When Our Best Isn’t Good Enough

WEBVTT100:00:00.200 --> 00:00:05.080You can't change anyone's heart, nomatter how wise you are, no matter200:00:05.080 --> 00:00:09.000how long you've been doing this,no matter how whinsome you are in the300:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.480way that you talk. It's Godthat changes hearts and it's up to them,400:00:12.519 --> 00:00:16.199the people that you're speaking to,to respond to what God is speaking500:00:16.480 --> 00:00:23.039through you. I'm yours, I'myours, I'm yours, and me,600:00:23.320 --> 00:00:29.559Lord, I'm yours, I'm yours. I'm welcome to the Gospel centered pro700:00:29.719 --> 00:00:35.039life podcast, a podcast designed toequip, encourage and challenge you in pro800:00:35.159 --> 00:00:39.000life ministry, and always with afocus on the Gospel. Stay tuned.900:00:41.000 --> 00:00:53.840I felt your pastih touch your heart. Lord. Welcome back to the Gospel1000:00:53.880 --> 00:00:58.640centured pro life podcast. I'm DanielPark's west coast regional shepherd for love life.1100:00:59.000 --> 00:01:03.520I'm joined, as always, aboutVicky cassie organ everyone. Vicky is1200:01:03.679 --> 00:01:10.640our sidewalk training director. She overseessidewalk training four our sidewalk teams across the1300:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.840nation and is pouring into folks herein Charlotte, but also all across the1400:01:14.879 --> 00:01:19.879country and has taking a trip toDenver and some sometimes in the not too1500:01:19.879 --> 00:01:22.599distant future, a couple of weeks. Yeah, yeah, very excited to1600:01:22.560 --> 00:01:26.079help pour into the sidewalk teams thatare beginning there, and so we're blessed1700:01:26.079 --> 00:01:30.480to bring you guys these episodes focusedreally on the sidewalk ministry, although we're1800:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.079involved in a lot of other stuffas a ministry through love life, our1900:01:34.120 --> 00:01:38.680heart with this podcast is to helpequip and encourage those who are doing ministry2000:01:38.680 --> 00:01:41.920on the sidewalk in particular. Wetalked about other subjects to that have to2100:01:41.959 --> 00:01:44.959do with pro life ministry, alwayswith a focus on the Gospel, like2200:01:45.480 --> 00:01:52.079in the intro and Um, butreally our expertise with air quotes is the2300:01:52.120 --> 00:01:53.840sidewalk ministry. We've been doing thatfor a long time. So you guys2400:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.519that might be new to this podcast. That's a little background on who we2500:01:57.560 --> 00:02:01.200are. have been doing this stuffcombined plus years. Right. I've been2600:02:01.239 --> 00:02:05.920involved since two thousand and five.Vicky, you got started in, Oh2700:02:06.040 --> 00:02:09.080Gosh, two thousand fourteen. I'vebeen doing it ten years, so I2800:02:09.080 --> 00:02:15.439guess that would be so. Anyway, I've been doing this stuff for a2900:02:15.439 --> 00:02:20.360long time, made some mistakes overthe years and our hope is that when3000:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.199we do trainings and we do podcasts, whatever we might do along these lines,3100:02:23.879 --> 00:02:27.120is we're helping you, guests,to learn from our mistakes so you3200:02:27.120 --> 00:02:29.759don't have to make your own.Yeah, that sound good a man,3300:02:29.840 --> 00:02:32.000I think that's a noble purpose ofours. I think it is too.3400:02:34.000 --> 00:02:38.879So with that I want to getinto our subject. And Vicky writes an3500:02:38.960 --> 00:02:43.400article, oftentimes with the subjects thatwe cover in these podcast episodes of these3600:02:43.479 --> 00:02:47.319articles are always available at Um sidewalksfor life, sidewalks, the number four3700:02:47.560 --> 00:02:51.560life dot com. If you goon that website, that's our training and3800:02:51.599 --> 00:02:54.960equipping website. At the top ofthe page is a tab that says equipping3900:02:55.080 --> 00:03:00.479articles, and these articles are alwaysthere. Also linked them in the show4000:03:00.520 --> 00:03:05.879notes of the podcast as well.This article is called when my best is4100:03:05.919 --> 00:03:10.199not good enough. So you hadan experience just last week or just yesterday,4200:03:10.280 --> 00:03:14.840yesterday, just happing yesterday. Yeah, that kind of spurred this article.4300:03:14.960 --> 00:03:16.879You thought it would be an encouragementto those who are doing sidewalk ministry.4400:03:16.879 --> 00:03:21.280So why don't you kind of giveus a little background on this article,4500:03:21.800 --> 00:03:23.120what your heart with this episode is, and then we'll jump into it.4600:03:23.319 --> 00:03:27.759Well, so this is something weare all going to face. If4700:03:27.800 --> 00:03:30.960you're in front of an abortion center, as a sidewalk counselor. Every one4800:03:30.000 --> 00:03:36.439of us will will face what iscan be a great disappointment, which is4900:03:36.439 --> 00:03:42.280when mom chooses to abort, evenafter you've given everything you have. And5000:03:42.319 --> 00:03:46.080the reason that I think it willbe an encouragement is this happened to me.5100:03:46.400 --> 00:03:50.120Didn't end the way that I hadhoped and prayed it would end.5200:03:51.080 --> 00:03:54.400But I've been doing this a longtime. I mean ten years is a5300:03:54.400 --> 00:04:00.319long time to be a sidewalk counselorand there have been many, many women5400:04:00.439 --> 00:04:06.479who have chosen life after I've counseledbut there are also women who choose abortion5500:04:08.520 --> 00:04:14.560and I really I felt like Ikind of did everything right. I didn't5600:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.839feel that way with with this discussion. It felt holy, Spirit led,5700:04:19.040 --> 00:04:24.879and yet it didn't end with herchoosing life. So I thought it was5800:04:24.920 --> 00:04:30.360important for people to know, whetheryou're experienced or brand new on the sidewalk,5900:04:30.879 --> 00:04:33.240this is going to happen. There'sgoing to be people that will not6000:04:33.480 --> 00:04:41.720choose life and I wanted to gothrough kind of what I experienced, what6100:04:42.160 --> 00:04:46.319the discussion was. Maybe you'll comeup with some ideas of things that I6200:04:46.399 --> 00:04:51.920didn't touch on that I should have, but um and then maybe some just6300:04:53.199 --> 00:04:59.199general reminders for all of us whenwe face this situation that will help us6400:04:59.240 --> 00:05:03.639to deal with with the inevitable disappointmentwhen it doesn't go as you had planned,6500:05:03.639 --> 00:05:09.800when you've done your best and itjust wasn't good enough. Yeah,6600:05:10.079 --> 00:05:13.639it wasn't good enough to see theresult that you wanted to see correct.6700:05:13.920 --> 00:05:17.759But, spoiler alert, the endresult is in God's hands, right,6800:05:18.319 --> 00:05:26.000and the encouragement is you can't changeanyone's heart, no matter how wise you6900:05:26.040 --> 00:05:30.079are, no matter how long you'vebeen doing this, no matter how whensome7000:05:30.199 --> 00:05:32.040you are in the way that youtalk. It's God that changes hearts and7100:05:32.079 --> 00:05:35.879it's up to them, the peoplethat you're speaking to, to respawn to7200:05:35.959 --> 00:05:40.720what God is speaking through you to. Yeah, exactly, and that's probably7300:05:40.759 --> 00:05:45.519the absolute basic, most important takeawayfrom this. But so so let me7400:05:45.560 --> 00:05:48.800tell you this story. Um,I was standing up the street, away7500:05:48.839 --> 00:05:54.639from the craziness of the opposition,all the noise they make and everything that7600:05:54.759 --> 00:05:59.279happens, at the entry point intothe parking lot of an abortion center and7700:05:59.319 --> 00:06:02.439I had been Um, I'd talkedto a lot of people, I'd given7800:06:02.439 --> 00:06:05.360out a lot of literature, I'dhad a lot of what I felt were7900:06:05.399 --> 00:06:11.160really good conversations. So I wasfeeling pretty good. I was feeling like8000:06:11.360 --> 00:06:15.199this is where God wants me.He's using me here today. And a8100:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.800young couple stopped. They brought downtheir window right away. I did what8200:06:17.959 --> 00:06:21.199we train you all to do.I was extending my hand, already with8300:06:21.279 --> 00:06:26.120the literature in my hand, offeredit to them. It was classic,8400:06:26.240 --> 00:06:30.000picture perfect. They stopped, rolleddown the window, took the literature.8500:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.879I introduced myself, Um, askedif they were on the way to the8600:06:32.920 --> 00:06:39.279women's clinic, which they readily admittedthey were. and Um, and then8700:06:39.959 --> 00:06:43.920I told them right away who wewere, that were a ministry who loves8800:06:43.959 --> 00:06:48.560the Lord and we are there offeringhope and help so that they would not8900:06:49.360 --> 00:06:53.959consider abortion as as their only choice. And then I point to with the9000:06:54.040 --> 00:06:59.079mobile ultrasound unit is right down thestreet, just very close to where they9100:06:59.079 --> 00:07:02.680had stopped. For me, pointingto it, said we have free ultrasound,9200:07:02.720 --> 00:07:06.279free pregnancy test. We can goover a whole bunch of resources that9300:07:06.360 --> 00:07:10.800we can share with you to helpyou no matter what you face. and9400:07:10.920 --> 00:07:15.120Um, the woman is already leafingthrough the pamphlet that I had handed her.9500:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.839That's that's a positive thing, right. She's not just kind of thrown9600:07:19.839 --> 00:07:24.040it in the backseat or put itto a side. She's actually looking at9700:07:24.079 --> 00:07:28.439the brochure. So that's a positivethat's right. That's the guy is looking9800:07:28.519 --> 00:07:33.160stonily straight ahead. He's pretty lookingat me at all. He's pretending to9900:07:33.199 --> 00:07:39.079not be paying attention at all.But and and she kind of starts giggling10000:07:39.120 --> 00:07:43.120a little as I'm talking with her. Yeah, which that's a pretty common10100:07:43.160 --> 00:07:47.120thing to people laugh off when peoplefeel conviction, sometimes they laugh at off.10200:07:47.160 --> 00:07:50.879That's a weird reaction, but it'sa very common reaction when you're when10300:07:50.879 --> 00:07:55.959you're giving people hard truth. Yeah, and she's she's kind of giving him10400:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.360the eye, the guy the eye, and Um, so, you know,10500:07:59.399 --> 00:08:05.000I I knew that there was UM, some hardness in their heart right10600:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.399away from kind of their their bodylanguage. But when they started giggling,10700:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.720uh, I asked them if theyknew God, and I do try to10800:08:13.759 --> 00:08:16.680get to God right away, whichI did. I was able to do10900:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.240you know God. I don't rememberif there was an opening other than that11000:08:20.279 --> 00:08:24.959they were giggling and and I said, Hey, are you guys believers?11100:08:26.240 --> 00:08:30.240And they said they were. andUm, and I said, well,11200:08:30.439 --> 00:08:33.879what do you think God would wouldsay about you about to go in and11300:08:35.159 --> 00:08:41.679take your child's life in an abortion? and Um UH. Then I'm not11400:08:41.720 --> 00:08:45.320sure they even answered me right away. But then I took it a step11500:08:45.399 --> 00:08:50.840further from do you know God too, do you know Jesus. They said11600:08:50.919 --> 00:08:56.279yes, and then I said isJesus? Do you love Jesus? They11700:08:56.279 --> 00:09:00.639said yes. Would you consider Jesusthe Lord of Your Life? And they11800:09:00.639 --> 00:09:07.320said yes. So now you havea whole new permission. Obviously, I11900:09:07.320 --> 00:09:11.320would say either they were raised inchurch or they're being exposed a church in12000:09:11.360 --> 00:09:15.799some capacity, so they had someknowledge of God and Jesus and his Lordship12100:09:15.840 --> 00:09:18.279of me. If they don't knowwhat that means, that Jesus is Lord,12200:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.279typically people aren't going to respond inthe affirmative and say that he is12300:09:22.279 --> 00:09:26.559their Lord. They'll ask what doyou mean by that? They've been well12400:09:26.679 --> 00:09:31.600churched, well versed in Church Yanityat least. Yeah. And when I12500:09:31.600 --> 00:09:33.440said okay, well, if Jesusis your Lord, then what do you12600:09:33.480 --> 00:09:39.039make with Luke Sixty six, whereJesus himself says, why do you call12700:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.480me Lord? Lord, and notdo what I say. Yeah, so12800:09:41.600 --> 00:09:46.440letting the word of God have itsplace of conviction in their hearts. That12900:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.360was the hope. That was thehope, and there was a very interesting13000:09:48.440 --> 00:09:56.000response. Um, the guy startssweating, literally as I'm sitting there while13100:09:56.039 --> 00:10:00.480standing there watching. It wasn't evenall that hot today yet. Um,13200:10:00.639 --> 00:10:05.120and and he just breaks out ina sweat and I took that as okay,13300:10:05.200 --> 00:10:07.480the Holy Spirit is convicting this guy. He knows he's in the wrong13400:10:07.519 --> 00:10:11.440place, that he shouldn't be here. and Um, they insisted that that13500:10:11.559 --> 00:10:18.320Jesus was Lord. and Um,and then I said really, Jesus Lord13600:10:18.360 --> 00:10:22.000of Your Life? Well then,Um, what do you think about the13700:10:22.039 --> 00:10:26.600sixth commandment? What does he sayabout the sixth commandment? And she said,13800:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.720well, what is the sixth commandment? And I said that shall not13900:10:28.879 --> 00:10:35.519murder, and both of them lookeddown but didn't answer. Um, and14000:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.039UH. And then I said,well, is what you carry in your14100:10:39.080 --> 00:10:43.519room a human being? So pointingout the humanity of the baby brought I14200:10:43.519 --> 00:10:46.960brought God into the equations. I'mgoing along the three talking points. I14300:10:48.279 --> 00:10:50.840brought God in very quickly, scripture, very quickly. Now talking about the14400:10:50.919 --> 00:10:56.480humanity the baby, Um and Um, and she she said Yeah, they14500:10:56.919 --> 00:11:01.720agreed it was human. And Isaid, well, is is it living?14600:11:01.960 --> 00:11:03.360Yes, it's living. Is ita little person? Yes, it's14700:11:03.360 --> 00:11:07.600a little person. Well, isit innocent? Yes, it's innocent.14800:11:09.200 --> 00:11:13.600Well then, what do you thinkyou are doing here? If this is14900:11:13.679 --> 00:11:18.799you're considering taking the life of thislittle person? That that's the definition of15000:11:18.879 --> 00:11:22.519murder. I was pretty blunt andit was kind of surprising, though they15100:11:22.559 --> 00:11:28.000didn't make any attempt to drive away. Um, they were listening. So15200:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.840Um, the man at that pointsaid he knew it was wrong. He15300:11:31.879 --> 00:11:37.039even knew it was murder, butGod will forgive me. Now we had15400:11:37.200 --> 00:11:43.080just had a training session with ournational missionaries where we where we talked about15500:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.759this. This is one of themost common things, especially in the south,15600:11:46.879 --> 00:11:50.440but I would say I mean acrossthe board, no matter whereof ministered,15700:11:50.559 --> 00:11:52.639you'll hear this commonly. I knowwhat's wrong, but God will forgive15800:11:52.720 --> 00:11:58.559me for some some form of thatright. And I went right into exactly15900:11:58.600 --> 00:12:01.480what I trained our sational missionaries thatwe should say at that point. I16000:12:01.480 --> 00:12:07.279said if you're Um, well,you're right. God is a forgiving God,16100:12:07.399 --> 00:12:11.720but if you're about to expressly goand do what he has clearly told16200:12:11.759 --> 00:12:16.120you not to do, banking onhis forgiveness. Are you asking His forgiveness16300:12:16.200 --> 00:12:22.000or permission to sin? And pointedout this was really a mockery of what16400:12:22.679 --> 00:12:28.200forgiveness, and particularly repentance, reallyreally means. Um and then shared the16500:12:28.320 --> 00:12:33.279story that I often share when Ihear this, where let's let's pretend you're16600:12:33.320 --> 00:12:37.559married and your your your husband.I'm talking to the woman. Now your16700:12:37.600 --> 00:12:43.120husband tells you that he's going togo next door and and have sex with16800:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.600his beautiful woman because he can't helphimself. But but because you're a forgiving16900:12:46.639 --> 00:12:50.720woman, he will come right backand tell you I'm sorry, because he17000:12:50.759 --> 00:12:54.240knows you'll forgive him. D thatbe okay? And she neither of them17100:12:54.399 --> 00:13:00.600answered. They just both looked downshaking their heads. No, it was17200:13:00.639 --> 00:13:05.480not okay. And I said,but that's that's what you're asking Um God17300:13:05.559 --> 00:13:11.240to do. and Um the guy'ssweating more. That's fine. He takes17400:13:11.279 --> 00:13:16.720out his handkerchief and he's moping hisface after he's pouring sweat. But he's17500:13:16.720 --> 00:13:22.360starting to look at me like Icould tell maybe at that moment he's starting17600:13:22.399 --> 00:13:28.840to connect and be convicted in away that even um she had had not17700:13:28.039 --> 00:13:31.960yet. And then I um.Then I asked them if they were married.17800:13:31.960 --> 00:13:35.960I figure, you know, aslong as they're staying here, no17900:13:35.279 --> 00:13:39.840one, let's let's go for them. You already message as well. And18000:13:39.919 --> 00:13:45.200No, they were not married,but they were going to be married soon.18100:13:46.320 --> 00:13:50.399And I said, wow, marriageis a big commitment. And if18200:13:50.600 --> 00:13:54.720Um uh I, I assume thatthis baby you're thinking of getting married.18300:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.840You love each other, right.They say yes. I said, well,18400:13:56.879 --> 00:14:01.639that's a big commitment to want tomarry each other. I assume this18500:14:01.720 --> 00:14:07.159baby was conceived in love. You, you loved each other and Um,18600:14:07.240 --> 00:14:11.679and you know that sex can producebabies, right? They said yes,18700:14:11.720 --> 00:14:16.039and I said, well, well, you know you have a commitment to18800:14:16.159 --> 00:14:24.039that baby. When do you believethat the Um you should start honoring commitments?18900:14:24.080 --> 00:14:31.320Because marriage is a huge commitment andusually when we promise to remain committed,19000:14:31.720 --> 00:14:37.039it's when everything's going well and whenthings are good. It's easy to19100:14:37.080 --> 00:14:41.559maintain a commitment when things are easy. It's it's a whole lot harder when19200:14:41.559 --> 00:14:45.720things are hard. So you've youmade a commitment to each other in a19300:14:45.799 --> 00:14:50.720sense when, when you conceived thischild, because that was certainly a possibility.19400:14:50.279 --> 00:14:54.480You have a commitment to that child, ass that child's parents. When19500:14:54.519 --> 00:14:58.840do you think would be a goodtime to start practicing commitment? And and19600:14:58.919 --> 00:15:03.799they they agreed. The amazing thingis, throughout this discussion which went on,19700:15:03.840 --> 00:15:07.159I'm not going to go through everythingI said, but over there it19800:15:07.279 --> 00:15:11.279lasted about forty minutes. They agreed. Car Side, car side, minister19900:15:11.320 --> 00:15:13.840into them. They were pulling downto the abortion center. They stopped in20000:15:13.879 --> 00:15:20.279the road and you talk with himthirty minutes, minutes in a minute itself20100:15:20.360 --> 00:15:24.679is miraculous. It is, itis, and you've heard what I'm saying.20200:15:24.080 --> 00:15:28.799This is not easy stuff for someoneto listen to that doesn't have to.20300:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.480I wasn't hanging onto the car,I wasn't leaning in. That was20400:15:31.519 --> 00:15:37.679in no way impeding their ability toto leave. and Um, and I20500:15:37.120 --> 00:15:45.399asked them Um, so you youknow it's wrong. You know that you20600:15:45.559 --> 00:15:50.720should um of that. You you'reclaiming Jesus's Lord. What do you think20700:15:50.840 --> 00:15:56.759would be honoring to God right now? Would would it be driving in to20800:15:56.919 --> 00:16:03.919that abortion center? or how howcould you honor God in in Your Life?20900:16:04.080 --> 00:16:08.120Right now. And they said goingon the mobile ultrasound unit. They21000:16:08.159 --> 00:16:11.120agreed, it was. It was. It was not going into the they21100:16:11.120 --> 00:16:15.639said not. In fact, shesaid at that point, not going into21200:16:15.639 --> 00:16:19.840the abortion center. So I'm feelinglike, praise God, they their hearts21300:16:19.840 --> 00:16:26.000are turning. Wouldn't you have thoughtthat these with these responses? So Um,21400:16:26.000 --> 00:16:29.360I said, you know, youcould die at any any moment.21500:16:29.399 --> 00:16:32.559I hope you don't, but thiscould be your last few moments on earth.21600:16:32.639 --> 00:16:37.519None of us know. And ifour if you know what the next21700:16:37.600 --> 00:16:41.320step should be an honoring God,and that might be the only step you21800:16:41.360 --> 00:16:47.600have left before you stand before Jesus. You don't know. So what do21900:16:47.679 --> 00:16:52.679you think, then, you shoulddo at at this point? Um,22000:16:52.879 --> 00:16:59.639and they they both said to Um, to go on the R V,22100:17:00.440 --> 00:17:04.160and I said great, I agreewith you. Um, let me Um,22200:17:04.319 --> 00:17:07.920I and I told her about theresources, a very general overview of22300:17:07.960 --> 00:17:11.720all the resources that we could offerto help, which we would talk about22400:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.200more in the R V. Isaid, I'll walk you over and she22500:17:14.200 --> 00:17:18.559said no, my mind is madeup. This is forty minutes later,22600:17:18.039 --> 00:17:22.759forty minutes of him sweating tear,you know, he's sweating up a storm22700:17:22.759 --> 00:17:29.359because he's so convicted. She's sayingYes to everything. They agreed with everything.22800:17:30.160 --> 00:17:33.160And I just looked at her andsaid, young lady, after all22900:17:33.680 --> 00:17:38.920that you're telling me, you're youstill are going to go in there and23000:17:40.000 --> 00:17:45.519abort your baby. Um Oh,I did talk about the heartbeat, brain23100:17:45.599 --> 00:17:48.480waves, ten fingers and tent totes. I knew how far along she was23200:17:48.759 --> 00:17:52.240also, so I did everything Iknew to do, quite honestly, and23300:17:53.680 --> 00:18:00.440she was eight weeks. So tenfingers and Tintoes, brain waves, heartbeat,23400:18:00.599 --> 00:18:03.519every organ in place. told herall that, Um, and and23500:18:03.599 --> 00:18:07.599yet she said, but she didsay, but listen, I'll Um,23600:18:07.880 --> 00:18:11.160we'll, we'll hang on to this. I've got your name and number and23700:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.559if we get in there and changeour mind, I'll be right back,23800:18:14.599 --> 00:18:18.640I promise you. And I said, is there anywhere in the Bible that23900:18:18.799 --> 00:18:23.440says when we know sin and weknow temptation, we should step as close24000:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.720to it as we can get tosee if we can withstand temptation? Or24100:18:27.759 --> 00:18:32.720does the Bible say that we areto flee from up, from the devil24200:18:32.960 --> 00:18:36.599and or, you know, resistthe devil and he will flee from us.24300:18:36.599 --> 00:18:41.160So resisting, you don't creep upas close as you can to temptation.24400:18:41.880 --> 00:18:45.640And at that moment, um Iknow I've kind of she's not back24500:18:45.640 --> 00:18:51.680and down. I know I've kindof for whatever reason. Um, and24600:18:51.839 --> 00:18:56.079I say can I pray with you, and they said yes, so I24700:18:56.119 --> 00:18:59.839started praying. I prayed at them, as we've talked about another podcast.24800:19:00.039 --> 00:19:04.480We're kind of recounting everything that I'dgone through and as I'm finishing the prayer,24900:19:06.319 --> 00:19:11.400Um, who should drive up behindthem but the the owner's daughter who25000:19:11.440 --> 00:19:17.640manages the abortion center, directs theAbortion Center here. And I tell you,25100:19:17.680 --> 00:19:21.559there was at least two car withbeside this truck. They could have25200:19:21.640 --> 00:19:27.200gone by easily. She could.You could have plenty of rooms, but25300:19:27.359 --> 00:19:32.519she laid on the Horn, justwouldn't take her hand off of the horn.25400:19:32.599 --> 00:19:37.119So the horns blaring and she rollsdown her window and it's swearing and25500:19:37.240 --> 00:19:41.319screaming at me and at them toget out of the road. Um.25600:19:41.920 --> 00:19:47.559And I had purposely not told themto pull over because as soon as I25700:19:47.599 --> 00:19:53.319say that of the time women keepdriving and drive into the abortion center and25800:19:53.359 --> 00:19:56.559I knew they were not. Ever, in the conversation at a point where25900:19:56.599 --> 00:20:02.720I felt confident they would pull over. At this point. I know I'm26000:20:02.799 --> 00:20:07.279kind of she's going to call thepolice and and, Um, the and26100:20:07.279 --> 00:20:11.440and the people were getting so frazzled. So I said would you pull over?26200:20:12.039 --> 00:20:15.920At first I told them the reasonshe doesn't want to just go around26300:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.960us, which we're all flagging heron, I said, is because the26400:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.960she doesn't profit off of the deathof your baby. Lose money, right26500:20:25.240 --> 00:20:29.920and and so she doesn't want metalking to you. Um. And as26600:20:29.960 --> 00:20:34.759soon as I said, would youmind pulling over, he rolls forward slowly26700:20:36.079 --> 00:20:42.559and kept driving and drove right into the abortion sid yeah, that's heavy26800:20:42.599 --> 00:20:47.279stuff. Dealt with that. Ifyou do this ministry at any length of26900:20:47.319 --> 00:20:49.200time, you'll deal with that,whether it's, you know, car side27000:20:49.319 --> 00:20:53.960or talking to him on the sidewalkor on the mobile ultrasound union. I27100:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.839know my wife as a nurse andI know you've been on the mobile ultra27200:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.240sound unit a lot to you whereyou're pouring everything you can, everything you27300:21:00.279 --> 00:21:04.400can pour out until you can't pourout anymore and then, even though there's27400:21:04.400 --> 00:21:07.759agreement there, I agree, allyou're saying is correct. I agree with27500:21:07.799 --> 00:21:12.880that stuff. Yet I'm still goingto have this abortion and on top of27600:21:12.920 --> 00:21:17.000it, in this case. Idon't always feel this, but in this27700:21:17.079 --> 00:21:21.640case I felt Holy Spirit guided.I really felt like things were coming out27800:21:21.680 --> 00:21:26.240of my mouth that I've never saidbefore but that I felt led by the27900:21:26.319 --> 00:21:30.359spirit to say. So I feltreally good about it until she said no,28000:21:30.440 --> 00:21:34.160I've made made up my mind,and you pretty much figured it's a28100:21:34.200 --> 00:21:37.400done deal. Right there. They'resitting here listening for thirty minutes. That's28200:21:37.400 --> 00:21:41.279a good indication that they're going tochoose life if they're they're talking that long.28300:21:41.720 --> 00:21:47.000And none of the opposition came overto stop the conversation, which was28400:21:47.039 --> 00:21:52.680another miracle. So anyway, thatyou know, my first as they drive28500:21:52.759 --> 00:21:57.440in, I felt like collapsing.That's the first kind of takeaway is,28600:21:59.279 --> 00:22:06.079I think, gets okay for theexhaustion and disappointment to hit you, because28700:22:06.559 --> 00:22:12.400it is disappointing. It is disappointingand and I thought it was very important28800:22:12.440 --> 00:22:17.319for you to know. I've beendoing this ten years and it still happens,28900:22:17.720 --> 00:22:21.480and not infrequently either. Right.I mean, we can train you.29000:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.200This is what we've said often.We can train you. We have29100:22:23.400 --> 00:22:27.240three training modules. Now for theSidewalk Ministry. We do this podcast.29200:22:27.960 --> 00:22:32.920Um, we do a monthly meetingfor all of our sidewalk folks to encourage29300:22:32.920 --> 00:22:37.359them and answer questions. We canpour any kind of training and and kind29400:22:37.359 --> 00:22:41.039of here's what you do in thisscenario into you and you can apply all29500:22:41.079 --> 00:22:45.319of that stuff, but at theend of the day, none of that29600:22:45.319 --> 00:22:47.039stuff is bad, by the way, all that stuff is good. We29700:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.440should learn, we should equip ourselvesas much as we can, but at29800:22:48.440 --> 00:22:52.640the end of the day, thepeople that were ministering to have to decide29900:22:52.680 --> 00:22:57.839to yield to the Holy Spirit.They do have a freedom of their will30000:22:59.480 --> 00:23:03.559to read jacked or to receive whatthey're hearing, and you can't force your30100:23:03.559 --> 00:23:07.440will on them. We're told thatwe we try to force our religion on30200:23:07.519 --> 00:23:12.559people. No, we don't.We offer the truth, we offer alternatives.30300:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.279God offers a way of escape tothem, but it's up to them30400:23:17.319 --> 00:23:21.079whether they receive it or reject it. And it is discouraging. I mean,30500:23:21.079 --> 00:23:22.400I know one of the things thatcan happen when you kind of pour30600:23:22.519 --> 00:23:27.519everything out is you know, oncethe situation is over, I remember a30700:23:27.559 --> 00:23:30.319situation. I'm sure I've shared thisa couple of times on the PODCAST.30800:23:30.359 --> 00:23:34.559But I remember on the mobiultrasound unitthat we had a woman on board.30900:23:34.640 --> 00:23:37.920I wasn't on board, but thecounselor maybe you were the counselor I can't31000:23:37.920 --> 00:23:41.799remember. It's been a while,but the mom of twins, eighteen week31100:23:41.880 --> 00:23:45.720twins, she was on the mobultra sound unit and the nurse on board,31200:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.839I think it might have been mywife. If not, it was31300:23:48.319 --> 00:23:52.000one of the nurses that is outthere on a regular basis. Um,31400:23:52.240 --> 00:23:57.839they gave the ultrasound eighteen week twins. They showed her every resource that corresponded31500:23:57.839 --> 00:24:02.160with the needs that she had,gave her every reason to choose life,31600:24:02.599 --> 00:24:06.519and she still stepped right off ofthat mobile ultrasound unit and went into that31700:24:06.559 --> 00:24:10.440abortion center and killed both of thosebaby. It feels like you've been punched31800:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.839in the gut when, when thathappens, you've poured everything into that.31900:24:12.960 --> 00:24:17.680And then, especially it's worse thatI don't think it was me that that32000:24:17.759 --> 00:24:21.920day. It was a long timebefore I saw twins on the mobile sound32100:24:22.000 --> 00:24:26.480unit. But Um uh, butwhen you've seen the baby on top of32200:24:26.480 --> 00:24:30.720it, it's a double whammy,a double punch. It really her.32300:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.680Yeah, and one of the things. Kind of where I was getting with32400:24:33.720 --> 00:24:38.119that is you poured everything out thatyou could, but the devil is still32500:24:38.200 --> 00:24:42.000going to be an accuser of thebrethren. The devil is still going to32600:24:42.079 --> 00:24:45.799say, Oh, you should havesaid this, you should have done that,32700:24:45.000 --> 00:24:48.160should have, could have, wouldhave? All that second guessing exactly.32800:24:48.160 --> 00:24:52.200That's one of our points in theenemy will get you and he will32900:24:52.240 --> 00:24:57.519neutralize you because could you always saythings better or differently, or could you33000:24:57.559 --> 00:25:00.960have said more stuff? Sure,you can always say things differently. You33100:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.920but you don't know the end fromthe beginning. You don't know who you're33200:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.799you're not God, you don't seeall the things that are going on in33300:25:07.839 --> 00:25:11.079their hearts. You have to dothe best you can and that's the best33400:25:11.160 --> 00:25:15.279you can do. The best youcan do is the best you can do33500:25:15.720 --> 00:25:19.240right in the moment, and soit's in the Lord's hands. You've got33600:25:19.240 --> 00:25:23.440to trust God and it's between themand the Lord. Like when that couple,33700:25:25.400 --> 00:25:27.759when they stand before the Lord onthe Day of Judgment, they're not33800:25:27.759 --> 00:25:32.359gonna be able to accuse Vicki ofnot having told them the truth. Right33900:25:32.960 --> 00:25:36.319there. God's gonna Bring Out.I believe the Bible says the books are34000:25:36.319 --> 00:25:38.039going to be opened when we standbefore the Lord. It's gonna be the34100:25:38.039 --> 00:25:42.160book of of the law. Biblesays there's this book called the Book of34200:25:42.200 --> 00:25:48.720Remembrance, and it's quite possible thatbook of Remembrance is God showing you all34300:25:48.759 --> 00:25:52.640the chances that he gave you torepent, all the opportunities, and this34400:25:52.720 --> 00:25:55.240is gonna be played back, whetherit's read back to them in the book34500:25:55.240 --> 00:25:57.759of remembrance or however that works out, they're gonna see that day, in34600:25:57.839 --> 00:26:02.559that time and they're not going tobe able to accuse you or God of34700:26:02.640 --> 00:26:06.599having not told them the truth ornot given them an opportunity to repent in34800:26:06.640 --> 00:26:10.359a wave escape. Right. Um, so many good points. One one34900:26:10.400 --> 00:26:14.279of the things, even when Iwrote the title of this Um Uh,35000:26:14.319 --> 00:26:17.920if this is my when I givemy best and my best isn't good enough,35100:26:18.200 --> 00:26:21.799I knew that that title was afalse title. Um, in terms35200:26:21.799 --> 00:26:23.519of I think you said it earlier, maybe it was before the podcast actually35300:26:23.519 --> 00:26:26.680even started, but that I didgive my best, it was the best35400:26:26.720 --> 00:26:32.000I had to give at that moment, but it was in the sense of35500:26:32.039 --> 00:26:36.599that we're ever good enough. Itwas all I had to give and I35600:26:36.640 --> 00:26:41.720will never be up to the task, but God always will be. I35700:26:41.720 --> 00:26:44.680I can only give what I'm ableto give, and then I've got to35800:26:44.799 --> 00:26:49.720trust and know that it's it's reallyGod's best that that takes over. It's35900:26:49.759 --> 00:26:55.000not. It's not us, it'snot up to us. Yeah, this36000:26:55.079 --> 00:26:57.000is the thought I want to leaveyou guys with, and I've given this36100:26:57.119 --> 00:27:00.119encouragement a couple of times, butI don't think I can give it enough.36200:27:02.400 --> 00:27:07.279That what we're doing is we areplanting seeds and we are watering seeds,36300:27:08.079 --> 00:27:11.799and God is the one that givesthe increase. This passage here in36400:27:11.799 --> 00:27:15.839First Corinthians chapter three, starting inverse six, this is Paul talking about36500:27:15.880 --> 00:27:18.480his ministry and the Ministry of Apolosand how they ministered to the church in36600:27:18.559 --> 00:27:22.319Corinth and he says in Verse Sixof First Corinthians Chapter Three, says I36700:27:22.440 --> 00:27:26.680planted a policy, watered, butGod gave the increase. So neither he36800:27:26.720 --> 00:27:30.000who plants is anything, nor hewho waters, but God who gives the36900:27:30.000 --> 00:27:34.839increase. We're we're just vessels,right. It's not our responsibility to change37000:27:34.839 --> 00:27:40.920hearts. It's our responsibility to bevessels that are willing to either water seeds37100:27:41.319 --> 00:27:45.440or tosso seeds, and it's inGod's hands. Now I'm not saying that37200:27:45.480 --> 00:27:48.640it's not because God didn't want themto choose life. It's between them and37300:27:48.680 --> 00:27:52.200the Lord. You've given them thetruth, you've you've planted a seed or37400:27:52.240 --> 00:27:56.839you've I think you probably watered seedsthat were already planted, because these people37500:27:56.880 --> 00:28:02.920obviously knew something about God and Godgives the increase, but people have to37600:28:03.000 --> 00:28:06.640yield to his truth. People haveto yield to when they're convicted by the37700:28:06.680 --> 00:28:10.160Holy Spirit. The Bible says don'tresist the Holy Spirit. People have to37800:28:10.240 --> 00:28:14.319yield to the to the call andthe conviction of the Holy Spirit, and37900:28:14.359 --> 00:28:18.559they apparently didn't. Yeah, soI was talking with the counselor today,38000:28:18.599 --> 00:28:22.680who knew about this experience that Ihad yesterday, and she said, and38100:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.720I told her we were going todo a podcast about it, and she38200:28:23.720 --> 00:28:29.000said, I hope that you willtell us um what to do that helps38300:28:29.079 --> 00:28:32.799us to to get through the discouragement. And My last point in the article,38400:28:32.880 --> 00:28:34.839I think, does address that.I think everything you said, Daniel,38500:28:36.160 --> 00:28:40.839we have to keep in our heartthat that that is first that you38600:28:40.880 --> 00:28:44.720have to keep the knowledge that itis truly up to God, not us.38700:28:44.759 --> 00:28:48.160But something that did help me is, as I thought back on it,38800:28:48.200 --> 00:28:52.359the natural inclination is to say whatdid I do wrong, but I38900:28:52.400 --> 00:28:56.359think a helpful thing for you todo following something like this happening is to39000:28:56.480 --> 00:29:02.880think what did I do right?Well, was an optimistic thing that came39100:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.440out of this, so I listedsome of them as I was thinking about39200:29:04.440 --> 00:29:08.839that. Biblical truth was presented,no doubt, lots of scripture, lots39300:29:08.839 --> 00:29:12.599of truth. Um. I wouldnot say I presented the Gospel, Um,39400:29:12.640 --> 00:29:17.319because I really didn't go into Jesus, death and resurrection or anything like39500:29:17.359 --> 00:29:21.440that. I was really just citingbiblical truth about the baby, about Um39600:29:21.519 --> 00:29:26.559killing an innocent human being. Um. But the truth about fetal development was39700:29:26.680 --> 00:29:32.200presented. They could not go inthere without picturing that baby because I drew39800:29:32.240 --> 00:29:36.279a picture for them. So theywent in with full knowledge. They will39900:29:36.279 --> 00:29:38.400not be able to stand before Godsomeday saying I didn't know it was a40000:29:38.400 --> 00:29:42.000baby. They knew it was ababy. Um. Thirdly, the truth40100:29:42.200 --> 00:29:48.799about the grievous and dangerous sin thatthey are engaging in was clearly presented and40200:29:48.799 --> 00:29:52.759and I don't think we should evergloss over that. Do it gently,40300:29:52.880 --> 00:29:57.400do it kindly, and then,Um, finally that it was clear the40400:29:57.440 --> 00:30:02.599Holy Spirit was convicting their heart andI got to enter into that. So40500:30:02.680 --> 00:30:07.359I think that's a really important wayto help you get through is to think40600:30:07.680 --> 00:30:11.240what went right, what did Ido wrong, correct what went right and40700:30:11.319 --> 00:30:15.880just the fact that you were there. That's a big thing that went right.40800:30:17.839 --> 00:30:19.680So, Um, I hope thiswas encouraging to you guys. Hope40900:30:19.720 --> 00:30:25.920you guys were Um challenge but alsoencouraged. I mean, you guys have41000:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.400had these these encounters with people.You've poured out your heart to people and41100:30:29.440 --> 00:30:32.880they've went into the abortion center andit can be heavy. But know that41200:30:32.960 --> 00:30:36.839it doesn't happen to just you.It happens to everybody, something that's part41300:30:36.839 --> 00:30:40.759of this ministry. It stinks,but remember the Lord is with us in41400:30:40.799 --> 00:30:44.519it. He shares our grief and, uh, he gives us comfort right41500:30:45.240 --> 00:30:47.640and so, hopefully again you guysare encouraged by this. If you want41600:30:47.640 --> 00:30:49.119to reach out to me, youcan reach me Daniel at Love Life Dot41700:30:49.240 --> 00:30:52.039Org, and reach out to Vicky. Vicky with a Y, I love41800:30:52.079 --> 00:30:56.720life dot Org. We'd love tohear suggestions for future podcasts from you guys.41900:30:56.119 --> 00:31:00.160We loved for you guys to puta review out on whatever podcast as42000:31:00.200 --> 00:31:03.799service that you use to listen tothis podcast. So leave us a review.42100:31:03.839 --> 00:31:07.160Five stars would be great. AndYeah, until next time, God42200:31:07.200 --> 00:31:11.000bless God, bless you all.H