From Tragedy to Triumph: Stories of Faith

SPEAKER 01 : 0:10

Welcome to Call to Freedom with Barbara Carmack. This is Jimmy Lakey, and I’m delighted that you are joining us for this half hour. You can reach Call to Freedom at Box 370367, Denver, Colorado, 80237, or by going to the website at www.freedomstreet.org. If you want to leave a message or order a Word Power Daily Reading Bible Guide or a Freedom Street Express newsletter, you can call us toll free at 1-877-917-7256 and leave your name and address, including your zip code. If you want to talk to Barbara right now, she is expecting your call. You may call that same toll-free number, 1-877-917-7256 to speak to her. And now, let’s join Barbara in the studio.

SPEAKER 02 : 1:04

Welcome to Call to Freedom on this windy day in Denver, Colorado, and it’s already 95 in the afternoon. And I’m so glad that I am live with you because I get to there’s a sense of you listening and me agreeing with you. that is going to bring about results that you’re asking for. I’m so thrilled about that, being able to be in the studio. And there aren’t very many that are in the studios anymore. This is a digital world, and they just send in their MP3s, and they get on the air that way. So I’m grateful. I’m following after Darren Carmack, who said we’re going to be live. And on Fridays, then you listen to Darren and me on the station on encore shows. And what a privilege. What a privilege to be able to do that. The Lord delights in those who fear him, who honor. That word fear means honor, revere him. who put their hope in His unfailing love. I’m glad that verse in Psalm 147, verse 11, talks about His unfailing love, because that’s what we’re going to talk about today. And you are blessed to dispense. My mind is always going in all directions. You are blessed to dispense, for in Him you live and move and have your being. Praise God. And the first thing I thought of when I heard about the devastating news was from the Guadalupe River area on July 4th, was John and I had been in a canyon that had the same kind of flood. And I’ll be talking about that in just a few minutes. I think there is someone on the air. Hello?

SPEAKER 05 : 2:41

This is John from Auckland.

SPEAKER 02 : 2:45

Well, hi, John. How are you?

SPEAKER 05 : 2:47

Oh, looking up to Jesus. I just wanted to say that… I memorized that verse that you mentioned. The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life and may have it more abundantly. John 10.10.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:07

Good for you. That’s a wonderful verse. Yes.

SPEAKER 05 : 3:12

And I gave to the Bible League International and Call to Freedom and Samaritan’s Purse for the Texas Flood. And also GFA World.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:24

Wow. Good for you. I know. You’re one of the more generous people who give, John. You really are. Some people, they hold on to that last dollar. And I know you send your last dollars to ministries. You do. Yes, you do. And you work hard. You work hard sometimes to get that money. Yes.

SPEAKER 05 : 3:46

Right. At odd jobs and anything I can do. Get work for.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:50

That’s right. Oh, well, God bless you. He’s going to reward you. God is rewarding you. So look out for God. Yeah. For his promises. They come true, John.

SPEAKER 05 : 4:01

Right.

SPEAKER 02 : 4:02

And thank you for giving. Thank you for giving to the Texas flood effort.

SPEAKER 05 : 4:08

You’re welcome. I just wanted to tell you that I’ll get off the line now so that you can do your program.

SPEAKER 02 : 4:15

Thank you.

SPEAKER 05 : 4:16

Okay, bye-bye.

SPEAKER 02 : 4:17

Oh, bye. God bless you. Bye. Always so good to hear from John. And if you ever want to call, you just call that number, 1-877-917-7256. I know as I was listening to the news conference, the Cabinet was around the President today, and I enjoy those times because he’s very direct, very honest. He uses common sense in everything that he says. And there was a question about Jeffrey Epstein, and he says… Are you still raising questions about that man? He’s been dead for a while. We have more important things on the slate. We have a tragedy in Texas, and we have world things that are going on with countries, and you need to be asking questions more pertinent. pertinent to this time. So he really kind of gave a lashing to the person that was expressing his question about Jeffrey Epstein. And then Pam Bondi took over. And you can just see the respect that President Trump has for Not only her, but Secretary Hegseth and Marco Rubio and all these other people that are surrounding him. Oh, Christy Noem, he was complimenting her just this morning about being so quick about bringing things to the Texas area for rescue. So I am just so blessed. Every day when I wake up, it’s not, oh, no, Lord, one more day with Mr. Biden. No. It was getting old, wasn’t it? It was getting really bad. So I’m so grateful that we have a president who’s just right on task. I mean, even these young guys saying we can’t keep up with him. So it’s great. The first thing I thought of when I heard about this, the devastating news from the Guadalupe River area of the Fourth of July tragedy, it reminded me. of the destructive Big Thompson flood. And it happened in July. Isn’t that something? It happened in July 1976. And some of you may say, I wasn’t even born in 1976. I understand. I really do. That week, John and I attended the week-long Christian Arts Conference at the YMCA in Estes Park. And it’s always… The highlight of our year, it really is because we had Evie Turnquist and Ken Miedema and the Imperials and some of the wonderful groups that we went to see. Oh, it was just marvelous. We decided to go home the night before the conference ended. So Friday night, John and I went down the canyon to Loveland and John commented that I am so glad we stopped for a couple along the side of the road, and he helped this guy change a tire. And I’m so glad we had to stop, because as I stood outside the car, there was such an eerie, eerie presence. And John even remarked about that when we got back into the vehicle, and he commented on how eerie the atmosphere felt. So I… I am so grateful, friend. God just looks out for us. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of you, Lord, you are my refuge and fortress. Oh, my wonderful keeper from trouble, from devastation, from calamities, as he says in Jeremiah 29, 11. Oh, my thoughts for you are not for calamity or for evil, but for good, for welfare. And so on July 31st, the next day, the next night, and it was night when we went down the canyon. I mean, the things just kind of fell together being so similar. On July the 31st, 1976, heavy rainfall caused the Big Thompson River in that beautiful canyon for at least 144 deaths. I know they were finding bodies all the way down the river to Loveland. It was just so devastating. More than 250 injuries and at least five others to be missing. And some of them they never did find. The crest was caused by a stalled thunderstorm. And that’s exactly the same thing that has happened in Texas. It’s just a stalled storm and it just winds its way around almost in a circular motion and comes again and again. And they say there’s going to be more rain now. And it produced a total of 12 to 14 inches near Estes Park, including 7.5 inches of rain, which fell in one hour. See how similar it was? It was like 7 to 8 inches of rain that fell in 45 minutes in Texas. Just about the same kind of stats. And this is similar to the heavy rainfall of the last week in Texas. After cresting at 30 feet, and in Texas here, the crest, I believe, was 27 feet. Widespread damage and flooding occurred along the river, with the damage totaling almost 150 million. That was in 1976. The flood is considered one of the most deadly floods in the state’s history. And I know that Samaritan’s Purse is on the scene there in Texas. In fact, they have a base just a short distance from where the devastation took place. They’re loading semi-trailers with portable showers and everything flood victims need. They’ve been through this kind of devastation, and they’re an organization you can rely on. If you sense that you would like to help in this effort, and this is the last time I’m going to mention that this week, just go to freedomstreet.org and click on the Donate button and give. And if you have to turn off this program for a few minutes while you go there, go there. It’s really important. And all that money that comes into the Donate online, I will… I will give to Samaritan’s Purse. I will send it along with $1,000 that I’m going to be sending, including that. So help in that effort. Your effort in helping in this situation is much more important than anything you could think of today. You know, well, I got this need and I do too. I’ve got needs. But know that God will always supply your need. When you’re a giver, it’s more blessed to give than to receive. And I don’t need to remind you that. So I just thank you and God bless you for your giving. I want to reiterate that those lost in the flood are with the Lord. I have the utmost reassurance today that even though families in Texas are weeping and grieving over their loss, every single one of those precious children and leaders that were found dead at Camp Mystic are with the Lord today. And there will be a glorious reunion if we stay on course and trust in the Lord. Let us love one another just as Christ himself loves us. So thank you so much, my friends. You’re such wonderful givers. And I know that we can send a generous check to Samaritan’s Purse at the end of this week. Our memory verse for this week is 1 John 3, 18. From the message translation, my dear children, let’s not just talk about love. Let’s practice real love. And from the passion translation, 1 John 3, 18. Beloved children, our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds. And that’s what’s so important, our loving deeds. I’ve been reading from 1 John 3. And I want you to, as I’m reading this, don’t just go and do your dishes or run around. Maybe you’re in the car, and I understand. You’re going from one thing to another. And God bless you as you travel in the traffic. But this needs to be soaked in. And I hope that you’ll soak this in as I’m reading it. This is God’s description of his love for you. 1 John 3, look with wonder at the depth of Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us. Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished upon us that we are called his children, his own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize him. Beloved, we are God’s children right now. However, it’s not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is. And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves. See, they’ll be working on it. As much light as you’ve been given, friend, and each one of us have been given a certain amount of God’s light, his love, but some of you can only handle that little bit of light because you’re new. You’re new in this body. You’re new in the family of God. So he’s giving you the amount of light that you can handle. And that’s what I love about God. He is just so gentle and precious in dealing out what needs to be dealt out to each and every one of you. Verse seven says, Oh, my beloved children, don’t let anyone divert you from this truth. The person who keeps doing what is right will Proves that he is righteous before God, even as Messiah is righteous. But the one who indulges in a sinful life is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the son of God was revealed was to undo and destroy the works of the devil. And that’s verse eight of first John three. Why did Jesus come to destroy the works of the devil? If you find yourself stretching the truth or exaggerating your life to other people, oh, how important the things you have done are. It’s an indication that you’ve been listening to the devil. Oh, Barbara. Yeah, it is. And you’re trying to put value on your efforts, value on your achievements, value on your life. When Jesus gave you value in God’s kingdom by dying on the cross. Yeah, we must just lose our lives, lose our lives for him. Proverbs 3, 13 through 17 says, How blessed is the one who finds wisdom and who gains understanding in that wisdom. It’s a little bit like Ephesians 1, verse 18. God has given you a spirit of wisdom to open your eyes to all that he has revealed to you. Some of you have closed your eyes. Maybe your eyes are only partially open. And you don’t want to listen to him. The word isn’t important to you. It really isn’t. All the experiences and all the things that are happening in the world now, that’s something you’ll listen to. But the word of God, you know, it’s a little dry. Oh, Father God. Come, Holy Spirit, upon my listeners and open the eyes of their heart that they may see how important and valuable this word is to them. Well, how blessed is the one who finds wisdom and who gains understanding. For wisdom’s value and profit are better than all that of silver and gold can buy. She is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand and in her left hand are riches and honor. You want riches and honor? You seek his wisdom and understanding. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. That’s Proverbs 3, 13 through 17. First John 3 goes on to say everyone who is truly God’s child will refuse to keep sinning because God’s seed remains within him. It’s like we say every day. In you, Lord, I live and I move and I have my being. And he is, you know, he keeps sinning because he’s unable to continue sinning because he has been fathered by God himself. Once you accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, there comes a time. And, okay, say you have been in a habit of going to the tavern if you’re working. And after hours, you go to the tavern. You go and you get a beer with the guys. And after you receive Jesus, there’s just a little bit of an easiness when you open the doors of that tavern and you walk in and there’s something different and you can’t understand what it is. Well, it’s Holy Spirit. It’s Holy Spirit. He’ll go into the tavern with you, but he wants you to begin to learn the ways of God. See, you’ve got God’s DNA now and Jesus blood flowing through your veins. When you say, Jesus, I make you my Savior and Lord. Praise God. Here is how God’s children can be clearly distinguished from the children of the evil one, the devil. Anyone who does not demonstrate righteousness. And that means you are beginning to see the right and the wrong of things. You’re not cheating anymore. You’re not being dishonest with your taxes anymore. You’re not being dishonest with going into a store and maybe taking something that you don’t pay for. Things are beginning to line up in a different way than you ever thought before. And now you’re beginning to show love to fellow believers. And you’re saying, wow. I never knew that he was going through what he’s going through. And then you begin praying for him because now you have the spirit of God in you. The beautiful message you’ve heard right from the start is that we should walk in self-sacrificing love toward one another. We should not be like Cain, who yielded to the devil and brutally murdered his own brother Abel. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s actions were righteousness. So don’t be shocked, beloved brothers and sisters, if you experience the world’s hatred. Yet we can be assured that we have been translated from spiritual death into spiritual life because we love the family of believers. A loveless life remains spiritually dead. If you don’t love, if you’re only thinking of yourself, you’re partaking in your self-indulgences. Oh, I just need that. I need that drink. I need that food. I need to go to this restaurant. Oh, I’m so hungry for this. And it usually is about food, isn’t it? Yeah. We get these desires. Especially when you see a commercial on television. Oh, I really miss that. I need to go and get that. Or I need to have DoorDash come and deliver that to me. So we need to be translated from that spiritual death into a spiritual life of looking to others and thinking of others. Everyone who keeps hating a fellow believer is a murderer. That’s how God thinks of you. If you hate a fellow believer, if you say, well, I can never forgive him for what he did. Listen, God says in Matthew 6 that if you do not forgive, God will not forgive. Whoa, that is really serious. So you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him, nor will he get into the kingdom of heaven. No matter what happens in this life, God is there with you, surrounding you with his love and compassion in whatever you’re going through. And I’m so blessed and I’m so glad that we don’t have to be perfect. And boy, I am not. I do some things every day that, oh, Lord, did you just see what I did? Forgive me, Lord. I said so many forgive me, Lord. Oh, and it’s wonderful because he does. He does forgive us. I am grateful. He is that miracle worker, my friend. He is moving in our midst. He is here right now in the studio with me. He is right where you are. He knows exactly what you’re going through. He knows exactly who you are. God bless you as you listen to Leland.

SPEAKER 04 : 21:15

You are here, moving in our midst. I worship you. I worship you. You are here, working in this place. I worship you. I worship you. I worship you. I worship you. You are here working in this place. My God, that is who you are. In what way you make a miracle work. Promise keep light in the darkness. My God. I worship You turning lives around You are here turning lives around I worship You I worship You mending every heart You are here Yeah, you’re the way maker.

SPEAKER 03 : 23:54

That is who you are. That is who you are. And that is who you are. And that is who you are.

SPEAKER 02 : 24:43

oh that is who you are you’re in our midst here i know it’s hard to believe that that everyone in this world god is around them you oh that is who you are father god oh this is how we’ve discovered love’s reality jesus sacrificed his life for us because of this great love we should be willing to lay down our lives for one another I believe, okay, here is Barbara’s opinion here, but I believe that everyone who was rescued from the July 4th flood has an opportunity to ask Jesus into their hearts and begin a life of serving him and remember Jesus. that over 850 people have been rescued. So that means as they were clinging to trees and on mattresses, I pray that they cried out to God and he will make that difference in their lives. I’m praying that the many who were rescued and cried out to God will dedicate their lives to him, that their testimony will reverberate throughout the Texas area and into the world. God is patiently waiting for those to call on him. And no matter what the cost, let us love one another, even when it’s difficult. And I know some of you may have loved ones, even in your family. It’s difficult to love them at times. Oh, Father God, I ask for your love, for Jesus’ love, his giving sacrificial love will be surrounding my friends and those who are listening today. Those who I will never meet, those who may have never been given, have never given to Call to Freedom. Oh, wrap them with your love. In Jesus name, I ask the Father God. Oh, it’s been so good being with you today. Kimberly, the Lord willing, she’s in the panhandle of Texas right now. No, Oklahoma. And she will be hopefully in the studio with me tomorrow. God bless you and keep you. It’s been so good being with you today. And I will have one last thing to say to you. Take joy.

SPEAKER 01 : 26:53

or you may leave your message at 1-877-917-7256. Call to Freedom is a listener-supported radio ministry. Barbara and her power partners invite you to come on board with us and become a network of hands holding up Call to Freedom ministry. Power partners support Call to Freedom with prayer and monthly financial support. You will be blessed supernaturally. Box 370-367, Denver, Colorado, 80237. Or you may email us at barbracarmack at freedomstreet.org. Until next time, remember, Jesus loves you, Barbara loves you, and take joy.

SPEAKER 1 : 28:21

Thank you.