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Better Together

Recognize Your Authority! - Episode 1082

August 5, 2025 | S7 E1082 | 52:34

Recognize Your Authority! - Episode 1082
Women carry God-given authority! When we surrender our lives to God, He empowers us to fulfill His will and impact future generations. You don't have to question your place in His plan--God is for you and He is with you! | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000
#Women #Authority #Abide #Emotion #Surrender #Strength #Purpose #IdentityinChrist #Obedience #Christianity #Faith #Encouragement #Leadership #Bible #Anointing #Humility #Legacy

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Better Together | Recognize Your Authority! - Episode 1082 | August 5, 2025
  • - women have always been a part of the legacy of the
  • 00:00:00.323 --> 00:00:02.759
  • Kingdom.
  • 00:00:02.759 --> 00:00:04.094
  • - stepping into any authority god has for us with our hands
  • 00:00:04.094 --> 00:00:06.563
  • Open.
  • 00:00:06.563 --> 00:00:07.230
  • - that's right.
  • 00:00:07.230 --> 00:00:08.498
  • - you look at the heroines throughout redemptive biblical
  • 00:00:08.498 --> 00:00:11.101
  • Narrative.
  • 00:00:11.101 --> 00:00:12.235
  • And our faith was carried on the shoulders of men
  • 00:00:12.235 --> 00:00:14.471
  • And women.
  • 00:00:14.471 --> 00:00:15.538
  • (music playing)
  • 00:00:15.538 --> 00:00:43.633
  • - i have always been fascinated with the story of
  • 00:00:43.633 --> 00:00:48.571
  • The woman who anoints jesus before his passion,
  • 00:00:48.571 --> 00:00:53.977
  • Which in the gospel of john, she's named as mary of
  • 00:00:53.977 --> 00:00:57.013
  • Bethany.
  • 00:00:57.013 --> 00:00:58.648
  • And she never speaks, which is totally opposite of me.
  • 00:00:58.648 --> 00:01:02.352
  • So, maybe that's part of why i'm drawn to her.
  • 00:01:02.352 --> 00:01:05.021
  • - that's another way to do this.
  • 00:01:05.021 --> 00:01:07.423
  • - but also, she's so brave, and she is sociological.
  • 00:01:07.423 --> 00:01:11.327
  • In this story, she does something that the rest of the
  • 00:01:11.327 --> 00:01:15.665
  • Disciples disdain and are upset at her about.
  • 00:01:15.665 --> 00:01:20.003
  • Namely, she uses expensive ointment to anoint jesus'
  • 00:01:20.003 --> 00:01:24.207
  • Feet, which is prophetic, but she has been listening to him
  • 00:01:24.207 --> 00:01:29.612
  • Say, i'm going to face my death, and she's hearing that,
  • 00:01:29.612 --> 00:01:34.851
  • And jesus receives that and says,
  • 00:01:34.851 --> 00:01:36.252
  • She's preparing my body for burial.
  • 00:01:36.252 --> 00:01:38.555
  • So, she's brave.
  • 00:01:38.555 --> 00:01:39.923
  • She faces then the backlash of the other disciples,
  • 00:01:39.923 --> 00:01:43.693
  • And she's so theological because she is, in some way,
  • 00:01:43.693 --> 00:01:47.830
  • Glimpsing that maybe, yes, he will be raised,
  • 00:01:47.830 --> 00:01:51.100
  • At least this is what i think.
  • 00:01:51.100 --> 00:01:52.335
  • And i think maybe it's because jesus has just,
  • 00:01:52.335 --> 00:01:56.806
  • In the recent past, raised her own brother, lazarus.
  • 00:01:56.806 --> 00:02:00.410
  • She steps into this space, they're together as much as
  • 00:02:00.410 --> 00:02:13.189
  • Any human can be in this moment before his passion.
  • 00:02:13.189 --> 00:02:16.960
  • So, she accepts that, if you will, authority or calling.
  • 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:20.997
  • - i just love that you connected that she just
  • 00:02:20.997 --> 00:02:23.933
  • Witnessed jesus do this miracle.
  • 00:02:23.933 --> 00:02:26.069
  • I mean, there's a belief in that time that, if you died,
  • 00:02:26.069 --> 00:02:29.072
  • After about three days, your spirit still actually hovered
  • 00:02:29.072 --> 00:02:32.475
  • Over in the first day, second day, third day,
  • 00:02:32.475 --> 00:02:34.244
  • That your spirit hovered over the body.
  • 00:02:34.244 --> 00:02:36.079
  • So, there was like a little bit of hope that maybe lazarus
  • 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:39.616
  • Could come back from the dead, but then it was four days,
  • 00:02:39.616 --> 00:02:42.652
  • And so all hope was lost.
  • 00:02:42.652 --> 00:02:44.320
  • And i love that when mary and her sister addresses him,
  • 00:02:44.320 --> 00:02:48.925
  • They're addressing him as teacher because he saw fit
  • 00:02:48.925 --> 00:02:52.895
  • That, as women, they would learn from him just as the
  • 00:02:52.895 --> 00:02:56.065
  • Men.
  • 00:02:56.065 --> 00:02:57.300
  • I didn't realize that mary had really experienced this
  • 00:02:57.300 --> 00:03:01.037
  • Miracle and now had the faith enough to know,
  • 00:03:01.037 --> 00:03:04.741
  • If you could do it for my brother,
  • 00:03:04.741 --> 00:03:06.676
  • I actually do believe it because she paid attention,
  • 00:03:06.676 --> 00:03:09.846
  • And she actually received something from the pain.
  • 00:03:09.846 --> 00:03:12.682
  • She received faith and purpose and hope.
  • 00:03:12.682 --> 00:03:16.252
  • And so, i just love that.
  • 00:03:16.252 --> 00:03:17.920
  • And i never even thought about that.
  • 00:03:17.920 --> 00:03:20.023
  • That's the story for me.
  • 00:03:20.023 --> 00:03:23.159
  • I love that story because, for many of us,
  • 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.329
  • I think that we think the primary miracle in the story
  • 00:03:26.329 --> 00:03:29.766
  • Is that he raised someone from the dead.
  • 00:03:29.766 --> 00:03:32.101
  • And i also think another miracle is that jesus wept
  • 00:03:32.101 --> 00:03:35.071
  • With his daughters, his sisters, his friends,
  • 00:03:35.071 --> 00:03:38.074
  • These women that challenged him and his whereabouts.
  • 00:03:38.074 --> 00:03:42.245
  • And i just think that's such a glimpse into what this entire
  • 00:03:42.245 --> 00:03:45.348
  • Conversation is about this week.
  • 00:03:45.348 --> 00:03:48.851
  • - and with martha, also, i know you'll be raised in the
  • 00:03:48.851 --> 00:03:51.020
  • Last day.
  • 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:52.255
  • So, she has something, and then he reveals himself and
  • 00:03:52.255 --> 00:03:54.223
  • The resurrection in the life.
  • 00:03:54.223 --> 00:03:56.125
  • Jesus does theology with women.
  • 00:03:56.125 --> 00:03:58.928
  • - yes, he does.
  • 00:03:58.928 --> 00:04:02.298
  • - i would say jesus' interaction with women,
  • 00:04:02.298 --> 00:04:04.734
  • We could call it revolutionary for his day,
  • 00:04:04.734 --> 00:04:08.538
  • Because in jesus' time, both jews and gentiles thought that
  • 00:04:08.538 --> 00:04:15.278
  • Men were the standard and women were kind of not as
  • 00:04:15.278 --> 00:04:20.583
  • Reliable, not as smart, not as interesting, not as capable,
  • 00:04:20.583 --> 00:04:25.888
  • And jesus didn't feel that way at all.
  • 00:04:25.888 --> 00:04:29.692
  • He talked theology with women.
  • 00:04:29.692 --> 00:04:32.295
  • He paid attention to their questions.
  • 00:04:32.295 --> 00:04:34.864
  • I have to say, jesus did that with others in the culture
  • 00:04:34.864 --> 00:04:39.469
  • That were marginalized.
  • 00:04:39.469 --> 00:04:41.270
  • Those who were ill, maybe those that sided with the
  • 00:04:41.270 --> 00:04:45.675
  • Romans, who were seen as oppressing the jews who lived
  • 00:04:45.675 --> 00:04:50.313
  • In judea and galilee.
  • 00:04:50.313 --> 00:04:52.215
  • So, jesus was revolutionary, not in the sense that we think
  • 00:04:52.215 --> 00:04:55.718
  • Of like a fighting revolutionary,
  • 00:04:55.718 --> 00:04:58.755
  • But rather someone who brought peace, true peace,
  • 00:04:58.755 --> 00:05:02.959
  • And he saw each individual and gave them god's peace.
  • 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:06.295
  • - because i thought, i love that one.
  • 00:05:06.295 --> 00:05:09.165
  • I love the anointing with a woman who was the center in
  • 00:05:09.165 --> 00:05:12.668
  • The city, likely a human trafficking victim.
  • 00:05:12.668 --> 00:05:16.038
  • I love that.
  • 00:05:16.038 --> 00:05:17.006
  • And i think it's there.
  • 00:05:17.006 --> 00:05:18.307
  • I love that you frame it as bravery,
  • 00:05:18.307 --> 00:05:22.645
  • Because in that culture, knowing that all of their
  • 00:05:22.645 --> 00:05:27.750
  • Dinner parties are segregated for a woman to insert herself
  • 00:05:27.750 --> 00:05:33.489
  • In that space.
  • 00:05:33.489 --> 00:05:34.557
  • - that's right.
  • 00:05:34.557 --> 00:05:35.591
  • - and then, the humility and bravery.
  • 00:05:35.591 --> 00:05:38.161
  • It's like this perfect combination of humility and
  • 00:05:38.161 --> 00:05:41.097
  • Bravery and gratitude that they just couldn't stop
  • 00:05:41.097 --> 00:05:43.933
  • Saying, thank you.
  • 00:05:43.933 --> 00:05:45.201
  • I love the anointings.
  • 00:05:45.201 --> 00:05:47.103
  • - well, i'm just glad you made it plural, anointings,
  • 00:05:47.103 --> 00:05:50.373
  • Because what happens in the church is that luke 7,
  • 00:05:50.373 --> 00:05:54.677
  • That beautiful story of love becomes conflated with the
  • 00:05:54.677 --> 00:06:00.283
  • Anointing.
  • 00:06:00.283 --> 00:06:02.251
  • And i guess, this is about--
  • 00:06:02.251 --> 00:06:04.320
  • - all the time. they saw the mary's up.
  • 00:06:04.320 --> 00:06:06.289
  • - exactly.
  • 00:06:06.289 --> 00:06:07.356
  • - i know.
  • 00:06:07.356 --> 00:06:08.291
  • - most scholars think they were three.
  • 00:06:08.291 --> 00:06:10.593
  • There were definitively two, but there may have been three
  • 00:06:10.593 --> 00:06:13.830
  • Anointings of jesus.
  • 00:06:13.830 --> 00:06:15.131
  • I also love that you framed it as theology because the way
  • 00:06:15.131 --> 00:06:17.967
  • She anointed him was very intentional.
  • 00:06:17.967 --> 00:06:21.337
  • It was not just emotional.
  • 00:06:21.337 --> 00:06:24.574
  • This was not just sloppy estrogen.
  • 00:06:24.574 --> 00:06:26.542
  • It was a very prophetic anointing.
  • 00:06:26.542 --> 00:06:29.545
  • I'd love for you to talk more about her anointing his head,
  • 00:06:29.545 --> 00:06:33.115
  • Because i love the symbols of that,
  • 00:06:33.115 --> 00:06:35.918
  • And i don't know that i understood that until i heard
  • 00:06:35.918 --> 00:06:38.955
  • You teach on that passage.
  • 00:06:38.955 --> 00:06:40.156
  • - well, it's something that a prophet does to a king.
  • 00:06:40.156 --> 00:06:44.393
  • That's what we see in the old testament.
  • 00:06:44.393 --> 00:06:46.395
  • And so, she is declaring that he's king.
  • 00:06:46.395 --> 00:06:51.067
  • And the other disciples, not all the male disciples,
  • 00:06:51.067 --> 00:06:55.238
  • But at least some of them are imagining a victory coming in
  • 00:06:55.238 --> 00:06:59.675
  • Jerusalem, peter is the biggest example of that.
  • 00:06:59.675 --> 00:07:03.312
  • And thomas says, i'm willing to die for you.
  • 00:07:03.312 --> 00:07:07.483
  • And of course, we all want that confidence.
  • 00:07:07.483 --> 00:07:10.119
  • - and james and john, who gets to sit at your right and your
  • 00:07:10.119 --> 00:07:12.855
  • Left?
  • 00:07:12.855 --> 00:07:13.523
  • - oh, yes.
  • 00:07:13.523 --> 00:07:14.790
  • And that will come in the new heavens and the new earth.
  • 00:07:14.790 --> 00:07:19.395
  • But at this moment, mary was able to be there.
  • 00:07:19.395 --> 00:07:22.265
  • In john's gospel, it focuses on anointing the feet,
  • 00:07:22.265 --> 00:07:27.236
  • I think, because in the next chapter,
  • 00:07:27.236 --> 00:07:29.005
  • Jesus washes the disciple's feet.
  • 00:07:29.005 --> 00:07:31.674
  • And so, there's so much foreshadowing with what she is
  • 00:07:31.674 --> 00:07:35.912
  • Doing as a servant.
  • 00:07:35.912 --> 00:07:38.247
  • So, she's brave.
  • 00:07:38.247 --> 00:07:39.315
  • She doesn't need to defend herself,
  • 00:07:39.315 --> 00:07:42.818
  • But jesus is right there defending her and saying,
  • 00:07:42.818 --> 00:07:45.454
  • This story should be remembered every time my story
  • 00:07:45.454 --> 00:07:49.191
  • Is told.
  • 00:07:49.191 --> 00:07:50.092
  • I love that.
  • 00:07:50.092 --> 00:07:51.260
  • - and that's huge.
  • 00:07:51.260 --> 00:07:52.528
  • I think i've been drawn to the women in the new testament
  • 00:07:52.528 --> 00:07:56.399
  • That had these very human jobs.
  • 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.634
  • You know what i mean?
  • 00:07:58.634 --> 00:07:59.902
  • A very human contact, like this mary of bethany or coming
  • 00:07:59.902 --> 00:08:04.307
  • To the tomb in order to engage the body of jesus and make
  • 00:08:04.307 --> 00:08:08.544
  • Sure everything is okay.
  • 00:08:08.544 --> 00:08:09.845
  • And there is something about women culturally and this idea
  • 00:08:09.845 --> 00:08:13.716
  • That we handle a lot of the human things and human
  • 00:08:13.716 --> 00:08:18.054
  • Processes.
  • 00:08:18.054 --> 00:08:19.355
  • There's no latitude for not actually listening to what the
  • 00:08:19.355 --> 00:08:23.359
  • Lord is saying and believing him,
  • 00:08:23.359 --> 00:08:25.328
  • Because you live in reality and just this idea that these
  • 00:08:25.328 --> 00:08:29.031
  • Women who have very human jobs culturally are engaging the
  • 00:08:29.031 --> 00:08:34.837
  • Lord, whether it's the woman at the well in samaria,
  • 00:08:34.837 --> 00:08:37.840
  • Or women who are doing the things that have to be done
  • 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:40.643
  • And how the lord meets them in that place right there.
  • 00:08:40.643 --> 00:08:44.714
  • I think that's my favorite, because it always spreads out
  • 00:08:44.714 --> 00:08:47.984
  • From there theologically, it always spreads out from there
  • 00:08:47.984 --> 00:08:53.189
  • As far as ministry is concerned,
  • 00:08:53.189 --> 00:08:55.424
  • Which is why it's laughable that we would come to this
  • 00:08:55.424 --> 00:08:58.094
  • Place and say, women can't go tell the story that jesus has
  • 00:08:58.094 --> 00:09:01.297
  • Risen from the dead.
  • 00:09:01.297 --> 00:09:02.632
  • Well, kind of that was the first thing that happened.
  • 00:09:02.632 --> 00:09:04.700
  • First person who did it was a woman.
  • 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:06.802
  • - what's the significance of women being the first to
  • 00:09:06.802 --> 00:09:11.140
  • Witness the resurrection?
  • 00:09:11.140 --> 00:09:13.042
  • I could talk for a long time on this,
  • 00:09:13.042 --> 00:09:15.711
  • But i will say that one of the ways i think we're encouraged
  • 00:09:15.711 --> 00:09:18.748
  • To read the bible is to look for echoes.
  • 00:09:18.748 --> 00:09:20.783
  • Have we seen this before?
  • 00:09:20.783 --> 00:09:22.218
  • Have we heard this before?
  • 00:09:22.218 --> 00:09:23.753
  • It is interesting in the gospel of john,
  • 00:09:23.753 --> 00:09:26.255
  • Because he's the gospel writer that tells us that mary
  • 00:09:26.255 --> 00:09:29.291
  • Magdalene in the garden after the resurrection,
  • 00:09:29.291 --> 00:09:32.995
  • She's interacting with jesus and she thinks he's the
  • 00:09:32.995 --> 00:09:36.632
  • Gardener.
  • 00:09:36.632 --> 00:09:37.933
  • And we ask ourselves, as bells and whistles are going off,
  • 00:09:37.933 --> 00:09:41.103
  • Do we have another time in scripture where god was
  • 00:09:41.103 --> 00:09:43.472
  • Talking to a woman in a garden?
  • 00:09:43.472 --> 00:09:45.675
  • And the answer to that is yes, it was eve.
  • 00:09:45.675 --> 00:09:48.244
  • And adam and eve bit the fruit and their eyes were open to
  • 00:09:48.244 --> 00:09:51.347
  • Sin and shame.
  • 00:09:51.347 --> 00:09:52.648
  • And here we have magdalene, the first one viewing the
  • 00:09:52.648 --> 00:09:55.918
  • Resurrection.
  • 00:09:55.918 --> 00:09:57.219
  • Her eyes were opened and she saw the resurrected jesus.
  • 00:09:57.219 --> 00:10:00.890
  • So, i think that there's something to that,
  • 00:10:00.890 --> 00:10:02.992
  • To jesus making sure that the first people he revealed his
  • 00:10:02.992 --> 00:10:06.929
  • Resurrected self to, he gave that gift to women.
  • 00:10:06.929 --> 00:10:11.133
  • - and especially as a mom of little kids right now,
  • 00:10:11.133 --> 00:10:14.270
  • You lose the latitude of just speaking and hoping and
  • 00:10:14.270 --> 00:10:18.708
  • Wanting philosophically, because little kids ask
  • 00:10:18.708 --> 00:10:21.711
  • Questions and little kids have very human physical needs.
  • 00:10:21.711 --> 00:10:25.514
  • And so, i love that, that even if there is a mom or a woman
  • 00:10:25.514 --> 00:10:30.086
  • In any part of the world that feels stuck in a very human
  • 00:10:30.086 --> 00:10:34.623
  • Job, like, oh my gosh.
  • 00:10:34.623 --> 00:10:37.693
  • That's actually his specialty, and that's where theology
  • 00:10:37.693 --> 00:10:40.196
  • Actually comes alive historically and currently,
  • 00:10:40.196 --> 00:10:44.967
  • And it's just been blessing me.
  • 00:10:44.967 --> 00:10:48.504
  • - i love that you talk about the practical ones,
  • 00:10:48.504 --> 00:10:49.772
  • Because i do think we almost elevate certain women that are
  • 00:10:49.772 --> 00:10:52.675
  • A little more ethereal.
  • 00:10:52.675 --> 00:10:53.843
  • I've always loved the woman in the song of songs,
  • 00:10:53.843 --> 00:10:55.911
  • Because that's where i really first begin to learn that a
  • 00:10:55.911 --> 00:11:00.349
  • God like that could actually delight a girl like me,
  • 00:11:00.349 --> 00:11:04.920
  • Not just deliver me for my sin.
  • 00:11:04.920 --> 00:11:06.589
  • There's so many i've identified with it,
  • 00:11:06.589 --> 00:11:08.591
  • Different chapters in my own story.
  • 00:11:08.591 --> 00:11:11.494
  • But i remember the first time going,
  • 00:11:11.494 --> 00:11:13.929
  • Because i like to get it done.
  • 00:11:13.929 --> 00:11:15.798
  • And i've talked about that we are hard workers,
  • 00:11:15.798 --> 00:11:18.267
  • And i love me some abigail.
  • 00:11:18.267 --> 00:11:21.137
  • Because you look at abigail and she did not marry well,
  • 00:11:21.137 --> 00:11:27.710
  • And probably had no choice in it,
  • 00:11:27.710 --> 00:11:31.213
  • And you see such practicality in her story.
  • 00:11:31.213 --> 00:11:37.520
  • The way she engages with david,
  • 00:11:37.520 --> 00:11:40.556
  • The way she represents her household and her husband is a
  • 00:11:40.556 --> 00:11:43.559
  • Just a yayhoo.
  • 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:45.995
  • - i knew you were going to say that.
  • 00:11:45.995 --> 00:11:47.296
  • - i think because i see such extraordinary strength in her,
  • 00:11:47.296 --> 00:11:53.569
  • But she never sacrificed her femininity on the alter of
  • 00:11:53.569 --> 00:11:57.673
  • Strength, because i think all too often in culture,
  • 00:11:57.673 --> 00:12:00.009
  • We see those as binary, and to be strong and soft and
  • 00:12:00.009 --> 00:12:05.514
  • Practical and a minister of the gospel.
  • 00:12:05.514 --> 00:12:08.717
  • I love abigail's story.
  • 00:12:08.717 --> 00:12:12.688
  • - i think mine for real is deborah.
  • 00:12:12.688 --> 00:12:14.323
  • I love it.
  • 00:12:14.323 --> 00:12:17.359
  • - i love her leadership and posture.
  • 00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:19.829
  • She has immense humility.
  • 00:12:19.829 --> 00:12:21.363
  • She is not trying to come in and say, i am she.
  • 00:12:21.363 --> 00:12:24.700
  • Move out of the way.
  • 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:26.001
  • She's actually prophetically submitted to what the lord-- -
  • 00:12:26.001 --> 00:12:29.238
  • She defers to barak.
  • 00:12:29.238 --> 00:12:30.239
  • - she defers to barak, not once, twice.
  • 00:12:30.239 --> 00:12:35.010
  • Didn't he say that this is the prophetic calling of the lord?
  • 00:12:35.010 --> 00:12:38.113
  • She is not trying to exert her strength as a woman,
  • 00:12:38.113 --> 00:12:40.716
  • Her position, her title.
  • 00:12:40.716 --> 00:12:42.117
  • She is saying, i heard from the lord, i respect his word,
  • 00:12:42.117 --> 00:12:45.287
  • And it's supposed to be you.
  • 00:12:45.287 --> 00:12:46.455
  • Okay?
  • 00:12:46.455 --> 00:12:47.456
  • - that's right.
  • 00:12:47.456 --> 00:12:49.158
  • And i also love that her leadership and humility led to
  • 00:12:49.158 --> 00:12:52.061
  • 40 years of peace.
  • 00:12:52.061 --> 00:12:53.829
  • When you start to look at judges,
  • 00:12:53.829 --> 00:12:55.631
  • There was a lot of leaders that did not lead these people
  • 00:12:55.631 --> 00:13:00.469
  • To peace.
  • 00:13:00.469 --> 00:13:04.340
  • Her obedience and leadership led to 40 years of peace.
  • 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:07.743
  • - i've heard people say, well, it's just that god couldn't
  • 00:13:07.743 --> 00:13:12.281
  • Find a man at that moment to do that.
  • 00:13:12.281 --> 00:13:15.050
  • - i was told that in seminary, dr. cohick.
  • 00:13:15.050 --> 00:13:16.719
  • I asked one of my professors and he said she was a default.
  • 00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:19.688
  • And i remember writing in my notebook, even then i thought,
  • 00:13:19.688 --> 00:13:22.691
  • There were 3 million, at least,
  • 00:13:22.691 --> 00:13:25.561
  • Of god's people at that time.
  • 00:13:25.561 --> 00:13:27.529
  • And it says her own husband was a good man.
  • 00:13:27.529 --> 00:13:30.399
  • So, why not mr. deborah?
  • 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:34.203
  • - i do believe that any woman, no matter her circumstance,
  • 00:13:34.203 --> 00:13:37.439
  • Can use her god-given influence for his purposes.
  • 00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:42.311
  • Absolutely, because i have seen in the word in my life,
  • 00:13:42.311 --> 00:13:46.715
  • In the lives of my friends and sisters and mothers,
  • 00:13:46.715 --> 00:13:50.586
  • Mother and grandmothers and aunts, and cousins.
  • 00:13:50.586 --> 00:13:54.290
  • I've seen in the life of everybody how god will,
  • 00:13:54.290 --> 00:13:57.626
  • Even when there seem to be shut doors,
  • 00:13:57.626 --> 00:14:00.129
  • God will get so creative and he will make space for the
  • 00:14:00.129 --> 00:14:03.933
  • People he has called.
  • 00:14:03.933 --> 00:14:04.867
  • And by the way, that's everybody.
  • 00:14:04.867 --> 00:14:06.402
  • And so, if the lord has called a woman to have influence in a
  • 00:14:06.402 --> 00:14:10.940
  • Certain sphere, you better believe that's what's going to
  • 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:14.310
  • Happen.
  • 00:14:14.310 --> 00:14:15.577
  • - and let's just talk about jael.
  • 00:14:15.577 --> 00:14:18.447
  • He makes the exclamation point twice in that story.
  • 00:14:18.447 --> 00:14:21.917
  • - so, that was my second point.
  • 00:14:21.917 --> 00:14:23.218
  • I love that she shares in the glory of this defeat and she
  • 00:14:23.218 --> 00:14:27.957
  • Prophesize it.
  • 00:14:27.957 --> 00:14:29.024
  • It actually won't be you, barak.
  • 00:14:29.024 --> 00:14:31.160
  • I am really trying to give it to you.
  • 00:14:31.160 --> 00:14:33.395
  • But at the end of the day, it will be a woman and it's not
  • 00:14:33.395 --> 00:14:36.432
  • Her.
  • 00:14:36.432 --> 00:14:37.433
  • She's not speaking from a prideful place.
  • 00:14:37.433 --> 00:14:39.101
  • She's not like, at the end of the day,
  • 00:14:39.101 --> 00:14:40.402
  • I'm about to crush it.
  • 00:14:40.402 --> 00:14:41.537
  • She's actually speaking of a whole different woman.
  • 00:14:41.537 --> 00:14:43.672
  • - a whole different woman.
  • 00:14:43.672 --> 00:14:44.707
  • She went to home depot and got a tent peg.
  • 00:14:44.707 --> 00:14:47.443
  • - ta ta ta.
  • 00:14:47.443 --> 00:14:48.744
  • And was strategic too, because she waited until he laid on
  • 00:14:48.744 --> 00:14:50.612
  • Down.
  • 00:14:50.612 --> 00:14:51.613
  • - you know what's so cool about that too?
  • 00:14:51.613 --> 00:14:52.614
  • Again, going back to practical.
  • 00:14:52.614 --> 00:14:53.949
  • It's not women just being strident and grabbing things
  • 00:14:53.949 --> 00:14:57.152
  • That aren't ours.
  • 00:14:57.152 --> 00:14:58.153
  • Why was jael able to perfectly hit that?
  • 00:14:58.153 --> 00:15:02.624
  • Because if she misses, he's going to kill her.
  • 00:15:02.624 --> 00:15:04.193
  • Her husband's probably going to kill her.
  • 00:15:04.193 --> 00:15:06.462
  • How many times had she-- because women back then are
  • 00:15:06.462 --> 00:15:10.733
  • The ones that did the tents.
  • 00:15:10.733 --> 00:15:13.135
  • - building the tents, running businesses, selling land.
  • 00:15:13.135 --> 00:15:15.537
  • - women are the ones who would pound those pegs in every day.
  • 00:15:15.537 --> 00:15:18.707
  • And you go, she's been faithful to what god has
  • 00:15:18.707 --> 00:15:21.877
  • Called her to.
  • 00:15:21.877 --> 00:15:22.611
  • She did not usurp authority.
  • 00:15:22.611 --> 00:15:24.580
  • She wasn't strident.
  • 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:26.315
  • She wasn't burning her bra.
  • 00:15:26.315 --> 00:15:28.817
  • She's doing what yahweh has called her do every day.
  • 00:15:28.817 --> 00:15:31.920
  • She's fixing the tent for family, and she's ready.
  • 00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:35.491
  • She's from moving around over and over again in her family
  • 00:15:35.491 --> 00:15:40.829
  • And having the lowliest task of being the one with dirty
  • 00:15:40.829 --> 00:15:43.866
  • Hands, putting those tent pegs in day after day for her
  • 00:15:43.866 --> 00:15:47.436
  • Family to move to get water.
  • 00:15:47.436 --> 00:15:50.339
  • She's the one who has the expertise with the mallet and
  • 00:15:50.339 --> 00:15:54.109
  • The tent peg.
  • 00:15:54.109 --> 00:15:54.777
  • I love that.
  • 00:15:54.777 --> 00:15:56.011
  • That's not because she just suddenly got brave in that
  • 00:15:56.011 --> 00:15:58.747
  • Moment.
  • 00:15:58.747 --> 00:16:00.049
  • It's because she's been doing the test god has set before
  • 00:16:00.049 --> 00:16:02.251
  • Her with humility, day after day, year after year.
  • 00:16:02.251 --> 00:16:05.154
  • And then he calls her to greatness.
  • 00:16:05.154 --> 00:16:06.955
  • And she's like, yes sir, i'm ready.
  • 00:16:06.955 --> 00:16:08.791
  • - and if you're confused at all about this story,
  • 00:16:08.791 --> 00:16:10.926
  • About the tent peg, i just would encourage you to go and
  • 00:16:10.926 --> 00:16:13.395
  • Read, judges 4?
  • 00:16:13.395 --> 00:16:14.229
  • - 4 and 5, yes.
  • 00:16:14.229 --> 00:16:15.864
  • - 4 and 5, and just get excited,
  • 00:16:15.864 --> 00:16:19.568
  • Because it's like a little soap opera, honestly.
  • 00:16:19.568 --> 00:16:20.502
  • It's so great.
  • 00:16:20.502 --> 00:16:21.770
  • - it's better than netflix, baby.
  • 00:16:21.770 --> 00:16:22.938
  • - truly.
  • 00:16:22.938 --> 00:16:24.039
  • - anybody who says the bible's boring, i'm like,
  • 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.441
  • You have not read it.
  • 00:16:25.441 --> 00:16:26.542
  • - you're literally not reading it.
  • 00:16:26.542 --> 00:16:28.010
  • - i love this idea of being faithful in the little things
  • 00:16:28.010 --> 00:16:31.680
  • So that we can be prepared for the big things that god wants
  • 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:34.349
  • To use us for.
  • 00:16:34.349 --> 00:16:35.451
  • Because it really is, just like our children.
  • 00:16:35.451 --> 00:16:37.453
  • We give them little bitty tasks and little bitty forms
  • 00:16:37.453 --> 00:16:40.722
  • Of leadership so that they can be conditioned to lead,
  • 00:16:40.722 --> 00:16:43.358
  • So that when bigger opportunities come,
  • 00:16:43.358 --> 00:16:45.194
  • We can trust them with it.
  • 00:16:45.194 --> 00:16:46.662
  • Not because they're just inherently untrustworthy.
  • 00:16:46.662 --> 00:16:49.131
  • Not because the lord doesn't actually believe in us,
  • 00:16:49.131 --> 00:16:51.767
  • But because he knows that we need training.
  • 00:16:51.767 --> 00:16:54.169
  • We need training to lead in the little so that we can lead
  • 00:16:54.169 --> 00:16:56.405
  • In the big.
  • 00:16:56.405 --> 00:16:57.506
  • And we even see that in jael's story, is like,
  • 00:16:57.506 --> 00:17:00.342
  • She took her little tent peg and she just ran that thing
  • 00:17:00.342 --> 00:17:03.011
  • Right on through this sucker's skull,
  • 00:17:03.011 --> 00:17:04.713
  • And she helped debra bring about peace for the nation of
  • 00:17:04.713 --> 00:17:08.617
  • Israel for 40 years.
  • 00:17:08.617 --> 00:17:10.452
  • And it was just by this little act of bravery and confidence.
  • 00:17:10.452 --> 00:17:14.356
  • I think that's how the lord views us and how he allows us
  • 00:17:14.356 --> 00:17:18.327
  • To operate in his kingdom.
  • 00:17:18.327 --> 00:17:21.497
  • - god wants us to do life together because we are better
  • 00:17:21.497 --> 00:17:24.666
  • Together.
  • 00:17:24.666 --> 00:17:25.534
  • Connect with us on social media.
  • 00:17:25.534 --> 00:17:27.503
  • Enjoy the community that encourages and prays for one
  • 00:17:27.503 --> 00:17:30.472
  • Another.
  • 00:17:30.472 --> 00:17:31.406
  • - we can't wait for you to join us.
  • 00:17:31.406 --> 00:17:34.076
  • - let's keep the conversation going.
  • 00:17:34.076 --> 00:17:35.844
  • You can find the better together podcast on your
  • 00:17:35.844 --> 00:17:38.580
  • Favorite listening platform.
  • 00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:40.349
  • Subscribe today.
  • 00:17:40.349 --> 00:17:41.984
  • (music playing)
  • 00:17:41.984 --> 00:17:45.002
  • (music playing)
  • 00:17:45.002 --> 00:17:49.024
  • - when i think about authority lately,
  • 00:17:49.024 --> 00:17:50.492
  • We don't think often of the authority that comes through
  • 00:17:50.492 --> 00:17:53.862
  • Suffering.
  • 00:17:53.862 --> 00:17:54.997
  • We want to hear from the person that's been through
  • 00:17:54.997 --> 00:17:59.835
  • Something.
  • 00:17:59.835 --> 00:18:01.036
  • If you've not been hit yet, dinged yet, mauled yet.
  • 00:18:01.036 --> 00:18:05.374
  • If life hasn't punched you in the throat yet,
  • 00:18:05.374 --> 00:18:08.343
  • We want to hear from that person.
  • 00:18:08.343 --> 00:18:11.113
  • And i think because, i'm just in a challenging season right
  • 00:18:11.113 --> 00:18:14.316
  • Now, the woman that's really been speaking to me lately is
  • 00:18:14.316 --> 00:18:18.520
  • Moses' mother, jochebed.
  • 00:18:18.520 --> 00:18:21.089
  • We know the story early in exodus.
  • 00:18:21.089 --> 00:18:23.392
  • There's a pharaoh that passes an edict of infanticide.
  • 00:18:23.392 --> 00:18:26.628
  • We're going to kill all of the hebrew boys.
  • 00:18:26.628 --> 00:18:29.164
  • And so, we have moses's mother here.
  • 00:18:29.164 --> 00:18:33.802
  • And the authority that she exercises is like an authority
  • 00:18:33.802 --> 00:18:38.473
  • Of relinquishment.
  • 00:18:38.473 --> 00:18:39.708
  • Rather than trying to gain, acquire, climb, build,
  • 00:18:39.708 --> 00:18:44.880
  • Her plan isn't to go overthrow the pharaoh.
  • 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.249
  • The bible talks about when she builds a basket and covers it
  • 00:18:47.249 --> 00:18:52.821
  • In pitch.
  • 00:18:52.821 --> 00:18:53.956
  • It's the hebrew word for an ark.
  • 00:18:53.956 --> 00:18:56.058
  • She built an ark, the same word that's used for noah in
  • 00:18:56.058 --> 00:19:01.063
  • His ark.
  • 00:19:01.063 --> 00:19:02.030
  • She built an ark and put her son in it.
  • 00:19:02.030 --> 00:19:05.567
  • Put baby moses in it.
  • 00:19:05.567 --> 00:19:07.336
  • And then y'all, this is what's just been blowing my mind
  • 00:19:07.336 --> 00:19:09.805
  • Lately.
  • 00:19:09.805 --> 00:19:10.906
  • I'm like, lord, i don't have this kind of faith.
  • 00:19:10.906 --> 00:19:12.174
  • I want this kind of faith.
  • 00:19:12.174 --> 00:19:14.042
  • But the bible specifically says they were drowning the
  • 00:19:14.042 --> 00:19:17.813
  • Hebrew boys in the nile.
  • 00:19:17.813 --> 00:19:20.215
  • Where did she put the basket with moses in it?
  • 00:19:20.215 --> 00:19:24.853
  • In the reeds along the nile.
  • 00:19:24.853 --> 00:19:28.557
  • How many of you would've done that differently?
  • 00:19:28.557 --> 00:19:30.792
  • I'm like running in the opposite direction with my
  • 00:19:30.792 --> 00:19:34.029
  • Baby.
  • 00:19:34.029 --> 00:19:35.063
  • They're drowning the baby boys in the nile,
  • 00:19:35.063 --> 00:19:36.732
  • I'm moving away from the nile.
  • 00:19:36.732 --> 00:19:39.301
  • And i think about that moment for her and what it took.
  • 00:19:39.301 --> 00:19:42.638
  • But i do feel, i want to ask her one day in the world to
  • 00:19:42.638 --> 00:19:45.674
  • Come.
  • 00:19:45.674 --> 00:19:47.009
  • I want to go sit by her at the wedding supper of the lamb and
  • 00:19:47.009 --> 00:19:48.310
  • Hear her tell the story.
  • 00:19:48.310 --> 00:19:49.778
  • So you build an ark, which feels hopeful, right?
  • 00:19:49.778 --> 00:19:53.582
  • And just that, i imagine her sending him,
  • 00:19:53.582 --> 00:19:58.220
  • Relinquishing him.
  • 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.388
  • - i can't imagine.
  • 00:19:59.388 --> 00:20:00.322
  • - and what that would've been like.
  • 00:20:00.322 --> 00:20:01.890
  • And then how the story talks about,
  • 00:20:01.890 --> 00:20:03.525
  • It's miriam that follows along watching.
  • 00:20:03.525 --> 00:20:06.728
  • And she's the one that sees the pharaonic princes,
  • 00:20:06.728 --> 00:20:09.998
  • And i just think-- and what's so funny is hebrews 11,
  • 00:20:09.998 --> 00:20:14.102
  • The great hall of faith.
  • 00:20:14.102 --> 00:20:15.570
  • It says, and moses's parents, when he was three months old,
  • 00:20:15.570 --> 00:20:20.342
  • Hid him.
  • 00:20:20.342 --> 00:20:21.543
  • And amram is probably around, but when you go read the
  • 00:20:21.543 --> 00:20:24.413
  • Exodus account, it's she, she, she.
  • 00:20:24.413 --> 00:20:28.917
  • It's her.
  • 00:20:28.917 --> 00:20:30.218
  • This feminine strength of suffering,
  • 00:20:30.218 --> 00:20:32.921
  • This authority of faith, this i'm going to trust god so
  • 00:20:32.921 --> 00:20:35.824
  • Much, i'm going to build an ark from my baby boy,
  • 00:20:35.824 --> 00:20:38.193
  • And i'm going to send him out.
  • 00:20:38.193 --> 00:20:40.295
  • And i've been thinking about her so often lately,
  • 00:20:40.295 --> 00:20:43.432
  • Because i try to hold on to things,
  • 00:20:43.432 --> 00:20:44.933
  • Relinquishment is not my spiritual gift.
  • 00:20:44.933 --> 00:20:47.869
  • It is not.
  • 00:20:47.869 --> 00:20:49.104
  • And it does come from that reflex of the orphan in me.
  • 00:20:49.104 --> 00:20:52.641
  • I'm just like, am i okay?
  • 00:20:52.641 --> 00:20:53.909
  • Am i okay?
  • 00:20:53.909 --> 00:20:56.078
  • And she's so beautiful in this moment.
  • 00:20:55.110 --> 00:20:59.514
  • All this pharaonic power passing these edicts and doing
  • 00:20:59.514 --> 00:21:04.086
  • These things, and here she is, just letting him go.
  • 00:21:04.086 --> 00:21:08.323
  • And everything we read about moses,
  • 00:21:08.323 --> 00:21:10.158
  • Everything we read in the bible about moses,
  • 00:21:10.158 --> 00:21:13.362
  • All of that happened because of that moment,
  • 00:21:13.362 --> 00:21:16.665
  • Her relinquishing him and letting him go.
  • 00:21:16.665 --> 00:21:22.170
  • - god is holy, and he invites us into his world of holiness
  • 00:21:22.270 --> 00:21:28.877
  • And goodness and joy and peace.
  • 00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:31.079
  • And if i believe that, then the challenge that god seems
  • 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:36.818
  • To be presenting before me that seems overwhelming.
  • 00:21:36.818 --> 00:21:39.388
  • I can think, god, no.
  • 00:21:39.388 --> 00:21:40.689
  • God would take care of me no matter what is this next step
  • 00:21:40.689 --> 00:21:45.694
  • As i just walk faithful each and every day.
  • 00:21:45.694 --> 00:21:49.698
  • Sometimes situations come up as, for example,
  • 00:21:49.698 --> 00:21:53.969
  • With moses and his mother and the crisis that the hebrews
  • 00:21:53.969 --> 00:21:59.775
  • Faced.
  • 00:21:59.775 --> 00:22:00.842
  • In that moment, she showed faithfulness,
  • 00:22:00.842 --> 00:22:03.745
  • As did sister miriam.
  • 00:22:03.745 --> 00:22:06.515
  • But there are other times where it's just about
  • 00:22:06.515 --> 00:22:09.618
  • Perseverance.
  • 00:22:09.618 --> 00:22:11.620
  • It's just about each and every day getting out of bed and
  • 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:14.589
  • Doing what god has set before you.
  • 00:22:14.589 --> 00:22:18.160
  • And in both cases, you're blessed,
  • 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:21.296
  • Because you're honoring god in faithfulness that i think,
  • 00:22:21.296 --> 00:22:25.801
  • Well, let's say maybe that brings a smile to jesus' face.
  • 00:22:25.801 --> 00:22:30.238
  • - think of that theme of a strong woman whose strength
  • 00:22:30.338 --> 00:22:33.074
  • Comes from the lord laying something down rather than
  • 00:22:33.074 --> 00:22:36.878
  • Gathering, because you see it again in hannah.
  • 00:22:36.878 --> 00:22:38.947
  • You see it in the anointing with mary.
  • 00:22:38.947 --> 00:22:41.316
  • You see it in elizabeth.
  • 00:22:41.316 --> 00:22:43.685
  • Over and over again.
  • 00:22:43.685 --> 00:22:45.487
  • You see women going, not what i'm holding onto,
  • 00:22:45.487 --> 00:22:49.758
  • But whatever you want me to let go of for your honor and
  • 00:22:49.758 --> 00:22:51.993
  • Your glory.
  • 00:22:51.993 --> 00:22:52.761
  • - even the woman at the well.
  • 00:22:52.761 --> 00:22:54.329
  • She's like, forget that water.
  • 00:22:54.329 --> 00:22:57.165
  • - i think what you're saying about relinquishment, boy,
  • 00:22:57.165 --> 00:23:01.303
  • That so informs what we're even talking about,
  • 00:23:01.303 --> 00:23:05.474
  • Was stepping into any authority god has for us,
  • 00:23:05.474 --> 00:23:08.510
  • Was stepping into it with our hands open of take whatever
  • 00:23:08.510 --> 00:23:11.146
  • You need to take.
  • 00:23:11.146 --> 00:23:12.347
  • - wow.
  • 00:23:12.347 --> 00:23:13.081
  • - and i want to build arks.
  • 00:23:13.081 --> 00:23:15.383
  • I want my life to build arks.
  • 00:23:15.383 --> 00:23:17.519
  • I want to be a hopeful presence,
  • 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:19.788
  • Both in ways of authority and in suffering,
  • 00:23:19.788 --> 00:23:23.124
  • Really in all of it.
  • 00:23:23.124 --> 00:23:24.326
  • - a relinquishment, yes.
  • 00:23:24.326 --> 00:23:25.327
  • - a buoyancy.
  • 00:23:25.327 --> 00:23:26.628
  • A buoyant hopefulness in who jesus is and what he's doing.
  • 00:23:26.628 --> 00:23:29.664
  • - you just preached to me today.
  • 00:23:29.664 --> 00:23:32.367
  • - i think fundamentally, we can lean toward despair or
  • 00:23:32.367 --> 00:23:36.104
  • Hope, and those are two really big words.
  • 00:23:36.104 --> 00:23:39.608
  • And when i look at jochebed, moses' mother,
  • 00:23:39.608 --> 00:23:42.444
  • Her choice to not go the way of despair,
  • 00:23:42.444 --> 00:23:46.047
  • To not believe that there could be a salvation for her
  • 00:23:46.047 --> 00:23:48.517
  • Baby moses, but she chose the way of hope.
  • 00:23:48.517 --> 00:23:51.753
  • And in building that basket of hope,
  • 00:23:51.753 --> 00:23:54.789
  • It broke forward even the opportunity for moses to live.
  • 00:23:54.789 --> 00:23:59.094
  • And so, i think when i think about that in my own life,
  • 00:23:59.094 --> 00:24:01.563
  • When i say i want to be a person who builds arcs,
  • 00:24:01.563 --> 00:24:04.199
  • I want to choose hope over despair.
  • 00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:07.369
  • I want to choose life over death.
  • 00:24:07.369 --> 00:24:09.971
  • And i want to be the agency of that in this world.
  • 00:24:09.971 --> 00:24:14.175
  • - and i was thinking of miriam, her daughter,
  • 00:24:14.175 --> 00:24:16.378
  • How they must have strategized,
  • 00:24:16.378 --> 00:24:19.247
  • Stand close enough by, how she must have talked.
  • 00:24:19.247 --> 00:24:22.484
  • Also to aaron, miriam and aaron who grow up under her
  • 00:24:22.484 --> 00:24:26.888
  • Care.
  • 00:24:26.888 --> 00:24:27.923
  • And then the two of them reunited with moses,
  • 00:24:27.923 --> 00:24:31.126
  • And the three lead the people out.
  • 00:24:31.126 --> 00:24:33.194
  • And you see then the legacy of this woman.
  • 00:24:33.194 --> 00:24:37.799
  • She's built the ark as a temporary holding.
  • 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:41.836
  • Exactly.
  • 00:24:41.836 --> 00:24:43.071
  • But there's also something she creates more permanent,
  • 00:24:43.071 --> 00:24:46.374
  • That although she personally doesn't go,
  • 00:24:46.374 --> 00:24:48.743
  • Her children then lead the people.
  • 00:24:48.743 --> 00:24:52.080
  • - that inspires me so much.
  • 00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.448
  • - this is extra biblical, but i've always wondered because
  • 00:24:53.448 --> 00:24:55.116
  • She sang the first worship song.
  • 00:24:55.116 --> 00:24:56.985
  • And i've always wondered if to calm him,
  • 00:24:56.985 --> 00:25:00.221
  • As a three-month-old, because they are fussy.
  • 00:25:00.221 --> 00:25:02.524
  • I always wondered, did she sing when she was in the
  • 00:25:02.524 --> 00:25:05.627
  • Reeds?
  • 00:25:05.627 --> 00:25:06.962
  • Because surely, that first worship song wasn't the first
  • 00:25:06.962 --> 00:25:09.497
  • Time she sang.
  • 00:25:09.497 --> 00:25:10.465
  • Little bit of creative lessons, but yet,
  • 00:25:10.465 --> 00:25:13.401
  • It's cool to think about.
  • 00:25:13.401 --> 00:25:14.569
  • That word, legacy, made me feel-- i feel like i'm in
  • 00:25:14.569 --> 00:25:17.672
  • Therapy right now.
  • 00:25:17.672 --> 00:25:18.907
  • It made me feel so proud, because women have always been
  • 00:25:18.907 --> 00:25:22.677
  • A part of the legacy of the kingdom.
  • 00:25:22.677 --> 00:25:24.579
  • I mean, this is moses' mother.
  • 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:28.550
  • I just love these different perspectives.
  • 00:25:28.550 --> 00:25:30.151
  • I love how the lord's illuminating them in our
  • 00:25:30.151 --> 00:25:32.654
  • Hearts because it is just enlightening us here,
  • 00:25:32.654 --> 00:25:35.056
  • And i know for everyone watching at home, i'm like,
  • 00:25:35.056 --> 00:25:37.726
  • Moses' mom was the catalyst to a legacy of freedom.
  • 00:25:37.726 --> 00:25:45.433
  • - and don't ever let culture tell you you are just a mom.
  • 00:25:45.433 --> 00:25:49.571
  • If you look at the heroines throughout redemptive biblical
  • 00:25:49.571 --> 00:25:54.676
  • Narrative, and you have these women who, goodness gracious.
  • 00:25:54.676 --> 00:26:00.115
  • Our faith was carried on the shoulders of men and women.
  • 00:26:00.115 --> 00:26:05.020
  • - i think that every believer needs to really hold onto this
  • 00:26:05.020 --> 00:26:08.289
  • Idea that we have dominion and we have authority.
  • 00:26:08.289 --> 00:26:10.992
  • And it's not from our own flesh or our gifts or our
  • 00:26:10.992 --> 00:26:14.095
  • Talents, but when we said yes to jesus,
  • 00:26:14.095 --> 00:26:15.997
  • And we decided that we wouldn't just be a fan of his,
  • 00:26:15.997 --> 00:26:18.266
  • But a follower, a true follower,
  • 00:26:18.266 --> 00:26:20.135
  • We inherit authority.
  • 00:26:20.135 --> 00:26:22.937
  • We inherit the confidence that we could actually defeat any
  • 00:26:22.937 --> 00:26:27.075
  • Evil against us because we have the power of god in us.
  • 00:26:27.075 --> 00:26:32.113
  • - in the book of acts chapter 9,
  • 00:26:32.113 --> 00:26:34.482
  • There's the story of dorcas.
  • 00:26:34.482 --> 00:26:36.117
  • - yes.
  • 00:26:36.117 --> 00:26:37.085
  • - or tabitha, depending on greek name,
  • 00:26:37.085 --> 00:26:41.690
  • What she did was acts of charity,
  • 00:26:41.690 --> 00:26:43.191
  • Including making clothes, which as someone who almost
  • 00:26:43.191 --> 00:26:48.329
  • Failed junior high because she couldn't get out of-- we had
  • 00:26:48.329 --> 00:26:52.100
  • To do a home was a home arc.
  • 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:53.935
  • And true story, first married, i'm hemming my husband's
  • 00:26:53.935 --> 00:26:58.506
  • Pants, and i'm sitting on the bed.
  • 00:26:58.506 --> 00:26:59.741
  • We had a very small place we lived.
  • 00:26:59.741 --> 00:27:01.910
  • I stitched the hem to the bedsheets.
  • 00:27:01.910 --> 00:27:05.346
  • - that's what i thought you were going to say.
  • 00:27:05.346 --> 00:27:06.681
  • Pants attached to the bed.
  • 00:27:06.681 --> 00:27:08.983
  • - and from then on, my husband just has long pants.
  • 00:27:08.983 --> 00:27:11.853
  • You know what i mean?
  • 00:27:11.853 --> 00:27:13.955
  • They cover shoes.
  • 00:27:13.955 --> 00:27:15.924
  • So, i'm not a dorkus nor do i play one even on tv,
  • 00:27:15.924 --> 00:27:20.595
  • But she's raised from the dead.
  • 00:27:20.595 --> 00:27:24.599
  • That's what's so wonderful.
  • 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:27.302
  • When peter learned, because they went to tell him,
  • 00:27:27.302 --> 00:27:30.572
  • The disciples to tell him about this fabulous woman who
  • 00:27:30.572 --> 00:27:34.843
  • Did acts of charity.
  • 00:27:34.843 --> 00:27:36.644
  • And some of the widows were showing peter the robes and
  • 00:27:36.644 --> 00:27:40.181
  • The clothes that she had made for them, and the lord,
  • 00:27:40.181 --> 00:27:43.551
  • Through peter, brought her back to life.
  • 00:27:43.551 --> 00:27:46.087
  • So, just to your point.
  • 00:27:46.087 --> 00:27:47.689
  • There's no small thing in the kingdom of god.
  • 00:27:47.689 --> 00:27:51.860
  • Obedience is everything.
  • 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.994
  • Faithfulness is everything.
  • 00:27:52.994 --> 00:27:55.430
  • (music playing)
  • 00:27:55.430 --> 00:28:01.936
  • - thank you all for sending us in your questions.
  • 00:28:01.936 --> 00:28:04.038
  • We we're not talking smack when we say we're better
  • 00:28:04.038 --> 00:28:07.208
  • Together.
  • 00:28:07.208 --> 00:28:08.476
  • We are so grateful that you engage with us and you trust
  • 00:28:08.476 --> 00:28:10.745
  • Us, not just give you pat answers,
  • 00:28:10.745 --> 00:28:12.680
  • But to just lean into the lord together.
  • 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:16.551
  • So, thank you for your honesty in these questions.
  • 00:28:16.551 --> 00:28:19.087
  • Marissa is from canada.
  • 00:28:19.087 --> 00:28:20.188
  • She's 25.
  • 00:28:20.188 --> 00:28:21.890
  • And she says, as a 25-year-old woman who's feeling a pull
  • 00:28:21.890 --> 00:28:25.260
  • Into direct church ministry, what advice would you give?
  • 00:28:25.260 --> 00:28:27.695
  • There are moments when i second guess my abilities,
  • 00:28:27.695 --> 00:28:32.700
  • And she said, insecurities creep in.
  • 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:35.270
  • But marissa can't shake the pole she has for church
  • 00:28:35.270 --> 00:28:37.772
  • Ministry, for vocational ministry.
  • 00:28:37.772 --> 00:28:41.843
  • So, how would you encourage our little sister, marissa?
  • 00:28:41.843 --> 00:28:44.846
  • - first of all, i love that question so very much.
  • 00:28:44.846 --> 00:28:46.414
  • I dove into ministry at 21, and lord,
  • 00:28:46.414 --> 00:28:50.051
  • I probably still smelled at the club,
  • 00:28:50.051 --> 00:28:51.419
  • If we're just going to be honest.
  • 00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:53.488
  • I twerked my way right into ministry.
  • 00:28:53.488 --> 00:28:55.223
  • And honestly, i still have that heart and that posture.
  • 00:28:55.223 --> 00:28:59.627
  • Lord, why would you choose me?
  • 00:28:59.627 --> 00:29:01.796
  • Every day i wake up, i'm like, you sure?
  • 00:29:01.796 --> 00:29:03.898
  • Are you sure you playing around?
  • 00:29:03.898 --> 00:29:05.366
  • And i think i like that posture because it makes god
  • 00:29:05.366 --> 00:29:09.037
  • Bigger.
  • 00:29:09.037 --> 00:29:09.971
  • It makes him able to move in us.
  • 00:29:09.971 --> 00:29:11.639
  • And there's no need for us to be self-deprecating,
  • 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:14.242
  • For us to not believe in what god has put on the inside of
  • 00:29:14.242 --> 00:29:16.945
  • Us.
  • 00:29:16.945 --> 00:29:18.213
  • But there is more fruit when we believe more god than our
  • 00:29:18.213 --> 00:29:22.951
  • Gifts.
  • 00:29:22.951 --> 00:29:24.252
  • And so, marissa, i would just say sit in that insecurity,
  • 00:29:24.252 --> 00:29:26.554
  • Process that with friends, process it with your
  • 00:29:26.554 --> 00:29:29.057
  • Counselor, figure out where it's coming from.
  • 00:29:29.057 --> 00:29:30.959
  • But i also would encourage you in this ministry walk never to
  • 00:29:30.959 --> 00:29:34.896
  • Try to be so secure that you've got it all figured out,
  • 00:29:34.896 --> 00:29:37.298
  • Unless you're operating from your own strength.
  • 00:29:37.298 --> 00:29:38.766
  • - that's right.
  • 00:29:38.766 --> 00:29:39.434
  • I totally agree with toni.
  • 00:29:39.434 --> 00:29:40.835
  • Don't trip over yourself being self-deprecating,
  • 00:29:40.835 --> 00:29:43.872
  • But remember, he's real clear in scripture that,
  • 00:29:43.872 --> 00:29:47.542
  • 1st corinthians 1, that he uses weak and foolish people
  • 00:29:47.542 --> 00:29:50.378
  • To illuminate his strength and his wisdom.
  • 00:29:50.378 --> 00:29:53.681
  • And then, look at the saints of scripture.
  • 00:29:53.681 --> 00:29:58.086
  • They were a hot mess.
  • 00:29:58.086 --> 00:30:01.389
  • Now that doesn't mean they stayed in sin.
  • 00:30:01.389 --> 00:30:03.024
  • - come on.
  • 00:30:03.024 --> 00:30:04.158
  • - they confessed their sin and they leaned into the
  • 00:30:04.158 --> 00:30:07.362
  • Redemptive reality of who god is.
  • 00:30:07.362 --> 00:30:09.631
  • And they were repentant.
  • 00:30:09.631 --> 00:30:10.698
  • And they walked in that that repentance,
  • 00:30:10.698 --> 00:30:14.002
  • They kept leaning toward the lord.
  • 00:30:14.002 --> 00:30:15.336
  • They never thought, oh, i don't need to confess anymore.
  • 00:30:15.336 --> 00:30:17.739
  • They stayed in the posture of humility and confession.
  • 00:30:17.739 --> 00:30:20.408
  • But he mostly used uneducated people that the world would
  • 00:30:20.408 --> 00:30:24.212
  • Not have picked.
  • 00:30:24.212 --> 00:30:25.580
  • - at all.
  • 00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:26.781
  • - they didn't look like the best and the brightest.
  • 00:30:26.781 --> 00:30:28.049
  • They were just the most yielded.
  • 00:30:28.049 --> 00:30:29.784
  • And they never forgot how desperate they were for god's
  • 00:30:29.784 --> 00:30:33.187
  • Grace.
  • 00:30:33.187 --> 00:30:34.322
  • So, model after the men and women of scripture.
  • 00:30:34.322 --> 00:30:38.192
  • Don't look to social media for who to model after.
  • 00:30:38.192 --> 00:30:40.128
  • - that's by fake by the way.
  • 00:30:40.128 --> 00:30:42.463
  • - a lot of filters up on there, baby.
  • 00:30:42.463 --> 00:30:44.198
  • - join the conversation on our better together youtube
  • 00:30:44.198 --> 00:30:47.568
  • Channel.
  • 00:30:47.568 --> 00:30:48.569
  • Subscribe today and never miss a new upload.
  • 00:30:48.569 --> 00:30:52.206
  • (music playing)
  • 00:30:52.206 --> 00:30:52.999
  • (music playing)
  • 00:30:52.999 --> 00:30:56.778
  • - dr. paul wright teaches in israel,
  • 00:30:56.778 --> 00:30:59.180
  • And i was in class with him one day,
  • 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:01.015
  • And i had never thought about this,
  • 00:31:01.015 --> 00:31:03.918
  • But back to moses and the pharaoh and the beginning of
  • 00:31:03.918 --> 00:31:08.022
  • Exodus.
  • 00:31:08.022 --> 00:31:09.090
  • He said, if god wanted to raise up an empire,
  • 00:31:09.090 --> 00:31:11.359
  • He would've had moses stay in the pharaoh's court and grow
  • 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:15.229
  • Up and become the next pharaoh.
  • 00:31:15.229 --> 00:31:18.366
  • But god was wanting to do something completely different
  • 00:31:18.366 --> 00:31:21.936
  • Than that.
  • 00:31:21.936 --> 00:31:23.304
  • Kingdom is not like empire.
  • 00:31:23.304 --> 00:31:25.540
  • - it's just not.
  • 00:31:25.540 --> 00:31:26.607
  • - and the ways that we think about authority,
  • 00:31:26.607 --> 00:31:28.977
  • Often it's almost back to the shalom scarcity thing.
  • 00:31:28.977 --> 00:31:32.080
  • I'm like, man, is this like worldly empire authority,
  • 00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:36.351
  • Or is this kingdom authority?
  • 00:31:36.351 --> 00:31:38.853
  • And that's been like a framing that's helped me.
  • 00:31:38.953 --> 00:31:40.455
  • I've never forgotten him saying that i was-- i remember
  • 00:31:40.455 --> 00:31:42.857
  • Just writing it down because i'd never had that thought,
  • 00:31:42.857 --> 00:31:46.527
  • Moses' life had he stayed in pharaoh's court,
  • 00:31:46.527 --> 00:31:49.931
  • Had he stayed in egypt and all of that.
  • 00:31:49.931 --> 00:31:51.966
  • - and every time you say kingdom and empower,
  • 00:31:51.966 --> 00:31:54.002
  • Because i always love that juxtaposition,
  • 00:31:54.002 --> 00:31:56.504
  • I always think with regards to women.
  • 00:31:56.504 --> 00:31:59.607
  • We've got to always see the difference between empowered
  • 00:31:59.607 --> 00:32:03.411
  • And enraged, because we live in a culture where there's a
  • 00:32:03.411 --> 00:32:06.914
  • Lot of women who are mad.
  • 00:32:06.914 --> 00:32:09.984
  • Because of some legitimate abuse,
  • 00:32:09.984 --> 00:32:12.186
  • Even within christian circles.
  • 00:32:12.186 --> 00:32:13.654
  • And i'm like, ooh, don't lead from a wound.
  • 00:32:13.654 --> 00:32:15.757
  • - i was about to say, go ahead and get--
  • 00:32:15.757 --> 00:32:17.859
  • - do not lead from a wound.
  • 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.926
  • Go ahead and get angry and go to counseling.
  • 00:32:18.926 --> 00:32:21.429
  • You know what i mean?
  • 00:32:21.429 --> 00:32:22.663
  • - go to holy spirit and say temperaments.
  • 00:32:22.663 --> 00:32:24.265
  • - yes.
  • 00:32:24.265 --> 00:32:27.301
  • However you process emotion in community healthily, do that,
  • 00:32:27.301 --> 00:32:31.873
  • Because you take care of this so well,
  • 00:32:31.873 --> 00:32:34.008
  • You would never say stuff that emotion until the women who
  • 00:32:34.008 --> 00:32:38.546
  • Would--
  • 00:32:38.546 --> 00:32:39.647
  • - honey, i'll be in therapy till today i go to
  • 00:32:39.647 --> 00:32:40.882
  • Glory.
  • 00:32:40.882 --> 00:32:42.116
  • - that's what i know about you, which is why i'm like,
  • 00:32:42.116 --> 00:32:43.418
  • I think culture offers women historically two options that
  • 00:32:43.418 --> 00:32:48.356
  • Is to be enraged or to stuff it.
  • 00:32:48.356 --> 00:32:50.691
  • And the lord has never given us those two options.
  • 00:32:50.691 --> 00:32:53.961
  • Instead, he's like, bring those cares to me,
  • 00:32:53.961 --> 00:32:56.964
  • Because it's okay to be angry about things that are
  • 00:32:56.964 --> 00:33:00.034
  • Angering.
  • 00:33:00.034 --> 00:33:01.202
  • But like you said, you can't lead from that place.
  • 00:33:01.202 --> 00:33:05.039
  • I would encourage women to walk in authority and boldness
  • 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:08.843
  • As they use their influence for god by being unafraid and
  • 00:33:08.843 --> 00:33:14.382
  • Offended.
  • 00:33:14.382 --> 00:33:15.049
  • It's this tight rope.
  • 00:33:15.049 --> 00:33:17.118
  • You know what i'm saying?
  • 00:33:17.118 --> 00:33:18.419
  • Where you are unafraid to do what the lord has asked you to
  • 00:33:18.419 --> 00:33:21.522
  • Do because you know that it is god who's in charge.
  • 00:33:21.522 --> 00:33:24.158
  • It's his best for you that he's communicating to you,
  • 00:33:24.158 --> 00:33:27.361
  • And he knows his people, and he is the one who called you
  • 00:33:27.361 --> 00:33:31.032
  • To be a blessing to his people.
  • 00:33:31.032 --> 00:33:34.502
  • But also unoffended, where things are going to happen as
  • 00:33:34.502 --> 00:33:39.006
  • Women in this world.
  • 00:33:39.006 --> 00:33:40.341
  • I don't think i know a corner of the world where women have
  • 00:33:40.341 --> 00:33:44.112
  • Not been marginalized at some point.
  • 00:33:44.112 --> 00:33:46.380
  • And so there will be things that are offensive.
  • 00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:48.983
  • It doesn't mean don't have emotions.
  • 00:33:48.983 --> 00:33:50.751
  • You will, probably at some point,
  • 00:33:50.751 --> 00:33:53.121
  • Be hurt or things might make you angry.
  • 00:33:53.121 --> 00:33:56.190
  • But living in a place without offense means that you get to
  • 00:33:56.190 --> 00:34:00.027
  • Move freely without carrying somebody else's ignorance,
  • 00:34:00.027 --> 00:34:04.632
  • If you think about it.
  • 00:34:04.632 --> 00:34:05.933
  • Holding onto a fence really ends up being you deciding to
  • 00:34:05.933 --> 00:34:09.504
  • Carry somebody else's ignorance.
  • 00:34:09.504 --> 00:34:11.873
  • And i just have no space for that.
  • 00:34:11.873 --> 00:34:14.242
  • And so i have to remind myself of that all the time.
  • 00:34:14.242 --> 00:34:17.845
  • Feel the hurt, feel the anger, process it in healthy
  • 00:34:17.845 --> 00:34:20.781
  • Community, but do not carry somebody else's baggage.
  • 00:34:20.781 --> 00:34:24.118
  • And at the same time, be unafraid and bold enough to
  • 00:34:24.118 --> 00:34:27.488
  • Walk into what the lord has called you to do.
  • 00:34:27.488 --> 00:34:30.558
  • I just think it's important for us to pause here for a
  • 00:34:30.558 --> 00:34:32.693
  • Second, because i think all too often,
  • 00:34:32.693 --> 00:34:35.696
  • Especially if you've been in a male dominated christian
  • 00:34:35.696 --> 00:34:38.766
  • Culture, the takeaway i got was my emotions are extra and
  • 00:34:38.766 --> 00:34:44.739
  • They're not biblical.
  • 00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:46.073
  • And i remember the first time i heard somebody really exude
  • 00:34:46.073 --> 00:34:48.943
  • At length, the woman with the issue of blood.
  • 00:34:48.943 --> 00:34:52.013
  • And it was just an epiphany to me to go, oh,
  • 00:34:52.013 --> 00:34:55.616
  • She's already healed, and then she tells jesus the whole
  • 00:34:55.616 --> 00:35:00.621
  • Story.
  • 00:35:00.621 --> 00:35:01.689
  • She's been suffering ostracize for 12 years.
  • 00:35:01.689 --> 00:35:04.859
  • She's physically healed.
  • 00:35:04.859 --> 00:35:07.528
  • Jesus is on his way to heal jairus' daughter.
  • 00:35:07.528 --> 00:35:10.698
  • And jairus is a player.
  • 00:35:10.698 --> 00:35:12.333
  • He lives in a gated community, drives a beamer.
  • 00:35:12.333 --> 00:35:14.302
  • So, it would've been politically expedient for
  • 00:35:14.302 --> 00:35:16.938
  • Jesus to say, well, you just send your message to somebody
  • 00:35:16.938 --> 00:35:20.374
  • Else.
  • 00:35:20.374 --> 00:35:21.442
  • There's a wjd table over there, get a bracelet,
  • 00:35:21.442 --> 00:35:24.011
  • Somebody will take your story and go on.
  • 00:35:24.011 --> 00:35:27.281
  • But he stops and he listens to 12 years of torment.
  • 00:35:27.281 --> 00:35:32.720
  • That had to be a long story.
  • 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:34.922
  • In the meantime, his daughter dies and the miracle gets
  • 00:35:34.922 --> 00:35:37.458
  • Bigger.
  • 00:35:37.458 --> 00:35:38.759
  • But there is never one time that our savior in redemptive
  • 00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:42.563
  • Narrative says, stuff it.
  • 00:35:42.563 --> 00:35:44.298
  • - no.
  • 00:35:44.298 --> 00:35:45.166
  • - there's never one time he says,
  • 00:35:45.166 --> 00:35:46.300
  • Your emotions are extra to me.
  • 00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:48.002
  • All throughout his encounters, he invites everybody.
  • 00:35:48.002 --> 00:35:51.405
  • But certainly, the women who are subjugated by culture
  • 00:35:51.405 --> 00:35:56.811
  • Don't curate your emotions.
  • 00:35:56.811 --> 00:35:58.246
  • Don't stuff the messy parts.
  • 00:35:58.246 --> 00:36:00.314
  • Bring them to me.
  • 00:36:00.314 --> 00:36:01.449
  • I'd love for you all to talk about that for me,
  • 00:36:01.449 --> 00:36:03.317
  • Because i bet you a nickel.
  • 00:36:03.317 --> 00:36:04.785
  • One of our friends has been made to feel like your
  • 00:36:04.785 --> 00:36:08.723
  • Emotions aren't spiritual maturity.
  • 00:36:08.723 --> 00:36:11.459
  • And i'm like, that is not biblically defensible.
  • 00:36:11.459 --> 00:36:14.362
  • - this is what i was talking about when i referred to these
  • 00:36:14.362 --> 00:36:16.931
  • Two miracles that i see with lazarus and mary and martha
  • 00:36:16.931 --> 00:36:21.469
  • And this whole story, is that, i think about the moment
  • 00:36:21.469 --> 00:36:25.473
  • Where, first of all, jesus is coming back from a ministry
  • 00:36:25.473 --> 00:36:28.309
  • Trip and he's got these two sisters here.
  • 00:36:28.309 --> 00:36:30.678
  • Martha's a little bit more chill, mary mad for real.
  • 00:36:30.678 --> 00:36:33.080
  • And it's like this moment with my daughter.
  • 00:36:33.080 --> 00:36:35.983
  • She broke her little bike because she's not real
  • 00:36:35.983 --> 00:36:37.852
  • Coordinated, if we're just going to be honest here.
  • 00:36:37.852 --> 00:36:40.655
  • And she broke her bike trying to figure out how to do it.
  • 00:36:40.655 --> 00:36:43.024
  • And i'm on my way home.
  • 00:36:43.024 --> 00:36:44.258
  • I stop by target, i do a target pickup,
  • 00:36:44.258 --> 00:36:46.327
  • I get a new bike, it's in the trunk.
  • 00:36:46.327 --> 00:36:48.129
  • I get home and she's devastated.
  • 00:36:48.129 --> 00:36:49.463
  • Mom, did you know i broke my bike?
  • 00:36:49.463 --> 00:36:51.432
  • I really can't [indiscernible] and i'm kind of giddy because
  • 00:36:51.432 --> 00:36:56.570
  • I'm like, i've got a new bike in the trunk.
  • 00:36:56.570 --> 00:37:00.074
  • And the first thing that i want to do is to tell her
  • 00:37:00.074 --> 00:37:03.678
  • Like, wait, wait, wait.
  • 00:37:03.678 --> 00:37:04.879
  • You don't have to cry.
  • 00:37:04.879 --> 00:37:06.113
  • I've got the new bike.
  • 00:37:06.113 --> 00:37:07.782
  • Just like, girl, put them tears somewhere else.
  • 00:37:07.782 --> 00:37:10.618
  • And i just can't help but think that jesus knew that he
  • 00:37:10.618 --> 00:37:13.654
  • Would raise lazarus from the dead.
  • 00:37:13.654 --> 00:37:14.989
  • - of course.
  • 00:37:14.989 --> 00:37:16.157
  • - and he could have saved them some grief, honestly,
  • 00:37:16.157 --> 00:37:18.626
  • By just saying, hey, i'm here now.
  • 00:37:18.626 --> 00:37:20.561
  • First of all, he could have saved them some grief by
  • 00:37:20.561 --> 00:37:22.630
  • Coming a little earlier.
  • 00:37:22.630 --> 00:37:23.898
  • He could have saved them some grief by just saying like,
  • 00:37:23.898 --> 00:37:27.101
  • Hey, i got this.
  • 00:37:27.101 --> 00:37:28.336
  • And he tried to tell martha like,
  • 00:37:28.336 --> 00:37:29.937
  • This will not end in death.
  • 00:37:29.937 --> 00:37:31.005
  • And she's like, i know, i know.
  • 00:37:31.005 --> 00:37:32.373
  • It's going to be great.
  • 00:37:32.373 --> 00:37:34.008
  • He's like, no, truly.
  • 00:37:34.008 --> 00:37:36.143
  • I'm going to raise him from the dead,
  • 00:37:36.143 --> 00:37:38.012
  • And he only knows this information.
  • 00:37:38.012 --> 00:37:39.947
  • But with that information, he could have saved them grief.
  • 00:37:39.947 --> 00:37:42.683
  • And instead, he stopped to cry with them and to grieve the
  • 00:37:42.683 --> 00:37:46.987
  • Reality that even though i'm going to bring all things to
  • 00:37:46.987 --> 00:37:51.625
  • Redemption and glory, it's okay if we take a second to
  • 00:37:51.625 --> 00:37:56.263
  • Cry about what happened, that you did experience a loss.
  • 00:37:56.263 --> 00:37:59.567
  • And i am going to take this pain,
  • 00:37:59.567 --> 00:38:01.502
  • And i am not going to make it worth it,
  • 00:38:01.502 --> 00:38:03.404
  • But i will not waste it.
  • 00:38:03.404 --> 00:38:04.905
  • And that's jesus's care.
  • 00:38:04.905 --> 00:38:07.575
  • The living, breathing in human form.
  • 00:38:07.575 --> 00:38:11.712
  • Jesus, god of the universe saying, we have time to cry.
  • 00:38:11.712 --> 00:38:16.217
  • - that's right.
  • 00:38:16.217 --> 00:38:17.051
  • He's an empathetic high priest.
  • 00:38:17.051 --> 00:38:19.153
  • - yes.
  • 00:38:19.153 --> 00:38:20.488
  • And i'm like, why you all told us that we can't be crying out
  • 00:38:20.488 --> 00:38:22.189
  • Here?
  • 00:38:22.189 --> 00:38:22.857
  • That's weird.
  • 00:38:22.857 --> 00:38:24.258
  • - i think, as followers of jesus,
  • 00:38:24.258 --> 00:38:25.826
  • We're not trying to be less human.
  • 00:38:25.826 --> 00:38:29.063
  • - that's right.
  • 00:38:29.063 --> 00:38:30.030
  • - we're trying to be more fully human.
  • 00:38:30.030 --> 00:38:32.833
  • And, man, life has taught me when we stuff it,
  • 00:38:32.833 --> 00:38:35.336
  • It comes out sideways.
  • 00:38:35.336 --> 00:38:36.537
  • - that's right.
  • 00:38:36.537 --> 00:38:37.204
  • It's like working with it.
  • 00:38:37.204 --> 00:38:38.372
  • - it will come.
  • 00:38:38.372 --> 00:38:39.473
  • And you don't always get to control when it comes,
  • 00:38:39.473 --> 00:38:41.475
  • Because i even think about anger,
  • 00:38:41.475 --> 00:38:43.043
  • Something i learned in therapy, and i'm no therapist,
  • 00:38:43.043 --> 00:38:45.946
  • But anger's often a secondary emotion to fear.
  • 00:38:45.946 --> 00:38:49.917
  • And i remember my therapist saying, kristi,
  • 00:38:49.917 --> 00:38:52.052
  • When you feel angry, just start with the question,
  • 00:38:52.052 --> 00:38:54.555
  • What am i afraid of?
  • 00:38:54.555 --> 00:38:55.589
  • And that's been beneficial for me,
  • 00:38:55.589 --> 00:38:57.958
  • Because anger also provokes us onto all righteousness.
  • 00:38:57.958 --> 00:39:01.228
  • Anger serves its purpose.
  • 00:39:01.228 --> 00:39:02.630
  • Fear serves its purpose.
  • 00:39:02.630 --> 00:39:04.799
  • And i would just say as i've learned to welcome my emotions
  • 00:39:04.799 --> 00:39:10.838
  • And ask them to be bathed in the power of the holy spirit,
  • 00:39:10.838 --> 00:39:15.209
  • Understanding in the word of god,
  • 00:39:15.209 --> 00:39:17.111
  • Talked out with community.
  • 00:39:17.111 --> 00:39:19.146
  • It's like i've been getting more of me to give to the
  • 00:39:19.146 --> 00:39:22.950
  • World.
  • 00:39:22.950 --> 00:39:23.651
  • - that's right.
  • 00:39:23.651 --> 00:39:24.952
  • - i want more of me to give to the world, not less of me.
  • 00:39:24.952 --> 00:39:29.056
  • I'm back to, jochebed, what did that feel like?
  • 00:39:29.056 --> 00:39:31.892
  • What were you feeling when you put moses in the basket and
  • 00:39:31.892 --> 00:39:35.663
  • Placed him among the reeds in the nile?
  • 00:39:35.663 --> 00:39:38.165
  • I want to know that.
  • 00:39:38.165 --> 00:39:39.467
  • And i hope she's not going to be like, i just had faith.
  • 00:39:39.467 --> 00:39:41.735
  • I wasn't feeling anything.
  • 00:39:41.735 --> 00:39:42.937
  • I hope she does not say that to me.
  • 00:39:42.937 --> 00:39:46.707
  • - well, and the vulnerability, i remember giving birth to my
  • 00:39:46.707 --> 00:39:50.244
  • Second son by c-section, and so, i can't do anything.
  • 00:39:50.244 --> 00:39:55.416
  • I'm completely vulnerable at this point.
  • 00:39:55.416 --> 00:39:57.785
  • And because of blood pressure issues, i can't even hold him.
  • 00:39:57.785 --> 00:40:01.088
  • So, i'm depending on my husband to facilitate the
  • 00:40:01.088 --> 00:40:03.724
  • Moment so that the baby feels like, hey, you're in a family,
  • 00:40:03.724 --> 00:40:06.460
  • And we're not crazy, and you're loved.
  • 00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:08.729
  • But then, they go to do the apgar test,
  • 00:40:08.729 --> 00:40:10.798
  • And it's taken a minute for him to respond.
  • 00:40:10.798 --> 00:40:13.801
  • And in that moment, it's literally the longest moment
  • 00:40:13.801 --> 00:40:16.437
  • Of my life.
  • 00:40:16.437 --> 00:40:17.438
  • And ej has to tell me, everything's okay.
  • 00:40:17.438 --> 00:40:20.708
  • He's okay.
  • 00:40:20.708 --> 00:40:22.743
  • But because of that moment, i cannot even imagine
  • 00:40:22.743 --> 00:40:26.146
  • Facilitating myself, putting my kid in a vulnerable
  • 00:40:26.146 --> 00:40:30.951
  • Situation, and praying for the best.
  • 00:40:30.951 --> 00:40:36.790
  • That's a lot of faith, especially having given birth
  • 00:40:36.790 --> 00:40:39.927
  • Three months ago, what a vulnerable,
  • 00:40:39.927 --> 00:40:41.829
  • Emotionally raw time.
  • 00:40:41.829 --> 00:40:44.131
  • I was not with it enough, when either of my kids were three
  • 00:40:44.131 --> 00:40:48.302
  • Months old, to have that much faith to say,
  • 00:40:48.302 --> 00:40:51.639
  • I'm going to build this.
  • 00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:53.307
  • - come on.
  • 00:40:53.307 --> 00:40:54.141
  • - and the lord's going to do it.
  • 00:40:54.141 --> 00:40:55.342
  • - yes.
  • 00:40:55.342 --> 00:40:56.010
  • - so, that is a big deal.
  • 00:40:56.010 --> 00:40:58.045
  • - yes.
  • 00:40:58.045 --> 00:40:59.346
  • - well, and i wonder, just as i'm thinking about all that
  • 00:40:59.346 --> 00:41:02.583
  • We're talking about.
  • 00:41:02.583 --> 00:41:04.318
  • We are dividing our full self up into, this is body,
  • 00:41:04.318 --> 00:41:10.257
  • This is head, this is emotion.
  • 00:41:10.257 --> 00:41:12.626
  • But we are to love the lord our god with all our heart,
  • 00:41:12.626 --> 00:41:16.630
  • With all our soul.
  • 00:41:16.630 --> 00:41:17.898
  • Psuché, which is the whole body, that's the greek one.
  • 00:41:17.898 --> 00:41:21.535
  • All our mind, all our strengths.
  • 00:41:21.535 --> 00:41:24.138
  • So, to say emotions somehow are over here,
  • 00:41:24.138 --> 00:41:29.043
  • Means we aren't loving god to the fullest.
  • 00:41:29.043 --> 00:41:31.712
  • And this includes men and women.
  • 00:41:31.712 --> 00:41:33.480
  • So, i don't understand.
  • 00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:36.116
  • Well, i do understand, but i think it's funny or annoying.
  • 00:41:36.116 --> 00:41:39.253
  • - however you want to call it.
  • 00:41:39.253 --> 00:41:41.255
  • - yes, however you want to call it.
  • 00:41:41.255 --> 00:41:44.158
  • That there's permission, in a lot of ways,
  • 00:41:44.158 --> 00:41:46.493
  • For men to be angry at so many things.
  • 00:41:46.493 --> 00:41:48.762
  • That's not even seen as an actual emotion.
  • 00:41:48.762 --> 00:41:51.432
  • But we've been talking about women being angry,
  • 00:41:51.432 --> 00:41:54.301
  • And that is clearly an emotion,
  • 00:41:54.301 --> 00:41:56.170
  • And it's an off putting one.
  • 00:41:56.170 --> 00:42:00.874
  • Exactly.
  • 00:42:00.874 --> 00:42:02.209
  • And i'm thinking, okay, here, but let's go back to all of us
  • 00:42:02.209 --> 00:42:05.579
  • As disciples are to love the lord our god with all our
  • 00:42:05.579 --> 00:42:08.549
  • Heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength,
  • 00:42:08.549 --> 00:42:11.085
  • And our neighbor as ourselves.
  • 00:42:11.085 --> 00:42:12.553
  • We center back into that.
  • 00:42:12.553 --> 00:42:15.990
  • - emotions are in and of themselves indicators.
  • 00:42:15.990 --> 00:42:19.293
  • We don't want to let them run our lives,
  • 00:42:19.293 --> 00:42:21.862
  • But we do take the information that they bring to the
  • 00:42:21.862 --> 00:42:24.398
  • Surface.
  • 00:42:24.398 --> 00:42:25.299
  • And we ask the lord about that.
  • 00:42:25.299 --> 00:42:27.134
  • I think all emotions should go through the lord.
  • 00:42:27.134 --> 00:42:29.937
  • Like, ugh, lord, i'm feeling angry about that.
  • 00:42:29.937 --> 00:42:32.573
  • Can you help me see what is it that i care so much about that
  • 00:42:32.573 --> 00:42:36.777
  • It's making me angry, that i feel like it's being lost in
  • 00:42:36.777 --> 00:42:39.480
  • This situation?
  • 00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:40.247
  • Or, lord, i'm afraid of this.
  • 00:42:40.247 --> 00:42:41.982
  • What about this situation makes me so afraid?
  • 00:42:41.982 --> 00:42:44.351
  • And can you help me get past it?
  • 00:42:44.351 --> 00:42:46.153
  • Or, lord, this has me feeling shame.
  • 00:42:46.153 --> 00:42:51.258
  • Where does the shame come from?
  • 00:42:51.258 --> 00:42:52.626
  • Can you help me pass through that?
  • 00:42:52.626 --> 00:42:54.461
  • So, we have to deal with them by just bringing them before
  • 00:42:54.461 --> 00:42:57.464
  • The lord.
  • 00:42:57.464 --> 00:42:58.332
  • Sometimes it means in counseling,
  • 00:42:58.332 --> 00:43:00.267
  • Sometimes it's straight up with the holy spirit,
  • 00:43:00.267 --> 00:43:02.436
  • Which i have done many times.
  • 00:43:02.436 --> 00:43:03.737
  • I've asked the lord to help me save my coin.
  • 00:43:03.737 --> 00:43:06.874
  • Let's do it in between me and you jesus, and he has.
  • 00:43:06.874 --> 00:43:10.444
  • And then other times, he sent me to counseling,
  • 00:43:10.444 --> 00:43:12.246
  • Because he's like, we got a couple of boxes to unpack
  • 00:43:12.246 --> 00:43:14.748
  • Here.
  • 00:43:14.748 --> 00:43:15.816
  • So, that's how you do it practically, i think.
  • 00:43:15.816 --> 00:43:19.153
  • - and i think i just want to say to the watcher,
  • 00:43:19.153 --> 00:43:21.255
  • That's why you have to dive into the word with your full
  • 00:43:21.255 --> 00:43:25.059
  • Being.
  • 00:43:25.059 --> 00:43:26.060
  • Because to even think about how fragile,
  • 00:43:26.060 --> 00:43:29.263
  • How her hormones were all over the place at three months,
  • 00:43:29.263 --> 00:43:32.466
  • Postpartum.
  • 00:43:32.466 --> 00:43:33.233
  • - still nursing.
  • 00:43:33.233 --> 00:43:34.368
  • - oh, lord.
  • 00:43:34.368 --> 00:43:36.370
  • - still nursing.
  • 00:43:36.370 --> 00:43:37.171
  • - oh, my goodness.
  • 00:43:37.171 --> 00:43:38.672
  • - would you've nursed until four back then?
  • 00:43:38.672 --> 00:43:40.874
  • - yes.
  • 00:43:40.874 --> 00:43:41.442
  • - oh, my.
  • 00:43:41.442 --> 00:43:42.409
  • To sacrifice on that level as a mother.
  • 00:43:42.409 --> 00:43:44.611
  • - yes.
  • 00:43:44.611 --> 00:43:46.680
  • - i feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
  • 00:43:46.680 --> 00:43:49.583
  • Our ability to connect with our heavenly father,
  • 00:43:49.583 --> 00:43:53.220
  • This catalytic moment of sacrifice,
  • 00:43:53.220 --> 00:43:56.724
  • Three months postpartum is a part of that.
  • 00:43:56.724 --> 00:44:00.194
  • - yes.
  • 00:44:00.194 --> 00:44:01.528
  • - and if we can't honor that woman and what she did,
  • 00:44:01.528 --> 00:44:06.700
  • It's a slap in the face to the whole storyline of jesus,
  • 00:44:06.700 --> 00:44:09.103
  • Of the lord.
  • 00:44:09.103 --> 00:44:10.370
  • - and as i'm thinking about this, also the two midwives.
  • 00:44:10.370 --> 00:44:15.275
  • - yes.
  • 00:44:15.275 --> 00:44:16.577
  • - unfortunate names because we don't use them today for our
  • 00:44:16.577 --> 00:44:22.149
  • Own kids.
  • 00:44:22.149 --> 00:44:23.417
  • Otherwise, the story i think would be remembered a little
  • 00:44:23.417 --> 00:44:25.018
  • Bit more.
  • 00:44:25.018 --> 00:44:26.053
  • But these women told a mistruth,
  • 00:44:26.053 --> 00:44:29.022
  • I don't know how you want to say that.
  • 00:44:29.022 --> 00:44:30.691
  • - hebrew wives are vigorous.
  • 00:44:30.691 --> 00:44:32.059
  • - these hebrew women, man, they just cough it out.
  • 00:44:32.059 --> 00:44:34.661
  • Can't get there in time, but they saved the nation.
  • 00:44:34.661 --> 00:44:39.333
  • And at one level, we praise them.
  • 00:44:39.333 --> 00:44:41.602
  • Like exactly what you're saying, toni.
  • 00:44:41.602 --> 00:44:43.337
  • At the other level, i think, okay,
  • 00:44:43.337 --> 00:44:44.705
  • Is that something any of us could do?
  • 00:44:44.705 --> 00:44:47.407
  • I kind of think, in the power of the holy spirit,
  • 00:44:47.407 --> 00:44:50.144
  • It actually is.
  • 00:44:50.144 --> 00:44:51.211
  • And i was kind of thinking about,
  • 00:44:51.211 --> 00:44:53.514
  • Have there been moments where you've thought, well,
  • 00:44:53.514 --> 00:44:57.217
  • I can't do that.
  • 00:44:57.217 --> 00:44:58.418
  • And then, oh, my word.
  • 00:44:58.418 --> 00:45:01.021
  • Yes.
  • 00:45:01.021 --> 00:45:02.623
  • This is actually what god's calling me to do.
  • 00:45:02.623 --> 00:45:04.258
  • - he calls all of us to midwife miracles,
  • 00:45:04.258 --> 00:45:07.561
  • Don't you think?
  • 00:45:07.561 --> 00:45:08.328
  • - yes.
  • 00:45:08.328 --> 00:45:09.596
  • - and what's so amazing, and i may be incorrect on this,
  • 00:45:09.596 --> 00:45:12.533
  • Dr. cohick, but i read in a couple of commentaries that,
  • 00:45:12.533 --> 00:45:15.302
  • Traditionally, they were hebrew midwives.
  • 00:45:15.302 --> 00:45:18.705
  • Traditionally, the hebrew midwives in that ancient era
  • 00:45:18.705 --> 00:45:22.075
  • Were infertile.
  • 00:45:22.075 --> 00:45:23.410
  • And because of their faith, it says, god gave them families.
  • 00:45:23.410 --> 00:45:27.815
  • - that's right.
  • 00:45:27.815 --> 00:45:28.582
  • - you just see this belonging.
  • 00:45:28.582 --> 00:45:31.318
  • We may feel alone for the way other people have treated us.
  • 00:45:31.318 --> 00:45:35.455
  • We are never alone.
  • 00:45:35.455 --> 00:45:37.524
  • He is such a present encompassing god,
  • 00:45:37.524 --> 00:45:41.995
  • But i do think we're all called to midwife miracles.
  • 00:45:41.995 --> 00:45:45.432
  • - cs lewis, one of my favorite of the theologians.
  • 00:45:45.432 --> 00:45:48.769
  • I have a platonic crush on cs lewis.
  • 00:45:48.769 --> 00:45:51.238
  • I can't wait to meet him in heaven, but he talks,
  • 00:45:51.238 --> 00:45:53.841
  • And i'll massacre this quote, but the gist of what he says
  • 00:45:53.841 --> 00:45:57.744
  • Is, every single person we rub shoulders with is a divine
  • 00:45:57.744 --> 00:46:03.350
  • Being because we're made in god's image.
  • 00:46:03.350 --> 00:46:06.620
  • Every single one of us have an eternity.
  • 00:46:06.620 --> 00:46:09.590
  • Bible says, absent from the body, present with jesus.
  • 00:46:09.590 --> 00:46:12.926
  • If we die in our jar, clay body, our soul lives on.
  • 00:46:12.926 --> 00:46:18.031
  • And so, when you think about the people we get to rub
  • 00:46:18.031 --> 00:46:21.468
  • Shoulders with, goodness gracious.
  • 00:46:21.468 --> 00:46:24.738
  • We're rubbing shoulders with miracles.
  • 00:46:24.738 --> 00:46:29.076
  • And so, whatever age and stage of life you're in,
  • 00:46:29.076 --> 00:46:32.946
  • Whether you work from home, whether you actually manage a
  • 00:46:32.946 --> 00:46:38.252
  • Huge business, all of us get to midwife miracles every
  • 00:46:38.252 --> 00:46:43.123
  • Single day because the other image pairs we rub shoulders
  • 00:46:43.123 --> 00:46:46.927
  • With, that we see in the grocery store,
  • 00:46:46.927 --> 00:46:49.630
  • That we manage at work, that we have a cubicle next to,
  • 00:46:49.630 --> 00:46:53.634
  • That we worship with in church, they're miracles.
  • 00:46:53.634 --> 00:46:58.071
  • And we get to hear their stories.
  • 00:46:58.071 --> 00:46:59.806
  • We get to pray for them.
  • 00:46:59.806 --> 00:47:01.041
  • We get to metaphorically take a corner of their mat and
  • 00:47:01.041 --> 00:47:04.077
  • Carry them to the roof and lower them to jesus when
  • 00:47:04.077 --> 00:47:06.079
  • They've got a prodigal child or they're walking through a
  • 00:47:06.079 --> 00:47:08.749
  • Divorce.
  • 00:47:08.749 --> 00:47:10.684
  • So, every single day has the opportunity within it to
  • 00:47:10.684 --> 00:47:15.122
  • Midwife a miracle.
  • 00:47:15.122 --> 00:47:18.191
  • - there's an author, right now my brain can't bring her up.
  • 00:47:18.191 --> 00:47:21.528
  • Female author that talked about those five women,
  • 00:47:21.528 --> 00:47:24.298
  • The two midwives, miriam, jochebed,
  • 00:47:24.298 --> 00:47:26.400
  • And the pharaonic princess, they delivered the deliverer.
  • 00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:32.139
  • - wow.
  • 00:47:32.139 --> 00:47:32.806
  • - oh, that's so good.
  • 00:47:32.806 --> 00:47:34.074
  • - because moses is known as the deliverer of his people.
  • 00:47:34.074 --> 00:47:35.575
  • But five women delivered the deliverer.
  • 00:47:35.575 --> 00:47:38.912
  • I can't think of the author.
  • 00:47:38.912 --> 00:47:40.480
  • That's not my thought.
  • 00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:41.548
  • That's a perfect place to-- - don't feel like,
  • 00:47:41.548 --> 00:47:44.918
  • I know you're going to pray on the way out,
  • 00:47:44.918 --> 00:47:46.820
  • But i just kind almost felt my spirit catch,
  • 00:47:46.820 --> 00:47:52.759
  • Because i think there's some women who my gut would say,
  • 00:47:52.759 --> 00:47:56.263
  • Who feel like they're infertile,
  • 00:47:56.263 --> 00:47:58.665
  • Maybe not biologically, and really god is entrusting them
  • 00:47:58.665 --> 00:48:02.302
  • With a miracle to midwife.
  • 00:48:02.302 --> 00:48:03.837
  • So, they're not the bit player in the story.
  • 00:48:03.837 --> 00:48:06.373
  • He's going to use them to deliver a deliverer this
  • 00:48:06.373 --> 00:48:10.744
  • Season.
  • 00:48:10.744 --> 00:48:11.645
  • I thought, we need to pray for them,
  • 00:48:11.645 --> 00:48:12.946
  • For the people who feel like i don't count in my own story.
  • 00:48:12.946 --> 00:48:17.617
  • - yes.
  • 00:48:17.617 --> 00:48:18.552
  • Thank you jesus.
  • 00:48:18.552 --> 00:48:21.188
  • Heavenly father, we are so grateful for the stories of
  • 00:48:21.188 --> 00:48:24.324
  • Your saints that are in scripture as we see you work
  • 00:48:24.324 --> 00:48:28.762
  • In and through their lives to bring your people out of
  • 00:48:28.762 --> 00:48:33.233
  • Bondage and into freedom, and we claim that as a truth for
  • 00:48:33.233 --> 00:48:38.538
  • Us today.
  • 00:48:38.538 --> 00:48:39.806
  • Lord, we lift up all of your faithful servants around the
  • 00:48:39.806 --> 00:48:44.277
  • Globe who are hearing your call and are doing what you're
  • 00:48:44.277 --> 00:48:50.183
  • Asking them to do.
  • 00:48:50.183 --> 00:48:51.418
  • There are no small parts in your drama, lord.
  • 00:48:51.418 --> 00:48:54.488
  • Each and every one of us have an important role to play in
  • 00:48:54.488 --> 00:48:58.125
  • Obedience.
  • 00:48:58.125 --> 00:48:58.992
  • We just leave the results to you,
  • 00:48:58.992 --> 00:49:01.828
  • For your honor and your glory.
  • 00:49:01.828 --> 00:49:04.264
  • We ask that you would, for those still wondering even
  • 00:49:04.264 --> 00:49:10.170
  • What part they play, lord, would you reveal to them their
  • 00:49:10.170 --> 00:49:13.607
  • Purpose, their calling, their next step.
  • 00:49:13.607 --> 00:49:16.810
  • For those in the midst of a tough season, lord,
  • 00:49:16.810 --> 00:49:22.215
  • Would you grace them with perseverance?
  • 00:49:22.215 --> 00:49:24.818
  • And for those who are comfortable and moving along,
  • 00:49:24.818 --> 00:49:29.890
  • Lord, would you continue to empower them and let them
  • 00:49:29.890 --> 00:49:34.294
  • Never rest on their own strength,
  • 00:49:34.294 --> 00:49:35.662
  • But always rely on your strength.
  • 00:49:35.662 --> 00:49:37.964
  • We ask all of this in the powerful name of our lord and
  • 00:49:37.964 --> 00:49:41.568
  • Savior jesus christ.
  • 00:49:41.568 --> 00:49:42.302
  • Amen.
  • 00:49:42.302 --> 00:49:43.437
  • - amen.
  • 00:49:43.437 --> 00:49:45.672
  • - connect with us on social media and let us know how our
  • 00:49:45.672 --> 00:49:48.375
  • Team can pray for you.
  • 00:49:48.375 --> 00:49:49.276
  • (music playing)
  • 00:49:49.276 --> 00:49:54.915
  • - it's not about our capacity, it's not about our giftedness.
  • 00:49:54.915 --> 00:49:59.086
  • It's actually about our desperation.
  • 00:49:59.086 --> 00:50:01.521
  • If you recognize i need jesus, i can't make it by myself,
  • 00:50:01.621 --> 00:50:05.392
  • And you walk in light of the truth that he knows everything
  • 00:50:05.392 --> 00:50:09.262
  • About us, nothing in our lives is hidden from him,
  • 00:50:09.262 --> 00:50:11.565
  • And he loves us unconditionally.
  • 00:50:11.565 --> 00:50:13.200
  • That's all the competence you need.
  • 00:50:13.200 --> 00:50:15.469
  • Tell your story.
  • 00:50:15.469 --> 00:50:16.903
  • It's just like the blind man in the gospels.
  • 00:50:16.903 --> 00:50:18.972
  • The pharisees tried to trip him up and ask him theology,
  • 00:50:18.972 --> 00:50:22.142
  • And he said, i don't know.
  • 00:50:22.142 --> 00:50:23.110
  • I don't know how to talk about that.
  • 00:50:23.110 --> 00:50:25.078
  • All i know is i was blind.
  • 00:50:25.078 --> 00:50:27.681
  • I met jesus.
  • 00:50:27.681 --> 00:50:28.682
  • I encountered the messiah, now i can see.
  • 00:50:28.682 --> 00:50:30.984
  • That's our story.
  • 00:50:30.984 --> 00:50:32.552
  • How has jesus transformed the trajectory of your life?
  • 00:50:32.552 --> 00:50:36.356
  • If he actually has changed your life,
  • 00:50:36.356 --> 00:50:38.191
  • That's all the confidence you need.
  • 00:50:38.191 --> 00:50:41.461
  • - be the first to know all the latest better together
  • 00:50:41.461 --> 00:50:44.131
  • Updates.
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  • Visit www.bettertogether.tv to sign up for our weekly emails
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  • (music playing)
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