>> DO WE BELIEVE, A,
THAT THERE IS A GOD?
AND IF SO, DO WE BELIEVE THAT
HE CARES AND THAT HE SEES?
AND THEN FINALLY, IF WE DO,
ARE WE WILLING TO INVITE HIM
INTO THIS?
I FOUND SO MANY LIKE MYSELF
JUST RUNNING TO OTHER MEANS
FOR RESOLUTION IN THE CONFLICT
BUT NOT ACTUALLY
INVITING GOD
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS.
Announcer: SHEILA WALSH
SPENDS WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD
WITH AUTHOR AND SPEAKER,
REBEKAH LYONS.
>> YOU CAN'T
UNDERSTAND FREEDOM
UNTIL YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND
YOUR CAPTIVITY.
Announcer: DISCOVERING
YOU ARE FREE NEXT!
♪
Sheila: I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO WEDNESDAYS
IN THE WORD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING WITH ME.
TODAY, I WANT US TO LOOK AT
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN
TO BE FREE?
AS BELIEVERS WE THINK, YEAH,
WE'RE FREE IN CHRIST
BUT HOW MANY OF US
IF WE'RE REALLY HONEST THINK,
I DON'T FEEL VERY FREE.
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME
IN THE BOOK OF GALATIANS
PAUL WRITES THIS:
WELL, I'M THRILLED TODAY
TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE
A GUEST ON WEDNESDAYS
IN THE WORD.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAVE
BEEN PERSONALLY IMPACTED
BY MY GUEST AND BY HER BOOK.
SO PLEASE, WOULD WELCOME
WITH ME REBEKAH LYONS?
Rebekah: THANK YOU, GIRL!
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING WITH US.
I LOVE THE SUBTITLE
OF YOUR BOOK CALLED,
YOU ARE FREE:
BE WHO YOU ALREADY ARE.
HOW DID YOU COME UP
WITH THAT SUBTITLE?
Rebekah: LITTLE ANTAGONISTIC;
ISN'T IT?
Sheila: I LOVE IT!
NOTHING LIKE A GOOD BIT
OF ANTAGONISM.
Rebekah: WELL, THE IDEA
IS OBVIOUSLY THAT CHRIST
HAS DONE THE WORK.
IT'S ALREADY DONE.
WE'RE KIND OF SITTING HERE
IN OUR METAPHORICAL JAIL CELLS
GOING LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW
IF I BUY THAT."
BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT
OUR LIVES LOOK LIKE EVERY DAY,
THE DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT
FEELS VERY ENSLAVED.
OR WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE
OF OUR CAPTIVITY OFTEN.
WE'RE TIRED, WE DON'T HAVE
ENERGY, WE CAN'T WAIT
FOR OUR KIDS TO TAKE A NAP.
WE'RE LIKE WHAT WILL
WE GET ON THE TABLE?
WE'RE KIND OF HOBBLING THROUGH
LIFE NOT REALLY COMPREHENDING
THE FREEDOM THAT'S
ALREADY AVAILABLE TO US.
Sheila: WHEN I WRITE,
I USUALLY WRITE NOT SO MUCH AS
AN EXPERT, I WRITE ABOUT WHAT
I'M LONGING TO UNDERSTAND.
I WONDERED ABOUT YOU,
HAS YOUR JOURNEY TO FINDING
FREEDOM, IS THAT A VERY
PERSONAL JOURNEY FOR YOU?
Rebekah: ABSOLUTELY.
I WAS BORN MOTHER'S DAY,
CHURCH BY WEDNESDAY,
PRAYED THE SINNER'S PRAYER
AT AGE FIVE BECAUSE
I DIDN'T WANT TO BURN.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY
FIVE-YEAR OLDS WOULD.
Sheila: YEAH, IT'S NOT
A GOOD OPTION, REALLY.
Rebekah: IT'S A SUCCESSFUL
EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY BUT
I DID BELIEVE IT WAS TRUE.
I BELIEVED THAT JESUS
WAS THE SON OF GOD.
I LOVED JESUS.
I GREW UP MEMORIZING
ALL THE VERSES AND GOING
TO AWANAS AND GETTING
THE PATCHES, THE CUBBIES,
AND WHITTLED CARS OUT OF WOOD
AND HAD YELLOW CASSEROLES.
WE DID IT ALL IN CHURCH
GROWING UP.
SO I WANTED TO PLEASE GOD
BUT I ALSO WAS AN ACHIEVER,
AND I REALIZED EARLY ON,
BEING THE OLDEST OF
THREE GIRLS, I HAD
AN OLDER BROTHER ADOPTED,
BUT OLDEST OF THREE GIRLS
I LEANED INTO STRIVING AND
PERFECTIONISM JUST NATURALLY.
I FOUND THAT IT GAVE ME
THE ATTENTION OR THE APPROVAL
THAT I WANTED SO I JUST
DID THAT, AND THAT SNUCK
INTO CHURCH TOO.
THE REASON WHY THIS MESSAGE
WAS SO POWERFUL FOR ME,
I BEGAN TO WRITE IT THINKING,
CHRIST HAS DONE THE WORK,
LET'S JUST DO THIS.
AND I HAD A LOT OF BRAVADO,
EVEN WITH THAT IDEA, BECAUSE
REALLY, WHEN YOU CLAIM IT,
THAT'S A DECLARATION.
I STARTED TO WRITE ABOUT IT
AND I WAS ENSLAVED.
I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE UNTIL
I GOT INTO IT LIKE THIS IS
SUCH A BIG TOPIC AND HOW
DO WE EVEN UNDERSTAND
THIS IDEA OF FREEDOM?
AND WHAT IT TOOK FOR ME,
ONE DAY IN MY JOURNAL I SAID,
"LORD, I SENSE YOU WANT TO SET
A LOT OF CAPTIVES FREE."
AT THIS POINT, I HAD WRITTEN
MY FIRST BOOK AND I'M TALKING
TO WOMEN ABOUT CALLING
AND PURPOSE AND I COME OUT OF
A LONG SEASON OF PANIC
DISORDER PERSONALLY,
AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION,
AND I FELT LIKE SOME
OF THE YOKE OF THAT HAD
BEEN BROKEN SO I'M LIKE,
"I'M FREE!"
AND I WAS ABOUT TO
GET OUT THE POM POMS
AND IMMEDIATELY THE LORD
IS JUST LIKE, "HOW ABOUT
WE START WITH YOU?"
Sheila: YIKES!
Rebekah: WHAT I LEARNED
IN THIS THREE-YEAR JOURNEY
WHEN JESUS WAS LIKE,
"IF YOU'RE WILLING, I'D LOVE
TO TAKE YOU THROUGH
ALL THESE AREAS THAT
YOU'RE NOT LIVING FREE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
YOU'RE NOT FREE,
YOU'RE NOT LIVING FREE."
HE HAS SET US FREE BUT
I DIDN'T REALIZE THE PLACES
I WAS IN BONDAGE.
IN SOME WAYS YOU CAN SAY
THE OUTSIDE OF MY LIFE
LOOKED LIKE IT HAD
HAD A RESCUE BUT THE INNER
HEALING ACTUALLY
HADN'T BEGUN.
AND I REALIZED EARLY ON
I WAS OPERATING FROM
A BROKEN HEART AND SO
I BELIEVED THE LIE THAT
I WASN'T WORTHY OF LOVE
UNLESS I EARNED IT,
AND THAT TRANSLATED TO GOD.
SO I HAD -- LIKE ANYTHING
YOU WRITE, YOU KNOW THIS;
RIGHT?
YOU HAVE TO WRESTLE
THROUGH IT LONG BEFORE
YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE SENSE
OF IT ON A PAGE.
YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND FREEDOM
UNTIL YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND
YOUR CAPTIVITY.
Sheila: EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER
IN THE BOOK SPOKE TO ME
BUT THERE IS SO MUCH
MATERIAL HERE.
I WANTED TO FOCUS IN
ON JUST TWO OR THREE.
ONE OF THEM IS YOU HAVE
A CHAPTER CALLED
"FREE TO REST."
BOY, DID THAT JUST NAIL ME
TO THE WALL.
YOU TALK ABOUT THIS
INTERESTING HABIT
OF MORNING PAGES.
WHAT IS THAT?
Rebekah: SO JULIA CAMERON,
SHE IS A LITERARY PROFESSOR
IN NEW YORK CITY,
AND SHE WROTE A BOOK CALLED
THE ARTIST'S WAY.
SHE SAYS THAT THE FIRST
40 MINUTES AFTER YOU WAKE
YOU'RE MOST IN TUNE
WITH YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS
AND YOUR NATURAL EGO DEFENSES
ARE DOWN SO THAT'S
THE BEST TIME TO WRITE.
SO SHE CREATED THIS PRACTICE
CALLED "MORNING PAGES"
AND IT'S REALLY JUST JOURNAL
-- IT'S A FANCY WORD
FOR JOURNALING.
YOU CAN JOURNAL THREE PAGES
IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN GO LONGER
BUT THE IDEA WAS
TO NOT EDIT YOURSELF;
TO ALMOST WHEN YOU WAKE UP
JUST MAKE IT -- SO FOR ME,
JOURNALING HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A DIALOGUE WITH GOD.
SOMEONE MIGHT NOT HAVE FAITH
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO
THEY WRITE TO BUT TO ME,
MORNING PAGES WAS MY ONGOING
DIALOGUE WITH GOD.
SO IT WAS A PRAYER,
IT WAS A WRITTEN PRAYER
OF CONFESSION.
IT WOULD GET KIND OF UGLY
SOME DAYS AND IT WOULD
BE A LAMENT SOME DAYS,
IT WOULD BE GRATITUDE
SOME DAYS BUT IT WAS UNBRIDLED
AND I WASN'T TOO WORRIED
ABOUT GRANDCHILDREN
IN A 100 YEARS DIGGING IT UP.
THEY WILL THINK I'M CRAZY,
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
BECAUSE IN THOSE PAGES
BECAME CONFESSION, IT BECAME,
JESUS STARTED TO SAY,
THROUGH THE WRITING
AND THROUGH YOUR JOURNAL
AND YOUR SCRIPTURE
AND JUST A QUIET HOUSE
BEFORE DAWN WITH A CANDLE
AND COFFEE, THAT BECAME
THE PLACE WHERE HE STARTED
TO SHOW ME SOME INNER WOUNDING
AND INNER NEED FOR HEALING.
SO SOME OF THOSE PRAYERS
EVEN FOUND -- SOME OF THOSE
CONFESSIONS ARE IN THE BOOK
THAT CAME DIRECTLY
FROM MY JOURNAL.
Sheila: SO I THINK
ABOUT YOUR LIFESTYLE.
YOU'RE OUT A LOT.
YOU'RE SPEAKING,
YOU'RE ON THE ROAD.
DO YOU EVER GET TO A PLACE
WHERE YOU THINK, OKAY, LORD,
MY LIFESTYLE IS ACTUALLY
MAKING WHAT I ACTUALLY BELIEVE
DIFFICULT TO LIVE OUT?
Rebekah: YES! YES!
WE HAD COME FROM NEW YORK
TO FRANKLIN AND ONE OF
THESE THINGS IS NOT
LIKE THE OTHER.
WE WERE IN TRIBECA
IN DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN
AND I FELT LIKE I WAS
A HEBREWS 12 RUNNER.
I'M LIKE RUNNING THE RACE,
I'M ON THE ROAD,
I'M SPEAKING AND IT WAS
ALMOST LIKE THE MANIFESTATION
OF A COUPLE YEARS PRIOR
OF BEING QUIET AND STILL.
BUT THEN WE MOVED TO FRANKLIN
AND EVERYONE IS LIKE,
"I SENSE YOU'RE ENTERING
A SEASON OF REST."
I'M LIKE, "I DON'T WANT
TO REST.
I JUST GOT RUNNING.
AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO RUN
AND LIVES TO REACH?"
AND THE IDEA WAS THAT
I FELT LIKE I HAD TRIPPED
IN MY LANE OR BEEN BENCHED
OR SOMETHING.
JESUS WANTED ME,
EVEN IN THOSE FIRST COUPLE
OF YEARS IN FRANKLIN TO SAY,
"YOU MIGHT NEED TO GET ON
A PLANE ON FRIDAY BUT
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY,
I WANT YOUR FULL ATTENTION."
I WOULD JUST -- I CALLED IT
MY PAJAMA PRACTICE.
I LITERALLY SAT IN MY PAJAMAS
ON THAT COUCH WITH JESUS
BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT
OF QUIET THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN
TO KIND OF FILL ME
AND PRESERVE WHAT I KNEW
WAS TRUE SO THAT I COULD
SPEAK ON A WEEKEND
WITH A SENSE OF ROOTING
AND GROUNDING.
Sheila: YOU KIND OF TALK
ABOUT THAT IN YOUR
"FREE TO WAIT" CHAPTER.
THERE IS A SARA GROVES SONG,
THERE IS A LYRIC IN IT
I FELT IT RELATED TO YOU.
SHE SAID,
"THE FUTURE FEELS SO HARD
AND I WANT TO GO BACK.
BUT THE PLACES THAT USED
TO FIT ME CAN'T HOLD
THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED."
I THOUGHT OF NEW YORK
FELT LIKE YOU, IT FELT LIKE
YOUR PACE, AND SUDDENLY
YOU'RE IN TENNESSEE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY
BEING "FREE TO WAIT"?
Rebekah: WELL, WHEN I WAS
IN TENNESSEE FOR THE FIRST
SIX WEEKS I HAD A PITY PARTY.
I HAD THIS "FABULOUS LIFE"
IN NEW YORK AND THEN
I'M BACK IN CARPOOL GOING
TO PUBLIX IN MY MINIVAN.
Sheila: LIVING THE DREAM!
Rebekah: I KNOW!
IN SOME WAYS IT WAS
SO ARROGANT AND IT WAS
ALSO CONTROLLING.
LIKE GOD, WHY ARE WE HERE?
WHY DID WE LAND BACK HERE?
I REMEMBER A FRIEND EARLY
IN THOSE DAYS, SHE'S LIKE,
"PERHAPS GOD'S PREPARED
SOMETHING FOR YOU OR
CALLED YOU TO SOMETHING BUT
HE IS HOLDING IT OFF
FOR A REASON."
I THINK FOR ME, I WRESTLED
WITH HIM AND I KIND OF HAD
THIS DIALOGUE AND ONE DAY
HE JUST SAYS, "YOU CAN'T
SEE THE UNKNOWN UNTIL
YOU RELEASE THE KNOWN."
THAT WAS THE REFRAIN.
I SAT IN MY MINIVAN
IN THE PARKING LOT OF PUBLIX
AND SOBBED.
I REALIZED FOR THE FIRST TIME
THAT I WAS NOT LETTING GO
OF NEW YORK.
IT WAS THE PLACE I FOUND
HEALING AND MY CALLING
AND MY VOICE.
I THOUGHT MY IDENTITY WAS
STUCK THERE; THAT THE CITY
HAD DONE THE WORK AND NOT
JESUS HAD DONE THE WORK.
AND THAT HE'D BE STAYING
UP THERE IN MY LITTLE
GLASS APARTMENT IN THE SKY
BUT HE WOULDN'T ACTUALLY BE
-- SO HE EVEN TAUGHT ME
IN THAT CHAPTER THAT HOME
IS WHEREVER GOD IS.
IT'S A PERSON NOT A PLACE.
SO PARTLY IT'S JUST ME
REALIZING THAT HE CALLS ME
TO HIMSELF.
AND WE'RE ON THIS JOURNEY
AND WE NEED TO BE NIMBLE
AND FOLLOW HIM
WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND WE'LL BE HOME
WHEREVER WE ARE.
Sheila: ONE OF THE CHAPTERS
THAT I FOUND,
YOU'RE VERY VULNERABLE
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
"FREE TO BE WEAK" AND YOU TALK
ABOUT YOUR DARLING SON,
CADE WHO HAS DOWN SYNDROME,
WHO HAS QUITE AN INDEPENDENT
STREAK AND LIKES
TO GO WANDERING.
Rebekah: I WONDER WHERE
HE GETS THAT FROM?
HE LIKES TO WANDER?
LET'S JUST PUT IT MILDLY,
HE LIKES TO WANDER.
AND FROM HIS EARLIEST DAYS,
I THINK THE FIRST STORY
I TELL IN THE BOOK IS WHEN
HE, I THINK AT FOUR OR FIVE,
HE GOES OUT IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN
A DIAPER AND LEAVES
ALL THE DOORS OPEN.
IT'S 23 DEGREES IN DECEMBER,
A NEIGHBOR BROUGHT HIM HOME
ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER,
BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE THE PANIC.
THEN WE GO TO NEW YORK
AND HE RUNS OFF IN CENTRAL
PARK THE FIRST TWO WEEKS
WE'RE THERE AND ALL THESE
STUDENTS FROM BOSTON COLLEGE
ARE HELPING US FIND HIM.
THEN HE RAN OFF IN QUEENS.
YES, GUYS.
I ALMOST WAS LIKE,
I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD
BE WRITING ALL THIS DOWN
IN A BOOK BECAUSE
HE'S NEVER LOST IN HIS MIND.
HE'S JUST LIKE, IN QUEENS
HE WAS LOOKING FOR A COKE
AND HE WOUND UP AT LIKE
A CORNER MARKET AND
CAME OUT WITH A COKE.
HE JUST SAID, "COKE,"
AND THEY GAVE IT TO HIM.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN MAKE HIM PAY.
THEY'RE LIKE, "GIVE THE BOY
WHAT HE WANTS."
[Laughter]
BUT THE ANXIETY IN THOSE
MOMENTS WHERE I GOT USED
TO HAVING TO ALWAYS BE ON
IF HE WERE TO WANDER OFF
AND HE'S NOT VERY VERBAL.
HE'S A LITTLE VERBAL.
HE'S 16 NOW BUT IT WAS
IMPORTANT THAT WE WOULD
KNOW WHERE HE IS,
ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK,
OBVIOUSLY; RIGHT?
Sheila: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED
THROUGH CADE?
Rebekah: OH MY GOODNESS.
I TALK ABOUT CADE'S BIRTH
IN "FREE TO GRIEVE"
AND HOW WE GOT THE DIAGNOSIS
WHEN HE WAS FIVE DAYS OLD
AND I WAS IN THE SHOWER
AND I COLLAPSED ON THE FLOOR.
I LEARNED WHAT LAMENT
OR TRAVAILING PRAYER
REALLY WAS.
THE SPIRIT GRIEVED WITH ME
IN THAT DAY.
I FELT EVEN HIM LIFTING
THE GRIEF OFF OF ME
WHILE I WAS SHEDDING IT
IN BUCKETS.
LIKE I COULDN'T GET IT OUT
FAST ENOUGH.
I UNDERSTOOD IF YOU
CANNOT GRIEVE, YOU CANNOT
BE COMFORTED.
FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE,
IN THAT MOMENT,
THAT THAT'S WHAT JESUS DID
ON THE CROSS.
HE TOOK ALL OUR -- EVERYTHING
UPON HIMSELF SO THAT
WE COULD BE FREE; RIGHT?
BUT WE CARRY IT THINKING
WE HAVE TO HOLD IT.
HE'S LIKE, NO.
SO WITH HIM THAT DAY
I ENTERED A NEW WORLD AT 26.
IT WAS A FALSE NEGATIVE, EVEN.
SO THE CHANCES, I HAD NO IDEA.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU NOW
IS I REMEMBER TELLING A FRIEND
EARLY THAT FIRST YEAR,
WE'RE PRAYING FOR CADE
TO BE WHOLE.
AND MY FRIEND, SAID,
"WELL, PERHAPS YOUR VERSION
OF WHOLENESS AND GOD'S
LOOK DIFFERENT."
I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE HER
AT THAT POINT WHEN SHE SAID
THAT BUT HERE WE ARE
16 YEARS LATER AND I CAN
TELL ANYONE AND EVERYONE
THAT I FEEL THE MOST
AT HOME WITH CADE,
THE MOST PEACE WITH CADE,
THE MOST ACCEPTED BY CADE
-- AND THAT'S A TREASURE,
OBVIOUSLY; HE'S RADICALLY
CHANGED MY LIFE.
Sheila: YOU HAVE IN YOUR
CHAPTER "FREE TO ASK,"
YOU HAVE THIS D.L. MOODY QUOTE
I LOVE.
YOU QUOTE HIM SAYING:
"SOME PEOPLE THINK GOD DOES
NOT LIKE TO BE TROUBLED
WITH OUR CONSTANT COMING
AND ASKING.
THE WAY TO TROUBLE TO GOD
IS NOT TO COME AT ALL."
WOW!
Rebekah: THE CONVICTION
FOR ME ON THE "FREE TO ASK"
CHAPTER AND IF YOU READ IT
YOU KNOW, IT GETS A LITTLE
DICEY BECAUSE IT IS NOT
AN EASY TOPIC TO APPROACH.
BUT WHEN I SAID, "RESCUE ME,
DELIVER ME, I CANNOT
DO THIS WITHOUT YOU."
WITH PANIC DISORDER
YEARS PRIOR MY BODY STOPPED
IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANIC
ATTACK AND THEY WERE DONE.
SO I DIDN'T HAVE
LANGUAGE FOR THAT.
I JUST DIDN'T GROW UP HAVING
THOSE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS.
I DIDN'T EVEN USE THE HEALING
WORD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THEN I THOUGHT OF
REVELATION 12:11 WHERE
THE ENEMY IS BOUND BY
TWO THINGS: IT'S CHRIST'S
BLOOD AND YOUR STORY.
I THOUGHT, JESUS IS LIKE,
"WELL, I DID MY PART.
[Laughter]
IT'S ALL YOU;
THE MIKES TO YOU."
AND I STARTED INVITING
THAT NARRATIVE INTO
THESE TALKS I WOULD GIVE
ON ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
BECAUSE I THOUGHT,
DO WE BELIEVE, A,
THAT THERE IS A GOD?
AND IF SO, DO WE BELIEVE THAT
HE CARES AND THAT HE SEES?
AND THEN FINALLY, IF WE DO,
ARE WE WILLING TO INVITE HIM
INTO THIS?
AND I FOUND SO MANY LIKE
MYSELF JUST RUNNING TO
OTHER MEANS FOR RESOLUTION
IN THE CONFLICT BUT NOT
ACTUALLY INVITING GOD
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS.
Sheila: HOW DID YOU FEEL
PROMPTED TO ASK FOR
THE GIFT OF HEALING?
THAT'S A BIG SCARY ASK.
Rebekah: I KNOW!
THAT'S HARD TO WRITE ABOUT
BECAUSE THE SPIRIT
IS WACKY; RIGHT?
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE
TO SAY IT.
I GREW UP FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST
SO I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE
RIGHT LANGUAGE FOR ALL THIS.
I REMEMBER THAT DAY
VERY VIVIDLY.
I WAS PRAYING TO GOD,
IT WAS KIND OF MORNING PAGES
GONE ROGUE.
EVERYONE HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY
AND I'M JUST PRAYING
IN MY PAJAMAS BECAUSE
PAJAMA PRACTICE AND I WAS
JUST TALKING TO THE LORD
AND JUST LIFTING MY VOICE
TO HIM.
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN
I SAID, "I SENSE YOU WANT ME
TO PRESS INTO THIS TOPIC
OF HEALING."
AND THE MINUTE I SAID THAT,
I STARTED WEEPING
LIKE UNCONTROLLABLY
IN THESE TRAVAILING SOBS
THAT I RECOGNIZED AS
A LITTLE KOOKIE PANTS.
LIKE I JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
SO I JUST GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES
AND I JUST SAID,
"GOD, IF I DON'T..."
BECAUSE I HAD PRAYED
THE SAME THING WHEN CADE
WAS FIVE WEEKS OLD
ON AN AIRPLANE.
I SAID, "I DON'T WANT
TO SAY NO TO ANYTHING
YOU WANT TO POUR OUT.
WHATEVER THE GIFTS
OF THE SPIRIT ARE, I DON'T
WANT TO RESIST ANY OF THOSE.
I DON'T SAY I UNDERSTAND
THEM ALL BUT I CERTAINLY
DON'T WANT TO SAY
YOU'RE NOT CAPABLE."
SO I JUST OPENED UP EVEN THEN
AND I REMEMBER RECEIVING
A PRAYER LANGUAGE
WHEN CADE WAS FIVE WEEKS OLD
ON AN AIRPLANE.
SO EVEN THEN IT WAS KIND OF
LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.
I WAS LIKE, "LORD,
IT'S ALL YOURS."
AND SO THAT DAY IT WAS
THE SAME THING.
IT WAS JUST LIKE,
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
YOU'RE PROMPTING ME TO JUST
PRESS INTO THAT IDEA.
AND EVEN WITH PEOPLE,
I APPROACH IT VERY SLOWLY
AND JUST LIKE, "IF YOU
WANT PRAYER, I'M NOT
PROMISING ANYTHING BUT
I'D LOVE TO PRAY WITH YOU."
WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE HEALING,
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE ASKING.
IF ANYTHING, I JUST WANT
TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE
TO INVITE HIM IN.
Sheila: YOU SAID "CONFESSION
IS THE GATEWAY TO FREEDOM."
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
Rebekah: WELL, YOU KNOW,
IN THE "FREE TO CONFESS"
CHAPTER IT'S EARLY IN
THE BOOK, IT'S EARLY
IN THIS JOURNEY.
IT IS WHEN THE LORD SAID,
"HEY REBEKAH, HOW ABOUT
WE START WITH YOU?"
IT IS WHERE HE REVEALED TO ME
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
BECAUSE I NEEDED THE APPROVAL
OF MAN SO MUCH WHEN I STARTED
SPEAKING AND WRITING.
I NEVER HAD NEEDED THAT
TO THAT DEGREE BUT THEN
ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOU TAKE
ON A LITTLE BIT OF A PUBLIC
VOICE AND THEN YOU'RE JUST
MAKING SURE EVERYONE
LIKES YOU AND
DID YOU SAY IT RIGHT?
WILL THAT GET TWEETED WRONG?
WILL I BE MISUNDERSTOOD?
Sheila: DEATH BY TWITTER!
Rebekah: RIGHT! I KNOW!
AND IT NEVER MATTERED TO ME.
THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD
BLESSED ANN VOSKAMP SAY,
"THOSE WHO KEEP SCORE IN LIFE
JUST WANT TO KNOW
THAT THEY COUNT.
AND WHEN YOU DO WHAT
YOU DO FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE
YOU ALWAYS KNOW
THAT YOU COUNT."
I WAS EATING A CHEESEBURGER
IN A DARK HOTEL ROOM,
IT WAS NOT A PRETTY MOMENT
AND I WAS SO CONVICTED
BY THOSE WORDS.
I SAID, "GOD, WHY DO I WANT
TO KNOW WHAT I COUNT?"
HE'S LIKE, "YOU MATTER TO ME.
IS THAT ENOUGH?"
AND I SAID, "NO."
AND THE CONFESSION OF THAT --
THE REASON I SAY "CONFESSION
IS THE GATEWAY TO FREEDOM"
IS THE CONFESSION OF THAT
IS WHEN I BROKE
AND I SAID, "HEAL MY BROKEN
HEART AND SET ME FREE."
AND I INVITED HIM FROM THEN ON
INTO ALL THESE OTHER PLACES.
Sheila: THERE IS SO MUCH
MORE IN REBEKAH'S BOOK
AND I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW
IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES
HOW TO GET HOLD OF IT.
LITERALLY, CHAPTER BY CHAPTER
IT IS A LIFE-CHANGING READ.
BUT I HAD A PRETTY
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
RECENTLY, WHERE I GOT TO GO
TO THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY
FOR MORE THAN JUST A GOOD
CONVERSATION OR A GOOD BOOK
BUT LITERALLY HUNGRY FOR
THE VERY THING THEY NEED
TO SURVIVE.
IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE
THAT IMPACTED ME GREATLY.
WATCH THIS WITH ME
AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN.
Sheila:
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING
IN THIS VILLAGE,
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
IN ANGOLA
AND I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT I EXPECTED
BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT
WHAT I EXPERIENCED.
I DIDN'T EXPECT
TO SEE A CHILD
WHO IS A YEAR
AND FIVE MONTHS OLD
AND WEIGHS
SIX POUNDS.
HOW DOES A CHILD
LIKE THAT EVEN SURVIVE?
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT SURPRISED ME MOST
WAS THE PROFOUND AFFINITY
I FELT WITH THE MOMS.
IF YOU'RE A MOM,
ALL YOU WANT
IS FOR YOUR CHILD
TO BE HEALTHY.
YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT
A MEAL ON THE TABLE AT NIGHT
AND KNOW THAT YOUR
CHILDREN GO TO BED
WITH A FULL TUMMY.
BUT HERE
I'VE SEEN
WHAT THE RAVAGES
OF MALNUTRITION DO.
THIS MORNING,
I'M SITTING IN MY TENT
AND I OPEN
MY BIBLE.
I'M JUST DOING
ONE OF THOSE
GOING-THROUGH-THE-BIBLE-
IN-A-YEAR
AND HERE'S
WHAT I READ.
ISAIAH 58:
SHARE YOUR FOOD
WITH THE HUNGRY,
GIVE SHELTER
TO THE HOMELESS,
GIVE CLOTHES
TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM.
THEN YOUR SALVATION
WILL COME LIKE THE DAWN
AND YOUR WOUNDS
WILL QUICKLY HEAL,
YOUR GODLINESS
WILL LEAD YOU FORWARD
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD
WILL PROTECT YOU FROM BEHIND.
THEN WHEN YOU CALL
THE LORD WILL ANSWER,
"YES, I'M HERE."
HE WILL
QUICKLY REPLY,
"FEED THE HUNGRY,
HELP THOSE IN TROUBLE;
THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL SHINE
OUT FROM THE DARKNESS
AND THE DARKNESS
AROUND YOU
WILL BE BRIGHT
AS NOON."
MISSION FEEDING IS NOT SOME GREAT IDEA WE CAME UP WITH.
IT'S SIMPLY LIVING OUT
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
AND WHEN WE PUT
ONE SIMPLE BOWL OF FOOD
INTO THE HANDS
OF THESE CHILDREN IN AFRICA,
IT CHANGES THEIR LIVES
FOREVER --
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES,
ONE LIFE
AT A TIME.
Sheila: THAT NIGHT,
THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN
THE MALNUTRITION CLINIC
AND WE WENT BACK TO WHERE
WE WERE STAYING
AND I LITERALLY LAID
IN MY BED AND SOBBED.
AS I WATCHED A MOM
BRING IN A BABY THAT JUST
STRUGGLED TO JUST TAKE
A BREATH.
SOMEBODY SAID TO ME,
"WELL, DON'T YOU THINK
WOMEN IN AFRICA ALMOST
GET USED TO THAT?"
THERE IS NOT A MOTHER
ON THIS PLANET WHO WILL EVER
GET USED TO WATCHING
THEIR CHILD SUFFER
AND STARVE TO DEATH.
I HELD THAT WOMAN AS
SHE SOBBED IN MY ARMS.
SHE WAS MY SISTER.
I JUST HAPPEN TO BE BORN
IN SCOTLAND, SHE JUST HAPPENED
TO BE BORN IN ANGOLA.
BUT HERE'S THE THING,
I'VE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE
THAT WE CAN MAKE.
THIS IS NOT HOPELESS.
NOW AT THE MOMENT
THE SITUATION IN ANGOLA
IS TERRIBLE.
THE SITUATION IN SUDAN
IS DESPERATE.
THERE IS A FAMINE GOING ON
THERE AT THE MOMENT.
AND HERE'S WHAT'S NUTS TO ME:
HALF OF US HERE IN
THE WESTERN WORLD ARE ON DIETS
BECAUSE WE EAT TOO MUCH.
AND JUST ACROSS THE WATER
ARE WOMEN WHO LOVE JESUS,
WHO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN
AND ALL THEY WANT TO BE ABLE
TO DO IS TO GIVE THEIR SON
OR THEIR DAUGHTER
ONE MEAL A DAY.
AND WE CAN DO IT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE MOMENT
IS WE'RE FEEDING
400,000 CHILDREN IN
DIFFERENT VILLAGES IN AFRICA.
BUT AT EVERY VILLAGE
I WENT TO, AND I GOT
THE PRIVILEGE OF POURING
OUT THIS BEAUTIFUL
NUTRITIOUS MEAL; IT LOOKS
KIND OF LIKE OATMEAL BUT
IT IS FULL OF VITAMINS
AND MINERALS.
ONE BOWL BEGINS THE PROCESS
OF GOING FROM DEATH TO LIFE
FOR THESE KIDS.
BUT HERE'S WHAT THE PEOPLE
WE WORK WITH IN AFRICA SAID,
"PLEASE DON'T STOP!
PLEASE DON'T STOP!"
BECAUSE THE LINES ARE LONG
AND WE NEVER WANT THE LINE
TO BE LONGER THAN
THE FOOD WE HAVE.
SO WE NEED TO KEEP THIS UP.
THEY'RE LITERALLY,
THEY'RE COUNTING ON US --
AND IT IS SO DOABLE.
JUST $30 YOU'RE GOING
TO FEED THREE CHILDREN;
$50 FEEDS FIVE;
$100 FEEDS TEN CHILDREN.
THE FAMINE AROUND THE WORLD
IS HORRIBLE BUT WE,
AS THE BODY OF CHRIST,
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
SITTING HERE UNTIL
JESUS GETS US OUT OF HERE.
WE'RE HERE AT THIS TIME
FOR A PURPOSE.
WE'RE HERE FOR SUCH A TIME
AS THIS.
WE ARE THE ANSWER
TO THEIR PRAYERS.
IT'S ONE THING TO SIT
WITH A MOM IN A MALNUTRITION
CLINIC AND PRAY WITH HER
BUT NOW I HAVE
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COME
HOME AND SAY, "LET'S YOU
AND I BE THE ANSWER
TO HER PRAYER."
SO PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
IF WE ALL DO SOMETHING
WE CAN CHANGE IT.
SO WOULD YOU GO TO YOUR PHONE?
CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN
OR YOU CAN GO
TO LIFETODAY.ORG.
BUT EVEN $30, THAT'S NOTHING,
WE CAN DO THAT.
CUT ONE THING OUT OF
YOUR WEEK AND WE CAN CHANGE
A LIFE; $30 FEEDS
THREE CHILDREN!
SO PLEASE WOULD YOU GO
TO YOUR PHONE NOW AND DO
SOMETHING IN JESUS' NAME?
Announcer: IN IMPOVERISHED
AND EVEN NOW FAMINE-STRICKEN AREAS OF AFRICA,
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING.
THE NEED IS GREAT
AND WITHOUT FOOD
THEY FACE DEATH
BY STARVATION.
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING
PROGRAM IS READY.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE
TO FEED AND CARE FOR CHILDREN
IN FAMINE AREAS
OF SUDAN,
AS WELL AS ANGOLA
AND MOZAMBIQUE.
WITH ALL OF OUR
PREVIOUS RESERVES GONE
AND MISSION FEEDING
FACING THE WORST DROUGHT
AND FOOD SHORTAGE
IN YEARS,
WE URGENTLY NEED TO REPLENISH OUR FOOD SUPPLIES
TO REACH 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
A SPECIAL GIFT OF $1400
TO HELP SPONSOR
A SCHOOL
AND HELP FEED 140 CHILDREN
FOR THREE FULL MONTHS.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT
WE'LL SEND YOU
MY DAILY WORD DEVOTIONAL.
THIS BOXED SET OF
FOUR SEASONAL DEVOTIONALS
WILL HELP YOU READ,
REFLECT, AND RENEW YOURSELF
THROUGH GOD'S WORD WITH SPACE
TO JOURNAL YOUR THOUGHTS
AND REFLECT
EACH DAY.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE,
YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE
KARI JOBE'S NEWEST
MUSIC PROJECT, THE GARDEN,
ALONG WITH THE STORY BEHIND
THE GARDEN COMPANION DVD.
AND FINALLY, WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $1,000 OR MORE,
PLEASE BE SURE TO REQUEST
"DETERMINED EAGLE,"
OUR 2017 COMMEMORATIVE
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR GO ONLINE TODAY
AND MAKE YOUR
GIFT OF LIFE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR HUNGRY CHILDREN.
James: WHY DON'T YOU HELP
GIVE THESE CHILDREN A FUTURE?
WHY DON'T EVERY ONE OF YOU --
AND SOME OF YOU
ON FIXED INCOME.
YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'LL LIKELY
BE THE FIRST ONE TO RESPOND.
I WANT IT TO BE WHERE EVERY
SINGLE PERSON WATCHING ME
COMING TO YOU
FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA,
A PLACE
IN MOZAMBIQUE
THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY
HOPELESS DURING THE WAR
BUT WE WERE HERE
ALL THROUGH THE WAR FEEDING,
BEGINNING
20 YEARS AGO.
NOW THEY'RE IN SCHOOL,
THEY NEED A FUTURE.
I'M ASKING
THAT EVERY PERSON
IN EVERY COUNTRY
AROUND THE WORLD,
YOU'RE WATCHING TODAY TO GIVE
CHILDREN LIKE THIS A FUTURE,
NOT JUST SAVE THEM
FROM DEATH,
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO
DO THAT IN CRISIS AREAS,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM
THE NUTRITION TO LEARN.
THEY WANT TO LEARN,
THEY'RE HERE AT SCHOOL;
WE'RE GOING
TO GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT
SO THEY'VE GOT
A BRIGHT FUTURE.
WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW
GO TO THE PHONE
OR GO ONLINE
AND RESPOND
AND MAKE THE BEST GIFT
YOU CAN POSSIBLY MAKE?
PLEASE DO IT!
DON'T TURN AWAY.
DO WHAT YOU CAN
TO HELP.
Sheila: THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU!
WE CAN DO THIS!
WE CAN DO THIS!
FOR ANY GIFT AT ALL
WE WILL SEND YOU
REBEKAH'S BOOK, YOU ARE FREE.
HONESTLY, IT IS BRILLIANT.
IT REALLY, REALLY IMPACTED ME.
FOR A GIFT OF $100 WE WILL
SEND YOU THIS AWESOME NEW CD
AND DVD BY KARI JOBE.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO IT
IN MY CAR, IT'S PHENOMENAL!
REBEKAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR WHO YOU ARE,
FOR HOW YOU WRITE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT
YOU'VE BEEN WITH US.
Rebekah: THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING ME.
Sheila: WE LOVE YOU!
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
♪
♪
♪
>> JOHN AND I WENT
TO THAT APPOINTMENT
AND FOUND OUT THAT DAY
THAT MY HEART WAS FAILING.
Announcer: JULIE MANNING
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.