{"id":304794,"date":"2017-12-06T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/giving-it-forward\/"},"modified":"2017-12-06T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-12-06T17:00:00","slug":"giving-it-forward","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/giving-it-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Giving It Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ann Voskamp talks about the thrill of &#8220;giving it forward.&#8221; Whether it&#8217;s through a smile, a financial blessing, or a cup of cold water, we can always find ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2017-12-06.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:29:36","filesize":"27.09M","filesize_raw":"28410821","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2822,2821],"tags":[4213,6367,6368,6366,2216],"podcast_series":[8252],"cwp_profile":[9473],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-304794","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growing-in-your-faith","category-reaching-out","tag-love","tag-love-one-another","tag-refugees","tag-serve-one-another","tag-suffering","podcast_series-the-broken-way","cwp_profile-ann-voskamp","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/304794\/giving-it-forward","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/304794\/giving-it-forward","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"WUhzpOIMAH\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/giving-it-forward\/\">Giving It Forward<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/giving-it-forward\/embed\/#?secret=WUhzpOIMAH\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Giving It Forward&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"WUhzpOIMAH\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Ann Voskamp talks about the thrill of \"giving it forward.\" Whether it's through a smile, a financial blessing, or a cup of cold water, we can always find ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2017-12-06.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Is there an antidote to discouragement and depression in our lives?\u00a0 Ann Voskamp thinks there is. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Ann: <\/strong>In the midst of our own brokenness, in the midst of our own depression, in the midst of our own anxiety, we get really inward focused\u2014we think about ourselves. The way to fix that is actually the exact opposite of what you think\u2014it\u2019s to think about <em>other<\/em> people\u2019s brokenness and reach out to live like those out-stretched arms of the cross. If you can get others-focused in the midst of your own brokenness, you can find yourself feeling filled up with a much deeper and more meaningful joy. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Wednesday, December 6<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is Dennis Rainey; I\u2019m Bob Lepine. In the midst of the swirl of life, how can we take our eyes off our own circumstances and begin to focus on the needs of others? We\u2019ll explore that today with our guest, Ann Voskamp. Stay with us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us on the Wednesday edition. It just feels like, when you\u2019ve got Ann Voskamp joining you, you should begin every program by going around the table and listing things you\u2019re thankful for. You want to start with this?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I would love to\u2014I\u2019d love to give thanks here. I\u2019m thankful for listeners. We do what we do here, at <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, to be able to strengthen your life, your marriage, your parenting\u2014if you\u2019re a parent\/grandparent\u2014and leave a godly legacy for future generations. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBarbara and I were recently speaking, and a young lady stood in line to talk to Barbara. She finally came up and said, \u201cI just want to thank you, Mrs. Rainey, for doing the radio program; because I started listening when I was 13 years old.\u201d\u00a0 Barbara said: \u201cThirteen?!\u00a0 Did your parents turn on the radio program?\u201d\u00a0 She said: \u201cNo, no, no. I dismissed myself after dinner. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cI\u2019d go up to my room, shut the door, and I\u2019d turn on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. You mentored me, and coached me, and gave me a great model of what marriage and family ought to be. I kept listening through my teen years, all the way through college. Two years ago, I got married. Now, I\u2019m <em>really<\/em> listening to the broadcast.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI thought, \u201cYou know, what\u2019s that worth to that young lady?\u201d\u2014I mean, a decade of listening to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> and impacting her life; and now, she\u2019s starting her marriage and her family. I think that\u2019s worth investing in, Bob. You and I invest our lives here. We also give financially; and we\u2019re inviting friends, right now, to join us with a matching challenge that\u2019s been made available by donors to give generously to keep <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> coming on this station, all across the country, to literally tens of thousands \/ hundreds of thousands of listeners\u2014marriages\/families\u2014and a lot of godly legacies. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>And when you give, that\u2019s who you are giving to. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou\u2019re giving because there are listeners who need what <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is providing every day. It\u2019s easy to give\u2014you can do it, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to make a yearend donation. And we\u2019re starting to hear from listeners, and that\u2019s encouraging. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It is. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>We still have a ways to go if we\u2019re going to take advantage of this matching-gift opportunity. So, we\u2019d love to have you be a part of the team and help us reach more people in 2018 with the ministry of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And I just want to say, if you\u2019ve given, \u201cThank you.\u201d\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t given, let me invite you to go online or pick up a phone and to make a generous gift right now. It\u2019s going to make this broadcast possible for, maybe, some 13-year-old young ladies\u2014perhaps, young men\u2014who need to know what a godly marriage and family look like. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>When you\u2019ve got somebody with you, who wrote a book called <em>One Thousand Gifts<\/em>, talking about things she\u2019s thankful for, it may be hard for her to nail it down to one thing. Do you think she\u2019s going to have trouble with this?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I don\u2019t know. Let\u2019s ask her right now: \u201cAnn, what are you thankful for?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>I am beyond thankful to be sitting in the same room with Bob Lepine, Dennis Rainey, and Barbara Rainey talking about Jesus. It doesn\u2019t get much better than that. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Well, the honor is ours. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>It is. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>We\u2019re grateful too. That is Ann Voskamp, who has authored a number of <em>New York Times<\/em> bestsellers\u2014the latest, of which, is called <em>The Broken Way<\/em>. She and her husband Darryl live west of Toronto in Canada. I haven\u2019t heard her use the word, \u201ceh,\u201d <em>yet<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Do you have an \u201ceh\u201d in you?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; sometimes, I do say, \u201ceh.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Eh. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>Eh. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Eh. Canadians finish every statement as a question mark. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; we really do. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>They all go up at the end. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>We do. Our intonations always go up, and we say, \u201cSorry,\u201d a lot. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I do also want to introduce my wife again. Barbara, thanks for joining us, Sweetie. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>Delighted to be here. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. So, Ann, you don\u2019t know this; but one of my favorite questions to ask\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes, sir. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014any human being\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes, sir. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014but I thought, \u201cI can\u2019t wait to hear how Ann Voskamp answers this question.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>I\u2019m feeling nervous now. I\u2019m feeling <em>very<\/em> nervous. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You have lived quite a life!\u00a0 I mean, you live on a farm, and are raising seven kids, and travelled the country speaking occasionally. Here\u2019s the question: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes, sir. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u201cOut of everything you\u2019ve done in all the world, what is the most courageous thing you have ever done?\u201d\u00a0 And the answer is not: \u201cI\u2019ve never done anything courageous,\u201d\u2014that\u2019s not the answer\u2014that is the most <em>frequent<\/em> answer that I get. But it\u2019s this: \u201cCourage is doing your duty in the face of fear.\u201d\u00a0 Have you got it?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; yes. Can I do a two-part? [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You may. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Ann: <\/strong>I think, number one, each of those seven kids was an act of courage. [Laughter] I think, lots of times, when we do something that\u2019s courageous, we are given the greatest gift. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think each of those kids\u2014just loving them \/ their hearts\u2014has been the greatest gift of my life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFebruary, 2014, there were 21 Coptic Christians martyred in Libya by ISIS. Three weeks after their martyrdom, I was asked to go to Iraq and to sit with refugees that had tried to escape ISIS and lost family members. I think that was a decision that we, as a family, all had to go ahead and make because it was stepping into a very volatile, dangerous situation. My husband said to me, \u201cYou are [in more danger] here at home, out of the will of God, than you are going to Iraq and being in the will of God.\u201d\u00a0 We had friends that have distanced themselves greatly because of the decision we made, as a family, that I would go to Iraq and tell those stories. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAfter you have given thanks for <em>thousands<\/em> of things, you really realize that you are Esther living in the palace for such a time as now\u2014that you have been given all that you\u2019ve been given, not to keep it or to hoard it for yourself, but to live broken and given\u2014to risk it all for those outside the gate. I sat in a shipping container in Iraq, looked into the eyes of a woman, who ISIS had beheaded her husband \/ shot her brothers. She had to escape\u2014this was before Sinjar\u2014they were all escaping up Sinjar Mountain. She\u2014she said: \u201cI only had two arms. I had to decide which of my children I had scoop up into my arms.\u201d [Emotion in voice] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh my goodness!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>She had a little boy. She didn\u2019t know where he was; and she said: \u201cWe lived a middle class life\u2014we had a garage \/ we had a car. My husband had a good job.\u201d\u00a0 I thought: \u201cThat could be me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThat could have easily been me.\u201d I would hope that there were people in the world that would care enough to listen and to say: \u201cWe are Esthers in the palace for such a time as now. What will we risk for those outside of the gate?\u201d\u00a0 It could have been me! Just by grace \/ by God\u2019s graciousness, I am where I am now to use the gifts that I\u2019ve been given for those outside the gate. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, that has been a crazy act of courage; but you look in the eyes of the women and these fathers, who\u2014they are living incredibly courageous lives, where they have to believe in hope in the midst of a very dark, despairing place. I sat, last week, in Iraq with families, who said, \u201cIf I got to say anything to ISIS, I would say: \u2018Thank you. Because of this war, you have driven us straight into the arms of Jesus.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 I sat with people, over and over again\u2014their testimony was: \u201cI am so grateful that, even in the midst of we have lost everything, we have now experienced Christ or the church meeting our needs.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cNow that we have the riches of Christ, there is nothing we need in this world.\u201d\u00a0 Their faith was phenomenal. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Barbara: <\/strong>Wow. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I couldn\u2019t agree more. We just need to look around us. It may not be\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>No; no. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014travelling across the pond to be an Esther. It may be walking across the street. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Walking across the street\u2014but each of us is called\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>\u2014right where we are living \/ right where we are right now for such a time as now. Just look and say, \u201cWhere are the broken people around me, right now, that I can live a cross-shaped, cruciform life, broken and given, into their brokenness?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, you were part of our Christmas celebration last year; because we started a tradition, years ago, with our kids where, at Christmas, we give a gift to some kind of mercy ministry in their name \/ in their honor as one of their Christmas gifts. In fact, my daughter has said, \u201cThat\u2019s my favorite Christmas gift every year.\u201d I asked them, ahead of time: \u201cWhat has God put on your heart?\u00a0 What are you passionate about?\u201d\u00a0 One of my kids said, \u201cThe refugee situation,\u201d\u2014and she said\u2014\u201cand Ann Voskamp recommends this organization\u2026\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, we gave,\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; thank you!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014in honor of that child, to that organization as a Christmas gift; because I can\u2019t go to Iraq. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>No; no. I think each of us\u2014with whatever we have been given\u2014that\u2019s a gift to somebody else\u2014even for that little child, if it\u2019s 25 cents. I think, so often, we think meaningfulness is us getting to do something. When we actually get to <em>give<\/em> something\u2014actually, Elisabeth Elliot said, \u201cMaturity comes from being willing to live given.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn this day and age, it\u2019s really easy for children to fall into this sickness of entitlement; but can we go ahead and show our children: \u201cHow do you live broken and given?\u00a0 How do you live a life of being broken and given, like bread?\u2014generosity out into the world. Be the gift, and give it forward every single day,\u201d\u2014that\u2019s what starts to change the world in little places and starts to make a big difference. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>Actually, on the blog, every month, we have what we call the \u201cGIFT List\u201d\u2014it\u2019s a GIFT: Give It Forward Today. You can actually have a calendar\u2014put on the fridge. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tEach day, just challenge your kids: \u201cHow can we go ahead and do this one little prompt?\u201d\u00a0 It might be \u201cSmile at everybody today.\u201d\u00a0 It may be \u201cGo ahead and pick up every piece of garbage that you see today.\u201d\u00a0 If we can start to have a mindset of \u201cHow can I use the gifts that I\u2019ve been given to give it forward every day?\u201d we start to meet the suffering and the brokenness in the world with the hands and feet of Jesus. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, you do touch on this in your book. I loved the illustrations you gave of buying a dollar lollipop for a kid in line at a store and how your own children bought a bunch of tennis balls and left them on a tennis court \/ donuts\u2014gave away donuts\u2014just kindness. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, Ann, you write in your book\u2014actually, you ask a question \/ you say, \u201cHow can you be an Esther and <em>break<\/em> a thousand gates?\u201d\u00a0 What are the thousand gates representative of?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; yes\u2014all kinds of brokenness, and oppression, and marginalization, and suffering in the world that might\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014yes; it might be on the other side of the world; it might be a crisis pregnancy center in your own community; it might be a single mom. There are all kinds of people who feel like they\u2019re not at the table in all kinds of ways. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014like a homeless guy?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Totally!\u2014like a homeless guy. It might be a kid at your church, who is at university, and he\u2019s a thousand miles away from home. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf we can just open our eyes, there are people who feel lonely and broken all around us. If we can go ahead\u2014not only do this for us\u2014because lots of times, in the midst of our own brokenness, in the midst of our own depression, in the midst of our own anxiety, we get really inward focused\u2014we think about ourselves. The way to fix that is actually the exact opposite of what you think\u2014it\u2019s to think about other people\u2019s brokenness and reach out to live, like those outstretched arms of the cross. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>But when you are depleted\u2014when you are drained, and exhausted, and discouraged\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014how\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>That\u2019s once every five years for Ann Voskamp. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Oh, if you only <em>knew<\/em>. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>I think The Farmer might be able to share some stories that haven\u2019t made into print yet. When you are in that place, how do you give?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; I think there are two things. I think Scripture makes it really clear\u2014God is so kind and gracious\u2014there is Sabbath \/ there is rest every week. Go ahead, on that seventh day, you need time away. Part of <em>The Broken Way<\/em> is: \u201cCan you break the schedule?\u00a0 Can you break the agenda and come away with Me and have intimacy with Me so that I fill up that bucket?\u2014so that I fill you to overflowing?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tToo often, we think we pour out, out of ourselves. That\u2019s where the depletion comes from. If we can go ahead and say: \u201cI\u2019m only going to pour out of my intimacy and my communion with Christ. I need to stay in close company with Him. So, I\u2019m going to break the schedule. I am going to break the routines and have time apart with Him.\u201d Then, it might be: \u201cYou know what?\u00a0 I am in a really depleted place. There might be only one thing I can do today,\u201d\u2014that might be paying close attention to somebody \/ smiling, intentionally, toward people. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s the same thing as gratitude. There\u2019s always, always, always, <em>something<\/em> to be thankful for. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWith given-ness, there is always one small way that you can be given today. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>I was still a very young Christian when I came across 2 Corinthians 12, where Paul talks about his thorn in the flesh\u2014his depletion\u2014where I read that, in our weakness, God is made strong. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>That, again, was a paradigm shift; because I\u2019d always relied on my own strength for everything. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Exactly. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>And to go: \u201cWait!\u00a0 In those moments when I am weak, God shows up; and it\u2019s better than if I was trying to do it in my own strength.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Exactly. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>That\u2019s how we\u2019re supposed to live!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>That\u2019s a completely upside down way of thinking. In my brokenness, that brokenness drives me to\u2014what?\u2014<em>dependence<\/em> upon God. Then, God is all the strength in my life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>It reminds me of a story you told, in the book, that I really liked, too; because you wrote about a trip to Israel. Dennis and I have been\u2014I can\u2019t wait to go back. [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>But you talked about listening to a shepherd talk about the way he cared for the sheep. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think that\u2019s relevant to this, too; because we have to have that communion with the Shepherd. We have to be following the Shepherd to know who He wants us to bless, where He wants us to go, what He wants us to do, what He wants us to say. So, you might want to tell that story. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>I love that story. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>It was a very interesting experience. He was a Messianic Jew, and he was telling us\u2014you know, too often, we think that the shepherd breaks the legs of the sheep so that they don\u2019t run away. But he said, \u201cActually, our understanding of break is that he actually puts a weight on the leg of the sheep to, literally, brake him\u2014as in not go further away.\u201d\u00a0 He keeps him <em>closer<\/em> to the shepherd so the sheep hears his voice. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, again and again, it\u2019s about \u201cHow can I keep close communion and intimacy \/ keep company with Christ?\u201d\u00a0 He tells me: \u201cWalk this way,\u201d \u201cDo it this way right now,\u201d and that He is all of our resources and our sufficiency, and we\u2019re not doing them in and of ourselves. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Barbara: <\/strong>And the word, brake, is B-R-A-K-E. So, it\u2019s like the brake on a car\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014it\u2019s the controlled; right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>\u201cSlow down and come closer to Me.\u201d\u00a0 I think one of the most beautiful verses in Scripture is \u201cA bruised reed He will not break.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Christ is <em>for<\/em> you in the midst of what you feel\u2014like: \u201cI\u2019m so broken,\u201d \u201cI am despairing of hope, Lord.\u201d\u00a0 No; that bruised reed\u2014He will not break \/ that sheep\u2019s leg\u2014He will not break\u2014but He may put weight on it to brake it so it doesn\u2019t go further off this way but, actually, comes closer to Him; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, Ann, I\u2019m listening to our conversation here and reflecting back over all the conversations this week. There, undoubtedly, is a person listening, right now, who is on the outside, looking in. They haven\u2019t taken Jesus Christ at His offer to: \u201cCome to Me, and I\u2019ll forgive you. I\u2019ll make you a fisher of men. I\u2019ll turn you into somebody who is a giver.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey are so broken, though, they think, \u201cMan, I don\u2019t know if I can do that.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, the reality is you can\u2019t until you encounter Jesus Christ and He comes to live inside of you. What would you say to that person, who is, I\u2019d say, borderline hopeless?\u2014they\u2019re just discouraged\u2014maybe, in a marriage, that is not working; a prodigal child; a health issue; a job loss\u2014catastrophe after catastrophe. You\u2019ve faced a few in your life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; I have \/ I understand. I think\u2014understand that you are not alone. God says He is Emmanuel\u2014\u201cGod with us.\u201d\u00a0 I believe with-ness breaks brokenness. So, I\u2019d like to turn to that person and say: \u201cYou are not alone where you are right now. You are not the only one who has every walked this way. Jesus walks <em>with<\/em> you, right now; and all you need is need. Scripture tells us, \u2018Blessed are the <em>poor<\/em> in spirit.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cYou may feel broken, and hopeless, and feel like you have nothing to give. Jesus says: \u2018That\u2019s perfect. Come to Me right now, and I will carry you the rest of the way.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think, if we understand that dependence upon Jesus is all that we need, where we say: \u201cI\u2019m letting go of everything. I\u2019ve got nothing left here to give at all, Lord.\u201d\u00a0 He says, \u201cI will do the rest.\u201d\u00a0 I think, if we can come to that place of: \u201cI\u2019m poor. I\u2019ve got nothing; all I\u2019ve got is need,\u201d that\u2019s exactly the best place to meet Jesus and let Him carry you the rest of the way. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And He will do that. I\u2019m looking at another one of the books that Paul wrote\u20142 Corinthians, Chapter 5\u2014it says: \u201cTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; and behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ, reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe thing I like about that passage, and what you\u2019ve said all week, is that\u2014first of all, God meets us in our point of brokenness,\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Yes; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014and He begins the work of healing; but then, gives us a message. He turns us outward, which is what you\u2019ve done all week. You\u2019ve just\u2014you\u2019ve poked, and prodded, and encouraged, and\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Gently\u2014so gently. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes; that\u2019s right. It was a gentle shame, but it was a good kind\u2014to say: \u201cBe a giver!\u00a0 Be about the ministry of reconciliation and tell people about the Savior. These are eternal beings that you are relating to, day in and day out.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Only because you\u2019ve been starving yourself and you\u2019ve tasted bread: \u201cHow can you not, now, be broken and given out to those others around you who are starving?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Well, I agree. I\u2019m glad you\u2019re breaking the bread and have been\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>\u2014only in the midst of my own\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes; I\u2019m thinking back to a little girl who cut herself\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>That\u2019s right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014because she didn\u2019t know what to do with the pain of the loss of her sister. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>But you know what?\u00a0 Jesus stands there, at the cross, with His wounds and says: \u201cHere, by My wounds, you can be healed. Come and take all the woundedness and press it into my wounds.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus says: \u201cJust come. Just come just as you are.\u201d\u00a0 Let Jesus meet you. Let Jesus take all the brokenness\u2014I mean, it\u2019s mindboggling to think: \u201cHe\u2019ll take all the brokenness; and He will give you, literally, all of His wholeness.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014and He is alive. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>\u2014today!\u2014yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>He can make a promise like that because\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>\u2014and keep it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014He has defeated death. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI just want to thank you for being a Christ-follower and for using your gifts\u2014my, my\u2014what a wonderful gift you have of writing and\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>All glory to God. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014wordsmithing. Thanks for joining us on the broadcast. And I hope we haven\u2019t offended you in too many ways\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>Oh my goodness; no!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014or the Farmer or the Farmer. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann: <\/strong>All I ask is\u2014someday you come to the farm and have a good plate of bacon with us someday, Dennis. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I might do that someday.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>We do have copies, of course, of Ann\u2019s book, which is called <em>The Broken Way<\/em> in our <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Resource Center. The subtitle is <em>A Daring Path into the Abundant Life<\/em>. You can order from us, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can call to order at 1-800-358-6329. Once again, the website\u2014FamilyLifeToday.com\u2014or call 1-800-358-6329\u2014that\u2019s 1-800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, I know this is a busy season of the year for most families\u2014it is for our family. I just want to ask you to carve out a little bit of time during the month of December and remember to pray for <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. This is a critical month for ministries like <em>FamilyLife Today. <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s in December that some people, who have been ministered to throughout the year, will decide to make a yearend contribution to support the work of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat happens in December is largely determinative of how extensive our ministry can be in the months ahead. If listeners are generous this month, we\u2019re able to do more in 2018; and if, for whatever reason, we don\u2019t hear from listeners this month, then, we have to make cutbacks. We look at where things are today and think: \u201cThis is not a time to be cutting back. This is a time to be expanding the influence of this ministry.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, we want to ask you, if you are a regular listener, \u201cJoin us in what God is doing through <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> by making a yearend contribution.\u201d\u00a0 And this is a uniquely good time to do that as our friend, Michelle Hill, is here to explain today. Hi, Michelle. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle: <\/strong>Hi Bob! \uf04a It is a uniquely good time to join in, and I\u2019m glad to report that as of today over a thousand people have made that decision\u2026one thousand two hundred and forty nine people to be exact\u2026so first let me say a big thank you to folks like Linda from Reston, VA and Mark from Greenville, SC \uf04a \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBecause of folks like Linda and Mark and over a thousand others, today we\u2019re at one hundred ninety thousand, three hundred seventy nine dollars\u00a0 given toward the two million dollar match\u2026 which really is a nice bump up from yesterday\u2026so <em>Thank You!<\/em> We\u2019re<em> very very<\/em> grateful and of course Bob we\u2019ve made it as easy as possible and there\u2019s still plenty of room to hear from more folks\u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, it\u2019s easy for listeners to join us in the matching-gift challenge. They can give, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com; or they can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to donate; or they can mail their donation to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> at PO Box 7111, Little Rock, AR; and our zip code is 72223. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThanks, Michelle. We\u2019ll see you back here again tomorrow. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd we hope you\u2019ll join us again tomorrow. Sally Lloyd-Jones is going to be our guest, and we\u2019re going to talk about how you can communicate the truth of Christmas to young children\u2014she knows something about that. Sally, of course, is the author of <em>The Jesus Storybook Bible<\/em>. I hope you can tune in to be a part of tomorrow\u2019s program.\u00a0\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I\u2019m Bob Lepine. We will see you back next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas; a Cru<sup>\u00ae <\/sup>Ministry. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2017 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/304794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=304794"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=304794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=304794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=304794"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=304794"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=304794"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=304794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}