Donate

Thanksgiving Special

November 23, 2016

28:37

Living by Faith with Mike & DeeDee Freeman

Closed captions

Thanksgiving Special

Show timecode

Hide timecode

- Hey Happy Thanksgiving to everybody.
00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.040
It's your boy Pastor Kevin here
00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:03.250
and we have finally made it to dad's house.
00:00:03.250 --> 00:00:06.280
- To dad's house.
00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:07.280
My dad's house - Who are you?
00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:09.090
Who are you?
00:00:09.090 --> 00:00:10.040
- I'm Brittney.
00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:11.120
I'm the oldest, favorite daughter.
00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:12.200
- Favorite.
00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:14.080
- While my sister's not here.
00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:16.240
- Well man we're getting ready to go inside here.
00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:18.090
We're going to enjoy some food around the round table.
00:00:18.090 --> 00:00:20.150
We're going to sit around with family
00:00:20.150 --> 00:00:22.140
and we're going to have a discussion.
00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:23.220
We're going to talk and
00:00:23.220 --> 00:00:24.280
drop a few nuggets for you guys to hear.
00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.050
- So call your family and your friends.
00:00:26.050 --> 00:00:27.270
- Call them, get them on the line.
00:00:27.270 --> 00:00:29.030
Get them on the phone.
00:00:29.030 --> 00:00:30.100
- Tell them tune in right now.
00:00:30.100 --> 00:00:31.150
- Absolutely you don't want to miss it.
00:00:31.150 --> 00:00:33.000
It's going to be a great time,
00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:34.090
around great food and great people.
00:00:34.090 --> 00:00:35.170
- And it's going to bless your life,
00:00:35.170 --> 00:00:36.190
I promise you that.
00:00:36.190 --> 00:00:38.090
- Absolutely so stay tuned and we'll see you shortly.
00:00:38.090 --> 00:00:41.040
With a grateful heart
00:00:41.040 --> 00:00:43.120
With a song of praise
00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:45.270
With an outstretched arm
00:00:45.270 --> 00:00:48.090
I will bless your name
00:00:48.090 --> 00:00:51.000
Thank you Lord
00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:53.240
I just want to thank you Lord
00:00:55.090 --> 00:00:59.090
Thank you Lord
00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:04.270
I just want to thank you Lord
00:01:06.010 --> 00:01:10.010
Thank you Lord
00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:14.260
- We're almost finished.
00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:16.240
- About time.
00:01:16.240 --> 00:01:18.050
(laughing)
00:01:18.050 --> 00:01:19.040
But it's so pretty.
00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:20.190
- Yeah it is.
00:01:20.190 --> 00:01:22.040
I just want to know why are we doing all the work?
00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:24.220
Where are the fellas at?
00:01:24.220 --> 00:01:26.000
- I mean really? (laughing)
00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.260
You already know.
00:01:27.260 --> 00:01:29.090
- You already know.
00:01:29.090 --> 00:01:31.190
You know where they are.
00:01:31.190 --> 00:01:33.190
- I'm not counting it.
00:01:39.240 --> 00:01:42.070
- [Male] Hey!
00:01:42.070 --> 00:01:43.240
You gotta put some swag on it.
00:01:43.240 --> 00:01:46.090
My life
00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.260
Is better
00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:55.270
- But I tell you what
00:01:55.270 --> 00:01:57.150
I do appreciate you teaching us how to serve our husbands
00:01:57.150 --> 00:02:00.210
because it has gone a long way,
00:02:00.210 --> 00:02:02.260
don't you...
00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:03.210
- Being married a year,
00:02:03.210 --> 00:02:04.280
you gotta learn how to keep going
00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.270
because if it's not the lifestyle for you
00:02:06.270 --> 00:02:09.070
you'll just stop.
00:02:09.070 --> 00:02:10.220
So really thank you for teaching us how to serve.
00:02:10.220 --> 00:02:12.260
- It's so important.
00:02:12.260 --> 00:02:14.030
One thing in life that I've learned
00:02:14.030 --> 00:02:15.220
the importance of serving.
00:02:15.220 --> 00:02:17.290
And not just our spouses
00:02:17.290 --> 00:02:19.160
but serving our community,
00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:21.180
service our ministry
00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:23.080
being a servant of the Lord and making,
00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.180
you know, everybody's lives important or valuable.
00:02:25.180 --> 00:02:30.130
You know when we were growing up,
00:02:30.130 --> 00:02:32.030
my parents always taught us
00:02:32.030 --> 00:02:34.020
how to take care of one another.
00:02:34.020 --> 00:02:36.120
I didn't really understand the totality of it
00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:40.060
until I really developed a relationship with Jesus
00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:43.030
and knowing the relevance, if you will,
00:02:43.030 --> 00:02:45.180
of why we should serve.
00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:47.190
In the Bible it talks about Jesus
00:02:47.190 --> 00:02:50.080
and how when He was about to be crucified
00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:53.080
He was walking with his 12 disciples
00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:55.130
and the mother of James and John came up to him
00:02:55.130 --> 00:02:58.270
and said hey look, I want my sons
00:02:58.270 --> 00:03:01.050
to be on your left and your right side.
00:03:01.050 --> 00:03:03.030
And Jesus goes through this whole spiel
00:03:03.030 --> 00:03:05.000
and the other ten disciples become so furious,
00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.150
they became upset.
00:03:08.150 --> 00:03:10.000
They begin to tell Him.
00:03:10.290 --> 00:03:12.040
Jesus told them, He said look,
00:03:12.040 --> 00:03:13.190
it's not my position to give.
00:03:13.190 --> 00:03:16.000
It's not my spot to give away.
00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:19.160
He said but what I can tell you
00:03:19.160 --> 00:03:21.250
is that if anybody wants to be great,
00:03:21.250 --> 00:03:24.150
let them serve because Jesus Himself,
00:03:24.150 --> 00:03:26.250
He didn't come so He could be served,
00:03:26.250 --> 00:03:30.200
but to serve.
00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:32.110
- You know everything that my mother said was great and all,
00:03:32.110 --> 00:03:36.010
and I really do appreciate her teaching me how to serve
00:03:36.010 --> 00:03:39.200
because it does help.
00:03:39.200 --> 00:03:40.190
But you know this morning,
00:03:40.190 --> 00:03:43.010
I really wasn't feeling all of that
00:03:43.010 --> 00:03:45.010
because it took forever trying to get my kids ready
00:03:45.010 --> 00:03:49.190
and then Kevin had something smart to say,
00:03:49.190 --> 00:03:52.040
and then I had to come and make this dinner pretty
00:03:52.040 --> 00:03:54.250
for these people.
00:03:54.250 --> 00:03:56.130
And I was just telling my mother thank you,
00:03:56.130 --> 00:03:58.030
but she went into a Bible story.
00:03:58.030 --> 00:03:59.230
She always making lessons out of everything
00:03:59.230 --> 00:04:02.170
and some times I just want it to be natural,
00:04:02.170 --> 00:04:05.230
can we get out the spiritual realm.
00:04:05.230 --> 00:04:08.080
But it was awesome you know.
00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:09.180
It ministered to me I will say that.
00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:12.230
She does know how to pull me
00:04:12.230 --> 00:04:14.070
right out of my natural flesh and feelings sometimes
00:04:14.070 --> 00:04:17.070
which you know is great.
00:04:17.070 --> 00:04:19.120
It is beautiful though.
00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:21.000
I made the turkey.
00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:22.150
- Isn't that amazing how we don't want to serve others
00:04:22.150 --> 00:04:26.280
but Jesus, who saved our lives, served us.
00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:31.060
Sometimes we get so caught up in what we have going on
00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:35.000
and what's around us that we can't clean the toilets or...
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:38.130
- And who's not serving us.
00:04:38.130 --> 00:04:39.120
- Right who's not serving us.
00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:40.170
Why do we want to be served.
00:04:40.170 --> 00:04:41.260
Even the King served.
00:04:41.260 --> 00:04:43.250
- This is true.
00:04:43.250 --> 00:04:45.020
I really love spending time with my family.
00:04:45.020 --> 00:04:48.030
I do.
00:04:48.030 --> 00:04:49.020
There is nothing like family.
00:04:49.020 --> 00:04:50.130
But one thing I think I like more than that
00:04:50.130 --> 00:04:53.020
is spending quality time with my girls.
00:04:53.020 --> 00:04:56.020
Being able to see them, you know,
00:04:56.020 --> 00:04:59.070
having matured and blossom into being this beautiful woman,
00:04:59.070 --> 00:05:03.130
this beautiful wife
00:05:04.140 --> 00:05:06.040
and being able to serve their husbands.
00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:09.130
It's just so amazing to watch.
00:05:09.130 --> 00:05:12.220
So exciting to see the work that you put in.
00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:16.090
It's like being able to see the fruit of my labor.
00:05:16.090 --> 00:05:19.290
I'm so grateful to that.
00:05:19.290 --> 00:05:21.200
But I also have a bittersweet moment
00:05:21.200 --> 00:05:24.120
because they have all grown up and all married,
00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:27.070
now I have to share them with somebody else.
00:05:27.070 --> 00:05:29.200
I have to watch them go off and be with other families,
00:05:29.200 --> 00:05:32.220
the families of their spouses,
00:05:32.220 --> 00:05:35.050
but I'm still honored and still excited
00:05:35.050 --> 00:05:37.140
about being their mom.
00:05:37.140 --> 00:05:39.090
- So it's just good being able to serve,
00:05:40.150 --> 00:05:42.090
not just our husbands,
00:05:42.090 --> 00:05:43.070
even though that lesson helps.
00:05:43.070 --> 00:05:45.090
- I mean that's how it should be.
00:05:45.090 --> 00:05:47.040
We've had life lessons that we can take
00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.070
and apply to our relationships
00:05:50.070 --> 00:05:52.220
and to our walks with Christ.
00:05:53.290 --> 00:05:56.190
When we can take everything that we have learned
00:05:56.190 --> 00:05:59.040
and apply it to our lives to make us have a better life,
00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:02.050
I'm telling you, it'll make all of lives so much easier.
00:06:02.050 --> 00:06:05.120
And so what we do is we serve our men.
00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:08.210
Y'all ready?
00:06:08.210 --> 00:06:09.260
- Even when we don't feel like it.
00:06:09.260 --> 00:06:11.050
- Even when you don't feel like it, exactly.
00:06:11.050 --> 00:06:13.120
Let's call them to come eat, how about that?
00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:15.060
- Boys!
00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:16.120
The food's ready!
00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.110
You know I've always wondered why do girls gotta serve?
00:06:18.110 --> 00:06:21.110
Like why is that just the thing
00:06:21.110 --> 00:06:24.010
where a wife serves a husband his plate?
00:06:24.010 --> 00:06:27.090
Why can't he get up and serve me?
00:06:27.090 --> 00:06:28.220
And in that moment where my mother was able to share
00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:32.060
it's not always about us
00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:33.140
and in marriage it's about giving.
00:06:33.140 --> 00:06:35.160
But it really relates to every area of our lives.
00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:38.210
Like if we give to our friends,
00:06:38.210 --> 00:06:40.260
we give to people we don't know,
00:06:40.260 --> 00:06:42.100
whoever you don't know just serve in that moment
00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:44.290
because serving makes you great.
00:06:44.290 --> 00:06:46.190
And if you want to be great you must serve.
00:06:46.190 --> 00:06:48.260
So I'm working on it but I just want to know,
00:06:48.260 --> 00:06:51.240
can he serve me a plate?
00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:54.090
(slow upbeat music)
00:06:54.090 --> 00:06:57.090
- Lord we are grateful to be able to share today
00:07:10.090 --> 00:07:13.090
in this capacity this Thanksgiving day.
00:07:13.090 --> 00:07:17.070
We're grateful for family and even our friends
00:07:17.070 --> 00:07:19.160
who sit around this table to share this wonderful meal
00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:23.130
that we bless and sanctify by the word in this prayer.
00:07:23.130 --> 00:07:27.240
In the daily thing it shall and will not harm us,
00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:30.030
bless our bread and water,
00:07:30.030 --> 00:07:31.130
take sickness away
00:07:31.130 --> 00:07:33.060
fulfilling the number of our days
00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:35.030
in the health and happiness
00:07:35.030 --> 00:07:37.130
in Jesus' name
00:07:37.130 --> 00:07:39.070
Amen.
00:07:39.070 --> 00:07:40.020
- [All] Amen.
00:07:40.020 --> 00:07:41.030
- You know what I am just so grateful and thankful for today
00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:45.230
is that I am sitting here at this particular table,
00:07:45.230 --> 00:07:50.140
this is two years in now,
00:07:50.140 --> 00:07:52.030
from last year being the first time that I was
00:07:52.030 --> 00:07:55.140
able to have Thanksgiving day
00:07:55.140 --> 00:07:58.030
after that horrible episode of course.
00:07:58.030 --> 00:08:01.080
Every time this comes around it just makes me
00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:06.190
more and more grateful for having every last one of you
00:08:06.190 --> 00:08:10.110
and being able to be still in place with this family.
00:08:10.110 --> 00:08:14.200
I got real blessed this morning,
00:08:14.200 --> 00:08:17.100
when Brittney, she pulled up.
00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:21.000
She still likes to sit in her car
00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:23.000
after she pulls up.
00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:24.280
That's what you used to do when you got here.
00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:27.150
And that girl sat in her car for about 10 minutes
00:08:27.150 --> 00:08:31.030
after she arrived and just listened to worship music.
00:08:31.030 --> 00:08:34.290
And that was so inspiring and encouraging to hear.
00:08:34.290 --> 00:08:39.040
To see her loving God.
00:08:40.250 --> 00:08:42.200
I'm grateful for my family.
00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:45.110
You guys love God.
00:08:45.110 --> 00:08:46.250
You show desire to please God.
00:08:46.250 --> 00:08:48.280
So you all better take the mic because
00:08:48.280 --> 00:08:51.150
I can keep going on and on and on.
00:08:51.150 --> 00:08:54.030
So you know, with every last one of you,
00:08:54.030 --> 00:08:58.040
we've had challenges together as family.
00:08:58.040 --> 00:09:01.160
There's still some existing challenges that are going on.
00:09:01.160 --> 00:09:05.280
(laughing)
00:09:05.280 --> 00:09:08.060
We, as a family, we know how to just grind
00:09:09.160 --> 00:09:12.080
and stick together.
00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:13.210
It's my prayer that families all over this world
00:09:13.210 --> 00:09:17.110
experience the joy that we have as family
00:09:17.110 --> 00:09:20.150
and I'm grateful for you all.
00:09:20.150 --> 00:09:22.270
Because you have separate lives and
00:09:24.020 --> 00:09:26.120
you can be doing all of whatever you want to do.
00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:30.120
But your mother needs you to come around
00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:32.130
because she's an empty nester now
00:09:32.130 --> 00:09:35.110
and she needs the company.
00:09:35.110 --> 00:09:37.160
And y'all help me continue on.
00:09:39.280 --> 00:09:42.130
She's a little sensitive.
00:09:46.010 --> 00:09:48.050
- It's different though.
00:09:48.050 --> 00:09:49.120
It's real different not having them in the house
00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:53.050
whoa, I almost started crying.
00:09:54.050 --> 00:09:56.120
- Cry, cry, go ahead and cry.
00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:57.210
- [Brittney] We gonna put on those emotions.
00:09:57.210 --> 00:09:59.120
- Wait can you get back to what you're thankful for
00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:04.110
so we can eat this food?
00:10:04.110 --> 00:10:05.260
- Yes like Daddy I am most grateful for my family.
00:10:05.260 --> 00:10:09.110
I thank all of you for being a representation
00:10:09.110 --> 00:10:11.270
of not just of our family but of God Himself.
00:10:11.270 --> 00:10:15.170
You know one of our prayers has always been
00:10:15.170 --> 00:10:18.170
that you would serve God.
00:10:18.170 --> 00:10:21.130
- Reflect and resemble.
00:10:21.130 --> 00:10:22.220
- Yeah reflect and resemble.
00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:24.220
- The Kingdom.
00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:25.170
- The Kingdom of God.
00:10:25.170 --> 00:10:26.230
And I am truly honored and proud to be able
00:10:26.230 --> 00:10:30.260
to call you my children.
00:10:30.260 --> 00:10:32.030
- I wish you would have had more now.
00:10:32.030 --> 00:10:35.110
- I do too.
00:10:35.110 --> 00:10:36.250
- If I knew they were going to turn out this good.
00:10:36.250 --> 00:10:38.060
- You know I do too,
00:10:38.060 --> 00:10:39.200
but I thank God for the three I have and
00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:43.020
now the new ones that I have.
00:10:43.020 --> 00:10:45.020
[Group Chatter]
00:10:45.020 --> 00:10:46.110
I'm most grateful for you guys.
00:10:53.170 --> 00:10:56.120
I thank God for my husband who is not just my husband
00:10:56.120 --> 00:11:00.190
but also my pastor who represents all of us
00:11:01.290 --> 00:11:05.170
and we are a reflection of who he is
00:11:06.250 --> 00:11:09.250
and he is a reflection of God himself.
00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:14.150
So I'm grateful, I love you guys so much.
00:11:14.150 --> 00:11:17.290
- Yeah I never would want you to reflect just who I am
00:11:20.130 --> 00:11:23.200
but just reflect the Christ that's in me.
00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.240
I ain't caught up on just myself,
00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:29.220
I'm caught up on what Jesus has commanded us all to do
00:11:29.220 --> 00:11:33.100
because after I'm gone,
00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:35.040
the legacy will still be about Christ.
00:11:35.040 --> 00:11:37.200
And it's fulfilled through you all.
00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:41.090
LJ and Dakota and Demi and Conor.
00:11:41.090 --> 00:11:44.000
- You don't have to keep naming like we have.
00:11:47.140 --> 00:11:51.080
- I love it, you can have as many as you want.
00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:53.170
(laughing)
00:11:53.170 --> 00:11:56.140
- We holding the grandkids down.
00:11:56.140 --> 00:11:59.040
- Pound, pound right there.
00:12:00.090 --> 00:12:02.200
Okay so like you're the bestest, oldest baby girl.
00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:07.010
So what are you thankful for.
00:12:07.010 --> 00:12:09.070
- Oh my gosh.
00:12:09.070 --> 00:12:10.150
Well I am thankful for, really you guys
00:12:10.150 --> 00:12:13.110
and your marriage and always being transparent
00:12:16.110 --> 00:12:20.290
and showing us how to go through something together
00:12:20.290 --> 00:12:25.220
and then how to come out together.
00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:28.170
Because it's easy when you say your vows,
00:12:30.010 --> 00:12:33.210
for better or for worse,
00:12:33.210 --> 00:12:35.060
what you're really thinking is for better.
00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:37.240
- That's the truth Brittney.
00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.150
- When you get to worse the first thing you want to think is
00:12:40.150 --> 00:12:45.060
maybe this is the wrong person.
00:12:45.060 --> 00:12:48.060
I reflect back on teaching that you have
00:12:48.060 --> 00:12:52.060
with not marrying the wrong person
00:12:52.060 --> 00:12:55.110
as long as both him and I are willing to...
00:12:55.110 --> 00:12:59.140
- This is too emotional.
00:12:59.140 --> 00:13:01.110
- That's good though.
00:13:01.110 --> 00:13:02.270
- We were both willing like we can make anything happen
00:13:02.270 --> 00:13:06.110
and I reflect back on your early years
00:13:08.290 --> 00:13:11.290
and how crazy the both of you were (laughing)
00:13:11.290 --> 00:13:15.030
- [DeeDee] I was crazy.
00:13:15.030 --> 00:13:16.190
- Yeah she was a crazy one.
00:13:16.190 --> 00:13:18.040
- You know it makes me feel like
00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:19.060
okay I'm not crazy.
00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:21.010
- You may be crazy.
00:13:21.010 --> 00:13:22.240
- I mean yeah I may be crazy
00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:24.090
but I'm not alone let me say that.
00:13:24.090 --> 00:13:26.020
(laughing)
00:13:26.020 --> 00:13:28.080
But it allows me to see
00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:33.140
okay, it's okay that we hit low points.
00:13:34.270 --> 00:13:38.110
What matters is where we end and what we do with our ending.
00:13:38.110 --> 00:13:42.160
- So where really do I begin what I'm thankful for?
00:13:43.280 --> 00:13:47.280
Of course family, I think that goes without saying.
00:13:47.280 --> 00:13:51.180
More or less the moment that she stepped into my life.
00:13:51.180 --> 00:13:55.230
- Come on Kev, come on.
00:13:57.070 --> 00:13:59.030
- No really she brought so much to the table
00:13:59.030 --> 00:14:02.240
that was vital to my maturity as a believer, as a Christian.
00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:10.090
But if I could take it back even a step further,
00:14:10.090 --> 00:14:13.200
I thank God for my parents,
00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:15.290
or her parents should I say and now my in-laws.
00:14:17.050 --> 00:14:20.010
The faith that they taught her,
00:14:20.010 --> 00:14:21.280
because the faith they they taught her trickling down to me
00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:26.260
became a premise or reason for
00:14:26.260 --> 00:14:29.110
the survival for my kids currently.
00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:33.250
And if she didn't exude the faith that was taught to her
00:14:33.250 --> 00:14:36.250
and then transfer it over to me,
00:14:36.250 --> 00:14:39.050
we both now believe on that faith and that same Word of God.
00:14:39.050 --> 00:14:42.200
I can't lie, I didn't have that faith at first.
00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:45.230
The maturation of my faith wasn't quite there.
00:14:45.230 --> 00:14:48.080
She brought that over.
00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.090
- Yeah I thought I noticed that about you
00:14:50.090 --> 00:14:52.040
when I first met you.
00:14:52.040 --> 00:14:54.150
- So basically Brittney boosted up his swag.
00:14:54.150 --> 00:14:57.240
(Group Chatter)
00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:00.150
- That's good stuff.
00:15:07.020 --> 00:15:08.220
- So I'm thankful for that.
00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:11.130
I'm thankful for the obedience that they exuded
00:15:11.130 --> 00:15:15.100
and pursued the call on their life and my wife too.
00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:19.080
It kind of taught me as well, second hand about faith
00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:23.060
and about believing and trusting and serving God.
00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:26.070
So that part right there, family,
00:15:26.070 --> 00:15:28.100
just sticks out to me the most
00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:30.070
because now here we are with three kids
00:15:30.070 --> 00:15:33.120
and in spite of what doctors said about our situation
00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:36.270
and things like that,
00:15:36.270 --> 00:15:38.070
we went in together and we came around.
00:15:38.070 --> 00:15:41.150
I'm just sitting here.
00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:44.210
Earlier I had mentioned about having three kids
00:15:44.210 --> 00:15:47.070
and it kind of struck me that I have a son now.
00:15:47.070 --> 00:15:50.120
A seven year old son.
00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:52.120
He just turned seven.
00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.220
It's just a blessing to have him
00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:55.180
in the house and in our lives now.
00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:57.120
And also be able to be in the position
00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.270
to take somebody in your house
00:15:58.270 --> 00:16:00.030
who is less fortunate than yourself
00:16:00.030 --> 00:16:02.220
and bring them into a loving environment.
00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:04.270
Like this child now has a home and a place to call home
00:16:04.270 --> 00:16:07.270
and a mommy and a daddy and
00:16:07.270 --> 00:16:09.200
now sisters to go along with that.
00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.150
I think that's probably one thing that I think
00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:15.050
has magnified in my mind that I'm most thankful for
00:16:15.050 --> 00:16:18.140
is the fact that I have been able to be used by God
00:16:18.140 --> 00:16:21.250
to be able to take in a little child,
00:16:21.250 --> 00:16:23.140
to give him a better life,
00:16:23.140 --> 00:16:24.200
to give him a new perspective on life,
00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:26.290
to help catapult him and elevate him in his life.
00:16:26.290 --> 00:16:30.090
His future is a lot brighter now I believe
00:16:30.090 --> 00:16:31.200
than what it was once before.
00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:33.290
So I thank God for that opportunity.
00:16:33.290 --> 00:16:36.050
- So in this season, of course,
00:16:36.050 --> 00:16:38.190
I'm thankful for my family.
00:16:38.190 --> 00:16:40.230
I love you all so much and
00:16:40.230 --> 00:16:42.140
what you have taught us growing up.
00:16:42.140 --> 00:16:44.290
And I'm also thankful for my husband.
00:16:44.290 --> 00:16:48.190
My wonderful husband I love this guy so much.
00:16:48.190 --> 00:16:51.250
But in this season I really learn to be
00:16:51.250 --> 00:16:55.030
thankful for the strength of contentment
00:16:56.220 --> 00:17:00.070
because when we got married
00:17:00.070 --> 00:17:02.110
a lot of stuff just started popping up for us
00:17:02.110 --> 00:17:04.100
and we were everywhere.
00:17:04.100 --> 00:17:06.020
It was like everything was going so fast.
00:17:06.020 --> 00:17:08.260
So over the months it kind of slowed down,
00:17:08.260 --> 00:17:11.010
so for me it was like okay we gotta make something happen,
00:17:11.010 --> 00:17:13.060
we gotta do this, we gotta do this,
00:17:13.060 --> 00:17:15.040
and it was like okay wait, calm down.
00:17:15.040 --> 00:17:17.260
So really to...
00:17:17.260 --> 00:17:19.040
- I don't know where you got that word from,
00:17:20.260 --> 00:17:23.070
but that was powerful.
00:17:23.070 --> 00:17:25.110
- The Holy Ghost.
00:17:25.110 --> 00:17:26.100
- The strength of contentment.
00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:28.250
Wooo.
00:17:29.270 --> 00:17:30.220
- It's hard.
00:17:32.210 --> 00:17:33.210
- The strength of contentment.
00:17:37.060 --> 00:17:38.270
(group chatter)
00:17:38.270 --> 00:17:41.160
- Because like Paul said
00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:43.170
in all things he learned to be content,
00:17:43.170 --> 00:17:45.110
but how do you get there?
00:17:45.110 --> 00:17:48.040
There's a lot of stuff that's going on constantly.
00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:52.060
All the money's good, all that's great,
00:17:52.060 --> 00:17:55.090
but certain things might not happen right at our jobs
00:17:55.090 --> 00:17:57.100
or may not happen right at church.
00:17:57.100 --> 00:18:00.070
Just little things that may not be right,
00:18:00.070 --> 00:18:02.130
where it's like okay I want to write another book,
00:18:02.130 --> 00:18:04.030
I want to do this, I want to do this.
00:18:04.030 --> 00:18:05.260
It's like really pulling on God's strength
00:18:05.260 --> 00:18:08.160
to get to that contentment,
00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.290
to be in that place where now you can be content
00:18:09.290 --> 00:18:12.280
and enjoy that moment.
00:18:12.280 --> 00:18:14.220
So this year I'm really thankful for being able
00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:17.220
to pull on the strength of contentment.
00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:20.160
- Yeah, I mean, man.
00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:22.170
So Tim?
00:18:22.170 --> 00:18:23.120
- [Tim] Hey?
00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:25.030
- You good?
00:18:25.030 --> 00:18:25.290
- This year has been...
00:18:27.210 --> 00:18:29.180
- [Mike] Yeah.
00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:32.090
- It has been mind blowing.
00:18:32.090 --> 00:18:33.080
I think the first thing that
00:18:33.080 --> 00:18:34.160
I want to say I'm thankful for
00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:36.240
is a great first year of marriage.
00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:38.080
Because I always say that we got horrible advice from people
00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:42.190
during our engagement process.
00:18:42.190 --> 00:18:45.020
People said you get past the second month or the third month
00:18:45.020 --> 00:18:47.170
you're gonna want to get divorced,
00:18:47.170 --> 00:18:49.110
and the fourth and the fifth you gonna want to get divorced
00:18:49.110 --> 00:18:51.090
and we don't have that testimony.
00:18:51.090 --> 00:18:53.190
- What are you thankful for?
00:18:53.190 --> 00:18:55.030
- No, no but the second thing is I always thank God
00:18:55.030 --> 00:18:57.060
my entire life for the wealth of knowledge
00:18:57.060 --> 00:18:58.280
that God has put around me and the people.
00:18:58.280 --> 00:19:01.050
My family and my father and my mother
00:19:01.050 --> 00:19:03.000
and me relocating here, it's like,
00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:05.250
I didn't know if I would miss that.
00:19:07.040 --> 00:19:10.190
And I came here and I'm surrounded by
00:19:10.190 --> 00:19:13.200
just as much wisdom and so much greatness.
00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:17.100
No you don't understand.
00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:19.100
I depend, my family and my father and my mother
00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:22.200
are my lifeline,
00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:24.060
so coming here and getting
00:19:24.060 --> 00:19:25.150
the same level and quality of wisdom.
00:19:25.150 --> 00:19:28.100
- How 'bout your sister?
00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:29.180
- She aight.
00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.180
That's low dog.
00:19:32.150 --> 00:19:33.200
- Yeah I know that's your girl.
00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.260
- It's like I didn't dip in anything
00:19:34.260 --> 00:19:37.050
and now I'm walking into this new realization
00:19:37.050 --> 00:19:39.230
of what faith has done
00:19:39.230 --> 00:19:41.010
and what it can do for your life,
00:19:41.010 --> 00:19:43.280
and it's definitely transitioned me
00:19:43.280 --> 00:19:47.000
from just a bunch of prophecies when I was younger
00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:49.140
into now realized dreams because I'm now
00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:51.280
learning how to exercise my faith in myself.
00:19:51.280 --> 00:19:55.110
And I want to thank you guys for that
00:19:55.110 --> 00:19:58.100
and me relocating here and having
00:19:58.100 --> 00:20:01.230
that same quality of excellence
00:20:01.230 --> 00:20:03.200
and wisdom and knowledge and all that good stuff.
00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:07.030
- Man they almost got me.
00:20:07.030 --> 00:20:08.090
I'm somebody who never gets emotional
00:20:08.090 --> 00:20:11.140
but I got a little choked up during the part
00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:13.080
where we start talking about what we're giving thanks for.
00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:16.100
I think I just got caught up because
00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:18.160
I really meant what I was saying
00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.050
and I was really thinking about it
00:20:20.050 --> 00:20:21.080
and I love them man.
00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:22.150
I don't think of them as in-laws,
00:20:22.150 --> 00:20:25.160
I really think of them as my regular family.
00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:27.050
I got a little choked up.
00:20:27.050 --> 00:20:28.060
Maybe they didn't notice.
00:20:28.060 --> 00:20:29.010
Y'all didn't see.
00:20:29.010 --> 00:20:29.260
Y'all didn't even see.
00:20:29.260 --> 00:20:31.040
I don't know why I'm talking about it.
00:20:31.040 --> 00:20:31.280
I didn't get choked up.
00:20:31.280 --> 00:20:32.250
Forget anything, cut all this.
00:20:32.250 --> 00:20:34.030
- Yeah, what's happening with Josh?
00:20:34.030 --> 00:20:36.060
- Well life is good.
00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:38.150
Life is good, I'm happy.
00:20:38.150 --> 00:20:40.110
I'm also thankful for, you know,
00:20:40.110 --> 00:20:43.160
I have businesses in play.
00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.230
I have family that loves me.
00:20:44.230 --> 00:20:47.000
- Absolutely.
00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.030
- I have people around me that encourage me all the time,
00:20:49.150 --> 00:20:50.250
so at this point man, I am here.
00:20:50.250 --> 00:20:53.150
- That dude though man.
00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.030
That LJ that's...
00:20:56.030 --> 00:20:57.100
- [Josh] Oh that's my lil guy.
00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:58.190
He's my number one supporter.
00:20:58.190 --> 00:21:01.020
- [Mike] It's like- Man shoot.
00:21:02.260 --> 00:21:05.270
- Everything. The one thing...
00:21:05.270 --> 00:21:07.000
- The continuation of...
00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.260
- My saga.
00:21:08.260 --> 00:21:09.250
- My saga?
00:21:09.250 --> 00:21:11.020
What you mean your saga?
00:21:11.020 --> 00:21:12.170
(laughter)
00:21:12.170 --> 00:21:14.010
I love you.
00:21:14.010 --> 00:21:14.280
- So what I love about a kid man,
00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:20.010
having an actual child is like
00:21:20.010 --> 00:21:21.110
they accept you no matter who you are.
00:21:21.110 --> 00:21:24.000
You know what I mean?
00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.270
- And that's what we're supposed to have.
00:21:25.270 --> 00:21:27.070
Childlike love and faith.
00:21:27.070 --> 00:21:29.110
That's powerful.
00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:31.220
- Okay yes, Thanksgiving is great.
00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:37.160
We're sitting here, we're talking about being thankful.
00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:40.120
I'm thankful but I'm also hungry.
00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:42.080
It's like come on let's eat, you know what I mean?
00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:44.070
So we got Brelyn over here talking about
00:21:44.070 --> 00:21:46.120
whatever she's talking about.
00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:47.270
Brittney over here talking about what she's talking about.
00:21:47.270 --> 00:21:49.110
I'm ready to eat.
00:21:49.110 --> 00:21:50.180
Let's cut the turkey.
00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:52.120
Let's pass the gravy, you know what I'm saying?
00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:55.180
Let's carve whatever else we've got to carve.
00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:58.160
I see a pumpkin pie over here.
00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.230
That's it we're going to eat right now.
00:21:59.230 --> 00:22:01.220
We're going to throw down and that's all I'm thinking about.
00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:04.190
But I'm also thankful so
00:22:04.190 --> 00:22:05.290
I've got to give my little spiel and boom.
00:22:05.290 --> 00:22:09.090
- All right, well, come on man, let's eat!
00:22:09.090 --> 00:22:12.050
- Cut that turkey, cut that turkey.
00:22:12.050 --> 00:22:15.190
- I cut the turkey?
00:22:15.190 --> 00:22:16.240
- Yes.
00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.220
- Let Josh cut the turkey.
00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:19.240
- You know being grateful and being thankful unto God
00:22:22.040 --> 00:22:25.270
should become a mindset that transcends
00:22:25.270 --> 00:22:29.250
any other day or time in our lives,
00:22:29.250 --> 00:22:32.230
like just any regular Monday or Tuesday or Thursday,
00:22:34.040 --> 00:22:37.200
- Living with an attitude of right too.
00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:40.120
- Living with an attitude of gratitude.
00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:43.190
Jesus did it himself
00:22:43.190 --> 00:22:45.140
and he talked about having that same kind of mindset,
00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:49.230
where the apostle Paul addressed the church at Philippi,
00:22:49.230 --> 00:22:53.280
he says whatever things are pure,
00:22:55.030 --> 00:22:58.000
whatever things are holy,
00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:00.060
whatever things had good virtue
00:23:00.060 --> 00:23:02.260
if they are being praised and love,
00:23:02.260 --> 00:23:04.220
he went down a list of things
00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:06.260
and then he said let the same mind that Christ had in him,
00:23:06.260 --> 00:23:11.010
well actually Paul said the mind that he had in himself,
00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:17.060
which was also in Christ Jesus,
00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:19.170
that mindset become where we remain
00:23:19.170 --> 00:23:22.150
throughout the rest of our lives.
00:23:22.150 --> 00:23:25.060
Every single day of our lives,
00:23:26.040 --> 00:23:28.260
we have a position or disposition
00:23:28.260 --> 00:23:31.190
of being grateful and thankful
00:23:32.150 --> 00:23:35.220
for the ministry of Mike and DeeDee Freeman,
00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:39.290
what God has given us to share with others, the family.
00:23:39.290 --> 00:23:43.260
But that's an ongoing thing.
00:23:43.260 --> 00:23:46.060
It's important for people to know
00:23:49.010 --> 00:23:52.160
after that episode that I went though
00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:55.190
in 14 right?
00:23:56.270 --> 00:23:57.270
- Right, right.
00:23:59.150 --> 00:24:00.220
- It has been day to day thanksgiving.
00:24:01.270 --> 00:24:04.270
I'm thankful for being able to put on my socks
00:24:06.040 --> 00:24:08.130
and get up out of a chair
00:24:08.130 --> 00:24:09.240
and to bathe myself, everything
00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:12.130
The Bible says in all things
00:24:14.060 --> 00:24:16.260
- Give thanks.
00:24:16.260 --> 00:24:18.120
- Give thanks not for but in all things give thanks
00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:22.160
unto God for it's the will of God.
00:24:24.020 --> 00:24:27.130
- Unfortunately a lot of people think that
00:24:27.130 --> 00:24:29.240
they have to go through something
00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:31.070
to get to that place of being thankful,
00:24:31.070 --> 00:24:34.140
being grateful for God has done for them.
00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:38.290
- And that what was going to be my point.
00:24:38.290 --> 00:24:39.280
- Right, and you don't have to.
00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:41.220
- You don't have to go through.
00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.280
- Look at some body else's story and
00:24:42.280 --> 00:24:44.110
just thank God that you didn't go through that.
00:24:44.110 --> 00:24:46.230
Just be thankful.
00:24:46.230 --> 00:24:48.030
One good story in the Bible I will
00:24:48.030 --> 00:24:50.180
always think about is Jonah.
00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:52.260
How the Bible talks about how Jonah,
00:24:52.260 --> 00:24:54.230
once he was thrown over and
00:24:54.230 --> 00:24:56.030
he ended up in the belly of that fish,
00:24:56.030 --> 00:24:58.130
how he came to ...
00:24:58.130 --> 00:24:59.260
- I thought it was a whale?
00:24:59.260 --> 00:25:01.080
- It doesn't, it's so funny how we get our
00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:04.180
picture or our perception of what belly Jonah was in
00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:09.150
by TV growing up.
00:25:09.150 --> 00:25:11.050
And we pictured Jonah sitting up chilling.
00:25:11.050 --> 00:25:14.200
- In the mouth of a whale.
00:25:16.060 --> 00:25:17.050
- In the mouth or in the belly.
00:25:17.050 --> 00:25:18.250
But no, emphatically no.
00:25:18.250 --> 00:25:21.030
If you picture Jonah being really in
00:25:21.030 --> 00:25:23.040
that belly of that whale.
00:25:23.040 --> 00:25:25.060
- Oh it was a whale?
00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:27.110
- In that fish, I apologize.
00:25:27.110 --> 00:25:30.150
He could not have been comfortable.
00:25:30.150 --> 00:25:33.000
He could not be complacent.
00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:34.160
He could not be at a place of resting.
00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:37.010
He was in an uncomfortable place
00:25:37.010 --> 00:25:39.200
because of his disobedience.
00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:42.080
And the Bible says that he came to himself.
00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:44.140
In other words, he remembered.
00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:47.030
He remembered the Lord.
00:25:47.030 --> 00:25:48.160
He began to give thanks unto God.
00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:51.010
And when he gave thanks unto God,
00:25:51.010 --> 00:25:53.140
that is when that fish began to spew his out if you will.
00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:56.050
To vomit him up and put him on dry land.
00:25:56.050 --> 00:25:59.150
- Well I didn't know we were going to have
00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:03.010
a preaching contest here,
00:26:03.010 --> 00:26:04.160
but if you go Paul and Silas
00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:07.170
hey Shabbat.
00:26:07.170 --> 00:26:09.030
They were in the prison.
00:26:09.030 --> 00:26:11.200
The Bible says they prayed and
00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:14.250
gave thanks and praises unto God
00:26:14.250 --> 00:26:18.070
and boom.
00:26:18.070 --> 00:26:19.070
- Suddenly.
00:26:19.070 --> 00:26:20.110
- So there's an ability from God
00:26:20.110 --> 00:26:23.070
that we possess that we release in our lives
00:26:23.070 --> 00:26:26.120
and around our lives when we are just thankful.
00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:30.110
It's a part of the law of the little.
00:26:32.130 --> 00:26:35.160
If you are thankful over the little,
00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:38.220
you will definitely be thankful over the much.
00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:42.120
This has been a wonderful time of thanksgiving
00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:45.250
with my family.
00:26:45.250 --> 00:26:47.070
I appreciate every last one of you all.
00:26:47.070 --> 00:26:50.020
Thank you.
00:26:50.020 --> 00:26:51.200
And we don't say that enough to one another,
00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:54.030
but thank you for being who you are.
00:26:54.030 --> 00:26:57.220
And also thank our viewers.
00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:59.200
Thank you so much for tuning in every week and every day.
00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:02.290
- Supporting us.
00:27:02.290 --> 00:27:04.270
- Thank you for your support.
00:27:04.270 --> 00:27:05.240
- Praying for us - Bless you
00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.250
yeah for praying for us.
00:27:06.250 --> 00:27:08.030
So we ask you to continue to support us
00:27:08.030 --> 00:27:09.270
by your viewing, tuning in every day
00:27:09.270 --> 00:27:13.170
and also taking the opportunity to sow your seed
00:27:13.170 --> 00:27:16.090
to be a blessing so we can continue
00:27:16.090 --> 00:27:18.040
to bring you our broadcast.
00:27:18.040 --> 00:27:20.120
- We pray that your days,
00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:22.220
the rest of your days are the best of your days
00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:26.100
while you're giving thanks.
00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:28.090
And just remember that life is better
00:27:28.090 --> 00:27:31.280
when you live it by faith.
00:27:31.280 --> 00:27:34.000
I love it.
00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.250
See you next time.
00:27:34.250 --> 00:27:36.100
I feel thorns where my crown was
00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:41.190
I believe
00:27:41.190 --> 00:27:42.280
But I'm alive from the dusk until dawn, yeah
00:27:42.280 --> 00:27:46.250
I survive because I got
00:27:47.280 --> 00:27:50.180
Sweet victory
00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:53.080
No body can take it from me
00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:56.270
Sweet victory
00:27:56.270 --> 00:27:58.120
- [Female] So whatever way got can increase me
00:27:58.120 --> 00:28:01.270
with whatever means or whatever situation
00:28:01.270 --> 00:28:04.040
I'm saying increase me.
00:28:04.040 --> 00:28:06.150
But it ain't just about me.
00:28:06.150 --> 00:28:08.140
The devil has taken some stuff from you.
00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:11.240
And if you don't put a demand on him
00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:15.200
to pay it back you're not going to get it back.
00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:19.060
I want you to be so fired up after today,
00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:22.120
I want you to leave out of here with
00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:24.120
expectation of seeing everything.
00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:27.260
Victorious
00:28:27.260 --> 00:28:29.270
Oh Jesus
00:28:29.270 --> 00:28:32.050

Menu Top

Thanksgiving Special

Thanksgiving Special

Video Keywords

Menu Top

Thanksgiving Special

Thanksgiving Special

Video Keywords

Stay Up to Date With Our Newsletter