1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,057 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:13,497 --> 00:00:16,897 Speaker 2: Welcome to the special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling podcast, 3 00:00:17,417 --> 00:00:21,736 Speaker 2: inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young's seasonal prayer devotional, 4 00:00:22,137 --> 00:00:26,817 Speaker 2: Jesus Listens prayers for every season. Today, we're featuring guests 5 00:00:26,817 --> 00:00:28,976 Speaker 2: who speak to themes that all of us might be 6 00:00:29,017 --> 00:00:32,537 Speaker 2: experiencing this season of winter, as the days grow shorter 7 00:00:32,697 --> 00:00:36,417 Speaker 2: and the nights longer. We're offered a rare gift, permission 8 00:00:36,497 --> 00:00:39,976 Speaker 2: to stop. If you are struggling with low spirits, please 9 00:00:40,016 --> 00:00:44,097 Speaker 2: know you're not alone and help is available. This episode 10 00:00:44,137 --> 00:00:47,177 Speaker 2: is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the 11 00:00:47,336 --> 00:00:50,457 Speaker 2: urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that 12 00:00:50,577 --> 00:00:54,617 Speaker 2: happens when we simply let ourselves rest in His stillness. 13 00:00:55,617 --> 00:00:59,017 Speaker 2: Our first thoughts are from author and speaker Patsy Claremont. 14 00:01:01,577 --> 00:01:05,977 Speaker 1: When I was twenty, after I gave birth to our 15 00:01:06,257 --> 00:01:13,697 Speaker 1: first son, I began to disintegrate emotionally. I began to 16 00:01:14,017 --> 00:01:16,097 Speaker 1: become unhinged because. 17 00:01:15,817 --> 00:01:19,697 Speaker 3: I didn't know what to do to be different or 18 00:01:19,737 --> 00:01:25,657 Speaker 3: to be well, and so I withdrew from society, thinking 19 00:01:26,057 --> 00:01:31,617 Speaker 3: that if I could manage myself at home, then maybe 20 00:01:31,697 --> 00:01:37,417 Speaker 3: I could grow into managing myself in society that wasn't 21 00:01:37,537 --> 00:01:37,897 Speaker 3: to be. 22 00:01:37,977 --> 00:01:42,617 Speaker 1: The immediate case, and so I struggled for a number 23 00:01:42,617 --> 00:01:50,257 Speaker 1: of years. I was on heavy medicines to try to 24 00:01:50,337 --> 00:01:54,937 Speaker 1: help me manage my anxiety level, and I was quite 25 00:01:55,017 --> 00:02:01,297 Speaker 1: addicted to them. I was a heavy smoker and I 26 00:02:01,377 --> 00:02:06,417 Speaker 1: drank about ten pots of coffee a day, which does 27 00:02:06,497 --> 00:02:12,177 Speaker 1: not help your anxiety level. Eventually, after withdrawing into my home, 28 00:02:12,257 --> 00:02:16,697 Speaker 1: I withdrew into my bed and my prayer was, Lord, 29 00:02:16,857 --> 00:02:20,617 Speaker 1: give me a disease, not one that'll kill me, just 30 00:02:21,417 --> 00:02:25,057 Speaker 1: will explain to other people why I have to hide. 31 00:02:25,697 --> 00:02:30,457 Speaker 1: And instead he brought me to a point of desperation 32 00:02:31,217 --> 00:02:36,017 Speaker 1: where I realized that if something didn't change, I wouldn't 33 00:02:36,177 --> 00:02:40,777 Speaker 1: survive myself. And it was at that point that I 34 00:02:40,977 --> 00:02:45,017 Speaker 1: cried out from the depth of my being, Lord, I'll 35 00:02:45,057 --> 00:02:49,777 Speaker 1: do whatever you ask of me, and I heard a 36 00:02:49,897 --> 00:02:56,617 Speaker 1: voice within me that said, simply make your bed. I 37 00:02:56,697 --> 00:03:00,977 Speaker 1: began to argue, well, what difference does it make if 38 00:03:01,017 --> 00:03:04,097 Speaker 1: I make it? Besides I'm in it. Well that was 39 00:03:04,217 --> 00:03:09,937 Speaker 1: the point. That's where I began on my journey of 40 00:03:10,337 --> 00:03:15,337 Speaker 1: learning that God was more than just someone you said 41 00:03:15,657 --> 00:03:20,937 Speaker 1: yes too, but that you began to appropriate the direction 42 00:03:21,257 --> 00:03:24,897 Speaker 1: he would give you for your life and step into 43 00:03:24,977 --> 00:03:29,457 Speaker 1: it even when you didn't feel courageous enough to do so. 44 00:03:31,657 --> 00:03:34,457 Speaker 2: To learn more about Patsy Claremont or to join her 45 00:03:34,457 --> 00:03:39,657 Speaker 2: book club, please visit Patsyclaremont dot com. Next up, we'll 46 00:03:39,697 --> 00:03:43,057 Speaker 2: hear from pastor and former drug trafficker Herman Mendoza. 47 00:03:45,137 --> 00:03:46,417 Speaker 4: My name is Hermer Mendoza. 48 00:03:46,857 --> 00:03:54,497 Speaker 5: I am a lead pastor at Promised Ministries International. I 49 00:03:54,577 --> 00:03:58,857 Speaker 5: also am the director of a children's program dubbed Powerhouse 50 00:03:58,977 --> 00:04:02,657 Speaker 5: Kids in New York City. I'm the father of three 51 00:04:03,017 --> 00:04:08,137 Speaker 5: grown adults and I have for grandchildren. I think a 52 00:04:08,177 --> 00:04:12,257 Speaker 5: lot of our young people, they tend to want to 53 00:04:12,337 --> 00:04:17,057 Speaker 5: belong to a group of people because they feel isolated alone, 54 00:04:17,736 --> 00:04:22,457 Speaker 5: and they gravitate to the desires of the flesh. I think, 55 00:04:22,537 --> 00:04:25,976 Speaker 5: in my case, all these things thinking that those things, 56 00:04:26,137 --> 00:04:31,097 Speaker 5: the pleasures of the world, will fulfill one's life, and 57 00:04:31,176 --> 00:04:33,936 Speaker 5: unfortunately these are things that are really destroying us as 58 00:04:34,337 --> 00:04:34,897 Speaker 5: young people. 59 00:04:36,657 --> 00:04:37,657 Speaker 4: I try to. 60 00:04:37,657 --> 00:04:40,376 Speaker 5: Find my identity in the community, trying to connect with 61 00:04:40,457 --> 00:04:45,176 Speaker 5: other kids, local kids, and thinking that by hanging out 62 00:04:45,176 --> 00:04:48,537 Speaker 5: with them that I can try to find in a 63 00:04:48,616 --> 00:04:52,497 Speaker 5: sense myself and my true self, and got lost in 64 00:04:52,577 --> 00:04:57,537 Speaker 5: the whole culture thing of the eighties and started off 65 00:04:57,577 --> 00:05:00,017 Speaker 5: with just weed mariguana. 66 00:05:00,816 --> 00:05:02,856 Speaker 4: I was introduced to marijuana. 67 00:05:02,416 --> 00:05:04,976 Speaker 5: At the age of thirteen years old and then from 68 00:05:04,976 --> 00:05:09,897 Speaker 5: there collated to more hardcore with drugs cocaine and heroin. 69 00:05:10,457 --> 00:05:13,337 Speaker 5: Came to the States and got involved, you know fully, 70 00:05:13,337 --> 00:05:17,537 Speaker 5: with my brothers distributing cocaine. And this was in the 71 00:05:17,577 --> 00:05:23,056 Speaker 5: mid nineties and Mayor Giuliani in his tenure year of 72 00:05:23,097 --> 00:05:24,497 Speaker 5: being the mayor of the City of New York, he 73 00:05:24,577 --> 00:05:28,856 Speaker 5: was cracking down on drug traffickers and I was arrested 74 00:05:28,936 --> 00:05:31,777 Speaker 5: and it made the news. Three point eight million dollars 75 00:05:31,816 --> 00:05:36,176 Speaker 5: seized of cocaine, two brothers incarcerated, facing life in prison. 76 00:05:39,257 --> 00:05:42,057 Speaker 5: My brother that got arrested with me in the federal 77 00:05:42,217 --> 00:05:47,296 Speaker 5: rap he surrendered his life to Jesus and he said, Lord, 78 00:05:47,697 --> 00:05:50,816 Speaker 5: send my brother to the same facility where I'm housed 79 00:05:51,257 --> 00:05:53,777 Speaker 5: so that I can share the gospel with him, because 80 00:05:53,816 --> 00:05:55,697 Speaker 5: if not, they're going to kill him. 81 00:05:56,257 --> 00:05:57,777 Speaker 4: This was all God setting everything up. 82 00:05:57,856 --> 00:06:01,416 Speaker 5: He would have it all the way because I waived 83 00:06:01,457 --> 00:06:04,696 Speaker 5: my extradition rights and I ended up in the same 84 00:06:04,736 --> 00:06:07,616 Speaker 5: federal prison my brother, and there was a day room 85 00:06:07,777 --> 00:06:10,377 Speaker 5: within the grounds I was housed in and they were 86 00:06:10,416 --> 00:06:14,737 Speaker 5: inmates having a prayer service, and my brother used to 87 00:06:14,777 --> 00:06:15,617 Speaker 5: invite me, I. 88 00:06:15,577 --> 00:06:16,777 Speaker 4: Want you to hear the word of God. 89 00:06:17,496 --> 00:06:19,696 Speaker 5: I was making my way to the day room and 90 00:06:19,736 --> 00:06:22,336 Speaker 5: I was having this conversation with God, and I said, God, 91 00:06:23,137 --> 00:06:26,016 Speaker 5: you know, if f you're for real, all I want 92 00:06:26,496 --> 00:06:31,217 Speaker 5: is peace. I am losing my mind here. I just 93 00:06:31,257 --> 00:06:33,936 Speaker 5: want peace. And so I entered this chapel. I sat 94 00:06:33,976 --> 00:06:37,697 Speaker 5: in the back observing this religious service. I wasn't understanding 95 00:06:37,697 --> 00:06:40,296 Speaker 5: what was going on. I was seeing inmates that were 96 00:06:40,296 --> 00:06:44,416 Speaker 5: facing life in prison like me, testifying to the goodness 97 00:06:44,416 --> 00:06:50,456 Speaker 5: of God, giving testimony of marriages restored. And I was 98 00:06:50,457 --> 00:06:52,696 Speaker 5: seeing in my mind. It was just flashes of images 99 00:06:53,217 --> 00:06:56,936 Speaker 5: in my mind of the people that I harmed, Mothers 100 00:06:57,017 --> 00:07:00,056 Speaker 5: perhaps selling their bodies to obtain the drugs that I 101 00:07:00,137 --> 00:07:04,897 Speaker 5: was spewing, people killing themselves to receive the poison. That 102 00:07:04,976 --> 00:07:08,576 Speaker 5: I was out there, and I just felt so bad 103 00:07:09,337 --> 00:07:14,456 Speaker 5: and so convicted. And the preacher says, amongst fifty five inmates, 104 00:07:14,737 --> 00:07:19,417 Speaker 5: there's someone here that has been searching for things of 105 00:07:19,457 --> 00:07:23,657 Speaker 5: this world, money, drug, sex, and all those things has 106 00:07:23,697 --> 00:07:26,657 Speaker 5: brought him to a place of destruction. But God wants 107 00:07:26,697 --> 00:07:29,057 Speaker 5: you to know that he loves you, and he wants 108 00:07:29,097 --> 00:07:32,057 Speaker 5: to give you peace, and the peace that he wants 109 00:07:32,137 --> 00:07:39,177 Speaker 5: to offer you surpasses all understanding. That was it. I 110 00:07:39,257 --> 00:07:41,777 Speaker 5: felt the tugging in my heart. He says, you know 111 00:07:41,816 --> 00:07:43,337 Speaker 5: who you are. And I made my way to the 112 00:07:43,377 --> 00:07:47,337 Speaker 5: front of this church and I just got on my 113 00:07:47,417 --> 00:07:50,337 Speaker 5: knees and I started to cry and cry and cry, 114 00:07:50,377 --> 00:07:52,377 Speaker 5: and iank s good for forgiveness. 115 00:07:52,897 --> 00:07:56,497 Speaker 4: And the Lord his spirit enveloped me there. 116 00:07:57,177 --> 00:08:01,697 Speaker 5: I felt that peace that surpasses all understanding. 117 00:08:02,257 --> 00:08:03,337 Speaker 4: For the very first time. 118 00:08:03,537 --> 00:08:08,977 Speaker 5: Wasn't about me, isn't about excuses, It wasn't about negotiating 119 00:08:09,017 --> 00:08:12,777 Speaker 5: with God. It was about the wrongs that I've done, 120 00:08:12,816 --> 00:08:16,217 Speaker 5: and that Jesus paid the price for my sins and 121 00:08:16,257 --> 00:08:19,577 Speaker 5: that he can make it all right. Even though the 122 00:08:19,657 --> 00:08:22,657 Speaker 5: sins that I was committing, there's a price to pay 123 00:08:22,857 --> 00:08:27,137 Speaker 5: for them, and I had to pay that price. God 124 00:08:28,097 --> 00:08:31,816 Speaker 5: enables me to have freedom through prayer to talk to 125 00:08:31,897 --> 00:08:35,377 Speaker 5: Him and for him to remind me that he loves me. 126 00:08:35,697 --> 00:08:39,137 Speaker 5: He's with me, and the Holy Scriptures are there to 127 00:08:39,217 --> 00:08:43,337 Speaker 5: guide me each and every day. Prayer is just the 128 00:08:43,577 --> 00:08:46,777 Speaker 5: essence of who we are, is the breath of life. 129 00:08:46,977 --> 00:08:50,657 Speaker 5: It is everything to me. Personally. This is where I 130 00:08:50,697 --> 00:08:54,817 Speaker 5: seek guidance through the Holy Spirit, through prayer, and that's 131 00:08:55,537 --> 00:08:58,657 Speaker 5: what really shapes me and gives me a sense of 132 00:08:58,697 --> 00:09:02,016 Speaker 5: direction even when I prepare my sermons on Sundays. 133 00:09:03,217 --> 00:09:04,577 Speaker 4: You know, I love Jesus calling it. 134 00:09:04,977 --> 00:09:08,977 Speaker 5: It's front of my devotional materials and it's just so impactful. 135 00:09:09,577 --> 00:09:10,897 Speaker 4: It really speaks to the heart. 136 00:09:13,417 --> 00:09:19,097 Speaker 5: It's an amazing story because from former drug lord to pastor, 137 00:09:19,857 --> 00:09:24,257 Speaker 5: this hope, this hope in Jesus Christ, God is amazing 138 00:09:25,217 --> 00:09:28,577 Speaker 5: and when you seek him, you will find him and 139 00:09:28,617 --> 00:09:30,377 Speaker 5: he will change your life forever. 140 00:09:32,497 --> 00:09:35,737 Speaker 2: To learn more about Pastor Mendoza and his ministry, please 141 00:09:35,817 --> 00:09:40,217 Speaker 2: visit Herman Mendoza dot com. Next up, we'll hear from 142 00:09:40,297 --> 00:09:43,577 Speaker 2: Kristin Smedley, a mom of three and an advocate in 143 00:09:43,617 --> 00:09:44,577 Speaker 2: the blind community. 144 00:09:47,257 --> 00:09:50,577 Speaker 6: When I was carrying my firstborn child in my belly, 145 00:09:50,777 --> 00:09:52,577 Speaker 6: you know, you start off with you find out you're 146 00:09:52,617 --> 00:09:54,817 Speaker 6: pregnant and you just want a healthy baby. And then 147 00:09:54,857 --> 00:09:58,577 Speaker 6: when you're like me, as my belly was growing, my 148 00:09:58,777 --> 00:10:01,377 Speaker 6: dreams for him were growing. I mean I went from 149 00:10:01,417 --> 00:10:04,937 Speaker 6: I just want a healthy child too. Oh, I didn't 150 00:10:04,937 --> 00:10:06,097 Speaker 6: know if it was a boy or a girl, And 151 00:10:06,137 --> 00:10:08,697 Speaker 6: I thought, oh, I know they're going to be an athlete, like, 152 00:10:09,177 --> 00:10:12,417 Speaker 6: are they going to be the next Mia Ham or 153 00:10:12,737 --> 00:10:16,297 Speaker 6: you know, Mike Schmidt? And will this baby be a 154 00:10:16,417 --> 00:10:19,977 Speaker 6: pitcher for the Phillies or catching touchdowns for the Eagles? 155 00:10:20,017 --> 00:10:23,737 Speaker 6: And then you start to think valedictorian, Summa cum laude, 156 00:10:23,977 --> 00:10:27,897 Speaker 6: all those things, and my dreams for this little human 157 00:10:28,057 --> 00:10:32,177 Speaker 6: were ginormous by the time I gave birth to him. 158 00:10:32,217 --> 00:10:36,617 Speaker 6: And Michael came into the world and was the happiest 159 00:10:36,937 --> 00:10:39,177 Speaker 6: baby that I had known a lot of babies and 160 00:10:39,217 --> 00:10:41,417 Speaker 6: a lot of kids, and I had never seen somebody 161 00:10:41,457 --> 00:10:47,257 Speaker 6: so happy and pleasant and interested in everything. And I 162 00:10:47,257 --> 00:10:51,497 Speaker 6: thought to myself, I have everything I worked for and 163 00:10:51,617 --> 00:10:56,057 Speaker 6: dreamt of, and as much as people had said all 164 00:10:56,097 --> 00:10:59,177 Speaker 6: my life, God shines his light on you. And it 165 00:10:59,297 --> 00:11:02,017 Speaker 6: confirmed in that moment of looking at my Michael that 166 00:11:02,257 --> 00:11:05,017 Speaker 6: he really does. He really did shine his light on me. 167 00:11:06,577 --> 00:11:10,097 Speaker 6: And then at four months old, I was old of 168 00:11:10,177 --> 00:11:12,777 Speaker 6: Michael and a doctor said to me the worst four 169 00:11:12,777 --> 00:11:17,417 Speaker 6: words that I have ever heard. Your son is blind. 170 00:11:18,817 --> 00:11:21,777 Speaker 6: And I'm not proud of it. But my first question 171 00:11:22,017 --> 00:11:28,297 Speaker 6: was really play baseball? That doctor looked at me like 172 00:11:28,377 --> 00:11:34,657 Speaker 6: I was a little nuts, and he said, no, I said, 173 00:11:35,937 --> 00:11:42,257 Speaker 6: Willie drive and he said no. And I said, is 174 00:11:42,257 --> 00:11:43,737 Speaker 6: he at least going to be able to go to 175 00:11:43,817 --> 00:11:50,337 Speaker 6: school have success there? And he said, probably not a 176 00:11:50,337 --> 00:11:55,337 Speaker 6: regular school. I said, well, what do I do now? 177 00:11:57,177 --> 00:11:58,857 Speaker 6: He said, I don't know what to tell you, but 178 00:11:59,497 --> 00:12:06,017 Speaker 6: good luck. I was raised in a farm found of 179 00:12:06,057 --> 00:12:09,897 Speaker 6: faith and that God is good and he wants good 180 00:12:09,937 --> 00:12:12,337 Speaker 6: things for you in this world. And I thought to myself, 181 00:12:12,537 --> 00:12:15,337 Speaker 6: what kind of a God does this? 182 00:12:15,337 --> 00:12:17,337 Speaker 4: This is hard. 183 00:12:23,577 --> 00:12:27,577 Speaker 6: I heard Michael coming down my hallway and Michael did 184 00:12:27,617 --> 00:12:33,817 Speaker 6: not walk. He bounced, and he skipped, and he danced 185 00:12:33,857 --> 00:12:35,617 Speaker 6: his way through the day. He still has a little 186 00:12:35,657 --> 00:12:38,817 Speaker 6: bounce in his step. And he bounced into my room 187 00:12:38,977 --> 00:12:42,057 Speaker 6: and he was standing right in front of me and 188 00:12:42,177 --> 00:12:44,297 Speaker 6: had no idea. I was sitting in front of him, 189 00:12:44,337 --> 00:12:47,017 Speaker 6: and he said, Mommy, are you in here? And I 190 00:12:47,177 --> 00:12:49,457 Speaker 6: looked up and thought, are you kidding me? Like another 191 00:12:49,537 --> 00:12:51,297 Speaker 6: sucker punch to my heart. You have to put it 192 00:12:51,377 --> 00:12:54,577 Speaker 6: right in my face that Michael can't see me. I said, Michael, 193 00:12:54,577 --> 00:12:59,857 Speaker 6: what do you need? And he said, with his all 194 00:12:59,937 --> 00:13:03,457 Speaker 6: of the joy that just spills out of Michael in 195 00:13:03,537 --> 00:13:07,777 Speaker 6: his little tiny body and his big glowing, smiling face, 196 00:13:07,817 --> 00:13:11,417 Speaker 6: he said to me, Mommy, isn't this the best day ever? 197 00:13:13,217 --> 00:13:16,977 Speaker 6: And I thought, oh, my goodness, how could you possibly 198 00:13:16,977 --> 00:13:19,897 Speaker 6: have a best day ever? You're missing so much in 199 00:13:19,977 --> 00:13:23,417 Speaker 6: this world and your road is going to be all struggle. 200 00:13:24,377 --> 00:13:26,297 Speaker 6: And I asked him the best question I have ever 201 00:13:26,337 --> 00:13:29,097 Speaker 6: asked him. I said, Michael, why do you think it's 202 00:13:29,137 --> 00:13:32,057 Speaker 6: the best day ever? He said, the sun is shining 203 00:13:32,697 --> 00:13:35,897 Speaker 6: and I have all my toys, and Mommy, I'm just 204 00:13:36,017 --> 00:13:44,217 Speaker 6: so happy. And if Hollywood were to produce this moment 205 00:13:44,457 --> 00:13:46,937 Speaker 6: on film, there would be a lightning bolt that came 206 00:13:46,977 --> 00:13:52,337 Speaker 6: down and hit my heart and fireworks would go. And 207 00:13:52,377 --> 00:13:55,257 Speaker 6: that's exactly what I experienced in that moment. It was 208 00:13:55,377 --> 00:13:59,017 Speaker 6: like God took a freight train and hit me in 209 00:13:59,057 --> 00:14:03,217 Speaker 6: the head and said, Kristen, look at this little person. 210 00:14:03,977 --> 00:14:09,097 Speaker 6: Blindness is not bothering him. It's bothering you. He is 211 00:14:09,137 --> 00:14:11,897 Speaker 6: figuring everything out. He had spent three and a half 212 00:14:11,977 --> 00:14:14,577 Speaker 6: years on this planet doing all the things he wanted 213 00:14:14,617 --> 00:14:18,337 Speaker 6: to do. And I realized also in that moment that 214 00:14:18,897 --> 00:14:21,297 Speaker 6: I hadn't armed him with any of the tools of blindness. 215 00:14:21,377 --> 00:14:23,617 Speaker 6: I just kept praying in way and hoping it away, 216 00:14:23,937 --> 00:14:28,457 Speaker 6: and he was still still figuring it out and having 217 00:14:28,457 --> 00:14:32,897 Speaker 6: a great life. And I will say, in that moment, 218 00:14:33,777 --> 00:14:38,857 Speaker 6: my miracle happened, and it was my blindness of Michael's 219 00:14:38,857 --> 00:14:41,177 Speaker 6: life and his purpose in this world that was cured. 220 00:14:43,457 --> 00:14:45,457 Speaker 6: The only way I knew how to take a step 221 00:14:45,497 --> 00:14:49,417 Speaker 6: forward was I started looking at it from Michael's point 222 00:14:49,417 --> 00:14:53,697 Speaker 6: of view. And Michael's point of view was, Oh, every 223 00:14:53,777 --> 00:14:57,097 Speaker 6: day is the best day ever. And I committed at 224 00:14:57,137 --> 00:15:01,497 Speaker 6: that moment to making sure that I was his number 225 00:15:01,577 --> 00:15:04,977 Speaker 6: one guide in this world to get him the tools 226 00:15:05,057 --> 00:15:08,177 Speaker 6: that he was need to do the things that would 227 00:15:08,217 --> 00:15:14,257 Speaker 6: fulfill his purpose in this world, not my dreams for him. 228 00:15:14,297 --> 00:15:16,937 Speaker 2: To learn more about Kristin Smedley and her advocacy for 229 00:15:17,017 --> 00:15:22,657 Speaker 2: the blind community, please visit Kristin Smedley dot com. Stay 230 00:15:22,657 --> 00:15:32,537 Speaker 2: tuned for more stories After a brief message, These uncertain 231 00:15:32,577 --> 00:15:36,017 Speaker 2: times bring anxiety and fear, but Jesus Listens Prayers for 232 00:15:36,057 --> 00:15:40,057 Speaker 2: Every Season gives you daily prayers of comfort with seasonally 233 00:15:40,097 --> 00:15:44,097 Speaker 2: inspired illustrations. This beautiful book includes prayers that speak to 234 00:15:44,137 --> 00:15:47,617 Speaker 2: your situation, whether it's a time of stress or strength. 235 00:15:48,417 --> 00:15:51,777 Speaker 2: Look for Jesus Listens Prayers for Every Season wherever you 236 00:15:51,817 --> 00:15:59,057 Speaker 2: buy books. Our next guest is talk show host and 237 00:15:59,137 --> 00:16:01,257 Speaker 2: author tamer and Hall. 238 00:16:01,537 --> 00:16:05,137 Speaker 7: Just yesterday and my church, their whole sermon was about 239 00:16:05,137 --> 00:16:09,137 Speaker 7: the law way right, and our minister talked about the 240 00:16:09,217 --> 00:16:12,057 Speaker 7: children of Israel leaving in the Book of Exodus and 241 00:16:12,097 --> 00:16:13,897 Speaker 7: having to go through the wilderness, and there was a 242 00:16:13,937 --> 00:16:17,057 Speaker 7: shorter path, but that is not the path that they 243 00:16:17,057 --> 00:16:20,857 Speaker 7: were led, and why the long route is the route, 244 00:16:21,017 --> 00:16:23,137 Speaker 7: and what you need to learn in the long route, 245 00:16:23,857 --> 00:16:25,617 Speaker 7: and a lot of the things that are happening for 246 00:16:25,657 --> 00:16:28,977 Speaker 7: me in my career at this point have happened past 247 00:16:29,057 --> 00:16:31,697 Speaker 7: the age of forty five, which in my business traditionally 248 00:16:32,337 --> 00:16:35,337 Speaker 7: you were probably on your way out versus on your 249 00:16:35,337 --> 00:16:39,737 Speaker 7: way up. And for me, I sat with that sermon, 250 00:16:39,937 --> 00:16:41,857 Speaker 7: what does God want you to learn by sending you 251 00:16:41,897 --> 00:16:46,217 Speaker 7: on the long route? And I think a couple of 252 00:16:46,217 --> 00:16:48,977 Speaker 7: things for me have become so clear. While the talk 253 00:16:48,977 --> 00:16:52,257 Speaker 7: show is a point of great accomplishment, it allowed me 254 00:16:52,337 --> 00:16:56,817 Speaker 7: also to know that there's more right. I lost my 255 00:16:57,017 --> 00:16:58,177 Speaker 7: dream job. 256 00:16:58,257 --> 00:17:00,537 Speaker 8: Before the public nationally. 257 00:17:00,617 --> 00:17:03,337 Speaker 7: But I knew it was in God's hands, and I 258 00:17:03,377 --> 00:17:07,577 Speaker 7: knew that I didn't need to do anything other than 259 00:17:07,657 --> 00:17:12,217 Speaker 7: find peace with it and find my lane. So faith 260 00:17:12,257 --> 00:17:14,937 Speaker 7: has been a foundation. I think it keeps me peaceful 261 00:17:14,977 --> 00:17:18,337 Speaker 7: I think it keeps me from even on those moments 262 00:17:18,377 --> 00:17:20,577 Speaker 7: where I want to run down the street and scream 263 00:17:20,657 --> 00:17:24,057 Speaker 7: at the top of my lungs. It provides perspective because 264 00:17:24,057 --> 00:17:28,496 Speaker 7: I do believe these things happen for a reason. You 265 00:17:28,577 --> 00:17:30,577 Speaker 7: pray and you have faith, and it's not happening. It 266 00:17:30,577 --> 00:17:32,537 Speaker 7: doesn't happen a second time, or don't been a third time, 267 00:17:32,697 --> 00:17:34,777 Speaker 7: and then you start to believe, Wait a minute, has 268 00:17:34,817 --> 00:17:37,217 Speaker 7: God forgotten me? Or is there you know what's going 269 00:17:37,297 --> 00:17:40,697 Speaker 7: on here? How do I define myself and the things 270 00:17:40,697 --> 00:17:45,337 Speaker 7: I want to accomplish? But all along you're on the path. 271 00:17:46,177 --> 00:17:48,897 Speaker 7: You know, the win is in the loss, The faith 272 00:17:48,977 --> 00:17:53,577 Speaker 7: is in the challenge. The uncertainty is supposed to bolster 273 00:17:53,737 --> 00:17:56,297 Speaker 7: the faith and the belief that it is going to 274 00:17:56,377 --> 00:18:01,977 Speaker 7: happen in God's time. Now, there's so much of life 275 00:18:01,977 --> 00:18:04,857 Speaker 7: that we can extract the negative, We can extract the 276 00:18:04,937 --> 00:18:09,057 Speaker 7: difficult and balloon those up into the total sum of 277 00:18:09,097 --> 00:18:12,417 Speaker 7: the journey. And I truly, in my heart believe that 278 00:18:14,017 --> 00:18:16,696 Speaker 7: it's not a cliche when we say the good outweighs that, 279 00:18:17,097 --> 00:18:20,417 Speaker 7: and that's in our own lives, you know. Just recognize 280 00:18:20,417 --> 00:18:23,137 Speaker 7: that these events are not the total sum of your 281 00:18:23,297 --> 00:18:29,497 Speaker 7: journey and that it's faith that provides the path that 282 00:18:30,137 --> 00:18:31,257 Speaker 7: gives us perspective. 283 00:18:34,297 --> 00:18:36,617 Speaker 2: You can see Tamaron Hall each week on her talk show. 284 00:18:37,377 --> 00:18:42,177 Speaker 2: Learn more at tamaronhallshow dot com. Next up, we'll talk 285 00:18:42,217 --> 00:18:45,577 Speaker 2: to singer Kevin Olasola, a member of the popular music 286 00:18:45,617 --> 00:18:46,817 Speaker 2: group Pentatonics. 287 00:18:48,657 --> 00:18:50,177 Speaker 8: I was born in Pasadena. 288 00:18:50,497 --> 00:18:55,177 Speaker 9: My dad and my mom, they're both from Nigeria and Granada, respectively. 289 00:19:00,097 --> 00:19:03,297 Speaker 9: They decided to move to Owensboro, Kentucky, and that's where 290 00:19:03,337 --> 00:19:06,777 Speaker 9: I was raised and we had a truly great time. 291 00:19:07,257 --> 00:19:10,417 Speaker 9: I think I had so much fun making music while 292 00:19:10,457 --> 00:19:13,297 Speaker 9: I was in Kentucky, but I would say it was 293 00:19:13,377 --> 00:19:14,017 Speaker 9: never the goal. 294 00:19:14,497 --> 00:19:16,577 Speaker 8: Being a musician was not my plan. 295 00:19:17,537 --> 00:19:19,657 Speaker 9: I always thought that I was going to go into medicine, 296 00:19:19,697 --> 00:19:23,496 Speaker 9: but apparently God had other plans. Beatboxing was something and 297 00:19:23,537 --> 00:19:25,737 Speaker 9: still to this day I think is so funny because 298 00:19:25,777 --> 00:19:27,777 Speaker 9: it's the thing that I'm known for. But the thing 299 00:19:27,817 --> 00:19:31,657 Speaker 9: that I did literally for fun, no training, just was 300 00:19:31,777 --> 00:19:34,617 Speaker 9: making sounds out of my mouth. I was starting to 301 00:19:34,697 --> 00:19:37,617 Speaker 9: learn this whole idea called cello boxing, which is playing 302 00:19:37,657 --> 00:19:40,657 Speaker 9: cello and beatboxing at the same time, and that's when 303 00:19:40,697 --> 00:19:42,696 Speaker 9: I started to pray and started to think, God, what 304 00:19:42,737 --> 00:19:45,457 Speaker 9: am I doing here? Because you know my path. I've 305 00:19:45,457 --> 00:19:47,777 Speaker 9: been training to be an academic my whole life. I've 306 00:19:47,777 --> 00:19:51,177 Speaker 9: been training to go into medicine my whole life. I 307 00:19:51,217 --> 00:19:54,137 Speaker 9: felt the tugue in my heart, so seriously I got 308 00:19:54,177 --> 00:19:56,897 Speaker 9: down on my knees and I said, to God, I 309 00:19:56,897 --> 00:20:01,777 Speaker 9: think you're absolutely crazy. This doesn't make any sense, but 310 00:20:01,857 --> 00:20:05,497 Speaker 9: I can't deny that. I feel like you're leading me here. 311 00:20:06,497 --> 00:20:08,817 Speaker 9: I don't know if it's forever, but I know I 312 00:20:08,817 --> 00:20:12,216 Speaker 9: at least have to follow this right now. You're gonna 313 00:20:12,257 --> 00:20:15,337 Speaker 9: have to do it because I literally have no idea 314 00:20:15,417 --> 00:20:19,057 Speaker 9: how to pursue a career in music. I feel unprepared, 315 00:20:19,497 --> 00:20:23,776 Speaker 9: I don't feel as trained. The Lord here am I. 316 00:20:23,777 --> 00:20:27,857 Speaker 9: I trust you? And from that prayer, I promise you. 317 00:20:27,937 --> 00:20:30,257 Speaker 9: It was like a pan of worms open. I knew 318 00:20:30,257 --> 00:20:33,057 Speaker 9: I couldn't go back on my word. I knew I 319 00:20:33,097 --> 00:20:35,257 Speaker 9: was supposed to do this. I couldn't even explain the 320 00:20:35,297 --> 00:20:37,297 Speaker 9: feeling to you. It was like I just gave my 321 00:20:37,337 --> 00:20:40,177 Speaker 9: life over to Christ and he said, okay, now, let 322 00:20:40,257 --> 00:20:45,297 Speaker 9: me take the rest of the journey. What happened from that, 323 00:20:45,857 --> 00:20:48,377 Speaker 9: I got so many opportunities to do things for like 324 00:20:48,417 --> 00:20:50,897 Speaker 9: the New York Times and other publications. 325 00:20:51,177 --> 00:20:52,897 Speaker 8: But two main opportunities came. 326 00:20:53,537 --> 00:20:55,497 Speaker 9: Gunger had called me and asked me to tour with 327 00:20:55,537 --> 00:20:58,657 Speaker 9: them as part of their opening act for the David 328 00:20:58,657 --> 00:21:04,137 Speaker 9: Crowder Band. The other opportunity was three kids from Texas, 329 00:21:04,937 --> 00:21:08,457 Speaker 9: Scott Kirsty, We're deciding to go on this TV show 330 00:21:08,497 --> 00:21:11,337 Speaker 9: called The sing Off. They had kind of formed an 331 00:21:11,337 --> 00:21:14,297 Speaker 9: a cappella trio in high school and they thought that 332 00:21:14,297 --> 00:21:16,537 Speaker 9: their sound could really work for this TV show, The 333 00:21:16,537 --> 00:21:20,537 Speaker 9: sing Off, and so their producer Ben Bram said, well, 334 00:21:20,577 --> 00:21:21,977 Speaker 9: you know, if we're going to do this, you need 335 00:21:22,017 --> 00:21:26,217 Speaker 9: a base and a beat boxer. My video that was 336 00:21:26,257 --> 00:21:29,177 Speaker 9: going viral. Ben savent and said this is the guy 337 00:21:29,457 --> 00:21:32,017 Speaker 9: you need to round out your sound. So they called 338 00:21:32,017 --> 00:21:33,217 Speaker 9: me and said would you want to be a part 339 00:21:33,217 --> 00:21:34,897 Speaker 9: of it? And I actually said no, I was not 340 00:21:35,017 --> 00:21:37,657 Speaker 9: interested in a cappella. Like I said, beatboxing wasn't something 341 00:21:37,657 --> 00:21:39,617 Speaker 9: that I wanted to do as my career. I wanted 342 00:21:39,657 --> 00:21:43,177 Speaker 9: to do more cello playing and production. They said, just 343 00:21:43,217 --> 00:21:47,097 Speaker 9: come and join us for this audition try it, and 344 00:21:47,177 --> 00:21:50,257 Speaker 9: I said, okay. We do the audition. The next day 345 00:21:50,777 --> 00:21:53,217 Speaker 9: we find out that we make it onto the sing Off. 346 00:21:54,017 --> 00:21:56,617 Speaker 9: There was a before and after moment when I knew 347 00:21:56,657 --> 00:21:57,417 Speaker 9: that I had to. 348 00:21:57,417 --> 00:22:00,496 Speaker 8: Completely trust God with everything. 349 00:22:01,017 --> 00:22:03,817 Speaker 9: When you're trying to give God everything in the places 350 00:22:03,857 --> 00:22:07,657 Speaker 9: where you may not feel comfortable, that's where you have 351 00:22:07,737 --> 00:22:10,737 Speaker 9: to lean in because in that place is where God's 352 00:22:10,777 --> 00:22:14,177 Speaker 9: going to require the most out of you, doing things 353 00:22:14,177 --> 00:22:16,137 Speaker 9: that you know you can do on your own strength. 354 00:22:16,817 --> 00:22:20,017 Speaker 9: It doesn't require all of you doing things where God 355 00:22:20,097 --> 00:22:24,537 Speaker 9: is calling you or require you to be so unbelievably. 356 00:22:23,817 --> 00:22:25,537 Speaker 8: Aligned in Him. 357 00:22:25,937 --> 00:22:28,977 Speaker 9: And you're going to have to develop yourself in Him 358 00:22:29,257 --> 00:22:30,377 Speaker 9: to have success. 359 00:22:31,377 --> 00:22:32,417 Speaker 8: And if God. 360 00:22:32,177 --> 00:22:34,537 Speaker 9: Almighty is the one that has put the plan in 361 00:22:34,617 --> 00:22:37,537 Speaker 9: place for you to be successful so that His glory 362 00:22:37,617 --> 00:22:41,217 Speaker 9: is known, you better believe. 363 00:22:40,937 --> 00:22:43,777 Speaker 8: That God will create a way for you to have success. 364 00:22:43,497 --> 00:22:47,817 Speaker 9: Not just in your career, but also in your family, 365 00:22:48,257 --> 00:22:51,657 Speaker 9: also in your health. He's created a way because God 366 00:22:51,737 --> 00:23:00,897 Speaker 9: wants a holistic, loving, joyous life focused on Him. This 367 00:23:00,937 --> 00:23:05,777 Speaker 9: is a passage from Jesus listens from January twentieth. Jesus, Yes, 368 00:23:06,297 --> 00:23:10,177 Speaker 9: my guide, help me to go gently through this day, 369 00:23:10,977 --> 00:23:15,457 Speaker 9: keeping my eyes on you. I ask you to open 370 00:23:15,577 --> 00:23:18,456 Speaker 9: up the way before me as I take steps of 371 00:23:18,537 --> 00:23:23,497 Speaker 9: trust along the path of life with you as my guide. 372 00:23:23,657 --> 00:23:26,777 Speaker 9: This is an important secret of success in your kingdom. 373 00:23:27,337 --> 00:23:30,337 Speaker 9: Though I remain aware of the visible world around me, 374 00:23:30,937 --> 00:23:34,936 Speaker 9: I want to be primarily aware of you. When the 375 00:23:35,057 --> 00:23:38,377 Speaker 9: road before me looks rocky, I know I can trust 376 00:23:38,497 --> 00:23:41,817 Speaker 9: you to get me through that rough patch, no matter 377 00:23:41,897 --> 00:23:46,216 Speaker 9: what is happening. Your presence with me enables me to 378 00:23:46,297 --> 00:23:52,016 Speaker 9: face each day with confidence in your encouraging name Amen. 379 00:23:54,657 --> 00:23:57,297 Speaker 2: To learn more about Kevin Olasola and to see where 380 00:23:57,337 --> 00:24:03,936 Speaker 2: Pentatonics is touring, visit ptxofficial dot com. We'll close this 381 00:24:03,977 --> 00:24:09,696 Speaker 2: episode by talking with Things Firing. Sabrina Greenley, life coach, speaker, author, 382 00:24:09,897 --> 00:24:12,737 Speaker 2: and mother of NFL player DeAndre Hopkins. 383 00:24:15,777 --> 00:24:23,137 Speaker 10: My childhood was one that was full of adversity and 384 00:24:23,257 --> 00:24:27,097 Speaker 10: turmoil from the very beginning. My mother and my father 385 00:24:27,297 --> 00:24:35,097 Speaker 10: go through domestic violence disputes over and over. I didn't 386 00:24:35,137 --> 00:24:38,256 Speaker 10: have the twos of the takeaways to even deal with 387 00:24:39,057 --> 00:24:43,577 Speaker 10: adversity or the abuse I had already endured. One of 388 00:24:43,617 --> 00:24:47,137 Speaker 10: my other little brothers passing away even after he was 389 00:24:47,177 --> 00:24:50,137 Speaker 10: in that car accident. It trickled my family into a 390 00:24:50,137 --> 00:24:54,337 Speaker 10: whirlwind of live's deception, and so I really didn't want 391 00:24:54,337 --> 00:24:57,137 Speaker 10: to deal with it, and we didn't have counseling or 392 00:24:57,137 --> 00:25:02,097 Speaker 10: therapy or anything. My other brother got killed by police 393 00:25:02,137 --> 00:25:06,297 Speaker 10: in Atlanta in nineteen ninety seven. I lost fiance. I 394 00:25:06,337 --> 00:25:10,657 Speaker 10: was in a car accident with Deandre's father and he 395 00:25:10,737 --> 00:25:15,177 Speaker 10: died when DeAndre was only six months old. Every single 396 00:25:15,217 --> 00:25:19,377 Speaker 10: thing was plummeting down on me. So here I am 397 00:25:19,657 --> 00:25:24,057 Speaker 10: laying on my bed, super depressed, like, how could God 398 00:25:24,137 --> 00:25:28,936 Speaker 10: be in anyone's life or my life when I'm just 399 00:25:28,937 --> 00:25:32,216 Speaker 10: sitting here going through all of this. And so I 400 00:25:32,257 --> 00:25:36,577 Speaker 10: was just in one relationship after another, trying to cope, 401 00:25:36,617 --> 00:25:39,857 Speaker 10: trying to survive that. I was in abusive relationships and 402 00:25:39,897 --> 00:25:44,297 Speaker 10: I didn't consider them as abuse because sometimes I was 403 00:25:44,337 --> 00:25:47,777 Speaker 10: the aggressor sometimes I wasn't. I just wanted full blown 404 00:25:47,857 --> 00:25:52,417 Speaker 10: coping mechanism mode, trying to survive. I was on a 405 00:25:52,417 --> 00:25:57,337 Speaker 10: whirlwind of ups and downs, a domino effect of one 406 00:25:57,697 --> 00:26:02,537 Speaker 10: thing happening after a next, and so I was attracting 407 00:26:02,697 --> 00:26:11,777 Speaker 10: all the wrong men. Well, two thousand and two, it 408 00:26:11,857 --> 00:26:15,937 Speaker 10: was a beautiful July day, July twentieth, to be exact, 409 00:26:16,577 --> 00:26:19,256 Speaker 10: and I had befriended a guy. We had only been 410 00:26:19,257 --> 00:26:22,297 Speaker 10: in a relationship for three and a half months. However, 411 00:26:22,817 --> 00:26:25,417 Speaker 10: there were so many red flags. There were so many 412 00:26:25,457 --> 00:26:30,297 Speaker 10: things that I overlooked the lies, the deception. I had 413 00:26:30,337 --> 00:26:34,577 Speaker 10: an inkling that there were other women, and so on 414 00:26:34,617 --> 00:26:37,817 Speaker 10: this particular day, he takes my car and he drives 415 00:26:37,857 --> 00:26:41,217 Speaker 10: it to Greenville, a nearby place where I had resided 416 00:26:41,617 --> 00:26:44,657 Speaker 10: at the time, and I got up and I was furious. 417 00:26:44,817 --> 00:26:45,577 Speaker 8: My car is gone. 418 00:26:45,617 --> 00:26:47,577 Speaker 10: I can't believe it, like, you know, where's my car? 419 00:26:47,657 --> 00:26:50,777 Speaker 10: I call him, no answer. As I'm headed out the door, 420 00:26:51,417 --> 00:26:54,777 Speaker 10: he calls me, Hey, I'm at this place. Okay, so 421 00:26:55,257 --> 00:26:57,417 Speaker 10: I head there. Then I get another call, hey, I'm 422 00:26:57,417 --> 00:27:01,257 Speaker 10: at this place. The typical games that he played. It 423 00:27:01,297 --> 00:27:04,297 Speaker 10: never dawned on me that I wouldn't make it home 424 00:27:04,337 --> 00:27:07,817 Speaker 10: that day. And I went there and I saw my car, 425 00:27:08,377 --> 00:27:11,017 Speaker 10: and he comes out of this dwelling. I kind of 426 00:27:11,017 --> 00:27:13,657 Speaker 10: turned my back to this door, still had no idea 427 00:27:13,657 --> 00:27:17,537 Speaker 10: that this woman existed or that she would come out. Meanwhile, 428 00:27:17,777 --> 00:27:21,537 Speaker 10: him and I are outside arguing. This young lady is 429 00:27:21,617 --> 00:27:28,257 Speaker 10: bowling a concoction in her kitchen of bleach and liquid 430 00:27:28,617 --> 00:27:31,377 Speaker 10: red devil i, which is liquid draino. 431 00:27:31,497 --> 00:27:33,417 Speaker 8: To most people these days. 432 00:27:34,017 --> 00:27:37,777 Speaker 10: She screams my name, and she mixes this concoction and 433 00:27:37,897 --> 00:27:43,017 Speaker 10: she throws it on me. I instantly fall to my knees. 434 00:27:43,017 --> 00:27:47,736 Speaker 10: I instantly go blind. He picks me up and he 435 00:27:47,777 --> 00:27:51,057 Speaker 10: takes me to a nearby gas station. The gas attendant 436 00:27:51,057 --> 00:27:54,137 Speaker 10: is screaming. They both take me over to the water fountain, 437 00:27:54,337 --> 00:27:58,337 Speaker 10: splash water on me, and he leaves me there, and 438 00:27:58,777 --> 00:28:05,377 Speaker 10: the gas attendant calls not one one. They helicopter fly 439 00:28:05,497 --> 00:28:09,736 Speaker 10: me to the Augusta Byrne Center, where I eventually go 440 00:28:09,817 --> 00:28:12,257 Speaker 10: into a coma, and I'm there in a coma for 441 00:28:12,337 --> 00:28:18,097 Speaker 10: a month and waking up blind, actually being addicted to 442 00:28:18,137 --> 00:28:22,577 Speaker 10: the morphine extensive therapy because I couldn't move my neck 443 00:28:23,097 --> 00:28:25,256 Speaker 10: or my back at this time, I had to have 444 00:28:25,297 --> 00:28:29,097 Speaker 10: skin grafts to save my life. So every single thing 445 00:28:29,377 --> 00:28:35,137 Speaker 10: that I thought was life instantly turned into depression, anxiety, 446 00:28:35,577 --> 00:28:38,737 Speaker 10: and life was no longer anything that it seemed after 447 00:28:38,777 --> 00:28:44,297 Speaker 10: that point. The children were my sole supporters at the 448 00:28:44,337 --> 00:28:50,457 Speaker 10: time and my inspiration to get back up. The little 449 00:28:51,257 --> 00:28:54,977 Speaker 10: things that they would do. I look back now that 450 00:28:55,057 --> 00:28:58,937 Speaker 10: they were really trying to just find humor in something 451 00:28:58,977 --> 00:29:00,457 Speaker 10: they did, or they would come in and tell me 452 00:29:00,497 --> 00:29:03,537 Speaker 10: about their day, and so little things like that really 453 00:29:03,537 --> 00:29:06,777 Speaker 10: really really helped me a lot. DeAndre came and said 454 00:29:06,817 --> 00:29:10,617 Speaker 10: on the bed one day and it changed everything. He said, 455 00:29:10,657 --> 00:29:13,097 Speaker 10: are you coming today? And I said, no, not coming. 456 00:29:13,337 --> 00:29:16,217 Speaker 10: I was running out of excuses. Really when he said 457 00:29:16,617 --> 00:29:20,657 Speaker 10: something that really changed my life. He said, Mama, it 458 00:29:20,697 --> 00:29:23,257 Speaker 10: doesn't matter that you're blind. He said, I just want 459 00:29:23,297 --> 00:29:26,177 Speaker 10: you there, I need you there. And it resonated with me. 460 00:29:26,657 --> 00:29:30,137 Speaker 10: How dare I say that I'm going to repair my 461 00:29:30,217 --> 00:29:33,417 Speaker 10: family but still not show up. I began to start 462 00:29:33,457 --> 00:29:36,577 Speaker 10: repairing my life. Now what that looked like. I had 463 00:29:36,617 --> 00:29:40,497 Speaker 10: no idea. I just knew that I couldn't allow my 464 00:29:40,657 --> 00:29:44,937 Speaker 10: children to be captivated by the streets or people. And 465 00:29:45,857 --> 00:29:48,177 Speaker 10: I made up my mind that what happened to me, 466 00:29:48,777 --> 00:29:52,137 Speaker 10: I didn't want them to use as an excuse for 467 00:29:52,297 --> 00:29:57,017 Speaker 10: them not succeeding in life. There was so many different 468 00:29:57,057 --> 00:30:00,937 Speaker 10: things that happened to me, and each time I got up, 469 00:30:01,217 --> 00:30:03,217 Speaker 10: no matter what happened, I stood up. 470 00:30:03,537 --> 00:30:04,577 Speaker 8: I stood for myself. 471 00:30:04,617 --> 00:30:06,857 Speaker 10: I stood in my truth. I stood up for my 472 00:30:07,017 --> 00:30:10,137 Speaker 10: children at times, getting all four of them into college. 473 00:30:10,457 --> 00:30:13,257 Speaker 10: Even after the attack. There are going to be things 474 00:30:13,337 --> 00:30:16,937 Speaker 10: that is going to come out with way that God 475 00:30:16,977 --> 00:30:19,697 Speaker 10: says he gives us the tools in the biblical sense 476 00:30:20,217 --> 00:30:22,937 Speaker 10: to conquer everything that we went through. All we have 477 00:30:22,977 --> 00:30:25,697 Speaker 10: to do is just tap into that. Once I found 478 00:30:25,857 --> 00:30:28,897 Speaker 10: the presence of God and he found me and he 479 00:30:28,937 --> 00:30:32,817 Speaker 10: met me where I was, everything turned around. And if 480 00:30:32,857 --> 00:30:36,057 Speaker 10: I can do that a little girl from central South Carolina, 481 00:30:36,617 --> 00:30:41,137 Speaker 10: then I feel like everyone has the chance to redeem themselves. 482 00:30:41,417 --> 00:30:44,497 Speaker 10: But you first just have to surrender and give God 483 00:30:44,537 --> 00:30:48,537 Speaker 10: your life and in the end, you know He'll give 484 00:30:48,577 --> 00:30:50,337 Speaker 10: you the glory for your story. 485 00:30:52,337 --> 00:30:55,777 Speaker 2: To learn more about Sabrina, please visit Sabrina Greenley dot 486 00:30:55,817 --> 00:30:58,697 Speaker 2: co and be sure to check out her book Grant 487 00:30:58,737 --> 00:31:03,057 Speaker 2: Me Vision at your favorite retailer. Thank you for listening 488 00:31:03,097 --> 00:31:05,937 Speaker 2: to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Pop podcast. 489 00:31:06,537 --> 00:31:09,217 Speaker 2: As you begin to embrace this time of winter, we 490 00:31:09,297 --> 00:31:13,617 Speaker 2: hope you'll find peace, comfort, rest, and inspiration during this season. 491 00:31:14,817 --> 00:31:17,697 Speaker 2: If you enjoy this podcast, please be sure to subscribe 492 00:31:17,857 --> 00:31:21,617 Speaker 2: and like it on your favorite podcast platform. For more 493 00:31:21,657 --> 00:31:25,617 Speaker 2: information on the devotional Jesus Listens prayers for every season, 494 00:31:25,937 --> 00:31:38,897 Speaker 2: please visit Jesuscalling dot com.