Interview with Theresa Conbeer

EMG radio for today's culture and timeless truths come together it's reasoned relevant content apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know from Alex McFarlane ministries. This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days beaker writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane welcomed the trees for new generation radio Alex McFarland here on the road in Florida about that in a moment to welcome you to the program and only talking about the Old Testament story of Job everybody interest me with the story of Job, and we've even got settings like so-and-so has the patience of Job because in the Old Testament. Job went to a number of trials. Actually, as I count 17 types of trials and Job didn't know it but there was a spiritual battle going on because Satan had basically said to God, look Job only follows you because you've blessed them.

Job is a successful man. He's prosperous. He's got a great family and let me hurt him.

Let me oppress him and Job will curse you to your face and God says no you can do anything. But you can't kill it and so Job goes through 17 types of trials, unimaginable pain and really all that he didn't know it at the time he was among other things, he was growing in his trust of God. He was growing in his understanding of God but also, and this may be why we at least in part, go through some pains. Job was silencing the accusations of Satan things going on a battle going on in the unseen realm and in honoring God.

He was really quite literally shutting the mouth of Satan, the accuser and welcome to the program and I'm so excited today. We've got a very special guest on the road in Florida and those of you who listen to the program you know I meet a lot of fascinating people traveling across America and one such person is with me today. Her name is Teresa con beer who is in Florida.

Although her family is understand it, Teresa.

You all are from upstate New York. Is that right that's correct and a whereabouts in New York where upstate New York about an hour west of Albany okay in Fonda village colophon find it and your family has a farm right but you yes Scott Conyers farm. It will I relate to that, having grown up on a farm in North Carolina. What types of farming do you all do right now it's organic produce and berries. We do a lot of organic strawberries. Pick your own strawberry fields and blueberries, raspberries, things like that me. We have canning business along while dad sells some hay wheeze to do on more accurate, more animals, cows, and then we did like agri-tourism Republican thinking things like yeah I hear more and more about agri-tourism as I think people like the idea of a farm, but maybe not necessarily all the hard work that goes with it right more of a vacation or something to see how it was back in the day and you the con beers are a Christian family, right right and you're a believer's hand.

How at what age did you come to Christ.

I came to know Jesus at the age of seven. My parents had told me about him growing up and we studied the Bible.

Growing up that I didn't trust him as my personal savior until I went to a Christian day camp and just recognized my sin and my need for a Savior. How is the Christian presence in the upper Northeast now you know I read about the great awakening send them where you are living in New York State at one time in our nations history was just ablaze with the gospel house house. The Christian presence up that way now that's a question I would say there. There are many Christians but the large majority would say they would answer that they are Christians, but not sure the depth of their relationship with Christ. So let me let me share this knowledge or response.

I travel a lot universities and very often I'll meet people who don't believe in God or they're not Christians, and a lot of times they'll say well they rejected God because of the pain and suffering in the world. If God is real, why are there wars why is there terrorism. Why did dad abandon us.

You know, why did mom get cancer. What's your opinion on those that may be reject Jesus and walk away from God because of pain and suffering. I would say my response would be response of compassion and I think that's the response that I've learned that Jesus would have when people rejected him all throughout Scripture and his life here on earth, and I actually had the opportunity last year to intern at a women's residential treatment facility where I worked with women struggling with drug and alcohol abuse in self harm and eating disorders. Things like that and so there was a lot of suffering and pain. I was confronted with and to hear their stories just is very painful to even sit and listen and I actually struggled with that same question. Why would God allow these things to happen to these young ladies. Some of them chose that path and some of them did not in so I wrestled with that but I just as I looked more into God's word and learn more about who God is. He's a God of love and we blame things that happen often on him because he is sovereign in control, that we forget what that were at war. In this in this world and on. Satan is constantly wanting to attack and destroy everything Jesus is trying to accomplish. You now think about John 10 verse 10 says the thief comes to steal to kill to destroy Jesus that I've come they might have life and life more abundantly. Just like in the time of Job that has been Satan's modus operandi to steal to kill to destroy you to continue our conversation with Teresa con beer in your you're not to believe what you're about to hear. So I don't want to miss any of it. But truthfully generation radios can be back right after this. Don't know what her from I am a watchman ministries.

Here's today's I am a watchman minute Jonah was a man with great ups and downs to fall into sin several times in the small four chapter book that bears his name. Most are familiar with how Jonah ran from God, and soon found himself in trouble at the bottom of the sea in the belly of a fish.

However, in chapter 2 we read then Jonah remembered God and as Jonah confessed his sin and committed himself to God. He found God's mercy and let a great revival in the story of Jonah we see that great sin is no match for God's grace. The Bible says when we seek him. We will find him.

Jonah was not perfect before the story sober people sin again. But let us see that when Jonah turned to God. He was blessed by God is a timeless truth we should hold onto today people be faithful, be a watchman, I am a watchman.com.

If you're a Christian.

You of course want to instill a biblical view of life in the hearts of your children, your pastor, you want to offer ministry that draws young families to your church.

This is Alex McFarland encouraging you to check out my new book and video curriculum. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity. I interviewed hundreds of children ages 5 to 12 and we address actual questions from actual children. The spiritual issues that are on the minds of your kids Jesus everything the book and video lessons are great for groups of any size and was produced with the goal of equipping kids to stand strong for Christ in any situation.

The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask the book study guide and video series. You'll find it@afastore.net that AFA store.net there's been some confusion between the title of engage magazine and the term, engage, listen, would you marry. I see now that's what I mean engage magazine is a ministry to millennial's while getting engaged is all this right. The thing is, we want you to be engaged that sweet but engage magazine is about being engage with your faith in the culture visit engage magazine.net at liberty University. You'll earn more than a degree in the satisfaction of seeing what you can accomplish and what God can accomplish more than 600° options from associate 100% online more discover God's truth through every degree at liberty University where we train champions for Christ, go to liberty\Explorer to learn more. That's liberty\Explorer learn more for apologetics, resources, books by Alex McFarland and to find out where Alex is speaking. Visit Alex McFarland.com radio and you know as 2019.

Joseph was on the think everybody's price we've had an amazing year of ministry at our camp apologetics camp youth from seven states came and everybody there literally every cane at the camp made a decision for Christ. It was just an amazing thing with several truthfully generation conferences and by the time you're hearing this, we just will of wrapped up in Ohio and Maryland and to everybody's price for this ministry and literature distribution events, broadcasting, publishing as was a thanks and like us stay committed to reaching people for the gospel. Stay committed as the new year dawns is 2020, comes around.

What a people make resolutions and you know they want to set goals for the new year.

Set a goal that in 2020. You'll talk to people about Christ and set a goal that you will be more than ever, more than ever. You will be a witness for the gospel in the new year. Well somebody who's doing that and somebody who shines as brightly for Christ is anybody I've met in a long long time.

Is Teresa con beer and were talking with her.

I met her family down here in Florida. Although they actually live in upstate New York. But Teresa was pickup on conversation before the break room. Talk about paying and how pain alienates people from Jesus sometimes you know little bit… Should you know a little bit of firsthand about choosing to trust God even in the midst of unimaginable pain. If you would tell a little bit about that how you came to understand choosing God even in the midst of pain. Okay well about this time last year. October 20, 2018. I was living life has gone far and I had all kinds of goals I was helping on my family farm. I had a few months before come back from doing my internship at a women's residential facility and I've always been very interested in biblical counseling and so I was continuing to pursue that and then also I was possibly going back to work for an attorney had done that previously as well and I was just getting back into life after finishing up my internship. I was also about to get married on so I thought. And on that day October 20 I went out to help my family cut firewood. We have an old farmhouse with the wood burning stove. All I know how that works yeah and so we try to keep a year ahead with the firewood and I've always enjoyed that since I was a little girl splitting and stacking the wood helping call it back and forth and just a few years ago my my dad let me start using a chainsaw on different things while we had just gotten to the wise, and gotten started. I was driving the tractor and pulled up next to a falling tree that was on its way down and I thought the last thing I remember thinking was, I think that tree will clear me. I'll be okay here, so I parked the tractor and that was the last thing I remember it hit a dead tree that came down, splintered in the pieces fell all over my back instantly. They kinda took the wind out of me and so I don't remember anything by God's grace, sometimes four or design that way were we don't remember traumatic circumstances that I broke. I was life flighted to Albany med hospital and through an MRI. They found out that I broke two vertebrae and two ribs and then I also have spinal cord injury which paralyzed me from the waist down, and the doctors told my parents and my family that I may never walk again. And that was the initial prognosis.

That's just been one year ago year and a month so you're cutting wood, a tree falls on you and your back is broken and suddenly you're not walking anymore did at the moment of impact, you were unconscious than right right in and you woke up in a hospital. What was it like when the realization came over you. That okay I'm not at the farm I'm in the hospital and oh by the way, from the waist down. I'm not moving what what were your thoughts and emotions. At that point will you know I was actually in a lot of pain and so the doctors I think the Lord for them. They were trying to monitor that. So I had a lot of medications.

I don't remember a lot for another week or two on. I don't remember being told that necessarily I think I slowly came to the realization of what had happened and what was going on my I think I probably had quite a bit of emotional pain and things to sort through. Just trying to understand what had what had transpired a week after my accident. My boyfriend and ended up leaving my life deciding to leave which is fine. I have worked through alignment that in just forgiveness and all those kinds things associated with that but that was probably the biggest thing on my mind for a long time and then as I realized that I may never walk again. It was it was hard to think through you. While you know I couldn't. Let me say this having counseled a lot of people and doing a few weddings over the course of 25 years of ministry. You know if he showed is this. If this accident was something that he just couldn't deal with, you know, in a way, it's probably a blessing, but I know that's I'm just think of the pain that you've gone through this accident. Your new at least in this season of your life in recovery from the accident and then that you know there are a lot of people that would've gone through less and turned bitter, and yet when when I met your fat, your mother and you you just joyful your smiling, you're praising God talking about the goodness of God. How did you in the midst of this maintain such joy and such radiance for your Savior. It was not an option to blame God because God chose himself to his word. As I got of love and we are into wearing a real war with CNN so just having an understanding of that that this is a spiritual battle and there's an enemy that's real and how I can respond to this tragedy in a way that is pleasing to him without a break. Folks were talking with Teresa con beer and truth, regeneration, radio is back after this. Alex is written many books to help you to fit your faith. One of them answers questions from skeptics it's cleverly titled 10 answers for skeptics today skip looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward truth in the book Alex McFarland identifies the 10 most common types of skepticism that plagued doubters minds. It offers believers proven strategies for connecting intellectually and spiritually with those who are skeptical about the claims of Christianity. Learn how to answer intimidating questions. Identify the root issue behind those questions and dismantled the spiritual bombshell dropped by atheist plus provide encouragement to face hostility by persevering in love.

The ultimate apologetic Christians could offer as a witness to our loving God, check out 10 answers for skeptics. When you visit Alex McFarland.com first Peter 315 tells us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope we have were instructed to be prepared to defend our faith. This is Alex McFarland for the life answers teams students we train at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in South Carolina.

The life answers. Teams are made up of students who will inspire and equip your congregation. These apologetics teams. We train speaking churches to youth groups and train Christians of all ages to address key issues of our times. From a biblical perspective like is there a God is the Bible true. What about gender and moral issues. Call me at 864977 2008 and we will arrange for the life answers team to come to your church and give a presentation that will benefit your people for years to come. 864-977-2000 eight and always be ready in the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism. Alex McFarland is a voice you can trust to speak the timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way. You're listening to the truth for a new generation radio back to TMG radio.you break Teresa was speaking with Sharon about her accident cutting wood on a farm in New York. The tree fell on her instantly paralyzed from the waist down. Now for a year and a month living life in a wheelchair and I know you come to Florida to a neurological hospital to talk about that in a minute but speak a minute.

If you would to the person out there who struggling and you know the devil is a liar and we we tell ourselves. So I I'm the good of blind God doesn't still love me because I'm you know I'm I'm not I'm not this. I'm not that speak to the person who struggling to believe in their identity in Christ and maybe give themselves permission to be at peace in Christ that he loves us unconditionally and our circumstances, which are always changing. They really don't define our identity in Jesus which never changes. Speak to that if you would allow.

That's a great that's a great thought because I have been working through this this past week so it's fresh on my mind but I have decided to write down truths about who I am in Christ on index cards and I wrote down one truth on each one, and I just lay them all out on my bed and I said well if anyone ever asked to see my ID.

They can take their pick and these these are things that I try to go through on a daily basis, even first thing when I start my day. Just remind myself of who I am because the enemy does lie. Satan does tell us little lies in their things that we believe in even dwell on and I have to fight them on a daily basis and so I understand exactly how that feels.

I have to fight things like I will never amount to anything I can't do things by myself. Things like that. Those are lies and just being able to recognize them as lies. The Lord gives us the ability and the strength to recognize that and then to replace them with his truths, and sometimes I don't. We don't want to do that and on.

So we have to fight to believe what is true and the cool thing is that I've notice even on those days, and in those moments when I don't want to believe what is true. I'd rather stay victim to the lies had wrapped it's easier on those days, and in those moments, God's grace is sufficient for that. And he loves us anyway. Those things remain true. The fact that I've been forgiven and chosen and redeemed and accepted in the beloved. All those things remain true or if I'm ready to believe that right now are not, and that just gives just a solid foundation that okay I can I can feel the pain.

I can cry right now and in my sinfulness. Choose to be a victim.

But that doesn't change what's true and what's true today will still be true tomorrow and will never change until I go to eternity to be with him. I think about the solid scriptural foundation you've got that sounds like it's been a real key part of your wonderful outlook. I mean everything herein resonates with God's word. How important is it that we really build our outlook on the word of God so important he know I'm I've made a lot of friends with other people. I can't believe the other people that are living with this type of injury leave Matt as a family. We've met so many other people dealing with spinal cord injuries and teaches you a lot of gratefulness because our injuries are all different. They're all unique and some of us have more abilities than others. Some people are paralyzed from the neck down say that the waist down and lots of my new friends from from this season of life have asked how do I cope and I was pondering that question as I hit the one year mark this past month and realize you know I really don't because there's no need to just try to survive and make it through because Jesus died on the cross, he was beaten and hung on the cross so that we can be free and the Bible says who the son sets free will be free indeed. That's free from sin that's free from suffering free from pain and so were given the victory because Jesus is a victor. We are we are vectors and we don't.

I don't have to remain a victim to my pain to my physical pain to my emotional pain to my wheelchair even in the limitations. And, I confess. Some days I do live live like that. Like a victim but I need to remind myself that I don't need to.

That Christ has already paid the price so that I can go free. How can people be praying for you because I know your story is going to inspire so many people.

Your story inspires me and I know folks are good one. Of be lifting you up in prayer. What what would you asked people to pray for Teresa. Oh wow well I'm in the middle of making a transition right now back to my hometown and find a New York I've been here in Florida since January of this year's almost a year at the center for narrow recovery and they have helped me come so far. My initial prognosis of having a complete injury. We have since found out is not true and I have a lot going. There's a lot of signals going through my spinal cord and some muscles that have turned on the believe Jesus to be a healer so were going home. Teresa Moore finds and will be continuing my exercises there at home and so just just praying for peace and wisdom in that whole transition and that God would continue to prepare the way and help us to trust him sweetie. Go through each step going forward that would be I would say the biggest thing continued trust in him and healing for our hearts. And when we will pray and I would encourage people to pray and if you if you want to reach Teresa you can just write to us truth for new generation, but Matthew six verse eight says the father knows you need even before you ask if Jesus would give his life to address the biggest salvation he does care about my new show of your life's return to Christ in the hope that you helping make him the and of any way the truth and regeneration can help you in your walk of witness where I wanted to do that.

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