The Unexpected Power of Humility in Transforming Lives and Ministries

This interview features Azzie Handy, the executive director of Destined for Purpose, sharing her inspiring testimony and insights on faith, obedience, and ministry. Discover how her journey from a challenging background to impactful community work exemplifies God's power and guidance.  She opens up about growing up in a strict church home and how God showed her it is about a relationship with HIM, not religion.  Her testimonies of God's faithfulness will leave you full of encouragement and hope.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

I was on the ground. But when I got up, I just had a knowing of there's something more. There's something deeper. All of these thoughts and things that I had, you know, thought before something is is more than bigger than I thought. And that's I can you can't say that's when it started because it's a journey. Amen. But that was when I understood that there is something more and something is different. It's amazing to see these women who've come in and they're so broken and hurt. And you know, where they are, whenever they come in right away, they're just in flight mode. Yeah. But you know, after they get settled in and you begin working with them, they just blossom into beautiful women. I was, you know, standing there in line, and he comes walking towards me, and he just put his hand up and start praying, and the microphone flute makes the loudest noise because it's on. And I hit the ground, and I tell you, when I got prayed for I was one of the first few people, when I got up off the ground, I there was like 50 to 70 people around. God takes the um foolish things of the world, the things that you know we would consider as nothing in terms of something beautiful. So just um knowing that it's not according to your power, your strength, your wisdom. Surrender yourself to God and continue to put in the steps, you know, He's gonna lead you, guide you.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

Welcome back to Let's Talk Sister. Today I'm excited to introduce our new friend, Aszy Handy, and welcome back, Roddy Lundy. Um, today we're gonna be talking to Aszy and getting her testimony. She is the executive director of Destined for Purpose. Yes. Amen. So appreciate you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 1:39

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 1:40

Yes, well, I'm excited. I've never heard Aszy's story. So today she's gonna let us in on her testimony, um, what she's doing, and um how God's doing really big things in her ministry.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:52

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

So, where do you want to start?

SPEAKER_02 1:55

Wherever you want to start. Testimony, uh background. Um Okay, I'll start with it.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

I'll start a little bit with my background. Okay. So I'm actually originally um from Racine, Wisconsin. And I grew up in a single parent home. My mom, she moved us all here to Florida um back in '89, and I was eight years old. So I I say I'm a Floridian, but I'm originally from Racine. Yes. But she was um, I feel like I got a lot of what I do today from her. She was amazing. Um, you know, she understood the struggle that single moms period. So as kids, um, we did homeschool and um we would have to babysit other single moms' kids too um while they worked, just you know, did things and she was constantly giving rides, you know, giving food and groceries to single moms when we didn't have much at all.

SPEAKER_02 2:45

So now this is coming full circle for me, knowing what what you do.

SPEAKER_00 2:48

Yeah, yeah. So that's kind of my background um starting out like that. So um, you know, uh even you know, growing up homeschooled, you know, and she was working, we didn't get the best education. So I definitely felt very underqualified for what God has called me to do. But along this journey, I see that it doesn't matter what your qualifications are.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

Oh, it does not. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 3:14

What God calls you to do, you can do it through what he's placed on the inside of you.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

Oh, I love that. You're so right because I don't think we're ever ready for what he works for us. Uh so I mean, I just I love that, and I love how he takes the the humility of that and he can run with that.

SPEAKER_00 3:34

Yes, absolutely. Yeah, I think about that um all the time, you know, just thinking of how many things that I've had um prayed about or you know, thought that you know I'd love to be a part of or do, and then to see them come, you know, begin to happen and unfold. And you know, a lot of times it used to be more like, oh my, you know, this happened. I you know, kind of surprised.

SPEAKER_03 3:53

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

And it made me think about like, you know, when Jesus did miracles, he he didn't, he wasn't surprised because he trusted and believed in what God said. So you know, it should be living in the supernatural where we're expecting the Lord to move every step of the way if we're in his will.

SPEAKER_02 4:10

Amen. Yeah, and that's important in his will.

SPEAKER_00 4:13

Yes, amen.

SPEAKER_02 4:15

Because a lot of us want to see the signs, miracles, and wonders, but not fully be sold out to him.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Amen. We have to give him all of it, and he doesn't take it all at first, but slowly he gets us to give everything so that he can give us back what he wants us to have and do it his way. So much better.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

I think about that often. Um, with what I do, a lot of the people come in and they want they want results right now, do all the things right now, and everything's right now. It's like this is a journey, you know. We have to think of it as we're starting out as babes. Even, you know, I say this a lot, people in ministry, they might say, you know, I've been doing it for this long and all these things. But I'm like, but when we really start seeking him with our whole heart, that's when our ministry really starts.

SPEAKER_04 5:03

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 5:03

You know, amen. And so you could feel like, oh, I've been in I've been a Christian for 30 years, but maybe the last five years you really um committed yourself to the Lord and surrendered and started seeking him deeper. That's really when you're gonna start to see change.

SPEAKER_02 5:16

Yeah. Yes. Amen. That's so true because that's what me and Kyle share all the time. We were in church for like close to 14 years before we went to Evans Memorial, and that's when the true encounter happened, that's when the intimacy happened and relationships started forming with the Lord. Before that, yeah, we attended church and the services, but it was not a relationship. And that was missing a huge difference. And after that encounter, it does mark and change your life completely.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

Yeah, that's one thing that I do like to talk about a lot is getting a personal relationship with the Lord. You know, not just I think or we've I just think the world has generally kind of set that um up for us. Like going to church, you're good. But it's like God was designed church for us together to grow as a body, but to have an individual, personal, close relationship with him where we have he's like our best friend.

SPEAKER_03 6:14

A liter amen.

SPEAKER_00 6:15

Yes, yes, yeah. And I always think of that verse, you know, we we speak that verse a lot. Jeremiah 29, 11. He knows that the you know the plans for me and they're good. But it's like when it really comes down to it, do you really trust him with those plans? And are we truly he's our best friend that we, you know, if you don't know someone well, you can't trust them.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

Oh, amen. And sometimes we try to incorporate some of our own plans into this.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

And it doesn't work too good.

SPEAKER_02 6:43

Amen. Lord, I needed to go this way, or I needed to go this way, and he's like, Jade, if you'll just let go, I can show you a whole much better way. Right. It'll be a whole lot better.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

So that's actually something that I was uh writing down recently, a couple days ago, actually, talking about the Lord gives you a plan or um you know something to do and even something to say. Sometimes we'll even change it a little bit on how he said it or put it out there differently. Now you've totally changed what he has told you to say or do, and now it's not his plan, it's your plan.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

It's like we need to be you know intentional about our obedience. According to his will, be it unto me. I think about that often, you know, even when Jesus was in the garden praying and he prayed, you know, sweating great drops, said you know, according to your will, he wanted the Lord's will. And it says when after the angels came and administered strength to God, that's so powerful. If we would surrender and you know, let his will be our will, then you know, angels are gonna come and and help you. God's gonna lead you.

SPEAKER_02 7:48

Yeah, because if we're waiting to do it in our strength, that will never happen.

SPEAKER_00 7:52

We yes, when we give our will to the Lord, then he'll come and provide the strength that we need. So, yeah, that's um you know, one thing that I've definitely been more trying to be more intentional about this year is just uh being aware of where the Lord has me, what he's saying, and that I'm in line with his will. I think in that verse all the time. It says he'll give us the will to do his will, and I need him to do that because this flesh should be doing too much sometimes.

SPEAKER_02 8:17

Yes. Whoa! Yeah, getting that crucified sometimes is is tough, you know. Golly, but you know, and you would think that we would learn our lesson, or at least for me, I'm gonna speak for myself, that I would learn, okay, okay, when you've done it your way, it never really works out. So it'd be best if you just go ahead and surrender now because it's not gonna work till you get in line with him. Right, but somehow in my flesh, sometimes I'm just like, well, let me just try it this way, and then I'm like, okay, this ain't working. So let me just do it.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

What you said, Lord. Sometimes we take the long way around. I think that we do that also because you know, we we always are gonna have that war against the flesh. Yeah, you know, that's what the Bible says, but um, our flesh is seeing what we see in reality when we're supposed to be seeing the spirit. So we're our flesh is telling us what we see in reality, but we're walking, supposed to be walking by faith. So once we get that in alignment of remembering this is by faith, you know, then everything changes.

SPEAKER_02 9:16

Amen. I love how you say that because I didn't understand the difference between the natural world and the spiritual world. Like that was really hard for me to understand. But when you start understanding that there is a spiritual level to this, things really start clicking and making sense because you're like, oh wow, there's a whole nother realm to this. No, we don't, and and because we think we're warring against one another. Like me and you, we think we're in a battle with one another, and it's nothing to do with me and you, it's just in the spiritual realm. And I love how my husband will always say, if you can just take the face off of this, don't look at the person, look at it in the spiritual realm. You're not battling with her or you're not battling with him, you're really battling against the principalities. Yes, and then you can stop the offenses and the hurt, and you can go after the real battle that's waging and not with the person. And and that really helps me not walk so much in the flesh because I'm not okay, I'm not picking a battle with Aszy. This is in the spiritual realm, you know, and I don't know, it just makes it so much easier for me to walk through knowing that my battle isn't with you. We're really worn against the the enemy.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

Right. And that is a um a big battle that we will everyone in who's in ministry will face because the enemy will try to put stumbling blocks in our way. But you know, along the way, I think of the level of purity that's happening in our heart as we go through these things. It's purifying us, it's teaching us to love, to forgive, to honor, to respect one another. So, you know, as we're going through all these things, I just think of man is doing such a great work on the inside.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Amen. And you know, sometimes some of the people that we don't understand where they're coming from will turn around if we pray with the right heart, they'll turn around and be some of the very people that come along and help us and speak life into what we're doing and encourage us. Because I've had a lot of people in my life that didn't understand me. They thought I was you know what I'm saying? But if you pray and you have a right attitude, it's strange how all of a sudden they're acting. You know what I'm saying? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

So I love that. Um, I think about that often. Um, you know, I I um am executive director at a women's transitional um residential program. And a lot of the women that come in, you know, they've been through trauma and really walked through really hard walks. You'd be amazed to hear some of their stories of things that they've gone through. And you know, the world looks at them as, oh, they should just get it together or they should just do this or just do that. But it's like you don't understand their walk that they've gone through, the mindset that they're in, and sometimes these cycles that they've walked in, that's all that they know.

SPEAKER_02 12:19

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 12:20

And so, you know, we as a Christian, I always say that we put burdens on sinners and just on people to try to get them to live up to what we want them to, you know, to live up to when it's really um, you know, you have to really take into account that these are baby Christians and these are God's children, and he's called us to help them and not to hurt them.

SPEAKER_02 12:40

Oh, yeah, because I can remember even walking through ours, you know, because my story is laced, you know, like with the addiction, you know, that my husband walked through. And I can just remember being that judgmental person of why can't he get it together? Why can't he just get together? Yeah, why can't he change? You know, yeah, just quit. Like you can make a choice. You don't have to do this tomorrow. You can wake up different, you know, and there was so much bitterness in me and anger and resentment, just all these things building up, and I wasn't able to meet him where he was. I just wanted him changed and fixed and healed and delivered in one day. Not taking into account all that had been happening with him, the shame, the guilt, the condemnation, you know, all the things that the enemy had been piling on him because I just wanted what what was best for me. Not what's best for him, right? What was best for me? Let's get it together and let's do this, right? And if we could meet people where they are, ex instead of expecting them to be something else. Like as a church. That's what I tell him all the time. I said, now I can look at people with compassion. I thought I had compassion and I didn't. No compassion. Very judgmental of why are they at the altar again? Oh, they're just crying, like they're not really wanting to change, you know. And I mean, I even thought that of him, but that's not true. His heart was for change, he just didn't know how to get the change.

SPEAKER_00 14:05

It's actually an experience that I went through. I love that you said that about why are they at the altar again? Um, so we grew up in a church where it was crazy, very religious. You know, we had to wear skirts, we couldn't do this, everything was no. I love saying that. Everything was no. And so um, you know, coming out of that, you know, I was an adult, you know, coming out of that, but that was all that I knew. So I understand that lifestyle of when you're in a cycle of what you've grown up in, and that's all you know, it's common to you, it's normal to you.

SPEAKER_03 14:32

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 14:33

And so um coming out of that, I was at the altar all the time. Everywhere I went, I would be at the I need prayer, pray for me, help me. And I would just cry and cry, you know, at church, and people I'm sure looked at me like, she's crazy, she's gonna go down today. But I just see that the desperation that I had and kept continuing pursue to really know Christ and know his love and to understand, you know, what my purpose was because I didn't know at all what it was. And when people were like, You're gonna prophesy, you're gonna be doing this and this. I'm like, You are talking to the wrong person, you don't know me. And so, you know, seeing what God can do, I always say he took me from nothing, and I still am nothing without him, but to seeing that it's possible to really rise above your background, your history, what you've gone through, and walk out the call that God has called on you.

SPEAKER_03 15:25

Oh, amen.

SPEAKER_01 15:26

Did you really believe any of the prophecies to start with?

SPEAKER_00 15:30

I I can't say I didn't believe them. I I'm I'm always like a person that's like if someone says something like, okay, I'm gonna go think about that. And so I thought was like, I don't see how I don't have any money, first of all. And I, you know, I was thought I'm homeschooled. And also in the church that we grew up in, they didn't believe in women preachers, they didn't believe in um, you know, women doing much of anything in the church. Yeah, and so I was um always be like, especially, you know, people, it was a cult, and people like gonna, I would always have this in the back of my mind. They don't want to hear what I have to say. I came from a cult, they're gonna be scared of me. They don't want to hear what I have to say. And then I would have people encouraging me, you know, no, it's time for you to get out. Why aren't you saying what the Lord is saying? And I was terrified. I really was. I could say I was terrified. I was always the shy kid growing up, you know. My mom, I would follow her everywhere. Uh, she would try to push me, force me, go play with friends, and I would follow her everywhere. So I was very shy. So getting out in public and speaking, no way.

SPEAKER_03 16:29

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

And especially in you know, the church when you grew up and that's all that you knew was women don't speak. So you never even tried to speak or do any of that, and then also you're getting put out, like, all right, now it's your turn. You're like, whoa. Here you go.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

Let's just push you out the next. So when would you say, like, tell us about your encounter with Jesus when it went from religion, like you're talking about, into relationship? Like what that kind of looks like. Because I think people they don't really understand, I guess, that that transition. So, what what did that look like for you?

SPEAKER_00 17:03

So, the church that you know I was going to when it um had fallen apart, uh guy came there and did a revival, and it was so powerful. Um, one of the times I was one of the first people, like I say, to go get prayer. I mean Caroline, but I was one of the worship leaders too. So I come off the stage and I was like one of the first people to um get in line for prayer. And um I remember uh I even had a microphone in my hand. In my mind, I was like, I didn't even believe in this. I was like, I'm not gonna fall. I'm I'm not none of that. So I was you know standing there in line, and he comes walking towards me, and he just put his hand up and started praying, and the microphone flew, makes the loudest noise because it's on. And I hit the ground, and I tell you, when I got prayed for, I was one of the first few people. When I got up off the ground, I there was like 50 to 70 people around me on the ground, and I can't tell you what happened how long I still don't even know till this day how long I was on the ground. But when I got up, I just had a knowing of there's something more. Amen. There's something deeper. All of these thoughts and things that I had, you know, thought before something is it's more than bigger than I thought. And that's I can you can't say that's when it started because it's a journey. But that was when I understood that there is something more and something is different. Yes. And then I begin, that was when I began to pray. I was like, Lord, erase everything that I've ever taught, you know, and just you teach me. You said the Bible says that you would teach me. That gets me teary-eyed when I even say that. But I would that was my cry was then was like, God, you teach me. I need you. I know I've gone the wrong way for this long, I can't do it again. And so that was when my journey really began.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

And then right after that, didn't you start going up to Pastor Keith's thing? Yes, one of the ones that helped prophesy some of the things on you.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

Yes, and actually, one of the nights uh a bunch of our friends had we were having the service there, but a bunch of the friends were going to his church that night, and I remember sitting on the stairs. We had we were having prayer. So I'm sitting on the stairs of the church, and I was just praying out to the Lord, and he you know started speaking things to me. And I I said, I will never say that. I'm not gonna tell no one that. And the people that went to the church, they come back and they're like, This is what he said, all these things, and it was some of the things that the Lord has spoken to me while sitting on that stairs. I didn't even tell them that. I just sat there back like nothing's going on. It shook me up. Yes, but he really, Pastor Keith has had a huge impact on my life. He was one of the guys who would push me, like, why are you saying it? Why aren't you doing it? But he really and it really pushed me out of my comfort zone because we want to be comfortable and stay in the areas we're familiar with. And he really helped push me out of my comfort zone and um you know to get out there and begin what God had called it.

SPEAKER_01 19:48

Well, I knew you were working and doing things at the worship room. And then when did this begin to be birthed in your heart to do the women's thing that you're doing?

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Yeah, so we were, you know, the worship room we have um in Lake City. It's uh community resource center, but we also do services on Friday nights. We have a Wednesday night recovery service, we do um prayer. It does a lot of things. Um, we do a food um giveaway uh once a month. We also have um emergency baskets for people. We go to the prisons, we go to rehabs, very involved in the community. Yes, yes, and so we had started that, and I was actually working um a job, and I kept feeling for a very long time I had been feeling that I'm supposed to be leaving my job. And I'm like, I like this money that I'm making. I don't want to leave this job. I really enjoyed the job, it was an incredible atmosphere at the job. We were all friends, we would make breakfast together and eat lunch together. It was so much fun, and so it was just awesome. I loved my job, I really did. And the Lord kept putting on my heart, it's time to leave, it's time to leave. And I started even telling a few people that they were like, You should, you should. You know, so I talked to my husband about it, and he's absolutely amazing. Always um supports me even when I'm doing have these crazy ideas that sound crazy. But um, he told me he was like, I support you 100%. He said, Wow, he was like, when you decide that you are putting in your notice, don't tell me, just do it. He said, I fully support you, and I'm finding you 100%. So I still was, you know, not listening and continuing the job, but then it became to where it was I hated going to the job. It was like I couldn't go anymore. It was like every day when I would get up to go, I'm like, I don't, and nothing at the job had changed, but the Lord was you know working in me.

SPEAKER_03 21:32

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

So um, you know, I eventually did um put in my notice, and I didn't tell my husband that day. He works at the same place as me, but he's up in the office in the front, and I was in production. So um that morning I got up and I was wrestling with it, of course. Um, and I go in and I put in my um two week notice, and I didn't know at the same time I didn't tell anyone in the front of the office he was getting a raise. So I'm like I literally was like, okay, God, I see you. And then even the next day, I went somewhere for lunch. I opened the door for a guy. He handed me money. I was like, no, I don't like taking money from people. He's like, take this. I get home, there's a check in the mail. I literally definitely got that check out of the mail. I was like, God, I hear you. I see you. You're gonna provide for us.

SPEAKER_04 22:19

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 22:20

And his raise was more than what I was bringing home.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

Wow. You love, I mean, just your obedience. You know what that unlocks.

SPEAKER_00 22:27

It's scary though. It was definitely scary. Yeah, but wow. Yeah, so that's what brought me off of my job. Um, I couldn't take the Lord just kept working on me. I couldn't be there anymore.

SPEAKER_02 22:39

I love it. Oh, I love how he works.

SPEAKER_00 22:42

Yeah. So that's what started. Um, you know, once I got off of my job, that's actually a specific word that he spoke to me. He said, the longer you stay on this job, the longer you're delaying what I'm calling to do in this city. And I was like, that was big. And so, you know, that was around the time when I did quit. Okay. And so then walking away from that, I started getting together the process of the um it's a nonprofit five 501c3 organization, and I started getting paperwork together, putting the board together, all the things. It took a you know, a little bit of time. But we've been open now for two years. Okay. And we've had about nine women go through the program. Wow. Uh then it's a very strict rules, you know, we have um accountability. Yes. So, you know, we're here to help you, but you have to be willing to help yourself and take responsibility for your actions and you know, helping grow. So um, we've had about nine women, like I say, go through the program, and it's not like a set time. We do say six to nine months. Every woman comes in and they're in a different place. And so I do say, you know, some women come and have been addicted to drugs, some have never been addicted to drugs, some have been through very traumatic things, some have been through divorce or just whatever it is that has set you back. Amen. You know, we want to help you. It is a Bible-centered program, so that's one of the first things that I teach them is you know, their identity with Christ, the foundational biblical truths.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

Amen. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:09

We know it.

SPEAKER_02 24:12

So um that's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 24:14

Yeah, it's been um amazing because for me, even I say uh with the um women's program, I didn't grow up really around drugs. You know, as as a child, younger, you know, eight years old before I moved here, we were more around it. But my mom was never, you know, an addict or drink. So um, I always knew her as a Christian, you know, woman from the time that I can remember. Um, so we never were around that atmosphere. So I was like, when he called me to do this, I'm like, my mind, I'm like, I've never experienced this, and everyone tells you that you have to walk through it first and then you can help the people. So I actually prayed that. I was like, God, how do you expect me to um help these women that I didn't I don't can't relate to their stories, I don't know any of these things. And he said, I'll teach you.

SPEAKER_04 25:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 25:02

And then he's put people around me to help me walk through it. It's been it's been a journey. I'm I it's amazing to see these women who've come in and they're so broken and hurt, and you know, where they are, whenever they come in right away, they're just in flight or front flight mode. Yeah, but you know, after they get settled in and you begin working with them, they just blossom into beautiful women. I tell you, mighty women of God. Yes, beautiful kids, mighty women of God, and some of them are already starting to give back to the community. Wow, and I can even say some of them managers at jobs, um working at doctors' offices. It's absolutely incredible.

SPEAKER_02 25:38

Wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 25:38

So it's it's I'm just God can do anything.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

Yes, he can. And you're right, he can take it as long as we have the father's heart. Like that's what I've seen more than anything, is if you've got that love, like you can do so much with that. Because that's what people are longing for. The connection, the love, and it's not just with us, but with the father. And when you can lead them to that love and they feel that love and they have that encounter, then he can start softening the heart, like you're talking about, and doing the heart work for us. And you know, we know okay, alcohol, drugs, that's just a byproduct of all the stuff that's up underneath. Yes, you know, because we all have the same heart issues up underneath, you know, whether that's rejection, abandonment, anger, bitterness, like there's a lot of things that's underneath that layer, and we're all relatable in that area.

SPEAKER_01 26:33

Yes, yes, kind of insecurities.

SPEAKER_02 26:36

Yes, we might have turned to drugs, alcohol. Mine was shopping, you know, spending excessive amounts of money. Mine looked a little different than my husband's. But we all have something that we turn to other than the Lord. Right. So we do have a commonality. It's just okay, like, what's below that? Like, what are we trying to cover up? Like, what are we not dealing with?

SPEAKER_04 26:54

Right.

SPEAKER_02 26:54

So you're right. I mean, you didn't have to go through that because you're right, you got the father's heart.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

But I had I had to go through a transformation of the mind, yeah. Which is hard. So that's what I tell them all the time. Maybe I haven't gone through these things that you've gone through, but going through coming out of religion and just stepping out into the world and just trying to, you know, get a new identity, a new way of thinking was unbelievably hard.

SPEAKER_01 27:17

Well, they say a religious spirit and a religious mindset is the hardest one to come out of.

SPEAKER_04 27:23

Really?

SPEAKER_01 27:24

They say it's a whole lot harder than drug addiction. And when you talk to people who deal with a lot of deliverance, they say that is the hardest spirit to even come again or break off people. Because people like that, it feels like it's supposed to be right. They know the drugs and the alcohol don't seem like they're supposed to be right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:50

Yeah, so it's funny how the world slaps so many labels on people because uh, you know, someone was an addict or drug, you know, or a drunkard or whatever. Yes. So or you know, had been many multiple partners all the time. And you but you just think about think about the people who are walking in hate and unforgiveness and pride and all the things. It's like, you know, those are conditions of the heart that really you know cause you to stumble and to treat people so horribly. But I just think about we're all I say that we all need help, we all need grace, we need to show grace, and we're all on this journey together. Amen. And we're supposed to be helping each other. Absolutely, the weaker help, the stronger, the stronger helps the weaker. I always say this because you know, sometimes you will get people who come in and they are hard to deal with. And I'm like, they're helping me have self-control and balance and learning to love and forgive correctly. Amen. And then we're helping them to you know turn their life around. So it's all God's beautifully designed it.

SPEAKER_02 28:49

Yeah, we do we may do a lot of married couples, you know, and the Lord showed me really early on in that is like marriage, that's what makes us holy because it really one another, we rub each other the wrong way, yes, you know, and it brings out our flaws, like what's underneath, like what God's wanting to heal and set us free from. Because we can irritate each other the most as spouses, you know. And so, but it's just because God wants to set us free and He wants to heal those places in us, but it don't make the process a lot fun a lot of time, right?

SPEAKER_00 29:22

Yeah, so um this year uh or at the end of this year, um, we just celebrated. My husband and I are 20. So we are 25th anniversary. Wow. Yes, yes, and we have three beautiful children, but I can tell you, like, you know, the journey of ministry and marriage and kids and work and all the things, but uh my husband absolutely is amazing. He's totally opposite of me. He's very calm, very reserved, very reserved, very gentle, very kind to everyone. That's actually what drew me to him was how kind he was to everyone. I was I would watch him and be like, such a nice guy to everyone.

SPEAKER_01 30:01

I love the way he can flow in music. Yes, he's the only person I've ever seen that no matter who gets up there, he can flow with whatever they're doing. They take the lead and he just goes. I'm blessed.

SPEAKER_00 30:14

I'm super blessed.

SPEAKER_01 30:16

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 30:17

I say that a lot, really, because he really does is very anointed with his gifting and music. And um, you know, as a he can speak too.

SPEAKER_01 30:24

He just didn't think he can.

SPEAKER_00 30:26

I'm trying, okay.

SPEAKER_01 30:28

I'm trying. You know, last year at the conference, you had to be light when your son was in the hospital. He just got up and opened like he was a whole probe, you know.

SPEAKER_00 30:37

Yes, and it went and when uh he didn't know what I was gonna be saying, and it went right along with what I was like, God, yes, he's gonna be. Yes, but we definitely are two different personalities. Uh, like I say, he's very calm, very gentle, very reserved, and I'm more like you know, out there all the time. And so it helps to balance, you know, him, it helps to balance me. I've definitely had to learn to get my flesh under subjection. Remember one time when I was even having, we were in the kitchen, I was having a discussion about something, an argument, and I wasn't just running my mouth saying things in the Lord. The Holy Spirit said, Shut your mouth.

SPEAKER_04 31:11

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 31:12

And the issue was actually I knew I was right, but he didn't, and he wasn't saying what he was saying. But um, later on he came back even and was like, You're right, I'm sorry. But sometimes the whole, you know, just letting the Holy Spirit, not sometimes, all the time. Yes, being in tune to what the Holy Spirit is saying because he know what he's doing. Yes, he does, but we don't.

unknown 31:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 31:32

Amen. Yeah, we were just talking about with that with our daughter last night. Just listen to those nudges because when you start ignoring them, it becomes really easy to ignore it completely when you quit listening to those nudges of the spirit. Yes, it becomes harder and harder to hear the more you push it back and push it back and push it back.

SPEAKER_01 31:53

You know, my sister told me something one time that a pastor told her, and I think about this a lot. Everybody likes a green light. We like to run what we want to do, and we recognize the stop sign or the red light. We'll stop. Yeah. But guess what? Most people just go right on through that yellow. They're trying to run it. Me there. That's trying to run it. You know, the Lord is telling us to slow down. Amen. Take a pause, you know, pay attention to your surroundings. And I'm real bad about not wanting to do that one. Me too. Wide open.

SPEAKER_00 32:35

Right. So true. Yeah, no, but it's really, um, I say that a lot. It's a really, it's just we need to take it seriously. Yeah. You know, especially in the times that we're living in, the way the world is going. Yeah. We need to take our walk seriously in the things that God is calling us to do or telling us to do, saying to us, we need to take it not as we have an opinion or an option to do it. This is what the Lord is saying, and we should, yes.

SPEAKER_01 32:59

Didn't he tell you something not long ago about a Yes?

SPEAKER_00 33:03

So recently I went to go sit in my chair to pray, and I had my Bible and I was talking to the Lord. Like people always start off with like, Lord, I want to hear your voice. So I started my prayer. I was like, God, I just want to hear your voice more clearly. And I heard it very clearly. He was like, Many, many, many people say that. Many people say, God, I want to hear your voice more clearly. He said, but then when I speak, they have an opinion about what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_04 33:27

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 33:28

I I just stopped everything. I was like, God help me, please. You know, because that's so true. You know, when he speaks, we decide, oh, I'm not qualified for that, or oh, I don't want to do that, or don't want to say that, because they're gonna think this way of me. You know, and so then, like I was saying earlier, you can change what he said to a bit more urgent of what you want you know to bring out when when we do that, we're totally changing God's plan and what say or do. And so just being that's the thing that I've really been trying to be more aware of is that the Lord speaks, I don't have an opinion. I just need to be obedient and do what he says because you think about how he's already gone before us. You know, it says he knows the plan from the end to the beginning, he's already predestinated. Um, you think about in the Bible when it talks about the Lord had her here at this time to meet with this person or at him. So he already has orchestrated it all. Then sometimes you know we can get in the way by deciding, oh, I have another idea that's better because I don't like how this may feel or yeah, what is gonna say just being aware and in tune to what he's saying. I know there's grace and mercy, you know, and it's about our heart posture. If that's our heart posture, is Lord teach me, help me, show me, we're gonna fall sometimes. Yeah, because it says the righteous men falls, but it what is he gets back up? Yes, you know, so many times. Yeah, so getting back up and it's your heart posture is that you know, I want to do this, and it's not oh well, God knows my heart, so it's fine if I you know, no, our heart posture is that's there's a difference.

SPEAKER_02 34:56

Yes. Thank you. I'm glad you said that.

SPEAKER_00 34:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 35:00

Well, what is your goal or what is the goal plan for each of the women when they come in? What are some of the things that you start them at doing? And what is your end plan?

SPEAKER_00 35:12

So, you know, they come in, um, most of them have been homeless and just come in with the bags that they have back. Some of them have had children. And my goal is to help uh teach them um their identity in Christ. Teach them this um we do parenting lessons, finance classes, life skill classes. It is uh mandatory that they go to church and attend church once a week, and we get them volunteering in the community, uh lots of um things. So that's my goal is to get them connected with the community and what I tell them all the time with safe people. Because you have to get a new circle of friends. So if your friend's group isn't safe and you've done you know things that have uh caused um trauma and you know bad decisions throughout your life, that's the cycle that you keep experiencing. You need to get around a new group of friends. And that's my goal is to help get them to see because if you if they don't see it, they can't understand it. So it's to help them to see the difference of a life serving with Christ. Even I've I've even had girls come in and say, I'm not really into the God stuff. And I'm like, it's okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:17

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 36:18

I'm still gonna teach you what the word says because this is part of our program, and you can do whatever you want with that. But I I tell them if you want your life to be effective with God, you know, it is possible. But by on our own, we're gonna continue all in the deck. Yes. So that is to get them to be able to, you know, have hold a job down, you know, get their kids back, you know, build that relationship with Christ and begin to give back to the community and be healed. You know, that's the thing that I love talking about so much is coming to that healed place. Yes. Because if you are walking throughout your life and you stay in that trauma, fight or flight, and hurt broken place, yeah, that's what you're gonna pour out in your life. And it's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

The other night when we went to the rehab.

SPEAKER_00 37:01

Yes, so fun.

SPEAKER_01 37:02

Oh, I'm telling you, it was just awesome because one of the girls from the program took us to a rehab. She had she had served some time in before she came to Assees. And I'm telling you, she was up there ministering like she was a pro. Yes. She was a pro. Yes, she's the one that's going to do that is helping to get that youth revival together. Okay. Yes, she was a powerhouse.

SPEAKER_00 37:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 37:32

Look what God can do with your surrender. I'm telling you, she is like when she started telling me some of her testimony, I thought, no, uh. You know what I'm saying? Because she she just looks like she's been a pro her whole life.

SPEAKER_02 37:46

Amen.

SPEAKER_01 37:47

What God can do. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 37:49

How do ladies find you? So, like, what's that process look like?

SPEAKER_00 37:53

So we have a website, um, destinedforpurpose.org. Okay. And um also in the community, you know, people know. So if they find someone, they'll call me. So in the community, what we do. Um, we are a very small still organization. I my plan is to grow and expand and be able to help more women. But um, you know, people reach out to me. I've even had people like, there's a lady walking down the road, can I have her call you? You know, I would love to help is you know, people who are willing to put in the work to help themselves. But I would say you cannot um force someone. That's not our job. No, God doesn't force us to know him, he gives us our will. And so I'm the same way with him. He gives us our will. If they're willing to put in the work, then you know we do several interviews with them and just to make sure that um you know where they are.

unknown 38:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 38:40

So that's how people have reached us. Our website, um, we just uh recently put that up last year. Then also we do have a Facebook um destined for purpose page also can reach us through that, also.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

Well, aren't you in the process of trying to get a couple more houses?

SPEAKER_00 38:58

Yes. So yesterday we had um uh Zoom call with an attorney. We're working on getting the paperwork together for these two properties. Two houses that are right next to each other. One of the properties that we have we rent, so we have the opportunity to buy both of these properties for an amazing price. It's like, whoa, this is this is totally gone. And it's not a road that's just by itself, um you know, uh, with these two houses and a church on the other side. So yeah, it's been amazing. And so about this year we'll be purchasing two houses. Amen. And it does need a lot of work. Um, we have root to do roof, subtic tanks, all the things, but they're gonna be nice, you know, when we get done with it.

SPEAKER_03 39:38

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 39:39

But I just see God opening doors and doing a lot.

SPEAKER_02 39:43

All right, this is exciting. So, I mean, so if somebody wants to be a part of what you're doing, if they want to sew or give or do, like you know, just partner with you in some kind of way, is is there opportunities for for that to be able to do that?

SPEAKER_00 39:59

Yeah, so um we love that because you know we are uh um run by the community okay donors. We don't we haven't received any grants from the government or anything yet. I don't want to do anything that's gonna put restrictions on how we run the program.

SPEAKER_03 40:13

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 40:13

I'm not very familiar with grants, so if there's any people out there who knows about grants that can help us out, please contact us. I would love that. But yes, um, on our website, um you scroll down to the bottom of the page and there is a donate. So if you want to donate. And our program right now is fully run by volunteers. Okay, and you know, it does cost money to run much more than you can think, you know, to run a program like this. So, you know, there's not paid staff on salaries, all volunteer at this time, and so all of the proceeds go directly to helping. Like I say, we are we vet these ladies that are coming in very well and make sure that we're spending the money wisely. You know, I I'm a huge um believer in that, making sure that you handle the resources that God gives us correctly. So, you know, it goes it's going to a good cause. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 41:05

Like you know, when I first met you, we were all like a bright dog.

SPEAKER_00 41:11

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_01 41:12

Look how far God has brought everything in your life, what all he can do it.

SPEAKER_00 41:19

Yeah, I say that it's God all the way because, like I say, I'm from the back, way back, nothing. And really, you know what God can do when we give him our yes, surrender, not try to get in the way.

SPEAKER_01 41:36

Well, you know, all of us were up at Moravian Falls seeking something, and we didn't know that we were coming back to this.

SPEAKER_00 41:43

Right to work together.

SPEAKER_01 41:45

I'm serious.

SPEAKER_00 41:46

Yes. So, did y'all know each other at this point? No, we never met.

SPEAKER_01 41:49

We never met and just had just met there at this place. Yes. Yeah. Now she was from Lake City. I was living over in Brantford in my friend's travel trailer. We ended up in Moravian Falls. How far is that from here? About eight or nine hours.

SPEAKER_00 42:05

The Carolinas. The Carolinas.

SPEAKER_01 42:07

Okay, so look at God. And okay. I'm telling you, there were so many miraculous things that happened there. But I got connected with Asie. April rode with us from the worship room, and it just turned into a little glorious thing. Yes. When God makes connections, he makes it right. Right, right. Amen. And I feel like I've just kind of everywhere Asie's gone, I've kind of been kind of behind her.

SPEAKER_00 42:37

No, I'm very blessed. I honestly can say this. I feel so blessed to have Roddy as a friend. Um, that's one thing I was praying. Like, God, I need people to be praying for this, praying for me. And she sends me a verse every morning and she's praying for me constantly. Yeah. And I say that's the most important way that people can help is to pray.

SPEAKER_02 42:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 42:57

So I'm so grateful for you, Roddy.

SPEAKER_01 42:59

Well, thank you, God. Amen. God puts us with the right people, and it's it's people who help push us. Yes. Because anybody that does not know Asie, she is a pusher. She can push you into those spots that she knows you're supposed to be going, and she'll help open doors for you and get you into the places you. Wow. She's very intentional about hearing from God, and I think he's supposed to be over here, and she'll just get you going. So amen. You're just walking around in that prophetic.

unknown 43:32

Yes, she is.

SPEAKER_00 43:35

A lot of people you know, come around me, well, you know, you know, this is what they'll be like, well, this is what I feel like. Exactly. This is what the Lord called me to do. What can I do to help you get this started? And they're like, Well, I'm like, No, we've we started a lot of little things, and it's amazing. You know, have these women in the community starting, you know, what God is calling them to do, and having someone to walk alongside you at the start is amazing. I didn't have a lot of people at the start to walk alongside me who would have helped say. Me a lot.

SPEAKER_04 44:01

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 44:02

A lot of you know things that I didn't understand or know, but um having someone to pray with you, to walk alongside you, and to encourage you, because most people don't feel qualified to do what God has called them to do. Because we don't we we're not used to stepping out of our comfort zone.

SPEAKER_01 44:17

Amen. And so most of us have never been to Bible college. We we don't know. And you know what? I grew up, I'm a lot older than y'all. I grew up when women we was good to clean the toilets and and bake a cake for the bake sale. You know, that's all we were really good for, you know. Amen. And I always wanted to be involved in stuff, but they told us you know, that's taboo for women, you know.

SPEAKER_00 44:43

So that's the truth. That would and that was really, I can say that honestly, out of this whole journey, my the hardest thing was stepping out of my comfort zone, just doing the first thing. I would I would just sit and procrastinate for days. I still sometimes catch myself doing that, and then I'll force them and say, Nope, we're not doing that. That was the old person. But procrastinate, and I know that I can't sleep, I can't do anything because the Holy Spirit won't stop talking about it, and I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing, but that's what I used to do, and so having someone to be able to help encourage you and push you forward, it's amazing. So that's what I try to do with other women because I understand it is scary, you know.

SPEAKER_01 45:25

It is scary, and I love that God has put Luan in your your neighborhood, yes, and she turned out to be fabulous, yeah. I love it. And James met her.

SPEAKER_02 45:38

Okay, she came to one of my women's retreats, and what a blessing! Yeah, I mean, that just to watch God move on her the whole weekend was such a blessing, and now she's coming back to serve. She's a I love her, and I just love it because I'm like, God, you know, you just how he brings things full circle and how he moves, and like you're doing, you're equipping these women, pushing them out, helping them and all. And I see that as her heart too. Like she's got this touch from the Lord, and now she's excited to help and to do.

SPEAKER_01 46:11

Well, she's always telling me, I'm trying to get Asie, I'm trying to help Asie with some paperwork. I'm trying to do this for Asie. We have got to get this thing going. And she is she's that one that's stoked in the flames all the time trying to get it moving. She's a doctor, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:28

This is a crazy story. So, you know, way back I had some friends that lived in my neighborhood and they moved away. And it was a friend where you could go with it. We would go up in the morning, get our pajamas, go through the drive-thru. We would come into each other's houses, lay on the couch. It was a friend that was so cozy, it was amazing. But they moved away, and I was like, Oh God, doing all this ministry. I need another friend like that, where I can just have, you know, relax time, chill time, fun time. And um, all of a sudden, one day, and the whole reason why we came together was a total god thing, too. Something that was happening. But um, she all of a sudden, I've lived in this neighborhood that I live in for this year will be 11 years. Oh, wow. And I've just said hi to her in passing. Right. That's terrible. I need to be a better neighbor. Okay, I'm sorry to all my neighbors. But then, you know, within the last year, we kind of became friends, and now she's that friend that I'll just go across the street, knock on her door, go sit down, you know, my pajamas or go get food or whatever it is. I absolutely love her.

SPEAKER_02 47:25

You're right, because that's important in ministry, especially when we're pouring out so much, is just to have that place that you can go and you can just be aszy, and you don't have to to give or do not that that's not your heart's desire, but just to break, you need to rest. Absolutely. There you go.

SPEAKER_01 47:42

She's a person that you can go and get a blizzard with so that's that's the thing with my other friend.

SPEAKER_00 47:49

We would literally, you could call me in 10 minutes and be like, hey, let's go to town. It's like, all right, yeah, we're ready. That's what I can call her and be like, yes, let's go. She's ready. Some people call it two hours or in this minute. I have to get my makeup right now. I'm like, nah, we're going right now. Exactly. And she's ready.

SPEAKER_02 48:06

It must be a thing with the blizzards. That's really funny because my husband and I we have a really good friend, and when we need some chill time, he'll come and we'll go to Dairy Queen and we'll get blizzards, and we'll go sit by the lake, and we'll all just kind of relax and talk and everything. And it's there's just something about that is very I can tell. I've gone through that drive with many ladies and got lots of blizzards. Well, Dairy Queen will be full now. Like, let's keep going on these blizzards are talking about.

SPEAKER_01 48:40

I will gladly, gladly accept it saves you all the business.

SPEAKER_00 48:46

But no, it's fun. You gotta have fun along the journey, you know. It's fun, there's fun, and God is in all of it. So we have to have a time of rest, but then also there's times to work.

SPEAKER_02 48:57

And I love that you just said that because that takes me back because how I knew the Lord was he was mean, he was waiting to correct me, to punish me, to whip me. Yes, like I didn't know him as loving and fun, and he has such a sense of humor. Man, when you get to know it is hilarious, and I'm like, Lord, I know you're laughing up there. You know, because I didn't know him like that. I always thought that he was just this mean father that was just okay, Jade, if you get out of the line, I'm about to whoop you now. Whooping, you know, yeah, right. But he's so fun, and life is so fun with him. I have more joy now than I ever did without him.

SPEAKER_00 49:37

I agree, I agree. That was exactly how you know we grew up too. Everything was no, and it was like if you did something wrong, lightning was about to strike you down.

SPEAKER_01 49:47

That's crazy how we all feel like we're not even allowed to have a pad or anything.

SPEAKER_00 49:52

No, no pads, no, no. It was crazy. Everything was no. I said everything was no, everything was locking up.

SPEAKER_02 50:00

But was that a scene? Yeah, okay. So that's the same thing. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_00 50:04

Everything was a sin. You couldn't shoot gum, you had to wear skirts, you couldn't wear makeup. Well, we could wear light makeup, and um, it was very everything was just, I don't even know, like I sometimes like it seemed it's it wasn't that far back, but it feels like it was so you know far back. But um and even I feel like the Lord protected my mind in that too, because I remember when everything came you know to head, my husband really had a very, very hard time and was really struggling with it all. And people like, we weren't supposed to do this or do this and say this or whatever. And I was like, They said that? I don't remember that, but I really felt like when it broke up, you know, everyone's like, You should leave, you should leave this, all these things. And I kept the first thing that I said was, Lord, what do you want me to do? Yeah, and he said, Stay. And I was actually embarrassed. I was like, I don't want to stay. They're gonna think you know that I'm still a part of what how they believe in all the things, but I understand me staying. It groomed, it helped me to see how ministry was and how to do what I'm doing now. I can honestly say, you know, we started the worship room pretty soon after that. And I if I hadn't have gone through that process that I went through there, I wouldn't have been able to do at the worship room what we did. And so I see that the Lord just follows his voice because he knows even when it sounds crazy and you don't want to do it, people would hate to do that and it's embarrassing, and you all the things still follow his voice because he has a plan in the Well, I know.

SPEAKER_02 51:30

Speaking of that, my husband had to reel me in this past year because I was feeling transition, I was feeling change, like, okay, I just want to do this, I want to, I you know, I'm ready. And he was like, Not yet. Not yet. And I'm like, yes, now, now, now. And he's like, I don't feel the Lord saying that yet. And I'm like, but I do, I do, I'm ready to go. You know, and I was, I thought I was ready. But you're right, when we get if I would have got ahead of him, I would have missed a lot of valuable lessons and a lot of valuable ministry to help us to where we are now.

SPEAKER_01 52:05

And you would have totally missed out on me, wouldn't you?

unknown 52:07

Oh!

SPEAKER_02 52:07

I would have been so full steam ahead, I wouldn't have had time to wait. And so when you're saying your spouse, your partner, that just having somebody that accountability and balance is so important. And it might not be a husband, it might be a Miss Roddy. I mean, she keeps me on track all the time. I love that. Yeah, she does. So like because you push me out of my comfort zone. But it takes us having this, these relationships like we have to keep us anchored, to keep us grounded, and be like, okay, now Jay, get your head out of the clouds, or like you you running ahead of God, you know, and to help us steward what we're what we're all doing in ministry is so important because like I was saying, I would have missed out on what you're talking about. Was it comfortable? Did I want to be there? No. But God showed me so much in six months that if I would have left prematurely, I would have missed out on and would not have grown in. Just out of my selfish desires of like, I just want to be done now.

SPEAKER_00 53:11

Yes, I remember when he you know did finally release me. I was like, oh, the freedom that it felt, you know. But then all the lessons that you learn really are that's the process. We I think of the stories in the Bible, especially like think of Joseph, Moses, um, you know, all of these stories. Um, they had a process, you know, it wasn't just God said you're gonna do this, and the next day, boom, you're done. It's like that's what we want. Yeah, we did. We wanted to be, but it's like Joseph had to go years and years growing and learning. You think of Moses, even Noah building an ark for a hundred years by yourself with just a few people. Literally, you had to go get the wood and cut down these trees. There wasn't you couldn't go to Lowe's. Yeah. So the process that it we don't realize the work that it's doing in our heart. Literally, you know, while we're going through what we're going through, and it's it's big. Wow. So if we miss those steps, we really are gonna have to go back and relearn the things.

SPEAKER_02 54:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:07

So it just delays the journey.

SPEAKER_02 54:09

You think about the children of Israel, you know, delaying the journey when it does we're not being Yeah, because I think you look back, you know, I think we can all say how many times we ran around went around a mountain that we just kept going around. And God was like, I'm trying to tell you here, sister, if you just get this, we can quit going around the same mountain.

SPEAKER_01 54:32

Well, I had a lady call me the other day and she said, Hey, I believe she's 78 years old. She told me she's she was wanting to do something, and the Lord told her, He said, I've already had the plan. Would you just listen to me? He said, Why do you have to always do things the hard way? I'm trying to take you the easy way.

SPEAKER_04 54:50

Yeah, yes.

SPEAKER_01 54:51

And you know what? We're just like the children of Israel. So often we won't what we won't. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 54:58

That's a word the Lord uh gave me back a while back. He said, I'm bringing back the fear of the Lord to the Oh yes. Because if we don't respect him and have you know that reverence for him, this is why we take our ideas over what he's saying. And so when we really understand, I really I always say this, we don't really know and understand how big he is. Because really his um the plans that he has for us, we say we say it all the time, his plans for us are good and all these things, but then when it really comes down to it, is our heart matching those words. Because when our heart becomes aware of that, we begin to walk with that reverence and honor and fear and really begin to you know be surrendered to that. You know, and so I think of that often.

SPEAKER_01 55:38

So many times I think about Catherine Coleman, and she was so very precise about the way things. And she said, the Holy Spirit is just like the dove we symbolizing with the dove. And she said, That dove, you make a bunch of noise or act stupid, that dove's gonna fall. And she said, We never want to do anything, we are here to make sure that we do nothing to offend the Holy Spirit. We want the Holy Spirit to do whatever he wants to do. And so often I think about that because people we get these little agendas, even when we're gonna have a Bible study or we're gonna have a women's retreat. Sister So-and-so needs to speak for 8.73.

SPEAKER_00 56:25

Right, right. And the fog needs to turn on at this time, the flashing lights at this time. Yes, right.

SPEAKER_02 56:32

We got a whole production, man.

SPEAKER_01 56:34

And you know what we when we get done, we're down to that two or three minutes, and we're gonna let God do something.

SPEAKER_00 56:41

It's so sad and terrible. I hate that, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 56:43

And yeah, and it's really when you go and study the great revivals, God would just come in and bust everything up and it's always what we don't expect.

SPEAKER_00 56:52

Yes, that's the problem. We don't expect it, so that's why we're bucking against it. Yeah, and it's like he already said that you know he's working this way.

unknown 57:00

And you know what?

SPEAKER_00 57:03

Right.

SPEAKER_01 57:04

On the day of Pentecost, they thought they were all drunk.

SPEAKER_00 57:07

Right, right.

SPEAKER_01 57:08

That's not always dignified and pretty. No, no, yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 57:13

Yeah, that's very true. I talk about that a lot too. The Holy Spirit, he should be our best friend. Yeah, and he says, I'm here to lead you, to guide you, to teach you. But if you don't learn to get acquainted with his voice, get acquainted with you know the things that he does, and because we're never gonna be acquainted with how he works, because it's not gonna be this, you know it's gonna be in the boundaries of the Bible, but it's not gonna be the same. And you see that in the Bible. Jesus didn't do this. How do you see any of the stories the same? You know, touching someone, putting mud on someone's eyes, all different things. It's always done differently. The word like, well, I was at a church and they did it like this, and this happened, so we need to do that at our church. Right. Every I always said this, every city, every region has principalities and powers, and the God has specifically placed people in that region to break down those principalities and powers and do something. So you need to follow what God has called you to do, not what everyone's doing. I even say you hear people say, Oh, I've been in this church for 30 years, my dad used to go here. Is that where God called you to be? Right. Because you're just in that cycle now. You're not even following what God is saying. In a cycle, because my family here, my great-grandpa, and all these people are here. I'm here to say, is this where God has planted you? Because every one of us have a purpose. Yes. But we need to be in tune to the Holy Spirit, and he's not this never looks like what we thought.

SPEAKER_01 58:29

Well, remember how we went to Moravian Falls. One thing that Robert Slayer said, and and listen, all the speakers were good, but that one phrase stayed with me the whole time. He said, I don't care if you don't buy my books or whatever. He said, Go to the library, go somewhere. He said, Read about these great moves of God. He said, along with your Bible. And he said, be familiar with the ways that God moves, because some of it's gonna be unusual. And in these last days, he's gonna bring a lot of stuff back that people have not seen. He said, be familiar with it so you can tell people, oh, we don't have to be afraid. This happened in the you know, here and and show people things. Because people are real quick to believe new age over the Bible.

SPEAKER_00 59:16

Well, they don't know the Bible. I would say that if you don't know the Bible, you cannot, you can't say I'm a Christian, I'm following the Bible. You don't know what you're following, you're following your own ideas and your own perceptions.

SPEAKER_02 59:26

Yes, maybe I'm gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 59:27

Yes, one time I tell you a story real quick. Uh I was uh going to town and um I had a bunch of things I was doing that day, and the Holy Spirit was like, go to Publix. And then I was getting a fight, like, I don't need to go to Publix, I don't need nothing at Publix. But then it couldn't, I passed Publix, even drove right past it and go to Publix. I couldn't say go to Publix. I like turn back around now. I and I had this thing where I don't like to go in a store and come out without something. Really strange. But so I'm like, I don't need nothing to you. I think I even grabbed a basket because I didn't really need anything. So I got a basket, I walk in public stuff.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:00

But this is gonna look weird if I just walk in here in a grocery store and walk out nothing.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:04

There's nothing in your in your purse or something. Give me that can of corn. So I was like, okay, so I grabbed a basket, I go in there, and I'm just kind of walking. I'm like, okay, God, I'm in public. All of a sudden I come around the corner and I met someone. Oh, and we had a conversation probably 30 minutes, a very hurt and broken person. And I talked, we had a conversation, like I say, about 30 minutes, and when I left, I was like, that was the exact reason.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:30

Yeah, so you this like I say, you don't know what you know. Another time that happened when my son was firstborn, and this was when I wasn't even heartily seeking God. Um, I we were buying a house, I needed to go sign the paperwork at the bank. And my husband said, You need to go to the bank, it's Friday. Because back in the day, the bank's not open on Saturday. So I'm like, okay, I'll go to the bank, sign the paperwork, and put the check in the bank and do it on your phones or stuff. So I I'm driving to the bank the whole way to the bank, the whole time I was at home saying, Don't go to the bank, don't go to the bank. And I'm like, but my husband said, Go to the bank. I have to. If I don't do this, we have to wait till Monday to be able to fill out this paperwork. So I'm like, going to the bank the whole way there. I'm like, I, you know, I'm I'm fighting about going to the bank in my mind. So I pull into the bank, I pull into a parking spot, and I was about to get out of the car and I couldn't. So I'm like, Don't go to the bank. I back up, I go through the drive-thru. So now I'm going through the drive-thru, you can't sign paperwork through the drive-thru. I'm like, I'm just gonna deposit the check. The lady comes, the teller comes, you know, takes my check in and doesn't come back for a while. She comes back, I can't do anything with this. We just got robbed. I was like, I just sat there, I'm like, I had my baby, he was under one. He would have been in there with me, and the person was armed. So I was like, you know, that that Holy Spirit knows what Yes, he does.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:45

Yes, he does.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:46

Listen to him, people, please.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:49

Hey, yes. Because sometimes we hear something that our spouse might not hear.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:54

Right.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:54

You know, and it's not that they're not hearing from God, but if he's impressed it on your heart, there's a reason. And not to ignore that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:03

Right.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:04

Because I don't always understand. I'll just be honest. Sometimes Kyle will hear something, I'm like, well, I didn't hear that. Right. Or then or vice versa. You know, and it's really not about who's right or who's wrong. It's just like if you have that quickening and you know that you know that you know that it's a no or a yes or whatever, just being obedient to that and just be like, hey, can you trust me in this? I can't shake it, I can't get away from it. Like this keeps coming up. Like we really need to obey this.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:30

Yes. I want to hear another story. I'm telling too many stories.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:33

No, no, I love this.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:36

So um one time, you know, me and her husband went to a conference um a couple years back, and we're sitting in this conference, and we'd already been, you know, there for a couple days, so we're paying for hotels, food, gas, all the things. And he leans over and he's like, I feel like we're supposed to give a thousand dollars. Like so I like immediately was like, What? A thousand dollars? How much money we're already spending here, and all these things coming through my mind. But then the Holy Spirit started talking to me, and I was like, saying, you know, if this is what he's saying, you know, don't uh reject it. So I leaned over and I was like, okay, I was like, if that's what you feel, this was a couple of minutes, it wasn't a right-away. This was a couple of minutes of me like wrestling. And so um, I'm like, you know, is uh if that's what you really feel, do that. I said I'm totally fine with that. Do that. If that's what you feel to do. So we we did it. We're coming home um from the conference, and we don't even ever do this. We checked our mail, we're like, let's check the mail on our way home. We got on our way home in the ch the mailbox, a check bigger than the amount that we gave, sitting in the mailbox, something that we totally didn't even expect. I was like, okay, God, sit me down, please.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:46

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:47

Oh you gotta you cannot outgive him, you cannot outdo him. Like, you know, he just always shows up and blesses it.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:55

Yeah. I was like, can you imagine though if I had a pitch to fit and no, we're not doing it, and then he didn't do it. Like, you know.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:01

That's good. I love these God stories. I could sit and just listen to this all day.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:08

But I really uh think too, I understand that you have to go through it to um understand it. So some of the times when you didn't do what he said, and versus the time when you did, and you see the results, you're like, okay, I'm learning something. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:23

Do you know how many times I didn't obey? And how many times I got kicked on my head hard. And I'll tell you what, every time you do it his way, and and I'm gonna tell you I didn't I didn't want a building. I mean, I wanted that anymore. I didn't know. And then pastor Pete had a vision, and now this vision is taking up a lot of this. He told me he said you even think about that. He said, This doesn't have any.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:10

No, that's so true because me and Kyle were we were at a conference too one time, and the Lord told us again, and we were like, we don't really got that much more. You know what's in our bank account. It ain't that much. And um, and we just looked and he was like, I was like, You'll just give $50, and I was like, Yeah, that'll be good. And um, I said, Did you hear something else? And he was like, I did. I was like, I did too. He was like, Do we really want to give that? And I was like, Not really, but yes, right, but you're right. But then he shows up and he blesses you extravagantly, you know, for what you do. But me and him both, I mean, like, we could have so easily been just like, yeah, fifty dollars a week.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:56

Just just go with that. That's all easier. I came home in my Husband had taken all the furniture. I didn't have any furniture in my life. And he said, Well, you didn't like it. And he said, Somebody came along and needed it desperately. He said, their house had burned. And he said, God's going to provide you with something else. He said, I just know it. And he said, You didn't like this. It didn't fit right in here. And I thought, okay, you know, the next morning somebody showed up my house and gave me some furniture. And I'm like, God told us that you needed this furniture. It is it's set in our formal living room. And we're going to do something different in there. Nobody ever uses furniture. Well, when you get your new house, uh, are there any furniture or anything like that that you're going to need? Could people donate that? Or are you just accepting cash?

SPEAKER_00 1:06:53

What are the boundaries of what you have room for and what you can take? So right now we um our we do take donations um for um you know the things for the house. We also do, I forgot to mention this, we do collect things now, also and we yard sales. Then all the proceeds goes towards helping the women in the house.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:15

And so that is a thing that we do um take right now. We I have been collecting furniture. We are um looking for resources though. Like we um need to put a septic system in that's very expensive. And we need to get a roof on both of the properties, uh cabinets in the one of the houses is really bad too. We need to put new kitchen cabinets. Okay, so we have um needs like that too. And if even I we always say if you want to personally pay the company that's doing it, or come and do the work for us, with that too. But um, yeah, there's a lot of needs um that we do um need with the taking on these two properties.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:51

So like your own after all of these needs you met, you're into doing some other things. Would you come back and update us about other things that you have?

SPEAKER_00 1:08:02

Yeah, absolutely. Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:05

Amen. Yeah, because we gotta keep hearing the rest of the story and what God's doing. Yes, He's doing big things.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:11

Yes, and I just want to always end with encouragement, um, someone that you know, feeling unqualified, you know, one of my favorite verses is God takes the um foolish things of the world, the things that you know we would consider as nothing, and turns it into something beautiful. So just um knowing that it's not according to your power, your strength, your wisdom.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:31

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:32

Surrender yourself to God and continue to put in the steps, you know, He's gonna lead you and guide you into what He's called.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:40

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:41

Oh, that's good. And thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:45

Thank you for coming. I mean, this this fills me up. I mean, you know, when they say Evans, it was like your love tank gets filled up, but it is, it's just like there's so much joy hearing what God is doing for so many people, and that was our vision and our heart was to give women a platform to share what God's doing and how he's using them and how he's showing up. And so you've been such a blessing. So thank you for coming and giving your time, you know, to sit with us.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:14

Thank you. I appreciate you guys.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:16

Yes, amen. You want to pray us out, Lord?

SPEAKER_01 1:09:20

We just thank you for this day and this fellowship. And Lord, I ask that you bless each and every person listening to this broadcast, but also bless each and every woman here. Yes, Lord, we call in all the needs for Asie's ministry, for Colin J's ministry. Lord, whatever is needed, you are God who is big enough to supply all the needs. And we thank you and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.