Announcer:
CHAD AND JULIA VEACH'S WORLD
WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WHEN
THEIR FOUR-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER
WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE
BRAIN MALFORMATION KNOWN
AS SMOOTH BRAIN.
>> THE DOCTORS SAY
SHE WILL NEVER WALK,
SHE WILL NEVER TALK,
SHE'LL NEVER CRAWL,
SHE'LL NEVER
ROLL OVER.
HE TOLD US SHE WILL NEVER
LIVE TO THIS MANY YEARS
AND SHE'LL NEVER DEVELOP
TO THIS MANY MONTHS.
Announcer: LEARNING TO TRUST
THAT GOD CAN USE THE JOY
AND THE PAIN IN ALL
OF LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES.
NEXT
ON LIFE TODAY!
♪
Chris: HEY EVERYONE!
WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.
THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU CAN TELL,
I'M NEITHER JAMES NOR BETTY.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINE CAINE
FROM THE LAND DOWN UNDER.
IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE
TO BE YOUR HOST TODAY.
I'M JUST PART OF THE
LIFE TODAY EXTENDED FAMILY;
I'M SO MUCH PART OF
THE LIFE OUTREACH MISSIONS
AND JUST LOVE JAMES AND BETTY
AND HONOR THEM SO MUCH.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING
TO LOVE TODAY.
I'VE GOT TWO OF MY GREAT
FRIENDS, CHAD AND JULIA VEACH
JOINING US.
SO WHY DON'T WE WELCOME THEM?
WE LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING.
Chad: THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING US.
Chris: ALL THE WAY
FROM SUNNY L.A.
Chad: FROM LOS ANGELES,
CALIFORNIA.
Chris: IS THAT
THE PROMISED LAND?
Chad: IT IS THE PROMISED LAND.
GOD LIVES THERE.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR WHERE
HE HAS LANDED.
HE HAS LANDED IN L.A.
HE LIVES THERE.
JESUS LIVES THERE.
Chris: I LOVE THAT.
YOU GUYS HAVE GOT JUST
A FANTASTIC STORY, AND
I REALLY, REALLY WOULD LOVE
IF YOU WOULD SHARE JUST
SOME OF YOUR JOURNEY
WITH US TODAY.
Chad: ABSOLUTELY!
WELL, PART OF OUR STORY
IS WE'RE IN LOS ANGELES
BUT WHAT GOD'S DONE
THROUGH OUR LIFE AND WHAT
GOD'S BEEN DOING AS FAR
AS GIVING US AN ABILITY
TO COMMUNICATE HOPE AND LIFE
THAT IS IN JESUS IS REALLY
THROUGH OUR DAUGHTER.
OUR DAUGHTER IS ALMOST
THREE YEARS OLD.
HER NAME IS GEORGIA ESTELLE.
BUT WE CALL HER G.G.
SHE'S GOT A LITTLE NICKNAME.
WHEN SHE WAS FOUR MONTHS OLD
WE RECEIVED A DIAGNOSIS
THAT HER BRAIN DID NOT DEVELOP
WHEN JULIA WAS PREGNANT
WITH HER.
ALL THE EMOTIONS,
IT IS YOUR FIRSTBORN;
WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
WAS WRONG; THERE WAS NO HINT
OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG.
SO A FEW MONTHS INTO
HER COMING HOME WITH US
WE STARTED NOTICING THAT
HER EYES WERE CROSSING
AND SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
SO WE TOOK HER IN FOR
SOME TESTS AND WE THOUGHT,
MAYBE, HE COULD PUT
A CORRECTIVE LENS ON HER
OR PATCH.
WE NEVER THOUGHT WHAT
WE WOULD RECEIVE AS FAR
AS THIS DIAGNOSIS.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY
AS LONG AS I LIVE.
IT CHANGED US.
Julia: YEAH.
Chris: TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.
HOW THE DOCTOR TOLD YOU.
Julia: APRIL 10th, 2012
AND I WAS JUST TELLING HIM
THIS TODAY.
I REMEMBER THE DAY BEFORE
WAS EASTER SUNDAY AND
I HAD GOTTEN MY FIRSTBORN
DAUGHTER ALL DRESSED UP.
WE WERE ON STAFF
AT A CHURCH IN WASHINGTON
AT THE TIME.
I HAD STOOD IN THE BACK
OF THAT SERVICE AND CHAD
WAS IN THE FRONT ROW AND
JUST FEELING SO OVERWHELMED
IN WORSHIP; JUST KNOWING
GOD'S PEACE THAT WHATEVER
THE OUTCOME WAS TOMORROW
WITH THE DOCTOR THAT WE WERE
GOING TO TRUST IN GOD.
AS A MOTHER, YOU START
TO PREPARE FOR THINGS
AND WHAT COULD BE.
I REMEMBER PRAYING FAITH
AND SPEAKING LIFE OVER
MY DAUGHTER BUT GOING THROUGH
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
THAT DAY THAT WE SAT
IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE,
WE HAD NO IDEA THE SEVERITY
THAT IT WAS.
A LOT OF TIMES, SICKNESS,
DISEASE, WE CAN CONTEND
FOR HEALING BUT THERE IS
ALSO A LOT OF TREATMENTS
AND SPECIALISTS AND
MEDICAL ATTENTION.
BUT FOR THE DOCTOR TO SAY
THERE IS NO CURE AND
THERE IS NO SOLUTION,
THERE IS NO SURGERY;
THIS IS NOT A DISEASE,
THIS IS A DISORDER.
FOR US TO FEEL JUST SO STRUCK
WITH THAT SHOCKING NEWS,
IT WAS AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY.
Chad: IT IS AMAZING WHEN
DOCTORS -- YOU JUST CAME OUT
OF THIS YOURSELF AND
SO YOU KNOW THIS JOURNEY.
WHEN THE DOCTORS USE
THE WORD NEVER IT STIRS
SOMETHING IN ME BECAUSE
THE DOCTORS SAY SHE'LL NEVER
WALK, SHE'LL NEVER TALK,
SHE WILL NEVER CRAWL,
SHE'LL NEVER ROLL OVER.
HE TOLD US, SHE WILL NEVER
LIVE TO THIS MANY YEARS
AND SHE WILL NEVER DEVELOP
TO THIS MANY MONTHS.
I'M JUST GLAD THAT DOCTORS
DON'T HAVE THE LAST SAY.
[Laughter]
I JUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS,
HIS WORD HAS THE LAST SAY.
SO WE'RE -- WE LEARNED
THROUGH THIS THAT WE CAN'T
LET OUR CIRCUMSTANCE
DETERMINE OUR FAITH.
WE'RE GOING TO LET OUR FAITH
DETERMINE OUR CIRCUMSTANCE.
SO RIGHT AWAY WE DROVE HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL.
THERE WERE TEARS BUT
I'LL NEVER FORGET --
Julia: WE HAD
WORSHIP MUSIC ON.
Chad: YEAH, I'LL NEVER FORGET
JUST FAITH FILLED OUR HOME.
YOU START TO CONTEND AND SAY,
"WELL, IF I'M GOING TO FIGHT,
I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT ALONE."
START RINGING PEOPLE AND
GETTING THE CHURCH TO PRAY.
I'LL TELL YOU, AND FOR US,
AND THIS HAS BEEN A COUPLE
YEAR JOURNEY, WE'VE NEVER
SEEN JESUS MORE CLEARLY.
WE'VE NEVER HAD MORE HOPE,
MORE FAITH, AND WE'VE NEVER...
I UNDERSTAND WHAT PAUL SAID.
PAUL SAID, "GOD COMFORTS US
SO WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS."
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RALLY
ALONGSIDE PEOPLE AND FILL THEM
WITH FAITH AND HOPE.
I'VE WATCHED WHAT THE ENEMY
INTENDED FOR HARM,
GOD HAS TURNED IT AROUND
FOR THE GOOD.
Chris: I THINK THAT'S
SO POWERFUL WHAT YOU SAID;
AND PARTICULARLY, YOU SAID
THIS HAS BEEN A COUPLE
YEAR JOURNEY THUS FAR,
WHICH IS POWERFUL BECAUSE
A LOT OF TIMES WE WANT
TO BE DELIVERED FROM
SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY.
WE WANT AN INSTANTANEOUS
HEALING.
I LOVE THAT RIGHT IN THIS ROOM
THERE IS JUST SUCH A SPIRIT
OF FAITH KNOWING THAT
WE'RE STILL FIGHTING --
FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT
OF FAITH AND YOU'VE HAD
TO JOURNEY THROUGH.
TELL ME, TWO YEARS,
IT CAN'T BE EASY GOING THROUGH
THIS WITH YOUR DAUGHTER.
WHAT ARE PERHAPS SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE
HAD TO ENDURE DURING
THIS TIME AND STILL HAVE
A SPIRIT OF FAITH
WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT?
Julia: SEIZURE MANAGEMENT
IS A BIG PART OF OUR DAILY
LIFE, TO BE HONEST;
ASPIRATION, FEEDING ISSUES,
SEVERE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS,
LOW MUSCLE TONE.
BUT WITH THAT COMES
A DAY-BY-DAY MENTALITY.
WE HAVE HOPE FOR HER HEALING
AND FAITH FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT WE REALLY DO ENJOY
THE TODAY AND WE MAKE HER LIFE
THE MOST COMFORTABLE WE CAN.
WE LOVE PEOPLE AND WE LOVE GOD
AND WE LOVE HIS CHURCH
BUT WE LOVE LIFE TOO.
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT
THE ABUNDANT LIFE THAT
GOD'S SPOKEN OVER US.
I REMEMBER HAVING
AN ARGUMENT WITH A DOCTOR
ABOUT HER LIFE, WHAT THE
ENEMY INTENDED FOR HARM.
I JUST REALLY BELIEVE THAT
GOD'S PLAN WAS FOR HER
TO HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE
AND I SPOKE THAT OVER HER.
WE'VE JUST DONE OUR BEST
WITH WHAT WE CAN TO GIVE HER
THE BEST LIFE POSSIBLE.
Chris: I LOVE WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING.
THE FACT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE
MISS THE LIFE THEY HAVE
WISHING THEY HAD ANOTHER LIFE.
YOU'RE NOT MISSING ANY MOMENT
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THIS MOMENT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID,
WE HAVE TODAY, WE ALL
ONLY HAVE TODAY.
LIFE IS BUT A VAPOR.
JAMES SAYS NONE OF US
KNOW WHAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN TOMORROW.
YOU'RE NOT WISHING
YOUR LIFE AWAY.
IN FACT, YOU'RE ABOUT
TO UNDERTAKE POSSIBLY
ONE OF THE GREATEST ADVENTURES
OF YOUR LIFE, OR YOUR MARRIED
LIFE THUS FAR.
YOU'VE LEFT THE STABILITY
OF FAMILY SUPPORT AND GROWING
UP IN WASHINGTON STATE
TO MOVE TO CALIFORNIA
TO PLANT A CHURCH,
IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS
WHERE PERHAPS LOGIC
WOULD SAY, "STAY WHERE ALL
YOUR SUPPORT IS,
TAKE IT EASY, PULL BACK
WHILE YOU'RE IN THE MIDST
OF A BATTLE, WHILE YOU'RE
FIGHTING WITH ONE HAND
THE FIGHT OF FAITH OVER HERE,
YOU'RE ABOUT TO LAUNCH
A CHURCH TO HELP
OTHER PEOPLE.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT
HOW THAT'S ALL COME ABOUT.
Chad: WELL, I THINK
IT'S SO MUCH...
LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE;
THE PREMISE THAT YOU'RE LIVING
LIFE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE
THAT YOU HAVE.
AND WE JUST FROM THE VERY DAY
THAT WE GOT THE DIAGNOSIS,
WE SAID, "WE'RE NOT GOING
TO STOP SERVING GOD,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP
BUILDING THE CHURCH,
WE'RE NOT GOING
TO STOP PREACHING."
PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AND SAY,
"I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PREACH
AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU SMILE."
I THOUGHT, WE'VE GOT JESUS!
WE'VE GOT JOY!
I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHY
I'M PREACHING.
WE CAN GO VERSE BY VERSE,
LINE BY LINE.
I THINK GOD IS ABLE TO USE
YOU WHEN YOU, NO MATTER WHAT
YOUR SITUATION IS,
YOU JUST OFFER IT BEFORE HIM
AND SAY, "GOD, YOU CAN USE
MY WEAKNESS, YOU CAN USE
MY TESTIMONY, YOU CAN USE
MY PAIN."
I'VE LEARNED THAT GOD WILL
ACTUALLY GIVE YOU
EVEN A LARGER REACH.
I SAW A TWEET THE OTHER DAY.
IT SAID, "PEOPLE WILL ADMIRE
YOUR GIFTING BUT THEY CAN
RELATE WITH YOUR PAIN."
WE'VE SEEN JUST DOORS OPEN
WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT
SAVED THAT DON'T GO TO CHURCH.
WE'VE WATCHED --
IT WAS AMAZING WHEN JULIA
WAS PREGNANT, I USED TO LAY
HANDS ON HER STOMACH
AND PRAY THAT GOD WOULD
USE OUR FIRSTBORN DAUGHTER
AROUND THE WORLD.
I KEPT PRAYING THAT
GOD WOULD GIVE HER
A GLOBAL GRACE.
I THOUGHT, 18, 19 YEARS OLD,
SHE'S GOING TO LOOK
LIKE HER MOM --
HELLO! THANK YOU, JESUS!
AND SHE'S GOING TO PREACH
AROUND THE WORLD.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT GOD COULD
USE MY DAUGHTER
AT FOUR MONTHS --
AT SIX MONTHS -- NINE MONTHS!
SO I THINK WHEN YOU STEP OUT
IN FAITH AND JUST SAY,
"GOD, WE'RE NOT PERFECT.
WE DON'T HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER,
BUT I'M GOING TO FORGET
THE PAST, I'M GOING
TO PRESS ON TO THE FUTURE,
I'M GOING TO LAY HOLD
OF WHAT YOU ALREADY
LAID HOLD OF FOR ME."
SO GOD CALLED US TO L.A.
TO PLANT A CHURCH.
IN THE NATURAL, IT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE AT ALL.
BUT WE DON'T SERVE THE GOD
OF THE NATURAL --
HE'S A SUPERNATURAL.
SO YOU HAVE A ZOE CHURCH,
WE'RE PLANTING ZOE L.A.;
THE ABUNDANT LIFE THAT
IS IN CHRIST.
THERE IS OVER 10 MILLION
PEOPLE IN THE CITY
OF LOS ANGELES.
I THINK THAT'S A CITY WHERE
WE WANT PEOPLE FROM
EVERY BACKGROUND,
FROM EVERY SOCIO-ECONOMIC
BACKGROUND TO UNDERSTAND
THE LIFE THAT IS IN JESUS.
AND IF GOD IS GOING TO USE US
AND OUR DAUGHTER,
OUR STRUGGLES, OUR VICTORIES,
TO BRING LIFE TO PEOPLE,
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE TO DO.
SO I THINK THE ENEMY WOULD
LOVE TO SEE US RETREAT
AND PLAY IT SAFE.
BUT I HEARD JUDAH SAY,
OUR PASTOR, JUDAH SMITH,
HE SAID, "A MAN WITH A SAVIOR
IS WILLING TO TAKE A RISK."
WE'RE WILLING TO RISK IT ALL
-- JESUS ALREADY RISKED IT ALL
FOR US.
WHY WOULDN'T WE RISK IT ALL
FOR OTHER PEOPLE?
Chris: I THINK
THAT'S POWERFUL!
EVEN THAT YOU'RE CALLING
YOUR CHURCH ZOE, IN TERMS
OF ABUNDANT LIFE;
THAT ABUNDANT LIFE IS NOT
DETERMINED ON
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE
YOU'D LOVE TO HAVE
DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
I THINK ALL OF US
IN THIS ROOM, EVERYONE
WATCHING THIS PROGRAM TODAY,
THERE'S AT LEAST ONE AREA
OF OUR LIFE THAT WE WISH
WAS DIFFERENT AND SOME PEOPLE
ARE UNDERGOING
GREAT SUFFERING, GREAT
CHALLENGE, GREAT TRIALS.
CHAD, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
IN A MOMENT TO REALLY PERHAPS
MINISTER TO PEOPLE THAT
RIGHT NOW PERHAPS GOT
SOME KIND OF DIAGNOSIS
THAT THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING.
I ALWAYS SAY THE CHILDREN
OF ISRAEL AFTER
430 YEARS IN SLAVERY,
40 YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS,
THEY FINALLY GET INTO
THE PROMISED LAND AND
THE FIRST THING WHEN THEY
WALK INTO THE PROMISED LAND
IS THE WALLS OF JERICHO.
SO SOMETIMES WHEN
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO
THE PROMISED LAND,
YOU'RE HAVING YOUR CHILD,
YOU'RE THINKING,
THIS IS AWESOME.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN
BELIEVING GOD FOR!
AND THEN THE LAST THING
YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING
TO SEE WAS A 30 FOOT THICK
IMPENETRABLE WALL.
IT'S EASY TO THINK, I'M STILL
IN THE WILDERNESS BUT YOU'RE
ACTUALLY IN THE PROMISED LAND.
IT'S JUST THE WALL OF JERICHO
IS THERE; THE PROMISE IS ON
THE OTHER SIDE SO YOU'VE GOT
TO SEE BEYOND THE WALL
TO THE PROMISE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING
THIS RIGHT NOW, THIS PROGRAM,
AND THEY'VE EITHER HAD
A VERY NEGATIVE
MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS,
PERHAPS THEIR SPOUSE
HAS WALKED OUT ON THEM,
PERHAPS THEIR BUSINESS
HAS GONE BANKRUPT.
THERE IS A MYRIAD OF ISSUES,
A DREAM HAS BEEN DEFERRED
OR A HOPE HAS BEEN DEFERRED
AND THAT'S JUST PART OF LIFE.
WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD.
BAD THINGS HAPPEN
TO GOOD PEOPLE BUT JESUS
IS STILL OUR HOPE.
SO OUR HOPE IN HIM
IS NOT DEPENDENT ON
OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE GIVES US A GRACE
IN THE MIDST OF THAT.
I THINK YOU GUYS ARE MODELING
THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
THAT MAKES ME SO EXCITED
ABOUT THE CHURCH
YOU'RE GOING TO PLANT.
BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING
THROUGH THAT?
Chad: I THINK YOU SAID IT,
JESUS IS THE HOPE.
SO OUR HOPE IS NOT EVEN
IN MY MORAL STANDARDS,
IT'S NOT IN MY ETHICS,
IT IS NOT IN MY BEHAVIORS.
MY HOPE HAS BEEN TOTALLY
PLACED IN A PERSON,
JESUS CHRIST.
I THINK NO MATTER WHAT
I FACE I HAVE JUST FOUND HIM
TO BE FAITHFUL,
I FOUND HIM TO BE TRUE.
SO OUR HOME, PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AT US SAYING,
"YOU'RE DEALING WITH THIS
AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?"
THE SYMPATHY AND THE
COMPASSION IS OVERWHELMING
BUT WE'RE LIVING
THE ABUNDANT LIFE.
WE'VE GOT JOY, WE'VE GOT...
I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT
EPHESIANS 3:20.
IT SAYS: "GOD IS ABLE
TO DO EXCEEDINGLY,
ABUNDANTLY, FAR ABOVE
ANYTHING WE COULD ASK,
THINK, OR EVEN OUR MINDS
COULD IMAGINE."
AND WE NEVER DREAMT
LIFE COULD BE THIS GOOD.
WE NEVER THOUGHT OF IT.
WE NEVER ASKED GOD FOR
ALL THE BLESSINGS
WE'VE RECEIVED, INCLUDING
OUR DAUGHTER.
SO I THINK AGAIN IT GOES BACK
TO NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE
FACING, I DON'T KNOW
YOUR SITUATION BUT
JESUS IS A REALITY.
THE REALITY OF WHO HE IS
IN YOUR WORLD,
IS IN YOUR SITUATION.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO,
THE BIBLE SAYS, THAT ALL THOSE
WHO CALL UPON THE NAME
OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO,
WHATEVER YOU'RE FACING,
IS CALL UPON THAT NAME.
I GUARANTEE YOU --
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE THAT
WHEN YOU CALL UPON THAT NAME,
JESUS HIMSELF, HE WILL COME.
AND THE PEACE OF GOD THAT
SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING
WILL GUARD YOUR HEART
AND WILL GUARD YOUR MIND.
Chris: I THINK THAT'S
BEAUTIFUL!
IT SORT OF DEFIES LOGIC,
EVEN YOUR JOY IN THE MIDST OF,
AND YET THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US
IT IS IN THE MIDST OF.
AND PAUL SAYS, "BE ANXIOUS
FOR NOTHING BUT IN EVERYTHING
WITH PRAYER, SUPPLICATION,
AND THANKSGIVING MAKE
YOUR REQUEST KNOWN TO GOD
AND THE PEACE OF GOD THAT
SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING"
-- I THINK THAT'S WHAT
SETS BELIEVERS APART
IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY
AND CHALLENGE.
YOU ALSO HAVE A SON, WINSTON;
TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HIM.
Julia: HE'S 11 MONTHS OLD.
HIS NAME MEANS JOYFUL STONE.
HE IS STRONG AND JOYFUL
AT THE SAME TIME.
WE BRING HIM IN BED WITH US
IN THE MORNING AND
HE'S A VIOLENT CUDDLER.
I HAVE A FINGER UP MY NOSE
AND A FINGER IN MY EYEBALL.
HE HAS TRULY BROUGHT
SUCH JOY TO OUR HOME.
WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH HIM,
A LOT OF DOCTORS WANTED ME
TO DO SOME INVASIVE TESTING
AND WE JUST HAD PEACE
AND WE STOOD BY
THE PROMISE TO HAVE
MORE CHILDREN IN OUR HOME,
IS WHAT WE FELT
GOD HAD SPOKEN TO US.
HE'S JUST BEEN --
PERFECT BILL OF HEALTH.
HE LOVES GEORGIA SO MUCH.
HE CRAWLS IN TO SEE HER
EVERY DAY AND GIVES HER
AN OPEN MOUTH KISS
AND TRIES TO ATTACK HER.
Chris: SUCH A PICTURE
OF GRACE; ISN'T IT?
RIGHT THERE --
THAT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL!
Chad: HE MAKES ME THINK
OF "GRACE ABOUNDS."
GRACE DOESN'T WAIT FOR US
TO COME TO IT.
JESUS DOESN'T WAIT FOR --
I LOVE THAT HE IS PATIENT
IN SOME REGARDS BUT REALLY,
HE'S GOING TO COME AND
BLESS US AND TAKE CARE OF US
EVEN BEFORE WE ASK FOR IT.
SO THE GIFT THAT HE'S --
HE'S BEEN HEALING TO OUR HOME.
SO THERE'S BEEN --
I HAVE TO BE HONEST,
THERE'S BEEN NIGHTS,
IT'S BEEN TEARFUL.
IT'S BEEN HARD.
IT HASN'T BEEN EASY.
BUT THE MOMENT THAT WE GOT
PREGNANT, THE MOMENT THAT
HE ENTERED OUR HOME,
HE IS A GIFT.
I THINK THAT'S SO GOD.
WITH GOD THERE IS ALWAYS MORE
-- THERE IS ALWAYS MORE
WITH GOD.
JUST WHEN YOU THINK
THIS IS ALL I GET OR
I DON'T KNOW IF IT GETS
BETTER FROM HERE, THE BEST
IS ALWAYS YET TO COME.
I JUST FOUND THAT WITH GOD...
HE IS A LIVING EXAMPLE
THAT WITH GOD, HE IS NOT DONE.
SOMETIMES YOU THINK THAT
HE'S DONE, HE IS NOT DONE.
HE'S GOT MORE UP HIS SLEEVE,
HE'S GOT MORE PLANNED.
I JUST THINK IF WE CAN GET
A GLIMPSE OF THE HEART OF GOD
FOR US, THAT GOD LOVES US
SO MUCH HE GIVES US GIFTS;
HE IS A GOD THAT IS UNCHANGING
AND HE GIVES US
BEAUTIFUL GIFTS
-- THE GIFT OF CHILDREN.
IT IS AMAZING!
Chris: IT REALLY IS AND
HE OBVIOUSLY GIVES YOU
THE GRACE TO BE ABLE TO NOT
JUST SUSTAIN BUT OVERCOME
AND LIVE VICTORIOUSLY
IN THE MIDST OF ANYTHING.
THAT'S A GOD --
WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT
HE'S GRACED YOU BOTH
TO BE GEORGIA'S PARENTS?
Chad: HUNDRED PERCENT!
YEAH, THE STRENGTH.
Chris: VERY MUCH, I THINK,
IN THAT KIND OF STRENGTH.
WE'LL JUST KIND OF GO HERE
BECAUSE I THINK SOME PEOPLE
WILL BE WATCHING
AND YOU JUST MENTIONED
SOME NIGHTS ARE SO HARD
AND TEARFUL.
AS A MOTHER WATCHING
YOUR DAUGHTER HAVE SEIZURES,
I LOVE THAT YOU SAID THAT
IT IS A DAILY THING SO THAT
PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT
MAKING UP ANYTHING HERE.
IT IS HARD WORK.
IT IS EVERY DAY.
THERE IS THAT IN YOUR HOME.
IN THOSE MOMENTS, IN THOSE
DARK MOMENTS, WHAT DO YOU
PRACTICALLY DO THAT
ENABLES YOU TO CONTINUE
TO ENDURE, TO CONTINUE TO HAVE
HOPE AND AGAINST ALL HOPE,
IN HOPE STILL BELIEVE.
Julia: WELL, TO BE HONEST
I'VE TRIED A LOT
OF PRACTICAL THINGS.
I THINK WITH EVERY JOURNEY
THERE ARE SEASONS.
THERE HAVE BEEN DARK SEASONS
AND SEASONS WHERE WE HAVE
FELT ADRENALIZED IN THE FAITH
AND THE PRAYERS OF OTHERS
AND THE COMMUNITY
SURROUNDING US.
AND THERE ARE SEASONS
WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE
IT'S JUST YOU AND JESUS.
AND IN THOSE MOMENTS,
MY PRAYER SPECIFICALLY
HAS BEEN, JUST LIKE DAVID
IN PSALM 23, GOD RESTORE
MY SOUL; IDENTIFYING THAT
HE'S THE SHEPHERD.
IF I CAN BE DEPENDENT ON HIM
AND NOT TRY TO FIGURE
EVERYTHING OUT, I JUST
THINK FOR OUR HOME AND
AS A MOTHER OF ANOTHER SON,
I HAVE TO MAINTAIN
A HEALTHY SOUL.
SO IDENTIFYING
NOT JUST MAKING
AN ATTRACTIVE SPIRITUALITY
OR CONTENDING FOR HER HEALING,
BUT REALLY GUARDING THE HEALTH
OF MY SOUL HAS BEEN
A HUGE PART OF MY SEASON,
WHEN I FEEL ALONE
AND ON THE FLOOR,
NOT ASKING, "WHY GOD?"
BUT DEFINITELY SAYING,
"WHERE IS THE STRENGTH
THAT I NEED?"
Chris: THAT IS SO POWERFUL!
WHAT A STORY!
WHAT A STORY OF HOPE.
WHAT A STORY OF JUST GRACE
-- GOD'S AMAZING GRACE.
YOU KNOW YOUR MOTHER'S HEART
CERTAINLY JUST KIND OF
REALLY SOFTENS MY HEART
AS WELL.
I LOVE HOW YOU GUYS ARE
CONTENDING FOR YOUR DAUGHTER.
ALL OF US WOULD LOVE
TO CONTEND FOR CHILDREN
THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE
OR HAD THEIR DREAMS SHATTERED.
JUST LIKE CHAD AND JULIA
HAVE REALLY STOOD IN
THE GAP FOR THEIR
OWN DAUGHTER, WE AT
LIFE OUTREACH ARE SO COMMITTED
TO HELPING TO RESTORE
THE BROKEN DREAMS OF
YOUNG WOMEN AND CHILDREN
THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD INTO
THE HORRORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING
ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
HELPING TO REACH, TO RESCUE,
AND TO RESTORE THESE CHILDREN
AND TO BE ABLE,
JUST AS YOU'VE LOVED
YOUR DAUGHTER, FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO STEP IN
AND LOVE THESE CHILDREN.
I WANT TO TELL YOU
IN A MOMENT HOW WE TOGETHER
ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REACH,
RESCUE, AND RESTORE THE LIVES
OF BROKEN, BROKEN CHILDREN
SOLD INTO SEX TRAFFICKING.
I WANT YOU TO WATCH THIS
NEXT PIECE WITH ME AS
WE SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL DREAMS
HAVE TURNED INTO NIGHTMARES.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
AN OPPORTUNITY HOW WE'RE GOING
TO TURN THOSE NIGHTMARES
BACK INTO DREAMS
FOR THESE CHILDREN.
[Children playing]
Announcer:
IT BEGAN WITH A DREAM
FOR A MOTHER
LIKE THIS;
IT WAS THE DREAM
OF A PROSPEROUS FUTURE
FOR HER DAUGHTER.
THEN HOPE FOR THAT DREAM
CAME AS A PROMISE
FROM
A STRANGER.
AN HONORABLE START
TO A NEW LIFE.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHILD
TO ESCAPE A WORLD OF POVERTY
AND TO PURSUE
HER DESTINY.
BUT IN REALITY
THIS DREAM-COME-TRUE
WAS A MOTHER'S
WORST NIGHTMARE.
PROMISE
BECAME BETRAYAL.
THIS DAUGHTER
WAS KIDNAPPED
AND SOLD INTO
THE SEX SLAVE TRADE.
ONCE A PICTURE OF INNOCENCE,
HER BODY WAS VIOLATED
AS SHE WAS SUBMITTED
TO THE UNBRIDLED LUST
OF COUNTLESS MEN.
WITH HER HUMANITY
STRIPPED FROM HER,
AND HER SPIRIT
BROKEN,
IT SEEMED ALL
HOPE WAS LOST.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE
FOR DAUGHTERS LIKE THIS
TO BE RESCUED.
BUT TIME
IS RUNNING OUT.
Chris: WOW! AS A MOTHER,
IT BREAKS MY HEART
WATCHING THAT.
I'VE GOT TWO GIRLS OF MY OWN
AND THEY COULD HAVE BEEN
ANY ONE OF THOSE GIRLS.
WHAT MOTHER WOULDN'T
WANT TO DO SOMETHING?
WHO WOULDN'T WANT
TO DO SOMETHING?
WHAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR
AND AS A PARTNER
WITH LIFE OUTREACH,
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US
CAN DO SOMETHING.
FOR ONLY $128 WE CAN
LITERALLY REACH, RESCUE,
AND RESTORE THE LIVES
OF THESE YOUNG WOMEN.
WE CAN HELP TO TURN THAT
NIGHTMARE BACK INTO A DREAM.
IMAGINE HOW THAT MOTHER FELT,
SHE GAVE THAT CHILD UP
TO A DREAM THINKING
THAT SHE WAS GOING
TO FULFILL HER POTENTIAL
AND SHE WAS TAKEN.
AND I'VE HELD THOSE GIRLS;
I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
TO LOOK INTO THEIR EYES
AND TO SEE THE HOPELESSNESS.
YOU AND I ARE
THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS.
FOR ONLY $128 --
REALLY? WHAT IS THAT?
WE CAN HELP TO REACH
AND RESCUE AND RESTORE
THEIR LIVES.
WE CAN SEE THOSE NIGHTMARES
TURNED BACK INTO DREAMS
AND THEY CAN FULFILL
THEIR GOD-GIVEN DESTINY
AND THEIR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL.
I'VE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE
THAT IT CAN MAKE.
I WONDER IF YOU COULD HELP
MAYBE TEN GIRLS.
FOR $1280 WE CAN HELP RESTORE
THE LIVES OF TEN GIRLS;
TEN HUMAN BEINGS
CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
WHAT WOULDN'T I DO
IF IT WAS MY OWN DAUGHTER?
THE THING IS THESE GIRLS
HAVE BECOME JUST LIKE
MY DAUGHTERS.
I LOVE WORKING
WITH LIFE OUTREACH
BECAUSE WE ARE THERE
IN THE TRENCHES,
ON THE COAL FACE,
EVERY CENT OF THIS MONEY
GOES IN TO LITERALLY
REACH THESE GIRLS
IN THE DARKEST PLACES,
TO HELP TO RESCUE THEM
OUT OF THE PIT LITERALLY,
AND TO RESTORE EVERY PART
OF THEIR LIVES SPIRITUALLY,
EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY.
AND THE OTHER SIDE OF IT
IS THAT THE ENEMY DOESN'T WIN.
THESE GIRLS' NIGHTMARES
ARE TURNED BACK INTO DREAMS
AND THEY FULFILL
THE PURPOSE AND THE DESTINY
FOR WHICH GOD HAS PLACED THEM
ON THE EARTH.
WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING
BUT WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING.
WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING?
$128 TO RESCUE A LIFE?
PERHAPS YOU COULD DO IT
FOR 10 LIVES: $1280?
WHY DON'T YOU
PICK UP THE PHONE NOW?
WHY DON'T YOU GO ONLINE
RIGHT NOW?
PARTNER WITH US;
HELP US TO CONTINUE
TO REACH AND RESCUE
AND RESTORE THESE LIVES.
GOD BLESS YOU
AS YOU BLESS OTHERS.
Announcer:
HUMAN TRAFFICKING --
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE
BUT AT THIS VERY MOMENT
INNOCENT CHILDREN,
MANY VERY YOUNG,
ARE BEING SOLD
AND FORCED INTO SEXUAL SLAVERY
AND EXPLOITED
IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE
-- AND SOMEONE
MUST SAVE THEM.
WITH YOUR HELP TODAY,
WE CAN REACH, RESCUE,
AND RESTORE THEIR HOPE
FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
YOUR GIFT TODAY OF ONLY $128 WILL HELP RESCUE A CHILD
AND CHANGE
THEIR DESTINY FOREVER!
WITH GIFTS
OF $64 OR $32
WE WILL COMBINE YOUR
SUPPORT WITH OTHERS
TO HELP RESCUE
ONE MORE CHILD
FROM THE SHAME AND PAIN
OF THIS EXISTENCE.
TODAY WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT,
WE'LL SEND YOU LISA BEVERE'S
POWERFUL NEW SERIES,
SEE IT,
ON AUDIO CD,
ALONG WITH HER
COMPANION BOOK,
IT'S NOT HOW YOU LOOK,
IT'S WHAT YOU SEE.
IN THIS NEW SERIES,
LISA EQUIPS YOU
TO SEE A NEW PERSPECTIVE
FOR YOUR LIFE,
ONE OF GREAT
POSSIBILITIES,
NOT LIMITED BY THE WORLD
BUT DEFINED BY GOD
WHO SEES YOUR FUTURE
AND CREATED YOU TO BE
A UNIQUE BLESSING
TO THOSE
AROUND YOU.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $128
TO HELP RESCUE A CHILD,
YOU MAY REQUEST
THE BOOK
ALONG WITH SEE IT
ON CD AND DVD
OR CHOOSE U.S.B. FLASH DRIVE, WHICH INCLUDES
ALL THE MESSAGES
IN BOTH AUDIO AND VIDEO.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1280
TO HELP RESCUE
TEN CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST
OUR 2014 COMMEMORATIVE
GLASS SCULPTURE,
"THE BLESSING."
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY.
Lisa:
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
IS A SIN
AGAINST HUMANITY.
WE WANT TO ACTUALLY
STOP IT BEFORE IT STARTS
BY REACHING OUT,
GOING INTO THE VILLAGES,
EDUCATING THE
PEOPLE THERE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING
TO RESCUE GIRLS
THAT HAVE BEEN TRAPPED
IN THE DARKNESS
THAT ARE DESPERATE
TO COME OUT.
BUT YOU DON'T
JUST RESCUE
BECAUSE WE WANT
TO RESTORE THESE GIRLS.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM
JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE THEM
WHOLE AGAIN THROUGH
THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.
WE CAN'T DO IT
WITHOUT YOU!
WE CAN'T DO IT
WITHOUT YOUR COMMITMENT,
WE CAN'T DO IT
WITHOUT YOUR PRAYERS!
BUT WE ALSO NEED YOU
TO GO TO THE PHONE,
GO ONLINE,
AND BE GENEROUS
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU WANT
TO BE PART OF RESCUING LIFE.
Chris: I SURE HOPE
YOU'RE GOING TO PICK UP
THAT PHONE, GO ONLINE,
AND HELP US TO REACH, RESCUE,
AND RESTORE THESE CHILDREN.
TOGETHER WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE!
WELL, EVERYONE, WHY DON'T
WE JUST THANK OUR GUESTS,
CHAD AND JULIA?
THANK YOU GUYS!
WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US AT LIFE TODAY.
BLESS YOU!
♪
♪
♪
>> YOU WALK THROUGH
A STORM
AND YOU DISCOVER
WHAT YOU REALLY BELIEVE.
Announcer: BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
AND SPEAKER, SHEILA WALSH.
NEXT WEEK
ON LIFE TODAY!