Sheila:
WHEN MANY LITTLE GIRLS
DREAM OF BEING A PRINCESS,
IF NOT
A WARRIOR ONE,
THEN MAYBE GIRLS DREAM
OF THE GOLDEN GIRL
WHO RULES THE LAND
WITH KINDNESS.
FOR SOME, MAYBE
THEY'RE WAITING
FOR THAT PERFECT PRINCE
TO COME AND SWEEP THEM AWAY.
OR THEY IMAGINE THE BEAUTIFUL
GOWNS AND JEWELS THEY'LL WEAR.
BUT DREAMS
IN THIS LIFE,
AS YOU WELL KNOW,
ARE INTERRUPTED.
Announcer: SHEILA WALSH
SHARES HER PERSONAL STRUGGLE
WITH THE
STORM INSIDE.
NEXT ON
LIFE TODAY!
♪
Sheila: I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
SOME TIME AGO I WROTE A BOOK
CALLED THE STORM INSIDE.
IT WAS BASED ON SOMETHING
I LEARNED AS A LITTLE GIRL
GROWING UP IN SCOTLAND.
MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME
THAT AFTER THERE WOULD BE
A REAL BIG STORM AT SEA,
SHE SAID IT IS WORTH
WALKING ALONG THE SHORELINE
BECAUSE SOMETIMES,
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
BURIED IN THE SAND
FOR A LONG TIME,
WHEN THERE IS A STORM,
WHAT'S BURIED IS TOSSED UP
ON TO THE SHORELINE.
I WOULD WALK ALONG WITH HER
AND WE'D DISCOVER
ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
ONCE I EVEN FOUND
A DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING.
SOMETIMES THE SEA
WOULD GIVE UP ITS TREASURE
WHEN THERE WAS A STORM.
I'VE DISCOVERED
THE SAME IS TRUE IN LIFE.
WHEN WE GO THROUGH STORMS,
UNPREDICTABLE SEASONS IN LIFE,
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BURIED
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME,
DEEP INSIDE CAN GET TOSSED UP
ON TO THE SHORELINES
OF OUR HEARTS.
LET ME SHOW YOU
A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I MEAN.
♪
♪
Sheila: SEVERAL YEARS AGO,
AN F5 TORNADO MOVED
THROUGH THIS AREA
JUST OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS,
AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY WAS GONE.
THOSE WHO RECORD THE INTENSITY
OF THESE KIND OF EVENTS
SAID THAT THIS WAS ONE
OF THE MOST DEVASTATING
THEY HAD EVER SEEN.
LIFE CAN BE LIKE THAT.
YOU CAN BE HAVING
A COMPLETELY NORMAL DAY,
BEAUTIFUL BLUE SKY
AND SUDDENLY A STORM MOVES IN
WITH NO WARNING.
NO ONE ASKS YOUR PERMISSION
AND YOUR LIFE IS DEVASTATED.
I WANT TO TELL YOU
A LITTLE OF A STORY
OF A FRIEND OF MINE.
HER NAME IS DAVINA
AND I TELL THIS
WITH HER PERMISSION.
SHE WASN'T VERY KEEN
ON HER NAME.
IT WAS HER DAD'S
MOTHER'S NAME
AND APPARENTLY, SHE WAS
QUITE A PIECE OF WORK.
BUT DAVINA NEVER SPOKE UP
FOR HERSELF
AFTER THE AGE OF FIVE.
AT FIVE,
HER DAD TRIED TO KILL HER
AND DAVINA FOUGHT BACK.
WELL, SHE SURVIVED
AND HE DIDN'T.
IT WAS A DECISION
SHE REGRETTED
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
SHE FELT THAT SHE OWED IT
TO THE REST OF HER FAMILY
TO KEEP THINGS IN ORDER,
IN CONTROL.
SHE GREW UP.
SHE GAVE HER LIFE TO CHRIST
AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT IMPACTED HER MOST
WAS THE FACT THAT SHE NOW
HAD A SECOND CHANCE
WITH A FATHER,
A HEAVENLY FATHER
AND SHE DETERMINED
WHATEVER SHE DID TO MAKE
HER FIRST FATHER HATE HER,
SHE WOULD NEVER EVER
MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.
YEARS WENT ON.
TO OTHER PEOPLE IT LOOKED LIKE
SHE HAD HER LIFE TOGETHER
BUT INSIDE
SHE LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE
THIS DEVASTATED BROKEN HOME,
AND ONE DAY IT ALL FELL APART.
SHE SAT IN FRONT OF A DOCTOR
WHO ASKED HER QUESTIONS
THAT SHE HAD NO IDEA
HOW TO ANSWER.
HE HELD A CHART UP
WITH EMOTIONS: GUILT,
SHAME, LONELINESS, FEAR,
AND ASKED HER, "DAVINA,
WHICH ONES OF THESE
ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW?"
SHE SAID, "I'M NOT
FEELING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW."
BUT HE KEPT GOING.
HE KEPT PRESSING HER.
APPARENTLY, NO ONE HAD
WARNED HIM ABOUT HER.
AND THEN
WHEN SHE HAD HAD ENOUGH
SHE PICKED UP HER CHAIR
AND SHE THREW IT
ACROSS THE ROOM.
AND SHE SAID TO HIM,
"THERE YOU GO, WILL THAT DO?"
HE GAVE HER THE KIND OF SMILE
SHE HAD NEVER SEEN.
AND HE SAID, "YES.
NOW WE CAN GET TO WORK."
THE FOLLOWING MORNING
SHE STOOD IN FRONT OF
A GROUP OF OTHER PATIENTS
AND SAID, "HI, MY NAME
IS SHEILA DAVINA WALSH AND
I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M HERE."
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING FOR ME
OF A NEW LIFE
OUT OF THE WORST STORM
OF MY LIFE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO DO TOGETHER
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
IS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK
AT THE LIVES
OF SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT
WOMEN IN SCRIPTURE
WHO FACED DEVASTATING STORMS,
THINGS THEY NEVER SAW COMING.
BUT WHAT MADE
THE DIFFERENCE FOR THEM
WAS GOD.
I DO NOT KNOW
WHAT YOU ARE FACING RIGHT NOW,
WHAT KIND OF STORM
IS ON YOUR HORIZON
BUT THE ONE THING
I WANT TO SAY,
JUST AS WE GET STARTED
IS THIS: WHATEVER STORM
YOU ARE FACING RIGHT NOW,
GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOUR STORM.
Sheila: I BELIEVE THAT
WITH ALL MY HEART.
YOU MAY KNOW THAT
I LIVE WITH MY HUSBAND,
OUR SON, AND THREE DOGS
IN TEXAS.
BUT YES,
YOU FIGURED OUT BY NOW
THAT I DIDN'T START THERE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER
I WAS BORN ON THE WEST COAST
OF SCOTLAND
AND SCOTLAND IS A LAND
OF CASTLES.
WE HAVE MORE THAN
3,000 OF THEM.
THE OLDEST DATING BACK TO
THE 11TH AND 12TH CENTURIES.
WHEN YOU STAND INSIDE ONE OF
THESE MAGNIFICENT BUILDINGS,
YOU CAN ALMOST
FEEL THE HISTORY,
HEAR THE VOICES
AND SENSE THE CELTIC MUSIC
SEEPING OUT
OF THE ANCIENT STONES
ALL AROUND YOU.
DISNEY CASTLES DID NOT COME
FROM SCOTTISH MOLDS.
WE BUILD OUR CASTLES FOR WAR
AND TO DEFEND OUR PEOPLE
AGAINST OUR ENEMIES,
NOT FOR FAIRY TALES
OR FOR LITTLE GIRLS
IN CINDERELLA PAJAMAS.
ALTHOUGH SOME CASTLES
WERE BUILT OVER THE SITE
OF PREVIOUS CHURCHES,
IN GENERAL, MEDIEVAL SCOTTS
BUILT THEIR CASTLES WITH
MILITARY PURPOSES IN MIND.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
YOU'LL FIND THEM
IN SOME OF THE MOST
STUNNINGLY, BREATHTAKING
LOCATIONS IMAGINABLE.
THERE IS ONE PERCHED
ON THE VERY EDGE OF A CLIFF
WITH THE OCEAN
POUNDING THE ROCKS FAR BELOW.
ANOTHER IS ON AN ISLAND
AT THE MEETING POINT
OF THREE DEEP LOCHS,
WHICH IS SCOTTISH FOR LAKES.
THERE ARE TWO
OR THREE ON CRAGGY
SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINSIDES.
WISE ARCHITECTS
AND EXPERIENCED BUILDERS
CAREFULLY AND STRATEGICALLY
CHOSE THEIR LOCATIONS.
THE FACT THAT SO MANY CASTLES
STILL STAND TODAY
BEARS WITNESS TO THE SKILL
OF THE MASTER CRAFTSMEN
WHO BUILT THEM.
NOT ALL OF OUR CASTLES
ARE IN GLORIOUS REPAIR TODAY,
OF COURSE.
FAR FROM IT.
SOME RUINS ARE A LITTLE MORE
THAN A CRAGGY SKELETON
OF THEIR FORMER GLORY.
AND IT WAS IN ONE OF THESE
THAT I, AS A YOUNG GIRL
INSTALLED MYSELF AS QUEEN
AND CLAIMED MY OWN
PERSONAL THRONE.
IT WAS CALLED LOCH DOON CASTLE
AND IT LIES JUST A FEW MILES
FROM WHERE MOST OF MY FAMILY
STILL LIVES.
AND IN THE SUMMERTIME
WE OFTEN WENT THERE
FOR PICNICS WITH FRIENDS.
WE WOULD SPREAD OUT
OUR BLANKETS ON THE GRASS
AND UNPACK OUR PICNIC BASKETS
AT THE EDGE OF THE LOCH,
OUTSIDE THE RUINED WALLS
OF THIS ANCIENT FORTRESS
ENJOYING THE GLORIOUS SCENERY
AND THE SUN REFLECTING
OFF THE WATER.
WELL, ONCE EVERYONE ELSE
GOT SETTLED IN I DISAPPEARED.
THOSE, I GUESS,
WERE MORE TRUSTING DAYS
WHEN YOU COULD ACTUALLY ALLOW
YOUR CHILDREN TO WANDER.
THE CASTLE HELD A SECRET
THAT NO ONE ELSE
SEEMED TO HAVE DISCOVERED
APART FROM ME.
AS A FAIRLY AGILE CHILD,
I COULD STEP INSIDE
THE LARGE STONE FIREPLACE
OF THE ONE REMAINING TOWER;
AND THEN RESTING MY BACK
ON ONE WALL
AND MY FEET ON THE OTHER
I COULD SLOWLY CLIMB
TO THE TOP OF THE CHIMNEY
AND THEN CRAWL OUT ONTO
THE HIGHEST REMAINING POINT
ON THE CASTLE WALLS.
I SAT THERE
AT THE TOP OF MY DOMAIN,
THE VOICES OF MY FAMILY
FAINT IN THE DISTANCE
AND ON A REALLY CLEAR DAY
I COULD SEE FOR MILES
ACROSS THE WATER.
I BECAME A DIFFERENT PERSON
UP THERE.
GONE WAS THE GIRL
WHOSE FATHER HAD DIED
IN A SHAMEFUL WAY THAT NO ONE
WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
I WAS NO LONGER THE GIRL
WITH HAND-ME-DOWN CLOTHES
AND ONE PAIR OF GOOD SHOES.
UP THERE, I WAS
A SCOTTISH WARRIOR PRINCESS
WHO WOULD GLADLY
LAY DOWN HER LIFE
FOR HER PEOPLE.
UP THERE,
ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE.
I WOULD SLAY DRAGONS
AND WHEN SOMETHING FIERCESOME
THREATENED TO STORM THE CASTLE
I WOULD FELL IT
WITH ONE MIGHTY BLOW.
THEN INEVITABLY,
I WOULD HEAR
MY SISTER'S VOICE SHOUTING
FROM DOWN AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE CHIMNEY,
"SHEILA, IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.
IF MOM SEES YOU UP THERE,
YOU'LL BE IN BIG TROUBLE!"
SO I CLIMBED BACK DOWN
AND UNWILLINGLY REENTERED
A WORLD WITH FAR LESS GLORY.
A WORLD WHERE SHAME
AND ALL ITS WRETCHEDNESS
SEEMED TO RULE THE LAND.
WHEN MANY LITTLE GIRLS
DREAM OF BEING A PRINCESS,
IF NOT A WARRIOR ONE,
THEN MANY GIRLS
DREAM OF THE GOLDEN GIRL
WHO RULES THE LAND
WITH KINDNESS.
FOR SOME,
MAYBE THEY'RE WAITING FOR
THAT PERFECT PRINCE TO COME
AND SWEEP THEM AWAY.
OR THEY IMAGINE
THE BEAUTIFUL GOWNS
AND JEWELS THEY'LL WEAR.
BUT DREAMS IN THIS LIFE
AS YOU WELL KNOW
ARE INTERRUPTED.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT
SHAME DISRUPTS OUR DREAMS
TURNING EVERYTHING
THAT WAS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
INTO THINGS THAT ARE DIRTY
AND THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SOMEONE
SEXUALLY VIOLATES
A YOUNG GIRL,
DREAMING STOPS.
WHEN THE HANDSOME PRINCE
USES YOU AND MOVES ON
TO THE NEXT CONQUEST,
THEN THAT BEAUTIFUL DRESS
YOU WERE WEARING
TURNS BACK INTO RAGS
IN A HEARTBEAT.
WHEN TENDER WORDS
TURN INTO RAGE
THE MIRROR CRACKS
FROM SIDE TO SIDE
AND THE WAY WE SEE OURSELVES,
THAT'S CHANGED FOREVER.
WHEN SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE
TELLS YOU YOU'RE NOT WORTH
ANYTHING AT ALL, WOW!
IT AS EDWARD WELCH DESCRIBES:
I THINK THAT IS
A POWERFUL WORD PICTURE.
A SQUATTER
THAT REFUSES TO LEAVE.
SHAME IS FAR MORE SUBTLE
AND PENETRATING THAN GUILT.
IT'S MUCH MORE PERSONAL.
THINK OF IT THIS WAY.
IF YOU WERE ACCUSED
OF A CRIME
THAT YOU DIDN'T COMMIT
AND DRAGGED THROUGH
THE SHAMING PROCESS
OF BEING ARRESTED,
STRIP SEARCHED,
FINGERERPRINTED,
INCARCERATED AND HUMILIATED
IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS,
THEN YOU GET YOUR DAY IN COURT
AND YOU FINALLY HEAR
THE WORDS YOU'VE LONGED
TO HEAR, "NOT GUILTY."
WELL,
THE GUILT'S BEEN REMOVED.
YOUR CLOTHES AND POSSESSIONS
ARE RETURNED TO YOU
AND YOU WALK INTO THE DAYLIGHT
AS A FREE WOMAN, A FREE MAN --
BUT THE SHAME LINGERS.
GUILT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A FACT
BUT SHAME --
SHAME FEELS LIKE
AN ESSENCE.
IT IS NOT WHAT YOU DID.
IT IS FAR BIGGER THAN THAT.
IT'S WHO YOU FEEL YOU ARE
AT YOUR VERY CORE.
SO WHERE DO WE TAKE
THAT SHAME?
WHO CAN ADDRESS
THAT LIFE-DRAINING WEIGHT
AT THE CENTER OF WHO WE ARE?
THERE IS ONLY ONE --
JESUS CHRIST.
THE ONE WHO BECAME
SHAME FOR US
SO THAT WE COULD KNOW
THE FATHER'S LOVE.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY.
THIS IS WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS.
THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL STORY
IN JOHN'S GOSPEL OF A WOMAN
DEEPLY FAMILIAR WITH SHAME
BUT HER UNEXPECTED
ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
CHANGED EVERYTHING.
IN JOHN CHAPTER 4,
BEGINNING AT VERSE FOUR
WE READ THIS:
THERE IS REALLY NOTHING
ABOUT THESE FEW VERSES
THAT WOULD STRIKE
YOU AND I AS STRANGE.
JESUS HAD LEFT JUDEA
FOR GALILEE AND BY THE TIME
HE ARRIVES IN SAMARIA
IT'S NOON.
IT'S HOT.
HE'S TIRED AND THIRSTY
SO HE SITS DOWN
AT THE EDGE OF THE WELL.
DO YOU KNOW
YOU CAN STILL DRAW WATER
FROM THIS ANCIENT WELL TODAY?
BUT IT IS VERY DEEP
AND JESUS HAD NOTHING
TO LOWER INTO THE WELL
AND GET A DRINK.
SO WHEN A WOMAN CAME
WHO WAS ABLE TO DO THAT,
HE ASKED HER
FOR SOMETHING TO DRINK.
NOW IF THAT HAPPENED
TO YOU OR I TODAY
WE WOULD THINK NOTHING OF IT.
BUT IN CHRIST'S TIME,
AT THAT PLACE,
WITH THAT WOMAN?
IT'S UNHEARD OF.
WHY? WELL, FOR ONE THING
THE JEWS AND SAMARITANS
DESPISED EACH OTHER;
THAT HATRED
HAS A VERY LONG HISTORY.
IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE
FOR YOURSELF
YOU CAN GO TO SECOND KINGS
CHAPTER 17,
VERSES 24 THROUGH 41,
WILL GIVE YOU THE KIND
OF GENESIS OF THAT.
BUT THE ISSUES WERE
BASICALLY TWO FOLD.
FIRST THE SAMARITANS HAD
INTERMARRIED WITH FOREIGNERS,
CLEARLY FORBIDDEN
BY GOD'S LAW.
AND SECONDLY, THE SAMARITANS
INCORPORATED FALSE GODS
INTO THEIR WORSHIP OF JEHOVAH.
WHAT MADE THEM EVEN MORE
DESPISED TO THE JEWS WAS
THAT BECAUSE THE SAMARITANS
HAD A HISTORICAL CONNECTION
TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL,
THEIR FAITH WAS A COMBINATION
OF LAW AND RITUAL
AND THE LAW OF MOSES
AND VARIOUS SUPERSTITIONS
FROM OTHER RELIGIONS.
SO MOST JEWS IN JESUS TIME
DESPISED THE SAMARITANS
EVEN MORE THAN THE GENTILES
BECAUSE RATHER THAN KNOWING
NOTHING OF THE FAITH,
WHAT THEY HAD DONE
WAS FAR WORSE.
THEY HAD CORRUPTED IT.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE
FOR ANY DEVOUT JEW WAS
THAT IN BLOOD AND IN FAITH,
SAMARITANS WERE REGARDED
AS MONGREL JEWS.
WOW! WHAT A TERM!
AS JOHN BEGINS
TO TELL THE STORY
HE WRITES THAT JESUS
"HAD TO" PASS
THROUGH SAMARIA.
THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
THAT'S NOT THE ROAD ANY JEW
WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE.
THE COMMON WAY
WOULD BE TO HEAD NORTHWEST
TO JERICHO,
CROSS OVER THE RIVER JORDAN
AND NEVER SET FOOT
ON SAMARITAN SOIL AT ALL.
GEOGRAPHICALLY, AS WELL
AS HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
THE JEWS AVOIDED SAMARITANS.
BUT "THEY HAD TO" HERE
TRANSLATES AS NECESSITY,
AS DIVINE GUIDANCE
BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THIS WAS A MISSION FROM GOD
TO CHANGE THE LIFE
OF ONE LONELY, SHAME-FILLED
SAMARITAN WOMAN.
SO JESUS ASKED HER,
"GIVE ME A DRINK."
SHE MUST HAVE BEEN SHOCKED.
IT WAS A SOCIAL TABOO
FOR ANY MAN TO SPEAK
TO SUCH A WOMAN
IN SUCH A PUBLIC PLACE,
NEVER MIND A SAMARITAN WOMAN.
THE SETTING TELLS US
EVEN MORE.
IT WAS NOON.
THIS WOMAN HAD COME
TO THE WELL ALONE
WHICH GIVES US A GLIMPSE
INTO HER LIFE.
WOMEN OF THE VILLAGE WOULD
GENERALLY COME TO THE WELL
TOGETHER IN THE MORNING
WHILE THE DAY WAS STILL COOL.
THIS WOMAN AVOIDED
THE OTHER WOMEN
AND CAME ALONE
IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY.
EVEN AMONG HER OWN PEOPLE
THIS WOMAN WAS AN OUTCAST.
HER STORY WAS,
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER
FROM JOHN'S GOSPEL
THAT SHE HAD BEEN MARRIED
FIVE TIMES.
SHE IS NOW LIVING WITH A GUY
THAT'S NOT EVEN HER HUSBAND.
AT ONE POINT
IN THE CONVERSATION
JESUS TELLS HER SOMETHING.
HE ASKS HER, "WOULD YOU GO
AND GET YOUR HUSBAND?"
WHAT'S SHE SUPPOSED TO DO?
SHE'S SUPPOSED TO SAY, "WELL,
ACTUALLY I'VE BEEN MARRIED
FIVE TIMES AND THE GUY
I'M LIVING WITH NOW
WOULDN'T EVEN MARRY ME,
HE WOULD JUST GIVE ME
A ROOF OVER MY HEAD."
SO SHE SAYS -- SHE TELLS HIM
PART OF HER STORY.
SHE SAID,
"I DON'T HAVE A HUSBAND."
AND JESUS SAID, "I KNOW THAT.
YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES
AND THE MAN
YOU'RE NOW LIVING WITH,
HE IS NOT EVEN YOUR HUSBAND."
NOW WHY WOULD JESUS DO THAT?
WAS HE TRYING TO SHAME HER?
NO.
SEE HERE'S THE DEAL.
UNLESS WE GET IT
THAT GOD KNOWS THE WORST
THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT US,
WE'LL NEVER RECEIVE
THE GOOD NEWS
THAT HE LOVES ALL OF US.
JESUS WAS TRYING TO SAY TO HER
"LISTEN. I KNOW IT ALL.
I KNOW YOUR STORY.
I KNOW YOUR BROKENNESS."
THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY TO HER,
"THE TIME IS COMING, IN FACT,
IT IS RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.
AND THOSE WHO WILL WORSHIP
WILL WORSHIP IN SPIRIT
AND IN TRUTH."
AND YOU KNOW, IN THE GREEK
THAT WORD TRUTH,
YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?
IT MEANS WITH NOTHING HIDDEN.
THAT'S TRUE WORSHIP, FRIENDS.
WE WORSHIP IN SPIRIT
BUT WE ALSO WORSHIP IN TRUTH.
WE TELL THE TRUTH TO JESUS
ABOUT WHO WE REALLY ARE.
THAT'S HOW CHRIST
INVADES OUR SHAME.
BECAUSE HE,
SCRIPTURE TELLS US,
HE WHO KNEW NO SHAME
BECAME SHAME SO THAT
YOU AND I COULD BE FREE.
IT WAS A LIFE-CHANGING
EXPERIENCE FOR THAT WOMAN.
THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN ASHAMED
AND CAME UP BY HERSELF AT NOON
DROPPED HER BUCKET,
RAN BACK TO THE VILLAGE
TO TELL EVERYBODY,
"COME AND SEE THE GUY
WHO TOLD ME EVERYTHING
I'VE EVER DONE."
SHE BECAME THE FIRST
MISSIONARY TO HER VILLAGE.
THE DISCIPLES CAME BACK
WITH SANDWICHES,
SHE CAME BACK WITH PEOPLE.
IT'S QUITE AMAZING.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT THE LOVE
OF GOD WILL SPUR YOU TO DO.
MAYBE YOU WANT TO BE
A PART OF THAT.
WOULD YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS?
Announcer: TEARS,
WE HAVE ALL SHED THEM
BUT FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD
THEY'RE A
DAILY REMINDER
OF HARDSHIP,
PAIN, AND LOSS.
SOMETIMES THE TEARS
WON'T FLOW
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF
EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION;
OTHER TIMES
THEY WON'T STOP
BECAUSE THE PAIN
IS OVERWHELMING.
IT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD
OR A LOVED ONE
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAD
NO ACCESS TO
CLEAN DRINKING WATER.
IN MADAGASCAR,
THIS MAN FERNANDO
LOST HIS WIFE, TWO CHILDREN,
AND A BROTHER
ALL TO WATERBORNE DISEASE
AND NOW HE MUST WATCH
HIS SURVIVING NIECE
DRINK FROM THE SAME SOURCE
OF CONTAMINATED WATER.
Jeanne: I JUST PRAY LORD
YOU WOULD COMFORT HIM
RIGHT NOW.
AND LORD, AND JUST HAVING
TO TELL THIS STORY AGAIN,
IT IS JUST
SO SAD.
BUT I ASK YOU TO BLESS HIM
FOR SHARING IT WITH US
SO THAT WE CAN HELP
SO MANY PEOPLE.
Announcer:
YES, THERE IS A WAY TO STOP
TEARS OF HEARTACHE
LIKE THESE
BEFORE THEY
EVER FALL.
[Upbeat music]
Announcer: THROUGH
MISSION WATER FOR LIFE
WE CAN RESTORE HOPE
TO THOSE IN NEED
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND BY
OUR GIVING,
WE CAN COMFORT
THE BROKENHEARTED
AND REPLACE THEIR TEARS
WITH JOY.
[Cheers and laughter]
Sheila: EVEN AS
I WAS WATCHING THAT PIECE,
I FOUND MYSELF THINKING ABOUT
SOME OF YOU OUT THERE,
AND THE MINUTE YOU SAW
THOSE TEARS IT CONNECTED
WITH SOMETHING REALLY
DEEPLY IN YOU
BECAUSE YOU'VE CRIED MORE
THAN YOUR SHARE OF TEARS.
AND YOU'RE THINKING,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'D LOVE TO HELP
SOME OTHER PEOPLE
BUT I WISH SOMEBODY KNEW
THE DEPTH OF THE SORROW
THAT I HAD IN MY OWN LIFE.
CAN I REMIND YOU
OF SOMETHING?
PSALM 56, VERSE EIGHT
SAYS THIS,
AND DAVID WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE LORD.
GOD MISSES NOTHING.
NO TEAR THAT
YOU HAVE EVER WEPT
HAS FALLEN UNNOTICED
TO THE FLOOR.
GOD CAPTURES EVERY ONE.
HE ALONE KNOWS THE WEIGHT.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW
EVEN BEFORE I INVITE YOU TO
HELP OTHERS WHO ARE WEEPING,
PERHAPS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW,
GOD SEES YOUR PAIN
AND HE CARES FOR YOU.
BUT EVEN AS I WATCHED THAT,
NO FATHER SHOULD HAVE
TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT
SOBBING HIMSELF TO SLEEP
BECAUSE THE PILLOW BESIDE HIM
WHERE HIS WIFE ONCE LAY
AND THEIR LITTLE PALLETS
WHERE HIS CHILDREN LAY
ARE EMPTY SIMPLY BECAUSE THE
ONLY WATER AVAILABLE TO THEM
WAS CONTAMINATED.
IT DOESN'T HAVE
TO BE THAT WAY.
THAT'S THE GLORIOUS THING
THAT YOU AND I CAN CHANGE THIS
FOR THE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW
WHO ARE ON THEIR KNEES
IN TEARS ASKING GOD FOR HELP.
HERE'S HOW WE CAN DO IT.
$48 WILL GIVE TEN PEOPLE
CLEAN WATER.
$48 THESE DAYS,
IT GOES LIKE THAT.
YOU CAN HARDLY FILL UP
YOUR CAR WITH GAS FOR THAT.
$144 WILL GIVE CLEAN WATER
FOR 30 PEOPLE.
AND SOME OF YOU MIGHT
BE ABLE TO PUT A WELL IN.
$4800 WILL PUT A WELL IN
THAT WILL LAST FOR 70 YEARS
AND PROVIDE 1,000 PEOPLE
WITH CLEAN FRESH WATER.
THE CONTRAST BETWEEN
THAT SWEET MAN
AND THOSE CHILDREN WITH TEARS
LITERALLY RUNNING
DOWN THEIR FACES
AND THE LOOK OF ABSOLUTE,
UNADULTERATED JOY
WHEN FINALLY WATER SPRINGS UP
AND THERE IS LIFE,
THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT
WATER FOR LIFE
BECAUSE IT LITERALLY
IS LIFE AND DEATH.
YOU AND I CAN DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
WOULD YOU GO TO YOUR PHONE?
WOULD YOU CALL?
WOULD YOU JUST MAKE
THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE?
WE DON'T ASK YOU TO DO
WHAT YOU CAN'T DO.
BUT WHEN YOU DO
WHAT YOU CAN DO
AND I DO WHAT I CAN DO
AND WE JOIN HANDS
ALL AROUND THIS NATION
AND THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
WHERE THIS PROGRAM AIRS,
WE CAN BE THE ANSWER
TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE DESPERATE FOR HELP.
WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GIVE THEM LIFE BUT THEN
LIKE THAT SAMARITAN WOMAN
AT THE WELL,
THEY MEET THE ONE WHO IS LIFE.
HE SAID, "IF YOU
DRINK FROM WATER
YOU'LL GET THIRSTY AGAIN.
IF YOU DRINK FROM ME YOU'LL
NEVER BE THIRSTY AGAIN."
LET'S DO SOMETHING NOW
IN JESUS' NAME.
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.
Ralph: WE'RE HERE
IN BURUNDI, AFRICA
UP IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE
THEY CANNOT GET DRILL RIGS
TO COME UP HERE
TO DRILL WELLS.
THIS SCENARIO HAPPENS AROUND
THE WORLD, NOT JUST HERE.
WE'VE DISCOVERED
THAT THESE PEOPLE UP HERE
HAVE PATHETIC
WATER SOURCES.
THIS IS WATER THAT MOTHERS
ARE BRINGING HOME
TO THEIR CHILDREN
ONLY TO GET WORMS,
OTHER WATERBORNE DISEASES, CHOLERA, EXTREME DIARRHEA,
AND THEN TO HEAR
STORIES OF DEATH.
LIFE HAS BEEN GIVEN
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
THESE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS INTO THE MOUNTAINS
SO THAT WHEN MOTHERS
BRING WATER
HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN
THEY'RE NO LONGER
BRINGING WATER THAT'S
KILLING THEIR CHILD,
THEY CAN CREATE WATER
THAT BRINGS LIFE
TO THEIR CHILD.
I THINK YOU SEE
THE JOY IN THEIR FACES.
IT'S GOING TO BRING
SO MUCH JOY TO THESE HOMES
THAT CAN PROVIDE CLEAN WATER
FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
AGAIN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALL THE GENEROUS GIVING.
IT REALLY IS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS
THAT WE GET TO DO THIS!
AND IF YOU'D LIKE
TO SEND A GIFT IN TODAY,
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU
THE STORM INSIDE
DVD BIBLE STUDY SERIES.
BUT MORE THAN ANY OF THAT,
WHAT A PRIVILEGE
YOU AND I HAVE.
IT IS SO EASY TO JUST GO
TO THE FAUCET IN OUR KITCHEN
AND POUR OURSELF
A GLASS OF WATER.
THE FACT THAT YOU AND I CAN
REACH PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH
THAT WE MIGHT NEVER MEET
FACE TO FACE
UNTIL WE ARE IN HEAVEN,
AND HAVE THEM SAY,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
BECAUSE YOU CARED
IN JESUS NAME MY FAMILY
WAS ABLE TO LIVE A LIFE
AND GET TO KNOW CHRIST."
SO THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
GOD BLESS!
♪
♪
♪
♪
Announcer:
AMBASSADORS FOR LIFE
ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU
WHO SEE NEED IN THE WORLD
AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
CONTACT US TO START
A FUNDRAISER TODAY
AND CHANGE
SOMEONE'S FUTURE.
Announcer:
TOMORROW ON LIFE TODAY!
JOIN FOUNDING PASTOR
OF COVENANT CHURCH,
MIKE HAYES
AS HE WORKS TO INFLUENCE
THE INFLUENCERS
IN BRINGING ABOUT
NATIONAL RENEWAL.
>> 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.