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The second mile…..according to Jesus…

a ROAD Matthew 5: 41 “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ” 

Right after Jesus sat on the mount (speaking to the multitudes) He continued to speak about other topics. One was this passage- (above) which came to mind this morning as I was pondering and waking up. 

You see, I have dreams in my heart, which I believe God placed there. Dreams of travelling, speaking, sharing all the treasures he has bestowed within me. Dreams of sharing with others (who are hurting) all the beautiful testimonies God has given me of redemption, healing, restoration, and reasons for praise! 

I have boldly declared “I will go” (travel and speak) but I seem to be ahead of my time in most everything I do. In Other words, Sometimes a vision is so real to me, I think it’s going ot happen tomorrow! I just want you to know everything I”ve ever said is going ot happen HAS happened. But not in the year or day I thought it would happen. 

I was asked to help with music in my local church about three years ago, starting with the children in an after school program. That led to more singing (in the church) and later on, a semester of teaching music at the local school (grades K to 12) and this was without a teaching certificate by the way. AMAZING!

I can’t tell you how much it blesses my heart that even recently, I sang at church (a song God put on my heart to sing with guitar) and a local person chased me down the other day saying: “I forgot to tell you, that song was so great, please do that more often!!”. It’s 2017 now. Twenty years ago I was crying and asking God WHY He would not use me in church to sing. I had learned almost every song on guitar that church did at the time. EVERY SONG …It took hours to learn them all….hours and hours and hours of time……

I prayed “Thank you Father that if I am faithful you will TRUST ME to sing and minister to your people” …..(as I learned all these songs, and practiced them over and over) And I have to tell you….I had given up on the whole thing, a few years ago.

Oh sure- I sang at this one place but for the most part I’d “thrown in the towel” Given up…..said Okay Father what’s next I surrender! Obviously I”m NOT called to sing or do music in my local church! 

Now I’m in school (full time) Pursuing a degree at a christian college, I’ve written books, I’ve made brochures…..I’ve gone on some speaking engagements…..and I’ve done a mission trip this past summer in my local region. The pastor of the church I attend now is telling me “this other church” wants you to come and sing………” 

             I wanted to keep writing books…bag the singing…..Give up on it now…

 BEING REAL HERE! See it hurts to be disappointed, and if we don’t allow God to keep working in our hearts….we may just slam the door on him! 

Well? Do I go the second mile? Or do I just say “I have other plans now, Lord!”. I asked him to open doors! I asked him to use me! (for his Glory)….who am I to decide what I should or should not do? Who am I to say “this life is MINE I will do what I WISH to do?” …….hmm …..and when I asked him “Should I be singing or should I be writing books?” He gave me that passage (Matthew 5:41) “Someone is asking you girl!! What’s the problem?” ……Incidentally I CAN Do both if I trim some corners. 

So “Father I trust your timing! I don’t understand it, always, but I trust in you! I know whatever visions you have given me that you’ve put in my heart….will come to pass. Eventually ….they will! and please Forgive me for giving up all those years ago…….because I thought you were not quick enough to answer my prayers.” and Father thank you that when something in your word Is true FOR US you will cause it to leap off the page at us! Just like this one you gave me today! It’s for me Father! and I praise you for this! IN Jesus’ name. amen ……..Laura Grace, Author, Grace to Grow the Study guide (a self contained book With studies) Available on Amazon. 

DENTON 7 the grinch.jpg

This picture is me Christmas Concert 2016 directing the music program (Without a teaching certificate) but God was with me……..Laura Grace

 

 

 

 

 

 

becoming a leader · being a minister · Bread of life · going to minister · grace to Grow in grace · Make a difference · Uncategorized

I used to fall in the cracks……but now I fill them!

What do I mean by this? Well honestly, I did used to think people were hurting me on purpose! Excluding me! Sorry, but I did. Whether they did or they didn’t, the Lord knows my heart. I know now most of them didn’t (do it on purpose) because I have a more mature view of things. Therefore, “get mature” ……

I have always said to him: “SHOW ME” IF I am wrong and then I tell him all my feelings, woes, hardships, or sorrows. He did say cast our cares on him! (SO I do!) 

God does not always show us we are wrong immediately. Sometimes we make the same mistakes for years and it’s HORRIBLE when we finally find out about it. I can testify, it doesn’t matter if you “prayed about it” You may STILL be wrong about a few things. It’s hard to realize, and even harder to imagine how God could just “let that happen.” 

Years ago God started saying “Bloom where you are planted” And “If you think something should be done, you go do it.”

Later after I’d done that awhile He said, “You do make a difference,” And here lately he’s been telling me clearly what I do who I am, and what he has in store for me.  Oh and there is the infamous “THE RIVER FINDS A WAY.” 

Too often, I’ve been stuck in “the proper way to do things,” Or “How stuff happens” according to someone else. You don’t need to go to Seminary to be a minster, you already are, or should be (becoming one) as we are all priests according to the bible. The thing is, will we step INTO What God has already said we are? 

I was not approached nor picked to sing in the church I am currently in. I asked to sing, because I didn’t see specials being done, so I offered to do a special.

The pastor said yes, the congregation liked it, so I did it again. Then I got a vocal partner to harmonize with and it went from there. This all led to a job filling in the cracks at the school, when they had no music teacher and I had a Fatnastic experience there! I have filled in cracks as a sub, and became a dog watcher for someone …….Many ‘cracks’ I have just gone and filled, as it needed to be done. 

IN EVERY AREA (so far as I know) That I’ve been hurt, or went through a terrible trial, God has made me strong in that area to fill in the cracks, and minister.

Just today- I was explaining when a person is abused, going through terrible trials at home (beyond the comprehension of many) they do not need to be scolded for not going to church all the time, or have someone quote a bunch of scripture on not fearing (and stuff like that) WE HAVE GOT TO stop and pray about these things! They may need healing emotionally and it may take years. Maybe they just need a friend to listen right now……

Whatever I was NOT GIVEN I freely give! that’s how I learned to fill the cracks and not fall through them.. “Give what you hope to receive!” Think someone should do this or that? YOU DO IT! You pray with someone, or listen, or give them the daily bread God gave to you! It’s the same with Jobs, I just fill in the cracks, where I see a lack. If you hear a story that is terrible just stop and think (and pray) What would I have wanted to have said to me in this situation? Don’t do what was DONE TO YOU Do what you WISH had been done to you! It’s not that complicated! If you Pray and God does not speak, then do what you think is best (TO HELP not hurt, to HEAL NOT DEAL! We all must remember that God didnt send us out to be sin sniffers with a big stick trying to straighten people out! 

So I saw my friend may need pictures of her wedding, I just did it. They needed a guitar player, so I played. I gave up on MY WAY or the Highway mentality! It’s God’s way or bust, for me now! 

now think about this (God showed me this, this morning) when the Disciples wanted them to go away and eat Jesus said “You give them something to eat.” They are standing there like WHAT? Well it’s not just loaves and fishes, take what you HAVE IN YOUR HAND and hold it up and bless it. Start doing stuff for Jesus! You don’t have to fall through the cracks. Just …what do you have right now? A song? A desire to go encourage people? A word of encouragement? You have and are bread– if you have been with Jesus very long. Pray over what you have, ask God to bless it, and just start going, and doing, and filling in the cracks, every time you see one! 

Maybe it’s a tidbit of understanding God has a testimony of what GOD DID FOR YOU In that same situation. shown you. Or maybe an encouragment, or a psalm or just whatever…..I filled in the cracks helping with music and Donna jumped in and became a ‘crack filler” too! Just do it! and if they won’t let you do it in church go do it elsewhere! What are you waiting for? A Green light from God is a green light from God! Guess what else God showed me? FIRE BAKES BREAD! 

if Jesus is “the bread of life” so then, are you! Astounding, isn’t it? Yes, it is! 

Father help us to let to of our petty little selves and just DO What needs to be done! Help us not to worry about rewards or getting paid or any of that stuff so much as we just concern ourselves with Following you Father! And if our job happens to be filling in cracks, so be it! IN Jesus’ name! amen 

-Laura Grace