Participants: Vicki Griffin
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000395
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01:01 We're talking about recovery.
01:04 Isn't that what the Christian walk is all about? 01:07 It's all about recovery and renewal and revival 01:14 and refreshment in God. 01:18 And probably one of the nearest stories of recovery 01:20 in the Bible is the story of Peter. 01:24 Remember when Peter-- 01:25 what fabulous feat did Peter do 01:28 that nobody else had done. 01:32 He walked on water, didn't he? 01:34 He walked on water. 01:35 Wouldn't you love to walk on water? 01:36 What a miracle? 01:38 Well, if you remember the story, 01:39 it's in Matthew Chapter 14. 01:42 They went on the boat, Jesus sent them away 01:45 and they went off by themselves on this boat 01:49 and what happened to the winds? 01:52 They became contrary the Bible says 01:55 and all they were in so trouble 01:57 and they needed Jesus. 02:00 And Jesus came to them. 02:04 But did he come in the way that they expected? No. 02:09 When they saw Jesus walking on the water, 02:12 what did they say? 02:14 It's a ghost! It's a ghost! 02:19 And you know it makes me think of us sometimes, 02:21 it makes me think of myself, 02:23 sometimes we'll ask the Lord for help. 02:25 We'll say, Lord, I'm in trouble. 02:28 My brain is dull and weary, I feel depressed everyday, 02:32 I don't have energy, please help me, Lord. 02:37 And the Lord comes. 02:39 He sends somebody to you. 02:41 That says you know brother, you know sister, 02:45 lifestyle has a lot to do with the way 02:47 you're feeling right now. 02:49 It's a ghost! Get out of here! 02:53 I'm asking for Jesus, not you. 02:58 Jesus comes to us in ways that we don't expect, doesn't he? 03:02 We have to be listening to his voice 03:05 in every quarter and in every season 03:08 to see what He has to say for us. 03:10 Sometimes He uses people, circumstances, 03:12 the word of God, the Holy Spirit, 03:14 lots of different ways. 03:15 The worst way that I--I dislike learning. 03:21 The worst way to learn 03:22 is to be pulled through a keyhole 03:24 and the Lord will do this if He has to. 03:27 Because He loves us and He wants to bless us. 03:30 But the interesting thing about the story, 03:32 I've meditated on it 03:33 because my husband does a wonderful sermon 03:34 on this story and he shared some points 03:36 that I'm gonna share with you 03:37 this morning as we get started. 03:39 Peter finally recognized that it was Jesus, 03:42 and what did he say? 03:44 Ask me to come to you, if it's you. 03:49 And so what did Peter do? 03:51 He jumped out of that boat on to the water 03:55 and he saw the Lord 03:57 and he started walking toward Him, didn't he? 04:01 And then he saw that the waves were contrary 04:04 and the billows were high 04:06 and he took his eyes off Jesus, and what happened? 04:10 He started to-- He started to sink. 04:15 And what did he cry out? 04:17 Lord, save me! Lord, save me! 04:21 And what did Jesus do? 04:23 Swallow a few more gobs of salt water, 04:26 Peter, then I'll get you. 04:31 Don't we do that with each other sometimes? 04:33 That serves him right. 04:36 Peter starts to sink. 04:38 And what did Jesus do right away? 04:40 He reaches down and He pulls him up, 04:44 He pulls him up. 04:45 Now this is the amazing thing about the story. 04:48 The rescue is more dramatic than the initial miracle 04:53 because now Jesus is holding Himself up 04:56 and Peter on that water. 05:01 And He says the most unusual thing to Peter, 05:03 what does He say? 05:05 He says, "O thou of little faith, 05:09 why did you doubt? Why did you doubt?" 05:14 That's an amazing statement when you think about it. 05:16 Where were the other 11 disciples? 05:19 They were in the boat rowing. 05:22 Peter was out walking on water. 05:26 What a really unusual kind of thing to say 05:29 to someone that had just manifested so much faith. 05:34 And here's what I think the reason is. 05:37 Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, 05:40 I am the beginning and the end, 05:42 I am the author and the finisher of your faith." 05:46 Sometimes it's not just the starting 05:48 that's important, it's the finishing. 05:51 Isn't that the most important thing? 05:53 Oh, we have a lot of people starting. 05:55 We have a lot of people starting diets. 05:56 Fifty four percent of Americans 05:58 at any given minute are on their diets, 05:59 starting it is nothing. 06:01 But finishing and staying the course 06:04 that's what the Lord wants, 06:05 that's what the Lord was telling. 06:06 Peter, He says hold fast. 06:08 It says in Revelation, hold fast 06:11 to that which you have lest any man take your crown. 06:13 He that endures to the end shall be saved. 06:18 And the Bible says if you start to plow, 06:21 any man that sets his hand to the plow 06:24 and turns back, My soul will have no pleasure in him. 06:30 The lesson for you and the lesson for me 06:33 is that no matter what it takes, 06:35 no matter how many times we fall on our face, 06:37 no matter how many times the Lord has to show us 06:39 that we're more shallow and are loyalty to him 06:42 than we thought we were no matter what it takes, 06:44 Lord get me to the cross. 06:47 Get me to the cross. 06:48 Make me faithful. Sanctify me. 06:51 Make me a terror to evil, not to people, but to evil. 06:56 I wanna be in your camp, Lord, and whatever it takes, 06:58 help me to continue to recover myself 07:01 until the mistakes get fewer 07:03 and less and less and less 07:06 and I'll learn how to walk this walk with you. 07:08 Isn't that the most important thing? 07:09 Never give up. Never give up. 07:13 That to me is the message of Peter's miraculous recovery. 07:20 Today we're talking about recovery 07:22 from that addicted brain 07:24 and the healing of traumatic memories, 07:28 healing the broken brain. 07:29 What are the keys to life and to recovery? 07:34 These are the ones that I'm gonna go over with you 07:37 that I just feel are important in my own life. 07:39 I haven't done major scientific studies 07:42 or Bible exegesis on this, 07:45 but these are the practical steps that I have found. 07:47 If we take them seriously and lodge them in our hearts, 07:50 it will not only remap your brain everyday, 07:54 but it will also put you on the road 07:56 to success in your Christian life. Amen. 07:59 And you'll see the power of God that we get it. 08:01 Well, the first key to recovery is 08:04 give control to God. 08:07 That's the most important thing. 08:09 You know, we may be studying our Bibles everyday, 08:11 but if we're not willing 08:12 to give control of our lives to God, 08:15 it's fruitless, it's fruitless. 08:18 We've got to--the acronym that I uses, act. 08:22 Number one, your attitude is everything. 08:25 Do I have a surrendered attitude? 08:27 Do you have a surrendered attitude? 08:29 In every area of your life, 08:31 that's really all that matters. 08:34 Someone started to argue with me 08:35 about music styles not too long ago 08:38 and I just didn't feel like going round 08:39 and round and round, and I looked at that person 08:42 and I said, do you have a passion for the will of God? 08:48 Is it your highest passion in life to have His will 08:53 in your life in this area and in every area? 08:58 And that person stopped and said, who can be saved. 09:03 The Bible says, if the righteous scarcely be saved, 09:06 what is the end gonna be of them 09:07 that obey not the gospel? 09:08 Friends, our attitude is everything. 09:11 He knows if we're surrendered 09:12 and He's in the business of showing you 09:14 whether you're surrendered or not. 09:17 We've got to give control to God. 09:18 We've got to give Him our attitude 09:20 and then see is for change. 09:22 You've got to be willing to change, 09:24 wherever He wants you to change. 09:28 The other day I was feeling kind of down, 09:30 I couldn't figure out why. 09:32 I've decided to talk to the Lord. 09:34 You know, sometimes we talk to our friends 09:36 and we talk to this or that person, 09:37 but they won't always give you-- 09:39 they can't reach your heart, you know what I'm saying. 09:41 There're some things we need to take to God 09:43 and it really startled me when the Lord said, 09:45 you're holding a grudge. I get so insult. 09:47 Ah! No! Not me! Never! Yeah. 09:54 I said Lord Jesus, help me to understand today 09:58 how merciful you are to me, 10:00 so that I could-- and give me an opportunity 10:02 to show mercy to that person and He did. 10:03 It was so wonderful and it was gone 10:05 and guess what? I cheered up. 10:08 We got to give control to God. 10:10 We've got to be willing to change. 10:13 And it maybe painful in the moment, 10:14 but He says you have fullness and joy 10:17 and the other thing the T for act 10:19 is you got to spend time with Him. 10:22 It takes more than quality time 10:24 to have a walk with God. It takes what? 10:28 Any latchkey kids here? It takes quantity. 10:31 You've got to spend time with God. 10:33 Prayer, Bible study, serious stuff. 10:38 I went backwards. 10:39 The Bible says to submit ourselves to God. 10:42 In Isaiah it says, I've seen his ways. 10:45 This is the promise when you do it. 10:47 He says I see you in my book, I see this man was born here, 10:51 I see-- A man came up to me yesterday, 10:53 he said by the time I was five years old, 10:55 I was in 20 different homes as a foster child. 10:58 Do you think the Lord sees that man's brokenness? 11:00 Do you think he knows what path to lead that him on, 11:04 to put the nurturing people in his life that he needs, 11:07 and also to put the irritating ones 11:09 in his life to toughen him up? 11:13 The Bible says, I have seen his ways, 11:16 I will heal him, I will lead him also, 11:18 and restore, what? Comforts. 11:21 The Bible said, "blessed are they that mourned, 11:24 for they'll be comforted, there's a save, 11:25 there's a balm in Gilead when we're sinned, 11:27 when we're wrong. 11:29 And sometimes we sin because we've been toxin 11:31 because others have injured us. 11:33 But friends, it's still sin. 11:35 People that have been abused as children, 11:37 what do they grow up and do? They abuse. 11:42 It's traumatic, it's terrible, 11:43 it's tragic, it's sin, it's unfair, 11:45 but they're doing it too. 11:49 And God can heal it all. 11:50 He says, I came to show mercy to a thousand generations. 11:55 He came to break the cycle of sin in your family 11:58 and he wants to start with you. 12:01 I like what Dick O'Ffill says, we get onto our knees, 12:03 O' Lord, change my husband, 12:06 change my husband, and fix my car. 12:10 But Lord-- what we've to say is, 12:11 Lord, change me. Change me. 12:17 This is from 12:18 the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 12:20 It's amazing how these secular journals 12:22 are validating the word of God. 12:25 It says we conclude that faith in God, 12:28 prayer, and religious attitudes. 12:32 What's a religious attitude? 12:35 Somebody tell me? 12:37 Well, they have measured it, friends. 12:38 And they have defined it for us. 12:41 They say personal devotion. 12:43 Devotional attitude is the religious attitude 12:44 in the article, are strongly associated with what? 12:50 Life satisfaction, that's because we're so selfish 12:53 and we've got to let the Lord 12:54 break up selfishness in our hearts and lives. 13:00 Second key, pray for hatred, 13:02 this is a winner, this is a winner. 13:05 One lady had an addiction, a food addiction 13:09 and it was so serious and she just loved it. 13:12 Even though she knew it was terrible 13:13 and against God's will. 13:15 And she knew it was bad for her 13:16 and she knew it was keeping her 13:18 from being able to minister to her family 13:19 in an unselfish way. 13:21 And so she said, Lord, 13:23 I am so stuck on this thing 13:25 that I just don't even know what to do. 13:27 So I'm asking you to take it, 13:29 'cause I can't even give it to you. 13:30 Just take it! Please! 13:32 He took it, He took it. 13:36 Many times I have asked the Lord for a hatred, 13:39 for the things that I know displease Him. 13:41 We're told in Spirit of Prophecy 13:42 don't even wait for conviction 13:44 if you see the light, follow it. 13:47 That's an amazing thing. 13:48 We'll act by principle, not by feeling an impulse. Amen. 13:54 The Bible says, that when we come to Him 13:55 our conscience are seared with a hot iron. 13:58 We don't-- we can't-- 13:59 our consciences are not fully trustworthy. 14:02 They have to be filtered 14:04 through the word of God. Right? 14:10 Not that I don't listen to my conscience, 14:12 but when I have a conviction or a feeling 14:14 I take it to the word of God to see if it's valid, 14:18 to see if it's valid. We can pray for hatred. 14:21 The first promise is I will put enmity. 14:23 He promised I will do it. 14:26 You know, I hated being bulimic. 14:28 I asked the Lord to put hatred in my heart, 14:30 for He did, it was instant. 14:32 I didn't hate spending my paycheck 14:34 the way I wanted to, I didn't hate that. 14:38 I like spending my paycheck the way I wanted to. 14:42 He says I will cleanse you from all our filthiness 14:44 and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 14:46 What a promise, what a promise. 14:51 This is from drug, alcohol dependency. 14:53 It's a medical journal. 14:54 Personal religiosity is positively 14:57 correlated with, what? 14:59 Rejection of substance use even after controlling 15:02 for individual differences in personality. 15:05 So this religion thing works, it works. 15:11 We've got to purge the temple. 15:13 You know, every smoker knows when you quit smoking, 15:16 what do you have to do? Get rid of the cigarettes. 15:20 Do you think I kept the Hoggin Dawgs 15:22 in my refrigerator when I gave up 15:24 my ice cream addiction? It had to go. 15:28 There were things that just had to go. 15:31 We have to cleanse our sanctuary. 15:35 Our home should be representative of heaven. 15:38 Shouldn't it be? It's a sanctuary. 15:40 It's a safe place from evil. 15:42 Isn't that what the home should be? 15:44 Isn't that our goal 15:45 to have our homes to be a pure 15:47 where angels can rest their feet? 15:50 Imagine the poor angels on Sabbath, 15:51 they're guarding everybody, 15:52 they have to listen to rock music, 15:54 they have to listen to rap, 15:56 they have to go the baseball games, 15:58 they have to go all over the place. 16:00 Shouldn't they be able to enjoy your home on Sabbath 16:04 and on every other day of the week? 16:08 The Bible says don't bring 16:10 an abomination into your house. 16:14 Is what I bring into my home acceptable to God? 16:18 I've heard parents say, well, it's his room. 16:21 You know, it's Johnny's room, 16:23 so he just has to do his evil stuff in there. 16:27 Oh, does he pay the mortgage payment? 16:30 Is he the breadwinner? 16:33 Is that the way a Christian home should operate? 16:41 The Bible says, that in the last days, 16:44 women will be their oppressors 16:46 and children will rule over them. 16:48 That is not God's will. 16:50 The Lord said of Abraham, I know him 16:52 that he'll command his household after him. 16:54 Now does that mean with an iron fist, 16:56 absolutely not, but are their regulations 16:58 and rules and hey, I'm sorry 16:59 this is just the way it is. 17:02 Children respect you when you live out your convictions. 17:04 They respect you 17:06 even if they're irritated for the moment. 17:09 And it says let's do become a curse thing like it, 17:11 we become like that which we take into ourselves 17:14 and into our home. 17:15 We are commanded to detest it. 17:17 It says of Jesus and Hebrew's, 17:19 "thou has loved righteousness and hated iniquity." 17:23 It is time to start hating some things, friends. 17:26 Not people but they are-- 17:28 we need to hate the things that God hates. 17:31 Neutrality is not safe. This is a war. 17:37 For it is a cursed thing. 17:38 Now number four, we need to get support. 17:42 Don't be in island. Don't stay by yourself. 17:45 Find somebody that will understand, 17:48 that you can pray with and share with, 17:50 that can call you to accountability 17:53 with this thing then you have struggled with. 17:57 The Bible says that God sets the solitary in families. 18:02 Let me ask you this. 18:05 Have you created an atmosphere 18:07 around yourself in your church 18:10 so that anyone feels like they can come to you 18:12 with a problem and that they will get sound counsel, 18:16 but warm support and love and friendship? 18:22 And that means more than just walking around 18:24 with a smile on your face. 18:26 It means inquiring after the will, 18:29 welfare of fellow believers. 18:31 It means when you see something 18:33 that is out of harmony with God's will 18:35 that you go home and you pray 18:36 for that brother or sister or that family 18:38 and you pray for God to set up a circumstance 18:41 so that you can minister truth. 18:44 Is that hatred or is that love? 18:47 We've got to wait for God's timing, don't we? 18:50 Prayer is so powerful. 18:52 It says He brings out those which are bound with chains. 18:59 Healthy social ties are linked with longer life, 19:02 improved mental health, 19:04 less sickness, and less depression. 19:07 You know, we did some health meetings 19:08 at a church when Sabbath, 19:11 we had a revival meeting for the church 19:13 and the lady that invited us to come, organized it, 19:18 when it came time for potluck we were standing in line 19:21 and she walked by us and she said good luck, 19:24 gotten anything to eat here, I'm going home. 19:27 And she left us there and Dane and I looked to one another 19:32 and said some missionary, some missionary. 19:35 There was another church in California 19:37 we've heard to and it was really funny 19:38 because the group that was most health conscious 19:44 was complaining to us that their food wasn't-- 19:49 they weren't accepted-- they weren't accepted. 19:52 Well, they were taking all their food into another room 19:57 so that it wouldn't mix with anybody else's 19:59 so that they wouldn't make a mistake 20:00 and get something that might have cottage 20:02 cheese in it or something. You know, what I'm saying? 20:04 So this, this is not a family atmosphere. 20:11 If we want to be missionaries we have to be willing 20:13 to mingle with people, blend with people, 20:16 bring lots of wonderful things to share. Amen. 20:22 And we want to create a family environment 20:24 and one that is not so full of strive, 20:27 and division, and criticism, 20:28 and judging people over 20:29 whether they eat one thing or not eat another thing. 20:32 I know some pretty mean vegetarians 20:35 and I know some mean meat eaters too. 20:37 I mean, we're all pretty mean 20:38 without the Lord in our lives. 20:41 So we need to let the Lord change our attitude 20:43 and when our attitude is right, 20:44 He'll help us make the changes 20:46 that we're supposed to make on His timetable. Amen. 20:52 They're more optimistic. 20:53 People with strong family ties 20:55 and with social ties are more optimistic 20:58 and God wants us to have a spirit of optimism. 21:00 The Bible says of Jesus, He would not fail 21:03 or be discouraged until we said judgment in the land. 21:07 And this is when we're gonna read together. 21:09 No more kitty parties. 21:12 Now everybody didn't read that, 21:14 because there's lot of people in here. 21:16 Let's do it again, no more kitty parties, 21:20 you know why? 21:21 Because nobody will attend, 21:23 you'll be there all by yourself. 21:26 Those kitty parties mess up, 21:28 Oh, they mess up your brain chemistry 21:31 something, something bad. 21:33 People that tend to ruminate, 21:35 it is the studies that have come out 21:38 show that women tend to ruminate more than men 21:41 and when there's an only son 21:43 or first born son in the home he tends to be a ruminator, 21:46 they tend to mull over with problems 21:48 over and over and over and over 21:51 and then they'll call their friends 21:52 and talk about it with their friends, 21:53 did you hear the tone of voice that she had 21:55 when she said this to me 21:56 and I just really don't understand it 21:57 and I just, you know, and then-- 21:59 maybe I could have said something different 22:01 and then you know, we go on and on 22:03 and think and re-live it, re-live it, 22:05 re-live it, it's ruminating. 22:07 And then we start to feel bad 22:08 and then we start to feel sorry for us. 22:10 Well, if they just only appreciated me, 22:11 they just really don't appreciate my-- 22:14 my heart was in the right place when I said-- 22:16 and then we go on and on and on and on and on. 22:18 We don't let it go and what happens in the brain, 22:22 the right frontal cortex gets way overactive, 22:26 the left frontal which is more responsible 22:31 for feelings of well being, easy going, cheerful, 22:34 it starts to travel down and the anxious 22:37 and the ruminating with negative self talk 22:40 starts to go up and up and up and up 22:42 and brain chemistry starts to act 22:44 on nerves synapses in the brain 22:46 and then what starts to happen? 22:48 You start to make synapses that keep you exactly there 22:54 and you form a habit. 22:58 Have you ever been around somebody that 23:00 they can't open their mouth without talking about somebody 23:04 or some negative thing? 23:06 Have you ever been around somebody like that? 23:09 Does that mean that we're never gonna feel sad? 23:11 Does that mean we're never gonna have 23:13 any sorrow in our heart? 23:15 We have been sold a bill of good 23:16 by the advertising agencies thinking 23:18 that we should never ever feel bad 23:21 that the solution to any kind of pain is a product 23:24 and you've got to have it now. 23:26 But we need downtime and God gives us downtime 23:28 and things happen in our lives that are sad 23:30 and we do have things that we need to deal with. 23:32 Some of us everyday we have challenges. 23:35 Sadness takes us offline, 23:37 so we can regroup and reevaluate. 23:40 It may even cause enough pain 23:43 so that we're motivated to change. 23:48 What does the Bible say, I thought on my ways 23:51 and turn my feet unto thy testimonies. 23:54 The thing that this society has robbed from us 23:56 more than anything else is downtime to fake, 24:01 to examine our lives. 24:03 The Bible says, ponder the path of thy feet 24:08 and let all thy ways be established on the rock Jesus. 24:14 The biggest mistake we can make right now 24:16 is to assume that what we are doing is correct. 24:21 When we are at days walk from the Lord, 24:24 it says I thought on my ways 24:26 and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 24:30 But the literature says prolong sadness 24:34 can cause sustain overactivity in the medulla 24:37 that is a fear center. 24:38 That's where you-- the immediate primal fear 24:41 response takesplace. 24:42 By the way that is very strongly 24:44 stimulated with television and frontal lobe. 24:47 Remember we just talked about that 24:49 right frontal lobe causing neuronal, what? 24:52 Burnout in those areas either by depleting their stores, 24:56 remember we talked about 24:58 when you've over-flooding of certain neuron hormones, 25:01 it causes free radical damage to the very cells 25:04 that produce those hormones and it destroys the receptors. 25:07 So now you get hooked on this-- 25:10 you can get hooked on negative things 25:13 either by depleting their stores of neurotransmitters 25:16 or crippling the ability of the chemicals 25:18 to transmit messages and you wind up depressed. 25:25 The Bible says, we're to contemplate 25:27 that which is true, honest, just, 25:30 pure, pleasant, positive, virtuous, and praiseworthy. 25:35 And by the way, if you read through the Bible 25:38 especially through the Psalms 25:40 that have some Prophecy in them, 25:42 you'll see that one of the end time things 25:43 that God's agonizing saints are doing 25:45 is crying out for judgment. 25:48 Crying out for the judgment of God in this world 25:50 and for Him to correct all this evil 25:53 and for us to pull out our hearts to Him 25:55 about the things that were frustrating, 25:57 that is a positive thing. 26:00 This is from the journal, Personality 26:01 and Social Psychology, gratitude, optimism. 26:07 I mean, is this a choice? Is it a choice? 26:11 The way things are going in this world 26:13 if you're gonna be cheerful, nice, 26:15 happy, optimistic and grateful, 26:16 it is a choice, it is not a feeling. 26:18 It is a decision. 26:20 It's a completely different part of the brain 26:23 than the lower centers, 26:24 the emotional centers of the brain. 26:26 It is a cognitive decision. 26:28 And in this area of the brain 26:30 where it's called executive control 26:32 where we make those kinds of decisions, 26:34 they are dopamine receptors 26:36 and it feels good to act from principle 26:38 and to use self control 26:40 and God strengthens those areas of the brain 26:42 as we act on them. 26:45 Gratitude, optimism, diligence, 26:48 perseverance under stress, 26:51 you know, children need to learn perseverance 26:53 under stress don't they? 26:54 I can't think of a better way to teach perseverance 26:57 under stress than teaching a child 26:58 how to clean a bathroom properly. 27:01 How do you get them to understand that 27:03 this is a rewarding experience? 27:05 It's good if you have two or three bathrooms 27:07 because sometimes the experiment 27:08 has to be repeated several times until they get it. 27:12 But it's linked to better mental and physical health. 27:14 Childhood is the time to teach them to delay impulse 27:19 and to help them to control those impulses 27:21 in a graduated and careful way. 27:25 This is the one we talked about yesterday, 27:26 voluntary smiling actually changes brain activity, 27:29 regional brain activity. 27:31 It stops the production of cortisol, 27:33 which does some very serious damage in high levels 27:36 in the hippocampal area of the brain 27:38 and that's your memory retrieval system. 27:44 We want to avoid depressing places and activities. 27:48 It is so easy to gravitate to old haunts 27:52 and old nurture things. 27:54 And you know, friends, when we tried to get comfort 27:56 when food or gambling or sex or porn or internet 28:01 or card playing or whatever it is, 28:05 becomes a substitute for experiencing life 28:11 and for dealing with life, it can result in an addiction. 28:16 Whenever we use those things to avoid pain, 28:21 we are not getting comfort Christ ways 28:24 and we're in great danger of developing an addiction. 28:28 Eve sought a comfort 28:31 and a blessing outside of Christ 28:33 appointed way, didn't she? 28:35 And it ended in disaster 28:38 and when I seek to comfort myself 28:39 outside of Christ way, I suffered, 28:43 I suffered and it ends only in more, what? 28:48 More need, more longing. 28:51 We eat because we feel insecure, 28:53 we need to feel loved, 28:55 we have a longing in our hearts, 28:57 we're lonely then we gain weight 29:00 and we're more lonely and isolated than ever. 29:02 The devil is so mean. 29:04 Don't let him do that to you anymore. 29:06 Get your comfort in Christ. 29:12 Avoid television and reading materials 29:14 that are depressing, traumatic, 29:18 violent, immoral, or pointless. 29:24 If the brain, 29:25 this is Dr. Ratey, our neuropsychiatrist 29:28 who wrote a users guide to the brain. 29:31 If the brain is busy trying to filte 29:33 uncomfortable and frustrating noise, 29:36 worries or other concerns 29:38 there is less brain stuff available for what? 29:41 Perceiving, evaluating, and prognosticating. 29:49 We want to engage in activities 29:51 that are refreshing, relaxing, helpful, 29:55 moral, and mentally stimulating. 30:00 Is there anything on that list that you're opposed to? 30:04 And yet we think we are gonna suffer so much 30:06 if we let God tell us what to do when we're feeling bad. 30:09 We think we know how to fix this thing. 30:15 And God want to direct our physical path, 30:19 so that we can experience regeneration 30:23 not just on the spiritual level, 30:25 but on the physiologic, immunologic, 30:27 neurologic, and genetic level. 30:30 Change a course so that the promise can be fulfilled 30:34 that is outlined for us in desire of ages 30:37 that his thoughts actually become our impulses. 30:40 Impulses are neurological, is that good news today? 30:46 What are those three Hebrew boys say 30:48 when king Nebuchadnezzar said, look, you know 30:51 you need to worship me or you'll be in the furnace. 30:54 They said we're not careful to answer you in this matter. 30:58 If it be so our God whom we service able to delivers, 31:01 but if not be it known unto thee O king 31:03 that we will not bow down and worship the idol 31:05 which thou has setup. 31:08 Neurologically, they had a readiness pathway, 31:12 they were ready. Why were they ready? 31:13 Because they served Him everyday, 31:16 because they chose His way everyday, 31:18 and they didn't even have to think about it. 31:20 They were on automatic pilot 31:21 because when you're under stress 31:23 the only thing that's gonna kick in is automatic pilot. 31:26 Believe me, you won't have time to think. 31:32 We need to accept and cultivate forgiveness, 31:35 not only forgiveness to those who have hurt us, 31:39 but to those-- to ourselves, 31:41 for ourselves we need to understand 31:43 and receive the great forgiveness of God 31:46 and sometimes that's a hardest thing to do. 31:49 We kick ourselves around the block a million times. 31:56 And we're told in Spirit of Prophecy 31:57 that God can do nothing with a discouraged man. 32:01 The enemy loves that when we're discouraged, 32:03 when we have a hard time picking ourselves up, 32:05 when we've made a mistake, we failed. 32:08 Say, thank you Lord for showing me 32:10 what I really am. 32:11 Should it surprise me? No. 32:14 Why doesn't it surprise me 32:15 'cause I've an inflated view myself. 32:17 Now you show me what I am and now let's get started. 32:19 Let's go to work. 32:21 That's the attitude we have to take. 32:24 And the way that I've learned 32:25 that I can forgive others, especially others from 32:28 the past who've done major damage, 32:30 you know, like little kids and stuff. 32:34 When we understand that those who are used 32:37 by the enemy are let captive by Satan at His will, 32:42 they don't have the power of choice 32:45 and I told one lady on the phone, 32:46 I said man, you've seen the devil face to face, 32:48 sit's time to let God have His way. 32:52 It's time to let God pay that situation back. 32:55 Let Him use you to pay that situation back 32:58 that you had no control over. 33:00 And this woman's life is a glory to God. 33:02 I do not know another human being. 33:05 It's a friend of mine, 33:07 I do not know a human being 33:08 who has been through a worse childhood 33:10 than that child-- than that woman 33:11 and she is a God fearing saint, 33:14 she is scatterbrain, she collect stuff, 33:18 she is so funny, she loves the Lord so much. 33:21 You know, these are vestiges of her, 33:23 whatever, from when she was little, 33:25 but she is so amazing to me. 33:28 Her love for God, she is raising her children for God 33:31 and she is an amazing, amazing woman. 33:35 That's why we can't judge people 33:36 by what we see because we don't know 33:38 where they've been. Amen. 33:41 So we've got to accept and cultivate forgiveness 33:44 and when I'm upset with somebody, 33:46 you know, it's really a funny kind of Adventist thing, 33:49 we're never upset, we're just concerned. 33:55 We're frustrated and we don't understand. 33:58 But we're told we're to go to God 34:01 and tell Him exactly the way we see things. 34:04 He knows how we really feel. 34:07 And so we've got to stop with all these euphemisms. 34:09 When we talk to the Lord, 34:10 say Lord, this person is just burns me up right now 34:14 and I don't want to see them. 34:17 They have double crossed me, done X,Y,Z. 34:19 And now, Lord, I'm coming to you 34:22 not feeling very right about this 34:23 and I know that's wrong. 34:25 That's not a correct response for a Christian 34:28 and so Lord before I ever open my mouth 34:31 or go out into the public, let's talk about this. 34:33 And what I do, if I'm upset with someone, 34:35 if you're upset with someone, isn't that usually 34:37 because they've done you wrong? 34:39 I mean most of the times. 34:40 Some people they're just angry people, 34:42 they're always picking fights 34:43 and they need to come to the cross 34:45 and let Jesus slay that spirit of anger. 34:47 But some people--you know, if somebody is done you nasty, 34:53 what do you do? 34:54 I'll tell you what I do, it's very simple. 34:56 I like to-- I like to distill things 35:02 down to the simplest factor for myself. 35:04 I ask the Lord to turn my anger into pity. 35:09 Now that works for me, it works. 35:12 Because then He helps me to understand 35:15 and feel really sorry because what He'll do, 35:18 is he'll pull them through a keyhole, 35:20 to help them to see what they're doing 35:23 and then when you begin to really read the Bible 35:25 and really understand how if they don't repent 35:27 and change of this type of pattern, 35:30 then it's gonna be dreadful, why? 35:33 Then we can be compassionated and also watch ourselves. 35:35 The Bible says, restore such a one 35:38 in meekness considering yourself, 35:41 lest thou also be what? Tempted and taken. 35:46 So you've got to cultivate this. 35:47 These aren't things that just okay, 35:49 the Lord sticks in your hearts and it's there. 35:51 No, we've got to battle for these traits. 35:54 Do you understand what I'm saying? 35:56 You've got to take these situations 35:58 to the altar of God and talk to the Lord about it. 36:01 A pastor told me once he said salvation is simple, 36:03 it's arguing with God until he wins. 36:10 The Bible says let the wicked forsake his way, 36:12 that's why the Bible says 36:13 cleanse your hands, ye sinners. 36:15 It says workout your own salvation 36:17 with fear and trembling. 36:18 Oh, no now you're getting into works. 36:20 Yes I am getting into this because the Bible says, 36:23 it is God that works to do and to will 36:26 and to do of his good pleasure in you, 36:28 but friends if there's no-- it's a strive to enter in. 36:31 I'm in a battle, how about you? 36:33 And we're half asleep, 36:35 we expect God to do everything. 36:36 Friends, on the Day of Atonement, 36:37 we all have something to do. 36:40 There were some very special duties 36:42 of the congregation on the Day of Atonement. 36:45 It was a fast day on the Day of Atonement, 36:48 359 days of the year, everything was statistical, 36:51 on the Day of Atonement it was different, 36:53 it was a fast day. 36:54 Appetite had to be under the control 36:55 of the Holy Spirit. There was no work that day. 36:59 On the Day of Atonement, 37:01 our work is second to our relationship with God. 37:05 If you're working too hard 37:06 and you can't spent time with God, 37:07 get a new job. Amen. 37:09 It was a holy convocation 37:11 where they'll command into worship 37:12 and go to church in fellowship. 37:14 And the Bible says forsake not the assembling of yourselves. 37:19 Especially as you see that day drawing, 37:21 I hear these people say, 37:22 I don't like what's going on in my church, 37:24 I am going home. Oh, that's great. 37:29 What did Mark Luther say? 37:30 He said, you're no soldier 37:32 if you're not where the battle is. 37:33 Friends, there is a battle to fight. 37:36 It says many-- it says strive 37:39 to enter in that straight gate, 37:41 many will seek to enter in, but they will not be able. 37:46 It says let the unrighteous man 37:48 forsake his thoughts and return unto the Lord. 37:51 The Bible says, cast off the works of darkness, 37:54 cease to do evil, learn to do well, 37:56 lots of positive commands 37:57 and lots of positive power to do it. 38:00 You know, the worst state to be in 38:03 is the state described at the end of time 38:05 of God's people, it says their philosophy 38:07 is the Lord will not do good and He will not do evil. 38:10 They don't believe in his promises 38:12 and they don't take His threatenings 38:13 very seriously either, they're none. 38:19 I want to believe both. Amen. 38:23 It says He'll have mercy on us. 38:25 And He will abundantly pardon and we need abundant pardon. 38:29 Everyone of us does. 38:31 Those who forgive had better mental health, 38:33 stronger immune systems, less depression and anger, 38:37 less fear and the ability to let go of past slides. 38:42 That's from the Natural Institute 38:43 for Health Care Research, a secular journal. 38:48 The Bible says if you forgive you'll be forgiven. 38:50 We need to confess our wrongs and make them right. 38:52 I was taught this by a pastor and I thank God for it 38:55 and he said the minute you understand 38:57 from the Spirit of God 38:58 that you have wronged a brother or sister 39:00 you find that person make it right. 39:02 Number one, best option, in person most of the time. 39:06 Number two, best option, telephone. 39:09 Number three, letter, but beat a path, make it right. 39:14 Don't wait for them to do something. 39:16 You call I was rude, there was no excuse, 39:19 I was irritated with you, I was impatient, 39:21 I put my project first I shouldn't have done that, 39:23 you're busy, I'm sorry. 39:25 Oh, it's so cleansing. It feels good. 39:27 We need to do it. We need to cultivate it. 39:29 You won't make enemies doing that. 39:34 Confess your faults one to another 39:35 and pray for one another then you may be healed. 39:39 Change your associations. 39:45 The Bible says, be not deceived, 39:46 bad company corrupts, what? 39:50 Good character. 39:52 When I worked with addicts that are getting out of jail, 39:55 that's the hardest thing for them to do 39:56 is stay away from the old associations. 39:59 The Bible says if you walk with wise man, you'll be wise. 40:03 But a companion of fools will be destroyed. 40:06 The Bible says, David said I'm a companion of them 40:09 that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts. 40:15 Some of those annoying people 40:16 that seem a little too spiritual to you, 40:19 they maybe just the very friend you need. 40:23 There have been people--you know, 40:24 we're so hard on people that advocate reform 40:28 or they're so fanatic, they're so extreme. 40:30 Oh, yes that exists, of course that exists. 40:34 But sometimes we think of somebody 40:36 as being extreme just because they're doing something 40:38 better than we are. 40:40 We've got to examine our own hearts 40:42 and even if someone is off the wall, 40:45 if they say something that's correct 40:47 should I not do it just because of them, 40:52 whom I hurting, we need to be open to light 40:55 wherever it comes from. Amen. 41:02 Interacting and I love this. 41:04 Interacting with other intelligent, 41:07 I love the implication of that, don't you? 41:10 Means that-- we're intelligent too. 41:13 Interacting with other intelligent 41:15 and interesting people is one of the best ways 41:18 to keep expanding your networks. 41:21 What kind of networks? 41:23 You brain networks and your social networks too. 41:25 In the brain and in society, 41:28 now we need to adopt healthy eating habits. 41:32 The brain is profoundly affected by what you eat, 41:37 your mood, your memory, learning and behavior. 41:40 And I want to tell you that 41:41 not only do we have another simple solutions book 41:44 on sale that links diet with depression, 41:46 stress, and immune function 41:48 just last night came in our new book, "Foods for Thought." 41:52 Nutrition is linked with mood, memory, learning and behavior 41:57 and there is a physician. 41:59 Her name is Dr. Janice Keller Phelps, 42:02 she wrote a book called, "The Hidden Addiction." 42:05 And she said that food addiction 42:07 especially sugar addiction is the underlying addiction 42:11 beneath all other addictions. 42:14 She runs a drug detox center in Seattle. 42:17 She's seen more than 20,000 addicts. 42:20 And so it is imperative that if we suffer from addictions 42:23 and compulsions that we start 42:25 to adopt a healing diet, a healing diet. 42:28 Am I saying that sugar is sinful? 42:31 We should never have sugar. 42:32 No, I'm not saying that at all. 42:35 But some substances tend to be very addicting 42:38 in large amount. Say Amen. 42:39 Can you all agree with me? 42:40 We're on the same page together. 42:43 This is Elizabeth Summers. 42:45 She is a nutrition researcher 42:49 who wrote a book called, "Food and Mood." 42:53 Repeated poor food choices can set what kind of patterns. 42:57 Fundamental patterns 42:59 in the production of brain chemicals 43:01 that regulate appetite and mood, 43:04 so that you become a what? A victim. 43:07 There's anybody here wanna be victim? 43:09 Do you wanna be a victim of mood swings, 43:11 cravings, poor sleep habits, 43:13 and other emotional problems, why? 43:16 Because of your husband. No. 43:18 Because of poor eating habits. 43:20 Sometimes we feel so nasty, 43:21 we'll try and pick the fight just to justify it. 43:27 We want to feed that broken brain, 43:29 plenty of vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains, 43:31 beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, olive oil, 43:34 wonderful for the brain. 43:35 Plenty of water between meals. 43:38 We want to exercise our mind and our body. 43:40 I walk, you'll see me walking. Why am I walking? 43:43 Because I know that what it's doing for executive function, 43:45 it lowers nor-epinephrine levels. 43:47 I mean, I'm thinking all this stuff, 43:48 how great it is doing and it works. 43:51 It works even if you don't know 43:52 the names of all the stuff. 43:54 It works, it lowers anxiety, increases executive control, 43:58 improves judgment, 44:00 and you know it gets the body in shape too. 44:02 I'm less interested in the body part, 44:04 is this part right here. 44:07 This is from journal of Personality 44:09 and Social Psychology, 44:10 exercise appears to be 44:11 the most effective mood regulating behavior. 44:17 Physical activity initiates, what? 44:20 What's the word? 44:22 Modifications, modifications in molecular mechanisms. 44:27 What's the molecular mechanism? 44:29 It's your genes, enhancing the what? 44:34 Plasticity of the brain. 44:37 That means the brains ability to perceive 44:39 and respond to stimulate in an appropriate way 44:43 and to re-route faulty connections. 44:47 I like that, rest your mind and your body. 44:51 The Bible says come apart, rest a while, 44:54 we feel so guilty about just sitting 44:56 and doing nothing for five minutes. 44:59 A nurse gave me that prescription once 45:00 I was so stressed when I first came to work here. 45:02 You know, the day you get your job 45:04 you're behind the schedule by about six months. 45:09 And I mean I just caught into this 45:10 and I just went onto this whirlwind of activity, 45:12 I could never catch up, I was stressed, 45:14 I started to loose sleep, I couldn't keep weight on. 45:17 And this nurse I talked to, 45:20 she said I'm giving you a prescription. 45:22 I want you to sit for five minutes everyday 45:24 and do absolutely nothing. 45:26 Do you know, I had to set the microwave? 45:29 I had to set the microwave 45:30 to be able to sit still for five minutes. 45:33 Now I can sit for up to 20, up to 20. 45:40 A wide range of clinical 45:41 and observational data support a general picture 45:44 that inadequate sleep results and tiredness, 45:49 difficulties with focused attention, 45:51 low threshold to express negative effect 45:55 that means that you're gonna act bad, 45:59 that's what it means. 46:00 You're gonna be irritable and easily frustrated 46:03 and difficulty modulating impulses and emotion. 46:08 Okay, you're gonna have cravings. 46:10 Your thoughts, you're not gonna be able to keep them 46:12 where they suppose to be. 46:14 You're gonna have trouble prognosticating and evaluating. 46:18 You're gonna have trouble with focused attention. 46:20 I tell you sleep is the religious duty. 46:22 Bedtime is a religious duty. 46:26 We need to get on a schedule. 46:28 The benefits, lower stress levels, 46:31 fewer cravings, better blood sugar control, 46:34 better sleep, improve digestion and longer life. 46:38 If that's what you want. 46:39 You know, some people don't. 46:41 But we want to have a quality of life 46:43 so that we're actually happy to be alive everyday. 46:46 We want to develop a strong study and prayer life. 46:49 This is from the American General of Critical Care, 46:51 spiritual wellbeing is the center of a healthy lifestyle. 46:56 Friends, this is not about health, 46:58 it's not even about brain health, 47:00 it's about God. 47:02 It's about a relationship with God. 47:03 It's about his dominion. 47:04 It's about recovery from the enemies land. Amen. 47:09 It's not about all those diseases. 47:12 That's a side benefit. 47:15 But that's not what we do it. 47:17 That's like trusting in uncertain riches. 47:19 Bad things can happen when you do all the right things 47:22 and it does and I've seen it. 47:25 That's not why we do this. 47:26 We do it because He's God and we are His children 47:30 and we do what He says and He blesses. 47:36 Religious commitment may play a beneficial role 47:38 in preventing mental and physical illness. 47:42 Improving how people cope with mental 47:44 and physical illness 47:45 and facilitating recovery from those illnesses. 47:48 The Bible says, "wherewithal 47:50 shall a young man cleanse his way? 47:51 By taking heed," according to his word. 47:54 Prayer, this is the journal of the holistic nursing, 47:57 prayer is an integral component 47:59 of the spiritual life of mankind. 48:01 Now some of-- I've had to ask the Lord 48:04 to teach me how to pray. 48:06 Because sometimes, when I would go 48:07 and pray about a problem, 48:09 by the time I got through telling God all about it. 48:13 I felt worse than when I started 48:14 because now I was remembering everything. 48:17 You ever done that? 48:19 It's a terrible way to pray. 48:21 In Chalmers book, Healing The Broken Brain, 48:23 he talks about effectual prayer 48:25 and it really blessed me. 48:27 It changed my prayer life. 48:28 Instead of rehearsing agonize and trouble, 48:31 sometimes they're too painful, 48:32 you know, you just-- I just put them in little box, 48:34 put them in a ribbon in my mind 48:35 and just give it to God. 48:36 And I say, please take this truth from me, 48:38 because I don't want to discuss it right now, 48:39 it's just too much. 48:41 But then, what's the effectual prayer. 48:44 Let's say, I know, I've to go to some kind of meeting 48:46 and feelings are gonna run high. 48:48 And how I'm gonna keep from flipping over the table 48:50 or something and walking out 48:51 and whatever it is that I'm gonna be tempted to do. 48:54 I start praying an effectual prayer, 48:56 imagination is not bad, it's an imagination 48:59 that's in the enemy's land that is not good. 49:01 We're to go in imagination to Calvary with Jesus, Amen. 49:05 What do we imagine? 49:07 The good things in the Bible 49:08 that we're told to meditate on 49:10 and the lives of God's people. 49:12 So I will imagine as I'm praying. 49:16 I will remember Bible characters 49:18 who got that very same victory 49:19 and I will imagine myself 49:21 going into that situation in that board room 49:23 or wherever it is and handling it the way Jesus would. 49:27 And you know, what's happening in my brain, 49:28 as I pray that way. 49:30 It's preparing a readiness pathway, 49:32 so that when I actually go into the situation, 49:35 neurologically I'm ready to do it 49:37 and it becomes easy. It becomes easy. 49:41 Because I've prepared it. 49:43 I've prepared a place in my brain for that to happen. 49:46 I mean, you go into a meeting, 49:48 we're just steaming and stewing 49:50 and rehearsing all the trouble 49:51 and how evil these people are and how unfair 49:53 the situation is and then we breathe up, 49:55 the prayer before we going, 49:56 Lord help me to do the right thing. Oh, sure. 50:00 What have you just been rehearsing for an hour? 50:01 How you're just gonna spill all over everybody. 50:05 No, rehearse how you're gonna control yourself and be kind. 50:08 That's the thing to rehearse, 50:09 that changes the brain, that's effectual prayer. 50:12 The Bible says, this poor man cried 50:14 and the Lord heard him and saved him 50:16 out of all his troubles. 50:18 Ratey says this, we are not prisoners 50:20 of our genes or our environment, 50:22 poverty, alienation, drugs, 50:24 hormonal imbalances and depression 50:26 do not dictate failure. 50:28 Wealth, acceptance, vegetables, and exercise 50:31 do not guarantee success. 50:33 Our own free will may be the strongest force 50:36 directing the development of our brains 50:38 and therefore our lives. 50:41 The Bibles says, I will walk at liberty 50:44 because I seek your way. 50:48 I want to close with an object lesson today. 50:54 I love to go to this Smithsonian 50:55 and this is gonna be healing our memories. 50:59 I love to go to this Smithsonian. 51:00 One of my favorite places 51:03 in the Smithsonian is the gem collection. 51:06 How many of you've been to the Smithsonian 51:07 and seen the gem collection, there? 51:11 Nobody. Well, if you ever get a chance to go to Washington 51:16 and go to this Smithsonian institute, 51:18 go to the museum of natural history 51:20 and don't miss the gems. 51:24 I was gone one weekend for a scientific seminar 51:26 and I had a period of time that was free. 51:30 And so I went over to the Smithsonian 51:32 and went into my favorite spot 51:34 because my airplane loving 51:36 husband and son were not with me. 51:38 I could spend as much time as 51:40 I wanted looking at these rocks and gems. 51:44 I missed them, but I was glad 51:45 to have all the time I wanted. 51:48 And so I began to look at the beautiful 51:52 array of rocks and crystals and polished gems, 51:55 whole display cases. 51:57 And there was one case in particular 51:59 that caught my attention and it was the Beryl stone. 52:03 There was a huge window, 52:06 displaying every hue of the rainbow 52:09 of the Beryl stone that you can possibly imagine. 52:12 The Emerald is a Beryl stone. 52:14 Some of these stones were pure, clear see through. 52:17 They look like diamonds. 52:18 Others were pale pink, amber, blue, purple, grey, 52:25 every imaginable, conceivable color you could imagine. 52:30 And the thing that I noticed about these stones 52:32 is that they have a little tag underneath 52:34 showing what the molecular formula-- 52:37 what the chemical formula 52:39 for these stones is and Beryl stone 52:41 is actually beryllium aluminum silicate 52:45 and it is a quite, quite a long formula. 52:47 The thing that perplexes me 52:50 about these stones is that even though 52:52 everyone was so dramatically different in color 52:56 and hue and transparency versus opaqueness, 53:00 that they were all the identical, 53:03 same structure, the same formula 53:07 for every one of these stones. 53:09 And I was standing there, 53:11 wondering how can this be? 53:12 How can this look so different? 53:16 This vast array of rocks 53:18 and yet they're all the same molecular formula 53:22 and finally I found a little card 53:25 on the corner that explained, why? 53:29 These stones have very slight rearrangements 53:34 of electrons due to imperfections 53:38 in the mother rock that they came from. 53:40 These stones come from different rocks 53:43 and they were imperfections 53:45 in the arrangement of the electrons in these rocks 53:49 and because of that rearrangement of the electrons 53:53 it makes the light hit these rocks differently, 53:56 it makes them grow differently, 53:57 and therefore they're dramatically 53:59 different in the way that they look. 54:02 Now, what is the lesson for us? 54:08 The imperfections that we come 54:10 to God's church with are many. 54:15 They are many. Just like these rocks. 54:18 There are very few Beryl stones 54:20 that are pure crystal with no color, 54:24 most of them have color. 54:26 We cannot escape the fact 54:29 that the scars of sin are with us. 54:32 We know things that we wish we didn't know. 54:35 We've done things that we wish we hadn't. 54:38 We've had experiences that have changed us. 54:42 It's moved our spiritual and physical electrons around. 54:49 How can this knowledge of sin be turned 54:52 into glory and victory and beauty 54:56 and I'm gonna explain how. 54:59 Memory is very plastic. 55:02 Now what is plastic mean? 55:05 It means malleable, it means changeable. 55:08 Now your memories are dependent 55:12 on what you're thinking and feeling right now. 55:15 In other words, if you're in a totally bad mood 55:18 and I mention grandmother. 55:21 You don't have a grandmother spot in your brain, 55:23 your hippocampus goes to all the different parts 55:25 of your brain that remember all the different aspects 55:27 associated with grandmother 55:29 and pulls it together for an impression 55:32 or association about grandmother. 55:34 If you're in a bad mood, 55:35 you're gonna think of the time 55:37 that she made you sit 55:38 in the hardwood chair and it levered. 55:42 If you're in a good mood, 55:44 you're gonna be thinking about 55:45 how you used to sit on her lap, read stories, 55:47 and breathe her lilac perfume and eat her cookies. 55:53 When we have traumatic memories? 55:57 Really painful things that we have to-- 55:59 that have changed us 56:00 and moved our electrons around. 56:03 The Bible says, all things 56:05 work together for good, right? 56:07 No, that's not right. That is not right. 56:10 No, there's a big qualifier there. 56:13 It says all things work together for good 56:15 to those that love God 56:17 and are the called according to his purpose. 56:20 How can one think? 56:23 You know, I hated when people say, 56:24 well God meant that for your good. 56:27 You know, here some little kid that's been molested 56:29 or will God let that happen to you 56:30 for your good. It's awful. 56:34 You know, he didn't mean, 56:35 he doesn't mean for those things to happen-- 56:36 he can make it work for your good. 56:40 But those things, he doesn't ordain that, that happen, 56:44 that would be cruelty. 56:47 He says, you come to me 56:50 and you air that memory out in the light of my verge. 56:54 And you talk to me about what happened 56:56 in the light of my word 56:57 and I'll help you to understand the sin problem 56:59 and I will help you to understand how, 57:01 when parents go astray 57:03 and when they don't watch their children, 57:04 and when these things happen that Satan comes in 57:07 and I will show you my power, 57:11 to work in spite of this evil 57:13 that is in this world and that has afflicted and hurt you 57:17 then we are allowing God to remake our memories. 57:19 Now that memory has value. 57:23 Because it can work for good. 57:24 You know, the best people 57:25 to work with alcoholics are ex-alcoholics. 57:29 The best people to work with eating disorder 57:31 people are ex-eating disorder people. 57:35 There is nothing worse than a technician work 57:38 with somebody with an eating disorder or skinny guy, 57:41 you know just sit down and be quiet. 57:43 You do not understand 57:46 or maybe there are some out there. 57:48 I don't want to exaggerate, 57:49 but what I'm saying is, 57:51 is that God can take any experience that we've had 57:54 no matter how horrible it is and put a hue on it 57:58 and a perceptive and a depth and a wisdom 58:01 and give you a ministry. 58:03 And now you will be a terror to evil. 58:07 You'll have something very special that no one else has. 58:10 So instead of being a shame and degraded and feeling 58:13 like you're less of a person 58:14 and less favored and less blessed. 58:16 No, he has turned that curse into a blessing. 58:20 And that's what we need to let him do 58:22 with traumatic memories. 58:25 There are those of you here today, 58:29 Debra, if you would slip up. 58:34 There are those of you here today 58:36 who have had traumatic memories. 58:41 And those memories have not been healed. 58:43 We cannot dig a hole and bury them, 58:46 they don't go away. 58:49 But God can heal, he can recover. |
Revised 2014-12-17