Ep 196 A Legacy of Singing God’s Gospel Kindness with Country Singer/Songwriter Laurel Taylor

Country singer/songwriter, Laurel Taylor knows who she is. It took a comment from Jlo on American Idol to make her realize that she didn't know who she was at one point. She needed to go back home and to her Gospel roots, and recognize that she belonged to God, He had given her these gifts, and she would live her life for his kingdom and glory. 

Laurel, 29, knew from age 15 she wanted to sing, and she began writing songs in earnest at 17. But then went off the rails for a time, separating herself from friends, family, and God. At a crossroads (literally), after having lost it all, she chose God—seriously and for herself, this time—not just because she was raised in the faith. And she hasn't looked back. 

Some gems from today's conversation:

• When you preach something, it comes across differently than when you sing it.
• People still saw me as the person in my past. And for me to move forward, I had to sing about it.
• I'm always looking for an opportunity to talk about the Lord.
• I communicate a melody that they can't get out of their head.  That's my goal.
• I want to be known as a believer that loves Jesus with all their heart, and would go to the ends just to help someone, no matter what, and I always want to put myself last.  I just want to be seen different. I don't want to be categorized as she's a church girl.
• I know that I'm nothing without the Lord. And I'm nothing without his lyrics, his melodies, you know, he can literally mess my voice up as soon as I open my mouth.
• I embody God's welcoming heart by giving Him the reins, every time.

 

About Laurel by Laurel:

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…

• I LOVE JESUS WITH ALL MY HEART

• I LOVE WRITING SONGS ABOUT FREEDOM, HEALING , AND RESTORATION

• I AM FROM ALABAMA , SO I SAY “ROLL TIDE”

• I AM A DOG MOM OF 2

• I LIKE SMILEY FACES

• I WOULD LOVE TO PRAY FOR YOU

She writes the music first, and then adds the lyrics, God-breathed, she says. And I believe it. 

Follow Laurel on instagram @laureltaylorofficial and you can hear her music on any of your listening platforms. Some of my favorite songs are: Song of Freedom, Healed, and her latest hit song, Old House. 

Hear a preview here.

Bio:

LAUREL TAYLOR IS AN ARTIST AND SINGER/SONGWRITER IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.  ORIGINALLY FROM ALABAMA, SHE MADE HER MOVE TO MUSIC CITY TEN YEARS AGO, RIGHT AFTER TURNING EIGHTEEN.  FROM THE AMERICAN IDOL STAGE, TO TOOTSIES ON BROADWAY, TO THE LOCAL CHURCH LEADING WORSHIP, HER VOICE AND SOUND SPEAKS TO EVERY CROWD.  LAUREL CARRIES AN EXCELLENT STAGE PRESENCE AND LIVE SHOW PERFORMANCE EVERYWHERE SHE GOES.  SHE HAS A RAW COUNTRY SOUND, MINISTRY MINDSET, AND HER OWN UNIQUE STYLE.  LAUREL USES HER LIFE STORIES TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE THRU HER MUSIC AND INTENTIONALLY WRITES FOR EVERYONE THAT LISTENS.

 

Something new—a transcription of our conversation for those who'd rather read it or read along while listening. 

 

Sue Donaldson [00:00:01]:

Good morning. Did you know that the most important thing about you is that God loves you? He loved you to the cross and back. And part of his great love is that he gives you a life that matters. You never have to wonder, do I matter? Do I count? You are number one in God's book and he gives you opportunities every day to live a life beyond yourself.

Sue Donaldson [00:00:25]:

I like to call it a legacy life. This is Sue Donaldson. As you listen today, ask God, show me how to spend today investing in people and your word. Because both last forever. There's no better way to live. Hello. Good morning. Today I have a very special guest. Well, I guess they're all special because in God's sides they are. But this is a fun one. I have never interviewed a country western singer songwriter. And today we have beautiful Laurel Taylor with us. Laurel, tell us a little bit where you live and where you're from and then we're going to get into some really great questions.

Laurel Taylor [00:01:11]:

Yeah, thanks for having me. I'm originally from Montgomery, Alabama, but I live in Nashville. I've lived in Nashville, Tennessee for over eleven years. Eleven years, exact, actually. And it has been quite a journey. I started in the country world thinking I was going to be the next Gretchen Wilson. And then I slowly have learned that even in that time I wanted what I wanted. And God has really taken me down a journey. Even when I wasn't holding on to his hand, I wasn't looking for his voice, I wasn't listening for his voice. I did American Idol and that took me to pop genre and then I gave my life to Christ in 2015 and I decided that this is the journey I'm going to go on. So I'm back in the roots of country, little bit of pop, little bit of rap, whatever the listening to here. But I love the Lord with all my heart.

Sue Donaldson [00:02:14]:

How old were you when you knew you wanted to sing as a performer?

Laurel Taylor [00:02:20]:

Probably 15 or 16 years old was when I started traveling to Nashville.

Sue Donaldson [00:02:25]:

Wow. And did you have parental support?

Laurel Taylor [00:02:29]:

Absolutely I did. It was very different for my dad. He is an engineer mindset. So it's A to B, B to C and music is like, okay, let's do A, but then let's skip to Z. And my mom, she loves to sing. She grew up in the choir singing. So, yeah, that was kind of my background. But they were absolutely supportive and put me in piano lessons, guitar, all that.

Sue Donaldson [00:02:57]:

And what came first, the singing or the writing of the songs?

Laurel Taylor [00:03:01]:

The singing. I didn't start writing until I went to Nashville around like 17. I had a producer tell me, he said, you have to have the full package. It's the writing, the singing and the performing. It so playing. And so I challenged myself and I went home, and I started writing everything I could think of.

Sue Donaldson [00:03:27]:

Wow. So you went and talked to a producer at 17, and then you went back home and then you came back.

Laurel Taylor [00:03:33]:

I did, yeah. So when I moved to Nashville at 18, I already knew where I was going to live, what I was going to do. It wasn't like, I'm just going to walk the streets and find my way. I had it sent at about 17. I went to Quad Studios. That is one of the first places Taylor Swift actually went. And he told me very specifically, he said, you got to do all three, and your parents can't be your biggest fans. You've got to actually build.

Sue Donaldson [00:04:01]:

I was like, real fan.

Laurel Taylor [00:04:02]:

He was super honest at 18. I knew I was going to live in Green Hills. I knew that I was going to play Tootsie's downtown Broadway. I knew my mom was happy about that, and I knew that what wasn't she happy about?

Sue Donaldson [00:04:16]:

I missed that part.

Laurel Taylor [00:04:18]:

Playing on Broadway, playing the strip with all the bars, and it's just not a good atmosphere.

Sue Donaldson [00:04:24]:

But that's not Nashville. So you were going to Broadway first?

Laurel Taylor [00:04:27]:

No, Nashville.

Sue Donaldson [00:04:30]:

I was thinking Broadway, new York. I was just in Nashville.

Laurel Taylor [00:04:34]:

That's funny. People do say that, but it's like music grow, if you want to say that instead. But it's just a bunch of restaurants, of chains, of everybody playing music everywhere you look. And I've learned a lot being down there.

Sue Donaldson [00:04:48]:

And do you just walk in and say, I'm a singer. Will you pay me or what?

Laurel Taylor [00:04:54]:

So you have auditions depending on where you're going, but tootsies and like, honky tonks, all those, those have one main guy. And what they do is they basically just interview you and on stage on the moment, like in the moment. And the band fires off of the song. And for me, they fired off some Loretta Lynn song. I did not know.

Sue Donaldson [00:05:18]:

Okay.

Laurel Taylor [00:05:18]:

And I embarrassed myself, basically embarrassed myself. And he said, Taylor I mean, he called me Taylor. You got a good voice, but you got to go home and learn, like, the legendary stuff. And so I did. I learned everything from Johnny Cash to Loretta Land, Tammy Wanette, like any song pat you claim think of, I was going to learn it. And so I came back.

Sue Donaldson [00:05:43]:

I mean, that is a huge library.

Laurel Taylor [00:05:46]:

Oh, it's huge. You have to know, even when you're playing the Strip, you need to know, like, people's favorites.

Sue Donaldson [00:05:53]:

You want to know people's favorites because they're going to call them out.

Laurel Taylor [00:05:56]:

Absolutely. And if you don't know it, you better fake it and figure it out.

Sue Donaldson [00:06:00]:

And do it better than the way you did when you auditioned.

Laurel Taylor [00:06:03]:

That's right.

Sue Donaldson [00:06:03]:

So when did you know you were ready to go back?

Laurel Taylor [00:06:08]:

I really believe it was because a place opened up for me to live.

Sue Donaldson [00:06:13]:

To live or to perform?

Laurel Taylor [00:06:15]:

Yeah. So I lived in a pool house behind a beautiful big house in Green Hills. I just chilled in their pool house, and it was perfect for me, what I needed, and I knew that I was set up writing. I met the greatest legendary writer, and he taught me so much about writing and just telling stories because he's a writer of old Red. That's all right there. He'll tell you? No, but God had his hand on me even when I wasn't living in his will, and I think that's super crazy.

Sue Donaldson [00:06:53]:

I would think that your parents would be a little worried just because I have adult children. That one just moved to New York, one is moving to Chicago, one lives in La. So I feel like I'm represented in all the major cities, but you kind of want, like, Lord, now, don't forget they're yours. I gave them to you when they were born, and please protect them because it's crazy and wild out there. So I appreciate your parents. Not that they had to allow you, but kind of because our kids went off to college, and that could be just as dangerous as going off to live in a pool house somewhere. And so it really doesn't really matter where you live. You just need to be under the blood and protected by Jesus.

Laurel Taylor [00:07:31]:

That's right.

Sue Donaldson [00:07:31]:

So tell me your spiritual journey, then.

Laurel Taylor [00:07:34]:

Yeah, so I grew up on the foundation of Jesus. And gosh, I was there every time the doors are open in church. But me, too, I didn't have it for myself. I couldn't live out my salvation through my parents. And when I got to Nashville, I really saw a big city, lots of opportunities that I've never had, decisions I have to make that are on my own now. I can't just call mom and say, Should I do this? They taught me, raised me up, and I should be able to do it. And I really started off I say I started off well, but I still didn't have it when it came to Jesus. I didn't have that love that I know that I never really encountered the love of Jesus the way I did later. So I wasn't very serious. I knew I love Jesus, okay, I'm moving on, kind of thing, but I don't need Him. I'm going to put Him on a shelf. And so I started out with a publishing deal and writing every single day and just really focused on that and then playing super late nights. And those late nights turned into staying after and starting to drink and starting to do all these different things that I've never experienced. And I wasn't a very sheltered kid, but it was very much like, this is what you do, and this is how you do it, and you don't go outside those lines. And when you're in a big city and you've never experienced that, you're on your own, and you got to find your way through your journey. And my parents were holding on so tight, they would come see me every two weeks. Wow, that was fun. But I just found myself lying a lot. I found myself living a double life. I found myself being one way and then when I go home, I'd be exactly what they wanted and I had to figure out my identity and who God says I am. And so after American Idol, actually, this is the whole journey. When J. Lo told me on national television, she said, we're going to cut you because you don't even know who you are yet.

Sue Donaldson [00:09:46]:

Wow.

Laurel Taylor [00:09:47]:

Yeah.

Sue Donaldson [00:09:47]:

Did you start crying?

Laurel Taylor [00:09:49]:

I don't really remember. I'm not a huge crier, but I was just like, what? At the time I was super cocky about it and like, what are you talking about? But now I look at it and I'm like, she was so right.

Sue Donaldson [00:10:00]:

I wonder how she knew that. Have you ever told her that what it meant to you?

Laurel Taylor [00:10:06]:

No, god was just speaking through her. And so in 2015 of January, I gave my life to Christ. I said, you know what he gave me? The peace to walk away from the city, walk away from.

Sue Donaldson [00:10:20]:

Was it the American Idol thing that changed it or something else?

Laurel Taylor [00:10:24]:

It was kind of both. It was walking that journey and then everything just kind of fell apart. Like I couldn't describe it. I had no choice but to give up. I was losing tours left and right. I was losing opportunities left and right. My booking agent dropped me. I wasn't getting the yeses anymore. I was getting more no's shut doors. And I couldn't afford to live. I couldn't afford to live there.

Sue Donaldson [00:10:55]:

What was causing those besides the Lord? The Lord allowing it?

Laurel Taylor [00:11:00]:

Yeah. I think my choices I think me choosing this over this or even just poor decision making, not showing up on time or I was so high I couldn't go to a radio interview. Like all these different things and I was just dropping left and right. And I was the person that was like, ain't nothing going to happen to me. I'm good. I got it covered. And then one day I lost everything and my family, my friends no longer were my friends. And my family loved me from afar because of the lifestyle I was living and the choices I was making. They had to love me from afar because they were done speaking into me and just gave me to the Lord. So it had to be a work that only God could do and that's what kind of happened. That's where I am today is because of him intervening and going after me.

Sue Donaldson [00:12:04]:

Did he speak to you?

Laurel Taylor [00:12:06]:

Did Jesus speak to me? Absolutely. I was on the side of the road in the interstate where you can split and go to Alabama or you can go around the circle to Nashville, Gamut, you go to Huntsville. And I was in the middle of the media, and I pulled over, and God said, you're done. You have used every bit of my abilities that I like. I gave you these abilities, these gifts, and these talents. You're done. Go home and go make your family right. And in my time, even then, I didn't think I was coming back. But he said, my time, I will bring you back. But at that point, I saw no hope. I was like, I'm not going to Nashville ever again. And he brought me back how soon after? Probably six years.

Sue Donaldson [00:13:07]:

Wow. That's a long wait.

Laurel Taylor [00:13:09]:

Yeah. About it might have been seven years. Yeah, perfect number. I went on a journey. I was with a group called People in Songs, and they traveled and led, worship, and it taught me how to pray. It taught me how to go to bat for people. It taught me how to be in the Lord's presence, which was hard for me, hours soaking in his presence, and I was like, what is this? And it just trained me how to love and how to serve. And so many wonderful artists came through, and it was kind of a label ministry, and it just taught me a lot, and so it equipped me to where I am today as my own artist.

Sue Donaldson [00:13:57]:

Wow.

Laurel Taylor [00:13:57]:

That was the journey.

Sue Donaldson [00:13:59]:

Well, seven years is not a short time when you're in the middle of it.

Laurel Taylor [00:14:03]:

No. It feels like you're like, hey, what are we doing? Like, I'm ready to go back.

Sue Donaldson [00:14:09]:

A quick question. When you're American Idol, people will want to know this when they're listening. How far did you go?

Laurel Taylor [00:14:15]:

Top 40. So Hollywood has Monday through Friday, and basically I got cut on that Friday right before the top 24 was live. So it was cool. I stayed a while, and I enjoyed it. It was very cutthroat, but God had a different plan.

Sue Donaldson [00:14:33]:

Are you in touch with any of those people that you worked, that you sang with?

Laurel Taylor [00:14:38]:

Yeah, they'll comment on my instagram things.

Sue Donaldson [00:14:43]:

But we live very different lives. Very different, yeah. What is your songwriting process? You read a verse or does God nudge you or you see someone in pain or is there a line from poetry or what?

Laurel Taylor [00:15:00]:

Yeah, most of the time it's melody. First melody, and I put lyrics to it, but sometimes it is definitely God breathed. Like, I have a song called Healed.

Sue Donaldson [00:15:13]:

I love that song. I listened to it yesterday and I sent it to several people, by the way. Yeah.

Laurel Taylor [00:15:18]:

If I could just touch him, his garment, I'd be healed. And I went to that scripture and I was like, whoa, this is so cool. Like healing is right here. You just have to want it. And so that's how I with that song is I had that line. So then I added the melody, and then from there, the bridge just poured out of me. That was so cool.

Sue Donaldson [00:15:41]:

Don't you know that's when the Lord that's when the Lord is oh, yeah.

Laurel Taylor [00:15:46]:

You could feel it.

Sue Donaldson [00:15:50]:

And tell us about the latest this Old House. That's the one I've heard the most.

Laurel Taylor [00:15:54]:

Old House. Old House was definitely inspired by just my journey, my testimony, and how I continued to live in the past and I couldn't move forward. People still saw me as the past, too. And for me to move forward, I had to sing about it. I had to literally say, I don't go cut that grass anymore. I don't go check that mail anymore. I don't open those doors anymore, and I'm walking out of my old house. And it's a beautiful thing. You just don't know how much strength you actually have to walk out.

Sue Donaldson [00:16:33]:

And you don't actually mention God in the song. Correct. So I think it's such a great crossover song because so many men and women are stuck in their past for perhaps some good reason. But I like to say there's that organization called MoveOn.com, and not that you want to minimize a person's pain. Never minimize a person's pain. It's up to them and God to work things out. But we can get so stuck, as you've experienced, that we're no earthly good and we need to be heavenly good while we're here, because we're not here that long, let me tell you. I can tell you that at 71 that we're not here that much longer. So we want to make the most of it. And I can't if I'm always licking my wounds or if I'm stuck in shame, I like to say that shame is from the pit, and we are not pit people. Laurel, I want you to remember that because your journey and your challenges are not over. Right? Yeah. How old are you, can I ask?

Laurel Taylor [00:17:33]:

29.

Sue Donaldson [00:17:33]:

Oh, my gosh. You have come a long ways for 29, my dear. God has great things in store. How does singing and songwriting help you spread the gospel, grace and message of Jesus Christ?

Laurel Taylor [00:17:48]:

Yeah, I mean, I've always said that when you preach something, it comes across different as when you sing it. And that's what I've experienced in my journey. Even like I told you earlier, writing with the veterans, you sing it and it's a little more believable and it's not so offensive and it's not so slap in the face. And so I try to communicate in the best way, like you said, a crossover. I don't want to deliberately say, like, writing a song about your mom or dad, you don't want to put their name in there because then that person can't like, oh, well, my mom's not named this. I'm not going to listen to the song.

Sue Donaldson [00:18:28]:

Yeah.

Laurel Taylor [00:18:28]:

I try to relate in every possible way I can to the listener, and I communicate a melody that they can't get out of their head.

Sue Donaldson [00:18:37]:

That's my goal. Wow.

Laurel Taylor [00:18:42]:

Yeah.

Sue Donaldson [00:18:43]:

I'm writing this down. So communicate a melody that they can't get out of their head. Isn't that every songwriter's goal? Because they want you thinking about yes. My brother is a songwriter, so I can't wait for him to hear this. I also have him on my podcast, so I'll send that to you. But he's not famous like you, but he is wonderful like you. And he'll put already he'll put new music to words that were written by somebody else.

Laurel Taylor [00:19:12]:

Yeah.

Sue Donaldson [00:19:13]:

And he's such a great guitar guitarist. It's so great okay. Communicating that they can't get out of their head, which is really what God, he doesn't want to be out of our head. So if you can communicate who Jesus is through a song, in a beautiful song there's something about music, at least for me, it touches my heart and makes me cry. I cry more now that I'm older, but even when I was younger, to belt out a Broadway tune. I mean, let me tell you, there's certain songs you just don't want to sing because you don't feel like crying. But they do get to your hearts, right?

Laurel Taylor [00:19:44]:

Yeah.

Sue Donaldson [00:19:45]:

Are there any particular instances when you knew God and let's say in the last since you've come back to Nashville? How many years has that been?

Laurel Taylor [00:19:54]:

Two.

Sue Donaldson [00:19:55]:

In the last two years, let's say, where you knew God was working through your singing or your songwriting in a secular situation?

Laurel Taylor [00:20:07]:

Yeah. Oh, my gosh.

Sue Donaldson [00:20:09]:

Tell us one.

Laurel Taylor [00:20:10]:

So I was on this podcast. It was a podcastradio in Nashville, and they play everything from everything except for anything that's positive. Truly.

Sue Donaldson [00:20:28]:

Okay.

Laurel Taylor [00:20:28]:

I don't even care.

Sue Donaldson [00:20:30]:

They hear that I'm going to take your picture. How did they happen to have you host? You your agent.

Laurel Taylor [00:20:40]:

Yes.

Sue Donaldson [00:20:40]:

But they knew in advance that you were a Christian.

Laurel Taylor [00:20:43]:

Yes. And they said yes because of the sound of the music. The genre is what they were going for. I show up, and it was very stressful inside. I don't show it.

Sue Donaldson [00:21:03]:

I hope you don't feel stressful right now.

Laurel Taylor [00:21:05]:

No.

Sue Donaldson [00:21:06]:

Take it.

Laurel Taylor [00:21:07]:

Not even a little bit.

Sue Donaldson [00:21:08]:

Me neither.

Laurel Taylor [00:21:09]:

But he basically the host. He said, Tell us about your song. And I was like, Well, I'm always looking for opportunities to talk about the Lord in the coolest way I can, the most simple way. And I was like, well, you know, the song is called Sound of Freedom. And there's freedom there's freedom that we need there's a victory there's a cry. I was just going and I was like, there's hope. And he was like, you're a very positive person. Yeah. And I said and it's all because of Jesus. And I didn't realize I said that. And they kind of like did they bleep it out? No, they just kind of push past it and was like, okay, so tell us about your music. And I was like, it's very positive. It's very influential and encouraging. Like, I want to bring a good message. And they were nice, but I'll never do that again because they told me, they said, My gosh, you're so positive. It's like, can you be negative? Like, they were kind of like pushing back. Yeah, pushing back.

Sue Donaldson [00:22:17]:

And were they mocking you?

Laurel Taylor [00:22:19]:

Maybe.

Sue Donaldson [00:22:20]:

Yeah, but see, that but, Laurel, that's okay because Jesus was mocked.

Laurel Taylor [00:22:25]:

Yeah.

Sue Donaldson [00:22:25]:

So you're in good company, but you will know whether or not you should do it again.

Laurel Taylor [00:22:29]:

And I know for a fact never again.

Sue Donaldson [00:22:31]:

Okay.

Laurel Taylor [00:22:32]:

That I was there to be a light.

Sue Donaldson [00:22:35]:

Yeah.

Laurel Taylor [00:22:36]:

That's all.

Sue Donaldson [00:22:37]:

Yeah, well, and that already was broadcast. Was it broadcast live? It was live, but you don't know. We don't know because you sowed seeds that day. Jesus sowed seeds through you, who was listening, who still hasn't forgotten it.

Laurel Taylor [00:22:52]:

Right?

Sue Donaldson [00:22:53]:

And I even mean the interview earth because they put on a good show. But when they are alone, if they are honest, they are honest with their emptiness. And that goes for anyone listening here today. That when we are alone and we're honest with our emptiness. That's when we throw ourselves on Jesus breast. And we all need to do that. It doesn't matter how long we've known Him. Are there singular challenges or temptations in a performer's life that, let's say, someone like me, a high school English teacher, wouldn't face?

Laurel Taylor [00:23:29]:

I think a lot as musicians and artists that take a platform, it's an ego thing, it's a pride thing. I think we all go through pride, but it's a very different, like, look at me, I deserve this, and I have to die to that all the time. I know that I'm nothing without the Lord, and I'm nothing without his lyrics, his melodies. He could literally mess my voice up as soon as I open my mouth. And so it's not in my own strength, it's in his. And it can be very hard and very challenging. Especially the bigger the venue, the bigger the experience, the bigger I mean, you want to stay grounded. You don't want it to get in your head. And especially the people that treat me like, oh, my gosh. And it's like if you knew who I was on a daily basis, I'm just chilling.

Sue Donaldson [00:24:30]:

I remember once when we were looking for a new worship pastor in our church, and I was in the choir at the time, and I just said, the main attribute needs to be humility, because the man or woman is going to be on the platform, literally on the platform above others. And we do that so we can see them, right. But it can go to our heads. I'm a speaker, so it can go to my head. And so it's so ridiculous if you think about it. But it's a temptation that a lot of celebrity Christians have, and you just want to pray for them like I want to pray for our pastoral staff and that they will remember that God has given them any talents or leadership skills that they have. And that's exactly what you just said. And what helps you stay intimate with Jesus?

Laurel Taylor [00:25:20]:

Yeah. One is I set aside time my own self before or after the show, and I go into a space by myself. That's one thing I do that I like to be removed from the crowd. Another thing I like to do is I am not a person that likes to feed myself musically with trash just because it's a good melody or as it could be like no. I really try to keep it hopeful and restoring and feeling my soul. I do travel, leading worship all over, so I am fed by several churches, several pastors, several communities that I trust and I love, and then just prayer talking to him like he's your best friend and not really complicating it, over complicating it. And with my manager, we have this thing that don't ever forget. I want to help set up my booth. I want to help set up I want to carry my guitar, those kinds of things. Like don't let it get to your head. You're just there.

Sue Donaldson [00:26:39]:

Did you say agent?

Laurel Taylor [00:26:41]:

Yeah.

Sue Donaldson [00:26:42]:

Is your agent a believer?

Laurel Taylor [00:26:44]:

Yes, 100%.

Sue Donaldson [00:26:46]:

That makes a difference, I'm sure.

Laurel Taylor [00:26:48]:

It's so much like minded. It's so easier.

Sue Donaldson [00:26:51]:

Yeah. Where do you think God is leading you in your career and ministry?

Laurel Taylor [00:26:58]:

I think he's taking me a crossover. I think he's taking me secular music. It's scary because that's where I started and I really screwed up. And so for Him to take me there again, it's like he trusts me. And I know that I can hear it. I can hear it even in how I talk about it. I'm so trusted by God and I believe he trusts me with what he's given me. And I know that I'm going to do it the right way. Yes, I will fail, but I know that God is there with me and he's going to help me through every situation and I don't have to figure it out.

Sue Donaldson [00:27:37]:

And if not, your mother will call you. Yeah. And remind you. As you know, my podcast is about living a legacy life, and normally I don't well, I do. I have interviewed people your age because when you think of someone older, that's when you think of legacy. But I think we don't wait until we die, Laurel, to leave a good legacy. So what we do daily is what counts. So what legacy do you want to be known for now? For those who know and love you?

Laurel Taylor [00:28:03]:

Honestly, I've thought about this and thought about this, and I just want to be kind. I want them to literally say, because I'm really big into the church, is like super hurtful right now and it's sad. I want to be known as a believer that loves Jesus with all their heart and would go to the ends just to help that person no matter what. And I always want to put myself last and I don't know, I just want to be seen different. I don't want to be categorized as she's a church girl because you can't relate to all those people that don't go to church or have never heard about you. And I found myself in a lot of those situations and they're like, you're just different. I don't feel like you're judging me and I'm like, why would I judge you? All I can do is love you.

Sue Donaldson [00:29:08]:

I don't know if you've read Oswald Chambers My Utmost verse Highest, but one thing he says is that we lead the aroma of Christ when we've left the room. And that's what I want because I love the whole idea of people seeing Jesus through me without me having to say it. But we still need to say it when it's time like you did on that radio station. Doesn't mean you have to go there again so that they go, oh, there's something different. I go, well, it's not me. What you're sensing is the Holy Spirit. That might be too weird for them at the time, but yes, it is through our kindness, the scripture, Jesus said, they'll know your Christians by our love. And yet that is not what the church is known for right now. But they do throw the baby out with about bathwater. I do think at times too, it's like, oh, don't make that an excuse to stay home and watch it online. Right. And how do you go about making sure that people know that you are kind?

Laurel Taylor [00:30:05]:

I walk in it even before I get to venues or things even on the sides. I want to pray for people. I want to pray for the ones that host me. I want to pray for the staff, the volunteers, all those things. I pray for those opportunities because those are the relationships and those are the things that people are going to remember. They're not going to say she did a great 45 minutes show. No, she told me about this and prayed for me on the side. If I ever get to a place where I'm not doing that, then I have not fulfilled what God's called me to do.

Sue Donaldson [00:30:41]:

Amen. So great. And what challenges, well, you've already mentioned some, but or obstacles have you faced in order to leave this kind of legacy of kindness and love?

Laurel Taylor [00:30:55]:

I would say it's because I wasn't kind before living for the Lord. I was making fun of Christians. I was doing everything that the opposite. And to be able to love people well, it's because I know how to love myself well and I know where I can remember where I was at the time and how I want to be told that exact truth in however I needed to hear it. And so it's like I put myself in that position every single time I'm. Talking to someone that needs to hear it.

Sue Donaldson [00:31:34]:

That's so good. Some people think, oh, I can't really say that I love myself. Well, but you said it with such calmness. I know that that's based in the fact that when I'm secure in who I am with Jesus, I don't think about myself at all. And that's one thing that CS. Lewis said. It's not like you think less of yourself, you just don't think of yourself at all. And we don't need to laurel because Jesus already showed how much he loved us. So there's no really reason. It doesn't mean I don't go get a pedicure. I do like some self care, but as far as I think a lot of people hurting other people, even in the church, is because they are not secure in how much Jesus loves them. So our job in this security is to continue to reassure them even though they may annoy us. Like, I get annoyed with those kind of people, but I thought, well, what they need more is not my irritation. They need assurance that God loves them just as they are. So my favorite question, how does your life embody God's welcoming heart?

Laurel Taylor [00:32:32]:

I've really been thinking about this. Okay. So I just want to make sure I got it right. Ask it one more time, because how.

Sue Donaldson [00:32:41]:

Does your life embody God's? Welcome.

Laurel Taylor [00:32:45]:

Yes. So I get put into a lot of situations where Jesus is not exactly welcome. And I believe that it says, wherever we walk is kingdom ground. We take on it. That kingdom ground. And so when I'm sent somewhere, I believe that is the open door to give God the glory. And it's really hard, well, obviously through my gift, but honestly, this is going to sound like, really dumb, but it's through. Like, when I open my mouth, when I speak, sometimes it's by my actions, and I don't say anything. It's just how the Holy Spirit guides me in the moment. Not everybody's going to listen, and not everybody's just going to not listen, so it's how they need to hear it. But I always give God the reins when I'm somewhere, always. Even when I'm scared, even when I don't want to, even when I know he's about to embarrass me. I just have to. Because we submit to God, we're not accountable to others.

Sue Donaldson [00:34:15]:

We don't live for the approval of man. And yet even Christians, well, with all social media, it's so easy to get caught up with that. Gosh, Laura, I want to pray for you right now. I rarely do that on air, but you're young and you are mature beyond your years in Christ and you know who you are, and so Satan is kind of mad about that. And I hope you have a team around you, a prayer team. I have, like, 42 women who pray for me. Some men when I go speak, and they feel part of my team and I'm not a celebrity, but I don't want to ever speak without them knowing that I'm about ready to get up on a platform as we talked about before, because I could really mess up. And I don't mean mess up like I do a poor job, though, that could happen. I mess up that God would not get the glory. That's what's messing up.

Laurel Taylor [00:35:11]:

So let's pray.

Sue Donaldson [00:35:13]:

Father, I just want to ask again, your covering over wonderful Laurel Taylor. Thank you for the gifts you've given her. Thank you that she's confident in them. Thank you that you are opening up opportunities to cross over, because that's what Jesus did when he came to Earth. He crossed over in the real sense of the word. And it's not going to always be easy, as she knows. I pray, Lord, that you'll raise up friends and family who will take it as their duty and delight to support her and that she'll never feel alone. Lord, thank you for these opportunities and I know I'll hear more about her in the future because of what you're going to do through and in her life, Lord. Just bless her in every way that she wants to be blessed in ways that she doesn't even know. In Jesus name, amen.

Laurel Taylor [00:36:00]:

Amen.

Sue Donaldson [00:36:01]:

Thank you so much, Laura. You're great. How can people find you and where can they listen to your music?

Laurel Taylor [00:36:08]:

Yeah, you can find all my music on all platforms. Apple Music spotify amazon Music You can please follow me on Instagram, Laureltaler official, and then you can check out my website, laureltalermusic.com.

Sue Donaldson [00:36:22]:

Okay, thank you so much. It's been a delight.

Laurel Taylor [00:36:24]:

Thanks.

Sue Donaldson [00:36:25]:

Until next time, think about your legacy, the one God has called you to live all, for heaven's sake. I would love to speak at your next Christian Women's event, see my keynotes and retreat series as well as the show notes from today's broadcast@welcomeheart.com. Thanks for coming. You're always welcome here.