677. Tony & Jeanine Leonard Share Their Personal Testimonies - (#2 - Episode 567 - 6/4/24) - November 5, 2024

[00:00:06] Welcome to Wisdom Today. My name is Bill Kelley and I'll be your host. In this podcast we will be exploring the book of Proverbs.

[00:00:21] Let's open in prayer. Father God, I thank you for anyone listening to this podcast today. Lord, I pray that you would reveal to everyone listening how much you truly love each and every one of them. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

[00:00:37] This is Proverb 5, beginning in verse 1.

[00:01:07] Her feet go down to death. Her steps lay hold of hell. Lest you ponder her path of life, her ways are unstable. You do not know them.

[00:01:21] Therefore, hear me now, my children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house. Lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one. Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner.

[00:01:48] And you mourn at last, and your flesh and your body are consumed, and say, how I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction.

[00:02:02] I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to those who instructed me.

[00:02:11] I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.

[00:02:18] Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.

[00:02:25] Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets, let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you.

[00:02:37] Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

[00:02:43] As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and always be enraptured with her love.

[00:02:54] For why should you, my son, be enraptured with an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress?

[00:03:04] For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.

[00:03:13] His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.

[00:03:20] He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly, he shall go astray.

[00:03:29] Friends, I have a special treat for you today.

[00:03:31] I have Tony and Janine Leonard back on, but before we talk about that, let's talk about our proverb of the day.

[00:03:39] Tony, we went over proverb five today, and if you would, please share with the audience which verse you'd like to talk about.

[00:03:48] I'd really like to talk about verse 12 and 13.

[00:03:51] He says, you will say how I hated discipline.

[00:03:54] If only I had not ignored all the warnings.

[00:03:57] Oh, why didn't I listen to my teachers?

[00:03:59] Why didn't I pay attention to my instructors?

[00:04:03] Wow, that's really good.

[00:04:04] And you know, a lot of people, Tony, don't do that.

[00:04:07] You know, as a teacher, I was in classrooms for over 20 years.

[00:04:11] And sometimes I'd look and I'd literally see some of my students actually on their phone, or they'd be doing something else.

[00:04:20] And I sit there and think, they could care less what I'm talking about.

[00:04:23] And so I kind of made a point of walking up and down the aisles and made sure that that didn't happen more than possible.

[00:04:29] But, oh gosh, that is such a big one.

[00:04:32] And friends, we need to be ready to listen at all times.

[00:04:36] And we should never want to end our learning.

[00:04:40] We should be in a mode of learning our entire lives.

[00:04:44] Janine, if you would, just share which verse you'd like to go over today as well.

[00:04:50] I actually, I love this.

[00:04:54] 5.1 says, my son, and when I read it, I read it to myself.

[00:04:59] So I always say, my daughter, pay attention to my wisdom.

[00:05:04] Lend your ear to my understanding.

[00:05:06] And I love how then it gives some word and then it jumps down to seven.

[00:05:11] And he goes back to the ear.

[00:05:14] But he says, therefore, hear me now, my children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.

[00:05:21] That's really good.

[00:05:22] And you know, what I want to remind the audience of is the book of Proverbs is primarily written by King Solomon.

[00:05:29] Many people consider him the wisest person who ever lived.

[00:05:33] And, you know, the story in 1 Kings chapter 3, it talks about when Solomon had received a vision from God.

[00:05:42] And God asked him, tell me anything at all you want.

[00:05:46] And Solomon said, I want wisdom.

[00:05:49] And, you know, I really like when you go into a little bit of detail, he sat there and he said, and what had happened is Solomon had just gotten the kingdom.

[00:05:59] Okay.

[00:05:59] David, his father passed the torch on to him.

[00:06:02] And he actually prayed to God and he said, I feel like a little kid.

[00:06:06] You've given me this kingdom and I am not ready for it.

[00:06:10] So I want wisdom.

[00:06:13] God was so pleased with that.

[00:06:15] And Tony, we need to have wisdom.

[00:06:18] That's really the reason why I started this entire podcast is the Holy Spirit directed me and said, Bill, everybody needs wisdom.

[00:06:27] Talk on it for me.

[00:06:28] And golly, you know, I've learned Tony and Janine do whatever it is the Lord tells you to do.

[00:06:35] Tony, would you like to add a little bit to that as well?

[00:06:38] Yeah, I think you're exactly right.

[00:06:41] I think the problem.

[00:06:42] And I think the where he brings in adultery in here is when man chooses to go with man's wisdom, it's a form of adultery.

[00:06:51] You're replacing God for something else to fulfill those needs.

[00:06:56] So we need to gain wisdom, but we need to gain godly wisdom.

[00:07:00] And, you know, who is man to say, I know better than God?

[00:07:05] So, you know, that's really good.

[00:07:08] And, you know, I have to bring up scripture.

[00:07:12] You know how I am.

[00:07:13] I'm going to go to the fourth chapter of James.

[00:07:16] And Tony, I'm glad you brought up with earthly wisdom and basically secular wisdom.

[00:07:22] And we talk about the different types of wisdom.

[00:07:27] And in James, actually, chapter 3, my bad.

[00:07:30] But if you go to verses 13 through 18, it's actually entitled heavenly versus demonic wisdom.

[00:07:39] So James clearly differentiates the worldly system and what they call wisdom and God's interpretation of what wisdom is.

[00:07:51] Janine, would you like to add anything to that?

[00:07:55] I know when I went over my verses and stuff, it was really interesting because you can hear the word or read the word.

[00:08:05] But, you know, our hearing is not as good as God's hearing and stuff.

[00:08:13] So what I'm saying there is that the understanding comes through really hearing the word.

[00:08:21] And that means, like, getting that into your, how would I put it?

[00:08:29] From your spirit to your mind.

[00:08:31] Yes.

[00:08:32] So it just really, that is our relationship that we want to have.

[00:08:39] We want to have more of his wisdom as we've been talking.

[00:08:42] But we also want to not only hear the word, but we really want to hear it and get it inside of us so that when we speak to people, it is godly wisdom coming out of us.

[00:08:54] You know, and I'm going to make a segue here because I think it's important.

[00:09:00] When a lot of people read the Bible, Tony and Janine, what they do is they read it as though it's a novel.

[00:09:07] And they're not listening to the word of God.

[00:09:11] And they're not, they're looking for head knowledge.

[00:09:13] And what the knowledge is, it needs to settle into your heart.

[00:09:19] And until it settles into your heart, that really, you're not going to have many changes in your life.

[00:09:27] It literally needs to settle into your heart.

[00:09:31] Would any one of you like to elaborate on that?

[00:09:38] I just keep going back to the very end, verse 23.

[00:09:42] It says, those who choose wickedness die for lack of self-control.

[00:09:46] For their foolish ways lead them astray, carrying them away as hostages, kidnapped captives, robbed of destiny.

[00:09:52] So when we try to do things our own way, which is wickedness, and we lack that self-control, which is the fruit of the spirit, we get robbed of our destiny.

[00:10:02] And so, you know, it's just like that seductive woman he talks about earlier in the chapter.

[00:10:07] It's so seductive, but we don't understand what we're, you know, getting robbed of in the process.

[00:10:14] So, you know, just doing things God's way will allow us to fulfill our destiny.

[00:10:20] Wow, that's really good.

[00:10:21] And before we move on, I would like to just let the audience know that Tony and Janine are repeating guests.

[00:10:29] And they were on previously, if you go back to episode number 567, that was way back in June of this year.

[00:10:39] But what I'd like to remind the audience of is Tony and Janine, I know it came on June 4th of 2024.

[00:10:47] But we literally were together inside my condo at Eagle Fire Lodge, probably in March of 2023.

[00:10:58] So it has been a year and a half since we have been together.

[00:11:03] And since that time, you guys have gone on to second year of Karis Bible College.

[00:11:10] Now, we were on previously.

[00:11:12] You were in first year.

[00:11:14] So a lot has happened and a lot changes during second year, because during second year, what we have to do is IAG.

[00:11:22] And you guys didn't know anything at all about that.

[00:11:26] You heard about it in first year.

[00:11:28] But second year really is key.

[00:11:31] And Tony, I know that in your previous podcast, Janine mentioned that you're really a pretty shy individual.

[00:11:38] You know, you're you're really pretty quiet.

[00:11:40] It's it's not natural for you to like, you know, to speak out, you know.

[00:11:48] So IAG's, I'm guessing might have been a little bit uncomfortable for you.

[00:11:54] What I'd like for you to do is share with the audience that experience of IAG's and learning to become comfortable sharing God's love and his word with other people.

[00:12:11] So I guess for me, it was just just knowing, knowing God, knowing the material.

[00:12:19] And that gives you comfortable with sharing.

[00:12:23] And as you are, you know, Bible says we're ambassadors.

[00:12:27] So we don't really have our own message, but we have God's message.

[00:12:31] And as we proclaim that, he gives us the grace and the strength to do that.

[00:12:36] And so you just lean into God's grace and his ability.

[00:12:39] And he comes for, you know, he comes through every time for you.

[00:12:43] OK, I'm going to I'm going to put you on the point.

[00:12:46] I mean, I'm going to I'm going to I want to get into this now.

[00:12:50] I know when we were going through IAG's, we had a number of people that when the class began, they were very uncomfortable.

[00:13:00] You could tell that they didn't want to do it.

[00:13:02] And as time went on, they became more and more comfortable.

[00:13:08] Is that what happened with you?

[00:13:11] Not really, because in my former life, I was in the military and I briefed colonels and generals before.

[00:13:19] So that didn't really bother me.

[00:13:22] I just wanted I think the thing that really kind of bothered me was I wanted my message to be accurate and I wanted to represent Christ well.

[00:13:30] So I didn't want to throw out anything that was contradictory to his nature.

[00:13:36] Wow, that's really good.

[00:13:38] I mean, I can't even begin to tell you how powerful that statement is.

[00:13:41] And friends, it's a reminder that basically I'm going to go to Proverbs 18, 21, and it says death and life are in the power of the tongue and those that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

[00:13:55] Tony and Janine, our words carry weight.

[00:13:59] Our words, every word that comes out of our mouth should give glory to God.

[00:14:06] It should be uplifting.

[00:14:08] We should constantly be lifting people up and not tearing them down.

[00:14:12] Janine, what are your thoughts on that?

[00:14:16] That is very true.

[00:14:20] The word tells us to speak truth and not only to speak it in truth, but to also be an encourager and to show his love to the people that we meet.

[00:14:33] Because it is his love and his goodness and his truth that will bring people to him and stuff.

[00:14:40] And that is the ultimate thing that we want to do is have a person develop their own relationship with Jesus.

[00:14:50] That is an eternal thing that will be with them forever.

[00:14:57] And it's neat to know then that we will have those brothers and sisters with us forever, too.

[00:15:03] And we will be worshiping him.

[00:15:06] Wow, that is so good.

[00:15:08] So powerful.

[00:15:09] Now, Janine, you're in the same boat with Tony.

[00:15:12] The same thing.

[00:15:13] You went through second year at the same time.

[00:15:15] Let me know your experience with IEGs and how comfortable you were with them.

[00:15:23] My experience with IEGs was I was always a person that was behind the scenes.

[00:15:30] So I was always working in the office preparing materials for maybe the person that needed to speak or needed to give a presentation or just the details that went into like an office work and things.

[00:15:46] So for me to be in front of people, I learned that I could do it.

[00:15:53] It was not my comfort zone.

[00:15:55] And I also learned, though, that I could do it.

[00:15:59] But I also he was changing me in the way of making me his word.

[00:16:06] You know, do I want his word to go out?

[00:16:08] And how much do I love the people that I am speaking to?

[00:16:13] Because that really showed, honestly, my relationship with him.

[00:16:18] So it's really cool to to teach and to be in front of people and just share what he had put into my heart because I couldn't do anything without him.

[00:16:33] I mean, he was literally my strength when I was in front of people speaking.

[00:16:37] And it was a beautiful I love that relationship with him because it was a beautiful stretching.

[00:16:45] And.

[00:16:48] It just showed his glory, I think, through me.

[00:16:51] So in people, when they would have to give feedback, said that they could see his love coming through.

[00:16:59] And that's ultimately what I wanted to be seen was him and me as a little person.

[00:17:08] But him big through me.

[00:17:10] Wow, that is that is so powerful.

[00:17:12] You know, and for anyone listening today, and I'm sure there are a number of you listening today that you feel uncomfortable sharing Christ,

[00:17:21] whether it's with your family, whether it's for people at work, whether it's just your friends and associates, people that you see from time to time.

[00:17:30] But I'm going to go to first Peter 315.

[00:17:33] And it says, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.

[00:17:49] Now, we have hope in us, Tony and Janine.

[00:17:53] We know if God takes us home tonight, we're going to be in heaven with Jesus.

[00:17:58] We know that.

[00:17:59] But if people do not know that, if they don't have Jesus in their heart, they're lost.

[00:18:06] They're going to say, oh, my gosh, what's going to happen now?

[00:18:09] And I think a lot of people are fearful of anything happening in their life.

[00:18:15] Tony, would you like to add a little bit to that?

[00:18:20] Yeah, I think, you know, that's the beauty of the gospel.

[00:18:25] It basically makes us all equal.

[00:18:29] You know, it says there's no longer male nor female, slave nor free.

[00:18:32] So that gives us hope not only in eternity, but also in this life.

[00:18:38] And so I think, yeah, it's just without it, I don't see how people survive.

[00:18:44] And I see why, you know, the divorce rate's 50%.

[00:18:47] There's such a huge problem with depression and suicide.

[00:18:50] A lot of these people just don't have hope.

[00:18:53] Yeah.

[00:18:53] And that is a good point.

[00:18:56] I mean, I really can't add to that.

[00:18:58] Janine, what I'd like to do is go back to your previous testimony.

[00:19:02] And you said that when Tony was away and he was deployed, and I know that was a difficult time for you.

[00:19:11] And for anyone that did not listen to that previous podcast, and I'll just make reference to it again.

[00:19:17] It's number 569.

[00:19:18] So just go in the archives, pull that up.

[00:19:21] And I really would encourage anyone to listen to that.

[00:19:24] But Janine, you mentioned that when you were away from Tony, there would be people in your life that spoke to you.

[00:19:34] And if there was anything going on, they would encourage you and just make sure that you were okay.

[00:19:41] So what I'd like to do, and I'm going to go to Proverbs 27, 17.

[00:19:46] And 27, 17 says, as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

[00:19:55] Janine, what I'd like for you to do is share with the audience how important it was to have good Christian people around you when Tony was deployed.

[00:20:07] It was very important, Bill.

[00:20:10] Well, because of the fact that he was gone and I had two young boys.

[00:20:19] And all of a sudden I was put into the position of being mom, of course, daily role.

[00:20:28] But I also had to make decisions where Tony was not able to be with me.

[00:20:34] And so it was very interesting time frame because it was everything was kind of chaotic, you know.

[00:20:46] But in the chaos, it was wonderful to have good friends that were encouragers in the word that I could call on and just say, hey, I'm having a difficult time today.

[00:20:59] Would you be able to take the boys?

[00:21:01] I just need some time to myself, you know, maybe to pray, to go on a walk, those type of things.

[00:21:10] And it was also important to me to have those good friends that I could count on that when I was feeling down and I could tell them, they would have a positive word for me.

[00:21:20] And not one that was flippant, but one that was an encouraging word.

[00:21:25] And encouraging is the key because when you are in that position, you don't need to be told, oh, I'm so sorry.

[00:21:35] Oh, you know, that must be awful because you already and they already know that it is.

[00:21:41] But what you need to hear is, you know, what is something that God has done in your life today?

[00:21:47] What do you see him doing?

[00:21:52] Just encouraging words and stuff.

[00:21:54] Sometimes the encouraging word is just giving me a call and just saying, hello, you know, why don't we go out for coffee?

[00:22:02] Sometimes the encouraging word is just was just taking the boys for the evening so that I could just have some time.

[00:22:10] And and yeah, so friends are definitely important during that time.

[00:22:16] And honestly, throughout our life, you know, we should find those those special friends that God connects us with so that we can always have encouragement and be an encouragement for them, too.

[00:22:30] Oh, that's so good.

[00:22:31] Yeah, you can call them up and you can say, hey, I need some prayer today.

[00:22:35] And they are on it.

[00:22:37] Well, you know, I can't help but go to Revelation 12, 11 and 12, 11 says they overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony, loving not their life, even unto death.

[00:22:53] Janine, you mentioned something about about your testimony just just now.

[00:22:58] And it's important. You know what I what I really try to get across to people is you need to keep your testimony fresh and new.

[00:23:07] You don't want to sit there and think, well, 15 years ago, God did this in my life.

[00:23:11] Eight years ago, he did this.

[00:23:12] You're going to say, well, last week he did this.

[00:23:15] Today he did this because God is constantly in our lives.

[00:23:20] He's in our business.

[00:23:21] When you sit there and think that every hair on your head is numbered.

[00:23:26] God knows every little detail in each of our lives.

[00:23:31] So I think we need to be ready at the drop of a hat to talk about the goodness of God and what he has done with us recently.

[00:23:38] Tony, I'm going to get back to you.

[00:23:40] You mentioned previously that when you were going through this program that you were talking about Rangers Challenge Team.

[00:23:50] Now, I would just want to bring this up because you mentioned that twice a year you had to do 10 kilometer runs.

[00:24:00] Now, that took a lot of discipline.

[00:24:02] I'm sure that you trained and you got in the habit of running.

[00:24:07] For those of you who don't know, 10 kilometers is 6.2 miles.

[00:24:11] It's not something that the everyday person just goes out and, hey, I'm going to go for a 10K run.

[00:24:17] So if you would, Tony, talk about the discipline that you learned going through that program and how that has helped you become a better Christian.

[00:24:29] So I think a lot of it is mental toughness.

[00:24:33] You know, your mind and the Bible kind of talks about this be renewed, transformed by renewing of your mind.

[00:24:39] And I think that's such an important piece because your body will lie to you and say, I'm tired.

[00:24:46] I can't go any further.

[00:24:48] And if your mind accepts that, then it quits.

[00:24:52] So it's all about mental toughness and overriding the things that your flesh is trying to tell you.

[00:24:57] And it's so pertinent even to today's chapter in Proverbs.

[00:25:00] You know, your body will lust after something.

[00:25:03] But you've got to have that mentality that comes out of your born again spirit that says, no, that's not a God thought or that's not a God action.

[00:25:13] Why would you do that?

[00:25:15] Why would you shipwreck your destiny for a cheap thrill or cut a corner or something like that?

[00:25:22] So it's just that discipline of is it always easy?

[00:25:26] No.

[00:25:26] Is it convenient?

[00:25:28] No.

[00:25:28] But it's the right thing to do.

[00:25:29] And God's ways is the right thing to do.

[00:25:32] And it's like, just do it.

[00:25:33] You know, stop arguing.

[00:25:34] Stop fighting the system.

[00:25:36] You know, just hook up with it and go with it.

[00:25:39] So, you know, you bring up a good point, Tony.

[00:25:42] And I'm going to sit there and say, whenever God tells me to do something.

[00:25:46] And, you know, one thing I've learned, a matter of fact, in the podcast, I'm going to do my personal one today.

[00:25:51] I'm going to talk about the importance of tending your garden because I commune with God in my garden.

[00:25:59] I have a half acre property and I am constantly paying attention to every single plant in my garden.

[00:26:07] And I kind of liken that to the way God looks at each and every one of us.

[00:26:12] He is concerned with every one of us.

[00:26:15] And he wants us all to bloom where we're at.

[00:26:19] Janine, I want to get back to you.

[00:26:21] Now, you recently, I believe, celebrated your 32nd anniversary, if I'm not correct.

[00:26:26] That was in August.

[00:26:28] If I'm correct, if you would, just share with the audience how difficult it must have been at times when Tony was away.

[00:26:36] Now he's back for good.

[00:26:38] And if you would, talk about the journey that your marriage has taken you.

[00:26:44] Oh, my goodness.

[00:26:45] Well, we were married very young, obviously.

[00:26:49] Obviously.

[00:26:50] And we had two boys, raised them, you know, through military.

[00:26:56] Tony was in the military for 23 years and stuff.

[00:27:01] So retired from that.

[00:27:03] Our journey through that was when we were young and our marriage was moving every two to three years to different places in the United States.

[00:27:12] So we were constantly uprooting, rooting again for a couple of years, uprooting, rooting again.

[00:27:19] And within that time frame, it was really beautiful because God really connected us with different churches that we went to.

[00:27:27] We always found a good church to belong to.

[00:27:29] That was one of our priorities in our moves.

[00:27:32] Within that, like we talked about, those friendships and those connections that when difficult times came and Tony was not able to be right there with us, I had friends and, you know, pastors and people that I could go to.

[00:27:52] But also my kids could have good friends and they could go to, too.

[00:27:59] It was really cool as we continued on our journey and stuff.

[00:28:04] Of course, the deployment.

[00:28:06] And then also when Tony retired from military life and stuff, that was a transition in itself.

[00:28:14] Right now he is fully retired, volunteering, as I am for certain things.

[00:28:18] And of course, we went to Bible school together, which was a great blessing because we were ready to know, OK, Lord, our kids are now graduated high school.

[00:28:29] They are out on their own.

[00:28:30] They are their own individuals.

[00:28:32] You know, Lord, you are guiding them and they know you.

[00:28:35] And praise God for that.

[00:28:38] So it was on to our next chapter.

[00:28:41] And that's why we went on to Bible school for that.

[00:28:44] And it's just been really enriching to have my husband, my helpmate, my best friend go along this journey.

[00:28:54] And we've had ups and downs.

[00:28:56] You know, there's definitely in a marriage you go through some trials and tribulations.

[00:29:03] But but God, he's always been the center of our relationship.

[00:29:09] And that started from early on.

[00:29:12] And praise God, you know, I know it is only him that has got us to, you know, this number of years in our marriage.

[00:29:20] He has blessed us with his grace, with his love.

[00:29:25] And he continues to.

[00:29:27] Tony, is there anything you'd like to add?

[00:29:30] I think one of the biggest lessons that God taught both of us during my deployment was not to place our spouse in a position higher than what they should be.

[00:29:43] So a lot of times our spouses can even become an idol where we almost in a way demand that they meet our needs that they were never created to meet in the first place.

[00:29:54] You know, that's God to meet those needs and not our spouse.

[00:29:57] So I think that just kind of really gave us a better understanding of our roles as a spouse and things.

[00:30:05] Being in the military and things just taught us how to be flexible no matter what environment we're put in.

[00:30:10] And so now looking back, we can kind of see how God was training us all that time for what he has for us today and even in the near future.

[00:30:20] Just a love for all the cultures.

[00:30:22] We're grown, grew up in the Midwest in Iowa, small farm town.

[00:30:27] There's maybe one colored kid in our whole school.

[00:30:29] And so getting out and experiencing different cultures and just being able to learn from them, to respect them, to love them, to honor them for who God created them to be has just been amazing.

[00:30:42] So, well, that's really good.

[00:30:44] Good. And I want to kind of, you know, piggyback off the fact that you said you placed Janine basically as an idol.

[00:30:54] And some people may think that that sounds weird.

[00:30:58] But I want to make this perfectly clear.

[00:31:01] Friends, if you have received Jesus into your heart, if you've let him in, God has to be first place in your life.

[00:31:11] He just has to be.

[00:31:13] He's definitely above your spouse.

[00:31:15] And if he's not, you will make your spouse your idol because you're trying to please them.

[00:31:22] You're expecting them to please you.

[00:31:25] And like you said, Tony, that is not their place.

[00:31:28] The third thing is your children.

[00:31:30] OK, your children have to be third before you even think about your call and God has placed on your life.

[00:31:38] That will be fourth. So what I'd like to do is is we really don't have that much time left.

[00:31:44] What I'd like to do is just briefly go over the fact that as a second year student, you have to go on a mission trip.

[00:31:51] So what I'd like to do is just kind of go into that a little detail and I'm going to cut you off.

[00:31:57] I don't want it to be long. We'll get back into that next time we meet.

[00:32:00] But Tony, just give your main takeaway from your mission trip.

[00:32:06] Tell us where you went and how important was that to you?

[00:32:11] So we went to Cape Town, South Africa, and we saw some miracles take place.

[00:32:17] We didn't see as many as maybe we would have liked.

[00:32:20] But God kind of spoke to me and he said, do you believe that my word does not return void?

[00:32:26] And I said, yes. He said, do you feel like you have to see it to believe that it happened?

[00:32:32] And I said, no.

[00:32:34] He's like, things are working in the spirit realm that sometimes we can't see.

[00:32:38] But if we speak the word, it will not return void.

[00:32:41] And sometimes there is a time lapse between seed time and harvest.

[00:32:46] So you keep speaking the word.

[00:32:48] You keep sowing that seed and it is working.

[00:32:51] And you just have to trust God that his word does not return void.

[00:32:55] You know, when you talk about seed time and harvest, I know many people know that.

[00:33:00] But many people don't know that we have to go all the way back to the book of Genesis, chapter 8.

[00:33:06] But seed time and harvest was right after Noah had come and the ark had been settled.

[00:33:14] It's back on earth.

[00:33:16] He's letting all the animals out.

[00:33:19] And he makes a declaration for the future.

[00:33:22] Seed time and harvest.

[00:33:25] Awesome, awesome, awesome.

[00:33:28] Janine, just give your main takeaway and then we'll begin to close.

[00:33:33] I believe my main takeaway from our mission trip down there was just to see the love of God and his compassion bubble up and come out through me to the people that we met, to the people that we prayed for, for the word that we were given.

[00:33:52] And that happened.

[00:33:55] It was really cool to see God work, even, you know, by passing a person on the sidewalk and stuff and just saying hello or just smiling for them, to them.

[00:34:08] So that was, you know, just showing God's love in those ways.

[00:34:12] It was.

[00:34:13] It was beautiful.

[00:34:15] Like Tony had mentioned, we saw some miracles.

[00:34:18] Would we have liked to see more?

[00:34:19] Yes.

[00:34:20] Would we have liked to get to know more of the people and have more time there?

[00:34:25] Yes.

[00:34:27] But it was a wonderful, enriching, just amazing experience that God let us go there.

[00:34:35] And he let us experience him even more.

[00:34:40] And it was just a beautiful time with the people that we went with and just watching God do what he does.

[00:34:50] And that is love on people.

[00:34:52] And it was just beautiful.

[00:34:54] It was beautiful to be his hands, his feet and his mouth.

[00:34:58] Well, that's so good.

[00:34:59] And I'm just going to remind anyone listening today that every single day you walk out that front door, that is your mission field.

[00:35:12] Every single person you come in contact with, that is your mission field.

[00:35:19] Friends, we can be kind.

[00:35:22] We can be loving.

[00:35:24] And friends, it's not about preaching the gospel.

[00:35:27] You really want to preach the gospel?

[00:35:29] Put a smile on your face.

[00:35:31] Put a smile on your face.

[00:35:34] Let people know that you love them.

[00:35:37] Be kind.

[00:35:38] Be gracious.

[00:35:39] And think about this, the thing they used to have on your wrist.

[00:35:43] What would Jesus do?

[00:35:45] I guarantee you, if you think about what Jesus would do, he would have a smile on his face.

[00:35:50] And that is what draws people to you.

[00:35:53] And that is what people ask.

[00:35:56] Why do you have the hope that's in you?

[00:35:58] Why do you have a smile on your face?

[00:36:01] So, Janine, we're out of time.

[00:36:03] What I'd like for you to do is just briefly, in a minute or minute and a half, tell people why today is the day they need to receive Jesus into their life.

[00:36:15] Today is a great day to receive him because he loves you.

[00:36:19] He has a plan and a purpose for you.

[00:36:21] He's always had a plan and purpose for you.

[00:36:24] In Psalms 139, he knew you in your mother's womb.

[00:36:28] He's the one that intricately made you and put you together.

[00:36:33] And at that time, even before you came out, he wanted you and things.

[00:36:39] So, he has always wanted you and he wants that relationship with you.

[00:36:45] And that's the thing.

[00:36:46] It isn't just a, oh, Lord, save me.

[00:36:50] It is, Lord, I want to know you more because he made you.

[00:36:54] And so then get to know him more because he has a life ahead for you that is good.

[00:37:02] You know, Jeremiah 2911 says, I know the plans that I have for you.

[00:37:06] And it is to bring you good things and a purpose and a plan.

[00:37:12] So, we just thank you, Father God, for those people.

[00:37:16] We thank you, Father God, for just putting that on their heart to want to know who you are, Father,

[00:37:24] and that relationship that you desire to have with them.

[00:37:30] Thank you so much.

[00:37:31] And, Tony, if you would, please address the audience and give the greeting.

[00:37:38] Give us an opportunity to receive Jesus before we close.

[00:37:42] Yeah.

[00:37:44] So, welcome, audience.

[00:37:46] We're glad that you attended today.

[00:37:48] And, you know, you're part of a kingdom, whether you know it or not.

[00:37:53] You're either the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light.

[00:37:56] And part of the problem with the kingdom of darkness, it's so deceptive that a lot of people don't even realize they're in that kingdom.

[00:38:03] But they are.

[00:38:05] And so we just invite you into the kingdom of light.

[00:38:09] And the way through that is through Jesus.

[00:38:13] Jesus said, I am the door.

[00:38:14] No one comes into this kingdom except through him.

[00:38:17] And so the kingdom of light is so much better.

[00:38:21] You know, don't believe the lies of the enemy and the lies of people who live in the kingdom of darkness saying, you know, oh, you're going to have to give up everything.

[00:38:30] You're never going to have fun again.

[00:38:32] I can tell you this is the funnest and most uncomplicated and yet challenging life there.

[00:38:39] But it's so much worth it.

[00:38:41] You know, it's so exciting.

[00:38:42] And we're seeing people really come to their destiny.

[00:38:48] So I would just say, you know, it's something that is appealing to you.

[00:38:55] Turn to the kingdom of light.

[00:38:56] Just believe that Jesus came.

[00:38:58] He died for your sins.

[00:39:00] He was raised from the dead and that you make him your Lord and your Savior and you will enter into the kingdom.

[00:39:08] And then the kingdom will start to impact everything you do.

[00:39:12] Wow, that's so good.

[00:39:13] And, you know, let's close with a blessing.

[00:39:16] Now, may the Lord bless you and keep you.

[00:39:19] The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

[00:39:23] The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

[00:39:27] And friends, I've got good news.

[00:39:30] Tony and Janine will be back in about four months.

[00:39:33] Keep your eyes tuned in.

[00:39:35] And tomorrow, when you get up in the morning, remember this podcast.

[00:39:40] Wisdom today.

[00:39:41] I'll see you then.

[00:39:43] God bless.