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Hey, friend.
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Welcome to Perspectives into Practice, a place where life's stories meet practical wisdom. Together, we'll explore how faith filled perspectives can transform the way we live, love, and grow. So grab a seat, settle in, and join us on this journey to turn inspiration into action. Let's dive in foreign. Hey, friend, welcome back to Perspectives into Practice. I think sometimes it's easier to talk about trusting God when we know how the story ends. The prayer has been answered, the door has been opened, the healing came. We can look backward and see where God was and what he was doing. But what about when we're still praying? What about when you believe God? You trust God. And today is still, still hard. My new friend Ina is living in the middle of that right now. She's still praying, she's still believing, still waiting. And God is teaching her that she doesn't have to wait for the answer to recognize his presence. She can be honest about what today feels like and still have faith. So today we're talking about what it looks like to trust God without pretending the middle doesn't hurt. How we stay close to him when circumstances haven't changed, and what God might be doing in us while we wait. Welcome, Ina. I'm so glad that you're here.
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Good afternoon. So am I.
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Wonderful. So before we dive in, y' all know I love a good, fun fact. And Ena, you told me that you can turn almost anything into a project, which I love. You said supplies and a good idea. And your family already knows that you're probably about to. To get yourself into. So what is the most recent thing that you looked at and thought I could make that right now?
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I just told my husband we're going to a baby shower at the end of the month, so I have to make a baby basket. So it's going to include, you know, like a pillow. And they're going to have a baby tum, you know, because I do the heat press, I do the cricut. So, you know, we have to do everything, you know, and we have to personalize. So I have to call the mother to see if they came up with names. We have to do the. What do you call that? They. What they. Embroidery.
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Oh, the bib.
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I personalize those. The onesies. Yeah, I personalized. Oh, yes, yes, I see. Everything is a marketing strategy. Everything. I'm going to the party with my cards.
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That's amazing. That's amazing. I. I used to have a cricket and I loved everything that it could do. I thought it was just so amazing. And you're Right. Like everything just needed its name on it. Everything needed to know exactly whose it was or where it belonged to. And it just felt good. It just felt good to do that.
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And you could change it up, you know. Oh, my goodness. And the HTV and the shirt up, Forget it. But, you know, it, I, I, I love it because it's something that I really enjoy doing.
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Yeah.
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I enjoy, you know, even when I, even if it's a paid project, I enjoy it because I personalized it for that person and no one else in the world ever got a gift. You know what I mean? So.
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Yeah. Yeah. And it enjoys once one. Not once in a lifetime. Oh, what's the word? Not once in a lifetime means nobody else can make it the same.
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Right. I know what you mean.
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Oh, that's gonna bug me, Lord.
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You know it. When you get it, call me.
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Right.
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Well, it's, it's a, it's an original.
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It's an original. I can't think of what the word is, but it's, it's not once in a lifetime, but they, they're never going to forget who gave it to them. And it's going to bring them joy when they see it because they know that you put your heart into it, which is exactly what gifts are for, I think.
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How about that part? As long as he gets the glory, you know?
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Right.
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As long as you get the glory. And I do that in everything.
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Yes, I love it. Well, with that, I do want to shift into what God is doing in your life right now, because you are walking through something that doesn't have a neat ending. You're in the middle of it right now. So what does this season look like for you right now?
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My goodness. Physically, a weak season. I have spinal stenosis. I've had fusion surgery. Right now, as we sit, I have a stimulator attached to my back with the battery. And I had the, the, the, the device implant implanted into my body. And so it literally sends signals into my body to try to get my nerves. That for the last 15 years, having me cooperated, you know, technology, look, is something else. Whatever. I don't care how, when, whatever, you know, I pray over my doctors or whatever cases which I use my insurance. Yes, Lord.
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Yeah.
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You know, but it is painful. So I, I've seen as my body has deteriorated, my spirit has skyrocketed, and that's my season that I'm in. I'm in a strengthened weakness, if that makes any sense.
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Yeah, that's, I mean, that's beautiful.
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Yeah.
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Sometimes they clash as it's. It's not a linear day by day. Well, it's just, I mean.
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Right, right. Like grief. You know what I'm saying? People say, oh, I know, the seven times the grief. Okay. So people don't just go through, you know. You know, and they don't go back to anger. No. They could go back to anger a few times.
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Yes. Yeah, yeah.
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You know, it's not linear at all.
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Exactly. Right. And you said something to me that really stood out. You said that there's days that you want to accomplish things and what your body allows you to accomplish are two different things, which I can relate to that on so many different levels. And so what has been the hardest thing for you to accept those limitations on the days when your body says it's not happening today?
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Well, first of all, mentally, it's defeating.
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Yeah.
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Because I feel like, you know, this should be my best time.
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Yeah.
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You know what I mean? We have adult children, you know, an adult son. I should be up, you know, having a ball, and I didn't do anything also. I mean, not one thing. I think I maybe sat in the sun maybe twice, you know, sitting in the back on the deck.
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Yeah, It.
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It's hard mentally. And then it's hard to still be respectful to the people around you.
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Yeah.
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Because people are coming and they're minimizing to me because mentally I'm. I'm going, you know, wonky, wonky. Yeah, you're minimizing my pain. Oh, my God. When someone says, I know you're in pain, but oh, my goodness, when they get to that butt, I'm ready just to pop them upside their head. Because that negates everything that you just said.
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It does. Yes.
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You know, and then you can't understand my pain because what it is, is when I get those spasms, you know, all down my left leg and all under my foot is fire. When I feel like I've stepped on hot coal and it's just burning inside and it's non stop, you know, it's not like, you know, contraction, the pain coming, it's non stop for however long, you know, it is, you know, so. And that, that's the season that, that I'm in, unfortunately, you know, you know, the devil is alive. You know, I'm. I'm believing.
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I believe. I mean, I can imagine that that tension between believing God for healing and also being honest with the reality that you are still in pain today can be really hard. So how are you learning to hold both of those Things at the same time without feeling like somehow that means less faith.
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I don't, I can't, you know, I, I, I, I fail over and over and I probably will again, you know, because number one, I'm flesh, you know, and you know, especially being, you know, married to a minister, oh my goodness, you know, you gotta pray stronger. That's, you know, my own, you know, and I, you know, and I be crying, you know, you want to put the scripture on, you know, then he's trying to put the TV on, the scripture description on the phone, you know, then I'm yelling, get away from me. You know, and he told me, I rebuke that spirit, you know. You rebuking me? Listen, you know what?
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So, yeah, yeah.
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It takes you to a place that no one else is there mentally, but they're talking to you and they're having regular conversation. But I'm not having regular conversation because, you know, I'm on, I'm on pain 10, you know.
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Yeah, well. And I think it's harder for those of us that don't have that constant pain or the level of pain that you have to, to be able to even understand or comprehend what you're going through. Because it is a, a silent thing. I mean, unless you're, unless you're not silent. But the pain, we can't see that. It's not like a broken foot cast. Right? So even if you are all dolled up and looking pretty, we, you know, think that that's really hard for us on the outside to empathize with because, especially when it's a long term, because I've seen this a lot, a lot of times is that when it's a long term thing that someone's been going through and they haven't received healing for it, it, People less and less begin to be as accommodating or as gracious as they were in the beginning because they're like, well, this is, and you're like, don't you wish that I could just turn this off? Don't you wish that, that I could just think that I don't have it right? Like, we can't. You said something, you said that you can't measure God's presence by how you feel physically every, each, each and every day. And you're exactly right. And I, and I, what I want our friend to hear is what you're going through and that, you know, you said that you can imagine that, but it's so much harder to actually learn. And so what helped you when we're over here struggling to even understand what you're going through. What helped you to separate. I don't feel good today from God isn't here today. Because even though those sound like two different things, when you're, like you said, when you're mentally in it, they can feel like the same thing.
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Well, you know what I believe probably when it's breaking is when I can definitely, definitely. Because at that moment, I'm beginning to see stuff and understand stuff in the spirit. So I'm like, okay, you know what? You're. You're trying to attack my mind. You're trying to attack my mind. You know? You know, ina get it together mentally, you know, you're taking medicine. Because I don't even eat when I'm in these spasms. And the longest one I've had is eight days. Could you imagine it's eight days.
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Oh, my goodness.
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And then. And then when I get come out of it, then I have to recover.
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Right.
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Because my body is now, you know, so I'm telling somebody, imagine squeezing a tube when you let go. You see how it takes a moment back to open back up. That's my nerves now when I'm coming out and I'm able to say. And I. I kid you not, I could hear myself say, God, please. But there were times when it's so, so painful. You know, I'm. I'm saying it because my husband is saying, you know, you know, call on Jesus. Call on Jesus. You know, God help me. God help me.
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Yeah.
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And it's not working at that moment. And I'm like, you know, I. This is really pissing me off. I'm not gonna lie, you know, what is going on.
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Yeah.
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But. But when it's beginning to break, you know, like, I. I knew. I literally just had one the past weekend, and I knew, you know, I have to get up. I have to, you know, take care of business this week.
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Yeah.
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And I literally just prayed my way through it, and I'm still recovering.
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Yeah.
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But I'm like, God, I did it again. I did it again. And when I come out of it, I don't feel like until the next time I come out feeling like that was hard and that's going to be my last time. That was the one, God. That was the one, you know, I really believe in.
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Yeah.
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You know, you know, really believing that was it.
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Man. I'm. Honestly, I can't even imagine going through that roller coaster of trusting and believing and yet needing and wanting to understand, like, why am I still in this. What are you still trying to teach me? So what are you learning? Or, like, when you find yourself in those. Those times where you do want the answers about the timing and why is this happening again and, you know, wondering why you're still here, all of those. What, what helps you to come back to trust, because that's what I hear you saying, is that when you go through these, that it's hard, but you do come back to that. So what is that? What does that look like for you?
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You know, it's almost kind of elementary, as with the child.
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Yeah.
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When the child knows that, you know, a certain cry, a certain yell, a certain interaction, gets certain responses. And when we know the word, then we become responsible for the word.
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Yes.
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You know, then stuff becomes, you know, I don't want to be a. Just a hero of the word. I want to be a doer of the Word. And it's so funny because we say things and we make contracts. God, you know what? I thank you. And if you just do that, Lord God, I just, just use me, Lord. Use me, Lord. Use me, Lord. And God is like, okay, come on.
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Yeah.
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And, and you don't realize it. Some of it is hard mentally, physically, financially, you know, socially, you know, without kids, without spouse. But, you know, so it's not just me. So I compartmentalize, you know, and then once you do that, you start to become grateful. You know, we were talking even about, you know, your children earlier, and sometimes we just have to sit back and just look at what God has blessed us with.
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Yes.
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It's during that time that through all of the bad that I've been through, you know, the. How the song says, I. I learned to trust in Jesus and I learned to trust in God. I still through it all, through it all, through it all through it, I can still, still see God's hand and God's stamp and things. Yeah, I'm coming for Mina, you know, but I, I, I, I, I would never steal you wrong. You know what I'm saying? And is it perfect? Is it, you know, something. A grandeur, you know, an hour of prayer, you know, a two hours of praise the Word. That's great. If you had the time to do that every day. God bless you.
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Right.
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You know, I love the apps that throw the Today's scripture on the screen.
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Yeah.
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You know what I'm saying? And you know, and, and I read the whole chapter. You know, I do my, my. In my individual prayer in the morning, you know, when I pray with my husband. But all of it you know, and sometimes through it, through the day, I can do the worship music I can do stuff with. But if you can't, don't give God your. Your leftovers.
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Right.
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But it's okay to give God your best 10 minutes. You know what I'm saying?
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Yes.
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You know? Absolutely. You know?
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Yeah. Yeah. I love that you said that. It's elementary because I feel like so many times in our walk with the Lord, we try to make it harder than it is. We try to make it seem like it has to be two hours of worship and, you know, 14 hours on your knees and praying for every single person and every single thing that you can think of all day long. And like, these things are. Are not. They're. That's just not possible unless you live maybe by yourself on a hill with no responsibilities. I mean, I don't know, honestly.
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Right, right.
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Like, but in today's day and age, with when we have responsibilities and we have jobs and we have, you know, things that we go to and. And children and stuff, it. It's not practical to think that that is what God is wanting for us. And it's also not biblical because it doesn't say in there, you know, I want you to spend this much time. And also if we're checking off boxes, then it's more of a Pharisee than a relationship. And that's what he wants with us. So bringing him.
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Right.
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Yes, bringing him the. The best 10 minutes that we have of our day.
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Right.
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That's the first 10.
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Right.
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That's the last. Who knows? Right. But.
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Right.
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Bringing it to him. And I love what you said about knowing the Word, because you're right. If we don't know the word of God, what are we supposed to stand on? How are we supposed to tell the enemy the truth when he's coming up in our pain, regardless of it's physical pain or mental pain or, you know, maybe it's a divorce.
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Exactly.
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Going through what? Like, whatever it is, you have to know what the Bible says to be able to speak to him and tell him. Try again. This is what.
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Not today.
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What the Bible says. This is what my God.
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Yes.
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And speaking those truths out. And that's why the Lord says to hide, hide his word in our heart. Because not just so that we don't sin, but that at any moment we can bring it out and we can start speaking that. And that truth will. Will cut through.
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Listen, don't sometimes you be surprising yourself. You'll be like, wow, look, I knew that scripture right when I Read it.
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Yes. I'll pop myself on the back. I'm like, okay, you know what? Some days I feel like the memorization is so hard. I'm like, I don't even know what's in there anymore. And then some random verse will come out. I'm like, okay, okay, God. I see.
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Yes.
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Because
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absolutely, what's in us definitely comes out, you know, at some point.
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That's right.
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Absolutely.
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That's right. Yeah. So on a more practical term, on your harder days. So maybe, maybe a person, like we were saying, isn't physically in pain. Maybe they are walking through something that is their really hard thing today. So on your hard days, what does staying close to God actually look like? Like, practically, like, let's say you, you know, you're waking up in the morning, and obviously this is going to be different for everyone, but maybe there's something that you say that might, you know, help someone else.
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You know what? Again, you know, we're going to keep pulling trust, and we're going to keep pulling relationship. I love the fact of trying to think, you know, because, number one, I. I didn't have a father until. Until I was 26. Okay. You know. You had a father. I didn't meet my father until I was 26.
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Yes.
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So I did not know, you know, the relationship factor of it, you know, whatever that is, you know.
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Oh, yeah.
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I, you know, I'm watching, you know, the Huxtables and different family shows and, you know, getting ideas from them. I'm not gonna tell you a lie. You know, on those days, what I try to just figure out is if he did it before, he'll do it again.
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Yeah.
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And I think of the relationship. He's my father. He wants me to be blessed. He desires to bless me abundantly above morning. You know, I mean, he said, come to me all whole week and I will give you. You know what I'm saying? Like, you stuff will come and I'll be like, and I may not remember it all, and I may mess it up and Southern it out. You know what I mean? We may all make it our own style, you know, whatever, whatever. He knows our heart, but God knows. God know my heart. Right. God know my. You know, but the fact that, you know, and, and, and it. And, and then I can see it in other situations. You know, I give you a perfect example.
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Yeah.
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Really, really quickly when, When I, When I'm complaining about my husband to God and I go to my daddy, like, you know, daddy, he did this, and da, da, da, da, Da. Don't it always flip by the time you leave the conversation? God that talked to you, it worked on you. You know what I mean? So something about you. And I'm like, but that's not why I came to you. Yeah, but it's still edifying, you know what I mean? Because the fact of the matter is edifying us as wives. It's edifying us as women. It's edifying us as women of God, you know, so we're representing so many different roles. So in the everyday, practice, practicality of it all, you know, God helped me, when I go to this supermarket not to, you know, hit nobody, because I'm just learning how to do this buggy in a supermarket, and I'm excited and some people are agitated and look, and I pray. Practical prayers. Your father wants to hear everything from you. You know, we have a good time. You know, I'd be like, daddy, look, please don't let me hit nobody. You know, and I'll be serious, you know, just talk with him.
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Yes.
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Walk with him, you know? Yes.
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Yeah, we talk. We say it all the time on this podcast. We talk about, read your Bible, talk to the Lord and do what he says, like those. That is, if you want to know how to have a good relationship with the Lord, that's it. It's so, like you said, elementary. But you're right. Just talk to him. And you actually told me that, you know, sometimes your prayers are just, lord, help me, Lord, direct me, Lord, show me. Because that is all sometimes we can say. That's all that sometimes we can come out. And he, like we said, he does know our heart. He knows what we really mean. But sometimes life is just too hard to come up with all of the things, or sometimes it's just too many things to come out at once. And that's all we can say is, Lord, you do you. Because I can't.
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How about that part? You know, you got this. And. But that's normally when we're messing up and when we're having a difficult testimony. Not messing up, when we're having a difficult time, when we say we give it to him and. And we try to take it back. You know, for instance, you know, if adult children.
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Yeah.
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The transitioning is not just hard on them, it's hard on us.
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Yeah.
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You know, to really be able to not enable anymore and to really be able to just stand your boundaries and all different things. So you're still learning. We're all still learning in this thing right here. Yeah. You know, absolutely.
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And that's something else that you said that I, I don't want to rush past is that you are still learning to seek the Lord not only just what you need from him, because I feel like when we are in those seasons of, of hardship that we do need a lot of things from him, but because you gen. Genuinely want to stay close to him. And I love, I love that you've said that. And so I feel like that is a, is a really significant shift in the middle of waiting for, for something that we desperately, desperately want. And so how have you, or how are you learning, you know, to want God himself without making your relationship with him, you know all about the answer that you're waiting for? Because I think that that, that is a question that I have for myself that I'm still waiting for the Lord to answer. So I'd love to know.
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Right.
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How you're walking through that.
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No, absolutely right. And it's going to change as, you know, as we get older, you know, you know, with me, I, I again, like with you, I, I don't have a finite, you know, finite answer. I'm believing and knowing that again with the Word. He knows what we're going through before we get there.
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Yeah.
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And, you know, and when I talk to him now I'm gonna get personal. When I talk to my daddy, I ask him, you know, to answer me. Simple, stupid. I'm not gonna like, you know, I mean, like, you know, show me, show me. And, and, and, and I don't say I want to see four sevens, but I said I want to see it in a way that, and don't a commercial come on or something, you know what I mean? Or something that, like God, like, he has such a sense of humor. He answers you.
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Yeah.
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You know what I'm saying? So he answers me with the questions that I have. And, and so then I tried it, you know, so I said, okay, show me. You, you show me something in the future. The Holy Spirit shows me some of the future, you know, but I, I, I'm not physically seeing how I'm getting in there, you know, you want me to do X, Y and Z, you know, in your name. You want me to go X, Y and Z in your name. You told me to build this business four years ago. Not a cent don't went into that bank account. But in your, because listen, I don't do nothing. But I believe. We believe in doing crazy things. We, we, we, we just do things for God. We, we give out food. And let me tell you and that was the time that we, we would literally didn't really have that much listen testimony. I, I could write a book, you know. But it's during that time that I know. And again, here we go. Elementary. I think of my sweet children. I have a 24 year old and I have a 19 year old. Forever Teddy. He's in heaven. He was murdered when he was 19. September 20, 2012. I always have two children, but I thank you. I wanted here and, and, and, and that in itself, you know, again, you're talking about linear so you're talking about so many different things I literally just went through that week because he died September 20th and his funeral was September 29th. So that, that week. But, but God is a good guy, you know, I got through it and I'm here.
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Yeah.
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I think about my children right now. Think about it. When your children, you know, when your children want something, you know when they get in the kitchen and start washing dishes and you, you ain't tell them to or they start, you know, picking up stuff like that, you, you know, you want something, so don't do that. But you also know the ones that, it doesn't matter, just want come spend some time with you. You know, I don't come watching TV with me. D the ones that make you feel good. It's not just about them receiving, but the ones that naturally they may want something but they're willing to give to you. You know what I mean? Practice full time. Am I? You know, you've been wanting me to do this. Come on, let's do it. Whatever. And you know what? That child will get, that child will get. They're all going to get because you're going to bless all your children. Yeah, but you know, listen, I know I'm a special child. No, no. If God said, you know, there's an opening I want sitting on his lap right now, I just want to adore him. I just want, you know, could praise, praise, praise, praise, praise, praise. Praise breaks the storm.
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Yeah.
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You know, you were asking earlier about the, you know, whoever's listening, you know, friends, praise breaks the storm. And it may sound crazy, you, it may feel crazy, you know, so you might want to do it in a place that nobody's watching you, you know, just begin to praise him. God, I thank you. You may not even know anything but God, I just thank you. God, I thank you. And God is just going to start think bringing that back stuff of remembrance that he's done. God, I thank you for getting me out of that. God I thank you for, you know, and through that breakthrough, you know, and, you know, and if you're filled with the Holy Spirit, you know, you're. You're speaking. It's just so many ways to reach God, you know, and, and, and we do, like you said, we make it so big, but it's so many. God is like, listen, you can email me, you can fax me, you can text me, you can messaging me, you can iPhones, you know, smartphone, I take it all, you know, my brother said the other day, it was so funny, he said, well, if God is over there with you, then, you know, I know he ain't gonna come over here messing with me. I said, baby, let me tell you a joke. He could be both places at the same time, you know?
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Yep. Newsflash. Oh, my goodness. Yeah. He can, however, be in all the places at one time because he is omnipotent, and that is just what he does. And yes, yes. Which you like. I mean, you're so right. He does not care how we come to him. It's that we do, period. Like, that's it that we do. And that's what he. That's what he wants. That's what he wants. So we're kind of wrapping up here. I got. Got a couple more questions for you, but I want to bring our friend listening into this just one more time. So maybe. Maybe she loves God, she's prayed, she believes in him, she's tired, and her circumstances haven't changed. And maybe she's wondering if struggling and the waiting actually means that she's doing faith wrong, which I can think of completely understand. So, absolutely, from where you are right now, still in the middle of your own journey, what would you want her, or maybe yourself to know about walking with God before the answer comes? Because we won't always get the answer until we're in heaven. So sometimes we do just stay in that middle. So what would you want her to know?
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You know what, When. When we were saying earlier about the relationship and talking. Anyway, we have to learn to listen as well. Yes, God does speak to us. Remember, you know, I was making a joke about the. The TV ad and different things?
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Yeah.
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Once God gives you that answer, it's our responsibility then to move on that answer. How to say, faith without works is dead. Is it right? The vision and make it plain, you know, God may be bringing that person to help you, but you may be prideful, you may be shameful, you may be whatever you know, you know, and it could be, you know, not Even financial. It could be just somebody to pray with. You know, I, I'm not going to call it because she's not going to talk to me. You don't know, because let me tell you how again, how good my God is what he does is he's already set her up waiting for you to call.
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Yes.
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You know, whether she knows it's you or whether she just knows. I can't put my do not disturb one. I don't know why, you know, I don't know why. You know, for some reason she, she's up, you know, and she's waiting. And if you are obedient to do that, it may take you to the next, you know, I mean, no, not that it may, it will take you to the next step. So we, we, we have to put forth the effort. And I'm, and I'm not blaming at all, trust me, because I'd be like, no, no, no, no, no. I wasn't supposed to have that portion. God, no, no, no, no.
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Take that part, try again.
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You know, so, yeah, so it's definitely not saying that you're not doing enough, that you're not walking in faith enough, that you're not, you know, being Christian enough. The devil is a lie. That's. Anything that's unlike the word of God is from the enemy.
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Yeah.
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So the moment that you're thinking something that, that's not working and, and I, I sometimes have to get. I better get out of here. Like, I would have to talk to it. I would have to, you know, the other day I'm looking at plugs all over the floor and I'm like, is, is there a spirit in here or something? Why all these things are unplug. And I said, the devil is such a lie. I said, look at the enemy. Tried that fast to come and think that, you know, wrap my mind. It's on witchcraft and all the devil is a lie. And then I remembered when my husband said that he unplugged the printer the night before so we can reset, you know, but we, we, we have to know the attack, you know what I mean? And of course, you know, you get better with time, you know, you get better with different situations and things that, you know, you know, God wants you to learn. God wants you to learn in that season. I want you to learn for that season. God wants you to learn to be able to help somebody else. You know, there's a lot of different moving variables.
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Yeah.
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You know, but it's so exciting. It's so exciting, right? Serving God.
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Yes, it is. He will never. He will never leave us, and he never leads us down a path that is right. It's just not. It's just too much. You know that he's going to be with you every step of the way, and I love that you said that, because it's just. He's not going to leave you. Period. Period. So no matter what you're going through, no matter what you're going through, he's. He's there. And he already knows the ending. He already knows that you're going to struggle. He already knows that you're going to, you know, be upset with him and be angry at him and not want to talk to. Already knows all of the drama, all of your attitudes. He knows it. He also knows that you're going to come to him when you need him. You're. You're going to come to him even when you don't need him and you just want to be with him. He. He knows every single thing. And I. I love that you're reminding us that, because that is what I think, that regardless of our circumstances, that's what we need to remember, is that God is faithful every single moment of every single day, throughout every circumstance that we go through. And it's not for anything that we have done. It's for Christ dying on the cross for our sins, that we can live in this.
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Yes. Yes.
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Ina, thank you so much for being here. I'm so thankful that you're here and that you're sharing with us before you even know how it ends, in the messy middle, as I like to call it, because I think that it's so that we hear testimonies from the other side, because, you know, before people get to the other side, because that middle part is where a lot of us still are right now. And we might have prayers and answered testimonies that we do have and that we can share, and that's amazing. But there are sometimes days that. When it still hurts or it's still frustrating or prayers, but, you know, even. Even that, the only thing that we can say is, lord, help me. Lord be with me. Because. Because that's where it is. And so I'm just so thankful for you coming here and sharing with us.
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Thank you so much. Thank you.
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Yes. So before we wrap up, I want to ask you one last question that I ask every guest on the podcast, and that is, what is one perspective that you would encourage listeners to apply today?
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Oh, my goodness. Well, first of all, I'm just so excited and grateful to spend the time with your friends today.
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Yes.
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I would definitely have to say don't make it hard. Let your energy be expensive, you know, know your worth, you know, and that's how your father feels about you. He loves you so much. And sometimes even with shameful physical. So the perspective is just, you know, what, God, I messed up again or you know, I'm here again, you know, and. And we feel like we have a 10 count limit, you know, so. No, we don't have a limit, you know, so the perspective is just keep going back, just keep going back, you know, me and wherever you are in the elevator, you know, in the kitchen, God, you know I can't do this because you're going to hear, I was just waiting for you, baby. Thank you, Holy Spirit.
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Yes, absolutely.
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Oh my goodness, yes.
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Thank you for that, friend. Maybe you're living your own middle right now. You don't have the answers, the circumstances haven't changed and you're tired of waiting for the part where everything finally makes sense. Maybe today you don't need to figure out the ending. Maybe your prayer really can be as simple as, lord, help me, show me, direct me. And then trust that he is just as present in the middle as he will be on the other side. And if you're looking for a place to share what God is doing while you're still living that story, I'd love to invite you into the Story Haven. It's a free community where we share the real right now stories of what God is doing. We encourage one another's and build genuine relationships as we walk out our faith together. You can join us@thestoryhaven.net or find us on your Android or iPhone app. And if you have a story of what God is doing in your life right now, I would love to hear from you. Reach out to me to be a guest on perspectivesintopractice.com and remember, even small shifts in perspective can lead to big changes. Now go put those perspectives into practice. Talk to you next time.
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Hey, friend.
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Welcome to Perspectives into Practice, a place where life's stories meet practical wisdom. Together, we'll explore how faith filled perspectives can transform the way we live, love, and grow. So grab a seat, settle in, and join us on this journey to turn inspiration into action. Let's dive in foreign. Hey, friend, welcome back to Perspectives into Practice. I think sometimes it's easier to talk about trusting God when we know how the story ends. The prayer has been answered, the door has been opened, the healing came. We can look backward and see where God was and what he was doing. But what about when we're still praying? What about when you believe God? You trust God. And today is still, still hard. My new friend Ina is living in the middle of that right now. She's still praying, she's still believing, still waiting. And God is teaching her that she doesn't have to wait for the answer to recognize his presence. She can be honest about what today feels like and still have faith. So today we're talking about what it looks like to trust God without pretending the middle doesn't hurt. How we stay close to him when circumstances haven't changed, and what God might be doing in us while we wait. Welcome, Ina. I'm so glad that you're here.
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Good afternoon. So am I.
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Wonderful. So before we dive in, y' all know I love a good, fun fact. And Ena, you told me that you can turn almost anything into a project, which I love. You said supplies and a good idea. And your family already knows that you're probably about to. To get yourself into. So what is the most recent thing that you looked at and thought I could make that right now?
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I just told my husband we're going to a baby shower at the end of the month, so I have to make a baby basket. So it's going to include, you know, like a pillow. And they're going to have a baby tum, you know, because I do the heat press, I do the cricut. So, you know, we have to do everything, you know, and we have to personalize. So I have to call the mother to see if they came up with names. We have to do the. What do you call that? They. What they. Embroidery.
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Oh, the bib.
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I personalize those. The onesies. Yeah, I personalized. Oh, yes, yes, I see. Everything is a marketing strategy. Everything. I'm going to the party with my cards.
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That's amazing. That's amazing. I. I used to have a cricket and I loved everything that it could do. I thought it was just so amazing. And you're Right. Like everything just needed its name on it. Everything needed to know exactly whose it was or where it belonged to. And it just felt good. It just felt good to do that.
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And you could change it up, you know. Oh, my goodness. And the HTV and the shirt up, Forget it. But, you know, it, I, I, I love it because it's something that I really enjoy doing.
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Yeah.
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I enjoy, you know, even when I, even if it's a paid project, I enjoy it because I personalized it for that person and no one else in the world ever got a gift. You know what I mean? So.
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Yeah. Yeah. And it enjoys once one. Not once in a lifetime. Oh, what's the word? Not once in a lifetime means nobody else can make it the same.
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Right. I know what you mean.
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Oh, that's gonna bug me, Lord.
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You know it. When you get it, call me.
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Right.
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Well, it's, it's a, it's an original.
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It's an original. I can't think of what the word is, but it's, it's not once in a lifetime, but they, they're never going to forget who gave it to them. And it's going to bring them joy when they see it because they know that you put your heart into it, which is exactly what gifts are for, I think.
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How about that part? As long as he gets the glory, you know?
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Right.
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As long as you get the glory. And I do that in everything.
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Yes, I love it. Well, with that, I do want to shift into what God is doing in your life right now, because you are walking through something that doesn't have a neat ending. You're in the middle of it right now. So what does this season look like for you right now?
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My goodness. Physically, a weak season. I have spinal stenosis. I've had fusion surgery. Right now, as we sit, I have a stimulator attached to my back with the battery. And I had the, the, the, the device implant implanted into my body. And so it literally sends signals into my body to try to get my nerves. That for the last 15 years, having me cooperated, you know, technology, look, is something else. Whatever. I don't care how, when, whatever, you know, I pray over my doctors or whatever cases which I use my insurance. Yes, Lord.
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Yeah.
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You know, but it is painful. So I, I've seen as my body has deteriorated, my spirit has skyrocketed, and that's my season that I'm in. I'm in a strengthened weakness, if that makes any sense.
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Yeah, that's, I mean, that's beautiful.
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Yeah.
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Sometimes they clash as it's. It's not a linear day by day. Well, it's just, I mean.
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Right, right. Like grief. You know what I'm saying? People say, oh, I know, the seven times the grief. Okay. So people don't just go through, you know. You know, and they don't go back to anger. No. They could go back to anger a few times.
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Yes. Yeah, yeah.
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You know, it's not linear at all.
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Exactly. Right. And you said something to me that really stood out. You said that there's days that you want to accomplish things and what your body allows you to accomplish are two different things, which I can relate to that on so many different levels. And so what has been the hardest thing for you to accept those limitations on the days when your body says it's not happening today?
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Well, first of all, mentally, it's defeating.
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Yeah.
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Because I feel like, you know, this should be my best time.
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Yeah.
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You know what I mean? We have adult children, you know, an adult son. I should be up, you know, having a ball, and I didn't do anything also. I mean, not one thing. I think I maybe sat in the sun maybe twice, you know, sitting in the back on the deck.
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Yeah, It.
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It's hard mentally. And then it's hard to still be respectful to the people around you.
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Yeah.
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Because people are coming and they're minimizing to me because mentally I'm. I'm going, you know, wonky, wonky. Yeah, you're minimizing my pain. Oh, my God. When someone says, I know you're in pain, but oh, my goodness, when they get to that butt, I'm ready just to pop them upside their head. Because that negates everything that you just said.
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It does. Yes.
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You know, and then you can't understand my pain because what it is, is when I get those spasms, you know, all down my left leg and all under my foot is fire. When I feel like I've stepped on hot coal and it's just burning inside and it's non stop, you know, it's not like, you know, contraction, the pain coming, it's non stop for however long, you know, it is, you know, so. And that, that's the season that, that I'm in, unfortunately, you know, you know, the devil is alive. You know, I'm. I'm believing.
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I believe. I mean, I can imagine that that tension between believing God for healing and also being honest with the reality that you are still in pain today can be really hard. So how are you learning to hold both of those Things at the same time without feeling like somehow that means less faith.
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I don't, I can't, you know, I, I, I, I fail over and over and I probably will again, you know, because number one, I'm flesh, you know, and you know, especially being, you know, married to a minister, oh my goodness, you know, you gotta pray stronger. That's, you know, my own, you know, and I, you know, and I be crying, you know, you want to put the scripture on, you know, then he's trying to put the TV on, the scripture description on the phone, you know, then I'm yelling, get away from me. You know, and he told me, I rebuke that spirit, you know. You rebuking me? Listen, you know what?
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So, yeah, yeah.
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It takes you to a place that no one else is there mentally, but they're talking to you and they're having regular conversation. But I'm not having regular conversation because, you know, I'm on, I'm on pain 10, you know.
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Yeah, well. And I think it's harder for those of us that don't have that constant pain or the level of pain that you have to, to be able to even understand or comprehend what you're going through. Because it is a, a silent thing. I mean, unless you're, unless you're not silent. But the pain, we can't see that. It's not like a broken foot cast. Right? So even if you are all dolled up and looking pretty, we, you know, think that that's really hard for us on the outside to empathize with because, especially when it's a long term, because I've seen this a lot, a lot of times is that when it's a long term thing that someone's been going through and they haven't received healing for it, it, People less and less begin to be as accommodating or as gracious as they were in the beginning because they're like, well, this is, and you're like, don't you wish that I could just turn this off? Don't you wish that, that I could just think that I don't have it right? Like, we can't. You said something, you said that you can't measure God's presence by how you feel physically every, each, each and every day. And you're exactly right. And I, and I, what I want our friend to hear is what you're going through and that, you know, you said that you can imagine that, but it's so much harder to actually learn. And so what helped you when we're over here struggling to even understand what you're going through. What helped you to separate. I don't feel good today from God isn't here today. Because even though those sound like two different things, when you're, like you said, when you're mentally in it, they can feel like the same thing.
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Well, you know what I believe probably when it's breaking is when I can definitely, definitely. Because at that moment, I'm beginning to see stuff and understand stuff in the spirit. So I'm like, okay, you know what? You're. You're trying to attack my mind. You're trying to attack my mind. You know? You know, ina get it together mentally, you know, you're taking medicine. Because I don't even eat when I'm in these spasms. And the longest one I've had is eight days. Could you imagine it's eight days.
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Oh, my goodness.
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And then. And then when I get come out of it, then I have to recover.
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Right.
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Because my body is now, you know, so I'm telling somebody, imagine squeezing a tube when you let go. You see how it takes a moment back to open back up. That's my nerves now when I'm coming out and I'm able to say. And I. I kid you not, I could hear myself say, God, please. But there were times when it's so, so painful. You know, I'm. I'm saying it because my husband is saying, you know, you know, call on Jesus. Call on Jesus. You know, God help me. God help me.
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Yeah.
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And it's not working at that moment. And I'm like, you know, I. This is really pissing me off. I'm not gonna lie, you know, what is going on.
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Yeah.
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But. But when it's beginning to break, you know, like, I. I knew. I literally just had one the past weekend, and I knew, you know, I have to get up. I have to, you know, take care of business this week.
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Yeah.
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And I literally just prayed my way through it, and I'm still recovering.
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Yeah.
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But I'm like, God, I did it again. I did it again. And when I come out of it, I don't feel like until the next time I come out feeling like that was hard and that's going to be my last time. That was the one, God. That was the one, you know, I really believe in.
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Yeah.
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You know, you know, really believing that was it.
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Man. I'm. Honestly, I can't even imagine going through that roller coaster of trusting and believing and yet needing and wanting to understand, like, why am I still in this. What are you still trying to teach me? So what are you learning? Or, like, when you find yourself in those. Those times where you do want the answers about the timing and why is this happening again and, you know, wondering why you're still here, all of those. What, what helps you to come back to trust, because that's what I hear you saying, is that when you go through these, that it's hard, but you do come back to that. So what is that? What does that look like for you?
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You know, it's almost kind of elementary, as with the child.
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Yeah.
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When the child knows that, you know, a certain cry, a certain yell, a certain interaction, gets certain responses. And when we know the word, then we become responsible for the word.
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Yes.
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You know, then stuff becomes, you know, I don't want to be a. Just a hero of the word. I want to be a doer of the Word. And it's so funny because we say things and we make contracts. God, you know what? I thank you. And if you just do that, Lord God, I just, just use me, Lord. Use me, Lord. Use me, Lord. And God is like, okay, come on.
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Yeah.
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And, and you don't realize it. Some of it is hard mentally, physically, financially, you know, socially, you know, without kids, without spouse. But, you know, so it's not just me. So I compartmentalize, you know, and then once you do that, you start to become grateful. You know, we were talking even about, you know, your children earlier, and sometimes we just have to sit back and just look at what God has blessed us with.
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Yes.
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It's during that time that through all of the bad that I've been through, you know, the. How the song says, I. I learned to trust in Jesus and I learned to trust in God. I still through it all, through it all, through it all through it, I can still, still see God's hand and God's stamp and things. Yeah, I'm coming for Mina, you know, but I, I, I, I, I would never steal you wrong. You know what I'm saying? And is it perfect? Is it, you know, something. A grandeur, you know, an hour of prayer, you know, a two hours of praise the Word. That's great. If you had the time to do that every day. God bless you.
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Right.
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You know, I love the apps that throw the Today's scripture on the screen.
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Yeah.
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You know what I'm saying? And you know, and, and I read the whole chapter. You know, I do my, my. In my individual prayer in the morning, you know, when I pray with my husband. But all of it you know, and sometimes through it, through the day, I can do the worship music I can do stuff with. But if you can't, don't give God your. Your leftovers.
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Right.
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But it's okay to give God your best 10 minutes. You know what I'm saying?
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Yes.
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You know? Absolutely. You know?
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Yeah. Yeah. I love that you said that. It's elementary because I feel like so many times in our walk with the Lord, we try to make it harder than it is. We try to make it seem like it has to be two hours of worship and, you know, 14 hours on your knees and praying for every single person and every single thing that you can think of all day long. And like, these things are. Are not. They're. That's just not possible unless you live maybe by yourself on a hill with no responsibilities. I mean, I don't know, honestly.
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Right, right.
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Like, but in today's day and age, with when we have responsibilities and we have jobs and we have, you know, things that we go to and. And children and stuff, it. It's not practical to think that that is what God is wanting for us. And it's also not biblical because it doesn't say in there, you know, I want you to spend this much time. And also if we're checking off boxes, then it's more of a Pharisee than a relationship. And that's what he wants with us. So bringing him.
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Right.
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Yes, bringing him the. The best 10 minutes that we have of our day.
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Right.
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That's the first 10.
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Right.
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That's the last. Who knows? Right. But.
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Right.
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Bringing it to him. And I love what you said about knowing the Word, because you're right. If we don't know the word of God, what are we supposed to stand on? How are we supposed to tell the enemy the truth when he's coming up in our pain, regardless of it's physical pain or mental pain or, you know, maybe it's a divorce.
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Exactly.
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Going through what? Like, whatever it is, you have to know what the Bible says to be able to speak to him and tell him. Try again. This is what.
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Not today.
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What the Bible says. This is what my God.
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Yes.
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And speaking those truths out. And that's why the Lord says to hide, hide his word in our heart. Because not just so that we don't sin, but that at any moment we can bring it out and we can start speaking that. And that truth will. Will cut through.
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Listen, don't sometimes you be surprising yourself. You'll be like, wow, look, I knew that scripture right when I Read it.
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Yes. I'll pop myself on the back. I'm like, okay, you know what? Some days I feel like the memorization is so hard. I'm like, I don't even know what's in there anymore. And then some random verse will come out. I'm like, okay, okay, God. I see.
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Yes.
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Because
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absolutely, what's in us definitely comes out, you know, at some point.
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That's right.
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Absolutely.
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That's right. Yeah. So on a more practical term, on your harder days. So maybe, maybe a person, like we were saying, isn't physically in pain. Maybe they are walking through something that is their really hard thing today. So on your hard days, what does staying close to God actually look like? Like, practically, like, let's say you, you know, you're waking up in the morning, and obviously this is going to be different for everyone, but maybe there's something that you say that might, you know, help someone else.
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You know what? Again, you know, we're going to keep pulling trust, and we're going to keep pulling relationship. I love the fact of trying to think, you know, because, number one, I. I didn't have a father until. Until I was 26. Okay. You know. You had a father. I didn't meet my father until I was 26.
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Yes.
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So I did not know, you know, the relationship factor of it, you know, whatever that is, you know.
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Oh, yeah.
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I, you know, I'm watching, you know, the Huxtables and different family shows and, you know, getting ideas from them. I'm not gonna tell you a lie. You know, on those days, what I try to just figure out is if he did it before, he'll do it again.
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Yeah.
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And I think of the relationship. He's my father. He wants me to be blessed. He desires to bless me abundantly above morning. You know, I mean, he said, come to me all whole week and I will give you. You know what I'm saying? Like, you stuff will come and I'll be like, and I may not remember it all, and I may mess it up and Southern it out. You know what I mean? We may all make it our own style, you know, whatever, whatever. He knows our heart, but God knows. God know my heart. Right. God know my. You know, but the fact that, you know, and, and, and it. And, and then I can see it in other situations. You know, I give you a perfect example.
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Yeah.
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Really, really quickly when, When I, When I'm complaining about my husband to God and I go to my daddy, like, you know, daddy, he did this, and da, da, da, da, Da. Don't it always flip by the time you leave the conversation? God that talked to you, it worked on you. You know what I mean? So something about you. And I'm like, but that's not why I came to you. Yeah, but it's still edifying, you know what I mean? Because the fact of the matter is edifying us as wives. It's edifying us as women. It's edifying us as women of God, you know, so we're representing so many different roles. So in the everyday, practice, practicality of it all, you know, God helped me, when I go to this supermarket not to, you know, hit nobody, because I'm just learning how to do this buggy in a supermarket, and I'm excited and some people are agitated and look, and I pray. Practical prayers. Your father wants to hear everything from you. You know, we have a good time. You know, I'd be like, daddy, look, please don't let me hit nobody. You know, and I'll be serious, you know, just talk with him.
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Yes.
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Walk with him, you know? Yes.
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Yeah, we talk. We say it all the time on this podcast. We talk about, read your Bible, talk to the Lord and do what he says, like those. That is, if you want to know how to have a good relationship with the Lord, that's it. It's so, like you said, elementary. But you're right. Just talk to him. And you actually told me that, you know, sometimes your prayers are just, lord, help me, Lord, direct me, Lord, show me. Because that is all sometimes we can say. That's all that sometimes we can come out. And he, like we said, he does know our heart. He knows what we really mean. But sometimes life is just too hard to come up with all of the things, or sometimes it's just too many things to come out at once. And that's all we can say is, Lord, you do you. Because I can't.
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How about that part? You know, you got this. And. But that's normally when we're messing up and when we're having a difficult testimony. Not messing up, when we're having a difficult time, when we say we give it to him and. And we try to take it back. You know, for instance, you know, if adult children.
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Yeah.
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The transitioning is not just hard on them, it's hard on us.
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Yeah.
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You know, to really be able to not enable anymore and to really be able to just stand your boundaries and all different things. So you're still learning. We're all still learning in this thing right here. Yeah. You know, absolutely.
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And that's something else that you said that I, I don't want to rush past is that you are still learning to seek the Lord not only just what you need from him, because I feel like when we are in those seasons of, of hardship that we do need a lot of things from him, but because you gen. Genuinely want to stay close to him. And I love, I love that you've said that. And so I feel like that is a, is a really significant shift in the middle of waiting for, for something that we desperately, desperately want. And so how have you, or how are you learning, you know, to want God himself without making your relationship with him, you know all about the answer that you're waiting for? Because I think that that, that is a question that I have for myself that I'm still waiting for the Lord to answer. So I'd love to know.
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Right.
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How you're walking through that.
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No, absolutely right. And it's going to change as, you know, as we get older, you know, you know, with me, I, I again, like with you, I, I don't have a finite, you know, finite answer. I'm believing and knowing that again with the Word. He knows what we're going through before we get there.
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Yeah.
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And, you know, and when I talk to him now I'm gonna get personal. When I talk to my daddy, I ask him, you know, to answer me. Simple, stupid. I'm not gonna like, you know, I mean, like, you know, show me, show me. And, and, and, and I don't say I want to see four sevens, but I said I want to see it in a way that, and don't a commercial come on or something, you know what I mean? Or something that, like God, like, he has such a sense of humor. He answers you.
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Yeah.
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You know what I'm saying? So he answers me with the questions that I have. And, and so then I tried it, you know, so I said, okay, show me. You, you show me something in the future. The Holy Spirit shows me some of the future, you know, but I, I, I'm not physically seeing how I'm getting in there, you know, you want me to do X, Y and Z, you know, in your name. You want me to go X, Y and Z in your name. You told me to build this business four years ago. Not a cent don't went into that bank account. But in your, because listen, I don't do nothing. But I believe. We believe in doing crazy things. We, we, we, we just do things for God. We, we give out food. And let me tell you and that was the time that we, we would literally didn't really have that much listen testimony. I, I could write a book, you know. But it's during that time that I know. And again, here we go. Elementary. I think of my sweet children. I have a 24 year old and I have a 19 year old. Forever Teddy. He's in heaven. He was murdered when he was 19. September 20, 2012. I always have two children, but I thank you. I wanted here and, and, and, and that in itself, you know, again, you're talking about linear so you're talking about so many different things I literally just went through that week because he died September 20th and his funeral was September 29th. So that, that week. But, but God is a good guy, you know, I got through it and I'm here.
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Yeah.
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I think about my children right now. Think about it. When your children, you know, when your children want something, you know when they get in the kitchen and start washing dishes and you, you ain't tell them to or they start, you know, picking up stuff like that, you, you know, you want something, so don't do that. But you also know the ones that, it doesn't matter, just want come spend some time with you. You know, I don't come watching TV with me. D the ones that make you feel good. It's not just about them receiving, but the ones that naturally they may want something but they're willing to give to you. You know what I mean? Practice full time. Am I? You know, you've been wanting me to do this. Come on, let's do it. Whatever. And you know what? That child will get, that child will get. They're all going to get because you're going to bless all your children. Yeah, but you know, listen, I know I'm a special child. No, no. If God said, you know, there's an opening I want sitting on his lap right now, I just want to adore him. I just want, you know, could praise, praise, praise, praise, praise, praise. Praise breaks the storm.
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Yeah.
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You know, you were asking earlier about the, you know, whoever's listening, you know, friends, praise breaks the storm. And it may sound crazy, you, it may feel crazy, you know, so you might want to do it in a place that nobody's watching you, you know, just begin to praise him. God, I thank you. You may not even know anything but God, I just thank you. God, I thank you. And God is just going to start think bringing that back stuff of remembrance that he's done. God, I thank you for getting me out of that. God I thank you for, you know, and through that breakthrough, you know, and, you know, and if you're filled with the Holy Spirit, you know, you're. You're speaking. It's just so many ways to reach God, you know, and, and, and we do, like you said, we make it so big, but it's so many. God is like, listen, you can email me, you can fax me, you can text me, you can messaging me, you can iPhones, you know, smartphone, I take it all, you know, my brother said the other day, it was so funny, he said, well, if God is over there with you, then, you know, I know he ain't gonna come over here messing with me. I said, baby, let me tell you a joke. He could be both places at the same time, you know?
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Yep. Newsflash. Oh, my goodness. Yeah. He can, however, be in all the places at one time because he is omnipotent, and that is just what he does. And yes, yes. Which you like. I mean, you're so right. He does not care how we come to him. It's that we do, period. Like, that's it that we do. And that's what he. That's what he wants. That's what he wants. So we're kind of wrapping up here. I got. Got a couple more questions for you, but I want to bring our friend listening into this just one more time. So maybe. Maybe she loves God, she's prayed, she believes in him, she's tired, and her circumstances haven't changed. And maybe she's wondering if struggling and the waiting actually means that she's doing faith wrong, which I can think of completely understand. So, absolutely, from where you are right now, still in the middle of your own journey, what would you want her, or maybe yourself to know about walking with God before the answer comes? Because we won't always get the answer until we're in heaven. So sometimes we do just stay in that middle. So what would you want her to know?
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You know what, When. When we were saying earlier about the relationship and talking. Anyway, we have to learn to listen as well. Yes, God does speak to us. Remember, you know, I was making a joke about the. The TV ad and different things?
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Yeah.
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Once God gives you that answer, it's our responsibility then to move on that answer. How to say, faith without works is dead. Is it right? The vision and make it plain, you know, God may be bringing that person to help you, but you may be prideful, you may be shameful, you may be whatever you know, you know, and it could be, you know, not Even financial. It could be just somebody to pray with. You know, I, I'm not going to call it because she's not going to talk to me. You don't know, because let me tell you how again, how good my God is what he does is he's already set her up waiting for you to call.
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Yes.
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You know, whether she knows it's you or whether she just knows. I can't put my do not disturb one. I don't know why, you know, I don't know why. You know, for some reason she, she's up, you know, and she's waiting. And if you are obedient to do that, it may take you to the next, you know, I mean, no, not that it may, it will take you to the next step. So we, we, we have to put forth the effort. And I'm, and I'm not blaming at all, trust me, because I'd be like, no, no, no, no, no. I wasn't supposed to have that portion. God, no, no, no, no.
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Take that part, try again.
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You know, so, yeah, so it's definitely not saying that you're not doing enough, that you're not walking in faith enough, that you're not, you know, being Christian enough. The devil is a lie. That's. Anything that's unlike the word of God is from the enemy.
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Yeah.
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So the moment that you're thinking something that, that's not working and, and I, I sometimes have to get. I better get out of here. Like, I would have to talk to it. I would have to, you know, the other day I'm looking at plugs all over the floor and I'm like, is, is there a spirit in here or something? Why all these things are unplug. And I said, the devil is such a lie. I said, look at the enemy. Tried that fast to come and think that, you know, wrap my mind. It's on witchcraft and all the devil is a lie. And then I remembered when my husband said that he unplugged the printer the night before so we can reset, you know, but we, we, we have to know the attack, you know what I mean? And of course, you know, you get better with time, you know, you get better with different situations and things that, you know, you know, God wants you to learn. God wants you to learn in that season. I want you to learn for that season. God wants you to learn to be able to help somebody else. You know, there's a lot of different moving variables.
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Yeah.
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You know, but it's so exciting. It's so exciting, right? Serving God.
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Yes, it is. He will never. He will never leave us, and he never leads us down a path that is right. It's just not. It's just too much. You know that he's going to be with you every step of the way, and I love that you said that, because it's just. He's not going to leave you. Period. Period. So no matter what you're going through, no matter what you're going through, he's. He's there. And he already knows the ending. He already knows that you're going to struggle. He already knows that you're going to, you know, be upset with him and be angry at him and not want to talk to. Already knows all of the drama, all of your attitudes. He knows it. He also knows that you're going to come to him when you need him. You're. You're going to come to him even when you don't need him and you just want to be with him. He. He knows every single thing. And I. I love that you're reminding us that, because that is what I think, that regardless of our circumstances, that's what we need to remember, is that God is faithful every single moment of every single day, throughout every circumstance that we go through. And it's not for anything that we have done. It's for Christ dying on the cross for our sins, that we can live in this.
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Yes. Yes.
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Ina, thank you so much for being here. I'm so thankful that you're here and that you're sharing with us before you even know how it ends, in the messy middle, as I like to call it, because I think that it's so that we hear testimonies from the other side, because, you know, before people get to the other side, because that middle part is where a lot of us still are right now. And we might have prayers and answered testimonies that we do have and that we can share, and that's amazing. But there are sometimes days that. When it still hurts or it's still frustrating or prayers, but, you know, even. Even that, the only thing that we can say is, lord, help me. Lord be with me. Because. Because that's where it is. And so I'm just so thankful for you coming here and sharing with us.
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Thank you so much. Thank you.
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Yes. So before we wrap up, I want to ask you one last question that I ask every guest on the podcast, and that is, what is one perspective that you would encourage listeners to apply today?
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Oh, my goodness. Well, first of all, I'm just so excited and grateful to spend the time with your friends today.
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Yes.
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I would definitely have to say don't make it hard. Let your energy be expensive, you know, know your worth, you know, and that's how your father feels about you. He loves you so much. And sometimes even with shameful physical. So the perspective is just, you know, what, God, I messed up again or you know, I'm here again, you know, and. And we feel like we have a 10 count limit, you know, so. No, we don't have a limit, you know, so the perspective is just keep going back, just keep going back, you know, me and wherever you are in the elevator, you know, in the kitchen, God, you know I can't do this because you're going to hear, I was just waiting for you, baby. Thank you, Holy Spirit.
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Yes, absolutely.
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Oh my goodness, yes.
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Thank you for that, friend. Maybe you're living your own middle right now. You don't have the answers, the circumstances haven't changed and you're tired of waiting for the part where everything finally makes sense. Maybe today you don't need to figure out the ending. Maybe your prayer really can be as simple as, lord, help me, show me, direct me. And then trust that he is just as present in the middle as he will be on the other side. And if you're looking for a place to share what God is doing while you're still living that story, I'd love to invite you into the Story Haven. It's a free community where we share the real right now stories of what God is doing. We encourage one another's and build genuine relationships as we walk out our faith together. You can join us@thestoryhaven.net or find us on your Android or iPhone app. And if you have a story of what God is doing in your life right now, I would love to hear from you. Reach out to me to be a guest on perspectivesintopractice.com and remember, even small shifts in perspective can lead to big changes. Now go put those perspectives into practice. Talk to you next time.
