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Christmas Story #4 “the Cabbage patch doll”

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12 days of Christmas “Story #4” Cabbage Patch Doll.

When My daughter was 4, almost 5, she really wamted a cabbage patch doll. I believed in God, but I had not given my heart to God (yet).

Anyway, I got her one, and well remember the ridiculous way people acted, shoving each other in store to get one, buying more than one and re selling them for double the price (or more). It was ridiculous. cab patch

On top of that hers got stolen, (in church no less) and that was the end of the cabbage patch doll. I have happier stories to tell you, but I must admit this was during my years of darkness.

I tried to find happiness in my own way, worldly things, and I was not a happy person.

I still loved Christmas lights, but I was convinced at that time in my life, if I only had more money I would be happy.

It wasn’t true. I’ve had more, I’ve had less. Happiness doesn’t come from how much we have (or possess) and certainly the cabbage patch doll turned out to be a very fleeting thing.

I am reminded of the book of Ecclesiasties, where the preacher said he obtained everything he ever wanted, and learned it was all vanity (and chasing after the wind). it’s a blessing to know God Loves us “through it all” even when we have wasted some of our time on vain pursuits. He loves us! so much! He is just happy to see us coming down the road…….coming home……

He doesn’t wait to chew us out or say “Done being stupid?” 
He just grabs us, fixes a big feast, and rejoices over us with singing and tears of Joy! What a great Father we have! “Our Father” who is in heaven (watching for us to come down the road to him!” ……with Love, (til next time) -Laura 

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All lives matter……..

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My (deep) thoughts for today……”All lives matter”….We can pray for the families that lost loved ones in this shooting…..those who died in recent storms, hurricanes…..more that died locally in traffic accidents because someone crossed the center line….snuffing out their life in a moments’ time because of carelessness, recklessness……..

That’s all we can do is pray for comfort as we cannot bring them back. Every day I hear of those who have hidden problems ….problems nobody understands. Wierd things, things they are too ashamed to even speak of……and I understand that because I’ve had some of those (unspeakable) problems that virtually nobody but God would understand…..

Here’s one I heard of this among many “a minister” who was into sadism, made his wife do unspeakable things and tortured her…who was she supposed to tell? How could she get help without someone gasping in horror? (and adding to the problem with their own fears and horror about it? LIsten all we can do is pray and be ready to reach out to OUR corner of the world….

Each of us is ONE person…….we can only do so many things in a given day….but we can make the world a better place. ONE good decision at a time..do what you can for those around you……

WE have to and need to develop the Kingdom of God within us Giving people Jesus and a true knowledge of Him and not some religious view point is the best gift we can give anyone ….a TRUE Knowledge from his heart to your heart to their heart………….the real thing…………

In HIM is all things LIfe, Peace, Answers….HOPE ……Get Jesus in you so deep you have something to give. Establish yourself on the ROCK WIth HIM then you can pull others out of the torrid waters and pray for them in Faith. This is how we can be “the best we can be” for Jesus…….get established ..ON the Rock! Amen

Then ask him to send you where you can go…..and ask him to send you those you are equipped to help. Amen -Laura grace, author Grace to the rescue and Grace to Grow 

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Having every day faith by Laura Grace

faith is substance.jpgEvery day faith ……

You can do great things for God in your everyday life. You can have great faith and apply it to your everyday living, too. This is how God prepares us to minister to others, but if we only do it for ourselves to get better, stronger, and more powerful in him, that’s fine also. Everything does not have to be about ministry or having a great ministry somehow.

My testimony is not how I gave money to some big name minister and then POW all my prayers were answered. I studied the bible to minister yes, but wound up ministering to myself. We had this house we bought, it was too small but the only one available at the time. (detailed in my book Grace to the Rescue). For 11 years i paid on that house and watched the cost of living go up as the wages stayed the same. I watched others lose their homes and cried for them, and still stood strong in believing we would always make the payments. I would say to God “You brought us here you will help us make the payments”

Sometimes it was rough, let me tell you. There were times we looked foolish for keeping that house. We had people tell us we should just give it back to the bank, as we were upside down in it, meaning it’s value was less than what we paid. (This was after 2009)

We made improvements when it seemed futile, and kept going, even though the house was so small we sometimes had trouble being grateful for it. I would pray and say HELP US be Thankful Lord! IN Jesus’ name! 11 years later, we sold the house. God made a way for us to get a bigger house, and it’s all paid for. This was all by faith, and as I said it’s not because I tithed (I believe everything belongs to God not just 10 percent) and it’s not because this big name minister prayed for me, it’s because I kept believing, no matter what. God gave me the direction along with my husband to buy the house. From there i just said ‘you gave us the house, you will provide.” I hope this encourages someone today. I am drawing from that Testimony for a new one now, as I go forward in other faith ventures. Pressing on! With love to you all,

 

Laura Grace

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

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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! 🙂