The Hope Hotline - The Hope Hotline | S01-E74 | 09-29-23

Episode Date: October 3, 2023

The Hope Hotline | S01-E74 | 09-29-23

real talk real talk real talk real talk happy friday everybody thank you so much for joining in on the fun today it should be an interesting podcast we have some great great questions uh very different than some of the ones that we've had in the past so I'm happy and I'm pretty excited about those and uh this is your last day Heather joining in on the fun. Yes. Oh, yeah. Amen. Well, usually you're not here, actually. Usually, put yourself on. I have to tell them all the time to put themselves on. Hit or miss if I'm here.

Yeah, it's hit or miss because usually it's your time to pick up one of your kids. Right? It is. So normally I don't even have her in here every now and then. And then Vanessa's not here because Vanessa's headed off to Fort Worth because she's going to, her and her husband are going to go and lend their support to Jonathan and Adalis, getting Fort Worth Revival Today open and started on Sunday.

And then they're going to meet up with some of our friends who I've talked about, Kristen and Lee. But Kristen, I talk about more. They're going to, they live, how far are they from Fort Worth? Like 45 minutes, I think. I think it's 45 minutes. And they're going to go and they're going to be there for the grand opening of Revival Today Fort Worth. If you're in that area, if you live in Texas, which I don't think many of my viewers do, but hey, you never know because like someday you could

just kind of like mosey on over to this podcast on YouTube or something like that and it could be a year from now, right? You could find out about Revival Today in Fort Worth. Great, great pastors, great evangelists, good friends. And it's going to be, it's Jonathan preaching on Sunday, and then Dallas is preaching in Pittsburgh. So this is their... Which means they're both going to be amazing. Yeah.

Can't go wrong with those two. Yeah Yeah. Can't go wrong with those two. Yeah. You can't go wrong with those two. Speaking of Kristen, she is the first official person to buy a mug online. Yay. It's exciting that it was her. That is exciting. Yeah.

Hey, did Vanessa tell you you could give her a bunch of this stuff? Yeah, I put a whole little box together for her. So you sent it with her? I did. Because she told me she was going to tell you that, but I just wanted to make sure. Yeah. So if you're watching, Kristen. I already told her it's coming.

A care package is coming. And there's one item for Kristen. There's one item in there she can't share with people yet because it's not available anywhere else. Oh, I know what that is. So she'll know what it is when she opens it, but I didn't tell her what it was. Oh, that's so cool. That's right. I forgot you were sending her that.

She might need it when the grandbabies come. True. True. Other than that, she has actually no use for it. So, Kristen, don't show that yet because it's still in the works. We're perfecting it. It's secret. Top secret. But once we get that, it it will be would that be a gift that we

send to somebody if they give to the i don't know we'll see we're working on that we'll see yeah we're working on like if you give to the podcast what we send you so which i haven't even put that on yet because right it's gonna be a good one so um so listen let's go to the then so oh that's what I was gonna say so Tracy's back on Monday Heather's last day is today Tracy comes back from vacation you know what I'm gonna tell you this I ate lunch with a sweet friend of mine I I will not name her just in case she doesn't want me to tell anybody. But I ate lunch with a sweet friend of mine, and she doesn't watch live. She watches replays. And she was saying, she's like, man, the podcast has gotten so much better

from the first podcast to now. I was like, well, that's a compliment yeah i'm like holy crap but i but you know always and this is one of the things we were talking about everything always evolves when you first start something you're like feeling your way through it this is for people who are like starting a business um starting new ministry starting a new hobby. Like nothing ever stays the same. You should like everything always, there's a perfection that you're going to be. Even next year at this time, we will not look like this.

Way different. Way different. And you should look different. You should look the same. Yeah, you should be perfecting that skill set. I mean, listen, Tom, Tom's podcast, he is breaking numbers like crazy right now. Off the charts, like consistently.

And part of it is because he hasn't stayed the same. Like he is always making that podcast, him and Aaron, perfecting it. So that's what my team and I are doing. We're just perfecting it constantly, which I think most people, I've only heard of maybe one or two that say they don't like the chiming in from the peanut gallery over there. Everybody else, though, absolutely loves it. See, I love it.

I love everybody's perspective because none of us think the same. And obviously, Logan is far out there. As we learned on Wednesday, she definitely does not think like us, which makes it super fun. Right? You got to add the spice. Logan's our spice. And a little weird, too. All at the same time. She's our little weirdy. But, hey, you're a hot weirdy, so what does it matter? Hey, thank you. Yeah. You look great as a pregnant girl. Thank you.

Like, I was so hideous. Me too. I was not an attractive pregnant person. Well, I sound like I'm a transgender right now with the pronouns. I'm not. I was not. Like, you can turn her on right now. I was not a pregnant. I was not a really pretty pregnant girl. I was a woman cause I was in my thirties

when I got pregnant, but you look great. Like you have not had one ugly moment. Like I had acne, like out the wazoo. I lost my hair. Oh, it was terrible. It was like my face blew up. So did my body. And I only gained like 30 pounds. But like water retention. Pregnancy and I did not agree. I'll give birth all day long. I loved giving birth.

Pregnancy has been good to me. It's not been bad. And I feel horrible because my sister is also pregnant. And hers is rough. Really? Really rough. I really wasn't sick or anything like that. I was hideous looking.

I really felt bad for Tom when we went out. They were like, ooh, gosh, he's married to that? I did start working out again. You're working out? I am. Now, what are you doing in your workout regime? Lots of body weight stuff and oh so you're not lifting weights you're using body that's good for you that's better

than lifting weights yeah especially since you stopped yeah and just uh high intensity cardio like stairmaster and walking incline stuff like that just to prep my body just to get ready oh yeah i walked not a lot but i did walk to the refrigerator that's what i did listen i gained like 30 the most i gained is like 32 pounds i think or maybe 35 heather why don't you tell everybody how much you gained yeah so at least 60 girl likes to eat still we would go yeah how tall are you heather five one and a half that's all baby we would go out to dinner and i'd be like we're gonna have the fajitas for two and they're like oh are you sharing with your husband i'm like no that's for me and my baby and my belly me me and him yeah because she up until you know brinley it was all boys oh but you didn't gain hardly any weight with brinley like 35 yeah you did let me you were super

skinny with brinley yeah i can't say that about the other ones for sure not no but her pregnancy was way different than the boys yeah that's true and you were older yes and that has a i mean that tend to has a tendency to make things a little different too but 60 pounds on you're so tiny like 60 pounds what the heck well i didn't even think about it it was like you can eat more but they meant like a banana is how much more you can eat not fajitas for two you're allowed to eat more and you thought a lot more whatever you want oh my gosh that's funny it is but you look great logan thank you so much you're a hottie girl i i needed that no oh please listen if i looked if I looked like you every time I looked in the mirror,

I would have been like, hot dog. Hot dog. No, that is not. I'm not kidding you. I was. It was not pretty. I had a moment last night where I never experienced it in my life, but I was literally crying and laughing at the exact same time.

And they're not, there weren't tears of joy. They were tears of sadness. But then you were laughing in joy. Those hormones. Sounds about right. They're a killer. I've never experienced that. Those hormones are like whack-a-doodle.

They're intense. Oh, yeah, they are. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Like you really, like you have to really, if you're not careful, you have to make sure. I say this with, sorry, Ben, ladies' days, when you have your ladies' days, you have to really control that emotion because like for me

that was like I would I think me and Heather were talking about this like my at that time I was in severe pain I had like when I was telling Logan when I I finally went into labor, thank you. When I finally went into labor, like I realized like my menstrual cramps had been like at three, four, five, like centimeters dilated. So when I'm having that, I was like, oh, I can handle this because I don't get a break every month. And it lasts like for two days, maybe longer. Well, when you're in labor, like you have a contraction, then it let go. Then you have a contraction, then it lets go. And you're like, oh, I can do this.

This ain't nothing. Ladies' days are rough. And women, you have to learn to control your flesh. That's all there is to it you don't get to be ugly and mean just because you don't feel the greatest that's life you don't take it out on people that's not that's not uh that's not their problem that's a you problem that you're gonna just have to work through my doll's great though if you don't have a lot of faith but try the my doll ladies if you don't have a lot of faith but try the mind ladies if you don't have a lot italia

goes yes i mean eventually you should be able to handle all of that pray through it and you know get it to where it's manageable or gone i never got to the place where it was gone i never did but i got it to where it was manageable and i could handle it and i didn't need anything and i just you know whatever but might doll until you can control it. And now let's go to the questions because I've like. You want to go over how they're going to support you? Oh, yes. Why don't you do that while I take a sip of the poison.

Oh, okay. Well, let's see here. I'm not a very big social media girl. So like and share on Facebook it looks like. Subscribe on YouTube. Or you can go to black robe TV comm and comment I don't know what the other ones are what do you ring the bells that YouTube tap the bell as you tap the bell is YouTube wait isn't that right Brinley Brinley's

over there the Brinley knows the rules for YouTube isn't it tap the bell Bryn don't you tap the belt click the bell we are both wrong it's click the bell and then we got thank you brunley oh talk to me goose how much are those by the way how much are those mugs we're not 25 because that's how much we pay for them yeah we're not making any money on them okay so these are our new mugs hot diggity and then hot diggity we're very unusual because usually people when they are selling things they're making money on them and we're not big proponents of that we basically are like whatever it costs we'll sell it for right um i love that t-shirt though I love First of all I love

That the first one Is all Tracy It's so perfect You be you It's super cool though It is super cool She did a great job Hey Jinx

Oh yeah Pinch poke Yeah she did a great job on that Super happy So listen If you want to tell somebody to be themselves oh but tracy believes that you be you is meaning be you in a christ-like way right not not your old self your new self yeah be the new you not the old you so that's right girl um

all right so what are we doing heather are we ready to go yeah first question first question let's roll am i in the right spot yeah so i know that i'm not supposed to date a person who isn't a christian but i met a really great guy who isn't saved but is wonderful to me he doesn't smoke he doesn't drink and he has a really great family. Or he has a great family. He is perfect. I'm finding it really hard not to find a reason to. I am finding it really hard not to find a reason to go out with him. Well, geez, Louise, how many times have we heard this? Yeah.

Every time somebody's newly saved, this is happening. That's what I was just going to say. I wonder if she's newly saved. 100%. Yeah. Every flipping time. And she knows the answer. Mm- I wonder if she's really saved. 100%. Yeah. Every flipping time. And she knows the answer. Mm-hmm.

But she's still laughing. Yep. Wow. It's, I'm telling you right now, Satan is very cunning. If you are a girl, I'm going to say this.

If you are a girl that is dating or is thinking about dating somebody who is not saved, and then you, okay. The problem is, is you know better, like Logan said. And yet, you know that you're not supposed to do it, but yet you're willing to do it. That right there is a big glaring red light. Doing it anyway, so as to be a hearer of the word and a doer.

You're not to be just a hearer, but you're to be a doer. So to know something and then do it anyway, like what will that lead to in the rest of your life? Like that's a big deal. Like who you date is a daggum big deal. But I will also say this. Women who are Christians, men who are Christians, and you're

dating a person that is supposedly a Christian or calls himself a Christian and their lifestyle does not replicate that, this is basically the same thing. Because the Bible says we're not to be unequally yoked. If you are a woman who is dating, that you're a Christian, and you're dating a guy that is lukewarm, which is not saved, but pretends to be, has actions of Christianity on Sunday, and then lives like the devil Monday through Saturday.

Okay, they're not saved. They are calling themselves a Christian. And you know, daggum well, that they're not because their lifestyle is showing that they're not a Christian. But because they've labeled it, you're saying, it's okay because he says he is, so that means I can. No, you're not to be unincluded yoke. So if you guys aren't like on the same level, spiritually speaking, you shouldn't be dating them either. And really women, men should be really careful. Like men, if you're dating a woman, you are to be, if you get married, you'll be the priest of the home. So the woman will be following you, right?

But if she's not spiritually where you're at exactly, she should be pretty dang close. And men and women, if you are ahead of the man and he's down here spiritually, then you need to be his friend until he catches up. Because I can promise you, if you marry that guy, you're going to be miserable. You will have no respect for him because you will be the priest of the home. And that's a miserable existence. Like, you don't respect him. How can you respect somebody that's following you?

It doesn't work like that. It's, oh, somebody's calling me, I think. Because my computer just phased out. All right. So So let's see. Let's go to scripture. Everything that we do, everything, every decision you make, everything that you do should come from the word. You should not make one move. And I'm not talking about, should I go to Burger King or Kentucky Fried Chicken tonight? I'm not talking about that. That's not Bible-based. But people, you're so spiritually minded, you're no earthly good.

Like, that should never be. But I'm talking about, like, things from big to small. A small thing would be, I'm not talking about sin. What would a small thing be that you could just, you seek God's counsel on and you look to the word for it? That's super small, but it's not that it's compromised, but it's just something that you would want to seek him out on. Should I quit this job or should I take another one? You say that's not a big deal. Or you say that is a big deal. But I say, in the word of God, it's really not that big of a deal.

It's not like if you quit that job and you take another one, there's another job out there. If you date somebody who's not saved and you get married to them you ain't there there's no going back right like that's a big deal jobs are not uh but you should pray about lord do you want me to take this job is my steps are ordered is this part of the order right so it's a big deal but it's not on the scale of things oftentimes Oftentimes it's like lower. 2 Corinthians 6, 14 through 18 says, Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

And what accord has Christ with Belial? Belial was an idol. Okay, so it's telling you what does Jesus have to do? Would they be together? Would they coexist together? Heck to the no, they definitely would not. Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? The next sentence is super important. It says, for you are the temple of the living God. And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? God and idols do not coexist together. So what would you have?

You are the temple of God. So what part of you has any business being with somebody who is not a believer or is not another temple of God? It has nothing to do with it. Because you are the temple of God, that's why you don't get involved with an unbeliever. Because you don't have anything in common. There's nothing in common whether you believe it or not. It's not about that this person is perfect. They're such a great guy.

They have a great family. They're everything you ever hoped for in a guy. Except for the biggest part, which is they're not saved. That should be number one. Personality, being funny, having a great family, somebody who treats you like a queen, all of that is irrelevant if they're not saved. It's like they don't even exist.

They're not a blip on the screen. And I will say this too. Yours is about a relationship with the opposite sex, right? But people get in business with unbelievers. This applies to being in business and unequally yoked in business with you're a Christian and you've gone into partnership with an unbeliever. Get out. I have seen it so many times because what happens is your business principles are not the same as their business principles. And the things that they will do, which can be unscrupulous and actually biblical sin,

deception, deceitfulness, all these things, now you're attached to that. And whatever they do under the guise of your business, guess who's also accountable for it? You are. Because you're tied to that person.

Am I correct, Heather? Absolutely correct. Yes. And typically, unfortunately, if there is bad, it typically will outweigh any good that you have in those situations. Regardless of even if it's a small thing they do, that's going to be what's highlighted in that business. Oh, yeah. And like, here's my thing. Like, not to say that this is what would happen but if they are if they're committing fraud

right well you're gonna say well i'm a christian i would never commit fraud and you know what the federal government's gonna say i don't care you're in business with a guy what you being saved got to do with that just kudos on being a christian great kudos on you not being the one that was actually doing it. The problem is your partner was, so now you're going down with the ship. That's how it works. Like you don't think that that could happen because, you know, that's so far-fetched. Well, a lot of people have thought that.

And guess what? They imprisoned because their partner was committing crimes. It's not good. So let's go back to the question about dating. So let's, like I was saying a minute ago, you got to think of the future. Like if you're in business with somebody and they're committing fraud, what does that future potentially hold for you? If you don't know that they're committing crimes or they're doing something unlawful

or they're lying and being deceptive to your clientele, there's a future consequence for all of those things. And one is maybe it's not jail or anything, but you start losing business because of your business associate and now it's going to cost you everything. Same goes with if you get involved with somebody who is not a believer. So let's just think about this. You say, I probably won't get married, so it's not a big deal. Well, I say, what if you do get married? Now you're going to go to church by yourself, right?

Because he's not saved. He has no desire to go and get saved. How do you know that you're going to stay? Let's say you don't even get married just yet. You're dating him. He has no desire to go and get saved. How do you know that you're going to stay? Let's say you don't even get married just yet. You're dating him. He has no rules. So you don't think he's going to try and be promiscuous with you? He has no rules.

You have rules. And eventually your rules won't apply. And he'll kind of like, we all know it. We've all seen it like how's a right how's the proper way to say that they can't they try and wear you down no because they don't manipulate a lot of times it's just wearing you down and um getting you to a place where you compromise you compromise because you are enjoying the very thing that he's trying or she's trying to get you to do.

Like it starts with kissing. And then once you start kissing, then it goes a little further. Then it goes, and then you just can't even stop. First base, second base, third base, home run. Full of compromise because he has no rules. Right. Home run is like the winning game. And you lose when you.

And then I think for people, they're like, oh, well, I already did it once. So I've already done it. And they continue to live in that sin. Oh, yes. That's exactly. Listen, I'm telling you. What you start thinking is, well, I've gone this far. Yeah.

So, I mean, really, what's the point? And then they start to lie to themselves and convince themselves that I'm still saved. We're in love. It's just one thing. He's going to be my husband. Oh, yeah. He loves me. So it's okay.

But you're planting bad seed. Oh, yeah. I've heard two Christians. I do air quotes two christians tell me that god told them to live together before they were married and it would be okay nope and this wasn't even people who are internally secure they basically said god told them that it was okay for them to live together and i'm like were you in the same room in the same bed and were you fornicating and they're like yeah but god told us it was okay kind of thing and i'm like you don't read your bible you have convinced yourself

like heather said of a lie right yeah you convinced yourself of a lie or i've literally heard people say he loves me he loves me so how could it be wrong he He loves me. Or you don't understand how much we love each other. You've like our love, our love is like no other. I'm kidding you not. And I'm like, and this is when I had been dating Tom for three years and that done one daggum thing. Right. And I'm like, are you, are you kidding me? You, I've been dating somebody for three years and you think your love for somebody and after six months is so much deeper? Please. But people will fool themselves.

One of your Black Rub viewers suggested inviting him to church and seeing how that goes. I mean, that is a good question. Why aren't they saying, do they want to? Well, I mean, if it's someone you're interested in, you could have them come as a friend, though. But you don't pass that friend line until, and that's not like a two-month process. That's like a year of, okay, they've come to church. They're not just coming to church because of me, and they want a relationship with me. But they're coming to church because they love the Lord.

They're still unequally yoked, even if he comes to church. I agree with you. You should invite them to church. Because if you're interested in them, you obviously care about them. So you should ultimately care about their salvation where they go. That's vitally important. But you don't invite them like Heather said. You don't invite them with the intention of if he gets saved, now I can date him. No, you're not going to be able to date that person for quite some time unless they grab hold of the gospel and go and chase after it farther than you are.

If they go past you, then yeah. But what will happen is potentially, this is what will potentially happen. If this person gets saved, radically saved, and they start seeking what God has for them, you probably ain't it. And the reason you probably ain't it is because they're going to listen to what God says and who he has for them. And if you were willing to date an unbeliever, you probably aren't that strong. So you probably ain't it. You might be, but the odds are, how many times do we date somebody and they're

actually going to be the one we marry? I mean, I dated a lot of guys. The odds of me, you know, slim to none. So you being, if he's, if that person's relying, now they're also saved and they're asking God, is this the person you want me to date? The odds are God's going to tell him no and you ain't going to be, you ain't going to be around anymore. It's very different when you let God be the Lord of your life.

That's why when we say the sinner's prayer, that's one thing that I never take out or I hardly ever try and forget to remember. Because when you get saved, you are no longer Lord. He is. And he's the one that calls the shots. And he's the one that's going to tell you where you're going and how you're going to do it.

And you get to follow, which is an easy, easy plan. It's way easier than you being Lord of your life because he'll do it far better than you. And the rewards from it are far superior. So I just think like to myself, I'm like, if I was dating somebody who wasn't saved, I end up getting married to them. I'm like, if I was dating somebody who wasn't saved, I end up getting married to them. I'm like, now I get to go to church all by myself. Yeah, that stinks. I would hate going to church by myself. Absolutely. That would not be in the cards for me.

But if they're not saved, doesn't mean that they're completely off the table. You just have to be patient, take the time and see if they are interested in a relationship with Christ. And if they prove themselves and they rise to the occasion and they do commit their life to the Lord and a significant amount of time goes by, then maybe they are the one for you. But if you both grow in that time, they may, you might not even be an attracted to that person at all. Once. Yeah. Life changes for you. Yeah. But then you also have to think of if you stay with this person and they don't get married and they and you marry this person they're not saved you go to church by yourself what if you have kids yeah i see i'm a big like no i'm a dreamer i was saying don't don't date them no no i totally understand but i'm saying if you ended up doing it, you have to think of the future.

I'm always thinking way in advance. That's one of the things Heather can probably tell you. One of the things I'm always doing is going one year out, two years out, five years out. What's this going to look like? Whether it be this podcast, whether it be the church, whether it be my family, even the people who are on staff, where are they going to be at or what, Lord, what do you have for them? So that Tom and I can always be propelling them and getting them to a place where God wants them to be as well.

So we're like, I'm a forward thinker. You should be a forward thinker. You should be thinking, what's my future look like with this person? Not the now. The now is always great. But the future isn't if you don't plan for it properly. And I'm just saying, if you have kids with this person and they don't become saved, their family's not saved. So now you have people who are of influence over your children. Your husband's not going to fight them. His influence is going to be heavy because the male's is usually very dominant. So now you're fighting your spouse, his family, and you might need to be like duking it out and arguing.

I'm just saying, their ungodly influence will now be over your children, which you need to be thinking eternity. Where do I want my kid to be in? Do I want my kid going to heaven? Do I want my kid to have an eternity in hell? If it's heaven, you definitely don't marry an unbeliever. You don't. Because now there is a divide. A house divided cannot stand. There is like, I was going to say hypocrisy, but it's not hypocrisy. Because when it's an unbeliever, they're being themselves. Right. So what's happening is you're trying to teach your kids to go one way.

The spouse, albeit they're great and everything, will be teach your kids to go one way. The spouse, albeit they're great and everything, will be teaching their kid to go another way. Train up a child in the way that it should go. Listen, you can train up a child in the way that it should go and you can train up a child in the way that it shouldn't go. And when you're in a house where that one spouse is saved and the other spouse is not, you are confusing the tar out of your kids. And don't think that they're not going to want to go the way of fun or the way of the world, because they will. It'll be very difficult for you. You can get them to go to church as a very young child and even get saved. But it'll be very, very difficult to keep them in that environment.

Highly difficult when the rest of the family does not live that out. And for me, a lot of times people make poor decisions. And he's the greatest thing. He treats me great and his family's great and he's perfect and la, la, la, la, la. It's really good because right now that sounds all great because in this moment where you're at, you're probably lonely. You want to feel like somebody cares about you. You want to have somebody say beautiful things about you, have your ego stroked, all these other things. And temporary pleasure for what will a man gain if,

or what will a man give for, what will a man gain if he gives up his, hold on, I'm looking that up. Because I can, like I just quoted this the other day. will a man gain if he gives us gives up his hold on i'm looking that up well because i can oh i can't i can like i just quoted this the other day what will a man gain if he gives up his hold on but he gives up his given exchange no for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul there you go for what does it profit a man if he gains the world but he loses his soul? Mark 8, 36. So, you know, what will it profit a man if he gains the world,

which is you get this guy, but in the process you lose your soul. And here's the thing. You may be able to withstand the temptation, and you may be able to be this godly woman or girl that you want to be while you're involved with him. But what will a man gain if he gains the world, but he loses his soul or his children's or her children's souls? Like for me, it ain't worth it. Like I'm never going back. Like what I lost and what I got back, I was like, no one, no thing is worth losing all that I got back. The value that I, I did not understand the value in what I had in my relationship with the Lord prior to walking away.

And then when I got it back, I had my claws in deep to my walk with God and how much I loved him, which I still do. But it's far more now than it is back then. And there's no way, no thing, no one that's going to divide me from my relationship with the Lord. It's not going to happen. I'm not doing it. I literally say put a gun to my head because I promise you I will not deny him. I love him that much. It is, I know that I know that I know if I was put to the test,

I would say just pull the trigger. Because for me, all I'm going to do is go and see him. You're not hurting me. This world's crazy anyway. But I can just promise you the only person that's going to change if you start dating him is you. He ain't changing. Correct.

The odds are he's not changing. You know what? When I was in a youth group, the youth pastor did this great analogy. And when he was talking about dating, I always remembered it. And you probably, when I start telling you, Heather, you'll be like, oh, I've heard that analogy too. What he did is he had a girl on a chair. She was standing on like the seating part. So she was standing on the chair like where you sit. Do you understand what I'm saying? Am I explaining that well? And then she had a he had a guy down on the floor. And what he said is now girl what I want you to do where Susie I want you to pull Joe up on top of the chair and have him stand where you're at

and she tried with all her might can't do it and she was not able to do it and then he said joe pulls susie down to where you're at and literally with one little tug she's down and he's like that's like dating a non-believer susie you're the christian jo's not. How hard was it for you to pull him up to where you're at? Virtually impossible. But how easy was it for him to pull you down? That's Christianity. Pulling somebody up to Christianity, and it's way easier for him to pull you down into sin.

It's the way it goes. Very true. Yeah, huh? Very, very true. Very true. So remember, you think you know, but you don't know. And you better think about future because future is super important. It's just not you.

It's your generational future. Like for me, it's your green babies. It's their babies. Like I think of those things. Like I even pray right now. I pray for my kids' kids and their kids' kids. I do because like I want them saved. And I'm saved because my mom told me generations before we had pastors and they all professed that they prayed for the generations before them that

they would all be saved. Super important. So I carry that on because it's invaluable. I am here today from the prayers of my great greats. I truly believe that. So anybody want to add anything to that one? If you're local and you come to church here, like find us. We have a Tuesday group. You can come and meet girls that want to see you with somebody who will get you closer to God. Make friends. Listen, when I was single, like I was never really lonely when I was single because I just made sure I stayed busy with friends. And I had some great friends.

And I had more fun with them sometimes than I had with the guys I had dated oh yeah I can promise you I can promise you in the in the world I had way more fun with my girlfriends than I did with guys I dated and I didn't usually date them like usually it was a one-stopper you go you meet them you know you go out and you're like yeah I don't like you. No, thank you. No, thank you. Next. Next. And I was mean. I was a mean girl. No way.

I was not a very nice person. So I was not nice to guys on top of that. And the cuter you were, the meaner I was. It's true. Like, if I set up a date with you and I stood you up, and they're like, where are you? Why aren't you here? I'm like, I'm sure you've done this to a girl before.

You'll be fine. I remember doing that to somebody. I'm like, trust me. I'm sure you've done this to somebody. You'll be fine. Yeah, I was a hateful individual. It felt really good at the time, but you know what? It's not very nice. That's not a nice thing to do to somebody.

No, for sure. Yeah. It's terrible. It's just rotten to the core. But next question. Enough about me. How about you? Okay.

I have heard people say that when a friend or family member dies, that now they have an angel in heaven looking over them. Is that true? I cannot tell you how many times I've heard people say that, like, when grandma goes to heaven, now I have an angel watching over me. Have you ever heard that, Heather? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And people genuinely believe that the loved one that they've lost is in heaven, angelically watching over them and protecting them. Actually, people pray to people.

I will confess. Like, every now and then, I'll be like, Hey, God, can you tell my dad hey for me? Because I miss him. So I'm like, hey, somehow, some way. Is there a way you can just say hey for me because I miss him you know so I'm like hey somehow some way is there a way you can just say hey for me you know but I'm not but I'm not like talking to my dad right I mean your earthly dad no yeah my my dad that passed I'm not talking I'm not but I just I just don't know how that all that works but I definitely know my dad's not an angel watching over me. My dad had horns every now and then.

He was a little feisty man. But when you're in heaven, you're not going to want to sit and watch someone on earth still. That's not why you're there. You're going to be praising the Lord. Right. But the thing is, I will say this too. Like when Lazarus, and I mean not Lazarus, that Jesus rose from the dead. When we hear the story of Abraham and the poor man in Abraham's bosom and Lazarus, the rich man, okay, the rich man, he could see the poor man who was sitting outside of his house,

he could see him in Abraham's bosom and he actually asked Abraham, can you just let him? So the thing is, is there is communication to what I don't understand. It might be just for that story, but they can see. I think that's one of the reasons why it would be extreme torture for the ones that are in hell is because they'll be seeing the life that they could have had if they would have just followed God and they would have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Part of the torture is seeing what you can't have or what could have existed for you. I think that's going to be one of the worst things for people who aren't saved and who are in hell because I do believe you're going to be able to see it because the story is clear. The communication is there between the chasms or whatever you call those things. So let's look at what the Bible says about angels. Hebrews 12, 22 through 23 says,

but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect so angels are angels and we were the firstborn who are registered in heaven okay so angels do their spirits they do not have a physical body. We have the physical body. We have souls. They do not.

We are very different. And like Jesus, when he walked this earth, he said, we'll be like the angels in heaven. But angels do not marry. They don't procreate., meaning they don't have kids. So we will be like them when we go to heaven, but we will still be different because they are spirits and we have a physical body with a soul. Now Matthew 22, 30 says,

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven. So that just proves what I just said. But we're not going to become them guys. We're not. We're not. We're two different beings. It says in the scriptures that angels are superior to us in some ways but we are superior

as well because we can make the decision to serve him or not to serve him. Now angels can too because obviously Lucifer chose to walk away and took angels with him. But here's the thing, angels don't have a redemption. We do. They can't be redeemed. We can. So we even have something that they don't because John 3.16 says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. See, I know that like the back of my hand, but I was reading that and I'm like, why are you reading that? I had to memorize that at Brinley's age. I think I did too. King James Version. King James Version. Yeah, King James Version. That's funny.

Huh? Brinley, yes, I know how old you are. Oh, my goodness gracious. I'm just saying that we have some similarities, but we are very different all at the same time. And even though we have similarities, we're still two different beings. And I know that breaks some people's hearts because it makes them feel so good to know or makes them feel so good to think that maybe a family member is up above

and watching over them like that. But there's nothing in scripture that even comes close to that. It does with angels, though. Angels are finite. God is infinite. Okay, what does finite mean? Finite means having limits or bounds, right? We have limits and bounds, too.

Angels do not. But infinite is limitless or endless in space to the extent or size impossible to measure or calculate. So God is infinite. He can do whatever he wants. He is limitless. He can go where he wants to go. He's like, when is it when you can be all over the place? Omnipresent.

Thank you. God bless. We can't be. Angel in Hebrew and Greek means messenger. So we also know about Gabriel. Gabriel was the messenger angel. So angels are messengers, obviously, because that's what it means in Greek and Hebrew. Matthew 18, 10 says,

Let me go back. Gabriel was a messenger angel. Angels help us out. Now let me take you to the scripture that says this, and I'm going to slow it down so I can explain it to you. Matthew 18 says, Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. This is Jesus saying it.

For I say to you that in heaven there are angels, and it says T-H-E-I-R, there are angels, meaning these children's angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. So we have angels that guard and protect us and keep us safe. Hebrews 1.14 says, Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Do we inherit salvation? Yes, we do. If we choose to make Jesus Lord and Savior,

then we have a salvation that is provided to us in eternity. We are saved. So the ministering spirits are angels. Angels protect us. Psalm 91, which is one of my favorite psalms of all. 11 and 12 say, For he shall give his angels charge over you. That means they protect you. They take care of you to keep you in all your ways. In their hands, the angel's hands, in their hands, they shall bear you up lest you dashed your foot against a stone. So for me, I'm like, that scripture right there, like so many people walk

around so scared and so fearful and so worried. But, and that's where your doubt and unbelief come in. If you believed what that scripture just said, you would know you have nothing to worry about. You have something that is there to guide and protect you and keep you safe. Each of us have an angel and he guides, or I say it, so he guides and protects us and keep you safe. Each of us have an angel, and he guides, or I say it, so he guides and protects us and keeps us safe. Do you believe that or do you not? If you do not, then you won't be. Do you have to be a believer for that to be true?

Do you have to be a believer for you to have an angel that protects you? I'd have to dig deeper into the scriptures, but I think it's kind of like tithing. I think each and every single one of us does have an angel. I think there's scriptures that say that in Psalms, it says that God is wicked at the God is wicked at the wicked every day. So Old Testament, but still, if God is angry at people who are not saved by the wickedness that they do, do they have an angel? No, probably not.

If he's angry at them, why would he give them that provision? But I also know people who practice tithing. They're not saved. Right. And I'm just telling you, they literally give to the church. They practice tithing because they understand the principles of giving and their business. They reap so much and they won't not tithe because it's a covenant. It's a principle. God's word says, if you do this, I will give you an abundance Malachi. You will not be cursed with a curse. Right? So they understand these principles, so they apply them to their life,

even though they're not believers. And actually, God's covenant and his word makes them prosper. So personally, I'm going to say this is my opinion, but if you're not saved, then no, I don't believe that they're, because you're not under the protection of God. You're a vessel of the devil like a house divided cannot stand when you walked away and there could have been nights where you wouldn't have made it home do you think someone was protecting you do you think god still

had his hand on you in a sense like does that make sense um i think god knew that i would come back yes okay but i think that he honors the prayers of the righteous and so my parents were praying a hedge of protection around me to keep me safe and not to have anything harm me they did it on a regular basis because I was wild. And they were like dogmatic about making sure that they prayed safety over me and protection over me. I think the only reason why no harm came to me had nothing to do with me because I was wicked. But I think God honored the prayers of my parents, which he will. He does honor the prayers of his people, but it was out, it was not because of me. It was because of them. So. No, that makes sense. I'm just going to use that. You're going to just use what? I'm going to use that. I'm going to start. I pray for specific people who are not saved all the time. So I think I should start praying for

their safety. Oh yeah. A hedge of protection around them because they're not deserving of it because they don't live under, they don't live under the guidance of, they don't like there's, when we become saved, we're sons and daughters, right? They're not sons and daughters. So they don't have that hedge of protection that comes from being underneath God's realm. And so that does hinder you. Whether you know it or not, you're worldly. So you're just living. You may get, well, I'm not the devil's son.

I don't act like him. But you can't. It's very clear in the word. You'll love the one and you'll hate the other. Either you'll love the world and you'll hate God. And you may say, well, I didn't say that. But because you never said, Lord, I want you to be Lord of my life. You've now said, I choose the world over God.

And when you choose the world over God, the two can't come together. You'll love the one and you'll hate the other. That's what it says. So that's just the way it'll be. And because of that, you may be the most moral, most kind, most generous, most honest person that's out there. But if you're not saved, it's all carnal. It's all because you're just a person of character. Somehow, some way, you believe your kindness and your goodness will get you into heaven because that's who you are. That's not what the Bible says, though. And there are a lot of people who believe, surely a good God, a loving God would not send somebody who does nothing to anyone, but do kind acts and embrace people for who they are and give when it needs to be given. Surely he would never send me

to hell. He will send you to hell. You will send you to hell though. He will have to send you to hell because you've chosen the world over him. You've never said, Lord, thank you for dying on that cross and thank you for forgiving me of my sins. I repent of my sin and I'm now going to live for you. Because you never did that. You said, because you didn't really want to live for him. You wanted to still live and do what you want to do. Even if it's the nicest things on the face of the earth, you still didn't choose him and you still didn't repent. And that's

what the Bible clearly says. We're to win the lost and disciple believers. That's our job. Because that's what Jesus did. He said, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John the Baptist, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John the Baptist, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. You have to repent. That's all there is to it. Now, a lot of people will be afraid, and they won't accept the hedge of protection that's around him. But I will tell you, Heather, you want to put that up?

I mean, my son, Tommy, when he was a little boy, he would be so scared to go to bed at night. He would be so scared. So what I did is I put that picture up that Heather just posted. I put that picture up for him in his room. I've actually sent this. Put that back up there for me, dear. I actually sent this.

I have sent this picture to, I can't tell you, so many people, adults. Because I think we forget that we're not alone. And so when Tommy was afraid at bedtime, I had him with that pick. And one of the things that helped him was it helped him realize that he has someone protecting him. He is not alone. Even if it's dark, there is a bigger, stronger being in that room that can kick some keister and he can go to sleep

and not have a care in the world. And for people who live in fear, who live in worry, who are scared. You may not be scared of the dark, but you're scared to get in your car because you're afraid of something happening. Or you're afraid for your kids to get in their car and drive down the road because you're afraid that they might get in a car accident.

Okay, listen. Me, I've prayed. There are angels around my kids' cars. There's angels around my car. No harm will come near us. We are safe. We have a hedge of protection around us. I have put angels around my house to guard and protect us.

So nothing's getting through that force field. Right, Norma? Nothing's getting through that force field. I listen Norma? Nothing's getting through that force field. I listen. I wish I could show you that video, which I'm using. I can't use that video. It's a YouTube video. Listen, it might offend some people, but it's dang funny.

Nothing's getting past those angels. That's all I'm going to say. I just got sidetracked because my daughter came in the room, and then it's a joke that her and I always do. I might post it on my Instagram. I might. That's a good idea. I might do that.

It's pretty dang funny. Watchers in the night. What? The name of that picture, Watchers in the Night, just in case anybody wants to get it. Yeah. Listen, there's something to be said. You're not alone.

You're okay. Angels are around you. I could, listen, there are so much about angels. They are throughout the Old Testament. There are angels that visit, like when Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah, when God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he sent the two angels in to rescue Lot. And they were the ones that destroyed the town.

And the angels are everywhere throughout Scripture. You should study them out. It's God, how he created things and the way and manner in which he does things is just mind-boggling and blowing you know and when abram um when abram was being told that sarah was sarai was having a baby there was we're just going to get pregnant the there was an angel and then they and then there was a third man and they said it was they say it's the Son of God. It was Jesus. So Jesus was present when Abram—they were messengers.

They came. They ate. Abram had dinner made for them, food made for them. Sarai was told to make some food. In that conversation while they're waiting, she is found out—she overhears saying that Sarai is going to have some food. In that conversation while they're waiting, she has found out, she overhears saying that Sarah is going to have a baby. She's old. She starts to laugh.

They accuse her of laughing. I mean, it's like, and Jesus is in part of those times. You'd be shocked. And it's just a beautiful thing how God does things. But study out angels because people take angels way too far yeah like they take him way too far but like I love what Jesse de planta says he talks to his tail you know he's seen he's seen lots of angels. And, you know, how God wants us to dwell with him is on such a higher level than

we allow him to. And a lot of people will go, yeah, that's crazy that Jesse DePlantis says he's been to heaven, that he talks to God, that he's seen angels. But really, that's the plane that God wants us to walk in. But we never even come close to it because we always think he's here and we're here. And really, we're seated right next to him. We're right next to him. Right. It's like the Holy Spirit is right with us. And we can have such a deeper walk, a more connected walk, a more friendship, father, lover of my soul kind of relationship with God and Jesus and Holy Spirit if we wanted them. But most people won't allow themselves to go that far because it's way more fun to scroll on the phone, watch TV, be on the computer, be a workaholic, be chasing after somebody, be chasing after love because they're lonely.

Filling that space with a hobby, whatever it is, instead of God. And the more you fill it up with God, the closer you get to him, the more you see things that you never thought you'd see. But everybody that I know of that, like if you look at Rodney Howard Brown, Pastor Rodney, he's had the Holy Spirit in his room. Jesse DePlantis has had major, Kenneth Hagan, Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, all of them had visitations from the Lord. I remember, it's John G. Lake, I believe, Satan came in and was standing at the foot of his bed. He woke up, he looked down at the foot of his bed,

and he goes, oh, it's you. He's like, he put his head back on the pillow and fell right back to sleep. When you have a strong relationship with the Lord, Satan is nothing. But we allow Satan to be so much because of our lack of relationship with God. Yeah, absolutely. The bigger the relationship you have with God, the more victory and authority you know you walk in and he's got nothing on you. Amen. You find out how small he really is in comparison to how big God is. But again, you got to turn off the screens.

You have to like, if you're a reader, you have to put the book down unless it's the Bible. Quit reading books about the Bible. Read the Bible. Like perspective. Everything's in balance. Right? Amen. So I, listen, I hope you guys have, I am now over four minutes, correct? One minute over. One minute over? I can never read our clocks because our clocks are so flipping confusing to me. What? It's 4.01.

Oh, that's telling me it's 4.01. You ran out of time. So yeah, it's now 4.01. Okay, so it's one minute and 38 seconds I have run out. I hope you guys have a really great weekend planned for you. Listen, I'm going to ask you to do something because Pastor Jonathan and Adalis are very dear to me and Tom and my family and to a lot of people in this room, actually. Heather is, we all love them dearly. They're good friends. Brinley's, one of her best little buddies is their daughter and Magalas's daughter

and Magalas is very important to us too. So I'm asking for you to, if you're listening to this, I'm asking for you to actually pray for them that this Sunday is a blowout, that they have the best opening service that any church has ever had, that Jonathan is anointed. So we don't need to pray for his anointing, but that when he speaks the word, hearts are prepared. They're open for whatever God has for them, that they will see prophetic word received, not the prophetic word will be given. I can promise you that.

But it is received by the people that it's being spoken to that when people go for healing, that they have the faith and the unbelief is out to receive the healing in their body. Like this weekend be life changing for the people of Fort Worth. And that revival today like starts out with the biggest bang ever. Yeah. Because they're great people. They're some good ever. Yeah. Because they're great people. They are some good, good people. And they're great friends. So just tomorrow, tonight, tomorrow, and maybe when you wake up in the morning.

Because they're what, two hours, three hours behind us? Fort Worth is two hours, correct? I think it's two. Yep. So two hours behind us. So when you wake up, they'll still be getting ready. Just pray that everything goes smooth as it can be. Satan doesn't get an inroad an inch.

That it's like the biggest Sunday and the biggest thing they ever – it's bigger than they even dreamed. Yeah. All right? So be doing that with me. Hopefully you have a really great weekend. And go out on the boat. Is it supposed to be nice we're supposed to be getting some cool weather around here i don't know it's supposed to rain so wear a raincoat

put your umbrella up live life don't miss church on don't miss church on sunday just because it's raining my gosh the weakness of people it's ridiculous go out on your boat on Saturday. I mean, the weather's been kind of nice. And, and here's the thing, sports, sports started up and people start going and listen, if your child plays a sport on Saturday and you're gone all day, that doesn't mean you don't come to church on Sunday. Okay. That's sports started up and it it's like people have felt like they can take off. We're tired. We're tired. I'm tired. And it's not just that, but I mean I will say

like church for the last two Sundays have been less than normal. But the three before that were like Easter size level for us. They were like huge. Like a lot of people in the in the service so that just means that people are getting lazy god's priority people yeah so if you live around in around the state

or no if you live out of the state if you're watching you have a church hopefully you have a church otherwise but are also i will tell you our numbers are blowing like we're breaking numbers for the number of people watching live stream for our services too on Sunday morning. If you don't have a church, tune us in. You can check us out on YouTube, Black Robe, Rumble. Heather doesn't know either. Facebook. Facebook, yeah. So do that too.

Let's say the sinner's prayer together. If you don't know Jesus or if you did and you need to get your life right, let's do that right now because that's like what does it matter? That's the biggest and best thing or the most important thing we can do today. So Heavenly Father, I thank you for what you did on the cross. I thank you for dying for my sins. I thank you for the stripes that you bore and the bruises that you took for me to be able to go to heaven. I ask you to forgive me of my sins.

I ask you to be the Lord of my life. Whatever you say to do, I will do. Wherever you say to go, I will go. And if you tell me not to do something, I won't do it. Show me your plan. Show me your will. And I will accomplish it. In Jesus' mighty name we pray.

Amen. Have a great weekend. Again, don't forget to pray for Revival today. They don't need it, but they need it. Right? Yeah. We want to support them. Love you guys.

Have a great weekend. And I will see you on wednesday bye-bye real talk real talk real talk