Announcer:
HAVE YOU EVER ASKED HOW
CAN GOD MAKE ANYTHING GOOD
COME FROM THE MESS
I'M IN RIGHT NOW?
Sheila: WHEN OUR
SURRENDERED BROKENNESS
MEETS
GOD'S MERCY,
POWER FLOWS LIKE
A MIGHTY RIVER.
AS WE CONTINUE, BECAUSE
IT IS A ONGOING PROCESS
TO LAY DOWN
OUR SUFFERING,
GOD CONTINUES TO FLOW
PERFECT POWER OUR WAY.
Announcer:
SURRENDER AS WE SPEND
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD
WITH SHEILA WALSH
NEXT ON LIFE TODAY!
♪
Sheila: HI! I'M SHEILA WALSH.
THANKS SO MUCH
FOR JOINING ME HERE
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
WHEN I SAT DOWN
TO WRITE MY BOOK
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS,
FINDING STRENGTH FOR
THIS BEAUTIFUL BROKEN LIFE,
I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT
A THIRD OF THE WAY IN
WHEN I GOT THE NEWS
FROM MY SISTER
THAT MY MOM HAD DIED.
EVEN THOUGH
SHE WAS ABOUT TO TURN 87 --
SO I HAD TO KNOW
THAT THAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN SOMETIME SOON,
WHAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WAS
HOW MUCH IT WOULD IMPACT ME.
I MEAN IT REALLY --
I FELT MYSELF REELING
AFTER HER FUNERAL.
THE THING THAT I WAS
DISCOURAGED BY, HONESTLY,
WAS I FOUND MYSELF
KIND OF CYCLING BACK
INTO DEPRESSION.
I THOUGHT I WAS BEYOND THAT.
I THOUGHT I'M IN A GOOD PLACE,
I'M REALLY CONSISTENT
WITH THE THINGS I NEED TO DO
BUT SOMEHOW THAT TOOK ME
TO A NEW LEVEL OF BEGINNING
TO QUESTION WHERE EXACTLY
I WAS IN THIS WHOLE JOURNEY.
SO WHAT I WANT
TO SAY TO YOU TODAY IS
IF YOU'RE IN A PLACE
WHERE YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED
BECAUSE YOU THINK,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THOUGHT I HAD THIS.
I THOUGHT I WAS IN
A DIFFERENT PLACE; I THOUGHT
I'D NEVER GO THERE AGAIN.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT THE GRACE OF GOD
IS HERE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW;
THAT GOD IS NOT ABSENT
WHEN WE SUFFER AND STRUGGLE.
GOD IS VERY PRESENT
AND I WAS TO DISCOVER THAT.
BECAUSE AS I SAID
ON THE FIRST...
I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WAS THE HARDEST WAS
MAYBE MY FIRST BIRTHDAY
AFTER MOM'S DEATH,
THERE WOULD BE NO BIRTHDAY
PHONE CALL, NO BIRTHDAY SONG.
HONESTLY, MY MOM COULDN'T
REALLY SING IN TUNE
BUT I LOVED HER SINGING
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
EVERY YEAR.
SO I FOUND MYSELF SINKING
INTO DEPRESSION AGAIN.
I COULDN'T CONCENTRATE
VERY WELL.
I COULDN'T SLEEP.
I COULDN'T MAKE MYSELF
ENGAGE WITH MY FRIENDS
EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THAT WAS
WHAT I REALLY NEEDED TO DO.
THE ONLY THING THAT
SOUNDED APPEALING TO ME,
HONESTLY WAS TO GET IN BED
AND JUST PULL THE COVERS
OVER MY HEAD.
I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN THERE.
WELL, IF YOUR EXPERIENCE
IS ANYTHING LIKE MINE,
YOU'RE GOING TO DO
THE HARD WORK IN LIFE
OF FINDING STRENGTH
IN TOUGH TIMES
IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR MESS.
YOU'LL ACCEPT LOSSES,
YOU'LL GRIEVE THEM,
YOU'LL LEARN TO TELL
THE TRUTH HONESTLY TO GOD
AND TO TRUSTED FRIENDS.
BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING
TO REALIZE THAT AT TIMES
YOUR MESS IS STILL A MESS.
IT HASN'T ALL BEEN CLEANED UP
AND PERMANENTLY REMOVED.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING
THAT THIS JOURNEY THROUGH
BROKENNESS HAS TAUGHT ME
IS THAT MY DISTINCT NEED,
WHEN HANDLED HONESTLY
IN GOD'S PRESENCE,
LEADS ME TO GOD'S
DISTINCT ABILITY
TO MEET ME RIGHT THERE.
ONE OF THE SCRIPTURES
THAT HAS SOOTHED ME ON
MANY, MANY A SLEEPLESS NIGHT
IS FOUND IN ROMANS CHAPTER 12,
VERSE ONE.
THAT LITTLE WORD PRESENT --
PRESENT YOUR BODIES
AS LIVING SACRIFICES
HAS SIGNIFICANT MEANING HERE.
IN THE GREEK IT IS THE VERB HE
OR TO OFFER ONCE AND FOR ALL.
IT IS A ONE TIME COMMITMENT,
A WEIGHTY COVENANTAL THING.
THINK OF THE WAY
THAT A WIFE OR A HUSBAND
OFFERS HERSELF OR HIMSELF
TO A SPOUSE;
OR MORE PROFOUNDLY THE WAY
CHRIST OFFERED HIMSELF UP
TO THE CROSS
TO SACRIFICIALLY PRESENT.
THIS IS A SETTING
OF YOUR FACE
IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION
NEVER TO TURN BACK AGAIN
EVEN WHEN TEMPTATIONS
SURROUND US --
AND THEY WILL.
EVEN WHEN DARKNESS COMES.
EVEN IF DEPRESSION COMES
KNOCKING AGAIN.
EVEN WHEN SUFFERING UNFOLDS.
EVEN WHEN QUESTIONS
OUTNUMBER ANSWERS.
EVEN WHEN WE'VE DONE OUR PART.
EVEN WHEN THINGS
GET MESSY AGAIN.
I THINK ESPECIALLY,
ESPECIALLY THEN.
TO PRESENT OURSELVES
IS TO HAND OURSELVES
OVER TO JESUS
OVER AND OVER AGAIN DAILY
REGARDLESS
OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
AND THE CHALLENGES
THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED TO US
ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
THE REASON THAT
THIS UNDERSTANDING
OF THIS SCRIPTURE
HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL TO ME
IS THAT IT REMINDS ME
THAT THERE IS PURPOSE
IN MY PAIN.
IF I VIEW MY PAIN
AS JUST RANDOM,
AS A CRUEL TAUNT
BY A HEARTLESS CREATOR
THAT IS DESTINED
TO EVENTUALLY TAKE ME DOWN,
IF WE BELIEVE THAT
WE'RE GOING TO SINK DEEPER
INTO DESPERATION SEEING LIFE
AS JUST DISPOSABLE, UNKIND.
BUT IF WE VIEW OUR PAIN
AS THE MIRROR THROUGH WHICH
GOD'S SUFFICIENCY CAN BE
REFLECTED THEN WE BEAR UP
UNDER THE SUFFERING
KNOWING IT'S SERVING
TO MAKE US MORE
LIKE JESUS CHRIST.
MY NEED, YOUR NEED,
WHEN HANDLED
WITH SPIRITUAL HONESTY
WILL LEAD US TO GOD'S ABILITY
TO MORE THAN MEET IT.
WHEN YOU AND I ARE ABLE
TO SHIFT PERSPECTIVE
IN THIS MANNER
OUR CENTRAL PLEA BEFORE GOD
SHIFTS TO WELL,
INSTEAD OF BEGGING,
PLEASE GOD.
PLEASE TAKE THIS SUFFERING
AWAY FROM ME.
OUR PRAYER CAN CHANGE TO:
PLEASE FATHER,
SHOW YOURSELF STRONG
THROUGH THIS SUFFERING,
THROUGH THIS PAIN,
THROUGH MY LIFE,
THROUGH ME;
GLORIFY YOURSELF IN ME.
IN MY VIEW, THERE IS
NO BETTER PERSONIFICATION
OF THIS KIND OF SHIFT
IN PERSPECTIVE
THAN THAT OF THE APOSTLE PAUL.
AS YOU KNOW
IN SECOND CORINTHIANS
HE SPOKE OF HAVING
WHAT HE CALLED
"A THORN IN THE FLESH,"
A SUBJECT LONG DEBATED BY
MUCH SMARTER MINDS THAN MINE
RIGHT THROUGH THE AGES.
AND THERE ARE ALL SORTS
OF THEORIES
ABOUT WHAT THE THORN WAS.
HAD HE GONE BLIND?
DID HE SUFFER
FROM CHRONIC HEADACHES?
DID HE HAVE MALARIA?
WAS HE BEING PERSECUTED
FOR HIS BELIEFS?
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS BECAUSE
PAUL NEVER CLEARLY SAYS.
BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW
IS THAT PAUL REALLY BEGGED
FOR GOD TO TAKE IT AWAY.
IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 12:8
PAUL WROTE:
I THINK WE ALL CAN RELATE
TO A PRAYER LIKE THAT.
WHETHER IT IS
A FINANCIAL CRISIS,
MARRIAGE PROBLEMS,
HEALTH ISSUES, JOB LOSS,
WHATEVER -- WHATEVER YOU
MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH
RIGHT NOW
THE CRY OF OUR HEART
OFTEN IS "FATHER, PLEASE,
PLEASE TAKE THIS AWAY!"
FOR ME, THE DEPRESSION,
THE TENDENCY
TOWARD ISOLATION,
THE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
THAT I'VE STRUGGLED WITH
FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, YEAH.
I WANT TO PRAY, "FATHER,
PLEASE WON'T YOU JUST
MAKE THEM LEAVE?"
WELL, PAUL HAD LAID DOWN
HIS EARNEST REQUEST AND NOW
IT WAS GOD'S TURN TO RESPOND.
PAUL WRITES:
NOW I'D IMAGINE INITIALLY
THAT PROBABLY WAS NOT THE
ANSWER PAUL WANTED TO HEAR,
CERTAINLY NOT
WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR
WHEN WE'RE RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF PAIN.
BUT THIS GOD
WHO POSSESSES ALL POWER,
ALL WISDOM, ALL CAPACITY,
ALL THINGS, WHY WOULD GOD
CHOOSE NOT TO INTERVENE?
THE ANSWER CENTERS ON
WHOSE GLORY WE'RE SEEKING:
GOD'S OR OUR OWN?
"MY POWER," GOD'S POWER
IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS.
SO I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF,
I ASK YOU, DO WE DESIRE
GOD'S POWER THAT MUCH?
IT WAS DURING THE SAME TIME
OF DARKNESS AND GRIEVING
THAT I WENT DEEP, DEEP
INTO THE WORD OF GOD.
I PRAY THAT YOU HAVE FOUND
AS I HAVE
THAT GOD'S LIVING WORD
IS A SHELTER
IN TIMES OF STORM.
WELL, THIS TIME
I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IT TRULY MEANT
TO BE SET APART FOR CHRIST
AS PAUL IMPLIED
WHEN HE SPOKE OF US
AS HAVING PRESENTED OURSELVES
ONCE AND FOR ALL
AS SACRIFICES UNTO THE LORD.
WHAT WERE THE IMPLICATIONS
OF SUCH A DECISION
AS IT RELATES TO LIVING WELL
IN THIS BROKEN MESSY WORLD?
WELL, I WAS DETERMINED
TO FIND OUT.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
MY SEARCH TOOK ME
TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
WHERE THE PHRASE "SET APART"
FIRST APPEARED.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM
THERE WERE MANY GOLD
AND SILVER PLATES AND PIECES
THAT EXISTED BUT SOME OF THEM
WERE SET APART
FOR USE IN THE TEMPLE
DURING WORSHIP OF GOD.
NOW THOSE PIECES
HAD ONLY ONE PURPOSE
WHICH WAS TO WAIT
IN SERVICE OF GOD.
A DESCRIPTION PRETTY FITTING
FOR YOU AND ME.
WE WAIT AND WE EXIST
TO SERVE GOD.
THE DAY THAT YOU SURRENDERED
YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST
YOU VIRTUALLY
DISTANCED YOURSELF
FROM THE WORLD FROM YOUR SIN,
AND FROM YOUR SHAME
BY YOUR DECISION YOU SAID,
"I'M NOT MY OWN ANYMORE.
I'M GOD'S NOW,
SET APART FOR HIS USE."
FROM THAT DAY FORWARD THEN
YOUR LIFE POSSESSED
A SINGULAR AIM
BRINGING GOD'S GLORY EVEN
IN THE MESSIEST OF MESSES.
NOW AS I LOOK AT MY OWN LIFE,
IT'S TRUE, GOD COULD HAVE
PREVENTED MY FATHER'S SUICIDE.
HE COULD HAVE TAKEN AWAY
MY DEPRESSION,
HE COULD HAVE SPARED ME
FROM THE PSYCH WARD --
HE COULD HAVE DONE
ALL OF THOSE THINGS
BUT HE DIDN'T.
I COULD HAVE LIVED
A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.
AND EVEN AS YOU LOOK
AT YOUR LIFE
HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED
YOUR BANKRUPTCY.
HE COULD HAVE
NOT LET YOUR PATH CROSS
THAT ABUSER'S PATH
AND KEPT YOU FROM
THAT FIRST SIP OF WINE THAT
LED TO A MERCILESS ADDICTION.
HE COULD HAVE GIVEN YOU
THE CHILD YOU SO WANTED.
HE COULD HAVE MADE SURE
THAT YOU GOT THAT JOB,
THAT PROMOTION.
HE COULD HAVE KEPT
YOUR VEHICLE ON THE ROAD
ON THAT SNOWY NIGHT.
HE COULD HAVE
MADE YOUR HUSBAND,
HE COULD HAVE MADE
YOUR WIFE STAY.
THE QUESTION THAT WILL
TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND MINE
ISN'T WHY DIDN'T GOD
DO THESE THINGS?
BUT RATHER:
LET ME SAY AGAIN,
OUR NEED
WHEN HANDLED HONESTLY
IN OUR FATHER'S PRESENCE
POINTS DIRECTLY
TO GOD'S ABILITY TO MEET IT.
WHEN OUR SURRENDERED
BROKENNESS
MEETS GOD'S MERCY,
POWER FLOWS
LIKE A MIGHTY RIVER.
AS WE CONTINUE BECAUSE
IT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS
TO LAY DOWN OUR SUFFERING,
GOD CONTINUES TO FLOW
PERFECT POWER OUR WAY.
I BELIEVE THAT'S
HOW WE CAN BE THANKFUL
IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
GOOD AND BAD.
WE CAN BE THANKFUL
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND
THE PURPOSE HERE
ALL FOR YOUR GLORY, FATHER
-- ALL FOR YOU.
USE MY WEAKNESS
TO DISPLAY YOUR FULL POWER.
SHOW THE WORLD THIS POWER
THAT'S NEVER KNOWN.
ISAIAH 40,
A WELL-KNOWN PASSAGE SAYS:
WHAT A PROMISE!
YOU MIGHT BE THINKING THAT
THIS POWER I'M TALKING ABOUT
DOESN'T FEEL
VERY POWERFUL AT ALL.
THAT'S TRUE!
THIS POWER THAT COMES
BY WAY OF OUR WEAKNESS
DOESN'T LOOK POWERFUL
IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD
OR ANY WAY
THE WORLD LOOKS AT IT.
THE STRENGTH GOD SENDS
IN OUR DARK MESS
DOESN'T LOOK VERY STRONG.
POWER AND STRENGTH AS DEFINED
BY THE WORLD'S STANDARDS
DON'T LOOK A THING
LIKE WHAT WE'RE GIVEN
AS GOD'S CHILDREN.
BUT I BELIEVE
WITH ALL MY HEART
THAT WHEN WE ALLOW CHRIST
INTO OUR BROKENNESS
AND ASK HIM TO HEAL US
HOWEVER HE CHOOSES,
WE BECOME STRONGER
AND MORE POWERFUL
THAN ANY FORCE
THIS WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
THE APOSTLE PAUL SURELY
GRASPED THIS INCREDIBLE TRUTH
FOR IN ANOTHER
OF HIS WRITINGS
HE WROTE OF HOW WE REFLECT
THIS POWER FROM GOD.
THE GOAL HERE,
PAUL ESSENTIALLY SAID,
IS NOT TO "POWER UP"
AS THE WORLD WOULD HAVE YOU DO
BUT RATHER AS DETAILED
IN EPHESIANS SIX TO SUIT UP
WITH THE ARMOR OF GOD.
THIS WEAPONRY HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH GUNS AND MISSILES.
IT IS AN ARSENAL
OF SPIRITUAL TOOLS;
TRUTH, FOR EXAMPLE,
RIGHTEOUSNESS, A HEART
TO BRING ABOUT PEACE, FAITH,
A HELMET OF SALVATION,
THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD.
AND TO THAT MIX WE CAN ADD
THE THINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT
IN THIS BOOK, TRANSPARENT
CONVERSATION WITH GOD,
CONFESSION WITH
TRUSTED FRIENDS, QUIET,
MEDITATION ON THE WORD,
FORGIVENESS,
THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY
AND HOLDING ON TO HOPE.
WITH GOD'S POWER WE DISCOVER
THAT HE REALLY IS WORKING
THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD,
THAT HE REALLY IS
MAKING ALL THINGS NEW.
"I HAVE ALREADY BEGUN,"
HE PROMISES IN ISAIAH 43:19:
I, THE LORD,
AM DOING SOMETHING NEW!
SO WE PRAY, LORD,
DO THIS NEW THING THROUGH US.
LET OUR BROKENNESS
PRODUCE SOMETHING BRAND-NEW
THAT WILL BRING GLORY TO YOU.
SO NO MATTER
WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH,
WE KEEP LAYING IT DOWN,
AND LAYING IT DOWN,
AND LAYING IT DOWN AGAIN.
FOR ME, WHETHER IT IS
DEPRESSION, I LAY IT DOWN.
I BRING IT INTO HIS PRESENCE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH.
IT COULD BE ANGER.
IT COULD BE ALCOHOLISM,
CONTROLLING, OVERSPENDING,
PRIDE, ENVY, SELF HARM.
WE LAY DOWN COMPARISONS.
WE STOP COMPARING OURSELVES
WITH EACH OTHER.
WE LAY DOWN OUR FAILURES
AND WE LAY DOWN OUR FEAR.
WE LAY IT ALL DOWN
KNOWING THAT THESE
TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES WE FACE
DO NOT AT ALL DEFINE
WHO WE ARE.
WE ARE NOT OUR MESS.
FAR FROM IT.
THAT'S NOT HOW WE'RE DEFINED.
WE ARE THE DEMONSTRATION
OF GOD'S ABILITY TO USE
OUR CIRCUMSTANCES FOR GOOD.
I'M NOT SHEILA WALSH WHOSE
FATHER COMMITTED SUICIDE.
I'M NOT SHEILA WALSH
THE PSYCH PATIENT.
AND YOU, YOU'RE NOT
JENNIFER THE ALCOHOLIC.
YOU'RE NOT JOHN
THE DRUG ABUSER.
YOU'RE NOT ABBY
THE CONTROL FREAK.
YOU'RE NOT DAVID
THE PORN ADDICT.
YOU'RE NOT BETHANY
THE DEPRESSED.
WHATEVER MESS
YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF
YOU ARE NOT THAT MESS.
WHEN YOU'VE PLACED
YOUR TRUST IN CHRIST,
YOU ARE A WELL LOVED DAUGHTER
OF THE KING OF KINGS.
YOU ARE A SON OF GOD.
SO WE CAN THANK GOD
EVEN IN YOUR BROKENNESS
WHEN WE REALIZE
THAT BROKENNESS LEADS US
TO HIS STRENGTH.
SO WE SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FROM RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF MY MESS.
I'M SO AWARE THAT
WHEN I HAVE THESE SHOWS
AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO TALK TO YOU
WHICH I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR,
THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU
ARE DEALING WITH PERSONALLY
BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU:
AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE STRUGGLING
AND YOU DIDN'T DESERVE IT
OR IF YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE IN A MESS
BECAUSE YOU CAUSED IT,
THE INVITATION
REMAINS THE SAME
TO COME TO HIM
IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR MESS
AND ALLOW HIS POWER
TO TRANSFORM US.
ONE OF THE JOYS OF LIVING
A LOVED FORGIVEN LIFE
IS IT HELPS YOU TO LOOK
TO THOSE WHO NEED
THAT VERY LOVE
TO TOUCH THEM RIGHT NOW.
WOULD YOU WATCH THIS WITH ME?
Isak:
COMING TO MALNUTRITION
CLINICS LIKE THIS
IS SO DEVASTATING
TO SEE CHILDREN BECAUSE
UNFORTUNATELY,
SO MANY MORE CHILDREN
DON'T LEAVE THESE CLINICS
THAN WHAT LEAVE THEM.
BUT IT'S EVEN MORE
DEVASTATING TO ME TODAY
BECAUSE THIS CLINIC
IS SO FULL.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY'VE
ACTUALLY PUT IN EXTRA BEDS
DOWN THE CENTER
OF THE AISLE HERE.
THAT'S NOT NORMAL
BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS
IN THIS AREA
HAVE REACHED
ABSOLUTE DESPERATION.
AS A RESULT,
THE CLINICS ARE FULL --
FULL WITH CHILDREN
WHO ARE FIGHTING
FOR THEIR LIVES,
CHILDREN WHO HAVE
LITERALLY REACHED
THAT STAGE OF BEING
ON DEATH'S DOOR.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT
I'M TIRED OF THIS SITUATION.
I'M TIRED OF WATCHING
CHILDREN DIE
IN CLINICS
LIKE THIS;
CHILD AFTER CHILD,
MOTHER AFTER MOTHER
WHOSE HEART IS BROKEN...
BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
SO SIMPLE.
THE FACT THAT CHILDREN
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD --
IT'S AN
INJUSTICE!
BECAUSE IF WE REMAIN SILENT
TO THE SILENT KILLER,
MALNUTRITION WILL WIN
THE BATTLE AGAIN
AND AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
PLEASE WE'VE GOT TO DO
WHAT WE CAN DO
BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE
AND TOGETHER
WE NEED TO ACT.
BUT THIS IS NOT
WHERE WE SOLVE IT.
WHERE WE HAVE
THE GREATEST CHANCE
IS OUT THERE
IN THEIR VILLAGES
BEFORE CHILDREN GET INTO
A SEVERELY MALNOURISHED STATE
-- BEFORE THEY
END UP HERE.
IF WE CAN JUST
TAKE MISSION FEEDING
TO THOSE VILLAGES
WE CAN SAVE
THOSE CHILDREN'S LIVES.
WE CAN SAVE THEM
FROM COMING HERE.
WE CAN SAVE THEM
FROM DEATH'S DOOR.
Sheila: I WAS IN THAT
VERY MALNUTRITION CLINIC
IN CUBAL IN ANGOLA
A YEAR BEFORE THIS
RECENT TRIP OF ISAK'S.
TO SEE SO MANY
MORE BEDS THERE THAN
THE TIME WHEN WE WERE THERE
IS JUST DEVASTATING.
THEY TOLD US THE SITUATION
IS GETTING SO MUCH WORSE.
I HAD NEVER SEEN
WITH MY OWN EYES
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
WHEN A CHILD IS DYING
OF MALNUTRITION.
THEIR SKIN IS LITERALLY
PEELING OFF.
THEIR HAIR HAS TURNED RED.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT
BUT IT IS SIMPLY
A LACK OF PROTEIN.
TO WATCH THESE CHILDREN
STRUGGLING TO TAKE SIMPLY
ONE BREATH.
I REMEMBER BEING ABLE
TO HOLD ONE LITTLE ONE
AND I ASSUMED THIS CHILD
WAS A NEWBORN AND
I ASKED HOW OLD AND HE SAID,
"SHE'S FOUR MONTHS OLD."
SHE WEIGHED
WHAT MY SON WEIGHED
ON THE DAY HE WAS BORN.
THE THING ABOUT
THIS SITUATION, I SO AGREED
WITH WHAT ISAK SAID,
THAT HE'S TIRED OF SEEING THAT
BECAUSE HERE'S THE THING.
WE CAN CHANGE THIS.
I'VE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES.
NOW I'VE WATCHED THESE THINGS
ON TELEVISION FOR YEARS
AND SOMETIMES WE ALMOST GET
KIND OF IMMUNE TO IT
BUT ONCE YOU PUT YOUR FEET
ON THAT AFRICAN SOIL
AND YOU WALK INTO THESE PLACES
YOU WILL NEVER BE IMMUNE
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN
WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT.
I'VE SEEN THE HOPE.
I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GO INTO
A VILLAGE AND PROVIDE FOOD.
IT CHANGES THEIR LIVES
FOREVER.
IT LITERALLY,
FROM THAT FIRST BOWL
OF VERY NUTRITIOUS FOOD,
THEY'RE TURNED FROM THAT CYCLE
OF GOING NO LONGER TO DEATH
BUT GOING TO LIFE.
EACH ONE OF US
CAN DO SOMETHING.
DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR JUST $30
-- $30 YOU CAN PROVIDE FOOD
FOR THREE CHILDREN
FOR THREE MONTHS?
$50, FIVE CHILDREN
FOR THREE MONTHS?
$100, 10 CHILDREN
FOR THREE MONTHS.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS
THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO ASK
IF YOU'D CONSIDER DOING
IN ADDITION TO THAT
IS THAT WE NEED TO DO
A FOOD FACTORY UPGRADE.
THE FACTORY HAS FAITHFULLY
SERVED US FOR YEARS
BUT WE NEED TO UPDATE IT.
AND IF WE DO, IT WILL
BECOME 50% MORE EFFICIENT.
THE FOOD IS AMAZING.
I'VE SEEN THE STATS
ON EVERYTHING THAT'S IN IT,
ALL THE PROTEIN, THE VITAMINS,
THE MINERALS THAT
THE CHILDREN NEED.
BUT HONESTLY TODAY,
I KIND OF WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU
ON BEHALF OF THE MOMS
BECAUSE I'VE WATCHED THE MOMS
IN THE MALNUTRITION CLINICS
BRING THEIR CHILDREN IN AND
SO MANY OF THEM FEEL GUILTY
BECAUSE THEY THINK,
I LEFT IT TOO LATE.
BUT THEY HAVE NO RESOURCES.
THEY HAVE NO WAY
OF GETTING TO THE CLINIC
WITH THEIR DYING CHILD.
THESE MOTHERS,
WHEN I WAS THERE,
OUR TEAM, WE TOLD THEM,
"LISTEN, WE WILL NOT
FORGET YOU.
WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU
AND WE WILL MAKE SURE
YOUR CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR."
WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU TO DO
IS WOULD YOU GO TO YOUR PHONE
RIGHT NOW,
MAKE THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE
AND LET'S CHANGE
WHAT CAN BE CHANGED
IN JESUS' NAME.
Announcer:
IN IMPOVERISHED AND FAMINE STRICKEN AREAS OF AFRICA,
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING.
THE NEED
IS GREAT.
AND WITHOUT FOOD,
THEY FACE DEATH BY STARVATION.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT,
YOU WILL HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR CHILDREN
IN CRISIS AREAS
OF SUDAN, ANGOLA,
AND MOZAMBIQUE.
WITH AFRICA FACING ONGOING
FOOD SHORTAGES AND DROUGHT,
WE URGENTLY NEED
TO REPLENISH SUPPLIES
AND COME TO THE AID
OF 400,000 CHILDREN
COUNTING ON US.
YOUR LIFESAVING GIFT
OF $30, $50, OR $100
WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR
THREE, FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT
THREE MONTHS.
PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER
AN ADDITIONAL GIFT TO HELP
PROVIDE CRITICALLY NEEDED
UPGRADES TO OUR FOOD FACTORY
THAT WILL INCREASE
OVERALL PRODUCTION BY
A STAGGERING 50%.
THIS IS A
$216,000 CHALLENGE
ABOVE OUR NORMAL
FEEDING BUDGET
THAT COULD HELP SAVE
EVEN MORE LIVES.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT
WE'LL SEND YOU
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS.
IN HER NEW BOOK,
SHEILA WALSH BRINGS INSIGHT
TO KNOWING THE PEACE
AND PRESENCE OF CHRIST
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE'S
INEVITABLE MESSES.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR TEN CHILDREN,
WE WILL SEND YOU SHEILA'S BOOK
PLUS THE "ARISE" COFFEE MUG.
THIS HEAT-ACTIVATED MUG
REVEALS ISAIAH 61
EACH TIME YOU FILL IT
WITH A WARM BEVERAGE;
A WONDERFUL WAY
TO BEGIN YOUR DAY.
AND FINALLY, WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR 100 CHILDREN,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
OUR "DETERMINED EAGLE"
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR
MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
Isak: AS A RESULT OF
YOUR LOVE AND GENEROSITY
AS FRIENDS
OF LIFE
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD
THIS FOOD FACTORY.
THIS FOOD FACTORY
HAS SAVED TENS, HUNDREDS,
EVEN MILLIONS OF LIVES
AS A RESULT.
BUT WE NEED
YOUR HELP TODAY.
WE NEED YOUR
HELP BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT TO EXPAND
THIS FOOD FACTORY BECAUSE
THERE ARE CHILDREN
IN VILLAGES HERE
AS A RESULT OF THE
DROUGHT IN THIS AREA
AND THE FACT
THAT THEIR FAMILIES
ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE
ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEM
AND MISSION FEEDING IS NOT
REACHING THEIR VILLAGERS,
THESE CHILDREN
ARE FACING
A CRITICAL SITUATION.
IT IS NOT JUST A FACTORY
FILLED WITH MACHINES.
NO! IT IS A FACTORY
THAT PRODUCES LIFE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU
PLEASE TODAY,
HELP US SO THAT
WE CAN PRODUCE MORE FOOD,
PACKAGE THEIR FOOD
MORE EFFICIENTLY
AND GET IT OUT
TO THE CHILDREN
THAT SO DESPERATELY
NEED IT.
THE WAY THAT YOU CAN DO THAT
IS BY GOING ONLINE,
BY PICKING UP THE PHONE
AND DIALING THAT NUMBER
AND GIVING THE BEST GIFT
THAT YOU CAN GIVE,
GIVE THE GIFT
OF LIFE,
GIVE THE GIFT OF FOOD.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
PLEASE KEEP PHONING.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
FOR EVERY GIFT I'M SO HAPPY
TO BE ABLE TO OFFER YOU
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS.
IT IS MOST PERSONAL BOOK
I'VE EVER WRITTEN;
A HARD BOOK TO WRITE
BUT I PRAY IT WILL
BRING YOU REAL FREEDOM.
FOR A GIFT OF $100
WE HAVE SOMETHING SO COOL --
I LOVE THIS!
IT LOOKS LIKE A BLACK MUG
UNTIL YOU POUR HOT LIQUID
INTO IT AND THEN TA-DA!
HOW GREAT IS THAT?
THAT IS A FANTASTIC REMINDER
EVERY MORNING OF WHO YOU ARE,
OF WHO OUR
WONDERFUL FATHER IS.
SO WE'D LOVE TO SEND YOU
THOSE GIFTS.
REALLY, THIS IS JUST OUR WAY
OF SAYING THANK YOU.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING,
WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR HELPING US BE THERE
FOR THOSE CHILDREN.
I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME
IN WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
♪
♪
♪
>> SO IN OTHER WORDS,
IF SOMEBODY WANTS SOMETHING,
IF I DON'T SAY YES
I'M NOT BEING GIVING
WHICH MEANS
I'M BEING SELFISH.
Announcer:
DR. HENRY CLOUD 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.