1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. 2 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Rachel Adams, author of Everyday Prayers for Love, 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 2: Learning to Love God, others, and even yourself. Each week 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 2: we dive into meaningful conversations about how to live out 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:19,959 Speaker 2: the greatest commandment, loving God with all of our heart's soul, 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 2: mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 2: through inspiring stories, practical wisdom, or biblical truth. My hope 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 2: is to encourage you to love boldly, live faithfully, and 9 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: reflect God's love in your everyday life. Today, I'm honored 10 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: to welcome Cricket Keith to the show. Cricket is the 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: author of Living Out a Life That Matters, an eight 12 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: weeks study in two Timothy. In this meaningful and practical 13 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 2: Bible study, Cricket invites us to move beyond simply getting 14 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 2: through our days and instead step into a life of 15 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: eternal significance. Through the relationships between Paul and Timothy. She 16 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 2: highlights eight powerful virtues encouragement, faithfulness, strength, diligence, vigilance, equipping, commitment, 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: and steadfastness that help us grow deeper in Christ and 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 2: live lives that truly matter well. Hello Cricket and welcome 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 2: back to the Level Frame podcast. 20 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: I'm so happy to have you. 21 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 3: Well, thank you, Rachel. I've been looking forward to this 22 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 3: and so excited to be with you. 23 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 2: Well, so the last time that we talked actually kind 24 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: of you were working on this project and we kind 25 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 2: of alluded to it. And so it's now it's out 26 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 2: and it's real and I've read all the way through 27 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 2: it and it got the chance to endorse it, and 28 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 2: so I'm just thrilled to have you on to chat 29 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: about it, and I truly believe it's a wonderful resource 30 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 2: that I highly recommend. 31 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: Thank you. I've enjoyed working on it. And yes, we 32 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 3: were talking about that back last time we did the 33 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 3: podcast together. 34 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, Well, and then I just want to personally 35 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 2: praise you. You really are the real deal and I 36 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: lean on your ear and wisdom quite a bit, and 37 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: you're so gracious and so kind, but yet so sensitive 38 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 2: to the spirit too, and so I'm thankful to have 39 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 2: you as a friend and mentor and to see you 40 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 2: living out the message that you're sharing about. 41 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 3: Well, thank you, and I'm proud to see what God 42 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 3: is doing in your life. And I'm your biggest cheerleader. 43 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 3: Wanting to cheer you on. 44 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 2: Well, I certainly appreciate it, and so okay, let's talk 45 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 2: about your study. It's so good. Your studies centers on 46 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: this idea that our lives have divine significance even when 47 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 2: our days feel overwhelming and ordinary. So what inspired you 48 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: to write living out a Life that Matters? And why 49 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 2: do you think that this message is so needed right now? 50 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 3: Well, I actually took my women into my women's ministry 51 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 3: through this study twice. I wrote it back in twenty fourteen. 52 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 3: The first time just because I really wanted to challenge 53 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 3: my women, regardless of what age or stage life they 54 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 3: were in, but I wanted to encourage them to think 55 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 3: about what am I doing with my life? How am 56 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 3: I making a difference that will last when I'm gone. 57 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: There? 58 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 3: And then I retired in just about three years ago, 59 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 3: and I want I thought, what do I want to 60 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 3: be my last message to my women? And I thought, 61 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 3: leaving a legacy that will last, living out of life 62 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 3: that matters. So I kind of revamped the study and 63 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 3: took my women through it as sort of my farewell 64 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 3: pull study to them because I thought, you know, we 65 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 3: need to be thinking about what we're doing with our lives, 66 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 3: and even young people, you may be thinking, well, I'm 67 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 3: not eighty years old or ninety years old. I've got 68 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: my whole life to think about what I'm doing with it. 69 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,119 Speaker 3: We don't know when God's going to take us home. 70 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 3: It could be tomor so live every day as if 71 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 3: it's a gift from the Lord. And Lord, how can 72 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: I use my life today for you? How can I 73 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 3: make a difference and leave a legacy that's not going 74 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 3: to fade when I die, but will continue. So that's 75 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 3: kind of my heart. 76 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: Sorry to entert you. I just just gonna say I 77 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 2: love that you call them my women. You know that 78 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: it is, it becomes community, and as you've served in 79 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 2: the church faithfully for so many years as Women's ministry director, 80 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: they are family and they're your people. 81 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 3: They are my girls, my women. 82 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: Yes, No, I love that so much. 83 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 2: Well, I can't wait to continue today's conversation, but we're 84 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 2: going to take a brief break to hear a word 85 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: from today's sponsor, and when we come back, we'll talk 86 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: about Paul and Timothy's relationship and what it teaches us 87 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 2: about living with purpose. Welcome back. I'm talking with Cricket 88 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 2: Keith about her Bible study living out a life that matters. 89 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: And so Inna, you draw from Paul's mentorship of Timothy 90 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 2: as a model for spiritual growth. So what stands out 91 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: most to you about the relationship and how can we 92 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: apply that to our own lives today. 93 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 3: I think one is that we see how Paul wanted 94 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 3: Timothy to live out his purpose. I mean he loved Timothy, 95 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 3: he and he you see that in chapter one, especially 96 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 3: with his encouragement of him and spurring him on. And 97 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 3: I love looking at their relationship because Paul encouraged him 98 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 3: and reminded him of all that you know, he had 99 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 3: going in his life, but he also loved him enough 100 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 3: to not let them stay comfortable. He urged him, Timothy, 101 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 3: you're kind of backing away from doing what God has 102 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: called you to do. You're kind of laying low. Step 103 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 3: out there, get going. And so I love how he 104 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 3: encouraged and made a difference in Timothy's life when Timothy 105 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 3: needed someone to just come alongside them and believe in 106 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 3: them and to say you can do this. And so 107 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 3: I think that was a reminder from me of how 108 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,799 Speaker 3: I need to be looking at my women, my women, 109 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 3: the women at my neighbors. You know, how can I 110 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: be an encourager to them? How can I come alongside 111 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 3: them and spur them on to not waste their lives? 112 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 3: But hey, you've got these gifts, how are you using them? 113 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 3: And how can I help you find where to use them? 114 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,799 Speaker 3: And so I think that's how it applies to us today. 115 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,599 Speaker 3: Every one of us has a day at a time, 116 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 3: and how are we investing it in somebody else's life 117 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 3: for the Kingdom of God? And I love that about 118 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 3: Paul and Timothy and Rachel. You know, I quoted you 119 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 3: in my book and my study on the first chapter 120 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: on encouragement because you have a chapter in your devotional book, 121 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 3: A Little Goes a Long Way. You have a chapter 122 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 3: on encouragement about just those words that spur somebody on. 123 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 3: And that's something I think we all need to think 124 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 3: about every day. How can I spur people in my life? 125 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 2: One? Yeah, and I know I already praised you, but 126 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: that's something that you have done for me, and I'm 127 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 2: so grateful for that. So, Okay, in the inter I 128 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: mentioned those eight key virtues throughout the study. So why 129 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 2: did you choose these particular attributes and how do they 130 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: share by life of lasting impact. And that's a lot. 131 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: I know, I'm not asking you to walk through all 132 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 2: eight Well. 133 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 3: I actually didn't choose them. They were in the word, 134 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 3: and as I was going through the study and when 135 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 3: I first wrote it for my women back in twenty fourteen, 136 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 3: I caught it a legacy of eternal significance. And so 137 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 3: every chapter title, I called it a legacy of encouragement, 138 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 3: you know, But I looked at each I kind of 139 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 3: broke it into sections, and now I looked at the 140 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 3: passage and thought, what is Paul modeling? What is he 141 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 3: encouraging Timothy to do? And so really the scripture itself 142 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 3: kind of just pointed out those attributes of all the 143 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 3: way from encouragement and faithfulness and strength and vigilance. I mean, 144 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 3: if we've ever, I mean, we're living in a time 145 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 3: that we need to be vigilant about what's going on 146 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 3: around us. But that was something he talked about in 147 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 3: chapter three, just we're living in those last days. They 148 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 3: were living in the last days before Christ's return. We're 149 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 3: living in those days and being vigilant. And I especially 150 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 3: loved at the end as I was thinking through the 151 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 3: breaking up chapter four, but I really just as I 152 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 3: read it, I thought, you know, he's really challenging Timothy 153 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 3: to commitment, to being committed to his calling. And then 154 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 3: he's calling Timothy in the last part of the chapter 155 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 3: at the end of the book, Timothy, you need to 156 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 3: be stepfast because Paul talks about in that last few 157 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 3: verses of the book of how people let him down, 158 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 3: how they opposed him, how they left him, abandoned him, 159 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 3: they weren't there when he needed them, and yet he 160 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 3: never stopped. And so as I thought about that, I thought, 161 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 3: what quality would that be an example of stepfastness. So 162 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 3: I didn't really choose the topics, but the topics kind 163 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 3: of just jumped out as I was studying and thinking 164 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,439 Speaker 3: through what is Paul emphasizing and those are the qualities 165 00:08:56,160 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 3: that he was really modeling but challenging Timoth. Timoth, you 166 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 3: need to be steadfast, you need to stay firm in 167 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 3: that Timothy, you need to stay committed. And so that's 168 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 3: kind of how I came up with the different titles, 169 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 3: and you can still think of it is I want 170 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 3: to leave a legacy of encouragement. I want to leave 171 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 3: a legage legacy of steadfastness instead of kind of just 172 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 3: saying I'm done. It's too hard, I'm out of here. 173 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:30,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's talk more. Circle back to this idea of encouragement, 174 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 2: because I feel like in our callings and just in 175 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 2: life in general, it's really easy to be discouraged. People 176 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 2: discouraging us, even the enemy. I feel like once to 177 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 2: keep us in this like, oh, I'm too discouraged, so 178 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 2: I'm just gonna quit. So do you have a story 179 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 2: of maybe somebody that has come alongside you at a 180 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 2: time in your life where where they encouraged you when 181 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 2: you almost were just too discouraged and wanted to quit. 182 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 3: Wow, that's a good question. I've had lots of times 183 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 3: when I have been ready to quit. I remember even 184 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 3: in when I was living in Dallas and I was 185 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 3: writing Bible studies for my women, and I wasn't in ministry, 186 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:11,599 Speaker 3: just my small group. 187 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 1: Women I call them on women, but it's you. 188 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 3: And they had actually challenged me to write their Bible 189 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 3: studies because I was asking thought provoking questions and they 190 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 3: liked that. So I thought, well, you know, they said, 191 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 3: why don't you write our next study? And I did, 192 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 3: And then I thought, maybe I'll see somebody one of 193 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 3: my seminary professors had encouraged me to see about getting 194 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 3: it published. I submitted it and I got a letter 195 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 3: of rejection, and I had was just it was the 196 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: day of meeting with my small group, and at the 197 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 3: end I just shared with them, you know, my disappointment 198 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 3: and just God, I thought I knew what you wanted 199 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 3: me to do. I thought you wanted me to write 200 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 3: Bible studies, but obviously I'm no good at this. And 201 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: they gathered around me and just put their hands on 202 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 3: me and prayed over me that I would not quit, 203 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 3: that I would keep writing, even if it's only for 204 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 3: ten women, but that I would not let the enemy 205 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 3: stop me. And I will tell you that just gave 206 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 3: me air and my cells, just knowing their belief in 207 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 3: me and their pushing me on to say, you're not 208 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 3: gonna quit. We're gonna hold you accountable, and we believe 209 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 3: that God has something for you. And now you know. 210 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 3: Years later, and I've gone back to see them recently, 211 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 3: and they're always excited when they see one of these 212 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 3: Bible studies published because they remember that day when I 213 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 3: was like, I'm done. I can't this is not for me. 214 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 3: Obviously I'm not as good as this as I was 215 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 3: hoping I was, and they would not let me walk away. 216 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 3: And that's the kind of friends we need, that circle 217 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 3: of friends that will come around. That's living out a 218 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: life that matters, when you come alongside people and whatever 219 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 3: it is that they need, that you just come and say, 220 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 3: you know what, I think you can do this all right, 221 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 3: you know what, Maybe you need to take a break, 222 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 3: you know, whatever it is, But that's living out a 223 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 3: life that matters, where you are really coming alongside And 224 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 3: those girls, they came alongside me and kept me going. 225 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 2: And thank goodness they did, because now we get the 226 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 2: fruit of that and all of that blood, sweat and 227 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 2: tears that you poured into these So, you know, we 228 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 2: talk about Paul and Timothy and that mentorship type relationship, 229 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 2: and I know because I'm one of them. 230 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: Timothy to you. 231 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 2: Being the Paul, But have you had a Paul in 232 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 2: your life, somebody that's mentored you will I've. 233 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 3: Had several, But I have to go back to the 234 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 3: person that really got me on the right path. And 235 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 3: I dedicated this study to her. When I was at 236 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 3: LSU and college, I had totally just stepped off the 237 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 3: path that God I was a Christian. I love the Lord. 238 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 3: I was going to serve them to college and didn't 239 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 3: meet any Christians and got pulled into this other lifestyle 240 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 3: because I wanted to fit in and I didn't know 241 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 3: where to find Christians. And then I wanted to get 242 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 3: back on the right path. I didn't know how. And 243 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 3: then a girl on staff with Crewe named Bonnie. She 244 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 3: came into my dorm room when Friday afternoon, sat down 245 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 3: with me and we talked that whole weekend about just 246 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 3: where I was. And you know, and I remember telling her, Bonnie, 247 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 3: I want to step off the throne and let Christ 248 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 3: have control, but I need to clean my life up first. 249 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 3: It's a mess. I can't give it to him like this. 250 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 3: And she said, no, Cricket, you need to give him 251 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 3: your life, let him clean it up. And I've never 252 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 3: forgotten those words that she Because of Bonnie's discipleship in 253 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 3: my life that semester, and then the other women on 254 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 3: staff with Crewe that summer and my senior year, I 255 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,199 Speaker 3: knew when I graduated from college I wanted to invest 256 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 3: my life in discipling women the way that Bonnie made 257 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 3: a huge difference in my life. You know, we hadn't 258 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 3: seen each other for well since shortly after college. I 259 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 3: mean it was but a few years ago. We reconnected. 260 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 3: She lives in Tennessee, and we got together and I 261 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 3: cannot tell you what it was like to hug her 262 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 3: neck and just say, Bonnie, thank you for changing my 263 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 3: life and getting me into the right path and the 264 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 3: right or just thank you to be able to do 265 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 3: that in person and give her a big hug. And 266 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 3: we still stay in touch and get together periodically. We'll 267 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 3: drive meet halfway. She was my Paul, my very first Paul. 268 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 3: But I've had women. I don't want to be anywhere 269 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 3: without women that I go to as my mentors. I'm 270 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 3: always I'll pick up the phone and say, hey, what 271 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 3: do you think I should do here? And am I 272 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 3: doing this right? 273 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 2: You know? 274 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 3: We always meet, you know, moving me towards a deeper 275 00:14:55,720 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 3: relationship with the Lord and mentoring. My mentors are really good, 276 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 3: just kind of guiding me, helping direct me to be 277 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 3: the best I can be at what God's called me 278 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 3: to do. 279 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 2: I think sometimes mentoring seems it is serious, but it 280 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 2: almost seems like I think a lot of the women 281 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 2: I talk to, they're like, well, what do I have 282 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 2: to offer. I don't think that I, you know, I 283 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 2: don't have what it takes, or I don't have the 284 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 2: right wisdom, or I don't have enough time, or we 285 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 2: almost overcomplicate what it is. And so how would you 286 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: encourage the woman that's kind of saying those things right now, 287 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: like I don't have anything to share of value to 288 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 2: somebody younger than me to teach them. How would you 289 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: encourage them and to change their mind that they actually 290 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 2: do and it's not as hard as you think it 291 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 2: would be. 292 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 3: I would say, just listen to what that person is saying. 293 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 3: And then if God lays on your heart, like for instance, 294 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 3: you might be meeting with a young mom who's like, 295 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 3: I don't know what I can do. I cannot take this, I'm. 296 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: Just worn out. 297 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 3: Well, if you've been a young mom, you can say, hey, 298 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 3: you know what I've been there, and just share how 299 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 3: God walked you through that season. You know, maybe it's 300 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 3: a newlywed and they're struggling with this just adjustment to 301 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 3: a marriage. Share with them how you walk through some 302 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 3: of the rough times in marriage. Or it may be 303 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: with the job situation that they're struggling with or direction 304 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 3: with their life. And you know what, I would just 305 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 3: tell people always just be available to the Lord every morning, 306 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 3: just saying, God, use me to make me usable, not 307 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 3: so much, use me make me usable and keep me available. 308 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 3: And when you hear somebody sharing something, just share what 309 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 3: God is laying on your heart. How can you just 310 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 3: share from your own life because we've all gone through struggles, 311 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 3: you know. I mean, I've got a friend, a girl 312 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 3: I'm mentoring now. She would say discipling. I would say mentoring, 313 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 3: but her mom is older and is in a nursing 314 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 3: home and going through Alzheimer's. And she was asking me. 315 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 3: She just asked, how did you get through this season 316 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 3: with your mom? Well, you know, I don't have anything 317 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 3: special about that, but I could share with her. 318 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: Oh yeah. 319 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 3: There were times that I just said, God, I can't 320 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 3: do this anymore. I need you Lord, I can't do this. 321 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 3: And she's like, I'm so glad you said that because 322 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,719 Speaker 3: I felt that way. So I think, just be available. 323 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 3: You don't have to necessarily read take them to scripture. 324 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 3: I mean, yes, you can do that, but even if 325 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 3: it's just sharing. Yeah, I've been there and this is 326 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 3: how God walked me through that season. Sometimes that's all 327 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 3: they need to hear. 328 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, Oh it's so good. It's sharing part of our testimony. 329 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 2: I love that so much. Well, we're going to take 330 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 2: another brief break to hear a word from today's sponsor, 331 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 2: and when we come back, we'll talk about letting go 332 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 2: of what doesn't matter and focusing on what does. 333 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 1: Welcome back. 334 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 2: I'm talking with Cricket Keith about her Bible study living 335 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 2: out a Life that Matters, And you mentioned that part 336 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 2: of living a meaningful life is releasing the things that 337 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 2: don't matter. So how can we begin to discern what's 338 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 2: worth holding on to and what we need to let 339 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 2: go of? 340 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 3: You know, I think that really comes back down to 341 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 3: do you know your purpose? What purpose has God given 342 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 3: you to do? And that's where you can kind of 343 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 3: decide when you know what your God given purpose is. 344 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 3: And that's why I encourage the women that I meet with, Hey, 345 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 3: have you written a personal mission statement? Because it does 346 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 3: help you to decide what do you say yes to 347 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 3: and what do you say no to? You know, maybe 348 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 3: even at home that you're thinking, well do I do 349 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 3: this or do that? And you kind of think through 350 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 3: what's going to help me live out my purpose? The 351 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 3: best by doing this or that. And so I think 352 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 3: knowing your purpose and what God wants you to be 353 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 3: doing with your time helps you realize where you need 354 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 3: to be investing your time and what you need to 355 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 3: say no to. I know as a women's director and 356 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 3: you probably experience this. I was often asked, Cricket, you're 357 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 3: the women's director, so you're in charge of decorations for 358 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 3: the church this year at Christmas. And I would think, no, 359 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 3: I don't even know the first thing about decorating the church. 360 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 3: But I would go to somebody and say, hey, Jackie, 361 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 3: how would you feel about decorating the church? For being 362 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 3: in charge? Well, Cricket, I was hoping that would ask me. 363 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 3: And so I think that's where when you kind of 364 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 3: know what you're good at and what you're not good at, 365 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 3: and what God has called you to do, doesn't mean 366 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 3: that you can't. I help with the decorations, just don't 367 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 3: put me in charge of them. And I also think 368 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 3: just doing those things that give you life, that you're 369 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 3: passionate about, those things that when you wake up in 370 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 3: the morning, Oh, I can't wait to do this. This 371 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 3: is so exciting. That's where I think you can let 372 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 3: go of those things that maybe don't matter, that somebody 373 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 3: else might could do better. Is that answer your question 374 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 3: is that along the lines it does well? 375 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 2: So tell me what's your personal purpose statement? Like, just 376 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 2: give us an example so that as we're thinking about 377 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 2: our own. 378 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 3: It's to encourage women to passionately pursue Jesus Christ through teaching, writing, 379 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 3: and discipleship. Because I try to look at and guide people. 380 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 3: You know, what do you want to accomplish, who do 381 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 3: you want to administer to, and how are you going 382 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 3: to get it done? And so for me, it's just women, 383 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,959 Speaker 3: adult women from college age up. I'm not good with kids, 384 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 3: but you know that's kind of how can I encourage 385 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 3: them to passionately pursue Jesus Christ and be who God 386 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 3: wants them to be? And then the three areas that 387 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 3: I love that I'm passionate about is teaching, writing, Bible studies, 388 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 3: and mentoring and discipleship, spending time one on one. Those 389 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 3: are the things that give me life. That's why when 390 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 3: I'm trying to decide whether to do something or not, 391 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 3: I go back to my mission statement and I'll go 392 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 3: I'm not teaching, I'm not writing, I'm not discipling I'm decorating. Okay, 393 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 3: that's you know, That's what I mean. It's like where 394 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 3: when I'm asked to do things and I've seen women say, hey, yeah, 395 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 3: somebody asked me to head up the retreat, but I 396 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 3: just didn't feel peace about it. And I realized that's 397 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 3: not how God is. I'm not good at heading up 398 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 3: an event, but I am a great you know this, 399 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 3: this is what I love doing, the organization of something 400 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 3: over here, heading up you know, the back behind the 401 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 3: scenes person heading up something. So but that's my mission 402 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 3: statement and I will every day think through how am 403 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 3: I am I doing that? Or when somebody asked me 404 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 3: to do something, I'll ask how does that fit into 405 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 3: my mission statement and my purpose? Because we don't want 406 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 3: to do things and spend time. I mean, I know 407 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 3: I've said yes to being on committees, especially before I 408 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,400 Speaker 3: need my mission statement, and then realized all I'm doing 409 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 3: is sitting in meetings looking at budgets. 410 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: And you know, A. 411 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 3: And my mentor came to me at church and said, Cricket, 412 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 3: you're frustrated because you're not using any of your gifts. 413 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 3: You're sitting there using doing things that you're that's not 414 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 3: any of your spiritual gifts or your talents. And that's 415 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 3: where I think it's important for us, if we're going 416 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 3: to live out a life that matters, know what God 417 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 3: has put us here. Pall, did he knew he was 418 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 3: called to be a preacher and apostle a teacher? You 419 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 3: know Jeremiah one? He says, God knew exactly before he 420 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 3: was even in the womb what he had called Jeremiah 421 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 3: to be. And so I think Ephesians too, talks about 422 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 3: that we were giving good works to do beforehand. God 423 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 3: knew exactly what he wants us to do. So will 424 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 3: we live it out? And you start? I think you 425 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 3: really start by developing what is my mission? What is 426 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 3: my purpose Lord on this earth. That's where we get 427 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 3: satisfaction and make a difference. 428 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 2: I think sometimes we get lost because we are comparing 429 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 2: our mission statement to somebody else's. 430 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:06,680 Speaker 1: Yes, you know, it's. 431 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 2: Like, oh, well, what they're doing is better than what 432 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 2: I'm doing, and their life is going to matter so 433 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 2: much more than my life. So kind of speaking too, 434 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 2: that comparison in purpose in giftings, if that makes sense. 435 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I tell whomen I speak on this often 436 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 3: at retreats. This topic of purpose. You know, don't compare 437 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 3: your purpose to somebody else's because our purposes really fit 438 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 3: together in the body of Christ, like as a team 439 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 3: that we fill in the gaps. And your purpose may 440 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 3: not be something big and grand. I can compare myself 441 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 3: to speakers and writers and go I wish I had 442 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 3: their ministry and their platform and all that, and yet 443 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 3: that's not where God has me. I think back to 444 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 3: when I was a women's ministry director. My assistant had 445 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 3: completely opposite purpose. Her purpose was to come alongside and 446 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 3: help the teacher and the upfront person. Her purpose was 447 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 3: to come alongside and do all the background stuff that 448 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 3: would help that person shine in her ministry. And so 449 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,479 Speaker 3: that's what she did with me. Sharon would say, I 450 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 3: love taking care of all the details, making sure all 451 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 3: the technology is working, making sure we've got all the 452 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 3: books ordered. And that was her person and she loved it, 453 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 3: and she thrived in that because she was living out 454 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,920 Speaker 3: her purpose. But people didn't see a lot of what 455 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 3: she did, but she was satisfied because she felt that 456 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:41,719 Speaker 3: joy that Lord, this is what You've given me to 457 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:46,199 Speaker 3: do to honor you. And so don't compare every gift 458 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 3: that we have whether it's you know, a speaking gift 459 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 3: or our serving gift, is just as important. Everything that 460 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 3: God gives us to do. He's got a reason for 461 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 3: the purpose he gives us and the gifts he gives us. 462 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,719 Speaker 3: And the worst thing we can do is compare and think, well, 463 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 3: I wish I was able to get up speak like 464 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 3: she does, or I wish I was upfront. No, no, no, 465 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:11,199 Speaker 3: I love those people that are in the background doing 466 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 3: just as important work as somebody upfront speaking. So don't compare. 467 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 3: Embrace the gift and the purpose that God has given you, 468 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:24,640 Speaker 3: and live it out. 469 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 2: Talk to us, elaborate if you will, on this idea 470 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 2: of I know, for me, even though I feel like 471 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 2: I am doing what God's called me to do and 472 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 2: I'm living out my specific purpose with my specific giftings, 473 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 2: sometimes it's still hard and it feels super ordinary and 474 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 2: super mundane and routine. It's like, gosh, okay, God, I 475 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:47,919 Speaker 2: know this is what You've called me to do, but 476 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 2: I don't feel like this just feels so small, and 477 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 2: it's like, Gosh, does this is this? 478 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: It does this matter? 479 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:58,719 Speaker 2: Talk to us about that, like the small moments still 480 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 2: being important in signal again. 481 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 3: You know, I think we never need to underestimate how 482 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 3: God can use the smallest things in life. And I've 483 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:12,880 Speaker 3: shared this story with people at different places I've spoken 484 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 3: but my mom, and one thing I tell people is 485 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 3: that you have a purpose until God takes you home. 486 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 3: He never puts you on the shelf, no matter what 487 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 3: the situation is. My mom was in a nursing home. 488 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 3: She lived to be almost ninety nine years old, and 489 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,239 Speaker 3: she couldn't walk, talk, she couldn't see, and she couldn't hear. 490 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 3: And people would say, well, she doesn't have a purpose anymore. 491 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,479 Speaker 3: I mean, what can she do? And her purpose, I 492 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 3: believe was encouragement. I think my mom was always an encourager, 493 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 3: always wanting to point people to Jesus coming alongside them. 494 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 3: And in the nursing home, they would put her in 495 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 3: her wheelchair and she would sit at the nurse's station 496 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 3: and she would sometimes will or shelf over when she 497 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 3: could and grab some ice hand and squeeze it when 498 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 3: she'd see they were depressed and just squeeze them and 499 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 3: nod her head and they would look at her and 500 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 3: smile back. But I'll tell you, at the end, they 501 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 3: would put her out there and my mom could smile. 502 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 3: That's very a small thing. She could smile, and she 503 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 3: would sit there at the nurses station and just couldn't 504 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 3: see who was coming or going, but she would just smile. 505 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 3: And do you know, I can't tell you how many 506 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 3: people would come up to me and say, cricket. And 507 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 3: this would be either nursing home workers, the social worker, 508 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 3: the nurses, nurses, aids, family members of other people come 509 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 3: up and say, cricket. How is it that your mom, 510 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,879 Speaker 3: with this horrible quality of life can sit there and 511 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 3: smile with this radiant peace? And I could say, because 512 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 3: my mom knows Jesus Christ as her savior, and she 513 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 3: knows she's going to see him soon. Can I share 514 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 3: with you about my mom's relationship with Christ? A small rachel, 515 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:04,199 Speaker 3: but God used it to open the door for me 516 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,880 Speaker 3: to share the gospel. Mom couldn't do it, but her 517 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 3: smile opened the door. Don't ever feel like whatever God 518 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,880 Speaker 3: has given you he can't use you. He can use 519 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 3: even the smallest things for His purpose. We just seem 520 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 3: to be available, willing. Does that make sense? 521 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: It does? Yeah, everybody listening, That's what I think. I want. 522 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: I want you to hear. 523 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 2: And I think Kricket would want you to hear is 524 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 2: you matter, Your life matters, and you have a purpose, 525 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 2: and so it's time to live that out and believe 526 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 2: that it will matter now and for all of eternity. 527 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 3: Amen's sister. 528 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, okay, So is there a biblical concept of 529 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 2: love that you think applies to this topic today? 530 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 3: You know, I think just the way that Paul loved 531 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 3: Timothy in the good times and the bad times was 532 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 3: that unconditional love. He didn't give up on Timothy when 533 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 3: Timothy was kind of being timid or we don't know 534 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 3: exactly what was going on with them. He still loved 535 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 3: Timothy and wanted the best for Timothy. That unconditional love, 536 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 3: And I think that's a good lesson for us. You know, 537 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 3: people are gonna let us down, people are maybe not 538 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 3: going to live up to what we want them to 539 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 3: live up to be, but we still need to love 540 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 3: them and love them not because of what they do, 541 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,720 Speaker 3: but because God loves them and we want to love 542 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 3: them like God does and wanting his best for them. 543 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 3: And I think that's a great model of Paul. Is 544 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 3: he really cared for Timothy and also his love for 545 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 3: the church, just wanting to make sure he was leaving 546 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 3: the church in good hands that would continue the ministry 547 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,479 Speaker 3: after he was gone. He'd loved those people that he 548 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 3: ministered to. He wanted them to grow in their walk 549 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 3: with the Lord, and so he raised up men and 550 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 3: women that would carry on the ministry after he left. 551 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 3: But yeah, love I think is a big part of 552 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 3: Paul's ministry is he loved his disciples, loved the people, 553 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 3: even I think loved those people that walked away from 554 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 3: him and hurt him. But you see just how he 555 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 3: really cared and wanted to spur people on. He talks 556 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 3: about Onesimus and refreshing him. I think that's a form 557 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 3: of love. How do we refresh people and love them 558 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 3: in that way? So, yeah, love is a major fact. 559 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, it makes me think of in First Corinthians. 560 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 2: So it says you can do all of these things, 561 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 2: but if you don't have love, really none of it matters. Right, Yes, love, 562 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 2: Love is the heart of it all for sure. Well, 563 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 2: So to tell us something you are loving right now. 564 00:30:57,320 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 3: You know, I have to say, I guess the thing 565 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 3: I'm love is just feeling that God is still using 566 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 3: me even in retirement, that when he opens up opportunities 567 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 3: for me to go and share at a church. I 568 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 3: just get I feel loved by him and I love 569 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 3: doing it. I mean, yesterday I got to speak to 570 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 3: a group of women in midtown Memphis, a group of 571 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 3: women that are in a hard spot in life. And 572 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:28,959 Speaker 3: as I was leaving there yesterday, house likele Lord, I 573 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 3: just love doing this. I love sparring people. And so 574 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 3: I think, I just in this season where and there 575 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 3: are days, I'll be honest right now, there are days 576 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 3: I'm thinking, God, are you done with me? I mean, 577 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 3: am I finished? But then he reminds me, no, I'm not. 578 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 3: I'm just giving you break, and now we're gonna put 579 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 3: you back to work. And so I'm loving what He's 580 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 3: allowing me to do in this season of life. And 581 00:31:56,320 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 3: that's what I would encourage your listeners is embrace every 582 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 3: day of your. 583 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: Life and. 584 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 3: Lay yourself on the altar every day to say, what 585 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 3: do you want me to do today? I'm willing use me, 586 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 3: make me usable. 587 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:17,480 Speaker 2: Yes, well, I know I want to stay connected with you. 588 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 2: I'm sure listeners are going to want to. So tell 589 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 2: us how we can do that, and then purchase your 590 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 2: new Bible study. 591 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 3: Well, you can always go to my website Cricketkeith dot 592 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:30,000 Speaker 3: com and Cricket with two t's and Keith with two e's, 593 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:32,880 Speaker 3: but Cricketkeith dot com is where you can find the 594 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 3: recordings of the Bible Studies. Social media everything like that, Facebook, 595 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 3: Instagram or really my two main social media platforms. But 596 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 3: those are the two main areas. And then also you 597 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 3: can buy the Bible Study on Amazon, you can buy 598 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 3: it on Moody, and if you buy more than twelve 599 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 3: copies you get a great discount from Moody. So if 600 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 3: you're doing a group study, I would probably recommend directly 601 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 3: through Moody because they have a great deal for groups. 602 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:03,200 Speaker 3: But Amazon, Barnes, and Noble, I mean any of your 603 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 3: main retailers, Christian book distributors, so on. 604 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 2: Okay, well, I'll include all of that in the show notes. 605 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 2: But would you do us the honor of praying for 606 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 2: us as we close today? 607 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 3: Yes, i'd love to Father, thank you so much for 608 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 3: this time with Rachel and all that are listening. And 609 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 3: I pray Lord if there's somebody out there listening to 610 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 3: this and they're feeling like they don't have any purpose 611 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 3: or that you're finished with them and put them on 612 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 3: the shelf. Lord, would you use our words today and 613 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 3: your word to encourage them and spur them on to 614 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 3: living out their life for you and Lord, I pray 615 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 3: that you would show each one what it is that 616 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 3: you want them to do with their lives and how 617 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 3: they can make a difference in the lives of others. Lord, 618 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:57,240 Speaker 3: keep us from comparing ourselves and our purpose and our 619 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 3: lives to somebody else's. Help us just embrace every day 620 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 3: to the fullest and limit to the fullest, not knowing Father, 621 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:11,360 Speaker 3: how much time we have left. Help us just consider 622 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,760 Speaker 3: the people we come in contact with each day. How 623 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:18,959 Speaker 3: can I make a difference in their lives? And Father, 624 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 3: thank you for this time. Thank you for Rachel and 625 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,920 Speaker 3: her ministry and her love for you and love for others. 626 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 3: And I pray Father that we would just glorify you 627 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 3: in all that we do and say in Jesus' name. 628 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 2: Amen Crick, I'm thankful for you. Thank you for always 629 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 2: being encouraging to me and being a pall in my life, 630 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 2: and thank you for helping us to realize that we 631 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,279 Speaker 2: can all live out a life that matters well. 632 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. I always enjoy spending time 633 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:47,399 Speaker 3: with you. 634 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering podcast. 635 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 2: I hope today's conversation reminded you that your life is 636 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 2: not insignificant. Even in the quiet, ordinary moments, God is 637 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 2: at work shaping you, using you, you into something eternal. 638 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:03,680 Speaker 2: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a 639 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:05,799 Speaker 2: friend and leave review. It helps others find the show 640 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 2: and help spreads the message of love even further. To 641 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 2: connect with me, visit me on my website at Rachelcadams 642 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:13,719 Speaker 2: dot com, where you can download the Love Always Devotional, 643 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,239 Speaker 2: a free resource to help you realize how beloved you 644 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:16,919 Speaker 2: already are. 645 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:18,360 Speaker 1: Be sure to check out. 646 00:35:18,239 --> 00:35:20,560 Speaker 2: Living Out a Life that Matters, an eight week study 647 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:23,600 Speaker 2: in two Timothy by Cricket Keith. A special thank you 648 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 2: to Life Audio for supporting this podcast and making it possible. 649 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 2: Until next time, let's make our lives an offering of love.