1 00:00:09,690 --> 00:00:11,410 What's up, guys? My name's Alexis. 2 00:00:11,410 --> 00:00:13,610 And I'm Abby. And we're your host with praises 3 00:00:13,610 --> 00:00:15,210 in the pod. We are super excited. 4 00:00:15,210 --> 00:00:18,410 We're going to be doing a little question and answer, if you 5 00:00:18,410 --> 00:00:23,530 will. I did this the very second, very 6 00:00:23,530 --> 00:00:26,370 first, very second episode by myself. 7 00:00:26,450 --> 00:00:31,330 And it was a disaster. Like I'm like, that is the worst 8 00:00:31,330 --> 00:00:34,250 episode I feel like I've put out, but it's been a year. 9 00:00:34,250 --> 00:00:36,600 And me and Abby were like, let's do a question and answer. 10 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,080 Let's see what they want to talk about. 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,280 Yes. So we're going to start off in 12 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:41,640 prayer and then we're going to jump right in. 13 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,160 So here we go. Lord Heavenly Father, just thank 14 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:46,360 you for all that you have been doing in our lives. 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,480 Lord God, we just pray that you continue to lead us and guide us 16 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:52,400 every day and that we can be a light for you. 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,640 Lord God, the world is just so evil and we just pray that we 18 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,720 can be a light and that we can bring others to you. 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,840 Lord God, we just pray that everything that we do just 20 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,200 glorifies you. In Jesus name I pray Amen. 21 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:12,880 All right, so yeah, I remember literally last year I had like a 22 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,360 few people send me stuff and I'm like, I got on here and I did 23 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:17,800 not know how to answer. Nothing. 24 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,120 I felt insecure about it and everything. 25 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,120 So I was like, yeah, we can redo this. 26 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,080 So let's ask some new questions and move. 27 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,880 On well, did you just feel like it wasn't good or did you get 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,760 like no feedback or what made you started? 29 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:35,840 With questions and then by time I get like I remember sitting in 30 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:40,320 the room recording for probably 30 minutes only answering 2 31 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:42,680 questions. And every time I would start it 32 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,880 would be terrible. And then I would backtrack and 33 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,280 then I would say it again and then it was terrible and then I 34 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,000 would say the wrong thing I thought. 35 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,760 And then finally I'm like you know what? 36 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,800 Let me just tell you all what God's done in my life like so I 37 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,200 mean, I'm more confident now doing it just because I've came 38 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,680 a long way since then and it's easier to have a conversation 39 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,400 right than just straight up the answering. 40 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,320 And question answering. Yeah, just talking to yourself 41 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,480 about questions, you know. So let's get it popping. 42 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,640 There is quite a. Going in order of what you sent 43 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:20,800 me. I have no idea of the order that 44 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,080 I sent you. I did just screenshot them. 45 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,600 I guess we can start with how I sent them because I did just 46 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,680 screenshot them in that order. So someone said finding a 47 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,560 community in church. How did you find your girls in 48 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,320 church? I struggle so much to find 49 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,520 people sometimes feel like churches still have cliques. 50 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,480 That's a good question, yeah. And something you have to really 51 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:47,480 keep an open mind about. I remember when I first really, 52 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,600 you know, gave my life to Christ and and started wanting to live 53 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,400 more for him. That was like the number one 54 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,560 struggle was, well, who do I hang out with? 55 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:02,400 What do I go? Do you know, like, do I even, am 56 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,760 I even compatible with these kind of people? 57 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:08,640 Just so many questions. And then I think God put it on 58 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:13,480 my heart like you just have an open mind because what I might 59 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,840 have for you, you probably might not agree with or, or you don't 60 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,400 see yourself hanging out with them or you don't see yourself 61 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,000 in that group. And so just have an open mind. 62 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,360 And I think it's funny because now me and you are in a life 63 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,120 group and we are the youngest ones. 64 00:03:30,920 --> 00:03:33,960 And I'm like I'm. In the life group and I love it. 65 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,800 I wouldn't change it. So having that open mindset was 66 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,280 what came to mind to me when I read that question. 67 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,440 But from like a biblical standpoint, you know, we just 68 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:49,960 started that rooted program and it's based off of Acts 2, the 69 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,200 verse, which is so good to me and and being rooted in your 70 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,520 community and rooted with a group and how important it is. 71 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,080 So I think that is a very important question that they 72 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,400 asked, and I'll just go over that verse. 73 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,560 It's Acts 246 through 47. Every day they continue to meet 74 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,280 together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes 75 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,320 and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and 76 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,640 enjoying the favor of all the people. 77 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,200 So, you know, to sit there and break bread with somebody in 78 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,680 their home, be comfortable with people having that relationship, 79 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,800 somebody that you can open up to or just people that you can up 80 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,600 open up to and grow in your relationship with Christ with 81 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,800 them is so important. How you get there. 82 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,320 You know, that's kind of the what they're looking for the 83 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:41,280 answer to. But yeah, open mind and and lots 84 00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:42,960 of praying. I remember praying about it a 85 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:44,880 lot. I'll let you kind of answer that 86 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,600 too. Well, I mean, obviously prayer, 87 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,320 like God's going to send people your way. 88 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,320 Like I just remember I couldn't keep the same exact friend group 89 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,400 doing the exact same things every week if I wanted true life 90 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,160 change. I'm not going to keep going to 91 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,520 the same places, keep doing the same things. 92 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:07,080 I mean, that's truly insanity if you do the same thing over and 93 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:08,960 over and expect different results. 94 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:10,240 So. Especially when you're desiring 95 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:11,160 change. Yeah. 96 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,720 And so for me, I knew it was important that I did. 97 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,400 Did I know how? No. 98 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:20,680 But God does call us to be uncomfortable because when you 99 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,720 get too comfortable can't be growth. 100 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,560 So I just started going out of my way and I just started saying 101 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,560 yes to everything. Like if someone invited me to 102 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,480 something, I'm like, yes, did I want to? 103 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,520 Not necessarily. But I knew that it was so 104 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:40,960 important to go do those things so that I can maybe meet 105 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:42,720 somebody. Maybe that person that invited 106 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,720 me isn't the person that God's sending me, but the event that 107 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,960 I'm going to go to, I'm going to meet somebody. 108 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,320 Yeah, so. And I've always stood by this 109 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:55,560 even BC if someone invited me to something the very first time 110 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,040 and I said no, I, I don't think you're getting invited again. 111 00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:02,160 Like I'm sorry. I have always thought that like 112 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,280 as soon as someone invites me to something, I'm like, I got to 113 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:07,280 go. Because if I say no, there's not 114 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:09,920 a lot of times that people invite again because they're 115 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,400 like, we already said no. But I just kind of like stood on 116 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,040 that. So right when I got into this 117 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,480 season, I was like, yes, yes, yes, yes. 118 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,000 And then I found a click. I found a group. 119 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,440 And going off the second part about it being clicky, it does 120 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,400 seem like that sometimes. Like even me being in the church 121 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,440 or an outsider looking into my group, it probably does seem 122 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,880 that way. But we don't mean it to like, 123 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,440 it's like when you go to church and you see your friends, you 124 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:41,920 know what I'm saying? Like that's just how it is. 125 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,360 Like we're just talking or whatever, but we're open to 126 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,720 anybody. Like, we want people to come up 127 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:48,640 and talk. We want. 128 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,440 But I guess we do as a church need to do better about instead 129 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,440 of just standing in our group, like, see somebody walking by. 130 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:58,160 Hey, girl, come over here. What you doing? 131 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:01,040 You know, and I mean, I'm bad about that too. 132 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,960 So tomorrow or Sunday when I go to church, I'm going to look, 133 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,240 yeah, I'm going to be like, hey, what you doing? 134 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:07,320 There's somebody different, yeah. 135 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,280 Yeah. But also going off of that too 136 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,560 would be you can't. It's hard to put yourself out 137 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,160 there and find people if you're only running in right before 138 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,800 service starts and you're running out as soon as they say. 139 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,600 Amen. Like it's hard to meet people 140 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,480 and put yourself out there and find those people if you're just 141 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,400 getting there for that. Yeah. 142 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,400 That's what I touched on as well. 143 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,160 I think the biggest thing for me was praying for guidance and 144 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:38,880 wisdom and this was the main point was to be a blessing to 145 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,560 others. So kind of touching on what 146 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,920 you're talking about, we have to look at it from a point of view 147 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:51,640 that God, I want to serve you and join my community and it's 148 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:56,640 not what am I getting out of it. So you know, cuz a lot of times 149 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,480 we are looking for that community and does this fit the 150 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,760 mold that I want? Is this what I'm comfortable 151 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,880 going to do? Would I like this? 152 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,760 And all of those viewpoints and standpoints are from a 153 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,440 perspective of how does this serve me? 154 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:18,400 And when you change that mindset that I'm doing this to serve him 155 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,800 and I want to be a blessing to others, I think that really 156 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,600 opens your doors to where He will take you. 157 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:31,000 And it really makes you might not even look at what seems 158 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,600 clicky. It doesn't seem clicky anymore 159 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,200 because now I'm going over there with that open mind of how can I 160 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,360 be a blessing to them? I don't know, you know, their 161 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:41,840 situation. They might seem clicky. 162 00:08:42,039 --> 00:08:45,480 Well, I'm going to go take that chance because I'm here to serve 163 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,280 God. I don't want anything out of 164 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,920 that group. I'm just here to do my part. 165 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,800 And having that mindset really, I think would open the doors for 166 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,400 somebody that's kind of gotten closed off or kind of gotten in 167 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,240 that state of mind that I, you know, it's too clicky for me. 168 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,520 I can't do anything. And unless, OK, well, what can I 169 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:06,040 do for God? How can I bless him? 170 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:11,200 Yeah, I'm glad you said about serving because that is where 171 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:15,040 you start to meet people is when you volunteer to serve. 172 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:19,000 I mean, y'all serve in the kids ministry and like, you met 173 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,480 friends. Like I'm sure you and Lindsay 174 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,440 became closer friends. Y'all knew of each other, but 175 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,600 y'all became closer because y'all serve together now. 176 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,960 So every Sunday rolls around. You already know who's in your 177 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,960 environment. You already nose down there like 178 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:32,920 so that's where it starts to build. 179 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,800 I mean, over the photography team at our church. 180 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,680 I mean, we started with like me and another girl and I was like 181 00:09:40,680 --> 00:09:43,440 it. And so now it's grown to, like, 182 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,520 15 girls. And so maybe you don't know 183 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:50,000 anybody else in the church, but you do know the 15 girls that 184 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:51,240 are on our team. Yeah. 185 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,080 You know, you know those people that you've joined with, and 186 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,520 then they know people. So you just continue to grow? 187 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,600 Yeah, and you go and that's what we went at it was was God, I'm 188 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,320 doing this to be a blessing to others and serve you. 189 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,680 And it just in turn brought the ones that he wanted in our life, 190 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:11,760 you know, to be there and, and made new friendships and are now 191 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,720 growing with other people. And, and it's going to continue 192 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,600 because you kind of just put your foot out there and, and 193 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,120 take that next step. So getting out of your comfort 194 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,320 zone, having an open mind, really praying about it, but 195 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,840 really doing it to be a blessing to others. 196 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,400 Don't look for blessings for yourself. 197 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:32,560 Yeah, absolutely. I think that that that's good. 198 00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:34,840 That's good. What we got next? 199 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,160 Yeah, because we have a few questions to go through. 200 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,720 Yeah, so this one's a pretty pretty. 201 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,160 I don't know if I'm going to read this whole thing. 202 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,200 Yeah, just I wouldn't just read out of the. 203 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,360 I don't know because I mean it gives a back story. 204 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:54,600 Well, let's go into it. So how to navigate a friendship 205 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,480 with a non believer? I have two work friends who are 206 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:02,160 not believers and I feel like I'm being called to take a step 207 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,960 back from the friendship because they aren't believers. 208 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,440 These girls are not aren't bad people but some things we just 209 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,940 don't align with. I think I could still be Co 210 00:11:11,940 --> 00:11:15,280 worker friends with these girls and maybe just not as close. 211 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,120 I want friends that lead me to Jesus and this is not them. 212 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,960 I am praying for them to find Jesus but anytime I talk to them 213 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,560 about my faith I met with such an opposition that I don't want 214 00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:29,000 to talk about it anymore which is shameful. 215 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,120 I want to be able to talk about Jesus and my faith with my 216 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,560 friends. How do I navigate a relationship 217 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:36,720 like this? I know it's OK to have friends 218 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,880 that are not believers, just not sure where to draw the line. 219 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:41,640 Line. I don't know. 220 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,880 I said like that. But yeah, you go ahead. 221 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,080 That's a hard question because there does have to be a line 222 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:56,000 that's drawn. But like, and and Billy Graham 223 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:59,120 touches on this so good and I've heard him talk about it, but, 224 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,800 and this was something he said. A lot of times what speaks 225 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,920 louder with the unbeliever is not our argument, but the 226 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,120 reality of our transformed lives. 227 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:13,760 And so that means, you know, how they see me interact with them 228 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,600 on an everyday basis, not even just the interaction part, but 229 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:20,680 just how I live every day is going to speak way louder than 230 00:12:20,680 --> 00:12:23,600 any disagreement we have or argument we have. 231 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,600 Because you're probably not even going to end up in an argument 232 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,440 because your life is so transformed. 233 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:33,480 But you know, you do have to be careful with teaming up with 234 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,240 them versus the interaction part. 235 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,600 And I think that's the the line to draw. 236 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,040 And this was the verse that was brought to me was second 237 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,600 Corinthians 614. Don't team up with those who are 238 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,640 unbelievers. How can righteousness be a 239 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,480 partner with wickedness? How can light live with 240 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,800 darkness? So and I know, you know, we're 241 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,720 supposed to love others and that is very biblical. 242 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,880 And I do stand by that. And I think that we 100% are 243 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:02,480 supposed to be around unbelievers all, all the time 244 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,360 interacting with them. But I think you've got to learn 245 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:09,960 how to navigate the partnership and getting too deep or too 246 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:15,200 close and almost living in that, you know, in learning to almost 247 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,360 love from a distance and love them. 248 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,840 Well, sometimes from a distance, especially when it's like a best 249 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,640 friend kind of relationship. And that's probably really, 250 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:28,600 really hard to do. Do you have something to say? 251 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,920 Not really. I mean, I'm thinking about it as 252 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:37,680 in like it's so hard because not even just a friendship, but like 253 00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:41,080 I know that me and Greg struggled with that of like I 254 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,120 wanted to talk about my faith. I wanted to talk about what God 255 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,080 was doing in my life, but he didn't comprehend it. 256 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,680 Like it's so hard because you want to have these 257 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:52,360 conversations. You want to tell people about 258 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,960 what it is, but some people aren't open to receive that and 259 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:00,320 so it's just hard. It is really hard. 260 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,040 I mean, Jesus interacted with unbelievers every day, 261 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,120 literally. I mean, that was his calling and 262 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:10,800 he showed them so much grace and love. 263 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:15,120 So I think that's number one. Well, most definitely. 264 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,200 And like you said earlier, it's not really about the 265 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,320 conversation and the argument. It's it's really of you just 266 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,680 live it out like. Make them want what you have so 267 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:27,480 much more than what they're living in. 268 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:31,760 Yes, because if you show a true radical difference where you're 269 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,360 just showing loveness, loveness, just kindness and yeah, just 270 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:41,600 love and joy and kindness and stuff like that makes them start 271 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:46,680 to think what's going on in her life, that that's all of a 272 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:48,800 sudden where she's just a different person. 273 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,240 Yeah, Yeah. So I would say most. 274 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,760 I mean, I have family members that, you know, I interact with 275 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:59,080 and I know, you know, maybe they're not unbelievers, but 276 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,920 they just haven't given it all up, right? 277 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,720 That you you just have to be careful you know what you say or 278 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:11,600 you know how they might respond to something you say and then 279 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,440 your next response. Yeah. 280 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:19,280 And it is very hard, but just continue to be that light around 281 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,520 them. But in you know, and and maybe 282 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,680 this isn't biblical and I have to find something on it, but I 283 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,760 do think there has to be like it like that saying you can't like 284 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:31,560 partner, there can't be a partnership. 285 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:36,600 It's almost like you got to have a line drawn and you're not like 286 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,200 meddling with them, but you're loving them from an outside. 287 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:46,080 And to be honest, this is like the more that your life changes, 288 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,680 they're going to kind of weed you out anyway. 289 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:53,200 Yes, I hate to say it that way, but like truly on my end, that's 290 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,480 what happened. Like your friends kind of weed 291 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,120 you out because you are different. 292 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,280 Like now they're questioning things. 293 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:04,560 They you're going to bring out doubt in their mind. 294 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,680 They're going to feel convicted being around you if you're truly 295 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,760 living it out and being bold for Christ. 296 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,920 Like they're going to feel so weird around you that they kind 297 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,800 of start to weed you out and put up a wall anyway most of the 298 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,320 time, which. I don't think we should be 299 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:23,120 weeded out from a negative standpoint, from anything that 300 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,280 we say or do to hurt somebody to. 301 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,360 Them they're, they're wedding us like. 302 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:32,120 Here's an example is I remember having a conversation with my 303 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:36,640 dad and when I really tried to quit drinking at first. 304 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,200 I mean, this was even before I really gave my life to Christ 305 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,280 because we would always try to quit drinking. 306 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,080 Yeah. But you know, he, he would 307 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,160 always say, if you say this to somebody, they can't really say 308 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,240 anything back and they're not going to get mad. 309 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,480 But all you have to say is I'm drinking from a new fountain. 310 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:54,840 Jesus saved my life. Period. 311 00:16:55,360 --> 00:17:00,080 And that's all you have to say. It's not confrontational, is not 312 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,200 condescending. It's not, you know, you're 313 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:03,600 trying to put the other person down. 314 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:05,560 Hey, man, my life has just changed. 315 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,520 I really appreciate the invite. Or I really, you know, y'all, 316 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,119 you know, that's just not what I'm doing right now. 317 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:13,200 I'm drinking from a new fountain. 318 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,960 Jesus has really changed my life and I'm enjoying it, so I'm 319 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:18,520 good. I really appreciate it, though. 320 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:23,920 Yeah, you know, we don't have to come back and and say something 321 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,280 condescending or, you know, gosh, I can't believe you're 322 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,600 going out to drink tonight. Like, you know, just something 323 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,000 along those lines. Our response is very important. 324 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:39,240 It it's so, so much is because how you respond to these things 325 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,280 is what they're looking for. Like if you say that you're 326 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,480 living this way and following Christ and whatever, but you act 327 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,440 like or say something that goes against what you've been saying, 328 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,000 like the walk isn't matching the talk, and then they're gonna be 329 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,280 like, there's that hypocrite that everybody talks about, you 330 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,400 know? So it's so, so important to walk 331 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,480 and talk. But he did that simple 332 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,200 statement. Yeah, I'm drinking from a 333 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:03,640 different fountain. I appreciate it. 334 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,280 Yeah, he's gonna understand it though. 335 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:06,040 But. Yeah. 336 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,840 And that's OK. Yeah, they're not supposed to. 337 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,640 And that's, that's another thing I wrote like don't compromise 338 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:16,840 your standards for that. You know what I mean? 339 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,520 Like don't, don't still don't compromise your standards. 340 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,080 Yeah. Trying to. 341 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,920 Fit in yeah. So just be praying about it, 342 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,520 girl, if you listen into this and you're like what are they 343 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:31,280 going to say? I don't know if we've really 344 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,840 answered it, but I would say just be acquaintances, be work 345 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,400 acquaintances, love on them, but you know, like have those 346 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,720 boundaries that are set like don't put them guard rails up. 347 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,920 Because sometimes we get in those environments that we used 348 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,800 to be in and we start kikiing with them just joking around and 349 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,200 stuff. And then all of a sudden we're 350 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,000 talking filthy. We're we're saying stuff that we 351 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,680 wouldn't be saying. So just try to be cautious of 352 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,400 that. That would be my biggest thing. 353 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,800 And and don't let your emotions lead you. 354 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,000 Yeah, that's good. You know, a lot of times we do, 355 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,840 especially in friendships, let our emotions lead us instead of 356 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:12,120 kind of being structured on what I know God's put on my heart. 357 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,280 That's good. You think that's good? 358 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:16,320 Yeah. All right. 359 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,160 I think you kind of touched on the next question a little bit 360 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,160 in this question. Is this about the fruit? 361 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,480 Oh no, sorry, I went to the last question because it says how do 362 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:28,560 you navigate you really. Went to the last. 363 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:30,200 Question, I know. How do you navigate you and your 364 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,200 spouse being on different spiritual levels, which I 365 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:33,800 thought kind of went with a friendship thing. 366 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,200 Yeah. And I feel like you. 367 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,560 Jeez. Really could touch on that. 368 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:46,360 That's a whole episode. It it that is I just don't even 369 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:50,840 like I look back today and the only way that I made it through 370 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:57,400 that season was truly being dependent on God because my 371 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:02,400 flesh would have, I mean, my flesh argued like there was no 372 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,480 tomorrow and even would bring up divorce and just be like so 373 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:08,960 negative towards him. And I've talked about this on 374 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:10,600 the podcast. I was a different person when I 375 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,520 was at home. Like truly, like darkness 376 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:18,400 consumed me when I was at home and I just couldn't. 377 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,200 I didn't handle it well. Like I wish I had better advice, 378 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:25,560 but truly, it was only God that got me through that season of 379 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,160 trying to navigate and being on different spiritual levels 380 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,120 because I already said it. I tried to always wanted to be 381 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:33,760 like, we're doing this at church, We're planning this. 382 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:38,720 I'm on this team now, you know, XY and Z, God's God said this 383 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,760 this morning in my devotion or I've been praying about this and 384 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:45,880 God just answered it and Greg couldn't comprehend that because 385 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:51,080 he did not have spiritual eyes. More recently I've been getting 386 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,400 a lot of questions about people. This goes hand in hand still, 387 00:20:54,560 --> 00:21:00,720 but where y'all are equally, you aren't equally yoked, but you 388 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,840 are a believer. And I think that's more So what 389 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:07,720 she's saying in this question is he is a believer, but he's not 390 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,480 walking alongside of you in the same context. 391 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,440 Like he's not wanting to serve, he's not wanting to go to 392 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:13,760 church. Like he's a force to go to 393 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:15,480 church, but he's already been saved. 394 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:18,600 I don't know, it's hard. What do you think? 395 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,600 Well, there was a time point in mine and Dexter's marriage where 396 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,680 we, like you're saying we were both believers or we would call 397 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:31,000 ourselves Christians, but we hadn't fully given up 398 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:36,160 everything, right? Not saying that the Lord is not 399 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:40,400 working on certain things in your life and that's going on, 400 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,040 but there were just certain things that you just kind of 401 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,360 hold on to that you hadn't let go of yet. 402 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:51,480 And and so it would cause that conflict because maybe I wanted 403 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:56,240 to go to, you know, church or life group and he wasn't ready 404 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,400 yet or he always had something else to do or, you know, I 405 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,600 wanted to do this serve in this area of the church and he 406 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,560 didn't. And what it led me to realize 407 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:12,640 was sometimes we get so focused on the other person that we quit 408 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:17,320 focusing on ourselves. And really and truly, my walk 409 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,320 had not gotten where it needed to be yet. 410 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:24,080 And I was still gung ho and and wanton Dexter to do and, and 411 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:28,480 lead us a certain way, right? Or like pray for us every night 412 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,440 or do these certain things. And I was desiring that. 413 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:35,280 But, you know, I hadn't really not gotten where I needed to be 414 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:39,000 either. And so just keeping your mind 415 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:43,160 focused on and, and maybe this person has heard that already 416 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:45,720 that, you know, keeping your mind focused on you, but really 417 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,240 looking at your walk and where it's at and keep moving forward 418 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:50,880 with it. And I think that's what you did. 419 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:52,800 And I think that's why you made it. 420 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:54,480 Yeah. Because that's what you're 421 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,600 saying. Otherwise it it really would 422 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,480 have overtaken you. Yeah, which I mean, Miss 423 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,440 Cherie's book is Lord change him or kill him. 424 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,920 And I mean, that's and I have some of those books for self. 425 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:09,560 You would like to get one. But that's basically what she 426 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,800 figures out along the way. 33 years unequally yoked. 427 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,960 But he was a diagnostic. So he believed there was a 428 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,960 higher power, but like he didn't know if it was God or not. 429 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:24,040 Like what is that higher power? So he just didn't he didn't 430 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,280 comprehend anything. And she finally just looked in 431 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:31,240 the mirror one day and was like, worry about yourself, like 432 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,880 you're, you haven't arrived yet and we're not gonna arrive. 433 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:41,000 So don't point his flaws out when you still need to be pruned 434 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,320 and just molded and all this stuff. 435 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:48,040 So that was a hard thing to do because it's like, look at your 436 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,000 own. Like here's a good example of 437 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:56,120 like a couple that maybe this person and has really, you know, 438 00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:57,880 quit drinking. Let's just say in their walk, 439 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,000 they're like, OK, you know what, I'm giving up drinking and the 440 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,720 other spouse has not, but they might be working on some other 441 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,160 things, you know, in their walk or whatever. 442 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:12,200 And so now the wife is telling that other spouse like and 443 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,000 getting mad that they didn't quit drinking with them. 444 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,360 Well, we're supposed to be on the same path. 445 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:22,480 We're doing this together. And that is true, but the person 446 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,960 that just quit drinking still like you're saying, they aren't 447 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,600 even close to where they need to be in their walk. 448 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:33,160 And and that's how I really felt like he put on my heart. 449 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,440 Abby, you got some work to do. You got some other things to 450 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,240 handle. Let me handle him and you start 451 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,840 working on yourself with me. I'm glad you said that because 452 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,000 this is another kind of accountability more so thing 453 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:52,360 because sometimes we want something so bad for our spouse 454 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:55,880 or that other person or that the person you're dating or maybe 455 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,120 interested in. Like, you want them to be this 456 00:24:58,120 --> 00:25:00,400 person, but you're not being that person yourself. 457 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:05,080 I hear a lot of times, and I've seen it too. 458 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,480 I was one of these people way back when I wanted Greg to quit 459 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:10,520 drinking. But then the weekend would roll 460 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,240 around and here I am. I'm wanting to drink too. 461 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:18,240 So now I'm I'm bending what I want to fit my narrative. 462 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,320 But if I truly wanted Greg to quit drinking or to go to church 463 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:26,200 or whatever, I need to make that a priority if I'm not doing what 464 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,560 I need to do. Like if I want Greg to read his 465 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,680 devotion every single day, like I'm going to show him a meme 466 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,440 reading my devotion every single day, I'm going to let him know 467 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,680 that that's important to me. Even if I'm tired and running 468 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:40,000 late, I'm going to read that devotion. 469 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,640 Even if I don't feel like it or whatever, I'm going to read that 470 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:43,840 devotion. Same thing with drinking. 471 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,640 We keep relating it a lot to drinking, but here's we live 472 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:46,960 like. That. 473 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,760 But here's the thing that I would ask somebody doing that, 474 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,040 what is your intention behind it? 475 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,600 And that is such an important question to me because I'm going 476 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:59,280 to tell you what the Lord knows our heart and that's number one. 477 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,160 So if your intention behind getting up and reading your 478 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:06,680 devotion in the mornings is for your husband to change, Wrong 479 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:10,120 intention in a sense. Yeah, I was about to be like cuz 480 00:26:10,120 --> 00:26:12,360 no, cuz at the same time it's accountability. 481 00:26:12,360 --> 00:26:14,840 Yeah, I think. Yeah, I think it goes hand in 482 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:17,400 hand, but I I don't think it should be your number one 483 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,400 intention. No, your number one intention is 484 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,520 to get up and spend time with the Lord because you desire that 485 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,080 relationship with Him. And he sees your heart and he 486 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:30,240 sees that. Then what comes from that are 487 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,560 those other things like you're saying, the accountability, the 488 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,600 true life change. Him seeing that, being that 489 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,280 light for him comes after that. But I think your number one 490 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,960 intention can't be that. No, but you know, saying that it 491 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,000 can't be that, but some warnings you are not going to want to 492 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,480 wake up and it's like jump into the word. 493 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:52,560 But that's that spiritual discipline of I don't want to, 494 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,600 but I know that once I do, I'm going to feel better. 495 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,880 I'm I'm going to spend time with God and He's gonna replenish 496 00:26:59,960 --> 00:27:02,320 what I feel like I don't have for the day. 497 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,600 And your intention still in that is just God in your relationship 498 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,480 with him absolutely nothing else true, very true. 499 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:10,520 So I think that's super important do. 500 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,200 You think we answered that? I think so. 501 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:20,240 The biggest thing I would just I would close out is just like not 502 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:24,160 close out the episode, but close out for this, you know, question 503 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:28,040 is just like truly worry about your relationship with Jesus 504 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:30,760 Christ. Like focus on that grow. 505 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,200 Do the things that you need to do serve, get up, go to church. 506 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:38,160 Don't depend on your husband to get up or your wife. 507 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:43,240 If you're on here listening, man, but like, don't depend on 508 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:48,840 them to be along for the ride. Just cry out to God, go to 509 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:53,320 church, get involved, read your Bible, do these things, and 510 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:56,240 God's going to provide the way, like he's going to lead the way 511 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,040 and make those things happen. I've said it multiple times, 512 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,960 your circumstances can suddenly change right now to 10 minutes 513 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,400 later. You have no idea what God has in 514 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,800 store. You have no idea what's ahead. 515 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:12,720 So just because it looks like y'all are on 2 spiritual levels 516 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,440 right now doesn't mean that you will in 2 days. 517 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,560 Yeah, and I think it's the number one thing that's going to 518 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:24,760 keep giving you hope to make it and and do what's right by God 519 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:30,080 is that focused mindset on him, because otherwise it gets really 520 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:31,000 tough. It does. 521 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:35,080 So it's not easy, and that's not an easy question to answer for 522 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:38,080 sure. No, because like even right now, 523 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,560 I mean, they're me and Greg still wouldn't be on a spiritual 524 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,040 level, same level because I've been walking it out a lot 525 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:45,320 longer, you know, all this stuff. 526 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:51,640 But growth and progress is one step in front of another. 527 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:56,240 It just because they're moving slower than you doesn't mean 528 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:58,400 that there there's progress not being made. 529 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:00,640 Yeah. So that is super important. 530 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,000 Like the day Greg surrendered and said the prayer, I'm like, 531 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,480 I'm good, I'm good. I don't need anything else. 532 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:09,240 And then literally I remember a few weeks after that, I'm like, 533 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,960 Oh my God, he still wasn't coming to church, you know? 534 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,800 And then God like slowly started doing those things. 535 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,400 Like it will come. You just can't expect it to be 536 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,400 radical sometimes, or. On your timeline. 537 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,400 I think it was great last. You weren't there last night, 538 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:26,080 were you? I didn't think so. 539 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:29,080 OK, so Pat, he's like some people dive right in. 540 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,920 I'm a diver. I'm going to jump right into 541 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:35,000 whatever I do, no matter what. I don't need to know the 542 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:36,640 consequences. I don't need to know what's 543 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:37,560 ahead. Nothing. 544 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:39,880 I'm going to dive into it. Then there's some people that 545 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,880 they're going to lift up their pant leg and put their toes in 546 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:44,880 for a little bit. They're going to acclimate and 547 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:46,840 then get a little more and a little more. 548 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,880 So just because there's two people, they're still in the 549 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:51,760 wall water. There's just two different ways 550 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,160 to get in the water. Yeah, it's just. 551 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,160 Being in the water. Being in the water. 552 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,040 That's the most important. Yeah, So cool. 553 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:00,240 I think that's good. Yeah. 554 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:04,400 All right, we'll go to AJ's question about the spiritual 555 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:05,760 fruit. OK. 556 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,800 All right. So AJ, this is one of the 557 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:10,520 questions that I got stumbled up on. 558 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:11,840 Are we? Going to say their name. 559 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,400 I'm going to say AJ, he appreciates the call out. 560 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:23,360 The rest of them, probably not. OK, So anyway, he said one year, 561 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:26,600 same question. What do you think your strongest 562 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,160 and weakest fruit of the Spirit are? 563 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:32,320 You go ahead. Have you already answered this? 564 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,760 I tried it wasn't good last year, but it's changed so it 565 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,200 doesn't even matter. So we'll go ahead and say the 566 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,200 fruit of the Spirit. It's Lovejoy, peace, patience, 567 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:44,640 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and 568 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:48,480 self-control. What you what do you think your 569 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,880 best is? Let's start with our best. 570 00:30:54,840 --> 00:31:01,040 See, mine said this was like, if you want to know my best, well, 571 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,640 my I wrote, well, what does my fruit look like when I'm far 572 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,280 away from him versus when I'm real close to him, right? 573 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,200 Because that's what's going to make the difference. 574 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:17,880 This is hard. I think finding kindness in my 575 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:21,080 heart for others. You'd say that's your best, like 576 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:22,920 you're just kind. Yeah. 577 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:24,680 Yeah. OK, cool. 578 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:26,720 That's good. Do you want to elaborate or are 579 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:30,000 you just saying kindness? Well, some of them really go 580 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:33,080 hand in hand, they do. So that's really hard to answer. 581 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,640 And true, I do want to say this too, even though there's 582 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:42,560 123-456-7899 different fruit, it's still 1. 583 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:44,360 Fruit. That's how I feel, that's how I 584 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,520 look at it. But we are better at some of 585 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:50,160 them. He's still pruning certain areas 586 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:54,520 and strengthening those sides. So it's still one fruit. 587 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,200 See, there are better, I would say like where sometimes I 588 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,160 struggle is patience, which sometimes strips my joy. 589 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,080 So to me, like stuff like that goes hand in hand because I 590 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:06,720 really struggle with patience. And then that takes away my 591 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:10,640 peace in my life and that joy that comes from that, right? 592 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:13,360 So to me, like those go hand in hand. 593 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:17,760 But yeah, I think that gentleness and kindness I really 594 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:19,600 the Lord's put on my heart for others. 595 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:24,520 And that's where. I see gentleness is going to be 596 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:25,760 my. Not yours. 597 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,600 That's going to be my worst. That's going to be the one that 598 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:33,480 I need the most work on. Whatever I just said, yours is 599 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,080 completely. Opposite and y'all, to be 600 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:38,200 honest, we have the exact same personality. 601 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:40,920 It's really weird. It's really weird because our 602 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:44,160 personality tests say that we are very similar. 603 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,200 We're both red, we're both dominant people. 604 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:52,080 So but the way we handle situations or you have. 605 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:58,080 Different, green, more loving nature, nurturing spirits about 606 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:00,680 you. Me not so much, but. 607 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:04,360 We still want like AB and C to happen Type A like going to make 608 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,040 sure things get done a certain like where. 609 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,160 Abby is very loving and nurturing. 610 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:10,240 I don't know why I can't say that today. 611 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:14,360 Nurturing and stuff. I just am more like outspoken 612 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:16,440 life of the party, having a good time. 613 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:18,640 Like I'm a little bit more free for all. 614 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:22,040 Abby wants that structure, but she also wants to love on 615 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:24,560 people. Me, not so much. 616 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,200 I'm not good at loving on people. 617 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,720 I'm good at love. I think I've really come a long 618 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:32,120 way with love. But gentleness I'm not good at. 619 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:35,920 I'm rough as they come. Still working on it I'm. 620 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:40,040 Still working on it. You're more rough with the ones 621 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:44,880 you love then not. Yes, yes, I'm pretty gentle with 622 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:49,040 strangers that the rest. Of the like she. 623 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:53,560 Says if you not me personally, you're like she's so like harsh, 624 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:57,240 harsh and just and I really don't wanna be that way. 625 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,240 Like I know that Jesus was just so compassionate. 626 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:04,640 Yes, that is what it is. I struggle very much so with 627 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:07,440 compassion that goes hand in hand with gentleness. 628 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:11,480 Yeah, that's it. Being compassionate for others. 629 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:14,679 So. Let's kind of talk about this 630 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:20,560 verse and how it applies to our life and how we really work on 631 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,639 it and how they all come together. 632 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,840 Well, hang on. My last one, my best one I would 633 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,639 say, would be joy. Yes, for sure. 634 00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:31,239 I do try to stay very joyful at all times. 635 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:35,679 Just because my circumstances aren't lining up with happiness 636 00:34:35,679 --> 00:34:37,639 doesn't mean that the joy fades for me. 637 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:41,320 But yeah, go ahead. Hit us off with that, Galatians. 638 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,520 Well. Are you about to say Galatians 639 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:47,719 You about? The whole the whole verse for 640 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:49,360 the fruit of the Spirit. I don't know you. 641 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,280 This was you. No, that's not what but you had 642 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:53,679 to. You hit it off if that's what 643 00:34:53,679 --> 00:34:54,920 you're going. To go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, 644 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:57,040 but I don't know what you was going to do. 645 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,920 Well, what like what I wrote on this was, it's not about us 646 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:04,280 trying harder, but about yielding more fully to the 647 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:05,240 spirit. That's good. 648 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:07,440 OK. Because that's where I would get 649 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:09,920 confused about stuff like I'm going to try more harder in this 650 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:11,360 area. Just like we're having this 651 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:13,400 conversation, like I need to work on my patients. 652 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:16,480 I'm going to work on that. Well, you ain't going to get 653 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:20,920 very far because this has been embedded in you since you was 654 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:23,080 born. And the only way you get rid of 655 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,160 that what's been in you since you was born is yielding more to 656 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:28,520 the Spirit. And that's what I wrote down and 657 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:31,720 I did write Philippians 1/6. He who began a good work in you. 658 00:35:31,720 --> 00:35:36,200 So he Jesus began a work, good work in you will carry it on to 659 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:40,600 completion until the day of Christ Jesus, meaning that that 660 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:45,120 spirit inside of you like he is what's gonna do the work. 661 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:48,320 He is what's going to carry it out in your life to completion, 662 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:51,200 right. And so that's where I had to get 663 00:35:51,720 --> 00:35:54,520 this down path. That's where I had to learn 664 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:57,800 about this to learn to be this way because these are the things 665 00:35:57,800 --> 00:35:59,960 of the Spirit. But if I want the things of the 666 00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:01,840 Spirit. Got to let the Spirit lead. 667 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:04,440 Got to let them lead because I can't because you're things 668 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:05,720 about. Hold any of these? 669 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,720 No, not a one. That's why I said, what does my 670 00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:10,880 fruit look like when I'm far away from him? 671 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:13,320 And here's something we touched on this past Sunday that was so 672 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:16,800 good. What is what is my patience and 673 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:21,000 stuff look like when I have gone two days without reading the 674 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:25,120 word and being in my devotion? Because it happens. 675 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:29,240 We might sit up here like we some Bible thumpers, but to be 676 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:32,680 honest, some days, some days get missed and life just happens. 677 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:36,760 And we've talked about this before with me having a toddler 678 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:39,640 and just marriage in general and all the things that you were 679 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:41,000 involved in. And then you get life. 680 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,760 It gets busy. What is my life starting to look 681 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:48,840 like when I have missed my devotion time and my word with 682 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:53,280 God and it's been like 2 days and and I'm kind of getting far 683 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:55,320 away. Well, I can tell you right now, 684 00:36:55,760 --> 00:37:00,160 my patience and my peace that's in my life is about gone. 685 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:05,800 So that's where I would say the struggle is that that's where I 686 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,760 would say you have to come in and really yield to something 687 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:11,640 more than what you have control over. 688 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:14,120 Absolutely. And you know, a lot of people 689 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:18,160 say like don't pray for patience, but if I'm truly 690 00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:23,200 asking God to seek my heart, search my heart, know me, Lord, 691 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:25,040 change me, make me more like you. 692 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:30,880 We need patients like I want to, I want to, and that means coming 693 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:34,560 with tests. I mean, I don't want to test, I 694 00:37:34,560 --> 00:37:37,640 don't want to be tested, but that's how we do grow. 695 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:41,680 And I will say that episode 1 when I did this question, that 696 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:44,600 was one of my worst ones was patients like, and I feel like 697 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:49,840 I've come a long way, just not I arrived, I have not arrived, but 698 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:53,200 I have come a long way and trying to yield and I'm like, my 699 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:57,640 will is far worse than what God has for me. 700 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:01,840 So if I'm patient and I sit back and let him him move and do his 701 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:04,760 own thing, life's going to be good. 702 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:07,760 A lot better than what it would be if it was in my hands. 703 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:11,960 Yeah, I will say like what we're talking about when you're you're 704 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:16,280 really close to him and, you know, you're just right in line. 705 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:20,280 You those thought like those thoughts just are more 706 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,680 captivating in your mind. Let me just put it that way. 707 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:25,120 You really are like, oh, you've got it, Lord. 708 00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:27,560 Yeah. And then but you start getting 709 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:30,760 far away and then I start going, what do I need to do now? 710 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:32,200 I got to take over this and that. 711 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:37,120 So it to me, it's just about how where are you at in your walk on 712 00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:40,960 a day-to-day basis that keeps me accountable for all of these 713 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,880 fruits because I'm missing a lot of them. 714 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:45,280 Yeah. Absolutely. 715 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,240 If it's on my own, you know, but. 716 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,040 All right, I think that's good, AJ. 717 00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:55,080 We did better that time. Here we go. 718 00:38:55,920 --> 00:38:58,600 This one we kind of already touched on, you know, how do you 719 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,280 go about friends or family in your life that are not as 720 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:04,200 Christian as you like basically, we've already said it, you know, 721 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:07,720 truly got to just depend on God. Yeah. 722 00:39:07,720 --> 00:39:11,160 Seek him and just worry about what you have going on in your 723 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:13,320 own life. Try to get closer with him and 724 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:16,840 be a light. I think the hardest thing for me 725 00:39:16,840 --> 00:39:22,080 is reading people like knowing where they really are to 726 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:25,400 somebody like as Christian as you. 727 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:29,280 Well, that could mean they're not saved. 728 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,600 They might, you know, there was a time where I walked around. 729 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:36,040 And acted like I was. And talked about God. 730 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:40,520 And I really did want God in my life, but I was not saved yet. 731 00:39:41,240 --> 00:39:45,760 So there is a huge difference in really being saved, submitting 732 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:49,920 your life to Christ, but also just the difference in that 733 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:52,680 person and somebody that says they're a Christian, right? 734 00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:57,120 So for me, that's where it's hard to find clarity when you're 735 00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:01,400 meeting somebody is they might say, you know, like, oh, we go 736 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:03,680 to church this and that and you're talking to them and 737 00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:07,560 having conversations and. You know, you just don't know. 738 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:08,960 You don't. And and that's. 739 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:12,160 Where the fruit is, though, you got to see about the fruit, got 740 00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:14,640 to see how they're bearing their fruit if it's true. 741 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:17,480 That definitely goes hand in hand with this question. 742 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:20,160 Yeah. And, and kind of how they're 743 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:23,760 walking everything out in their life and how you handle that 744 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:27,040 relationship is kind of what we already touched on as far as 745 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,560 just being that. Yeah, just thought about that. 746 00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:32,040 Sorry I cut you off. But it just came and I was like, 747 00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:33,320 there it is. No, that's true. 748 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:36,840 Yeah, I'm praying for them and praying for yourself, like how 749 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:38,480 to handle that situation. Yeah. 750 00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:41,960 So every time before maybe you're in a confrontation with 751 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:46,720 somebody or you're not sure how to talk to somebody about 752 00:40:46,720 --> 00:40:49,240 something. Prayer is like the number one 753 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:54,640 thing, like Lord, God, my words. Lord, I want what you want me to 754 00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:56,720 say. Like give me the words. 755 00:40:56,720 --> 00:40:58,680 Lord, I don't want this to come from me. 756 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:04,840 Holy Spirit, activate. Literally, because First off, I 757 00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:06,360 don't know how they're going to react. 758 00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:09,600 And I don't know, I don't want them to have to react a certain 759 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:11,280 way. And I think that if you were 760 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:13,560 standing right here in front of them, they wouldn't react a 761 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:15,640 certain way. So that's what I want them to 762 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:16,960 see. Yeah, that's good. 763 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:18,720 You, not me. That's good. 764 00:41:18,760 --> 00:41:22,280 All right. The last question and then we're 765 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:24,240 going to wrap it up. That was all of. 766 00:41:24,320 --> 00:41:27,760 Them it is my boy Abram. I'm gonna give another shout 767 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:30,280 out, he said. New praises, hats. 768 00:41:30,320 --> 00:41:34,760 And I would love to make an announcement that we just 769 00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:38,520 dropped the website last night. It was a soft launch that I 770 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:42,760 thought I was gonna have to go in and do all this stuff to it. 771 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:45,480 That's why I didn't really announce it big yet. 772 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:47,920 And by the time this comes out y'all already see it. 773 00:41:47,920 --> 00:41:51,560 That is live, but I just finalized it today and it looks 774 00:41:51,560 --> 00:41:52,800 so good. The hats. 775 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:57,200 Well, no, not hats. The website the hats are listed 776 00:41:57,200 --> 00:42:00,360 on there. The hat that is more manly that 777 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:03,400 you might see me wear, that says praises across the front in the 778 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,520 elevated embroidery that I do not have. 779 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,000 I'm getting more of those, but not right now. 780 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:13,280 Just trying to 1 foot in front of the other. 781 00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:16,760 It's Hard Out Here working on so many ministries, so many 782 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:20,920 endeavors, but I enjoy it. Yeah, yeah, it is fun. 783 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:23,560 Yeah, it really is. There's some days where it is 784 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:26,160 hard, Yeah. You know, like, I mean, I had to 785 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:28,360 rush over here today and and I'm tired. 786 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:33,040 She literally texted me and this is where my I'm getting 787 00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:37,280 aggravated cuz she's like patient gonna be late if I can 788 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:41,000 even make it. And I'm like lol like there. 789 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:44,560 Was no lol insight. There's no lol in this text. 790 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,320 Not one. I've never seen traffic like 791 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:50,720 this my whole life. And I'm looking at her location 792 00:42:50,720 --> 00:42:53,800 that says she's 4 miles from me. So I'm like, what is she talking 793 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:56,760 about? But I was still like patience. 794 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:58,520 And then I said, see, I knew. I was going to. 795 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:01,880 I'm not even going. I'm not even going to like sweat 796 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:03,000 it. I just started working on some 797 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:06,000 other stuff and I was like, she'll get here if she gets 798 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,680 here. I knew that was going to test 799 00:43:08,680 --> 00:43:12,200 that patient center, yeah. You know, that was that test and 800 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:13,280 I did good. I just said. 801 00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:18,240 Your response was great, but I really was OK I the traffic on 802 00:43:18,240 --> 00:43:20,520 Russell. I know you didn't even look, you 803 00:43:20,520 --> 00:43:23,040 just looked at my location, went where is she at? 804 00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:26,440 And then that was it. But it was rough. 805 00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:29,200 And that's when you get Fresh 4. O'clock. 806 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:32,480 It was rough. That's when you get like 807 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:36,400 frustrated and you're like, I've got too much on my plate and 808 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,920 then I'm just like, Nope, Lord, I need to be there. 809 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:41,080 I need to do this and it's all going to work out. 810 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:43,960 Yeah, anyway, we're, we're just rambling at this point. 811 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:46,520 We're going to cut it here. I hope you enjoyed this episode 812 00:43:46,520 --> 00:43:50,600 as much as you, as we did send in some questions if you got 813 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,240 some. We can just keep doing it. 814 00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:55,240 Plus questions. I mean it it. 815 00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:57,040 Gives a little sense of direction. 816 00:43:57,480 --> 00:44:02,600 And, and I love having to really dig and, and dive in and what he 817 00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:06,280 says to me about it, see what he says through his word about it. 818 00:44:06,280 --> 00:44:07,680 It's pretty cool. I enjoy it. 819 00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:09,520 It's cool. Alrighty guys. 820 00:44:09,560 --> 00:44:12,160 Stay tuned, stay blessed, and we'll see you guys next week. 821 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:12,760 Bye.