Announcer:
NEXT ON LIFE TODAY!
AUTHOR AND SPEAKER
SHEILA WALSH
IDENTIFIES FIVE
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
THAT BUILDS
STRENGTH AND HOPE
IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE MESS.
Sheila: THAT'S WHEN
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
ENTERS INTO
A CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE
AN ENEMY WHO IS A LIAR.
SCRIPTURE TELLS US,
HE PROWLS AROUND LIKE
A ROARING LION
SEEKING WHOM
HE CAN DEVOUR.
AND IF SOMEBODY
IS ISOLATED
BY DEPRESSION
OR BY MENTAL ILLNESS,
THAT'S WHEN THE ENEMY
LOVES TO COME ALONG
AND JUST SAY,
"WHY DON'T YOU
JUST END IT ALL?"
♪
James: WE'VE GOT
A CRAZY AUDIENCE!
WE WELCOME YOU.
I'M JAMES ROBISON.
MY WIFE BETTY AND
I WELCOME YOU TO LIFE TODAY.
SHEILA WALSH,
WHO IS A REGULAR NOW
WITH LIFE OUTREACH
AND OF COURSE,
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD,
BUT ALSO CO-HOST WITH
OUR SON RANDY ON OCCASION
FOR WHICH WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS;
THIS IS A BOOK
THAT HAS JUST COME OUT.
STRENGTH FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL,
BROKEN LIFE.
WOULD YOU WELCOME
SHEILA WALSH
AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK.
SHEILA, BECAUSE WE ARE STAFF
AND WE WORK TOGETHER,
WE HAVE NO PROBLEM
SHARING CONCERNS
WHETHER IT IS PERSONAL
OR WHAT WE HEAR.
I THINK IT'S QUITE EVIDENT
THAT WE CARE
ABOUT WHAT WE HEAR.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN SOMEONE
BRINGS US A CONCERN
IT REGISTERS.
I DON'T EVEN TAKE CRITICISM
VERY WELL BECAUSE I TAKE IT
VERY DEEPLY TO HEART.
WHEN I SAY
I DON'T TAKE IT WELL,
IT DOESN'T MEAN
DON'T DARE DO IT BECAUSE
PEOPLE WILL ANYWAY, AND
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T MEAN IT
TO BE HEALING,
THEY MEAN IT TO BE HURTFUL.
BUT ALL OF IT
REGISTERS WITH ME
BECAUSE I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
I ACTUALLY LOVE MY ENEMIES
WHO SPEAK ILL OF ME
BECAUSE SOMETIMES MY ENEMIES
ARE ACTUALLY THE ONLY ONES
WHO ARE TELLING ME
THE WHOLE TRUTH,
THE PLAIN TRUTH
AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I TAKE IT TO GOD.
SO I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
BUT WHEN I HEAR A CONCERN
WITH YOU, AND WE HEAR
AND REMEMBER, WE PRAY
WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
EVERY DAY WHO HAVE
A HEAVY HEART
OR BROKEN HEART
BECAUSE WE CARE.
SO WHEN WE HEAR SOMETHING
IT REGISTERS.
AND YOU WERE SHARING WITH ME
HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
ARE EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION
OR SOME OTHER KIND
OF MENTAL CHALLENGE
AND IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S SOMETHING THAT EITHER
THE CHURCH DOESN'T TALK ABOUT,
REFUSES OR DOESN'T KNOW
TO TALK ABOUT
OR DOESN'T KNOW
HOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.
AND YOU THINK IT IS
A PRETTY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
Sheila: I THINK
IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
LIFEWAY RESEARCH,
THEY REALLY DO THEIR HOMEWORK
AND THEY CAME OUT WITH A STUDY
WHERE THEY SAID
ABOUT 68% OF CHURCHES
NEVER MENTION ANY KIND
OF MENTAL ILLNESS, DEPRESSION,
AND YET SO MANY OF THE
CONGREGATION ARE STRUGGLING.
AND THEY SAID ALSO,
25 PERCENT OF PASTORS
ARE THEMSELVES STRUGGLING
WITH DEPRESSION.
MY THING IS, LORD, YOU ARE
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
WE FIND OUR IDENTITY IN YOU.
I'M NOT SHEILA WALSH
THE DEPRESSED,
OR SHEILA WALSH
THE ONE WHO WAS COMMITTED
TO A PSYCH HOSPITAL.
I'M SHEILA WALSH,
DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF KINGS
WHO ALSO LIVES
WITH DEPRESSION.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE
TO FEEL ASHAMED
TO FEEL LIKE
I CAN'T TELL SOMEBODY THIS
OR THEY'LL THINK
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG
WITH MY SPIRITUAL LIFE
OR I DON'T LOVE GOD ENOUGH.
SO I JUST THINK --
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BOTH OF YOU
TO HAVE A DISCUSSION,
AN HONEST DISCUSSION
ABOUT WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS
AND WHAT IT IS NOT;
AND TO TELL PEOPLE
YOU'RE NOT ALONE AND
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ASHAMED.
Betty: I THINK
THAT IS THE REAL BIG PROBLEM.
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY
MINISTERS IN THE CHURCH, THEY
ARE ASHAMED OF IT THEMSELVES
AND THEN THEY THINK
PEOPLE WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED
BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE VICTORY OVER EVERYTHING
AND IT'S NOT THAT WAY.
Sheila: WELL, YOU WOULDN'T SAY
TO A PASTOR WHO HAD
A HIGH CHOLESTEROL LEVEL,
"I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN YOU."
NEITHER WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM,
"I THINK IF YOU
JUST PRAY ABOUT THAT,
YOU COULD FIX IT
BY THE MORNING."
BUT SO OFTEN THAT'S
WHAT WE DO WITH SOMEBODY
WHO STRUGGLES
WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE'LL SAY TO THEM THINGS LIKE,
"WELL, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH FAITH.
THERE MUST BE SOME SIN
IN YOUR LIFE."
BUT WHEN MY SON CHRISTIAN
WAS A LITTLE BOY
AND HE FELL OFF A SWING
AND BROKE HIS LEG,
I DIDN'T SAY TO HIM,
"YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS
THROUGH CHRIST
WHO STRENGTHENS YOU."
I TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL
[Laughter]
-- TO GET HIS LEG FIXED.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LONGING FOR
IN THE CHURCH.
James: SO WHAT WOULD BE
YOUR SUGGESTION,
TO CHURCH LEADERS OR PEOPLE
LISTENING TO US TODAY,
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR
SUGGESTION TO THEM?
I KNOW YOU REALLY FLESH IT OUT
PRETTY THOROUGHLY HERE
IN THE BOOK AND WE'RE HOPING
PEOPLE WILL GET IT
AND READ IT.
WE'RE PRAYING WE'RE MAKING IT
AVAILABLE TO YOU.
ACTUALLY, WE'LL GIVE IT
TO YOU TO HELP YOU
IF YOU WOULD JOIN US
DOING SOMETHING.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
BEAR IN MIND,
WITH THE HURRICANE DAMAGE
AND ALL THE LOSS
AND ALL THE IMPACT AND
WE'RE NOW TRYING TO REBUILD
AND WE'RE ALL
WORKING TOGETHER,
BUT REMEMBER
WITH LIFE OUTREACH
WE'RE REACHING
ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WE'RE
REACHING OUT TO CHILDREN
WHO DON'T NEED TO REBUILD
OR RESTRUCTURE OR REFURBISH,
WE'RE LIVING RIGHT NOW
REACHING OUT WITH LOVE
FOR THOSE WHO
IF THEY DON'T GET THAT,
THEY DIE.
WE'RE FEEDING THE HUNGRY,
WE'RE FEEDING THOSE
WHO WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT
WILL NOT HAVE A FUTURE
TO REBUILD, THEY DIE.
SO WE NEED TO ALL
BE PRAYING TOGETHER.
BUT WHEN YOU SAY
TO THE VIEWER
AND YOU SAY TO PEOPLE,
AND IF BY THE WAY YOU JOIN US
WE'LL SEND THE BOOK,
BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO THE CHURCH OR THE PEOPLE
TO GET THEM STARTED
IN THIS DISCUSSION?
HOW DO WE GET THEM STARTED?
Sheila: THAT'S
A GREAT QUESTION, JAMES.
HONESTLY,
I'VE WRITTEN OVER 50 BOOKS
AND THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT
AND THE MOST PERSONAL BOOK
THAT I'VE WRITTEN.
BECAUSE THERE ARE
SOME THINGS...
IT'S BECOMING
A LITTLE MORE ACCEPTABLE
WITHIN THE CHURCH
TO TALK ABOUT DEPRESSION,
WHAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT
IS SUICIDE.
BUT HERE IN TEXAS,
WE HAD A VERY LOVED PASTOR
WHO TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
AND THE PASTOR WHO PREACHED
AT HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE,
WHO HAD BEEN IN HIS CHURCH
20 YEARS, HE WAS 69,
4 YEARS LATER,
THAT MAN TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
I THINK IF THERE ARE
SO MANY OF US HURTING, JUST
EVEN OPENING THE DISCUSSION
WITHIN THE CHURCH,
HAVING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
CAN COME AND TALK OPENLY
BECAUSE THERE IS
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SITUATIONAL DEPRESSION
AND CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
LIKE IF SOMEONE GOES THROUGH
A DEATH OR A DIVORCE
OR SOMETHING, A LOSS,
YOU KNOW THIS,
YOU LOST A DAUGHTER.
NOW IF YOU WALK THROUGH
A SEASON LIKE THAT,
THERE IS A DEPRESSION
AND A DARKNESS THAT
YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THROUGH.
THAT IS A DIFFERENT THING
THAN MY DIAGNOSIS.
I HAVE CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
IT IS A DIAGNOSIS WHERE
MY BRAIN SIMPLY DOES NOT
PRODUCE ENOUGH SEROTONIN
TO BE ABLE TO BE THE WOMAN
THAT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO BE.
SO I THINK EVEN FROM
THE PULPIT ACKNOWLEDGING,
WE KNOW THAT
WITHIN ANY CHURCH
THAT'S MEETING ON ANY SUNDAY,
ANY WEDNESDAY NIGHT,
ANY OTHER TIME YOU MEET,
THERE ARE PEOPLE
IN YOUR CONGREGATION
WHO ARE SUFFERING
AND WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
NOW THAT I'VE STARTED
TALKING ABOUT IT,
PASTORS, PASTORS'S WIVES
WRITE TO ME AND SAY,
"THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE HEARD ANYBODY
TALK ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE WE'RE SO AFRAID
IT WILL HURT OUR MINISTRY."
BUT REALLY,
THE KEY TO MINISTRY IS
JESUS IS THE GOOD NEWS,
I'M NOT.
IF I'M THE GOOD NEWS,
WE'RE ALL IN TROUBLE.
BUT JESUS IS THE GOOD NEWS
AND HE CAME TO REDEEM US.
THIS IS A BROKEN WORLD.
SO WHETHER IT IS LIKE
YOU NEED GLASSES
FOR YOUR EYESIGHT,
OR YOU NEED HEARING AIDS
OR YOU NEED TO WORK
ON YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVEL,
WE ALL EXPERIENCE BROKENNESS
IN SOME PLACE.
AND THOSE
WHO EXPERIENCE BROKENNESS
THROUGH MENTAL ILLNESS,
IT IS NO DIFFERENT.
James: YOU MAKE IT SOUND
LIKE IT IS EASY TO TALK ABOUT
BUT FOR SOME
IT SEEMS IT ISN'T.
Betty: ALSO,
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT
TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT
YOU FEEL SAFE ENOUGH WITH TO
POUR OUT YOUR HEART TO THEM
BECAUSE YOUR HURTING INSIDE
WHEN YOU'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM.
Sheila: ONE OF THE THINGS
I TALK ABOUT IN THE BOOK
TO HAVE -- FOR ME AS A GIRL,
I HAVE TWO SAFE SISTERS
AND THAT'S GIRLS THAT I LOVE
AND I TRUST THEM AND
I CAN TELL THEM ALL MY STUFF
AND THEY WON'T JUDGE ME.
ONE OF THEM IS LISA BEVERE.
ONE OF OUR DEAR FRIENDS HERE.
AND IF I'M HAVING A BAD DAY
I'LL TEXT LISA
AND SHE WILL SAY,
"JOHN AND I ARE ON OUR KNEES
RIGHT NOW ON YOUR BEHALF."
AND MEN NEED THAT TOO.
MEN HAVE A MUCH HARDER TIME
ADMITTING THE FACT
THAT THEY STRUGGLE
WITH DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY
OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM MANLY.
BUT THAT'S WHY THE RATE
OF MEN COMMITTING SUICIDE
IS MUCH HIGHER FOR MEN
THAN IT IS FOR WOMEN
BECAUSE THEY THINK --
THEY DON'T WANT TO DIE,
THEY WANT THE PAIN TO STOP.
BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL
THEY CAN REACH OUT TO SOMEONE
AND SAY, "I'M NOT DOING WELL,"
THEY BECOME ISOLATED.
AND THAT'S WHEN
SPIRITUAL WARFARE ENTERS
INTO A CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ENEMY
WHO IS A LIAR.
SCRIPTURE TELLS US
HE PROWLS AROUND
LIKE A ROARING LION
SEEKING WHOM HE CAN DEVOUR.
IF SOMEBODY IS ISOLATED
BY DEPRESSION
OR BY MENTAL ILLNESS
THAT'S WHEN THE ENEMY LOVES
TO COME ALONG AND JUST SAY,
"WHY DON'T YOU
JUST END IT ALL.
YOU CAN'T TELL ANYBODY.
YOU'LL LOSE YOUR MINISTRY."
Betty: I KNOW
WHEN WE LOST OUR DAUGHTER,
I HAD A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS
THAT I FELT LIKE I COULD CALL.
I COULD CALL THEM ON THE DAYS
WHEN I FELT LIKE
I WAS REALLY DOWN
AND ALL I COULD DO WAS WEEP.
BUT I COULD CALL THEM AND
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO?
THEY WEPT WITH ME.
I THINK JESUS DOES THAT.
HE WEEPS WITH US.
BUT I FELT LIKE THEY WERE
HOLDING MY HURTING HEART.
I THINK THAT'S
SO VERY IMPORTANT.
IT WAS PART OF
MY HEALING PROCESS.
James: BETTY AND I HAVE
A REALLY AMAZING RELATIONSHIP.
PEOPLE WOULD THINK ANYBODY
THAT COULD LIVE WITH YOU
IS AN AMAZING PERSON.
I'M JUST SAYING.
BUT THE POINT IS THAT EVEN
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS
I SAID TO BETTY,
"I FEEL DRY.
I FEEL EMPTY."
BUT I NEEDED TO BE ABLE
TO FEEL SAFE TELLING HER THAT.
"I NEED TO BE REFRESHED."
IT WASN'T BUT
MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE DAYS LATER
BETTY JUST OPENS UP AND SAYS,
"I FEEL DRY."
WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT
IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD SUDDENLY
GOTTEN SO FULL OF BLOSSOMS
BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS
WE WERE BOTH SHARING
AND IT WAS IN THE SHARING
THAT EVEN IN THAT
IT SEEMED AS THOUGH
A HEALING PROCESS STARTED.
IT WAS A COMFORT
THAT WE COULD SHARE.
I WAS ON MY WAY
TO DO A MEN'S RETREAT
AND I WAS TALKING
TO DUDLEY HALL ABOUT MEN
AND ABOUT TALKING TO THEM.
HE SAID, "JAMES, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED
AS I'VE MINISTERED
TO MEN A LOT IS THAT MEN
ARE AFRAID TO BE KNOWN.
THAT IF THEY'RE REALLY KNOWN
FOR WHO THEY ARE,
KNOWN FOR THEIR WEAKNESSES,
THEY WON'T BE LOVED.
SO THEY LIVE OFTENTIMES
WITH A FACADE, WITH A COVER."
I REALLY GRASP, SHEILA,
WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S KIND OF
WHERE PREACHERS ARE PUSHED.
THEY DON'T WANT
TO DISAPPOINT PEOPLE
WHO LOVE THEM
IF THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE A FLAW
OR A WEAKNESS
OR OF ALL THINGS A FAILURE.
SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO OPEN UP.
AND YET THE BIBLE
OPENED EVERYBODY UP
AS THOUGH THE OPENING UP
AND THE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
I'M FLAWED OR WEAK OR NEEDY
WAS THE THING
THAT ACTUALLY BEGAN
THE PROCESS OF HEALING.
ISN'T THAT WHAT
YOU'RE TRYING TO SHOW PEOPLE
WHERE THEY GET THE STRENGTH
FOR THIS BROKEN LIFE
IS BY TRUSTING GOD FIRST
BUT EVEN BEING ABLE
TO TRUST OTHERS AND TRUST GOD
WITH THE ABILITY
TO HANDLE OTHERS
THAT YOU NEED?
AND YOU'RE SAYING WHY
DON'T WE ALL BE, SOMETHING
I'VE SAID MANY TIMES,
WE NEED A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON.
WHY DON'T YOU PRAY GOD
WILL MAKE YOU A SHOULDER
FOR SOMEONE TO LEAN ON?
BECAUSE WE ALL NEED IT
AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR IT.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN
YOU'RE SHOWING US THE STRENGTH
AND YOU HAVE SUCH
A BEAUTIFUL WAY
TO COMMUNICATE IN WRITING,
IT'S A GIFT FROM GOD,
THAT YOU'RE TRYING
TO SHOW PEOPLE
HOW TO REACH OUT FOR HELP,
ADMIT THE NEED, BUT ALSO
BE READY TO OFFER IT FREELY.
Sheila: ABSOLUTELY!
BUT I WOULD SAY TO MEN,
THERE IS NOTHING
MORE BEAUTIFUL, I THINK,
IN THE EYES OF A WOMAN
THAN AN HONEST MAN WHO'S
ABLE TO SHARE HIS STRUGGLES.
I THINK OUR BROKENNESS
IS A FAR GREATER BRIDGE
TO EACH OTHER THAN
PRETEND WHOLENESS EVER IS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY
CHRIST MODELED HIS LIFE.
IN THE GARDEN HE CHOSE --
AS THE SON OF GOD,
HE CHOSE TO REVEAL
TO HIS THREE CLOSEST FRIENDS
THE ANGUISH THAT HE WAS IN.
HE DIDN'T PRETEND TO BE,
"I'M JUST SO READY
TO DO THIS."
HE DIDN'T PUT A BRAVE FACE ON
FOR THE DISCIPLES.
HE SHARED THE ANGUISH
OF HIS SOUL.
I THINK IF EVERY TIME A PASTOR
STEPPED UP INTO THE PULPIT
AND HONESTLY
OPENED UP HIS HEART
AND SAID, "HERE'S WHAT
I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH."
BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES CLEAR
THAT WE'RE JUST
THE EARTHEN VESSELS THAT
CONTAIN THIS GREAT TREASURE
WHO IS CHRIST.
BUT I THINK RATHER
THAN ALIENATE MEN,
I THINK THEY WOULD FIND
A TREMENDOUS CONNECTION
WITH THEIR CONGREGATIONS,
WITH THEIR WIVES,
WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE
ABOUT MY HUSBAND IS WHEN
HE WILL SAY TO OUR SON,
"I'M STRUGGLING HERE."
BARRY GETS PANIC ATTACKS.
I HAVE CLINICAL DEPRESSION,
BARRY GETS PANIC ATTACKS.
WE WERE IN AUSTRALIA
AND CHRISTIAN
WAS WONDERING WHY
WE COULDN'T GO DO SOMETHING.
BARRY FOR THE FIRST TIME
SAT DOWN AND SAID, "LISTEN,
CHRISTIAN, HERE'S THE DEAL.
I STRUGGLE WITH PANIC ATTACKS
AND AGORAPHOBIA AND SOMETIMES
IF I'M IN A BIG WIDE
OPEN SPACE,
I HAVE A HARD TIME."
HE WAS ASHAMED.
AND CHRISTIAN PUT HIS ARMS
AROUND HIS DAD AND
CHRISTIAN IS 6'1" AND SAID,
"DAD, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR TELLING ME."
IT MADE THEM SO MUCH CLOSER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO --
IF WE BELIEVE
WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID
ANY MORE.
James: WHILE YOU WERE TALKING
YOU WERE MINISTERING TO ME
IN THE SENSE THAT EVEN
YOUR REFERENCE A MOMENT AGO
TO JESUS AND BEING WILLING
TO SHARE HIS MOMENT
OF ANGUISH, WHEN HE SAID,
"LORD, IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY?
BECAUSE SEE, I REALLY DO KNOW
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO GO THROUGH.
NOBODY IN THE WORLD KNOWS.
YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO GO THROUGH
FOR EVERYBODY HE LOVED
AND IT'S GOING TO
BE VERY PAINFUL.
IF THERE IS ANOTHER WAY,
I'D REALLY LIKE YOU
TO SHOW ME ANOTHER WAY
BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY
GOING TO BE HEAVY.
BUT NOT MY WILL OR MY DESIRE
BUT THY WILL BE DONE."
AND HE SHARED WITH THESE GUYS
THAT HE WAS HEAVY
AND HE WANTED THEM TO PRAY.
AND THEY GO TO SLEEP
AND THEY WEREN'T EVEN THERE.
THIS JUST
A MOMENT AGO MOVED ME
WHEN YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
THAT HE GAVE THESE FELLAS,
YOU KNOW THE BIBLE SAYS
THE ANGELS ARE
MINISTERING SPIRITS.
AND HE CALLS US
MESSENGERS OF TRUTH,
ANGELIC IN OUR MISSION
TO DELIVER TRUTH AS MINISTERS,
ANGELIC MINISTERS
OF TRUTH OURSELVES.
THESE MEN HAD A CHANCE,
GOD SENT ANGELS
TO STRENGTHEN HIM.
HE HAD MEN THERE WHO COULD
HAVE STRENGTHENED JESUS
BUT THEY WENT TO SLEEP.
I THINK YOU'RE SAYING TO US,
DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE THAT MESSENGER OF GOD
TO SOMEBODY WITH A BURDEN,
TO LIFT THEIR SPIRIT,
LIFT THEIR HEART
AND TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU,
GO AHEAD AND SHARE IT.
YOU SEE
THE PHONE NUMBER THERE?
YOU CALL THAT NUMBER.
YOU'RE GOING
TO TALK TO SOMEBODY
WHO MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH
OR BE GOING THROUGH THE VERY
THING YOU'RE EXPERIENCING.
THEY'RE GOING TO BEAR WITNESS
WITH WHERE YOU ARE AND THEY
ARE GOING TO LOVE YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT.
MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE CALLED,
YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO FIND
SOMEBODY WHO LOVES YOU
AND SOMEONE WHO CARES.
SO IF WE COULD ALL HEAR THIS,
THIS IS WHAT I THINK
I HEAR YOU SAYING
AND EVEN DELIVERING
IN THIS INCREDIBLE BOOK,
IF YOU'VE GOT A NEED,
WHATEVER IT IS, MENTAL,
WHATEVER IT IS
YOU'RE AFRAID OF, SHARE IT.
TRUST GOD WITH IT.
TRUST GOD TO RAISE OTHERS UP
TO HELP.
YOU ASK GOD TO MAKE YOU ONE
WHO MINISTERS
AS JESUS NEEDED THAT
AT THAT TIME.
YOU BE THAT ANGELIC PRESENCE,
SO TO SPEAK,
IN THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT
TO HELP SOMEONE.
AND IF THE CHURCH RIGHT NOW
WITH THIS BROKEN WORLD
THAT YOU REFERRED TO,
THIS BROKEN NATION,
IF THE CHURCH WOULD RISE UP
AND PUT THE ARMS OF GOD
AROUND ALL OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE SUFFERING,
WITHIN THEIR CONGREGATION
AND EVERYWHERE, WE WOULD SEE
A MIRACULOUS HEALING.
FATHER, I PRAY
THAT YOU DO THAT.
I PRAY, GOD, THAT YOU
RAISE UP YOUR CHILDREN
TO BECOME THE ARMS
THAT EMBRACE THE SUFFERING,
THE COMFORTING WORDS,
THE CARING
AS BETTY SAID A MOMENT AGO,
TO WEEP WITH YOU.
WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP.
REJOICE WITH THOSE
WHO REJOICE.
DON'T BE JEALOUS OR COVETOUS
OF THOSE WHO HAVE SOMETHING.
REJOICE WITH THEM AND PRAY
THAT THOSE THINGS WILL NOT
TAKE THEIR EYES OFF OF YOU.
GOD, HELP US TO LOVE
EACH OTHER THAT WAY;
IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU NEED SOMEONE
TO PRAY WITH YOU,
THAT NUMBER IS THERE
AS A PRAYER LINE FOR YOU.
I ASK YOU TO CALL.
WE'LL DO ANYTHING WE CAN
TO BE A HELP TO YOU.
IT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
SHEILA, YOU HAVE GONE
TO THE MISSION FIELDS WITH US.
YOU KNOW WHAT LOVE DOES
TO THESE MISSIONARIES.
IT IS INDESCRIBABLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT
WE'VE GONE THROUGH
HERE IN THIS NATION
FROM PUERTO RICO
TO THE EAST COAST,
TO ALL OF FLORIDA,
TO WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS
AND LOUISIANA,
ON THE GULF COAST,
ALL THE FLOODING.
MAN, WE'VE BEEN HIT HARD --
AND WE'RE GOING
TO REBUILD TOGETHER.
BUT HERE'S WHAT
I NEED YOU TO REMEMBER.
WE'RE IMPACTED BY ALL OF THAT.
WE'RE IMPACTED BECAUSE
WE DEPEND UPON THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE DIGGING THEIR WAY OUT.
AND THE PEOPLE --
LISTEN TO ME --
THE PEOPLE WE REACH OUT TO --
DON'T MISS THIS --
THEY'RE NOT LOOKING
TO REBUILD A HOUSE.
THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR ANOTHER DAY.
THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR ANOTHER YEAR FOR A CHILD.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
THEIR CHILD TO HAVE A CHANCE.
SO PEOPLE THAT YOU
WHO WATCH LIFE TODAY,
WHO MAKE THE MISSIONARIES
COMFORTABLE SAYING,
"WE NEED HELP SO WE CAN HELP,"
YOU'RE THE ONES
THAT GIVE CHILDREN
WHO FACE DEATH
A CHANCE AT LIFE.
NOW LISTEN TO ME.
I WANT YOU
TO LOOK IN RIGHT NOW.
I WANT YOU TO HEAR THE HEART
OF A MOTHER AND I'M GOING
TO PROMISE YOU SOMETHING.
YOU HEAR THE MOTHER'S HEART;
YOU'RE GOING TO EXPRESS
THE FATHER'S HEART.
I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE FATHER'S HEART.
LET ME TELL YOU THIS.
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND
INDESCRIBABLE JOY DOING IT.
WATCH VERY PRAYERFULLY.
Announcer:
IN THE RELENTLESS CONDITIONS
OF SOUTHERN AFRICA,
JULIA'S STORY
IS NOT UNIQUE.
IN FACT,
JULIA REPRESENTS
COUNTLESS MOTHERS
WHO ARE FIGHTING
A NEAR IMPOSSIBLE BATTLE
TO SIMPLY KEEP
THEIR CHILDREN ALIVE.
Announcer:
JULIA HAS ENDURED
THE WORST PAIN
A MOTHER CAN EXPERIENCE,
BURYING NOT ONE
BUT THREE
OF HER CHILDREN
IN THE SPAN
OF ONE YEAR.
BUT HER STORY
DOES NOT END HERE.
Announcer:
THIS FAITHFUL MOTHER,
ALONG WITH A MULTITUDE
OF AFRICAN MOTHERS
NEED OUR HELP.
LET THEM SAY:
James: BETTY,
YOU CAN IDENTIFY SO WELL
WITH THE HEART
OF A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER,
AND NOW GREAT GRANDMOTHER --
UNBEARABLE!
WE LOST A DAUGHTER.
DON'T WANT ANYBODY
TO EVER EXPERIENCE THAT.
THAT MOTHER LOST
THREE CHILDREN IN A YEAR.
WHAT DO YOU WANT OUR VIEWERS
TO FEEL AND SENSE
IN THEIR HEART RIGHT NOW
WHEN YOU HEAR THE HEART
OF THOSE MOTHERS?
Betty: AS I LISTEN
TO THIS ONE MOTHER
AND SHE SAID
SHE LOST THREE CHILDREN,
I THOUGHT
HOW DOES SHE BEAR IT?
HOW DOES HER HEART HOLD UP
UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THAT LOSS?
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO LOSE ONE CHILD,
I CAN'T IMAGINE THREE
AND FOUR AND SOME OF THEM
EVEN MORE THAN THAT.
IT BREAKS MY HEART
AS IT MUST BREAK YOUR HEART.
MAYBE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THAT
AND YOU KNOW SO WELL
WHAT IT'S LIKE.
PLEASE WON'T YOU HELP US
HELP THESE MOTHERS
THAT LOVE THEIR CHILDREN
AS MUCH AS WE EVER LOVED
EVERY ONE OF OUR CHILDREN?
PLEASE HELP US
TO HELP THESE MOTHERS SAVE
THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR
NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.
YOU CAN BE A PART OF THAT,
SHARING AND GIVING LIFE
TO THESE FAMILIES.
James: I DON'T THINK
THERE IS ONE OF YOU WHO WATCH
WHO HAVE KNOWN BETTY OR ME
FOR A LITTLE PERIOD OF TIME
THAT WOULDN'T HAVE SAID,
"JAMES, IF WE WOULD HAVE
KNOWN WHAT WOULD HAVE SAVED
YOUR ROBIN, YOUR DAUGHTER,
WE WOULD HAVE
RUSHED IT TO YOU."
I BELIEVE THAT.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS
ANY QUESTION ABOUT IT.
WE DIDN'T FIND THAT CURE
AND THE MIRACLE DIDN'T COME
UNTIL SHE WAS IN
THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
BUT HERE'S THE THING.
WE HAVE A PERFECT CURE.
IT'S NOT WISHFUL THINKING,
IT IS NOT UNREALISTIC.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS GET THE FOOD TO THEM.
WE HAVE 400,000 RIGHT NOW
THAT WONDERFUL LOVE-FILLED
MISSIONARIES HAVE FOUND
AND PLANTED THEMSELVES
IN THE MIDST OF THE PAIN
FROM PLACE TO PLACE TO PLACE
AND ORGANIZED SO THAT
WE CAN FEED THESE CHILDREN,
400,000 OF THEM.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.
AND THE MISSIONARIES
HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR,
WE MUST REFURBISH OUR
MAIN FOOD PROCESSING PLANT.
WE'VE GOT TO UPGRADE IT.
WHEN WE UPGRADE IT
WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE
TO EVEN PRODUCE
MORE FOOD RAPIDLY.
SO WE NEED A $216,000,
LET'S SAY, COMMITMENT.
I'VE JUST STARTED
PRAYING TODAY, "GOD,
JUST GIVE US 216 PEOPLE
THAT WILL GIVE $1,000
TO REFURBISH
THAT FOOD PRODUCTION CENTER
THAT LITERALLY
MAKES THE FOOD POSSIBLE,
THAT PACKAGES IT
AND GETS IT READY
TO TAKE IT OUT
WHERE WE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT."
THEN THE GIFTS
OF $30, $50, OR $100.
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?
$30, $50, $100 FEEDS THREE,
FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT MONTHS.
WE'RE ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW
TO GO ONLINE TO THE WEB,
TO THE SITE YOU SEE,
OR DIAL THAT NUMBER.
IT'S A PRAYER LINE BUT NOW
IT BECOMES A LIFE LINE
AND YOU TAKE YOUR BANKCARD
AND YOU JUST MAKE
THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN.
WILL YOU?
IF THERE'S ANY WAY
YOU CAN FEED TEN CHILDREN
DO IT, PLEASE!
WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GIFTS
TO SEND YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE
A COFFEE CUP THAT WHEN
YOU PUT THE COFFEE IN IT
OR WHATEVER HEATED BEVERAGE,
IT'S GOING TO CHANGE
RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES,
"ARISE AND SHINE."
WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING
AND GOD IS ASKING
EVERY ONE OF US TO DO
AS LIGHTS IN THIS DARK WORLD.
YOU'RE GOING
TO APPRECIATE THIS.
WE'RE SENDING
SHEILA WALSH'S BOOK TO
EVERYONE WHO MAKES ANY GIFT
TO SAY THANK YOU.
THIS IS FOR A GIFT,
THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL
HELP FEED TEN OR MORE.
THEN WE HAVE
THE BEAUTIFUL EAGLE BRONZE
TO SAY THANK YOU
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HELP US
TOWARD THAT REFURBISHING
OF THE FOOD FACTORY,
AND MAKE A VERY SPECIAL GIFT.
WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW
GO ONLINE?
WOULD YOU DIAL THE NUMBER?
WOULD YOU BECOME AN ANSWER
TO THE HEART CRY
OF THOSE MOTHERS
AND THE ONLY HOPE THEY'VE GOT
TO STOP THIS DEATH CYCLE?
YOU'RE THE HOPE.
YOU ARE THE CURE.
LOVE NEVER FAILS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR SHARING IT.
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.
James: I REALLY BELIEVE YOU'VE
HEARD THE FATHER'S HEART
AND I THINK YOU ARE EXTENDING
HIS HANDS OF LOVE AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL
JUST HELP WITH ANY GIFT
TO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE,
WE'RE SENDING SHEILA'S BOOK,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS;
STRENGTH FOR THIS
BEAUTIFUL, BROKEN LIFE.
AND THIS NOT ONLY
MINISTERS TO YOU,
IT'S GOING TO ENABLE YOU
TO EFFECTIVELY
MINISTER TO OTHERS
WHO ARE IN SOME KIND
OF A CHALLENGE SITUATION.
WOULD YOU JOIN BETTY AND ME
IN SAYING THANKS
TO SHEILA WALSH
FOR BEING WITH US?
THANK YOU, SHEILA.
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WATCHING
AND THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR BEING AN ANSWER
TO THOSE MOTHER'S PRAYERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
♪
♪
♪
>> AND YOU SAY,
"I'VE GOT A GOD-SIZED DREAM,"
THAT'S WHEN
LIFE BEGINS.
Announcer: PASTOR OF
DREAM CITY CHURCH,
LUKE BARNETT
TOMORROW
ON LIFE TODAY!
>> 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.