Miss Lawrence
Appearances
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
No, you're right. No, you're right. It happens on its own. And I'm going to tell you, As a child, what my mother did give me was principles. And that there is a source that you go to in a time of trouble, when you need clarity, to be patient while you're waiting on clarity, and to know that that source, which is God, loves you unconditionally more than anything and anybody in this world.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And that is your best friend. I kept that with me, and to never lie. I always tell people, my momma always, don't you tell no lie, don't you lie about nothing. That's me and my boys, that's me and my boys. Don't you tell a lie about nothing. Now in that,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Me, understanding that you should never be a liar, I never did that, which is why I get to sit here as my whole self, because I would never lie about who I was. So in that, I learned, because of that I know who I am.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Here's the piece. It was conflicting at first until I got older. And this is what I mean when I say it all, it just comes together. But because I had those fundamental principles when I was there. I kept it with me, and then it made sense later. It was conflicting, but that is why we are to study on our own and show our own selves.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Because the Holy Spirit will show you things that your teacher or your pastor may not be able to convey to you. They can give you the word, but until you sit and you sit in it and reflect on it, and you ask God and the Holy Spirit to show you what that means, that's when you'll get it. And only life experience will lead you to that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Unfortunately, we get put in situations where we have nobody else and nothing else to turn to. And that's when it clicks. And that's where that word comes from, trying for yourself. When you're trying for yourself, nobody can change my mind about God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I don't care. If I go out with a full ball gown on and lashes from here to P Street, can't nobody tell me that God ain't still with me. That's right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And going back to this King James thing. Oh, that's right. We were talking about that. We were talking about that. I told him not to start.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I mean, no, but when you talk about it, When you talk about the Quran, talk about the King James version of the Bible. If you look through, I've never read the Quran, but I understand. I have friends that are Muslim. All of it is extremely misogynistic. The King James was... from what I understand in my interpretation, was very anti-women. Which is why everything is thy man and thy brother.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And to your point, I'm like, well, from my own experience, it was women that gave me what I needed. And I will never forget, I remember hearing Debbie Alice say one time at an award show, she said, every person living and breathing should pledge allegiance to the birth canal.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
That is a fact. That is a fact. So what I believe is that you will see them pearly gates or whatever that really looks like, based on how you serve. Because at the end of the day, what I long to hear, and I think everybody should long to hear, is job well done, my good and faithful servant.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And when I hear, accept Lord and Jesus Christ as your personal savior, It's the way of what he was and how he operated, which was serve. That is what we're supposed to do. And so I tell people all the time, at the end of the day, Did you give somebody water when they were thirsty? Did you give them clothes when they were naked? Did you give them food when they were hungry?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Don't forget that. I'm going to be honest. I really feel like when you check all those boxes and you know from where your help comes and you acknowledge the source as such, God won't forsake you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But then, you know... Y'all call her Brenda. Brenda. You know, you... It's okay.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But the NIV was written, wasn't that like by multiple people? Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Well, that's what I was going to say. You take from it, and then you go to God. Because You can't listen to people to tell you who God is. You will learn him for yourself. And once that happens, then when you go back to those, whichever book it is, and then you seek him, it will then make sense. The words, all of it will come together and it'll make sense. I tell people, to me,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
the original was written in hebrew and greek right and most of the words don't translate so none of the words don't translate so nobody can tell me anything based off what they have right now i do believe in in prophets and i believe in anointing i agree i agree right i will listen to those people because that doesn't come from a book that doesn't come from about don't come that comes from god
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And he says, touch not mine, nor to do my profit no harm. So I'm going to sit and listen to them. Not based on...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
the book because that means god has given them something to give to us yeah and i'm going to pay attention to them which is why that goes back to what i said i asked god to point me in the direction of the of the teacher that he needs me to hear from yeah i always ask for this yeah i think it's a good one well i look i'm here i'm here yeah yeah yeah because i i
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
So my thing is, yes, it is... They... They lend and teach and everything from the Bible. However, I think because there is a special anointing when it comes to prophets.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I just said, if I go out with a full ball gown on and lashes from here to P Street, can't nobody tell me that God ain't still with me. That's right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
So it all worked together.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But I have to ask you this. Were there moments where he sent you signs that, I still got you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Because I'm in the middle of that now, but go ahead.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Several times. The first time where I really, really... had a moment where he like sent somebody. I had never experienced this before. I was in the process of, I had this idea to open up a chain of new salons when I was in the beauty, I was in the beauty industry and I wanted to open up a chain of new salons. At this time, I was also on the show Star.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
We were in our, I think we were in our first season, maybe second season. I was like, I wanna do this, I wanna do this. while thinking I'm about to do these salons, my body is getting extremely tired. My mind is getting really tired. I'm starting to become sick because I'm juggling being an actor, becoming a better actor, which you know, takes practice, takes, you know, patience.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But I was also a full-time hairstylist at the same time. So I literally was
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
scheduling clients around what my film schedule would be and then when i got off from the salon i had to go home and study my lines and stuff to get to work and make sure i deliver properly um so i was becoming sick so i had this idea i said well if i open up start the first chain of these salons that could essentially just kind of run themselves i don't really have to be there that'll set me up where i could really walk away so i went around i kept looking for spaces i'm like this is a great space i never had a problem i could i could open a salon with my eyes closed
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But this time, every new space I found, we would get there, almost there, where I'm about to, they're about to send me a lease, and they're like, oh, the developer said they don't want to do a salon here. It would be all kind of crazy stuff, back to back. I'm like, what is going on? And I'm still very tired. Now I'm questioning. I'm like, well, God, what is going on? What is this? Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I remember talking to one of my spiritual sisters one time and she said, and I told her, I said, I don't know what to do. I said, I'm tired and my body is breaking down. Like literally, I was turning dark, losing weight. It was terrible. And she said, you need to pray. I said, I have. She said, no, no. You have to go have a moment. That's right. Yeah. And I said, okay.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And I said, well, maybe I haven't done that because we get caught up in our heart and ourselves sometimes and don't do what we know we're supposed to do. And that is go to the source. So I went home that night, cut off everything. And I got on my knees, I lit my candles and I just prayed and I said, God, I need you to show me. I need you to tell me what it is that I need to be doing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
What is it you want? What do you see for me? And I left it there. I left it. I cried out. I left it there. Two months later, I was sitting in Houston's. At this time, it was on Lenox Road. This woman stops by my booth. I was with one of my closest friends. This lady stops by my booth. I'd never seen her there in my life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
She lays her hand on my shoulder, and she says, stop stressing over that salon. I swear to you, just like that. She says, stop stressing over that salon. I'm thinking, maybe she's a client of mine.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Maybe she's going to one of my stylists and she's maybe had heard me going off in this. I said, do you, are you, do you come to my salon? She said, no. She said, God told me to tell you to let it go. So, I got in the car, I turned on Donnie McClurkin and Dorinda Clark Cole, let it go.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Then I began to write my letter to my clients and then a letter to my staff. And I mean, baby, when I tell you, I had to keep turning because it was wet. And fast forward, got bumped to series regular, you know, got bumped to series regular right after that. You know, I got offered the Billie Holiday movie and, you know, things were great. Now, let me also add.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Every pinnacle moment of my career thus far, I've not had an agent. I've not been able to secure an agent. I've not been able to have proper management because I was always told that I was unusual talent and they don't know what the pitch would be. However, everything I've done has been top tier. Yes. So right there, he showed me, I'm your agent. That's right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But even at that, I still was like, well, God, why? Can you say that to me? I'm like, this person got an agent? This person got an agent? I don't understand. What's the difference? But I left it alone. I said, OK, God, I know. Obviously, you got me. Again, you keep showing me signs. I get a new job or whatever it can be. Fast forward. Now, here we are. We go into a pandemic. Mm-hmm.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Then we go into a strike, the coins have run completely out. I don't have anybody in human form, working on my behalf to secure me new deals and new jobs and stuff. And so for the last two, three years, I don't know, I have literally been operating on my spiritual savings account. We talked about it, but my spiritual savings account.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And that God has placed a village that is so strong and so rich in my life that I have not
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
there are a lot of things that I want for but what you need but everything that I really need and I mean everything from mortgage payments everything from water everything from making sure my mother is taken care of because I lost my father last year and that that was a whole new thing I had to take on and so because I learned
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
From my first experience to not question him and just trust him, while I get uncomfortable a lot. You don't like how it feels. I don't like how it feels. I get very uncomfortable from not having a car to a friend of mine, like, take my car and keep it until you get another one. Like, all of that. As uncomfortable as it's been, I can't explain why I still have a sense of comfort. There's a peace.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Yes. There's a peace that I cannot explain. Yes. I have no lack.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I have no lack, but also no money.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Yeah. And so what God showed me was I am the richest. I am the resource. I provide the abundance.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I'm the supplier of all your needs. Not a job. My gosh. Not a job. No, for sure. And so to answer the question, God has shown up and showed me who he was So many times and through every hard or hurdle or tribulation, you name it. He has he has kept my peace. He's he's given me a sense miracle signs and wonder for me to for me to stay sane and just trust him and it works.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Not yet. I've not come across anything yet where I'm just like, no, that does not align with me. You know, my spirit and I am there. I'm good about taking myself out of the equation when I'm offered a role or but I take my time and get to know who this person is that I'm about to take on. Yeah. And if I feel like like how you go to your father and ask, like, is this someone whose story?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
definitely needs to be told and am I the person to do it and if so I want to fully fully commit if that person whatever insecurities that person might have had give them to me in in that moment you know because I want to do them I want to do them justice um and the only role the role that I felt that the most was when I played Miss Freddie in the United States versus Billie Holiday
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Because he was a person whose name was never spoken because of who he was during the 40s and 50s era. Because he chose to live honest and out loud. And so I wanted to give him everything that I could and that the director would allow me to give.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
He was on set the whole time. And he came by to everybody's trailer. Well, of course you had to say it was okay for him to come in. He came, he prayed and told us why he was doing this, why he was called and all this kind of stuff. And it was, it was, that was, that was quite an experience. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
In all our ways and knowledge, you know?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I think this is my camera here. You got it. Yes. Follow me on social media, Miss Lawrence and my SS Lawrence. I am going into a new journey of real estate while I'm waiting on my next project, which is scheduled to begin in 2025. there is still a working title. I don't know if they're set on the title yet, but I can tell y'all this, because he put it out there. I'm going to be a detective.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I'm going to be your next detective. I'm going to be your next detective on your TV screen, so stay tuned. That's fine. And also, I started a movement, I'm calling it, Plated Purpose, which I created to bridge the gap, or to aid in bridging the gap between the black LGBTQ community and the black straight community.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It's something that I'm very passionate about, something that I think is very necessary. Only because we are so disconnected, and only because we don't fully, really understand understand each other and know each other. So Crystal, thank you for moments like this because this is what it is. And this is very reflective actually of what Play to Purpose is.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
So follow me and stay tuned because there's a lot more coming with Play to Purpose.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
We had a good conversation. I grew up here in Atlanta. I'm not related to pastors or anything like that. I went to church every Sunday with my mama, but My mama was one of those parents that's like, okay, we got to go to church, and then she'd go in there and go to sleep. Go in there and be nodding off. We'd be sitting there, and I learned a lot of scripture.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
by way of repetition from hearing it all the time. I didn't learn to apply it until later. I come to a meeting of the mind and spiritual understanding of what it all meant. My battles with church came when I started singing in church and everybody stood at attention when I sang. But then when I didn't sing, I was frowned upon because of who I was and what I looked like, how I presented myself.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Because as a gender non-conforming or just flaming gay queen, I always put on a little powder or something like that. Now I will put my little suits on for church, all that kind of stuff. But it was gonna be something that was extracted from women's culture. And so, The only time they would see me as human was when I was singing and using my voice. But after that, it was nothing for me, right?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And so I stopped going to church for a very long time and then I picked it back up later. But through that time I understood, okay, I need to go to church to be taught. And I worship in spirit and in truth anywhere that I go. And to a lot of you all's points, what I learned is forcing people to go to church because that's what they say you're supposed to do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And you're supposed to dress this way and dress that way. What I learned from my own journey is that it is true when scripture says that the traditions of man has caused my word to have no effect. Absolutely. And in order to be able to meet people where they are, you have to be in worship, in spirit, in the truth. You'll never learn who I am if I'm not operating in truth.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And so I learned that along my journey. And so I learned who God was and who he was to me and what the spirit meant to me. And it's been incredible since I came to know him on my own. That's dope.