ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, HAVE YOU EVER FELT OVERWHELMED BY OTHER
PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS OF YOU?
WELL, MY GUEST TODAY KNOWS THAT FEELING ALL TOO WELL.
RUTH GRAHAM IS THE DAUGHTER OF REVEREND BILLY
AND RUTH GRAHAM, AND SHE HAS WAKED THROUGH
SOME VERY DIFFICULT LIFE SITUATIONS
AND FELT THE PRESSURE OF TRYING TO LIVE UP
TO OTHERS' EXPECTATIONS OF HER.
AS THE DAUGHTER OF A FAMOUS EVANGELIST,
RUTH WENT THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS.
SHE WILL JOIN ME IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT FIRST,
WATCH THIS TEACHING.
JOYCE: I'M GONNA START WITH A QUESTION.
WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?
NOW, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY, WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS
THAT QUESTION, THE FIRST THING WE THINK OF
IS OUR FINANCES OR MAYBE OUR JOB POSITION
OR OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
IN THE WORLD, WE LEARN HOW TO TIE
OUR WORTH AND VALUE TO WHAT WE DO.
BUT IN GOD'S KINGDOM, HE WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND
THAT OUR WORTH AND VALUE IS WRAPPED UP
IN WHO WE ARE IN HIM, NOT WHAT WE DO.
I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN.
YOUR WORTH AND VALUE IS NOT DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU DO
OR THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE YOU KNOW OR THE JOB TITLE YOU HAVE,
HOW MUCH EDUCATION YOU HAVE.
YOUR WORTH AND VALUE IS DETERMINED
BY BEING A CHILD OF GOD.
AND I CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOU'RE WORTH.
EVERY ONE OF YOU IS WORTH THE SON OF GOD.
"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM
MIGHT NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."
"YOU'RE PURCHASED WITH A PRICE," 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20.
GOD PAID A TREMENDOUS PRICE FOR YOU,
AND YOU BELONG TO HIM.
YOU DON'T BELONG TO YOURSELF.
YOU MAY THINK YOU DO, BUT IN REALITY,
YOU BELONG TO THE LORD.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:20: "YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE
[PURCHASED WITH A PRECIOUSNESS AND PAID FOR, MADE HIS OWN]
SO THEN, HONOR GOD AND BRING GLORY TO HIM
IN YOUR BODY."
AND I THINK WE MIGHT GO ON TO SAY,
"AND WITH YOUR LIFE."
ARE WE GLORIFYING GOD WITH OUR LIFE?
ARE WE GLORIFYING GOD WITH OUR LIFESTYLES?
ARE WE GLORIFYING GOD WITH OUR CHOICES
AND OUR DECISIONS?
ARE WE GLORIFYING GOD WITH OUR THOUGHTS,
WITH OUR WORDS, WITH OUR CHOICE OF ENTERTAINMENTS?
CAN I TELL YA SOMETHING?
GOD'S NOT INTERESTED IN JUST HAVIN'
A SUNDAY-MORNING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
HE WANTS TO INVADE EVERY SINGLE AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUST GO SIT ON A CHURCH PEW
ON SUNDAY MORNING AND JUST BE A MISERABLE SAINT
INSTEAD OF A MISERABLE SINNER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IT'S ONE THING TO BE LOST AND BE MISERABLE.
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO BE SAVED AND STILL BE MISERABLE.
SURELY, WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS DIDN'T DIE
SO WE COULD BE MISERABLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND MURMUR AND COMPLAIN AND GRUMBLE
ALL THE TIME, BE UNHAPPY, HAVE NO PEACE,
WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING.
HE DIED FOR US TO HAVE A DIFFERENTLY QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND HE BOUGHT US BACK FROM THE ENEMY.
I SAID, "HE BOUGHT US BACK FROM THE ENEMY."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: HE PAID FOR US AND HE BOUGHT US BACK.
NOW, ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE PAID FOR
AND BOUGHT, YOU HAVE A STRONG SENSING
THAT IT'S YOURS.
AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT ANYBODY ELSE MESSIN' WITH IT.
IT'S YOURS, YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO WITH IT.
WELL, WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT AND PAID FOR
WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
WE NO LONGER BELONG TO THE DEVIL.
BUT THE NEWS TONIGHT IS YOU NO LONGER
BELONG TO YOURSELF EITHER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, NOW, YOU HAVE FREE WILL
AND YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T.
YOU CAN LIVE ANY KINDA LIFE YOU WANT TO.
AND YOU MAY, YOU KNOW, LIVE A COMPROMISING LIFESTYLE
AND STILL SQUEAK INTO HEAVEN, BUT YOU WON'T BE HAPPY,
AND YOU WON'T HELP THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
AND YOU WON'T BE A GOOD WITNESS TO OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT TONIGHT, YOU CAN DO SOME TURNAROUND
AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS.
WE ALL HAVE TO COME TO A CRISIS POINT IN OUR LIFE.
AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN AT THAT PLACE
AND YOU'VE MADE A REAL SERIOUS DECISION
ABOUT YOUR WALK WITH GOD.
I BELIEVE MANY OF YOU HAVE, BUT I'M ALSO WELL AWARE
THAT I'M NOT JUST TALKING TO THE ROOM
AND PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD
WATCHING BY TELEVISION IN 80 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES,
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU REALLY
DO NOT BELONG TO YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE,
AND GOD EXPECTS YOU TO SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO HIM.
WE NEED TO CONSECRATE OURSELVES TO GOD.
AND "TO BE CONSECRATED" MEANS "TO BE SET APART
FOR A SPECIAL USE AND A SPECIAL PURPOSE."
YOU JUST AREN'T LETTIN' GOD HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.
NOW, IT'S GONNA BE A FIGHT TO START WITH,
I'LL TELL YA THAT RIGHT NOW, 'CAUSE YOUR FLESH IS USED
TO RULING THINGS.
AND HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT OUR FLESH
CAN JUST REALLY THROW SOME FITS?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT OH, WHEN YOU FINALLY MAKE IT THROUGH, WOW,
DOES LIFE GET SWEET.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPARE YOURSELF
WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRY TO IMPRESS PEOPLE.
YOUR WORTH AND VALUE'S NOT IN WHAT YOU DO.
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU DO FOR RIGHT REASONS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UPSET IF YOU DON'T DO EVERYTHING
PERFECT ALL THE TIME.
BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO SOMEBODY THAT'S GREATER THAN YOU ARE
AND GREATER THAN ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: SO, WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?
THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?
ALL THE DEATH, THE MISERY, THE PAIN THAT JESUS
WILLINGLY TOOK ON HIMSELF.
AND HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE ONLY PERSON ON THE EARTH.
THAT'S HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU AND THAT'S HOW
MUCH YOU'RE WORTH.
JOYCE: WELL, I HOPE THAT WHAT YOU'VE JUST HEARD
WAS VERY HELPFUL TO YOU.
NOW, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR WORTH AND VALUE
IS NOT DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU DO
BUT WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST.
RUTH GRAHAM JOINS ME NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.
WELL, RUTH, THIS WHOLE "IN CHRIST" PHRASE,
IT'S ONE THAT WE UNDERSTAND PRETTY GOOD NOW
BECAUSE WE'VE BOTH HAD TO LEARN WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
BUT YOU KNOW, I WAS A CHRISTIAN FOR A LONG TIME AND I NEVER EVEN
HEARD THAT PHRASE, NOR DID I UNDERSTAND IT.
SO, I KNOW YOU'VE GONE THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT THINGS
IN YOUR LIFE.
SO, WHY DON'T YOU SHARE WITH US ABOUT YOUR STORY?
RUTH: WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
BUT THE LORD, TO MAKE ME AWARE THAT I WAS IN CHRIST
AND THAT CHRIST WAS IN ME, BUT THAT I WAS LIVING MY LIFE
THROUGH HIM, BUT HE HAD TO KNOCK OFF
SOME EDGES AND IT WAS NOT EASY.
BUT I MARRIED YOUNG.
I MARRIED WHEN I WAS 18, WHICH IS TOO YOUNG
TO BE GETTIN' MARRIED.
AND MARRIED A MAN WHO BECAME UNFAITHFUL.
AND AFTER 21 YEARS, I DIVORCED HIM.
AND IT BROKE MY HEART.
I'D GROWN UP AROUND HONORABLE MEN.
NEVER DREAMED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO ME.
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REACT.
DIDN'T WANNA TELL ANYBODY.
I WAS ASHAMED.
I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONE TO BLAME.
I HADN'T BEEN ENOUGH OF A WIFE.
I HADN'T BEEN A GOOD LOVER, OR WHATEVER.
SO, IT TOOK A TOLL, AND THEN I BECAME DEPRESSED.
AND NOBODY IN MY WORLD HAD EVER BEEN DEPRESSED
'CAUSE WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BE DEPRESSED.
YOU CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T GO TO A COUNSELOR.
SO, I WAS REALLY CAUGHT BETWEEN THESE THINGS,
AND I WAS TRYING TO LIVE UP TO WHAT EVERYBODY
THOUGHT I OUGHTA BE AND WHAT I OUGHT TO DO,
AND BE A GOOD MOM AND A GOOD WIFE
AND A GOOD HOUSEKEEPER AND DO THINGS.
UNTIL IT JUST GOT TOO MUCH AND I BEGAN
TO THINK ABOUT SUICIDE.
AND WENT HOME ONE SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH,
LOOKING FOR RAZORBLADES.
BUT MY HUSBAND USED AN ELECTRIC RAZOR,
THANK THE LORD.
SO I DIDN'T FIND ANY RAZORBLADES.
BUT IT WAS A WAKEUP CALL.
I REALIZED I HAD THREE VERY PRECIOUS CHILDREN
DEPENDING ON ME.
AND I REALIZED I HAD TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.
SO I DID REACH OUT FOR HELP.
AND THE FIRST PERSON THAT I TALKED TO
WAS MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHO WAS A WONDERFUL PSYCHOLOGIST.
AND HE SAID, "RUTH," HE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT CRAZY."
AND I THOUGHT, "OH," 'CAUSE I THOUGHT
I WAS GOIN' CRAZY.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE ABNORMAL NORMAL,
THAT'S CRAZY MAKING.
AND SO, I WORKED THROUGH THAT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, QUICKLY FELL IN LOVE
WITH ANOTHER MAN AND HAD A REBOUND MARRIAGE
THAT LAST FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS, AND I FLED HIM AND CAME ON HOME
TO SEE MY PARENTS AND WONDERED, "WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?"
YOU KNOW, THEY WARNED ME NOT TO DO IT SO QUICKLY,
AND, "THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK."
BUT I THOUGHT KNEW WHAT WAS BEST.
AND DROVE UP TO SEE 'EM.
IT WAS A 2-DAY DRIVE, AND JUST ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS.
WHAT WAS I GONNA DO WITH MY CHILDREN?
WHAT WAS I GONNA DO NOW?
AND AS I ROUNDED THE BEND IN MY PARENTS' DRIVEWAY,
MY FATHER WAS WAITING ON ME.
AND AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, HE WRAPPED HIS ARMS AROUND ME
AND HE SAID, "WELCOME HOME."
JOYCE: OH, THAT'S AWESOME, THAT'S GREAT.
RUTH: THERE WAS NO RECRIMINATION.
THERE WAS NO BLAME. THERE WAS NO SHAME.
IT WAS JUST TOTAL LOVE.
AND THAT WAS SUCH A GRACE FOR ME, JOYCE.
IT CHANGED MY LIFE.
JOYCE: SO, YOU MEAN, HE ACTUALLY RESPONDED
THE WAY GOD WOULD.
RUTH: THAT'S RIGHT, EXACTLY.
NOT THAT HE ALWAYS DID 'CAUSE HE'S NOT GOD.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ARGUE WITH ME ABOUT THAT,
BUT THAT WASN'T THE END OF IT.
THEN I HAD TO BUILD MY LIFE, AND THAT WAS DIFFICULT.
AND I MARRIED AGAIN.
I MARRIED A VERY FINE GENTLEMAN THAT I WAS CRAZY ABOUT,
AND IT ENDED UP THAT WE HAD-- OUR FAMILIES
HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER, AND--BUT I BEGAN TO SPEAK
AND WRITE AND DO WHAT I FELT GOD HAD CALLED ME TO DO,
AND HE BECAME VERY THREATENED AND DIVORCED ME.
SO, HERE I WAS AGAIN.
AND I THOUGHT, "OH," YOU KNOW, "WHAT AM I DOIN' HERE?"
AND I WAS SO EMBARRASSED AND SO ASHAMED AND SO HURT.
BUT I PICKED UP AND WENT ON.
AND THEN ANOTHER MAN SHOWED UP, AND HE STARTED SHOWING ME
ATTENTION, AND I THOUGHT, "WELL," YOU KNOW?
HE WAS A PASTOR AND HE WAS A COUNSELOR
AND HE'D KNOWN MY FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, THIS LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE WORK
AND HE COULD MINISTER WITH ME."
AND SO, WE MARRIED, AND IT WASN'T LONG
BEFORE I REALIZED THIS WAS NOT-- HE WAS USING ME.
I MEAN, HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.
HE HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
AND WHILE HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,
I FOUND OUT HE'D SPENT ALL MY MONEY AND I WAS BROKE.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
AND HE WAS INCAPACITATED.
BUT THROUGH THAT, GOD WAS SO FAITHFUL.
AND JOYCE, WHAT IT SHOWED ME
THAT ALL MY LIFE, I'VE BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH A MAN.
I WAS MY FATHER'S DAUGHTER.
THEN I WAS MY HUSBAND'S WIFE.
AND ALL THAT WAS MY-- JOYCE: THAT WAS WHAT
GAVE YOU WORTH.
RUTH: YES, AND THAT I WASN'T MYSELF,
AND I WASN'T WHO I WAS IN CHRIST.
I WASN'T TAKING THAT ON.
I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT, "OH, I'M IN CHRIST
AND CHRIST IS MY SECURITY," BUT THAT WASN'T REALLY TRUE.
AND SO, IT TOOK A LOT OF-- THE LORD HAD TO REALLY PEEL BACK
THE EDGES AND SAY, "RUTH, THIS IS WHO YOU ARE,
AND YOU ARE WORTH A GREAT DEAL.
YOU ARE OF VALUE.
YOU ARE CHERISHED BECAUSE YOU ARE IN ME."
AND I JUST, THAT WAS AN EYE OPENING FOR ME.
JOYCE: I THINK IT'S GOOD TO BRING THESE THINGS
OUT IN THE OPEN BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE BIBLE SAYS,
"GOD HATES DIVORCE," HE DOES NOT HATE
DIVORCED PEOPLE.
AND WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THAT BILLY GRAHAM'S DAUGHTER
WOULD HAVE HAD THOSE KINDS OF PROBLEMS?
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
THAT ARE PUT ON PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTACHED
TO OTHER WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE.
AND I KNOW ONE OF MY CHILDREN, WHEN I ASKED HIM,
"WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR YOU
GROWING UP?" BECAUSE THERE
WERE SOME CHALLENGES.
AND HE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND HE SAID,
"YOU KNOW, IT WAS OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS OF ME."
HE GOT SO TIRED OF HEARING, "WELL, I WOULDN'T EXPECT
JOYCE MEYER'S SON TO DO THAT."
AND SO, HE WENT TO A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
WHERE I WAS A PASTOR AT THE CHURCH.
AND IT'S SO FOOLISH WHEN PEOPLE DO THAT TO CHILDREN
BECAUSE ANYBODY'S CHILD HAS TO HAVE TIME TO GROW UP,
JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE DOES.
AND SO, YOU'VE HAD QUITE AN INTERESTING LIFE.
SO, HELP US, HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT?
'CAUSE THERE'S GONNA PEOPLE COME TO OUR CONFERENCE THIS YEAR
WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK THAT ARE GONNA HAVE
SOME OF THE SAME KINDA PROBLEMS, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE
VERY RELIEVED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND FROM ME
BECAUSE WE'RE PEOPLE-- WHO WOULD EVER THINK
THAT TWO PEOPLE WHO HAD EXPERIENCED WHAT THE TWO OF US
HAVE EXPERIENCED WOULD BE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY?
RUTH: AND ISN'T THAT THE GRACE OF GOD?
I MEAN, I WOULD NEVER HAVE EXPECTED
THAT THE LORD WOULD EVER DO ANYTHING WITH MY LIFE.
AND MY CHILDREN HAVE HAD DEFINITE PROBLEMS.
I HAD ONE DAUGHTER WITH AN EATING DISORDER.
MY SON WAS DABBLING IN DRUGS.
MY OTHER DAUGHTER HAD TWO BABIES OUT OF WEDLOCK.
I MEAN, WE WERE A MESS.
BUT WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH IT,
I REMEMBER TELLING THE LORD, "LORD, IF YOU CAN EVER USE THIS,
YOU'RE WELCOME TO IT."
AND I NEVER DREAMED THAT I'D BE SITTING WITH JOYCE
AND TALKING ABOUT MY PROBLEMS, BUT GOD IS USING THIS.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE DOES USE US.
AND I KNOW, FOR ME, I WAS IN THE SCRIPTURE
EVERY DAY, IF IT JUST A PHRASE OR A VERSE OR A CHAPTER.
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A LONG PORTION.
BUT I WAS IN THE SCRIPTURE EVERY DAY
AND I JOURNALED EVERY DAY.
I WILL GO BACK OVER EVERY NEW YEAR'S
TO SEE WHERE I WAS AND IF I'VE PROGRESSED.
AND SO THAT JOURNALING, BEING IN THE WORD EVERY DAY--
AND COMMUNICATING WITH GOD DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN
YOU HAVE TO GET IN A PRAYER CLOSET AND LAY DOWN.
IT MEANS THAT YOU JUST ARE TALKIN' TO GOD.
AND I DO THAT ALL DAY LONG, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING,
YOU KNOW, I'M TALKIN' TO GOD.
AND I ALSO REALIZED THAT I HAD TO HAVE FRIENDS.
WE HAVE TO BE IN COMMUNITY.
WE CAN'T BE ISOLATED.
I HAD ISOLATED MYSELF BECAUSE OF
PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS.
IT WAS TOO HARD-- JOYCE: OUR SECRETS
MAKE US SICK.
YOU GOTTA GET STUFF OUT IN THE OPEN.
RUTH: AND WE'RE ONLY AS SICK AS OUR SECRETS.
AND I JUST REALIZED THAT I HAD TO BE IN A COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING
THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, IS TO BE IN A COMMUNITY
AND MAKE YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A BAD WORD.
BUT BOB GOFF SAYS THAT "ACCOUNTABLE DOESN'T MEAN
YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER,
READY TO JUMP ON SOMETHIN' BAD, BUT IT MEANS
THAT THEY'RE HOLDING YOU CLOSE."
AND THAT'S A MUCH GENTLER WAY OF SAYING IT.
AND SO, I NEED PEOPLE TO HOLD ME CLOSE
AND TELL ME WHEN I'M WRONG.
JOYCE: AND A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN PEOPLE ARE HURTING,
THERE'S A TENDENCY TO PUT UP WALLS AND TO WITHDRAW
AND TO WANNA KEEP ALL THIS STUFF TO YOURSELF.
AND PART OF THAT IS OUR PROBLEM, BUT PART OF IT IS ALSO THE WAY
THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO CHRISTIANS
THAT ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY DOING WHAT WE THINK
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ALL THE TIME.
AND I LOVE, AND I'M SURE YOU DO TOO,
1 CORINTHIANS 1:27 THROUGH 31, THAT: "GOD USES THE WEAK AND
THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE WISE."
AND SO, THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S UNUSABLE FOR GOD.
HE CAN USE ANYBODY TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
AND SO, INSTEAD OF WASTING OUR PAIN,
WE NEED TO LET GOD USE THAT PAIN TO BRING GLORY TO HIMSELF
AND ALSO TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
RUTH: WELL, AND I LOVE THE TITLE OF ONE OF YOUR BOOKS,
"GOD'S NOT MAD AT YOU."
AND YOU KNOW, SO OFTEN, PEOPLE THINK THAT HE'S
STANDIN' UP THERE LIKE THIS, READY TO FIND
SOMETHIN' WRONG IN US.
AND HE'S NOT.
HE LOVES US.
HE REJOICES OVER US.
HE SMILES AT US.
AND THAT WAS A BIG THING FOR ME TO LEARN.
JOYCE: YEAH, IT WAS HUGE FOR ME TOO BECAUSE
MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS MAD.
I MEAN, YOU NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT ABOUT.
HE WAS JUST AN UNHAPPY, VERY TROUBLED MAN,
AND OF COURSE, ABUSED ME SEXUALLY,
AND WOULD BEAT MY MOTHER UP ON A REGULAR--
IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.
AND SO HE WAS ALWAYS MAD.
AND YOU COULD DO ONE THING ONE DAY AND IT WOULD BE FINE,
AND YOU COULD DO THE EXACT SAME THING
THE NEXT DAY, AND DEPENDING ON HIS MOOD,
YOU MIGHT GET IN TROUBLE FOR IT THAT DAY.
SO, I REALLY HAD A HARD TIME WITH THAT, FEELING LIKE THAT GOD
WAS MAD AT ME EVERY TIME I DIDN'T BEHAVE PERFECTLY.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WROTE THAT BOOK
IS BECAUSE I WAS IN A CONFERENCE ONE NIGHT
AND I SAID, "I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
GOD'S NOT MAD AT YOU."
AND PEOPLE JUST RESPONDED.
THEY WERE JUST, "OH, MAN, THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR."
AND I JUST WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE
THAT WALK AROUND FEELING LIKE GOD'S MAD AT THEM
BECAUSE THEY GOT A DIVORCE.
GOD'S MAD AT THEM BECAUSE THEY MADE A MISTAKE.
GOD'S MAD AT THEM BECAUSE OF THIS, THAT,
OR SOMETHING ELSE.
AND YOU KNOW, WE DON'T-- IT'S NOT AN INVITATION
TO JUST KEEP LIVING IN A DUMB WAY
AND KEEP DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER.
BUT IF WE ARE WILLING TO LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES
AND CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD, GOD NEVER REJECTS US.
RUTH: NO, NEVER DOES.
AND THAT'S SO FREEING, TO KNOW THAT HE WELCOMES US
WITH OPEN ARMS AND JUST WANTS-- AND HE HURTS WITH US.
WHEN WE'RE HURTING, HE'S HURTING WITH US.
HE'S NOT BLAMING US.
HE'S HURTING WITH US, AND HE CRIES WITH US.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND
THAT GOD LOVES US THAT MUCH.
WELL, HE LOVED US SO MUCH, HE DIED FOR US.
JOYCE: YES, WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS.
RUTH: THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT, WE DIDN'T HAVE
TO CLEAN UP OUR ACT.
JOYCE: THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE.
"WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, HE DIED FOR US."
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A QUICK BREAK, AND THEN
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS.
CECE: ALL RIGHT, I NEED TO HEAR YOU LADIES.
WE FOUND OUT THAT WE'RE WOMEN OF GOD.
WE HAVE COURAGE.
♪ OH, YEAH, IT AIN'T OVER ♪ ♪ IT AIN'T OVER ♪
♪ NO MATTER ♪ ♪ WHAT YOU'RE GOIN' THROUGH, ♪
♪ IT AIN'T OVER ♪ ♪ IT AIN'T OVER ♪
♪ GOD'S GONNA ♪ ♪ WORK IT OUT FOR YOU ♪
♪ IF YOU JUST BELIEVE ♪ ♪ IT AIN'T OVER ♪
♪ TROUBLE WON'T LAST ALWAYS ♪ ♪ IT AIN'T OVER ♪♪
JOYCE: WELL, MY GUEST TODAY IS RUTH GRAHAM, THE DAUGHTER
OF REVEREND BILLY AND RUTH GRAHAM,
AND SHE WILL BE ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS
AT THIS YEAR'S LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE,
WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 21 THROUGH THE 23.
AND I REALLY WANT YOU TO MAKE A DECISION TO BE THERE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS IN LIFE THAT WE CAN PUT OFF,
BUT I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE ONE OF 'EM.
SO, TODAY WE'RE TALKIN' ABOUT RUTH'S JOURNEY
TO SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS, AND I'M GONNA GET HER TO TELL US
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAYBE WHY SHE THINKS IT WOULD BE GOOD
FOR YOU TO COME.
SO, RUTH, WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU
AS A SPEAKER THIS YEAR.
RUTH: OH, I'M EXCITED.
JOYCE: I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR.
RUTH: WELL, THE HONOR IS MINE.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE WERE TUNED IN
IN THE FIRST PART OF THE SHOW, YOU OPENLY TOLD US
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED AND DIVORCED FOUR TIMES,
AND HOW WONDERFULLY YOUR FATHER RESPONDED,
WITH MERCY INSTEAD OF JUDGMENT.
AND I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW
THAT THEY'RE FEELING JUDGED, EVEN BY THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MEET OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS.
AND SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE SHARING
AT THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE THIS YEAR?
NOT THAT I'M GONNA HOLD YOU TO IT EXACTLY,
BUT THAT, JUST TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME.
RUTH: WELL, I'LL TALK CERTAINLY A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT MY STORY AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
AND WHAT GOD TAUGHT ME THROUGH ALL THAT, AND
WHY I THOUGHT I DID ALL THAT.
YOU KNOW, FOUR DIVORCES IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF.
I'M ASHAMED OF IT, BUT GOD DOESN'T HOLD ME TO THAT.
AND HE SEES ME AS A BRIDE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL.
BUT I WILL SHARE THAT AND SHARE WHAT GOD'S TAUGHT ME
AND I WANNA MEET THE LADIES.
I LOVE GETTING WITH WOMEN AND I LOVE HEARING THEIR STORIES.
AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL COME
AND SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH US.
JOYCE: YOU SURE YOU WANNA MEET THE LADIES?
THERE MAY BE ABOUT 25,000 OF 'EM.
RUTH: WELL, I MAYBE CAN'T MEET ALL OF 'EM, BUT--
JOYCE: THE ONES THAT WORK, YEAH.
RUTH: I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO MEET THEM.
I GET ENERGY FROM THAT, AND WHAT THEIR STORIES ARE.
BUT I WILL SHARE MYSELF WITH 'EM, YOU KNOW?
THAT'S ALL I KNOW TO DO.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, IS JUST ME.
JOYCE: BEING AUTHENTIC IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU,
ISN'T IT?
RUTH: VERY MUCH SO.
JOYCE: AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH PHONINESS.
AND AS YOU SAID, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS.
AND YOU KNOW, I WENT THROUGH A TIME IN MY LIFE
WHERE I TRIED TO BE SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
I TRIED TO BE LIKE MY HUSBAND, WHO'S VERY CALM AND LAID BACK,
AND I WAS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE.
AND I TRIED TO BE LIKE MY NEIGHBOR,
WHO WAS REAL ARTSY AND CRAFTY, AND SEWED, AND HAD A GARDEN,
AND I DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT.
AND I TRIED TO BE LIKE MY PASTOR'S WIFE,
WHO WAS SWEET AND MEEK, AND I WAS LOUDMOUTHED
AND ANYTHING BUT THAT.
AND I TRIED SO LONG TO BE SO MANY PEOPLE,
TRYING TO FEEL LIKE I WAS OKAY, THAT I GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE I JUST DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO I WAS.
AND SO I HAD TO LET GOD TAKE ME BACK
TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND TEACH ME HOW TO BE
WHAT HE WANTED ME TO BE, NOT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE
WANTED ME TO BE.
AND SO, WHEN WOMEN GET TOGETHER LIKE THIS, LIKE,
THIS IS THE ONLY CONFERENCE THAT WE HAVE, ONCE A YEAR,
THAT IS JUST FOR WOMEN.
YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE A FEW MEN THERE
BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR US OR THEY'RE THERE
FOR A SPECIAL REASON.
BUT YOU GET 25-30,000 WOMEN TOGETHER IN 1 ROOM
AND YOU GOT SOME STUFF GOIN' ON.
RUTH: THAT'S A LOT OF ESTROGEN.
JOYCE: THERE'S A LOT OF ESTROGEN.
AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FUN, WE LAUGH, WE CRY.
WE'VE GOT GREAT PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE THINK
THEY CAN'T AFFORD THAT, OR THEY DON'T HAVE
THE TIME FOR THAT.
BUT WE WASTE SO MUCH TIME IN OUR LIVES WITH STUFF
THAT'S JUST USELESS.
AND WE NEED TO INVEST TIME IN THINGS
THAT ARE GONNA REALLY HELP US.
SO, TELL ME JUST A COUPLE OF MORE THINGS
BEFORE WE'RE OUT OF TIME HERE TODAY THAT HAVE
REALLY BEEN CHALLENGING FOR YOU IN JUST GETTING TO WHERE
YOU WANNA BE.
RUTH: WELL, MY CHILDREN'S LIVES
WERE CHALLENGING FOR ME.
MY DAUGHTER'S BULIMIA WAS VERY DIFFICULT
BECAUSE AN EATING DISORDER IS A CONTROL THING,
AND SHE WAS-- OUR FAMILY WAS FALLING APART,
SO THAT WAS THE ONE THING SHE COULD CONTROL.
BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING YOU CAN'T CONFRONT.
YOU CAN'T GO DIRECTLY.
SO THAT WAS A VERY BIG WORRY.
AND THEN MY SON'S DABBLING IN DRUGS.
YOU KNOW, HE CALLED ME ONE EASTER MORNING
AND SAID, "MOM," HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO MONTANA.
HE SAID, "MOM, YOU KNOW, I'M SICK."
I SAID, "WELL, GO TO THE HOSPITAL."
HE SAID, "I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY."
I SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW, GET A CREDIT CARD."
"I DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD."
I SAYS, "WELL, SON, GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND
I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT FROM HERE."
HE SAYS, "MOM, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I'M ON DRUGS AND I CAN'T GO ANY FARTHER."
YOU KNOW, I WAS MILES AWAY FROM HIM.
SO THAT, I WAS UP THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
AND THEN MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER SAT BESIDE ME AND SAID,
"MOM, I THINK I'M PREGNANT."
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE,
NOT TO ME, YOU KNOW?
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN'T SHOUT THAT FROM THE ROOFTOPS,
BUT WE COULDN'T HIDE IT.
AND SO WE JUST-- THE LORD WALKED US THROUGH IT.
WE DIDN'T DO IT WELL.
BUT YOU KNOW, JOYCE, MY DAUGHTER AND I
NOW SPEAK TOGETHER AT CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER
FUNDRAISERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND IT'S JUST A BLESSING.
IT'S A MIRACLE.
I ALSO KNEW THAT SHE HAD BEEN REJECTED BY HER DAD,
SO SHE WAS LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES.
AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
AND GOD HAD LOVED ME.
MY FATHER HAD SHOWN ME GRACE.
I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING LESS FOR MY DAUGHTER.
BUT YOU KNOW, NOW WE SPEAK TOGETHER
AND IT'S BEEN A MIRACLE OF GOD'S GRACE.
SO, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, AS MOTHERS THAT ARE GONNA BE THERE,
THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOIN' THROUGH IS NOT UNUSUAL
AND GOD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH IT.
AND YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE IT TO HIM.
JOYCE: I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID THAT, "WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
IS NOT UNUSUAL."
I REALLY THINK THAT ONE OF THE ENEMY'S TACTICS
IS TO MAKE US THINK THAT WE'RE THE ONLY ONE.
HOW MANY YEARS DURING MY SEXUAL ABUSE
DID I THINK, "THIS IS NOT HAPPENING TO ANYBODY ELSE"?
AND I JUST HEARD THE OTHER DAY THAT THERE'S
OVER 1 MILLION GIRLS IN AMERICA WHO ARE VICTIMS
OF FATHER-DAUGHTER INCEST, 1 MILLION.
AND YET, I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR OPENNESS,
AND I THINK IT'S GONNA HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE COME.
DON'T PUT IT OFF, REGISTER TODAY.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE A COMMITMENT,
THEN YOU'RE MORE THAN LIKELY GONNA SHOW UP.
AND IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY TO COME WITH YOU, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO COME BY YOURSELF,
I REMEMBER PEOPLE WHO HAVE TOLD ME,
"IT WAS HARD TO JUST MAKE THAT DECISION TO COME BY MYSELF,
BUT I DID IT AND IT WAS LIFE CHANGING FOR ME."
YOU KNOW, YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH
FOR YOU TO SET ASIDE 3 DAYS TO JUST ASK HIM TO REFRESH YOU,
REVIVE YOU, HEAL YOU, WHATEVER IT IS
THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE.
AND YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY ON OUR PROGRAM,
AND I'LL ALWAYS DO THIS, WE OFFER YOU THE WORD OF GOD
EITHER IN BOOK, CD, OR DVD.
BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD IS WHAT CHANGED MY LIFE.
IT'S WHAT CHANGED RUTH'S LIFE.
AND IT'S WHAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
AND SO, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER TO INVEST IN FINANCIALLY
THAN THE WORD OF GOD.
SO, TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU THE TEACHINGS
FROM OUR LAST YEAR'S WOMEN'S CONFERENCE,
AND IT'S CALLED "THE PATH TO GOD'S PURPOSE."
THERE'S EIGHT TEACHINGS.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM DIFFERENT SPEAKERS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL REALLY, REALLY ENJOY IT.
AND DON'T FORGET TO GET YOUR TICKET TODAY
BECAUSE OUR EARLY-BIRD PRICE IS ENDING VERY SOON.
SO YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET A BETTER DEAL THAN RIGHT NOW.
SO, PLEASE COME.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE DAY.
ANNOUNCER: DISCOVER GOD'S TAILOR-MADE DESTINY
FOR YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU ORDER JOYCE'S TEACHING SERIES
"THE PATH TO GOD'S PURPOSE."
IN THIS SPECIAL SERIES, HEAR JOYCE'S POWERFUL MESSAGES
FROM THE 2016 LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE,
AND HEAR FROM HER SPECIAL GUESTS,
JOHN GRAY, CHRISTINE CAINE,
AND BETH MOORE.
ALSO INCLUDED IS A SPECIAL SESSION
WHERE JOYCE, BETH, AND CHRISTINE ALL ANSWERED PERSONAL QUESTIONS
FROM THE AUDIENCE.
THIS EIGHT-TEACHING CD SET CAN BE YOURS FOR A GIFT OF...
OR MORE.
AND FOR YOUR GIFT TODAY OF...
OR MORE, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE A TICKET TO THIS YEAR'S
LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE.
FEMALE: SO AWESOME TO, LIKE, WORSHIP WITH SO MANY
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN.
FEMALE: THE WHOLE CONFERENCE SO FAR HAS BEEN
VERY, VERY INSPIRATIONAL.
FEMALE: I LOVED IT.
I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT TONIGHT,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE.
FEMALE: I CANNOT WAIT.
ANNOUNCER: LADIES, DON'T MISS OUT
ON THIS EXCITING OFFER.
SO, CONTACT US RIGHT NOW FOR EITHER OFFER...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
GINGER: WE ALL GO THROUGH TIMES
WHEN THE QUESTIONS IN OUR LIFE SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE ANSWERS.
JOYCE MEYER WANTS TO HELP WITH THAT.
CHECK OUT HER NEW SHOW "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND JOIN US
AS WE DISCOVER LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS TOGETHER.
ANNOUNCER: SO, THE BIBLE IS GOD'S MANUAL
TO HELP US NAVIGATE LIFE.
BUT LIFE OFTEN GETS IN THE WAY OF KNOWING THE BIBLE,
FINDING THE TIME, KNOWING WHERE TO BEGIN,
AND DISCOVERING WHAT THIS ALL MEANS TO YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND AND WE'D LIKE TO HELP.
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/STUDY, YOU'LL FIND FREE RESOURCES
TO HELP YOU GET MORE OUT OF THE BIBLE,
WHETHER YOU'RE A NEW CHRISTIAN OR HAVE BEEN WALKING WITH CHRIST
FOR YEARS.
SO, JUMP IN TODAY.
THE WORD, IT'S FREE, IT'S MOBILE,
AND IT'S TAILORED FOR YOU AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US
OR VISIT US ONLINE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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