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Follow Jesus, not Man……(The Lord is my Shepherd!)

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A little about “proving yourself” by Laura Grace

I’ve been praying about why I get so “stressed out” at times, and I realized it usually has to do with trying to “prove myself” in some way. This is so different from just living IN Christ IN the Secret Place, where we know we are beloved and cherished by him! #beloved#Godschosen#jesuslovesyou

It’s like, we know God approves us, he’s working with us on our rough edges and talking to us about areas where we need to press in, work harder at this or that, and along comes a person who thinks or decides, we need to listen to THEM because hey, they know what we should be doing or not doing. #JesusIsLord

It’s not that we should have a bad attitude, like unteachable “renegade” type stuff, but at the same time, I have found I can lose myself in trying to please everyone, and there is a whole lot of opinions out there that sound good (or right) but are not what God is wanting to work on (in our lives) right now. #followjesuschrist

I have decided I want to bless my husband with Good Food, so if he says I didn’t get it right, I will (by my own free will) make adjustments and try to make his food better. HOWEVER if he demanded that of me, made me feel I am not worthy to be his wife unless I can cook just right, well, then we have a problem!

I grew up with a mom that wanted everything cleaned perfectly right, and it was “Perfectionism” that I obeyed because I was her child, and that was the rules. As I got older, I realized my house did not have to be perfect to be okay, and I adjusted to God’s grace on the matter. He isn’t asking for perfect, he isn’t asking me to forsake everything else in life to have “the perfect house” but on the other hand, HE is asking me to be a good steward of what he gave me.

So what happens is, people with a critical eye, who are likely critical of themselves, and do not UNDERSTAND how God really thinks, come a long and tell us how we are not getting it right in some area of our lives, and in doing so, bring discouragement, despair, and become like the people in Galatians who were “cutting in on people” and getting them to run a different race. Not the race of following Jesus, taking on HIS yoke and learning from him, but the endless race of trying to make other people happy, and they never are!!!

Because the truth is, people with rules and opinions that have nothing to do with what GOD is asking of us, wind up being stumbling blocks instead of helping us in our walk with Him.

Come on now! we know the difference between a loving person encouraging us to do it God’s way, (even if it hurts sometimes) and a person who is critically shaking a bony religious finger at us, telling us how we missed the mark, and they are so great and we are so stupid and small. Please don’t tell me to listen to people like that, because I WON”T.

We don’t have to prove ourselves to them!

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD! NOT THEM! 😎They are not the boss! God is! “Help us Father” to stay IN YOU and OF YOU!! AMEN

Help us not to fear those who think they are “all that”. AMEN

John 10:27-28 “no man shall pluck them out of my hand.”

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THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! (LIGHT)

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1 John Walk in the Light

We look for closure, Justice, Healing and things that do not seem to be happening and the devil is right there to magnify it, and tell us “you’re not okay, just admit it and accept defeat.”

LIGHT (from God) also represents HIS truth. HIS view point. The true light of God will always give us Hope. He is not Darkness, he is light. Everything of the enemy lives in the dark (Hopelesness, Sorrow, Defeat) but God wants to chase it away from us and show us there is HOPE! BLESSING! RESTORATION! HEALING!! LIFE!!!!

So This morning God was showing me “look for the light!” IN other words, those little blessings that shine through, grab it, think about it, take time to Praise God for every little thing he does!

What he WANTS TO DO is increase that light in your life until you can see for a thousand miles! Until you truly forget the sorrow and see that he has plans to prosper you, not to harm you, and wants to give you a hope and a future! Don’t let the enemy tell you God is not good! The Light of God’s truth shows you almost 100 percent of people who hurt you didn’t do it on purpose. They were blind, they were in the dark, they knew not what they did. The light of God says I LOVE YOU And I want you to walk in the light (1 John) as I am in the light! I want you to see it through MY EYES Not your own!!!!

THIS is the repentance he wants “turn from your own thinking” WALK IN THE LIGHT! You thought you were, but if you have hatred in your heart for those who don’t agree with you, you are decieved! The evil one wants you to hate people who hurt you. God wants you to see it all through HIS eyes and wants you to be FREE to love people again to have HOPE again, To be Fresh like a new born baby full of wonder and Joy. That’s what he wants for you! It’s his Kingdom! JOY PEACE RIGHTEOUSNESS and yes………Love. 🙏👑-Holy Spirit come! Let there be LIGHT In everyone who hears this!

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The Army of God……

Laura GraceLeave a comment

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The Armed Forces of God: (you are not a nobody). 🙏a little sermon by Laura ….

I was in the military, so I experienced first hand, the little kid attitudes that sometimees happen in that arena. Marines thought they were better than everyone, Navy people often looked down on the Air Force, and so on and so forth. It was all based on how hard their training was, and the harder it was, the more “elite” they felt and a sense of superiority. I’m not stupid. I know ‘Uppity” when I see it!! 😮

But my text is more about this passage of scripture “To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” Ephesians 1 So who is he talking to? “The church” and who is the church? Just your church? or the church of Jesus, which is anyone and everyone who is in HIM and saved BY HIM.

Unity does not mean we have to agree on everything. The training for each of our “Armed forces” departments is different. Specialized, according to what job they will be doing. EVERY person matters! Every station needs to be covered.

I see my military training as being A LOT like when we get saved. We are adopted, belong to Jesus now. It’s time to learn his ways, and not be like everyone else in the world. They are called “civilians.” ☺️

That’s exactly what happens in the military. You are married to that job now, and your life belongs to them. At times you march in unison, you salute your captain (or Generals) and you know you are part of something bigger than yourself.

People are “assigned” and given orders as to what they will be doing and where they belong, and are entrusted to do whatever it is (With Honor) and if you refuse, you can get what is called a “dishonorable discharge.” The difference is, Jesus is the commander of his Army, but HE is always fair!! Righteous, & Just!

You are never a nobody, no matter what anyone else says. God wants to honor you, invest in you, take care of you, and assign you to certain places and have you gaurd and watch over that territory.

He is the one who will reward you for doing a good job (wherever he has assigned you). He notices when people around you are unjust, treat you like you are nobody, and refuse to acknowledge who you are in his Kingdom. He WILL deal with them in his own good time. But remember this: Your job is to do what he tells you!

When Paul said “I beat myself into submission, lest I become a castaway” that’s another way of saying “I don’t want a dishonorable discharge.” Good soldiers endure hardship” (2 Timothy 2:3).

I know this is a difficult word, but honestly, people mistreating us is not a reason to give up on what God assigned us to do!!

“Father in the name of Jesus, “YOU ARE” Commander of your army. I ask you to assign my duties to me and show me what YOU want me to do. And help me do it! Everyday! IN Jesus’ name!! AMEN

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God is Faithful

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Drawing Near to God (day 3) By Laura Grace

God is faithful, even when we are not. He sees the journey we have embarked on, wanting to know him. I was studying Matthew 16 today, thinking about How Peter was commended by Jesus for saying out loud what the Father Revealed: “YOU ARE THE CHRIST”

Later in that same chapter, Jesus rebuked him and said “get behind me satan” because Peter disagreed that Jesus had to go to the cross. Suffering the cross had to happen, for Jesus to save us all.What is your Cross (so to speak?)

For some, it looks like the devil is winning, while you continue on, crucifying the flesh and refusing to deny God and his power to save! Is God going to be faithful to get you through it?

Of course he is! Jesus did not say we would not suffer tribulation in this world. He said if we suffer WITH him we will also rule with him.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 That is God being Faithful! He himself will restore you. 🙏😎🥰

Just because you are “going through it” does not mean you won’t win (IN HIM).

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If you are ever called to speak…..

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Hi Everyone 🙂 If you are ever called to speak, lead a home group, “called upon” and need a resource,

I have started a series of books (Sermons) to help you out. This is part 1, and the paperback version is

coming soon! (Lord Willing) as it’s been published and is in review. I would really appreciate prayer,

as I’ve been writing books for 16 years this year! My sales seem pretty minimal, mostly because there

are SO many people out there writing books, and I can’t afford the advertisements.

I’m just a girl from MT doing what God said to do “WRITE” “SPEAK” Get my word out there!

How I am different: I LIVE as a minister for the Lord, even tho I am not hired as a Pastor of a church.

I grew in God when it was more popular to get EDUCATED about God.

Growing is knowing (Your Father) better than you’ve ever known him before!

With Love to you all

The Lord bless and Keep you!!

Laura

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Abraham And Lot & Sodom and Gomorrah

Laura GraceLeave a comment

I’ve always been fascinated with the story of Lot and Abraham, and ponder it often. When I first read the story of Lot’s escape (Genesis 19) I was horrified to see he offered up his daughters for sex, in his attempt to defend the angels he was entertaining, unaware. Sometimes bible stories are a little shocking!

The two men who came to stay with him were really Angels sent to destroy Sodom And Gomorrah, as he found out later.

Prior to this, in Genesis 13, we see how Lot came to be in this place. Abraham (Abram at that time) and he were havng disagreements, as the land was not large enough to accomodate both of their families, and herds. Abram suggested they seperate, to stop the quarrelling. Incidentally, Abram’s name was changed to Abraham (by God himself) In Genesis 17.

Abram means “exalted Father” where Abraham means “Father of Multitudes.”. All that aside, he generously told Lot he could choose first, if he would go to the right or the left, and Abram (his uncle) would go the other way. Lot chose the pleasant looking land, (in my mind, being a little selfish)

While Abram had a surrendered attitude towards God. 2 Peter 2-8 describes Lot as a “righteous man” so I really pressed in toward God (many years ago) In Prayer. “How can he be righteous?” I Inquired boldly toward the Lord. “He was going to let the men “have their way” with his daughters, he chose the better (more pleasant land) and he did not (like Abram) Build and Altar when he got to his new home.

God honored Abram’s prayers and saved him, but here is what the Lord pointed out to me “Lot was distressed and vexed, over the depraved conduct of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.”

His heart was not in alignment with the wickedness going on around him. And yet, he had to live there, because it was the place he had chosen to be. God notices, when he sees righteousness in a person.

Maybe you aren’t all the way there, maybe you are not “Perfect” and perhaps not as obedient as someone else (such as Abraham) but God will STILL give you credit for at least having your feet in the waters of life.🙏Abraham challenges us to go deeper…….

In Fact, if we really did recieve the gift of Salvation Jesus died for, he sees you are righteous, right now. That does not mean however, that you will not be challenged to make a different choice than whatever you have done in the past.

Lot got a clear warning from two angels (sent by God) “Get out of this city, God is going to destroy it.” In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus mentions Sodom and Gomorrah again, as he says…

“For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” Let that sink in for a moment.

Therefore, we have a bit of a clue, as to why we don’t see miracles as often as we’d like. There is great responsiblity that goes with seeing miracles.

God is merciful and kind, but he is also “Righteous Judge” and he is not a pushover. He expects His loving kindness toward you to lead to repentance.

“Father, let the Holy Fear and reverance toward you, return to your people today,” In Jesus’ name……..I pray. “Wake up” those who slumber to realize you are Holy, that you don’t always “get down to our level” but lift us up to see YOUR Viewpoint on things we don’t understand.” In Jesus’ name! AMEN

-Laura Grace This message is from my book of Sermons (coming soon).

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What is “The Land of Milk and Honey”

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Exodus 3:8 The Land of Milk and Honey (Sunday Sermon)

““I have come down to bring them up from that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…”

I’ve had a couple of people challenge me recently, leading me to believe they think I believe in some “blab it and grab it” God makes you rich “just because you want him to” type of doctrine.

In fact, the exact words from both were “I don’t believe in the prosperity doctrine.” I’m going to start with one of my favorite passages of scripture: Psalm 1:3 “”He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.”

I want to be clear about what I believe. John 1:2 also says, we will prosper as our soul prospers. Abundant life, a state of well-being, and thriving are key words here to define what God meant.

Can God’s blessing make one rich? Certainly! But the overall picture he wants to paint is “Thriving” “More than enough” “Cups Overflowing.” He is not calling everyone to be Joseph. He isn’t saying everyone is going to be a millionaire, or billionaire.

I honestly don’t see how we can believe in prosperity, without first being thankful for what God has given us already.

The stark contrast here, is he wanted to take them from being slaves in Egypt, to being able to plant vineyards, own the land, and be healthy enough to do it.

When I first asked God “if it was true” he wanted to prosper me, he started giving me cheese blessings, out of the blue. I prayed for cheese with my young son, the next time I went to church, a woman walked up to me and said, “This is going to sound crazy, but do you want some cheese?” I started to cry…………

Tears running down my face, “I prayed for that” I said. It was God’s proof to me he wanted MORE for me than what I was experiencing at that time. Desperate poverty, feeling like I had to beg for help.

Not only that, I felt like a complete slave to the welfare system. So yes, I prayed for prosperity, A home of my own, to be able to work and stay in one place, and have butter, and cheese, and good things to eat.

Not the pot of soybean stew I got from the food bank in my survival days. Not the moldy twinkies I also got from the food bank (another time). I trust God to provide, to heal me, to help us get our vehicle fixed, and when I give (when I can’t afford it by human standards) Yes, I believe for a harvest.

This does not put me in a category with those who stand on a platform, promising if you give a seed of 1000.00 to THEM today you are going to prosper. I listen to the Holy Spirit, and sometimes he tells me to give more than I think I can afford.

If I do what he says, his promise says, “He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord” (Proverbs 19:17) and he WILL return it! If you want to translate that into “giving to get” then go right ahead, but I am standing on the Promises of God.

My Point is: Don’t throw away the promises of God in your life, just because someone mishandled it in the way it was presented. Are there those who use scripture to extort from others, who even convince people everyone will be rich (as in excessive wealth) just because you “claim it?”

Yes. And we all know it’s not true. If everyone were a Joseph, we wouldn’t need a Joseph to take care of the poor. What I see, is God doesn’t give people excessive wealth to roll around in and let others starve and go without (especially in the Body of Christ!!).

I can prove that too: 2 Corn 8:14 “Your abundance supplies someone else’s lack.” I believe in the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not picking and choosing the parts you like. Being over the top about prosperity is as bad as being “Fire and Brimstone” and thinking the whole gospel is about suffering and dying to self.

God is not a God of extremes. He wants us complete, mature, lacking nothing (especially not lacking in understanding of his word!) I hope this clarifies “What Laura Believes” at least a little.

Milk — A staple food in ancient times, often from goats, sheep, or cows. It symbolized nourishment, vitality, and agricultural richness. Fertile pastures supporting healthy livestock meant the land could sustain life

Honey — In biblical times, this often-meant date honey or fruit syrups, not bee honey. It represented sweetness, pleasure, and cultural prosperity, indicating abundant fruit trees and stable conditions. Be grateful today if you have butter, honey & Milk!

-Laura Grace, minister of the Lord, and his servant

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Gaurd your Heart

Laura Grace1 Comment

I’ve said this before , and I will say it again. People who are jealous, may do a lot of harm! There are times I have had much harm done to me because of jealousy and envy, but I’m still alive, unlike poor Abel, who was killed by his brother! 😳

Sometimes justice looks like this: you forgive them, you prayed for them, and God did not allow you to be destroyed! On top of that, he will give you a ministry to bless & comfort others.

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Entering his Rest (Psalm 91)

Laura GraceLeave a comment

The Secret Place #5 “REST!” Do you see the parallel between Isaiah 30:15 and Jesus saying “come to me, I will give you rest? I was reading God’s heart this morning in Isaiah 30. A very convicting word! 🤗

I was thinking about all the times I let my flesh, or my mind convince me “I gotta do something about this, right now!!! And then wondered why God didn’t help me fix it! And then, got all in a tizzy about it! When he said the whole time: “WAIT!” “TRUST” “give me the reigns” ………..and I didn’t listen………😇

He was saying “I wanted you to be quiet and wait on me, but you said “NO, We will flee on horses!!” “Therefore your pursuers will be swift!” (VS 16) We can run, we can fight or we can Hide IN HIM! (Until he says to do something) And when he does we will have peace about it! AMEN?

God’s council is to wait, to trust, even when we THINK we need to do something about it! How often have we fallen for the bait of satan that says “You gotta fix this?”

Peace is a pearl of great price! We should not surrender it to or for anyone! “Help us Father” to fight the right fight! And “be in the right” WITH YOU and your word! 🙏😎

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Who are you listening to?

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Be careful who you listen to: by Laura Grace (Book of Sermons)

Criticism: The word means a type of judgment or analysis, or it can be fault finding.

There are two main kinds, destructive and constructive:

The destructive kind will make you feel small, ashamed, and defensive. Furthermore, it will leave you feeling hopeless. 😢

Jesus was constructive when he talked to the churches in Revelation 2. He told them what they did right (first) then he specifically spoke of what grieved him, and what to do about it.

He gave them hope, He gave them a solution.He was talking to HIS people! Lord, help us to not be a voice that brings shame, condemnation or hopelessness! EVER!! In Jesus’ name!! AMEN 🔥🔥

Rev 2 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Then he says “Consider, and repent.” 🙏🔥

He urges us to repent (turn around, change our mind) but he always does it in love. Jesus is not the author of shame or condemnation.

If someone left you feeling hopeless, it was not of God. I don’t care who they think they are or how right they believe themselves to be. Let your first love be Jesus. Allow him to erase the shame.

We need to take accountability for who we listen to, who we give heed to, and tune in to the voice of the Shepherd, Jesus himself! Eventually he will ask, who were you listening to? And why? 🙏🥰

Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen to me, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you.”