Hello and welcome to Engage, my name is David Asscherick. 00:00:19.74\00:00:23.36 We are thrilled that you are with us today. 00:00:23.40\00:00:25.55 We are going to be taking a look at how God can bring 00:00:25.58\00:00:29.45 beauty out of ashes and how He can bring restoration 00:00:29.49\00:00:33.27 to a life that has been sunk in shame and guilt. 00:00:33.31\00:00:37.02 The Bible says the book of Joel 2 "that God will restore 00:00:37.06\00:00:41.49 "the years that the locusts have eaten and taken away." 00:00:41.52\00:00:45.91 It's one of my very favorite Bible promises. 00:00:45.95\00:00:48.68 This idea that God can restore something that has been 00:00:48.71\00:00:51.56 taken away, something that has been robbed from us. 00:00:51.59\00:00:56.22 With us today is my co-host Shandra Ban and so we are 00:00:56.26\00:00:59.47 going to turn it over to her and she will introduce to 00:00:59.50\00:01:02.67 us today our guest. So please Shandra. 00:01:02.71\00:01:06.04 Thank you David, we have with us today the lovely 00:01:06.07\00:01:09.17 Jackie Espose, it is so great to have you here. 00:01:09.20\00:01:12.23 She comes from Clovis California, so not too far from 00:01:12.26\00:01:14.67 where we live in Sonora and it's been a blessing to get 00:01:14.71\00:01:17.08 to know you Jackie. 00:01:17.11\00:01:18.29 You, as David mentioned, we are going to be talking about 00:01:18.32\00:01:21.56 a life that was dark and sunken in shame and guilt but it 00:01:21.59\00:01:24.79 didn't start out that way. 00:01:24.82\00:01:26.24 Why don't you tell us how your story begins? 00:01:26.27\00:01:28.54 Well I was raised in a loving Filipino family, oldest of 00:01:28.58\00:01:32.10 three children and I had a very happy childhood, good Christian 00:01:32.14\00:01:37.29 parents, a house full of music and food and laughter. 00:01:37.33\00:01:41.40 It was the ideal childhood. 00:01:41.44\00:01:43.88 I was going to say, that sounds like the perfect home. 00:01:43.92\00:01:46.48 Food, music, laughter and that is basically it. 00:01:46.51\00:01:50.04 With God - a Christian home - we had worship every night 00:01:50.07\00:01:54.73 and every morning and that was just how life was. 00:01:54.77\00:01:57.25 And so okay that's the program, that's not how it goes is 00:01:57.29\00:02:01.58 it? - no. - there's a dark chapter there. - Um Hmmm 00:02:01.62\00:02:05.81 okay please, please continue. 00:02:05.84\00:02:07.48 Well what I was about six years old I was molested and 00:02:07.51\00:02:12.18 I did know how to deal with those feelings. 00:02:12.22\00:02:14.56 I didn't tell anybody, I didn't tell anybody at all. 00:02:14.59\00:02:17.17 Not parents, totally internalized. 00:02:17.20\00:02:19.77 As a six year old what you even say, you don't even 00:02:19.81\00:02:23.12 know what has happened. 00:02:23.16\00:02:24.68 You don't how to deal with things, you feel embarrassed 00:02:24.71\00:02:28.89 especially in my culture a lot of things are swept under 00:02:28.92\00:02:32.94 the rug and I didn't want to bring any shame to anybody 00:02:32.98\00:02:36.97 if I said something. 00:02:37.00\00:02:38.50 But even at six you are young enough to understand this 00:02:38.54\00:02:41.69 is wrong, this is not right something's wrong. 00:02:41.73\00:02:45.98 Yeah, yeah. So yeah I just dealing with all these 00:02:46.02\00:02:50.20 emotions but I still kept a smile on my face and pretended 00:02:50.24\00:02:53.70 like nothing ever happened and kept going. 00:02:53.74\00:02:57.12 And that is going to become a pattern for you, isn't it? 00:02:57.15\00:03:00.36 - right! Is going to happen over and over again in this 00:03:00.39\00:03:04.08 story is that there is darkness inside, but oh we will put 00:03:04.11\00:03:07.77 on this smile, everything is fine but it is not fine. 00:03:07.80\00:03:11.83 So you are six and - I was homeschooled 00:03:11.86\00:03:15.60 and we traveled around a lot in California and then I went 00:03:15.63\00:03:19.88 to regular school. - I mean - what is regular school? 00:03:19.91\00:03:23.19 I mean I went to a school where there was other students 00:03:23.22\00:03:26.47 beside my sister and brother so I was homeschooled. 00:03:26.50\00:03:29.93 Okay a regular school, keep going. 00:03:29.97\00:03:32.80 And then after I graduated from high school another 00:03:32.84\00:03:37.08 incident happened where I was molested by a Doctor. - again 00:03:37.12\00:03:41.71 - when I was 17 years old. 00:03:41.74\00:03:43.48 - a Doctor? - yeah so that was hard for me because you 00:03:43.51\00:03:47.53 place your trust in someone and this was someone we 00:03:47.57\00:03:51.55 already knew and then it happened again. 00:03:51.59\00:03:54.43 So this time did you keep it to yourself? 00:03:54.46\00:03:57.24 No this time I told my parents, I told my parents and we 00:03:57.27\00:04:01.28 went to the authorities and it was a real trying time. 00:04:01.32\00:04:05.29 It was a real difficult, difficult time. 00:04:05.33\00:04:07.61 When you told them about the second time did you also tell 00:04:07.65\00:04:11.07 them about the first time as well? 00:04:11.10\00:04:12.50 Yes I did. - were they surprised? - yes they were 00:04:12.54\00:04:15.23 surprised and they cried with me and they prayed with me 00:04:15.26\00:04:19.33 and they said we are here to support you, we love you and no 00:04:19.37\00:04:23.40 matter what happens we are here and God loves you. 00:04:23.43\00:04:27.23 Now something I did not ask you before, but I want to 00:04:27.26\00:04:31.02 quickly ask this question. 00:04:31.05\00:04:33.07 Did your parents ever speak to you about if anyone ever 00:04:33.11\00:04:36.19 touches you inappropriately, had they ever sort of 00:04:36.23\00:04:38.14 prepared you? Yes, yes they did. - really. 00:04:38.17\00:04:40.30 - they did. - before the first incident? 00:04:40.34\00:04:42.40 - in between. - in between the okay because I have 00:04:42.44\00:04:46.97 a little boy seven a little boy nine and even now we live 00:04:47.00\00:04:50.25 in such a terrible world that I have talk to my children 00:04:50.28\00:04:53.45 about things. If anyone ever touches you, and I want to 00:04:53.49\00:04:56.62 speak to the parents out there. 00:04:56.66\00:04:57.71 You need to be preparing your children even now and orient 00:04:57.75\00:05:02.32 them to appropriate and inappropriate touches. 00:05:02.35\00:05:05.35 In appropriate and inappropriate relationships, but that 00:05:05.39\00:05:08.15 is the world we live in what a terrible thing that I have 00:05:08.19\00:05:10.92 to talk to my seven and nine-year-old about this. 00:05:10.95\00:05:12.79 They are looking at me and saying okay no problem but 00:05:12.82\00:05:16.04 they don't understand, so - another thing that is just 00:05:16.08\00:05:19.27 heavy here, a Doctor? He was a Doctor and I just 00:05:19.30\00:05:24.66 remember going in and it happened and feeling so dirty, 00:05:24.69\00:05:30.06 even though I knew it wasn't my fault I was having these 00:05:30.10\00:05:35.44 thoughts, did I do anything to bring this on myself. 00:05:35.47\00:05:39.78 This happen a long time ago and now it just happened 00:05:39.81\00:05:44.08 again, what did I do? 00:05:44.12\00:05:46.44 This is a consistent pattern with people who have 00:05:46.47\00:05:49.62 experienced molestation, they try to take the guilt, 00:05:49.66\00:05:53.75 what did I do, I must deserve this, I'm dirty and you 00:05:53.78\00:05:57.73 feel soiled by something you didn't create so that's 00:05:57.77\00:06:01.69 criminal, it's terrible. 00:06:01.72\00:06:04.87 - so Jackie you mention to us earlier that 00:06:04.91\00:06:07.16 you saw counselors' and then you went away to 00:06:07.19\00:06:09.93 a university so that you could start over. 00:06:09.97\00:06:12.63 I think I talked to two counselors, I just had two 00:06:12.67\00:06:15.28 sessions and that was it and I tried to deal with it on 00:06:15.31\00:06:18.48 my own and try to keep very busy in school, music, 00:06:18.52\00:06:21.74 sports, scholastics, everything, you name it, church. 00:06:21.78\00:06:24.92 I was very involved in church and leading out as a youth 00:06:24.95\00:06:28.05 leader but inside there was still this emptiness, 00:06:28.09\00:06:31.36 this longing for something better and I knew 00:06:31.40\00:06:33.74 I was empty inside. 00:06:33.78\00:06:35.39 So what did you try and use as an identity to find your 00:06:35.42\00:06:40.33 identity? I had a very low self-esteem and I would try 00:06:40.36\00:06:45.28 to find affirmation and love in inappropriate relationships. 00:06:45.31\00:06:50.20 - as a result of the molestation? 00:06:50.23\00:06:52.30 As a result of the molestation yes. 00:06:52.33\00:06:54.33 And why is that, I mean as someone who has never 00:06:54.37\00:06:57.18 experienced it, what was it about the molestation that 00:06:57.22\00:07:00.62 made to feel like I might as well be in an inappropriate 00:07:00.65\00:07:04.02 relationship? 00:07:04.06\00:07:05.29 Well I felt like I had nothing to live for anymore, 00:07:05.33\00:07:06.81 I felt like something was taken away from me and I might 00:07:06.84\00:07:10.51 as well just go all out and be crazy or whatever, even 00:07:10.55\00:07:14.17 though people did not see that but inside I was so 00:07:14.21\00:07:17.80 conflicted and just confused and torn. 00:07:17.84\00:07:20.55 - but on the outside I'm happy piano playing Jackie. 00:07:20.59\00:07:25.13 Right, right. - like I said this is going to be 00:07:25.16\00:07:27.95 a consistent pattern here it happened when you were six 00:07:27.98\00:07:30.30 and it happened when you were a teenager and now 00:07:30.34\00:07:31.90 you are in your college years. 00:07:31.93\00:07:33.20 You said something there that I thought was very interesting 00:07:33.23\00:07:36.59 and that was that how I was busy at church, I kept myself 00:07:36.63\00:07:39.77 busy. I want to ask you the question, okay so church 00:07:39.80\00:07:42.94 but what about God? Were you in a relationship with 00:07:42.98\00:07:46.08 God at this time and how did you relate to God 00:07:46.12\00:07:48.12 or was it just church thing? 00:07:48.16\00:07:50.79 Well I thought I was in relationship with God, 00:07:50.82\00:07:53.53 but I realize now it was a form of godliness with 00:07:53.56\00:07:56.24 no power and keeping yourself busy. 00:07:56.27\00:07:59.98 I remember this acronym that someone shared with me, busy 00:08:00.01\00:08:04.65 being under Satan's yoke. - wow. - whoa that's heavy. 00:08:04.69\00:08:10.00 Yeah it is but that relationship with God it wasn't real. 00:08:10.04\00:08:14.34 It wasn't genuine. - it was more of an active busyness 00:08:14.38\00:08:18.62 around church things where it could have been active business 00:08:18.65\00:08:21.74 around anything but it just happen to be church. 00:08:21.78\00:08:23.35 Like you say it's a form of godliness but you have the 00:08:23.38\00:08:27.09 hi, oh things are great going on. - right. 00:08:27.13\00:08:30.37 Inside you are conflicted, that's the word you use. 00:08:30.41\00:08:33.30 Um hmmm, I was because all these emotions I was 00:08:33.33\00:08:36.37 experiencing just the depths of despair that I was 00:08:36.41\00:08:39.42 battling with, it was overwhelming. 00:08:39.45\00:08:43.39 So this lead you to get into a long term unhealthy 00:08:43.42\00:08:46.07 relationship tell us a little bit more about that. 00:08:46.11\00:08:49.08 I was in an unhealthy relationship for a number of 00:08:49.11\00:08:52.01 years, it reached a point where I couldn't take it anymore. 00:08:52.04\00:08:56.97 As a result of that and the molestation, from everything 00:08:57.01\00:09:01.90 happening in my past, it just builds up and I found 00:09:01.94\00:09:06.74 myself driving to the Golden gate Bridge in 00:09:06.78\00:09:09.66 San Francisco wanting to end my life. 00:09:09.70\00:09:12.55 I was driving there and I hear the devil whispering in my 00:09:12.59\00:09:18.07 head, saying you are dirty, you are worthless, you are 00:09:18.10\00:09:22.80 nothing, if people really knew what you have done and what 00:09:22.84\00:09:25.87 you have been through. - what would they think of you. 00:09:25.90\00:09:28.58 What would they think of you, do you think that they could 00:09:28.62\00:09:31.01 still love you, do you think your family could love you? 00:09:31.04\00:09:33.40 Do you think people at church can love you? 00:09:33.44\00:09:36.33 Because the family was aware of the molestation issues but 00:09:36.37\00:09:39.21 they don't know about the results of that shoved you 00:09:39.24\00:09:43.01 into these inappropriate relationships. - right, right. 00:09:43.05\00:09:46.78 So just a thought on that Shandra, briefly. 00:09:46.82\00:09:50.15 A thought on that that is very interesting is like if 00:09:50.18\00:09:52.44 something has been taken from you, if you already feel 00:09:52.47\00:09:54.57 that you have lost your cleanness, or your purity or 00:09:54.60\00:09:56.63 your innocency, it is like when a mother says to the child 00:09:56.67\00:10:00.45 don't get any mud on your church clothes. 00:10:00.48\00:10:03.71 Then they get a little bit on their whatever cuff of 00:10:03.74\00:10:06.87 their pants or a little on their knee and is like well 00:10:06.91\00:10:10.00 I'm dirty anyway. 00:10:10.04\00:10:11.12 So you ended up in that situation and now you are really 00:10:11.15\00:10:14.51 feeling that this is not just something that happened to 00:10:14.55\00:10:17.87 me, it is something I have done. 00:10:17.91\00:10:19.03 You are driving. - and something who I am is what you 00:10:19.07\00:10:22.33 are saying. - yeah, yeah. - so you get to the Golden 00:10:22.36\00:10:24.96 gate Bridge. I'm going ask another question if you don't 00:10:24.99\00:10:27.41 mind, were you going there in your mind with the intention 00:10:27.45\00:10:29.94 of jumping off - yes - or were you just driving there. 00:10:29.98\00:10:32.40 No! I had gotten off work and that was my intention, just to 00:10:32.43\00:10:36.96 end it all. - how old were you? - I was 22. 00:10:37.00\00:10:41.31 Oh Mercy, go ahead please Shandra. 00:10:41.35\00:10:44.47 Just tell us yeah. I was driving there and I remember 00:10:44.51\00:10:48.58 looking out on the water with tears streaming down 00:10:48.61\00:10:52.37 my face and I was like okay this is going to happen. 00:10:52.40\00:10:56.12 Then my cell phone rings and it is my sister. 00:10:56.16\00:10:59.74 - praise God for cell phones, I never thought 00:10:59.78\00:11:03.32 I would say that. 00:11:03.36\00:11:04.75 And that was at a time when you can talk on your phone in 00:11:04.78\00:11:06.95 the car without getting a ticket. 00:11:06.99\00:11:08.98 Yeah exactly, I'm already outside of my car. - you're 00:11:09.02\00:11:13.68 outside, your on the bridge? 00:11:13.71\00:11:14.99 Well going to the bridge, walking. - right you park 00:11:15.03\00:11:19.00 and then you have to walk. 00:11:19.04\00:11:20.03 So Beeerrrring. - my sister and she says to me older 00:11:20.06\00:11:25.78 sister where are you? - Oh wow she asked that question? 00:11:25.81\00:11:31.50 Yes she did. - this is so from Jesus. 00:11:31.53\00:11:34.19 She said where are you and I told her. 00:11:34.22\00:11:36.80 You told her you were at the Golden gate Bridge with the 00:11:36.84\00:11:39.57 intention of committing suicide? 00:11:39.61\00:11:41.60 Yes I did, I did I said you know it's not worth it. 00:11:41.63\00:11:46.02 I'm so sorry for everything I have done but I can't take 00:11:46.05\00:11:49.65 it anymore, I can't take this pain I can't take that I'm 00:11:49.68\00:11:53.37 hurting you guys and people that I love, I'm not worth it. 00:11:53.41\00:11:57.06 I'm not worth it anymore. - you were using that exact 00:11:57.09\00:12:01.23 kind of language? Yes. - what did she say? 00:12:01.27\00:12:03.96 I can't imagine calling my sister and saying hey where are 00:12:03.99\00:12:07.38 you at, oh by the way I'm here and I want to end my life. 00:12:07.42\00:12:11.73 What did she say? She said no matter what we love you, 00:12:11.77\00:12:16.06 we accept you and no matter what you have done we are here 00:12:16.09\00:12:20.35 for you. I mean that is what I needed to hear. 00:12:20.38\00:12:24.74 She did not have to say much, just to know that my sister 00:12:24.78\00:12:27.50 loved me. I knew that, I did know that. 00:12:27.53\00:12:29.91 Did you take it as a sign? - I did - you did - I did. 00:12:29.95\00:12:34.38 It was timely. I have a question for you, why did you 00:12:34.42\00:12:37.95 answer the phone? Like were you looking for a way out? 00:12:37.99\00:12:41.44 You know that it's a good question, I mean it was right 00:12:41.48\00:12:44.90 there. - a force of habit aye, pick the phone up. 00:12:44.93\00:12:49.30 Can you imagine if he would have just left it in your car, 00:12:49.33\00:12:51.49 or turned it off. - I wouldn't be here. 00:12:51.53\00:12:56.15 So at the time when the phone rings you pick it up and it 00:12:56.18\00:13:00.54 is your sister and she says where are you? 00:13:00.58\00:13:02.77 Do you take this at the moment, this is a sign that God is 00:13:02.81\00:13:05.66 reaching out to me, are you preceding that? 00:13:05.70\00:13:07.31 At that very moment I didn't think of it like that, but 00:13:07.35\00:13:11.62 afterwards I did, the Lord is trying to save me here. 00:13:11.65\00:13:16.68 I really need to think and pray, again everything was 00:13:16.72\00:13:21.36 a blur, because I was going there with the intention 00:13:21.39\00:13:26.00 of ending my life. 00:13:26.03\00:13:27.50 Well what I was going to say is that I have seen you play 00:13:27.53\00:13:32.47 the piano, and I said to somebody earlier she plays the 00:13:32.51\00:13:37.85 piano like I play it in my mind, like you have a gift 00:13:37.89\00:13:43.11 a very, very, very special gift and you have gone to 00:13:43.15\00:13:48.34 school, you have a degree in music? 00:13:48.37\00:13:49.97 - yes, I finished Music Performance 00:13:50.01\00:13:51.53 Somebody might be looking externally saying she has so 00:13:51.57\00:13:55.11 much to live for, she has so much to live for because you 00:13:55.14\00:13:59.59 have this talent but at the time you must've been in a 00:13:59.63\00:14:04.54 heap of despair and shame and guilt and lack of self-worth 00:14:04.58\00:14:08.88 to be balancing the talent that other people so obviously 00:14:08.92\00:14:13.19 see that you have. - right. - how does that work? 00:14:13.22\00:14:16.89 Well you're right outside I was making beautiful music but on 00:14:16.92\00:14:22.12 the inside was just completely chaotic. - really? - yes. 00:14:22.16\00:14:27.02 But I guess that was my way of dealing with stuff. 00:14:27.05\00:14:31.01 Just go to the piano and play a song, sing, put a smile 00:14:31.05\00:14:34.73 on your face and play for people and just keep on rolling. 00:14:34.76\00:14:38.41 Bless that even though you are dying on the inside. 00:14:38.44\00:14:40.66 - right. Just to keep my chronology straight here, 00:14:40.69\00:14:43.55 forgive me I'm kind of a linear thinker, but you are 00:14:43.58\00:14:46.01 out of this long-term relationship here at the bridge. 00:14:46.05\00:14:48.44 - oh no, I was in it, I was in it. 00:14:48.48\00:14:51.01 It wasn't a healthy situation which only making it worse 00:14:51.05\00:14:55.43 right but shortly after is when I met a wonderful couple 00:14:55.47\00:14:59.63 - so we are off the bridge now? - were off the bridge. 00:14:59.67\00:15:04.64 I go home and there is many things that happen after that 00:15:04.68\00:15:08.89 but God was restoring me, and He was delivering me out of 00:15:08.92\00:15:13.09 the situation. - there is our word restore. 00:15:13.13\00:15:16.32 So you met a couple. - I met a couple Tosh and Waddy Potlick 00:15:16.36\00:15:20.20 they invited me to do ministry - in what capacity - 00:15:20.23\00:15:25.29 as a music evangelists. As a music evangelists 00:15:25.33\00:15:28.26 I actually went on a Share Him trip with them and they 00:15:28.29\00:15:31.22 actually asked me to preach as well which was totally out 00:15:31.26\00:15:34.16 of my comfort zone but I did it in El Salvador. 00:15:34.19\00:15:37.42 It was an amazing experience. - do you speak Spanish? 00:15:37.45\00:15:40.51 A little but not really no. You preached in English? 00:15:40.54\00:15:45.09 Yeah I did, so I have been doing that for the past 2 and 00:15:45.12\00:15:49.66 1/2 years now and I think being in ministry blessed to 00:15:49.69\00:15:53.93 bless others and it has really helped me in my healing, 00:15:53.96\00:15:58.84 in my healing process and it was such a testimony to me 00:15:58.87\00:16:03.71 to see people who were young but so in Christ. 00:16:03.74\00:16:08.11 They knew who they were in Christ. 00:16:08.15\00:16:10.47 Tosh and Waddy are how old? Tosh is 27 and Waddy is 28. 00:16:10.51\00:16:14.81 Now, so when you would have met them 2 and 1/2 years ago, 00:16:14.84\00:16:19.98 25-26. - Ah hah! Praise God for own fire young people, 00:16:20.02\00:16:25.12 It was a young person that won me to Jesus. 00:16:25.15\00:16:28.09 So that's great, so we get you off the bridge and a series of 00:16:28.13\00:16:33.53 events of course but the way it is heading is that God 00:16:33.57\00:16:37.44 get you into ministry. - yes. 00:16:37.47\00:16:38.74 Now Jackie you have 2 degrees, you mentioned a music 00:16:38.78\00:16:42.18 degree but you are also trained as a nurse, correct? 00:16:42.22\00:16:45.59 - yes - have you ever used your nursing? 00:16:45.62\00:16:47.45 No I haven't used my nursing at all. 00:16:47.49\00:16:49.24 - why is that? Well I went straight into music 00:16:49.28\00:16:52.93 evangelism, it seems like whenever I try to make plans 00:16:52.97\00:16:56.95 on my own God has another way of saying wait, nope, 00:16:56.99\00:17:00.94 that's not the way you need to go. 00:17:00.97\00:17:02.73 - it's His own plan. Right it's His own plan but it 00:17:02.77\00:17:05.76 has just been an amazing and blessed experience for me. 00:17:05.80\00:17:09.05 I never thought my life would be here, you know traveling 00:17:09.08\00:17:12.30 around to nine or 10 different countries - preaching. 00:17:12.34\00:17:15.98 Preaching and music and just being part of something that 00:17:16.01\00:17:19.61 is changing heaven's population one soul at a time. 00:17:19.65\00:17:22.22 Oh, there we go you sound like a preacher. 00:17:22.25\00:17:24.38 So you said something earlier I really liked and that 00:17:25.93\00:17:28.37 was the process of healing. 00:17:28.41\00:17:30.05 Does it begin when you met Tosh and Waddy or is that the end of 00:17:30.09\00:17:36.97 it? Is that the beginning of the healing or the end 00:17:37.00\00:17:38.17 of the healing or is there a middle somewhere. 00:17:38.20\00:17:39.58 It was in the middle somewhere, I remember being curled 00:17:39.62\00:17:42.32 up in my bed in despair and I was reading the book 00:17:42.36\00:17:46.46 'Steps To Christ', a powerful book and I love that book. 00:17:46.50\00:17:51.77 I was thinking, I get it, I finally understand 00:17:51.81\00:17:56.67 God's love for me, you know 00:17:56.71\00:17:59.18 and I am just remembering the verse in Romans 8:38, 39 00:17:59.21\00:18:03.58 there is nothing, there is nothing that can separate us 00:18:03.62\00:18:07.58 from the love of God, and that just resonated with me. 00:18:07.61\00:18:11.54 To know that God loves you that much. 00:18:11.58\00:18:14.14 His verses are new every morning I was so thankful and 00:18:14.18\00:18:17.58 grateful for God giving me that book and the promises 00:18:17.62\00:18:20.98 from His word. 00:18:21.02\00:18:22.61 I've got to read that passage if you don't mind. 00:18:22.64\00:18:24.26 In many ways is a consummation of the whole first half of 00:18:24.30\00:18:28.76 Romans and it is so poetic and so theologically profound 00:18:28.79\00:18:33.21 but we have to read it. 00:18:33.25\00:18:34.68 Romans 8:38 "for I am persuaded that neither death nor life 00:18:34.72\00:18:38.82 "nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things 00:18:38.85\00:18:41.88 "present or things to come, no height nor death nor any 00:18:41.91\00:18:45.03 "other created thing shall be able to separate us from 00:18:45.06\00:18:48.15 "the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." 00:18:48.18\00:18:51.16 Where would we be without that verse? - Amen! 00:18:51.19\00:18:54.10 Your said it was the love of God, you are there curled up on 00:18:54.13\00:18:57.69 your bed and you get it, hallelujah. 00:18:57.72\00:19:00.59 The love of God, the love of my parents and I believe 00:19:00.62\00:19:03.65 that prayer is power and I just want to encourage 00:19:03.69\00:19:06.93 whoever's watching today that prayer is power. 00:19:06.96\00:19:10.13 For you parents out there don't give up praying for your 00:19:10.17\00:19:13.59 children, do not give up. 00:19:13.63\00:19:15.38 Also for the young people out there, today is the day of 00:19:15.42\00:19:19.58 salvation choose Jesus Christ, seriously because that is 00:19:19.62\00:19:23.75 the best thing you could ever do for your life. 00:19:23.79\00:19:25.48 Now this is not just busy churchy stuff, oh I'm going to 00:19:25.52\00:19:31.08 be busy here, I'll be busy there, no, no, no. 00:19:31.12\00:19:33.16 This is the guts of religion, this is a personal saving 00:19:33.19\00:19:37.64 relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:19:37.67\00:19:40.46 The love of God has just got a hold of you, but it 00:19:40.50\00:19:43.35 doesn't have to happen, it doesn't always have to be 00:19:43.39\00:19:46.20 I was converted on June 13, 19 whatever. 00:19:46.24\00:19:49.50 For you it was a process, - it was process - meeting 00:19:49.54\00:19:52.95 a godly couple, now there's a question. 00:19:52.98\00:19:56.13 When you meet them they have a good relationship - yes. 00:19:56.16\00:19:59.32 Were you becoming a little cynical in you're thinking? 00:19:59.35\00:20:02.87 I was, you know healthy relationships don't really exist 00:20:02.90\00:20:06.38 aside from my parents. 00:20:06.42\00:20:07.94 When you first met them did you think oh yeah! 00:20:07.98\00:20:09.76 Yeah sure! - they've got something right! 00:20:09.79\00:20:12.27 Oh yeah, I was a little suspicious and cynical but 00:20:12.31\00:20:16.46 I quickly saw that the couple who is rooted in Christ 00:20:16.50\00:20:20.62 is a beautiful thing. 00:20:20.65\00:20:22.60 I was preaching in an evangelistic meeting in Florida 00:20:22.63\00:20:24.01 years ago and a lady cornered my wife in this tent we were 00:20:24.05\00:20:27.44 preaching in and sort of cornered her and said, hey what 00:20:27.47\00:20:30.83 is he really like? She said what? 00:20:30.87\00:20:33.17 What's he really like? 00:20:33.21\00:20:34.39 I enjoy his preaching but what? 00:20:34.43\00:20:35.85 She said I don't really think I understand what you are 00:20:35.88\00:20:38.11 saying? Well is he a Christian in the home? 00:20:38.15\00:20:42.22 That's so resonated with me the fact, because people they see 00:20:42.25\00:20:47.10 the persona, they see the external but when you have 00:20:47.13\00:20:50.19 had negative relationships or negative experiences in your 00:20:50.23\00:20:53.30 relationships with your own life you project that onto 00:20:53.34\00:20:56.37 others and think well that can't be. 00:20:56.41\00:20:58.54 But you meet this godly couple, a healthy relationship, 00:20:58.58\00:21:01.39 they love one another and most of all they love Jesus. 00:21:01.42\00:21:04.87 That's the process. - Jackie one time when we were 00:21:04.91\00:21:08.29 talking you mentioned earlier when were just talking now 00:21:08.32\00:21:11.35 that you are looking for identity and relationships and 00:21:11.39\00:21:14.39 that resulted in unhealthy relationships, but when 00:21:14.42\00:21:16.97 you said you were focused on your identity has changed so 00:21:17.01\00:21:19.43 where do you find your identity now? 00:21:19.46\00:21:20.98 My identity is in Christ, it is. 00:21:21.01\00:21:23.91 And the healthiest relationship of all. 00:21:23.94\00:21:25.57 And that is the best relationship we could ever have. 00:21:25.60\00:21:29.63 - Amen hallelujah sweet Jesus. Just to wrap that up. 00:21:29.66\00:21:33.85 The transition here is from someone who is externally 00:21:33.89\00:21:38.05 everything looks great, I mean yeah? - yeah. 00:21:38.08\00:21:40.03 You look beautiful of course but what I mean is that you 00:21:40.07\00:21:43.84 are putting on that hay everything is fine but inside 00:21:43.88\00:21:47.58 you are dying? - right. Now you are to the place where every 00:21:47.62\00:21:51.45 thing looks fine on the outside because it is fine on the inside 00:21:51.49\00:21:55.29 That's what we want right? - absolutely. 00:21:55.33\00:21:57.93 Jesus of course was speaking to the Pharisees and when 00:21:57.97\00:22:00.79 he was speaking to the Pharisees, to the viewers out 00:22:00.83\00:22:03.62 there and the in-house audience as well, 00:22:03.65\00:22:05.75 in-house audience and you too. 00:22:05.79\00:22:07.06 Remember when He said you clean the outside of the cup, but 00:22:07.09\00:22:12.04 inside you are full of dead men's bones, Psalms 51 God 00:22:12.07\00:22:16.98 desires truth in the inward parts, inside of us. 00:22:17.02\00:22:20.79 You had the opportunity to come earlier and to play and 00:22:20.82\00:22:26.40 sing, remember there's that music account. 00:22:26.44\00:22:28.85 This song is Jesus Won't You Hold Me in your arms 00:22:28.88\00:22:32.12 - Jesus Won't You Hold Me. 00:22:32.15\00:22:33.24 This song is so beautiful because it is not just what 00:22:33.28\00:22:35.90 you are doing on the piano but it is a reflection of 00:22:35.94\00:22:38.53 what is coming from inside. - right. 00:22:38.56\00:22:40.74 So we are going to go to that song right now, 00:22:40.77\00:22:42.18 a beautiful, beautiful song. 00:22:42.22\00:22:44.10 Well I read my Bible one morning 00:22:59.95\00:23:03.86 for my dose of daily bread 00:23:03.90\00:23:06.92 like a reflection in the mirror I saw 00:23:06.96\00:23:11.13 myself in what I read 00:23:11.17\00:23:14.38 it went straight to my heart 00:23:14.41\00:23:18.38 and cut deep in my bones 00:23:18.42\00:23:22.31 You know the very fabric of my soul 00:23:22.35\00:23:27.94 I thought of all the mistakes I've made 00:23:27.98\00:23:33.54 and felt hopeless and exposed 00:23:33.58\00:23:38.51 I don't exactly like what I see 00:23:40.33\00:23:46.03 for I recognized the chief of sinners, it's me 00:23:46.07\00:23:53.50 as I turn away to hide my shame 00:23:53.54\00:23:56.92 I noticed You were waiting 00:23:56.95\00:24:01.59 I just want You to hold me in Your arms 00:24:01.63\00:24:08.06 Jesus I just want You to hold me in Your arms 00:24:08.09\00:24:15.06 then I read how Jesus died for me 00:24:27.26\00:24:30.79 while I was yet in chains 00:24:30.82\00:24:34.13 If I simply claim His blood 00:24:34.17\00:24:37.35 then He would take my blame 00:24:37.39\00:24:41.00 and when His Father looked at me 00:24:41.04\00:24:44.27 He wouldn't see my past 00:24:44.30\00:24:47.76 He would see His Son and He'd rejoice 00:24:47.79\00:24:51.01 I'd found the way at last 00:24:51.05\00:24:55.26 although you may not like what you see 00:24:55.29\00:25:02.13 the Lord can make a thing of beauty out of you and me 00:25:02.17\00:25:09.80 if we confess and leave our sins 00:25:09.84\00:25:13.46 His mercy would flow freely 00:25:13.50\00:25:17.01 if we'd approach the throne of grace 00:25:17.05\00:25:20.20 He said we could come boldly 00:25:20.23\00:25:27.72 He is waiting to hold you in His arms 00:25:27.75\00:25:35.06 He is longing to hold you in His arms 00:25:35.10\00:25:43.77 won't you let Jesus hold you in His arms 00:25:43.81\00:25:52.45 Amen what an arresting song and viewer that question 00:26:06.39\00:26:10.94 is right for you, won't you let Jesus hold 00:26:10.98\00:26:14.59 you in His arms? 00:26:14.62\00:26:16.75 You know David when you opened this program by reading 00:26:16.79\00:26:18.93 there in Joel about the years that God will restore that the 00:26:18.97\00:26:22.11 locus has eaten, but further down in that very passage it 00:26:22.15\00:26:25.30 says that praise the name of the Lord your God who has 00:26:25.33\00:26:28.50 dealt wondrously with you and my people, Jackie listen, 00:26:28.54\00:26:32.22 shall never be put to shame. You will know that I am in 00:26:32.26\00:26:35.91 the midst of Israel. I am the Lord your God and my 00:26:35.95\00:26:38.92 people, again, say, shall never be put to shame. 00:26:38.95\00:26:42.51 He said that twice, it's absolutely beautiful. 00:26:42.54\00:26:46.03 You know that really resonates with me because again 00:26:46.06\00:26:50.47 I was feeling so ashamed and dirty and sinful but praise 00:26:50.50\00:26:55.21 God He restores and He delivers and the healing process 00:26:55.24\00:26:59.72 again was through me being involved in helping others. 00:26:59.76\00:27:03.23 Being involved in ministry. - taking the focus off you 00:27:03.27\00:27:06.25 and putting on to others. - right, right, less focus 00:27:06.28\00:27:09.35 on myself and just trying to share that love of Christ 00:27:09.39\00:27:12.43 with those around me. 00:27:12.46\00:27:13.89 You know I have gone to college for 2 degrees, but then I went 00:27:13.92\00:27:19.80 to Bible college also to further enhance my experience with 00:27:19.83\00:27:23.07 ministry and the best blessing is I went to a Bible 00:27:23.10\00:27:26.45 college called AFCO and I learned so much just being that 00:27:26.49\00:27:31.89 realm of helping others, it really changed my life. 00:27:31.92\00:27:35.57 We have been talking to someone today who is a beautiful 00:27:35.60\00:27:38.59 person but she went through such a dark time and maybe you 00:27:38.63\00:27:41.59 have gone through a dark time. 00:27:41.62\00:27:42.92 She dealt with molestation and maybe you have dealt with 00:27:42.96\00:27:45.67 molestation and I want to tell you today that it is not 00:27:45.71\00:27:48.95 your fault, you are not to blame, you do not need to feel 00:27:48.98\00:27:52.19 dirty or shameful you just need to come to Christ. 00:27:52.23\00:27:54.99 Please be in contact with us, e-mail us at: 00:27:55.02\00:27:57.48 let Jesus hold you in His arms. 00:27:59.77\00:28:01.64