Participants: Ruthie Jacobsen (Host), Kelly Veilleux
Series Code: IAA
Program Code: IAA000387S
|
00:01 Hello it's good to see you. Do you like pancakes?
00:05 We have a pancake story and somebody who made them. 00:08 I love this story. See you we will be right back. 00:35 Before we get into the pancake story. 00:39 I have something that I think you are gonna really 00:40 like. It made such sense to me. 00:44 It comes from the little book 'Praying God's Word' 00:47 by Beth Moore. Listen to this, just a couple 00:50 of short sentences but they are powerful. 00:52 Faith is not believing in my own unshakeable belief. 00:59 I want to repeat that because 01:00 I think it is so powerful. 01:01 Faith is not believing in my own unshakeable belief, 01:06 faith is believing in unshakeable God. 01:09 When everything in me trembles and quakes. 01:13 Ever you feel like that. My guest today is 01:19 Kelly Veilleux, from Waterville, Maine. Welcome. 01:24 Thank you. Kelly I promised the pancake story. 01:28 Yes. Have you heard it? I don't think so. 01:30 Want to hear it. Yes, please. 01:32 Alright this is it. Six year old Brandon decided 01:37 one Sunday morning to fix pancakes for his parents. 01:40 He found a big bowl and a spoon, 01:43 pulled a chair to the counter, open the cupboard 01:46 and pull out the heavy flour canisters spilling 01:49 it on the floor. So already we have a scene. 01:54 He scooped up some of the flour into the bowl 01:57 with his hands mixed in most of a couple of milk, 02:01 added some sugar leaving a floury trail on the floor, 02:05 which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. 02:09 Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. 02:14 He wanted this to be something very good 02:17 for his mom and dad, but it was getting very bad. 02:20 He didn't know what to do next whether to put all 02:23 in the oven or on the stove, and he didn't know 02:26 how the stove worked. Suddenly he saw his kitten 02:31 licking from the bowl of mix, and reached to push 02:35 her away knocking the egg carton to the floor. 02:38 Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess 02:42 but slipped on the eggs. He slipped on the eggs 02:46 getting his little pajamas white and sticky. 02:49 And just then he saw dad standing at the door. 02:53 Big crocodile tears held up in Brandon's eyes. 02:57 All he wanted to do was to do something good, 03:01 and he made a terrible mess. Ever feel like that. 03:08 He was sure scolding was coming 03:10 may be even a spanking but his 03:13 father just stood there and watched him. Amen. 03:17 His father smiled, then walking through the mess 03:21 he picked up his crying son, and hugged him and loved 03:26 him getting his own pajamas white and sticky 03:30 in the process. Don't you like that pancake story. 03:35 Because that's how God deals with us. 03:38 We try to do something good in life, 03:41 but it turns into the mess. 03:42 Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, 03:47 or we can't send our job or health goes sour. 03:51 Sometimes we just stand there in tears 03:54 because we can't think of anything else to do. 03:56 That's when God stands and smiles and he reminds us 04:02 that he is with us, and he picks us up 04:05 but he gets himself, get some of the mess 04:08 all over him, himself in the process. Amen. 04:11 What a wonderful God. Beautiful. 04:13 I called that a pancake story, but really it's a 04:16 story of our friend, our greatest friend meeting us. 04:21 Yes. At a time of great need. 04:23 Yes. Have you ever felt like that Kelly? 04:26 Oh yes many times in our life. 04:28 We all have. I think so. 04:29 We all have. That's part of being 04:32 part of the human race. That's right. 04:34 God created us to have that need, and especially 04:36 when we are hurting, when we need him. 04:39 Because he knows he can fill it. 04:40 Its right and you know Ruthie sometimes I think 04:43 that it's in those needs when we feel so inadequate, 04:47 sometimes we don't feel like our prayers are getting 04:50 past the ceiling. You ever had that happen? 04:52 Sure. I know sometimes it happens in my life 04:56 and I had other people share with me, 04:58 that sometimes it's like I just don't think 05:00 my prayers are getting past the ceiling in my room, 05:03 and you know sometimes I think there is prayer; 05:05 things that block prayer in our lives. 05:08 I believe that too. And I think the enemy wants 05:11 us to think that when we are praying we are wasting 05:14 our time because he trembles when we pray. 05:17 Yes. That's the one thing that 05:19 really gets him running. Amen. 05:22 So it's the most powerful weapon we have. 05:24 You know one of my favorite verses on prayer over 05:28 there in second Chronicles 7, you know the verse 05:30 'if my people, who are called by my name, 05:34 will humble themselves and pray and seek my face 05:37 and turn from their wicked ways'. 05:39 And you know I think that's one of the real keys 05:42 in that verse is turning from my wicked ways 05:45 because sometimes we hang on to those sins 05:49 or those situations, that God is desiring 05:51 to heal us from or perhaps he already has 05:53 and we haven't let go of it, sometimes we are good 05:56 at hanging on too to the residue of it, you know. 05:58 That's true Kelly and sometimes face it 06:02 sin can be fun, and we forget though 06:06 that this is the dead end street, 06:08 and the joy that Jesus gives lasts forever. 06:12 That's right. So there is such a big, big difference. 06:15 That's right, the enemy wants us to think 06:18 this is all there is, enjoy it, this is going 06:21 to make you happy, it never does. 06:23 But there is so much more. These beautiful promises 06:25 over here in Revelation about the over comers 06:28 you know which one I am talking about. 06:29 There is so many of them throughout especially 06:31 in those first couple of chapters of Revelation. 06:33 Special promises to be overcome. 06:35 That's right, what God is gonna do for those 06:37 who overcome, and the right to eat 06:40 from the tree of life to wear the robe into, 06:43 Oh, I just can't imagine but you know God desires. 06:47 Big, big promises. And he desires that for us now 06:49 to be over comers now, and its through his abiding 06:52 presence in us, and his desire to make us whole, 06:56 and make us clean, and then we know that when we go 06:59 before him with our prayers, 07:00 that we go with clean hands. That's right. 07:03 And a clean heart. And we know he is listening. 07:05 That's right, no fears that he as scripture says 07:09 in the second Chronicles 'Then I will hear from heaven, 07:13 and then I will hear your prayers' 07:15 and you know sometimes we do need to clean up 07:18 ourselves but then confession is part of prayer anyway. 07:22 That's right. So that's a it's a great way to start 07:24 our prayers I think is to really empty ourselves 07:26 and clean ourselves up before the Lord. 07:28 That's right, that's right, and you know 07:32 God is so faithful because he says 07:34 there are conditions and if you meet these 07:37 conditions you are going to be amazed. 07:40 Amen. You are going to be so blessed and you 07:42 are going to realize what pardon is all about. 07:46 Amen, that's right. 07:48 I just learned something about pardon Kelly 07:53 that really affected me at a deep level. 07:58 When a fellow is pardoned, 08:01 that means and that doesn't happen very often, 08:05 but when they are given they are granted a pardon, 08:10 that means that actually the officials at the pardon 08:14 board go back and they take out all of those records. 08:18 They are destroyed, so that if you went back 08:21 to check up on somebody who had been 08:23 in a penitentiary or some penal institution but 08:27 who had received a pardon, those records are gone. 08:30 Amen. There is nothing to prove that, that ever 08:34 happened, and that's how God deals with us. 08:36 Amen. He just, he takes our sins, and he cleanses us 08:42 because of the power of the blood of Jesus. 08:46 Amen. What an amazing thing. 08:47 And throws them into the depth of the sea 08:50 as though they never happened. 08:51 That's right. And yet why as human beings, 08:53 why do we still hang on to them sometimes. 08:56 You know what I mean, sometimes we take our 08:59 problems to the foot of the cross, 09:01 but then when we get up we take them with us. 09:03 And may be we don't realize what a great thing 09:07 has just happened, and that this is truly 09:10 a transaction in heaven and this really 09:12 that we really are forgiven. That's right. 09:15 And if we went back to find those records, 09:17 they would be destroyed. 09:19 That's right. And we need to let our minds 09:21 picture that, to accept that. That's right. 09:23 That in God's time and his way they are gone, 09:27 they are not there anymore. 09:29 Have you seen that Kelly in your life or the life 09:32 of your friends or tell us a story about something 09:35 that you have seen, that helped you to realize God's 09:38 forgiveness is real and powerful, may be there is 09:41 somebody that you knew that experienced this. 09:44 Well I know that in my own life number of years ago 09:49 I was in a bad space in my life, and some things, 09:53 some circumstances had happened that led me to make 09:57 a decision that, its one of those kinds of decisions 10:00 that when you are faced with it and you wonder, 10:02 sometimes you don't think way out ahead of 10:05 where the consequences of that decision are going 10:07 to take you. But at the time I was young, 10:10 and I was a single parent and had just 10:13 a little one at home, and I had fallen into the pit 10:17 of sin and sometimes that happens to us 10:20 even Christians fall into the pit of sin sometimes. 10:24 That's right. And during that time in my life, 10:26 I had a short term relationship and ended up 10:31 getting pregnant, and I felt at a time in my life, 10:34 where I just couldn't handle having another baby 10:38 to deal with, and there was many factors 10:41 that went into the decision that I made 10:43 to have an abortion, and that was a real tough time 10:47 in my life because knowing obviously that it was wrong 10:50 but learning to understand forgiveness 10:54 and the real depth of forgiveness that God has. 10:57 And now many years later I have had the opportunity, 11:01 number of occasions to minister to other woman 11:06 who have been in that situation. 11:07 That's fine. Many times people think 11:09 well you know I have gone too far beyond God's grace 11:13 and God's forgiveness. But praise the Lord 11:17 we can never go beyond his arm and his loving heart 11:22 of forgiveness no matter what we have done, that 11:24 there is always forgiveness and grace and pardon. 11:26 And so when I hear the explanation of pardon 11:29 it is though it never happened, and it's erased, 11:32 the pain is still there at times when you think 11:36 on it, but the sin is gone. Isn't that beautiful. 11:39 Yes. God is so good to us. 11:40 That is powerful. And you know Kelly I just believe 11:43 that because that kind of thing is so prevalent today, 11:47 there are many people out there who have 11:52 experienced this very same situations. Yes. 11:55 We were with the National Prayer Committee in Miami 11:59 about a year ago, and we were driving on the bus 12:03 prayer driving for the city of Miami, 12:05 that is a city, where there is a huge ratio 12:10 when you compare large cities and the numbers 12:14 of abortions that are done Chicago, New York, 12:18 Miami is way up here on a graph. 12:21 I can't explain the reason, but people 12:23 go there for that purpose. Yes 12:25 And so we were prayer driving in this bus. 12:30 We were praying for the people who were going 12:34 through this experiences that are so damaging. 12:37 That's right. And so hurtful, and the people 12:42 on the bus were saying okay that looks like a spa 12:46 that's actually an abortion clinic. 12:49 You know the outside didn't look like anything illegal 12:53 but that's just that's what it is, and they set up 12:58 these abortion clinics across from high schools 13:01 and they put young girls on birth control pills 13:05 knowing it is a low dosage and they will have them 13:10 as customers, as patients. And it makes your heart 13:14 ache when you realize the pain that's involved 13:17 and Kelly I see you and you are such a strong woman 13:23 of God. To me that is such a powerful testimony 13:27 that God doesn't care what he 13:31 saves us from, he just saves us. That's right, amen. 13:35 And this gives us the empathy to work with people 13:40 who are in deep hurt and where my sins are different; 13:46 I couldn't say to someone who has had an abortion, 13:50 I understand, I understand how you are really 13:54 hurting inside. I understand when you think 13:57 about that child and wonder you know what he or she 14:01 would be like now. I can't understand I can't go 14:05 with them there. My sins are different, 14:07 but in God's eyes they are no better. 14:09 That's exactly right. They are no better. Yes. 14:12 But when God saves you he does something 14:15 he massages your heart, and he gives you the ability 14:19 then to reach other people and to say I've been there 14:23 I know a God who heals. Amen. 14:26 And no matter where you are today, 14:29 I can reach down, that's how God deals with us. 14:33 Amen. And you know Ruthie I was blessed to have 14:36 loving parents, still I am blessed to have loving 14:39 parents, who supported me through that, 14:43 though it wasn't their choice for me, 14:46 but they supported and never stopped loving me, 14:48 and they gave me the picture of God 14:53 which we are supposed to be able to give unconditional 14:55 love from our earthly parents, but I know 14:58 that there are many young girls and women out there 15:02 who are not as blessed to have earthly parents 15:06 who give them that unconditional love, 15:07 and it's specially those woman, that are close 15:11 to my heart when you hear things like this happening. 15:14 You know so many times we hear, we hear it 15:16 on the news and it always seems to be about the 15:19 demonstrations and the anti-abortions and all of that. 15:22 But what about the true emotion, 15:25 and the pain that those girls are dealing with. 15:29 Our nervous system Kelly when God created us, 15:33 our nervous system was not made to endure 15:37 this kind of trauma. No. 15:39 And so when your body is assaulted, and it affects 15:44 every part of you, it affects your mind, 15:46 your emotions, it effects your heart, 15:50 you know and how you deal then 15:52 with people from then on. Yes. 15:53 So people I think who have experienced this kind 15:58 of pain at this deep level, need to have somebody 16:03 come alongside and say there is a God. That's right. 16:06 In heaven who can heal and who can put you back 16:09 on the right track. You may feel like there is no 16:13 hope for you but he can bring you back 16:15 and give you new life. Amen. 16:18 And this is really what the resurrection is all about. 16:21 When Christ died for you, and he rose again 16:24 he said he will give us the power because of the 16:29 resurrection, he will give us the power 16:31 to walk in newness of life. Amen. 16:34 No matter, no matter where you have been, 16:37 you will always be special to him. 16:39 Amen. You know I heard said once; it's not prayer 16:44 that God answers its people 16:46 and right relationships with him. 16:48 Oh yes. I love that thought because God is desiring 16:51 to clean up every corner, every little centimeter 16:55 of our hearts and our souls on the inside, 16:58 and when we let him, when we allow him to do that 17:01 to come in and to clean us up, and to have that 17:06 vital connection with him where we just don't want 17:08 anything separating our souls from our savior, 17:11 isn't that beautiful that thought and to know 17:13 that he desires to do that in his own gentle way. 17:16 That's right. His gentle way along with his 17:19 unconditional love that he comes in and does that, 17:21 and when we allow him then I believe our prayers 17:24 can take on the form of like earth moving power 17:29 because God is really pouring his power into that 17:32 because now he says hey there is my child 17:35 and she is in the right relationship. 17:37 She is living in the right relationship with me, 17:39 not in her own strength through the righteousness 17:42 and the power of Christ living in us, 17:43 and she is praying, she is asking for something 17:47 that I would love to give her the desires 17:48 of her heart, that's Gods desire for us. 17:51 I believe that, and you know Kelly we talk so much 17:55 about the woman who has gone through this 17:58 but often it's very traumatic and very painful 18:02 for the men involved because sometimes that decision 18:07 for the abortion is done together, and sometimes 18:10 the men will apply undue pressure. Yes. 18:14 To make sure that's done, and then he will look back 18:17 and say what I've done but it's too late. 18:20 And so both people are equally involved although 18:26 one has more physical scars and may be more 18:30 emotional scars, it's hard to tell, but it is a very 18:34 traumatic experience for both. And so when we deal 18:39 with healing it needs to be for both. That's right. 18:43 Both people. That's right. 18:44 And God takes our scars and turns them into blessings, 18:47 isn't that awesome that he does that for us. 18:49 Amen. How did you come to the realization of for 18:56 healing from this because you don't carry those scars, 18:59 I mean I know you. You hold your head high 19:03 and you are such a blessing to other people. 19:06 You know who you are in Christ, and God has taught 19:09 you that, but how, I just want to say for the benefit 19:13 of someone out there today who doesn't have that 19:17 assurance, where how did God do that for you. 19:22 By teaching me and leading me into that 19:26 relationship with him that abiding relationship 19:29 with him, that he loved me beyond human 19:33 comprehension of love, the ability to comprehend it 19:36 that he just loved me far beyond that, 19:38 and there was so much more that he wanted 19:39 to do for me, that I didn't have to live in the past, 19:41 and hang on to the past. You know having experienced 19:46 some childhood sexual abuse that kind of let up 19:50 to all of that sometimes they go hand in hand 19:52 all of that was emotional roller coaster. 19:57 It's not an excuse and it's not a reason, but 19:58 sometimes these are predisposing factors. 20:00 That's right. And they pave the way. 20:04 That's right. To make those kind of things easier. 20:06 And so God desires to come in and heal all of that, 20:09 and that's what he did for me, and again you know 20:11 I have very supportive parents, 20:13 and the fact that their love never wavered for me. 20:18 I think that also was a big part of the journey 20:23 being able to understand that God does love me 20:26 because my parents love me. 20:28 You know I really believe that Kelly, there was a 20:32 mother who told, I heard about this story in Korea. 20:36 Her daughter became a prostitute, and she was a 20:40 shame to the family and they dealt with her 20:44 in every way they could, they tried money, 20:47 they tried coaxing, and prayer and a scolding, 20:52 and everything that they knew. But she still felt 20:56 very dirty and very used and not very pretty. 21:02 And the pastor talked to the mother, and she said 21:06 thank God, the pastor said to the mother, 21:09 he said thank God everyday that you have been given 21:13 a beautiful, beautiful daughter; she brought you 21:16 a lot of joy, so just thank God for this 21:20 beautiful daughter. She doesn't feel beautiful, 21:22 but I'd like to help her feel beautiful. 21:24 While the daughter almost committed suicide 21:27 when she finally reached the bottom and she realized 21:30 who she was and she couldn't go on 21:33 facing herself like this. So she was going to come 21:36 home, and tell her mother goodbye, but her mother 21:39 met her at the door like the prodigal son, 21:42 the father of the prodigal son, and she said here 21:45 comes my beautiful daughter, here is my beautiful 21:48 girl, and she said you've brought me so much joy all 21:51 your life, and her daughter said wait, wait mom, 21:56 I have to end it all, I can't stand myself, 22:01 and her mother said oh come on in I want to fix 22:04 you a nice breakfast and we can talk later 22:07 but I just want you to get some rest. 22:09 She took her into her old room, and opened her bed 22:12 and said just get some rest after she had a nice 22:15 breakfast and she would not let her daughter speak 22:19 anything negative. She just said God has given me 22:22 a beautiful girl, and I want you to see that 22:25 he sees you are beautiful. He can forgive, and heal, 22:29 and make you hollow. And this is our mighty 22:33 and loving God. That's right 22:35 So the girl stayed there at her home, and never did 22:40 follow through of course on the suicide attempt 22:43 that she had planned in her mind, but she started 22:46 going to church with her parents and slowly the 22:50 message of the Gospel washed over her and reached 22:54 the deepest parts of her painful heart 22:57 and brought hope and healing. 22:59 I think this is what people are looking for today, 23:02 who have experienced to these deep hurts, 23:05 and deep pains in their life. They need to know that 23:10 there is hope, and there is hope nowhere but in God. 23:14 You know for me Ruthie I was doer, someone who 23:18 likes to keep busy, and then by doing, by being 23:22 that kind of personality, I didn't think about it, 23:25 I didn't let myself think about it, 23:26 I just put a lot of distance and a lot of busyness. 23:30 You pushed in the back between me and many issues from 23:33 my past. It's the form of denial. 23:36 It's a denial, its kind of you know escaping it 23:39 and just moving on, and I think that's okay 23:42 sometimes because may be that's the only way that 23:45 we get through and we can cope and fill our lives 23:47 with busyness. And even sometimes the busyness 23:50 of ministry and early on before I was involved 23:54 in prayer ministries when I was working 23:57 in my church in the youth department in different 23:59 places, I was busy, just always busy doing things. 24:02 And truly I believe that I had kind of record the 24:07 Damuscus road experienced when the Lord really 24:09 got a hold of me, and said are you really, 24:11 are you ready to let me heal you and do what I want 24:16 to do through you. You don't have to. 24:18 At deep level. That's right you don't have just stay 24:20 surface anymore, that we can go, we can just do as 24:25 his words says exceedingly abundantly more than 24:28 we could ever ask or think and I couldn't imagine 24:31 that he would want to do that through me, 24:33 why would he want to do that through me. 24:34 But as I began to sit still, I think of that verse 24:38 from Isaiah, where it says in quietness 24:40 and confidence is our strength. Yes. 24:43 And sometimes you are sitting still in the presence 24:46 of the Lord. By beholding we become change, 24:49 and so it was really my devotional life experience 24:52 when God took me into really having a devotional life, 24:55 it was at that those moments of spending that time, 24:59 that quiet time with him, that the healing took place. 25:02 Amen. You know, I don't know if this applies to you 25:07 but it applies to many Christians today. 25:10 When you have been involved in some sin 25:13 that you are, that has been a disgrace in your life, 25:17 and something that you don't want to face, 25:18 and a lot of sins are that way. Not just the ones 25:22 we've been talking about today, but you can feel 25:25 so disgraced and so ashamed of what has happened 25:30 that you somehow feel like you 25:33 have to make this up to God. 25:34 Yes. And so sometimes people in ministry 25:37 are busy, busy, busy doing things because 25:41 they feel like I've to somehow make up for the past. 25:45 I've to atone for the past, I've to be good enough 25:48 so that God will, will meet me. 25:52 And that really is getting things backwards. 25:55 That's right. We cannot buy our busyness 25:58 or ministry be good enough, so that God will like us. 26:02 He already loves us. 26:04 That is so true, that is so true, and that's probably 26:06 exactly what I was doing for God desires to take us 26:09 to that point of breaking and melting, and molting, 26:12 and filling like the little song that we sing this 26:15 morning. What a beautiful picture that is of God's 26:17 desire for us, you know to break us 26:19 and then begin to reshape us. Yes. 26:21 And mould us into a vessel that he can use. 26:24 And we have to ask him for the spirit of brokenness. 26:27 Amen. Because he wants to break us, so he can 26:29 cleans us. There is a wonderful song about a 26:34 prostitute who comes to church, and she goes up to 26:38 the altar and kneels, and then she comes back radiant 26:42 and in there is somebody sitting not too far from her 26:46 in the pew and he hears her say aloud, 26:49 I just want to be near you, I just want 26:52 to be with you. And after church they were talking 26:57 together out in the lawn, and he said to her, 27:00 I heard what you said, I had to hear, and he said 27:04 it just made me feel good about what you said to God, 27:06 and she said no, I wasn't saying that to God. 27:10 I felt that that was what he was saying to me. 27:13 Amen. So she understood, she got it, and she was 27:18 saying I know that God just wants to be with me. 27:22 Amen. And forgive me and bless me. 27:24 We've talked today, our time is running out, 27:29 it goes so fast, but we've talked today about 27:32 some things that really affect a lot of us in life. 27:37 There is so many things that we do that disappoint us. 27:41 Yes. And disappoint God, but he says don't get 27:46 the cart before the horse, come to me first. 27:49 Amen. All you who are weary and heavy-laden 27:52 I will give you rest. Amen. 27:55 I will even help you confess and forsake 27:59 and I will give you the power to overcome. 28:02 Yes. What a wonderful God. I hope you've been 28:05 encouraged as I have by Kelly story today. 28:09 So be blessed. We will see you again. |
Revised 2020-06-20