How God Sees Women - Episode 1026

January 13, 2025 | S7:E1026

God sees you as His daughter! You are seen, valued, and greatly loved by your Creator. Women are uniquely created in God's image, designed to reflect His glory and purpose. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

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Better Together | How God Sees Women - Episode 1026 | January 13, 2025
  • >> laurie crouch: jesus was a revolutionary.
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  • He invited the world of his day to see women in a different way.
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  • His example reminds us that every woman was designed by god
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  • With a purpose and for his plan.
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  • Come on.
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  • We need to talk about this.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • >> janice gaines: i was reared by a dad who never actually put
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  • Limitations on any of his daughters
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  • And what they could do,
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  • What they could accomplish in ministry or anywhere else.
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  • And so when i graduated from college, i was asking the lord,
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  • "what do you want me to do next, god?"
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  • I mean, look at all the things we could do.
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  • Who knows what's next?
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  • And i heard the lord say, "seminary,"
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  • And i chuckled, kind of like--
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  • [chuckles]
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  • And i said--
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  • >> lisa bevere: that's illegal.
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  • [laughter]
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  • >> lisa: and i said to the lord,
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  • "that's for old guys like my dad."
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  • Like, with my 22-or-so-year-old self--
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  • >> sheila walsh: yeah.
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  • >> janice: -- that's the first thought that popped into my head
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  • To say back to the lord.
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  • And the lord was like, "and you."
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  • "maybe it's for old guys and you."
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  • And so i said, "okay."
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  • So i went to seminary and--
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  • I went to ashland theological seminary,
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  • One of the sweetest communities i've ever been a part of,
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  • Still to this day.
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  • I still treasure and cherish those people-- my professors,
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  • My roommates, my colleagues, and peers.
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  • But i went to seminary, and i started off doing-- i was like,
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  • "i'll just do-- i like to sing worship,
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  • So i'll do a master of arts in church music and worship.
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  • So i started there, and i did all of my electives.
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  • And finally, coming into--
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  • I was a little over halfway done,
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  • And the lord was like,
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  • "don't you kind of wanna jump into some other things?"
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  • And i was like, "i do."
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  • Like, "i would really like to take greek and hebrew."
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  • And so i thought,
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  • "i'm gonna take greek and hebrew."
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  • By the time i got ready to go into my third year,
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  • I had done every requirement for a master of divinity
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  • Except the cohort that i needed to start in the third year,
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  • And the lord was like, once again,
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  • Another invitation beckoning me like, "why don't you try it?"
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  • 'cause, in my mind, my dad went to duke university and has an
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  • M.div., and he's like--
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  • >> sheila: yeah.
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  • >> janice: -- a career--
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  • He's a bishop in the christian methodist episcopal church,
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  • The senior bishop, and so i thought,
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  • "that's what he does."
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  • >> lisa: right.
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  • >> janice: and the lord was like,
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  • "it's what you do."
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  • And so i remember realizing that,
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  • Oh, i don't know why i put those limitations on myself
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  • Because i wasn't reared with them.
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  • But it turns out the lord had invitations for me,
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  • To draw me into what he had for me because he was responding to
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  • What he has already planned for me.
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  • >> laurie: everything about god and his kingdom
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  • Always seems upside down.
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  • >> janice: that's right.
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  • >> laurie: and we think that it's upside down,
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  • But is it really right side up for us?
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  • >> janice: that's right.
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  • >> laurie: and i love your story.
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  • I love that you kept saying "yes" to that invitation 'cause
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  • A lot of people say "no," you know?
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  • >> lisa: yeah.
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  • >> laurie: and not to say that they don't achieve what god's
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  • Called them to do,
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  • But isn't it great when someone says "yes" to the call
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  • Of stepping outside of something that they didn't think
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  • They could do?
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  • >> janice: yeah.
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  • >> laurie: my story is that i grew up--
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  • I was in the ministry with my parents,
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  • And it was like, "i'll do anything, lord.
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  • Just, please, don't make me be a pastor's wife."
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  • >> janice: that's right.
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  • That's right.
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  • [laughter]
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  • >> laurie: you know, 'cause i grew up with my--
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  • Watching my mom be a pastor's wife.
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  • "god, please don't make me do that," you know?
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  • [laughter]
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  • But i knew i was gonna be in the ministry.
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  • But i think, as we go through the week,
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  • We're talking about becoming women of purpose.
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  • I think it's so important that we know how important our voices
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  • Are as well.
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  • Everybody needs to use their voice to stand up for the truth.
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  • It was voices into my life--
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  • >> dr. donna pisani: yeah.
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  • >> laurie: -- voices of my grandmothers and my mother and
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  • My father and my aunts and uncles--
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  • >> donna: yeah.
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  • >> laurie: -- to where i am today.
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  • I never dreamed i'd be doing what i am doing today,
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  • But it was those voices in our lives.
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  • I just think that's beautiful because god will call you to do
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  • Something that you didn't think you could do;
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  • Didn't have any idea you could do-- right?
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  • >> janice: that's right.
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  • >> laurie: -- and, just, out of your comfort zone.
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  • >> laurie: i think that, if you feel called to do something,
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  • You just need to just step out and do it.
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  • God'll meet you there.
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  • It really doesn't matter at all what anybody else says,
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  • How anybody else feels.
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  • I would listen to the voices in your life that mean something to
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  • You that you know that maybe you're led by the holy spirit to
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  • Speak into your life.
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  • But other than that, you know, i don't think people's opinions
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  • Matter much when god has called you to do something.
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  • I know they don't matter at all when god's called you to do
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  • Somethin', but i just encourage you to step out,
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  • Whatever you feel,
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  • However you feel god wanting you to maybe speak into somebody's
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  • Life or do something out of your comfort zone.
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  • That's what he always calls us to do,
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  • And i'm just encouraging you today because we all get to do
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  • That at some point in our life,
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  • And i'd rather you do it sooner than later,
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  • >> sheila: i mean, when you talk about seminary-- because i
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  • Remember graduating from high school,
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  • And i used to do more like opera kind of music,
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  • So i've been accepted in the royal academy of
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  • Operatic art in london.
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  • [imitating opera style]
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  • [music]
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  • Look at you...
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  • I know...
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  • >> that's pretty amazing.
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  • [laughter]
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  • >> sheila: but i felt as if god was calling me into ministry
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  • 'cause i remember, at 16, seeing a movie,
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  • And it was all about the life of christ,
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  • And i went with my youth group, and the last scene,
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  • The scene with christ on the cross where he said,
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  • "it is finished," everybody else got up and left and all went for
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  • Pizza, and i couldn't move.
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  • I mean, i sat there, and i was just sobbing.
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  • And i remember that night, at 16, thinking, "okay,
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  • I don't know what you want me to do, lord, but whatever it is,
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  • I'm all in.
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  • I'm all in."
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  • And then i wanted to apply to seminary just because
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  • I thought, you know,
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  • "i'd love to know god's word better--"
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  • >> janice: yes.
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  • >> sheila: -- but when i got there,
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  • It was two-thirds guys and one-third women
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  • And that the women were all like,
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  • "so which country are you going to?"
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  • And i said, "what do you mean which country am i going to?"
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  • And they said,
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  • "well, obviously you're here to train to be a missionary."
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  • And i said, "well, yeah, but, i mean,
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  • Not necessarily in india or africa or china,"
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  • But their thing was "no, no, no,
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  • You need to understand this clearly like from the beginning.
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  • You're a woman.
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  • So the men who are here are training for pastoral ministry.
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  • You're a woman, so pick a country."
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  • >> laurie: oh.
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  • >> sheila: and i spent all my time in seminary praying for the
  • 00:07:06.749 --> 00:07:10.319
  • Women of india until god redirected my steps,
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  • But there was this clear understanding when i was growing
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  • Up that, if you're a woman, that's your choice.
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  • >> lisa: wow.
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  • >> sheila: and i remember thinking,
  • 00:07:18.594 --> 00:07:20.096
  • "well, what if there's men in the tribe," you know?
  • 00:07:20.096 --> 00:07:21.697
  • "what if i'm speaking somewhere in a little village in india
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  • And men show up?
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  • Do i have to be quiet then?"
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  • It didn't make sense to me, but it seemed like,
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  • "as long as you're not in our country,
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  • You can speak to men."
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  • >> donna: oh, wow.
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  • >> janice: well, and isn't that weird?
  • 00:07:32.408 --> 00:07:35.177
  • It is odd, to me, that the first person to carry the message that
  • 00:07:35.177 --> 00:07:38.047
  • Jesus is alive and that he is who he says he is-- was a woman,
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  • And she carried it to men.
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  • >> sheila: yes.
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  • >> janice: and then today we say,
  • 00:07:47.657 --> 00:07:49.759
  • "women cannot carry the message that jesus is alive and that he
  • 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:53.429
  • Is who he says he is-- to men."
  • 00:07:53.429 --> 00:07:57.500
  • It just seems really like one plus one equals two,
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  • But perhaps my math is off?
  • 00:07:58.734 --> 00:08:00.903
  • I'm like, "no."
  • 00:08:00.903 --> 00:08:02.204
  • >> donna: well, i just love that whole portion of scripture
  • 00:08:02.204 --> 00:08:04.307
  • Because god could've showed up to peter and john.
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  • They were just there.
  • 00:08:07.476 --> 00:08:08.778
  • It wasn't like he was having coffee and he missed the moment:
  • 00:08:08.778 --> 00:08:10.012
  • He's like, "shoot-- no, let me just show up to a woman."
  • 00:08:10.012 --> 00:08:12.548
  • And the power of that is that the head of the church, jesus,
  • 00:08:12.548 --> 00:08:15.284
  • Gave a woman a voice because he was redeeming in the second
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  • Garden what had happened in the first garden.
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  • And how powerful it is that mary is standing with eve's seed,
  • 00:08:23.426 --> 00:08:27.430
  • Who has just crushed the head of the enemy,
  • 00:08:27.430 --> 00:08:29.565
  • And he's now just saying, "you'll suffer generations--"
  • 00:08:29.565 --> 00:08:33.336
  • Women have been marginalized-- "but right now,
  • 00:08:33.336 --> 00:08:34.770
  • I'm giving you a voice."
  • 00:08:34.770 --> 00:08:37.106
  • And the voice was so--
  • 00:08:37.106 --> 00:08:38.040
  • What did he tell her to say?
  • 00:08:38.040 --> 00:08:40.076
  • That "i've risen from the dead." so he basically gave women--
  • 00:08:40.076 --> 00:08:42.178
  • >> sheila: the gospel.
  • 00:08:42.178 --> 00:08:43.412
  • >> donna: -- the gospel and the power of resurrection
  • 00:08:43.412 --> 00:08:45.247
  • In our mouth.
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  • Like, we have this power to speak life--
  • 00:08:46.682 --> 00:08:50.686
  • >> janice: on purpose.
  • 00:08:50.686 --> 00:08:51.887
  • >> donna: -- from the head of the head of the church.
  • 00:08:51.887 --> 00:08:53.055
  • So i know, in my life, i always felt two brain cells
  • 00:08:53.055 --> 00:08:54.323
  • Short of smart, like--
  • 00:08:54.323 --> 00:08:55.558
  • [laughter]
  • 00:08:55.558 --> 00:08:57.893
  • -- i'm grateful for a husband who empowered me and brought--
  • 00:08:57.893 --> 00:08:59.028
  • Pulled the gifts out of me,
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  • But i didn't go back to school till i was late 50s.
  • 00:09:01.297 --> 00:09:03.532
  • I think, oftentimes, we believe a narrative in our head,
  • 00:09:03.532 --> 00:09:04.867
  • As women, that we are just not quite enough, and it's, i think,
  • 00:09:04.867 --> 00:09:12.642
  • The biggest lie of the enemy.
  • 00:09:12.642 --> 00:09:15.645
  • Psalm 68:11 talks about how great is this army of women,
  • 00:09:15.645 --> 00:09:18.514
  • Basically, that are gonna preach the gospel.
  • 00:09:18.514 --> 00:09:20.616
  • I believe we're in that season right now.
  • 00:09:20.616 --> 00:09:22.918
  • God doesn't want us silenced.
  • 00:09:22.918 --> 00:09:24.720
  • >> donna: the way that god sees women is just so beautiful.
  • 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:26.689
  • I mean,
  • 00:09:26.689 --> 00:09:27.790
  • When jesus rose from the dead,
  • 00:09:27.790 --> 00:09:30.359
  • The first person he appeared to was mary, a woman.
  • 00:09:30.359 --> 00:09:32.061
  • Peter and john had just been there.
  • 00:09:32.061 --> 00:09:33.896
  • I mean, to me, this whole revelation shook my world that
  • 00:09:33.896 --> 00:09:37.667
  • He could've showed up to a man,
  • 00:09:37.667 --> 00:09:40.803
  • But he showed up to a woman and that he gave her a voice.
  • 00:09:40.803 --> 00:09:42.471
  • So every time we repeat the story of the resurrection,
  • 00:09:42.471 --> 00:09:45.474
  • We're repeating literally the words from a woman,
  • 00:09:45.474 --> 00:09:48.911
  • And those words, where jesus said to mary,
  • 00:09:48.911 --> 00:09:51.514
  • "go tell my brothers that i'm risen from the dead"--
  • 00:09:51.514 --> 00:09:53.516
  • His words don't have an expiration date on it.
  • 00:09:53.516 --> 00:09:56.819
  • In fact, i want you to think about this, that, when god said,
  • 00:09:56.819 --> 00:09:59.689
  • "let there be light,"
  • 00:09:59.689 --> 00:10:01.590
  • Those are four words that became an energy force
  • 00:10:01.590 --> 00:10:04.393
  • Traveling the earth 186,000 miles per second.
  • 00:10:04.393 --> 00:10:07.096
  • That means those words did not have a expiration on them,
  • 00:10:07.096 --> 00:10:11.067
  • And neither did his words speaking over mary and over you
  • 00:10:11.067 --> 00:10:14.236
  • To "go tell."
  • 00:10:14.236 --> 00:10:15.805
  • He's given you a voice to speak about resurrection,
  • 00:10:15.805 --> 00:10:18.374
  • Not just as a noun, as an event,
  • 00:10:18.374 --> 00:10:20.076
  • But as a lifestyle.
  • 00:10:20.076 --> 00:10:22.545
  • So i wanna encourage you, friend,
  • 00:10:22.545 --> 00:10:24.413
  • Don't let the culture define you,
  • 00:10:24.413 --> 00:10:26.282
  • But remember that the way jesus sees you
  • 00:10:26.282 --> 00:10:28.484
  • Should define your life,
  • 00:10:28.484 --> 00:10:31.053
  • And it should encourage you that he's given you a voice.
  • 00:10:31.053 --> 00:10:33.889
  • >> laurie: i love that god tells a woman 'cause a woman's gonna
  • 00:10:33.889 --> 00:10:36.625
  • Share, you know?
  • 00:10:36.625 --> 00:10:37.960
  • [laughter]
  • 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:38.894
  • >> sheila: that's for sure.
  • 00:10:38.894 --> 00:10:39.729
  • >> donna: yeah.
  • 00:10:39.729 --> 00:10:40.629
  • >> laurie: "get on the phone, girl."
  • 00:10:40.629 --> 00:10:41.764
  • >> janice: exactly, yeah.
  • 00:10:41.764 --> 00:10:43.432
  • >> laurie: well, the woman at the well.
  • 00:10:43.432 --> 00:10:45.134
  • >> lisa: i was going to say that wasn't even the first time.
  • 00:10:45.134 --> 00:10:46.135
  • The woman at the well--
  • 00:10:46.135 --> 00:10:47.837
  • >> laurie: she was the first-- she's the first witness goin',
  • 00:10:47.837 --> 00:10:49.305
  • "look at-- look at the man that has told me everything--"
  • 00:10:49.305 --> 00:10:52.875
  • >> sheila: she became the first evangelist.
  • 00:10:52.875 --> 00:10:54.443
  • >> laurie: she was the first evangelist.
  • 00:10:54.443 --> 00:10:55.644
  • >> lisa: yes, and there's actually a church built over
  • 00:10:55.644 --> 00:10:56.912
  • That well, called the church of photina, that still stands.
  • 00:10:56.912 --> 00:10:58.881
  • You know what's so crazy is, like,
  • 00:10:58.881 --> 00:11:01.117
  • You all grew up with some kind of christian frame of reference,
  • 00:11:01.117 --> 00:11:04.820
  • So when you say, "was there ever a time that god asked you to do
  • 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:08.591
  • Something--" i say, "every time--"
  • 00:11:08.591 --> 00:11:10.493
  • [laughter]
  • 00:11:10.493 --> 00:11:11.460
  • -- "that you don't feel qualified for?"
  • 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:12.628
  • But this woman-- it's so interesting how they preach
  • 00:11:12.628 --> 00:11:16.999
  • About her as though she had left all these husbands,
  • 00:11:16.999 --> 00:11:20.936
  • But back then, a woman couldn't divorce a husband.
  • 00:11:20.936 --> 00:11:24.140
  • >> donna: no, right.
  • 00:11:24.140 --> 00:11:26.776
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:11:26.776 --> 00:11:28.144
  • >> lisa: and so we have a woman who has been rejected, rejected,
  • 00:11:28.144 --> 00:11:29.411
  • Rejected, rejected and is so broken that she's willing to
  • 00:11:29.411 --> 00:11:33.682
  • Live with a man who will not even give her his name.
  • 00:11:33.682 --> 00:11:34.884
  • >> donna: yes.
  • 00:11:34.884 --> 00:11:35.851
  • >> lisa: and she's coming to the well.
  • 00:11:35.851 --> 00:11:37.753
  • And what i always think about this woman is that she was a
  • 00:11:37.753 --> 00:11:40.122
  • Deep well--
  • 00:11:40.122 --> 00:11:40.790
  • >> donna & janice: yes.
  • 00:11:40.790 --> 00:11:41.891
  • >> lisa: -- living a shallow life--
  • 00:11:41.891 --> 00:11:42.625
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:11:42.625 --> 00:11:43.559
  • >> lisa: -- and because you don't come
  • 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.195
  • And talk about worship.
  • 00:11:46.195 --> 00:11:46.996
  • I mean, that's the first thing.
  • 00:11:46.996 --> 00:11:48.297
  • She's like, "hey-- worship." she immediately--
  • 00:11:48.297 --> 00:11:49.398
  • So she had a longing.
  • 00:11:49.398 --> 00:11:54.370
  • And then, of course, we know what happens.
  • 00:11:54.370 --> 00:11:55.738
  • She drops her jars, and she goes into the city, and she said,
  • 00:11:55.738 --> 00:11:58.874
  • "come and meet the man who told me everything about myself."
  • 00:11:58.874 --> 00:12:01.644
  • And it's just this beautiful moment.
  • 00:12:01.644 --> 00:12:04.814
  • >> donna: yeah.
  • 00:12:04.814 --> 00:12:06.715
  • >> lisa: he reveals himself to her as the messiah.
  • 00:12:06.715 --> 00:12:09.118
  • >> donna: first time.
  • 00:12:09.118 --> 00:12:11.987
  • >> lisa: first time it's ever--
  • 00:12:11.987 --> 00:12:13.155
  • So that woman-- and then when he was risen-- a woman.
  • 00:12:13.155 --> 00:12:15.524
  • >> janice: well, if you go all the way back to genesis, i mean,
  • 00:12:15.524 --> 00:12:18.527
  • The first person-- before moses says,
  • 00:12:18.527 --> 00:12:21.564
  • "who am i supposed to tell these people that you are?"
  • 00:12:21.564 --> 00:12:24.400
  • Hagar, which-- and especially, as a black woman,
  • 00:12:24.400 --> 00:12:28.571
  • This story stands out to me.
  • 00:12:28.571 --> 00:12:31.140
  • But hagar, as an enslaved african woman,
  • 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:34.109
  • Is sitting in the desert, sent out to die,
  • 00:12:34.109 --> 00:12:37.847
  • And it's god who speaks to her, rescues her, and she names him.
  • 00:12:37.847 --> 00:12:40.115
  • >> donna: yeah.
  • 00:12:40.115 --> 00:12:41.917
  • >> janice: this is the god who has seen--
  • 00:12:41.917 --> 00:12:45.354
  • I've seen the god who sees me."
  • 00:12:45.354 --> 00:12:46.222
  • Right?
  • 00:12:46.222 --> 00:12:46.689
  • In genesis.
  • 00:12:46.689 --> 00:12:47.756
  • >> sheila: so powerful.
  • 00:12:47.756 --> 00:12:48.858
  • >> janice: it's like, every step of the way,
  • 00:12:48.858 --> 00:12:52.328
  • The lord knew how culture would marginalize.
  • 00:12:52.328 --> 00:12:53.996
  • And so, every step of the way, he left bread crumbs for us to
  • 00:12:53.996 --> 00:12:58.200
  • Really see and acknowledge and internalize the value that he's
  • 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:03.005
  • Placed in women.
  • 00:13:03.005 --> 00:13:06.775
  • >> sheila: jesus encounters this woman at the well and asks her
  • 00:13:06.775 --> 00:13:09.144
  • For a drink of water.
  • 00:13:09.144 --> 00:13:12.915
  • And she said, you know, "why are you even talking to me?
  • 00:13:12.915 --> 00:13:14.750
  • And jesus said, "if you knew who was talking to you,
  • 00:13:14.750 --> 00:13:17.019
  • You would ask me for water,
  • 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:20.289
  • And you'd never be thirsty again."
  • 00:13:20.289 --> 00:13:21.190
  • And then jesus says,
  • 00:13:21.190 --> 00:13:21.824
  • "go bring your husband."
  • 00:13:21.824 --> 00:13:23.459
  • And what does she do?
  • 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:24.360
  • Does she tell him, "well, you know,
  • 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.828
  • I've been married five times,
  • 00:13:25.828 --> 00:13:28.364
  • And the guy i'm living with now is not my husband"?
  • 00:13:28.364 --> 00:13:31.233
  • And so she says, "sir, i'm not married," which is true.
  • 00:13:31.233 --> 00:13:33.802
  • It's just not the whole truth.
  • 00:13:33.802 --> 00:13:35.137
  • And jesus said, "i know that.
  • 00:13:35.137 --> 00:13:37.239
  • I know you've been married five times,
  • 00:13:37.239 --> 00:13:38.974
  • And the man you're living with now is not your husband,"
  • 00:13:38.974 --> 00:13:40.175
  • But the seventh man changed everything because jesus,
  • 00:13:40.175 --> 00:13:44.546
  • The way he defined "worship" to her was he said,
  • 00:13:44.546 --> 00:13:47.449
  • "worship that pleases god is in spirit and in truth."
  • 00:13:47.449 --> 00:13:52.087
  • And that little greek word,
  • 00:13:52.087 --> 00:13:53.088
  • "aletheia," means "with nothing hidden."
  • 00:13:53.088 --> 00:13:56.692
  • Jesus was saying,
  • 00:13:56.692 --> 00:13:58.727
  • "listen, i know all that's true about you.
  • 00:13:58.727 --> 00:13:59.595
  • I know your story, and i love you."
  • 00:13:59.595 --> 00:14:01.030
  • And this woman,
  • 00:14:01.030 --> 00:14:02.765
  • Who used to come out in the heat of the day when it was so hot
  • 00:14:02.765 --> 00:14:05.601
  • That no other woman came to the well,
  • 00:14:05.601 --> 00:14:07.002
  • Ran back to her village to say,
  • 00:14:07.002 --> 00:14:10.406
  • "come and meet the man who told me everything about myself."
  • 00:14:10.406 --> 00:14:14.677
  • That was the thing she was trying to hide from people.
  • 00:14:14.677 --> 00:14:16.612
  • That she had met the savior, and he let her know, "i am messiah,"
  • 00:14:16.612 --> 00:14:19.848
  • And she became the one that brought villagers back,
  • 00:14:19.848 --> 00:14:22.651
  • And they asked jesus,
  • 00:14:22.651 --> 00:14:24.320
  • "would you stay for a few more days?"
  • 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.454
  • And he stayed there,
  • 00:14:25.454 --> 00:14:27.323
  • And many of those people gave their lives to christ.
  • 00:14:27.323 --> 00:14:28.891
  • I think it's amazing that the first evangelist
  • 00:14:28.891 --> 00:14:31.060
  • Like that was a woman.
  • 00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:34.496
  • >> lisa: when we know both the love of god and how much he
  • 00:14:34.496 --> 00:14:37.700
  • Values us as his daughters--
  • 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:39.568
  • See, he doesn't love sons more and daughters less or
  • 00:14:39.568 --> 00:14:43.238
  • Daughters more and sons less.
  • 00:14:43.238 --> 00:14:44.073
  • He loves both of us uniquely.
  • 00:14:44.073 --> 00:14:48.477
  • He loves and values his daughters.
  • 00:14:48.477 --> 00:14:50.846
  • And when we know both his love and his value,
  • 00:14:50.846 --> 00:14:54.883
  • Then we have the ability to respond and become everything
  • 00:14:54.883 --> 00:14:57.052
  • That he created us to be.
  • 00:14:57.052 --> 00:15:00.622
  • >> janice: god wants us to do life together because we are
  • 00:15:00.622 --> 00:15:02.091
  • Better together.
  • 00:15:02.091 --> 00:15:07.062
  • >> sheila: connect with us on social media,
  • 00:15:07.062 --> 00:15:08.430
  • And join a community that encourages and prays
  • 00:15:08.430 --> 00:15:09.832
  • For one another.
  • 00:15:09.832 --> 00:15:10.866
  • >> janice: we can't wait for you to join us.
  • 00:15:10.866 --> 00:15:13.068
  • >> laurie: let's keep the conversation going.
  • 00:15:13.068 --> 00:15:16.872
  • You can find the "better together"
  • 00:15:16.872 --> 00:15:18.173
  • Podcast on your favorite listening platform.
  • 00:15:18.173 --> 00:15:19.441
  • Subscribe today.
  • 00:15:19.441 --> 00:15:22.711
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:15:22.711 --> 00:15:23.002
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:15:23.002 --> 00:15:26.716
  • >> janice: every culture that i can think of,
  • 00:15:26.716 --> 00:15:29.019
  • Back to ancient culture,
  • 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:31.221
  • Has marginalized women in some kind of way,
  • 00:15:31.221 --> 00:15:33.323
  • But god has always,
  • 00:15:33.323 --> 00:15:37.560
  • In showing himself to culture and introducing himself
  • 00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:40.263
  • To the people that would call him by name,
  • 00:15:40.263 --> 00:15:44.634
  • He has always said, "this is my culture.
  • 00:15:44.634 --> 00:15:45.435
  • Come over to mine."
  • 00:15:45.435 --> 00:15:46.703
  • And if you're paying attention,
  • 00:15:46.703 --> 00:15:49.005
  • The first context--
  • 00:15:49.005 --> 00:15:51.107
  • We always think of women in context of men, right?
  • 00:15:51.107 --> 00:15:53.243
  • We go straight to when the lord makes woman from adam's rib,
  • 00:15:53.243 --> 00:15:57.580
  • But he's already talked about the woman
  • 00:15:57.580 --> 00:16:01.251
  • A whole chapter before that.
  • 00:16:01.251 --> 00:16:03.286
  • >> sheila: before, yeah.
  • 00:16:03.286 --> 00:16:04.254
  • >> janice: and our value, our identity,
  • 00:16:04.254 --> 00:16:06.056
  • The center of who we are, has everything to do with
  • 00:16:06.056 --> 00:16:09.059
  • Being made in the image of god.
  • 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:12.362
  • That's how he describes "woman" the first time.
  • 00:16:12.362 --> 00:16:15.131
  • And so i think it is so easy to culturally find ourselves in
  • 00:16:15.131 --> 00:16:19.969
  • This conversation of comparison when it's like, first of all,
  • 00:16:19.969 --> 00:16:24.374
  • It was about-- it was supposed to be about community,
  • 00:16:24.374 --> 00:16:26.509
  • Not comparison.
  • 00:16:26.509 --> 00:16:27.911
  • But also, the lord has given us an identity that is attached to
  • 00:16:27.911 --> 00:16:32.182
  • His context, most importantly.
  • 00:16:32.182 --> 00:16:34.317
  • >> laurie: well, you were saying something about a helper--
  • 00:16:34.317 --> 00:16:36.386
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:16:36.386 --> 00:16:37.454
  • >> laurie: -- that god took out of adam, eve.
  • 00:16:37.454 --> 00:16:42.125
  • So he took us out, so that makes us separate but yet needed,
  • 00:16:42.125 --> 00:16:46.362
  • So we need each other.
  • 00:16:46.362 --> 00:16:48.431
  • So i just wanna remind all you wives--
  • 00:16:48.431 --> 00:16:49.866
  • >> janice: yeah, community, that's right.
  • 00:16:49.866 --> 00:16:51.568
  • >> laurie: -- that we need our husbands today.
  • 00:16:51.568 --> 00:16:53.470
  • >> janice: and we've got good ones, amen.
  • 00:16:53.470 --> 00:16:54.304
  • Thank you, lord.
  • 00:16:54.304 --> 00:16:54.971
  • [laughter]
  • 00:16:54.971 --> 00:16:56.106
  • >> laurie: but god is our helper.
  • 00:16:56.106 --> 00:16:58.208
  • The holy spirit is our helper.
  • 00:16:58.208 --> 00:16:59.509
  • There is no-- nothing is less.
  • 00:16:59.509 --> 00:17:01.744
  • >> sheila: so you can't devalue that word.
  • 00:17:01.744 --> 00:17:03.379
  • >> laurie: yeah, you cannot devalue what a helper is.
  • 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:04.681
  • I mean, there's things that matt cannot get done without me--
  • 00:17:04.681 --> 00:17:08.251
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:17:08.251 --> 00:17:09.786
  • >> laurie: -- and vice versa.
  • 00:17:09.786 --> 00:17:10.286
  • >> donna: yeah.
  • 00:17:10.286 --> 00:17:12.355
  • >> laurie: that helping each other and that helper is a
  • 00:17:12.355 --> 00:17:14.524
  • Beautiful spot, and women-- there's so many wonderful things
  • 00:17:14.524 --> 00:17:18.828
  • About what women-- who we are and what we can do,
  • 00:17:18.828 --> 00:17:23.066
  • Not to be compared to a man but to be joined and how we take
  • 00:17:23.066 --> 00:17:29.806
  • Care, how we serve.
  • 00:17:29.806 --> 00:17:31.574
  • They expected you to go to the mission field because we're such
  • 00:17:31.574 --> 00:17:34.944
  • Good caretakers, right?
  • 00:17:34.944 --> 00:17:36.613
  • >> yes.
  • 00:17:36.613 --> 00:17:37.580
  • >> laurie: we know how to serve people.
  • 00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:41.784
  • We have all this beautiful stuff inside of women that we are
  • 00:17:41.784 --> 00:17:47.924
  • Valued by god, and god knows who to go to,
  • 00:17:47.924 --> 00:17:49.192
  • To get his purpose fulfilled.
  • 00:17:49.192 --> 00:17:53.963
  • >> janice: being created in the image of god applies to women
  • 00:17:53.963 --> 00:17:55.565
  • Because god applied it to women.
  • 00:17:55.565 --> 00:17:58.301
  • You know, that's really the nuts and bolts of it.
  • 00:17:58.301 --> 00:18:01.504
  • God said, in genesis 1:26 and 27,
  • 00:18:01.504 --> 00:18:06.075
  • That he created humankind; "male and female he created them in
  • 00:18:06.075 --> 00:18:10.747
  • His image," and so that's what we're holding on to.
  • 00:18:10.747 --> 00:18:12.615
  • You know, this is not some pep talk that we're giving
  • 00:18:12.615 --> 00:18:16.853
  • Ourselves, based on what's gonna make us feel good.
  • 00:18:16.853 --> 00:18:19.022
  • And i like to remember that-- right?
  • 00:18:19.022 --> 00:18:21.491
  • -- because then the truth that we're holding onto
  • 00:18:21.491 --> 00:18:25.328
  • Cannot be shaken.
  • 00:18:25.328 --> 00:18:27.463
  • We have been made in god's image because he said that we have,
  • 00:18:27.463 --> 00:18:34.304
  • And our context for existing, our context for any purpose that
  • 00:18:34.304 --> 00:18:39.909
  • He's given us, rests solely and quite squarely in him,
  • 00:18:39.909 --> 00:18:45.615
  • And that's good news because, when everything tries to come
  • 00:18:45.615 --> 00:18:48.851
  • Against that, how we feel, what the world says,
  • 00:18:48.851 --> 00:18:53.623
  • What resources we have, what time we have,
  • 00:18:53.623 --> 00:18:57.093
  • Whatever it may be, we can come back to the truth that's in the
  • 00:18:57.093 --> 00:19:00.463
  • Word of god that's unshakable.
  • 00:19:00.463 --> 00:19:03.199
  • >> janice: it's interesting that you bring up that part because i
  • 00:19:03.199 --> 00:19:07.437
  • Think that's a part that i have had to really process,
  • 00:19:07.437 --> 00:19:08.905
  • The part of womanhood that is unique to women and that has
  • 00:19:08.905 --> 00:19:14.477
  • Been, i would say, kind of culturally been blasted, right?
  • 00:19:14.477 --> 00:19:20.783
  • And my generation was given the message that,
  • 00:19:20.783 --> 00:19:25.555
  • If you are a strong woman,
  • 00:19:25.555 --> 00:19:26.723
  • Then you shouldn't have to be expected to pour out
  • 00:19:26.723 --> 00:19:29.826
  • In certain ways.
  • 00:19:29.826 --> 00:19:31.527
  • Like, it's offensive to say that women are caretakers and serve
  • 00:19:31.527 --> 00:19:34.998
  • Well, right?
  • 00:19:34.998 --> 00:19:37.934
  • >> lisa: yeah.
  • 00:19:37.934 --> 00:19:39.435
  • >> janice: then i had a baby-- and my husband is awesome.
  • 00:19:39.435 --> 00:19:43.139
  • Like, e.j. gaines is the bee's knees, right?
  • 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:45.675
  • [laughter]
  • 00:19:45.675 --> 00:19:46.876
  • And he was-- i mean, it was an emergency c-section,
  • 00:19:46.876 --> 00:19:49.312
  • So he was there and helpful from moment one, and then,
  • 00:19:49.312 --> 00:19:54.450
  • About week 3, his paternity leave was over,
  • 00:19:54.450 --> 00:19:57.987
  • And he had to go back to work, and it dawned on me that this
  • 00:19:57.987 --> 00:20:01.557
  • Was my job and that i had a lot of emotions around motherhood
  • 00:20:01.557 --> 00:20:07.764
  • And womanhood and how my body made this baby.
  • 00:20:07.764 --> 00:20:12.402
  • This baby was inside of my body, and so this baby had
  • 00:20:12.402 --> 00:20:15.138
  • Expectations of me.
  • 00:20:15.138 --> 00:20:17.774
  • And so the world likes to have this conversation like it's an
  • 00:20:17.774 --> 00:20:21.778
  • External pressure, which i'm not saying it isn't sometimes.
  • 00:20:21.778 --> 00:20:26.549
  • Like, we've already spoken that marginalization is real.
  • 00:20:26.549 --> 00:20:30.953
  • But what i realized is this was a biology thing,
  • 00:20:30.953 --> 00:20:34.957
  • And i couldn't be mad at any man for that.
  • 00:20:34.957 --> 00:20:38.127
  • I literally had a baby, and the baby wanted to be with me
  • 00:20:38.127 --> 00:20:40.596
  • Because that's where they were formed.
  • 00:20:40.596 --> 00:20:42.598
  • And i had to come to grips with the fact that i've-- this is a
  • 00:20:42.598 --> 00:20:47.236
  • Part of how i have been fearfully and wonderfully made,
  • 00:20:47.236 --> 00:20:51.774
  • And it's not to be despised that,
  • 00:20:51.774 --> 00:20:58.147
  • For these few years of my life, these children want me more.
  • 00:20:58.147 --> 00:20:59.382
  • These children expect more from me.
  • 00:20:59.382 --> 00:21:02.251
  • Now, things are startin' to turn at 7 and 4,
  • 00:21:02.251 --> 00:21:03.786
  • Especially the 7-year-old.
  • 00:21:03.786 --> 00:21:05.355
  • He only wants to be with his dad,
  • 00:21:05.355 --> 00:21:07.090
  • And the 4-year-old is startin' to think his dad is
  • 00:21:07.090 --> 00:21:08.791
  • All that too,
  • 00:21:08.791 --> 00:21:10.560
  • And i'm like, "what about me?"
  • 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:11.594
  • [laughter]
  • 00:21:11.594 --> 00:21:12.562
  • >> lisa: they'll come back.
  • 00:21:12.562 --> 00:21:13.696
  • They'll come back.
  • 00:21:13.696 --> 00:21:14.430
  • >> janice: okay, good.
  • 00:21:14.430 --> 00:21:15.098
  • >> lisa: i promise you.
  • 00:21:15.098 --> 00:21:15.765
  • >> janice: thank you.
  • 00:21:15.765 --> 00:21:18.034
  • But the reality is i had to grapple with that and grapple
  • 00:21:18.034 --> 00:21:21.637
  • With the messages that i had received from the world that,
  • 00:21:21.637 --> 00:21:24.674
  • If you are stuck at home or if you are the one who is
  • 00:21:24.674 --> 00:21:29.746
  • "taking care,"
  • 00:21:29.746 --> 00:21:30.947
  • Then you are stuck in a place and not giving all of
  • 00:21:30.947 --> 00:21:34.951
  • Yourself and being all that you can be.
  • 00:21:34.951 --> 00:21:38.521
  • >> laurie: my goodness.
  • 00:21:38.521 --> 00:21:39.155
  • >> janice: and i'm like,
  • 00:21:39.155 --> 00:21:40.490
  • "well, that was my job for at least the last--"
  • 00:21:40.490 --> 00:21:41.791
  • >> laurie: raising the next generation of people-- humans.
  • 00:21:41.791 --> 00:21:45.094
  • [laughter]
  • 00:21:45.094 --> 00:21:46.129
  • >> janice: yes, and i take that job seriously.
  • 00:21:46.129 --> 00:21:48.931
  • And as much as i love to sing or i love to preach, it's like,
  • 00:21:48.931 --> 00:21:50.400
  • At the end of the day, lots of people can sing,
  • 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:54.103
  • And lots of people can preach.
  • 00:21:54.103 --> 00:21:55.505
  • >> lisa: but nobody can be their mom.
  • 00:21:55.505 --> 00:21:58.408
  • >> janice: nobody can be their mom.
  • 00:21:58.408 --> 00:21:59.442
  • And so i just had to come to grips with that.
  • 00:21:59.442 --> 00:22:00.910
  • Like you were saying, people might be offended by that still,
  • 00:22:00.910 --> 00:22:04.147
  • And i wanna let people know at home that,
  • 00:22:04.147 --> 00:22:08.084
  • If you are home with your babies,
  • 00:22:08.084 --> 00:22:09.352
  • You are no less of a woman.
  • 00:22:09.352 --> 00:22:10.653
  • >> donna: yeah, good.
  • 00:22:10.653 --> 00:22:11.921
  • That's good, janice.
  • 00:22:11.921 --> 00:22:13.289
  • >> janice: if you have adopted and you are caring for somebody
  • 00:22:13.289 --> 00:22:15.425
  • Else's babies, you are no less of a woman.
  • 00:22:15.425 --> 00:22:16.259
  • You know what i mean?
  • 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:19.862
  • Like, the lord has biologically given us,
  • 00:22:19.862 --> 00:22:22.165
  • Whether we birth children biologically or not,
  • 00:22:22.165 --> 00:22:24.901
  • He has put certain gifts in us that do lend themselves to
  • 00:22:24.901 --> 00:22:29.572
  • Loving well and nurturing, and that is not to be discarded.
  • 00:22:29.572 --> 00:22:31.374
  • >> laurie: no.
  • 00:22:31.374 --> 00:22:32.108
  • >> donna: it's really good.
  • 00:22:32.108 --> 00:22:34.944
  • >> lisa: well, and, janice, they're proving with science now
  • 00:22:34.944 --> 00:22:36.746
  • That a mother, when she carries a baby,
  • 00:22:36.746 --> 00:22:39.248
  • Will carry the dna of that baby in her bloodstream for years and
  • 00:22:39.248 --> 00:22:43.619
  • In her brain forever, so that--
  • 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.620
  • >> janice: wow, no wonder.
  • 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.788
  • >> lisa: yeah.
  • 00:22:45.788 --> 00:22:46.556
  • >> laurie: isn't that beautiful?
  • 00:22:46.556 --> 00:22:47.089
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:22:47.089 --> 00:22:49.425
  • >> it feels like that though, doesn't it?
  • 00:22:49.425 --> 00:22:50.460
  • >> lisa: you actually carried them,
  • 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.694
  • So i think that's why mothers can feel their children--
  • 00:22:51.694 --> 00:22:52.795
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:22:52.795 --> 00:22:54.297
  • >> lisa: -- whereas the dads can perceive the behavior,
  • 00:22:54.297 --> 00:22:55.998
  • But the mom can feel them, and god weaves that.
  • 00:22:55.998 --> 00:22:59.368
  • And i think that's why god says,
  • 00:22:59.368 --> 00:23:00.937
  • "even if a mother can forget the child--"
  • 00:23:00.937 --> 00:23:03.439
  • >> janice: "i cannot."
  • 00:23:03.439 --> 00:23:04.774
  • >> lisa: -- "i will never forget you because you are engraven
  • 00:23:04.774 --> 00:23:08.144
  • On the palm of my hand."
  • 00:23:08.144 --> 00:23:10.480
  • So it's so not thought of that a mother could abandon
  • 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:14.083
  • Or forget their child, and so, you know,
  • 00:23:14.083 --> 00:23:15.485
  • We do need to add value to moms--
  • 00:23:15.485 --> 00:23:17.186
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:23:17.186 --> 00:23:18.488
  • >> lisa: -- who stay home.
  • 00:23:18.488 --> 00:23:19.622
  • And i love that you said, "other people can sing;
  • 00:23:19.622 --> 00:23:21.090
  • Other people can--"
  • 00:23:21.090 --> 00:23:23.159
  • Because the right thing in the wrong season becomes
  • 00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:26.596
  • The wrong thing.
  • 00:23:26.596 --> 00:23:27.630
  • >> sheila: right.
  • 00:23:27.630 --> 00:23:29.966
  • >> lisa: and we only have a certain season where we can
  • 00:23:29.966 --> 00:23:31.634
  • Raise our children.
  • 00:23:31.634 --> 00:23:33.569
  • And, you know, i love that you went back to school in 50s--
  • 00:23:33.569 --> 00:23:35.371
  • >> donna: yeah.
  • 00:23:35.371 --> 00:23:38.841
  • >> lisa: -- because you took a time to plant other seeds in a
  • 00:23:38.841 --> 00:23:40.142
  • Different season.
  • 00:23:40.142 --> 00:23:41.477
  • And too many people squandered the season they're in for the
  • 00:23:41.477 --> 00:23:45.648
  • Season they wanna be in--
  • 00:23:45.648 --> 00:23:48.251
  • >> janice: right.
  • 00:23:48.251 --> 00:23:49.218
  • >> lisa: -- and we forget that moment.
  • 00:23:49.218 --> 00:23:50.853
  • I loved-- i rocked my babies.
  • 00:23:50.853 --> 00:23:52.088
  • I sang with my babies.
  • 00:23:52.088 --> 00:23:54.657
  • I read to my children, and i loved that season--
  • 00:23:54.657 --> 00:23:59.028
  • >> janice: it's a lovely season.
  • 00:23:59.028 --> 00:24:03.666
  • >> lisa: -- but that season
  • 00:24:03.666 --> 00:24:05.468
  • Seasoned your life with something you don't get
  • 00:24:05.468 --> 00:24:06.769
  • If you don't fully immerse into it.
  • 00:24:06.769 --> 00:24:07.603
  • And i know not everybody can.
  • 00:24:07.603 --> 00:24:10.640
  • >> janice: not everybody can.
  • 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.240
  • It is a privilege--
  • 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.108
  • >> lisa: to be able to stay home.
  • 00:24:12.108 --> 00:24:12.775
  • >> janice: that is right.
  • 00:24:12.775 --> 00:24:13.776
  • But even if you're not able to stay home,
  • 00:24:13.776 --> 00:24:16.212
  • Still attending to those years takes a lot and probably more
  • 00:24:16.212 --> 00:24:19.849
  • If you can't stay home.
  • 00:24:19.849 --> 00:24:22.418
  • >> lisa: because you come home tired.
  • 00:24:22.418 --> 00:24:23.853
  • >> janice: yes, and-- but i just think the messages that the
  • 00:24:23.853 --> 00:24:26.355
  • World gives us can be backwards sometimes.
  • 00:24:26.355 --> 00:24:28.991
  • It's like, "no, i like that part of me.
  • 00:24:28.991 --> 00:24:32.028
  • I like that god made it a part of me."
  • 00:24:32.028 --> 00:24:35.498
  • >> laurie: i believe that, if you're a mother,
  • 00:24:35.498 --> 00:24:37.767
  • That that is probably your highest form of calling
  • 00:24:37.767 --> 00:24:40.069
  • Right there--motherhood.
  • 00:24:40.069 --> 00:24:42.605
  • You know, jesus himself had a mother,
  • 00:24:42.605 --> 00:24:48.044
  • And when scripture tells us about the angel of the lord
  • 00:24:48.044 --> 00:24:50.112
  • Coming to mary and telling her all the things that were gonna
  • 00:24:50.112 --> 00:24:51.547
  • Happen to her,
  • 00:24:51.547 --> 00:24:53.049
  • Bible says that she pondered all those,
  • 00:24:53.049 --> 00:24:57.153
  • That she hid all of those things in her heart.
  • 00:24:57.153 --> 00:24:59.322
  • And so i think about jesus's anonymous years,
  • 00:24:59.322 --> 00:25:01.791
  • Where we don't hear what he did.
  • 00:25:01.791 --> 00:25:04.860
  • You know, we see him till he's about 2,
  • 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:07.029
  • And then we see him at 12, and then we see him at 33,
  • 00:25:07.029 --> 00:25:09.365
  • When he started, or 30, when he started his ministry.
  • 00:25:09.365 --> 00:25:13.269
  • But what about all those hidden years?
  • 00:25:13.269 --> 00:25:17.473
  • He was being raised by a mom, and sometimes i often wonder,
  • 00:25:17.473 --> 00:25:19.408
  • "what was mary teaching him?
  • 00:25:19.408 --> 00:25:20.876
  • What was mary saying to him?"
  • 00:25:20.876 --> 00:25:22.044
  • For sure, she was pushing him towards his destiny
  • 00:25:22.044 --> 00:25:26.482
  • And his purpose,
  • 00:25:26.482 --> 00:25:28.317
  • And what a powerful thing.
  • 00:25:28.317 --> 00:25:30.052
  • So when he was 30, he was ready for it.
  • 00:25:30.052 --> 00:25:33.656
  • He was ready to do everything that he had lived on earth for.
  • 00:25:33.656 --> 00:25:36.759
  • And so i think,
  • 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:39.195
  • When we think of motherhood
  • 00:25:39.195 --> 00:25:43.933
  • And in raising and rearing our children,
  • 00:25:43.933 --> 00:25:46.969
  • We have to keep in mind of who god has made them to be,
  • 00:25:46.969 --> 00:25:50.873
  • Their purpose and their destiny, and prepare them for that.
  • 00:25:50.873 --> 00:25:52.642
  • >> sheila: i was 40 when i gave birth to christian.
  • 00:25:52.642 --> 00:25:55.044
  • >> wow.
  • 00:25:55.044 --> 00:25:57.613
  • >> sheila: and i remember,
  • 00:25:57.613 --> 00:25:59.515
  • Maybe in the last month of my pregnancy,
  • 00:25:59.515 --> 00:26:00.449
  • A guy, steve arterburn,
  • 00:26:00.449 --> 00:26:02.084
  • Calling me and saying, "you know,
  • 00:26:02.084 --> 00:26:03.386
  • We have this conference for women called 'women of faith.'
  • 00:26:03.386 --> 00:26:04.553
  • We would really love you to come."
  • 00:26:04.553 --> 00:26:06.288
  • And i'm like,
  • 00:26:06.288 --> 00:26:07.323
  • "no, i can hardly make it across the kitchen,
  • 00:26:07.323 --> 00:26:08.491
  • Never mind going to the airport."
  • 00:26:08.491 --> 00:26:10.059
  • [laughter]
  • 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:11.627
  • And he said, "well, would you pray about it?"
  • 00:26:11.627 --> 00:26:13.863
  • And so, when i called him back, i said,
  • 00:26:13.863 --> 00:26:16.599
  • "okay, if i'm supposed to be part of this team,
  • 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.900
  • Then we all come."
  • 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.602
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:26:19.602 --> 00:26:21.137
  • >> sheila: it has to be barry and christian and i.
  • 00:26:21.137 --> 00:26:22.204
  • And so, for the first eight years of his life,
  • 00:26:22.204 --> 00:26:23.973
  • We traveled most weekends 'cause i worked out that, for him,
  • 00:26:23.973 --> 00:26:27.343
  • Wherever we were was "home"--
  • 00:26:27.343 --> 00:26:28.077
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:26:28.077 --> 00:26:29.412
  • >> sheila: -- even if it was, you know, a hotel somewhere.
  • 00:26:29.412 --> 00:26:30.546
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:26:30.546 --> 00:26:31.981
  • >> sheila: and i did have a girl who would come and help me when
  • 00:26:31.981 --> 00:26:33.215
  • I was actually on the platform,
  • 00:26:33.215 --> 00:26:33.983
  • But on saturday, at five o'clock,
  • 00:26:33.983 --> 00:26:36.385
  • When we were done, i would say to her,
  • 00:26:36.385 --> 00:26:37.720
  • "okay, you're off duty.
  • 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:39.021
  • Now he's mine again."
  • 00:26:39.021 --> 00:26:40.322
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:26:40.322 --> 00:26:41.323
  • >> sheila: and we went to baseball games;
  • 00:26:41.323 --> 00:26:42.058
  • We went to theme parks;
  • 00:26:42.058 --> 00:26:43.459
  • We went to every children's museum in the country;
  • 00:26:43.459 --> 00:26:44.994
  • But for me, that was really important.
  • 00:26:44.994 --> 00:26:50.132
  • We didn't even expect-- we were told not to expect him to live.
  • 00:26:50.132 --> 00:26:51.934
  • We were told to terminate our pregnancy.
  • 00:26:51.934 --> 00:26:53.803
  • >> lisa: wow.
  • 00:26:53.803 --> 00:26:55.738
  • >> sheila: and i remember, the day after i was told that--
  • 00:26:55.738 --> 00:26:57.740
  • >> lisa: why did they tell you that?
  • 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.075
  • >> sheila: they put the wrong woman's results in my chart--
  • 00:26:59.075 --> 00:27:01.143
  • >> lisa: oh, my gosh.
  • 00:27:01.143 --> 00:27:02.812
  • >> sheila: -- and my results in somebody else's chart.
  • 00:27:02.812 --> 00:27:05.114
  • And when i was told that, i remember driving home,
  • 00:27:05.114 --> 00:27:07.349
  • And we were living in laguna beach at the time,
  • 00:27:07.349 --> 00:27:10.619
  • And i remember going to the rock where i used to sit every
  • 00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:12.321
  • Morning with my bible and a cup of coffee,
  • 00:27:12.321 --> 00:27:14.557
  • And i spoke to my son, and i said,
  • 00:27:14.557 --> 00:27:16.292
  • "well, i don't know if you heard that,
  • 00:27:16.292 --> 00:27:18.227
  • But i want you to know i'm gonna fight for you.
  • 00:27:18.227 --> 00:27:19.628
  • I'm gonna fight for--" and i read my son psalm 139.
  • 00:27:19.628 --> 00:27:22.064
  • I'm like, "listen up, dude."
  • 00:27:22.064 --> 00:27:25.134
  • You know?
  • 00:27:25.134 --> 00:27:26.302
  • "god has your back, and i do too."
  • 00:27:26.302 --> 00:27:28.971
  • So yeah,
  • 00:27:28.971 --> 00:27:31.974
  • Those years are so special.
  • 00:27:31.974 --> 00:27:33.042
  • >> lisa: yeah.
  • 00:27:33.042 --> 00:27:34.477
  • >> donna: and i do think that one of the issues
  • 00:27:34.477 --> 00:27:35.745
  • That we face is
  • 00:27:35.745 --> 00:27:39.048
  • We compare where we are right now to wishing what we can do
  • 00:27:39.048 --> 00:27:40.149
  • Somebody else, whatever they're doing.
  • 00:27:40.149 --> 00:27:41.417
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:27:41.417 --> 00:27:43.052
  • >> donna: so maybe you're a stay-at-home mom right now,
  • 00:27:43.052 --> 00:27:44.653
  • So-- but that's your moment, like you were saying janice;
  • 00:27:44.653 --> 00:27:47.556
  • Or maybe you have kids and you're also working, and that,
  • 00:27:47.556 --> 00:27:49.992
  • In itself, also adds a lot of stress and difficult--
  • 00:27:49.992 --> 00:27:53.162
  • I mean, that was me in the--
  • 00:27:53.162 --> 00:27:56.599
  • We have four kids, so the early ones,
  • 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:58.434
  • I was home with them, but then later on, i was, like,
  • 00:27:58.434 --> 00:28:00.703
  • Full-time ministry and full-time mom;
  • 00:28:00.703 --> 00:28:02.772
  • And i think it's just determining that,
  • 00:28:02.772 --> 00:28:04.507
  • When you're in that moment, you are present in that moment.
  • 00:28:04.507 --> 00:28:05.474
  • >> sheila: that's so good.
  • 00:28:05.474 --> 00:28:06.375
  • >> donna: that you are "i'm the mom.
  • 00:28:06.375 --> 00:28:08.210
  • I'm wearing the 'mom hat' right now."
  • 00:28:08.210 --> 00:28:09.578
  • And not that our kids weren't part of our ministry
  • 00:28:09.578 --> 00:28:11.147
  • And part of our church,
  • 00:28:11.147 --> 00:28:13.215
  • But you just have to be present in that moment or else
  • 00:28:13.215 --> 00:28:14.950
  • "mom guilt" takes over, and you start wishing,
  • 00:28:14.950 --> 00:28:18.521
  • When you're with your kids, that you're doing ministry;
  • 00:28:18.521 --> 00:28:20.156
  • And when you're in ministry,
  • 00:28:20.156 --> 00:28:21.323
  • You start wishing that you were with your kids,
  • 00:28:21.323 --> 00:28:22.558
  • And then there's no peace.
  • 00:28:22.558 --> 00:28:25.394
  • And i don't think god's ordered that for any of us.
  • 00:28:25.394 --> 00:28:26.996
  • Is it gonna be easy?
  • 00:28:26.996 --> 00:28:28.130
  • Maybe not, but is there peace in the midst of it?
  • 00:28:28.130 --> 00:28:29.899
  • A hundred percent, so--
  • 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:31.367
  • >> janice: yeah.
  • 00:28:31.367 --> 00:28:32.134
  • >> donna: and i think, actually,
  • 00:28:32.134 --> 00:28:34.103
  • The story of jesus with martha and mary,
  • 00:28:34.103 --> 00:28:35.004
  • I think, is the beautiful picture of
  • 00:28:35.004 --> 00:28:36.605
  • God's calling on women.
  • 00:28:36.605 --> 00:28:37.640
  • I don't think it's one or the other.
  • 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:39.308
  • You still have to maintain your house;
  • 00:28:39.308 --> 00:28:40.543
  • You still have to take care of your kids;
  • 00:28:40.543 --> 00:28:41.777
  • You still have to-- ministry, whatever that looks like;
  • 00:28:41.777 --> 00:28:43.712
  • But then there's this important part that fuels the rest of it,
  • 00:28:43.712 --> 00:28:47.416
  • And that was mary sitting at jesus's feet.
  • 00:28:47.416 --> 00:28:49.785
  • >> sheila: 'cause that was not normal for that day--
  • 00:28:49.785 --> 00:28:51.787
  • >> donna: no.
  • 00:28:51.787 --> 00:28:53.656
  • >> sheila: -- for a woman to sit at the feet of the rabbi
  • 00:28:53.656 --> 00:28:54.190
  • And listen,
  • 00:28:54.190 --> 00:28:54.857
  • And jesus acknowledged,
  • 00:28:54.857 --> 00:28:56.225
  • "she's chosen the right-- the good thing."
  • 00:28:56.225 --> 00:28:57.993
  • >> lisa: she shouldn't have even been in that room.
  • 00:28:57.993 --> 00:28:59.028
  • >> sheila: no.
  • 00:28:59.028 --> 00:28:59.662
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:28:59.662 --> 00:29:01.030
  • >> donna: yeah, he was one of the only rabbis who had a co-ed
  • 00:29:01.030 --> 00:29:02.331
  • Discipleship--
  • 00:29:02.331 --> 00:29:03.299
  • >> janice: i was gonna say, yeah.
  • 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.433
  • >> "follow worship."
  • 00:29:04.433 --> 00:29:05.935
  • >> donna: -- because it wasn't normal.
  • 00:29:05.935 --> 00:29:07.269
  • So to see men and women following was just unusual but--
  • 00:29:07.269 --> 00:29:08.804
  • So i think, in that moment, he's saying,
  • 00:29:08.804 --> 00:29:11.907
  • "look it: you're not gonna be able to let go of this.
  • 00:29:11.907 --> 00:29:14.043
  • This is part of your calling.
  • 00:29:14.043 --> 00:29:18.080
  • But this, sitting at my feet, is what's gonna fuel
  • 00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:19.849
  • The rest of it."
  • 00:29:19.849 --> 00:29:20.516
  • >> sheila: i love that.
  • 00:29:20.516 --> 00:29:21.584
  • >> donna: so i think, whatever that season is,
  • 00:29:21.584 --> 00:29:22.685
  • It's just asking god like you did, like,
  • 00:29:22.685 --> 00:29:24.053
  • "what am i supposed to do with this in this season?"
  • 00:29:24.053 --> 00:29:26.088
  • 'cause your season may not look like janice's--
  • 00:29:26.088 --> 00:29:28.891
  • >> janice: yeah.
  • 00:29:28.891 --> 00:29:29.959
  • >> donna: -- or like mine or like any of ours,
  • 00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:31.961
  • But what has god ordained you for right in this season?
  • 00:29:31.961 --> 00:29:34.296
  • And it'll change.
  • 00:29:34.296 --> 00:29:35.998
  • Sometimes, when you feel that tension,
  • 00:29:35.998 --> 00:29:37.199
  • It's time to go back to god and say,
  • 00:29:37.199 --> 00:29:38.901
  • "okay, has this season changed?"
  • 00:29:38.901 --> 00:29:39.702
  • 'cause seasons change.
  • 00:29:39.702 --> 00:29:42.271
  • >> lisa: we will always find captivity when we look at our
  • 00:29:42.271 --> 00:29:45.741
  • Culture, but we will always find freedom when we look into the
  • 00:29:45.741 --> 00:29:49.478
  • Mirror of god's word.
  • 00:29:49.478 --> 00:29:52.715
  • If we spend too much time looking at who we're not or who
  • 00:29:52.715 --> 00:29:56.552
  • We are less than,
  • 00:29:56.552 --> 00:29:57.987
  • If we live in the realm of comparison,
  • 00:29:57.987 --> 00:30:00.556
  • We will never be elevated to be who god created us to be.
  • 00:30:00.556 --> 00:30:04.326
  • I would challenge every woman who's finding herself feeling
  • 00:30:04.326 --> 00:30:07.997
  • Constantly limited by comparison and confusion to put down her
  • 00:30:07.997 --> 00:30:13.168
  • Phone and open up her bible and allow the word of god to speak
  • 00:30:13.168 --> 00:30:18.407
  • Identity and purpose into her.
  • 00:30:18.407 --> 00:30:22.845
  • >> janice: culturally, even, we still talk about "motherhood"
  • 00:30:22.845 --> 00:30:24.280
  • Oftentimes as synonymous with "womanhood,"
  • 00:30:24.280 --> 00:30:26.582
  • But going back to genesis 1:26 and 27,
  • 00:30:26.582 --> 00:30:30.552
  • God is talking about "woman" in context to our identity
  • 00:30:30.552 --> 00:30:34.690
  • Is in him.
  • 00:30:34.690 --> 00:30:36.058
  • And so how would you encourage a woman who is not a biological
  • 00:30:36.058 --> 00:30:42.731
  • Mother or is not an adoptive mom about her purpose when it's not
  • 00:30:42.731 --> 00:30:49.271
  • Attached specifically to motherhood?
  • 00:30:49.271 --> 00:30:52.207
  • >> lisa: or even marriage.
  • 00:30:52.207 --> 00:30:53.809
  • >> janice: or even marriage.
  • 00:30:53.809 --> 00:30:55.177
  • >> lisa: yeah, 'cause there's a lot-- there's a lot of women.
  • 00:30:55.177 --> 00:30:56.679
  • Because they think, "wait a minute.
  • 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:58.881
  • I've gotta wait until i get married or i have children,
  • 00:30:58.881 --> 00:31:03.519
  • And then i can do whatever."
  • 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:06.388
  • And, you know, i have just--
  • 00:31:06.388 --> 00:31:08.958
  • We have so many amazing young girls,
  • 00:31:08.958 --> 00:31:11.327
  • Which i'm like, "where are the guys?"
  • 00:31:11.327 --> 00:31:11.894
  • [laughter]
  • 00:31:11.894 --> 00:31:15.230
  • But, anyway, we have so many amazing young single girls,
  • 00:31:15.230 --> 00:31:17.199
  • And i try to tell them, "in this season--"
  • 00:31:17.199 --> 00:31:18.867
  • >> sheila: yeah.
  • 00:31:18.867 --> 00:31:20.336
  • >> lisa: -- "when you don't have children and you don't have
  • 00:31:20.336 --> 00:31:26.075
  • Somebody else in your life, throw yourself all in with god,
  • 00:31:26.075 --> 00:31:29.311
  • And find out who you are in the presence of god--"
  • 00:31:29.311 --> 00:31:30.179
  • >> janice: that's so good.
  • 00:31:30.179 --> 00:31:32.614
  • >> lisa: -- "not in the presence of being single,
  • 00:31:32.614 --> 00:31:33.649
  • Not in the presence of being divorced,
  • 00:31:33.649 --> 00:31:36.385
  • Not in-- but in the presence of god.
  • 00:31:36.385 --> 00:31:39.021
  • He wove you for this season for a purpose."
  • 00:31:39.021 --> 00:31:40.689
  • And i think, actually,
  • 00:31:40.689 --> 00:31:45.894
  • Women that are single have way more freedom,
  • 00:31:45.894 --> 00:31:48.130
  • But we, in the church,
  • 00:31:48.130 --> 00:31:51.500
  • Don't always even speak to them in the audience,
  • 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.368
  • You know?
  • 00:31:52.368 --> 00:31:53.135
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:31:53.135 --> 00:31:55.738
  • >> lisa: and i have found that these are some of the most
  • 00:31:55.738 --> 00:31:58.640
  • Untapped people in the body of christ because they can give
  • 00:31:58.640 --> 00:31:59.875
  • Themselves fully.
  • 00:31:59.875 --> 00:32:01.210
  • They don't have to go to india, but they can give themselves
  • 00:32:01.210 --> 00:32:04.780
  • Fully to whatever god lays in their heart.
  • 00:32:04.780 --> 00:32:06.582
  • And i don't know that we know how to value or equip that.
  • 00:32:06.582 --> 00:32:08.851
  • And even in leadership, you know, donna, i mean,
  • 00:32:08.851 --> 00:32:14.023
  • Do you address that in your book about telling women,
  • 00:32:14.023 --> 00:32:16.125
  • "you can lead--"
  • 00:32:16.125 --> 00:32:16.925
  • >> donna: yes.
  • 00:32:16.925 --> 00:32:18.260
  • >> lisa: -- "if you don't have a head covering of marriage?"
  • 00:32:18.260 --> 00:32:19.762
  • >> donna: yes, yeah, a hundred percent.
  • 00:32:19.762 --> 00:32:20.462
  • >> lisa: that's huge.
  • 00:32:20.462 --> 00:32:21.830
  • >> donna: yeah, and i do think you're right: culture does make
  • 00:32:21.830 --> 00:32:24.433
  • Us feel bad if we're not married.
  • 00:32:24.433 --> 00:32:26.135
  • >> lisa: yes.
  • 00:32:26.135 --> 00:32:27.503
  • >> donna: -- i have several-- i have a daughter who's close to
  • 00:32:27.503 --> 00:32:29.371
  • 40, who's still single, but she's not feeling--
  • 00:32:29.371 --> 00:32:30.773
  • >> lisa: she's magnificent.
  • 00:32:30.773 --> 00:32:32.474
  • >> donna: -- who is incredibly brilliant and is a leader in her
  • 00:32:32.474 --> 00:32:34.209
  • Own right, but she's not feeling, like,
  • 00:32:34.209 --> 00:32:35.310
  • A lack of confidence because she's not married.
  • 00:32:35.310 --> 00:32:40.082
  • She's fine with the season she's in,
  • 00:32:40.082 --> 00:32:41.950
  • Enjoying the season she's in.
  • 00:32:41.950 --> 00:32:45.187
  • And again, we go back to that-- when you look at lydia in the
  • 00:32:45.187 --> 00:32:47.923
  • Scriptures, she was a businesswoman,
  • 00:32:47.923 --> 00:32:51.193
  • But it doesn't say whether she was married or not.
  • 00:32:51.193 --> 00:32:52.361
  • She owned her own house.
  • 00:32:52.361 --> 00:32:53.896
  • She was a wealthy woman.
  • 00:32:53.896 --> 00:32:54.997
  • She sold purple.
  • 00:32:54.997 --> 00:32:55.631
  • You know, in today's--
  • 00:32:55.631 --> 00:32:56.665
  • >> lisa: which purple was very expensive.
  • 00:32:56.665 --> 00:32:58.100
  • >> donna: yeah, like $90,000 for a thimbleful now.
  • 00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:59.435
  • It was luxury.
  • 00:32:59.435 --> 00:33:00.402
  • Textiles were made with her dye.
  • 00:33:00.402 --> 00:33:03.405
  • And so she also was part-- birthed the first church.
  • 00:33:03.405 --> 00:33:06.075
  • >> laurie: yeah.
  • 00:33:06.075 --> 00:33:07.776
  • >> donna: right?
  • 00:33:07.776 --> 00:33:08.944
  • Which, today, if you go to the cathedrals in europe,
  • 00:33:08.944 --> 00:33:10.913
  • You can go back to the original "yes" of a woman named lydia,
  • 00:33:10.913 --> 00:33:13.382
  • Who said, "yes," to jesus.
  • 00:33:13.382 --> 00:33:17.386
  • So generations are impacted by whatever that "yes" looks like.
  • 00:33:17.386 --> 00:33:17.920
  • And i feel bad.
  • 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.588
  • I think probably the best thing for somebody who's single is to
  • 00:33:19.588 --> 00:33:21.957
  • Make sure you're connected to community.
  • 00:33:21.957 --> 00:33:22.758
  • >> sheila: that's huge.
  • 00:33:22.758 --> 00:33:23.759
  • >> donna: don't isolate yourself.
  • 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.427
  • Be connected.
  • 00:33:25.427 --> 00:33:26.361
  • Find friends.
  • 00:33:26.361 --> 00:33:28.097
  • Be aggressive in finding friends.
  • 00:33:28.097 --> 00:33:29.164
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:33:29.164 --> 00:33:30.532
  • >> donna: right?
  • 00:33:30.532 --> 00:33:32.334
  • 'cause they're not-- i wish friends showed up at, like,
  • 00:33:32.334 --> 00:33:33.402
  • With the ups man, you know, but they don't.
  • 00:33:33.402 --> 00:33:35.204
  • [laughter]
  • 00:33:35.204 --> 00:33:36.038
  • You have to go find them.
  • 00:33:36.038 --> 00:33:37.272
  • And they may be younger than you,
  • 00:33:37.272 --> 00:33:38.841
  • But that-- in that single life, it's such an extraordinary
  • 00:33:38.841 --> 00:33:40.742
  • Entrustment.
  • 00:33:40.742 --> 00:33:42.611
  • Every season is an entrustment from god.
  • 00:33:42.611 --> 00:33:43.412
  • What do we do with it?
  • 00:33:43.412 --> 00:33:45.681
  • And we can miss the entrustment by feeling entitled to something
  • 00:33:45.681 --> 00:33:46.982
  • Else.
  • 00:33:46.982 --> 00:33:48.150
  • We have to choose what we're doing with the season.
  • 00:33:48.150 --> 00:33:49.985
  • >> yeah.
  • 00:33:49.985 --> 00:33:55.190
  • >> sheila: one thing that is so clear to me is that god loves
  • 00:33:55.190 --> 00:33:57.559
  • Women, that jesus loves women.
  • 00:33:57.559 --> 00:34:00.362
  • You can tell that in all his interactions with women,
  • 00:34:00.362 --> 00:34:04.600
  • That many of the things that jesus did were completely
  • 00:34:04.600 --> 00:34:07.503
  • Revolutionary in his day.
  • 00:34:07.503 --> 00:34:09.204
  • For him to have mary, for example,
  • 00:34:09.204 --> 00:34:12.207
  • Sit his feet and listen to his teaching-- in those days,
  • 00:34:12.207 --> 00:34:14.042
  • A woman wasn't even allowed in that room,
  • 00:34:14.042 --> 00:34:16.445
  • And that was a room for the men, and the women would be
  • 00:34:16.445 --> 00:34:18.313
  • In the kitchen.
  • 00:34:18.313 --> 00:34:19.381
  • But jesus said, "don't take this away from her.
  • 00:34:19.381 --> 00:34:20.149
  • She's chosen a good thing."
  • 00:34:20.149 --> 00:34:22.951
  • There's so many instances of where jesus shows
  • 00:34:22.951 --> 00:34:24.820
  • How important that his daughters are to him.
  • 00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:29.191
  • But it's the same with the body of christ that we all have
  • 00:34:29.191 --> 00:34:32.361
  • Different gifts, but we work together.
  • 00:34:32.361 --> 00:34:34.296
  • I think sometimes it can be a fight to see, well,
  • 00:34:34.296 --> 00:34:37.833
  • "you think we shouldn't do that,
  • 00:34:37.833 --> 00:34:39.134
  • And we think you shouldn't do that,"
  • 00:34:39.134 --> 00:34:40.235
  • But the beauty of the body of christ is that,
  • 00:34:40.235 --> 00:34:42.104
  • When we all work together,
  • 00:34:42.104 --> 00:34:44.640
  • Then the message of christ goes forward.
  • 00:34:44.640 --> 00:34:46.875
  • Jesus said in one of his last conversations with his closest
  • 00:34:46.875 --> 00:34:50.212
  • Friends, "when you love one another,
  • 00:34:50.212 --> 00:34:53.348
  • Then the world will know that you're mine."
  • 00:34:53.348 --> 00:34:55.517
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:34:55.517 --> 00:34:56.685
  • >> laurie: join the conversation on our "better together"
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  • Youtube channel.
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  • Subscribe today, and never miss a new upload.
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  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:35:04.627 --> 00:35:08.097
  • >> sheila: my mom was widowed at 33, and she never remarried,
  • 00:35:08.097 --> 00:35:11.267
  • And her prayer was that god would spare her to see all three
  • 00:35:11.267 --> 00:35:15.038
  • Of us trusting jesus and in our calling.
  • 00:35:15.038 --> 00:35:17.407
  • And so, when my brother, who was the last one to graduate and go
  • 00:35:17.407 --> 00:35:21.311
  • On to become an architect-- i flew home to scotland.
  • 00:35:21.311 --> 00:35:22.679
  • I didn't tell my mum i was comin'.
  • 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:25.148
  • I just flew home, and i said,
  • 00:35:25.148 --> 00:35:26.416
  • "okay, i'm here with you to dream for your next season."
  • 00:35:26.416 --> 00:35:28.518
  • And she's like,
  • 00:35:28.518 --> 00:35:29.686
  • "what do you mean?"
  • 00:35:29.686 --> 00:35:30.820
  • And i said, "well, remember those prayers, mom?
  • 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:31.554
  • God answered those prayers.
  • 00:35:31.554 --> 00:35:33.389
  • We all love jesus.
  • 00:35:33.389 --> 00:35:34.224
  • We're all settled--"
  • 00:35:34.224 --> 00:35:36.159
  • >> oh, so good.
  • 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:37.927
  • >> sheila: -- "you still got a pulse.
  • 00:35:37.927 --> 00:35:39.295
  • There's not a white chalk mark around your body.
  • 00:35:39.295 --> 00:35:40.863
  • So what's this next season?"
  • 00:35:40.863 --> 00:35:43.333
  • And it was the sweetest time we had together 'cause i said,
  • 00:35:43.333 --> 00:35:46.302
  • "what was that dream you had when you were a young girl?"
  • 00:35:46.302 --> 00:35:48.438
  • And she'd wanted to be a teacher,
  • 00:35:48.438 --> 00:35:50.106
  • But she had to leave school because her dad had alzheimer's
  • 00:35:50.106 --> 00:35:53.943
  • And got quite aggressive.
  • 00:35:53.943 --> 00:35:55.578
  • So she left at, like, 14 to help my grandmother take care of him.
  • 00:35:55.578 --> 00:35:59.182
  • And i said, "okay, then let's pray for that."
  • 00:35:59.182 --> 00:36:01.351
  • And i said, "why don't we--
  • 00:36:01.351 --> 00:36:03.653
  • I made these flyers,
  • 00:36:03.653 --> 00:36:05.688
  • And i put them in all the neighborhoods' box
  • 00:36:05.688 --> 00:36:06.856
  • And invited them,
  • 00:36:06.856 --> 00:36:08.758
  • Other women, to a bible study."
  • 00:36:08.758 --> 00:36:09.692
  • And she was like,
  • 00:36:09.692 --> 00:36:10.193
  • "oh, this--
  • 00:36:10.193 --> 00:36:11.294
  • I don't know how to do this."
  • 00:36:11.294 --> 00:36:11.894
  • And i'm like,
  • 00:36:11.894 --> 00:36:12.895
  • "that's what's great about it, you know?
  • 00:36:12.895 --> 00:36:13.796
  • Throw yourself in." and she said,
  • 00:36:13.796 --> 00:36:15.231
  • "well, will you lead the first one?"
  • 00:36:15.231 --> 00:36:16.199
  • And i'm like, "no, that's not my dream."
  • 00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:16.899
  • [laughter]
  • 00:36:16.899 --> 00:36:18.568
  • "this is what god's placed in you."
  • 00:36:18.568 --> 00:36:19.836
  • >> lisa: it's beautiful.
  • 00:36:19.836 --> 00:36:20.703
  • >> sheila: and i'll never forget:
  • 00:36:20.703 --> 00:36:21.671
  • There was probably eight women who came,
  • 00:36:21.671 --> 00:36:22.138
  • And i said,
  • 00:36:22.138 --> 00:36:23.273
  • "i'll make the tea and the sandwiches but--"
  • 00:36:23.273 --> 00:36:24.774
  • And it was like my mom's little government-owned home
  • 00:36:24.774 --> 00:36:28.444
  • Became holy ground.
  • 00:36:28.444 --> 00:36:29.746
  • So i sat, and i watched all these women come in and my mum
  • 00:36:29.746 --> 00:36:32.415
  • Teach a very simple lesson from the gospel of john.
  • 00:36:32.415 --> 00:36:36.152
  • So even those women who are older and who think,
  • 00:36:36.152 --> 00:36:38.121
  • "well, i'm done now"-- no.
  • 00:36:38.121 --> 00:36:39.889
  • You're not done, you know-- that god has a purpose for your life.
  • 00:36:39.889 --> 00:36:42.292
  • And i'll never forget it.
  • 00:36:42.292 --> 00:36:44.327
  • I flew home, obviously.
  • 00:36:44.327 --> 00:36:45.361
  • I'll never forget the night she called me,
  • 00:36:45.361 --> 00:36:47.397
  • And she said she just led her first neighbor to jesus.
  • 00:36:47.397 --> 00:36:48.698
  • >> janice: aw.
  • 00:36:48.698 --> 00:36:49.632
  • >> sheila: and i thought, "yes, mum."
  • 00:36:49.632 --> 00:36:50.533
  • It was so great.
  • 00:36:50.533 --> 00:36:53.403
  • >> janice: i love that because i think one of the things
  • 00:36:53.403 --> 00:36:56.806
  • That culture does is
  • 00:36:56.806 --> 00:36:59.976
  • It tells us who we can be or what we can do
  • 00:36:59.976 --> 00:37:01.844
  • And how long we can do it.
  • 00:37:01.844 --> 00:37:07.450
  • >> sheila: right.
  • 00:37:07.450 --> 00:37:08.918
  • >> janice: and for women,
  • 00:37:08.918 --> 00:37:09.886
  • There's this sense of when we're useful,
  • 00:37:09.886 --> 00:37:11.421
  • When we're purposeful, and then when we're not,
  • 00:37:11.421 --> 00:37:13.556
  • And there are names like "ageism" and things like that,
  • 00:37:13.556 --> 00:37:15.825
  • But it's like i love that you encouraged your mom to pray
  • 00:37:15.825 --> 00:37:19.896
  • Prayers again and even new prayers in this season because
  • 00:37:19.896 --> 00:37:26.235
  • God's purpose for us is not limited by culture.
  • 00:37:26.235 --> 00:37:28.037
  • He may use it in culture, but it is not at all limited by culture
  • 00:37:28.037 --> 00:37:31.474
  • And what culture says about us;
  • 00:37:31.474 --> 00:37:34.344
  • But how many of us internalized some of those messages
  • 00:37:34.344 --> 00:37:38.915
  • And moved about according to them?
  • 00:37:38.915 --> 00:37:40.550
  • And the lord has to go,
  • 00:37:40.550 --> 00:37:41.684
  • "wait, wait, wait, wait, no, no, no,
  • 00:37:41.684 --> 00:37:42.518
  • Actually, you're not done."
  • 00:37:42.518 --> 00:37:43.920
  • You know what i mean?
  • 00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:44.721
  • Like--
  • 00:37:44.721 --> 00:37:46.055
  • >> laurie: well, think of sarah.
  • 00:37:46.055 --> 00:37:46.689
  • >> janice: yeah.
  • 00:37:46.689 --> 00:37:47.457
  • >> laurie: think of elizabeth.
  • 00:37:47.457 --> 00:37:49.559
  • >> janice & sheila: yes.
  • 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.626
  • >> laurie: so elizabeth became pregnant--
  • 00:37:50.626 --> 00:37:52.128
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:37:52.128 --> 00:37:53.663
  • >> laurie: -- really old--
  • 00:37:53.663 --> 00:37:54.530
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:37:54.530 --> 00:37:55.264
  • >> laurie: -- to help mary.
  • 00:37:55.264 --> 00:37:56.699
  • >> janice & sheila: yeah.
  • 00:37:56.699 --> 00:37:58.000
  • >> laurie: it was to mentor mary--
  • 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:00.002
  • >> janice: bless her heart.
  • 00:38:00.002 --> 00:38:01.637
  • >> laurie: -- through something--
  • 00:38:01.637 --> 00:38:02.538
  • >> donna: that's beautiful.
  • 00:38:02.538 --> 00:38:04.440
  • >> laurie: right?
  • 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:07.577
  • >> donna: yeah.
  • 00:38:07.577 --> 00:38:08.611
  • >> laurie: and sarah saying, oh, you know,
  • 00:38:08.611 --> 00:38:09.812
  • Laughing at the word of the lord, going, "oh-- right,
  • 00:38:09.812 --> 00:38:10.813
  • You know, this old, shriveled up womb."
  • 00:38:10.813 --> 00:38:12.815
  • You know, god can birth something on the inside of you
  • 00:38:12.815 --> 00:38:15.551
  • That you just never dreamed possible,
  • 00:38:15.551 --> 00:38:19.956
  • And that's the way god does things.
  • 00:38:19.956 --> 00:38:21.357
  • >> lisa: but sarah is my favorite
  • 00:38:21.357 --> 00:38:24.460
  • Because sarah is such a mess up.
  • 00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.294
  • [laughter]
  • 00:38:25.294 --> 00:38:26.629
  • I mean, like, sarah is like, "hey, i'm not gettin' pregnant.
  • 00:38:26.629 --> 00:38:28.331
  • Take hagar.
  • 00:38:28.331 --> 00:38:29.599
  • Take hagar."
  • 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.833
  • "what? hagar's pregnant?
  • 00:38:30.833 --> 00:38:32.034
  • I'm gon' beat her."
  • 00:38:32.034 --> 00:38:33.269
  • I mean, like, she, just,
  • 00:38:33.269 --> 00:38:34.203
  • She has so many mess-ups.
  • 00:38:34.203 --> 00:38:36.305
  • >> janice: so many emotions.
  • 00:38:36.305 --> 00:38:37.340
  • >> lisa: so many mess-ups.
  • 00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:39.275
  • God has to send an angel:
  • 00:38:39.275 --> 00:38:39.909
  • "god sees you.
  • 00:38:39.909 --> 00:38:41.144
  • Go back to crazy sarah."
  • 00:38:41.144 --> 00:38:42.311
  • And now sarah just thinks,
  • 00:38:42.311 --> 00:38:44.180
  • "okay, well, i will raise up ishmael as my own."
  • 00:38:44.180 --> 00:38:46.582
  • And then ishmael is like,
  • 00:38:46.582 --> 00:38:48.217
  • "no, no, no.
  • 00:38:48.217 --> 00:38:51.954
  • I love my dad, but no, you're not my mama."
  • 00:38:51.954 --> 00:38:53.589
  • And there comes a moment where she has made so many mistakes
  • 00:38:53.589 --> 00:38:57.794
  • That she sees herself as a mistake.
  • 00:38:57.794 --> 00:39:00.730
  • And what happens is,
  • 00:39:00.730 --> 00:39:03.299
  • When we begin to see ourselves as a mistake,
  • 00:39:03.299 --> 00:39:04.934
  • We miss out on the promises of god.
  • 00:39:04.934 --> 00:39:06.436
  • >> laurie: yeah.
  • 00:39:06.436 --> 00:39:08.004
  • >> donna: that's good, lisa.
  • 00:39:08.004 --> 00:39:08.938
  • >> lisa: and she started-- she laughed,
  • 00:39:08.938 --> 00:39:10.106
  • And it's interesting 'cause we see, in genesis 17,
  • 00:39:10.106 --> 00:39:11.474
  • Abraham is the first one that laughs, and he laughs out loud.
  • 00:39:11.474 --> 00:39:13.776
  • Sarah only laughed within herself--
  • 00:39:13.776 --> 00:39:16.345
  • >> laurie: in herself.
  • 00:39:16.345 --> 00:39:17.146
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:39:17.146 --> 00:39:18.181
  • >> lisa: and then, of course, she lies:
  • 00:39:18.181 --> 00:39:19.549
  • "oh, i didn't laugh."
  • 00:39:19.549 --> 00:39:20.316
  • And he's like, "yes, you did.
  • 00:39:20.316 --> 00:39:20.850
  • Yes you did."
  • 00:39:20.850 --> 00:39:23.119
  • But when you have made so many mistakes,
  • 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:25.488
  • You think you're a mistake,
  • 00:39:25.488 --> 00:39:27.256
  • And the truth is-- and i wanna say this to every woman out there.
  • 00:39:27.256 --> 00:39:30.526
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:39:30.526 --> 00:39:31.794
  • >> lisa: if you're in a season where you are like, "okay,
  • 00:39:31.794 --> 00:39:32.862
  • You know, maybe, maybe 'cause janice was young
  • 00:39:32.862 --> 00:39:33.863
  • Or maybe because sheila was obedient
  • 00:39:33.863 --> 00:39:36.666
  • And donna was courageous to go back to school,
  • 00:39:36.666 --> 00:39:39.068
  • They can do that--
  • 00:39:39.068 --> 00:39:40.436
  • >> janice: yes.
  • 00:39:40.436 --> 00:39:43.172
  • But i have-- i am a mistake.
  • 00:39:43.172 --> 00:39:46.709
  • And the truth is that you are not powerful enough
  • 00:39:46.709 --> 00:39:48.478
  • To get you out of the plan of god.
  • 00:39:48.478 --> 00:39:49.345
  • >> donna: i love it.
  • 00:39:49.345 --> 00:39:50.580
  • >> sheila: so you have to make a decision that,
  • 00:39:50.580 --> 00:39:52.448
  • Wherever you are right now,
  • 00:39:52.448 --> 00:39:53.583
  • Listen to this conversation that god is saying,
  • 00:39:53.583 --> 00:39:55.918
  • "you can find your voice today--"
  • 00:39:55.918 --> 00:39:57.386
  • >> laurie: yes.
  • 00:39:57.386 --> 00:39:57.854
  • >> sheila: yeah.
  • 00:39:57.854 --> 00:39:59.388
  • >> lisa: -- that there is a need for you.
  • 00:39:59.388 --> 00:40:00.590
  • I started the ministry by pouring into single women,
  • 00:40:00.590 --> 00:40:05.228
  • And so i was a young mom, and john came to me and said,
  • 00:40:05.228 --> 00:40:08.498
  • "these young girls have no one," and i'm like,
  • 00:40:08.498 --> 00:40:10.166
  • "john, you know my background.
  • 00:40:10.166 --> 00:40:11.501
  • I don't have a good background."
  • 00:40:11.501 --> 00:40:12.535
  • He said, "i don't care about your background.
  • 00:40:12.535 --> 00:40:13.936
  • I care about you bringing 'em into the house and just talking
  • 00:40:13.936 --> 00:40:19.242
  • To them about the word of god."
  • 00:40:19.242 --> 00:40:20.910
  • And i was like,
  • 00:40:20.910 --> 00:40:21.544
  • "i have four kids."
  • 00:40:21.544 --> 00:40:23.079
  • And he was like, "well, just bring 'em along with you."
  • 00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:24.480
  • And i think too many of us
  • 00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:26.015
  • Try to make discipleship hard when, really,
  • 00:40:26.015 --> 00:40:29.385
  • It is "just do life with me."
  • 00:40:29.385 --> 00:40:30.753
  • >> donna: well, i just love that whole idea that she laughed,
  • 00:40:30.753 --> 00:40:33.422
  • Right?
  • 00:40:33.422 --> 00:40:34.957
  • And hebrews 11 talks about that,
  • 00:40:34.957 --> 00:40:36.959
  • But then what did she name her baby?
  • 00:40:36.959 --> 00:40:38.761
  • >> lisa: isaac, "laughter."
  • 00:40:38.761 --> 00:40:42.765
  • >> donna: so it was like god's redemption of her mistake
  • 00:40:42.765 --> 00:40:43.966
  • Or her doubt.
  • 00:40:43.966 --> 00:40:45.701
  • So even if you're doubting right now,
  • 00:40:45.701 --> 00:40:47.403
  • You're gonna still be able to birth something,
  • 00:40:47.403 --> 00:40:49.438
  • And it's a picture of god redeeming what you thought he
  • 00:40:49.438 --> 00:40:51.507
  • Couldn't do.
  • 00:40:51.507 --> 00:40:53.476
  • >> donna: so remembering how god sees us
  • 00:40:53.476 --> 00:40:55.344
  • Is integral to knowing your value
  • 00:40:55.344 --> 00:40:57.847
  • Because, ultimately, there's a million things
  • 00:40:57.847 --> 00:40:59.515
  • That can tell you who you are.
  • 00:40:59.515 --> 00:41:02.685
  • Maybe it's your past failures, your past experiences.
  • 00:41:02.685 --> 00:41:07.156
  • Anywhere that you feel deficient or less than--
  • 00:41:07.156 --> 00:41:09.892
  • It's called the scarcity mentality--
  • 00:41:09.892 --> 00:41:10.993
  • Would like to become the narrative of who you are,
  • 00:41:10.993 --> 00:41:15.231
  • But the wonderful thing about god is that he sees you
  • 00:41:15.231 --> 00:41:20.102
  • Uniquely and loves you,
  • 00:41:20.102 --> 00:41:22.204
  • And it's not about your performance,
  • 00:41:22.204 --> 00:41:23.239
  • And it's not about your perfection;
  • 00:41:23.239 --> 00:41:25.341
  • But knowing that you're valued and loved by him is everything.
  • 00:41:25.341 --> 00:41:28.277
  • For me, that was transformative.
  • 00:41:28.277 --> 00:41:30.179
  • It changed my life that it wasn't about what i could do
  • 00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:32.481
  • For him or had to do for him.
  • 00:41:32.481 --> 00:41:35.618
  • It's about that he loved me just for who i am,
  • 00:41:35.618 --> 00:41:39.221
  • Not in spite of my failures and imperfections
  • 00:41:39.221 --> 00:41:41.390
  • But because of them.
  • 00:41:41.390 --> 00:41:42.992
  • And for you, friend, that is the only way you're gonna
  • 00:41:42.992 --> 00:41:45.661
  • Move forward is to really
  • 00:41:45.661 --> 00:41:47.630
  • Press into understanding and learning who god says you are.
  • 00:41:47.630 --> 00:41:51.400
  • >> janice: our purpose is fully within the context
  • 00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:53.536
  • Of who god is.
  • 00:41:53.536 --> 00:41:54.337
  • >> all: yes.
  • 00:41:54.337 --> 00:41:56.806
  • >> janice: and our identity is fully within the context
  • 00:41:56.806 --> 00:41:58.341
  • Of who god is.
  • 00:41:58.341 --> 00:42:00.176
  • Genesis 1:26 and 27 says, "then god said,
  • 00:42:00.176 --> 00:42:02.511
  • 'let us make man--'"
  • 00:42:02.511 --> 00:42:04.513
  • And it's really like "humankind"
  • 00:42:04.513 --> 00:42:06.182
  • 'cause it's not the word "adam" there--
  • 00:42:06.182 --> 00:42:08.551
  • "'in our image,
  • 00:42:08.551 --> 00:42:09.885
  • After our likeness.
  • 00:42:09.885 --> 00:42:11.454
  • Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the
  • 00:42:11.454 --> 00:42:13.322
  • Birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the
  • 00:42:13.322 --> 00:42:17.360
  • Earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'
  • 00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:19.028
  • So god created man in his own image,
  • 00:42:19.028 --> 00:42:21.764
  • In the image of god he created him;
  • 00:42:21.764 --> 00:42:24.066
  • Male and female he created them."
  • 00:42:24.066 --> 00:42:27.970
  • And, you know, the english language is really strong with
  • 00:42:27.970 --> 00:42:32.375
  • Its pronouns, right?
  • 00:42:32.375 --> 00:42:36.412
  • That's-- all the "hims" that you hear are not necessarily "male"
  • 00:42:36.412 --> 00:42:40.016
  • In this text.
  • 00:42:40.016 --> 00:42:41.250
  • >> donna: right.
  • 00:42:41.250 --> 00:42:43.319
  • >> janice: and so that's why i said,
  • 00:42:43.319 --> 00:42:44.654
  • "let us make man in our humankind, in our image,
  • 00:42:44.654 --> 00:42:45.221
  • After our likeness."
  • 00:42:45.221 --> 00:42:46.288
  • And i love that our context of who we are
  • 00:42:46.288 --> 00:42:50.259
  • And what we've been called to do has everything to do with god,
  • 00:42:50.259 --> 00:42:56.065
  • Not an age limit, not a biological ability.
  • 00:42:56.065 --> 00:43:02.204
  • It has everything to do with who god is.
  • 00:43:02.204 --> 00:43:05.908
  • And i think that's what i love about whether it's hagar
  • 00:43:05.908 --> 00:43:09.979
  • Out in the desert,
  • 00:43:09.979 --> 00:43:12.081
  • Realizing that "oh, it's about who he is.
  • 00:43:12.081 --> 00:43:13.816
  • He sees me."
  • 00:43:13.816 --> 00:43:15.151
  • Or it's the woman at the well who's like,
  • 00:43:15.151 --> 00:43:17.186
  • "oh, my goodness,
  • 00:43:17.186 --> 00:43:18.120
  • I've met the one who knows me."
  • 00:43:18.120 --> 00:43:20.690
  • Or it's mary who's like,
  • 00:43:20.690 --> 00:43:23.726
  • "nobody calls my name like that.
  • 00:43:23.726 --> 00:43:25.127
  • This is the lord."
  • 00:43:25.127 --> 00:43:26.862
  • >> donna: yeah.
  • 00:43:26.862 --> 00:43:28.097
  • >> janice: it is always about who he is; and if we can,
  • 00:43:28.097 --> 00:43:30.499
  • Like you said, figure out who we are in the presence of god,
  • 00:43:30.499 --> 00:43:35.538
  • That's the only place we can figure out who we are because
  • 00:43:35.538 --> 00:43:40.476
  • It's really always going to go back to who he is.
  • 00:43:40.476 --> 00:43:43.279
  • And i love his brilliance and his kindness of he did not have
  • 00:43:43.279 --> 00:43:49.051
  • To lace that all the way through the scriptures,
  • 00:43:49.051 --> 00:43:50.586
  • Knowing what culture would--
  • 00:43:50.586 --> 00:43:52.621
  • How culture would combat that for women, right?
  • 00:43:52.621 --> 00:43:55.491
  • But he did it anyway because he's so good,
  • 00:43:55.491 --> 00:44:01.363
  • And it's just a reminder for us to see what is there,
  • 00:44:01.363 --> 00:44:05.334
  • That we are his, that we belong to him,
  • 00:44:05.334 --> 00:44:07.103
  • And everything about who we are has to do with who he is.
  • 00:44:07.103 --> 00:44:11.040
  • Whether we call him "el roi" or even "el shaddai,"
  • 00:44:11.040 --> 00:44:14.744
  • That hebrew word means "many-breasted one."
  • 00:44:14.744 --> 00:44:17.680
  • You're talkin' about nursing kids.
  • 00:44:17.680 --> 00:44:19.248
  • It's like the lord delights in being the one
  • 00:44:19.248 --> 00:44:23.452
  • Who provides for us from himself.
  • 00:44:23.452 --> 00:44:26.021
  • And that's something that a woman who is nursed gets more
  • 00:44:26.021 --> 00:44:30.793
  • Than a father will ever get, right?
  • 00:44:30.793 --> 00:44:33.529
  • Because, oh, my goodness, what an experience that was.
  • 00:44:33.529 --> 00:44:37.800
  • I say that to say god is who he is,
  • 00:44:37.800 --> 00:44:40.836
  • He has decided to make us in his own image,
  • 00:44:40.836 --> 00:44:43.806
  • And how wonderful that is.
  • 00:44:43.806 --> 00:44:47.309
  • And when the world is sending messages,
  • 00:44:47.309 --> 00:44:50.279
  • Whether they feel good-- right?
  • 00:44:50.279 --> 00:44:54.150
  • -- like whether they seem-- they are seemingly empowering or
  • 00:44:54.150 --> 00:44:59.021
  • They're not, the reality is we have to find ourselves back into
  • 00:44:59.021 --> 00:45:02.858
  • The presence of god to figure out who we actually are.
  • 00:45:02.858 --> 00:45:04.460
  • >> laurie: you know, i love when jesus calls the little lady
  • 00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:07.797
  • With the issue of blood.
  • 00:45:07.797 --> 00:45:08.864
  • She was an outcast.
  • 00:45:08.864 --> 00:45:09.999
  • >> sheila & donna: yes.
  • 00:45:09.999 --> 00:45:11.033
  • >> laurie: she should not have been around,
  • 00:45:11.033 --> 00:45:12.535
  • And he says, "daughter."
  • 00:45:12.535 --> 00:45:14.170
  • You know, he calls her "daughter."
  • 00:45:14.170 --> 00:45:15.771
  • He calls 'em "daughters of abraham."
  • 00:45:15.771 --> 00:45:17.740
  • >> lisa: yup.
  • 00:45:17.740 --> 00:45:19.041
  • >> laurie: you know, it was always that loving, that tender,
  • 00:45:19.041 --> 00:45:24.213
  • That beautiful "daughter" that i love so much--
  • 00:45:24.213 --> 00:45:27.817
  • >> sheila: i know, i love that.
  • 00:45:27.817 --> 00:45:29.819
  • >> laurie: -- when he calls out "daughters."
  • 00:45:29.819 --> 00:45:31.120
  • >> sheila: because she could've--
  • 00:45:31.120 --> 00:45:32.588
  • I think she wanted to be healed,
  • 00:45:32.588 --> 00:45:33.522
  • But jesus wanted to make her whole--
  • 00:45:33.522 --> 00:45:34.523
  • >> janice: that's right.
  • 00:45:34.523 --> 00:45:35.524
  • >> sheila: -- so much more than healing
  • 00:45:35.524 --> 00:45:36.625
  • 'cause she could've gone home-- couldn't she?
  • 00:45:36.625 --> 00:45:37.593
  • -- and then, after the appointed time,
  • 00:45:37.593 --> 00:45:38.694
  • Brought a sacrifice and be declared clean.
  • 00:45:38.694 --> 00:45:40.296
  • Jesus wanted so much more for her.
  • 00:45:40.296 --> 00:45:43.866
  • >> sheila: i wonder how you define yourself if you were in
  • 00:45:43.866 --> 00:45:46.802
  • An elevator where--
  • 00:45:46.802 --> 00:45:48.237
  • Short conversation with someone,
  • 00:45:48.237 --> 00:45:49.038
  • And they said,
  • 00:45:49.038 --> 00:45:50.940
  • "well, how would you define your worth?"
  • 00:45:50.940 --> 00:45:53.943
  • Would you define your worth as, you know,
  • 00:45:53.943 --> 00:45:55.211
  • Somebody's mom or somebody's wife,
  • 00:45:55.211 --> 00:45:57.213
  • Or you're a second-grade teacher,
  • 00:45:57.213 --> 00:45:58.147
  • Or you work in a grocery store?
  • 00:45:58.147 --> 00:45:59.081
  • What i discovered,
  • 00:45:59.081 --> 00:46:00.983
  • At one of the lowest points in my life,
  • 00:46:00.983 --> 00:46:03.619
  • Was that my worth was all about relationship.
  • 00:46:03.619 --> 00:46:06.188
  • It was not to do with anything that i did,
  • 00:46:06.188 --> 00:46:07.690
  • Whether it was--
  • 00:46:07.690 --> 00:46:09.992
  • I mean, i've worked all sorts of jobs.
  • 00:46:09.992 --> 00:46:11.527
  • When i was 15, i was a chambermaid in a hotel.
  • 00:46:11.527 --> 00:46:13.028
  • I've scrubbed toilets for a living.
  • 00:46:13.028 --> 00:46:14.830
  • My worth was never about what i did.
  • 00:46:14.830 --> 00:46:16.465
  • It was about who jesus says i am, that,
  • 00:46:16.465 --> 00:46:19.101
  • When he calls us "daughter,"
  • 00:46:19.101 --> 00:46:21.203
  • That means we're part of heaven's royal family,
  • 00:46:21.203 --> 00:46:23.639
  • And no one can touch that.
  • 00:46:23.639 --> 00:46:29.578
  • I think there's been so much time--
  • 00:46:29.578 --> 00:46:31.847
  • Over time, there has been so much culture against the full
  • 00:46:31.847 --> 00:46:35.251
  • Expression of being a woman--
  • 00:46:35.251 --> 00:46:38.320
  • >> donna: yes.
  • 00:46:38.320 --> 00:46:39.622
  • >> janice: -- that, eventually, it does cause some sort of
  • 00:46:39.622 --> 00:46:45.027
  • Fragility in men in the sense that they don't have to deal
  • 00:46:45.027 --> 00:46:50.332
  • With those emotions.
  • 00:46:50.332 --> 00:46:51.066
  • And so now it's, culturally,
  • 00:46:51.066 --> 00:46:52.935
  • You shouldn't have to deal with that.
  • 00:46:52.935 --> 00:46:56.071
  • And so, over time, i think that's one of the things that
  • 00:46:56.071 --> 00:47:00.175
  • Happens, which is really a disservice to men.
  • 00:47:00.175 --> 00:47:01.343
  • There's been this sense of--
  • 00:47:01.343 --> 00:47:04.146
  • >> lisa: yeah, sure.
  • 00:47:04.146 --> 00:47:05.147
  • >> janice: -- women being the problem--
  • 00:47:05.147 --> 00:47:06.482
  • >> sheila: that's really true.
  • 00:47:06.482 --> 00:47:07.149
  • Wow.
  • 00:47:07.149 --> 00:47:08.484
  • >> janice: -- women having to shrink into what we will call
  • 00:47:08.484 --> 00:47:11.921
  • Her in whatever context, and men get to be free--
  • 00:47:11.921 --> 00:47:15.858
  • And without any, you know,
  • 00:47:15.858 --> 00:47:20.930
  • Feeling like i need to despise any of that,
  • 00:47:20.930 --> 00:47:21.797
  • Because i know who i am in god.
  • 00:47:21.797 --> 00:47:26.068
  • It really is an issue for the church to address because we
  • 00:47:26.068 --> 00:47:30.306
  • Actually have the answer.
  • 00:47:30.306 --> 00:47:31.840
  • The answer is that we've been made in the image of god,
  • 00:47:31.840 --> 00:47:34.376
  • And it's freeing for both men and women to come to that
  • 00:47:34.376 --> 00:47:36.211
  • Realization because it does not help a man to not know how to
  • 00:47:36.211 --> 00:47:42.518
  • Hear anger that's not sin in his life.
  • 00:47:42.518 --> 00:47:45.654
  • >> sheila: yeah.
  • 00:47:45.654 --> 00:47:46.455
  • >> laurie: okay, let's pray.
  • 00:47:46.455 --> 00:47:47.690
  • >> donna: that's good.
  • 00:47:47.690 --> 00:47:48.857
  • >> janice: oh, lord, we thank you so much for you.
  • 00:47:48.857 --> 00:47:52.094
  • >> laurie: yes.
  • 00:47:52.094 --> 00:47:53.195
  • >> janice: we thank you that you seek us out,
  • 00:47:53.195 --> 00:47:55.331
  • And we thank you that you care for us
  • 00:47:55.331 --> 00:47:57.132
  • And you invite us and you love us.
  • 00:47:57.132 --> 00:48:00.002
  • You have been so good to us,
  • 00:48:00.002 --> 00:48:02.404
  • Those of us in this room and those of us across the world.
  • 00:48:02.404 --> 00:48:05.407
  • We are so grateful for you and who you've called us to be.
  • 00:48:05.407 --> 00:48:09.678
  • Will you drop little invitations in our heart in the coming week
  • 00:48:09.678 --> 00:48:15.351
  • For something more that you have for each of us that we may not
  • 00:48:15.351 --> 00:48:19.054
  • Have been able to hear for whatever reason?
  • 00:48:19.054 --> 00:48:21.390
  • Would you solidify in us our identity in you that we've been
  • 00:48:21.390 --> 00:48:25.594
  • Made in your image and thus our value is untarnishable?
  • 00:48:25.594 --> 00:48:29.031
  • Lord, we thank you for how brilliantly you've woven your
  • 00:48:29.031 --> 00:48:36.505
  • Story with us together so that it is we can't even deny it,
  • 00:48:36.505 --> 00:48:39.875
  • How valuable we are to you.
  • 00:48:39.875 --> 00:48:43.479
  • And so i thank you for every person watching, woman or man,
  • 00:48:43.479 --> 00:48:46.081
  • Boy or girl,
  • 00:48:46.081 --> 00:48:47.316
  • Because this lesson is important for all of us to remember
  • 00:48:47.316 --> 00:48:50.486
  • And to be reminded of.
  • 00:48:50.486 --> 00:48:53.655
  • In jesus's name, we pray, amen.
  • 00:48:53.655 --> 00:48:58.093
  • >> laurie: connect with us on social media,
  • 00:48:58.093 --> 00:48:59.561
  • And let us know how our team can pray for you.
  • 00:48:59.561 --> 00:49:05.067
  • >> sheila: for many years,
  • 00:49:05.067 --> 00:49:06.602
  • I valued my worth as whatever i could do for god.
  • 00:49:06.602 --> 00:49:09.705
  • You know, i was determined that i was gonna try
  • 00:49:09.705 --> 00:49:12.041
  • And be a perfect christian
  • 00:49:12.041 --> 00:49:14.009
  • And the perfect godly woman and do everything right,
  • 00:49:14.009 --> 00:49:17.679
  • But a lot of it i did for the wrong reasons.
  • 00:49:17.679 --> 00:49:18.781
  • I did 'cause i didn't want god to be mad with me
  • 00:49:18.781 --> 00:49:20.249
  • Or stop loving me.
  • 00:49:20.249 --> 00:49:21.717
  • But the more that i understand how much god loves me,
  • 00:49:21.717 --> 00:49:24.420
  • That my worth is not placed on anything i do,
  • 00:49:24.420 --> 00:49:27.790
  • It's not because i've been given the privilege of being on a show
  • 00:49:27.790 --> 00:49:30.893
  • Like "better together"
  • 00:49:30.893 --> 00:49:32.261
  • Or that i get to write books or that i get to speak to women,
  • 00:49:32.261 --> 00:49:34.096
  • Any of that, or even that i get to be christian's mom
  • 00:49:34.096 --> 00:49:36.899
  • Or barry's wife,
  • 00:49:36.899 --> 00:49:39.601
  • My worth is based on the fact that
  • 00:49:39.601 --> 00:49:41.103
  • Jesus christ was willing to leave the glory of heaven
  • 00:49:41.103 --> 00:49:43.572
  • And come down here and be rejected and crucified
  • 00:49:43.572 --> 00:49:46.208
  • And rise again from the dead
  • 00:49:46.208 --> 00:49:48.777
  • So that i could be with him forever,
  • 00:49:48.777 --> 00:49:50.279
  • And that's the same for you.
  • 00:49:50.279 --> 00:49:53.048
  • That's who you are, a daughter of the king of kings.
  • 00:49:53.048 --> 00:49:58.554
  • >> lisa: the way jesus interacted with women was
  • 00:49:58.554 --> 00:50:01.824
  • Actually revolutionary for the time.
  • 00:50:01.824 --> 00:50:04.726
  • He actually noticed women.
  • 00:50:04.726 --> 00:50:07.329
  • He actually allowed women to sit at his feet and learn from him.
  • 00:50:07.329 --> 00:50:11.633
  • He actually spoke to women who found themselves uninvited
  • 00:50:11.633 --> 00:50:16.004
  • In a place with religious leaders.
  • 00:50:16.004 --> 00:50:18.607
  • I love that jesus was looking at the leaders
  • 00:50:18.607 --> 00:50:22.244
  • And speaking to the woman.
  • 00:50:22.244 --> 00:50:25.514
  • And we have this incredible opportunity to see that jesus
  • 00:50:25.514 --> 00:50:29.585
  • Has always been an advocate for women.
  • 00:50:29.585 --> 00:50:33.822
  • Jesus values both male and female.
  • 00:50:33.822 --> 00:50:38.427
  • >> laurie: join our conversations anytime, anywhere.
  • 00:50:38.427 --> 00:50:41.063
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