When Is Failure Not Failure?

WEBVTT100:00:00.600 --> 00:00:05.799I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours. Send Me,200:00:06.160 --> 00:00:10.750Lord. I welcome to the GospelCenter pro life podcast. This episode,300:00:10.750 --> 00:00:14.470Vicki and I share how failure isnever failure if we're obedient to God.400:00:15.070 --> 00:00:19.030Will share a biblical perspective as wellas some stories from our experiences that will500:00:19.070 --> 00:00:35.140encourage you. Stay tuned. Ifelt show passis touch your heart. Welcome600:00:35.140 --> 00:00:38.369to the Gospel Center prayer life podcast. Guys, appreciate you tuning in.700:00:38.810 --> 00:00:42.409Appreciate you guys who share this podcastwith your friends and with your family.800:00:42.490 --> 00:00:46.530We certainly would love to hear somefeedback from you guys as well. If900:00:46.530 --> 00:00:50.039you want to shoot me an email. D Parks at cities for lifecom or1000:00:50.159 --> 00:00:53.679her vcs Oregat cities for lifecom.We'd love to hear from you what you1100:00:53.719 --> 00:00:58.159think about the podcast, if youhave any ideas for episodes coming up.1200:00:58.439 --> 00:01:00.119We have some episodes that are thatare going to be a real blessing to1300:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.679you guys. This episode, wehope, will be a blessing, but1400:01:03.159 --> 00:01:07.109in the next couple of weeks we'regoing to do an episode about sex trafficking1500:01:07.150 --> 00:01:11.150and how the issue of sex traffickingties into the issue of abortion, and1600:01:11.430 --> 00:01:12.670then we're going to have a goodfriend of ours, Sheryl Chandler, on1700:01:14.109 --> 00:01:17.750to talk about her ministry, asshe does baby showers for mom that mom's1800:01:17.790 --> 00:01:21.939that choose life, and also she'sbeen involved in Pro Life Ministry for thirty1900:01:21.980 --> 00:01:23.340plus years, so she could giveus, I think, a lot of2000:01:23.459 --> 00:01:29.739insights on ministry and how to beaffective. So make sure you guys,2100:01:30.060 --> 00:01:32.930tune in for those in the comingweeks. But we're going to jump into2200:01:32.930 --> 00:01:37.170a subject today that, as sidewalkcounselors, I think we all have dealt2300:01:37.209 --> 00:01:40.689with and deal with on a regularbasis. If you're on the sidewalk,2400:01:41.090 --> 00:01:42.370maybe if you're in a pregnancy well, I know if you're in a pregnancy2500:01:42.409 --> 00:01:46.930center, any really any realm ofministry, you're going to deal with the2600:01:47.010 --> 00:01:52.799issue of feeling like you're a failure. We've talked about discouragement, we've talked2700:01:52.799 --> 00:01:56.680about burnout and all that sort ofthing. This sort of speaks to some2800:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.719of those same points, but Ithink in this episode we're going to give2900:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.989you some encouragement and share some storieswith you, yeah, about what God3000:02:04.069 --> 00:02:07.150can do even when we might feellike a failure. Like we're not doing3100:02:07.230 --> 00:02:09.150what God has called us to dobecause we don't see any fruit. God's3200:02:09.229 --> 00:02:13.469doing stuff behind the scenes. Butlet's talk a little bit, Vicki,3300:02:13.550 --> 00:02:15.419before we get into some of thestories, we get into the biblical story3400:02:15.460 --> 00:02:19.500of Joseph, let's just talk practically. Yeah, what are some of the3500:02:19.580 --> 00:02:23.180emotions come with feeling like you're afailure out there on the sidewalk? You3600:02:23.259 --> 00:02:29.539haven't seen any interactions or had maybeeven seen any visible outward fruit. That3700:02:29.659 --> 00:02:32.770didn't feel great. Yeah, well, I'll tell you. We talk with3800:02:34.210 --> 00:02:38.530sidewalk missionaries from all over the nationthrough regular contact now to be encouragers,3900:02:38.969 --> 00:02:45.840and one of I think the mostcommon down that they feel is when they4000:02:45.879 --> 00:02:51.280don't see saves. They don't seesaved babies, or they'll say they have4100:02:51.479 --> 00:02:59.030poured everything they have into a womanand and the woman chooses to abort anyway.4200:02:59.669 --> 00:03:05.030It is so discouraging and we areall questioning ourselves at those times.4300:03:05.110 --> 00:03:10.229We're saying, what did we dowrong? It's almost impossible not to personalize4400:03:10.229 --> 00:03:13.939it. What did I do wrong? When I say wrong, what could4500:03:13.979 --> 00:03:17.659I or should I have said ordone differently? And you second guess.4600:03:17.860 --> 00:03:22.659Yeah, and you think and itcan become severe enough, and I've heard4700:03:22.659 --> 00:03:25.340it where people say I am notcut out for this, I god is4800:03:25.419 --> 00:03:30.650not using me, I'm not meantto be a sidewalk counselor I need to4900:03:30.770 --> 00:03:35.129quit and go, you know,I don't know, do something else,5000:03:35.370 --> 00:03:39.610but this is not for me.So it can be really severe. The5100:03:39.930 --> 00:03:47.120emotional response can be pretty severe andwe feel like a failure. We have5200:03:47.280 --> 00:03:52.560let down ourselves, we've let downour fellow counselors, we've let down the5300:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.030mother, we've let down the babyand we've let down God. I think5400:03:55.550 --> 00:03:59.909all of us have been there.Yeah, at to some degree or another,5500:03:59.949 --> 00:04:03.430at some point or another. Yeah, yeah, absolutely, but of5600:04:03.590 --> 00:04:08.830course in a biblical perspective, asone of the things that we always say5700:04:09.990 --> 00:04:14.379is that our victory is in obedience. Right, that's where the victory is5800:04:14.419 --> 00:04:18.379found. We're not called to savebabies, we're not called to get people5900:04:18.420 --> 00:04:24.689saved, we're called to be obedientto God. In within that comes the6000:04:24.769 --> 00:04:28.290fruit of babies will be saved andthe Gospel is going to go forth and6100:04:28.329 --> 00:04:30.970people are going to turn to theLord. But even if we don't see6200:04:31.009 --> 00:04:35.569those things happening, because there aredays and there are weeks and there are6300:04:35.689 --> 00:04:40.399scenarios in which you don't see anyreal outward fruit. And so, yeah,6400:04:40.639 --> 00:04:42.600like you said, you feel likea fail. You feel like you've6500:04:42.639 --> 00:04:46.040let everybody down, you've let eventhe Lord down. But ultimately the Bible6600:04:46.079 --> 00:04:49.680tells us God sees the heart,God looks at the heart, and that6700:04:49.720 --> 00:04:54.910kind of brings me to the storyof Joseph, and you guys know,6800:04:55.069 --> 00:04:58.149well, I'm not gonna I'm notgoing to recap that story completely, but6900:04:58.230 --> 00:05:00.310you guys know, Joseph got adream from the Lord, he had a7000:05:00.430 --> 00:05:03.949calling, he had a vision fromGod. Ultimately, his brothers and even7100:05:03.990 --> 00:05:08.540his father and mother were going tolook to him for provision. They were7200:05:08.579 --> 00:05:11.540going to bow down to him intheir dream. Right. Yeah, exactly.7300:05:11.939 --> 00:05:15.819And if you haven't watched the movieJoseph, King of dreams, you7400:05:15.899 --> 00:05:17.779know the movie I'm talking about.Some dream works like a cartoon that it's7500:05:17.819 --> 00:05:20.850not a big it's a cartoon.It's like the Prince of Egypt movie.7600:05:20.930 --> 00:05:25.850Ever. Watch that about Moses.Awesome, two of my favorite movies.7700:05:26.370 --> 00:05:29.610Watch that movie. It's really good. It's not exactly a line in line7800:05:29.610 --> 00:05:31.889with the Biblical text, but prettymuch anyway, that's a little little rabbit7900:05:31.970 --> 00:05:38.519trail for you guys. But JosephStory is one of a parent failure,8000:05:38.680 --> 00:05:42.439failure after failure after failure. Yeah, he had a vision from the Lord.8100:05:42.519 --> 00:05:44.680Of many of you guys, youfeel called to be out there on8200:05:44.759 --> 00:05:46.319the sidewalk, and certainly you are. We are called to be out there8300:05:46.360 --> 00:05:50.310and to be a voice for thosebabies, just like Joseph called to be8400:05:50.509 --> 00:05:54.589at least in some position. Iguess he didn't really know exactly what when8500:05:54.629 --> 00:05:57.509the Lord gave him the dream,but he knew he was supposed to be8600:05:57.509 --> 00:06:01.790in some position of authority and ultimatelyto help people. But about down to8700:06:01.829 --> 00:06:05.379him, respect him, follow him. He was the leader. And Yeah,8800:06:05.540 --> 00:06:10.420and what happens to him? Sohe ends up as a slave in8900:06:10.579 --> 00:06:13.459potiphar's house. Well, first ofall his brothers try to kill him and9000:06:13.459 --> 00:06:15.860they throw them yeah, and thenthey then then they decide no, we're9100:06:15.860 --> 00:06:17.139not going to kill him, willthrow him in the well. And then,9200:06:17.259 --> 00:06:19.850yeah, then he sold as aslave. Yeah, so he ends9300:06:19.889 --> 00:06:25.810up in Potiphar's house and he doeswell there and his fateful there and gets9400:06:25.850 --> 00:06:29.930a pretty good position and Potiphar's house. But then he's set up, or9500:06:29.930 --> 00:06:32.480at least lied on by Potiphar's wife. He ends up in jail. Yeah,9600:06:32.560 --> 00:06:36.680and the Dungeon, I would say. Yeah, and he's got this9700:06:36.800 --> 00:06:43.160promise from the Lord, he's gotthis this promise of success, and yet9800:06:43.199 --> 00:06:46.720there he isn't a dungeon as afailure at least years, according to the9900:06:46.800 --> 00:06:48.790world over two years. Yes,it's in good law. Yeah, so10000:06:48.870 --> 00:06:53.949according to the world standards he wasa failure. Again, however, we10100:06:54.149 --> 00:06:57.509know the story right. The Lordset things up where ultimately he's second in10200:06:57.589 --> 00:07:01.259command of Pharaoh. This this,what was apparently a failure to him ultimately10300:07:01.740 --> 00:07:04.699is what the Lord used to propelhim to that position. Had he not10400:07:04.819 --> 00:07:09.220been there in prison, he wouldnot been exposed to the Butler in the10500:07:09.259 --> 00:07:14.500baker who ultimately was the Butler thattold or the cupbear of Pharaoh, is10600:07:14.819 --> 00:07:18.529one that told Pharaoh about Joseph andthe interpretation of the dreams and all of10700:07:18.649 --> 00:07:24.490that. Say. Think Cup Arrowwas apparently watching Joseph during this time in10800:07:24.569 --> 00:07:28.850jail, taking note of something aboutJoseph that he was willing then to to10900:07:29.930 --> 00:07:33.920recommend Joseph Too Pharaoh, and Ithink that's an important little side point.11000:07:34.040 --> 00:07:40.800Yeah, he Joseph's been watched whilehe's in these terrible situations. Absolutely,11100:07:41.240 --> 00:07:45.870and of course that reminds me ofa principle again that we teach with our11200:07:45.910 --> 00:07:49.870sidewalk counselors, is the principle ofthe we're not really out there primarily for11300:07:49.949 --> 00:07:53.550the babies or for the women.Hey, we're out there for the Lord.11400:07:53.589 --> 00:07:56.990Yeah, the Lord looks at whatwe're doing, he looks at our11500:07:57.029 --> 00:08:00.939fatefulness. He sees US Day inand day out, serving in some some11600:08:01.100 --> 00:08:05.740pretty brutal conditions, not just weatherconditions, but you know, opposition.11700:08:05.860 --> 00:08:09.220People come call you all kinds ofnames. You're trying to humbly serve the11800:08:09.300 --> 00:08:13.610Lord and people are even passing by, maybe giving you the Middle Finger.11900:08:13.730 --> 00:08:16.050Some of you guys experience that.Today I got shoved out of the way12000:08:16.209 --> 00:08:20.730by what two hundred pound guy whois very angry because he didn't want me12100:08:20.810 --> 00:08:24.810to talk to the women. Right. Yeah, so there's that and it's12200:08:24.810 --> 00:08:26.839easy to get discourage. We haveto remember we're doing this as unto the12300:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.920Lord, so we're always going tobe victory, victorious, we're not going12400:08:31.920 --> 00:08:33.639to be failures if we're doing itas unto the Lord. But it is12500:08:33.799 --> 00:08:39.080easy and you can imagine the feelingsthat Joseph had while he was there in12600:08:39.159 --> 00:08:43.070that dungeon. Here he has thispromise from God and he's got this call12700:08:43.190 --> 00:08:46.110from God, and you guys onthe sidewalk, you've got this call from12800:08:46.110 --> 00:08:48.950the Lord. You're out there becauseyou feel the Lord has birds you with12900:08:48.029 --> 00:08:52.269this call, but you feel likein one sense you're in a dungeon.13000:08:52.549 --> 00:08:56.220You got a place of darkness anddeath, at a place of a parent13100:08:56.419 --> 00:09:01.299failure. But the Lord sees thefatefulness and it would be so easy for13200:09:01.419 --> 00:09:05.379him during that time period to havebecome very discouraged. I and I don't13300:09:05.779 --> 00:09:09.090think the Bible really addresses that.I don't know if he did. It13400:09:09.490 --> 00:09:13.850doesn't seem like he did. Right, you did? It certainly isn't talked13500:09:13.889 --> 00:09:18.769about. Right, he was discouragedor that he he said, Oh man,13600:09:18.090 --> 00:09:22.850maybe that, maybe I misinterpreted thatdream. or I really can't wait13700:09:22.889 --> 00:09:24.799to get back at my brothers forwhat they did to me. Look at13800:09:24.840 --> 00:09:30.519this terrible sequence of events that theybegan. Yeah, or you know,13900:09:30.639 --> 00:09:33.519and what am I doing here injail? Yeah, when God promised me14000:09:33.639 --> 00:09:37.039so much. Yeah, I thinkyou'd have to believe, just at least14100:09:37.039 --> 00:09:39.710from a human perspective, that Josephcertainly dealt with those. You have to14200:09:39.870 --> 00:09:43.230think. Yeah, and I would, you know, tend to believe that14300:09:43.309 --> 00:09:46.950that's the case. Yeah, ifyou make a comparison there, here's a14400:09:46.990 --> 00:09:48.710man in a dungeon and here weare on the sidewalk in America, with14500:09:48.750 --> 00:09:52.539a lot of freedoms and all ofthat. Really a great count, really14600:09:52.539 --> 00:09:56.179a great comparison, but it's sortof brings to mind this idea again that14700:09:56.940 --> 00:10:01.379we need to be faithful to theLord, that we're not failures as long14800:10:01.419 --> 00:10:05.539as we're doing what we do asunto the Lord. So Joseph Story is14900:10:05.740 --> 00:10:09.409one and it's a story. Maybewe look at it's just kind of a15000:10:09.649 --> 00:10:13.289disconnected story. It's something that,yeah, we can relate to, but15100:10:13.409 --> 00:10:16.610maybe not dire directly in our moderncontext. But I want you to share15200:10:16.690 --> 00:10:20.480real quick the story that you shared. We shared it on our facebook cities15300:10:20.519 --> 00:10:28.039for Life Charlotte facebook of the Custodianhere local had ye, not an exactly15400:10:28.039 --> 00:10:31.000similar but here's a man that's fateful, that's doing what he's going on too.15500:10:31.000 --> 00:10:33.799The Lord in the Lord uses rightwell and and I didn't share the15600:10:33.840 --> 00:10:35.710whole story because it was kind ofa long story, but it's well worth15700:10:35.950 --> 00:10:43.870worth sharing. So this custodian hadcome to the love life prayer walks which15800:10:45.110 --> 00:10:52.700our churches gathering and praying and marchingaround the circle loop that the abortion center15900:10:52.139 --> 00:10:58.620is on. And so they knewof love life and they and the resources16000:10:58.700 --> 00:11:03.379that love life provided and they knewof the sidewalk counselors. He had seen16100:11:03.419 --> 00:11:07.129them, okay, had seen usin front of the abortion center. So16200:11:07.289 --> 00:11:15.009the Custodian had served many long years, his entire life as a custodian faithfully,16300:11:15.409 --> 00:11:22.399and it's time to retire. Sohe had retired and he discovered while16400:11:22.679 --> 00:11:26.600in retirement, just as he's startingretirement, that there's a glitch in the16500:11:26.679 --> 00:11:30.840pension. I didn't quite understand thatpart of the story, but for whatever16600:11:31.000 --> 00:11:35.389reason he had to come out ofretirement for one month. Wow, for16700:11:35.590 --> 00:11:37.950just one month. He had togo back to work. Now, imagine16800:11:37.990 --> 00:11:41.789that man, that cod of bomber. Right, you probably got plans.16900:11:41.870 --> 00:11:45.190Maybe and your wife are going togo on a have occasion somewhere. Had17000:11:45.309 --> 00:11:48.700extended like, I don't know,trip out West or something like that.17100:11:48.059 --> 00:11:54.100Connect with his wife and enjoy lifeand finally sit back in custodio work is17200:11:54.139 --> 00:11:56.860not easy war on top of it, it's not glamorous work. I imagine17300:11:56.899 --> 00:12:01.490it was hard in many ways tobe a custodian. Humble work. Yeah,17400:12:01.649 --> 00:12:07.649so, so the the but thecustodian goes back to work and in17500:12:07.850 --> 00:12:11.649that month he was cleaning a newschool personnel. I'm not going to tell17600:12:11.690 --> 00:12:16.480you what her job was, butshe worked at a school and he his17700:12:16.600 --> 00:12:20.159job was to clean her office.So he just meets her in that month.17800:12:22.039 --> 00:12:26.039Now, apparently, during that month, this God fearing, godly man17900:12:26.399 --> 00:12:31.190who has faced now, in asense, failure, disappointment at the very18000:12:31.269 --> 00:12:33.429last he's backed. I know ifI was retired and had to come out18100:12:33.429 --> 00:12:37.750of retirement for like one day,I would be totally bombed. And he's18200:12:37.789 --> 00:12:41.750got to do it for a month. And but but apparently he did his18300:12:43.070 --> 00:12:50.259work in such a manner that thethe woman, the school employee, knew18400:12:50.340 --> 00:12:56.059that he was a Christian, orsuspected, because she finds herself now,18500:12:56.659 --> 00:13:00.929suddenly in after a month of thecustodian cleaning your office, she finds out18600:13:00.970 --> 00:13:07.570that she is pregnant and unexpected pregnancyand actually really bad circumstances. Yeah,18700:13:09.090 --> 00:13:13.480and she doesn't know what to do. She knows that she cannot have this18800:13:13.639 --> 00:13:18.799baby. She knows she has toabort. That's that's what she's feeling.18900:13:18.879 --> 00:13:22.720There is no other option but toabort this child. But there's a piece19000:13:22.799 --> 00:13:28.870of her that knows maybe that's notthe only answer, maybe it's not the19100:13:28.909 --> 00:13:33.190best answer. So she goes intowork and the custodian is there as she19200:13:33.350 --> 00:13:37.789finishes her day and she says,Hey, we let me ask you,19300:13:39.149 --> 00:13:43.899are you a Christian? And hesaid well, yes, and she said19400:13:43.940 --> 00:13:46.940because I really need I need totalk to someone who knows God. She19500:13:48.059 --> 00:13:52.820didn't know God, she was nota believer, and yet she knew that19600:13:52.059 --> 00:13:56.929she needed to talk to someone whowas. And the person that she chooses19700:13:58.009 --> 00:14:03.049to talk to is, just asGod would have it, this man who19800:14:03.809 --> 00:14:09.250was only there because he had beencalled into an apparent failure out of retirement19900:14:09.970 --> 00:14:15.360to for a month to clean heroffice. Yeah, and he's there at20000:14:15.440 --> 00:14:20.759the exact appointed time. Yeah,that God has appointed. Yeah. And20100:14:22.120 --> 00:14:28.190so the the Custodian then listens toher story and he said he was way20200:14:28.309 --> 00:14:31.669out of his league right. Hedid not feel at all equipped. He20300:14:33.070 --> 00:14:35.590he said. When later I spokewith him and and he told me,20400:14:35.629 --> 00:14:41.740I had no idea what to tellher. She had significant tissues. I20500:14:41.940 --> 00:14:43.659just didn't know what to do.So I prayed first of all. I20600:14:43.820 --> 00:14:48.620took her out into the beautiful dayand I said, do you see that20700:14:48.899 --> 00:14:52.889sun? Do you see that lightthat the sun is casting? That's where20800:14:52.889 --> 00:14:54.250you need to be. You needto be in the light, not in20900:14:54.330 --> 00:14:58.049darkness, and I can point youto people who can lead you to that21000:14:58.210 --> 00:15:03.169light. Yeah, and so heprayed with her and then told her about21100:15:03.210 --> 00:15:09.639Love Life Charlotte, and then toldher about these sidewalk counselors who help women21200:15:09.879 --> 00:15:15.879in dire situations like hers, andhe asked if it would be okay if21300:15:15.919 --> 00:15:20.669one of those sidewalk counselors called him, called her, and he contacted love21400:15:20.789 --> 00:15:26.990life, who then contacted me andI called her and ultimately we had a21500:15:26.070 --> 00:15:33.950huge, long discussion about God andabout her circumstances. She I shared the21600:15:35.029 --> 00:15:39.059Gospel, as I do with everyonewhen I'm given the opportunity. She came21700:15:39.179 --> 00:15:41.740to the Lord and when I finishedsharing the Gospel, I said, well21800:15:41.820 --> 00:15:48.700now, could you still consider killingyour baby now that you've asked Jesus to21900:15:48.740 --> 00:15:50.529be Lord of your life and shesaid no, she could not, and22000:15:50.690 --> 00:15:54.850so she chose life. Yeah,as well. And it was only it22100:15:54.929 --> 00:15:58.090was only later that, and Idon't even remember the kind of miraculous circumstances,22200:15:58.169 --> 00:16:02.450where I met the counselor, I'msorry, the Custodian, and and22300:16:03.169 --> 00:16:07.159he told me the background of thestory, which made it even more miraculous,22400:16:07.799 --> 00:16:11.480and it just made me think acouple of things. Number One,22500:16:11.919 --> 00:16:18.240when God has called us to whateversituation he's called us, and it may22600:16:18.279 --> 00:16:25.269seem like a failing situation, asituation we just really do not want to22700:16:25.429 --> 00:16:27.710be in, but if he's callingus there, first of all go,22800:16:29.149 --> 00:16:32.389yeah, go where he's calling you, like the Custodian did. He went,22900:16:32.710 --> 00:16:36.580yeah, he went back and andand God had a divine appointment for23000:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.620him. But the second, Ithink major point, which I think is23100:16:38.740 --> 00:16:44.220a major point for me in theJoseph Story, is people are watching.23200:16:44.259 --> 00:16:52.289Yeah, people are watching us,perhaps more strongly in the periods of time23300:16:52.809 --> 00:16:59.250when we're facing grave disappointment or failure. They're watching US and they're watching our23400:16:59.769 --> 00:17:06.440walk with God, particularly Joseph inthe story. I read nowhere that Joseph23500:17:06.519 --> 00:17:11.039ever abandoned God or his faith inGod, he seems to have. In23600:17:11.240 --> 00:17:15.869fact, when he's asked to interpretthe dreams, he shows a marked change23700:17:15.990 --> 00:17:21.069in his character. He doesn't takethe glory like he kind of did,23800:17:21.430 --> 00:17:23.910kind of lorded it over his brother'she said you're going to bow down to23900:17:25.069 --> 00:17:29.269me in the original dream, butnow he says I can't, I can't24000:17:29.349 --> 00:17:33.700interpret your dream, but my Godcan. So he gives God the glory.24100:17:33.819 --> 00:17:38.019So in this time of a parentfailure and testing, he has come24200:17:38.220 --> 00:17:44.529to a greater understanding of who Godis and a greater of understanding of his24300:17:44.769 --> 00:17:48.650own lack of strength and then needto bely on God's strength. And people24400:17:48.690 --> 00:17:51.890are watching him, those people inprison. Potiphar was watching him. The24500:17:51.970 --> 00:17:56.930people in prison were watching him andjust as that woman was watching the Custodian,24600:17:57.880 --> 00:18:03.839God ultimately is glorified, his purposesare realized and there's victory. And24700:18:03.960 --> 00:18:11.200I think that's a just such anencouragement to us as sidewalk counselors, because24800:18:11.359 --> 00:18:15.549we were also being watched in thatstory. This man, this custodian doing24900:18:15.670 --> 00:18:21.829the prayer walk, saw us andnew look at those people. They know25000:18:21.990 --> 00:18:23.549what to do. I don't knowwhat to do, but they they do.25100:18:23.789 --> 00:18:29.259They're trained. Yeah, and andhe saw us in action as he's25200:18:29.299 --> 00:18:33.500doing the prayer walk and it wasus that he called. Yeah, yeah,25300:18:33.500 --> 00:18:37.940and that speaks again to this faithfulness, unto the Lord, that we25400:18:38.140 --> 00:18:42.410do what we do not for ourselves, not for our own glory. We25500:18:42.529 --> 00:18:45.609certainly don't do it to try toearn favor with God. We were accused25600:18:45.650 --> 00:18:49.049of that by some folks that you'reout here to, from the pro abortion25700:18:49.089 --> 00:18:52.089people. Out here to try tomake yourself feel better here to try to25800:18:52.210 --> 00:18:56.279earn points with God is like noGod has already given us all the points25900:18:56.359 --> 00:19:00.680he can give us in that hegave us Jesus to be our salvation.26000:19:00.240 --> 00:19:06.160We're out there out of love towardhim, right, and so when we're26100:19:06.200 --> 00:19:11.349faithful toward him, God will seeto it that our faithfulness is seen by26200:19:11.390 --> 00:19:15.789others and I would say even evenif we don't find out about it.26300:19:15.869 --> 00:19:18.509This is a promise that I alwaysmake. If you've listened to this podcast,26400:19:18.589 --> 00:19:21.390you've heard me say this a lot, that if you are out there26500:19:21.430 --> 00:19:23.109in ambortion center, if you arefaithful to be out there, I can26600:19:23.150 --> 00:19:27.180make two promises God will use youto save babies. Right. His word26700:19:27.220 --> 00:19:30.619doesn't return void. Whe Do youfind out about it or not? God26800:19:30.819 --> 00:19:33.299is using your witness, your testimony, to be out there and just your26900:19:33.339 --> 00:19:37.259presence out there to say babies.Yeah, and you're going to grow in27000:19:37.380 --> 00:19:41.250areas of your life that you mightnot otherwise. Actually you definitely, I27100:19:41.329 --> 00:19:44.529would say, won't otherwise grow.And one of those areas is one of27200:19:44.609 --> 00:19:48.650faithfulness. The Bible says it's inproverbs twenty. I think it's for six.27300:19:48.170 --> 00:19:52.400It says each man will proclaim hisown goodness, but a faithful man27400:19:52.680 --> 00:19:56.880who could find God is looking forfaithful people. Jesus says, when the27500:19:56.960 --> 00:20:00.839son of man returns, will hefind faith on the earth? Is He27600:20:00.920 --> 00:20:03.720going to find faithful people? Ashe looks in your city, wherever you27700:20:03.839 --> 00:20:08.910are, across the United States oracross the world? Is God looking in27800:20:08.990 --> 00:20:15.109your city and is he finding faithfulpeople? Are you faithful to do what27900:20:15.190 --> 00:20:17.269God has called you to do,to be where God has called you to28000:20:17.349 --> 00:20:19.430be? Because if you are justlike that custodian, yeah, just like28100:20:19.509 --> 00:20:22.900Vicki, whose faith will be outthere in the sidewalk. Yeah, if28200:20:22.940 --> 00:20:25.740your faithful, God is going touse you. Yeah, I re read28300:20:25.779 --> 00:20:29.700a scripture here. This is Colossianschapter three and seventeen, and then I'm28400:20:29.700 --> 00:20:33.220going to jump to verse twenty three, because these two scriptures are tied in28500:20:33.299 --> 00:20:36.130together. And if you guys havean opportunity to just read the whole book28600:20:36.130 --> 00:20:38.569of Collossians, as pretty sure it'sa good book. Yeah, but Cassius28700:20:38.569 --> 00:20:45.009chapter three speaks similarly to kind ofwhat we're talking about in seventeen three,28800:20:45.329 --> 00:20:48.609seventeen, it says, whatever youdo in word or deed, do it28900:20:48.690 --> 00:20:51.480all in the name of the LordJesus Christ, or the Lord Jesus,29000:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.839giving thanks to God, the father, through him. And skipping on the29100:20:53.839 --> 00:20:57.480Verse Twenty Three. And whatever youdo, do it hardly as unto the29200:20:57.599 --> 00:21:00.839Lord and not to men. Yeah, it goes on a verse twenty four,29300:21:00.920 --> 00:21:04.150knowing that from the Lord you willreceive the reward of the inheritance,29400:21:04.670 --> 00:21:10.670for you serve the Lord Christ.So again this puts things in its proper29500:21:10.750 --> 00:21:18.069perspective, that we're not serving thosebabies and those mothers primarily, we're serving29600:21:18.700 --> 00:21:22.299the Lord. We're serving God nowbecause, like we often say, we29700:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.859have to love God first and thenwe can love our neighbor, because we're29800:21:23.859 --> 00:21:27.740serving the Lord. We're serving thosebabies, but he's primary, he's the29900:21:27.819 --> 00:21:33.170focus. Our faithfulness is to him. We serve the Lord Christ, like30000:21:33.289 --> 00:21:37.410it says, the Lord Jesus,and so that's what that custodian was doing.30100:21:37.609 --> 00:21:40.329That's right and being faithful to theLord. Yeah, and I think30200:21:40.490 --> 00:21:45.450it helps us to reframe the wholeidea of failure. Yeah, there is30300:21:45.890 --> 00:21:49.640no failure in the Lord. Therereally is not. Whatever he has brought30400:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.759you to, there is a purposeto it. Yeah, and if you30500:21:53.000 --> 00:22:00.599are truly working as to the Lordand not to men, you cannot fail.30600:22:00.720 --> 00:22:04.390It may feel like failure by worldlystandards, maybe it is, but30700:22:04.470 --> 00:22:08.069not by God's yards. Yeah,by got standards. You're in that place30800:22:08.630 --> 00:22:14.150for a reason and even those whateverterrible circumstances you're facing, yeah, for30900:22:14.390 --> 00:22:18.740a reason. Well, that sortof speaks to just our experiences out there31000:22:18.740 --> 00:22:21.339on the sidewalk. You know,we've been, and I say it's all31100:22:21.420 --> 00:22:25.500by God's grace that I've been ableto be out there for going away actually31200:22:25.779 --> 00:22:30.410little over fifteen years, just beingout there consistently, and our team's being31300:22:30.450 --> 00:22:34.569out there for over ten years.Individuals just preaching out and we've really,31400:22:36.170 --> 00:22:38.769lack of a better term, plantedour roots deep there at the abortion center31500:22:40.009 --> 00:22:42.450actually right down the road from here, not not too far from our office31600:22:42.529 --> 00:22:48.240here, and we have, ona regular basis, women come who they're31700:22:48.279 --> 00:22:52.079not coming to the abortion center.Actually, they're coming to us because we31800:22:52.200 --> 00:22:55.319helped a friend of theirs right overthe years. We helped them over the31900:22:55.359 --> 00:22:57.990years and they got a difficult situation. Our desires, of course, to32000:22:59.069 --> 00:23:03.230break that cycle of sin and destruction, but sometimes that cycle is not broken32100:23:03.230 --> 00:23:06.990immediately when they choose life for theirtheir baby, they get caught in another32200:23:07.029 --> 00:23:11.029situation. Yeah, we are thankful, however, that they've observed our faithfulness32300:23:11.029 --> 00:23:14.420in such a way that, ratherthan going to the abortion center, they32400:23:14.460 --> 00:23:17.579actually come to us, they cometo the mobile unit or they just come32500:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.900and say, Hey, I knowyou guys helped me before. Will you32600:23:18.980 --> 00:23:22.900help me again? Yep, yeah, and even to the point where we've32700:23:22.980 --> 00:23:26.099had, and maybe you can recallthis story, maybe share a little bit32800:23:26.140 --> 00:23:30.809more that I'm sharing, but we'vehad people that work inside the abortion center32900:23:30.890 --> 00:23:33.690right who hate us, yeah,until they realize that they need us.33000:23:33.730 --> 00:23:38.450Right. We've even had people whoare very close to some of the directors33100:23:38.529 --> 00:23:45.359and some of the administrative folks comeout to us because they knew that we33200:23:45.440 --> 00:23:48.799could help them, right, becausethey were in a difficult pregnancy situation and33300:23:48.960 --> 00:23:52.240they didn't want to have an abortion, even though they work for the abortion33400:23:52.359 --> 00:23:55.200center, actually reach out to us. You want to recount any of that?33500:23:55.359 --> 00:24:00.029Right? I remember one story whereI do remember some and some of33600:24:00.069 --> 00:24:03.630them we actually are not allowed,because I'm sure laws, to tell who33700:24:03.670 --> 00:24:04.990they were. But, like yousaid, they were pretty high up there33800:24:06.029 --> 00:24:10.339and and they came on board thethe mobile ultra sound unit, and we33900:24:10.380 --> 00:24:12.740were just all like our eyes poppingopen, like, why did you come34000:24:12.779 --> 00:24:15.420to us? I thought you hatedour guts. But I do know of34100:24:15.500 --> 00:24:21.859an another story where an abortion worker, she I think she was a nurse34200:24:22.140 --> 00:24:26.210in in the abortion center and itwas in the past seven years that I've34300:24:26.210 --> 00:24:29.650been out there. I don't knowexactly when, but where she had a34400:24:29.849 --> 00:24:36.210woman who clearly just was so conflictedto the point that this worker told her,34500:24:36.289 --> 00:24:41.720look, honey, you obviously don'twant an abortion. There are people34600:24:41.079 --> 00:24:45.359that will help you. Go Outand talk to those people on this sidewalk.34700:24:45.680 --> 00:24:48.519That's the abortion center. Yeah,telling I'm sure if anyone knew she34800:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.920had said that, they would havefired her. I'm sure if the people34900:24:51.920 --> 00:24:57.789a management but but so are.Our actions speak louder than anything. We35000:24:57.950 --> 00:25:02.750are there helping and end people arewatching us. Yeah, watching US do35100:25:02.990 --> 00:25:06.470that. So there's a second story. I don't know if we have time35200:25:06.549 --> 00:25:11.339for me to tell. Yeah,the story very similar theme. That happened35300:25:11.460 --> 00:25:15.099again within just the past three days, which is why this are we really35400:25:15.140 --> 00:25:19.420failing when we think we're feeling arewe really failing? And and and our35500:25:19.460 --> 00:25:25.490answers no, but this was aday that it felt like failure. We've35600:25:25.529 --> 00:25:29.690been out there, hot day,tons and tons of antagonism and opposition,35700:25:30.210 --> 00:25:33.809no apparent baby saved. WE'RE CLEANINGUP, we're packing all of our stuff35800:25:33.809 --> 00:25:37.559away, feeling a little you can'thelp it, no matter how many times35900:25:37.599 --> 00:25:41.519we tell you it's okay, we'rethere for the Lord. You do feel36000:25:41.960 --> 00:25:48.039deflated. Yeah, when you haven'tseen any apparent fruit. And a policeman36100:25:48.279 --> 00:25:52.789comes and comes to me because Iwas still there. Again, it was36200:25:52.869 --> 00:25:55.910it. He would have come toany of us, but I just happen36300:25:55.950 --> 00:25:57.829to be the one that was stillthere. Yeah, and and he said36400:25:57.869 --> 00:26:03.589Hey, we've got a mom atthe police station, pretty desperate situation.36500:26:03.990 --> 00:26:10.700She left the abortion center and wouldyou guys come talk to her? Yeah,36600:26:10.859 --> 00:26:15.220so what's interesting? First, theydidn't go to the abortion center and36700:26:15.539 --> 00:26:19.970say, would would you go talkto this distraught woman that you have made36800:26:21.130 --> 00:26:23.609so, so distraught, and wouldyou help her? They didn't go to36900:26:23.690 --> 00:26:27.730the pro choice crowd, who claimsthat we hate women and they're the ones37000:26:27.769 --> 00:26:30.930that are there helping women. Well, why didn't they go to then,37100:26:30.009 --> 00:26:34.359to those people that are supposedly helpingwomen? They didn't even use their own37200:26:34.400 --> 00:26:38.759police resources. There the cops.Why didn't they help the woman? They37300:26:38.839 --> 00:26:42.279came to us. They didn't goto city council, who who is passed37400:26:42.319 --> 00:26:47.789many laws hindering our ability to helpthese women. They came to us.37500:26:47.789 --> 00:26:52.910Yeah, and we dropped everything.I went zipping over to the police station37600:26:53.869 --> 00:26:57.950and this woman was again. Shehad been very, very terrible. She37700:26:57.990 --> 00:27:02.779had been tricked into going to theabortion center. She didn't know was an37800:27:02.779 --> 00:27:06.500abortion center. Her mother had wokenher up early in the morning, driven37900:27:06.619 --> 00:27:08.579three hours to bring her to theabortion center, telling her she was going38000:27:08.660 --> 00:27:14.460to a doctor appointment, and thenthe mother dropped her with the name of38100:27:14.500 --> 00:27:18.049a counselor that she was supposed togo look for in the abortion center.38200:27:18.730 --> 00:27:21.890Again, the girl doesn't know whyshe's there. She walks in, quickly38300:27:21.930 --> 00:27:27.809figures out it's an abortion center andshe believed very strongly abortion was wrong.38400:27:29.130 --> 00:27:33.039Yeah, she did not want toget this abortion. So she goes running38500:27:33.039 --> 00:27:37.640out and her mother is gone.Her mother has left with the car is38600:27:37.759 --> 00:27:42.440gone. The mother's gone, themother's not answering the phone. All the38700:27:42.559 --> 00:27:47.910girl had on her was her phoneand a charger. No Mon me,38800:27:48.349 --> 00:27:52.029she did have her ID. Nocar. She's she is abandoned, three38900:27:52.109 --> 00:27:56.950hours from home and clearly I thinkshe probably got a hold of the mother39000:27:56.990 --> 00:27:59.059enough to say I'm not going todo it, and that's when the mother39100:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.740just said, basically, you're onyour own. Yeah, wow. So,39200:28:00.859 --> 00:28:06.220so we got her a free ultrasound, we got her launch, we39300:28:07.099 --> 00:28:10.539we shared the Gospel with her.She was honestly, she ended up.39400:28:10.619 --> 00:28:12.730Just to kind of willow back youreal quick, she was not at the39500:28:12.809 --> 00:28:17.809latrobe abortion center, but she wasat another abortion another abortion center around the39600:28:17.890 --> 00:28:19.170corner. Yeah, and there's apolice station not far from there. So39700:28:19.250 --> 00:28:22.690apparently she either walked to the policestation called the police. All them said39800:28:22.730 --> 00:28:26.730what do I do? They gaveher directions and said come to the police39900:28:26.769 --> 00:28:30.319station and we think we know somepeople that can help you. Yeah,40000:28:30.680 --> 00:28:34.119and that's when they came and gotus and and we I was going on40100:28:34.200 --> 00:28:37.440a long trip the next day andI didn't relish the idea of a six40200:28:37.559 --> 00:28:41.869hour round trip drive, but Iwould. I would have, as would,40300:28:41.869 --> 00:28:45.029I think, any one of ourcounselors had they been faced with the40400:28:45.109 --> 00:28:48.950same situation. But it just happenedthe nurses, Sun was, who did40500:28:48.990 --> 00:28:52.150the ultrasound for her, was goingto be driving to her city that very40600:28:52.190 --> 00:28:56.019day. Yes, God would haveit again, I'm a miracle of God40700:28:56.180 --> 00:29:00.299providing. And so we got thisgirl home, we got her launch,40800:29:00.460 --> 00:29:03.859we got her help. We're goingto be helping with a baby chower.40900:29:03.940 --> 00:29:10.369We we've connected her already with counselingservices and with mentorship services in her city.41000:29:11.130 --> 00:29:17.289But the the main point of thatstory is that we were being watched41100:29:17.329 --> 00:29:22.369during all these apparent failures. Thepolice out there. They see us a41200:29:22.490 --> 00:29:26.319lot, they're out there a lotand some of them don't particularly like us41300:29:26.359 --> 00:29:32.160either. They don't, and thatwas why this was almost shocking that.41400:29:32.680 --> 00:29:36.920But who did they decide to goto? They've seen us in failure,41500:29:37.359 --> 00:29:41.309because there is the most most peopledo aboard. So it does feel like41600:29:41.430 --> 00:29:45.950failure after failure. They have observedus, but what they have observed is41700:29:45.190 --> 00:29:48.549that we are faithful, that werealways there, that we do what we41800:29:48.670 --> 00:29:52.539say, that we love the Lordand that we were the ones that they41900:29:52.660 --> 00:29:59.299went to get help for this woman. So that the apparent failure of that42000:29:59.579 --> 00:30:02.900day or of the whole year orall the years that the police have been42100:30:02.940 --> 00:30:07.609watching us, when women by thedrobe still go into a board, maybe42200:30:07.650 --> 00:30:15.690it's not failure. Maybe it's it'sGod allowing people to see my people will42300:30:15.730 --> 00:30:18.609stand in the gap for me nomatter what. Yeah, no matter what42400:30:18.730 --> 00:30:23.240they face. Yeah, we're notpretending that it's at all easy. Oh42500:30:23.359 --> 00:30:27.079No, day in and day out. Yeah, and you know, you42600:30:27.200 --> 00:30:33.359may look those who are doing sidewallcounseling nationally. Maybe you've looked on our42700:30:33.400 --> 00:30:37.990facebook page and some of our blogposts and that sort of thing and you've42800:30:37.789 --> 00:30:41.349saw some of the fruit. Andcertainly God by His mercy. Yeah,42900:30:41.430 --> 00:30:45.269we see baby saved on a regularBasi Do. Yeah, but if you43000:30:45.390 --> 00:30:49.099look at the volume of babies thatare being killed inside of that abortion center43100:30:49.700 --> 00:30:52.259and compared to the volume of babiesthat are saved, if you did like43200:30:52.299 --> 00:30:59.500a ratio analysis, the vast majorityare killing their children. That's right,43300:30:59.539 --> 00:31:03.500the vast majority of those that wereach out to. You might look at43400:31:03.500 --> 00:31:07.849it and say, just you guysare failures. Yeah, the reality is,43500:31:07.970 --> 00:31:10.329though, we're not if we're faithfulto the Lord, and it's not43600:31:10.369 --> 00:31:14.369just because we have these numbers ofbabies that were saved or whatever. Yeah,43700:31:14.769 --> 00:31:17.410it's because we're faithful to the Lord. Were faithful to do what he's43800:31:17.450 --> 00:31:19.640called us to do. So thisis an encouragement to you guys. Continue43900:31:19.720 --> 00:31:22.640to be faithful, continue to dowhat God has called you to do,44000:31:23.519 --> 00:31:27.160and God is going to position youto be used in some of these ways.44100:31:27.200 --> 00:31:33.349You're going to have stories to tellof what God has done and your44200:31:33.430 --> 00:31:38.710faithfulness is not overlooked, first andforemost by the Lord Right, but also44300:31:40.470 --> 00:31:45.309by other people who are observing,by other people who are even maybe opposition44400:31:45.349 --> 00:31:48.420people from the outside looking in.I mean I've even had some of our44500:31:48.460 --> 00:31:52.700pro abortion opposition people say, Iknow you guys aren't going away because you44600:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.660know some of them. They're outthere to try to get us to go44700:31:53.700 --> 00:31:57.420away from that abortion center and tellingHey, till this place is closed,44800:31:57.779 --> 00:32:01.930we're going to be here and wemaybe even recognize we know that right.44900:32:02.250 --> 00:32:07.490So even they might see our faithfulnessand maybe it'll turn their horse. And45000:32:07.490 --> 00:32:09.490I have another story that that.It's a quick one but one of the45100:32:09.890 --> 00:32:17.759most. We've got this new cropof pro abortion people who really are very45200:32:17.920 --> 00:32:22.759difficult and very, very adversarial.But one of them came to one of45300:32:22.839 --> 00:32:28.559our other counselors and told her abouta friend of hers who is in a45400:32:28.759 --> 00:32:31.269very difficult situation and, in amocking tone, said are you going to45500:32:31.349 --> 00:32:35.910help her? And we said yes, and we did, and we did45600:32:36.549 --> 00:32:39.109so they even knew. I thinkinitially it was sort of mocking, but45700:32:39.349 --> 00:32:44.819then I was the one that actuallygot called to help this friend and we45800:32:44.859 --> 00:32:47.619actually had then another counselor be theone that contacted that friend. But I45900:32:47.779 --> 00:32:52.059went to her like a couple dayslater and said you're the one that referred46000:32:52.099 --> 00:32:53.220your friend, right, and shesaid yes, and I said, well,46100:32:53.259 --> 00:32:57.779I want you to know we we'vemet, had several calls and and46200:32:58.099 --> 00:33:02.650we are helping her, and shewas genuinely I think surprised but grateful.46300:33:04.450 --> 00:33:09.569So again here you know, whereyou least expect it, people watching and46400:33:10.089 --> 00:33:17.920noticing, and even your enemies canbecome your cheering squat. Yeah, because46500:33:19.000 --> 00:33:22.240you're helping them. Yeah, butit all comes in faithfulness to the Lord.46600:33:22.440 --> 00:33:27.549It does. Our faithfulness is neverfailure. Yeah, as long as46700:33:27.589 --> 00:33:30.990our faithfulness is unto the Lord.Right, right. So I hope this46800:33:30.269 --> 00:33:34.950podcast was an encouragement. Do youguys who all of our PODCASTS are?46900:33:35.190 --> 00:33:37.910We again, like I started out, like to hear some feedback from you47000:33:37.990 --> 00:33:40.619guys, some ideas for further episodes. That would be a blessing to y'all.47100:33:42.460 --> 00:33:45.259You can reach out to me atD parks cities for Lifecom, her47200:33:45.339 --> 00:33:51.180V cussy organ cities for lifecom.Also check out our sidewalks for life website,47300:33:51.259 --> 00:33:54.500sidewalks the number four lifecom, wherewe put out articles on a regular47400:33:54.539 --> 00:33:59.809basis, almost a weekly basis,of some and mainly it's Vicki writing these47500:33:59.849 --> 00:34:02.809articles, because you can write anarticle in like a third of the time47600:34:02.890 --> 00:34:07.690that it takes me to write anarticle. These articles are supposed to be47700:34:07.730 --> 00:34:09.400an encouragement. Do you guys?We hope that they are. Dealing with47800:34:09.440 --> 00:34:14.519all kinds of subjects, but focusedaround sidewalk counseling. So check that out,47900:34:14.840 --> 00:34:19.760share that and wrap this thing up. So until next time, God48000:34:19.800 --> 00:34:30.110bless gap. That's y'all. Giveme O love for love, give me48100:34:30.869 --> 00:34:44.099our love for gratitude. I knowit will cost me my life. Nothing's48200:34:44.219 --> 00:34:45.860too precious in some you