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> TIME FOR HOPE HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING MANY GIFTED
AND INSIGHTFUL AUTHORS APPEAR AS OUR GUESTS THROUGH THE YEARS,
AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO RERUN, FROM TIME TO TIME, SOME OF OUR
PAST SHOWS RELATED TO SUBJECTS THAT DID AND WILL AGAIN GIVE OUR
VIEWERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN OR BE INSPIRED TO HOPE FOR
BETTER DAYS. WITH THIS IN MIND WE HAVE CHOSEN TO RERUN THE
FOLLOWING EDITION OF TIME FOR HOPE.
> YOU HAVE JUST JOINED TIME FOR HOPE, A FAITH BASED MENTAL
HEALTH PROGRAM. I'M DR. FREDA CREWS, YOUR HOST AND AGAIN FOR
THE SECOND WEEK I AM JOINED BY PASTOR AND AUTHOR DR. DON
WILTON. HIS BOOK TITLED A HOPE AND A FUTURE: OVERCOMING
DISCOURAGEMENT. IS SO TRUE TO REAL LIFE AND HIS DIRECTIONS FOR
CHANGE ARE SO PRACTICAL THAT I FELT ONE SHOW WOULD NOT DO IT
JUSTICE. DR. WILTON HIMSELF ADMITS THAT MUCH OF WHAT HE HAS
WRITTEN ABOUT, HE HAS EXPERIENCED AT SOME TIME IN HIS
LIFE. AND AS A PASTOR HE IS CERTAINLY AWARE THAT MANY PEOPLE
STRUGGLE WITH DISCOURAGEMENT AND DEPRESSION AS THEY PASS THROUGH
SEASONS OF PAIN, ANGER, AND LONELINESS. STAY WITH US AND
LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT. AND DON WAS I
ABLE TO KEEP YOU STILL IN ONE PLACE FOR A WEEK?
> AMAZING ISN'T IT?
> THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. WE KNOW THAT.
> IT'S YOU KNOW JUST LOVELY TO BE HERE WITH YOU FREDA, IT
REALLY IS. I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.
> WELL THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND KNOWING THE
GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING THERE AT FIRST BAPTIST AND ALSO THE
FORMER PASTOR THERE, WE APPRECIATE HIM, HE'S BEEN A
VERY....
> DR. WALKER, I LOVE HIM TO DEATH.
> HE'S BEEN A GREAT FRIEND. WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE SYMPTOMS
OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND WE DIDN'T GET FAR ENOUGH DOWN ABOUT SUCH
THINGS AS, AND IT'S IN YOUR BOOK, WE'RE GOING TO MENTION A
LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR BOOK, WE DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT
SO THEY MUST GET YOUR BOOK. SUCH AS UNDERSTANDING WHY GOD ALLOWS
SPIRITUAL ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS. SO MANY PEOPLE WHEN THEY BECOME
A CHRISTIAN THEY THINK THAT THEIR BATTLES ARE OVER AND THAT
IS JUST GOING TO BE THE HIGH ROAD FROM THEN ON. I CAN
REMEMBER PERSONALLY THAT I LEARNED REAL QUICK THAT WASN'T
TRUE. SOMETIMES THE BATTLE HAS JUST BEGUN WHEN WE BECOME A
CHRISTIAN HASN'T IT?
> IT REALLY HAS AND YOU KNOW I'M ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US HAS A PURPOSE. NOW THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF OUR LISTENERS NEED TO REALLY HEAR
AND UNDERSTAND. ROMANS 8:28, GOD IS WORKING ALL THINGS TOGETHER.
> UGLY THINGS
> THAT'S RIGHT
> PAINFUL THINGS
> ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE THAT LOVE THE
LORD. THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. SO
WHERE DOES DISCOURAGEMENT COME INTO THAT? YOU MEAN, GOD ALLOWS
ME TO GET DISCOURAGED? YES HE DOES BUT HE'S GOT A GREATER
PURPOSE IN IT. SO WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS RESULT OF WHERE YOU
ARE IS TOO WONDERFUL TO CONTEMPLATE BECAUSE GOD IS
WORKING A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR YOU FOR YOUR LIFE. SO IF I WAS
TO SAY TO YOU TODAY YOU KNOW I'M VERY GLAD THAT I WENT THROUGH
GREAT BOUTS OF DISCOURAGEMENT AS A YOUNG PERSON. THAT WOULDN'T
MAKE SENSE WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH IT, BUT NOW I
UNDERSTAND. BECAUSE GOD HAS USED THAT TO BLESS MY LIFE AND HE
ALLOWS ME TO BLESS OTHERS LIVES AS A RESULT OF THAT.
> OF YOUR STORY
> YEAH
> YOU KNOW I OFTEN SAY THAT THE WORST THING THAT GOD CAN DO FOR
US OR TO US IS TO LEAVE US ALONE.
> OH BOY WOULDN'T THAT BE TERRIBLE.
> THAT WOULD, YOU THINK OF THAT. THAT'S A PRETTY WEIGHTY
STATEMENT ISN'T IT?
> KEEP US IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND AND GOD HOLDS US IN THE
PALM OF HIS HAND AND HE'S OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. AND IF HE IS
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPARROWS OF THE AIR, HOW MUCH MORE SO IS HE
NOT CONCERNED FOR YOU AND ME. EVEN IN THE PITS OF OUR
DEPRESSION AND OUR DISCOURAGEMENT AND OUR
STRUGGLES. AND HE HAS THE ANSWER. EVERYTHING POINTS TO THE
LORD JESUS.
> AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE. HE KNEW WHERE JONAH WAS
RIGHT AT THE BELLY OF THAT WHALE.
> I TELL PEOPLE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE STINKIEST PRAYER
MEETING EVER HELD YOU KNOW AND THE MOST DESPERATE ONE. CAN YOU
IMAGINE? AND BY THE WAY I'VE GOT TO SAY THIS. I'VE BEEN IN THE
BELLY OF A WHALE. I GREW UP IN AFRICA RIGHT WHERE THERE WAS A
WHALING STATION. AS LITTLE BOYS WE USED TO GO DOWN AND I'VE
ACTUALLY CLIMBED INTO THE BELLY OF A WHALE.
> A DEAD ONE THOUGH.
> A DEAD ONE OK, THEN YOU COVER IN YOUR BOOK AND I REALLY THINK THAT
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP ON THE SCREEN
FOR CHRISTIANS AND THAT IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE. AND YOU TALK
ABOUT THE ATTACKS, THE ASSAULTS FROM THE EVIL ONE, FROM SATAN
HIMSELF. HE'S ALWAYS AFTER US, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER, THERE'S
NOTHING HE LIKES BETTER THAN TO GET A CHILD OF GOD OR AN
UNBELIEVER THAT HASN'T MADE IT TO THE LORD SO DISCOURAGED THAT
THEY JUST WANT TO HANG IT UP.
> THAT'S WHY I LOVE THE STORY OF NEHEMIAH. NEHEMIAH WAS DOING
EVERYTHING RIGHT. GOD CALLED HIM TO REBUILD THE WALLS, HE DID IT.
THERE'S NOTHING IN SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS HE VIOLATED WHAT GOD
WAS SAYING AND YET DISCOURAGEMENT CAME AT HIM FROM
EVERY ANGLE. THE ATTACK WAS VICIOUS, IT WAS DIRECTED, IT WAS
MANIPULATIVE, IT SOUGHT OUT FRIENDS TO ASSOCIATE WITH IT. IT
WAS DESIGNED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DESTROY NEHEMIAH.
BUT GOD WAS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL
THAT HE COULD EVEN ASK OR THINK.
> HE'S OUT TO GET US ISN'T HE?
> HE'S OUT TO GET US.
> THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT HE'S RIGHT ON OUR HEELS AND THAT WE
HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
> BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT BECAUSE THE DEVIL IS A ROARING LION
SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR. THERE'S MY AFRICAN BACKGROUND
COMING AGAIN.
> OH YEAH.
>: I'M TELLING YOU, YOU WATCH A LION GOING AFTER A DEER LITTLE
DEER AND THAT DEER LITTLE DEER'S OUT THERE NOT WORRYING ANYBODY
MINDING IT'S OWN BUSINESS AND SUDDENLY OUT OF THE THICKET
COMES THIS MONSTER CAT POUNCES ON HIS BACK AND THE NEXT MINUTE
THERE'S JUST A CARCASS FOR THE VULTURES TO FEED ON. GOD SAYS,
GOD'S WORD SAYS BE ON YOUR LOOK OUT BE AWAKE, BE SOBER, BE IN
YOUR RIGHT MIND, BE AWARE, THAT THE DEVIL, JUST AS A ROARING
LION IS LOOKING OUT FOR YOU. HE'S GOT YOUR NUMBER, WATCH OUT.
BUT GOD'S ON YOUR SIDE AND IF GOD IS FOR YOU WHO CAN BE
AGAINST YOU.
> AND REALLY THERE'S NO BETTER TIME FOR HIM TO ATTACK THAN WHEN
WE'RE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE WE'RE OFF OUR GUARD. WE'RE NOT ON OUR
GUARD. WE COULD SAY WE ACTUALLY COULD BE ASLEEP WHEN WE'RE
DISCOURAGED.
> WELL DISCOURAGEMENT IS THE DEVIL'S TARGET BECAUSE IT'S THE
AREA OF YOUR GREATEST VULNERABILITY. DISCOURAGEMENT
PRESENTS A TARGET TO SATAN. AND THAT TARGET IS AN ACHILLES HEAL.
DISCOURAGEMENT IS THE POINT OF A PERSON'S GREATEST WEAKNESS. IT'S
THE WEAK SIDE OF WHO YOU ARE BECAUSE IT'S NOT INTACT. AND
THAT'S WHERE HE'S GOING TO GO.
> HE'S A VERY WISE DEVIL ISN'T HE? IT'S TIME TO GO AND WE'LL BE
RIGHT BACK.
>THAT LIFE IS FULL OF AMBIGUITY. WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD. AND
SOMETIMES I THINK WE CAUSE OURSELVES MORE DIFFICULTY BY
EXPECTING A KIND OF TOTAL DELIVERANCE FROM OUR PROBLEMS.
YOU KNOW I ACTUALLY WROTE ANOTHER BOOK CALLED "DUMB THINGS
SMART CHRISTIANS BELIEVE". AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS "IF I
PRAY HARD ENOUGH, IF I DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS, IF I FAST, IF
I SEEK GOD, LONG ENOUGH, EVENTUALLY THIS PROBLEM WILL GO
AWAY COMPLETELY". BUT, THAT'S HEAVEN. THAT'S WHEN OUR PROBLEMS
GO AWAY COMPLETELY. SO ALL OF US HAVE TO LEARN AS THE APOSTLE
PAUL DID HOW, HOW TO LIVE WITH THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE FACE IN
LIFE. ALL OF US, EVERY ONE OF US HAS DISABILITIES, DIFFICULTIES,
DIFFICULTIES IN RELATIONSHIPS, AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND ... FAITH.
I LIKE TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION IN FAITH AND TRUSTING GOD FOR
MIRACLES AND FAITHFULNESS WHERE WE'RE LIVING THROUGH,
INTENTIONALLY LIVING THROUGH WHAT HAS COME OUR WAY. YES, I
LIKE TO SAY THIS....."IF YOU CAN'T MOVE THE MOUNTAIN, IF YOUR
FAITH DOESN'T MOVE THE MOUNTAIN, THEN LIVE ON TOP OF IT". NOW I
THINK THAT'S WHAT PAUL WAS BEING FORCED TO DO WHEN HE SAID GOD
SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT HIS GRACE, AND HOW HIS GRACE WAS
SUFFICIENT.
> WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE HAVING YOU JOIN US ON TIME FOR HOPE.
OUR GUEST FOR TODAY IS DR. DON WILTON AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
HIS BOOK A HOPE AND A FUTURE OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT BUT
BEFORE I TURN BACK TO DON I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING FROM A VIEWER
>AND AGAIN THIS JUST REALLY TOUCHES MY HEART. TO KNOW THAT
SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING ALL THAT IS WRITTEN HERE AND SHE SAYS
THAT IT'S BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS WHEN
WE'RE GOING THROUGH A SEASON OF DARKNESS OR A BAD SEASON LIKE
SHE IS THAT IT LASTS FOREVER. BUT WE ARE PRAYING GOD WILL
INTERVENE AND START TURNING THIS SITUATION AROUND. IT MIGHT BE AS
WE CONTINUE DISCUSSING WITH DR. WILTON THAT THERE'S SOME CHANGES
THAT THIS PERSON NEEDS TO MAKE THEMSELVES THAT WILL HELP THEM
COME OUT OF THIS SITUATION OR THE LIFE SEASON THAT THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH. ANYWAY WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
WE DO IT WITH EACH AND EVERY REQUEST THAT COMES IN. WE DON'T
FEEL ADEQUATE, WE FEEL THAT WE NEED THE HELP AT ANY GIVEN TIME
WHEN SOMETHING ARISES IN MY OWN LIFE I JUST TURN IT OVER TO THE
LORD AND SAY THIS IS JUST TOO BIG FOR ME. I NEED YOUR HELP AND
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS VIEWER TO DO JUST THAT. IF YOU HAVEN'T
GONE TO OUR WEBSITE I WOULD ALSO DIRECT YOU TO OUR TIME FOR HOPE
WEBSITE, WWW.TIMEFORHOPE.ORG., GREAT RESOURCES THERE, WE'LL BE
ADDING DON'S BOOK TO THAT RESOURCE LIST AND IF YOU HAVEN'T
HELPED US FINANCIALLY WITH THIS PROGRAM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU
TO PLEASE TAKE IT UP WITH THE LORD, SEE WHAT HE WOULD HAVE YOU
DO ABOUT THAT. DON, SHE NEEDS PROFESSIONAL HELP. THAT'S THE
FIRST THING, HERE I AM, I AM A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND OF
COURSE I THINK ALONG THOSE LINES BECAUSE I'VE DONE IT FOR SO MANY
YEARS BUT SHE ALSO IS LIKE WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, SHE'S VERY
MUCH AWARE AND IN TOUCH WITH REALITY HERE. SHE TALKS ABOUT
SHE NEEDS HEALING PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY,
THAT TOUCHES ON ALL OF US DOESN'T IT?
> TOTALLY, I MEAN WHAT SHE JUST SAID THERE'S A THREE-FOLD HELP
THAT SHE NEEDS. SHE NEEDS SPIRITUAL HELP WHICH COMES FROM
THE LORD, I MEAN HE'S THE CENTERPIECE ON THE MANTEL PIECE,
SHE NEEDS EMOTIONAL HELP AND THAT IS SHE NEEDS TO GET
ALONGSIDE A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE
TO SIT AND WALK THAT JOURNEY WITH HER AND HELP PROFESSIONALLY
AND THEN MEDICAL HELP PHYSICALLY, WE GOT WONDERFUL
CHRISTIAN DOCTORS AND FOLKS GOD USES DOCTORS AND MEDICINES TO BE
ABLE TO HELP US. THERE'S A THREE-FOLD APPROACH THAT ALL
ENCASED IN PRAYER BEFORE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. I'LL BE PRAYING
FOR HER JOINING WITH YOU IN THAT.
> AND SHE IS RESPONSIBLE YOU KNOW TOO OFTEN PEOPLE FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE A VICTIM THAT LIFE, THAT THEY WERE NOT
CUT OUT TO BE CONTENT IN LIFE OR ENJOY SATISFACTION OR EVEN ENJOY
LIFE THAT THEY WERE ONE OF THOSE THAT WERE JUST UNLUCKY AS IT
WERE AND THAT'S NOT TRUE, IT ISN'T TRUE FOR ANYONE.
> NO, ONE OF SATAN'S TACTICS IS TO CAUSE YOU TO CONSIDER
YOURSELF A HELPLESS VICTIM AND YOU KNOW THAT SONG, WHY IS
EVERYBODY ALWAYS PICKING ON ME AND WE SAY THAT HUMOROUSLY BUT
IT'S A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY GET TO THE POINT, SATAN CONVINCES THEN THAT
THEY ARE BEING PICKED ON AND THEY ARE JUST SIMPLY THE VICTIMS
OF WHAT'S GOING ON. WELL BEING A VICTIM CAN BE VERY TRUE BECAUSE
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ANOTHER PERSON'S
HAND, I MEAN LET'S NOT MINIMIZE BEING A VICTIM, IT IS A VERY
SERIOUS THING.
> A CHILD BEING ABUSED, SEXUALLY ABUSED OR PHYSICALLY ABUSED,
THEY ARE A VICTIM AGAINST THEIR OWN CHOOSING.
> THREE QUARTERS OF OUR WORK IS HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE GENUINE
VICTIMS. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE. WHAT WE ARE SAYING
IS THAT AS A BELIEVER BEFORE THE LORD, ONE HAS TO COMMIT ONES
LIFE TO CHRIST IN THE CONTEXT OF SAYING LORD THIS IS WHO I AM
THIS IS WHO YOU MADE ME, THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE ALLOWED HAPPEN TO ME
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE THE ANSWER AND I'M GOING TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
> THEY HAVE TO GET...AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
PROACTIVE AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE HER TO START. WHERE WOULD YOU
ENCOURAGE HER TO START DON?
>: WELL I WOULD ENCOURAGE HER FIRST OF ALL TO GET PROFESSIONAL
HELP, SHE NEEDS TO SIGN UP. WHEN I TELL PEOPLE TO GET
PROFESSIONAL HELP, FIND THAT PERSON, WE CAN RECOMMEND PEOPLE,
YOU CAN RECOMMEND PEOPLE, STARTING WITH OURSELVES, THAT
THEY CAN GO TO, THEY'VE GOT TO SIGN UP, THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE A
DEFINITIVE TIME AND A DEFINITIVE SCHEDULE. IT'S A DISCIPLINE,
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BY HEARSAY AND IT WON'T PASS
THROUGH THE NIGHT. THEY'VE GOT TO SIGN UP AND DELIVER ON THAT.
THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.
> AND GOD DOESN'T EVEN WORK THAT WAY. HE DOESN'T JUST WAVE A
MAGIC WAND AND IT'S SUDDENLY ALL OVER, EVEN AFTER WE'VE OFFERED
THE PRAYER AND SUGGESTED PRAYER, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO GET UP AND
TAKE ACTION.
> GOD DEMANDS A DISCIPLINE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS
WHEN ONE BECOMES DISCOURAGED, DISCIPLINES TAKE THE BACK SEAT.
IT'S VERY HARD TO BE DISCIPLINED AND DISCOURAGED AT THE SAME TIME
BECAUSE DISCOURAGEMENT CAUSES GREY LINES TO APPEAR IN OUR
LIVES, THERE'S NO LONGER BLACK AND WHITE, YOU CANNOT SEE
STRAIGHT. SO DISCIPLINE TAKES A BACK SEAT, SO FOR THIS DEAR LADY
I WOULD SAY TO HER AND JOIN WITH YOU IN SAYING YOU'VE GOT TO PUT
THOSE DISCIPLINES BACK IN PLACE AND A GOOD STARTING POINT IS
CALL, GET THE APPOINTMENT, WRITE IT DOWN, GET YOUR SCHEDULE, GET
YOUR TIME FRAME IN ORDER, AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.
> AND VERY OFTEN THEY DON'T HAVE WITH DISCOURAGEMENT THERE'S NOT
THE ENERGY AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT
THEY CAN DO TO BE ENERGIZED TOO. IT'S TIME FOR A BREAK AND WE'LL
BE RIGHT BACK.
> PROLONGED OR PERSISTENT DISCOURAGEMENT CAN HAVE
DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON OUR HEALTH. I WOULD GUESS THE
MAJORITY OF YOU WOULD CONNECT HEALTH WITH YOUR BODIES. BUT
HEALTH EXTENDS ACROSS THE LINES OF BODY, SOUL, MIND AND SPIRIT.
HEALTH SPAS ARE FILLED WITH PEOPLE EVERY DAY THAT MAJOR ON
KEEPING THEIR BODIES HEALTHY, COUNSELOR'S OFFICES ARE RUNNING
OVER WITH PEOPLE SEEKING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND
CHURCHES ARE FILLED EACH WEEK WITH PEOPLE SEEKING SPIRITUAL
HEALTH. TOO OFTEN WE COMPARTMENTALIZE OURSELVES -
THINKING IN TERMS OF SEPARATE SELVES RATHER THAN ONE - AND TOO
OFTEN WE MAJOR ON ONE DIMENSION OF OURSELVES AND NEGLECT THE
OTHERS. TO EXPERIENCE HEALTH WE MUST RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT THE
INTERACTION THAT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN OUR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL
COGNITIVE AND SPIRITUAL SELVES. WE MUST BECOME AWARE OF HOW AND
WHEN WE ABUSE OUR BODIES. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR THOUGHTS,
DEPENDING ON WHETHER THEY ARE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS,
SET CERTAIN CHEMICAL ACTIONS IN MOTION THAT AFFECT US
EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY, AND THAT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME
NEGATIVE THINKING CAN MAKE US PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY ILL.
VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES RESULTING FROM INADEQUATE DIETS
ARE OFTEN RESPONSIBLE FOR PHYSICAL ILLNESSES. WE MUST
RECOGNIZE AND AVOID PROLONGED STRESS SINCE IT IS A MAJOR
CONTRIBUTOR TO ILL HEALTH. PERSONS IN UNHEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS, OR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT LOSS,
FREQUENTLY DEVELOP EMOTIONAL ILLNESSES AND/OR MENTAL
DISORDERS SUCH AS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. AND WITHOUT A
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CREATOR GOD, OUR SPIRIT WILL GO
UNNOURISHED. TO EXPERIENCE TOTAL HEALTH WE MUST GIVE ATTENTION TO
THE NEEDS OF OUR WHOLE PERSON. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE
ABUSE OUR BODY, MIND, SOUL OR SPIRIT, OUR TOTAL PERSON WILL
SUFFER. HEALTH REQUIRES BALANCE AND DISCIPLINE THAT INCLUDES
REGULAR EXERCISE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD, HEALTHY THINKING(PHIL 4:8:
HOLY BIBLE), RESPECTING OUR EMOTIONS, STRESS MANAGEMENT AND
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES INCLUDING PRAYER, SCRIPTURE READING (PHIL
4:6-7: HOLY BIBLE), AND MEDITATING ON THE LOVE,
COMPASSION AND FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. ADDITIONALLY, CONSULTING
APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONALS CAN BE VITAL TO HEALTH MANAGEMENT. FOR
PHYSIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS THERE ARE PHYSICIANS, FOR EMOTIONAL AND/OR
MENTAL DISORDERS, SEEK OUT A CREDENTIALED MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELOR AND FOR SPIRITUAL HELP TURN TO YOUR PASTOR OR SPIRITUAL
DIRECTOR. FOR COVERING ALL THE BASES ALLOW THE FRUIT OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT - LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS,
FAITHFIULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL TO FLOURISH IN THE
GARDEN OF YOUR LIVES (GAL 5:22-23)
> THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US ON TIME FOR HOPE. IT'S BEEN
GREAT HAVING DR. DON WILTON WITH US FOR TWO WEEKS AND TALKING
ABOUT THE SAME BOOK BECAUSE IT IS LOADED, TITLED A HOPE AND A
FUTURE OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT. DON I WANT TO
TALK, THERE'S SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, HE WAS FAMOUSLY KNOWN
FOR SAYING, YOU NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP, AREN'T I CORRECT
IN THAT?
> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT
> AND YOU SAY THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN YOUR BOOK. IT DOESN'T
MATTER HOW LOW WE GET, HOW DISCOURAGED WE GET FIRST OF ALL
WE'RE NOT TO GIVE UP AND SECONDLY WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE
UP AS LONG AS GOD IS ON HIS THRONE AND HE'S GOING TO STAY
THERE RIGHT
> ABSOLUTELY AND YOU KNOW I LOVE SUR WINSTON CHURCHILL I'VE READ
SO MUCH ABOUT HIM, LOVED TALKING TO DR. GRAHAM ABOUT WINSTON
CHURCHILL BECAUSE DR. GRAHAM HAD SO MANY WONDERFUL ENCOUNTERS
WITH HIM, BUT YOU JUST THINK ABOUT THE ONSLAUGHT AGAINST
GREAT BRITAIN I MEAN THEY WERE UNDER SIEGE AND HERE WAS A MAN
WHO STOOD UP IN HIS LEADERSHIP CAPACITY SAID NEVER GIVE UP,
WELL IF THAT'S TRUE IN A SECULAR WORKED AND THERE WERE SUCH
POSITIVE RESULTS HOW MUCH MORE SO, WHEN WE SERVE THE KING OF
KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS, THAT'S WHY THE LAST PHRASE IN MY
BOOK IS NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE UP AND WE
WANT OUR LISTENERS TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A HOPE AND THERE'S A
FUTURE, DON'T GIVE UP BECAUSE GOD'S ON HIS THRONE. YOU DON'T
HAVE TO CARRY ON LIKE THIS. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND
GOD IS GOING TO BLESS YOU BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO DO
WHAT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO CLAIM THAT VICTORY THAT IS MADE
AVAILABLE TO YOU IN AND THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
> EVEN AS A NATION WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP WITH ALL THAT WE'RE
FACING DO WE DON? I THINK WE'RE FACING THE GREATEST TIME OR
PROBABLY SOME OF THE WORST TIMES THIS NATION HAS EVER KNOWN.
> I BELIEVE SO
> WE'VE GOT IT COMING IN FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND
OUR PEOPLE COULD EASILY GIVE UP AS IT WERE WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT
IT? I HAD SENATOR JIM DEMINT SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THAT
CHAIR AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT ENCOURAGE US NOT TO GIVE UP,
SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. AND ONE PERSON CAN COUNT TOO.
> CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW PAUL SAID, AT THE END OF
HIS LIFE, HE SAID, I'VE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND HE SAID FIGHT
THE FIGHT, I YOU KNOW WE'VE ALL HEARD SAID, MANY TIMES, PAUL
WOULD NEVER HAVE SAID FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT IF THERE WAS NO FIGHT
TO FIGHT. BECAUSE LIFE IS A BATTLE AND I'VE GOT TO SAY THIS
PAUL IN PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3, SAID I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST, HE
WASN'T TALKING ABOUT IN ORDER TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN PAUL WAS A
CHRISTIAN, SO WHY WOULD HE WANT TO KNOW CHRIST, BECAUSE PAUL
RECOGNIZED THAT THE JOURNEY IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE DESTINATION.
HE RECOGNIZED THAT HE WANTED TO KNOW CHRIST IN HIS FULLNESS
BECAUSE THE LIVING OF THE CHRIST LIFE IS AWFULLY DIFFICULT, JESUS
REPEATEDLY WARNED HIS DISCIPLES HE TOLD THEM ABOUT LIVING IN
THIS LIFE, THIS IS A BATTLEFIELD, BESIDES OUR BODIES
GETTING OLDER, WE ARE FRAIL, WE ARE PRONE, WE'RE SUSCEPTIBLE,
WE'RE VULNERABLE. NOT ONLY THAT WE'RE SINNERS BY NATURE, WE'RE
SINNERS BY CHOICE AND THAT OLD DEVIL IS JUST WHIPPING US TO
SHREDS. AND SO THE JOURNEY OF LIFE IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE OF
OUR HUMAN DISPOSITION YES WE'RE GOING TO HEAVEN TO BE WITH THE
LORD JESUS BUT WHILE WE'RE GETTING THERE, WE'VE GOT TO LIVE
THIS LIFE. PAUL RECOGNIZED THAT THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION
WAS A PROCESS OF THE JOURNEY OF LIFE THAT IS FRAUGHT WITH
DISCOURAGEMENT AND HE ROOTED EVERYTHING IN THE PERSON AND
WORK OF THE LORD JESUS.
> KEEPING OUR EYES ON THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH WHO
DIDN'T STOP WITH ANYTHING YOU KNOW WHO'S WILLING TO GIVE HIS
ALL. ACTUALLY I BELIEVE YOU END TOWARD THE END OF YOUR BOOK,
IT'S THOSE WHO ENDURE TO THE END, REVELATIONS IS FULL OF IT
ISN'T IT. WE'LL BE SAVED BY THE WAY, PAUL HAD BEEN SAVED 25
YEARS WHEN HE SAID I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST AND POWER OF HIS
RESURRECTION, THAT'S SUCH A CHALLENGE. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A
CHALLENGE FOR ME. SO, BUT THE LORD HAS PROVIDED RESOURCES FOR
LIFE AND FOR HOLINESS WE FIND THAT PETER SAYING THAT HE'S NOT
LEFT US WITHOUT RESOURCES, ONE OF THE GREATEST RESOURCES THAT
WE HAVE AND YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR BOOK IS THE ARMOR. WE TALKED
ABOUT SATAN AND YOU TALKED ABOUT LIFE BUT WE'VE GOT AN ARMOR BUT
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT IT ON.
>: ABSOLUTELY AND IT'S AVAILABLE AND IT'S INTERESTING TOO THAT
WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARM OF GOD PAUL REMINDS US PUT ON THE ARMOR
SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT YOU ARE FORTIFIED THAT YOU ARE
GUARDED ABOUT. SO THEREFORE BE PREPARED TODAY FOR WHAT COMES
TOMORROW BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT COMES TOMORROW BUT IF YOU
PREPARE TODAY YOU WILL FACE TOMORROW, NOT BECAUSE YOU KNOW
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS BUT YOU KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE. AND
SO PAUL WAS A GUY WHO THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD HAD A
GREAT PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW FREDA I PREACH ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ON THE ENCOURAGING WORD BROADCAST MINISTRY AND PEOPLE
WRITE AS THEY DO TO YOUR SHOW FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE SAYING
IS THERE HOPE, CAN I HAVE A FUTURE? THAT'S WHAT MY BOOK'S
ALL ABOUT. YES YOU CAN AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS NEVER GIVE UP,
NEVER GIVE UP.
> AND STAY IN THE BOAT MY PLEASURE, GREAT HONOR, LOVELY TO BE WITH YOU FREDA, IT
REALLY IS
> THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU
STAYING WITH US FOR TWO WEEKS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
JOINING US AGAIN NEXT WEEK ON TIME FOR HOPE.
> [FOLLOW ON-SCREEN INSTRUCTIONS TO ORDER]
UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND REMEMBER IT IS...
"TIME FOR HOPE!"