Amen. Thank you for joining
us in another presentation
00:00:46.12\00:00:48.92
here in the 3ABN Worship Center.
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Also the Thompsonville
church meets in this place.
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So if you're in the general area
of Thompsonville, we'd like to
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invite you to join us for
worship here in Thompsonville.
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We are on Route 149.
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Just before you get
to Route 34 you will see
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3ABN Worship Center
Thompsonville SDA church
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on the left if you're coming
from the West Frankfort area.
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If you're coming
from another area,
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you're going to have to...
Route 34 either way east or west
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you're going to have to
turn right if you're coming from
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Benton area. You're going
to have to turn left if you're
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coming from the Galatia area
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and then we will be on the
right if you're coming from that
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direction. But here we
meet on Wednesday night
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at 7 PM... so come before 7...
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and Sabbath
mornings beginning at 9:15 AM
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we are worshiping
God's holy name here.
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Whether you're watching
on television or listening to
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3ABN Radio you
are welcome to come.
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And of course, anyone
else in the rest of the world
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if you happen to be
nearby come and join us.
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We welcome you from
wherever you're watching,
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be it in a hospital,
a prison, in your home,
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visiting someone,
or you're listening.
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We encourage you to
stay by and be blessed during
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3ABN's Fall Camp Meeting.
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Our speaker during this
hour is Sr. Brenda Walsh,
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and she has a message
from her heart to bring to us.
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Brenda Walsh, if you remember,
is the host and producer
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of Kids' Time programs.
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Now I don't see
too many children here
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but I would like to see
by a show of hands how many
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of you watch Kids' Time?
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Well... look at that!
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Just about every hand went up.
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So we see that Kids' Time
also has appeal to those that
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are beyond 12 years
old so we'll say that.
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So we praise the Lord for that.
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Sr. Brenda Walsh is also
an author. Has written several
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books and is a speaker
that is going across the nation
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bringing God's
message to different people
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and encouraging
people to follow Jesus.
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So you can notice
as you watch Kids' Time
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or in any participation
that there is a joy
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in the Lord about Sr. Brenda.
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And she has what they
call "contagious enthusiasm"
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so we hope you will
receive that inspiration.
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We'd like to go to the
Lord in prayer at this time
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to ask for the Lord's blessing.
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Let us pray together.
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I'd like to invite you to
stand if it's possible for you.
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Let us pray.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
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we thank you so much,
Lord, that we can come
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before You and we can
come with the assurance that
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he that cometh to You
You will in no wise cast out.
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We ask for Your blessing as
we have this meeting together
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and we pray that You will bless
Sr. Brenda with the Holy Spirit.
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That as we hear her share
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we will hear a message
of hope, encouragement,
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and a message from heaven.
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We pray for a
blessing upon everyone here
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and upon those
that are joining us
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in different parts of the world.
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We ask You for these
blessings in Jesus' name, Amen.
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You may be seated.
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Sr. Brenda Walsh will
be presenting a message
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that has an interesting title
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and it's a title
that caught my attention.
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It's called Bend Me,
Shape Me, Any Way You Want Me.
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So at this time I'd like
to invite Sr. Brenda Walsh
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to be with you, and she
will have the rest of the time
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to share God's Word.
God's blessings upon you.
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Thank you Pastor Dinzey.
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Hello everyone! It's so
good to be here together
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and praising the Lord
today, isn't it? Amen!
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I want to share with you
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there is no greater joy
than sharing Jesus. Amen?
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In fact, I think
there is no greater joy
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than seeing the
results of sharing Jesus
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and seeing that
smile on someone's face
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when they receive that
Blessed Hope. When they realize
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they have a
Savior. It's amazing!
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You know, we as Christians
should be the happiest group
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of people on earth.
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In fact, my Daddy
always used to tell me
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since I was a real
little girl he'd say:
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"If you love
Jesus, notify your face. "
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And really and truly
you show me a person that
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is so down and depressed
and I'll show you someone that's
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not working hard
enough for Jesus...
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somebody that's not
really out there soul witnessing
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and thinking about others.
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Because you just can't
be depressed when you're out
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serving the Lord, can you?
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I love witnessing.
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God gives us so many
opportunities to witness.
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And I hear from so many people
that tell me: "Oh, I really
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want to serve the
Lord... I do, but I just...
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I just don't
know what I can do. "
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In fact, one of the... I was
speaking at a church one Sabbath
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and at the end of the church
service a well-dressed gentleman
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stopped me and said: "Could
I have a minute of your time? "
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And he introduced himself
as a physician in the area
00:06:04.15\00:06:06.40
and he said: "You know, "
he said, "for years now, "
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he said, "I lay awake at night
you know trying to think about
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what it is that
God wants me to do. "
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He said: "I just don't know what
it is that I'm supposed to do.
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I want to serve the Lord and
I like hearing you talk about
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serving the Lord, but I
just don't know what to do.
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I just can't figure it out. "
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And you know what I told him?
I said: "That's your problem! "
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I said: "You're not
supposed to figure it out.
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God's already got
it all figured out! "
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You see, if you
really want to serve Jesus
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it starts with surrender.
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It starts with surrendering
your will to God's will
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to allow Him to use you
any way He wants to use you.
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Thus, the topic for my
seminar presentation today
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Bend Me, Shape Me,
Any Way You Want Me.
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That's the way we want to
be if we want God to use us
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for His honor and glory.
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It can't be all
about what we want to do.
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It can't be all the
things in our comfort zone
00:07:06.17\00:07:08.50
that we feel good about.
00:07:08.70\00:07:09.92
We can't just sit there
and plan out "Well I think
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I'd like to do that" or "I'm
pretty good about doing this.
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I could do this
to serve the Lord. "
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Or you know: "I really don't...
I'm not a people person.
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I don't want to be
a greeter at the door
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but you know I don't mind
being on the phone ministry
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calling people. " You know what?
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It's not about
what we want to do.
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It's not about
what we're good at.
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It's about what God
has planned for us to do.
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When I was first
asked to produce Kids' Time
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the very first words out
of my mouth I'm ashamed to say
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was: "I'm not a producer.
I don't know what to do that.
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I can't do that.
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I'm a registered nurse. I don't
know anything about producing.
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I've been on television
with my sisters cooking
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and singing but
I'm not a producer! "
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And then I heard the
Holy Spirit say to me:
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"Brenda, did you really mean it
when you told Me I could use you
00:08:00.43\00:08:05.21
however I wanted to use you? "
00:08:05.31\00:08:06.93
And let me tell you: immediately
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I asked God to forgive me.
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"Lord please.
Lord, I'm so sorry.
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Yes, I want You to use
me. Lord, please forgive me.
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I'm so sorry. I don't
want to be that way any more.
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Lord, I want You to use me
however You want to use me...
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however that is. "
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And God took a willing heart.
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And that was 14 years ago.
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Kids' Time has been on
every single day for 13 years.
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We started a Bible study
club for children and today
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we have over 25,000 children
enrolled in Bible studies
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from over 100 different
countries around the world.
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Amen? Amen! Now
that's what God can do.
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That wasn't what Brenda
can do. That's what God does.
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You see the difference?
00:09:04.08\00:09:05.27
Now if I was willing just
to stay in my comfort zone
00:09:05.47\00:09:08.09
and say: "OK Lord, I'm
a nurse. I can't do that.
00:09:08.19\00:09:11.01
I don't know
anything about that. "
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It doesn't matter what we know.
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It doesn't matter
what our talents are.
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God is never going to
call us to do something
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that He isn't going to give
us every single thing we need
00:09:20.45\00:09:23.71
to get that job done.
00:09:23.81\00:09:24.94
And we don't have to be afraid!
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We can trust Jesus. Our
God is trustworthy. Amen?
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I love that about God because
God sees the big picture.
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He is looking at
the whole big picture
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and we see this much of it.
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We can't possibly know what is
good or what we should be doing
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here or what we
should be saying here.
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We can't know.
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I had some people tell me...
They said: "Well you know I...
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I can't give a Bible study.
I don't know anything about
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that. " You know there are
so many wonderful ways out there
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that you can share God's Word.
00:10:02.28\00:10:03.95
Sometimes God is calling
you to witness by a smile.
00:10:04.16\00:10:06.64
By just being friendly.
00:10:06.84\00:10:10.34
Maybe it is all He wants
you to do is smile at somebody
00:10:10.54\00:10:14.21
that you saw in line
at the grocery store.
00:10:14.31\00:10:16.04
And you just look at somebody
and they seem a little dejected
00:10:16.24\00:10:19.42
and you want to go over to them
and you just want to give them
00:10:19.62\00:10:21.84
a smile and say: "You
know I just want you to know
00:10:21.94\00:10:24.53
Jesus loves you. I'd love
for you to come to our church
00:10:24.73\00:10:27.78
this week. Would
you like to come? "
00:10:27.98\00:10:30.56
Do you know that I have
talked to so many people
00:10:30.76\00:10:33.61
that shared with me that the
reason... the biggest reason...
00:10:33.81\00:10:37.83
they never came to church
is nobody ever invited them.
00:10:38.03\00:10:40.29
Now don't raise your
hands but how many here
00:10:41.22\00:10:43.82
have invited
somebody to church this week?
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How many people did you
invite - you personally invited
00:10:47.38\00:10:50.27
whether it was a stranger,
whether it was somebody
00:10:50.47\00:10:52.80
you know, that you
know... a neighbor -
00:10:52.90\00:10:55.08
did you invite
somebody to church this week?
00:10:55.22\00:10:57.99
What about last
week? The week before?
00:10:58.82\00:11:01.21
You see sometimes
it's just something simple.
00:11:01.44\00:11:04.01
Other times God may lead
you into a whole conversation
00:11:04.22\00:11:06.89
and you don't have to worry
about what you're going to say.
00:11:07.09\00:11:09.37
God will give
you the words to say.
00:11:09.40\00:11:11.66
Isn't He amazing? I
love how He does that!
00:11:11.96\00:11:14.36
God will lead you
every step of the way.
00:11:14.56\00:11:17.64
We just need to trust Him.
00:11:17.84\00:11:19.48
One of the key ingredients
00:11:20.75\00:11:23.35
of really being a soul
witnessing tool for Jesus
00:11:24.47\00:11:27.89
is what my Grandma used
to always say: "prayed up. "
00:11:28.73\00:11:32.44
She'd say: "Honey,
you've got to be prayed up. "
00:11:33.24\00:11:34.86
And that means we have to
have a prayer relationship
00:11:34.89\00:11:38.71
with our Lord and Savior.
00:11:38.81\00:11:39.84
We have to have a
constant communication.
00:11:39.94\00:11:41.71
We need to be filled and
pray for an extra pouring of
00:11:41.91\00:11:45.30
God's Holy Spirit into
our hearts and our lives
00:11:45.50\00:11:47.90
because guess what? We cannot
share what we do not have.
00:11:48.10\00:11:51.67
We must be filled up
with the Holy Spirit.
00:11:52.57\00:11:55.33
And God loves to do
that for His children.
00:11:55.53\00:11:58.77
You see, God has commissioned
each one of us to be ministers.
00:11:58.97\00:12:02.25
He doesn't just use
your pastor of your church.
00:12:02.55\00:12:04.81
Each one of us He
tells us to "Go ye therefore
00:12:05.01\00:12:07.81
and spread the gospel. "
00:12:08.02\00:12:09.54
That means every one of us
00:12:09.74\00:12:11.52
have a responsibility
to work for Jesus.
00:12:11.82\00:12:13.46
And He has a
different plan on how we do that
00:12:14.21\00:12:17.18
for each one of us.
00:12:17.38\00:12:19.40
We aren't going to know
that plan unless we ask God
00:12:19.70\00:12:22.49
to come into our
hearts and lives and lead us
00:12:22.89\00:12:25.85
every step of the way.
00:12:26.05\00:12:27.39
You don't have to be afraid.
00:12:27.98\00:12:29.62
Jesus has an
incredible plan for you
00:12:30.50\00:12:34.36
and He's not
going to let you down.
00:12:35.03\00:12:36.72
There are so many opportunities
that I get all the time
00:12:37.59\00:12:41.02
to witness. In fact, I
get a lot of time in airplanes
00:12:41.22\00:12:44.93
because I fly so much. I
speak somewhere around the world
00:12:45.03\00:12:48.17
in a church almost every weekend
00:12:48.37\00:12:51.20
and so I get many
chances to witness.
00:12:52.09\00:12:54.28
Do you know I keep
a Bible study guide
00:12:54.48\00:12:57.59
in my Bible and I
take my Bible with me
00:12:57.99\00:13:01.09
so that I have on my
plane in my carry-on luggage
00:13:01.29\00:13:03.74
that I put underneath
the seat in front of me.
00:13:03.94\00:13:08.33
I scoot that in there.
00:13:08.53\00:13:09.83
Whenever God is impressing
me to give a Bible study
00:13:10.03\00:13:12.32
I can pull my Bible out because
people invariably will say...
00:13:12.42\00:13:15.73
You know, when I start
talking to them they'll say:
00:13:15.94\00:13:18.94
"Well this this and this
and this. " And I'll say:
00:13:19.04\00:13:20.69
"Well you know
before we get going
00:13:20.79\00:13:23.27
it doesn't matter
what I think or what I say,
00:13:23.47\00:13:25.43
let's see what the Bible says. "
00:13:25.53\00:13:26.88
Now that makes a big
difference. I pull my Bible out.
00:13:27.52\00:13:30.24
And I will share
with you I do not have
00:13:30.44\00:13:34.06
the gift of memorizing scripture
00:13:34.26\00:13:37.05
like my Dad does or
my sister Linda does
00:13:37.25\00:13:39.72
or so many of you may.
00:13:39.92\00:13:41.63
It's not my gift. I will
get it messed up every time.
00:13:41.83\00:13:44.54
I can remember a
million other things
00:13:45.41\00:13:47.87
but for whatever
reason it's not my gift.
00:13:47.97\00:13:50.19
And so there will be many
time when I'm getting ready to
00:13:50.39\00:13:53.43
speak somewhere and a
text has slipped my mind.
00:13:53.64\00:13:56.24
I know what I wanted to say
and I'll call Daddy and I'll say
00:13:56.34\00:13:58.88
"Daddy" I'll say, "I'm trying
to find that text. I've spent
00:13:59.08\00:14:01.29
ten minutes and I can't find
it. " And I said: "It's the one
00:14:01.39\00:14:03.93
that says... and he'll rattle
it off to me just like that.
00:14:04.03\00:14:06.27
"Oh, thank you Daddy. "
00:14:06.48\00:14:07.57
You know? I wish I could
so that's why my Bible is
00:14:08.28\00:14:11.69
so marked up. I keep
a marker because I try
00:14:11.89\00:14:14.07
to find those texts easily.
00:14:14.18\00:14:15.47
But guess what? God
doesn't expect me to
00:14:15.67\00:14:18.43
memorize all those texts.
00:14:18.53\00:14:19.99
And so I put together...
In fact, I put together -
00:14:20.39\00:14:24.85
it says Brenda
Walsh Ministries -
00:14:24.95\00:14:26.09
a Bible study guide. It's
not any bigger than the...
00:14:26.19\00:14:28.90
than the size of
a church bulletin.
00:14:28.94\00:14:30.76
You can slip it
right in your Bible.
00:14:31.00\00:14:32.57
You can give a Bible
study on just about any thing
00:14:32.77\00:14:36.07
you would want to give a
Bible study about right here.
00:14:36.17\00:14:38.51
And so when someone's asking
you what happens when you die
00:14:38.75\00:14:41.50
I go right to the part
about death and I just start
00:14:41.71\00:14:44.35
you know going down and
seeing what the Bible says
00:14:44.55\00:14:46.62
one right after the other.
00:14:46.82\00:14:47.85
I have never - and
this is the truth -
00:14:48.03\00:14:49.98
I have never had to get through
all those text before someone
00:14:50.08\00:14:52.57
stops me and goes: "Uh...
00:14:52.67\00:14:54.64
my mom is not in heaven, is she?
00:14:55.05\00:14:57.41
You don't have
to read any more. "
00:14:57.62\00:14:59.29
I mean it is a wonderful
incredible study guide.
00:14:59.59\00:15:02.96
And in fact I asked them to
put that on the screen for you
00:15:03.16\00:15:05.57
because if you go to my
website... I wanted to make this
00:15:05.77\00:15:09.11
available to
everyone absolutely free.
00:15:09.21\00:15:11.30
So you can go to my
website www. brendawalsh. com
00:15:11.50\00:15:14.06
and you can download
it yourself. Print it off,
00:15:14.26\00:15:16.62
fold it up, put
it in your Bible.
00:15:16.72\00:15:18.52
And you have no excuses now, so
you can give a Bible study too!
00:15:18.72\00:15:22.46
And so just
www. brendawalsh. com
00:15:23.32\00:15:25.48
and you can get your
own Bible study guide.
00:15:25.58\00:15:27.23
There are so many ways that God
allows us to witness for Him.
00:15:27.63\00:15:32.95
One of the
ways... Three years ago
00:15:33.83\00:15:36.31
God impressed me to
start posting a daily devotion
00:15:36.51\00:15:39.89
on Facebook. How many Facebook
friends do I have out there?
00:15:39.99\00:15:42.95
Quite a few of you I can see.
00:15:43.25\00:15:45.08
Well you can go... They
only let you have 5,000 friends
00:15:45.28\00:15:48.59
on Facebook, so I
started so it's Brenda Walsh
00:15:48.69\00:15:51.83
and then I started another one
called Brenda Walsh Ministries
00:15:51.93\00:15:54.52
'cause it's
unlimited on that one.
00:15:54.72\00:15:56.52
And then you can... I
post on both the same devotion
00:15:56.72\00:15:59.57
every single day. I
haven't missed in 3 years.
00:15:59.67\00:16:01.76
And I can tell you that
every single day somebody -
00:16:02.56\00:16:06.83
and I'm sure my Facebook
friends will tell you this -
00:16:07.03\00:16:09.63
will post that "Wow!
This was meant just for me. "
00:16:09.83\00:16:12.30
"This really hits the nail
on the head for me today. "
00:16:13.14\00:16:15.86
"This is what I needed today. "
00:16:16.06\00:16:17.32
Now I'm going to share
with you: there are days that
00:16:17.52\00:16:20.56
you know what I'm tired
or I'm busy or I'm in a hurry
00:16:20.76\00:16:23.14
and I want... I'm tempted...
You know, the enemy will
00:16:23.34\00:16:27.37
tempt me: "Brenda, you
might have to skip it today. "
00:16:27.48\00:16:29.47
I'm so busy.
00:16:29.57\00:16:31.16
But that's not
God's plan, is it?
00:16:31.36\00:16:33.31
And I never want to be too busy
to do what God wants me to do.
00:16:34.11\00:16:37.23
And every single day
that I have been tempted
00:16:37.99\00:16:40.50
to skip my Facebook devotional
00:16:40.70\00:16:43.53
God has shown me over and over
again why He wanted me to do it.
00:16:43.73\00:16:47.31
You see, God is gonna be there
00:16:47.61\00:16:50.20
every step of the way. You
are not on a ministry, you know,
00:16:50.40\00:16:54.22
by yourself. You're
not on your own road...
00:16:54.32\00:16:57.53
Jesus is walking with you.
00:16:57.73\00:16:59.58
And so you don't
have to be afraid!
00:16:59.88\00:17:02.01
Just as God: "What is the plan
You have for my life, Lord? "
00:17:02.32\00:17:05.27
"What is it You want me to do? "
00:17:05.48\00:17:07.20
"Lord, I... " God
knows you inside and out.
00:17:08.14\00:17:11.59
I talk to Jesus.
He is my best friend.
00:17:11.79\00:17:13.49
I tell Him everything.
00:17:13.59\00:17:14.69
And I tell Him if I'm scared;
I tell Him if I'm nervous.
00:17:14.99\00:17:18.53
I tell Him: "Lord, do You
really want me to do that? "
00:17:18.63\00:17:21.53
You know, and I want to always
do what God wants me to do.
00:17:22.53\00:17:28.49
In fact several years ago
I started adding something
00:17:28.69\00:17:31.02
to my prayer life that I
started praying and asking God
00:17:31.12\00:17:34.09
to make me instant to His will.
00:17:34.19\00:17:36.29
I don't want to second
guess what the Holy Spirit
00:17:37.13\00:17:39.95
is speaking to me.
I don't want to go:
00:17:40.15\00:17:42.19
"Oh, You didn't
really mean that Lord"
00:17:42.29\00:17:43.69
and just keep on going.
00:17:43.89\00:17:44.93
No! I want to be
instant to God's will.
00:17:45.13\00:17:47.40
I want to do whatever He
wants me to do right then.
00:17:47.60\00:17:49.69
I might miss an incredible
witnessing opportunity.
00:17:49.80\00:17:52.27
So it's an important thing
to pray - don't you think? -
00:17:52.67\00:17:55.58
is that God makes
us instant to His will.
00:17:55.88\00:17:58.23
And He's never ever going
to leave us out there hanging.
00:17:59.01\00:18:02.02
You know, several years ago
00:18:02.92\00:18:06.55
I was here taping
back-to-back programs.
00:18:07.55\00:18:10.92
That means I
had a week of taping
00:18:11.12\00:18:13.27
and the next
week taping as well.
00:18:13.47\00:18:15.44
And I usually would
either be speaking at a church
00:18:15.85\00:18:18.77
that weekend or I
would be going home.
00:18:18.97\00:18:21.02
And this particular weekend
my husband was going to be gone
00:18:21.22\00:18:24.99
traveling and I thought
"Why should I drive 6 hours home
00:18:25.20\00:18:28.26
for one day and
then 6 hours back
00:18:28.46\00:18:31.00
to... because I'd
have to come right back.
00:18:31.20\00:18:33.45
If my husband's not going
to be there, I might as well
00:18:33.66\00:18:35.37
just stay here and rest. "
00:18:35.47\00:18:37.13
I don't get to do that a lot.
I don't have a lot of down time.
00:18:37.33\00:18:40.36
And so I was
really excited about that.
00:18:40.57\00:18:42.88
I thought: "I am just going
to stay here in my little 3ABN
00:18:42.98\00:18:45.32
apartment and I'm just going
to have a nice quiet Sabbath. "
00:18:45.42\00:18:48.89
And Sabbath morning I got up.
00:18:49.73\00:18:53.04
Was having my
cereal. I was sitting there
00:18:53.34\00:18:55.94
in my bathrobe
watching Kids' Time.
00:18:56.14\00:18:58.60
I never get to see that either.
00:18:58.70\00:19:00.18
I'm so busy producing programs
I rarely get to see them.
00:19:00.21\00:19:02.88
And so I was watching and I
said: "Oh, you know what, Lord?
00:19:03.08\00:19:05.98
I think I'm just
going to stay here today.
00:19:06.29\00:19:08.30
I'm not going to go to church.
00:19:08.40\00:19:09.49
I think I just want
to be in my bathrobe.
00:19:09.69\00:19:11.46
I'm going to watch Kids' Time.
I can watch 3ABN for my church.
00:19:11.76\00:19:15.09
You guys have never thought
anything like that, right?
00:19:15.23\00:19:17.21
And you would never even
think those thoughts, but I was
00:19:17.51\00:19:20.72
saying, I said: "You
know I just am so comfortable
00:19:20.82\00:19:23.32
I never get any down time and
I can have a extra-long worship
00:19:23.42\00:19:26.94
with You, Lord. I can
just enjoy a nice quiet
00:19:27.04\00:19:29.97
day with just You. Oh, oh,
wouldn't that be wonderful? "
00:19:30.07\00:19:33.25
And I started to settle
into my comfortable chair.
00:19:33.45\00:19:35.59
And I'm still eating my
cereal, watching Kids' Time.
00:19:35.79\00:19:38.62
And all of a sudden I
heard the Holy Spirit say to me:
00:19:38.82\00:19:41.51
"Brenda, get out of that chair
and get ready to go to church.
00:19:41.71\00:19:46.93
I want you in church today! "
00:19:47.03\00:19:48.67
And that voice was so
loud in my head I literally...
00:19:48.97\00:19:52.31
I put my cereal down
- almost splattered it -
00:19:52.41\00:19:54.56
I jumped out of my chair. I
ran and I got in the shower,
00:19:54.76\00:19:57.44
got dressed, and I mean I
knew God wanted me in church
00:19:57.64\00:20:00.92
even though I was really
wanting to be - you know -
00:20:01.12\00:20:03.93
in my little
apartment playing hooky.
00:20:04.13\00:20:05.99
Well, I got into
church... And I came into church
00:20:06.93\00:20:12.12
and Pastor John Lomacang
was already up in front.
00:20:12.32\00:20:14.41
And I'm... You
know, my dad's a preacher
00:20:14.61\00:20:17.85
so being a pastor's daughter
I know you're supposed to be
00:20:17.95\00:20:20.11
early to church
not late to church.
00:20:20.21\00:20:21.74
And so they're already
doing the announcements
00:20:22.04\00:20:24.75
so I know I'm late. And
I thought: "Well I'll just
00:20:24.95\00:20:26.57
skooch in and
nobody's going to know. "
00:20:26.77\00:20:28.79
And so I skooched in the back
and I a chair down on the end
00:20:28.99\00:20:32.59
that was empty and
there was no one on that row.
00:20:32.89\00:20:36.07
And I thought: "I'll
just quietly get in. "
00:20:36.27\00:20:37.79
But just as I'm walking
up the aisle Pastor Lomacang
00:20:37.99\00:20:40.37
says: "And we're so excited
that Miss Brenda's joined us
00:20:40.58\00:20:43.69
today. " So
much for sneaking in.
00:20:43.79\00:20:48.10
So I sat down and I was like
you know: "Oh Lord, I'm sorry
00:20:48.40\00:20:53.63
I was late. I don't
know what I was thinking.
00:20:53.73\00:20:55.52
That was so
selfish. Please forgive me. "
00:20:55.63\00:20:57.19
So I'm sitting
there. I get my Bible out.
00:20:58.69\00:21:01.00
I get my highlighter
out in case pastor's got any
00:21:01.10\00:21:03.35
texts I want to underline.
00:21:03.45\00:21:04.58
And I'm getting ready
there to enjoy the service.
00:21:04.79\00:21:06.59
About that time Jay Christian
00:21:06.89\00:21:09.93
who is head of our 3ABN Radio
00:21:10.13\00:21:12.45
he was sitting
about 2 rows behind me.
00:21:12.65\00:21:15.35
He got up and
came and sat by me.
00:21:15.55\00:21:17.42
And he whispered in my
ear. He said: "Miss Brenda, "
00:21:17.62\00:21:20.39
he said, "there is a lady
on my row - sitting on my row -
00:21:20.60\00:21:24.18
that is crying. " He said:
"Do you think after the service
00:21:24.38\00:21:27.51
you could maybe
say something to her? "
00:21:27.71\00:21:29.53
he said, "because she probably
needs a woman's touch. "
00:21:29.73\00:21:33.08
And I said: "Well sure. " I said
"How will I know who she is? "
00:21:33.11\00:21:36.01
And he said: "Well, she's
sitting in the middle of my row,
00:21:36.21\00:21:39.84
I'm two rows behind you"
00:21:40.04\00:21:41.11
and he said: "and
she's wearing pretty shoes. "
00:21:41.31\00:21:43.47
I was pretty
impressed that he'd notice that!
00:21:44.36\00:21:46.25
And so I said:
"OK, I'd be happy to. "
00:21:46.55\00:21:50.48
So he gets up and
goes back to his pew.
00:21:50.78\00:21:52.98
And I'm sitting there
now getting ready for church
00:21:53.29\00:21:56.63
and all of a sudden I heard
the Holy Spirit speak to me
00:21:56.73\00:21:59.09
saying: "Brenda,
go sit with her NOW! "
00:21:59.29\00:22:03.09
And it was so
loud, it was so real
00:22:03.49\00:22:06.06
I literally shot
up out of my chair.
00:22:06.26\00:22:08.00
I grabbed my
purse, grabbed my Bible.
00:22:08.10\00:22:09.64
My highlighter went
flying across the floor.
00:22:09.84\00:22:12.33
I didn't even go get it. I
jumped up; I turned around,
00:22:12.53\00:22:14.54
I walked down to
where Jay was sitting.
00:22:14.74\00:22:16.63
I crossed in front of him. I
went down the middle of the row.
00:22:16.73\00:22:19.28
And sure enough,
there's this beautiful woman
00:22:19.38\00:22:21.54
with blonde hair and
she's got the most gorgeous
00:22:21.74\00:22:25.06
turquoise shoes on.
00:22:25.26\00:22:26.54
And so I passed
over in front of her
00:22:27.57\00:22:29.87
and I moved her Bible
that was setting on the seat
00:22:30.07\00:22:33.19
and I put my arm around her
00:22:33.39\00:22:35.80
and I said: "I want
you to know Jesus loves you
00:22:36.00\00:22:39.14
and I'm your friend. "
00:22:39.35\00:22:40.95
"Jesus loves you
and I'm your friend. "
00:22:41.25\00:22:43.74
And you know, tears
were streaming down her face.
00:22:44.68\00:22:47.32
And I gave her a big hug.
00:22:47.72\00:22:49.32
And then we started
to get into the Word.
00:22:49.52\00:22:53.14
And I said: "What is your
name? " And she said: "Rhonda. "
00:22:54.30\00:22:59.91
And I said: "I'm Brenda.
" And she said: "I know. "
00:23:00.12\00:23:03.10
And so we started to go
through the church service
00:23:06.78\00:23:10.05
and all of a sudden Pastor John
asked us to turn in our Bibles
00:23:10.15\00:23:14.34
to a certain text. And
right there where we turned
00:23:14.44\00:23:18.62
was a very special bookmark.
00:23:18.82\00:23:20.45
See, these bookmarks... I
wrote about them in my book
00:23:20.75\00:23:23.16
called Passionate Prayer.
It's under the chapter called
00:23:23.26\00:23:26.30
Margie's Mission.
It's the second chapter.
00:23:26.40\00:23:28.05
Some of you nodding: you've
read the story of Margie's
00:23:28.15\00:23:30.22
bookmarks. Well, there
was a very special bookmark
00:23:30.33\00:23:33.00
that was in there, and I
had been praying about that
00:23:33.20\00:23:35.40
particular bookmark. I had
been praying that God would
00:23:35.50\00:23:38.11
use that bookmark
to win a soul for Him.
00:23:38.31\00:23:40.68
And I would pray and pray
and pray and I would say: "Lord,
00:23:40.98\00:23:44.52
is this the person?
Is that the person? "
00:23:44.63\00:23:45.92
Many times I've said: "Lord,
when do You want me to give
00:23:46.12\00:23:47.75
this bookmark? "
We opened the Bible
00:23:47.85\00:23:50.54
and there it is: that bookmark
00:23:50.74\00:23:52.77
and it's right at the text
that Pastor John had asked us
00:23:53.07\00:23:55.67
to turn to. And I knew
immediately I was supposed to
00:23:55.78\00:23:59.11
give Rhonda that bookmark.
00:23:59.21\00:24:01.23
And I reached in there and I
handed the bookmark to Rhonda.
00:24:01.43\00:24:04.55
And she looked at me
and she went: "Oooh... "
00:24:04.58\00:24:06.62
and she said:
"Margie's bookmarks. "
00:24:06.82\00:24:10.81
And I said: "Yes. "
00:24:11.01\00:24:12.47
And I said: "How did you know? "
00:24:12.77\00:24:14.88
And she said: "I
read your book. "
00:24:15.08\00:24:17.03
And I gave her another big hug.
00:24:18.45\00:24:20.64
We ended up with
the church service
00:24:20.84\00:24:22.80
and at the end of the
service before the closing song
00:24:24.05\00:24:28.56
I whispered to her and I
said: "Rhonda, would you mind
00:24:28.76\00:24:30.76
if we just? " There
was a door over to the side
00:24:30.96\00:24:32.77
and I said: "Would you
mind if we just stepped over
00:24:32.97\00:24:35.20
and went inside of there
and I could pray with you? "
00:24:35.30\00:24:37.40
And she said: "Yes,
I would like that. "
00:24:37.80\00:24:39.75
So before everybody
even exited the church
00:24:40.15\00:24:42.83
Rhoda and I slipped across
over into that door over there
00:24:43.13\00:24:46.50
and I shut the
door. We went over there.
00:24:46.70\00:24:49.11
I put a couple
chairs out; we sat down.
00:24:49.21\00:24:50.99
And I said: "Rhonda, what would
you like me to pray about? "
00:24:51.29\00:24:53.98
And she started to cry.
00:24:55.04\00:24:57.06
And she said: "I want you
to pray that God will give me
00:24:57.46\00:25:02.02
the strength to go to
my Sunday-keeping church
00:25:02.22\00:25:06.42
tomorrow and tell
them that I will no longer
00:25:06.62\00:25:10.86
be worshiping with
them, that I am going to join
00:25:11.06\00:25:13.45
the Seventh-day
Adventist church. "
00:25:13.65\00:25:15.41
She said: "You see,
God's been working on my heart
00:25:16.86\00:25:20.66
about the seventh-day
Sabbath. " And she said:
00:25:20.86\00:25:23.04
"Someone had given me
your book Passionate Prayer. "
00:25:25.32\00:25:28.69
And she said: "The
Sabbath is so clear. "
00:25:28.89\00:25:30.87
She said: "I knew in
my heart. " And she said:
00:25:31.08\00:25:33.23
"And this morning, " she said,
"but I've been resisting it
00:25:33.43\00:25:35.90
because I love the
Lord with all my heart. "
00:25:36.00\00:25:38.09
You see, Rhonda already had
a deep relationship with Jesus.
00:25:38.29\00:25:41.32
She loves... In fact, she
was one of the hardest workers
00:25:41.52\00:25:44.27
in her church. And she
knew what a void that would be
00:25:44.37\00:25:47.94
in her own little church if she
left. And she was struggling.
00:25:48.04\00:25:50.30
And she was saying: "Lord,
do You really want me to worship
00:25:50.50\00:25:55.54
on the Sabbath?
Does it really matter? "
00:25:55.74\00:25:57.51
And she hears the
Holy Spirit telling her:
00:25:57.71\00:25:59.38
"I didn't say 'Go
worship on any Sabbath'
00:25:59.58\00:26:01.56
I said MY Sabbath. ' "
00:26:01.77\00:26:02.83
And that morning...
Rhonda got up that morning
00:26:04.49\00:26:07.92
and felt impressed that she
needed to come here to church.
00:26:08.32\00:26:11.94
But she was scared to come.
00:26:12.44\00:26:14.08
It's hard to come into a church
you've never been to before
00:26:14.18\00:26:18.20
by yourself... and especially
if it's not your denomination.
00:26:18.33\00:26:22.77
And so she called several
friends and nobody would go
00:26:22.97\00:26:25.57
with her. But God
didn't let her off the hook.
00:26:25.67\00:26:28.43
He said: "Rhonda, I
want you in church today. "
00:26:28.83\00:26:31.95
And so Rhonda - because
she listens to the Holy Spirit
00:26:32.15\00:26:34.56
because Rhonda has a
deep, committed relationship
00:26:34.66\00:26:37.63
with Jesus - she came.
00:26:37.73\00:26:40.10
But as she was sitting
on that row all by herself -
00:26:40.30\00:26:43.29
nobody was sitting near her -
00:26:43.49\00:26:45.04
she began to feel lonely.
00:26:46.17\00:26:48.07
She began to feel just literally
sitting there all alone.
00:26:48.28\00:26:53.59
And she
literally was sitting there
00:26:53.79\00:26:55.84
and tears had started
coming down her cheeks.
00:26:55.94\00:26:57.78
And she literally
prayed to the Lord
00:26:58.08\00:27:03.03
"God, if you want me to
be here, I need a friend. "
00:27:03.23\00:27:07.42
And she said: "Right then, a
second after that was my prayer
00:27:08.05\00:27:12.18
to Jesus, I see you
shoot up out of your chair
00:27:12.28\00:27:14.59
like a bullet. " She says: I'm
thinking: "What are you doing? "
00:27:14.70\00:27:17.46
And she said: "All of a
sudden she's coming right back,
00:27:17.66\00:27:20.29
she passes in front of
me, she's moving my Bible.
00:27:20.49\00:27:22.46
She puts her arm around me
and the first words out of your
00:27:22.66\00:27:25.71
mouth are: "Jesus loves
you and I am your friend. "
00:27:25.81\00:27:29.75
Can I tell you I had no idea
00:27:30.96\00:27:33.07
what was going to
come out of my mouth?
00:27:33.27\00:27:35.26
I had no idea
what she had prayed.
00:27:35.56\00:27:37.44
There's no possible way
I could have known that.
00:27:37.64\00:27:39.34
Are you starting to get
the picture that Jesus knows?
00:27:40.16\00:27:43.23
He's got a plan for our life.
00:27:43.43\00:27:44.92
We don't have to figure it out.
00:27:45.12\00:27:46.84
God has a plan. All we
have to do is be willing,
00:27:47.04\00:27:50.53
obedient, and joyful about
whatever God wants us to do.
00:27:50.73\00:27:53.65
Do you know I had the
privilege a short time later
00:27:55.13\00:27:59.81
of being up here
right on this very platform
00:28:00.85\00:28:04.88
where our baptismal tank was
00:28:06.34\00:28:08.52
and watching Rhonda
be lowered into baptism.
00:28:08.72\00:28:12.92
There is no greater
joy than serving Jesus.
00:28:14.25\00:28:18.80
Now I have a story I
want to share with you
00:28:20.28\00:28:22.13
but before I share this story
00:28:22.33\00:28:23.65
I want you to know that
Rhonda is here with us today.
00:28:24.05\00:28:27.93
And I'd like to introduce
Rhonda. Would you stand
00:28:28.13\00:28:30.39
for me, please? Would you mind?
00:28:30.59\00:28:32.07
Rhonda's here today.
Rhonda's one the biggest workers
00:28:32.37\00:28:35.72
here in our church.
Rhonda, I have shared your story
00:28:35.92\00:28:40.01
to people around the world.
00:28:40.21\00:28:41.62
And this is the very first time
I have been able to share this
00:28:41.82\00:28:44.57
story with you here.
What a privilege it is.
00:28:44.67\00:28:47.69
And thank you for all you
do to allow God to use you
00:28:48.64\00:28:52.79
in such a special way.
00:28:52.82\00:28:54.09
Well today there is part two.
00:28:54.59\00:28:56.95
Would you like to hear
part two, the rest of the story?
00:28:57.15\00:28:59.46
Because this is a story that
I have not had the privilege of
00:28:59.76\00:29:02.24
telling anyone before
00:29:02.34\00:29:04.08
because this
story just happened.
00:29:04.28\00:29:06.73
It's an amazing story. You
see, I'm telling this story
00:29:07.58\00:29:10.78
because God has a plan.
He looks at the big picture
00:29:10.88\00:29:14.69
and He's moving. And all
we have to do is trust Him
00:29:14.89\00:29:18.53
because God used me in a
way to minister to Rhonda.
00:29:18.73\00:29:24.05
God used Rhonda and me to
minister to somebody else.
00:29:24.45\00:29:28.79
And today I want
to tell you that story
00:29:29.02\00:29:31.85
because it's amazing.
You see, about 3 weeks ago
00:29:31.95\00:29:35.00
we were here taping
Bible stories for Kids' Time.
00:29:36.15\00:29:39.79
Now this is the very first time
that we have taped Bible stories
00:29:40.02\00:29:43.37
on an Egypt background
as we were telling the story
00:29:43.57\00:29:46.72
of Moses. And so that
meant Moses leading His children
00:29:46.92\00:29:50.16
out of Egypt.
00:29:50.26\00:29:53.02
And so all of our sets
were all Egyptian theme.
00:29:53.22\00:29:58.62
That meant in make-up it
was going to be a nightmare
00:29:58.85\00:30:01.50
because think about all
that Egyptian eye make-up
00:30:01.60\00:30:04.17
we had to put on everybody.
00:30:04.37\00:30:05.67
The very first day of
taping three weeks ago now
00:30:06.07\00:30:09.62
we're in the make-up
room in the wardrobe area
00:30:09.75\00:30:14.81
and we're trying to
get this make-up to go on.
00:30:15.01\00:30:17.97
And our make-up is just
running. It seems like we can't
00:30:18.17\00:30:22.05
get that eye make-up to stay.
00:30:22.15\00:30:23.77
And we worked hard...
all day long we struggled.
00:30:23.97\00:30:26.92
We'd get out on the
set and we'd start to tape
00:30:27.12\00:30:29.15
and "Stop! Cut! "
We'd have somebody's eye
00:30:29.25\00:30:31.61
that literally just...
had dripped down to here.
00:30:31.81\00:30:34.59
And so we'd be like fixing that.
00:30:35.08\00:30:38.03
All day long it
was "Stop! Cut! " Oh!
00:30:38.23\00:30:41.23
I was praying my way
through it. I'm saying:
00:30:41.54\00:30:43.53
"Lord, what is the matter?
" I said... I keep praying:
00:30:43.73\00:30:46.17
"You could fix that eye make-up!
00:30:46.37\00:30:48.01
Can't You just fix it, Lord? "
00:30:48.94\00:30:50.87
You know, I talk to Jesus
that way. He's my best friend.
00:30:51.07\00:30:53.44
He knows me. God
has a better plan.
00:30:53.54\00:30:57.49
You see I didn't know God
had a reason for that make-up
00:30:59.30\00:31:02.47
giving us such a
hard time all day.
00:31:02.67\00:31:04.27
That evening
after that first day
00:31:04.47\00:31:06.63
I took a group of
our Kids' Time volunteers
00:31:06.83\00:31:10.87
out for Chinese
food in West Frankfort.
00:31:11.07\00:31:12.67
And afterwards I was going
to head down a half an hour
00:31:12.97\00:31:15.35
down to Marion to go to a store
and get some different make-up.
00:31:15.45\00:31:19.18
I thought: "Well if
I get some waterproof
00:31:19.38\00:31:21.82
eye liner then that will work. "
00:31:22.02\00:31:23.80
But it was already
getting late. I was tired
00:31:23.93\00:31:26.97
and I thought: "You
know, I'm going to just... "
00:31:27.17\00:31:29.10
And I know the Holy
Spirit you see leads and guides
00:31:29.30\00:31:31.21
put the thought in my head
'cause I was already all set
00:31:31.51\00:31:34.68
to go down to Marion.
And I said: "You know what?
00:31:34.88\00:31:36.95
I think I'm just going to
stop first in West Frankfort
00:31:37.05\00:31:39.94
at the CVS and just see if they
have any waterproof eyeliner
00:31:40.04\00:31:44.01
that we can use on
these Egyptian eyes. "
00:31:44.21\00:31:46.46
And I said: "That would
save me a half hour trip there
00:31:46.76\00:31:49.80
and a half hour trip
back. " And so I said: "Lord,
00:31:49.90\00:31:52.06
why don't we just try
that? " So I had a group with me
00:31:52.26\00:31:56.19
in my car and we stopped at CVS.
00:31:56.40\00:31:58.68
Now my whole team is looking and
we're reading all the labels.
00:31:59.83\00:32:02.57
"Nope, it's not waterproof.
Nope, it's not waterproof. "
00:32:02.67\00:32:05.24
I mean, I'm saying:
"Lord please, we're all tired.
00:32:05.45\00:32:07.60
Can You just show us where
this is? Surely this store's got
00:32:07.80\00:32:09.91
to have somewhere a
waterproof eyeliner. "
00:32:10.01\00:32:12.62
About that time someone
special... my assistant - her
00:32:13.53\00:32:17.30
name is Melissa Hoffman
- her mom is a Bible worker
00:32:17.40\00:32:20.82
in Sanford Gap church
near Collegedale, Tennessee,
00:32:21.02\00:32:24.99
and she was helping us
out in our Bible stories
00:32:25.29\00:32:27.53
that week, this season
00:32:27.56\00:32:29.98
and so she was helping
me look for eyeliner too.
00:32:30.08\00:32:33.78
And she meets a lady -
a young lady - that was
00:32:33.98\00:32:39.27
looking at perfume. And
the girl turned and looked.
00:32:39.40\00:32:42.98
My assistant's
mother's name is Pam.
00:32:43.09\00:32:45.55
She looked at Pam and she goes,
she says: "Do you think this
00:32:45.75\00:32:47.62
smells good? " And so Pam
you know... She says: "Yeah,
00:32:47.72\00:32:51.51
that smells good. " And Pam's
talking to her a little bit.
00:32:51.61\00:32:53.86
And all of a sudden she
looked over at me and she goes:
00:32:54.06\00:32:57.37
"What do you think?
" And so I walked over.
00:32:57.48\00:32:59.09
Now I never told her I'm really
hypersensitive to perfume.
00:32:59.19\00:33:02.14
And so she said:
"What do you think? "
00:33:02.44\00:33:06.58
And I: "Oh, that smells nice. "
00:33:06.78\00:33:08.54
And I'm saying: "Lord,
please don't let me sneeze. "
00:33:08.74\00:33:10.22
And so I said:
"Oh, that smells nice. "
00:33:12.89\00:33:14.52
And we started talking.
00:33:14.72\00:33:15.87
And we all had our black
T- shirts on that has the
00:33:16.17\00:33:19.59
Kids' Time logo and on
the back of our shirt it says
00:33:19.69\00:33:21.83
Kids' Time crew and
it tells what our...
00:33:21.93\00:33:23.96
Our first name is on
it and then our job there.
00:33:24.16\00:33:26.77
Mine says producer on the back.
00:33:26.97\00:33:28.46
And we're all in our
black shirts so she looked
00:33:28.76\00:33:33.04
and she goes: "What
are you guys doing? "
00:33:33.24\00:33:34.59
You know, I guess we did
stick out like a sore thumb.
00:33:34.69\00:33:36.69
And so I started
sharing with her about the 3ABN,
00:33:37.09\00:33:42.89
our Kids' Time program.
I said: "Why don't you, "
00:33:43.09\00:33:45.29
and I know the Holy
Spirit was impressing me,
00:33:45.39\00:33:47.72
"why don't you come out tomorrow
00:33:48.78\00:33:50.43
and help us out on the program?
00:33:50.53\00:33:52.17
Why we might even dress you
up and put you right out on the
00:33:52.38\00:33:54.70
show! " And she
was like: "Really? "
00:33:54.80\00:33:57.25
And I'm like "What kind of nuts
are these kinds of people? "
00:33:57.45\00:33:59.96
you know? And I said:
"No, no. " So I was telling her
00:34:00.16\00:34:03.16
a little bit about what we did.
00:34:03.19\00:34:04.53
And she said: "Well, you
know, that would be fine. "
00:34:04.73\00:34:07.14
I said: "I can have my assistant
come by and pick you up
00:34:07.35\00:34:09.24
and take you right there. "
00:34:09.44\00:34:10.73
And Pam says: "Well I'll take
her; I'll come pick her up. "
00:34:10.93\00:34:13.32
And so the next day
went and picked her up
00:34:13.62\00:34:18.08
and she came out and to our set.
And right away we had a spot
00:34:18.22\00:34:22.73
where we needed her; she needed
to get those Egyptian eyes.
00:34:22.94\00:34:25.25
And so we dressed
her all up in wardrobe.
00:34:25.65\00:34:28.02
She's sitting there in wardrobe
00:34:28.12\00:34:29.84
and I'm working on her make-up.
00:34:30.15\00:34:33.75
Now I've got to tell you
this because this is a key part
00:34:34.15\00:34:37.48
of the program -
part of my story - because
00:34:37.58\00:34:40.74
I want to show you how God
works each step of the way.
00:34:40.84\00:34:43.14
The night before right
after I had met this young lady
00:34:43.54\00:34:48.37
I took her before
the Lord in prayer.
00:34:48.78\00:34:50.63
I prayed and I
prayed and I prayed.
00:34:50.83\00:34:53.24
I prayed that God wouldn't
allow anything to stop this
00:34:53.44\00:34:57.25
young lady from coming to
help us out on the program.
00:34:57.35\00:34:59.63
I knew with everything inside of
me she was supposed to be there.
00:34:59.83\00:35:03.08
And so I started
praying and praying and praying
00:35:03.79\00:35:06.43
that God would open the
door to make sure she came
00:35:06.63\00:35:12.36
and open her heart.
00:35:12.56\00:35:13.68
I also prayed something
I've never prayed before
00:35:14.59\00:35:18.23
this particular thing.
I said: "Lord... " I said,
00:35:18.43\00:35:20.59
"I am not here on weekends
00:35:20.79\00:35:22.55
to love and
nurture her to You. "
00:35:23.05\00:35:26.13
I said: "I really,
Lord... If there's any way
00:35:26.34\00:35:30.21
can You open the door so
that Pastor John Lomacang
00:35:30.41\00:35:32.67
can have a chance to
meet this young lady? "
00:35:32.88\00:35:34.66
I didn't know if that would
be the only chance she'd have
00:35:34.96\00:35:37.13
to meet him, and I
know that Pastor Lomacang
00:35:37.23\00:35:39.46
is filled with the Holy Spirit
00:35:39.66\00:35:41.10
and I know that he is
the pastor of this church
00:35:41.40\00:35:44.39
and he loves his members.
00:35:44.59\00:35:46.59
Do you know, as I'm putting...
The next morning I'm putting
00:35:46.89\00:35:49.93
that make-up on this young lady
00:35:50.03\00:35:52.54
her name is April
00:35:52.94\00:35:54.81
in walks Pastor John Lomacang.
00:35:55.94\00:35:59.88
Now I prayed and I had faith
but here... when I actually
00:36:00.18\00:36:03.87
see him in the flesh my
mouth about dropped open.
00:36:04.07\00:36:06.30
He has never come into
our make-up room before
00:36:06.51\00:36:10.39
uninvited or
without a reason... ever.
00:36:10.59\00:36:12.72
So can you imagine
my shock on my face
00:36:12.92\00:36:16.11
when I saw here's
Pastor Lomacang walking in.
00:36:16.21\00:36:18.84
And I'm thinking:
"Oh Lord You have a plan.
00:36:19.05\00:36:21.68
Thank you Jesus! "
00:36:21.88\00:36:23.38
And when I got done I
said: "Oh Pastor Lomacang
00:36:24.20\00:36:26.27
I want you to meet April.
" And so I'm introducing him
00:36:26.47\00:36:28.91
to April. And then April
said something that about made
00:36:29.02\00:36:33.35
my heart stop. She
looked up and she said:
00:36:33.45\00:36:36.58
"3ABN saved my life. "
00:36:36.98\00:36:39.23
She'd never mentioned
anything about that before!
00:36:40.85\00:36:43.45
I had no idea she'd even
known anything about 3ABN.
00:36:43.85\00:36:47.81
And he goes:
"Really? How's that? "
00:36:48.01\00:36:49.72
And she said: "Well, your 3ABN
ministry team - prison ministry
00:36:50.55\00:36:55.22
team - two years ago, "
she says, "I was in prison
00:36:55.32\00:36:58.73
and your church - your
3ABN prison ministry, women's
00:36:59.03\00:37:03.73
ministry team - came
to see me every week. "
00:37:03.83\00:37:06.69
And she said: "And I
was so angry with God
00:37:07.78\00:37:11.43
I wanted nothing to do with God.
I didn't want to pray to Him.
00:37:11.63\00:37:15.09
I didn't want to talk to Him. "
00:37:15.29\00:37:17.28
And she said: "And
then one of the women
00:37:19.21\00:37:21.38
in the ministry team
looked at me and said:
00:37:21.58\00:37:25.14
"Well don't stop talking to God.
00:37:25.24\00:37:27.01
Just tell God that
you're mad at Him. "
00:37:27.22\00:37:29.36
And she said: "I can do that? "
00:37:30.38\00:37:32.06
And this young lady
said: "Yeah, you can tell God
00:37:33.05\00:37:36.62
anything! If you're mad at God
tell Him you're mad at Him. "
00:37:36.72\00:37:38.94
And do you know, that
started me praying again.
00:37:40.86\00:37:45.20
That started me
talking to God again.
00:37:45.50\00:37:48.33
And God showed me that it
really wasn't Him I was mad at,
00:37:49.04\00:37:55.01
I was mad at myself and
all the mistakes I had made.
00:37:55.21\00:37:57.90
Do you know, April came
and helped us every single day
00:38:00.14\00:38:06.14
that week... she
came and helped us.
00:38:06.24\00:38:07.72
I think she might
have missed one day.
00:38:07.92\00:38:09.49
And she was in
church that Sabbath.
00:38:09.89\00:38:12.23
She's been in
church each Sabbath since.
00:38:12.43\00:38:14.03
And yesterday
April shared with me
00:38:15.19\00:38:20.43
that she wants
to join our church.
00:38:20.63\00:38:22.54
Amen. Well Amen. You can go
ahead and clap for that because
00:38:22.84\00:38:26.62
that's a big Amen.
00:38:26.72\00:38:28.62
And I want to tell you: do
you know who that woman was
00:38:30.19\00:38:34.02
on the women's ministry
team that told her to go ahead
00:38:34.22\00:38:37.02
and tell God that
she was mad at Him?
00:38:37.12\00:38:38.74
That was Rhonda.
00:38:39.14\00:38:40.95
That was Rhonda.
00:38:41.35\00:38:43.15
And I want to introduce
to you Rhonda and April
00:38:43.35\00:38:46.01
who are sitting next to
each other today. They are here.
00:38:46.05\00:38:49.12
Would you mind both standing?
April and Rhonda are here today.
00:38:49.32\00:38:53.06
And isn't it amazing
00:38:53.36\00:38:59.03
how God uses each one of us.
00:38:59.13\00:39:01.63
Now God knew... You can
sit down bless your hearts.
00:39:01.83\00:39:04.53
I love you both
April and Rhonda.
00:39:04.73\00:39:06.34
And I wanted to share
with people around the world
00:39:06.54\00:39:09.60
how God works.
00:39:09.80\00:39:11.39
You see, two... It was
more than two years ago
00:39:11.60\00:39:15.91
I don't even know how
long it was, Rhonda, when
00:39:16.11\00:39:17.53
God allowed our
story to take place.
00:39:17.73\00:39:20.84
How long was it?
Four years ago she said.
00:39:21.04\00:39:23.84
And then two years
ago God's using Rhonda
00:39:24.08\00:39:27.70
in the same plan He
has for April's life
00:39:28.00\00:39:31.27
where He's going
to bring me into that.
00:39:31.47\00:39:32.64
Can you see how God works?
00:39:33.15\00:39:35.41
Two years after the
fact and God's still working
00:39:36.42\00:39:40.50
and He is putting the
pieces to those puzzles to make
00:39:40.70\00:39:43.59
a beautiful
picture. Isn't God good?
00:39:43.69\00:39:47.41
Amen! You see, I love
how God works that way.
00:39:47.71\00:39:50.59
I love it when you
see God's plan unfolding.
00:39:50.80\00:39:55.40
But here's the thing: we don't
always know and see God's plan
00:39:55.60\00:39:58.87
unfolding. We can't
always... We can't always know.
00:39:58.97\00:40:03.41
Many times it'll be
when we get to heaven
00:40:03.61\00:40:06.23
that we're going to even
see the fruits of our labor.
00:40:06.43\00:40:09.40
We need to trust Jesus.
00:40:10.31\00:40:11.85
God is not always
going to tell us what happens
00:40:12.05\00:40:15.74
or how He used us.
00:40:15.95\00:40:17.27
But I can tell you this:
if you're willing to allow God
00:40:17.47\00:40:20.34
to use you He will
00:40:20.44\00:40:22.01
and we just need to trust Him to
do it however He wants to do it.
00:40:23.18\00:40:28.47
We want to trust God.
All we need to do is say:
00:40:29.23\00:40:32.09
"Lord, bend me, shape
me, any way You want me.
00:40:32.19\00:40:34.52
I am Yours. Use me
however You want. "
00:40:34.72\00:40:38.34
You see? And He will.
00:40:39.17\00:40:40.70
There are so many many
opportunities that God gives us
00:40:40.90\00:40:45.35
all the time and
we've just got to trust Him.
00:40:45.55\00:40:47.27
It's a lifestyle
change that I'm talking about.
00:40:47.47\00:40:50.03
It's a day-to-day
difference in your life.
00:40:50.23\00:40:53.46
It's when you have determined
in your heart to surrender
00:40:53.49\00:40:56.61
your heart and life
to Him and say: "Lord,
00:40:56.72\00:40:58.24
guide my steps today. "
00:40:58.45\00:40:59.64
Wake up in the morning and
say: "Lord, could You give me
00:40:59.84\00:41:01.78
some divine
appointments today? "
00:41:01.99\00:41:03.31
"Lord, use me
in a special way. "
00:41:03.62\00:41:05.47
"Use me however
You want to use me. "
00:41:05.67\00:41:07.90
And then get ready for
what God's going to do.
00:41:08.88\00:41:11.46
It might be a
telephone call that you make
00:41:11.66\00:41:14.01
and God gives you an
opportunity to witness for Him
00:41:14.21\00:41:17.02
to somebody on the phone that
you've never even met or seen.
00:41:17.12\00:41:19.31
It might be somebody in
line at the grocery store.
00:41:19.51\00:41:21.97
You know, I wrote about
in my book Passionate Prayer
00:41:22.76\00:41:25.69
I wrote the story of another
young woman that goes to this
00:41:25.90\00:41:28.55
church. I met her
in line at Wal-Mart
00:41:28.65\00:41:30.74
and God used that experience to
bring Angela into this church.
00:41:31.77\00:41:37.76
You see, God doesn't
expect us to do the work.
00:41:37.96\00:41:43.09
We are only the messenger...
we are only the tool
00:41:43.39\00:41:48.06
that God can use to
bring others closer to Him.
00:41:48.16\00:41:50.37
It's not our job to
save souls; that's God's job.
00:41:51.20\00:41:56.27
When God calls us out to be
fishers of men He didn't say
00:41:58.01\00:42:00.61
"Go clean the fish. "
00:42:00.81\00:42:01.84
God doesn't want us to go
out and try to fix people,
00:42:02.62\00:42:05.20
make them perfect.
There are no perfect people.
00:42:05.41\00:42:07.75
But God can take
all our imperfections,
00:42:10.33\00:42:12.62
God can take all the
ugliness in our lives,
00:42:12.82\00:42:15.16
and He can turn it into good and
use it for His honor and glory
00:42:15.36\00:42:18.60
if we are willing, obedient,
and joyful about whatever it is
00:42:18.80\00:42:21.82
God wants to...
how He wants to use us.
00:42:22.02\00:42:24.38
This year I think I've had about
three trips now to Australia.
00:42:26.20\00:42:29.49
In one year...
that's a long trip.
00:42:29.69\00:42:32.20
But I've got to tell you: I
love my Australian brothers and
00:42:32.40\00:42:34.86
sisters. I've got so
many friends there that they
00:42:34.96\00:42:36.98
I land into an airport
in Australia I feel like I'm
00:42:37.18\00:42:40.32
going home too.
And this last trip
00:42:40.42\00:42:44.25
that I made just a month ago
00:42:44.45\00:42:47.54
I was going to speak for
a women's ministries retreat
00:42:48.54\00:42:52.65
in Victoria Conference.
00:42:53.05\00:42:56.11
And for the first time ever
00:42:56.41\00:42:59.32
my mom was going with
me on a ministry trip.
00:42:59.52\00:43:02.47
It was the most incredible
exciting thing to have my...
00:43:02.87\00:43:07.16
my mom - who had never been
with me on a ministry weekend -
00:43:07.26\00:43:10.22
come with me. And it was also
her very first time at a women's
00:43:10.42\00:43:14.41
retreat. So for her very
first retreat I was her speaker.
00:43:14.51\00:43:17.82
And I was so excited to
have this special time with Mom.
00:43:18.02\00:43:20.83
Now selfishly I had
another reason I was also glad
00:43:21.03\00:43:24.19
because when you grew up
in a family with five kids
00:43:24.22\00:43:26.96
there is no
alone-time with your mama.
00:43:27.16\00:43:29.37
And so when Mom and I were
talking about it on the flight
00:43:29.67\00:43:33.27
back from Australia
that it was probably the most
00:43:33.37\00:43:36.12
alone time I had with
her - just Mom and I -
00:43:36.32\00:43:39.51
my whole life.
00:43:39.71\00:43:41.72
We never had that much
time just alone with Mom and I.
00:43:41.92\00:43:45.13
And so that was a
special gift from God.
00:43:45.33\00:43:47.25
But I was so excited
that Mom was coming with me
00:43:47.46\00:43:49.73
on this trip. I wanted to make
sure... Mom isn't the seasoned
00:43:49.83\00:43:53.01
flyer that I am so
I wanted to make sure
00:43:53.11\00:43:55.39
that she wasn't flying alone.
00:43:55.49\00:43:58.41
So I live in
Knoxville. My Mom, you know,
00:43:58.61\00:44:01.68
is in Michigan. So I
had her tickets arranged
00:44:01.88\00:44:04.60
so that I would fly
from Knoxville to Detroit
00:44:04.70\00:44:07.04
and Mom would meet me in
Detroit. She would get...
00:44:07.24\00:44:10.21
That would be the
start of her flight.
00:44:10.31\00:44:11.53
We'd be on the same
flight from Detroit to L.A.;
00:44:11.73\00:44:13.94
L.A. to Sydney;
Sydney to Melbourne.
00:44:14.14\00:44:15.81
And so at no time
Mom had to fly alone.
00:44:16.01\00:44:19.91
Well, I'm on the flight
from Knoxville to Detroit
00:44:20.89\00:44:26.61
and our flight is delayed.
00:44:26.81\00:44:28.65
And it's delayed. Now
I had... making sure...
00:44:29.05\00:44:32.41
I like to be certain.
I don't like to be late;
00:44:32.61\00:44:35.11
I want to be sure
that nothing could happen.
00:44:35.31\00:44:37.66
I didn't want my Mom to
be worried about anything
00:44:37.86\00:44:40.10
so I had planned even a
three-hour layover in Detroit
00:44:40.30\00:44:43.25
so there would be
no rushing around.
00:44:43.45\00:44:45.26
I wanted it to be
very simple for my Mom.
00:44:45.37\00:44:47.49
And now it's getting...
we're over an hour delayed.
00:44:47.69\00:44:51.20
Now it's a two-hour delay.
00:44:51.41\00:44:52.90
Now it's an even longer delay
and I'm praying and I'm praying
00:44:53.10\00:44:55.76
and I'm praying and I'm
saying: "Oh Lord, I know You're
00:44:55.86\00:44:58.83
in charge here but you
know Mom's going to be worrying
00:44:58.93\00:45:01.10
and she can't get on
that flight without me.
00:45:01.20\00:45:05.29
And Lord, You know
where I need to be. "
00:45:05.49\00:45:07.28
Telling God
stuff He already knows.
00:45:07.48\00:45:09.69
And so we finally get
in. Our flight is about
00:45:13.20\00:45:16.55
already almost 1/2 hour late
00:45:16.75\00:45:19.59
and now we get up to our
jet bridge and guess what?
00:45:20.00\00:45:24.91
They can't get the jet bridge
to work that's going to come
00:45:25.21\00:45:28.67
to our plane to
let us off the plane.
00:45:28.77\00:45:30.74
Now all these people on the
plane... I'm sitting up front
00:45:31.74\00:45:34.96
and there's a pilot in front
of me that's taking a flight
00:45:35.26\00:45:41.21
to go get a flight somewhere.
He was just a passenger
00:45:41.31\00:45:44.51
on this plane. He was sitting
in the seat in front of me
00:45:44.61\00:45:46.64
and we talked a little bit
before the plane had taken off.
00:45:46.74\00:45:50.78
Now he's the first one up
and I'm the next one after him
00:45:50.98\00:45:54.69
'cause I was the second seat.
00:45:54.79\00:45:56.18
And the flight attendant
is right in front of him
00:45:56.38\00:45:59.05
and it's a narrow little bitty
puddle-jumper plane kind of
00:45:59.25\00:46:02.31
thing. And now all
these people behind are all
00:46:02.41\00:46:05.31
agitated and irritated
because that jet bridge
00:46:05.51\00:46:07.80
is not there. Everybody's late.
00:46:07.90\00:46:09.93
And so tempers are getting
a little hot, and this one
00:46:10.13\00:46:12.97
particular gentleman...
he, I think, had been drinking.
00:46:13.00\00:46:15.81
And he was saying
things he shouldn't be saying.
00:46:16.01\00:46:18.02
He was screaming at
that flight attendant.
00:46:18.22\00:46:19.67
Now it's not her fault.
00:46:19.77\00:46:20.85
And she looked like
she was going to cry.
00:46:21.06\00:46:23.22
And so I said to the pilot:
"Excuse me just a minute. "
00:46:24.12\00:46:27.51
And he backed up and let me by.
00:46:27.71\00:46:29.57
And I just went over and
gave her a great big hug.
00:46:29.77\00:46:31.47
And I said: "I want you to
know you're doing the best job
00:46:31.87\00:46:34.40
you can. This is
not your fault. "
00:46:34.50\00:46:36.07
I said: "Please
don't take this personal. "
00:46:36.18\00:46:37.87
I said: "You're
doing a really good job.
00:46:38.07\00:46:41.29
Don't be upset. " I
said: "Jesus loves you;
00:46:41.98\00:46:44.84
He's got a special
plan for you today. "
00:46:45.04\00:46:46.62
And she said:
"Thank you for that. "
00:46:47.02\00:46:49.69
And she kind of wiped her
eyes 'cause she was trying hard
00:46:49.89\00:46:51.66
not to cry. And I
stepped back to let the pilot...
00:46:51.76\00:46:54.58
I didn't want him to
think I was cutting in line.
00:46:54.78\00:46:56.14
And so the pilot turned
and looked at me and goes:
00:46:56.34\00:46:58.70
"That was really nice. "
00:46:58.90\00:47:00.63
And I said: "Well
it's not her fault. "
00:47:01.46\00:47:03.07
And the guy behind is still
ya ya ya ya ya ya you know.
00:47:03.27\00:47:05.75
And so the pilot sits
down by me and he says:
00:47:09.21\00:47:11.74
"You know I'm late too. "
He said: "I'm going to have to
00:47:11.84\00:47:15.01
get off this plane" he said...
00:47:15.11\00:47:16.90
he said "cause I'm
flying the next flight. "
00:47:17.01\00:47:22.18
And I said:
"Well I'm flying too. "
00:47:22.39\00:47:23.81
And I said: "You know my Mom"
and I shared with him a little
00:47:23.92\00:47:26.00
bit what I was doing. And I
said "It's the first time ever
00:47:26.10\00:47:28.04
my Mom... You know, was going
on a ministry trip with me"
00:47:28.24\00:47:30.73
I said "She's waiting at
the gate already. She'd already
00:47:30.93\00:47:34.45
texted me like "Where are you? "
00:47:34.55\00:47:36.03
And I'm texting her back saying
"I'm stuck on the plane. "
00:47:36.24\00:47:40.09
And I said: "I sure hope
they don't leave without me"
00:47:40.29\00:47:42.96
I said "because I really
need to make that flight.
00:47:43.16\00:47:45.77
There is no other flight. "
00:47:45.87\00:47:47.14
And I said:
"We're going to L.A. "
00:47:47.34\00:47:53.33
And he said: "You're
going to L.A. on Delta? "
00:47:53.36\00:47:55.96
I said: "Yeah. " And he goes:
"I'm the pilot of that plane! "
00:47:56.19\00:47:58.53
And I said: "You are? "
He had already told them
00:48:01.51\00:48:05.28
to bring the steps to let
him down, they couldn't wait
00:48:05.38\00:48:07.14
for that jet bridge. He
said: "Don't you worry. "
00:48:07.24\00:48:09.06
He's coming down the
steps. He turned around
00:48:09.26\00:48:11.32
and looked at me and
said: "Don't you worry.
00:48:11.42\00:48:12.78
I'm not leaving without ya. "
00:48:12.88\00:48:14.20
And so I waved to
him. I said: "Thank you. "
00:48:15.98\00:48:18.24
And I was like: "Oh
God You're so good to me. "
00:48:18.44\00:48:21.35
And so I texted Mom. I
said: "I'm stuck on the plane
00:48:21.55\00:48:24.68
but I'll get
there. Don't worry. "
00:48:24.78\00:48:26.08
So as soon as that jet
bridge was fixed I mean I was
00:48:26.28\00:48:29.27
huffing and puffing and
running and running and running.
00:48:29.38\00:48:31.07
And I got to the
gate and there was Mom.
00:48:31.27\00:48:35.20
And I gave her a great big
hug and she goes: "I was worried
00:48:35.30\00:48:37.49
honey. " She said:
"They're calling for us.
00:48:37.59\00:48:42.43
We're supposed to be boarding. "
00:48:42.63\00:48:43.72
And about that time I see
the pilot looking out from the
00:48:44.12\00:48:48.59
cockpit... No, not the cockpit.
The door you go in to board
00:48:51.38\00:48:55.07
the plane. And he's
looking out and he sees me
00:48:55.17\00:48:57.75
and he goes: "OK,
now we can leave. "
00:48:57.95\00:48:59.50
And he said: "Get that woman
and her mom on this plane. "
00:48:59.60\00:49:02.64
And he came over for a few
minutes and I introduced him
00:49:02.84\00:49:05.17
to my Mom and he said to my Mom
something about how she'd done
00:49:05.37\00:49:09.93
such a good job raising
me or something like that.
00:49:10.03\00:49:12.13
And so I thanked
him for waiting for us
00:49:12.33\00:49:15.11
and we got on the plane.
And we were there getting
00:49:15.31\00:49:17.66
all settled in and all of
a sudden a flight attendant
00:49:17.76\00:49:20.64
came up to me and said:
"The captain told all of us
00:49:20.84\00:49:24.62
crew that you were
very special friends of his
00:49:24.73\00:49:26.52
and that we're supposed
to treat you really good
00:49:26.62\00:49:28.39
and if you need
anything to let him know. "
00:49:28.59\00:49:30.56
Next thing you know
another crew member came by
00:49:32.46\00:49:36.02
and told us the same thing.
00:49:36.12\00:49:37.69
And I think every one of them
came to introduce themselves.
00:49:37.89\00:49:41.30
"We want you to know if
there's anything you need... "
00:49:41.50\00:49:43.30
I mean all throughout that
flight they were bringing us
00:49:43.50\00:49:46.13
meals from first
class. I mean, they were...
00:49:46.23\00:49:49.17
They were treating us so good.
00:49:49.47\00:49:50.64
And I had one of my books
called Battered to Blessed
00:49:50.74\00:49:53.70
in my carry-on that I
was going to give as a gift
00:49:53.90\00:49:57.02
to our women's
ministries director.
00:49:57.12\00:49:59.59
And I pulled that
out and God impressed me
00:49:59.79\00:50:01.26
to give that
book to the captain.
00:50:01.36\00:50:02.87
And he had told me his name
was Tom, and so I signed the
00:50:03.07\00:50:05.79
book to him and I
called the flight attendant.
00:50:05.89\00:50:07.96
I said: "Would you make sure
the captain gets this book? "
00:50:08.06\00:50:10.94
And she said: "Well
yes, I'd be happy to. "
00:50:12.26\00:50:14.15
And so I put a
little note in there to him.
00:50:14.55\00:50:18.08
I put my business card in.
00:50:18.28\00:50:20.30
And then we prayed
and we were thinking...
00:50:20.50\00:50:23.29
Mom and I even had special
prayer before I gave the book
00:50:23.49\00:50:25.49
to him that God would place an
extra pouring of His Holy Spirit
00:50:25.60\00:50:29.84
upon this divine appointment
that He made with Tom.
00:50:29.94\00:50:32.52
And we didn't get a chance
to talk to him again after that.
00:50:32.82\00:50:35.92
But right before I'm
getting ready to speak
00:50:36.32\00:50:39.85
at the women's
retreat the very first night
00:50:40.05\00:50:42.01
my Mom sees a message. I
have her holding my phone.
00:50:43.22\00:50:46.16
I have it on vibrate so
it doesn't mess up anywhere.
00:50:46.36\00:50:48.76
And she sees this
message come across my phone
00:50:48.96\00:50:51.87
and she can see and she goes:
"Honey, Brenda, come look. "
00:50:52.07\00:50:54.64
And here was an e-mail from Tom
00:50:54.94\00:50:57.09
and he told me -
poured out his heart.
00:50:57.39\00:50:59.29
Told me how he had been
up all night reading my book,
00:50:59.49\00:51:01.92
that he wanted to know
more about what I believed in,
00:51:02.32\00:51:05.71
and would I come and speak
to his... he has a men's group
00:51:06.11\00:51:10.40
that he meets with.
Would I come and speak to them?
00:51:10.60\00:51:12.45
Isn't God good? Amen!
00:51:12.65\00:51:15.52
You see how God
leads each step of the way?
00:51:15.75\00:51:18.67
Every step of the way. Now
I could not have possibly...
00:51:19.40\00:51:21.70
I could have been sitting there
fuming because our plane was
00:51:21.80\00:51:23.92
late. I could have been
sitting there - you know -
00:51:24.02\00:51:26.40
being all upset
like everybody else.
00:51:26.60\00:51:28.15
But you see, if our plane
is late and we're in God's plan
00:51:28.25\00:51:31.16
does it matter?
00:51:31.26\00:51:32.81
That's the really cool thing
about being a child of God.
00:51:33.01\00:51:36.48
When you are a Christian
and you're following Jesus
00:51:36.68\00:51:39.19
you never have any problems.
They're God's problems.
00:51:39.49\00:51:42.34
You know, when we take our
burdens to the Lord and leave
00:51:43.33\00:51:45.65
them there we really
can trust them to Jesus.
00:51:45.75\00:51:48.60
We don't have to pick
them back up and keep worrying
00:51:48.80\00:51:50.77
about it... we
can trust it to Jesus.
00:51:50.87\00:51:53.35
I tell you, there are so
many wonderful opportunities
00:51:53.85\00:51:58.43
to witness for Jesus
00:51:58.63\00:52:00.22
and God's got a special
plan for each one of us.
00:52:01.22\00:52:03.87
I was witnessing on a
plane going from Atlanta
00:52:04.92\00:52:08.72
to Shreveport. I
always get nervous when I fly
00:52:08.92\00:52:11.42
into Shreveport because
I've flown there three times
00:52:11.52\00:52:13.63
and all three times
they've lost my luggage.
00:52:13.73\00:52:15.28
In fact, one of the
times I had to actually speak
00:52:15.58\00:52:17.91
in my blue
jeans. That's not good.
00:52:18.01\00:52:20.09
So now I don't
fly that way any more.
00:52:20.39\00:52:23.33
I've always got something in
my suitcase that I can speak in.
00:52:23.43\00:52:27.00
But I get nervous
going to Shreveport.
00:52:27.20\00:52:29.39
But I was flying
from Atlanta to Shreveport
00:52:29.59\00:52:34.15
and our plane was
again delayed, delayed.
00:52:34.35\00:52:37.34
I get to sit next to a woman
00:52:37.54\00:52:39.33
in the gate area and we
started... God opened the door
00:52:39.73\00:52:44.64
for a way for me to
start witnessing to her.
00:52:44.84\00:52:46.42
She was a young woman
that was in the service.
00:52:46.82\00:52:48.93
Her name was Noelle.
00:52:49.14\00:52:50.28
And just as we were
really getting into God's Word
00:52:50.68\00:52:54.54
they tell us that
they're ready to board now.
00:52:54.74\00:52:56.83
We'd had some kind
of mechanical problems.
00:52:57.03\00:52:58.59
And so we get on the
plane and wouldn't you know...
00:52:58.89\00:53:02.71
our seats are
right next to each other.
00:53:02.85\00:53:05.83
And I was like:
"Thank you Jesus!
00:53:07.09\00:53:09.17
Oh God, You're so good to me! "
00:53:09.27\00:53:10.99
And so I sat there
and we had the whole way
00:53:11.19\00:53:14.02
to finish our Bible study.
00:53:14.22\00:53:15.96
And when we were
done I said: "Noelle,
00:53:16.64\00:53:18.97
I'm speaking here tomorrow. "
00:53:19.27\00:53:22.94
I said: "I would
love for you to come. "
00:53:23.14\00:53:25.28
And she said: "Really? "
00:53:25.58\00:53:27.21
She said: "Well you
know I might just come. "
00:53:27.41\00:53:28.99
And I said: "Well I
hope and pray that you do. "
00:53:29.30\00:53:32.25
I said: "In fact, I'm going
to ask God not to give you any
00:53:32.55\00:53:36.04
peace or rest until you
make a decision to come. "
00:53:36.14\00:53:39.35
She goes: "I kind of
think you'd do that. "
00:53:40.73\00:53:42.55
I said: "Oh you know I will! "
00:53:43.94\00:53:45.57
And so I had prayer
with her on the plane.
00:53:45.77\00:53:48.48
And all my way even to that
hotel I was praying and praying
00:53:49.53\00:53:53.39
and praying that God
would not let anything interfere
00:53:53.49\00:53:57.47
with Noelle being at
that church the next day.
00:53:57.67\00:54:00.14
And I prayed. I called people.
00:54:01.14\00:54:03.56
I called Prayer Warriors...
anybody that I knew would pray
00:54:03.66\00:54:06.85
for me. I called them up and
said: "Please pray for Noelle.
00:54:06.95\00:54:09.81
Please pray for Noelle.
Please pray for Noelle. "
00:54:10.01\00:54:11.69
You see, when God
allows us to be His servants
00:54:11.89\00:54:17.09
we have to trust Him and
we are not the Holy Spirit.
00:54:18.35\00:54:22.20
We need to pray and ask
God to water those seeds that
00:54:22.40\00:54:25.27
He's allowed us
to plant for Him.
00:54:25.37\00:54:27.10
And so as I'm getting...
Now it's the church service
00:54:27.30\00:54:30.52
I'm looking all around
to see if Noelle's there.
00:54:30.62\00:54:32.38
No, and I described
her to the greeters.
00:54:32.58\00:54:34.28
This is what she
looks like you know, and...
00:54:34.48\00:54:36.77
I searched
through the congregation.
00:54:37.91\00:54:39.99
No, no. Now it's
time to go back behind.
00:54:40.19\00:54:42.25
I'm having prayer with
the elders before we come out
00:54:42.46\00:54:45.14
on the
platform. Now we come out.
00:54:45.24\00:54:47.33
I am just... They
have just introduced me
00:54:47.53\00:54:50.37
and I'm getting to
the podium to speak
00:54:50.47\00:54:53.13
and in walks Noelle.
00:54:53.44\00:54:56.39
I was able to
introduce her to everyone
00:54:57.53\00:55:01.09
right from the podium and
told everyone about our divine
00:55:01.29\00:55:03.78
appointment. And I
said: "You know, folks... "
00:55:03.88\00:55:06.88
I said: "Let's
love her to Jesus. "
00:55:07.08\00:55:09.01
And I wish I had time to
tell you all of Noelle's story.
00:55:09.97\00:55:13.75
Sometimes the clock is my
enemy 'cause I have so many more
00:55:13.95\00:55:16.41
stories I could be telling ya.
00:55:16.51\00:55:17.94
But God used that experience
in such an incredible way.
00:55:18.15\00:55:22.54
And I received... Not long
after that Noelle was relocated
00:55:22.77\00:55:28.76
stationed some place different.
00:55:28.86\00:55:30.15
She wanted me to know
she'd given her heart to Jesus,
00:55:30.45\00:55:33.08
that she was coming to church.
00:55:33.38\00:55:35.15
She'd asked for
our Bible studies,
00:55:35.36\00:55:37.16
and I got her all signed up with
Amazing Facts Bible studies.
00:55:37.36\00:55:40.76
In fact, I keep those
cards... When I'm traveling
00:55:40.96\00:55:43.07
you know I pack... My
carry-on bag on the plane
00:55:43.27\00:55:46.77
is packed for witnessing.
00:55:46.87\00:55:48.20
And so I've got
those Bible study cards.
00:55:48.40\00:55:50.59
I've got my Bible.
00:55:50.69\00:55:51.76
I've got my Bible
ministry study guide.
00:55:51.97\00:55:56.50
And when someone is
interested in Bible studies
00:55:57.48\00:56:00.94
I will hand them
that card and I will say:
00:56:01.14\00:56:03.34
"Would you mind putting
your name and address on here? "
00:56:03.54\00:56:05.39
I said: "And I'd
like for you to learn more
00:56:05.59\00:56:09.67
about what we've been
studying. " They said: "Well
00:56:09.87\00:56:11.29
yeah, I'd like that. "
00:56:11.39\00:56:12.42
And I say: "Would you
just put your name and address
00:56:12.60\00:56:14.20
on that card for me? " And they
go: "Well I can mail it later. "
00:56:14.31\00:56:17.39
Don't give the enemy one minute
to get them to change their
00:56:17.80\00:56:20.83
mind. No! I said: "Oh no.
" I said: "You fill it out.
00:56:20.93\00:56:23.84
Would you allow me the privilege
of putting a stamp on that
00:56:23.87\00:56:26.31
and mailing it for you? "
00:56:26.51\00:56:27.54
You see, I'm not going
to give the enemy one second
00:56:27.84\00:56:31.04
to have them change their mind
00:56:31.24\00:56:32.86
and throw that out at
the door on their way out.
00:56:33.06\00:56:34.92
You see, God is working in
our hearts and our lives today.
00:56:36.13\00:56:40.51
We need to have such
a close walk with Jesus,
00:56:40.75\00:56:43.68
we need to be so
"prayed up" as my Grandma says,
00:56:43.89\00:56:46.28
that we can hear the
Holy Spirit talking to us.
00:56:46.59\00:56:50.07
That we can know
when we hear God's voice
00:56:50.85\00:56:54.65
and He's saying "Go sit
over here" we sit there.
00:56:54.75\00:56:57.02
We have to be not afraid
because we can trust Jesus.
00:56:57.25\00:56:59.81
He's going to give
us the words to say.
00:57:00.01\00:57:01.41
There is nothing to be
ashamed of or to be afraid of
00:57:01.71\00:57:05.09
when you're working for Jesus.
00:57:05.22\00:57:06.48
You really truly need to
just have a heart that's open
00:57:07.34\00:57:11.15
and a relationship with
the Lord that is so close.
00:57:11.45\00:57:14.95
You need to be able
to fall on your knees
00:57:15.83\00:57:18.10
and pray to God and say: "Lord,
00:57:18.30\00:57:20.59
use me in a special way. "
00:57:20.79\00:57:22.60
"Lord, come into my
heart and life. Bend me;
00:57:22.80\00:57:26.47
shape me any way You want me. "
00:57:26.67\00:57:29.45