September 2, 2025 • 33 mins
Have you ever felt trapped in a cycle of rebellion, knowing deep down something needs to change but unsure how to break free? Sandy Vasquez's powerful testimony might be exactly what you need to hear.
Sandy opens up about her journey from a hardened heart in her early twenties to a life transformed by God's redemptive power. With refreshing vulnerability, she shares how an intervention by godly friends became the catalyst for change in her life. "When they sat down and prayed for me, that really changed the trajectory," Sandy explains, highlighting how the prayers of righteous women caused spiritual strongholds to crumble.
The conversation weaves through Sandy's life-altering experiences, from a divine 4 AM wake-up call that led her to take her daughter on a mission trip to Mexico, to the challenges and joys of fostering and eventually adopting three children. Her husband Daryl (affectionately nicknamed "Harry Poppins") emerges as a beautiful counterbalance to Sandy's task-oriented personality—he with his people-focused heart, she with her efficiency-driven mind.
Whether you're struggling with your own rebellion or trying to help someone who is, this conversation offers hope that no one is beyond the reach of God's redemptive love. Listen now and discover how God can transform even the hardest heart into a vessel of His grace.
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Episode Transcript
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Denise Jackson (00:00):
Good morning girls, Buenos dias.
Buenos dias.
I'm learning a little.
So this morning, at Rooted inRising Girls from the Greenhouse
, I have Sandy Voskins.
She and I have been friends fora long time and in the near
past she and I went last year toMexico on mission together and
(00:21):
had such a great time on missiontogether and had such a great
time.
So we're going to talk thismorning about just some
different things in our seasons,but one of the things I want
you to know about Sandy becauseshe's an expert at this, I feel
like, because she's gone throughso much she fostered children
and she ended up adopting thosethree children along with her
(00:45):
first child.
So she has four children andbeing the mom of four children I
really can identify with andit's a tough journey but such a
blessed journey.
So down the road, maybe todayor maybe later we'll talk about
just some of those challengesand how God's helped us, but
today I'd just like to introduceyou.
(01:06):
Let you talk to the ladies andthen talk to me.
Sandy Vasquez (01:10):
Okay, well, one story that I haven't thought of
until right now you mentionedMexico was how we got there.
So I am not an early bird.
It's hard for me to get up andmeet someone at 8.
It's hard for me to get up forwork at 6.30.
And so you know, everybody'sadvice is always like have your
God time first thing in themorning.
(01:30):
So it's on your heart, but forthose of us that that's not our
best time, it's hard.
Denise Jackson (01:35):
So I'm exactly the opposite.
I like to wake up early, I liketo have my God time first.
Sandy Vasquez (01:39):
But it's a challenge.
So I feel like that giving Godyour best time may not be at six
in the morning.
It may be for you in theafternoon, when nobody's around
and it's quiet and it's notrushed and it's not, you're not
hustling.
And it may be at night, whenthe kids are in bed and it's
quiet.
You can reflect and look backat, like, what has God done
during the day and it's just,you're quiet.
(02:01):
Yeah, it might be your besttime.
Well, for some reason, a coupleof years ago I woke up at four
and God was telling me now isthe time to go and take your
daughter on a mission trip.
Because now you know, with fourkids, our budget is pretty
tight and pretty strict andevery single day we have
itemized exactly what we spendon.
(02:22):
So we know monthly, we knowyearly, we have our goals and
savings, and so I alwaysrationalize we can't afford that
.
I can't just take a trip.
I can't take $2,000 and take mydaughter, like I'm not going to
leave my husband with threekids, like all the reasons why
it's not going to work out.
But you had heard, about themission trip.
(02:43):
Yeah.
So our church had been doing itfor many years and we thought,
oh, that would be so great totake the kids, but, like when
you know, when they're teenagersor when they're adults, you
know it's never a good time Justit wasn't.
Well, he woke me up thatmorning at four.
I looked at my clock and I waslike, wow, this has never
happened.
I've never woken up this earlyand heard from God like you need
(03:08):
to go, and so it's easy, whenyou hear like a directive from
God, to just say like well, Imean, that would not be great.
But here's my bullet list ofwhy that's not going to work?
Denise Jackson (03:18):
And did I really hear from God?
Was that really his voice, allthose questions?
Did you go to Daryl and ask him?
Sandy Vasquez (03:25):
Well.
At first or not, I mean, he'ssupport, he's the supportive
husband.
Yeah, if I said you know Godwants us to move to Japan, he's
kind of like he's just support.
He's the one that they make ajoke like.
You know, if I wanted to buy allama, my husband would say,
well, that's a hugeinconvenience, but why not?
(03:46):
It makes you happy.
He's pretty.
He's a yes man, yes, yes, andso watching the kids is no
problem.
He's a great dad.
His dream job, if he could,would be a stay-at-home dad he
loves, he was really nurturing.
Denise Jackson (03:59):
He could have 20 kids.
Sandy Vasquez (04:00):
We call him harry poppins because he's always
just.
He puts on a chef's hat and hedoes like a whole show with them
and he's like you crack theeggs and you mix the things and
I'm really like why are youwatching me go play like I'm
nervous, I'm a nervous Nelly,and he's just really nervous
Nelly and Harry Poppins just socomfortable taking care of kids.
(04:26):
And so the interesting thing waslike the finances.
So I just God was like you canfundraise with your daughter.
So we thought about you know,sending out letters and asking
people for money.
But God was like, no, you needto do something and work with
your hands.
So we decided to clean houses.
I thought, okay, well, Ialready have a gift of cleaning
(04:47):
and that's how God made me.
And you know like how, how Godgives you gifts, but it's not
for you, it's for other people.
So who else can I bless withthat gift?
And then they'll get somethingout of it.
So it's like a, like a win-win.
It's not just like we're taking, but we're giving and receiving
, because I think in the bodythere's like natural givers.
(05:08):
They're always just giving andthen some are receiving.
It's good to do both.
It is.
And even if you are like anatural giver, like if you're an
educator or if you're in themedical field or you're a mom,
you're always, always giving.
Sometimes you also have toreceive.
Denise Jackson (05:25):
Yes, I was just going to say that.
So when I was young I had a lotof.
I mean, I like to make friends,I'm a social person, but I
remember thinking I only have acouple of friends that when I'm
in need, give something back tome to help me and build me up.
The rest of them I give andgive and give, and that's hard.
(05:48):
Now, later in my life, I endedup with a lot more friends that
give and take, which I'mthankful for, but I remember
thinking that as a young personthat I was exhausted because I
was always giving.
So I think that's an importantthing to learn.
I think we're going to end upbeing givers the more that God
(06:08):
changes our heart, because he isthe greatest giver and he loves
us so much.
He wants our lives to beblessed, but I love that.
You know that he wants us towork with our hands, he wants us
to do good and then throughthat he blesses us.
Sandy Vasquez (06:25):
And it's okay to receive too.
I remember one time someonebought my Starbucks on a really
rough day and I was like, oh, Ishould pay that forward and keep
this going.
But then God told me sometimesyou just need to receive, it's
okay, you don't always have tobe the one giving.
Yes, I'm not that you also needto be the receiver and the
(06:46):
rester.
Denise Jackson (06:47):
You know he tells us, rest in him.
And for you and I, especiallywith our personalities, that's
really the hardest thing I'veever gone through is to try to
get myself to just be content inresting.
I can make myself rest, I cango to sleep, but like if I'm
(07:07):
sitting in my living room on aday when I don't have
appointments and things likethat, just being willing to rest
there.
I'm still learning.
They don't wait upon.
The Lord shall renew theirstrength.
They shall rise up as angelsand eagles.
Oh your verses.
Sandy Vasquez (07:26):
Yeah, that deals with renewing your youth and
eagles I'm going to read thewhole thing, so we'll say it
right.
Okay.
So one of the verses thatreally kind of changed my life
was when I was a kid.
I had so much energy and somuch joy, but then I went
through the hardest times, likea lot of people.
You leave, leave the house, andyou have no direction and
guidance and you're off to yourown will, your own selfish
(07:49):
desires, your own journey.
So my story, like many, took awrong turn, like 18 through 22,
and was a rough ride.
And so when God brought meback— so do you think it was
like?
Denise Jackson (08:01):
a rough ride, because it was all about you.
You were just trying to fillyour own—t trying to do
everything to make yourself feelgood.
Sandy Vasquez (08:09):
It was one of my other verses too is about
hardening your heart.
So in my life, when I've gotteninto trouble, it's just when my
heart is so hard and I'mapathetic, I don't care.
I didn't care about my health,I didn't care about other
people's, you know advice.
I didn't care about going tochurch.
(08:29):
I didn't care about otherpeople's feelings or how my
decisions affected them.
I didn't care about resting.
I just you worked, becausethat's what you did yeah and so.
Denise Jackson (08:39):
So then what changed that?
Sandy Vasquez (08:42):
um was it.
Well, really it was friends, sokind of like you said you had a
core group of friends.
I always felt like I so kind oflike you said you had a core
group of friends.
I always felt like I was kindof like the bad egg in the good
bunch, like I was the bad kidgetting into trouble, but my
girlfriend, my group was strong.
I mean I had some great, greatfriends from great families and
really biblical friends thatjust let their.
Denise Jackson (09:04):
Is there one that stood out?
Sandy Vasquez (09:06):
Yeah, like a handful, like five of them.
Denise Jackson (09:09):
Oh, tell me your names.
Sandy Vasquez (09:10):
So Michelle was one, jen was one, kelly was one,
caitlin was one.
Like most of these, ended upbeing my bridesmaids and still
friends to this day, 20 yearslater.
Yeah, that's awesome.
They basically came to town inDallas.
One of them flew in from StLouis and sat me down and said
(09:34):
okay, here's what you're doingwith your life and here's what
you need to stop doing and leavebehind, and we're going to
start praying for a godlyhusband.
You're not just going to date,mr Wrong, but you're going to
find Mr Right.
You're going to go back tochurch.
And so it was kind of like a notawakening, but when they sit
down down, so like anintervention so it was like
they're like you're gonna startgoing to counseling because this
(09:54):
is some really that big issuesyou have and a counselor needs
to help you that we can't helpyou with that so?
Denise Jackson (10:00):
so were those the issues that had developed
after you left home, or werethey deeper and would you?
Sandy Vasquez (10:05):
you don't have to talk about um well, I'm telling
my husband's really comfortablelike sharing his whole life
story, and I am with him andwith maybe like five a handful
of close friends, but when I'mlike in public.
Denise Jackson (10:18):
I'm like, you're not in public, you're with me.
Sandy Vasquez (10:20):
The pg version well, and also as a teacher, I
feel like, yeah, some story Iedit.
Yeah, you don't want to.
There's the PG version, okay.
Denise Jackson (10:32):
Well, those deep things though we do, you know,
like I think we were talking toKate recently and she's a
professional counselor we knowthat those hurts in our life
have ramifications.
They don't just go away justbecause you decide you've
changed.
(10:52):
They stay in there unless youreally go in and take the route
up.
And sometimes you need acounselor.
Sometimes you don't, becauseGod can heal you completely
without that, but sometimes youdo need somebody to talk to you
and walk you through the steps,and so did that help you.
Sandy Vasquez (11:08):
Yeah, so I went to counseling for about a year
and went to some groups atchurch specifically for certain
issues.
And so the book Traveling Lightthat talked about Psalm 23, but
really in depth, like why theLord is our shepherd and I'm not
a farmer we don't live in anagrarian society so it really
went into how God anoints ourheads with oil and the purpose
(11:31):
of oil and all the things thatfarmers know, but in this 21st
century we don't know much aboutshepherding and that book
really changed my life a lot andit brought me back.
Brought me back on the path.
Denise Jackson (11:44):
So do you remember what really brought?
Like you were talking, but whenwas that was there a moment,
well, probably when my friendscame that night.
Sandy Vasquez (11:53):
So they sat down and prayed for me and that
really changed the trajectory.
So the prayer of righteouswomen together and crying and
kids of armies, our enemy who isin the spirituals.
Denise Jackson (12:06):
fleeing.
That verse is so good.
Y'all, if you're in a bad place, ask for Godly women to come
pray for you, or go to theelders and get them to pray for
you at your church.
There are so many places whereGod says go, get help, confess
your sins one to another,somebody that won't judge you.
And if they love the Lord, theywon't judge you, because we all
(12:28):
have sin in our life.
Sandy Vasquez (12:30):
That was the hardest part.
I was like I can't tell anyoneabout this because they will
really just be shocked first ofall and just probably will lose
a bunch of friends.
But it was actually theopposite.
So Psalm 51, the one whereDavid commits adultery with
Bathsheba and confesses his sinsand asks God to redeem him and
bring and come back to be closeto God again, that one really
(12:53):
helped too.
But, my favorite verse is Psalm103.
It says praise the Lord, o mysoul, praise his holy name and
forget not all his benefits, whoforgives all your sins, who
heals all your diseases, whoredeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with love andcompassion, who satisfies your
desires with good things andrenews your youth like the
(13:13):
eagles.
Denise Jackson (13:14):
I love that so much.
And it says he redeems yourlife from the pit.
And in the Amplified it saysthe pit of nothingness.
And that's what we chased afterwhen we were young Nothing,
feelings I didn't care aboutmyself.
Sandy Vasquez (13:50):
I didn't care about others.
I didn't care about my life orwhat I was doing tomorrow.
I had no purpose.
Denise Jackson (13:55):
You know, when I was a pregnant teenager 16, Lee
and I ended up getting marriedafter a lot.
So it was very emotional.
You know, I felt shame andguilt and I dropped out of high
school and so I went on.
You know, we had Jenna, myoldest and our oldest, and you
(14:20):
know I went on with my life.
And then I was in a churchwhere I have all those friends
and there were like 20 of usgathered at a women's prayer
sleepover and my friend Gay wasthe one that led us.
She was like my age no, she wasyounger, but I thought she was
older at the time.
She had us in a big circle andshe asked us tell us about your
(14:43):
wedding.
So I'm sitting on this side ofthe gate and that girl starts.
So they're going around thiswhole circle.
None of them knew that I was acisgender.
Sandy Vasquez (14:54):
Oh, you're the last.
Denise Jackson (14:56):
They would say to me and I've known these girls
for a long time and they wouldsay you're so young looking.
And I would say I know it's inmy genes, it was because I was
young.
I didn't tell them my age.
I was like, if I tell them,they will hate me, I will be
cast out.
That's what I thought.
So they're going around tellingthese beautiful wedding stories
all around and it's gettingcloser to me and I'm like I'm
(15:19):
going to lie, I'm going to makesomething up Because they're not
going to.
But by the time it got to me,tears were pouring out of my
eyes and I told them the truthand they were all quiet at first
.
Oh great.
They said get your pants andleave.
And then some other girl acrossthe way raised her hand and
said could I tell my real story?
(15:40):
And another girl raised her handand said oh, I want to tell my
real story, because it wasn't agood story.
It was like a terror.
You know, it was very hard, andso that's how we all feel, and
you know who makes us feel thatway, who speaks in our ear.
You are worthless and they willhate you and they don't want
(16:01):
you, and so you need to be byyourself.
It's the enemy.
His name is Satan, and I'm notafraid to say it because I
stepped on his head in Jesus'name.
But I didn't know that then,and so I was just frozen in this
place of a root that was sodeep in me of shame and fear and
of being unloved.
(16:21):
And now I'm set free from thatso that I can tell you guys
about it and you about that, andnot worry that you're not going
to love me because of that.
That's who God is.
He redeems our life from thepit of nothingness, of where
we're lost, where we're seekingour own way, and it just doesn't
(16:42):
bring any kind of joy into ourlives.
Sandy Vasquez (16:46):
Yeah, I love.
That Reminds me of the verseJohn 10, 10.
My brother is an artist and soI had him draw like a charcoal,
maybe pencil, like a black andwhite drawing His name's John.
So John 10, 10, it says thethief comes to steal, kill and
destroy, but I have come thatthey may have life and have it
to the full, and I used to printlittle like those tiny pictures
(17:08):
of it.
That was a change.
Denise Jackson (17:10):
In Lee the full, yeah, and I used to print
little, uh, like those tinypictures of it, and that was,
that was right there.
Uh, he read it and he was like,really that's why you came,
because before he was like soworried, god was gonna force him
to be something that he didn'tthink he should be, you know.
So that's great.
So so you were talking aboutlike going through that period
(17:31):
in your life when you changedand then you went through a new
period.
What was that period?
Sandy Vasquez (17:37):
So then I met my husband thanks to my godly
friends.
Well, that's great.
They also said you're notallowed to date anyone unless we
okay him.
So kind of like you know theyput like an ultimatum that's how
you okay him.
So kind of like you know theyput like an ultimatum.
Denise Jackson (17:50):
That's how she believed him.
Sandy Vasquez (17:51):
They had me write like a list of qualities too.
Oh that's right.
Make a list.
Actually, I did that when I wasyounger and it probably has 50
items on it and I just didn'tcare.
But then my mom showed me thatfrom when I was young and I want
my kids to do that.
Just to think about and mine isso specific Must speak Spanish,
must be okay with foreignexchange students living in our
(18:13):
house and when you know, in 2017, someone from Young Life asked
us if we'd like to host anexchange student from Germany
for a whole year and we said yesand you loved her so much.
You still love her.
There's so many things that,like, I think women want to do.
A lot of my women friends havetold me I really want to foster,
I really want to adopt, but myhusband isn't on board, or I
(18:34):
really want to dance or I reallywant to go on the mission field
.
Denise Jackson (18:37):
Yeah, yeah, we hear those things, but if
they're the desires of ourhearts that God's put in us, I
agree.
You write them down and Godwill change their heart.
He will just change their heartBecause he gave that person to
you and he knew the desires ofyour heart.
Sandy Vasquez (18:52):
And so mine is like I love, we love hosting.
So just having an exchangestudent in our house was just
natural, yeah.
And then even one year, like astudent needed a place to live,
so we invited her mom and, Ithink, six kids.
It was only a couple months butmost husbands would be like no,
that's too many people in thehouse.
But Daryl's just a yes man, hejust loves people, which is such
(19:14):
a blessing really.
Denise Jackson (19:17):
I mean it may be sometimes frustrating, but
really, gosh, that's Most of thetime.
Now Lee says yes.
His past life he said no, no,no, no to everything, Like that
was.
His first default response wasno, and it was so frustrating.
But but really, like they're,they're there for our good.
Just don't ever say no well, sohis.
Sandy Vasquez (19:38):
We call him mr safety.
So my friends laugh, because I'mlike kind of more the daredevil
, like I lived abroad a coupletimes.
I just, I just I'm like notcareless, but I just don't think
twice.
I act.
I tell Isabella, sometimes Iact, and then I think later.
Or when I pray, it's like I'mI'm already taking the action.
(19:59):
I'm praying like God, let thiswork out.
I'm already jumped off thecliff.
I'm like, please send me aparachute.
Okay, I need that.
Sometimes you just have to takethe leap and build your wings.
Okay, I need that.
Sometimes you just have to takethe leap and build your wings
all the way down.
That's how I live my life.
So the kids get in the car andwe go, and who knows what we're
doing.
So Daryl is more like Sandy, puton the brakes, he's like the
more calm like.
(20:20):
This is not safe.
This is not good for us.
Denise Jackson (20:24):
He really keeps me more aware.
So he's not just a yes man,he's also your priest and king.
He's sheltering you when hesees danger, and I think that's
something I've learned.
I mean, you know, I'm 67.
And I've been married.
I'm in the 51st year of beingmarried and I'm still having to
learn it, but I'm better at itbecause, like he'll say, no, I
(20:47):
just don't feel good about youdoing that.
And I get peace now where Iused to like it.
How can you tell me what to do?
I would just get all of thetimes, yeah, be irritated, uh,
but thankfully he has taught mea few things over the years.
Sandy Vasquez (21:04):
Yeah, that's the same Cause.
I'm very like, I'm very taskoriented and I love projects and
he's just very people oriented,like people and relationships,
like guide his life.
So I joke, now I don't need acounselor because I marry him
and he I mean also in the Bibleit calls God our wonderful
counselor yes, so I feel like Ican tell God my problems.
(21:26):
And.
But then Daryl too, he's just amixed Mr.
Fix it.
He loves, like you know, whenyou do that strengths finder
test and your top five and mineare all like organizational and
kind of task and futuristic andgoal oriented and his are all
like restorative and nurturingand very like relational.
And so sometimes to me thestruggle in our marriage is I
(21:48):
feel like he's inefficient andwasting time.
He used to go on coffee tripsand visits with people and he'd
come back an hour later.
I'm like, what are you doing?
That could have been a 10minute visit.
We have these goals.
And he's like, well, we werejust chatting and then I fixed
this machine for them and so I'mthinking waste, waste of time,
(22:10):
inefficient and not hitting ourbudget.
We've got finance goals and he'sjust really in it for the right
reasons.
Denise Jackson (22:18):
I know.
So it's so funny because wewant to get things done and I do
believe God wants us to setgoals, but he also says that you
make your plans, but I'll orderyour steps, you know.
So that's a hard thing.
We make plans and we headtowards that, but then he veers
us off and the people that willtrust in him.
(22:39):
Like now too, in my later years.
I find like such ministryhappens in the coffee
conversations or theseconversations or just walking.
Happens in the coffeeconversations or these
conversations, or just walkingout in the community.
Like you run into somebody andlike I the other day I went
bought uh, god just put on myheart while I was walking to buy
(23:00):
three flowers and I'm walkingalong and I don't know who I'm
going to get into, and and Iwalked past this couple and they
say hi.
And so I turn and I say hi, Isaid are y'all visiting?
And they said yes, we just gotmarried and came to Inverly and
I said, uh-oh, you might end upliving here, because I know how
(23:23):
those things happen.
I said, but this is for you, andthey were both like what I said
but this is for you, and theywere both like what I said yeah,
but I just had me buy theseflowers and I feel like this one
is for you all, and they got soexcited.
So then I gave one to anotherperson that I already knew
because I saw them.
And then I'm walking in thepark and there's this mom with
her kids playing and I'm justsitting over praying and then he
(23:46):
kept showing me them and hesaid go give her a flower.
And I go give her a flower andshe started crying.
Like God takes those momentswhere we're willing to say, okay
, whatever you want, and he usesthem amazingly, and so I feel
like that's what he's doing withDaryl, but he wants to do with
you and me too.
Sandy Vasquez (24:05):
I know that's.
It's hard as a teacher too,because sometimes on my off
periods, at lunch, I'll lock mydoor because I have so much work
, so much paperwork.
I have so many reasons toschedule my days minute by
minute, hour by hour.
Denise Jackson (24:20):
So you know we've probably heard the phrase
like interruption.
Sandy Vasquez (24:24):
interruptions are opportunities, and so I'm
trying to learn.
You know I'm 40 now, but it'slike we're not all put together,
and what I'm trying to learnthis year and as a mom and as a
teacher, is build some space inyour schedule sometimes so that
you can take interruptions andturn those into opportunities.
Because those kids, really will.
Denise Jackson (24:44):
They're attracted to you, they love you
and they've got issues andthey're going to bring them to
you.
And the most important thingyou can do, even if you can't
pray out loud, is like I keptlists on my refrigerator prayer
requests for my kids and I wouldjust pray for them all the time
.
And one of them is a grownwoman now and she and I have
(25:08):
talked so many times about thoseprayer requests that God just
like you said writing down ourrequests, whether it's about our
husband or somebody's told ussomething.
If you get the chance, praythen, but sometimes you can't.
When you're working in a publicschool, you don't usually have
that freedom, but you can prayand the prayers of a righteous
(25:31):
man or woman avail much.
They break down strongholds,they tear out what the enemy's
plans are to kill, steal anddestroy.
Sandy Vasquez (25:41):
And when we do that, we are doing the real work
that we're supposed to do onthis earth and my friend Kristen
was reading something she wrotethat said you know, you always
say oh well, the least I can dois pray.
Like you know, I can't sendmoney or I can't go in person,
but the least I can do is pray.
And she wrote no, actuallythat's the most that you could
(26:03):
do.
So I'm still trying to changemy thinking on that too, that
instead of just, I am just sucha doer and such an action
oriented.
That prayer sometimes seems sopassive and so calm to me and I
really thrive in, like the chaosand the doing, but you know,
actually what you're doing isfighting.
Denise Jackson (26:20):
You're fighting the battle.
You're like taking your swordout and chopping off the enemy.
You're like mighty, but wecan't see, see that.
So we think we need to see thephysical things in the physical
world.
Sandy Vasquez (26:31):
What you see in the physical world and daryl is
better about that.
He had ephesians.
Is it ephesians 6?
I?
Love ephesians because it hasso much advice about about women
, about marriage, about warringyes, and about arming yourselves
.
And he, daryl, has always hadthat around the house wherever
is.
Denise Jackson (26:49):
So now, wherever is the armor of God.
You know, I told you I was suchan arguer and now I think like
what a waste to spend my timeand cycles on like political
things and talking about thoseover and over and over again.
If there's really an issue andGod's given me the eyes to see,
(27:10):
the best thing I can do is pray,the best thing I can do.
And walls fall down.
Like you know, they change,it's changed our lives, it'll
change your life.
It'll change your life when youknow that God's Word is the
truth and it's not just thetruth, it's power, power and
(27:32):
love and a sound mind.
If your mind is full ofconfusion and fear, it's not
from God, it's from the devil.
But if you speak life and lifeabundantly, if you bury the word
of God in your hearts and youspeak life and life abundantly,
the enemy's plans for you, forall these people in the land
(27:54):
that you live in, your territory, they start falling.
And I loved, as a teacher,praying for my kids because
that's a big battlefield,because they're right at the
same place that you were, likewhen you were in your early.
Sandy Vasquez (28:11):
I think that's why I like working with teens
and then I mean my kids areyoung, but my students at school
are that teenage because it'sso, I guess, just precious and
there's just so much.
There are some students thatare really encouraging, that are
really close to God and thatstay the path, and they really
encourage me too that noteverybody has to fall far to
(28:34):
come back.
Some people can stay close toGod, you know, all the way
through.
Denise Jackson (28:39):
So, again, I realize that we have lots more
conversations to have, sandy andI, but today we're reaching the
end of this and before I pray,I want, just like Sandy, to
offer her best advice for you.
If you're in that stage of ofyou know it's been about you and
we've been trying to fulfillthat void maybe she can give you
(29:01):
some advice, like her friendsgave her yeah, the one that
keeps coming back to me is is donot harden your hearts, as, uh
it says.
Sandy Vasquez (29:09):
Do not harden your hearts as you did in
rebellion hebrews 3, 8, and so Imean when I was in my 20s and
30s.
It's even a struggle now, mary.
I mean I feel like thosestruggles never go away.
You have desires and youstruggle to meet them, but like
it says also in Psalm 113, godwill satisfy our desires with
good things.
(29:30):
So there's still temptationsthere, but now we can war
against them and we can meet ourneeds and meet our desires with
good things instead of thewrong things.
And so that's what I wouldencourage you just not to harden
your heart towards God.
When you hear His voice, justlisten to it instead of
hardening your heart, becausethe more you harden it like one
(29:54):
sin leads to two, you know somethe more you harden it like one
sin leads to two, leads to three, and that that becomes your
habits.
So just one little action can,time after time after time, can
lead to your habits and thatleads to a lifestyle and that
you know can really for thebetter for, the better or the
worse, your habits becomes yourlifestyle, and so that's what
one little thing led to, two andthree, and that led to a path
(30:16):
of a lifestyle that I did notlike, that hurt me, and so—
Thank God, god cared enough tosend your friends to interrupt
it.
Yeah.
So now I tell myself, likeSandy don't harden your heart.
Don't harden your heart towardsyour husband, don't harden your
heart towards God.
If he's telling you something,soften it and listen and receive
it and don't just stay— don'tstay like hardened.
Denise Jackson (30:39):
Okay.
So let's pray for them, fatherGod, and you can pray too, sammy
, if you think of something.
So, father, I just pray forwho's listening today, if this
is resonating, if you're feelingthis in your spirit, we just
pray that this will be good seedin good ground, your roots will
go deep and you'll bear muchfruit.
(31:00):
I pray for women.
Friends to gather around thewomen that are hearing this word
and need it, that wouldintervene on behalf of the Lord.
I thank you, father, that yousend laborers to the harvest of
our lives, and so we pray forthose laborers to go and to be
with those women today.
Father, I thank you that youare the one that's mighty to
(31:22):
pulling down the strongholds,but your word buried in our
hearts has power, and you'vesaid that, and so we trust that,
and we're speaking the wordover these women, that they've
been given a spirit of power,love and a sound mind, that fear
and confusion are not from God.
We bind them in Jesus' name andwe thank you, father, for the
(31:43):
victory that is coming for thesewomen.
In the name of Jesus, thank you, father.
Sandy Vasquez (31:49):
Amen.
Denise Jackson (31:50):
Amen.
Good morning girls, Buenos dias.
Buenos dias.
I'm learning a little.
So this morning, at Rooted inRising Girls from the Greenhouse
, I have Sandy Voskins.
She and I have been friends fora long time and in the near
past she and I went last year toMexico on mission together and
(00:21):
had such a great time on missiontogether and had such a great
time.
So we're going to talk thismorning about just some
different things in our seasons,but one of the things I want
you to know about Sandy becauseshe's an expert at this, I feel
like, because she's gone throughso much she fostered children
and she ended up adopting thosethree children along with her
(00:45):
first child.
So she has four children andbeing the mom of four children I
really can identify with andit's a tough journey but such a
blessed journey.
So down the road, maybe todayor maybe later we'll talk about
just some of those challengesand how God's helped us, but
today I'd just like to introduceyou.
(01:06):
Let you talk to the ladies andthen talk to me.
Sandy Vasquez (01:10):
Okay, well, one story that I haven't thought of
until right now you mentionedMexico was how we got there.
So I am not an early bird.
It's hard for me to get up andmeet someone at 8.
It's hard for me to get up forwork at 6.30.
And so you know, everybody'sadvice is always like have your
God time first thing in themorning.
(01:30):
So it's on your heart, but forthose of us that that's not our
best time, it's hard.
Denise Jackson (01:35):
So I'm exactly the opposite.
I like to wake up early, I liketo have my God time first.
Sandy Vasquez (01:39):
But it's a challenge.
So I feel like that giving Godyour best time may not be at six
in the morning.
It may be for you in theafternoon, when nobody's around
and it's quiet and it's notrushed and it's not, you're not
hustling.
And it may be at night, whenthe kids are in bed and it's
quiet.
You can reflect and look backat, like, what has God done
during the day and it's just,you're quiet.
(02:01):
Yeah, it might be your besttime.
Well, for some reason, a coupleof years ago I woke up at four
and God was telling me now isthe time to go and take your
daughter on a mission trip.
Because now you know, with fourkids, our budget is pretty
tight and pretty strict andevery single day we have
itemized exactly what we spendon.
(02:22):
So we know monthly, we knowyearly, we have our goals and
savings, and so I alwaysrationalize we can't afford that
.
I can't just take a trip.
I can't take $2,000 and take mydaughter, like I'm not going to
leave my husband with threekids, like all the reasons why
it's not going to work out.
But you had heard, about themission trip.
(02:43):
Yeah.
So our church had been doing itfor many years and we thought,
oh, that would be so great totake the kids, but, like when
you know, when they're teenagersor when they're adults, you
know it's never a good time Justit wasn't.
Well, he woke me up thatmorning at four.
I looked at my clock and I waslike, wow, this has never
happened.
I've never woken up this earlyand heard from God like you need
(03:08):
to go, and so it's easy, whenyou hear like a directive from
God, to just say like well, Imean, that would not be great.
But here's my bullet list ofwhy that's not going to work?
Denise Jackson (03:18):
And did I really hear from God?
Was that really his voice, allthose questions?
Did you go to Daryl and ask him?
Sandy Vasquez (03:25):
Well.
At first or not, I mean, he'ssupport, he's the supportive
husband.
Yeah, if I said you know Godwants us to move to Japan, he's
kind of like he's just support.
He's the one that they make ajoke like.
You know, if I wanted to buy allama, my husband would say,
well, that's a hugeinconvenience, but why not?
(03:46):
It makes you happy.
He's pretty.
He's a yes man, yes, yes, andso watching the kids is no
problem.
He's a great dad.
His dream job, if he could,would be a stay-at-home dad he
loves, he was really nurturing.
Denise Jackson (03:59):
He could have 20 kids.
Sandy Vasquez (04:00):
We call him harry poppins because he's always
just.
He puts on a chef's hat and hedoes like a whole show with them
and he's like you crack theeggs and you mix the things and
I'm really like why are youwatching me go play like I'm
nervous, I'm a nervous Nelly,and he's just really nervous
Nelly and Harry Poppins just socomfortable taking care of kids.
(04:26):
And so the interesting thing waslike the finances.
So I just God was like you canfundraise with your daughter.
So we thought about you know,sending out letters and asking
people for money.
But God was like, no, you needto do something and work with
your hands.
So we decided to clean houses.
I thought, okay, well, Ialready have a gift of cleaning
(04:47):
and that's how God made me.
And you know like how, how Godgives you gifts, but it's not
for you, it's for other people.
So who else can I bless withthat gift?
And then they'll get somethingout of it.
So it's like a, like a win-win.
It's not just like we're taking, but we're giving and receiving
, because I think in the bodythere's like natural givers.
(05:08):
They're always just giving andthen some are receiving.
It's good to do both.
It is.
And even if you are like anatural giver, like if you're an
educator or if you're in themedical field or you're a mom,
you're always, always giving.
Sometimes you also have toreceive.
Denise Jackson (05:25):
Yes, I was just going to say that.
So when I was young I had a lotof.
I mean, I like to make friends,I'm a social person, but I
remember thinking I only have acouple of friends that when I'm
in need, give something back tome to help me and build me up.
The rest of them I give andgive and give, and that's hard.
(05:48):
Now, later in my life, I endedup with a lot more friends that
give and take, which I'mthankful for, but I remember
thinking that as a young personthat I was exhausted because I
was always giving.
So I think that's an importantthing to learn.
I think we're going to end upbeing givers the more that God
(06:08):
changes our heart, because he isthe greatest giver and he loves
us so much.
He wants our lives to beblessed, but I love that.
You know that he wants us towork with our hands, he wants us
to do good and then throughthat he blesses us.
Sandy Vasquez (06:25):
And it's okay to receive too.
I remember one time someonebought my Starbucks on a really
rough day and I was like, oh, Ishould pay that forward and keep
this going.
But then God told me sometimesyou just need to receive, it's
okay, you don't always have tobe the one giving.
Yes, I'm not that you also needto be the receiver and the
(06:46):
rester.
Denise Jackson (06:47):
You know he tells us, rest in him.
And for you and I, especiallywith our personalities, that's
really the hardest thing I'veever gone through is to try to
get myself to just be content inresting.
I can make myself rest, I cango to sleep, but like if I'm
(07:07):
sitting in my living room on aday when I don't have
appointments and things likethat, just being willing to rest
there.
I'm still learning.
They don't wait upon.
The Lord shall renew theirstrength.
They shall rise up as angelsand eagles.
Oh your verses.
Sandy Vasquez (07:26):
Yeah, that deals with renewing your youth and
eagles I'm going to read thewhole thing, so we'll say it
right.
Okay.
So one of the verses thatreally kind of changed my life
was when I was a kid.
I had so much energy and somuch joy, but then I went
through the hardest times, likea lot of people.
You leave, leave the house, andyou have no direction and
guidance and you're off to yourown will, your own selfish
(07:49):
desires, your own journey.
So my story, like many, took awrong turn, like 18 through 22,
and was a rough ride.
And so when God brought meback— so do you think it was
like?
Denise Jackson (08:01):
a rough ride, because it was all about you.
You were just trying to fillyour own—t trying to do
everything to make yourself feelgood.
Sandy Vasquez (08:09):
It was one of my other verses too is about
hardening your heart.
So in my life, when I've gotteninto trouble, it's just when my
heart is so hard and I'mapathetic, I don't care.
I didn't care about my health,I didn't care about other
people's, you know advice.
I didn't care about going tochurch.
(08:29):
I didn't care about otherpeople's feelings or how my
decisions affected them.
I didn't care about resting.
I just you worked, becausethat's what you did yeah and so.
Denise Jackson (08:39):
So then what changed that?
Sandy Vasquez (08:42):
um was it.
Well, really it was friends, sokind of like you said you had a
core group of friends.
I always felt like I so kind oflike you said you had a core
group of friends.
I always felt like I was kindof like the bad egg in the good
bunch, like I was the bad kidgetting into trouble, but my
girlfriend, my group was strong.
I mean I had some great, greatfriends from great families and
really biblical friends thatjust let their.
Denise Jackson (09:04):
Is there one that stood out?
Sandy Vasquez (09:06):
Yeah, like a handful, like five of them.
Denise Jackson (09:09):
Oh, tell me your names.
Sandy Vasquez (09:10):
So Michelle was one, jen was one, kelly was one,
caitlin was one.
Like most of these, ended upbeing my bridesmaids and still
friends to this day, 20 yearslater.
Yeah, that's awesome.
They basically came to town inDallas.
One of them flew in from StLouis and sat me down and said
(09:34):
okay, here's what you're doingwith your life and here's what
you need to stop doing and leavebehind, and we're going to
start praying for a godlyhusband.
You're not just going to date,mr Wrong, but you're going to
find Mr Right.
You're going to go back tochurch.
And so it was kind of like a notawakening, but when they sit
down down, so like anintervention so it was like
they're like you're gonna startgoing to counseling because this
(09:54):
is some really that big issuesyou have and a counselor needs
to help you that we can't helpyou with that so?
Denise Jackson (10:00):
so were those the issues that had developed
after you left home, or werethey deeper and would you?
Sandy Vasquez (10:05):
you don't have to talk about um well, I'm telling
my husband's really comfortablelike sharing his whole life
story, and I am with him andwith maybe like five a handful
of close friends, but when I'mlike in public.
Denise Jackson (10:18):
I'm like, you're not in public, you're with me.
Sandy Vasquez (10:20):
The pg version well, and also as a teacher, I
feel like, yeah, some story Iedit.
Yeah, you don't want to.
There's the PG version, okay.
Denise Jackson (10:32):
Well, those deep things though we do, you know,
like I think we were talking toKate recently and she's a
professional counselor we knowthat those hurts in our life
have ramifications.
They don't just go away justbecause you decide you've
changed.
(10:52):
They stay in there unless youreally go in and take the route
up.
And sometimes you need acounselor.
Sometimes you don't, becauseGod can heal you completely
without that, but sometimes youdo need somebody to talk to you
and walk you through the steps,and so did that help you.
Sandy Vasquez (11:08):
Yeah, so I went to counseling for about a year
and went to some groups atchurch specifically for certain
issues.
And so the book Traveling Lightthat talked about Psalm 23, but
really in depth, like why theLord is our shepherd and I'm not
a farmer we don't live in anagrarian society so it really
went into how God anoints ourheads with oil and the purpose
(11:31):
of oil and all the things thatfarmers know, but in this 21st
century we don't know much aboutshepherding and that book
really changed my life a lot andit brought me back.
Brought me back on the path.
Denise Jackson (11:44):
So do you remember what really brought?
Like you were talking, but whenwas that was there a moment,
well, probably when my friendscame that night.
Sandy Vasquez (11:53):
So they sat down and prayed for me and that
really changed the trajectory.
So the prayer of righteouswomen together and crying and
kids of armies, our enemy who isin the spirituals.
Denise Jackson (12:06):
fleeing.
That verse is so good.
Y'all, if you're in a bad place, ask for Godly women to come
pray for you, or go to theelders and get them to pray for
you at your church.
There are so many places whereGod says go, get help, confess
your sins one to another,somebody that won't judge you.
And if they love the Lord, theywon't judge you, because we all
(12:28):
have sin in our life.
Sandy Vasquez (12:30):
That was the hardest part.
I was like I can't tell anyoneabout this because they will
really just be shocked first ofall and just probably will lose
a bunch of friends.
But it was actually theopposite.
So Psalm 51, the one whereDavid commits adultery with
Bathsheba and confesses his sinsand asks God to redeem him and
bring and come back to be closeto God again, that one really
(12:53):
helped too.
But, my favorite verse is Psalm103.
It says praise the Lord, o mysoul, praise his holy name and
forget not all his benefits, whoforgives all your sins, who
heals all your diseases, whoredeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with love andcompassion, who satisfies your
desires with good things andrenews your youth like the
(13:13):
eagles.
Denise Jackson (13:14):
I love that so much.
And it says he redeems yourlife from the pit.
And in the Amplified it saysthe pit of nothingness.
And that's what we chased afterwhen we were young Nothing,
feelings I didn't care aboutmyself.
Sandy Vasquez (13:50):
I didn't care about others.
I didn't care about my life orwhat I was doing tomorrow.
I had no purpose.
Denise Jackson (13:55):
You know, when I was a pregnant teenager 16, Lee
and I ended up getting marriedafter a lot.
So it was very emotional.
You know, I felt shame andguilt and I dropped out of high
school and so I went on.
You know, we had Jenna, myoldest and our oldest, and you
(14:20):
know I went on with my life.
And then I was in a churchwhere I have all those friends
and there were like 20 of usgathered at a women's prayer
sleepover and my friend Gay wasthe one that led us.
She was like my age no, she wasyounger, but I thought she was
older at the time.
She had us in a big circle andshe asked us tell us about your
(14:43):
wedding.
So I'm sitting on this side ofthe gate and that girl starts.
So they're going around thiswhole circle.
None of them knew that I was acisgender.
Sandy Vasquez (14:54):
Oh, you're the last.
Denise Jackson (14:56):
They would say to me and I've known these girls
for a long time and they wouldsay you're so young looking.
And I would say I know it's inmy genes, it was because I was
young.
I didn't tell them my age.
I was like, if I tell them,they will hate me, I will be
cast out.
That's what I thought.
So they're going around tellingthese beautiful wedding stories
all around and it's gettingcloser to me and I'm like I'm
(15:19):
going to lie, I'm going to makesomething up Because they're not
going to.
But by the time it got to me,tears were pouring out of my
eyes and I told them the truthand they were all quiet at first
.
Oh great.
They said get your pants andleave.
And then some other girl acrossthe way raised her hand and
said could I tell my real story?
(15:40):
And another girl raised her handand said oh, I want to tell my
real story, because it wasn't agood story.
It was like a terror.
You know, it was very hard, andso that's how we all feel, and
you know who makes us feel thatway, who speaks in our ear.
You are worthless and they willhate you and they don't want
(16:01):
you, and so you need to be byyourself.
It's the enemy.
His name is Satan, and I'm notafraid to say it because I
stepped on his head in Jesus'name.
But I didn't know that then,and so I was just frozen in this
place of a root that was sodeep in me of shame and fear and
of being unloved.
(16:21):
And now I'm set free from thatso that I can tell you guys
about it and you about that, andnot worry that you're not going
to love me because of that.
That's who God is.
He redeems our life from thepit of nothingness, of where
we're lost, where we're seekingour own way, and it just doesn't
(16:42):
bring any kind of joy into ourlives.
Sandy Vasquez (16:46):
Yeah, I love.
That Reminds me of the verseJohn 10, 10.
My brother is an artist and soI had him draw like a charcoal,
maybe pencil, like a black andwhite drawing His name's John.
So John 10, 10, it says thethief comes to steal, kill and
destroy, but I have come thatthey may have life and have it
to the full, and I used to printlittle like those tiny pictures
(17:08):
of it.
That was a change.
Denise Jackson (17:10):
In Lee the full, yeah, and I used to print
little, uh, like those tinypictures of it, and that was,
that was right there.
Uh, he read it and he was like,really that's why you came,
because before he was like soworried, god was gonna force him
to be something that he didn'tthink he should be, you know.
So that's great.
So so you were talking aboutlike going through that period
(17:31):
in your life when you changedand then you went through a new
period.
What was that period?
Sandy Vasquez (17:37):
So then I met my husband thanks to my godly
friends.
Well, that's great.
They also said you're notallowed to date anyone unless we
okay him.
So kind of like you know theyput like an ultimatum that's how
you okay him.
So kind of like you know theyput like an ultimatum.
Denise Jackson (17:50):
That's how she believed him.
Sandy Vasquez (17:51):
They had me write like a list of qualities too.
Oh that's right.
Make a list.
Actually, I did that when I wasyounger and it probably has 50
items on it and I just didn'tcare.
But then my mom showed me thatfrom when I was young and I want
my kids to do that.
Just to think about and mine isso specific Must speak Spanish,
must be okay with foreignexchange students living in our
(18:13):
house and when you know, in 2017, someone from Young Life asked
us if we'd like to host anexchange student from Germany
for a whole year and we said yesand you loved her so much.
You still love her.
There's so many things that,like, I think women want to do.
A lot of my women friends havetold me I really want to foster,
I really want to adopt, but myhusband isn't on board, or I
(18:34):
really want to dance or I reallywant to go on the mission field
.
Denise Jackson (18:37):
Yeah, yeah, we hear those things, but if
they're the desires of ourhearts that God's put in us, I
agree.
You write them down and Godwill change their heart.
He will just change their heartBecause he gave that person to
you and he knew the desires ofyour heart.
Sandy Vasquez (18:52):
And so mine is like I love, we love hosting.
So just having an exchangestudent in our house was just
natural, yeah.
And then even one year, like astudent needed a place to live,
so we invited her mom and, Ithink, six kids.
It was only a couple months butmost husbands would be like no,
that's too many people in thehouse.
But Daryl's just a yes man, hejust loves people, which is such
(19:14):
a blessing really.
Denise Jackson (19:17):
I mean it may be sometimes frustrating, but
really, gosh, that's Most of thetime.
Now Lee says yes.
His past life he said no, no,no, no to everything, Like that
was.
His first default response wasno, and it was so frustrating.
But but really, like they're,they're there for our good.
Just don't ever say no well, sohis.
Sandy Vasquez (19:38):
We call him mr safety.
So my friends laugh, because I'mlike kind of more the daredevil
, like I lived abroad a coupletimes.
I just, I just I'm like notcareless, but I just don't think
twice.
I act.
I tell Isabella, sometimes Iact, and then I think later.
Or when I pray, it's like I'mI'm already taking the action.
(19:59):
I'm praying like God, let thiswork out.
I'm already jumped off thecliff.
I'm like, please send me aparachute.
Okay, I need that.
Sometimes you just have to takethe leap and build your wings.
Okay, I need that.
Sometimes you just have to takethe leap and build your wings
all the way down.
That's how I live my life.
So the kids get in the car andwe go, and who knows what we're
doing.
So Daryl is more like Sandy, puton the brakes, he's like the
more calm like.
(20:20):
This is not safe.
This is not good for us.
Denise Jackson (20:24):
He really keeps me more aware.
So he's not just a yes man,he's also your priest and king.
He's sheltering you when hesees danger, and I think that's
something I've learned.
I mean, you know, I'm 67.
And I've been married.
I'm in the 51st year of beingmarried and I'm still having to
learn it, but I'm better at itbecause, like he'll say, no, I
(20:47):
just don't feel good about youdoing that.
And I get peace now where Iused to like it.
How can you tell me what to do?
I would just get all of thetimes, yeah, be irritated, uh,
but thankfully he has taught mea few things over the years.
Sandy Vasquez (21:04):
Yeah, that's the same Cause.
I'm very like, I'm very taskoriented and I love projects and
he's just very people oriented,like people and relationships,
like guide his life.
So I joke, now I don't need acounselor because I marry him
and he I mean also in the Bibleit calls God our wonderful
counselor yes, so I feel like Ican tell God my problems.
(21:26):
And.
But then Daryl too, he's just amixed Mr.
Fix it.
He loves, like you know, whenyou do that strengths finder
test and your top five and mineare all like organizational and
kind of task and futuristic andgoal oriented and his are all
like restorative and nurturingand very like relational.
And so sometimes to me thestruggle in our marriage is I
(21:48):
feel like he's inefficient andwasting time.
He used to go on coffee tripsand visits with people and he'd
come back an hour later.
I'm like, what are you doing?
That could have been a 10minute visit.
We have these goals.
And he's like, well, we werejust chatting and then I fixed
this machine for them and so I'mthinking waste, waste of time,
(22:10):
inefficient and not hitting ourbudget.
We've got finance goals and he'sjust really in it for the right
reasons.
Denise Jackson (22:18):
I know.
So it's so funny because wewant to get things done and I do
believe God wants us to setgoals, but he also says that you
make your plans, but I'll orderyour steps, you know.
So that's a hard thing.
We make plans and we headtowards that, but then he veers
us off and the people that willtrust in him.
(22:39):
Like now too, in my later years.
I find like such ministryhappens in the coffee
conversations or theseconversations or just walking.
Happens in the coffeeconversations or these
conversations, or just walkingout in the community.
Like you run into somebody andlike I the other day I went
bought uh, god just put on myheart while I was walking to buy
(23:00):
three flowers and I'm walkingalong and I don't know who I'm
going to get into, and and Iwalked past this couple and they
say hi.
And so I turn and I say hi, Isaid are y'all visiting?
And they said yes, we just gotmarried and came to Inverly and
I said, uh-oh, you might end upliving here, because I know how
(23:23):
those things happen.
I said, but this is for you, andthey were both like what I said
but this is for you, and theywere both like what I said yeah,
but I just had me buy theseflowers and I feel like this one
is for you all, and they got soexcited.
So then I gave one to anotherperson that I already knew
because I saw them.
And then I'm walking in thepark and there's this mom with
her kids playing and I'm justsitting over praying and then he
(23:46):
kept showing me them and hesaid go give her a flower.
And I go give her a flower andshe started crying.
Like God takes those momentswhere we're willing to say, okay
, whatever you want, and he usesthem amazingly, and so I feel
like that's what he's doing withDaryl, but he wants to do with
you and me too.
Sandy Vasquez (24:05):
I know that's.
It's hard as a teacher too,because sometimes on my off
periods, at lunch, I'll lock mydoor because I have so much work
, so much paperwork.
I have so many reasons toschedule my days minute by
minute, hour by hour.
Denise Jackson (24:20):
So you know we've probably heard the phrase
like interruption.
Sandy Vasquez (24:24):
interruptions are opportunities, and so I'm
trying to learn.
You know I'm 40 now, but it'slike we're not all put together,
and what I'm trying to learnthis year and as a mom and as a
teacher, is build some space inyour schedule sometimes so that
you can take interruptions andturn those into opportunities.
Because those kids, really will.
Denise Jackson (24:44):
They're attracted to you, they love you
and they've got issues andthey're going to bring them to
you.
And the most important thingyou can do, even if you can't
pray out loud, is like I keptlists on my refrigerator prayer
requests for my kids and I wouldjust pray for them all the time
.
And one of them is a grownwoman now and she and I have
(25:08):
talked so many times about thoseprayer requests that God just
like you said writing down ourrequests, whether it's about our
husband or somebody's told ussomething.
If you get the chance, praythen, but sometimes you can't.
When you're working in a publicschool, you don't usually have
that freedom, but you can prayand the prayers of a righteous
(25:31):
man or woman avail much.
They break down strongholds,they tear out what the enemy's
plans are to kill, steal anddestroy.
Sandy Vasquez (25:41):
And when we do that, we are doing the real work
that we're supposed to do onthis earth and my friend Kristen
was reading something she wrotethat said you know, you always
say oh well, the least I can dois pray.
Like you know, I can't sendmoney or I can't go in person,
but the least I can do is pray.
And she wrote no, actuallythat's the most that you could
(26:03):
do.
So I'm still trying to changemy thinking on that too, that
instead of just, I am just sucha doer and such an action
oriented.
That prayer sometimes seems sopassive and so calm to me and I
really thrive in, like the chaosand the doing, but you know,
actually what you're doing isfighting.
Denise Jackson (26:20):
You're fighting the battle.
You're like taking your swordout and chopping off the enemy.
You're like mighty, but wecan't see, see that.
So we think we need to see thephysical things in the physical
world.
Sandy Vasquez (26:31):
What you see in the physical world and daryl is
better about that.
He had ephesians.
Is it ephesians 6?
I?
Love ephesians because it hasso much advice about about women
, about marriage, about warringyes, and about arming yourselves
.
And he, daryl, has always hadthat around the house wherever
is.
Denise Jackson (26:49):
So now, wherever is the armor of God.
You know, I told you I was suchan arguer and now I think like
what a waste to spend my timeand cycles on like political
things and talking about thoseover and over and over again.
If there's really an issue andGod's given me the eyes to see,
(27:10):
the best thing I can do is pray,the best thing I can do.
And walls fall down.
Like you know, they change,it's changed our lives, it'll
change your life.
It'll change your life when youknow that God's Word is the
truth and it's not just thetruth, it's power, power and
(27:32):
love and a sound mind.
If your mind is full ofconfusion and fear, it's not
from God, it's from the devil.
But if you speak life and lifeabundantly, if you bury the word
of God in your hearts and youspeak life and life abundantly,
the enemy's plans for you, forall these people in the land
(27:54):
that you live in, your territory, they start falling.
And I loved, as a teacher,praying for my kids because
that's a big battlefield,because they're right at the
same place that you were, likewhen you were in your early.
Sandy Vasquez (28:11):
I think that's why I like working with teens
and then I mean my kids areyoung, but my students at school
are that teenage because it'sso, I guess, just precious and
there's just so much.
There are some students thatare really encouraging, that are
really close to God and thatstay the path, and they really
encourage me too that noteverybody has to fall far to
(28:34):
come back.
Some people can stay close toGod, you know, all the way
through.
Denise Jackson (28:39):
So, again, I realize that we have lots more
conversations to have, sandy andI, but today we're reaching the
end of this and before I pray,I want, just like Sandy, to
offer her best advice for you.
If you're in that stage of ofyou know it's been about you and
we've been trying to fulfillthat void maybe she can give you
(29:01):
some advice, like her friendsgave her yeah, the one that
keeps coming back to me is is donot harden your hearts, as, uh
it says.
Sandy Vasquez (29:09):
Do not harden your hearts as you did in
rebellion hebrews 3, 8, and so Imean when I was in my 20s and
30s.
It's even a struggle now, mary.
I mean I feel like thosestruggles never go away.
You have desires and youstruggle to meet them, but like
it says also in Psalm 113, godwill satisfy our desires with
good things.
(29:30):
So there's still temptationsthere, but now we can war
against them and we can meet ourneeds and meet our desires with
good things instead of thewrong things.
And so that's what I wouldencourage you just not to harden
your heart towards God.
When you hear His voice, justlisten to it instead of
hardening your heart, becausethe more you harden it like one
(29:54):
sin leads to two, you know somethe more you harden it like one
sin leads to two, leads to three, and that that becomes your
habits.
So just one little action can,time after time after time, can
lead to your habits and thatleads to a lifestyle and that
you know can really for thebetter for, the better or the
worse, your habits becomes yourlifestyle, and so that's what
one little thing led to, two andthree, and that led to a path
(30:16):
of a lifestyle that I did notlike, that hurt me, and so—
Thank God, god cared enough tosend your friends to interrupt
it.
Yeah.
So now I tell myself, likeSandy don't harden your heart.
Don't harden your heart towardsyour husband, don't harden your
heart towards God.
If he's telling you something,soften it and listen and receive
it and don't just stay— don'tstay like hardened.
Denise Jackson (30:39):
Okay.
So let's pray for them, fatherGod, and you can pray too, sammy
, if you think of something.
So, father, I just pray forwho's listening today, if this
is resonating, if you're feelingthis in your spirit, we just
pray that this will be good seedin good ground, your roots will
go deep and you'll bear muchfruit.
(31:00):
I pray for women.
Friends to gather around thewomen that are hearing this word
and need it, that wouldintervene on behalf of the Lord.
I thank you, father, that yousend laborers to the harvest of
our lives, and so we pray forthose laborers to go and to be
with those women today.
Father, I thank you that youare the one that's mighty to
(31:22):
pulling down the strongholds,but your word buried in our
hearts has power, and you'vesaid that, and so we trust that,
and we're speaking the wordover these women, that they've
been given a spirit of power,love and a sound mind, that fear
and confusion are not from God.
We bind them in Jesus' name andwe thank you, father, for the
(31:43):
victory that is coming for thesewomen.
In the name of Jesus, thank you, father.
Sandy Vasquez (31:49):
Amen.
Denise Jackson (31:50):
Amen.
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