1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host Rachel Adams, 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 2: author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, others, 4 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 2: and even yourself. Each week we dive into meaningful conversations 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 2: about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 2: loving our neighbors as ourselves, whether through inspiring stories, practical tips, 8 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 2: or biblical truths. I hope to encourage you to love boldly, 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 2: live faithfully, and reflect God's love in your everyday life. Today, 10 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 2: I'm excited to welcome Rachel Grol to the show. Rachel 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 2: is an author, certified life coach, missionary, and podcaster with 12 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: a heart for sharing Jesus with anyone who will listen. 13 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: She has served in various full time ministry capacities both 14 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: locally and globally, including starting outreach programs for women, creating curriculum, teaching, 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: and speaking. Her podcast, Hearing Jesus has remained on the 16 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: top thirty list for Christian podcasts in the US for 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: the last year and ranks in the top of all 18 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 2: podcasts globally. She holds a BA in Ministerial Leadership and 19 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 2: an MA in Bible exposition and theology. Rachel is here 20 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 2: today to talk with us about her new book, Knowing 21 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 2: God's Voice. What female prophets of the Bible teach us 22 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: about recognizing, trusting, and obeying God. This book will encourage 23 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 2: us to listen closely, speak boldly, and bring God's light 24 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: into an increasingly dark world. Well, hello, Rachel, welcome to 25 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 2: the Love Offering Podcast. I'm so happy to have you. 26 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you so much for having me. Looking forward 27 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: to chatting today. 28 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: So there are very few occasions when I get to 29 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: say I'm interviewing and talking with another Rachel who is 30 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: also spelled our accha e L. I feel so connected 31 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: to you already. 32 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: Well, and I'm sure that you probably went through what 33 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: I did as a kid, always having to correct people 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: on the spelling of my name. 35 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: Yes, like every trophy, there was never a key chain 36 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: or a cup that our name's billed right, But I'm 37 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: thankful for it now. 38 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure, I like being in a little bit 39 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: different and like I said before, Rachel Ray kind of 40 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:08,679 Speaker 1: helped in that area too. 41 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: That's right. Well, and those that are listening are not 42 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: going to be able to see this, but you have 43 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: on a sweatshirt that says Greater Love? So did you 44 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 2: wear that just for oh? Greater love? 45 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: Was actually just for us today, you know, the Holy 46 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: Spirit did that because this is my daughter's fundraising T shirt. 47 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: She just left on mission for the World Race and 48 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: she's going to be gone for nine months with adventures 49 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: and missions, and this was her fundraiser T shirt. So 50 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: she's been gone just a couple of days and she's 51 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: just on my heart. So it just made me feel 52 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: a bit closer to her to wear that today. So 53 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: I always spar it line that up. 54 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 2: So, how many children do you have? 55 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: I have three girls, and she's my middle I have 56 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: a fifteen year old, an eighteen year old, and a 57 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 1: twenty two year old almost twenty two year old. 58 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 2: Okay, and so which is the one that was going 59 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 2: on the mission trip? 60 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: My eighteen year old. She very quickly made it change 61 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: in the decision to do pre law on a full 62 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: scholarship to going into full time missions. And it was 63 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: like the end of her senior year that she kind 64 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: of made that switch. And so it's been a whirlwind 65 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: for sure, but it's been so encouraging watching her obey 66 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: God's voice in her own life. 67 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 2: So she left a couple days ago. 68 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: Yes, Friday, and now Thursday, so it's been less than 69 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: a week. 70 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: So how is she doing and how are you doing? 71 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: You know? I talked to her actually on FaceTime just 72 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: about an hour ago, and it gives me so much 73 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: joy to see her operating within the call of God 74 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: on her life. She's had an evangelistic heart since she 75 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: was teeny tiny. When she made the decision to do 76 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: this trip, it felt so much more right for her. 77 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: Like we've known she's had a call on her life, 78 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: you know, but you can't tell that to somebody. God 79 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: has to tell that to somebody. We tried to encourage 80 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: that and grow that in her, but when she made 81 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: the decision to do it, we just wrote so much 82 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: peace because we knew that this was exactly where God 83 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: wanted to take her. And so seeing her just thrive 84 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: and be with other kids. She's with twenty five kids, 85 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: the group that love the Lord and are on fire 86 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: to serve him is just so encouraging as her mama 87 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: to see that. So I'm holding both like pride and 88 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: joy and grief all the same time. Every mama that 89 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 1: sent their baby off to kindergarten knows that feeling. 90 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: Yes, well, I'm feeling that on a certain level. My 91 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 2: daughter is a freshman in high school, and then my 92 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 2: son just got his driver's license, and so seeing them 93 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: both drive away without me, it has just been really hard. 94 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 2: I didn't I mean, I knew I would struggle, but 95 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 2: I didn't know how much I was going to struggle 96 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 2: just with this, this letting go. And I know it's 97 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 2: natural and I know it's what we want, but it's hard, 98 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 2: and it's I can't imagine my kids being there. I mean, 99 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 2: my kids are at school two miles away. Your daughter 100 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: is across the world. How that must. 101 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: Feel, you know. I think it's interesting. We don't talk 102 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: about it a whole lot as moms, about that process 103 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: of letting go. And it's interesting because with this book 104 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: coming out, of course, I wrote it a while ago. 105 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: The publishing process, you know, it takes a while, and 106 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: so I'm revisiting this content with a fresh set of eyes. 107 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: And the very first chapters about Miriam, but before we 108 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: even get into Miriam's story, we come to joshaph Ed's 109 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: story as her mother, and I actually, you know, I 110 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: think it was Friday or Saturday. I was in the shower, 111 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: crying my eyes out of course over leaving my baby 112 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: and let her get on this plane. And the Holy 113 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: Spirit just very gently and kindly reminded me of joshb 114 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: Ed and he said, it's time to let go of 115 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: the basket. It was just such a sweet moment that 116 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: was so tender with the Lord because I had, you know, 117 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: researched it and taught it and wrote it, but in 118 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: that moment, it just became so real for me. And 119 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: just trusting the Lord with your child is something that 120 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: as moms were called to do, but yet we often 121 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 1: don't understand what that actually feels like until it happens 122 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: to us. And so it gave me just a new 123 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: kind of revelation about what she must have gone through 124 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: as she made that commitment to trust the Lord with 125 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 1: her baby. 126 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 2: It's making me so teary, like it's time to let 127 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 2: go of the basket. Okay, I'm like white knuckled holding well, 128 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: it's my basket, that's right. I can't like to continue 129 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 2: this conversation with you, but we're going to take a 130 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,359 Speaker 2: brief break to hear a word from today's sponsor and 131 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: then we'll be right back. Welcome back. We are talking 132 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 2: with Rachel Groll about knowing Jesus and hearing Jesus, and 133 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: so we're going to be talking about what female prophets 134 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: of the Bible teach us about recognizing, trusting, and obeying 135 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 2: God's voice. So, Rachel, I'd love to know when did 136 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: you first hear God's voice? Like when did you first 137 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: notice and know that he was calling you? 138 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: You know, I think there were glimpses of it even 139 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: all the way back when I was younger, even just 140 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: as a new believer, and I didn't necessarily recognize it. 141 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: I think, you know, one of the things that I 142 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 1: always try to remind people is the primary way that 143 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: we learn to recognize God's voice is through word. And 144 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 1: I think, like many believers, I would read the Word 145 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: and something the Holy Spirit would just quicken my heart 146 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: over a particular verse or maybe a subject or topic. 147 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: And I think at the time I didn't quite realize 148 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: that that's what that was, that was the voice of 149 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit. I think in my mind I just 150 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: thought maybe it was my experience or my own lens 151 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: or what I needed in the moment that kind of 152 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: resonated with it. But I think that really becomes a 153 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: training ground. When we learned to recognize God's voice in 154 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: his word, it helps us understand what it means to 155 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: hear His voice in the day to day. And I 156 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: think for me that's been different at different times in 157 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: my life. I was joking about this with a friend 158 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: the other day about how interesting it is how God 159 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: uniquely speaks to each one of us, you know, and 160 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: the way that the Lord speaks to you can maybe 161 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: be a little bit different than the way he speaks 162 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: to me, believe it or not. Back in my children's 163 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: pastor's days, when I was on staff at a church 164 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: and I was working as the children's pastor, there was 165 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: a season in my life for God actually showed me 166 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: things in cartoon. And that seems so crazy to say, 167 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: but at the time it was the world I was 168 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: immersed in. I was creating all these cartoons for the 169 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: kids on Sunday, and you know, it's just an easy 170 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: way to communicate a message to a child. That I 171 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: remember a very specific time in life where I was like, truly, 172 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: this can't be the Lord showing up in cartoons, But 173 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: it was, and it was just the way that he 174 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: got my attention in that moment, and he doesn't do 175 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: that anymore, not that he can't, but I think it 176 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: feels different. I've matured in my faith in my understanding 177 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: of that, but I think it might be different for 178 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: different people at different times. 179 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, I mean, I know my listeners know this story. 180 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 2: But he spoke to me through a love offering envelope 181 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 2: in search PEW, and he can use anything and anyone 182 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 2: and any medium to get your attention if we're willing 183 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 2: to listen. And often it is that we hear it's 184 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 2: God's still small voice. And so I think for me 185 00:08:55,880 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 2: it's being silent enough too, and slow enough sometimes pay attention. 186 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 2: So talk to us a little bit about that. Why 187 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 2: do you think it is so hard to hear God's 188 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: still small voice. 189 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: Well, I think we especially now live in a culture 190 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: where there's a lot of things that are competing for 191 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,439 Speaker 1: our time, our attention, you know, our thought life even 192 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: and in my home it's not intentional. It's because I'm busy. 193 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 1: I'm doing all the things. I'm the mom, i gotta 194 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: get dinner going, and oh, the Lord of laundry, and 195 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: just my mind is so clouded with so many things 196 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: that often those things crowd out the voice of the 197 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit if I'm not intentional, and so I think 198 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: for a lot of us, it is a way that 199 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: the enemy has used to keep us distracted from hearing 200 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 1: God's voice. And it might not be intentional. However, if 201 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: we aren't intentionally seeking out God's voice and quieting our 202 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: minds and quieting our hearts, it's really hard to hear 203 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: that voice. Now, that's not to say that there aren't 204 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 1: moments where the Lord is very blatant. I'm very clear 205 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: with me. Sometimes I call them sacred echoes where he 206 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: will be speaking something oh over and over, and maybe 207 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: it's my rebellion or my inattention or my stubbornness that 208 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: the Lord has to do that before I recognize it 209 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: and pay attention that it's him. And often it's with 210 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 1: something that I don't want to do. You know, God's 211 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: calling me to obedience in an area, and I'm trying to, 212 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: you know, put blinders on and pretend I don't hear 213 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: him or don't see him. But now that my house 214 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: is a little bit more quiet, you know, I have 215 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: everybody's in school or at work or you know, they're 216 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: not home. My days are a little bit quieter, and 217 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: I've just learned when you have had the experience of 218 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: being confident of hearing God's voice and seeing how that's 219 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: played out, how He's used that in your own life 220 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: or in the life of those around you, that actually 221 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: becomes addicting. You know, you start to crave his presence, 222 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: you start to hearing his voice. And so I think 223 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: for me, the shift really happened when I started to 224 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: be obedient, not just hearing God's voice, but I started 225 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 1: being obedient to what it was that He was sharing 226 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: with me, whether that was a podcast episode or a 227 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: word for a friend or a prayer or whatever it was. 228 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: In the moment. That obedience portion helps us to really 229 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: hone in on what God wants to do in and 230 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 1: through us with his words. And I think once you 231 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: get to that point, it's really hard to then turn 232 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: it off. 233 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is, you know. Even this morning, so I 234 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 2: had Bible study and there's one of the ladies is 235 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 2: a co leader with me, and she's one of my 236 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: dearest friends and mentors, and she has such a gift 237 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 2: of welcoming and making people feel loved and the behind 238 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 2: the scenes, like she loves to serve, making food and 239 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 2: making the coffee and setting everything up and making everything 240 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 2: look beautiful. But what she hasn't felt as comfortable doing 241 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: is getting in front of everybody and like, you know, 242 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,719 Speaker 2: being the one at the podium with a microphone. And 243 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 2: so for the longest time she would do it, but 244 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 2: then she would say, I just don't feel comfortable being 245 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: up there. And so last week when we met, she said, Rachel, 246 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 2: I think you just need to do that. You be 247 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 2: upfront and I'll be behind the scenes. And so I 248 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: was like, okay, if that's how you feel led, that's 249 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 2: that's fine. Well then this morning she said, Rachel, I 250 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: could not sleep all night last night, like the Lord 251 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 2: would not release me from it. I need to be 252 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 2: upfront with you. And so it was just this remonder 253 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 2: if like she was allowing the enemy to speak lies 254 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 2: to her and what she didn't feel like she could 255 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 2: do in her own strength or what she was gifted at, 256 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: but that the Lord was asking her to do. And 257 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 2: then she said as soon as she released it and 258 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: said okay, I'll go up front, then she had this 259 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 2: incredible amount of peace. And so it's this idea of 260 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 2: the Lord woke her up, would not let her sleep 261 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,839 Speaker 2: until she was like, okay, Lord, I'll obey, and then 262 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 2: she she got the peace. And so that story just 263 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 2: comes to mind, and I hope she doesn't mind me 264 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: sharing it. I don't think that she would, but because 265 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 2: she was obedient, but she was trying everything within her 266 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: strength to not do the task or the role that 267 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 2: the Lord wanted her to do and to rely on 268 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 2: him because it isn't something that she's naturally comfortable with. 269 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: So I think that that is so similar to so 270 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 2: many of us. We are in this mental battle with 271 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 2: ourselves with what the enemy is wanting us to do 272 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 2: versus what the Lord's want us to do, and hearing 273 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: all these voices in our heads. So talk to us 274 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 2: a little bit about that, like confusing maybe the enemy's 275 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: voice with the Lord's voice and trying to make sense 276 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: of the tea. 277 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I think often we get tripped up 278 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: because of our own thought life. You know, there is 279 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 1: a moment where we might feel like we hear the 280 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: Lord speaking something. But just like your friend you mentioned, 281 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: there's an insecurity there and there's a variety of reasons. 282 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: Maybe it's fear, maybe it's experience, maybe it's the leadership 283 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 1: in our life. There's a variety of reasons, but we 284 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: allow the insecurities to speak louder than the voice of 285 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit. And I think for me, what I 286 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: have realized is rarely is obedience comfortable. That's the reality 287 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: in any area of life, going to the gym, to 288 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 1: be obedient, to being good stewards of our body is 289 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: not comfortable. You know, Stewarding our finance as well is 290 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: not comfortable. Sometimes any area of obedience is usually not comfortable. 291 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 1: But what I have learned is over time, disobedience is 292 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: even more uncomfortable. And so it's not necessarily that I 293 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 1: want to be obedient in the moment, but I really 294 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: don't want to deal with the consequence of the disobedience, 295 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: And so I think that becomes the baseline undercurrent of 296 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: how we approach those kinds of situations. But I think 297 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: one of the things that I always share with women 298 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: is God's voice will never contradict God's word, and so 299 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: we always have to be listening to God's voice through 300 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: the lens of his word, and his voice is not 301 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: kind to contradict something he has already said. So if 302 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: we number one, if we are on the fence about 303 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: determining is this really from the Lord, well, we have 304 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: to go back to the word and see what the 305 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: word says about it. And while there might not be specifics, 306 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: you know, there's not gonna be something that specifically talks 307 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: about how to navigate cell phone use with my teenagers. 308 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: You know that's not in there. But we do know 309 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: things about healthy boundaries and getting good sleep and taking 310 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: good care of our bodies, and God's character and God's 311 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: nature and his heart for his children. Those principles help 312 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: us understand God's heart for us and the way that 313 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: we may parent, for example. So I think we always 314 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: have to go back to that. The other thing is 315 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: often I will recognize this is not something I want 316 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: to do, Like God will be leading me to do 317 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: something that feels in contrast with my flesh. That often 318 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: is the clue to me like, oh man, I don't 319 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: necessarily know how that person is going to receive this word, 320 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: or I don't know what the cost is going to 321 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: be to me emotionally. Am I going to be full 322 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: of anxiety or is this going to be fear inducing 323 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: or whatever it is. I think often there are these 324 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: moments where the Holy Spirit is prompting and it costs 325 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: us this emotion where we have to surrender that and 326 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: rely on the Lord to even do the thing that 327 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: he's calling us to do. So I think that's also 328 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: a good way to tell. And then also recognizing that 329 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: the enemy of our souls is a liar. And so 330 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: if there is something that is resonating with me or 331 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: coming up in me, and I recognize it as being 332 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: in opposition to God's word, in opposition to what God's 333 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: calling me to do, I have to maybe lay that 334 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: thing down. And often, I'll say with women especially, there's 335 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: almost two voices. There's a voice of condemnation and there's 336 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: a voice a conviction. If it's a voice of the 337 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, it's going to convict us to get in 338 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: line with his heart. But if it's a condemning voice, 339 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: that's the voice of the enemy. And so I always 340 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: encourage women to kind of maybe decipher between the two. 341 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: Is this a convicting voice or is this a condemning voice. 342 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 2: That's so good In your book, you highlight women who 343 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 2: heard from God and use their voices to impact his kingdom. 344 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 2: So could you share about one or maybe two, however 345 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 2: you feeling led of these women who inspired you the 346 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 2: most and why their stories matter for us today. 347 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: Well, you know, they're all inspired. But for me, this 348 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,359 Speaker 1: book really started with Deborah. When I was in seminary, 349 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: I did my master's thesis on largely because I knew 350 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: her name, but I really didn't know her story. And 351 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: I think if I had been taught anything about her, 352 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 1: or her a sermon on her or teaching or anything, 353 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: it was always through this lens of well, she's the exception. 354 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: Deborah's the exception, because there were no men that were 355 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: willing to lead in Israel at the time, and that 356 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: didn't sit right with me in the sense of, you know, 357 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: realizing that she was in this patriarchal society where there 358 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: surely had to have been somebody at the time that 359 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: would have led. And so it started me down this 360 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 1: path of really understanding why Deborah was placed in a 361 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 1: position of leadership. And one of the things I love 362 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: about Debora's story is that it didn't start the moment 363 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 1: the crisis came. It started, and I think women can 364 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: resonate with this in the day to day. It started 365 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 1: with her faithfulness, and her leadership started as she served 366 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: her community well, and that was built over time. It 367 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: was built through relationship, It was built with being a 368 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,719 Speaker 1: good steward of the situations that that God had her 369 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: involve at the time, so that when the crisis came, 370 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: people trusted her. The Lord trusted her, people knew that 371 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: she was faithful, and she had a relationship with the Lord. 372 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 1: And I think oftentimes our leadership or our ability to 373 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: lead through whatever God is calling us to lead in 374 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 1: or serve in, doesn't start the moment the crisis hits. 375 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: It starts in the day to day faithfulness and being 376 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: a good steward of the things that God puts in 377 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: front of us in our daily moments and the way 378 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: we raise our kids, and the way that we take 379 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 1: care of our house and the way that we care 380 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: for our friends. All of those things are built into 381 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 1: us because it's really the training ground that God uses 382 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: to develop us spiritually. 383 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely well, we are going to take another brief break, 384 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 2: and when we return, we'll talk about what it means 385 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: to obey God's voice and speak boldly as women of 386 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 2: faith welcome back. Hearing God's voice is one thing that 387 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 2: obeying it, like we've talked about, can feel really scary. 388 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 2: What do you say is the biggest obstacle to obedience? 389 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 2: And how do you think we overcome them? 390 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: You know, I think often a lack of obedience, especially 391 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 1: for women who love the Lord, it's not necessarily intentional. 392 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 1: I've rarely met a woman that has said I'm just 393 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 1: gonna blatantly be disobedient to the Lord. It's more often, 394 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: like the story you shared, there is fear, there, there's insecurity, there, 395 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: there is maybe doubt like can I really do this? 396 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: Is this really what the Lord is calling me to do? 397 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: Or sometimes it's inexperience. Maybe God puts us in a 398 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: situation where we really don't know what we're doing, and 399 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: there's an insecurity of not having our plan filled out 400 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: step by step. And I think sometimes what we have 401 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: to do is we have to take a step back 402 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: and recognize that number one, the Lord knows what he's doing, 403 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: and number two, he often works best through flawed people. 404 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: You know, any of these women in this book that 405 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,239 Speaker 1: I that I talk about, they're not the heroes of 406 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: the story. God is the hero of the story. He 407 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: uses perfect women in imperfect situations to showcase that he 408 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,239 Speaker 1: is a perfect God. And I think sometimes if we 409 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: can just take a step back and recognize that it's 410 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: not really about us We're just a tool that God 411 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: is using in the moment, but He is responsible for 412 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: the outcome. And I think if we can do that 413 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: and surrender the outcome to him, good, bad, or ugly 414 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,719 Speaker 1: or something in between, then it kind of takes the 415 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: heat off of us, or the pressure off of us 416 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: to look at our performance versus what God wants to do. 417 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: And there is such a nuance to this, because none 418 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: of this is perfect. There's always going to be a 419 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: level of insecurity because of the dynamics of our relationship 420 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: with the Lord. Very few times do I hear an 421 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: audible voice that God is saying, go to the left 422 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: to do this thing. It's more often a feeling or 423 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 1: a knowing or a presence where God is reminding me 424 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: something or showing me something in the spirit, and I 425 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: have to take that step of faith of speaking out 426 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: about the thing that He is calling me to speak 427 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: out of. Remember a situation not too long ago where 428 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: I was in a McDonald's and there was actually somebody 429 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: that pretty much everybody else in the restaurant was staying 430 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: away from. And I won't get into all the dynamics 431 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: of it, but it was in a kind of a 432 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: bad part of town, and I had my daughter with me, 433 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: and it was like, man, I don't I feel drawn 434 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,640 Speaker 1: to this person, which contrary to how like my mama 435 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: Bear it sinks, typically would be. And I remember just thinking, like, 436 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: I think that the Lord wants me to speak to 437 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: this person, but I don't. I don't really know how 438 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: to do that. I don't know that they would even 439 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: be open to that. So I remember just praying, like, Lord, 440 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: if you want me to speak up or to speak 441 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 1: to this person, I need you to show me this. 442 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 1: I need you to open a window and help me 443 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: know for sure it's one hundred percent for you from you, 444 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: because otherwise it's probably not safe to do that. And 445 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: a second later, this person shouts to me across McDonald's 446 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: and he says, hey, I'm sorry for cussing in front 447 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: of your kids, and that little Lisebert's like, okay, there's 448 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: your window. And so it was an opportunity for me 449 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 1: to just speak to this person and just very easily 450 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: encourage him and let him know that the Lord saw him. 451 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: There's a reason why the Lord put him on my 452 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: heart that day, and I was able to pray with 453 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:09,719 Speaker 1: him and encourage him in a way that was so 454 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 1: special and so sweet. There was a testimony to my 455 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: daughter who was witnessing that, and even probably a testimony 456 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: to the other people in that McDonald's, because this is 457 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 1: somebody that probably didn't have a lot of people just 458 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,199 Speaker 1: on a random afternoon speaking God's love to him. But 459 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:28,239 Speaker 1: it helped me understand that sometimes there might be a 460 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: very glaring, open, blatant window of opportunity, and sometimes it's 461 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: a little bit more nuanced where we have to surrender 462 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: that and say, Okay, Lord, I don't know, but I 463 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: trust you and will you show me? And he's faithful 464 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: to do that. He's faithful to show up in those situations, 465 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: especially when he wants us to do something on his behalf. 466 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,479 Speaker 2: I love that story. I don't necessarily know how that 467 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 2: man responded to you, but i'd love to know. You know, 468 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 2: sometimes when we're obedient, we see the immediate fruit or 469 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 2: the immediate result of that obedience, but oftentimes we don't, 470 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 2: and so I think that's when it's really hard. And 471 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 2: even through scripture you see people who are obedient and 472 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 2: then never saw the fruit of their labor. So how 473 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 2: do we continue to persevere and be faithful even in 474 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 2: those times. 475 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: One of my favorite stories is just remembering the story 476 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,959 Speaker 1: of Ruth, and Ruth was faithful and obedient and she 477 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: had no idea that Jesus was going to come eventually 478 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: through her family line. We sometimes won't see the evidence 479 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 1: of our obedience this side of heaven. That's the reality 480 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,640 Speaker 1: of it. But I think if we're talking about living 481 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,199 Speaker 1: a life surrender to the Lord, we have to do 482 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 1: everything that we're doing because of the Kingdom impact. Because 483 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: the impact is for the Kingdom, not for our ego, 484 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: not for our own evidence that we're called or whatever 485 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: it is. It's really to make an impact eternally. And 486 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 1: the reality is is there is a Kingdom impact both 487 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 1: to us using our voice and also to us not 488 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:56,959 Speaker 1: using our voice. And I think the thing that scares 489 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: me more is the Kingdom impact to me keeping my 490 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: mind I'll shut. You know, I might not see evidence 491 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 1: this side of heaven of me using my voice, but 492 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: I know that there will be evidence to me keeping 493 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: my mouth shut. If I'm not praying for somebody and 494 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: God calls me to pray for them, even from a 495 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 1: salvation perspective, if the other believers around that person don't 496 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: share the hope of the gospel of that person, and 497 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 1: they end up not making a decision to follow Christ 498 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: based off of nobody sharing with them. To me, that's 499 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: the scariest of all, and so it no longer is 500 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,679 Speaker 1: about me at that point. It really becomes a matter 501 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: of Kingdom impact, for good or for bad. 502 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 2: What would you say to the person listening right now 503 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,120 Speaker 2: that just says I feel like God is silent. You're 504 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 2: talking about hearing God's voice and me obedient and being 505 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 2: obedient to that, but I don't hear him at all. 506 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 2: What would you say? 507 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:48,879 Speaker 1: I'd so open your bible. There have been seasons in 508 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: my life, and don't get me wrong, there are different 509 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: reasons for silence in our relationship with Lord. Sometimes that's sin. 510 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: Times it is our own distance. Sometimes it's because it's 511 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,880 Speaker 1: a season that the Lord wants us to lean in 512 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: and read his word. You know, he communicates to us 513 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: through the Word. We all have Bibles in our homes, 514 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 1: and so many times I would have a woman say 515 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: that to me, and my question for her would be, well, 516 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:16,439 Speaker 1: what are you reading in the Word? And sometimes we 517 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: have to remember that it's not about what verse jumps 518 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:22,479 Speaker 1: off of the page while we're reading that chapter. But 519 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: it's really more about our presence. His presence with us 520 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: while we're spending time with him that can be so impactful. 521 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: Whether we see evidence of it or not. We have 522 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: to go by what we know, not by what we feel. 523 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: And what we know is that His word is living 524 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 1: and active. We may not see evidence of that in 525 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:42,879 Speaker 1: that ten minutes that we're spending in God's word, but 526 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 1: we have to believe that God is building something in us. 527 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: So then later we learn to recognize his word because 528 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: it's familiar to us because we've spent time reading his words. 529 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: It's the same thing of you know, when we're in 530 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 1: relationship with other people, our children, or our husband or 531 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: our best friend, we recognize their voice when they call 532 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 1: on the phone because we've spent time with them listening 533 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,199 Speaker 1: to them speak. They no longer have to share who 534 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 1: it is that's calling because we recognize their voice, even 535 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: if it's in a situation that we weren't prepared for. 536 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: If my husband calls in the middle of the day, 537 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: I know he's supposed to be at work, but when 538 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 1: I pick up the phone, I know it's his voice 539 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:19,919 Speaker 1: because I've spent time with him. I think it's the 540 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 1: same way with our relationship with the Lord. 541 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, me too. So is there a biblical concept 542 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 2: of love that you think applies to this topic. 543 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: I think God's heart for us, because he is love, 544 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: is not just for us to know him, but also 545 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: to be known by him. And I think oftentimes we 546 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: put these barriers up around us because of our past hearts, 547 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: or because of maybe even spiritual leadership that has maybe 548 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: gotten something wrong in our lives, where we often equate 549 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: that with the Lord. But I think his pursuit of 550 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,439 Speaker 1: us is his love story to us, and that is 551 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: evidenced throughout this entire storyline, this meta narrative of scripture 552 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: that is essentially his rescue plan to reconcile us to himself. 553 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,479 Speaker 1: And so I think what better way than to clearly 554 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 1: understand who he is and his heart for us through 555 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 1: his word and the things he's saying to us through 556 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: his word. And so that's really my prayer for this book, 557 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,679 Speaker 1: that the Moon would recognize that we don't have to 558 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: overcomplicate this, that it's God's heart, that we would recognize 559 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: his voice, and so when we ask him for help 560 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: in that area, it's almost an answer of his love 561 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 1: notes for us, as he starts speaking those over our lives. 562 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's his love letter to us. So tell us 563 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 2: something you are loving right now. 564 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 1: You know, I am in a season, very busy season 565 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 1: of writing and podcasting and researching my next book and 566 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: all the things, and there comes a point in the 567 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 1: day where I have to just shut my brain off 568 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,919 Speaker 1: and not do anything that is making me productive. And 569 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 1: so this is so silly, but my kids and I 570 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: have been watching this YouTube show. It is like The 571 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: Office meets the Old Testament. It's called The Promised Land. 572 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: I don't know if you've seen it or not. No, 573 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: it is like, don't think like the Chosen This is 574 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 1: not that, this is like and it's not like heretical, 575 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,239 Speaker 1: but it is like literally the Office meets Moses, and 576 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:18,680 Speaker 1: it is cracking us up. And so we've been watching 577 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,479 Speaker 1: that and it just brings me so much joy. I've 578 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 1: been sending clips in shorts of it to my friends. 579 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: So check it out because it's super fun. 580 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm going to have to check that out and 581 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 2: I'll post it in the show notes too, So that's fun. 582 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 2: I need the brain break sometimes too, so I get that. Well, 583 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,199 Speaker 2: I know, I want to stay connected with you. I'm 584 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 2: sure listeners are going to want to so tell us 585 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 2: how we can best do that. 586 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: You can just go to Rachelgirl dot com and that's 587 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: where you can find all the things, the books and 588 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: the podcasts, all of that. It's also the Hearing Jesus 589 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,240 Speaker 1: podcast and we also have the Hearing Jesus for Kids podcasts, 590 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 1: So pretty much anywhere you get your podcasts you can 591 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: find me. 592 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 2: Well, Rachel, would you pray for us as we close? 593 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Belly God, I thank you so much that your 594 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 1: word is your love letter to There are so many 595 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: ways that you have communicated who you are and who 596 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: you want to be in us. LORDI thank you that 597 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: your heart for us is that we would know you 598 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 1: so what I pray even now for the listeners that 599 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: they would start to even maybe just feel this quickening 600 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: in their own hearts as they recognize that even listening 601 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: to the show is one of the ways that you 602 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 1: are trying to get a hold of their heart. LORDA 603 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: thank you that you pursue us with a dynamic love 604 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: that does not give up. LORDI thank you for the 605 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: way that you do that over and over. I thank 606 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: you for Jesus. I thank you for the way that 607 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: you constantly pursue us, and I pray just in this moment, 608 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 1: that the listeners would feel overwhelmed with the pursuit of 609 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: your love and Jesus' name. Amen. 610 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 2: Amen, Thank you, Rachel. I appreciate you being my guest today. 611 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, thanks for having me so much. 612 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering Podcast. 613 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 2: I hope today's conversation encouraged and inspired you to love God, 614 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 2: love others, and even love yourself a little more. If 615 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 2: you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend and 616 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 2: leaver of you. It helps others find the show and 617 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 2: spreads the message of love even further. To connect with me, 618 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 2: visit me on my website at Rachelcadams dot com. While 619 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 2: you're there, be sure to download the Love Offering Calendar, 620 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 2: a free resource filled with simple daily ways to love 621 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 2: those around you. Don't forget to pick up a copy 622 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 2: of my book Every Day Prayers for Love, Learning to 623 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: Love God, Others, and even yourself, as well as Rachel's 624 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 2: book Knowing God's Voice What Female Profits of the Bible 625 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,239 Speaker 2: teach us about recognizing, trusting, and obeying God. Both are 626 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 2: available now wherever books are sold and We pray they 627 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 2: are meaningful resources for your faith journey. A special thank 628 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 2: you to life Audio for supporting this podcast and making 629 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 2: it possible. To find more great podcasts visit lifeaudio dot. 630 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 2: Thanks again for joining us today. Until next time, let's 631 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 2: make our lives an offering of love.