I'm going to say, well, I don't see her, but I'm assuming she's there for you.
It's a beautiful Christmas tree behind you.
Everyone keeps commenting on it.
So at my mother-in-law's house, we didn't get to celebrate Christmas with her, so she
kept the Christmas tree so that we could be festive when all the family was together.
So, oh, how has your week been?
It felt weird to miss the time to get together.
I know, I know.
For a good reason.
Yeah.
Yeah, we did a salsa bachata class, so that was really fun.
You did a what?
A salsa bachata class.
We found this fun.
So it was fun.
It was two hours.
It was an hour of salsa, an hour of bachata.
So it was like from seven to nine, and I was like, okay, we just missed it.
Yeah.
It's just a bit too far.
Yeah.
Oh, well, I know that y'all had fun.
That's good.
I was really, I was proud of him.
I was going to say, yeah, if I asked my husband to do a dance lesson for Valentine's Day,
he would just dread it.
It would be a bad memory in his mind, and he'd be like, oh, my word, don't make me do
that again.
He used to dance, but he doesn't dance much anymore, and so I'm always like, you know,
he could do that.
And he's like, no, no, really, no.
All right.
Oh, man.
Okay.
You said he's Cuban.
Wait, did you say he had some, he's Spanish origins or something?
Yes.
Yeah.
He's half Cuban.
Yeah.
His dad came over from Cuba.
Yeah.
I know.
He's something.
But I think.
That's funny.
Yeah.
But I've been trying to catch up on all the journey shares, so now I'm like, okay, I know
where everybody's going, and kind of, it's really exciting.
Yeah.
Well, I've been working today on some stuff, and I had, so I haven't even been able to
catch up on all the journey shares.
I was caught up as of a few days ago, but if any came in today, I didn't see them.
I was doing a class that a prior Rest Intensive client did, has set up with her group that
she coaches, and she teaches them some things about rest, what it is that she's learned.
Of course, she focuses on more than that, but rest is a part of it, and then she asked
me to come on once a month and answer questions.
So today was that day of the month, and so I was able to jump on and meet some new people
that had recently joined her group, and of course, have some old people that had been
there and seen me over the past few months, and so anyway, that was fun.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Well, Rita says that she is running late, so she'll be here eventually, and then Diana
says that she can't make it tonight, so it will be the four of us.
Yeah.
Were you able to watch at all the rest group from Tuesday that Annette and Renata were
on?
No, but I intend to.
Well, that was, it was really fun.
We had a good time.
Of course, you know, it's Valentine's Day, so Annette was like, well, I say that.
I guess it really didn't have anything to do with Valentine's Day.
It was a birthday party.
I was going to say, it was Valentine's Day.
She was at a party, but it was a birthday, and anyway, so poor thing.
She had to step out in the cold because she was like, I can't find a place to do the Zoom
call inside with all these people.
It's so loud, and so she walked around in the cold in Norway for an hour, you know,
to have a conversation.
Whoa.
Anyway, we had a good time.
we had fun. But yeah, so yeah. Hey, Karen, how are you?
Yeah.
Hey, pretty good. How are you? What's that beautiful stuff
behind you?
Everyone, everyone keeps coming on the tree and that my mother
in law has had set up since Thanksgiving because we were
here for Thanksgiving. And so we set we after set it up. And
then we weren't here for Christmas because we were
celebrating Christmas with my family. And that we were
planning a feather family gathering for mid February, mid
Yeah, I was gonna say mid to early February, but mid
February where we were going to be back in town and some other
family members were going to be back in town. So she kept up the
Christmas tree to have that. So at one point, we have we have
multiple decorations around the house for a total of let's see
Super Bowl decorations, Valentine's Day decorations,
Christmas decorations. I thought there was something else. And
then on 50th birthday celebration, decoration, because
it's my husband's 50th in about a week or so. And so his family
wanted to be able to celebrate with him. We've got like, four
different themes.
We are very festive. I like that. I like that. That's so
cool. Look how long your hair is getting.
Yes, I suppose it is. I haven't thought about that. And my I, a
lot of times keep it curled or keep it up. And, and it's about
I suppose what it was, I don't know, might even be shorter than
it was during those then last time you saw me for that
conference. But anyway, so I'm trying to grow it back out
again, I had decided to cut it for a bit just to see if I, you
know, just for a change. And I decided, no, I don't like it.
I'm bringing it back out again.
It's beautiful.
Yeah. And I actually have a hair appointment in about, I guess
it's Oh, wow. Is it a week from tomorrow? Oh, it's a week from
tomorrow. I am very excited to get my hair cut and colored
again. I would feel like a new woman every time I go to the
hairdresser, or get your nails done. You know, you just feel
you just feel all put together again. So anyway,
yeah, just just does my screen looks blurry to me tonight.
I don't think it does, but I don't know that it's any more
than normal. So that can either be fuzz on the camera, or it can
be like a smear or smudge, or it can be just lighting, not on
your face. And that can make everything look grainy. So
anyway, it's fine to me. I can see you.
Okay, it just, I've been on zoom calls today quite a bit. And and
they looked much better than I mean, you look clear as a bell.
Well, it's Yeah, but it's also I've noticed that lighting
really makes a really good factor is Oh, yeah, I'm sure
that all of your during other times of day, you have more
light coming in for the windows. Yeah, yeah. And I can I don't
have the backlighting going on. That's probably part I usually
do that. But I don't really want to turn it on. It's too bright
for tonight. But yeah. Yeah, we can see you. We know who you
are. Yeah. I do want to ask you every the last few times you've
been on there. Is anybody else Tammy? Do you your your your
voice to has a little different tone to it? Have you Can you
hear that too? Tammy? No sound weird. It does. It's it's a tiny
bit garbled to me. Oh, a tie. I mean, like, it's totally
different than it was. You don't hear that Tammy? No, I don't.
I'm sorry. That is so weird. The only I don't know either. I'm
using my AirPods and I haven't been using my AirPods. Or what
was the other thing I thought about? Or I was gonna say it
could be like the internet and places I've been at. I'm not
really sure. I'm sorry. That's okay. I just kind of wondered
because I hear it now. I heard it on my phone. I hear it on
this computer. I who knows maybe it is my AirPods. I had to have
my AirPods in today. But usually Well, I suppose I don't. I don't
know. Maybe I don't. Let me change out of my AirPods. And
then let's see if that helps. We'll see if it's Yeah, that'd
be interesting, I guess to see if it's I can I am just loving
that tree though in the tree. It is so fun. I know. Let's see.
Okay.
Okay, so how is that?
Is that that's so much better. It's totally clear now.
All right, so we will try this.
That's funny that only I heard it and Tammy didn't hear it.
I know.
But you know technology, you never know, right?
With it, it's a little crazy.
Yeah, and it's been that way the last few times we met.
And I meant to say something and then, yeah, now it's
totally clear.
OK, well, good.
Maybe it's the AirPods, which is very strange.
I don't know.
But anyway, they're not the best for recording,
excuse me, but they are supposed to be very good.
So I don't know if I've just worn them out.
I have.
I have had them for, you know what?
I hadn't thought about that.
I've had them for almost two years.
I haven't thought about them.
I got that right after the conference, actually,
because I was going overseas and a friend of mine
had told me that I should get them,
said that they were very good for noise cancelling.
And so anyway, OK, so.
I said maybe they're just poor little things.
I hadn't realized.
Maybe, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, I could hear you.
I just hoped it wasn't like recording that sound
or something because that wouldn't be it wasn't it
wouldn't be the best sound for recording.
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're right.
But all right.
Well, I'm glad this is better.
So thank you.
Sure.
So how is everyone doing?
Does everyone what question do you have?
Have you all, I don't know, run into anything,
any struggles or difficulties or do you have any any wins,
any victories, any testimonies of having seen the Lord come
through in a way?
I don't know, just kind of like a like a journey share.
Does anyone have anything?
Well, I guess I could do a little
unless Tammy wants to go first.
Yeah, I think she's thinking.
Yeah, I'm thinking exactly right now.
That's what I'm looking for.
Like, that is the thought.
Well, I have had a little a little victory in your tips
that you gave about rest, about going to bed and taking
the Lord, you know, with the father or the Lord with me
in my nighttime just getting to getting ready for bed.
And and although I just made soup and I got in a little hurry
up, a little hurry up because I wanted to be done before class.
And I was like, here, you can just slow down.
It'll all be OK.
And but I have a nice big pot of vegetable soup.
Yes.
But anyway, I've had I've had several nights since since we
and that might have been Sunday.
We talked about that, if I remember right.
Anyway, it's been I've I've gotten to bed a little bit earlier
and I've practiced that just, you know, kind of knowing the father's
with me getting ready for bed and just kind of thinking about it.
Welcoming, you know, just as I don't know, however, and I've.
Kind of started doing I have a good book called that's that's
that my mentor recommended a while back, and it's a short little book and it's
it's called Legacy of Sonship, I think is the name of it.
But it's but I've just been reading a little bit of it around the same time.
And I take some nightly supplements and
reading tends to sometimes just make me sleepy.
So so it's been working.
And I read a little bit of that.
And except last night, I read some
I read some words, some prophetic words that really mean a lot to me.
And I read some of them and they kind of got me excited.
And that's what I was thinking when you were talking.
I was like, well, yeah, yeah.
And and I and I cried and I was like, oh, gosh, now I'm awake.
Oh, no, I thought reading one of these, I might like I was maybe reading one
a night and it was working, but I had this I had this several of them.
And I read too much of it.
Oh, well, so hilarious.
Is it that funny reason to be stimulated?
It was a good reason to be stimulated.
And I and I have woke up some in the night.
One night, though, I slept.
I'm like, Lord, just let me sleep to at least like, you know, five, five, six,
seven, you know, and you know, that night I slept till five five o'clock.
I woke up, you know, and and so I'm like,
so I've been asking him again, but I have sometimes I wake up at these certain times
I get and so I woke up a few times and but it's been peaceful and.
I read it's been peaceful, so I have to say those.
have been helpful on on and yeah, and so it's, it's a little
more, you know, looking forward to spending time with the Lord
while getting ready for bed and buying father's been the one
that I've had problems with. So a little more, you know,
thinking about the Father being with me and, and so I have, it
has been helpful. I've gotten to sleep a little earlier all
week. That is great. Even when I kind of struggled the other
night on Thanksgiving, on Valentine's, I mean, but I, but
I still got to bed. So yeah, so I wanted to give that, that
win.
That's wonderful. Good. And you're and I'm so glad that
you're doing all of that. You know, it's so important to that
when we focus on the Lord, and, and that what we're focusing on
is we're focusing on, you know, this, the all of the good
things, you know, like his love, or the fact that we're
unconditionally accepted, not like, okay, what do we want to
what do we want to do for him or have faith in him about or
whatever, but just like all of the, like all of the good
things, all of the very enriching things. So yeah. So
that's wonderful. I'm so very glad that that's been helpful.
Thank you, Ashley. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, that's great. So Rita, just catch up, we were talking
with him. Well, it took us a while to get into it, because we
had to talk about all kinds of stuff, you know, because that's
what friends do when they get together is like catch up on
all of like, hiddly little things like, Oh, well, I bought
my airpod pros like two years ago. So they're probably old,
you know, anyway, so besides besides revelations like that,
we were Karen was catching us up on the fact that she has been
implementing the things that I was recommending about, you
know, going to sleep, you know, about like a nightly routine.
And so she was giving us a testimony, the fact that it's
been working and that she's been able to get to bed earlier and
all that stuff. That's we've talked about. So does anyone
have a question or any other testimony to testify to Lord
about, you know, way that you've seen him? You know, you've seen
a bit more of who he is, that you've been experiencing a bit
more of who he is, that you've seen him in ways that you didn't
recognize in your life that that's actually him. And you
thought either that it was the enemy or you thought that, you
know, Oh, well, that's I don't know, you know, it's just a
natural part of life. It's just something that happens, you
know, or, or any question or
thing. Um, I guess, when Karen, you started talking about what,
actually, you were just sharing in regards to sleeping and all
of that, that really resonated with me as far as like, you
know, enjoying those things that are really important, like,
you're remembering you saying, like, put on your favorite PJs
and, like all of that. And so this past week, I feel like I've
been living in that way as far as like, doing the things that
bring me joy. And so it's been really great. And God is so
faithful. Because like, now that it's like, okay, well, TV
is not a thing. It was like, well, what are the things that
bring you joy? Like, what are the things you love to you enjoy
doing, or you've always wanted to do, but you were so working
so much, you know? So, um, Monday, Rita and I, we did a
praise dance class together. That was like, so amazing. And
like, fun.
It was the last, the last song, we just got to free, just free
worship. However, that's what the instructor let us do. And
like, we were all like balling, right? Like, we were just like,
in our own little places, like all balling. It was like, so
precious. It was like, you were dancing. For me, it was like, I
was dancing just for God, like before his throne. It was like,
it was amazing. And um, yeah, so that was great. And then I got
to play a flag football game at 930. So like, that was amazing.
And I was like, God, you're so good. Because like, they
happened on the same day in like, the flag football game
was like, so much later, I was able to drive 30 minutes away,
come back home, spend an hour with my husband, and then still
go to my game. So it was like, perfect. So little things like
that. And then doing salsa and bachata dancing for Valentine's
Day. And yesterday was gorgeous in Dallas, it was like, a high
of like 74 or 75 degrees in February, which is like crazy,
right? So I was like, I gotta go outside. And I want to like, I
took out this craftsy app. And I'm like, Oh, I want to like, do
some sketches with some color pencils. So my husband took me
to Michael's and we did that. And then like, he sat out there
with
me. I'm like, hallelujah. He's trying. He sat out there with me with on a blanket and we caught the
last light. And so it was just like really great. And then today we practiced some salsa together so
we wouldn't forget the moves. So it's been like really great. And I think one of the things that
I have to work on though, is like today I had a lot, like a long list of things, which weren't
really that challenging when you think about them. But I just realized what my personality,
like I go really, really deep and really get really, really intense with one thing.
And sometimes it's hard for me to transition, but it's like, I spend so much energy on one thing
that it kind of zapped me. You know what I mean? And so like my sister, my nephew's coming over in
a little bit. He's five and we're going to go to the Perot museum tomorrow. And I was tidying up
the apartment and I was like, okay, I need to, I need to fold up all these clothes. And I was like,
no, I have no, don't have the energy for that. Like, I'm going to just tidy and put it away.
Like, because I'm like, you don't have to do too much. Like that's what I get caught in. And then
it's just like, I'm so tired and I've worn myself out and I just don't want to do anything. You
know what I mean? So I think I'm learning that I have to, I guess that's part of a question too,
in some kind of ways, but I guess I kind of know the answer. I just need to like work through it a
little bit, walk through it a little bit more. So yeah, that's something that I will be working
on for the, I think focusing on the next couple of days and talking to God about as well.
That's great. That's wonderful. It, it seems very counterproductive to us sometimes to be like,
well, wait a minute, aren't I supposed to be learning about God? Aren't I supposed to be
focusing on God? And it's like, yes, but him, but one of the aspects that you're, you're learning
that you're learning to believe about him and put into practice is what it is that he said
about you and then getting your identity founded in what he has said, as opposed to
trying to figure yourself out or whatever. No, it's like, who has God made you to be?
And then just step into what he says about you, step into what he put in you, step into what he
desired to be expressed out of you and then to thoroughly, and then to step out in that faith
by enjoying it, by allowing it to express itself by, by delighting in it. So it's not just
believing that God delights in you doing those things. It's you delighting in yourself while
doing those things, you know, and, and, uh, that is weird as it is weird as it sounds.
It really does teach us learning about ourselves teaches us about God. It teaches us about his
goodness. It teaches us about his love. It teaches us, it teaches us about his unconditional
acceptance is as wild as that is. Um, so we're at, um, anyway, I know a lot of people always think
that it's so strange when I talk to them about the importance of choosing them and delighting
in themselves and whatever, but what it is that they're choosing is they're choosing to believe
that thing that God has said, like, cause God said a lot of things, but what has God said about you?
And then you were the first thing that he entrusted him that entrusted you with is to, um,
he entrusted you with himself. I mean, sorry, he entrusted you with, he entrusted you with himself,
but he also entrusted you with yourself, you know, and to, and to thoroughly enjoy it, to value it,
to honor it, to appreciate it, to acknowledge it, you know, to give it a voice, you know,
all aspects of you, including the parts that you historically haven't liked so much, you know, to,
to value those things in meaning like to give again, to get, to honor them by allowing them
to have a voice, to have a, to have a, to have a presence, to have a seat at the table, to get to
express itself. But then what is it that you collectively, like all the different parts of you,
what collectively do you decide? You always decide in favor of what God says is true,
not what the world wants to say is true, or you choose this higher reality over this other
reality. They're both realities. You know, all the difficulties that we run into in the world,
the fact that you feel mad, sometimes the fact that you're in unbelief against God, sometimes
all of that stuff, that's very real. And we never want to deny it, but in the face that you can only
really truly choose God, if you're choosing him in the face of acknowledging all of these things.
So anyway, um, I think that is great. So thoroughly enjoy yourself and don't let yourself
be deterred when, when you're focusing on all these good things about yourself and delighting
yourself and learning more about God by learning more about yourself. And then all of a sudden,
something comes out that you have termed as negative. Like, I'm already getting mad or you
don't like how you feel, or you get hurt or you, you know, something about you just physically
feels off or you're in pain or you're struggling or you're whatever. Don't be, don't be turned.
uh, knocked off the path of thoroughly enjoying yourself by trying to, by either switching from
focus on this to focusing on the negative, or just trying to stay focused on the positive by
ignoring the negative, ignoring the negative never helps anybody. So accept that part of yourself and
know that you're not victim to being, to being determined. Um, that anything in your life or
anything about your identity is victim to be determined by the negative feelings or by the
negative aspects of yourself. You're like, why do I always do this? Why do I always end up doing
that? I thought I've been enjoying myself this past week. I've been loving all of these wonderful
things that I've discovered about myself for all of these things that I'd forgotten were buried,
buried. And now I'm bringing them back out to the light, you know, but then why do I still
always do this? Or why do I always do this in this way? No fully take that whole self to God
and be that negative, um, feeling that pain, that struggle, be that in the presence of God
to allow him to restore it and to, and to help you deal with it. Um, so that, that part of you,
that, that part of you that feels negative, or that feels weak, or that feels whatever negative
word that we want to use, that we're judging, allow God to transform that into, into, um,
into goodness, you know, into spirit, from flesh and to spirit, from an aspect of you that,
that is afraid and is unbelieving and do an aspect of you that actually trust God.
But it can't do that if we're, if we're ignoring it, if we're trying to stifle that part of
ourselves or whatever. So just allow yourself. So when you thoroughly, when you enjoy yourself,
when you delight yourself and delight in yourself, delight in all aspects of you,
just simply because they're, you doesn't mean that you love the negative. You love being negative in
this particular area of your life, or you love the fact that you always do this. It just means that
you love the, you that's ending up doing those things. And the reason that you're doing those
things is simply because you are, you believe something about God. That's actually not true.
So in other words, life is better than that part of you believes that it is.
Everything is always towards more love and freedom. So graciously accept this parts of yourself,
just go to the Lord and just be like, okay, God, there's this, that I'm struggling with. There's
this aspect of my soul or my body that I don't identify with, but I do love and accept and I
cover and I protect and they're struggling right now. And then just let him deal with those things.
But you you'll be able to deal with those different aspects of yourself. If you don't
reject those aspects of yourself. So anyway, cause you're going to run into that. And then
otherwise that it's going to be very discouraging of like, oh my goodness, I'm delighting in all of
these things. And oh my goodness, look at all this negative stuff or all this stuff that I've always
considered to be so negative, you know, now I've got this and, and it can be just be discouraging.
And so anyway, fully accept those aspects of you as well, and know that you are to be delighted in
you are enjoyable, even fully encompassing those negative things. And then just take him to the
Lord and let him go, you know, and he won't punish them. You won't condemn them. He'll,
he'll heal them. He'll restore them. He'll trans he'll transition them into spirit because he
already did. He already did that, you know, with his death on the cross and that's actually
submitting them to him will allow him to finally do it. In other words, fondly overcome it to
transition it from flesh into spirit. So anyway, I just wanted to mention that so that when you,
so that, you know, fully to delight in all aspects of you, not just the parts that feel good or
whatever, like permission to like fully embrace who it is that you are. Um, and that's the way
that you can prove to your soul and your body that you are loving and accepting it unconditionally,
no matter where it is, no matter how it's expressing itself, no matter how afraid it is.
So, and then that will transform you and you will mature faster in the Lord and you will overcome
weaknesses faster because you're not resisting them. You're fully facing them and just taking
the Lord, like, okay, Lord, here it is. I let it happen. Say it's very mad just to warn you.
Just, just, you know, I heard it out and it's not pretty. So here we come.
Thank you. That's really, really, that's good because it's you're right. It is kind of like
the onion. Cause I'm like, okay, well that's what I did with my negative emotions towards
someone else. Like why do I do that same stuff towards myself and just accept it.
But I was like, okay, it didn't feel as intuitive. Okay. Thank you.
Well, good, good. I'm excited for you. That's wonderful. I I'm always.
very impressed and excited when people actually execute on what I've advised to do, because
I'm like, I'm like, okay, everybody does remember it's mentorship program. It's not a, oh, let's
see what this person has to say. It'll cherry pick what it is that I want to believe, but
I won't implement any of it. I'm like, okay, well then you're going to leave the same way
you came in. So I'm so excited. Cause I'm like, ah, what I tell people is the stuff
that actually works, not the stuff that makes them feel better, which is why my, my program
only appeals to typically eight to 10 people at a time. You know, it's very, very, very
small and very intimate. It's because it actually does require all of the hard work, you know,
out of someone, and it's not hard. It's just that, I mean, it's not, it's not complicated.
It's just, they have to let go of everything. It is. They haven't wanted to let go of, but
I'm like, but this will get you what you want. I promise. So do you want to do it, but it's
up to each person. So anyway, so does anyone have anything else? You look pretty and all
fixed up, Rita. Well, I wish I could help, but I don't have any questions. I'm kidding.
Technically I have lots of questions, but I'll ask the Lord. I posted something on,
on our comments, but I know you were in a, you know, working today. And so I don't know
if this is the appropriate setting for it, but I thought I'd ask. So, like I was in marriage
counseling and I was just been thinking about my marriage and I'm like, okay, different
aspects that needs need to be healed. And so their aspects was like, oh, okay, there's
progress. But I guess I have a question about like spiritual intimacy. And so I know you're
married and you're married to someone who's a Christian. So, you know, you probably have
insight and if not, and this is not the appropriate setting, that's fine. But I guess it's just
a question. It's kind of like, what does that like having, I guess, I don't know. I'm like,
does that even relate to respite? It kind of does to me. Cause it's kind of like that unity
between you and your partner on the spiritual level. And it's like, I don't even know what
that looks like or what that sounds like, because I'm like, if I can't, I don't know, maybe that's
not the right way. But a part of me is like, if I can't define it, then it's like, how does that
happen? But I guess I could just go to God and ask them for that. But I don't know.
I'm sorry.
It's just like, what does spiritual intimacy in or just look like between like a husband and
a wife? Because it's like, I experienced that with my friends, like in community. I'm like,
I know what that looks like. Well, I guess I'm maybe I'm answering my questions, like
sharing your ideas and what you learned. And I don't know. Share your testimony,
but I don't know. I just feel like it might be deeper with your husband and wife, but I don't
know. Well, it is. And there are certain things that like, I don't know, there's, I mean, think
about like the level of intimacy that we're supposed to have with the Lord. You can't bring
there's a certain degree of that intimacy that you can't bring other people into.
And just because, I mean, meaning like you shouldn't, but you should be able to bring
your, you should with your spouse again, though it's based off. It's only, you can only do that
to the level and the degree to which they are willing to offer themselves to the Lord. So,
you know, if you're you and your spouse are not, are not at that same place, well then yeah,
that there's a particular level of intimacy that you're offering of yourself to the Lord
that they, that they don't know how to share in yet. But like say for instance, you know,
they always say that prayer is very intimate and they, and so it depends on who you talk to
as to who recommends that you pray with your, with the person you're dating or the person that
you're engaged to, whether you pray with them to God or not. And I'm not talking about like before
a meal, I'm talking about like serious prayer because prayer is very intimate. It it'll,
it'll create, it'll create a connection. It'll create a feeling of closeness that that some
people say that you should be wary of and be careful of while you're.
dating versus, you know, okay, well, we've already committed ourselves to each other.
We're engaged. And so therefore we can start, you know, doing this and whatever.
So my point is, that's just an example of, of, um, of the, of the difference that there
is a difference in pursuing. There's different levels of, um, of, um, intimacy in pursuit of
the Lord with other people. And so it depends on who the person is as to what level of intimacy
that you invite them into when approaching the Lord about particular things or, or whatever.
So, um, um, so anyway, there, there is a difference between, um, between a, um, a husband and wife
and the types of things that they go to work for the D the degree to which they, they, they very
passionately, um, approach God. Um, I wish I knew how to describe that, but like the types of things
that the, that they ask the Lord and that they press into about him when they're with the other
person together with God, that they wouldn't do if they're with their pastor or their parents
or their friends or whatever, because it's too close. And it's just not something that,
that, um, you, that other people need to be invited into that sacred space with you for,
but your husband that you were one with can be invited into the sacredness of that space because
you're now one, you're not two, you're one. Um, now you're not asking this, but I'm just mentioning
this. It's kind of like to, to just, uh, because it's kind of like, um, something that someone
could bring up like, okay, we say that you're one, but there is a level to which remember that
we're individually responsible to the Lord of our, in our relationship with him. He takes that
very seriously and doesn't even want a spouse to get in the way is in, he doesn't want us to
idolize our spouse above, you know, above him, you know, so between us and God or anything.
And there's the thing of like, when spouses are on separate pages with God, there is that level
of accountability that each individual has, including the wife that has with God. There
are certain things though, again, I'm not wanting to make all this complicated. I'm just kind of
mentioning a variety of things here, um, that kind of come into play with the Lord and spouses.
And my husband and I are still learning this. We've only been married seven and a half months.
So we're still learning this ourselves that, um, the, uh, but I have been talking to people about
these types of things before I was married, because what I was doing was I was having to
rely on the Lord to tell me, you know, and, and to just access this information by, by the spirit,
because I didn't have experience to lean on. So anyway, I'm just telling you what it is.
I know what I understand so far. Um, but, um, also there is the thing of like, and how, when wives
submit to their husbands and say, for instance, that this husband is doing set, um, believes very
different than the wife about certain things of how to approach God or, um, um, what God expects
them to do or how God expects them to do it and whatnot. And there is a way that, that, that God
desire that, um, God understands and desires for us to come under the protection of the husband.
Even if, even if we're thinking, yeah, but God's revealed something different to me,
you know? So I think that we should do this X, Y, Z, unless what the husband's talking about is a
out now major, you know, sin or something there's, there's a, there's a way in which God says, I know
that I've revealed this to you, but it's important for you to come under the protection of your
husband. And it's your husband that I'm holding accountable for how he's leading his family.
You know? So there's an aspect in which what God's requiring of you is to come under the
submission of, of your husband, what he believes that God is expecting of y'all and how he's
offering his spiritual protection and his authority in the spirit to cover you. What God
sees is that covering. And he sees you coming underneath that covering, as opposed to him,
seeing you as disobeying him because you're doing it. You're, you're, you're following your, you're
not doing the thing that he revealed to you. You're actually doing the thing that your husband
believes that God has said, but you don't believe in your own relationship with Lord,
that that's right. You know what I'm saying? But what God does is he honors the fact that you're,
that you're choosing to come under the protection of your husband in honor of the Lord, that he's
the one he's given you, et cetera. So, and then a lot of, and then a lot of times what we realized
is that our husbands were right. And we weren't. And that what our husbands were saying that they
were receiving from the Lord that they should do really was what they should do was really what we
should do. But because think about it, if both of you have, have a contradictory.
I just not all the time, sometimes they're both right, but sometimes one of you was wrong
and it's not always them.
Sometimes it's us.
So anyway, there's, there's a, a very added measure of protection that women are offered
of being able to offset the, the, a response, a measure of responsibility to the husband
that the husband has to carry.
So it's it's really interesting how all of that works.
So as much as, you know, women complain about, Oh, well, you know, I, I want to be able to
do this and I want to be able to do that.
And some women have thought that they've gotten like the short end of the deal.
They don't understand that what it is that they're being offered is they're being offered
protection and being offered the, being offered the ability to be protected without accountability
while the husband is the one being held accountable and there's, there's something that she didn't
have to carry now.
So, but there's responsibility that comes with that of like, we have to let, let go
of this other thing in order to be allowed to, in order to receive the, the benefit of
the protection.
It also means that there are certain things that we would normally do if we were independent
that now we can't do.
So anyway, but I, so I see it as a positive as opposed to a negative.
I see it a positive of like coming into the protection of being offered that, and now
we don't have to carry a responsibility that they do.
But so anyway, so I just kind of like touched on a whole bunch of things related to, you
know, husbands and wives and our relationship, Lord, how all that works together.
But did I at least answer your question in there somewhere?
Yes.
Okay.
You did.
And I was going to save it in me.
I'm like, I need to take notes.
I don't have my phone here with me.
But yes, you did.
And I think I know for me, I know I'm in also in a reader's probably listening, like, what
in the heck is she talking about?
Like, Timmy, what are you?
But anyway, I'm like, I also know that it's the context of like, you know, the health
of the marriage.
And like, is he loving you like you love, like he loves the church is like, is he really
listening to God, you know, like just point blank period, you know, so that's a, that's
a bit of a struggle, you know, between you and God to add, I mean, it's a, it's a difficult
position.
Like, what do you do in a situation like this?
And so there's our, there are particular I don't know, it's there's a way in which you
still can take advantage of what it is that I've just described, and choosing to come
under his protection.
And and then God, and because that's what God has given you to spiritually protect you,
Even if your husband isn't fully even say if he were an unbeliever, so I'm not, not
yours, but like, it's somebody else's, you know, somebody who's married to an unbeliever,
there's an aspect still that God has given them to protect them in their unbelieving
husband.
But then there are also ways that he's like, I know the unbelieving husband isn't protecting
you in the way that I try to equip my sons to protect you.
If you had married one of them, he says, so in that way, I'm protecting you.
Because he doesn't, he doesn't leave his, he doesn't leave his children, men or women,
but specifically talking about women in a situation like this, he doesn't leave women
on, I don't know, in lack, and uncovered, he chooses the Lord, the Lord says this in
the Bible that he steps in and he helps the orphans and the widows.
And he takes responsibility for them.
So because he meant for them to be covered, he meant for them to be, to be taken care
of.
And if that is not being done, it says that God himself steps in and does it.
And so that's what I would always lean on whenever I was single.
So the point is, whatever is not, whatever it is that you're not being covered by in
the way that God intended you to be spiritually or otherwise, God himself offers to you to
do that.
Cause God does not leave you in a place of lack because somebody, uh, and, uh, and, uh,
in a way to not be able to receive that with, um, if even if you are in a place where, um,
where a physical person isn't providing that God's not limited by other people.
Um, and you are, he's very jealous of you.
And so he, if you aren't being provided for in certain ways, he himself will step in to
provide it for you unless he brings it through another person.
So now again, God chooses what provision means.
God chooses what provision looks like.
He chooses what covering looks like.
Um, so it may not look.
look or feel the same, um, as it would, you know, if, if we have like a man in
our lives, um, who's doing what it is that God has always intended men to do.
Um, but it does mean that, so even if it didn't look the same and we have a hard
time, like seeing ourselves being protected and provided for when the man
isn't doing X, Y, and Z, it doesn't mean that God's not doing it.
We just have to truly rely on him to do that.
And that has to be our relationship with the Lord that, okay, God,
you're, you're, you're, I'm relying on you for this.
And, um, and I'm asking that you show me where it is, but so often I don't
even ask God to show me where it is.
I just ask him to do it.
And then I just trust that he's doing it.
And, and I have to be careful to then not take things that look like the opposite
in my life and use them in accusation against him saying, see God, you're not
doing it that, that really does not go with God accusation.
So anyway, but yeah, he, he makes sure that you are provided for if you offer
yourself to him in that place to be covered, if you're trying to cover
yourself because the man isn't, or because somebody else that should be
like a father or whatever, isn't, and you try to do it yourself, well,
there's no place for God to do it.
Cause again, that's eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, or you're choosing to, to provide your own provision and protection.
My point is that if no one else is doing it and you are vulnerable and you are not
trying to, uh, you're not trying to work for yourself, you're not trying to earn
it by the sweat of your brow or whatever protection provision covering, whatever
we're talking about, if you were truly relying on the Lord, God will come in
and he will do it, period.
Even if somebody else was given the opportunity to do it like a husband,
if it's not being done, God promises that he does it.
Hands down.
No question.
So we have to allow him to do it though, and not be doing it ourselves
and not be accusing him of not doing it because he, like I said,
he's just to take accusation.
Well, so anyway, thank you.
You're welcome.
See what time is it?
Oh, you have a few more minutes.
You wouldn't have anything.
Wish I had something.
Don't.
Yeah, I'll say something real quick and then I'll leave room for Rita.
If she wants to say something, I'll leave time for her too.
Um, that was good, Ashley.
That was, um, because I think I've done some of the while single and
married, trying to cover myself and, and, uh, taking care of myself.
And I, I got the, the, uh, honor of doing, uh, finishing up a core
healing session today with Oaks rising.
And, uh, it was really good, but part of that came out as an, as
to, as far as the not in rest to speaking of the rest is that, you
know, there was some anxiety there that, that we kind of dealt with
some of that today too, but definitely some, some of that, um, me trying
to take care of me, you know, has been, uh, I think has been kind
of prevalent in my life and, and, you know, kind of times I think of
letting God do that, um, and, um, but times of not trusting, I guess,
you know, and so when you're not trusting, you know, at least for me,
I think I've stepped in that place of trying to, and then you're into
striving and you're not letting God do it.
And then, um, yeah, a lot of things came out today.
It was, uh, it was really good.
It was, uh, um, yeah, uh, last, last couple of sessions we had, it's
taken several sessions to, to just get through my core session to get
through my core second, taking me several sessions, cause we kind of
get stopped maybe in some things going on right now and stuff.
So, uh, but yeah, the fact that we have to let God do it or let our
husband do it, you know, whichever, you know, um, cause we can stand in
that way and in the way of it.
And, uh, yeah, so had a lot of, a lot of good stuff, a lot of good stuff
is kind of coming to the surface and I'm good.
Yeah.
So basically the, the way that we can see it, especially from a woman's
perspective is that we're called to receive our, the protection that our
husband is offering or the protection that God is offering, you know, whichever
one we're talking about, same thing that we choose to receive.
see protection from either one of them in the way that they choose to offer it.
We don't get to control what it looks like.
We don't get to control the decision they make, what they think is actually
the wise thing to protect us, but they think actually will protect us,
but we don't get to choose that.
We have to rely on them to do that.
And we just hands off for us, which is risky, which is, you know, there's,
there's this, there's this potential of disappointment.
There's this potential of hurt.
I mean, that's a risk in everything.
And like in trusting someone in loving someone, whatever is to choose
to receive what they choose to offer.
We don't get to say, Hey, look, I want you to protect me.
And here's the conditions, you know, I want it to look like this.
And if it doesn't look like this, well, then it's not really protection.
Therefore, no, you're not really doing it.
We don't get to, we don't, that's, that's not our place anymore.
So what it is that we're actually doing is we're actually choosing and we're
actually called to to just receive whatever it is that either one of them offers.
And so that's, that's why it's so.
That's why it's so scary.
And that's like, I said, that's what it is that we're called to do.
And, and so, because it's more than just like, well, they're stronger.
And so they're the ones who are going to get to, you know, have their way.
And I don't get to, you know, I'm, I'm arguing and, and, um, and, uh, you
know, hoping that my argument wins and, and et cetera, that's, that's
not really what's going on.
What's going on is that we're called to actually just receive
what it is that they want to offer.
I don't mean that we can't have a say in the conversation.
That's not what I mean.
I'm talking about the fact that it's not, um, you know, that we're, um, uh,
that if, uh, we think it should be done in one way and he thinks that
it should be done in another, well, then we just argue about the legitimacy
of our side until he, until he buckles, you know, until he wins.
Why?
Because logic wins the day, you know, and it's just so obvious, you know?
And so therefore, if you're not doing it, you're not doing what I suggest.
Therefore, it's not actually protection.
And therefore I don't have to follow it.
Therefore I don't have to submit to it.
That's like, no, no, you, they I'm, I'm holding them accountable for the
choices that they're making for the decisions that they're making for.
I'm holding them accountable for protecting you.
So that's a huge responsibility that I'm holding them to.
And so you then are called to help, um, to take the risk of receiving the mode
of protection that they're offering.
And that's hard.
It's very hard, but that's what it is that we do.
It's just a, um, and so women, if you do it like this, women are the,
are the picture to all of humanity, both to men and to women of what it
should look like to submit to God.
Because what we, they should see by how we submit to our husbands
that, that, that our husband should see.
That's how they are called to submit to God.
So we're, we, we have, uh, so it, that, that picture is very important.
It's very important for humanity.
So there are things that men are supposed to do that and express and
give a picture to humanity about who God is, um, and, um, and, and how,
you know, and, and his love and, and what it is he's willing to offer of
himself and to die of, and to, and of himself, and I don't know, just all
kinds of things and, and, you know, his strength and his ability and his
whatever, you know, that's what it is that they, they show that plus many
other things, um, they express of God.
For instance, fathers identify us.
We get our sense of identity of who we are as beings and who we
are as genders from our father.
Both men and women get their, a sense of identity as a gender
from a father, not a mother.
Um, including women, you know, meaning like little girls.
Well, that's a picture of the fact that we get our identity from our father.
We get our sense of identity, meaning like from father God.
Um, and so men have their role in how they are called and being held
accountable by God to express him in a particular way so that we finally
have a human picture of what God is trying to get us to understand about
himself, women do the same thing.
We express and present in a particular way, the way the church
is supposed to respond to God.
This people is what it's supposed to look like by how we submit to our
husbands, how we treat our husbands, you know, however, whatever.
And, um, it's very hard, you know, um, it, because we have fear.
It's like, what if I'm having to trust someone else?
Awesome.
I have a different opinion or whatever.
Um, so it can be very scary, but it's, it's a picture of the risk that
we take that God really is that good.
We're taking that risk on our husband, that our husband really is that good,
that he really is that kind that he really is that whatever, and again,
remember that, you know, we're all in different situations and, um, and it
just depends on, um, it, that if there's a way in which we're not being covered,
even if they have all great intentions, you know, even if, if there is a way in
which we're not being covered, if we offer ourselves to the Lord to be
covered by him, he will.
Um, and so we're always in a, in a position to be covered without having
any responsibility to be held accountable for anything they're being held
accountable, we're not, but we're always protected because if we're not
if we're not protected by our husbands, we're protected by our
father, but you meaning God.
So either way we're protected.
We've got a really real women have in, in, in that manner of speaking,
you have a very, very, very good deal.
No.
So anyway, okay.
You're welcome.
Well, anything, Brita, before we jump off, no, I think I was, I was sitting here
thinking, I think she's very excited that she doesn't have to unmute herself.
Okay.
Everyone.
Good night.
It's good to see y'all.
Bye.