>> I THINK THERE IS
THIS PRESSURE THAT
WE PUT UPON
OURSELVES
AND I THINK WE RECEIVE IT
FROM THE CULTURE UNWITTINGLY,
THAT WE ASSUME THAT
WHO WE ARE IS WHAT WE DO
OR WHO WE ARE
IS WHAT WE STRUGGLE WITH
AND WHO WE ARE IS JUST
PLAIN NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
THOSE ARE LIES
OF THE ENEMY.
Announcer: NEXT!
AUTHOR, SPEAKER, SONGWRITER,
AND RECORDING ARTIST,
JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD
HELPS US REPLACE
THE DAMAGING SELF TALK
OF ME, MYSELF, AND LIES
WITH TRUTH.
♪
Sheila: HI!
WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.
I'M SHEILA WALSH
HERE WITH RANDY ROBISON.
Randy: GOOD TO BE HERE.
Sheila: IT'S GOOD
TO BE WITH YOU.
I'M VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS SHOW TODAY
BECAUSE NOT ONLY --
WE GET TO READ
A LOT OF GREAT BOOKS,
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT GUESTS
BUT HONESTLY,
EVERY NOW AND AGAIN
I'LL READ A BOOK
AND I'LL THINK, LORD,
I NEED THIS BOOK.
AND THAT'S THE WAY I FELT
ABOUT THE BOOK WE HAVE TODAY.
SO PLEASE, WILL YOU HELP ME
WELCOME MY LOVELY FRIEND,
JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD?
Jennifer: THANK YOU!
Randy: GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HERE AGAIN.
Jennifer: I'M SO GLAD
TO BE HERE.
Sheila: HONESTLY, JENNIFER,
YOUR BOOK IS CALLED,
ME, MYSELF, AND LIES
WHICH IS GREAT.
IT IS ALL ABOUT
THAT KIND OF SELF TALK.
I FOUND MYSELF,
I'VE HAD A REALLY BUSY WEEK
AND I'M TRYING TO GET
EVERYTHING DONE
AND THEN I PICK UP YOUR BOOK
AND I FEEL AS IF
THE LORD IS SAYING, OKAY,
SIT WITH THIS FOR AWHILE.
SO I JUST PERSONALLY
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR WRITING A BOOK
THAT I REALLY BELIEVE
WILL IMPACT THE LIVES
OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
Jennifer: I PRAY SO.
THANK YOU!
Sheila: WHEN I THINK OF YOU,
I THINK BACK TO THE DAYS
WHEN I WOULD HEAR YOU SING,
"IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL."
SO I IDENTIFY YOU WITH THAT.
Randy: MY FAVORITE HYMN!
Sheila: BUT YOU TALK IN
THE BOOK ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THAT WASN'T ALWAYS SO.
Jennifer: IT WAS NOT SO WELL
WITH MY SOUL.
IN FACT, I WOULD SING,
"IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL,"
I USED TO SING A LOT MORE
IN MINISTRY, AND LITERALLY,
I WOULD GET OFF THE PLATFORM,
SIT DOWN AND START
BEATING MYSELF UP.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
SANG THAT DIFFERENTLY.
DID YOU HEAR THAT SPEAKER?
DID YOU HEAR THAT SINGER?
SHE WAS SO MUCH BETTER
THAN YOU.
BA-BOOM! BA-BOOM! BA-BOOM!
AND JUST BEATING MYSELF UP
WITH MY OWN WORDS.
Sheila: WOW!
I WONDERED,
PROBABLY OUR VIEWERS
ARE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR STORY
BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT,
WHO MAYBE ARE JUST TUNING IN
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
HOW OLD WERE YOU
WHEN YOU DISCOVERED
THAT VERY GRADUALLY
THE LIGHTS WERE BEING
TURNED OFF IN YOUR LIFE?
Jennifer: I WAS 15
AND I HAD BEEN ABLE TO SEE
PERFECTLY WELL
UP TO THAT POINT.
BUT I BEGAN TO HAVE
SOME SUBTLE DIFFERENCES
IN MY EYESIGHT THAT
I REALLY DIDN'T CLUE IN TO.
BUT THE CLUES WERE
THAT MY MATH GRADES
BEGAN TO PLUMMET.
I STARTED
TO BECOME REAL CLUMSY.
LIKE I WOULD BUMP INTO
OTHER STUDENTS AND I FELT --
I FELT SO CLUMSY
AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT
WHY EVERYONE ELSE
WAS SO CAPABLE.
I WOULD TRIP DOWN THE STAIRS.
ONE NIGHT I WAS WALKING
WITH MY MOM
AND WE WERE GOING
TO AN UPSTAIRS APARTMENT
WHERE A FRIEND LIVED
AND I WAS TRIPPING
UP THE STAIRS.
AND MY MOM PAUSED AND SAID,
"JENNIFER, CAN YOU NOT
SEE THESE STAIRS?"
I WAS JUST AS SURPRISED
AND SAID,
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, MOM,
YOU CAN SEE THE STAIRS?"
AND SO THAT'S WHAT
REALLY PROMPTED
A VISIT TO AN EYE DOCTOR,
WHICH LED TO AN EYE HOSPITAL
AND AFTER SEVERAL DAYS
OF TESTING, THAT'S WHERE
THE DOCTORS TOLD US
THAT I HAD A DISEASE
IN BOTH OF MY EYES.
IT WAS DEGENERATIVE,
SO AT THAT POINT, AT AGE 15
I WAS DECLARED LEGALLY BLIND.
BUT THE PROGNOSIS
WAS THAT I WOULD CONTINUE
TO LOSE EYESIGHT
UNTIL EVENTUALLY
THE REMAINDER OF MY RETINAS
WOULD BE GONE
AND THAT MEANT THE PROGNOSIS
WAS TOTAL BLINDNESS.
SO HERE I AM IN MY 50s
AND I HAVE NOW LIVED
IN TOTAL DARKNESS
LONGER THAN I EVER LIVED
IN PHYSICAL LIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHY I KNOW A LOT
ABOUT THE GRACE OF JESUS
AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF KNOWING THAT TRUTH
AND SPEAKING THAT TRUTH
TO MYSELF.
Sheila: WHAT DO YOU THINK
SOME OF THE MOST
DAMAGING LIES ARE
THAT WOMEN TELL THEMSELVES?
Jennifer: WELL, I THINK
THE LIES WE TELL OURSELVES
ARE CUSTOM FIT; RIGHT?
THEY ARE VERY PERSONALIZED.
SOME OF US,
WE LIE TO OURSELVES
BY CALLING OURSELVES NAMES.
BUT I THINK A LOT OF WOMEN
HAVE THESE UNIVERSAL
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL LIES
LIKE I CAN'T DO ENOUGH.
I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
OR WHO I AM
IS WHAT I STRUGGLE WITH.
SINCE I JUST CAN'T SEEM
TO GET MY ACT TOGETHER, WELL,
THEN I MUST BE A BIG LOSER.
SO I THINK
THERE IS THIS PRESSURE
THAT WE PUT UPON OURSELVES
AND I THINK WE RECEIVE IT
FROM THE CULTURE UNWITTINGLY,
THAT WE ASSUME THAT WHO WE ARE
IS WHAT WE DO
OR WHO WE ARE
IS WHAT WE STRUGGLE WITH
AND WHO WE ARE
IS JUST PLAIN NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
AND THOSE ARE LIES
OF THE ENEMY.
Randy: IRONICALLY, I THINK
IN A LOT OF WAYS IT WORKS
THE OTHER WAY FOR GUYS
BECAUSE I THINK THE LIES
THAT GUYS EASILY BUY INTO ARE,
I GOT THIS, I CAN HANDLE THIS,
I'M ENOUGH.
I DON'T CARE
WHAT ANYBODY ELSE THINKS.
I DON'T NEED --
I'M SELF-SUFFICIENT.
SO I THINK THE ENEMY
KIND OF WORKS
ON BOTH ENDS OF THAT THING.
HOW DO WE KNOW THE TRUTH
FROM THE LIES?
Jennifer: WELL,
SO I CAN GIVE YOU
VERY EASY THREE R'S.
THEY ALL START
WITH THE LETTER R
AND THIS IS AN EASY WAY
FOR YOU TO START
TO LOOK INSIDE WHAT
I CALL YOUR THOUGHT CLOSET;
THAT'S THE PLACE
INSIDE YOUR MIND
WHERE YOU STORE AWAY
EVERYTHING YOU EVER SAID
TO YOURSELF.
Randy: YOU DON'T WANT
TO LOOK IN MINE.
[Laughter]
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO PREDICT.
Jennifer: SO HERE'S THE WAY
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S
IN YOUR THOUGHT CLOSET.
THE FIRST R IS TO RECOGNIZE.
YOU'VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT
IT IS YOU SAY TO YOURSELF.
I'LL NEVER FORGET, I WAS
GOING TO THE POST OFFICE
ONE DAY AND IT WAS THE THIRD
OR FOURTH ATTEMPT
IN TRYING TO GET MY PASSPORT
AND EVERY TIME
I'D FORGOTTEN SOMETHING.
HERE I CAN WRITE A BOOK
BUT I CANNOT FIGURE OUT
TO BRING MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE
TO THE POST OFFICE.
I'M LEAVING THE POST OFFICE
AND I'M LIKE,
"YOU'RE SUCH AN IDIOT!"
WELL, I CAUGHT IT.
WAIT A MINUTE!
I RECOGNIZE THAT.
THAT IS A LIE.
IT'S JUST A HABIT.
SO WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE A LIE
THEN THAT LEADS YOU
TO THE SECOND R
WHICH IS TO REFUSE.
IN OTHER WORDS,
REFUSE IT ENTRY.
HERE'S WHY.
YOU CANNOT LET THAT LIE INTO
YOUR THOUGHT CLOSET BECAUSE
WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR
THOUGHT CLOSET IS WHAT YOU
WARDROBE YOUR LIFE WITH.
SO IF YOU'RE THROWING LIES
INTO YOUR THOUGHT CLOSET,
I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
I'M AN IDIOT, THEN YOU'RE
GOING TO WARDROBE YOUR LIFE
WITH DEFEAT AND SELF-LOATHING.
SO WE REFUSE.
HERE'S HOW WE DO IT.
SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 10
TELLS US TO HOLD
EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.
I LIKE TO THINK OF IT
AS LIKE, HOLD EVERY THOUGHT
CAPTIVE AT THE DOOR
OF YOUR THOUGHT CLOSET.
AND YOU DO NOT LET IT IN
UNTIL THIRD R,
YOU REPLACE IT WITH TRUTH.
SO YOU RECOGNIZE, YOU REFUSE,
AND THEN YOU REPLACE IT
WITH TRUTH.
THE TRUTH IS,
I'M NOT AN IDIOT.
I'M THE WORKMANSHIP OF GOD.
SO I REPLACE THAT LIE
WITH THE TRUTH
AND THEN I CAN PUT THE TRUTH
IN MY THOUGHT CLOSET
AND BE WARDROBED WITH
GOOD-LOOKING CONFIDENCE.
Randy: I LIKE THAT YOU REPLACE
-- ISN'T THAT GOOD?
ISN'T THAT GOOD?
I LIKE THOUGH, THAT
YOU REPLACE IT WITH TRUTH,
YOUR TRUTH WITH SCRIPTURE
BECAUSE IN TODAY'S SOCIETY,
EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE
THEIR OWN TRUTH
OR SOMEONE'S TRUTH IS
MAYBE THEIR TRUTH FOR THEM
AND NOT FOR YOU.
WHATEVER. BUT YOU'RE SAYING
THAT THERE IS A PLACE
WHERE WE CAN GET ALL TRUTH
AND THAT TRUTH, THE TRUTH.
GOOD! GOOD!
Sheila: ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I THINK IS REALLY HELPFUL
THAT YOU SAY
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
YOUR THOUGHT CLOSET,
YOU WRITE THAT WHEN
YOU KEEP IT TIDY EVERY DAY,
IT IS A LOT EASIER.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES
WE CAN LET THAT -- LIKE
I'M JUST GOING TO GO THERE
AND SAY MY HUSBAND'S CLOSET
GOOD NIGHT VIENNA!
IT IS SUCH --
I JUST CLOSE THE DOOR.
Randy: THE REAL ONE
OR HIS THOUGHT CLOSET?
Sheila: NO, HIS REAL CLOSET.
IT'S LIKE, IF EVER
ANY OF THE DOGS WENT IN THERE
WE WOULD NEVER
FIND THEM AGAIN.
IT IS A DISASTER!
[Laughter]
BUT YOU SAY WE CAN LET OUR
THOUGHT CLOSET GET LIKE THAT
BUT IF YOU DO, IF IT IS
MORE OF A DAILY CLEANUP,
HOW MUCH MORE HELPFUL THAT IS.
Jennifer: YEAH!
AND IF YOU REALLY
START TO TUNE IN
TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
TO YOUR SOUL, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT SELF-TALK IS,
WE'RE SPEAKING
TO OUR OWN SOULS,
IF YOU START TO REALLY TUNE IN
THEN YOU BEGIN
TO REALLY NOTICE.
BECAUSE HERE'S THE THING,
IT'S A HABIT,
WHAT WE SAY TO OURSELVES.
IT'S JUST LIKE
WHEN WE'RE IN AN ELEVATOR
AND WE HEAR THAT MUSIC.
WE KNOW IT'S THERE,
BUT WE DON'T REALLY TUNE IN
AND RECOGNIZE THE MELODY.
SAME THING.
WE'VE GOT TO START
REALLY PAYING ATTENTION.
I'LL TELL YOU A GOOD WAY
TO RECOGNIZE IF YOU'RE
TELLING YOURSELF THE TRUTH,
TO TUNE IN, IS TO
ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION,
HOW WOULD I FEEL RIGHT NOW
IF SOMEONE WHO I RESPECT,
LIKE MY PASTOR OR A MENTOR,
IF THEY COULD HEAR
WHAT I WAS SAYING TO MYSELF?
HOW WOULD I FEEL?
WOULD I BE EMBARRASSED?
WELL, CHANCES ARE,
IF YOU'D BE EMBARRASSED,
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE
SPEAKING THAT WAY TO YOURSELF.
THAT WILL HELP YOU TUNE IN.
Randy: I HAVE
SORT OF AN INSIDE JOKE
I'LL LET THE AUDIENCE IN ON.
YOUR HUSBAND IS DR. PHIL,
NOT THE ONE ON TV --
BUT DR. PHIL ROTHSCHILD.
I ADMIT WHEN I FIRST
HEARD THAT TERM SOUL TALK
I KIND OF THOUGHT,
OH THAT SOUNDS LIKE
A DR. PHIL THING; RIGHT?
[Laughter]
WHAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS
AS I WENT THROUGH THE BOOK
AND I SAW HOW MANY TIMES
YOU CITED SCRIPTURE
WHERE DAVID THE PSALMIST
WOULD MAKE A STATEMENT
AND THEN SAY, "O MY SOUL!"
HE WAS SPEAKING TO HIS SOUL
THE TRUTH OF GOD.
THEN I WENT, WHOA,
THIS IS NOT JUST SOME
POP PSYCHOLOGY THING.
THIS IS SOME HARD CORE
BIBLE APPLICATION.
Jennifer: GROUNDED
IN THE SCRIPTURE.
Randy: WHERE DID IT
STRIKE YOU, OTHER THAN
JUST TALKING TO YOURSELF?
Jennifer: I REMEMBER
THE MORNING THAT I WOKE UP
AND FELT JUST SO DEFEATED.
BEFORE I EVEN GOT OUT OF BED,
I REMEMBER FEELING
JUST BOMBARDED:
YOU'RE NOT A GOOD MOM.
YOU'RE NOT PAYING
ENOUGH ATTENTION
TO YOUR TEENAGER.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT
TO YOUR HUSBAND --
SELF-SLANDER.
I WAS JUST A WRECK.
SO I WOULD PULL MYSELF
OUT OF BED AND I REMEMBER
GETTING THE KIDS READY
FOR SCHOOL.
I SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE
AND I'M DRINKING
SOME EARL GREY TEA.
AND I JUST SAID TO THE LORD,
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
WHY CAN'T I CONTROL
MY THOUGHTS?
AND IT WAS AS IF THE LORD
JUST GENTLY REMINDED ME,
UNTIL I LEARNED
TO CONTROL MY THOUGHTS
MY THOUGHTS ARE GOING
TO CONTROL ME.
THE BEST WAY TO LEARN
TO CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS
IS TO MONITOR
AND BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT
WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF.
SO I WENT TO SCRIPTURE
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO SAY TO MYSELF
THAT'S GOING TO BE SAFE
EXCEPT SCRIPTURE.
THAT'S HOW I FOUND IT, RANDY!
WE'RE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE
THAT SPEAK TO OURSELVES,
THAT TALK TO OURSELVES.
ALL THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE
PEOPLE SPOKE TO THEMSELVES.
NOW THEY DID THE BIG
"O MY SOUL" PRONOUNCEMENTS.
WE DON'T DO THAT.
Randy: THAT SOUNDS GREAT,
THOUGH.
I LIKE THAT.
Jennifer: IT SOUNDS
A LITTLE MORE EDUCATED
BUT WE DON'T TALK THAT WAY.
BUT THE COOL THING IS
THAT BECAUSE THE LORD KNOWS
THAT WE SPEAK TO OURSELVES
HE GIVES US PLENTY OF TRUTH
THAT WE CAN SPEAK
TO OUR OWN SOULS SO THEN
WE HAVE A THOUGHT CLOSET
FULL OF TRUTH.
Randy: I THINK THAT
A SOUL SIGNIFIES A DEPTH
THAT WHEN WE GET THAT TRUTH
INTO THE DEPTHS OF US, THEN
IT IS ABLE TO TURN AROUND
AND COME OUT LIKE YOU SAY.
I LOVE IT!
Sheila: YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE
IN THE BOOK THAT REALLY
STRUCK HOME WITH ME BECAUSE
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO
I WAS BEING DRIVEN BACK
TO THE AIRPORT AFTER AN EVENT
AND IT WAS A MOM
AND HER SON IN THE CAR.
AND SHE SAID,
"MY SON WAS BORN
A LITTLE BRAIN DAMAGED
BUT HE'S DOING
MUCH BETTER NOW."
AND HONESTLY, INSIDE
I JUST FELT MY HEART SINKING
BECAUSE I THOUGHT,
YOU CAN'T -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE
YOU'VE GIVEN THAT LABEL
TO YOUR SON.
YOU TALK ABOUT THAT,
THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN --
I THINK OF PEOPLE
IN OUR AUDIENCE
WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN LABELS,
YOU'RE TOO FAT,
YOU'RE THIS, YOU'RE THAT.
YOU'RE DIVORCED.
YOU'RE WHATEVER.
AND HOW THOSE LABELS
CAN MAKE US FEEL
COMPLETELY DEFEATED
AND THAT THAT'S ALL WE ARE.
HOW DO YOU RECOMMEND
THAT WE REPLACE THOSE LABELS?
Jennifer: WELL,
LABELS LIMIT US AND
THAT'S NEVER GOD'S INTENTION.
SO OFTEN WHEN
A LABEL IS GIVEN TO US
WE JUST ASSUME IT IS OURS
AND WE SHOULD WEAR IT.
BUT THE THING IS,
WHEN WE DO THAT,
IT BECOMES OUR FATE:
I'M DIVORCED --
I'M REJECTED --
I'M WHATEVER.
GOD WANTS US
TO WEAR FAITH LABELS
TO REPLACE THOSE FATE LABELS
OR EVEN FAKE ONES
BECAUSE HALF OF THEM
ARE LIES ANYWAY,
WITH FAITH LABELS.
ANY TIME WE'RE REPLACING
A FATE LABEL
WITH A FAITH LABEL
WE KNOW THAT THE FAITH LABEL
IS GOING TO COME
FROM THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE
AND IT IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED
ON WHO CHRIST IS
AND OUR POTENTIAL IN HIM
RATHER THAN A LABEL THAT SAYS
YOUR PAST IN YOUR FUTURE,
YOU ARE WHAT YOU DO.
THE FAITH LABEL SAYS
YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUERER.
THE FAITH LABEL SAYS
GOD HAS GIVEN YOU
ALL YOU NEED
FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS.
THE FAITH LABEL SAYS
HE WHO BEGAN
A GOOD WORK IN YOU
IS NOT GOING TO QUIT
UNTIL IT IS DONE,
UNTIL HE'S CARRIED IT
TO COMPLETION IN CHRIST JESUS.
SO AGAIN,
WE'VE GOT TO GO TO THE WORD
SO THAT WE CAN COVER UP
THOSE LYING LABELS WITH
THE TRUTHFUL FAITH LABELS.
Sheila: ONE OF MY FAVORITE
THINGS TO TELL WOMEN,
WHENEVER I'M SPEAKING
IS THAT YOUR HISTORY
DOES NOT DICTATE YOUR DESTINY.
YOU CAN START
FROM A REALLY ROUGH PLACE,
HAVE GONE THROUGH
SOME REALLY ROUGH TIMES
BUT THAT DOES NOT LIMIT
YOUR DESTINY IN CHRIST.
BECAUSE I THINK TOO --
I WAS TALKING TO SOME WOMEN
THAT I BUMPED INTO
IN A STARBUCKS THE OTHER DAY
AND THEY WERE SAYING,
"HOW DO YOU KNOW
THE WILL OF GOD?
OUR LIVES ARE SO CONFUSING."
I'M THINKING,
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT,
WHAT YOU SAY, JENNIFER,
YOU CAN'T KNOW THE WILL OF GOD
UNLESS YOU KNOW
THE WORD OF GOD
BECAUSE TO ME,
IT IS THE WORD OF GOD
THAT GIVES US DIRECTION,
THAT ANCHORS US,
THAT GIVES US SHELTER.
YOU TALK IN THE BOOK
ABOUT THOSE WHO STRUGGLE
WITH PERFECTIONISM,
AND YOU IDENTIFY
BECAUSE I THINK
THAT SO OFTEN PEOPLE,
ARE VERY SELF CRITICAL
WHEN THEY ARE PERFECTIONISTIC.
WHAT DO YOU SEE
AS THE ROOT OF THAT?
YOU KIND OF IDENTIFY THAT
IN THE BOOK.
Jennifer: WELL, I THINK
THAT WE HAVE -- ANY TIME
THERE IS A FRUIT IN OUR LIFE
THAT'S BITTER,
AND PERFECTIONISM IS BECAUSE
IT'S ALWAYS UNATTAINABLE,
THEN YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO
TRACE IT DOWN TO THE ROOT.
AND THE ROOT
OF THE PERFECTIONISM FRUIT
IS A FALSE ASSUMPTION.
AND THAT FALSE ASSUMPTION, IT
COULD BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT
AT LEAST FOR ME BECAUSE I'M
A RECOVERING PERFECTIONIST,
MY FALSE ASSUMPTION WAS
YOU HAVE TO DO IT BETTER
THAN ANYONE ELSE --
IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE BEST.
AND IF IT'S NOT, NOT ONLY
IS YOUR WORK UNACCEPTABLE
BUT YOU ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
SO A PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN
MENTALITY RATHER THAN
A PROVISION-DRIVEN MENTALITY
WAS MY FALSE ASSUMPTION.
AND THERE'S LOTS OF US
THAT WE'RE EATING
ON THIS BITTER FRUIT AND
WE'RE MISERABLE AND WE THINK
THERE'S JUST SOMETHING WRONG
THAT IF WE COULD JUST
CHANGE THAT HABIT.
Y'ALL, WE HAVE GOT
TO GO DOWN TO THE ROOT.
WE'VE GOT TO GO FIND
THAT FALSE ASSUMPTION.
WE'VE GOT TO WATER IT
WITH THE TRUTH OF THE WORD
AND THAT WAY IT CAN BECOME
A HEALTHY ROOT THAT WILL
PRODUCE HEALTHY FRUIT.
WE'LL KNOW THE TRUTH
AND THE TRUTH
WILL SET US FREE.
Randy: I LIKE YOUR POINT
ABOUT THE FRUIT
AND THE ROOT WORKS BOTH WAYS.
I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES
WHEN WE FIGHT THESE THINGS
AND WE START TRYING
TO SPEAK THE TRUTH
OR CLAIM IT OR WHATEVER,
WE DON'T NECESSARILY
SEE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
HOW LONG -- I KNOW THERE'S
NO HARD ANSWER TO THIS
BUT HOW LONG SHOULD IT TAKE
BEFORE THOSE ROOTS
START BEARING SOME FRUIT?
WHEN WE PUT
THE GOOD ROOTS DOWN,
WE'VE GOT TO SEE SOME FRUIT
EVENTUALLY; RIGHT?
Jennifer: YEAH!
BUT THE THING TO LOOK FOR
EVEN BEFORE THE FRUIT
IS THE GROWTH BECAUSE
THERE WILL NOT BE FRUIT
WITHOUT GROWTH.
AND SO I THINK WE ALL NEED
TO LOOK AT OUR LIVES
THROUGH THE LENS OF GRACE,
AND THEN WE'RE ABLE
TO SEE THE GROWTH
RATHER THAN JUST THE DEFEAT.
I KNOW FOR ME AS
A RECOVERING PERFECTIONIST
I'M QUICK TO SEE
WHAT I DID WRONG
BUT I HAVE TO USE
THE EYES OF FAITH TO FOCUS IN
ON WHAT I'VE DONE WELL.
SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING
FOR THE PRETTY FRUIT
AND SAYING
I'VE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING,
WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THE DAILY GRACE OF THE GROWTH
AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIND
OUR VICTORY AND THAT'S WHEN
WE HAVE THE COURAGE THEN
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
Sheila: I'M THINKING OF
SOMEONE WATCHING IN RIGHT NOW
AND RECOGNIZING THE TRUTH
OF WHAT YOU SAY
BUT THEY'VE HAD YEAR
AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR
OF BEATING THEMSELVES UP.
WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?
WHERE DO YOU EVEN BEGIN
TO START LIVING DIFFERENTLY?
Jennifer: I ALWAYS GO
TO THE WORD
AND THE SCRIPTURE
THAT I MEDITATED ON
WHEN I FIRST BEGAN
TO RECOGNIZE THIS HABIT
WAS PSALM 19, VERSE 14.
IF THIS IS NEW TO YOU
AND YOU'RE FEELING
LIKE YOU'RE DROWNING
IN A SEA OF UGLY WORDS THAT
YOU'RE SAYING TO YOURSELF,
YOU CAN PRAY THIS PRAYER
EVERY DAY.
IT SAYS:
LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND
THE MEDITATIONS OF MY HEART
BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU,
O LORD, MY STRENGTH
AND MY REDEEMER.
THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTH,
THE MEDITATIONS OF OUR HEART,
THAT'S THE STUFF
OF OUR SELF-TALK.
IF WE ASK THE LORD,
MAKE THESE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU,
THEN THAT'S GOING TO SHIFT
OUR STANDARD BECAUSE
OUR STANDARD IS NO LONGER
OUR BAD HABIT,
OUR LOW SELF-ESTEEM.
WE ACCEPT A LOT OF STUFF
WE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT
AS CHILDREN OF THE LORD.
BUT IF WE CHANGE OUR STANDARD
AND WE PRAY, LORD, MAKE
MY WORDS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU,
THEN WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN
TO SEE WHO HE IS, THEREFORE
WE WILL SEE WHO WE ARE
AND IT WILL SHIFT
THE WAY WE TALK TO OURSELVES.
AND NOT ONLY WILL HE BE
THE STANDARD,
HE'LL BE THE SOURCE,
HE'LL BE OUR STRENGTH
AND HE'LL BE OUR REDEEMER.
[Applause]
Randy: GOOD STUFF!
Sheila: FANTASTIC!
SO THAT WAS PSALM 19 VERSE 14.
I HONESTLY RECOMMEND WRITE IT
OUT ON A THREE-BY-FIVE CARD
BECAUSE SOMETIMES -- IF YOUR
MIND HAS BEEN WALLPAPERED
WITH LIES FOR YEARS,
IT'S TIME TO STRIP IT AWAY.
BUT NOT JUST STRIP IT AWAY,
YOU HAVE TO REPLACE IT
WITH TRUTH.
WRITE THAT DOWN AND READ IT
OVER AND OVER AND OVER
UNTIL YOU BEGIN TO SEE
WHAT JENNIFER TALKED ABOUT,
THE GROWTH.
Randy: I'D PUT IT IN MY PHONE
AND SET A REMINDER EVERY DAY
FOR IT TO POP UP.
EVERY DAY JUST POP IT UP
AND POP IT UP.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW
THE WORD IS POWERFUL.
IT CHANGES LIVES.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO,
IN ADDITION TO JUST
BLESSING YOU BY SHARING
PEOPLE LIKE JENNIFER
AND THE WONDERFUL TRUTH
THAT SHE'S SHARED
IS WE LIKE THE SHARE THE WORD
-- THE WORD AND DEED,
THE WORD OF GOD,
THE WORD OF JESUS CHRIST
THROUGH WHAT WE DO.
AND RIGHT NOW
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR YOU TO JOIN WITH US
AS WE SHARE CHRIST'S LOVE
IN WORD AND DEED.
I WANT YOU TO SEE SOMETHING.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
Tammy: SO THIS IS THEIR
WATER SOURCE I'M ASSUMING?
THIS IS MY FIRST
ENCOUNTER HERE IN INDIA
AND I CAN ALREADY TELL THAT THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE DONE.
THIS IS WHERE
THEY HAVE TO COME
EVERY DAY
ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE
TO GET THEIR WATER.
THIS IS HIS ONLY
SOURCE OF WATER.
James: THIS IS A NICE LITTLE
FLOW OF WATER RIGHT HERE
BUT UPSTREAM IS HORSES
AND COWS AND PIGS.
AND RIGHT UP THE HILL,
EIGHT CHILDREN DIED
FROM CONTAMINATED
WATER HERE.
THERE IS SO MUCH HERE
IN CENTRAL AMERICA
AND THE POVERTY-
STRICKEN NATIONS,
IT JUST TOUCHES
YOUR HEART.
IT IS ENDLESS.
Randy: WEENA HERE
LOST HER OLDER BROTHER,
AND A YEAR LATER
HER OLDER SISTER,
BOTH OF THEM VICTIMS
OF WATERBORNE ILLNESS.
I WANT TO LOOK
AT THIS WATER.
AUGH!
IT SMELLS HORRIBLE!
I WOULD NEVER MAKE
A CHILD DRINK THIS --
BUT THESE CHILDREN
HAVE NO CHOICE.
IT IS THIS
OR NOTHING.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TELL THEM,
"DON'T DRINK THE WATER."
WE HAVE TO SAY,
"HERE'S WATER YOU CAN DRINK."
Ralph:
WE'RE DRILLING WELLS,
WE'RE PROVIDING WATER
FOR GOD'S CREATION.
HE KNOWS THEM.
HE KNOWS THEM BY NAME,
AND HE WANTS THEM
TO HAVE CLEAN FRESH WATER.
Betty:
PLEASE HELP US!
I KNOW THIS WOULD BE
A DESIRE OF YOUR HEART TOO,
JUST AS JAMES
AND I DO.
WE DESIRE TO PASS
ON THE BLESSINGS.
WE HAVE BEEN SO MIGHTILY
BLESSED OURSELVES
AND WE WANT TO
BLESS THESE FAMILIES.
SO JOIN WITH US,
PLEASE. WILL YOU?
Sheila: IT'S ONE
OF THE MOST MOVING THINGS
I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED
IN MY LIFE
IS TO ACTUALLY SEE
WITH MY OWN EYES
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
FOR SO MANY MOMS
WHO ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ME,
WHO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN
THE WAY I LOVE MY SON
BUT WHO ARE BORN IN A VERY
DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD
WHERE THE VERY BASICS
ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN MY SON COMES HOME
FROM COLLEGE,
THE WEEK BEFORE HE COMES HOME
I'M THINKING ABOUT
HOW CAN I HAVE
ALL OF HIS FAVORITE FOODS IN,
HOW CAN I STUFF THE PANTRY
WITH ALL THE THINGS
HE LOVES?
AND THERE IS A CERTAIN KIND
OF BOTTLED WATER HE LOVES.
RIDICULOUS!
BUT I GET IT FOR HIM
BECAUSE HE'S MY BOY.
THEN I THINK OF THESE MOMS.
ALL THEY WANT
IS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE
ONE CUP OF CLEAN WATER
TO THEIR CHILDREN
BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE MOTHER
THAT I MET ON MY LAST TRIP
TO ANGOLA,
EVERY SINGLE MOTHER
HAD LOST A CHILD
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS CHOICE,
IT'S LIKE A SOPHIE'S CHOICE.
DO I GIVE THEM NO WATER
AND SO THEY DIE
THAT AGONIZING DEATH
OF THIRST?
OR DO I GIVE THEM THIS
CONTAMINATED WATER KNOWING
THE VERY GIFT I GIVE THEM
MIGHT TAKE THEIR LIFE?
BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT NOW.
WE CAN CHANGE THIS, RANDY,
FOR SO LITTLE,
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Randy: MOST OF US,
IF WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
WE WOULD SAY, "YEAH,
I'LL GIVE A CUP OF WATER."
YOU CAN GIVE A CUP OF WATER
NOT JUST TO ONE PERSON
BUT TO TEN PEOPLE;
AND NOT JUST ONE TIME
BUT FOR A LIFETIME FOR $48,
WHICH SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE.
LET ME TELL YOU HOW IT WORKS.
THE AVERAGE WELL COSTS $4800
FOR US TO GO IN
AND DIG THAT WELL
AND PUT IT IN.
IT IS GOING TO SERVE
ON AVERAGE ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE.
IT'S GOING TO LAST
ON AVERAGE FOR 70 YEARS.
WHEN YOU DO THE MATH ON THAT,
THAT'S HOW WE CAN SAY
$48 WILL GIVE WATER
FOR A LIFETIME --
CLEAN WATER FOR A LIFETIME
TO TEN PEOPLE; $144 WILL GIVE
THAT SAME GIFT TO 30 PEOPLE.
SOME OF YOU,
YOU CAN OUTRIGHT DRILL A WELL.
YOU CAN GIVE
THAT GIFT OF $4800.
I WANT YOU TO PRAY ABOUT THAT
AND IF GOD'S GIVEN YOU
THE MEANS TO DO THAT,
THEN DO THAT.
OTHERS OF YOU
MIGHT WANT TO PARTNER
WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE,
A GIFT OF $1200 TIMES FOUR,
THERE'S A WELL RIGHT THERE.
SOME OF YOU, YOU'RE JUST
GOING TO HAVE TO PRAY
AND SAY, "GOD, DO YOU WANT ME
TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS?
IF SO, HOW MUCH?"
AND THEN DO IT.
DO IT AT GOD'S DIRECTION.
I DON'T WANT
TO LEAN ON YOU TOO HARD
AND SHOW YOU THE IMAGES
TO GUILT YOU.
I WANT YOU TO EXPERIENCE
THE JOY OF GIVING --
THE JOY OF REACHING OUT --
THE JOY OF SAYING TO OTHERS,
"HERE'S CLEAN WATER."
AND NOT JUST IN WATER'S NAME
BUT IN JESUS' NAME.
WILL YOU SHARE
THE LIFE AND LOVE OF CHRIST
WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD
FOR A LIFETIME BY GIVING THEM
THAT CLEAN WATER?
I HOPE THAT GOD WILL
LEAD YOU TO DO IT.
GO ONLINE, GO TO THE PHONES,
MAKE THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN.
Announcer:
EVERY DAY, CHILDREN LIVING
IN EXTREME POVERTY
ARE FORCED TO MAKE
A DREADFUL CHOICE:
DRINK POLLUTED WATER
FILLED WITH DEADLY DISEASE
OR PERHAPS,
DIE OF 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
AND VIABLE DEMONSTRATIONS
OF GOD'S LOVE
IN THE WORLD TODAY.
SUFFERING
CAN END
BECAUSE CLEAN WATER
CHANGES EVERYTHING!
WITH YOUR
GIFT TODAY
YOU CAN HELP DRILL
400 WATER WELLS
IN REMOTE VILLAGES
IN 15 NATIONS.
A GIFT OF $48 WILL PROVIDE
DISEASE-FREE WATER
FOR TEN PEOPLE,
$72 WILL PROVIDE
FOR 15 PEOPLE,
AND $144 WILL HELP
PROVIDE CLEAN WATER
STRAIGHT FROM THE GROUND
FOR 30 PEOPLE.
PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER
AN ADDITIONAL GIFT OF $100
TO HELP PROVIDE THREE FAMILIES
WITH WATER FILTRATION KITS
IN EMERGENCY AREAS
WHERE OUR DRILLING RIGS
ARE UNABLE TO REACH.
AS OUR THANK YOU,
WE'LL SEND YOU THE BOOKS,
WORDS OF JESUS
AND WORDS OF HEALING.
ONE CONTAINS ONLY
THE WORDS OF JESUS
AND THE OTHER
SCRIPTURES FOR HEALING
IN YOUR BODY,
MIND, AND SOUL.
WITH YOUR $100 GIFT, YOU CAN
RECEIVE BOTH HARDBOUND
AND SOFTBOUND EDITIONS OF
THESE SCRIPTURE PROMISE BOOKS.
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 BEAUTIFUL HAND-SCULPTED
"DETERMINED EAGLE" BRONZE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
Sheila: I PUT MY HAND
IN THIS WATER;
AND A COUPLE OF INCHES
IT DISAPPEARS.
THIS WATER IS
ABSOLUTELY FILTHY!
THAT'S WHY THERE'S SUCH --
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN WAIT FOR
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER MONTH.
THIS IS ALL
THEY HAVE TODAY.
THIS IS ALL THIS MOM
AND THESE TWO GIRLS
AND ALL THESE VILLAGERS
AND HUNDREDS OF VILLAGES
AROUND AFRICA ARE LIKE.
THEY NEED
CLEAN WATER!
AND ONE WELL,
ONE WATER WELL
WILL LAST
A WHOLE LIFETIME
AND IT WILL CHANGE
THEIR LIFE.
SO MANY OF THESE CHILDREN DIE BECAUSE OF WATERBORNE DISEASES
YOU JUST HAVE
TO LOOK AT IT.
I WOULDN'T LET MY DOGS
DRINK OUT OF THIS.
THIS IS HORRIBLE!
BUT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WOULD YOU GO TO YOUR PHONE
NOW AND DO WHATEVER YOU CAN?
CAN YOU IMAGINE
IF YOU COULDN'T --
IF THIS WAS ALL YOU HAD
TO GIVE TO YOUR CHILDREN?
I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT.
SO GO TO YOUR PHONE, CALL
THAT NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN,
GO ONLINE, GIVE THE BEST GIFT
-- JUST WHATEVER YOU HAVE.
IF YOU'VE GOT A LOT,
GIVE A LOT.
IF YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE,
GIVE WHAT YOU CAN.
BUT WHATEVER YOU GIVE
WILL BRING WATER FOR LIFE
FOR THESE FAMILIES.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF THE PHONES ARE BUSY,
PLEASE TRY AGAIN.
IF I LINED UP TEN CHILDREN
IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW
AND SAID WOULD YOU HELP THEM?
OF COURSE, YOU WOULD DO IT.
WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF BRINGING THOSE CHILDREN
TO YOU NOW
SO PLEASE GO TO YOUR PHONE,
HELP US BRING FRESH WATER
TO THEM.
Randy: WHEN YOU DO IT TODAY,
IF YOU DO IT TODAY RIGHT NOW,
ASK FOR ME, MYSELF, AND LIES.
WE WOULD LOVE TO PUT IT
IN YOUR HANDS BECAUSE
JENNIFER'S INSIGHT
AND WORDS WILL BLESS YOU
AS THEY HAVE BLESSED US TODAY.
JENNIFER, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
WE SO APPRECIATE YOU SHARING.
Jennifer: THANK YOU!
BOTH OF YOU!
Randy: APPRECIATE
ALL YOU GUYS DO.
PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN HERE
ON LIFE TODAY EVERY DAY.
♪
♪
♪
Sheila: HE SEES
BEYOND OUR CRIES
TO THE VERY DEEPEST
LONGING OF OUR HEARTS.
Announcer:
SHEILA WALSH HELPS US
WEATHER THE STORM INSIDE.
>> 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.