Gordon: A WOMAN LOOKING
FOR LOVE --
I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO
BE ALONE.
Gordon: DISCOVERS IT IN
AN UNLIKELY PLACE.
I JUST CAME TO DONATE
CLOTHES AND SEE HOW I CAN
HELP MEET THE NEEDS AND
INSTEAD I MET GOD.
Gordon: ON TODAY'S "700
CLUB INTERACTIVE."
ON "700 CLUB INTERACTIVE,"
WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO PRAY
FOR EACH OTHER AND EXPLORE
TOPICS THAT MATTER TO YOU.
WATCH WHAT GOD IS DOING IN
THE WORLD TODAY.
WELL, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
NO MATTER THE ECONOMIC
CLIMATE, THE PEOPLE OF
AMERICA HAVE PROVEN THEIR
COMMITMENT TO HELPING THOSE
IN NEED.
JUST IN 2012, AMERICANS GAVE
OVER $316 BILLION TO
CHARITIES AND DONATED OVER
7.9 BILLION HOURS OF THEIR
TIME.
Terry: ELAINE CHIA IS
ONE OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS.
AS A TEEN MOM, SHE
UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT MEANT TO
BE ALONE AND IN NEED.
AFTER DEALING WITH REJECTION
FROM HER FAMILY, ELAINE
MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO TO
START A BETTER LIFE.
ALTHOUGH BECOMING FINANCIAL
SECURE, SHE STILL FELT A
VOID IN HER HEART, UNTIL
ELAINE BEGAN HELPING THE
HOMELESS IN HER COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS ELAINE CHIA.
THEY CALL ME MRS. CHIA.
I GREW UP IN THE SUBURBS OF
SACRAMENTO, 12 YEARS TO
ABOUT 16, I JUST PRETTY MUCH
DID WHAT I WANT BECAUSE MY
PARENTS WERE WORKING
MULTIPLE JOBS.
I WAS YOUNG AND REBELLIOUS.
BROKEN HOME.
NO ONE WAS EVER THERE.
WE'D HAVE PARTIES AND INVITE
EVERYONE OVER.
AND A LITTLE CONFUSED WITH
WHO I WAS AS A YOUNG
ADOLESCENT.
YOU KNOW, GROWING UP, THEY
CALLED ME NAMES, BEING
ASIAN.
AND YOU'RE JUST CONFUSED
ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.
AND YOU GO LOOKING, YOU
KNOW, FOR COMFORT IN THE
WRONG PLACES.
RELATIONSHIP AND MONEY,
MATERIAL THINGS, AND YOUR
OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I WAS VERY AMBITIOUS.
I HAD A JOB AT 12,
BABY-SITTING NEIGHBORHOOD
KIDS.
14 YEARS OLD, I WORKED FOR
K.F.C., AND DURING THAT TIME
I WAS DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR
LIFE, AS FAR AS WORKING AND
NOT DEPENDING ON MY FAMILY,
BUT REALLY JUST DEPENDING ON
MYSELF TO MAKE IT.
AT 16 YEARS OLD, I BECAME A
YOUNG TEENAGED MOM.
AND THAT WAS THE TURNING
POINT IN MY LIFE.
I WAS REJECTED BY MY FAMILY
BECAUSE I WAS A YOUNG MOM.
THEY WERE JUST IN SHOCK, AND
THEY SAID YOU CAN'T LIVE
HERE.
IT WAS EMBARRASSING FOR
THEM.
AND SO I LEFT SACRAMENTO AND
I CAME TO SAN FRANCISCO.
YOU SEE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS,
THE BIG CITY.
AND THE OTHER THING I SAW IN
THE STREET WAS A LOT OF
HOMELESSNESS, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING I DIDN'T SEE IN
SACRAMENTO.
I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO BE
ALONE.
AND ON YOUR OWN.
WHEN I SAW THE HOMELESSNESS
ON THE STREETS, I WAS
AUTOMATICALLY COMPELLED TO
HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE
IN NEED.
ON MY LUNCH BREAK, I WOULD
BUY TWO BAR RET TOES,
BURRITOS, ONE FOR ME AND ONE
FOR SOMEONE ON THE STREET.
I WOULD GIVE THEM A
BLANKET.
EVERY TIME I WOULD TALK TO
SOMEONE ON THE STREET, THEY
WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT
THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHO JESUS WAS
OR WHO GOD WAS.
I JUST KNEW I DIDN'T WANT TO
GIVE THEM MONEY FOR DRUGS.
I JUST WANTED TO MEET
WHATEVER NEED.
MY COUSIN, WHO HAD JUST
GIVEN HER LIFE TO JESUS,
FOUND THIS HOME MISSION
CHURCH, THAT REACHED OUT TO
THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
THE MINUTE I WALKED THROUGH
THESE DOUBLE-GLASS DOORS,
THERE WAS THIS UNDENIABLE
PRESENCE OF LOVE.
I STILL DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO
DEFINE WHAT LOVE WAS, AND
THAT SECURITY THAT I WAS
LOOKING FOR.
AND OUT OF NOWHERE, I START
CRYING, UNCONTROLLABLY, AND
I THOUGHT, I'M AN
INDEPENDENT WOMAN.
I'M NOT UPSET.
I'M NOT DEPRESSED.
I'M FINE.
I WAS JUST BALLING, OUT OF
CONTROL.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I
WAS CRYING ABOUT.
AND I WAS AUTOMATICALLY IN
LOVE WITH THE ATMOSPHERE AND
THE PEOPLE.
SO I WENT HOME AND I LIT A
CANDLE AND I STARTED TO READ
HIS WORD.
AND HIS WORD BECAME VERY
ALIVE IN ME.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE THIS
REVELATION, LIKE, OH, MY
GOSH, THIS IS REAL.
IT'S NOT JUST A BOOK, A
REALLY GOOD LITERATURE
BOOK.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY
TOUCHED MY HEART.
SCALES FELL OFF OF MY EYES,
AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE
TRUTH.
AND WHAT WAS TRUE LOVE AND
WHAT WASN'T TRUE LOVE.
I GAVE MY LIFE TO CHRIST
WHEN I WAS 23 YEARS OLD.
AND NOTHING MADE ME FEEL AS
FREE AND COMFORTED AND
PEACEFUL THAN HIS WORD AND
BEING AROUND HIM AND
WORSHIPPING HIM.
IT IS LIKE YOU'RE IN LOVE
WITH THIS GOD THAT YOU CAN'T
SEE, BUT YOU KNOW -- THERE
IS AN UNDENIABLE PRESENCE OF
WHO HE IS.
HE IS RIGHT THERE, RIGHT
WITH YOU.
HE HAS PROTECTED YOU ALL OF
THESE YEARS.
HE HAS ALLOWED YOU TO GO
THROUGH SOME OF THE
HARDSHIPS AS A CHILD BECAUSE
HE WAS PREPARING ME FOR, YOU
KNOW, SOMETHING GREATER.
THAT LOVE THAT I FIRST CAME
IN WITH WAS THAT UNDENIABLE
PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT JUST
OVERWHELMED ME.
I JUST CAME TO DONATE
CLOTHES AND SEE HOW I CAN
HELP MEET THE NEEDS.
INSTEAD I MET GOD.
Gordon: AND YOU CAN
MEET HIM, TOO.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
WELL, YOU JUST ASK FOR IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LIKE
ELAINE, WHERE YOU SAY, OKAY,
I'M GOING TO TRY TO HELP
OTHER PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH HARD
TIMES.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE.
LET'S GO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
AND IN THAT PROCESS, SHE MET
HIM.
YOU CAN MEET HIM RIGHT WHERE
YOU ARE.
AND YOU CAN DO IT VERY
EASILY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK
HIM.
IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT
PRAYERS.
JESUS, IF YOU'RE THERE, IF
THIS IS REAL, IF YOU REALLY
CAME TO BE THE SAVIOR OF THE
WORLD, COULD YOU COME TO ME
AND COULD YOU BE MY SAVIOR?
COULD YOU SHOW ME THAT
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
I HEAR ABOUT IT, READ ABOUT
IT, BUT I WANT TO KNOW IT.
I WANT TO EXPERIENCE IT.
AND IF YOU PRAY THAT WITH
ALL OF YOUR HEART, THE BIBLE
SAYS THAT WHEN YOU SEEK ME
WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART,
YOU'LL FIND ME.
IT ALSO SAYS DRAW NEAR TO
GOD, AND HE'LL DRAW NEAR TO
YOU.
AND ELAINE EXPERIENCED THAT
MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD,
WHERE IT'S THERE.
IT IS LIKE THE LIGHT TURNS
ON.
SHE SAYS THE SCALES FELL OFF
MY EYES.
YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S TRUE,
THAT HE'S THERE FOR YOU.
THAT HE'LL GUIDE YOU, HE'LL
PROTECT YOU.
IF YOU FACE DIFFICULTIES IN
YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN WALK
THROUGH THEM WITH HIM.
AND YOU CAN HAVE THAT SAME
PEACE AND THAT SAME JOY THAT
YOU SAW IN HER EYES.
THAT CAN BE REAL FOR YOU.
AND YOU CAN EXPERIENCE IT
EVERY DAY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK
FOR IT.
NOW, IF YOU WANT HELP WITH
THIS, IF YOU WANT HELP WITH
THIS PRAYER -- MAYBE THERE
ARE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE
WHERE YOU THINK GOD CAN'T
FORGIVE ME FOR THIS -- THE
GOOD NEWS IS YES, HE CAN.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK
HIM.
IF YOU WANT HELP WITH THE
PRAYER, JUST CALL
1-888-777-1999.
I WANT TO KNOW IF GOD IS
REAL?
WILL HE SHOW UP FOR ME?
WILL HE BEEN A SAVIOR FOR
ME?
WHEN YOU CALL, WE HAVE A NEW
PACKET FOR YOU.
THE PHONE CALL IS FREE, THE
PACKET IS FREE.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET IT
IS CALL US AND ASK FOR IT.
1-888-777-1999.
TERRY?
Terry: , WELL, COMING
UP, A LOVE TRIANGLE WITH NO
BOUNDARIES.
FIND OUT HOW ONE COUPLE
FOUND THE ANSWERS THEY
NEEDED TO SAVE THEIR
MARRIAGE, AFTER THIS.
Terry: FOR YEARS CATHY
AND CHARLIE PANOSH WERE
INVOLVED IN A LOVE TRIANGLE
THAT ALMOST RUINED THEIR
MARRIAGE.
AND THE THIRD PARTY WAS
PLASTIC.
THE COUPLE RACKED UP $30,000
IN CREDIT CARD DEBT BEFORE
THEY FOUND A SOLUTION THAT
SAVED THEIR FINANCES AND
THEIR MARRIAGE.
Reporter: AS A NEWLY
MARRIED COUPLE, CHARLIE AND
CATHY FELL INTO A TRAP THAT
ENSNARES MANY YOUNG COUPLES,
BUYING ON CREDIT.
WE'LL GET IT NOW AND PAY
FOR IT LATER.
IT WILL BE OKAY.
WE'LL JUST PAY A LITTLE BIT
AT A TIME.
AND THAT STARTED THE CYCLE
AND IT JUST SPIRALLED
DOWNWARDS.
Reporter: THE COUPLE'S
DEBT GREW UNTIL THEY OWED
$30,000 ON THEIR CREDIT
CARDS.
FROM THERE IT GREW WORSE.
CHARLIE LOST HIS JOB SELLING
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WHEN HIS
COMPANY DOWNSIZED.
THERE WAS RENT DUE AND
FOOD BILLS AND ALL OF THE
OTHER BILLS.
AND CAR AND INSURANCE.
Reporter: EVENTUALLY
CHARLIE AND CATHY DECLARED
BANKRUPTCY.
THE FINANCIAL STRESS TORE AT
THEIR MARRIAGE.
OUR WHOLE WORLD WAS
FALLING APART.
WE WERE SPIRALLING DOWNWARD
AND DOWNWARD AND DOWNWARD
AND DOWNWARD AND DOWNWARD.
Reporter: DURING THIS
TIME, CHARLIE LEARNED ABOUT
TITHING FROM "THE 700 CLUB,"
AND BELIEVED IT WAS TIME TO
PUT THOSE PRINCIPLES TO THE
TEST.
BUT CATHY, WHO PAID THE
BILLS, DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW
THEY COULD GIVE MONEY THEY
DIDN'T HAVE.
IT'S THAT KIND OF THING,
CHARLIE.
IF WE TITHE AND DO THIS FULL
10%, SOMETHING IS NOT
GETTING PAID.
TRYING TO CONVINCE ME
THERE IS BETTER THINGS RIGHT
NOW WE CAN PUT THAT MONEY
TO.
AND ONCE WE GET OUT OF THE
DITCH, THEN WE'LL START
GIVING.
Reporter: CHARLIE HAD
STARTED A NEW JOB AS A MUSIC
INSTRUCTOR, BUT HE REALIZED
TO SAVE HIS MARRIAGE AND GET
THEIR FINANCES ON TRACK, HE
NEEDED TO TURN TO GOD.
HOW DO I SAVE THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU PUT
TOGETHER.
MONEY SHOULD NOT BE THE
THING TO TEAR WHAT YOU PUT
TOGETHER APART.
Reporter: CHARLIE
CONVINCED CATHY TO TRUST GOD
WITH THEIR FINANCES.
I THINK VERY SHORTLY
AFTER THE BANKRUPTCY, EVEN
WITH HIM AND I KIND OF STILL
BUTTING HEADS ON THE 10%, I
FINALLY JUST SAID, OKAY, I'M
JUST GOING TO TRUST AND I'M
GOING TO DO IT.
I'M GOING TO START IT RIGHT
AND DO IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE
THE SAME MISTAKE.
Reporter: CHARLIE AND
CATHY WERE FINALLY IN
AGREEMENT, AND BEGAN TO
TITHE FAITHFULLY.
AND AS PROMISED, GOD BLESSED
THEIR GIVING.
TODAY THESE CBN PARTNERS
HAVE PAID OFF NEARLY ALL
THEIR DEBT.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT GOD'S
PRINCIPLES OF TITHING AND
GIVING DO WORK.
WE WENT INTO IT
WHOLEHEARTEDLY, DEVOTED, ON
THE SAME PAGE, AS A UNITED
FRONT, AND IT WORKED.
Terry: WE WANT YOU TO
UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT
GOD HAS OUTLINED IN HIS WORD
THAT OPEN OUR LIVES UP TO
BLESSING.
TITHING IS NOT OUR IDEA.
IT'S GOD'S IDEA.
HE INVITES US TO BE A PART
OF A GREAT ADVENTURE WITH
HIM.
AND YOU KNOW AT THE SAME
TIME, HE IS TEACHING US TO
TRUST HIM AND SHOWING US WHO
HE IS AS OUR FATHER AND
PROVIDER, HE IS USING US TO
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE IN
NEED.
WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO BE
PART OF THAT.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO
BELONG TO "THE 700 CLUB."
ONE OF THE REASONS THEY
JOINED IS THEY ARE OUT TO
CHANGE THE WORLD.
WE ARE DOING CLEFT PALATE
SURGERIES, FEEDING THE
HUNGRY, CLOTHING THE POOR,
THERE IN TIMES OF DISASTER,
HELPING WIDOWS AND ORPHANS
TO DIG WELLS AND PROVIDING
CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE IT.
BE A PART OF THAT.
RIGHT FROM THE COMFORT OF
YOUR LIVING ROOM, YOU CAN
MAKE A HUGE DIFFERS.
TO JOIN "THE 700 CLUB," IT
IS $20 A DAY, 65 CENTS A
MONTH.
CALL 1-888-777-1999, AND
JUST SAY, I WANT TO JOIN
"THE 700 CLUB."
OR YOU CAN DO IT BY LOGGING
ON TO CBN.COM.
UP NEXT, ABUSED BY FIVE
MEMBERS OF HER OWN FAMILY.
I ALWAYS HAD THAT
FEELING, THAT FEELING THAT I
WAS DAMAGED GOODS.
AND SO I GOT INTO THE MEN, A
LOT OF MEN, AND TRIED TO
FIND LOVE.
Terry: HOW THIS WOMAN
FOUND TRUE LOVE, AFTER
THIS.
Terry: CHARLOTTE HUNT
WAS A BORN PERFORMER.
EARLY ON, SHE LEARNED THAT
PRETENDING TO SOMEONE ELSE
WAS THE EASIEST WAY TO
ESCAPE HER REAL LIFE.
IT WAS ALSO THE BEST WAY FOR
CHARLOTTE TO GAIN THE
APPROVAL THAT SHE NEEDED SO
DESPERATELY.
I KIND OF ALWAYS HAD THAT
FEELING, THAT FEELING LIKE I
WAS DAMAGED GOODS, THAT I
WAS WORTHLESS.
MY CHILDHOOD STARTED OUT
PRETTY ROUGH.
I WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY
FIVE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY.
AND TWO NEIGHBORHOOD BOYS.
AND I WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSED
BY MY MOTHER AND EMOTIONALLY
ABUSED.
SO THAT FEELING THAT, YOU
KNOW, SOMETHING IS WRONG
WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO CHURCH,
BUT I KNEW THE FAMILY THAT I
SAW AT CHURCH WASN'T THE
FAMILY THAT I WAS LIVING
WITH AT HOME.
IT WAS JUST A PLACE THAT YOU
GO AND YOU PRETEND.
I LEARNED THAT.
AND I JUST CARRIED THAT ON,
YOU KNOW, THROUGH MOST OF MY
LIFE.
I GOT INTO THEATER AND THE
ARTS AND MUSIC REALLY EARLY
WHICH, FOR ME, GAVE ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
ESCAPE.
I CAN PRETEND.
ON STAGE, I COULD BE ANYBODY
THAT I WANTED TO BE.
I COULD ACT.
AND THEN I FOUND OUT, WOW, I
COULD BE SOMEBODY THAT I
WANTED TO BE OFF STAGE.
I COULD PRETEND TO BE A GOOD
GIRL.
I COULD PRETEND TO BE
STRONG.
BUT PERFORMING, I COULD BE
LOVED.
BEFORE I GOT INTO COLLEGE, I
WAS IN JAZZ.
I WAS DOING JAZZ CLUBS.
I GOT INTO MUSICAL THEATER,
TALENT SHOWS AND COMMUNITY
THEATER.
I GOT DISCOVERED WITH
MODELING AND GOT INTO THAT
VERY EARLY.
I WAS DOING ALL OF THOSE
THINGS AND I WAS GETTING
AWARDS AND I WAS GETTING
ACCEPTED.
BUT THE PROBLEM WAS IT
WASN'T ENOUGH.
IT WAS LIKE THIS DRUG, BUT I
KEPT NEEDING MORE.
AND SO I GOT INTO THE MEN, A
LOT OF MEN.
YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO FIND
LOVE.
BUT THEN I WAS FINDING THAT
THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH MEN
THAT WERE FILLING THAT UP.
THERE WAS STILL THAT
EMPTINESS.
I REMEMBER GOING TO A
PASTOR, AND I JUST HAD SOME
QUESTIONS.
AND HIS REPLY TO ME WAS,
CHARLOTTE, I KNOW A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, AND
I'M SORRY TO TELL YOU, BUT
YOU'RE DAMAGED GOODS, AND
GOD IS NEVER GOING TO USE
YOU.
I REMEMBER I HAD TWO
SEPARATE FEELINGS.
ONE WAS RELIEF.
IT WAS RELIEF OH, FINAL AND
I HAVE AN ANSWER.
THAT'S WHAT I AM; I'M
DAMAGED GOODS.
THE OTHER FEELING WAS, I'M
FURIOUS.
NOT AT THAT PASTOR.
I WAS FURIOUS WITH GOD.
I WAS FURIOUS BECAUSE IT WAS
ONCE AGAIN YOU, GOD, JUST
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE -- ALL
YOU'RE ABOUT IS MY
PERFORMANCE.
AT THAT POINT THERE WAS A
PRISON WALL UP.
AT THAT POINT IT WAS BLAM!
NOBODY WILL GET TO MY HEART,
NOT YOU, NOT ANYBODY, AND
ESPECIALLY NOT GOD.
I STARTED HAVING FEELINGS OF
SUICIDE.
SO AFTER SEVEN TIMES OF
TRYING TO COMMIT SUICIDE, I
WAS SO ANGRY AT GOD.
I BLAMED HIM FOR THE ABUSE.
I BLAMED HIM FOR WHY MY LIFE
WASN'T WORKING.
ON TOP OF ALL THAT, HE
WASN'T LETTING ME DIE.
THE LEAST -- IF HE WAS A
LOVING GOD, AT LEAST HE
COULD LET ME DIE.
THE MORNING THAT I WOKE UP
AFTER A SEVENTH FAILED
SUICIDE ATTEMPT, AFTER
TAKING THE BOTTLE SLEEPING
PILLS WITH A NYQUIL CHASER,
NOT ONLY DID I WAKE UP, BUT
I DIDN'T EVEN GET A GOOD
NIGHT SLEEP.
AND I WAS MAD BECAUSE I
REMEMBER WAKING UP AND
GOING, GOD, EITHER YOU HAVE
GOT TO LET ME DIE, EITHER
YOU HAVE GOT TO LET ME DIE
OR YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW ME HOW
TO LIVE BECAUSE THIS IS JUST
NOT WORKING.
AND THAT WASN'T THE WAKEUP
CALL, BUT THAT WAS THE
WAKEUP CALL FOR ME.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN
EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS, BUT
SOMETHING HAD CHANGED IN
ME.
IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE
ROAD OF REDEMPTION FOR ME.
AND THAT ROAD OF REDEMPTION,
WOW!
I FOUND THAT THE ONLY PLACE
THAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND MY
IDENTITY AND MY HOPE, MY
WORTH, MY ACCEPTANCE, MY
LOVE WAS IN CHRIST.
IT WASN'T UNTIL I REALIZED
THAT THAT'S WHERE MY ONLY
HOPE LIED THAT I FOUND MY
WHOLENESS.
LEARNING HOW TO DREAM
AGAIN.
TO LEARN ABOUT LOVING AGAIN,
OPENING MY HEART AGAIN.
LEARNING HOW TO RECEIVE
AGAIN.
TO TAKE DOWN THOSE WALLS
AGAIN.
PRAISE GOD THAT HE HAS
ALLOWED THOSE DAMAGED GOODS
TO BE PLACED IN MY LIFE FOR
HIS GLORY.
NONE OF THOSE THINGS WERE
EVER EXCLUSIONS TO HIS
POTENTIAL, TO HIS LOVE, AND
TO HIS PURPOSE IN MY LIFE.
MY STORY IS NOT ABOUT THE
DAMAGE OR THE DAMAGED GOODS
IN MY LIFE.
MY STORY IS ABOUT HOW HE HAS
USED THE DAMAGED THINGS IN
MY LIFE TO BRING ABOUT HOPE.
Terry: AND THAT'S WHAT
HE DOES.
THAT'S WHY THEY CALL HIM THE
REDEEMER.
JESUS REDEEMS WHAT HAS BEEN
STOLEN, LOST, VIOLENTLY
TAKEN FROM US, WHAT HAS
WOUNDED US.
HE REDEEMS US AND HE GIVES
US THE HOPE THAT CHARLOTTE
IS TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, SHE SAYS SO MANY
PROFOUND THINGS AS SHE
SHARES HER STORY.
ONE, THAT SHE JUST KEPT
TRYING TO FILL THAT EMPTY
HOLE INSIDE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WEREN'T
ENOUGH JOBS, ENOUGH
AUDITIONS, ENOUGH MEN TO
SATISFY HER, TO FILL HER.
BUT NOT SO WITH JESUS.
YOU SEE, WE WERE CREATED
WITH HIM AS THE PIECE THAT
FITS INTO THE EMPTY PLACE IN
OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR
LIVES.
MAYBE YOU, LIKE CHARLOTTE,
ARE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE
LOOKING AROUND.
MAYBE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE
JUST DONE WAY TOO MUCH FOR
GOD TO EVER BE INTERESTED IN
YOU, TO EVER CARE ABOUT YOU,
TO EVER BE ABLE TO FORGIVE
YOU.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T
KNOW HIM.
OUR GOD IS ALL GRACE-FILLED,
ALL MERCIFUL.
HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE
LIFE YOU WERE CREATED TO
HAVE.
AND IT STARTS WITH
SURRENDER.
THAT'S SUCH AN EASY WORD TO
SAY; NOT SUCH AN EASY WORD
TO DO.
BUT CHARLOTTE TALKED ABOUT
THAT A LITTLE BIT AT A
TIME.
ONE BY ONE, AS GOD SHOWED
HER THE THINGS IN HER LIFE
TO NEEDED LETTING GO OF,
THAT SHE NEEDED TO GIVE TO
HIM.
SHE SAID, YES, LORD.
THE GATE THAT HAD GONE UP,
THE BARS AROUND HER HEART,
THE DETERMINATION THAT SHE
WOULD MAKE HER OWN
DECISIONS -- ONE BY ONE ALL
OF THOSE THINGS HAD TO BE
SURRENDERED.
NOT FOR GOD TO LOVE HER.
GOD ALWAYS LOVED HER.
NOT FOR GOD TO BE THERE.
GOD WAS ALWAYS THERE.
BUT FOR GOD TO CHANGE HER SO
THAT SHE COULD RECEIVE HIM
RIGHT INTO THE CORE OF HER
BEING.
AND THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS TO
DO FOR YOU TODAY.
MAYBE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED
TO YOU THAT HAVE CAUSED YOU
TO QUESTION YOUR FAITH, THAT
HAVE CAUSED YOU TO PULL AWAY
FROM GOD, OR EVEN REJECT THE
IDEA THAT HE COULD LOVE YOU
OR BE THERE FOR YOU.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU
CAN'T HAVE A NEW BEGINNING
RIGHT NOW.
ASK HIM.
ASK HIM.
SURRENDER THE THINGS THAT
NEED SURRENDERING IN YOUR
LIFE.
JUST BOW YOUR HEAD IN THE
QUIET OF WHERE YOU ARE AND
SAY, JESUS, COME INTO MY
LIFE.
I AM A SINNER IN NEED OF A
SAVIOR, AND I'M ASKING YOU
TO FORGIVE ME.
I AM RECEIVING YOUR LOVE
TODAY, GOD.
I DON'T DESERVE IT.
I KNOW THAT.
BUT I'M RECEIVING IT AND I'M
ASKING YOU TO TAKE THE
LITTLE THAT I HAVE AND AM
AND DO SOMETHING THAT
MATTERS FOR YOU, FOR YOUR
GREAT NAME, FOR YOUR
KINGDOM'S SAKE.
AND PRAY IT IN JESUS' NAME.
GOD LOVES YOU.
HE CARES ABOUT YOU.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING
SPECIFIC IN YOUR LIFE THAT
YOU'D LIKE TO PRAY WITH
SOMEONE ABOUT, YOU CAN CALL
THIS NUMBER THAT JUST CAME
UP ON YOUR SCREEN,
1-888-777-1999.
THERE IS A FRIEND ON THE
OTHER END OF THE LINE.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GIVE
THEM YOUR NAME.
JUST ASK WHAT YOU'D LIKE
PRAYER FOR, AND THEY WOULD
LOVE TO PRAY WITH YOU
TODAY.
GORDON?
Gordon: WELL, THIS IS
"700 CLUB INTERACTIVE."
AND YOU CAN POST PRAYER
REQUESTS ON OUR Facebook
PAGE, OR QUESTIONS.
AND YOU CAN ALSO TWEET US OR
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS ON
OUR WEBSITE.
WE'VE RECEIVED A Facebook
POST FROM JEWEL WHO SAYS,
"I'M STRUGGLING WITH FEAR
AND LETTING GO OF CONTROL OF
THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN MY
LIFE, HEALTH, MARRIAGE, AND
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY
DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN.
PLEASE HELP ME.
HOW CAN I LEARN TO TRUST GOD
IN ALL THINGS?"
JEWEL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
BIBLE VERSES FOR YOU.
ONE YOU NEED TO PUT IN THE
BACK OF YOUR MIND, AND THAT
IS, PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT
ALL FEAR.
SO IF YOU'RE EVIDENCING FEAR
AND YOU'RE THINKING IN THE
FUTURE BAD THINGS ARE GOING
TO HAPPEN, OR BAD THINGS ARE
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, AND
YOU'VE GOT THAT FEAR OVER
YOU, JUST PRAY AND ASK THAT
GOD'S PERFECT LOVE WOULD
COME TO YOU, THAT HIS PEACE
WOULD COME TO YOU.
NOW, HERE IS SOMETHING FOR
YOU TO MEDITATE ON ACTIVELY,
AND IT COMES OUT OF THE
ROMANS IN THE EIGHTH
CHAPTER: "ALL THINGS WORK
TOGETHER FOR GOOD."
FOR WHO?
"FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND
ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS
PURPOSE."
JEWEL, YOU LOVE GOD.
JUST GET THAT STRAIGHT.
YOU LOVE GOD.
AND YOU'RE CALLED.
AND REALIZE YOU'RE CALLED
ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
SO ALL THINGS CONCERNING
YOU, WHETHER IT IS YOUR
MARRIAGE, YOUR CHILDREN,
YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, ALL
THINGS CONCERNING YOU -- ALL
THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR
GOOD FOR YOU.
SO MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
AND LET THEM CHANGE YOUR
THOUGHT PROCESS.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, IT IS
THROUGH THE RENEWING OF YOUR
MIND, IT'S IN THE STUDY OF
THE WORD.
HERE IS WHAT I'M THINKING,
AND HERE IS WHAT GOD'S WORD
SAYS I SHOULD BE THINKING.
SO LET'S TRANSPOSE WHAT I
THINK WITH WHAT GOD SAYS.
WHEN YOU DO THAT ON A
REGULAR BASIS, YOU'LL GET
THE BREAKTHROUGH YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR.
Terry: SHANE SAYS, "I
LET GOD DOWN SO MUCH.
I'M IN A REAL HARD PLACE AND
I HAVE NOTICED MYSELF
BEGINNING TO SWEAR AND BE
CRUDE AND RUDE.
HOW CAN I BREAK THAT CYCLE.
I TRY, BUT I KEEP FAILING."
WELL, YOU SAY, SHANE, YOU
HAVE NOTICED.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING.
TO BE AWARE YOU ARE SLIPPING
IN THAT AREA.
AND ASK YOURSELF WHO ARE YOU
HANGING WILL?
USUALLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS IS
BECAUSE YOU'RE HEARING IT
ALL AROUND YOU.
AND THE THIRD THING I WOULD
TELL YOU IS GET INTO THE
WORD OF GOD.
FILL YOURSELF WITH THE
GOODNESS OF GOD, WITH HIS
POWER AND HIS WORD, AND
THOSE THING WILS WILL
LEAVE.
FILL YOURSELF WITH GOD WHEN
HE IS SPEAKING TO YOUR HEART
AND TO YOUR SOUL.
AND THEN EVERY TIME YOU HAVE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN,
WHEN SOMETHING COMES OUT OF
YOUR MOUTH, OR THERE ARE
THOUGHTS IN YOUR MIND THAT
YOU DON'T WANT, STOP RIGHT
THEN AND SAY, GOD, I REJECT
THIS.
I WANT YOUR GOODNESS.
I WANT YOUR SPIRIT.
I WANT THE HOLINESS OF GOD
TO BE ME RIGHT NOW.
Gordon: THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS
PROGRAM.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE
WORDS FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 9:
"NO EYE HAS SEEN, NO EAR HAS
HEARD, NO MIND HAS IMAGINED
WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR
THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
MEDITATE ON YOUR FUTURE, AND
MEDITATE ON YOUR DESTINY.
WHEN YOU KEEP HEAVEN IN
MIND, THEN THE THINGS OF
THIS EARTH ARE PASSING AWAY,
AND YOU'LL START LOSING
SIGHT OF THEM, IN THE SIGHT
OF HIS GLORY AND WHAT HE HAS
INTENDED FOR YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.
