GOD BEGAN TO UNDO MY VIEW OF HIM AND BUST IT UP.

Announcer: COMING UP, AUTHOR AND BIBLE TEACHER, JENNIE ALLEN,

OFFERS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON SURRENDERING TO GOD.

WE HAD SO LIMITED HIM BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID

AND WE DIDN'T TRUST HIM

AND WE THOUGHT IF WE GAVE HIM EVERYTHING

THAT HE MIGHT TAKE US UP ON IT AND HE DID!

[Laughter]

Announcer: WHAT IS YOUR "ANYTHING?" NEXT!

James: IT IS A JOY TO BE

WITH YOU AND TO COME INTO

YOUR HOME OR WHEREVER

YOU HAPPEN TO BE WATCHING.

I'M JAMES ROBISON.

MY WIFE BETTY AND I WELCOME

YOU TO LIFE TODAY.

JENNIE ALLEN IS WITH US.

SHE DID A PROGRAM EARLIER

WITH US, I HOPE YOU SAW IT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT

WE TALKED ABOUT A GREAT

BIBLE STUDY DVD SERIES

CALLED STUCK.

IT'S BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED

AND IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE

TO GET IN A CIRCLE AND

GET HONEST AND GET UNSTUCK.

POWERFUL TEACHING!

SHE'S A VERY GIFTED TEACHER

AND I REALLY BELIEVE

SHE'S SERIOUS ABOUT GOD.

WONDERFUL EDUCATION,

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,

WHAT A GREAT -- LET'S SAY,

FOUNDATION STONE FOR TRUTH

AND BIBLICAL TRUTH

AND RELEVANCE AT

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL,

IN MY OPINION IS A TREASURE.

WE'VE GOT TWO GREAT SEMINARIES

RIGHT HERE, MANY OTHER

BIBLE SCHOOLS HERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SOUTHWESTERN

AND DALLAS THEOLOGICAL

ARE VERY, VERY TRUE TO THE WORD

OF GOD AND COMMITTED TO IT,

WHICH SHE'S A GRADUATE THERE,

TONY EVANS, PRISCILLA SHIRER,

FROM DALLAS THEOLOGICAL.

MANY OF OUR FRIENDS,

MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE

ON THE PROGRAM MANY TIMES,

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY ARE

MANY OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS

ARE THE ONES THAT ENCOURAGE

INDIVISIBLE, OF ALL THINGS,

FOR JAMES ROBISON, PROTESTANT

TO WRITE A BOOK

WITH A CATHOLIC!

YOU SAY, "MY GOODNESS,

WHAT HAPPENED TO

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL?"

WELL, WE COULD ALL HAVE

A LITTLE AWAKENING IN OUR DAYS

AND THEY ENCOURAGE US

BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT

THE PEOPLE OF FAITH HAVE GOT

TO FIND COMMON GROUND

TO ADDRESS OUR LEGITIMATE

COMMON CONCERNS APPROPRIATELY,

EVEN THOUGH WE MAY HAVE

SOME DIFFERENCES.

NOW, AS A DALLAS THEOLOGICAL

GRADUATE, WOULD YOU AGREE

THAT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE

FREEDOM IN ORDER TO FREELY

DEMONSTRATE YOUR FAITH

AND FREELY DISCUSS YOUR FAITH

EVEN IF THERE ARE DIFFERENCES?

Jennie: I WOULD!

I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT!

James: WE'VE GOT

TO PRESERVE IT. DON'T WE?

Jennie: YES!

James: I'M TRYING TO DO THAT

SO YOU CAN KEEP DECLARING

AND DEMONSTRATING AND

WE CAN KEEP DISCUSSING IT.

I KNOW YOU APPRECIATE THAT.

NOW, YOU TOLD ME,

AND THIS IMPLIES SOMETHING

RIGHT HERE, YOU'VE GOT

A LITTLE KEY, SO ANYTHING,

BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT THOSE

LITTLE SUBHEADINGS.

YOU KNOW, THE SUBHEADINGS

ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEEM

TO REALIZE THAT, ANYTHING.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT

WE'RE JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT

ANYTHING BUT WE'RE GOING

TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

ALL RIGHT, HERE IT IS.

THE PRAYER THAT UNLOCKED

MY GOD AND MY SOUL.

OKAY, CLUE US IN.

TELL US WHAT'S HERE.

Jennie: WELL, ABOUT

THREE YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND

AND I WERE IN MINISTRY

AND I WOULD SAY WERE VERY --

HAD THE APPEARANCE OF

LOVING GOD, HAD THE APPEARANCE

OF A LIFE THAT WAS BLESSED

AND IN ORDER AND THAT

GOOD THINGS WERE HAPPENING

AND GOD WAS USING US

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT

WE WERE SAVED AND HAD COME

TO A SAVING FAITH, BUT I WAS

READING A BLOG OF A GIRL

IN UGANDA AND SHE WAS

FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

I'M SITTING ON MY BATHROOM

FLOOR ONE NIGHT BECAUSE

I'D HEARD ABOUT THIS GIRL

AND IT'S 1 AM AND I JUST CAN'T

GO TO SLEEP BECAUSE I CAN'T

QUIT READING ABOUT THIS GIRL

THAT IS LIVING

THIS SURRENDERED LIFE TO GOD.

IT'S A KIND OF RISKY,

COSTLY LIFE.

SHE'S ADOPTED 13 KIDS

OFF OF THE STREET,

13 LITTLE GIRLS

AT 21, 22 YEARS OLD.

SO I'M READING THIS

AND EVERYTHING IN ME IS JUST

COMING UNGLUED BECAUSE

I'M THINKING, "YOU ARE

MESSING WITH ME!

YOU ARE SUPPOSED

TO HAVE COMMUNITY.

HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING

TO GET MARRIED?

WHAT ABOUT YOUR PARENTS,

WHAT DO THEY THINK?"

AND IT JUST WAS EXPOSING

ALL OF THESE VALUES THAT

HAD DEFINED MY LIFE

AND IT WAS SAFE

AND COMFORTABLE AND EASY.

AND IF FAITH WASN'T SAFE,

AND COMFORTABLE, AND EASY,

I THOUGHT IT PROBABLY

ISN'T FROM GOD.

I'M WATCHING THIS GIRL

AND SHE'S JUST LIVING THIS

VERY UNCOMFORTABLE LIFE

AND YET IT IS SCREAMING

OF THE GLORY OF GOD

AND I WAS SO JEALOUS!

I JUST WANTED,

NOT NECESSARILY TO BE IN AFRICA

WITH 13 CHILDREN BUT

I WANTED GOD LIKE THAT!

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT GOD

THE WAY THAT SHE WAS.

I WANTED TO SURRENDER TO GOD

IN THE WAY THAT SHE WAS.

AND SO THE NEXT MORNING

I WOKE UP AND OF COURSE

I HAD TO LOAD THE DISHWASHER

AND TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS

AND I WASN'T GOING TO GET ON

A PLANE TO AFRICA THAT DAY!

BUT, GOD BEGAN TO UNDO

MY VIEW OF HIM AND BUST IT UP

AND HE HAS LED US,

MY HUSBAND AND I, TO PRAY

SOON AFTER THAT, A PRAYER,

AND IT'S SO SIMPLE,

JUST LITTLE WORDS,

BUT WE PRAYED,

"GOD, WE WILL DO ANYTHING."

AND WE JUST BEGAN TO HAND HIM

THE THINGS WE LOVED,

REALLY, MORE THAN HIM,

IF WE WERE HONEST.

SO, IT WAS PAINFUL

AND IT STILL IS.

I MEAN, IT IS COSTLY,

AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE GOD'S

HAND IN BLESSING OF OBEDIENCE.

BUT IT'S ALSO MESSY AND

IMPERFECT, AND OFTEN COSTLY.

SO, YEAH!

IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY.

James: WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN

TO SOMEBODY THAT

READS YOUR BOOK?

ARE THEY HEADED FOR AFRICA?

Jennie: THE ONLY CALL

IN THIS BOOK --

THERE'S NO SPECIFIC CALL

TO ADOPT OR SPONSOR A CHILD

OR -- ALL OF THOSE THINGS,

I BELIEVE, ARE THE HEART

OF GOD.

I BELIEVE EVERY ONE

OF OUR STORIES IS DIFFERENT

AND HE HAS WRITTEN

A UNIQUE PATH FOR US

AND THE BEAUTIFUL THING

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

IS WHEN WE PUSH IN,

AND WE SAY, "GOD, OKAY,

YOU HAVE ME.

YOU HAVE EVERY PIECE OF ME."

AND WE LITERALLY WERE

TAKING TANGIBLE LITTLE PARTS

OF OUR LIFE AND SAYING,

"GOD, YOU HAVE THIS.

YOU CAN HAVE IT!"

AND WE'RE HANDING IT TO HIM,

HE STARTED TO SHOW US.

HE'S THANKING US SAYING, "YES!

I KNOW, I REALLY

HAD IT ALL ANYWAY.

THANKS FOR THE GESTURE!"

BUT HE DID APPRECIATE

THE GESTURE BECAUSE WE HAD

BEEN LOVING THOSE THINGS

SO MUCH AND HE'S SO ADAMANT

THAT -- YOU KNOW, JESUS BOILS

DOWN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS

TO "LOVE THE LORD GOD

WITH ALL YOUR HEART,

WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,

WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH,

WITH ALL YOUR MIND!"

THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT

THING, JESUS SAID.

SO, FOR ME TO PUSH AWAY

ALL OF THIS AND SAY,

"GOD, YOU CAN HAVE IT.

ANYTHING YOU WANT!

ANYTHING THAT I HAVE,

ALL OF MY DAYS HERE,

ALL OF MY DECISIONS."

MY HUSBAND, THE SAME, HIS JOB.

I MEAN, WE JUST SAID,

"YOU'VE GOT US."

IT WAS JUST GOD SPRUNG TO LIFE

FOR US.

WE HAD SO LIMITED HIM

BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID

AND WE DIDN'T TRUST HIM

AND WE THOUGHT IF WE GAVE HIM

EVERYTHING THAT HE MIGHT

TAKE US UP ON IT.

AND HE DID!

[Laughter]

I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THAT

HE WON'T BUT IT IS SO MUCH

BETTER THAN WHERE I WAS

BECAUSE WE KNOW --

I MEAN, SOLOMON SAYS

IN ECCLESIASTES

HE HAD EVERYTHING

AND IT WAS CHASING THE WIND.

SO, AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THOSE THINGS WE'RE HOLDING

ON TO, IT'S WIND

AND WE FEEL IT.

IT SLIPS OUT OF OUR FINGERS

AND WE CAN'T SEEM

TO BOTTLE IT AND PUT IT INSIDE

AND MAKE OURSELVES

FEEL BETTER.

WE ALL FEEL THAT.

James: IT'S ALL VANITY,

IT'S ALL EMPTINESS,

IT'S ALL BASICALLY NOTHING.

IT ALL VANISHES.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT

SHE'S TALKING ABOUT

AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE

TO BE VERY POOR,

AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE

TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

AND THE GREATEST TEST

IN THIS LIFE, FOR ALL OF YOU

HERE IN THE STUDIO,

ALL OF YOU AT HOME,

THE GREATEST TEST

ON PLANET EARTH

IS GREAT SUCCESS.

EVERYBODY DOESN'T FACE

THAT TEST,

IT'S THE GREATEST TEST

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT

IT'S THE MOST NECESSARILY

DIFFICULT TEST, BUT IT'S

THE BIGGEST GREATEST TEST

BECAUSE IT CAN BECOME

ALL-CONSUMING.

I EXPERIENCED GREAT SUCCESS

AS A MINISTER, AND BY THE WAY,

THE EVEN GREATER DANGER

IS GREAT SUCCESS IN THE

SPIRITUAL REALM IN MINISTRY.

THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY HAVE

TO BE CAREFUL AND I WASN'T.

I REALLY DIDN'T DO

A WHOLE LOT RIGHT.

I OPERATED IN THE GIFTS,

BECAME TOTALLY DEFEATED,

BECAUSE I WAS IN LOVE WITH

THE "THINGS OF THE WORLD."

I ACTUALLY BECAME ENAMORED

WITH THE SUCCESS AND WHO

I THOUGHT I WAS AND WHO PEOPLE

SEEM TO SAY THAT I WAS

AND I BECAME DEFEATED

AND THE STUFF REALLY BECOMES

LIKE IDOLS AND THE LORD

REALLY HAD TO BREAK ME

AND STRIP ME.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE DID.

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED

IN THE STRIPPING PROCESS.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR THIS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I KNEW

THAT STUFF HAD ME.

I REMEMBER SAYING TO GOD,

WHY DON'T YOU JUST TAKE

EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME?

JUST TAKE EVERYTHING!

AND GOD JUST LIKE SHOUTED,

"SO YOU'LL LOVE ME

MORE THAN NOTHING?"

WHAT IF I GIVE YOU EVERYTHING

TO SEE IF YOU'LL LOVE ME

MORE THAN EVERYTHING?

THAT KIND OF STUNNED ME,

BUT HE DID.

EVERY DREAM,

EVERYTHING I EVER THOUGHT,

THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT HERE'S THE BEAUTY

OF IT ALL.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT

I HEAR YOU SAYING,

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT

IF WE DON'T GET THIS

YOU'LL STILL BE FISHING

AROUND TRYING TO GET IT

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IS,

WHEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM

THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD

GROW STRANGELY DIM

IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR GLORY

AND GRACE.

GRACE TO LAY IT DOWN,

GRACE TO SAY

I WILL DO ANYTHING,

ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE,

FOR ANYONE WHEN YOU SPEAK.

AND THAT REALLY HAPPENED TO ME!

THAT'S NOT STUFF,

I CAN TELL YOU THAT,

GOD'S LISTENING, HE KNOWS!

BUT I REALLY DID MEAN THAT

AND SOMETHING HAPPENED

INSIDE OF ME AND I MAY

BE WRONG ABOUT THIS BUT

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE

ANYTHING THAT GOD IS TRYING

TO BRING PEOPLE TO TODAY.

THIS IS WHERE HE IS TRYING

TO BRING YOU TO.

HERE'S THE MISTAKE PEOPLE

CAN MAKE, THEY CAN THINK

WELL, IT JUST MEANS SELL

THE HOUSE AND MOVE IN A HUT,

MOVE INTO A MONASTERY,

SELL EVERYTHING,

AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF,

AND THERE'S WHERE YOU MAKE

THE MISTAKE.

IT MAY BE THAT!

GOD MAY TELL MANY OF YOU

TO SELL YOUR HOUSE,

MOVE OUT OF IT!

BUT WHAT HE IS FOR SURE

TELLING YOU IS,

"DON'T LOVE YOUR HOUSE!

DON'T LOVE THE THINGS

OF THIS WORLD!

APPRECIATE THEM.

ENJOY THEM!

I GAVE YOU ALL THINGS RICHLY

TO ENJOY, BUT IF THEY BECOME

AN IDOL, IF THEY CONSUME YOU,

THEY GET YOUR LOVE

AND DEVOTION AND ATTENTION

INAPPROPRIATELY, THEY BECOME

A YOKE OF BONDAGE."

Jennie: ABSOLUTELY!

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S

SO POWERFUL ABOUT

UTTERING THOSE WORDS.

I'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE

SAY TO ME, "I DON'T KNOW

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I READ

THIS BOOK BUT I'M SCARED

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF

I CAN PRAY THESE WORDS."

SO, IT EXPOSED THAT

THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT

THEY WERE AFRAID TO LOSE.

IT KIND OF EXPOSED IT.

I DON'T THINK IT IS

NECESSARILY THAT WE THROW

EVERYTHING IN THE TRASH.

James: YOU'RE GOING

TO BE WILLING TO,

YOU'RE GOING TO BE WILLING

TO FORSAKE EVERYTHING.

HE SAID IF YOU'RE NOT

WILLING TO FORSAKE EVERYTHING

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE ME.

SO YOU DO LAY IT DOWN!

Jennie: AND I MISSED IT

AND I'VE BEEN A CHRISTIAN

FOR DECADES AND I HAD NOT BEEN

LIVING A LIFE OF SURRENDER.

I THINK, WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN

IS I HAD TO LOVE GOD MORE

AND TRUST HIM MORE

AND I HAD TO UNDERSTAND

WE ARE JUST NOT HERE

FOR VERY LONG!

WE ARE ONLY HERE

FOR A FEW DAYS

AND IF YOU REALLY START

TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT,

IF YOU REALLY START TO THINK

ABOUT ETERNITY WITH A GOD

THAT HAS DIED FOR US

AND GIVEN EVERYTHING FOR US

AND IS CALLING US FOREVER

TO BE WITH HIM AS HIS CHILDREN,

IF YOU START TO --

IT'S CRAZY!

I MEAN WE REALLY BELIEVE

CRAZY THINGS!

[Laughter]

BUT IF YOU DO BEGIN

TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT

YOU DON'T CARE WHAT HE SAYS.

YOU SAY, "OKAY!

WHATEVER IT IS, NO MATTER

HOW HARD, NO MATTER

HOW COSTLY, I WANT THAT THING

BECAUSE I WANT MY DAYS HERE

TO BE EXACTLY WHAT

YOU PLANNED FOR THEM.

WHATEVER IT IS, EVEN IF

IT IS HARD, I JUST LOOK

AT THE BIBLE AND ESTHER

AND MOSES AND JACOB.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE

DID NOT WANT THE THING THAT

GOD WAS TELLING THEM TO DO.

I MEAN, JOSEPH IS LIKE,

"REALLY, REALLY, GOD,

I DON'T WANT TO GO TO PRISON.

I DON'T WANT THIS HARD LIFE!"

AND YET GOD IS LIKE, "NO!

I HAVE A PATH FOR YOU,

AND A PLAN FOR YOU,

AND IT'S YOUR STORY

AND YOU'VE GOT TO LIVE

YOUR STORY BECAUSE

THROUGH YOUR STORY

I WILL MAKE MYSELF SEEN

AND KNOWN IN THIS WORLD."

THAT IS WHAT I THINK

THIS IS ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT GOD'S GLORY.

IT IS NOT ABOUT EACH OF US

DOING OUR FANCY LITTLE LIFE!

IT IS ABOUT US SAYING,

"GOD, YOU HAVE ME!

WILL YOU JUST SHOW YOURSELF

THROUGH ME?

WILL YOU SHOW YOURSELF

THROUGH THIS LITTLE LIFE

THAT REALLY ISN'T

VERY IMPORTANT?

WOULD YOU JUST TAKE

MY LITTLE DAYS AND DO

WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THEM?"

IT'S VERY REWARDING!

IT'S VERY COSTLY BUT

IT'S VERY REWARDING!

James: IT'S WHAT JESUS SAID,

"IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY,

TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME.

BUT NOT MY WILL BUT THINE

BE DONE."

JESUS KNEW EXACTLY WHERE

HE WAS HEADED.

HE KNEW HOW PAINFUL

IT WOULD BE.

HE SAID IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY,

"HOWEVER, NOT MY WILL,

BUT THINE BE DONE."

IT'S WHAT PETER DID,

IT'S WHAT PAUL DID,

IT'S WHAT THE APOSTLES DID.

THEY DIED FOR CHRIST.

PETER MADE A MESS OF THINGS.

HE ENDED UP, IN HIS LOVE,

BEING THE KEY NOTE SPEAKER

AT PENTECOST AND BEING

AN APOSTLE THAT HAD

SO MUCH POWER ON HIM

THAT WHEN PEOPLE GOT

IN HIS SHADOW

THEY WERE HEALED BY

THE GLORY AND POWER OF GOD.

BUT SIMON PETER, LEGEND SAYS

WHEN HE WAS CRUCIFIED,

HE SAID, "I DON'T DESERVE

TO BE CRUCIFIED LIKE CHRIST,

SO INVERT ME."

SO LEGEND SAYS THAT

THEY CRUCIFIED HIM

WITH HIS FEET IN THE AIR.

HE WAS CARRIED -- PAUL SAID,

"I GO BOUND IN THE SPIRIT

TO JERUSALEM NOT KNOWING

WHAT AWAITS ME THERE.

I'M BEING CARRIED BY

THE SPIRIT.

I'M BEING CONSTRAINED,

COMPELLED,

CONTROLLED BY LOVE."

AND THIS IS WHAT YOU MEAN

BY ANYTHING AND IF

YOU REDEFINE THE ANYTHING

IN OUR FINITE MINDS

WE'LL ALL END UP IN A MONASTERY

WITH A VOW OF POVERTY

AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T

UNDERSTOOD WHAT

ANYTHING MEANS.

IT MEANS BEING LED

BY THE SPIRIT.

IT MEANS BEING CARRIED,

CONTROLLED,

COMPELLED BY THE SPIRIT.

Betty: IT'S NOT ABOUT THINGS,

IT'S ABOUT HIM

AND HOW MUCH --

IF WE WILL JUST GIVE HIM

OUR WHOLE HEARTS AND SAY,

"GOD, FILL ME WITH YOU."

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RICHES

OF LIFE, IT'S ABOUT

THE RICHNESS THAT HE WANTS

TO FILL US WITH THAT HELPS US

TO LIVE THAT LIFE THAT

WILL GIVE US PEACE AND JOY

AND HAPPINESS IN HIM.

Jennie: WHEN I WATCHED

THE MOVIE, "AMAZING GRACE,"

AND I WATCHED WILLIAM

WILBERFORCE LIVE THIS LIFE

AND MY HUSBAND AND I GOT

IN THE CAR AND WE WERE JUST

SPEECHLESS AND WE DROVE

ALL THE WAY HOME

AND WHEN WE GOT HOME

WE HADN'T SAID ANYTHING

AND HE JUST LOOKED AT ME

AND HE WAS TEARY STILL,

AND HE JUST SAID, "I WANT

TO LIVE A LIFE

FOR THE GLORY OF GOD."

THAT MAN SUFFERED!

HE POURED OUT HIS LIFE

AND YET WE WERE

JUST SO JEALOUS OF IT!

WE WANTED TO LIVE LIKE THAT!

I THINK IT'S HARD

AND WE'RE SO COMFORTABLE,

EVERYTHING IS SO EASY

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY

THIS IS POWERFUL BECAUSE

WHEN YOU PUSH IT IN

AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH

A GOD WHO LOOKS OVER

AND STANDS OVER THE ENTIRE

UNIVERSE AND HE STANDS

OVER EVERY GENERATION

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT

HE'S GOING TO DO WITH YOU!

I MEAN, HE CAN DO ANYTHING!

HE'S GOD!

SO THERE'S A FEAR IN IT.

I THINK IT BRINGS YOU

TO A PLACE OF DEPENDENCE

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT

HE WAS AFTER IN ADAM AND EVE!

I THINK THAT'S WHAT

HE'S BEEN AFTER IN EVERY

SINGLE HUMAN ON THE EARTH

EVER SINCE, IS THAT

WE WOULD LOOK AT GOD AND SAY,

"I NEED YOU!

I'M NOT GOING TO GET OUT TODAY

AND DO MY LIFE INDEPENDENTLY,

I WANT TO DO WHATEVER

YOUR SPIRIT SAYS,

AND WHEREVER YOU LEAD ME!"

James: AND YOU HAD

THREE CHILDREN

AND YOU DID SOMETHING THAT

JUST MADE NO SENSE AT ALL.

WOULD YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS

WHAT YOU DID.

Jennie: YEAH, GOD DOESN'T

USUALLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

HE -- WE HAD A BED

IN OUR SON'S ROOM

AND WE WERE FINISHED

HAVING KIDS --

James: HAD A ROOM

THAT NOBODY WAS IN.

Jennie: ACTUALLY, SOMEBODY

WAS EVEN IN THE ROOM.

A BED, JUST A BED.

James: SPARE BED!

BEWARE IF YOU HAVE

A SPARE BED!

[Laughter]

YOU MAY WANT TO CHANGE CHANNELS

IF YOU'VE GOT A SPARE BED.

Jennie: THAT WAS ONE OF

THE THINGS WE OFFERED TO GOD

AND IT WAS SO CLEAR.

WE KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FILL IT.

WE FILLED IT WITH ABOUT

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL,

PRECIOUS CHILD THAT

GOD HAS EVER MADE.

HE IS JUST AMAZING.

James: WHERE DID YOU

GET HIM FROM?

Jennie: HE CAME FROM RWANDA.

James: WHERE THEY HAD

THE GENOCIDE WHERE YOU,

VIEWERS OF LIFE TODAY,

BUILT THE LARGEST ORPHANAGE,

PLACING 50,000 CHILDREN

OR MORE IN HOMES

WITH THE TRIBAL GROUPS

THAT WOULD KILL THE CHILD.

BUT NO MORE!

THE HEALING POWER OF GOD!

BUT THEY DON'T LET CHILDREN

OUT OF AFRICA BUT THEY DID

FOR A SHORT PERIOD

AND YOU GOT --

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

Jennie: HIS NAME IS COOPER.

James: HOW DOES HE SAY IT?

Jennie: KOO PUH!

[Laughter]

James: HOW OLD IS HE?

Jennie: HE'S FOUR YEARS OLD

AND WE GOT HIM ABOUT

EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

James: HOW DID THE CHILDREN

THAT WERE BORN TO

YOUR MARRIAGE LIKE COOPER?

Jennie: THEY THINK

HE'S THE GREATEST THING!

THAT'S JUST IT.

IT IS SO GOOD TO OBEY GOD!

I MEAN HE WRITES

GOOD STORIES!

I MEAN THIS IS A GOOD STORY!

I'M JUST SO MOVED BY WHAT

HE HAD FOR US.

BUT, I WOULD NOT

HAVE CHOSEN THIS!

I WOULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN IT!

IT WAS A RISK.

WE HAD THREE OTHER KIDS

AND WE HAVE --

THIS IS A THREE AND A HALF

YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY

THAT HAS BEEN RAISED

IN AN INSTITUTION

AND HE JUST COMES IN

AND YES, HE IS A PILL!

LET ME NOT FOOL ANYBODY.

HE IS A HANDFUL AND THEN

ABOUT A HUNDRED MORE!

AND YET, IT IS JUST THE MOST

JOYFUL ADDITION TO OUR LIVES

AND --

James: SO THAT WAS REALLY

PART OF THE ANYTHING,

WASN'T IT?

Jennie: THAT WAS ONE

OF THE ANYTHINGS.

SITTING HERE'S ONE OF

THE ANYTHINGS.

THERE'S A FEW!

James: I REALLY WOULD LOVE YOU

TO GET THE BOOK, ANYTHING.

WE WOULD BE GLAD TO SEND YOU

THE BOOK TODAY TO SAY

THANK YOU AND DO YOU

APPRECIATE JENNIE'S STORY?

DO YOU APPRECIATE

THE JOURNEY SHE'S ON

WITH THE LORD?

[Applause]

James: DO YOU KNOW, YOU'RE

A LOT YOUNGER THAN BETTY

AND ME, AND WE DON'T EVEN

HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AS YOUNG

AS YOUR CHILDREN.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND

A LONG TIME BUT

CAN I JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING?

I'M JUST AS EXCITED

AND BETTY IS JUST AS EXCITED

AS A COUPLE WE'RE JUST

AS EXCITED ABOUT SAYING,

"WE'LL DO ANYTHING, ANYTIME,

ANYWHERE, FOR ANYONE

AND KNOW THAT WE MEAN IT.

WE DON'T CHOOSE THE JOURNEY,

OFTENTIMES, GOD TAKES US ON.

JENNIE, I WOULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN

THE JOURNEY TO WRITE THE BOOK,

INDIVISIBLE, OF ALL THINGS

WITH A CATHOLIC.

HOW IN THE WORLD DOES

A PROTESTANT EVANGELICAL

WRITE A BOOK WITH A CATHOLIC

WHEN WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT

WE'RE TO AVOID ONE ANOTHER,

AND YET I'M TELLING YOU,

GOD WANTS TO DO A GREAT HEALING

AND BRING ALL OF US INTO

A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF

THE FATHER AND HIS LOVE.

GOD, THE FATHER,

I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT.

I'VE SAID ANYTHING FOR YOU

AND FOR YOUR PURPOSE

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY

WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET

PEOPLE TO SAY TO GOD.

IT'S WHAT YOU SAID

AND WE REALLY,

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

WE REJOICE WITH YOU

OVER COOPER AND OVER THE LOVE

OF GOD THAT'S BEING NOT ONLY

SHARED THROUGH YOU BUT

IS INSPIRING OTHERS

TO RELEASE THAT LOVE.

YOU HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW OFTEN

WE WISH WE COULD GIVE YOU

A HUG.

MANY OF YOU MEET US WHEN

WE TRAVEL, AND YOU SAY,

"CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG?"

I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST

WITH YOU, I MEAN I CAN LOOK

AT BETTY AND UNDERSTAND

WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO GIVE HER

A HUG BUT I THINK I KNOW

WHY YOU'D WANT TO GIVE US

A HUG, YOU HAVE SEEN JESUS

IN THE THINGS WE DO TOGETHER,

WE, YOU, ALL OF US TOGETHER.

YOU SEE JESUS

AND YOU WANT TO EMBRACE THAT.

WELL, HERE'S A CHANCE.

IN OUR LAST WEEK

OF MISSION FEEDING THIS TIME,

WE WANT TO SAVE SOME LIVES.

WATCH!

§ OH, YOU CAN'T HEAR ME CRY §

§ SEE MY DREAMS ALL DIE §

§ FROM WHERE YOU'RE STANDING §

§ ON YOUR OWN §

§ IT'S SO QUIET HERE §

§ AND I FEEL SO COLD §

§ THIS HOUSE NO LONGER FEELS LIKE HOME §

§ HOO, OOH HOO, §

§ MMM, MMM, MMM §

§ HOO, OOH HOO, §

§ MMM, MMM, MMM §

§ OH, WHOA, OHH OH §

§ HEY YEAH YEAH YEAH §

§ YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH §

§ WHOA OH WHOA OH §

§ HEY YEAH YEAH YEAH §

§ YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH §

§ YOU CAN'T HEAR ME CRY §

§ SEE MY DREAMS ALL DIE §

§ FROM WHERE YOU'RE STANDING §

§ ON YOUR OWN §

§ IT'S SO QUIET HERE §

§ AND I FEEL SO COLD §

§ THIS HOUSE NO LONGER FEELS LIKE HOME §

James: NO MORE REGAL,

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!

NO MORE OVERLOOKED

DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE, PERHAPS,

THAN THE AFRICAN PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE

YEARS GOD'S GOING TO GIVE ME

BUT, BOY, BY THE GRACE OF GOD,

I WANT TO HELP BE A PART

OF TURNING THAT NATION AROUND,

THE GREATEST RESOURCE

ON THAT CONTINENT

ARE THE PEOPLE,

THE CHILDREN, NOT JUST

THE NATURAL RESOURCES

BUT THE GREAT RESOURCE

OF THE PEOPLE.

AND LOVE'S GOING

TO TRANSFORM IT,

IT'S DOING IT!

I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW,

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART,

TAKE A GROUP OF THOSE KIDS.

I SAW THOSE THREE

STANDING THERE,

THE TALLER CHILD IN THE GOWN.

I SAID WOULD SOMEBODY TAKE

THOSE THREE? -- $30,

FEED THEM FOR THE NEXT MONTHS?

WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS

OF THOUSANDS LIKE THEM

LIKE THAT WE FOUND.

YOU SAY HOW DID

YOU FIND SO MANY?

BECAUSE THEY'RE THAT DESPERATE!

IN THE SUDAN THE MISSIONARIES

HAVE JUST FOUND

ANOTHER 20,000 WHERE

THEY WERE DYING, TWO A DAY,

JUST TRYING TO GET TO

OUR LITTLE FEEDING AREAS

THAT WE'VE SET UP WITH

THE HOPE OF KEEPING THEM.

THEY SAY IF YOU STAY

THERE WILL BE SO MANY

MORE COMING; 20,000

WE KNOW WILL COME

IF YOU'LL JUST DO IT.

I SAID WE'LL HAVE TO TRY

TO GET THE SUPPORT TO DO IT,

AND YOU'RE THE SUPPORT.

DON'T EVER WONDER

ARE YOU AND BETTY HELPING?

WE ALWAYS DO

AND WE DO IT JOYFULLY!

WOULD YOU PUT HIS ARMS

OF LOVE AROUND THEM, PLEASE?

DIAL THE NUMBER,

TAKE YOUR BANKCARD!

I'M ASKING YOU TO.

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK

ON THIS EMPHASIS.

MAKE THE LARGEST GIFT

YOU CAN POSSIBLY MAKE.

IF YOU COULD GIVE $1,000

AND HELP US FEED A 100 CHILDREN

FOR THE NEXT MONTHS.

YOU GIVE A GIFT OF $100

AND HELP US FEED TEN, PLEASE!

WRITE A CHECK,

MAKE IT TO LIFE!

GO ONLINE LIFETODAY.ORG;

MAKE THE BEST GIFT

YOU CAN TODAY!

PLEASE DO IT!

WHATEVER YOU DO,

WE'RE GIVING LIFE.

MAKE THE CHECK TO LIFE,

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GIVING.

WE'VE GOT SOME GIFTS FOR YOU,

TO BLESS YOU BECAUSE

YOU'RE ACTUALLY GIVING

THE GREATEST GIFT,

YOU'RE GIVING PEOPLE

A CHANCE AT LIFE,

LIFE ITSELF!

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE GIFT.

BY THE WAY, IF YOU GET A BUSY

WHEN YOU CALL BE DETERMINED,

LIVES DO DEPEND ON IT.

SAY, "I'M GOING

TO GET THROUGH!"

AS MUCH AS IF I WERE

DESPERATE FOR HELP,

THIS IS A 9-1-1 CALL FOR THEM.

I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH

AND I'M GOING TO HELP THEM.

THANK YOU FOR DOING IT!

Announcer: AT THIS VERY MOMENT, A CHILD IS DRAWING HIS LAST BREATH

STRUGGLING TO STAY ALIVE DUE TO A LACK OF FOOD.

SADLY, THIS IMPOVERISHED CHILD IS NOT ALONE

AND WITHOUT OUR HELP MANY LIKE HIM FACE DEATH AS WELL.

TODAY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE -- AND HELP SAVE A LIFE.

IN ADDITION TO THE 400,000 CHILDREN

ALREADY IN LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING PROGRAM,

OUR TEAMS HAVE FOUND A REGION IN SOUTH SUDAN WITH ANOTHER

20,000 CHILDREN IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE LIFE-SAVING ASSISTANCE.

OUR MISSION TEAMS ARE IN PLACE BUT

WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP TO REPLENISH

CRITICALLY NEEDED FOOD SUPPLIES IMMEDIATELY.

YOUR LIFE-SAVING GIFT OF $30, $50, OR $100

WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR THREE, FIVE, OR TEN CHILDREN

FOR THREE FULL MONTHS.

WITH YOUR GIFT, WE'LL RUSH YOU THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE.

THIS BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WILL HELP YOUR CHILDREN

DISCOVER FOR THEMSELVES THAT JESUS IS AT THE CENTER

OF GOD'S GREAT STORY OF SALVATION,

AND AT THE CENTER OF THEIR LIVES TOO!

WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE TO HELP FEED TEN CHILDREN,

YOU MAY REQUEST OUR NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

AND NEW KING JAMES SIDE-BY-SIDE BIBLE

WITH A TWO-COLUMN FORMAT FOR EASY COMPARISON.

FINALLY, PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE

TO HELP FEED AND SAVE THE LIVES OF 100 CHILDREN,

AND YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST "THE LION AND THE LAMB" BRONZE SCULPTURE.

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK! PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE!

Peter: THESE CHILDREN SHOULD BE RUNNING AROUND

PLAYING AND HAVING FUN BUT THAT IS BEING ROBBED FROM THEM

BECAUSE THEY ARE WITHOUT FOOD, THEY ARE WITHOUT HOPE.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING AND I ASK IF YOU COULD HELP US TO GIVE

THESE CHILDREN HOPE BY GIVING THEM A BOWL OF FOOD A DAY.

IT'S AMAZING HOW THAT BOWL OF FOOD EVERY DAY

ADDS HOPE TO A CHILD AND CHANGES THEIR SITUATION.

WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! WE CAN GIVE THEM HOPE!

WE CAN GIVE THEM A BOWL OF FOOD.

WE NEED YOUR HELP AND WE NEED IT NOW!

James: I DO REMIND YOU,

THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK NOW OF

THE MISSION FEEDING EMPHASIS.

I DO WANT TO MENTION THIS,

IF YOU'D LIKE,

WE'RE OFFERING THE BIBLE

AND THE CHILDREN'S BOOK

BUT IF YOU SAY, "HEY, I WOULD

REALLY LIKE TO HAVE

THAT BOOK THAT JENNIE HAS

WRITTEN, THAT ANYTHING DEAL,

BECAUSE PART OF ANYTHING

IS YOU HELPING THESE

DESPERATELY NEEDY PEOPLE

BUT WE'LL BE GLAD TO

SEND YOU THE BOOK TODAY

TO SAY THANK YOU

FOR YOUR GIFT.

BETTY AND I WANT TO SAY

THANKS TO JENNIE!

WOULD YOU JOIN US

IN JUST SAYING THANK YOU!

JENNIE, GOD BLESS YOU!

BY THE WAY, THERE IS

HER WEBSITE, IF YOU SAY,

"I'D LIKE HER TO COME

AND TEACH IN OUR CHURCH

OR OUR STUDY,"

OR YOU WANT TO GET SOME

OF HER MATERIAL,

IT'S IN THE BOOKSTORES

AND SHE'LL GIVE YOU

SOME INFORMATION

ON THE WEBSITE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

THANKS SO MUCH

FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Beth: HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN A WOMAN

THAT YOU CANNOT JUST BE FRIENDS WITH?

Announcer: GETTING OUT OF THE NET!

TOMORROW ON LIFE TODAY!