Author: Laura Grace

I was that "unpopular" weird kid, that didn't fit in anywhere, in High School. I guess I never knew my place in life, until Jesus took me in. I've been rejected, misunderstood, left out, bullied, abused, scandalized, and labeled. In 2002 I got on a bus and left a marraige of sixteen years, that was fraught with abuse and heartache. In school, I used to be so afraid to stand in front of the class and speak, my hands would visibly shake, and I could not look at my audience without being terrified. Years later, I find myself leading a school music production, speaking in front of churches, and walking around with confidence, because I know the King of Kings is at my side. My ministry, prayers and blogs are directed toward those who feel like they were never enough. You never fit in. If I can help you in any way, if you need a special speaker to speak hope to the hurting, or if you would like a copy of my Testimony book (Grace to the Rescue) let me know. I am here for you. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Laura-Grace/author/B00DLYKCOQ?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=2ee12b01-8592-43a4-b4b8-daec0a37d906 With Love, Laura I can be reached at sisterzeal@yahoo.com
AA · abidinginthevine · Al Anon · alwayshope · be humble · becoming Christ-like · becoming whole · beingspiritual · bible studies · Bible study · book of sermons by Laura Grace · churchgrowth · growing · growingingrace · Letting go · run the race without weight · Serenity prayer · Serving Jesus · slowing you down · Uncategorized · victoriousinChrist · victoryingod · wisdom · words of wisdom

Why should I let it go? It’s not fair!!! A suprising look into why the serenity prayer is biblical :)

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Serenity Prayer.jpg Greetings! 🙂 Well you may be surprised at what God showed me today. I saw this poster on a friends FB wall, and I thought, “Yes that’s good.”

After awhile I was doing dishes, cleaning, doing housework, and the lights came on! I am always expecting God to reveal to me new things and what he wants to teach me (day by day.). I have built up my faith in this area, I BELIEVE He wants to speak to my heart (daily!). 

With that said, What jumped into my spirit was; THE REASON we feel lighter and more free when we let go, is because we are letting go of grudges, unforgiveness, or wrestling with what we should do about a situation. Let’s say someone was really mean to you? 

Don’t we often think; “We should say something” to them? Or maybe we should never talk to them again? Or maybe we should pray for them endlessly until they “Get convicted?” Whatever the weight is, it will weigh you down! 

check out this passage in Hebrews 12 

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I hate to admit to you how many countless hours I’ve spent in my life, trying to figure out what to do about something.

There are also times someone does something (that throws me for a loop) and it’s a fight to ward off the after effects of their careless words. I think the enemy likes to send those fiery darts mentioned in Ephesians & magnify to us over and over the wrongs people have done to us. “You need to do something!” He accuses, or they will think you are a pansy, or a doormat.” Sometimes we need to do something, and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we need to just LET IT GO. 

Did you ever think about the passage in 1 Corn about love being for YOUR SAKE? (Not so much for others?) The problem with being told we should love more at times is, we think “Why should I? They don’t deserve it!”

Forgiveness is for your sake, not for theirs. If they continue in their ways, they will face the Lord over it. (Or do you not believe this?) YOUR ANGER is a weight, your unforgiveness weighs you down! Your constant obsessions with trying to understand an unreasonable person is like and ankle weight, keeping you from running your race. “LET IT GO NOW” ……….(It’s holding you back) 

It’s a blessing if you do! “Father grant me the serenity to accept what I can’t change, and help me to grow in spite of it all, and help me to just let it go……for my sake for your name’s sake, for everyone’s sake! In Jesus’ name amen -Laura Grace Author, speaker, minister of the Lord, and your friend and companion for the gospel. 

bathesda · cure or healing for emotional pain · emotional healing · healing · jesus healing · Soul healing · take up your mat and walk · Uncategorized

When God spoke to Laura (today)

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HOLY SPIRIT DOVE 1.jpg

I had this experience….a little while ago. I was driving to the post office. 

Within a block and a half I got so much information, I can hardly say God

spoke to me, but then again, I would say he did. A voice like many waters. 

Tim has been struggling with an issue with his health. God downloaded 

to me in seconds, and I mean seconds:

Look up the scripture on the pool of Bathesda, and about take up your mat and walk.” Ask me why I had him pick up his mat. Ask me why it says in James “the prayer of faith will make the sick man well, and if they have any sins they’ll be forgiven” I will tell you unbelief, and putting me to the test. People put me to the test if they do deliberate things to themsleves with an attitude “if God is healer it doesn’t matter what I do to myself.” An example would be jumping off a building, breaking your leg, with the expectation I will heal them later. 

They have a heart to test me. I look on the heart, not the outside appearance. 

They see James says if they have sins they will be forgiven (referring to the prayer of faith) and assume that means any sin, such as not honoring parents. I was talking about the sin of attitude against me, and unbelief. The same sins that kept my children out of the promised land. I wasn’t talking about just any sin. 

You receive healing, and forgivness for the sin of unbelief, at the same time. 

People assume what my word means all the time and run with it. Then they cause other people to run with it. Pretty soon you have a false doctrine, and nobody asked me what I meant. Search the scriptures, ask me what I mean. Seek my face.” 

James 5: 13  Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” NKJV 

……..(God, speaking to Laura, Apr 12-2017) 

So Laura and Tim looked up the scriptures, read them out loud, and prayed 

for understanding. We included Hebrews 3 in our study, which talks about not entering in, due to unbelief. To my amazement, I expected to find three scriptures to look up, the one about the mat, the one about Bathesda, and the one about the prayer of Faith in James 5. The Story of Bathesda in John 5 ALSO says Jesus told the guy to take up his mat and walk. Both referrences were in one story. 

Furthermore, it stood out to both off us, that there was this pool (for healing) an angel was posted there, who stirred the waters once a day. Before Jesus came, God had already made provisions for healing. The man was angry, upset, and focused on what was not being done for him by others. Jesus said, “Do you want to be made well?” Why did you ask him That? (we inquired of the Lord). 

And I’m expecting he will answer us. After all, he is God and he wants us to understand his Word. 🙂 Hint: the guy by the pool had a very bad attitude. Nobody was helping him get in the water. JESUS came and said (not, you are healed) He said: “Take up your mat, and walk.” PS: I anointed Tim with Oil. We prayed for Him. 

With love, still growing, Laura Grace 

ministry · Prophecy · strengthening Ministry · Uncategorized

Prophetic word from Father’s Heart Ministry: “Say in your Heart……”

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“Say in your heart that you will be a defender of the weak and a champion of the defenseless. Because I am in you there is a limitless reserve of power and authority that flows in your veins. You will not fail. You will not come to nothing. You will not be forgotten for I will make My name famous in the lives of all of those who abandon themselves to Me. You will run through a troop. You will leap over the wall. You can and will get the job done if you simply choose to have the courage to initiate and get started.

Say in your heart “I am an initiator because the Author and the Finisher lives within me”! Your destiny will not be an abortion. You will bring to the birth those dreams and visions that you have held so precious to you for so long. Press in, says the Father. Be resolute. Refuse to look to the right hand or to the left and all will be fulfilled and brought to pass that I have promised.” 

 

-Prophetic word from Father’s heart Ministry 

2 or 3 witnesses · 5 easy steps to solve everything · christslove · church · churchbody · churchgrowth · churchpeople · churchproblems · clashingcymbals · co dependent no · godswisdom · Uncategorized · Word · words of knowledge · words of wisdom

God’s wisdom is foolishness to man and vice versa. That’s not going to change.

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HOLY SPIRIT TEACHINGThe Holy Spirit is our teacher if we are Christians. 

dove flying This word is not just for some Christians. It’s for all of us. What the Holy Spirit shows us will often not line up with “earthly Wisdom” It won’t make any sense to the natural mind. This is why we need to Be supernatural people and not natural people. The Flesh is at war with God. Our natural minds will be at war with God without his help and intervention. 

WE PRAY to be able to receive from God. Pray like King David “Father Give me understanding that I might learn your Statutes” “Create in me a clean heart oh God renew a right spirit within me! Take not thy holy Spirit From me Oh Lord! ” 

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”
If we are waiting for the world to agree with us, it’s never going to happen. The natural man cannot receive the things of God. We need to be born again, filled with God’s Spirit, and then we can BEGIN to cooperate with The Holy Spirit and be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 
There is no other way “into the light” ….God is light. And in him there is no darkness at all. Amen -Laura Grace Author and minister of the Lord and MIT (Minister in Training)
don't give up · encouragement today · Ripple effect · Uncategorized · you matter · your life matters

Reasons you matter and your life matters…..

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Reasons to Go on: And reasons you matter………

1. What you do in life DOES have a ripple effect. Just like a stone is tossed in the water and causes ripples, so your decisions effect the lives of others. You have no idea how many people may be thinking “If they can do it so can I”……..

2. Your children, your spouse, your family, and yes even your friends are watching you. You have to ask yourself, are they going to gain encouragement and hope by watching my life? Or are they going to have more reasons to give up, because of me?

3. We cannot underestimate the power of overcoming and the message it brings. People who carry on are like the sun. We feel the rays of their hope, and it inspires us! We can do the same.

I want you to think of three people right now, who have overcome difficult obstacles. if they lost their job, they started over again. If they had setbacks, they faced it bravely. Life dealt them a bad hand, they smiled and went forward anyway, over and over again…..

Did they inspire you? I’m betting they did! Did you tell them that? Probaby not, in most cases. We all have a tendency to forget to thank the people that inspire us daily. So i want to say THANK YOU each and every one of you who had a hard blow and you did not give up!

You kept on walking, going, loving, smiling, and trying to be a blessing every where you go! THANK YOU!! PS I am watching you! with love, Laura Grace dove flying.jpg

Uncategorized

Relationship Help: Who submits to who? And when? Is it really this complicated?

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Hi! I’ve been studying the bible for years now. I don’t know about you but, I found the more I studied, the more complicated it got! (For awhile anyway). The bible says wives submit to your own husbands. But just prior to that (Ephesians) It says submit to one another! It also says submit to God, submit to your leaders, submit to governing authorities but then somewhere else it says “better to obey God than man.” 

Words like submission, obedience, surrender…..

These become words we kind of throw around, without really thinking about what we are saying, if we are not careful. I remember reading about that woman with the meek and quiet spirit a few years back, all of us gathered at a bible study, nodding our heads about how we should be surrendered to our husbands……and each of us thinking of times we could not do it. I know I wouldn’t advise any child to submit to a parent, who told them to smoke drugs with them! Would you? Yet the bible, “says what it says……” does it not? So we find ourselves in quite a pickle (at times) If we just pick up our bible, and treat it like a recipe for life. There are essential INGREDIENTS in the bible, but the recipe for our lives personally, is created by the Holy Spirit (for us as individuals.) 

Submission is a concept, applicable how the Holy Spirit directs, not how WE (or anyone else) decides it should be. if you are Bonnie to someone’s Clyde, you are going to jail with them. Therefore, Submitting to your husband is not always your first priority. It cant’ be. 

This doesn’t make the bible untrue. We Have GOT to get it through our heads, it’s a book of principles, concepts, ingredients, if you will. When we make cake, we don’t always put broccoli in it. Do we? Of course not? I hope you are following me, here. 

Yesterday I was in a quandary, as my husband wanted something from me, and I could not bring myself to submit to his request. This sent me running to my secret place, crying out to God as to what I should do. In the end, I came back and talked to him, and stated from my heart what was going on with me, and why I found his request to be so difficult. I prayed, and cried to the Lord for wisdom ……….

And you know what happened? He counselled us (the Spirit of God). I am not going to write a book about what happened, because next time, it might be a bit different. WE make the decision to follow (and Trust) God. He makes the decision how that looks to him, and to us…..for that day. Tomorrow, it might be a bit different. IF we are looking for a regimented plan (that never changes) we are probably after religion not relationship. Relationships are always changing, growing, expanding, and branching out. (Like a tree!).

I am so thankful when God plants a tree, it doesn’t look like a statue or a monument. It grows……the sky is the limit! Soon the tree has huge branches, providing shade, and a place for many birds to rest, and build their nests in the spring time. Well, that’s my sharing for today! Call on the Lord! Ask for his wisdom! Choose that over your own ways! he will guide you to what passage you need (for today). From his very own word. 

with Love, 

Laura Grace 

come out and be seperate · don't want to go to church · grace to grow · Is church always a good thing · seperation and Holiness unto God · Uncategorized · why should I go to church

Making time to Grow (by Laura Grace) From my upcoming book…….

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It’s a matter, of Time

Sometimes time is a factor, in the decision of going to church. I can remember when my kids were young, yelling at them to hurry up, the shoes that were kicked off, just prior to church service, and the full boar scramble, to get food in the crock pot, breakfast in their bellies, and comb my hair to look nice, for church.

I made time, and for the most part, I do not regret it. What I do regret, is the time I would have liked to stay home and rest, but did not do that, out of obligation.

See, in those days, I was still trying to prove myself, to my new family in God.

I thought they were my family, I was told they were my family, but many did not act like family. My family understood if I could not visit them every weekend. Church members for the most part, did not. I have been waiting, but I have yet to meet a pastor who would say, (unless you are sick) “It’s okay, stay home and rest, if you need to.”

A lot of people think I’m just picking on the church. I’ve had things said to me (with a scowl) “You know, church people are not perfect.” Yes, I do know this. I’m not perfect, either. If they know they are not perfect, why the demand for perfect attendance?

I have noticed, even the workers who work on Sunday, or into the night on Saturday night, can be excused from church, but when they finally get a day off and show up, they are often greeted with this big greeting of relief, almost as if to say, “Whew, I thought you were going to miss heaven, brother, glad you are finally here.”

The Sabbath can be any day you decide is a great day to worship God, and focus on him. In fact, the bible says, if someone regards a day as holy, it is holy to him. For me, every day is holy. I have taken my Sabbath on a Saturday, a Sunday, or sometimes, even a Monday. God did say to rest, one day a week. He instituted this blessing for man, not for man to serve the day. Don’t believe me? Read your bible, it’s in there as clear as day. People of God, we need to grow (up) and out of some of these mind sets we have had, concerning religion. If we don’t, how can we expect to ever reach a world that is dying to hear the gospel message, of Jesus Christ?

The gospel (our bible) is good news, not bad news. It was never meant to be some sort of guide, for people to come along and say, “Sorry to tell you the bad news, but you are not lining up, with the King of Kings, today.”

Going around telling people how bad they are, how they don’t measure up, and for heaven’s sake, making them feel bad for not being in church last Sunday, is not becoming a messenger of good tidings, or great joy.

You can do it, but it doesn’t make it right.

Through the years, I have lost count, of how many conversations were based on whether I did or did not, attend bible study. When I would talk to people outside the church, they would ask me how my day went, and laugh with me over the antics of my dog, or my children, or what happened at work the other day.

When I would talk with Christians, almost inevitably, the conversation revolved around some great bible study I had missed, and how I should have been there. If you don’t like this, I’m sorry! But these are the kinds of things that keep people trapped, in a cycle of biblical merry-go-rounds.

We enjoy the ride and the pretty horses, and the memory of going around (and around) with our Christian friends, but deep down, we know we are supposed to be going somewhere, and the date of arrival never actually happens.

We need to make time for time with God, time with our family and friends that does not revolve around bible conversations, time to plan, envision, go forward with plans, and take care of ourselves, and be stewards of our homes and jobs. 

being a mother · motherhood · New moms · overcomers · overcoming · scared to be a mom · testimony · Uncategorized

My Testimony of when, I didn’t think I could be a Mom…….by Laura Grace

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I have two beautiful kids. (Children) Carolee, and Thomas. The children of my body. I have a Step son that I cherish too, and a couple I have adopted in my heart (Stephen, etc) but that’s just an extension of a miracle God did some years ago, in my life. 

I was scared to be a mom. I never talked about it (to anyone) but I was terrified. I thought I would be bad at it (for starters) and I wondered why all these other young women wanted to have children, and I would find myself saying, “I’m never having kids.”

You should have seen the horrified looks I got, when I would say that as a teenager. My supposed defiant attitude, was not really defiant at all. It was a mask I wore, to cover the fear, and the shame, and the humiliation, of not believing I would be a good mom. 

I don’t know where Unreasonable fears come from, as their original source is satan (the evil one) but who scatters the seeds of his evil unbelieving, I sometimes have no idea. 

See, sometimes masks are worn, because the shame is too unbearable (to endure.) I used to play with matchbox cars and hot wheels. I tried to enjoy my dolls, but I was not much into that, either. 

When My daughter was born, I loved her so much, but I was also terrified, of messing up her life. Why did God trust me with blessing, I wondered, and this tiny life? I didn’t deserve it. It was totally his Grace, that I had her at all. 

I remember holding her, weeping as she cried, sobbing, and tears running down my face, when I was so tired, and she would not stop crying, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I remember the horror, of sometimes waking up an hour after she did (when she got older) to see her quietly playing in her playpen, and wondered when she woke up. 

I got impatient, scolded her, yes even yelled at times. I made so many mistakes, especially in those first 2 or 3 years……(and beyond). It wasn’t until I went to church, and found out how great the responsibility of children really is, that I found myself crying to the Lord for Mercy. When I learned that children are like arrows (in the hands of a warrior) and that God had so much to say about training your children (in Deuteronomy) I was appalled at myself, for how I was failing them. 

I began to realize how much influence, we really do have, in our children’s lives. I decided I wanted God to influence them, but I had no idea, where to begin. 

One day at a prayer meeting in a very large retreat (Aglow) They said we could get prayer for anything. We were poor, needed security, deliverance, all kinds of things we needed, but the thing I wanted most, was for God to impart to me, how to be a good Mom. I remember how STUPID I felt (notice the word how I felt) as I asked this woman to pray I’d be a good mom. What is she going to think? (my brain screamed!) She is going to think I’m a horrible person, needing prayer to be a good mom. Aren’t all mom’s good moms? Don’t they all have the motherly instinct, to do what’s right? 

I felt like a real reject, asking this woman to pray for me. But the heart felt cry was real. It said, “FATHER GOD, I trust you with my children, more than I trust myself.” 

So in tears, with my heart open wide, I received All God had for me that day. I’m not going to say I was perfect, but I took the job of mother, as seriously as If I were a pastor of a church, or a ruler of a nation. Because in essence, that’s what we are, when we have children. The Responsibility is huge! Someone’s very soul has been deposited into your care. Who would want a job like that, without the help of Almighty God?

I have peace, I know I did my best and with God’s help, I am confident my children have turned out just fine. They are a blessing, and now they are raising their own children, (with God’s help of course) and they too ask for his help daily, in Prayer. 

What a blessing! what a legacy! (to be continued) 

With Love, Laura Grace

 

 

 

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Stuff we don’t want to talk about: “touching God’s anointed” and other false teachings, that are misapplied.

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There was a teaching, about 20 or 25 years ago. I’m not sure where it came from, but it was about “Touching God’s anointed.” I personally heard the teaching, in church, but I did not ever study the passage it was based on, until years later. 

King David, was to replace King Saul, in the Old Testament. Without sharing pages of bible scripture here, I will summarize, that Saul did a lot of bad things to David, prior to David becoming the new King, of Israel.

At one point, David’s own mean pleaded with him, just to get rid of Saul. Specifically, they wanted him to just kill him, as Saul was trying to kill him, so wasn’t it justified? At this point, David said he would not “touch God’s anointed.” 

This teaching was never meant to negate the passage in Ephesians, where we are told to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather, expose them. 

Saul was certainly exposed. It was known to all, what kind of man he had become. While he still retained his king status (for quite a while) and gave David a lot of grief in the process, even driving him almost to the brink of insanity, David would not kill him. 

I just wanted to expose the fact, that there are some teachings (which were taught in church) through the years, that are not a true revelation from the Holy Spirit. There are also teachings, which were meant for just one person, and not for everyone in the group.  I do not go around teaching, that every child of God having marital problems, should get divorced.

Likewise, it should not be taught that someone should always submit to a bad leader (who is not following Jesus) Just because the bible says “submit to your leaders.”. We have to understand who is a true leader in Christ, and who isn’t. To teach a woman to go home and submit (to someone who is crazy, or abusive) is irresponsible as well. 

Pat answers, such as “God hates divorce,” “Obey your leaders,” “Wives, submit to your husbands,” and even passages such as “Love bears all things,” are not the right word, for the right time, for some people, at that time. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us to properly apply a scripture at the right time, to the right person, and for the right reasons.  I hear these passages a lot, but not “slaves obey your masters,” which is also in the bible. Why is that, I wonder? I do know the answer. 

It was advisable, (at one time) When slavery was still in effect, for them to submit to or obey their masters. If they did not, things might not go well for them. When It came time for the slaves to go free (and many fought to the death for this freedom) The passage no longer applied, as it was time for “The captives to be set free.” 

It’s not touching God’s anointed, to expose lies, or things that are not true. When a wife, child, or spouse, exposes something evil (going on in their home) they may just be obeying the word of God, found in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:11

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them