The Forgotten

Who are the Forgotten? Who are those people who wander in our Apostolic Circles unrecognized? Who are the ones who need the most love and the most compassion? Who are the ones who feel the most out of place and who feel as though words cannot properly define who they are? Who are the souls that everyone gives up on and hangs on a dusty has-been shelf? They I confess to you are the Singles.

No, I'm not talking about the ones who may have chosen wrong in marriage and whether it be their fault or not ended in divorce. I'm not talking about the ones who in the heat of the moment made a crucial mistake and conceived a child out of wedlock. God has a very special plan for their lives but I'm not an expert in that area so I'll just stick to what I know. I'm talking about the single people who just have been unlucky in love and finding "the One". Its as if they are being punished for taking the right path, waiting on God, and not settling. Its these guys and gals who every person who got married young races to give advice to about a subject they quite frankly know nothing about. "Just stop wanting someone so bad, focus on the Lord, and when you least expect it, it will happen". I'm afraid despite any ones imagination, that's not really how it works. Its depressing when you get the sentimental looks from people who think of you as broken and keep asking why on earth you are not married. It kind of makes you take a minute and ask yourself, "What on earth is really wrong with me?" So the singles have demolished the cookie cutter mold of the Apostolic way of being married by the age of 20 and that simply cant be acceptable! Its insane how most people believes this huge lie that married people are so much more mature and Super Spiritual than any single person could ever be even if they are maybe only 19 years old. It's as if you waking up to someone every morning makes you any of these things. I know its not all in my head because even if people wont actually say its true they certainly act like it is. O my! Talk about things that make you want to throw up!

An old friend from Bible College mentioned something to me the other day. She said that she felt it shallow for others to dismiss the fact that she is a college graduate, has spent time over seas helping missionaries, has many musical talents and other abilities, and has over all an amazing life and focus on the one thing that she isn't and that's married. Its as if all of her accomplishments don't mean a thing because she didn't take someone Else's last name. Its seems pretty cruel to only to define worth someone purely based on their marital status. I can't help but wonder what kind of message we are sending to our younger generation of Sunday School girls. Do we tell them you can do anything you set your mind to and do whatever God desires for you to do but above all get married because THAT is the biggest accomplishment of all times? ? Why do we put married woman on a pedal stool with dignity and respect but treat Singles like they are nobody? Single people have full filling lives traveling the world, being carefree, and doing whatever God desires them to do. That hardly sounds like a horrific life to me. The truth is the grass really Isn't always greener on the other side. Marriage is not the answer to all of our problems and its saddening to think that this is the only goal that some young ladies have for their lives.

I guess I should stop right here and say I am all for marriage and as sentimental as it may sounds I still believe that out there somewhere there is an amazing man that God has created for me. Sadly he hasn't found me yet but I believe that at the end of the day its much better to wait on God. So I'll keep waiting but there are so many things in the mean time I have to say and so many thoughts in my head that I don't think people realize. My mission is nothing more than awareness to The Forgotten so I'll carry on with my thoughts.

I wonder if anyone ever tried to give Jesus advice about dating. Oh my the man was 33 years old and Not married! Did someone ever ask the Apostle Paul why he wasn't married? Did the prophet Daniel get subject to the sad look and told he couldn't be part of the leadership in the church even though he was more than qualified only because he didn't have a gal hanging on his arm? Perhaps there are just people who are not meant to get married or simply don't want to get married? Now there is a concept! Does anyone dare ask Bro Stoneking why he isn't married??

We often tell our new converts that if we have the Lord we have everything. We even sing the song during worship service about "Jesus is all I need". So I started to think the other day. Do we really believe that? If we really believed that Jesus is all we need then there wouldn't be so much pressure for people to get married at such a young age. People could be married or not married and it wouldn't really matter. We would instead believe that truly a broken person is not someone who doesn't have a spouse but someone who does not have God in their lives. If we have the Lord we can face whatever the world throws our way. Just a thought...

I don't understand why God didn't just flat out arrange marriages so we would all be married by 20 and there would be no romantic drama. The sad reality is that it didn't happen that way. We just have to do the best we can and not treat our singles like they are little teenagers and tell them they just need to go to youth services and deal with it. There has to be more done. We are losing these people all the time and they are disappearing from our pews chasing dating prospects in the world. No one thinks to send them life preserver while they are sinking under feeling alone and misunderstood. "They just need to live for God!" Yes, Yes, I agree with that 110% but a little love and compassion would go a long ways.

I'm not really that cynical. I don't always feel this way and there are times when being Single doesn't bother me at all. It could be that you can't relate to anything I've said and that's okay. Everyone is different and we all live our lives in different circumstances. But sometimes its good to put out there whats in your heart and what concerns your mind. I seem to have found a blessing in not being married at the moment and as bizarre as it may sound that blessing is the gift of being able to relate to people that maybe others can't relate to. I'm not hating on married people. In all of this I still find comfort in the scripture in Romans 8:28 that’s says , “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according” to his purpose. If God blessed you and you were lucky enough to find a wonderful spouse that's great! I just wanted to point out that not everyone is always so lucky. We are all different and despite it God has a plan for all of our lives. I hope every single person find their soul mate and lives happily ever after. I believe that God knows all things and He is the one who created the institution of marriage. It helps at times to see the perspective of others who are never heard. I think sometimes we need to just be reminded about The Forgotten.

Attention all Pentecostal Conferences Goers!

So I want to know if we can make a list of all the different Pentecostal Conferences going on this year. I for one need to broaden my horizons and got to some new ones. Does anyone know of anything going on in March in New Mexico or Colorado in March? I'll be headed in that direction then. I would love it if some of you would post names of conferences their locations and dates for the year. I think it would be helpful unless anyone knows already.

Conqueors Conference in Tucson,Az is the last week of December.

~Lorraine

Its a New Year!

Its insane how 2010 kinda of creeped up on us. I think I'm still in denial that this will be there year that I turn the huge and horrid big 3-0! Is this really real? I dont feel a day past 23!I dont know exactly how I feel about all these monumentus events that will be bestowed by 2010. My youngest brother is moving out into his own home in a few days and although I know I will see him often it still remain bittersweet.

I got my wheelchair finally and I have to say that my mother was probably more excited than I was. Its taken a while for me to get used to it.

My dearest friend Sarah from bible college came and spent a few days with me and that was great. We had so much to talk about and I'm know there were topics we didnt even get a chance to touch. Its was nice having someone here who knows that part of me that hardly anyone really understands. JCM was a huge part of my life and probably some of my most memorable days were spent there.

There is so much more to say and hopefully I will get back and write more and try to be a bit more consistant about blogging. Life has a way of catching up to you and taking you for a loop when you least expect it.

Absence from my blog!

The last time I blogged was about my new car back in August. I took it this weekend for the first time out of town to Phoenix. Roxxie ran like a champ and my friends and I had blast at the Sansom's installation service and afterwards at Cheesecake Factory.

My life lately has consisted of trying to get a new wheelchair, trying to find a job while filing for unemployment, late night rounds of bejeweled on Facebook, and trying to quiet the drama that is my life these last few months.

Tonight Brother Mark Brown preached from South Dakota and although I cant quote to you very much of his interesting sermon I can tell you what I got from God at the altar call. My Facebook status reads: "Never let anyone make you feel inferior because of what you look like, what your family last name is, what your current relationship status is set to, how much money you have in your bank account , for the position or title that you may or may not have, or for the number of candles on your birthday cake this year. There are no orphans of God. He loves everyone equally!" There are many times when I have allowed others to make me feel bad about my life. I've allowed them to make me feel like a failure or feel as though I would never be good enough to do anything great in God's kingdom. I decided to rebuke that thought and not let people's cold words or actions dictate how I feel about myself. It isn't important how other's see me, whats important is how God seems me! When Samuel and other's saw merely a shepherd boy God saw a great King! Its not over till its over!

The New Car!

Since I was 16 years old I had always dreamed about owning a Mustang. My parents both owned them when they met. Mom's first car was a '68 green Mustang and my dad owned a blue '65 Mustang. My mother sold her car to her brother and my dad to buyer out of the classifieds. Years later my uncle gave my brother Eddie mom's car back and he has been restoring it ever since. I remember my dad trying his sense of humor on me one Christmas by giving me a minature Mustang radio as a present. Finally a few weeks before I graduated from High School I bought a beautiful V6 Atlantic blue Mustang with light gray interior. I was 17 and could not believe I had a car but not just any car, the car of my dreams in my favorite color. I can still see my mom taking canola oil from the kitchen and anointing it and praying that God would protect me in it. I drove that car for 11 years and in the 3 accident I had none of them were serious and I left without a bruise. I took that car with me to the University and to Bible College in Jackson, Mississippi. My friends and I did many road trips to New Orleans, Memphis, and on chorale trips to Alabama. I cried a lot tears in that car when I felt like my heart had just been squashed. I prayed a lot of prayers while that CD player blasted out my favorite choir tunes. I had many serious conversations with friends and a tons of laughs that I will probably remember as long as I live. There were many late night fast food runs and trips to Starbucks for Passion Iced Tea Lemonade when I felt stressed. It was a faithful car and had its battle scars to prove its loyalty. It never had a major break downs until just a few months ago. Things just started snowballing and after awhile I almost didnt feel safe driving it. I had to get another one.

After going to a dealership here in Tucson, searching online, and talking on the phone with salesmen in frustration I finally found her. I named her Roxxie when I went to pick her up at the dealership in Tempe. Roxxie was a bright lips stick red 2009 Mustang with the same gray interior as my blue one. As my old car and my new car sat next to each other on the parking lot I couldnt help but feel so blessed. God knew what I needed and what I could afford. After 11 years I was getting another car that I was just as crazy about as my first one. It was still bittersweet driving off with my window down seeing my blue car quickly leaving my range of sight but it was a new day and time for a change!

Seriously?!?! Is it already August??!?!

It's insane how 2009 is more than half way over! I am really am thankful because God has been good and is doing great things in the lives of my family members and at Faith Tabernacle Church. As of a few weeks ago I started playing the piano in Spanish Church. I think I always kind of figured that I would just be someone who would teach others to play the piano and not really play myself. It seems that God has other plans and I am excited about being used in God's kingdom. I believe there are going to be many souls won in our Spanish Ministry and I dont think it will be very long till we have a blow out service just like we do in the main sanctuary on Sundays!!

I have been having such a great time hanging out with my older church friends. We have been going to starbucks in the middle of the week and just talking and laughing till after midnight. I can't thank God enough for the wonderful friends He has put in my life!

I'm still writing my book and am believeing it will be finished soon. I know its what God wants me to do its just been an uphill battle. I believe this will be the key to unlock the will of God in my life. I just have to finish doing my part. There are a lot of changes about to take place in our church that will affect a lot of us but I pray they are good changes and everything works out for the best! The future is bright because Jesus Christ our Saviour is the Light!

Happy Birthday To Me!

So I survived my 29th Birthday Monday! Can you believe it? 29!!!! Its just insane! No doubt I am thankful to have had such an amazing life but most of all to have Almighty God be in it! I really am blessed to go to such a great church and have such thoughtful friends. A couple of us got together at the house and had some pizza and cake. It was last minute but it turned out great.

Last week was Arizona District Sr Camp. I was a counselor again for the third year in a row. Bro Darin Sargent preached and it really felt this year like I was 16 again back when I was a camper. It was a tradition it seemed that every year at camp there was at least one night when God would move so strongly that the preacher wouldnt get to preacher. Monday was the first service and God moved so strongly that Bro Sargent almost didnt preacher. Then later on that week God completely took over and ministered to so many. This year in particular I felt like my needs were being met and I was being ministered. It seemed like every service there was something inside of me that just felt like crying and pouring out my soul to the King of Glory. There were so many fun times too like the night us counselors silly stringed the girls in the dorm. So far this 2009 Senior Camp goes down as being the best so far.

The Wedding

I recently attended Shawna and Anthony Allen's wedding last Saturday. It was a beautiful ceremony but the most amazing part about it was I was able to see a lot of people I hadnt seen for years. Shawna's uncle Robert is married to my aunt Maggie so I have known Shawna since she was 2 years old. My mom and her mom have been close friends over the years and they are actually the ones that conspired to get my aunt Maggie and uncle Robert together. I got to see David and Cindy Woodrum and their kids. I had never seen Jasmine and she is 8 years old now! David used to be my Sunday school teacher. I believe he is still teaching at Brother Haney's church in Stockton. Belen and Roy were also there and believe it or not when I was 2 years old I was in their wedding as the flower girl. That was before my accident so I have pictures of me still walking in a cute pink dress with a halo of flowers on my head. We all attended Brother Croy's church at one time and that's where our roots are. Sister Croy who is related to the groom was also there. She is as classy as she has always been. It was great to see the pastor's wife I grew up with. So many memories!

Dont date a loser

Don't settle for a loser
The first guy that comes your way.
For the one that has no job and on every date makes you pay.
After the first date when you have to treat for pizza.
Make sure its his name that's really on the visa.
Dont be so desperate just to be someones wife.
That a after the honeymoon you regret it for the rest of your life!
If hes been engaged three times and married twice
Don’t be the next fool that gets hit by the wedding rice.
If all the loser wants is for you to help him support his six kids and be his sugar mama
Don’t be the idiot that gets caught up in all that baby mama drama!
If he is bilingual, illegal, and always wants to be in control.
Remind him that you ain't afraid to dial the number to the border patrol!
If you just met your man after he posted bail
Make sure you are ready to write your next check out to the Pima county jail!
If the guy has a job that pays him under the table
Make sure you check his records because he is probably not mentally stable.
If he is too young to drive you on a date.
Be ready to spend the next 5-10 years because of your jail bait!
Don’t settle for a loser that in life wont go very far.
Go for a guy that has a career and doesn't drive his mom’s car.
I'm not saying you have to be a gold digging girl.
Just don’t be deceived when a guy says he can give you the world.
Looks wont last long, they will in time fade away.
Go for a guy that has depth and that wont eventually turn gay.

Arizona Campmeeting

This past week I attended Arizona Campmeeting. Sadly I was not there long enough and the one actual service that I did go to there was no preaching. God decided to do His thing and it was exactly what I needed! The choir sang "I've Gotta Feeling Everythings Gonna Be Alright!" I remember the same thing happened at Campmeeting in 2003 and the place came unglued!

There were some high moments and some low moments but overall I am thankful I was able to attend. I got to see some of my Amazing friends at the lock in and hung out with some of them at Cheesecake Factory Wednesday night.