Better Together

God's Radical Love for YOU - Episode 1101

October 6, 2025 | S7 E1101 | 52:34

God's love is without compare. He knows us better than we know ourselves, yet His love remains unconditional and unshakable. God doesn't just love the world, He loves YOU! Embracing His love transforms the way we love one another and live in community. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#Love #Community #Unity #Transformation #Forgiveness #Victim #Suffering #Enemy #Healing #Relationships #LoveofGod #PersonalStory

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Better Together | God's Radical Love for YOU - Episode 1101 | October 6, 2025

God is love and his love is complete; it's unconditional,
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Sacrificial, and all powerful.
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When we encounter his radical love for us, our lives are
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Never the same.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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♪ (music playing) ♪
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- we are going to talk about how to live in community.
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Because i think ever since covid it has almost become
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Much more difficult for people feeling isolated, feeling like
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They are not connected as much and then almost getting
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Comfortable with not being connected.
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Do you ever have one scripture verse that shifts your whole
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Kind of perspective?
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For me it was reading.
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I think it was luke chapter 19 verse 10 where jesus is having
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That conversation with somebody who's one of the most
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Hated people in the community, the tax collector.
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He is not loved, and people are critical when jesus enters
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His life and says come on i'm going to come and eat with
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You.
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And that's what jesus said there i've come to seek and
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Save that which was lost.
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So i did a word study.
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Sometimes i like to do that and that would be lost.
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It's a little greek word [indiscernible] and it means
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Ruined, broken beyond repair.
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And i remember reading that.
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I read it last night again because i was thinking all the
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Way back to when i was a little girl growing up in
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Scotland.
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There was a place where we used to go sometimes on a
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Weekend and it was a ruined castle and it was just by a
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Lake so it was a fun place to picnic and we would go with
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Friends but i was a real tomboy when i was little and i
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Had discovered a secret in this castle.
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It had this massive stone fireplace but if you were
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Really smart and kind of agile you could actually climb up
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The chimney by putting your feet on one side and i can
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Make my way up to the very top.
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Just sit on the kind of ruined walls and i looked across the
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Ocean and i was aware of my family underneath there they
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Were all talking and yakking on but up there i felt i was
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The scottish princess and i could rule and reign and then
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There would come that moment where my sister would say
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Sheila come down here you know if mom sees you you are in
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Trouble.
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And the word i associated with my life then was shame.
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I felt like i would never be enough.
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In fact i think i wrote in my diary one night i think if you
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Got to the very foundation stone of my life what you
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Would read is too broken to be loved.
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And that's why i'm so glad we're talking about community
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This week but i think you have to start with you
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Understanding yourself?
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How much you're loved.
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Because i don't think you can really love other people until
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You understand how much god loves you and for me that
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Realization came in the psychiatric ward.
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Literally with nothing left to commend me they take away
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Everything you lean on as a woman they take away your
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Makeup and hair dryer and you are just there.
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There's nothing.
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And it was at that moment when i'm at my worst and i think
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God's mad with me now because i let him down.
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I had this fresh understanding that that is why jesus came.
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He did not come to make perfect people better, he came
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To make broken people whole.
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And that was a turning point in my life.
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It was an interesting thing up until that point and i'm
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Thinking of all the friends who have been to church for
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Years maybe and loved god for years but for me ministry was
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Almost like a mask.
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It was something i could hide behind.
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I'll be there for you if you need me, and if you need me,
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Jada, i will be there.
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But i had no sense of that reaching into the crack places
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Of my life.
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And i just think it's the kindness of god that at times
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He will let your life collapse and what you think of the
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Ashes you discover what you have been longing for all
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Along.
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Which is a relationship with jesus based on nothing you
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Bring to the table.
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- i think it's only when we're beginning to understand how
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Much we are loved by god that we are able to extend the same
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Love and grace and mercy to other people.
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Because until you understand the kind of vastness of how
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Much god loves you it just makes everything else kinda
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Conditional but honestly when my life fell apart and at my
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Worst what i felt like was my worst moment in life i felt
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God showed me how much he loved me it changed
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Everything.
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And it meant that whoever i meet now even if some of these
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Let's say you're walking through an airport and i do
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Flyby prayers, people are walking through the airport
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And i will throw a prayer at them and sometimes somebody
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Can look like they are just in a really really bad place
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Sometimes it's something as simple as a smile as a kind
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Word, it can begin to almost make the winter inside their
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Soul melt a little bit we can be god's love and god's light.
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What are some of your own experiences of getting it that
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God loves you not just that he loves the world and everybody
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Else, but that he really really loves you?
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- i think the self-awareness piece has been a big shift for
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Me, i mean psalm 139 search me and show me because i find
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That as i learn things about myself and i'm like god you've
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Been doing this?
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And you still love me?
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As i try to refine and grow in righteousness and all these
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Things and be more patient and realize you're not very
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Patient be more generous realize you're not very
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Generous, so all of these things as i've learned about
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Myself i just keep being blown away that i hear god going
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I've been knowing and i still loved you.
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And when i gave you this thing i already knew this about you.
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When i had this plan for you i already knew this about you.
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Like it is, i think it's very humbling.
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It's an overwhelming sense of gratitude to begin to discover
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Things especially about yourself, your own brokenness
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And having this heavenly father who is like whatever
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You learn i got you.
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Because i already knew this and that's overwhelming.
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To know that god loves you thoroughly and completely, it
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Really means that he does love me better than i love myself.
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Because he knows me better than me so that reality i
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Think has been altering for me and then your point about your
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Own story realizing that god often is demonstrating that in
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Valleys and i really wish that i could just feel that
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Closeness after a promotion or celebration of success but you
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Don't.
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You feel yourself.
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Not god.
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You just kind of like you know what we did it god.
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Not really.
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So in the valley you're not even tempted to think that it
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Is you and that's just the reality of this life that god
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Is meeting you in the dark places where there is no other
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Option but to know that it's him so i love that you shared
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That.
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- i think god's love in the valley changes you.
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When you experience the perfect god of the universe,
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Loving you when you're in the valley.
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Whether you have caused pain or pains been caused to you,
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Having a god who is perfect in the middle of our imperfect
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Brokenness says so much more about him than it does about
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Our circumstance, what it says is we are not alone here, we
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Are not alone when everything's going great but
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We are not alone for sure when we are in the valleys and that
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To me is the reason why we love a good powerful loving
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God because he does not judge, and he does not forsake us
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Because he is with us.
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- there's like a story as i was listening to you that
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Triggered and i had not thought about it until this
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Exact moment but let me say this was two years ago, two or
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Three years ago i stepped out of my role i was working for
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Meta large tech company and while it was there about six
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Years that i was there because of the role that i had like so
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Many people would enter my orbit because they either
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Wanted a blue check or they wanted to come to an event i
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Was doing there was a reason why they wanted to associate
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Right, they felt like there was some benefit and then i
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Remember when i left i remember the same people who
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Were just clamoring for association like i no longer
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Heard from them.
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And it's interesting how the world values relationships
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Based on transactions.
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Like what can i get from you, what does association with you
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Benefit me, and as i'm listening to both of you it's
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So striking we know that god's ways are not our ways his
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Thoughts are not our thoughts, but that's not his way.
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Because at the root of even the gift of salvation there is
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Nothing that you can give nothing you can offer i was
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Missing the exact verse, but you can look it up because
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Thessalonians here where it says while we were god's enemy
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He died for us come on.
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When we are his enemy, not even when we didn't have
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Anything to offer, not even when we were kind of
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Unlikable, not when we are actively opposing him,
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Spitting in his face, that's when he was like they are
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Worth it.
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So for me, i think about god's love as so overwhelming
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Because i know that many people in my life only
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Associate with me based on what i can do what i can offer
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It's performative but with god there's nothing i can offer
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And yet he still chooses me so how i respond to what he
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Offers me is my own way of loving him.
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But like there's nothing i can offer so i think that the way
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You frame the conversation around the fact that we can't
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Even love other people until we first understand the depth
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Of god's love for us that just brought me back to that which
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Was like man, there's so many times we do we associate with
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People because of what they can give us but god chose us
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Knowing there's nothing we can get.
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- why do you think we struggle to understand how much we are
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Loved by god, because i don't know about you but guys i hear
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That more often from women than any other question.
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We find it easy to believe that god would love you but...
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- i think it's because we allow our earthly
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Relationships to define our heavenly father.
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And that's just been my struggle forever and ever and
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Ever when i look at some of my really close relationships
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That have been negative, my dad was an alcoholic very
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Verbally abusive and just all over the place, when you grow
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Up with a father whose in the house but not present you want
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So badly for him to be proud of you to show you love and
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All the things and so i think for me i grew up as a doer.
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Like if i just do this i had three older brothers.
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I was the only girl.
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I thought okay my dad really can love me if i'm as tough as
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A boy.
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So i'm outside with little john deere, doing all this.
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With my brothers trying to be the fastest and strongest
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Competitive and everything and every way.
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And what happens is i think at least we take those really
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Unhealthy earthly relationships especially the
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Formative ones and we assign that type of relationship to
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The lord and so for me i can remember a time when i would
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Only pray when something good is happening.
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Because i wanted god to be proud of me.
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So i did not want to bring him the mess.
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I got the mess.
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I will handle all the stuff myself.
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You don't have to do anything for me.
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I got it.
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Which is so immature in so many ways.
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That's baby faith for you right there, and i think as i
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Progressed and understood that character of god i will say,
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That is what changed me.
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When i thought it was a god that loved me based on how
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Much i gave in church and how much i served in church when i
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Thought he was a god based on how well i could show up in
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The world and for people, there just was no relationship
00:12:41.383 --> 00:12:43.786
There was no connection.
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When i learned who he was, and that he loved me stories like
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The prodigal son, when you got a father who it's different
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When you have a father that like knows that his son did
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Wrong, and is still like i've been waiting for you to come
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Home.
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It humbles me.
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But our father just has an endless amount of love for us
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And it's interesting now in the season.
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I can tell the difference because i had a really
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Difficult two years and i have gone to god more when i
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Honestly feel like i have nothing to offer right now.
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All i got is me.
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And that's been super refreshing for me and i'm
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Hopeful that my kids will know a god that loves them no
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Matter what, because i have just allowed him to transfer
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Me in that area.
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- one of the most tall barriers to experiencing god's
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Love is that we just don't believe that we are worthy.
00:13:35.938 --> 00:13:39.441
You know we had words that have been spoken over us may
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Be from a parent or someone that we respected or on our
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Job or maybe it's because of a picture we saw on social media
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Somebody who has the perfect body and we compare ourselves
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To that and find ourselves lacking, when we don't love
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Ourselves it is so very difficult to believe that god
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Could love us and that is a lie produced by shame you see
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We use the terms guilt and shame interchangeably but they
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Are actually different, guilt is the idea that i made a
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Mistake.
00:14:09.271 --> 00:14:10.506
But shame is the idea that i am a mistake, so if i see
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Myself as being a mistake there's no way that i could
00:14:14.310 --> 00:14:19.048
Believe that god loves me.
00:14:19.048 --> 00:14:20.616
How could you love something that should not even be here?
00:14:20.616 --> 00:14:23.085
And yet god proves over and over again in his word before
00:14:23.085 --> 00:14:26.622
I formed you in the womb, i knew you, in other words i
00:14:26.622 --> 00:14:29.024
Knew the mistakes you would make.
00:14:29.024 --> 00:14:30.359
I knew how bad you would mess it up and i still decided that
00:14:30.359 --> 00:14:33.762
You are necessary for creation.
00:14:33.762 --> 00:14:35.564
That is the beginning of receiving the love of god.
00:14:35.564 --> 00:14:39.735
- i think what's so sweet is like it makes me think of
00:14:39.735 --> 00:14:43.439
Being in the hospital birthing.
00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:45.374
I have three kids, each birth and those are the moment you
00:14:45.374 --> 00:14:50.145
Realize this little tiny baby can offer me nothing really
00:14:50.145 --> 00:14:53.916
But love- they are takers.
00:14:53.916 --> 00:14:55.417
The overwhelming love you feel in that moment after you've
00:14:55.417 --> 00:15:03.892
Had a child makes you think i could not love anything more
00:15:03.892 --> 00:15:07.830
And if you can imagine that that is how your heavenly
00:15:07.830 --> 00:15:12.101
Father thinks of you but then fast forward when they do the
00:15:12.101 --> 00:15:15.404
Thing that makes you want to pull your hair out.
00:15:15.404 --> 00:15:18.874
I have told you not to do that and then you went and just did
00:15:18.874 --> 00:15:22.478
It.
00:15:22.478 --> 00:15:24.046
So you remember that precious moment when they are perfect
00:15:24.046 --> 00:15:28.450
They are never to do anything and then they become
00:15:28.450 --> 00:15:31.420
Imperfect.
00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:34.957
But what i think has been really helpful for me as a
00:15:34.957 --> 00:15:41.563
Parent, is i know that in that moment i'm able to see the
00:15:41.563 --> 00:15:45.901
Foolishness they have as a child i'm able to see their
00:15:45.901 --> 00:15:49.671
Imperfection and it just does not change the love i have for
00:15:49.671 --> 00:15:53.275
Them because what i know is love does not demand something
00:15:53.275 --> 00:15:55.744
Love gives.
00:15:55.744 --> 00:15:58.680
I mean we know for god so loved the world that he gave.
00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:02.251
That is the prototype that he gave us is that that is what
00:16:02.251 --> 00:16:06.422
Love does, love gives it does not demand and so for me to
00:16:06.422 --> 00:16:10.225
Answer that question becoming a parent was that defining
00:16:10.225 --> 00:16:13.695
Moment because i just had not ever seen it from that point
00:16:13.695 --> 00:16:17.199
Of view of no matter what these children do i will never
00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:21.737
Not love them it is unconditional.
00:16:21.737 --> 00:16:26.208
- one of the most difficult things for me to understand as
00:16:26.208 --> 00:16:29.244
I came into faith as a christian is that god loves
00:16:29.244 --> 00:16:33.615
Me.
00:16:33.615 --> 00:16:34.850
I understood that i needed to place my faith in jesus.
00:16:34.850 --> 00:16:37.519
I even understood that i needed to ask him to forgive
00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.422
My sins.
00:16:40.422 --> 00:16:41.723
But i did not know that god loved me in spite of my sins.
00:16:41.723 --> 00:16:45.561
I think part of the reason for that is i grew up in a home
00:16:45.561 --> 00:16:48.630
Where i did not experience love and whatever attention i
00:16:48.630 --> 00:16:52.101
Got it certainly was not unconditional.
00:16:52.101 --> 00:16:54.470
So i've had to learn over time just how deep and how wide and
00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:59.575
Overwhelming god's love is.
00:16:59.575 --> 00:17:01.376
It has nothing to do with what i do and everything to do with
00:17:01.376 --> 00:17:05.280
Who god is.
00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:07.616
- let's keep the conversation going.
00:17:07.616 --> 00:17:09.585
Connect with us on social media and share your favorite
00:17:09.585 --> 00:17:12.154
Moments from today.
00:17:12.154 --> 00:17:13.288
We are better together because of you.
00:17:13.288 --> 00:17:15.424
- i've been reading through matthew and mark and just like
00:17:15.424 --> 00:17:17.004
- i've been reading through matthew and mark and just like
00:17:17.004 --> 00:17:23.366
Going through the new testament again and it's funny
00:17:23.366 --> 00:17:26.369
How when jesus is talking about love, so many times he
00:17:26.369 --> 00:17:29.939
Calls us to love those who hurt us.
00:17:29.939 --> 00:17:33.309
And it's like i would think about that like but why?
00:17:33.309 --> 00:17:36.679
Why do you command me to love someone who hurt me, someone
00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:42.585
Who maybe they tried to set up a trap for me someone who
00:17:42.585 --> 00:17:45.922
Literally used me why would you call me to do that it's so
00:17:45.922 --> 00:17:48.791
Clear to me that love is not love until there's a demand
00:17:48.791 --> 00:17:52.362
Placed on it because if you think about it is it really
00:17:52.362 --> 00:17:56.466
Love if i don't have to act in a way that the situation does
00:17:56.466 --> 00:18:00.436
Not demand.
00:18:00.436 --> 00:18:02.505
Like is it love if everything is great?
00:18:02.505 --> 00:18:04.674
If you are always there for me?
00:18:04.674 --> 00:18:06.709
If you show up for me all the time i don't have to love you.
00:18:06.709 --> 00:18:08.945
Because it's natural that love is easy but true love is a
00:18:08.945 --> 00:18:13.483
Supernatural power.
00:18:13.483 --> 00:18:15.952
It is not natural you mean you're going to be my enemy,
00:18:15.952 --> 00:18:18.955
Talk about me, set traips for me, and betray me and i have
00:18:18.955 --> 00:18:20.690
To love you?
00:18:20.690 --> 00:18:22.392
It's easy to love our children because they are part of us,
00:18:22.392 --> 00:18:27.030
But to love someone who hurts us, that's where it gets
00:18:27.030 --> 00:18:31.601
Tricky, you know that's where it gets hard.
00:18:31.601 --> 00:18:34.103
- i feel like the holy spirit just gave me the thought that
00:18:34.103 --> 00:18:35.638
It's also interesting that the lord calls us to love our
00:18:35.638 --> 00:18:39.442
Enemies because i think he's also trying to train us to
00:18:39.442 --> 00:18:43.513
Understand the love he has for us who are also his enemies.
00:18:43.513 --> 00:18:46.382
And i love that god will not demand something from us that
00:18:46.382 --> 00:18:51.988
He's not doing or has done.
00:18:51.988 --> 00:18:54.791
He loved us while we were still in our sin.
00:18:54.791 --> 00:18:57.594
While we were still separated from him knowingly sinning.
00:18:57.594 --> 00:19:03.700
And he is training us to be more like him.
00:19:03.800 --> 00:19:05.435
But showing us this is how you do it.
00:19:05.435 --> 00:19:07.971
This is where the demand comes in.
00:19:07.971 --> 00:19:10.673
This is where you get to actually practice and work out
00:19:10.673 --> 00:19:12.875
Your salvation in this area and i kind of love that.
00:19:12.875 --> 00:19:16.112
- have you ever found yourself in a situation where loving
00:19:16.112 --> 00:19:19.882
Someone seems almost impossible, i totally get
00:19:19.882 --> 00:19:23.586
That.
00:19:23.586 --> 00:19:24.821
I was in a situation like that where i was working with
00:19:24.821 --> 00:19:26.155
Someone who was so difficult and almost kind of kept giving
00:19:26.155 --> 00:19:31.861
Me more reasons for why i should not love them.
00:19:31.861 --> 00:19:34.731
And in a situation like that, what i do is i always go back
00:19:34.731 --> 00:19:37.667
To the lord and talk to him about it like what do i do
00:19:37.667 --> 00:19:39.969
Here lord?
00:19:39.969 --> 00:19:41.170
And pray for just little simple ways to continue to be
00:19:41.170 --> 00:19:45.275
Kind and if somebody is being very abusive you don't have to
00:19:45.275 --> 00:19:49.145
Remain in that situation but if somebody is just difficult,
00:19:49.145 --> 00:19:52.749
Sometimes people have gone through a lot in life and they
00:19:52.749 --> 00:19:55.051
Are just kind of difficult who knows if maybe god has put you
00:19:55.051 --> 00:19:59.922
In their life to help, sort out some of the puzzle pieces
00:19:59.922 --> 00:20:03.559
So they are able to see how god sees them.
00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:07.697
- i want to go back to your point toni, about those early
00:20:07.697 --> 00:20:11.834
Earthly relationships, i really think and i love church
00:20:11.834 --> 00:20:16.039
My husband and i love church i love teaching about the bible
00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:18.207
I love all the things.
00:20:18.207 --> 00:20:19.509
I do think sometimes we can get into a, i want to read the
00:20:19.509 --> 00:20:23.379
Scripture, hear this message, apply this thing to my life,
00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:26.616
And let's see.
00:20:26.616 --> 00:20:29.118
But often i really believe that there has to be some
00:20:29.118 --> 00:20:32.588
Subtraction before there's addition.
00:20:32.588 --> 00:20:34.457
And so there has to be some you have to understand what
00:20:34.457 --> 00:20:38.594
You are bringing to the table because if you and i hear the
00:20:38.594 --> 00:20:42.332
Same message and you had father experience a and i had
00:20:42.332 --> 00:20:45.868
Father experience b, it is not going to hit the same, we
00:20:45.868 --> 00:20:49.072
Don't walk out of that with the same oh here's my
00:20:49.072 --> 00:20:52.075
Conviction.
00:20:52.075 --> 00:20:53.376
Yeah.
00:20:53.376 --> 00:20:54.711
- yeah i don't hardly want to go to church on father's day.
00:20:54.711 --> 00:20:56.045
- because it's triggering so i think there is a healing work
00:20:56.045 --> 00:20:57.980
You know for anybody who's watching like don't beat
00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:02.151
Yourself up if you heard the good message and you know the
00:21:02.151 --> 00:21:06.022
Good verse and now you're like oh i should just know god
00:21:06.022 --> 00:21:08.358
Loves me man there is subtracting work that has to
00:21:08.358 --> 00:21:11.527
Be done where you go in and say god you know the
00:21:11.527 --> 00:21:15.365
Experience i had i need you to undo some things so that i can
00:21:15.365 --> 00:21:19.836
Have a clean foundation good soil because you know even if
00:21:19.836 --> 00:21:23.339
You had a christian like my father loved the lord i say
00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:27.176
He's like 1 foot in 1 foot out because he was a dude.
00:21:27.176 --> 00:21:30.646
But he loved the lord but i feel like he might pull his 45
00:21:30.646 --> 00:21:33.649
Out if you came to the door.
00:21:33.649 --> 00:21:36.085
He's only got to heaven and the gates will
00:21:36.085 --> 00:21:38.654
[indiscernible].
00:21:38.654 --> 00:21:39.322
He's going to be there.
00:21:39.322 --> 00:21:40.890
But he was a good man, a provider, he cleans, he cooks
00:21:40.890 --> 00:21:45.094
I mean he was awesome but he was still human so even with a
00:21:45.094 --> 00:21:49.999
Wonderful present father it still creates a gap so if
00:21:49.999 --> 00:21:53.503
They're human it's going to create a gap.
00:21:53.503 --> 00:21:56.272
I came out with many of the same things i am an achiever
00:21:56.272 --> 00:22:00.843
Because he was like where's the grades?
00:22:00.843 --> 00:22:03.279
Are you winning, so i'm very achievement driven, money
00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.416
Driven for a while and then it was kind of like a whole shame
00:22:06.416 --> 00:22:11.320
Thing with god i didn't want to tell him so very similar i
00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:16.025
Just want people to know that whatever your experience was
00:22:16.025 --> 00:22:19.662
The healing journey may look different but everybody needs
00:22:19.662 --> 00:22:22.632
A healing journey because if your father was human, whether
00:22:22.632 --> 00:22:26.369
He was present or absent, you know it was traumatic
00:22:26.369 --> 00:22:29.238
Experience or pretty decent one, it is short of god so
00:22:29.238 --> 00:22:33.376
Whatever that gap is that gap naturally shows up in your
00:22:33.376 --> 00:22:37.947
Relationship with the lord so then i just want the lord to
00:22:37.947 --> 00:22:41.083
Bless me because i didn't skip any sundays or volunteering
00:22:41.083 --> 00:22:44.821
And look i'm in this conference and like that's
00:22:44.821 --> 00:22:47.356
Not, so that's how i always was acknowledged so i just
00:22:47.356 --> 00:22:51.494
Think that sometimes we skip over how much ongoing work has
00:22:51.494 --> 00:22:57.500
To be done because coming to church and hear your good
00:22:57.500 --> 00:23:00.436
Message is not a band-aid to overlay a wound.
00:23:00.436 --> 00:23:03.606
It's supposed to be surgical.
00:23:03.606 --> 00:23:05.107
Which means there has to be something cut out and
00:23:05.107 --> 00:23:07.743
Something taken away.
00:23:07.743 --> 00:23:09.045
So that what's added has the maximum benefit and so it's a
00:23:09.045 --> 00:23:12.915
Dangerous thing to come in as you are.
00:23:12.915 --> 00:23:16.185
That's how you come but stay as you are and just think that
00:23:16.185 --> 00:23:19.722
If i keep adding good truth and good worship it can all
00:23:19.722 --> 00:23:23.226
Fix itself.
00:23:23.226 --> 00:23:24.861
- i think we have a lot of barriers to receiving god's
00:23:24.861 --> 00:23:27.396
Love and one of those is really how we first meet
00:23:27.396 --> 00:23:30.299
Earthly love so that is the presence and absence of our
00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:33.903
Fathers, if they were achievers or required
00:23:33.903 --> 00:23:37.006
Perfection maybe they were people who cause pain or
00:23:37.006 --> 00:23:40.443
Trauma but that experience really defines how we begin to
00:23:40.443 --> 00:23:44.514
Interact with god and so one of the steps i think we have
00:23:44.514 --> 00:23:48.117
To take as we are learning to receive god's love is to
00:23:48.117 --> 00:23:51.153
Unpack what that earthly experience was like and so
00:23:51.153 --> 00:23:54.590
It's not to put our growth on hold but the healing part of
00:23:54.590 --> 00:23:58.494
Realizing where there was a deficit with our earthly
00:23:58.494 --> 00:24:00.763
Fathers helps us it gives us insight and understanding
00:24:00.763 --> 00:24:05.201
Really how we are treating god and how it's affecting a
00:24:05.201 --> 00:24:08.037
Relationship so being serious about pursuing god and asking
00:24:08.037 --> 00:24:11.641
God to show you search you can really be significant so it
00:24:11.641 --> 00:24:15.244
Opens us up to receive the fullness of the love god has
00:24:15.244 --> 00:24:17.747
For us.
00:24:17.747 --> 00:24:19.382
- so when do you know bad father good father either way
00:24:19.382 --> 00:24:22.885
If you have almost leaned on that as a reason for why
00:24:22.885 --> 00:24:27.957
You've not been able to fully embrace or understand god's
00:24:27.957 --> 00:24:30.993
Love like do we carry some of those imperfections of our
00:24:30.993 --> 00:24:35.064
Parents with us into it so much so that it gives us a
00:24:35.064 --> 00:24:38.901
Crutch to not do the work of you know what, it's up to me
00:24:38.901 --> 00:24:44.340
It's my responsibility to get into the word and to believe
00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:48.511
The words that are written on the page, at some point i have
00:24:48.511 --> 00:24:51.080
To say okay maybe i didn't have the father that i wish i
00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:55.084
Did or did not have this experience that i wish i had
00:24:55.084 --> 00:24:57.753
In life or whatever.
00:24:57.753 --> 00:24:59.088
But i don't want my future to be dictated by what i did not
00:24:59.088 --> 00:25:02.692
Have so i'm going to get into the word and believe it that
00:25:02.692 --> 00:25:05.294
What he says while we were yet sinners christ died for us i'm
00:25:05.294 --> 00:25:08.965
Going to believe it so what makes me wonder it's just a
00:25:08.965 --> 00:25:11.033
Question of how much are we not truly doing some of the
00:25:11.033 --> 00:25:15.871
Ownership of i am no longer going to keep living in this i
00:25:15.871 --> 00:25:19.942
Don't feel loved no, you are loved i'm going to accept and
00:25:19.942 --> 00:25:23.079
Believe it because i think it will reflect in our life and
00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:26.082
Because we want full purpose in our life we want to be
00:25:26.082 --> 00:25:29.251
Walking in the fullness of what god has for us i don't
00:25:29.251 --> 00:25:32.488
Know if we can if we don't just make the decision to
00:25:32.488 --> 00:25:35.625
Believe what he says, we are loved unconditionally we are
00:25:35.625 --> 00:25:37.426
Moving in it.
00:25:37.426 --> 00:25:39.729
- so i will say this to clarify because i think that's
00:25:39.729 --> 00:25:41.697
A great point, i think awareness does not mean that's
00:25:41.697 --> 00:25:43.766
What defines me, but the awareness never goes away.
00:25:43.766 --> 00:25:49.672
Like life experience does not go away.
00:25:49.672 --> 00:25:52.441
So i have to catch myself and ask myself when i feel
00:25:52.441 --> 00:25:55.544
Conviction or when something's happening in my life.
00:25:55.544 --> 00:25:59.649
Is there a name or experience i'm always attributing that
00:25:59.649 --> 00:26:03.119
To?
00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:04.320
Because now that's the power in my life not the holy
00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:06.355
Spirit.
00:26:06.355 --> 00:26:07.690
So when the lord says hey you need to go apologize well you
00:26:07.690 --> 00:26:10.026
Know i don't like apologizing lord it makes me feel...
00:26:10.026 --> 00:26:11.661
So it's not to be an excuse but there has to be an
00:26:11.661 --> 00:26:16.432
Awareness so that if you don't like conflict and the lord is
00:26:16.432 --> 00:26:18.968
Saying you need to go to your sister and love you know all
00:26:18.968 --> 00:26:21.337
Right jada get it together this might be your
00:26:21.337 --> 00:26:24.273
Fear you know you struggle with this it's going to be
00:26:24.273 --> 00:26:27.476
Okay, like that awareness helps you talk yourself into
00:26:27.476 --> 00:26:30.079
Okay i can do this and so i think that's really important
00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:33.816
Because it's not to be an identity that excuses us, from
00:26:33.816 --> 00:26:38.054
The holiness god calls us to.
00:26:38.054 --> 00:26:39.355
It's just an awareness that says okay this might be hard
00:26:39.355 --> 00:26:42.725
But you can do it.
00:26:42.725 --> 00:26:44.193
So i think that's a great clarification.
00:26:44.193 --> 00:26:45.628
- i feel like that awareness starts with curiosity, like if
00:26:45.628 --> 00:26:49.765
We go back to luke 19 which i started with.
00:26:49.765 --> 00:26:51.834
I love that little blip because you got zacchaeus and
00:26:51.834 --> 00:26:55.738
He is this well off chief tax collector, people hate him,
00:26:55.738 --> 00:27:00.710
And his curiosity is what brought him conviction.
00:27:00.710 --> 00:27:04.280
He is curious about who jesus was.
00:27:04.280 --> 00:27:06.215
He's like i want to go see him.
00:27:06.215 --> 00:27:07.383
I want to get to know him.
00:27:07.383 --> 00:27:08.417
I want to figure out what's going on here.
00:27:08.417 --> 00:27:09.652
I'm not really sure about him.
00:27:09.652 --> 00:27:11.153
That's how a lot of us come into our faith.
00:27:11.153 --> 00:27:13.022
I don't really know about this whole jesus thing but i want
00:27:13.022 --> 00:27:15.524
To be curious.
00:27:15.524 --> 00:27:16.826
Zacchaeus was curious about jesus climbing a whole tree to
00:27:16.826 --> 00:27:19.628
See him because he was little.
00:27:19.628 --> 00:27:20.930
And jesus passes by him knowing that he's in the tree.
00:27:20.930 --> 00:27:25.000
Before he even got to the tree jesus knew he was in the tree,
00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.436
Jesus stopped and had an encounter with him and said
00:27:27.436 --> 00:27:30.906
Hey i'm gonna go eat at your house i'm coming with you.
00:27:30.906 --> 00:27:33.442
Jesus met his curiosity and while he was there i am sure
00:27:33.442 --> 00:27:36.779
Zacchaeus because he was in the presence of the lord felt
00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:39.248
The conviction about all of his wealth about what he was
00:27:39.248 --> 00:27:42.284
Doing and started to give it away.
00:27:42.284 --> 00:27:44.487
I'm giving half of my possessions away to the poor
00:27:44.487 --> 00:27:46.455
And lord if i cheated anything out of anything like show me
00:27:46.455 --> 00:27:48.824
Because he was in the presence of god that curiosity gave him
00:27:48.824 --> 00:27:53.095
A gift of conviction and then he realized i've got to change
00:27:53.095 --> 00:27:57.466
Some things about myself if i'm going to be close to jesus
00:27:57.466 --> 00:28:00.336
And so i think when we start to think about like all of the
00:28:00.336 --> 00:28:04.874
Things that stand in the way of us actually surrendering to
00:28:04.874 --> 00:28:08.244
The lord i honestly think it's the holy spirit's job to
00:28:08.244 --> 00:28:10.913
Convict us.
00:28:10.913 --> 00:28:12.214
That's how it was for me when i started pressing into the
00:28:12.214 --> 00:28:14.083
Lord i started to become more aware of all the things that
00:28:14.083 --> 00:28:16.552
Stood in the way of my intimate relationship with
00:28:16.552 --> 00:28:20.823
Him.
00:28:20.823 --> 00:28:22.558
Okay i got some daddy wounds i need to address i also got
00:28:22.558 --> 00:28:24.493
Some mama wounds that nobody wants to talk about and i need
00:28:24.493 --> 00:28:26.195
To address it.
00:28:26.195 --> 00:28:27.496
I also got some nasty trauma from -- stuff i need to
00:28:27.496 --> 00:28:29.999
Address and this is all infiltrating my relationship
00:28:29.999 --> 00:28:34.436
With the lord and it was not a book or podcast, it was the
00:28:34.436 --> 00:28:40.743
Holy spirit because the closer i got to jesus the closer i
00:28:40.743 --> 00:28:42.144
Got to jesus.
00:28:42.144 --> 00:28:43.612
Because he convicted me of all the things that were standing
00:28:43.612 --> 00:28:45.781
In the way of the closeness and i think that's what we
00:28:45.781 --> 00:28:49.084
Have to encourage people to do.
00:28:49.084 --> 00:28:50.352
- and what i love is you did not hear that and receive it
00:28:50.352 --> 00:28:54.023
And neither did zacchaeus as shame.
00:28:54.023 --> 00:28:56.325
Because it was the holy spirit.
00:28:56.325 --> 00:28:59.628
It's like your eyes are washed again.
00:28:59.628 --> 00:29:00.796
- jesus' love does not come with a side of shame.
00:29:00.796 --> 00:29:05.201
- you may be watching this episode and hearing of god's
00:29:05.201 --> 00:29:09.038
Unconditional love and you might be thinking i know i've
00:29:09.038 --> 00:29:13.008
Heard of it but i don't think i've ever really experienced
00:29:13.008 --> 00:29:15.311
It.
00:29:15.311 --> 00:29:17.079
I haven't really had an encounter with jesus and i
00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:20.683
Just want to take a moment right now i want to read to
00:29:20.683 --> 00:29:21.917
You in romans, romans three, it says this, this
00:29:21.917 --> 00:29:25.955
Righteousness from god comes through faith in jesus christ
00:29:25.955 --> 00:29:28.657
To all who believe there's no difference for all have sinned
00:29:28.657 --> 00:29:32.161
And fall short of the glory of god and are justified freely
00:29:32.161 --> 00:29:35.197
By his grace through the redemption that came by jesus
00:29:35.197 --> 00:29:38.667
Christ.
00:29:38.667 --> 00:29:40.769
I want you to know today as you are watching it is no
00:29:40.769 --> 00:29:43.873
Accident that you are watching today.
00:29:43.873 --> 00:29:46.075
This could be the appointed time that god chose for you to
00:29:46.075 --> 00:29:51.180
Hear the truth of the gospel.
00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:53.983
That says that he, jesus, he came to this earth, the
00:29:53.983 --> 00:29:59.455
Perfect man died on the cross for you suffered a terrible
00:29:59.455 --> 00:30:02.925
Brutal death for you, went into the grave for three days
00:30:02.925 --> 00:30:07.596
Resurrected and rose again.
00:30:07.596 --> 00:30:10.065
That you could be saved, that you could have eternal life,
00:30:10.065 --> 00:30:13.335
We know john 3:16 for god so loved the world that he gave
00:30:13.335 --> 00:30:17.172
His only son.
00:30:17.172 --> 00:30:18.774
I want you to know that if there was no one else on earth
00:30:18.774 --> 00:30:22.311
He would've done it for you.
00:30:22.311 --> 00:30:24.346
That is the epitomy, the definition of unconditional
00:30:24.346 --> 00:30:28.384
Love.
00:30:28.384 --> 00:30:30.019
And i just want right now if you are watching and you have
00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:32.688
Not ever fully been able to fully express to god that you
00:30:32.688 --> 00:30:36.892
Want to receive his unconditional love just make
00:30:36.892 --> 00:30:40.930
It simple, say heavenly father i know that you sent your son
00:30:40.930 --> 00:30:43.899
To die on a cross for my sin, i repent of my sin i turn from
00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:51.106
My ways of sinful living and i want to surrender my life to
00:30:51.106 --> 00:30:54.176
You.
00:30:54.176 --> 00:30:57.680
Jesus will you take all the broken parts and make them
00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:59.448
Whole, jesus i give my life to you.
00:30:59.448 --> 00:31:02.084
In jesus name amen.
00:31:02.084 --> 00:31:04.520
- for anybody watching i think it's important for you to
00:31:04.520 --> 00:31:07.957
Understand that we can choose whether or not we received the
00:31:07.957 --> 00:31:12.761
Healing delivering power of jesus.
00:31:12.761 --> 00:31:16.632
You chose to respond.
00:31:16.632 --> 00:31:17.967
There's a story matthew 8, and i encourage anybody to read it
00:31:17.967 --> 00:31:23.038
At some point starting at verse 28.
00:31:23.038 --> 00:31:25.541
Starting in verse 28, jesus, you know he arrives in this
00:31:25.541 --> 00:31:30.279
Town and there's these two demon possessed men and they
00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:33.849
Were in this cave and they were so vicious that the
00:31:33.849 --> 00:31:37.619
People of the town could not even walk that way because
00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:41.490
They would attack the people they were horrible, right?
00:31:41.490 --> 00:31:44.960
So it tells us that jesus first of all the demons they
00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:49.298
Hear jesus come and say what do you want from the son of god,
00:31:49.298 --> 00:31:52.267
And jesus basically is like go leave he sends the demons into
00:31:52.267 --> 00:31:57.172
A herd of pigs, so you would think that the town right?
00:31:57.172 --> 00:32:00.709
They see jesus deliver these men, heal these men oh my gosh
00:32:00.709 --> 00:32:04.513
We now can walk this way, thank you jesus for delivering
00:32:04.513 --> 00:32:06.982
These men it has changed their life and our life.
00:32:06.982 --> 00:32:13.655
You would think that that would be the response but
00:32:13.655 --> 00:32:15.224
Verse 34 says the whole town went out to meet jesus and
00:32:15.224 --> 00:32:18.160
When they saw him they pleaded with him to leave the region.
00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:21.630
So these people have access to the one who solved their
00:32:21.630 --> 00:32:25.768
Problem.
00:32:25.768 --> 00:32:28.303
Like they saw him solve the problem.
00:32:28.303 --> 00:32:30.873
The problem no longer exists.
00:32:30.873 --> 00:32:32.341
And they were like actually we need you to leave.
00:32:32.341 --> 00:32:34.610
We have the choice we can see people getting healed and
00:32:34.610 --> 00:32:39.882
Delivered all around us and be like i want that the same
00:32:39.882 --> 00:32:41.850
Power is available to us but we have to make a choice to
00:32:41.850 --> 00:32:45.587
Let jesus do the work which goes back to what you're
00:32:45.587 --> 00:32:47.923
Saying earlier which i think sometimes we define ourselves
00:32:47.923 --> 00:32:51.527
Based on our trauma so much so that it becomes our
00:32:51.527 --> 00:32:54.663
Personality.
00:32:54.663 --> 00:32:56.432
I don't know that i've ever seen this until you start
00:32:56.432 --> 00:32:58.567
Talking about it.
00:32:58.567 --> 00:32:59.902
It says those tending the pigs ran off went into the town and
00:32:59.902 --> 00:33:01.603
Reported all of this and then it says the people when they
00:33:01.603 --> 00:33:05.140
Heard it pleaded with him to leave, so it's like instead of
00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:08.677
Thinking about what happened to the people being freed of
00:33:08.677 --> 00:33:12.147
Demon possession they are seeing the loss of pigs it
00:33:12.147 --> 00:33:14.683
Makes me wonder how much of them were thinking we just
00:33:14.683 --> 00:33:17.252
Lost our pigs?
00:33:17.252 --> 00:33:18.887
We lost something out of this.
00:33:18.887 --> 00:33:20.355
How much of that could be part of it?
00:33:20.355 --> 00:33:23.392
And you want to hold onto something instead of the
00:33:23.392 --> 00:33:26.462
Freedom he's giving.
00:33:26.462 --> 00:33:29.331
- that's where it impacts our personality and we have to be
00:33:29.331 --> 00:33:32.101
Really careful because sometimes the personality that
00:33:32.101 --> 00:33:35.337
We develop because of the result of trauma becomes a
00:33:35.337 --> 00:33:37.172
Defense mechanism.
00:33:37.172 --> 00:33:38.440
So instead of allowing jesus to do the work we are like i
00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:41.877
Don't do people.
00:33:41.877 --> 00:33:43.078
I just don't do people, we find a way to protect the
00:33:43.078 --> 00:33:45.881
Thing that is keeping us bound.
00:33:45.881 --> 00:33:48.150
And that part about the pigs, you can explain it away.
00:33:48.150 --> 00:33:51.887
You get attached to the stuff, but there's a cost to
00:33:51.887 --> 00:33:56.191
Deliverance and you have to be willing to accept the cost.
00:33:56.191 --> 00:34:00.596
And isn't it beautiful that we serve a god that is such a
00:34:00.596 --> 00:34:03.632
Gentleman that he will not force us to accept his love?
00:34:03.632 --> 00:34:06.635
- jesus is like you want me to leave?
00:34:06.635 --> 00:34:08.937
I'll go.
00:34:08.937 --> 00:34:10.506
I will go.
00:34:10.506 --> 00:34:12.708
And that to me is like even more of a reason to run after
00:34:12.708 --> 00:34:17.913
This love that is available.
00:34:17.913 --> 00:34:21.350
Because you have a god who is like i have everything you
00:34:21.350 --> 00:34:23.085
Need but i'm not gonna force it on you.
00:34:23.085 --> 00:34:25.721
You have to do some work, what a privilege you have to move
00:34:25.721 --> 00:34:27.356
The stone, we get to be a part of allowing god to love us and
00:34:27.356 --> 00:34:31.026
That's i don't know for me that's like the beautiful part
00:34:31.026 --> 00:34:35.197
Of what we get to do.
00:34:35.197 --> 00:34:36.732
- when i think about when in my life i truly encountered
00:34:36.732 --> 00:34:40.402
And understood god's love for me it's like for me it's more
00:34:40.402 --> 00:34:45.440
On the spectrum than a one moment, i knew that i was so
00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:51.213
Loved by god when i was 10 years old i gave my life to
00:34:51.213 --> 00:34:53.682
Him and i knew in part because i was 10, and so as i walked
00:34:53.682 --> 00:34:57.219
With the lord and i have for so many years now so many
00:34:57.219 --> 00:35:01.290
Years now because i'm not super young, i can see my
00:35:01.290 --> 00:35:03.692
Understanding has unfolded of how i have encountered god and
00:35:03.692 --> 00:35:07.663
How i know his love.
00:35:07.663 --> 00:35:12.034
I can remember specifically a time when i was in high
00:35:12.034 --> 00:35:14.336
School, and knowing that i had dedicated my life to the lord
00:35:14.336 --> 00:35:18.073
At 10 but then still entered in the high school and kind of
00:35:18.073 --> 00:35:20.943
Went through some high school teenage things, i remember i
00:35:20.943 --> 00:35:24.680
Was in a relationship and it wasn't with a guy who loved the
00:35:24.680 --> 00:35:27.983
Lord and i remember i went to a disciple now that weekend
00:35:27.983 --> 00:35:30.652
And the lord had really touched my heart and convicted
00:35:30.652 --> 00:35:34.623
Me that this guy was probably not the right person he was
00:35:34.623 --> 00:35:38.126
Not the right person to date.
00:35:38.126 --> 00:35:40.862
And i really felt like in the moment he gave me kind of a
00:35:40.862 --> 00:35:43.498
Vision of my life, kind of if you choose this way i will let
00:35:43.498 --> 00:35:45.834
You choose whatever you want but if you choose this way,
00:35:45.834 --> 00:35:48.136
And choose this way, this.
00:35:48.136 --> 00:35:49.438
And it was so real to me that i left that disciple now and
00:35:49.438 --> 00:35:53.542
Ended up breaking off the relationship.
00:35:53.542 --> 00:35:56.678
And went on my way following the lord i met my husband that
00:35:56.678 --> 00:35:59.448
I have now been married to for 30 years.
00:35:59.448 --> 00:36:02.918
And okay you look at that you think okay how do you feel
00:36:02.918 --> 00:36:05.454
God's love in that way, this is a thing, it was so gentle
00:36:05.454 --> 00:36:10.525
It was one of the first times in my life i really felt like
00:36:10.525 --> 00:36:13.061
The lord said blynda i love you so much that i want to
00:36:13.061 --> 00:36:16.665
Show you a different way but i'm going to let you choose.
00:36:16.665 --> 00:36:19.768
And to me that is the definition of love.
00:36:19.768 --> 00:36:22.337
He never forced his way on me, he never demanded i do
00:36:22.337 --> 00:36:25.841
Something he said i'm going to let you choose but if you
00:36:25.841 --> 00:36:29.711
Choose this path, it will be full of blessings, it will
00:36:29.711 --> 00:36:34.116
Have all the desires you've had in your heart but you have
00:36:34.116 --> 00:36:36.451
To trust me.
00:36:36.451 --> 00:36:38.220
And for me that just really is a sweet testimony of how god
00:36:38.220 --> 00:36:41.456
Has encountered me my whole life.
00:36:41.456 --> 00:36:43.992
He's given me a choice, he's shown me ways that i can
00:36:43.992 --> 00:36:47.696
Choose blessing, that is up to me but when i do every time i
00:36:47.696 --> 00:36:52.267
Experience the fullness and richness of his love.
00:36:52.267 --> 00:36:55.637
- be the first to know all the latest, better together
00:36:55.637 --> 00:37:00.142
Updates.
00:37:00.142 --> 00:37:01.543
Visit bettertogether.tv to sign up for our weekly emails
00:37:01.543 --> 00:37:05.280
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00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.416
- not so long ago i flew home to scotland it was actually
00:37:07.416 --> 00:37:09.004
- not so long ago i flew home to scotland it was actually
00:37:09.004 --> 00:37:15.924
For my mom's funeral and i decided to go back to that
00:37:15.924 --> 00:37:18.493
Area that old castle where used to go when i was little
00:37:18.493 --> 00:37:21.897
Girl and i was walking around the area and i sat down by the
00:37:21.897 --> 00:37:24.666
Edge of the water, and i was thinking what was it that i
00:37:24.666 --> 00:37:27.669
Felt there, i felt when i was up there away from everything
00:37:27.669 --> 00:37:31.973
I thought i'm loved i'm seen i'm known, and it was when i
00:37:31.973 --> 00:37:36.345
Climbed back down and into my real life where we were still
00:37:36.345 --> 00:37:40.148
Dealing with the suicide of my father's still dealing with
00:37:40.148 --> 00:37:42.584
The loss of everything, that the shame came in but when i
00:37:42.584 --> 00:37:46.288
Went back not too long ago i sat down at the edge of the
00:37:46.288 --> 00:37:50.492
Water and i felt the lord go those things were always true
00:37:50.492 --> 00:37:52.694
But not for the reasons you thought.
00:37:52.694 --> 00:37:55.731
You were always loved you were always seen you were a
00:37:55.731 --> 00:37:59.101
Princess, you were part of heaven's royal family, not
00:37:59.101 --> 00:38:01.703
Because of you getting anything right but it's like i
00:38:01.703 --> 00:38:06.975
Found this quote and i tried to printed it came out real
00:38:06.975 --> 00:38:10.178
Small it came out like a poster but is charles
00:38:10.178 --> 00:38:13.415
[indiscernible] and i love this i loved with this much
00:38:13.415 --> 00:38:16.151
Love as if i had always been godly but i was ungodly.
00:38:16.151 --> 00:38:20.355
I am loved with as much love as if i had always been godly
00:38:20.355 --> 00:38:23.358
But i was ungodly.
00:38:23.358 --> 00:38:25.794
To me that is a lifetime commitment to begin to
00:38:25.794 --> 00:38:31.166
Understand and access because it will change how you see
00:38:31.166 --> 00:38:35.170
Other people.
00:38:35.170 --> 00:38:36.037
It sure will.
00:38:36.037 --> 00:38:37.172
It gives you well, it should give you grace.
00:38:37.172 --> 00:38:39.875
I think one of the things if you're struggling with loving
00:38:39.875 --> 00:38:45.147
Freely or receiving god's love, back it up a little bit.
00:38:45.147 --> 00:38:50.218
Because it might be coming there might be a source to
00:38:50.218 --> 00:38:54.523
That that really the lord still needs to do a work in
00:38:54.523 --> 00:38:56.224
Your heart.
00:38:56.224 --> 00:38:59.227
So if you find that i expect this out of you and when you
00:38:59.227 --> 00:39:01.062
Don't do it that affects my love for you.
00:39:01.062 --> 00:39:03.498
That is not a relationship issue that's god he's like hey
00:39:03.498 --> 00:39:05.600
Hold on because when you don't do that i still love you.
00:39:05.600 --> 00:39:08.870
Like everything comes back to this free overwhelming love
00:39:08.870 --> 00:39:10.906
That he gives us.
00:39:10.906 --> 00:39:15.710
So i think those are ways that we can check ourselves along
00:39:15.710 --> 00:39:18.713
The way and am i living in the trauma?
00:39:18.713 --> 00:39:21.483
Is it defining me, is it my excuse for everything?
00:39:21.483 --> 00:39:24.753
Or am i partnering with the lord because it is a
00:39:24.753 --> 00:39:28.323
Partnership, the lord does not make you live holy he does not
00:39:28.323 --> 00:39:30.959
Force you into righteousness, and am i partnering with the
00:39:30.959 --> 00:39:34.463
Lord to say okay, we're going to work through this and the
00:39:34.463 --> 00:39:37.632
More i receive your love the more it is able to flow
00:39:37.632 --> 00:39:41.870
Through.
00:39:41.870 --> 00:39:43.038
- if i'm honest i think the times that i have been
00:39:43.038 --> 00:39:46.141
Unloving towards other people, the times that i have been
00:39:46.141 --> 00:39:50.011
Unkind toward other people, is because i did not feel loved
00:39:50.011 --> 00:39:55.217
Myself.
00:39:55.217 --> 00:39:57.018
I was acting out of a deficit, and i think the more that i've
00:39:57.018 --> 00:40:01.790
Come to know just how overwhelming and deep and how
00:40:01.790 --> 00:40:06.528
Wide god's love is for me, even when i mess up, even when
00:40:06.528 --> 00:40:09.898
I don't deserve it, the more i understand god's love for me
00:40:09.898 --> 00:40:13.435
The easier it is to love other people.
00:40:13.435 --> 00:40:16.605
Who frankly are acting unlovable because i realize
00:40:16.605 --> 00:40:20.108
That they are just a reflection of how i look to
00:40:20.108 --> 00:40:24.412
God, and yet god still loves me.
00:40:24.412 --> 00:40:26.715
In spite of me.
00:40:26.715 --> 00:40:28.450
So i choose to love people even when they are difficult
00:40:28.450 --> 00:40:31.620
Because that's the kind of god who loves me back.
00:40:31.620 --> 00:40:34.256
- we gotta grab hold of what you're saying because what
00:40:34.256 --> 00:40:37.726
You're saying is so profound the challenges and
00:40:37.726 --> 00:40:41.129
Difficulties we have horizontally are always
00:40:41.129 --> 00:40:42.631
Indicative of the challenges we have vertically.
00:40:42.631 --> 00:40:45.634
So even with forgiveness, i think all of us are sitting
00:40:45.634 --> 00:40:48.870
Right here.
00:40:48.870 --> 00:40:50.138
To talk about things that have been hard to forgive, all of
00:40:50.138 --> 00:40:56.511
Us can talk about it right?
00:40:56.511 --> 00:40:59.314
And yet what leads us to forgive even when it hurts
00:40:59.314 --> 00:41:03.451
Even when it is literally heart wrenching and
00:41:03.451 --> 00:41:07.088
Heartbreaking is we remember what we have been forgiven of.
00:41:07.088 --> 00:41:08.957
That's what it does.
00:41:08.957 --> 00:41:11.226
So when we remember just how much god has forgiven us
00:41:11.226 --> 00:41:16.631
That's when we are like oh, this is hard, and i got to do
00:41:16.631 --> 00:41:22.103
It.
00:41:22.103 --> 00:41:23.271
But this is what brings me back to this idea that we
00:41:23.271 --> 00:41:25.807
Don't want to fall into victim mentality and we also don't
00:41:25.807 --> 00:41:27.509
Want to numb.
00:41:27.509 --> 00:41:30.545
We want to find that healthy middle because we actually
00:41:30.545 --> 00:41:35.383
Have to remember where we came from.
00:41:35.383 --> 00:41:37.819
To value that god loves us the same.
00:41:37.819 --> 00:41:39.621
Because i'm telling you every day i wake up and i'm like
00:41:39.621 --> 00:41:41.856
Lord don't let me forget when i was in the club.
00:41:41.856 --> 00:41:45.927
Do not let me forget when i was being nasty.
00:41:45.927 --> 00:41:48.163
Do not let me forget when i was an actual thief in college
00:41:48.163 --> 00:41:50.298
For stealing stuff.
00:41:50.298 --> 00:41:52.267
Stuffing bras and panties into my clothes, swimsuits on from
00:41:52.267 --> 00:41:57.839
The dressing room.
00:41:57.839 --> 00:41:59.174
Popping off sensors lord don't let me forget that while i was
00:41:59.174 --> 00:42:02.143
Still in sin you chose me.
00:42:02.143 --> 00:42:05.647
And you loved me, and so today it means so much to me to be
00:42:05.647 --> 00:42:11.386
Sitting here with my bible.
00:42:11.386 --> 00:42:14.823
Surrendered to the lord.
00:42:14.823 --> 00:42:16.124
When i know that he called me out of sin, he did not call
00:42:16.124 --> 00:42:21.496
Me when i loved him, he did not call me when i got
00:42:21.496 --> 00:42:24.199
Everything right in the church he did not call me when i
00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:26.501
Started memorizing scriptures he called me when i was still
00:42:26.501 --> 00:42:28.803
In sin and so when you have that heart you can have two
00:42:28.803 --> 00:42:31.539
Postures when it comes to sin.
00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:34.409
You can either have judgment, or you can have compassion.
00:42:34.409 --> 00:42:38.079
Now compassion is not letting people off the hook because
00:42:38.079 --> 00:42:41.149
Sin is sin.
00:42:41.149 --> 00:42:42.350
But compassion is i see how far you are from god and i
00:42:42.350 --> 00:42:46.655
Know how far i was from god and that's not god's best for
00:42:46.655 --> 00:42:49.224
You.
00:42:49.224 --> 00:42:50.959
Judgment is i can't believe you were in that club doing
00:42:50.959 --> 00:42:53.228
All the nasty and horrible things but when i remember
00:42:53.228 --> 00:42:55.597
What god has done for me.
00:42:55.597 --> 00:42:57.165
I should not be sitting here.
00:42:57.165 --> 00:42:59.034
- i've came across this quote a few years ago, but i think it
00:42:59.034 --> 00:43:03.872
Was [indiscernible] who said it.
00:43:03.872 --> 00:43:07.442
He says when we have a hard time forgiving it's because we
00:43:07.442 --> 00:43:10.478
Have forgotten what we have been forgiven of, and for me
00:43:10.478 --> 00:43:14.115
Knowing just how insanely amazing god's love is for me,
00:43:14.115 --> 00:43:19.888
It reminds me that i have a responsibility to love other
00:43:19.888 --> 00:43:24.459
People.
00:43:24.459 --> 00:43:25.960
I cannot be the victim in every single situation because
00:43:25.960 --> 00:43:29.297
Even if i am hurt, god knows it is not as bad as i hurt god
00:43:29.297 --> 00:43:33.868
And so i have to take ownership and accountability
00:43:33.868 --> 00:43:38.106
For the role i have made and the bible even tells us that
00:43:38.106 --> 00:43:39.941
As far as it depends on us to live at peace with everyone,
00:43:39.941 --> 00:43:43.678
So i do my best to live at peace with people to the
00:43:43.678 --> 00:43:47.148
Degree that i have control of the situation i think that's
00:43:47.148 --> 00:43:51.486
All that god expects of us to do.
00:43:51.486 --> 00:43:53.021
- i can sit here sanctified and redeemed and say when the
00:43:53.021 --> 00:43:58.059
Person does something against me, i will forgive because
00:43:58.059 --> 00:44:00.562
I've been forgiven much, but in real time when it's really
00:44:00.562 --> 00:44:07.302
Painful and it feels like the betrayall, how do i access
00:44:07.302 --> 00:44:11.139
That which you are saying in those moments that it's the
00:44:11.139 --> 00:44:14.209
Most painful and most hurtful?
00:44:14.209 --> 00:44:16.211
- i think it's easy to forgive the forgivable but the calling
00:44:16.211 --> 00:44:22.517
Is to forgive the unforgivable.
00:44:22.517 --> 00:44:24.652
So to do certain things like yeah i forgive you.
00:44:24.652 --> 00:44:28.757
To me what we are called to do is forgive the unforgivable.
00:44:28.757 --> 00:44:31.292
That's where you need the power of the holy spirit.
00:44:31.292 --> 00:44:33.561
- you have to have the holy spirit because it's so not
00:44:33.561 --> 00:44:36.664
About the person.
00:44:36.664 --> 00:44:39.100
What they did can rip us up, and be painful.
00:44:39.100 --> 00:44:44.572
And they can be the worst version of themselves.
00:44:44.572 --> 00:44:47.742
But there's some eternal perspective.
00:44:47.742 --> 00:44:51.412
Honestly let me tell you something practical that has
00:44:51.412 --> 00:44:55.617
Helped me when i've been very deeply hurt by people.
00:44:55.617 --> 00:44:58.820
I have to elevate my perspective beyond my
00:44:58.820 --> 00:45:02.257
Relationship with them.
00:45:02.257 --> 00:45:05.326
And say that's a child of god.
00:45:05.326 --> 00:45:06.594
So if it's not me, i'm serious, i have to take myself out
00:45:06.594 --> 00:45:09.297
Because now i'm trying to see them how god seems them.
00:45:09.297 --> 00:45:13.501
He says you're not their only relationship.
00:45:13.501 --> 00:45:15.904
They've got a whole life and so most of the time we are
00:45:15.904 --> 00:45:18.973
Dealing with the slice of the person that we know or that
00:45:18.973 --> 00:45:22.443
Relationship of what they did to us and god is saying i know
00:45:22.443 --> 00:45:24.479
This is real but i need you to elevate because also the only
00:45:24.479 --> 00:45:27.749
Way that forgiveness is not just lip service that is legit
00:45:27.749 --> 00:45:33.087
And you can pray for them as you see them as a soul as as
00:45:33.087 --> 00:45:35.824
Mine imago dei, and then i had to elevate out of the personal
00:45:35.824 --> 00:45:40.161
Experience, i'm having with them i'm not saying ignoring
00:45:40.161 --> 00:45:44.132
Because i have to do it that i don't think it's humanly
00:45:44.132 --> 00:45:47.569
Possible to stay in that pain that you caused me i have to
00:45:47.569 --> 00:45:50.872
Elevate to something divine.
00:45:50.872 --> 00:45:53.274
And see it differently.
00:45:53.274 --> 00:45:55.944
- i believe if we truly feel that love and the source of
00:45:55.944 --> 00:45:59.113
Love and source of identity and all that is truly from
00:45:59.113 --> 00:46:03.585
God, but that anchoring in god it's everything.
00:46:03.585 --> 00:46:05.987
It has happened with my husband, my friends, my kids
00:46:05.987 --> 00:46:10.859
And even with my own children where the lord is like you are
00:46:10.859 --> 00:46:16.464
Not first their parent, you're first their brother in christ
00:46:16.464 --> 00:46:19.000
So when i look at my son and yes i have authority.
00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:22.103
Yes you have to do what i said, but also i have to love
00:46:22.103 --> 00:46:24.172
You.
00:46:24.172 --> 00:46:25.573
When you start to ask the holy spirit to take you higher than
00:46:25.573 --> 00:46:28.943
Just a human interaction, it's the top of the castle.
00:46:28.943 --> 00:46:34.382
At the top of the castle.
00:46:34.382 --> 00:46:36.050
He's like i need you to see here.
00:46:36.050 --> 00:46:37.752
I need to see this way because that's the only way you're
00:46:37.752 --> 00:46:41.022
Going to have the perspective that you need in order to
00:46:41.022 --> 00:46:43.124
Forget.
00:46:43.124 --> 00:46:44.392
- i love that though, because it allows us not to be god,
00:46:44.392 --> 00:46:47.929
And i just don't think that the lord is calling us to be
00:46:47.929 --> 00:46:52.367
Him.
00:46:52.367 --> 00:46:53.568
He's calling us to look like jesus so that we are a
00:46:53.568 --> 00:46:56.371
Representation of him.
00:46:56.371 --> 00:46:59.340
But his power is his.
00:46:59.340 --> 00:47:00.842
We have access to it but we are not all knowing we are not
00:47:00.842 --> 00:47:03.411
Omniscient we are not omnipresent.
00:47:03.411 --> 00:47:05.380
We are here as surrendered servants saying lord how would
00:47:05.380 --> 00:47:07.882
You have me do it, lord where do you want to infuse your
00:47:07.882 --> 00:47:10.852
Power in me so that i can act according to your will?
00:47:10.852 --> 00:47:15.290
And for me at least there is some safety in that for me,
00:47:15.290 --> 00:47:19.928
Because i don't have it.
00:47:19.928 --> 00:47:24.365
And he does.
00:47:24.365 --> 00:47:25.667
And i get to like to partner with the lord and borrow some
00:47:25.667 --> 00:47:27.635
Of his power in moments that i need.
00:47:27.635 --> 00:47:31.005
That just makes me feel real safe.
00:47:31.005 --> 00:47:33.308
- god's love should absolutely be a catalyst for us to move.
00:47:33.308 --> 00:47:37.278
For us to go out and to love other people and serve other
00:47:37.278 --> 00:47:40.848
People.
00:47:40.848 --> 00:47:42.116
And the reason why is i just don't think that jesus came
00:47:42.116 --> 00:47:44.585
And died and was resurrected for a victory that is selfish.
00:47:44.585 --> 00:47:50.158
It's for victory that serves a victory that goes out and
00:47:50.158 --> 00:47:54.762
Tells others, why wouldn't we want to share the gift of an
00:47:54.762 --> 00:47:58.099
Everlasting god who loves us unconditionally?
00:47:58.099 --> 00:48:01.769
- one of the interesting things i learned was when i
00:48:01.769 --> 00:48:06.641
Was up on top of that ruined castle as a little girl, and i
00:48:06.641 --> 00:48:09.744
Thought i was loved, i was alone.
00:48:09.744 --> 00:48:13.214
It was when i came back down into my world that i thought
00:48:13.214 --> 00:48:16.651
No you're wrong.
00:48:16.651 --> 00:48:18.886
You're not loved you're not enough.
00:48:18.886 --> 00:48:20.154
But the interesting thing when i went back was i realized
00:48:20.154 --> 00:48:22.857
That it was in the community that i had found healing.
00:48:22.857 --> 00:48:26.127
And actually was the community of the psychiatric hospital
00:48:26.127 --> 00:48:31.265
Standing in a row you know in a circle with people all
00:48:31.265 --> 00:48:33.534
Holding hands sharing why we're here, what god has
00:48:33.534 --> 00:48:36.971
Taught us, companionship of brokenness, that i believe the
00:48:36.971 --> 00:48:41.342
Real healing does not come by yourself on top of the castle
00:48:41.342 --> 00:48:45.847
Wall.
00:48:45.847 --> 00:48:47.648
It comes when you join other people.
00:48:47.648 --> 00:48:49.751
So let's pray.
00:48:49.751 --> 00:48:51.052
Father, i'm so grateful, so profoundly grateful to be part
00:48:51.052 --> 00:48:57.025
Of your family.
00:48:57.025 --> 00:48:58.359
And lord that's when your love became so much more real to me
00:48:58.359 --> 00:49:01.829
When i became part of your broken family and i understood
00:49:01.829 --> 00:49:04.766
That none of us had all the pieces together that we were
00:49:04.766 --> 00:49:08.870
All struggling in one way or another, we are all looking
00:49:08.870 --> 00:49:13.574
Out different windows and we see different things lord, but
00:49:13.574 --> 00:49:16.544
What i'm praying for this week is lord i feel like i've got
00:49:16.544 --> 00:49:20.982
So much i want to learn this week, so much i want to learn
00:49:20.982 --> 00:49:23.918
And so much about what it means to let you love us fully
00:49:23.918 --> 00:49:27.388
And for that love to fully permeate every cell of our
00:49:27.388 --> 00:49:32.093
Being that it changes how we see the world.
00:49:32.093 --> 00:49:34.762
Help us to rise above lord because it's so easy to stay
00:49:34.762 --> 00:49:40.201
Where we are but i'm asking the holy spirit by your power
00:49:40.201 --> 00:49:44.038
To help us to rise up and see the way jesus sees.
00:49:44.038 --> 00:49:48.109
And we ask it in his powerful name amen.
00:49:48.109 --> 00:49:52.380
- connect with us on social media and let us know how our
00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:58.986
Team can pray for you.
00:49:58.986 --> 00:50:00.555
- in seasons of my life where i have maybe felt dry or
00:50:00.555 --> 00:50:05.860
Distant from god, i am really thankful that i have kind of
00:50:05.860 --> 00:50:09.097
This awareness of why am i feeling that way, and do i
00:50:09.097 --> 00:50:13.367
Need to reconnect with god on a different level in a
00:50:13.367 --> 00:50:15.503
Different way?
00:50:15.503 --> 00:50:16.404
That is the signal.
00:50:16.404 --> 00:50:17.872
It's like a warning sign that i need to look at my schedule
00:50:17.872 --> 00:50:20.508
And i need to allow some time where i can just soak in god's
00:50:20.508 --> 00:50:23.411
Presence.
00:50:23.411 --> 00:50:24.946
Where i can actually ask him some questions and be silent
00:50:24.946 --> 00:50:27.949
And let him answer.
00:50:27.949 --> 00:50:29.650
So i just want to encourage you if you're finding yourself
00:50:29.650 --> 00:50:31.919
In a dry season and wondering why you're not connecting with
00:50:31.919 --> 00:50:35.356
God, let me encourage you to take the first step and just
00:50:35.356 --> 00:50:40.561
Spend some time with him.
00:50:40.561 --> 00:50:41.829
- stream full episodes of better together on demand.
00:50:41.829 --> 00:50:45.299
Go to bettertogether.tv to stream all of our latest
00:50:45.299 --> 00:50:49.804
Conversations.
00:50:49.804 --> 00:50:51.339
♪ (music playing) ♪
00:50:51.339 --> 00:50:51.339

God's Radical Love for YOU - Episode 1101

October 6, 2025 | S7 E1101 | 52:34

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