Sheila: I DON'T KNOW WHAT
LOSSES YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH
BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO POUR OUT YOUR PAIN
TO THE FATHER
WHO LOVES YOU.
BOAZ WAS A FORESHADOWING
OF CHRIST
WHO IS OUR
KINSMAN REDEEMER.
ON THE CROSS, HE PAID WHAT
HE BELIEVES WE WERE WORTH.
HE BOUGHT US BACK.
HE FOUGHT FOR US.
Announcer: MOVE FROM
INSECURITY TO CONFIDENCE
AS SHEILA WALSH HELPS US
FACE THE STORM INSIDE. NEXT!
♪
Sheila: HI! I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO WEDNESDAYS
IN THE WORD.
I GOT A LITTLE NOTE
FROM SOMEONE THE OTHER DAY
AND THEY SAID, "ONE OF THE
THINGS I STRUGGLE WITH MOST
IN MY LIFE IS INSECURITY."
SHE SAID, "I'M A PASTOR'S WIFE
AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR YEARS.
I SIT AND I LISTEN AS
OTHER WOMEN SHARE
THEIR STORIES WITH ME
AND I PRAY FOR THEM."
SHE SAID, "I'M PRETTY SURE
THAT NOBODY IN THE CHURCH
UNDERSTANDS THAT I FEEL LIKE
I'M MORE INSECURE
THAN ANY OF THEM."
IT'S AN INTERESTING THING.
I WAS WITH WOMEN OF FAITH
FOR 20 YEARS AND EVEN THOUGH
I WALKED UP ON THAT PLATFORM
FOR 30 WEEKENDS A YEAR,
FOR ALL THAT TIME,
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS
ONE TIME THAT I WALKED UP
THERE WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE
TO BRING THAT INSECURITY
TO THE LORD, THAT FEELING
OF NOT BEING ENOUGH,
OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH,
OF FEELING AS IF GOD,
ARE YOU STILL LISTENING TO ME?
ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?
SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT
I WANT US TO LOOK AT TODAY.
HOW DO WE MOVE FROM THAT PLACE
TO A PLACE OF REAL SOLID,
SOLID STANDING WITH CHRIST?
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST
STRUGGLES FOR, IT'S NOT
JUST ME, IT'S NOT JUST WOMEN,
IT'S MEN AND WOMEN
AND THAT IS INSECURITY.
AND PROBABLY, IT WILL SHOW UP
IN DIFFERENT WAYS BUT
THE ROOT IS THE SAME.
WITH MEN, AND I'M ADDRESSING
THIS BASED ON SOME THINGS
THAT I'VE OBSERVED
IN MY OWN DARLING HUSBAND.
WHEN HE FEELS A LITTLE
INSECURE HE GOES INTO
"FIXER" MODE --
I'LL FEEL BETTER
IF I CAN DO SOMETHING.
I THINK WITH US, WITH WOMEN,
OUR INSECURITY CAN MAKE US
DEFLECT ANY KIND WORD
SENT OUR WAY.
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO PAY
A FRIEND A COMPLIMENT?
IT ISN'T AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS.
LIKE, "OH I LOVE YOUR DRESS!"
"OH THIS OLD THING?
IT WAS ON SALE."
"DID YOU COLOR YOUR HAIR?
I LOVE THAT SHADE!"
"YOU KNOW, I JUST NEEDED
TO COVER UP THE GRAY."
WE'RE A FUNNY BUNCH.
AS WOMEN, WE'VE TAKEN
DEFLECTING COMPLIMENTS
TO AN OLYMPIC SPORT.
WHAT I FIND INTERESTING THOUGH
IS THAT IT REMAINS SUCH
A PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
IF YOU THINK WHO WE ARE
AND WHAT WE BELIEVE
IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN
A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
SHOULD BE ABLE TO REST
IN THE TRUTH THAT WE ARE LOVED
RIGHT NOW JUST AS WE ARE
EVERY SINGLE DAY OF OUR LIVES.
WE ARE THE ONES
WHO HAVE ENTERED INTO
A RELATIONSHIP THAT
MAKES IT CLEAR THE VALUE THAT
GOD HAS PLACED ON OUR LIVES
IS THE LIFE OF
HIS OWN SON JESUS.
WELL, IF YOU'RE LIKE ME,
YOU CAN KNOW THAT
IN YOUR HEAD BUT OFTEN
WE'VE NOT ALLOWED THAT TRUTH
TO SINK INTO THE DARKER,
MORE BROKEN PARTS
OF OUR LIVES.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
WHEN BARRY AND I WERE SELLING
OUR HOUSE, A REALTOR SAID
SOMETHING THAT'S CLEARLY TRUE
FOR THE HOUSING MARKET
BUT IT WAS LIKE A REAL
AHA MOMENT FOR ME.
I THINK THERE IS A HUGE
MESSAGE FOR US AS GOD'S SONS
AND DAUGHTERS.
WE WERE SITTING AROUND
THE TABLE AND LOOKING AT ALL
THE PAPERWORK AND I ASKED HER,
"HOW DO YOU DECIDE ON
THE ASKING PRICE FOR A HOME?"
AND SHE SAID, "A HOUSE
BASICALLY SELLS FOR
WHATEVER SOMEONE IS WILLING
TO PAY FOR IT."
THINK ABOUT THAT
FOR A MOMENT.
TAKE THAT THOUGHT
AND CONSIDER THE CROSS
OF CHRIST.
THAT'S WHAT GOD WAS WILLING
TO PAY FOR YOU AND FOR ME.
THAT'S WHAT HE THINKS
WE'RE WORTH.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING; HUH?
WELL, YOU MIGHT BE SITTING
THERE SAYING, "AMEN!"
BUT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD
TO LIVE IN THAT TRUTH 24/7.
WHEN WE SEE OUR REFLECTION
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
OR STEP ON THE BATHROOM SCALE
IT IS EASY TO FALL BACK
ON OLD THOUGHT PATTERNS
AND OLD BELIEFS.
IT IS THE SAME INSECURITY
THAT RAISES ITS HEAD WHEN
WE'RE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY
TO MINISTER TO EACH OTHER.
FOR EXAMPLE, SAY YOU'RE ASKED
TO SHARE YOUR PERSONAL STORY
WITH A GROUP OF WOMEN
AND AT THE END SOMEBODY SAYS,
"THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR SHARING THAT.
YOUR STORY REALLY TOUCHED ME."
INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE
TO RECEIVE THOSE WORDS
OUR FIRST INSTINCT IS TO SAY,
"OH, IT WASN'T ME.
IT WAS THE LORD."
NOW I GET THAT.
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE CREDIT
FOR SOMETHING THAT ONLY
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, GOD CHOOSES
TO USE BROKEN VESSELS
LIKE YOU AND ME
TO COMMUNICATE HIS TRUTH.
I STRUGGLED WITH THIS
FOR YEARS.
PART OF MY HEART LONGED
TO HEAR THAT GOD HAD REACHED
THROUGH ME TO TOUCH ANOTHER
BUT THE BROKEN PART FOUND IT
REALLY HARD TO ACCEPT.
I THINK INSECURITY ROBS US
OF SO MUCH JOY AND CONFIDENCE,
NOT IN OURSELVES BUT IN WHO
WE ARE IN CHRIST.
THAT WONDERFUL OLD DICTIONARY,
NOAH WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY
DEFINES THE WORD INSECURE:
I FIND THAT DEFINITION
REALLY HELPFUL.
ONE OF THE HARSHEST LESSONS
THAT SOME OF US LEARN
AS CHILDREN IS THAT THE WORLD
IS NOT A SAFE PLACE.
EVEN IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
YOU KNOW THIS, WE'RE NOT
PROTECTED FROM LOSS
AND BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS.
INSECURITY SEEMS TO BE
AT EPIDEMIC LEVELS.
AS IN EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH,
WE HAVE A ROCK SOLID SOURCE
TO TURN TO FOR HELP AND
THAT IS THE WORD OF GOD.
SO IN THIS SESSION WE'RE GOING
TO LOOK TOGETHER AT THE LIVES
OF TWO WOMEN, RUTH AND NAOMI,
WHO LOST SO MUCH AND YET
CAME TO UNDERSTAND HOW SAFE
THEIR LIVES HAD ALWAYS BEEN
IN THE HANDS OF
OUR SOVEREIGN GOD.
I DON'T KNOW HOW FAMILIAR
YOU ARE WITH
THE BOOK OF RUTH.
IT'S ONLY FOUR CHAPTERS LONG
BUT WE SEE HOW A SOVEREIGN GOD
REACHED INTO THEIR SORROW,
VERY REAL,
VERY PROFOUND SORROW
AND TRANSFORMED EVERYTHING.
THE STORY IS NOT JUST
ABOUT THEM, THE CIRCLE WIDENS
TO INCLUDE YOU AND ME.
SO AS THE BOOK OPENS,
WE'RE INTRODUCED TO
A JEWISH FAMILY WHO LEAVE
BETHLEHEM BECAUSE OF FAMINE
AND THEY MOVE TO MOAB,
SOUTHEAST OF THE DEAD SEA.
THIS STORY TAKES PLACE
IN THE TIME OF THE JUDGES
IN ISRAEL, A TIME MARKED
BY MORAL DECLINE.
WE READ THIS:
SOUNDS KIND OF FAMILIAR,
DOESN'T IT?
I FEEL AS IF WE'RE LIVING
IN A DAY WHERE EVERYONE DOES
WHATEVER SEEMS RIGHT TO THEM.
FOR ISRAEL,
THOUGH IN OUR STORY
IT IS NOT SURPRISING THEN
THAT THERE WAS A FAMINE.
THIS WAS OFTEN A SIGN OF
GOD'S PUNISHMENT WHEN
HIS PEOPLE TURNED AWAY
FROM HIM.
WHAT IS SURPRISING THOUGH
IS THAT THE FAMILY WE MEET
HERE ELIMELECH, THE DAD,
WOULD TAKE HIS FAMILY TO MOAB.
IN BIBLICAL HISTORY,
MOABITE PEOPLE WERE CURSED
BY GOD OF WHERE THEY BEGAN
AS A NATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER
THIS OR NOT BUT MOAB,
HIMSELF WAS LOT'S SON
BORN FROM A INCESTUOUS
RELATIONSHIP WITH
HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER.
SO THE MOABITES WERE SEEN
AS A SCANDALOUS NATION.
BUT THAT'S WHERE
THIS FAMILY WENT.
NOW WHEN YOU MOVE YOUR FAMILY,
WHICH INCLUDES TWO BOYS TO
A NEW COUNTRY THE INEVITABLE
IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEY'RE GOING TO MEET GIRLS,
THEY'RE GOING TO FALL IN LOVE
AND GET MARRIED.
IT MUST HAVE SEEMED
TO ELIMELECH THAT HE WAS
MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER
AWAY FROM THE PROMISES
GIVEN TO ABRAHAM.
BUT GOD'S LOVE, GOD'S REACH
IS FAR GREATER THAN
OUR INSECURITY AND
OUR POOR DECISIONS.
LET'S LOOK AT RUTH,
CHAPTER 1, VERSES 3-9:
NAOMI WAS IN A FOREIGN
LAND WITH NO HUSBAND,
AND NOW THE DEVASTATING LOSS
OF HER TWO SONS.
SO BASICALLY, SHE RELEASES
HER TWO DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW
TO GO BACK HOME WHERE
THEY WILL AT LEAST HAVE
A CHANCE OF MARRYING AGAIN.
THE GIRLS DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
HER BUT ALL NAOMI CAN SEE
IS A BLEAK FUTURE AHEAD.
THIS IS WHAT SHE SAYS,
HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT WAY?
YOU LOOK AT HOW YOUR LIFE'S
TURNED OUT AND THE ONLY
REASONABLE CONCLUSION IS THAT
GOD IS ANGRY WITH YOU.
GOD DID THIS TO ME.
GOD HAS ABANDONED ME.
NAOMI GOES SO FAR AS
TO CHANGE HER NAME FROM
NAOMI, WHICH MEANS MY JOY
OR THE PLEASANTNESS
OF JEHOVAH, TO MARA,
WHICH MEANS BITTER.
SHE'S HEARTBROKEN
AND HOPELESS.
BUT GOD IS NOT FINISHED
WITH HER STORY.
HE IS GOING TO BRING JOY
BACK INTO THIS BITTER
BROKEN WOMAN'S LIFE IN WAYS
SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED.
RUTH IS A CENTRAL CHARACTER.
THIS MOABITE WOMAN FROM
A CURSED IDOL-WORSHIPPING
NATION WILL GO ON TO BECOME
PART OF THE LINEAGE
OF JESUS CHRIST.
SHE WILL BECOME THE GREAT
GRANDMOTHER OF KING DAVID.
ISN'T THAT JUST LIKE GOD?
TO TAKE SOMEONE WITH
A QUESTIONABLE BACKGROUND
AND USE THEM AS PART OF
HISTORY'S GREATEST STORY.
RUTH'S LIFE WILL BECOME
A FORESHADOWING OF GOD'S
PLAN OF SALVATION
UNFOLDING THROUGH FAITH
RATHER THAN BY BLOOD
AND BIRTH.
YOU MIGHT FEEL AS IF YOU WERE
BORN ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF THE TRACKS BUT I WANT YOU
TO REMEMBER THIS,
CALVARY DESTROYED THE TRACKS
AND INVITED US ALL
TO COME AS WE ARE.
BACK TO THE STORY,
ORPAH RETURNS HOME BUT
RUTH REFUSES TO LEAVE HER
MOTHER-IN-LAW AND EVEN
MORE SIGNIFICANTLY,
REFUSES TO LEAVE NAOMI'S GOD.
YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER
THIS BEAUTIFUL PASSAGE:
WOW!
SOME OF GOD'S GREATEST
BLESSINGS COME WHEN WE DO
THE RIGHT THING HAVING
NO IDEA WHAT THE OUTCOME
WILL BE.
WHEN WE CHOOSE GOD, WHEN
WE CHOOSE HIS WILL AND
LEAVE THE OUTCOME TO HIM,
THAT'S OFTEN WHEN
WE SEE MIRACLES.
SO NAOMI AND RUTH HEAD
TO BETHLEHEM HAVING NO WAY
OF KNOWING ALL GOD HAS
IN STORE FOR THEM.
SO THEY SETTLE IN AND RUTH
WANTED TO PROVIDE FOR
HER MOTHER-IN-LAW ASKED NAOMI
IF SHE CAN GLEAN
IN THE FIELDS.
UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES,
IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR LAND
OWNERS TO LEAVE WHAT
THE HARVESTERS HAD MISSED
FOR THOSE THAT WERE POOR,
WIDOWED, AND FATHERLESS.
WE READ THIS IN RUTH
CHAPTER 2, VERSE THREE.
THAT, TO YOU AND ME,
IT MIGHT SEEM AS IF RUTH
HAD BEEN FORTUNATE
TO ENCOUNTER A KIND MAN
BUT IT WAS SO MUCH MORE.
GOD WAS AT WORK.
RUTH HAD ENCOUNTERED
A REDEEMER.
NOW THE LAW ONLY ALLOWED
THE POOR TO GATHER
IN ANY FIELD FOR ONE DAY.
THEN THEY HAD TO MOVE ON
TO ANOTHER FIELD.
BUT BOAZ WAS ABOUT
TO INTERVENE AND CHANGE
EVERYTHING FOR RUTH.
HE SAW HER IN THE FIELD
AND ASKED HIS MEN WHO SHE WAS.
THEY TOLD HIM, "SHE IS
THE WOMAN WHO RETURNED
TO BETHLEHEM WITH NAOMI."
AND THIS IS WHAT BOAZ SAID.
WHAT A MIRACLE IN THE LIFE
OF THIS YOUNG
VULNERABLE WIDOW.
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO
FROM FIELD TO FIELD
AND HOPE THE MEN WERE KIND,
SHE WAS NOW IN A PLACE
WHERE SHE HAD A COVERING
AND PROTECTION.
SHE BEGAN HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH BOAZ AS A SERVANT BUT
AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER,
GOD HAD SO MUCH MORE IN STORE
FOR THIS FAITHFUL,
GODLY, LITTLE GIRL.
RUTH WAS TO BECOME
BOAZ'S WIFE.
NOW INTERESTINGLY, JEWISH
LAW PROVIDED FOR THOSE
WHO HAD LOST EVERYTHING
BY DESIGNATING THE CLOSEST
RELATIVE TO BE WHAT WAS
CALLED A "KINSMAN REDEEMER."
THIS PERSON HAD THE PRIVILEGE,
SOMETIMES THE RESPONSIBILITY
TO INTERVENE AND HELP.
AND WHEN IT WAS A YOUNG WIDOW
LIKE RUTH, THE CLOSEST
MALE RELATIVE WAS EXPECTED
TO MARRY HER.
NOW BOAZ WAS NOT
THE CLOSEST MALE RELATIVE.
IF HE HAD BEEN IT WOULD
BE TEMPTING TO THINK THAT
HE HAD JUST MARRIED RUTH
OUT OF OBLIGATION OR UNDER
THE LAW BUT THAT'S NOT SO.
BOAZ FOUGHT FOR HER.
HE WENT TO THE OTHER MAN
AND HE SAID, "I WANT
TO MARRY RUTH."
THIS IS WHAT WE READ:
WHAT A GIFT TO NAOMI!
GOD WASN'T MAD WITH HER
FOR SPEAKING OUT THE BITTER
TRUTH IN HER LIFE.
GOD IS NOT OFFENDED
BY OUR HONESTY.
I HONESTLY THINK HE IS
OFFENDED WHEN WE PRETEND
WE'RE OKAY.
NOW I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT LOSSES
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH BUT
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO POUR OUT
YOUR PAIN TO THE FATHER
WHO LOVES YOU.
BOAZ WAS A FORESHADOWING
OF CHRIST WHO IS
OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER.
ON THE CROSS, HE PAID WHAT
HE BELIEVES WE ARE WORTH.
HE BOUGHT US BACK.
HE FOUGHT FOR US.
MY BOTTOM LINE ON INSECURITY
IS SUMMED UP BEAUTIFULLY
IN A TEXT FROM
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.
I'VE LOVED THIS TEXT
SINCE I WAS A CHILD.
AND HONESTLY, IT IS
MY DAILY PRAYER TO LIVE
IN THESE WORDS.
YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER IT.
PROVERBS 3:5-6:
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
YOU'RE NOT ABANDONED.
YOU'RE LOVED.
AND HONESTLY, THAT IS
A MESSAGE THAT HERE AT
LIFE TODAY AND LIFE OUTREACH
INTERNATIONAL, WE WANT TO TAKE
THAT MESSAGE NOT JUST
TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN THE STATES
OR IN OTHER PARTS
OF AUSTRALIA AND EUROPE,
WE WANT TO TAKE IT TO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE MAYBE NEVER HEARD
THAT BEFORE.
THERE IS SOME PEOPLE
WHO ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED
RIGHT NOW FOR WATER.
AND THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK
BUT WE CAN MAKE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND
LET SOMEBODY KNOW
YOU'RE NOT ABANDONED.
WOULD YOU WATCH THIS?
James:
I AM BY A WATER SOURCE
THAT IS SO TYPICAL
OF WATER SOURCES
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE KNOW FOR A FACT
IN THIS AREA
DISEASE IS KILLING
ENTIRE FAMILIES --
AND MANY CHILDREN.
WHY? FROM DRINKING
CONTAMINATED WATER.
YOU KNOW IT'S ONE THING
TO SAY "I'M SORRY"
AND TO WEEP OVER IT
BUT YOU KNOW
WHEN WE CAN BE THE ANSWER
TO THE NEED
AND THE PRAYER,
DOESN'T IT SEEM SOMETIMES
A LITTLE BIT HYPOCRITICAL
IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING
AND WE DON'T?
WELL, WE CAN BUT
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Announcer:
FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS,
THE VIEWERS OF LIFE TODAY
HAVE PARTNERED
WITH MISSIONARIES
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
TO HELP SAVE
CHILDREN'S LIVES
BY PROVIDING
CLEAN DRINKING WATER.
MISSION:
WATER FOR LIFE
HAS DRILLED OVER
5,000 CLEAN WATER WELLS
WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF RIGS
IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES
TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF A PARTICULAR AREA.
EACH NEW WATER WELL
IS CAPPED WITH A SIMPLE PUMP
THAT EVEN
A CHILD CAN USE.
AND IN AREAS WHERE
A DRILLING RIG CAN'T GET INTO,
THE LIFE MISSION TEAM
IS UTILIZING A NEW TECHNOLOGY
AND PROVIDING THOUSANDS
OF WATER FILTER KITS
THAT FAMILIES CAN USE
TO DECONTAMINATE
THEIR
WATER SOURCE.
WITH THIS ATTITUDE
OF DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO SAVE LIVES,
LIFE OUTREACH
AND ITS PARTNERS
HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED
CLEAN WATER
FOR OVER
FIVE MILLION PEOPLE.
BUT WE STILL HAVE
A BIG JOB TO DO.
AROUND THE WORLD, HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
STILL DON'T HAVE ACCESS
TO SAFE DRINKING WATER
AND 800 CHILDREN
DIE EVERY DAY
FROM A PREVENTABLE DISEASE
CAUSED BY
CONTAMINATED WATER.
James: JESUS SAID, "GIVE
A CUP OF WATER IN MY NAME,
YOU WON'T LOSE
YOUR REWARD."
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THAT REWARD WILL BE FOR US, THAT'S IN GOD'S HAND
BUT I KNOW
WHAT REWARD IS IN IT
FOR THE PEOPLE
WE GIVE WATER TO.
THE REWARD
IS A CHANCE,
IT'S HOPE,
IT'S A FUTURE --
THE REWARD
IS LIFE.
Sheila: I LOVE WHAT
JAMES SAYS THERE, DOESN'T IT
SEEM A LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL
TO PRAY FOR SOMETHING
WHEN WE CAN BE THE ANSWER
TO THAT PRAYER?
SOME OF YOU ARE NEW TO US.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE
YOU'VE WRITTEN TO ME
OR YOU'VE PUT THINGS ON
MY FACEBOOK PAGE AND WE JUST
WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO
THE LIFE TODAY FAMILY
AND KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST
HERE TO INTERVIEW GUESTS
OR JUST TO SHARE.
WE HAVE THIS MISSION THAT
WE BELIEVE THAT ONE OF
THE REASONS WE'RE ON THIS
PLANET AT THIS TIME
IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE NOT WAITING
FOR JESUS TO COME
AND GET US OUT OF HERE.
WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN HIS NAME AND
HERE'S HOW WE DO IT.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT
SO MANY CHILDREN DIE
EVERY SINGLE DAY SIMPLY
BECAUSE THEY DRINK
CONTAMINATED WATER.
NOW THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK.
OUR GOAL IS TO PUT 400
NEW WATER WELLS IN THIS YEAR.
EVERY ONE OF US CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
SOME OF YOU CAN
DO THE BIG THING.
FOR $4800 YOU CAN ACTUALLY
PUT A WATER WELL IN A VILLAGE.
I MEAN THAT'S AMAZING.
WHAT A GIFT TO GIVE.
MAYBE YOU'RE COMING UP
ON AN ANNIVERSARY.
YOU THINK, WHAT DO WE DO
FOR OUR SILVER ANNIVERSARY?
WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING TO PUT
A WELL IN A VILLAGE
AND KNOW THAT CHILDREN
AND MOMS ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE
TO WALK MILES FOR DIRTY WATER?
SOME OF YOU ARE THINKING,
THERE IS NO WAY I CAN DO THAT.
CAN YOU DO THIS?
DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR $48
PROVIDES CLEAN WATER
FOR TEN PEOPLE?
THAT'S AMAZING!
I'VE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES,
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF WALKING WITH
SOME OF THESE MOMS
AND THEIR CHILDREN DOWN
TO THESE FILTHY WATER HOLES
AND THEY HAVE NO CHOICE,
IT'S THAT OR NOTHING.
AND ALMOST EVERY MOTHER
THAT I MET WHEN I WAS THERE
HAS LOST AT LEAST ONE CHILD
TO SOMETHING THAT
WAS COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE.
DID YOU SEE WHEN RALPH
HELD UP THOSE TWO GLASSES?
WASN'T THAT AMAZING?
THAT SYSTEM, SOME OF YOU
CAN GIVE AN ADDITIONAL $100
AND THAT WILL GIVE
THREE FAMILIES
A LIFE FILTER KIT.
THE DIFFERENCE!
DID YOU SEE THE LOOK ON
THESE WOMEN'S FACES
WHEN RALPH HOLDS UP ONE OF
THE WATER THAT CAME STRAIGHT
OUT AND THEN ONE ONCE
IT'S BEEN THROUGH
THE FILTER SYSTEM?
I DON'T THINK YOU SAW
THIS TIME IS RALPH STANDS
THERE AND HE DRINKS IT
IN FRONT OF THEM.
HE WAS SAYING TRUST ME,
THIS WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR
AND PURE.
I KNOW WE HEAR ABOUT
ALL SORTS OF TROUBLE
EVERYWHERE BUT FOR
THOSE OF US WHO ARE
IN RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
WHO HAVE BEEN REDEEMED,
ONE OF THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES
IS TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
WE CALL IT WATER FOR LIFE
BECAUSE IT LITERALLY IS THAT.
WHEN WE PUT A WELL
IN A VILLAGE
IT LASTS FOR 70 YEARS.
THAT'S THE LIFESPAN OF
A VILLAGE, OF SOMEBODY
FROM BIRTH TO DEATH.
BUT THE OTHER THING,
THE OTHER MEANING OF WATER
FOR LIFE IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE
ARE DESPERATE AND WE COME IN
AND WE PROVIDE WHAT
THEY DESPERATELY NEED,
SOMEHOW THEY'RE ABLE
TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN
TO SOMEBODY WHO SAYS,
"IF YOU'RE THIRSTY,
COME UNTO ME AND I'LL GIVE YOU
WATER FOR LIFE."
WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING?
WOULD YOU DO IT NOW?
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.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK!
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 --
AND I HOPE THEY ARE --
THEN WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN
AND KEEP TRYING.
DON'T GIVE UP!
DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF
TO GET DISTRACTED BECAUSE
THIS IS, AS I SAID,
THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS
TO SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE
WE HAVE MET IN VILLAGES
THAT WE WILL BE BACK.
WE WILL PUT A WELL
IN THEIR VILLAGE.
ONE PERSON CAN'T DO
EVERYTHING BUT WE CAN
ALL DO SOMETHING.
AND WHEN WE ALL GATHER
TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING,
THEN IT MAKES THE MOST
AMAZING DIFFERENCE.
AND AS JAMES SAID,
THAT WHEN WE GIVE A CUP
OF WATER IN JESUS' NAME
THEN HEAVEN ALONE KNOWS
WHAT OUR REWARD IS.
THAT'S NOT WHY WE DO IT.
WE DO IT BECAUSE
HAVE BEEN REDEEMED,
WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE,
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN LIFE.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE CALL.
WHEN YOU DO, WE'LL BE HAPPY
TO SEND YOU THE DVD,
THE STORM INSIDE STUDY
THAT I DID.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL
OTHER GIFTS FOR YOU.
AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT
WHY YOU DO IT BUT THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR SPENDING
THIS TIME WITH ME.
I REALLY TREASURE THAT.
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
♪
♪
♪
>> WE WERE TAUGHT
NOT TO ASK QUESTIONS.
WE WERE TAUGHT TO LIE
TO ANY OUTSIDERS.
AND WE WEREN'T ALLOWED
TO TALK TO OUTSIDERS.
Announcer: THE POLYGAMIST'S
DAUGHTER 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.