Category: Disciples for Jesus

bible study on motherhood · disciple or follower · disciples · Disciples for Jesus · gracetogrow · gracetogrowstudy · growing · growing and church · growing in Christ · growing in christ Jesus · Kids · kingdom kids · Kings Kids · nuturing children · raising children · Uncategorized

The best Job on Earth…..

Laura GraceLeave a comment

kids group of Boy, do I remember when my kids were growing up! The fear that I would mess it all up, or do it wrong, or later they would have to be on a therapists couch (because of me!!). 😲

One thing I knew (gleaning from my own teen years), is that we don’t do something because someone “Said so!!”. Teens have this need to “Find something to beleive in” and if you don’t help them find it, someone else will!

 

I had reflected on this, in my early years, and knew we do what we do, because we actually BELIEVE in Something.  When I was a teenage, I had a poster on my wall that said “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it.” 

Could I really become anything I wanted to be? Perhaps not, but the belief I could (at the time) was highly important to me. Let your child discover their limitations, and be there to catch them (with Love) when they don’t quite make it to the goal. 

It’s important to plant seeds, (and use every opportunity to teach life lessons if and when we can). Kids have a need to be inspired, over things being “required” of them. Requirements work for a season, but if you inspire them, it will probably last for life! Planting seeds involves introducing concepts, versus slamming down the gavel of learning and saying “This is how it must always be done!!” 

If you want your kids to lean on God, let them see you are leaning on God. If you want them to pray, let them see you praying about things (real life problems). Let them know you’ve had disappointments too  & be real with them! 

If you want your kids to be great, find what is great in them and cultivate that, water it, and trust God to make it grow! 

Help them to understand (as much as possible) why you are doing certan things and why it’s important. It’s a full time job! (but it’s worth it). 

I loved being a mother. Now I love being a Grandma too!

  It truly is…….
“The Best job on Earth”…..😊With Love, 

Laura Grace

bible studies · Bible study · christians growing · christlightshining · christlike · disciple or follower · disciples · Disciples for Jesus · disciplesofchrist · disciplesofchrist · everyday miracles · everyday people doing great things for God · everyday people doing missions · following God too · friends in Jesus · gracerescuedme · gracetogrow · Gracetogrowrealstories · gracetogrowstudy · gracewalk · growing and church · growing in Christ · growing in christ Jesus · growing up in Christ · growing up in Christ Jesus · growing up in God · growingingrace · Mentors and friends · Uncategorized

The Magnificent Mentor (Gods’ gift to me)

Laura Grace1 Comment

 

When I was young in the Lord, I had a mentor. I clung to her like glue! (Like Ruth and Naomi, kind of). I learned so much from her,and was so blessed. One time I asked her to pray I’d have a double portion of what she had, (this was years ago).

She prayed it! It was a treasure to my heart, and I was always full of expectation, that exactly what she prayed would happen. Now I am older than she was when all that took place. It’s hard to believe……but here I am…..almost 57. Yikes. LOL I”m gonna share a few things she shared with me that I never forgot:

1. “Hem me in” King David asked God to hem him in. He could not do anything but God’s will (was his prayer) that God would literally prevent him from doing anything else. I treasure and use that prayer to this day.

2. “The Vision of the Well” She saw a vision, a girl trying to draw water out of a well. Every time she brought the bucket up it was empty but she tried and tried again. soon she started to cry, and gave up……at that moment a rumble occured and the well spewed water in a giant guyser blowing the bucket into the air………She said God said “the girl is you, the bucket is your expectations of answers to prayer………” the water was God coming through bigger than she could ask or think!!

3. She put her daughter in a young Miss Pageant and fully expected her to win. In Fact she felt God had put a promise i her heart the girl would win. When she didn’t win, my friend was devestated. She cried, “why did you let me believe she would win?” (heartbroken) God said “Because, if I didn’t you would not have done all that you did, and all that you did was part of my plan.” amazing!!

I remember that story when my hopes get deferred…….

These are some of the treasures I carry in my heart. Now I have my own experiences with God but back then, I lived on her testimonies toward me (and they were seeds in my heart).

   Thank you God for Faithful Mentors! PS Later I had another Mentor…..a God send at exactly the right time. And I will be someone’s mentor (at times)….we all help each other and do our part! Peace!     -Laura Grace, Author, Grace to Grow 

a word for God's church · abidinginthevine · asking God how to pray · authority of God · authority of Jesus matthew 21 · being a witness for Jesus · being at peace · childlike faith · choose life · defeat the devil · Disciples for Jesus · disciplesofchrist · disciplesofjesus · discipling · dont give up · encouragement · encouragement today · end times · faith obstacles · faith works · God is good not mean · gods attributes · Gods character · realities for christian living · Relationships are everything · relationships are everything with God and others · religious monsters · renewedgracetogrowdaily.com · renewedinthespiritofyourmind · renewing your mind in Christ · sticking up for Jesus · Uncategorized · what is our heavenly father Like

Defending my Heavenly Father….

Laura GraceLeave a comment

eagle way.jpg 

I don’t take kindly to false accusations against my heavenly Father. In Fact, I think it stems from the devil. (the evil one)

When The Lord told Abraham Sodom and Gomorrah was going to be destroyed he pleaded with him saying “What if you find 10 righteous men?” Likewise, Moses interceded for the people. “Far be it from you Lord” They said, believing in God’s Mercy, Character, and Love.

In case you don’t see this, they instinctively KNEW 
God was good (and not out to destroy people!)

They had no teachings or books to hear all the things we can hear, or see for themselves the things we have at our disposal to see (and hear!).

Yet they KNEW, (deep down) God is good and that is 
why they could intercede for Mercy, on behalf of the people of Earth.

If someone runs down your family, I would hope you would stick up for them, (if there is anything worth defending!) God is definately worth defending!

He doesn’t go around killing people for disobeying him. No. Like humpty dumpty falling off that wall, men do harm to themselves by not seeking his council, or following God’s ways.

God literally pleads with us, using men to do so. God woos us, sends us faith preachers, and men and women who are willing to stand up for him!

If We don’t listen, or turn a deaf ear to what these Prophets, Preachers and Teachers say to us, and make fun of those who are gifted by the Holy Spirit to minister, we do so to our own demise, and harm.

The gods invented by many ancient civilations were were made “in the image of man.” They were angry, treacherous and punishing. Our God is kinder, wiser, more loving, longsuffering, and more beautiful than any of us could ever be.

With his help, we can become like Him.

What a beautiful thing!

Love, Prayers and blessings,

Laura Grace

being real with Jesus · building on the rock · building on the rock with Jesus · building upon the rock of Jesus · building with Precious things · building with precious things in christ · building your house on the rock · builtontherock · christandhislove · christian counselling is not cut and dried · Christian growth and learning · christian lives matter · christian living and the reality of it all · christian maturity · christian snobs · christianityfordummies · christianitytoday · christians growing · christianthoughts · christlightshining · christlike · church · church leadership series · churchbody · churchpeople · churchproblems · disciple or follower · disciples · Disciples for Jesus · disciplesofchrist · disciplesofchrist · disciplesofjesus · discipline · discipline of God · discipling · faith · faith obstacles · faith works · faithfulness · faithfulness and love · getting out of offense · getting your feelings hurt · Godskingdom · Godsmind · grace to the rescue · gracetogrowstudy · loving God's way · problems christians have sometimes · redeemed · Relationship is everything with God and others · relationship with God · Uncategorized

How Ministers feel sometimes (The question and answer committees)

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Questions

It’s not that I don’t appreciate your help, and it’s not that I am snobby, or too spiritual, okay? It’s just that I am sitting here with a real big problem (that I don’t know how to solve) and am already battling in the spirit (With God’s help, of course) to fight off fear, worries, concerns, insecurities, and a myraid of other things. The last thing I need right now, is more stuff to worry about! 

One thing ministers do not often talk about (and likely battle alone, or with the help of a few mature commrades) is what I’ll call the “questions and suggestions” trial- that seems to happen every time they ask for prayer. 

Example: “Let’s pray for healing for_______” We pray. Person #1 approaches me and tells me how Aunt Hazel solved the very same problem. “Thank you,” I say. Person #2 tells me “Well you know they are backslid and haven’t been to church in awhile.” (I take note of it and smile). Person #3 tells me what healing video I should be watching (to help my faith) Person #4 Tells me about 3 others that need prayer for healing, Person #5 asks me if they have been to the doctor.

“Well, no I say, they don’t have insurance!” This leads to a big long conversation about help that is out there, which leads to me explaining why this person can’t get that particular help…….soon My mind is so clogged I forgot what the Lord just said to me about believing for their healing……..

Questions and suggestions and, not a single one of them asked GOD before they spoke ….. 

  Nope, they just said the first thing that popped into their brain. (Like Peter). 

So now I start to just ignore it all (and pray, and look to be so spiritual I am no earthly good!) It’s not lack of appreciation, but sometimes, we just don’t have time for it.

There are as many experiences as there are people (almost) and while some can be categorized, boxed up, and filed under “Help with______,” I have noticed the more possible answers I find (for any problem) the more stressed and confused I get! 

Continue reading “How Ministers feel sometimes (The question and answer committees)” →

always learning · are they teachable? · bible studies · Bible study · bible study 101 · chickensoup foryoursoul · common sense =love · Disciples for Jesus · gracetogrow · gracetogrowstudy · growing in Christ · knowing and growing · lesson of the eggplant · Lord change me · staying humble · Uncategorized · what it means to be humble or walk in humility

The Lesson of the Eggplant……and what I learned from not knowing something…

Laura GraceLeave a comment

105_1995.JPG

I decided to make eggplant Last night (Eggplant parmeson).
 
Got the recipe, and got the eggplant out I had purchased from the store. I started cutting it up and noticed it was mostly turning brown on the inside. Knowing nothing about egg plant I sniffed it (smelled fine!) Sniffed it again (no bad smell!) so I thought okay it got a little brown, I just bought it Wed, and it still looked fine on the outside not slimy, not withered….not strange looking……..
 
So, I cut it up and breaded it, fried it, put it on the pan. I put a bit of sauce and cheese on it and baked it (in faith and had peace) I had no premonition about the eggplant, I intended to eat it!
 
Got it on the plate (as you can see) and decided to try a bite It tasted bitter! It occured to me and this promting came my spirit “go look up eggplant, see what makes it bad……..”
 
And I did. Turns out a little brown spot inside is fine but almost all brown/tan means it has spoiled. In my experience you go by odor or if it’s slimy LOL ….but now I knew nothing about Eggplant!
 
Why? It’s a new thing I need to learn! something I did not know (yet) and it turns out “Sniffing” is not always reliable. Looking for mold isn’t either! The Egg plant was bad! Not one to miss any opportunity for God to teach me I thought…….
 
“How many things do I not know about God that I need to know?” It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been following him……
 
What matters is, Do I still have a heart to learn? (from him?)” So I’d invested time into this but, I threw the eggplant away. Better late than never (to find out about this) ……..:) Love and blessings! -Laura Grace
 
“Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27
AA · abidinginthevine · accountability in Jesus christ · advice christian · Al Anon · Alanon · alwayshope · asking God how to pray · back when I hated God and all he stood for · becoming a leader · becoming a son and daughter of God · becoming Christ-like · becoming whole · beingspiritual · believingformiracles · believingGod · bible basics · bible studies · Bible study · bibleisfood · biblestudy · body of christ · book of sermons by Laura Grace · breaking curses · building on the rock · building upon the rock of Jesus · building with precious things in christ · building your house on the rock · Christian books · christianityfordummies · christianitytoday · christians growing · christlightshining · christlike · church · church leadership series · churchbody · churchgrowth · disciple or follower · Disciples for Jesus · disciplesofchrist · disciplesofchrist · disciplesofjesus · down-to-earth-christian · fruitfulness in Christ · fruits · fruits of the spirit · godswisdom · Gracetogrowrealstories · gracetogrowstudy · gracetosoar · gracewalk · growing · growing in GOD · growing up in Christ · growing up in Christ Jesus · growing up in God · Uncategorized

Building #9 The Miracle of Fruit! and being out from under the curse..

Laura GraceLeave a comment

FRUIT HAPPY 2Did you know producing fruit in your life is actually a Miracle? I remember how before I gave my life to Christ and received becoming born again, I didn’t like people much. In fact I had a whole lot of hatred, animosity, judgement, and even bitterness in my heart. 

After I got saved, I could FEEL the love of God rushing up out of my very being. At that time there was a song by Dallas Holmes “I got love, love, love in my heart, I got peace like a river, that never will part……..” (Love in My Heart, Dallas Holmes).

Anyway, I would sing that song and I really MEANT IT For the first time in my life. It was something I could feel, I could grasp it, and I WANTED to go run out and bless people who had hurt me, or who didn’t show love to me first. Why? Because The Love of God was SO REAL TO ME It just flowed out of me. I wanted to ABIDE IN HIM! 

Abiding in Jesus in the Vine is GOING to produce fruit. You don’t even have to worry about it! He will trim off the dead branches and be your Vinedresser.FRUIT HAPPY 1

(John 15)

Producing Fruit is also the evidence the CURSE is broken. Jesus said he became a curse for us. In Matthew 21 he curses a fig tree (for not producing fruit). it withers and dies shortly after that. I believe that story is not only about the power of our words but also it’s an outward manifestation of what happens to us if we are not IN HIM. Without him we will wither (and die). 

Jesus doesn’t want us cursed, and he paid a heavy price to REDEEM us from the curse of the law. Just like when you redeem a coupon, you have to receive it, grab hold of it, and literally cash it in with Him! YOU Have the power whether or not to utilized what He did for you. See in Deut 28 when he talked about them being blessed (Fruitful) WITH HIM and cursed WITHOUT HIM It’s saying exactly the same thing as John 15. In the gospel the shadow is just eliminated, but it is actually saying the same thing!

From the very beginning (Gen 1) God said “be Fruitful!” Not just in spirit, but the Body as well. (one comes before the other, you see?). To be fruitful we must live in the right environment with the Lord. IN HIM! Any man-made, phony balogna, MFG Fruit is not what Jesus was talking about. He alone can make us fruitful! Our part is to give up our own ways, and surrender to Him, and his work within us. 

A Passage about being Fruitful: (2 Peter 1) 5 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

by Laura Grace, author, Grace to Grow, Grace to the Rescue, and more …….https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Grow-study-guide-Rescue/dp/197333187X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518201916&sr=8-1&keywords=grace+to+grow+by+Laura+grace

a word for God's church · abidinginthevine · anguished hearts · answers to prayer · answerstoprayer · asking God how to pray · be humble · becoming Christ-like · becoming whole · better days ahead · bible studies · Bible study · book of Revelation, simple · books on growing up in Christ · broken people · building on the rock · building on the rock with Jesus · building upon the rock of Jesus · builtontherock · Christian books · christian counselling is not cut and dried · christian lives matter · christianitytoday · christianthoughts · christmas testimonies · church leadership series · churchbody · churchgrowth · co dependency · co dependent no · co dependent no more books · come out and be seperate · conviction · disciple or follower · disciples · Disciples for Jesus · disciplesofchrist · God does miracles big and small · God heals the broken · God hears our prayers · God is good · God restores · God Restores you · Grace books · grace reigns · grace to grow · grace to Grow in grace · grace to grow speaking · grace to restore · grace to soar · Relationship is everything with God and others · relationship with God · relationship with Jesus · relationships are everything with God and others · Restoration in God · Uncategorized

Building with Precious things (Continued)

Laura GraceLeave a comment

POOR FROM DUST.jpg

I’m going to tell you why I posted this. I used to live in housing projects. We suffered years of poverty I still have the records. Living on 8,000 a year or less even 6,000 a year (a family of four) and I used to quote this scripture “He raises the Poor from the Dust” …….(Psalm 113) 
 
And I’d say “AND IT”S TRUE FATHER” I believe you! Years later, things have really changed for me, and they have. 
Every time I have plenty of toilet paper, I am thankful. And, When the bills are paid, and I don’t get shut off notices I say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU…..experiences like that you never forget all your life! Ask those who went through the great depression……..They just never forget what it was like 🙂
 
I can talk about building on the rock with Precious things, because I had the storms that took everything (and I barely escaped) and finally I got tired of it and said; “change me change me change me” ….people bailing you out will never change things. 
The change must happen from within! We need Soul healing and restoration! We need God to CHANGE US to think LIKE HIM!
 
Amen? 🙏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
 
The Loving kindness of God WILL LEAD someone to repentance if they have a heart after God in the first place such as “They want to know (the truth). Others will take and take and get mad at him when he wants them to learn and grow up and sometimes Will Basically tell God Where to stuff it and walk away….
 
If you read the book of Revelation, some will NEVER repent. They will curse God no matter what (and blame him for all disasters). I know a lot of people think I don’t understand love but I do. I will walk with someone to the end of the earth If they are just struggling to understand God. If they don’t care, and spit on him, and want nothing to do wtih Him, I’m gonna work with those whose hearts are crying out to him. I wasted so much time on those who did not care (to know) the truths that can make them free. No more! It’s called Co dependency or it could be called strengthening the hands of evil doers. (Bad idea!)
 
God’s going to have a church that speaks the truth once again, not molly coddling those who want nothing to do with Him. The excuses have to stop, And God will show and reveal “who is who” and what is what.
WE NEED God’s Wisdom! WE NEED His input! This is not a game.
 
Those who “poo poo” on all this will have the outcome of their (Own) ways. and last thing: Don’t Worship Angels or anyone but God. They are simply fellow servants with you. #worshipGodonly #blazingglory #choosingGodoverothers
 
“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he [stopped me and] said to me, “You must not do that; I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who have and hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God [alone]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].” Revelation 19:10 (When John saw an Angel)
Peace and blessings! Laura Grace 
1 John 1:7 · 12 days of Christmas · a word for God's church · a word of emotional healing · a word on "expert" advice · bible studies · Bible study · bibleisfood · biblestudy · bigkidsofgod · broken christians · christianitytoday · christianthoughts · christlightshining · conviction sings · disciple or follower · disciples · Disciples for Jesus · disciplesofchrist · disciplesofjesus · discipline · fear causes control · Following God · Following Jesus · getting your feelings hurt · Grace to the Rescue by laura grace · Grace to the rescue ministries speaking · gracerescuedme · gracetogrow · Gracetogrowrealstories · highminded · holiness · holy ghost teaches · know it alls · Know Jesus · knowing God · knowing God better · knowinggodbetter · not all about me · Offenses · relationships and everyday problems · Relationships are everything · relationships are everything with God and others · the I love you project · the stick in your eye · Uncategorized · victoriousinChrist

You Can’t afford to be Offended

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Me 2015.jpgI want to share a little over a week ago God Led me to forgive some stuff. After I did it, I realized how many people I had let down in my life time. That was God’s Grace (TO ME!). I have to wonder,if my forgiveness allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal more to me about myself, and lift the blinders from my eyes.

We All have expectations of people.

Some is based on how we are raised, how we understand the bible, or whatever else. People can feel they are offering the help they have to offer, and you rejected it (or them) and I mean to tell you what, there are SO MANY THINGS the devil can (try) to turn it into an offense, I simply cannot list them all here. 

I’ve had people reject what I had to say when I thought it was God’s will I said certain things. It hurts, because we think we are giving a gift, and it just got rejected. If it happens 100 times, we may be at risk of getting offended. You’d be suprised how many people have “rebuked me” when I talk about Growing In Christ.

There are some who believe getting saved leads to this “instant Jesus pudding” and we automatically grow, without any real participation on our part.

Growing in Grace is a message that is balanced, and between the “Auto Pilot’ thing and the “being under law” mentality. Growing up IN Christ is a sensible and sound message, but not a popular one.

Therefore, I am delivering a word God asked me to deliver …..and yet those who seem to have the pulpit do not always agree. Does it stop me?

NO! It will not! And, I must not get offended. If I do, I will ruin myself.

I”m so glad when people tell me things like, “I waved at you, you didn’t wave back”. So many times, I just did not see them wave at me!

There are times people forget, don’t hear us, or do not understand how important something is to us. (really). Don’t fall for the “all about me” mentality. It’s a monster! ME MOnster.jpg Cartoon by Jeff Larson 

Yes, there are times people have been little snots, but it’s not all that often. Most of the time when people hurt us, it’s quite accidental.

The important thing is that remain “not offended”. If I’m not, I can go foward in Christ.

Proverbs 18:19 says “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”

Don’t put your walls up. It’s just not worth it to miss out on what God has for you next.

Laura Grace, Author, Grace to the Rescue and Grace to Grow, available on Amazon.

12 days of Christmas · 12 days of Christmas time · a word for God's church · alwayshope · answers to prayer · authority of God · battle is the Lords and yours too · becoming a son and daughter of God · becoming Christ-like · being a giant slayer · being a minister · being born again · being real with God · believingJesus · bodyofchrist · book of James · books on growing up in Christ · born again · Bread of life · Christian growth and learning · disciple or follower · disciples · Disciples for Jesus · growing in GOD · growing up in Christ · growing up in God · overcoming in God · overcoming in Jesus · Uncategorized

Overcoming…..How do we do it?

Laura GraceLeave a comment

HURDLE.jpg

I’ve never liked physical exercise, nor been into sports.
 
Therefore, the athlete analogy in scripture didn’t do much for me until I read 1 Timothy 4:8. Now there is a scripture I can get my teeth into! 🙂
 
I can and do, understand the need to overcome obstacles in this life for there are many of them. We say we have faith for something “someone” bars the way. We (as christians) do too much of this “well it must not be God’s will” (type thing) giving up too easily. A Major part of our walk is to OVERCOME!
 
In fact, I would say that’s the biggest goal. Didn’t Jesus say “fear not I have overcome?” and saying in a nutshell, if I did, so can you?
 
Yes indeed, He did.
 
Christmas a lot of times is just overcoming obstacles, and I didn’t realize it until just now. God didn’t send it, (Christmas) people came up with it.
For many it’s an obstacle course.
 
It’s either an opportunity to get upset, or a chance to let God produce love, generosity, more fruits of the spirit, and whatever else he’d like to do IN US at Christmas OR any other time in our lives.
 
That’s all trials really are. Opporunities to Overcome.
Oh, so THAT”S why he said rejoice (when you have a trial)
It’s your big chance to overcome!
And you don’t even have to sign up for the Olympics to do this! 
 
YAY!!! I can Get the Gold! Go for the Gold! Hurray Hurray! And yes LORD, I will do it! Be with me I pray! as I go and JUMP over all these spiritual hurdles I face today!
 
cheering you on!
Your partner in this life in Christ Jesus!
 
Laura Grace
PS (Here’s the scripture I told you about!) #overcoming
 
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
 
1 Timothy 4:8 by Laura Grace (Author)