Turn off the Laura Story? Turn on the personal responsibility?

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1

1still_waters

Guest
#1
#1
Do you need to turn off the Laura Story? She sings a song called "Blessings".
Link-->Laura Story Blessings (lyrics) - YouTube

The song is about how God uses the things that look bad in our life to bring us blessings. This is a more than a valid point. Still, do you need to turn off the Laura Story?

Prov 19:3
[SUP]3 [/SUP]The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.
NKJV

[SUP]3 [/SUP]When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.
ESV

This speaks of a person that due to their own foolishness, they end up in ruin. They then turn around and attribute it to God.

What if some of the bad things in our lives have more to do with our own bad choices? What if the ruin is self inflicted?

What if instead of rushing to turn on the Laura Story song after something bad happens, what if we need to rush to our knees, repent, and seek forgiveness? (I know a nuance hunter is thinking..Well we need to rush to our knees either way. Yeah I get that. ;). Just stick with me.)

It's so easy to live in a state of self deception, where we think all the bad stuff has nothing to do with our actions and decisions. As a result we rush to avoid attributing these things to our own bad choices. Indirectly we blame it on God, and well..we turn on the Laura Story. And we go about our merry way, thinking it's one of the "blessings". When in fact it may be a HUGE wakeup call to change, repent, and shift directions.


 
N

NodMyHeadLikeYeah

Guest
#2
#2
I can't stand that song.

Just thought i'd throw that out there......
 
Jilly81

Jilly81

Senior Member
#4
Jan 16, 2011
2,365
136
63
#4
Agreed, Stilly. The fact that God can take our mistakes and turn them into something that helps others doesn't mean that He wanted us to make those mistakes, or that us sinning was in His perfect Will, as it most certainly is not. Rather, He turned a bad situation into a not-quite-as-bad-one.


 
Jilly81

Jilly81

Senior Member
#5
Jan 16, 2011
2,365
136
63
#5
See, now here's a great example. What if I got so mad at Holly for posting before I did that I went to her house and shot Dooky, her cat? She'd be really mad and would call the cops (if she wasn't mad that Dooky is gone, she'd be mad that I gave her kids a fun idea of how to get rid of nuisance pets). I'd probably go to jail for a month or two (sorry, Dooky, but it'll be hard for the judge to get much sympathy worked up for you; you're kind of a graffiti artist, to say the least. Two months is all the justice you can hope for). Anyway, so a year later I become a motivational speaker and share my story and tell everyone how I'm reformed with the Lord's help. Many people tell me how inspirational I am. The thing is, I could have prayed about my anger issues and gotten over them that way, and shared with others how Jesus helped me through my problems without taking out Dooky (hmm, that last phrase is really weird taken out of context) or taxing our already stretched penal system. It's still a great story if you get fixed up, even if you don't have to hit rock bottom (or Dooky's bottom) first. In fact, it's a BETTER story if we're already saved; if we have Jesus on our side, we get to avoid the mucky stuff. Fortunately, we can still be forgiven even if we take out a friend's cat, but really....
 
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G

GreenNnice

Guest
#6
#6
1still_waters said:
Do you need to turn off the Laura Story? She sings a song called "Blessings".
Link-->Laura Story Blessings (lyrics) - YouTube

The song is about how God uses the things that look bad in our life to bring us blessings. This is a more than a valid point. Still, do you need to turn off the Laura Story?

Prov 19:3
[SUP]3 [/SUP]The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.
NKJV

[SUP]3 [/SUP]When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.
ESV

This speaks of a person that due to their own foolishness, they end up in ruin. They then turn around and attribute it to God.

What if some of the bad things in our lives have more to do with our own bad choices? What if the ruin is self inflicted?

What if instead of rushing to turn on the Laura Story song after something bad happens, what if we need to rush to our knees, repent, and seek forgiveness? (I know a nuance hunter is thinking..Well we need to rush to our knees either way. Yeah I get that. ;). Just stick with me.)

It's so easy to live in a state of self deception, where we think all the bad stuff has nothing to do with our actions and decisions. As a result we rush to avoid attributing these things to our own bad choices. Indirectly we blame it on God, and well..we turn on the Laura Story. And we go about our merry way, thinking it's one of the "blessings". When in fact it may be a HUGE wakeup call to change, repent, and shift directions.
Click to expand...
If we commit our plans to the Lord, we will have success, and, when things look bad, stilledwaters, that is when God is doing what He needs to do to make our plans come true so that we are blessed . We want to pay care to the fact, too, that whatever we do , we are to bring glory to God :)

:)

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9



So, this is to say, once we are Christ's and living our life His way for us, commiting our plans to Him, 'I'm going to do this in my life, Lord, please, show me Thy will done as I do things,' , our plans will be right even when they seem wrong.


The peace of doing things THIS way, too, will overwhelm you, as your faith in Him will grow :)


Commit thy plans to the Lord and you will have success. Proverbs 16:3
 
Nautilus

Nautilus

Senior Member
#7
Jun 29, 2012
6,488
53
48
#7
Jilly81 said:
See, now here's a great example. What if I got so mad at Holly for posting before I did that I went to her house and shot Dooky, her cat? She'd be really mad and would call the cops (if she wasn't mad that Dooky is gone, she'd be mad that I gave her kids a fun idea of how to get rid of nuisance pets). I'd probably go to jail for a month or two (sorry, Dooky, but it'll be hard for the judge to get much sympathy worked up for you; you're kind of a graffiti artist, to say the least. Two months is all the justice you can hope for). Anyway, so a year later I become a motivational speaker and share my story and tell everyone how I'm reformed with the Lord's help. Many people tell me how inspirational I am. The thing is, I could have prayed about my anger issues and gotten over them that way, and shared with others how Jesus helped me through my problems without taking out Dooky (hmm, that last phrase is really weird taken out of context) or taxing our already stretched penal system. It's still a great story if you get fixed up, even if you don't have to hit rock bottom (or Dooky's bottom) first. In fact, it's a BETTER story if we're already saved; if we have Jesus on our side, we get to avoid the mucky stuff. Fortunately, we can still be forgiven even if we take out a friend's cat, but really....
Click to expand...

meme-well-that-escalated-quickly.jpg

poor cat...
 
Jilly81

Jilly81

Senior Member
#8
Jan 16, 2011
2,365
136
63
#8
Well, ya know Nautilus, sometimes the "what ifs" are kinda a relief that they never happened in the first place :D. That's another thing about having a great imagination; you can make your own sermon illustrations!
 
N

niceguyJ

Senior Member
#9
Feb 5, 2011
520
25
28
#9
Yeah, I agree that there are consequences to our sins, mistakes, etc. Sometimes people do need to wake up and realize that. We absolutely do need to take responsibility.

I'm going to pick at the mention of the song though. Lets give it some context, lest someone thinks Laura's intentions were different than they actually were. It was written in a time where her husband had a brain tumor and they weren't even sure if he was going to live.
Here is her telling about it in her own words:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDiTuSLSJB8 (Skip to 1:43 if you want to get right to that)

It's important to remember that sometimes bad things do happen to what would be considered "good" people (Technically no one is good but God, and we should all be burning in Hell...but I don't know how else to put that). On the flipside good things can happen to people considered bad.

[h=3]Matthew 5:45[/h]King James Version (KJV)

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

To me, all that has to be taken into consideration to complete the picture here, so to speak.
 
DuchessAimee

DuchessAimee

Senior Member
#10
Apr 27, 2011
3,922
129
63
#10
All people make mistakes and repeat a wide range of stupidity. We date the same types of people, befriend people who aren't good for us, we choose to do idiotic things, we sin. All people do this, not a single person is guiltless. We get into situations which do quite a bit of damage, and most of it is long term. We do these things because we don't always know any better. It's funny how the brain runs in a super secret ninja mode for the most part. The subconscious is what gets us into trouble most of the time, and if you've not healed from past hurts, you're bound to repeat mistakes.


Maya Angelou says one of my favorite things ever. "When you know better, you do better." You cannot condemn someone for not doing what you want them to. They may not know better. It's what we believe about ourselves that dictates our actions. And when we believe something different about ourselves, we commit different actions. Personally, I am grateful for the Lord turning all my bad choices into something worthwhile. Did he have something better for me? I'm very sure he did. But in his mercy he takes my poor and stupid life and makes it into something beautiful.
 
Jilly81

Jilly81

Senior Member
#11
Jan 16, 2011
2,365
136
63
#11
I'd like to say something real quick. I'd never heard the song until a minute ago; when I saw NiceGuyJ's post, I figured I should listen to it. I TOTALLY agree that many unpleasant things end up showing us God's love if we're willing to open our eyes, and they end up being HUGE blessings in disguise. There are SO many things about my life that I wouldn't have chosen, but I'm so glad that I have. I didn't know that I'd need them, but they made my story more compelling for sharing with others, and helped me out as well, even though it took a great number of tears to get through the storm.

As far as what I typed in the previous posts, I was really just responding to what Stilly said; that if we make a mistake we need to repent first rather than immediately saying that God was going to use it for His glory. I got offtrack a bit with the illustration using Nod's cat, but as I was typing I was largely thinking of a number of posts I'd read/accounts I'd heard of people who had JUST gotten in trouble from some sin they had committed and were already talking about how God was going to use it for His own glory, instead of repenting over their prodigal behavior (honestly, a number of them seemed genuinely proud of themselves for the misuse of Grace). I'm also grateful that my mistakes can still be used for good, though I hope to learn from them and make as good a decision as possible next time :).
 
G

GreenNnice

Guest
#12
#12
Jilly81 said:
I'd like to say something real quick. I'd never heard the song until a minute ago; when I saw NiceGuyJ's post, I figured I should listen to it. I TOTALLY agree that many unpleasant things end up showing us God's love if we're willing to open our eyes, and they end up being HUGE blessings in disguise. There are SO many things about my life that I wouldn't have chosen, but I'm so glad that I have. I didn't know that I'd need them, but they made my story more compelling for sharing with others, and helped me out as well, even though it took a great number of tears to get through the storm.

As far as what I typed in the previous posts, I was really just responding to what Stilly said; that if we make a mistake we need to repent first rather than immediately saying that God was going to use it for His glory. I got offtrack a bit with the illustration using Nod's cat, but as I was typing I was largely thinking of a number of posts I'd read/accounts I'd heard of people who had JUST gotten in trouble from some sin they had committed and were already talking about how God was going to use it for His own glory, instead of repenting over their prodigal behavior (honestly, a number of them seemed genuinely proud of themselves for the misuse of Grace). I'm also grateful that my mistakes can still be used for good, though I hope to learn from them and make as good a decision as possible next time :).
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WE are to take personal account for everything we do on Earth, we better, because, one day in heaven we WILL give account, every single thing. Now, that said, God's mercy sooo covers us, and, grace, by His blood on the cross, when we are His, we are His. But, yes, we do not do things wrong, purposefully, and, say, 'God will make good of this,' that is a form of blasphemy even, and, that's not good, especially if it's against the Spirit prompting you to do something He wants you to do. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, once you are His, YOU are His :) But we ARE to confess our sins, and, realize that He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, just as 1 John 1:9 says.

By taking personal responsibility and not saying to go and give all your possessions to the poor, but, I am saying that we are to follow Him in our life and the closer to Him we get to Him we understand our joy is full when we trust in Him, that is, we trust in His grace given us through His Son dying on the cross, and, through faith in His finished work of Jesus rising from the dead and faith in Christ's work in us that is GOOD :) Confessing our sins to Jesus, no big pomp and circumstance needed, unless He leads you to go in front of your church's altar at altar call, that is between you and God how you confess, I've done it too, I'm not speaking flippantly ,I'm speaking from my voice inside me of experience.

By confessing to Christ our mistakes, our sins, that act takes our personal relationship with Jesus to a whole, new, responsible level. :) And, we can then tell others, as He leads us, how confession we've done stirred and 'myrred' our souls so that we could understand the beautiful frankiincense of Jesus grow in our life, drip from the pores of our skin, richly, like pure gold. :) So that, hopefully, prayerfully, God gets the glory from the kind of sacrifice He called on our life and whenver one takes personal responsibility for things past of their life having hurt others, or, even, themselves, God looks highly on that contriteness, just ask David, which just happens to be related to my profile verse in c.c., Isaiaih 66:2
 
AsifinPassing

AsifinPassing

Senior Member
#13
Jul 13, 2010
3,608
40
48
#13
1still_waters said:
Do you need to turn off the Laura Story? She sings a song called "Blessings".
Link-->Laura Story Blessings (lyrics) - YouTube

The song is about how God uses the things that look bad in our life to bring us blessings. This is a more than a valid point. Still, do you need to turn off the Laura Story?

Prov 19:3
[SUP]3 [/SUP]The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.
NKJV

[SUP]3 [/SUP]When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.
ESV

This speaks of a person that due to their own foolishness, they end up in ruin. They then turn around and attribute it to God.

What if some of the bad things in our lives have more to do with our own bad choices? What if the ruin is self inflicted?

What if instead of rushing to turn on the Laura Story song after something bad happens, what if we need to rush to our knees, repent, and seek forgiveness? (I know a nuance hunter is thinking..Well we need to rush to our knees either way. Yeah I get that. ;). Just stick with me.)

It's so easy to live in a state of self deception, where we think all the bad stuff has nothing to do with our actions and decisions. As a result we rush to avoid attributing these things to our own bad choices. Indirectly we blame it on God, and well..we turn on the Laura Story. And we go about our merry way, thinking it's one of the "blessings". When in fact it may be a HUGE wakeup call to change, repent, and shift directions.
Click to expand...
I see your point, and respect where that reality is present.

I believe the song was written in context of:

John 15:18-19 NIV - The World Hates the Disciples - “If - Bible Gateway

James 1:2-3 NIV - Trials and Temptations - Consider it - Bible Gateway

John 16:33 NIV - “I have told you these things, so - Bible Gateway

...and similar such passages. It's not that all our trials are divine interventions from God, but rather that through trial, God refines us. Think about it like metal being purified and smithed in a forge. Sometimes we have to go through fire to become more.
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#14
#14
AsifinPassing said:
I see your point, and respect where that reality is present.

I believe the song was written in context of:

John 15:18-19 NIV - The World Hates the Disciples - “If - Bible Gateway

James 1:2-3 NIV - Trials and Temptations - Consider it - Bible Gateway

John 16:33 NIV - “I have told you these things, so - Bible Gateway

...and similar such passages. It's not that all our trials are divine interventions from God, but rather that through trial, God refines us. Think about it like metal being purified and smithed in a forge. Sometimes we have to go through fire to become more.
Click to expand...
Yes but my point is that some people intentionally walk in rebellion, then bad stuff happens, then they're like.."oh my bad stuff happens to God's children..I'll turn on Laura Story and get comfort." When they should realize the bad stuff was the result of their own rebellion, and instead of turning on Laura Story they should turn on some repentance.​

 
lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
#15
Mar 14, 2010
7,489
73
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#15
Here's what I said earlier on this:

I agree, the song can be misused. But what about the bad things we have no control over? Someone dies, someone loses a job (even though they're the hardest worker there), or someone gets cancer, etc. Laura Story's message in that song is, "Even though those things we can't control are happening, God IS in control, and He is good, and there is good amidst the bad."

You can't expect to run away in rebellion and then be like "Oh, bad things happening! Let's turn on Laura Story!" *Sings along* "Whaaat if yoour blessings coome in raaiindrooops what if your heeeaalings come throuughh teeaarss... Alright. I feel good!" haha








(Which by the way, I didn't know Laura Story's husband had a tumor and was having a hard time with it and that's why she wrote that song. I just thought cancer was a really good example because it most definitely is something we can't control over.)
 
J

jimmydiggs

Guest
#16
#16
It seems that a lot of the klove/ccm is designed specifically for the pick-me-up effect. Then people love the music and fall in love with heretics like Crowder.
 
Theygaveutheirworst

Theygaveutheirworst

Senior Member
#17
Jun 25, 2010
707
9
18
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#17
Now we're bashing Crowder?lol

#Ifeeltheloveinthisthread
 
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lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
#19
Mar 14, 2010
7,489
73
48
27
#19
Yeah, David Crowder may or may not be Catholic. BUT, the difference is, you can tell he has a relationship with Christ. There ARE Catholics who have a strong relationship with Christ, and won't even pray to the saints or Mary, and believe you can go straight to Jesus. Now I don't know why they just change churches, but you don't know their reasonings. I have seen Crowder twice in concert before, and not once have I felt like something was spiritually wrong or off. And he doesn't write songs that aren't Scriptural.


back to topic, though. Laura Story is good, and her song meant the best. But like everything in this world, Satan likes to twist it. It's amazing what the heart will do to make it feel like we're in the right, and God's in the wrong.

(Also...there IS a time for worshipful music, and awe and reverence towards God, and a time to encourage and uplift others with that same gift of music and worship. You just gotta listen to God to know when is the right time.)

Another edit....stilly isn't "hating" on the song, he's disliking the misuse of its original intended purpose.
 
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J

jimmydiggs

Guest
#20
#20
lil_christian said:
Yeah, David Crowder may or may not be Catholic. BUT, the difference is, you can tell he has a relationship with Christ. There ARE Catholics who have a strong relationship with Christ, and won't even pray to the saints or Mary, and believe you can go straight to Jesus. Now I don't know why they just change churches, but you don't know their reasonings. I have seen Crowder twice in concert before, and not once have I felt like something was spiritually wrong or off. And he doesn't write songs that aren't Scriptural.


back to topic, though. Laura Story is good, and her song meant the best. But like everything in this world, Satan likes to twist it. It's amazing what the heart will do to make it feel like we're in the right, and God's in the wrong.

(Also...there IS a time for worshipful music, and awe and reverence towards God, and a time to encourage and uplift others with that same gift of music and worship. You just gotta listen to God to know when is the right time.)

Another edit....stilly isn't "hating" on the song, he's disliking the misuse of its original intended purpose.
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Rob Bell isn't Catholic. Sometimes angels ain't angels.
 
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