(^_^)
>> ON THE NIGHT SHE LEFT,
I DID WHAT NO FATHER
SHOULD EVER HAVE TO DO.
I HAD TO REACH OUT AND CLOSE
THE EYES OF MY DAUGHTER.
BUT WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT WAS THAT GOD WAS GOING TO USE HER
TO OPEN MINE.
HE TAUGHT ME THAT YOU
CAN LOOK AT ANYTHING
YOU SEE IN THIS WORLD
AND YOU CAN SEE
INVISIBLE THINGS
IF YOU DON'T USE THE LENS
OF HUMAN UNDERSTANDING
BUT IF YOU USE
THE LENS OF FAITH.
Announcer: PASTOR LEVI LUSKO
HOPES TO EMPOWER PEOPLE
WITH TRUTHS HE LEARNED
THROUGH HIS DAUGHTER'S DEATH.
NEXT!
♪
James: THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US
AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE LIFE TODAY.
I'M JAMES ROBISON.
BETTY AND I ARE THRILLED
TO SHARE THIS TIME WITH YOU.
I MET A YOUNG MAN
THAT I'D HEARD A LOT ABOUT
AT THE MEETING
IN THE COWBOY'S STADIUM,
THE AT&T STADIUM,
THEY CALL IT, AS LONG AS
AT&T WILL PAY JERRY JONES,
THEY CAN CALL IT THAT.
BUT WE MET IN THE
GREG LOWERY CRUSADE THERE;
THAT WAS INCREDIBLE OUTREACH.
I THINK ULTIMATELY,
THEY SAID OVER 20,000 PEOPLE
ACCEPTED CHRIST.
THERE WERE 80,000
IN THE ARENA,
IN THE STADIUM.
I MET LEVI LUSKO.
THE MINUTE I MET HIM,
I KNEW I HAD HEARD
ABOUT HIM A LITTLE BIT
BUT FROM THE MINUTE I MET HIM,
I LOVED HIM
BECAUSE I SENSED
THE LOVE OF GOD ON HIM.
BUT SOMETHING, BETTY,
THAT WE FOUND OUT
WHILE WE WERE STANDING THERE
IS THAT THE VERY SAME WEEK
WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS,
ONE SIDE OF CHRISTMAS,
AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE
OF CHRISTMAS, TWO VERY
PAINFUL THINGS HAPPENED.
HE LOST HIS LITTLE GIRL
ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER;
WE LOST OUR LITTLE GIRL
ON THE 28TH.
IT'S NOT EVEN EASY
TO SAY THAT FOR US.
I THINK WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE
TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE
YOU HAVE SHOWN YOUR LOVE
BY THE WAY YOU PRAYED FOR US,
BUT ALSO WE TALK ABOUT IT
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU.
AND BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT THERE ARE
SO MANY BROKEN HEARTS.
I DON'T THINK WE REALIZED
FULLY HOW MANY BROKEN HEARTS
UNTIL OURS WAS SO BROKEN,
AND WE'VE EXPERIENCED
PLENTY OF PAIN IN OUR LIFE.
I EXPERIENCED
A CHILDHOOD OF PAIN.
BUT WHEN WE WERE TALKING
TO LEVI AND BECAUSE
HE KNEW OUR STORY,
HE DIDN'T WANT
TO DWELL ON IT AT ALL
BUT HE JUST REFERRED TO IT
AND THAT HE LOVED US,
AND THAT HE UNDERSTOOD.
AND IT WAS AS THOUGH
HE KIND OF WANTED TO WALK AWAY
BUT KNOWING THAT WE KNEW,
HE KNEW.
LOOK AT THIS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS WRITING
AND FINISHING A BOOK:
THROUGH THE EYES OF A LION.
LOOK AT THE LION'S EYES.
"FACING IMPOSSIBLE PAIN" --
PLEASE LISTEN --
"FINDING INCREDIBLE POWER."
AND THEN THERE'S THIS
OTHER LITTLE SET OF EYES.
THAT'S HIS LITTLE GIRL.
WOULD YOU WELCOME
THIS FATHER AND THIS PASTOR,
LEVI LUSKO?
LEVI, GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
Levi: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
James: BROKEN HEARTS.
MORE THAN WE REALIZE.
I WISH THAT YOU,
IF YOU HAVE A BROKEN HEART,
YOU WOULD JUST KNOW
THAT WE WISH WE WERE
SITTING SO CLOSE
WE COULD KIND OF REACH OUT
AND MAYBE EMBRACE YOU.
PLEASE DON'T LEAVE.
WE'RE REALLY
TRYING TO HELP YOU.
IT REALLY HURTS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE FOR YOU,
YOUR LITTLE GIRL.
TELL US WHAT HAPPENED
BUT TELL US WHERE YOU WENT
FROM THAT WITH THIS BOOK
AND WHAT YOU WANT
THE PEOPLE GOD LOVES TO HEAR.
Levi: WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
WHEN YOU JUST SAID THAT
ABOUT HOW MANY BROKEN HEARTS
OUT THERE, WE DON'T KNOW.
WHEN I OPEN THE BOOK UP
I FIRST TALK ABOUT
HOW ABOUT 30 DAYS
AFTER LENYA WENT TO HEAVEN,
THAT WAS HER NAME, LENYA,
WE AS A FAMILY
WENT TO SEATTLE ON A TRIP
TO KIND OF HEAL AND PROCESS
AND JUST GET AWAY
AS YOU NEED TO.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE'RE HONEST
ABOUT THE FACT THAT HURTING
WITH HOPE STILL HURTS,
AND THAT WE DON'T PRESSURE
PEOPLE INTO IT'S OKAY BECAUSE
I KNOW WHERE THEY WENT SO
I DON'T NEED TO FEEL THE PAIN.
I DON'T NEED TO HURT.
WE HURT AS MUCH AS ANYBODY.
WE DON'T SORROW
AS THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOPE
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
WE WON'T BE SAD.
SO WE WENT TO SEATTLE
AND WE WERE WALKING AROUND
AND ONE MORNING I LEFT
TO GET COFFEE EARLY
AND I WAS --
WHEN YOU'RE GRIEVING,
AS YOU KNOW,
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO
BUT YOU WANT TO RUN.
THERE IS NO ONE TO HIT
BUT YOU WANT TO FIGHT SOMEONE.
YOU WANT TO SCREAM
BUT IT WON'T HELP.
James: I DID.
I POUNDED ON A WALL
AND I SCREAMED, "NO! NO! NO!"
SOMETIMES I DO EVEN NOW.
I WILL BE WALKING AROUND
JUST SCREAMING, "NO!"
Levi: SO I ENDED UP
IN A COFFEE SHOP
TRYING TO BUY A CUP OF COFFEE
AND I LOOKED AROUND.
I WAS HURTING SO BAD.
WHEN YOU'RE GRIEVING
IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S BEEN
FIRE POURED INTO YOUR VEINS
AND YOUR BRAIN FEELS LIKE
IT'S GOING TO POP,
AND YOUR EYES JUST SOMETIMES
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY TEARS
AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T
STOP RUNNING WITH TEARS.
BUT AS I WAS LOOKING AROUND
I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY
COULD NOTICE HOW SAD I WAS.
BUT THEN IT OCCURRED TO ME
HOW MANY TIMES
HAD I BEEN AROUND SOMEONE
WHO WAS THAT SAD
BUT NOT NOTICED IT?
SO I THINK THAT WE,
ALL THE TIME
ARE AROUND PEOPLE
THAT ARE HURTING
AND RIGHT NOW MANY PEOPLE
WATCHING THE BROADCAST
ARE HURTING.
SO WHAT YOU JUST DID
IN SAYING THAT YOUR PAIN
IS REAL AND YOU GUYS CARE,
I THINK IT IS TOUCHING HEARTS
MORE THAN YOU KNOW JUST TO
RECOGNIZE PEOPLE'S PAIN.
BUT FOR US,
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED WAS
THE SAME WEEK, OF COURSE,
BOTH OF OUR DAUGHTERS
WENT TO HEAVEN.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA
MY LIFE ABOUT TO TURN
INTO A CRISIS.
IN FACT, MY WIFE AND I WERE
BOTH LIVING OUT OUR DREAMS.
WE HAD PLANTED THIS CHURCH
AND WE WERE SEEING THOUSANDS
COME TO KNOW JESUS
AND LITERALLY
EVERYTHING WAS GOING SO WELL.
THEN FIVE DAYS BEFORE
CHRISTMAS WE'RE WRAPPING
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
AND MY SECOND BORN DAUGHTER
LENYA HAS AN ASTHMA ATTACK
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN
IS NOT BREATHING GOOD.
SO WE GIVE HER HER MEDICINE
AND INSTEAD OF GETTING BETTER
THE ATTACK GOT WORSE.
PRETTY SOON I HAVE HER UP
ON THE COUNTER
AND I'M GIVING C.P.R.
WE'RE CALLING 911.
WE'RE PRAYING DESPERATELY
TO JESUS
WHO MADE THE SUN STAND STILL
AND WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD
TO BRING HER LIFE
BACK INTO HER.
INSTEAD OF THAT HAPPENING,
IN MY ARMS
WITH MY BREATH IN HER LUNGS
SHE LEAVES THIS WORLD
AND GOES HOME --
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
SHE WENT FROM MY ARMS TO THE
ARMS OF HER HEAVENLY FATHER
LIKE THAT.
WE NEVER GOT TO SAY GOOD-BYE.
WE NEVER HAD TIME
TO PREPARE.
AND SO THAT WAS HOW
SHE LEFT THIS WORLD
ON THAT COLD NIGHT
FIVE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
James: SO WHAT DO YOU WANT
PEOPLE TO LEARN
THAT YOU'VE LEARNED
AND YOU'RE LEARNING?
Levi: WELL, I CALL THE BOOK,
THROUGH THE EYES OF A LION
BECAUSE THE NIGHT
LENYA WENT TO HEAVEN
WE RECEIVED A CALL
FROM THE HOSPITAL
THAT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO DONATE HER CORNEAS,
THE OUTERMOST LENS
OF HER EYES.
OF COURSE, THAT WAS
A DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE
BUT ONE WE FELT LIKE
BOTH JESUS AND LENYA
WOULD WANT US TO DO
TO SERVE SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO WE GAVE HER CORNEAS
AND WE FOUND OUT LATER
THAT TWO BLIND PEOPLE
RECEIVED SIGHT
THROUGH HER EYES.
AND THEY, TO THIS DAY,
THEY SEE LIFE THROUGH
THE EYES OF OUR LENYA LION.
LIKE THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE
WHO SEE THROUGH HER EYES.
I BELIEVE GOD DID THE
EXACT SAME THING TO JENNY,
MY WIFE AND ME
THROUGH HER GOING HOME.
ON THE NIGHT SHE LEFT,
I DID WHAT NO FATHER
SHOULD EVER HAVE TO DO.
I HAD TO REACH OUT
AND CLOSE THE EYES
OF MY DAUGHTER.
BUT WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT
WAS THAT GOD WAS GOING
TO USE HER TO OPEN MINE.
HE TAUGHT ME THAT YOU CAN
LOOK AT ANYTHING YOU SEE
IN THIS WORLD AND YOU
CAN SEE INVISIBLE THINGS
IF YOU DON'T USE THE LENS
OF HUMAN UNDERSTANDING
BUT IF YOU USE
THE LENS OF FAITH.
SO IN THE BOOK
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
IS I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW
YOU CAN LOOK AT ANYTHING
AND SEE THE INVISIBLE
LIKE IN SECOND KINGS 6.
ELISHA, GEHAZI,
THEY'RE BOTH STANDING THERE
IN THE SAME HOUSE
AND THEY'RE SURROUNDED
BY AN ARMY
THAT'S COME TO KILL THEM.
ELISHA IS NOT WORRIED AT ALL.
GEHAZI IS TERRIBLY AFRAID.
ELISHA SAYS, "IT'S OKAY.
THERE IS MORE ON OUR SIDE
THAN ON OUR ENEMY'S SIDE."
GEHAZI LOOKS OUT AT THE DOOR
AND SEES A 100,000 SOLDIERS
AND HE THINKS, 100,000
BUT MORE ON OUR SIDE. OKAY.
SO HE COUNTS HIM AND ELISHA.
ONE, TWO... AND HE THINKS,
GOOD THING YOU GOT
INTO THE MINISTRY
BECAUSE MATH IS CLEARLY
NOT YOUR STRONG SUIT.
[Laughter]
HE STARTS FEELING BAD
FOR THE BALD-HEADED PROPHET
TO HIS SIDE.
SO THEN ELISHA GOES,
"OH, YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT IT
THROUGH THE NAKED EYE."
THEN HE SAYS, "GOD HELP HIM
TO SEE THE UNSEEN."
NOW GEHAZI LOOKS AGAIN.
WHAT DOES HE SEE?
SAME SOLDIERS HE SAW BEFORE;
THEY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
BUT NOW BEHIND THEM
HE SEES ANOTHER ARMY.
WHAT HE REALIZED
WAS THAT THE THING
THAT HAD HIM SURROUNDED
WAS ITSELF SURROUNDED BY GOD.
WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT
IS THAT THE ANGELS --
THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY
THE ANGELS CAME
WHEN HIS EYES WERE OPENED
BUT THAT HE COULD SEE THEM.
SO THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE.
SO FOR ME, I CAN LOOK
AT MY DAUGHTER'S GRAVE
AND I CAN SEE
I DON'T GET TO WALK HER
DOWN THE AISLE,
I DON'T GET TO TEACH HER
HOW TO READ CHAPTER BOOKS.
I CAN THINK ALL THAT
OR I CAN SAY,
"SHE'S WITH JESUS
AND JESUS IS IN ME,
THEREFORE I AM HOLDING HANDS
WITH THE ONE
HOLDING HANDS WITH HER
SO I'M STILL CONNECTED TO HER.
AND EVERY DAY
THAT TAKES ME FURTHER
AND FURTHER AWAY FROM HER,"
THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT.
"OH, I'M BEING TORN
SO FAR FROM HER BECAUSE
SHE WAS PAST ME THIS WAY."
OR I CAN SAY,
"SHE'S IN FRONT OF ME
WHERE I'M GOING.
SO EVERY DAY I WAKE UP
DOESN'T TAKE ME
FURTHER AND FURTHER FROM ME
BUT TAKES HER
CLOSER AND CLOSER TO ME."
AND IF I USE THE RIGHT LENS
THEN I REALIZE I'M MOVING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
AND SHE'S MORE A PART
OF MY FUTURE THAN MY PAST.
SO I WANT PEOPLE WITH CANCER
TO SEE, I LOOK AT DEATH
BUT I SEE THAT HE IS THE
RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.
I LOOK AT LONELINESS
BUT I HEAR HIM SAYING,
"I'M WITH YOU ALWAYS."
I CAN LOOK AT LOSS
AND BANKRUPTCY
BUT HEAR GOD SAYING,
"I'M YOUR SHIELD,
YOUR EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD."
SO YOU CAN LOOK AT ANYTHING
AND SEE WHAT'S THERE
OR BY FAITH
SEE WHAT GOD SAYS IS THERE
AND IF YOU DO THAT
YOU CAN FIND INCREDIBLE POWER
IN WHAT'S IMPOSSIBLE PAIN.
James: WHAT YOU JUST DID
IS TAKE US THROUGH
A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF REALITY
IN THE PRESENCE
OF VERY REAL PAIN.
DO YOU APPRECIATE THE WAY
THAT LEVI JUST SHARED?
[Applause]
THIS IS A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL GIFT THAT GOD
HAS GIVEN THIS YOUNG PASTOR.
WHAT'S THE NAME
OF THE CHURCH?
Levi: FRESH LIFE CHURCH.
James: AND WHERE IS IT?
Levi: WE'RE ALL OVER MONTANA
AND WE'RE ABOUT TO OPEN
IN SALT LAKE CITY.
James: AND WHERE IS
THE HOME CHURCH?
Levi: KALISPELL, MONTANA.
James: IS THAT SOUTHERN?
Levi: NORTH EAST.
James: UP ON
THE CANADIAN BORDER.
SO CANADIANS COULD COME DOWN
AND BRING SOME OF THEIR
ANOINTING AND SOME OF
THEIR NEED DOWN TO YOU.
Levi: LOVE TO HAVE THEM.
James: IT'S WONDERFUL!
DO YOU HAVE A WEB SITE
IF PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT?
Levi: FRESHLIFECHURCH.COM.
James: AND THE BOOK
IS IN THE BOOKSTORES.
I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST
YOU GET ONE
AND GET ONE FOR SOMEBODY
WITH A BROKEN HEART.
Levi: JAMES, I WOULD EVEN
SAY THOUGH, WITH THIS,
I TELL PEOPLE THE BEST TIME
TO PRACTICE FOR A MARATHON
IS BEFORE
THE MARATHON BEGINS.
SO WHILE SOME PEOPLE
MAY THINK, I DON'T WANT
TO READ THAT;
THAT'S A GRIEF BOOK, MY LIFE
IS GOING GOOD RIGHT NOW.
THE TRUTH IS,
JESUS SAID THAT STORMS,
THEY ARE WHAT
REVEALS FOUNDATIONS.
SO THE BEST TIME
TO BUILD A FOUNDATION
IS BEFORE THE STORM BEGINS.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO TRAIN
FOR THE TRIAL
WE'RE NOT YET IN.
James: SO IT'S BETTER TO GO
START LOVING GOD,
LOVING HIS WORD
BEFORE THE CRISIS
BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES
IN THE CRISIS
IF YOU DON'T ALREADY LOVE HIM,
YOU CAN BEGIN TO DETEST HIM,
AND YOU GET FILLED
WITH BITTERNESS.
SO WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS
LET'S TUNE UP SO THAT WE'RE
READY TO PLAY IN THE SYMPHONY
EVEN IN THE FACE OF
INCREDIBLE PAIN AND PRESSURE.
YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP US
TUNE IN, GET TUNED UP.
SO EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE
OF THAT BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT THE BOOK'S ABOUT.
Levi: WELL,
YOU THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY:
PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER
THAN CURE.
SO EVERYONE WE KNOW,
EVERYONE WE LOVE,
ALL OF US ARE ALL
GOING TO DIE SOME DAY.
EVERY VIEWER AT HOME,
WE'RE GOING TO DIE.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS
HOW, WHEN, AND IN WHAT ORDER?
SO FOR SOMEONE
TO CRUISE ALONG
NOT PREPARED FOR TRIALS
IS TO ALL BUT GUARANTEE
THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO BE DESTROYED BY THEM.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHEN
THE WHIRLWIND PASSES BY
THE WICKED ARE NO MORE
BUT THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE
AN EVERLASTING FOUNDATION.
I KNOW THAT FOR YOU
AND FOR MY WIFE AND I, WE'RE
ALL IN THIS TERRIBLE CLUB
THAT NO ONE ASKED TO BE IN.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
WHEN A CHILD LOSES
THEIR PARENTS
THEY'RE CALLED AN ORPHAN.
A HUSBAND OR WIFE
WHO HAS TO BURY THEIR SPOUSE
IS CALLED A WIDOW
OR A WIDOWER.
BUT THERE IS NOT EVEN A NAME
IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
FOR BEING A PARENT
HAVING TO BURY YOUR CHILD.
AND PERHAPS IT IS APPROPRIATE
FOR WHAT WORD COULD CONTAIN
SUCH SADNESS?
BUT THIS CLUB
THAT WE DIDN'T ASK TO BE IN,
IT CAME TO US
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY
AND WE'RE ALL BLESSING
THE NAME OF THE LORD
AND WE'RE WORSHIPPING GOD
AND WE'RE ALL PLANTED
IN THE HOUSE.
WE'RE LOVING GOD.
I WOULD SAY FOR YOU
AND FOR MY WIFE AND I,
WE LOVE GOD MORE THAN EVER.
IN FACT, THE TRIALS HAVE
SPLASHED WATER ON OUR FACE.
WE ALMOST HATE THIS WORLD
EVEN MORE.
THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD
HAVE GROWN STRANGELY DIM
IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY
AND GRACE.
AS PARENTS, ARE KIDS ARE US.
WE HELPED CREATE THEM
AND SO THEY'RE IN HEAVEN.
OUR HEARTS ARE MORE IN HEAVEN
THAN EVER BEFORE.
SO HERE WE ARE.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN DESTROYED
BY OUR TRIALS.
WE HAVE FOUND, LIKE JOB,
TO HAVE COME FORTH
FROM THE TRIAL REFINED.
NOW I BELIEVE THAT
THAT HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO
WITH WHAT WE DID IN THE TRIAL,
BUT WHAT WE DID
BEFORE THE TRIAL CAME.
SOME PEOPLE GO,
"HOW DID YOU DO IT?"
I THINK, WELL, IT'S PROBABLY
BECAUSE FOR 20 YEARS
BEFORE LENYA WENT TO HEAVEN,
BEFORE ROBIN WENT TO HEAVEN,
DECADES TITHING,
READING THE BIBLE,
SOWING INTO THE KINGDOM,
FASTING, --
ALL THOSE THINGS,
THOSE ARE THE THINGS.
PEOPLE LIKE TO CELEBRATE
THE WRONG THING.
YOU SEE THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME,
"OH, THAT WAS A GREAT GAME!"
IT WAS THE HUNDREDS OF HOURS
OF PRACTICE YOU DIDN'T SEE.
I THINK
IT'S THE SECRET THINGS
DONE IN FAITHFULNESS TO GOD
THAT NO ONE NOTICES
THAT GIVES US THE STRENGTH
TO GO THROUGH THE TRIALS
THAT ARE COMING FOR US
ALL ONE DAY.
Betty: AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
THAT FOUNDATION,
THAT RELATIONSHIP
THAT CONTINUES TO BE BUILT,
I FOUND MYSELF RUNNING
TOWARD GOD AND I CONTINUE
TO RUN TOWARD HIM
AND HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP
JUST KEEP BUILDING
AND BUILDING.
I LOVE GOD MORE TODAY
THAN I DID YESTERDAY BECAUSE
I KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME.
HE IS THERE. HE IS FAITHFUL.
HE DID NOT FAIL ME.
GOD DID NOT FAIL OUR DAUGHTER.
SHE IS WITH HIM.
AND SHE IS WELL.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT,
THE FOUNDATION WAS LAID
BEFORE THE TRAGEDY CAME.
Levi: SO WE CAN
HELP PEOPLE NOW.
THESE VIEWERS WHO...
THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY.
SOME OF THE VIEWERS
WATCHING THIS
MIGHT BE ONE WEEK AWAY,
ONE PHONE CALL AWAY,
ONE TEXT MESSAGE AWAY
FROM THE WHOLE BOTTOM
OF THEIR LIFE CRUMBLING,
THE WHOLE IDEA OF WHAT THEIR
FUTURE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE
DISSOLVING INTO THIN AIR
AND THEY HAVE THE CHANCE NOW
BY FAITHFULNESS, TRUSTING
IN JESUS FINANCIALLY,
BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS
WHERE YOUR TREASURE GOES
THERE YOUR HEART GOES.
I BELIEVE IF OUR TREASURES
GO TO HEAVEN
OUR HEARTS ARE ALREADY THERE.
AND IF WE'RE GATHERING
TOGETHER WITH GOD'S PEOPLE...
I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE
PLANTED IN GOD'S HOUSE
WE HAVE ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE
HOLDING US UP.
I HAD PEOPLE FROM MY CHURCH
THERE AT THE HOSPITAL,
PEOPLE FROM OUR CHURCH
THERE AT OUR HOUSE.
WE HAD THE BODY OF CHRIST
THERE SO IN THE DIFFICULT
DAYS, THEY ARE HOLDING
OUR ARMS UP WHEN WE'RE WEAK.
THAT'S WHY
WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER.
WE NEED FELLOWSHIP.
WE NEED TO PUT THOSE THINGS
INTO PRACTICE
BEFORE HARDSHIP COMES.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
IN A TRIAL SHOWING UP
AT A CHURCH AS A NEW PERSON
HOPING SOMEONE NOTICES
YOUR PUFFY EYES
AND ASKS WHAT'S THE MATTER.
YOU WANT TO HAVE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS ALREADY THERE.
James: THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!
WOULD YOU SAY THANKS?
I JUST PRAISE GOD.
I LOVE YOU LEVI.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS.
GET THE BOOK.
YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND GET IT
BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU,
WOULD YOU JUST HELP US
GIVE SOMEBODY A CUP OF WATER?
I'VE WRITTEN A BOOK CALLED,
THE STREAM TO HELP US
REALLY SEE OUR WAY
THROUGH THE DARKNESS
AND BECOME THE LIGHT.
BUT THIS IS PHENOMENAL
FOR HEALING BROKEN HEARTS.
YOU'VE BEEN
A REAL BLESSING TO US.
I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING
TO THOSE OF YOU
THAT ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU'D LIKE SOMEBODY
TO PRAY WITH YOU, YOU SEE
THE PHONE NUMBER THERE?
YOU MAY GET SOMEONE
TO ANSWER THE PHONE
THAT ALSO KNOWS WHAT IT IS
TO HAVE A BROKEN HEART
AND JUST PRAY WITH YOU,
JUST AGREE WITH YOU,
JUST LOVE YOU.
FATHER, I PRAY EVERYONE WITH
A BROKEN HEART RIGHT NOW
WILL FIRST REACH UP
AND JUST TOUCH YOU,
AND KNOW HOW MUCH
YOU WANT TO HOLD THEM CLOSE,
AND HOW YOU ALONE
CAN REALLY COMFORT THEM,
AND THEN ACTUALLY TEACH THEM
HOW TO BE A COMFORT TO OTHERS.
HELP THEM TO REACH OUT
FIRST TO YOU,
ASK YOU TO ENABLE THEM
TO TOUCH OTHERS WITH LOVE
AND WITH COMFORT.
AND IF THEY NEED SOMEONE
TO TALK TO TO CALL.
IN JESUS' NAME.
DON'T HESITATE TO CALL
IF YOU WANT SOMEONE
TO PRAY WITH YOU.
THEN I WANT TO SAY THIS.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
A BROKEN HEART AND
YOU'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND
THE SAME THING
THAT GAVE US A BROKEN HEART,
THAT GAVE LEVI AND HIS FAMILY
A BROKEN HEART.
BUT WE HAVE
THE 100% PERFECT CURE
AND YOU CAN PROVIDE IT TODAY
FOR MANY.
YES, YOU CAN!
SO AS OTHERS ARE CALLING FOR
PRAYER I WANT YOU TO WATCH
AND I WANT YOU TO ASK GOD
RIGHT NOW,
HELP ME BE AN ANSWER
TO SOMEONE'S NEED,
AN ANSWER TO SOMEONE'S PRAYER,
AN ANSWER TO THEIR HURT.
LET ME BE THE ANSWER
BECAUSE GOD USES US.
WATCH VERY SENSITIVELY
AND PRAYERFULLY.
Ralph: WELL, WE'VE HEARD
THIS STORY SO MANY TIMES
OF DESPERATE MOTHERS
TRYING TO RAISE A FAMILY
IN WATER SOURCES
LIKE THESE.
THIS IS THEIR
DRINKING WATER.
THE STORIES ARE A LITTLE
DIFFERENT SOMETIMES
BUT THERE IS
A COMMON THREAD.
IT'S A BROKENHEARTED MOTHER
WHO IS TRYING
TO RAISE HER CHILDREN
BUT YET SHE IS
WATCHING THEM DIE.
>> GOD JUST PUT
IN MY HEART TODAY
THAT WE HAVE
THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE
THAT CYCLE;
TO GIVE THESE CHILDREN
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ONE DAY
THEY CAN BE BRINGING
THEIR CHILDREN
TO A WATER SOURCE
BUT NOT THIS ONE.
THEY CAN BRING THEIR CHILDREN
TO A FRESH DRILLED WELL
THAT BRINGS
CLEAN WATER UP,
GIVES IT TO THE WHOLE FAMILY,
THE ENTIRE VILLAGE,
NOT JUST FOR A DAY
OR A COUPLE WEEKS
BUT FOR
A LIFETIME.
James: THOSE LITTLE CHILDREN
GETTING THAT WATER
ARE MORE EXCITED
THAN CHILDREN THAT WOULD GO
TO OUR ENTERTAINMENT PARKS
LIKE SIX FLAGS
OR ANY SPORTING EVENT BECAUSE
IT MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD.
WHEN WE GO WITH THE CAMERAS
THEY'LL LET THE CHILDREN
PLAY IN THE WATER
A LITTLE BIT.
THEY DON'T GET TO PLAY IN IT
A LOT BUT IT IS THEIR LIFE.
AND IT IS GIVEN IN LOVE
AND IT IS A MIRACLE.
WOULD YOU HELP RIGHT NOW
US COMPLETE DRILLING
500 WELLS THIS YEAR?
WE NEED A MIRACLE OF SUPPORT.
THEY'RE $4800 EACH.
WE HAVE SOME FRIENDS,
SOMETIMES SOME CHURCHES,
SOMETIMES SOME BUSINESSES,
SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
EVEN WILL SAY, "WE'RE GOING
TO DRILL A WELL."
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
MOST OF THE SUPPORT
COMES FROM PEOPLE HOWEVER,
WHO GIVE $48.
AND WHEN WE BREAK IT DOWN,
BETTY, THAT GIVES TEN PEOPLE
WATER THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
AT SOME LEVEL
YOU CAN PARTICIPATE.
WHEN YOU SEE
WHAT YOU JUST WATCHED,
DON'T YOU BELIEVE
EVERYONE WATCHING
WANTS TO BE AN ANSWER
TO THAT MOTHER'S HOPE
AND TO HEAL HER HURT?
Betty: I BELIEVE THAT!
AS I WATCHED THAT MOTHER
GOING TO THE ONLY WATER SOURCE
THAT THEY HAVE,
EVERY DAY FAITHFULLY
SHE GOES DOWN THERE. WHY?
SHE KNOWS THE WATER
IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM
BUT SHE KNOWS THEY CAN'T LIVE
EVEN ANY LENGTH OF TIME
WITHOUT WATER IN THEIR BODIES;
BUT KNOWING THAT EVERY TIME
THEY TAKE A SIP OF THAT WATER
IT MAKES THEM ILL
AND POSSIBLY DIE.
WON'T YOU JOIN WITH US?
LET'S BE A SOURCE OF HOPE
TO THESE MOTHERS THAT LOVE
THEIR CHILDREN SO MUCH.
LET'S DRILL THE WATER WELLS
AND LET'S GIVE THEM
FRESH CLEAN WATER.
LIKE JAMES SAYS,
THIS IS SO FUN
FOR THE KIDS TOO.
THEY SEE THAT WATER COMING OUT
AND IT'S SO MUCH BETTER
THAN ANY TOY THEY MIGHT HAVE
BECAUSE THEY LOVE
THAT GOOD TASTING WATER
AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD,
I'M SURE, THAT THIS IS
GOING TO MAKE THEM BETTER.
SO JOIN WITH US!
James: WE'VE GOT
A PERFECT CURE.
BETTY AND I ARE FAITHFUL
CONTRIBUTORS TO ST. JUDE.
I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU THAT.
YOU SAY, "WHY?"
BECAUSE WE SEE
THOSE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FACES,
AND WE SEE THOSE PARENTS
WITH THOSE PRECIOUS CHILDREN.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS
WE GIVE IS NOT ONLY SO THAT
THE PEOPLE CAN BRING THEM
WHO CAN'T AFFORD
TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILD
AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THEM
WITHOUT COST TO THEM,
BUT THEY'RE MAINLY
TRYING TO FIND A CURE FOR
EVERY ONE OF THOSE AILMENTS,
AND THEY'RE SEARCHING FOR IT.
BETTY, WE'VE GOT
THE 100% PERFECT CURE.
AND WE CAN DELIVER THAT CURE
TO THAT VILLAGE AND 500 MORE.
THINK ABOUT THAT:
THE THOUSANDS, AND ULTIMATELY
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE SAVED
BECAUSE YOU REACHED OUT
ONE DAY AND TOUCHED THEM
WITH LOVE.
HERE'S WHAT WE NEED.
WE NEED YOU TO HELP.
CAN YOU DRILL A WELL?
-- $4800.
OR GIVE PART OF A WELL
AND PRAY SOMEBODY
MEETS YOUR $2400
OR YOUR $1200
AND THREE MORE JOIN YOU?
WOULD YOU DO THIS TOO?
WE NEED
A SUPERNATURAL MIRACLE.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE
A $380,000 DRILLING RIG.
THE MISSIONARIES TOLD US
THAT HAS TO HAPPEN
OR THEY CANNOT CONTINUE
WHERE THEY'RE GOING
IN OTHER AREAS.
WE NEED A MIRACLE.
WE NEED SOME PEOPLE TO GIVE
$10,000 AND $20,000 --
$25,000.
I'M PRAYING SOMEBODY
WILL GIVE $100,000.
BUT EVERYBODY
CAN GIVE SOMETHING
NOT ONLY TOWARDS THE WELLS
BUT AT LEAST GIVE SOMETHING
TOWARD THAT DRILLING RIG.
TOGETHER WE CAN MEET
THOSE NEEDS.
WOULD YOU ASK GOD TO LEAD YOU?
WOULD YOU GO TO LIFETODAY.ORG,
USE YOUR BANKCARD LIKE A CHECK
OR YOU CAN DIAL THE NUMBER
AND USE THAT CARD?
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE A CHECK,
MAKE IT TO LIFE BUT CALL
THAT NUMBER AND TELL US
YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN THE MAIL.
PLEASE DO IT.
FATHER, I PRAY EVERYONE
WATCHING WILL HELP;
IN JESUS' NAME.
WOULD YOU JUST DO WHAT
HE'S LEADING YOU TO DO?
WE HAVE SOME GIFTS TO SEND YOU
TO SAY THANK YOU.
THE BOOK I'VE WRITTEN TO
HELP US SEE THE NATION HEALED
AND FREEDOM LITERALLY SAVED
BY A MIRACLE WORK OF GOD
THROUGH US.
WE WANT TO HELP YOU.
WE'VE GOT THE BEAUTIFUL MUGS
TO SEND YOU TO SAY THANKS.
BUT YOU'RE GIVING
NOT ONLY A CUP OF WATER
YOU'RE GIVING WELLS OF WATER.
THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
Announcer:
EVERY DAY CHILDREN ARE FORCED
TO MAKE A DREADFUL CHOICE:
DRINK POLLUTED WATER
FILLED WITH DEADLY DISEASE
OR DIE
FROM THIRST.
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE
FACED WITH THIS DECISION!
THE GOOD NEWS IS
THERE IS A SOLUTION:
MISSION:
WATER FOR LIFE
IS ONE OF THE MOST
PROVEN DEMONSTRATIONS
OF GOD'S LOVE TODAY.
SUFFERING
CAN END
BECAUSE CLEAN WATER
CHANGES EVERYTHING.
WITH YOUR
GIFT TODAY
YOU CAN HELP DRILL
500 WATER WELLS
IN REMOTE VILLAGES
IN OVER 15 DIFFERENT NATIONS.
YOUR GIFT
OF $24
WILL HELP PROVIDE
CLEAN WATER FOR FIVE PEOPLE.
A GIFT OF $48
WILL HELP PROVIDE FOR TEN.
AND $144 WILL HELP PROVIDE
FRESH WATER FOR 30 PEOPLE
FOR A LIFETIME!
ADDITIONALLY, JUST OVER
$378,000 IS NEEDED
TO REPLACE AN OLD
AND FAILING DRILLING RIG
IN AFRICA.
PLEASE CONSIDER
AN ADDITIONAL GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE
TO GET A DESPERATELY NEEDED
NEW RIG IN PLACE
AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
WITH YOUR GIFT
WE'LL SEND YOU THE STREAM,
A POWERFUL NEW BOOK
BY JAMES ROBISON
THAT CHARTS A CLEAR PATH
FOR YOUR PERSONAL REVIVAL
AND A SPIRITUAL
REVOLUTION.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE
PLEASE REQUEST
THE "PROMISES OF GOD"
COFFEE MUGS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1200
TO HELP PROVIDE WATER
FOR 250 PEOPLE
OR A GIFT OF $4800 TO HELP
SPONSOR A COMPLETE WELL.
AND YOU MAY REQUEST OUR
"MAJESTY" BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
Betty: ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'VE SEEN ON OUR
JOURNEY IS THE TEARS,
YES, THE TEARS STILL COME
AS YOU SEE
BUT GOD HAS TURNED
THOSE TEARS TO OTHERS.
IT'S NOT YES, WE STILL WEEP
OVER OUR DAUGHTER SOME
BUT MORE SO
OVER THOSE THAT ARE HURTING
AND THAT DON'T HAVE
THE SAME HOPE AND ASSURANCE
THAT WE DO.
Levi: THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.
James: YOU HEARD
WHAT BETTY JUST SAID TO LEVI
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY
WE THANK YOU
FOR DRILLING WATER WELLS
BECAUSE WE JUST LOVE
TO HEAL HURT.
I'M SENDING THE STREAM.
LISTEN, THIS IS FIVE YEARS
OF BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS
JUST TO SPEAK TO YOU
AS A SHEPHERD,
TO LEAD YOU TO GREEN PASTURE,
THROUGH THE VALLEY
OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
NOT TO LIVE
UNDER PHARAOH'S RULE
BUT IN THE BLESSING OF GOD.
THEN IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT,
WE'RE SENDING IT TO YOU.
YOU HELP US GIVE WATER.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE LION,
YOU CAN GET IT ONLINE
OR IN THE BOOKSTORES.
YOU HELP US HELP OTHERS TODAY
AND WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
ASK US FOR IT BECAUSE WE
WANT TO BE A BLESSING TO YOU.
LEVI, WE LOVE YOU AND BLESS
YOUR CHURCH AND FAMILY.
THANK YOU
FOR BLESSING US IMMENSELY.
WOULD YOU THANK LEVI
FOR BEING A BLESSING?
[Applause]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK ALL OF YOU.
THANKS FOR DRILLING WELLS.
THANKS FOR GIVING SOMEONE
A CUP OF WATER IN JESUS' NAME
IN ANSWER TO THEIR HURT
AND THEIR PRAYERS.
GOD BLESS YOU!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING
THIS TIME WITH US.
♪
♪
♪
>> I DISCOVERED
THAT I WAS
NEVER AS STRONG
AS I THOUGHT I WAS,
AND THAT GOD WAS WAY STRONGER
THAN I EVER DREAMED HE WAS.
Announcer: TOMORROW!
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.