1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Life Audio. This is Donna Jones and you are listening 2 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: to That's just what I needed. Hey, friend, if you've 3 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: ever been in a conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, 4 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: that was just what I needed. You know how life 5 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: giving that can be, Well, that's what this podcast is 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: all about. We're women who want to know, love, and 7 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: follow God in our real lives, but sometimes wonder just 8 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: how to do it. So each week we'll talk about 9 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: what following God looks like in the midst of daily 10 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: demands and crazy cultural chaos. Because this isn't just what 11 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: we need, it's actually exactly what we need. Hey, hey, 12 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: my friend, so glad you are here for this week's 13 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: episode of the podcast. Hey, if we have not connected 14 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: on Instagram, let's do that. You will find me at 15 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: Donna A. Jones. If Instagram it's not your thing, if 16 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: you're more of a Facebook person, then we can connect 17 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: at Donna Jones, Speaker and author. Either way, I would 18 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: love to connect with you. And I don't know if 19 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: you are aware of this, but I send out a 20 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: monthly devotional newsletter. Really it's just a dose of spiritual 21 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: encouragement and if you would like a little dos of 22 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: spiritual encouragement about I don't know, every three weeks, every 23 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,839 Speaker 1: four weeks into your inbox, then why don't you hop 24 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: over to my website, Donna Jones dot org. You can 25 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: sign up for the newsletter and we'll stay connected that way. 26 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 1: And I don't know about you. I every once in 27 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: a while just need to get something in my inbox 28 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: that's frankly just uplifting. It's encouraging, and it is scriptural, 29 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: and so that's what I try to provide. So if 30 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 1: that would be something that would interest you, I would 31 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: love to connect with you that way as well. Well, 32 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: let me tell you a little bit about today's guest. 33 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: Her name is Kirby Kelly. She's just come out with 34 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: a brand new book launching this week. She's a speaker 35 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: and author, a podcast host, and she's a content creator 36 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: in Dallas, Texas. Her online presence fans, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, 37 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: and her podcast bought En Beloved, where she helps listeners 38 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 1: and viewers deepen their love for God and their knowledge 39 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: of the Word. So help me welcome my guest, Kirby Kelly. Well, Kirby, 40 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. 41 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me on. I'm so excited for our conversation. 42 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 1: I know, I am too, I am too, and Kirby. 43 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: Before we hit record, I was asking you where you live, 44 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 1: So tell us a little bit about where you live 45 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: and what you do. Yeah. 46 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: So I'm in the Dallas, Texas area. I've lived here 47 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 2: for a while now. Since I was seven, I've just 48 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 2: like pinged around North Texas. It's humongous if anyone has 49 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: ever been here. But I live here with my amazing husband, Richard. 50 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: We just celebrated five years of marriage back in October, 51 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: and we're actually expecting our first baby late April, maybe 52 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 2: early May, depending when she decides to make her grand arrival. 53 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 2: I hear the first babies are usually like a week late, 54 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 2: so we'll see. But when I'm not preparing for motherhood, 55 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 2: I do a bunch of ministry stuff. So I also 56 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 2: have a podcast called Boton Beloved. I am a speaker. 57 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: I love to just preach teach people the Word of God, 58 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 2: and I'm an author. So I came out with my 59 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 2: first book called You Can Be Free, back in twenty 60 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: twenty four, and this year I'm coming out with my 61 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 2: second book, which is called The Fabric of Hope How 62 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: God Weaves redemption into every season, and I feel like 63 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 2: I'm even though the book has already been written, I 64 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: feel like I've unlocked a new chapter just with like 65 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: motherhood in this season of walking out, like a new 66 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: thread of God's redemption in my life. So it's been 67 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: beautiful to now have the book out, but also to 68 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: be continuously living out the message that I've written. So 69 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: it's it's just a really beautiful season right now. 70 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, you are in a beautiful season, but you haven't 71 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: always been in a beautiful season. And I'm kind of 72 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: suspecting that that was maybe the impetus for writing this book, 73 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: Am I right? 74 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: Oh? Your nail on the head literally? 75 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: Okay? And I'm asking that because I don't fully know 76 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: the story. So what was the inspiration behind this book? 77 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean my whole life. Really. I feel like 78 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: since I was born, there were many parts of my 79 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 2: life that I'm so thankful for that were beautiful, that 80 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 2: work blessed by God. But there was a lot of 81 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: hardship in my life growing up. For one thing, I 82 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 2: talked about many things in my book, but one thing 83 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: from the beginning was both of my parents struggled with addiction. 84 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 2: Both my parents were alcoholics growing up, and that has 85 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 2: its own set of nuances with it. But that's just 86 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 2: hard for anybody to grow up in an environment where 87 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: either a parent or a loved one that's within your 88 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: proximity is dealing with addiction. That was something that really 89 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: just ruled and reigned over my life, like I said, 90 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 2: ever since I was born, and when I was ten 91 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: years old, my dad ended up passing away from his addiction. 92 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 2: A couple of years ago, back in twenty twenty three, 93 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 2: my mom died from her addiction as well, and after 94 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 2: a whole set of complications and everything. And I feel 95 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 2: like that has been the biggest catalyst for this book, 96 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 2: sprinkled with a bunch of other difficulties, nuances, seasons, traumatic 97 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: things that have. 98 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: Happened to me. 99 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 2: But I think living in a constant environment of chaos 100 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 2: for me, it was really hard for me to kind 101 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: of reconcile that for a while with this God who 102 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: is so good. If God is so good, why would 103 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: he allow my parents to struggle with this? If God 104 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 2: is so good, why would he allow me to endure 105 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: just all the blows that come with being the child 106 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: who has to step up as a parent in some 107 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: of these situations, and I didn't get saved until I 108 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 2: was fourteen years old. So I lost my dad when 109 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: I was ten. I've grieved without hope, got radically saved 110 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: at the same time my mom relapsed, and was able 111 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 2: to navigate that season with hope for the first time 112 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 2: in my life, not just the hope of the Gospel 113 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 2: for my own sanctification and salvation journey and all those things, 114 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: but as it pertained to the really difficult seasons that 115 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 2: I couldn't control, that I couldn't necessarily leave. I mean, 116 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: this was happening in my home life. 117 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: I couldn't leave that. 118 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 2: And so going throughout my life just in so much chaos, 119 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: I was also able to once I gave my life 120 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 2: to the Lord and really pressed into him, leaned into him, 121 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 2: and began to learn about his nature, his character, his presence, 122 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 2: all those things and more. I was able to understand that, oh, 123 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: you were a God who also brings joy and peace 124 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 2: and order and hope to these places where there is 125 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: chaos and disruption and often aground for hopelessness. So I 126 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 2: think that's where the book was birthed from. And there 127 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 2: are many other seasons and situations in which that came from. 128 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 2: But I've truly been able, especially in the past few 129 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 2: years with the passing of my mom, to be able 130 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 2: to have a new understanding of what it looks like 131 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: to grieve with hope, to lament with hope, to hold 132 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 2: on to hope within the tension of chaos and order 133 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 2: and life of hurt and hope. And it's been really 134 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 2: beautiful to see that God, looking back in my whole life, 135 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 2: God has been consistent in showing up as a redeemer 136 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: in all of those places, all of those places that 137 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: I surrendered to him, all of those places that I 138 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: allowed him to step in and fother me and have 139 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 2: his will and way. And it's beautiful to see that, 140 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: even unraveling now, like I said, as I step into 141 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: this season of becoming a mom while grieving my mom, 142 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: of still seeing God's redemption and hope kind of like 143 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: a silver lining thread, just stitching all these things together 144 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: that I thought would kind of forever remain tattered and torn. 145 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: But He's the one who comes in and can bring 146 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: beauty to those places and restitch those places to be 147 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: repurposed for something that is not only good for me 148 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: and the kingdom, but glorifying to who he is. 149 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: That's so good. You used a couple of words over 150 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: and over again that I want to highlight, and then 151 00:07:58,600 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: I want to ask you a question about it. You 152 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: use the word lament, and you use the word hope. 153 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: Tell us what lament is because maybe some of our 154 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: listeners are like, huh, that's not a word you use, 155 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: you know when you're running to target every day. So 156 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: tell us what lament is. And then I want to 157 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: ask you a question about hope. 158 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I know that we all think that the Bible, 159 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: whenever we open it up, it's all just like, oh, 160 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: God is good and amazing and everything's fine in life 161 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: is wonderful. God is good and amazing and perfect in 162 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 2: all his ways. But when we really dive into reading 163 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: scripture and actually, like, at face value, reading the real 164 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 2: stories of real people who have real sin issues, who 165 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 2: live in societies and cultures and systems where they're oppressed 166 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 2: or there's injustice upon them or whatever, that there's this 167 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 2: real struggle, there's this real strife where people cry out 168 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 2: to God honestly and earnestly in the pit. From the pit, 169 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 2: I think a lot of us can relate to that. 170 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: We can think about our own life, whether it's a 171 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: season that we went through a while or recently or 172 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 2: maybe currently, we have been in the pit where we 173 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: have lamented to the Lord, cried out to God, wrestled 174 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 2: with the why, wrestled with trying to reconcile what is happening, 175 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 2: and maybe not even being able to arrive to an 176 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 2: answer from our own understanding. Like lament is truly to 177 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 2: cry out to God honestly, earnestly with the broken parts 178 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 2: of you that you just can't piece together. And I 179 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 2: think it's beautiful that when we look at Scripture, there's 180 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 2: a whole book dedicated to that. The Book of Lamentations 181 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: is all about crying out to God from the pit, 182 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 2: from the middle of the dark night and just letting 183 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 2: him know, honestly, this is where I'm at, God, this 184 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 2: is how I feel. These are the questions I have, 185 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 2: These are the grievances that I'm holding onto, these are 186 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 2: the resentments that I have. But and even in the Psalms, 187 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 2: a majority of the Psalms is lament, And in my 188 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 2: own season of grief with losing my mom recently, that 189 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 2: was something that I felt like the Lord impressed upon 190 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 2: me was you need to explore what it means to 191 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: lament because so many of us are used to praise, 192 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 2: and praise is great, praise the Lord God is good. 193 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: But we are also given permission to sing a different song, 194 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 2: which is lament. It's two different types of songs that 195 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: we need to bring to the Lord, praise and lament. 196 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 2: But the beautiful thing about lament that I've learned, and 197 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 2: this goes into the second word, is that it always 198 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: ends in this high note of hope. I've noticed that 199 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 2: when when reading the laments in the Psalms or just 200 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: throughout scripture, especially lamentations, they're being real and honest about 201 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 2: this is what's going on in my life, and it 202 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 2: doesn't seem fair, and where are you God? And what's 203 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 2: happening God? But then there's this moment, and I think 204 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 2: this is a spiritual discipline that a lot of us 205 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: need to remember. It's to remember to remember who God is. 206 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 2: And that's what shifts lament to be this place for 207 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 2: hope to take root is remembering. And I write about 208 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 2: this in the book that our hope is contingent not 209 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 2: on our circumstance, but it's contingent on the personhood of God. 210 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: The patterns of God, the promises of God, and the 211 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 2: presence of God. When we can remember the truth of 212 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 2: those four things, those four p's, those four pillars, then 213 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 2: that is the perfect breeding ground for hope to actually 214 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 2: bloom in our life. And I don't mean hope in 215 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 2: the sense of wishful thinking, like, well, you know, I 216 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 2: hope I get this job. I hope I get a 217 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 2: parking spot at the front of target or whatever. I 218 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 2: hope that my mom when she shows up to the holidays, 219 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 2: that you know, she'll be sober. There's that wishful thinking 220 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 2: with that kind of hope, and I get that. But 221 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 2: the type of hope biblically that we get to have 222 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 2: in every season and circumstance is a confident conviction that 223 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 2: is based on the truth of who God is, his personhood, 224 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 2: his patterns, his promises, and his presence. And when I 225 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 2: locked into that and realized that, oh, that's what hope is. 226 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 2: It's this confident conviction of who God is, not just 227 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 2: my circumstance, but who God is in my circumstance that 228 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 2: changed everything for me with navigating any season of hurt 229 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 2: and pain and turmoil and trauma and change. And so 230 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 2: that kind of is my definition of like what hope is, 231 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: but also how that plays into lament a song we 232 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 2: would rather not sing. But once we actually give ourselves 233 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 2: permission to sing that to the Lord, he can move 234 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 2: in that place where we can actually move to hope. 235 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 1: And teach us more about him and his ways. Yeah, 236 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 1: this is so good. So we're going to take just 237 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: a quick break and when we come back, I want 238 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: you to explore a little bit more about how to 239 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 1: get that hope. You talked about those four pillars, but 240 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 1: I want to dive a little deeper because everybody listening 241 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: needs hope. There's nobody listening that doesn't need hope. So 242 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: we're going to dive into that, and I really want 243 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: to pick your brain about that because Curby, I told 244 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: you the podcast is that's just what I needed, and 245 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: there's nobody that doesn't need hope. We can do a 246 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: lot of things and bear up a lot of burdens, 247 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: but if we lose hope, then we really can't go on. 248 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: It's that important. So we're going to take a quick 249 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: break and when we come back, we're going to dive 250 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: into this aspect of hope a lot more. Okay, So Kirby, 251 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: we're talking about hope, and you just talked about the 252 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: four pillars that when we're in the pit, that if 253 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: we can remember it can increase our hopes for our hope, 254 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: give us hope. So remind us of those four and 255 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: just kind of walk us through how those enable us 256 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 1: to have hope. 257 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So, the first one is God's promises. When we 258 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 2: put our hope not in our circumstances or ourselves are 259 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 2: just wishful thinking, but actually put our hope our trust 260 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 2: in God's promises, it changes everything because his promises are 261 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 2: what He has spoken and guaranteed, even when the circumstance 262 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 2: feels uncertain. Now, maybe He has given you a direct promise. 263 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 2: I fully believe that the Holy Spirit ministers to us 264 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 2: and God speaks to us specifically about certain things that 265 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 2: we're going through. But maybe you've cried out to God 266 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: in the season that you're in and you're like, God, 267 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 2: what do I have to cling to? I feel like 268 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 2: you're giving me nothing. Maybe you feel like God is 269 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 2: a little silent in the area that you're struggling in today. 270 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: I want you to know that God has spoken through 271 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 2: his word, through his written word. Those are his promises, 272 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 2: and I have found that, like I said earlier, reading 273 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 2: through the Psalms, reading through lamentations, especially reading through the 274 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 2: Book of Isaiah, that has been a huge place where 275 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: I unexpectedly found a lot of hope in relating to 276 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 2: just seeing God through his prophets being able to bring 277 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 2: resolution and redemption and a repurposing to God's people. That 278 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 2: has brought me hope reading the promises of who God is, 279 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 2: who he will always be, but even the promises that 280 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 2: He says to his people, and so that's been a 281 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 2: big pillar of mine. A second one is God's patterns. 282 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 2: This is so important putting our hope in the patterns 283 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 2: of God and again looking back on our own lives, 284 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 2: especially if we've been walking with Jesus for a while, 285 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 2: we've been living life with the Lord for a while, 286 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 2: we need to stop to pause, to look back and 287 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 2: reflect on the patterns of God in our life. And 288 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 2: maybe you're newer to this walk with Jesus, Hi, Hello, welcome, 289 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: Glad you're here, literally glad you're here. But we can 290 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 2: also look at the patterns of his faithfulness in scripture, 291 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: because we know God promises that he is unchanging, and 292 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 2: we can observe through Scripture, and I bet in your 293 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 2: own life looking back, how he has consistently worked throughout 294 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:43,239 Speaker 2: Scripture in our lives of waiting, of restoration, redemption, resurrection. 295 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: He's actively at work doing those things in the areas 296 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 2: of our life that we otherwise would have probably scrapped 297 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 2: or thrown to the side. God is actively when we 298 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 2: invite him in a redeemer, and that is a pattern 299 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 2: of his So that is something that we can hope in, 300 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 2: is that He has consistently done this throughout the entire 301 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 2: meta narrative of Scripture. I have seen him consistently do 302 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 2: this in my life, even though it didn't look the 303 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 2: way I expected. But I know he has been consistent 304 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 2: to do that, So won't he do that again? I 305 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 2: can have hope in that. The third one is God's personhood, 306 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 2: and what I mean by that is his nature, his attributes, 307 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 2: who he promises that he is. Again, we go to 308 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 2: Scripture to know this because it's his self revelation of 309 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 2: who he is, and it's a story of God redeeming 310 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 2: his people into himself. So I put my hope again, 311 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 2: not in my circumstance, not in the other people who 312 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 2: have failed me, not in politicians, not in countries or 313 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 2: cultures or systems or whatever. No, my hope is in 314 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 2: the person of who God is, because he is the 315 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: one at his core. He is the one who is 316 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: always faithful, always present, always holy, always just, always compassionate, sovereign, trustworthy. 317 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 2: There are so many attributes to who he is, and 318 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 2: we can bet our hope on that, we can hinge 319 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: our hope on that in any circumstance, that well, God, 320 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 2: this is falling apart, but you're the God who repieces 321 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 2: things together. These people let me down, but you're the 322 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 2: God who's trustworthy. So I'm gonna put my hope in 323 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 2: you and not these things, because maybe some of us 324 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 2: feel a little hopeless because we have placed our hope 325 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 2: in those things that fall and fail and aren't built 326 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 2: to sustain. But you know who is God. And the 327 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 2: fourth one is God's presence. And I think this is 328 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 2: really important too, because we need to remember, especially in 329 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 2: the middle of the dark, cold nights, that God is 330 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 2: with us. He really is with us. And I don't 331 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: just mean that he is governing on his throne and 332 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 2: looking at everything happening, but he is in the room. 333 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 2: I think about Jesus. Jesus literally went through suffering. He 334 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 2: was a suffering servant. He took on the full wrath 335 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 2: of God. And I don't think we think about that enough. 336 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,479 Speaker 2: On the cross, he relates, He sits with us, he 337 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 2: weeps with us. He is both our comfort and our 338 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 2: confidence in the situations that we go through. He's with 339 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 2: us in every season, not just meeting us at the 340 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 2: very end of our story to bring the resolution. He 341 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 2: walks with us in the journey right now as we're 342 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,160 Speaker 2: in the middle of the valley. So those are four 343 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 2: pillars that I think that we need to begin to 344 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 2: really hinge our hope on and assess in our lives. 345 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 2: Where have I misplaced my hope? Have I put it 346 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 2: in people, circumstances, my own striving and strength? It needs 347 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 2: to be in the promises, patterns, personhood, and presence of God. 348 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: That's so, so so good, Kirby. As you were just talking, 349 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: I was thinking about how when you're lamenting, or when 350 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: things are hard, or you're wondering how is this all 351 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: going to work out? And how could God redeem this? 352 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: Or what should I do? All of those things. Going 353 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: back to these four is both powerful, but you have 354 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: to be really purposeful to do that, because when you're 355 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: kind of feeling emotional and you're lamenting over something, it's 356 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: so easy to let your emotion lead When we're start spiralirling, 357 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: it always goes down. So it's almost like these four 358 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 1: pillars are a doorstop when we're feeling like I'm spiraling. Okay, wait, 359 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 1: time out, let me go back to like, Okay, what's 360 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: the person head of God? Who is God? Who is God? Really? 361 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: I got to claim that? Okay? What are God's promises? 362 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: What are God's patterns? How have I seen God be 363 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: faithful in the past? And Kirby not even I think 364 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,199 Speaker 1: sometimes it's going back. How have I seen God be 365 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 1: faithful in the past in my life? But how have 366 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: I seen God be faithful in the past? And maybe 367 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: other people's lives can sometimes be helpful. And then presence, okay, 368 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: and the fact that, Okay, God, you are with me, 369 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: and even though I may feel like you're a million 370 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: miles away, your word says you're right here. And by faith, 371 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: I'm going to believe it because you said it was true. 372 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: And faith isn't a feeling. Faith is believing what God 373 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: says is true and living like it. 374 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 2: I even just want to affirm people today that God 375 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 2: can handle your feelings. Our feelings are valid, the anger 376 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 2: that you have, the grief that you're going through, the 377 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,239 Speaker 2: exact question that you feel, even maybe the bitterness that 378 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 2: you're holding. I understand that the things that we go 379 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 2: through build all of these feelings, But your feelings at 380 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 2: the end of the day aren't the reliable thing to 381 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 2: completely put your weight on. It's Jesus. We need to 382 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 2: look at our feelings as indicators of Okay, something's going 383 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 2: on that I need to bring to the Lord. Like 384 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 2: I'm feeling angry about this situation. I need to bring 385 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 2: this to God and confront him with all these things, 386 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,679 Speaker 2: because He can handle it. He can handle every emotion 387 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 2: that we are feeling. He doesn't dismiss it. He helps 388 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 2: us to process, heal, and walk through those things so 389 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,199 Speaker 2: that we can arrive to a place of hope, a 390 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,360 Speaker 2: place of intimacy with Him and sanctification even within ourselves. 391 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 2: So God isn't dismissing or diminishing the fact that you 392 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: have these heavy, real emotions. He's saying, bring them to me, 393 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 2: trust them to me. Let's walk through these things together. 394 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 2: Because again, when we put these things in the hand 395 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 2: of a redeemer, the redeemer, something good can actually come 396 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:04,640 Speaker 2: from it. 397 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: Okay, I love that you just said that, because that 398 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: is really important. We're not saying that, you know, the 399 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 1: feeling that's lament, right, we have the feelings that's real. 400 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: We can't just put a happy Christian smiley face on 401 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: and pretend that that doesn't exist in our souls because 402 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: that's not being honest with God. That's not allowing God 403 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:26,239 Speaker 1: to go deep into your soul and change you from 404 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 1: the inside out. It's when you bring all of those 405 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 1: things into his presence that he does his deep work. 406 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: So I love that you said that. Let me ask 407 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: you this. You talk about in the book how God 408 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: is both a blanket and a banner. So tell us 409 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: a little bit about how you came up with those 410 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: two and why those are significant. 411 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely. So. The title of the book is called The 412 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 2: Fabric of Hope. And whenever I think of a piece 413 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 2: of fabric, fabric is versatile. We're wearing fabric, we're sitting 414 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 2: on fabric. I mean, I have curtains up that are 415 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 2: made of fa Fabric is used for all sorts of 416 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 2: different things. And when I think about the fabric of 417 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 2: hope and who God is. There are two specific attributes 418 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 2: of his that remind me of fabric, and the first 419 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 2: is that he is a comforter. But the second is 420 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: that he's also our confidence, like a banner. And so 421 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 2: in the book, I talk about this. When I was little, 422 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 2: like little little Kirby, before I believe in Jesus or 423 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: knew who Jesus was, before I had a concept of 424 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 2: the trinity, my trinity was my banking, my blanky, and 425 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 2: my bunny. I would always ask for that at bedtime 426 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 2: and be like, oh, well, my binky, my blanky, my bunny, 427 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 2: and so my mom would always get that for me, 428 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 2: and my dad would get that for me because that 429 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 2: was a sense of security for me. And when I 430 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 2: think about a security blanket, I always had to have 431 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 2: my blanket with me. I think about that as a 432 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 2: article or a piece. It is something tangible that gives 433 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 2: me comfort. I can wrap myself in it. It allows 434 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 2: me to rest, It brings me peace, It stills my 435 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 2: anxiety and my spiraling. In the same way, God is 436 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 2: like a blanket, literally our comforter, and I think about 437 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 2: a comforter on our bed right It's like I love 438 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 2: when I go to a hotel and they have like 439 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 2: those big pillowy comforters, and I'm like, where did they 440 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 2: get this? I need to get this for my house. 441 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 2: It's so nice. But it's like, that is who God is. 442 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 2: Where it's like at the end of a really long 443 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 2: day when the night shows up and it's like, oh 444 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 2: my goodness, like I can just sink into this space 445 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 2: where I can rest. God is our comforter. He's our 446 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 2: blanket that wraps us, that surrounds us, that gives us 447 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 2: like a moment to just pause and be at peace. 448 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 2: His presence does that. His person who he is, He 449 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 2: provides that in the same way that his comfort gives 450 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 2: us hope in a place to rest. He is also 451 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 2: a banner. And whenever we look at banners throughout scripture, 452 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 2: specifically in the Old Testament, banners were used for multiple things. 453 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 2: They were rallying points for the people of God. They 454 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 2: would prop them up whenever they were going into specific 455 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 2: territory or battle. And basically these banners they were huge, 456 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,439 Speaker 2: and the opponent, the enemy, they could see it, or 457 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 2: even people just passing by they would see these banners 458 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 2: and know these are God's people. They have put their 459 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 2: hope and their confidence and their trust in this God. 460 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 2: And in the same way, there have been seasons where 461 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 2: it's like, God, I just need you like a blanket. 462 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 2: I need you to just weigh over me and comfort 463 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 2: me and be my security. But there have also been 464 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 2: seasons where, after that rest, after that rejuvenation, I've been 465 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 2: able to take that same fabric of hope and sling 466 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 2: it up like a banner and be like, look at 467 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 2: what my God has done. Like my confidence isn't him. 468 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 2: I rally under him. He is the one who gives 469 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 2: me strength. He is the one that I'm going to 470 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 2: testify about, and I want everyone to look at what 471 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 2: he has done. So the idea of God being our 472 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 2: blanket and our banner is that He is both our 473 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 2: comfort and our confidence in different seasons. He shows up 474 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 2: in the ways that we need him, and he's so 475 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 2: versatile in that way, and I think that's just beautiful 476 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 2: that there are so many aspects to who God is 477 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 2: in the situations that we're in. There also so many 478 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 2: aspects to the hope that He gives us in the 479 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 2: seasons that we're going through. So that's what I mean 480 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 2: when I talk about in the book that he's our blanket, 481 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 2: but he's also our banner. 482 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:13,360 Speaker 1: Okay. I love that. That's beautiful imagery because those are 483 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: the two things that we really need. We need him 484 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: to be our comforter and we need him to be 485 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: our confidence. That's so good. Okay. So let's just say, Kirby, 486 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 1: somebody is listening right now and they're thinking, Okay, Kirby's 487 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,919 Speaker 1: talking about you know, lament and hope and God and 488 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:30,919 Speaker 1: you know. But that's all well and good maybe for 489 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: people who have basically gotten most things right. But what 490 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 1: about that person that's thinking, yeah, but I have gotten 491 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: a lot of things wrong. And even to your point, Kirby, 492 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: you were a recipient of your mom and dad's addiction, right, 493 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: But what about that woman or man who's listening right 494 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: now and they are not the recipient. It's like, oh, 495 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: I'm the one who's messed up. Can God redeem that? 496 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: So talk to us a little bit about that. 497 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 2: The answer, in short is absolutely absolutely. Jesus is living 498 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 2: proof of that, living proof in the sense that, yeah, 499 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 2: he was born into this world, but he also died 500 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 2: and rose again. He is living, breathing, active proof that 501 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 2: his redemption lives on. He died once and for all, 502 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 2: for all who would receive him. And if you have 503 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 2: not received Jesus today, or if you are unsure about 504 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 2: where you stand with God, if you're like I'm ninety 505 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 2: percent sure I'm going to heaven, or I feel like 506 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 2: I'm ten percent sure about these things because of what 507 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 2: I've done. You know, is there really hope for me 508 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 2: and God turning my life around and bringing beauty out 509 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 2: of these ashes, making lemonade out of the lemons of 510 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 2: my life. I want to confidently assure you that yes, 511 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 2: God can redeem your life. You know why, because it's 512 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 2: not on the basis of you or what you have done, 513 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: or what you bring to the table, or how much 514 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,440 Speaker 2: potential you have, or any of those things that maybe 515 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 2: has disqualified you in the past or qualified you in 516 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 2: certain areas. It is the cross period that qualifies you 517 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:11,199 Speaker 2: for redemption. For God's redeeming work in your life. He 518 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 2: died so that He could be in relationship with you 519 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 2: and have fellowship with you and forgive you of your sins, 520 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 2: but to also redeem your life, to sanctify, to begin 521 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,439 Speaker 2: to perfect the areas that need to be chipped away 522 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 2: at that's actually a big heartbeat behind my first book 523 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 2: that I wrote, because trust me, I have gotten it wrong. 524 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 2: I've gotten it wrong in so many ways in my 525 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 2: life where it was like I feel full of shame. 526 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 2: I feel like I am just the scum of the earth, 527 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 2: the worst sinner. The Bible applies to everybody but me. 528 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:46,159 Speaker 2: I get that completely. But I also have been able 529 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 2: to understand through honest lament with God, like really crying 530 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 2: out and pouring out my heart and coming to Him 531 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:57,719 Speaker 2: fully with everything, all of the baggage, all of the mistakes, 532 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 2: everything that was given to me to care and the 533 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 2: things I picked up. I have brought all those things 534 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 2: to him. And guess what, in his loving kindness which 535 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 2: blows my mind. In his loving kindness, he receives me. 536 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 2: He receives me, He receives you. The invitation is there, 537 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 2: the invitation is open, and He is just saying, come 538 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 2: to me, Come to me, all of you who are 539 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 2: weary and burdened. I will give you rest. He is 540 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 2: the one who redeems. It is the work of the 541 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit within us that gives us the strength to 542 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 2: move forward, to have joy that lasts in those seasons, 543 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 2: to have peace that surpasses understanding to have the self 544 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 2: control to navigate maybe the areas of life where we 545 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 2: neglected self control. I don't know what your circumstances, but 546 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 2: I want you to know that alive from the devil 547 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 2: is that you do not qualify for God's redemption. The 548 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 2: truth is is that Jesus bought your redemption and you 549 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 2: simply It is literally such a simple gospel that we 550 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 2: complicate and have to wrap our rights around. It is 551 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 2: so simple that Jesus died for your sins because he 552 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 2: loves you, and he's offering you new life, new redemption 553 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 2: in him. And that looks like him redeeming your heart 554 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 2: and your mind and your life and everything that you do. 555 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 2: But it also, and this is just the bow on top, 556 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 2: the cherry on top, it also means God going back 557 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 2: to whatever happened before you knew him and him redeeming 558 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 2: that too. And ain't God just that good? He really is? 559 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 2: That is the good news. And I just want you 560 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 2: to know that it is one hundred percent available to 561 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 2: you and I because Jesus came for the sinners, and hello, 562 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 2: welcome to the club. We need him as our savior 563 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 2: every day. So you are not disqualified from receiving his grace, 564 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 2: his hope, and especially his redemption. 565 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 1: That's so good. You know, as you were talking, Kirby, 566 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: I was thinking about the scripture and the song that 567 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: says I dwell in a high and lofty place, but 568 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: also with the lowly and contrite in heart. And it's 569 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: like God is God, and he's you know, in the 570 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: high and lofty place. I mean, he alone is the 571 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 1: king of kings, the Lord of lords. That's where he dwells. 572 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:20,479 Speaker 1: But he also dwells and this is him saying this, 573 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: but I also dwell with the people who are lowly 574 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: in contrite in heart. And so when we just bring 575 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,480 Speaker 1: him our lowliness, our humility, you know, we're contrite over 576 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 1: the sin in our lives. God dwells there and that's 577 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: where he begins his redemption process. So love, love, love this. So, Kirby, 578 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: as we're wrapping up here, tell our listeners how they 579 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 1: can find your book, how they can connect with you, 580 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 1: and maybe just any last thought that you would want 581 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 1: to leave with somebody who's listening right now. 582 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely so, depending on when this episode drops, the 583 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 2: book comes out April seven, so you can either pre 584 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 2: order and get all the fun little freebies on my 585 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 2: website at Kirbydashkelly dot com, or you can just look 586 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 2: up the Fabric of Hope. It's literally sold everywhere Amazon. 587 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:14,800 Speaker 2: It can be on your door as soon as tomorrow probably, 588 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 2: so pre order or order whenever the episode comes out. 589 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 2: You can also check me out and follow me on 590 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 2: all of my things that I'm doing on my socials 591 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 2: at Kirby is a Boss on YouTube and Instagram or 592 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 2: Bought and Beloved podcast. But one final thing that I 593 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 2: want to leave is just reading scripture because the Bible 594 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 2: verse that is the foundation of this book is incredible 595 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 2: and I think it's something homework for everyone that I 596 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 2: would love for y'all to just take time to read 597 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 2: and mull over and memorize and apply to your life 598 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 2: and believe in your life today. And it's a scripture 599 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 2: that comes from the Book of Romans, one of my 600 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 2: favorite books of the Bible. But it's Romans fifteen thirteen, 601 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 2: and it says, may the God of Hope fill you 602 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 2: with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, 603 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 2: so that you may overflow with hope by the power 604 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 2: of the Holy Spirit. That is such a powerful verse 605 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 2: and I want to leave that with you all today, 606 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 2: that our God, Yahweh, the God we believe in, Father 607 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 2: so and Holy spirits, trying God. He is the God 608 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 2: of hope, and by putting our trust in him, we 609 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 2: get to not only overflow with hope, but also abound 610 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 2: in joy and peace because of His Holy Spirit that 611 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 2: dwells within us who have received Him, who have believed 612 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 2: in Him. That is beautiful, that is powerful. And I 613 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 2: hope that that verse alone encourages you. 614 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: Oh so good, Kirvy, so good. I needed that verse. 615 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 1: And I can just tell you everybody who's listening needed 616 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 1: that verse. That was just beautiful. Well, Kirby, thank you 617 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,680 Speaker 1: so much for being on the podcast. It has been 618 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 1: just a delight to get to know you and hear 619 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: your wisdom and just a source of encouragement, a source 620 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 1: of hope. So may God bless you and all you do. 621 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 2: Thank you. I appreciate it. 622 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed today's episode, And as a reminder, let's 623 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: connect on social media on Instagram Donna A. Jones on 624 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 1: Facebook Donna Jones, Speaker and author, or jump over to 625 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 1: my website and sign up for my free monthly newsletter. 626 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 1: Donna Jones dot org and as always my friend. I 627 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 1: can't wait to see you next time, for that's just 628 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:20,360 Speaker 1: what I needed.