The most important thing we can do for our children is to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. If you're not sure if you've done that, join us! Even if you've walked with Christ for years, be refreshed and encouraged as you hear the freeing truth that it is not dependent upon you to save your children. Emily, Jen, and Steph will share their own testimonies and point us to Scripture to endure in difficult seasons. This episode complements Lesson 1 of Entrusted with a Child's Heart.
They're the joyful agains our children
shout on the swings, the exhausting
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:agains of cooking and laundry, and
the difficult agains of discipline.
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:So much of what we do
as mothers is on repeat.
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:So what if we woke up with clarity,
knowing which agains we were called
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:to, and went to bed believing we
are faithful in what matters most?
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:We believe God's Word is
the key to untangle from the
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:confusion and overwhelm we feel.
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:Let's look up together to embrace a
motherhood full of freedom and joy.
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:Thanks for joining us for
another episode of again.
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:I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.
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:And this is brought to you
by interested ministries.
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:We're continuing the
untangled series today.
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:With.
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:Untangling faith in Jesus.
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:And interested less than one.
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:Talks about how a godly mother builds her
home on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
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:But.
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:Sad to say.
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:I think most of the world knows
more about what Christianity.
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:Is against than what it
truly means to follow Christ.
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:This episode, I'll be joined
by Emily deal and 10 Frackman.
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:And we'll be sharing each of our
testimonies and how we came to know
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:Jesus Christ as our personal savior.
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:But first I'd like to take
a little time to share.
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:What the gospel actually means.
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:For many of you, you've already
heard these wonderful truths.
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:And even braced them.
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:And I pray that it's
encouraging to you as you here.
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:Once again.
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:What the Lord has done for you.
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:And I hope that as you listened
to our testimonies, You
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:give your children patients.
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:As the Lord works out their salvation.
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:It's his responsibility.
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:To sanctify them.
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:And to save them.
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:Our job is to be faithful
and pointing them to him.
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:But it's not on our shoulders.
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:To save them.
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:I hope that you're freed from that.
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:But encouraged to stay faithful
and the truths of scripture.
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:That as parents that we're not adding.
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:To the gospel.
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:That we live by grace.
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:And give our children, grace.
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:As we embrace our perfect savior.
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:Jesus Christ.
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:What does it mean to be a Christian?
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:From the beginning.
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:God's intention was to walk with us.
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:When he created Adam
and Eve in the garden.
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:He walked with them.
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:When Adam and Eve ate from the tree.
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:Of the knowledge of good and evil.
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:Sin entered the world.
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:They chose to live.
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:Apart from God's plan for them.
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:And the problem is that our sin
separates us from a perfect God.
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:And you might be thinking.
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:But I wouldn't have eaten from
the tree if God told me not to.
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:But we've all sent.
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:Romans 3 23 says for, we have all sinned
and fall short of the glory of God.
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:And Romans 6 23 tells us that
the wages of sin is death.
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:We have a huge problem that
we cannot solve on our own
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:praise the Lord.
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:That's not the end of the story.
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:The verse continues.
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:But the free gift of God
is eternal life in Christ.
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:Jesus, our Lord.
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:And since this moment in the garden,
God's intention has been to redeem
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:and restore this relationship with us.
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:So he sent his perfect son.
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:To earth.
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:To live a perfect life.
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:And to die on a cross.
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:Bearing all of our sin.
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:Upon himself.
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:And when he did that.
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:When he took our sin upon himself.
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:He broke the bonds of our sin.
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:So that we can now live.
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:For eternity with the Lord.
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:Ephesians 2 8, 2 9 says for by grace,
you have been saved through faith.
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:And then not of yourselves.
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:It is the gift of God.
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:Not as a result of
works lest any man boast.
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:We can not live a good enough life.
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:To get to heaven.
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:If we could do that.
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:Why would you have had to die?
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:Scripture says that he is
the only way to the father.
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:Time 14, six says I am the way the
truth and the life, no one comes
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:to the father except through me.
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:Hebrews 9 27.
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:And as much as it is appointed for men to
die once and after this comes judgment.
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:After we die.
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:We will have final judgment.
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:And at that moment, we will
either have separation from God.
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:Or eternity with him.
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:To think that you can live
your entire earthly life.
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:Apart.
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:From the Lord.
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:And think that you will still
enter eternity with him.
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:It's not in scripture.
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:That's not what the Bible teaches.
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:In John 5 24, Jesus says truly,
truly I say to you, he who hears my
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:word and believes him who sent me.
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:He has eternal life.
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:And does not come into judgment.
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:But has passed out of death.
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:Into life.
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:And Ephesians one seven
through eight in him.
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:That's through Jesus.
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:We have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses.
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:According to the riches of his
grace, which he lavished on us.
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:So there's nothing that
we can do to earn it.
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:But we are offered this free gift.
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:Of grace.
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:By just accepting Jesus, his sacrifice.
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:For our sin.
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:But we have to admit it.
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:We have to admit that we are sinners
and that we have a problem that we
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:can't do it in our own strength.
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:That no matter how hard we try.
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:We can never.
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:Be good enough.
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:Before a holy God.
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:Romans 10, nine through 10.
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:States that if you could fast
with your mouth, Jesus is Lord.
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:And believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead.
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:You will be saved.
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:For, with the heart, a person
believes resulting in righteousness.
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:And with the mouth he confesses
resulting in salvation.
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:You can't just hear the words.
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:You have to say them, you have to embrace.
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:What you've heard and act upon them.
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:You have to agree with the
Lord that you needed rescuing.
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:And in revelation three 20.
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:Jesus says behold, I stand
at the door and knock.
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:If you're hearing that for the first time.
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:Or if for the first time you understand.
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:That you're a sinner and
that you need Jesus Christ.
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:You can write where you are.
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:Pray this prayer with me.
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:Heavenly father.
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:I understand that I am a center.
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:And I know that my sin
separates me from you.
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:Thank you for sending your son.
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:Jesus Christ.
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:To die for my sins.
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:So that I can be restored
to a right relationship.
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:With you.
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:I surrender my life to you.
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:And I ask.
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:That you would come.
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:Take residents in my heart.
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:And transform me.
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:And the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
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:I pray.
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:Amen.
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:Maybe you felt that that all went a
little fast and it was overwhelming.
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:You can go to some wonderful
video teachings that we have.
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:That clarify this and give a longer
explanation of what the Bible means.
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:And of what Jesus really did for us.
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:gO to the resource section on our website.
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:And trusted ministries.com.
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:Again, the resource page and look for
those video teachings with Dave Corning.
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:They're fantastic for.
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:Dad's to watch with.
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:Growing kids for
discipleship opportunities.
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:Or for anyone looking to
strengthen their faith and their
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:understanding of scripture.
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:And now we'll be joined by Emily DEO
and Jen Frackman they're each going to
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:share how they came to faith in Christ.
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:And it's such a sweet opportunity
for us to give the Lord glory
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:by showing his steadfastness
and pursuing each of us.
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:JEn, let's just jump
in and start with you.
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:Tell us how you came to know the Lord.
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:Jen: Yeah, I was born and
raised into a Christian family.
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:My parents both love the Lord.
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:My dad was a very hardworking man,
worked in a factory would be home by.
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:3.
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:30 every afternoon and my
mom would have dinner made.
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:We'd eat dinner together around
the table, a home cooked meal, and
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:then we'd go out and ride bikes and
spend time together as a family.
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:So I had a wonderful wonderful childhood.
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:My mom , stayed home with all
of us girls and she did not have
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:a stay at home mom and she was.
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:In charge of doing all the cooking
and all the laundry and the cleaning
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:and taking care of the kids as the
oldest daughter of the home and she
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:did not want to do that for her kids.
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:So she was very, very faithful
to provide us girls a really good
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:childhood where we could just.
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:Be a kid and have fun and, they raised
us in the admonition of the Lord and took
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:us to church every day or not every day.
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:Sometimes it did feel like every
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:day we were there,
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:Steph: that's where you rode your bikes?
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:Jen: yeah, exactly.
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:Took us to church weekly.
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:We did Sunday services and back
then you did, you know, a morning
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:service and then you went back
for the evening service as well.
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:And then.
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:We do a Juana.
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:I grew up doing that.
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:So I definitely, there was, there's never
been a day in my life where I didn't know
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:the Lord, And I'm so thankful for that.
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:When I was around four years old, I
remember having a conversation with
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:my mom, she was making cookies and.
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:I was sitting at the counter
waiting for said cookies to be done.
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:And my dad's uncle had just passed away
in a plane crash, a small plane crash.
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:And we were talking about, well,
where is he going to go after he died?
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:Did he know Jesus?
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:And there was a question about,
well, I, I'm not exactly sure.
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:We don't know if he loved Jesus or not.
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:And that idea to me that somebody.
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:Might not love Jesus was new at like four.
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:I was like, wait, some people don't love
Jesus and I was very concerned and I'm
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:like, well, then what happens when we die?
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:And so when my mom went through that
those who believe in Christ go to heaven
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:that don't have to go to hell and And so
even at a young age, I was like, well,
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:I don't I don't want to go to hell and
so we Went I knelt on the floor I prayed
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:what, you know, people will sinner's
prayer where I, I asked Jesus, you
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:know, to be the Lord of my life at four.
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:And from what I knew of growing
up scripture and going to church I
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:gave my little four year old life
to over to the Lord at that moment.
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:And I remember it.
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:I clearly remember it.
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:confessing my sins to him.
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:I remember hugging and being really happy
that I was going to Eternity with Jesus.
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:And then as you know, you get
older and you understand more.
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:I remember our church had a building
project where they were trying to
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:save money for building the church.
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:And I being, I think I was seven maybe.
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:And I felt very called that they
were talking to everybody in the
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:church that needed to give money.
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:And so I went in our backyard
and asked my dad if we could.
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:Take some of the garden vegetables and
if I could sell them and so I did I went
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:door to door and I sold vegetables and
I swear one of our neighbor ladies was
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:just so sweet when she heard my story
of why I was selling vegetables and gave
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:me like 5 for one It was really sweet.
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:BUt I tell that story just to say I, I
feel like at a young age like the Holy
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:Spirit was working in my heart and in my.
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:In my life, I had a sensitivity
towards that that doesn't mean
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:by any means that I was sinless.
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:You can talk to my sisters
I very much was not.
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:BUt I do know, and I do remember
feeling, especially at different
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:times in my life as I was growing up.
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:the Lord calling me unto him more and
more and revealing himself to me more
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:more understanding and love for him.
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:When I was in high school, I had
an amazing youth pastor, like Loved
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:him and his wife and his family.
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:They just took me in and I felt
like I became a daughter to them.
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:They just were amazing.
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:And he poured into our youth, unlike
anybody really has in, in my life.
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:I it's been amazing.
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:He.
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:Spoke to us as teenagers, as
though we were, I mean, He spoke
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:to us at a level much higher.
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:than but he called us higher.
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:He, he made a, He gave us a vision
and he gave us a desire to know
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:more and to, to want to know more.
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:And I remember him taking us to this thing
in Chicago at Wheaton college called SEMP.
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:It was students equipped
to minister to peers.
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:And I remember being like, what?
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:Are you taking us to Chicago?
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:I'm like small town, Michigan.
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:I had no idea what this was about.
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:And I went and this place was
lit up with worshiping and just
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:gospel total, like in the word and
showing us scripture and apologetics
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:and teaching us about our faith.
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:And I had worshiped there.
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:Unlike I had ever experienced before.
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:And I, I remember there was one story
that's just, it was really impactful
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:in my life, but we were worshiping
and it was so loud and the Holy
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:Spirit was just so in that room and.
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:All of a sudden, the lights
went out and the power went out.
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:There was a storm outside.
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:We didn't know it, but all the power
went out and I was like, we just died.
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:went to heaven.
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:Like, Oh my goodness.
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:It was, I remember looking
around being like, Oh, we did it.
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:We entered into the throne
room and then we realized, Oh
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:no, the lights just went out.
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:Emily: we're still in
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:Jen: It was quite.
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:Yeah, we're still here, we're
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:still here.
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:So I had that youth pastor who spoke truth
into me and put a huge emphasis on being
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:in the word and knowing the word and going
to church and being around believers and
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:sharing your faith, not holding it for
yourself, but like telling others and
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:evangelizing and, I remember him speaking
often of 1 Timothy 4, 12, my youth pastor
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:did, and he would say all the time,
let no one despise you for your youth,
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:but set an example for the believers
in speech and conduct and and purity.
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:And I just, I remember taking
that and being like, yeah, I
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:I'm young, doesn't mean that.
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:I can't be effective for
the Lord to aspire to that.
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:Definitely, when was in high school, there
were times where I, you know, either dated
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:a just was going through a hard time and
he would speak truth to me and call me
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:things that I needed to be called out on
and wasn't afraid to use the scripture to.
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:Changed the course of my life to say
This doing You need to knock it off.
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:And so I'm just so thankful for that
and then fast forward I met Eric my
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:husband and he became my newest pastor
who shepherded me and still shepherds
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:me and and continues to insist that
we live by the authority of God
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:God's I'm just so thankful for that.
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:I look back in and I see different
things like close relational hardships
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:health, unmet needs, dreams that
didn't happen or come to fruition.
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:And every single time, all
those hardships, all the things.
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:Not only was the Lord faithful and
steadfast to me, but he used every
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:ounce of pain to draw me into a deeper
and more right relationship And so even
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:times where when we were going through
infertility, there's a verse in habakkuk
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:3 that says, Though the fig tree does not
bud and no fruit is on the vines, though
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:the olive, Crop fails and the fields
produce no food and it keeps going on.
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:It says yet.
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:I will exalt in the Lord I will rejoice
in the God of my salvation And so I
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:remember when we are going through
infertility and things I felt he's not
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:answering my prayers the way I want
them to I will rejoice in him and I
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:will Hold fast to him and in my heart.
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:That's what I was feeling.
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:I know that that is Now as a more
mature believer, I know that that
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:is the Lord Allowing me to have that
that's the Lord working in me and me
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:to draw near to him more But I remember
wanting so hard to hold fast to him
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:and being like, you are all I have.
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:If I let myself give into this pain,
if I let myself give into the sadness
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:or the disappointment my dreams aren't
being met and my hopes aren't being
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:met up to the expectation that I have,
I know I will just give up on this.
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:And I don't want to do that.
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:I know that my heart
is desperately wicked.
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:And so.
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:I can't trust it.
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:I can't go on my feelings.
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:I can't go on what I'm experiencing
in my life right now and
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:think that that's the truth.
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:I have to go on God's word and whatever
God's word says, that's the truth.
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:And he's saying that these momentary
trials are light, that they're
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:not, that they're not everlasting
and that he's overcome that.
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:And so I would say that through it looking
back and even now, even in different.
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:TRials that we're currently in, I
can say that he is truly everything.
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:And He's the one that
I he's my best friend.
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:He's the joy of my life and can make
me, can make me want to cry, but
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:I truly, he's, he's my everything.
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:And and, and without him,
I know I wouldn't be No, I
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:wouldn't be who I am today.
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:Apart from him working in my life
and giving me his word and, and
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:these people that he put into
my life, like my parents and.
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:My sisters and.
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:My youth pastor and my, you
know, the different pastors that
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:have just spoke truth to me and
given me a love for the word
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:That was so beautiful to hear.
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:I see.
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:Such clear fruit of what God has done in
you, but hearing the path to get there.
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:It was just really, really beautiful.
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:Thank you.
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:And, and hearing the people that
poured into you, your youth pastor.
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:And your parents.
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:Such a beautiful story.
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:So Emily, I'd love to hear your testimony.
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:Now, how did you come to
know Christ as your savior?
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:Emily: Well, I think, we're talking about.
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:Friendship and, at the beginning you
had said we all have different stories
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:and I think nothing fuses friendship
together than jumping in the deep end
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:and sharing our testimonies because
you're just reminded of the goodness
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:of God, honestly because I think I'm
listening to Jen and I'm thinking over
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:just my life and That song comes to mind.
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:I will sing of the goodness
of God all my life.
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:You have been faithful.
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:And I think that just speaks to or the
gospel in such a beautiful way because.
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:The gospel throughout my life is
not, has not been like a one and
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:done thing of accepting Christ,
moving on and doing my own thing.
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:It has been a, a journey of sanctification
and relationship and refinement and
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:And discipline from him and love.
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:The gospel is a lifelong thing that he
is just so kind and so gracious to us.
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:So I like Jen, came from a Christian
home and I was surrounded by all
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:things, church our family gathered.
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:Every Sunday at my
grandma's for Sunday dinner.
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:I had a very sweet childhood.
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:So the gospel was something
that I was very familiar with.
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:And I came to love Jesus
at a very young age.
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:I I remember asking my mom.
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:About heaven and, she
talked with me about it.
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:But I think I did not
realize my need for him.
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:I had a love for him at a young age.
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:I did not realize my need for
him until I became a teenager.
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:And maybe there was just more
of an understanding there.
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:And so I would say for me,
when I was 16 years old.
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:I understood my need for him.
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:I went to summer camp and came home and,
I talked to my mom again, and again,
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:she was so gracious to walk me through
the Bible and sit down and talk with me.
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:And so I accepted the Lord
as my savior when I was 16.
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:That is the story of how I came to know
Christ and and then fast forward later on
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:, I got married and my husband and I found
ourselves in a very legalistic church.
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:And so I bring this up because whenever
I think of the gospel and just the
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:Lord's goodness and bringing us
around and being so kind to show us
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:this was one area that the Lord really
showed us in our life that we needed
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:to exit was this world of legalism.
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:So young, married, we had one son.
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:We came to this understanding that
we were just in a church that the
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:legalism and the man made rules
were choking out any relationship
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:that we would seek with Christ.
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:Through God's goodness, we were led out of
that and and into a relationship really.
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:At that point, that is when we
came to really know Him and and
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:just dig our heels into the word.
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:And so again, the gospel stretches across
our lifetime and it will never ever end
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:until the day that we are no longer here.
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:The Lord led us out of all of that
and that's when he led us into
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:a deeper relationship with him.
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:So that is how we came
to to where we are now.
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:Jen: Emily, that's beautiful.
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:I love that.
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:I love that the Holy Spirit just led
you to know that this isn't right.
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:This isn't what I've called
you towards, to legalism.
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:as believers we can Think of
something that, Oh, this is good.
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:And this is a holy thing, but then we
can start to worship that holy thing
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:as opposed to worshiping the Lord.
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:And in those moments when we're putting
the pedestal that's, That was a good
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:call to leave that and, and to do that.
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:and I love that.
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:He uses that.
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:He uses that to draw
you even closer to him.
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:Emily: Yes, yes.
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:He's so good to us in that way.
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:Emily, I'm sure it took a lot of courage
to make those steps and probably a lot
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:of second guessing even in the process.
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:Just to find, am I really following
scripture and my discerning this properly?
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:Betsy teaches that the heart is
comprised of the mind will and emotions.
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:And if you just have
the mind and the will.
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:You will have a lack of
joy and mechanical worship.
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:And you're not motivated out of love
for the lord but you fall into legalism
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:Emily: Yes.
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:If you don't have the heart,
like we can obey rules.
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:It's easy for us to obey rules.
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:And often, those rules do replace a
relationship with Christ because they're
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:man made constructs that we can look at
and say, Oh, I've hit the mark there.
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:Check.
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:I've hit the mark here.
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:Check.
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:Instead of genuinely seeking our
heart out and aligning it with
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:where Christ would have it to be
it's almost easier to turn to those
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:rules and Not seek a relationship.
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:So it's easy to fall into that trap, but
if the Lord's calling you out of it, then
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:I think, you know, you need to obey and
then trust that he will show you the way
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:out because when we did leave that, that
meant that we left all relationships.
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:And so we started over again and it
was scary, but God was so, so good
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:because he brought just the right
people in at just the right time.
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:And I can look across our life and he
has done that every time he's called
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:us out of something he has called the
right people into our lives and without
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:us even seeking it out sometimes.
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:So, he's so faithful that way if he's
calling you to something, it's always for
449
:something
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:Jen: That's so true.
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:It reminds me in the story of
Abraham that God called him out and
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:he did not know where he was going.
453
:just start walking
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:Steph: Yep.
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:Jen: and I'll I'll, I'll let
you know where you're going.
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:But he called him out and he
laughed and he obeyed and he
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:didn't where he was going.
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:And so often I think sometimes
we are like, well, I'll obey when
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:I know where he's taking And we
don't always get to know that.
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:And so being obedient, even when there
is not clarity and there's confusion of
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:exactly what he wants you to be doing,
but you know, in your heart, in the
462
:depths of your heart that something
isn't right here and he's taking you out.
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:But you're not sure what that
is that he's taking you towards.
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:Just being faithful and
trusting him and allowing the
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:time for him to reveal that to
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:Steph: Right.
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:And if you think about Abraham's
story, he was in a thriving area.
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:God said I'm going to take you and
I'm going to put you in the name of
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:a town, you don't even know and, then
I'm going to make you a promise and I'm
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:going to take 25 years to fulfill it.
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:And then even that's not going to be easy.
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:We can't In our humanness, we
can not have the plan right away.
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:Right.
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:Emily: mm hmm.
475
:Mm
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:Jen: Yeah,
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:Steph: Yeah.
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:Emily: Whenever he removes you
from a spot that you feel most
479
:secure, he will always surround you
with what is secure in his name.
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:And then, and then he'll make
you okay with it in time.
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:He's just he's just
been so good about that.
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:Jen: I agree with that There's a quote
by Elizabeth Elliot that says waiting
483
:on God requires the willingness to bear
uncertainty To carry within oneself
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:the unanswered question Lifting the
heart to God about it whenever it
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:intrudes upon one's thoughts and I
that has been instrumental in my life
486
:on times where I don't know what to
do, but I need to wait because he's
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:not providing clarity right now.
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:And, and that's okay.
489
:We're so quick to run into something
and just want to be able to know
490
:exactly what's happening, but sometimes
491
:Emily: Yes, that's a hard,
that's a difficult spot to be in.
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:But it deepens our relationship with him.
493
:And and it just
494
:means utter dependence on him.
495
:And.
496
:It's a beautiful place, but probably not a
place we would volunteer to be in either.
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:Steph: Mm
498
:Jen: Right.
499
:Exactly.
500
:I'd prefer to know exactly what's
happening and where, what his
501
:plan is and what he's thinking in
any given moment about something.
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:But there are times though, the
verse that says that his thoughts
503
:are higher than our thoughts and
his ways are higher than our ways.
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:There's times where I love that
verse and I am so thankful for
505
:that verse that his ways are not.
506
:my ways.
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:And there's other times where
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:Emily: So Steph, we've heard
from both Jen and myself.
509
:So what is your story of how you came to
Christ and what did that look like for
510
:you?
511
:Steph: I can really, really relate to
both of your stories It's probably going
512
:to sound funny, just the same ages and
similar circumstances, but I was also
513
:four years old when I clearly heard the
gospel shared by my babysitter's daughter.
514
:Her name was Amaria.
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:And she was just such a
sweet, dear friend to me.
516
:And so I can remember we were both in
princess nightgowns and she said to me,
517
:do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?
518
:and then she explained what it meant.
519
:And I can just remember, I mean,
vividly clear as day saying, yes,
520
:of course, that's what I believe.
521
:And we knelt down together
at the coffee table and.
522
:I feel like you, Jen, that I, I
can honestly look back on my life
523
:and I don't think there was ever
a day I didn't believe in God.
524
:I see that as such a gift, that
the Lord gave me the gift of faith,
525
:that that's never been something
I've questioned in my life.
526
:I've known that there is a God and that
He is good and that the greatest thing
527
:I could ever do with my life would be
to serve Him and so I did grow up in
528
:a Christian home parents, I think had
set the groundwork so that when I heard
529
:it laid out so clearly, and, and I'm
sure that I had heard it before, but
530
:that day is just what really stands out
531
:And, my mom was very sweet to do
things like make Play-Doh with us.
532
:the colors that I liked homemade and then,
, to build, Dow houses and things like that.
533
:So I have some really sweet
memories of that time.
534
:ANd then we moved to a
town a couple hours away.
535
:Steph: I truly loved Jesus, but I can
also see how the Lord has continued to
536
:refine me I was always trying to be such
a good girl and I could see the different
537
:circumstances that my parents were going
through different trials and things.
538
:And I just thought, I don't
want to add to any burdens.
539
:I just want to be a blessing to them.
540
:And then when I was quite young, I
suffered some abuse by a neighbor and
541
:I can see how the enemy used that in
my life to confirm that I wasn't good
542
:enough and that I needed to work.
543
:I would say that I truly believed
everything in scripture, but the process
544
:of accepting grace my head has known that,
but my heart hasn't always known that
545
:in a very small town and we went to
an amazing church, but it was pretty
546
:far away, and I did not have a solid
Christian friend until I went to
547
:college and that was, pretty lonely.
548
:And my brother and I are very
close, I think because of it.
549
:Jen: Hmm.
550
:Steph: I mean, I had great friends and I'm
not trying to diminish that , but just to
551
:have that connection with a friend that
truly loved the Lord and strengthened
552
:you and encouraged you in that.
553
:I didn't have that until college.
554
:The Lord used those years to...
555
:Be my best friend to be my everything
I did have a love for his word, but.
556
:It wasn't until I was in college that I
surrounded by great Christian friends and
557
:I was so excited about campus ministry
and I was at a public university, but
558
:that meant that the people who were campus
ministry were so on fire for the Lord.
559
:I had amazing fellowship with them and.
560
:The campus pastor's wife.
561
:She was just a couple years older than us.
562
:She became my mentor and was an
incredible influence upon me.
563
:I actually lived with them for a
semester and I got to see how they
564
:raised their family and such a godly way.
565
:And so it was neat to add that on to.
566
:The beautiful, things that
my parents had taught me
567
:And I am so thankful that I have
a savior that does redeem it all,
568
:but my story is definitely not
wrapped up with a pretty bow yet.
569
:I'm in a season of suffering,
Elizabeth Elliott says, suffering
570
:is wanting something you don't have
or having something you don't want.
571
:And I like that definition because
it fits so many circumstances.
572
:And I just read her book.
573
:Suffering is never for nothing.
574
:I feel that the Lord has asked
me to give everything to Him.
575
:Every desire I had, even the purest
desires that I had,, I can really
576
:relate to the woman who broke the
alabaster jar And I can see many times
577
:in my life where it's like I broke it
at his feet and gave him everything.
578
:And then there are some days where you
just kind of want to take the jar back.
579
:Can I just have it back?
580
:Can I just have that thing
back that I gave you?
581
:Because this is harder than I expected.
582
:And I didn't know the
sacrifice would cost so much.
583
:And he's so worth it, but I do find that
I am more in need of him every day than
584
:I think I've ever been in my life, to
be faithful, to find joy in him when
585
:it says in Nehemiah that the joy of the
Lord is our strength, I feel that, and
586
:I see how when I seek him in his word,
and just the joy that he gives me.
587
:I'm so grateful for, but I also
have to fight to stay in that.
588
:And, God can relate to every, every
struggle, every trial that we have that.
589
:It says in Hebrews that we do
not have a high priest who cannot
590
:relate to our suffering, but
he was tempted in every way.
591
:And I find that whatever I'm feeling,
whether I'm feeling rejected or
592
:lonely, of course Jesus felt that way.
593
:I've been reading in Ezekiel God's heart
has been hurt by his people before and
594
:it's okay when we hurt he gets that and
so I found that he is the most worthy
595
:place to take my pain and He will trade
it for peace He will lighten the load,
596
:but it doesn't mean he's going to make
it easy, and it doesn't mean he's going
597
:to give me enough mana so I don't have
to come back the next day, you know?
598
:And I've learned to embrace
that, my reliance upon him more.
599
:Emily: hm,
600
:Steph: In the last ten years or so, my
dad passed away very tragically when I
601
:was pregnant with my firstborn and, and
my dad was always ready to listen to me
602
:and, I truly miss his presence in my life
and then shortly after that my father in
603
:law passed away and then my sweet mother
got engaged and then that gentleman passed
604
:away and I loved him and then with my
husband struggling with MS, The Lord has
605
:allowed so many people that I would turn
to for answers to be removed from my life.
606
:And he has become the one
that I run to for everything.
607
:tHe problem solver.
608
:He is my helper.
609
:And I can see how I've had this pure
love for the Lord, but I needed to be
610
:strengthened and my prayer for a while has
been that I would be like Jeremiah 17 when
611
:it says, Blessed is the man who trusts
in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
612
:He is like a tree planted by water
that sends out its roots by the stream
613
:and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green and is
614
:not anxious in the year of drought.
615
:For it does not cease to bear fruit and
I can see how the Lord has done that in
616
:me where a lot of Anxiety that I've had
in the past He has taken that because
617
:I've seen how when I've gone through
these hard times he stayed faithful.
618
:Whether it was, my son Being
in the hospital multiple times
619
:and getting a scary diagnosis.
620
:And we didn't know if
he'd ever walk again.
621
:And Really hard financial seasons
of my husband losing jobs and
622
:being unemployed for years.
623
:And God has been so, so faithful that
that tendency that I used to have to be
624
:anxious, the Lord has really shown me.
625
:I don't need to fear.
626
:He's going to be faithful.
627
:I don't know how he's going to do it,
but he's going to show up every time,
628
:and the testimonies that I have of his
goodness are so precious to me, I'm
629
:truly grateful for the fruit that he's
borne in my heart, that he's allowed me to
630
:know him on a deeper level, and, I think
what I want people to understand about
631
:the gospel Is that it just has nothing
to do with us, that it's all about Jesus
632
:and the sacrifice that he made for us.
633
:And when I look at that, how
can I not give him everything?
634
:But he didn't just die
on the cross for us.
635
:He desires to meet with us
every day, to do life with us.
636
:And that gift is the greatest treasure.
637
:Emily: Hm.
638
:That's beautiful stuff.
639
:Jen: is
640
:Emily: the joy of the Lord is
something that He is calling us
641
:to, but we fully experience it
when we come into His presence.
642
:Jen: Hmm.
643
:Emily: And in his nearness, there
is a joy beyond our circumstances.
644
:I think the fruit of
following is steadfastness.
645
:And he grants that to us.
646
:And it's not something we can work
for, and that's the beauty of it.
647
:It's not something we can
work for, or earn, or do more,
648
:or prosperity our way there.
649
:It's something that he lends us,
and it's just given so freely.
650
:But we have to do the yielding for it.
651
:If you're interested in learning
more about this peace and joy,
652
:that surpasses circumstances.
653
:We would love to talk to you.
654
:You can reach us at 1, 2, 4 0 2 0.
655
:Again.
656
:That's 1, 2, 4, 0.
657
:2 0 2.
658
:4 2, 4, 6.
659
:We know you're busy, Mama, so
we are truly grateful you joined
660
:us for this episode of Again.
661
:If you're looking for more information
about building your home on the
662
:foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.
663
:EntrustedMinistries.
664
:com to learn more about our study for
moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.
665
:This scripture saturated study
has blessed families around the
666
:world, and we want it for you, too.
667
:Before you go, I want to pray
this benediction over you
668
:from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.
669
:We're rooting for you.
670
:To this end, we always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of His
671
:calling, and may fulfill every resolve
for good, and every work of faith by
672
:His power, so that the name of our Lord
Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in
673
:Him, according to the grace of our God.
674
:And the Lord Jesus Christ.
675
:Amen.
676
:Until we meet again.