church · churchbody · churchgrowth · despair · disciplesofjesus · discipline · discipline of God · doing things Gods way · extremes · faith · faith by hearing · faith obstacles · faith works · faithfulness · fighting the fight of faith and · frustrated christian · frustration · God does miracles big and small · God hears our prayers · god is faithful · Gods blessing · grace to grow · grace to Grow in grace · grace to restore · Grace to the Rescue by laura grace · Gracetogrowrealstories · gracewalk · growing up in Christ · growing up in God · growingingrace · growingupinchrist · Uncategorized

When Having Faith Hurts (And we don’t get the outcome we desired).

What do we do when having Faith hurts us? I’ve experienced the devestation of not having the outcome I believed I woud have (after believing, with all my heart, for something to happen.) What I see is, God honors my Faith, but my timing isn’t always the same as His. 
I used to stand outside my door every single day (praying in the morning) believing for a bigger house. The house we lived in at the time was so small, it literally felt like you had to “go outside to change your mind.” Prospect House outside 2017.jpg
This house was 643 square feet (total) including the porch area, and when my kids came to visit, we didnt have room for everyone to sit around the table.  
At Christmas time, we sat in a circle, as if we were in a tee-pee, and the coffee table became one of the chairs. It was a small, small, very small house, and we lived in it for several years. During that time, God taught me to be thankful, while having faith at the same time for “something more.” 
     Now, we live in a double wide mobile home, which is a blessed home to us, but probably “lost its’ value” according to the world. However, we love it, and consider it an answer to prayer! We had to adjust our faith to receive this house however, because it wasn’t exactly what we were believing for. There really is a balance between “not giving up on your faith” and staying surrendered at the same time. 
God did honor our Faith, but he also had us make some adjustments in the process of having Faith. By his Spirit, he challenged our thinking. Isn’t that what a good Father should do? 
This is our house now: garage
  
     God is smarter than we are, and it’s not that we should just “give up on having faith” nor should we just say, “Whatever will be will be.” God commends (and honors) people who have faith. Do not shrink back! (Hebrews 10:39). 
Laura Grace, Author, Grace to the Rescue, Grace to Grow, & Dsyfunctional People. 

 Hebrews 11:35 “Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 

3These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” 
a word for God's church · AA · abuse of power · abusive christians · advice christian · are you the storm · authority of God · authority of Jesus matthew 21 · becoming whole · being a giant slayer · being a witness for Jesus · being at peace · being born again · being real with God · beingspiritual · Bible study · biblestudy · body of christ · bodyofchrist · born again · Bread of life · building on the rock · building on the rock with Jesus · building upon the rock of Jesus · building with precious things in christ · building your house on the rock · builtontherock · choose life · christian friends who don't help · Christian growth and learning · christian lives matter · christian living and the reality of it all · christian maturity · christianityfordummies · christians growing · christianthoughts · christlightshining · congregation · control vs influence · discipline of God · discipling · disqualified preachers · doing things Gods way · don't fall away · don't want to go to church · emotional healing and grace · encouragement today · enjoying life as a christian · ephesians 4 · fitting in the body of Christ · Focus on Jesus Christ · follow Jesus · Following God · fruits of the spirit · frustrated christian · God hears our prayers · god is faithful · God is good · grace reigns · grace to grow · grace to Grow in grace · grace to grow speaking · grace to restore · grace to soar · grace to the rescue · Grace to the Rescue by laura grace · maturity in Christ · Relationship is everything with God and others · relationship with God · relationship with Jesus · Relationships are everything · relationships are everything with God and others · telling it like it is in christianity today · Uncategorized · what it means to be mature

Building #10 The Measure of Spiritual Maturity. What does it mean to be “Grown Up” In Christ? And how do we know if we are (and if others are?)

GROWING TREE ROOTS I don’t know about you, but I’d like to have a grown-up for my leader. Many people aspire to be leaders, coaches, teachers, and the like; but they are not always qualified. 

I said, they are not always qualified. 

How do we know if they’re qualified? What do you think would be “God’s measure” of maturity? have you ever thought about that one? (I have). 

We’ve all heard the stories of how someone wasn’t “picked” for the team. I was one that nobody wanted on their baseball, football, or even volley ball team! I was not good at it. I didn’t want to be good at it (bad enough) to practice.

I let go of even trying long ago, because guess what? I didn’t care! (about sports) enough to put my heart into learning, practicing, and becoming great at it. 

I did, at some point, need to stop whining and admit to myselfI don’t want this bad enough to do the hard work.” Step #1 to Growing and Maturity: Admitting the truth about ourselves in the light of God’s Truth! 

I’m sure out there “somewhere” there are ministries that choose their leaders by their maturity level in-Christ, but I don’t think there is many. Sad to say, the mainstream church world often makes their selections based on willingness, an outward appearance of maturity, faithfulness to church services, and attending bible school and colleges. The main goal is often raking in more bodies (to fill the pews) and not growth and maturity for the ones who are in those pews. 

They have board members who look at the resume’, pray about it, and make their choice as to what they think is the best candidate for the (open slot) or job.

So, if you were picking a leader, or a pastor (of a church) what would be your measure for maturity? 

I make that decision every day of my life, when I decide who I will listen to and who I will not (listen to). Ephesians 4 says God gave us Apostles, Evangelists, Prophets and Teachers to help us come to maturity (in Christ). 

I learned a long time ago, a person who is blind will lead me into the ditch. A person who is not mature will not help me get mature. I want a leader who is stronger, wiser and more mature than I am. 

Therefore, if I do not listen to someone’s advice, it doesn’t mean I am rejecting them, personally. I simply learned (a long time ago) That listening to Jesus comes first. To put anyone’s council above His, is a form of idolatry. 

Am I perfect? No! Have I made mistakes? Yes, I have. But my heart and mind are set on the words “Take my yoke upon you” (Words of Jesus) “and be yoked to me.” (Matthew 11:28). 

The Lord is my Shepherd (primarily) and everything else is subject to him. 

Years ago I sat under a minister for a time (online) and hardly anyone understood why. It was because of his Testimony.  A testimony (for me) is the true measure of maturity. Not what school they went to, not how many days they warmed a pew in the church. 

I”ve met many who attended church for 30 years, and like a submarine, nothing seemed to really get INTO their hearts. They are no different today than they were 30 years ago, other than knowing how to speak christianese. 

Like a tree, a testimony is a measure of how much work God has actually done in a person’s life. Are they born again? Filled with God’s spirit? Have they walked in the fruits of the spirit and learned to walk by the spirit of God? Have they cried out for, and received wisdom (from above) and not relied on the wisdom of man (and his ways?). Are they tried and true? 

It’s out of balance to say we don’t need anyone but God and it’s out of whack to say we only need church, and just follow along with whatever supposed “leader” comes our way. It’s unhealthy to gather around someone who just “says what we want to hear” and it’s foolish to assume every person in a leadership position was put there by God. If that were the case, Paul and Jesus would not have wept over flocks being deceived by wolves in sheeps’ clothing and they would not have interceded with tears over those being “led astray.”

Did you know Jesus cried (and wept) for those that would not listen to him? That was more serious to him than starving children or the physical suffering of humanity. Why? 

Because: He knew if he could successfully save the human soul (and we would listen to him) all the rest would be taken care of. God’s wisdom leads to us being “alright” in the Spirit first, and then in the natural. He wants us healthy (Spirit, Mind, and Body!). He wants us mature, which means we have grown up INTO his Headship.

I would dare say this means “We’ve God the mind of Christ” in all things. 

To get the mind of Christ, we have to continually give up our own ways of thinking. We have to push out the voices of the immature, the unsteady, and the godless and faithless, and INCLINE Our ear to the word of God via His Spirit. 

So here’s my standard on whether I will listen to you (or not). What is your Testimony? If you don’t have one to overcome with, how can I follow you? 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11 NKJV). 

In conclusion, if you have found a church that truly has a loving, parental heart to see you Grow (UP) IN Christ, stick to them like glue! If you can see they love you, and want you to grow, stay put! If they have other agenda’s, face it and pray, and ask God for a church that helps you get where you need to be. This is my advice, and I believe it is sound. LOVE yourself enough to get good spiritual food. 

Put your Spirit and Soul First, and the rest of you (body) as secondary. This is what it means to love not (your physical life) Unto Death. You put it under, and put it second to your growth and development in Christ. Enough said! -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)

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 
church · God does miracles big and small · God hears our prayers · Gods provision · grace to grow · Grace to the Rescue by laura grace · Speaking up for Jesus · the land of milk and honey · the Lord is listening · Uncategorized

Moldy twinkies and cheese from heaven

CHEESE FROM HEAVEN.png

The Moldy Twinkies and cheese from Heaven:

I was just telling my husband about these Modly Twinkies we got one time from the food bank. Oh, they didn’t mean to do it I’m sure but I still remember almost taking a bite, to discovery there was mold on the bottom.

We’d had a fire, we got a food box from the food bank, and while I was grateful for the help what a disappointment it was! Horrors!

It wasn’t long after that, my young son was asking me about cheese (he really loved cheese, you see) we’d been through so much, lost almost everything we owned in that fire, including some recent Christmas gits that meant a lot. I had to say to my darling boy, “I’m sorry honey we don’t have any cheese.”

it’s hard to tell your kids you can’t do anything about anything, when your hands are tied and you can’t do anything about it. It’s heartbreaking, in fact. They look up to us, we’re supposed to have the answers. 

I prayed outside (with tears) “Father I know this is a really dumb prayer, but can we please have some cheese!!?? I”ll never forget that day, or the next time we went to church a lady walked up to me and said “this is going to sound really stupid but, would you like some cheese?” ……..

               I stood there, dumbfounded. Then I started to cry. 

See, she didn’t know me. She felt this nudge to offer, but her brain probably said “Why would she want some cheese?” I”m pretty sure she was amazed when I started weeping and declared, “I just prayed for cheese!!” ……

That was the first time I remember God doing something for me (in answer to prayer) that was not NEEDED but it was just his love saying “Hey, I’m here, I heard you!” …..

Now when my brain says “Why would God do that for you?” (as I pray) I remember……

                                 the cheese blessing. 

Blessings and love to you all, Laura Grace, Author, speaker, Minister in training.

Peace!