Episode 6

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Published on:

13th Sep 2023

Untangling Faith in Christ: Embracing the Good News of Jesus

The most important thing we can do for our children is to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. If you're not sure if you've done that, join us! Even if you've walked with Christ for years, be refreshed and encouraged as you hear the freeing truth that it is not dependent upon you to save your children. Emily, Jen, and Steph will share their own testimonies and point us to Scripture to endure in difficult seasons. This episode complements Lesson 1 of Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

Transcript
Speaker:

They're the joyful agains our children

shout on the swings, the exhausting

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agains of cooking and laundry, and

the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

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So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

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to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

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confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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Thanks for joining us for

another episode of again.

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I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

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And this is brought to you

by interested ministries.

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We're continuing the

untangled series today.

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With.

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Untangling faith in Jesus.

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And interested less than one.

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Talks about how a godly mother builds her

home on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

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But.

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Sad to say.

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I think most of the world knows

more about what Christianity.

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Is against than what it

truly means to follow Christ.

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This episode, I'll be joined

by Emily deal and 10 Frackman.

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And we'll be sharing each of our

testimonies and how we came to know

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Jesus Christ as our personal savior.

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But first I'd like to take

a little time to share.

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What the gospel actually means.

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For many of you, you've already

heard these wonderful truths.

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And even braced them.

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And I pray that it's

encouraging to you as you here.

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Once again.

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What the Lord has done for you.

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And I hope that as you listened

to our testimonies, You

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give your children patients.

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As the Lord works out their salvation.

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It's his responsibility.

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To sanctify them.

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And to save them.

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Our job is to be faithful

and pointing them to him.

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But it's not on our shoulders.

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To save them.

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I hope that you're freed from that.

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But encouraged to stay faithful

and the truths of scripture.

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That as parents that we're not adding.

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To the gospel.

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That we live by grace.

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And give our children, grace.

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As we embrace our perfect savior.

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Jesus Christ.

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What does it mean to be a Christian?

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From the beginning.

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God's intention was to walk with us.

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When he created Adam

and Eve in the garden.

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He walked with them.

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When Adam and Eve ate from the tree.

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Of the knowledge of good and evil.

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Sin entered the world.

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They chose to live.

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Apart from God's plan for them.

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And the problem is that our sin

separates us from a perfect God.

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And you might be thinking.

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But I wouldn't have eaten from

the tree if God told me not to.

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But we've all sent.

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Romans 3 23 says for, we have all sinned

and fall short of the glory of God.

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And Romans 6 23 tells us that

the wages of sin is death.

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We have a huge problem that

we cannot solve on our own

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praise the Lord.

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That's not the end of the story.

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The verse continues.

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But the free gift of God

is eternal life in Christ.

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Jesus, our Lord.

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And since this moment in the garden,

God's intention has been to redeem

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and restore this relationship with us.

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So he sent his perfect son.

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To earth.

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To live a perfect life.

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And to die on a cross.

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Bearing all of our sin.

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Upon himself.

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And when he did that.

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When he took our sin upon himself.

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He broke the bonds of our sin.

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So that we can now live.

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For eternity with the Lord.

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Ephesians 2 8, 2 9 says for by grace,

you have been saved through faith.

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And then not of yourselves.

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It is the gift of God.

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Not as a result of

works lest any man boast.

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We can not live a good enough life.

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To get to heaven.

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If we could do that.

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Why would you have had to die?

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Scripture says that he is

the only way to the father.

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Time 14, six says I am the way the

truth and the life, no one comes

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to the father except through me.

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Hebrews 9 27.

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And as much as it is appointed for men to

die once and after this comes judgment.

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After we die.

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We will have final judgment.

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And at that moment, we will

either have separation from God.

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Or eternity with him.

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To think that you can live

your entire earthly life.

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Apart.

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From the Lord.

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And think that you will still

enter eternity with him.

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It's not in scripture.

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That's not what the Bible teaches.

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In John 5 24, Jesus says truly,

truly I say to you, he who hears my

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word and believes him who sent me.

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He has eternal life.

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And does not come into judgment.

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But has passed out of death.

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Into life.

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And Ephesians one seven

through eight in him.

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That's through Jesus.

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We have redemption through his blood,

the forgiveness of our trespasses.

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According to the riches of his

grace, which he lavished on us.

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So there's nothing that

we can do to earn it.

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But we are offered this free gift.

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Of grace.

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By just accepting Jesus, his sacrifice.

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For our sin.

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But we have to admit it.

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We have to admit that we are sinners

and that we have a problem that we

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can't do it in our own strength.

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That no matter how hard we try.

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We can never.

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Be good enough.

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Before a holy God.

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Romans 10, nine through 10.

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States that if you could fast

with your mouth, Jesus is Lord.

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And believe in your heart that

God raised him from the dead.

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You will be saved.

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For, with the heart, a person

believes resulting in righteousness.

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And with the mouth he confesses

resulting in salvation.

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You can't just hear the words.

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You have to say them, you have to embrace.

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What you've heard and act upon them.

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You have to agree with the

Lord that you needed rescuing.

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And in revelation three 20.

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Jesus says behold, I stand

at the door and knock.

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If you're hearing that for the first time.

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Or if for the first time you understand.

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That you're a sinner and

that you need Jesus Christ.

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You can write where you are.

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Pray this prayer with me.

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Heavenly father.

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I understand that I am a center.

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And I know that my sin

separates me from you.

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Thank you for sending your son.

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Jesus Christ.

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To die for my sins.

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So that I can be restored

to a right relationship.

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With you.

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I surrender my life to you.

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And I ask.

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That you would come.

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Take residents in my heart.

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And transform me.

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And the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

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I pray.

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Amen.

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Maybe you felt that that all went a

little fast and it was overwhelming.

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You can go to some wonderful

video teachings that we have.

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That clarify this and give a longer

explanation of what the Bible means.

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And of what Jesus really did for us.

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gO to the resource section on our website.

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And trusted ministries.com.

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Again, the resource page and look for

those video teachings with Dave Corning.

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They're fantastic for.

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Dad's to watch with.

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Growing kids for

discipleship opportunities.

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Or for anyone looking to

strengthen their faith and their

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understanding of scripture.

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And now we'll be joined by Emily DEO

and Jen Frackman they're each going to

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share how they came to faith in Christ.

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And it's such a sweet opportunity

for us to give the Lord glory

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by showing his steadfastness

and pursuing each of us.

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JEn, let's just jump

in and start with you.

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Tell us how you came to know the Lord.

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Jen: Yeah, I was born and

raised into a Christian family.

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My parents both love the Lord.

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My dad was a very hardworking man,

worked in a factory would be home by.

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3.

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30 every afternoon and my

mom would have dinner made.

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We'd eat dinner together around

the table, a home cooked meal, and

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then we'd go out and ride bikes and

spend time together as a family.

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So I had a wonderful wonderful childhood.

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My mom , stayed home with all

of us girls and she did not have

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a stay at home mom and she was.

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In charge of doing all the cooking

and all the laundry and the cleaning

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and taking care of the kids as the

oldest daughter of the home and she

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did not want to do that for her kids.

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So she was very, very faithful

to provide us girls a really good

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childhood where we could just.

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Be a kid and have fun and, they raised

us in the admonition of the Lord and took

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us to church every day or not every day.

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Sometimes it did feel like every

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day we were there,

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Steph: that's where you rode your bikes?

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Jen: yeah, exactly.

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Took us to church weekly.

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We did Sunday services and back

then you did, you know, a morning

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service and then you went back

for the evening service as well.

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And then.

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We do a Juana.

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I grew up doing that.

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So I definitely, there was, there's never

been a day in my life where I didn't know

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the Lord, And I'm so thankful for that.

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When I was around four years old, I

remember having a conversation with

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my mom, she was making cookies and.

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I was sitting at the counter

waiting for said cookies to be done.

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And my dad's uncle had just passed away

in a plane crash, a small plane crash.

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And we were talking about, well,

where is he going to go after he died?

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Did he know Jesus?

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And there was a question about,

well, I, I'm not exactly sure.

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We don't know if he loved Jesus or not.

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And that idea to me that somebody.

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Might not love Jesus was new at like four.

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I was like, wait, some people don't love

Jesus and I was very concerned and I'm

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like, well, then what happens when we die?

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And so when my mom went through that

those who believe in Christ go to heaven

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that don't have to go to hell and And so

even at a young age, I was like, well,

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I don't I don't want to go to hell and

so we Went I knelt on the floor I prayed

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what, you know, people will sinner's

prayer where I, I asked Jesus, you

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know, to be the Lord of my life at four.

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And from what I knew of growing

up scripture and going to church I

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gave my little four year old life

to over to the Lord at that moment.

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And I remember it.

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I clearly remember it.

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confessing my sins to him.

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I remember hugging and being really happy

that I was going to Eternity with Jesus.

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And then as you know, you get

older and you understand more.

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I remember our church had a building

project where they were trying to

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save money for building the church.

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And I being, I think I was seven maybe.

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And I felt very called that they

were talking to everybody in the

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church that needed to give money.

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And so I went in our backyard

and asked my dad if we could.

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Take some of the garden vegetables and

if I could sell them and so I did I went

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door to door and I sold vegetables and

I swear one of our neighbor ladies was

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just so sweet when she heard my story

of why I was selling vegetables and gave

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me like 5 for one It was really sweet.

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BUt I tell that story just to say I, I

feel like at a young age like the Holy

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Spirit was working in my heart and in my.

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In my life, I had a sensitivity

towards that that doesn't mean

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by any means that I was sinless.

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You can talk to my sisters

I very much was not.

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BUt I do know, and I do remember

feeling, especially at different

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times in my life as I was growing up.

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the Lord calling me unto him more and

more and revealing himself to me more

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more understanding and love for him.

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When I was in high school, I had

an amazing youth pastor, like Loved

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him and his wife and his family.

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They just took me in and I felt

like I became a daughter to them.

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They just were amazing.

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And he poured into our youth, unlike

anybody really has in, in my life.

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I it's been amazing.

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He.

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Spoke to us as teenagers, as

though we were, I mean, He spoke

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to us at a level much higher.

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than but he called us higher.

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He, he made a, He gave us a vision

and he gave us a desire to know

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more and to, to want to know more.

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And I remember him taking us to this thing

in Chicago at Wheaton college called SEMP.

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It was students equipped

to minister to peers.

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And I remember being like, what?

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Are you taking us to Chicago?

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I'm like small town, Michigan.

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I had no idea what this was about.

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And I went and this place was

lit up with worshiping and just

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gospel total, like in the word and

showing us scripture and apologetics

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and teaching us about our faith.

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And I had worshiped there.

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Unlike I had ever experienced before.

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And I, I remember there was one story

that's just, it was really impactful

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in my life, but we were worshiping

and it was so loud and the Holy

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Spirit was just so in that room and.

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All of a sudden, the lights

went out and the power went out.

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There was a storm outside.

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We didn't know it, but all the power

went out and I was like, we just died.

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went to heaven.

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Like, Oh my goodness.

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It was, I remember looking

around being like, Oh, we did it.

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We entered into the throne

room and then we realized, Oh

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no, the lights just went out.

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Emily: we're still in

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Jen: It was quite.

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Yeah, we're still here, we're

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still here.

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So I had that youth pastor who spoke truth

into me and put a huge emphasis on being

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in the word and knowing the word and going

to church and being around believers and

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sharing your faith, not holding it for

yourself, but like telling others and

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evangelizing and, I remember him speaking

often of 1 Timothy 4, 12, my youth pastor

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did, and he would say all the time,

let no one despise you for your youth,

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but set an example for the believers

in speech and conduct and and purity.

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And I just, I remember taking

that and being like, yeah, I

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I'm young, doesn't mean that.

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I can't be effective for

the Lord to aspire to that.

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Definitely, when was in high school, there

were times where I, you know, either dated

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a just was going through a hard time and

he would speak truth to me and call me

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things that I needed to be called out on

and wasn't afraid to use the scripture to.

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Changed the course of my life to say

This doing You need to knock it off.

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And so I'm just so thankful for that

and then fast forward I met Eric my

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husband and he became my newest pastor

who shepherded me and still shepherds

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me and and continues to insist that

we live by the authority of God

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God's I'm just so thankful for that.

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I look back in and I see different

things like close relational hardships

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health, unmet needs, dreams that

didn't happen or come to fruition.

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And every single time, all

those hardships, all the things.

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Not only was the Lord faithful and

steadfast to me, but he used every

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ounce of pain to draw me into a deeper

and more right relationship And so even

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times where when we were going through

infertility, there's a verse in habakkuk

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3 that says, Though the fig tree does not

bud and no fruit is on the vines, though

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the olive, Crop fails and the fields

produce no food and it keeps going on.

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It says yet.

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I will exalt in the Lord I will rejoice

in the God of my salvation And so I

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remember when we are going through

infertility and things I felt he's not

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answering my prayers the way I want

them to I will rejoice in him and I

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will Hold fast to him and in my heart.

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That's what I was feeling.

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I know that that is Now as a more

mature believer, I know that that

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is the Lord Allowing me to have that

that's the Lord working in me and me

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to draw near to him more But I remember

wanting so hard to hold fast to him

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and being like, you are all I have.

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If I let myself give into this pain,

if I let myself give into the sadness

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or the disappointment my dreams aren't

being met and my hopes aren't being

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met up to the expectation that I have,

I know I will just give up on this.

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And I don't want to do that.

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I know that my heart

is desperately wicked.

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And so.

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I can't trust it.

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I can't go on my feelings.

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I can't go on what I'm experiencing

in my life right now and

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think that that's the truth.

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I have to go on God's word and whatever

God's word says, that's the truth.

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And he's saying that these momentary

trials are light, that they're

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not, that they're not everlasting

and that he's overcome that.

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And so I would say that through it looking

back and even now, even in different.

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TRials that we're currently in, I

can say that he is truly everything.

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And He's the one that

I he's my best friend.

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He's the joy of my life and can make

me, can make me want to cry, but

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I truly, he's, he's my everything.

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And and, and without him,

I know I wouldn't be No, I

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wouldn't be who I am today.

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Apart from him working in my life

and giving me his word and, and

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these people that he put into

my life, like my parents and.

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My sisters and.

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My youth pastor and my, you

know, the different pastors that

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have just spoke truth to me and

given me a love for the word

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That was so beautiful to hear.

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I see.

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Such clear fruit of what God has done in

you, but hearing the path to get there.

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It was just really, really beautiful.

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Thank you.

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And, and hearing the people that

poured into you, your youth pastor.

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And your parents.

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Such a beautiful story.

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So Emily, I'd love to hear your testimony.

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Now, how did you come to

know Christ as your savior?

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Emily: Well, I think, we're talking about.

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Friendship and, at the beginning you

had said we all have different stories

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and I think nothing fuses friendship

together than jumping in the deep end

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and sharing our testimonies because

you're just reminded of the goodness

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of God, honestly because I think I'm

listening to Jen and I'm thinking over

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just my life and That song comes to mind.

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I will sing of the goodness

of God all my life.

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You have been faithful.

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And I think that just speaks to or the

gospel in such a beautiful way because.

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The gospel throughout my life is

not, has not been like a one and

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done thing of accepting Christ,

moving on and doing my own thing.

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It has been a, a journey of sanctification

and relationship and refinement and

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And discipline from him and love.

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The gospel is a lifelong thing that he

is just so kind and so gracious to us.

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So I like Jen, came from a Christian

home and I was surrounded by all

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things, church our family gathered.

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Every Sunday at my

grandma's for Sunday dinner.

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I had a very sweet childhood.

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So the gospel was something

that I was very familiar with.

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And I came to love Jesus

at a very young age.

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I I remember asking my mom.

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About heaven and, she

talked with me about it.

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But I think I did not

realize my need for him.

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I had a love for him at a young age.

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I did not realize my need for

him until I became a teenager.

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And maybe there was just more

of an understanding there.

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And so I would say for me,

when I was 16 years old.

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I understood my need for him.

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I went to summer camp and came home and,

I talked to my mom again, and again,

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she was so gracious to walk me through

the Bible and sit down and talk with me.

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And so I accepted the Lord

as my savior when I was 16.

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That is the story of how I came to know

Christ and and then fast forward later on

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, I got married and my husband and I found

ourselves in a very legalistic church.

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And so I bring this up because whenever

I think of the gospel and just the

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Lord's goodness and bringing us

around and being so kind to show us

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this was one area that the Lord really

showed us in our life that we needed

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to exit was this world of legalism.

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So young, married, we had one son.

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We came to this understanding that

we were just in a church that the

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legalism and the man made rules

were choking out any relationship

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that we would seek with Christ.

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Through God's goodness, we were led out of

that and and into a relationship really.

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At that point, that is when we

came to really know Him and and

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just dig our heels into the word.

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And so again, the gospel stretches across

our lifetime and it will never ever end

404

:

until the day that we are no longer here.

405

:

The Lord led us out of all of that

and that's when he led us into

406

:

a deeper relationship with him.

407

:

So that is how we came

to to where we are now.

408

:

Jen: Emily, that's beautiful.

409

:

I love that.

410

:

I love that the Holy Spirit just led

you to know that this isn't right.

411

:

This isn't what I've called

you towards, to legalism.

412

:

as believers we can Think of

something that, Oh, this is good.

413

:

And this is a holy thing, but then we

can start to worship that holy thing

414

:

as opposed to worshiping the Lord.

415

:

And in those moments when we're putting

the pedestal that's, That was a good

416

:

call to leave that and, and to do that.

417

:

and I love that.

418

:

He uses that.

419

:

He uses that to draw

you even closer to him.

420

:

Emily: Yes, yes.

421

:

He's so good to us in that way.

422

:

Emily, I'm sure it took a lot of courage

to make those steps and probably a lot

423

:

of second guessing even in the process.

424

:

Just to find, am I really following

scripture and my discerning this properly?

425

:

Betsy teaches that the heart is

comprised of the mind will and emotions.

426

:

And if you just have

the mind and the will.

427

:

You will have a lack of

joy and mechanical worship.

428

:

And you're not motivated out of love

for the lord but you fall into legalism

429

:

Emily: Yes.

430

:

If you don't have the heart,

like we can obey rules.

431

:

It's easy for us to obey rules.

432

:

And often, those rules do replace a

relationship with Christ because they're

433

:

man made constructs that we can look at

and say, Oh, I've hit the mark there.

434

:

Check.

435

:

I've hit the mark here.

436

:

Check.

437

:

Instead of genuinely seeking our

heart out and aligning it with

438

:

where Christ would have it to be

it's almost easier to turn to those

439

:

rules and Not seek a relationship.

440

:

So it's easy to fall into that trap, but

if the Lord's calling you out of it, then

441

:

I think, you know, you need to obey and

then trust that he will show you the way

442

:

out because when we did leave that, that

meant that we left all relationships.

443

:

And so we started over again and it

was scary, but God was so, so good

444

:

because he brought just the right

people in at just the right time.

445

:

And I can look across our life and he

has done that every time he's called

446

:

us out of something he has called the

right people into our lives and without

447

:

us even seeking it out sometimes.

448

:

So, he's so faithful that way if he's

calling you to something, it's always for

449

:

something

450

:

Jen: That's so true.

451

:

It reminds me in the story of

Abraham that God called him out and

452

:

he did not know where he was going.

453

:

just start walking

454

:

Steph: Yep.

455

:

Jen: and I'll I'll, I'll let

you know where you're going.

456

:

But he called him out and he

laughed and he obeyed and he

457

:

didn't where he was going.

458

:

And so often I think sometimes

we are like, well, I'll obey when

459

:

I know where he's taking And we

don't always get to know that.

460

:

And so being obedient, even when there

is not clarity and there's confusion of

461

:

exactly what he wants you to be doing,

but you know, in your heart, in the

462

:

depths of your heart that something

isn't right here and he's taking you out.

463

:

But you're not sure what that

is that he's taking you towards.

464

:

Just being faithful and

trusting him and allowing the

465

:

time for him to reveal that to

466

:

Steph: Right.

467

:

And if you think about Abraham's

story, he was in a thriving area.

468

:

God said I'm going to take you and

I'm going to put you in the name of

469

:

a town, you don't even know and, then

I'm going to make you a promise and I'm

470

:

going to take 25 years to fulfill it.

471

:

And then even that's not going to be easy.

472

:

We can't In our humanness, we

can not have the plan right away.

473

:

Right.

474

:

Emily: mm hmm.

475

:

Mm

476

:

Jen: Yeah,

477

:

Steph: Yeah.

478

:

Emily: Whenever he removes you

from a spot that you feel most

479

:

secure, he will always surround you

with what is secure in his name.

480

:

And then, and then he'll make

you okay with it in time.

481

:

He's just he's just

been so good about that.

482

:

Jen: I agree with that There's a quote

by Elizabeth Elliot that says waiting

483

:

on God requires the willingness to bear

uncertainty To carry within oneself

484

:

the unanswered question Lifting the

heart to God about it whenever it

485

:

intrudes upon one's thoughts and I

that has been instrumental in my life

486

:

on times where I don't know what to

do, but I need to wait because he's

487

:

not providing clarity right now.

488

:

And, and that's okay.

489

:

We're so quick to run into something

and just want to be able to know

490

:

exactly what's happening, but sometimes

491

:

Emily: Yes, that's a hard,

that's a difficult spot to be in.

492

:

But it deepens our relationship with him.

493

:

And and it just

494

:

means utter dependence on him.

495

:

And.

496

:

It's a beautiful place, but probably not a

place we would volunteer to be in either.

497

:

Steph: Mm

498

:

Jen: Right.

499

:

Exactly.

500

:

I'd prefer to know exactly what's

happening and where, what his

501

:

plan is and what he's thinking in

any given moment about something.

502

:

But there are times though, the

verse that says that his thoughts

503

:

are higher than our thoughts and

his ways are higher than our ways.

504

:

There's times where I love that

verse and I am so thankful for

505

:

that verse that his ways are not.

506

:

my ways.

507

:

And there's other times where

508

:

Emily: So Steph, we've heard

from both Jen and myself.

509

:

So what is your story of how you came to

Christ and what did that look like for

510

:

you?

511

:

Steph: I can really, really relate to

both of your stories It's probably going

512

:

to sound funny, just the same ages and

similar circumstances, but I was also

513

:

four years old when I clearly heard the

gospel shared by my babysitter's daughter.

514

:

Her name was Amaria.

515

:

And she was just such a

sweet, dear friend to me.

516

:

And so I can remember we were both in

princess nightgowns and she said to me,

517

:

do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?

518

:

and then she explained what it meant.

519

:

And I can just remember, I mean,

vividly clear as day saying, yes,

520

:

of course, that's what I believe.

521

:

And we knelt down together

at the coffee table and.

522

:

I feel like you, Jen, that I, I

can honestly look back on my life

523

:

and I don't think there was ever

a day I didn't believe in God.

524

:

I see that as such a gift, that

the Lord gave me the gift of faith,

525

:

that that's never been something

I've questioned in my life.

526

:

I've known that there is a God and that

He is good and that the greatest thing

527

:

I could ever do with my life would be

to serve Him and so I did grow up in

528

:

a Christian home parents, I think had

set the groundwork so that when I heard

529

:

it laid out so clearly, and, and I'm

sure that I had heard it before, but

530

:

that day is just what really stands out

531

:

And, my mom was very sweet to do

things like make Play-Doh with us.

532

:

the colors that I liked homemade and then,

, to build, Dow houses and things like that.

533

:

So I have some really sweet

memories of that time.

534

:

ANd then we moved to a

town a couple hours away.

535

:

Steph: I truly loved Jesus, but I can

also see how the Lord has continued to

536

:

refine me I was always trying to be such

a good girl and I could see the different

537

:

circumstances that my parents were going

through different trials and things.

538

:

And I just thought, I don't

want to add to any burdens.

539

:

I just want to be a blessing to them.

540

:

And then when I was quite young, I

suffered some abuse by a neighbor and

541

:

I can see how the enemy used that in

my life to confirm that I wasn't good

542

:

enough and that I needed to work.

543

:

I would say that I truly believed

everything in scripture, but the process

544

:

of accepting grace my head has known that,

but my heart hasn't always known that

545

:

in a very small town and we went to

an amazing church, but it was pretty

546

:

far away, and I did not have a solid

Christian friend until I went to

547

:

college and that was, pretty lonely.

548

:

And my brother and I are very

close, I think because of it.

549

:

Jen: Hmm.

550

:

Steph: I mean, I had great friends and I'm

not trying to diminish that , but just to

551

:

have that connection with a friend that

truly loved the Lord and strengthened

552

:

you and encouraged you in that.

553

:

I didn't have that until college.

554

:

The Lord used those years to...

555

:

Be my best friend to be my everything

I did have a love for his word, but.

556

:

It wasn't until I was in college that I

surrounded by great Christian friends and

557

:

I was so excited about campus ministry

and I was at a public university, but

558

:

that meant that the people who were campus

ministry were so on fire for the Lord.

559

:

I had amazing fellowship with them and.

560

:

The campus pastor's wife.

561

:

She was just a couple years older than us.

562

:

She became my mentor and was an

incredible influence upon me.

563

:

I actually lived with them for a

semester and I got to see how they

564

:

raised their family and such a godly way.

565

:

And so it was neat to add that on to.

566

:

The beautiful, things that

my parents had taught me

567

:

And I am so thankful that I have

a savior that does redeem it all,

568

:

but my story is definitely not

wrapped up with a pretty bow yet.

569

:

I'm in a season of suffering,

Elizabeth Elliott says, suffering

570

:

is wanting something you don't have

or having something you don't want.

571

:

And I like that definition because

it fits so many circumstances.

572

:

And I just read her book.

573

:

Suffering is never for nothing.

574

:

I feel that the Lord has asked

me to give everything to Him.

575

:

Every desire I had, even the purest

desires that I had,, I can really

576

:

relate to the woman who broke the

alabaster jar And I can see many times

577

:

in my life where it's like I broke it

at his feet and gave him everything.

578

:

And then there are some days where you

just kind of want to take the jar back.

579

:

Can I just have it back?

580

:

Can I just have that thing

back that I gave you?

581

:

Because this is harder than I expected.

582

:

And I didn't know the

sacrifice would cost so much.

583

:

And he's so worth it, but I do find that

I am more in need of him every day than

584

:

I think I've ever been in my life, to

be faithful, to find joy in him when

585

:

it says in Nehemiah that the joy of the

Lord is our strength, I feel that, and

586

:

I see how when I seek him in his word,

and just the joy that he gives me.

587

:

I'm so grateful for, but I also

have to fight to stay in that.

588

:

And, God can relate to every, every

struggle, every trial that we have that.

589

:

It says in Hebrews that we do

not have a high priest who cannot

590

:

relate to our suffering, but

he was tempted in every way.

591

:

And I find that whatever I'm feeling,

whether I'm feeling rejected or

592

:

lonely, of course Jesus felt that way.

593

:

I've been reading in Ezekiel God's heart

has been hurt by his people before and

594

:

it's okay when we hurt he gets that and

so I found that he is the most worthy

595

:

place to take my pain and He will trade

it for peace He will lighten the load,

596

:

but it doesn't mean he's going to make

it easy, and it doesn't mean he's going

597

:

to give me enough mana so I don't have

to come back the next day, you know?

598

:

And I've learned to embrace

that, my reliance upon him more.

599

:

Emily: hm,

600

:

Steph: In the last ten years or so, my

dad passed away very tragically when I

601

:

was pregnant with my firstborn and, and

my dad was always ready to listen to me

602

:

and, I truly miss his presence in my life

and then shortly after that my father in

603

:

law passed away and then my sweet mother

got engaged and then that gentleman passed

604

:

away and I loved him and then with my

husband struggling with MS, The Lord has

605

:

allowed so many people that I would turn

to for answers to be removed from my life.

606

:

And he has become the one

that I run to for everything.

607

:

tHe problem solver.

608

:

He is my helper.

609

:

And I can see how I've had this pure

love for the Lord, but I needed to be

610

:

strengthened and my prayer for a while has

been that I would be like Jeremiah 17 when

611

:

it says, Blessed is the man who trusts

in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

612

:

He is like a tree planted by water

that sends out its roots by the stream

613

:

and does not fear when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green and is

614

:

not anxious in the year of drought.

615

:

For it does not cease to bear fruit and

I can see how the Lord has done that in

616

:

me where a lot of Anxiety that I've had

in the past He has taken that because

617

:

I've seen how when I've gone through

these hard times he stayed faithful.

618

:

Whether it was, my son Being

in the hospital multiple times

619

:

and getting a scary diagnosis.

620

:

And we didn't know if

he'd ever walk again.

621

:

And Really hard financial seasons

of my husband losing jobs and

622

:

being unemployed for years.

623

:

And God has been so, so faithful that

that tendency that I used to have to be

624

:

anxious, the Lord has really shown me.

625

:

I don't need to fear.

626

:

He's going to be faithful.

627

:

I don't know how he's going to do it,

but he's going to show up every time,

628

:

and the testimonies that I have of his

goodness are so precious to me, I'm

629

:

truly grateful for the fruit that he's

borne in my heart, that he's allowed me to

630

:

know him on a deeper level, and, I think

what I want people to understand about

631

:

the gospel Is that it just has nothing

to do with us, that it's all about Jesus

632

:

and the sacrifice that he made for us.

633

:

And when I look at that, how

can I not give him everything?

634

:

But he didn't just die

on the cross for us.

635

:

He desires to meet with us

every day, to do life with us.

636

:

And that gift is the greatest treasure.

637

:

Emily: Hm.

638

:

That's beautiful stuff.

639

:

Jen: is

640

:

Emily: the joy of the Lord is

something that He is calling us

641

:

to, but we fully experience it

when we come into His presence.

642

:

Jen: Hmm.

643

:

Emily: And in his nearness, there

is a joy beyond our circumstances.

644

:

I think the fruit of

following is steadfastness.

645

:

And he grants that to us.

646

:

And it's not something we can work

for, and that's the beauty of it.

647

:

It's not something we can

work for, or earn, or do more,

648

:

or prosperity our way there.

649

:

It's something that he lends us,

and it's just given so freely.

650

:

But we have to do the yielding for it.

651

:

If you're interested in learning

more about this peace and joy,

652

:

that surpasses circumstances.

653

:

We would love to talk to you.

654

:

You can reach us at 1, 2, 4 0 2 0.

655

:

Again.

656

:

That's 1, 2, 4, 0.

657

:

2 0 2.

658

:

4 2, 4, 6.

659

:

We know you're busy, Mama, so

we are truly grateful you joined

660

:

us for this episode of Again.

661

:

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

662

:

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

663

:

EntrustedMinistries.

664

:

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

665

:

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

666

:

world, and we want it for you, too.

667

:

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

668

:

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

669

:

We're rooting for you.

670

:

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

671

:

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good, and every work of faith by

672

:

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

673

:

Him, according to the grace of our God.

674

:

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

675

:

Amen.

676

:

Until we meet again.

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About the Podcast

Again
Biblical Motherhood Untangled
So much of what we do as mothers is on repeat. Join us to redeem this repetition and untangle from the confusion and overwhelm of parenting. We'll follow the Agains in the Bible to focus on the things that matter most. Let's look up together to embrace a motherhood full of freedom and joy! This podcast is sponsored by Entrusted Ministries.

About your host

Profile picture for Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie has always delighted in God’s Word and in sharing it with others. Whether it is equipping mothers and leaders through Entrusted with a Child’s Heart, inspiring students when teaching at homeschool co-ops or children’s ministry, or homeschooling her own children, Stephanie’s life mission is to encourage others to follow faithfully and joyfully after Jesus—especially if they hold her favorite job title: mom.

Betsy Corning wrote Entrusted with a Child’s Heart in 1999 in response to the needs she saw in families as she and David counseled young parents just a few years behind them. Entrusted has been taught in hundreds of churches nationwide, been translated into several foreign languages, and has made its way around the world. More recently, Betsy received her Masters in Biblical Studies from The Master’s University and is developing a new Bible Study program called Get the Word Out. Her passion for God’s Word, discipleship, and teaching biblical principles as they apply to family life has remained strong to this day. One of the greatest blessings in Betsy’s life are her three grown children, their spouses, and ten grandchildren that keep her constantly in touch with every age and stage.

Jen Freckman Is an incredible wealth of wisdom. She will tell you a natural remedy for just about anything! She is also a voracious reader and she is just overflowing with quotes and guidance that she's encountered through reading and being faithful. She delights in her children and is a devoted mother. She is also an amazingly creative problem solver! Her solutions to manage her home and guide her children are inspiring.

Emily Deyo is such a treasure. She is an incredible encourager and servant-hearted woman. When she has the mic in front of her, so much value comes out! She is a wordsmith and her heart consistently beats for how she can encourage and serve others. She is a truly loving and attentive mother.

Join Betsy, Emily, Jen, and Stephanie as they share the wisdom only Scripture and on-the-job training can provide to help untangle the joyful calling of motherhood.