1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Entangling Prayer Podcast. I'm Rachel Woto, 2 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: and each week we unravel lifesnots through prayer. Here you'll 3 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: find practical wisdom and prayer encouragement to guide you through 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: life's hardest seasons. Join me as we untangle life's messes together, 5 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: one prayer at a time. Christy, it is such an 6 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: honor to have you on the Unentangling Prayer Podcast. Thank 7 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: you so much for being willing to take the time 8 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: out of your schedule to do this. 9 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. I'm looking forward 10 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: to it well. 11 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate the work that you do with Samaritan's Purse, 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: but I wanted to ask you a more personal question 13 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: before we dive into the work at Samaritan's Purse. I 14 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: wondered what your prayer life looked like before you started 15 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: working with Samaritans Perse and then if you saw a 16 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: change as you worked with the organization. 17 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 2: That's a really good question, and honestly, I'm thrilled to 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 2: be on here and I want to thank you. I 19 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: love your podcast and what you do, But prayer's always 20 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: been a struggle for me. I compare it to I 21 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: was an athlete played soccer. I compare it to reading 22 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: the Bible is like running to me, or lifting, you know, 23 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: something action oriented. You can tangibly take something away. But 24 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 2: prayer is more like stretching, and I think I've always 25 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,919 Speaker 2: struggled with it even today. I just as an athlete, 26 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: I'd rather go for a run than sit and stretch, 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: you know, because I think it prayer requires do you 28 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: to stop. I mean, you can pray on the go, 29 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: but I think it's just something that's more internal. You 30 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: can't see a tangible result, and so it's always been 31 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: a struggle. So I was a little hesitant to be 32 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: on here because I'm definitely not an expert. I'm learning 33 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: every day. But I will say I grew up as 34 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: an army brat. My dad was in the army, and 35 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: then I married my husband and we were in the army, 36 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,559 Speaker 2: so we faced many deployments combat, and so I think 37 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 2: my prayer life, again, the physical is easier for me, 38 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 2: you know, if somebody's hurting or if he's in war, 39 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: it was easier for me to pray, and so Psalm 40 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 2: ninety one became one of my prayer anthems. I think 41 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: when he was deployed, I would be more urgent. I 42 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: would wake up pray for him. And then when we 43 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: got out. It's not that things got easier, but you know, 44 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: the spiritual attacks, they're just unseen. So I think you 45 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 2: think you're safe or And so I've actually been convicted 46 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 2: the last two years that I think spiritually we are 47 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: probably in a greater attack. I need to be praying 48 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,119 Speaker 2: for my husband even more than when he was in 49 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: Afghanistan in the middle of a battle. It's just different. 50 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: So I think my prayer life has grown, and I 51 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 2: think I've been more convicted in the urgency. And you know, 52 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: in ministry we have an enemy. He is prowling around me. 53 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: Know that Ephaesian six tells us that. And so I 54 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 2: think being a part of a body that knows we 55 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: have an enemy, we are going to threatening places. And 56 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 2: like I said, the physical is dangerous, like we have 57 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 2: some teams in treating a bola right now. We know 58 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 2: physically that's dangerous, but we are as an organization, we're 59 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 2: more aware of the spiritual danger. You know, Satan does 60 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,399 Speaker 2: not like us sharing the Gospel, and so Samaritans perse. 61 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 2: We start as a body in devotions every morning we 62 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: read God's word but then we pray, and I love it. 63 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: We pray with our you know, whoever you're sitting with 64 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: at a table, you grab a couple of people. We 65 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: have prayer cards with our staff that are stationed overseas. 66 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 2: We pray for them by name their country office, and 67 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 2: we're able to communicate that with them. So I think 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: I've learned again the intentionality and to take seriously as 69 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: you know, God's workmanship, you know, the work that we 70 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: do for him. It's not always greeted, and you know 71 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: the enemy does not like it. So I think, right, 72 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: ebbs and flows, But I think I'm learning. You know 73 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: that physical isn't more dangerous than the spiritual. You know, 74 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 2: it's all right, we are to take everything to the Lord. 75 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: So good. 76 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: I'm still learning. 77 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, we all are, we all are. And I was 78 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: thinking about years ago, I think it was maybe twenty fifteen, 79 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: maybe earlier, when I had the first opportunity to go 80 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: to the Billy Graham Library, and the thing that stood 81 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: out to me there was every exhibit mentioned prayer in 82 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: some way, shape or form, like it would talk about 83 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: the prayer teams, or it would talk about you know, 84 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: this was the verse that we prayed at this time, 85 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: and over and over again throughout all the exhibits. So 86 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 1: I know this almost generational prayer idea has been a 87 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: part of an important part of your family's ministry for 88 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: a very long time. You mentioned that your husband, Edward 89 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: was in the army for a long time, right fifteen 90 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: sixteen years, and your family surrendered that area and moved 91 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: into working at Samaritan's person in North Carolina. That's a 92 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: big change, and I know there are people listening who say, wow, 93 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: that was a big decision. So I wondered if you 94 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: could share what praying through that decision sort of looked like, 95 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: because it can be so easy to look back on 96 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: something and see it a little more clearly than when 97 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: you're walking through it. 98 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, I like to write those things down, 99 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: you know, because those remembrance stones where God intervenes and 100 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 2: speaks to you. But Edward and I both you know, 101 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: throughout his career in the military, every couple of years, 102 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 2: you know, you move, you change jobs. Transition is just 103 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 2: a part of the army, and so we would always say, okay, Lord, 104 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: before we commit to this two three year contract, is 105 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 2: this where you want us? And so we just constantly 106 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: were praying, Lord, is this where you want us? Close 107 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: the doors? Even though we both loved it, we would 108 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 2: have stayed in forever if that was God's will. We 109 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 2: never wanted to get out. But again we were always 110 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 2: surrendered God in our heart. We're planning our course, but 111 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: you are directing our steps, was our goal. And it 112 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: just felt like for many years the Lord was, yes, 113 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: this is where you're supposed to be. And Edward's dad, 114 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 2: you know, had asked for a couple of years for 115 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 2: him to come work with the ministry and to help him, 116 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: and he just said, no, I am called here. This 117 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 2: is where I'm supposed to be. And then we entered 118 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 2: a season where again another transition was coming and we 119 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 2: just started praying and God was really changing and softening 120 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: our hearts, and it came from out of nowhere. We 121 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 2: were very surprised. We were looking forward to the next 122 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 2: army job, and very clearly the Lord and I love 123 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 2: it to both of us separately, you know, he spoke 124 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: to us. I think a lot of it like kind 125 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: of like the Angel coming to Marry and Joseph separately, 126 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 2: you know, before they would have Jesus. He really very 127 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: clearly spoke to both of us, and it was an 128 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 2: answer to prayer, you know, because we did we said, 129 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: we need it to be very clear. This is a 130 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: huge change, and ministry especially, you do not want to 131 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 2: go into ministry if you're not called so. But it 132 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 2: was it was pretty overnight, and so we very quickly 133 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: made that decision. And he got out very fast, which 134 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: is not you know, the norm necessarily, especially at sixteen years, 135 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 2: you know, retired for twenty years, that's rarely done at 136 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 2: that point. Most people get out ten years or twenty 137 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: and so people didn't even know what to do with 138 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: him in that But God was with us every step. 139 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 2: I mean, it went very quick. In fact, people were 140 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 2: very surprised. How did you get out that fast? It's 141 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 2: but because God had gone before us and gave us 142 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: favor and gave us so it was it was a 143 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: very quick transition, but it wasn't quick. 144 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: To the Lord. 145 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 2: And we could see very clearly when we got here, 146 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: as sad it was. It was. It was definitely a 147 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: laydown of our desires and our plans and our goals 148 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: for something that He had in us. But he confirmed 149 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 2: it with either, you know, whatever came in the world events, 150 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: it seemed to be. Edward was placed for such a 151 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: time as this, you know, in the coutthership role, and 152 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 2: he was able to use his background and experiences. 153 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: But it was quiet. 154 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 2: And I'll say this to people because I spent about 155 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: six months pretty depressed in tears. I was very sad. 156 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: It was a heartbreak and a loss that I'd never experienced, 157 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 2: and so I had to go to God and I 158 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,119 Speaker 2: pray scripture a lot, because sometimes I don't have the words, 159 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 2: you know, And I clung to a lot of David's 160 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: words when he would just I don't like this circumstance, 161 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: but I trust in you, you know. And God was 162 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: very sweet. He didn't have to do this, but he 163 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: would confirm in small ways, this is when I'm here 164 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 2: for such a time as this. You know, this is 165 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 2: a job. Again, God can use anybody. But we felt 166 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 2: that Emphasians two ten, that we are where His workmanship 167 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 2: created in Christ Jesus, for work that He had in 168 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: advance for us to do. And it was very clear 169 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 2: in those early days and it still is that God 170 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 2: wanted us here and we could do more for His 171 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: kingdom than where we were. And again we tell people 172 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: in the military, we need godly people and leader in 173 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 2: the military too, my brother and my cousins. I still 174 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: have a lot of family that are in and we 175 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 2: tell them stay in as long as he wants you there, 176 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 2: you know, because the center of the Lord's will, that's 177 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 2: where you're the most useful. And so we were just 178 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 2: embracing what the Lord had for us, and we still are. 179 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,839 Speaker 2: But when I do and I still struggle with it 180 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 2: because I still have family in the military, so our 181 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 2: paths cross a lot, and I still ache and long 182 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 2: for that life. But I have to again go to 183 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,079 Speaker 2: those remembrance stones. You know, the times were God clearly 184 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 2: I can remember, and I've written him down. He called me, 185 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 2: he said this, you know, So because we forget, we're forgetful, yes, 186 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: and we have to remember the ways that He's been 187 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 2: faithful in the past, and that helps launch us for 188 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 2: the future. So I guess I like the people. 189 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: It's a journey, yes, Yes, I like the word that 190 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: you used to though favor. When God uses other people 191 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: to kind of show you that path, that's very helpful. 192 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: And then also that internal peace where you just know 193 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: that you know, and there's no real logical explanation, you 194 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: just know that God has called you and that piece 195 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: that He brings into your heart as a result. I 196 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: was listening to the podcast on the Ground with Samaritan's Purse, 197 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: of which you are the host, and I was listening 198 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: to the episode Praising God through the Storm. I wondered 199 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: if hosting that show kind of feeds your prayer life 200 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 1: a little bit because you're talking to so many people 201 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: who are in hard spaces. 202 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 2: Oh, it definitely does. And I love being in the field. 203 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 2: You know, going to Mississippi was an honor. I mean 204 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 2: to sit with people, you know, in the midst of 205 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: their grief, but that are praising the Lord. And one 206 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 2: of those pastors they were meeting for their Wednesday night 207 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 2: service when the tornado hit and they began praying and 208 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 2: singing hymns and praising to the Lord. And you know, 209 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 2: they told told us that that we were just praising 210 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 2: the Lord and open handed God. If I you know, 211 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 2: to live as Christ, to die is gain, you know, 212 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 2: if we have more work for us to do. But 213 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: they just had that confidence and it did. It just 214 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 2: encouraged my heart. I mean, because some homeowners we meet 215 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 2: don't know Christ, and that is that is why we go. 216 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 2: Because I can't imagine facing, you know, devastation without the Lord. 217 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 2: But then we also go to encourage and bolster the 218 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 2: church when they're down, and because that's when the community 219 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: needs the light the most. But it does. It encourages 220 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 2: me so much. And I think it's hard to share 221 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: heavy stories, but it's also a joy because and you 222 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 2: shared it, I think recently in Exodus. You know, I 223 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 2: love that the presence of God goes with us, you know, 224 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: even if physically our circumstances aren't lifted or the hardship 225 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 2: or what we're facing, but His presence is with us, 226 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: and in the presence there's a psalms. I believe. In 227 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: the presence is the fullness of joy, you know, And 228 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 2: that's what we encounter every single time. And we always 229 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,839 Speaker 2: partner with the local church. A local church hosts us, 230 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: hosts our teams, and then again we work with them 231 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 2: because we know they will be there after our work 232 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 2: is done. We will stay as long as our work 233 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 2: orders to complete and as long as there's work to 234 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 2: be done, but we will eventually leave and the church remains. 235 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 2: And so we want people to know that that's where 236 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 2: they can come for discipleship and ongoing care. But they 237 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: see a difference in the way the church handles things, 238 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 2: you know, because in the presence is the fullness of 239 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 2: joy and have joy even when the roof's blown off 240 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: our church or we don't have you know, everything's taken 241 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 2: away physically, right, we'll see that Christians still have joy. 242 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,239 Speaker 2: And I love again serving with each of our volunteers 243 00:11:56,240 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: that come. And many come with heartache, you know, their caretape, 244 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 2: making an aging parent, or they have a child. You know, 245 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 2: it's just they come with their heartache, and yet they 246 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 2: are so joyful serving these homeowners and they're able to 247 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 2: sit with them and their grief, and just that ministry 248 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 2: of presence is always I come home just LORDA, I 249 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 2: want to do more for you, you know, help me to 250 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 2: see needs around me even when there's not a storm. 251 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:23,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think it can be so scary for people, 252 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: so much so that I was thinking about, you know, 253 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 1: being deployed to Africa to work in the Ebola training 254 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: and you have these doctors and nurses that are working 255 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: on this. So many people want to run away from 256 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 1: situations like that. They're doing everything they can to box 257 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: themselves in separate themselves from places where real danger exists. 258 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: These diseases are deadly, and so as you look at 259 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: these situations where Samaritans Purse comes running in when everyone 260 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: else is running away from it, what do you think 261 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: that does to the team's prayer life. I just I 262 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: kind of wish I could be in one of those 263 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: moments where they're deploying, just to feel God's presence in 264 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: that moment. I'm sure you can describe it better than 265 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: I have. 266 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: It's it's amazing. And again, I love being in the 267 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 2: field and I actually got to go. We do a 268 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: lot of training for infectious disease and in Bola, you know, 269 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 2: in and out of season, but they did a big 270 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 2: training before this team left and getting to be with 271 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 2: team members that have been on many experiences that are dangerous, 272 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 2: and then we're signing up for this Ebola response, which 273 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: is very scary. I mean it is, you know, not 274 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: an easy disease. It's very contagious, and they know they 275 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 2: are stepping into the fire. And like you said, that's 276 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 2: what we say all the time spars. First, we run 277 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 2: into the fire, you know, when everyone's running out, we 278 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 2: run in and Edwin, I love it so much. I 279 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 2: think that's it's so similar to the military, where you 280 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 2: are serving above yourself, you know, but again it's an 281 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 2: eternal service here, which is so different. But I think 282 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 2: prayer and scripture are our lifeline. We couldn't do it 283 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 2: without the encouragement. And yeah, they say, I mean, they say, 284 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 2: you know, as a team, they pray out loud. I 285 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 2: think there is power in that. But they also say 286 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 2: they're just constantly praying. Lord, I don't know what to do, 287 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 2: but my eyes are on you, you know, God, I 288 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 2: need direction. I mean they put that they're in Yes, 289 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 2: we do train our teams and we want to be 290 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 2: very knowledgeable and qualified, but there's obviously things that come 291 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 2: up that are surprises. You don't know what you're going 292 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 2: to expect until you get in the field. So they 293 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 2: say that dependency, which again we should live in all 294 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 2: the time. And our teams say, you know, it's hard 295 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 2: when you come home and you're in an insulated bubble 296 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 2: where you have so much security in the insecure environments, 297 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 2: we should always be feeling that way, right, that depridency 298 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 2: on God. But when you're stripped of everything and all 299 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 2: you have is the Lord, they again, their faith is 300 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 2: just They're some of my favorite people they have seen 301 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 2: God do big things because they've stepped out. You know. 302 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 2: It's like Peter stepping out of the boat. You know, 303 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 2: he stepped out of the comfort to go meet with Jesus, right, 304 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 2: and he did fall because he got afraid, like you 305 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 2: know we all would. But I love that the winds 306 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 2: and the waves are always there. But when he took 307 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: his eyes off Jesus, that's when he fell. And I 308 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 2: love how Jesus he didn't. He helped him first, and 309 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 2: then he rebuked him right. And I think our teams, 310 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 2: that's what they learn, is that Jesus, you know, he 311 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 2: is with us his presence, and when we doubt or 312 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 2: when we have a setback, he is right there with us, 313 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: you know, to remind us of just that dependence that 314 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 2: we need. And again we need it every day. 315 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: We think of that. 316 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 2: But our teams, you know, they just every time I'm 317 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: with them or get to be seeing in the field, 318 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 2: it's just that we should be this dependent reliant on 319 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: Him every day. 320 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: I often say it's prayer, it's his presence, and it's 321 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: his promises. When we have nothing else that we can 322 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: hold on to, we can hold on to those three things, 323 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: and those are intangible. They're not something we can hold 324 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: in our hand necessarily, not something we can see with 325 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: our eyes. But when everything is stripped away from us, 326 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: then we still have those three things. They still remain. 327 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: So I love that so much. In your work, I'm 328 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: sure though, that you often see people don't get the 329 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 1: answers that they were praying for. And one of the 330 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: hardest things is when the answer from God to our 331 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: prayers is a hard stop. No, I didn't give you 332 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: the answer. In my own life, I felt that in 333 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: the way of my daughter's disease. I had a special 334 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: needs daughter that I cared for for twenty two years 335 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: who had a rare metabolic disorder, and that disorder took 336 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: her life at the age of twenty two. She is 337 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: whole and happy in heaven. But our healing didn't happen 338 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: on this earth. The healing that we prayed for happened 339 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: in heaven. And I know that you have to answer 340 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: that question sometimes when you're out and about, even when 341 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: you're talking about the work that Samaritans person does. So 342 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: I wondered if you could say, may we share with 343 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: us how you keep praying in confidence even when God 344 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: doesn't answer the prayer the way you wanted him to. 345 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 2: Thank you for sharing that, and I'm sorry for your loss. 346 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 2: I think I heard you. Her name's Taylor correct. Thank 347 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 2: you for sharing and for loving her. Yeah, I think 348 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 2: that's one of the hardest parts, right, And I'll come 349 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 2: back to Even being in the military, I had one 350 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 2: of my best friends. Her husband was killed. He did 351 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 2: the same job as my husband. They were in different battalions, 352 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 2: but sammcjact job company commanders. She prayed for him. I 353 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 2: prayed for mine. Mine stepped on a bunch of land 354 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 2: minds and it had a lot of things where he 355 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,120 Speaker 2: could have, you know, passed away and the Lord saved him, 356 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,360 Speaker 2: you know. And she even wrestles with that, Why did 357 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 2: God answer your prayers? So why did he not answer mine? 358 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 2: And it's just a person. It's hard and it's heavy, 359 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 2: and there's a tension we'll always live with here, right, 360 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 2: could be great, But I think what I come back 361 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 2: to and our staff. I love Jesus's prayer in the 362 00:17:54,640 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 2: garden guestsemone when he is bliss sweating blood and says, Lord, 363 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 2: if there's any other way, please take this cup, you know, 364 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 2: but not my will yours be done? And we talk 365 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 2: about this a lot. Our staff, a lot of them 366 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 2: talk about this. 367 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: You know. 368 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 2: It's that we can be honest, we can be vulnerable, 369 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 2: we can ask big things and give the Lord, you know, 370 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 2: tell them what's on our heart. But at the end 371 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: of the day, we land with not my will yours 372 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 2: be done. Your ways are not our ways. And it's 373 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 2: hard to say. And yes, we have had in fact 374 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 2: with this ebola, with two American doctors that got ebola 375 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 2: and went and got treatment and have survived. And then 376 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 2: we lost two of our DRC you know, national staff 377 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 2: to ebola, and it's just it's grieving where we're praying 378 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,239 Speaker 2: and begging God for both of them to be all 379 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 2: of them to be healed. And why I don't know, 380 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: but it's that not my will yours be done. And 381 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 2: so that is why our teams can continue. In Another 382 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: prayer is the Shadrack Meshack Invidigo. You know when they 383 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 2: went into the fiery furnace. You think of how they said, 384 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 2: I know my God can save us. Even if not, 385 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 2: we're going to go into that fire, we will not bow. 386 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 2: And that is again and I think that's why I 387 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 2: love your podcast because I think when we hear others 388 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 2: testify to God, the goodness of God in the hard times. 389 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 2: I mean again, when you say praise the Lord, he 390 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 2: is good, he is faithful. I think it means more, 391 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 2: you know, knowing your prayers weren't answered in the way 392 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 2: you wanted them. And again, some of our staff, some 393 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: of my favorite people are the ones that live in 394 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: countries where they're persecuted. I'm thinking of right now a 395 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 2: pastor that in the Middle East, and he said, suffering 396 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 2: is the vitamin of the church. And you know, he 397 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 2: says all the time the churches I work with, and 398 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 2: he was very instrumental in rebuilding and training pastors in 399 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 2: Sudan that churches were bombed, and he was very big 400 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 2: on to live as Christ. To die is gain. You know, 401 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 2: the ones that go before us, we are going to 402 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: honor them by training more pastors. And again he just says, 403 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 2: we don't pray for protection. You will never hear a 404 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,919 Speaker 2: persecuted church praying for protection. They will pray for boldness, 405 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 2: they will pray that their faith won't fail. And I'll 406 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 2: actually read Paul, I love Ephesian six, as I said, 407 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 2: the armor of God is so important. I pray over 408 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 2: that often, but he goes on later and says, pray 409 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:05,919 Speaker 2: also for me that the message may be given to 410 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 2: me when I open my mouth to make known with 411 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 2: boldness the mystery of the Gospel. And for this I'm 412 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 2: an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold 413 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 2: enough to speak about as I should. And I think 414 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 2: I see time and time again where staff that haven't 415 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 2: gotten the prayers they wanted, things are still hard. We 416 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 2: have a team member on our team who has a 417 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 2: disease that is debilitating and he's always in pain, and 418 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 2: that thorn in his flesh has not been removed, but 419 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 2: he has such a boldness for the Gospel. And Lord, 420 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 2: as long as there's breath in my lungs, even if 421 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 2: it hurts to move, I'm gonna move for you. And 422 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 2: I just love that prayer that Paul had pray that 423 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 2: I would be bold for the Gospel every time I 424 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 2: open my mouth. So as a long answer, but I 425 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: think I just learn time and time again, we do pray, 426 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 2: we do give God our concerns, but again, it's not 427 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 2: going to change the circumstances. It's going to change our hearts. 428 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 2: It's going to change our relationship with Him and again, 429 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 2: love that presence with the Lord. The joy is the 430 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 2: presence of the Lord, not the answer, you know, prayer 431 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 2: being answered. 432 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: Yes, God is interested in so much more than answering 433 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: our prayers. He wants to be the answer to our prayers. 434 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: He wants to be our answer, and that relationship is 435 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: above all. Think to give one word to what you're saying, 436 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 1: it's the word surrender, and so many of us struggle 437 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: with that. I like to be in control. I'll be 438 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,640 Speaker 1: the first to admit, and I've just over the years 439 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:38,160 Speaker 1: learned that God is in control. And when I trust 440 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: Him and his ways that I can't comprehend, then I 441 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 1: have the peace, I have the joy, I have the 442 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 1: fruits of living with His spirit because I am surrendered 443 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: fully and holy to what He wants. So love everything 444 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: that you share there. I have to share this with 445 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,719 Speaker 1: you because I would be remiss, I think if I 446 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: didn't before we attack this last question. Or maybe maybe 447 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: attack is not the right word, but I probably wouldn't 448 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: be sitting here in front of you today if it 449 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: were not for your legacy that has come before you. 450 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: And I know you sort of married into this legacy. 451 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: If you will this gospel legacy. But my father in 452 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: law and his brother were in this early sixties, parents 453 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:33,199 Speaker 1: that had come across to America for a new life, 454 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: and they were struggling with addictions alcohol. They both played 455 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: music in the bars, and one night my uncle came 456 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: to the Lord and said, I need something. This is 457 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: not the life that I know that you have for me. 458 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: There's something wrong. And he turned on the radio, heard 459 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: a Salvation message preached by Billy Graham and came to 460 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: know Jesus as his Then he was so changed and 461 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: so thrilled with the Gospel that he told his brother, 462 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: my father in law, who then became to know Christ 463 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,439 Speaker 1: as his savior, who then went home, poured all his 464 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: alcohol down the drain, and his wife, my mother in law, 465 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,360 Speaker 1: could hardly believe what she was seeing because she had 466 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 1: these strongholds that had been in her life for generations. 467 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: Both my father in law and my uncle went to 468 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: seminary and both served the Lord as evangelists and pastors 469 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: for over fifty years each. My father in law just 470 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: went to heaven two years ago, but my uncle by 471 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: marriage is still serving the Lord in ministry. And I 472 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,199 Speaker 1: just think maybe sometimes you don't get to hear like 473 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 1: the longevity of the impact. I'm sure you hear about 474 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: people who came to know Christ under those ministries, but 475 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: this is generational and that my husband probably wouldn't even 476 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: be in church today if it were not for the 477 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: salvation of his parents in the sixties listening to those 478 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: Billy Graham radio shows. And I just had to share 479 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: that with you while I have you on here today. 480 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:22,199 Speaker 1: It really isn't related to prayer other than I believe 481 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: that it was the answer to someone's prayer, probably my 482 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: uncle initially. And so as we look at this last 483 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: question for the listener listening right now, who says I'm 484 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: praying for something that hasn't been answered, there's this diagnosis, 485 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: a loss, a very long way, a job transition. What 486 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,199 Speaker 1: would you want that person to know? Because you've stood 487 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 1: in a lot of hard places, and I feel like 488 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 1: you probably have something that you could share that would 489 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: be helpful for that person. 490 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 2: First of all, yeah, I'm sorry again I said it's hard. 491 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 2: When Paul talked about too please take this thorn from me, 492 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,479 Speaker 2: God take it, you know, he begged the Lord and 493 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 2: he didn't. And but then he said, I boast in 494 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 2: my weaknesses, you know, because in my weakness, your power 495 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 2: is manifested. I love that that in First Corinthians. I 496 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:16,920 Speaker 2: believe twelve and I think, so that's what I want 497 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 2: to say. The assignment you've been given in hardship, that's 498 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 2: a tough assignment, right, I'd rather have the assignment of 499 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 2: I'm an evangelist and I get to go share the gospel, 500 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 2: or I get to be you know, a missionary doctor. 501 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 2: God give me that assignment. But I think for you listening, 502 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 2: you know that's struggling. That's the assignment you've been given, 503 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 2: and it's really hard. It's a hard one. So first 504 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 2: of all, you can't do it alone. You need the 505 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 2: presence of the Lord. You need his scripture. And I love, 506 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 2: I love God's word because there's so many people that 507 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 2: had that same issue. David Hebakuk. I mean, I'm just 508 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 2: thinking of so many that God though this, this, this, 509 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:52,479 Speaker 2: Yet I will praise you. You know, you think of 510 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,640 Speaker 2: just the darkness that many faced that went before us. 511 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,880 Speaker 2: So seeing the goodness of God in your hardship. And look, 512 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 2: in fact, there was a pow and World War two. 513 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 2: You know that said in every circumstance, you know, I 514 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 2: would try to praise the Lord for three things, you know, 515 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,479 Speaker 2: and you think Corey ten Boon was very similar and Betsy, 516 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 2: you know, they would praise God for the fleas or 517 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 2: you know, they would praise But in every hard thing, 518 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 2: there are things you can praise. And again you have 519 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,400 Speaker 2: sometimes you have to look really hard, and I do. 520 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 2: I know a lot of people with way heavier loads 521 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:26,640 Speaker 2: than me, and so when I feel like things are hard, 522 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 2: I look to them. But there's always things to praise 523 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 2: the Lord. And sometimes and I love what you said 524 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 2: earlier about the prayer, presence and promises. Sometimes it's the 525 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 2: promises of God in the past, you know. And I 526 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,479 Speaker 2: think of Psalm one thirty six, God is faithful and 527 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 2: that saw them alone lists out, you know, all the 528 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 2: things that the Israelites got to see God do. But 529 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,679 Speaker 2: then reach out to someone else. I would say, you know, 530 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 2: find fellowship and community, because Saytan wants you to isolate. 531 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,640 Speaker 2: He wants you to think I'm the only one struggling 532 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 2: with this. And I think Johnny Ricksintada said, if you're 533 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 2: depressed or you're struggling, go serve somebody else. And if 534 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,880 Speaker 2: Johnny Syntata can say that and she can get outside 535 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 2: of herself then I can. And I've actually been in 536 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 2: the hospital. My mother in law's been in the hospital 537 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 2: this week and so I've been sitting in there a 538 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:12,160 Speaker 2: lot this week, and she is so amazing. People will 539 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 2: come to see her and pray with her, and she 540 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: will pray for them. You know, she's one of those 541 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:19,680 Speaker 2: that she's in pain in her hospital bed and people 542 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 2: are coming. And somebody came the other day and she said, 543 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 2: just let me stop right now. She was sharing what's 544 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 2: been going on, and she said, let me pray for you. 545 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 2: And I think that's what I see. But you know 546 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 2: a lot of my family members is they praise the 547 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 2: Lord and pray for others. You know, when you're absorbed 548 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 2: with yourself, it makes it worse. But when you look 549 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 2: outside and we are also Galatian, says Carrie, one another's burdens. 550 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 2: You're not meant to do it alone. And that's why 551 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 2: I love Samarin's purse. You know, we want to come 552 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 2: alongside people in their struggle. We get to go to 553 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 2: people in the ditches of life because they're not meant 554 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 2: to stay there alone. You know, I just love again. 555 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 2: I want to bring up if people listen, if you 556 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 2: don't know the good Samaritan. That's what Smarn's purse is 557 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 2: based off. This levite and a priest passed him. Religious 558 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 2: godly people passed by this man, and again it would 559 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,000 Speaker 2: have caused them harm, would have caused them danger. You know, 560 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 2: it was a risk to take on this man. But 561 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 2: the Samaritan he went. But I love the action that 562 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 2: he takes. But first he had compassion. So I think 563 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 2: just for somebody struggling, if you're lost your compassion or 564 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 2: you've hardened your heart, look for someone with compassion. And 565 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 2: sometimes sometimes we do have to get out of the 566 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 2: ditch or go find somebody. But pray that God, will 567 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 2: you bring someone to encourage me? Will you encourage me 568 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 2: through your word? Will you bring somebody? And then I 569 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:32,479 Speaker 2: would say, to serve somebody. It's when we serve others 570 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,439 Speaker 2: the load lightens again. Circumstances might not change, but your 571 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 2: perspective does. And I know for me, even just being 572 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 2: in the hospital, I thought things were hard and heavy 573 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: in my life, and I thought, man, I'm really doing okay. 574 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 2: You see others with needs, and so I think those 575 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 2: are three things. Just don't isolate, reach out and maybe 576 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 2: find somebody that's united because I know you probably know this. 577 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 2: The people that understand you the best are the ones 578 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 2: that have been through it, you know, as a caretaker. 579 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 2: I'm sure you needed fellowship from other caretakers, you know. 580 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: So no one understands. And that's what we see a 581 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 2: lot in the field is the Lord puts our volunteers 582 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 2: with people that have similar and again, it never this, 583 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 2: no circumstances. The same pain is pain. 584 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 1: You know. 585 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 2: You can't compare pain, but to hear somebody, yeah, I 586 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 2: know how hard and. 587 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:15,719 Speaker 1: Heavy that is. 588 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 2: You know, it's just you feel seen. And again, God, 589 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 2: above all of the people, he understands. I come back 590 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 2: to all the time that we don't serve a high 591 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 2: priest that doesn't understand. He says that in Hebrews, Jesus 592 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 2: understands your pain. He has walked this earth and says 593 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 2: he wept when Lazarus died, even though he knew he 594 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 2: would heal him. So I also want you to know 595 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 2: you are seen by a loving God, and so reach 596 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 2: out to him. His presence is powerful. 597 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: I love that so much, and amen to everything you 598 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 1: said so very important. I think about the proverb whoever 599 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: refreshes others will himself be refreshed, and that is the 600 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: way it works. I agree one hundred percent. There was 601 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: a lady years and years ago who shared with me 602 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: her story. She had throat cancer, and she said to me, 603 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: I was lying in my home feeling sorry for myself 604 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 1: and begging God to take the pain away. And she said, 605 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: I really can't explain this other than just to tell 606 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 1: you what happened. The Holy Spirit said to me, pray 607 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 1: for others. And she said, I started to argue with 608 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: God my prayer, like, really, I'm in this pain and 609 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: you want me to pray for others. And she just 610 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 1: kept feeling that over and over again, pray for others. 611 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: So she started praying for her family, praying for her community, 612 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: praying for her church. And she said that within about 613 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: twenty minutes, she realized, I'm not in pain anymore. And 614 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: she truly believes that God took away her pain when 615 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: she began to put her eyes on the needs of others, 616 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: even in that terrible cancer pain that she was in. 617 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: And I have always held on to her story because 618 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 1: I truly believe what you said is true that when 619 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: we can pause long enough to take our eyes off 620 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: of ourselves and put them on others. Then the Lord 621 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: just opens up a new wave of his mercy and 622 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: grace that we didn't even know existed. Thank you so 623 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 1: much for all that you have shared today. I'm honored 624 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 1: again that you took the time to be here. I'm 625 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,240 Speaker 1: so grateful. Is there anything you would like to leave 626 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:29,719 Speaker 1: our listeners with today? 627 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 2: I really appreciate this conversation. It's been encouraging to me 628 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 2: and I'm just again grateful for this podcast and the 629 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 2: that you remind us. You know, to fix our eyes 630 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 2: on Jesus, you know, the author and perfect of our faith, 631 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 2: and turn to him. 632 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 1: Yes, would you close us out in prayer? 633 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 2: Christy, Sure, definitely, Lord Jesus, I thank you God. I 634 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 2: thank you for your son, Jesus. I thank you that 635 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,959 Speaker 2: you know in this world we will have trouble, but 636 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 2: we can take part that Jesus has overcome the world 637 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 2: and so all the things that we talked about today. 638 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 2: I do pray for those that are struggling, that those 639 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 2: that are heartbroken, that those that are aching, that are 640 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 2: in pain. God, I pray that your presence would be 641 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: with them, that you would meet them in their pain, 642 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 2: and God that they would be able to testify and 643 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:16,480 Speaker 2: tell others about the way you met them. And Lord, again, 644 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 2: I think of that verse. You give us a piece 645 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 2: that passes all understanding. Yes, I pray for that over 646 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 2: everyone that's struggling and hurting right now. I thank you 647 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 2: for this podcast. I thank you for the reminder that 648 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 2: as we face difficulties and we untangle them with prayer. Lord, 649 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 2: you are our lifeline. You are the one that we 650 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 2: want to turn to. And so Lord, I do pray 651 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 2: for everyone listening that you would meet them right now 652 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 2: and that they would again glorify you. I just love 653 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 2: that prayer. And John seventeen were Jesus. He prays that 654 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 2: he would be glorified so that he could glorify his father. 655 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 2: And if Jesus praised, that we should be praying that. 656 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 2: So Lord, I pray that you would glorify us so 657 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 2: that we can glorify you for our success or favor, 658 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 2: but that we would be able to testify of your goodness. 659 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 2: And Lord, I just again I pray that you would 660 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 2: help us to be bold witnesses, that we would encourage others, 661 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 2: that we would be a light in this dark world. 662 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 2: And God, if anyone's listening that doesn't know you. I 663 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 2: pray Father that they would seek you and they would 664 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 2: find you. We thank you again for all that you've 665 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 2: given us. I thank you for your word. I thank 666 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 2: you for that you sanctify us with your truth, and 667 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 2: I pray that we would go boldly with that today 668 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:29,880 Speaker 2: in Jesus' name. Amen. 669 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 1: Amen. Thank you so much for listening to the Untangling 670 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 1: Prayer Podcast. I'm Rachel Wojo and remember God sees you 671 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 1: and knows your need. Thanks for joining me on the 672 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: Untangling Prayer Podcast. If this episode resonated with you, share 673 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: it with someone who could use a little hope, and 674 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: be sure to subscribe for more. Until next time, keep seeking, 675 00:33:56,040 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 1: keep trusting, and keep praying.