Sheila:
WHEN I THINK
OF THE STORIES
THAT WOMEN HAVE SHARED
WITH ME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS,
STORIES OF THE WORST KIND
OF ABUSE AND BETRAYAL,
I WONDER HOW
SOME OF YOU HAVE MADE IT?
PERHAPS SOME
HAVE SURVIVED
BY BURYING THE PAIN
DEEP INSIDE
BUT I BELIEVE NOW THAT
OTHERS HAVE DISCOVERED
THE BEAUTY
OF LIVING OPEN
YET BROKEN
WITH CHRIST.
Announcer:
LEARNING HOW GOD CAN USE
YOUR PAIN TO BENEFIT OTHERS
AS WE SPEND
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD
WITH
SHEILA WALSH.
♪
Sheila: WELCOME TO
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE RECENTLY
OF MEETING A GENTLEMAN
WHO HAD BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING
THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE
GO THROUGH AND SURVIVE.
HE SHOWED UP AS THE ONLY GUY
I THINK IN THIS WHOLE
WOMEN'S CONFERENCE BUT HE
HAD COME VERY SPECIFICALLY
TO TELL ME SOMETHING.
WHEN HE TURNED ONE SIDE
OF HIS FACE TOWARD ME
I SAW THAT IT WAS
BADLY SCARRED;
THE WAY HE SPOKE, HIS VOICE
WAS VERY RASPY AND QUIET.
HE TOLD ME THAT EVEN THOUGH
HE WAS IN HIS MID 40s NOW
THAT WHEN HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD
HE TOOK A GUN
AND PUT IT UNDERNEATH HIS CHIN
AND PULLED THE TRIGGER.
HE SAID, "IN THAT MILLISECOND
BETWEEN THE BULLET
LEAVING THE GUN
AND ENTERING MY SKULL
I HEARD THE LORD SAY,
'DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?'
AND I SAID YES."
SO HE SURVIVED.
THE BULLET
IS STILL IN HIS SKULL.
I SAID, "IS IT HARD FOR YOU
TO SEE THE SCARS AND KNOW
THAT THAT IS STILL THERE?"
HE SAID, "NO.
IT IS A DAILY REMINDER
OF THE GRACE OF GOD."
I SAW THAT FOR HIM,
HIS SCARS WERE REALLY
A TATTOO OF TRIUMPH.
IT REMINDED ME
OF SOMEBODY I MET RECENTLY.
I WAS SITTING
IN THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE
WAITING FOR MY FLIGHT WHEN
THAT DREADED ANNOUNCEMENT,
YOU KNOW THE ONE
OVER THE INTERCOM,
"THE 3:30 P.M. FLIGHT
TO DALLAS, TEXAS
WILL NOW DEPART AT 5:40.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!"
I LOOKED AT
MY FELLOW PASSENGERS
AND QUESTIONED
THE ANNOUNCER'S GRATITUDE
FOR OUR PATIENCE
BECAUSE IT WAS THE FLIGHT'S
THIRD DELAY OF THE DAY AND
PEOPLE WERE JUST NOT HAPPY.
BUT I PICKED UP MY BRIEFCASE
ONCE AGAIN AND RETURNED
TO THE COFFEE SHOP
WHERE I SPENT MUCH OF THE DAY,
ORDERED A CUP OF COFFEE
AND WAS SETTLING IN
TO READ A NEWSPAPER
WHEN I BECAME AWARE
OF SOMEBODY STANDING
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
SO I LOOKED UP AND
IT WAS A WOMAN ABOUT MY AGE,
TALL, SLIM, SHORT BLOND HAIR,
I THINK.
SHE SMILED AND SHE ASKED ME,
"WOULD YOU MIND
IF I JOINED YOU FOR A MOMENT?"
I SAID, "NO! OF COURSE NOT!"
SHE SAID, "I HEARD YOU
SPEAK AT A CONFERENCE
AND WE HAVE SIMILAR STORIES."
SO I ASKED HER WHEN THAT WAS.
SHE SAID, "IT WAS LAST YEAR
IN CALIFORNIA
AND IT LED TO THIS."
AND THEN SHE PULLED UP
THE SLEEVE OF HER SWEATER
TO REVEAL A SMALL TATTOO
ON HER WRIST.
IT WAS A SEMICOLON.
I ASKED HER,
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"
SHE LOOKED DOWN AT IT
AND RUBBED HER FINGER OVER
THE BLACK INK AND SHE SAID,
"IT IS ABOUT CHOOSING TO LIVE
FOR ONE MORE DAY.
I'M PART OF A MOVEMENT."
I ASKED HER
WHAT THE MOVEMENT WAS.
SHE TOLD ME IT WAS CALLED
"PROJECT SEMICOLON."
SHE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS
A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT
FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE
WITH THOUGHTS OF SELF HARM
OR SUICIDE,
ALSO FOR THOSE WHO BATTLE
ANY KIND OF MENTAL ILLNESS
OR ADDICTION.
IT'S A COMMUNITY
FOR THOSE WHO WANT
TO SHARE THE TRUTH AND FIND
SUPPORT IN ONE ANOTHER.
SHE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN
AT A CONFERENCE HOSTED
BY SADDLEBACK CHURCH
AND SHE SAID THAT'S WHEN
SHE HEARD ME SPEAK.
SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW,
IT KIND OF CHANGED MY LIFE.
I JOINED PROJECT SEMICOLON
AFTER I HEARD YOU SPEAK."
I REMEMBER THAT CONFERENCE
VERY WELL.
KAY WARREN HAD INVITED ME
TO BE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER,
THE ANNUAL CHURCH
AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM.
AND THAT, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW
IS A CONFERENCE THAT WAS BORN
FROM THE DEVASTATING PAIN
OF KAY AND RICK'S SON,
MATTHEW'S SUICIDE.
I USUALLY DON'T GET
TOO NERVOUS AT THINGS
BECAUSE I REALLY GET IT,
IT IS GOD
THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP
BUT I WAS UNUSUALLY NERVOUS
AS I FLEW OUT TO SPEAK
AT THAT CONFERENCE.
I WAS SPEAKING THE FIRST NIGHT
AND I WASN'T QUITE SURE
OF WHAT I COULD ADD
BECAUSE THE LINEUP OF
OTHER SPEAKERS WAS IMPRESSIVE
AND VERY PROFESSIONAL
AND HONESTLY,
A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
FOR EXAMPLE, A UNITED STATES
SURGEON GENERAL,
VICE ADMIRAL VIVEK MURTHY
WAS THERE,
A GUY THAT HAS ACTUALLY
BECOME A FRIEND OF MINE NOW,
PAUL SUMMERGRAD
WHO IS THE FORMER HEAD
OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
OF PSYCHIATRISTS,
FORMER CONGRESSMAN
PATRICK KENNEDY,
MANY, MANY MORE.
I WAS THE SPEAKER
ON THE OPENING NIGHT WHICH
I WAS ACTUALLY GRATEFUL FOR
BECAUSE I DIDN'T
HAVE TO FOLLOW
ANY OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
I REMEMBER MY OPENING LINE
SO WELL.
SOMETHING THAT I CERTAINLY
COULD NOT HAVE SAID
FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.
I SAID, "GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SHEILA WALSH
AND I AM PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL
FOR THE GIFT
OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
IT MEANS
I CAN LOOK INTO THE EYES
OF SOMEBODY ELSE
WHO IS SUFFERING AND SAY,
'YEAH, ME TOO.'"
THERE IS SOMETHING
BEAUTIFUL TO ME
ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE
WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY
ARE THE ONLY ONE STRUGGLING
THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.
SO I LOOKED AT MY FRIEND
IN THE AIRPORT COFFEE SHOP
AND ASKED HER, "WHAT DOES
THE SEMICOLON MEAN TO YOU?"
SHE LOOKED DOWN
AT HER WRIST AGAIN
AND SHE SAID, "A SEMICOLON
IS USED WHEN AN AUTHOR
COULD HAVE ENDED A SENTENCE
BUT CHOSE NOT TO.
I'M THE AUTHOR
AND THE SENTENCE IS MY LIFE."
SHE TOLD ME THAT
WHEN SHE RAISES HER HANDS
IN WORSHIP NOW
THAT LITTLE TATTOO
BECOMES AN OFFERING TO GOD,
A DAILY ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF HER BROKENNESS,
OF HER FAITH IN GOD.
I LOVE THAT!
WHAT THE ENEMY
INTENDED FOR EVIL
GOD WAS NOW USING DAILY
FOR GOOD.
I THANKED HER
FOR TELLING ME HER STORY.
IT WAS REALLY POWERFUL.
SHE SAID SHE HAD TO GO
AS HER FLIGHT WAS BOARDING.
I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT
WHAT SHE SHARED AFTER THAT.
I REALLY NEEDED TO HEAR
HER WORDS.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT
LITTLE TATTOO ON HER WRIST
AND I WONDERED, WHAT WAS IT
ABOUT THAT LITTLE SYMBOL
THAT HELPED HER WHEN
SHE WAS IN THE DARKER DAYS?
I THINK PERHAPS
IT REMINDS HER TO FIGHT
THROUGH THOSE NIGHTS.
IT GIVES HER SOMETHING
TO FOCUS ON.
IT TELLS HER TO HOLD ON.
SEE, THAT'S WHAT MY FRIEND
TOLD ME, THE ONE WHO
HAD TAKEN A GUN
AND PUT IT UNDER HIS CHIN.
HE SAID, "I'M GOING
TO START A NEW MINISTRY.
I'M GOING TO START A MINISTRY
TO TEENAGERS.
I'M GOING TO TELL THEM
IT'S CALLED "HOLD ON --
HOLD ON FOR ONE MORE DAY."
FOR MY FRIEND IN THE AIRPORT
IT WAS A TANGIBLE DECLARATION
TO HER VERY WEARY SOUL THAT
HER STORY WAS NOT OVER YET
EVEN WHEN HER MIND TELLS HER,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT REALLY SHOULD BE.
FURTHER,
PERHAPS IT LETS HER KNOW
SHE IS NOT ALONE.
IT REMINDS HER
OF THE COMMUNITY AROUND HER
WHO SAY, "ME TOO."
SEE, SHAME THRIVES
IN HIDING AND SOLITUDE,
AND WHISPERS TO US
YOU'RE ALL ALONE.
YOU'LL NEVER BE ENOUGH.
YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE.
FREEDOM BEGINS
IN A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE
WHO TELL THE TRUTH; PEOPLE
COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU
CARRY YOUR BURDEN.
BEING PART OF
PROJECT SEMICOLON
FOR HER HAD GIVEN HER
THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND
BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPERTS,
THEY UNDERSTAND
BECAUSE THEY'RE HONEST
ABOUT THEIR OWN SUFFERING
AND THEY HELP HER
COMBAT THE LIES.
THEY HELP HER SEE
THE TRUTH ABOUT HERSELF
AND THEY ACCEPT HER
JUST AS SHE IS.
WELL, THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY,
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLED
TO BE AS THE CHURCH
AND THAT KIND OF HONEST
TRANSPARENT LIVING
DEPRIVES SHAME
OF THE VERY OXYGEN IT NEEDS
TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
LIES BREED IN SILENCE AND
HONESTLY, SILENCE IS DEADLY.
ALTHOUGH I KNOW
THAT SPEAKING THE TRUTH
CAN BE VERY PAINFUL,
SHARING THE SECRETS
CAN BRING HEALING.
NOT ALL LOSS OR PAIN
OR DISAPPOINTMENT OR STRUGGLE
WEIGHS THE SAME.
SOME THINGS ARE EASIER
TO CARRY THAN OTHERS.
I THINK
THAT'S WHAT PAUL MEANT
WHEN HE TOLD THOSE
WHO LOVED CHRIST IN GALATIA,
HE SAID THIS,
"BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS."
BUT A FEW VERSES LATER THOUGH
HE SAYS THAT EACH ONE
SHOULD BEAR HIS OWN LOAD.
WHEN YOU FIRST READ THAT,
THE PASSAGE
IS A LITTLE CONFUSING.
PAUL APPEARS
TO CONTRADICT HIMSELF.
HOW CAN WE BEAR
EACH OTHER'S BURDENS
IF WE'RE ALL SUPPOSED
TO BEAR OUR OWN LOAD?
BUT THAT'S WHEN
IF YOU DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
YOU GET TO SEE WHAT HE MEANT.
BUT THE WORD USED LATER
FOR LOAD IS PHORTION
WHICH IS USED EXCLUSIVELY
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
TO REFER TO THE LOAD
THAT CHRIST SPEAKS OF,
A LOAD THAT ONLY HE
CAN HELP US BEAR.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN HE SAID
AT THE END OF MATTHEW 11:
SO WHAT HE IS SAYING IS
THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS
THAT ARE TOO MUCH
AND THEN WE NEED TO CARRY
ONE ANOTHER'S AND THERE ARE
OTHER LOADS THAT WE CARRY
THAT CHRIST GIVES US
THE STRENGTH TO CARRY.
I SUPPOSE I'VE STUMBLED INTO
THIS TRUTH OVER THE YEARS.
THERE ARE SOME LOSSES
THAT FEEL LIKE A SHIP'S LOAD,
LIKE MORE THAN
WE COULD POSSIBLY CARRY
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU AND I,
WHEN WE DESPERATELY
NEED EACH OTHER,
WHEN WE'RE LEFT TO CARRY
THAT KIND OF BURDEN
OR BAROS ALONE.
IT CHANGES US.
IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
WE'RE NOT DESIGNED TO WALK
THROUGH THOSE TIMES ALONE.
SPEAKING THE TRUTH
ABOUT HER LIFE TO THOSE
WHO UNDERSTAND HER PATH
HAS GIVEN MY AIRPORT FRIEND
STRENGTH TO KEEP WALKING.
AFTER SHE LEFT,
I SAT AND THOUGHT
ABOUT CHRIST'S ENCOUNTER
WITH ZACCHAEUS, A MAN
WHO WAS COMPLETELY DESPISED
BY EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM.
HE WAS JEWISH, YES,
BUT HE WAS ALSO
A TAX COLLECTOR
FOR THE ROMAN OCCUPIERS.
THE ROMANS GAVE
THIS UNSAVORY JOB
TO LOCAL RECRUITS
AND ALLOWED THEM
TO KEEP A PERCENTAGE
OF WHATEVER THEY COLLECTED.
SO ZACCHAEUS
AND HIS COLLEAGUES
WOULD TAKE MORE
THAN WHAT WAS OWED.
SO BASICALLY,
THEY WERE PARASITES
LIVING OFF THE VULNERABILITY
OF THEIR VERY OWN PEOPLE.
SO WHEN CHRIST DECIDED TO
SHARE A MEAL WITH ZACCHAEUS,
THE PEOPLE WERE HORRIFIED.
HOW COULD JESUS SPEND TIME
WITH A MAN WHO WAS LITERALLY
BLEEDING THEM DRY?
WELL, THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE:
I CONSIDERED THE VERSE
AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE STUDY
I'D DONE ON IT YEARS AGO.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT GIRL
FOR AWHILE, PRAYED FOR HER,
ABOUT HER SEMICOLON TATTOO.
I THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS
WHO DIDN'T COME
FOR THOSE WHO ARE
"DOING JUST FINE; THANK YOU."
HE CAME TO SAVE THOSE WHO WERE
AND ARE WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THEY'RE BROKEN.
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS
AND FEELS AS IF
YOU'RE BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR.
AND EVEN NOW
IN HIS TENDER WAY
HE COMES TO THE DOORS
OF OUR HIDDEN PLACES
AND INVITES HIMSELF IN
FOR SUPPER.
JESUS WANTS TO COME TO US
IN THOSE VERY PLACES,
THE SECRET SHADOWS
AND THEN HE WANTS TO BID US
TO COME OUT INTO THE LIGHT.
HE WANTS TO BE
IN COMMUNION WITH US;
WANTS TO HELP CARRY THE LOAD
OF THE PAIN AND THE SHAME.
THE STUFF THAT KEEPS US,
HONESTLY, IN ISOLATION.
I DON'T THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE
OVER LIFE WHO HAS CONSTRUCTED
WALLS AROUND PARTS OF MYSELF.
WE ALL KNOW
THAT PAIN IS PART OF LIFE
BUT WHEN TOO MUCH OF IT
HAPPENS ALL AT ONCE
OR WHEN IT HAPPENS
TOO EARLY IN LIFE,
OR WHEN WE FEEL
HELPLESS TO STOP IT,
THE PAIN CAN MAKE US BELIEVE
THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GO ON.
IT'S WHY WE BUILD
THIS SECRET PLACE
INSIDE OURSELVES WHERE
THAT PAIN CAN JUST HANG OUT.
IT FOLLOWS US THERE
AND WE BELIEVE
IT CAN'T HURT ME THERE BECAUSE
I'VE GOT IT ALL WALLED UP.
WE FALSELY THINK THAT
THE WORLD CAN'T SEE IT EITHER
AND WE CAN PRETEND
FOR A LONG TIME
THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY.
AND I THINK SOMETIMES
MAYBE AS CHILDREN THERE'S
A SORT OF SAVING GRACE.
WHEN I THINK OF THE STORIES
THAT WOMEN HAVE SHARED WITH ME
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS,
THE STORIES OF THE WORST
KIND OF ABUSE AND BETRAYAL,
I WONDER HOW SOME OF YOU
HAVE MADE IT.
PERHAPS SOME HAVE SURVIVED BY
BURYING THE PAIN DEEP INSIDE.
BUT I BELIEVE NOW
THAT OTHERS HAVE DISCOVERED
THE BEAUTY OF LIVING OPEN
YET BROKEN WITH CHRIST.
MY NEW FRIEND WITH THE TATTOO
DOESN'T PRETEND
THAT HER PAIN IS GONE
BUT BRINGS IT INTO THE LIGHT
OF A CRUCIFIED SAVIOR.
HE HELPS HER CARRY IT
WITH HANDS SCARRED BY LOVE.
CHRIST'S RESOUNDING "YES"
TO THE FATHER'S PLAN
TO SAVE US
TOOK HIM DOWN A BRUTAL,
BRUTAL BLOODY PATH
BUT IT GAVE LIFE
TO EACH ONE OF US
WHO WILL SAY "YES" TO CHRIST
AND "NO" TO THE LIES
THAT WOULD KEEP US HIDDEN.
IN JAMES 5:16 WE READ THIS:
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THAT VERSE YOU THINK,
WELL, IT'S NOT REALLY SIN.
I'M JUST STRUGGLING WITH
GUILT OVER SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED IN MY PAST
OR PAIN OF SOMETHING
THAT WAS DONE TO ME;
THAT'S NOT SIN SO I'M NOT
GOING TO CONFESS THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT PASSAGE
MEANS SO MUCH MORE.
I THINK WHAT IT MEANS IS
WHATEVER YOU ARE
HIDING FROM CHRIST,
WHEN YOU CAN CONFESS
THAT ONE TO ANOTHER
AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER.
I KNOW HOW HARD THAT CAN BE
AND YOU HAVE TO HONESTLY
DO IT WITH WISDOM.
I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT.
YOU DON'T JUST WANT TO
POUR OUT SOME OF THE MOST
PAINFUL PARTS OF YOUR LIFE
JUST TO ANYBODY.
I LOVE THE WAY
THAT JESUS PUTS THAT
WHEN HE SAID,
"DON'T CAST YOUR PEARLS
BEFORE SWINE."
HE'S NOT CALLING
YOUR FRIENDS PIGS.
WHAT HE IS SAYING IS,
DON'T TAKE
WHAT IS PRECIOUS TO YOU
AND GIVE IT TO SOMEONE
WHO IS GOING
TO TRAMPLE IT UNDERFOOT
NOT REALIZING THE VALUE.
THERE IS SUCH STRENGTH
IN FINDING ONE OR TWO PEOPLE
THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER
YOUR "SAFE PEOPLE."
I THINK SOMETIMES, GUYS,
IT IS HARDER FOR YOU
THAN IT IS FOR US GIRLS.
I THINK IT IS HARD
FOR A MAN TO CONFESS
THAT HE IS STRUGGLING.
MY OWN HUSBAND BARRY,
HE FOUND A GROUP IN A -- IT'S
NOT ACTUALLY IN OUR CHURCH,
IT IS IN ANOTHER LOCAL CHURCH
BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAD GONE
THROUGH ANY KIND OF ABUSE
IN THEIR CHILDHOOD.
I REMEMBER HIM SAYING WHEN
HE CAME HOME THE FIRST NIGHT,
"I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS THERE
BECAUSE I DON'T RELATE
TO ANY OF THESE PEOPLE."
THEY SEEMED DIFFERENT FROM HIM
AND THEIR EXPERIENCES
WERE DIFFERENT.
I SAID, "WELL,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO
BUT WHY DON'T YOU GO
JUST ANOTHER COUPLE TIMES
AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE?"
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET
AFTER MAYBE THE THIRD
OR FOURTH TIME
BEING PART OF THAT GROUP
HE CAME HOME AND I COULD TELL
MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN CRYING
WHICH IS SOMETHING
THAT I DON'T OFTEN SEE.
I SAID,
"WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT?"
HE SAID,
"AS I SAT AND LISTENED
TO EVERY ONE OF THEIR STORIES,
I REALIZED THEY ARE ME.
ONE WAS A DOCTOR WHO LOOKS
SO COMPLETELY PUT TOGETHER.
SOMEBODY ELSE HAS LOST A JOB
BECAUSE OF AN ADDICTION
TO ALCOHOL.
BUT I LISTENED
TO ALL THEIR STORIES AND IT
SUDDENLY BECAME CRYSTAL CLEAR
THAT WE ARE ALL THE SAME."
BUT WE LIVE IN A CULTURE
THAT ENCOURAGES US
TO COVER UP OUR PAIN.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED
THAT THE PICTURES
THAT YOU SEE ON INSTAGRAM,
PARTICULARLY INSTAGRAM
BUT FACEBOOK TOO,
AND YOU WONDER,
HOW MANY TIMES HAS THAT PERSON
SAT WITH THAT IMAGE
AND PUT FILTER AFTER FILTER
OVER IT SO THAT HERE'S THE
VERY BEST MOMENT IN MY LIFE
AND THIS IS WHAT
I ALWAYS LOOK LIKE
WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.
THAT'S NOT LIFE.
YOU CAN FEEL CONNECTED
BUT THAT'S NOT CONNECTION.
I WOULD HONESTLY RATHER
HAVE TEN REAL FRIENDS,
EVEN FIVE REAL FRIENDS
THAN 50,000 FOLLOWERS
BECAUSE MOST OF THEM
WE DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW.
IN THESE DAYS,
AS THE DAYS GET DARKER,
I THINK IT IS EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT FOR US
TO BE FAITHFUL
IN OUR FRIENDSHIPS,
FAITHFUL IN OUR READING
OF GOD'S WORD,
AND ALSO FAITHFUL
IN BEING PART OF
THE LOCAL BODY OF CHRIST.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE RECENTLY
OF BEING OUT IN CALIFORNIA
TAPING A SERIES
ON END TIME PROPHECY
WITH DR. DAVID JEREMIAH.
HE REMINDED ME THAT
IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
IT SAYS, "BLESSED ARE THOSE
IN THE LAST DAYS WHO CONTINUE
TO MEET TOGETHER."
I KNOW ONE OR TWO OF YOU
HAVE WRITTEN TO ME AND SAID,
"I DON'T REALLY LIKE
GOING TO CHURCH.
IT IS FULL OF HYPOCRITES.
I'VE BEEN HURT BY THE CHURCH.
I JUST WATCH ONLINE."
THE TROUBLE IS
WHEN WE WATCH LIFE ONLINE,
WE'RE NOT REALLY KNOWN.
I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU.
WHATEVER SCARS YOU HAVE,
WHETHER THEY'RE
LIKE MY FRIEND
WHOSE SCAR IS ON HIS FACE
OR LIKE THE GIRL I MET
WHOSE LITTLE TATTOO
REMINDS HER OF A CHOICE
SHE MAKES EVERY SINGLE DAY,
WHEREVER YOUR SCARS ARE,
THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE
TATTOOS OF TRIUMPH
WHEN WE OFFER THEM TO CHRIST.
WE ALL HAVE BROKENNESS.
SOME OF US HIDE IT REALLY WELL
BUT WHEN WE CAN,
LIKE MY FRIEND DOES
WHEN SHE WORSHIPS GOD
AND HOLDS UP THE VERY ARMS
THAT SHE WANTS
TO SLIT THESE WRISTS
BUT NOW THERE IS A MARK
THAT SAYS, "NO, I'M CHOOSING
IN JESUS' NAME TO BE STRONG."
I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU,
FRIEND, FIND SOMEBODY
YOU CAN TELL THE TRUTH TO.
FIND A CHURCH WHERE
YOU CAN BELONG AND FIT IN
AND THEN YOU'LL DISCOVER
WE HAVE A BIGGER ROLE.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
RIGHT NOW WITH VERY DEEP SCARS
AND THEY NEED US
TO GET INVOLVED RIGHT NOW
AND MAKE SURE THE SCARS
DON'T GET ANY DEEPER.
WOULD YOU WATCH THIS WITH ME?
Shiela: I JUST WANTED
TO EXPLAIN WHY
WITH THIS PARTICULAR
LITTLE GIRL,
THAT WE'RE NOT
SHOWING HER FACE.
SHE'S 11 YEARS OLD
SO WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO PROTECT HER.
SO WHEN YOU WERE
JUST NINE YEARS OLD,
SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED
TO YOU ONE NIGHT.
WHY DON'T YOU
TELL US ABOUT THAT?
Shiela: I'M HORRIFIED
BY HER STORY
AND THE TRAGEDY IS
SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THERE ARE SO MANY GIRLS.
AND HERE'S WHAT I THINK.
IF WE DON'T DEFEND HER,
IF WE DON'T SAY NO TO THOSE
VICIOUS PREDATORS --
AND TRUST ME, THEY ARE
VERY WELL ORGANIZED
AND THEY'RE VERY
WELL FUNDED
SO WE'VE GOT TO GET ORGANIZED,
WE'VE GOT TO GET FUNDED.
IT IS TIME TO LET
OUR RIGHTEOUS ANGER RISE
TO THE SURFACE.
THERE IS SOME THINGS THAT
WE CAN SAY THAT IS NOT GOOD
BUT THIS IS EVIL.
THIS IS ABSOLUTE EVIL
FROM THE PIT OF HELL!
AND WE CANNOT ABANDON
THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN
WHO ARE LONGING TO KNOW THAT
THERE IS AT LEAST ONE PERSON
ON THIS PLANET
WHO CARES FOR THEM.
I WANT HER TO KNOW
IT'S YOU AND IT'S ME
AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT
FOR THEM IN JESUS' NAME.
Sheila: SHE WAS SUCH
A PRECIOUS LITTLE LAMB.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED
WHEN I WAS OVER THERE
IS IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA,
THE MINUTE YOU'RE BORN
YOU'RE A YEAR OLD.
SO WHEN SHE TOLD US,
"I WAS TAKEN WHEN I WAS NINE"
SHE WAS ACTUALLY EIGHT.
IF YOU'RE TEMPTED TO THINK,
WHY IS SHE OUT IN THE STREETS
AT NIGHT GATHERING CANS?
THINK OF HER STORY.
HER DAD IS IN PRISON
AND HER MOM RAN OFF
WITH A YOUNGER MAN SO NOW
SHE IS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY
AND SHE HAS FOUR OTHER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
INCLUDING A BABY THAT
HER MOTHER HAD AND THEN LEFT.
SHE'S NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL
SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE
AN EDUCATION.
SHE CAN'T READ OR WRITE SO
SHE CAN'T GET A REGULAR JOB
SO THE ONLY THING SHE CAN DO
IS BE OUT AT NIGHT
GATHERING CANS.
FOR EIGHT CANS
SHE CAN GET A QUARTER.
BUT THE ONLY TIME
THOSE CANS ARE THROWN OUT ARE
BETWEEN LIKE 10-11 AT NIGHT
AND 2-3 IN THE MORNING
WHEN ALL THE BARS
THROW THE CANS OUT;
AND THAT'S HOW
SHE WAS KIDNAPPED
THE VERY FIRST TIME.
HONESTLY, TO SEE THE FEAR
IN HER EYES KNOWING THAT
I'M FREE AT THE MOMENT
BUT AT ANY MOMENT
I COULD BE TAKEN AGAIN --
BUT WHAT CHOICE DOES SHE HAVE?
SHE IS THE ONLY ONE
THAT CAN FEED HER YOUNGER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AND THIS IS THE LAST WEEK
OF RESCUE LIFE.
THIS CHANGED ME.
I'VE BEEN TO
CERTAIN COUNTRIES BEFORE AND
I'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING
BUT THIS LAST TRIP CHANGED ME
BECAUSE THESE ARE LITTLE ONES
WHO ARE CRYING OUT
FOR SOMEBODY TO CARE.
IF WE, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST
DON'T REACH OUT
AND DO SOMETHING,
THEN WHO IS GOING TO DO IT?
THE GOVERNMENT
IS NOT GOING TO DO IT.
IT'S OUR JOY
AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
NOW WE HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO HELP US.
NORMALLY, IT WOULD TAKE $128
TO RESCUE ONE CHILD
AND SOME OF YOU ARE THINKING,
I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT
BUT THAT'S TOO MUCH FOR ME.
BUT DO YOU KNOW
THAT THESE FRIENDS OF LIFE
HAVE SAID, "WE WILL BRING
MATCHING GIFTS."
SO IF YOU CAN GIVE JUST $64
THEY WILL MATCH THAT
AND THAT WILL RESCUE A CHILD.
IF YOU CAN GIVE $128,
INSTEAD OF JUST
RESCUING ONE CHILD,
YOU'VE NOW AS THEY MATCH IT,
RESCUED TWO.
OH GOSH! I'M GOING BACK THERE
AND I WANT TO KNOW
THAT WE'VE DONE SOMETHING,
THAT WE HAVEN'T GONE
AND SEEN AND LEFT THEM.
THESE CHILDREN,
THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!
THEY'RE NOT HARDENED.
THEY'RE PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRLS.
AND I PRAYED WITH THEM.
I TOLD THEM THAT CHRIST
IS WATCHING OVER THEM.
BUT WHAT RIGHT DO I HAVE
TO TELL THEM THAT
IF I'M NOT GOING TO GET
INVOLVED IN RESCUING THEM?
OUR MISSION HERE
IS REACH THE KIDS BEFORE
THEY EVER GET TRAFFICKED,
RESCUE THEM WHERE THEY ARE
AND THEN RESTORE THEM.
THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK
SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVEN'T
GIVEN UP UNTIL NOW
AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE,
WOULD YOU GIVE AGAIN?
BARRY AND I ARE
GOING TO DO THAT.
IF YOU CAN GIVE $1280
THAT WILL NORMALLY
RESCUE TEN CHILDREN.
DO YOU KNOW THAT
THAT WILL BE MATCHED NOW
TO RESCUE 20 CHILDREN?
SO PLEASE GO TO YOUR PHONE,
GO ONLINE,
GIVE THE VERY BEST GIFT
AND RESCUE THESE CHILDREN
IN THE POWERFUL NAME OF JESUS.
Announcer: INNOCENT CHILDREN
AND YOUNG PEOPLE
LONGING TO BE LOVED
AND CARED FOR
ARE BEING ABDUCTED
AND SOLD
AT THE HANDS
OF VIOLENT PREDATORS;
THEIR SPIRIT
AND BODIES BROKEN
UNDER HORRIFIC EMOTIONAL
AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.
THROUGH MISSION: RESCUE LIFE
YOU CAN REACH OUT
TO WARN CHILDREN VULNERABLE
TO SEX TRAFFICKERS.
YOU CAN HELP RESCUE
THOSE ALREADY ENSLAVED.
AND YOU CAN HELP
RESTORE YOUNG LIVES
AND GIVE THEM
A FUTURE.
AND NOW A GENEROUS OPPORTUNITY
OF A $320,000 MATCHING GIFT
MEANS YOUR GIFT OF $128
TO HELP RESCUE A CHILD
WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP TWO CHILDREN.
YOUR $64 GIFT WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP RESCUE ONE CHILD
FROM THE HORRORS
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND A $32 RESCUE GIFT
WILL BE DOUBLED TO $64.
WITH YOUR GIFT WE'LL SEND YOU
THE AGE OF PROMISE,
RANDY ROBISON
REVEALS TEN PROMISES
WOVEN THROUGH ALL OF SCRIPTURE
THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE WAY
YOU VIEW GOD,
YOURSELF, AND OTHERS.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $128
OR MORE YOU'LL RECEIVE
"THE PRAYER IS POWERFUL"
WOOD PLAQUE.
THIS UNIQUE SCRIPTURE
ART PIECE
IS PRINTED ON
PREMIUM BIRCH WOOD,
A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER
OF THE POWER OF PRAYER.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1280,
WHICH WILL NOW HELP
RESCUE 20 CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST THE
BEAUTIFUL "BRIDGE OF FAITH"
FRAMED CANVAS PRINT.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK!
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR SECURE GIFT ONLINE.
Randy: A HUMAN TRAFFICKER
CAME THROUGH HERE
MANY MONTHS AGO
AND PROMISED
THIS YOUNG LADY'S SISTER
A BETTER LIFE,
LURED HER AWAY
AND THEY HAVEN'T
HEARD FROM HER.
SHE'S, AS FAR
AS THEY KNOW, GONE.
THEY HAVE
HER PICTURE
AND THEY HAVE A PRAYER
THAT SHE'LL COME BACK,
A HOPE THAT
THEY WILL SEE HER AGAIN.
THIS IS
THE REALITY HERE
AND IN PLACES
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THAT'S WHY RESCUE LIFE
IS CRITICAL.
WE MUST FIRST REACH
INTO PLACES LIKE THIS
WITH EDUCATION,
SO THAT THEY'LL KNOW
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
WHEN THESE PREDATORS
COME THROUGH.
WE MUST RESCUE
THE GIRLS THAT WE CAN
AND GET THEM OUT
OF THE SEX TRADE.
AND ME MUST
RESTORE THEM;
WE MUST GIVE THEM
A HOPE AND A FUTURE.
WE CAN DO THAT.
WE CAN DO IT
ON A LARGER SCALE
BUT WE HAVE
TO HAVE YOUR HELP.
I PRAY THAT
YOU WILL HELP US
AS WE TRY TO HELP
SO MANY GIRLS.
WE HAVE TO STOP THIS ABUSE.
IT'S NOT RIGHT.
YOU CAN DO
SOMETHING.
JOIN WITH US
AS WE RESCUE LIFE.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US.
IF YOU COULDN'T GET THROUGH
PLEASE KEEP TRYING.
I PROMISED THESE LITTLE ONES
THAT I WOULD COME HOME AND
I WOULD TELL THEIR STORIES.
AND NOT ONLY TELL
THEIR STORIES,
BUT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THEIR LIVES.
SO THANK YOU.
THIS IS AS I SAID
OUR VERY LAST WEEK SO PLEASE
WOULD YOU MAKE
THE VERY BEST GIFT POSSIBLE?
I WILL LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU AGAIN
NEXT WEDNESDAY
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU.
♪
♪
>> TRIED TO DEFY THE ODDS AND
HAVE A LOT OF FUN DOING IT.
Announcer:
FIND OUT WHAT THESE YOUNG
MEN DID TO INSPIRE OTHERS
TO LIVE EACH DAY
WITH PURPOSE AND JOY.
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.