[MUSIC]
Welcome to the 700 Club
Canada. I'm Brian Warren.
And I'm Laura-Lynn Tyler-
Thompson, and I think I speak
for both of us, Brian, when I
say that this is one of the
greatest privileges that we
have, to be able to share with
you every single day, even
though our topic is a little
serious today.
Yeah, one hundred percent.
You know, we're talking about
child abuse. How many people
do you know whose lives have
been hugely impacted by abuse
in their childhood years?
Maybe that's you today.
Maybe it's someone you know.
Whether it is you or someone
you know, this show has you
in mind.
We're so sure that Jesus can
make the difference in lives
that have suffered abuse that
we're going to devote part of
this episode to reflection on
freedom in Christ. We're going
to pray with you and for anyone
that's dealing with this that
freedom would become your
portion.
Absolutely. And therapist,
Dr. Merry Lin will stop by with
some practical advice if you
or someone you know is dealing
with posttraumatic stress
disorder as a result of their
tumultuous life.
Make sure you don't miss
that. Merry's content is gold.
And you'll meet two women
who had really rough starts in
life.
Like our first guest, Leah
Smith.
Watch.
[MUSIC]
Nobody was worthless more
than me. I was worthless. I
was nothing. My father had a
very bad temper. We were all
scared of him. Mamma was
scared of him. When he whipped
us he would really get out of
control so I took all the
whippings and I said it was me
so my sisters wouldn't get
hurt. I picked terrible guys.
Every man that I married was
like my father. I thought that
they loved me. I thought it
would be it, the love of my
life, that they would save me
from everything, and that's not
how it happened at all. I got
abused. I got beaten. I'm
lucky I'm alive. I just was
hurt physically all the time.
I always expected to get hurt.
I was trying to fill this void.
I had emptiness yet I wanted
love. I was played Russian
roulette with and I would cry
and beg him not to kill me.
I would be on the floor hugging
his leg. Please don't kill
Please don't kill me. One time
I put the gun in my mouth.
I said, "Go ahead and kill me.
I just don't want to live
anymore. Just do it." It gave
him pleasure to watch me beg
for my life. I felt just like
all the beatings I got,
worthless. I thought that was
my life. I got to be selfish
about everything. I didn't
care about what people thought
about me or anything. I didn't
care and I did all these drugs
and stuff trying to kill
myself. After a while I got
addicted. I got addicted and
just wanted it. I had to have
it and then I couldn't get off
of it. I was homeless. I was
in 20 below zero. I couldn't
even stay in somebody's garage
to keep warm. I couldn't get
washed clean. I mean I've gone
in a dumpster to dig for food
because I was hungry. I was
skin and bones. I looked very
bad. I looked like death
walking. My mother on her
deathbed told me that the Lord
told her that she could believe
me that I was going to get
clean, that I was ready to get
clean. And that faith in my
mom and what she spoke to my
life helped me because it was
God's will. This Bible I
bought it special for a very
special friend of mine. He
brought it to me in the rehab
and that was the best thing
anybody could have did for me
at that time. And all I did
was read the Bible and read
the Bible and read the Bible.
I couldn't understand it very
good but I kept reading it,
and I never put it down. And
I finally got it. At first it
was hard for me to understand
cause I was so high, but I kept
reading it. And that food,
that spiritual food came in me
and I started living it. I
started believing it. I got
empowered by His Word because
it says His Word is alive. I
was filled with God's Word,
the food for the life that you
need for your soul. I had
that. It took everything off
of me. I had no burdens.
I don't worry. I don't think
about troubles. I praise God
in the storm. I worship God
in my trials. I love God for
my trials. I know there's
something He wants me to
learn. You can love everything
when you got Christ in your
life. You can love it all.
God's love is greater than any
real father, any real mother,
any brother, any sister. God's
love is pretty much all that I
need. He is so good to me.
He loves me so much and I know
He loves everybody like He
loves me.
[MUSIC]
Daddy.
Yeah, buddy.
How many nickels are in a
dollar?
There are 20 nickels in a
dollar.
How do birds fly? Does milk
really make my bones stronger?
Yeah, yeah.
Daddy, when we die, will we
go to heaven?
Do you have the answer to
life's biggest question? Call
the 700 Club. We'll help you
find answers to the important
questions life brings your way.
[MUSIC]
Laura-Lynn, when you look
at Leah's life, you recognize
through homelessness, through
all the abuse and no matter
what she's gone through that
God can make a masterpiece
out of a mess, and that mess
can have a great message.
You know, the Bible says
something so powerful and it
says in John 8:32, "Whom the
Son sets free is free indeed."
And I love where it goes on
in that verse 36 and 32. "You
shall know the truth, and the
truth shall set you free," 32,
"and whom the Son sets free is
free indeed." And that's
literally saying, "Don't try to
make sense of your life by
looking at your past.
Right.
And don't try to get your
present together by what your
past has had the problem with.
But get a destiny for your
future and God will pull you
out of your past because He's
the same yesterday, today, and
forever.
Right.
You know, I'm reminded just
reading through Matthew about
Mary Magdalene and the
difficulties that she had been
through that caused, you know,
Jesus had to cast out demons.
I mean because of who knows
what happened.
Seven demons it said. Yes.
Who knows what happened in
her life to allow a lot of pain
and an open door for the enemy
to get in there and of course
he does nothing but tries to
kill us and to destroy us.
One hundred percent.
But Jesus comes along as He
does to this very day.
Yes.
And He reaches out and He
nd He speaks the Word
over our lives and His Word
brings healing.
That's right.
It brings life.
That's right.
And it changes everything.
That's right.
So that Mary ends up being
such a celebrated woman in
the Word. She hangs out with
Him. She travels with Him.
She's the one who goes to the
tomb.
And she becomes the first
missionary and she says,
"Where's His body?" But watch
this. It wasn't by going back
and saying, Mary, how did you
become a woman of prostitution?
Mary, why did you do what you
did?
Right.
But it was giving her a
purpose and that missionary,
that great
Moving forward.
It was moving forward.
She was set free.
Exactly. So many people
they try to go to therapy.
They try to go and I love those
things but you've got to get
a vision for what God has
called you to.
Right.
Because it says in Proverbs,
where there's no vision, people
perish. So when you get a
vision for your future, it will
pull you out of your past.
Right.
Because like you said, He's
the same yesterday, today,
and forever. So God looks at
you and He sees your potential.
You see you and you see your
problem. When you begin to
line up with what God speaks
about you, then it's going to
allow you to get over the
hurdles of your past.
Because sometimes we keep
thinking on the wrong thing.
Yes.
We keep thinking on that
which wounded us, that which
hurt us
That's it. Yeah.
Rather than the moment Jesus
sets you free, the moment that
you receive Him, when there
is life, when God turns a
situation around, think on
that.
Think on that.
Right.
You see, now that's the big
moment because when you begin
to think on that and you put
most of your thought and your
energy into getting up the
next day, it's not a cup of
coffee, but it's your purpose,
baby, that's going to cause you
to walk out of that. I know
we're talking to somebody right
now. And I want to get this
into your hand. It's A New
Day. I believe that God has a
new day for you because the
Bible said in the day of your
of God's favor He heard you.
The day of salvation He helped
you. Today is the day of God's
favor. Today is the day of
salvation. If you believe that
today, 1-855-759-0700 because
you're like a fly on the wall
while Laura-Lynn and I are
talking because I really
believe this whole point about
the purpose that you have
because God is a God of
purpose.
Yes, He is.
That's why he says in
Romans 8:28. He says, "And
all things work together for
the good of those who love
God and are called according
to His purpose."
Exactly. And you know what?
Somebody is watching right now
and they think that they're
disqualified, that they were
abused and wounded and so
that remains the mark on their
life. It is not so. Jesus
breaks it off of you.
In Jesus' name.
His freedom is destined to
come. It is a new day, and we
declare over them freedom
Right now in Jesus' name.
In Jesus' name right now.
Receive it.
Amen.
And, Father, everyone that is
receiving that we say it is
so now and let it be done in
Jesus' name. Amen.
Right. Amen.
You know, what a wonderful,
wonderful truth. I feel that
in my spirit, and I know that
God is doing that for you.
For somebody.
And we all know that life can
be uncertain at the best of
times. Each of us will face
seasons of struggle and
significant battle.
And if that's you today, then
just like we've been talking
about, you're going to want to
get your hands on our newest
DVD. This is called Victory
Through Life's Storms. And
this is where Pat Robertson
discusses Biblical principles
to help us get through some
of the toughest things in life.
So call right now if that's
you and you want to be a part
of the 700 Club Family.
1-855-759-0700 and become a
monthly partner and we'll send
you Victory Through Life's
Storms right away. We'll be
right back.
CBN presents Victory Through
Life's Storms, the newest
teaching from Pat Robertson.
You're about to meet people
who've gone through some of
the toughest struggles life had
to offer.
The pain is something I just
can't explain.
With 700 Club cohost, Terry
Meeuwsen.
We all go through seasons
of struggle in our lives.
I never wanted to be
divorced.
They loaded me up on pain
killers.
She said, "You are eaten up
with cancer."
In Victory Through Life's
Storms, Pat Robertson will
equip you with the tools you
need to come through your
personal storm victoriously.
In the midst of trouble, God
isn't limited. It's such
abundance.
See the stories of people who
obtained their victory over
seemingly insurmountable odds.
Take a step of faith. What
He did for me, He will do for
others.
Victory Through Life's
Storms.
Jesus said, "Look, all things
are possible. Nothing's
impossible. Nothing's
impossible."
Available now.
[MUSIC]
When I see that person that
comes to me, whether it's a
mother with children and she's
rented all her life and I can
take her from a state of
renting to a state of buying,
that makes me happy.
Lisa Quinonez had much
success as a partner in a
real estate firm. She believes
that even though she worked
hard, her success really came
through giving obediently to
God.
If we trust God with what God
gives us and we become good
stewards of what He gives us,
yes, God adds to that. It's
just the law. It's the law of
giving. It's the law of sowing
and reaping.
Lisa would also learn the
importance of giving during
tough times. When the housing
market crashed in 2008, Lisa
could only watch as everything
she had built quickly slipped
away.
I cried and said, "God, what
can I do?" And I just
basically said, "Lord, all I
can do is take one day at a
time."
Lisa lost her business, her
home, and eventually declared
bankruptcy.
For a moment I felt like
okay, I haven't lost it all.
Lisa worked as a waitress
and a long string of other odd
jobs. It was a struggle to pay
rent and put food on the table.
It was very humbling for me
and I remember coming home
and crying and saying, "Lord,
how long do I have to hold on
to do this? Where is there an
open door? Show me what to
do."
Eventually she went on
unemployment. All this time
she kept tithing, even from her
unemployment checks.
And I would take that money
and I'd say, "Okay, Lord, this
is all I have. But you know
what? It belongs to you
anyway."
Lisa says as she looked for
work over the next year, she
kept giving and God always
provided. Then one day, she
applied for a position as a
college recruiter.
I didn't even have an
interview. He just says, "This
is the job. It's yours." And
I just looked at him and I
said, "Thank you, God."
A year later, Lisa returned
to real estate as a property
manager. She married Luis in
2014. As her income increased,
she decided to give to CBN as
a one thousand club member.
I love the fact that they go
out and feed children all over
the world. I love that their
news is not negative. It's
positive. They're bringing
hope.
Just a month after becoming
a CBN partner, Lisa accepted a
job where she could work as a
property manager and a realtor
with a significant pay
increase. She knows that
giving is the key to financial
success.
Give and it shall be given
unto you, good measure pressed
down, shaken together, running
over.
[MUSIC]
For many people who have
experienced early childhood
trauma, those memories can get
repressed but then surface
years later after something
triggers those traumatic
feelings from the past. In my
experience, unexplained
depression, emotional distress,
and even panic attacks are
sometimes a way that our body
demonstrates unresolved
posttraumatic stress or PTSD
as we call it. Some of the
symptoms of PTSD include
recurring and distressing
flashbacks in our dreams,
intense psychological distress
or strong physiological
responses like panic attacks
when you're faced with some
cues that resemble the
original trauma. Sometimes
it's an inability to recall
important aspects of the
trauma. Many times there's a
lot of efforts placed to avoid
all thoughts, feelings, or
activities that's related or
reminds us of that trauma.
And one thing that happens
many times is a sense of
hypervigilance, almost an
exaggerated startle response
which makes it difficult for
you to fall asleep sometimes
or stay asleep. You can also
see problems regulating
your emotions or unpredictable
outbursts of anger. If this
sounds like you, don't ignore
your body's signal to get some
help. I would strongly
encourage you to consider
seeking a qualified
psychotherapist to help you
work through what's going on
with you right now. Regardless
of whether there's any specific
memories that have been
repressed that contribute to
your symptoms, if you've
experienced childhood trauma,
it may be helpful for you to
process through these early
childhood experiences. You
might find relief from your
symptoms just by doing this,
but in the process, you may end
up discovering repressed
traumatic memories that also
need to be resolved.
Unresolved trauma will often
remain locked in our brains
but like a toxic leaking
waste bin that can leak out
toxins that lead to physical
and emotional symptoms. And
even if you don't recall
specifically the trauma, we
might actually find ourselves
reacting strongly to situations
and in retrospect it shouldn't
be such a big deal. It's so
important to resolve this
trauma so that our body and
our brain and our emotions have
a sense of resolution. Not to
change the past because we
can't do that but so we're able
to digest the important lessons
that's part of experiencing
life's challenges but also
being able to let go of the
bad stuff, for example the
fear or the shame or the lies
about ourselves that was just
locked up inside as previously.
Often people will experience
a sense of freedom as the
trauma is no longer holding
them back from experiences
or relationships they want to
pursue. Now there are a number
of really great trauma recovery
techniques that are quite
effective in helping us move
towards this healthy
resolution. So for example,
one of the techniques we use
in our office is called EMDR
which has been shown to be
very effective in resolving
PTSD symptoms. It's based
on capitalizing on our brains
digest trauma in a healthy
way. So it works through
unlocked and unresolved
trauma in our brain. But make
sure whichever therapist you
choose also teaches you
techniques to help you stay
grounded and in control of
your emotional responses
so that you can safely process
through your trauma with that
therapist. You don't want to
be retraumatized by your
therapist. Your emotional
safety ought to be of the
utmost importance to your
therapist and it must be
established and maintained to
ensure that you're dealing with
your trauma in a therapeutic
and also safe way. Keep in
mind also that trauma therapy
isn't meant to be a witch hunt,
discovering the facts of what
actually happened. Because
memories are very susceptible
to distortion and there's no
way to actually go back into
your past to verify the facts
of what happened, trauma
recovery is actually more about
resolving your symptoms and
helping you to come to a place
of acceptance and peace. So
don't spend all of your energy
trying to figure out the
details of what happened to
you. In fact, often the more
you try, the more frustrated
and depressed you get,
especially if you start to
overly focus on trying to find
out the answers. Instead,
focus on the symptoms that
need resolving and allow your
mind and body to naturally
bring forth what needs
attention. And for those of us
who are Christ followers, it's
important to remember nothing
takes God by surprise since He
knows everything. So trust
in His timing as He brings
forth traumatic memories that
need to be resolved. And if
your symptoms are generally
resolved and you're beginning
to accept and experience
genuine peace and joy in your
life, accept the ambiguity of
not knowing all the answers
this side of heaven. Give over
to God those who've harmed
you, abused you, or traumatized
you, trusting that it's going
to be up to him to deal with
them and not up to you to make
sure they know what they did
or that they pay for what they
did to you. Focus on what you
can do to break free from the
traumatic experiences of your
past and then choose to let
go of the rest. I'm Dr. Merry.
[MUSIC]
In the home we would witness
my mother on drugs. Friends
would come over. We would
witness them with the pipes,
different men spending the
night over at the house.
Growing up in the projects,
Yakenia had nothing and that's
the only life she knew.
I remember one time we went-
my mom went to cook bread and
when she cooked the bread there
were roaches throughout the
bread. So we had to pick the
roaches out of the bread in
order to eat the bread just
because that's all we had to
eat because we grew up with
no food in the refrigerator,
really no clothes to wear. I
remember having to wear her
clothes and like roll up the
dress, the skirt, and kids
taunted us because my mom
was on drugs. So I spent my
childhood pretty much fighting.
Though she was still just a
child, Yakenia tried to fend
for herself, but she was
powerless against the violence
that surrounded her. When she
was nine years old, she was
raped.
It made me hard. It made me
angry but I wouldn't talk about
it. I just tried not to
[INAUDIBLE]. Then I don't have
to deal with the pain.
Yakenia dreamed of seeing
her mom drug free. She asked
God for help.
Dear God, can you please just
take us away.
I don't know how that came
about because we never went
to church. I used to pray to
God, a God that I really didn't
know and I used to ask Him if
He would take us away from
our mom, because I figured that
if He would take her away, she
would get off drugs.
Yakenia says her prayer was
answered. She was removed
from her home and lived in a
children's shelter for several
years. She was in high school
when her mother got clean from
drugs. She moved back in but
soon learned some things hadn't
changed.
My mother would not come to
y games. And then
waiting on her after school and
taking hours to pick me up and
so, you know, just little
things like that that added
to the rejection and the
disappointment.
Yakenia started looking for
love elsewhere and became
pregnant at 17 years old. She
graduated high school and
started college. She was
looking for ways to pay for
school and provide for her son.
That's when a friend introduced
her to exotic dancing.
It's amazing because although
I despised what I did, I was
driven by money. And so I
would despise going into the
club. I would despise going
into the shows, despise being
in front of those men, but
after I counted the money at
the end of the night, it
motivated me to do it again.
She quit school and spent
nights dancing in strip clubs
and private parties. Yakenia
also dated drug dealers who
would give her an allowance,
sometimes thousands of dollars
a week.
Your own place, your own
townhouse, multiple cars,
multiple bank accounts with
thousands of dollars in it,
shopping. It's just all about
the money. If you cannot pay
a bill or you cannot support me
then I cannot be with you,
you know, so I was just really
hard, really cold.
Over the years she maintained
a friendship with her son's
father and his wife. One day,
the couple invited her to
church.
So I said, "Okay, I'll go to
church." I was still dancing.
So I started going to church
and I liked the church and I
said, "Okay, I'm going to go
to church and I leave church
and I dance," and that's what I
did for two years. I didn't
stop dancing although I felt
guilty every time I went to
church. I didn't stop dancing
because of the lifestyle, but I
didn't want to stop going to
church because I felt like I
was getting fed. And so that
started something.
One day, Yakenia's pastor
pulled her aside.
He said, "What type of work
do you do?" And I said, "Well,
Pastor, I'd rather not say,"
cause I was so embarrassed.
And he said, "Well, the Spirit
of God already showed me what
you do, so I'm asking you to
pray and ask God to give you
the strength to leave that
lifestyle." And I was like
okay. And so when I left from
him, I was like, God, I don't
know how you're going to do
this when I'm used to making
this type of money, you know.
And so from that moment on,
I began to pray about leaving
that lifestyle.
Then Yakenia started having
visions when she was on stage.
It looked dark. It looked
like I died and my eternal
destiny was hell. It was dark.
It was dim. It was scary.
I felt like God was trying to
talk to me. I felt like He was
trying to warn me and I felt
like he was basically saying
if you don't leave this
lifestyle, you're not going to
make it, and I felt like God
was trying to save my life.
Yakenia thought about her
future and where she would
spend eternity. The visions
weighed heavy on her heart
and she knew it was time to
make a decision before it was
too late.
October the 24th-that was a
Wednesday. I danced that
morning, left that night to go
to Bible study, left Bible
study to go back to the club
to work, and while I was
sitting in the car, I just was
like I can't do this. I just
can't do this and from that
point on I've never looked
back. I believe at that moment
He became real to me. It's
an amazing feeling. It's an
amazing feeling to know that
in spite of everything that I
did that He loves me. Jesus
the Lord loves me right where
I am.
Today Yakenia is an
empowerment speaker, mentor,
and author. She says God's
unconditional love transformed
her life.
God loves you right where
you are. You don't have to
wait until you stop drugs or
wait until you stop dancing or
wait until you get everything
right, but know that the Lord
Jesus loves you right where
you are right now. That's
amazing. That's an amazing
feeling. It's priceless. You
can't put a dollar sign to
that.
[MUSIC]
Laura-Lynn, when you think
about the ministry today with
Leah and Yakenia, you see that
God can help us overcome a
difficult past.
Yes, He can, and that's why
we do this, Brian. We believe
God's a miracle-working God.
Yes, He is.
And we've got some prayer
requests. We have a woman,
Brian. Priscilla is her name
and she is going through a real
depression. She's from Olds,
Alberta, and she's asking us to
stand with her. And would you
pray for these requests like
it's someone from your own
family.
Yeah, and we've got Greg
from North Battleford, and he's
praying for God's protection
over his life and his job.
Right.
Why don't you start it?
Father, I thank you, Lord
Jesus for Priscilla that you
love her, that she is
absolutely secured in her
position in your family. I ask
that you would reveal to her
your love, your support of
her, God, your commitment
to her, and that you would
heal her of all of these
In Jesus' name.
emotions and this depression.
We pray that it would be
broken by the blood of Jesus
today in Jesus' name.
I felt that. In Jesus' name.
Amen.
And, Father, for Greg we
release warring angels over
him, for protection over his
life and over that pool of
revival, North Battleford,
Saskatchewan, Lord, we believe
even now revival and the power
of the Holy Ghost to move in
every area of his life, in
Jesus' name.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Amen. Boy, have we had a
good time. You know, these are
some heavy topics, Brian, but
I feel like what is heavier is e
anointing. What is heavier is
God's healing. That's heavier
than the heaviest pain that we
deal with.
And the joy that is on your
life. Never let it go.
May it be.
Thank you for allowing us
to come into your home. Until
next time, I'm Brian Warren.
And I'm Laura-Lynn Tyler-
Thompson. Have a great day,
Canada.
God bless.
[MUSIC]
To contact us, phone
1-855-759-0700 or by email
CBA@700Club.CA or mail
Christian Broadcasting
Associates, Incorporate.
That's 700 Club Canada,
P.O. Box 700, Scarborough,
Ontario M1S 4T4 or visit us
at 700Club.CA
