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Welcome to the Bernita Renee Relates Podcast.
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I'm your host, Bernita Renee.
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Guys, I am so excited to welcome my friend and sister in Christ, Lauren Nicole.
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Lauren is an award-winning podcaster.
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She's a children's author, Christian speaker, and ministry leader.
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Her God Links podcast has hosted over 750 live shows highlighting testimonies from leaders across the world.
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I love that in everything she does, Lauren emphasizes that the king of glory is the story.
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She also has a nonprofit called God Links Ministries that focuses on empowering the young women of America.
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I am so excited to welcome my friend Lauren Nicole.
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Lauren, welcome.
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I cannot begin to tell you how honored I am to be on your show today.
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Thank you.
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Thank you so much.
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Yeah, we had a fun time.
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I visited Lauren's podcast, God links, and we just laughed and giggled and just had a fun time.
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So I'm so happy to have you in the house today.
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And oh yeah.
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I love your deal, Bernita.
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I just want to say, I think anybody who meets you knows when they are invited to be on your show, they're bound to have a blast.
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Okay, I already know.
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Thank you, Lauren.
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And you know what?
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I would love to just welcome us with a little prayer.
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Is it okay if I pray over you?
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Please.
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I would like that.
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Let's do it.
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Heavenly Father, we just want to say thank you, Lord God.
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Thank you for this time and fellowship, Lord God.
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We are so grateful for an opportunity that we had to run into each other, to meet each other.
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We know it was just the divine timing.
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And we're just grateful just to have the opportunity to just grow and learn more about your goodness and for the viewers to get an opportunity to experience a wonderful person that Lauren Nicole is.
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Heavenly Father, I just ask that you just be in the midst of this whole space for every person listening to this on the replay, every person listening to this in their cars, in their homes, wherever they are, that they would find you through everything that we say.
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And Lord, any areas that we just totally miss, we just ask you to cover us and all your goodness.
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And so we thank you, Lord God, and we lift you up in Jesus' name.
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We pray.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Thank you so much.
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You're welcome.
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It's really interesting to me and wild, really, to think that a few months ago we didn't even know each other.
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You know, isn't that crazy?
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It is wild, and that's a good word, you know, because I believe Jehovah's sneaky, just he's always up to something.
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Yeah, it is kind of sneaky.
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I want to tell our audience a little bit about how we met.
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I went to a prayer retreat and I was really questioning whether or not I should go.
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And the pastor who was hosting the prayer retreat called me and asked me to be on a panel.
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And so because I said this to her, I automatically was like, okay, yes, I'm going to the prayer retreat.
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And it was the week of this crazy snowstorm.
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We are in Texas, in North Texas, where we don't get a whole lot of weather like that.
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And so I didn't have a chance to do all the things I usually do as a woman when you prep for getting ready to be away for the weekend.
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So I was like, oh Lord, you know, I'm just gonna show up just any kind of way, but I'm gonna go and and you know, give me the endurance to last this whole weekend just in prayer.
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I had never experienced anything like that.
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Yes.
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And so I'd made it to the prayer retreat and I was sitting at a table and I saw a group of ladies chatting, and I said, let me just go over and sit and just introduce myself to these ladies.
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And the person I sit next to is Laura Nicole.
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And towards the end of our conversation, I happened to mention that I just started a podcast, and she said, Wait, I have a podcast.
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And I was like, Okay, well, my my podcast is like a faith-baith podcast.
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She's like, I have a faith-baith podcast too.
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I'm like, You're kidding.
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So we kind of start chatting a little bit, but our break is wrapping up and we're like, we got to connect, we gotta talk.
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And so it really took that whole prayer retreat before we were able to reconnect.
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And um, and it was at the very end, Lauren kind of hung back a little bit and I
Load full transcript
stayed a day longer than I had planned to, and we were able to kind of chat and connect.
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And it was just our spirits were just like, hey girl, where you been?
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Well, and you you you described that perfectly because I felt that way too.
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And I still like on Sunday when we were all about to leave or head out, you know, I didn't know if you were gonna stick around.
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And I know you said you were like meeting your aunt in a few minutes, but the Lord just made a window of opportunity to pray together, to talk together, and and to collab too.
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So I was like, you know what?
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I don't know why I ever worry because God He works it out, you know, because I was like, oh no, where'd she go?
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We can have people's cards or information, but still you want to be able to say, Hey, I loved meeting you.
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And God gave us that opportunity.
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It was just divine timing, divine meeting, all the things.
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So it's just fantastic.
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So, Lauren, as I mentioned, you gave me the honor of being able to be a guest on your podcast.
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And so I'm so grateful that you're here with us today.
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Yeah.
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So I would love to give um the folks an opportunity to get to know you a little bit.
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So you always say the king of glory is truly instructive.
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So yeah.
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So tell us, tell me a little bit more about what that means for you.
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Well, I believe no matter what we're doing in life, this is just a message to everybody, myself included.
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No matter whether you're a teacher or a flight attendant or whatever it may be, we want to put God at the center, the focus of all that we do.
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And there's a way to do that.
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And so in the beginning, I was getting I was called into podcasting, but I will be honest with you, I was becoming very flustered because I was not quote unquote, you know, a podcaster.
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God called me to have a platform.
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I had to pray and fast and petition the Lord and say, Lord, when you say platform, does that mean a stage?
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What does that mean?
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And through the praying, he really showed me go live.
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Because I kept seeing that live button when it was newer on Facebook.
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And I said, Okay, Lord, I'm gonna trust you.
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And at first it was simple, it was like going online for a verse.
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And this was before reels and shorts.
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You know, this is when they just started coming out a couple of years back.
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So I go live, I trusted the Lord, I did it completely afraid, okay.
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And so I'm I'm going live and people are responding.
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And so through this whole opportunity, this journey, I like to say, that he took me on.
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I started to believe.
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I said, okay, Lord, I need to trust you.
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I need to get you involved.
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You've called me to do this.
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I need to make you the center of this.
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That's the only way it's going to work.
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Me worrying all the time before I go live, that's not what you've called me to do.
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You've called me to be bold.
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So I decided, I had like a moment, right, where I said, Lord, I'm making a commitment to make you, you are the king of glory, but I'm making you the center of the show.
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I'm even gonna put it above my head on the show, on the virtual graphics, and keep you at the center so I remember every time I don't have to be afraid.
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And I'm telling you, Bernita, it really helped so much.
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And people caught on to it.
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They said, Yeah, the king of glory is the story.
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And they started to message me and they'd say, you know what?
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I've made God the focus over during my job.
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Or a teacher from teaching school was like, I made him the focus instead of me and my worries.
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And it's all turning around now.
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So praise be to the king of glory.
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That's such an amazing thing.
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And one of the things that we connected on because I remember when we talked, both of us were like, we're stepping into a totally unknown space, and you know, God will just kind of give you a breadcrumb.
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And same thing, trying to understand, okay, but what what are you meaning?
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What what exactly do you want me to do?
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And sometimes I know he won't give you the full picture, will he?
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No, he'll give you a little puzzle piece.
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Yeah, to try to figure out, and that's why that obedience, that prayer, that fasting, that sacrifice, it's so important.
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I'm so glad you said that because sometimes that's just what it takes.
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Yes, and I know you understand this so much.
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And for me to meet you that day, that weekend, really meant a lot to me because even though podcasting's really popular now, it wasn't as much when I started, especially being on video.
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And so I didn't have anybody to relate to in my life.
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So it's nice how he's bringing the Christian sisters and brothers that actually know and have a similar testimony.
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It's amazing.
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It is, it is God's so creative.
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And the thing I love about God is we can't put him in a box because you know, we're reading our Bible and we're reading scriptures, and God is using even like the parables he's used, he uses it so people can understand the day and time.
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And so that's why he's speaking so much about farming because that's what was important to people's lives then.
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And so I think for us as Christians to say, like, okay, we gotta understand that yes, God can do a new thing.
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He's God, he can do anything to do anything.
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We don't have to add music, music to my ears.
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When you say that, I really I love that that you're you're making that point right now, because it's true.
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We do, you know, we were like, oh, God can do this and that, but oh, you know, I'm I'm just one person.
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How could he use me?
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But that's stinking thinking.
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God's like, no, I want to use you because I made you and I love you.
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Yeah, and and what you're doing is special.
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And just like in the days of the Bible, there were so many farmers and so many fishermen, but it didn't mean that one person couldn't be a fisherman because someone else was a fisherman, right?
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God's like, there's oceans near you, go fish, and then I may call you away from fishing to do something else.
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And so I remember when we talked about this before, when I was thinking about getting into podcasting, people were like, but aren't a lot of people doing that?
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Like, well, that's a good thing.
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That means it's that's a wonderful thing.
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Imagine if every believer was doing that, how many more people would come to salvation?
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And I know you're bringing so many people to Christ through your podcast, but I want to know more about the backstory.
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Yeah.
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How you got started.
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You can take me back as far as you want.
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Okay.
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Well, the
beginning of my life, I love that you're asking me this because a lot of people, you know, will see a podcast and see it produced and think, oh, that girl has it figured out.
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But I'm here to tell you it took a lot to get to actually figuring it out.
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And I'm still figuring it out.
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I won't have it completely figured out till Jesus comes back.
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So I'm gonna make that so clear right now because I'm always learning everything new.
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So I try to just remember why I'm doing what I'm doing.
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And the King of Glory is the story.
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We made that established.
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But early in my life, I was very sick, Bernita.
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I had so many issues.
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I was a premi and I was in ICU and all the things.
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And thank God for parents filled with such strong faith that prayed me out of the hospital many a time because my life was touch and go.
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When I got a little bit older, I of course went to school, but then I would fall back, you know, fall not fall behind in grade, but just fall behind like a pile of schoolwork because then I'd have to go to the hospital again.
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So this went on for years, but I believe it made me have a ministry early in life because it didn't matter where I was in the elementary school, I would start going after the one.
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I'd have a compassion because I knew what it was like to not have friends in the moment.
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And thank God my best friend was my middle brother, Justin.
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So he taught me how to be tough.
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He was in sports, and I became really, you know, not a fighter, but I I began to be able to defend kids at school that were being bullied.
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So I already kind of had this thing God was doing in me, but I also was shy.
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So I know that's probably hard for you to understand now, thank God, but I was shy, but I was bold.
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So it was when I was around 12 years old.
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I had a very scary moment.
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I was in my living room really late at night, and I was on the couch watching a movie, you know, probably a princess movie, and all of a sudden I have an angel appear before me.
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He was massive.
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He was all the way up to the ceiling, and he was he was like beautiful, the most glowing light you could ever see, kind of blinding.
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And he comes to me and he came to me right on time because I was debating, do I go wake my parents up and tell them that I feel like I because I
was having asthma.
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And I this time it was so severe.
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I was like, do I wake them up?
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I don't want to frighten them.
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It's the middle of the night, but I know that they always want me to wake them up.
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But I was having a very weird moment in my mind thinking I might go that night.
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I had a fear come over me.
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And then that angel showed up right on time, Bernita.
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And he pointed to me and he said, That the Lord has sent me to you to tell you you will be a singer to the nations.
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And then he disappeared.
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And I was so overwhelmed with the love of God.
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It was a whole other level, Bernita.
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It was, it filled every fiber of my being, okay?
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And it there was a blessed assurance that was left, like a transfer, a heavenly transfer of confidence and boldness that was in me from that day forward in my life.
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So I went from shy to knowing that I knew I was gonna live on into the future.
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Because that was always at the back of my mind was, you know, am I gonna have a short life?
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And when he said sing the praises of the Lord, you know, be a singer, I knew that that was definitely singing, not just vocally.
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I did go on to do musical theater and I got really unshy quickly in my teen years.
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But I will be the first to say that something happened, something shifted in the spirit that day to where I had a confidence where I'm like, I have some work to do for the king.
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Remarkable.
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And so your health, did you continue to have issues in your health even as you grew older?
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Yes, Bernita, I had a struggle.
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You know, I worked in hotels and restaurants, and you know, there's so many things in the atmosphere.
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There's cleaning chemicals and everything else.
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And then in theater, there's a lot of dust from cops tubes.
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Yeah.
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So I definitely had some encounters of asthma.
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It wasn't until my late 20s where I felt the Holy Spirit just tell me to throw my medicine away and to not, yes, to not do it anymore.
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And I was like, I don't know what life is like off of medicine, God.
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Are you sure this isn't me?
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Is it you?
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So again, I had to pray, petition, and fast, but I started getting well.
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And I wouldn't tell anybody on here to go do that.
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We always want to be prayed up and asked the Lord directly.
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But I followed, I obeyed that.
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And it was very scary in my late 20s making that change because I was still going to work.
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I was still involved in a lot of things where, you know, chemicals were in the atmosphere, of course.
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But it just was like a again with the confidence.
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It's like I just woke up one day and realized I haven't had to use my inhaler or take my pill in like six months.
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So I praise God for that.
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God can still heal nowadays, not just in the Bible days.
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We know that.
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Yes.
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And I love how even in just the little bit you're telling me, you can see the layers of what the Lord was doing to, as you said, build your confidence, but also he was building your trust.
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Like what that helps to build your faith.
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And that's the foundation of everything there is when it comes to our relationship with him, is our faith.
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So he was just building that in you slowly, and you could see the results.
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Doesn't mean that life wasn't life in, but you could, you know, you were saying you're exactly right.
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And I haven't thought about it like that.
00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:32.400
But now that you're saying that, wow, that's very profound because you're right.
00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:35.119
He was little by little, it's what he does.
00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.160
It's amazing.
00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.920
Yeah, it's amazing.
00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:44.960
So now you're in your 20s, Lauren, and you're starting to build your faith and you're experiencing some things with the Lord.
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:51.279
At what point did you say, okay, I'm ready to start stepping into ministry?
00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.960
Did that take some time?
00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.599
Girlfriend, it took about 10 years.
00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.599
This is a whole other story.
00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.640
Tell me about it.
00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.599
The second act.
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.920
If it were a play, it'd be the second act.
00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:10.880
This is so special to have you ask me that too, because it's another way for me to go back and to remember the goodness of God.
00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:19.359
You know, because if you're not asked these questions every day, then you're like, oh wow, God, I have an opportunity to praise you about this.
00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:29.599
So, yes, let me walk you through the question you just asked me about my 20s
and stepping out of the boat, really, like Peter did onto the water.
00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:43.759
I I'm speaking to the females on this one, to the ladies that have been through struggles with confidence, but also in relationships, also with their voices that were muzzled.
00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:51.680
Because let me tell you, I mentioned having uh my voice crush, I had trachea malacia and asthma.
00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.640
So I was not only a premi, but I had the voice messed up.
00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:00.720
And then thank God the Lord healed my voice in time.
00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.720
But check it out.
00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:07.279
I mean, what the enemy meant for harm, God turns it around.
00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:13.200
So I see this common thread through my life of an attack being on my voice.
00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:23.039
And I think we had that conversation about when we were at the event about how, you know, when you're a podcaster, we have to be bold.
00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:29.920
And so at this second half of what's going on in my life was boldness was just evident.
00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:34.079
God wanted me and needed me to be bold for his glory.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:39.039
Well, I wasn't always bold, and and I'm still working on it, Bernita.
00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:47.599
You know, I would love to say that I've always put God first, but I kind of had Disney princess syndrome.
00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:49.200
No offense to Disney.
00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.880
We love you know Disney movies.
00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:55.839
But I'm just saying in general, we get this kind of this struggle with that.
00:20:56.640 --> 00:21:01.599
Yes, and we get this lens where we're fixated on a relationship.
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.559
And I dated the wrong people.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.519
I really did.
00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:10.160
I dated the wrong guys, and I went after, oh I well, it it's Mr.
00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.799
Right now, and this would be a great relationship.
00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:21.200
And but it was wrong in the fact that the first guy that I dated, I had to call the wedding off.
00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:26.000
He ended up putting a ring on my finger and he was an unbeliever.
00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:33.039
And I don't say that to you know be mean about people who don't believe, but this is serious business.
00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:39.839
Ladies need to take it so seriously about being unequally yoked with a partner.
00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:46.880
Because if you are with a person who's an unbeliever, things are going to be extremely difficult.
00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:59.279
And at first, the first half of our relationship, we were together four years, and it was, you know, new love and mid twenties, and so excited, and concerts, and all this fun stuff.
00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:06.480
But When it came to God and his calling for my life, there was a struggle.
00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:09.440
There was a war going on beneath the surface.
00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:15.359
Even though he was a very nice man, and there were so many wonderful attributes.
00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:20.240
You know, the yoke, when you when they put the yoke on the animals, right?
00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:24.400
They gotta be, they gotta be able to pull the plow.
00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:28.559
And mine was way lopsided, my friends.
00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:32.400
And I I began to have a lot of fear.
00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:37.759
This is where fear began to rule instead of me having faith.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.640
And so I had to press in once again.
00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:57.359
And I said, Lord, if you want me to not be with this man, please make it so evident, even if you have to use the people in my life to tell me I will not rebel, I will say okay, and I will get out.
00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:12.799
It took a few months, but it's amazing to me because my uncle that was supposed to marry us, uh, he's a pastor, he said, I want to have y'all up to my house and I just want to do some premarital counseling.
00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.279
Okay.
00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:17.359
And we're just gonna see where y'all are at, and I just want to encourage you.
00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:20.480
It was actually at a big family gathering, too.
00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:24.559
So I'm there at his house and I am so nervous, Bernita.
00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:29.920
So I'm like, oh man, I think when you pray, expect results.
00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:35.440
Because I said, you know, the Lord is answering me, and this may or may not go well.
00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:43.759
And it it went pretty rough because the guy that I was with at the time, he ended up throwing the Bible on the ground.
00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.039
I can laugh about it now.
00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:48.880
I'm sure all my girls on here are like, that guy's tripping.
00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:54.000
Because let me tell you, I had never seen that side to this man ever.
00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:54.960
He was always.
00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.920
I'm so sorry to interrupt you, sister.
00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.960
No, go for it.
00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:07.119
When you tell God show me and make it clear, he's like, okay, you are not lying about that.
00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:12.400
Let me tell you, it was it was scary for me how real it got.
00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:15.680
I mean, it was like an episode you'd see on TV.
00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:19.039
And I had never seen that side to this man.
00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.799
You know, I've been dating him four years.
00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.240
I thought I knew him pretty well.
00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:29.920
But he takes the Bible that my uncle had and he throws it on the ground and he points and he said, I will never serve your God.
00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:32.160
Well, who are you serving?
00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:34.480
Your God, that's specific.
00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:44.400
No, and this is a man that visited church with me and said,
Oh, yeah, when we have children, if you want to talk to them about God, that's fine.
00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.839
He threw the Bible.
00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:49.759
You're not gonna throw the word around me and then me stay with you.
00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.920
I mean, it was rough.
00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.240
So I I had my answer.
00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.279
I knew.
00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:59.759
And when I left that family event, I already knew he thought we were gonna stay together.
00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:02.640
I'm thinking, hey, you're disrespecting my family.
00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:09.200
You know, one of the patriarchs of the family, my uncle, and he's a pastor too, double whammy.
00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.240
That's rude.
00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:14.319
And then you threw the word of God, you don't know who you're messing with.
00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.279
Right.
00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.160
Right.
00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:30.640
So this story, it's actually very healing to talk about for me right now because I'm just seeing it now, years later, like 12 years later, and I'm thinking, whoa, praise God for saving me out of that.
00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.200
Yes.
00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:39.039
I could have chosen to stay and just worked it out, but God is calling us higher, ladies.
00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:46.160
God is calling us to be with a man that's going to understand his will for our lives.
00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:51.200
How can we be a help meet and help meet, you know, the man's needs?
00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:58.400
And and I don't mean that in an old-fashioned way, but in a biblical sense, if he doesn't even know who God is.
00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:58.960
Right.
00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:04.160
Because we're called to submit to our husbands, but they must submit into the Lord.
00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:10.240
So you can be out here submitting to a man who's not submitting to the Lord because you don't know what you're submitting to.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.920
Oh, exactly.
00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:16.400
Welcoming any demons are you coming into alignment with, right?
00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.200
Yes.
00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.079
Wow.
00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:26.160
And I want to say this in a non-judgmental way because Lord knows truly how many mistakes I've made as it relates to relationships.
00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:40.240
But the thing is, and again, we're not bashing the Disney princesses, but this concept of a man is gonna come in, even if you are independent and you're doing your own thing, but it's gonna come in and and in some sense save you in a way.
00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:46.640
And you know how we are as women, we can get with our girlfriends up like, well, you know, he's not a bad guy.
00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.960
You can talk yourself into things.
00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:53.440
And so the level of strength, I don't want to miss that.
00:26:53.759 --> 00:27:04.319
The level of strength that it takes to say, you know what, even if he's a nice guy, I'm not gonna talk myself into this is just one bad situation.
00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:07.039
I asked the Lord for an answer.
00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.319
He gave me one.
00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:11.440
I'm going to respect what the Lord has said.
00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:19.039
There's a level of strength that takes, not just to pray the prayer, but once the Lord answers it, to be obedient to it.
00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:20.720
It's scary, Bernita.
00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.240
It's very scary.
00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:26.240
In the moment, but he his grace is sufficient.
00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:29.119
His mercies are new every morning.
00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:32.960
And I felt that the day that I knew it was time to break up.
00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:35.200
I I gave the ring back.
00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:40.079
I did it in the classiest way that I could, but I said, you know, I love you.
00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:45.119
It has nothing to do with the fact that I don't love you, but I can't tell God no.
00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:50.000
I can't shut God out and let that be a message for any woman.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:59.519
And I would like to say that I understood and I moved on and I didn't have another bad relationship, but I'm passionate, I'm romantic.
00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:04.640
And later on in my early 30s, I got married.
00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:11.039
And I had this beautiful wedding, had a beautiful marriage for quite a while, you know.
00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:14.720
And I believe that that was a gift from God in so many ways.
00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.640
It made me stronger.
00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:24.079
But I will say that once again I found myself living for Lauren's way and not Yahweh.
00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:26.079
I kind of fell away.
00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:30.960
I love the Lord, but we were concerned about me, myself, and I.
00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:35.039
We were a couple that we would go to Cancun all the time.
00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:40.960
And I love Cancun, okay, but we were fixated on what we wanted to do.
00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:44.240
And I I felt this now more than ever.
00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:50.079
I felt this drawing to just like, Lauren, are you gonna partner with me?
00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:58.240
And so I began to have these conversations, and you know, sadly, it didn't work out.
00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:02.240
That relationship, that marriage did not work out.
00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:15.200
But I'm a woman of faith, and I believe that I'm gonna have one work out really great the next time around because these lessons that I've learned are for me to help women not get in those situations.
00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.400
I believe that.
00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:19.119
But you know, you were asking about the call.
00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:24.640
I got another call from God because he is sovereign and he is on time.
00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:28.160
Again, he's so strategic in his timing.
00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:33.519
And Bernita, he
met me this time in my car.
00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:40.480
I was driving, I had been married about seven years, and I was driving, and you mentioned ice storm earlier.
00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:45.119
I was driving trying to get my car home from an ice storm.
00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.599
Okay.
00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:50.960
And I was just praying, and I said, Lord, I want your will for my life.
00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:56.720
And I had prayed that same prayer for weeks, but I wasn't hearing from God.
00:29:56.799 --> 00:30:01.519
And so there are gonna be moments in our lives where he's building those faith muscles.
00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:07.039
Whether we hear back from him, we can still thank him and worship him in those moments.
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.799
So I was just worshiping him.
00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:11.279
I said, Lord, I really want to get home.
00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:16.559
I'm robbing and I want to get home and I want to be safe, and I'm gonna serve you with the rest of my life.
00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.680
I'm ready, God.
00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:22.240
I'm gonna be all in this time, and I'm not gonna go back to my way.
00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:24.319
And how can I serve you?
00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:31.039
And it was just that moment that I pulled off the road because I heard his voice.
00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.480
It was like thunder.
00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:34.880
It was as loud as thunder, Bernita.
00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:39.519
And he said, get ready to run from my glory.
00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:48.160
I'm giving you a platform and I'm sending the people to testify of my glory in their lives.
00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:55.200
And I was thinking, what a time to hear this because whoa, God, whoa.
00:30:55.519 --> 00:31:03.119
I it's almost as if with the ice and you know, the storm that was going on was going on in me too.
00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:12.559
It's so bizarre, just so bizarre how what's going on in the natural can also be going on in our hearts in the spiritual realm.
00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:22.240
So in this moment, I look out my window, and I'd seen a runner in spandex running, and he had looked at me and then he disappeared.
00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:26.160
And so I had the voice of the Lord.
00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.759
I saw that, I knew.
00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:30.160
I thought, I've seen an angel before.
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.839
I know what's going on.
00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.039
Something's going on.
00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:35.359
And that's when I heard the voice of the Lord.
00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:38.400
So I had a lot to deal with again.
00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:44.640
I was like, Lord, I am not gonna just, you know, give up on what you you've called me to do.
00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:46.000
Now is the time.
00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:50.160
I've got to make this happen for your glory.
00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:54.319
And it didn't matter where I went, God would start to send the people.
00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:58.000
They'd start saying, Hey, can I share my God story with you?
00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:00.160
And I'd say, Yes, you can.
00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:02.400
I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm gonna figure it out.
00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:05.119
I'm gonna figure Zoom and all that out.
00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:10.720
Well, can I go back a little bit to you meeting that their track running angel?
00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:11.519
Yes.
00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.680
So it was wild.
00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.319
Wild.
00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:16.319
So you're in your car, right?
00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:18.880
It's cold, so I'm assuming the windows are up.
00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:19.599
Right?
00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.079
Yeah.
00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.880
Oh yeah.
00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:24.160
It was a sports car and it was not good on ice.
00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:24.640
Okay.
00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:28.240
I'm just like, I'm like this with the wheel, you know.
00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:30.400
I'm like, I don't want to wreck this thing.
00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:32.160
And I was on a country road.
00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.559
Okay.
00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:34.480
So it was already freaky.
00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:43.599
Yeah, you're on a country road in an ice storm in a sports car, and there's a runner running in an ice storm, right?
00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:47.759
This is before you understood it was an angel, running in an ice storm.
00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:51.920
And so did the runner speak to you, or did you hear the Holy Spirit come?
00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:58.240
Heard the whole I heard the yeah, I heard the thunderous voice of the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:05.839
And I saw the person that I believe was an angel, and he was running, and it was just so quick.
00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:14.640
He would like I pulled over, yeah, and I was feeling so many things, and then I heard the voice of it was like happening kind of all at the same time.
00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:18.160
You know, I pulled over because I was like, I don't want to wreck.
00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:20.559
Something told me to pull over, Holy Spirit.
00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:25.039
And then I see this runner look at me and run by, and then I'm like, where did he go?
00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:27.279
There was no place for him to run.
00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:30.079
There was no, you know what I'm saying?
00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:33.519
There's no side of the street.
00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:35.680
You know, country roads are like digits.
00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.079
Yeah.
00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:38.559
So I'm like, where did he go?
00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:43.680
And then the Lord's voice had been going and saying, you know, get ready to run.
00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:45.839
And I was like, okay, God.
00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.759
So that guy has something to do.
00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:50.000
Okay, that had to have been an angel.
00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:51.920
That is just mind-blowing.
00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:54.160
God is so
supernatural.
00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.720
Yes, God is amazing.
00:33:56.880 --> 00:34:00.319
At that point, you know, you've got to get ready to run.
00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:02.880
Are you doing the podcast at that point?
00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:12.159
At that point, Bernita, I had only been going live and just sharing scripture, you know, and it was around right after COVID.
00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:15.360
So I was kind of, that's when I was doing it afraid.
00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:20.880
I was still in my marriage, and I was dealing with a lot of control.
00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:27.760
So I knew that if I would go do a whole segment, I'd probably be in trouble at home.
00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:38.400
You know, with with putting it as lightly as I can, anybody who suffered from that or any kind of controlling relationship, they would understand what I'm saying.
00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:41.920
I yeah, I understand and I relate to it on so many levels.
00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:50.000
But I remember sharing with my husband telling him that I felt the Holy Spirit was telling me that I needed to um put down my nets and follow him.
00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:53.679
And yeah, and just so many things, so many stories.
00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:57.840
We could be on here forever talking about those things that happened and transpired.
00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:08.239
And I remember when I left my job in corporate, I'm fasting and I'm praying and I'm asking my, you know, my husband, and and I felt there's so much resistance, so much vigor.
00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:13.199
You know, and I remember telling him, you know, if you don't want me to do this, I won't do it.
00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:14.159
I just won't.
00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:16.800
And well, that's really that's really sweet.
00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:20.480
I mean, that's a really honorable wife, truly.
00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:26.320
I want to commend you for that because you know, we live in a society that's very rebellious towards their husbands.
00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:28.880
Yeah, and so I want to say thank you for that.
00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:30.719
Thank you for saying that.
00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:40.000
But the thing is, is that even though he could have fought me, thank God for the Lord who fought my battle.
00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:41.039
That's it.
00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:45.199
Yeah, he was like, I whatever I'm feeling, I'm gonna have to get over it.
00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:51.599
You know, I don't like that, but if that's what he's gonna do, I'm not for it, but I'm not gonna be against you.
00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:53.119
And so it's it, you know.
00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.639
That's a good man right there.
00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.760
That's a man of God, right?
00:35:56.079 --> 00:36:01.440
It was a man, he's a man of God, but still feeling like I'm doing all this through mud, right?
00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:07.519
Like, because when you don't have your partner who's like, go for it, honey.
00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:09.440
It it is hard, you know.
00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:15.119
I'm so grateful and thankful that he's like, go if you want to do it, go do it.
00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:18.800
But there's not that cheerleading aspect, you know.
00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:19.760
Right.
00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:23.599
But the thing is, what I've learned is that, you know, the message was for me.
00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.960
It wasn't for him.
00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:27.519
Continue on in it.
00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:29.360
And so, and that's what I've been doing.
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:34.480
But over the last year plus, God has been working on his heart.
00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:35.920
Oh, praise the Lord.
00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:41.280
And so, yeah, and so you know, it's one of those things that, yeah, it it's it's very difficult.
00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:54.159
Now I only point this out because I think it's important for people to understand that yes, God can call you into a thing, and you can be confident that he's calling you to a thing, even if it's terrifying.
00:36:54.559 --> 00:37:02.239
But it doesn't mean that when he calls you into that thing, that everybody that loves and supports you doesn't mean they're gonna be there for you.
00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:09.599
And sometimes relationships will have to separate from one another, and that's so painful.
00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:17.519
And sometimes the best that you can get, the best that you can get from some people is just to go ahead.
00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:20.559
It might not be a cheerleading type of a situation.
00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:23.679
So I just want to make that uh I love her.
00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:28.559
Yeah, let people know that And we need to talk about we gotta have these conversations, don't we?
00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:44.159
Yeah, that God, yes, God is doing amazing things and God is um helping people heal and all the stuff through the things that He's asked us to do, but it doesn't mean that we haven't paid some cost in our lives that means that we haven't.
00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:51.039
It but it's all for God's glory and He's working it is good, but it is hasn't been painful.
00:37:51.599 --> 00:38:06.159
I'm telling you, that's why it's good for me to go on to people's shows and to really let them know the backstory, you know, because I'll get people that are new into podcasting and they're like, Well, you probably don't know what it's like to struggle.
00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:13.119
And I'm like, you know, because it's just I think it's just cliche like human conversation or banter.
00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:18.800
But especially the young kids, they don't, they're like, Oh, well, you know, you've been doing this, you already know.
00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:20.800
And I'm like, oh no, no, we need to talk.
00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:23.679
I've been through some things, and I can help you.
00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:26.880
Let me help you, help me help you, you know.
00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:36.400
And it, you
know, that moment was such a pivotal moment with me coming up against a wall, right?
00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:41.199
And um, I had to, I had to surrender.
00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:48.880
That's actually my word this year is surrender the Lord gave me, even though it could have been, it would have been fitting back then.
00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:56.639
But my husband at the time, I'm I'm super healed now and I could talk about it, praise God, because he is good.
00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:59.199
But he just he didn't get there.
00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:03.440
And I prayed, I'm like, Lord, I pray, you know, I want this to work.
00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:07.280
But the Lord set me free yet again.
00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:10.880
And my ex sent me divorce papers.
00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:13.119
And that was it.
00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:18.800
I mean, I I was like, this is a man that I never dreamed would have sent me divorce papers.
00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:30.239
So let that be something for the ladies out there that no, don't go out, and if your husband tells you not to do something, not to serve the Lord, just pray.
00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:42.880
Like Bernita just said, she prayed to God, take your request to God, make your request known, go boldly before his throne room of grace, because he will answer us.
00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:46.079
And sometimes it's not the answer that we want.
00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:56.719
Yeah, but when I got those papers, I honestly had a freedom in me because I knew God was working all things together for those who love the Lord.
00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:56.960
Yeah.
00:39:57.199 --> 00:40:04.719
And I said, God, if for some reason he comes back and wants to be together, then that I know that will be you.
00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:06.239
That didn't happen.
00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:08.719
And that's okay because you know what?
00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:13.039
Even through all of that, the Lord walked me through forgiveness.
00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:18.880
And even through a divorce, you know, I was about ready to throw the towel in.
00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:23.599
And my mom, being a praying mama, said, Oh, no, no, no.
00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:27.519
My daughter is not gonna give up on what God called her to do.
00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:33.440
I know, Lauren, that you were brokenhearted, but you've got to pursue the call of God.
00:40:33.599 --> 00:40:34.079
This is it.
00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:37.039
At the time I was in my mid-30s, this is it.
00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:39.039
Like you've got to do this.
00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:42.239
And it it was an adjustment of my thinking.
00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:45.199
I thought, it he said get ready to run.
00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:46.639
He didn't say get ready to walk.
00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:46.880
Yeah.
00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:48.960
He didn't say get ready to go on a stroll.
00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:50.159
I better run.
00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:51.360
You better run.
00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:52.400
And I just love that.
00:40:52.480
--> 00:41:02.800
I love your mama because sometimes it may not be the cheerleader that you expected, but it'll be the cheerleader that you need to just get you over the next hump and get you.
00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:03.840
He did too.
00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:09.440
My parents were so wonderful at praying for me before every show, they still do.
00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:18.480
And there's just something about the people in our lives, we have to be so grateful for them and thank them for their support.
00:41:18.880 --> 00:41:23.280
And even if it's a simple like, go for it, that's God.
00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:24.880
That is so God.
00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:26.639
Yeah, that's God.
00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:29.360
Thank God for your parents that are just praying for you.
00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:31.280
And I'm sure that's building your faith.
00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:42.400
But I also know because I've had the pleasure of being able to watch so many of your episodes, that you get people on there giving some amazing testimonies.
00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:47.760
Can you tell us a little bit about that and what that has done to your fate, to build your faith?
00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:51.519
Girl, I'm telling you, that's the only thing that kept me going.
00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:57.679
At the time, I had about five people to call back and I kept not doing it.
00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:01.039
And and their cards would sit in a desk.
00:42:01.280 --> 00:42:02.960
And I thought, you know what?
00:42:03.280 --> 00:42:05.599
God help me to forgive my ex.
00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:11.280
Because if I don't forgive him early on, I will never be able to walk in the fullness.
00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:13.599
You know, you forgive us.
00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:16.880
So the least I can do is forgive him.
00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:23.360
And and it has been a beautiful thing to walk through the forgiveness because I was mad.
00:42:23.599 --> 00:42:24.719
I was so mad.
00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:28.079
I was like, I thought we had a life together and all this.
00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:36.960
But the Lord did something, he made a deposit in my heart every show, every callback, every person I called to have on.
00:42:37.119 --> 00:42:44.559
They would be telling me a testimony that would be exactly what I needed for my heart to heal that day.
00:42:45.679 --> 00:42:47.599
I'm not even messing around right now.
00:42:47.679 --> 00:42:52.320
Like I'm it was it was just bizarre, is what it was.
00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:57.760
So God can meet us anytime, anywhere, through anyone.
00:42:58.239 --> 00:43:02.960
And so then that that first callback gave me just enough strength.
00:43:03.119 --> 00:43:04.320
I thought, you know what?
00:43:04.559 --> 00:43:06.719
I'm gonna call another person.
00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:09.760
And he walked me through this series of healing.
00:43:10.159 --> 00:43:13.039
And then he introduced me to my best friend Leanne.
00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:14.880
And I know you got to be Leanne.
00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:20.000
And Leanne, you know, she knows what it's like to go through pain.
00:43:20.239 --> 00:43:26.000
She lost her husband to cancer, but he's a believer, so we know where he's at now.
00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:28.159
And so Rick's in heaven.
00:43:28.400 --> 00:43:32.000
One of my uh good friends, Marilyn, said, You need to meet Leanne.
00:43:32.639 --> 00:43:40.159
Well, I call her one day, and have you ever met a person that just they they have a calling to just help you?
00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:43.119
It was in an instant thing.
00:43:43.280 --> 00:43:46.400
She said, Marilyn speaks so highly of you, Lauren.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:49.039
She says what you what you're going through.
00:43:49.360 --> 00:43:52.559
Can I just introduce you to a ton of people for your show?
00:43:54.639 --> 00:43:57.360
I was like, I was laughing and crying.
00:43:58.880 --> 00:43:59.679
Laughing and crying.
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:00.960
At the same time.
00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:01.440
Yeah.
00:44:01.679 --> 00:44:03.599
I was like, just I was undone.
00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:05.519
I said, what do you mean, a lot of people?
00:44:05.599 --> 00:44:09.280
And she's like, I don't know, maybe like 60 people in all I can think of.
00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:11.760
Because she's an author and she's a connector.
00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:13.280
She's a god linker.
00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:13.840
That's right.
00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:15.760
And it was even before I had a name.
00:44:15.920 --> 00:44:18.400
I was still just doing going live.
00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:20.159
Yeah, I didn't even have a name.
00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:26.960
And my dad came to me one day and was like, you know, with all this stuff going on, this is a god link.
00:44:27.039 --> 00:44:29.519
Like, I think your show should be God links.
00:44:29.760 --> 00:44:33.920
And I was like, praise God for you because I needed that name so bad.
00:44:34.159 --> 00:44:37.440
God used my earthly father to help me get the name.
00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:38.400
Wow.
00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:40.320
That is amazing.
00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:45.760
What's been one of your, I know you there's so many, but one story that just sticks out to you, one interview.
00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:46.719
My goodness.
00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:50.079
Well, I would say um, Dr.
00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:54.960
Sandra Dalton Smith, she is a TEDx speaker.
00:44:55.039 --> 00:44:55.199
Okay.
00:44:55.440 --> 00:44:58.480
And she is one of Leanne's best friends.
00:44:58.639 --> 00:45:05.599
And it's amazing to me because I had only had a few people on my show, like from church and different things.
00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:09.039
But the door just flew wide open through Leanne.
00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:11.519
And she said, Can I have uh Dr.
00:45:11.679 --> 00:45:13.039
Sandra call you?
00:45:13.280 --> 00:45:14.960
And I said, Gulp.
00:45:15.039 --> 00:45:16.400
I was so scared.
00:45:16.719 --> 00:45:17.599
I said, Okay.
00:45:18.159 -->
00:45:20.960
And so she calls me and she was so loving.
00:45:21.039 --> 00:45:23.519
And she said, Can I be on your show?
00:45:23.599 --> 00:45:25.519
You know, Leanne made this godlink.
00:45:25.599 --> 00:45:26.480
Can we do this?
00:45:26.719 --> 00:45:28.960
And she's on some big shows.
00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:30.960
She's on some big networks.
00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:34.719
And I and I'm not like making anybody an idol right now.
00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:36.320
I want to get that clear.
00:45:36.480 --> 00:45:42.400
But there's these people in life that they take, they take a chance on you, right?
00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:45.039
Or they don't even know you, but their friend told you.
00:45:45.199 --> 00:45:54.559
So she came to my sweet little humble podcast, and I will forever be so grateful that she did that.
00:45:54.719 --> 00:45:57.920
She treated me like I was TBN Network, you know?
00:45:58.239 --> 00:46:00.880
And it gave me more confidence.
00:46:01.039 --> 00:46:03.519
It pulled me out of the Myri clay.
00:46:03.760 --> 00:46:05.119
And I thought, you know what?
00:46:05.199 --> 00:46:06.079
I can do this.
00:46:06.239 --> 00:46:09.679
This woman just gave me such a sweet deposit.
00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:13.840
And she was telling me about her book called Sacred Rest.
00:46:14.159 --> 00:46:14.480
Okay.
00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:16.639
And there's a test online.
00:46:17.039 --> 00:46:20.159
You can go to sacred rest I believe.com.
00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:20.559
Okay.
00:46:20.719 --> 00:46:22.000
And you take this test.
00:46:22.079 --> 00:46:24.320
And I took her test after the show.
00:46:24.559 --> 00:46:29.039
And I was like, I need to be better to myself.
00:46:29.280 --> 00:46:36.000
And it really did something in my heart having that guest on because so many things happened at once.
00:46:36.159 --> 00:46:37.119
Once again, right?
00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:39.119
It's like just so many things.
00:46:39.280 --> 00:46:46.559
But I I thought that that guest just taught me so much that I need to get alone with the Father.
00:46:46.800 --> 00:46:49.599
I need to worship him more one-on-one.
00:46:50.239 --> 00:46:52.880
Instead of just throughout the day, oh God, thank you for this.
00:46:53.039 --> 00:46:56.559
I need to have some sacred rest between me and Holy Spirit.
00:46:56.880 --> 00:46:58.559
That is so beautiful.
00:46:58.719 --> 00:47:01.920
And I love how God just met you where you were.
00:47:02.079 --> 00:47:03.519
He built your confidence.
00:47:03.599 --> 00:47:11.679
And he'll do it for everybody in such a neat way, such a neat, unique way that he would introduce you to Leanne and open the door, right?
00:47:11.920 --> 00:47:12.480
Open the door.
00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:14.960
That's what you needed.
00:47:15.199 --> 00:47:17.039
And he knows us so specifically.
00:47:17.199 --> 00:47:28.320
And it's so interesting to me that like you and I can both have podcasts, but the way that God does it is different because he knows for
me, I want to be out there like getting it.
00:47:28.480 --> 00:47:33.360
So it's something for me to say, I booked this, and I was able to talk to this person.
00:47:33.440 --> 00:47:37.519
And I think they're gonna be, you know, he knows my uniqueness, right?
00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:41.840
He want a level of, I don't know, of the chase, you know.
00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:42.960
Yeah, exactly.
00:47:45.039 --> 00:47:50.559
So he didn't say early on, let me introduce you to somebody who's gonna, oh, because he knows that's me, right?
00:47:50.719 --> 00:47:55.199
But he knew you and he said, Let me give this certain thing to help build her confidence.
00:47:55.280 --> 00:47:59.440
Yeah, and let me do something different for Bernita to help build her confidence.
00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:00.719
But either way, amen.
00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:04.800
He's gonna get the glory, but is just doing it in such a unique way.
00:48:04.960 --> 00:48:09.599
And I love the Lord, he's so creative, he blows my mind every single time.
00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:20.239
And I want to say to you, Bernita, you you have such a gift of following the leading of the Holy Spirit, and he will continuously bless your show.
00:48:20.400 --> 00:48:22.320
And and it's just amazing to me.
00:48:22.480 --> 00:48:26.400
Every time I hear it, I'm I'm like, your voice is just so soothing.
00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:27.360
It's beautiful.
00:48:27.519 --> 00:48:34.320
I know people from every tongue tribe and nation are gonna want to tune in to you because you are very anointed.
00:48:34.559 --> 00:48:37.760
Oh, I receive that and I give it all back to you as well.
00:48:37.920 --> 00:48:39.039
And I to him.
00:48:39.360 --> 00:48:40.079
Thank you so much.
00:48:40.159 --> 00:48:40.880
That's so kind.
00:48:41.840 --> 00:48:52.480
I want to ask you, Lauren, because you've been on such a journey and it's just been so beautiful just to hear about it and witness a little bit through enjoying your show.
00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:55.920
What do you think God is preparing in you right now?
00:48:56.159 --> 00:48:58.880
What do you want your next step to be?
00:48:59.760 --> 00:49:00.320
Wow.
00:49:00.480 --> 00:49:07.039
Well, I ultimately, Bernita, I just want to do everything that He wants me to do.
00:49:07.199 --> 00:49:09.599
You know, I've learned to have those conversations.
00:49:09.760 --> 00:49:11.280
Lord, where do you want me?
00:49:11.519 --> 00:49:13.760
Where am I booking appointments?
00:49:13.840 --> 00:49:15.760
But where do you have me going?
00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:22.239
You know, because we can have our plans set or what we think we need to do.
00:49:22.639 --> 00:49:30.159
But I am a revivalist at heart, you know, since I was 12 years old and I knew I need to sing his praises.
00:49:30.400 --> 00:49:32.960
So there's something about revival.
00:49:33.119 --> 00:49:39.920
And I know that revival starts within our homes, it starts within our hearts through repentance.
00:49:40.559 --> 00:49:42.480
But there's something that's been happening.
00:49:42.559 --> 00:49:44.480
I've been going live on TikTok.
00:49:44.639 --> 00:49:50.000
In the beginning, I didn't like love it, okay, because I don't know the kids' lingo on there.
00:49:50.159 --> 00:49:55.920
And thank God for my niece and nephew because they're training me about what certain words mean.
00:49:56.239 --> 00:49:59.119
But it was a call from the Holy Spirit.
00:49:59.360 --> 00:50:07.360
And I decided, you know, just through other ministry people, when I was newer into podcasting, they said you should have a ministry.
00:50:07.760 --> 00:50:19.280
So I filed, I did all the things, all the paperwork, and I have it like a car that's running, but it's just sitting there right now because the Lord keeps telling me to wait.
00:50:19.679 --> 00:50:27.119
And so, I mean, I know that it's active, but I've been podcasting in this lane, you know, it's staying in my lane.
00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:30.159
And with that, I know that it has everything to do.
00:50:30.239 --> 00:50:34.159
Every time I go live on TikTok, I'll I'll see reels.
00:50:34.320 --> 00:50:41.920
And I saw this one reel about a girl who completely took her own life at eight years old.
00:50:42.880 --> 00:50:52.000
And so I immediately knew, okay, I need to make my bylaws for my ministry about the young women of America.
00:50:52.400 --> 00:50:56.400
And so I went live and I started getting kids saved on TikTok.
00:50:56.559 --> 00:50:59.519
It was like quick, rapid salvations.
00:50:59.840 --> 00:51:02.960
Like you said, farming earlier, and I'm just gonna say it.
00:51:03.119 --> 00:51:06.480
I want to be like the Johnny Appleseed on TikTok.
00:51:06.800 --> 00:51:07.119
Amen.
00:51:07.599 --> 00:51:07.920
Amen.
00:51:08.639 --> 00:51:11.440
And he was a believer, he was like an evangelist.
00:51:11.599 --> 00:51:15.119
People don't know that because they don't teach that in public school.
00:51:15.360 --> 00:51:17.519
But that man had a ministry.
00:51:17.920 --> 00:51:21.519
He was out there, he was known for walking around barefoot and everything else.
00:51:21.760 --> 00:51:30.480
He was just himself, but he was rapidly spreading seeds, not just of apples that we think, but the word of God too.
00:51:30.960 --> 00:51:33.440
And yes, and I thought, you know what?
00:51:33.679 --> 00:51:35.840
We have to go to where the kids are at.
00:51:36.159 --> 00:51:41.519
And even though I've been over here on YouTube and Facebook, that's where they're at.
00:51:41.760 --> 00:51:50.960
And so my heart is drawn like a moth to the flame to TikTok to get them saved, not just saved though, discipled.
00:51:51.360 --> 00:51:53.840
I want these kids to know their identity.
00:51:54.079 --> 00:51:57.840
I didn't always understand how to use my voice and boldness.
00:51:58.000 --> 00:52:00.159
I want them to understand that.
00:52:00.320 --> 00:52:05.760
I didn't always know how to try to find the right partner that is equally
yoked.
00:52:05.920 --> 00:52:07.440
I want those girls to understand.
00:52:07.920 --> 00:52:09.039
That's so good.
00:52:09.280 --> 00:52:09.920
Lauren A.
00:52:10.239 --> 00:52:13.360
Oh God, you are speaking truth.
00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:14.480
You are speaking to you.
00:52:14.800 --> 00:52:15.360
Do you know why?
00:52:15.440 --> 00:52:19.440
Because even for young ladies who are raised in the church, right?
00:52:19.679 --> 00:52:27.920
Yes, we're we're taught to love the Lord, but I think so much of what we're taught is just about marriage.
00:52:28.639 --> 00:52:35.199
And that's all well and good, but the the the in-between time is getting wider.
00:52:35.760 --> 00:52:38.639
And these young ladies have got to be discipled.
00:52:38.719 --> 00:52:41.760
And I listen, I'm praying for you, I'm in agreement with you.
00:52:42.000 --> 00:52:45.280
My my lane is that transition, that transitional woman.
00:52:45.440 --> 00:52:46.480
That that's my lane.
00:52:46.719 --> 00:52:47.599
Well, you know what?
00:52:47.679 --> 00:52:49.679
We can link our link together.
00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:50.719
Yes, we can.
00:52:51.280 --> 00:52:51.920
But we can.
00:52:52.400 --> 00:52:57.760
I'm so believing in you, and everything you're saying makes total sense to me because you're so right.
00:52:58.000 --> 00:53:01.119
More fed in that space that's so good.
00:53:01.280 --> 00:53:04.480
We just had a gentleman, um, Pastor Ken on the podcast.
00:53:04.639 --> 00:53:07.920
He has a a TikTok flock, is what I called it.
00:53:08.239 --> 00:53:09.519
Oh, that's awesome.
00:53:09.679 --> 00:53:13.519
I was listening to him, and wow, what a testimony.
00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:15.280
Yes, such a testimony.
00:53:15.440 --> 00:53:21.119
And he um he's in our generation, but his son helped him find the medium of TikTok.
00:53:21.280 --> 00:53:26.559
And he's getting on there and he's really reaching out to the young men, to the young thing.
00:53:26.880 --> 00:53:29.119
So it's so amazing, is what it is.
00:53:29.599 --> 00:53:40.480
And so I that is so I that's just such a confirmation to me that's right, how that is so important and it's so needed.
00:53:40.639 --> 00:53:43.360
That there's like the gap is getting wider and wider.
00:53:43.599 --> 00:53:47.599
And it is women need to need to know what do I do with myself?
00:53:47.840 --> 00:54:00.159
So I'm spending time in relationships that are not fruitful, that are not honor to God, and giving uh young women things, telling them like this is how you should spend your time, right?
00:54:00.480 --> 00:54:01.119
Amen.
00:54:01.280 --> 00:54:02.000
Amen to that.
00:54:02.320 --> 00:54:03.840
This is what you should do with yourself.
00:54:03.920 --> 00:54:08.000
It's more than just like, okay, be chaste and don't do anything until you get married.
00:54:08.159 --> 00:54:10.480
Like, practically speaking, how do you do that?
00:54:10.880 --> 00:54:13.360
Yeah, and there's all this stuff about girl power.
00:54:13.440 --> 00:54:14.639
And I'm like, you know what?
00:54:14.800 --> 00:54:16.719
That is that's a Jezebel spirit.
00:54:16.880 --> 00:54:18.400
Can we just call it what it is?
00:54:18.639 --> 00:54:22.639
It's one thing to have power, but we gotta have Christ's power.
00:54:22.800 --> 00:54:24.320
Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm getting excited.
00:54:24.639 --> 00:54:24.960
I see.
00:54:25.039 --> 00:54:25.679
Well, you know what?
00:54:25.840 --> 00:54:28.960
God is gonna do some miraculous things, I'm telling you.
00:54:29.199 --> 00:54:34.159
And if you have that that fire in your heart, just meet me on TikTok, girl.
00:54:34.400 --> 00:54:37.519
Well, honey, I'm probably gonna leave that to you.
00:54:38.719 --> 00:54:41.199
But folks, I will be in prayer for you.
00:54:41.360 --> 00:54:42.960
I'll be in agreement with you.
00:54:43.039 --> 00:54:47.119
Wherever you need me, I will show up and I'll be there for you 100%.
00:54:47.599 --> 00:54:49.840
The Lord will work it out wherever you need me, honey.
00:54:50.079 --> 00:54:52.000
I'm ready to serve the Lord however he needs to.
00:54:52.719 --> 00:54:53.039
Yes.
00:54:53.199 --> 00:54:58.079
And that's the heart posture that we need to just have a yes in our spirit.
00:54:58.239 --> 00:54:59.840
Think about the disciples.
00:55:00.000 --> 00:55:01.519
They were scared every day.
00:55:01.679 --> 00:55:02.559
They were like, What?
00:55:02.800 --> 00:55:04.320
Jesus, you want me to what?
00:55:04.639 --> 00:55:07.119
With the fishes and loans, what are you talking about?
00:55:07.280 --> 00:55:07.840
You know?
00:55:08.239 --> 00:55:09.119
But he does it.
00:55:09.280 --> 00:55:10.159
He does it every time.
00:55:10.719 --> 00:55:11.519
Yeah, yeah.
00:55:11.679 --> 00:55:14.480
So now the Lord is like, okay, meet the young folks on TikTok.
00:55:14.639 --> 00:55:16.800
Lord, I don't even know how to open the app, but okay.
00:55:17.119 --> 00:55:17.599
Exactly.
00:55:17.760 --> 00:55:17.920
Okay.
00:55:18.159 --> 00:55:21.039
And I started, I started out a few years ago.
00:55:21.119 --> 00:55:27.199
It's a whole other story, but uh my father and I did a children's book together.
00:55:27.599 --> 00:55:30.559
And that that was something that took years.
00:55:30.719 --> 00:55:37.519
It took seven years to come to the surface because we kept saying, Oh, well, we've never made a book together.
00:55:37.599 --> 00:55:40.079
And oh, yeah, and my dad does great art.
00:55:40.239 --> 00:55:44.960
So I said, You got to you, you are great at drawing Jesus.
00:55:45.280 --> 00:55:50.320
And I believe that with your drawings, it's gonna draw the kids.
00:55:50.800 --> 00:56:05.280
And that book that we made is called Gunnar McGee Meets a Donkey, and it's a Palm Sunday story, and here we are, it's almost Palm Sunday, and that has been a tool to get people saved, not just the kids, though.
00:56:05.440 --> 00:56:16.480
That's what cracks me up, is when you you think you're gonna do something and you
think it's for a certain audience, and then the Lord kind of turns it around where it's for the parents.
00:56:16.639 --> 00:56:23.280
We've had parents come to us and say, we got saved from reading our kids your book.
00:56:24.320 --> 00:56:25.360
It's wild.
00:56:25.599 --> 00:56:30.559
So don't ever, so so don't despise small beginnings.
00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:32.400
That's what I've learned.
00:56:32.639 --> 00:56:39.519
And also um don't don't talk yourself out of something that God is telling you to do.
00:56:39.760 --> 00:56:56.800
Because my parents and I, we came out of this Palm Sunday service one Sunday, and we said, you know, we should really do that story and talk about the the donkey that carried Jesus into the holy city on Palm Sunday.
00:56:56.960 --> 00:57:02.000
And and I know there's been a few stories done about it, but we should do a twist on it.
00:57:02.239 --> 00:57:09.519
And it took six years to come to the surface because we kept saying, Oh, I don't know, does God want us to do this?
00:57:09.760 --> 00:57:11.199
And God made it happen.
00:57:11.440 --> 00:57:14.719
So let that be a seed of encouragement to somebody.
00:57:15.119 --> 00:57:20.960
Pick up the book that you keep putting down and make it happen and finish writing it and all those things.
00:57:21.199 --> 00:57:21.440
Love it.
00:57:21.519 --> 00:57:23.039
Give us the name of that book again, sis.
00:57:23.599 --> 00:57:26.960
Yes, it's called Gunnar McGee Meets a Donkey.
00:57:27.840 --> 00:57:29.039
And it's on Amazon.
00:57:29.280 --> 00:57:30.159
It's on Amazon.
00:57:30.320 --> 00:57:30.559
Okay.
00:57:31.199 --> 00:57:38.559
For those, Lauren, who want to learn more about your ministry, more about your podcast, where can they find you?
00:57:39.119 --> 00:57:41.360
Godlinks Ministries.org.
00:57:41.440 --> 00:57:47.440
And I'm on most uh IG, YouTube, Facebook, and most of those.
00:57:47.840 --> 00:57:49.920
Okay, and it's all what's your handle?
00:57:50.800 --> 00:57:54.480
Yes, so uh it's usually Godlinks or Godlinks TV.
00:57:54.800 --> 00:57:56.400
God links or godlinks TV.
00:57:56.559 --> 00:57:59.119
Okay, we'll make sure to follow you there, Lauren.
00:57:59.360 --> 00:58:00.079
Listen to this.
00:58:00.800 --> 00:58:05.519
This, you're welcome, has been just, I mean, a fun time.
00:58:05.920 --> 00:58:06.960
It's been a blast.
00:58:07.119 --> 00:58:07.360
Yeah.
00:58:07.760 --> 00:58:12.960
It's been healing too, very cathartic to be on and to just sing his praises again.
00:58:13.679 --> 00:58:16.239
So if you don't mind, can you pray us out?
00:58:16.960 --> 00:58:18.559
I would love to do that.
00:58:18.719 --> 00:58:19.840
Thank you so much.
00:58:20.239 --> 00:58:24.800
Father God, I just thank you so much for Bernitha Renee.
00:58:24.960 --> 00:58:27.039
I thank you for her podcast, God.
00:58:27.119 --> 00:58:35.039
I thank you for her voice and the message of fire in her mouth, God, that you place there for such a time as this.
00:58:35.360 --> 00:58:42.159
God, I thank you for every listener that is tuning in, that will tune in now and into the future.
00:58:42.480 --> 00:58:44.079
God, we pray a blessing.
00:58:44.239 --> 00:58:51.360
Psalm 91, hedge around their families, their ministries, their homes, their schools.
00:58:51.679 --> 00:58:53.920
And God, we exalt you.
00:58:54.320 --> 00:58:57.840
We recognize you as the one true God.
00:58:58.159 --> 00:59:09.679
And we know that if we just repent of our sins and turn away, like my journey shows, I turned away from my sin and I said yes to you.
00:59:09.920 --> 00:59:21.519
I believed you in my heart, and we have to say yes and believe in our heart and profess it with my with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and you can do that too wherever you're at.
00:59:21.679 --> 00:59:24.960
And when you do that, you come into the family of God.
00:59:25.199 --> 00:59:36.079
So I just pray that everybody understands the salvation message is the golden ticket to heaven, and it's the most important message that there is in this life.
00:59:36.320 --> 00:59:46.639
And I bless you, and I bless Bernita also for her boldness that she's gonna lead an army of women for your glory, God.
00:59:46.880 --> 00:59:49.199
In Jesus Christ's holy name we pray.
00:59:49.440 --> 00:59:50.000
Amen.
00:59:50.400 --> 00:59:51.360
Thank you, Jesus.
00:59:51.519 --> 00:59:52.719
Thank you, Sister Lauren.
00:59:52.960 --> 00:59:53.920
I appreciate you.
00:59:54.000 --> 00:59:56.880
You are just absolute perfection.
00:59:57.119 --> 00:59:57.519
Thank you.
00:59:59.119 --> 01:00:02.480
Any any perfection in me is because of him and man.
01:00:02.880 --> 01:00:04.400
Thank you, Jesus, for saying that.
01:00:04.639 --> 01:00:04.880
Jesus.
01:00:05.199 --> 01:00:05.760
Thank you, Jesus.
01:00:05.920 --> 01:00:07.039
Okay, sis, take care.
01:00:07.360 --> 01:00:08.000
Love you, buddy.
01:00:08.159 --> 01:00:08.800
God bless you.
01:00:08.880 --> 01:00:09.760
Love you, sister.
01:00:09.920 --> 01:00:11.280
I'll see you soon.
01:00:12.159 --> 01:00:13.599
Hey, beautiful people.
01:00:13.840 --> 01:00:14.880
Bernita here.
01:00:15.039 --> 01:00:26.639
If you're loving the conversations, there's so much more waiting for you at Bernita Renee Relates Podcast.com, where you can join our online community for daily inspiration and updates.
01:00:26.800 --> 01:00:37.920
And be sure to scan the QR code below so you can follow me on Instagram at for BernithaRene Relates and on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok at BernithaRene Relates.
01:00:38.079 --> 01:00:43.679
While you're at it, go ahead and like, subscribe, and share this podcast wherever you get your podcast.
01:00:44.079 --> 01:00:46.400
Thank you so much for listening.
01:00:46.639 --> 01:00:47.840
We love you for it.
01:00:48.079 --> 01:00:49.519
We'll talk soon.