Participants: Jacques LaGuerre (Host), Brittany-Hill Morales, Myesha Lawson, Timothy Lawson, Xavier Morales
Series Code: PC
Program Code: PC000094A
|
00:04 The following program discusses sensitive issues.
00:06 Parents are cautioned that some material 00:08 may be too candid for younger children. 00:44 Hello and thank you for joining us 00:46 on another episode of Pure Choices. 00:49 I'll be your host for today. My name is Jacques LaGuerre. 00:52 I am joined here with my lovely panel, 00:54 Brittany Morales, 00:56 Xavier Morales, 00:58 Timothy Lawson, and Myesha Lawson. 01:02 Our topic for today will be hook-ups. 01:05 Why buy the cow 01:06 if you can get the milk for free. 01:08 Now before we get 01:09 into the meat of our discussion, 01:11 I want to ask that you bow your heads 01:13 with me as I pray. 01:16 Dear Heavenly Father, 01:17 as we speak about the spiritual ramifications 01:20 of hooking-up 01:22 and we speak about Your grace to save us 01:25 from that sort of behavior, 01:27 we ask that You send Your Spirit 01:28 into this place to guide us and to lead us into all truth. 01:32 In Jesus' name, I pray. 01:34 Amen. Amen. 01:36 So hook-ups, we live in a hook-up culture, 01:41 you know, if you feel like doing it, do it. 01:44 And the question I've for you guys today is 01:48 if it's just two consenting adults 01:50 and they are having fun, so to speak, 01:53 what's really the big deal? 01:54 Sometimes things always start off well, 01:56 but they don't always end that way. 01:58 Explain. 02:00 And so they could be two consenting adults 02:01 but there's consequences to their reactions. 02:04 There are STDs out there. 02:08 There are, you know, pregnancies, 02:11 and if you have a kid with a person that, 02:13 you know, maybe God didn't ordain 02:15 for to be your spouse, 02:18 now you have to co-pair with this person 02:20 that might have different belief systems. 02:22 And so you're two consenting adults 02:26 but because you might have a kid, 02:27 you're choosing into signing 02:29 what this kid life might be like, 02:31 it might not be like. 02:33 And so there is danger just up ahead. 02:36 Everybody is having fun now 02:38 but when the responsibility comes, 02:40 it could be harder on one parent 02:41 or harder on both afterwards. 02:45 I think the reality is even though 02:47 they're two consenting adults, 02:49 when it comes to having sex, someone always gets hurt. 02:53 And even if it's not those people right there 02:56 in the moment, even if it's not two weeks afterwards, 02:59 it comes to the moment 03:01 when you want to be with someone. 03:02 And the question comes up, 03:04 "So how many people have you been with?" 03:06 And that moment, are you going to be ashamed of that number 03:11 or can you really proudly say, 03:12 "Well, honey, you're special to me 03:14 but I've been with, you know, 20 people, 03:18 some I know..." 03:19 It's going to create hurt either 03:21 to the two consenting adults, one of them 03:23 'cause if they keep on hooking up, 03:25 you have that situation 03:27 where someone is going to end up catching feelings 03:30 because they might feel like, 03:31 "Okay, maybe this can go further," 03:33 and the other one is like, 03:34 "No, this is not going any further." 03:35 So that person is hurt. 03:37 Or later down, 03:38 when you have to go through that explanation of, 03:39 "Well, that was then, this is now." 03:41 Someone always gets hurt. Someone always gets hurt. 03:45 Xavier? 03:46 I think to it's the fact that, 03:48 you know, we're created for commitment, 03:51 we're not committed to hook-up 03:52 even if we're two consenting adults. 03:54 And the issue with that is again, 03:57 what Timothy and Brittany say, 03:58 you know, somebody is going to catch feelings. 04:01 And there are STDs, 04:03 you know, they are everywhere nowadays. 04:05 And, you know, you're bound to put yourself in a situation 04:09 where the ramifications will be so detrimental 04:13 that there's no going back. 04:16 That's true. 04:17 And also, what you do is you take something 04:20 that God designed to be sacred and holy 04:24 and you put it on the level of common things. 04:27 And so inside the context of mere to something 04:30 that was supposed to be spiritual, 04:32 and a blessing, and people who are opposed 04:35 to have a spiritual and mental connection, 04:37 and then the physical, 04:39 you take all the rest of that away, 04:40 you just make it physical, you know. 04:42 And even when you just make it physical, 04:45 there is still some kind of mental connection 04:47 and a spiritual breakage that happens with both people. 04:53 Yeah, you know, we can see 04:54 that there's so many different things. 04:56 And even without the risk of STDs, 04:58 I've heard it's said 04:59 that there will only be safe sex 05:01 when they make a condom for the heart. 05:03 You know, because like you said, 05:05 our emotions do get involved and there is a risk of STDs 05:08 and you're spiritually kind of uniting yourself 05:11 with this person. 05:13 And so we've all agreed here 05:14 that, you know, hooking up is not God's intention for us. 05:19 But now the next question is so then, 05:21 me as a young person, I say, 05:23 "I'm going to refrain from sex until my wedding night." 05:26 Now the question that many young people ask 05:29 and I've heard tons of times is, 05:30 "How far is too far?" 05:34 I think if you have to question if the action you're doing, 05:37 if it's too far or not, 05:39 that probably is your first indicator. 05:41 If you really have something like, 05:42 "Wait, is this too far?" 05:45 I'd say to be on the safer side, 05:47 just don't do it. 05:50 Yeah, I think to... 05:51 I mean, they come up with crazy ideas 05:54 on how to keep their virginity while still, 05:57 you know, performing sex pretty much, 06:00 you know, hooking up. 06:01 And you still don't understand the fact 06:04 that, you know, your body is a temple 06:07 of the Holy Spirit. 06:08 You know, your body is supposed to be sanctified, 06:11 and at the same time, 06:12 you don't want to go into marriage 06:14 with a whole bunch of baggage on your back. 06:16 You know, sex is supposed to be a beautiful thing 06:18 not just something you just do just to hook up. 06:24 And also, you know, sin is progressive. 06:28 And so the devil likes to lead you 06:32 to deeper things, you know. 06:34 He may wants you to have sex 06:35 but he may start off with something small at first. 06:38 And so he'll start off with anything 06:41 he could start off with. 06:42 And so the Bible says, "Your body is not your own." 06:44 So if your body is not yours, that other person, 06:47 their body is not theirs, it belongs to the Lord. 06:49 And so you don't have any claim 06:53 to do a little bit, 06:56 you know, as you think it might be 06:58 with that person. 06:59 Myesha? 07:00 Yeah, I have experienced that 07:02 prior to losing my virginity 07:04 at a young age, by the way, it did start off little. 07:09 It started off with kissing, okay, 07:12 and not necessarily on the lips 07:14 but on the neck 07:15 or it started off with touching. 07:18 So it progressed over time, and sooner or later, 07:23 I ended up losing my virginity. 07:26 So, you know, and back of mind, I was getting told 07:30 that it was wrong, I shouldn't do this. 07:33 But there's peer pressure as well. 07:35 So not only was my friends who were doing it. 07:39 So you have to think about who you are hanging around 07:42 and they'll influence you around too, 07:44 and if you're on a different path, 07:46 should you be around them. 07:49 That's a good question, you know, they say, 07:51 you know, bad company, you know, it'll spoil you, 07:55 it'll spoil your good manners. 07:57 And so you were talking about things 07:59 getting progressively more sinful, 08:01 you know, sin is a downhill slope, 08:04 and you try to hit the brakes and you can't. 08:07 And we also live in a flirting culture, 08:10 you know, where everyone wants to use sexual innuendoes 08:14 and to talk and use, you know, sly remarks 08:17 that have very suggestive meanings. 08:20 What role do you think flirting plays 08:22 in the hook-up culture? 08:24 I think it's very... 08:27 Since we're talking about progressive slope, 08:30 the physical action, 08:32 you know, comes about not just 08:35 'cause you're physically attracted to someone, 08:36 but maybe they are mentally stimulating 08:38 or maybe whatever else in your mind 08:40 that you find attractive about it and you like. 08:42 And what happens is 08:43 you can steal somebody's affections 08:46 before you even touch them, you know. 08:48 And so you can flirt or present yourself in a, 08:52 you know, sexual manner 08:54 that can make this person desire you 08:56 before you guys even actually commit the act. 08:59 And that is essentially what everybody is trying to do. 09:02 That's why all the clothing, 09:03 the way you look is everybody's trying 09:04 to be desirable, and feel important 09:08 by making themselves objects that people can say, 09:11 "Wow, that person is somebody I really would like to, 09:14 you know, be around or be with." 09:16 And I think too flirting has kind of taken 09:18 a different confrontation nowadays too. 09:21 You know, back in the day, flirting was something a little 09:24 or less more innocent than it is now, you know. 09:26 It's actually the prevalent thing, the sexting, 09:29 you know, that's a form 09:30 of our young people using flirting. 09:32 Can you explain what sexting is? 09:34 Sexting is basically sending, you know, sexual verbiage, 09:38 you know, sexual wording, comments, talking about sex, 09:42 pictures, numbers that you see, you know, numbers, 09:45 different things on your cell phones, 09:47 and other electronics to send encrypted messages 09:52 that the youth understand one another 09:54 and what that means. 09:55 In sexting, you're basically provoking 09:56 and talking about sex in encoded ways 10:00 to the point where now even law enforcement 10:02 is stepping in to some of the schools 10:04 and putting a ban on the use of your cells phones 10:07 and sexting and all that 10:08 because it is extremely prevalent 10:11 in our society today. 10:14 And with that, you know, you're escalating it, 10:17 you're no longer, you know, just saying, 10:18 "Hey, you're cute. 10:19 You're pretty." 10:21 Now you're saying, you know," 10:22 I want to do this with you, I want to do this to you. 10:23 Let's hook-up." 10:25 Wow. Wow. Wow. 10:27 And so we can see here that, you know, all this flirting, 10:29 and all this sexting, 10:31 and all this talking provocatively, 10:32 and dressing provocatively, and doing all these things, 10:36 they are just fuelling the hook-up culture. 10:39 And I want to read here a Bible verse found 10:41 in 1 Corinthians 6:16, "What? 10:45 Know ye not that he who is joined 10:47 to the harlot is one body 10:49 for two saith he, shall be one flesh." 10:53 And I found it very interesting 10:55 when I was doing research on what Paul here 10:58 was talking about 10:59 when he wrote to the church at Corinth. 11:01 And in that society, 11:02 a lot of the prostitutes 11:04 in a desire to not get pregnant, 11:07 they wouldn't engage in full-on like vaginal sex. 11:11 They would do other things with these men 11:13 that were willing to pay. 11:15 They would either do what we call making out, 11:17 they would do all this rubbing, and touching, 11:19 and things of that nature for a price. 11:22 And so when Paul says here 11:23 that he was joined to a harlot is one flesh with here, 11:27 he is not explicitly talking about sex. 11:29 He is talking about all the things 11:30 that lead up to it, like all, 11:32 you know, we talk about the first base, 11:34 second base, and all these different ways 11:35 we have been describing it. 11:37 Paul here is saying that even these acts 11:39 in and out of themselves 11:40 that you're beginning to unite with that person. 11:45 And so let's say one of our viewers has been 11:48 that hook-up girl, has been that hook-up guy, 11:50 and they want to break 11:52 the cycle by the power of Jesus. 11:53 What are some practical tips 11:56 that you would give them to break the cycle of being 11:59 that hook-up girl or hook-up guy? 12:01 Well, for one, you have to recognize, 12:07 you know, that you were 12:08 that hook-up girl or that hook-up guy. 12:11 You have to realize that you were promiscuous, 12:15 and you want to get to the root why you were promiscuous, 12:18 what exactly were you looking for. 12:21 Well, for me, I was looking for love. 12:24 I didn't receive love inside of my home from a father. 12:29 I didn't have my father around for a period of time. 12:32 And so I went out and seeking for love 12:37 from all these guys that I thought 12:40 that can love me or told me that they love me, you know. 12:44 So now that I'm a new creature in Christ 12:49 and I found the love of Jesus, I realized 12:52 that what I was doing to myself was really hurting me. 12:58 And so I had to experience the real love, 13:05 you know, that God was my first husband 13:08 or He is my first husband. 13:10 And so when I came 13:12 to that point and experienced His love, 13:16 I began to heal. 13:20 Well, I think two things. 13:22 First, especially for guys is knowing your worth. 13:26 You know, a guy's worth, 13:28 in the world and largely in American society, 13:31 your manliness is based off of if you can hook-up 13:35 or how many hook-ups you can get. 13:37 And you have to switch 13:38 your mind state and your thinking 13:39 because everything starts with the mind. 13:41 However you think is how you're going to act. 13:44 And so you have to say that, 13:46 you know, "I am worth something. 13:47 I am worth more than this. 13:49 I am a special person not 13:50 because I can sleep with a lot of people 13:52 but because I can save myself for one person 13:55 or that special girl actually, 13:58 you know, because how am I a special guy 14:01 if everybody can have a piece of me." 14:03 And so you have to switch 14:04 your mind state in that respect. 14:06 And two, you have to starve those things 14:09 that's giving you a mind state to tell you 14:11 that it's okay for that. 14:12 And so certain movies you watch, 14:15 certain music you listen to, and like Myesha pointed out, 14:18 friends you hang out with. 14:19 There's some guys 14:20 that you just shouldn't be around 14:22 'cause the only thing on their mind 14:23 is hooking up, you know. 14:25 And there's some numbers in your phone of girls 14:27 that you need to delete, you need to erase, 14:29 don't try to play around saying, 14:30 "Well, we can probably still be friends," 14:32 'cause you know what she is about 14:33 and you know what that relationship 14:35 is going towards. 14:37 And I think too, you know, kind of piggybacking on Myesha 14:40 and everybody else that, you know, a lot of times 14:44 when we explain these things too, 14:46 you know, we have 14:48 a predominant society of fatherlessness. 14:50 You know, I was blessed with both my parents. 14:53 They celebrate 39 years of marriage. 14:56 You know, I came 14:57 from a good home, Christian home, 14:58 everything we know was roses, so they say. 15:02 But society was telling me that this is how you do it, 15:07 you know, this is the way to do things. 15:11 Even though my parents' example was, 15:13 you know, you need to be married, 15:15 you need to be together, 15:17 you know, one spouse, one wife, and all that. 15:21 And, you know, I think goes back 15:22 to what Tim says, 15:24 you know, you need to know your self-worth. 15:26 My self-worth was based on society standards. 15:29 You know, there's an importance 15:31 behind setting yourself worth behind Jesus, yes. 15:34 Some people call Him the fairy in the sky. 15:36 Yes, some people don't believe what the Word says, 15:38 and that's fine. 15:40 But the thing is though those words in the Bible 15:43 are not there just for the sake of being there. 15:46 They are actually there not to restrict you 15:48 but to free you 15:50 so you can have fun without all the repercussions, 15:53 without having to look over your shoulder. 15:54 You know, people don't understand that, 15:56 you know, with all these, 15:57 what if I do this and what if I did that. 16:00 And having that self-worth in Jesus allowed me 16:05 to understand that, 16:06 "Yeah, you know what, I can have fun with my friends. 16:09 I just don't have to have 16:10 this added extra things in there 16:12 that would actually were more detrimental 16:14 than I thought were fun," 16:16 'cause it seems like fun, it feels like fun, 16:18 but in reality I was damaging my body physically, 16:20 spiritually, and mentally. 16:23 Wow. Wow. Wow. 16:25 That's very interesting. 16:27 What I was also going to add into what Myesha was saying 16:31 is you need to also know the reason why 16:34 you want to stop being the hook-up girl 16:36 or the hook-up boy. 16:38 It's like when it comes to smoking, 16:39 a lot of people quit a lot of times 16:43 but you only stop once. 16:45 So you can say, 16:46 "Okay, I'm not going to do this anymore." 16:48 And then something happens 16:49 and you're on that path all over again. 16:51 Know your reason why 16:54 and let it be something stronger than just, 16:58 "Okay, I'm just not going to hook-up 16:59 because I want someone 17:01 who is going to love my smile," 17:05 'cause some people have like these frivolities 17:07 and then someone comes around and says, 17:09 "You know, I love you." 17:10 "Wait, maybe he is the one. 17:12 Okay, maybe I'll..." 17:14 Have seriates and let it be grounded 17:16 in Christ and say, 17:17 "I'm not going to be this anymore 17:19 because there is someone out there 17:21 who is being prepared for me, 17:23 and I have to make sure I'm preparing myself 17:25 so that when we combine together, 17:28 it is an experience that glorifies God." 17:32 And I'll also say know what your triggers are. 17:35 Sometimes we're going through that cycle 17:36 because it might be because, 17:39 "My family member did something, 17:41 they said something. 17:42 I am so stressed out. 17:44 I'm just going to find someone to hook-up with for tonight 17:47 or I'm just standing 17:48 and this girl comes and she touches, 17:50 you know, a guy if he touches," 17:52 you know, his chest and it's like, 17:54 "Oh, she touched my chest. 17:56 She wants me. I might as well. It's just one time." 17:59 Or even if it's a girl, and the guy says, 18:00 "You know, you're very pretty, 18:02 and you look like a really great woman, 18:03 the way how you were just walking across there." 18:07 "Maybe he thinks about..." 18:08 Like know what your triggers are, 18:10 and I think those are like two key things. 18:14 I like all the comments that, you guys, said 18:15 and one of the common threads 18:17 I found was keeping Christ at the center. 18:20 You know, knowing your self-worth, 18:22 knowing how you can find your self-worth at the cross. 18:26 And for me, particularly, 18:28 I grew up in a good sound Adventist home. 18:31 Two parents, 18:32 my father's a pastor, my mother is a nurse, 18:35 just typical Adventist family. 18:37 My father has been in ministry for over 35 years now. 18:40 And yet, I was taking the cues from society, 18:44 I was looking to the movies, I was looking to the music. 18:46 And I was saying, 18:47 "Well, if I'm not picking up a lot of women, 18:51 then I'm not a guy." 18:53 I didn't learn that from home, 18:54 I didn't learn that from family members, 18:56 I didn't learn that from my church, 18:58 but I learned it from the television. 19:00 And like you were saying earlier, 19:02 removing all these negative influences 19:04 that are giving you a false reality in a way 19:09 saying that you have to be this guy, 19:10 you have to be this girl, or you have to dress this way, 19:13 or you have to talk this way. 19:15 Removing these influences from my life 19:17 and replacing them 19:19 'cause you have to replace them with something, 19:20 you can't sit around all day doing nothing, 19:21 dwindling your thumbs. 19:23 And so removing these things from my life 19:25 and replacing them with, 19:26 you know, sound music, you know, reading my Bible, 19:30 reading the Spirit of prophesy. 19:32 You know, I found counsel in Steps to Christ, 19:35 and Patriarchs and Prophets, and Prophets and Kings. 19:38 And all these books, 19:40 they were able to help me in my path to purity. 19:43 Did any of these books also influence 19:45 any of your changes whether it's from the Bible, 19:47 the Spirit of prophesy? 19:50 Yes. 19:51 In my formal life, when I used to be a dancer in Las Vegas, 19:56 I decided that I wanted to change my life, 19:58 I wanted to give it to Christ. 20:01 And so, at that point of time in my life, 20:06 I caught a case. 20:08 And I was going to court for it. 20:11 I didn't know what I was up against. 20:14 And at the time, my husband, 20:16 he sent a packet in the mail. 20:20 And it had Amazing Facts Bible Studies in it, 20:23 it had Steps to Christ. 20:25 And so that morning before court, 20:28 I opened Steps to Christ. 20:31 And I began to read it. 20:33 It was amazing 'cause I have never 20:37 read something like that before. 20:40 I mean, it spoke to me. 20:43 And I mean, I got teary-eyed, 20:45 it was the first experience I've ever had with Jesus. 20:50 And I grew up in church 20:53 but I never had that experience. 20:56 So I didn't know 20:58 what I was up against going to court. 21:01 So as I go to court, and I'm just praying, 21:04 constantly just praying like, 21:05 "Lord, I really want to change my life. 21:08 Please just help me." 21:10 And I carried that Steps to Christ in my purse. 21:13 So when I'm outside, 21:16 and I'm talking to the public defender, 21:18 and he is coming back and forth telling me about my case, 21:21 I keep opening the Steps to Christ, 21:23 just keep reading, and keep reading, 21:25 and I'm just praying like, "Lord, please just please." 21:30 So as I go to court, everything was fine. 21:34 I didn't have to do any jail-time. 21:36 The Lord was just good. 21:38 Well, once again, I opened up my Steps to Christ, 21:43 and the next thing you know, I found a church, 21:45 and I started Bible studies with Amazing Facts. 21:48 Wow. Wow. Wow. 21:50 That's amazing how, you know, just such a simple book, 21:52 just a small book 21:54 can really lead someone to Christ 21:56 and show them His perfect love 21:57 and show them His perfect grace. 22:00 And many of us here, we've made a lot of mistakes. 22:03 You know, we've sinned sexually. 22:05 We've sinned against our own bodies. 22:08 And so the next question I have is 22:13 if someone has made a lot of sexual mistakes, 22:15 they haven't kept themselves pure, 22:16 and they have sinned 22:18 against their own body as Paul says, 22:21 is there hope and can God change that person? 22:25 You better believe it. 22:27 You know, God's all about change. 22:29 That's why I love the way that Bible starts off, 22:31 it starts off with God creating. 22:33 You know, He is creating the new earth, 22:36 He is creating the new man, 22:37 and then at the end of the Bible, 22:39 you know, in the book of Revelations, 22:40 He's going to recreate. 22:43 And so, you know, I can remember 22:46 when I was changing my favorite Bible characters, 22:50 I used to be like Peter and John, 22:52 praise the Lord, you know, Moses is really tight too. 22:54 But in a way, I was always reading Peter 22:56 because Peter had a lot of problems 22:59 and, you know, he was messed up. 23:01 And then you go through the New Testament, 23:03 you see how God changed him. 23:05 And so, you know, when you are on your knees praying, 23:08 you're like, "Lord, you know, can you change me like that? 23:11 You know, can you take me from being this person 23:15 who can even be in Your presence 23:16 and can't even see their ownself 23:18 to just being full of Your Holy Spirit 23:22 and showing Your love to other people?" 23:24 And the whole purpose is God wants to change you. 23:27 That's one of the reasons He died on the cross 23:30 because He wants to give you the power 23:31 to live just like His Son. 23:34 Well, to be honest, me, 23:40 I am a living testimony, okay? 23:42 I mean, can God change you? Yes, look at me. 23:46 If you have seen me then to now, yes, 23:49 the Lord can do some amazing changes. 23:50 And I mean I'm still growing in grace of course. 23:53 But the Lord is good anyhow. 23:56 Like I said, I have done a lot. 23:59 I struggled also with emotional problems, 24:04 you know, and dispositions. 24:06 And I just held on to Christ in changing me 24:09 and that exactly what He did because I asked. 24:13 And I put forth, and I read His Word, 24:15 and I want to live by His Word. 24:18 So yes, it's possible. He can change you. 24:21 And I think too, for me, 24:22 like I gravitated to David in the Bible 24:25 'cause as messed up as he was, God kept saying... 24:27 But this man was after his own heart. 24:29 And I noticed that it wasn't 'cause he was just messed up, 24:32 it was because he knew he's messed up 24:34 and he was just striving to get closer, 24:37 you know, by any means necessary 24:39 to get closer to God. 24:40 So, you know, for me that was my case. 24:42 I just... 24:43 I knew I was messed up, 24:44 "But, God, what can I do to get closer to you?" 24:47 And He took me as I was and slowly 24:50 but surely change me to the man I'm today. 24:52 Amen. Amen. 24:55 When you asked if God can change me, 24:57 He can just transform you from the top of your head 25:02 to like the sole of your feet. 25:04 And He does it in such a way where... 25:05 God knows each one of us individually. 25:08 He knows what our hearts are, what our pains are, 25:11 what our struggles are, 25:12 and He tailors to each one of us, and says, 25:14 "Okay, you need help in this area, 25:17 and this is how I'm going to do it.' 25:18 It's like He has His own little action plan, 25:20 counseling plan, whatever it is. 25:22 And He goes about it. 25:23 And He does it so miraculously when He does it in your life. 25:28 And that's what I love about God, 25:30 how He really truly takes that time, and says, 25:33 "Okay, yes, you are in a mess 25:35 but I'm not going to leave you there. 25:37 I'm not just going to say, 'You're dirty, you're filthy, 25:39 I want nothing to do with you.' 25:40 I'm going to actually take you in My arms 25:43 and help you through this process." 25:47 And I've seen the power of God in my own life as well. 25:52 Me and myself, I was that guy, 25:55 I was that hook-up guy after being a pastor's child, 25:59 knowing the truth, 26:00 being exposed to powerful Adventist messages 26:03 in my whole entire life. 26:05 I left the church. I decided to join the military. 26:08 And while I was in the military, I just... 26:12 I was into all sorts of stuff. 26:15 I was frequent in strip clubs, I was hooking up, 26:19 I even slid into soliciting prostitutes. 26:22 But the whole time, God was there. 26:25 And from going from a place like 26:27 that to being able to share with others, 26:30 the gospel, only the power of God 26:33 can accomplish that. 26:34 Yes. Amen. 26:36 It's amazing to see His love, it's amazing to see His grace, 26:40 it's amazing to see His patience 26:41 and how He will work with us. 26:45 Like the story of the prodigal son, 26:47 God the Father, He is waiting for all His children. 26:51 He wants them to come home. 26:53 And He wants to put on you His royal robes. 26:56 Do any of you guys have 26:58 just one final experience for us today 27:01 that you have one experience 27:03 where you felt God's love in such remarkable way 27:06 before we close? 27:08 Yeah, I felt in jail. 27:11 I heard His voice, and I just said, 27:14 "Here I am, Lord. 27:15 I am listening." 27:17 Amen. Myesha? 27:18 Yes, I experienced a loss, okay? 27:21 I lost a child. 27:24 And I felt like I had no one, nobody, 27:26 and I felt the Lord was there for me. 27:30 He actually saved my life in that point of time. 27:34 And that's what Christ came to do. 27:36 He came to save us from ourselves, 27:39 our weak un-Christ-like-selves. 27:41 And I thank Him for that. 27:43 Well, that's all the time we have for today. 27:46 Thank you for joining us 27:47 on another episode of Pure Choices. 27:49 May God be with you, may His peace guide you. 27:53 And remember to always make pure choices. |
Revised 2018-05-02