1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 2: Hi there, and welcome to the Praying Christian Women podcast, 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 2: where we talk about the deep questions about prayer that 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 2: we're all thinking about but sometimes afraid to ask. Whether 5 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 2: you're new to the faith or have been a believer 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 2: for decades, this podcast will be your go to for 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: biblical encouragement, inspiration, and practical tips to equip you with 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 2: the tools you need to live out a more passionate, 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: powerful prayer life so that together we can change the world, 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: one prayer at a time. Hi there, and welcome to 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: the Praying Christian Women podcast. I'm Jamie and I am 12 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 2: just so excited to welcome Monica Schmelzer to the podcast today. 13 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: She is the host of the podcast Hope for the Journey, which, 14 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 2: like us, is part of the Life Audio Christian podcast network. Today, 15 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 2: Monica is going to sh share about how prayer has 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: literally rewritten the history of her family and I just 17 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: can't wait to get into your story. Monica, thank you 18 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,919 Speaker 2: so much for joining us on the podcast. 19 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me been looking forward to it. Well. 20 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: Before we get into your incredible story, I would love 21 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: to know what is your favorite prayer closet. 22 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: Where do you go to meet with God. 23 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 3: My physical closets. 24 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: I love it. Oh, I love the physical prayer closets. 25 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: Tell me about it. 26 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 3: I call it my promise room, and so I sit 27 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 3: on the floor in there, and I have different scriptures 28 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,279 Speaker 3: at different times that at eye level when I'm sitting 29 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 3: in there, that I can look at. And I just 30 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 3: decided that prayer is, you know, in the Bible so 31 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 3: many promises. So I call it my promise room. And 32 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 3: I just sit on the floor. I take a cup 33 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 3: of tea or coffee, and I just go in there 34 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 3: and pray. 35 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: That is beautiful. I love it. 36 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: So we recently moved from Alaska to Utah, and in 37 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: our new house in our bedroom, there's like a little 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: window seat. It's like sitting on the floor. There's something 39 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 2: about it. There's just something very cool about kind of 40 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: almost feel like you're lying prostrate before the Lord. You're 41 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: just kind of humbling yourself in a way by sitting 42 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: in that posture. 43 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 3: I definitely think it's a humble posture. It's like we're 44 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 3: not on our knees, but we're sitting and we're lowering 45 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 3: ourselves to exalt Him. So I do think you're right, 46 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 3: there's something to that for sure. 47 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, all right, Well, I just want to start off 48 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 2: by hearing your testimony and just kind of how you 49 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: came to know the Lord, because it wasn't just a 50 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 2: quick thing. You had a history before that of not 51 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: walking with the Lord. So can you tell us a 52 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: little bit about that. 53 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 3: So I came to faith at age thirteen, and you 54 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 3: know that sounds so young, but yet my family didn't 55 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 3: go to church. And by the time I was thirteen, 56 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 3: I was already skipping school, flunking a lot of classes, 57 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 3: and experimenting with drugs. And I had run away twice 58 00:02:58,120 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 3: and the police had to bring me home one of 59 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 3: the time. So I was like the kid that you know, 60 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 3: nobody really wants and you don't want your kids to 61 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 3: hang around with that person because I was going the 62 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 3: wrong direction. And what happened is that a neighbor came 63 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 3: to my parents. I have a brother that's eleven and 64 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 3: a half years younger than me, born with Down syndrome 65 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 3: and also had a lot of upper respiratory issues and 66 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 3: a heart murmur. And this neighbor said, would you all 67 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 3: like to come to our church. We're doing a healing service. Now, 68 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 3: none of us really knew what a healing service was 69 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 3: but we did know, like if there's any way for 70 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 3: him to get better, because his prognosis was not good, 71 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 3: you know, just living a couple of years. And we 72 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 3: all very much left my brother and he's in heaven now. 73 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 3: But I came to Christ really through his life and 74 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: how God worked it out. So even my Muslim grandfather, 75 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 3: so on my mom's side, her dad was Muslim his 76 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 3: second life. Their four children and our family piled into 77 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 3: this church, and I'm sure that we looked weird because 78 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 3: we took up a whole pew. It's a smaller church, 79 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 3: and I am sitting there thinking I have zero interest 80 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: in church. I don't want to be here but for 81 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 3: my brother. Because I fiercely loved and protected my brother, 82 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 3: I thought, okay, I'll sit do this. So this is 83 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 3: one of those services, you know, where the music is 84 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 3: really loud and they're clapping and raising their hands, and 85 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 3: I'd never seen it before, so it scared me and 86 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 3: I kept elbowing my mom, can we leave, can leave me? 87 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 3: You know what, you know, like the mom's like. So 88 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 3: a lot of that went on, and I thought that 89 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 3: this singing was going to go on forever. And finally 90 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 3: the guy gets up to preach, and I'm thinking, great, 91 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 3: we can do the prayer thing really singing, and we 92 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 3: can go home. And I literally, under my breath, I'm 93 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 3: complaining and I'm f bombing, and I'm just you know, 94 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,239 Speaker 3: it was bad. He gets done preaching and he calls 95 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 3: up for the he service, and so my mom and 96 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 3: dad take my little brother up there to be prayed for. 97 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 3: And you know, with all of my heart, I was 98 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 3: praying because I wanted him to be whole and to 99 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 3: be healthy. I was thinking be healed from down syndrome two. 100 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 3: But I will say this, after that healing service, his 101 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 3: heart murmur did go away. He never had to be 102 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 3: hospitalized again for pneumonia up respiratory infection. So God did 103 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 3: a work in his life. When they come back to 104 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 3: the seat the pew, the pastor says, you know, I 105 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 3: wanted to dismiss, but I can't. He said, I just 106 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 3: feel like the Holy Spirit has shown me and I 107 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 3: think I'm going to cry. Ten people in here that 108 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 3: don't know the Lord, and I counted my pew and 109 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 3: there were ten of us. Oh, And somehow in that moment, 110 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 3: this angry girl, broken hearted, disappointed with life, I understood 111 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 3: in a moment. Can't even explain it that Jesus loped 112 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: me and that I needed him. And so after doing 113 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 3: all of this complaining, I then elbow my mom and 114 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 3: I say can I go to the altar to be 115 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 3: prayed for? And she goes, I guess because I had 116 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 3: worn her out, and I ran down that aisle and 117 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 3: I was so discombobulated. I'm crying and the pastor says, 118 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 3: what is your name? And what I said is my 119 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 3: mom's name is Marie Phillips, and he just said okay, 120 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,799 Speaker 3: and he prayed with me. And so my parents didn't 121 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 3: continue to go to church with me at that time, 122 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 3: but they did tell me after that service, if you 123 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 3: want to go, we will drive you there. So every 124 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 3: Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night bedrove me. But 125 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 3: my coming to Christ, it was just a miraculous moment. 126 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 3: And I always tell people, you don't know how ready 127 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 3: somebody is to accept Christ, because there I was acting 128 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 3: like a brat, f bombing, complaining, and I had no idea, 129 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 3: no idea that the Holy Spirit was going to deal 130 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 3: with me and that God was going to change my 131 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 3: life forever. 132 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 2: That night, I love that story, because so many times 133 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:13,239 Speaker 2: when we either share the gospel with someone or reach 134 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: out in some way to invite them somewhere, and we 135 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: just don't see the progress. It only takes an instant 136 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: for the Holy Spirit to change someone's life. They could 137 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: be f bombing the moment before and elbowing their mom 138 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 2: to leave, and you got to know that that was 139 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 2: the enemy trying to push you out of there, trying 140 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 2: to get you out of there. And I just thank 141 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: God that there are no lost causes. And the evidence 142 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: that we see on the surface in this world is 143 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: I wish that we could just catch a glimpse of 144 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: what was happening in the spirit world at that time, 145 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: the battle, the fearce battle that was happening for your 146 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 2: soul and the victory that is already ours, that territory 147 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 2: that's already ours, that we just need to and stake 148 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: it and say, God has big plans for these people 149 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: in our lives. 150 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: So what a powerful testimony. So later on in your journey. 151 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 2: You talk about a pastor who had a profound impact 152 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: on your life, and so can you share about that also. 153 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 3: So that church that I gave my heart to Christian 154 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,679 Speaker 3: I stayed in that church until I married, and Pastor 155 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 3: Gardner would teach different messages and I would sit really 156 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 3: close up to the front, like I was totally a 157 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 3: changed person, and I would take notes like my life 158 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 3: depended on it, because it did depend on it. You know. 159 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 3: At home it was a very hostile, argumentative environment and 160 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 3: church was like my sacred and safe space. And so 161 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 3: one Sunday, when my dad was driving me to church, 162 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 3: he and I had words. I don't remember what it 163 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 3: was about, and I remember thinking, I just want to 164 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 3: go home. I don't want to go to church. But 165 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 3: if I say that, like I could get in trouble, 166 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 3: like I might irritate my dad. So I went ahead 167 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 3: on end of the service, and that Sunday, Hester Gardner 168 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: was preaching out a Psalm two eight, and the verse 169 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 3: talks about ask of me and I will give you 170 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 3: the heathen for your inheritance and the uttermost ends of 171 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 3: the earth for your possession. He talked about prayer, and 172 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 3: as I was sitting there, it was like, I thought, well, 173 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 3: that's I can do that for my family. I can 174 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 3: ask God for my heathen family to come to Christ. 175 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 3: And I didn't know that before I because I didn't 176 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 3: know anything. So I didn't know that I had a 177 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 3: role to play in any of this. And so I 178 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 3: started making notes and I started writing out my prayers 179 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 3: to God for my family. And this is my prayer 180 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 3: box from when I was a teenager. 181 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 1: Oh, I love it. 182 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:56,319 Speaker 3: And you know it's a teenager. So sometimes I asked 183 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 3: her things and I say, God, please pay special attention 184 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 3: to the ask risk. But you know, I was thirteen 185 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 3: and a half, fourteen years old and just all these prayers, 186 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 3: asking for my parents to be saved, asking for my 187 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 3: sister and brother, asking for chanks, you know, in our family, 188 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 3: and praying for other people as well. And so one day, 189 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 3: another day, my dad really frustrated me, and I saved 190 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 3: this note and I wrote down, God, I ask you 191 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 3: please to change my foul mouth dad and make him 192 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 3: so in love with you that he joins the worship team. 193 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: That's specific. That's a very specific prayer. I love it. 194 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: And I knew that my dad loved music, yeah, and 195 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 3: he played the trumpet, and so that's what I held 196 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 3: on to you. And I think a lot of times 197 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 3: it's when we pray, we think we know what God 198 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 3: is going to do and how that it would happen. 199 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 3: So like I invited them to all my ways at 200 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 3: church and when I was in the choir, and I 201 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 3: always think because they loved me, they did come to 202 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 3: special things. And I would think, Okay, they're going to 203 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 3: walk the eye, They're gonna do it this Sunday. And 204 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 3: that didn't ever hitend. It was twenty five years before 205 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 3: they came to Christ. Wow, it was twenty five years 206 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 3: of prayer. And of course on that journey, I got 207 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 3: discouraged and frustrated and all the things that we do 208 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 3: because we're people. But I wouldn't let go. I kept 209 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 3: holding on that my family was all going to know 210 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: the Lord. And God did that. Even my Muslim grandfather 211 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 3: came to Christ before he died. He became a leader. 212 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 3: As impossible as that would look to other people, God 213 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 3: did it, and he worked through the prayers of a 214 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 3: teenage girl, and I just kept praying. And his four 215 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 3: children in his second marriage all came to Christ. Life 216 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 3: came to Christ, Kina came to Christ. So that's prayer 217 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 3: has literally rewritten the histree and the legacy of my family. 218 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 3: And we can't do enough of it. And even when 219 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 3: it's discouraging and when we're weary, it's important, having done all, 220 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 3: to stand, to stand and to continue to fight the 221 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 3: good fight of the faith. 222 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: Oh I love this. 223 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 2: And for someone listening who hears twenty five years, I 224 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 2: think that can be both encouraging and discouraging at the 225 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 2: same time. For me, it's mostly encouraging because I think, 226 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: no matter what, there are prayers that we may have 227 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 2: been praying for ten years, for twelve years, for fifteen, 228 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 2: for twenty and we haven't seen the result, the end product. 229 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: And to hear your story of twenty five years later 230 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 2: it happened, was this and this was late? Was this 231 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 2: late in your grandfather's life? 232 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 3: It was? It was in his late eighties. Yeah, yeah, 233 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 3: and so it's go ahead. Yeah, no, you know in 234 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 3: those final weeks of life that happened that he understood 235 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: and he called out to Jesus Christ. And I got 236 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 3: to see that, so that I have that assurance that 237 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 3: he's in heaven. And I think you're right when I 238 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 3: hear myself twenty five years of prayer, it's a. 239 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: Long time, it is, and we all. 240 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 3: Want quick answers. I do too. We have some prodigals 241 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 3: in our family now and I've been praying for years 242 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 3: about that too. The thing is, I do get discouraged 243 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 3: at times, but I know what God can do and 244 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 3: I know what he promises, and so sometimes we just 245 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 3: have to encourage ourselves in the Lord and say, I'm 246 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 3: going to continue because this is a battle for someone's soul. 247 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 3: Just when you said, when I was sitting in that 248 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 3: church and I'm f bommy and just wanting out, I 249 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 3: didn't realize that I was in a war, that there 250 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 3: was a literal war from my soul. I just thought 251 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:08,719 Speaker 3: I wanted to leave. I just thought I don't like this. 252 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 3: And so when we pray, we'd break down those walls. 253 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 3: And sometimes those walls come down quickly, and sometimes it 254 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 3: takes a long time. But I can say this, the 255 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 3: thought of my grandfather in heaven brings me so much joy. 256 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 2: Makes all of it worth it, right, It really does. 257 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: All of those years of prayer. And I think of 258 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: your pastor and what would have happened if he had 259 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: just ended the sermon and been like, you know, ignored 260 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: that inkling from the Holy Spirit, but he claimed that 261 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 2: spiritual territory. He's like, you know what God says, they're 262 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 2: ten people that don't know the Lord, and not all 263 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: ten were saved that day, but the one you were 264 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 2: saved that day, and that was the catalyst for not 265 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 2: just those ten, it was way more. And it's just 266 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 2: incredible to think of that. And you know, we live 267 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 2: in this world now where everything is instant, we can 268 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 2: get instant answers online, we can instantly contact people and 269 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 2: instantly get replies. It trains us against God's ways, which 270 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 2: are much slower, much more nuanced, much less obvious. And 271 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 2: so I'm going to change my statement of it could 272 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 2: be discouraging and encouraging. It's absolutely encouraging that twenty five 273 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 2: years is when you saw that answer and that it 274 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 2: was at the end of his life, because we can 275 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: just put our hope in that and we can know 276 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: that we may not see the battle going on, but 277 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: it's happening and we have no idea, and I'm convinced 278 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 2: that God might show us in heaven what was going 279 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 2: on that all that time you were praying, there were things, 280 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 2: building blocks being put in place that we're leading up 281 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 2: to that ultimate moment of surrender for your grandfather and 282 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 2: for all of these other people that you were praying for. 283 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 2: And you know, I pray for glimpses of that. Sometimes 284 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 2: when I'm in a place in the trenches and not 285 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 2: seeing movement, I just pray, God, give me a glimpse 286 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 2: that I'm on the right track, that you're in there, 287 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 2: that you're working. What is your advice? What can you 288 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 2: share any times that you felt discouragement or you prayed 289 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 2: a prayer for someone and you saw maybe even the 290 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 2: exact opposite or backsliding or backwards movement, And just some 291 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 2: advice for someone right now who's listening, who's losing hope 292 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 2: that the person they've been praying for will come to 293 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 2: the Lord. 294 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 3: You know, because there were many moments of discouragement and 295 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: frustration on my part, and something that I found that 296 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 3: is just very helpful. You know, even now with the 297 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 3: prodigals in my family, the younger ones, is I take 298 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 3: time to just sit in silence before the Lord and 299 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 3: I ask him to comfort me with his Holy Spirit. 300 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 3: He says he's the comforter, and he says that he 301 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 3: knows our friends, they are but dust. You know, I 302 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 3: definitely continue to pray, definitely stay in the word, but 303 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 3: take a step back and allow God to be your father. 304 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 3: Let him love on you. That love that pouring out 305 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 3: of the Holy Spirit. Like sometimes I just let the 306 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 3: tears roll. I'm not one that gets mad at God 307 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 3: or has questions. Mostly what I do and did is 308 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 3: like blame myself. Well, maybe I'm not praying hard enough, 309 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 3: maybe I need to do this better, Maybe I just 310 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,199 Speaker 3: need to do more of this that. And when I 311 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 3: sit in his presence, he allows me to know that 312 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 3: he loves me as his daughter. It's not about me 313 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 3: praying harder or doing more though if he shows me 314 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 3: that then of course. But this guilt that I'm heaping 315 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 3: on myself, that I'm carrying this weight for these people 316 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 3: to come to Christ. They're his children, my family members, 317 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 3: but created in His image, and he wants them to 318 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 3: come to Him even more than I do, which is 319 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 3: hard to understand. But it's really fine giving God. And 320 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 3: sometimes you know, I'm super busy person. It might be 321 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 3: five minutes with a timer or ten minutes, and I 322 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 3: just sit before the Lord in my promise room and 323 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 3: I just ask him to comfort me because I need it. 324 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 3: And you know, sometimes you can get to a place 325 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 3: you don't know one more prayer to pray, you don't 326 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 3: know one more thing to do. But when you sit 327 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 3: in his presence, It's like he fills me back up 328 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 3: and shows me more promises and gives me the strength 329 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 3: that I need to continue to fight that good fight 330 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 3: of the faith for their soul. 331 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: That is such a good reminder because I think, like 332 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 2: you said, we put pressure on ourselves to know what 333 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 2: to pray, to know how often and how fervently and 334 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: for how long and how many aspects of prayer to 335 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 2: pray for someone. But there are times when we don't 336 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 2: know how to pray, and the Bible says it, when 337 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 2: we don't know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes 338 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: with groans too deep for words, and that intercession of 339 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit can come in silence. 340 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 1: We can just sit before him. 341 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,239 Speaker 2: And I think there's so much freedom that comes in 342 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 2: that reminder, Monica of just sitting in silence before the 343 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 2: Lord is prayer and that we need that silence. Kind 344 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 2: of going back to the technology and fast paced instant 345 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,199 Speaker 2: everything we forget. I know, I forget how to be 346 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 2: quiet and silent before God. I'm either listening to a 347 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 2: podcast or you know, even listening to the Bible being 348 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: read or Christian music. I mean that's all input. There 349 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 2: is a time to sit in silence and just be 350 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,640 Speaker 2: still before the Lord and allow him space. 351 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: I know some. 352 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 2: People are a little bit afraid to sit in silence 353 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 2: and listen to God because their first question is, how 354 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 2: do I know? 355 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: Is it God? 356 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 2: Is it me? Is it my own thoughts? Is it 357 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 2: even maybe the enemy trying to distract me? What is 358 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 2: your advice for someone how to sit still with God 359 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 2: and receive from him and know that it's from him? 360 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: Do you have any advice or tips? 361 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 3: So I think on that first to know that that's normal. 362 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 3: Most of us wonder, okay, is that God is at me? 363 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 3: So that that's like a thing that happens. But what 364 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 3: I found is that when whatever that small still voice, 365 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 3: that unction inside, if you continue to pray on that, 366 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 3: if that is God, he will make that impression stronger 367 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 3: and stronger over time. You won't be able to get 368 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 3: away from it. He'll bring you confirmations in different ways. Now, 369 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 3: there are some things that we know for sure. If 370 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 3: the Bible says no to something, then we don't pray 371 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 3: to do that. But if what we're praying it is 372 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 3: in alignment with God's word, and then he promises, of 373 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 3: course that he will hear and answer in his way 374 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 3: and in his time. And the more that we read 375 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 3: God's word, you know you sit in silence. Okay, God, 376 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 3: I think that this is what you're saying. That's what 377 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 3: I do. I write it down. I think this is 378 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 3: what you're saying. Then as I read the Bible, as 379 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,360 Speaker 3: I talk to other people, confirmations will come. It will 380 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 3: get stronger. So if we're willing, he's not going to 381 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 3: let us miss him. He's going to show up for us. 382 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 3: He's going to make it clear one step at a time. 383 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 3: He's not going to give us a whole picture. Many 384 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 3: times it's just one little thing at a time. Because 385 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 3: if he gave us all, I think we would probably 386 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 3: all get ahead of him. I know, at least I would. 387 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 3: I'd be right out there trying to make that happen. 388 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: Or get scared and just think, oh, that's too much, 389 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 2: that's too big. 390 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 1: I can't ask for all of. 391 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 3: That exactly exactly. And so he's a good father. He 392 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 3: does things and helps us at the place that we 393 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,479 Speaker 3: are spiritually, at that moment, the level of maturity that 394 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 3: we have. He knows how to teach us and how 395 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 3: to lead us. And he's not going to let us 396 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 3: miss him because I used to be Oh, I'm going 397 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 3: to miss God. I don't want to miss his will. 398 00:21:58,040 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 3: And of course we don't want to miss his will. 399 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 3: But really listening to him and being in silence, reading 400 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 3: his word, praying, obeying, he's going to make it clear 401 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 3: he's not going to not show up. 402 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,120 Speaker 1: He will. I love it. 403 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 2: And it takes time. That's another thing where we have 404 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 2: to be patient in that process. Well, I think there 405 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 2: are times when we get an idea and we know 406 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 2: it's from the Lord and we are to run with 407 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 2: it immediately. But if we're unsure, it's okay to be unsure. 408 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 2: And I love what you said about we're not going 409 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 2: to miss him. If we ask for him to show up, 410 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 2: he's going to And that's such a good assurance and we. 411 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 3: Can have that confidence and you know, you're right. There 412 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 3: are some things just immediately, Hey, you know that's God. 413 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 3: But there are a multitude of things that take time 414 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 3: to unfold, and we have to be okay with that 415 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 3: and to understand, like God could have created the world 416 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:57,439 Speaker 3: with one breath, right, yet he took seven days. I mean, 417 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 3: I don't know all the reasons he did it, but 418 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 3: one thing that I think is that he shows us 419 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 3: that he mostly works through a process. He didn't in night, 420 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:10,719 Speaker 3: and he added on over time, and so that teaches 421 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 3: us that that's how it's going to be for us too. 422 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 3: He's going to add on and do different things and 423 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,959 Speaker 3: bring it all together the way that he wanted to 424 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,959 Speaker 3: come as long as we're being obedient to him. 425 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's that is such a good reminder. And you know, 426 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 2: we don't always like the process, but it's who God is, 427 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 2: and yeah, I'm totally there for it. Well, I have 428 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 2: a quick question before we move on to talk about 429 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 2: your podcast. Did your dad join the worship team? 430 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,199 Speaker 3: So here's the thing. It was twenty five years before 431 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:45,120 Speaker 3: they came to Christ. About three years ago, my mom 432 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 3: called me and said, Monica, your dad. He's talking crazy. 433 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 3: I'm worried for his health and I need you to 434 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 3: tell him. No, he can't do what he wants to do. 435 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 3: He said, Mom, what does he want to do? She said, 436 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 3: he sent an email to the orchestra director and ask 437 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 3: if he could play the trumpet in church. Oh, and 438 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:08,199 Speaker 3: they said yes. He was eighty three years old. Oh oh, 439 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 3: I said, Mom. I can't say no, I said, when 440 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 3: I was about fourteen, I prayed that he would join 441 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 3: the praise team. As far as I'm concerned, the orchestra 442 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 3: is a praise team. And so I said, that's my 443 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 3: answered prayer. All these years later. 444 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness, that would have been like forty years later, 445 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 2: Thank you God. 446 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 3: And I got to go to that service and seeing 447 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 3: him up there with his trumpet. This is my dad 448 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 3: who used to say he was an atheist and he 449 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 3: didn't believe. There he was playing the trumpet, and we thought, God, 450 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 3: you did that for me. I never counted it as 451 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 3: anything but a win that they got saved. I never 452 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 3: you know, that was just when I was over the top, 453 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 3: over the moon. And no, my dad was only able 454 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 3: to serve for about four weeks in the orchestra. It 455 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 3: really was too hard for his health, the lung capacity 456 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 3: to breathing, all of that. But God, I believe God 457 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 3: did that for me to show me that he never forgets, 458 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 3: and he circles back, you know, he comes back to 459 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 3: things that maybe we think are long gone and dead 460 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 3: and the opportunities passed, and maybe we're not even like me. 461 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,159 Speaker 3: I wasn't even thinking about that anymore, But God did it. 462 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 3: And that's who he is. He's a good God, and 463 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 3: it is on his timetable, and we don't like that either, right, 464 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 3: I want to learn patience. I just want to hurry 465 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 3: up and learn it so we can trust him and 466 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 3: his timetable. 467 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 2: That's beautiful, that's beautiful. He's in the details, right, He's 468 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 2: just in the details. And it's like he lavishes us 469 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 2: with not just the basics and the bare minimum, but 470 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 2: even those specifics, those extras that we ask. That's amazing, 471 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 2: all right, I now I'm not crying. You're crying now, 472 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 2: and this is a what a beautiful story, Monica. Thank 473 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 2: you so much for sharing about the ways that God 474 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 2: has used you and used prayer to rewrite the history 475 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 2: of your family. That is such an inspiration and and 476 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 2: encouragement to so many. 477 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: I know. 478 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 3: Thank you for letting me share. And I do hope 479 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 3: that it encourages people that are in hard situations to pray. 480 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, and not to give up. Well, I would 481 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 2: love to hear a little bit more about your podcast, 482 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 2: Hope for the Journey. So what's your vision behind this 483 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 2: podcast and who is it for? 484 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 3: So it's for women and it's for women over forty 485 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 3: and every guest that I have has some sort They 486 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 3: might be an expert in a certain area, but they 487 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 3: have a story in that area of hope, of redemption, 488 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:54,880 Speaker 3: kind of dealing with that. You know, when you reach 489 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 3: over forty that sometimes you kind of look back and think, well, 490 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,239 Speaker 3: maybe I miss this what I her? And you know, 491 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 3: it's really never too late to start again and to 492 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 3: rewrite your story. And so they are all stories of hope. 493 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 3: And I had a woman who's a Christian counselor. We 494 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 3: talked about boundaries, which can be so hard for us women. 495 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 3: We want to say yes to everything, but that's not 496 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 3: always helpful. But she also had her own story, her 497 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 3: own personal experience of you know, really getting overextended when 498 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 3: she was a stay at home mom and over committing 499 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 3: and what that was like for her to really pull 500 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 3: back and with Gud's help, walked herself through the journey 501 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 3: of being okay to say no, I can't do that. 502 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 3: I had another guest who shared what I call her 503 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 3: pink ribbon story. She shared her journey breast cancer and 504 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 3: being a survivor and what that was like for her 505 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 3: to go through that. And you know, one of the 506 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 3: things that she shared is that she was so concerned 507 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 3: and for everybody else, she put herself last on the list. 508 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 3: She went back to work right away, she kept doing 509 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 3: all the things, and looking back, she wishes that she 510 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 3: had given herself more grace to rest and to heal. 511 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 3: And those things are just so important. So I'm happy 512 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,959 Speaker 3: to share these stories with women so that we can 513 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:32,120 Speaker 3: learn from one another. 514 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: And it's a. 515 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 3: Sacred space and a safe space to talk about the 516 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 3: things that are on our hearts and our minds and 517 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: learn from other women you know who have been there. 518 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, as a woman over forty, I love it because 519 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 2: I feel like a lot of times we feel alone 520 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 2: in certain pockets of our lives, just as women in general, 521 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 2: but as Christian women especially and in our faith, and 522 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 2: to hear stories of other. 523 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: Women, it gives us us. 524 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 2: Just this feeling of like the sigh of relief, I'm 525 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 2: not alone, Okay, someone else is struggling with this. And 526 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 2: then to hear their journey and how they work through it, 527 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 2: I love that. 528 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 1: That's wonderful. 529 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 3: And in each story we offer something that's practical, like 530 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 3: something that you can do in response, and offer you know, 531 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 3: different tips and tools one sheeters and different things if 532 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 3: people want to go through that process and go farther 533 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 3: with you know, whatever we're talking about. There have just 534 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 3: been some tremendous stories, and I've gotten some feedback that 535 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 3: it's just women are saying just what you said. I 536 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 3: have a family, but sometimes I just feel alone, you know, 537 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 3: it just feels like nobody really understands and we all 538 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 3: feel that way. And so I wanted to create a 539 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 3: community where women over forty can come together and share 540 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 3: our experiences and cheer one another on. Because until we 541 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 3: go to heaven, we're to live here and do what 542 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 3: God has called this to do. So life doesn't stop 543 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 3: at forty or fifty or sixty. Our prayer, life, our ministry, 544 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 3: the things that we do, those all continue. I know 545 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 3: sometimes in the world we get that message that as 546 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 3: you get older, it's all down hell from there, but 547 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 3: it's not. That's not what God says. And the importance 548 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 3: of our lives, the importance of the experience that we 549 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 3: have to share with younger people, that's all really really important. 550 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 3: And I'm just so blessed that I can be a 551 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:34,360 Speaker 3: part of telling those stories on Hope for the journey wonderful. 552 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: I love it. Monica. 553 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 2: I can't wait to share it with our listeners, and 554 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 2: I know a lot of them will really be encouraged 555 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 2: by that podcast. And you know, like I said, your 556 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 2: podcast is part of the Life Audio podcast network. You 557 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,479 Speaker 2: can go to life audio dot com or anywhere you 558 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 2: find podcasts to find it. Where can listeners connect with 559 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 2: you personally online and on social media? 560 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:59,479 Speaker 3: Yeah, so if they go to Monica Schmeltzer dot com 561 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,040 Speaker 3: and that's my Facebook and Instagram and all those ways, 562 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 3: And you know I do every Wednesday, I do have 563 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 3: special prayer for prodigals, for unsaved family members that people have. 564 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 3: So if someone's listening and that's their situation, if they 565 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 3: would reach out to me, I will get their family 566 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 3: member's name on my list and pray over those. I 567 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 3: have thousands of people that have submitted names. And boy 568 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 3: do we ever rejoice when we get those reports that 569 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 3: somebody has come back to faith or come to faith 570 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 3: for the first time. 571 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: Oh I love that. 572 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,400 Speaker 2: So should they email you or is it on social 573 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 2: media that they could connect with you. 574 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 3: To absolutely any of those things Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, messenger, 575 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 3: And if they do want to email me, it's really easy. 576 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 3: It's Monica at Monica smelter dot com and I take 577 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 3: requests that way as well. 578 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: Wonderful. Thank you, Monica. 579 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for sharing your incredible story and 580 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 2: sharing about your podcast. 581 00:31:57,760 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: How can we pray for you today? I'm going to 582 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 1: close us up in thank you. 583 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:03,959 Speaker 3: I would love it. We've got three prodigals in our family, 584 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 3: and I would be most appreciative if you would pray 585 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 3: for our three prodigals to come back to faith. 586 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 1: Absolutely. 587 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 2: All right, Monica, thank you for being here, and it's 588 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 2: just exciting to get to connect through life audio and 589 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 2: just to be able to share what you're doing with 590 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 2: our listeners. 591 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 1: Thanks for being here. Thank you, all right, let's pray. 592 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,280 Speaker 2: Lord, Thank you so much for Monica. Thank you for 593 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 2: your holy spirit that prompts us, that that gives us 594 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 2: clues what we need to do. Thank you for that 595 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 2: pastor who wouldn't let the congregation leave until an altar call. 596 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 2: Thank you for Monica who was able to just overcome 597 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 2: the spiritual battle that was going on and was able 598 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 2: to hear your word and respond to it by praying 599 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 2: prayers for her unsaved family members and literally rewrite the 600 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:55,240 Speaker 2: history of her family. 601 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:56,320 Speaker 1: Father. 602 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 2: We just lift up the three that are on her heart, 603 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 2: three family members who still don't know you. We know 604 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 2: that you desire for all to come to a saving 605 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 2: faith in Jesus, and we lift them up to you, 606 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,480 Speaker 2: knowing that somehow you love them even more than we do, 607 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:17,160 Speaker 2: that somehow you know exactly what they need to turn 608 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 2: to you. And we acknowledge that even when we don't 609 00:33:20,280 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 2: see it, even when it's invisible, even when it seems 610 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 2: like the exact opposite is happening, even when it looks 611 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 2: like they're running from you, that you are powerfully at 612 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 2: work in their lives to bring about their salvation. And 613 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,720 Speaker 2: we pray against anything that would set itself up against 614 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 2: each one of those three family members coming to a 615 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 2: saving faith in Jesus Christ. We claim them as your 616 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 2: spiritual territory. We claim them as not belonging to the enemy, 617 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 2: as belonging to you, as sons and daughters of the 618 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 2: Almighty God. And we pray in Jesus' name that you 619 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 2: would be working in their lives, that you would be 620 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,480 Speaker 2: fighting for them, that you would be drawing them to yourself, 621 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:04,479 Speaker 2: that they would be brought from death into life, and 622 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 2: that Monica would get to see that in her lifetime 623 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 2: and just to be able to continue to rejoice in 624 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:13,040 Speaker 2: the ways that you have rewritten the history of her 625 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 2: family through her faithful prayers. We pray for Monica's ministry, 626 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:22,160 Speaker 2: for her podcast, that you would just bring countless people 627 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 2: to faith, that you would bring hope and glorify yourself 628 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 2: through her podcast, and just through the guests that she's 629 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 2: able to talk to, and that many many people would 630 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 2: draw closer to you, would pray more fervently, would have 631 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:43,359 Speaker 2: resurrected faith and prayer lives as a result of her 632 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:47,959 Speaker 2: work and her ministry and her testimony in Jesus name, Amen. 633 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:49,239 Speaker 3: Amen, thank you. 634 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:57,680 Speaker 2: Do you love true crime but feel like it's a 635 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:01,920 Speaker 2: guilty pleasure because of the swearing and explain content. If so, 636 00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:05,120 Speaker 2: I can't wait to tell you the good news. Alana 637 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 2: and I just launched our brand new podcast, Christian True 638 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 2: Crime Junkies, a squeaky clean crime show for believers. 639 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: Each week we. 640 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:18,480 Speaker 2: Bring you unforgettable testimonies of survival, stories of justice, and 641 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 2: tales of redemption. And yes, sometimes plain old murder, always clean, 642 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:28,839 Speaker 2: always from a Christian perspective. Listen to Christian True Crime 643 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 2: Junkies today wherever you listen to podcasts and don't forget 644 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 2: to follow us. New episodes come out every week and 645 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 2: you don't want to miss out. We'd like to take 646 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:44,959 Speaker 2: just a quick second to thank the team at life 647 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 2: Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. If 648 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 2: you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find dozens 649 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,759 Speaker 2: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 650 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 2: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and so much more. 651 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 2: That's lifeaudio dot com. 652 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:00,120 Speaker 3: No