Participants: Ruthie Jacobsen (Host), Kelly Veilleux
Series Code: IAA
Program Code: IAA000389
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00:02 Glad to see you. Would you like to hear about a man
00:05 who wanted something desperately for 20 years. 00:09 We'll be right back. 00:34 Hello, Welcome to Issues and Answers. 00:37 We all have issues and we are looking for answers. 00:42 I'd like to share something before we get to the man 00:48 who wanted something for 20 years. Listen to this, 00:52 this comes from scripture. How I thank you God that 00:56 you will heal my waywardness, 00:58 you love me freely. Today, I'd like for us to focus 01:03 on how much we loved, how much God values us. 01:09 There are lot of people today that don't understand 01:12 how valuable they are, and how much God loves them, 01:15 and that he has a plan and purpose for their lives, 01:19 and your best days are just ahead because of God's great 01:23 love. I promise I would share this story with you. 01:28 I love it and I think you will like it too. 01:31 It's written by Max Lucado and I am going to just 01:35 share this quickly. For the past 20 years, 01:38 I have wanted a dog, a big dog, but there has always 01:43 been a problem. The apartment was too small, 01:46 the budget was too tight, the girls were too young, 01:49 but most of all Denalyn his wife was unenthusiastic. 01:54 Her logic? She'd already married one slobbering, 01:58 shedding beast, why should she put up for the second. 02:02 So, we compromised and got a small dog. 02:05 I like Salty, but small dogs aren't really dogs. 02:10 They don't bark, they yelp, they don't eat, 02:13 hey nibble, they don't lick you, they sniff you. 02:18 I like Salty, but I wanted a real dog. 02:21 A man's-best-friend type of dog, a fat-pawed, 02:25 big eating, slurp you on the face type of dog 02:28 that you could saddle or wrestle or both. 02:33 I was alone in my passion until Sara was born. 02:37 She loves dogs and the two of us were able to sway 02:42 the household boat. Denalyn gave in and Sara 02:46 and I began the search. We discovered a woman in 02:49 South Carolina, they live in Texas. 02:52 We discovered a woman in South Carolina 02:54 who breeds golden retrievers in a Christian 02:58 environment. From birth the dogs are surrounded 03:02 by inspirational music and prayers. Can you imagine 03:06 this, this is a true story. No I don't know if they 03:09 tithe with their dog biscuits, but when the 03:12 trainer told me that she had read my books, 03:15 I got on board. The woman with such good taste had to 03:19 be a good breeder, right? So we ordered a pup, 03:23 we mailed the check, selected the name Molly, 03:28 and we cleared a corner for her dog pillow. 03:31 The dog hadn't even been born, and she was named, 03:36 claimed, and given a place in the family. 03:40 Can't be said, can't the same thing be said about 03:43 you? Long before your first whimper, 03:47 your master creator claimed you, named you, 03:51 and hung a reserved sign on your room. 03:55 You and Molly have more in common than maybe 03:58 your eating habits, just teasing he says. 04:02 You're both being groomed for a trip, 04:05 I like this, you're both being groomed for a trip. 04:09 We prefer the terms maturation and 04:12 sanctification to weaning and training, 04:14 but it's all about the same. You're being prepared 04:18 for your master's house, you don't know the departure 04:21 date or the flight number, but you can bet your puppy 04:25 chow that you'll be seeing your owner someday. 04:28 Isn't this the concluding promise of David? 04:32 David says in Psalms 23:6, And I will dwell in the 04:37 house of the Lord forever. Where will you live forever? 04:43 In the house of the Lord with the one who loves you 04:47 and values you so much. I love that story 04:51 because I think it's such a wonderful illustration 04:54 and example of God's great love before you were born 04:59 God loves you, and he want you to know that 05:01 he loves you. My guest today is a dear close friend 05:06 Kelly Veilleux from Northern New England. 05:10 Yes. Waterville Maine. How far are you from Canada? 05:15 Oh, probably two hours. Two hours 05:19 and how far are you driving time from Boston? 05:22 Three hours. Three hours, and how far are you 05:25 from the beach? Little over an hour if you hurry. 05:29 An hour if you hurry. So but you are up in the 05:33 beautiful country. Yes. How far are you from 05:36 New Hampshire? Probably hour and a half, 05:39 two hours may be. Okay, and how far from Vermont? 05:44 Well depending on which part, but probably four to 05:47 five. What's the most valuable thing, 05:51 we are talking about value today, 05:53 what's the most valuable thing in the State of Maine? 05:57 Well if you are asking me or you are asking the 06:00 lobster fishermen. I suppose Maine is one of the things 06:04 Maine is known for is this lobsters certainly, 06:07 and also blueberries. That's right. Yeah. 06:10 Don't cranberries come from somewhere up there? 06:12 Cranberries too yeah, but blueberries is a predominant 06:15 crop. Blueberries and lobsters, and Moose. 06:20 And Moose, you know whenever I have been up there, 06:23 I see the signs Moose crossing, and I've never 06:26 seen one, I have seen them in Alaska, but I've never 06:29 seen a Moose in Maine. So, I tell people this is false 06:33 advertising. They are there. And they tell you, 06:36 you want false advertising. That's right. 06:38 Because you don't want them out on the road. 06:43 Kelly how did you learn that you had great value to God. 06:49 Do you believe the story first of all, 06:51 do you believe that before you were born 06:53 God loved you. Yes, I do believe that. 06:56 As you read in that story, it took my mind to recently 07:01 I went through that human body exhibit. 07:03 Have you ever had an opportunity to go through 07:04 that, just going around and some of the science 07:07 centers around the country. No, I haven't seen it. 07:09 Oh, if you haven't yet seen it you wanna try to see 07:11 that. The human body exhibit is amazing, 07:14 they have literally taken apart the human body in a 07:20 way that it's just amazing to be able to see that 07:23 we truly are fearfully and wonderfully made. 07:25 And the first time that I walked though that exhibit 07:27 I was just in awe of the creator and the detail 07:33 that he put it into us as his children, and a very 07:36 thought that we were created in his image. 07:39 When you really let your mind up around there, 07:40 you begin to see the value that there is on us. 07:44 And you know Kelly, Louie Giglio in his DVD's shows 07:49 that very graphically he has the, he talks about the DNA. 07:54 DNA, yes. And he says when you are converted and you 07:59 become a Christian, God actually changes your DNA. 08:02 Now that's good news. Amen. Yes. 08:04 That's wonderful news, because you don't have to be 08:08 what you were. Amen, that's right. 08:10 You can be who xyou are now in Christ, 08:14 and you know the exciting thing is that people 08:17 who are born into a family of privilege. 08:21 For instance Bill Gates children, these are children 08:25 who are born into a special family and they have 08:29 privileges that many children don't have in other 08:33 families, but for a Christian when you are born into 08:39 God's family, you have a Father who is greater than 08:44 anyone, anywhere the Sovereign God of the 08:47 Universe, and you belong to a new family. 08:49 Yes, amen. And do you know that he loves us, 08:53 we got the father now, who loves us at least as much as 08:56 he loves his own son because he was willing for him 08:59 to die for us, is that a beautiful thought. 09:01 That is mind boggling, isn't it? At least as much, 09:03 you know I, that is mind boggling. 09:06 It is. When I first heard that I had to really 09:08 let my mind wrap around that, does he really love me 09:10 that much. You know Ruthie early on in my after 09:14 my conversion experience even though 09:16 I have been a Christian my entire life, 09:18 I've only been a converted Christian for about the 09:21 last 12 to 14 years, but early on in my journey after 09:25 becoming converted as a Christian, 09:27 I didn't experience, I didn't understand 09:30 that depth of love and often in my quiet time with the 09:33 Lord, I would say Lord what do you want to say to me, 09:36 what is that you want to say to me, and over, 09:39 and over again it was how much he loves me, 09:41 and he would say that I love you. 09:43 Kelly I just love you, can we just be together, 09:45 I just love you over and over again. 09:48 That was amazing. And he wants us to realize 09:51 how valuable we are to him. Yes. 09:54 He just wants to be with us. May be you have heard 09:58 this sweet story about the 90-year-old retired Pastor. 10:04 He was invited back to his church and ask to speak 10:09 at the 11o' clock hour. And he had difficulty walking, 10:14 he kind of shuffled his feet, and he had difficulty 10:18 speaking, but his mind was very sharp and clear. 10:23 He still just exuded the love of the Lord, 10:27 and people loved to be around him because he was 10:31 just that kind of a loving and lovable person. 10:35 So they were eager to hear his sermon and when it came 10:39 time for his sermon, he rose from the chair behind the 10:45 pulpit with some difficulty and it was like he was 10:49 saying alright bones altogether and so he stood 10:54 up and then he kind of shuffled up to the pulpit, 10:58 grab the pulpit on both sides, and he said this is 11:04 the most important thing I have learned in all of my life. 11:08 Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. 11:13 Amen. And he looked out at the congregation he smiled, 11:20 he said that's still true. He turned around, 11:23 went back to his seat and sat down. 11:26 That was the sermon. That was the sermon. 11:28 Wow. And you know people came to him afterward 11:31 and they said that's not just a song that's worn out, 11:36 it's not just something that children need, 11:40 you look around and you say why are you a Christian 11:44 and people will say I am a Christian 11:46 because Jesus loves me. Amen. 11:48 God loves me. He has a plan for me and he shows me his 11:53 favor. What does that word mean to you Kelly favor is 11:59 something that is supernatural, 12:01 and God has quite a bit to say about his favor in his 12:05 word? What can we as Christians expect, 12:10 what this favor mean to you, God's supernatural favor. 12:14 I think for me it is meant to be enable to see the 12:19 bigger picture of life and the whole great controversy 12:24 that's being played out, you know, I mean the battle 12:27 for my soul and your soul that goes on all the time 12:30 and being able to really recognize that and our lives 12:33 experiences around me. So I guess may be 12:37 it's a spiritual discernment is a favor that God has 12:41 given to at least to me and to many of us I think 12:44 to be able to see the bigger picture, and recognize 12:48 his moving in that picture. 12:51 I believe that, but you know sometimes we take things 12:54 for granted, and I believe we shouldn't, 12:59 I think when something happens to us, 13:01 it's not a happened stance, that's because God is with 13:04 you and he is showing you his favor. 13:06 I think I mentioned this story, but I just want to 13:09 share it because to me it was God's favor. 13:14 My husband and I were getting ready for a trip 13:18 and we were going to Virginia, we live in 13:19 North Georgia and we were driving the next day. 13:25 So my husband Don was getting the car ready to go. 13:30 He pulled the car out of the garage and hooked up the 13:34 vacuum cleaner and he was cleaning the car 13:37 and vacuuming in, and this you know getting the car 13:40 ready. In the process, he took his car keys from the 13:45 car and laid them on the trunk of my car or the other 13:50 car there in the garage, and he put with that a roll 13:54 of tape for wide tape for packaging packages 14:00 and some receipts, and he put them all there on the 14:04 trunk of the car and got busy you know and was 14:09 vacuuming the car. Well a little bit later I needed to 14:13 run an errand. So I jumped in the car not knowing that 14:18 he had put those things on the trunk of the car 14:21 and it's kind of a wide space for the things 14:24 you know with some horizontal space. 14:27 So, I just jumped in the car because how often do you 14:31 check the exterior of the car before you get it into 14:34 drive off. Right. You don't, its just not a habit, 14:38 but as I after I came back, my husband said can you 14:46 help me find my keys and we looked everywhere 14:49 and he said oh I remember where I put them, 14:53 and he said they were with the large roll of tape 14:56 and some receipts, and I put them on your car, 15:00 úon the trunk of your car. So, we walked up our fairly 15:04 steep driveway, walked out on the road looked in the 15:09 grass beside the road, we found the receipts, 15:13 we never did find the roll of tape of course 15:16 because we live on a hill, and you know where that 15:19 tape is its down at the bottom of the hill 15:21 somewhere, but we didn't worry about that, 15:23 he was glad to find the receipts, but he knew then 15:26 where the keys were, they were somewhere there. 15:29 We looked and looked, and we just could not find those 15:33 keys. So we came back in the house and he said 15:38 lets look everywhere in the house again because maybe 15:41 they weren't with everything else that I left on the 15:44 car. So we went through everything again inside 15:47 and out, couldn't find the keys, and I said Lord 15:51 I really need to find those keys for Don. 15:54 He needs them desperately. By then he was on to another 15:57 task that he had to do to get ready for the camp 16:00 meeting trip. And I said Lord would you let me find 16:05 those keys for him, and so I picked up the keys to my 16:10 car and I said I am gonna go down the road. 16:15 Well, we live a mile up the hill from the road down 16:20 below exactly one mile. I said honey 16:25 I'll be right back, he said where you going, 16:27 I said I'm gonna look for keys. So I drove down the 16:31 hill very, very slowly looking for keys by the side 16:35 of the road, couldn't see a thing. So I retraced 16:39 my steps, I went everywhere that I had been on that 16:44 previous errand couldn't find them anywhere. 16:48 I even went to the supermarket 16:50 and because I had gone there, ran inside and ask 16:54 at the desk, I said did anybody turn in a set of 16:58 keys from the parking lot out here. 17:01 She said when would have that been. 17:03 I said within the last hour or two. No, nothing. 17:06 So I came back home, but just as I turned into the 17:11 road that led up the mile up to our driveway, 17:16 a car of a neighbor came right up behind me. 17:20 So I pulled off into someone's driveway, 17:23 so that he could pass because I wanted to take 17:25 my time going up that mile because I haven't found 17:29 them coming down. And the neighbor passed me 17:34 and then there was one kind of a hairpin curve on the 17:38 way up to our house. Strange, but he was standing 17:43 there, he had parked, he has quite a long driveway, 17:46 but he had pulled into the driveway and parked 17:50 and was standing out beside his car, and he raised his 17:53 hand like this to me, like I thought he meant stop. 17:58 So I stopped right there in the middle of the road 18:01 because there wasn't any traffic and I said did you 18:06 happened to find some keys, and he said no 18:10 I wasn't asking you to stop, I was just being friendly, 18:14 and I said oh well I was trying to find my husband's 18:18 keys they are somewhere on this road, I am sure. 18:21 He said just a minute, he looked behind the car over 18:27 off the road in the gravel of the pavement, 18:33 and he said I see something shiny over here. 18:36 He ran and he picked up the keys and brought them, 18:40 he said these must be your keys. I said they are. 18:43 Amen. You know when he gave me those keys 18:47 and I drove up to our home, I have to admit my eyes 18:51 were wet. I was saying Lord you showed me your favor. 18:58 Amen. You sent an angel here because this man 19:02 did not know why he stopped, he didn't know 19:05 why he waved, he didn't know why he didn't go up into 19:09 his driveway, and into his garage. 19:11 The whole thing was a set up, the Lord did that, 19:16 and I was just overwhelmed with emotion thinking God's 19:20 love is so great. He is even interested in helping us 19:24 with little things that may not be earth shaking, 19:28 but it was important to us and when I went up to our 19:32 home, and I held the keys up like this for my husband. 19:38 He said where did you find those keys and when I told 19:41 him the story, he said that's the favor of God. 19:45 Amen. God's sent his angel that's the favor of God. 19:49 And I think that we need to look for those times, 19:53 and realize that's God's favor. God really loves me. 19:58 So I want to ask you, there is power in remembering, 20:03 there is power in remembering, God wants us to 20:06 remember, when he has been good to us because that 20:09 teaches us that we have value and that he loves us. 20:14 Kelly don't you just love to remember. 20:17 Yes. Times when God did something really special. 20:21 That's right. And you knew that was him. 20:22 And something personal. Yes. 20:24 For you, I know while back when I was getting ready 20:27 to take a trip, and you know how we always have to do 20:30 list and the things you need to make sure you remember, 20:33 and I had gone through everything on my list, 20:35 I couldn't think of anything that I was forgetting, 20:37 but one habit that I've developed recently is to 20:40 pray before I put my car in gear as I am to back out 20:43 of the driveway, I always just say little prayer 20:45 Lord is there anything that I am forgetting. 20:47 Well this particular time, that I asked him that 20:50 he said yes you are forgetting your neck pillow, 20:53 you know those ones you use on the aeroplane 20:55 because I was going for a long flight across the 20:58 country, and I knew that I would wanna try to take 21:01 a nap. So I wouldn't be all tired out when I got there, 21:03 and I said yes thank you, I forgot my neck pillow, 21:06 so I ran into the house, where we had just sold our 21:08 house and moved into a little rental house, 21:10 and things were still everywhere in boxes, 21:13 and as I ran in the door, I said Lord now problem 21:16 number two where is it, and this is clear as can be. 21:21 He said look in the closet at the bottom of the stairs. 21:24 So I ran over to the closet, opened the door 21:26 and look up and down, I don't see it, I think it 21:28 must be upstairs with my suitcases. So I ran upstairs 21:31 to look with the suitcases all the while he keep saying 21:34 look in the closet. I looked around the suitcases no 21:37 I run back downstairs, and again he is saying look in 21:42 the closet. So I open the door again, look in the 21:45 bottom of the basket he told me, bring out the blanket, 21:48 sure enough there it was. And I would have never 21:51 thought to look there, but you know I think that this 21:55 little stories or little evidence of his leading in 21:59 our lives that when we think of that verses says pray 22:02 without seizing. Sometimes people say what do you 22:05 think that means. I think it's a continual 22:07 conversation being in that attitude of prayer 22:10 all the time with God. Talking, that's right. 22:12 Talking all the time, whether it's out loud 22:14 or just silently, but always be in tune that practicing 22:18 the presence of God. Did you read that little book? 22:21 What a beautiful little book. Yeah to think about the 22:23 fact that God is always there and he wants to be 22:26 involved in every aspect of our life. 22:29 And when he puts a thought in your mind. 22:31 To recognize you. Follow through on that. 22:33 Yes. Because I was saying with the keys, 22:35 I was saying Lord I would like to help Don. 22:38 I would like to find those keys, will you help me, 22:41 and the next thought was get in your car, 22:43 drive down the hill. Yes. And so I went. 22:46 Your sister out in Oregon had a beautiful experience 22:53 that taught some people in the community about the 22:56 value of young people and their prayers, 23:01 and how much God values us all. 23:03 Tell us about that, that's an exciting story. 23:06 Well, I wish that she was here today. 23:08 I do too. To be able to tell you all the details, 23:10 but they have a small Christian school in a rural 23:13 area of Oregon and they have been looking and praying 23:18 for ways that God could get them more involved in 23:21 their community and to kind a raise the awareness that 23:24 not only that they are there, but the God is there. 23:27 And so they lone behold you know God does interesting 23:30 things to answer our prayer sometimes but. 23:33 But often is not what we expect. That's very true. 23:36 It can be a big surprise. And it certainly was in this 23:39 car. There was a bank right near by their school that 23:42 was robbed, not just once, but twice this little bank 23:46 was robbed. In this small town. 23:48 In the small town. Is this Springfield. 23:50 No, it's the Eugene area. Eugene area. Yes. In Oregon. 23:53 And so they decided the holy sprit impressed the 23:57 principal, my brother-in-law Don and his wife Kim to 24:00 call up the Bank President and see if they could bring 24:03 the kids over from their school. Now this is an 24:05 elementary school K through eight and bring the kids 24:08 over there and ask if they could actually pray for the 24:12 Bank, and for the bank officers, and just general 24:14 healing, prayers of healing for that Bank. 24:17 You know Kelly I think that is so important 24:19 because obviously things were out of control. 24:22 Yes. This is something beyond the control of the 24:25 Bank personal and if it happened twice, 24:29 the police weren't on it either. 24:31 You know they haven't solved that. That's right. 24:34 And so, but here I think this is so important 24:37 because here our children who are seeing that they 24:41 can be used. That's right, that's right. 24:44 And to be a help to somebody. Yes. 24:47 And it show God's love. And it's exciting the way the 24:49 God wants to bring his people, 24:52 his name into the community. I believe that. 24:55 And often times, its in the crisis or tragedy 24:57 situations because that's when he gets our attention, 25:00 and we know that you know crisis is coming on the 25:06 levels probably that we have never seen before, 25:08 and all the more reason why we need to be prepared as 25:11 Christians do, to share the love of God, 25:13 and the value that he places on us as people, 25:16 kind of back to where we started with. 25:17 That's right, that's right. The whole, you know 25:19 the whole value that God has on us as his children 25:22 so much that he sent his son to die for us. 25:25 So they took this group of young people, 25:28 children, and they stationed themselves 25:32 around the bank, and this is during the day. 25:35 During the day. And did the kids hold hands. 25:39 I believe that's how it happened, yes. 25:41 And they were praying. And they actually prayed 25:42 for the, you know, for the community, for the bank. 25:45 Protection. For protection, prayers of protection, 25:48 of course the news media showed up. 25:51 So you know the kids kind a got some exciting time to 25:54 be able to be on the news. But again it was all away 25:57 that God, that we as human beings can make God look 26:01 good, and that's what they did that day. 26:03 Isn't that good. Amen. 26:05 And the people in the Bank, what was their response. 26:08 Very positive, very open yes. They probably loved it. 26:13 And have you heard about the, was the crime solved. 26:16 I have not heard, we need to look into that. 26:19 But the young people had a very positive experience. 26:23 Yes. In going to meet somebody who needed prayer. 26:29 Amen. And they stationed themselves around this Bank 26:31 and they said dear God take care of this Bank, 26:35 its happened twice, don't let it happen again. 26:37 Amen. And as far as we knew that was the end of that. 26:41 That's right. We have not heard any other incidence. 26:43 And you know it just goes to show that prayer is one 26:45 of those things that crosses all boundaries. 26:49 That's right. You know, it just, it does, 26:51 it crosses cultural boundaries, 26:53 and age boundaries, and denominational bound 26:56 everything. Prayer is just seems to be the common 26:59 denominator. That's right, I agree. Well we have had 27:03 a good time here today Kelly remembering. 27:06 Amen. Remembering what God has done, 27:10 and how good he is because there is such power 27:14 in remembering. Amen. 27:16 And I just would like to challenge you take sometime 27:20 maybe everyday to just stop and remember, 27:24 what has God done for you. There is really a great 27:27 deal of power in pausing, and looking into his word, 27:32 and thanking him for his goodness, 27:34 not only for the ways that he blessed David, 27:37 or Joseph, or Moses. He opened the Red Sea, 27:41 and that's wonderful, but he is still potting the waters. 27:45 Amen. He is still opening Red Seas for people. 27:49 There is such power in remembering, 27:53 and I believe that when God recalls those things to 27:56 your mind, he wants you to just pause, 27:58 and say dear God thank you so much for 28:02 what you did. I want to develop an attitude of 28:05 thanksgiving and gratitude. Amen. 28:08 God bless you. See you again next time. |
Revised 2014-12-17