just like,
00:27:44.476 --> 00:27:46.010
And i just had to say, "you know what, lord?
00:27:46.010 --> 00:27:49.514
You got her. you got it."
00:27:49.514 --> 00:27:53.084
You know?
00:27:53.384 --> 00:27:54.686
Unfortunately, she had to have a c-section,
00:27:54.686 --> 00:27:57.055
Emergency c-section and all of that, but she was fine.
00:27:57.055 --> 00:28:01.259
When they sent me that picture,
00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.660
You don't think you can love any more.
00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:06.297
- cece, how do y'all keep wyatt focused on jesus?
00:28:06.297 --> 00:28:11.202
Because that's a really great practical thing.
00:28:11.202 --> 00:28:12.871
- we're trying, we're learning how to do that.
00:28:12.871 --> 00:28:14.172
- yeah. i mean, there's some practical things.
00:28:14.172 --> 00:28:17.208
Like my mom always made a birthday cake.
00:28:17.208 --> 00:28:20.245
And before we did anything else,
00:28:20.245 --> 00:28:21.546
We sang happy birthday to jesus.
00:28:21.546 --> 00:28:22.914
- [cece] to jesus. - and it was simple,
00:28:22.914 --> 00:28:23.915
But it worked. - yeah.
00:28:23.915 --> 00:28:26.317
We do that on christmas morning.
00:28:26.951 --> 00:28:28.386
- [lisa] yeah. - but yeah, having a birthday.
00:28:28.386 --> 00:28:30.722
- but we celebrate him later on in a day, you know?
00:28:30.722 --> 00:28:32.557
- [lisa] yeah, that's great.
00:28:32.557 --> 00:28:33.792
- wyatt, but it's like coming together
00:28:33.792 --> 00:28:35.894
And just really being grateful.
00:28:35.894 --> 00:28:37.762
Like you said, the list of things,
00:28:37.762 --> 00:28:39.297
Finding those things and telling one another
00:28:39.297 --> 00:28:42.433
Because you have to teach your kids,
00:28:42.433 --> 00:28:43.568
But you have to remind yourself
00:28:43.568 --> 00:28:44.869
That this is the real reason why we celebrate.
00:28:44.869 --> 00:28:47.739
Jesus is the gift.
00:28:47.739 --> 00:28:49.541
- you know, if you haven't had a legacy
00:28:50.375 --> 00:28:52.177
Of faith in your life,
00:28:52.177 --> 00:28:53.645
There's a whole bunch of people that have,
00:28:53.645 --> 00:28:56.281
And so gleaning from the beautiful books,
00:28:56.281 --> 00:29:00.151
Get bible stories.
00:29:00.151 --> 00:29:02.387
There's so much available for us now.
00:29:03.188 --> 00:29:05.590
Bible stories for your children.
00:29:05.590 --> 00:29:07.125
Start reading the bible to them.
00:29:07.125 --> 00:29:09.194
Start reading them all the old testament stories,
00:29:09.194 --> 00:29:12.430
The stories of faith and how people believed god,
00:29:12.430 --> 00:29:15.767
How god parted the waters and they walked through it.
00:29:15.767 --> 00:29:18.570
And then the same winds that blew, killed the enemy.
00:29:18.570 --> 00:29:21.339
(laurie laughs)
00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.674
It's beautiful thing to be raised in faith,
00:29:22.674 --> 00:29:26.144
Learning about god and his goodness.
00:29:26.144 --> 00:29:28.713
And so you can start today,
00:29:28.713 --> 00:29:30.815
And so find a good church, watch tbn,
00:29:30.815 --> 00:29:33.318
Glean from people that are walking with jesus,
00:29:33.318 --> 00:29:37.655
Walking with the lord,
00:29:37.655 --> 00:29:39.290
And that will cultivate in you
00:29:39.290 --> 00:29:41.526
And then it'll pour to your family.
00:29:41.526 --> 00:29:44.429
It's in them.
00:29:44.796 --> 00:29:46.397
God is already in your spouse. god is in your children.
00:29:46.397 --> 00:29:50.969
Speak to their spirits, talk to who they are on the inside,
00:29:50.969 --> 00:29:54.839
And cultivate the life of faith in the people around you.
00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:58.776
- he is the gift. - so stunning.
00:29:59.477 --> 00:30:01.813
Such a great question about gift giving and i come from,
00:30:01.813 --> 00:30:05.350
So my mom is like the ultimate gift giver,
00:30:05.350 --> 00:30:07.285
Like outrageous.
00:30:07.285 --> 00:30:09.354
But it's not just the things that she gives,
00:30:09.354 --> 00:30:11.189
It's like the intention and the thought behind it.
00:30:11.189 --> 00:30:13.258
It was a couple years ago,
00:30:13.258 --> 00:30:15.260
I was pregnant, ready to burst,
00:30:15.260 --> 00:30:17.095
And my oldest was hugging the baby and hugging me.
00:30:17.095 --> 00:30:20.665
And she held on and i heard her whispering,
00:30:20.665 --> 00:30:23.501
And i was like, "are you talking to me?"
00:30:23.501 --> 00:30:26.537
And she goes, "no."
00:30:26.537 --> 00:30:28.406
And then goes and continues to whisper.
00:30:28.406 --> 00:30:29.974
I'm like, "what? hey, sorry. is this between the two of you?
00:30:29.974 --> 00:30:32.143
Because i feel like i should be a part of it as the house.
00:30:32.143 --> 00:30:34.979
What's going on here?"
00:30:34.979 --> 00:30:37.315
And she goes, "oh, nothing.
00:30:37.315 --> 00:30:39.484
I was just telling the baby that,
00:30:39.484 --> 00:30:41.586
Well, she's going to meet her mimi, grandma,
00:30:41.586 --> 00:30:44.455
And she can ask for whatever she wants from mimi
00:30:44.455 --> 00:30:47.692
And mimi's going to get it for her."
00:30:47.692 --> 00:30:49.093
And i was like,
00:30:49.093 --> 00:30:50.662
But she's trying to keep me out of the secret.
00:30:50.662 --> 00:30:52.797
I'm like, okay.
00:30:52.797 --> 00:30:54.098
- she says it's between me and my new sibling.
00:30:54.098 --> 00:30:55.233
- yes.
00:30:55.233 --> 00:30:56.734
So mimi, my mom, has been talked about since before birth.
00:30:56.734 --> 00:30:59.604
I mean, that's how far this reputation goes.
00:30:59.604 --> 00:31:00.905
- [lisa] that's funny. - [cece] i love it.
00:31:00.905 --> 00:31:02.006
- but it's sweet as you're sharing,
00:31:02.006 --> 00:31:03.775
It's a little bit different, but i remember my husband,
00:31:03.775 --> 00:31:06.611
It was like the first year that we were married,
00:31:06.611 --> 00:31:09.047
And we were, you know, at my parents' house for christmas,
00:31:09.047 --> 00:31:12.483
We're celebrating.
00:31:12.483 --> 00:31:14.052
And he woke up and he sat up
00:31:14.052 --> 00:31:17.422
And he saw like the gifts and his eyes filled with tears.
00:31:17.422 --> 00:31:22.193
And he is not a super emotional guy,
00:31:22.193 --> 00:31:23.761
But his eyes filled with tears and he could feel like,
00:31:23.761 --> 00:31:26.664
"oh, like, what is going on?"
00:31:26.664 --> 00:31:28.900
You know?
00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:30.201
And so, you know, we're opening the presents
00:31:30.201 --> 00:31:33.171
And he's opening them one by one.
00:31:33.838 --> 00:31:35.139
And i'm watching him, he's so quiet,
00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:36.541
But he's just having this moment and taking it in
00:31:36.541 --> 00:31:39.110
And we finished and his eyes are full of tears.
00:31:39.110 --> 00:31:42.480
And he said, "it was everything that i said that i liked."
00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:47.819
And he's like, i just flippantly, your mom asked me,
00:31:48.886 --> 00:31:51.255
"what do you like? what are you looking at?"
00:31:51.255 --> 00:31:53.691
And so he's like, "i didn't even think anything of it."
00:31:53.691 --> 00:31:54.892
- [cece] she paid attention.
00:31:54.892 --> 00:31:56.194
- and he sent this like list and he goes,
00:31:56.194 --> 00:31:59.063
"it was every last part."
00:31:59.063 --> 00:32:01.766
- oh my goodness.
00:32:01.766 --> 00:32:03.101
- "and then every one of my favorite foods,
00:32:03.101 --> 00:32:04.869
Like peanut butter cups."
00:32:04.869 --> 00:32:06.104
And he's like, "she listened.
00:32:06.104 --> 00:32:08.940
She listened to every last little,
00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:10.875
And she went out and she found it."
00:32:10.875 --> 00:32:12.543
And to me,
00:32:12.543 --> 00:32:13.711
It's moments like that. - which means
00:32:13.711 --> 00:32:14.779
He matters to her. - exactly.
00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:16.381
Where it's the little things, the attention to detail.
00:32:16.381 --> 00:32:19.684
Like i was thinking about you when i was out shopping
00:32:19.684 --> 00:32:22.787
Or i intentionally went out of my way
00:32:22.787 --> 00:32:25.289
To gather these things as a token of, "hey, you matter."
00:32:25.289 --> 00:32:27.759
And when you said that, i was listening,
00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:30.361
And is that not how intentional the lord is?
00:32:30.361 --> 00:32:32.397
- [lisa] always. - with us.
00:32:32.397 --> 00:32:33.631
- i thought the same thing
00:32:33.631 --> 00:32:34.899
When you were saying that. - these little
00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.566
Nuanced details.
00:32:35.566 --> 00:32:36.834
I know, so it just was a precious thing.
00:32:36.834 --> 00:32:38.870
My husband, my unborn child, my other,
00:32:38.870 --> 00:32:42.240
It's just this reputation of the kind of gift giver.
00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:45.376
- [lisa] yeah. - that god is,
00:32:45.376 --> 00:32:46.978
This demonstration of, ah, the lengths that he'll go to say,
00:32:46.978 --> 00:32:49.747
"you matter to me and i know you,
00:32:49.747 --> 00:32:52.350
And that's how i'm going to give this gift."
00:32:52.350 --> 00:32:55.386
- if you lean into jesus,
00:32:55.386 --> 00:32:57.555
And i mean, in the morning, you wake up and you go,
00:32:57.555 --> 00:33:00.291
I don't get out of bed without saying
00:33:00.291 --> 00:33:01.726
The name jesus out loud.
00:33:01.726 --> 00:33:03.795
He has always been present in my life
00:33:03.795 --> 00:33:07.765
When i'm aware of him.
00:33:07.765 --> 00:33:09.333
Certainly, there's seasons when i'm selfish,
00:33:09.333 --> 00:33:11.102
When i'm a hoo hoo, when i'm rebellious.
00:33:11.102 --> 00:33:13.304
But i mean, when i look for jesus,
00:33:13.304 --> 00:33:15.039
His presence is palpable, it's unmistakable.
00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:18.109
And so jesus doesn't disappoint.
00:33:18.109 --> 00:33:20.244
The love of christ is sufficient.
00:33:20.244 --> 00:33:23.181
There are still seasons in my life that are difficult.
00:33:23.181 --> 00:33:25.850
There are still deep ends in my life, if you will.
00:33:25.850 --> 00:33:28.986
But i'm not afraid i'm going to drown anymore
00:33:28.986 --> 00:33:31.222
Because god's presence has been so faithful.
00:33:31.222 --> 00:33:36.561
His compassion for me, even his discipline.
00:33:37.462 --> 00:33:39.964
When i need discipline, it's braided with mercy.
00:33:39.964 --> 00:33:42.967
The longer you spend with god,
00:33:42.967 --> 00:33:45.503
The more you realize, "i don't want to go anywhere else."
00:33:45.503 --> 00:33:48.473
He's my hope, he's my joy, he's my peace.
00:33:48.473 --> 00:33:51.809
He's my daily bread, he's my strong tower,
00:33:51.809 --> 00:33:54.512
He's my safe refuge.
00:33:54.512 --> 00:33:56.447
I'm telling you, if you are not connected to jesus,
00:33:56.447 --> 00:34:00.952
There's no way you're going to have consistent hope
00:34:00.952 --> 00:34:02.753
And peace and joy in your life.
00:34:02.753 --> 00:34:04.422
(gentle music)
00:34:04.422 --> 00:34:10.828
- you know, every year at christmas time,
00:34:11.696 --> 00:34:13.931
We always say jesus is the reason for this season,
00:34:13.931 --> 00:34:17.268
That jesus is the greatest gift of all.
00:34:17.268 --> 00:34:19.770
Why do we say that, cece?
00:34:19.770 --> 00:34:21.239
- because he is. (laurie laughs)
00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:24.008
Jesus, we celebrate that he came into the world, right?
00:34:24.008 --> 00:34:28.112
And he came into the world so that he could.
00:34:28.112 --> 00:34:30.214
- reconcile us back to the father.
00:34:30.982 --> 00:34:31.782
(gentle christmas music)
00:34:31.782 --> 00:34:32.950
So that we could have a relationship with the father.
00:34:32.950 --> 00:34:35.586
And it was because he cared so much for us,
00:34:35.586 --> 00:34:37.688
That he loved us so much, that he died for our sins
00:34:37.688 --> 00:34:40.558
So that we don't have to!
00:34:40.558 --> 00:34:41.626
- yeah!
00:34:41.626 --> 00:34:43.127
- doesn't matter what you've done or where you've been,
00:34:43.127 --> 00:34:44.962
Jesus loves you and he died for your sins!
00:34:44.962 --> 00:34:47.398
And because he made that sacrifice,
00:34:47.398 --> 00:34:49.700
Because he paid the cost for our sins,
00:34:49.700 --> 00:34:52.503
We can have eternal life!
00:34:52.503 --> 00:34:54.005
- [participant] mm-hmm.
00:34:54.005 --> 00:34:54.839
- now, that is
00:34:54.839 --> 00:34:56.407
The greatest gift ever, right? (participant's voice drowns)
00:34:56.407 --> 00:34:57.241
That's the greatest gift ever!
00:34:57.241 --> 00:34:58.409
The bible says, "if you confess with your mouth
00:34:58.409 --> 00:35:00.611
That he's lord, and that you believe
00:35:00.611 --> 00:35:02.547
That god raised him from the dead, you shall be saved."
00:35:02.547 --> 00:35:05.550
So, we would be honored, lori and i,
00:35:05.550 --> 00:35:07.785
To lead you in a prayer of salvation.
00:35:07.785 --> 00:35:09.987
And if you believe this prayer, you shall be saved!
00:35:09.987 --> 00:35:12.957
All right?
00:35:12.957 --> 00:35:14.392
So just say, dear heavenly father, i come to you
00:35:14.392 --> 00:35:16.594
In the name of your son, jesus.
00:35:16.594 --> 00:35:19.130
I believe he died on the cross for my sins.
00:35:19.130 --> 00:35:22.533
I confess that he is lord!
00:35:22.533 --> 00:35:25.002
And i believe on the third day,
00:35:25.002 --> 00:35:26.571
You raised him from the grave.
00:35:26.571 --> 00:35:29.006
Lord jesus, i invite you into my heart.
00:35:29.006 --> 00:35:31.976
Come in and be the lord of my life for the rest of my life!
00:35:31.976 --> 00:35:36.547
Fill me with your holy spirit.
00:35:36.547 --> 00:35:39.217
In jesus' name,
00:35:39.217 --> 00:35:40.585
Amen!
00:35:40.585 --> 00:35:42.453
(participant chuckling)
00:35:42.453 --> 00:35:44.021
If you prayed that prayer and you believe, you are saved!
00:35:44.021 --> 00:35:47.525
That's the best gift ever!
00:35:48.092 --> 00:35:49.360
(participant giggling)
00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.194
Merry christmas!
00:35:50.194 --> 00:35:51.028
- merry christmas.
00:35:51.028 --> 00:35:51.862
(host chuckling)
00:35:51.862 --> 00:35:52.697
(fun christmas music)
00:35:52.697 --> 00:35:53.798
- [narrator] be the first to know
00:35:53.798 --> 00:35:55.066
All the latest "better together" updates.
00:35:55.066 --> 00:35:56.601
Visit bettertogether.tv to sign up for our weekly emails,
00:35:56.601 --> 00:36:00.304
And never miss the latest news!
00:36:00.304 --> 00:36:03.994
And never miss the latest news!
00:36:03.994 --> 00:36:04.142
(pleasant christmas music)
00:36:04.710 --> 00:36:05.544
(graphics whooshing)
00:36:05.544 --> 00:36:10.315
(graphics whooshing)
00:36:10.782 --> 00:36:12.117
- my prayer for you this christmas is that
00:36:12.117 --> 00:36:14.086
You would find some moments to just slow down.
00:36:14.086 --> 00:36:17.723
You know what i mean?
00:36:17.723 --> 00:36:18.790
Christmas can be so crazy.
00:36:18.790 --> 00:36:20.359
We are just running around trying to get everything done.
00:36:20.359 --> 00:36:22.961
I pray that (graphics shuffling)
00:36:22.961 --> 00:36:24.129
You'll have some moments to slow down
00:36:24.129 --> 00:36:25.797
And really receive
00:36:25.797 --> 00:36:27.099
The gift of christmas. (hands shuffling)
00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:28.634
That you would know, that emmanuel, god is with us!
00:36:28.634 --> 00:36:32.938
In the midst of the crazy, find some peace.
00:36:32.938 --> 00:36:35.641
- my prayer for you this christmas
00:36:35.641 --> 00:36:37.542
Is that the truth of the gospel,
00:36:37.542 --> 00:36:41.580
A god who would give his son,
00:36:41.580 --> 00:36:43.715
And this son who would be willing to step into humanity,
00:36:43.715 --> 00:36:48.520
To be close to demonstrate his love, to come with healing
00:36:48.520 --> 00:36:53.892
And salvation, deliverance, forgiveness,
00:36:54.726 --> 00:36:57.229
And life abundance, that that would take shape and form
00:36:57.229 --> 00:37:00.699
Past just a pretty story, past just something
00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:04.102
We go through the motions on,
00:37:04.102 --> 00:37:05.771
And it would take root deep on the inside,
00:37:05.771 --> 00:37:09.174
And would begin to grow and flourish into this next year.
00:37:09.174 --> 00:37:13.045
(bright christmas music)
00:37:13.545 --> 00:37:17.749
- the gift i would like from each of y'all
00:37:18.617 --> 00:37:22.487
Is just about two minutes of how you met the greatest gift.
00:37:22.487 --> 00:37:26.792
How did you come to know jesus?
00:37:26.792 --> 00:37:28.794
- i'm a pastor's kid, i grew up loving jesus from day one,
00:37:28.794 --> 00:37:31.630
Which i'm so grateful for.
00:37:31.630 --> 00:37:33.632
And then my whole life of knowing him more,
00:37:33.632 --> 00:37:36.068
And to know him is to love him.
00:37:36.068 --> 00:37:37.269
- yeah.
00:37:37.269 --> 00:37:38.804
- but i actually feel like when we talk about this like,
00:37:38.804 --> 00:37:41.206
Just this salvation wrapped in swaddling clothes,
00:37:41.206 --> 00:37:44.476
I think it actually, there's a whole new level of him
00:37:44.476 --> 00:37:48.080
That i've met in grief,
00:37:48.080 --> 00:37:50.482
In the reality of like when he came to save us!
00:37:50.482 --> 00:37:53.919
For an eternity with him, that he abolished the separation
00:37:53.919 --> 00:37:58.790
So that we'd live forever.
00:37:58.790 --> 00:38:00.759
The reality of what he did for my family,
00:38:00.759 --> 00:38:02.961
What he did, the reuniting that's possible!
00:38:02.961 --> 00:38:06.398
Because of what. (voices drown)
00:38:06.398 --> 00:38:07.733
- [participant] you're not forever separated
00:38:07.733 --> 00:38:09.000
From (voice drowns) - not forever separated!
00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.968
From him and from one another.
00:38:09.968 --> 00:38:12.304
There's nothing like that.
00:38:12.304 --> 00:38:14.139
The overcoming that he accomplished on our behalf.
00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:17.642
To save us here and now
00:38:17.642 --> 00:38:19.378
For a whole other kind of life, an abundant life!
00:38:19.378 --> 00:38:22.781
But then the one that we live in eternally,
00:38:22.781 --> 00:38:25.684
That he saved my soul, he saved my family!
00:38:25.684 --> 00:38:27.986
So i.
00:38:27.986 --> 00:38:28.954
- i feel like i keep meeting jesus.
00:38:28.954 --> 00:38:31.323
- yes, yes. - in the most unexpected ways
00:38:31.323 --> 00:38:32.824
And all it does is elicit such deep gratitude.
00:38:32.824 --> 00:38:35.761
- yeah.
00:38:35.761 --> 00:38:36.595
We're saved be once,
00:38:36.595 --> 00:38:37.829
But we're redeemed over and over again.
00:38:37.829 --> 00:38:41.933
- because jesus came,
00:38:42.434 --> 00:38:44.136
Was born into this world,
00:38:44.136 --> 00:38:46.171
Lived his life, died and rose again,
00:38:46.171 --> 00:38:49.641
We have real tangible hope.
00:38:49.641 --> 00:38:53.578
We have hope for eternity that i won't live
00:38:53.578 --> 00:38:56.148
Separated or apart from,
00:38:56.148 --> 00:38:58.850
I'm reconciled back to god because of jesus.
00:38:58.850 --> 00:39:02.954
But i'm also invited into the hope of this life,
00:39:02.954 --> 00:39:05.724
The abundant life
00:39:05.724 --> 00:39:07.559
That jesus came and purchased with his blood.
00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:11.196
He opened up the kingdom of god for us to walk, right,
00:39:11.196 --> 00:39:15.801
And he tore the veil so that we can know god
00:39:15.801 --> 00:39:19.905
In this lifetime and in the next,
00:39:19.905 --> 00:39:22.340
The hope of eternity is everything for us
00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:25.744
And it could have only been purchased,
00:39:25.744 --> 00:39:27.779
Bought by a precious, spotless lamb,
00:39:27.779 --> 00:39:30.949
Only could have been done by jesus.
00:39:30.949 --> 00:39:33.151
And he said yes,
00:39:33.151 --> 00:39:34.653
The mystery and the miracle of christmas
00:39:34.653 --> 00:39:37.889
Is wrapped up in the mystery and the miracle of the cross.
00:39:37.889 --> 00:39:41.560
All of it purchasing life forevermore, right,
00:39:41.560 --> 00:39:45.597
Standing with god, being clean before him,
00:39:45.597 --> 00:39:48.667
The righteousness of jesus that was imparted to us.
00:39:48.667 --> 00:39:52.137
He came and he changed everything.
00:39:52.137 --> 00:39:55.507
- cece, when did you first fall in love with jesus?
00:39:56.508 --> 00:39:58.977
- wow. that's a great question.
00:39:58.977 --> 00:40:01.279
I fell in love with god's presence with jesus,
00:40:01.279 --> 00:40:03.648
The presence of god.
00:40:03.648 --> 00:40:04.783
- yeah. - my favorite person
00:40:04.783 --> 00:40:07.219
And my best friend was my grandmother.
00:40:07.219 --> 00:40:10.055
- [lisa] oh, wow.
00:40:10.055 --> 00:40:11.323
- so i used to go with her to prayer.
00:40:11.323 --> 00:40:13.325
I used to spend the night at her house.
00:40:13.325 --> 00:40:15.627
If ever i had a stomach ache,
00:40:15.627 --> 00:40:17.128
She would take out the anointed oil and pray over me.
00:40:17.128 --> 00:40:21.032
You know? - yeah.
00:40:21.032 --> 00:40:22.300
- and so as a kid, i just fell in love
00:40:22.300 --> 00:40:23.969
With the presence of god. - [lisa] yeah.
00:40:23.969 --> 00:40:25.670
- but then around 12 years old,
00:40:25.670 --> 00:40:27.472
I gave him my heart, you know?
00:40:27.472 --> 00:40:30.509
And for me, that was the age of
00:40:30.509 --> 00:40:33.044
Making the choice for yourself.
00:40:33.044 --> 00:40:34.913
- do you remember what you were feeling like?
00:40:34.913 --> 00:40:36.882
Were you overwhelmed at that moment?
00:40:36.882 --> 00:40:39.117
- totally overwhelmed, but i grew up being overwhelmed.
00:40:39.117 --> 00:40:42.420
You know? - you were kind of
00:40:42.420 --> 00:40:43.355
A shy young woman, weren't you?
00:40:43.355 --> 00:40:44.756
- very shy. very shy, never wanted to be out front.
00:40:44.756 --> 00:40:47.359
- [lisa] yeah.
00:40:47.359 --> 00:40:48.727
- you know, but that wasn't god's plan for me.
00:40:48.727 --> 00:40:50.795
(everyone laughs)
00:40:50.795 --> 00:40:52.063
But just being in this presence,
00:40:52.063 --> 00:40:53.765
And i say that because it makes a difference
00:40:53.765 --> 00:40:57.168
And i tell parents this all the time,
00:40:57.168 --> 00:40:59.137
Take your kids to church. - yes.
00:40:59.137 --> 00:41:00.872
- let them hear you pray at home.
00:41:00.872 --> 00:41:02.173
- yes.
00:41:02.173 --> 00:41:03.008
- because they can learn
00:41:03.008 --> 00:41:07.078
And they will fall in love with the presence of god.
00:41:07.078 --> 00:41:09.047
- yes.
00:41:09.047 --> 00:41:10.448
- and whenever they're faced with the outside world,
00:41:10.448 --> 00:41:14.920
The darkness,
00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:16.755
They'll be okay because they've already tasted the light.
00:41:16.755 --> 00:41:19.257
- yes.
00:41:19.257 --> 00:41:20.592
- you know, they've recognized the light.
00:41:20.592 --> 00:41:21.726
And so i'm very grateful for that,
00:41:21.726 --> 00:41:24.162
Hearing the prayers of the saints, seeing miracles,
00:41:24.162 --> 00:41:28.466
You know, and just feeling the love of god.
00:41:28.466 --> 00:41:31.102
- yeah.
00:41:31.102 --> 00:41:32.237
- [cece] i fell in love with him.
00:41:32.237 --> 00:41:33.204
- yeah, yeah.
00:41:33.204 --> 00:41:34.439
- i was overwhelmed, you know, to say,
00:41:34.439 --> 00:41:36.808
"jesus, i'm choosing you.
00:41:36.808 --> 00:41:38.977
Come into my heart,
00:41:38.977 --> 00:41:40.412
Be the lord of my life." - and now at this point,
00:41:40.412 --> 00:41:41.513
We got no place else to go, do we?
00:41:41.513 --> 00:41:43.081
(cece laughs)
00:41:43.081 --> 00:41:44.583
- where do you go once you taste-
00:41:44.583 --> 00:41:46.418
- i'm sorry, there's no place else.
00:41:46.418 --> 00:41:48.086
- and see it?
00:41:48.086 --> 00:41:49.187
I just want young people to know,
00:41:49.187 --> 00:41:50.388
Just like fall in love with him now.
00:41:50.388 --> 00:41:52.324
- [laurie] i agree. - [lisa] yes.
00:41:52.324 --> 00:41:53.592
- get to receive his love now, you know?
00:41:53.592 --> 00:41:56.494
Yeah.
00:41:56.494 --> 00:41:57.829
- laurie, what's your true christmas story?
00:41:57.829 --> 00:41:59.431
- my true christmas story.
00:41:59.431 --> 00:42:00.865
- because jesus is emmanuel,
00:42:00.865 --> 00:42:02.334
When did he become emmanuel to you?
00:42:02.334 --> 00:42:04.669
God with you?
00:42:04.669 --> 00:42:06.404
- i've been saved.
00:42:06.404 --> 00:42:07.772
I can't remember the day i asked him into my heart
00:42:07.772 --> 00:42:09.674
Because i was raised a pk.
00:42:09.674 --> 00:42:12.377
What i love about what the lord has done for me
00:42:12.377 --> 00:42:15.580
Is he raised me in a family of faith.
00:42:15.580 --> 00:42:18.116
So on both sides of our family-
00:42:18.116 --> 00:42:20.118
- wow. - we have generations.
00:42:20.118 --> 00:42:21.920
- [cece] that's incredible.
00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:23.521
- wow. - you know,
00:42:23.521 --> 00:42:24.389
These are the stories
00:42:24.389 --> 00:42:26.191
That were told way back here in this book
00:42:26.191 --> 00:42:29.361
That have come down through the generations of time.
00:42:29.361 --> 00:42:31.196
- that's it. that's it. - this is the god we serve
00:42:31.196 --> 00:42:34.566
That in the beginning, god. - [lisa] that's right.
00:42:34.566 --> 00:42:36.901
- you know, and the stories of the generations previous.
00:42:36.901 --> 00:42:40.972
And i'm always grateful because i don't believe
00:42:40.972 --> 00:42:43.608
That anything is lost in the kingdom of god.
00:42:43.608 --> 00:42:46.144
- that's right. - nothing wasted.
00:42:46.144 --> 00:42:47.479
- and there's no time. there's nothing lost.
00:42:47.479 --> 00:42:50.882
God is a whole god. god is a god of everything.
00:42:51.816 --> 00:42:54.919
- right. - you know?
00:42:54.919 --> 00:42:55.854
And he can redeem anything.
00:42:55.854 --> 00:42:57.922
- that's right.
00:42:57.922 --> 00:42:59.090
- and i think that's such a gift.
00:42:59.090 --> 00:43:00.992
And this is the greatest gift that's given to us.
00:43:00.992 --> 00:43:05.163
- [cece] yeah. - and it's free.
00:43:05.163 --> 00:43:07.399
We don't have to work for it. we don't have to wait for it.
00:43:07.399 --> 00:43:11.670
- yeah.
00:43:11.670 --> 00:43:13.104
- you shouldn't wait for it. - [cece] that's right.
00:43:13.104 --> 00:43:14.673
- we have it now and it's free. it's a free gift of love.
00:43:14.673 --> 00:43:18.777
And i love that god came down to look us in the eyes.
00:43:18.777 --> 00:43:22.914
- [cece] yeah.
00:43:22.914 --> 00:43:23.915
- and such a good god.
00:43:23.915 --> 00:43:27.085
And to turn the tables. - yes.
00:43:27.085 --> 00:43:30.155
- to turn our lives upside down,
00:43:30.789 --> 00:43:32.791
Because it is an upside down world
00:43:32.791 --> 00:43:34.926
And he makes all things right.
00:43:34.926 --> 00:43:37.829
- [lisa] he does.
00:43:37.829 --> 00:43:39.197
- i'm just so grateful of the generations of faith
00:43:39.197 --> 00:43:42.901
That we live today that lives,
00:43:42.901 --> 00:43:44.969
Its breathing and alive inside of us.
00:43:44.969 --> 00:43:48.673
And it's a free gift to anybody, wherever you are.
00:43:48.673 --> 00:43:51.576
There's no time. you don't have to have generations.
00:43:51.576 --> 00:43:54.279
- [lisa] no. - [cece] no.
00:43:54.279 --> 00:43:55.647
- before you that pave the way you can start today.
00:43:55.647 --> 00:43:58.316
- today.
00:43:58.316 --> 00:43:59.417
There's a verse a lot of christians quote that says,
00:44:00.485 --> 00:44:02.887
"if we seek him with all our heart,"
00:44:02.887 --> 00:44:04.355
And that's talking about jesus as the operative,
00:44:04.355 --> 00:44:08.226
The object of that sentence,
00:44:08.827 --> 00:44:10.361
"you seek him with all our hearts, he will be found by us."
00:44:10.361 --> 00:44:13.565
But that kind of puts the onus on us. it's a great promise.
00:44:13.565 --> 00:44:16.468
But i actually like a promise better from the old testament
00:44:16.468 --> 00:44:19.337
In the book of isaiah that says,
00:44:19.337 --> 00:44:21.039
"our god loves his people so much,
00:44:21.039 --> 00:44:23.174
So great is his love for us,
00:44:23.174 --> 00:44:25.777
That he reveals himself even to those who aren't."
00:44:25.777 --> 00:44:29.380
- searching for him.
00:44:29.848 --> 00:44:30.782
So what you see through
00:44:30.782 --> 00:44:33.284
All these thousands of years of human history
00:44:33.284 --> 00:44:36.287
Is we have a god who pursues his people.
00:44:36.287 --> 00:44:40.058
He's not a far away existential construct,
00:44:40.058 --> 00:44:42.827
He's an up close personal god.
00:44:42.827 --> 00:44:45.163
So be honest, what do you have to lose?
00:44:45.163 --> 00:44:47.432
Just say, "god, i'd really like to experience you
00:44:47.432 --> 00:44:51.035
If you exist, would you reveal yourself to me?"
00:44:51.035 --> 00:44:54.706
I'd encourage you to keep praying.
00:44:54.706 --> 00:44:56.174
I'd encourage you to get a bible. get a living bible.
00:44:56.174 --> 00:44:59.144
Get a bible that is accessible,
00:44:59.144 --> 00:45:01.846
That makes sense when you read it.
00:45:01.846 --> 00:45:04.015
And start with the gospel of john.
00:45:04.015 --> 00:45:06.918
It's a great place to start.
00:45:06.918 --> 00:45:08.353
Just read about the real incarnate life of jesus christ,
00:45:08.353 --> 00:45:11.523
How he treated people when he encountered them,
00:45:11.523 --> 00:45:13.925
And you'll find jesus there.
00:45:13.925 --> 00:45:16.728
(gentle music)
00:45:16.728 --> 00:45:18.396
Sheila, because you have been a big sister to me,
00:45:18.396 --> 00:45:23.635
I can ask you for a double gift.
00:45:24.269 --> 00:45:26.404
So i'm going to have you tell your story,
00:45:27.272 --> 00:45:28.907
But i want you to do something a little different
00:45:28.907 --> 00:45:31.176
Than i know you love to do.
00:45:31.176 --> 00:45:33.344
Our hope is that some of you may have tuned in by accident
00:45:33.344 --> 00:45:38.583
And you've listened to these stories
00:45:35.446 --> 00:45:40.185
And you've thought, "it's too late for me."
00:45:40.185 --> 00:45:43.188
Maybe like my dad, you're ashamed
00:45:43.188 --> 00:45:45.757
Of some of the mistakes early in your story,
00:45:45.757 --> 00:45:48.359
And you've been living your life just hoping
00:45:48.359 --> 00:45:50.795
To have more good at the end of your life
00:45:50.795 --> 00:45:52.230
Than you had bad at the front of your life.
00:45:52.230 --> 00:45:54.098
That's not the gospel.
00:45:54.098 --> 00:45:55.867
- yeah.
00:45:55.867 --> 00:45:56.801
- the gospel is jesus loves you,
00:45:56.801 --> 00:45:59.737
And y'all, he's not a way.
00:45:59.737 --> 00:46:02.440
Christmas isn't just a holiday.
00:46:02.440 --> 00:46:04.676
John 14:6 says, "jesus is the way,
00:46:04.676 --> 00:46:09.013
The truth and the life."
00:46:09.013 --> 00:46:11.049
You can't be reconciled to a holy, perfect god
00:46:11.049 --> 00:46:14.719
Who loves you apart from faith in jesus.
00:46:14.719 --> 00:46:18.790
That's the christmas story,
00:46:18.790 --> 00:46:21.459
And that's a christmas story he wants you to have.
00:46:21.459 --> 00:46:23.661
And so we are going to pray with you and for you,
00:46:23.661 --> 00:46:26.898
And sheila's going to pray directly with you.
00:46:26.898 --> 00:46:30.201
For those of you who right now are going,
00:46:30.201 --> 00:46:32.637
"could it be true?
00:46:32.637 --> 00:46:34.239
Could a god like that love a man like me?
00:46:35.139 --> 00:46:37.542
Could a god like that love a woman like me?
00:46:37.542 --> 00:46:40.545
Could a god like that love a kid like me?"
00:46:40.545 --> 00:46:42.881
Yes, yes he does.
00:46:42.881 --> 00:46:45.083
- he's looking for you. - yes, he does.
00:46:45.083 --> 00:46:46.784
He came at christmas because of you.
00:46:46.784 --> 00:46:50.822
We are the joy set before him before easter.
00:46:50.822 --> 00:46:55.593
One glance of your eyes. yes, you captured his heart.
00:46:55.593 --> 00:46:59.564
So sheila's going to tell you
00:46:59.564 --> 00:47:01.766
Just a little bit of her story
00:47:01.766 --> 00:47:03.468
And then we hope lead you into your christmas story
00:47:03.468 --> 00:47:08.106
Because the greatest gift this christmas
00:47:08.106 --> 00:47:10.642
For all of us would be to get messages from y'all saying,
00:47:10.642 --> 00:47:14.279
"i met jesus at christmas.
00:47:14.279 --> 00:47:16.547
I started christmas this year knowing jesus."
00:47:16.547 --> 00:47:21.386
That's our hope. that's the hope of tbn.
00:47:21.386 --> 00:47:24.088
- that's why we do what we do.
00:47:24.088 --> 00:47:25.256
That's why we're better together.
00:47:25.256 --> 00:47:27.025
And for me, it was my dad died by suicide when i was five.
00:47:27.025 --> 00:47:31.629
And so i felt like life was not safe
00:47:31.629 --> 00:47:34.332
And somebody could start off loving you
00:47:34.332 --> 00:47:36.034
And then change their mind.
00:47:36.034 --> 00:47:38.102
But when i was 11 years old, my mom took me to here,
00:47:38.102 --> 00:47:40.772
Scotland's only gospel group,
00:47:40.772 --> 00:47:42.340
They were called the heralds.
00:47:42.340 --> 00:47:44.042
And i remember the guy at the end said,
00:47:44.042 --> 00:47:45.643
"god has no grandchildren.
00:47:45.643 --> 00:47:47.679
He only has sons and daughters."
00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:49.948
And a lot of people went forward that night
00:47:49.948 --> 00:47:51.516
And i couldn't move, i was shaken to my core
00:47:51.516 --> 00:47:54.919
That god actually might want to know me.
00:47:54.919 --> 00:47:57.522
So i came home and i tried to go to sleep and i couldn't.
00:47:57.522 --> 00:47:59.624
And i came back down and i asked my mom a question
00:47:59.624 --> 00:48:02.427
That now seems ridiculous,
00:48:02.427 --> 00:48:04.028
But i said, "mom, is god still awake?"
00:48:04.028 --> 00:48:06.931
And she said, "what do you mean?"
00:48:06.931 --> 00:48:08.333
I said, "well, i don't know what hours he keeps,
00:48:08.333 --> 00:48:10.702
But i want to give my life to him."
00:48:10.702 --> 00:48:13.204
And my mom was the one down beside the fireplace
00:48:13.204 --> 00:48:16.140
In our little home in scotland
00:48:16.140 --> 00:48:17.508
And i gave my life to jesus.
00:48:17.508 --> 00:48:19.143
And as lisa said, it's as simple as that.
00:48:19.143 --> 00:48:20.845
- that's beautiful.
00:48:20.845 --> 00:48:22.413
- the bible tells us whoever calls on the name of the lord
00:48:22.413 --> 00:48:25.383
Will be saved.
00:48:25.383 --> 00:48:26.684
Not might be, will be.
00:48:26.684 --> 00:48:28.953
And not if you've lived a good life and you've done,
00:48:28.953 --> 00:48:31.289
You know, filled in all the blanks.
00:48:31.289 --> 00:48:32.724
No, whoever.
00:48:32.724 --> 00:48:34.325
And if you have felt that the holy spirit,
00:48:34.325 --> 00:48:37.128
The heart's beating faster and you just felt that,
00:48:37.128 --> 00:48:39.630
I'm going to pray a really simple prayer.
00:48:39.630 --> 00:48:41.866
It's nothing special about my words,
00:48:41.866 --> 00:48:43.935
But you just pray this prayer along with me
00:48:43.935 --> 00:48:46.771
And this will be the best christmas
00:48:46.771 --> 00:48:48.906
You've ever had in your life.
00:48:48.906 --> 00:48:50.842
Let's pray.
00:48:50.842 --> 00:48:52.510
Father god.
00:48:52.510 --> 00:48:53.478
- [all] father god.
00:48:53.478 --> 00:48:54.946
- thank you for loving me.
00:48:54.946 --> 00:48:56.080
- [all] thank you for loving me.
00:48:56.080 --> 00:48:57.749
- jesus christ.
00:48:57.749 --> 00:48:58.716
- [all] jesus christ.
00:48:58.716 --> 00:49:00.251
- thank you for dying for me.
00:49:00.251 --> 00:49:01.853
- [all] thank you for dying for me.
00:49:01.853 --> 00:49:03.855
- i believe you're the son of god.
00:49:03.855 --> 00:49:05.590
- [all] i believe you're the son of god.
00:49:05.590 --> 00:49:07.558
- i believe you died and rose again.
00:49:07.558 --> 00:49:09.694
- [all] i believe you died and rose again.
00:49:09.694 --> 00:49:11.662
- and i want to give you my whole life.
00:49:11.662 --> 00:49:13.264
- [all] and i want to give you my whole life.
00:49:13.264 --> 00:49:15.166
- i want to live for you from now on.
00:49:15.166 --> 00:49:17.335
- [all] i want to live for you from now on.
00:49:17.335 --> 00:49:19.370
- teach me how to do that.
00:49:18.302 --> 00:49:20.605
- [all] teach me how to do that.
00:49:20.605 --> 00:49:21.806
- in jesus' name.
00:49:21.806 --> 00:49:22.907
- [all] in jesus' name.
00:49:22.907 --> 00:49:24.742
- amen.
00:49:24.976 --> 00:49:26.611
- [narrator] connect with us on social media
00:49:26.611 --> 00:49:28.212
And let us know how our team can pray for you.
00:49:28.212 --> 00:49:30.948
(gentle music)
00:49:30.948 --> 00:49:37.522
- if you're feeling alone this christmas,
00:49:38.423 --> 00:49:40.324
I just want to encourage you by letting you know
00:49:40.324 --> 00:49:43.828
That you're not alone.
00:49:43.828 --> 00:49:45.363
You might feel lonely, but god is with you. he loves you.
00:49:45.363 --> 00:49:48.599
So i want to encourage you to pray.
00:49:48.599 --> 00:49:50.735
Ask the holy spirit
00:49:50.735 --> 00:49:52.403
To flood your heart and mind with his love,
00:49:52.403 --> 00:49:55.106
And i promise you it'll make a difference.
00:49:55.106 --> 00:49:57.341
- the real key at christmas isn't,
00:49:57.341 --> 00:50:00.745
Really isn't our circumstances.
00:50:00.745 --> 00:50:02.914
It's not even the family that you have.
00:50:02.914 --> 00:50:05.283
It's the savior that you have.
00:50:05.283 --> 00:50:07.151
The whole point of christmas
00:50:07.151 --> 00:50:08.886
Is that jesus became like us so as to save us.
00:50:08.886 --> 00:50:12.490
His name was emmanuel. isaiah gave him that name.
00:50:12.490 --> 00:50:15.927
That means god with us.
00:50:15.927 --> 00:50:19.497
If you'll sit in that for a second,
00:50:19.497 --> 00:50:21.566
Everything else kind of pales
00:50:21.566 --> 00:50:23.801
Next to the fact that god loved us so much
00:50:23.801 --> 00:50:28.206
That he came near.
00:50:28.206 --> 00:50:29.507
So i would encourage you, if you feel lonely,
00:50:29.507 --> 00:50:31.742
Lean into jesus this christmas.
00:50:31.742 --> 00:50:35.046
- stream full episodes of "better together" on demand.
00:50:36.114 --> 00:50:39.650
Go to bettertogether.tv to stream
00:50:39.650 --> 00:50:42.019
All of our latest conversations.
00:50:42.019 --> 00:50:44.255
Join the conversation on our "better together"
00:50:45.189 --> 00:50:47.391
Youtube channel.
00:50:47.391 --> 00:50:48.726
Subscribe today and never miss a new upload.
00:50:48.726 --> 00:50:52.797
(upbeat music)
00:50:53.164 --> 00:50:53.164

God's Gift of Eternal Hope - Episode 1125

December 19, 2025 | S7 E1125 | 52:34

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