I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and welcome to
another 3ABN Family Worship.
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I'm Jill Morikone.
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And I love this time together
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because we're
opening the Sabbath.
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We bring in the
Sabbath, spend time together
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as brothers and
sisters around the table.
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And with you at home,
we open up the Word of God.
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We pray together.
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And I just love this time.
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I love worship
and I love family.
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And you certainly are a
part of the 3ABN family.
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So just thank you.
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Thank you for your
love and your prayers
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and financial
support of this ministry
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as we endeavor to take
this gospel to the world.
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Usually when we're
having family worship,
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Greg sitting right here
and he does the introduction,
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and then I kind
of add a few things,
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but tonight we have the
ladies around the table,
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but that means that the topic
works for ladies and gentlemen,
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and young and old.
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So no matter what age or gender,
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this topic is for you.
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Wanna introduce our family
to you right now to my right,
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my sister, Cinda Sanner
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who's producer for
3ABN's Tiny Tots program.
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And just a
delight to have you here.
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Happy to be here.
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And to your right
is Francine Bergmann.
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Francine, we call her
of, course, Aunt Francine.
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She's general
manager of 3ABN Kids Network.
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And just delighted
to have you here, Sis.
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Thank you.
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I enjoy being here learning
and studying the Bible Amen.
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Last but not least
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at the other end of
this island is Janelle Owen,
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who is an
incredible graphic designer
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and woman of God,
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works in our
publishing department.
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And, Janelle, just thank you
for jumping in and joining us.
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Thank you. Thank you for asking.
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It's a pleasure to be here.
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It's gonna be fun. Amen.
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The topic we're
talking about tonight
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is representing Christ.
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You know, there's a
cute story that I read once.
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I really like, and it
says, dear God, today,
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I haven't been grumpy
and I haven't been irritated
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and I haven't
gotten mad at anybody.
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And I don't think I've even been
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tempted to
overeat or do anything,
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but God I'm really
gonna need Your help
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because I'm about
ready to get out of bed.
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And the Lord knows, you
know, what's gonna happen next.
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So we laugh about that, right?
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And we say, oh my,
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but there's a
lot of truth in that.
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We are called as
Christians in these last days
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to represent Christ.
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What does that look like?
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You could say, well, then we
just need to be meek and mild.
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Humility is part of
representing Christ.
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We'll talk about that tonight.
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You might say, well, we
need love and forgiveness.
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Well, that is part
of representing Christ.
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We're gonna talk
about that tonight.
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You might say, well,
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I don't know what
else that involves.
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Well, Jesus was
about evangelism,
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well, we need to evangelize.
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Okay, well,
that's important too,
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but there's so
many aspects to that.
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You know, I like lists.
So there's six for tonight.
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Hopefully we'll
get through them all.
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I'm gonna tell you them upfront,
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then we'll pray and
just jump into the study.
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But the six that
we're gonna talk about,
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if we can get through
them all is representing Christ
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through relationships,
that's number one.
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Through evangelism and outreach,
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that's number two.
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By the way we live,
that's number three.
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That's just simply
the way we live our lives.
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Number four is through
our love and forgiveness.
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Number five is by our humility.
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And number six is a way
that we don't always think
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about representing Christ,
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but that is through our courage.
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So we're gonna talk
about all those aspects
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of what it looks like as
woman to represent Christ,
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but let's go to
the Lord in prayer
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and then we'll
jump into the word.
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Cinda, you wanna pray for us.
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Absolutely.
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Our dear kind and
loving heavenly Father,
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what a wonderful God You are.
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And we just
praise Your holy name,
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and we thank You
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for the love that You
have bestowed upon us,
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even though
we're so undeserving.
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Lord, we thank You for families.
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We thank You for
the relationships
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You've given us, for the
people You've put in our lives.
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And we ask that You bless
this conversation tonight,
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bless our study and fill
us With Your Holy Spirit.
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And we thank You and
praise You in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Our opening
scripture is 2 Corinthians 2.
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So let's turn there.
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Hopefully you have your Bibles
at home and opening up with us.
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We're going to 2
Corinthians 2:14.
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Who has that want
to jump in and read?
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"Now thanks be to God who
always leads us in triumph
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in Christ, and
through us diffuses
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the fragrance of His
knowledge in every place."
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So why do you think
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it uses the word fragrance?
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It says, thanks be to God,
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He leads us in triumph
and through us, that's us.
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He diffuses the
fragrance of His knowledge.
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Why use the word fragrance?
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It's an interesting word to use.
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It is. It's talking
about sharing Christ.
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Mine says saver, in
King James it says saver.
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Okay.
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And it just makes me
think of how people notice it.
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It's something, you
know, when you have something
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that you smell, you notice it.
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There's a distinct.
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And they say that
that's one of the strongest
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of the five senses.
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Oh, is it really?
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It's the sense of smell
and that can trigger memories.
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So with that in mind...
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That makes sense.
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I think Jesus is saying,
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you know, you will recognize Me.
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So does that mean then that
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other people are
gonna recognize Him in us?
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Prayerfully, yes.
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Okay.
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They absolutely
can recognize us.
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And if we live our lives
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with Christ centered as like we,
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when we start our day out,
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we should always ask
Jesus into our heart.
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And because He's not
gonna come uninvited.
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So when we ask Jesus, we
should actually ask Jesus
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into our lives, the
first thing every morning.
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And when we asked
Jesus into our lives,
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then He'll be with
us through the day,
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and then it will kind of reflect
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how we respond
throughout our day.
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I know that people
can see Christ in us
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because I was actually
in a store in the mall.
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And I actually had been,
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I was having a kind of
a down day and thinking,
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you know, I
wanna be a Christian.
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I want 'cause I
had studied something
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about, you know,
people seeing Christ in you.
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And I was thinking, you know,
I just, sometimes I just react
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so different and I
don't think people can see it.
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And I went into
a store in the mall
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and one of the salespeople
came up to me and she said,
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"Can I ask you a question?
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Because I know you're...
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I've watched you
when you come in.
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And I know you're a Christian,
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so I know you
can help me on this."
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Amen. Yes.
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And, of course I
told her, yes, but I said,
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you know what my first
thought was, I thanked God.
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I said, thank you,
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because that was encouraging me.
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So people can see
Christ living in us.
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And it's interesting that
when we feel like we don't,
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aren't showing him
or showing others Him,
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when we're at our lowest,
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we feel like that's when others,
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people can see that
too can see us, Him in us.
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And it's amazing that,
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you know, He gives
us that encouragement
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because sometimes
maybe we feel like
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we're not representing Him well,
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and we get those little
nuggets of encouragement.
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Exactly. Helpful.
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And just another thought,
they've done some studies
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and they say that the smell,
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the reason you have
sense of smell in your nose
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is because you
actually have pieces
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of that particle in your nose.
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And I'm just kind of
like, I'm just trying to,
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I'm going a little too far here,
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but we almost have to take
on a piece of Jesus with us.
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It's like, you have to
almost internalize it as well
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in order for you
to be able to do that.
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And you need to have that energy
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before you can go on.
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And like she was saying,
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like the beginning of every day,
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ask Him to come into our
hearts and it is a daily...
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It's daily because
Jesus won't come in uninvited.
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So we need to invite Him in.
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But I just, that
day, I just thanked God
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for, you know, encouraging me.
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I mean, here she was
asking, she wanted to ask advice
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because she was
feeling down about something
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and wanted to ask my
advice about something.
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But God was that, to me,
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that was God
speaking to me saying,
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don't be so hard on yourself.
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She knew you were a Christian
before you even talked to her.
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But I go into the store a lot.
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Okay.
00:10:01.03\00:10:02.36
And so, well,
now, I mean, obviously
00:10:02.40\00:10:04.83
enough to where she had
seen me interacted with me
00:10:04.87\00:10:08.64
for several years, I guess,
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you know, I'd go
in to get something
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and she would help me.
00:10:13.27\00:10:14.84
And so she had known,
00:10:14.88\00:10:18.48
you know, didn't
know me, but knew me,
00:10:18.51\00:10:21.35
but I'd never talked
to her about religion.
00:10:21.38\00:10:24.39
Wow.
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Isn't that amazing?
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And that's the aroma,
the fragrance of Christ,
00:10:27.26\00:10:29.82
you know, coming out
of you to that woman.
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That's incredible.
00:10:31.59\00:10:32.93
What I like about
that word fragrance
00:10:32.96\00:10:34.53
is you think about,
00:10:34.56\00:10:35.90
if someone puts
on cologne or perfume
00:10:35.93\00:10:38.10
and you walk into the room.
00:10:38.13\00:10:40.64
I'm thinking we have
several people at 3ABN
00:10:40.67\00:10:42.67
with distinctive
colognes or perfumes.
00:10:42.70\00:10:45.31
And if I were to walk in a room,
00:10:45.34\00:10:46.88
I could have my eyes closed.
00:10:46.91\00:10:48.74
I'm looking somewhere else.
00:10:48.78\00:10:50.11
And I say, Pastor John
Lomacang is in this room, right?
00:10:50.15\00:10:52.65
Because you recognize,
oh, this is his cologne.
00:10:52.68\00:10:54.88
So that fragrance, I don't
even have to be next to him.
00:10:54.92\00:10:57.55
The fragrance
diffuses throughout the room.
00:10:57.59\00:11:01.19
So think about the
impact that we have
00:11:01.22\00:11:04.73
as Christians to
represent Christ.
00:11:04.76\00:11:06.56
It's not just the
person next to you,
00:11:06.59\00:11:08.10
you rub off on
that diffuses, right?
00:11:08.13\00:11:10.87
The ripple, it goes,
it can fill the whole room
00:11:10.90\00:11:13.84
in just a few seconds.
00:11:13.87\00:11:15.27
Exactly.
00:11:15.30\00:11:16.64
Which is just
amazing. Amen, it is.
00:11:16.67\00:11:18.34
You know, I have one thing
00:11:18.37\00:11:21.04
that actually my
nephews joke about this.
00:11:21.08\00:11:26.28
When I'm driving,
I started doing this
00:11:26.31\00:11:29.28
because you know,
when someone cuts you off
00:11:29.32\00:11:32.32
and you get really mad
or maybe I cut someone off
00:11:32.35\00:11:36.16
and they got really mad
at me and I didn't mean to.
00:11:36.19\00:11:39.59
And I've had, they
were in the car with me
00:11:39.63\00:11:42.83
and this guy was going,
00:11:42.86\00:11:46.33
you know, like
yelling at me in the car.
00:11:46.37\00:11:48.30
And I went...
00:11:48.34\00:11:51.77
You like I knew him,
and we immediately changed.
00:11:51.81\00:11:55.24
That's great.
00:11:55.28\00:11:56.61
They didn't even look at me.
00:11:56.64\00:11:59.15
Well, they didn't
know how to react.
00:11:59.18\00:12:00.58
They stopped me and
want to meet with me.
00:12:00.62\00:12:02.55
And they're like aunty
00:12:02.58\00:12:04.59
he's probably
like racking his brain,
00:12:04.62\00:12:07.72
like who is this woman.
00:12:07.76\00:12:09.39
She knows me.
00:12:09.42\00:12:10.76
Right.
00:12:10.79\00:12:12.13
But it diffused him, you know,
so instead of me just going,
00:12:12.16\00:12:15.73
you know, like I,
you know, or whatever,
00:12:15.76\00:12:18.43
I just went, "hi."
00:12:18.47\00:12:22.47
I'll remember that one.
00:12:22.50\00:12:23.84
But they
immediately weren't mad at me
00:12:23.87\00:12:25.74
because they
thought, oh, no, I know her.
00:12:25.77\00:12:28.01
You know, I
better not yell at her.
00:12:28.04\00:12:31.81
So the fragrance
diffused, you know?
00:12:31.85\00:12:33.82
It does.
00:12:33.85\00:12:35.38
And then one of the
best ways to do that
00:12:35.42\00:12:36.75
is with the people closest
to us, with our relationships,
00:12:36.79\00:12:39.92
you know, to
diffuse, to share Jesus.
00:12:39.95\00:12:42.02
Sometimes it's easy to
be nice to other people,
00:12:42.06\00:12:45.93
you know, we go to church
and we say, happy Sabbath.
00:12:45.96\00:12:49.26
Or you go to work and
you greet your coworker,
00:12:49.30\00:12:52.27
but then you go home
00:12:52.30\00:12:53.64
and you might not be
so nice to your spouse.
00:12:53.67\00:12:55.30
And that is where
Christianity is real.
00:12:55.34\00:12:58.61
Right.
00:12:58.64\00:12:59.97
How do we treat
our husband and wife,
00:13:00.01\00:13:01.58
and children and parents?
00:13:01.61\00:13:03.24
Let's jump over to Colossians.
00:13:03.28\00:13:04.61
Now we're at a
point one of the study.
00:13:04.65\00:13:06.68
This is representing
Christ through relationships.
00:13:06.72\00:13:10.99
Now, of course,
those relationships
00:13:11.02\00:13:12.59
could be any number of things.
00:13:12.62\00:13:14.76
It could be a coworker,
00:13:14.79\00:13:16.22
it could be a
fellow church member,
00:13:16.26\00:13:18.23
but it also is
those most intimate,
00:13:18.26\00:13:20.63
close
relationships that we have.
00:13:20.66\00:13:23.67
Of course, Ephesians clearly
talks about relationships
00:13:23.70\00:13:28.17
of wives and husbands,
and children and parents.
00:13:28.20\00:13:31.24
But we're gonna
look at it in Colossians.
00:13:31.27\00:13:33.58
Colossians Chapter 3,
00:13:33.61\00:13:36.18
can someone pick
it up in verse 17...
00:13:36.21\00:13:38.25
Seventeen, I can do it.
00:13:38.28\00:13:39.61
"And whatever you
do in word or deed,
00:13:39.65\00:13:42.15
do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus
00:13:42.18\00:13:44.99
giving thanks to God,
00:13:45.02\00:13:46.35
the Father through Him."
00:13:46.39\00:13:48.52
So that one does not
mention the word representative.
00:13:48.56\00:13:51.03
But if you read that in
the New Living Translation,
00:13:51.06\00:13:54.23
it uses that same word.
00:13:54.26\00:13:56.90
Whatever you do in word or deed,
00:13:56.93\00:13:58.60
do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus.
00:13:58.63\00:14:00.64
That word name is representative
00:14:00.67\00:14:03.30
and the representative
of the Lord, Jesus,
00:14:03.34\00:14:05.57
meaning that we
are His representative.
00:14:05.61\00:14:08.91
In the original
language the word name
00:14:08.94\00:14:11.11
is closely related
to someone's character,
00:14:11.15\00:14:15.48
someone's authority.
00:14:15.52\00:14:17.35
It's almost inseparable
00:14:17.39\00:14:19.19
from the person that belongs to.
00:14:19.22\00:14:20.89
So in other words, if I do
something in the name of Jesus,
00:14:20.92\00:14:24.39
you cannot separate
what I do from who Jesus is.
00:14:24.43\00:14:27.23
From that, His, the
name from the character.
00:14:27.26\00:14:30.33
So this is, as we
read down verses 18,
00:14:30.37\00:14:33.13
all the way to Chapter 4,
the beginning of Chapter 4,
00:14:33.17\00:14:35.50
it is this relationship like
the next verse, verse 18 says,
00:14:35.54\00:14:39.64
"Wives submit to
your own husbands
00:14:39.67\00:14:41.71
as is fitting to the Lord."
00:14:41.74\00:14:43.75
It says "Wives,
00:14:43.78\00:14:45.11
you need to represent
Christ to your husbands."
00:14:45.15\00:14:48.42
The next one, verse 19,
"Husbands love your wives
00:14:48.45\00:14:51.05
and do not be
bitter toward them.
00:14:51.09\00:14:52.72
Husbands, you need to
represent Christ to your wife.
00:14:52.75\00:14:57.83
Janelle, you want to
pick up the next verse?
00:14:57.86\00:14:59.49
Sure. Verse 20?
00:14:59.53\00:15:00.86
Mm-Hmm.
00:15:00.90\00:15:02.23
"Children, obey your
parents in all things,
00:15:02.26\00:15:03.90
for this is well
pleasing unto the Lord."
00:15:03.93\00:15:06.90
And we're reading...
00:15:06.94\00:15:08.27
So children are to represent
Christ to their parents.
00:15:08.30\00:15:10.81
Yes. Okay. Keep going.
00:15:10.84\00:15:12.61
Which, how many more?
00:15:12.64\00:15:13.98
Can we go to 4:1?
00:15:14.01\00:15:15.61
Yes. Okay.
00:15:15.64\00:15:16.98
"Fathers provoke not
your children to anger,
00:15:17.01\00:15:19.28
lest they be discouraged.
00:15:19.31\00:15:21.05
Servants, obey in
all things, your masters,
00:15:21.08\00:15:23.65
according to the flesh,
00:15:23.69\00:15:25.42
not with eye
service as men pleasers,
00:15:25.45\00:15:27.82
but in singleness
of heart, fearing God."
00:15:27.86\00:15:30.59
So I'm jumping into second.
00:15:30.63\00:15:31.96
So fathers are to represent
Christ to their children
00:15:31.99\00:15:35.13
and then servants
00:15:35.16\00:15:36.90
are to represent
Christ to their masters.
00:15:36.93\00:15:39.20
Now we could say employees
00:15:39.23\00:15:42.14
are to represent
Christ to their boss, right?
00:15:42.17\00:15:44.31
Okay. Sorry.
00:15:44.34\00:15:46.51
"And whatsoever you do,
00:15:46.54\00:15:48.24
do it heartily as to
the Lord and not unto men,
00:15:48.28\00:15:52.35
knowing that of the Lord,
00:15:52.38\00:15:53.72
you shall receive the
reward of the inheritance,
00:15:53.75\00:15:56.58
for you serve the Lord Christ.
00:15:56.62\00:15:59.09
But he that doeth wrong
shall receive for the wrong,
00:15:59.12\00:16:01.89
which he had done: and
there is no respect of persons."
00:16:01.92\00:16:05.79
Masters, give unto your servants
00:16:05.83\00:16:08.23
that which is just an equal,
00:16:08.26\00:16:10.37
knowing that ye also
having a master in heaven."
00:16:10.40\00:16:13.74
So then the boss or the employer
00:16:13.77\00:16:16.87
is to represent Christ to
those who serve under them
00:16:16.91\00:16:19.94
or those who are under them.
00:16:19.97\00:16:21.31
So we can read this and say,
oh, that's all well and good,
00:16:21.34\00:16:24.15
but practically, how
do we represent Christ
00:16:24.18\00:16:27.55
to those we work with, to
those in our immediate family?
00:16:27.58\00:16:31.79
How have you experienced
that in your own life?
00:16:31.82\00:16:35.09
What you were saying
earlier about manners at home
00:16:35.12\00:16:37.73
and, you know, being
loving to your family.
00:16:37.76\00:16:42.93
I don't, it was only
maybe two or three years ago.
00:16:42.96\00:16:45.27
This occurred to me
that, you know, I say,
00:16:45.30\00:16:47.47
thank you and please, and stuff,
00:16:47.50\00:16:49.17
you know, out in
public to other people,
00:16:49.20\00:16:51.54
maybe I should do that at home.
00:16:51.57\00:16:54.84
You know, I
think... That's good.
00:16:54.88\00:16:56.21
Because we can take
our families for granted,
00:16:56.24\00:16:58.65
you know, my
husband, we don't have kids,
00:16:58.68\00:17:00.18
but you know, I
could take him for granted.
00:17:00.22\00:17:01.68
I know that, you
know, I've done that before.
00:17:01.72\00:17:03.75
And it just, you know, God
put that in my mind one day.
00:17:03.79\00:17:06.35
And like you could say please
to your husband or thank you,
00:17:06.39\00:17:10.16
you know, these little
things that we do to others
00:17:10.19\00:17:13.96
when we're at work
or at home or whatever.
00:17:14.00\00:17:16.97
But it just, I don't know,
it just never occurred to me.
00:17:17.00\00:17:19.93
And I don't know why, it
was just one of those things
00:17:19.97\00:17:22.20
that I think that
it's really important.
00:17:22.24\00:17:23.97
Like you said, if it
doesn't happen at home,
00:17:24.01\00:17:26.88
then it's not genuine
everywhere else we do it.
00:17:26.91\00:17:30.45
And that's what really
kind of stuck in my mind.
00:17:30.48\00:17:34.02
I've also found that
with family it's easier,
00:17:34.05\00:17:39.22
I think, to, like be
upset with your family,
00:17:39.25\00:17:43.06
to be real with your family,
00:17:43.09\00:17:45.03
to let your hair
down with the family
00:17:45.06\00:17:47.30
and you know,
yell at your family,
00:17:47.33\00:17:49.43
or, you know, but I found that
00:17:49.46\00:17:52.53
we choose our
attitude in every circumstance.
00:17:52.57\00:17:55.47
So say my husband did
something and it just irks me.
00:17:55.50\00:18:01.44
It's like, seriously,
now I can choose to decide.
00:18:01.48\00:18:06.98
I can choose to
be upset about it
00:18:07.02\00:18:09.05
and call him out on it.
00:18:09.08\00:18:11.45
Or I can choose to back up
and say, why did he do this?
00:18:11.49\00:18:17.26
What's his motive?
00:18:17.29\00:18:18.69
Did I trigger him?
00:18:18.73\00:18:20.20
Exactly.
00:18:20.23\00:18:22.16
Is it, and is there a way that,
00:18:22.20\00:18:25.17
that I can defuse it, exactly.
00:18:25.20\00:18:28.90
So there's that where
you kind of take back and go,
00:18:28.94\00:18:34.51
you know, I need to,
I would do that with,
00:18:34.54\00:18:37.38
if I got working with you.
00:18:37.41\00:18:40.05
If I got upset with you,
I would tend to be gentler.
00:18:40.08\00:18:44.42
Why can't I do
that with my husband
00:18:44.45\00:18:46.32
and my kids, you know?
00:18:46.35\00:18:48.49
So choose your
attitude in every circumstance,
00:18:48.52\00:18:51.56
make a conscious effort,
00:18:51.59\00:18:53.06
oh, I'm gonna take a
different approach to this.
00:18:53.09\00:18:57.43
And sometimes it is
like you said, like back up,
00:18:57.47\00:19:00.40
sometimes I have to,
when I'm really heated.
00:19:00.44\00:19:03.27
I mean sometimes, I mean,
00:19:03.30\00:19:04.77
there's people I've
worked with not here,
00:19:04.81\00:19:06.84
but there's other
people that I've worked
00:19:06.88\00:19:08.38
with in difficult
school situations.
00:19:08.41\00:19:11.01
And sometimes you do need
to back off and just regroup.
00:19:11.05\00:19:14.18
Just say, let me,
what's the best way.
00:19:14.22\00:19:16.25
How would Jesus
handle this situation?
00:19:16.28\00:19:18.82
Like, and sometimes
when you think about it,
00:19:18.85\00:19:21.62
you find a better thing
than you would have thought of
00:19:21.66\00:19:24.59
if you did it quickly.
00:19:24.63\00:19:26.23
Sometimes you do need
that time to just come back
00:19:26.26\00:19:29.06
and say, okay,
what's the best way
00:19:29.10\00:19:31.43
to handle this situation.
00:19:31.47\00:19:32.80
Another practical
thing that's worked
00:19:32.83\00:19:34.17
really well for me is
breathe, breathe, breathe.
00:19:34.20\00:19:36.40
Just, yeah, breathe
and pray, breathe and pray.
00:19:39.94\00:19:44.68
When you have to
answer it quickly, especially.
00:19:44.71\00:19:46.88
Yeah, that's true.
00:19:46.92\00:19:48.25
I love that.
00:19:48.28\00:19:49.62
Well, so many people, I
mean, this is very common thing.
00:19:49.65\00:19:54.02
You show your good side,
00:19:54.06\00:19:56.19
you know, to
everybody you're around,
00:19:56.22\00:19:58.26
and you show your
real side at home.
00:19:58.29\00:20:01.23
And really our real
side should be both.
00:20:01.26\00:20:04.43
Right.
00:20:04.47\00:20:05.80
Our real side
should be converted.
00:20:05.83\00:20:07.17
Right?
00:20:07.20\00:20:08.54
And if we really know
Jesus and walk with Him.
00:20:08.57\00:20:11.31
I know one thing,
00:20:11.34\00:20:12.67
Greg and I have
been more intentional on,
00:20:12.71\00:20:14.78
I could say, probably in
the last year and a half.
00:20:14.81\00:20:17.75
We've been married
19 years this year.
00:20:17.78\00:20:20.45
And, you know, when
we were first married,
00:20:20.48\00:20:23.18
we wrote each
other a lot of notes.
00:20:23.22\00:20:24.85
It was just one of those common,
00:20:24.89\00:20:26.76
you know, I'd leave
a note on his pillow
00:20:26.79\00:20:28.79
or I'd put a note in with lunch
00:20:28.82\00:20:30.59
or, you know,
that type of thing.
00:20:30.63\00:20:32.19
And then you get busy at
work and it's not purposeful...
00:20:32.23\00:20:37.17
Or conscious.
It's not conscious.
00:20:37.20\00:20:39.23
It just happens because
life is busy and life is tough
00:20:39.27\00:20:43.91
or whatever, and you're
focused and you're whatever.
00:20:43.94\00:20:47.31
And so then I
thought, how long has it been
00:20:47.34\00:20:49.11
since I wrote my husband a note.
00:20:49.14\00:20:51.08
You know, I mean, we talk,
we pray together every day.
00:20:51.11\00:20:55.22
We talk all the time,
but as far as just sat down
00:20:55.25\00:20:58.35
and wrote that little note,
00:20:58.39\00:20:59.95
you know, I'd give him
cards, but this is different.
00:20:59.99\00:21:02.76
This is just like one
of those little notes.
00:21:02.79\00:21:04.13
So I thought I'm gonna
make a conscious decision
00:21:04.16\00:21:06.63
to do that.
00:21:06.66\00:21:08.00
And so we were
apart for one day,
00:21:08.03\00:21:11.47
he was working on some
project, we weren't together.
00:21:11.50\00:21:13.50
And so I just tucked a
little note in for him.
00:21:13.54\00:21:16.27
And then he texted me,
Jilly, I got your note.
00:21:16.30\00:21:18.91
And then I thought, oh,
so now almost every day,
00:21:18.94\00:21:21.58
I'm like, I
gotta write something
00:21:21.61\00:21:22.94
and hide it and he'll find it.
00:21:22.98\00:21:24.75
That's awesome.
00:21:24.78\00:21:26.11
But it's so
wonderful to continue that.
00:21:26.15\00:21:29.45
And that is just intentionality,
00:21:29.48\00:21:31.55
you know, being
intentional with that again.
00:21:31.59\00:21:33.52
But you know, we can
do that with our kids too.
00:21:33.56\00:21:35.42
Yes.
00:21:35.46\00:21:36.79
I used to tuck notes in
their lunches all the time
00:21:36.83\00:21:40.00
or when they would go on a trip
00:21:40.03\00:21:41.80
as, you know,
tuck it into their.
00:21:41.83\00:21:43.16
When I'd send
them off to summer camp
00:21:43.20\00:21:44.57
or, you know, even
if it's just a week,
00:21:44.60\00:21:47.14
you know, tuck a little
note in different clothes.
00:21:47.17\00:21:49.84
So they get it
throughout the week.
00:21:49.87\00:21:52.27
But even though
they're adult now,
00:21:52.31\00:21:54.41
we can still
send them little texts
00:21:54.44\00:21:56.11
or send them
little, you know, something.
00:21:56.14\00:21:59.21
So sweet. Yeah.
00:21:59.25\00:22:01.15
I mean, with
Amanda, for example,
00:22:01.18\00:22:02.98
I would give it to her.
00:22:03.02\00:22:04.35
And sometimes
especially for a big test
00:22:04.39\00:22:06.15
that she's worried
00:22:06.19\00:22:07.52
about, especially
like a math test right now.
00:22:07.56\00:22:10.79
And I would do it and
she'd put it in her pocket like
00:22:10.83\00:22:12.96
that was her
little encouragement.
00:22:12.99\00:22:14.46
But then I realized, you
know, when you were talking,
00:22:14.50\00:22:17.20
I realized sometimes
even my husband gets a little,
00:22:17.23\00:22:19.53
not jealous, but it's like,
00:22:19.57\00:22:21.24
you know, he's
like, wait, wait a minute
00:22:21.27\00:22:22.90
I used to get them.
00:22:22.94\00:22:24.27
You know, I think
we, you know, and that,
00:22:24.31\00:22:27.31
and when you see that though,
00:22:27.34\00:22:29.14
you see Amanda
wanting to do the same thing,
00:22:29.18\00:22:31.01
like you see her
doing little encouragements
00:22:31.05\00:22:32.88
to the teacher and whatever.
00:22:32.91\00:22:34.55
I mean, even those
little notes go so far
00:22:34.58\00:22:38.25
because it just says that
you spent the time with me
00:22:38.29\00:22:41.99
or, you know, you
spent the time for me.
00:22:42.02\00:22:44.29
And again, that's coming back
to spending time with Jesus.
00:22:44.33\00:22:46.23
That's good.
00:22:46.26\00:22:47.60
I have a little
quote that I saw.
00:22:47.63\00:22:48.96
I was actually
looking for something,
00:22:49.00\00:22:50.70
some stock art in a
project I was working on
00:22:50.73\00:22:53.90
and I found this
quote about love.
00:22:53.94\00:22:56.60
And I thought it
kind of fit here.
00:22:56.64\00:22:58.37
It says, "In family life love
is the oil that eases friction,
00:22:58.41\00:23:02.64
the cement that binds
closer together and the music
00:23:02.68\00:23:05.71
that brings harmony."
00:23:05.75\00:23:07.45
I thought was a
really good quote about love.
00:23:07.48\00:23:09.72
Can you read it
one more time? Yeah.
00:23:09.75\00:23:11.55
"In family life love is
the oil that eases friction,
00:23:11.59\00:23:15.06
the cement that binds
closer together and the music
00:23:15.09\00:23:18.33
that brings harmony."
00:23:18.36\00:23:19.89
That's beautiful. Isn't it?
00:23:19.93\00:23:21.50
I just was thinking right
now, you might be watching
00:23:21.53\00:23:23.97
and saying, but my life
isn't anything like that.
00:23:24.00\00:23:27.14
My husband's really mean to me.
00:23:27.17\00:23:29.47
My kids don't walk with God.
00:23:29.50\00:23:31.14
So you're painting
this idyllic little life
00:23:31.17\00:23:33.51
of writing notes
for your husband.
00:23:33.54\00:23:36.41
I can't even stand him.
00:23:36.44\00:23:37.78
And he doesn't like me.
00:23:37.81\00:23:39.15
So I was just
thinking of Romans 7.
00:23:39.18\00:23:42.08
And this may seem
like a weird comparison
00:23:42.12\00:23:44.49
for a marriage situation
or even a parent with a child.
00:23:44.52\00:23:48.32
But Romans 7 is
all about this battle
00:23:48.36\00:23:50.46
in the heart of a Christian.
00:23:50.49\00:23:51.83
I want to do
this, but I don't do it.
00:23:51.86\00:23:53.43
And the things I hate,
those are the things I do.
00:23:53.46\00:23:56.33
And the things that I
want to do desperately,
00:23:56.36\00:23:59.57
you might be saying, I
wanna treat my husband better.
00:23:59.60\00:24:01.57
I wanna treat my wife better.
00:24:01.60\00:24:04.01
You might be saying,
00:24:04.04\00:24:05.37
I wanna treat
my children better.
00:24:05.41\00:24:06.74
I wanna honor and
respect my parents.
00:24:06.78\00:24:08.78
But right now I'm
just all over the place.
00:24:08.81\00:24:10.98
But the things I
wanna do, I'm not doing.
00:24:11.01\00:24:13.21
And the things I
don't wanna do, I am doing.
00:24:13.25\00:24:16.05
This is a real battle in
the heart of every Christian
00:24:16.08\00:24:19.82
and in many homes today.
00:24:19.85\00:24:22.39
In fact, it ends in Romans 7:24,
00:24:22.42\00:24:25.39
"Oh wretched man that I am,
00:24:25.43\00:24:27.43
who can deliver me
from this body of death."
00:24:27.46\00:24:29.86
Meaning I'm done.
00:24:29.90\00:24:31.33
This is so
difficult and painful,
00:24:31.37\00:24:34.97
but if you are
there, don't lose hope.
00:24:35.00\00:24:38.07
Amen. Romans 8, it
doesn't end with Romans 7.
00:24:38.11\00:24:41.21
The next chapter, Romans 8:1,
00:24:41.24\00:24:44.25
"There is
therefore now no condemnation
00:24:44.28\00:24:46.11
to those who
are in Christ Jesus,
00:24:46.15\00:24:48.58
who do not walk
according to the flesh,
00:24:48.62\00:24:50.29
but according to the spirit."
00:24:50.32\00:24:51.65
And as you read
Romans Chapter 8,
00:24:51.69\00:24:53.02
the difference
is the Holy Spirit.
00:24:53.05\00:24:56.26
So your home might
be without that fruit,
00:24:56.29\00:24:58.69
without that oil,
it might be without,
00:24:58.73\00:25:01.10
it might have a lot of friction,
00:25:01.13\00:25:02.46
it might be
without the love of Jesus,
00:25:02.50\00:25:04.30
but the Holy Spirit
coming into your heart
00:25:04.33\00:25:08.70
can make a difference,
not only in your life,
00:25:08.74\00:25:11.17
but in the lives of your family
00:25:11.21\00:25:13.01
and the lives
who are around you.
00:25:13.04\00:25:15.04
So what a difference as
we open up our heart and say,
00:25:15.08\00:25:17.55
"God, would You
fill me with Your Spirit?
00:25:17.58\00:25:19.51
Would you change me?"
00:25:19.55\00:25:21.22
What a difference
that makes with the lives
00:25:21.25\00:25:23.18
of those that we associate with?
00:25:23.22\00:25:25.22
I'm glad you mentioned Romans 7,
00:25:25.25\00:25:26.65
because it's hard
sometimes to react in love.
00:25:26.69\00:25:31.46
And it is a battle.
00:25:31.49\00:25:33.96
Right there it tells us
we're battling with the flesh
00:25:34.00\00:25:36.90
and the spirit, and we wanna
do what the spirit tells us,
00:25:36.93\00:25:39.83
but our flesh doesn't want
to and that constant battle.
00:25:39.87\00:25:43.44
And that's like, I
can so identify with this.
00:25:43.47\00:25:47.71
I always go to this one.
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.08
You know, I just
feel like my name
00:25:49.11\00:25:51.58
is in here all over the place.
00:25:51.61\00:25:54.05
And then I'm
wretched, oh wretched man.
00:25:54.08\00:25:57.19
Of course, that means women too.
00:25:57.22\00:25:58.55
But verse 24, I have that
one like blocked off here,
00:25:58.59\00:26:01.72
but it's just...
00:26:01.76\00:26:03.09
You know in Great
Controversy, page 477.
00:26:03.12\00:26:06.73
It says, Ellen G. White says,
00:26:06.76\00:26:10.07
"While the Christian's
life will be characterized
00:26:10.10\00:26:13.07
by humility, it
should not be marked
00:26:13.10\00:26:16.40
with sadness or
self-deprecation.
00:26:16.44\00:26:20.24
It is the privilege
of everyone so to live
00:26:20.28\00:26:24.05
that God will
approve and bless him.
00:26:24.08\00:26:26.72
It is not the will
of our heavenly Father
00:26:26.75\00:26:29.15
that we should be ever
00:26:29.18\00:26:31.65
under condemnation and darkness.
00:26:31.69\00:26:33.86
We may go to Jesus
and be cleansed and stand
00:26:33.89\00:26:37.49
before the law
without shame and remorse."
00:26:37.53\00:26:40.76
Amen. Verse 1,
there is that Yeah.
00:26:40.80\00:26:43.16
That is it.
00:26:43.20\00:26:44.70
Absolutely.
Yeah. No condemnation.
00:26:44.73\00:26:46.90
Right, no better word,
00:26:46.94\00:26:48.27
if we're
discouraged, go to Jesus.
00:26:48.30\00:26:51.04
We don't have to be discouraged.
00:26:51.07\00:26:53.51
Again, choose our
attitude in every circumstance.
00:26:53.54\00:26:56.98
So and I did go
through a really bad time.
00:26:57.01\00:27:00.82
I mean, you know, 30 years ago
00:27:00.85\00:27:02.58
I went through a really
bad divorce where I was,
00:27:02.62\00:27:05.45
you know, went
through a really bad time,
00:27:05.49\00:27:10.29
really dark days.
00:27:10.33\00:27:11.79
And I chose
00:27:11.83\00:27:14.20
it's better to be
instead of being bitter,
00:27:14.23\00:27:17.97
make yourself better.
00:27:18.00\00:27:19.40
And when you have
nowhere else to go,
00:27:19.43\00:27:21.47
you go to your knees
and choose your attitude.
00:27:21.50\00:27:25.54
And I chose joy. Amen.
00:27:25.57\00:27:27.54
It was like, and, while it makes
00:27:27.58\00:27:31.91
it just saying it here,
even like you're saying,
00:27:31.95\00:27:34.35
there's some people that
may be really discouraged.
00:27:34.38\00:27:37.59
But if you make a
conscious effort to choose joy,
00:27:37.62\00:27:41.46
I can tell you I've
been there, and I chose joy.
00:27:41.49\00:27:45.63
And I'm so glad I did,
00:27:45.66\00:27:47.26
because Jesus
does follow through.
00:27:47.30\00:27:50.53
And He can be
there for you. Amen.
00:27:50.57\00:27:52.90
I'll just read a little
bit further on verse 29.
00:27:52.93\00:27:55.74
It says, "For whom He foreknew
00:27:55.77\00:27:58.47
he also
predestined to be conformed
00:27:58.51\00:28:01.14
to the image of his Son."
00:28:01.18\00:28:03.98
And I just, I think
that shows forth again.
00:28:04.01\00:28:07.68
He does choose us.
00:28:07.72\00:28:09.82
He wants the best for us.
00:28:09.85\00:28:11.95
And it is a choice.
00:28:11.99\00:28:13.32
He wants that choice for
us, but we need to live for Him.
00:28:13.36\00:28:15.96
He wants us to be
conformed to His character.
00:28:15.99\00:28:18.93
Amen.
00:28:18.96\00:28:20.30
And jump down to verse
35, "Who shall separate you
00:28:20.33\00:28:22.50
from the love of Christ?
00:28:22.53\00:28:23.87
Shall tribulation or
distress or persecution,
00:28:23.90\00:28:26.47
famine,
nakedness, peril, sword."
00:28:26.50\00:28:28.47
Verse 37, "In all these things
we are more than conquerors
00:28:28.50\00:28:33.27
through Him who loved us."
00:28:33.31\00:28:34.98
So no matter what you
are going through right now,
00:28:35.01\00:28:37.61
the Lord, Jesus loves you.
00:28:37.65\00:28:39.01
The Lord Jesus has
a plan for your life.
00:28:39.05\00:28:41.98
He says, "Come to me.
00:28:42.02\00:28:43.35
I will forgive.
00:28:43.39\00:28:44.72
I will restore.
00:28:44.75\00:28:46.09
I will cleanse.
00:28:46.12\00:28:47.46
I will make new.
00:28:47.49\00:28:48.82
I will transform.
00:28:48.86\00:28:50.19
I will be in your home.
00:28:50.23\00:28:51.56
I will be in your heart.
00:28:51.59\00:28:52.93
I will be in your marriage.
00:28:52.96\00:28:54.30
I will be in your family."
That is the God we serve.
00:28:54.33\00:28:56.33
I mean, I just, I love God.
00:28:56.36\00:28:58.73
Thank you.
Loving Jesus, you know.
00:29:02.24\00:29:03.57
Yeah. Exactly.
00:29:03.61\00:29:04.94
And we have that
privilege and we say,
00:29:04.97\00:29:06.31
well, we're gonna
represent Him to our family.
00:29:06.34\00:29:07.84
I can't do that.
00:29:07.88\00:29:09.34
That's Him.
00:29:09.38\00:29:10.88
Jesus living in us
00:29:10.91\00:29:12.78
and the anointing
of the Holy Spirit.
00:29:12.81\00:29:14.78
So let's go to number two.
00:29:14.82\00:29:16.15
I was gonna say, which is
why He gave us the Holy Spirit.
00:29:16.18\00:29:17.52
Yes.
00:29:17.55\00:29:18.89
He knew we
couldn't do it on our own.
00:29:18.92\00:29:20.26
And so He knew that
Jesus, when I'm saying He,
00:29:20.29\00:29:23.19
Jesus knew that we
couldn't do it on our own.
00:29:23.22\00:29:25.73
So He gave us
the gift to help us.
00:29:25.76\00:29:30.43
I mean, that doesn't
mean we're always gonna be,
00:29:30.47\00:29:32.63
you know, perfect, obviously.
00:29:32.67\00:29:35.34
But we can choose joy.
00:29:35.37\00:29:38.81
We can choose Jesus,
00:29:38.84\00:29:41.21
and He'll give us the
Holy Spirit to help us.
00:29:41.24\00:29:43.11
Amen.
00:29:43.14\00:29:44.51
So He comes in, we represent
Him to our closest family,
00:29:44.55\00:29:49.45
those people we associate
with and those by extension,
00:29:49.48\00:29:53.56
of course, church family,
00:29:53.59\00:29:54.92
and work family and
neighbors, community.
00:29:54.96\00:29:57.13
We all have an influence.
00:29:57.16\00:29:58.49
We have people
that we associate with.
00:29:58.53\00:30:00.43
But also, number
two, we can represent Him
00:30:00.46\00:30:02.70
by evangelism and outreach.
00:30:02.73\00:30:05.83
The heartbeat of
God is to save us.
00:30:05.87\00:30:09.30
That's why He came.
00:30:09.34\00:30:10.67
"God commended His
love for us," Romans 5:8,
00:30:10.71\00:30:13.48
"in that while we were
yet sinners, He died for us."
00:30:13.51\00:30:17.41
So the whole purpose
of the plan of redemption
00:30:17.45\00:30:20.28
from the very beginning,
00:30:20.32\00:30:22.05
the plan in
motion for Jesus to come
00:30:22.08\00:30:24.22
was to reconcile us back to God.
00:30:24.25\00:30:26.62
Sin brought disconnection.
00:30:26.65\00:30:28.59
Think of Adam and
Eve in the beginning,
00:30:28.62\00:30:30.53
they ran and hid from God
00:30:30.56\00:30:31.96
because sin
separates us from God.
00:30:31.99\00:30:35.43
And yet Jesus came
00:30:35.46\00:30:36.80
that we could be
reconciled back to God.
00:30:36.83\00:30:39.93
We could be
reconciled and we have
00:30:39.97\00:30:42.10
that privilege to help
reconcile others to Him.
00:30:42.14\00:30:44.87
So let's look at that.
00:30:44.91\00:30:46.24
2 Corinthians 5:18-21,
00:30:46.27\00:30:50.35
who wants to pick that one up?
00:30:50.38\00:30:53.42
2 Corinthians 5:18-21.
00:30:53.45\00:30:55.55
This talks about
the privilege we have
00:30:55.58\00:30:58.09
of reconciling the world to God.
00:30:58.12\00:31:01.42
Now it doesn't mean
we do the reconciliation,
00:31:01.46\00:31:03.29
but we have the privilege
of being his ambassador
00:31:03.32\00:31:06.36
in sharing that good news.
00:31:06.39\00:31:07.93
Amen.
00:31:07.96\00:31:10.37
Don't everybody read this.
00:31:10.40\00:31:11.73
I'll read it.
00:31:11.77\00:31:13.30
2 Corinthians 5:18 you said?
00:31:13.34\00:31:16.10
Yeah. Let's go 18-21.
00:31:16.14\00:31:17.57
Okay.
00:31:17.61\00:31:18.94
"Now all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself
00:31:18.97\00:31:23.78
through Jesus Christ,
and has given us the ministry
00:31:23.81\00:31:27.22
of reconciliation, that is,
00:31:27.25\00:31:29.95
that God was in
Christ reconciliation
00:31:29.98\00:31:33.56
the world to Himself,
00:31:33.59\00:31:34.92
not imputing their
trespasses to them,
00:31:34.96\00:31:37.86
and has committed to us
the word of reconciliation.
00:31:37.89\00:31:41.83
Now and then, we are
ambassadors for Christ,
00:31:41.86\00:31:45.23
as though God were
pleading through us:
00:31:45.27\00:31:48.40
we implore you
on Christ's behalf,
00:31:48.44\00:31:52.54
be reconciled to God.
00:31:52.57\00:31:54.64
For He made Him who knew no sin
00:31:54.68\00:31:58.48
to be sin for us, that we might
00:31:58.51\00:32:02.12
become the
righteousness of God in Him."
00:32:02.15\00:32:07.69
We could talk a
whole hour on those verses.
00:32:07.72\00:32:09.49
I love those verses.
00:32:09.52\00:32:10.86
What does that mean to you all?
00:32:10.89\00:32:12.26
What does that say to
you as far as our privilege
00:32:12.29\00:32:16.23
to represent Him to
other people in evangelism?
00:32:16.26\00:32:19.67
It's a major privilege.
00:32:19.70\00:32:21.17
I looked at the definition
of the word ambassadors
00:32:21.20\00:32:24.37
and it's amazing.
00:32:24.41\00:32:26.27
It's a huge
responsibility to it.
00:32:26.31\00:32:28.41
The definition I've found
says an accredited diplomat
00:32:28.44\00:32:31.71
sent by a country as
its official representative
00:32:31.75\00:32:34.52
to a foreign country.
00:32:34.55\00:32:36.82
An accredited diplomat. Yeah.
00:32:36.85\00:32:39.02
So that accredited I thinking,
00:32:39.05\00:32:41.22
you know, we don't
have that on our own,
00:32:41.26\00:32:43.56
but He gives it to us.
00:32:43.59\00:32:45.03
The credit, the
accreditation, a diplomat too.
00:32:45.06\00:32:49.36
A diplomat just sounds
like such a dignified word too,
00:32:49.40\00:32:52.63
and even more than ambassador.
00:32:52.67\00:32:54.84
And it's just, it's
amazing the responsibility that,
00:32:54.87\00:32:57.41
that carries.
00:32:57.44\00:32:58.77
Yeah.
00:32:58.81\00:33:00.14
Well, you know,
some people feel like
00:33:00.18\00:33:01.58
they can't be a witness.
00:33:01.61\00:33:04.01
I can't be an
ambassador, you know?
00:33:04.05\00:33:06.98
What do I know?
00:33:07.02\00:33:09.78
We may not be able to be,
but God gives us the credit.
00:33:09.82\00:33:13.92
Yes. Amen.
00:33:13.96\00:33:15.29
And helps us.
00:33:15.32\00:33:18.53
I have an
interesting story to share
00:33:18.56\00:33:20.33
about evangelism outreach
00:33:20.36\00:33:22.03
that I felt like it was
a good one to share here.
00:33:22.06\00:33:25.77
A few years ago and if
you guys remember the book
00:33:25.80\00:33:28.00
Hacksaw Ridge...
00:33:28.04\00:33:29.37
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
00:33:29.40\00:33:30.74
The movie, well,
because the book came out,
00:33:30.77\00:33:32.51
we did some outreach at
some of the local theaters
00:33:32.54\00:33:35.38
because the movie was playing.
00:33:35.41\00:33:36.75
And so we had all tons of books
00:33:36.78\00:33:39.18
and people there
helping us pass them out.
00:33:39.21\00:33:41.38
And so we had our
booth there for the church
00:33:41.42\00:33:43.39
and this one
night we were there,
00:33:43.42\00:33:45.75
a young man stopped at our booth
00:33:45.79\00:33:47.72
and he was really
interested in the book
00:33:47.76\00:33:49.92
and wanted to come
back and talk to us.
00:33:49.96\00:33:51.36
And so he went
into the movie, he said,
00:33:51.39\00:33:52.79
I'll stop after
the movie's done.
00:33:52.83\00:33:54.66
And so after the movie went out,
00:33:54.70\00:33:57.53
all the people were coming out
00:33:57.57\00:33:58.90
and three people in
front of this young man,
00:33:58.93\00:34:01.50
there was this other guy
and he stopped to talk to Don.
00:34:01.54\00:34:04.84
And he started
criticizing our beliefs,
00:34:04.87\00:34:08.34
that Seventh-day
Adventist beliefs.
00:34:08.38\00:34:10.05
And so we knew that
the enemy was doing this
00:34:10.08\00:34:12.91
because this
young man wanted to,
00:34:12.95\00:34:14.62
he wanted to stop at our booth.
00:34:14.65\00:34:16.62
And so, I was praying.
00:34:16.65\00:34:17.99
I'm like, "Lord, how
can we diffuse this?"
00:34:18.02\00:34:19.89
As we're talking about earlier.
00:34:19.92\00:34:21.26
And so, I went
over to Don and said,
00:34:21.29\00:34:23.22
"Oh, do you have that book?
00:34:23.26\00:34:24.59
I was looking for this book."
00:34:24.63\00:34:25.96
And it was just kind of
trying to interrupt them,
00:34:25.99\00:34:27.63
you know, and the
conversation and the guy left.
00:34:27.66\00:34:30.10
And thankfully,
00:34:30.13\00:34:31.47
it kind of diffused it to where,
00:34:31.50\00:34:33.54
because the guy
was getting heated.
00:34:33.57\00:34:34.90
He was like, you
know, you guys believe this,
00:34:34.94\00:34:36.74
this is wrong,
and this is wrong.
00:34:36.77\00:34:38.14
And Don was just, he
wasn't saying anything.
00:34:38.17\00:34:41.34
And we knew that that
young man was watching,
00:34:41.38\00:34:43.71
it was a total
great controversy moment.
00:34:43.75\00:34:46.31
And so, you know, we
knew that that young man
00:34:46.35\00:34:49.08
was still
wanting to come up there
00:34:49.12\00:34:50.45
and talk to us and he
was watching all this.
00:34:50.49\00:34:52.55
And so, I know
that that was for him
00:34:52.59\00:34:54.82
and that the
enemy didn't want him
00:34:54.86\00:34:56.83
to come and talk to us.
00:34:56.86\00:34:58.19
But that incident
really stuck in my mind.
00:34:58.23\00:35:00.63
And just how real this
battle is that we're in,
00:35:00.66\00:35:03.70
especially when we're out
00:35:03.73\00:35:05.33
in the public and
people are watching,
00:35:05.37\00:35:07.37
we're even more of a spectacle.
00:35:07.40\00:35:09.34
And that was, that just
really stuck in my mind.
00:35:09.37\00:35:11.64
And I thought it was,
you know, amazing to see
00:35:11.67\00:35:13.91
that great controversy and,
you know, to be able to pray.
00:35:13.94\00:35:16.85
And the Lord just
totally took care of it.
00:35:16.88\00:35:19.78
That's awesome.
00:35:19.81\00:35:21.15
I wanna say something
about Don not saying anything
00:35:21.18\00:35:24.72
back to this guy.
00:35:24.75\00:35:26.32
That's the perfect response.
00:35:26.35\00:35:28.09
That's Jesus'
response because when,
00:35:28.12\00:35:32.76
you know, people were
accusing Jesus of things,
00:35:32.79\00:35:36.36
what was His response?
00:35:36.40\00:35:38.27
Silent.
00:35:38.30\00:35:39.63
Nothing. Nothing.
00:35:39.67\00:35:41.00
So when somebody's arguing,
00:35:41.04\00:35:44.31
there's no, it's futile
to be arguing with them.
00:35:44.34\00:35:49.78
I always tell people
00:35:49.81\00:35:51.91
we really shouldn't
be giving our opinions
00:35:51.95\00:35:54.55
unless someone asks for it.
00:35:54.58\00:35:56.38
Right.
00:35:56.42\00:35:57.75
When you think about it
00:36:02.76\00:36:04.09
because, you
know, you want to go,
00:36:04.13\00:36:05.89
oh, you know what?
00:36:05.93\00:36:07.26
The really the better
way to do this would be...
00:36:07.30\00:36:10.07
And they're like,
whereas if they would go,
00:36:10.10\00:36:14.00
you know what
Cinda, do you have an idea
00:36:14.04\00:36:16.27
of what would make this better
00:36:16.30\00:36:18.71
then they're gonna listen.
00:36:18.74\00:36:20.08
So we really
shouldn't give our opinion
00:36:20.11\00:36:21.74
if people don't ask for it.
00:36:21.78\00:36:23.11
Right.
00:36:23.14\00:36:24.48
And that's a hard lesson for me
00:36:24.51\00:36:25.85
because, you know, it's
like, it's so easy to just go,
00:36:25.88\00:36:28.28
oh, wait a minute
you're not doing that right.
00:36:28.32\00:36:30.15
So, but Don's
response when you said,
00:36:33.36\00:36:36.49
Don wasn't saying anything.
00:36:36.52\00:36:37.99
And the guy
wouldn't leave though.
00:36:38.03\00:36:39.36
The guy was just
like barking at him,
00:36:39.39\00:36:41.00
like he wouldn't...
00:36:41.03\00:36:42.36
But your response was great too.
00:36:42.40\00:36:43.87
And I was like, well,
how can, I don't wanna go
00:36:43.90\00:36:45.80
and provoke this
guy, make it worse,
00:36:45.83\00:36:48.04
still like praying.
00:36:48.07\00:36:49.40
And so then God
just gave me a thought,
00:36:49.44\00:36:51.94
go over and ask Don if
he had a book or something,
00:36:51.97\00:36:53.68
you know, just to...
00:36:53.71\00:36:55.04
Interrupt right there
00:36:55.08\00:36:56.41
and that was
what needed to happen.
00:36:56.44\00:36:57.88
Yeah. So God worked it out.
00:36:57.91\00:37:00.05
See, that was the Holy
Spirit helping you both
00:37:00.08\00:37:02.72
know how to react.
00:37:02.75\00:37:04.29
Yeah.
00:37:04.32\00:37:05.65
Because people are
watching and those public
00:37:05.69\00:37:08.76
it's easy to be a Christian.
00:37:08.79\00:37:10.83
Well, easy, I guess I should say
00:37:10.86\00:37:12.43
in "at church,"
00:37:12.46\00:37:14.20
but when you're out in
public and there's people
00:37:14.23\00:37:16.73
that, you know, don't know
00:37:16.77\00:37:18.17
what a Christian is and they're,
00:37:18.20\00:37:19.53
you know, they've
maybe never read the Bible
00:37:19.57\00:37:21.90
and you know, what's the quote.
00:37:21.94\00:37:24.47
Some, you might
be the only Bible
00:37:24.51\00:37:25.94
that someone ever reads.
00:37:25.97\00:37:27.41
And so it's important.
00:37:27.44\00:37:30.95
Amen. It's powerful.
00:37:30.98\00:37:32.31
One of my favorite
parts is in verse 20.
00:37:32.35\00:37:34.98
"Now, then we are
ambassadors for Christ
00:37:35.02\00:37:36.82
as though God were
pleading through us."
00:37:36.85\00:37:39.45
So it's not us pleading.
It's not us trying to witness.
00:37:39.49\00:37:43.29
It's not us trying to
say, well, I'm gonna share,
00:37:43.32\00:37:45.99
this is the best way to share.
00:37:46.03\00:37:47.60
This is the best
way to evangelize.
00:37:47.63\00:37:49.83
It's God speaking through us.
00:37:49.86\00:37:52.83
And then it says, "We
implore you on Christ's behalf,
00:37:52.87\00:37:54.90
be reconciled to God."
00:37:54.94\00:37:56.27
So it's not our words.
It's not our character.
00:37:56.30\00:38:01.18
It's opening up our
heart to God and saying,
00:38:01.21\00:38:03.78
would you use me to evangelize,
whatever that looks like.
00:38:03.81\00:38:07.95
It doesn't matter,
but God can show you.
00:38:07.98\00:38:10.39
And that's the beautiful thing,
00:38:10.42\00:38:11.75
you know, to just
share that with someone else.
00:38:11.79\00:38:14.42
Amen.
00:38:14.46\00:38:15.79
We all have different styles.
00:38:15.82\00:38:17.83
We all have
different ways that we share.
00:38:17.86\00:38:20.90
So I think we have to
be cognizant of that fact.
00:38:20.93\00:38:26.13
Absolutely.
00:38:26.17\00:38:27.54
And Danny always
says, I think it's Danny.
00:38:27.57\00:38:30.54
Your most powerful witnesses
is your own personal testimony.
00:38:30.57\00:38:32.87
Yes.
00:38:32.91\00:38:34.24
You know, and that is
amazing to be able to,
00:38:34.28\00:38:37.25
you can't argue with that.
00:38:37.28\00:38:38.71
Right.
00:38:38.75\00:38:40.08
You know, you can't, you
don't have to be eloquent.
00:38:40.12\00:38:42.25
You don't have to say,
well, I know this scripture
00:38:42.28\00:38:43.99
and that
scripture, you just say,
00:38:44.02\00:38:45.39
this is what
Jesus has done for me.
00:38:45.42\00:38:47.56
That's it. That's powerful.
00:38:47.59\00:38:48.92
And, you know, a lot of people
have a hard time with sharing
00:38:48.96\00:38:50.43
their testimony.
00:38:50.46\00:38:51.79
And you know, I was one of them
00:38:51.83\00:38:53.70
because I never
wanted to show that side
00:38:53.73\00:38:59.57
that I went
through a really dark time.
00:38:59.60\00:39:02.17
And it was my
sister Linda that said,
00:39:02.20\00:39:04.41
"Sis, you need to share
00:39:04.44\00:39:07.98
and because you don't
know who you can encourage."
00:39:08.01\00:39:11.15
And that's actually the Bible,
00:39:11.18\00:39:13.48
we're supposed to share in joys
00:39:13.52\00:39:17.52
and sorrows and just
because we don't think
00:39:17.55\00:39:22.22
our testimony is maybe as bad
00:39:22.26\00:39:28.00
or, you know, as somebody
like, I just, I don't compare.
00:39:28.03\00:39:33.74
We shouldn't
compare ourselves to others.
00:39:33.77\00:39:36.44
We should...
00:39:36.47\00:39:38.07
I always tell Joe,
00:39:38.11\00:39:39.44
we need to stay in our own lane.
00:39:39.47\00:39:40.81
So be you, stay in our own lane,
00:39:45.15\00:39:48.05
be me and stop trying to be,
00:39:48.08\00:39:50.99
you know, anybody around me.
00:39:51.02\00:39:54.66
Don't compare
yourself to others,
00:39:54.69\00:39:56.42
but let God use you
00:39:56.46\00:39:58.83
where you're at
and who he made you.
00:39:58.86\00:40:03.00
You know, as you
were talking about that,
00:40:03.03\00:40:04.60
it just came to my mind
00:40:04.63\00:40:05.97
that if we don't
share a testimony,
00:40:06.00\00:40:07.87
maybe we're robbing God,
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.94
because people are
not, they're not getting
00:40:09.97\00:40:13.78
that encouragement they need.
00:40:13.81\00:40:15.58
You know, that
might've been one, something.
00:40:15.61\00:40:18.91
That sounds like
what Linda said to me.
00:40:18.95\00:40:21.52
We were speaking at a
women's ministries and Linda,
00:40:21.55\00:40:25.45
I never knew
what to speak about.
00:40:25.49\00:40:27.42
And so Linda
would always 'cause,
00:40:27.46\00:40:28.92
you know, and Linda would say,
00:40:28.96\00:40:30.99
"Well, Cinda, why don't
you talk about this today?"
00:40:31.03\00:40:32.89
And I say, oh, okay, I
didn't talk about that.
00:40:32.93\00:40:35.26
And then one time she said,
00:40:35.30\00:40:38.17
"Cinda I want you
to tell your story."
00:40:38.20\00:40:42.70
Well, tell them, I want
you to tell the ladies today
00:40:42.74\00:40:45.04
what you went through."
00:40:45.07\00:40:46.71
And I was like "No,
I don't wanna do that."
00:40:46.74\00:40:49.78
Because I always
wanted to have fun.
00:40:49.81\00:40:53.15
You know, I wanna be happy.
00:40:53.18\00:40:55.02
I wanna have fun.
00:40:55.05\00:40:56.38
And she said, "No, I want."
00:40:56.42\00:40:57.75
I said, "No, give
me something else."
00:40:57.79\00:40:59.12
She goes, "I'm not
gonna give you anything else."
00:40:59.15\00:41:00.82
It was like we did
this every single time
00:41:04.06\00:41:06.76
we did a women's ministries,
00:41:06.80\00:41:08.46
like 20 minutes or 30 minutes
00:41:08.50\00:41:10.53
before I was
supposed to go to speak.
00:41:10.57\00:41:12.10
I'd say, Linda,
what am I gonna talk on?
00:41:12.13\00:41:13.94
I don't know what
I'm gonna talk about.
00:41:13.97\00:41:15.34
And so literally I
was going to get called up
00:41:15.37\00:41:18.11
there and she goes,
00:41:18.14\00:41:19.47
I'm not giving
you another subject.
00:41:19.51\00:41:21.04
Just talk on your,
you tell your life story.
00:41:21.08\00:41:23.58
And I was like, oh okay.
00:41:23.61\00:41:26.35
And I did.
00:41:26.38\00:41:27.72
And you know, afterwards, I
had several ladies came up to me
00:41:27.75\00:41:32.15
and they said, "You have no idea
00:41:32.19\00:41:34.76
what hearing your
story meant for me.
00:41:34.79\00:41:39.06
I am going through right
now what you've went through."
00:41:39.09\00:41:43.77
Wow.
00:41:43.80\00:41:45.13
And I was just, I literally
was taken back and humbled.
00:41:45.17\00:41:49.10
Do you know in everything?
00:41:49.14\00:41:50.54
I was just humbled
because I was like, wow.
00:41:50.57\00:41:55.54
And then she said one
of the things she said,
00:41:55.58\00:41:58.81
you know, she said,
00:41:58.85\00:42:00.32
not that I don't
love to hear you speak.
00:42:00.35\00:42:03.08
She said, I do,
00:42:03.12\00:42:04.45
because you're always
fun and silly and goofy
00:42:04.49\00:42:08.12
and whatever.
00:42:08.16\00:42:09.49
She said, I always thought,
oh, she's got the perfect life.
00:42:09.52\00:42:12.39
She could never relate to me.
00:42:12.43\00:42:16.20
So people don't, you know,
00:42:16.23\00:42:17.57
we hide, we
hide that part of us.
00:42:17.60\00:42:21.27
We hid it.
00:42:21.30\00:42:22.64
We do, so go ahead.
00:42:22.67\00:42:25.14
I was gonna say, you
know, by sharing our testimony,
00:42:25.17\00:42:27.88
it only, it not
only help someone else,
00:42:27.91\00:42:29.61
but it helps us to
heal because it's like a,
00:42:29.64\00:42:32.98
I mean, there's so many
things that sharing a testimony
00:42:33.01\00:42:35.15
can do for other people and us.
00:42:35.18\00:42:37.25
It's just, it's
amazing how that works
00:42:37.29\00:42:38.99
and how God uses that.
00:42:39.02\00:42:40.96
Amen.
00:42:40.99\00:42:42.32
We're gonna jump
over number three.
00:42:42.36\00:42:44.09
I know we said number
three is representing Him
00:42:44.13\00:42:46.59
by the way we live,
but we're gonna jump over
00:42:46.63\00:42:48.23
that 'cause we've really
been talking about the way
00:42:48.26\00:42:50.57
that we live as Christians
00:42:50.60\00:42:52.43
and what a
difference that makes.
00:42:52.47\00:42:53.80
So let's go to number four.
00:42:53.84\00:42:55.17
It says, representing Him
00:42:55.20\00:42:56.54
through our
love and forgiveness.
00:42:56.57\00:42:59.34
Let's turn over to
Colossians Chapter 3.
00:42:59.37\00:43:01.58
This is, to be honest,
00:43:01.61\00:43:03.88
a challenging
area for me sometimes.
00:43:03.91\00:43:06.01
Sometimes I want to
hang on to something
00:43:06.05\00:43:08.12
that I should let go.
00:43:08.15\00:43:09.48
Sometimes God says,
"Jill, I want you to forgive."
00:43:09.52\00:43:12.19
And I say, "But it
feels kind of good to hold
00:43:12.22\00:43:13.86
a grudge right now."
00:43:13.89\00:43:15.22
But as Christians, God
calls us to open up our hearts
00:43:15.26\00:43:19.49
so that He can
clean that junk out.
00:43:19.53\00:43:21.93
So, Aunt Francine, I
don't know if you want to read,
00:43:21.96\00:43:24.23
we're in
Colossians 3 maybe 12-15.
00:43:24.27\00:43:27.44
Okay.
00:43:27.47\00:43:28.80
"Therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved,
00:43:28.84\00:43:32.01
put on tender mercies,
kindness, humility, meekness,
00:43:32.04\00:43:36.14
longsuffering,
bearing with one another,
00:43:36.18\00:43:39.55
and forgiving one another,
00:43:39.58\00:43:41.32
if anyone has
complaint against one another,
00:43:41.35\00:43:44.25
even as Christ forgave
you, so you also must do.
00:43:44.29\00:43:48.92
But also all these
things put on the love,
00:43:48.96\00:43:51.69
which is the bond of perfection.
00:43:51.73\00:43:54.63
And let the peace of
God rule in your hearts,
00:43:54.66\00:43:57.50
to which also you
were called in one body,
00:43:57.53\00:44:01.94
and be thankful."
00:44:01.97\00:44:04.41
That's a mouthful.
00:44:04.44\00:44:05.91
You catch all that, we're
to put on what, tender mercies,
00:44:05.94\00:44:09.14
humility,
meekness, longsuffering.
00:44:09.18\00:44:13.11
You mean I'm supposed
to bear with other people.
00:44:13.15\00:44:15.25
God, I want them to
bear with me, right?
00:44:15.28\00:44:17.25
I'm supposed to
bear with others.
00:44:17.29\00:44:18.99
I'm supposed to love others.
00:44:19.02\00:44:20.39
I'm supposed to forgive others.
00:44:20.42\00:44:21.82
So practically,
how do we do that?
00:44:21.86\00:44:24.96
It's easy to talk, right?
00:44:24.99\00:44:26.56
It's easy to say, oh yes.
00:44:26.59\00:44:28.43
Or even sometimes it's easy
to say, well, I forgive you.
00:44:28.46\00:44:31.13
And maybe I don't
mean it in my heart.
00:44:31.17\00:44:33.74
You have to have that
peace in your heart first.
00:44:33.77\00:44:35.70
Okay.
00:44:35.74\00:44:37.07
Longsuffering means
we need to do it a lot.
00:44:37.11\00:44:40.81
Not just once, we
need to do it a long time.
00:44:40.84\00:44:43.98
Definitely.
00:44:44.01\00:44:46.28
But I think that's it,
whatever's in your heart
00:44:46.31\00:44:48.45
will show through.
00:44:48.48\00:44:49.82
And so it's
almost like you almost
00:44:49.85\00:44:51.69
have to work on
your own heart first
00:44:51.72\00:44:53.49
and acknowledge that and say,
00:44:53.52\00:44:55.62
Lord, I need that peace
that comes from you only.
00:44:55.66\00:44:58.49
And then in order to do
00:44:58.53\00:44:59.93
that sometimes I
have to look for the good
00:44:59.96\00:45:02.10
and that's where the
thankfulness I think comes in
00:45:02.13\00:45:04.97
is because if I'm
sitting there griping
00:45:05.00\00:45:07.34
at all these other
things that I'm focusing
00:45:07.37\00:45:09.10
on the
negative, I'm not putting,
00:45:09.14\00:45:12.71
it's like I have to
work on my attitude.
00:45:12.74\00:45:15.14
An attitude adjustment, really.
00:45:15.18\00:45:17.71
And so sometimes it's
having that thankful heart
00:45:17.75\00:45:21.82
can change that
attitude and work on my heart
00:45:21.85\00:45:24.25
for that peace and
that longsuffering,
00:45:24.29\00:45:26.39
because if I don't acknowledge,
00:45:26.42\00:45:29.59
what's hurting inside of
me or that the bitterness
00:45:29.62\00:45:32.59
that I might
feel towards somebody,
00:45:32.63\00:45:35.23
it's not gonna happen.
00:45:35.26\00:45:36.60
It has to work
within my heart first.
00:45:36.63\00:45:38.63
Amen.
00:45:38.67\00:45:40.00
That's beautiful.
That's a good point.
00:45:40.04\00:45:42.70
Wow.
00:45:42.74\00:45:44.81
I have a lot of work to do.
00:45:44.84\00:45:46.17
Me too.
00:45:46.21\00:45:47.64
You're not the only one.
00:45:47.68\00:45:50.75
I was just thinking
of a time in my own life
00:45:50.78\00:45:53.68
when I hold on to
bitterness a long time.
00:45:53.72\00:45:58.32
I had been deeply hurt
00:45:58.35\00:46:03.83
by someone and the
person I thought was my friend
00:46:03.86\00:46:07.06
and a person I trusted.
00:46:07.10\00:46:09.10
And I thought I would
do the Christian thing
00:46:09.13\00:46:13.20
and I wouldn't
gossip about this woman.
00:46:13.23\00:46:15.74
So I thought, well,
that's the Christian thing.
00:46:15.77\00:46:17.31
So I'm not going to go
around to other people.
00:46:17.34\00:46:18.71
Did you see what she did to me?
00:46:18.74\00:46:20.08
Did you see what all that?
00:46:20.11\00:46:21.44
So I'm gonna stuff it inside.
00:46:21.48\00:46:22.91
Well, that wasn't so
good either, but I stuffed it
00:46:22.94\00:46:25.11
and I stuffed it for months.
00:46:25.15\00:46:26.58
And I remember one day,
00:46:26.61\00:46:27.95
I was washing
dishes at the kitchen sink,
00:46:27.98\00:46:30.49
and I like to post
scriptures above the sink.
00:46:30.52\00:46:32.99
And I work on
memorizing as I'm doing dishes.
00:46:33.02\00:46:36.19
And this time the scripture
was in Hebrews 12 and it says,
00:46:36.22\00:46:39.29
"Follow peace with
all men and holiness
00:46:39.33\00:46:41.33
without which no
one shall see God."
00:46:41.36\00:46:43.60
And I thought,
oh, thank you, God,
00:46:43.63\00:46:45.10
I'm walking in
peace and holiness.
00:46:45.13\00:46:47.64
This is so
self-deceived I was, not knowing
00:46:47.67\00:46:50.94
that I had unforgiveness
bottled up in my heart.
00:46:50.97\00:46:53.88
I'm scrubbing dishes.
00:46:53.91\00:46:55.24
Thank you, God that
I'm walking in peace
00:46:55.28\00:46:57.01
with my brothers and sisters.
00:46:57.05\00:46:58.38
And then the next
verse just kind of jolted me.
00:46:58.41\00:47:00.48
And it says,
"Looking diligently,
00:47:00.52\00:47:02.75
lest any of you fail
of the grace of Christ,
00:47:02.78\00:47:05.92
lest any root of bitterness,
00:47:05.95\00:47:08.69
springing up trouble, you
and thereby many be defiled."
00:47:08.72\00:47:11.36
And I remember
reading that and it was like,
00:47:11.39\00:47:13.36
God spoke to my
heart, not audibly,
00:47:13.40\00:47:15.36
but you know, in your mind.
00:47:15.40\00:47:17.07
And he said, "Jill, if you
hold on to this unforgiveness
00:47:17.10\00:47:19.93
and this
bitterness, it will ruin you,
00:47:19.97\00:47:22.77
your marriage and your ministry.
00:47:22.80\00:47:25.67
Do you want that?"
00:47:25.71\00:47:27.24
And I thought, God, I don't want
00:47:27.28\00:47:28.91
that, but I can't pull it out.
00:47:28.94\00:47:30.98
And I prayed every
day, God, I want Your peace.
00:47:31.01\00:47:33.31
God, I want to be changed.
00:47:33.35\00:47:34.68
God, I don't want
this unforgiveness.
00:47:34.72\00:47:36.89
And it didn't go anywhere for me
00:47:36.92\00:47:39.32
until I started to
pray for this person.
00:47:39.35\00:47:41.82
And every morning
I prayed the things
00:47:41.86\00:47:44.26
that I would have
prayed for my best friend.
00:47:44.29\00:47:46.33
God, would You
bless their ministry?
00:47:46.36\00:47:48.03
God, would You
bless their marriage?
00:47:48.06\00:47:49.93
God, would You
bless them financially?
00:47:49.96\00:47:51.77
God, would You
bless them with souls?
00:47:51.80\00:47:53.87
God, would You
bless them with health?
00:47:53.90\00:47:55.37
All good things.
00:47:55.40\00:47:56.74
And I felt fake, you know, God,
00:47:56.77\00:47:59.17
I'd rather get
in a car accident,
00:47:59.21\00:48:01.01
nothing serious, but
maybe they could break a leg
00:48:01.04\00:48:03.24
or have a little pain, right?
00:48:03.28\00:48:04.68
And so... It's
a real car. Right.
00:48:04.71\00:48:06.65
Show me 'cause I
stayed in my car.
00:48:06.68\00:48:09.95
And so, anyways, so that's where
00:48:09.98\00:48:11.65
I just went back to God
00:48:11.69\00:48:13.42
and I didn't feel like doing
that, but I just prayed that
00:48:13.46\00:48:16.96
day after day, and
day one, no change,
00:48:16.99\00:48:19.09
day two no change, three.
00:48:19.13\00:48:21.00
And it was
probably day five maybe.
00:48:21.03\00:48:23.73
And I was praying.
I felt that release.
00:48:23.77\00:48:27.04
Yeah.
00:48:27.07\00:48:28.40
All that pain and bitterness
that I'd been carrying
00:48:28.44\00:48:32.87
for so long was gone.
00:48:32.91\00:48:36.01
And that is the power of God,
00:48:36.04\00:48:39.48
because I could
never have done that.
00:48:39.51\00:48:43.59
I just talked a lot about that.
00:48:43.62\00:48:44.95
I don't know if you
all adjust up, you know.
00:48:44.99\00:48:46.39
No, I thought that was Andrew.
00:48:46.42\00:48:47.76
I actually had
something similar.
00:48:47.79\00:48:49.22
But I just remember that I was,
00:48:49.26\00:48:53.63
you know, 'cause one
of my brother said, "Sis,
00:48:53.66\00:48:57.67
you need to pray and ask
for this person to be blessed."
00:48:57.70\00:49:01.84
And I said, "Okay."
00:49:01.87\00:49:04.17
But I said, "I don't
really want him to be blessed,"
00:49:04.21\00:49:06.84
you know, and he goes,
"It's okay, God will change.
00:49:06.88\00:49:10.91
You're doing
this for your heart.
00:49:10.95\00:49:13.31
You're not doing this for them,
00:49:13.35\00:49:16.89
you're doing it
for your own heart.
00:49:16.92\00:49:19.19
And so you need to pray
00:49:19.22\00:49:21.46
and God will change
that within your heart."
00:49:21.49\00:49:24.09
'Cause I remember,
00:49:24.13\00:49:25.46
you know, the first
couple of prayers I go,
00:49:25.49\00:49:27.66
oh God, please bless them.
00:49:27.70\00:49:29.50
And I go, oh, you know,
00:49:29.53\00:49:31.13
I don't really
mean that actually.
00:49:31.17\00:49:34.44
You know, I go, well,
00:49:34.47\00:49:35.97
I might as well
be honest with you,
00:49:36.00\00:49:37.34
God, because You
already know I don't mean that.
00:49:37.37\00:49:40.48
But then I started praying,
give me Your love for them.
00:49:40.51\00:49:45.31
Oh, that's good.
00:49:45.35\00:49:46.68
Yeah.
00:49:46.72\00:49:48.05
And then I stopped praying.
00:49:48.08\00:49:50.42
Now when I pray,
please bless them.
00:49:50.45\00:49:54.12
I really want
them to be blessed,
00:49:54.16\00:49:56.26
you know, but I
know what you're thinking
00:49:56.29\00:49:59.19
because I was just like, oh God,
00:49:59.23\00:50:00.93
I really don't want him to,
00:50:00.96\00:50:02.80
don't do anything
really good for him.
00:50:02.83\00:50:05.27
You know, just
bless them a little bit.
00:50:05.30\00:50:07.60
And that's not what God
says and we're actually doing it
00:50:07.64\00:50:10.24
for, like you said,
00:50:10.27\00:50:11.97
this is where we need to change.
00:50:12.01\00:50:13.81
It is.
00:50:13.84\00:50:15.18
One of my friends used to say
00:50:15.21\00:50:16.54
that it's hard to hate
someone you're praying for.
00:50:16.58\00:50:18.85
And then when she
told me that I was,
00:50:18.88\00:50:20.82
you know, really
new in my Christian walk
00:50:20.85\00:50:23.12
and now I know
what she means though.
00:50:23.15\00:50:25.22
It does make a difference.
00:50:25.25\00:50:26.99
It softens your heart
for that person a lot.
00:50:27.02\00:50:29.42
Right.
00:50:29.46\00:50:30.79
And then you start
seeing them at a different light
00:50:30.83\00:50:33.16
and you start
actually feeling sorry for them
00:50:33.19\00:50:36.90
because they're so,
00:50:36.93\00:50:39.17
if they're so bent
up on hurting people,
00:50:39.20\00:50:41.80
you actually start
feeling sorry for them.
00:50:41.84\00:50:43.67
Yeah. We can put tender mercies.
00:50:43.71\00:50:45.04
Yeah. Sorry.
00:50:45.07\00:50:46.41
I was just thinking about,
you know, like bully situations
00:50:46.44\00:50:48.14
where there's a
bully and it's obvious
00:50:48.18\00:50:50.51
that that person has
been hurt in some way.
00:50:50.55\00:50:53.25
And they're just taking
it out on the first person
00:50:53.28\00:50:56.28
that they can.
00:50:56.32\00:50:57.65
And, but it's hard
when you're the one
00:50:57.69\00:50:59.25
that's the target of
that to see it in that way.
00:50:59.29\00:51:02.79
But just think about
what Jesus said on the cross,
00:51:02.82\00:51:05.89
Father, forgive them.
00:51:05.93\00:51:07.26
They don't know
what they're doing.
00:51:07.30\00:51:08.63
And it's true,
and we do that too.
00:51:08.66\00:51:11.53
Same way, like
you'd look at the bully
00:51:11.57\00:51:15.20
when you realize maybe,
I mean, we've heard story
00:51:15.24\00:51:18.54
after story of people
00:51:18.57\00:51:19.91
who lash out at
people and it has,
00:51:19.94\00:51:22.28
and that's why another,
00:51:22.31\00:51:23.65
we shouldn't
take anything personal
00:51:23.68\00:51:25.55
because when
we're in a bad mood,
00:51:25.58\00:51:28.28
who do you, you attack the
first person that comes in.
00:51:28.32\00:51:30.89
Right. He had nothing to do.
00:51:30.92\00:51:33.05
They have
nothing to do with you.
00:51:33.09\00:51:34.62
Or you know that you just
happened to walk in the room
00:51:34.66\00:51:37.39
and I'm in a bad mood, you know?
00:51:37.43\00:51:39.83
So we can't take it personal,
but we also have to look
00:51:39.86\00:51:42.50
and make that that's
gotta be a hurting person.
00:51:42.53\00:51:46.20
Because if they're
bullying other people,
00:51:46.23\00:51:48.97
they have to be
a hurting person.
00:51:49.00\00:51:51.47
That's a very good
point. I love that.
00:51:51.51\00:51:52.84
That's really good.
00:51:52.87\00:51:54.21
Were you gonna say
something, Francine.
00:51:54.24\00:51:55.58
I think we cut you off.
00:51:55.61\00:51:56.95
Nope. I can't think
of anything right now.
00:51:56.98\00:51:59.45
Thank you. Okay.
00:51:59.48\00:52:02.28
We wanna go to
the Lord in prayer.
00:52:02.32\00:52:03.65
I was just
thinking in my own life,
00:52:03.69\00:52:05.19
how many times God reminds me
00:52:05.22\00:52:06.86
that, Jill, you're the one
who needs forgiveness the most,
00:52:06.89\00:52:10.09
you know, sometimes I
may hold on to something,
00:52:10.13\00:52:13.09
but yet He says, I forgave you.
00:52:13.13\00:52:15.36
And so I'm so grateful.
00:52:15.40\00:52:18.07
Yeah.
00:52:18.10\00:52:19.43
What a wonderful God we serve.
00:52:19.47\00:52:20.80
So just, well we want
00:52:20.84\00:52:22.17
to at the close of this program,
00:52:22.20\00:52:25.07
spend some time in prayer.
00:52:25.11\00:52:26.81
I don't know what
you're going through.
00:52:26.84\00:52:29.98
I don't know who you need
to forgive in your own life.
00:52:30.01\00:52:33.48
I don't know who God wants you
to witness to and to reach out
00:52:33.52\00:52:37.89
and share your testimony with.
00:52:37.92\00:52:40.36
I hope and pray that something
that we've shared here tonight
00:52:40.39\00:52:43.43
about representing
Jesus has encouraged you
00:52:43.46\00:52:46.76
and inspired you in
your own walk with Him.
00:52:46.80\00:52:50.07
And we just wanna
pray for you right now.
00:52:50.10\00:52:51.67
You're a 3ABN family
and we need each other.
00:52:51.70\00:52:55.84
So, Janelle, why
don't we start with you?
00:52:55.87\00:52:57.64
And then we'll just go around
the circle and I'll close.
00:52:57.67\00:52:59.87
Okay.
00:52:59.91\00:53:02.61
Dear Heavenly Father, we
do thank You for this time
00:53:02.64\00:53:04.65
that we could spend
together recognizing
00:53:04.68\00:53:07.25
and just understanding
how You have made us
00:53:07.28\00:53:10.12
representatives for You,
00:53:10.15\00:53:12.42
and the privilege
and the responsibility
00:53:12.45\00:53:14.59
that comes with that help us to
reflect you in all that we do.
00:53:14.62\00:53:18.49
And in those difficult moments,
help us to call out to You
00:53:18.53\00:53:21.76
that You would help us
00:53:21.80\00:53:23.13
because You've given us promises
00:53:23.16\00:53:24.97
that You would help us.
00:53:25.00\00:53:26.33
And I thank you for
all that You do for us
00:53:26.37\00:53:28.77
and just help us to
reflect You in our families
00:53:28.80\00:53:31.37
and to the world.
00:53:31.41\00:53:32.77
And thank You for this
privilege in Jesus' name.
00:53:32.81\00:53:35.24
Amen. Amen.
00:53:35.28\00:53:36.81
Dear Heavenly Father,
thank You so much that
00:53:36.85\00:53:38.41
we can come to You
00:53:38.45\00:53:39.78
and that You know us
better than we know ourselves.
00:53:39.81\00:53:42.82
And we ask that
You live in our hearts
00:53:42.85\00:53:46.39
and sometimes mold us
00:53:46.42\00:53:49.39
even if it hurts to
reflect Your character,
00:53:49.42\00:53:53.06
show us the right
way to go to pray.
00:53:53.09\00:53:57.43
Just help us to depend on You
00:53:57.47\00:53:59.47
and to find Your
example in Your Word.
00:53:59.50\00:54:02.14
Thank You for
loving us unconditionally
00:54:02.17\00:54:04.47
as Your children
and ambassadors as well.
00:54:04.51\00:54:07.18
Amen.
00:54:07.21\00:54:08.98
Dear Father, we just
praise Your holy name.
00:54:09.01\00:54:12.81
I just thank You for
loving us unconditionally.
00:54:12.85\00:54:17.92
And, you know,
we're not perfect,
00:54:17.95\00:54:20.62
but that's okay with You.
00:54:20.66\00:54:22.42
And I wanna thank You
00:54:22.46\00:54:23.93
for the gift of the Holy Spirit,
00:54:23.96\00:54:26.16
who is with us
every moment of the day
00:54:26.19\00:54:31.13
and can prompt us and help us
00:54:31.17\00:54:33.90
to, to act as
representatives of You.
00:54:33.94\00:54:38.81
So that people
will see You through us.
00:54:38.84\00:54:41.64
Lord, I pray that You
will be with each one listening
00:54:41.68\00:54:45.51
that they will
also ask for this gift
00:54:45.55\00:54:48.68
of Your Holy
Spirit and encourage them
00:54:48.72\00:54:51.82
to choose not only joy,
but to choose You, oh Lord,
00:54:51.85\00:54:56.36
for a life with
You is worth eternity.
00:54:56.39\00:55:01.66
So I wanna thank you.
00:55:01.70\00:55:04.57
Thank You, God.
00:55:04.60\00:55:06.07
Thank You that we
are Your children.
00:55:06.10\00:55:07.97
Thank You that You wanted us.
00:55:08.00\00:55:10.91
God, thank You
that You redeemed us.
00:55:10.94\00:55:13.91
Thank You that
You bought us back
00:55:13.94\00:55:15.34
from the land of the enemy.
00:55:15.38\00:55:16.71
And we're just so
grateful for that.
00:55:16.75\00:55:18.08
Behold, what manner of love
the Father has bestowed on us
00:55:18.11\00:55:22.78
that we should be
called Your sons and daughters.
00:55:22.82\00:55:24.85
And we're grateful for that.
00:55:24.89\00:55:26.22
Right now I pray for
my brothers and sisters.
00:55:26.25\00:55:28.42
Those may be in
that valley of decision.
00:55:28.46\00:55:30.86
Can I trust God?
00:55:30.89\00:55:32.43
Can I open up my heart?
00:55:32.46\00:55:34.10
Will He change me?
00:55:34.13\00:55:35.46
Will He do anything?
00:55:35.50\00:55:36.83
And so, Father, I just
pray for them right now,
00:55:36.87\00:55:40.30
even as we pray for
ourselves here in this room.
00:55:40.34\00:55:43.07
And, God, we ask that as
we open up even a teeny bit,
00:55:43.10\00:55:47.48
that You would come
in and then sup with us,
00:55:47.51\00:55:50.01
that You would change us,
00:55:50.05\00:55:51.38
that You would
give us Your peace,
00:55:51.41\00:55:54.05
Lord, when we need it
most give us Your grace
00:55:54.08\00:55:56.69
when we lack strength,
00:55:56.72\00:55:58.32
give us the
anointing of Your Holy Spirit.
00:55:58.35\00:56:00.49
We pray for
deliverance from addiction.
00:56:00.52\00:56:02.42
We pray for
freedom from bondage.
00:56:02.46\00:56:04.73
We pray for those
areas of our lives,
00:56:04.76\00:56:08.06
where we need forgiveness
00:56:08.10\00:56:09.43
and we need
change and we need You.
00:56:09.46\00:56:11.73
Would You come in and change us?
00:56:11.77\00:56:14.50
We thank You.
00:56:14.54\00:56:15.87
We love You in the
precious and holy name of Jesus.
00:56:15.90\00:56:19.87
Amen. Amen.
00:56:19.91\00:56:22.01
We have just a
couple moments left.
00:56:22.04\00:56:24.68
We're gonna go around the table
00:56:24.71\00:56:26.05
and give each one of you,
00:56:26.08\00:56:27.42
maybe a closing thought just
a few seconds, not a long time,
00:56:27.45\00:56:29.88
but start with you Janelle.
00:56:29.92\00:56:31.32
Something you wanna share.
00:56:31.35\00:56:32.79
I like this topic
of representing Christ
00:56:32.82\00:56:35.42
because I think
it brings us back
00:56:35.46\00:56:37.43
to the reality of who God is
00:56:37.46\00:56:40.63
and how He wants us to
be His representatives.
00:56:40.66\00:56:44.37
And I just, it's amazing to me,
00:56:44.40\00:56:46.30
the privilege
that He entrusts in us.
00:56:46.33\00:56:48.04
And I just pray that
all of us would give us
00:56:48.07\00:56:51.54
that, have the opportunity.
00:56:51.57\00:56:52.91
Amen. Francine?
00:56:52.94\00:56:55.78
We need to have
the love of Jesus.
00:56:55.81\00:56:58.18
And sometimes it's hard.
00:56:58.21\00:57:01.35
It's not easy to love the person
00:57:01.38\00:57:03.15
that is really hurting you.
00:57:03.18\00:57:05.85
And we all have that heartache,
00:57:05.89\00:57:08.72
but find the
opportunities to show that love.
00:57:08.76\00:57:12.96
Amen.
00:57:12.99\00:57:14.66
I just want to
encourage every one of you,
00:57:14.70\00:57:17.10
every morning invite
Jesus into your life.
00:57:17.13\00:57:20.60
And He'll be
with you all day long.
00:57:20.64\00:57:22.40
Amen.
00:57:22.44\00:57:23.77
Thank you so much,
Cinda and Aunt Francine
00:57:23.81\00:57:25.14
and Janelle, for being here.
00:57:25.17\00:57:26.51
And we thank you
for joining us as well.
00:57:26.54\00:57:28.88
I'm reminded of Hebrews 3:15,
00:57:28.91\00:57:31.08
"Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts.
00:57:31.11\00:57:34.68
Open up your
heart to accept Jesus."
00:57:34.72\00:57:36.92