Better Together

Your Encounter with God - Episode 1100

September 26, 2025 | S7 E1100 | 52:34

A life-changing encounter with God can awaken purpose and stir your heart! Let each moment with Him transform your mind, body, and soul. Experience the confidence and clarity that come from connecting deeply with our Savior. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#IdentityinChrist #Change #Gospel #Salvation #Truth #Transformation #Purpose #Faith #SpiritualGrowth #Gratitude #HolySpirit #PersonalStory #Obedience #WaitingonGod

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Better Together | Your Encounter with God - Episode 1100 | September 26, 2025

One moment in god's presence changes everything.
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And when we encounter jesus, we receive our true identity and
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Our lives are never the same.
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Come on, join us.
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♪♪
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Looking at our identity in christ,
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I mean, it's just,
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It's everything.
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It's like when you begin to understand who you are and that
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Nothing can change that.
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Not any of the good stuff doesn't make it better.
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And none of the worst stuff makes it worse.
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It's just it's who we are.
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But one of the questions for today was, has an encounter
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With god ever changed the way that you see yourself or
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Whatever you're called to do?
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Absolutely has with me.
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After i graduated from seminary, i wanted to be a
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Missionary in india.
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But god said no and redirected my steps,
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So i ended up working with youth for christ in europe.
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I lived in holland and i lived in switzerland and different
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Places, and i really loved it.
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But i was a musician. that was my thing.
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I was a singer, and even when i came to america, i came because
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I was a musician. i was signed to
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Sparrow records, and even when i was
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Working with billy graham, i was there as a singer.
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And then after my experience in the psychiatric hospital, once
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I was released from that, and pat robertson, who was like a
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Dad to me, he was so kind, and he said, you know,
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What do you want to do?
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Do you want to come back on the air?
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And i'm like, no, i really don't.
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I feel like i spent 34 years trying to work out what i have
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To do to make god love me.
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I want to spend the next 30 years working on learning
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What jesus has already done.
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So i went back to seminary, to fuller seminary out here in
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California, and i came home one day and there was a message
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On my answering machine.
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Remember those, answering machines? message on
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My answering machine.
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And it was from my best friend marlene.
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And she basically said, hey, sheila, call me back.
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Are you doing anything on saturday?
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So i called her back
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And i said, no, do you want to do something?
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She said, no, actually, i would like you to do something for me.
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And i'm like, yeah, sure, if i can.
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She said, well, you go to
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Palm springs and speak at a women's luncheon.
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And i'm like, no, of course not.
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It was just ridiculous.
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And i said, marlene, i don't speak.
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I mean, i'd never done that before.
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I mean, i knew at concerts, concerts
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You speak a little bit between the songs. and tv,
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And i would interview people and read the prompter, but the
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Thought of standing up in front of a group of women with a
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Microphone was just like,
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I would rather stick my hand in a blender.
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So i said, no, i can't do it.
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And i said, anyway, you know, most of the women who do that
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Kind of thing, why don't you call one of them?
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This is what she said, and this is my best friend.
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She said, i've asked them all.
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You are literally the bottom of the barrel.
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That's a vote of confidence.
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Yeah, marlene. that's marlene.
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So i said, okay, because i love you
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I will do it.
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But please tell them this was all, you know, you could get.
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Well, i woke up on that saturday morning, and i
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Have to drive to palm springs from laguna.
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And i'm thinking, why did i do that?
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What on earth possessed me to
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Say yes to something i can't do?
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So i'm driving,
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I don't know, it's like two, 2.5 hours or something there.
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And i'm talking to god on the way there, and i'm basically
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Apologizing because i just said, i just i just want you to
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Know you're not going to look good today.
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This is not going to be a win. bad press for god.
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It's not going to be a win for the kingdom.
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And i get there and it's worse than i thought.
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I mean, it was this-- oh, all these--
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It's this gorgeous country club and these chauffeur-driven
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Limousines and women getting out in their chanel suits and
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Perfect makeup and i'm like, oh, and i've got on
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My one decent sunday outfit.
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So i go in and they sit me at
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The top table, a thousand women. oh, my.
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A thousand women. wow.
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These-- easing you into it.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Beautiful tables with crystal and china.
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And the women they sat me beside was literally the most
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Stunningly beautiful woman i've ever seen in my life.
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She had long blond hair and she was size a half maybe.
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And i remember when they introduced me and i got up and
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I'm like, i mean, literally, i think i was hoping for the
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Return of christ because i had nothing.
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I literally had nothing.
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And i'm standing there at the podium and i'm looking out at
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All these incredibly beautiful people.
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And i just literally shot up
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One of those, lord, what do i do?
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And i felt as if the lord had pressed on me,
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Just tell the truth. i was like, all right.
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So i said, hello, you lovely ladies.
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My name is sheila, and eight weeks ago i was released from
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A psychiatric hospital,
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And i told them my story, and i couldn't even make eye contact
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Because i thought if i look at them because i knew they were
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All going to be looking at each other, thinking, who
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Got this person here?
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So i just keep telling my story.
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But then halfway through, i started to actually look at
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Women's faces and i saw tears flowing through perfect makeup.
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And i thought, i guess botox can't cancel pain.
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And so i shared my message, and i shared the hope that i had
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Found in jesus, and that all i knew was i was heading--
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I'd set my face on heading home.
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And then i said at the end, you know, if anybody wants to
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Talk, i'm not in a big hurry.
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The first person to come up to me was the beautiful blond who
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Took off her two diamond encrusted bracelets and showed
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Me where she'd slit her wrists.
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And i remember thinking, some of our masks just cost more.
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But they're serving exactly the same purpose.
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And i had no idea.
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I stayed in line for two hours just listening to woman after
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Woman telling me their story.
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And i cried the whole way home
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Because i was like, you knew that?
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Yeah. you knew.
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I mean, i saw myself as the only broken one that had been
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Picked up and put back on her feet on a path.
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I said, no, there's so many of us who are broken.
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You know, we're all unqualified
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For the call of god on our life.
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But because we are sons and daughters and we're accepted
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And we're adopted into his
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Family, that means you're chosen.
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You're called for a great work.
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That means we're adopted into who he is.
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We have the life of god inside of us.
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And so you don't need to feel like you're unworthy today.
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God has made you.
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Jesus has made you worthy.
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And it was after that that i was given this invitation to
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Come and be a speaker with an organization.
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And i would definitely have said no before that experience,
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Because, i mean, i've listened to great speakers.
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I know what great orators are like.
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But i thought, no, this is not
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About me getting it all together.
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No, this is i think if i just show up and tell the truth,
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And i had no idea.
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I would never-- if you told me in my 20s, you'll speak to
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Women, i'd be like, no, please. let me speak to dogs.
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Anything, anything with a waggy tail.
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Not women.
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But it was-- it was a commissioning in the
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Most broken of all places, you know.
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You know this thing where you collapsed on the floor
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Somewhere and you thought you were done?
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This was actually the preparation ground.
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Wow.
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So i'm just wondering if any of your own stories of where
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You've, where something has just broken through and it's like,
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Oh, you meant that? oh, you want me to do that?
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Because honestly, on my own, every single time--
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I did it this morning before we came here, every time before
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I speak or before i'm ever on tv or we do anything together,
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I always have this moment before the lord when i think of
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That little boy on the hillside with the 5000 men.
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So 13,000 people probably.
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And i go, lord, under catered one more time
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Because i get that. under catered.
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I don't have enough.
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So i'll bring what i do have and you'll bless it, and you'll
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Break it and you'll feed your people.
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I have to go next because it's it's just a beautiful story of
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An encounter that i had with god, but also because of
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Someone's obedience.
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So you share your story about god prompting you to to speak
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And to share your story and to be honest.
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Well, when i was 21 years old, my husband and i had
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Just gotten married.
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We stepped into full time youth ministry, knew we were called
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To ministry, knew we were called to pastor students,
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Loved it. like felt confident in it.
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I loved everything about ministry, but i didn't know the
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Fullness of what god was developing in my life.
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And so a group of women from our church went and attended a
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Conference called women of faith.
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And there was a woman on the platform who was standing and
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Speaking, and her name just happened to be sheila walsh,
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Who was walking in obedience to something that god
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Challenged her to do.
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And you preached a message, sheila, about defining moments.
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And i remember sitting on the edge of my seat in this massive
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Arena at 22 years old and sitting on the edge of my seat,
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And i felt the lord lean in and whisper to me, this is
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A defining moment.
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And i knew that god was calling me to minister to women.
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It just was something that was birthed in me in that moment.
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So i say that first to say, when we're obedient to the
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Things that god challenges us with, the things we feel
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Incapable of, the things that we're just bringing, what we
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Have to the table,
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God will use that in ways that
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We would never know or understand.
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So my 22 year old self and now my 45 year old self, thanks you
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For being obedient.
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Sometimes i think we can listen to other people's stories and
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It's encouraging.
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You know, we hear how they experienced a touch from god or
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Maybe received some kind of word from god,
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Or someone prayed over them.
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And you think, you know, what about me?
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Lord, you know i love you and i've been serving you,
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But i just don't feel like i've
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Really had that kind of encounter.
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One of the things i would want to say to you is that as much
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As you want to encounter god, god wants to encounter you.
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God wants to meet you.
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Scripture makes it very clear that when we call on the name
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Of the lord, when we do it with our whole heart, that god meets
00:10:36.325 --> 00:10:39.862
Us in this place, and if you're in a place where you
00:10:39.862 --> 00:10:42.431
Feel like i don't think i've really encountered god,
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There's several places you can go to shift that dynamic.
00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:48.871
Study your bible.
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There's something about encountering god
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Through the words on the page that's powerful.
00:10:53.142 --> 00:10:55.811
Um, develop a prayer life. you know, you don't have to
00:10:55.811 --> 00:10:59.115
Fancy words and fancy sentences. you can just--
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When i get up in the morning, i'm like, good morning, lord.
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I don't know where
00:11:04.086 --> 00:11:05.087
You're going, but today i'm going with you.
00:11:05.087 --> 00:11:06.822
Um, maybe listen to some worship music.
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Put yourself in a place where you begin to experience the
00:11:09.291 --> 00:11:12.762
Presence of god in so many different ways.
00:11:12.762 --> 00:11:15.197
And as that grows, your hunger for more
00:11:15.197 --> 00:11:17.299
And more of him will grow too.
00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:20.569
So god birthed something in my heart in that moment, this
00:11:20.569 --> 00:11:23.639
Passion for women, this passion to see women awaken to the call
00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:27.676
Of god on their life and the purpose that he had for them.
00:11:27.676 --> 00:11:30.412
And immediately i did what i tend to always do.
00:11:30.412 --> 00:11:33.749
I made a plan of what that would look like, and it has
00:11:33.749 --> 00:11:37.153
Looked nothing like what i thought it would look like.
00:11:37.153 --> 00:11:40.322
But over the years, i feel like there's been just small moments
00:11:40.322 --> 00:11:44.059
And small encounters with god that have continued to shape my
00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:47.797
Identity and to, um, define for me the word he spoke to me
00:11:47.797 --> 00:11:52.701
All of those years ago.
00:11:52.701 --> 00:11:54.236
And one of those moments took place.
00:11:54.236 --> 00:11:56.605
My husband was preaching a message, and he was preaching
00:11:56.605 --> 00:11:59.708
From the book of mark, chapter five, about a woman with
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An issue of blood.
00:12:02.511 --> 00:12:03.946
And i was reading along with him as he was preaching, but my
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Eye was caught by a man named jairus, who was desperate for
00:12:07.283 --> 00:12:10.553
His daughter, who was at the point of death.
00:12:10.553 --> 00:12:12.922
Jesus goes with him to the house of this little girl,
00:12:12.922 --> 00:12:16.458
Says she's not dead.
00:12:16.458 --> 00:12:17.660
She's only sleeping, and proceeds to take the mother and
00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:20.362
The father into the room and say to the little girl,
00:12:20.362 --> 00:12:22.565
Talitha cumi, little girl, i say to you, arise.
00:12:22.565 --> 00:12:25.668
And as my husband was preaching, i was caught
00:12:25.668 --> 00:12:27.937
Somewhere different, just in this moment with the lord, this
00:12:27.937 --> 00:12:30.673
Revelation of the scripture.
00:12:30.673 --> 00:12:32.575
And i took it with me that day.
00:12:32.575 --> 00:12:34.844
And the next day i was driving to work, to a job i didn't
00:12:34.844 --> 00:12:36.712
Want to have, doing something i didn't feel like i was
00:12:36.712 --> 00:12:39.415
Supposed to be doing.
00:12:39.415 --> 00:12:40.883
And i pulled the car over and i was sobbing, crying, thinking
00:12:40.883 --> 00:12:45.287
About the words, talitha kumi,
00:12:45.287 --> 00:12:47.389
Little girl, i say to you, arise.
00:12:47.389 --> 00:12:49.158
And i felt the spirit of god almost like a paul moment.
00:12:49.158 --> 00:12:53.596
I felt the spirit of god say, this is what i've called you to
00:12:53.596 --> 00:12:56.465
Megan, to to speak life into the little girls.
00:12:56.465 --> 00:13:00.336
And we're all, we're all that little girl that need things
00:13:00.336 --> 00:13:02.738
Resurrected inside of us, that need dreams resurrected, that
00:13:02.738 --> 00:13:05.374
Need the purpose of god ignited inside of us.
00:13:05.374 --> 00:13:08.377
And i remember i pulled the car over just sobbing, crying,
00:13:08.377 --> 00:13:11.614
Asking god, well, what does it look like then?
00:13:11.614 --> 00:13:14.717
Because i was so frustrated, because i had had this moment
00:13:14.717 --> 00:13:17.386
At 22, and nothing had looked the way that it was supposed to
00:13:17.386 --> 00:13:20.890
Look, and i felt like the lord said, megan, you can call forth
00:13:20.890 --> 00:13:24.026
Purpose in the life of every woman you come in contact with,
00:13:24.026 --> 00:13:27.129
Whether you are sitting at a coffee shop, leading a small
00:13:27.129 --> 00:13:30.299
Group, teaching in the nursery, standing on a platform,
00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:34.837
Hanging out with a friend.
00:13:34.837 --> 00:13:36.739
This is what i've called you to.
00:13:36.739 --> 00:13:38.841
And for me, it was such a defining moment for my identity
00:13:38.841 --> 00:13:42.511
Because i thought i had this picture and it was a beautiful
00:13:42.511 --> 00:13:45.681
Encounter moment with god, but he had to kind of take it and
00:13:45.681 --> 00:13:48.484
Shape it a little bit to get me to understand that it was
00:13:48.484 --> 00:13:51.053
Bigger than what i thought. wow. yeah.
00:13:51.053 --> 00:13:53.289
Wow. beautiful.
00:13:53.289 --> 00:13:56.225
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00:13:56.225 --> 00:13:58.594
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00:13:58.594 --> 00:13:59.962
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Well, i go back to mark five and think about the little
00:14:17.347 --> 00:14:20.817
Woman with the issue of blood, the unnamed and all we know
00:14:20.817 --> 00:14:25.388
About her name was she was the woman with the issue of blood.
00:14:25.388 --> 00:14:29.359
She was the woman that was hemorrhaging.
00:14:29.359 --> 00:14:31.761
She was the outcast for 12 years.
00:14:31.761 --> 00:14:33.997
She was no longer a mother, a wife, none of that.
00:14:33.997 --> 00:14:38.635
And then she broke every
00:14:38.635 --> 00:14:40.203
Barrier because she had a thought,
00:14:40.203 --> 00:14:43.406
If i can touch the man's hem of his garment.
00:14:43.406 --> 00:14:47.844
This man named jesus that i've heard about. so rejected,
00:14:47.844 --> 00:14:52.582
Lived as an outcast.
00:14:52.582 --> 00:14:54.150
Here we're talking about identity.
00:14:54.150 --> 00:14:56.653
And for 12 years she was not part of society any longer.
00:14:56.653 --> 00:15:00.223
And i think that there's just so many people that have felt
00:15:00.223 --> 00:15:04.894
Like an outcast.
00:15:04.894 --> 00:15:06.062
I haven't been living right.
00:15:06.062 --> 00:15:07.964
I haven't been doing what god's called me to do.
00:15:07.964 --> 00:15:10.467
I haven't had that beautiful
00:15:10.467 --> 00:15:12.369
Experience and i've been rejected.
00:15:12.369 --> 00:15:15.905
I'm all these things and i'm living under all these other
00:15:15.905 --> 00:15:20.176
Don't even have the right name.
00:15:20.176 --> 00:15:22.078
Nobody's calling me by my real name.
00:15:22.078 --> 00:15:24.714
Nobody even knows my name.
00:15:24.714 --> 00:15:27.384
And she breaks through the barriers to touch jesus.
00:15:27.384 --> 00:15:31.287
Yeah. and i love that.
00:15:31.287 --> 00:15:33.556
The thought in her head, a belief,
00:15:33.556 --> 00:15:36.126
You know, this man that i've heard about,
00:15:36.126 --> 00:15:38.161
I can just touch his garment.
00:15:38.161 --> 00:15:40.363
I'll be made whole.
00:15:40.363 --> 00:15:42.532
And she does.
00:15:42.532 --> 00:15:43.767
And through that, she touches god's heart.
00:15:43.767 --> 00:15:46.936
And then he touches hers, you know.
00:15:46.936 --> 00:15:49.272
And then she has to say in
00:15:49.272 --> 00:15:50.740
Front of everybody, i'm the one.
00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:53.410
I'm the one that did it.
00:15:53.410 --> 00:15:55.145
I'm the one that touched you, you know?
00:15:55.145 --> 00:15:57.747
Then jesus turns and says, daughter.
00:15:57.747 --> 00:16:02.619
Yeah. he names her.
00:16:02.619 --> 00:16:03.620
And he calls her. he names her daughter.
00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:07.223
Your faith has healed you.
00:16:07.223 --> 00:16:10.627
One of the most famous stories in scripture is of a woman that
00:16:10.627 --> 00:16:13.897
We know had been bleeding, hemorrhaging for 12 years.
00:16:13.897 --> 00:16:17.700
And then she reaches out and she touches the hem of christ's
00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:21.471
Garment, and he knows somebody has touched him, and power
00:16:21.471 --> 00:16:24.174
Has gone out of him.
00:16:24.174 --> 00:16:25.408
So he pauses in the midst of
00:16:25.408 --> 00:16:26.743
A crowd, and he says, who touched me?
00:16:26.743 --> 00:16:29.179
And the disciples, completely missing the point, are like,
00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:32.282
Lord, everybody's touching you.
00:16:32.282 --> 00:16:33.650
It's busy here.
00:16:33.650 --> 00:16:34.818
He's like, no, somebody touched me in faith.
00:16:34.818 --> 00:16:37.454
And here's the interesting thing for this woman she has a
00:16:37.454 --> 00:16:40.190
Moment to decide what to do.
00:16:40.190 --> 00:16:42.258
She can-- she knows now she's healed.
00:16:42.258 --> 00:16:44.260
She could go home. and then seven
00:16:44.260 --> 00:16:46.096
Make an offering in the temple,
00:16:46.096 --> 00:16:47.764
And the priest will declare her
00:16:47.764 --> 00:16:49.199
Healed and whole, and she can
00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:51.768
Go on with her normal life.
00:16:51.768 --> 00:16:53.536
But i think, what would have happened?
00:16:53.536 --> 00:16:54.938
Would she feel like she stole a miracle?
00:16:54.938 --> 00:16:56.940
Would she feel like she
00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:57.874
Did something she shouldn't have done?
00:16:57.874 --> 00:17:00.043
The fact that she came forward and fell on her knees
00:17:00.043 --> 00:17:02.612
And told jesus the whole story,
00:17:02.612 --> 00:17:05.248
It was amazing because he said
00:17:05.248 --> 00:17:06.616
To her, you know, he called her daughter.
00:17:06.616 --> 00:17:09.152
But not only that, he said, your faith has made you well.
00:17:09.152 --> 00:17:12.755
Go in peace.
00:17:12.755 --> 00:17:14.424
Not just go home, but go in peace.
00:17:14.424 --> 00:17:17.627
Can you imagine having looked
00:17:17.627 --> 00:17:18.795
Into the eyes of the son of god?
00:17:18.795 --> 00:17:21.064
Not only having received your
00:17:21.064 --> 00:17:22.265
Healing, but being owned by him.
00:17:22.265 --> 00:17:25.168
She's the only person in the new testament, the only
00:17:25.168 --> 00:17:28.104
One woman where jesus calls her daughter.
00:17:28.104 --> 00:17:31.274
He talks about daughters of jerusalem when he's on his way
00:17:31.274 --> 00:17:33.476
To the crucifixion.
00:17:33.476 --> 00:17:35.011
She's the only one that he looks at and says, daughter,
00:17:35.011 --> 00:17:37.914
Your faith has made you well. go in peace.
00:17:37.914 --> 00:17:41.284
And i think that if we can just get to that place where we just
00:17:41.284 --> 00:17:44.521
Say, god, out of all of the stuff that i've lived, out of
00:17:44.521 --> 00:17:49.526
All the things that i've done wrong, out of all the good that
00:17:49.526 --> 00:17:52.662
I hope i've done, if you can just see me, yeah,
00:17:52.662 --> 00:17:56.900
That i know you do,
00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.835
And i can just reach out and say, i'm going to
00:17:58.835 --> 00:18:01.471
Touch you in some way.
00:18:01.471 --> 00:18:03.139
You know, and i just think today, would there be a chance
00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:07.410
That our faith somehow here on earth could reach up to heaven,
00:18:07.410 --> 00:18:15.318
To where jesus would say, all right, somebody just
00:18:15.318 --> 00:18:19.155
Touched me, right?
00:18:19.155 --> 00:18:20.690
Somebody's faith just reached out and touched me, touched my
00:18:20.690 --> 00:18:25.361
Heart and give god incentive,
00:18:25.361 --> 00:18:29.532
Just thinking, god, i just want to trust you.
00:18:29.532 --> 00:18:32.702
Help me trust you. help my unbelief.
00:18:32.702 --> 00:18:35.538
Give me a new name.
00:18:35.538 --> 00:18:37.106
Give me all that you've called me to be,
00:18:37.106 --> 00:18:40.476
All the things that we want to--
00:18:40.476 --> 00:18:43.646
We want to live for the lord.
00:18:43.646 --> 00:18:45.014
We want to do great and mighty things.
00:18:45.014 --> 00:18:47.884
And it's that step of faith that i think god is
00:18:47.884 --> 00:18:51.554
Just looking at.
00:18:51.554 --> 00:18:52.822
It gives him incentive when we reach out in faith to him to
00:18:52.822 --> 00:18:58.261
Bless our lives, to give us more than we've ever dreamed
00:18:58.261 --> 00:19:01.698
Of, you know, and to take us to places where we--
00:19:01.698 --> 00:19:05.201
I mean, really? you guys are ministering to women
00:19:05.201 --> 00:19:07.770
On the same program?
00:19:07.770 --> 00:19:09.839
Well, that's why i had to tell the story, because i thought
00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:12.242
That's just, just like god.
00:19:12.242 --> 00:19:13.843
How many years later?
00:19:13.843 --> 00:19:15.211
How many years do you think?
00:19:15.211 --> 00:19:16.246
23 years later. 23 years later.
00:19:16.246 --> 00:19:18.681
Isn't that crazy?
00:19:18.681 --> 00:19:19.749
It's amazing how god works all things together.
00:19:19.749 --> 00:19:23.219
Yeah, it's a beautiful--
00:19:23.219 --> 00:19:24.687
And if you had seen me 30 minutes before i was preaching,
00:19:24.687 --> 00:19:27.357
I was throwing up in the bathroom.
00:19:27.357 --> 00:19:29.325
Seriously?
00:19:29.325 --> 00:19:30.593
Seriously was i was like, oh-- because two women had spoken
00:19:30.593 --> 00:19:33.062
Before me and they were both brilliant.
00:19:33.062 --> 00:19:34.631
And i'm like, oh my gosh, maybe that thing in palm springs was
00:19:34.631 --> 00:19:38.268
Just a one off.
00:19:38.268 --> 00:19:40.336
But no, it's just we just reach out in the midst of what we
00:19:40.336 --> 00:19:43.172
Know we can't--
00:19:43.172 --> 00:19:44.707
There's something about knowing what you don't have, but what
00:19:44.707 --> 00:19:47.977
Is available from god that god can fill.
00:19:47.977 --> 00:19:52.081
The bible says, call on me and i will answer.
00:19:52.081 --> 00:19:56.286
That's a promise from god.
00:19:56.286 --> 00:19:58.288
We might not see it the way we want to see it or hear it the
00:19:58.288 --> 00:20:01.491
Way we want to hear it.
00:20:01.491 --> 00:20:02.759
But he made a promise.
00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:04.727
You call on me and i will answer you.
00:20:04.727 --> 00:20:07.930
And so, wherever you are today, whatever you need,
00:20:07.930 --> 00:20:10.833
You can call on god.
00:20:10.833 --> 00:20:12.735
Let him fix it.
00:20:12.735 --> 00:20:14.203
Let him answer your prayers.
00:20:14.203 --> 00:20:16.272
Let him do his will.
00:20:16.272 --> 00:20:18.041
You just say not my will, but yours.
00:20:18.041 --> 00:20:20.677
Have at it.
00:20:20.677 --> 00:20:21.277
God. i'm calling on you.
00:20:21.277 --> 00:20:22.679
I need help, i need wisdom, and he says, i'll give you and
00:20:22.679 --> 00:20:27.150
I will not hold back.
00:20:27.150 --> 00:20:29.752
We've talked about this week about when jesus spits in mud
00:20:29.752 --> 00:20:32.488
And brings sight to a blind man's eyes.
00:20:32.488 --> 00:20:35.024
One part of the story that's always stuck out to me is when
00:20:35.024 --> 00:20:38.795
He can see, and then people notice him that are used to him
00:20:38.795 --> 00:20:43.966
Being blind, and they don't even recognize him because
00:20:43.966 --> 00:20:46.869
They're used to him being blind.
00:20:46.869 --> 00:20:48.137
Some of us might be able to relate to that when we put our
00:20:48.137 --> 00:20:50.139
Faith in jesus, and now we have joy, now we have peace, or now
00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:52.709
We're more gracious.
00:20:52.709 --> 00:20:53.743
We don't gossip as much, we're not angry as much.
00:20:53.743 --> 00:20:55.078
Whatever. people might be like is that even the same person,
00:20:55.078 --> 00:20:58.114
You know, and they said, is that the same person?
00:20:58.114 --> 00:21:00.650
No, that it only looks like him.
00:21:00.650 --> 00:21:02.285
And he responds, i am the man.
00:21:02.285 --> 00:21:05.288
He could have said, oh, that's not me, that's not me.
00:21:05.288 --> 00:21:06.823
I don't know that guy.
00:21:06.823 --> 00:21:08.257
And i just loved this part
00:21:08.257 --> 00:21:09.559
Where he said, i am the man. i am
00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:12.128
The one that was hurting, broken, didn't have hope.
00:21:12.128 --> 00:21:16.132
I am the same man, and the power to say i was the one that you
00:21:16.132 --> 00:21:20.937
Saw living one way, and now i'm the one that is living a
00:21:20.937 --> 00:21:23.840
Different way because of jesus,
00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:25.208
It's not arrogant. it's truthful.
00:21:25.208 --> 00:21:27.944
It's revealing the truth to people. i was thinking about
00:21:27.944 --> 00:21:29.846
I recently went to a conference with a friend who knew me
00:21:29.846 --> 00:21:32.648
Before jesus. do you have any of those
00:21:32.648 --> 00:21:34.784
Friends that knew you before jesus?
00:21:34.784 --> 00:21:37.153
And she came with me to a conference and, um, all the
00:21:37.153 --> 00:21:41.224
People at the conference, the leaders and the other speakers,
00:21:41.224 --> 00:21:43.860
They all knew that she knew me before jesus.
00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:46.863
So they said, hey, after this, we're all going to go out to
00:21:46.863 --> 00:21:48.598
Dinner and we want to hear all the stories, right?
00:21:48.598 --> 00:21:51.234
And me and her are walking to dinner and she goes, hey, you
00:21:51.234 --> 00:21:54.170
Know, what stories am i allowed to tell?
00:21:54.170 --> 00:21:56.606
And i loved that.
00:21:56.606 --> 00:21:57.607
I loved that she was willing to lie for me.
00:21:57.607 --> 00:21:59.509
Like, don't lie.
00:21:59.509 --> 00:22:00.510
But like, it's so nice that-- a little bit.
00:22:00.510 --> 00:22:02.245
Yeah. we love a loyal friend.
00:22:02.245 --> 00:22:04.380
And, you know, i just looked at her
00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.915
With all of the growth i've had and healing i've had, i just
00:22:05.915 --> 00:22:10.553
Looked at her and said,
00:22:10.553 --> 00:22:11.454
You know, you can tell them anything.
00:22:11.454 --> 00:22:13.089
They all know.
00:22:13.089 --> 00:22:14.090
They're all my friends, too.
00:22:14.090 --> 00:22:15.458
They all know. it's well documented.
00:22:15.458 --> 00:22:16.993
No one thinks i've had the perfect life.
00:22:16.993 --> 00:22:18.561
People know i grew up on the streets.
00:22:18.561 --> 00:22:19.762
People know i had a whole life before jesus.
00:22:19.762 --> 00:22:22.098
No one here has, um, been lied to.
00:22:22.098 --> 00:22:25.134
No one here thinks i'm something i'm not.
00:22:25.134 --> 00:22:27.103
You can tell them anything.
00:22:27.103 --> 00:22:28.104
And i could have said to her, i'm the man.
00:22:28.104 --> 00:22:30.573
Yeah, i'm the same one.
00:22:30.573 --> 00:22:32.375
And when we hide the truth about what jesus has saved us
00:22:32.375 --> 00:22:36.045
From, we hide the truth of a savior who can be with us, who
00:22:36.045 --> 00:22:40.149
Can redeem anything, who brings dead things to life,
00:22:40.149 --> 00:22:43.686
Makes all things new.
00:22:43.686 --> 00:22:45.521
And it's important that we tell
00:22:45.521 --> 00:22:47.123
The truth about who we really are.
00:22:47.123 --> 00:22:49.492
God wants to use that to reveal his real power.
00:22:49.492 --> 00:22:53.062
It's so funny that the things that we think disqualify us
00:22:53.062 --> 00:22:55.932
Are, in fact, what god wants to use because it turns out many
00:22:55.932 --> 00:22:58.701
People feel disqualified and he wants us to share his story
00:22:58.701 --> 00:23:02.972
Through our lens. what a god.
00:23:02.972 --> 00:23:05.274
The transformation.
00:23:05.274 --> 00:23:07.443
You know when we say yes to the gospel, when we make a decision
00:23:07.443 --> 00:23:10.446
To accept jesus, it changes the direction of our lives.
00:23:10.446 --> 00:23:15.451
It says in the scripture that we are made new and that new
00:23:15.451 --> 00:23:20.289
Calling, that new identity, we have a responsibility to share
00:23:20.289 --> 00:23:26.128
Our faith with others.
00:23:26.128 --> 00:23:27.730
There's something beautiful about your story, about knowing
00:23:27.730 --> 00:23:31.300
Who you were before christ and who you are now.
00:23:31.300 --> 00:23:34.370
And we have each been crafted with a mission in mind.
00:23:34.370 --> 00:23:38.574
God placed us here to help other people find him.
00:23:38.574 --> 00:23:43.045
We're on a search and rescue mission, friends.
00:23:43.045 --> 00:23:45.581
So can i just encourage you to make sure that you don't shy
00:23:45.581 --> 00:23:50.219
Away from your story, but you share your story with every
00:23:50.219 --> 00:23:53.856
Person that you can and share about who you were before jesus
00:23:53.856 --> 00:23:57.493
And who you are now.
00:23:57.493 --> 00:23:58.861
Nobody can argue with your story, but our mission is to
00:23:58.861 --> 00:24:01.998
Make the gospel known to everyone.
00:24:01.998 --> 00:24:05.735
One, it all points back to
00:24:05.735 --> 00:24:07.870
This is not possible apart from him.
00:24:07.870 --> 00:24:10.373
There's no other story to tell.
00:24:10.373 --> 00:24:12.108
There's nothing to boast in.
00:24:12.108 --> 00:24:13.609
There's no-- like for me,
00:24:13.609 --> 00:24:15.478
I feel like my life is just a series of so many, like,
00:24:15.478 --> 00:24:19.015
Insecure moments where he's like, oh, okay,
00:24:19.015 --> 00:24:23.019
We're back. let me, let me help.
00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:24.754
But one i remember it was a big moment for me.
00:24:24.754 --> 00:24:27.123
I remember like i was being ministered to and i just felt
00:24:27.123 --> 00:24:30.526
The lord, it was like
00:24:30.526 --> 00:24:31.827
Almost like he just like, took his like, you know,
00:24:31.827 --> 00:24:34.797
Pointer finger and like, straightened my chest.
00:24:34.797 --> 00:24:37.300
And he said, you have no idea the plans i have for you.
00:24:37.300 --> 00:24:40.937
Wow.
00:24:40.937 --> 00:24:42.572
Who he was speaking to was a young little girl that would be
00:24:42.572 --> 00:24:45.207
Happy to just kind of always
00:24:45.207 --> 00:24:47.410
Fade into the background like i don't--
00:24:47.410 --> 00:24:50.046
Sometimes i think when people have microphones, you can
00:24:50.046 --> 00:24:51.914
Assume like, oh, their problem is pride.
00:24:51.914 --> 00:24:53.749
Like, whoa. my, my problem is like, i all go hiding and
00:24:53.749 --> 00:24:57.687
You'll never see me again. you won't hear from me.
00:24:57.687 --> 00:24:59.722
I'll be good at it, you know.
00:24:59.722 --> 00:25:01.057
Me too.
00:25:01.057 --> 00:25:01.924
Yeah. like just so, so-- insecurity.
00:25:01.924 --> 00:25:05.261
Yeah. so insecurity
00:25:05.261 --> 00:25:07.330
Ridden that, like, put his finger in my chest,
00:25:07.330 --> 00:25:09.799
You have no idea the plans i have for you.
00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:12.635
Because i never would have
00:25:12.635 --> 00:25:14.103
Ever believed that. i never would have--
00:25:14.103 --> 00:25:16.539
And what's funny about that is there was no specificity.
00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:20.343
There's no detail to that.
00:25:20.343 --> 00:25:21.644
There's not this is how.
00:25:21.644 --> 00:25:23.379
This is what it is. this is how.
00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.647
Just get ready. just get ready.
00:25:24.647 --> 00:25:27.650
Completely dependent.,
00:25:27.650 --> 00:25:28.918
Right. and then there's so many steps along the way.
00:25:28.918 --> 00:25:31.454
But i remember this, this other-- man, like i started
00:25:31.454 --> 00:25:35.024
By speaking, and then he's like, i want you to sing.
00:25:35.024 --> 00:25:37.026
I'm like, no, i don't want to sing.
00:25:37.026 --> 00:25:38.394
And so then i sing.
00:25:38.394 --> 00:25:39.362
I'm like, well, i'm done speaking.
00:25:39.362 --> 00:25:40.463
He's like, no, i want you to-- what are we doing?
00:25:40.463 --> 00:25:42.665
Well, i don't feel qualified at any of it.
00:25:42.665 --> 00:25:45.201
I hear about moses and his story and i'm like, yeah. like,
00:25:45.201 --> 00:25:48.904
Please send-- like find someone else, please.
00:25:48.904 --> 00:25:52.575
And i remember him--
00:25:52.575 --> 00:25:54.076
I was getting up to lead worship, fresh, new at it.
00:25:54.076 --> 00:25:57.913
So many insecurities, just i don't-- i'm doing this because
00:25:57.913 --> 00:26:01.083
I love you and you asked. that's why i'm doing this.
00:26:01.083 --> 00:26:04.053
And i remember him saying making me a promise,
00:26:04.053 --> 00:26:07.490
Hey, kallie, every time you open your mouth, i'll accompany you
00:26:07.490 --> 00:26:10.726
With my presence. wow.
00:26:10.726 --> 00:26:12.895
Beautiful.
00:26:12.895 --> 00:26:13.763
And that promise is enough to just
00:26:13.763 --> 00:26:15.364
Keep opening up your mouth.
00:26:15.364 --> 00:26:18.167
Why? because i love his presence.
00:26:18.167 --> 00:26:19.902
Yeah. because i love when he shows up.
00:26:19.902 --> 00:26:23.072
And i think there's nothing else to boast in.
00:26:23.072 --> 00:26:26.542
To take this insecure little girl and then to find a raw on
00:26:26.542 --> 00:26:30.980
The inside.
00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.281
Not because i think the raw is great, not because i think it's
00:26:32.281 --> 00:26:34.984
Anything, but because you said that you would show up when i
00:26:34.984 --> 00:26:37.920
Open up my mouth.
00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.954
And i love you, and i love when you show up.
00:26:38.954 --> 00:26:42.558
I have no idea the plans that that you have for me.
00:26:42.558 --> 00:26:46.295
But if you're there for them, like, sign me up.
00:26:46.295 --> 00:26:50.032
And in the meantime, what he did is
00:26:50.032 --> 00:26:52.268
He built me brave. he built me bold.
00:26:52.268 --> 00:26:55.304
Not anything that i could have done.
00:26:55.304 --> 00:26:57.506
There is not a shred of that that's like
00:26:57.506 --> 00:26:59.475
Because i have x, y, and z.
00:26:59.475 --> 00:27:01.077
That's the masterful ability of god to bring us from
00:27:01.077 --> 00:27:05.247
One place and to transform us into the thing that he has
00:27:05.247 --> 00:27:09.085
In his heart.
00:27:09.085 --> 00:27:10.286
I don't know anything more wonderful and magnificent,
00:27:10.286 --> 00:27:12.888
And often it's in the least qualified parts of our self
00:27:12.888 --> 00:27:16.592
That he points his finger.
00:27:16.592 --> 00:27:18.327
He says that i want that,
00:27:18.327 --> 00:27:20.162
I want that, and you're not going alone.
00:27:20.162 --> 00:27:22.631
I will not ever ask you to go out alone to a place where
00:27:22.631 --> 00:27:26.235
I'm not going with you.
00:27:26.235 --> 00:27:27.536
It reminds me of the chronicles of narnia.
00:27:27.536 --> 00:27:29.538
I think it's magician's nephew where there's, um, lucy is on a
00:27:29.538 --> 00:27:33.476
Bridge, and this huge army is coming against her, and she's--
00:27:33.476 --> 00:27:37.546
She's just this little girl with bangs.
00:27:37.546 --> 00:27:40.082
And suddenly the army all retreats.
00:27:40.082 --> 00:27:44.019
It's because aslan is right behind her, right?
00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:46.455
It's like she wasn't coming in her own strength.
00:27:46.455 --> 00:27:48.657
It's like, you know, when you
00:27:48.657 --> 00:27:50.159
Hear him roar, you'd better run.
00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:52.895
And the fact that he would accompany a little girl,
00:27:52.895 --> 00:27:55.898
There's just something about that that's just so--
00:27:55.898 --> 00:27:58.300
Just makes me think of all the people watching right now who
00:27:58.300 --> 00:28:00.603
Think, well, i'm happy for all of you, but what about me?
00:28:00.603 --> 00:28:04.039
Yes. and i'm thinking,
00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:05.241
But you know what?
00:28:05.241 --> 00:28:06.642
God's heart towards every single person that can hear our
00:28:06.642 --> 00:28:10.212
Voices at the moment, or who watch is the same.
00:28:10.212 --> 00:28:13.983
I believe that what you think about yourself determines
00:28:13.983 --> 00:28:16.952
How you live.
00:28:16.952 --> 00:28:18.587
So if you think you're unworthy, you'll start living
00:28:18.587 --> 00:28:21.056
Like you are.
00:28:21.056 --> 00:28:21.791
If you think you're not enough,
00:28:21.791 --> 00:28:22.958
You'll start living like you are.
00:28:22.958 --> 00:28:24.527
If you think that you're garbage, you'll start
00:28:24.527 --> 00:28:26.328
Living like you are.
00:28:26.328 --> 00:28:27.596
But if you discover who you are in christ, when you put your
00:28:27.596 --> 00:28:31.167
Faith in jesus and discover the new identity, the real identity
00:28:31.167 --> 00:28:35.037
You have now as god's child, man, when you know who you are,
00:28:35.037 --> 00:28:39.275
It changes how you live.
00:28:39.275 --> 00:28:40.810
So when you know that you are chosen, you start living
00:28:40.810 --> 00:28:43.179
Like you are.
00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:44.280
When you know that you are loved, you start living
00:28:44.280 --> 00:28:45.981
Like you are.
00:28:45.981 --> 00:28:47.249
When you know that you are free indeed, and guilt and shame
00:28:47.249 --> 00:28:49.752
Have no place in your life, you start living like you are.
00:28:49.752 --> 00:28:52.454
You start walking into rooms differently.
00:28:52.454 --> 00:28:54.924
You start having a tender authority in your life.
00:28:54.924 --> 00:28:58.828
It changes how you have hard conversations.
00:28:58.828 --> 00:29:01.197
It changes how you make hard decisions.
00:29:01.197 --> 00:29:03.499
It changes how you look at yourself in the mirror and how
00:29:03.499 --> 00:29:05.701
You look at other people.
00:29:05.701 --> 00:29:07.136
It's important that you know who you are so you can live the
00:29:07.136 --> 00:29:10.840
Full life you've been created to live.
00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:14.143
I have a thing in my yard that christian made for me when he
00:29:14.143 --> 00:29:17.580
Was a little boy.
00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.781
He got one of those bags of cement, and he put lots of
00:29:18.781 --> 00:29:21.984
Little broken bits of pottery
00:29:21.984 --> 00:29:24.153
In it and wrote with his little finger.
00:29:24.153 --> 00:29:26.088
I love you, mom.
00:29:26.088 --> 00:29:27.389
And wherever i go in life, it comes with me, because it's a
00:29:27.389 --> 00:29:30.593
Profound reminder to me of it's a beautiful thing that god will
00:29:30.593 --> 00:29:34.096
Do with a broken life.
00:29:34.096 --> 00:29:35.364
If you give him all the pieces. you give him all the pieces.
00:29:35.364 --> 00:29:38.734
He makes something.
00:29:38.734 --> 00:29:40.035
And that's the beautiful thing about every story that's been
00:29:40.035 --> 00:29:42.104
Shared. an encounter with jesus changes things.
00:29:42.104 --> 00:29:45.007
An encounter with jesus,
00:29:45.007 --> 00:29:46.542
We see someone being healed, renamed.
00:29:46.542 --> 00:29:49.645
That's what you talked about with blind eyes, being able to
00:29:49.645 --> 00:29:52.414
See what you couldn't see before, being awakened to
00:29:52.414 --> 00:29:55.284
Purpose, being awakened to destiny. like, an encounter
00:29:55.284 --> 00:29:58.120
With jesus will change things.
00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:59.722
And i think for the person who's listening that goes,
00:29:59.722 --> 00:30:02.191
I'm hearing all of this, but what about me?
00:30:02.191 --> 00:30:04.493
I think it's just a posture of going, god, like just
00:30:04.493 --> 00:30:09.298
On your own, in your own
00:30:09.298 --> 00:30:10.266
Conversation with your heavenly father,
00:30:10.266 --> 00:30:11.934
Just going, god, here's all my broken pieces, here's who i am,
00:30:11.934 --> 00:30:15.838
I want more of you.
00:30:15.838 --> 00:30:17.039
And just saying, would you, would you take my life?
00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.941
I surrender it to you.
00:30:18.941 --> 00:30:20.843
If you have something for me, i want it.
00:30:20.843 --> 00:30:23.312
And it's just this posture of having an open heart
00:30:23.312 --> 00:30:25.781
And saying, i want to touch jesus.
00:30:25.781 --> 00:30:27.783
I want to grab the hem of his garment.
00:30:27.783 --> 00:30:29.485
I want to encounter his presence because an encounter
00:30:29.485 --> 00:30:31.787
With the presence of god changes everything.
00:30:31.787 --> 00:30:35.024
And it's a simple posture of surrender.
00:30:35.024 --> 00:30:37.927
It doesn't require you being in a room with a pastor who lays a
00:30:37.927 --> 00:30:40.963
Hand on you to pray for you.
00:30:40.963 --> 00:30:42.064
It doesn't require a perfect worship setting.
00:30:42.064 --> 00:30:45.134
It just is a posture of surrender.
00:30:45.134 --> 00:30:47.236
And god, i want more of you. right,
00:30:47.236 --> 00:30:49.338
And no matter where you are in your life, whether you're in a
00:30:49.338 --> 00:30:52.341
Season of disappointment, of waiting, of grief or
00:30:52.341 --> 00:30:56.145
Celebration, no matter what season you're in, if you want
00:30:56.145 --> 00:31:00.449
God, you can have god.
00:31:00.449 --> 00:31:03.819
But god will not force himself
00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:05.287
Onto you if you do not want him.
00:31:05.287 --> 00:31:07.756
One of the best choices you can make today is to put your faith
00:31:07.756 --> 00:31:10.759
In jesus and to believe in him, intertwine your life with him,
00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:16.165
Spend real time with him, and as you put your faith in jesus,
00:31:16.165 --> 00:31:19.468
The holy spirit lives in you.
00:31:19.468 --> 00:31:21.904
And then as you start thinking different thoughts, that might
00:31:21.904 --> 00:31:26.308
Be the holy spirit, as you start being directed in
00:31:26.308 --> 00:31:28.310
Different ways, that might be the holy spirit,
00:31:28.310 --> 00:31:30.079
As you read the word of god and
00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:31.013
Discover new things about yourself,
00:31:31.013 --> 00:31:32.414
This is the holy spirit showing you who you are,
00:31:32.414 --> 00:31:35.417
Start taking steps of obedience.
00:31:35.417 --> 00:31:37.219
You were created to be brave.
00:31:37.219 --> 00:31:38.787
Take a step of faith and start becoming who
00:31:38.787 --> 00:31:40.756
You were created to be.
00:31:40.756 --> 00:31:42.224
I love what you said, sheila, about some of us can feel like,
00:31:42.224 --> 00:31:45.127
Oh, that worked for that person, but not for me.
00:31:45.127 --> 00:31:46.962
And i don't think it works the same for everybody.
00:31:46.962 --> 00:31:49.832
Right.
00:31:49.832 --> 00:31:50.933
Even like in this group of people, we've all met in
00:31:50.933 --> 00:31:52.968
Different ways, in different seasons.
00:31:52.968 --> 00:31:54.236
We live in different parts of the country.
00:31:54.236 --> 00:31:55.604
We have different family dynamics.
00:31:55.604 --> 00:31:57.706
We have different miracles we're praying for.
00:31:57.706 --> 00:32:00.175
We happen to all be here today, but we go back to different
00:32:00.175 --> 00:32:02.811
Lives that are very different from each other's.
00:32:02.811 --> 00:32:05.447
Wherever you are today, god wants to have a real encounter
00:32:05.447 --> 00:32:08.650
With you in your real life.
00:32:08.650 --> 00:32:10.619
That might look different than all of ours, but if you want
00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:12.654
God, you can have god.
00:32:12.654 --> 00:32:14.156
But it will not happen--
00:32:14.156 --> 00:32:15.891
The miracle you're praying for, the encounter of god you want,
00:32:15.891 --> 00:32:19.194
It's not just going to happen on autopilot when you are
00:32:19.194 --> 00:32:22.031
Pushing god away.
00:32:22.031 --> 00:32:23.198
Yeah, invite god into your life and if you want him,
00:32:23.198 --> 00:32:25.401
You can have him.
00:32:25.401 --> 00:32:26.568
And it will be better than a version of any of ours.
00:32:26.568 --> 00:32:28.804
It will be real for you in your real life.
00:32:28.804 --> 00:32:32.007
Our heart posture has so much
00:32:32.007 --> 00:32:34.410
To do with our encountering god now.
00:32:34.410 --> 00:32:36.578
He always reaches toward us.
00:32:36.578 --> 00:32:38.847
He always takes that first step.
00:32:38.847 --> 00:32:41.417
But our posturing to be available to him the the pause,
00:32:41.417 --> 00:32:46.021
The wait, when it feels like he's pressing in, the
00:32:46.021 --> 00:32:49.591
Reminders to pause what we're doing and to look to him,
00:32:49.591 --> 00:32:53.762
Those, those sorts of things.
00:32:53.762 --> 00:32:55.431
He is always wanting to talk to us.
00:32:55.431 --> 00:32:58.067
He is always wanting to come close.
00:32:58.067 --> 00:33:00.602
Oftentimes, i think we miss him in the busyness of our day.
00:33:00.602 --> 00:33:04.006
We miss him because we don't turn our attention, our
00:33:04.006 --> 00:33:07.176
Affection to his face, to seek him, to ask him the questions,
00:33:07.176 --> 00:33:12.281
To get to know him.
00:33:12.281 --> 00:33:13.615
So the posturing has everything to do with the encounter
00:33:13.615 --> 00:33:17.653
That's on the other side.
00:33:17.653 --> 00:33:20.489
When my dad passed away when i was 18 years old, i think that
00:33:20.489 --> 00:33:24.393
Was the first time i realized that i needed to have a faith
00:33:24.393 --> 00:33:28.530
That was my own, and not just an inherited faith.
00:33:28.530 --> 00:33:31.934
I couldn't just have a relationship with god
00:33:31.934 --> 00:33:33.669
The way that my dad did.
00:33:33.669 --> 00:33:35.104
I couldn't just rely on my dad's closeness with god to
00:33:35.104 --> 00:33:38.674
Equal my closeness with god.
00:33:38.674 --> 00:33:39.942
I think that i felt like i inherited a name, kind of like
00:33:39.942 --> 00:33:43.278
You inherit a last name, like this is the family i'm a part
00:33:43.278 --> 00:33:46.048
Of, so this is who i am.
00:33:46.048 --> 00:33:47.516
But when my dad passed, i realized i didn't have my own
00:33:47.516 --> 00:33:51.420
Real and honest relationship with god.
00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:54.156
For real, for me.
00:33:54.156 --> 00:33:55.858
And when i said yes to god when i was in my 20s, for real, as
00:33:55.858 --> 00:33:59.528
Who i really am. i wasn't trying to be like anybody else.
00:33:59.528 --> 00:34:01.864
That's when i realized that god was giving me a new name, so
00:34:01.864 --> 00:34:04.800
Much more than my physical, earthly last name and the
00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:07.636
Family i'm a part of
00:34:07.636 --> 00:34:09.271
Quite literally. even more literally, the family of god
00:34:09.271 --> 00:34:12.474
That i'm a part of.
00:34:12.474 --> 00:34:14.109
When i put my faith in jesus, i have a new name, i am loved,
00:34:14.109 --> 00:34:16.979
I am chosen, i am a daughter of god.
00:34:16.979 --> 00:34:19.715
This is who i really am.
00:34:19.715 --> 00:34:22.284
And now i'm still learning how to live as who i really am,
00:34:22.284 --> 00:34:26.555
Live as the new name that i have now in christ.
00:34:26.555 --> 00:34:31.460
Be the first to know all the latest better together updates.
00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:35.264
Visit bettertogether.tv to sign up for our weekly emails
00:34:35.264 --> 00:34:38.934
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00:34:38.934 --> 00:34:42.007
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00:34:42.007 --> 00:34:42.972
It's that john 15 where it's
00:34:46.009 --> 00:34:47.777
Like, i can't live off of one encounter.
00:34:47.777 --> 00:34:49.579
It's like we can have these marking moments.
00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:51.781
We are meant to remain connected to the vine.
00:34:51.781 --> 00:34:55.385
Apart from that, there is no fruit.
00:34:55.385 --> 00:34:58.054
There's nothing to speak of.
00:34:58.054 --> 00:34:59.355
That's why there's nothing to boast of when we do anything.
00:34:59.355 --> 00:35:02.258
Why? it's because i'm connected to the source.
00:35:02.258 --> 00:35:04.727
Anything coming out is only
00:35:04.727 --> 00:35:06.863
Because i'm a part of something stronger.
00:35:06.863 --> 00:35:08.598
The strength of who i am is directly related to my
00:35:08.598 --> 00:35:12.101
Dependence on jesus.
00:35:12.101 --> 00:35:14.237
Right? and so i can't live off of one encounter
00:35:14.237 --> 00:35:17.240
I had 20 years ago where i felt commissioned.
00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:19.442
I can't live off of one encounter when i said yes, we
00:35:19.442 --> 00:35:22.378
Need continual, that woven, the face to face with god,
00:35:22.378 --> 00:35:27.450
Continual, coming back, thirsting, hungering after his
00:35:27.450 --> 00:35:31.654
Voice like the daily bread that it is.
00:35:31.654 --> 00:35:34.457
And the fruit, like the fruit, isn't even up to us.
00:35:34.457 --> 00:35:37.994
Like if anyone's sitting, listening and saying,
00:35:37.994 --> 00:35:39.529
I couldn't do that,
00:35:39.529 --> 00:35:40.697
None of us can. you're right.
00:35:40.697 --> 00:35:42.465
You can't. none of us can.
00:35:42.465 --> 00:35:44.300
We cannot.
00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:45.501
But what happens when we stay close to jesus,
00:35:45.501 --> 00:35:48.671
Connected not just passively,
00:35:48.671 --> 00:35:51.207
Actively showing up, trusting he's showing back up to us,
00:35:51.207 --> 00:35:56.579
Woven in in our lives, dependent on the voice of god,
00:35:56.579 --> 00:36:00.316
You will not believe the fruit that comes.
00:36:00.316 --> 00:36:02.418
You just will not believe what he can do with that.
00:36:02.418 --> 00:36:05.588
Sometimes it just starts by saying yes.
00:36:05.588 --> 00:36:07.390
Yes. yes, lord.
00:36:07.390 --> 00:36:08.391
That's my tattoo on my wrist. yes, lord.
00:36:08.391 --> 00:36:10.793
There's a picture my mom had hanging above her bed,
00:36:10.793 --> 00:36:13.496
Two words.
00:36:13.496 --> 00:36:15.265
And when i was a smart aleck teenager, i used to say,
00:36:15.265 --> 00:36:16.899
You don't know what you're saying yes to.
00:36:16.899 --> 00:36:19.002
And she would say no, but i know who i'm saying yes to.
00:36:19.002 --> 00:36:21.638
Wow.
00:36:21.638 --> 00:36:23.006
And that came from years of walking through you hardship
00:36:23.006 --> 00:36:25.875
And pain and all sorts-- and loss, but
00:36:25.875 --> 00:36:28.444
She had learned, i can say yes to the lord.
00:36:28.444 --> 00:36:31.814
Yeah. right.
00:36:31.814 --> 00:36:33.049
Because, you know, i read that book by dag hammarskjold.
00:36:33.049 --> 00:36:35.551
You know, the guy that used to be secretary general of
00:36:35.551 --> 00:36:37.186
The united nations.
00:36:37.186 --> 00:36:38.621
When he died, they found this diary by his bed.
00:36:38.621 --> 00:36:41.291
And it had-- it was kind of like his journey with god.
00:36:41.291 --> 00:36:44.560
And at the end, he wrote this one thing where he said, for
00:36:44.560 --> 00:36:47.297
Everything that has been, thank you.
00:36:47.297 --> 00:36:49.632
And for everything that will be, yes.
00:36:49.632 --> 00:36:51.734
And i remember reading it and thinking, lord, i don't
00:36:51.734 --> 00:36:53.836
Think i can pray that. for everything that has been,
00:36:53.836 --> 00:36:56.739
Thank you?
00:36:56.739 --> 00:36:58.007
I'm not don't think i'm very grateful for some of the things
00:36:58.007 --> 00:36:59.709
That have happened.
00:36:59.709 --> 00:37:00.910
So i thought, okay, the problem is not you, god.
00:37:00.910 --> 00:37:02.712
The problem is me.
00:37:02.712 --> 00:37:03.980
So i'm going to spend more time getting to know who you are.
00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:06.349
Wow.
00:37:06.349 --> 00:37:07.583
But the more you get to know who he is, then it's like,
00:37:07.583 --> 00:37:09.719
For everything that has been--
00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:12.088
Yeah. thank you.
00:37:12.088 --> 00:37:13.456
And for everything that will be because of who you are,
00:37:13.456 --> 00:37:17.593
Sign me up. to know our identity
00:37:17.593 --> 00:37:20.997
In jesus has everything to do with saying
00:37:20.997 --> 00:37:24.367
Yes to him.
00:37:24.367 --> 00:37:25.668
Why? because back when i said yes to him in the first place,
00:37:25.668 --> 00:37:28.805
I committed to giving my whole life over to him.
00:37:28.805 --> 00:37:32.075
So my identity as a daughter, my identity as
00:37:32.075 --> 00:37:35.745
Being hidden in jesus, is folded up in my yes.
00:37:35.745 --> 00:37:39.682
I gave that initial yes.
00:37:39.682 --> 00:37:41.184
And it is our honor and our joy out of who we are to
00:37:41.184 --> 00:37:45.655
Continually give our yes to him.
00:37:45.655 --> 00:37:48.658
It is a lifetime of saying whatever it is that you want,
00:37:48.658 --> 00:37:51.994
Wherever you're leading and guiding.
00:37:51.994 --> 00:37:53.830
You have my full and complete surrender.
00:37:53.830 --> 00:37:56.933
Why? because i'm given over,
00:37:56.933 --> 00:37:58.501
Because i belong to him,
00:37:58.501 --> 00:38:00.136
Because i'm his child,
00:38:00.136 --> 00:38:01.604
And because he gets all of me.
00:38:01.604 --> 00:38:04.974
Throughout this week, we've even talked about ways that
00:38:04.974 --> 00:38:07.076
We've said yes to god and waited.
00:38:07.076 --> 00:38:09.145
And we've seen, we've seen the favor of god.
00:38:09.145 --> 00:38:12.715
We've seen the character of god revealed to us.
00:38:12.715 --> 00:38:15.318
We've seen god move in ways after seasons of waiting.
00:38:15.318 --> 00:38:18.221
And yet many of us are also in another season of waiting.
00:38:18.221 --> 00:38:22.158
That's something i think is important to say and i can just
00:38:22.158 --> 00:38:26.362
Speak on behalf of myself,
00:38:26.362 --> 00:38:27.530
I have said yes to things, not knowing what the
00:38:27.530 --> 00:38:29.966
End results would be.
00:38:29.966 --> 00:38:31.167
And i can say today that now i
00:38:31.167 --> 00:38:32.802
Have seen why god called me to something.
00:38:32.802 --> 00:38:35.271
I see the fruit of seeds planted and seeds watered.
00:38:35.271 --> 00:38:38.174
I'm a walking, living testimony of god is good.
00:38:38.174 --> 00:38:41.711
He is trustworthy. i've seen it.
00:38:41.711 --> 00:38:43.546
And yet, today i am saying yes to things that i have no idea
00:38:43.546 --> 00:38:47.016
How they're going to turn out. right.
00:38:47.016 --> 00:38:48.918
I am praying for things, even though i have no practical idea
00:38:48.918 --> 00:38:53.556
Of how that's going to work out.
00:38:53.556 --> 00:38:55.024
Any timeline that i thought would have made sense
00:38:55.024 --> 00:38:57.193
Hasn't happened yet.
00:38:57.193 --> 00:38:58.494
Any door i thought would have opened by now hasn't been yet.
00:38:58.494 --> 00:39:00.863
And i have all these great suggestions for god, and i
00:39:00.863 --> 00:39:03.766
Think i'd be a great project manager.
00:39:03.766 --> 00:39:05.568
Yeah. um, and yet,
00:39:05.568 --> 00:39:07.203
So i just want to say that you say yes to god and then
00:39:07.203 --> 00:39:09.872
Sometimes you see the results and sometimes you don't.
00:39:09.872 --> 00:39:11.941
By the way, there's a bunch of things that god called me to do
00:39:11.941 --> 00:39:13.209
That i believe i heard him, i believe i was faithful and i
00:39:13.209 --> 00:39:15.945
Said yes, and i still don't really know why.
00:39:15.945 --> 00:39:17.680
It might have not been for my experience with god.
00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:20.983
It might have been a blessing
00:39:20.983 --> 00:39:21.918
On someone else's and i have no idea.
00:39:21.918 --> 00:39:23.619
And today, the kind of things me and my husband are praying
00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:27.089
About and planning for, and believing god for are the kind
00:39:27.089 --> 00:39:30.693
Of things that it will have to take a miracle for.
00:39:30.693 --> 00:39:34.163
And so i just mean to say that i've seen some fruit, and also
00:39:34.163 --> 00:39:38.868
There's things i don't know what's going to happen.
00:39:38.868 --> 00:39:41.637
And that is what it looks like to actually follow jesus.
00:39:41.637 --> 00:39:45.374
This will always be happening forever.
00:39:45.374 --> 00:39:48.344
So, um, i invite you to join the journey and put your faith
00:39:48.344 --> 00:39:51.614
In jesus and live a life of constantly seeing his favor,
00:39:51.614 --> 00:39:55.284
Seeing his goodness, and also believing for the next thing
00:39:55.284 --> 00:39:58.721
He's calling you to do and the next thing he wants for you.
00:39:58.721 --> 00:40:01.557
Continuously. thank you for this and yes to what's ahead
00:40:01.557 --> 00:40:05.995
Forever and ever until i see you face to face.
00:40:05.995 --> 00:40:09.198
Yeah. wow. beautiful.
00:40:09.198 --> 00:40:11.801
The most important rsvp in life is saying yes to god.
00:40:11.801 --> 00:40:16.939
Yeah.
00:40:16.939 --> 00:40:18.207
You know, it's like god puts out this glorious invitation to
00:40:18.207 --> 00:40:20.843
Every man, woman and child on the planet, you know?
00:40:20.843 --> 00:40:23.679
And but we need to respond.
00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:26.048
I'm thinking of even people watching right now.
00:40:26.048 --> 00:40:27.750
And maybe you watch better together and you think,
00:40:27.750 --> 00:40:29.852
You know, i love this program.
00:40:29.852 --> 00:40:31.053
I love hearing them all yakety yak.
00:40:31.053 --> 00:40:32.588
But you don't really know jesus personally.
00:40:32.588 --> 00:40:35.791
And scripture makes it so clear.
00:40:35.791 --> 00:40:37.760
Whoever calls on the name of the lord will be saved.
00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:42.698
If you believe in your heart that jesus is the son of god
00:40:42.698 --> 00:40:44.867
And that god raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
00:40:44.867 --> 00:40:48.971
And whatever you are, you can
00:40:48.971 --> 00:40:49.972
Just pray a simple prayer like that.
00:40:49.972 --> 00:40:51.340
You don't need fancy words.
00:40:51.340 --> 00:40:53.075
You don't need to get down on your knee.
00:40:53.075 --> 00:40:54.243
You don't need to do anything.
00:40:54.243 --> 00:40:55.711
Just simply have to say yes and begin the greatest adventure in
00:40:55.711 --> 00:41:00.182
Life, which is following jesus.
00:41:00.182 --> 00:41:03.819
If you have never put your faith in jesus before, today is
00:41:03.819 --> 00:41:06.522
A great day to do it.
00:41:06.522 --> 00:41:08.124
You don't have to get your whole life together, or your
00:41:08.124 --> 00:41:10.760
Routines together, or have every duck lined up in a row.
00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:14.630
All you have to do is believe
00:41:14.630 --> 00:41:16.132
In jesus and put your faith in him.
00:41:16.132 --> 00:41:18.568
And from that moment, you don't
00:41:18.568 --> 00:41:21.003
All of a sudden change who you are.
00:41:21.003 --> 00:41:22.838
No, you become more of who you really are.
00:41:22.838 --> 00:41:25.041
And you don't change your
00:41:25.041 --> 00:41:26.042
Routines or your life or your personality.
00:41:26.042 --> 00:41:28.110
No. in your real life and your real schedule, in your
00:41:28.110 --> 00:41:30.846
Personality, you start to encounter god in your real
00:41:30.846 --> 00:41:33.683
Life, and you start to be more of who you are at home,
00:41:33.683 --> 00:41:37.587
At work, on weekends and in weeknights.
00:41:37.587 --> 00:41:41.090
And i want you to know that jesus is available for you
00:41:41.090 --> 00:41:43.526
Today, right where you are.
00:41:43.526 --> 00:41:44.794
So all you would have to do today is put your faith in him,
00:41:44.794 --> 00:41:46.662
Believe in him.
00:41:46.662 --> 00:41:47.430
Tell jesus i put my faith in you.
00:41:47.430 --> 00:41:49.799
I believe you died and rose again.
00:41:49.799 --> 00:41:51.601
I turn away from my sin and my shame.
00:41:51.601 --> 00:41:53.970
Amen. i know it sounds simple.
00:41:53.970 --> 00:41:57.039
I think sometimes we believe the lie that it's more
00:41:57.039 --> 00:42:00.242
Complicated than that.
00:42:00.242 --> 00:42:01.877
And that's how the enemy has lied to us and
00:42:01.877 --> 00:42:04.347
Kept us away from god.
00:42:04.347 --> 00:42:05.648
It is that simple.
00:42:05.648 --> 00:42:06.649
You don't have to figure it all out today.
00:42:06.649 --> 00:42:08.618
You just take one step and then after you put your faith in
00:42:08.618 --> 00:42:11.253
Jesus, i believe he will reveal to you the next steps
00:42:11.253 --> 00:42:13.889
He's calling you to take.
00:42:13.889 --> 00:42:15.758
If you're making that choice
00:42:15.758 --> 00:42:16.659
Today, i'm celebrating with you today.
00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:19.662
And don't ever feel alone walking through things.
00:42:19.662 --> 00:42:22.898
I mean, we talk about all of our different lives in the walk
00:42:22.898 --> 00:42:26.569
Of faith and the unknown.
00:42:26.569 --> 00:42:28.771
Faith is walking into the unknown.
00:42:28.771 --> 00:42:31.207
Yes, it is.
00:42:31.207 --> 00:42:32.408
With just your yes and amen to what god wills and that
00:42:32.408 --> 00:42:36.646
Surrender of not my will, but yours.
00:42:36.646 --> 00:42:39.815
Yes, you know, and god has to take you through some stuff to
00:42:39.815 --> 00:42:43.185
Get you to that place, you know, how would we know that
00:42:43.185 --> 00:42:46.656
God was the healer or the mender of the brokenhearted
00:42:46.656 --> 00:42:49.158
If we'd never been brokenhearted before?
00:42:49.158 --> 00:42:51.327
To find the facets of god,
00:42:51.327 --> 00:42:54.163
You go through things in life to find those riches of who god
00:42:54.163 --> 00:42:59.168
Is, the full supply, the satisfaction of my soul.
00:42:59.168 --> 00:43:03.172
That means nothing else has ever satisfied me like jesus.
00:43:03.172 --> 00:43:07.476
The joy that's unspeakable, that means that i shouldn't
00:43:07.476 --> 00:43:11.113
Have this joy right now,
00:43:11.113 --> 00:43:12.448
But i don't know how i'm here, but i have a joy down deep in
00:43:12.448 --> 00:43:17.353
My heart that i can't pay for.
00:43:17.353 --> 00:43:19.889
There's nowhere to buy that, right?
00:43:19.889 --> 00:43:21.891
You know that,
00:43:21.891 --> 00:43:23.159
That love unconditionally of i do not deserve to be loved
00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:27.630
Like i am today.
00:43:27.630 --> 00:43:29.298
But god's love goes deeper than anything, you know.
00:43:29.298 --> 00:43:33.703
And those those riches of god's goodness is available.
00:43:33.703 --> 00:43:37.306
And i love the personal--
00:43:37.306 --> 00:43:40.142
God sees us all individually.
00:43:40.142 --> 00:43:42.311
We're not just like this big group and we're all in here.
00:43:42.311 --> 00:43:45.581
And you know, he's the stragglers and stuff.
00:43:45.581 --> 00:43:48.317
It's like, there's sheila, there's kallie, there's megan,
00:43:48.317 --> 00:43:52.688
There's hosanna.
00:43:52.688 --> 00:43:53.789
You know, we've got this personal relationship with
00:43:53.789 --> 00:43:56.959
Jesus, and he takes us and
00:43:56.959 --> 00:43:59.261
His grace is sufficient for every day.
00:43:59.261 --> 00:44:01.897
His mercies are new every morning.
00:44:01.897 --> 00:44:04.533
Yeah, because we serve a great, big, wonderful god, you know,
00:44:04.533 --> 00:44:08.771
And the identity that we have in christ is being an overcomer
00:44:08.771 --> 00:44:12.808
Or beloved or chosen,
00:44:12.808 --> 00:44:16.112
All those beautiful words that we all love,
00:44:16.112 --> 00:44:18.748
That's all ours. that's who we are in christ.
00:44:18.748 --> 00:44:21.550
Redeemed of the lord.
00:44:21.550 --> 00:44:23.252
Sanctified by his blood.
00:44:23.252 --> 00:44:25.020
Saved by his grace. yeah.
00:44:25.020 --> 00:44:27.189
You know, and have eternal life.
00:44:27.189 --> 00:44:29.358
That's not something we're looking forward to.
00:44:29.358 --> 00:44:31.761
He says, if you receive christ, you have eternal life.
00:44:31.761 --> 00:44:34.663
We're living in that eternal life here and now.
00:44:34.663 --> 00:44:38.667
Amen. i would just say, for the person that's listening right
00:44:38.667 --> 00:44:41.570
Now, that feels like
00:44:41.570 --> 00:44:44.540
Every word is targeted directly at your heart,
00:44:44.540 --> 00:44:47.710
That's the power of the holy spirit.
00:44:47.710 --> 00:44:49.678
That's something that only god can do.
00:44:49.678 --> 00:44:53.015
And if you find yourself in a place where you realize you
00:44:53.015 --> 00:44:56.852
Need jesus, like sheila said, i think you just take a moment
00:44:56.852 --> 00:44:59.889
Right now and say, jesus, i give you my life.
00:44:59.889 --> 00:45:02.858
And if you find yourself in a moment where you just want
00:45:02.858 --> 00:45:06.162
More of him, say god,
00:45:06.162 --> 00:45:07.630
I surrender my plans, not my will, but your will be done.
00:45:07.630 --> 00:45:11.267
It's simple little prayers and posture in our heart before the
00:45:11.267 --> 00:45:14.103
Lord that we get to go,
00:45:14.103 --> 00:45:15.805
God, i want more of you.
00:45:15.805 --> 00:45:17.439
And i don't think it's by accident that you've tuned in
00:45:17.439 --> 00:45:20.276
Or that you've listened to this program, because i believe that
00:45:20.276 --> 00:45:25.080
God orchestrates every detail of our lives.
00:45:25.080 --> 00:45:27.616
And it might just be that you stumbled across this moment
00:45:27.616 --> 00:45:31.086
Because he wanted to get your attention and remind you who
00:45:31.086 --> 00:45:34.290
He is, and remind you that you are loved, that you are chosen,
00:45:34.290 --> 00:45:38.027
That you are called, and that your identity is firm
00:45:38.027 --> 00:45:40.496
And secure in him.
00:45:40.496 --> 00:45:42.665
And i think if all of us were to say anything, that would be
00:45:42.665 --> 00:45:45.634
Our greatest hope for anyone is that they know that they are
00:45:45.634 --> 00:45:49.738
Exactly who god created them to be.
00:45:49.738 --> 00:45:51.807
They are loved by god, chosen by god, his daughter, his son.
00:45:51.807 --> 00:45:56.145
And he's got good plans.
00:45:56.145 --> 00:45:59.148
I think the best thing that any of us can do to keep our
00:45:59.148 --> 00:46:02.051
Identity in christ at the center of everything we say and
00:46:02.051 --> 00:46:05.788
Do, is to stay connected to the source.
00:46:05.788 --> 00:46:09.258
John 15 talks about abiding in christ.
00:46:09.258 --> 00:46:13.362
And i've just got to encourage you, friends, you need time
00:46:13.362 --> 00:46:17.800
With your savior.
00:46:17.800 --> 00:46:19.235
You need time reading the word of god because it is his
00:46:19.235 --> 00:46:22.638
Living, breathing word for you.
00:46:22.638 --> 00:46:26.275
You need time in prayer where you talk to god, and time in
00:46:26.275 --> 00:46:31.247
Prayer where you slow down and you just listen to what he
00:46:31.247 --> 00:46:34.650
Wants to say to you.
00:46:34.650 --> 00:46:36.352
I think this is the biggest key in walking in confidence in our
00:46:36.352 --> 00:46:41.624
Identity in christ is by
00:46:41.624 --> 00:46:43.392
Staying connected to the source.
00:46:43.392 --> 00:46:46.762
If you ever need reminding, you can ask any time.
00:46:46.762 --> 00:46:50.666
He delights to tell us who we are.
00:46:50.666 --> 00:46:53.135
He delights to joy over us.
00:46:53.135 --> 00:46:55.204
It says his opinions,
00:46:55.204 --> 00:46:56.505
His thoughts about us outnumber the grains of sand,
00:46:56.505 --> 00:46:59.241
The hairs on our head,
00:46:59.241 --> 00:47:00.609
He loves to tell us about us.
00:47:00.609 --> 00:47:03.512
And sometimes it feels like, oh, i should know by now. that's
00:47:03.512 --> 00:47:06.448
Needy. i want to be needy for his voice all the
00:47:06.448 --> 00:47:09.084
Days of my life.
00:47:09.084 --> 00:47:09.985
I want to hear his opinion.
00:47:09.985 --> 00:47:11.620
If we forget, if we've lost it, or if we just want to hear him
00:47:11.620 --> 00:47:15.424
Say it all over again,
00:47:15.424 --> 00:47:17.092
Whatever that is,
00:47:17.092 --> 00:47:18.027
Like there's unlimited
00:47:18.027 --> 00:47:20.629
Things that he has to say about who we are, and it dives it in
00:47:20.629 --> 00:47:24.733
Deeper and deeper and deeper.
00:47:24.733 --> 00:47:26.368
So i just, man, the encouragement to just run back
00:47:26.368 --> 00:47:29.638
And ask him over and over and over.
00:47:29.638 --> 00:47:32.274
He's always-- it's his delight to share with us.
00:47:32.274 --> 00:47:35.911
Christian was a little boy, whenever we said our prayers,
00:47:35.911 --> 00:47:38.280
And he was closing his eyes, i would go to his bedroom door
00:47:38.280 --> 00:47:40.649
And i'd turn back and i'd say, which boy does mommy love?
00:47:40.649 --> 00:47:44.486
And he'd put his little hand on
00:47:44.486 --> 00:47:45.521
His cheek and he'd say, this boy.
00:47:45.521 --> 00:47:47.756
And then he would say, say it again, mom.
00:47:47.756 --> 00:47:50.492
Say it again.
00:47:50.492 --> 00:47:52.261
I wanted to just read these last two verses before we
00:47:52.261 --> 00:47:55.130
Close out, jeremiah 17.
00:47:55.130 --> 00:47:56.765
I was praying for us last night and thought, lord, what would
00:47:56.765 --> 00:47:59.768
Be your word for as we close out?
00:47:59.768 --> 00:48:01.603
And it says, but blessed are those who trust in the lord,
00:48:01.603 --> 00:48:05.441
And have made the lord their hope and confidence.
00:48:05.441 --> 00:48:09.044
They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots
00:48:09.044 --> 00:48:11.480
That reach deep into the water.
00:48:11.480 --> 00:48:13.949
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by
00:48:13.949 --> 00:48:17.252
Long months of drought.
00:48:17.252 --> 00:48:19.521
Their leaves stay green and
00:48:19.521 --> 00:48:21.423
They never stop producing fruit.
00:48:21.423 --> 00:48:23.859
Beautiful. let's pray.
00:48:23.859 --> 00:48:26.895
Lord, i've loved this week.
00:48:26.895 --> 00:48:28.697
I just love seeing everything
00:48:28.697 --> 00:48:30.532
You're doing in all of our lives.
00:48:30.532 --> 00:48:32.701
I love what i learned from my sisters.
00:48:32.701 --> 00:48:34.970
I love how i hear your voice through their stories.
00:48:34.970 --> 00:48:38.507
And lord, i want to thank you for this better together
00:48:38.507 --> 00:48:40.642
Family, for those that we haven't met yet down here, but
00:48:40.642 --> 00:48:44.646
Who come and sit beside us day after day.
00:48:44.646 --> 00:48:48.384
Lord, we just want to
00:48:48.384 --> 00:48:49.918
Pray you'd wash our eyes a second time
00:48:49.918 --> 00:48:53.088
So we see you for who you are,
00:48:53.088 --> 00:48:55.657
That you would give us this hunger for your voice, for no
00:48:55.657 --> 00:48:59.328
Other voice more than yours, and that you would give us the
00:48:59.328 --> 00:49:02.431
Faith to stand and those times when it seems as if we're just
00:49:02.431 --> 00:49:06.402
In a waiting place
00:49:06.402 --> 00:49:08.137
But understand that we never wait alone,
00:49:08.137 --> 00:49:11.140
That you are with us.
00:49:11.140 --> 00:49:13.142
And lord, we just long,
00:49:13.142 --> 00:49:14.877
We long to encounter you more and more,
00:49:14.877 --> 00:49:16.945
And we tell you we're hungry for your voice
00:49:16.945 --> 00:49:19.982
And we love your presence.
00:49:19.982 --> 00:49:22.084
And we pray your blessing on all those who are
00:49:22.084 --> 00:49:25.087
Joining us right now.
00:49:25.087 --> 00:49:26.722
We ask for your grace and your mercy to flood their hearts
00:49:26.722 --> 00:49:30.726
And their homes.
00:49:30.726 --> 00:49:32.327
In jesus' name, amen.
00:49:32.327 --> 00:49:37.099
Connect with us on social media and let us know how our team
00:49:37.099 --> 00:49:39.902
Can pray for you.
00:49:39.902 --> 00:49:43.372
Do you know what i love to do?
00:49:43.372 --> 00:49:44.406
I'm a people watcher. like in the airports,
00:49:44.406 --> 00:49:46.708
I love to watch people walking and we're all so different.
00:49:46.708 --> 00:49:50.179
Like your gifts are different than my gifts.
00:49:50.179 --> 00:49:53.048
So how can we all have the same identity in christ if
00:49:53.048 --> 00:49:56.718
We're all made differently?
00:49:56.718 --> 00:49:58.454
And i think it just comes down to our worth.
00:49:58.454 --> 00:50:01.490
You know, if i was to ask you, who are you,
00:50:01.490 --> 00:50:04.660
How would you answer that?
00:50:04.660 --> 00:50:05.894
You might give me a job description or a label,
00:50:05.894 --> 00:50:09.565
Or sam's my husband.
00:50:09.565 --> 00:50:11.300
But who you really are is a child of the king.
00:50:11.300 --> 00:50:14.303
I got a privilege when i was living in london, when i worked
00:50:14.303 --> 00:50:17.306
At the bbc of doing a couple of events with the royal family,
00:50:17.306 --> 00:50:20.542
And i mean, they're all the royal family, but they're
00:50:20.542 --> 00:50:22.411
All very, very different.
00:50:22.411 --> 00:50:23.912
Different personality styles,
00:50:23.912 --> 00:50:25.781
Different heights, different everything.
00:50:25.781 --> 00:50:27.783
Even more so in god's kingdom. you are uniquely gifted by god
00:50:27.783 --> 00:50:31.854
As you are, just as i am.
00:50:31.854 --> 00:50:34.022
But we're all all made in the image of the father.
00:50:34.022 --> 00:50:39.962
Stream full episodes of better together on demand.
00:50:39.962 --> 00:50:43.599
Go to bettertogether.tv to
00:50:43.599 --> 00:50:45.601
Stream all of our latest conversations.
00:50:45.601 --> 00:50:45.601

Your Encounter with God - Episode 1100

September 26, 2025 | S7 E1100 | 52:34

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