>> AS I STOOD
AT THE EDGE
AND LOOKED INTO
THE CLEAR MOVING WATER,
I FELT THE PRESENCE
OF CHRIST WITH ME.
I BELIEVE THAT
IN HIS GREAT MERCY
CHRIST MET MY FATHER
THAT DARK NIGHT,
WOUNDED IN MIND
AND SPIRIT,
LOST AND SICK
AND HELPLESS,
AND CARRIED
HIM HOME.
Announcer: COMING UP,
SHEILA WALSH EXPLORES
OUR DEEP ROOTED LONGING
FOR GOD ALONE!
♪
Sheila: HELLO!
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD!
I'M THE KIND OF WRITER
WHO WRITES ABOUT
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW,
MORE THAN WHAT I ALREADY KNOW.
A LOT OF PEOPLE
WRITE AS EXPERTS
ON A PARTICULAR SUBJECT,
BUT I FIND IN MY OWN LIFE
IT'S A HUNGER
TO UNDERSTAND MORE.
THAT'S REALLY WHY I BEGAN
WRITING THE LONGING IN ME.
I REMEMBER ONE EVENING,
I WAS SITTING IN AN ARENA
WITH 16,000 WOMEN.
I WAS ABOUT TO GO UP
AND SPEAK.
I WAS IN A GOOD PLACE
IN MY LIFE.
I LOVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF DOING WHAT I WAS DOING.
BUT I SAID, "LORD,
WHY IS THERE STILL
A PLACE INSIDE OF ME
WHERE THERE'S LIKE AN ACHE?"
AND I FELT AS IF
THE LORD SAID TO ME,
"SHEILA, DON'T TRY
TO GET RID OF THAT PLACE.
DON'T TRY AND UNLEASH
THE TIES THAT PLACE,
BECAUSE THAT PLACE
BELONGS INSIDE THE LIFE
OF EVERY BELIEVER.
IT'S A SACRED ACHE.
IT TELLS YOU
YOU'RE MEANT FOR MORE.
YOU'RE NOT HOME YET.
MAYBE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED
THAT IN YOUR OWN LIFE
AND YOU THINK
IF ONLY I WAS MARRIED,
IF ONLY I HAD A CHILD,
IF I JUST COULD GET THAT JOB!
AND SOMETIMES
YOU GET ALL THESE THINGS
AND THEN YOU THINK,
WELL, WHY DO I STILL FEEL
THE WAY I FEEL.
EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS GOOD,
IT'S ALL GOING SMOOTHLY
BUT THERE'S JUST THIS
LITTLE PLACE INSIDE OF ME
THAT LONGS FOR MORE.
I'VE LEARNED
TO REALLY TREASURE THAT PLACE
BECAUSE IT REMINDS US
THAT THERE IS A PLACE
INSIDE OF US
THAT'S MADE FOR GOD ALONE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TODAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT
THE LIFE OF KING DAVID
THAT I THINK I ADMIRE
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
WAS HE NEVER TRIED
TO GRASP POWER
OR TO HOLD ONTO POWER.
HIS BASIC THING WAS
IF GOD'S DONE WITH ME,
I'M DONE.
AND IF HE'S NOT,
THERE'S NOTHING
ANYONE ELSE CAN DO.
TO COME TO THAT PLACE OF FAITH
AND TRUST IN GOD
IS A PLACE OF GREAT PEACE.
SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT
IN THE LIFE OF KING DAVID!
♪
♪
Sheila: MY FATHER
HAD A BEAUTIFUL VOICE.
ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
ONCE TOLD ME
IT WAS THE KIND OF VOICE
THAT MADE YOU WANT
TO LOVE GOD MORE.
HIS FAVORITE HYMN TO PERFORM
WAS THE NINETY AND NINE.
AFTER MY DAD'S DEATH
IT WAS VERY HARD FOR MY MOM
TO LISTEN TO THAT HYMN.
I DREADED SEEING
THAT NUMBER APPEAR IN
THE HYMN BOARD IN OUR CHURCH
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP
BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD MAKE
MY MOM CRY HER WAY THROUGH IT.
AND HONESTLY,
IT WASN'T THE CRYING
THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART,
IT WAS THAT WE NEVER REALLY
TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO MY FATHER.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING TERRIBLE
THAT HAD OCCURRED IN THE PAST
AND WE HAD MOVED ON.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHERE MY FATHER WAS BURIED.
YEARS LATER
I FLEW HOME TO SCOTLAND
TO TRY AND PUT BACK TOGETHER
THE MISSING PIECES FROM
THE PUZZLE OF MY EARLY LIFE.
THOUGH I WANTED
TO HONOR MY MOM
AND NOT STIR THINGS UP,
I DESPERATELY NEEDED
SOME CLOSURE FOR MYSELF.
SO I VISITED THE PLACE
WHERE MY DAD'S LIFE ENDED.
WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD
MY DAD WAS HOSPITALIZED
AFTER SUFFERING
A MASSIVE BRAIN ANEURISM.
THE DOCTORS ALLOWED HIM
TO COME HOME AND CONTINUE
TREATMENT WITH SPEECH
AND PHYSICAL THERAPY
BUT OVER THE NEXT DAYS
AND WEEKS HIS PERSONALITY
BEGAN TO CHANGE.
HE WOULD GET ANGRY
AND STRIKE OUT IMPULSIVELY.
AND AFTER THAT
HE WOULD PUT HIS HEAD
IN HIS HANDS AND WEEP.
DAD EVENTUALLY ENDED UP
IN THE LOCKED WARD
OF AN ASYLUM.
A SHORT TIME LATER
HE MANAGED TO ESCAPE
ONE NIGHT.
HE TOOK HIS LIFE IN THE RIVER
THAT RAN BEHIND THE HOSPITAL.
MY SISTER, BROTHER,
AND I WERE TOO YOUNG
TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL
AND AFTER THAT
WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT MY DAD
EVER AGAIN.
WE CERTAINLY NEVER TALKED
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
THAT NIGHT.
SO WHEN I FLEW HOME I DIDN'T
EVEN KNOW THE EXACT SPOT
WHERE HE WAS BURIED.
IT WAS A COLD DAMP DAY
AS I DROVE THE RENTAL CAR
THROUGH THE GATES
OF THE HOSPITAL
TO THE PARKING AREA.
I GOT OUT OF THE CAR
AND PULLED
THE COLLAR OF MY COAT
UP AROUND MY NECK TO KEEP
SOME OF THE BITTER WIND AWAY.
I MADE MY WAY
THROUGH THE GRASS,
DOWN TO THE EDGE
OF THAT RIVER.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
UNDERSTANDING? REGRET?
SADNESS? I HAVE NO IDEA.
WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT TO FIND?
HOPE!
AS I STOOD AT THE EDGE
AND LOOKED INTO
THE CLEAR MOVING WATER
I FELT THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
WITH ME.
I BELIEVE
THAT IN HIS GREAT MERCY
CHRIST MET MY FATHER
THAT DARK NIGHT,
WOUNDED IN MIND AND SPIRIT,
LOST AND SICK AND HELPLESS,
AND CARRIED HIM HOME.
WHAT DID MY DAD LONG FOR
THAT NIGHT?
I'M SURE JUST ONE THING.
HOME.
IN THAT HOMECOMING
HE FINALLY LEARNED
THAT THE LOVE OF GOD
IS FAR GREATER
THAN HIS WOUNDS,
FAR WIDER
THAN HIS DESPERATE WONDERING.
IN THE DEEP QUIET STILLNESS
OF OUR HEARTS,
WE LONG FOR GOD,
AND GOD ALONE.
AND IF WE ARE REALLY
HONEST WITH OURSELVES,
WE KNOW NOTHING ELSE WILL DO.
♪
I'VE TRAVELED
AROUND THE WORLD
DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS
AND SPOKEN TO MORE
THAN FIVE MILLION WOMEN.
I'VE LISTENED AS MANY OF YOU
HAVE GRACIOUSLY SHARED
PARTS OF YOUR LIFE WITH ME.
AND I SEE A COMMON THREAD
RUNNING THROUGH OUR STORIES,
THE LONGING
AND THE ACHE FOR MORE OF GOD.
WE ALL HAVE LONGINGS.
AND THOUGH SOME LEAD
TO GREATER HEARTACHE
THAN OTHERS,
WE'RE ALL THE SAME.
NONE OF US IS ALONE
IN THIS UNIVERSAL NEED.
JESUS CAME BECAUSE
WE ARE ALL MESSED UP,
NOT BECAUSE SOME OF US
ARE MORE MESSED UP
THAN OTHERS.
AS GOD'S LOVE DAUGHTERS,
WE NEED TO BE SHAKEN
TO OUR CORE UNTIL
WE BEGIN TO GRASP THE PRICE
THAT'S BEEN PAID
FOR OUR REDEMPTION.
PERHAPS THEN
THIS WORLD WILL SEE
WHAT GOD'S LOVE LOOKS LIKE
BY THE WAY
WE TREAT EACH OTHER.
WE LIVE IN A DAY
WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LEAVING
THE CHURCH IN DROVES.
COULD IT BE THAT OUR HYPOCRISY
AND CHASING THINGS
OTHER THAN JESUS
HAS SENT THEM RUNNING?
UNLESS WE'VE BEEN RADICALIZED
BY THE CROSS,
WE WILL INEVITABLY
BE RADICALIZED
BY SOMETHING ELSE,
WHETHER IT'S MONEY
OR RELATIONSHIPS OR STATUS
OR EVEN OUR OWN BRAND
OF HOLINESS.
ONLY THE CROSS CALLS US HIGHER
YET IT TAKES US TO OUR KNEES
TO LIVE A LIFE OF SELF-DENIAL
WHILE ELEVATING
THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
ONLY A VISION
OF THE GREATNESS OF GOD
CAUSES US TO RELINQUISH
OUR PURSUIT OF THINGS
AND INSTEAD
TO KNEEL AT HIS FEET.
DURING HIS LIFETIME
DAVID WATCHED HIS KINGDOM
RISE TO THE HEIGHTS
PROMISED TO ABRAHAM.
HE DEFEATED VAST ARMIES
AND WATCHED GOD INTERFERE
WITH THE PLANS OF THOSE
WHO ATTEMPTED TO TAKE HIM OUT.
BUT THEN DAVID ALLOWED
HIS LONGINGS TO LEAD HIM
INTO THE KIND OF SIN
THAT CAUSED DEATH
AND DEVASTATION TO OTHERS.
YET PAUL SAID
GOD TESTIFIED CONCERNING HIM.
I HAVE FOUND DAVID,
SON OF JESSE,
A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART.
HE WILL DO EVERYTHING
I WANT HIM TO DO.
AS WE TURNED THROUGH
THE PAGES OF DAVID'S LIFE,
WE'VE SEEN SIN.
BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN HUMILITY,
WORSHIP, TRUST, HOPE,
REPENTANCE, STRENGTH,
AND LOVE.
PERHAPS THE GREATEST GIFT
OF DAVID'S LIFE TO US
IS HIS ABSOLUTE TRUST
IN THE GOODNESS
AND MERCY OF GOD,
NO MATTER WHAT RAGED
AROUND HIM.
DAVID'S STORY REMINDS US
THAT IT'S NOT HOW YOU START
IN LIFE THAT MATTERS
BUT HOW YOU FINISH IT.
WE LEFT DAVID
DEEPLY REPENTANT
FOR HIS AFFAIR WITH BATHSHEBA
AND THE MURDER
OF HER HUSBAND URIAH,
YET EVEN IN JUDGMENT
GOD SHOWED MERCY.
A MAN WHO SLEEPS
WITH ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE
SHOULD BE STONED
ACCORDING TO MOSAIC LAW.
WHEN YOU ADD COMPLICITY
TO MURDER
THERE WOULD BE NO REPRIEVE.
BUT GOD SPARED DAVID'S LIFE.
HOWEVER, THE LONG TERM
CONSEQUENCES OF DAVID'S SIN
WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
GOD WOULD HOLD DAVID
ACCOUNTABLE NOT JUST AS KING,
BUT ALSO AS A FATHER.
THE SEEDS HE HAD
DELIBERATELY SOWN
WOULD BEAR DISASTROUS FRUIT
IN HIS HOME.
BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAD DONE,
GOD WOULD CAUSE
HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD
TO REBEL AGAINST HIM.
I'M SURE THAT
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
DAVID REGRETTED
THAT ONE NIGHT STAND
WITH ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT THE CONSEQUENCES
OF THOSE CHOICES.
THEY'RE THE TYPE OF JUDGMENT
WE ASSOCIATE
WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT.
IT'S TEMPTING TO CAMP OUT
IN THE GRACE
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND THINK THAT BECAUSE
OF THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
WE NO LONGER FACE
THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SIN.
BUT THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
CHRIST'S SACRIFICE
PROVIDES FORGIVENESS
AND RESTORATION
OF PEACE WITH GOD.
BUT AS YOU KNOW,
CERTAIN DECISIONS
CARRY CONSEQUENCES WITH THEM.
THE FIRST TRAGEDY
WAS THE LOSS OF THE CHILD
BATHSHEBA CARRIED.
ONE COMMENTARY I READ SAID,
"THE PAIN OF THAT WAS REMOVED
WHEN SHE GAVE BIRTH
TO SOLOMON."
ONLY SOMEONE
WHO'S LOST A CHILD
KNOWS THAT'S NOT TRUE.
OF COURSE,
DAVID AND BATHSHEBA
WHO ARE NOW MARRIED
AND LOVED SOLOMON,
BUT NOTHING ERASES THE PAIN
OF A LOST CHILD.
WELL, THE NEXT EVENT
IN DAVID'S FAMILY
IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING.
TWO OF HIS CHILDREN,
ABSALOM AND TAMAR,
BROTHER AND SISTER,
HAD THE SAME MOTHER.
AMNON WAS ALSO DAVID'S SON
BUT HE HAD A DIFFERENT MOTHER.
AMNON LUSTED AFTER
HIS HALF-SISTER TAMAR.
HE TRICKED HER
INTO BELIEVING HE WAS ILL
AND ONCE SHE WAS IN HIS ROOM
HE RAPED HER.
BY THIS VIOLATION,
TAMAR'S LIFE
WAS ESSENTIALLY OVER,
SHE WAS DISGRACED.
SHE RAN TO THE ONE
SHE TRUSTED MOST,
HER BROTHER ABSALOM.
AND FOR TWO YEARS
ABSALOM DID NOTHING.
HE DIDN'T ADDRESS THE SIN
OR EVEN SPEAK TO HIS BROTHER.
HE WAITED FOR HIS MOMENT
TO AVENGE HIS SISTER.
I'M TEMPTED TO WONDER,
WHERE WAS DAVID
DURING ALL OF THIS?
IF YOU HAVE TWO SONS
THAT DON'T SPEAK A WORD
TO EACH OTHER FOR TWO YEARS
I THINK YOU WOULD NOTICE.
I WONDER IF DAVID DIDN'T WANT
TO HAVE HIS OWN MESS
THROWN BACK IN HIS FACE.
TWO YEARS LATER
ABSALOM THREW A FEAST
DURING SHEEP SHEARING TIME.
HE INVITED
ALL THE KING'S SONS
BUT ASKED DAVID SPECIFICALLY
TO SEND AMNON.
DAVID WAS INITIALLY RELUCTANT
BUT ABSALOM BEGGED AND PLEADED
UNTIL DAVID FINALLY SAID YES.
AMNON WAS THE ELDEST SON
AND SO BY RIGHTS
THE CROWN PRINCE
NEXT IN LINE TO THE THRONE.
BUT AS IT TURNED OUT
HE WOULDN'T LIVE
TO SEE MORNING.
ABSALOM TOLD HIS MEN
TO WAIT UNTIL AMNON WAS DRUNK
AND THEN KILL HIM.
ABSALOM ESCAPED
TO HIS GRANDFATHER
AND STAYED WITH HIM
FOR THREE YEARS.
SO WE HAVE
THE DEATH OF A CHILD,
THE RAPE OF HIS DAUGHTER
BY HER HALF-BROTHER,
AND THE MURDER OF THAT SON
BY HIS BROTHER.
THE SEEDS OF REBELLION
HAD BEEN PLANTED DEEP
BECAUSE AN EVEN GREATER CROP
WILL GROW.
A BROTHER AVENGING THE RAPE
OF HIS SISTER
IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK
ANY OF US CAN UNDERSTAND.
BUT ABSALOM, HE HAD A LUST
FOR POWER AND CONTROL.
HE DETERMINED
TO OVERTHROW HIS FATHER
AND MAKE HIMSELF KING.
ABSALOM RAN HIS OWN
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN,
BEGUILING THE PEOPLE.
WHEN DAVID HEARD
ABOUT THAT UPRISING,
HE KNEW THAT PEOPLE
WERE COMING AFTER HIM
AND ONCE MORE
HE HAD TO RUN FOR HIS LIFE.
HE WALKED UP THE ROAD
TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
WEEPING AS HE WENT.
HIS HEAD WAS COVERED
AND HIS FEET WERE BARE
AS A SIGN OF MOURNING,
A SIGN THAT EVERYONE
COULD READ.
KING DAVID WAS BANKRUPT.
ONLY GOD KNOWS THE REASON
FOR ALL THOSE TEARS;
TEARS OF REGRET,
TEARS OF BETRAYAL,
TEARS OF LOSS.
DURING THAT TIME DAVID
WROTE THESE WORDS IN PSALM 3:
HERE DAVID MODELS FOR US
HOW TO LIVE.
WE WORSHIP GOD
AND WE LONG FOR HIM ALONE.
WHEN NOTHING ELSE MAKES SENSE
WE THANK GOD FOR WHO HE IS
AND HOW HE LOVES US.
WE CRY OUT TO THE HEAVENS
AND DECLARE
THE LORD WATCHES OVER US.
HE IS OUR SHIELD.
HE IS OUR DEFENDER.
HE IS THE ONE
WHO HOLDS OUR HEAD UP HIGH
WHEN WE WANT TO SIMPLY
BURY IT IN A PILLOW.
THE TRUTH IS THAT
NO MATTER HOW THINGS APPEAR
AND NO MATTER WHAT WE FEEL,
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
THINK ABOUT ONE MORE THING.
DAVID WAS A POWERFUL,
CHARISMATIC KING
AND A GREAT WARRIOR.
SO DON'T YOU THINK
HE COULD HAVE RALLIED
ALL OF ISRAEL TO COME AGAINST
THIS REBELLIOUS SON?
THIS IS A PROFOUND LESSON
ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
TO BE A PERSON
AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART.
AND UNDER THE RABID RULE
OF KING SAUL,
DAVID NEVER FOUGHT TO BE KING
EVEN THOUGH
HE WAS THE ANOINTED ONE.
NOW, AS KING, HE REFUSED
TO FIGHT TO KEEP THE CROWN.
DAVID REFUSED
TO FIGHT FOR POWER.
HIS BOTTOM LINE WAS,
IF GOD IS THROUGH WITH ME,
THEN I AM THROUGH.
IF HE'S NOT, THEN NO MATTER
WHAT ANYONE TRIES TO DO,
GOD WILL VINDICATE ME.
WHAT A POWERFUL PLACE
OF REST AND PEACE.
MORE THAN GOD'S POWER,
DAVID DESIRED HIS WILL.
Sheila: I THINK
THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW
THAT GOD HAS REALLY
BEEN MOVING IN YOUR LIFE,
WHERE YOU DON'T
JUST PRAY FOR THINGS,
YOU PRAY FOR HIM.
WHEN YOU WANT HIS HEART
AND HIS WILL
MORE THAN YOU WANT THINGS
TO WORK OUT WELL IN YOUR LIFE.
I THINK
THAT'S THE PROGRESSION
THAT WE SEE THROUGH
THE LIFE OF DAVID,
THAT HE LEARNED
THAT GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY.
HE LEARNED THAT
AS A LITTLE BOY IN THE FIELDS.
THEN HE HAD A FEW MISSTEPS.
BUT TOWARD THE END
OF DAVID'S LIFE
IT WAS SO CLEAR TO HIM,
THE GREATEST LONGING WE HAVE
IS FOR GOD ALONE.
WELL, THIS IS THE LAST SESSION
OF THE LONGING IN ME,
THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SEND
THIS TEACHING TAPE TO YOU.
I'D LOVE TO SEND IT TO YOU,
THE LONGING IN ME.
IT'S GOOD FOR
GROUP BIBLE STUDY,
OR MAYBE YOU JUST WANT
TO DO IT BY YOURSELF.
BUT ALSO I'M VERY EXCITED
BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST WEEK
OF MISSION FEEDING.
I CANNOT TELL YOU
WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY LAND
ON AFRICAN SOIL
AND TAKE MY VERY FIRST TRIP
IN ANGOLA.
TO BE ABLE TO SEE -
I SIT IN THE STUDIO
AND I WATCH WITH YOU
ON TELEVISION
AND I SEE THE AMAZING WORK
THAT JAMES AND BETTY HAVE DONE
THROUGHOUT ALL THE YEARS.
I'VE WATCHED THEM
WITH THESE BOWLS OF FOOD.
BUT TO BE ABLE TO BE THE ONE
WHO SITS THERE
AND ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY
GETS TO FEED THESE CHILDREN
WAS JUST REMARKABLE.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW,
WHEN YOU DO GIVE
IT ACTUALLY GOES
TO WHERE YOU HOPE IT GOES.
YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES
YOU WONDER,
DOES THAT REALLY GET THERE?
ABSOLUTELY IT DOES!
AND TO SEE THE LOOK
IN THE EYES OF THESE CHILDREN,
THEY'RE SO PATIENT.
WHEN WE WERE THERE IT WAS HOT!
AND THEY HAD TO LINE UP
ALL AROUND THESE TREES
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME
AND THEY STOOD THERE
SO PATIENTLY, NEVER MOVED.
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE,
THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE
TO LIFE IN AFRICA.
WE GET TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE
THAT MISSION FEEDING MAKES.
BUT WE ACTUALLY GET TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIDN'T
GET THERE SOON ENOUGH.
I ACTUALLY TALKED TO JAMES
IN THIS PIECE BECAUSE
I WAS STANDING IN A PLACE
THAT NO MOTHER
EVER WANTS TO STAND.
JAMES HAD STOOD THERE BEFORE
AND I THINK
IT'S OUT OF THAT HEARTBREAK
THAT WE BRING
THIS IMPORTANT WEEK
OF MISSION FEEDING TO YOU.
I THINK YOU WILL SEE
WHAT I MEAN.
WATCH THIS.
♪
Sheila: I'M HERE
IN WHAT IS A SMALL PART
OF A MASSIVE
GRAVEYARD.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE.
BUT THIS PART
I'M STANDING IN,
THESE ARE
ALL CHILDREN.
AND THE THING THAT HAS
TOUCHED US AS A TEAM
SO DEEPLY IS THE WAY
THAT THE PARENTS
HAVE TRIED TO HONOR
THEIR CHILDREN IN SOME WAY
BY LEAVING SOMETHING
ON THE GRAVE,
WHETHER IT'S JUST
LITTLE BOOTIES,
A LITTLE TOY THAT MEANT SOMETHING TO THE CHILD.
SOME PARENTS HAVE LITERALLY,
ALL THEY HAD WAS LIKE
AN EMPTY WATER BOTTLE
BUT THEY JUST WANTED
TO LEAVE SOMETHING
TO SAY THIS IS MY CHILD,
AND THEY WERE LOVED.
AND JAMES, YOU'LL
REMEMBER BEING HERE.
YOU WERE HERE
AND YOU REMEMBER THE IMPACT
THIS PLACE HAD ON YOU.
WHAT WOULD HORRIFY YOU
IS HOW IT'S GROWN.
James:
DEAR GOD!
I'M IN THE MIDST OF
A THOUSAND CHILDREN'S GRAVES.
MOST OF THEM
DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE.
THEY DIED,
LIKE THIS LITTLE KID HERE,
THAT DIDN'T HAVE
THE NUTRITION.
WE'RE TOLD THAT MILLIONS
FACE DEATH RIGHT NOW
IN SOUTHERN AFRICA,
WHERE I'M KNEELING IN THE
MIDST OF CHILDREN'S GRAVES.
Sheila: WE'RE ON THE EDGE
OF SUCH AN EPIDEMIC AGAIN.
IN FACT,
JUST BEHIND ME
THEY'VE DUG
FOUR LITTLE FRESH GRAVES
AND THERE'S NO
CHILDREN IN THEM YET
BUT THEY'RE GETTING READY BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THEY'RE COMING.
THAT'S WHY
WE'RE HERE
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING NOW.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO GO INTO THESE VILLAGES
AND FEED THESE CHILDREN AND BRING HOPE TO THESE PARENTS
SO THAT THESE FOUR LITTLE
HOLES BACK HERE STAY EMPTY.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
AND WE NEED IT NOW.
Sheila: WHILE WE WERE THERE
AND WE WERE FILMING
JUST AFTER I FINISHED
TALKING ABOUT THAT
I SAW THIS TRUCK APPROACH
AND WE BACKED AWAY
OUT OF RESPECT
BECAUSE IT WAS ANOTHER FAMILY
BRINGING THEIR LITTLE ONE
TO BE BURIED.
SO THERE WAS ONLY
THREE GRAVES LEFT.
THE THING THAT IS
JUST OVERWHELMING TO ME
IS HOW FIXABLE THIS IS.
YOU KNOW, SOME DAYS YOU WATCH
SITUATIONS IN THE NEWS
AND YOU THINK
THIS IS OVERWHELMING.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
THIS IS NOT THAT.
WE CAN DO SOMETHING.
AND THE AMAZING THING IS
SO LITTLE DOES SO MUCH.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE
TO FEED THESE CHILDREN.
CAN YOU IMAGINE
HAVING TO PUT YOUR CHILD
IN A GRAVE SIMPLY BECAUSE
YOU COULDN'T PUT A MEAL
IN THEIR STOMACH?
AND THAT HAPPENS!
I SAT WITH THESE MOTHERS
AND FATHERS WHERE NIGHT
AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT --
ONE MOM SAID TO ME,
"EVERY NIGHT,
AFTER I PUT MY CHILD TO BED,"
SHE HAD ALREADY
BURIED ONE CHILD,
SHE SAID, "I PRAY PSALM 23,
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,
I SHALL NOT WANT.
AND I LOOK DOWN AT MY CHILD
AND THEY'RE STARVING."
HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.
YOU AND I CAN CHANGE THIS NOW.
DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR $30
YOU CAN FEED THREE CHILDREN?
I MEAN, THAT'S RIDICULOUS!
$10 A CHILD! $50 FEEDS FIVE!
$100 FEEDS TEN.
HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
DO YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN GIVE,
AND SOME OF YOU CAN, $1400
WOULD FEED A WHOLE SCHOOL!
I'VE GOT SOME AMAZING NEWS
THIS WEEK.
SOME FRIENDS
AND PARTNERS OF LIFE
WHO ARE VERY COMMITTED
TO OUR MISSION,
WHO UNDERSTAND OUR HEARTS,
SOME HAVE ACTUALLY
BEEN THERE THEMSELVES
SAID, "LISTEN,
FOR THIS MISSION FEEDING
WE'LL DOUBLE EVERY GIFT,
UP TO $400,000."
SO THAT MEANS IF YOU GIVE $30
TO FEED THREE CHILDREN,
YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE FEEDING
SIX CHILDREN BECAUSE
THEY WILL DOUBLE YOUR GIFT
AND MAKE IT $60.
THE MORE I SPEND MY LIFE
AND MY HEART AND MY TIME
IN THE WORD OF GOD,
THERE'S SO MANY THEMES
BUT THE THEME THAT
COMES THROUGH ALL THE TIME
IS CARE FOR THE POOR,
FEED THE HUNGRY,
GIVE WATER TO THOSE
WHO ARE THIRSTY.
AND JESUS SAID
WHEN YOU DO THIS
FOR THE LEAST OF THESE,
YOU ACTUALLY DO IT FOR ME.
PERHAPS AS YOU LOOK
AT YOUR LIFE
AND YOU LOOK AT YOUR FAMILY
MAYBE SITTING AROUND
AND YOU THINK, GOD, YOU'VE
GIVEN US AMAZING THINGS.
WHAT COULD WE DO?
HERE'S WHAT YOU COULD DO!
JESUS GAVE IT TO US
IN BLACK AND WHITE.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS,
YOU DO IT FOR ME.
SO I'M ASKING
EVERY SINGLE PERSON,
I MAKE NO APOLOGY,
I'VE BEEN THERE!
I'VE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE
IT CAN MAKE.
LET THOSE THREE GRAVES
REMAIN EMPTY BECAUSE YOU
AND I DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING
IN JESUS' NAME.
Announcer: IN REMOTE
AND IMPOVERISHED VILLAGES
OF AFRICA
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING,
DESPERATELY IN NEED
OF LIFE SAVING FOOD,
FACING DEATH
BY STARVATION.
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING
PROGRAM IS THERE,
READY NOW TO FEED
AND CARE FOR CHILDREN
IN CRISIS AREAS OF ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE, AND SUDAN.
WITH ALL OF OUR
PREVIOUS RESERVES GONE,
AND ANGOLA FACING
A RECORD FOOD SHORTAGE
DUE TO CROP FAILURE,
WE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY
REPLENISH OUR FUNDING
AND SUPPLIES
FOR OUR FEEDING
PROGRAMS.
AS AN ANSWERED PRAYER,
A GROUP OF LIFE'S FRIENDS
HAVE SET A $400,000
MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE
FOR MISSION
FEEDING!
THIS MEANS YOUR GIFT TODAY
COULD HAVE A DOUBLE IMPACT!
$30 FOR
THREE CHILDREN
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO HELP FEED
SIX CHILDREN!
$50 TO HELP FEED
FIVE CHILDREN
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO SAVE TEN CHILDREN!
AND $100 FOR
TEN CHILDREN
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO HELP FEED
20 CHILDREN!
AND DON'T FORGET,
YOUR $1400 GIFT
TO SPONSOR A SCHOOL
WILL NOW BE DOUBLED
TO FEED CHILDREN
IN TWO SCHOOLS!
WITH YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT, WE'LL SEND YOU WITHOUT RIVAL
BY AUTHOR
LISA BEVERE.
WITH YOUR DOUBLE
IMPACT GIFT OF
$100 OR MORE
PLEASE REQUEST
THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED
CHILDREN'S BIBLE.
FINALLY,
PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1000,
WHICH WILL NOW
BE DOUBLED
TO HELP FEED
200 CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST
OUR BEAUTIFUL MAJESTY
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY!
Betty: THIS LITTLE BABY CRIES
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW ME.
I'M A STRANGER TO HIM.
AND THAT'S NATURAL
FOR A CHILD TO DO THAT
WHEN THEY DON'T
KNOW WHO IT IS.
BUT WE HEAR THE TEARS
OF A LOT OF THEM
THAT ARE CRYING BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING TO EAT,
BECAUSE
THEY'RE STARVING.
WE WANT TO WIPE THOSE TEARS
AWAY FOR THOSE CHILDREN.
WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US?
WE'RE HERE IN A PLACE WHERE
THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN FED
AND THEY'RE DANCING,
THEY'RE LAUGHING,
THEY'RE PLAYING
LIKE CHILDREN SHOULD BE.
AND YET,
CRYING LIKE THAT,
THEY'RE SO MANY
THAT ARE STARVING.
AND SOME OF THEM
ARE TOO WEAK TO CRY
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
THE ENERGY ANY MORE.
PLEASE HELP US.
JOIN WITH US NOW.
WE LOVE YOU.
WE CARE ABOUT YOU
AND WE WANT YOU TO CARE
ABOUT THESE BABIES THAT
WE'RE SHOWING YOU TODAY
THAT NEED
OUR HELP.
Sheila: THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
PLEASE DO IT NOW.
DON'T PUT IT OFF.
I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY
BUT IT'S EASY TO FORGET
SO IF YOU'LL JUST GO
TO YOUR PHONE,
OR GO TO LIFETODAY.ORG AND
MAKE THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE.
AND WHEN YOU DO,
THIS IS THE LAST TIME
WE CAN OFFER YOU
THE LONGING IN ME DVD
AND IF YOU GO TO
THELONGINGINME.COM
THERE'S OTHER RESOURCES AND
WE HAVE A STUDY GUIDE AS WELL
WITH LOTS OF OTHER GIFTS.
BUT I KNOW YOU DON'T DO IT
FOR THE GIFTS.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE SO I THANK YOU
IN THIS FIRST WEEK
OF MISSION FEEDING.
I PRAY THAT THE NEXT TIME
THAT THE TEAM AND I LAND IN
ANGOLA WE SEE A SHIFT THERE.
IT REALLY IS
A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC.
IT'S A CRISIS SITUATION.
BUT YOU AND I CAN BRING
SO MUCH HOPE IN JESUS' NAME.
IT'S MY PRAYER
THAT YOUR LONGING FOR HIM
WILL LEAD TO A LONGING,
TO REACH OUT IN HIS NAME,
AND IMPACT THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN
ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD!
♪
♪
♪
♪
>> EVIL HAS TAKEN
OVER IN OUR CULTURE.
Announcer:
DR. DAVID JEREMIAH
PREPARES US FOR BATTLE
WITH THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE
ANSWER BOOK 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.