The Enemy of the Best is the Good

WEBVTT100:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.879God has good things for us.He has a good calling on our life,200:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.919but the best thing is to walkin the good calling that God has300:00:06.960 --> 00:00:11.759on your life, not the thingsthat other people want you to do.400:00:12.320 --> 00:00:18.519I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours, and me Lord,500:00:18.719 --> 00:00:23.879I am yours, I am yours. I'm welcome to the Gospel Center600:00:23.960 --> 00:00:29.399Pro Life Podcast, a podcast designedto equip, encourage and challenge you in700:00:29.440 --> 00:00:33.479pro life ministry and always were thefocus on the Gospel. Stay tuned.800:00:35.479 --> 00:00:48.560I felt show passish, touch yourheart. Use Me. Welcome back to900:00:48.600 --> 00:00:52.399the Gospel centered pro life podcast.Appreciate you guys joining us. My name1000:00:52.520 --> 00:00:57.840is Daniel Parks. I am theWest Coast Regional Shepherd for love life,1100:00:57.880 --> 00:01:03.479so oversee our efforts on the WestCoast and I'm joined with my cohost,1200:01:03.679 --> 00:01:08.000Vicki Kessi Org. Hey, thereeveryone, and Vicki Kessi Org is our1300:01:08.200 --> 00:01:12.680director of sidewalk training. I havea new title. We've given her a1400:01:12.680 --> 00:01:19.239new title. Vicki's awesome. Shetrains a lot of people and actually we're1500:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.719flying her around the country to varioussidewalk ministries where we have a love life1600:01:23.719 --> 00:01:30.239presence and just helping equip those sidewalkministries by sending Vicki and her expertise out1700:01:30.280 --> 00:01:34.200there to speak into that. Andof course, as we've shared in the1800:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.480past, we both have an expertise, I guess you can call an expertise1900:01:37.519 --> 00:01:41.719in sidewalk ministry. Basically, we'vebeen doing it for a long time and2000:01:41.799 --> 00:01:46.519we've made a bunch of mistakes andare trying to help you guys not make2100:01:46.519 --> 00:01:51.959those same mistakes. So that's right. Yeah, so in this episode,2200:01:52.000 --> 00:01:56.200I'm kind of excited about it.We were talking about just various episodes that2300:01:56.239 --> 00:02:00.719we wanted to do in various titlesthat we wanted to to cover. We2400:02:00.840 --> 00:02:04.319cover stuff that's really needy, grittyand practical, you know, and then2500:02:04.359 --> 00:02:09.159we cover stuff that's more like,I don't know, in the philosophical realm,2600:02:09.879 --> 00:02:14.599kind of looking at what what isgoing to the our heart, like2700:02:14.639 --> 00:02:19.479what's going on inside of us,as opposed to practical advice on how to2800:02:19.599 --> 00:02:24.560Sidewalk Council, but what are somethings that are really discouraging, yeah,2900:02:24.800 --> 00:02:29.000US, that that we need toaddress? Yeah, yeah, yeah,3000:02:29.039 --> 00:02:35.520because you can be as good asidewalk counselor as you want, but in3100:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.879have all the principles and all theboxes checked and all that stuff. But3200:02:38.360 --> 00:02:43.840if the enemy uses some other thingsto neutralize you, right, and you3300:02:43.960 --> 00:02:49.159end up not going out through thesidewalk because you're distracted or because you're discourage3400:02:49.560 --> 00:02:54.280or whatever it may be, thenall the practical stuff does you know good?3500:02:54.360 --> 00:02:59.599Right, yeah, and I thinkI love those words. But the3600:02:59.719 --> 00:03:02.960N me is using to neutralize you, because the enemy is very crafty.3700:03:04.120 --> 00:03:07.599And the interesting thing is if you'refollowing the Lord, he's probably not going3800:03:07.639 --> 00:03:12.439to use bad things right neutralize youso much. He's not going to.3900:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.840It's less likely in my experience thatI'm going to be tempted to do something4000:03:15.840 --> 00:03:23.199that's out right bad or wrong.Right, I'm tempted by what is good.4100:03:23.280 --> 00:03:27.840Yeah, and that's how our podcastkind of developed. Yeah, and4200:03:27.879 --> 00:03:31.199the title is the enemy of thebest is the good. Yes, now,4300:03:31.199 --> 00:03:35.479if you've been around me any anyamount of time, you've probably heard4400:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.000me say that. Yeah, andyeah, I've heard a lot of others4500:03:38.199 --> 00:03:42.719say that the enemy of the bestis the good, and it's kind of4600:03:42.719 --> 00:03:46.759that principle. The scripture tells usthe devil comes as an angel of light.4700:03:47.039 --> 00:03:51.240Right, the enemy comes a devilwe're walking with Jesus, like you4800:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.360said, the enemy. He's notgoing to come with some straight up temptation4900:03:53.400 --> 00:03:55.759to sin. I mean certainly weknow he can and he will, but5000:03:55.800 --> 00:03:59.919a lot of times that he comesin the subtleties. He comes in his5100:03:59.960 --> 00:04:03.400craftiness because he knows if he justkind of shows all his cards, then5200:04:03.439 --> 00:04:06.360you're not going to take the bait. But if he can come and crafts,5300:04:06.479 --> 00:04:12.879he can come with good things butthey're not the best things, then5400:04:12.919 --> 00:04:15.319you can get distracted. I thinkthat's the main thing that we want to5500:04:15.319 --> 00:04:19.920warn you guys about, is justbeing distracted. Yeah, getting distracted by5600:04:19.920 --> 00:04:24.519other things, by things that vibefor your time and your attention and your5700:04:24.560 --> 00:04:30.439focus. Whenever, in reality,the best things are. They're certain good5800:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.439things. Right, if we're ifwe're children of God, God has good5900:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.720things for us. He has agood calling on our life. But the6000:04:38.759 --> 00:04:42.399best thing is to walk in thegood calling that God has on your life,6100:04:42.480 --> 00:04:46.279not the things that other people wantyou to do. Right, right,6200:04:46.279 --> 00:04:53.680and for me those good things it'sless an issue of distraction as much6300:04:53.759 --> 00:04:58.600as just losing energy. Yeah,then I don't have the energy to put6400:04:58.639 --> 00:05:02.439for spiritual, emotional whatever to bea fourth for what God has indeed called6500:05:02.519 --> 00:05:05.199me. Yeah, to do.Yeah, and so, just to be6600:05:05.279 --> 00:05:11.120real plain, the best things foryou as a believer in Jesus is what6700:05:11.199 --> 00:05:14.800God has called you to. Right, that's the best thing. Now,6800:05:15.000 --> 00:05:19.480God calls people to all kinds ofthings. I certainly believe that there are6900:05:19.480 --> 00:05:25.839more people called to do sidewalk ministrythan are actually doing it. Yeah,7000:05:25.879 --> 00:05:28.720there's a lot of people out therethat should be doing this ministry. They're7100:05:28.800 --> 00:05:31.759not right, but also don't believethat everyone is called to this ministry.7200:05:31.839 --> 00:05:35.879Right. There are people that arecalled to do things in the political realm.7300:05:35.920 --> 00:05:39.560There are people that are called todo things. You know, there's7400:05:39.720 --> 00:05:43.079people that are called to be pastorsof Churches and in order to do that7500:05:43.160 --> 00:05:46.839and do that, well, that'sthe best thing for them. They're really7600:05:46.879 --> 00:05:50.120not going to be involved in thesidewalk ministry. I hope that their church7700:05:50.160 --> 00:05:54.319would adopt a we you can getinvolved with love life in some capacity,7800:05:55.360 --> 00:06:00.160but they're not going to be onthe sidewalk likely. Yeah, people who7900:06:00.199 --> 00:06:03.639are called to be a missionary in, you know, China or Africa or8000:06:03.639 --> 00:06:10.279wherever oversees their call to are notgoing to be able to do the sidewalk8100:06:10.319 --> 00:06:14.199ministry because that calling is the bestthing for them. If I was to8200:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.959come along and try to try toconvince then they need to do sidewalk ministry8300:06:17.000 --> 00:06:23.240when they're really called to go toChina and be a missionary, yeah,8400:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.920that I would be. I wouldbe competing with the best thing for them8500:06:25.959 --> 00:06:29.120by offering a good thing, right. So that's kind of the train of8600:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.560thought that we're going for here.Yeah, and I want to say I8700:06:30.639 --> 00:06:34.480just want to affirm you guys thatare listening to this. You're likely listening8800:06:34.480 --> 00:06:40.600to this podcast because you are calledto this ministry, whether you're called to8900:06:40.639 --> 00:06:44.480it in some kind of you official, full time capacity as a love life9000:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.720missionary, or whether you're called toit as a lead volunteer or a volunteer,9100:06:47.879 --> 00:06:51.399my weekly volunteer, monthly volunteer,whatever it is, you're likely called9200:06:51.480 --> 00:06:55.680to this. And so what we'regoing to be speaking and kind of in9300:06:55.720 --> 00:07:00.920the terms of is don't let goodthings compete with that calling, which would9400:07:00.920 --> 00:07:02.519be the best thing. Right.That's what God has for you. Now9500:07:02.560 --> 00:07:06.680I cannot tell you what is thebest thing for you. Vicki's not going9600:07:06.720 --> 00:07:10.720to be able to tell you what'sthe best thing for you? You have9700:07:10.800 --> 00:07:15.040to seek the Lord and you know, we can, maybe, probably won't9800:07:15.079 --> 00:07:16.959be able to drill into all ofthe principles that will tell you what are9900:07:16.959 --> 00:07:19.000the best things for you. Butthe number one thing is you need to10000:07:19.000 --> 00:07:24.360seek the Lord. Right, ifyou desire to do the thing that's that's10100:07:24.360 --> 00:07:28.920a good marker of like this isprobably what God is calling you to.10200:07:29.079 --> 00:07:31.199But also you want others in yourlife speaking into that. Do you?10300:07:31.439 --> 00:07:35.360Do you see in my life thatGod is calling me to this particular Ministry10400:07:35.360 --> 00:07:40.439of that Particular Ministry? Talk withyour pastor talk with people that love Jesus10500:07:40.439 --> 00:07:42.879and that love you, that areclose to you, and they can affirm10600:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.800the calling that you feel in yourheart. Now, do not mean to10700:07:45.839 --> 00:07:49.800say that you're giddy about being involvedin this ministry. It's often across to10800:07:49.879 --> 00:07:54.600bear for us to step into thebest thing that God has for us.10900:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.560Right. Yeah, I mean Ithink of the Apostle Paul. What was11000:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.680the best for him? It wasto go to be Apostle, an apostle11100:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.319to the gentiles, to bring theGospel to them. Because of that,11200:08:05.279 --> 00:08:09.600it was pretty, pretty difficult forthe Apostle Paul Right, he said down,11300:08:09.639 --> 00:08:15.160shipwrecked. Yeah, haunted, prettyimprisoned. Yeah, he didn't have11400:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.279an easy time of it, buthe followed his calling. Yeah, he11500:08:18.319 --> 00:08:24.879did, and he followed it untilhe's his life was taken because of the11600:08:24.920 --> 00:08:28.120Gospel, right. It's what Churchhistory tells us. Yeah, and so11700:08:28.920 --> 00:08:31.320again, we're not going to beable to tell you what the best thing11800:08:31.399 --> 00:08:35.120is for you. That's between youand the Lord. But if the best11900:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.519thing for you is to do thissidewalk ministry, I can tell you there's12000:08:39.559 --> 00:08:45.519going to be good things that competefor your time and your attention. Yeah,12100:08:45.600 --> 00:08:48.080so, and that's that was oneof the things that kind of sparked12200:08:48.120 --> 00:08:52.879the the podcast. In the articlethat I wrote, I was telling you12300:08:52.919 --> 00:08:58.080about an incident that happened a whileback that I've always felt guilty about,12400:08:58.200 --> 00:09:01.840where I was on the sidewalk.And again, we're doing this whole article12500:09:01.919 --> 00:09:05.600from the perspective, basically, ofif you're calling as as a sidewalk counselor12600:09:05.639 --> 00:09:11.279I was on the sidewalk doing whatI was called to do and and someone12700:09:11.399 --> 00:09:15.440came great guy, but he showedup with a whole bunch of political tracks12800:09:15.480 --> 00:09:18.279and wanted to have me hand themout. All my friends and family and12900:09:18.320 --> 00:09:22.240all of our counselors and everyone inthe pro life movement in fact needed to13000:09:22.240 --> 00:09:28.600read and hand out these tracks andand wanted me to then call my representative13100:09:28.600 --> 00:09:33.240immediately and and then show up ata rally that he can't and I was13200:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.840just as He's speaking, I'm thinkingthese are all it was good. It13300:09:35.879 --> 00:09:39.600was a good cause. I don'tremember what it was at the moment,13400:09:39.679 --> 00:09:43.600but there's always something in the inthe pro life world, and and I13500:09:43.759 --> 00:09:48.200think this is all great, butI just was feeling panic, thinking babies13600:09:48.240 --> 00:09:54.080are dying. I'm here with amission that God has set me on and13700:09:54.200 --> 00:09:56.320I don't even want to take thetime really to engage with him about this13800:09:56.600 --> 00:10:01.600very serious and important subject. Butit wasn't it's not what I do.13900:10:01.840 --> 00:10:05.919Yeah, I needed to focus onthe sidewalk and I actually told him,14000:10:05.960 --> 00:10:09.720no, I know, I won'tdo that. I'm so sorry, but14100:10:09.879 --> 00:10:13.480this is what I do, thisis what I need to do. I14200:10:13.480 --> 00:10:18.120can't take the time to do that. Yeah, and and he was kind14300:10:18.159 --> 00:10:22.120of actually, I'm not sure hewas thrilled with me right. He looked14400:10:22.120 --> 00:10:24.840a little bit taken aback and andsaid, what, would it be okay14500:10:24.879 --> 00:10:30.639for him to hand out the pamphletsto my sidewalk counselors? And I said14600:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.600okay, but I even then Iwas thinking you shouldn't be doing that.14700:10:33.799 --> 00:10:39.399Yeah, I was thinking the bestthat that whole team could give to the14800:10:39.440 --> 00:10:43.279Lord was to do exactly what theywere doing. Yeah, not to be14900:10:43.320 --> 00:10:48.080sidetracked by this very important and goodthing. Yeah, and and then I15000:10:48.120 --> 00:10:54.039felt great, great guilt. Andand so I think what this story reflects15100:10:54.399 --> 00:10:58.759is what I like to call thetyranny of the good right of the urgent.15200:10:58.039 --> 00:11:01.159They were urgent things. We willall face them. There are good15300:11:01.200 --> 00:11:05.639things. We will all face them, but we do need to keep our15400:11:05.639 --> 00:11:11.840focus on what God, yeah,would have us do. Yeah. So15500:11:13.080 --> 00:11:16.519the scenario, if you guys didn'tcatch that, is she's out on the15600:11:16.559 --> 00:11:20.840sidewalk reaching out as people are goinginto the busiest abortion center in the southeast.15700:11:20.840 --> 00:11:24.240Twenty five to thirty baby scheduled todie in that place. Okay,15800:11:24.399 --> 00:11:28.639and she and the team were therereaching out, trying to reach those MOMS.15900:11:28.639 --> 00:11:33.919A guy comes along with political flyers, a good political movement and a16000:11:33.960 --> 00:11:39.559good political push and some things thatI don't again not like you got always16100:11:39.559 --> 00:11:46.360provide. It's definitely pro life.But so in that scenario like that's that's16200:11:46.399 --> 00:11:50.000a terrible scenario to be focus inyour attention on some kind of political thing16300:11:50.039 --> 00:11:54.919like you're dealing really in the ditchwith people that are dying at that moment16400:11:54.080 --> 00:11:58.679right if he could read the situation, well, he could have read that16500:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.759a Kay, it's probably not agood idea for me to be drawing their16600:12:01.799 --> 00:12:05.759attention away from this right now.Let me let me get her phone number16700:12:05.799 --> 00:12:07.799or email address, an email orabout it. You know, that would16800:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.840be a good way to read thesituation. Yeah, so we don't mean16900:12:11.879 --> 00:12:16.080to say that standing against wicked stuff. I mean I know in California this17000:12:16.759 --> 00:12:22.799Abtwo to twenty three bill, whatthey're calling the infanticide bill, is something17100:12:22.879 --> 00:12:26.399that state of California at this pointthere's like really close to passing. Yeah,17200:12:26.440 --> 00:12:28.480and I want to get into allof that, but certainly we need17300:12:28.519 --> 00:12:33.720to stand against that stuff and theremany of our people in California that stood17400:12:33.720 --> 00:12:39.320against that. Certainly they do,but weren't right there in the ditch and17500:12:39.320 --> 00:12:41.960we're trying to stop people from killingtheir children. That's not the time for17600:12:43.039 --> 00:12:45.679us to be focused on these otherthings, to be thinking about those other17700:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.159things, like people are dying insideof the building right there. We need17800:12:48.200 --> 00:12:56.000to focus on on that. Yes, now we'll say too that, for17900:12:56.000 --> 00:13:00.080for the brother that came by toshare those things with you right maybe the18000:13:00.159 --> 00:13:05.080best for him is that he hasthat political movement and all of that stuff.18100:13:05.080 --> 00:13:09.080That's maybe the best thing for him. Often Times the best things for18200:13:09.200 --> 00:13:13.919us will draw other people. Itwill be the best things for us are18300:13:13.960 --> 00:13:16.919the good things for other people wheneverthey're really in the vein of the best18400:13:16.919 --> 00:13:20.679thing for them. All of thisis between you and the Lord. No18500:13:20.720 --> 00:13:24.720one can tell you really what's thebest thing for you. You've got to18600:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.559seek the Lord and figure out wherehe's got you and where he wants you.18700:13:28.759 --> 00:13:35.480The point of this podcast is youcan't do everything are you'll burn out18800:13:35.480 --> 00:13:39.960and end up doing nothing. You'lldo nothing well, and so that was18900:13:39.039 --> 00:13:43.919the first main point is that noone can do all things well. And19000:13:43.960 --> 00:13:46.399I would even I would take whatyou said. I agree with what you19100:13:46.480 --> 00:13:52.799said, but but I also believethat at no point would what he what19200:13:54.000 --> 00:13:56.879he was asking me to do,be my best. Yeah, I just19300:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.240I know my limitations and that's oneof the things we're going to get through.19400:14:01.320 --> 00:14:05.679As we talked about and we kindof wrote up principles of discerning,19500:14:05.759 --> 00:14:09.080yeah, what is best, andthe very first one is really what you've19600:14:09.120 --> 00:14:13.320already said. Be In the wordand he'd got's calling. Yeah, God19700:14:13.360 --> 00:14:20.480doesn't want us frazzled, discourage,never having time for for to prioritize the19800:14:20.519 --> 00:14:24.559things that God wants us to prioritize. Yeah. So I was thinking in19900:14:24.679 --> 00:14:33.039scripture there's so many examples of thatwhere there is a leader that God has20000:14:33.080 --> 00:14:37.200appointed, he's given them the mission. That leader knows his mission and he's20100:14:37.240 --> 00:14:43.720overwhelmed. Yeah, Moses, Elijah, Jesus himself. Well, I don't20200:14:43.759 --> 00:14:48.000know that I would describe Jesus himselfas overwhelmed, but but Jesus himself will20300:14:48.080 --> 00:14:52.960points in in every one of thosecases and in every case in the Bible20400:14:52.000 --> 00:14:58.919where there's a leader, godd urgesthat leader or someone in that through God's20500:15:00.039 --> 00:15:05.440inspiration, someone urges that leader todelegate and there are some things to just20600:15:05.639 --> 00:15:13.639let go because they can't do itall. So, you know, find20700:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.120out what your mission is before God. He will reveal it to you.20800:15:16.200 --> 00:15:20.320If you're in the word, ifyou're in prayer, if you're seeking godly20900:15:20.399 --> 00:15:28.159people's advice and counsel, he willreveal it. Yeah, and then follow21000:15:28.200 --> 00:15:33.240that with all your heart. Yeah. So, so that was the first21100:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.279thing that we had already kind oflet me mentioned to along those lines.21200:15:35.360 --> 00:15:39.080Delegation can can be a key.Yeah, because you can't do everything.21300:15:39.120 --> 00:15:43.679And even Jesus, as you mentioned, delegated, right. Remember, he21400:15:43.720 --> 00:15:46.759sends out his disciples. He can'tgo into every city at one time,21500:15:46.879 --> 00:15:52.440so he sends them out. Yeah, and so certainly delegation is a key,21600:15:52.879 --> 00:15:56.960but you can't start delegating stuff untilyou actually know what God has called21700:15:58.039 --> 00:16:03.200you to correct. And so beingin the word and and heating God's calling21800:16:03.360 --> 00:16:08.559is a really critical way to figureout what is the best for you.21900:16:08.759 --> 00:16:11.960Yeah, yeah, said, likeyou mentioned. Yeah, think other people's22000:16:12.000 --> 00:16:18.480feedback is really key. That's thethat's the first step. And then once22100:16:18.559 --> 00:16:22.039you figure that out, I thinkthe second thing is prioritized. Yeah,22200:16:22.080 --> 00:16:32.000prioritize your time, Priori prioritize yourfocus, your energy and a general kind22300:16:32.080 --> 00:16:37.200of priority. I don't know framework, I think for really every believer.22400:16:37.320 --> 00:16:41.679Maybe you'll disagree with me, butGod is at the top prioritized. Spending22500:16:41.720 --> 00:16:47.600time with God, yeah, readinghis word, worshiping her him, speaking22600:16:47.639 --> 00:16:49.799to him, yeah, having arelationship with him. That's number one.22700:16:49.879 --> 00:16:57.039Yeah, and then second is yourfamily. Yeah, and spending making Tart,22800:16:57.039 --> 00:17:03.159having targeted time when you are spendingtime with and meeting the needs of22900:17:03.639 --> 00:17:08.640your family. And then thirdly,I think would be your calling, right,23000:17:08.680 --> 00:17:11.720focusing on your calling. This iswhere maybe there's some disagreement. I23100:17:11.759 --> 00:17:18.279thought third was focusing on your calling. And then, fourthly, restorative activities23200:17:18.640 --> 00:17:26.000and time for rest whatever, givingyourself a cushion where you recharge your batteries.23300:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.599And then, if, after allof that, then you can look23400:17:30.640 --> 00:17:34.720at those good things and decide doyou have the time, the energy,23500:17:34.839 --> 00:17:40.720the inclination, the desire to dothose? Yeah, yeah, absolutely.23600:17:40.759 --> 00:17:44.119I think that's a great framework.You know, I would say it says23700:17:44.160 --> 00:17:48.799we're talking about good things. Imean we're talking about political things. Yeah,23800:17:48.960 --> 00:17:53.039or maybe on the flip side,if God's best for you is to23900:17:53.039 --> 00:17:56.480be involved in the political realm,we're talking about sidewalk ministry, then maybe24000:17:56.480 --> 00:18:00.680that's one of those kind of peripheralgood things. Right, you could do24100:18:00.960 --> 00:18:04.720yeah, I would say you cando the good things you can go to24200:18:06.119 --> 00:18:10.519political rallies, you can go outto the sidewalk if your focus is politics.24300:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.640I mean, I'm trying to thinkof some other examples. You know,24400:18:11.680 --> 00:18:15.440if you're a missionary overseas, that'sthe best for you. When you're24500:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.519in town, you know, visitingfamily, maybe you got to the sidewalk24600:18:18.599 --> 00:18:22.039or something like that. Maybe youhave political Alio, I don't know.24700:18:22.160 --> 00:18:26.839Yeah, but you should never dothe good things at the expense of the24800:18:26.839 --> 00:18:30.720best things. Right. Again,the enemy of the best is always the24900:18:30.759 --> 00:18:37.000good. You can do good things, but you should never do good things25000:18:37.000 --> 00:18:41.240at the expense of the best.Right. And so that priority list for25100:18:41.279 --> 00:18:49.119me helps me to stay focused onam I really giving my best in the25200:18:49.160 --> 00:18:55.160proper priority of what God has hascalled me to called me to do.25300:18:55.400 --> 00:18:59.720Yeah, and and remembering that thatwe cannot do it all. We've already25400:18:59.720 --> 00:19:02.799said that. That's another principle.Remember that. Don't be ashamed of that.25500:19:02.880 --> 00:19:04.319We can't do it all. Yeah, like I think in the in25600:19:04.400 --> 00:19:10.519the article I said at some pointI could be involved politically. I was25700:19:10.599 --> 00:19:15.400actually politically involved, much more sobefore I became a sidewalk counselor. But25800:19:15.480 --> 00:19:18.480to do both of them, Iwill be basically a lousy sidewalk counselor and25900:19:18.519 --> 00:19:23.319allows your political advocate, because Ican't. I know my limitations. To26000:19:23.519 --> 00:19:30.480part of knowing that that you can'tdo it all is is is to know26100:19:30.519 --> 00:19:34.240what your own personal limitations are,right in terms of energy, physical time.26200:19:34.559 --> 00:19:37.680Yeah, yeah, whatever. ME. Some people have a higher capacity,26300:19:37.799 --> 00:19:41.839some people can spend plates in allkinds of directions and they can do26400:19:41.920 --> 00:19:45.519a lot of stuff and do itall well, right, yeah, and26500:19:45.599 --> 00:19:49.160some people are sort of singularly focus. Yeah, now I'm I'm learning,26600:19:49.160 --> 00:19:52.440I've learned to spend some plates andthat sort of thing. Yeah, but26700:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.680really my band is toward being singularlyfocused, like I can do one thing26800:19:56.680 --> 00:20:00.920and do it well. Yeah,but by God's grace he's helped me spend26900:20:00.960 --> 00:20:03.839some places and I think the seasonI'm in right now, I'm doing the27000:20:03.880 --> 00:20:07.599best that the Lord has for me. But I do have to I do27100:20:07.720 --> 00:20:11.599have to know myself and know mylimitations. Like, one thing I do27200:20:11.640 --> 00:20:15.440know about myself is I have tohave a day to disconnect and you need27300:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.400a nap to and I need aNAP right. Yes, do have to27400:20:18.440 --> 00:20:22.880take naps and a regular basis andI do need a day to disconnect,27500:20:22.960 --> 00:20:27.119right. So the best for me, yes, is for me to take27600:20:27.160 --> 00:20:30.599a day to disconnect. Yes,so when a good thing comes in a27700:20:30.640 --> 00:20:37.079ministry opportunity or, you know,political rally or, you know, worship27800:20:37.200 --> 00:20:40.839night at church or something like that, which actually that might be more of27900:20:40.839 --> 00:20:45.400a refreshing time for me. Butreally I just need a time to disconnect,28000:20:45.400 --> 00:20:48.200to be at home, to walkslowly, you know, and just28100:20:48.240 --> 00:20:53.960ponder, ponder life for a day, to go and wander around the mall28200:20:55.160 --> 00:20:59.359or Wal Mart or something, justdisconnect from ministry. I have to have28300:20:59.440 --> 00:21:02.839that. Yeah, some people cando without that, I think. Yeah,28400:21:02.880 --> 00:21:06.480but not me. And so Iknow my limitations and I know in28500:21:06.519 --> 00:21:10.119that particular situation, I know what'sthe best for me, right, and28600:21:10.200 --> 00:21:15.400also have learned that I can't doit all. Right. And the next28700:21:15.400 --> 00:21:18.759point, and this is probably thehardest point for me, yeah, don't28800:21:18.839 --> 00:21:23.599feel guilty or feel the need toapologize. Yeah, you've you you know28900:21:23.680 --> 00:21:29.279what you're calling is. You've prioritizedyour life, you know what your limits29000:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.720are, you know you can't doit all. And then when someone asks29100:21:32.759 --> 00:21:37.839you to do that good thing andyou know that you need to say no.29200:21:37.519 --> 00:21:41.680You don't need to feel bad aboutit. Yeah, I do.29300:21:41.839 --> 00:21:45.000I still feel bad about it everytime I tell no to someone. Yeah,29400:21:45.359 --> 00:21:51.240but I'm urging me and all ofyou listening, you should not feel29500:21:51.279 --> 00:21:56.440guilt or the need to apologize fortrying to be the best that God has29600:21:56.519 --> 00:22:00.680called you to be and determining,like on your day of rest, for29700:22:00.720 --> 00:22:03.920example, Daniel, I I imaginethat there are some people that think,29800:22:04.039 --> 00:22:10.160yeah, Daniel's got to go playair soft instead of instead of, I'm29900:22:10.279 --> 00:22:15.240coming in and recording other podcast orwhatever. Yeah, and I do think30000:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.720that we can be very hard oneach other. Yeah, we can look30100:22:18.759 --> 00:22:23.880at how everybody else lives their lifeand say that is not what they should30200:22:23.920 --> 00:22:30.240be doing. Yeah, so,but we shouldn't have to apologie dice,30300:22:30.319 --> 00:22:33.960we shouldn't have to explain ourselves.Yeah, and I think all of us30400:22:34.039 --> 00:22:41.200need to remember to extend respect andgrace to each other that are doing their30500:22:41.279 --> 00:22:45.480best, as they see before God, doing their best. Yeah, and30600:22:45.640 --> 00:22:49.880that that doesn't mean that, inbrotherly love and Christian love, that we30700:22:49.920 --> 00:22:52.839should not point out if we don't, if we really do think there's a30800:22:52.839 --> 00:22:59.240problem. Yeah, and an issue. But but anyway, I think that30900:22:59.240 --> 00:23:02.279that, for me, is oneof the hardest parts. I do feel31000:23:02.319 --> 00:23:06.599guilt, right when I say noto those good things, like I did31100:23:06.640 --> 00:23:11.880that day when that political guy cameand handed me all the tracks. Yeah,31200:23:11.920 --> 00:23:15.480I think I did what was theright thing, but but I still31300:23:15.480 --> 00:23:18.960felt bad about I felt bad aboutit actually, even for months. It31400:23:19.039 --> 00:23:22.880happened, maybe even a year ago, right. Yeah, one thing I31500:23:22.880 --> 00:23:27.359do want to point out in thissame vein is the pro abortion crowd accuses31600:23:27.440 --> 00:23:32.720us of being hypocrites. Yeah,if we advocate for the unborn, but31700:23:32.799 --> 00:23:36.720we don't do foster care, wedon't have we have an adopted ten children,31800:23:36.799 --> 00:23:41.480we are not feeding the homeless andwe're not working in every pregnancy resource31900:23:41.480 --> 00:23:44.839center, right, you know,within a twenty mile radius. And we32000:23:44.880 --> 00:23:48.400don't want to fall into that sametrap. That is that is wrong,32100:23:48.440 --> 00:23:52.200that is illogical, right, andwe don't want to fall into that same32200:23:52.200 --> 00:23:56.559trap towards each other that, unlesswe're doing all the pro life things,32300:23:56.559 --> 00:24:00.480we're not really being, you know, doing what God has called this to32400:24:00.680 --> 00:24:07.079do. Yeah, that is atan inaccurate, yeah, and impossible,32500:24:07.680 --> 00:24:10.720right thing to do. Yeah,I mean the question often again, this32600:24:10.799 --> 00:24:14.960is from proboard people on the sidewalkor wherever? Are you going to adopt32700:24:15.000 --> 00:24:17.559any of these children? How manychildren have you adopted? That's always the32800:24:17.799 --> 00:24:22.119how mean, how many children haveyou? Have you done falster care for32900:24:22.279 --> 00:24:26.440right, right. Well, Iunderstand that that's a a very that's the33000:24:26.480 --> 00:24:30.799best for some people. Yeah,adoption, falster care and all that's the33100:24:30.839 --> 00:24:34.240best for them, but for meI cannot do it all right, and33200:24:34.319 --> 00:24:37.759I certainly couldn't do what I'm doingnow and do falster care now. Maybe33300:24:37.759 --> 00:24:41.720God will give me grace and openup that door and that would be the33400:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.880best for me and my family atsome point, but it's not right now.33500:24:42.920 --> 00:24:47.480I know my limitations and I don'tfeel guilty for that. I don't33600:24:47.519 --> 00:24:49.640feel guilty that I'm not doing thatbecause I know what the best for me33700:24:49.799 --> 00:24:53.680is. But a lot of timesthat stuff is just the distraction and again33800:24:53.759 --> 00:24:59.599it's just the devil trying to heapguilt on us when in reality we're doing33900:24:59.640 --> 00:25:03.200what God has called us to andwe're keeping our focus on him, not34000:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.960on what other people say. Asfar as like, we certainly want to34100:25:07.960 --> 00:25:11.039input from other godly people. Ifyou got godly people speaking in your life34200:25:11.039 --> 00:25:15.160and they see a gift in youand you're not utilizing that gift, but34300:25:15.200 --> 00:25:17.960you're doing some other things that arenot utilizing that gift, then you need34400:25:18.000 --> 00:25:21.160to take heed. But if youjust got a bunch of ungodly people throwing34500:25:21.200 --> 00:25:26.279accusations at your even your own conscience, sometimes right, throwing accusations against you,34600:25:26.279 --> 00:25:29.440you, you know, probably justneed to give it to the Lord.34700:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.559Yeah, yeah, I'll say tothis kind of manifest itself. You34800:25:32.599 --> 00:25:37.839mentioned before we started recording this podcastthat we get emails and stuff and we34900:25:37.960 --> 00:25:41.880love to hear from you guys.We love to hear, you know,35000:25:41.000 --> 00:25:45.440input, feedback, questions that youhave about sidewalk ministry. It's our focus.35100:25:45.480 --> 00:25:48.359We love those things. But weget emails and, you know,35200:25:48.440 --> 00:25:52.799calls from people want us do allkinds of things. You know, I've35300:25:52.799 --> 00:25:56.119even got eat all kinds of things. I've gotten. People want me to35400:25:56.119 --> 00:25:57.880read their book, they want here, you know, do this or do35500:25:57.960 --> 00:26:03.039that, and I just can't.I don't have the bandwidth to do all35600:26:03.079 --> 00:26:07.039of that stuff. I can't readevery pro life article that's ever been written35700:26:07.119 --> 00:26:11.000and give my opinion on it.No, I can't. Can't read every35800:26:11.119 --> 00:26:15.720prolife book and give my opinion onit or whatever, and so I have35900:26:15.799 --> 00:26:21.079to you have to call some ofthat stuff out because you'll wear yourself out.36000:26:21.240 --> 00:26:26.240Now let's just tell you I amnot obsessed with the issue of abortion.36100:26:26.519 --> 00:26:30.440Okay, it does not consume mylife as much as I'm involved in36200:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.759this Ministry and this is the passionof my heart. I'm obsessed with Jesus36300:26:34.799 --> 00:26:38.640and the Gospel like I want him. I want to be near to him.36400:26:38.720 --> 00:26:44.039So I don't spend every week anhour of my life thinking about abortion36500:26:44.640 --> 00:26:48.119and reading books about abortion. Ido my due diligence to be well informed36600:26:48.160 --> 00:26:52.079of these things, but I wantto know God more and more, and36700:26:52.119 --> 00:26:56.680that translates into what I do inthis ministry. So the best, best,36800:26:56.839 --> 00:27:00.400best thing is to know Jesus andthen find out what he's calling you36900:27:00.440 --> 00:27:04.119to. That's the best thing,and walk in that calling. So I37000:27:04.240 --> 00:27:07.440say that just you know. Ifany of you listening have sent me an37100:27:07.559 --> 00:27:11.720article and I haven't responded to itor whatever, it's probably just because I37200:27:11.720 --> 00:27:14.839don't have the time to read allthat stuff. Right that that just happened37300:27:14.839 --> 00:27:18.000to me just I think it wasyesterday, maybe the day before, someone37400:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.759who I love sent me an article, and I did and said do you37500:27:19.759 --> 00:27:25.079want me to continue to send theseand I said no, please don't.37600:27:25.200 --> 00:27:29.200It's not that I don't appreciate somuch that you love these things in that37700:27:29.200 --> 00:27:33.480you're thinking of me, but Ijust just what you said. I just37800:27:33.599 --> 00:27:37.559don't have the band with yeah,to people send this stuff all the time,37900:27:37.000 --> 00:27:41.799but what you were saying about Godand and being immersed in in him,38000:27:41.839 --> 00:27:45.640that he is our should be ourtop focus. That is the very38100:27:45.720 --> 00:27:49.920best. Is kind of the lastpoint that that we make in in this38200:27:51.039 --> 00:27:56.880article is rejoice. Rejoice in theLord that he has given you the privilege38300:27:56.920 --> 00:28:02.759of knowing your calling and equipped youto do it and then do it to38400:28:02.839 --> 00:28:07.960the best of your ability, becauseif you don't, then that is one38500:28:07.039 --> 00:28:12.240of the pieces of his plan thatis not being what he has called them38600:28:12.240 --> 00:28:17.079to be and that can disrupt everything. Yeah, so you know, the38700:28:17.200 --> 00:28:21.000Bible uses the analogy of the body, the body of Christ, and speaks38800:28:21.000 --> 00:28:25.440about the human body. Right toeis not a finger, a finger is38900:28:25.440 --> 00:28:29.519not a toe, and every partof the body has to work. It's39000:28:29.519 --> 00:28:33.559complimentmentary. Yeah, but they can'tknow the toe can't replace the finger and39100:28:33.640 --> 00:28:37.240vice versa. Right yeah, soyou need to do your best. Let39200:28:37.279 --> 00:28:41.599everybody else do their best. Yeah, and and hopefully the body then is,39300:28:42.119 --> 00:28:47.160you know, functioning, functioning optimally. Yeah, to give glory to39400:28:47.160 --> 00:28:51.279the head, to give it racesAart. Yeah, and understanding. We're39500:28:51.279 --> 00:28:55.920all connected. None of those differentcomponents. We talked about the political area,39600:28:56.000 --> 00:28:59.000we talked about the sidewalk area.There's a lot of other things that39700:28:59.039 --> 00:29:03.519have to do with prolife, ministryand all that other stuff, and none39800:29:03.519 --> 00:29:07.720of those things are bad. Right. Those things are good things and those39900:29:07.720 --> 00:29:11.559things are the best things for thosewho are called to them. Right.40000:29:11.599 --> 00:29:15.079So, about God's grace, willstay focused on the best things for us,40100:29:15.160 --> 00:29:21.119will not let the good choke outthe best, will not do the40200:29:21.119 --> 00:29:23.799good things at the expense of thebest, and we'll keep our eyes fixed40300:29:23.839 --> 00:29:27.079on Jesus. Amen. Man,Amen. All right, guys, we40400:29:27.119 --> 00:29:30.920appreciate you joining us for this podcastepisode. We'd appreciate if you guys would40500:29:30.920 --> 00:29:34.119share this episode with others that youthink it would be a blessing to.40600:29:34.519 --> 00:29:37.640You can reach out to me,Daniel at Love Life Dot Org. You40700:29:37.680 --> 00:29:41.119can reach her, Vicki, witha why at Love Life Dot Org.40800:29:41.160 --> 00:29:45.319Give us some feedback about this podcastor other episodes. Maybe some ideas of40900:29:45.319 --> 00:29:51.400other episodes that we could do andleave us review. If you find the41000:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.960time to do that, it wouldbe a real blessing to us. Let41100:29:53.039 --> 00:29:57.039us if it would be your best. Yes, leave us the best review41200:29:57.119 --> 00:30:00.000that you can. If you justgoing to leave us a good review,41300:30:00.039 --> 00:30:04.000you don't leave us for best.Won't five stars now we would appreciate that,41400:30:04.079 --> 00:30:07.759just to help us to get upin the ranking so other people see41500:30:07.799 --> 00:30:11.880this podcast and can partake in theblessing that, hopefully it is to you.41600:30:11.599 --> 00:30:15.440But with that, until next time, God, bless God, that41700:30:15.680 --> 00:30:27.839you all give me our love forlove. Give me our love for gratitude.41800:30:30.880 --> 00:30:40.279I know it will cost me mylife. Nothing's too precious, and41900:30:40.559 --> 00:30:51.240some that you