A WOW Moment with Vicki, Mercedes & Rachel (Date: October 15th 2020) Rachel Shipley

Remaining Obedient Through Hard Times

Like. She is pregnant and she's really starting to show yes, so we're 22 weeks. We're making way for baby.

It actually is because I have Ava where his first go-around I did not have the demands of the toddler. So it's kind of like oh. But now I'm just on our kind of like, oh my gosh like we're 22 weeks already and that we have this little.

It's a little white meter type thing and it shows you how far along you are and we're like this close to the third Trimester and once you get to the third trimester, you're like, oh my gosh like everything like all this stress kicks in and stuff.

But we're not having to do as much like we Had to look around for a pediatrician. The only thing I'm kind of like I don't know what to expect out of it is what Restrictions they're gonna have on us around that time.

So which due dates. February. So I'm hoping by then. Don't worry you deliver.

So Well Methodist is allowing one person.

I think all hospitals from what I've been told like like just I has been able to go to every single one of my appointments. I always asked the only one where they're just like, well, let's not have him come in for that one.

It's when I get blood work done, which I understand. Heartbeat or ultrasound or anything like that?

I guess we had to get started. Good evening everyone and welcome to our Bible study. I'm Vicki. Everybody remembers Mercedes and you should remember miss Rachel mrs. Rachel Shipley. She is our guest again this evening.

You were so thrilled to have her again. I Really miss y 'all last week. I'm sorry. I was on vacation and I'm well, I just realized I had 20 feet on this side again. Oh my god, didn't say anything because see Mercedes is right at the edge.

Yeah. Do you see my body would you like me to get up and move it. Rachel sees it too. Would you like me to get up and move it? Yeah, you need some work. Oh my goodness. But anyways, I was on vacation last week and I will be here this week and I will be here Next week and then the next week.

Thank you, man. I better. Thank you or anything else you love. And then I'll be here this week and next week and then I'll be on another vacation must be nice so It took 50 years to get here. It's taken a long time.

So Good evening, Ayesha. How are you? Tonight though we Are you know, you know? We're gonna do a study on some scripture and I have to tell y 'all a little background before we get started because I Told Rachel, you know because she's already been on here once and we did her go to verse then.

You know just she could just pick anything. She's well, just really don't know what to choose from and then you know this week as most of you know that are on Any of our live feeds or any of our witness stuff that we have had a brother that has fought cancer and battled cancer for many years and Just this past week he had a surgery that was kind of a Real risky type Situation he was it was either a do or it was either Make it or don't it was a make it or break it kind of deal.

And The Surgery that that he had wasn't near what they expected. He I'll just put it in this way The Lord has heard every single prayer that that anybody has ever Has ever ever ever done on behalf of brother Robert.

Yes.

You don't see God perform miracles the way he used to in scripture. And I'm like, yeah not within my church body.

We see it more often I think then. Then anybody I'm not gonna say that anybody but I think we realize and recognize it as a miracle from God instead of Look or instead of oh, well, that was a coincidence.

Well, there are no coincidences. So anyways Rachel came up with verses tonight. That when she told me last night, I sent her a message back and I said, oh my gosh. That is exactly where I was hoping we were gonna go.

I was wanting to do something on luck or something that there is no such thing as luck or. Just anyways, it just the Holy Spirit's all over this and I really hope that You all receive a blessing from this because I've already received a blessing from it and we haven't even done it yet.

Because I'm so hyped about it last night. But again Just a side note Courtney if you're watching you have to talk a whole lot. Again I want to thank y 'all in it. I really hope that you do receive The blessing that there is to be shared Through this tonight, and I do want to say Robert and Candace.

We love you so very much and we continue to pray for you so. Anyway, so Rachel what is the verse that you've chosen our verses because she's got two different books with several verses.

Which my husband helped me come up with that because I could not Gather my thoughts to come up with scripture on my own. So I just he was like, well What's something that's laying on your heart right now?

And so I just Talked through it and I told him that I'm actually preaching to myself right now. That's what this is the Remaining obedient even through hard times though. I am a hermit. So anytime I'm faced with I Wouldn't even say hard time.

So just any troubling situations. I'm the kind of person that tends to Not run from it, but hide like I isolate myself really bad Whereas scripture says to do the opposite that when you are struggling to lean on each other Whereas I'm the kind of person like no, I'm fine I'll go hide out in the corner like I'm okay and then you know.

It'll pass and you're in the same boat, but they're separate boats because we don't lean on People.

Which I used to struggle with quitting stuff really bad. I was like, oh like I would say yes to too much stuff and then I would just quit it all if they got Too hard, whereas now I have because I don't make decisions for just myself anymore.

I have a husband and like children to consider. I struggle with just hiding from people. I don't quit it necessarily. But I just quit talking to people. It's a different kind of quitting so that was that's something that Has just been on my heart lately that I think a lot of people can relate to especially during this time of the year.

A lot of people struggle with seasonal depression or yes. Whatever whatever kind of hurt they're going through they do. People a lot of times like myself do tend to want to isolate themselves. They don't want to hurt in front of people.

It's easier. Absolutely. Absolutely less energy. I completely agree and I'll never forget this. It was this old lady and she said it a very old lady way. But she was like, you know when you tend to isolate yourself into a corner your demons are waiting there with you and I was like and she's so right because Am I preaching to you?

Yeah, I just went through all of this. We haven't even got started. Good. She's already got her hands on her face.

But it but I mean she was she was right because I mean that is the complete and total opposite of scripture is You're right. Of course, we naturally in our sin want to go hide from our church body.

But the people that love and care about us. Because we're gonna pull you out of that border.

Absolutely. I think healing kissing and screaming and yes, but healing does hurt that. I think that that's. That's the. The whole point of sanctification is it is painful so it's it's hard to sit in those.

Yes.

So the scripture she's chosen tonight is Galatians 6 9 through 10 and Romans 12 10 through 13 so Take it away Mercedes. For the one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher.

Do not don't be deceived. God is not mocked for whatever a man. So is he will also read because the one who sows his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

So we must not get tired of doing good for we will reap at proper time at the proper time if we don't give up. Therefore as we have opportunity I was like, oh I can't see this. Romans 12. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love.

I'll do one another. And showing honor. Do not lack diligence. Be fervent and in spirit. Serve the Lord. Rejoice and hope. Be patient and affliction. Be persistent in prayer. Share with the Saints and their needs.

Pursue Hospitality.

I Would stick up to me for that one and this particular topic was When it talks about opportunity just I actually read it in ESV and it says season. That's what I always say Like that. Well, we're just going through a season right now and said, but I actually looked up what opportunity meant.

And it was actually it wasn't just referring to a time frame. It's actually talking about the entire believers life. So it's just talking about That you. How I perceived it was that a Christian's life like you're only given.

You're giving your entire Christian life to minister to people even through the hard times and something that I've had to learn is that if scripture says that Christ is The example of how he laid his life down for the church through the cross then as we're going through our life as Christians It's not it's not supposed to be easy and everybody knows that but I think a lot of times people wait till their life is Going smoothly for them to start ministering to people.

Whereas what Jesus did on the cross does not show that at all. That's you're supposed to be Serving the church even through your harder times and thankfully through the Holy Spirit we're capable of doing that we can't do that through our own strength, but That that just stuck out to me.

Well, I think that was kind of my like aha moment. That I catch myself doing that a lot of times I'll wait till I'm like doing really good to minister to people because I've used that excuse before where I'll say like Well, I'm not doing good right now.

I can't help out with that and it's like nope. That's the best time for you to help out.

Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, because the thing I'm still learning the thing is. That's what I was home. There's only so many times. It's when when you're in your lowest. Yes, it doesn't only help the person that needs you right at that time.

But it helps you and the reason the way it helps you is that the Holy Spirit working through you is what helps lift you. So I think sometimes it's one of those it can be one of those situations where you're telling somebody something and you're going oh I need a mirror right in front of me as I say this.

Yes, yeah, because there's a lot of times that I have been telling you something and it's like, you know I've had to tell myself this or I have had to preach this to myself and preaching to yourself is not easy.

Especially when it's something that you told yourself over and over and over and over again. Yes.

And you've known it or you've heard it like you've heard that over and over again.

Yeah, you look at yourself in the mirror. I've told you this before you. Listen listen Linda, right? Exactly. So but I mean and it's true because it and the thing the whole thing with. Whatever a man sows he will also rake and.

You have to be careful to define what Blessing is because a lot of times people think like financial. Yes, or you know. Oh, if I keep doing this, I'm gonna get my house and stuff like that. Like they just right but it's blessings don't always come the way we perceive them like.

It's a blessing to receive conviction. That doesn't really. Yeah, actually we don't really see that as a blessing but it is like I'm there's been times where I've been thankful for the conviction Of the Holy Spirit because to be honest, it lets me know that that's the Spirit of God is still living inside of me.

It's like okay. I'm glad this makes me.

It's a good and bad consequence thing. Yes, exactly. Because I've actually asked people before. Not here but outside of church, you know. Because they work and they work and they work and then they're constantly saying well, I'm gonna make it I'm gonna do this I'm gonna do that and I'll make this money and I'm like, but what is money?

Well, you know, why do you strive so hard for money, especially with what you're doing like if you're putting it.

Towards yourself. It's like right right because I mean you could live every single day of your life. Trying to make your bank account bigger, right? But what good is that gonna do you. In all honesty, I mean it's like right now Scott and I we both work and It's it's not a we it's not as bad as it was.

But we're not on easy street by far. And and I never want to be on easy street. I Never want to be I don't ever want to be there because That's not what's for I mean, it's not for me.

People that like Christian people that they are wealthy and The church in some aspects have to be thankful for that but I like purchase I and I that's never something that we. At any point of our marriage I've ever talked about striving for a certain amount of wealth.

Right now, of course he's been called to pastoral ship and so that I feel like there's no place for a pastor to ever strive after money. That's that's a scary route to go down so that I definitely would say that.

Actually with any Christian we shouldn't do that, right? Right, you know, I mean just because You you live your life day after day after day. And and what you're put on this earth for is not to make the dollar bill.

What you're put on this earth for is to reach one more soul or a preach or say a word or to give a good word or to support or encourage or another soul. That's what we're here for that's why you were born and That's why Mercedes was born and I Thank God every day that he landed me here because now I can sit here with YouTube and with many other women and.

And Give that encouraging word or receive that encouraging word from the Holy Spirit because What we have to share with each other is So much more than just being women. And I feel like that the more that we reach out And the more that we seek the Lord and what he has in store for us.

Besides our nine-to-fives or besides being a mom of three kids or besides being a pastor's wife or besides being a troll. Besides being a troll, you know. Then we we can give that and that. Good afternoon or good morning, or how was your day or anything to to anybody out there?

You know what I'm saying? So the reaping in the sowing.

Is is all on you.

It's all on you. So that's why when you when you told me this scripture, I was like This is gonna be really good.

Very good job. Thank you. Yeah opportunity I talked about that. Especially to those who are of the household of faith, so just your church show our love and obedience loving one another. The most I think that's shown the most I think that.

Actually. We we technically are considered a blue-collar church like most of our like we're like a church. But it's so funny. I really don't kind of people yet. Consistent givers not even just in tithing and church giving and stuff.

But I mean, I I couldn't even stop to think of food or anything. Yeah, like and they they would be like sure watch. Not even just hospitality.

More we got that. Yes. We just said was helping others, you know in that sense first Timothy Five eight, but if anyone does not provide for his own that is his own household. Yes, it's not the faith and it's worse than the non-believer.

Wait a minute. Can you repeat first Timothy five eight? Yeah. Read that again. But if anyone does not provide for his own that is his own household yes tonight the faith and it's worse than an unbeliever even though We don't all reside under the same.

I mean, you don't have our own households, but at the same time we are a family you know, we are a Household.

I Was talking to it was Kaylee Dylan the other day and she She was telling me she was like, I just love coming here. I was like me too. She goes. I just feel relaxed.

And I was like, yeah, like it's home. Yeah, it's like an extension of your home.

I was like, I know exactly what you mean. You just you don't feel like you're like it's you get a different feeling when you go to your job. It's like you have to put on your cap for I gotta go to work and kind of stuff.

It's you don't have to put on your church cap.

It really is like right. It's a different home like you are home. Well, I have gone to several churches in my life and this is The only church I think I would that I would actually sit my grandchild down and not worry about.

But I grew up here so I've never thankfully experienced what a bad church can I I've Grown up. I don't see the different people that have come through here. So I'm good. So I'm bad and just the growth of the church and stuff.

So but it has always been a safe place. Yep, there's no no other church or they've never experienced another. Not that there's not a single other church out there like ours but.

Yeah, cuz we're saying she had exited a church that. Seeing the family. The the family feel to it and you know. Hearing when somebody says I love you knowing that. It's genuine and it's true. And it's not empty-void words and.

You know when they. When they ask you, how are you doing? Are you okay? It's not just one of those small talk things. It's genuine. I want to know if you're okay. Yeah.

They're not like you doing. Okay, please say yes. Yeah. People here will actually like get it like no, what do you really mean you're not doing. Are you lying to me? Let me hide it my feelings for a minute.

The fact that.

I'm comfortable enough to not feel like I have to put up. That I'm okay face or that false that that falsehood of that. Because people seem straight through it. Yeah, they see straight. Yeah. When somebody says is there anything that you need it is not.

It's not empty. It is true. Probably you out there that don't know Mercedes when she first started coming here. Was not ever gonna come back. She came here on a business issue and then she heard the pastor preach and she said well, we'll go back next Sunday.

And then she told her husband, okay, we'll go back but we're gonna sit on the back row. I don't do this. I don't do that. I don't I'm not gonna join. I'm not gonna go to Sunday school. I'm not gonna tie.

I'm not gonna make friends build relationships back row attendee last one for last one in first one out. That is it. This is God. Because little did I know I was in the hot seat literally the minute my butt entered the door.

I did not want to be here that first day. She said I remember she said pastor preached on grace the first two Sundays first three Sundays. So that first Sunday, I'm there and I'm texting my uncle trying to figure out some other.

My mom passed last January so Had some family already coming here and so it was hey, do you want to have the service here because you know. They're not gonna charge us and I was like free yes, I Was asked to come on that Sunday and I went you know where I stand with all that I don't know.

I know just think about it. So I was like, you know what? I kind of need to know who I'm gonna be corresponding with. Look at my space. We're gonna be working with you know, what the layout is. So I put my business hat on 100 business hat that is all my attentions were and in truth me Honestly, I was just using Lytton for what I could get which was free.

And that when I look back at that and I've made that connection going. Man, like how horrible is that? You know? It did it worked out very well. Would not go and change that in any manner. So that first Sunday he was preaching on grace and I'm talking to my uncle trying to figure out, you know more Details that need to be handled.

So I'm in between messages. I'd chime in and listen. You know and every time I'd start listening again I'd hear the word grace. And so finally I text him. I was like, hey, you know what let me talk to you later.

I'm at church and he goes. I never thought about that. I go. Yeah. No me neither Surprise to me. And then he did the pastor did the service. All right that next Sunday Sunday to grace. You know and you know how he?

Sometimes like he will Look in the general direction of the person who's on his mind when as he's preaching. Well, he was kind of in I my direction. Not really, we'd only met twice at this point, right and so.

That third Sunday still back room and I mean, I don't mean like kind of ever I mean very very back row the chairs were still in rows.

I had pulled in another row. This time.

The First Scripture he pointed me to was in Ephesians talking about grace. Like what is this hot seat the minute I came in here? So now it's been a year and a half year and almost two years January and Mercedes has been rolling up in here.

I had to stop and catch my breath. The Holy Spirit whipped her up and It just loved her. Just loved her. It's amazing and incredible. Watching her go through the whole learning Process. I mean within the first five months I dealt with a lot.

You know talking about the the love that's shown here. I Saw it firsthand with Vicki. When I had the miscarriage and she took an entire day off to take me to my follow-up appointment. So I didn't have to go by myself because we couldn't afford for Justin to take another day off.

You know and she didn't even know me not really. Just witness beautiful we did. But They would tell me I couldn't stay in there and then I would go back out in the wedding room and then they would say Do you want to go back there with her?

And I was like, well sure so they would bust me back there and I'd be sitting there and I but she'd be like Oh, they let you back. Yeah, they let me back and the guy would come in and say man You're not supposed to be in here.

I'm like, well. And then she's doing at the window and tap and this one lady was like What are you doing. It was a bigger window in this room that she was waiting on her test cuz she's waiting. And I would just stick my head in just like I Was actually Chatting right now.

So, yeah, but I mean it's just it's incredible it's in. You know I've been through a whole lot in my life and I've seen a whole lot in my life and to watch other people go through things that I've been through and it's not identical things, but I know how they feel and.

And just in it in it it really really really gets to me because it's like don't feel like I don't want him to feel like that because in all honesty the grace of God is going to get you out of that and.

And his mercy is more so and the more. There's more he has more mercy than we have failure. And he has more grace than than anything you could ever possibly. So, you know, it's just there it's just there and.

And that's what verse 10 in Galatians is talking about. I think with the opportunity. It's like, you know, you go through something. Somebody else goes through something similar or exactly the same and that's your opportunity to encourage Absolutely in and speak truth and share the gospel and go look what God did in my life.

Yeah, right. This is what God did when he you know, he used this. Well, because that's like I had never been in the situation you'd been in through your miscarriage. I've never that's something I've never experienced but I Felt the pain of loss before.

So, you know, so it doesn't matter if you've been through something that somebody's been through you still know it. I'm not I wasn't I'm not gonna say that again. I'm not gonna say it doesn't matter. But it's like with Rachel.

Rachel and I are two completely totally different people but we can Relate With a lot of issues when it comes to Feelings or Emotions that you're not supposed to even take that you're not supposed to give them any credit at all.

But it it takes another Christian Believer. To tell you and to remind you the truth. And that's what we have to do with each other.

Especially when you're in that that hard place. Which like you were saying just because you have an experience like I've never experienced some miscarriage either but That doesn't mean I can't sit down and hurt with someone.

Yeah, it's like you can you can sit down and Sympathize with them and love on them and stuff, but it so I like that does take that that friend or that sister in Christ. Just to sit down and cry with you.

Yes, just cry and I don't know love on them and then and then you reach that moment where it's like, all right. We're gonna we're gonna we're gonna carry each other through this now like we're like, I'll let you wallow a little bit.

Yeah, no to get up. Let me throw a shoe at your head. Take a little me. Yes. It was it was a black and pink Crocs those have weight to them. The back of my head from across the hotel room, you know what she said.

You just hit me in the back of the head. I said, well, it's a good thing. You wasn't turned around or I'm smacking your face. I was so shook. Rachel shook. Director what are you doing? I Am getting people in line.

Like my assistant. So on to physically. Anyways, but you know, it's just it. We've really witnessed a lot this week within our church body and not just this week, but in the past several weeks and I'm here to tell each and every one of you that watches this today tomorrow in a month and a year.

God's still in the business of miracles.

And you need to look at them for what they actually are. You don't do anything and what you receive is not something that you gain yourself. It's it's a gift that he gives you every single day if he gives you another breath in the morning when you wake up.

Then that is a gift I was just about to say we I think we I'm that we start missing. Smaller blessings like waking up like a lot of times you grow. And you don't wake up with a grateful heart attitude.

That morning, but even just in this stuff like we're something like that.

Because that is not doing something like this being on a social media live with our Bibles open. It was no fear of persecution.

No, right. So provision and that and protecting us through that that we're able to do some of itself. That's where you get caught up in. Your yourself and just your privilege and stuff like not not recognizing that.

So then we look at it. We're like does God even perform miracles anymore? Are you kidding me, right?

Yes every day, but you know, and this is the thing I've. I've said this to a lady at work and I know we've gone over but I've said this to a lady at work one day she said. I asked her I said, so how are you this morning?

She said well, you know, I'm not pushing up daisies and I said do what she said. Well, you know, at least the Lord woke me up. I said well, you know. This is a few years back. I said you well, you know, I'm getting to the age though that.

Sometimes I wonder you know, if he didn't wake me up. I would be in glory. So which one would be better? And she looked at me and with a really stunned face and she said well, you know, that's true. But it's he wakes me up every day.

Because there's something else he wants.

I think it's it's recognizing that. Cuz like you said, it's death. Really like if you're a Christian is death really the worst thing in the world.

But I'd also look at it too that It's actually a blessing that my husband wakes up everything and it's a blessing for me. And it's a blessing that my children wake up every day because it's a blessing for me because I don't have to get through so.

Yeah, it's it's same way with Mercedes and you or anybody that I love. You know talking about the little things that we miss. I struggle with depression. Pretty it's a pretty rough case of it. Yeah, wait, wait.

That was that was so. Timid answer it threw me off and I thanked you.

For a minute like like, of course someone else deals with depression. I didn't want to like a little like her what she goes through and I will think that was a legitimate.

Thank you. The other one wasn't. I didn't yeah anyway, so. Confused. Anyway, so yeah, I struggle with it. When I'm going through those really low lows, I don't see Beauty in anything so much looks shades of gray so when I come out of it and I see in the trees and the sun and this the blueness in the sky I Find myself thankful for vision.

So I can see God's creation around me right now the crisp in the air in the morning. Being thankful that I get to experience and breathe in that crisp air. Yeah, you know it. Yeah, it's amazing. You know, we really take on so much for great.

We just have to remember it and we have to constantly stay on one another.

When each other gets in that which those are the people that must get on your nerves. When you are in in your depression when they're looking there's so much. Listen I was like shut up. Stop asking me what I'm thankful for.

But man when you can muster up something then you're a there's a point like as as I'm asked that.

Sometimes daily, you know the first few times I'm like, nope I eventually do come back and enter the text message, but the more often I'm asked The easier it is to come up with something and then it gets to the point I will tell them what I'm thankful for before they ask.

You know, it's I wonder you know, since we're talking about like not not being able to see God's creation around us for the beauty that it is and the beauty that it holds Paul struck blind on the way to Damascus right.

When he gets to where he's supposed to be He's his vision is restored and At this point, I mean God spoke to him, you know, and he's I'm assuming converted at that point, right? So His view of Everything around him.

I wonder if that's it that changed like he actually saw the beauty.

That is in those things, um, I'm sure you definitely see you throughout his ministry. It was instant humility. Whereas I mean before I mean he was killing Christian. Yeah, and he was such an educated guy I mean he was the guy and so that instant humility of I'm not as powerful as I think I am.

I'm not as intelligent as I think I am, you know, the world does not revolve around me. So on and so forth so there's definitely. You see a change in I? Guess you could say who God was in Paul's life.

Originally. I was Paul then it became.

God, but I'm I'm sure I mean how far of a walk did he have after he was struck blind, right? You know. And then having your sight restored and you see for the first time again and however long.

Trees and grass and sky. I.

I'm assuming that they probably had grass.

This is a side note one of the Never seen grass before. Well, it was just like all dirt and stuff. She either that or grass was not translating correctly. But she she acted like she. I wasn't surprised that she had never seen snow before.

But then talking about mowing a line no one has a law in there. So like grass was just kind of a foreign word for her. She was. I don't know if everything's a weed.

Well, I was just wondering because you know. The sandals and the dust. And maybe okay, so maybe not grass, but.

You know Creation was there. Yeah, I'm gonna go through that sweet age with Ava right now, which a lot of people hate and I Understand the annoyance, but just the What is that? Like I just see her. Well mine just one like she just wants to know.

Yes, and so and I know it carries on to the why and what's that and you know all that kind of stuff. But I don't want to get annoyed with that because it every time she asked that question it's an opportunity for me to point her to the gospel and so it's just I love being able to Even talking to her about my belly.