Well folks, if you haven't guessed by the title, something is about to around here.
I'm honestly not sure if this will be temporary or not, but as of right now, I will not be on blogger anymore.
Don't look so dismayed! I know this crushes your heart, but be of good cheer. While I won't be on blogger...I will be on Wordpress! I've imported all of my blog posts etc, from this webpage to another, so you won't even need to switch back and forth to look at older posts.
My new website can be found here, or you can go to misslaurennicole.wordpress.com.
I'm also working on a new blog idea/start up, so stay tuned for that!
Cheerio!
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
I'd Rather Be An Old Time Christian
I'd Rather Be An Old Time Christian
Written by Albert E. Brumley
C
In this world I've tried most everything
I'm happy now to say there's nothing like religion
D7 G7
In the good old fashioned way
C
I'm walking in the old time way and I want the world to know
That I'd rather be an old time Christian Lord
G7 C
Than anything I know
I'd rather be an old time Christian than anything I know
There's nothing like an old time Christian
D7 G7
With a Christian love to show
C
I'm walking in the grand old highway and I'm telling everywhere I go
That I'd rather be an old time Christian Lord
G7 C
Than anything I know
All the world is bright since I got right
Now I sing and pray and shout all my burdens have been lifted
D7 G7
Since the Savior brought me out
C
I will tell the world both far and near as I travel here below
That I'd rather be an old time Christian Lord
G7 C
Than anything I know
Written by Albert E. Brumley
C
In this world I've tried most everything
I'm happy now to say there's nothing like religion
D7 G7
In the good old fashioned way
C
I'm walking in the old time way and I want the world to know
That I'd rather be an old time Christian Lord
G7 C
Than anything I know
I'd rather be an old time Christian than anything I know
There's nothing like an old time Christian
D7 G7
With a Christian love to show
C
I'm walking in the grand old highway and I'm telling everywhere I go
That I'd rather be an old time Christian Lord
G7 C
Than anything I know
All the world is bright since I got right
Now I sing and pray and shout all my burdens have been lifted
D7 G7
Since the Savior brought me out
C
I will tell the world both far and near as I travel here below
That I'd rather be an old time Christian Lord
G7 C
Than anything I know
Excuses
So around our church we always hear good, bible-based, anointed preaching. The past several weeks have definitely been no different. I've been amazed on several occasions lately. You know those instances when you are dealing with something and you mention it to the Lord and then that night someone says exactly what you need to hear? Yeah, that is how it has been. I'm like 'how do you do that?!' and then it all makes sense because He is God, you know?
Pastor has been teaching the adult class a series called "I want to be a Christian" and it has been so challenging and thought provoking! I've enjoyed it immensely!
On Sunday, Pastor preached a message that was on our level both individually and collectively. I definitely found some more areas that I need to work on! Let me share a bit of his message with you...
Luke 14:16-24
Our pride often keeps us from being honest with ourselves and with others.-especially in areas that we need to change and work on.
We tend to make excuses for ourselves in an attempt to justify our sin. This may make us feel better about our sin, but in reality, it should make us feel worse. Why? God hates excuses.
The best thing to do for your sin is to acknowledge it before the Lord, and repent. Excuses not only drive you further from God, but it results in self-deception. There is a point when your pastor or another man of God can't reach you because you are so entangled in the excuses that you made for yourself. Making excuses is dangerous and can only end in destruction.
Furthermore, the Bible says that no man knows the day nor the hour in which the Lord will return. I definitely don't want to be making excuses for my sin when the sky is rolled back like a scroll to signal the return of Christ! I want to be ready to meet Him at any time and have peace in my heart, knowing that I'm right with Him.
This service ended on a bit of a different note. It was more joyous and worshipful and we had several visitors seeking God and making things right.-One even got baptized!
I was personally challenged by this message. I thought of all the things that I make excuses for. A bad attitude, 'because' someone treated me wrongly, an unkind remark 'because' someone said something that I didn't like or found rude. In reality, they aren't responsible for my actions. I must make the decision to say something in manner that is not pleasing to God. They are responsible for their actions and I am responsible for mine. I shouldn't make excuses for my failure to act as a true Christian. I'm working on it...sometimes I think it would help if I had a string on my steering wheel. (For all the home folks. Ha!)
Pastor has been teaching the adult class a series called "I want to be a Christian" and it has been so challenging and thought provoking! I've enjoyed it immensely!
On Sunday, Pastor preached a message that was on our level both individually and collectively. I definitely found some more areas that I need to work on! Let me share a bit of his message with you...
Luke 14:16-24
Our pride often keeps us from being honest with ourselves and with others.-especially in areas that we need to change and work on.
We tend to make excuses for ourselves in an attempt to justify our sin. This may make us feel better about our sin, but in reality, it should make us feel worse. Why? God hates excuses.
The best thing to do for your sin is to acknowledge it before the Lord, and repent. Excuses not only drive you further from God, but it results in self-deception. There is a point when your pastor or another man of God can't reach you because you are so entangled in the excuses that you made for yourself. Making excuses is dangerous and can only end in destruction.
Furthermore, the Bible says that no man knows the day nor the hour in which the Lord will return. I definitely don't want to be making excuses for my sin when the sky is rolled back like a scroll to signal the return of Christ! I want to be ready to meet Him at any time and have peace in my heart, knowing that I'm right with Him.
This service ended on a bit of a different note. It was more joyous and worshipful and we had several visitors seeking God and making things right.-One even got baptized!
I was personally challenged by this message. I thought of all the things that I make excuses for. A bad attitude, 'because' someone treated me wrongly, an unkind remark 'because' someone said something that I didn't like or found rude. In reality, they aren't responsible for my actions. I must make the decision to say something in manner that is not pleasing to God. They are responsible for their actions and I am responsible for mine. I shouldn't make excuses for my failure to act as a true Christian. I'm working on it...sometimes I think it would help if I had a string on my steering wheel. (For all the home folks. Ha!)
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Or So They Say
Society is messed up. It has a way of twisting the truth and deceiving people. It drills principles and ideas into us at an early age, causing us to live the rest of our lives maintaining ourselves with those standards guiding us.-whether they are accurate or not.
I happen to have an issue with this.
Sure, not every single standard that society imposes is bad. BUT:
1) Society no longer looks out for our children. It has no respect for future generations or (more importantly) the Lord. Since we want to raise our children to be like Jesus and to love and serve Him, wouldn't we want to try to protect them from a world that teaches them to do the opposite?
2) Society shouldn't be teaching our children. Yes, they will learn from it.-its inevitable. However, God didn't give them to society. He gave them to a mom and a dad that should teach them what is right and what is wrong. That is a parental obligation. Teach them about the Lord and the things that are pleasing to Him.
Anyway, there is one phrase thrown around a lot in today's world that I definitely have an issue with.
I was in the office of a coworker (John) along with another young coworker (Polly). They were talking and John was trying to play matchmaker for Polly because she wants to get married. They began talking about 'qualifications' which pretty much consisted of: 1) Under 50 years old 2) No more than 2 children 3) Currently Unmarried. I added to the conversation by stating that those qualifications are pretty low standards and they may want to rethink that. John responded with the phrase "Love is Blind".
This is something that I do not like at all. Love is, by no means, blind. In fact, true love has the clearest vision of all. Why do I say that?
When you love someone, you should make them better. You don't act like they are perfect. Let's be honest. We are human flesh; we have problems. That isn't to say that we should constantly hound one another over everything and demand perfection. Nor should you try to change who they are.
You work on things together and grow.
Love is not blind.
Jesus died on the cross for us because he loves us and we needed an escape from sin. If love was truly blind, we wouldn't have a God of justice. If love was blind, God would sit back and watch us destroy ourselves and do nothing to try to help us. He would overlook our sin and defy who He really is in doing so. Yes God will look past our faults, but He also demands change. He doesn't allow us to live in sin and cater to our issues because He 'loves' us. He makes us better and helps us because He loves us.
Perhaps the world's false sense of love is blind, but thank God true love is not blind! His love reaches out and saves us from the miry clay.
They say love is blind, but I know the truth. Love has 20/20.
Love is not blind.
Jesus died on the cross for us because he loves us and we needed an escape from sin. If love was truly blind, we wouldn't have a God of justice. If love was blind, God would sit back and watch us destroy ourselves and do nothing to try to help us. He would overlook our sin and defy who He really is in doing so. Yes God will look past our faults, but He also demands change. He doesn't allow us to live in sin and cater to our issues because He 'loves' us. He makes us better and helps us because He loves us.
Perhaps the world's false sense of love is blind, but thank God true love is not blind! His love reaches out and saves us from the miry clay.
They say love is blind, but I know the truth. Love has 20/20.
A Super Rambling-y Catch Up; You've been warned.
It's been a while since I've posted!-Things have been so busy! I've got to say, getting off work at five is for the birds. Its generally 5:30-6:00 before I get home and then I am back out the door again. Whew!
We recently drew our revival services to a conclusion. I'm a bit sad because I miss being in church every night and also because our good evangelist and his wife (Evangelist Andrew Howard and Sis. Jessica Howard) are no longer with us, but at the same time, it's a bit of a break. After nearly 8 weeks of working by day and 'churching' by night, we were pretty worn out and my housework was getting out of hand...I'm still trying to catch up, actually. Revival has been amazing and God has done so much for us! It is wonderful to look around and see all the new faces and hear the unfamiliar voices lifted up in prayer. I love it! I'm so thankful that even though we have ended the revival services, revival continues. Hungry hearts are everywhere, even in Tulsa with 10 churches on every corner. (We really do have a lot of churches if you haven't ever visited. -Definitely the buckle of the 'Bible Belt'!) The preaching around here has been incredible and anointed (as per usual), I must admit however that I have missed hearing Pastor Howard preach. We heard an amazing message last night that challenged us to change (I'll have more on that in a bit!).
On Monday nights, I have Bible College at the Apostolic College of Biblical Studies. It is a college founded and ran by The Lighthouse Church. I am taking Christian Ethics and Old Testament Overview right now. I have so enjoyed both of these classes! I've found so many interesting things in the Old Testament that I've never noticed before. Whoever said that the Old Testament was boring has never really dug into it before.-It isn't! As for Christian Ethics...that class has resulted in long discussions, much prayer and meditating, and some studying. Every single class has challenged me to look at God's word a little closer and know what I believe on so many different controversial topics.-Things like Capital Punishment, Self Defense, War, Abortion, Euthanasia, etc. I've learned that some things may seem to be a little less black and white, when they may or may not be. For instance, is it okay to lie when it you are lying to save the life of someone, even someone that is not saved? How do you 'rate' the evils? It's been thought provoking for sure!
Life has definitely been busy around here and to add to the little pile, for the first time in eleven years, I had an asthma attack. It was completely random and I was very unprepared for it. I threw away all my inhalers long ago, thinking that I would never need them again. *cue the sad trombone* So we called the doctor and made an appointment so that I could go get an emergency inhaler in case it happened again. Of course, they made me take the breathing tests again (you breath through a little tube for as hard and as long as you can and it calculates your airflow). Those things are killer! I think I took the test about 8 times on my first visit and failed every single one. All of them. I should be around an 8.5 on the graph and I was almost a 2 (no wonder I tire so easily!-No oxygen.). So of course they gave me a breathing treatment and had me take some more tests. The results were worse. This resulted in a trip over to Saint Francis South (a nearby hospital) to get x-rays to make sure I didn't have something on my lungs. I figured that I would go over there and get the x-rays done and then hurry myself on home so that I could get to church. Not quite what happened. Apparently they had strict orders to not release me until they had all looked over the x-rays and made sure that I wasn't in any eminent danger. After waiting for a while they came back and said that I could leave because they couldn't see anything on my lungs that looked too serious. So we booked it to the house to change and we finally made it to the church...in the middle of song service. We had great church! I was exhausted from all the nonsense of the evening (the doctor's office and the hospital combined took about 4 hours!) and then a church service so by the time we left, I was ready to curl up in a ball and sleep for a long time! Ha!
Three weeks later I was at the doctor's again to monitor my progress. My test results were pretty much the same and I had used my emergency inhaler about 6 times in a three week period.-not good! The doctor put me on a steroid and told me to use it twice a day. I didn't, to be perfectly honest. I didn't want to be on a medicine twice a day and especially a steroid. So during the next two weeks, I think I used it 2-4 times. It made me feel horrible. Then we realized why. For the first time in my life, I found something that I am allergic to. Fail. So I stopped using it altogether. In the meantime, we were hearing some powerful preaching at church. We had several services where it was evident that God wanted to perform signs and wonders in our midst and we were told that it may not happen immediately, but if we worship Him like He has already done it, we would see the miracles begin to take place. Pastor and Evangelist Howard admonished us to quite worrying about how God was going to do it and to start looking for signs. Pastor told us several different times to start preparing for a miracle.-to make plans about what we were going to do when we received our answer. So I did. I went to a lady in our church and said 'When I get my healing, I am going to do thus and so. Would you join me in preparing for my miracle?' and she said that she absolutely would.
Well, I went to the doctor on Tuesday. My test results went from a 2 to a 5.5 and my doctor said that my lungs sounded good. He went ahead and put me on another steroid (that I haven't taken yet) but he didn't want to see me again for two months. I know I still have a ways to go, but I am so encouraged by this report. I know God is doing the work! I can't wait to see the look on the doctor's face when my breathing is at a 9 or a 10 and is above my goal. I'm preparing for my miracle!
All in all, it has been a great couple of months and I honestly am so excited to see what all God is going to do!-Not just for me but in our church as a whole!
And I am soooo happy that my friend Liz got the Holy Ghost! I met her one day at camp when I was 12. She literally just came by with her sister and they chatted for a little bit during the day and then they left. Several years later I met two sisters at church. I introduced myself and tried to talk to them and get them involved. They didn't act like they wanted to talk and while we exchanged phone numbers, they never responded. They slowly got a little more talkative and then one day during altar service, Pastor announced that Liz wanted to get baptized. I was shocked and utterly thrilled! Ever so slowly she cam around and then randomly started doing things with the college and career. We continued to talk and our friendship has grown. Then one day I was hostessing at church and she came in late. I told her that she should sit with me because I was about to be going into the service. She agreed (though I may have agreed for her with the whole 'Oh I could tell you were excited and wanted to. I knew you'd say yes!' line.-I didn't force her.-You'd just have to know her to know that she is hilarious but won't be forced or obligated to do anything.) and we went into the service. That night she really started seeking God and both that service and the next service she spent a long time standing in front of the pulpit praying. The next service, however, she got the gift of the Holy Ghost! She later commented to me "You know, I've never liked skirts. Ever. But lately, I've really been buying a lot of them. Like I randomly think that they are pretty and I want to wear them. Its so weird!" I may or may not have lit up like a candle and explained that the Holy Ghost changes you! Another instance she told me and another girl in our church that she didn't know why but she heard a song by Kanye that she, at one point, like to listen to, and got upset because she didn't like the way that it made her feel. She said it felt 'demonic like devil music'. I've loved seeing her come alive in church (after a year of coming!) and we always have a lot of fun together. Getting to experience the work of God through the eyes of a newly saved soul is always so refreshing!
This was an incredibly long and rambling post but I think I've caught up on some of the major events. Woohoo! I'll be posting again hopefully today or tomorrow so stay tuned. :)
We recently drew our revival services to a conclusion. I'm a bit sad because I miss being in church every night and also because our good evangelist and his wife (Evangelist Andrew Howard and Sis. Jessica Howard) are no longer with us, but at the same time, it's a bit of a break. After nearly 8 weeks of working by day and 'churching' by night, we were pretty worn out and my housework was getting out of hand...I'm still trying to catch up, actually. Revival has been amazing and God has done so much for us! It is wonderful to look around and see all the new faces and hear the unfamiliar voices lifted up in prayer. I love it! I'm so thankful that even though we have ended the revival services, revival continues. Hungry hearts are everywhere, even in Tulsa with 10 churches on every corner. (We really do have a lot of churches if you haven't ever visited. -Definitely the buckle of the 'Bible Belt'!) The preaching around here has been incredible and anointed (as per usual), I must admit however that I have missed hearing Pastor Howard preach. We heard an amazing message last night that challenged us to change (I'll have more on that in a bit!).
On Monday nights, I have Bible College at the Apostolic College of Biblical Studies. It is a college founded and ran by The Lighthouse Church. I am taking Christian Ethics and Old Testament Overview right now. I have so enjoyed both of these classes! I've found so many interesting things in the Old Testament that I've never noticed before. Whoever said that the Old Testament was boring has never really dug into it before.-It isn't! As for Christian Ethics...that class has resulted in long discussions, much prayer and meditating, and some studying. Every single class has challenged me to look at God's word a little closer and know what I believe on so many different controversial topics.-Things like Capital Punishment, Self Defense, War, Abortion, Euthanasia, etc. I've learned that some things may seem to be a little less black and white, when they may or may not be. For instance, is it okay to lie when it you are lying to save the life of someone, even someone that is not saved? How do you 'rate' the evils? It's been thought provoking for sure!
Life has definitely been busy around here and to add to the little pile, for the first time in eleven years, I had an asthma attack. It was completely random and I was very unprepared for it. I threw away all my inhalers long ago, thinking that I would never need them again. *cue the sad trombone* So we called the doctor and made an appointment so that I could go get an emergency inhaler in case it happened again. Of course, they made me take the breathing tests again (you breath through a little tube for as hard and as long as you can and it calculates your airflow). Those things are killer! I think I took the test about 8 times on my first visit and failed every single one. All of them. I should be around an 8.5 on the graph and I was almost a 2 (no wonder I tire so easily!-No oxygen.). So of course they gave me a breathing treatment and had me take some more tests. The results were worse. This resulted in a trip over to Saint Francis South (a nearby hospital) to get x-rays to make sure I didn't have something on my lungs. I figured that I would go over there and get the x-rays done and then hurry myself on home so that I could get to church. Not quite what happened. Apparently they had strict orders to not release me until they had all looked over the x-rays and made sure that I wasn't in any eminent danger. After waiting for a while they came back and said that I could leave because they couldn't see anything on my lungs that looked too serious. So we booked it to the house to change and we finally made it to the church...in the middle of song service. We had great church! I was exhausted from all the nonsense of the evening (the doctor's office and the hospital combined took about 4 hours!) and then a church service so by the time we left, I was ready to curl up in a ball and sleep for a long time! Ha!
Three weeks later I was at the doctor's again to monitor my progress. My test results were pretty much the same and I had used my emergency inhaler about 6 times in a three week period.-not good! The doctor put me on a steroid and told me to use it twice a day. I didn't, to be perfectly honest. I didn't want to be on a medicine twice a day and especially a steroid. So during the next two weeks, I think I used it 2-4 times. It made me feel horrible. Then we realized why. For the first time in my life, I found something that I am allergic to. Fail. So I stopped using it altogether. In the meantime, we were hearing some powerful preaching at church. We had several services where it was evident that God wanted to perform signs and wonders in our midst and we were told that it may not happen immediately, but if we worship Him like He has already done it, we would see the miracles begin to take place. Pastor and Evangelist Howard admonished us to quite worrying about how God was going to do it and to start looking for signs. Pastor told us several different times to start preparing for a miracle.-to make plans about what we were going to do when we received our answer. So I did. I went to a lady in our church and said 'When I get my healing, I am going to do thus and so. Would you join me in preparing for my miracle?' and she said that she absolutely would.
Well, I went to the doctor on Tuesday. My test results went from a 2 to a 5.5 and my doctor said that my lungs sounded good. He went ahead and put me on another steroid (that I haven't taken yet) but he didn't want to see me again for two months. I know I still have a ways to go, but I am so encouraged by this report. I know God is doing the work! I can't wait to see the look on the doctor's face when my breathing is at a 9 or a 10 and is above my goal. I'm preparing for my miracle!
All in all, it has been a great couple of months and I honestly am so excited to see what all God is going to do!-Not just for me but in our church as a whole!
And I am soooo happy that my friend Liz got the Holy Ghost! I met her one day at camp when I was 12. She literally just came by with her sister and they chatted for a little bit during the day and then they left. Several years later I met two sisters at church. I introduced myself and tried to talk to them and get them involved. They didn't act like they wanted to talk and while we exchanged phone numbers, they never responded. They slowly got a little more talkative and then one day during altar service, Pastor announced that Liz wanted to get baptized. I was shocked and utterly thrilled! Ever so slowly she cam around and then randomly started doing things with the college and career. We continued to talk and our friendship has grown. Then one day I was hostessing at church and she came in late. I told her that she should sit with me because I was about to be going into the service. She agreed (though I may have agreed for her with the whole 'Oh I could tell you were excited and wanted to. I knew you'd say yes!' line.-I didn't force her.-You'd just have to know her to know that she is hilarious but won't be forced or obligated to do anything.) and we went into the service. That night she really started seeking God and both that service and the next service she spent a long time standing in front of the pulpit praying. The next service, however, she got the gift of the Holy Ghost! She later commented to me "You know, I've never liked skirts. Ever. But lately, I've really been buying a lot of them. Like I randomly think that they are pretty and I want to wear them. Its so weird!" I may or may not have lit up like a candle and explained that the Holy Ghost changes you! Another instance she told me and another girl in our church that she didn't know why but she heard a song by Kanye that she, at one point, like to listen to, and got upset because she didn't like the way that it made her feel. She said it felt 'demonic like devil music'. I've loved seeing her come alive in church (after a year of coming!) and we always have a lot of fun together. Getting to experience the work of God through the eyes of a newly saved soul is always so refreshing!
This was an incredibly long and rambling post but I think I've caught up on some of the major events. Woohoo! I'll be posting again hopefully today or tomorrow so stay tuned. :)
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