Building #8 What is Integrity?

February 3, 2018February 3, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

INTERGRITY 2

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9 “…In teaching, show integrity” Titus 2:7

What is integrity? It’s doing the right thing when nobody is watching. It’s having a moral compass or having ethics do to things the right way (according to God). The old sin nature it to just “see if we can get away with stuff.”

The best example of integrity toward ourselves I can think of, is the story of the three little pigs. The three little pig story shows us the end result of either cutting corners, taking the easy way, and so on and so forth. What I do not see is the brick building pig having an argument with the other two on “the best way to build.”

He did not have time for it!

In this series, we are talking about building things that will stand the test of fire and flood. Wood, Hay and Stubble they will suffer loss (1 Corn 3:12) so we are not talking about your eternal salvation here, but making wise decisions toward God.

People always want to know (It seems) “What’s in it for me?” Having integrity may not produce instant gratification or results. Like the Three little pig story, you may not “SEE” a house very quickly, when you are doing things one brick at a time. In the end however, you will see a fire proof house.

Integrity produces trust worthy ways in us. It may take a long while, but we will soon see people trust us, believe in us, and would trust us with their very lives, all because we have proven we have integrity.

I am sorry this process (seems) to take so long, but it’s worth it in the end! Proven integrity, and the willingness to walk in righteousness through thick and thin, is necessary to building a house that will stand in the storms. Not only that, if we want to be an effective minister for Jesus, We can’t really help anyone without a solid place to stand. Let them build their house of straw…..(If they want to) it’s not going to stand, so do not worry about it. YOU do the right thing for you! 🙂

I leave you with this thought, as we ponder why so many tell us “hypocrites’ Go to church…….Let’s not be one of them.

Please Father! Fill us with integrity! and the desire to press on, and believe it’s all worthwhile. Amen! Pastor Laura Grace

INTEGRITY

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The all about me people (by Laura Grace)

November 20, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

GROWING TREE ROOTS.jpg

The All about me-people!

by Laura Grace:

We’ve all met them …….
at least once or twice
they want to be naughty
and pretend to be nice

It’s all about them, every time, every place
If they are not happy, they get in your face.

Now I know we forgive them (and pray for them too)
But honestly sometimes, what can we do?

We see them coming, we want to hide!
When we’re having a blessing, they’re along for the ride.

But when we go through a trial ……
THEY run and hide!
They wait til it’s over
and then they come back
It’s all about them (again)
And that, is a fact!

They will drain you
and pain you
and flat “wear you out”
use you
abuse you
and fill you with doubt

Now you are wondering “did I fail to love?”
Nope you did not! And here’s help from above!

If they won’t take God’s wisdom,
It’s not up to you
to save them from folly
so take heed what you do!

Let them go my sweet child
Let them go with a prayer
gather the wheat
and uproot the tare

I”m sorry this happens…..
And I know that there’s pain…..
But God is the saviour
and You: “Pray for rain”

Let them grow up,
They must suffer the pain
You Need to Grow!
Now, Soak up the rain!
Grow in the sunshine
Bask in God’s love!

And my child this is:
Your help, From Above!

Please don’t feel guilty …….
they are making a choice

Now you, please make yours
and don’t lose your voice!

#grace to Grow (by Laura Grace)

Grace to Grow (the book) Is now available on Amazon WITH Study guide included

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The power of one…..and the importance of one ……and the mandate to go……..

July 16, 2017July 16, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

For years i wondered where I fit in, in God’s church. I wondered what my job was. In church I felt like a kid who never got grown up enough to handle any sort of responsibility, no matter how Hard I tried. Oh sure I loved going to church but eventually, I (like any kid) wanted to do something too. All the jobs seemed to be taken, and my job was to sit on the pew. I just didn’t like it (is all) so for years I practiced guitar (Praise music) and prayed, sought God, what was I to do?

Now years later, I understand the river (and the heart of a believer) will find their way into their true calling.

My husband and I just got back from a vacation/ministry trip. He had a few days of Vacation, and we have not taken one since last year (at this same time) when we went to be a tourist down in Dillon, plus went to Virginia City. WE prayed, Packed up, and went on a Journey praying we would find those God wanted us to find (on this trip). Over the 5 days we found 10 stops and about 20 people we prayed for (total). We also were prayed for as we met with new friends who prayed and ministered to us as well! I had always wanted to see Silverwood (never have) a theme park near post falls ID. I wanted to do a lot of things, shop for stuff, go to this famous donut shop, just all kinds of things …..

but …we gave up our vacation and we gave it to Jesus. He used it to do marvelous things too! the memories of who I have prayed for and spent time with on this trip will be marked for eternity! I have no regrets that I did what I did.

We prayed for a woman who is having a terrible time with her Dad, for another guy that is grieved about how he can’t find any good churches (in his town) as he said so many are falling into strange doctrines and wierd beliefs.

We stood and prayed for entire church complex and witnessed to the secretary in the church and encouraged her. I prayed with a little girl who was severely abused and another couple whose shop was going out of business. God led me to a homeless shelter/soup kitchen where he had me stand and give my testimony of how I got saved, and offered them hope with tears running down my face ……

The point is not to impress you but to say…..the river finds a way. If you can’t minister anywhere because the jobs all seem to be taken, Jesus has a job for you. I’ve heard so many pastors say “reach out to people” (on your job or wherever) but we all know that’s not so easy. Just think if Every believer spent some days of their lives saying who can I reach today Father? Who can I reach today? “Work through me today Father!”

How many could all of us reach together? Probably everyone.

To do this we can’t be concerned with Notariety or what WE are going to get out of it. In Matthew 10 Jesus said to his Disciples GO……..GO ………

I see nothing about anyone taking up an offering for them or having church back up. They just went……..and delivered what they had in their heart to deliver …..

YES my friends ONE (You) can make a difference, and that ONE life you touch, THEY MATTER (Jesus said so!) …….So now what are you waiting for? The world needs to hear and see the treasures God has put in your heart……..Amen?

Matthew 18:12

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

PS: The Lord made sure we were blessed and still had some fun on this trip Isn’t he GOOD? yes he is. He is so Good! Praise Jesus! 🙂

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

March 18, 2017March 18, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

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

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“Keep yourselves from Idols” 1 John 5, What does it mean? (To us, today?) Walk with Me……see what I see…….

February 19, 2017February 19, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

“Little Children, Keep yourselves from Idols.” 1 John 5:21

So what does it mean? Why is this in the New Testament? These are the types of questions I like to ask God (when I am studying with Him.) Oh Sure, I have looked up idol, and what it was in the Old Testament. I’ve also studied the sermons of others, and I know an idol can be “Whatever” you chase after, or deem to be more important than God. But beyond this, What does it mean, “Keep yourselves from Idols”, and why was that the writer’s last instruction, before the letter ended?

Idolatry and harlotry, almost always seem to go together (in the Old Testament). Harlotry was chasing after “Other lovers” as God called it. It’s fascinating that Harlotry begins with a spiritual decision, and not an earthy one. This is why Rahab could be sanctified, because while her job had been “Harlot” She was right in her heart with God, the day she helped Joshua and his spies.

Her Heart Set redeemed her, and God forgot her earthly sins, right then and there.

Verse 20 of this same chapter, says we were given understanding (From God) so we can know him. This letter was written to the church, and not to non-believers. John called them “Little Children.” Why was that? And how did he know he was a man (of God) and they were not? There were no seminaries in those days, so how did John know?

So for those of you who want to know, Who will be drawn to this teaching by the Spirit of the Living God, I will tell you. John knew Idolatry would lead to harlotry. God knows your “other lovers” (of this world) will keep you from Him, and he will not be able to protect you, or help you to know Him.

The story of Hosea is a beautiful picture of God’s love for his people. He had Hosea divorce, then re marry, a woman who was a blatant harlot. The result of her harlotry was, she wound up in chains, sold to the highest bidder.

The type of anger God has, is a loving anger (for, he is always love!).In our modern world, we have the Idol of worldly wisdom, or being sophisticated according to this world, or doing or saying what is popular, or what everyone else is chasing after.

A CAUSE can even become an idol, which leads to harlotry, and loving this world, (and the things of it) more than God. Now, a wise person will ask for council (of the Holy Spirit) and ask for correction, from Him. Wisdom cries out (in the streets) and says, “Is anyone listening to Jesus, and the Spirit he sent, to teach us?”

The Very heart of God is found in Proverbs, and all through His Holy Word. His Heart is: That we should grow, learn of Him, Take his Yoke upon us, seek his Spirit for wisdom. WHY? Because he wants to restore us, heal us, make us whole. How can he do that when we won’t come to Him? Or Learn from Him? He cries when he lets people go, he suffered and died so he could save us………

So no, God is not a big child “MAD AT US” for daring to not listen…….

He just loves us (so much) and knows Idols and Harlotry keep us from receiving His best! (FOR US) Which he so desperately wants us to have. God loves you! But, he does not like Idols. They lead to other lovers, that keep us from Him. And he knows the end of it will be disaster so. And that my friends is why he said: “Keep yourselves from Idols” Because it prevents us from receiving, from Him. With Love,

Laura Grace, Author, Grace to grow the Study guide