The Hope Hotline - Being Addicted To Being Busy | Part Two

Episode Date: May 22, 2026

The Hope Hotline | S04-E31 | 05-22-2026Subscribe to my podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/thehopehotline/FOLLOW ME: Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/thh Website: https://hopehotline.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.hope.hotline/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088757500434

Hello and welcome to the Hope Hotline. Boy, do I got good news for you, people. Best news ever. I mean, if you trust, I mean, I never trust. I know, that's true. But in this particular situation, we're trusting. Our prayers have been answered. Oh, oh, oh.

Try not to burp in your ear because I just burped. Like, in this situation, I think we're going to believe it. Let's do it. Let's do it, girl. Let's do it. Florida's major hurricane risk is at its lowest in years, people. You know what I say to that? At 12% that's the, you know what I say to that?

Whoever did this thing, put me back on. They ate it. Left no crumbs. We love you. Yes. We love you, especially since even citizens, the state insurance companies are ditching. Right. They're ditching people.

Right, exactly. Did you get ditched by citizens? Yeah, of course I did. Well, they told me I had to get flood insurance, and it was going to be up like another, like, $2,000 a year for flood insurance. And I was like, and I don't even need it. I'm not even in a flood zone. Why would you have to get flood insurance?

Ash citizens. But I was like, they can't mandate that, can they? They did. They 100% did. So I had to switch. Okay, to a different company? Yes. Are they more money?

Not if I, because I was going to have to do flood. So it was about the same, a little bit more than what my citizens was prior. But not $2,000. Right. Not with the flood. I don't have to have flood. You know, I think that they did is they ditched people with wood frame homes. Oh, yeah.

They probably picked me like flood. I think that they literally went through their list of wood frame homes to a certain age. And they said, you got to go. I don't know. Now it's all brand new. Well, my house isn't, they didn't ditch me. But they didn't make you get flood either or do you have to have flood? Oh, I have to have flood. Okay. That's why. Are you kidding me? Yeah, I figured. I have to have fled. I'm like right

across the street. I forgot. It's like in the hurricane. You're right in every hurricane. In the middle of them. It's true. Smack dab. But yeah, like right across the street. Right. They like to travel right up Peace River, River. Right. True. They love us. They do. Those hurricanes love you, but not this year. Not this year, girl. All time. low. All time low. When I saw that, I was like, I know. And I can make some serious money off these hurricanes and I'm even excited about it. Well, because you'll make money other ways. 100%. You don't need a hurricane to destroy people's lives. No, we do not. We really don't. Right. Correct. It's crazy. It is. You know what? Hmm. What is that? This year is just going to be so great.

Such a great year. Why is that? 2026, baby. No hurricane. So many fun things are happening. Like, name the fun things. Well, her daughter's wedding. Woo-hoo. Halloween.

Christmas. No, you meant something by that. What did you mean? No, actually, this year, my spirit, I felt that this year is just going to be such a good year. I thought 2026 was supposed to be a great year. But I'm going to say so far, I'm not sure it has been. I haven't seen it so I'm like maybe you guys know something that I don't maybe you should you should expound on it we're a second half team hope we're believing what do you mean you're

still standing on it we're believing for the second half I'm waiting it's only May we got six more months yeah my birthday's in June mine's in November so what those are all normal things guys yeah well you know I hope when you're optimistic Except for Kylie's marriage. That's true. That is a very special thing. That is. And we don't want to forget the exciting things better to come.

Yeah. Well, they're ready for it. You got to be ready for it. There are some things, I mean, not having kids. You can never be ready for kids, but there are some things in life. And that's one of them. Just so happens they are ready for it. But there's some things in life, you've got to be ready for.

What advice do you give people when they say, how do you get ready to have kids? Because I'm sure you've been asked that before. Like, how do you know? How do you know if you're ready? You'll never. I mean, having kids, you're never going to be ready for it. Financially, spiritually you should be. But outside of that, because you have to be the priest of your home if you're a guy.

And a mom, you have to be able to, like, nurture that thing. If you aren't, you ain't, that's not an aid in you, you better learn. Otherwise, don't have children. I think people, you know, I find it so funny how people will say that it's selfish of people not to have children. You know, people will say, that's so selfish of you. Well, you know what I think? I think it's selfish of somebody that knows that they are not capable of raising a child and still do because society tells them to do it. Yeah.

I've seen enough bad parents at this point. Yeah. I will never give that advice ever. Like, I think it's selfish to tell somebody that they should have. then when they know that they're not capable of having it. That's selfish having a kid. And just because you can doesn't mean you should. That's true.

And a lot of things. That's very true. In a lot of ways. That's very true. I think we just, we have things so screwed up. I agree. So,

and so many ways. Like, things are flipped. But a lot of times I think they're flipped because of not reading our Bible. Because we are so used to the world's philosophies and the things that, and the ways that they think that you should do things versus scripturally speaking the way that the word says you should do things. And the word is always opposite and more narrow

than the way the world will tell you to do them. Right. And it doesn't feel right. That's true. That's true. Which is where I feel like we are right now in many, many ways. Going against the grain is not always easy. And can be like a salmon swimming upstream,

kind of not exhausting but kind of like yeah like when's when's the stream going to stop going against us you know I but you got to be willing to and and usually that is the right way usually we do the opposite of everybody else it's usually the right way but you down you have to hear from the Lord during the season of life oh yeah sure you know what's so funny is I was thinking about this when I was praying this morning I was like you going through the list of things that But the good and the things that people might think are kind of like tough things that people walk through. Like, you know, like if I gave you a list of all the great things that's going on in my life versus, and then I told you all the things that I feel like are tough things that having to overcome.

Like none of them, like, I'm at so much peace and I'm at like, like, I wish I could. bottle my joy and happiness and my stress-free and my contentment. I wish I could put it in a bottle for people so that they could just be like, oh, man, is that what that feels like when you're going through all that? Yeah, just so they can get a feeling. That's freaking awesome. Right. Yes.

I would love to do that too. How do we do that? Just so they can get like a little like a same ball. A blimp. Yeah. Because it's not to say that there aren't moments where you're just like. Right. but but you you know that depending on how you respond to those those moments can be momentary

right instead of long lasting true like there are moments that I literally buckle down and hunker down spiritually speaking word and prayer and I am like a dog with a bone and but even in those times, it's not that it's like I'm always at peace, but what I will say is I kind of, in my head, I'm always knowing this is momentary and like, you just got to get through it. And watch and see how God like brings you to the other side. You know, you kind of just wish, again, you wish you could bottle it so that people would kind of not be so defeated and so like, sure hope this works out. Right.

Yeah. And that's how most people think. Yeah, and it's a killer. It'll kill you. Not physically, spiritually speaking now. I mean, yeah, I was watching something the other day. And when I say the other day, I mean last night. So I used to be in Cape Coral, so I know a lot of the police department down there.

And one of my friends who's husband was one of the sheriffs in Lee County, new police officer. And so she sent me a screenshot of a Netflix series of one of the guys that we knew. And he was one of the detectives during a case. And so he's on this Netflix series.

Is it the one about the girl and the two boys that got killed in the car accident? No. It's not that one. It's called the worst X ever. That one? You know the guy that had that has like the tattoos all over his face

like the Joker tattoos now? You know who I'm talking about? That was in Cape Coral. That situation happened in Cape Coral. What are you talking about? So, tattoo face guy. Is he getting the tattoos taking off his face right now? No.

Okay, that's a different guy. Yeah, no, Cape Coral. So he ended up murdering two people, and it was in Cape Coral. Let me see if I can get this up real quick. This guy. Do you remember him? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, my gosh, yes.

Okay, put him on really quick for everybody to see. Can you do that? Yeah, it's just that one's not the best picture, but that's just FYI. So he was in Cape Coral. And, yeah, he, so he was in Fort Myers when he met the one girl and then he went over to the Cape Coral side. So it was kind of like a mix thing. But one of the guys that I knew really well when I lived down there was the detective on the case. And another guy as well who was like, I don't know if he's above him, whatever, the supervisor or whatever the one above that is.

But he also was on there. So two, the guys weren't being interviewed. It was just so funny to see them. But listening to this guy's story, his name is Wade something, Wade Wilson, but listening to his story, if, like, eventually when you let the enemy in so much, he got to the place where it was just a random killing. He just killed these two women. What?

It was just randomly killed them. He met this one of the girls out at a bar. And actually, I know that bar in Fort Myers. And then he was driving back through Cape Coral, found this guy's fiancee. And just murdered them, both of them. And he called his dad. Wait a minute. So he meets a girl in a bar.

Yes. Kills her. Yes. Then somebody completely not related. Totally not related. He knows the fiancé. And then he kills his fiance, the fiance's girl, oh, wife to be? So no.

So there's a girlfriend. There's a girl that he met at the bar. He kills her. Done. Then he somehow meets this other woman. Okay. Who is a fiancee. of somebody else. It's just this random woman that was ready to get married to this random guy.

And he somehow connected with her. These stories are really short on Netflix because they're just like one episode. Oh, yeah. One stop shops. Yes. And so he ends up killing this other woman and two women in the same day. And the same day? Same day. And then he goes to this house and he was going to do whatever he had to do so that it could be his hideout house. Well, that couple that were living in the home that he entered into had just gone back to Ohio for the night, or the day before, for good, like they were gone. But if they were there, he would have killed him. He was ready to kill them. So he calls his biological dad. He was apparently adopted by decent people, apparently, but he calls his biological dad who had him when he was like 15 years old.

So that was like where that happened. But he calls his biological dad and tells him what happened. And his biological dad called Cape Coral Cops and told him where to find him. Thank God. Because he knew he knew he was going to keep. going. So we asked him, there's like, you can watch the interview between his biological dad and Wade. And he's like, was this just random? And he was like, yeah, it was. And he's like, well, I know Wade was like, I know you told them where I was. And he's like, I know how do you feel about that? And he's like, I'm pretty upset. And he's like, was this just random? He said, yeah. And he said, were you going to keep going. Like, I had a feeling you were just going to keep going. And Wade was like,

yeah, I was. That's really weird that you knew that. And he's like, so really crazy. But the thing is, is like when you have voices in your head and they're not of God, obviously, like God knows what, like you're capable of anything. Like, too random. Because evil will prevail. Correct. When you just let those. So like as extreme as that is,

but it's like that little leaven. That's why I think the little leaven in your mind, the power of your imagination, something popped in his mind. And there was a whole story prior to that of girlfriends that he was like choking and all there was so much that. So he had a violent, very violent nature.

But before that he wasn't. And so it's just, but that little bit started popping up, popping up, popping up, and then nobody stopped it. And he didn't stop it, obviously. So I think your mind is so powerful that you can choose one way or another way. Oh, yes. It says that in the word. So you're actually, it's, yes, it's. Yes. Absolutely. That's why it says to take captive of every thought and make it obedient to the word of God. Because if you do not, you can run wild.

And people don't take it that seriously. But if you don't, it's like you make space for the next thought and the next thought and the next thought. And then obviously not everybody is going to turn into a murderer. But like your mind just like not being able to hold thoughts captive. Like you said, you want to be able to bottle that feeling of like what it feels like even in a storm to be able to just have peace knowing that it's going to be okay. Yeah, because just like, I don't know, like not even. seven days ago, I was like anxious and I'm never anxious. But like the anxiousness didn't last. I didn't like it. I don't enjoy anxiousness. Like it is such a foreign thing to me. I know. It's

a real same. When it comes. I don't know how people live in anxiousness. I know. I mean, and I'm not, this is speaking from a person who knows plenty of people who are, who deal with being anxious or anxiety or overcoming it or fighting it. They have anxious moments. So they're always like, they're not on medications to try and suppress it. They are literally taking it to the word. Literally taking it to. And I applaud that because a lot of people will just take something to just make it go away.

But the crazy part is it doesn't even, if you talk to the people that have done that, which I've known plenty that have, it's like they're just numb. And they're like, don't, there's nothing they're happy for, there's nothing they're mad. Like, they're just, they're just, like, here. They're NPCs, you know? Well, it's kind of like, O-Zempic. Yeah, it's true. Very true.

When you say that, it kind of like just makes, like, like, eating's not happy anymore for people. True. Kind of like takes the joy out of everything. Yeah, it can't. Absolutely can. Who wants that? Right. Either.

I mean, unless you're a 600-pound life and then that sounds pretty good. I'm going to lie. I mean, there's the extreme. Absolutely. But still, like, I mean, so I'm not bashing. I'm just saying, if you're taking it to the word and you're overcoming that way and fighting it with a good fight of faith, then I applaud you because you're doing far more than most people do.

Like Tom is very transparent. And like, like, he has dealt with it. He still does deal. He still deals with it. He is like, but he ain't going to run to the medication. And he's not going to tell people to run to the medication. He's going to tell you, do what he does, which is fight it. Fight it with prayer.

I mean, with everything within you, spiritually speaking, you fight it too. So now you're going to win. Right. Yep. You're going to win. But to cave and give in and like, oh, my gosh, please people, don't do that. I know. Please fight it with the word. But all I'm saying is, it's not that I don't ever have to deal with it. It's just how do you deal with it? And how long? And how long? Thank you very much.

Because it doesn't have to take that long. No. Man, I felt like a hundred bucks after I pulled up all those scriptures and started just one right after the other. Yeah. And I spoke them to myself. I didn't read them. I spoke them to myself, you know? Yeah. Because you got to say it out loud. That's true. You got to tell yourself. it. Yeah, make it personal. Make it be for you. So it's pretty great. So all that to say, yeah, no hurricanes this year. No hurricanes this year. 12% chance. Mm-hmm. Praise the Lord. But if it's anything like meteorologist. Yeah, I know. Well, how they say it's going to rain and it doesn't, and then they say it's not going to rain and then it does. Okay. It says, it says hurricane risk is at its

lowest in years. Oh, at 12. percent okay you were right okay okay okay I thought it was saying like the yeah okay yes yes yes yeah okay but if the farmer that's even that's better yeah that's even better news now I'm even more excited yeah that way farmer's omanac yeah farmer's ammanac yeah was right about the winter and I think it even was saying yeah it did it said this is because of el nino or whatever like exactly what this it was el nina I believe yeah like the one's going this way and this is going this way so it's like it's hurting the chance of it actually to explode Yeah.

Yeah. And if one does come, they say it's coming straight from us to us. It's going from like Mexico, like Helene did. The direction of all hurricanes are now in the direction of Haleen. Golf of America. There we go. Wonderful. Thank you very much.

Wonderful. All right. I do have some things today. So I'm going to go through really quick. Okay. So if you're on Facebook, Rumble, YouTube, hello. You know you guys can come back for the audio podcast. I won't spend a ton of time on this because I think most of you guys know where we're at.

It's important to know that we will not be here on Wednesday next week. My stepdaughter is graduating and it's my twins' 20th birthday. So they're going to be no more teenagers. No more teenagers. That's wild. And then we won't be here on the, which I haven't told you, but June 3rd. June 3rd, okay. June 3rd, we won't be here.

Okay, well, I'll put that up too when we get a little bit closer. Thank you very much. Mark your calendars. But June 12th, Natalie is back. Natalie is back and we are excited to have her back. So if you have any questions, please let us know. Hope, do you want to do the next slide now? Nope. You can do it, girl. Okay, perfect. So Natalie would be back the 12th. So send your questions in. You can even ask them here. I'll make a little note. I started sending her some things. But we get a little bit of time. And then she will not be back to August because

we will not be back to August. So starting in July, we will, we're on a summer schedule. We have so much going on in July. I'll be seeing family members. We have fire week. It's 4th of July. We've got so much going on. So we will return August 7th on that Friday. And then it's, and it's our, yeah, Beloved. We've got our women's conference coming up. So we've got a lot going on. And we are excited. So I hope you guys can join us for that. And we'll have a slide very soon for that as well. Yes, you will. And then just a little update for Pastor Tom's page in case you need to know where it's at. He's got his preaching page and then he's got his TikTok or sorry his not preaching page. It's where he goes live for his Bible study, but he also has his clips from his podcast,

but also clips from other stuff that's going on too. So you kind of want to be able to follow both. It's totally different content, not the same at all. We're just reaching different generations, different genres, different people in these different areas. we have not found our people on TikTok on Pastor Tom's preaching page yet. They are not thrilled about anything. So, you know, it is what it is. He has gained some, though, on TikTok.

No, he's gaining some. Actually, okay, what I will say is we are gaining some on TikTok and people like it. But the commenters are the ones that are not happy about what he's saying, which is kind of funny. Because it's just... Gosh, I love that. I know. It just shows you that narrowest, the way and that what he's preaching, nobody's hearing.

Right. But there are likes. So people are liking it. And that's what's interesting. Like one will have like, I don't know, 200 likes and then there'll be like four comments. But the commenters are always bothered, which is so interesting. Because sometimes the anointing does that. It like it, they're so bothered.

They have to say something. Oh, yeah. You know what I mean? It's just interesting. Please keep commenting. That makes that algorithm go off. It does. It helps.

It really does. And then so we do have a foundation church face. or TikTok page where we're posting some of our funny little clips and stuff. So definitely check those out. And then our worship as well, we're posting on there and doing all of our great little things. And then, of course, tonight, Friday, 8 p.m., so we're right around the corner. You want to join Pastor Tom with his new Bible study. It is about an hour long. And you can watch live on either Instagram or TikTok, and those are his handles, basically the same. If you see Tom Leapley FC, that's not the right one.

But if you're on TikTok and you go into your DMs, it shows you who's live that you follow. So just make sure you're following those. And sometimes you'll even get a little notification. It's great about that, too. You can ask him any question. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. So he's live and he's watching the comments and everything. So if you have a question, a very specific question, you can ask a way.

Also, when you pop on, especially on Instagram, it'll ask you if you want to join with him, which means that you would be on the live with him. So if you say yes, it's okay. we won't accept you because like I did that I said yes and I was like no no no I don't want to join I just want to join the live like I just want to watch so don't worry you won't you won't actually be accepted yep so yeah even I am not accepted so denied denied um and last but not least we have somebody's birthday yay yay I knew that would make her so happy hope's birthday is just around the corner So when you see her on Sunday, you can give her a big old smackaroo.

Happy birthday, hope. Thank you so much. Enjoy your last year in your 40s. In my 50s. How is it possible? Oh, it's very possible. But I guess I'm in my 40s. I'm like, man, like the 50s were fantastic.

And I think to myself, I'm going into my 60s. first of all, back in the day, you could have never, I was like, if I make it to 50, never that I spoke that I wouldn't, but I lived so bad for a few years. I was like, man, am I ever going to make, am I going to make it to 50? And then obviously you get out of that error or whatever, but it's like, gosh, darn 60. 60s are so fantastic. I mean, like, they sound so fantastic to me. I think they're going to be great for you.

I really do. It's going to be so awesome. And then you're halfway there. and you only got halfway to go. But being 60, it literally makes me rethink a whole lot more. Again, makes me think, like, my dress code. Oh, yes. Because I still don't feel like I dress age appropriate.

But, like, what is age appropriate? You know what I mean? Like, who decides? I don't know. I know. Because I can't be frumpy. Right. Right.

And I think each generation, like, As you, like, go up, you kind of just bring things with you. Well, no, because there's people in Walmart that are in their 60s and 70s. And you just sit there and go, what are you thinking? Like, what are you thinking? Like, am I not allowed to wear vans anymore? I know. I'll be 60.

Should I, like, in one year, should I not wear vans? Because I don't think I should. I know. Are vans cool again? Yeah, it really depends on what kind and, like, what they look like. And, like, I feel like when it comes to clothes, it's like, Because on TikTok, I feel like, I see moms that, like, wear clothes just like their daughters. And they look great.

They look, like, young. I think as long as your, your, like, body type pulls off the clothes and, like, your stomach isn't hanging out. And, like, I can't see, like, your... It's, like, it's, like, if it's flattering. Yeah. If it's flattering. Like, if it looks good on you, then I think it doesn't really matter how old you are. Because I don't know any 60-year-olds.

Like, that remind me of me. Yeah. Like, mean, I mean, Jolene, maybe. Yeah. but she's taller and thinner, so like. But you know what, Hope? You would never follow the pattern anyways, so you would always just be you.

Because you be you, right? Yeah, but man, you like to know that there's, I mean, like a lot of the dresses that I've picked out and that I've worn, I've geared them towards like, would Adonica wear this? Right. Pastor Adonica?

Because I'm more like, still my style, but like, is this something? Because she's 61. three, 64 now, something like that. She turned 60 several years ago because we went to her party. I can't remember. But it's been in between 2020 and now. Okay.

And I'm like, she's in her 60s and she doesn't dress frumpy. No, she does not. She has her style. She has her style. And it's very nice. And I don't want, it's not my style. It is modest. And I think you have to be like, I mean, not that you should be a slut.

if you're younger than 60 that's not what I'm saying but you even have to take her up a notch as you get older as far as like the attire because it's not appropriate there are certain things that you cannot get away with that a younger person can

even that are in their 40s you can't get away with so that's why I'm like okay well would she wear this even though it's not her style probably so I'm pretty safe but that's hard, like to find things that are age appropriate that are stylish, because most stuff is like Chico's.

Sorry, I'm not a Chico's girl. Right. I know. Not that I think Chico's is bad. It looks great on a bunch of women that are in my age bracket. It's just not my style, though. I know. I know because if we did, like when I worked at Chico's, like we had a specific person that she had a name.

She had a certain look and that's who they catered to. Yeah. And so, and it was like more maybe like Southern style. Like, yeah, it was just, I mean, this was like 10 years ago too. So I don't know how they've changed and evolved, but they did have a very specific person that they were selling to. Yeah. And that ain't me. It makes it very tough for women that are going into the age bracket than I am. I know. But even in your 40s, you're like, well, I don't want to look like I'm 20 to just look like I'm 20, especially when you hang out. with a bunch of 20-year-olds. But you look ridiculous, though. You do start looking like you're trying too hard. That's the gap right there where you're trying too hard, but you also don't know what your style is because you're like, I don't know what to wear.

Like what, I don't want to look old and I don't want to look 20. And all the while being, like, you're supposed to be a godly individual. Correct. And I think that for the most part, I think pretty much everybody who is in ministry here at the church or even that attends the church, I think they're very careful. I'm not saying they hit it out of the park every single time.

But for the most part, pretty much everybody's attire is very appropriate. Minus Jare short shorts. Minus Jers short shorts, which is questionable at times. But so is my sons. True. Okay. Okay, so like I ain't throwing a rock too far.

Oh my gosh. But you guys do a great example. Like it all stems from leadership. You know what I mean? It's like like it or not, it does. Like you're either leading well or you're not. And with that, you guys do. You dress appropriately and just that's how it kind of stands, you know?

Like, yeah, it's super, so you've got to be conscientious of things, but at the same time, I don't want to lose myself, you know. I like me. So I don't know. We'll see. I'm not 60 yet. I got one more year. Yeah. Yeah.

But even still. 59. Hello. I know. Come on. Right there. Right there. Got to be careful. I'm like, I love it though. Like, people always were so negative about getting older. I'm like, man, I freaking love it. I know. I think it's so exciting. Like, it is a beautiful thing. I know. There's more freedom, I feel like every year, too. Like, you just, like, you care less and like, you really like find out like what you love and I don't, you just don't care as much. And it's such a freeing thing. Even though I didn't really care a whole lot before.

I'd even care even more or less, like what people. I'm like, you know what, I'm just going to do what makes sense for me and what God tells me to do. I really think to, I think a lot of it, you know, people always say that you mellow and some people probably do mellow. That would probably be true of some people. It does. It is true of some people. But for me, like I think a lot of it, I lean more on biblical wisdom and understanding now. Whereas before, I literally relied more on my carnal nature and how I thought I should respond to a situation. Versus now I go, I lean towards, like, biblically speaking, what is the way that I'm supposed to be or handle or say or do?

Age has really helped me with that. I think, like, 50 is when it kicked in for me. A lot. Yeah. Because in my 40s, I was still like, you know, and now I'm more like. hold up wait a minute that's what it is there's a pause that makes you like not react so quickly like you think about it for a second and then respond it's so funny because i used to say and i don't do it anymore because i've like i grew into it but i used to say um when people would bring stuff to me

i clearly remember this which is so funny you say that because it's so true i feel like it started about 10 years ago maybe a little bit more but not by much and i would say hold on let me think about this before I say anything. Let me process this. I never before did that before. Never in my life. I was more reactive instead of let me just pause. That's something I harped on with my girls growing up. I was just like, okay, we're going to pause and we're going to think. And so anytime they got in trouble, the goal was for like punishment wise is like I want to create a place where they will now pause, whether they're afraid that God's going to see or like I tell them like, listen, the Holy Spirit tells me everything. So just so you can like think before you do something,

I'm probably going to find out about it. So just something, like God always give me something so that it would create pause in them. And then instead of making a poor decision, they'd like, oh, crap, with my mom finds out. You know, like that's all I needed. And then if they decided to do whatever they wanted after that, that's on them. But if I could just create that pause in them, yeah. Yeah, it's important. There's something to be said for it. It's important. It really is. I mean, it really, it really is a great thing to learn to just, like, you don't have to do something right away. Yeah, you don't have to think every thought that comes in. You don't have to respond to everything that happens to you. I mean, it's, in most times in life, it's really easy to do, but there will be people that it will not be easy to do with.

And mine is always the same three people. True. It's always the same three people. They will always make the blood pressure go up very quickly. Yeah. They will always make me react very fast. They will always make me want to punch them dead in the face. Oh my God.

They're my kids. It's Heather, Tommy, and Norma. There are like three people that I truly just want to kill different times. Heather said something to me the other day. I can't remember what it was. she said something to me the other day and it was like the things that get a rise and she said oh I probably shouldn't have said that and I'm like something along those lines and I'm like only you only you and the two others and she started laughing she goes that's true I'm like they all they all

know like there's only three people in this world that can really take me really quickly to a whole another place. But I will say, I don't love anybody, like, I love those three, except for my husband, obviously. But there's, those three people. I know. I think that's true, though. I think there's people, like, that really, if they, you love them very, very much and hold them very, very dear, like, they can really piss you off fast. Don't you think? Oh, 100%. Are you the same way? A hundred percent. That makes me feel so much better. 100%. Like, because a lot of other people get way more grace than those three do.

Yes. And I think your sphere being so small is probably a good thing. I think most people have a bigger sphere of people that can make them that upset that quickly. Like, because I think they also have the like, don't want to make them upset situation. Like, Jared, like, he doesn't like letting people down. And so, like, his sphere is way bigger. So the fact that you only have, like, three is probably a good thing. Oh, it's a beautiful thing.

And I don't care if I let them down. That's the other thing. Yeah, that helps. I know. You don't care about that situation. I'll tell them I'm sorry later. Yeah, yeah. Like I say and do sometimes.

That's where I don't pause a lot of times. You know the other thing I think helps with age? Maybe when you're 60. Probably not. Not with them three. Not with those three. It's always hoping. No, we're going to probably happen with those three guys.

But I will tell you this. Yeah. The other thing that age really helps in, and with gaining and wisdom is, and I think this started happening many, many years ago. I used to be mad and I would stay mad really long. Okay. If somebody made me mad, I could like stay irritated them with them for a really long period of time. I mean, days if I wanted to.

But now I won't allow myself that. Would you be mad in general or just at a specific person, like for days? Like would it ruin your mood like for days? It could ruin my mood. and it could be just one person. And I could moll, that's why I always say, don't have conversations in your mind. I used to have conversations.

Whatever I'm telling people not to do, it's because I've done it. I mean, hello. It's not because I'm so much better. I'm coming from a place of knowing where I'm telling you not to do. But yeah, I would get mad at things and people and whatever. And in my head,

I would play out all kinds of different conversations that I would have with them. And then this is what I'm going to tell them. and if they say this is what I'm going to respond with and this is going to start it out with and please God let them walk through the door and, you know, all the things. And then I just realized

I am wasting so much time on an event that's probably never going to happen. If I'm lucky, it doesn't happen because a fool of all its thoughts. So you're grateful when it doesn't because as much as it would have made you feel good in that moment, the aftermath, is like not worth it. And I just, I was just like, you know what? You're so mad that either this

person wasn't considerate of your time or this person said something reckless or this person was very unkind to another person and you care about the other person or whatever, you know, whatever. Because people are like people. I mean, it's not as if I hadn't done the very things that I'm just listing, right? Right. But how dare are somebody. else do it. I know. It's just craziness. And then you realize, like, I'm only going to give myself because I love myself. I'm only going to allow myself a certain amount of time to either be mad or stew or have to overcome whatever emotion I'm going through, whether it be sadness and whatever. I'm only going to allow myself that window, which is usually almost always I don't

give myself more than 30 minutes. You get 30 minutes. And I don't. I don't. I don't give myself more than 30 minutes. and after that 30 minutes is up, that's got to go. And you're not to think about it again. You're not to ponder on it again. You're not allowed to allow those emotions to come right back in because none of that is good. Nothing good comes from it. So why allow it in for a long period of time to distract you and to take away from you? Exactly.

But age has helped me with that. Like if people can get that like before 50, you'll be happy. But it took me a very long time to eat. to put myself on a little timetable. No, that's good. You're not going to get to act or behave or be whatever. Right. Which is a very healthy way.

Yes. But enough about that. We're going to finish busyness. Let's do it. So what we're talking about is being busy. And the modern day culture says that busyness equals success. And that in the world of a biblical view is not true, actually. It's actually opposite of that.

It's not to say that you shouldn't be busy, but what are you busy about and how busy are you? Because a lot of times people in ministry will be busy, busy, busy, busy, busy. And it's all about the kingdom, but there's no, you know, they're doing busy work about the kingdom, but they're not doing anything investing themselves in the kingdom spiritually speaking biblically with the word, with the fellowship, with the worship, with the prayer. All of that has taken a back seat because they're all about whatever needs to be done at the church, whatever. For me, I sit there and go, you can be busy about going and laying hands on people so that they recover.

But if you're not staying in the word, faith comes by hearing and hearing. hearing the word of God. You can lay your hands on so many people and eventually the tap is going to run dry because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. If you're not in the word and you're just going from one thing to the next thing to the next thing, where's your faith? Right. It only has, I mean, that well only has so much in it. And you've got to keep filling the well up until it runs out. Right. Yep. Wells do run dry people. They do. And you just too too. So what are you about? And what we were talking about is how Jesus was saying to Mary and Martha, although Martha's, I think her intentions were phenomenal. She reminds me a lot of myself,

because I think my intentions are very good a lot of times, but it doesn't mean they're right. It just doesn't mean the right. And I've gotten way better in this, but I have to remind myself about being busy. about slowing down and being in the word. Like I was telling the girls yesterday, basically pretty much the whole entire day. I probably spent a good five to six hours diligently studying things out, being in the word, and the return was phenomenal from doing it.

But the old hope would have been like, there's too much to do. And although what yesterday's time was spent is to confirm things that I believe that I know the word says. And so for me to be able to stand on a particular subject line or whatever it is, I already knew in my spirit from time and prayer, but I also knew in the word from previous study that I was probably correct. But then what I said is, you know what? this is so important to me. I'm going to clarify and confirm that everything that I feel like the Lord has told me

and or that I've reflected on in the word in the past, that I'm actually correct on my stand. So I can be strong when I make the stand. Because some things are very, very important to make sure you're doing that with. And so I valued that more than the busyness of other things. and the return is solid. So we got to do that. And that's where Mary had it.

Because Mary saw the value in the investment of spending time at Jesus' feet. That return is a lifetime. Whereas what Martha was doing, fixing and making and cleaning and being diligent about those things, that was momentary because that was only going to last for the period of time. in which they ate the meal and spent that time together. Whatever Mary learned from the Lord while she was sitting at his feet and listening to him lasted her forever after he left. And I think that's what we forget a lot of times. Business is not good if it's missing the important thing, which is being diligent and obedient in spending time in the word in your prayer life. Like you

you will radically see your life change when you do spend time in worship. You do spend time with iron sharpening iron and your fellowshiping with your friends, not gossiping and talking about things you have no business talking about. But like iron sharpens iron. I think people find the word or just like dissecting things that the word says. I think that they find that to be boring. Like how will that be entertaining? but the other is fleeting and it's gross.

So you might as well. Iron, sharpens iron. Whatever you learn, I've taken things to conversations that I've had with Vanessa or Tracy. Even with like different things that when Talia and my whole family have been together and we sit down and we chat about just life and about what that life situation is based on the word, I've been able to use that later on or reflect on it for my own personal life. that's where it doesn't return void.

Right. It's super, super important. Whereas if you're talking about, if you have a group of friends and you're talking about one another, you're destroying one another. And what good comes from any of that after you walk away and are done? There's no life in that. But we find, like, I've gone to mom's groups and that's what everybody does in the mom's group. They talk about the people in the church or they talk about the person that didn't show up that morning.

and their kid, which in my case when I had Tommy, that was deserved. So sad. But still shouldn't have happened. True. But he deserved it. And so did I. So sad. Yeah.

Well, I don't know if it's sad because, like, you reap what you sow. And I wasn't disciplining. So, and he was bad. Okay. He was causing the beat downs. So did we just, you know, I don't know. It went far better for. the other way do the smackdown on the Thomas but um I think that reason I think we see a lot of people who are

um I think because people are so busy um I think and you can tell me whether you agree with this or not but because people are so busy I find people to be more anxious they're so busy about different things that have actually no meaning whatsoever, that they tend to be way more anxious. They're like very overwhelmed with life. That's where I was saying I'd love to bottle what I got because I'm not overwhelmed. Are there moments where life likes to try and make me be?

Yeah, it is absolutely. It's what I do with in those moments. everybody walks and deals with these things is how do they handle them when they come their way. They're spiritually drained too. Like they're anxious, they're overwhelmed. They're spiritually drained. Like there's no life in that. And then they wonder why they don't look like other believers.

Well, and I would say you do. You look like a lot more like what most believers look like than the ones that I'm talking about that are not. about being busy. True. Add your two cents because I've done a lot of talking. I think everything comes back to identity. And so like when you know what your identity is in Christ and what like what makes you unique, like what makes you unique that God looked at you and was like,

I need you to operate in this gift, in this identity, in this purpose, when you know that, you're so busy like that's your focus. So you're you're busy doing God things versus like trying to find busyness. because I think a lot of people like put their kids in sports and go to all these events and do it because they don't, they don't have a purpose. So they make their kids their purpose. And then or like they go on all these trips because then they can post about it and it feels purposeful. And we wore a mask because it was purposeful and we took vaccines because we didn't. But other people took vaccines because it felt like purpose. Like we were all going to do this together. We're all in this together. And so I think a lot of the times being busy becomes like an identity where I'm like I usually let people know like I'm so busy.

but I, it's not something I'm proud of. Like, I'm not proud that I'm this busy. But God has put me in these places and there's a grace on it that I don't get overwhelmed when I have all these things that I'm doing. And I make sure I check in with him. And, but I think a lot of people, like, it's like a pride thing. Like, oh, I'm so busy. A full schedule means there's some kind of importance.

Right. A full schedule does not mean that, that you are important or there's an importance about it if there's no fruit that follows. Right. I know. It just doesn't. Full schedule with no fruit. Right.

smells. I know. There's nothing good from it. Right. I seen this thing the other day. It was like 2%. I think Tara's mom posted about it, Tammy. Two percent of like the generation right now will be professionals, but 100% of your kids will stand before God one day, you know? And so it's just like remembering like, yeah, like it's good to pursue the things. But like understand what's first things first. Like even schoolwork. Like first things first. Like I want Alison to love the Lord and hear her his voice. Like that's my most important thing in teaching her. And then everything else will fall into line. And it's probably an extreme side of it. And other people have different visions. But, but like for her, like, I just want her to love God and hear her, hear his voice. And she does. And so like, praise God. Well, the board tells

us to train a child up. Yeah. And that word and train means to help them find their calling. Right. And so not to become a doctor, not to become a nurse, not to become a scientist, not to become an engineer, it didn't tell us any of those things. It actually says what you said. They'll learn to read and write and do arithmetic to the level in which they need to know how to do like geometry, not geometry, but trigonometry. If you feel like your kid needs to know like some kind of quantum physics or something like that, because that makes you feel good, you are in the wrong mindset. Your goal is to help them find their calling because it says they'll never walk away from him once they know they're calling. That's the biggest goal right there. I totally agree.

And I think we are so misguided because we think, because we live through our children and our pride comes from them. How many times have you ever seen kids? There's a school, if you don't live around here, there's a school in the area. It's called Pine View. And Pine View is you have to, it's a it's a public school, but it doesn't accept everybody. You have to test in to get into this school. And virtually, you know, most of the kids that go there get into these Ivy League schools and they get full rides the whole nine. And I cannot tell you, you know, back in the day when my kids went to school and you

would go to like a sports event or a sports, whatever, you would ask, like, you were talking to the parents, oh, what school does your kid go to? Because my kids were homeschooled, so they thought we were idiots. Yeah. Which, I know. Partly was true. We weren't rocket scientists in the Leipley household. I will say, like, my kids, street smart, yes.

And like in certain things, like, they're smart. I agree. They are very, very smart. Like, even intellectual level. Like there are some things like especially Tommy intellectually speaking like I'm just like what the crap He's like his dad norm is more like me we'll pound your face in oh my god like you don't mess with us like we're gonna you want a verbal altercation we're probably your girl like we're smart in other ways yeah Tom and Tommy are on a whole other level intellectually speaking sometimes I'm just like what the crap I mean that's how Aaron is. I mean, he didn't go to college.

You sit and talk to Aaron, you sit there and be like, what the crap? This kid is freaking intelligent and stinking smart. A lot of people just think he plays. He's great at playing the drums. You know, he can sing. He pretty much can play any instrument. That has a whole other skill set, but that's artistic level. Then you talk to him, and he ain't stupid.

No, he's very smart. That kid is freaking smart. Yeah. And so, but he was homeschooled part of the time. He didn't go to Pine View. You know what I'm saying? But these people, you ask them, where did your kid go? They're like, my kid goes to Pine View.

You're like, okay, well, your poop still stinks. And you know, you don't go to Pine View, right? Right. Right. I know. I know. Yeah. It's like, what the crap.

I know. And I'm also always perplexed by this. All these people that their kids are smart and stuff. like that I'm like you know you didn't do anything and neither did they it's like somebody who can sing or somebody who can go out and throw a ball a long distance that person usually to that degree is naturally gifted they did nothing to earn that they did nothing to get that why are you acting as though you have some special skill or talent that was not given to you other than by God right you did nothing. Now, sometimes you can do, make it better, but you have to have something to start

with. Right. I know. I just don't get it. I'm like, you might not want to be too prideful about that. I know. Because as quickly as it was given, it can be taken away. Well, certain things. True. No, that's true. Like you get to like hurts, you know, like. Yeah. Gifts and talents are irrevocable to certain extent. But even still, yeah. I'm not saying if you're smart, he'll make you dumb as a box of rocks, but you want to go and do some kind of job where you're like, you won't get the job. Right. And then, like, I mean, you'll still be smart. Assuming you don't go like a medical route because sometimes like people start taking medications and it actually does hurt their, true, their wisdom and their smartness because those things aren't good for us.

Fri your brains. They're not 100%. And so then you have to. Fries your brain. 100% it does. And a lot of people cope, you know, and then end up in alcohol and all the stuff. So, yeah, his gifts and collins are irrevocable, but you can definitely mess up your whole life and that whole. But usually that's what happens. Usually parents don't know what they're doing. There's no purpose.

So they have to piggyback on their kids. And take pride in that. I'm like, there's no pride in that. No, there really isn't. Oh, my gosh. It really isn't. Literally, you did nothing. I've seen two, I'm not trying to be mean.

I'm not trying to be mean. but I've seen two ugly, two ugly but ugly people birth a gorgeous individual. Okay, they can't take account for that other than they gave birth to it. God's the one that made that person look like that. So the same thing goes for just, I've seen two idiots, like produce a very intellectual and smart child. Okay, that just goes to show you. You got nothing to do with it, even though you might think you do. You don't.

Yeah, so it'll be prideful. Don't be prideful. Like, don't live through your kids for crying out loud. Enjoy them, watch them, help nourish and cultivate whatever they want to do, like support them to the fullest extent where it doesn't go to enabling. But like, there's balance in everything. 100%. But most people live through their kids. John 15, 7 through 8 says, if you bide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask whatever you desire.

desire and it shall be done for you. And by this, my father is glorified that you bear much fruit so you will be my disciples. And all of us want to be disciples, but it didn't say whoever works the hardest will be my disciple. It doesn't say whoever works the hardest will bear much fruit. It says you have to abide. Abiding is what cultivates the fruit. Well, think about Jesus too, like when every time they were like, hey Jesus, like Lazarus is dead. He didn't like rush and like, oh my gosh, panic like oh my gosh i gotta get there as fast as i possibly can like he was he was just he was just abiding like he did what god told him to do there was no rushing there was no stressing out like i like like you just like you got to rest in him 100% that's the one that i have psalm 46 10 is be still

and know that i am god when you just rest in god and it's hard for people because everybody wants to be the problem solver like i know i know how to do it i got like and that's pride like god might be like just rest just just just chill Just chill for one day. Let me talk to you for one day. And then you'll make it further. Like look at Chick-fil-A, you know. They don't work on a Sunday.

And they created it. Make more money than everybody else. Combined. Yep. I mean, well, yes, because they only work those six days. And so with God, everything is possible. Literally everything is possible. But Costco's taking it on.

Not Costco. What's the store that isn't open on? It's like a grocery store. No. Hobby Lobby? Hobby Lobby is maybe who I'm thinking about. It might be Hobby Lobby. They're closed on Sunday.

Always, yep. They have a cool story. What's their cool story? That they wanted to up their offering every single year to get to 50%. And there was a lot of pushback. It's a really good story. Oh, really? I read his book.

Yeah, it was really cool. Are they still a Christian, real true Christian store? Because, you know, Chick-fil-A is not really anymore. I know. I don't know. I read his book a while ago. I mean, Walmart used to be the same way. Yeah.

Solid, sold-out Christian organization company. No, it's hard. It's hard. You start making that money. Well, you die and you leave your... That's true. For that. Yeah.

You'll leave your... Pass it on to your unsaved children. Because you didn't do something, right? That'll do it. Or maybe you did do something, right? Whatever. You got to walk with him. You got to rest in him.

You have to bite in him. He has to be it. I asked chat GPT. I was like, what is true folk? fruitfulness because we all know like the fruits of the spirit like I I know what the fruits of the spirit are you know and hopefully you do too but I didn't want the fruits of the spirit I wanted like if you are a busy person and if you're a busy person and you want to have fruit in your life that shows that busyness isn't primary but that that scripture

that you're abiding in the word, what does that look like for a fruit for a person like ourselves, right? So this is what it said. Fruitfulness will have evidence of somebody having peace, which is love, joy, peace, patience, wisdom, which I would have never. I was glad, I was glad I got this. Because I would have never thought wisdom comes from abiding. But it is. Like, I never like.

sometimes chat GPT really pays off. And in this list, like I was like, I would never have thought of these things. It's so true, though. It's true. Yeah. Peace, wisdom, consistency. Would you have thought consistency? That's good.

Never in a million years. But I think fruit would, that's a fruit that you will show in your life of being a person who abides in him. Change lives. Change lives of people around you is what it's saying. spiritual growth in yourself, healthy relationships. Yes. And this is all true because if I think of people who actually...

That's what I was just thinking. Yeah, that's the only reason I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, because I'm thinking of people who I know abide in him. Like I know that they put first things first and all. And these things make sense, 100%. Obedience, I know. Obedience and stability. I mean, I'm sure the list, if I would have asked it, can give me more.

But I thought this was things to aim for. Like if you're incredibly busy, and I can tell you when I was incredibly busy and I had three jobs and I was fitting in my prayer time. I was fitting in my word. Not that I still was doing it. Trust me. I got my word in. But I can tell you that that list didn't convey completely across the board when I was busy, when I was very, very busy. especially, I would say, with healthy relationships.

Because I was so busy that I had no time to have. You invest in those. Right. Exactly. I was obedient. That's easy. Yeah. But stable?

No. Like I was a like a crazy woman on wheels sometimes. Just trying to get it all done. Yeah. And there's no joy in that. just so you know, which is a fruit of the spirit. And Psalms 4610, which is the one, I'm going to just close out with this because we're not going to get done with this

and we won't go into it next week. But busyness can make you very emotionally numb. And that, you need to examine yourself. And I'm going to leave with this because I think I've been emotionally numb before because I'm just so wore out that I have nothing left to give to anyone or anything, including the Lord. And Psalm 4610,

Be still and know that I am God, which is the one you just gave. That's my last verse said. Not my last verse for this. It's the last one we're going to touch on because I will tell you this. It's just like you said, if you rest in him,

you will know him. There is something about being still. There's something. something about being quiet and like even in your own mind being quiet and just like there are times that I have gone on my back porch because we have a pond in the back and I will and we've lived there for over 20 years so I've done this several times where I've gone out on my back porch and sat and only watched the water on the pond as the waves move or if it was a still day and I was quiet. I did not let my mind think about anything

except for just looking at the water or looking what was going on and around me but while I was looking I wasn't pondering it. I was quiet and that really helps you reconnect. Slow down. Be still. Learn to abide. And you will reconnect because you being on a hamster wheel is getting you nowhere. Right. Actually makes you miserable. And you can say, oh, I'm not miserable. If you're not now, you will be.

I know of what I speak. I am probably master of busy and love, I loved being a Martha. Yeah. But I will tell you this, I love having a balance of being a Martha and a Mary and knowing my place. And I'll go to the Mary more times now than I will go to the Martha because I see the value in being a Mary in my spiritual walk, which is far more important to me than my carnal. Right. So ladies, want to add anything? It was good.

Don't be busy. What? Don't be too busy. Don't be too busy. Don't be too busy. I think you know when you're being too busy also. People know when they need to like tone it down. They do.

But they love it because it makes them not think about the things. Right. That they don't want to think about. They don't want to change. They don't want to deal with. A lot of times I would, you know what, you know, a lot of people when they're stressed and anxious, what do they do? They clean. Right.

They go out shopping. It's true. They distract themselves. When the Lord is like just saying, come to me. I'm a great problem solver. I can get rid of this anxiousness for you. Right. You don't need to.

Right. Or even boredom. People when they're bored. They'll just resort to something else other than reading their Bible. So true too. That is so true. Because a lot of people hate to be bored. Like because we live in a scroll society.

Like we constantly have to be. stimulated and not to be stimulated is such a foreign thing that people don't even know what to do them with themselves anymore very true like quiet drives them crazy yeah why you walk into our house a lot of times tell you is there anything on no it's very quiet very quiet same because there's something about having a quiet peaceful home and sometimes if you do come to my house like I'll have like, what is that called for my dog? Oh, the dog videos. I'll have it where he's on a trail. Like he can watch another dog walk a trail. Like in like Europe. Yeah, I like that stuff too. Not another dog, but people like. Oh, but he likes to watch it. Yeah, yeah. So you'll hear maybe really nice,

soothing, relaxing. And a lot of people can't do that either. They cannot have a low-key music. on because it's not it doesn't stimulate it's stimulating right it's actually annoying to them when it's more like no you need to chill you need to take it down yeah it's too hard with them true it's so foreign learn to abide that's what we're going to say love it and if you don't know how to abide and you have tuesday mornings free we'll teach you you can go to abide You come on Sunday and get yelled at and probably figure out how to abide. That's true. You might yell at you at some point, but it's okay.

Hey, it's helped me. It's helped you. Right. Wonders. It's done wonders for me. Actually, having somebody speaking to your life and tell you the truth about yourself. Just know the truth. Right.

And then being honest with yourself about the truth really pays off. Yes. Really pays off. So don't run from the truth. Embrace it. It helps. See on Sunday. Live stream if you're not here or in person.

We love you. We thank you for joining us. Bye.